Chapter 5: Investigations
Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended. Any resemblance to persons living or dead is merely coincidental.
A passage from Chapter 64 of 'Moby Dick', by Melville, is quoted.
Music for this chapter can be found at youtubedotcom/jmollytwilight2, on the playlist 'Twi-Files: The Truth', beginning at #5:
'You Shouldn't Kiss Me Like This', by Toby Keith
Monday, July 5th, 2010:
Forks, Washington
Mulder and Scully were in Hospital Director Phelps's Office for precisely five minutes when the Triage nurse stormed in holding Queequag. Apparently, breaking and entering into a government issue vehicle was not as big a crime as leaving little dogs unattended in vehicles.
"Janelle?" Dr Phelps asked, eyebrows on the ceiling.
"Your visitors left this little sweetheart in their SUV. He was thirsty," she said, glaring at Mulder and Scully, who had the grace to look sheepish.
"We didn't want to bring him into the hospital," Scully said contritely. "And we couldn't leave him in Sol Duc unattended for so many hours."
"Well, we'll just overlook hospital policy for once. You can set him down. Just promise me you'll carry him in your arms when you're outside my office."
"Yes, sir. Thank you," Scully said. Queequag trotted over and wiggled his tail at the Director.
"Cute little fellow. You don't see many little dogs in these parts. Guess you two have to have a small dog when you travel so much," he smiled.
Mulder looked at the dog. It really was a stupid-looking thing. Why couldn't Dana have a pet retriever? Or a doberman? Well, at least it wasn't a poodle. "Yeah," he said blandly.
Dana flushed hotly. Fox hadn't even noticed that the man had lumped them into a relationship. Were they that transparent?
"Doctor Phelps, we were discussing Doctor Cullen?" Mulder prompted.
"Ahem. Of course. Like I said, I can't imagine anyone doing him harm. No jealousy, no lawsuits, no accusations of wrongful death. As it happens, he seldom makes a mistake. Well, I wish I had ten of him. Such a lovely man. He was a child prodigy, you know. He's worked in some very important hospitals. But he said he's made all the money he needs, and so he came here for a salary that wouldn't house an orderly in a big city.
"He's an admitted workaholic. Works tirelessly, and his wife tolerates that beautifully. She never complains that he's got no energy for her. In fact, he's only taken two vacations since he came here: one when his youngest boy got married, and one when the same boy inherited his brother's daughter."
"So Cullen's family life is happy?" Mulder checked.
Phelps looked taken aback. "Why, yes. His kids are in and out of here all the time. They always have been. Love to drop in on their Dad with home cooking and cheerful talk."
"Tell us about his kids," Mulder said disarmingly. He watched the administrator scratch Queequag's ears.
"Well... the eldest is Emmett. He's a fun young man. Always teasing people into feeling cheerful. He runs the family's Aid Station in Brazil. Has a Doctorate in Sociology from Dartmouth. Bit of a practical joker. He's played a couple of pranks on Carlisle, here at the hospital."
"And how does Dr Cullen feel about that?" Scully questioned narrowly.
"Oh, he's a real sport. Don't forget he raised five orphaned teenagers. Man knows when he needs to put his foot down. Knows when he's being played. He also knows how to indulge kids without spoiling them, and make them feel really secure and happy. That's a stellar family, I'm telling you."
"What about the rest of the Cullens?" Mulder continued.
"Rosalie is Emmett's wife. She's a mechanic. Owns a shop with a friend of the family, Jacob Black. He's just a kid but he's a whiz with motors. You wouldn't believe how strong he is. Been seen lifting motorcycles out of flatbeds."
"Huh. Really," Mulder said, making notes.
"The sister, Alice?" Scully enquired.
"Little ray of sunshine. She's a seamstress. Designs her own clothes. She married young, too. Her husband, Jasper, is very protective of her. And he is artistic as well. Designs video games."
