From: Lola Date: Fri, 3 Dec 2010 21:57:39 -0500 Subject: Breadcrumbs by Lolabeegood Source: direct Title: Breadcrumbs Author: Lolabeegood Email: Lolabeegood@gmail.com Distribution: Archive with my name attached. Rating: PG Category: S, R Keywords: Scully, Mulder, Skinner, Maggie, Bill, Diana, Kim, Lone Gunmen, MSR Spoilers: Let's just say the whole series to be safe Summary: There's a trail of breadcrumbs everyone needs to follow. Author's Notes: This started out as an entry on my Livejournal and became a little series. I decided to put them all together in one post for others who don't do the LJ thing. Enjoy! ******************************************* Skinner I have been trying to reach them for over an hour now and have had no luck. A body was found in Alexandria at a federal office building and the FBI has been called in to investigate. The body itself is covered in a foam-like substance and has a bluish tinge that has caused me to contact Mulder and Scully despite the unfavourable hour. Neither one is picking up their home or cell phone which I've been calling repeatedly. In the back of my mind I think they have gone off on another unapproved case and are avoiding me. Still, I think, it's worth dropping by his place. I bang on the door loudly, not only because of the hour but because of my urgency. I needs to get back to the scene before I am missed. I hear someone bang into something or possibly fall on the other side of the door and curse loudly. The door opens with a flourish. "What?" Mulder snaps before he sees the person on the other side. "Agent Mulder, I'm sorry to disturb you at 3am but..." "Sir," he musters as he starts to close the door over slightly. Skinner takes a moment to look at Mulder. He's obviously been roused from bed. His hair is going in every direction, he has no shirt on and his jeans are hanging low on his waist and unbuttoned as if pulled on in a hurry. "Mulder, is this a bad time?" I ask as I start to turn slightly red, thinking he might have a woman over. "Uh, no," he says, not quite believably. "I've been trying to reach you for over an hour and..." "I forgot to charge my cell, I guess," he says as he runs a hand through his hair. "Are you able to come with me to a crime scene?" I ask feeling very awkward. "Uh, yeah," he says as he looks into his apartment suspiciously "is this an X-file?" "That's why I've been trying to call you and Scully," I say and I notice him start to shift "I need you two to tell me." "You...you haven't been able to get Scully?" "No, I...maybe we should drop by her place too and pick her up?" I ask, realizing she was probably more needed at the scene then he is. "No, she's staying at her mother's tonight. I can call her there and..." "Mulder, maybe we can just handle this," I offer, not wanting to disturb her weekend at her moms. "She's just in Baltimore, sir. I'll call her before I leave." I take two steps into his apartment and notice him stiffen. He's hiding something from me. Maybe a case he's working on and doesn't want me to know about. "I'll...I'll just put on a shirt," Mulder says uncomfortably. He walks away from me and into the bedroom where he shuts the door behind him. I make no move to walk around his apartment because I'm not only not interested in whatever he's up to, but I just don't care about it right now. The one thing I do notice is how clean his apartment is. In the past it has been littered with old newspapers and crap all over the place. Today it looks like he cleaned up or threw out all his shit. "Ready," he says loudly as he shuts the bedroom door behind him. I take in his collared shirt and now buttoned jeans and think he looks at least presentable. "Let's go," he says as he opens the front door for me to exit. "Aren't you going to call Scully?" I ask as I walk towards him. "The body is covered in this foam and it's sort of blue..." "Already did," he says as he bounces on the balls of his feet. "She'll be calling you for the location once she's ready to leave." "That was quick, I..." "She said she was up with insomnia already," Mulder offers as he squeezes me out the door. "So, tell me about this case?" he asks as he locks his door. We drive to the scene and, like clockwork, Scully calls me from the road and gets directions to the location. An hour later she joins us looking none too pleased about being taken out of her bed at this ridiculous hour. "So, the body's inside?" she asks without saying hello to either of us. "Yeah, its..." Mulder starts. "Covered in foam and has a bluish colour to its pallor," Scully finishes as she walks ahead. "Yeah,' Mulder says as his eyes dart towards me. "Let's go," Scully says as she turns around to call him. He follows her quickly and I stand there for a moment and think about Mulder's reaction to Scully's knowledge about the body. She knew it was covered in foam and was blue, what's so strange about... Then, it dawns on me. Mulder did not know about the condition of the body when he called Scully to meet us. I merely gave her directions to the scene when we were on the phone, I gave her no details of the case. It wasn't until Mulder and I were standing in his front hall and leaving his place that I told him about the blue and the foam. To know that information when she arrived on the scene Scully had to have been within earshot in his apartment. Shit! Hindsight is 20/20. Mulder was half dressed, Mulder was protective about his bedroom