There was a lot of excitement happening around him, college kids stumbling out of bars. Washington D.C. was always known to be a distinguished tourist location, given the history, but the real people who lived here were the ones that truly gave the city its charm. He slumped further in the driver's seat, cracking open another handful of seeds with his teeth. He was far enough away from the midnight crowds to remain unnoticed, but close enough to watch the twilight come to life.
The door to his backseat opened, startling him as he automatically went to protect himself. A woman climbed in, sitting for a moment as she closed her eyes and willed the tears not to come. He did a double take, admiring her bright red hair and fair skin that was tinged pink from the cold air.
"I'm sorry." She finally spoke, a low voice filling the silent cab.
"Where to?" He didn't know what he was doing, why he was willing to play the part of taxi driver when he was supposed to be on a stakeout. At least he knew his cover was working.
"I - I don't know." The tears filled her eyes again, and he couldn't look away. She was enchanting.
"Are you okay?"
"No." Her voice became firm, as if she were gaining her own confidence. "But I will be."
"I can just drive around, until you find a good place to stop." He offered, turning in his seat to face her. Glossed, blue eyes met his, wet with unshed tears as she gave him a small smile.
"I don't want to waste your time. I'm sorry." She opened the door, ready to leave. "I don't know why I jumped in the cab, I just needed to get away."
He took a moment to look around at his surroundings, noting he had parked closer to Georgetown hospital. A slight nod indicated his understanding, but he couldn't let her go just yet.
"It wouldn't be a waste of time. More like my lucky night, to spend even a few more minutes with a lovely lady." She scoffed, shaking her head as she attempted to mask the small smirk touching her lips.
"I don't even think I have my wallet." She began searching around her, realizing she had left everything in her hurry to get away. He turned off the meter on the cab, not that it was connected to anything, and she visibly relaxed.
"Consider it your lucky night, too, then."
"Why are you being so nice to me?" The skepticism entering her mind as her moment of vulnerability began to dissipate. Her question was posed with an eyebrow raised in his direction. He flashed her a grin in response.
"It looks like you can use a friend." He shrugged.
"And who might my new friend be?"
"Uh - George, George Hale."
"Mr. Hale, I couldn't possibly take you away from a night of business. The streets will be flowing with intoxicated college students soon who will need rides." She tried to explain, the thought that she climbed into a strange car and was now on the verge of considering spending more time with this man. There was something about him that was comforting to her. The obvious attempt to flirt with her not going unnoticed. He either didn't see her wedding ring, or he genuinely was just trying to be a nice guy. The news report that she watched in the doctor's lounge now entering her mind, there was a serial rapist and murderer on the loose as well. Her walls were going up with every passing second. "I should really go."
"Wait -" He watched as she tensed at the sudden objection. "I don't know if you're from the area, but there's been women disappearing, and I personally wouldn't feel comfortable letting you out here right now."
"I'll just go back to the hospital." She said with trepidation in her voice. No doubt Daniel was still waiting for her to end her tantrum and return with an apology she knew she damn well didn't owe him. In all honesty, she wanted to be as far away from him as possible after what she had to endure.
"That doesn't sound convincing enough for me to feel comfortable with that either." She met his eyes with a question, this stranger couldn't possibly understand her. "I'm not trying to do anything other than offer a free ride somewhere safe."
"I don't know where that is anymore." Her eyes filled with tears again, the door open with her hand still gripping the handle. She met his eyes again, seeing the kind, hazel gaze warming her.
"Please." He begged, hoping his charm that people seemed to think he had was working on this petite woman. She was strong, he could tell that much, but there was something gentle that he could see inside her, and she didn't deserve what she was going through. She nodded, closing the door as she shifted into the backseat. He let out a heavy sigh, driving to a spot that he had hoped would bring her some kind of serenity.
He parked his car on the empty curb, no one around but the locals who frequented the national mall. Rushing around to the passenger side rear door, he reached it just in time to hold it open for her. She gave him another eyebrow raised, questioning look, but allowed the chivalrous act. He led her towards the spot with a tender hand resting on her back, a move that startled her at first. Without thinking, he mentally chastised himself, he was trying to make her feel safe. He relaxed as he felt her exhale a heavy sigh and slightly relax into his touch.
