Summary: Mulder and Scully find their doppelgangers at a Adult Club in Vegas, and if that wasn't bad enough, they were repeat abductees. They go to investigate under the impression they would find it to be an over the top joke, but it seems so much more than that. God willing no one tells Frohike.
Chapter 1 - The Case
Sitting in his office, well their office, Mulder swung his chair from side to side. He was clearly getting antsy. Glancing at the door every couple seconds. He grabbed a couple sunflower seeds and crunched them between his teeth. He was clearly becoming impatient and started looking at the phone on his desk.
"Relax, she isn't even late yet." he mumbled to himself.
Turning back to his sunflower seeds and chair swiveling he stared at the door. Seconds seemed like hours if not years for him. He glanced quickly at the slide projector to make sure he hadn't forgotten anything. Then to the remote on his desk. And back to the door his eyes went, just in time to see the handle twist down and start to open.
Her short red hair came in to view. She had her head pinned to shoulder. She mouth something to Mulder.
"Yeah? Look I've got to go I'll call you around noon?" She said she looked trapped in the phone call. "Okay talk to you then."
"Got a hot date?" He raised his eyebrows.
"Worse, I might be asked to babysit." She said flipping the phone shut looking directly at him, causing a shiver to run down his spine.
"Well, allow me to give you a reason to bail then Agent Scully." He said turning on the projector.
"Mulder, why does babysitting suddenly sound like a gift from on high?" She said sitting at the edge of the desk looking at the picture being projected.
"Aw come on Scully!" Mulder whined. "Scully! Come on, don't make me say it." He was practically bouncing.
"Mulder, I refuse to believe that you think this." She motioned to the projected image on the wall. "That this, is even real."
"Ah come on!" He said his grin almost too much for even him. He hit the next slide. Causing them to both look up at the new picture.
"Absolutely not Mulder." She said crossing her arms.
"Skinner already signed off." He said in a sing-song voice.
"Mulder. You didn't." Scully's shock came across her face.
"But I did" He said his smirk on his face as he made eye contact with Scully, while simultaneously clicking the next slide onto the wall.
On the wall another picture came across. Scully looked to the new image on the wall. A burlesque version of herself was suggestively posed in a bed that looked to have been draped in green silk. Another click and the slide changed to an image of what looked like Mulder, conveniently censored by caution tape pulled in several directions. Scully's mouth felt dry. Closing her eyes hoping that she was about to wake up soon.
"Why Agent Scully, if this was all it took, I'd have had my picture taken sooner." He said suddenly behind her.
"Jesus Mulder." She jumped off the desk and hand to her heart. "This." She said waving her hand behind her. "This better not be some sick joke." Her eyes ice cold as she glared into Mulder's energetic ones.
"If you give me the negative of your's I'll give you mine." He wagged his eyebrows at her.
"Mulder." She growled.
Sensing he had over stepped a bit he looked back at the screen. Cocking his own eyebrow at the image. He wouldn't even begin to understand why women found caution tape appealing.
"Scully, I swear I did not, nor have I ever," He held up his right hand and placed his left over his heart. "EVER, had pictures like this taken. Nor would I ever pick the stage name Tiger." He added that little bit with a hint of displeasure.
That seemed to break the mood in the room. Scully's face contorted, she brought a hand to her face to cover it. A gleam showing in her eyes. Suddenly, she couldn't hold back a fit of laughter.
"Scully, that is not even remotely funny." He said this time crossing his own arms.
"TIGER!" She said between fits of laughter. "Oh, my. I'm sorry. But, I can't." She tried to calm herself down. She looked out the corner of her eye back at the image on the wall. Which instantly sent her back into a fit of giggles.
Mulder changed the slide and it showed Scully's Doppelganger on the wall, posing like an old Pin-up Gal who had been caught doing what she shouldn't. Mulder's face soon broke out in an evil smirk. Scully didn't miss it, she turned to see the new image on the wall. There was a lab coat hanging on a hook in the image with a string of condoms hanging from the pocket. In big curly letters it said "The Doctor is In." Once Scully saw the words her eyes widened. Her hand went from covering her laughter to hiding her face, her eyes peaking between her fingers.
