FBI ACADEMY

Quantico, Virginia

10:32 AM

"It is.. 10:32 am, I am starting the autopsy on Dianne Baker. The official cause of death is inconclusive, I will now be started on the exterior examination. On the victim's chest, the word 'Sister' is carved in. Looks like someone carved it with their nails.." Scully started on the autopsy as soon as she got word that the body had arrived at Quantico. "Scully.." Mulder comes in, "Find anything yet?" "No not yet," she answers, "Just the exterior findings.. the carving was post mortem, there's no bruising or stab wounds or gunshot wounds. Maybe the internal examination will give us a better idea." Scully made her way to the examination table and picked up a scalpel to start the exam. "Well, it would be nice of you to hurry up, there's been another murder." Mulder said, Scully looked up at him, "Mulder, you don't think Lori Stone is doing this, do you?" he smirked before answering her "They call me Spooky for a reason don't they?" She rolled her eyes and smiled to herself.

After making the initial incision, Scully started her routine procedure. Although, when she looked inside. "Hmm.. odd.." she whispered to herself, the lungs were unusually bloated. When she took her scalpel to one of them, water started pouring out. Scully jumped back, in shock of what she had just witnessed. Mulder walked towards the body quickly to see what caused her to react in such a way. "Does this usually happen?" Mulder asked, like a jackass of course. "There wasn't any visible bloating on the exterior examination. Was she found near any sort of body of water.. o-or in a tub or a pool?" Scully looked at Mulder before reaching up to turn off the tape recorder. "Umm.. I don't believe she was.." Mulder said, he walked over to the back of the autopsy room and picked up the case file laying on the counter. He flipped through to find the police report and photos of the crime scene. "Yeah, that's what I thought. She was found in her apartment by a roommate." Their eyes met in disbelief before she looked back down, removing her glasses. There was a unusually silent moment between the two, except for the constant buzzing of the florescent lights. It was very unlike Scully to be lost for words, or even worse, not have any sort of explanation for what she had seen.

"Looks like we have a cause of death now." Mulder said, breaking the odd tension. Hoping Scully would say something. She looked down at the body for a few moments before looking back up at Mulder, "You booked those flights yet?"

2630 Hegal Place, Alexandria, Virginia

7:53 PM

Mulder made his way back home, or at least what seemed like home. There was nothing much in his apartment, the room that is supposed to be his bedroom is filled with boxes of old, unexplained case files. Something that had haunted him since his sister was taken from him. Of course there were little things here and there that made his apartment just a little bit more.. homey, I guess you could call it that. The roll of masking tape that sat on his window sill if need be, his aquarium, and... not much else.

Up the stairs he went to the fourth floor, hesitating on the third to possibly catch a glimpse of his new neighbor that filled his mind during the day in between the depressing research. She wasn't in the hallway, the door was closed, and no more boxes outside of her door. It was very uncharacteristic of him to think about a woman this much. It sounds cliche, but Fox Mulder is the textbook definition of someone who is married to their work. He reached the fourth floor and noticed something stuck his door, it looked like a post it note perhaps.

Coffee tomorrow? - Julie

"Damn it.." He muttered to himself, he was leaving to go to Wisconsin for who knows how long. He didn't want to stand her up or give no explanation as to why she never received an answer to her invitation. He looked at his watch.

It's before 8, I don't think that'd be too rude of a time to knock on someone's door

He thought to himself before removing it to head back down the stairs and knock on apartment 32. Julie answered the door. "Well.. here you are.." She smiled at him before leaning against the door frame.

"Hi Julie, umm I saw your note you uhh left on my door and I would like to take you on that offer sometime but just not tomorrow."

"You got a hot date or something tomorrow?" She smirked.

"I'm actually flying out to Wisconsin for a case."

"Wisconsin?" She grimaced, "What for?"

"Well, there's an X File out there. My partner and I are flying out tomorrow morning." He said, stuffing his hands in his pockets, feeling this strange sense of awkwardness.

God, why are all of my conversations with Julie seem so dull. They never feel that way with.. her..

