"How do you feel about mind control, Scully?" Mulder asked as he approached her desk. She was working on another report, and didn't glance up at his arrival.
"Are you asking me as your former partner on the x-files, or are you asking for my personal opinion?" She said with a bitter taste in her mouth, shining through in her tone of voice. He winced at the words, knowing their slight rift was due to his reaction at her accusations about Diana. With them not working on cases together, it was harder for him to subtly make up to her as he had done before.
"Well I'd like to believe they're one in the same. Just, uh, look it over and let me know what you think." He said as he gently placed the file on her desk. She still never met his eyes, sighing as he left back to his desk.
Scully's mind was lost for the rest of the day, knowing she desired to work another case with him, to hopefully get over their latest argument, but she knew it wasn't that simple. She knew that it was her jealously taking over her mind and actions, but more so her apprehensions about Diana, and why Mulder was so easy to trust her, just because of their past. As much evidence as she could uncover, he still refused to believe what was right in front of him, accusing her of making this personal. It was personal, she wouldn't even be here pushing papers just to be in the same room as him again if it wasn't. The day passed by in a blur, her mind made up the minute he walked over to her that morning. She knew it wasn't fair to torture him like this all day, since this was his way of apologizing, but she had to find her own amusement, too.
"So what time do we leave?" She said as she sauntered over to his desk. His head shot up to see Scully standing next to his space, arms crossed in a protective stance. He let out a sigh of relief, and flashed her a sheepish smile.
"There's a flight that's heading to Seattle in a little over 4 hours. I already bought the tickets, it'll give us time to pack, and I can pick you up." He said slowly.
"You were so sure I was going to say yes, Mulder?" She said as her eyebrow arched. She pursed her lips to mask the smirk appearing on her face.
"Well, I had hoped. I've already had it cleared, we were called in by the local sheriff, he knows us by reputation apparently. I'll see you soon." He leered at her as he got up, gathering his things to head home. She scoffed, still standing there, shaking her head at the familiar banter. As angry and annoyed as she was at their current situation, she missed this.
Scully made her way home, packing for Seattle, finding herself excited about their first case together after their Diana fight. She knew this was Mulder trying to pass this stalemate between them, though he would never apologize firsthand. She let out a heavy sigh, knowing how hard this assignment would be, but knowing she needed to push through her own emotions, for them. She was startled by the knocking on the door, glancing at the clock, surprised that he was early.
"Lose your key, Mulder?" She said as she opened the door and walked back towards her room to finish packing.
"I, uh, didn't want to just let myself in. I didn't know if-" He began to stutter. She paused, knowing what his apprehensions were. She licked her lips nervously, not replying to ease his worries.
"I'm just about ready, make yourself comfortable, I'll be out in a bit." She said, leaving him standing awkwardly in her living room. This was so unusual for both of them, and they were each walking on eggshells around the other.
The ride to the airport was quiet, neither knowing what to say to the other. Mulder made half-assed attempts at a few jokes, but they all fell flat with her being unamused. They flew through check in, just in time to board the plane. They weren't able to get seats directly next to each other, so he settled for the seats that were only separated by the aisle, keeping a close proximity to her. He stole casual glances in her direction, becoming annoyed as she flirtatiously smiled at the stiff in a suit next to her. She knew what this was doing to Mulder, she could feel the glares burning into her skin, and she loved it.
After they landed, he offered to take her bags, finding any excuse to interrupt her conversation with her new friend. He mentally growled when they exchanged phone numbers, and forcefully grabbed his bag, heading outside.
"Were you planning to leave without me?" She asked pointedly, hiding the smirk touching her lips at his annoyance.
"Didn't seem like you'd notice anyway." He mumbled with a slight growl to his voice.
He helped her into the cab, giving the driver the address. She distractedly pulled out the file, reading over the details, not noticing where they were heading. As they pulled up to their destination, Mulder paid the cab driver, and Scully finally glanced up at the stopping of the vehicle.
"Where are we?" She asked puzzled as she jumped out. Mulder gathered all of their bags as the cabbie drove off. She turned her attention to him, eyes widening with question.