"So you know my name, do I have the pleasure of knowing yours?" He ventured as they walked past several monuments.
"You can call me...Scully." She answered with pursed lips as if she were questioning the name herself. It didn't seem foreign to her, but almost as if she hadn't used it in a while.
"I like that." He smiled at her, causing her cheeks to color as she turned from his gaze. "So tell me, Scully, are you a tourist or a local?"
"What do you think?" She challenged, a playful gleam in her eyes. He stroked his chin with his free hand, the thought process for dramatic effect. She chuckled, hiding the small sound with the back of her mouth.
"I'd say you've been here before, and what I'm about to show you won't be as impressive as I thought, but you don't live here."
"And what gave that away?"
"Well, you hopped in the first cab you saw, even if it had its lights off, which tells me you're from a bigger city." He caught her wide-eyed stare at the confession of his cab not operating when she stumbled upon it. "New York?"
"Wow. You should be working for the police, or the FBI with those kind of instincts." She huffed. He let out a hearty chuckle.
"They wouldn't want a loner like me. When you drive cabs for as long as I have, you learn how people operate. You can tell someone's story from the minute they enter your car."
"Do tell, what is my story?"
"Why don't you tell me?" He stopped leading her, gesturing for her to sit on his favorite park bench, facing the reflecting pool. She smiled at the sight, taking the seat and waiting for him to join her on the bench.
"I don't really know anymore." Her head hung as she fiddled with her hands. "I used to think I had my entire life planned out perfectly. Medical school, marry another doctor, have children." She paused, taking in the sight before her. There was something ethereally calming about the night lights of D.C. She had been here many times before with Daniel for conferences and consults, but she never had taken the opportunity to enjoy the city.
"That's not what happened?" His monotonous voice brought her back from her thoughts.
"No, it's not." She took a deep breath, not knowing how much she should be revealing to this stranger. There was something enthralling about spilling her soul to someone she would never see again. "Well, I suppose I did the med school part, and the married a doctor part." She played with the ring on her finger that was always too big in her opinion, like it didn't belong there.
"Kids?"
"He has a daughter from his previous marriage, and I think even that was a surprise to him. He never wanted children, so one was more than enough by the time I came around."
"Is that why you left him?" She turned her head sharply in his direction, anger suddenly building inside. How dare he assume these things about her, he didn't even know her. What the hell was she doing out here with him anyway? She stood forcefully, a huff escaping her lips.
"I didn't leave him." The vulnerability was completely gone from her voice. It was replaced with fury and passion that he couldn't quite grasp yet. "What the hell would make you come to that conclusion?"
"Well, you're out in the middle of the night running away from something that deeply upset you. I never saw anyone frantically searching around the cab while we were sitting outside the hospital." He shrugged, keeping a gentle demeanor in hopes that she would calm down herself.
"More of your cab driver wisdom and insights?" She asked with another huff as she sat back down next to him, just a little further away this time.
"I'm one of the best." He grinned at her.
"We had an argument, because I -" She paused, desperately fighting the tears from coming again. She shook her head, signaling she wasn't ready to talk about it. He nodded his understanding, allowing the silence for a moment.
"If it's any consolation, I wouldn't want to have him in my cab." She chuckled, turning to him with a quizzical look.
"And why not?"
"My first impression of him probably wouldn't be any better than it is from what you're telling me." She smiled, a small one, but it almost reached her eyes this time.
"Thank you." He stood, extending his hand to her again. She gave him another look, eyebrow raised with the silent question.
"There's a place down the street from here that's a 24 hour cafe. It's getting chilly, even for me."
"I don't have my wallet."
"You can pay next time." He winked at her. She pondered the request for a moment before taking his offered hand. There was something about this man that made her feel alive again, respected for the person that she was.
