AN:

I do not own Superstore.

This story takes place in Season 5, but Dina isn't dating Brian.

English is not my first language, so sorry if there are any spelling mistakes.

Appreciate the feedback :)

—

Chapter 1

At the break room everyone is getting ready to start their shifts, drinking coffee and gossiping. Then Amy walks in and everyone turns their attention to her.

- Good morning everyone! Let's start with the morning announcements! Corporate is asking us to 'maintain our eyes open to any suspicious activity regarding the frozen products'. - said Amy

- What does that even mean? - asked Jonah with a puzzled look on his face

- That probably means some products are past their expiration date - said Glenn

- Are we even allowed to sell those? - Jonah asked and Glenn shrugged

- Wait, where is Dina? - asked Sandra

- Umm...she is taking the day off - said Amy with a strange look on her face - Personal reasons.

- A day off? She doesn't take days off. She was literally here 2 days after having Glenn's kid. - Garret said with more concern than he was willing to admit

- How do you know that? - said Mateo

- Stalker alert - said Cheyenne

- What? I'm not a stalker. I just... - replied Garret slightly annoyed

- Wait, when I was out sick for a week you didn't notice and I am your best friend - interrupted Jonah looking a little upset

- I tought Randy was his best friend - said Sandra

- Nobody asked you, Sandra! - said Jonah - I'm gonna text Randy to see if you notice when he is sick.

- How do you even have Randy's number? - said Garret now visibly annoyed - You know what? It doesn't matter. Don't we have to work or something? - said Garret trying anything to stop this conversation.

- You are right, Garret. Everyone go to their designed section and let's start. - Amy said

- —

After finishing his morning announcements, Garret starts thinking to himself "It is perfectly normal for me to be worrying about a coworker. I mean it's not because it's Dina. It's because she haves lunch with me everyday. Where am I supposed to eat without her? With Justine? Gosh, I am going to miss making fun of how weird her tofu smells. I wonder why she took the day off, it is so unlike her"

He then decides to send her a text just to check if everything is okay but gets no reply.

- Garret, man, I have been calling you for ten minutes. What's up with you today? - said Jonah

- What? I'm fine, super fine, fine, fine, fine. - said Garret

- Okay, man. You are fineee - said Jonah making fun of him. Garret just rolled his eyes.

- But it is weird isn't it? Dina, who loves following rules, just taking a day off? She never even took a vacation. - Garret said

- Yeah, it is kind of strange when you put it like that. But I'm sure she is fine. - said Jonah. Seeing that Garret was still worried he added. - You should ask Amy, she probably knows. They have a surprisingly strong friendship, with very little boundaries- he said thinking about how Dina knew way too much about his and Amy's relationship.

- That's a good idea, man. Thanks - said Garret

- No problem. So I texted Randy - Jonah said

- Yep, gotta go man, I just saw Amy over there - he said rushing out

- What? I don't see her.

Garret went off looking for Amy, since he had no idea where she was but it was a nice way to get away from Jonah. Jonah was one of his best friends but when he talked about Randy it could go on for hours. He knocked at Amy's office door and she let him in.

- Hey Garret. Everything okay? - Amy said

- Yes. I was just wondering what's up with Dina. I know you said 'personal reasons' but it's just so weird her taking a day off.

- Sorry Garret, I'm not supposed to say anything. You know how Dina is.

- So there is something to say?

- Garret...

- Come on, Amy. It's just me, I'm not going to say anything.

- Okay, Dina called in sick. But she didn't want anyone to know because she said and I quote "I'm not some weak looser like Glenn" .

- Oh. But is she okay?

- She didn't sound too good over the phone. I'm thinking of going to check in on her at lunch, see if she needs anything.

- I can do it - he said faster than he should have. - I mean since you are manager now, I assume you are very busy. And I just finished my announcements, I don't mind going over there.

- Okay. You can't say I told you she was feeling bad though or she will kill me. I will just swing by after work.

- Great Amy, thank you.

- No problem. Keep me updated on her, okay?

- Of course. - Garret said leaving her office

—-

Garret was waiting for his lunch break to check in on Dina while checking his phone every five minutes to see if she had replied to his text with no luck. As he was doing this, Jonah walked over Amy and said

- Hey, do you think Garret is acting weird today?

- Yeah, I think he is just worried about Dina.

- He is, but don't you think he is worrying more than he should over just a coworker? - said Jonah

- I mean, I have been here for ten minutes and he hasn't stopped checking his phone. Do you think he is still hung up on her? - replied Amy

- Could it be? It would be great to have another couple to double date with us.

- Calm down, honey. Don't start planing their wedding yet. - said Amy making fun of him

- You know that you would like to see Garret as a bird daddy as much as I would.

Amy laughed at him.

- But do you thing she has forgiven him for the whole bird fiasco thing? - said Jonah

- I don't know. She got some other birds after that, so maybe she has moved on?

- I hope so. - said Jonah

—-

As his lunch break finally arrives, Garret tells Amy he is on his way to Dina's and gets out of the store faster than ever.

He drives the well known route to Dina's apartment, stopping by a restaurant he knows she likes to grab some vegetable soup for her. As he gets closer to the door he hears the familiar sound of her birds, even though they are much quieter than it used to be because she now has fewer birds than she used to have. To be honest, he still felt really guilty about the birds, even though it was an accident. He knew that he would never fully forgive himself for that, but Dina burning of his shoes was pretty bad as well so he thought they were even-ish.

The sound of the birds is interrupted by really loud coughs coming from inside, which he assumed was Dina. Time to go in, he thinks to himself. He knocks gently on her door and waits as steps slowly approach the door. Dina opens the door, with her cheeks red and face flushed, a blanket over her shoulder and a box of tissues on her hand. But weirdly she is dressed in her work clothes, even though she is not using her usual ponytail as her hair is down.

- Garret? - she says with a husky voice as her throat hurts with every syllable. - What are you doing here?