“Seriously, I am fine,” Linh repeated for about the thirtieth time. She had taken one small beating and now everyone was losing their minds. Kestrel had been the worst, the woman had barely left Linh alone. Then there were Skip and Sentinel. Skip had been apologetic and worried, while Sentinel had begrudgingly admitted that she had done well. After he had explained exactly why this proved she wasn't ready for the field yet, of course. Something about Linh almost dying always seemed to bother people.

  Linh was immensely grateful that her regeneration had solved most of the damage before the Doctor got a hold of her. The woman scared her enough without being provided that sort of ammunition. Of course she hadn't been happy, meeting them in the hangar when Kestrel had landed the Transport to whisk Linh away for an exam.

  “You did not look okay when you were barely fucking standing,” Jazz insisted. Linh was in one of the beds in the medbay, propped up on the pillows. Linh had checked her phone when she got back (she hadn't taken it with her on the mission) to find several unread messages and missed calls. Several dozen that is.

  Some were from her Mum, but most were Jazz.

  “Jazz, you’ve seen me recover from worse. Remember that time I fell off the cliff and still managed to get back to the car before you?” Linh reminded her friend. That had been a fun hiking trip, and a very tall cliff.

  “That wasn't on fucking national TV,” Jazz snapped back.

  Linh frowned, “I’m pretty sure it was? Didn't someone film it?”

  “It was only on Local news,” Jazz replied, “And that's not the point! The point is that you better turn on your god damn camera and video call me so I can see for myself.”

  Linh rolled her eyes, but did what her friend asked, switching to a video call so that she could be inspected.

  “See?” Linh said, holding the phone up so Jazz could see her perfectly intact, bruise free face.

  “I hate how fucking perfect you always look,” Jazz grumbled, “You were fighting for your life two hours ago and you don't even have a lash out of place.”

  Linh scoffed, “Bitch, don't talk to me about perfect, you're a nine on a bad day.”

  “Please,” Jazz replied, “Nine and a half at minimum.”

  “Seriously though, you’re in the HQ?” she asked, and Linh nodded.

  “Yeah, the medbay,” she agreed.

  “Show it to me!” Jazz demanded, and Linh frowned.

  “It's just a doctor’s office?” Linh replied, “Why do you want to see that?”

  “Umm, it's a fucking Super Hero base? I bet you have like, cloning machines and goo tunes in there.”

  Linh rolled her eyes, “Careful Jazz, your nerd is showing. You can't have people thinking you have depth.”

  “Bitch, shut up and show me already,” Jazz shot back.

  “Fine, let me ask the Doctor first.”

  Linh wasn't sure if she was supposed to be filming in here, after all, she had required a security clearance just to get into the building.

  “Umm, Doc?” Linh called.

  “Yes, Linh?” Doc replied, sticking her head in from the next room. She had ordered Linh to stay in bed, and Linh wasn't about to challenge that.

  “My friend Jazz would like to see your lab. She is a bit of a nerd like that,” Linh said, with a bit of a blush. It felt a little silly to be asking. She waited for the inevitable “No”.

  The Doctor raised an eyebrow, “Would this be the Jasmine Zhang that is listed as one of your emergency contacts?”

  Linh flushed even harder. She had forgotten that she had included Jazz in her contacts. She rather wished the Doctor hadn't said that out loud. Linh hadn't actually told Jazz about that.

  “Uhh, yes.” Linh admitted, ignoring the surprise on Jazz’s face.

  Doc considered for a second, before she approached Linh’s bed. She leaned in, her perfume filling Linh’s nostrils, a pleasant smell, unlike Douche’s cheap body spray, looking at Linh’s phone.

  “Hello Jasmine,” Doc said, examining Jazz, who was sitting up a little straighter under the woman’s scrutiny.

  “Uhh, hi,” Jazz replied, “Linh has told me about you.”

