Disclaimer-I do not own the X-Files
Chapter 6-Take Your Dog to Work Day
Beep! Beep! Beep! Scully's alarm clock shrilled waking her from her peaceful slumber. Scully regretfully opened her heavy eye lids. She sat up and stretched her arms, her hand brushed against something furry. At first Scully froze following the impulse to reach for her gun. But the events from yesterday came flooding back and she set it back down.
She stiffly got out of bed. 'Spooky' had taken up all the bed space and had been right up next to her all night. Maybe she should have just gotten out Quegqeegs (AN-However you spell that stupid dogs name) old doggie bed. She never let him sleep on the bed, and Quegqeeg was smaller than Spooky! She was already spoiling this dog. She sighed and searched though her closet for a suite. She needed to get ready for work.
Mulder woke up to the sharp smell of coffee. Mmmm Coffee Mulder thought. He jumped out of the bed and headed towards the kitchen. Scully sat at the small round table eating a bowl of cereal. "Feed me Scully I'm starving here!" Mulder begged.
"Morning Spooky are you hungry?" Scully asked.
"What do you think Scully?" He retorted.
What can I feed him? I don't have any dog food. I guess I stop to Petsmart is in order Scully decided. She got up from the table and started to search for something to give Mulder. "Well since I don't have any dog food I guess you will just have to live with cold, leftover chicken." Scully told him as she pulled out the plate from the refrigerator. Being a dog could have some advantages Mulder thought. But when Scully put the plate on the floor Mulder decided against it. If I am gonna have to eat like this for the rest of my life I change my mind! Besides who wants to eat dog food? Not me!
While Mulder ate his breakfast Scully finished getting ready for work. "Alright Spooky behave while I am gone ok? When I get back home I will have a few gifts for you and food ok?" Scully couldn't believe that she was actually talking to Spooky like he understood her. But he seemed to… She looked at her watch. If she didn't leave soon she would be late. Scully bent down, gave Mulder a pat on the head, and left.
"Wait Scully come back! Can I go to work with you? What am I supposed to do all day? I can't work the TV! SCULLY!" Mulder sighed. How could he keep himself entertained all day? He didn't have time for this. He somehow needed Scully to realize that he wasn't some pet! Damn if only I could go to work with her and do some Mulder like things. Then maybe she would realize who I am! Mulder thought. Oh duh, that is what I need to do. But how the hell am I going to get to the Hoover Building? He looked around. Success! Scully had left her bedroom window open! And if things couldn't get even more convenient the fire escape was below it.
Piece of cake Mulder thought. From there it was pretty easy. He ran from Scully's apartment all the way to the FBI building. There of course things got tricky again. How could he sneak all the way to the basement without getting caught? Animals weren't allowed in the building. Unless… Mulder ran around to the other side of the building were the windows from his office could be seen.
"Point for me!" Mulder cheered. Peering into the windows Mulder found that Scully hadn't arrived yet. "Scully isn't here yet. That could be a good or bad thing." Mulder figured. He tried to push the entire window open but had no luck. One was because the ones he did try were locked. It was also hard because he had to nudge them with his nose. Damnit! Stupid paws. Why cant dogs have hands? Or at least imposable thumbs.
Finally the last window Mulder tried was unlocked and he managed to get it opened far enough that he could jump in. Note to self. Get better locks for windows. Mulder thought. Wait until Scully gets here and finds out I broke into the office. Mulder couldn't help but find this very amusing. And amusing it was.
Scully entered the office at the usual time scanning though the mail. She dropped her stuff and Mulder's case file onto the desk when she heard a soft woof. Her head snapped up and Mulder could have sworn she jumped 5 five feet in the air. "Spooky how did you? Where did you? Is it possible? Why are you?" Scully couldn't believe it. There sitting in Mulder's desk chair was her dog which she thought she left home. She finally shook herself. "How the hell did you get in here Spooky?" She demanded. As if I am going to get an answer.
"Why Scully are you surprised to see me?" Mulder gave her his dog like smile. "God what am I going to do? If Skinner or someone found out I brought a dog to work…Just how did you get in here anyway?" Mulder looked up at the window, Scully followed his gaze. "This itself is somehow an X-File." Scully said to herself. She smiled sadly. Mulder would say something like that. Speaking of Mulder I should read over the evidence the found in my apartment and see if I can find anything they missed Scully reminded herself.
"Alright Spooky you are going to have to stay here until I can find time to sneak you out without getting in trouble. In the mean time you must be silent. Not a sound. You can't leave the office and you can't bug me. I have an important case I need to work on so…" Scully pushed him out of the chair and began to work. "You know that is my desk." Mulder reminded her.
