Los Angeles.
St. Bonaventure Hospital of San Jose.
Adam came out after finishing the surgery.
"Director, you're back."
Rose, the office secretary, came out to greet him with visible relief.
"Sheldon wasn't behaving?"
Adam smiled knowingly.
"Heh."
Rose had wanted to professionally and tactfully say that he had been behaving, or at least that things were fine, but all that came out was an awkward laugh.
Then, apologetically, she told him about giving Sheldon a Chemical Cut.
"You still couldn't stop him from talking, could you?"
Adam teased.
"Oh, great, Adam, you're done."
Sheldon held a laptop and typed quickly. The software on the computer converted the text into a robotic voice.
"Congratulations."
Adam joked, "You've evolved to have an accent like Professor Hawking's now."
"That's the only upside."
Sheldon continued typing for the voice program, then pointed at his throat. "Adam, hurry and look at my throat. It's inflamed.
Dr. Paddy said it was the worst case he'd ever seen."
"Okay."
Adam gave it a performative look, then nodded. "It is indeed rather serious. Not only do you need to keep quiet for a few days, you also need to drink plenty of water and rest. Otherwise, it'll become truly serious."
Sheldon immediately covered his throat and stared at Adam in terror, then reached out to type again.
"Rest more."
Adam immediately cut him off, pointing at his little hands, which had kept moving nonstop ever since he lost his voice.
Sheldon's hands froze, and he looked utterly miserable.
"Yes, just like that."
Adam said it with a straight face, then raised his wrist to check the time. Seeing it was half past eight in the evening, he smiled. "Leonard's date should be over too. Come on, I'll take you back."
For most people, a date at this hour