Jeff looks up at the building, fighting himself every step of the way as people pass by, "Back to the grind."

He walks through the doors underneath the Hamish, Hamish & Hamlin sign, pulling his phone out of his pocket as it chimes.

Annie E: Have fun at work! Don't hurt yourself ;)

Jeff W: It's too early for smiley faces.

Annie E: Suck it up, Winger

Jeff chuckles, sliding it back in his pocket and scanning his badge at the front desk.

"Hey, there he is!" Jeff turns his head at the yell, "About time you showed up!"

"'Sup, Cakowski?" Jeff points at him across the lobby, "Yeah, they finally allowed me to work again!"

Jeff slides into the elevator, looking at his briefcase. The elevator ride, which used to seem so short, now feels like forever. Staring at his reflection in the mirror, he sighs and runs a hand through his hair before the door opens.

"TANGO?! IS THAT YOU?!" He hears, popping his head out of the elevator and looking both ways before he spots Alan Conner.

"Sundance!" Jeff smiles, walking towards the man.

"You're not on crutches!" Alan exclaims, "Or in a wheelchair! Damn, I lost the pot!"

"Nope!" Jeff laughs, "Guess it's my money now, suckers!"

Alan wraps an arm around Jeff's shoulders, walking with him to his office, "Don't worry, broski," he says, patting Jeff's chest, "I took care of everything while you were gone."

"Because that's a reassuring thought," Jeff laughs, "Just kidding, Connor. ...Kind of."

ΔΔΔ

"How is he still an EMT?!" Troy questions, both hands out in front of him in exasperation.

"Who, Todd?" Annie questions, "You know he's a military paramedic!"

"So?!" Troy sighs, "That doesn't mean you have to be a douchebag! 'In the military, we did this...' 'In the military, we did that…' Ugh! Douchebag!"

"Troy!" Annie pats his shoulder, "I think it's because we just got off a long shift."

"I guess…" Troy smiles, "Wanna get lunch? I'm headed to this dive bar! Cheap specials!"

"No thanks," Annie yawns, "I think i'm gonna head home and get to bed! See you, Troy!"

"Have a nice weekend, Edison!" Troy shouts back, turning to head the other direction, "Lunch with your new boytoy? Don't mind if I do!"

"Now…" Troy looks around, "Who would know where Jeff eats? ...Abed!"

ΔΔΔ

"Mr. Winger," a voice comes through his intercom.

"Yes, Sabrina," Jeff presses the button on his intercom, responding to the voice.

"Mr. Hawthorne is here to see you," Sabrina says cheerily.

Jeff sighs. "Send him in," Jeff says as he smacks his hands against his head and to the echoing thought of 'Fuck. Why me?' "Thank you, Sabrina."

"Jeffrey!" Pierce kicks open his door, "Glad to see you're still in the land of the living! I was worried I'd have to change lawyers to that fruitcake, Mark, down the hall!"

"Pierce!" Jeff stands up to shake his clients hand, "What can I do for you on this fine day?"

"Straight to business, as usual!" Pierce slides into the chair in front of Jeff's desk, "I like it. So…"

ΔΔΔ

Annie slides into her apartment, setting her work duffle in the middle of the hallway, "Home sweet home…"

Stepping into the kitchen brings back memories of their first dinner, and she runs her fingers against her lips, smiling to herself.

Her phone rings, and she pulls it to her ear, "Abed?" She questions.

"Annie," He says pointedly, "I may have done something…"

"What did you do now?" Annie's voice raises, sitting down on her couch.

"Yeah… Uh…" Abed stutters, "ImayormaynothavetoldTroywhereJeffeats."

"YOU WHAT?!" Annie yells, "That's not the most upsetting fact about what you just said, because don't think I didn't catch on that you're stalking Jeff, but we'll get to that later!"

"Annie," Abed says calmly, "Why are you so upset with me? He's just getting lunch; there's no guarantee that Jeff will even be there."

"You better hope to whatever power you believe in that he won't be there," Annie starts, "Otherwise I will kill you, and it won't be pretty."

"Ok," Abed retaliates, "But if you kill me… Who's gonna watch Superstore with you… And listen to you talk all about how Jonah and Amy belong together…"

"BECAUSE THEY'RE PERFECT," Annie says, "AND THEY'RE GONNA REALIZE IT WHEN- YOU KNOW WHAT? NO!" Abed stays silent, "I'm going to go take a nap before I see Jeff later tonight. I'll deal with you later!"

