Part 4
Its just about 5:30 P.M. London time when the plane touches down. Mrs. Shelby immediately hops up and grabs her bag so Mulder and Scully can get their overhead baggage.
"Its been so nice sitting with you during this flight. I hope you enjoy your vacation", she smiles as the people start to get off the plane.
"Its been an unforgettable flight Mrs. Shelby", says Mulder allowing Scully to cut in front of him in the aisle.
Once they are off the plane and Mrs. Shelby is gone Mulder sighs and shakes his head. "Thank God she's not going to Moscow", he says.
"Why don't you see if you can make a reservation for us for dinner Mulder. The name is Copperfield's. I am going to the ladies room", says Scully backing away.
"Um sure okay Scully", says Mulder walking toward a telephone.
Scully enters the bathroom and rifles through her bag. She finds a chic black dress and smiles to herself. "Well, at least it didn't get wrinkled", she says aloud. She goes into a stall and changes. When she comes out she looks in the mirror and readjusts her hair and makeup. Lastly she puts on a rhinestone set of earrings and necklace. She grabs up her bag and makes her way to the door. "Will he wonder why I am doing this", she wonders. "Maybe its too much. Hell, its not too much, its too little too late."
Scully emerges from the bathroom to find Mulder still at the telephone with his back to her. As she approaches he turns and his eyes are bugging out of his head with his mouth hanging open. Scully finally reaches him and says, "Cat got your tongue Mulder?"
"No, you look.......grrreat Scully", says Mulder facing away from her into the wall telephone. "I am having a problem getting a reservation. The hostess just put me on hold to tend to some customers." He hangs up the phone. "She suggested that we just head over there and wait for the first available table."
"I need to call my answering machine and mother", says Scully getting her calling card out of her purse. "Mom will be worrying about me and I would feel better if she knew where I was."
"Go ahead and call your Mom, but why waste a long distance call for your answering machine", says Mulder. "Who else but your mother and I call you?"
"Thanks a lot Mulder. No one I guess. Thats how shallow my life is", says Scully as the phone rings her mothers house. "Hi Mom. Its Dana. I'm in London. I'm with Mulder. No...we are on a case." She blushes slightly and turns away from Mulder. "Well we are going to dinner. It was my idea. We have to be back soon though because we are leaving at 9:00 for Moscow. Long story Mom its part of the alien theory." She glances at Mulder who gives her a look. "I'll talk to you later Mom. I love you." She hangs up.
"What she think, that I kidnapped you and forced you to come on this case" asks Mulder.
"No, ahh she was hoping I had eloped. I wonder if the airport has any rental lockers. I don't want to carry this bag around with me all evening", says Scully. I can't believe I said that thinks Scully. Now he knows I think of him that way.
"I think I saw one over by the baggage claim area", says Mulder. "Spooky Mulder as a son-in-law? Now your mother doesn't know what she is wishing for. Are you sure she hasn't been a victim of abduction? Maybe we should expose her to some regression therapy" says Mulder.
Scully glances at him but doesn't say anything. Damn, I can't believe he picked up on that conversation. He is too observant. But what do you want? He is the best profiler in the FBI. You can't fool him about anything.
"Here let me carry that for you." He takes her carry on bag and picks up his own. They walk along to the baggage claim area as they are walking Mulder keeps glancing out of the corner of his eye at Scully. He can't believe how different she looks with the dressier clothes. He is used to seeing her in her standard suits and shes always been just Scully to him. Sure he has thought about how she was attractive, but he had never seen her dressed up like this. And to think that she dressed that way just for him. He grins to himself.
"Whats so funny", asks Scully as they approach the lockers.
"Nothing", says Mulder pulling a quarter out of his pocket for the lockers. "Do these take American money? I guess they do." He loads both of their bags into the locker and closes it. He pockets the key and looks around. "Well I guess we could catch a cab over there." He points to the transportation area. "Its already 6:15 and we need to be back with enough time to get our baggage and get back on the plane before 9:00 P.M. Come on Scully." He takes her hand and they walk to the transportation area. Mulder hails a cab and gives the driver directions as they get in.
