Margaret Scully paced in her house wondering where her daughter could be. It was a rare occasion when Dana was late for anything, let alone a lunch date with her mother. She had tried to call her daughter's cell phone numerous times but was either met with the busy signal or an I'm-sorry-but-the-cellular-customer-you-are-trying-to-reach recording.
As the minutes passed, Margaret Scully's worries grew. Her daughter would not neglect to inform her motherthat she would be late. It simply wasn't her style. When the phone rang, Mrs. Scully jumped and raced to answer it.
"Dana?" There was no doubt in her mind that it was anyone else but her daughter.
"Not quite," Mulder didn't know how to begin.
"Fox, what's wrong?" There was everything in his voice that indicated that something was wrong.
"It's about Dana."
"Is she all right? Is she hurt?" Concern filled her voice.
"I just received a phone call from her. It a…" he didn't know how to put into words of the possibility that Scully might be missing or even dead. "It didn't seem too good. I'm heading towards your direction, but I have to make a stop first. I'll see you as soon as I can."
"I'd like that." Mrs. Scully tried her best to choke back her tears.
A few miles away, Agent Fox Mulder was surveying a scene of a car wreck – Scully's car wreck. After the end of their conversation, Mulder quickly pulled together a group of Agents to survey the area. It wasn't too hard to spot her car. It lay off the road, with the driver's side smashed in due to the impact with the trees.
Around him was the buzz of conversation, everyone playing their part and trying to solve the mystery. There was blood splattered on the window, most likely to be hers, and a few droplets on the paved ground. Mulder crouched at the passenger side, staring blankly into the car remembering the other day when he himself sat in that seat.
The sound of Assistant Director Skinner's voice brought Mulder back into the living. The elderly man placed a hand upon Mulder's shoulder, a symbol of his understanding to Mulder's quest. He was among the privileged few who knew of their engagement. Seeing the wreck of Scully's car also tore Skinner's heart. Over the years he had developed a liking for her and thought her more as a daughter he never had.
"Agent Mulder, do you know of anyone who would want to do this to Agent Scully?" It was a question he needed to ask. It was a question he did not want to know the answer to.
"No." Obviously Mulder was in no mood for talking. He remained crouched on the ground searching for something – anything. His long limbs were beginning to get sore and he stood up to stretch himself out. At full length, Mulder could see something glisten under the sun's rays. He picked up the object and his heart stopped when he realized that it was Scully's engagement ring.
"Sir?" Skinner was by Mulder's side in an instant. "Look."
Skinner saw Scully's ring in Mulder's hand.
"What do you think it means, Mulder?"
"I don't know." Mulder turned away from the scene and walked to his car. Skinner followed.
"Agent, where are you going?"
"To see her mother. Keep me informed." Mulder slipped into this car and drove away.
Margaret Scully sat impatiently by her window watching for any signs of Mulder's car. From the sound of Mulder's voice on the phone, she knew that the accident was bad. Mrs. Scully knew of her daughter's great strength and admired it but she always feared of a situation when her strength may not be enough.
When she spotted Mulder's car pull into the driveway, Mrs. Scully leaped out of her seat to open the door. The sight of the elderly Scully's face was comforting to Mulder but it also brought pangs of pain to his heart.
"Fox." Mrs. Scully said steeping aside to let the man through. She greeted him with the warmest smile that she could muster.
"I'm sorry but I can't stay long." Mulder focused his eyes on the floor unable to look at the woman in the eyes.
"You can't possibly feel responsible for what happened to her, Fox."
"If I only opened up to her then maybe she would have gone into work today and not be…"
Margaret led the man into her living room and went into the kitchen and made some tea. She admired everything about Fox Mulder. His passion for her daughter was unbelievable and often she envied their love. But because of his dedication to Scully, Mulder had the habit of beating himself down whenever she got into trouble.
"It's not your fault. It was never your fault." Mrs. Scully came back into the living room and placed a cup in front of Mulder. She took a sip of the hot liquid and a silence passed between them. They finished their tea, aware of the other's presence but never quite acknowledging it. Mulder's mind was lost on Scully. He needed to find her.
"I have to go," Mulder finally said breaking the silence. He got up from his seat and walked towards the door. Mrs. Scully followed him.
"Call me if you find anything."
"I will." Before leaving, they shared a warm embrace and said their good-byes.
Mrs. Scully stood in her doorway and watched Mulder's car drive away hoping that when it came back, the driver bore better news.