It wasn't like him to have his mind somewhere else while on a date, but alas, Mulder's mind was still frozen in the depths of the FBI HQ. Were Scully and Krycek…? But it can't be… she hates his guts! But she did tell that rat to follow her, didn't she?
"Fox?"
The voice brought Mulder back to the present. As his eyes focused on the dry ribs in front of him, and the red placemat on white table cloth, he couldn't help but think about Scully and Krycek doing the nasty.
"Fox? Are you all right?"
He looked up and forced a smile. "Yeah, I'm okay. In fact, I'm great. Thank you, Diana." Diana Fowley sat opposite him in a spaghetti strap black dress. She had dressed for him, and he was thinking about… them.
"You just look a bit distracted that's all. If you're tired, we can go home…" She left off the rest, but it wasn't hard to pick up what she was suggesting. Wasn't hard because they've been at it every night for the past three nights, and also because his mind was already there, except it wasn't him and Diana.
"No, no. I'm not that tired. I'm having a great time, and you pick the greatest restaurants, you know that?" That's right. Make conversation… keep the mind away from those two.
Diana laughed, "You're such a pig, you know that? But if you're finished that, lets take a stroll downtown."
Mulder nodded, paid, and then left, hand in hand with Diana. He actually felt sort of bad for not telling Scully about his new love, but he knew the two did not get along well. Knew she would disapprove. When did it matter if his dates made Scully happy? Maybe it was because Scully was like a sister to him. He hoped that was it.
"… Get to work okay this morning?" She was talking again. They were nearing the park near his apartment. Well, not so near, but near enough.
"Oh yeah. Got a bit of a scolding from ol' Skinner, but that's about it. No spanking or grounding," he joked. And she laughed.
The sound of her laughter made his heart flutter, and he gave her a boyish grin for the heck of it. She pulled her in for a kiss, but what caught his eye made him stop. Was that Krycek up ahead? It was hard to tell from behind. Was Krycek all dressed up? Maybe he was already like that when he came to 'pick up' Scully – black shirt, black pants, black shoes, white top? And that woman next to him, she looks about Scully's height. But Scully doesn't own a black wool sweater double her size, and an ankle length skirt, does she? He's only ever seen her in her professional attire. That can't be Scully – her hair is too long! But Scully's hair is getting long, too, but past her shoulders? Maybe he just never noticed her 'that way' before.
"… Fox? Who are you looking at? Fox?"
"What?" He looked back at the woman in his arms and gave her a peck on the lips. "Nobody. Just you."
"But you were—"
He silenced her with another kiss. "Just you. Let's go back to my place." He led the way, albeit he was a bit shaky. He couldn't help but turn back for another look, just to make sure it wasn't Scully and Krycek. But he still couldn't see their faces, even though they were in profile. Their lips were locked in a deep passionate kiss, and he could only hope it wasn't them.
--
A/N: I don't like 'The Fowl One'… (*sings as she finishes watching the sixth extinction: amor fati* ding dong the witch is dead!)