The Road Not Taken
Disclaimer: Don't own the x-files, don't own Scully or Mulder, I don't own The Road Not Taken, that belongs to Robert Frost, but the various characters I add are mine. Oh, I mention Advil somewhere down here, that's not mine either.
~I don't put actual dates in here, but the years might be off…I apologize beforehand.~
~The Road Not Taken~
Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both.
But be one traveler, long I stood,
And looked down one as far as I could.
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
Then took the other, as just as fair,
And perhaps having the better claim.
Because it was grassy and wanted wear.
Though as for the passing there,
Had worn them really about the same;
And both that morning equally lay,
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, but I keep the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads onto way,
I doubted if I should ever come back;
I shall be telling this with a sigh.
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I--
I took the one less traveled by;
And that has made all the difference.
~**~**~**~
2000
12:32 am
Scully Residence
Well here I am again, back from another case in Nowheresville, Nebraska. Another useless case might I add. The report on this one's going to be a doozey to write. I swear, I could kill Mulder for dragging me to all these places.
These cases make me think of what my life would have been like if I hadn't joined the FBI and been assigned to Mulder. I think I would've become a doctor, settled down, had a family and one of those picturesque lives. I know now that I would never want one of those lives, but when I was younger that's all I wanted.
I also wonder that if I had never joined the FBI if the things that have happened to me over the years, my cancer, Missy's death, if those wouldn't have happened at all. Or, if I would've been taken. But, why dwell on the past if you're never going to know right? This is the life I wanted, I've got to take the bad with the good.
But I can't help but be curious. It's in my genetic makeup, everybody's curious, it's part of what makes us human. But since I'll never know all I can do is imagine.
What would have happened to me if I had chosen a different path? If when I came to that fork in the road I had chosen the one labeled 'Doctor' instead of 'FBI Agent'. If I had chosen the normal life instead of one full of adventure and danger…done what my father always wanted me to. How many children would I have had, what would I have named them, where I would've lived. All good questions, all without answers.
I finally gave up on the idea of what could have been and went to sleep.
~**~**~**~
1990
"Dana! Hurry up or we'll be late!" Meagan calls from the front door, "come on Dana! We're just going to internship, you don't have to get all primped up!"
I stuck my head out the door, "yes I do. Are you forgetting which doctor I work for?"
"So, he's cute…the guys a total asshole."
"Yeah, I know that. But he has to be, just like we will when have interns."
"Well, it'll be fun then. But until then it's just evil."
I laughed at her, "alright, im coming.
15 minutes later we arrived at St. John's hospital where we interned for medical school. Meg and I went our separate ways, I to my doctor and she to hers. In all truth I wish I had had her doctor, Dr. Sampson, a young female doctor who was probably the nicest in the hospital. My doctor, Dr. White, was an even younger doctor who was extremely gorgeous, but where he had a lot going for him in the way of looks he lacked in the way of any form of human decency.
"Scully, your late." God, I hate it when he calls me by my last name. It reminds me of when I would hang around Ahab's work, they always called him by his surname. He--on the other hand--seemed to enjoy it. Although I can't fathom why.
"I know Dr. White, im sorry. We hit a little bit of traffic on the way." So I lied, like he would know.
"Don't let it happen again." He handed me a file, "I need you to take this to Dr. Sampson on the 5th floor, then come back here."
I took the file and nodded, then headed for the elevator. After giving Dr. Sampson the file I went back down to the 2nd floor and found Dr. White. "What was it that you needed Dr. White?"
"There's a patient of mine in room 238. He was shot in the shoulder and has two broken ribs, I need you to check up on him. Make sure his wound isn't infected and check out how his ribs are healing up."
I nodded once more and went off to room 238. When I entered the room the patient was asleep. He didn't look very old, in fact I would guess he was maybe three or four years older than I. I looked over his chart, a bit surprised at what I was reading. He's an Agent with the FBI, works on the x-files, whatever that is. His name is a bit strange as well, Fox Mulder. Fox, now what drugs were his parents on when they named him that?
I walked over to his bed and placed my hand on his good shoulder, he bolted forward at the contact and stared at me a bit bewildered. He winced in pain at the movement and I pushed him lightly back to the bed. "Whoa, Agent Mulder. Careful there…you've been shot, it's going to hurt to move like that. Try not to make any sudden movements, ok?"
"Yeah," he said groggily. "Who are you?"
Well, he gets right down to the point doesn't he? "Dana Scully, im an intern. Dr. White sent me to check up on you, how are you feeling?"
"In all truth, like shit. But I guess that's expected right?"
"Yeah, I guess it is. Although I couldn't say from experience. We're going to need to get that shirt off."
He looked at me strangely for a second.
"Your wound, I need to check it."
He understood and nodded, "right. Wound. You have done this before right? Im not a guinea pig?"
"Trust me, I've done this countless times before. Im in my last year of med school, so im about as close to a doctor as they come. You have nothing to worry about."
He smiled, "just making sure."
I helped him out of his shirt and took the bandage off of the wound, "well Agent Mulder, it looks like the stitches are already healing nicely. Now, this next part's going to hurt. Im forewarning you." I pressed lightly on where one of his broken ribs was and he winced.
"When you said it was going to hurt you didn't mention that it was going to hurt this bad."
"I gave you forewarning, that usually means it's going to be bad." I said before pressing on the other rib, he didn't wince as much. "How did that feel?"
"Not as bad as the first, but still no picnic."
"Ok, well that's good either way. As long as they're healing. If you don't mind me asking, how did this happen?"
"One of the many joys of being an FBI agent. Not that I don't love my job, it's the sociopaths and killers I have a hard time with. For some reason they don't really like us g-men and women."
"Hard to imagine why not."
"Well, I was going to arrest a man suspected of murder, when his brother came behind me and shot me in the shoulder. Then they had a little bit of fun using me as a football before my partner finally showed up. She apprehended the two and then I was taken here where that Dr. White character extracted the bullet. I don't know why, but for some reason, I just don't really like that guy."
"I can tell you why. He's an asshole plain and simple. And im not saying that because im an intern and he's the doctor I work for, because some of the doctors here are actually very tolerable, my best friend Meg, her doctor is a saint compared to Dr. White. Im just glad that after next month, I'll never have to see him again."
"Why are you moving after you get done with med school?"
"Actually, I am. Im getting out of this godforsaken hellhole and going to work at Washington Memorial, they sought me out, guess im going to make a pretty damn good doctor. Anyway, its close to my parents and sister so it all works out for the best."
"You're going to DC, that's where I work."
"Really. What a coincidence." I looked down at my watch, "well Agent Mulder, we're all done here. I'd better go before somebody notices im gone and I get yelled at."
"Wait, will you be coming back?"
"Im not entirely sure. If Dr. White sends me back then I guess so."
"Right. Ok. Goodbye."
"Goodbye Agent Mulder." I walked out the door and back to work.
Dr. White never sent me back to check on him.
~**~**~**~
One Month Later
Well, I finally did it. After a terribly long goodbye between Meg and I, I finally moved. And I now stand in my new apartment in Georgetown. It's a nice little place and I have many hopes for it. I start work in a few days, and I was surprised when the FBI came to me with a job offer, but I respectfully declined. Lord knows Ahab would have a conniption fit if I had joined the FBI, and mom wouldn't be to happy about it either. But that's not the reason I turned it down, because I would love to piss Ahab off like that, but it's just not something that I wanted at this time.
My telephone rings and I pick it up knowing it could be one of four people, mom, dad, Missy, or Meg. It turns out to be Missy, who got lost on her way to my place. I give her the directions and she hangs up. So I shift lazily through my newly furnished apartment and fall onto the sofa. A few minutes later there is a knock at the door and then the familiar voice of Missy fills the air.
"Dana! It's me!"
"Come in doors open!"
She opens the door and looks around the apartment, "Dana…wow…this place is immaculate."
"I thought so too."
She came next to me on the sofa and sat down, "your worried about work aren't you? I can tell…don't be little sis. You're great at what you do, you'll do fine."
"How could you tell?"
"You shake your leg when your nervous," she says motioning towards my right leg which im moving back and forth. I immediately stop and look at her.
"I do?"
"Well, you did just prove the point."
"Yeah, guess your right. I'll have to stop that."
"And, when your pissed off you raise your eyebrow, but that's genetic. All the Scully woman do that, as mom so adamantly says."
"Well, Missy. She's right. We all do."
"Ok. So are we going to go out now or what? I've got to show you around." She grabbed my arm and started to drag me out the door.
"Hold on a second Missy, I've got to get my key." I broke from her embrace and grabbed my purse and keys. "Who's car are we taking?"
"Let's take my jeep…I've got the top and doors off."
"Oh, Missy. That always messes up my hair."
"Don't worry, I've got a brush in the car."
I locked up the apartment and we took the elevator downstairs and climbed into her dark red jeep, she took off without telling me where we were going, but it took us a long time to get there. We finally pulled up in front of a bar, called O'Brian's. "Missy, you dragged me across town to go to a bar? Why?"