Part 5
The agents arrive at the restaurant at about 7:00 P.M. Scully gets out of the cab first followed by Mulder. "Mulder, look at all of these people hanging around. Are they all waiting for a table? We'll never get in and we don't have that much time", Scully says.
They walk up to the hostess who is at a podium by the entrance. "How long is the wait", asks Mulder.
"About half an hour sir", says the hostess.
"Would it help us if I showed you this", asks Mulder flashing his badge. "We are United States Federal Agents on a case and we need to be back to the airport in plenty of time for our 9:00 P.M. flight."
"I'm sorry sir, but you'll have to wait in line like all the rest of the customers. You know you kinda look like that movie star from that sci-fi show thats popular. Oh whats his name David something."
"Really, you think so?", asks Mulder grinning.
"Mulder, we can't wait that long", says Scully coming up behind him. "We'll miss our plane and God knows when the next flight will be to Moscow".
"She said it would only be half an hour and if we order right away we should be okay", says Mulder. "When we get back to the airport you can check in at the ticket counter by the terminal and I'll retrieve our baggage. That way we will meet the check in requirement in plenty of time."
The agents go into the pub area of the restaurant and order drinks. Mulder orders a screwdriver and Scully orders a glass of red wine. They sit at a small table by the window and they don't speak for a while. Both of them sip their drinks and stare at the candle in the middle of the table. Both of them want the silence to end, but neither want to be the first to break it.
Finally Mulder speaks up. "So Scully, how about them Yankees".
"I don't track sports Mulder, you know that. I didn't even know how to hit a baseball until you gave me lessons on my last birthday."
"Did you learn anything interesting", Mulder asks.
"Yeah not to aim too low or too high", says Scully sipping her wine. Yeah don't anticipate anything in return thinks Scully to herself.
"Well anyway getting back to this case", says Mulder.
"MULDER! You promised no casework until we get to Moscow", says Scully.
"Scully, what are we going to talk about for the next nine to ten hours", asks Mulder looking at his watch.
"I don't know the weather, religion, the Yankees anything", says Scully.
"Are you feeling all right Scully. You act like you resent me for bringing you on this case", says Mulder.
"No its not that. You know how I feel Mulder, for the past seven years we have been on this endless pursuit of the truth and have we found the truth? No. Its like we keep going around in circles and nothing ever happens. Nothing changes in our work, nothing changes in our lives. I haven't been out on a date in.... I don't remember how long it has been and sometimes I feel like my life is going by and I'm too busy to even realize it. Don't you want some personal life too? Don't you ever want to just stop and look around and say 'This case doesn't seem like an X-File and I don't feel like going to work today...I'm going to go to..I'm going to go on a cruise for a week and enjoy myself."
"I didn't like the last cruise we went on Scully. Remember it was endless and the service was horrible", says Mulder.
"Mulder, please be serious for once in your life. I have been seriously thinking that after this case and hearing are over maybe its time to call it quits and return to practicing medicine before I get too old and can't enjoy my life anymore. You'll always have the X-Files but you know that my theory is always science related and its just not my place to be constantly investigating paranormal activities and trying your time and patience with the only thing that you truly feel passionate about in life, besides your video collection." Scully tears up and gets up and leaves the table to go to the ladies room.
Mulder starts staring at the candle again. She's thinking about leaving the bureau? Just last night she was worried that they would split us up. She acted like she cared and she wouldn't want to work apart in separate field offices. Now shes reconsidered and wants to quit and its based all on her feelings about the X-Files. I thought she liked working with me and the science versus paranormal was just a joke between us because we never let it interfere with our partnership in revealing the truth. I can't lose her, shes the only one I trust.
