From: ephemeral@ephemeralfic.org Date: 31 May 2006 02:40:45 -0000 Subject: The Scully Method: Redux by Pattie Source: direct Reply To: patfiler@hotmail.com Title: The Scully Method: Redux Author: Pattie Spoilers: Any of the first 7 seasons, but I like to think this one is set in Season 5. This is a sequel to The Scully Method. Category: MSR, UST. Rated: PG Summary: Someone else may be flirty, use come ons, or be psychoanalytical when they want to. Lately, Scully's been leaving things at Mulder's apartment, and she still hasn't figured out why. She will. She's perfecting The Scully Method and has no idea she's doing it. Feedback: patfiler@hotmail.com Archive: Gossamer, Ephemeral. Please ask first if you want it. It will be at Pattie's Pocketful of X-Fics soon. Disclaimer: They both still belong to Chris Carter, Ten Thirteen Peroductions and Fox Studios. I am still neither collecting money nor intending copyright infringement. J. EDGAR HOOVER BUILDING WASHINGTON, DC OFFICE OF THE X-FILES OCTOBER 9, 1998 8:45 AM Scully was busily typing out her final report on the pair's most recent case when Mulder hurried into the office. "Sorry I'm late, Scully. Some idiot syphoned off my gas last night. I had to grab a gallon from the closest gas station and make do until I could get a full tank. Is that the Quimby report?" "Yes. I thought I'd get it done so we can hand everything in. Hey, maybe we should celebrate. This is the first time ever you haven't been at the office later than you had to be!" "Kind of throws me off of my routine, but I managed to get my coffee just the same. I hope fifteen minutes late on the caffeine dose doesn't screw up the rest of the day." He hung his coat and took his place at his desk, going through papers. "Somehow, I think you'll survive, Mulder. You never did tell me how you traced the phenomenon to Quimby." *I know what I'm going to hear, but then again, I did indirectly point this out to him. He just doesn't know it yet,* she thought. *Almost as good as his pheromone theory.* Mulder leaned back in his chair and contemplated his latest accomplishment. "There's a theory that wrong-doers, criminals, whatever you want to call them, want to be caught. They want to be stopped. Jim Quimby left too many clues. Some paychiatrists claim people often leave personal belongings in their offices because they are leaving a part of themselves with the therapist. You leave a part of yourself everywhere you go just by shedding skin cells and hair. Even scent is left behind by many animals and humans. It's said to be part of a territorial behavior." "Well, I have heard criminals sometimes neglect to dispose of all evidence because they want to be caught. Strange how the mind works." Scully clicked 'Print' and waited for her document. *Well, he still hasn't clued in, Or has he?* "By the way, that earring you were looking for. I found it behind my couch." Mulder dangled the piece of jewellery in front of her. "I'm sure it... just 'fell' off before we stopped comparing notes last night." "Yes, Mulder. It did just fall off. I was wondering where I'd lost it. Thank you." "You're welcome." *What's HE thinking, and why that smirk?* "What?" "Nothing. I just thought since they were a gift from your mother, you'd want it back as soon as possible." He returned to his desk and started typing out his own final notes as Scully stapled her papers together. "Okay." She had a feeling there was more to it than what he was saying, but went about labelling her folder. "Hey. It's your birthday in four days. Any plans?" "The usual. Videos, popcorn and beer. And since nobody's coming over, I'm going to party in by birthday suit." "Funny. Very funny. Seriously, Mulder. What would you wish for if you had a cake with all those candles to blow out? I mean besides finding your sister and the truth." "I don't know. Maybe a set of cool season tickets to the Knicks games. Only, we're always so far away from anywhere they play, as we're on the road so much. Don't get me anything, Scully. We agreed about things like this." "Just asking. I'll go get more toner. The photocopier seems to have run out." *** TWO DAYS LATER 12:50 PM Mulder and Scully were sitting at a nearby diner eating subs when a young man walked past Scully and accidentally spilled a soft drink on the floor. She recognized the blond man immediately. "Cal? Cal Simmons?" "Hey! Dana Scully. Confirmation class, right?" "Yeah. I'm with the FBI now. This is my partner, Fox Mulder." "Hey there, Fox." Mulder shook the man's hand. "Pleased to meet you, Cal." "Partner? You're living together." Scully laughed. "No, no, no. My FBI partner." "Oh. Well, you just look like a couple. As a member of the media, I'm usually good at reading people. Oops." "So what brings you to Washington?" "Reporting for a TV station in Omaha, of all places. Look, I'm on the fly. Catch