For the rest of the morning Mulder desperately tried to give Scully some idea that Spooky was really Mulder. He did some of his annoying habits, tried to get on a computer to play some of his favorite games (that didn't work out to well…) he tried to get in the desk drawer to get one of those tapes that wasn't his, he even tried to throw pencils up at the ceiling like he did when he was bored (that failed miserably too.) All of these tactics did nothing but annoy Scully to the point where she was about ready to drag Mulder out to her car and lock him in there until the day was over.
The final straw was when he got into another drawer that contained some sunflower seeds. Scully though became deeply upset and snatched them away gently putting them back like they were the Holy Grail. "Stay out of those ok? No one touches Mulder's sunflower seeds." Scully scolded him.
"I am Mulder!" He protested. But Scully simply ignored him and placed the sunflower seeds back with delicate care. He sighed and plopped down beside the desk defeated. This wasn't working at all. Would he be stuck like this forever? He how much longer he could hide from Manson? They would find him eventually. What would Scully do?
Around 12:30 Scully took a brief break from her work to eat lunch. Mulder watched her with some interest as she took out her lunch. It consisted of low-fat banana flavored yogurt, a some portion of her leftover shrimp salad, some salt free crackers, a bottle of water, and something that looked organic to Mulder. "Jeezus Scully live a little! Salt free crackers? And is that thing you call food moving? I can find better looking foods in my refrigerator!" Mulder exclaimed. Scully looked over in his direction.
"Here I managed to swipe you a turkey sandwich from the cafeteria on my break." Scully said as she took out a plastic bundle from the desk. She unwrapped it for him and placed it on the floor telling him not to leave too many crumbs. He looked at the lump of bread, lettuce, and lunch meat. They call this a turkey sandwich? Ok even Scully's tofu looks better Mulder thought with disgust. But it was better than nothing so he woofed it down. Eww that turkey was a little too slimy for my liking. Mulder watched Scully eat her own.
He was amazed that he never noticed the little things she did just while eating. For example she ate in a line you could say. First the salad, then the crackers, then the tofu stuff… She never just ate a bit of yogurt and then munched on some crackers in between. Little things he never noticed. Silly little things.
Soon she finished her meal and went back to work. Mulder continued to watch her and other things she did he never paid much attention to. His attention was diverted though when he heard heavy steps coming down the hallway. The faint scent of aftershave lingered. Thump, thump, thump. As they neared Mulder realized they were coming this way.
He jumped up and began to whine. "Somebody is coming Scully! Do something besides stare at me!" Mulder cried.
"What is wrong Spooky? Is somebody coming?" Scully asked.
"Yes!" Scully listened.
"I don't hear anything Spooky…" She stopped when a loud knock came from the closed door. "Shit! Uh, quick get under the desk! Don't make a sound!" Scully shoved Mulder under it. Great I hope whoever is coming down here has a good reason Scully thought. She walked over to the file cabinet and pretended to be looking for something. "Come in!" Scully called over her shoulder. Skinner walked in. "What can I do for you sir?" Scully asked turning around to great him.
"Uh is everything all right agent? It sounded like someone else was in here." The AD asked suspicious.
"No sir everything is fine. No one else is here." Scully replied keeping her cool exterior. No nothing is fine. Everything will be fine once we find Mulder Scully wanted to say. But she couldn't let Skinner see how tired and defeated she was. If she gave up then there would be no chance of ever seeing Mulder in this office again.
"Alright I was just checking."
"Is there anything else you want sir?" Scully asked briskly. She did not want or need pity.
"Yes, I need to talk to you, about the search for Mulder. Why don't we go back up to my office?" He suggested, well more like ordered in a softer tone. He held the door open for her. Not good She thought grimly. Scully left Mulder's file on the desk and silently walked out with Skinner leading the way. She kept her head held up high. Maybe this was good news. But in the pit of her stomach she knew it was nothing close.
After the door was closed Mulder poked his head out and listened to Scully's heels click down the hallway. Leave it to Skinner to be the bringer of bad news Mulder thought. He vacated the cramped desk space and stretched. He jumped into the chair Scully had been sitting in a few minutes ago. He nudged open his own file and looked it over. "Lots of dead ends. Scully must be getting desperate." Mulder commented as he read a few theories that seemed like ones he would come up with.
Mulder looked up. It sounded like someone else was coming. Scully couldn't be back yet Mulder thought. Who would be coming down here? Mulder knew though if they entered the office he would find out. But they would also see him. Quickly he hid under the desk again. The door flew open without a knock.
Mulder instantly recognized who it was. The smell of cheesy cologne was something he could not forget. It was Steve, their 'waiter' from Monday night's dinner. Mulder repressed the urge to growl. What is that loser doing here? Mulder thought. He crouched silently under the desk. Something was not right.