He drove them to the cafe, asking that she sit in the front seat since he was off duty. There were several college students packed in the booths, but he managed to find a corner one empty, away from the busyness of the front.
"Do you come here often?" She took her large peacoat off for the first time, revealing a deep, royal blue sweater that brought out her eyes. His mouth opened, but no words managed to come out with the first few attempts to speak. She was beautiful, more so with the warm glow of the fireplace reflecting off her hair.
"I - uh," He cleared his throat, gathering his thoughts. "It's open all hours, it's a cab driver's dream." He teased, hoping to make her smile again. It worked like a charm, he even received a small chuckle.
"There are definitely some gems in this city that I have never had the pleasure to discover. I wish I explored more whenever we're here for work."
"Will you go back?" Her eyes widened with the question. "To work, I mean, with him."
"How did you know I work with him?"
"Well, you're both doctors, I only assumed." He shrugged, making the conversation nonchalant.
"I don't know if I could, after what happened tonight." The solemn look bestowed her face again, and he chastised himself for bringing back the memories. He wanted to keep her talking, but he hated seeing the unshed tears in her eyes. "I don't know where else I'd go. I gave up everything for him, I don't know what I'm supposed to do."
"You'll figure it out." He said quickly, hoping to ease her sporadic thoughts. "I can tell."
"You seem pretty confident in me."
"Because I can sense that you're strong, and something says that you always land on your feet."
"You should really charge for all this advice." She teased, causing him to smile. She glanced around the quiet cafe, noting that it had emptied since they arrived. The clock on the wall made her eyes widen. "It's almost 3 o'clock in the morning!"
"I can take you to wherever you're staying." He offered, finishing the last of his coffee.
"No, I -" She paused, realizing she had nowhere to go. She had flown in late, after work, hoping to surprise Daniel since he said his trip was going to be longer than expected because they asked for a consult. It was the weekend of their anniversary, which he no doubt forgot. They had only been married nearly 2 years now, but he didn't remember the first one either. "I don't have anywhere to stay. I need to go back to the hospital and get my bag so that I can get a room somewhere for the night."
She sighed in defeat, going back wasn't something she had planned. She was hoping to beat him home, pack her things, and never look back. He couldn't fix this, not this time. The act was not a rumor anymore, it was witnessed with her own eyes.
"I can't let you do that."
"Excuse me?"
"I know that whoever you're running from, you have good reason. At least let me accompany you until I know you're safe in a hotel somewhere." He pleaded.
She thought about the request for a moment, holding his warm gaze for as long as she would allow herself. He seemed genuinely kind, wanting to help and protect her, if she dared hope that he cared that much. What the hell was she thinking? She was still married, and the idea of spending more time with this handsome man was absolutely thrilling. She felt herself nod before she could stop the movement, and he was smiling at her with victory in his eyes.
"So what kind of doctor are you?" He asked as they drove the quiet streets back to the hospital.
"You tell me." She teased with a challenge. He laughed, pursing his lips in thought.
"You're good-natured, and precise in your movements. Direct, but with a compassion to your words." She looked at him startled, mouth agape as if she were going to respond. "I'd say either pediatrics or emergency."
She smiled at his guess, along with his explanation. "I was a trauma doctor for about a year, but I just switched over to working in pathology."
"Really?" He was stunned. She rolled her eyes, receiving that response on several occasions.
"Yes, really. I don't know why it's such a shock to so many people that a woman would choose to enter a field that has been run by men for as long as they can remember. Just because women don't do it, doesn't mean that they can't, or shouldn't." She huffed, her rehearsed argument flowing from her mouth. She had this conversation too many times with Daniel, usually ending in some kind of yelling match.
"I'm impressed."
"Y - you are?"
"I think it's pretty badass that you decided to go into a different field. I bet you're one of the best." He smiled a sideways grin as he pulled into the parking lot of the hospital.
"Thank you." Her voice was just a whisper, disbelieving that she could feel so at ease with a random stranger. "Did you want to come in with me?"
"Do you want me to?" She pondered the question, knowing that if Daniel was indeed still there, it would only cause a scene.
