A/N- for some reason (probably Fate conspiring against me), when I loaded
up this chapter, all quotation marks and apostrophes come out in weird
characters. So I changed the text. If you see {}, just try to imagine
quotation marks (or ` for apostrophes). Sorry about all this, and please
still try to enjoy the story.
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{He is the richest who is content with the least.} Socrates
Chapter 4:
What Men Seek
Vero Beach, The Palm Motel. 7:38 p.m.
She rolled her eyes. {Oh *come on*, Mulder.}
Scully sat on the cheap motel bed, elbows resting on her knees and chin resting in her hands.
Her voice got higher, in that way that it often did when she and Mulder clashed. {That sounds like the premise of some cheap horror movie from the fifties.}
Mulder came back into the room from the bathroom, the sound of the toilet flushing punctuating her last statement.
{Hey, I happen to enjoy those movies.}
Scully`s only reply was to blow an errant strand of hair out of her face. Mulder found her pose oddly intriguing, but made no mention of it. The last thing he wanted was to get her riled.
Mulder continued, {You told me your findings were unusual.}
{Just because I found unusual amounts of radiation-}
Mulder cut her off, irritating her. {Along with the gold. Think about it Scully. What better way to get revenge than to curse the very material your conquerors seek? The irony here is so thick it could rust.}
{Mulder, think about all the different ships that cruise and pollute these waters. About all the toxic sludge that can buildup with that power plant down the coast. There are so many more likely possibilities than some curse on Inca gold. To just go for the most outlandish explanation just doesn`t seem right!}
She stopped her rant to catch her breath. Mulder grinned at her. *That stupid grin* Scully thought. Today she felt far too tired to indulge in his games.
Mulder loved playing games with her. He loved watching her at her feistiest, when the blood rose to make her cheeks match her hair. He never wanted her to settle for the easiest explanation, because in their line of work it was rarely the right answer.
{Then how do you explain the part where victim turned to gold?}
{I don`t know Mulder. But I suspect that if we look at the facts a *reasonable* answer will surface. How do you explain the murder?}
Mulder was at a loss. He couldn`t really explain the murder. He was just formulating some outlandish answer when a knock at the door saved him. Scully got up in a huff and walked to the door.
{Why hello Blake,} she said, a smile quickly coming over her face. Her attitude changed quicker than an ocean breeze.
{Evening, Miss Scully,} Blake then poked his head further into the room, {Evening, Agent Mulder.}
Mulder noticed how quickly her attitude changed. *She`s trying to make me jealous. Ha! That`s rich!* He shook his head, the replied to Blake, {Evening, Sheriff.}
{I was just wondering if you folks would like to join me for a bite to eat.}
{I`d love to join you, Blake,} Scully said, shooting a glance at Mulder, {I can`t speak for Agent Mulder though.}
*I can play these games just as well as her*. {Oh, you can count me in Sheriff!} Mulder yelled.
Mulder picked up his trench coat on the bed, muttering under his breath, {You can count me in.}
Scully grabbed Blake`s arm, {So tell me about Vero Beach, Blake.}
-----------------------
Vero Beach, Amici Restaurant. 8:01 p.m.
Scully flashed the kind of smile that men get killed over.
{Of course you don`t believe a theory like Agent Mulder`s, do you Blake?}
They sat outdoors at a fancy Italian restaurant by the dark sea. The waves crashed angrily on the rocks below the deck in a hypnotic rhythm. A storm seemed to be brewing.
{Well, Miss Scully, I like to view all sides of a case before I jump to any conclusions. Agent Mulder`s ideas may be a little big for a simple Florida Sheriff like myself-} Scully shot a displeased glance to a grinning Mulder- {but I hope that we somehow solve the murder at the bottom of this case; no matter what the circumstances.}
Mulder chuckled, {You`re a man of great understanding Blake, despite being a *simple Florida sheriff*.}
{But I do think that we should look at the simplest explanations first, and then work our way out, Miss Scully.}
Mulder stopped chuckling, and now Scully smiled again.
{Thank you for seeing things the rational way, Blake,} Scully said, her hand brushing his arm.
She looked to see how Mulder reacted. He seemed absorbed in his pasta. *Well, I see how things stand* she thought. She would see how far Mulder would take it. Blake smiled back at Scully with that disarmingly goofy grin of his. He made some comment and Scully laughed. Loudly.