Meanwhile Scully has come out of the bathroom and goes to a payphone. She whips out her calling card and calls her house. She has three messages. One is her mother calling her reminding her about her brother Bills birthday party. The next one is a hangup and the third one is from A.D. Skinner. He says, "Agent Scully it is exactly 8:15 A.M. and I would like to know where you and Agent Mulder are? I have approximately 20 officials here awaiting your interpretation of the events leading up to Agent Johnson's death. I don't know what game you and Mulder are playing but you are definitely playing with fire. If I don't see you or hear from you within the next fifteen minutes I can only assume that you don't regard your jobs as important or you have been kidnapped and I haven't heard anything yet. Hopefully you two aren't dead, but you may want to be once I hear from you." he hangs up.
Scully looks at the receiver before hanging it up. Mulder lied to her about the seventy-two hour reprieve that they had received in order to go and investigate this new information that Mulder had uncovered. Why would he do that? It was always his style to disappear and leave her holding the bag. It was always her job to try to hold the hounds at bay while he investigated. She had lied for him on countless occasions, pretending not to know where he was or even living the ultimate lie that he was dead. But he had never expected her to go against her obligation to the bureau when it came to hearings. He always got her back in time. Even during that trip to Texas where they encountered all those bees. He got her back just in time to make that meeting. That was the last time they were going to split them up. She remembered how she had gone to tell him that she was going to Salt Lake City and he couldn't accept it. She had wanted to leave because she couldn't take being emotional in front of him, but he had followed her and confronted her in that hallway. He said that she made him a whole person and he didn't know if he could go on without her. Thats when it had happened, when she had actually gotten some signal of hope....he had started to kiss her. But then that damn bee and then well it was back to the same old story....global conspiracy for alien colonization.
Scully turned around and headed back to the table. She didn't have any idea how she would confront him with this one.
Part 6
Scully walks back into the pub area of the restaurant prepared to confront Mulder with her findings but he is no where to be seen. Scully approaches the bar and asks the waitress that waited on them where he is.
"Oh, your table is ready. I'll take you in right now", she says.
She leads Scully to Mulder's table and Scully takes a seat. She orders another red wine and opens the menu.
"I already ordered for us Scully. I figured we couldn't waste any time. The wait was a lot longer than I thought it would be. Its already 7:30", says Mulder.
"Thanks a lot Mulder", says Scully sarcastically closing her menu. "What are we eating?"
"Well I thought that England is well known for its fish and chips so thats what we are having", replies Mulder.
"Fish and chips? I thought we would have something a little more gourmet than what you can get at Long John Silvers", says Scully.
"I'm sorry...do you want me to go change it", asks Mulder.
"No, thats okay Mulder, but I just checked my messages and one of them was very disturbing to me. So much so that I am boiling right now and I don't know how I am going to be able to hold a civilized conversation with you for the next hour or so that we will be sitting at this table", says Scully her blue eyes flashing.
"What was the message", asks Mulder innocently.
"You know who the message was from, it was Skinner demanding an explanation of where we were. The hearing wasn't canceled was it. You lied to me and got me to come with you on this hairbrained evidence gathering trip and now we are both basically fired. How could you Mulder?"
"I knew that they wouldn't want to hear our version of the case Scully. I had to get us out of there before they started to pressure us into going against our principles, our theories, our work", says Mulder. "It was a way of protecting ourselves as long as possible and we will gain from the extra time that I feel we deserve."
"The only thing we are going to gain is a pink slip from this", says Scully.
"Don't be angry with me Scully. I know you are angry, but I would never do anything to compromise the trust that we have established in our friendship. I couldn't bear it if the rest of this trip you were mad at me. You have trusted me in the past... please don't abandon me now" says Mulder giving her a pleading look.
"I always trust your instincts", says Scully. "I'm not angry with you, just disappointed that you felt you couldn't tell me that ditching the hearing was part of your plan. We've come up with plans and stories before to cover our research and this could have been a similar situation. I forgive you, but from now on you tell me everything."
"I promise Scully and I think we should stop talking about business right now. The only thing I want to know are you bored with me" asks Mulder.