"No, but if I'm not back in 10 minutes, feel free to come find me." Her voice had a worry in it that he hadn't heard all evening, not even when she first found her way into his cab.
"Is he dangerous?"
"No, he just has a temper, and me walking out earlier surely won't help." She smiled reassuringly at him, exiting the car to retrieve her things.
While alone, he slumped further into his seat. What the hell was he getting himself into? Everything about the situation told him it was wrong, but there was something about her that captured him the moment he met her. He sighed, pulling his phone from his pocket and seeing all the missed calls. There was no doubt a harsh reprimand in his future, but he had hoped that what he was about to tell them would get him off the hook for a while longer.
He pressed the first speed dial on his phone. "Reggie, it's Mulder."
She was back within 5 minutes, as he had assumed. He knew that the good doctor was no longer there, and she looked relieved. There were fresh tears in her eyes that she tried to hide, but he could see them through the mask.
"I'm ready." She cleared her throat, dismissing her emotions as she turned to stare out the window.
"Where to?"
"I don't know. I can't stay at the hotel we normally do." She sighed, feeling suddenly lost in a city that she frequented.
"Can I make a recommendation?" She nodded, grateful for finding herself in the company of someone kind and somewhat shy, if she had to describe him.
He drove them silently to a hotel nearby. It wasn't her regular accommodations, but it had a charm to it. She realized that they would be parting ways, feeling foolish for the disappointment that filled her. She didn't even know this man, yet leaving him felt wrong. There was a sense of safety in his demeanor and the way he treated her when she was at her worst.
"I guess this is it." There was a sadness to his words that she felt as well.
"I suppose it is." She opened the door, exiting the car, but not yet closing it behind her. She bent down to face him. "Thank you, for everything tonight. You've been one of the best friends I've had in awhile." She smiled at him, a real smile that reached her eyes and warmed his soul.
He didn't want to let her go, not yet, but there wasn't much choice at the moment. He couldn't even give her a business card, that would risk everything. Looking around the cab, he pulled out a receipt paper and scribbled his cell number before handing it to her.
"I didn't know you kept the meter running." She teased, causing him to smile in return. "That's a hefty bill." She noted the phone number, meeting his eyes. He remained in the car to give her a sense of ease, not wanting to invade too much of her space.
"Please, call me, if you need anything while you're here." She nodded, thanking him again before finding her room.
Mulder watched her walk away, letting out a heavy sigh as this beautiful woman left his sights. He waited in the parking lot for another few minutes before driving around to park in the underground lot. He had already told Reggie that he had changed his stakeout subject, and they needed to send someone to cover his area. His partner didn't ask many questions, given that whatever antics Mulder found himself in usually had some justification.
It was his luck that he parked underground, because it started to snow as he dozed off in his car. The early morning sky began to peer through his windows, a grunt escaping his lips as he closed his eyes tighter and rolled over in the driver's seat, hoping to catch a few more minutes of sleep. The knock on the window startled him as he scrambled around in the confined space. The blue eyes staring back at him were filled with question, and relief, if he looked close enough.
"Good morning." Her voice was guarded, wondering why he was still here. He opened the door, causing her to jump back as she waited for an explanation.
"I - uh," He paused, shrugging sheepishly. "I just wanted to make sure you were okay." He said all in one breath.
"You slept out here all night?"
"It's almost as comfortable as my couch." She huffed a small breath at his confession. She couldn't believe him, yet she was absolutely captivated and fascinated by his nature.
"Well, at least let me buy you breakfast." He began to object, wanting to tell her that he was just making sure she was okay. "I need to start paying off my tab somehow."
He relaxed at the teasing smile that touched her lips. He walked around to open the passenger door for her, the act of chivalry not going unnoticed by her. They were both rather dumbfounded at their actions, but something about the other kept the intrigue alive. Though with different motives, they just couldn't seem to let the other go just yet.
"Where to?" He asked, leaving the decision up to her.
"How about our place?"
"We have a place?" He leered, leaning closer. To his surprise, she didn't pull back, challenging him with a slight raise of her brow.