"My apartment is just up the street from here, that way we can get smashed and walk home." She tapped on her skull, "I thought this out."
"So, you took me here to get me drunk. Just what are you planning?"
"I've got a few friends meeting us here, some of them very cute. If you just happen to click with one of them--"
"Missy…you're trying to set me up on my 2nd day here! I can't believe you."
"Oh, you ruin my fun. He's a great guy Dana, not my typical friend either. He's a lawyer, very handsome, I think you'll like him."
"Fine whatever, but you owe me. Big time."
"Yeah, yeah. Whatever. Come on, we're late."
~**~**~**~
3 hours later
Ok, so Missy was right. Brad is very cute, and not at all somebody she would normally hang out with. Im starting to wonder where exactly she found him, I will have to ask her about that later. He's two years older than I am, 28, he's got dirty blonde hair and the most beautiful blue eyes. And he's very tall, I'd say about 6'1...which I'd say is his only flaw since im so short.
This bar isn't as bad as I originally thought, and im starting to get pretty drunk. But, I know my limit…this is my last drink. I think.
"Dana, come sing karaoke with me." Missy urges.
"Oh hell no, I may be drunk, but im not that far gone yet. You'll have to get a few more drinks in me before I even consider doing that."
"That I can do." She says with a wink.
"No, that you can't. This is my last."
"Oh, Dana. It's only midnight and you're going to stop drinking already."
"Your damn straight. And you should too, if you don't want to fall flat on your ass when we leave."
She pouts a bit, "well, im smashed, so Charity and I are going to sing karaoke. Weather you come or not." She staggers off her stool and her and Charity go to the front of the bar where they begin to sing an old song, I nearly die--from both embarrassment and laughter--and almost fall over in the stool.
"Jeremiah was a bullfrog--" Missy and Charity slur into the microphones. "Was a good friend of mine, I never understood a single word he said but I helped him a-drink his wine, and he always had some mighty fine wine."
They go on and sing with the chorus and at this point they're so bad ask the bartender for a light beer, im going for light because I don't want to get too much more drunk.
"So, you're a doctor?" Brad asks.
"Yeah, just got out of med school actually, im surprised I was offered a job so quickly. And you're a lawyer, what kind?"
"Im the ADA."
"Wow, really? Your so young."
"I've got friends in high places. We'll actually, I've got family in high places. The DA is my uncle. But I graduated number one in law school so, I've got the credentials."
"And you're friends with my sister. This confuses me."
"Actually, Charity is my cousin. She drug me here. But, im glad she did."
"Yeah, so am I."
At that point Charity and Missy end their reign of terror on the small bar and come back to the bar. Missy orders vodka on the rocks but I advise her against this and tell the bartender not to give her a drink. After the display her and Charity did seconds prior he takes my advice and doesn't give her the drink. "Missy, we're going home. It's late, you're drunk, and if you get anymore alcohol into you, you won't be able to walk. And I don't know where you live, so I need you conscious."
"Yeah, whatever. Let's go then." She says goodbye to Charity and Brad, and I do as well. Im a bit surprised when Brad gives me his card and tells me to call him some time, im not entirely sure if I will yet, but it's nice to have that option.
Missy directed me to her apartment, and we got lost three times before actually getting there. It turns out we're in Alexandra, that's pretty far from Georgetown.
Missy is once again bolting out music, this time she's singing 'heartbreak hotel' by Elvis. I didn't even think she liked him. Oh, well, guess the cliché you learn something new everyday is true after all. I desperately try and shut her up because it is early and she will wake up her neighbors. She tells me she lives in apartment 42, so I press button 4 when we get into the elevator.
When we get on level for I try her key in apartment 42, its only after I try three times she remembers that her apartment isn't 42, but 43. I glare at her for a second before turning and opening the door to the apartment across from 42. This time the door opens, I take her in to the apartment without closing the door because she's starting to sway a bit and I need her in bed. "You are going to have one hell of a headache in the morning Missy." I tell her as I lay her down on her bed.
Then I go to shut the door, when I reach it I see the occupant of 42 is standing at his door as well, he looks vaguely familiar, but then again I am just a bit tipsy.
"Oh, hi. Im sorry about that. My sister got a little…uh…a lot drunk and for a second there she thought her apartment was 42...I hope I didn't wake you up."
"No, no. Im a chronic insomniac, sleeping is something that I don't do often. So, Missy is your sister. I kind of figured that's what the noise was, she tries to let herself in my apartment at least twice a month, most of the time some Charity girl is with her though." He looks at me for a second, "do I know you?"
"Probably not, I just moved to Georgetown two days ago. I've never been here before."
"No, I think I know you from somewhere."
"Your right, you look familiar too…but im not sure from where."
"Are you a nurse or a doctor? Because if you are then that's probably where I know you from, im at hospitals frequently. A little more than the norm for even my line of work."
"Im a doctor now, but I just got out of med school. What's your line of work?"
"Im an FBI agent."
"Wait, FBI? You're Fox Mulder, I remember now. It was about a month ago, Dr. White sent me to check up on you."
"Ah, and I was your guinea pig. I should've remembered that sooner, I've got a photogenic memory, and I never forget a pretty face."
Oh, am I blushing. "Well, again im sorry if we disturbed you. I should go check on my sister."
"Yeah, I heard her singing, she must be pretty far gone."
"Oh, no. That's how she always sings."
"Ouch."
"Yeah, my words exactly." I smiled and shut the door.
Two cute guys in one night, im going to start hanging around Missy more often.
~**~**~**~
The next morning
7:43 am
"Dana, come on wake up. I've got to drop you off at your apartment so I can go to work." Missy says shaking me gently. "Oh come on Dana, if you don't get up I'll resort to cold water."
That woke me up, when we were younger and in high school whenever she couldn't get me up she'd throw cold water on my face. I bolted out of the bed and found my shoes and purse. After idly brushing my hair we went out the door, obviously at the same time as Agent Mulder, im not sure when exactly im remembered his name, but at some point while sleeping I guess it unconsciously clicked.
"Ah, good morning Agent Mulder."
"Missy, I've asked you a million times to call me Mulder."
"I know, I just never seem to remember. I'll try harder next time."
"Morning Dana."
"Morning Mulder."
"You two know each other?"
"Briefly, we met about a month ago when I was in med school. I was his guinea pig as he says."
"Hmm…" Missy says, obviously thinking something like fate or karma or something along those lines.
"Come on Missy, you'll be late for work." I say dragging her down the hallway before she can say anything. To my horror Mulder rides the elevator down with us, and Missy keeps glancing over at me, I'd so like to shoot her. I wonder if Mulder's got his gun with him…hmm….
The elevator dings indicating arrival on the first floor and we file out of the small silver box like device. Missy and I make the trip down to O'Brian's to pick up her car and Mulder goes off to his red ford four door. Strange, I wouldn't think he would drive such a boring car.
When Missy and I get into the car she groans, "why did you let me drink so much. This hangover is killing me."
I throw my hands up in defense, "I told you not to drink so much. But do you ever listen to me? No…that would be easy, and you, being easy. Ha. But, thanks to me you didn't pass out."
"Oh, how will I ever thank you."
"Oh, I don't know. You'll think of a way."
"I could give you Mulder's number."
"How do you know his number? Not that I want it or anything, just curious, was there ever anything between you?"
"Mulder and I? Oh, no, God no. Mulder's not my type. Too, spooky so to say. He gave me his number one day when he went off on an investigation, I feed his fish."
"Oh. What do you mean 'spooky'?"
"Oh, you know, conspiracy buff, believes in UFO's and little 'gray' men. Very strange guy, but extremely good looking. He was here when I moved in last year…we've gotten to know each other a bit, when you get past the whole spooky thing he's a really nice guy."
"Wait, he works for the government and is a conspiracy buff? That's a first."
"Yeah…didn't you get offered a job with the FBI? I always wondered why you never took it. That would be so great."
"Somehow, being a G-woman just didn't seem like the right thing for me, at least not at this point in my life. And I already have that great job at Memorial, and being a doctor is what I've always wanted to do." She pulled up in front of my building, "I'll see you later ok big sis?"
"Yeah, drop by around 6, I get off work at 5 and it normally takes me a while to get home."
"Ok, I'll bring something to eat, any request?"
"Anything other than pizza ok?"
"Sure." I got out of the car and went up to level three where I entered 35. I fell on my couch and was asleep instantly.
~**~**~**~
6:15
I knocked at Missy's apartment for the third time getting highly annoyed with every passing second. "Missy!" I called out, when I got no answer I let out a frustrated grunt. I pulled a piece of scrap paper out of my purse and wrote her a note saying I had dropped by, she wasn't home, so I left. I turned around prepared to leave and bumped into somebody, almost falling over, but I regained my stance with the help of a pair of strong, yet gentle arms. I looked up at whoever I had bumped into.
"Im sorry I didn't--oh hey, it's you. Sorry about that I didn't see you."
"Obviously. Why are you leaving?"
"She's not home. I was going to head back to my apartment, call her later and yell…a lot."