"We're staying here. I figured it would be a nice excuse to take a small break. It's been a long few weeks for us, and this case seems pretty tame, compared to some of our recent expeditions. I just figured-" He stammered. He finally glanced up, hands anxiously in his pockets. "Scully?"
"Yeah, uh-" She wet her lips subconsciously, fighting back the tears that threatened her eyes. "This was, a good idea. Thank you." She finished in a small whisper.
He wordlessly nodded and led her inside the small waterfront inn. It was very homey, and the owner was warm and welcoming. She handed him the key, giving directions to their room. As they approached, Scully could feel the anxiousness radiating from him, and glanced at him with a puzzled expression. When he opened the door, she was about to ask which room she was staying in until the sight before her took her breath away.
Scully slowly made her entrance, taking in the gorgeous scenery. There was a small living room area, with a tiny kitchen connected down the middle. The opposite side of the entryway was a giant, glass window, facing the waterfront. There were two rooms situated on the right and left of the small cabin.
"Mulder..." She whispered. He came up to stand next to her, maintaining his distance.
"I just figured it was a small step up from the usual motels we find ourselves in." He said in a small voice. She avoided his eyes, nodding in agreement. She turned away from him, in search of her bags. She silently gathered her things, and made her way to one of the rooms.
He sighed, knowing this was a small step for them, at least he hoped. She found herself sitting on the edge of her bed, staring out at the water from the window in her room. That specific window overlooked the patio, that happened to have a window with a direct view into Mulder's room as well. She knew this was his version of an apology, but never imagined we would make this much of an effort just to amend their most recent argument. Her stomach began to turn at the thought that this might mean more for them, not that she's never thought about it before, it just never seemed like an attainable reality for her.
The next morning, she emerged from her room, and smiled at the smell of fresh coffee brewing. She slowly approached the kitchen area, dumbfounded at the sight of Mulder cooking something at the stove. She bit her lip, hiding her smile as she walked up behind him. She reached up to gently run her thumb over the back of his neck, making his hair stand on end. His breath caught in his throat at the contact before smiling at the familiar touch.
"Checking for green, oozing blood on the back of my neck, Scully?" He teased without turning to face her.
"Yeah, actually. Picking a nice place to stay, making breakfast, I don't know if I can handle anymore surprises." She teased back. They both enjoyed this small moment of solace, not knowing what today was going to bring.
They made their way to meet with the local sheriff, talking about the case details on the way to the precinct. She enjoyed this small distraction from their real world, thinking maybe this was exactly what they needed.
"You said that the local sheriff requested us? I don't see his name in any of the reports." Scully said as they pulled up to the precinct.
"Yeah, well, if you notice, the sheriff's name on all the reports, was also our last victim. That's what made them request outside help. So the new sheriff is the one who asked for us, by glowing reputation, of course."
"Oh, of course." She said sarcastically.
They made their way inside and were directed to the conference room. As they strolled in, they could see who they assumed was the sheriff, writing more details on the board. His back was facing them, and he didn't notice their arrival.
"Sheriff Coleman?" Mulder asked as they approached further into the room. He turned with a welcoming smile, his grin only growing with his eyes at the sight of Scully.
"Well, well, well. Dana Scully, coming back to break my heart again. I've been preparing for this day." He leered at her.
"Reid! Oh my, you're the sheriff?!" She said as she practically jumped into his arms, embracing in a hug, smile matching his. Mulder's mood immediately plummeted, standing there, feeling like the outsider.
"That I am. Looks like I'm not the only one who made something of themselves, Agent Scully. It is still Scully isn't it?" Reid asked with genuine interest.
"It is, and it's actually Dr. Agent Scully to you." She said with a light laugh Mulder can't remember ever hearing from her. "God, it's so great to see you. It's been years!"
"Yeah, well since someone didn't show up to the reunion a few years back, I just figured you were off with some brilliant doctor husband and your 5 kids, traveling the world, making a difference." He teased at her. It was the first time that she didn't panic at the mention of the life everyone imagined for her. She was happy to have a friend, a good friend, back in her life.
