* * *
Scully pulled into the car return at the airport.
Mulder jumped out of the car before it even stopped. "I'll go on ahead," he said. "Meet me there."
Honestly, she thought, he is just like a little kid. But that didn't stop the irritation she was feeling. Once again he had ditched her. She was left to handle the boring and routine so that he could run off and
pursue the case. Dana Katherine Scully disliked one thing above all others: being ditched. That punk ass, she swore under her breath. When I catch up with him The thought trailed off as it always did. When I
catch up with him what? What can I say or do that he will even notice. He never really even treats me like a partner. It's like I'm his little sidekick or something. Sidekicks are never taken seriously, she mused as she hurried across the airport. She was not going to let Mulder get away with anything this time. Best friend or no.
* * *
Mulder was excited. He wanted Scully to hurry up and get there. He wanted to show her the note he had just found in the airport rental box. He wanted to share his brilliant ideas with her. He couldn't wait to
follow up on the directions. He needed to go go go.
Scully slowly rounded the corner. She didn't want to seem too anxious or anything. Plus she had a sinking suspicion that Mulder was in one of his moods...
Mulder rushed up to her, almost knocking a young man standing in his way to the ground. "Look Scully; Another note with more directions. Based on the wording of these notes, I think I've developed a psychological profile on them. Plus I think I've figured out why they're being sent to me and what the purpose is. Let's go."
Scully rolled her eyeballs to the sky. She didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "Damn it Mulder! What's up with you today? The only place we are going is the Hilton next door. I have been on the go for more then 24 hours and I know you started your day way before me. You are going to crash and burn if you don't get some rest. Come on. I got us a two-bedroom suite.
Mulder was flabbergasted. "What?"
Scully smiled. "My best-friend from college's husband owns the place and she gave me a great deal. It costs a lot less to the Bureau then those crummy motels we usually crash at for one. Plus, at ten o'clock at night we are not likely to find an open flight. And I'm starved for a good meal. A restful sleep now will leave us both a lot better off. Trust me." She gave him a backward grin and walked off.
Mulder was once again floored. What the hell had just happened? Nothing seemed to be quite right today. He ran across the airport to catch up with Scully. "Hey wait up," he shouted.
* * *
Scully smiled as she relaxed in a warm whirlpool bath. She had a lovely Italian dinner, followed by a few rounds of bridge with Mulder. Scully had staked out the master bedroom. She had then locked her door and relaxed. Beethoven's Fifth was playing on her deluxe stereo system and the world was a wonderful place.
* * *
When Mulder and Scully first found each other the next morning, the two headed into the little café that was part of the hotel. Scully took a minute to admire Mulder's clothes. "Is that the same suit that you were wearing yesterday only with a different tie Mulder?"
"How can you tell?"
"Well, for one thing, it's the exact same color, brand and style as yesterday's and also the little stain in the pocket of the jacket helps. Looks like the unidentified flying food on the airplane got you."
"Oh."
"Answer me honestly Mulder. Was the only thing you packed into that gym bag your ties and your underwear?"
"Oops Scully. I knew I forgot something. Maybe would could stop somewhere and pick me up some," he teased.
"Mulder . . . I did _not_ need to know that."
"By the way Scully, how come you are paying so close attention to my clothes?"
"Because Mulder, I need to know if I should wear my 'I'm with slob' shirt today."
"Thanks Scully. My ego really needed that."
"Any time Mulder, anytime."
* * *
After determining that they'd be lucky to get a flight before next Tuesday, they rented the only car available, a Hummer. Mulder again in the driver's seat and Scully again deeply in a book. During the third hour of knowingly being lost and the second hour in a traffic jam, Mulder braved a glance at the cover again. This time she was reading Children of Dune. He didn't bother commenting on it because he would have to admit that he couldn't understand the plot line of the first one. It was way beyond him and yet his little-legged partner seemed quite content to curl up with a plot line with made-up words that were woven through the entire thing.