He chuckled, "well, I'll do you one better, you can stay at my place until she show's up. I promise I won't bite."
I thought about this for a moment, "ok, sure. She said it takes her awhile to get home, she should be here soon."
He let me into his apartment and we sat down on the sofa. I wasn't surprised at his place, it was cluttered, yet empty, basic bachelor pad. We started talking, mostly about college, he'd gone to Oxford over in England, which I found amazing. I would've loved to go to college abroad, it makes my choice of college seem, well plain. Brown isn't really competition for Oxford.
We got to the point where we were talking about the worst things we'd done to get even, and I knew hands down what mine was. "Ok, this is going to seem really, really cruel and unusual…but…it was my second year of med school, and I was going out with Patrick Richards, my best friend Meagan and I went out to the movies one night, I was supposed to have gone out with him but he said he had an exam the next day. He was in law school, well anyway, we went to see a movie and saw him in the front row with another girl. And to make things worse it was Emily Fisher, God that girl was such a bitch." I paused in my story because he'd started laughing. "What's so funny?"
"I think I know where this story's going."
"Trust me you don't. Im not as sweet as I may appear. You can ask Missy, if she ever comes home. But anywho back to the story, I confronted him about it, threw my soda in his face, you know the drill. Needless to say we broke up. Anyway, on to the juicy revenge. A month later her and I were at our normal hang out place, a bar not to far from our apartment when we saw him drowning his sorrows in vodka. He passed out not to long after that, and I got the most brilliant idea. You see, Meg and my next door neighbor was a very gay black man, around our age. Patrick knew this because he'd been hit on by him many times while picking me up. So, we told the bartender we would bring him home and brought him over to Jack's apartment. Jack was a really close friend of Meg and I so he was open to our little ploy, and I think the chance to see Patrick naked helped a bit. So, we undressed Patrick and put him in Jack's bed. Jack, Meg, and I stayed out in his living room and talked all night long. In the morning when Patrick woke up he staggered out into the living room, confused because he had no clue where he was. Meg and I weren't in the apartment anymore, because when we heard him wake up we bolted. Jack explained to him that Patrick had come over the night before, and begged him to make love with him. Jack--of course--agreed. Patrick grabbed his clothes and ran out into the hallway where he met us, and pictures of him naked next to Jack--who wasn't naked, but since he was under the covers you couldn't tell--Patrick turned white and was our slave for the next oh year or so. He still doesn't know that he and Jack never slept together."
"You're right, that is cruel and unusual. And you don't look like you would ever do that."
I laughed outright, "oh, but it was liberating."
"I'd imagine so."
I glanced over at the clock on his coffee table. It was already after 8, "I wonder where she is." I took out my cell phone prepared to call her, "ugh. Damn phone."
"What?"
"Battery's dead."
"You can use my phone." He said pointing towards the kitchen. "I don't mind."
"Thanks." I went into his kitchen and called Missy at home, no answer, I called her cell number and she picked up after the third ring. About that time Mulder walked in the kitchen.
"Yeah, this is Missy."
"Missy. Where the hell are you? Do you know what time it is? Do you even give a damn?"
"Dana…er…hey."
"Don't Dana me. Where the fuck are you?"
"Hey, hey, now do get so hostile. Im with Charity. Where are you?"
"Well, Missy, I went to your apartment at 6, like you said. I got Chinese and everything. When you didn't show up by 6:15 I turned to leave, but your neighbor Mulder said I could stay with him until you got home. Im still at his place. And why are you still with Charity? I should be more important, shouldn't I?"
"You are, it's just…Charity's going through a tough time, her boyfriend Mac left her, she's been in tears all day."
I sighed, "I really wish you would've called me."
"I know, I should've called. But look at it this way, you got to spend the last two hours with my hunky neighbor."
"Im going to pretend that you didn't say that. Are you coming back anytime soon?"
"I don't think I am, I'll probably end up staying with her tonight. Im sorry Dana, really, I am. I know I should've contacted you when I found out. Im really sorry, don't hate me."
"Ok Missy, fine. But, now you owe me 3 fold. You got that? For dragging me with you to that bar, for making sure you didn't pass out, and for this. You got that?"
"Yeah, im sorry again Dana, we'll get together tomorrow. I promise."
"Ok. I'll see you in the morning, you come to my place this time."
"Ok."
I hung up the phone and turned, smack into Mulder, for the second time that day. "Oh, sorry again."
"No, my fault this time. What did your sister say?"
"She's helping her friend with personal problems. Looks like im left alone with Chinese, want some?"
"Sure."
So, we heated up the Chinese food, and went back into his living room where we talked some more. After 40 minutes I asked him why he joined the FBI.
"It's complicated. I studied Psychology in college, and when I graduated the FBI recruited me as a profiler. Then recently I came across the x-files."
"I remember reading something about that in your charts, what are the x-files exactly?"
"A wasteland for unsolved or paranormal files, the unexplained, things of those sorts."
"Strange. Interesting but strange. What kind of things have you gone over yet?"
"Well, aliens, UFO's, ghost, things of that sort."
"No bigfoot?"
"No, no bigfoot yet."
"Oh, let me know if you find him."
"You'll be the first one I call." He smiled and my heart nearly melted. Oh, this guy is gorgeous.
"Well, I'll take that as a honor."
"You know, you're the first one who hasn't ran screaming when I told them my job…well with the exception of your sister, but I get the feeling she's a little more open to things of that sort, but with you being a doctor, I assumed you'd send me to the psych ward."
"I thought about it for a second. Hey, it's your job…why would I run screaming? I think it's intriguing, I'd like to hear about some of your cases."
"Maybe some other time…I don't want to chase you off."
I nodded, "well I think its safe to assume that you don't want to hear about my line of work, so, what do you want to talk about?"
"Why did you decide to become a doctor?"
"Science was always my favorite subject in school, while other girls hated to dissect things I looked forward to it. It just always seemed like the right choice."
"Ok, I guess that's a good reason."
"You know, I was offered a job in the FBI when I got out of med school, I turned it down though, Memorial had already offered me a job, I considered the FBI for a little bit though, but I think that's not the right road for me."
"Sort of like that Robert Frost poem."
"You like Robert Frost?"
"I like the poem."
"Ah, and which one is that?"
"Two roads diverged in a yellow wood--"
"The Road Not Taken. Yeah, I guess that is a bit like my decision. Let's just hope that by sticking with being a doctor it does make all the difference."
~**~**~**~
11:21
We had continued talking the whole night, and it wasn't until I looked at the clock once more that I realized what time it really was. "Oh, wow. It's already almost 11:30, I should be heading home, Georgetown's pretty far from here. I'll be lucky if I get home before 12." I stood up from the couch, "I'm sure I'll see you around sometime."
He stood up and placed his hand on the small of my back and lead me to the door, "yeah, I don't see how you could avoid me."
I smiled, "bye Mulder."
"Bye Dana."
"You know what, call me Scully."
"Ok, but care to tell me why?"
"It reminds me of when I'd go to my dad's work after school when I was younger. In the Navy they call people by the surnames, and I call you Mulder so it only seems logical."
"Yeah, but everybody calls me Mulder."
"I choose to ignore that."
He chuckled. "Ok, I'll call you Scully from now on."
"Bye Mulder."
"Bye Scully."
I walked out his door and took my note from Missy's door then went to the elevator and rode down to the first floor. I got into my car and drove to Georgetown. When I arrived at home I had two messages, one from mom and dad wanting me to call them and one from Brad, the guy Missy tried to set me up with the day prior. I smiled wondering how he got my number knowing that it was undoubtedly Missy's doings. He asked me out to dinner for tomorrow night.
But, am I going to accept?
I'll have to think about it further.
~**~**~**~
9:03 am
I was already up, dressed, and watching TV when a knock resounded at my door. Although I knew who it was I got off the couch and looked through the peephole…when I saw that my suspicions were accurate I let Missy in and we went to the couch.
"So?"
"So what?"
"So, what happened last night?" She raised her eyebrows in a suggestive manner.
"Well nothing like that, you dirty minded girl. We talked, that's it…and we wouldn't have even done that if it wasn't for a certain person."
"I know, and Charity feels horrible." She said, trying to take the blame off of her.
"You know what I mean."
"Your right, I do. Did you check your messages?"
"Yes, and im not sure if I'll accept."
"Why the hell wouldn't you?"
"Well Missy, because I just moved here 4 days ago, and I haven't exactly had great relationships in the past, it's perfectly justified for me to be weary of men."
"What about Mulder?"
"We talked, so what…it's not like he proposed or anything."
"Yeah, whatever. But he could be the one."
"Who? Brad or Mulder?"
"That depends, who are you thinking of?"
"Shut up Missy, you're talking about Brad. Ok, what if he's the one or what if he's just a waste of time?"
"How will you know if you never try to find out?"
I sighed knowing that she was right, "ok then Missy, I'll go to dinner with him. But that's it. Nothing more, just dinner, just tonight. If I like him then I may take it further some other time, but if I don't like him you don't get to press the issue anymore."
