53.
27th August 2008, 11.28am.
Washington DC High Street.
Scully was walking slowly in the baking sunshine. Every pore threw out more sweat in the intense heat. She had a thousand things drumming in her mind. The dream had puzzled her. Why was she dreaming about killing Mulder? Was it a subconscious thing? Would she actually do that if she caught him with another woman or was she just preparing herself for it? She had heard him several times since, on the phone, telling someone they were fantastic and he couldn't think how to repay them. He was out now… 'On business' but Scully suspected it was far from that. Pretending it didn't matter she had headed into town to start buying some things for the baby. There was no way this child was having Bill's cast-off's.
William had been given the best of everything because he was supposed to be her only child. Samantha had very little that was new because Scully had been trying to pay her lawyers fees, pay the mortgage and find work. Her Mom had enlisted Bill's help. Instead of giving his sister financial help, which was what she needed at the time, he had given her the baby clothes of his daughter. Scully had cried that day. Her child would be living just above the poverty line and at five months pregnant she had considered giving away the child in her belly. Something had changed when she saw the repeat scan and seen her little girl. The nurse had told her the sex and everything had altered for her. It was different now. Mulder was home and he was there to help… when he wasn't someplace… He was not with her but with someone else on these seemingly mythological 'business meetings'.
Stopping outside of Rock-A-Bye Baby shop Scully stared in the window at the prams and push chairs. From where she stood she could see the latest in crib designs. She wished Mulder had put the 'business' off for the afternoon and spent the time with her but obviously what he had to do was far too important and she was sick of being alone. She was certain there was another woman. Scully turned slowly and saw what she had never really expected to see. Mulder with… Monica Reyes.
He had an arm draped around her waist guiding her through the streets of DC. They had emerged from a jewellery store. Scully leaned against the doorjamb of the baby shop watching them in animated conversation… so this was who he was seeing and calling. He was having an affair with her best friend. How could Monica betray her like this… she of all people knew what she felt for Mulder and now Monica was taking him away? A tear slid down her pale cheek before she entered the baby shop. She would buy everything this child needed and have it out with him soon… right now she couldn't face it and she needed more evidence than him walking Monica through the streets of DC with his arm around her waist.
***
3.18pm
Scully shifted uneasily upon the sofa. Even indoors it was too hot. She had every fan switched on but it made no difference, she was baking. Her face had burnt in the sun despite the cream she had put on her pale skin. She looked permanently flushed. Who would get pregnant in this weather? She wondered to herself. At least she wasn't heavily pregnant, that was a blessing. Having to give birth in the heat would wipe her out totally. The phone rang as she had made herself comfortable. Getting up she made her way to the phone, even that was warm to the touch.
"Hello."
"Miss Scully?" Scully instantly recognised the voice on the phone she couldn't bear to think what this meant…
"Hello, what can I do for you?"
"I need you to my office, right away, It's important."
"Okay."
"I just need to discuss some things with you."
"Can we say four pm; my daughter is due home from school any minute now."
"I'm afraid it can't wait… is there no-one who can look after her?"
"I'll do my best. I'll call you if I can't arrange something." Scully hung the phone up and took a deep breath before ringing Mulder's cell phone.
"Hi, you're through to Mulder's answering service I'm sorry I can't speak to you right now… I'm probably busy or just asleep. Leave a message and I'll get back to you." Impatiently Scully tapped the toe of her shoe.
"Mulder… stop dicking around with Monica and answer your phone… I need you there pronto." She hung up the phone feeling the pang of fury within her. How could he do this to her and when she was pregnant? Scully called her mother who was out. Screaming her fury into the air she sat, on the stairs, waiting for Samantha to arrive home.
Hearing the school bus Scully took hold of her house and car keys. She stood by the car until Samantha reached close by and opened the door for her daughter. Samantha got in without a word. She could see the urgency upon her mother's face. She had see the wrath of anyone who crossed that face and knew better than to question, why?