Scully peered through the corner of her eyes. Normally she would be pissed about parking in the middle of the freeway, but the book dragged her to a planet where the problems were worse there than here. In the first book, the people who lived there suffered from insufficient water supplies, now by the third book, the surplus water would bring ruin. There was a moral there, she mused, be happy with what you have. Scully stuck her finger in the page before closing it gently and looking directly at the driver. Was a lesson from a book realistic, was she to follow the Hershey bar's motto "Change is bad," or was it all in entertainment with no real impact on life? They were still stalled, but she had an idea. "Mulder, move over. You have gotten us lost already. It's my turn to get us found."
Mulder hated giving up the driver's seat. It seemed so unmanly, but when she got that tone he knew better than to argue. He wished no one could see him as he slammed the car door and walked behind into the passenger seat. By the time he reached the door, Scully had already made herself at home behind the wheel. Grimly, he buckled his belt, but tried to look at the bright side. This way he could go back to trying to make since of this case without being responsible for being late for whatever it was they were heading to. He snapped out of his thoughts with the sound of Scully's voice.
"Okay Mulder, it's time you let me see that note of yours."
Reluctantly Mulder handed it over. When he saw the laughter spring to her face he stared back out the window.
Scully was near dying from the humor of the thing. They had been in Iowa. By her calculations, they should be heading toward Colorado and they were in- She glanced at a sign. Missouri! They were at the edge of the 'Show Me' state, having traveled half a day in the wrong direction. Too bad Mulder hadn't asked her to 'show him' because them he could still be behind the wheel. She didn't have to wait long to get on a turn off. Mulder had been in the wrong lane anyway and had been waiting in line to get off the freeway. His mistake would save them time, but she figured he wasn't paying attention. If he could keep it a secret forever about her infertility, then she could not tell him about this, at least not until his life depended on it.
* * *
Mulder had passed out almost right after the switch of drivers, so he was surprised to wake up in a dark empty car. He started to panic when his eyes drifted over the note, now with his name written out it with
Scully's professional handwriting. He lifted up the note while his hand groped for the overhead light. Finally finding the switch, he flicked it in, flinching at the sudden addition of light. Mulder carefully opened the note and read the contents. He noticed how Scully had to squish a few words together to work around the holes left by the staple. He refolded the note and opened the car door. When he stepped out, he realized two things. One, how stiff he was and the other was where he was. It was a little coffee shop with a neon 'open' sign that was half burnt out. He slammed the door without bothering to lock it; No one in his right mind would try to steal that hunk of junk. He headed towards the door.
Scully sat in a booth neat the window staring at the car as she sipped her coffee. It was surprisingly good for the shape that the establishment was in. Her cell phone sat on the table besides her cup; She hadn't bothered putting it away after her last phone call. She was waiting for Mulder to wake up, if he ever would. She had left a note there for him if he did and she hoped that he would find it. Her mind was to tired to try to understand the case that they were on, so she just sat there, listening to the hum of the 'open' sign as the 'p' struggled for its red light. It seemed like she had been drinking coffee forever before the car light was finally switched on. She signaled the waitress and asked for two more cups.
Mulder noticed Scully right away and hurried to sit across from her. His mind was racing with questions, but when he noticed that she looked like a member of Dead Evil IV, he silently took the cup of coffee that she pushed over to him. The smell filled his nostrils and even though the place looked like it would crumble on his head, the coffee was rich and so much better than the oil that the FBI considered coffee. He hadn't noticed that he was starving until the liquid hit his empty stomach. After finishing his first cup and ordering a second as well as something to eat, he finally spoke to Scully. "Where are we?"
"We're in Colorado about half an hour away from where your note sends us, Mountain Country Inn. I called the place, and someone has already gotten us reservations. We have to get there in-" she checked her watch, "an hour otherwise we can no longer check in, so eat up."
"Scully, the note didn't say _where_ we were heading, so how did you know where to call?"
"I bought a map, a little trick I learned from being a 'Navy Brat.' "
"Oh."