when I stood at the door and in his apartment, Mulder pretended to call her at her mother's from his bedroom when really he was looking at her when he talked. Shit! I walk into the office building and find the two agents examining the scene. I'm not sure if I should acknowledge that I know the truth or pretend I'm really that dumb and tired and didn't make the connection. Scully is making some notes as she crouches next to the body and Mulder is standing protectively over her. As I walk towards them his eyes catch mine. He knows that I have figured out how Scully knew the information and he stands waiting to be chastised but begging me to say nothing in front of her. "Get anything yet?" I ask. "No sir," she says all professional "but once I get the body back to Quantico I should have something for you." "Thanks, for coming out from your mothers at such a late hour," I say, trying to keep up the lie for her sake. "No problem," she says softly as she walks towards coroner. "Thank you, sir." Mulder says almost inaudibly at my side. "I'll try not to show up unannounced again." I offer by way of apology as I turn to leave. ***************************************** Langley He knew it was too late to call pretty much anyone else on the planet but 1:21 am was still a fair time to call Mulder. His friend suffered from chronic insomnia and was always up at all hours. And, Langley hypothesized, he was going to want to hear this news. The CIA had finally unblocked documentation that Fred Snider was indeed, working as an operative in 1962. Langley looked at Frohike as he played the latest version of SpyCentral and decided now was as good a time as any. Frohike would be less than enthusiastic about the news until he had infiltrated Scotland Yard. Byers was visiting his mother this week and wasn't around to hypothesize with. He picked up the phone and dialled the very familiar number. It rang 3 times and Langley considered hanging up when the receiver was picked up. He heard a muffled groan, movement of covers and a very sleepy woman on the other end. "Helllooo?" she mumbled into the receiver. "Scully?" he asked, sure of who it was, but not sure if he had dialled the wrong number. Langley checked the screen on the phone and saw Mulder's number very clearly indicated. "Langley?" she asked still half asleep. Then there was more rustling on the phone and more covers being shifted. He heard a man's voice ask for the phone. Before he had a chance to respond he heard Mulder's distinct voice on the other end. "Langley, is that you?" he said groggily. "Hey Mulder, why the hell is Scully answering your phone at 1:23 in the morning?" "She, uh...hasn't slept in over 36 hours. We were working a case, and there were 7 autopsies and...why exactly are you calling me now?" "Fred Snider," he said definitively. "But that still doesn't explain why she's in your bed." "She's in my bed because my place was closer. I'm sleeping on the couch if that's any of your damn business." Mulder said angrily. "Sorry man, it's just..." Langley stopped when he heard mumbling on the other end. "Mulderrr, shift over more, you're taking all the covers," she mumbled. "Uh..." Mulder stammered. "I'll let you get back to the couch," Langley snickered as he hung up the phone. *********************************************** Diana Diana Fowley was having an awful day. First, she had been reamed out by Kersh for a less than stellar performance on a case, then Agent Spender had left her with all the paperwork from their latest debacle. She was sitting behind her desk trying to figure out where to begin when Fox Mulder walked in the door. 'Today is looking up,' she thought as she closed the file before her. "Agent Mulder, what a pleasant surprise." she smiled up at him. "Diana, I need you to..." "What, no pleasantries anymore?" "Sorry, how are you?" he smiled at her and shuffled his feet. "I'm good. It's been a rough day but, hopefully it'll get better," she said as she rose from her seat and walked toward him. "That's nice," he said distractedly. "So, what's up?" she asked, slightly annoyed. "I, uh...need you to access some transmissions for me," he said, all business. "Sure, what are they?" she asked walking closer to him. "They are transmissions from the USS Missouri..." "Fox, you need to speak to your dry cleaner," she said unimpressed. "My what?" "Your dry cleaner," she said as she grabbed his collar. "Diana, I don't..." He twisted his head and pulled his collar away from his neck. There was a lipstick stain on his collar. "I, uh..." "So, you have moved on?" she asked. "Diana, it's...I have," he licked his lips as he looked beyond her. "Who is she?" she asked, obviously jealous but trying to mask it. "I really don't think we should be..." Just then Agent Scully walked in the room, obviously flustered. "Mulder, they are asking for you upstairs in the meeting," she said not even acknowledging Diana. "I'll be up in ten minutes. Can you stall them Scully?" "I, uh...fine," she said. "Agent Scully," Diana called to her as she turned to leave, "that's a lovely shade of lipstick you have on today." "Uh, thanks," Scully said, somewhat surprised as she turned to leave again. They both watched her walk from the room and then Mulder turned to Diana. "Diana..." he started. "Say no more Fox," she sighed heavily. "Now what about these transmissions?" ************************************* Bill Bill Scully was in a really good