Ethan Minette was sitting at an ornate table sipping some coffee. He glanced at his watch and sighed. There was one disadvantage to having a relationship with a female FBI Agent. There was no promise that she would show up on time. But still he loved Dana enough not to let that affect him too much. She had been the first real woman he had allowed to get close to him. And he never regretted that decision. He looked up and smiled as he saw her rushing toward his table. "Dana!"
Scully walked up and hugged him. "Ethan, I'm so sorry I'm late. This student had a question and I just couldn't..."
Ethan pulled back and smiled. "It's ok, Dana I know how things come up. Actually I think this was the fastest you've ever gotten here."
"Well, maybe it was because I just missed you." Scully answered placing her arms around his neck, tilting her head.
"Guess I'll have to go out on business meetings more often huh?" Ethan answered as he leaned in and gently kissed her lips.
Scully returned his kiss and pulled back. "Welcome home, Ethan."
Ethan made his way back over to the table and pulled out a chair for her. "I already took the liberty of ordering our usual lunch."
"Thank you." Scully answered taking a seat. She placed a napkin on her lap as Ethan took a seat across from her. "So, tell me about this news story you were telling me about."
Ethan took a sip of his coffee. "Well, apparently this morning they found the body of his young woman named Joanne Straussberg inside her apartment. She didn't show up for work so they called and she didn't answer. Anyway they sent the landlord in to check on her and that's where they found the body."
Scully looked up as some hot tea was brought to her. "Thank you." She looked back at Ethan. "So, what was the condition of the body?" She took a sip of her tea.
"Apparently she had her throat slashed presumably with some kind of knife. The police have yet to determine what kind as of yet."
"Anything else?" Scully asked taking another sip of tea.
"Actually yes, there was." Ethan took another sip of his coffee. "Apparently her...eyes were removed."
Scully looked back at him. "Her eyes?"
Ethan nodded. "That's right. Any.....FBI theories?"
"Well, any sign of forced entry?"
Ethan shook his head. "No, the window was locked but the door wasn't. But they're no signs of a break in."
"That would indicate that the person was let in then." Scully took another sip of her tea.
"Yes, it would." Ethan looked up as a fruit plate was brought and set in front of them. "Ah, here we go. Something to make us feel a little better." He placed his napkin on his lap. He then took some fruit and placed it on his plate.
Scully reached over taking some fruit from the platter and placing it on her own plate. "Was a weapon found at the scene?" She took a bite of her fruit.
"No." Ethan answered before taking a bite of fruit. "Any idea why the killer would have taken the eyes?"
"Well, profiling is not exactly my forte." She took another bite. "But...well maybe it has something to do with...the fact that he doesn't want the victim to look upon his true self?"
"That's pretty good, Dana." Ethan answered taking another bite of fruit.
"Thanks. I....did have a little profiling in a course while I was training at Quantico. But I'm not necessarily saying that the murderer is a male either. There can be female murderers out there too."
"Of course." Ethan was taking another bite of his fruit when his cell started to ring. He let out a sigh. "Sorry, Dana." He pulled it out of his pocket and answered it. "Yeah,Minette. Actually Charlie I'm kind of busy right now. No, I'm having lunch with my girlfriend who I haven't seen in a week. What?" He turned toward Scully. "You're kidding? No, no get a news crew down there pronto! I don't care if they are doing a news story on a charity benefit, bump it to another time later in the day or shorten it! You heard me! Now get them down there ASAP! And call me as soon as you get anything!" He hung up his cell. "A news producers work is never done!"
"What is it Ethan? It sounded important."
"Actually it was a follow up to that murder involving the eyes missing." Ethan took a sip of his coffee. "Yeah, apparently some guy has come forward from the place the victim worked at."
"A co-worker?" Scully asked taking another bite of fruit.
"Janitor. Apparently he saw the news story regarding the death of Joanne. Heard about how her eyes were missing?"
"That's been broadcasted already?"
Ethan chuckled. "You know how the media is, Dana. Anything involving something strange like that just has to get out. Anyway, yeah the janitor saw the part about her eyes missing and remembered that he had found a strange package about three days ago on Joanne's desk while he was doing the night rounds."
"Oh?" Scully asked taking another bite of fruit. "And this package has something to do with her murder?"
"Oh yeah." Ethan took a bite of fruit. "He claims he found a package with a pair of human eye balls in it with a note that said I Only Have Eyes for You."
"Well, that's just a little bit creepy." Scully answered taking another sip of her tea. "Should be dusted for prints."
"Oh, I'm sure the cops are taking care of that as we speak. I'm sending a news crew over to interview that guy to find out more. Try and get an exclusive you know?"