"What do you mean", asks Scully.
"Well you did a 180 on your view of the X-Files since yesterday. Yesterday you were worried that the hearing would result in us being split up. Today you are threatening to leave me to pursue your medical career. I can understand that you have goals that you want to fulfill in your own life, but I just want to make sure that its not because of me. Because, if you wanted to be reassigned to another division within Washington rather than continuing to be my partner, I would understand. Although.....I would ....miss you", says Mulder looking down at the table.
"Oh Mulder, I would never leave you because of you" says Scully leaning over and putting her hand on his. "I am very mixed up right now. My nephew just turned two and its made me realize that time is really going fast. I just turned 36 and I guess I am having a mid-life crisis. My sister-in-law wants to fix me up with this investment banker and I hate blind dates. On the other hand I'm wondering if this is the last bus and I better jump on so I don't end up living old, alone and miserable. My work effects my personal life and I'm often away on cases not giving me a very stable schedule. It is just a thought that I had that going back into medicine I wouldn't be traveling all over the place." Scully stares down into her glass of wine and then removes her hand from Mulders.
Just then their meal arrives and Scully attempts at small talk, but Mulder seems distracted. He looks like he's lost his best friend thinks Scully to herself. Well I guess in a way he feels that he has. If he only knew how much I really care about him. I just am so afraid that if I make a move he will be offended and it will cause a real split in our friendship.
After forty-five minutes Mulder checks his watch. "Scully, the time! We have half an hour to get to the airport, get our luggage and check in!" He waves the waitress over and tells her he needs the check immediately. A few moments later she walks over with it. Mulder grabs Scully's hand and pulls her over to the cashier. He keeps glancing at his watch as the credit card receipt prints. He scribbles F. Mulder on it and drags Scully out to the front of the restaurant. After hailing about five cabs one finally stops. Fifteen minutes later they are at the airport.
"Okay, lets stick with the original plan. Go check in. Here is my license and tell them that I'll be there as soon as I get our luggage out of the locker", says Mulder handing her the license. "Oh here are the tickets...rats... they are in the locker. Okay, just go. I'll be there in just a minute.
Scully dashes off to the terminal and Mulder dashes to the lockers. He digs in his pocket for the key. Its not there, so he checks the other. He checks all of his pockets. "Damn it! I lost the key!" He looks around and sees a security guard. "Buddy, I lost my key to this locker. My name is Fox Mulder, heres my FBI badge. How can I get this open? My partner is at the gate and we are going to miss our plane. Whats worse is she will never let me live this down."
"Do you have proof that the belongings are yours in that locker?" asks the security guard?
"Yeah, our tickets are in there!' says Mulder looking at his watch. "Great! Only ten minutes before takeoff . They probably already bumped us from the flight."
"Calm down, here", says the guard pulling a lockpick out of his belt. A minute later the locker was open. Mulder grabs the luggage and yells "Thanks!" as he runs across the airport.
Unfortunately he has to go through security again and by the time he arrives at the gate theres no one there. Except for Scully sitting alone in a seat looking small and lonely. "We missed the flight Mulder", says Scully passing him his license. "The ticket agent said that you, your license and our tickets had to be here to check in. We were already bumped fifteen minutes ago. The next flight isn't until 4:00 P.M. tomorrow."
Mulder sighs. "I'm sorry Scully. I lost the locker key and had to have security open it up." He glances around. "Well I guess we'll have to get rooms for the night. He looks around and sees a janitor. "Buddy, wheres there a good place to stay around here?"
"You mean its 9:15 and you don't have reservations?" asks the janitor.
:"It was kind of unexpected", says Mulder glancing at Scully still sitting down. She now has her hand on her head like she has a headache.
"Well you can try the Queen Victoria. Its the best you may get" says the janitor. "This is the tourist season and everything is going to be booked solid. "The Queen Victoria is an old castle and its quite pricey but they may have something for you. Your wife doesn't look so good. I would suggest just going over there. They are bound to have something open.