mood. He was visiting DC, had just been given a promotion, and was meeting his sister for supper tonight. They had decided to get together without mom for once because neither of them felt like getting lectured. Sure, he was a good son, but sometimes you just didn't feel like having her give you 'the look' when you complained about your wife, had a third beer, or told an off-colour joke. He wanted to celebrate tonight. He had booked them into a nice steak house for supper. Dana's birthday was last week so it was a promotion/birthday celebration for just the two of them. He was determined to not get angry if she brought up her partner or make any comments about the cases they pursued. No, tonight was for celebrating and he intended to do just that. Dana had left an extra key with her superintendent for him and he had picked it up this afternoon. He had spent the last hour watching the sports scores on TV while he drank the one can of Coke she had in her fridge. He was also pleased to find a stash of sunflower seeds in her cupboard that he opened and ate in front of the tube. He always liked her apartment. It was bright and sunny and the couch was cushy and comfortable. He looked down at his dishevelled Navy uniform and decided he better get cleaned up before she got home. Dumping the shells and can in the garbage he made his way to the bathroom. When he got there, he noticed the seat was raised. It was odd, but maybe she had been cleaning the washroom and had forgotten to lower the lid. He did his business and washed his hands. Looking into the mirror he noticed a spot on his shirt that the caramel-heavy soda had left. He looked around for a cloth and found none. Going to her linen closet he opened it up to have a shaving kit fall on his foot from a shelf. He peered at the intruding black kit and wondered if he should open it. It was probably her travel kit for work, he reasoned as he reached for it and put it back on the shelf. He found a cloth and used soapy water to scrub off the offending spot. Now, he had a big wet splotch on his shirt instead of a Coke stain. "Great" he muttered as he looked under the counter for her hair dryer. Finding none, and knowing she, like every other woman, must own one, he ventured into her bedroom to look for it. He first took stock of her room. A hair dryer was not lying on her bed, or side tables or on her dresser. He opened a top drawer and saw only underwear. Quickly closing it, he went from drawer to drawer until he found one that caught his eye. What looked to be a few pairs of boxers and some pyjama bottoms were in that drawer. Bill starred at them for a few moments before he slammed the drawer shut. "She's sleeping with him," he said angrily to no one in particular. He walked over to her closet and found the hairdryer sitting on a shelf but not before he noticed the men's shirt and suit in the dry cleaners bag hanging next to her blouses. "He's almost fucking moved in!" he snapped as he banged the closet door shut.He walked back to the bathroom and turned on the hair dryer. He watched himself drying his shirt in the mirror but he was thinking of how they could possibly get through dinner without him exploding on her. He decided it was impossible, and was thinking of an excuse to go to dinner himself. He therefore didn't hear her when she walked in the front door. He was caught off guard by her standing at the doorway to her bathroom, watching him blow dry a shirt. "Well, that's one way to do it,' she quipped from the doorway. "Dana, I didn't hear you,' he smiled at her as he turned off the blow dryer. "Us FBI agents are sneaky that way," she offered as she walked toward him to give him a hug. "Dana, I'm going to have to cancel dinner tonight," he said apologetically. "Bill..." she whined. "My new boss wants to meet over dinner tonight. I couldn't get out of it, I'm sorry." "Why didn't you just call?" "I...uh, wanted to tell you in person." "You wanted to ditch me in person." "Now, don't be like that." he said as he wrapped the cord around the blow dryer. "I would love to have dinner with you but..." "I'm just pulling your leg Bill. I understand work obligations can come up unexpectedly." She laughed. "Next time you're in DC." "Sounds great" he said as he kissed her forehead. "Can you stick...?" "I've got to get going Dana, they are probably expecting me already." he said as he walked past her. She hugged him goodbye at the doorway once he gathered his things. Bill reasoned that it was better to eat steak alone then have a huge fight with his sister. But, after a huge meal and a few drinks he reasoned a little differently. He thought he was being ridiculous hiding from his sister. If she really cared for this man why wasn't their relationship out in the open for the rest of the family to know? And for everyone to offer an opinion. He knew he had one. Bill grabbed a cab to her apartment and noted the living room light was still on. She was home for the night. He pulled the key from his pocket as he approached the door and decided there was no harm in letting himself into his sister's apartment. She was probably reading, or doing laundry. He opened the door to see a scene he would have preferred not to. Dana was lying on the couch curled up against Mulder watching a movie. He had his arm draped around her waist and she lay with her head pillowed on his bicep. "Bill!" she said startled as she rose from lying on the