Author's Note: This story is the sequel to my previous fanfiction "I Spy", so it's probably a good idea to read that first. You can find it by going into my author's page. Enjoy!

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Broken Mirror

Chapter One.

She had no idea what had made her visit the bar that night. She had been driving past in her car and pulled over on impulse. She didn't frequent bars much; truth was she wasn't much of a drinker. She chose an empty stool at the bar and ordered a vodka and Diet Coke – her drink of choice from way back when in college. She hoped her pallet still had a taste for it. She took a sip from her glass and placed it on the bar in front of her.

Absentmindedly, she twirled the ice around in her glass and regarded her reflection in the mirror behind the bar. She had a pretty average shaped face, crystal clear blue eyes framed by long lashes, luscious full lips accentuated with a thin coat of light brown lipstick, paleish skin outlined by a mass of thick auburn hair that ended slightly below her jaw. Her face was perfect, untouched save for the faded scar on her left cheek, a reminder of yet another horrific event in her chaotic life.

Taking another, slightly longer sip of her drink she shifted her gaze to look around the room. Her eyes did a sweep of the bar, noting everything, even the tiniest detail. She then prepared to take a closer look at the other occupants. This precision and careful attention to detail was nothing new to her; Special Agent Dana Scully did this every day of her life.

The bar wasn't exactly quiet, which was a little surprising; it was a Wednesday after all. A group of men in suits sat round a table in the corner talking loudly. Businessmen discussing that day's big success. On a table further over from them, a woman sat hunched over her drink. Scully could tell she'd been crying; lines of black mascara ran down her face like roads on a map. In the other corner of the room, a group of male college students were laughing and joking loudly, trying to get the attention of some female students on another table.

Scully's attentions were diverted suddenly by a loud sob that emanated from the panda eyed woman sat alone. A female bartender walked over to her, placed an arm around her shoulders and stood her up, all the while whispering something no one else could hear. The woman obviously agreed with what was being said, as she nodded and headed towards the bars exit. Scully was all set to follow suit when a voice to her left stopped her.

It was deep with a slight accent to it that she couldn't quite put her finger on. She turned round on her stool to see whom this mysterious voice belonged to and was met by a man, tall – roughly 6 feet 1. He had a slightly squared jaw with two fullish lips set into a smile above it. When Scully reached his eyes, a kind of gray-violet color, they met and locked with hers. She felt a bizarre sensation in her stomach, like nausea only more intense. His smile grew wider as he opened his mouth to speak again.

"Is this seat taken?" He gestured to the stool next to her. She took note of the absence of a wedding ring, without knowing quite why.

"No. Go ahead." There were a few moments of silence as he sat down and made himself comfortable. He then turned to face her.

"I couldn't help but notice you. I haven't seen you here before."

"To be honest I've never been here before. I'm not really much of a drinker."

"Well I'm glad you chose tonight to come in." She smiled slightly and looked down at her glass. There were a few beats of silence.

"God you must think I'm really rude. I haven't even introduced myself. I'm Michael Collins." He extended a hand towards her, which she accepted.

"I'm Dana. Dana Scully." His hand felt warm and gentle wrapped around her own. Suddenly he raised her hand to his lips and placed a tender kiss on it, just behind her knuckle. She flushed a little. She'd never had a man do that to her before, at least not in the past ten or so years. He released her hand reluctantly before turning to the bar.

"May I buy you a drink?" She glanced down at her glass. She did have to drive home, but even after one more she'd still be below the limit.

"Sure," she replied. He smiled at her before turning back to the bar.

"I'll have a beer and whatever this lovely lady is having." The bartender then turned away to get their drinks. There were a few moments of silence until he returned with their respective beverages, setting them down on the counter before busying himself with another waiting customer.

"So Dana, what is it you do for a living?" Scully took a sip of her drink, subtly stalling. She'd been dreading this question since he'd started talking to her. She didn't get guys talking to her much, but when they did and she told them she was an FBI agent, they ran a mile. She'd learnt the hard way to lie about what she did until she was sure they wouldn't mind. Not that any of her relationships had ever gotten that far since she joined the Bureau, but that wasn't the point.

"I'm a doctor," she replied, replacing her glass on the paper coaster in front of her.

"Really? What kind of doctor?" He seemed genuinely interested in her, which surprised her a little.

"I specialize in forensic pathology." His eyebrows rose a bit.

"You must have a very strong stomach. I could never do anything like that." She smiled at his sort of compliment.

"How about you? What do you do?"

"Me? I have a pretty boring office job. Your typical nine to five arrangement really."

"Do you live around here?" She asked, running a finger round the rim of her glass.

"Sort of, I live just outside Arlington. How about you?"

"Georgetown," she replied. She was kind of starting to like this man.

Scully glanced at her watch. 11:58. She had to be up early for a meeting with Skinner. Finishing the rest of her drink, she made a move to get up.

"Listen, I would love to stay and talk with you some more but I have to be up early tomorrow for work." He nodded in understanding and rose as well. He helped her slip into her coat before putting on his own. "You don't have to leave on my account."

"It's time I was going anyway. Let me walk you out?" She smiled yes and they walked toward the door and out into the night. Scully shivered slightly and pulled her coat tighter to her against the biting January wind. When they reached her car, Scully stopped walking. She turned to face him, leaning slightly against the car. Michael was the first one to speak.

"Dana, I really enjoyed talking to you tonight and it's a shame you have to go. I'd really like to get to know you better; you seem a very interesting person. Would it be rude of me to ask for your phone number?"

The sensible part of Scully immediately protested. How could she give her number to someone she'd just met in a bar, whom she knew next to nothing about? But a less rational part of her told her to go for it, bite the bullet and give the guy her number. After all, you never know what might happen. Finally she decided.

"Do you have a pen?" she said with a smile that he returned. He fumbled in his pockets for a bit before pulling out a pen and a napkin and handing them to Scully. She turned to lean on the roof of her car, quickly jotting down her name and numbers. Turning back round to face him, she handed the napkin and pen back. Michael glanced down at the napkin, reading what she'd written.

"My cell number is on there too," she explained. He nodded.

"Well, I'll call you then."

"I'd like that," she replied with a smile before unlocking her car and climbing in. She started her car and drove off, glancing in the rearview mirror to see him wave before turning a corner and losing him from her sight.