Steve cautiously walked in. All he had to do was destroy the evidence. It wasn't that hard. He surpassed security easily. This should be easier. Steve found the file opened on top of the desk. Without a second glance he closed it, slipped it under his jacket, and walked out of the office. What Steve didn't expect was a large, barking, dog-which was oddly familiar- race down the hall after him.
"What the…" Steve didn't finish when the dog didn't stop its mad charge at him. "Crap!" Steve broke into a sprint towards the elevator. He repeatedly jabbed the 'Up' button. "Come on."
"What's wrong? Afraid of a big bad dog?" Mulder taunted. The elevator door slid open. Steve leaped into it and pushed the door shut. "Whew." Steve gasped as he rested against the wall.
Mulder stood in front of the elevator furious. How could he let the punk get away? He took Scully's only evidence. Anything else in the labs was most likely destroyed. I gotta catch him Mulder thought determinedly. Ignoring his conscious Mulder raced up the stairs. Hopefully he could cut Steve off. You won't get away so easily Mulder thought coldly. "But man is Scully gonna kick my ass if I get caught."
XXXXX
"Sir we can't give up yet. This isn't about Mulder's quest" Scully answered coldly. She couldn't believe it. Skinner was suggesting that Mulder somehow made it that he was kidnapped so that he could go investigate something about the 'Truth'. He was thinking about giving up!
"Agent Scully I am not saying we should give up. For Christ sakes it's too early. I was just wondering if this isn't something Mulder planned." Skinner said firmly.
"It isn't sir." Scully said doing her best not to lose her temper. "Is there anything else?"
"I just want to make sure you know that right now the chance of finding Mulder is slim considering the small amount of evidence is and don't want you to make this case too personal."
"Sir…" Scully began to say in a warning tone. But she was cut off when (to her horror and Skinner's confusion) they heard the screams of a panicked man and the barking of a dog. "Damn you Spooky." Scully muttered.
"What the hell?" Skinner opened the door to his office and watched a man being chased down the hall by a brown German Shepard. Mulder was so close to him. He gave the man a surprise when he bolted up the stairs. The great chase from there had been all over the FBI. He noticed they were near Skinners office. Oh this should be good Mulder thought. Not a single FBI agent had managed to stop him or Steve. Skinner wouldn't either.
"Help!" yelled Steve. What a wimp. Steve looked over his shoulder, that stupid dog was still there. He tripped over his big feet and was soon greeted with a very angry bark. Mulder saw his chance and jumped on top of Steve to prevent him from getting up. "Alright give up the file! What do you want with it? Where the hell is that sorry son of a bitch Manson!" The pathetic man cowered at Mulder.
Scully had seen the whole scene and moved before Skinner. She rushed over to Mulder and yanked him off. "Down Spooky! Bad Spooky bad! How did you get out?" Scully scolded him.
"Bad? Excuse me I just saved your evidence here! Don't you remember this asshole?" Mulder snapped.
"Agent Scully you have some explaining to do." Skinner said, not at all happy. Scully, still holding onto Mulder, helped Steve up when she gasped.
"You!" She exclaimed accusingly.
"Shit." Steve mumbled. Scully immediately slapped on a pair of handcuffs.
"Agent Scully who is this man?" Skinner asked.
"Sir this man is partly responsible for Mulder's kidnapping." She explained while wrenching Mulder's out of his hands. "And stealing evidence." Showing him the folder. Skinner took control.
"Good work. Agent Williams!" He barked. "Get him out of here." Agent Williams complied and hauled Steve off.
"Sir if you don't mind I would like to question him personally."
"That will have to wait a minute agent. First I would like to know why you brought a dog to work." He gestured to Mulder who was wagging his tail.
"Right. Come on Spooky." Scully called to him. Mulder trotted in behind them.
"Nice to see you too Skinman." Mulder attempted a chuckle as he hopped into Skinner's chair. Skinner looked at Mulder uncomfortably.
"Down." He ordered.
"Uh uh. This chair is much more comfy." Mulder said enjoying the moment.
"Spooky down." Scully said firmly. Mulder sighed and moved.
"You always spoil my fun Scully." Mulder complained. Skinner sat back in his seat and rubbed the bridge of his nose.
"Agent you know the rules about bringing animals to work. Why is there a dog in my office?" Mulder felt guilty. He should have stayed home.
"Sir if you let me explain."
"I'm listening."
"Spooky followed me to work. I don't know how but when I came in the office this morning he was there sitting at Mulder's desk." This sounded so far fetched to Scully she doubted Skinner would believe her. He didn't.