"That so," Mulder said, impressed. "And the youngest pair?"
"They are the loveliest kids you could imagine. They spend half their time in Brazil, helping the disadvantaged. He's a genius, like his Dad. Edward and Carlisle are extremely close. Common interests, and both doctors."
"He's a fully-fledged doctor, at the age of 24?" Scully asked, eyes narrow.
"Oh, he's a genius, as I said. He's looking for an internship, which I hope he will do here. I personally tutored him on obstetrics and gynecology. He asked questions I would not have expected from a man twice his age. I'd hire him in an instant if he wished to work here."
"That so?" Mulder asked, looking sidelong at Scully. "I bet Doogie's a social moron, though, right?"
Scully looked at him in disbelief. Sometimes, he wasn't such a socially adept specimen himself.
Phelps bristled. "Certainly not. He's ... introverted. His wife, well ... she kids with him. Draws him out. He's got a lovely sense of humour. Very old-fashioned. So is she, as far as that goes. They have plenty of friends. All over the world."
"What's Bella like?" Scully wondered.
The Director sighed, thinking. "She's ... a nurturer. Very close to her mother-in-law. Quiet, but she can hold her own in the family. I heard her tear into a local viper once, publicly, for putting some poor girl down. She's like her dad that way. Doesn't take crap from anybody. He used to threaten her boyfriends with his hunting rifle. Um, Bella likes to read. Likes to volunteer in the community. She's probably down in the Children's Ward right now, running a play group."
"Maybe we'll pop in on her. Oh. We can't take the dog," Mulder said, frustrated.
"Oh, just take him. He's a nice little doggy, and the children would be delighted to pet him," the administrator shrugged.
"Will you write a note so nobody yells at us?" Mulder asked.
"Sure, sure," Phelps shrugged. He scrawled a hasty note on his prescription pad, and signed it. Mulder took it, looked it over, and pocketed it.
"Thanks. And thanks for your co-operation," he said, shaking hands with the head honcho.
o~o~0~o~o
The mannish nurse gave Mulder and the dog the hairy eyeball, and departed. He and Scully peeked into the playroom. It was a mess. Toys everywhere. But the kids were chattering cheerfully.
"And the itsy bitsy spider crawled up the spout again," Bella Cullen sang, along with her young charges. They all clapped for themselves.
She was a lousy singer. But what she lacked in talent, she made up with enthusiasm. The kids dispersed. Now, Bella was conversing with a frail-looking kid and her scruffy teddy bear.
"Wook, Edwood," a little boy of about five said, proudly displaying a candy bar. He had no hair.
"Oh, thanks," Edward grinned, snatching it. The little kid squealed and reached for it. The young man grinned and made a sound that went something like 'yarmf', pretending to bite the candy while holding back the weeny owner.
"My!" the kid yelled, eyes sparkling. "Gimme."
"Oh. This? You want this?" Edward asked, waggling it. "Oh. I thought it was mine,"he teased, letting the little boy snatch it back.
"Watch it, Cullen, or I'll tell him where your ticklish spot is," Bella growled from across the room.
"Minx. You do that? I'll divorce you."
"Bewwa's nice," the little chocolate bar owner growled, launching himself at Edward. Edward promptly turned him upside down and tickled his tummy. The two of them were soon lost in giggles.
It was then that the Cullens noticed Scully and Mulder with the dog.
"You brought Queequag," Edward grinned. He put on a silly pidgin voice, talking at his squealing rugrat. "'Your woraciousness, fellow-critters, I don't blame ye so much for; dat is natur, and can't be helped; but to gobern dat wicked natur, dat is de pint. You is sharks, sartin; but if you gobern de shark in you, why den you be angel; for all angel is not'ing more dan de shark well goberned.'"
"Pirate!" the kid bellowed. Edward giggled delightedly, tickling the boy, and growled 'aargh'.