  “She has, has she?” Doc said, and Linh felt her heart stop at the tone. This was one of the most embarrassing moments of her life.

  “I hope it was positive?" Doc continued.

  “Yes Ma’am,” Jazz said, and the Doctor snorted.

  “Ma’am… I’m not that old,” she muttered.

  She cleared her throat.

  “Now, Jasmine. I will let you see my lab under two conditions,” Doc said.

  “What are they?” Jazz asked, eyes sparkling with excitement.

  “Number one is that you do not discuss what you see with anyone other than Miss Le,” Doc warned, and Jazz nodded immediately.

  “I won't,” she promised.

  “Good. The second is that if Linh here attempts to do anything more strenuous tomorrow than walk to class, you immediately swaddle her in the most embarrassing blanket you have and carry her to the nurse’s office, where she is to remain for the rest of the day.”

  Jazz chortled, giving a terrible salute, “Yes ma’am, I’ll take care of it.”

  Linh paled. She never should have introduced Jazz to the Doctor.

  “Now,” Doc said, straightening, “Unless I am mistaken, that is our building in the background of your call.”

  Linh froze, peering at the building behind Jazz. Tall, familiar… It was the HQ!

  “Jazz!” Linh said, exasperated, “Are you downstairs?”

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  Jazz gave one of her rare blushes, “...yeah” she admitted.

  “Why?” Linh asked, and Jazz shrugged.

  “I didn't want to go home, and I saw you getting hurt so I thought I would come make sure you were okay.”

  Linh’s heart skipped a beat at hearing her best friend was that worried about her.

  “Poor Jazz, worrying alone like that,” she thought.

  “Since you're here already,” Doc chimed in, “We may as well do this tour in person. I’ll tell the desk to let you up.”

  “Wait, what?” Linh and Jazz said simultaneously, Linh’s head whipping around to stare at Doc.

  “Isn't that against the rules?” she asked, and Doc shrugged.

  “My lab, my rules,” she said dismissively.

  “Besides,” she continued, “I suspect it will be good for you.”

  She paused, looking at Jazz appraisingly, “Both of you I suspect,” she added quietly enough that only Linh’s enhanced hearing could pick it up.

  Linh fought the urge to hug the woman.

  Ten minutes later Jazz was being let in through the sliding doors to the lab. Linh was out of bed, Doc having been convinced that she was in fact, perfectly fine.

  “Holy shit,” Jazz said, eyes wide as she took in the lab. Jazz was in her casual clothes, wearing a pair of skinny jeans that utterly crushed any illusions that Linh may have had of being in the same league as her friend. Between Jazz and Doc, who was in the same devastating blouse pencil skirt combo she had worn before? Linh was incredibly conscious of her skirt and shirt combo. She had transformed out of her Jade Rabbit form to avoid Jazz grabbing her ears, but now she felt criminally under dressed.

  Jazz immediately abandoned her inspection of the room when she spotted Linh, racing over to wrap the small girl in a hug, before straightening to examine her.

  Then she sighed, “Alright, you're not hurt. But are you okay?”

  Linh blushed under the appraising eye of her friend, “Yeah, I’m fine. It was scary, and hurt a lot, but Jazz, I fought a super villain!”

  “Fuck yeah you did!” Jazz agreed, her tone shifting to excitement, “It was awesome to watch! When did you get so good at fighting?”

  Linh shrugged, “Grandma teaches me any time she's in town.”

  Jazz grimaced, “Bah, I hate your grandma,” she said, “she's such a bitch.”

  Linh slapped Jazz’s stomach, (she would have bonked her on the head, but that would have required an embarrassing amount of reaching).

  “Hey! That's my grandma!” Linh said, glaring at her friend.

  Jazz laughed, “Like you don't agree.”

  Linh maintained the glare, before she mock sighed, “Yeah, you're right. She knows her shit though.”

  “Now that we have finished our gossiping,” the Doctor interrupted, “Can we get this tour over with? I don't normally allow this, and I am a very busy woman.”