"Mulder." She growled again.
"I wouldn't mind that kind of a check-up" Mulder smirked. "For future reference."
"Mulder!" she said turning back to him.
He just handed her a file. She thumbed through the file. She looked at him then back at the file. Thumbed back through it. Then looked at the image on the wall, and back to Mulder.
"Mulder," She said shifting on her feet. "As much, as I'd like to investigate this uncanny resemblance. I don't see the X-File in this."
"What?" Mulder looked truly shocked at Scully's remark. "Scully, she looks just like you, not just like you. EXACTLY like you. Down to the freckles!" Mulder instantly shut-up at his slip.
Scully looked back at the woman projected on the wall. Looking back at Mulder she had a look of what could only be shock and annoyance, and maybe a hint of rage. She snatched the remote out of Mulder's hand and clicked to through the next few slides. Picture after picture of "The Doctor" came through, until "Tiger" came back up on the screen. He was sitting on a bar stool, no shirt wearing a pair of light jeans, that seemed a little too snug. Scully walked slowly toward the image on the screen. Looking between, it and Mulder. A glint in her eye showed up soon after.
"Mulder" She said. "OH wait I'm sorry, Tiger."
"Scully!" He yelled.
"X-File?" She demanded.
"Other than the 'uncanny' resemblance, there have been several unexplained phenomena linked to Doc and,"Mulder fumbled over the word. "Tiger"
"Okay?" Scully said egging Mulder on.
"In fact, Tiger and Doc have been abducted. On stage, mid-performance." Mulder said taking the remote back from Scully and pulling up a video on the VCR.
"Mulder, this is Vegas we are talking about how do I know this isn't part of the stage performance?"
"Is it typical for members of the audience to disappear as well?" Mulder said as the light filled the screen. As it dissipated she noticed that several tables where showing empty seats.
"What happens to the audience?"
"They show up anywhere from four to five days later in the middle of the desert. No memory, or clothing for that matter. But the weird part is our doppelgangers always show up the next day back at the bar."
"Mulder, that sounds like a hoax." Scully said.
"Yeah, read their versions of events." Mulder said waving back at the file.
Scully read 'Tiger's' Version of events and then looked at Mulder. "He makes you look like the sanest person on earth."
"Gee thanks." Mulder said.
"For how long?" Scully asked, her interests suddenly peaked.
"Two weeks." Mulder said. "And not just during stage shows either." He said. "Tiger says that he more often was taken during private shows."
"Are we off to Vegas?" Scully said looking at her partner.
"City of Sin." Mulder said with a smile on his face.
Scully suddenly paled, and dropped the file on the desk.
"Scully, are you okay?" Mulder suddenly at Scully's side. "Whats wrong?"
"Oh God Mulder." She said pulling a hand up to her face. "Does Frohike know?" she managed to whisper.
Mulder smirked, trying to hold back a laugh of his own and failing miserably. Finally breaking out in a fully blow fit. Wrapping his arms around his stomach, trying to fight back tears as he fought to breath between laughing.
"Mulder I'm dead serious right now. I have never been so entirely worried and creeped out at the same time." Scully glared at Mulder. "You have not told them have you?"
"Scully," Mulder finally managed to wheeze out. "Scully, if they knew about her, then they'd have known about him. And I'd never hear the end of that from them." He said putting a hand on her shoulder.
Taking a deep breath she let the relief wash over her, leaning against the desk. Mulder turned off the projector. And moved to grab his own jacket and handing Scully hers.
"Flight leaves a three, I'll pick you up say noon? We can grab a bite to eat then head out." Mulder said cautiously.
Scully took a deep breath. "Yeah sounds good."