Mulder had seen how her hand brushed Blake`s arm. He was a bit annoyed that she would pick out a random guy like Blake. But it was her life, not his, to live. She was just his partner. She had every right to be friendly with anybody she wanted.
Mulder broke through a lull in the conversation, {Feels like a storm`s coming in.}
Blake looked away from Scully to the setting sun behind him. {They say, *Red sky at night, sailor`s delight. Red sky at morning, sailor take warning.* At least that`s what they say.}
The sky was a foreboding purple, and it outlined Blake`s sandy hair on the horizon.
Blake`s comment reminded Mulder of a *simple sheriff*, and he chuckled. Scully thought the same thing; only it seemed so innocent that she smiled with Blake, not at him.
{Doesn`t look to promising then, does it Blake?} Scully said, still smiling.
{No ma`am. I`d say that-}
Blake`s cell phone cut him off.
{Excuse me one moment folks,} Blake said, getting up and answering the phone.
Mulder looked up from his pasta to Scully. She looked away at the far purple horizon. Her red hair caught the glinting rays of the table`s candle, and it matched, even surpassed, the beauty of the retiring sun. Mulder was just about to say something when he thought better of it. He didn`t want to spoil the moment. Blake returned.
{Sorry folks, but there`s been a murder,} Blake said, distracted by Scully`s glow as well.
{Another strangling?} asked Scully.
{No, Miss Scully. It`s a shooting. I know that may not seem too out of the ordinary to some FBI agents, but we don`t get many murders `round here. I`m going to have to go and check this out. I`m awful sorry about this.}
{I could come along if you need any help,} Scully said rising, {would do you think, Agent Mulder?}
*What`s this Agent stuff she`s been pulling? Have I really been that annoying?*
{I would love to help,} said Mulder, none to enthusiastically.
{Thank you all kindly,} Blake said, {Sorry to spoil the dinner.}
Scully smiled, {Its no problem, Blake.}
Mulder got up very slowly, Scully shot him a frowning glance, and they all walked inside to pay the bill.
On the table the candle flickered under the building wind. It danced a merry jig to the tune of the sea. Then it winked out in an instant. All that was left was a trail of lingering smoke.
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No real notes to add here. Except that I crave reviews. I need them real bad. REAL bad. So write anything, just please write
-Your ever-faithful writer
----------------------- -----------------------
{He is the richest who is content with the least.} Socrates
Chapter 4:
What Men Seek
Vero Beach, The Palm Motel. 7:38 p.m.
She rolled her eyes. {Oh *come on*, Mulder.}
Scully sat on the cheap motel bed, elbows resting on her knees and chin resting in her hands.
Her voice got higher, in that way that it often did when she and Mulder clashed. {That sounds like the premise of some cheap horror movie from the fifties.}
Mulder came back into the room from the bathroom, the sound of the toilet flushing punctuating her last statement.
{Hey, I happen to enjoy those movies.}
Scully`s only reply was to blow an errant strand of hair out of her face. Mulder found her pose oddly intriguing, but made no mention of it. The last thing he wanted was to get her riled.
Mulder continued, {You told me your findings were unusual.}
{Just because I found unusual amounts of radiation-}
Mulder cut her off, irritating her. {Along with the gold. Think about it Scully. What better way to get revenge than to curse the very material your conquerors seek? The irony here is so thick it could rust.}
{Mulder, think about all the different ships that cruise and pollute these waters. About all the toxic sludge that can buildup with that power plant down the coast. There are so many more likely possibilities than some curse on Inca gold. To just go for the most outlandish explanation just doesn`t seem right!}
She stopped her rant to catch her breath. Mulder grinned at her. *That stupid grin* Scully thought. Today she felt far too tired to indulge in his games.
Mulder loved playing games with her. He loved watching her at her feistiest, when the blood rose to make her cheeks match her hair. He never wanted her to settle for the easiest explanation, because in their line of work it was rarely the right answer.
{Then how do you explain the part where victim turned to gold?}
{I don`t know Mulder. But I suspect that if we look at the facts a *reasonable* answer will surface. How do you explain the murder?}
Mulder was at a loss. He couldn`t really explain the murder. He was just formulating some outlandish answer when a knock at the door saved him. Scully got up in a huff and walked to the door.
{Why hello Blake,} she said, a smile quickly coming over her face. Her attitude changed quicker than an ocean breeze.
