Simple Complexity

Part 2

The physicist was still in bed when Holtz returned to the building, the lower floor was cool and icy and Holtzmann put the items she was carrying down on the kitchen bench, rushing toward the thermostat as she rubbed her hands together, generating warmth as she turned on the heater. She checked her watch quickly, knowing she had about five minutes before Erin's alarm would go off and she would walk into the lab in her dressing gown to check her emails before heading downstairs to make a coffee.

The blonde placed the two coffee cups and muffin on Erin's desk including her extra purchase, picking up her own cup and retreating to her desk, taking off her coat and throwing it on the pile of clothes sitting on the stool at the end of the desk, nerves bubbling in her stomach as she sipped the hot beverage, eager for Erin to wake.

She didn't have to wait long and the brunette walked into the lab, smiling sleepily at Holtz as she slid into her chair, and then she paused, her eyes darting from the bouquet of daisies on her desk to the blonde.

'Holtz?'

Erin picked up the flowers, bringing them to her face with a smile as she touched her nose to the petals, her eyes not leaving the blonde's.

'I just thought, after, you know last night, they might make you smile.'

Erin nodded, biting her bottom lip and then noticing the coffee cup and paper bag and she put down the flowers, picking up the beverage and bringing it to her lips. She opened the paper bag, smiling at Holtz as she pulled out her favourite breakfast, an apple muffin.

'I know they're not the Hydrangeas that you like, but I wanted it to be like your book.'

'How did you know I liked Hydrangeas?'

'You told me.'

'What? When,' Erin asked taking a sip of her drink, tilting her head as if she herself was trying to remember.

'That time when we were at the bar, when we asked Jennifer for this place, they were in a vase, at the bar, you pointed them out.'

'What Jill?' Erin said, shaking her head, a big smile on her face, and she broke off a piece of the muffin, 'That was so long ago. And you remembered?'

'They're your favourite, of course I remember.'

'Well, what a great start to the morning,' Erin said with a smile, popping some apple in her mouth, 'the daisies are perfect, thank you.'

'Anytime Miss Gilbert,' Holtzmann said with a satisfied grin from across the room.

The sufficient funding from the mayor's office, had allowed them access to literally anything and everything they needed. They were also able to upgrade the building a little more, adding a better heating system, paint on the walls, a functioning Fireman's Pole (Fire HoltzMann's Pole if the blonde was ever asked) along with using some of the money as a donation towards women in STEM, something the ladies were keen on setting up a foundation for in the future.

Kevin worked with them for almost a year before he headed back home to Australia, the women deciding not to employ anyone to replace him and so instead had calls diverted directly to their personal phones. Patty opted to take care of most of the paperwork as she preferred to read and research and so sitting at her laptop for hours was an enjoyed normality. Columbia had asked Erin and Patty to give some lectures on their work and both happily accepted, the former MTA employee embracing her passion and knowledge of the city, and its history.

Holtzmann had literally never left her desk from the first day they'd finally been set up in the Firehouse, her body often running on just adrenaline and Pringles, Erin the only one able to drag her away from her desk. The physicist taking her up to the roof for some quiet time, and the short break often turning into the pair chatting for hours in front of the small firepit while they toasted marshmallows or ordered a pizza to share.