ya later. As long as Congress sits, I'm on the run." "Old boyfriend?" Mulder felt totally left out and it showed. "No. We just attended the same church at one time. He was the one kid who always left his Catechism or some other personal belonging behind. So, it's time to get back to the office, Mulder." "Yeah. You want anything else?" "No, except... " She was searching her coat pockets. "I seem to have misplaced my gloves. It's getting kind of cold out there. Come to think of it, I didn't have them when I got home last night." Mulder just smiled and nonchalantly donned his overcoat, put his hands into his pockets and produced one pair of black leather gloves. Scully stood with her mouth open. "Where did you find them?" "You left them in my car after we left the Gunmen's place last night. Maybe you shouldn't have had that second Mexican beer. Or maybe you were leaving a part of yourself with me." He had that smug grin. "Uh huh. Think what you want to, Mulder. I bet they fell out of my pocket when you slung my coat over one of their chairs and you grabbed them." "Honestly, Scully, they were in my car when I left for work this morning. I meant to give them to you earlier but we got tied up with that budget meeting. By the way, you left your lipstick on my desk in plain sight... I think you're leaving parts of yourself symbollically, to... " Scully quickly took inventory of her purse. "This one? Nice try." "Had ya there. You looked. C'mon, back to the salt mines." She produced a quarter from one of her gloves. "I believe this is yours, Dr. Freud." Somehow, Mulder had lost that smug expression he had exhibited mere minutes earlier. "Next time, leave a bigger piece of yourself. Say, a fifty dollar bill." *** THAT EVENING 10:33 PM Over beer and pizza, Mulder and Scully were carrying on a philosophical debate about the finer points of basketball. "I still think he should have opted for the right while he had the chance," Scully insisted. Mulder shook his head after downing some beer. "Not with a six foot seven guard, Scully. Now look! See THAT? Now THAT'S the way to shoot basket." "Yeah. The good old hook shot. Still, I wonder how much of a toll that takes on their spines over their careers." "Dunno. Being an amateur, I guess I'm a lot better off, occupational hazards aside. Another beer?" "No thanks. I'm still nursing this one. I'm kind of tired anyway. What was that call about earlier?" Scully grabbed a handful of popcorn. "Somebody's fax modem, I guess. I forgot to check my mailbox. I'll be right back up." Mulder placed his bottle on the coffee table and left. As soon as Mulder was out of the apartment, Scully made herself a bit more comfortable on her side of the couch and closed her eyes. She was by no means asleep, however. She had no intention of falling asleep. She just wanted to see what would happen in the event she ever did so, and a part of her wanted him to kiss her awake just as the Prince and Sleeping Beauty interacted. *Hmm,* Scully wondered. *So what's he going to do next? I've never fallen asleep here before. This could prove interesting.* By the time Mulder returned, Scully was fully relaxed, and he didn't bother to disturb her, so he cleared the bottles and popcorn off of the table and turned the lights out. The basketball game was in the fourth quarter, so he sat and watched until the last whistle sounded. His partner's eyes were still closed. *This could be interesting,* he thought. *She's fallen asleep on planes, inside cars and pretty much everywhere except my place.* It did seem odd. After all, they'd had plenty of time to catch up on sleep after the last case, so why was she so tired tonight? Here? Scully used all her resolve to keep from opening her eyes, as she knew he had returned, the basketball game was now over, and it had been half an hour since she had taken this position. The temptation to swallow was irresistable, as well. Then, her mind seemed to shut off like a computer monitor, and there was eight hours of uninterrupted sleep before Mulder brought her a coffee from the local coffee shop. "Good morning, Agent Scully, and congratulations. This time, you managed to leave yourself behind." Scully struggled to open her eyes, and slowly sat up. "Oh my God. Was I here all night? Well, I had you, Mulder. Really had you going there." "I don't think so," Mulder chuckled. Even though you've 'had' me for about the past six years. You fell asleep at about 11:09. At approximately 11:15, you began to snore, and by 3:05 I gave up and went to sleep. So, can you tell me why you left yourself here last night?" Scully wasn't ready to touch that question just yet. At least, not for another year or so. She just stared into space trying to think of what to say. The Scully Method, Part 2, had been found out, and somehow she knew that even her own subconscious had betrayed her. END