Its just about 5:30 P.M. London time when the plane touches down. Mrs. Shelby immediately hops up and grabs her bag so Mulder and Scully can get their overhead baggage.
"Its been so nice sitting with you during this flight. I hope you enjoy your vacation", she smiles as the people start to get off the plane.
"Its been an unforgettable flight Mrs. Shelby", says Mulder allowing Scully to cut in front of him in the aisle.
Once they are off the plane and Mrs. Shelby is gone Mulder sighs and shakes his head. "Thank God she's not going to Moscow", he says.
"Why don't you see if you can make a reservation for us for dinner Mulder. The name is Copperfield's. I am going to the ladies room", says Scully backing away.
"Um sure okay Scully", says Mulder walking toward a telephone.
Scully enters the bathroom and rifles through her bag. She finds a chic black dress and smiles to herself. "Well, at least it didn't get wrinkled", she says aloud. She goes into a stall and changes. When she comes out she looks in the mirror and readjusts her hair and makeup. Lastly she puts on a rhinestone set of earrings and necklace. She grabs up her bag and makes her way to the door. "Will he wonder why I am doing this", she wonders. "Maybe its too much. Hell, its not too much, its too little too late."
Scully emerges from the bathroom to find Mulder still at the telephone with his back to her. As she approaches he turns and his eyes are bugging out of his head with his mouth hanging open. Scully finally reaches him and says, "Cat got your tongue Mulder?"
"No, you look.......grrreat Scully", says Mulder facing away from her into the wall telephone. "I am having a problem getting a reservation. The hostess just put me on hold to tend to some customers." He hangs up the phone. "She suggested that we just head over there and wait for the first available table."
"I need to call my answering machine and mother", says Scully getting her calling card out of her purse. "Mom will be worrying about me and I would feel better if she knew where I was."
"Go ahead and call your Mom, but why waste a long distance call for your answering machine", says Mulder. "Who else but your mother and I call you?"
"Thanks a lot Mulder. No one I guess. Thats how shallow my life is", says Scully as the phone rings her mothers house. "Hi Mom. Its Dana. I'm in London. I'm with Mulder. No...we are on a case." She blushes slightly and turns away from Mulder. "Well we are going to dinner. It was my idea. We have to be back soon though because we are leaving at 9:00 for Moscow. Long story Mom its part of the alien theory." She glances at Mulder who gives her a look. "I'll talk to you later Mom. I love you." She hangs up.
"What she think, that I kidnapped you and forced you to come on this case" asks Mulder.
"No, ahh she was hoping I had eloped. I wonder if the airport has any rental lockers. I don't want to carry this bag around with me all evening", says Scully. I can't believe I said that thinks Scully. Now he knows I think of him that way.
"I think I saw one over by the baggage claim area", says Mulder. "Spooky Mulder as a son-in-law? Now your mother doesn't know what she is wishing for. Are you sure she hasn't been a victim of abduction? Maybe we should expose her to some regression therapy" says Mulder.
Scully glances at him but doesn't say anything. Damn, I can't believe he picked up on that conversation. He is too observant. But what do you want? He is the best profiler in the FBI. You can't fool him about anything.
"Here let me carry that for you." He takes her carry on bag and picks up his own. They walk along to the baggage claim area as they are walking Mulder keeps glancing out of the corner of his eye at Scully. He can't believe how different she looks with the dressier clothes. He is used to seeing her in her standard suits and shes always been just Scully to him. Sure he has thought about how she was attractive, but he had never seen her dressed up like this. And to think that she dressed that way just for him. He grins to himself.
"Whats so funny", asks Scully as they approach the lockers.
"Nothing", says Mulder pulling a quarter out of his pocket for the lockers. "Do these take American money? I guess they do." He loads both of their bags into the locker and closes it. He pockets the key and looks around. "Well I guess we could catch a cab over there." He points to the transportation area. "Its already 6:15 and we need to be back with enough time to get our baggage and get back on the plane before 9:00 P.M. Come on Scully." He takes her hand and they walk to the transportation area. Mulder hails a cab and gives the driver directions as they get in.