couch. "So, I was right," Bill said looking from one to the other as they sat up and smoothed their clothes. "Why are you here and why didn't you knock?" she said as she swiped the set of keys from his hand. "Hi, Bill," Mulder said casually from the couch. The couch, not one minute prior he had been snuggling Bill's sister on. "Don't you even talk to me!" Bill snapped as he pointed a wavering finger at Mulder. "Bill, don't," she warned from her spot standing before him. "Shaving kit and raised seat...boxers and suits," he muttered to himself. "What are you talking about?" she asked. "Scully, I think he needs to sleep it off," Mulder said rising from the couch to stand next to her. "Bill why don't you take her couch and I'll go home." "Mulder, don't..." "Oh, so you don't live here now?" "I have my own apartment, thank you." Mulder said as he reached for his coat. "Scully, do you need my help getting him settled?" "No, he should be..." "I'm not staying here," Bill said adamantly "I have a hotel room at the Radisson." "Tonight, my couch is your hotel room, Bill," she said as she reached to move some pillows off of it. "You're such a pretty girl, all of my friends in high school wanted to ask you out but I said I'd kick the shit out of them if they did." "Thanks, bro," she said as she ushered him toward the couch. "I'll get him a blanket," Mulder said as he left the room. "Why him? You should be with an accountant or a real estate agent..." Scully looked down at Bill as he settled on the couch. "I love him Bill, you might not like it, but it's true." She watched as Bill's eyes started to shut and he curled up even more. He was an idiot sometimes, but he was still her brother. Mulder appeared at her side with an quilt. "Here, Scully," he said as he handed it to her. "Thanks, Mulder," she said as she unfolded it to cover Bill. "I'm sorry about tonight." "That's okay, Scully." He said as he looked down at Bill. "I'd have the same issues if my sister was dating someone like me." "Mulder, how can you say that?" she asked surprised. "He's your big brother Scully, and tonight he just found out that your partner, who he hates for some good reasons, is now your lover. That had to have done a number on him. You should give him a break." "You know Mulder," she said as she wrapped her arms around his waist, "sometimes you still amaze me." "I try," he smiled down at her and kissed her softly on the lips. "Sleep tight." She showed him to the door and with another quick kiss he was out in the hall. She turned and walked back towards her, now snoring, brother. "Oh, Bill," she sighed as she turned out the light. *********************************** Frohike Melvin Frohike was a man who had many acquaintances, few friends, and only a handful of trusted friends. Fox Mulder could count himself among them, until now. Dana Scully had just left their offices after a heated argument with the man and he couldn't make any sense of it. Mulder had taken Diana's word blindly and told Scully to back away. After their years as partners, that was the last thing Frohike had expected from him. He knew Mulder and Diana had a history, that he once loved her, but he now wondered if they had picked up where they had left off. The lock on Mulder's door finally gave and it opened with a soft 'click'. Frohike had already knocked so he knew Mulder was not home and it was safe to snoop. He hadn't ever done something like this before, not to a friend at least. His heart was pounding as he shut the door behind him and started his search. His flashlight revealed the spartan apartment that he knew so well. Knowing he would find little evidence in the kitchen he went straight for the bedroom, hoping to find some clues that would enlighten him to this recent turn in loyalties. Mulder's bed was hastily made, he had a half-filled glass of water on his bedside table, and he had a pair of runners with sports socks shoved in them in the middle of his floor. Frohike walked into his bathroom and found his first clue. A second toothbrush was on his shelf. A bachelor only needs one toothbrush unless someone is staying over frequently enough to warrant the purchase or housing of a second. Frohike also found a tube of lipstick in his medicine cabinet. It was called "Morning Blush" and was made by L'Oreal. That, was a little odd. One thing he did know about Diana was her high price tastes, L'Oreal did not fit with that profile. Frohike went back to the bedroom. He searched Mulder's side table and found some lubricant but no condoms. 'If that bastard had gotten her pregnant,' thought Melvin, 'that could be the reason he was so loyal to her all of a sudden.' He searched his closet and found nothing of importance. He looked at the laundry basket of clean clothing sitting on the floor and something pink caught his eye. He reached into the basket and pulled out a pair of pink cotton panties. He looked at them closely and they puzzled him even more. He wasn't an expert on women, but he knew enough about them to realize that Diana Fowley was not a pink cotton undies sort of gal. There was nothing but Mulder's clothes in his drawers and no women's jewellery housed on his dresser. The living room revealed nothing else, as did his computer records, which Frohike quickly hacked into. Designing the program made that an easy one. There were no lurid e-mails, no questionable expenses in his bank records, no... "Wait," he muttered to