  “Of course, sorry,” Jazz replied, turning to examine Doc.

  She looked Doc up and down, one eye raised, “Hot damn, Linh was not joking,” she said.

  Doc’s eyes narrowed, “Joking about what?” she asked, eyeing Linh suspiciously.

  Linh blanched. Jazz wouldn't, would she?

  …she absolutely would.

  “That you are like, scary hot,” Jazz replied, and Linh buried her head in her hands.

  “Is that so?” Doc asked, voice low and dangerous.

  “Jazz!” Linh squeaked, withering under the combined weights of the betrayal and Doc’s hard stare.

  “Glad to see that my appearance meets your standards,” Doc said dryly, and Linh began to melt through the floor.

  “Uhh…” she tried, searching for the words to get her out of this mess.

  Doc glared for a moment longer, before her eyes suddenly softened, and she reached out to ruffle Linh’s hair.

  “Thank you for the compliment,” she said, and Linh nearly died from relief.

  “Now,” Doc said, “If you girls can tear your eyes off of my backside, let's get this tour done with.”

  “Fuck yeah,” Jazz agreed, earning herself a withering look from Doc.

  “Do try not to touch anything,” Doc warned, “I do not want to have to file another report explaining how I let a teenager vapourise herself with the thermoplasmatic neuroliser.”

  “You do not have one of those,” Jazz replied with an eye roll, “...do you?”

  Doc smirked, “Right this way.” She led the way into the lab, Jazz right behind her.

  Linh followed, doing her best to heed Doc’s warning about looking at her ass.

  It was easier said than done though, the woman’s heels placed it directly in Linh’s eyeline.

  Linh blinked, realising she had stopped and was now falling behind. She hurried to catch up as Doc proudly showed off her Lab, and Jazz asked all the right questions.

  Linh was impressed, she had no idea that Jazz knew so much about experimental medical equipment. Oh, she knew that her friend was a giant nerd behind the mean girl persona, but where Linh saw mad science machines of unknown purpose, Jazz seemed to actually know what most of them did.

  Jazz caught her staring, and smirked, “What? I have a brain, you know.”

  “How do you know what this stuff does?” Linh asked.

  Jazz shrugged, “Brad won't stop bragging about the lab equipment at uni,” she explained.

  Linh nodded, Jazz’s brother was exactly that sort of asshole.

  “Besides,” Jazz continued, “I’m thinking about going into Metabiology.”

  Linh’s eyes widened, Jazz had never mentioned that.

  “Really?” Linh asked, “Since when? What happened to being a fashion designer?”

  Jazz shrugged.

  “Since last week?” she said.

  “I’ve always been interested, but now that you’re out here, saving lives? Made me feel shallow, like I should be doing something more.”

  Linh was stunned. She had no idea. The thought that Jazz would make that sort of decision thanks to her? It made Linh… comfortable.

  “Besides,” Jazz continued, “If Doc here is any indication, I can be hot and smart.”

  Doc nodded, “That you can,” she replied.

  “That said, there is nothing wrong with pursuing a passion,” Doc continued, “I suggest taking your time. You don't need to make any decisions yet. I didn't choose my field until I was 20.”

  “Really?” Linh and Jazz asked at the same time.

  “What were you doing before that?” Linh asked.

  “How old are you?” Jazz said.

  “I am 34,” Doc replied, “And I was studying meteorology.”

  Linh blinked, as Jazz whistled.

  “Meteorology?” Linh asked, and Doc nodded.

  “Yes, I wanted to be a weather girl.”

  Linh and Jazz stared. The slightest hint of a blush coloured Doc’s cheeks.

  “I always admired the weather girls as a child,” she explained, “It wasn't until later that I realised they were mostly just pretty faces making guesses.”

  Doc cleared her throat, the blush fading as she returned to business.

  “Now,” she said, “Enough about me. Let's finish this tour so you kids can stop bothering me.”

