Part 6
"I hope they finished fixing the air-conditioning", says Dave as they get off the elevator. "I called maintenance before we left for the pool."
"I did notice it was a little warm in here", replies Mulder. "Oh, I wanted to tell you and Gina that apparently room service left some complimentary sandwiches on the coffee table and I started to eat one. It didn't taste right, so don't eat any okay?"
"I don't see any sandwiches", replies Gina walking over to the coffee table and turning to look at Mulder.
"They were right here when Scully and I went downstairs. House keeping must have taken them away", replies Mulder scratching his head.
"Speaking of food Mulder, we haven't eaten", says Scully. "Theres still a couple of hours until the pig roast, do you want to order something?"
"That sounds agreeable. Dave, do you and Gina want to order something?", asks Mulder.
"No, I think we'll probably just shower and take a nap before dinner", says Dave as Gina walks into the bedroom. "We'll see you guys later." He goes into the bedroom and shuts the door.
Mulder flops on the couch and picks up the tv remote. Immediately the tv comes down from the ceiling. Scully picks up a room service menu and sits down on the other end of the couch. As Mulder flips channels Scully flips pages.
"What do you want to order?', asks Scully without looking up.
"I don't know. What have they got?" He slides over pinning her against the armrest. "Ooh, get the buffalo wings", he says as he drops an arm behind her on the back of the couch.
"Those are bad for the stomach Mulder", says Scully looking at him.
"Like I don't already have stress Scully. Bring them on Mrs. Mulder", jokes Mulder playing with a lock of her hair.
"Don't call me that", says Scully. "You don't have to role play when no one is around Mulder. I'm only helping a friend get out of a difficult situation."
"I thought that this was your goal in life Scully?", says Mulder.
"My goal is to be married to you?", asks a surprised Scully.
"No, not necessarily to me", says Mulder his voice cracking.
"Despite your lack of experience regarding normal lifestyles, I would say you are playing your role very well Mulder", says Scully picking up the phone. "Yes, I would like to order a chicken Caesar salad and an order of buffalo wings to the penthouse please. Could I get a bottle of Poland Springs water too? What do you want to drink Mulder?"
"A glass of OJ", replies Mulder flipping the channels until he reaches another basketball game.
"I need a glass of orange juice too please. Twenty minutes? Thank you", says Scully as she hangs up.
"Do we have to watch basketball Mulder? There are 150 channels, isn't there anything else on?", whines Scully.
"Touched By an Angel is on", says Mulder. "Gilligans Island or we can always watch Oprah." Scully rolls her eyes before getting up.
"I'm going to go take a shower before our food comes", she says as she walks toward "their" bedroom.
"Good idea, I think I'll take a bath", says Mulder getting up.
"No you won't. I have first dibs on the bathroom", says Scully blocking him from entering the door.
"Oh yeah, I can't just go next door and meet you later", says Mulder sitting back down on the couch. "You're right, this trip is going to suck." He picks up the remote again as Scully closes the bedroom door.
Part 7
After showering and changing into a pair of black pants and white t-shirt Scully exits the bedroom. Toweling off her hair she watches Mulder tipping the man bringing their food order. Mulder turns to see her standing there. "Why don't we just crash here", he motions to the coffee table.
Scully shrugs. "Sure, why not", she replies as he sets their food on the coffee table. The two agents sit down on the floor on opposite sides of the coffee table. Scully reaches for her salad as Mulder moves to hand it to her. Her hand brushes his and she pulls back. He sets it down in front of her. "Thank you", she replies as she opens the cover.
Looking up she notices Mulder giving her an odd look. "Mulder, why are you staring at me?", she asks self-consciously touching the underside of her nose.
"Do you think that would be the only reason why I would *stare* at you Scully?", asks Mulder looking down as he opens his Styrofoam container of buffalo wings.
"No, I guess not", replies Scully stabbing her salad with her fork. "I suppose if I came in to work with a mohawk I'd expect you to stare." She takes a bite of salad. "So what do you think of Gina?"
"Nice enough I suppose", says Mulder picking up his orange juice and taking a sip. He gives a far-off look and smiles.
"Just nice?", asks Scully. "Shes a knockout Mulder."
"That she is. Dave is a lucky guy", replies Mulder picking up a wing and taking a bite.
"I don't trust her", says Scully opening her bottle of water.
"What? Why would you say that? You just met her", says Mulder.
"Woman's intuition", replies Scully. "I don't think she is sincere, thats all."
"What did she say for you to feel that way Scully?", asks Mulder.
