#dispatch alice

Turns out, Mal couldn't get any answers out of Herman. No one could. His hair was starting to look dry at the ends, his usual wetsuit less soaked, and day by day, he climbed up the leader board. Robert knew the pep talk he gave Herman had helped, but there was no way it gave him that much confidence all of a sudden.

"So... What's been going on with you lately? You're looking drier." Robert questions as he unwraps a chocolate bar he got from the vending machine. "Plus, I've seen you and your grandmother's Tupperware, and it doesn't look like that." He eyes the container that Herman takes out of the fridge with raised eyebrows.

"Well, you know! I'm trying out more, well, new. Trying out new things." Herman pops the lid off of his lunch and slides it into the microwave. "You notice my lunch containers?" He asks as he turns to look at Robert. He watches the older man nod with a growing smile.

"I notice a lot of things. Like how you didn't tell me where that Tupperware came from." He presses, refusing to drop the subject. He knew they only had a small window of time before another member of the team walked in. He was going to use every minute of if. "Are you seeing someone, Herman?"

The taller man flushes as he fiddles with his fingers slightly. He looked over his shoulder to make sure they were still alone before nodding his head yes. Robert sits up a little more in his seat, grinning wide as he taps the table. "I knew it. There's a betting pool going around on if that's why you've been looking drier."

Herman goes to respond, but the microwave beeping cuts him off. Robert is a little glad that it did since Victor and Chad made their way into the room. Herman looks over at Robert with a slightly pleading look, and Robert sends him a quick wink. He plans on keeping his secret, but it's only a few days later that everyone finds out about you.

The shift hadn't gone horribly, but it hadn't gone well. Robert knew it was cheesy, but he always held a team meeting after a bad day. The Z-Team could pretend they hated it all they wanted, but the pep talks left them feeling lighter and more confident in their skills.

"Whose that talking to Miss Blazer?" Alice pipes up as she points into the dispatch office. The team immediately shifts their attention from the meeting to the newcomer.

"Guys, can we focus for just five more minutes?" Robert grumbles in disapproval, but the team finds you much more intriguing.

"Oh, that's my partner."

The team turns to Herman with varying looks of confusion or disbelief, which makes him shrink back slightly. "Uh, I think they were nervous about us running late, me being late. I didn't text them. I didn't have time to let them know." He continues feeling everyone's eyes on him.

"Alright, meeting dismissed. Everyone go home and enjoy your weekend." Robert sighs, waving everyone off and out of the room. There was no way he would get the teams attention now. Herman makes it out of the room first, beelining straight for you with a growing smile.

"Consider what I said. You would be great on the team, even if you just start as a dispatcher. You can work your way up when you're comfortable." Mandy explains as Herman approaches.

"I'll give it some thought, thank you ma'am." You smile back at her, getting even happier when you see your boyfriend. "Hey Hermy! Thought I'd come pick you up since you were running late today."

Herman wraps you into a hug, kissing the top of your head softly. "Hey! Sorry I didn't tell you. Meant to call or text. Could've texted you, but today was bad. Not bad, busy? It was busy."

"It's alright, baby. Let's go swing by your grandmother's and then to mine, okay?" You offer, saying goodbye to Mandy before you left, Herman trailing happily behind you.

"Now, how did waterboy get someone like that on his arm?" Colm mutters as he watches you go, making the team start murmuring amongst themselves. Robert chuckles as he watches everyone getting ready to leave. Herman was going to have to deal with the most obnoxious interrogations when Monday came.