"I was a little busy, saving the world in other ways. You apparently heard of my conquests, considering you requested my partner here for your recent case." She said as she directed her attention back towards Mulder. His head shot up at the word 'partner,' and he smiled sheepishly at them, trying to remain civil. She could see the mixed emotions running through his eyes, and it caused a slight guilt to twist in her stomach. "Reid, this is Agent Fox Mulder. Mulder, this is Reid Coleman, a good friend from high school." She said was a genuine smile as she turned her attention back to Reid.
"Ouch, and here I thought you were coming back to remain true to the pact we made sophomore year. You did promise, and you're a few years late on that." Reid teased at her.
"How on earth do you still remember that?"
"Well, I've been waiting to marry Dana Scully for almost 20 years now." He bumped her arm with his. He turned his attention to Mulder, smile radiating on his face. "This one here told me that if neither of us were married by the time we were 30, we'd marry each other. Looks like she's come back to keep good on that promise." He joked.
"I was 15, and awkward, you really can't hold that against me." She winced and let out a small chuckle, enjoying this lighthearted moment.
"Nice to meet you. If you two are done with your reunion, we can start the briefing on the case." He said with a bitterness in his voice. She rolled her eyes at his behavior, and situated herself on the opposite end of the table from him, next to Reid. This was already setting the mood for this entire assignment, erasing everything good that came from the morning.
They were briefed on the case, Scully smiling and lightheartedly bantering with Reid. Mulder gritted his teeth through the whole meeting, biting back every comment that popped into his head.
"If everyone's ready, we can head on over to the site where the last body was discovered. Maybe science whiz here can find something impressive." Reid teased towards Scully.
"Doubting my abilities?" She challenged with a smile as she playfully punched his chest.
"Well if they're still anything like the sophomore year science fair..."
"That's not fair! It wasn't even my fault that it blew up."
"Are we going to go? I'd like to get some work in today." Mulder said, breaking up their conversation. He knew he wasn't really threatened by the stiff on the plane, but this was different. This was a tall, somewhat decent looking man, with shining blue eyes and a charming grin. Not only that, he had a close relationship with her previously, and Mulder knew he could never compare to that, no matter what they had been through together.
"He always so friendly?" Reid asked as he watched Mulder storm out of the office.
"He-" She let out an exhausted sigh. "We've been through a lot recently, and this case is exactly what he needs to get back into things. He's brilliant, and I know he can seem-" She paused at the stupid grin on Reid's face, and crossed her arms. "What?"
"Nothing, do you always make this many excuses for him?"
"I'm not making excuses."
"Right...well it looks like you did just come back to break my heart like I thought."
She scoffed as he laughed, leading her out the door. They met up with Mulder who was waiting outside, fidgeting with anything he could find. He seemed agitated, and Scully was instantly worried about his demeanor.
"Hey, you okay?" She said in a soft voice as she walked up to cradle his elbow. He sighed at the contact, and quickly shook away his moment of bliss, shadowing it with annoyance.
"Yeah, I'm just fine. Let's go." He said as he nudged her hand away from his arm. He walked towards the sheriff's car just as Reid was pulling up. Scully closed her eyes and exhaled deeply, knowing how exhausting this case was already starting out to be.
"So has Dana here ever shared her high school stories, because trust me, I've got plenty." He said teasing, as he bumped his arm to hers. Mulder chose to sit in the backseat.
"Uh, not really. We just work together, we used to be partners." He said flat toned, completely void of emotion. Scully felt the small jab at her heart from his words, and nervously fidgeted in her seat.
"So, uh, tell me about what's making you and your team believe this has anything to do with mind control? I would have never thought you'd be one to believe in such an extreme solution." She said, changing the subject, avoiding the main issue.
"That, I can assure you I'm not, however, the former sheriff was a strong believer, before he jumped off a cliff to his death. No one could ever imagine him doing something so horrific, but he was becoming mad towards the end there. He would ramble on about not being able to control his own mind, and fight the angry thoughts."
"Were there scans and tests done for any signs of tumor, or brain crippling diseases?"
"Yeah, doc. We covered every possibility we could think of, but we kept coming up empty. The other victims all began to become crazy before they ended their lives as well. We can't find a commonality between them, other than they were all part of an online support group for recovering alcoholics. The locations vary, the lifestyles, gender, age, nothing is similar."
