First of all, I would like to thank all of you for sending reviews. This
story is very difficult for me to write because English is not my native
tongue: I'm French. But I enjoy every second I spend writing it, imagining
you reading it afterwards.
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CHAPTER 7: SCULLY'S DESPERATE SEARCH
In the office..
I have been working on what little Mulder left me before he.disappeared since Tuesday afternoon. I didn't find any clues to his location at his apartment, or here in the office. I was quite desperate when I finally went to Skinner the very same day, knowing perfectly well that nothing could be done before a 12 hour lapse of proven "missing", even if that missing person was a Special Agent.
When Skinner closed the door behind me as I entered his office, he saw right away that something was wrong and asked me promptly:
"What's the matter, Agent Scully? Is it Mulder?"
I would have laughed if the situation wasn't so tragic, Skinner always suspected something when Mulder was not with me in his office.and how could I blame him? He was right: something was very wrong, and it was Mulder indeed. Now where to start?
"Sir, I don't know where Agent Mulder is."
I took a deep breath and gripped the arms of the chair. Done, I'd said it.
"That's what I've been trying to tell you. I'm not avoiding the issue, I'm not covering for him, I'm not trying to be difficult - I really don't know where he is."
Perhaps it was not very clever to add that so quickly, he might think I was lying.but I was just too tired to be thinking of the best way to proceed with Skinner; and frankly, I - *we* just didn't have enough time to build up a strategy.
He looked taken aback. He leaned forward in his chair, his arms resting on the desk. He looked intently at me before answering, as if he were looking for the right words to say.
"Agent Scully. Are you saying that Agent Mulder is missing?"
Thank God, he got there fast.
"I'm afraid he is, sir."
"Can you be more specific?"
"Before I start telling you anything, I would like you to understand that what I'm going to say is strictly personal. It is Agent Mulder's personal business, and that's why I'm a little uneasy with the idea of discussing it with you, or with anyone else for the matter. I wouldn't have come to you if Agent Mulder wasn't in such a precarious situation."
"All right." He gazed at me for a long moment as I met his eyes and stared back, unflinching.
"Tell me."
I then told him about the three letters, and the bank. I spared him the details concerning our relationship, it was not *really* any of his business after all.even though he was our boss. He seemed pretty interested on my story, and didn't even flinch when I recited him the exact words written on the letters. He quickly came to the same conclusion as my own: the bank letter was a trap.
"And where's the bank?" He finally asked, his glasses now resting on his desk.
"That's what I've been looking for all day, sir.with no result."
I stopped and looked at my lap. My right hand was tightly clenched inside my left. I studied both hands for a moment, then forced myself to relax and looked up. I met Skinner's gaze again and continued.
"He only said that it wasn't very far from D.C. when he left."
"And when was that? When did he leave your office?"
I sighed, knowing that it wouldn't sound very convincing to his ears: it was just so painful for me to concede it.
"Seven hours ago, sir. I tried to reach him several times of course, but his phone was unreachable."
"I see. Is there any possibility that he simply went on one of his dear wild goose chase alone?"
I knew he was going to ask that one.but I couldn't answer him: "No sir. He promised me not to ever ditch me again after a rather passionate night not so long ago." So I preferred using another explanation.
"I'm not sure, Sir, but I don't think he's taken off on his own this time. We've had a number of talks about his communication skills, or lack thereof, when he's on a tear, and he's gotten a lot better about at least leaving me a message when he takes off in the middle of the day."
I gave a small laugh. "He even invites me to come along sometimes now."
I shook my head, then added, "I'm really concerned about him, Sir."
He sighed, and finally said what I was hoping for when I entered his office:
"Do you want to issue a missing persons report for him?"
"I don't think we have any choice, Sir."
I straightened then added "I am convinced that Agent Mulder is not absent of his own volition, and I need help to find him." I slumped dejectedly in my chair.
"All right."
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And that's how it all started, four days ago. I really don't know how I managed to survive such a long time without any clue of where Mulder could be, but I did.
There was not a lot to do, apart from waiting a possible phone call from his captors. The letters had been analysed, with no result: a profile was very hard to build on so little information. But I was still hopeful, because I had the feeling that if Mulder was dead, I would know it.for I would also be dead.
Every night I come home, and every night I don't have any more clues than the previous one. I lay curled in my bed, trying to find a comfortable position in the unoccupied space, wondering of his whereabouts.
This night is different though, because the phone rings.
I find myself incapable of moving, fearing what news the call would bring. I sigh, and wait for the fourth ring before picking it up.
"Scully? *Painful sigh* It's me."
TO BE CONTINUED..
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Okay, this one was not very long. But hey! We had to know what happened to Scully, right?? Anyway, in the next chapter you will be told what happened to Mulder before the final phone call. Sorry, but he'll have to suffer just a little more before that. ;)
Don't forget to review!!
