Scope Him Out
"You don't have to do this alone," she tells him, reaching out for his hand. She captures it in hers but he gently pries it free and takes a step back from her.
"No, Scully," he says. "I do. I do have to do this alone. Nothing you can say will change my mind." His eyes are bubbling larva, intense, hot and certain.
He really wants to do this alone.
He doesn't want her around to get in the way.
"Mulder."
"No. Don't argue with me. Please, Scully." He purses his lips, stares at her.
She stares back intently at his shoulder. She can't look into his eyes when he's like this. She doesn't want to risk it – she's scared that when he looks, he'll be someone else.
"Look. If I was certain you'd be safe coming with me, I'd be fine with it. I just… It's too unpredictable. I haven't met this guy before and – "
"You want to scope him out before I meet him," she finishes. "Of course."
"I just want to protect you."
She brings herself to meet his eyes despite the urgent desire in her to turn away. "If something happened to you, Mulder, it wouldn't matter."
He clenches his jaw, hangs his head. "I'm going alone," he says quietly.
She sighs but doesn't argue any further.
There's no point.
He's made up his mind.
He's going alone.
fin.