Chapter Fourteen – Safe House
She began unpacking her bag almost from the moment she set the room key down on the kitchen table. Her mother had packed it for her, after a brief phone call to confirm exactly what she needed. A few outfits, shoes, coat, make up, soap, toothbrush and the rest. It was enough for now.
The policewoman who had walked her to the door had been blunt, rather than sympathetic, and yet she liked that. Any sympathy would've tipped her over the edge.
"There are contact numbers in the second drawer down, by the bed," she had explained, her eyes attached to the watch on her wrist. "All calls are monitored."
"Thank you."
She hadn't stayed long, and yet again, Scully couldn't help but feel relieved. There were guards downstairs in the building, but they were quiet, like the rest of the building, and it helped her to forget for just a few moments.
As she had been told, she locked and double locked the front door. She deliberately avoided the mirror in the bathroom, however tempting it was to have a hot bath; she recoiled at the thought of looking at her appearance for the first time. From the annoying sensation of hair tickling her neck, she guessed her hair might be a little longer than her usual short crop, needing a slight trim, and she was makeup-less, something she intensely disliked. The thought that Mulder had seen her lying in the hospital bed in such a manner made her wince. However, she chose to overlook her less than perfect appearance, for one afternoon only.
It was late Fall now, most of which Scully had missed, including the storm and the hurricane season. Winter was coming, and the afternoon daylight hadn't lasted long before dusk began to make its way into the apartment. Much like her own apartment across town, it was an open space with the living room and the kitchen - so in her usual manner she left the kitchen lights on dim, with the table lamp on in the living room. It was a modest apartment, clean, neat, simplistic. She knew it would be. At least, she thought, there was enough space for her to be alone, to calm herself and attempt to gather up the mess her life had fallen in to. She had no idea how long she would be here for. Although the idea of leaving was unnecessary – she didn't exactly want to go straight back to her own apartment either.
From the few personal items she had with her, her cell phone was not among them. However she had one number she wanted to call, one that she remembered very well over the years. She wondered if he was busy, what department they had moved him to and who his new partner was. He hadn't exactly spoken in much detail about how he had been the past four weeks. However he had stressed that he had wanted her to call him, as soon as she was settled and unpacked and ready to talk to him.
The phone lay on the side table next to the sofa, where she had found herself sitting and simply staring at the television blankly for the last hour. Nothing much on. No excuses not to call.
She picked it up, remarking to herself how cheap and plastic it looked; aged from years of simply sitting in a safe house apartment. Scully wondered how many people had been in her position, tempted to call a loved one.
All calls were monitored, of course...she had been warned about making calls with details of her whereabouts and condition…but the need to talk to him overwhelmed her.
She bit her lip, anxiously, picked up the phone and found the courage to dial the number.
It rang several times, as phone calls usually go, but in her mind it lasted for what seemed like a lifetime, until she almost gave up hope that he would answer. But eventually, an equally anxious Agent Mulder reached across his desk and answered.
"Hello."
It was more of a statement, rather than a question. He had been expecting a call, all day, wondering if she would at all, too distracted by his nerves to do much work.
"Mulder, it's me."
He paused momentarily, much to her dismay.
"Scully…" he whispered, when he finally spoke. "Are you okay?"
She felt herself sigh inwardly with relief at the sound of his voice.
"Yes, I'm fine…" she lied, hoping the shakiness in her voice wouldn't give herself away. "How are you?"
She heard him sigh slightly.
"I've had better days," he replied, pausing again which she hated.
She thought for a moment, attempting to break the falseness of their conversation, until she heard a woman's voice in the background.
"Who is it, Fox?"
"It's Scully."
"What does she want?"
She listened, but struggled to hear, whilst subconsciously dug her long fingernails painfully into the palm of her hands.
"Are you at work?" she asked, when the woman's voice finally disappeared.
"Yeah, I am," he replied. "It's been a long day."
She nodded to herself.
"Who was that?"
"That was Sarah."
"Who is Sarah?"
He sighed again, rather obviously.
"My partner."
In the pit of her stomach came a shameful pang of jealousy.