Scully smiled. "Good ole Ethan. Always trying to get ahead for the top story."
"Hey, you gotta stay ahead of the competition in this field. Stay out in front or get plowed over." Ethan sighed as his cell rang again. "This should be the last time, I swear." He answered the cell. "Minette. What?Oh come on, you're going to kill me here! I'm gone for a week and you guys..." He sighed. "All right, all right. No, no don't do that. No, don't do anything till I get there. No! I'm on my way down right now. Yeah and you guys owe me big on this!" He hung up his cell. "Dana, honey I'm sorry but..."
"You have to get down to the station." Scully finished.
"I know I sound just like a broken record each time I say it. But I swear I'll make it up to you." Ethan took her hand. "How about some dinner and dancing?"
"Where?"
"Well...how about that new expensive restaurant that opened up a week ago?"
"Ethan, the attire is black tie and people have been trying to get reservations since it opened!It...it takes over a week to get in there I'm told!"
"Nothing is too good for my Dana." Ethan answered kissing the top of her hand. "And I have contacts in regards to getting in. Don't worry on that. So, is it a date?"
"Ok, sure. Yeah, it's a date." Scully answered back with a smile.
"Great!" Ethan rose from his seat. "Well, I'd better get down to the station before they blow it up." He kissed her hand again. "I love you and I'll call you later ok? Good luck with your classes for the rest of the day." He let go of her hand. "Oh and don't worry lunch is taken care of." He then backed away from her and headed to the door.
Scully sighed. "I'm so lucky to have such a wonderful man like Ethan." She then went back to eating her fruit. She was then surprised to hear a voice.
"Dr. Scully?"
Scully turned and found herself looking back at one of her students. In fact the student that had left such a mark on her with his knowledge earlier that morning. "Why, hello Ryan. What brings you here?This is hardly the usual eating place for an FBI trainee."
"Actually I came here to meet my sister." Ryan answered as he looked around. "But...it looks like she stiffed me again. We....don't have a good relationship you see?" The truth was that Ryan had been walking by and saw Scully sitting by herself at the table through a window. It was just too much to turn down being able to be with her outside of class. She was so beautiful to him. He would take whatever he could at this point.
"Oh, well I'm....I'm sorry to hear that." Scully noticed his forlorn face. "Well, why don't you sit down and have some lunch with me?"
"Are...are you sure?"
"Of course. I have plenty of fruit left here for you. That is...unless you don't prefer fruit?"
"Oh, no I love it! Fruit is a very important part of a daily nutrition meal." Ryan took a seat opposite Scully. "That is...so generous of you, Dr. Scully."
Scully smiled at him. "It's the least I can do for one my top students." She pushed the fruit plate over to him. "So tell me something, Ryan. Just how did you know so much about the details on that body in the photo today?" She took another bite of fruit.
Ryan put some fruit on his plate. "Oh that? Well, I have to confess that uh I've had some friends of the family who were detectives and knew about that kind of thing."
"Detectives? Ah, I see. So, you were...wanting to kind of follow in their footsteps then?" Scully asked taking a sip of tea.
Ryan watched as Scully placed the cup to her lips. He watched how they brushed over the rim of the cup ever so gently. He cleared his throat. "Yeah, sort of. But I thought I would go into a higher branch of law enforcement. Kind of give those detectives something to talk about to my family."
"Yes, I know all about wanting to please your family."
"Really?" Ryan asked his eyes lighting up with interest.
"Oh yes. If there is one thing I've learned it's that you can't please everyone with the choices you make in your life." Scully noticed Ryan's watch. "Oh god, what time is it?" She then glanced at her own. "Oh god, I lost track of time! I have ten minutes to prepare for my next class!" She looked at Ryan as she rose from her chair. "Ryan, I'm so sorry to have to run out on you like this."
Ryan smiled and waved his hand. "It's ok, Dr. Scully. After all you are an instructor and have other students to teach. I'm just glad I got this small chance to talk with you. Maybe we'll run into each other again sometime? To...talk about forensics of course."
"I think I would like that very much." Scully replied with a smile. "Well, excuse me I have to get going. Oh and don't worry everything is taken care of as far as the bill. I'll see you in class!" She then grabbed her briefcase and quickly headed out the door.
Ryan sat back in his chair and watched Scully from the window. He could see how the skirt hugged her legs that weren't long but still perfect. He watched as the wind caught her auburn hair, just tossling it slightly on her shoulders. She was perfection indeed. He was getting those feelings again and knew he would be having a late night again tonight. It was time again.