"Fine. I'll agree to that."
"Good."
I called Brad and made a date for 7:30 that night…Missy helped me get ready, helped me pick out my clothes, do my make-up and hair, and by 7:30 I was ready.
~**~**~**~
9:23
The date went rather well. Brad was a perfect gentlemen and I even allowed a small goodnight kiss before I went inside. After we went to the restaurant he took me to a park across the street where we walked for a while, and he took my hand in his. I was seriously considering going out with him again.
When I walked inside Missy was waiting on my couch. "So, how'd it go?"
"It was nice."
"Nice. That's all you have to say, nice?"
"He was a gentlemen, and I had a great time. What more is there to say?"
"Will you go out with him again?"
"I might."
"Ugh, you are so impossible. Well im going to head back to my apartment, are you going to come with me are will you stay here?"
"I guess I'll come with you. I've got nothing else to do. Under two conditions though, no singing and no bar."
"I'll grant the no singing, but we're going to O'Brian's."
~**~**~**~
2 hours later
"Missy, we should get heading to your place. That's already your third beer."
"Yeah, I know. Hold on, you haven't even finished your first."
"Well, that's because I know the effects of drinking to much."
"You're not going to give me a doctor speech are you?"
"No, I was only going to say it's not good for you."
"Oh, well, anyway im not done with this beer yet, and you're not done with yours. When we finish we can go.
I rolled my eyes at her and took a sip of my beer. "Fine whatever." About the same time somebody sat at the stool next to me, I looked over to see who it was and smiled. "Mulder."
"Scully."
"What are you doing here?"
"I was going to ask you the same thing."
I nodded towards Missy, "so what's your excuse?"
"I wanted to get wasted."
"Ah, good excuse."
"Thank you." He looked over at Missy then back at me, "she's not going to sing is she?"
"Hey!" Missy said defensively, "what's wrong with my singing?"
"Everything." I laughed, then turned to Mulder, "no. She's not going to be singing. I won't let her get that drunk again…ever."
He chuckled and I drank the last of my beer. "Ok Missy, I'm done. Are you almost?"
"Yeah, almost." she took the last sip of her beer as well and we stood up to leave.
"Bye Mulder."
"Yeah, see you some other time Scully, you too Missy."
We walked outside and I got in the drivers seat of Missy's wrangler.
"Hey!"
"What? You think im going to let you drive, you had three beers, I had one. Im not drunk, you're very close. Im driving."
"Ok, but tell me. Why did he call you Scully?"
"I asked him to. Is there something wrong with that?"
"No, I was just a bit confused."
I turned on the car and we took off towards her apartment. When we got there she took out some Rocky Road Ice cream and I took out some Mint Chocolate Chip Ice cream and we spent the rest of the night and well into the morning talking girl talk. We didn't get to bed until around 3 in the morning.
~**~**~**~
Sunday Morning
8:33
I woke up before Missy did and left her a note saying I was going to take a cab and go home, I had to meet mom for some reason unknown to me. I quietly left the apartment and went downstairs to wait for my cab to arrive. While I was waiting Mulder came outside in jogging shorts and a cotton tee.
"Going for a run I presume?"
"Yeah, anything to forget about this hangover."
"Missy and I heard you come in this morning."
"I was that loud?"
"Yeah, it sounded like you were falling all over yourself."
"That was the Lone Gunmen, friends of mine, they all got pretty drunk, conspiracy nuts, said somebody was out to get them and they couldn't go home. So, I offered them my floor…and they accepted. They left around 6 this morning, strange guys but good friends."
"Oh." My taxi pulled up, "well this is me. Bye Mulder."
"Bye Scully."
The taxi drove me to my apartment, I paid the man, and quickly went upstairs to shower and change. Mom arrived around 11 o'clock and we went out, shopping and then for lunch. We talked about Brad, then about Mulder, and mom joked that I had only been in town 5 days and already had two guys wrapped around my finger. I smiled at this and then we decided to go see Missy. She looked surprised to see us and we convinced her to go shopping with us. We didn't get done until 9 o'clock that night, and that was only because everywhere closed. I drove Missy back to her apartment and we went up to have a beer…I was surprised that mom had one as well. Anyway, after we had out drinks Mom and I left out the door. Where we ran into Mulder on the way out. I introduced mom to him and she smiled warmly. Then we got into my car and took off for my place.
"He's very cute dear."
"Mom."
"I'm just saying is all."
"You're never 'just saying' mom."
"Well, I am now."
"Somehow I find that hard to believe."
~**~**~**~
2 months later
My job at Memorial is going great, and my relationship with Brad has been picking up. We've gone out every Friday night for over a month now. I spend ever Saturday with Missy and we always end up at O'Brian's. I've never let her get so drunk that she sings Karaoke. We've bumped into Mulder a few times as well, him and I always end up talking for awhile. I wish he would just hurry up and ask me, I'd say yes. I think I enjoy his company more than Brad's…but Brad had the courage to ask me out.
I'll never understand men.
Oh, it's 8, im meeting Missy at O'Brian's in half an hour. Im going to be late.
45 minutes later
"Missy I am so sorry. I didn't realize the time, and I didn't leave the hospital until 8."
"Why'd you stay there so late?"
"I just got out of surgery at 7:30, I was getting ready there."
"Ah, I see. What sort of surgery?"
"Replacing a vertebrae that was pinching a nerve. Nothing very interesting."
I ordered a beer and we got to talking about the week, she finally got to the subject she wanted to know about, "so…yesterday was Friday. How was your date with Brad?"
Just then Mulder walked in and sat next to me, I think he does this on purpose. Maybe by talking about Brad I can push some buttons.
"It was great, per usual. He took me to the reflecting pool, it was very romantic."
"Is that all?"
"Missy! Im ashamed you would even think that of me, I've only been on a few dates with the guy."
"You call every Friday for the past two months a few dates?"
"Well, I don't see our relationship going that far anytime soon."
She smiles evilly, "uh-hmm, and why not?"
"Because, I told you before. I've had horrible experience with men in the past, you take your relationship to the next level and they go crazy and act like you're their property. No thank you…im no man's property."
"Ah, I remember, Justin. You broke his nose right?"
"Jaw…bastard tried to hit me…I don't take that shit."
She smiled, "that's my little sister, ever persistent."
"Damn straight."
Mulder had yet to speak to either of us, but I could tell he was listening to our conversation. I paid no heed, and Missy and I just kept talking. When I ordered my second beer though he finally decided to strike up a conversation.
"Hey Scully, long time no see."
"It's been a week Mulder, as per norm."
"Yeah, but you normally drop by your sisters at least once, if you have I wasn't home. Which leads me to believe your avoiding me after all."
I breath deeply as if shocked, "I would never."
He chuckles, "yeah, yeah. Sure."
"So, any new interesting cases?"
"No, but I am now partner less."
"Why? What happened to your other partner? Uh, what was her name again…"
"Diana."
"Right, Fowley is her last name right? What happened to her?"
"She got transferred."
"That's too bad."
"Yeah, well…nothing I can do about it. What about you, how goes doctor work?"
"Good, I really like Memorial."
"Well, keep an eye out for me, I'll be rolled in their one day, and I'd rather have you operate on me than some stranger."
"Ok…that I can do."
He ordered his drink and I turned back to Missy where we started up our conversation once more, 30 minutes later we headed for her apartment.
~**~**~**~
10 months later
Well it's official. I am now engaged! Brad just asked me not three hours ago. I said yes, of course, and now im on my way to Missy's house. I know it's already after 1 in the morning, but I just have to tell her. But she's not answering her damn door. "Missy! Open up, I've got news!"
A few minutes later she opens her door and looks at me groggily. "What is it?"
"Brad asked me to marry him."
She squeals in excitement, "really! Wait, you said yes right?"
"Yeah!"
She ushered me into her apartment and we sat down on the couch, "ok. Tell me everything."
"Well, he took me to Tutto Benne's, you know it is the anniversary of our first date, and that's where we went. Halfway through dinner he popped the question. I was so speechless. I never really answered him but I think the fact I was crying gave it away."
"You love him don't you? You're not doing this because he asked."
"I love him Missy."
"But, you're in love with Mulder."
"Why would you say something like that?"
"Because it's true. I know it is, Dana, you're forgetting that I've known you your whole life. And when he comes to O'Brian's every Saturday you light up. You love Brad but you're in love with Mulder."
"I am not in love with Mulder."
"He's in love with you too."
"Missy, I am getting married to Brad. I love him."
"Why haven't you said you're in love with him?"
"Because…Missy why are you pressing this issue so much? Why can't you be happy for me? You're the one that pushed me to go out with Brad in the first place."
"I just don't want to see you make a mistake."
"Whatever Missy." I got up from the couch and stormed out of her apartment. When I did Mulder was standing in his doorway, looking like a hurt puppy. I gapped for a few seconds before running down the hallway and instead of taking the elevator ran down the stairs. As I drove home I could feel tears falling down my cheeks.
Oh my God, Missy was right. I was in love with Mulder.