ΔΔΔ

"Alright, Jeffrey, I think we can call it for the day," Pierce says, standing up, "I won't be around next week; one of my daughters is performing in some a capella crap in Atlanta."

"That sounds horrible," Jeff says, sticking his hand out, "I'm sure it could be worse."

"No," Pierce says, "It's like a real life Glee concert."

"I hate Glee," Jeff says without hesitation.

Pierce stands in the door, "Me too, Jeffrey. Me too." As Pierce walks away, he turns to shout back over his shoulder, "Go treat yourself to something nice, on me."

"If you say so," Jeff says, "Have fun with the Glee concert!"

Pierce doesn't hear him, or doesn't respond, and Jeff feels like an idiot. He turns his head to look down at Sabrina, smiling back at him.

"Mr. Winger," Sabrina asks, "Do you need something?"

"I'm going on lunch, Sabrina," Jeff says putting his hand on her shoulder, "I don't have anything else… Right?"

"Nothing scheduled for the afternoon, Mr. Winger," Sabrina replies, "Why?"

"Then I'm gonna take a long lunch," Jeff says, walking back into his office to grab his jacket, "A long, long lunch. I'll be at my usual spot."

"What should I tell Ted?" Sabrina inquires.

"Nothing," Jeff says quickly, "Nothing at all."

ΔΔΔ

The place erupts the moment the door shuts behind Jeff. "There he is!" Someone yells, "We thought you died! Duncan! Winger didn't die!"

"Britta," Jeff says, sitting down at the bar, "You still work at a bar."

"Hah hah," Britta retorts, "I forgot you aren't likable at all."

"Says the woman who wanted to sleep with me," Jeff fires back.

Britta scowls, sticking her tongue out at him.

"I take it you're gonna get the usual, Winger?" Duncan asks.

"As usual," Jeff says, drinking the water Britta set in front of him, "You're welcome, by the way, Duncan."

"I already paid you," Duncan replied from the kitchen, "No need to bring it up every time you see me!"

"This must be the place," Troy looks up at the sign, as he opens it, "Oh, look… Abed was right"

"Hey, welcome to Puzzles!" Britta says, seeing the young man standing at the door, "The puzzle is why is it named Puzzles!"

"You don't have to say that every time," Duncan says, "Slater wrote it because you hate it."

"Hey," Troy says, walking up to take the seat next to Jeff, "Are you Jeff?"

"Uh," Jeff hesitates, "No?"

"I'm Troy," the younger gentleman says, "I work with Annie."

"Oh, right!" jeff says, "Did you just get off a shift?"

"Yeah!" Troy smiles, "Annie didn't tell you?"

"No?" Jeff says, pulling his phone out, "I am seeing her later though. Troy, you should order whatever you want. My treat." Jeff puts his hand on Troy's shoulder.

"Thanks, Jeff," Troy replies, "I appreciate it… But I don't know what to eat here."

"Britta," Jeff says, "Get my man, Troy here, the usual!"

"I actually came here to talk to you, Jeff," Troy says, setting his soda down.

"Are you here to give me the 'Best Friend' talk?" Jeff inquires, turning his head to look at Troy.

"Uh… Well…" Troy sighs, "Kind of?"

"Troy, don't worry," Jeff says, fiddling with a napkin, "I don't want to hurt her… She's…"

"Incredible," Troy finishes, " You hurt her, and I will send some ninjas after you."

"Noted," Jeff says as their food arrives, "Now eat your burger so we can get out of here."

"We should totally hang out some time, Jeff," Troy says, throwing his napkin on his plate, "I think you would really enjoy chillin' with Abed and I."

"Yeah, that sounds fun, dude," Jeff says, patting Troy on the back, "Let me know; I can work around your schedule."

"For sure. I'll see ya later, Jeff," Troy says, sliding off the bar stool.

"Thanks for stopping by," Britta shouts after Troy, "It was really nice meeting you!"

"Later," Jeff waves him off, before slowly turning his head towards Britta, "Don't you say it."

"He's cute," Britta smirks, running her hand through her hair, "We're screwed."

"Speak for yourself, blondie," Jeff downs his whiskey, "But yeah… We're screwed."