himself. He looked at Mulder's past bank statements. He had made payments, regularly, to an adult video rental store and an adult phone service up until a few months ago. Then, suddenly all payments had stopped. Frohike looked at the dates and realized they had coincided fairly well with the arrival of Diana Fowley back in his life. "Bastard," he muttered again. Morning was approaching and Frohike knew he needed to get out of Mulder's apartment. He wouldn't take kindly to his snooping, especially considering what he had found. He shut down Mulder's computer, wiped off the mouse and let himself out of the apartment. He needed to talk with Langley and Byers. Frohike took the stairwell and was just about to walk into Mulder's lobby when he saw a car pull up out front. It caused him to pause, at this early morning hour. He ducked back inside the stairwell and peeked around the corner. Mulder and Scully were exiting a sedan. Mulder leaned in the passenger window and spoke briefly with the driver, someone Frohike could not see from his position. He realized his exit from Mulder's apartment was planned almost perfectly; he just had to wait until he went upstairs to leave the building. The car pulled away and to his surprise Scully walked with Mulder up to his building. He assumed she had a car parked there and would not be coming inside, but obviously they still had work to do. Mulder walked beside her with his hand on the small of her back, a gesture he always thought Scully would find insulting. When they got to his lobby door she stood patiently beside him with her arms crossed, yawning as she waited for him to unlock the door. Melvin shut the door to the stairwell and hoped they were tired enough to take the elevator. He could see a small sliver of the lobby from a crack between the door and frame, but would have very little warning if they decided to take the stairs. One thing he could do, was listen. "I'm sure I'll be called to help with the autopsies within the next few hours," she said tiredly. "You've been up all night," he sighed as Frohike heard his mailbox open with a creak. "They're not going to get any more dead." "True, but people are going to want answers," she said "don't you want to know if she's among them?" Frohike could see Mulder's head bent over his mail, reading the envelopes before him. "Mulder?" "She's a survivor Scully," he said in a low voice. "If anyone got out of there it was her." "You're so sure of that?" she asked. He walked out of Frohike's view and Melvin strained to see where Mulder went. He could see the edge of Mulder's back as it blocked out Scully. He was facing her in the hallway and standing very close to her. "You think I don't know her, but I do," he paused. "She was always out for herself, she grew up fast and left home early. Even when we were together, I had the feeling she was always looking for something...more." "Then, why do you trust her?" He walked away from Scully and Frohike again lost sight of him in the lobby. All he could now see was Scully standing in his lobby looking very small and tired. "I once loved her," he said strained. "Even when things were ending...there was a time that she could have used my body to climb the FBI ladder quicker and never look back. But, she didn't. She protected me even though it meant a longer journey for her to the top." He saw Scully shift on her feet, uncross and re-cross her arms. "I had to trust her now because, despite the secrecy of her past...she's never done anything to hurt me...besides break my heart, once." Frohike saw Scully's head drop down to look at her feet. He heard Mulder's footfalls as he walked across the empty lobby. He walked up to Scully, and blocked her from Melvin's view. He watched as Mulder draped his two arms over her shoulders and leaned down into her space. "Are you okay with that?" he asked softly. "I have to be, I guess." She said softly as she met his gaze. "She's part of my past, here in our present, and will hopefully prove to be an ally in the future." "I still don't trust her,' Scully said with conviction. "I know," he said as he started to pull back from her. "Can I borrow your car to go home?" she asked. "I thought...I thought you were coming up?" "Mulder, I need sleep, and a shower and I should change before I go in to do those autopsies," she said tiredly. "You can sleep at my place and have a shower," he said as Frohike heard him press the elevator button. "Mulder, I..." she said as she moved tot he centre of the room. "Come on Scully, its late...or early," he chuckled. "I promise I'll behave. I'll even let you shower on your own, scouts honor." He saw her smile at the comment but she made no movement to join him in front of the elevator. He heard Mulder walk towards her and join her at the centre of the room. He placed his hands on her hips, looked over her shoulder, as if checking for an audience, and, satisfied by their privacy, leaned down and softly kissed her on the lips. "I can even offer a partial change,' he murmured to her "I found a pink pair of panties in my laundry that I know are definitely not mine." Frohike had to hold his breath, he was completely surprised by the turn of events before him. He saw Scully smile up at Mulder and lean her forehead against his chest. "We'll just sleep?" she asked. "I'll even take the couch, if that assures you," he said as he took her hand and led her towards the elevator. "Well...you