He nodded. "As always, Miss Skovgaard, I shall endeavor to do my best." Not really, but he didn't have to tell her that.

Relieved to lay back down as soon as he was sitting, Dory used whatever abdominal strength he had to make the descent a slow process. Her hands on his chest felt so pleasant and she was so close. A few added seconds of her proximity wouldn't hurt.

Dory tried to move his arms only for everything below his elbow to flop about uselessly. "Well," he laughed, "that's a new one for me."

  

She had seen what his carefulness had brought before but the promise offered so suavely from his lips left a half smile on Malou's face, for now she'd chose to believe him, to hope this time he learned his lesson. There were times when she did wonder at the frequency of his accidents, either he had really bad luck or he placed himself into harms way on purpose for some reason she could not discern.

For all her worries about Mr. Fisk Malou could not fault him for the humor he held as a patient. Indeed he tended to take things with a sense of humor she wished many of her patients might strive harder for. Malou rewarded him with a small chuckle. "I suppose it is." She commented as she began to think of possibilities.

"I'd like to try a spell, if you don't mind. We will give it time to take affect, you can rest while it does, and then we shall go from there." Malou offered.

  

---

He didn't feel particularly in need of rest, and he certainly didn't wish to waste what little time he had with her before shift change sleeping. "You may on one condition," he said with a smirk. "You stay and chat with me while we wait. I have terrible anxiety about things like this, as you well know." He didn't, and she likely knew it. Still, he had to at least try.

  

Oh, conditions? Malou’s eyebrow rose ever so slightly at the request. If anyone were to place conditions on their own healing, though, it was likely to be Mr. Fisk. “If you say so.” Malou agreed, slight disapproval in her voice at what she knew was likely an untruth having treating him time again. But the wing was quiet for the morning and Malou was in no rush, most of her patients were asleep as it was. Perhaps it might be nice to have some company and conversation.

She waved her wand using a nonverbal spell and then took a seat on the chair beside him, her eyes watching for any changes that might occur. “And what would you like to speak of Mr. Fisk?”

  

---

He grinned as she sat comfortably next.to him. Yes, volunteering for the Christmas overnight shift was a good call, after all. Had Dory known she would be working tonight he would've found some ridiculous injury hours ago so that she could keep him company.

"Well, it is Christmas." He pointed out once more. "What's your favorite Christmas story?"

  

He wanted a Christmas story? Malou found that odd, but she gave him a gentle smile nonetheless. “Traditional, or from my own experience?” She found herself asking. She had plenty of fond memories of her own family’s Christmases, but also had many stories from working each year at the hospital. “As a Christian I suppose the only answer I should have is that of the birth of Jesus.” Afterall, Malou had been raised in a Church going family. “But I know quite a few others that always make me smile.”

  

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