The rest of the meal was eaten with only the buzz of the sign and the waitress' yelling in the background. They ended up leaving after 40 minutes, but with Mulder driving, they would get there in plenty of
time. Scully sat poking mindlessly at her laptop, but it was no use. Her words were all garbled and she was reminded about the monkeys writing Shakespeare, only they were having more luck. She grimly gave up and rested her eyes.
Mulder got there with plenty of time to spare. He went in to check into their rooms while Scully dragged her suitcase out of the back of the Hummer. It had been a pain to get in and even more difficult to get
out. She pulled up the handle for the wheels, threw Mulder's light bag over her shoulder and headed for the door. Mulder came out to meet her and they exchanged his bag for her key. Scully was delighted to find out that she was on the bottom floor so she wouldn't have to worry about finding an elevator or dragging the stupid bag up the steps. It took a couple tries for Scully to get her key card to register, but when it did, she didn't even bother looking around the room. She threw open her bag, grabbed a few things and headed for the bathroom. She almost didn't make it out of there before she collapsed on the bed and didn't hear another thing until the alarm (which must've been preset) went off the next morning.
* * *
Mulder on the other hand, had slept way too much in the car. He was now restless and headed down to the hotel lobby looking for a bar. After wandering around aimlessly for almost fifteen minutes, he finally gave up and went to the concierge. "Excuse me, I was wondering where I could get a drink."
The night clerk stared at him for a minute. "Did you already finish the drinks in the room sir? That was a lot of alcohol we sent up for you."
Mulder blinked. "I didn't ask for anything" he protested.
"But sir, you did, when you ordered the room. Screwdrivers, Don Perignon '53, Bailey's, vodka martinis, and a cherry on the side. It's probably not healthy to drink so much sir. Really."
"Oh gee, um, never mind then," Mulder muttered. He went sheepishly back up to his room and actually turned on the light this time. There was virtually a wet bar there, and Mulder smiled . This was better than a bar. He could drink, and work on the case at the same time. He poured himself a huge glass, settled in a huge comfortable overstuffed chair, pulled out his files, and lost himself in the case.
* * *
Scully pulled into the car return at the airport.
Mulder jumped out of the car before it even stopped. "I'll go on ahead," he said. "Meet me there."
Honestly, she thought, he is just like a little kid. But that didn't stop the irritation she was feeling. Once again he had ditched her. She was left to handle the boring and routine so that he could run off and
pursue the case. Dana Katherine Scully disliked one thing above all others: being ditched. That punk ass, she swore under her breath. When I catch up with him The thought trailed off as it always did. When I
catch up with him what? What can I say or do that he will even notice. He never really even treats me like a partner. It's like I'm his little sidekick or something. Sidekicks are never taken seriously, she mused as she hurried across the airport. She was not going to let Mulder get away with anything this time. Best friend or no.
* * *
Mulder was excited. He wanted Scully to hurry up and get there. He wanted to show her the note he had just found in the airport rental box. He wanted to share his brilliant ideas with her. He couldn't wait to
follow up on the directions. He needed to go go go.
Scully slowly rounded the corner. She didn't want to seem too anxious or anything. Plus she had a sinking suspicion that Mulder was in one of his moods...
Mulder rushed up to her, almost knocking a young man standing in his way to the ground. "Look Scully; Another note with more directions. Based on the wording of these notes, I think I've developed a psychological profile on them. Plus I think I've figured out why they're being sent to me and what the purpose is. Let's go."
Scully rolled her eyeballs to the sky. She didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "Damn it Mulder! What's up with you today? The only place we are going is the Hilton next door. I have been on the go for more then 24 hours and I know you started your day way before me. You are going to crash and burn if you don't get some rest. Come on. I got us a two-bedroom suite.
Mulder was flabbergasted. "What?"
Scully smiled. "My best-friend from college's husband owns the place and she gave me a great deal. It costs a lot less to the Bureau then those crummy motels we usually crash at for one. Plus, at ten o'clock at night we are not likely to find an open flight. And I'm starved for a good meal. A restful sleep now will leave us both a lot better off. Trust me." She gave him a backward grin and walked off.
