CHAPTER FIFTY THREE
Dana Scully's Apartment, Washington D.C. – Washington Heights
Scully led the way, with Mulder behind her.
Mulder had been shocked at how modern and expensive the apartment block was. He felt slightly sad that she had chosen something so grand, like she had been missing this sort of life when she had been with him, something he could never have given her.
But it wasn't his place to be sad now, as she was moving out and coming to live with him, for good. So she said... but he still found it hard to fully believe it with his underlying depression.
The large lavish lobby was strangely deserted.
Scully frowned in confusion and felt an overwhelming sense of sadness as she imagined that people had fled during the virus, or even died. This hallway had always seemed so busy, with young professionals heading out to the city to their high paying jobs.
"Dr Scully!"
Scully turned around in surprise at the sound of the familiar voice. She found herself looking at the janitor, Mr Jimmy. He was such a kind man who always spoke to her as she left for work every day. He was probably in his late-seventies, the refuse to retire type - and wore thick glasses due to his failing eyesight. Her face erupted into a happy smile to see him alive and well. She rushed over to him.
"Mr Jimmy! I'm so glad you're all right." She exclaimed. Mulder watched in interest then she motioned towards him to come and introduce himself. Mr Jimmy looked at Mulder with questioning eyes. He was slightly protective towards Dana, she was one of the only people that had time for him.
"Dana! Where on earth have you been!" He asked, his eyes widening.
"It's a long story, but I have been so busy at the hospital and with work. We were called on to try and help the situation.." She said vaguely, clearly wanting to change the subject.
"We? This is your partner? Erm… Muldurrr? Muldray?" Mr Jimmy asked rubbing his head with his fingers in confusion and pronouncing Mulder's name completely wrong, which made Mulder laugh. He held out his hand for him to shake it.
"Fox Mulder, FBI. Nice to meet you Sir." Mulder said with a smile, while Mr Jimmy shook his hand firmly.
"Muld-er.. that's it. So sorry I forget names so easily nowadays." He said with a wave of his other hand. Scully smiled and looked at him fondly, he was such a kind soul.
"Did you get infected?" She asked with slight concern.
"I did, but I went straight to the hospital. They were able to give me a vaccine, and then I was right as rain! I asked the nurse about you and they said that you were making the vaccine, is that right Dana?"
Scully blushed slightly and glanced at Mulder for a moment. Mulder smiled proudly at her.
"Yes- that's right. But… it wasn't just me-" She started awkwardly.
"Well then! You saved thousands if not millions of lives! You are an angel Dr Scully, a real angel!" Mr Jimmy shouted with joy, taking hold of her hands now and shaking them excitedly, tears springing in his eyes. Scully swallowed her own tears down as she smiled bashfully, shifting awkwardly on her feet. Mulder watched her with pride and love, she really had saved so many lives, including his own.
"I erm… I came to collect my things. I'm moving out of town." She said finally, which made Mr Jimmy's face drop.
"No! No you can't do that!" He exclaimed.
"Mr Jimmy, I will still come and see you. A lot has happened in my life in the past few weeks and I need to move on." Scully said gently, then took Mulder's hand in hers. Mulder felt is heart skip a beat as she grabbed onto him and then met his eyes. He felt secure again, like she would never leave him.
"Oh! You and…. Mr Mulder! Oh well! That's wonderful!" Mr Jimmy said excitedly, watching the two looking at each other with loving glances. Mulder smiled and wrapped his arm around her shoulders. "But wait! Wait I need you to meet someone!" Mr Jimmy suddenly erupted, his tone changing to slight desperate panic. Scully frowned in confusion and turned back to him and saw that he looked on edge.
"What do you mean?" She asked with slight concern.
"You won't believe it!" He chuckled as he met her gaze. "Oh it's nothing to worry about, but I wanted you to see him so that you can decide if you want to look after him or not!" Mr Jimmy said with a wide grin. Mulder and Scully looked at each other in total confusion, wondering if the old man had lost it. "Come on! Follow me!"
Mr Jimmy walked off towards the door on the left which led down to his office. Mulder looked at Scully questioningly, but she was just as confused as he was.