"Its not so much what she said, but how she acts", replies Scully. "We've been here only a couple of hours Mulder, and we've been more affectionate than they have and *they're together*. Either Dave and her are having problems, or she doesn't really love him."
"And you're an expert on these things?", replies Mulder looking her in the eye.
"Like I said before, I just have a feeling", says Scully glancing at him.
"Remind me never to compliment you", replies Mulder.
"Why?", frowns Scully.
"You may think I have *ulterior* motives", smirks Mulder.
"Yeah, so you can get into my bed", replies Scully. She immediately realizes her slip of the tongue. "I mean so you won't have to sleep in the bathtub", she says quickly without meeting his eye.
"You really think you have me figured out don't you Scully? Well you don't", says Mulder. "Matter of fact......" Just then the other bedroom door opens and they're joined by Dave and Gina.
"Hey guys, looks like you got the munchies", says Dave swiping a wing out of Mulder's container and biting into it.
"Yeah, we worked up quite an appetite", says Mulder looking at Scully who bites her lip and looks to Gina. "What are you wearing tonight?", she asks as she looks at the tight spandex and tank top that Gina is wearing.
"Um, I'm wearing what I have on", replies Gina eyeing Scully's outfit. "Are you wearing *that*?"
"Yeah, thats what I had planned on", replies Scully. Just then the phone rings. Dave walks over to the phone and answers it.
"Good thing we got the AC fixed when we did", says Dave coming back over to put his arm around Gina. "That was the manager calling. He wanted to double-check that it was cool enough because the maintenance man apparently had a sudden heart attack. He's dead."
"Really", says Scully.
"Freaky", replies Mulder looking at her.
Part 8
"This sure brings back memories", says Dave standing in line for his food on the Chillmark High School's football field.
"Yeah, I can remotely remember getting my a** kicked by the Corey Lawson, the star quarterback because I made the mistake of asking his girlfriend if I could touch her pom poms", says Mulder. Scully gives him a look. "I was talking about the paper ones, okay?", he says annoyed.
The two couples move through the line. Before reaching the food area they are led toward a table with name tags. A man and a woman sit at the table instructing people to sign in on a sheet and find their name tag. Dave approaches followed by Mulder.
"Hey Dave! Hows it going?", says the man.
"Great, um I'm sorry I don't recognize you", says Dave.
"Craig, Craig Granby. I was Class President", replies Craig craning his head to see past Dave. "And who do we have here? Fox. Fox Mulder, my VP has arrived", smiles Craig. "How is the CIA?"
"Um, its the FBI Craig, I joined the FBI", replies Mulder signing in on the sheet.
"Oh, thats right, how stupid of me", replies Craig looking at the woman sitting next to him. "Do you remember Beth? Beth Kelly? Well actually its Beth Lawson now", says Craig putting his arm around her.
"Nice to see you Beth", replies Mulder quietly before turning toward Scully. "I'd like to introduce you to my wife, Dana", he says putting his arm around Scully and pulling her against his side. Scully smiles politely.
"A pleasure to meet you", says Scully nodding to Craig and Beth. Mulder leans down and picks up his nametag which has his graduation picture attached. He scowls when he sees it and tries to stuff it into his pocket. Scully grabs it out of his hand. "Fox, its not that bad, really", says Scully trying not to laugh at the teenage Mulder pictured. "You have to wear it. Its only for the weekend." She takes it and pins it to his polo shirt that he is wearing.
"Here", says Beth handing Scully a nametag which reads: 'Dana Mulder - Wife of Fox'. Scully reluctantly takes it and pins it to her shirt.
"Lets eat, I'm famished", says Scully tugging on Mulder's arm. He quickly says goodbye to Craig and Beth and they move through the line taking pork, salad, beans, cornbread and beer." They walk over to an empty table and sit down.
"I need to get away from Dave for a while", says Mulder. "No point in pushing the envelope." Scully nods as she cuts into her pork.
"Did that Craig guy just call you his VP?", asks Scully.
"Yeah, I was um, Vice President of my class", replies Mulder sheepishly.
"You were? I was President of my class Mulder. That is so funny", replies Scully grinning.
"I would have been President if Craig hadn't used a lot of cutthroat techniques in campaigning. He actually paid people to vote for him, or so I've heard", replies Mulder opening his bottle of beer. "He got a real kick out of the whole thing. He always had it in for me too. He even had to rub it in about Beth too."
"What do you mean about Beth?", asks Scully.
"Beth was my first real girlfriend", says Mulder. "We dated through Sophomore year and just before the Junior Prom she dumped me for Craig. I ended up going with my best friend's sister. I still think that Craig probably paid her to go with him, but then she did marry him. Maybe I'm wrong."
