When Scully came round, she had no idea where she was. Her head hurt like hell and the last thing she remembered was being in the wood in Lafayette Park. Realization hit her like a flood. Slowly she looked round the room. It was a dump, dark and dirty. Empty takeout bags littered the floor and table. Over in one corner of the room was an unmade bed, covers tossed all over the place. In another there was a desk, covered in papers, rolls of camera film and pots of glue. What was above made her feel sick to the pit of her stomach.
The wall was covered in pictures of her. Outside Mulder's apartment building. Talking with Mulder. Out running. Coming out of the hospital. Even pictures of her asleep and in her bathroom. She felt physically ill. This man had been watching her for God knows how long, and she'd had absolutely no idea about it. Then she realized. What if this whole operation was a scam just to get to her? She wanted to scream, and would've, if it hadn't been for the masking tape that silenced her voice. A movement to the left of her made her jump and twist round to see what it was. He squatted down in front of her, and spoke in a sweet soothing voice.
"Nice to see you're awake at last. How are you feeling?" She didn't move, just stared into his eyes. They were dark green, like emeralds. Her eyes traveled down, taking in the rest of his face. She had to admit he was fairly good looking. He had a shapely nose, with nice lips that were set into a smile as he spoke. "I've got to apologize for knocking you out, you have to understand that wasn't part of the plan. But you did insist on struggling so you left me with no other option."
Any emotion that she'd felt towards him other than contempt instantly evaporated. This guy needed help. Badly. She tried to speak, but the tape muffled her words. "Now, if you promise to be a good girl and not scream, I'll take the tape off. Do you promise?" She nodded slightly. "Ok then, we have an understanding." Gently he pulled the tape away from her mouth.
She winced slightly as it pulled her skin. After all the tape was off, he pulled up another chair and sat in front of her, drinking her image in. She could feel his eyes wandering all over her body. She squirmed against the bonds holding her to the chair. He sensed her discomfort and laughed slightly. Scully lifted her head and met his gaze with one of contempt. He laughed harder.
"Such an evil look from such a pretty face." He leaned forward and brought his hand towards her. She recoiled, expecting him to hit her. Instead he brushed some hair gently away from her eyes.
"What do you want from me?" she spoke for the first time. Her voice was slightly hoarse.
"I don't want anything from you," he replied simply, leaning back in his chair. "You're a bonus. I'm simply using you to teach an old acquaintance a lesson. You're unfortunate enough to be close to him." Mulder, she thought. But what had he done to this guy?
"Why do you want to teach him a lesson?"
"You'll find out soon enough."
"Why can't you tell me now?" With that he leaned forward, bringing his face just inches from hers.
"Did anybody ever tell you, you ask too many questions?" She met his gaze evenly. She didn't want to give this bastard the satisfaction of seeing her scared.
"It's an FBI agent's job to ask questions."
"Well, you're not working now so quit it." He relaxed slightly and rubbed his mouth with the back of his hand. She could tell he was a drinker; this was characteristic alcoholic behavior.
"I don't see why you need me," she stated.
"DON'T YOU LISTEN? I SAID SHUT UP!" he screamed in her face. Scully stood her ground though. She opened her mouth to say something, but he silenced her with his fist. There was a dull thud as it connected with her face. The sheer force of the blow snapped Scully's head backwards.
When she recovered she turned her head to look at him, blood trickling from a gash in her cheek. He was stood now, face red and breathing hard. The chair was on the floor, thrown back when he stood up. Her blood was on his ring, glistening wet in the dim light.
"You made me do that," he said. "If you'd have shut the hell up when I told you to I wouldn't of needed to do that." Scully didn't say a word, just stared at him as the blood continued to seep down her cheek, running like a river down her neck. He grabbed a towel from the bathroom and crouched down beside her. Taking her face gently in his hand he proceeded to wipe away the blood.
"There," he said after he was finished. "Back to your beautiful self again." He glanced at his watch before standing up. "Well, I have to go pay your partner a little visit." He ripped another piece of masking tape from the roll and bent down to her level again. "Be good." He kissed her on the lips before placing the tape back over her mouth. Grabbing an envelope from the chair he exited the apartment and switching off the light, plunging Scully into darkness.