"Ooh, look, kids!" Bella enthused. "Our friends, Dana and Fox, brought their beautiful little doggy to see you." There was an outbreak of excited screaming, and a mad rush for the dog.
"You know 'Moby Dick', Scully said, delighted.
Edward rolled his eyes. "I am a fount of useless trivia. Photographic memory."
"Hey, me too," Fox said. Then something dawned on him. "How did you know the dog's name?" he asked narrowly. "We never mentioned it." He watched Bella kneel on the floor and encourage the kids to love the Pomeranian up.
Queequag was in his glory. He ran around in circles, yapping, with his teeth showing in a doggy grin. The children ganged up on him, giggling, and he waggled around in a pretty-boy fashion. Definitely a show off.
"Local grapevine," Edward shrugged. "Come on, get in here, Fox. I need help with these hooligans."
"Hah hah," Mulder said, lip curling.
"Seriously. They're wearing me out," Edward claimed, flipping another squealing, pyjama-clad kid upside down.
Fox edged into the room and sat in the only other decent chair. A small American Indian girl appeared at his elbow, staring. He looked at her warily.
"What kind of a name is Fox?" she demanded, direct as only a little kid can be.
"I often ask myself that," he replied.
"Do you know the wolves? You must if you're a fox. There are lots of wolves around here," the kid stated.
"Uh, no," Fox blinked.
"I like horsey rides," the child declared.
"Yeah, okay," Mulder said, shifting. The little girl scrambled up on his knee, delighted. "So what are you in for?" he asked, jouncing her around.
"Doctor Cullen put this thing in my head. See?" She pulled her hair aside, revealing a shunt.
"Oh," Mulder said, surprised. He eyed Dana surreptitiously, hoping it didn't remind her of Emily. "Did it hurt?"
The child crinkled her nose. "Nope. Dr Cullen is good. He's Edward's daddy, you know."
"Yeah, I know that," Fox said.
Dana was sneakily watching her man, trying not to cackle at how awkward he looked, while she did a puzzle with another little girl. This one wasn't talkative. She'd had her tonsils out the day before, and would soon go home.
The big, tough-looking lady nurse came in. "Alright, children. Time to go and get ready for lunch. Say 'good-bye' to Bella and Edward, and their friends."
Friends? Scully and Mulder exchanged an uncertain look.
There was a collective 'aw', the loudest of which came from Bella and Edward. The children filed over to Bella and Edward for hugs and kisses, and trooped out, complaining. The nurse gave the dog a surly look, and gave Edward and Fox the hairy eyeball again.
"She scares me," Edward whispered theatrically when she was gone.
"Mocha-chino!" Bella remonstrated.
"She does. She's a dragon, I tell you. She eats men for breakfast, Minx." Edward turned back to Fox. "She's scary, right?"
"Terrifying," Fox concurred.
The little girl with the teddy bear lingered, leaning on Bella. Whenever the child looked at her, Bella smiled happily. But whenever the child rested her face against Bella's shoulder, her face fell. Edward watched them soberly.
The nurse reappeared, looking for her charge. Finally, the child took hold of her IV pole, retrieved her bear, and limped for the door. The nurse smiled sternly, slipped her arm affectionately around the girl's shoulder, and walked her out.
"She loves the kids," Bella said hollowly, staring at the doorway.
"Minx..." Edward said sorrowfully.
"Candice ... she's getting worse," Bella blinked.
"Yes, love. They decided, no more chemo. She's ... failing."
"How long?" Bella asked.
"I don't know, love. The tenacity of human beings is amazing. You know how the terminal kids are. As long as nobody is dumb enough to tell them a time frame, they ... just go on being kids. And eventually, they just ... decide."
"To go."
"Yes." He drew his wife into his arms, and kissed her temple. "God calls them-"
"-and they go and play," Bella said, gulping.