"The cafe." He nodded, making his way back to where they spent a good portion of the evening prior.
Leading her inside with his hand placed firmly on her back, it was more crowded than the quiet night before. Locals packed in for the breakfast menu, bustling around and chattering of different topics. A news report caught her eye, hearing those around her say that this was the worst one yet, that they have a suspect in mind but nothing to tie him directly to the crimes.
"Awful, isn't it?" He snuck up behind her, speaking close to her ear. She startled for a moment before exhaling deeply and relaxing.
"I just don't understand how they haven't caught him yet. According to the news, this is the 8th girl this year alone." She said in amazement, watching the report.
"You've been following the story?"
"We've come to D.C. several times this year, it seems it was always in the news while I was here." He nodded, leading her back to the same booth in which they sat before. He was thankful it was still open with the crowd that the cafe attracted.
"Are you always working together when you come?"
"No, actually." She sighed, sipping the fresh coffee placed before them. "Usually he asks that I don't accompany him, or he finds other ventures to explore while we're here. I hardly see him, as I offer my services to the local hospitals. They all know me just as well as him by now, so there's never an objection if they need an extra set of hands or a consult."
"I'd be inclined to say that they welcome you because of your skill, not because of the man you married." She was stunned by his admission, always feeling as if she lived in the shadow of the brilliant man who was her husband. He had made a name for himself long before she arrived in his life. It was his reputation that captivated her, that made it hard to resist when he paid her that special attention.
"I could only hope that there is some truth in your beliefs." She said warily, knowing now that she would have to start over, make her own name for herself.
They ate in a comfortable silence, both lost in their own thoughts. He was captivated by this woman, knowing there were warning signs in every direction around her. There was something in her eyes that told him that she was just an unsuspecting victim in her own life, and he felt the need to protect her. She was surprised with herself, going with a strange man, and not feeling the least bit scared. His presence was reassuring and calming, her heart sank knowing she would be leaving the city and possibly never see him again. She was always drawn to powerful men in their own right, but he was different, and that's what intrigued her the most.
"Are you flying back today?" He inquired, breaking the silence as they finished their meal.
"I was planning to, but the snow has picked up, so I don't know how soon I'll be able to get a flight out."
"So you'll be staying through the weekend?" He asked with a little too much excitement in his voice. She had to laugh at his eagerness.
"I suppose I am." She nodded, another thought popping into her head. "Actually, I was wondering if you'd be able to drop me off somewhere."
"Of course, where do you need to go?"
"To my parents' house." He sputtered and choked on his drink. He wasn't expecting that.
"Your parents live here, and you had nowhere to go last night?" This was a piece of the puzzle he wasn't anticipating.
"They didn't necessarily agree with my choice to marry Daniel, and weren't very supportive of the relationship. I haven't spoken to them often in the last few years." The sadness appeared on her face, again. She was beautiful to him even with tears in her eyes. "I'm sure I'll have to endure a few 'I told you so's' from my mother, but if I need to start over, I'd rather start with them."
"Just tell me when, and I can take you over there." She smiled at him, nodding as she finished her coffee. He leaned back in the booth, watching this fascinating creature in front of him. He was hooked.
He drove her to the hotel first to gather her things. The drive to her parents' house was eventful, filled with conversation on what her hopes were as she started her new life. She knew leaving Daniel wouldn't be easy, and had yet to reveal why this time was irreparable, but he respected her privacy in that regard. She appreciated having someone to talk to, sacrificing so much of her personal life when she married. He was controlling, desperately craving all of her attention. He asked that she not go out without him, resulting in a few turned down invitations. The more hospital gatherings they attended, the more she felt like an arm ornament. He praised her for the work she did in her residency, but always managed to slip a jab at her career in pathology. She always laughed, playing the dutiful wife until they argued later that night, behind closed doors. It wasn't the life she imagined, that becoming more aware to her with each passing day.
"Scully?" A warm hand rested on her arm, causing her jump. "Sorry, you kind of tuned out there for a minute." He smiled at her, causing her to relax. She noticed that they were in the driveway of the house she hadn't stepped foot in in over two years.