"Oh Mulder, thats horrible", says Scully looking over her shoulder at the man who had tormented her partner in high school.
"I only have one satisfaction when it comes to Craig though", says Mulder. "I worked my a** off to get into a good college. I mean I was ecstatic when I got accepted to Oxford. Unfortunately, Craig's popularity didn't work on his grades so when the time came he was lucky to get into a community college. He took up Business, but he flunked out and now he works full time as a .........garbage man. Beth's parents owned a garbage removal service and seeing that they didn't have any sons to pass it on to. Craig's it. They've only got a couple of trucks and Craig is a very hands on kind of guy. Therefore, he has been known to be seen driving his own garbage truck around the town of Chillmark."
Scully smiles and takes a sip of her own beer. "Mulder, there is a whole side of you that exists that I didn't know about. I mean you were such an average kid in high school. When did you start to get um, Spooky?"
"It was a real challenge to keep sane Scully. I was seeing a psychiatrist regularly once a week from the time Samantha was abducted until I left for college. Its the one thing besides my education that my father invested in. Maybe its why I ended up taking up Psychology. It was the only thing that I seemed interested in at the time." He glances up and notices Gina talking to Craig Lawson at the sign-in table. Beth is no where to be seen.
"You've been through a lot Mulder. You should be commended on your dedication.....not reprimanded like you are", replies Scully looking up at him.
"You're the only one who thinks that way Scully. Too bad you aren't the one signing my paychecks", smiles Mulder sadly. "I do want to say one thing to you though Scully. Thank you. Thank you for helping me put this charade on this weekend. You don't know how grateful I am that you're here with me." Scully smiles and reaches across the table. With both hands she takes Mulder's left hand in hers and squeezes it.
"Only for you Mulder, you know that", she says softly. "Besides I think it gives us good experience...."
"Good experience?", frowns Mulder.
"Doing undercover work. We haven't really done any, we need the practice don't you think?"
"Speak for yourself Scully", grins Mulder. She smiles back and glances down at his hand in hers for a moment. The gold band on his ring finger symbolized something that she knew she could never have. His love, his commitment, his trust.....complete trust. Someday they would be separated either by their choice or by someone else's. She would go on with her life with or without the FBI. He'd do the same and someday when he got around to it he would find that someone that would cause his quest to suddenly become secondary. She wasn't the one that had the power to overshadow it. Sadly she glances at her "own" rings and thinks for just a moment if she wished things could be different. Mulder was quirky in his own way, dedicated to causes that others found meaningless, but he was the most caring and intense person she knew. He was someone that she had come to depend on and trust completely. She couldn't imagine living a day without seeing him or being able to talk to him. Those rings are not hers and she knows that the day Fox Mulder got down on one knee she wouldn't be around to see it.
"Penny for your thoughts", says Mulder softly.
"Did you insure these rings Mulder", asks Scully. "What if we lost them?"
"We are *not* going to lose them Scully. "Cause if we do, the entire winnings from the wager is going to go towards paying for them. Especially that *little* bauble on your hand. You do like it, don't you. I mean I know its big, but I thought the emerald cut would be more your style. Its less likely to catch on things than a round, pear, heart or marquise, especially when you're doing autopsies and stuff."
"Mulder, I won't be wearing this when I do autopsies", replies Scully pulling her hands away from Mulder's abruptly.
"Oh, yeah you're right", replies Mulder dropping his eyes to his food.
Just then there is a scream from the end zone.
Part 9
The agents jump to their feet and rush to the direction of the scream. Once there they push themselves through the crowd.
"Let him through! Let Fox through! He's an FBI agent", wails Beth frantically as she kneels next to Craig who is pale as a ghost.
"What happened?", asks Mulder dropping to his knees down next to Beth. Scully does the same and immediately unbuttons Craig's shirt.
"Did someone call 911?", she yells.
"Yes!", someone shouts from the crowd.
"What is she doing?", protests Beth to Mulder.
"Its okay, Scu...Dana is a doctor. She knows what to do", replies Mulder gently as he puts an arm around Beth's shoulders. She bites her lip as Scully checks his vital signs and then begins to administer CPR and mouth to mouth. Ten minutes go by before an ambulance appears. Scully gets to her feet and steps aside to allow the medics to take over. Putting an oxygen mask over his nose and mouth the medics strap him onto a gurney and loads him onto the ambulance. Beth quickly thanks Mulder and Scully as she is helped into the waiting vehicle. The sirens sound as they pull away.