Part 5
The agents arrive at the restaurant at about 7:00 P.M. Scully gets out of the cab first followed by Mulder. "Mulder, look at all of these people hanging around. Are they all waiting for a table? We'll never get in and we don't have that much time", Scully says.
They walk up to the hostess who is at a podium by the entrance. "How long is the wait", asks Mulder.
"About half an hour sir", says the hostess.
"Would it help us if I showed you this", asks Mulder flashing his badge. "We are United States Federal Agents on a case and we need to be back to the airport in plenty of time for our 9:00 P.M. flight."
"I'm sorry sir, but you'll have to wait in line like all the rest of the customers. You know you kinda look like that movie star from that sci-fi show thats popular. Oh whats his name David something."
"Really, you think so?", asks Mulder grinning.
"Mulder, we can't wait that long", says Scully coming up behind him. "We'll miss our plane and God knows when the next flight will be to Moscow".
"She said it would only be half an hour and if we order right away we should be okay", says Mulder. "When we get back to the airport you can check in at the ticket counter by the terminal and I'll retrieve our baggage. That way we will meet the check in requirement in plenty of time."
The agents go into the pub area of the restaurant and order drinks. Mulder orders a screwdriver and Scully orders a glass of red wine. They sit at a small table by the window and they don't speak for a while. Both of them sip their drinks and stare at the candle in the middle of the table. Both of them want the silence to end, but neither want to be the first to break it.
Finally Mulder speaks up. "So Scully, how about them Yankees".
"I don't track sports Mulder, you know that. I didn't even know how to hit a baseball until you gave me lessons on my last birthday."
"Did you learn anything interesting", Mulder asks.
"Yeah not to aim too low or too high", says Scully sipping her wine. Yeah don't anticipate anything in return thinks Scully to herself.
"Well anyway getting back to this case", says Mulder.
"MULDER! You promised no casework until we get to Moscow", says Scully.
"Scully, what are we going to talk about for the next nine to ten hours", asks Mulder looking at his watch.
"I don't know the weather, religion, the Yankees anything", says Scully.
"Are you feeling all right Scully. You act like you resent me for bringing you on this case", says Mulder.
"No its not that. You know how I feel Mulder, for the past seven years we have been on this endless pursuit of the truth and have we found the truth? No. Its like we keep going around in circles and nothing ever happens. Nothing changes in our work, nothing changes in our lives. I haven't been out on a date in.... I don't remember how long it has been and sometimes I feel like my life is going by and I'm too busy to even realize it. Don't you want some personal life too? Don't you ever want to just stop and look around and say 'This case doesn't seem like an X-File and I don't feel like going to work today...I'm going to go to..I'm going to go on a cruise for a week and enjoy myself."
"I didn't like the last cruise we went on Scully. Remember it was endless and the service was horrible", says Mulder.
"Mulder, please be serious for once in your life. I have been seriously thinking that after this case and hearing are over maybe its time to call it quits and return to practicing medicine before I get too old and can't enjoy my life anymore. You'll always have the X-Files but you know that my theory is always science related and its just not my place to be constantly investigating paranormal activities and trying your time and patience with the only thing that you truly feel passionate about in life, besides your video collection." Scully tears up and gets up and leaves the table to go to the ladies room.
Mulder starts staring at the candle again. She's thinking about leaving the bureau? Just last night she was worried that they would split us up. She acted like she cared and she wouldn't want to work apart in separate field offices. Now shes reconsidered and wants to quit and its based all on her feelings about the X-Files. I thought she liked working with me and the science versus paranormal was just a joke between us because we never let it interfere with our partnership in revealing the truth. I can't lose her, shes the only one I trust.
