AUTHOR: Dana Hale
RATING: K+
SPOILERS: Tithonus, Triangle, Fight the Future Movie
SUMMARY: Missing Scene: How Mulder finds out that Scully was shot by Agent Ritter
DISCLAIMER: The X-Files television show and characters belong to Chris Carter, 1013 Productions, and the Fox Corporation.
The hour and a half flight to New York City seemed to take all day for Mulder. Scully was alone with Fellig, a convicted murderer. Her cell phone was mysteriously turned off, and she had no backup. Well, Agent Ritter was supposedly on his way, but that didn't make Mulder any happier.
All Mulder could think about was the fact that A.D. Kersh had paired Scully with a green agent who didn't have the six years of experience working by her side day after day like he did, knowing her so well that he could anticipate her every move and could communicate with her by not even saying a word. Ritter didn't know that she likes salad for lunch with the dressing on the side and that she can outrun anyone in those high heels of hers. Ritter wouldn't recognize that when Scully's right eyebrow arches up that it would be time for him to just shut-up and let Scully do what she needs to do. He wouldn't understand that Scully needs her independence but at the same time needs to know that someone is watching her back, and after six years of practice, Mulder finally felt that he was getting the balance down right. Poor Agent Ritter...Scully would easily put him in his place if he crossed the line. And what about trust? Could she trust him? How can you trust someone you've never worked with?
It's supposed to be Mulder and Scully. Scully and Mulder. Not Scully and Ritter. As the plane came in for a landing at the JFK airport, Mulder couldn't help but feel uneasy about this whole situation.