He stopped in surprise and turned to face me fully. "I did not see that coming," he said and I chuckled.
                          
"I'm an old man, Sean. I can't chase you around the hospital forever. I want a break. I've done a lot in my life, seen a lot, lost some things too. I just want to enjoy the rest of it, working on my hobbies."
                          
"Hobbies? You have hobbies? What kind of hobbies? Do you even have the time to do them?"
                          
"Exactly," I said. "I don't have the time. Between working here and helping with the Academy, I haven't been able to find time to do the things I enjoy outside of work."
                          
"Like what?"
                          
I shrugged, not wanting to get into the details. "Doesn't matter. The point is, I'm old enough to retire and I want to."
                          
Sean's shoulders slumped. Exhaustion pulled at the corners of his eyes and I knew I was going to have to force him to take a few days off to rest up soon. If left alone, Sean would burn himself out. I was surprised Owen hadn't come around to demand I give his brother a couple days off. He was always on point with that.
                          
"I need to think about this," Sean said.
                          
I nodded in understanding. I threw him off with my news of wanting to retire. "Think about it. I think you'll do good for our patients, protecting them from outside forces."
                          
He didn't say anything for a few moments before his beeper went off. He checked it.
                          
"I have to go."
                          
I nodded, a little envious. He was right. I wasn't as hands on as I wanted to be but I didn't regret focusing more on paperwork. People were treated safely in the hospital without worry of the press or the police because I kept them protected. Patients got organ transplants because I was able to make good cases for them to have the organ rather than someone else. New treatments were in use because of my research and reports. Even our equipment was top of the line because I was able to woo the donors into handing over more money than they were expecting. I was also in a position to protect employees from the rare lawsuits that came our way. I never regretted taking on the role that I have now.
                          
When I got back to my office I noticed Owen leaning against the wall. He was typing on his phone. Maybe he was on point with getting Sean time off.
                          
"Owen, is something the matter?" I asked.
                          
He looked up at me and tucked his phone away.
                          
"I wish to speak to you about a matter."
                          
"Is everything okay?" I asked, growing concerned.
                          
"Yes," he nodded.
                          
I went into my office with him behind me. I settled down at my desk, motioning for him to take one of the visitor chairs.
                          
After the Ashley Waters mission, Owen's wardrobe grew slightly. He mixed up his grey suit for grey sweaters and slacks now. He was wearing such an outfit now. They probably would never admit it, but the Ashley Waters mission changed the Blackbourne team. They became a lot closer, less formal with each other, and more determined to do missions, as if trying to find something or prove some kind of point. They were known to take on missions more often than they said no to them.
                          
Owen shifted in his seat and I frowned.
                          
Distracted. Owen Blackbourne was distracted and I could tell, which meant he was very distracted. It made me nervous, wondering what brought him to my office.
                          
"Owen?" I called out to get his attention.
                          
His grey eyes flickered to my face and his body stiffened, seeming to steel his resolve for this discussion.