Alex Krycek is driving me right out of my mind.
There are top secret files pertaining to government medical experiments to examine and translate. There's no sign of them here...no folders, no papers, no computer disks...he hasn't even mentioned them yet.
There are other files. The files he sent me a few weeks ago. Others that he's been able to unlock since then. How many of them reveal projects and plans that we need to prepare for or even interfere with? He hasn't mentioned those either.
There's also the elephant in the room. Last time we spent more than 10 minutes together he ended up ditching me. Big time. And although I'm assuming this dinner is some lame attempt to help make amends for that, he hasn't mentioned that, either.
And all of that is pretty much pissing me off. Does he think I have both the time and inclination to just meet him for dinner and chat like old friends? Who the hell does he think he is?
I lean back against my chair and begin sipping on my third glass of wine. I look at my dinner companion as he finishes the last of his meal and note the absolutely flawless presentation. From that thick black hair, to the thick black eyelashes, to the deep, rich burgundy turtleneck sweater, to the charcoal grey suit and those expensive-looking wingtips, every detail is absolutely perfect.
To say nothing of the aftershave he's wearing. Or the flirty smiles, flirty eyes, flirty banter, and flirty everything else he keeps tossing in my direction. And have I mentioned that he's utterly gorgeous, even without all these things?
I set my glass down and push it away. I'm quite intoxicated enough, thank you.
Intoxicated enough, in fact, to just cut to the chase.
"What are we doing here, Krycek?"
He looks up to find my eyes as he dabs his lips with his napkin and takes a long sip of his wine before answering, "We're having dinner, Scully."
"Why?"
"Why not?"
I give him my "give me a fucking break" look and cock my head.
He chuckles at me. Again. He's been doing that all night. "To be honest, I felt I owed you. It wasn't very nice of me to abandon you like that, even if you were abandoned in your family's home. So I wanted to try to make it up to you...or at least make a small, initial attempt to make it up to you."
"So this has nothing to do with the medical files you requested my help with?"
"Well, of course, there's that, too."
"Something tells me you're going to owe me a hundred expensive dinners, Krycek."
He smiles warmly at me and leans in a couple inches. "I'm looking forward to paying my bills."
He starts to take another sip of wine when I toss out another observation. "I haven't seen any files or any indication at all of the work that needs to get done. In fact I'm starting to think that the real point of this evening has absolutely nothing to do with any top secret files."
He smiles again. "And just what are your investigative instincts telling you that this IS about?"
I hesitate a moment, trying to decide if I want to actually say it out loud. What the hell. Someone needs to have the balls to clear the air. "Well, since you've been flirting with me since this afternoon, I'd wager that you're attempting to lure me into your bed."
He chuckles at that, and takes a sip of water.
"As I recall, Scully, YOU were the one who crawled into MY bed."
Ok, so that's true enough, although it was a completely different situation. Wasn't it?
"Yeah, and look how that turned out."
His smile fades into what can best be described as a smoldering look. "I sincerely wanted it to turn out completely differently."
Whew...this is getting real, now isn't it? His words and demeanor are both a bit unsettling. But I'm determined to get a straight answer from him. "So what are your hopes for this evening? Do you want to secure my help with the files or do you just want to get into my panties?"
That smoldering look turns into a downright lecherous leer. "Don't make me choose, Scully."
If he's trying to shock me he should have said that before I started drinking. "Does this mode of seduction usually work for you? Ditching a woman at the top of a mountain? Are they generally eager to crawl into bed with you after that?"
I'm met with another smoldering look. "I'll have to answer that question tomorrow morning."
I shake my head in disbelief. What the hell is it going to take to throw him off track?
"You must be completely insane, Alex. It's going to take more than a nice dinner to earn my forgiveness, and much, much more before you could ever hope to get me in bed."
"I'd love a complete list of tasks and requests. I'd love to get started right away." I open my mouth to repeat my diagnosis of insanity… "Also, you just called me 'Alex'."...and then close it when I realize that I DID just use his first name. I just stare at my empty plate wondering what in the hell that slip meant.
"Cat got your tongue, Dana?"
I look at him again, although I can't think of a single thing to say. Maybe that was my fourth glass of wine?
His eyes are very green. His face is completely beautiful. He's clever and funny and seductive. And he has access to all kinds of information.
"Mephistopheles."
He laughs. "Is that what you think of me?"
I can't tell if he's flattered or just surprised. In any case, he doesn't seem to be offended, and that in itself is pretty telling. Pretty damning. Pardon the pun.
"I'm going home. Good luck with those files."
"Scully…"
I'm already standing. "Goodnight, Krycek. Thanks for dinner, but this will be our last one."
"Scully, don't go." He stands and takes a step towards me.
"I'm armed." He stops his hand in mid-air as it was about to reach for mine.
"Why are you leaving? I thought you of all people would appreciate honesty. But I didn't mean to freak you out."
Am I freaked out? Because he was being honest with me?
"I'm not the devil, Dana. I assure you I'm trying to do everything I know to do to fight off the devils."
He looks desperate all of a sudden.
"I'm sorry if I frightened you. I'll stop. I'll be the consummate professional. No more flirting. Please stay. Please say you'll help me with the files. I need you."
I'm stuck between wanting to walk away and sober up before making any more decisions and wanting to sit back down and give him the benefit of the doubt that he can keep his word. I came here to gather information. I really don't want to leave empty handed.
"I'm going to require desert."
He sighs and smiles in relief.
"And no more flirting."
He closes his eyes and shakes his head, "You win. No more flirting. Promise."
He moves around to the back of my chair and I take my seat again. "Don't make me regret this, Krycek. You won't get any more chances."
He shakes his head again. "Message received, Scully. Loud and clear."