They walked to Mulder's car in the garage and wordlessly got in. After dropping off Scully at her apartment, Mulder raced to his apartment and changed to 'Vegas' wear. He fought the urge not to race back to Scully's apartment. He scribbled a note for the Lone Gunmen to feed his fish and then grabbed his bag. Headed back to Scully's apartment he fidgeted the whole way constantly changing the station on the radio. He pulled up the Scully's apartment to see Scully just walking out.
"Good timing Mulder" She said still in her suite, although she had changed to a skirt instead of her pants.
"Scully, is summer in Vegas, you're going to die of heat in that suit." He said looking her over.
"I'll be fine Mulder." She said pulling a plastic water bottle out. "I came prepared."
Mulder smirked and headed for the airport. After they checked into their flight and got on. The flight had been uneventful, minus the occasional comment from Scully about Mulder fidgety behavior. Mulder check them into their hotel while Scully took stock of the environment.
"Told you not to wear that." Mulder said handing Scully her room keys.
"I just need to fill my water bottle again." Scully said finishing her bottle. Following Mulder to the hotel elevator they made their way up to the seventh floor. They sat in an awkward silence in the elevator, hearing the ding startled them as they were both lost in thought. Walking to their rooms that were side by side. Scully walked in and unlocked the adjoining door. Mulder opened it but stayed in his room. Something he always did, he never walked further into Scully's room unless she was showing him something. Sort of an unspoken rule, between the two of them. He tossed his bag on the chair next to his bed then leaned against the frame of the door.
"What's the game plan Mulder?" Scully finally asked.
"Honestly? I have no idea." Mulder said staring at the ground. "I'm still trying to wrap my head around the whole thing."
"Could be worst." Scully said.
"You better knock on some wood." Mulder laughed.
"Seriously Mulder?" Scully said opening her laptop on the in room desk.
"Scully, did you just make a joke? A dirty joke?" Mulder smirked.
"And you didn't?" Scully jabbed back.
"This case is just full of surprises."
"Remember what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas." Scully said opening up an internet browser on her laptop. "So whats the name of the 'establishment' that our doppelgangers work at?"
Mulder smirked again. "Space Station."
"How the hell do you find these things." Scully mumbled typing in the name on google.
"Come on now. This is me we're talking about." Mulder laughed. "Though, I wasn't looking for that when I found it."
"I don't even want to know." Scully held up her hands in defeat.
"So?" Mulder asked.
"Mulder. Do you have any idea?" Scully looked shocked between him and the laptop.
"What?" He said leaving the door way and walking over to her computer.
On the screen the home page for 'Space Station' it listed various events or party ideas and a schedule of popular dancers/performers. What shocked them both was the fact that it was an upscale establishment. 'Dress Code Enforced' it said in the property description.
"Mulder did you not even look into the place?" Scully asked. "I was not prepared for that."
"Well, I didn't think it would be that nice. I mean its called 'Space Station'" Mulder said. "I guess we need to go shopping."
"Mulder, did you just admit that you had second thoughts about this?" Scully hadn't missed what Mulder said about the name.
"I was kinda hoping it was a joke. I mean" Mulder suddenly at a loss for words. "Not that I don't mind. Those photos where better than a lot of what I've seen. But It was unnerving to see them too."
"Right those magazines that 'aren't your's''" Scully smirked this time. Feeling the shift in the room. Mulder grinned evilly at Scully.
"So you'd like to see him." He paused. "ME. Up on that stage Agent Scully?"
That earned him a punch to the arm. "Don't even start that Mulder, this case is weird enough."
"That wasn't a denial." He said scooting away from Scully as quickly as possible. "I had no idea." He said before jumping into his own room knowing she wouldn't dare walk through that door. He heard her sigh in frustration. Not knowing the hole that was slowly forming around him. A few minutes of silence passed and he heard her start to rummage through her luggage. Then the bathroom door open and shut.
Mulder walked over to the door frame again and leaned on it and called out to Scully.
"Hey Scully?" he asked hoping she heard him.
"Yeah?"
