Thanks to Kilroy-M and Mulder's Girl for their reviews!
Disclaimer:Okay, no more disclaimers after this one, it's getting redundant. Let me just state now that none of the characters from "The X-Files" that I will be using are my own creation.
Chapter 3 – Begging
Mulder tapped his fingers impatiently as he read over the coroner's report yet again. They were finally returning from Georgia after days of investigation that turned up no more information than they previously had save two more dead bodies. Whoever this killer was, he was smart and left no trace. Reading over his profile continuously wasn't doing anyone much good.
He looked over at his sleeping partner enviously. When did this happen? he wondered, thinking back to their first case together. I used to be the one who was able to just pass out on planes. Sighing, he looked down at the only reading material he had.
"Okay, we're looking for a man in his mid-thirties. Probably quite attractive, confident, and charming as he was able to pick up so many women. He…"
Mulder stopped murmuring to himself at a loud cough from the man seated across the aisle from him.
"Damn government," the man spat. "No respect for the lives of your average citizen…"
Rolling his eyes, Mulder closed the file and ordered another drink. He and Scully had been sure to book a plane for the trip home after their regrettable journey down. He had to say, though, that this wasn't much better.
"We are preparing for landing," came the pilot's voice. "Please fasten your seatbelts."
Mulder looked over at the still sleeping Scully. Gently, he reached over and brushed a stray piece of hair behind her ears. His touch caused her eyes to flicker open and she looked up at him groggily.
"Hey," he said softly. "Wake up. We're almost home."
"Finally. I am so tired."
"Me too. It's pretty late."
It was 11:00 to be precise.
By the time they had gotten their luggage and exited the airport, it was past midnight.
Scully yawned. "See you tomorrow morning, Mulder."
"Bright and early."
He hadn't been kidding when he said bright and early. Scully could not believe his enthusiastic mood, which lasted all day.
In opposition, her mood had deteriorated throughout the day. She had finally gotten over her tiredness when she got another call from Suzanne that ended in Suzanne asserting that Scully had better damn well bring her boyfriend to that evening's dinner party or there would be trouble. Scully did not want to be embarrassed in front of her friends by revealing her sad lie.
Most especially, she was worried about what Lt. Varrick would think. He would finally be returning from his trip down south, and she wanted to make a good impression. She had the feeling that he would lose all interest in her pretty quickly if he found out that she had done something as immature and stupid as making up a boyfriend just to fit in. What am I supposed to do about a date? she mused, trying desperately to come up with a solution. The party is in four hours!
Seeing that she was done with her work, Mulder spoke up again. "You sure you don't want to go catch a movie or something?"
"Yeah, sorry, I have plans already."
His eyebrows shot up. That hasn't happened in awhile. "Oh, got a date?"
She recoiled at the irony of his words. "Um, no. Actually, I do not have a date." She sighed, murmuring under her breath, "That would be the problem."
"Come again?"
Scully looked at him, and suddenly a flicker of an idea flashed through her mind. He is exactly how I described my "boyfriend". Maybe… Exhaling, the more logical part of her mind rebuked the idea before it was even fully formed. No, that's crazy! You cannot ask him to do that!
Out loud, she told him, "Never mind."
He smiled. "Okay, okay, be all mysterious. Just let me know how everything works out tomorrow." With that, he turned back to his computer and worked hard to make it appear that he was actually working. In reality, he was fishing around Scully was apparently extremely occupied with whatever mental struggle she was enthralled in as she failed to see past his confident veneer.
Scully rose and, using much effort, made herself turn to leave. She was still attempting to drive the lingering idea from her mind. Come on, you just can't do that, Dana, she told herself sternly. Think how pathetic it would look.
She had nearly talked herself completely out of asking when the thought occurred to her of how much more pathetic she would look walking into that restaurant with nothing but another flimsy excuse. Changing her mind again, she took a deep breath and turned back to her partner. "Hey, Mulder?"
"Yes?" He looked at her with interest, easily sensing her apparent discomfort.
"I have a little problem that I was thinking that maybe you could help me with."
The lightness in his manner was replaced instantly with deep concern. "Anything, Scully. Shoot."
