Prompt: "It's summer break, and that means vacation time! Unfortunately, something goes wrong along the way."
A/N: Some S5 spoilers that I would be amazed if you had managed to miss since it's all over everywhere all the time.
"Hey, you got a minute?"
Jeff looked up to see Grant, his immediate supervisor, standing in his doorway. He looked harried and busy so Jeff merely nodded in response.
"I hate to do this, Jeff, but it's happening across the office - we just got word that a major political corruption scandal is about to break. We can't afford to have any of our prosecutors, even our most junior ADAs, off right now. I promise you'll be appropriately compensated but we're going to have to revoke your vacation time." He was thoroughly sincere but not as apologetic as he might have been. This was a potentially career-altering once-in-a-lifetime occurrence. Jeff was unhappy, of course, but there was a tiny, buried nugget of elation. The coming months meant cleaning house, even in the state's attorney's office and that meant a possibility of promotion. If Peter Florrick could do it, there was every possibility that Jeff, who had no aspirations to holding public office, could leverage this into a successful promotion, at least.
"I get it. I'll... Change my plans. Thanks for letting me know, Grant." He caught the man's raised eyebrow and smiled. "Seriously. Thanks." He smiled back, nodded once, and left as Jeff sat, already formulating a plan to break the news to his former study group.
"I can't go." Amidst the cries of 'what!' and 'that isn't nice at all!', Jeff stood, wincing apologetically as the words fell from his lips. "I know, it sucks, and I'm sorry but my boss essentially said everyone has to stay around the office and work like dogs." He took a deep breath before he dropped the important piece that would, hopefully, get him off the hook. "This means a lot for my career. I can't pass this up." The jeers quickly turned into sighs of resigned exasperation.
"You're really going to stay here all alone?" Britta's disappointed question broke him out of his thoughts and he sighed.
"I don't want to. I want to go see Troy just as much as anyone." He glanced at Abed. "Well, as much as most people. But I really can't miss this. And Troy will be back for Christmas." Britta waved away his explanation.
"I know, I know, it's just... Sad. Nobody will be around to keep you company." Jeff was about to interject that he likely wouldn't have time when Annie cleared her throat and attention suddenly shifted her way.
"About that." She took in everyone's curious faces and grimaced. "I'll be around to keep Jeff company because I can't make it either." She closed her eyes, bracing herself for the anger and vitriol but none came. Annie opened her eyes to find everyone staring at her, awaiting further explanation. "My bubbe is really sick and they don't expect her to last that much longer." Annie took a deep shuddering breath. "I'm working reduced hours at the clinic as it is and I can't really afford to take time off anyway so... A staycation just make sense right now. I'm sorry!" Her plaintive cry seemed to rouse something in Shirley because she rushed forward and hugged Annie, murmuring comfortingly into her hair.
"Don't you worry, pumpkin, we understand." Releasing Annie only enough to see Jeff, she glared at him. "I know you'll be busy and all, but you best take care of Annie, you understand?" Jeff nodded, well on his way to revising his statement about not having time already. "Good." Nodding decisively, she marched to the door. "We leave in a week, everyone else," she turned to eye Britta and Abed fiercely, "Better be ready!"