He'd seen her pull up outside his building. Seen her get out and walk inside. He was captivated by the way she moved, the way she seemed to glide, like an angel on a cloud. He felt a pang of jealousy thinking that she was going in there to see him.
He had snapped a few more pictures of her to send later. But now he produced an envelope from his pocket and exited his car. Time to go play delivery boy again.
A few days later.
Mulder, Scully and about a dozen or so other agents were sat in Assistant Director Walter Skinner's office. They had been called there for a briefing on the operation that would take place in less than one hour.
Special Agent Matt Berry, a fairly good-looking agent, was giving the briefing.
"Now that you all have your earpieces and bullet proof vests I will assign you your positions. Agents Tooley, Beck, Cagney, Mannings, Peters and Birchell, you'll be spread around the boating lake. Agents Lindsey, Stone, Galvin, Mercer, Sawyers and O'Brien, I want you on the basketball court. Agent Scully, your on this bench beside the play area. That leaves Assistant Director Skinner, Agent Mulder and myself in the van, which will be positioned here. Is everyone clear on where they're supposed to be?" He was met with nods. "Then lets get this show on the road!" They all stood and left the office, a low hum of conversation filtering between agents.
Today was the big day. The day when all his planning would finally amount to something. He knew they'd both be there, that bastard and the breathtaking Agent Scully, he'd seen the case file lying open on the desk. He had butterflies in his stomach as he pocketed the note he had prepared and exited his apartment. In just over an hour's time, she would be his. Then the fun would really begin.
It hadn't taken them long to get into their positions upon arrival at Lafayette Park. All of the agents were dressed in plain clothes so's not to arouse suspicion. Inside the van, Mulder, Skinner and Berry could see each group's position on television monitors in front of them.
"How are things with you Tooley?" Agent Berry spoke into the mouthpiece of the headset he was wearing. "Any signs yet?"
"Negative Sir. The lake's clear."
"Lindsey? How about you? Is he here?"
"Negative again Sir."
"Scully? Any sightings?"
From her position Scully could see anyone approaching the play area. She scanned from left to right, glancing down at the photo in her hand.
"Negative Sir. Nothing as-" She stopped mid-sentence. She could see a man walking slowly towards the play area. He was fairly tall, wearing a pair of faded jeans, black t-shirt and a zip up jacket. Even with the baseball cap pulled down over his eyes she could tell it was their man.
"Agent Scully?"
"I have him in sight."
"Is that a positive I.D.?"
"Affirmative Sir."
"Tooley? Lindsey? Can you see him?"
"Affirmative."
"Don't let him out of your sight. If he makes a move on a kid, I want Scully on him. The moment she makes a move I want the rest of you to back her up. You hear me?"
"Yes Sir."
Mulder was about to voice his objection to this, but Skinner gave him a warning look.
"Agent Scully is a big girl Mulder," he spoke quietly, covering his mouthpiece. "She can take care of herself. Let her do this." Mulder said nothing, but never took his eyes off Scully.
Meanwhile Scully's eyes never left their man. She watched him stroll over to a bench diagonally across from her and sit down. He was watching the children play, eyes scanning them, as if performing some kind of selection process. Suddenly his gaze shifted to look directly at Scully. Quickly she averted her eyes and instead focused on a little girl playing in the sandbox a few meters away from their guy. Her long strawberry blonde hair was in two braids either side of her head. She looked to be about six years old, wearing a pink t-shirt with a picture of Britney Spears on it, a pair of blue jeans and a pair of light blue sneakers. From what Scully could see, her mother was nowhere to been found, but the little girl didn't seem too bothered; she was concentrating hard on building a sand castle.
Scully's breath caught in her throat as the man came into her line of vision again. He squatted down beside the little girl and began chatting to her. The girl smiled and chatted back.
"He's approached a little girl, around 6. I can't see her mother anywhere."
"Keep you eye on him. If he makes the slightest move to walk away with her, I want you on him. You understand?"
"Yes sir."
She continued watching. She couldn't understand how mothers let this happen to their children. If she was that little girl's mother she wouldn't of let that creep get anywhere near her child. Scully's heart gave a slight tug at this, reminding her of her own inability to have children. She shook her head sadly. Some people shouldn't be allowed to have kids.
As she watched, the man stood and extended his hand towards the little girl. She accepted.
"Ok I'm moving." Scully stood up and began walking towards the man and girl, who were walking away by this time. He turned round and saw her coming. Quick as a flash he scooped the child up and broke into a run.
"Dammit!" Scully began running after them as fast as her legs could carry her. She was closing ground on them when he made a sharp right and ran into the trees. Scully followed. She could hear the child's screams ahead of her. Dodging trees and jumping over roots, she continued chasing. Where the hell was that backup? She still had him in her line of vision. He couldn't keep running with the child for much longer; he'd be getting tired. Then, he was gone. Scully ground to a halt, scanning the trees for any sign of movement. Nothing. Breathing heavily, she took a few steps forward. She had to find them.
A scream broke the deathly silence and Scully took off in its direction. She hadn't run more than a few hundred yards when she saw a shape moving behind a bush. Drawing her weapon she advanced on it, treading carefully so's not to make a sound. She gently moved the bush away to reveal the little girl, shaking and crying. Scully bent down beside her and the girl cowered away from her, petrified.
"It's ok sweetie. I'm here to help you," she soothed. She reached into her pocket and pulled out her badge. "My name is Dana and I'm with the FBI. Did you see where the man went?" The girl nodded and pointed in the direction. "Ok. Some other agents will be here in a minute to help you. You just stay right here." She brushed some hair away from the girl's face and smiled at her gently before standing up and beginning to run in the direction the girl had pointed.
"Sir, I've found the girl. I've left her beside a bush. Send someone out to get her."
"Have you got our man?"
"Not yet but I think-" The sound of a twig breaking made her whirl round. Their guy was stood there, a rock clutched in his hand. Before she could speak he disarmed her with one blow. Her gun went flying from her hands and into a bush to her right. He moved to strike her again but she blocked him.
"I need back up now!"
She kicked him hard in the ankle and he went down. She turned to try and look for her gun, and in her moment's distraction he saw his chance and knocked her legs out from under her. She landed hard on the ground with a thud. Winded and disoriented, she lay there breathing hard. He stood above her and brought the rock down once more. She screamed, and all went black.