Scully stood from the side and watched as Ryan gave his forensics presentation. She had to admit her mind wasn't totally on it though. No, she was still thinking about last night with Ethan. The wonderful dinner they had shared, how he had waltzed her across the floor and truly treated her like a princess. Most of the time, the two of them were too busy with their jobs to have any free time. But last night was an exception and she wished that the night had never ended.
She could still see them sitting in front of her fireplace sipping champagne after returning from dinner. Ethan reaching across and kissing her so tenderly. Running his hands slowly down her body and unzipping her gown until she was looking back at him with a bustier and stockings. Oh yes, Ethan had allowed her to express herself in that way and encouraged her. She knew her mother and father would blush had they known she had worn such a thing. Maybe that was also part of the reason she indulged in wearing such an item? She could still feel his strong lips on her skin as he explored every inch of her body alternating between mouth and tongue. Then he had slowly undressed her and laid her back on the rug before making passionate love to her. But unlike most men, Ethan took his time wanting to please his partner. Oh god that was something she just loved about him. When he did make time for her, he devoted himself entirely to his partner. She was slightly tired from their evening love making session but she didn't regret it for the world. She couldn't help but grin though at the thought of Ethan having to go to an important meeting half asleep. But something secretly told her that he didn't mind that either.
"Dr. Scully?"
Scully quickly shook her head bringing her out of her daydream recollection. "Yes, Ryan?"
"I'm…I'm done now."
"What? Oh, oh yes of course uhhh." She cleared her throat before walking back to the front. "Well, thank you Ryan for that very informative discussion on that lecture from last night. I'm sure we all found it very enjoyable." She glanced at the clock. "Well, since Ryan's presentation took up my lecture for today and it's really something that should be presented in one sitting…" She glanced at the anxious faces in the lecture hall. She could tell how much they wanted to leave early just like she did. "I think we can allow ourselves to leave fifteen minutes early today." She smiled as a sound of "yays" and "whoo hoos" could he heard echoing through the hall. "Yes, I can tell just how disappointed all of you are. And I would say that everyone here owes something to Mr. Sedrick for allowing that to occur. So tomorrow it shall be back to the grindstone and prepare to get a mind work out. Until then have a good day."
Ryan walked over to Scully. He was most anxious to hear from her how he did. After all, he had watched one of his documentaries all night and taken notes so that he could throw this presentation together and make it theisable. He of course had not attended his Uncle's lecture. Oh no, he had spent his night with beautiful, sweet Laurie. And the whole time he had been with her, he had thought of nothing but Dana. But he knew that would all change very soon. "Dr. Scully?"
Scully turned as she put things back into her briefcase. "Yes, Ryan?"
"What did you think of my presentation?" Ryan studied her and could tell there was something different about her mood today although he couldn't quite tell what.
"Your presentation? Oh, I thought it was just….wonderful and informative, Ryan."
"That's it?"
Scully cleared her throat realizing that perhaps now she should have actually been paying attention to it. "Well, there really isn't much more to add is there? I think those two words cover my comments very well." Ok so her having Ethan on the brain hadn't been such a good idea after all.
"I…I see. Well, as long as you enjoyed it then."
"Very much." The ringing of her cell then interrupted her. "Oh, excuse me for a minute." She turned away from Ryan, answering it. "Scully. Ethan! Hi!"
Ryan grumbled as he heard the excitement in Scully's voice. It was obvious to him that this Ethan was the man she had been with last night. And judging by her reaction to his lecture was obviously STILL occupying her mind. He took a piece of paper from his notebook and began to tear it slowly imagining it was Ethan's body. He imagined his fingers as sharp knives piercing and tearing Ethan's skin causing him to howl out in pain. A smile crossed his lips at the thought.