Mulder watched Scully with worry. Yes, she was slipping into a dark place. He cast an angry look at Edward, who looked disconcerted. Mulder marched over to his partner, pulling her up into his arms. She clung to him, not breathing. Trying to hold in the tears.
"I'm sorry," Edward said, forehead wrinkling. "Is there ...?"
"She lost a child," Fox cut him off, curtly.
Edward let go of Bella and hurried over to the other couple. He laid a sympathetic hand on Dana's shoulder. "I'm so, so sorry. Please forgive me for talking about-"
Dana turned haunted eyes on him. "You didn't know," she said, lying her head against Fox's chest. He stroked her hair once, turning his face away from the Cullens, his jaw clenched. He wished he and Dana were alone, but he had to interview the young couple. Why, when things were going well, did unpleasantness always have to happen?
"Truly, I'm sorry. We'll ... give you a minute," Edward said lamely.
Mulder nodded curtly, and the Cullens left the room.
"Scully..." Fox moaned.
"Do you...? Is Emily ... is she ... playing, Fox?" Her large blue eyes rose, seeking reassurance desperately.
He smoothed back her hair, and brushed a soft kiss on her mouth. "Of course she is. You know she is, Dana."
She clung to him, sniffling into his jacket, anchoring herself. "At least she knew I loved her," she consoled herself.
"Yeah." Mulder was quiet a minute, nursing regrets. "I loved her too, you know. I wish ... she'd been mine."
"So do I," Dana said softly, looking at him solemnly.
Well, what other response could he give to that? Watching her carefully, he bent down, with certainty. Dana was so short. Probably what made him feel so protective, from the first. He pressed his mouth to hers, possessively.
Just as certainly, she let him in. She put her hand behind his neck, and held him there. It was a serious kiss. A 'forever' kind of kiss. Not impatient. Not tentative. The kind of kiss that says that there are endless tomorrows to explore together.
To hell with the Brass. Some things are more important.
They took forever, and no time at all. Then, they broke apart. But the bond between them remained, in the look they shared.
No words were needed.
They just looked at each other, secure in the return of the other one's affection.
In the hallway, someone dropped something metal with a clang. It startled them, and they both jumped. They laughed at themselves a little bashfully.
"You okay?" Mulder asked tenderly, sweeping back his partner's hair again. She nodded twice, looking down. He pulled up her chin, and her smile kindled.
"We should go," he said, wondering how fast they could get through the day's business, so they could go back to the cabin and spend some quality time alone together.
"Queequag!" Dana gasped, eyes darting around. She flew out of her partner's arms and out of the room, stopping abruptly outside the doorway. Fox nearly ran into her, he was following so closely.
Edward was standing down the hall, beside Bella, and Queequag was in his arms, wagging his tail at the other people in their group: Carlisle Cullen was making his rounds with student doctors, and they were all admiring the dog.
Edward noticed the pair, and excused himself. Bella remained with the group, chatting. Carlisle watched his son walk away with obvious pride.
Edward stopped beside Scully. "Okay?" he checked.
"Yes," she replied. "It's hard sometimes. In my line of work, once in a while... it comes up unexpectedly."
"Yeah," Edward said, blinking his odd-coloured eyes. They seemed ... darker today. Perhaps it was due to the fluorescent lighting. "That must really bite." Edward looked behind him, just in time to see Bella kiss his father on the cheek. Carlisle looked up and waved 'good-bye' to Edward, who half-saluted him. The doctors disappeared into a patient's room, and Bella rejoined Scully, Mulder and her husband with a smile.
"I suggest lunch," Edward said cheerfully. "My treat."
"Oh, no we..." Dana began, eyes flickering back and forth between him and Mulder.
"I insist. We can answer your questions at the same time," Edward smiled.
"Tell me we're not going to the cafeteria," Bella moaned.
"No way José. There are too many negative thinkers in this building. Time to clear our heads."
Bella cheered up. "Where to?"