don't need to do that," he heard her snicker as the elevator doors opened and they stepped inside. Several minutes passed before Melvin moved from his spot. His surveillance of Mulder's apartment, put in the right context, had turned out to be quite revealing. ************************************************************* Kim Kim had worked for AD Skinner quite a long time. Some of her co-workers quipped that she got the job so quickly after being hired by the FBI because he wanted to get her into his bed. But, she soon realized that he wanted someone fresh, not some old stodgy secretary that would boss him around. She ignored the innuendos and relished in the fact that he had hand picked her, not only because she was a great secretary, but because she could keep a confidence. She had been keeping them for years. She first picked up on the sexual tension between Agents Mulder and Scully long before she knew they did. It was early in their partnership and they both left the AD's office frustrated with each other. Mulder had pivoted on his heel right in front of the couch and said he wanted her to back him up without question, just once. He loomed over her and Kim could feel the heat coming off his body from across the room. Instead of yelling at him or cowering, Agent Scully stepped closer to him looked him right in the eye and grazed his arm with her hand. Her eyes spoke volumes and he relaxed and apologized. They left without another word. She knew they hadn't figured out that they were head over heels, yet. There were other times over the years when she questioned whether they were involved romantically or not. Times when she fixed his tie, or he held his hand very low on her back as he guided her around. Times when she showed up almost in tears begging to see the AD because of something Agent Mulder had done. Times when he did the same. Kim had decided long ago that these two highly passionate and attractive people, although amazing agents and committed friends, were completely inept when it came to love. She had decided they would never become romantically involved. She hadn't seen much of the agents lately. They were assigned to AD Kersh right now but the AD had asked her to go down to the X-Files division and see them about a personal matter. He wanted to know if they would be available to meet for lunch Thursday, he had some things he needed to discuss. She took the stairs down to the basement and was about to round the corner into their office when she heard whispering voices. "Mulder, I think you should go," she said softly. "I don't think it would be a good idea. Her parents were never fond of me and..." "You need closure," she said with a sigh. "Now you sound like me," he quipped. Kim peeked through the opening between the door and the frame. She saw Scully sitting on a desk chair with her hands folded in her lap and Mulder leaning on the desk above her, his arms crossed over his chest. "You can go just for the funeral and be back Thursday night. You don't even have to stay if you..." "Stay in the great metropolis of St Louis after burying my ex? I don't think so." "So fly in and out within the day," she said as she reached for the phone. "I'll make the plane..." He placed his hand over hers on the phone. "I can't do this, Scully." "Do you want me to come?" she asked. "Yeah, that would go over great. Bev and Mark, I'm so sorry about your daughter dying. Here's my new partner, the one I'm now sleeping with instead of your daughter, whose life you think I screwed up." "Don't be trite," she said. "I'm sorry," he apologized as he raised his hand off hers. "It's just...I don't think I need to go to her funeral to know she's dead, Scully. She is dead." "You should go for her family, if nothing else. Most of her work has been overseas, there won't be too many people in attendance from the Agency." He sighed heavily and rubbed his forehead. "You're not giving up on this, are you?" "Nope," she said as she picked up the receiver. "Okay, fine. There and back the same day. But you are taking me out to dinner Thursday night" he said as he leaned into her space. "You're not going to feel like going out to dinner after all that flying and a funeral," she remarked as she stared to dial. "Can I at least come over to your place from the airport?" "You know you can," she said. "And you'll give me a back rub?" "Mulder," she warned as she looked around. "No one's here Scully," he said as he looked around as well. Just then the elevator door dinged and an intern exited looking for a file. Kim turned to watch him walk in the other direction and when she turned back Scully was standing in front of her. "Agent Scully!" she blurted, startled by her sudden appearance. "Kim," she said as she gave her a tight-lipped smile. "Something I can do for you?" Kim noticed the nervous tension in her crossed arms and her forced smile. She heard Agent Mulder in the office talking with a travel agent on the phone. "No, uh, the AD wanted to know if you and Agent Mulder could meet him for lunch Thursday," she stammered. "Let him know that I can, but Mulder can't. Where does he want to meet?" "The Trevi at 1pm." she said, now regaining her footing. "I'll be there," Scully said "And Mulder..." "Will be in St Louis at Agent Fowley's funeral, got it." she said as she turned to walk away. Kim didn't turn once to see Agent Scully standing surprised and open-mouthed in the hallway. *************************************** Maggie Her daughter was late for their breakfast date, again. 