Z had made the executive decision to step back from actively participating in the conversation. Gerard had it in hand and she didn't want to tangle with the new professor any more than she already had (Z was very carefully not thinking about how she'd made a bit of a fool out of herself and desperately needed to get some actual rest or how interesting the new professors class sounded, just like she wasn't yet thinking about how the wards had apparently failed). She did stick around in case she was needed and to find out what the new plan of action was.
"Easy peasy Gerard? Really?" she said quietly, giving him a small, sardonic smile. "That's your best line?"
Gerard flushed and Z graciously decided to lay off. If she was exhausted and worried, Gerard had to be even more. He didn't need her teasing just now.