MULDER'S APARTMENT
APARTMENT NO. 42
ALEXANDRIA
It's a Sunday night and Mulder's going through a case file while watching TV when there is a knock at the door. He goes over to the door & opens it to find a suntanned Scully standing on the other side.
"Scully! Hi!" Says Mulder, his face beaming "Come it"
"Hey" replies Scully returning his smile as she enters his apartment.
"When did you get back? You look great by the way."
"Thanks. I came straight from the airport"
"So where did you end up?"
"I went to Italy. I've got a friend from college who moved there a few years ago, she's always asking me to visit so I thought why not. Sorry I should have called."
"Its fine I figured you needed some space. So did you find yourself?" asks Mulder giving her a wry smile.
"A little" says Scully nodding as she replies.
"Good."
"Oh I nearly forgot!" said Scully reaching for her pocket. "I got you a little something." She says slightly blushing.
Scully hands Mulder a wrapped gift "Scully, you didn't have to."
"I wanted to, open it."
Mulder tears open the wrapping to reveal a red & gold Italian silk tie.
"Ahh Scully you shouldn't have, thank you." Says Mulder smiling as he gives Scully a hug.
"Well I thought I've got to get your ties matching your shirts some how." Replies smiling back at him.
They stand there for a second just smiling at each other.
"Scully….Can I see it?"
"What?"
"The tattoo" says Mulder tentatively.
"No" replies Scully blushing as she give him a small smile.
They stare at each of as the room falls silent, almost bordering on awkward.
"Scully, why is this such a big deal all of a sudden?"
"It's" she hesitates, "…not." She replying unconvincingly, another few moments passes as they both study each other. Finally Scully lets out a sigh rolling her eyes as she stands and begins to lift up her top exposing her back for him to see.
Mulder steps closer to study it. "Why'd you chose that one?"
"What do you mean?" asks Scully pulling her top back down.
"Why Ouroboros? Out of the millions of symbols you could have been poisoned from?" Mulder replies giving her a small smile.
"When I was following Pudvkin he went into the tattoo parlour & I followed him. When I was looking around it caught my eye. At the time it summed up how I felt about my life, going in an endless circle."
"I see" replies Mulder "Its nice - it suits you" he says giving Scully's arm an affectionate rub.
"Thanks Mulder that means a lot" replies Scully holding Mulder's gaze. "It's late, I'd better go."
"Ok" replies Mulder showing Scully to the door. "Thanks for stopping by, its good to see you."
"You too Mulder. I'll see you tomorrow." Replies Scully giving Mulder's hand an affectionate rub before heading down the hallway.