Taking a deep breath, she exited the car as he collected her small bag from the trunk. She packed light, half expecting Daniel to get mad at her surprise and send her home. Her feet planted heavily on the pavement, she bit her lip as she took in the sight. "It's been forever since I've been here."
"I'm sure they're just going to be happy to see you." She met his eyes, seeing the gentle reassurance in his gaze.
"I still can't thank you enough, for everything you've done for me." He shook his head, dismissing her overwhelming thanks. Handing her the bag, their hands touched for a brief moment, neither of them pulling away.
"If you're in town soon, and need a ride, give me a call." He smiled, touched to see the gesture returned.
He walked back to the cab slowly, not wanting this to end. He knew that everything was about to go up in flames with a matter of hours, and there was nothing he could do to prevent the hurt she was about to endure. He plopped in the driver's seat, preparing himself for a new day's work.
"Mulder, you look like shit, more than usual." Reggie teased as he strolled in. His emergency suit he kept in the office was crisp and clean, but the rest of him was about a day old. He was scruffier than usual, the dark circles under his eyes more apparent.
"I didn't sleep much last night."
"You say that like it's news." Mulder managed a smile, he liked Reggie. He was one of the only other agents he could manage to work with. "By the way, you might want to load up on the coffee so you're alert enough to handle Patterson's wrath today. He's kind of ticked that you ditched your post last night."
"With good reason." Mulder grumbled, taking his seat as far away from the front.
Patterson strolled in, slamming things around, clearly in a mood from the jump. He glared at Mulder before starting his briefing. They had been watching the suspect for weeks, waiting for him as he landed at the airport and monitoring his movements to and from the hospital. The only thing they were waiting on was the proof. There was no definitive evidence that tied him to the bodies, at least what they recovered of them. Majority of them were hacked into pieces, displaced all over the city in shallow graves.
Mulder's profile pinpointed the who and the why, but they couldn't decipher the how. Many speculations that his wife was helping dispose of the bodies was high on the evidence board, but Mulder would strongly beg to differ. He acted alone, needing the control and power of his actions. He fed off the act of raping and disposing of these women. From the profile, they would guess that his actions were brought on by some form of rejection that he didn't know how to handle.
"Agent Mulder." Patterson's voice broke his reverie. "Mind filling us in on why you decided to leave your post last night?"
"I was following another lead." He stated simply. Reggie let out a heavy sigh, waiting for the reprimand that his partner was bound to receive.
"And what lead would that be?"
"It's too early to say how imperative it is to the case, but I will file a report and update the team as soon as I finish it up." He stated craftily. Patterson huffed before moving onto the rest of the Agents working different angles of the case.
"Anything more on the profile?" Agent Roberts directed his question to Mulder, hoping that there was something new.
"I think he's going to strike again, soon. We know he doesn't frequent bars or any public places other than the hospital and the hotel he stays at."
"So you think we need to focus on those two locations?"
"Yes, more specifically the hospital." There was a renewed energy inside of him as the words began flowing from his mind through his lips. "He's going to be facing one of the biggest rejections in his life, feeling like a failure. If he hasn't already figured out what's happening, he will, soon. I think we need to focus on the hospital, send someone in who is young enough to attract his attention, and trigger his anger by rejecting his advances."
Patterson watched the younger agent for a moment, knowing that his leaps usually led to results. He didn't do it for the fame or commendations, he did it because he was good at getting into the minds of these twisted people. A simple nod ignited the rest of the room to jump into action, finding an agent who they could send undercover. Time was not on their side if they wanted to save another innocent woman.
Mulder was set up outside the hospital in a surveillance van with Reggie and a few others. Patterson was monitoring the operation from the other side of the hospital, and there were several agents on the inside. This was one of the biggest operations they've ever had to pull, but they've never had someone so masterful in what they do. Mulder could sense the urgency in the perp, knowing that this final trigger could cause him to slip up.