{Evening, Miss Scully,} Blake then poked his head further into the room, {Evening, Agent Mulder.}
Mulder noticed how quickly her attitude changed. *She`s trying to make me jealous. Ha! That`s rich!* He shook his head, the replied to Blake, {Evening, Sheriff.}
{I was just wondering if you folks would like to join me for a bite to eat.}
{I`d love to join you, Blake,} Scully said, shooting a glance at Mulder, {I can`t speak for Agent Mulder though.}
*I can play these games just as well as her*. {Oh, you can count me in Sheriff!} Mulder yelled.
Mulder picked up his trench coat on the bed, muttering under his breath, {You can count me in.}
Scully grabbed Blake`s arm, {So tell me about Vero Beach, Blake.}
-----------------------
Vero Beach, Amici Restaurant. 8:01 p.m.
Scully flashed the kind of smile that men get killed over.
{Of course you don`t believe a theory like Agent Mulder`s, do you Blake?}
They sat outdoors at a fancy Italian restaurant by the dark sea. The waves crashed angrily on the rocks below the deck in a hypnotic rhythm. A storm seemed to be brewing.
{Well, Miss Scully, I like to view all sides of a case before I jump to any conclusions. Agent Mulder`s ideas may be a little big for a simple Florida Sheriff like myself-} Scully shot a displeased glance to a grinning Mulder- {but I hope that we somehow solve the murder at the bottom of this case; no matter what the circumstances.}
Mulder chuckled, {You`re a man of great understanding Blake, despite being a *simple Florida sheriff*.}
{But I do think that we should look at the simplest explanations first, and then work our way out, Miss Scully.}
Mulder stopped chuckling, and now Scully smiled again.
{Thank you for seeing things the rational way, Blake,} Scully said, her hand brushing his arm.
She looked to see how Mulder reacted. He seemed absorbed in his pasta. *Well, I see how things stand* she thought. She would see how far Mulder would take it. Blake smiled back at Scully with that disarmingly goofy grin of his. He made some comment and Scully laughed. Loudly.
Mulder had seen how her hand brushed Blake`s arm. He was a bit annoyed that she would pick out a random guy like Blake. But it was her life, not his, to live. She was just his partner. She had every right to be friendly with anybody she wanted.
Mulder broke through a lull in the conversation, {Feels like a storm`s coming in.}
Blake looked away from Scully to the setting sun behind him. {They say, *Red sky at night, sailor`s delight. Red sky at morning, sailor take warning.* At least that`s what they say.}
The sky was a foreboding purple, and it outlined Blake`s sandy hair on the horizon.
Blake`s comment reminded Mulder of a *simple sheriff*, and he chuckled. Scully thought the same thing; only it seemed so innocent that she smiled with Blake, not at him.
{Doesn`t look to promising then, does it Blake?} Scully said, still smiling.
{No ma`am. I`d say that-}
Blake`s cell phone cut him off.
{Excuse me one moment folks,} Blake said, getting up and answering the phone.
Mulder looked up from his pasta to Scully. She looked away at the far purple horizon. Her red hair caught the glinting rays of the table`s candle, and it matched, even surpassed, the beauty of the retiring sun. Mulder was just about to say something when he thought better of it. He didn`t want to spoil the moment. Blake returned.
{Sorry folks, but there`s been a murder,} Blake said, distracted by Scully`s glow as well.
{Another strangling?} asked Scully.
{No, Miss Scully. It`s a shooting. I know that may not seem too out of the ordinary to some FBI agents, but we don`t get many murders `round here. I`m going to have to go and check this out. I`m awful sorry about this.}
{I could come along if you need any help,} Scully said rising, {would do you think, Agent Mulder?}
*What`s this Agent stuff she`s been pulling? Have I really been that annoying?*
{I would love to help,} said Mulder, none to enthusiastically.
{Thank you all kindly,} Blake said, {Sorry to spoil the dinner.}
Scully smiled, {Its no problem, Blake.}
Mulder got up very slowly, Scully shot him a frowning glance, and they all walked inside to pay the bill.
On the table the candle flickered under the building wind. It danced a merry jig to the tune of the sea. Then it winked out in an instant. All that was left was a trail of lingering smoke.
----------------------- -----------------------
No real notes to add here. Except that I crave reviews. I need them real bad. REAL bad. So write anything, just please write
-Your ever-faithful writer