Meanwhile Scully has come out of the bathroom and goes to a payphone. She whips out her calling card and calls her house. She has three messages. One is her mother calling her reminding her about her brother Bills birthday party. The next one is a hangup and the third one is from A.D. Skinner. He says, "Agent Scully it is exactly 8:15 A.M. and I would like to know where you and Agent Mulder are? I have approximately 20 officials here awaiting your interpretation of the events leading up to Agent Johnson's death. I don't know what game you and Mulder are playing but you are definitely playing with fire. If I don't see you or hear from you within the next fifteen minutes I can only assume that you don't regard your jobs as important or you have been kidnapped and I haven't heard anything yet. Hopefully you two aren't dead, but you may want to be once I hear from you." he hangs up.
Scully looks at the receiver before hanging it up. Mulder lied to her about the seventy-two hour reprieve that they had received in order to go and investigate this new information that Mulder had uncovered. Why would he do that? It was always his style to disappear and leave her holding the bag. It was always her job to try to hold the hounds at bay while he investigated. She had lied for him on countless occasions, pretending not to know where he was or even living the ultimate lie that he was dead. But he had never expected her to go against her obligation to the bureau when it came to hearings. He always got her back in time. Even during that trip to Texas where they encountered all those bees. He got her back just in time to make that meeting. That was the last time they were going to split them up. She remembered how she had gone to tell him that she was going to Salt Lake City and he couldn't accept it. She had wanted to leave because she couldn't take being emotional in front of him, but he had followed her and confronted her in that hallway. He said that she made him a whole person and he didn't know if he could go on without her. Thats when it had happened, when she had actually gotten some signal of hope....he had started to kiss her. But then that damn bee and then well it was back to the same old story....global conspiracy for alien colonization.
Scully turned around and headed back to the table. She didn't have any idea how she would confront him with this one.
Part 6
Scully walks back into the pub area of the restaurant prepared to confront Mulder with her findings but he is no where to be seen. Scully approaches the bar and asks the waitress that waited on them where he is.
"Oh, your table is ready. I'll take you in right now", she says.
She leads Scully to Mulder's table and Scully takes a seat. She orders another red wine and opens the menu.
"I already ordered for us Scully. I figured we couldn't waste any time. The wait was a lot longer than I thought it would be. Its already 7:30", says Mulder.
"Thanks a lot Mulder", says Scully sarcastically closing her menu. "What are we eating?"
"Well I thought that England is well known for its fish and chips so thats what we are having", replies Mulder.
"Fish and chips? I thought we would have something a little more gourmet than what you can get at Long John Silvers", says Scully.
"I'm sorry...do you want me to go change it", asks Mulder.
"No, thats okay Mulder, but I just checked my messages and one of them was very disturbing to me. So much so that I am boiling right now and I don't know how I am going to be able to hold a civilized conversation with you for the next hour or so that we will be sitting at this table", says Scully her blue eyes flashing.
"What was the message", asks Mulder innocently.
"You know who the message was from, it was Skinner demanding an explanation of where we were. The hearing wasn't canceled was it. You lied to me and got me to come with you on this hairbrained evidence gathering trip and now we are both basically fired. How could you Mulder?"
"I knew that they wouldn't want to hear our version of the case Scully. I had to get us out of there before they started to pressure us into going against our principles, our theories, our work", says Mulder. "It was a way of protecting ourselves as long as possible and we will gain from the extra time that I feel we deserve."
"The only thing we are going to gain is a pink slip from this", says Scully.
"Don't be angry with me Scully. I know you are angry, but I would never do anything to compromise the trust that we have established in our friendship. I couldn't bear it if the rest of this trip you were mad at me. You have trusted me in the past... please don't abandon me now" says Mulder giving her a pleading look.
"I always trust your instincts", says Scully. "I'm not angry with you, just disappointed that you felt you couldn't tell me that ditching the hearing was part of your plan. We've come up with plans and stories before to cover our research and this could have been a similar situation. I forgive you, but from now on you tell me everything."
"I promise Scully and I think we should stop talking about business right now. The only thing I want to know are you bored with me" asks Mulder.