"I have no idea what he is talking about!" Scully said in a hushed whisper to Mulder. "But we had better follow him." She said in a low voice, slightly concerned for her friend. Mulder nodded and they made their way after him, watching their step in the dimmed light of the staircase.
Mr Jimmy's Office – Washington Heights
"Mr Jimmy? I'm sorry but I don't…." Scully started but then tripped over a broom which was laid across the floor. Mulder caught her before she tumbled, and they paused for a moment as he checked that she was all right. Scully brushed him off in slight embarrassment which Mulder found adorable.
"Woah! Watch your step!" Mr Jimmy said with a small laugh as he saw her trip. Scully brushed a piece of hair away from her face and felt slightly flustered. What was Mr Jimmy doing?
"Would you like to tell us what is going on?" She asked, now with slight annoyance but then she was suddenly left speechless as Mr Jimmy stepped aside, a massive smile on his face as if he was revealing a present to a young child at Christmas.
Scully gasped in shock as Mr Jimmy revealed an adorable small brown and white dog with an eager, wagging tail.
She almost cried out in shock as she saw him.
"Dagoo!" She exclaimed with love, then rushed towards the dog, who was already bounding towards her with excitement. With a happy bark, Dagoo jumped into Scully's arms and started to lick her face, his tail wagging furiously. She laughed with delight as she stroked and cuddled the dog, so happy to see him.
"Oh – my - God" Mulder said in a long drawn out tone, hardly believing this was happening. He wasn't half as excited as Scully was of course. Mr Jimmy was laughing, half at Scully's happy reaction and half at Mulder's hopeless response, as if he knew he had just signed up for a puppy he didn't want.
"But- but how!?" Scully asked Mr Jimmy in shock. "I had to give him away because the building wouldn't let me keep pets! I gave him to the local rescue centre!" She rambled, totally in shock that Dagoo was back in her arms. It had broken her heart to give him away but she had known at the time that she couldn't look after him properly, not with her current situation.
"He came back here the little rascal!" Mr Jimmy exclaimed. "I don't know how but he must have escaped somehow, he must have missed you too much!"
Mr Jimmy laughed happily and moved towards Dagoo and Scully, then rubbed Dagoos scruffy fur on the top of his head playfully. Scully watched with happiness.
"Mr Jimmy, you must want to keep him though?" She asked with slight concern. She didn't want to tear the dog away from a kind old man.
"What sort of life would he have here, hiding in an office? What's your new place like, the two of you? A big garden? Lots of space for walking? Huh?" Mr Jimmy asked excitedly, stroking Dagoo lovingly then looking at Mulder who was speechless.
Scully took a deep breath as it started to make sense. Dagoo would be perfectly happy in their home with so much space to run around in. She suddenly turned her thoughts to Mulder as Dagoo licked her face again. Trying to display an innocent look, Mulder met her gaze, his hands on his hips and a small smile curling at the side of his lips as he saw how happy she was.
"I don't know Scully…" He started awkwardly. Scully stroked Dagoo again and then carried him towards Mulder so that he could get a closer look. Mr Jimmy chuckled behind them as he watched Mulder pet him awkwardly, clearly not as used to pets as they were.
"I can't believe this." Mulder muttered under his breath, shifting on his feet awkwardly as Scully looked at him with begging eyes. How could he say no to her?! And besides, he wasn't going to admit it, but the dog was cute.
"I'm sorry this is such a surprise Mulder, I had no idea he would come back!" Scully said with a laugh. Mulder let out a small laugh and Dagoo barked in response, seemingly knowing that Mulder was softening towards him. "He'll be outside most of the time, I will walk him." Scully said, a small white lie as she knew that Dagoo would totally be part of the family, laying on the rugs and sofas… eventually...
"Dammit… all right." Mulder sighed finally in defeat.
"Yes! Thank you Mulder! Thank you!" Scully exclaimed like an excited child, and she put down Dagoo on the floor then threw herself into his arms. Mulder squeezed her tight and looked over her shoulder, just as Dagoo was looking up at him, his tail wagging and his big brown eyes softening at the sight of his new family.
AHHHH DAGOOOO
I think this is my fave chapter yet haha xx I couldn't leave him out of the little happy family
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