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TROY

The clinic was so abysmally quiet Troy could hear himself breathing. There were only so many things he could do around the clinic. He had one whole appointment waiting for him, and it would be his only escape from the tomb-like silence.

“Are you staring at the wall?”

Dean’s voice jolted Troy out of his mindless staring, and he spun to face him. “What the hell, Dean?”

Dean’s eyes crinkled at the corners. “Nice to see you’re still alive.”

Troy put his hand over his beating heart. “You scared the shit out of me.”

“So I see.”

Troy looked up at the clock. “What are you doing here so soon?”

Dean shrugged, stepping into the office. “I had some free time, so I came back early.”

Troy groaned, slumping onto the desk. “I’ve only been here a couple of hours, and it’s been utter hell, and you go and come back before you’re supposed to.”

Dean snorted. “Do you want me to take the appointment instead?”

“Hell, no. Any excuse to get out of here is good. We’re sticking to the plan. You watch the clinic, I go and see General Winter.”

Dean flopped down in the other seat. “Alright, glad we got that settled.”

Troy looked his friend over. “You look...better.”

“Better.”

“Yeah, you don’t look like you have the weight of the world holding you down. You and Sloane make up?”

“We’re...I’m not sure where we are right now, but we’re figuring things out.”

“That doesn’t sound very good.”

“I think it is, well, pretty sure.”

Troy snorted. “You should have gone into sales, Dean, because you really know how to sell.”

Dean flicked a paperclip at him. “Don’t start.”

“You could always save us the trouble and just tell me what’s going on. I’ve been coming up with all sorts of theories, and some are just plain ridiculous.”

“Coming from you, I’m sure most of them are ridiculous,” Dean said dryly.

“Ass.”

Dean shook his head. “This is between Sloane and me, okay? Once things have been...dealt with, and I’m standing on firmer ground, I can talk about it, okay?”

That only served to make Troy even more curious, but he knew he wasn’t going to win if Dean was being stubborn and reasonable at the same time.

Troy sighed. “Fine, fine, I’ll leave you alone.”

Dean smirked. “But while we’re being nosy?—”

“I amnotnosy.”

“Why don’t you tell me what was up yesterday.”