Part 21
"Craig?"
"Mary?"
"You two know each other?", asks Skinner confused.
"Yeah, we worked together on the Mulder/Scully disappearance in Seattle", says Craig staring at Astadorien.
"You're Detective Astadorien?", asks Skinner.
"Yes, Craig - Agent Willmore and I cooperated in the solving of one of the most strange cases I have ever come into contact with", says Astadorien. She can't believe her eyes.
"Well since you worked so good together I am glad that I chose to put you two together", says Skinner. The phone rings at this point. "Excuse me agents, this will only take one minute." He picks up the phone.
"What are you doing here", asks Willmore approaching Astadorien. "I thought you weren't open to moving to DC. Thats why we decided to split. Now that you've joined the FBI yourself I wonder if that was the real reason for you dumping me." He turns away shaking his head.
"Craig", she glances over at Skinner. "It hurt me a lot that you left Seattle. I thought that maybe it would be easier on you if I told you that it was over. Maybe you wouldn't feel guilty about leaving. I didn't want your career to suffer because of me. But, after you were gone I realized how wrong I was. That it didn't matter what I had thought I had wanted back in Seattle, because all I wanted was you. Thats why I joined the FBI. I contacted headquarters first and made sure that I would be assigned here in DC before I even applied to Quantico. They assured me that with my criminal detective background I would be at the top of my class and that there wouldn't be any problem with giving me first choice on assignments. So here I am, just where I wanted to be - near you. I never in my wildest dreams thought that I would be assigned as your partner. If you don't want this to happen, well we can tell Assistant Director Skinner right now if you want to."
"Tell me what", says Skinner getting off the phone.
"Nothing Sir", says Willmore smiling at Astadorien. "We're just pleased with the arrangement that you made."
"Good. I'm glad. Agent Astadorien you can go down to the second floor and acquaint yourself with others in your department. I need to speak to Agent Willmore about a few more things. He will meet you down there shortly."
"Thank you Sir", says Astadorien leaving.
"Okay, I have a couple of questions for you", says Skinner sitting down behind his desk. "Please have a seat."
Willmore sits down and wonders what Skinner wants to ask him.
"I understand from a source that you were a witness to Agent Mulder's public display on Tuesday night. Is that correct?", asks Skinner.
"Yes, I was at the restaurant with Agent Scully. I had asked her out to dinner and we were just finishing dessert when a commotion started in the bar area. The bartender yelled that he needed a doctor. Agent Scully got up and ran to the area and was shocked to find Agent Mulder passed out on the floor drunk", Willmore says.
"What happened after that?", asks Skinner.
"An ambulance was called and Scully went with Mulder in the ambulance to the hospital."
"So, she left you on Valentine's Day to take Agent Mulder to the hospital", says Skinner tapping a pencil on the desk.
"Yes, well actually she said she couldn't see me anymore", says Willmore looking embarrassed.
"Why?", asks Skinner.
"She said that her heart was otherwise occupied and it wasn't going to work out", says Willmore. "I felt bad and accused her of being Mrs. Spooky. I wasn't a happy person after spending money on two dozen roses, candy and an expensive dinner. I now regret being so cold-hearted when a fellow agent was obviously in need."
"So you accused her of caring for Mulder, but did she actually confirm that with an answer?", asks Skinner leaning forward in his chair.
"No. She didn't say anything regarding my Mrs. Spooky comment. I only assume that her feelings were hurt that I could be so callous."
"So did you go home after the ambulance left?"
"Yes", nods Willmore.
"And have you spoken to Agent Scully since she left in the ambulance with Mulder?"
"No. I had told her I would call her, but thats when she said it wouldn't work out. I haven't seen or heard from her since I left her hopping on the ambulance."
"Thank you Willmore. That will be all", says Skinner.
"Thank you Sir." Willmore leaves to join his new partner down in the Violent Crimes Section.
Skinner continues to tap his pencil. "So once again Scully is covering for Mulder. My only question is why?"
