Free Bad Nerd Falling by D.R. Grady

spurt of glee, she finally
ventured a question. “We return to the hospital for how
long?”
    “ You’re to finish out any
projects that weren’t complete when you left. You will also be
training the new personnel who were hired to take over your duties
there.” She frowned at the notes in front of her. “However long
that takes.”
    “ They shouldn’t need much
training.” Jorge looked like he’d been granted a life sentence
reprieve.
    “ That’s
correct.”
    “ When do we make this
transition?” Maria brushed some hair off her forehead.
    Tia consulted her notes again. “Right
after I leave. You’re all to report to your old jobs at the
hospital since the current contracts expire in less than a month.
You’ll have paperwork to complete and such. Plus you’re to clear
your desks, that sort of thing.”
    “ When do we return
here?” Please be soon .
    “ I’ll be gone for three to
six weeks. It’s going to depend on my projects and how soon I sell
my condo.” Tia’s mouth curled up a bit. “Although Aleksi did
convince me it couldn’t take longer than six weeks.”
    She grinned. “He’s a tough
negotiator.”
    “ It worked in his favor
that I wasn’t eager to be gone longer than three weeks,” Tia answered
dryly.
    They all laughed before they returned
to their discussion. “What do we need to do here before we leave?”
Maria asked.
    Tia shuffled through her notes.
“Jorge, the water technicians are cleared to do the bulk of the
water testing, is that correct?”
    “ Yes, they all passed this
time and they understand what happens if they mess up.”
    “ Good. They need to know
that a bad test means we all have to boil water until it’s
cleared.”
    Jorge nodded. “They are aware of this.
The hospital is continuing to take precautions so there is no more
contamination to the wells.”
    “ Someone needs to keep
testing those samples, even when we’re gone, Tia.” Maria gestured
toward the bacterial incubator.
    “ Yes. Do you think you
three can work out a schedule where one of you reports here at
least a few hours a week so that this lab is covered in addition to
your obligations at the hospital?”
    They all nodded. “I’m guessing it will
take me a week, tops, at the hospital.” Maria spoke with easy
assurance.
    She and Jorge both nodded. “That’s
what we’re thinking as well.”
    Tia looked relieved. “So if you can
coordinate a few hours for that week, we should be
covered.”
    “ We can figure that out
after we see what is necessary at the hospital,” Jorge
said.
    Helena agreed. “I can’t imagine
there’s much to do there.”
    “ It will depend on how
qualified the person is who replaced you.” Tia made a note on the
papers in front of her.
    Helena grimaced. “That’s true. If this
person is fresh out of school, it might take longer than a
week.”
    “ No one should need longer
than two weeks though,” Maria said briskly.
    “ Once we’re back in the
lab full-time, why don’t we let you know and maybe you can send us
some stuff from your current project?” Otherwise it might be really
boring. They had already cleaned and organized the lab.
    “ That’s a great idea,
Helena. I might be able to finish a lot sooner than I’m
fearing.”
    “ We’re going to need
something to keep us occupied,” Jorge reminded her.
    “ Yes, with the water wells
in great shape again, we can start on more interesting projects.”
Tia tapped the bench. Her lips pursed as she thought. She added
another note. “I’ll start working on that. It might cut down the
time I’m in the states.”
    “ We appreciate it.” If she
was busy at work, she might think less about a certain man who
melted her nuclei far too easily.
    Maybe.

Chapter 9
     
    He drove through the quiet streets,
never once consulting a map or his phone. Before he ever arrived
here in Rurikstan, Vlad had memorized the way to Helena’s
apartment. He knew four different direct routes to her and at least
that many