Every second Thursday is the same routine for her, 1. Go for morning jog 2. Brew and drink coffee 3. Go to work 4. Couples counseling on the lunch hour 5. Go back to work 6. Have a bottle of wine with dinner 7. Avoid phone calls.

It was a toxic routine and she knew that but she was stuck in a rut; she had built her new home in this place, the rigid edges scratching her and re-opening long fought against wounds, her own personal hell that was punishment for what she had done to herself – to them.

It was already 1.26pm and she was late, very late for their latest session and so she was distracted, exceedingly so, that she had almost walked straight past him.

"Mulder?"

Scully's voice echoed against the walls of the archaic hallway, such a loud voice for a tiny person. The figure unflinchingly continued down the empty hall as though they hadn't heard her, remaining in her line of vision until she grabbed his arm, effectively swinging him around to face her.

"Scully, don't."

"Look, Mulder-" She sighed, not able to let go of his arm just yet, somewhat afraid that he would pull further away from her than he already was. Build that wall higher up around his heart, too tall for her to climb over and too thick for her to barge her way through.

"You're late," He cuts her off before she could get another word in, pulling away from her slightly, albeit not too much. Mulder's never been able to deny himself from just being in her presence, the delectation of a gaze, or a touch, a kiss…

"I know…I had a patient and them-"His head snapped up at her words, the fog clearing in his mind.

She could feel him pulling away, already bored of the repeated tale. Scully tightened her hold on his wrist, canting further forward into the small space between them. "Well, you know."

"I do know and you know what? I've heard it all before." Mulder pulled his wrist from Scully's ardent grip as though she had burned him, her touch now emanating through his pores and seeping into his blood like acid.

This is getting too hard. He's being too difficult…but I know I'm not making it any easier on him.

He began walking away, having said what he needed to. Not wanting to spend another minute in this God-forsaken office getting his head picked apart and examined by a government partnership being temporarily repaired with flimsy sticky tape and half hearted apologies about who left the lights on, or who forgot to feed the goldfish or accepting the constant excuses as to why they are late. It wasn't going to work.

"Wait! Mulder, I- Come on…" She started to follow him again, half-jogging until she was in-step next to him. "You know how demanding my job is." She tried to reason with him, her gaze on his face, pleading with him.

Please listen to me, Mulder. Please.

Pushing the button for the elevator 4 times in quick succession, he scratched his jawline in frustration as he looked anywhere but at the redhead standing beside him.

"Yes, I do know." Turning his gaze at her for a moment, he couldn't bite back the words that spilled out of his drawn lips. "You could have at least called."

Pulling her bottom lip into her mouth, Scully grazed her teeth against the pink flesh as she mulled over his words.

No, Mulder. I should have been here on time.

But she couldn't find it within herself to say the words out loud.