V

The next two weeks seemed to drag by. Mulder went back to his own apartment after work on Thursday since he seemed to be able to walk fine by then, but managed to get out of going back to work until Monday. "I'd rather sit around and read or watch daytime TV than be in the office sitting at my desk like a lump of clay," he told her on Wednesday. But Monday he was back, shuffling half-heartedly through files and tossing pencils at the ceiling with his good hand. Nothing more was said about their upcoming tryst and although she wouldn't have admitted on upon pain of death, it was all Scully could do not to dwell on it almost every moment she was awake.

Friday he went back to the doctor and returned without the sling, although the wrist was still carefully wrapped in a heavy Ace bandage. "The doc said he's never seen anyone heal as fast and after looking at my chart, can't believe I didn't do something to make it worse," Mulder proudly told Scully when he returned from his appointment to find her sitting at his desk using his computer. "Little does he know my motivation."

It was the first time their plans had been mentioned since that night in her apartment and it was all Scully could do not to blush. Keep it cool, she told herself. "I wish I'd known that's all it takes to get you to listen to doctor's orders," she said dryly, quirking one eyebrow at him before turning back to the computer. "Just the promise of a reward does it?"

"Not any old reward," he smiled at her as he sat in one of the chairs in front of the desk. "This reward."

"Well don't plan on this being a reward ever again," she pointed out. "It's a one-time-only deal, G-man."

"Then I guess it's too bad I didn't hurt myself worse," he quipped. "Just a couple of sprains don't seem worth it."

She huffed but ignored him as she concentrated on what she was doing with the computer. Once she'd finished sending her document to the printer she said in a carefully offhand way, "So when did the doctor say your wrist would be fully healed?"

Glancing at him from beneath her brows she was relieved to see he wasn't smirking. "He said I could start using it normally on Monday," he said, digging in his suit pocket and bringing out a couple of sunflower seeds, one of which he tossed into his mouth and cracked. "What do you think of the Friday after?" he added almost too-casually.

"After work? Sounds good," she said, equally as nonchalant, walking over to get her printout. "Now, Mulder, you get to come up to Accounting with me and explain exactly why and how on the Beck case you managed to lose both of our cell phones and the extra clips for your gun, and damage the rental car so bad they wouldn't take it back without your signing a waiver."

He heaved a very put-upon sigh, but she saw that he was smiling slightly as he got out of the chair and followed her to the door.