"Do you think that was a heart attack?", ask Mulder turning to Scully.
"Its the only logical explanation Mulder", replies Scully tucking a piece of hair behind her ear. "It came on rather suddenly, but thats the way it happens. Most people aren't even aware that they have a heart condition until their first attack."
"Two heart attacks in one day Scully. It almost sounds like.....", starts Mulder.
"No, don't even say that someone *willed* them to have a heart attack Mulder. Modell is dead and I can't see anyone else having the ability to push their will on others like he did", replies Scully slowly pushing her way through the crowd and back to their table. She sits down and pokes her fork at a piece of now cold pork.
"Nothing is impossible Scully", replies Mulder as he pushes his plate aside. He watches Scully finish the rest of her dinner. "Sometimes it just takes a little bit of effort."
Scully takes the last bite of her dinner and finishes off with a sip of beer. "Whats next on the agenda? Its only seven o'clock."
"Nothing really important, just time to mingle with my classmates", replies Mulder looking over his shoulder at several couples embracing.
"So.....mingle", says Scully. "There must be some people that you want to see", replies Scully. "You must have had a best friend in high school that you want to find", says Scully.
"My best friend is right here", replies Mulder giving her a smile. "And there is no where I would rather be." Scully gives a little embarrassed smile.
Mulder gets up out of his chair and extends his hand to Scully. "Let me show you around my school Scully. Its open house at Chillmark High and you've got the tour guide with the highest level of security clearance in the entire class." Scully chuckles as she allows herself to be pulled out of her seat. She tucks her arm in Mulder's as he leads her toward the lit high school.
Part 10
"And this was my home room Senior year", says Mulder excitingly walking down a crowded hallway. "Mr. Owens was a real stickler for punctuality."
"I still am", replies an older gentlemen stepping out of Room 202. "Fox, Fox Mulder my most tardy student. How nice to see you my boy."
"This is amazing, Mr. Owens? You're still teaching?", asks an astounded Mulder looking at an amused Scully.
"I am, although I will be retiring after this year. Finally going to tap into that pension of mine. Surprised I didn't take early retirement after dealing with you for four years Fox? Thought you could always outsmart me didn't ya? Don't take your name to heart son, you couldn't ever fool this old man."
"I had the utmost respect for you Sir. I want to assure you that your teachings impacted my work ethics immensely", replies Mulder. Scully rolls her eyes.
"Yes Sir, he's on time every day at work", chuckles Scully.
"And who do we have here", beams Mr. Owens at Scully.
"Ah, this is my lovely part... wife Dana", replies Mulder looking at Scully and shrugging.
"Ah, you finally settled down son, thats good. Marriage is a good thing and life isn't complete without it. My Julia and I have been married forty years this June. Very nice to meet you Dana. You keep an eye on this one, he has been known to disappear for periods of time, although he makes up good excuses."
"Hmm, I'll keep that in mind", replies Scully giving Mulder an 'I already know' look.
"Any children yet?", asks the teacher innocently. Scully's face goes from a pleasant smile to a pained look as she averts her eyes. Mulder glances in her direction well aware of her sensitivity to this subject.
"No", he replies quietly. "We haven't been blessed."
"That will come with time", says Mr. Owens winking at Mulder. "Well, its been a pleasure Fox...... Dana nice meeting you. I really have to go and catch up with some of my other students." He walks away.
"Mulder, can we please go back to the hotel", says Scully softly.
"Sure Scully, if thats what you want", replies Mulder. He bends his knees to look at her in the eye. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine Mulder, really I'm fine", replies Scully turning her head from looking at him in the eye. But Mulder is too quick for her and turns her face to look at him. He wipes away a tear from her eye.
"No you are *not* fine and I know why. Mr. Owens doesn't know about how sensitive that topic is with you. I'm sure he had no idea what that comment did to you."
"Don't be silly Mulder", sniffs Scully. "Its nothing really. I can deal with it, I've been dealing with it for a while now. I've accepted what I can't have in life and children are one of those things among others that aren't in the plan." Mulder drops his hand.
"You can have whatever you want in life Scully", replies Mulder wrapping his arms around Scully and pulling her to his chest. She burrows her nose into his polo shirt.
"Can I Mulder?", asks Scully in a muffled voice. "You always believe in such fairy tales, myths, whatever."
"Everyone deserves a happy ending Scully", replies Mulder as Scully pulls away and looks at him as he brushes the hair out of her face. "Well maybe everyone but CSM", he grins at her and she tearfully smiles. "Come on, lets get out of here." He takes her hand and they walk toward the stairs.
