She listened quietly to Kelly explain himself and talk through his own thoughts on their once mentor, but anger with unrighteous indignation burned in her chest over Richards and his methods. She slowly felt the emotions start to dissipate, the exercise in the OR and the confrontation with the head surgeon of her department left her feeling exhausted both emotionally and physically. Kelly's comments about her performance and the level of her skill made her feel a little better, a smile touching the edge of her mouth as she finally stopped staring into her coffee cup and looked up at him. 

"I appreciate you words of affirmation. I guess I didn't realize it'd been a while since I'd gotten any from someone." She took another sip of her cooling beverage as a few other people started to walk into the coffee bar, waving at Kelly and ignoring her. She turned her full attention on him and his off the wall question. The Government recruited him for a project. [i]Sounds familiar.[/i]

The fact that he was closer to her and whispering let her know quickly that this wasn't a conversation that would be best heard by others and though she was completely set on turning him down, she couldn't deny that her curiosity had gotten the best of her. She sat her cup down and shook her head. "I've done projects for the government before and they never turn out well."

She glanced back up at him, her eyes moving across the handsome planes of his face and noting the same lines that started to press from his eyes, his lips and his brow. He was aging well and seemingly smiled a lot or gave much of his responses with facial expressions to match. In a different life - a different time - she might have liked him, might have enjoyed his company, but that time was passed. She knew that to remain steady and in control she alone could hold the knowledge of her past and the lack of interaction to her future. Just sitting with him made her miss friendship and that was her cue to walk away. 

Standing up and stretching a little she turned her torso hard to allow her back to pop in hopes of gaining a little relief. She picked up her cup and walked toward the door, tossing in into the closest bin. "There is a small pub on 5th and Main. I believe it's called Jerry's. I need a nap and a shower and I'll see you there around eight tonight. Bring your information about this new adventure and I'll bring my "hell no" and we'll have a drink."

She laughed at her own lack of sincerity toward life in general as she walked into the hall, several people nodding at her and mentioning that she'd done a great job, but she heard none of them. She was lost in her memories of the past and the night was stormy above her head. Some days she could almost taste the raindrops on her tongue - somedays...