His seriousness, though touching, made her feel even more foolish. "Don't worry, it's really not that big a deal. And you don't have to do it if you don't want to, no pressure whatsoever. I mean, it would be great if you could, but…"
"Scully," he interrupted, trying to suppress a grin. What has gotten her so worked up? "Spit it out."
"Okay. You know my friends from that church group? Suzanne and Lee and Shannon and Carmine and Varrick?" He nodded, not sure where she was going with this.
"Well, they are the first friends that I have had in a long time. Other than you, of course. And when I first met them, I was more than a little desperate to fit in. I didn't want them to see me as I could easily see myself: as an aging, fading, workaholic federal agent who doesn't know how to have fun." She raised her hand to silence his protest to this remark. "Anyway, the point is that I kind of told them that I had a steady, devoted boyfriend." She paused to gauge his reaction.
His expression was unreadable to her. The only thing she could tell was that her revelation was obviously not anything like what he had been expecting. She felt ridiculous, but at least he wasn't laughing at her. Not yet, at least.
"I know, it was a stupid move on my part, but I wasn't thinking clearly at the time. I thought that I had it all under control. As far as they know, I am breaking up with this guy next week. But this morning, Suzanne called and asked me to this big dinner thing. She wants me to invite my boyfriend so that they can all meet him. I tried to decline again, but she won't take no for an answer this time. Which means that either I find a boyfriend in the next three hours or I look extremely pathertic and have to explain it all to everyone."
"I see," he said hesitantly. He thought he knew what she was getting at, but he wasn't totally sure yet…
Breathing again, she decided to finally just plunge in and say it. "Mulder, could you pretend to be my boyfriend tonight, please?"
"What!" he exclaimed. It seemed even less believable now that she had actually said it out loud.
"Really, it wouldn't be hard. All you'd have to do is just come and eat and act nice. Please?
He couldn't help the smile from playing on his lips. "Wait. Dana Scully is practically on her knees begging me to be her date? Now, here's an interesting turn of events." He grinned devilishly. "Oh, Scully, there are just so many things I could say right now."
"Spare me." With a glare to hide her embarrassment, she turned to walk out. Great. I should have known that he'd turn me down. That would have been just weird on so many levels. It wouldn't have worked out. Masking her disappointment, she turned to leave.
Before she could reach the door, however, Mulder sidestepped her and blocked her path. In a gentler voice, he said, "Hey, hey. Wait a minute. I didn't say no."
"So you will do it?" She tried, but failed, to keep the eagerness out of her voice.
"Sure, why not? Just two conditions. Firstly, you answer some questions of mine truthfully. Second, you owe me a favor."
Relief washed through her instantly. He was taking this far better than she had expected. "Okay, no problem. What were those questions?"
"Number one: how exactly did you describe your date? Like, do I need to dye my hair? Grow a beard? Get a nose ring?"
Scully smiled and tried to refrain from blushing at the memory of her description. "Oh, I'm sure you'll be fine the way you are. I was pretty vague."
"Number two: what should I wear?"
"It's a pretty nice restaurant, and you want to make a good impression as it will be the only time they will ever see you."
"Alright. Lastly, and most importantly…" Scully raised an eyebrow. That gleam was back in his eyes. "As we will be breaking off our relationship in a week, I should know – are any of your girlfriends exceptionally good-looking?"
"Mulder!"
"Oh, right. I'm a one-woman man, now," he drawled.
She rolled her eyes and began to walk past him.
"So, I'll pick you up around eight?"
"Yes. See you then." As an afterthought, she looked back over her shoulder and said sincerely, "Thank you for doing this for me, Mulder."
"Anytime, Scully. Anytime."
As he watched her retreating form, his smile softened as he considered the possibilities of that night.
This was going to be interesting.
Next chapter: The dinner date, of course! Lots of fun and MSR in store for that.
Also, in this and the next chapter the case is taking a back seat. It will reappear and be very relevant later on, bur for now I want to focus more on Mulder and Scully's relationships. Let me know if anyone has any problem with that.
Even if you don't, though, please review anyway! I want to know what you think. Also, feel free to write me with any other comments.
