Charlie heard the footsteps and felt her heart beat a little faster. It should have been pathetic, that she recongized his distinct steps apart from Doc's shuffle, but she didn't care. She straightened out of her slouch against the desk and layed a pen against the page she was ready so she could close the book and turn her attention to the door. There was a soft rap, and then it opened.
And then he was there, her own personal knight.
Royce took in the small room for a short second, then looked at her. He was smiling and she started smiling back out of reflex. "Good morning."
He leaned against the doorframe and folded his arms over his chest. "Hey, how are things going back here?"
"Rather quietly, actually," Charlie said, holding up her book. "Doc gave me homework. He said he would quiz me sometime next week, and depending on how I do, he might start letting me assist in some of his more delicate work." An exciting prospect, looking at the insides of dogs, cats and rabbits. It was like biology all over again.
"But what about you? How was your day with Rosemary?"