'Honestly,' Maggie thought 'we do this once a month and she's been late the last three months.' She glanced at her watch again and decided to go and get her daughter out of bed. The restaurant was, literally, around the corner form Dana's place and last time she had sat for almost 40 minutes waiting for her. That was, of course, after she had called Dana when she was 20 minutes late already. It was so unlike her daughter to be late. 'Maybe,' thought Maggie, 'that's why it upsets me the most.' She picked up her purse, tossed a couple of dollars on the table, and marched out of the restaurant. She made a beeline for Dana's place and used her key to gain entrance to the building. She walked up to her apartment door and knocked. There was no answer. She knocked a second time. Still no answer. 'Good grief', Maggie thought to herself as she placed her key in the lock. 'It's like she's a teenager all over again and I have to drag her out of bed.' The lock turned and she walked inside. "Dana?" she called. Then, she heard the shower. "At least you're up," she mumbled to herself. Maggie walked into her kitchen and started to tidy up. She piled all the dishes in the sink, not wanting to do dishes and disrupt her daughter's shower with a blast of cold water. She then placed the empty bottle of white wine under Dana's sink and the box of fancy crackers away in the cupboard. She walked into the bedroom and, noting that Dana had not made her bed yet, pulled the covers over the top and piled on the decorative pillows. While she was straightening the bed skirt her cell phone rang. "Hello?" she answered. 'Hi, mom," Dana chirped from the other end of the line. "Aren't we supposed to meet for breakfast today?" "Dana?" Maggie asked as she glanced toward the washroom. "Who else do you meet for breakfast, mom?" "I, uh..." Maggie stuttered as she started to walk quickly from Dana's bedroom toward the bathroom door. "Mom, what's the matter?" Dana asked concerned. "Dana, where are you?" Maggie asked, softly. "I'm at the restaurant, mom. Where are you?" Dana asked, confused. "I'm uh..." she stopped talking as she heard the shower cut off. "I'll be there in a minute." Maggie disconnected the phone and started to walk toward the door. She had opened it and had one foot outside when she realized she had left her purse on her daughter's kitchen counter. She glanced quickly toward the bathroom and ran as quietly as she could to grab her purse. Whoever was in her daughter's shower did not want to encounter her this morning and she didn't want to meet him this way. Grabbing her purse she quickly started to walk towards the front door when she heard the bathroom door open. Quickly blending into the wall, she watched as Fox Mulder, clad only in a towel, walked into her daughter's bedroom. He seemed very comfortable walking around her daughter's apartment half naked, she noted. She seized the opportunity and exited out the front door as quietly as possible. Shutting the door with a soft 'click' she bolted down the hallway and out the exit door. Four minutes later she arrived at the restaurant semi-composed as her daughter greeted her at their usual table. "Hi mom," Dana smiled at her as she walked in. "Oh, hi Dana," Maggie called to her as she embraced her daughter."Mom, is everything okay? You seem...off." "I'm fine sweetie," Maggie smiled over at her. The waitress arrived and Maggie ordered a black coffee. "Are you sure? Cause..." Dana was interrupted by the ring of her cell phone. "Scully," she answered. Maggie watched as Dana listened to whoever was calling. She nodded her head and her eyes looked up wide and disbelieving at her mother. Her pale skin turned six shades of red. "Thanks," she intimately muttered into the phone just before she disconnected the call. "Mom, where were you when I called?" she asked, but she already knew the answer. ********************************* Byers John Byers walked through the heavy snow toward the red pick-up truck parked at the side of the road. Night had fallen early in the little town and shops were closing all around him. It was just after 6 pm but it could have been the middle of the night, the sky was so dark. He was in Livingston, Montana visiting his Aunt Pearl for a few days before Christmas. John's cousin Dan, who normally lived with her, was in the hospital for treatment of his diabetes that had recently gotten out of control. John, being one of the only relatives without a spouse or children, volunteered to stay with her until Dan was home. In some ways, he liked the reprieve from his life Montana brought. Here he felt like a man, not a computer geek. He drove a big pick-up truck with huge tires, he wore rugged clothing, he even donned one of Dan's cowboy hats to fit in with the locals. Yes, John liked this little vacation from himself as he dumped the groceries in the cab of the truck and turned it on before jumping outside to clear off the newly fallen snow. One thing he couldn't get over was the snow in Montana. It seemed to never stop and, unlike in Washington where life seemed to come to a standstill when a storm blew in, people in Montana just continued with their everyday tasks. They were unfazed by the snow piles, the shovelling, the icy roads. As he whisked snow off the hood of the truck something caught his eye across the street. It was a flash of red, a woman's hair caught the light in the restaurant as she took her seat. John focused in on the back of the figure and saw something familiar that he couldn't quite place. He then looked beyond the woman to her companion and saw Fox Mulder sitting across the table. His eyes re-focused on the woman's back and he was sure it had to be the petite form of Dana Scully. A smile streaked across his face. "Of all the places!" he muttered to himself. 