"It's good to see you, too." Hal responded sincerely.

"And... actually, no." he said. "I haven't." he admitted.

"I've been a bit swamped with my own paperwork, to be honest." he sighed.

"Why?" he asked.

"How's it been going?"

Hal was silent, before looking at his phone and checking the server.

"..............................I see." he said after a long pause.

"Angela." he then addressed her.

"We need to talk." he said.

"About your employment, and your future at the Unit."

"....hm." Hal muttered.

"Well, you're not due back to work for another few days." he commented.

"However, you seem to be recovering admirably." he said.

"I would like to see you in my office tomorrow. Briefly." he told her.

"We have something we need to discuss."

A few seconds later, her superior showed up, and was directed to sit as well.

"....Angela?" he asked when he saw she was there.

"What are you doing here?" he asked her.

"I thought you wouldn't be back for another few days." he went on, a hint of resentment to his tone.

"...you're looking well, though." he then commented.

"Hm. I see." he muttered.

"Well. Good." was all he said, his tone a bit curt.

It was then that they heard the secretary speak.

"All right." she said.

"Agent Sharp will see you now." she told them.

"Who?" the man asked.

"Both of you." was the response given.

The man followed her into the office, and they sat down in front of the desk.

Sharp looked at them both, before sighing.

"There's no point in beating around the bush and using flowery language here." he said. "I have a busy day ahead of me, and I want to get this over and done with." he told them.

"Mr. Walters..." he said to the man, looking at him. "You are barely competent at half of your job when you even DO that part of your job, signifying that you are overpromoted." he commented.

"I'm demoting you down a level." he told him, causing the man to freeze, seemingly in shock.

"Miss Hayes." he then said, looking at Angela. "I'm moving you up." he told her. "Specifically, to the position that Mr. Walters previous held, that is now vacant."

Sharp just smirked in response.

"Ah, yes." he said.

"I did say that." he told her.

"However, that's only one part of it." he then said, before handing her a paper with the job description and requirements listed on it.

Candidate must have the proper education and practical knowledge.* was what one part read. However, there was an asterisk there as well.

*However, if the candidate can definitively prove that they have the proper working knowledge and hands-on experience, then that can be accepted as a substitute for the proper education. is what it led to.

"See, other places get bogged down with the proper papers and such, but I value those that have proven they can do the job. It doesn't matter HOW much education you have... if you can do the job, and do it well, then I feel you deserve the job." he explained to her.

"However, if it makes you feel better, you can strive to GET that education while you have the position." he then added.

"I'll make sure it doesn't." Sharp responded.

"See, basically, you'll be doing the things you've been doing already, but, sadly, there'll be more paperwork involved." he told her.

"But... I saw what you've been doing with our paperless paperwork." he then went on. "I'm sure you'll be able to take on that challenge." he continued.

"By the way, you are dismissed, Mr. Walters." he then told the man.

"Ah... ah... I..." the man stammered.

"You are dismissed." Sharp repeated, narrowing his eyes.

The man left, clearly still flabbergasted, and Sharp then looked at Angela, his expression softer now.

"Angela, if you think it'll be too much for you, we might be able to work something out so that you're not spending stupidly long hours here." he told her.

Sharp thought for another moment, and then he slammed a fist into the palm of his other hand, in such a way that indicated he'd come to a conclusion.

"I have it!" he said.

"Possibly. It depends on if you're up for it." he then added.

"See, paperwork is something that needs to be done, but it doesn't need to be done EVERY DAY." he reasoned. "You can keep your current schedule and duties, but perhaps dedicate one day of your week to doing paperwork." he said. "I'll even let you work from home for that day." he continued.

"Granted, that DOES take away one day of practical work and such, but will being able to work from home make it more bearable?" he asked her.

"Especially since we're moving to a completely paperless operation, so you'll never need to actually come into the office to do any of it." he then added.

Sharp nodded in response.

"Then we have a deal." he said.

He then started digging through a small stack of paperwork, before sliding it towards her.

"Promotion paperwork." he told her.

"Fill it out right now, and I can fast-track this so that it's put through by the time you return to work proper." he said with a small smile.

"Oh, and do you want or need a new set-up for working at home?" he then asked.

"I can recommend someone to help you make a computer or laptop for working at home."