"Do you think I'd really need to get anything?" He asked. "I mean we have to wear suits anyway, can't we just get along with that?"
"That should be easy enough for you." She said through the door.
"how long do you think you'll be to get something?" He asked.
"I should be fine. You're lucky I didn't have my laundry done." She said.
"What's that suppose to mean?" He said suddenly very interested in what she had to say.
"It means that shirts I save for when I think we are going to get a particular ass chewing where the only ones I had left." Scully said through the door. "Besides, the establishment opens up soon. I'd rather try to get a feel for this case while there aren't many people around. Last thing I want is some creep to think I'm her."
"I wouldn't let that happen." Mulder said seriously. "They'd get a black eye before I'd let them anywhere near that thought." He mumbled.
"What?" She called opening the door.
Mulder's breath caught in his throat. She had decided to wear a deep blue sleeveless top that dipped a bit deeper than her regular FBI shirts. It was paired with a particularly hip hugging jet black skirt, and she wore slightly higher heels than she normally did. Mulder gave her a once over before he finally noticed she had done her make-up a little more than normal as well. Her eyes just drew him in, they seemed to be almost neon blue and her hair was slightly curled more than normal.
"Earth to Major Tom. Come in Major Tom." Scully said waving a hand in front of his face.
"I don't think it would be possible to get an ass chewing if you ever wore that." Mulder said before he could stop himself.
Scully blushed making her even more stunning to Mulder, if that was even possible at that point. Mulder then realised his jaw had dropped and he quickly closed his mouth.
"But seriously Scully, I don't think we'd ever get in trouble. Skinner wouldn't be able to think straight." He said.
"Mulder are you blushing?" Scully seemed to be gaining her own footing again.
"Can you blame me? Seriously Scully." Mulder said. "I'm going to have to make sure I bring an extra clip with me."
"Mulder I can handle my own." She said blushing again. It wasn't like Mulder to be so insistent on a compliment.
"I know." He said unable to take his gaze from her.
"Mulder go get ready. I really don't want to be confused for her now." She said pushing him back into his room.
Mulder took a couple steps backward into his room. Scully took that as a cue to walk out of sight. Effectively breaking the spell she held over Mulder. He suddenly felt very uncomfortable in his clothing. Grabbing his own suit he was thankful that he had been forced to recently re-stock his generic suits after the past couple of cases, he'd ruined more jackets and pants than he thought possible. His newer suits fit differently than his past suits. He attributed it to the change in fashion. The pants were slimmer and the shirts also cut closer. His jacket also didn't hang as long as they use to. He grabbed his own blue tie, suddenly very thankful he had thrown it in last minute. He ran his hands under the faucet and then through his hair hoping to tame it slightly. Filling his hands with cold water he splashed his face trying to keep his thoughts under control.
"Mulder, hurry up I swear you take longer than I do sometimes." Scully called from the door frame.
"Sorry Scully" He smirked walking out of the bathroom. Scully didn't even bother to hide her shock. She gave him a once over.
"Is that a new suit Mulder?" She asked.
"Yeah how did you know?" He held out his hands and looked down. He didn't think it looked any different than his other suits.
"Fits you." She paused, contemplating how to phrase it. "Better."
"Better?" Mulder questioned, he didn't see it.
"Oh nevermind, lets just go." She said turning to exit out the door. Mulder smirked realising what had just happened.
They drove to the club and got in early, just like Scully thought there weren't too many people in the club yet. They found the owner of the club fairly quickly, and purely out of mistake.
"Where have you two been?!" the short man yelled at them.
"Mulder." Scully said her face clearly paled.
"Frohike?" Mulder asked.
"Who the hell is Frohike? Its me Stan!" He said looking at the two questioningly. "You know you have to prep two hours before the show!"
"I'm sorry sir," Scully nearly spat. "But my name is Special Agent Dana Scully and this is my partner Fox Mulder." She pulled out her badge and Mulder did as well.
"Well shit." Stan said. "Sorry."
"I assume its fairly clear why we are here." Mulder stated.