"Craig?"
"Mary?"
"You two know each other?", asks Skinner confused.
"Yeah, we worked together on the Mulder/Scully disappearance in Seattle", says Craig staring at Astadorien.
"You're Detective Astadorien?", asks Skinner.
"Yes, Craig - Agent Willmore and I cooperated in the solving of one of the most strange cases I have ever come into contact with", says Astadorien. She can't believe her eyes.
"Well since you worked so good together I am glad that I chose to put you two together", says Skinner. The phone rings at this point. "Excuse me agents, this will only take one minute." He picks up the phone.
"What are you doing here", asks Willmore approaching Astadorien. "I thought you weren't open to moving to DC. Thats why we decided to split. Now that you've joined the FBI yourself I wonder if that was the real reason for you dumping me." He turns away shaking his head.
"Craig", she glances over at Skinner. "It hurt me a lot that you left Seattle. I thought that maybe it would be easier on you if I told you that it was over. Maybe you wouldn't feel guilty about leaving. I didn't want your career to suffer because of me. But, after you were gone I realized how wrong I was. That it didn't matter what I had thought I had wanted back in Seattle, because all I wanted was you. Thats why I joined the FBI. I contacted headquarters first and made sure that I would be assigned here in DC before I even applied to Quantico. They assured me that with my criminal detective background I would be at the top of my class and that there wouldn't be any problem with giving me first choice on assignments. So here I am, just where I wanted to be - near you. I never in my wildest dreams thought that I would be assigned as your partner. If you don't want this to happen, well we can tell Assistant Director Skinner right now if you want to."
"Tell me what", says Skinner getting off the phone.
"Nothing Sir", says Willmore smiling at Astadorien. "We're just pleased with the arrangement that you made."
"Good. I'm glad. Agent Astadorien you can go down to the second floor and acquaint yourself with others in your department. I need to speak to Agent Willmore about a few more things. He will meet you down there shortly."
"Thank you Sir", says Astadorien leaving.
"Okay, I have a couple of questions for you", says Skinner sitting down behind his desk. "Please have a seat."
Willmore sits down and wonders what Skinner wants to ask him.
"I understand from a source that you were a witness to Agent Mulder's public display on Tuesday night. Is that correct?", asks Skinner.
"Yes, I was at the restaurant with Agent Scully. I had asked her out to dinner and we were just finishing dessert when a commotion started in the bar area. The bartender yelled that he needed a doctor. Agent Scully got up and ran to the area and was shocked to find Agent Mulder passed out on the floor drunk", Willmore says.
"What happened after that?", asks Skinner.
"An ambulance was called and Scully went with Mulder in the ambulance to the hospital."
"So, she left you on Valentine's Day to take Agent Mulder to the hospital", says Skinner tapping a pencil on the desk.
"Yes, well actually she said she couldn't see me anymore", says Willmore looking embarrassed.
"Why?", asks Skinner.
"She said that her heart was otherwise occupied and it wasn't going to work out", says Willmore. "I felt bad and accused her of being Mrs. Spooky. I wasn't a happy person after spending money on two dozen roses, candy and an expensive dinner. I now regret being so cold-hearted when a fellow agent was obviously in need."
"So you accused her of caring for Mulder, but did she actually confirm that with an answer?", asks Skinner leaning forward in his chair.
"No. She didn't say anything regarding my Mrs. Spooky comment. I only assume that her feelings were hurt that I could be so callous."
"So did you go home after the ambulance left?"
"Yes", nods Willmore.
"And have you spoken to Agent Scully since she left in the ambulance with Mulder?"
"No. I had told her I would call her, but thats when she said it wouldn't work out. I haven't seen or heard from her since I left her hopping on the ambulance."
"Thank you Willmore. That will be all", says Skinner.
"Thank you Sir." Willmore leaves to join his new partner down in the Violent Crimes Section.
Skinner continues to tap his pencil. "So once again Scully is covering for Mulder. My only question is why?"