B as Boat

Finally, after the last tense and stressful events, they were able to settle down, breathe and rest.

Finally, after struggling to stay alive without injuries, they lied down side by side and closed their eyes.

Finally, Mulder was in a mood to launch some wisecracks.

"Scully, we are now literally in the same boat, till death do us part. Don't you think it's time to make our vows ?"

"Mulder...", replied Scully, eyes still closed.

"It's just sink or swim. I wonder what I'd choose. And you?"

"Mulder...", replied Scully, opening her eyes and slightly smiling.

"Come on, Scully. Or would I call you Starbuck? By the way, I'd give an arm and a leg to encounter right now an appealing twin-tailed mermaid and order her a double shot cappuccino with extra foam. No, actually, just a leg... I could have a peg leg."

"Mulder...", replied Scully with a large smile. She turned her head, stared at him a few seconds and grabbed his hand. "You're right, we have to relax a moment. There's nothing else useful we can do just now. And stop dreaming of a peg leg, you're too old for that."

Then, leaning forward she kissed him tenderly and claimed, "I, Dana Katherine Scully, promise to you, Fox William Mulder, to take care of you, to protect you, to support you, to cherish you in this frail lifeboat till a rescue team saves us."

"Okay", replied Mulder, "not necessary to make big plans for a lifetime. Let's just live in the moment. Come closer and let's snuggle together."

A moment later, Scully was meticulously studying the rescue manual, while Mulder was enjoying unpacking the fishing kit.

"Scully, stop hitting the books and join the Fishing Scouts Group ! We need extra hands and a pretty lure by there!", yelled Mulder.

"Shut up, Mulder. Right now, everything is okay but we don't know how many time we'll be stucked in here and what the ocean is plotting against us. We have to be prepared."

"I know, I know, Captain. We aren't on Pacific Princess. However, isn't it a pretty Love Boat, honey ?" said Mulder, winking and sending a kiss to Scully. "Hey, Doc Bricker, can I have another anti-seasickness pill ?"

"Not yet, Mulder."

"You sure, Doc?"

Mulder didn't wait for an answer and resumed his fishing experiments with temperate gestures. Suddenly, his tone became serious, with a touch of anxiety.

"Scully... I'm not a sailor... Poseidon doesn't like me... By the past I've been through a lot on boats. I used to almost die on ships. I really rely on you to keep me alive. To keep us alive. It's why I try to keep calm fishing or trying to make you smile."

Then, with a crack in his voice he said shyly, "I have to confess, Scully... I'm... uh... quite frightened... by all this mysterious deep water."

Scully put her book down and stared at him with the most tender look. Mulder was holding her gaze, his eyes slightly wet. Their visual exchange lingered long enough to allow time for all their feelings, thoughts and comprehension to travel through the air. Eventually, Mulder's heaviness flew away, but he remained earnest.

"Scully, if we had to spend more time than planned in this hostile space, I want you to be the survivor. You are even allowed to cannibalize me if required. You're the MD, you would know exactly what parts to take, and when throw my rotten body away."

"Mulder, no!", protested Scully.

"Scully, yes. But promise me to give me all the seasickness pills I'd need. And now, get ready to cook some sushi!"

After a few hours of quietness and bright daylight on the lifeboat, there was now no doubt that the twilight would come faster than expected, bringing soon insecurity, concern and angst. No sign of a rescue team yet, no sign of another life form -even fishes-, they were completely alone with no means of communication.

Scully, who had kept her mind and hands busy while taking care of Mulder's mood, was now feeling uncomfortable and was wriggling in her sitting position. Mulder looked at her with an amused smile.

"Scully, you have to answer the call of nature. Before the night. It's very annoying they have forgotten the toilets in our room. Good news is that there's no Peeping Tom out there."

At least, this quite funny moment of gymnastics and loosening distracted them from more serious worries.

"I wonder if we have ever been in so deep intimacy before, Scully", said Mulder. "There's nothing we can hide long from each other in such a tiny rough place."

"Even our intimate thoughts ?", replied Scully.

"Yes. They couldn't stay wandering in our minds, they would have to go out, one way or another. Scully, the vows you made earlier, I've taken them very seriously."

"Really ?"

"Yep. Us in this lifeboat is just us in our lifes on this damn planet. Alone, threatened by random and mysterious forces we cannot control, we are bound to be close-knit partners, to fight by ourselves and sometimes expecting a Deus Ex Machina to save us. Even if we wanted to, we couldn't escape from each other."

Dusk was now falling, bringing spectacular and marvelous colors upon them.

"Scully, I think we'll have a beautiful starry night. We'll wait for falling stars, and then I'll make vows for you."

Scully was about to reply sweet and loving thoughts, when she glimpsed dark sinister clouds and waters. The way Mulder was installed prevented him to see the threat coming upon them. She will have to distract and relax him, them, for a while. Their fate will come soon enough.

"Hey, Mulder, before the stars, can we go back on our case?"

"Sure, Scully. Since our shipwreck we didn't take time to gather the evidence."

"Evidence? Mulder, we lost all we had. As always, we have nothing left, nothing concrete. It will be an unconclusive case."

"But, Scully, the Kraken? You saw it?"

"No, Mulder. And my theory is still valid. I can explain scientifically what happened..."

And then, they entered in their familiar back and forth.