"When one of the chief nurses told me that you had come into the hospital earlier today to work, I couldn't believe it at first—that you would flout a direct order."
Athena raised a brow, dropping the writing pen on the file before her, meeting Herbert's gaze, which was tainted with both amusement and worry.
Two beats of silence passed, and then both dissolved into fits of laughter.
"You…"
More laughter followed, with Athena getting out from her seat, walking over to Herbert, and giving him a side hug.
"You are crazy, old man," Athena said when she broke away from the hug. Even though their first linkup had been hostile—a catastrophe, to be exact—they had come a long way to become friends and good working partners.
Herbert scoffed at Athena's title for him. "I am not an old man, woman. If you call me that, what would you call your grandfather then?"
Athena chuckled softly, indicating the seat nearby. "You have a good point. Maybe I'll call you 'Elder' instead?"
