Chapter Three: Anything is Possible.

Pulling away quickly, she eyed him through complex eyes. "We don't know each other do we?"

She couldn't recall ever meeting him before, but instinctively, she remembered his presence within another time of her life. But that was impossible. She recalled her grandmother once informing her that anything was possible. That only within the impossible dimension of reality did truth reside. And only once believed in did all things become true.

She watched him from beneath her long dark eyelashes wondering if he had felt the proverbial spark that she had, but he appeared undisturbed by what was taking place.

And what exactly was taking place? Love at first sight? It was official she had finally lost her mind. She had to admit that as of late she hadn't been herself. A week ago she had discovered herself buying a whole bag of sunflower seeds for no other reason then she suddenly had the urge.

Perhaps she was going through a mid-life crisis. "So have we meant?" She rephrased her earlier question hoping she didn't sound like a complete idiot.

"I don't think so." He answered then softly added, "I think I would have remembered you, but you do seem familiar to me."

She offered a slight nod to his response then returned her attention back to the menu. Yes, she had lost her mind. As a scientist she sought out logical explanations on why all things occurred. Refusing to believe unless hard evidence was provided in proving its factuality. Yet, sitting so closely beside him she couldn't help but believe that anything was possible.

"Can I buy you a cup of coffee?"

"Okay. Why not?" She spoke as she gave up on trying to read the menu and pushed it to the side. He turned his back to her and she watched as he gestured to the waitress for a cup of coffee. She picked this moment to announce her name. "Dana Scully."

He quickly turned back around to face her, his lips turning up in a half smile. "It's very nice to meet you, Dana Scully. Fox Mulder."

He offered his hand and she promptly reached out to shake it. Her brow lifted slightly in puzzlement over the mention of Fox as a name. She was about to question this but the waitress suddenly appeared with her cup of coffee. She brought the cinnamon colored mug closer to her as the rich aroma assaulted her sense of smell. Reaching for the cream and sugar she asked, "So Mulder, what is it that you do?"

There was a moment of silence as she dipped the metal spoon into the hot liquid stirring the contents gently. She threw him a quick glance to ensure him of her interest in the subject and noted his hesitancy. Smirking, she dryly commented, "Let me guess. You're a serial killer."

He chuckled softly at her joke, his eyes softening for a moment. It was then that she noticed that there was something sobering about him. Some hidden pain within his heart that she felt almost certain that she, too, shared.

"Close." He replied lowing his head and reaching for a napkin. "I'm a profiler."

She stopped stirring momentarily to see if he was serious. Determining from the look on his face he was. "I'm impressed."

Tilting his head to look at her, he asked, "Why?" His deep almond eyes questioned her intentions and she wondered if he believed that she was trying to be sarcastic.

"It's a challenging job." She offered as she lifted the spoon from the coffee and gently tapped it among the edge of the cup before placing it on a nearby napkin. "Embarking on a journey of a criminal's mind I'm sure isn't an easy task." She paused, locking eyes with him. "You just be careful not to get lost along the way, Mulder."

He looked at her through solemn eyes. As though he was an open book and she was the only person in the world taking the time to read. For some reason that thought broke her heart.

Smiling slightly, he asked, "So Scully, what is it you do?"

It was her temperament to bottle her feelings inside. To only reveal what was required locking away everything else within the secrets of her heart. She was used to running away and pretending that nothing was wrong. She was fine always fine. But when she looked at him she wanted to share all her secrets. To spill out her soul until he knew everything there was to know.

"I'm a medical examiner." She revealed.

He snickered as he continued to fold the corners of the spare napkin. "Yeah right." When she did not say anything, he questioned, "You're serious?"

"No, I make it a habit to lie to people I just meet." She wryly commented. Turning her attention to her streaming cup of coffee. The stream rose in tight coils and she puckered her lips blowing softly at the hot liquid sending ripples along the smooth surface.

"A medical examiner", he remarked. I bet you're dead tired by the end of the day."

She leaned back turning her body towards him only faintly amused by his lame pun, but this only appeared to encourage him for he quickly conveyed, "I bet you sleep like a corpse at night."

Leaning into the counter her head supported by her hand she narrowed her eyes. "You know Mulder; you really have a sick sense of humor."

"That's me. Sick and twisted." He gleefully replied. She saw his eyes darken for a moment, as he appeared to be considering something. "Odd."

"I was joking." She quickly announced afraid that she had unintentionally hurt his feelings.

"No... not that." He spiked at his hair with his long fingers. Finally, bringing his eyes up to look at her he answered, "You don't find it odd that we refer to each other by our last names. I mean how many people do you meet and call by their last names?"