"What's it like where you are?" he asked, quietly, attempting to change the conversation. "Are they treating you well?"
"Mulder I want to see you."
He paused, again, disheartened by the distress in her voice.
"Tonight?"
"Yes."
"Ok."
"Really?"
"Yes." He spoke, barely audibly. "I'll come round tonight after work."
They didn't speak for long. However it was only when she hung up the phone and put it back on the table, that she noticed the red fingernail imprints bruised into the palm of her hand.
##
He placed his cell phone back down on his desk, staring at it even after the lit up screen had faded to a dormant blackness. The number had no caller id, and yet from the moment he realised his phone had been ringing he knew exactly whom the caller was. Even afterwards, the sound of her voice left him a little shaky and nervous, and yet he didn't really understand why.
Mulder sighed, for the hundredth time that day, and caught glimpse of Sarah's stare from the desk opposite. In the corner of his eyes he thought she had been reading something on her computer screen, when he realised she had been watching him intently, eyes over the top of the screen, the entire time.
"She ok?"
He shrugged, and moved his stare to his own computer screen.
"Good question."
He attempted to distract himself with an article he had been merely skimming over before the phone call, but now struggled to concentrate.
Sarah continued to watch her partner from across their desks, with slight annoyance. His distraction from work and life generally had begun to grate on her, with such little incidences beginning with Dana and ending with missed deadlines.
It was her turn to sigh, and she couldn't help but roll her eyes as she watched the man whom she assumed was pretending to work, eyes glued to the computer screen, but barely moving.
"I wonder how long they'll keep her under protection."
Mulder looked up again from the screen as she spoke.
"Can't imagine she'll enjoy being there." She added, avoiding his eyes as she busied herself with the computer.
She silently hoped to herself Dana would remain out of sight for as long as possible, out of reach and contact with her partner, so perhaps for once they could get some work done, and of course keep Skinner off her back.
"Well if she doesn't like it, she can stay with me." He replied, abruptly.
She paused – to think momentarily – and bit her lip with annoyance.
"After what happened?"
"Yes, after what happened." He informed her, ignoring her stares as they skimmed over his arm and shoulder still bandaged up in a sling. "I owe her this much."
Through self restraint, she swallowed her frustration and annoyance.
"What exactly do you owe her?"
Mulder looked up again, meeting her eyes that stared straight back at him.
"Don't you think that perhaps for a change you should owe someone else?" she continued. "Perhaps the someone who has taken you under their wing as partner, listened to you, put up with you, stayed by your side at the hospital?"
He winced slightly – which she took pleasure in.
"Sarah you know I'm grateful for all those things…"
"Then maybe for a change you ought to think about doing some work around here." She replied, bluntly. "With me, your partner…"
"Scully – is my partner."
"Was."
He didn't reply this time, as equally fed up as her, and simply continued with his blank stare at the screen of his computer. It didn't take him long to lose patience, grab his suit jacket and coat that lay on the back of his chair and leave without another word. He didn't even bother with a goodbye.
He made his way out of the department, ignoring the permanent stares of his colleagues and other agents, whom he imagined were taking bets on how long it would take for him to finally go nuts or get fired. Regardless of his paranoia, he led himself towards the elevator, and pressed for the Ground Floor. After a few elongated moments of waiting, the sound of rushing air informed him much to his relief that the elevator had arrived at the floor. As the doors opened he came face to face with Walter Skinner, stony faced and alone.
He cringed slightly, making his way inside.
"Hi."
"Afternoon."
The doors shut promptly, awash with the usual elevator awkwardness. He pushed the button for the Ground Floor with his free hand, drawing unwanted attention from Skinner, whom immediately took notice.
"How's the shoulder?"
"A little stiff."
Skinner nodded, his eyes attached to the medical sling.
"I forgot to thank you, for the other day…"
"Its fine, Agent Mulder."
"For the envelope."
The doors opened at Ground Level, and Mulder proceeded to leave through them. He didn't bother to catch the confusion on the older man's face. Lacking the truth, he simply hadn't expected that reaction. And all truths aside, he didn't want to spend another minute in that building.