The day after the day after. She stood in front of the desk, not leaning on it as she usually did. "Look everyone, something bad happened. We all know it. We dealt with it. Now we get back to work."
Paz started up from his chair. "You heartless bitch!" he snarled. "How can you just stand there and act like everything's fine?"
Togusa glanced uneasily at the Major's stony face. "Paz..."
"He was crazy about you, goddammit! And you just-"
"Paz!" Ishikawa barked. He grabbed the other man's shoulder and propelled him toward the door. "Out."
Paz yanked his arm from Ishiakwa's grip. Without a backward glance he stormed out. Everyone remained where they were, trying not to look at the Major.
"Go home," she said finally, in the same icy tone she'd been using since it happened. "All of you. We'll get back to work tomorrow."
They fled, following Paz into the corridor. Only Ishikawa lingered. "How you doing, Major?"
She looked at him, something waking in her eyes, as if he was the first thing she'd really seen in nearly two days. Absently she raised one hand, rubbing her temple. "What am I going to do, Ishikawa?"
Her voice trembled; a tiny bit, almost unnoticeable. But it was more fear than she'd ever displayed in all the years he'd known her. Ishikawa sighed. Poor girl, he thought, and almost laughed at the incongruity of it. "Same thing you just told the guys, Major. Keep doing what we do. Batou wouldn't want it any other way."
She flinched at the name. "Yeah."
He wanted to say more, needed to, but Paz had already done that/ Shaking his head in frustration, he left her.