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CHAPTER 7: SCULLY'S DESPERATE SEARCH
In the office..
I have been working on what little Mulder left me before he.disappeared since Tuesday afternoon. I didn't find any clues to his location at his apartment, or here in the office. I was quite desperate when I finally went to Skinner the very same day, knowing perfectly well that nothing could be done before a 12 hour lapse of proven "missing", even if that missing person was a Special Agent.
When Skinner closed the door behind me as I entered his office, he saw right away that something was wrong and asked me promptly:
"What's the matter, Agent Scully? Is it Mulder?"
I would have laughed if the situation wasn't so tragic, Skinner always suspected something when Mulder was not with me in his office.and how could I blame him? He was right: something was very wrong, and it was Mulder indeed. Now where to start?
"Sir, I don't know where Agent Mulder is."
I took a deep breath and gripped the arms of the chair. Done, I'd said it.
"That's what I've been trying to tell you. I'm not avoiding the issue, I'm not covering for him, I'm not trying to be difficult - I really don't know where he is."
Perhaps it was not very clever to add that so quickly, he might think I was lying.but I was just too tired to be thinking of the best way to proceed with Skinner; and frankly, I - *we* just didn't have enough time to build up a strategy.
He looked taken aback. He leaned forward in his chair, his arms resting on the desk. He looked intently at me before answering, as if he were looking for the right words to say.
"Agent Scully. Are you saying that Agent Mulder is missing?"
Thank God, he got there fast.
"I'm afraid he is, sir."
"Can you be more specific?"
"Before I start telling you anything, I would like you to understand that what I'm going to say is strictly personal. It is Agent Mulder's personal business, and that's why I'm a little uneasy with the idea of discussing it with you, or with anyone else for the matter. I wouldn't have come to you if Agent Mulder wasn't in such a precarious situation."
"All right." He gazed at me for a long moment as I met his eyes and stared back, unflinching.
"Tell me."
I then told him about the three letters, and the bank. I spared him the details concerning our relationship, it was not *really* any of his business after all.even though he was our boss. He seemed pretty interested on my story, and didn't even flinch when I recited him the exact words written on the letters. He quickly came to the same conclusion as my own: the bank letter was a trap.
"And where's the bank?" He finally asked, his glasses now resting on his desk.
"That's what I've been looking for all day, sir.with no result."
I stopped and looked at my lap. My right hand was tightly clenched inside my left. I studied both hands for a moment, then forced myself to relax and looked up. I met Skinner's gaze again and continued.
"He only said that it wasn't very far from D.C. when he left."
"And when was that? When did he leave your office?"
I sighed, knowing that it wouldn't sound very convincing to his ears: it was just so painful for me to concede it.
"Seven hours ago, sir. I tried to reach him several times of course, but his phone was unreachable."
"I see. Is there any possibility that he simply went on one of his dear wild goose chase alone?"
I knew he was going to ask that one.but I couldn't answer him: "No sir. He promised me not to ever ditch me again after a rather passionate night not so long ago." So I preferred using another explanation.
"I'm not sure, Sir, but I don't think he's taken off on his own this time. We've had a number of talks about his communication skills, or lack thereof, when he's on a tear, and he's gotten a lot better about at least leaving me a message when he takes off in the middle of the day."
I gave a small laugh. "He even invites me to come along sometimes now."
I shook my head, then added, "I'm really concerned about him, Sir."
He sighed, and finally said what I was hoping for when I entered his office:
"Do you want to issue a missing persons report for him?"
"I don't think we have any choice, Sir."
I straightened then added "I am convinced that Agent Mulder is not absent of his own volition, and I need help to find him." I slumped dejectedly in my chair.
"All right."
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
And that's how it all started, four days ago. I really don't know how I managed to survive such a long time without any clue of where Mulder could be, but I did.
There was not a lot to do, apart from waiting a possible phone call from his captors. The letters had been analysed, with no result: a profile was very hard to build on so little information. But I was still hopeful, because I had the feeling that if Mulder was dead, I would know it.for I would also be dead.
Every night I come home, and every night I don't have any more clues than the previous one. I lay curled in my bed, trying to find a comfortable position in the unoccupied space, wondering of his whereabouts.
This night is different though, because the phone rings.
I find myself incapable of moving, fearing what news the call would bring. I sigh, and wait for the fourth ring before picking it up.
"Scully? *Painful sigh* It's me."
TO BE CONTINUED..
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Okay, this one was not very long. But hey! We had to know what happened to Scully, right?? Anyway, in the next chapter you will be told what happened to Mulder before the final phone call. Sorry, but he'll have to suffer just a little more before that. ;)
Don't forget to review!!