" We should totally have a sign on our door."

"And just what would that name be?" Mindy asks despite Susan's grunts of protest.

"Mar's Intrepid Satellite Squad." Lexi grins at them and Mindy wonders how long she's been thinking about this. "We can shorten in to M.I.S.S of course."

"Oh God," Susan says, but there's a small smile on her face and Mindy stores that into her brain to analyze later.

"Why do I have a feeling you already made this sign?" Mindy deadpans because really they all know the answer to that.

Lexi Rodriguez who's twirling her lavender colored hair in mock innocence. Mindy knows she can never trust that look. She pulls something out from under her desk and presents it to them.

"Behold!"

"I'm beholding it alright." Susan says but Mindy can hear appreciation in her voice.

It's one of those wooden signs with rope, printed on top of it are the words "Mar's Intrepid Satellite Squad". There was a small rectangle of white board material underneath it where Lexi already doodled cartoon caricatures of the three of them.

"That's adorable," Lexi hands it over to her and Mindy is once again thankful she managed to bully Venkat into getting her female interns. "I'll hang it on our door."

"I'm surprised you managed to go through most of the day without telling us." Susan says, raising one perfect eyebrow.

"I used up all my patience for the week," Lexi replies ." Which means I can finally ask Mindy about her date with Mark."

"Ugh no," Mindy scrunches her face at her. "We're just friends, heck we only just recently passed the Small Talk at The Hallway stage."

After going out for Korean a week ago they started some good natured friendly texting. ( They were currently texting each other about super power limitations but Lexi didn't need to know that.) Not exactly romance novel material. Not that she expected it to be more.

"Then what's with the fancier than usual outfit you got on?" Susan makes a vague hand gesture. " you don't usually show up to work in a black dress and you're wearing black tights."

"I try to dress up for you guys just once." Mindy dead pans. "And this is how you treat me? I'm never wearing my cute outfits for you ever again. It'll be sweaters forever."

Sweaters and hoodies were are clearly the superior clothing choice.

" it's a good look." Lexi says. "very Audrey Hepburn, but with glasses."

"I've always wanted to be the next Korean Audrey Hepburn." Mindy sighs dramatically. "And to answer your question Susan, I'm meeting my non NASA friends later and I really am too lazy to bring another outfit."

"Oh smart move, I hate changing in workplace bathrooms." Lexi gives her a thumbs up. " Cute shoes too."

Later, after she bids her interns goodbye and hangs their new sign up she bumps into the boss man and an old friend.

"Hey, Team Mars!" She greets Venkat and Rich with a smile. There are some experiences you can't share without ending up liking each other, saving a guy on mars was one of them.

"I remember when you were shy." Venkat tells her and at this point it's become his new hello.

"Going out tonight?" Rich asks her, no doubt taking note of her definitely not a hoodie clothing choice.

Before she can answer she hears a very familiar laugh coming from the opposite end of the hall and sure enough Mark Watney is there surrounded by his fellow astronaut friends.

They're all laughing at Mindy can really feel how tight knit and close they all are.

"Gotta take a break from all that space paparazzi work." She laughs and send the other members of Team Mars on their way before exiting this suddenly crowded hallway herself.

"Hey, Mindy!" Mark calls with a smile before she can pass them. "You look good today."

He has look on his face that she can't quite place, probably because she isn't in her usual "comfort clothing ".

"Hi?" She says and hates how it sounds like a question but these people are something else. Martinez has his arm around Mark's shoulder, partners in crime of course. Beck and Johanssen are holding hands and looking adorable together. Vogel just kinda has this aura of cool.

Commander Lewis is even more badass in person.

Luckily Mark quickly makes the needed introductions before any dead air occurs.

"Mars hasn't totally destroyed my manners." He says "No matter what Mother Hen Commander Lewis says."

The Ares 3 crew make various noises of what Mindy thinks might probably be agreement.

"Ignore Mark," Commander Lewis says and oh god she just made eye contact with her. " He likes to pretend he's more charming than he really is. It's nice to meet you Mindy."

"Charming pain in my ass." Martinez says and Mark looks at him in equal parts annoyance and glee.

Mindy doesn't know why but she feels like someone just put a spotlight on her and is feeling at least twenty different levels of embarrassment.

"It's nice meeting you all too," She says " Glad to meet the crew that kept Mark out of trouble on the way back."

"Easier said than done." Lewis says and Mindy is very glad Mark has such good friends.

"Well, I gotta head out." She says because she doesn't want to keep her friends waiting and she also kinda feels like she's intruding on a moment here.

" Bye guys," she tells them. " Happy treasure hunting Captain Blondebeard."

She doesn't catch the surprised look Mark sends her way, or the teasing looks and knowing smiles the Ares 3 crew members send Mark's way.