Part 26
Scully bites her lip as Walter and Sharon Skinner reassure her that if Mulder is dead that he will be remembered for how much he served his country. Scully tunes out and glances across the room. Most everyone has arrived now as its almost 7:30 and the President will be here any minute. Her eyes fall to the back of the room and she sees CSM sitting there with a bunch of Pentagon officials. She starts to stand, but Skinner pulls her down.
"You can't make a scene. There is too many people. I would have to dismiss you for attacking him, especially here."
"He may just get away with murder", whispers Scully staring at Skinner in the eye.
"Thats yet to be proved Agent Scully. Mulder is not officially dead yet. You have to cling to that hope."
Just then Janet Reno walks by and gives Skinner a little wave. She is unescorted and is dressed in a hot pink pants suit. She is wearing a button that says: "Won't you be my valentine".
Five minutes later "Hail to the Chief" is sounded and everyone rises as the President and First Lady are escorted into the room. They are seated at the table next to Scully's. The first course, salad is served and Scully pushes it around on her plate. She has no appetite. She doesn't notice Lisa the handwriting expert and her husband until they are standing right beside her.
"Agent Scully, I was so sorry to hear about your partner Agent Mulder's disappearance. I hope he is all right."
"Thank you", says Scully looking up.
"That dress is stunning on you", says Lisa. "That rhinestone chain in your hair is very Titanic and that ring is gorgeous. Where did you ever get that "little" gem?"
"Thank you again for your complements", says Scully. "The ring was a gift from a friend."
Lisa and her husband chat a few minutes and finally head back to their own table.
**********************
8:00 PM
A beat up van pulls up to the hotel and Frohike jumps out. He opens the sliding door and helps a tired Mulder out. "Good luck buddy", says Frohike as he climbs back in. "We're all rooting for ya." The van pulls away as Mulder walks in the front door of the hotel. He flashes his badge and gun and starts to walk past the man standing at the entrance. "Sir, ticket?", he asks.
"Ah, damn. I forgot the tickets in my drawer at work", says Mulder. "Can I buy one here?"
"No, they are all sold out, but luckily for you a young lady said she wouldn't be needing this ticket. She said to give it someone who really needed it." He pulls a ticket out of his coat pocket tearing it in half and handing one half to Mulder.
"You may want to wait a minute though. They're starting speeches now", says the man rolling his eyes.
Mulder peeks in the room and sees the Director of the FBI approaching the podium.
***********************
The Director has ascended the podium with AD Skinner and congratulated him on a job well done.
Skinner replies, "I couldn't have done it without my two best agents. Agent Scully would you please come up here so we can thank you." Scully woodenly walks to the stage and stands beside Skinner.
"Any word yet", she whispers.
"No", whispers Skinner looking over the audience. "Agent Scully would you please give a few words?"
Scully steps to the microphone and says, "I would like to thank everyone for coming and supporting the FBI Relief Fund and I hope you enjoy your evening with that one special person in your life." She tears up as Skinner hands her his handkerchief.
**********************
Mulder enters the ballroom and glances around. He sees the Director, AD Skinner and Scully on stage. He looks to his right and his blood freezes in his veins as he sees Smoking Man staring at him. He nods to him and keeps walking. He weaves through the table rapidly approaching the podium. When he is about 3/4 of the way there his eyes meet Scully's. All of a sudden a shot rings out.
Scully bites her lip as Walter and Sharon Skinner reassure her that if Mulder is dead that he will be remembered for how much he served his country. Scully tunes out and glances across the room. Most everyone has arrived now as its almost 7:30 and the President will be here any minute. Her eyes fall to the back of the room and she sees CSM sitting there with a bunch of Pentagon officials. She starts to stand, but Skinner pulls her down.
"You can't make a scene. There is too many people. I would have to dismiss you for attacking him, especially here."
"He may just get away with murder", whispers Scully staring at Skinner in the eye.
"Thats yet to be proved Agent Scully. Mulder is not officially dead yet. You have to cling to that hope."
Just then Janet Reno walks by and gives Skinner a little wave. She is unescorted and is dressed in a hot pink pants suit. She is wearing a button that says: "Won't you be my valentine".
Five minutes later "Hail to the Chief" is sounded and everyone rises as the President and First Lady are escorted into the room. They are seated at the table next to Scully's. The first course, salad is served and Scully pushes it around on her plate. She has no appetite. She doesn't notice Lisa the handwriting expert and her husband until they are standing right beside her.
"Agent Scully, I was so sorry to hear about your partner Agent Mulder's disappearance. I hope he is all right."
"Thank you", says Scully looking up.
"That dress is stunning on you", says Lisa. "That rhinestone chain in your hair is very Titanic and that ring is gorgeous. Where did you ever get that "little" gem?"
"Thank you again for your complements", says Scully. "The ring was a gift from a friend."
Lisa and her husband chat a few minutes and finally head back to their own table.
**********************
8:00 PM
A beat up van pulls up to the hotel and Frohike jumps out. He opens the sliding door and helps a tired Mulder out. "Good luck buddy", says Frohike as he climbs back in. "We're all rooting for ya." The van pulls away as Mulder walks in the front door of the hotel. He flashes his badge and gun and starts to walk past the man standing at the entrance. "Sir, ticket?", he asks.
"Ah, damn. I forgot the tickets in my drawer at work", says Mulder. "Can I buy one here?"
"No, they are all sold out, but luckily for you a young lady said she wouldn't be needing this ticket. She said to give it someone who really needed it." He pulls a ticket out of his coat pocket tearing it in half and handing one half to Mulder.
"You may want to wait a minute though. They're starting speeches now", says the man rolling his eyes.
Mulder peeks in the room and sees the Director of the FBI approaching the podium.
***********************
The Director has ascended the podium with AD Skinner and congratulated him on a job well done.
Skinner replies, "I couldn't have done it without my two best agents. Agent Scully would you please come up here so we can thank you." Scully woodenly walks to the stage and stands beside Skinner.
"Any word yet", she whispers.
"No", whispers Skinner looking over the audience. "Agent Scully would you please give a few words?"
Scully steps to the microphone and says, "I would like to thank everyone for coming and supporting the FBI Relief Fund and I hope you enjoy your evening with that one special person in your life." She tears up as Skinner hands her his handkerchief.
**********************
Mulder enters the ballroom and glances around. He sees the Director, AD Skinner and Scully on stage. He looks to his right and his blood freezes in his veins as he sees Smoking Man staring at him. He nods to him and keeps walking. He weaves through the table rapidly approaching the podium. When he is about 3/4 of the way there his eyes meet Scully's. All of a sudden a shot rings out.