"I hope they finished fixing the air-conditioning", says Dave as they get off the elevator. "I called maintenance before we left for the pool."
"I did notice it was a little warm in here", replies Mulder. "Oh, I wanted to tell you and Gina that apparently room service left some complimentary sandwiches on the coffee table and I started to eat one. It didn't taste right, so don't eat any okay?"
"I don't see any sandwiches", replies Gina walking over to the coffee table and turning to look at Mulder.
"They were right here when Scully and I went downstairs. House keeping must have taken them away", replies Mulder scratching his head.
"Speaking of food Mulder, we haven't eaten", says Scully. "Theres still a couple of hours until the pig roast, do you want to order something?"
"That sounds agreeable. Dave, do you and Gina want to order something?", asks Mulder.
"No, I think we'll probably just shower and take a nap before dinner", says Dave as Gina walks into the bedroom. "We'll see you guys later." He goes into the bedroom and shuts the door.
Mulder flops on the couch and picks up the tv remote. Immediately the tv comes down from the ceiling. Scully picks up a room service menu and sits down on the other end of the couch. As Mulder flips channels Scully flips pages.
"What do you want to order?', asks Scully without looking up.
"I don't know. What have they got?" He slides over pinning her against the armrest. "Ooh, get the buffalo wings", he says as he drops an arm behind her on the back of the couch.
"Those are bad for the stomach Mulder", says Scully looking at him.
"Like I don't already have stress Scully. Bring them on Mrs. Mulder", jokes Mulder playing with a lock of her hair.
"Don't call me that", says Scully. "You don't have to role play when no one is around Mulder. I'm only helping a friend get out of a difficult situation."
"I thought that this was your goal in life Scully?", says Mulder.
"My goal is to be married to you?", asks a surprised Scully.
"No, not necessarily to me", says Mulder his voice cracking.
"Despite your lack of experience regarding normal lifestyles, I would say you are playing your role very well Mulder", says Scully picking up the phone. "Yes, I would like to order a chicken Caesar salad and an order of buffalo wings to the penthouse please. Could I get a bottle of Poland Springs water too? What do you want to drink Mulder?"
"A glass of OJ", replies Mulder flipping the channels until he reaches another basketball game.
"I need a glass of orange juice too please. Twenty minutes? Thank you", says Scully as she hangs up.
"Do we have to watch basketball Mulder? There are 150 channels, isn't there anything else on?", whines Scully.
"Touched By an Angel is on", says Mulder. "Gilligans Island or we can always watch Oprah." Scully rolls her eyes before getting up.
"I'm going to go take a shower before our food comes", she says as she walks toward "their" bedroom.
"Good idea, I think I'll take a bath", says Mulder getting up.
"No you won't. I have first dibs on the bathroom", says Scully blocking him from entering the door.
"Oh yeah, I can't just go next door and meet you later", says Mulder sitting back down on the couch. "You're right, this trip is going to suck." He picks up the remote again as Scully closes the bedroom door.
Part 7
After showering and changing into a pair of black pants and white t-shirt Scully exits the bedroom. Toweling off her hair she watches Mulder tipping the man bringing their food order. Mulder turns to see her standing there. "Why don't we just crash here", he motions to the coffee table.
Scully shrugs. "Sure, why not", she replies as he sets their food on the coffee table. The two agents sit down on the floor on opposite sides of the coffee table. Scully reaches for her salad as Mulder moves to hand it to her. Her hand brushes his and she pulls back. He sets it down in front of her. "Thank you", she replies as she opens the cover.
Looking up she notices Mulder giving her an odd look. "Mulder, why are you staring at me?", she asks self-consciously touching the underside of her nose.
"Do you think that would be the only reason why I would *stare* at you Scully?", asks Mulder looking down as he opens his Styrofoam container of buffalo wings.
"No, I guess not", replies Scully stabbing her salad with her fork. "I suppose if I came in to work with a mohawk I'd expect you to stare." She takes a bite of salad. "So what do you think of Gina?"
"Nice enough I suppose", says Mulder picking up his orange juice and taking a sip. He gives a far-off look and smiles.
"Just nice?", asks Scully. "Shes a knockout Mulder."
"That she is. Dave is a lucky guy", replies Mulder picking up a wing and taking a bite.
"I don't trust her", says Scully opening her bottle of water.
"What? Why would you say that? You just met her", says Mulder.
"Woman's intuition", replies Scully. "I don't think she is sincere, thats all."
"What did she say for you to feel that way Scully?", asks Mulder.