"Well hopefully we can be of assistance." She said with a small smile as she ran her hand up and down his arm in comfort. He smiled back at her, both seeming to forget Mulder was even there.
They arrived at the cliffs, still taped off from the recent occurrence. She took a moment to stand on the edge, letting the breeze and scent of the water wash over her. She felt someone walk up beside her, and began to smile at who she thought it was, until they began to speak.
"You always were one for the ocean. I did hear about your dad, I'm sorry." Reid said. She jumped slightly, and he noticed the smile fade slightly. "Sorry, not who you were expecting to share this moment with?" He asked with amusement in his voice.
"No, I mean, you just startled me." She said bowing her head, licking her lips nervously. "Thank you, though."
"Anytime, Day. You should have called me, he was a good man."
"Yeah, he was." She said with a small smile. She looked up to finally meet his eyes, and saw the familiar, warm sentiments she once knew so well.
"Hey, Scully." Mulder called out from behind them. She gave Reid an apologetic smile before turning her attention back to work.
"Did you find something?" She said as she approached to stand beside him.
"I don't know, is there anything in the lab reports about blood droplets being found at the crime scene?" He asked as he crouched lower to inspect a leaf in the middle of the blocked off area.
"Uh, no, is that what you think this is?" She said as she read through the reports, before leaning in to examine what he was seeing. He leaned in closer to her face, lingering in their close proximity as they've become accustomed to. They exchanged glances at each other's mouths, both holding back their own personal feelings.
"It could be, let's get it back to the lab and see if we can get something off of it."
"Sure, let me get my evidence bag from the car." She said as she moved away from him. Reid stood by, amusingly watching everything play out.
Reid drove them back to the precinct, offering to show Scully to the lab. Mulder joined, more for his own reassurance than anything. Scully excused herself to change into scrubs, leaving the boys to awkwardly wait for her in the lab. Before either could attempt a conversation, the silence was broken by the ringing of a cell phone.
"Yeah, Mulder." He answered, stepping slightly away for his conversation. He didn't notice Scully walk in, having his back faced to both of them. "No, Diana, I can't talk about that right now. I'm a little busy. I'll try to call you later." He said before he disconnected the call.
Reid noticed Scully stiffen and clench her jaw at the mention of the name, and knew there was more to that story. He watched her slip into her Dr. Scully persona, remaining detached from any personal feelings.
"Sorry, I needed to take that." Mulder said as he approached their area again.
"Yeah, I'm sure. You know, you don't really need to be here. I can handle this by myself. I'm going to be running samples and looking over the last victim anyway, so I'll be here a while. Why don't you go back to the room and look over the reports, see if there's anything we missed. I'll call you with an update." She said with finality, not opening it up for discussion.
"Oh, sure, Scully. Just, uh, let me know when you're done, I can swing by and get you." Mulder said, slightly hurt by her dismissal. He knew Diana was a sensitive subject, but he didn't think the mere mention of her name would set her off this much. He had planned to pick up a rental car on his way back to the hotel, so he didn't have to rely on the sheriff to drive them everywhere, but his anger was creating a new plan in his mind.
"That's okay, Reid was going to take me back after we go to dinner. I'll call you with an update." She said offhandedly, already distracted by her work. Mulder nodded wordlessly at no one in particular, and huffed as he exited the lab. She closed her eyes and exhaled deeply, knowing she was only making matters worse, but was too stubborn to be the first one to concede.
"Well, I see you two work great together." Reid said sarcastically. Scully was so lost in her thoughts about Mulder, she just wanted to be alone.
"Yeah, we're just going through some things right now. I'm, uh, going to finish this up, and I'll let you know when I'm done. Then we can head to dinner." She said in a small voice.
"You're dismissing me, too? Alright, fine. But don't think you're getting out of dinner." He teased at her, causing a slight smile to touch her lips. She reveled in how easy it was, knowing this is what she could have had.
After she finished running the blood samples with the victim, and checking for anything missed on the last victim, she was mentally and physically exhausted. She changed and made her way back upstairs to Reid's office, and plopped herself down on his small couch.
