Three months later.

Scully breezed into the office a little earlier than usual, in a very good mood. She was finally starting to feel like everything was going right for her. She had been officially dating Michael for two months now and it was going great. Things were getting better and better between them and she felt as if, for the first time in ages – if not ever – that she was dating the right kind of guy. Not a psychopath, violent, married or a fetishist, things were definitely looking good at last. She smiled to herself as she hung up her coat and sat at her desk.

From his desk on the other side of the office Mulder watched her. He was hurt that she hadn't even said good morning to him. In the nine years they'd been working together she'd always found time to say good morning, even when she wasn't feeling great or pissed at him. After a few more minutes of silence Mulder decided he couldn't take it anymore. He dropped the folder he'd been reading loudly on the desk, causing Scully's head to snap up and turn to look in his direction.

"Good. Now you're actually acknowledging my presence maybe you can tell me what the hell is up with you." She looked at him slightly confused. But before she could say anything, he continued. "And don't look at me like you don't know what I'm talking about. Since when do you completely ignore me when you walk in of a morning? Even when you've been pissed at me beyond belief you've still been able to manage a 'hello' or a 'good morning' if nothing else. So what's changed?" He stopped, leaving the question hanging in the air. Scully stared at him for a few moments, mouth slightly open. She took a breath and exhaled before going to answer.

"I'm sorry, Mulder, if you think I've been ignoring you. But if you want the truth I guess I just kinda. …Forgot." Off his look, she continued. "I know that sounds terrible, but I was a little preoccupied. I'm sorry, I really am." Mulder closed his eyes for a moment and looked away from her. When he opened them, even though his gaze was averted from her, she could still see the hurt in them. She bit her lip slightly, not really knowing what to say to him. Suddenly he stood up and moved toward the door.

"Mulder?"

"I'm going for a walk to clear my head," he replied abruptly. He was half way out the door when he stopped and turned back round to face her. "I hope he's worth it Scully, for your sake as well as mine." Without another word he walked out the door and down the hallway. When she'd heard the elevator doors ping shut and she knew he wasn't coming back, Scully dropped her head into her hands and sighed loudly.

Mulder returned, slightly less hurt, from his walk an hour later to an empty office. He walked over to his desk and sat down. It was a good five minutes before he noticed the note by his keyboard, written in Scully's handwriting. He picked it up and let his eyes wander over the words.

Mulder, Gone to Quantico to file autopsy report. Back soon. Scully.

Fair enough, he thought to himself. He was actually a little surprised she'd told him; she'd become so closed off from him recently, hardly telling him anything. And it was all since she'd started dating that new guy. Mulder had only met him briefly but that was enough to make him dislike the guy. Sure, it seemed like he was treating Scully well enough, not that she would've said if he wasn't, but there was just something about him that Mulder didn't like.

But what? After meeting him, he'd chalked it up to his arrogance and slight jealousy that Scully was actually getting on with her life. But now he wasn't so sure. The sound of the phone ringing broke through his reverie. His knee jerk reaction was to reach for the phone on his desk but was surprised to find that the ringing was coming from Scully's extension. He stood up, crossed the office and answered the phone on the fourth ring, doing his best impression of a secretary.

"Hello basement, how may I direct your call?"

"Hi is Agent Scully there please?" Mulder paused, eyes sweeping round the room, apparently looking for Scully.

"No I'm sorry she's not here right now. Would you like to leave a message?" A pause at the other end.

"Yes. Tell her Michael Collins called to see if tonight was still ok. Think you can remember that?"

"I think so, but I'd better write it down, just incase," Mulder replied in his best dumb voice.

"Thank you," Michael replied curtly before hanging up. Mulder made a rude gesture to the receiver before replacing it and sitting back down at his desk. He leaned back in his chair and put his feet up on the desktop. After a moments thought he opened a drawer and pulled out a bundle of sharp pencils.

About a half hour later Scully walked into the office to find Mulder leaning back in his chair, aiming a pencil at the ceiling. There were already about 15 or 20 others already stuck there. He hadn't noticed her entrance so she stood in the doorway for a few minutes, watching him. Just as he took aim with the 25th pencil she stepped forward and spoke.

"Looks like you've had a productive afternoon," her tone was more than a little mocking. He jumped slightly and in his haste to sit upright, knocked his chair backwards and toppled off it, landing on the floor with a thump. Scully laughed a little as Mulder scrambled to his feet and stood the chair up again before sitting back down in it.

"Erm… yes my afternoon has been very productive. I've done quite a bit of paperwork." She raised her eyebrow and he shrugged sheepishly. Scully couldn't help but laugh. She shook her head before sitting down at her desk and opening a file. Mulder smiled slightly; did this mean she wasn't mad at him anymore? He hated it when there was friction between them, so he hoped that things were now ok, although he wasn't anxious to press the issue further, just incase.

About an hour later it hit him like a flood. The message from Michael; he'd completely forgotten about it!

"Um Scully?" She looked up from the paperwork she was doing.

"Mm?"

"While you were out Michael called." Her eyebrows rose at this and she could feel the anger boiling inside her. Why hadn't he said something as soon as she'd come in?

"Look I know you're gonna be angry with me for not telling you when you came in but I honestly forgot." She eyed him warily but said nothing, so he continued. "He said he called to see if tonight was still ok. That's all I know." Recognition registered on her face before she turned and picked up the receiver of her phone. After dialing the number she placed the handset to her ear and looked back over at Mulder, who had stood and was starting to walk across the room. She called his name and he turned back round.

"Where are you going?"

"I gathered you'd want some privacy so I thought I'd deliver my case report to Skinman." He was about to walk out the door when Scully's voice stopped him.

"Mulder?"

"Yea?"

"Thanks for passing on the message." Her expression had softened when he looked at her, and for a moment he felt his heart give a slight tug.

"No problem." He smiled before walking out the office. It was only after he'd gone that Scully noticed Michael's voice in her ear and began talking to him, confirming their plans for dinner that night.

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Sorry it's been a while since I posted, but I've been real busy. Hope yall are still reading and had a nice Christmas and New Year. I'm swamped with coursework and crap at the moment, but I'll try and post when I get a spare minute.
And keep on hitting that little button lol.

Lily
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