( That earns a smile at last, warm and rare. Grateful, even, that he's here. Sure beats the Hell out of the alternative. )

I dunno, he might give you a pass this time.

( He rolls his shoulders in a shrug, following Jim's gaze and remembering, yeah, he was in the middle of something. Time to walk and talk, Captain, while he scoffs: )

Why not. Place wasn't gonna run itself. No doctor for the past four months- the Hell is that computer thinking?