~**~**~**~
Disclaimer: Don't own the x-files, don't own Scully or Mulder, I don't own The Road Not Taken, that belongs to Robert Frost, but the various characters I add are mine. Oh, I mention Advil somewhere down here, that's not mine either.
~I don't put actual dates in here, but the years might be off…I apologize beforehand.~
~The Road Not Taken~
Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both.
But be one traveler, long I stood,
And looked down one as far as I could.
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
Then took the other, as just as fair,
And perhaps having the better claim.
Because it was grassy and wanted wear.
Though as for the passing there,
Had worn them really about the same;
And both that morning equally lay,
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, but I keep the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads onto way,
I doubted if I should ever come back;
I shall be telling this with a sigh.
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I--
I took the one less traveled by;
And that has made all the difference.
~**~**~**~
2000
12:32 am
Scully Residence
Well here I am again, back from another case in Nowheresville, Nebraska. Another useless case might I add. The report on this one's going to be a doozey to write. I swear, I could kill Mulder for dragging me to all these places.
These cases make me think of what my life would have been like if I hadn't joined the FBI and been assigned to Mulder. I think I would've become a doctor, settled down, had a family and one of those picturesque lives. I know now that I would never want one of those lives, but when I was younger that's all I wanted.
I also wonder that if I had never joined the FBI if the things that have happened to me over the years, my cancer, Missy's death, if those wouldn't have happened at all. Or, if I would've been taken. But, why dwell on the past if you're never going to know right? This is the life I wanted, I've got to take the bad with the good.
But I can't help but be curious. It's in my genetic makeup, everybody's curious, it's part of what makes us human. But since I'll never know all I can do is imagine.
What would have happened to me if I had chosen a different path? If when I came to that fork in the road I had chosen the one labeled 'Doctor' instead of 'FBI Agent'. If I had chosen the normal life instead of one full of adventure and danger…done what my father always wanted me to. How many children would I have had, what would I have named them, where I would've lived. All good questions, all without answers.
I finally gave up on the idea of what could have been and went to sleep.
~**~**~**~
1990
"Dana! Hurry up or we'll be late!" Meagan calls from the front door, "come on Dana! We're just going to internship, you don't have to get all primped up!"
I stuck my head out the door, "yes I do. Are you forgetting which doctor I work for?"
"So, he's cute…the guys a total asshole."
"Yeah, I know that. But he has to be, just like we will when have interns."
"Well, it'll be fun then. But until then it's just evil."
I laughed at her, "alright, im coming.
15 minutes later we arrived at St. John's hospital where we interned for medical school. Meg and I went our separate ways, I to my doctor and she to hers. In all truth I wish I had had her doctor, Dr. Sampson, a young female doctor who was probably the nicest in the hospital. My doctor, Dr. White, was an even younger doctor who was extremely gorgeous, but where he had a lot going for him in the way of looks he lacked in the way of any form of human decency.
"Scully, your late." God, I hate it when he calls me by my last name. It reminds me of when I would hang around Ahab's work, they always called him by his surname. He--on the other hand--seemed to enjoy it. Although I can't fathom why.
"I know Dr. White, im sorry. We hit a little bit of traffic on the way." So I lied, like he would know.
"Don't let it happen again." He handed me a file, "I need you to take this to Dr. Sampson on the 5th floor, then come back here."
I took the file and nodded, then headed for the elevator. After giving Dr. Sampson the file I went back down to the 2nd floor and found Dr. White. "What was it that you needed Dr. White?"
"There's a patient of mine in room 238. He was shot in the shoulder and has two broken ribs, I need you to check up on him. Make sure his wound isn't infected and check out how his ribs are healing up."
I nodded once more and went off to room 238. When I entered the room the patient was asleep. He didn't look very old, in fact I would guess he was maybe three or four years older than I. I looked over his chart, a bit surprised at what I was reading. He's an Agent with the FBI, works on the x-files, whatever that is. His name is a bit strange as well, Fox Mulder. Fox, now what drugs were his parents on when they named him that?
I walked over to his bed and placed my hand on his good shoulder, he bolted forward at the contact and stared at me a bit bewildered. He winced in pain at the movement and I pushed him lightly back to the bed. "Whoa, Agent Mulder. Careful there…you've been shot, it's going to hurt to move like that. Try not to make any sudden movements, ok?"
"Yeah," he said groggily. "Who are you?"
Well, he gets right down to the point doesn't he? "Dana Scully, im an intern. Dr. White sent me to check up on you, how are you feeling?"
"In all truth, like shit. But I guess that's expected right?"
"Yeah, I guess it is. Although I couldn't say from experience. We're going to need to get that shirt off."
He looked at me strangely for a second.
"Your wound, I need to check it."
He understood and nodded, "right. Wound. You have done this before right? Im not a guinea pig?"
"Trust me, I've done this countless times before. Im in my last year of med school, so im about as close to a doctor as they come. You have nothing to worry about."
He smiled, "just making sure."
I helped him out of his shirt and took the bandage off of the wound, "well Agent Mulder, it looks like the stitches are already healing nicely. Now, this next part's going to hurt. Im forewarning you." I pressed lightly on where one of his broken ribs was and he winced.
"When you said it was going to hurt you didn't mention that it was going to hurt this bad."
"I gave you forewarning, that usually means it's going to be bad." I said before pressing on the other rib, he didn't wince as much. "How did that feel?"
"Not as bad as the first, but still no picnic."
"Ok, well that's good either way. As long as they're healing. If you don't mind me asking, how did this happen?"
"One of the many joys of being an FBI agent. Not that I don't love my job, it's the sociopaths and killers I have a hard time with. For some reason they don't really like us g-men and women."
"Hard to imagine why not."
"Well, I was going to arrest a man suspected of murder, when his brother came behind me and shot me in the shoulder. Then they had a little bit of fun using me as a football before my partner finally showed up. She apprehended the two and then I was taken here where that Dr. White character extracted the bullet. I don't know why, but for some reason, I just don't really like that guy."
"I can tell you why. He's an asshole plain and simple. And im not saying that because im an intern and he's the doctor I work for, because some of the doctors here are actually very tolerable, my best friend Meg, her doctor is a saint compared to Dr. White. Im just glad that after next month, I'll never have to see him again."
"Why are you moving after you get done with med school?"
"Actually, I am. Im getting out of this godforsaken hellhole and going to work at Washington Memorial, they sought me out, guess im going to make a pretty damn good doctor. Anyway, its close to my parents and sister so it all works out for the best."
"You're going to DC, that's where I work."
"Really. What a coincidence." I looked down at my watch, "well Agent Mulder, we're all done here. I'd better go before somebody notices im gone and I get yelled at."
"Wait, will you be coming back?"
"Im not entirely sure. If Dr. White sends me back then I guess so."
"Right. Ok. Goodbye."
"Goodbye Agent Mulder." I walked out the door and back to work.
Dr. White never sent me back to check on him.
~**~**~**~
One Month Later
Well, I finally did it. After a terribly long goodbye between Meg and I, I finally moved. And I now stand in my new apartment in Georgetown. It's a nice little place and I have many hopes for it. I start work in a few days, and I was surprised when the FBI came to me with a job offer, but I respectfully declined. Lord knows Ahab would have a conniption fit if I had joined the FBI, and mom wouldn't be to happy about it either. But that's not the reason I turned it down, because I would love to piss Ahab off like that, but it's just not something that I wanted at this time.
My telephone rings and I pick it up knowing it could be one of four people, mom, dad, Missy, or Meg. It turns out to be Missy, who got lost on her way to my place. I give her the directions and she hangs up. So I shift lazily through my newly furnished apartment and fall onto the sofa. A few minutes later there is a knock at the door and then the familiar voice of Missy fills the air.
"Dana! It's me!"
"Come in doors open!"
She opens the door and looks around the apartment, "Dana…wow…this place is immaculate."
"I thought so too."
She came next to me on the sofa and sat down, "your worried about work aren't you? I can tell…don't be little sis. You're great at what you do, you'll do fine."
"How could you tell?"
"You shake your leg when your nervous," she says motioning towards my right leg which im moving back and forth. I immediately stop and look at her.
"I do?"
"Well, you did just prove the point."
"Yeah, guess your right. I'll have to stop that."
"And, when your pissed off you raise your eyebrow, but that's genetic. All the Scully woman do that, as mom so adamantly says."
"Well, Missy. She's right. We all do."
"Ok. So are we going to go out now or what? I've got to show you around." She grabbed my arm and started to drag me out the door.
"Hold on a second Missy, I've got to get my key." I broke from her embrace and grabbed my purse and keys. "Who's car are we taking?"
"Let's take my jeep…I've got the top and doors off."
"Oh, Missy. That always messes up my hair."
"Don't worry, I've got a brush in the car."
I locked up the apartment and we took the elevator downstairs and climbed into her dark red jeep, she took off without telling me where we were going, but it took us a long time to get there. We finally pulled up in front of a bar, called O'Brian's. "Missy, you dragged me across town to go to a bar? Why?"
