Chapter Three
March 31
Daisy's Diner
9:45PM
She entered the cozy diner, her hair dripping from the early spring rain. She spied him in a back corner booth nursing a steaming cup of black coffee and she made her way over, sliding in the booth opposite of him. His genuine smile at seeing her warmed her heart.
"I wasn't too sure you would actually come," he admitted. "I've got the distinct impression that you don't like me much."
"This isn't a date. We're temporary coworkers discussing a case. It doesn't matter whether or not I like you." At his cringe, she winced. She hadn't meant for it to come out so harshly.
"Did I at all indicate this was in any way, shape, or form a date? I don't think so, Doctor Scully."
"Dana. I asked you to call me Dana."
"Calling you Doctor Scully is my professional preference," he retorted much more haughtily than he intended to.
"Well then it shouldn't hurt if I call you Fox! It's my 'professional preference'."
He grimaced, his eyes taking on that look of anguish she'd come to recognize in the few hours she had known him. "How do you," he whispered brokenly, "know whether or not it hurts?" He nibbled on his full lower lip. "Please, don't call me that."
Now Dana felt like a first-class bitch. Sure the man could be provoking, but he was kind (remembering their shared flight) and obviously had demons lurking inside him. There probably was a very good reason why he hated his name. Kids on playgrounds could be so cruel.
"Sure, Mulder. Yet, I would really like you to call me Dana."
"Hey, I'll respect your wishes if you respect mine…Dana." He leaned forward, clasping his hands on the table. "I've got a theory about these murders."
"We just got here."
"I know, I know." Now his hands were animated as he talked. "This is a small town where women are still respected. Men still open ladies' doors; children hold the doors for the elderly; women mainly stick to homemaking, church studies, and teaching. Women gossip, share gardening tips, and complain good-naturedly about their husbands. It's a whole other world here."
He could tell he was losing her interest. "Ok, ok, so I'm rambling. Maybe I'm just a bit jealous of these people and their normal, happy, child-filled lives."
She couldn't control the smile that spread from ear to ear. "You're quite a mystery, Fox Mulder. I've heard rumors about you and your unethical approaches. I can't picture you settled down in a town like this raising kids."
His eyes narrowed, his grin sliding off his face. He closed himself off, pushing himself back and crossing his arms. "Is that so, Ms. Scully?"
She'd hit a nerve. She knew it the moment she had closed her mouth. "I'm not saying you wouldn't make a great father. What would I know? I've only met you today. However, people love passing rumors through the grapevine."
"Mmm," he pursed his lips in thought. "And what have you heard about me?"
"All kinds of crazy nonsense. I don't officially work for the FBI, but I do consult from time to time. And I've been paired up with dozens of D.C. agents. They 'warn' me about 'Spooky Mulder', who is stashed away in the dungeon; and most of them are afraid to even come near your office." She giggled. "Seriously. I don't see what they are babbling about. You seem like a fairly normal, decent man to me."
His stern gaze seized her attempts at mending the broken bridge. "I'm sure whatever you heard is true, Dana. I bet they've told you that I chase after lights in the sky. 'Oh, don't get near Spooky. That freak will drag you out to the nearest crop circle.' Are those the kinds of things you've heard?"
She bowed her head slightly.
"Or how about: 'Spook's just a crackpot with a short fuse. Surprised he hasn't been pulled away in a straight jacket, yet.' Then there's always my favorite: 'Gee, Spooky, track down that UFO, yet? You probably murdered her and are using this crazy story has a cover-up! Hell, it would make a great insanity defense!'" He snapped to his feet. "Why don't you pass this along, Scully: I don't give a rat's ass! All I want is the damn truth!" He marched off.
She leapt to her feet, racing after his fast retreating form. She ignored all the silent stares as she pushed past the few customers still in the diner on her way out the door. "Mulder! Wait! Please, stop!"
He whirled around, leaning forward with his finger harshly pointed at her chest. "Why don't you just do your job and get the hell out of here! Then you can race back to D.C. and tell everyone that, yes, you met Spooky and he's just as insane as they say!"
Anger boiled up within her and she glared at him bitterly. "Where is your hostility coming from? I don't base my opinions on others' judgments! Ok, so what if you have unorthodox beliefs? I still think they're wrong about you!"
"How can you say that? You've only just met me. Maybe I am as crazy as they say!" He barked a hysterical laugh. "Yep, my retirement home will be an asylum!"
"I don't believe that."
"Oh really," he replied sarcastically.
"Really," she answered honestly, softly.
He released a weary sigh that stole away the frustration. His shoulders slumped and he rubbed at his eyes. "You must think I'm a big jerk," he muttered then, he gazed down at her and their eyes interlocked for a tense moment before he broke the spell. "Ok. This isn't getting us anywhere."
"Why don't we meet back at the motel?"
He smirked, his eyes full of merriment. "Your room or mine, darling?"
"Oh, brother."
End Chapter Three
NOTE: Names have been abbreviated!
Gillian: Chp1: I wasn't sure whether to leave the random bits of trivia in or not. I'm glad you enjoyed them. Chp2: It won't be a pretty road, but everything in the end will work out. insert smile Thanks for the reviews!
Day: Chp1: Thanks for the review!
Viviane: Lol. Sorry, not five minutes, but I hope five hours works for you. Thank you for the review!
OB: Thank you for the kind compliment and for the review.
Stalker: Lol. I take it you like it? Lol. Seriously, thank you for the review!
Zil: I'm glad you approve. insert smile Thank you for the review!
Jesse: I never really thought of it has 'cute', but I guess it is! Thank you for the review!
Ceili: I appreciate the compliments and the review. Thanks!
CB: I could think of ways to shut him up, too. Lol. Anyway, what does LMAO mean? Also, thanks for the review!
Danielle: Oh, right, Wild Card! I keep forgetting about that story. Anyway, thank you for the review and for the reminder. Lol.
ATX: Glad to hear it! Thanks, once more, for the review.
Keys: Hey, buddy! I'm glad I could pull you back into the loop, too. X-files is just too great a show to set aside. Welcome back, my friend! Oh, by the way, when are you going to join the TLW message board? Tiffany and I are having so much fun and it would be awesome if you could join us.