"What do you mean", asks Scully.
"Well you did a 180 on your view of the X-Files since yesterday. Yesterday you were worried that the hearing would result in us being split up. Today you are threatening to leave me to pursue your medical career. I can understand that you have goals that you want to fulfill in your own life, but I just want to make sure that its not because of me. Because, if you wanted to be reassigned to another division within Washington rather than continuing to be my partner, I would understand. Although.....I would ....miss you", says Mulder looking down at the table.
"Oh Mulder, I would never leave you because of you" says Scully leaning over and putting her hand on his. "I am very mixed up right now. My nephew just turned two and its made me realize that time is really going fast. I just turned 36 and I guess I am having a mid-life crisis. My sister-in-law wants to fix me up with this investment banker and I hate blind dates. On the other hand I'm wondering if this is the last bus and I better jump on so I don't end up living old, alone and miserable. My work effects my personal life and I'm often away on cases not giving me a very stable schedule. It is just a thought that I had that going back into medicine I wouldn't be traveling all over the place." Scully stares down into her glass of wine and then removes her hand from Mulders.
Just then their meal arrives and Scully attempts at small talk, but Mulder seems distracted. He looks like he's lost his best friend thinks Scully to herself. Well I guess in a way he feels that he has. If he only knew how much I really care about him. I just am so afraid that if I make a move he will be offended and it will cause a real split in our friendship.
After forty-five minutes Mulder checks his watch. "Scully, the time! We have half an hour to get to the airport, get our luggage and check in!" He waves the waitress over and tells her he needs the check immediately. A few moments later she walks over with it. Mulder grabs Scully's hand and pulls her over to the cashier. He keeps glancing at his watch as the credit card receipt prints. He scribbles F. Mulder on it and drags Scully out to the front of the restaurant. After hailing about five cabs one finally stops. Fifteen minutes later they are at the airport.
"Okay, lets stick with the original plan. Go check in. Here is my license and tell them that I'll be there as soon as I get our luggage out of the locker", says Mulder handing her the license. "Oh here are the tickets...rats... they are in the locker. Okay, just go. I'll be there in just a minute.
Scully dashes off to the terminal and Mulder dashes to the lockers. He digs in his pocket for the key. Its not there, so he checks the other. He checks all of his pockets. "Damn it! I lost the key!" He looks around and sees a security guard. "Buddy, I lost my key to this locker. My name is Fox Mulder, heres my FBI badge. How can I get this open? My partner is at the gate and we are going to miss our plane. Whats worse is she will never let me live this down."
"Do you have proof that the belongings are yours in that locker?" asks the security guard?
"Yeah, our tickets are in there!' says Mulder looking at his watch. "Great! Only ten minutes before takeoff . They probably already bumped us from the flight."
"Calm down, here", says the guard pulling a lockpick out of his belt. A minute later the locker was open. Mulder grabs the luggage and yells "Thanks!" as he runs across the airport.
Unfortunately he has to go through security again and by the time he arrives at the gate theres no one there. Except for Scully sitting alone in a seat looking small and lonely. "We missed the flight Mulder", says Scully passing him his license. "The ticket agent said that you, your license and our tickets had to be here to check in. We were already bumped fifteen minutes ago. The next flight isn't until 4:00 P.M. tomorrow."
Mulder sighs. "I'm sorry Scully. I lost the locker key and had to have security open it up." He glances around. "Well I guess we'll have to get rooms for the night. He looks around and sees a janitor. "Buddy, wheres there a good place to stay around here?"
"You mean its 9:15 and you don't have reservations?" asks the janitor.
:"It was kind of unexpected", says Mulder glancing at Scully still sitting down. She now has her hand on her head like she has a headache.
"Well you can try the Queen Victoria. Its the best you may get" says the janitor. "This is the tourist season and everything is going to be booked solid. "The Queen Victoria is an old castle and its quite pricey but they may have something for you. Your wife doesn't look so good. I would suggest just going over there. They are bound to have something open.