"Its not so much what she said, but how she acts", replies Scully. "We've been here only a couple of hours Mulder, and we've been more affectionate than they have and *they're together*. Either Dave and her are having problems, or she doesn't really love him."
"And you're an expert on these things?", replies Mulder looking her in the eye.
"Like I said before, I just have a feeling", says Scully glancing at him.
"Remind me never to compliment you", replies Mulder.
"Why?", frowns Scully.
"You may think I have *ulterior* motives", smirks Mulder.
"Yeah, so you can get into my bed", replies Scully. She immediately realizes her slip of the tongue. "I mean so you won't have to sleep in the bathtub", she says quickly without meeting his eye.
"You really think you have me figured out don't you Scully? Well you don't", says Mulder. "Matter of fact......" Just then the other bedroom door opens and they're joined by Dave and Gina.
"Hey guys, looks like you got the munchies", says Dave swiping a wing out of Mulder's container and biting into it.
"Yeah, we worked up quite an appetite", says Mulder looking at Scully who bites her lip and looks to Gina. "What are you wearing tonight?", she asks as she looks at the tight spandex and tank top that Gina is wearing.
"Um, I'm wearing what I have on", replies Gina eyeing Scully's outfit. "Are you wearing *that*?"
"Yeah, thats what I had planned on", replies Scully. Just then the phone rings. Dave walks over to the phone and answers it.
"Good thing we got the AC fixed when we did", says Dave coming back over to put his arm around Gina. "That was the manager calling. He wanted to double-check that it was cool enough because the maintenance man apparently had a sudden heart attack. He's dead."
"Really", says Scully.
"Freaky", replies Mulder looking at her.
Part 8
"This sure brings back memories", says Dave standing in line for his food on the Chillmark High School's football field.
"Yeah, I can remotely remember getting my a** kicked by the Corey Lawson, the star quarterback because I made the mistake of asking his girlfriend if I could touch her pom poms", says Mulder. Scully gives him a look. "I was talking about the paper ones, okay?", he says annoyed.
The two couples move through the line. Before reaching the food area they are led toward a table with name tags. A man and a woman sit at the table instructing people to sign in on a sheet and find their name tag. Dave approaches followed by Mulder.
"Hey Dave! Hows it going?", says the man.
"Great, um I'm sorry I don't recognize you", says Dave.
"Craig, Craig Granby. I was Class President", replies Craig craning his head to see past Dave. "And who do we have here? Fox. Fox Mulder, my VP has arrived", smiles Craig. "How is the CIA?"
"Um, its the FBI Craig, I joined the FBI", replies Mulder signing in on the sheet.
"Oh, thats right, how stupid of me", replies Craig looking at the woman sitting next to him. "Do you remember Beth? Beth Kelly? Well actually its Beth Lawson now", says Craig putting his arm around her.
"Nice to see you Beth", replies Mulder quietly before turning toward Scully. "I'd like to introduce you to my wife, Dana", he says putting his arm around Scully and pulling her against his side. Scully smiles politely.
"A pleasure to meet you", says Scully nodding to Craig and Beth. Mulder leans down and picks up his nametag which has his graduation picture attached. He scowls when he sees it and tries to stuff it into his pocket. Scully grabs it out of his hand. "Fox, its not that bad, really", says Scully trying not to laugh at the teenage Mulder pictured. "You have to wear it. Its only for the weekend." She takes it and pins it to his polo shirt that he is wearing.
"Here", says Beth handing Scully a nametag which reads: 'Dana Mulder - Wife of Fox'. Scully reluctantly takes it and pins it to her shirt.
"Lets eat, I'm famished", says Scully tugging on Mulder's arm. He quickly says goodbye to Craig and Beth and they move through the line taking pork, salad, beans, cornbread and beer." They walk over to an empty table and sit down.
"I need to get away from Dave for a while", says Mulder. "No point in pushing the envelope." Scully nods as she cuts into her pork.
"Did that Craig guy just call you his VP?", asks Scully.
"Yeah, I was um, Vice President of my class", replies Mulder sheepishly.
"You were? I was President of my class Mulder. That is so funny", replies Scully grinning.
"I would have been President if Craig hadn't used a lot of cutthroat techniques in campaigning. He actually paid people to vote for him, or so I've heard", replies Mulder opening his bottle of beer. "He got a real kick out of the whole thing. He always had it in for me too. He even had to rub it in about Beth too."
"What do you mean about Beth?", asks Scully.
"Beth was my first real girlfriend", says Mulder. "We dated through Sophomore year and just before the Junior Prom she dumped me for Craig. I ended up going with my best friend's sister. I still think that Craig probably paid her to go with him, but then she did marry him. Maybe I'm wrong."