'They must be here working on a case,' he thought as his mind sorted through the newspaper he had read this morning. Nothing popped out as X-Files worthy, but maybe that was the point. They were investigating something that was being kept out of the papers. He watched as a waiter approached their table and Mulder gave him a credit card. Byers returned to the cab of his truck to turn off the engine so he could go and greet his friends as they exited the restaurant. John immediately felt his pulse quicken. He could help them investigate a case. Aunt Pearl needed his attention, of course, but a few hours of investigation here and there would not compromise his care of her. A smile ran from one side of his face to the other as he cut the engine and glanced across at the restaurant again. Mulder and Scully had got up from their table and he was helping her on with her coat. He could see now, they were dressed casually, obviously not investigating the case at this moment. They had probably called it quits for the night. 'Maybe,' thought John as he continued to watch them 'they could come and hang out at Aunt Pearl's for the evening. It would certainly be better than any motel they were...' John's thoughts were cut short as he saw Mulder lean into Scully's neck and plant a soft kiss on it as the coat came around her shoulders. Scully smiled a secret smile and placed her open palm gently on his cheek. John's heart began to race as he watched their intimate behaviour from the cab of his pick-up truck. He had never seen them act this way around each other before. John held his breath as he watched them walk out of the small restaurant and onto the street. Scully linked her arm under Mulder's and they seemed to be laughing and joking as they walked. Right now, they looked like two friends enjoying an evening together. 'Maybe,' he thought to himself, 'he had not really seen something intimate. Maybe Mulder had made a lewd comment and she had placed her hand on his cheek in jest. He was across the street, after all, he wasn't privy too the conversation that was taking place.' He watched as they approached a parked car at the side of the road. Scully turned to Mulder to say something and he smiled down at her as he gently whisked snow from her hair. John shook his head, he was jumping to conclusions. He should get out of the cab and walk right over to them. They were friends, after all. He put his hand on the handle of his door and was just about to pop it when he saw Scully slip on the ice as she turned to get in their car. Mulder caught her arm, but he too started to slip on the ice. The two of them fell to the ground, she falling slightly on top of him. A pile of snow, left from shovelling, seemed to break their fall a little. He smiled to himself and shook his head at the absurdity of sitting in the cab any longer. John opened the door and got out of the truck. He watched as Scully pulled herself off Mulder and reached out to give him a hand getting up. He rose from the ground and when he became fully upright, pulled her toward him and kissed her thoroughly on the lips. She melded into his embrace and John watched as Mulder took a handful of snow he had concealed from her and shoved it down the back of her coat and sweater. John was frozen in place next to the truck, peeking over the high hood, when he heard Scully shriek from across the street as the snow made contact with her skin. He heard Mulder's laughter as well and watched as he helped her scoop out the snow from under her sweater as she swatted at his chest. Once the snow was out, Mulder leaned over and kissed her nose before he walked over to the driver's side of the car. "You gonna move or what?" a man behind him asked. John turned to see a snow plough parked behind his car, waiting to continue his work. "Uh, sorry!" John called back as he watched Mulder and Scully's car start up. He jumped in the cab of his truck, started it up, and pulled out onto the road. He looked ahead and saw another snow plough on the road slowly clearing snow from the one-lane road that left town in the direction Mulder and Scully were going. They were just behind the plough and moving at a snail's pace. John waited for two more cars to join the cue before he fell in line behind them. 'Mulder and Scully were an item,' he smiled to himself. The knowledge of this pleased him to no end. He followed the road out of town with the other cars behind the plough even though it was in the opposite direction from Aunt Pearl's. He watched as Mulder signalled and turned off to a road on the right about 6 miles out of town, their car snaking up a side road. Byers read the large wood sign at the side of the road right where they exited. It read 'Chico Hot Springs Private Cabin Retreat: Get Away With Us!'. Byers laughed to himself in the empty truck cab and continued down the small road behind the slow snow plough until the next intersection. ******************************************** The End