"My apartment is just up the street from here, that way we can get smashed and walk home." She tapped on her skull, "I thought this out."
"So, you took me here to get me drunk. Just what are you planning?"
"I've got a few friends meeting us here, some of them very cute. If you just happen to click with one of them--"
"Missy…you're trying to set me up on my 2nd day here! I can't believe you."
"Oh, you ruin my fun. He's a great guy Dana, not my typical friend either. He's a lawyer, very handsome, I think you'll like him."
"Fine whatever, but you owe me. Big time."
"Yeah, yeah. Whatever. Come on, we're late."
~**~**~**~
3 hours later
Ok, so Missy was right. Brad is very cute, and not at all somebody she would normally hang out with. Im starting to wonder where exactly she found him, I will have to ask her about that later. He's two years older than I am, 28, he's got dirty blonde hair and the most beautiful blue eyes. And he's very tall, I'd say about 6'1...which I'd say is his only flaw since im so short.
This bar isn't as bad as I originally thought, and im starting to get pretty drunk. But, I know my limit…this is my last drink. I think.
"Dana, come sing karaoke with me." Missy urges.
"Oh hell no, I may be drunk, but im not that far gone yet. You'll have to get a few more drinks in me before I even consider doing that."
"That I can do." She says with a wink.
"No, that you can't. This is my last."
"Oh, Dana. It's only midnight and you're going to stop drinking already."
"Your damn straight. And you should too, if you don't want to fall flat on your ass when we leave."
She pouts a bit, "well, im smashed, so Charity and I are going to sing karaoke. Weather you come or not." She staggers off her stool and her and Charity go to the front of the bar where they begin to sing an old song, I nearly die--from both embarrassment and laughter--and almost fall over in the stool.
"Jeremiah was a bullfrog--" Missy and Charity slur into the microphones. "Was a good friend of mine, I never understood a single word he said but I helped him a-drink his wine, and he always had some mighty fine wine."
They go on and sing with the chorus and at this point they're so bad ask the bartender for a light beer, im going for light because I don't want to get too much more drunk.
"So, you're a doctor?" Brad asks.
"Yeah, just got out of med school actually, im surprised I was offered a job so quickly. And you're a lawyer, what kind?"
"Im the ADA."
"Wow, really? Your so young."
"I've got friends in high places. We'll actually, I've got family in high places. The DA is my uncle. But I graduated number one in law school so, I've got the credentials."
"And you're friends with my sister. This confuses me."
"Actually, Charity is my cousin. She drug me here. But, im glad she did."
"Yeah, so am I."
At that point Charity and Missy end their reign of terror on the small bar and come back to the bar. Missy orders vodka on the rocks but I advise her against this and tell the bartender not to give her a drink. After the display her and Charity did seconds prior he takes my advice and doesn't give her the drink. "Missy, we're going home. It's late, you're drunk, and if you get anymore alcohol into you, you won't be able to walk. And I don't know where you live, so I need you conscious."
"Yeah, whatever. Let's go then." She says goodbye to Charity and Brad, and I do as well. Im a bit surprised when Brad gives me his card and tells me to call him some time, im not entirely sure if I will yet, but it's nice to have that option.
Missy directed me to her apartment, and we got lost three times before actually getting there. It turns out we're in Alexandra, that's pretty far from Georgetown.
Missy is once again bolting out music, this time she's singing 'heartbreak hotel' by Elvis. I didn't even think she liked him. Oh, well, guess the cliché you learn something new everyday is true after all. I desperately try and shut her up because it is early and she will wake up her neighbors. She tells me she lives in apartment 42, so I press button 4 when we get into the elevator.
When we get on level for I try her key in apartment 42, its only after I try three times she remembers that her apartment isn't 42, but 43. I glare at her for a second before turning and opening the door to the apartment across from 42. This time the door opens, I take her in to the apartment without closing the door because she's starting to sway a bit and I need her in bed. "You are going to have one hell of a headache in the morning Missy." I tell her as I lay her down on her bed.
Then I go to shut the door, when I reach it I see the occupant of 42 is standing at his door as well, he looks vaguely familiar, but then again I am just a bit tipsy.
"Oh, hi. Im sorry about that. My sister got a little…uh…a lot drunk and for a second there she thought her apartment was 42...I hope I didn't wake you up."
"No, no. Im a chronic insomniac, sleeping is something that I don't do often. So, Missy is your sister. I kind of figured that's what the noise was, she tries to let herself in my apartment at least twice a month, most of the time some Charity girl is with her though." He looks at me for a second, "do I know you?"
"Probably not, I just moved to Georgetown two days ago. I've never been here before."
"No, I think I know you from somewhere."
"Your right, you look familiar too…but im not sure from where."
"Are you a nurse or a doctor? Because if you are then that's probably where I know you from, im at hospitals frequently. A little more than the norm for even my line of work."
"Im a doctor now, but I just got out of med school. What's your line of work?"
"Im an FBI agent."
"Wait, FBI? You're Fox Mulder, I remember now. It was about a month ago, Dr. White sent me to check up on you."
"Ah, and I was your guinea pig. I should've remembered that sooner, I've got a photogenic memory, and I never forget a pretty face."
Oh, am I blushing. "Well, again im sorry if we disturbed you. I should go check on my sister."
"Yeah, I heard her singing, she must be pretty far gone."
"Oh, no. That's how she always sings."
"Ouch."
"Yeah, my words exactly." I smiled and shut the door.
Two cute guys in one night, im going to start hanging around Missy more often.
~**~**~**~
The next morning
7:43 am
"Dana, come on wake up. I've got to drop you off at your apartment so I can go to work." Missy says shaking me gently. "Oh come on Dana, if you don't get up I'll resort to cold water."
That woke me up, when we were younger and in high school whenever she couldn't get me up she'd throw cold water on my face. I bolted out of the bed and found my shoes and purse. After idly brushing my hair we went out the door, obviously at the same time as Agent Mulder, im not sure when exactly im remembered his name, but at some point while sleeping I guess it unconsciously clicked.
"Ah, good morning Agent Mulder."
"Missy, I've asked you a million times to call me Mulder."
"I know, I just never seem to remember. I'll try harder next time."
"Morning Dana."
"Morning Mulder."
"You two know each other?"
"Briefly, we met about a month ago when I was in med school. I was his guinea pig as he says."
"Hmm…" Missy says, obviously thinking something like fate or karma or something along those lines.
"Come on Missy, you'll be late for work." I say dragging her down the hallway before she can say anything. To my horror Mulder rides the elevator down with us, and Missy keeps glancing over at me, I'd so like to shoot her. I wonder if Mulder's got his gun with him…hmm….
The elevator dings indicating arrival on the first floor and we file out of the small silver box like device. Missy and I make the trip down to O'Brian's to pick up her car and Mulder goes off to his red ford four door. Strange, I wouldn't think he would drive such a boring car.
When Missy and I get into the car she groans, "why did you let me drink so much. This hangover is killing me."
I throw my hands up in defense, "I told you not to drink so much. But do you ever listen to me? No…that would be easy, and you, being easy. Ha. But, thanks to me you didn't pass out."
"Oh, how will I ever thank you."
"Oh, I don't know. You'll think of a way."
"I could give you Mulder's number."
"How do you know his number? Not that I want it or anything, just curious, was there ever anything between you?"
"Mulder and I? Oh, no, God no. Mulder's not my type. Too, spooky so to say. He gave me his number one day when he went off on an investigation, I feed his fish."
"Oh. What do you mean 'spooky'?"
"Oh, you know, conspiracy buff, believes in UFO's and little 'gray' men. Very strange guy, but extremely good looking. He was here when I moved in last year…we've gotten to know each other a bit, when you get past the whole spooky thing he's a really nice guy."
"Wait, he works for the government and is a conspiracy buff? That's a first."
"Yeah…didn't you get offered a job with the FBI? I always wondered why you never took it. That would be so great."
"Somehow, being a G-woman just didn't seem like the right thing for me, at least not at this point in my life. And I already have that great job at Memorial, and being a doctor is what I've always wanted to do." She pulled up in front of my building, "I'll see you later ok big sis?"
"Yeah, drop by around 6, I get off work at 5 and it normally takes me a while to get home."
"Ok, I'll bring something to eat, any request?"
"Anything other than pizza ok?"
"Sure." I got out of the car and went up to level three where I entered 35. I fell on my couch and was asleep instantly.
~**~**~**~
6:15
I knocked at Missy's apartment for the third time getting highly annoyed with every passing second. "Missy!" I called out, when I got no answer I let out a frustrated grunt. I pulled a piece of scrap paper out of my purse and wrote her a note saying I had dropped by, she wasn't home, so I left. I turned around prepared to leave and bumped into somebody, almost falling over, but I regained my stance with the help of a pair of strong, yet gentle arms. I looked up at whoever I had bumped into.
"Im sorry I didn't--oh hey, it's you. Sorry about that I didn't see you."
"Obviously. Why are you leaving?"
"She's not home. I was going to head back to my apartment, call her later and yell…a lot."