"Please tell me I don't have to walk to wherever you're taking me." She said tiredly. He huffed out a laugh, shaking his head at her.
"What happened to the all nighter Dana Scully I used to know and love?"
"She's seen some things, and she grew up." She huffed. "You saying you love me less?" She asked with a smirk on her lips.
"Nah, I think you're still alright." He teased at her. "Come on, let's go."
He took them to a small cafe nearby that he frequented, and situated them in an intimate booth.
"So, tell me about your life now, Day. Based on what I've heard about your partner, you've definitely got some interesting stories."
"You could say that. I don't know, I threw myself into work straight after college and med school. I was recruited by the FBI, and found that was the best way for me to really make a difference. My family wasn't too thrilled, but I think they've come to accept it. After working on the x-files, I-" She paused, exhaling deeply. "I don't know, things changed. It challenged me, my beliefs. I've definitely faced some things, lost some important people to me along the way." Her voice began to drift off.
"Do you regret any of it?"
"No, I don't. We do important work, Mulder and I. It's a little unconventional, but I guess everything about us is."
"That would be my next question, what's the deal with you two?"
"There is no deal." She teased, mocking his words. "We've been partners for over 6 years now, we've been through everything together. When we lost the x-files this last time, we, uh, I don't know. There's some things that caused us to drift a little further apart. You would think him racing to Antarctica to save me from a believed underground hidden aircraft would bring us closer together, but-"
"Wait, he risked his life and hunted you down nearly across the world to save you? Jesus, Day, I love you, but even that's a little much."
"We would do anything for each other, he's my best friend, that's all."
"You saying it's implausible that your best friend could love you? Because I can tell you from firsthand experience that that's actually highly likely."
"Reid, you're a good guy, I've missed you." She said as she reached out to grasp his hand on the table.
"I've missed you, too, kid. Nice change of the subject there, avoiding the question." He teased, calling her out on what she knew was true. "Let's get dessert to go, we can head back to the hotel, hang out with your boyfriend so he's not so moody later."
"He's not my boyfriend, but you're right, I should probably check on him." She said with a heavy sigh. She knew Mulder was in a mood, and Reid played a big part of that, but she hoped this was a happy compromise.
They made their way back to the small inn, and she led him to the quarters. She could hear Mulder on the phone in his room as she entered the main area, and instantly squared her jaw, assuming he was talking to Diana.
"Why don't you make yourself comfortable, I'll let him know we're back." She said as she slowly approached his door. It was slightly open, and she listened in through the sliver.
"Yeah, whichever the first flight is. There's nothing tonight? Yeah, fine tomorrow morning." He said annoyed. She gritted her teeth and pushed open his door just as he was providing his information.
"Hang up the phone." She said sternly, hands planted on her hips.
"I'm sorry, can you hold for a moment?" He said as he placed his hand over the speaker of the phone. "Scully, I'm a little busy. Can we talk when I'm done?"
"Not if you're doing what I think you're doing, and booking the next flight out of here. Hang up the damn phone, Mulder." Her voice rising with anger.
"Yeah, I'll have to call back to finish the reservation. Hold my spot." He said as he disconnected the call. "Happy? I didn't think you'd notice if I wasn't helping on the case anymore, you definitely didn't need my help today." He scoffed as he threw his phone on the bed.
"Stop being such a stubborn jackass for once, and consider that maybe not everything is about you. I kicked you both out of the lab until I finished, just so you know. What the hell is with you anyway? Ever since we got here, you've been moping around, being a tenacious jerk."
"Well sorry for not being a ray of fucking sunshine every minute of the day, sorry to disappoint. Shouldn't you be on a date right now anyway?" He said as he grabbed his jacket and pushed passed her out of the door.
"It wasn't a date! Would you stop and actually talk to me for two seconds? Jesus, Mulder." She huffed as she followed him. He stopped in his stride, and scoffed at the sight of Reid on the couch in the living room. He turned and glared at Scully.
"Enjoy your date." He said as he blew out the main door, slamming it behind him. She remained in her spot, wetting her lips and fighting back the tears.
