3:15 pm

The drive to the crime scene had been painfully silent; the only distraction was the radio which, due to the very poor signal, came out in spurts. Heavy droplets had begun to plummet from the heavens, darkening their moods further. The town that they were heading towards was surrounded by a dense forest which Scully seemed to find extremely interesting.

As the rain increased in ferocity, Mulder was reminded of the very first case they had worked on together. They had been so young then. So naive to where this work would take them. How it would affect their lives irreparably. The moment Scully had stepped into that room they had been swept into an entirely different world.

Scully had started flicking through the radio stations.

"There'll be…. when…..done" came through.

That was all Mulder heard before the engine stopped and the radio cut out.

"Um Mulder?"

He gave her a sidelong look and then pulled against the door handle. It didn't move. He looked over to Scully but she just shrugged.

"Well, this is just great isn't it?"

"I told you we should have rented the other car, this one looks like it's being held together with string." Scully retorted.

"You're really blaming me for this? I'd much rather break down than injure myself trying to drive the other one."

"Well you should have let me drive then."

A bright flash from outside disrupted their argument. Mulder and Scully peered outside to see a hornbeam ablaze blocking the view of the sky on the left side of the car. The car tilted alarmingly violently as something ran past. It teetered. Then fell. The two of them lay unmoving.

oOo

6:58 pm

The first thing Scully noticed when she regained consciousness was the wur of machinery as the car was lifted off of it's side and back to level. She looked up to find the town sheriff staring worriedly at her. Before answering his questioning look she turned to Mulder and shook him awake.

The sheriff knocked on the window.

"You two the FBI agents?"

Scully rolled down their window. They both nodded.

"I was told you'd be arriving at the crime scene at around 4, when you didn't turn up I came down here to look for you."

"Yeah, sorry, the car just shut down and then we must have been hit by something."

Mulder shrugged.

"It looks like you were hit by something alright. You better hope the FBI is okay paying the rental company."

They both quickly exited the car. Mulder noted that it was definitely a lot later in the day.

He took in the huge dent in the side of the car, he rolled his eyes and let out an exasperated sigh.

"So much for us trying to use less budget, eh Scully."

She continued to stare blankly at the mark before coming closer to the car.

"Mulder, did you see what hit us? There's blood on her."

"Aaand it's not human. I told you it was worth coming."

"Yes, thank you Mulder."

Scully turned to the sheriff.

"Do you think you could give us a ride?"

The sheriff walked over to the car and tried the keys that were still in the ignition. The car turned on.

"The nearest motel is 2 miles down the road. I recommend you go to the crime scene in the morning."

Mulder and Scully looked at each other. Both slid into the car. Once the door was closed Mulder drove far enough to be out of the sheriff's view before turning towards Scully.

"So Scully, still think there's nothing going on in this town?"

"Alright, you don't have to say I told you so. Can we just get something to eat? I'm starving."