"So you going to tell me about your little side venture yesterday?" Reggie asked as they waited for something to happen.
"Nope."
"Does it have something to do with your new wisdom on the suspect?"
"It might." Reggie laughed, shaking his head. He knew he wasn't going to get more out of him than that.
The agent they sent in was short, younger in the face, and had strawberry blonde hair. Mulder specified what she should look like, and they borrowed a trainee from Quantico. He knew this would be the ultimate trigger, hoping to close this before anyone else got hurt. The pain that was about to come to his loved ones was something they would have to face as the time arose. It wasn't something he could think about right now, not yet.
"We've got eyes on him, he's spotted our plant." They all leaned forward in the van, listening intently to the play by play as their agent talked to him. She was instructed to wait around his temporary office area, usually a quieter hallway as doctor's were busier during the day.
"I haven't seen you around here before." His voice was deep with confidence and oozing with ego.
"I'm just visiting a friend." She was instructed to seem timid, but intrigued in talking to him. Mulder anticipated that he would be so into himself that he wouldn't even notice her rehearsed responses.
"Your friend is very lucky to have someone as kind and beautiful as you visiting them." He leered at her. The senior agents only hoped that the trainee could hold her own. They hadn't planned on putting anyone with no experience out into the field, but Mulder insisted on the appearance, and she fit the bill.
"I suppose she is."
"How about I buy you a cup of coffee, while you're waiting around here."
"No thank you, I really should be getting back." The young agent's breath caught in her throat, another agent hiding in one of the stock rooms nearby giving the record of what was happening.
"He stopped her by putting an arm against the wall, do we make a move?" Collins whispered into the mic.
"No, we need him to make an attempt to take her. We need evidence." Patterson shouted back, frustrated and wanting this to be over. They had to do it right.
"I'm a doctor here, a heart surgeon." He was praising himself, building himself up so that she couldn't refuse.
"That's nice. I really do need to get back." He grabbed her arms forcefully, shoving her against the wall.
"Nobody denies me." He shouted, inches away from her face. "You're just like the rest of them, you'll end like them, too. Is that what you want? Is that why you left me? Dammit, Dana, answer me!" He threw her to the ground, before forcing himself on top of her.
Before he could drag her into an empty supply room, agents came shuffling out of every angle, apprehending him almost instantly. He began shouting expletives as they cuffed him forcefully, threatening to sue each and every one of them personally. They laughed as they hauled him to one of the cars waiting to be taken back to the bureau.
After they all reconvened and celebrated his capture, Patterson gave a speech about the great team work. Mulder was finding it hard to celebrate as their suspect sat in the interrogation room down the hall, refusing to give a statement or confession. He asked for a lawyer immediately, and some stiff in a suit showed up a few hours later.
The other agents began to disperse, all off to file their own reports. Mulder gathered his things, hoping to sneak out of the conference room without anymore reprimand from Patterson.
"Mulder!" No such luck. He let out a heavy sigh, tossing his files on the table.
"Sir." He answered curtly, not really helping the situation.
"Since you decided to compromise the investigation yesterday by ditching your post, I'm letting you make it up to the team." Patterson flashed him a grim smile that made him shiver. "The suspect's wife is on her way in. We need a statement from her. There's still no proof that she wasn't part of this, so we need it to be thorough."
"Wait, sir -"
"More importantly, we need her to confirm that the murders coincide when he was in Washington D.C."
"I don't think I'm the best person for this."
"You're our star profiler." Patterson said in a mocking tone. "Surely you can handle a simple interview." He dismissed him, leaving no room for argument.
Mulder made his way to one of the smaller, more intimate interrogation rooms. There was no hidden room behind a window, he wanted to make sure this was personal. He sighed heavily as he plopped into a chair, throwing the file in front of him. His hand slammed hard against the table, this wasn't supposed to happen. She wasn't supposed to know until he was ready to tell her.
Opening the folder, the photograph of those familiar blue eyes stared back at him. He yanked a pen from his pocket, preparing for his interview with the suspect's wife, Dana Katherine Waterston. Maiden name, Scully.