That evening, on their way back to his house, he thinks about what she's asked him earlier. He drives, and she sleeps in the passenger's seat. He wonders in the silence if he's made a mistake. Should he have chosen differently? It is clear to him that there is something on her mind, something that she won't talk about. He doesn't pry. They are fifteen minutes from home when her eyes flutter open. She looks over at him, and returns her seat into an upright position. She looks over, and finds him eating pie while he drives.
"Mulder where did you get pie?"
"I stopped in West Virginia," he jokes.
She scowls at him. "Seriously?"
"It is Virginian pie, and yours is right there," he points to her feet.
She finds a Styrofoam container sitting at her feet. She reaches for the pie. She pulls a plastic fork out of the cup holder. She shakes her head, as Mulder's Styrofoam container sits between his legs. One hand holds onto the wheel, while the other clenches a fork, and shovels bites of pie into his mouth.
"I am surprised that you haven't stabbed yourself yet."
"I nearly hit my femoral artery a few minutes ago. I am surprised my cursing didn't wake you up."
"I guess I was tired."
"Do you think that we're getting too old for this?"
"Were certainly not in our twenties, or even our thirties anymore."
"Scully, we aren't even in our forties anymore."
"Why do you have to keep reminding me of that?"
"I'm sorry, I forgot that you quit counting after thirty nine."
"Mulder why are you bringing up our ages?"
"It seems like we require more sleep than we used to. I mean, you even took a nap in the middle of the day," he points out.
"Yes, Mulder, we are getting older. We don't have as much energy as we used to."
"Do you think that we have vitamin deficiencies?"
"I think we are experiencing normal age related changes."
"I think pie may be the cure."
She takes a bite of coconut cream pie, and ruminates on the thought. A few moments pass in silence as they chew. Once she swallows she looks over at him.
"I don't recall giving you permission to eat in my car."
"I don't think I asked."
"You are notorious for spilling," she points out.
"We're both adults, I think we can handle some pie eating in the car."
"You couldn't wait until we made it back to your place?"
"Scully, sometimes you are a fun-sucker."
"Thank you, Mulder, I appreciate that."
On Monday, they are sitting in their basement office. Mulder sits behind his computer, compiling a report. Scully rises from her desk, and heads for the door.
"Are you going somewhere?"
"I have an appointment," she informs him.
"At eleven o'clock in the morning? Scully it's almost lunchtime."
"Thank you, Captain Obvious."
"What kind of an appointment?'
"To get my vitamin deficiency checked out," she jokes, exiting the room.
He shakes his head, "She thinks she is so funny."
After she returns from her clandestine meeting about an hour later, she becomes eerily quiet. Later that evening, she finds herself once again, sitting on Mulder's couch gearing up for a late night of poring over evidence. Without any provocation Mulder places his files on the coffee table, and turns to look at her. She is wearing her glasses, reading intently. He taps her leg gently. She looks over at him, and tosses her files into the pile, peeling her glasses off in the process.
"Yes, Mulder?"
"You've been awfully quiet today."
"Is that a crime?"
"It is typically not a positive sign, when you are pensive."
"If you have a question I suggest that you ask it, Mulder."
"What's on your mind?"
"Nothing," she lies.
"Scully?"
"Don't worry about it."
"Something is on your mind."
"It's probably just my vitamin deficiency," she teases.
"I am trying to be serious, here."
"I am just tired, Mulder."
"I am tired of getting older, it sucks," he adds.
"I wholeheartedly agree."
"What is really going on with you?"
"I have just been thinking," she admits.
"About?"
"Thanksgiving?"
"Scully, it's February. Why are you thinking about Thanksgiving? Are you in the mood for turkey? I would think that you would be considering your birthday, since it is right around the corner."
"I was thinking about last Thanksgiving," she tells him.
"Oh. Last Thanksgiving was rather nice," he admits.
She furrows her brow, "I don't seem to recall you having that sentiment when my mother was interrogating you."
"I really think that your mother missed her calling. Maybe we should consider adding her to the team to be our official interrogator."
"I told you what would happen."
"I love your family. Obviously, you get your stubborn nature from your mother."
"What could possibly make you say that?"
"Every single time I see her she grills me about when I am going to make you an honest woman. Why does she always bring up marriage? What am I supposed to say to her? You're the one who always squashes the subject anytime I bring it up. It isn't my fault that you are some crazy person with fear of commitment, and no desire for labels. Why were you thinking about Thanksgiving? That is very random."
"The mind tends to be a random place, Mulder."
"You are very calculating. If you have been fixating on Thanksgiving all day, there is clearly a reason."
"I think my vitamin deficiency is making me weak."
"Will you stop with the vitamin deficiency?"
"You are the one who suggested it. I really feel like you're off your game."
"Why is that?"
"In the past you would have suggested a brain eating amoeba, or supernatural possession, or even alien abduction."
"I am trying to be more reasonable in my old age."
"I know you think I am joking about the vitamin deficiency, and I am to some degree."
"What do you mean to some degree?"
"I had a doctor's appointment today. I do have low iron."
"Since when do you go to the doctor?"
"I suspected that my iron was low."
"You would usually just run a lab test on yourself."
"We are required to undergo yearly physicals to maintain our benefits through the bureau."
"I had to do my weeks ago."
"I kept rescheduling mine, but Skinner pulled me in the office the other day, and threatened to suspend me if I didn't complete mine."
"Why?"
"Probably because he found out that I haven't had a yearly physical in three years."
"They are painless. I know you have trust issues, but come on, Scully. They take like fifteen minutes."
"When was the last time that you had one?"
"I get one every year."