Mulder thought to himself, "Well.. I just made some tea if you would like some." Julie said, she smiled at him in a way that was very warm and welcoming.

Shit! What do I do? This beautiful woman is asking me into her apartment and we haven't even gone on a date. It usually takes me two or three dates to get this far.

"Uhh.. yeah sure, that'd be great." He smiled slightly, she moved away from the door to let him step in. "Sorry about the place, I was pretty wiped out after moving all of the boxes in. You think that'd have an elevator here."

"Yeah, it's pretty annoying when you realized you left your wallet in your apartment. I've gone several days without a wallet just so I didn't have to walk back up the stairs." She laughed lightly, setting two mugs on the counter, preparing their tea.

The night lasted much longer than either of them anticipated, they talked about where they grew up, got their educations. Mulder was particularly interested in her childhood in Memphis. Even though he tried to relax himself and enjoy being with Julie, there was this nagging feeling that he couldn't get off his mind. It almost felt wrong being there with her. He hadn't been in a relationship in quite some time, especially not after Diana. His goal was just to find the truth and that was it. He thought about it day in and day out, women and settling down haven't been apart of his five year plan more recently. Even thought he'd never admit it, he cared about Scully more than anything. After she was abducted several months prior, it was hard to keep Scully out of his mind. He was terrified he was going to lose her again, and possibly for good this time. The images of Samantha in his nightmares started to blend with the image of Scully being taken from him.

"Everything alright, Fox?" Julie asked, noticing Mulder zoning out into his own head. "Oh yeah I'm fine, just long day today. I umm I better head out, I got to get to the airport early." Mulder said, he stood up from the couch where they had been sitting and picked up his coat that had been draped over the back. There was a silence that teetered on the edge of awkward before Julie blurted out, "I uhh I had fun tonight, it was nice having you here." She didn't want to come on too strong as he was her only acquaintance here so far and she really liked Mulder. "You can call me Mulder actually, I'm not a big fan of Fox. My parents even called me Mulder." he said, in his normal monotone voice. Why did he think that was attractive? Constantly talking in an emotionless tone, maybe that was part of his charm. Julie smiled, "Okay, Mulder. Have a safe flight." She opened the door and they exchanged their good nights. He walked to his apartment for what felt like an eternity as there was a surprising internal conflict within him.

No.. there's no way she feels that way about me. Of course I do and I always have, but there's no way she could...

Mulder finally got to apartment 42, unlocking the door. Setting his keys on the table and placing his coat on the couch, he walked to his answering machine. "You have one new message" the automated voice replied.

"Mulder, it's me. I'll pick you up around 8:30." He instantly recognized the voice, "I figured it would make more sense to ride together. See you in the morning." Another beep indicated the end of the message. Mulder sat on the couch after hearing Scully's message, wondering what she was doing. Was she watching tv? Was she reading? What was she reading? Scully hardly leaves his mind these days, especially after her abduction that she blatantly ignores and doesn't acknowledge that it was aliens. Mulder knew though and even though Scully wouldn't accept it, maybe she will as time goes on.

1419 Street, Annapolis, Maryland

8:32 PM

"That'll be $15.32." The pizza delivery boy said, as she opened the door. She handed him a 20 and told him to keep the change as she settled on her couch with her pizza. Scully turned on the tv, but became distracted as she began to think of Mulder and how odd it was that he was late to work. He beat her to the office everyday, he also behaved in a strange way when he arrived. The tv was becoming background noise at this point as she was fully engrossed in her thoughts about Mulder. She could tell by the way he talked to her and by the way that he took charge in most cases that he was still worried about her after the abduction. She hated it. She almost hated him for treating her like a child when she is a fully capable agent where she doesn't need to be coddled because something happened to her while they were on a case. She kept thinking to herself how she's not a damsel in distress that needs to be saved by her knight in shining armor, no matter how cliche it sounds. In all actuality, she doesn't have a great track record when it comes to being able to hold her own. That wasn't the first time she was in trouble and Mulder had to save her. No matter how many times she told herself she hates it, there's a part of her that likes him coming to her rescue. Not just anyone, but him.