"Oh Mulder, thats horrible", says Scully looking over her shoulder at the man who had tormented her partner in high school.
"I only have one satisfaction when it comes to Craig though", says Mulder. "I worked my a** off to get into a good college. I mean I was ecstatic when I got accepted to Oxford. Unfortunately, Craig's popularity didn't work on his grades so when the time came he was lucky to get into a community college. He took up Business, but he flunked out and now he works full time as a .........garbage man. Beth's parents owned a garbage removal service and seeing that they didn't have any sons to pass it on to. Craig's it. They've only got a couple of trucks and Craig is a very hands on kind of guy. Therefore, he has been known to be seen driving his own garbage truck around the town of Chillmark."
Scully smiles and takes a sip of her own beer. "Mulder, there is a whole side of you that exists that I didn't know about. I mean you were such an average kid in high school. When did you start to get um, Spooky?"
"It was a real challenge to keep sane Scully. I was seeing a psychiatrist regularly once a week from the time Samantha was abducted until I left for college. Its the one thing besides my education that my father invested in. Maybe its why I ended up taking up Psychology. It was the only thing that I seemed interested in at the time." He glances up and notices Gina talking to Craig Lawson at the sign-in table. Beth is no where to be seen.
"You've been through a lot Mulder. You should be commended on your dedication.....not reprimanded like you are", replies Scully looking up at him.
"You're the only one who thinks that way Scully. Too bad you aren't the one signing my paychecks", smiles Mulder sadly. "I do want to say one thing to you though Scully. Thank you. Thank you for helping me put this charade on this weekend. You don't know how grateful I am that you're here with me." Scully smiles and reaches across the table. With both hands she takes Mulder's left hand in hers and squeezes it.
"Only for you Mulder, you know that", she says softly. "Besides I think it gives us good experience...."
"Good experience?", frowns Mulder.
"Doing undercover work. We haven't really done any, we need the practice don't you think?"
"Speak for yourself Scully", grins Mulder. She smiles back and glances down at his hand in hers for a moment. The gold band on his ring finger symbolized something that she knew she could never have. His love, his commitment, his trust.....complete trust. Someday they would be separated either by their choice or by someone else's. She would go on with her life with or without the FBI. He'd do the same and someday when he got around to it he would find that someone that would cause his quest to suddenly become secondary. She wasn't the one that had the power to overshadow it. Sadly she glances at her "own" rings and thinks for just a moment if she wished things could be different. Mulder was quirky in his own way, dedicated to causes that others found meaningless, but he was the most caring and intense person she knew. He was someone that she had come to depend on and trust completely. She couldn't imagine living a day without seeing him or being able to talk to him. Those rings are not hers and she knows that the day Fox Mulder got down on one knee she wouldn't be around to see it.
"Penny for your thoughts", says Mulder softly.
"Did you insure these rings Mulder", asks Scully. "What if we lost them?"
"We are *not* going to lose them Scully. "Cause if we do, the entire winnings from the wager is going to go towards paying for them. Especially that *little* bauble on your hand. You do like it, don't you. I mean I know its big, but I thought the emerald cut would be more your style. Its less likely to catch on things than a round, pear, heart or marquise, especially when you're doing autopsies and stuff."
"Mulder, I won't be wearing this when I do autopsies", replies Scully pulling her hands away from Mulder's abruptly.
"Oh, yeah you're right", replies Mulder dropping his eyes to his food.
Just then there is a scream from the end zone.
Part 9
The agents jump to their feet and rush to the direction of the scream. Once there they push themselves through the crowd.
"Let him through! Let Fox through! He's an FBI agent", wails Beth frantically as she kneels next to Craig who is pale as a ghost.
"What happened?", asks Mulder dropping to his knees down next to Beth. Scully does the same and immediately unbuttons Craig's shirt.
"Did someone call 911?", she yells.
"Yes!", someone shouts from the crowd.
"What is she doing?", protests Beth to Mulder.
"Its okay, Scu...Dana is a doctor. She knows what to do", replies Mulder gently as he puts an arm around Beth's shoulders. She bites her lip as Scully checks his vital signs and then begins to administer CPR and mouth to mouth. Ten minutes go by before an ambulance appears. Scully gets to her feet and steps aside to allow the medics to take over. Putting an oxygen mask over his nose and mouth the medics strap him onto a gurney and loads him onto the ambulance. Beth quickly thanks Mulder and Scully as she is helped into the waiting vehicle. The sirens sound as they pull away.