Mulder was once again floored. What the hell had just happened? Nothing seemed to be quite right today. He ran across the airport to catch up with Scully. "Hey wait up," he shouted.
* * *
Scully smiled as she relaxed in a warm whirlpool bath. She had a lovely Italian dinner, followed by a few rounds of bridge with Mulder. Scully had staked out the master bedroom. She had then locked her door and relaxed. Beethoven's Fifth was playing on her deluxe stereo system and the world was a wonderful place.
* * *
When Mulder and Scully first found each other the next morning, the two headed into the little café that was part of the hotel. Scully took a minute to admire Mulder's clothes. "Is that the same suit that you were wearing yesterday only with a different tie Mulder?"
"How can you tell?"
"Well, for one thing, it's the exact same color, brand and style as yesterday's and also the little stain in the pocket of the jacket helps. Looks like the unidentified flying food on the airplane got you."
"Oh."
"Answer me honestly Mulder. Was the only thing you packed into that gym bag your ties and your underwear?"
"Oops Scully. I knew I forgot something. Maybe would could stop somewhere and pick me up some," he teased.
"Mulder . . . I did _not_ need to know that."
"By the way Scully, how come you are paying so close attention to my clothes?"
"Because Mulder, I need to know if I should wear my 'I'm with slob' shirt today."
"Thanks Scully. My ego really needed that."
"Any time Mulder, anytime."
* * *
After determining that they'd be lucky to get a flight before next Tuesday, they rented the only car available, a Hummer. Mulder again in the driver's seat and Scully again deeply in a book. During the third hour of knowingly being lost and the second hour in a traffic jam, Mulder braved a glance at the cover again. This time she was reading Children of Dune. He didn't bother commenting on it because he would have to admit that he couldn't understand the plot line of the first one. It was way beyond him and yet his little-legged partner seemed quite content to curl up with a plot line with made-up words that were woven through the entire thing.
Scully peered through the corner of her eyes. Normally she would be pissed about parking in the middle of the freeway, but the book dragged her to a planet where the problems were worse there than here. In the first book, the people who lived there suffered from insufficient water supplies, now by the third book, the surplus water would bring ruin. There was a moral there, she mused, be happy with what you have. Scully stuck her finger in the page before closing it gently and looking directly at the driver. Was a lesson from a book realistic, was she to follow the Hershey bar's motto "Change is bad," or was it all in entertainment with no real impact on life? They were still stalled, but she had an idea. "Mulder, move over. You have gotten us lost already. It's my turn to get us found."
Mulder hated giving up the driver's seat. It seemed so unmanly, but when she got that tone he knew better than to argue. He wished no one could see him as he slammed the car door and walked behind into the passenger seat. By the time he reached the door, Scully had already made herself at home behind the wheel. Grimly, he buckled his belt, but tried to look at the bright side. This way he could go back to trying to make since of this case without being responsible for being late for whatever it was they were heading to. He snapped out of his thoughts with the sound of Scully's voice.
"Okay Mulder, it's time you let me see that note of yours."
Reluctantly Mulder handed it over. When he saw the laughter spring to her face he stared back out the window.
Scully was near dying from the humor of the thing. They had been in Iowa. By her calculations, they should be heading toward Colorado and they were in- She glanced at a sign. Missouri! They were at the edge of the 'Show Me' state, having traveled half a day in the wrong direction. Too bad Mulder hadn't asked her to 'show him' because them he could still be behind the wheel. She didn't have to wait long to get on a turn off. Mulder had been in the wrong lane anyway and had been waiting in line to get off the freeway. His mistake would save them time, but she figured he wasn't paying attention. If he could keep it a secret forever about her infertility, then she could not tell him about this, at least not until his life depended on it.
