He raised his hand and knocked.
"Alice?"
He waited a moment for her to call out. To permit him to enter.
It was quiet but for the opening and closing of cupboards.
"A-Alice. I k-know you're in there…", he said.
When no reply came this time either he started doubting himself. He didn't even know what he was doing there. He only had a few minutes before he had to return to his duties again.
At least he knew where she was. He didn't know what he would do had she disappeared again.
He started feeling anxious just thinking about it.
Which again, brought him back to why he needed to talk to her in the first place.
To try and explain. Or at least put away time for him to do it.
He braced himself with by inhaling and exhaling, then raising his hand again he lowered his voice into the most authoritarian one he could still muster.
"Alice…!"
His bravado was lost in a moment's notice however, as the door suddenly flew open in his face and he had to jump back.
"A-Alice?"
Something unexpectant graced his side as she maneuvered past him. A backpack.
And taking a step back he realized she was wearing the duffle jacket Warner had ordered for her almost a year ago.
"W-where are you going?", he asked, worry tinting his voice.
"I'm going to school", she replied. Her voice crisp. No nonsense.
"School?", he echoed.
"School, Jasper", she agreed.
"You know, to get an education?", she elaborated, glancing at him over her shoulder.
"It's open now isn't it? And Warner's going to get mad if I skip. But I guess it won't matter if we get bombed by the rest of the Re Est-"
"Alice, dear, we need to t-talk", he tried to interject as he followed her down the corridor towards the elevators. And she was walking fast! Bag bouncing on her back.
But he did not get any further, because he blinked and she wasn't in front of him anymore.
He actually squeaked out of distress.
This was a new level of parenting he hadn't expected. Sure, Leila had slammed doors in his face back in her teens when she didn't want to talk to him. But at least he had been able to ground her through the wood.
Come to think of it he wasn't sure it was physically possible to ground Alice...
He ran a hand over his face, ruffling his moustache in the process, and sighed. Rested his weight against the wall.
To be honest, he thought he was done with all this. Perhaps it was actually time to start thinking of retirement…
Yes, he thought. Once this entire mess had sorted itself out. Once their new Supreme Commander had settled into her role. Maybe then he could resign, if his grandson felt confident enough, of course. Or just take a vacation. Perhaps he and Alice could visit Sweden.
He wondered if she would like that.
He stood up again and went into her room where he quickly located a post-it and a pen.
There are things I need to tell you, J.D
Then he left to return to his duties.