"Scully that seems like something Mulder would come with." Skinner growled. He was going to continue to reprimand her when Mulder cut in not caring if anyone couldn't understand him.
"Listen sir this isn't Scully's fault. Its mine. If I would have stayed home Scully wouldn't be in this mess even though all her evidence would be missing and you wouldn't have one of my captors in custody. I think you should cut her some slack. None of this is her fault." Mulder continued to defend her.
"Spooky quiet! Spooky stop it!" Scully desperately tried to shut Mulder up. Skinner broke out into a smile. That surprised Scully a lot.
"I think uh, Spooky, is trying to tell me your innocence Scully. I must say that if it wasn't for him we wouldn't have a kidnapper in our hands. I think we should keep him around in case anyone else comes back what do you think?" Scully, bewildered, nodded her head in agreement. Mulder managed his own smile. That's it Skinman. "You're dismissed." Skinner went back to his paperwork."
"Thank you sir." Scully said as she led Mulder out.
"Agent?"
"Yes sir." Scully turned around.
"Why did you name your dog Spooky?" Skinner asked with a brief smile.
"I named him after Mulder." She told him. "There is something about Spooky that reminds me of him so much." She trailed off tears suddenly threatening. Skinner nodded in agreement.
"Yea there is something very familiar about him." Scully plastered a fake smile on her face and left the office. She hoped to get some information from that sorry bastard. Mulder silently followed listening to the sharp click click of her heels.
"Dana!" a voice called behind her. Scully whirled around hoping to see Mulder running towards her. Her face instantly fell when she recognized the all too familiar face of Agent Colton. Damn. Both Mulder and Scully thought. "Dana! It's been a while hasn't it?" Colton caught up with her.
"What do you want?" Scully asked briskly. She did not want to put up with this ass hole.
"Nice to see you to. Why is there a dog in here?" Colton practically demanded.
"He is part of a case I am working on." She replied simply.
"You mean you are using a dog to find Mulder." It was more of a statement. "I would give up and forget about old Spooky. Both you and the bureau would be better off." Scully held onto all her strength not to punch him. Mulder was having trouble containing himself too. Don't attack him, don't attack him. Scully will kill him for me. Don't attack!
"Don't call him Spooky. Mulder is one of the most brilliant people I have ever met. His methods may be a little out there but he is still brilliant. I will not stand here and let you take jabs at him when he could be hurt or…" Scully couldn't bring herself to say dead. He wasn't dead. She was sure of that much.
"I'm sorry Dana- "That's Agent Scully."- "Agent Scully." Why don't I make it up to you over dinner?" So that's all he wanted. To make fun of Mulder and then ask me out for dinner. I don't think so.
"Sorry but I don't have time to indulge myself in pleasures when Mulder is God knows where." She replied.
"Dana why don't you forget about Spooky for one night and enjoy yourself?"
"I can't enjoy myself when Mulder is suffering."
"Come on Dana…"
"No." Colton grabbed her wrist.
"Please Dana let me make it up to you."
"What do you have to make up to me? That you are a complete idiot?" Scully tried to pull away. Tom was making her nervous.
"You can't get away from me so easily." Who the hell does this guy think he is? Mulder thought furiously. Time for me to step in. Mulder let out an irritated growl. He snarled at Colton snapping his jaws. Frightened Colton backed away. "Dana control your dog!" He cried. Mulder backed him into a corner. People began to watch curiously.
"Sorry Colton Spooky really doesn't listen to me. Tough luck. Hopefully your insurance covers dog attacks." Mulder caught on barked louder making himself more threatening.
"Please stop! I'm sorry ok." Colton was clawing at the wall. Who knew Colton had a fear of dogs? Mulder thought entertained. People began to laugh at the sight. The humiliation was clear on Colton's face.
"Alright Spooky I think Agent Colton here gets the message." Scully smiled. Mulder backed down, disappointed. Seeing Colton squirm in fear was fun. Scully turned around and continued to walk towards her destination. When they turned around the corner she stopped and petted Mulder. "You keep saving my ass today Spooky. I wish Mulder could have been here to see Colton's face." She sighed sadly. I want him back so much. "I would give anything to have him back. I wonder if he knows that." Scully stood up and continued walking. Mulder was surprised. She always seemed so strong. He had never seen her in such a state. "I know that now Scully."
AN-I finally updated. Yea I know it's been like 3 weeks or something but I have a good excuse! It's called getting ready to go back to school and then going to school. Homework doesn't help much either mind you. I am also working on another story (48 Hours) which also needs updating. Anyways I can't make any promises about updating soon but hopefully it will be before October. Cya!
Spooky4ever