"Do you think that was a heart attack?", ask Mulder turning to Scully.
"Its the only logical explanation Mulder", replies Scully tucking a piece of hair behind her ear. "It came on rather suddenly, but thats the way it happens. Most people aren't even aware that they have a heart condition until their first attack."
"Two heart attacks in one day Scully. It almost sounds like.....", starts Mulder.
"No, don't even say that someone *willed* them to have a heart attack Mulder. Modell is dead and I can't see anyone else having the ability to push their will on others like he did", replies Scully slowly pushing her way through the crowd and back to their table. She sits down and pokes her fork at a piece of now cold pork.
"Nothing is impossible Scully", replies Mulder as he pushes his plate aside. He watches Scully finish the rest of her dinner. "Sometimes it just takes a little bit of effort."
Scully takes the last bite of her dinner and finishes off with a sip of beer. "Whats next on the agenda? Its only seven o'clock."
"Nothing really important, just time to mingle with my classmates", replies Mulder looking over his shoulder at several couples embracing.
"So.....mingle", says Scully. "There must be some people that you want to see", replies Scully. "You must have had a best friend in high school that you want to find", says Scully.
"My best friend is right here", replies Mulder giving her a smile. "And there is no where I would rather be." Scully gives a little embarrassed smile.
Mulder gets up out of his chair and extends his hand to Scully. "Let me show you around my school Scully. Its open house at Chillmark High and you've got the tour guide with the highest level of security clearance in the entire class." Scully chuckles as she allows herself to be pulled out of her seat. She tucks her arm in Mulder's as he leads her toward the lit high school.
Part 10
"And this was my home room Senior year", says Mulder excitingly walking down a crowded hallway. "Mr. Owens was a real stickler for punctuality."
"I still am", replies an older gentlemen stepping out of Room 202. "Fox, Fox Mulder my most tardy student. How nice to see you my boy."
"This is amazing, Mr. Owens? You're still teaching?", asks an astounded Mulder looking at an amused Scully.
"I am, although I will be retiring after this year. Finally going to tap into that pension of mine. Surprised I didn't take early retirement after dealing with you for four years Fox? Thought you could always outsmart me didn't ya? Don't take your name to heart son, you couldn't ever fool this old man."
"I had the utmost respect for you Sir. I want to assure you that your teachings impacted my work ethics immensely", replies Mulder. Scully rolls her eyes.
"Yes Sir, he's on time every day at work", chuckles Scully.
"And who do we have here", beams Mr. Owens at Scully.
"Ah, this is my lovely part... wife Dana", replies Mulder looking at Scully and shrugging.
"Ah, you finally settled down son, thats good. Marriage is a good thing and life isn't complete without it. My Julia and I have been married forty years this June. Very nice to meet you Dana. You keep an eye on this one, he has been known to disappear for periods of time, although he makes up good excuses."
"Hmm, I'll keep that in mind", replies Scully giving Mulder an 'I already know' look.
"Any children yet?", asks the teacher innocently. Scully's face goes from a pleasant smile to a pained look as she averts her eyes. Mulder glances in her direction well aware of her sensitivity to this subject.
"No", he replies quietly. "We haven't been blessed."
"That will come with time", says Mr. Owens winking at Mulder. "Well, its been a pleasure Fox...... Dana nice meeting you. I really have to go and catch up with some of my other students." He walks away.
"Mulder, can we please go back to the hotel", says Scully softly.
"Sure Scully, if thats what you want", replies Mulder. He bends his knees to look at her in the eye. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine Mulder, really I'm fine", replies Scully turning her head from looking at him in the eye. But Mulder is too quick for her and turns her face to look at him. He wipes away a tear from her eye.
"No you are *not* fine and I know why. Mr. Owens doesn't know about how sensitive that topic is with you. I'm sure he had no idea what that comment did to you."
"Don't be silly Mulder", sniffs Scully. "Its nothing really. I can deal with it, I've been dealing with it for a while now. I've accepted what I can't have in life and children are one of those things among others that aren't in the plan." Mulder drops his hand.
"You can have whatever you want in life Scully", replies Mulder wrapping his arms around Scully and pulling her to his chest. She burrows her nose into his polo shirt.
"Can I Mulder?", asks Scully in a muffled voice. "You always believe in such fairy tales, myths, whatever."
"Everyone deserves a happy ending Scully", replies Mulder as Scully pulls away and looks at him as he brushes the hair out of her face. "Well maybe everyone but CSM", he grins at her and she tearfully smiles. "Come on, lets get out of here." He takes her hand and they walk toward the stairs.