"Oh,god you have no idea what last night meant to me too." Scully whispered into her cell. "I was still thinking about it this morning. Yeah. Did you get in trouble for coming in with red eyes from lack of sleep or did you just wear sunglasses?" She gave a giggle. "Me? Mmmm….I feel WONDERFUL. Well, I hate to do this to you but I really need to get back to work. Yes. Why don't you call me at lunch ok? Say…one o'clock? Ok, great I'll talk to you then! I love you too." She then hung up her cell and turned back to Ryan who had quickly hidden his torn up Ethan facsimile. "I'm really sorry about that, Ryan."
"Oh, hey no problem." Ryan cleared his throat. He had to know if his intuition was right. "So uh…brother?"
"Boyfriend, actually." Scully replied with a smile. "He's really special."
Ryan felt his stomach clench as something began to rise in his throat. "I bet. Well, he's lucky to have someone like you for his girlfriend anyway." He then paused. "I'm sorry, I have no idea why I said that."
"It's ok, Ryan. I'm…flattered that you think that."
"You are?" He had just tested the waters and was still afloat. "Well…thanks." Ok, so she hadn't totally rejected him yet. "Well, I need to get to my next class, Dr. Scully. See you tomorrow."
"Take care." Scully answered back as Ryan started to walk off. "Oh, Ryan did you happen to know where Laurie was this morning?"
"Laurie?"
"Yes, she normally sits next to you and I've noticed you two have become rather close lately. I just figured because of that you might have an idea where she might be? She has never missed a class before since she started. And is quite known for her lack of absences."
Ryan smiled to himself. Of course he knew the reason that poor Laurie wasn't in class today. After taking her out to a romantic dinner and a movie, they had spent the night making out but nothing more. Oh no, he couldn't take things further, not just yet. But he had left her a gift, which no doubt was responsible for her not showing up to class. But it was a gift to show her just how much he loved her. "I'm sorry, Dr. Scully. I really don't know where she is. She didn't call me or anything either. I'm sure it's just a bad case of flu or something. That has been going around, you know?"
"Yes, it has. Well, thank you anyway, Ryan. I'm sure she will turn up tomorrow."
"Right. Well see you tomorrow, Dr. Scully." Ryan then turned back around so that Scully could not see the wide grin on his face. Oh sure, Laurie is going to be JUST fine. He then headed out of the lecture hall, closing the door behind him.
Scully had finally finished her last class before lunch and was grateful! Maybe now she was having a small regret about having an all night love making a-thon. But her day was almost over now. Thank god for having videos to take up time. Oh yes, it was wonderful to have a media center in your classroom at your disposal whenever you needed! And the good thing was the students had no clue that what they were watching was sometimes due to lack of lecture material. Of course, she didn't do it that often either. She walked to her office thinking that Ethan would be calling her back. She had been away from him less than six hours and she already missed him. Is this what true love really was? When you missed someone so much that you ached for him or her? She placed her briefcase on her desk and took out a sandwich from her mini fridge. She unwrapped it and then heard her cell ringing again. She glanced up at the clock. "12:55? Hmmm he must have gotten his break a little early." She answered her cell. "Got off a little early and couldn't wait to talk to me huh?" She then noticed an awkward silence followed by a quick breath. "Ethan? Hello?"
"Dr….Dr Scully?"
"Yes. Who is this?"
"It's…it's Laurie. Laurie Peterson?"
"Laurie?" It then dawned on her who she was. "Oh god, Laurie. Yes. Where…where were you this morning? I missed you in class and was asking Ryan where…"
"I'm…I'm sorry about that Dr. Scully. I really am. It's just that….I'm really scared."
"Scared?" Scully was becoming alarmed as she could sense the urgency in Laurie's voice. "Laurie, what is it? Why are you scared?"
"Because…of what I found this morning."
"And what did you find, Laurie?"
Laurie paused as she sniffled. "I…I found a box with a pair of eyeballs in it with a note."
Scully's eyes widened. "Oh god." She knew darn well that the serial killer had left his trademark like the previous victim.
"He's….he's going to kill me next, isn't he? I…I saw it on the news. What happened to that other girl, Joanne. She had the same thing happen to her before they found her dead." She swallowed. "I'm next."