  Jazz giggled, which was when the doors slid open again.

  “Hello Doctor,” said Beacon, striding into the room.

  Doc looked over at him, “Good evening Beacon,” she replied, “What brings you to my lab?”

  “I thought I would check in on our Rookie after her first mission,” he explained.

  Meanwhile, Jazz was clutching Linh’s arm, staring wide eyed at her.

  “Is that the real Beacon?” she asked, not having turned to look at the door.

  Linh nodded, “Of course? You know he’s my boss, right?”

  “That doesn't mean I expected to meet him! I’m not dressed for this!” Jazz hissed in Linh’s ear.

  Linh rolled her eyes, “Jazz, he doesn't give a shit what you’re wearing,” she explained.

  “Besides,” she added as an after thought, “You look great.”

  “What do I say?” Jazz asked, attempting to improve her already perfect hair.

  “How about ‘Hello’?” Linh suggested. She was enjoying seeing Jazz so flustered, it was rare that she got this sort of revenge. She decided to twist the knife.

  “Hi boss!” She called happily, “This is my friend Jazz, Doc is giving her a tour!”

  Linh dragged Jazz around, making use of her extra human strength to bring her friend front and center.

  Beacon nodded politely to Jazz, holding out his hand.

  “Pleasure to meet you,” he said, and Linh watched Jazz crumble.

  Jazz took his hand in her own trembling fingers.

  “Uh, ah, hi?” she squeaked, “I’m Jaixmin. I mean Jaxmix. Jazz.”

  Linh giggled, and Jazz shot her a murderous glare.

  Beacon tactfully ignored Jazz’s panic.

  “And are you enjoying the tour, Jasmine?” he asked.

  Jazz nodded, “Yes! It's awesome, and the Doc is nice, and I’m a huge fan!” she babbled.

  Beacon smiled, “Thank you, and thank you for coming to check on Linh. You’re a good friend.”

  “The best,” Linh agreed, deciding to throw Jazz a bone.

  “Am I in trouble?” Linh asked, “I did make a bit of a mess.”

  Beacon laughed, “No more of a mess than I made my first day. No, you did well Linh, I’m here to make sure you’re recovering and coping,” he explained.

  Linh relaxed, a knot in her stomach she hadn't even noticed unraveling.

  “Oh, thank god,” she muttered, and Beacon chuckled.

  “How is she Doc?” he asked, and Doc examined Linh critically.

  “Reckless, young, annoying,” she said seriously, “But fit and healthy. Her regeneration is remarkable.”

  Linh flushed, and Beacon nodded.

  “Excellent, and how do you feel Linh?” he asked.

  “Good,” Linh replied, “I’m ready to go again if I need.”

  Beacon ruffled her hair.

  “Glad to hear it,” he said, “But no, take tomorrow off. We don't want to overwork you.”

  “Yes sir,” Linh replied.

  Beacon checked his watch.

  “Right,” he said, “I have places to be. Good work Linh, get some rest, you earned it. And make sure you talk to someone if you need to.”

  “I will,” Linh promised.

  Beacon looked at Jazz, who appeared to be halfway through hyperventilating.

  “Lovely meeting you,” he said, then turned to leave.

  “Wait!” Jazz called, and Beacon stopped.

  “Yes?” he asked, and Jazz flushed.

  “Can I get an autograph?” she asked, shyly. Beacon laughed.

  “Of course,” he said.

  Five minutes later Beacon left, Jazz now armed with an autograph and a selfie that she kept glancing at, while Linh giggled.

  “So,” Linh said, “That was my boss.”

  “I can't believe you get to work with him…” Jazz muttered, eyes fixated on the photo she had gotten with the living legend.

  “He is rather impressive,” Doc added, “And quite popular with the teenage demographic,” she said with a knowing smirk at Jazz.

  Linh nodded seriously.

  “Daddy issues.”

  Jazz punched her.