He chuckled, "well, I'll do you one better, you can stay at my place until she show's up. I promise I won't bite."
I thought about this for a moment, "ok, sure. She said it takes her awhile to get home, she should be here soon."
He let me into his apartment and we sat down on the sofa. I wasn't surprised at his place, it was cluttered, yet empty, basic bachelor pad. We started talking, mostly about college, he'd gone to Oxford over in England, which I found amazing. I would've loved to go to college abroad, it makes my choice of college seem, well plain. Brown isn't really competition for Oxford.
We got to the point where we were talking about the worst things we'd done to get even, and I knew hands down what mine was. "Ok, this is going to seem really, really cruel and unusual…but…it was my second year of med school, and I was going out with Patrick Richards, my best friend Meagan and I went out to the movies one night, I was supposed to have gone out with him but he said he had an exam the next day. He was in law school, well anyway, we went to see a movie and saw him in the front row with another girl. And to make things worse it was Emily Fisher, God that girl was such a bitch." I paused in my story because he'd started laughing. "What's so funny?"
"I think I know where this story's going."
"Trust me you don't. Im not as sweet as I may appear. You can ask Missy, if she ever comes home. But anywho back to the story, I confronted him about it, threw my soda in his face, you know the drill. Needless to say we broke up. Anyway, on to the juicy revenge. A month later her and I were at our normal hang out place, a bar not to far from our apartment when we saw him drowning his sorrows in vodka. He passed out not to long after that, and I got the most brilliant idea. You see, Meg and my next door neighbor was a very gay black man, around our age. Patrick knew this because he'd been hit on by him many times while picking me up. So, we told the bartender we would bring him home and brought him over to Jack's apartment. Jack was a really close friend of Meg and I so he was open to our little ploy, and I think the chance to see Patrick naked helped a bit. So, we undressed Patrick and put him in Jack's bed. Jack, Meg, and I stayed out in his living room and talked all night long. In the morning when Patrick woke up he staggered out into the living room, confused because he had no clue where he was. Meg and I weren't in the apartment anymore, because when we heard him wake up we bolted. Jack explained to him that Patrick had come over the night before, and begged him to make love with him. Jack--of course--agreed. Patrick grabbed his clothes and ran out into the hallway where he met us, and pictures of him naked next to Jack--who wasn't naked, but since he was under the covers you couldn't tell--Patrick turned white and was our slave for the next oh year or so. He still doesn't know that he and Jack never slept together."
"You're right, that is cruel and unusual. And you don't look like you would ever do that."
I laughed outright, "oh, but it was liberating."
"I'd imagine so."
I glanced over at the clock on his coffee table. It was already after 8, "I wonder where she is." I took out my cell phone prepared to call her, "ugh. Damn phone."
"What?"
"Battery's dead."
"You can use my phone." He said pointing towards the kitchen. "I don't mind."
"Thanks." I went into his kitchen and called Missy at home, no answer, I called her cell number and she picked up after the third ring. About that time Mulder walked in the kitchen.
"Yeah, this is Missy."
"Missy. Where the hell are you? Do you know what time it is? Do you even give a damn?"
"Dana…er…hey."
"Don't Dana me. Where the fuck are you?"
"Hey, hey, now do get so hostile. Im with Charity. Where are you?"
"Well, Missy, I went to your apartment at 6, like you said. I got Chinese and everything. When you didn't show up by 6:15 I turned to leave, but your neighbor Mulder said I could stay with him until you got home. Im still at his place. And why are you still with Charity? I should be more important, shouldn't I?"
"You are, it's just…Charity's going through a tough time, her boyfriend Mac left her, she's been in tears all day."
I sighed, "I really wish you would've called me."
"I know, I should've called. But look at it this way, you got to spend the last two hours with my hunky neighbor."
"Im going to pretend that you didn't say that. Are you coming back anytime soon?"
"I don't think I am, I'll probably end up staying with her tonight. Im sorry Dana, really, I am. I know I should've contacted you when I found out. Im really sorry, don't hate me."
"Ok Missy, fine. But, now you owe me 3 fold. You got that? For dragging me with you to that bar, for making sure you didn't pass out, and for this. You got that?"
"Yeah, im sorry again Dana, we'll get together tomorrow. I promise."
"Ok. I'll see you in the morning, you come to my place this time."
"Ok."
I hung up the phone and turned, smack into Mulder, for the second time that day. "Oh, sorry again."
"No, my fault this time. What did your sister say?"
"She's helping her friend with personal problems. Looks like im left alone with Chinese, want some?"
"Sure."
So, we heated up the Chinese food, and went back into his living room where we talked some more. After 40 minutes I asked him why he joined the FBI.
"It's complicated. I studied Psychology in college, and when I graduated the FBI recruited me as a profiler. Then recently I came across the x-files."
"I remember reading something about that in your charts, what are the x-files exactly?"
"A wasteland for unsolved or paranormal files, the unexplained, things of those sorts."
"Strange. Interesting but strange. What kind of things have you gone over yet?"
"Well, aliens, UFO's, ghost, things of that sort."
"No bigfoot?"
"No, no bigfoot yet."
"Oh, let me know if you find him."
"You'll be the first one I call." He smiled and my heart nearly melted. Oh, this guy is gorgeous.
"Well, I'll take that as a honor."
"You know, you're the first one who hasn't ran screaming when I told them my job…well with the exception of your sister, but I get the feeling she's a little more open to things of that sort, but with you being a doctor, I assumed you'd send me to the psych ward."
"I thought about it for a second. Hey, it's your job…why would I run screaming? I think it's intriguing, I'd like to hear about some of your cases."
"Maybe some other time…I don't want to chase you off."
I nodded, "well I think its safe to assume that you don't want to hear about my line of work, so, what do you want to talk about?"
"Why did you decide to become a doctor?"
"Science was always my favorite subject in school, while other girls hated to dissect things I looked forward to it. It just always seemed like the right choice."
"Ok, I guess that's a good reason."
"You know, I was offered a job in the FBI when I got out of med school, I turned it down though, Memorial had already offered me a job, I considered the FBI for a little bit though, but I think that's not the right road for me."
"Sort of like that Robert Frost poem."
"You like Robert Frost?"
"I like the poem."
"Ah, and which one is that?"
"Two roads diverged in a yellow wood--"
"The Road Not Taken. Yeah, I guess that is a bit like my decision. Let's just hope that by sticking with being a doctor it does make all the difference."
~**~**~**~
11:21
We had continued talking the whole night, and it wasn't until I looked at the clock once more that I realized what time it really was. "Oh, wow. It's already almost 11:30, I should be heading home, Georgetown's pretty far from here. I'll be lucky if I get home before 12." I stood up from the couch, "I'm sure I'll see you around sometime."
He stood up and placed his hand on the small of my back and lead me to the door, "yeah, I don't see how you could avoid me."
I smiled, "bye Mulder."
"Bye Dana."
"You know what, call me Scully."
"Ok, but care to tell me why?"
"It reminds me of when I'd go to my dad's work after school when I was younger. In the Navy they call people by the surnames, and I call you Mulder so it only seems logical."
"Yeah, but everybody calls me Mulder."
"I choose to ignore that."
He chuckled. "Ok, I'll call you Scully from now on."
"Bye Mulder."
"Bye Scully."
I walked out his door and took my note from Missy's door then went to the elevator and rode down to the first floor. I got into my car and drove to Georgetown. When I arrived at home I had two messages, one from mom and dad wanting me to call them and one from Brad, the guy Missy tried to set me up with the day prior. I smiled wondering how he got my number knowing that it was undoubtedly Missy's doings. He asked me out to dinner for tomorrow night.
But, am I going to accept?
I'll have to think about it further.
~**~**~**~
9:03 am
I was already up, dressed, and watching TV when a knock resounded at my door. Although I knew who it was I got off the couch and looked through the peephole…when I saw that my suspicions were accurate I let Missy in and we went to the couch.
"So?"
"So what?"
"So, what happened last night?" She raised her eyebrows in a suggestive manner.
"Well nothing like that, you dirty minded girl. We talked, that's it…and we wouldn't have even done that if it wasn't for a certain person."
"I know, and Charity feels horrible." She said, trying to take the blame off of her.
"You know what I mean."
"Your right, I do. Did you check your messages?"
"Yes, and im not sure if I'll accept."
"Why the hell wouldn't you?"
"Well Missy, because I just moved here 4 days ago, and I haven't exactly had great relationships in the past, it's perfectly justified for me to be weary of men."
"What about Mulder?"
"We talked, so what…it's not like he proposed or anything."
"Yeah, whatever. But he could be the one."
"Who? Brad or Mulder?"
"That depends, who are you thinking of?"
"Shut up Missy, you're talking about Brad. Ok, what if he's the one or what if he's just a waste of time?"
"How will you know if you never try to find out?"
I sighed knowing that she was right, "ok then Missy, I'll go to dinner with him. But that's it. Nothing more, just dinner, just tonight. If I like him then I may take it further some other time, but if I don't like him you don't get to press the issue anymore."