"No, Laurie you aren't. I want you to listen to me ok? I want you to stay right where you are. I don't want you to let anyone in until the police get there all right? I'm going to send you help, Laurie and nothing is going to happen to you. What I need you to do is take a deep breath and calm down. Can you do that?"
"Y…Yes."
Scully started thumbing through her student directory frantically. She tried her best to keep her emotions down for she knew that would just upset Laurie more. "Laurie, is your address the one that is in the student directory?"
"Yes, it…it is."
"Ok, I'm going to call the police right now. I want you to lock your doors and windows and just relax until they get there ok?" She received no response. "Laurie?"
"O..ok just get here please." Laurie replied before hanging up her phone.
Scully hung up her phone and immediately dialed 911. "This is Special Agent Dana Scully and I need police dispatched to 1890 Oak Drive Apartment 286. Yes the person at that address has received an item indicating that the eyeball serial killer may have targeted her. Yes, the female's name is Laurie Peterson and she is a student at the FBI Academy. Yes, please hurry." She then hung up and dialed another number. "Ethan? It's Dana."
"Hey babe! I was just gonna call you!"
"I know and I'm sorry to call you but I think I may have something for you."
"What's that?"
"I think I know who the next victim is of the eyeball serial killer." She paused. "It's…it's one of my students."
From behind the office door, Ryan stood with his ear plastered. He had heard every single word that Scully had said on the phone. He shook his head. "Laurie, Laurie, Laurie why did you have to call and create trouble? You could have lived just a little longer but no now you've given me no choice." He let out a sigh before quietly sneaking away.
Laurie was pacing her apartment as she waited for the police to arrive. She had never been so frightened in her life. She could have called the police she knew but she trusted Dr. Scully for some reason. And it took her a lot to trust anyone. But she knew that Dr. Scully would take care of the necessary arrangements and that she would be safe now. She then heard a knocking at the door and rushed to it. She knew it had to be the police, which was why she opened it. "Ry…Ryan? What are you doing here?"
"I had to see you, Laurie."
"But…but you shouldn't have come here, Ryan. The police are on their way here to protect me."
"Protect you? Protect you from who?" Ryan asked innocently.
"I…I found a box with a pair of eyeballs in it on my steps this morning, Ryan. It's….it's from that serial killer they keep talking about on the news. He's going to kill me and that's why I need to be protected."
"Laurie." Ryan placed his hand on the side of her cheek. "No one's going to kill you."
"What…what do you mean?" Laurie asked looking into his eyes.
"Because I know a place to take you where you will be safe and I will protect you." Ryan answered rubbing her cheek slowly with his thumb.
"But….but the police."
"They will just complicate things, Laurie." He let out a sigh. "I love you Laurie and I want to do this for you." He pulled back and extended his hand to her. "Please come with me?"
"Shouldn't…shouldn't I at least pack something?"
Ryan shook his head. "All I need is you. And you won't be staying long with me, I promise. Just till this whole serial killer business ends ok? Then I'll bring you right back here to home sweet home."
Laurie stood contemplating for a few minutes before taking his hand. She knew that Dr. Scully had told her to stay put and not let anyone in but this was Ryan. A man who she trusted completely and she felt would protect her from evil. And he was also an FBI Agent in training so what better protection could she ask for then that? Without hesitation, she followed Ryan out the door and to his waiting car.
Ryan helped her into his car and embraced her tightly as she started to cry again. "Ssssh, it's ok, Laurie. I told you I'm going to protect you and I keep my word. Now just relax ok?" He started the car and felt Laurie's head resting on his shoulder. Things could not have been more perfect or easy. As he pulled away he looked in the rearview mirror and saw several police cars arriving at the apartment. A smile crossed his face and adrenalin rushed through his body as he realized how close of a call that was. But it's that element that would make this killing all the sweeter. He whistled as he drove with his lovely Laurie beside him. It was obvious that she trusted him and that was her fatal mistake. It was quite clear to him now that Laurie didn't have the potential as an FBI Agent based on that. But he would still love her as he had Joanne and the others before her.