"I can't stand him sometimes. He drives me absolutely insane." She said as she finally moved to plop herself down next to Reid.
"That didn't look like just friends and coworkers to me. I know I don't know all the details, but I haven't seen people fight with that much passion since before my parents got divorced. The only difference, is I didn't think they still had a chance."
"It's not like that with us, we're-"
"Just partners, friends, yeah I've heard the story. Have either of you ever expressed that you wanted something...more?"
"No, I mean, I don't think so. I wouldn't say that."
"Oh, so there's stories to tell, come on Day, spill."
"I mean, he's told me he loved me, but he was hopped up on every pain medication possible after I rescued him from another stupid venture. We, uh, almost kissed, once. Right before Antarctica."
"Wait, wait. So, he almost kisses you, then saves your life, and you don't even repay the guy with a follow up of the almost kiss? Geez Day, now I know why there's so much tension around here."
"Shut up, it's not like that. It was just an in the moment thing. It shouldn't have even gotten that far." She said as she playfully hit him on the arm. He chuckled and shook his head at her.
"Honey, I've seen you go through a few guys in my time, but this is the worst I've seen you. You've never been this shaken by an argument with someone you care about before, no matter how much you try to hide it."
"He's my best friend, and things have been hard since, just since some things have happened."
"So you keep saying. Well, as much as I would love to hang around, I know when I've overstayed my welcome. I hope everything works out, I'll see you tomorrow."
"Okay, I'll see you tomorrow. I'm sorry, for how he acted. It doesn't have anything to do with you.
"Oh, it has everything to do with me, and the sooner you realize that, the sooner you can maybe allow yourself what you've been hiding from." He said as he placed a gentle kiss on her temple. She smiled at the contact, and walked him to the door.
He began to walk away, before turning and leaning in to kiss her chastely on the lips. She was surprised by the action, and as much as she knew she could be happy with the sentiment, it wasn't the person she wanted to share it with.
"Reid..." She began to say in a small whisper. He leaned in closer, his mouth lingering just before hers.
"Relax, you're boyfriend's waiting at the end of the walkway, I'm assuming for me to leave. You can thank me later." He said as he whispered into her mouth. She bit her lip and shook her head at him, knowing Mulder must be going out of his mind right now.
She began to get herself ready for bed, waiting for his return. When she heard the door open, she slowly made her way to lean against the doorframe of her room. She could see him attempting to sneak into his room unnoticed, and smiled to herself.
"Are you still leaving tomorrow?" She startled him, asking in a small voice.
"I don't know. I didn't book the flight yet, but - I don't know." He said frustrated with the events of the first day. He didn't know if he could last an entire weekend having to be around Scully and Reid, flirting the way they do.
"Don't. Mulder, we're here on assignment, one that you wanted to take, might I add."
"Yeah, but I didn't know that-" His voice cut off, realizing what he was about to reveal about his true feelings. "Diana asked me to help her with another case, and considering you're handling things here, I just figured I could be of more assistance back in DC."
He knew that the mention of Diana's name would only make matters worse, but he couldn't control the pettiness building inside of him.
"Fine. Go running at her beck and call." She said as she huffed, turning to go back into her room. He instantly felt guilty, knowing everything was becoming immensely twisted.
"Scully..." He said quickly as he began to step towards her. He stopped in his stride as she whipped herself around and glared at him, eyes fuming.
"Did you ever consider that I took this case, not just because you asked, but because I thought it would be our opportunity to move forward from this impasse we've found ourselves in. Apparently I'm the only one that felt that way though, that's been made perfectly clear now. Maybe it's because I'm making this personal, again." She said as she turned on her heels, slamming the door behind her as she hid in the privacy of her own room.
She ignored him calling after her, fighting back the tears in her eyes. He stood in the small living room, head hanging, replaying the words in his head. He knew as soon as he said them, he wanted to take them back. Every action he had taken since she was first abducted, was led by personal feelings. One day, he'd be able to tell her, apologize, but now was not that time. He knew he had a challenge before him with Reid in the way, but he was going to make this getaway what he originally planned. He went to his room, leaving the flight home unbooked, waiting for tomorrow to be a new day for them.