"Fine. I'll agree to that."
"Good."
I called Brad and made a date for 7:30 that night…Missy helped me get ready, helped me pick out my clothes, do my make-up and hair, and by 7:30 I was ready.
~**~**~**~
9:23
The date went rather well. Brad was a perfect gentlemen and I even allowed a small goodnight kiss before I went inside. After we went to the restaurant he took me to a park across the street where we walked for a while, and he took my hand in his. I was seriously considering going out with him again.
When I walked inside Missy was waiting on my couch. "So, how'd it go?"
"It was nice."
"Nice. That's all you have to say, nice?"
"He was a gentlemen, and I had a great time. What more is there to say?"
"Will you go out with him again?"
"I might."
"Ugh, you are so impossible. Well im going to head back to my apartment, are you going to come with me are will you stay here?"
"I guess I'll come with you. I've got nothing else to do. Under two conditions though, no singing and no bar."
"I'll grant the no singing, but we're going to O'Brian's."
~**~**~**~
2 hours later
"Missy, we should get heading to your place. That's already your third beer."
"Yeah, I know. Hold on, you haven't even finished your first."
"Well, that's because I know the effects of drinking to much."
"You're not going to give me a doctor speech are you?"
"No, I was only going to say it's not good for you."
"Oh, well, anyway im not done with this beer yet, and you're not done with yours. When we finish we can go.
I rolled my eyes at her and took a sip of my beer. "Fine whatever." About the same time somebody sat at the stool next to me, I looked over to see who it was and smiled. "Mulder."
"Scully."
"What are you doing here?"
"I was going to ask you the same thing."
I nodded towards Missy, "so what's your excuse?"
"I wanted to get wasted."
"Ah, good excuse."
"Thank you." He looked over at Missy then back at me, "she's not going to sing is she?"
"Hey!" Missy said defensively, "what's wrong with my singing?"
"Everything." I laughed, then turned to Mulder, "no. She's not going to be singing. I won't let her get that drunk again…ever."
He chuckled and I drank the last of my beer. "Ok Missy, I'm done. Are you almost?"
"Yeah, almost." she took the last sip of her beer as well and we stood up to leave.
"Bye Mulder."
"Yeah, see you some other time Scully, you too Missy."
We walked outside and I got in the drivers seat of Missy's wrangler.
"Hey!"
"What? You think im going to let you drive, you had three beers, I had one. Im not drunk, you're very close. Im driving."
"Ok, but tell me. Why did he call you Scully?"
"I asked him to. Is there something wrong with that?"
"No, I was just a bit confused."
I turned on the car and we took off towards her apartment. When we got there she took out some Rocky Road Ice cream and I took out some Mint Chocolate Chip Ice cream and we spent the rest of the night and well into the morning talking girl talk. We didn't get to bed until around 3 in the morning.
~**~**~**~
Sunday Morning
8:33
I woke up before Missy did and left her a note saying I was going to take a cab and go home, I had to meet mom for some reason unknown to me. I quietly left the apartment and went downstairs to wait for my cab to arrive. While I was waiting Mulder came outside in jogging shorts and a cotton tee.
"Going for a run I presume?"
"Yeah, anything to forget about this hangover."
"Missy and I heard you come in this morning."
"I was that loud?"
"Yeah, it sounded like you were falling all over yourself."
"That was the Lone Gunmen, friends of mine, they all got pretty drunk, conspiracy nuts, said somebody was out to get them and they couldn't go home. So, I offered them my floor…and they accepted. They left around 6 this morning, strange guys but good friends."
"Oh." My taxi pulled up, "well this is me. Bye Mulder."
"Bye Scully."
The taxi drove me to my apartment, I paid the man, and quickly went upstairs to shower and change. Mom arrived around 11 o'clock and we went out, shopping and then for lunch. We talked about Brad, then about Mulder, and mom joked that I had only been in town 5 days and already had two guys wrapped around my finger. I smiled at this and then we decided to go see Missy. She looked surprised to see us and we convinced her to go shopping with us. We didn't get done until 9 o'clock that night, and that was only because everywhere closed. I drove Missy back to her apartment and we went up to have a beer…I was surprised that mom had one as well. Anyway, after we had out drinks Mom and I left out the door. Where we ran into Mulder on the way out. I introduced mom to him and she smiled warmly. Then we got into my car and took off for my place.
"He's very cute dear."
"Mom."
"I'm just saying is all."
"You're never 'just saying' mom."
"Well, I am now."
"Somehow I find that hard to believe."
~**~**~**~
2 months later
My job at Memorial is going great, and my relationship with Brad has been picking up. We've gone out every Friday night for over a month now. I spend ever Saturday with Missy and we always end up at O'Brian's. I've never let her get so drunk that she sings Karaoke. We've bumped into Mulder a few times as well, him and I always end up talking for awhile. I wish he would just hurry up and ask me, I'd say yes. I think I enjoy his company more than Brad's…but Brad had the courage to ask me out.
I'll never understand men.
Oh, it's 8, im meeting Missy at O'Brian's in half an hour. Im going to be late.
45 minutes later
"Missy I am so sorry. I didn't realize the time, and I didn't leave the hospital until 8."
"Why'd you stay there so late?"
"I just got out of surgery at 7:30, I was getting ready there."
"Ah, I see. What sort of surgery?"
"Replacing a vertebrae that was pinching a nerve. Nothing very interesting."
I ordered a beer and we got to talking about the week, she finally got to the subject she wanted to know about, "so…yesterday was Friday. How was your date with Brad?"
Just then Mulder walked in and sat next to me, I think he does this on purpose. Maybe by talking about Brad I can push some buttons.
"It was great, per usual. He took me to the reflecting pool, it was very romantic."
"Is that all?"
"Missy! Im ashamed you would even think that of me, I've only been on a few dates with the guy."
"You call every Friday for the past two months a few dates?"
"Well, I don't see our relationship going that far anytime soon."
She smiles evilly, "uh-hmm, and why not?"
"Because, I told you before. I've had horrible experience with men in the past, you take your relationship to the next level and they go crazy and act like you're their property. No thank you…im no man's property."
"Ah, I remember, Justin. You broke his nose right?"
"Jaw…bastard tried to hit me…I don't take that shit."
She smiled, "that's my little sister, ever persistent."
"Damn straight."
Mulder had yet to speak to either of us, but I could tell he was listening to our conversation. I paid no heed, and Missy and I just kept talking. When I ordered my second beer though he finally decided to strike up a conversation.
"Hey Scully, long time no see."
"It's been a week Mulder, as per norm."
"Yeah, but you normally drop by your sisters at least once, if you have I wasn't home. Which leads me to believe your avoiding me after all."
I breath deeply as if shocked, "I would never."
He chuckles, "yeah, yeah. Sure."
"So, any new interesting cases?"
"No, but I am now partner less."
"Why? What happened to your other partner? Uh, what was her name again…"
"Diana."
"Right, Fowley is her last name right? What happened to her?"
"She got transferred."
"That's too bad."
"Yeah, well…nothing I can do about it. What about you, how goes doctor work?"
"Good, I really like Memorial."
"Well, keep an eye out for me, I'll be rolled in their one day, and I'd rather have you operate on me than some stranger."
"Ok…that I can do."
He ordered his drink and I turned back to Missy where we started up our conversation once more, 30 minutes later we headed for her apartment.
~**~**~**~
10 months later
Well it's official. I am now engaged! Brad just asked me not three hours ago. I said yes, of course, and now im on my way to Missy's house. I know it's already after 1 in the morning, but I just have to tell her. But she's not answering her damn door. "Missy! Open up, I've got news!"
A few minutes later she opens her door and looks at me groggily. "What is it?"
"Brad asked me to marry him."
She squeals in excitement, "really! Wait, you said yes right?"
"Yeah!"
She ushered me into her apartment and we sat down on the couch, "ok. Tell me everything."
"Well, he took me to Tutto Benne's, you know it is the anniversary of our first date, and that's where we went. Halfway through dinner he popped the question. I was so speechless. I never really answered him but I think the fact I was crying gave it away."
"You love him don't you? You're not doing this because he asked."
"I love him Missy."
"But, you're in love with Mulder."
"Why would you say something like that?"
"Because it's true. I know it is, Dana, you're forgetting that I've known you your whole life. And when he comes to O'Brian's every Saturday you light up. You love Brad but you're in love with Mulder."
"I am not in love with Mulder."
"He's in love with you too."
"Missy, I am getting married to Brad. I love him."
"Why haven't you said you're in love with him?"
"Because…Missy why are you pressing this issue so much? Why can't you be happy for me? You're the one that pushed me to go out with Brad in the first place."
"I just don't want to see you make a mistake."
"Whatever Missy." I got up from the couch and stormed out of her apartment. When I did Mulder was standing in his doorway, looking like a hurt puppy. I gapped for a few seconds before running down the hallway and instead of taking the elevator ran down the stairs. As I drove home I could feel tears falling down my cheeks.
Oh my God, Missy was right. I was in love with Mulder.
~**~**~**~
