"Jessica," Yang Ming said, his voice dry and hoarse.
"What? If you want water, get it yourself. I may be your medical assistant and part-time muscle, but serving drinks isn't in my job description." Without turning around, she tipped her head back and took a long swig of beer.
"Take three days off."
Jessica froze with the can halfway raised. She turned and looked at Yang Ming as though he were an alien.
"Did that green gorilla knock something loose in your head?" She stepped closer and reached for his forehead. "You, my heartless boss, are actually offering me time off?! You're not docking my pay, are you?"
"Paid leave. Is your opinion of me really that bad?" Yang Ming tilted his head away from her hand.
"Besides, you've been run ragged lately. Between those ninjas from the Hand and last night's disaster in Harlem, the clinic won't be taking any jobs for a while. Go spend some time with your sister Trish. Hasn't she been complaining that you never have time to go shopping with her?"
Jessica stared at him suspiciously.
"You're really giving me time off?"
"If you'd rather stay to scrub toilets, mop floors, and operate on people, I won't object."
"No!" Jessica backed up two steps, unable to keep a smile off her face. "Three days of paid leave. You said it, and you can't take it back!"
Jessica knew all too well how exhausting a single operation was. She wouldn't perform another one even if her life depended on it.
She spun around in delight, then ran to the locker and grabbed her backpack. Unzipping it, she stuffed in a few changes of clothes.
"Trish just rented a new place. This is the perfect chance to help her move some things." Jessica kept talking as