* * *
Mulder had passed out almost right after the switch of drivers, so he was surprised to wake up in a dark empty car. He started to panic when his eyes drifted over the note, now with his name written out it with
Scully's professional handwriting. He lifted up the note while his hand groped for the overhead light. Finally finding the switch, he flicked it in, flinching at the sudden addition of light. Mulder carefully opened the note and read the contents. He noticed how Scully had to squish a few words together to work around the holes left by the staple. He refolded the note and opened the car door. When he stepped out, he realized two things. One, how stiff he was and the other was where he was. It was a little coffee shop with a neon 'open' sign that was half burnt out. He slammed the door without bothering to lock it; No one in his right mind would try to steal that hunk of junk. He headed towards the door.
Scully sat in a booth neat the window staring at the car as she sipped her coffee. It was surprisingly good for the shape that the establishment was in. Her cell phone sat on the table besides her cup; She hadn't bothered putting it away after her last phone call. She was waiting for Mulder to wake up, if he ever would. She had left a note there for him if he did and she hoped that he would find it. Her mind was to tired to try to understand the case that they were on, so she just sat there, listening to the hum of the 'open' sign as the 'p' struggled for its red light. It seemed like she had been drinking coffee forever before the car light was finally switched on. She signaled the waitress and asked for two more cups.
Mulder noticed Scully right away and hurried to sit across from her. His mind was racing with questions, but when he noticed that she looked like a member of Dead Evil IV, he silently took the cup of coffee that she pushed over to him. The smell filled his nostrils and even though the place looked like it would crumble on his head, the coffee was rich and so much better than the oil that the FBI considered coffee. He hadn't noticed that he was starving until the liquid hit his empty stomach. After finishing his first cup and ordering a second as well as something to eat, he finally spoke to Scully. "Where are we?"
"We're in Colorado about half an hour away from where your note sends us, Mountain Country Inn. I called the place, and someone has already gotten us reservations. We have to get there in-" she checked her watch, "an hour otherwise we can no longer check in, so eat up."
"Scully, the note didn't say _where_ we were heading, so how did you know where to call?"
"I bought a map, a little trick I learned from being a 'Navy Brat.' "
"Oh."
The rest of the meal was eaten with only the buzz of the sign and the waitress' yelling in the background. They ended up leaving after 40 minutes, but with Mulder driving, they would get there in plenty of
time. Scully sat poking mindlessly at her laptop, but it was no use. Her words were all garbled and she was reminded about the monkeys writing Shakespeare, only they were having more luck. She grimly gave up and rested her eyes.
Mulder got there with plenty of time to spare. He went in to check into their rooms while Scully dragged her suitcase out of the back of the Hummer. It had been a pain to get in and even more difficult to get
out. She pulled up the handle for the wheels, threw Mulder's light bag over her shoulder and headed for the door. Mulder came out to meet her and they exchanged his bag for her key. Scully was delighted to find out that she was on the bottom floor so she wouldn't have to worry about finding an elevator or dragging the stupid bag up the steps. It took a couple tries for Scully to get her key card to register, but when it did, she didn't even bother looking around the room. She threw open her bag, grabbed a few things and headed for the bathroom. She almost didn't make it out of there before she collapsed on the bed and didn't hear another thing until the alarm (which must've been preset) went off the next morning.
* * *
Mulder on the other hand, had slept way too much in the car. He was now restless and headed down to the hotel lobby looking for a bar. After wandering around aimlessly for almost fifteen minutes, he finally gave up and went to the concierge. "Excuse me, I was wondering where I could get a drink."
The night clerk stared at him for a minute. "Did you already finish the drinks in the room sir? That was a lot of alcohol we sent up for you."
Mulder blinked. "I didn't ask for anything" he protested.
"But sir, you did, when you ordered the room. Screwdrivers, Don Perignon '53, Bailey's, vodka martinis, and a cherry on the side. It's probably not healthy to drink so much sir. Really."
"Oh gee, um, never mind then," Mulder muttered. He went sheepishly back up to his room and actually turned on the light this time. There was virtually a wet bar there, and Mulder smiled . This was better than a bar. He could drink, and work on the case at the same time. He poured himself a huge glass, settled in a huge comfortable overstuffed chair, pulled out his files, and lost himself in the case.
* * *