"Well, if we go to the Diner, we can take the dog in with us," Edward suggested. Queequag was still tucked up happily under his arm.
"Great," Bella smiled, grabbing onto his other arm. Fox and Dana followed, hand-in-hand, a little bemused.
o~o~0~o~o
"If you will excuse me for a moment," Edward said, gesturing toward the Men's.
"Sure. We'll pull up a table," Bella smiled, grabbing Scully, and the dog, and dragged her away.
"Uh, lemme come with you," Mulder said, tagging along with Edward.
"So, how long have you and Dana been together?" Edward asked, pushing open the door to the facilities.
"Um, we've been working together for ... almost eight years," Fox said, a little distracted.
"No, I meant together," Edward snorted, heading into a stall.
"It's that obvious?" Mulder said, wondering how the hell he was going to hide it from Skinner. He stood in front of the urinal and released his dick.
"Yeah, pretty obvious. You gaze at her a lot," Edward chuckled from within the stall. "Ssssshit!" he exclaimed.
Mulder glanced fretfully at the stall. He heard Edward pee, curse, and then pee more, in fits and starts. "Something wrong?" he enquired mildly, tucking himself away, and zipping his fly.
"Aargh! No. Yes, aargh. It's alright. It's just ... well, I'm having a flare up," Edward lied, pouring out his flask of grape juice into the toilet. "Damn-it to hell. Fuckity-fuck-fuck." He hid the flask on his person, and swung open the door to the stall. He made sure that the concerned Fibbie got a good look at the purple 'pee', while he zipped his fly, then he turned back and flushed it.
"Are you ... okay?" Mulder asked. Apparently, Edward Cullen really did have corpo... copro... cuppa... whatever. Besides having a monster in his pants.
Edward headed over to the sink, and scrubbed at his hands. "Yeah. For now, at least. Serves me right. I went out in the sun yesterday morning. I'm not supposed to, but you have no idea what it's like, never being out in the sun. And it was so nice, I just had to go out. Made me feel all shiny and new. Well, now I'm gonna pay for it. Probably be in the hospital tomorrow. Damn-it."
"A little sun is that bad?" Mulder winced.
"Yeah. Do me a favour and don't tell Bella, okay? She'll worry." He cranked a paper towel out of the holder.
"Okay. Edward?"
"Yeah?"
"I do not 'gaze' at Scully." Deja vu.
He'd said it before, Mulder realized, to Holman Hart, the guy who psychically controlled the weather. Damn. Must be true...
"Oh, yes, you do. Trust me. I live with three other exceptionally happy couples. You 'gaze' at her a lot," Edward grinned, throwing out his paper towel.
"I do?"
"Yep. Ever think about getting married?" Edward asked innocently.
"Uh, sometimes. What's it like?" Mulder asked softly.
"Being married? It's the best. Waking up with the love of my life every day? Who could ask for more? And it's even better if she wakes me up with her mouth wrapped around my-"
The door opened, and an old guy pushed his way past Edward to the stall. Edward started to go out, but Fox held him back.
"So how do you know when ... she's ... The One?" Mulder asked, looking vulnerable.
Edward scoffed. "Come on. You already know." He turned and pushed the door, and stopped dead almost immediately. "Shit!" he exclaimed again, stepping to the side just in time to avoid Mulder walking up his back. "Boy, this day just gets better and better," he moaned.
"What?" Mulder asked conspiratorially.
"That girl over there at our table," Edward grimaced, jerking his head toward a table near the window. "She bugs the hell out of me. She seems convinced that she can seduce me out from under my wife. As if. No amount of rudeness on my part deters her. I even told her I had an STI, and she still copped a feel."
"Charming," Mulder said, looking at the hard-as-nails blonde.
"She's a total skank," Edward declared. "How about we go over and get a beer?" he asked, gesturing at the stools in front of the bar. "Maybe she'll walk away from the girls in a minute without noticing us."
"Sure," Mulder said, watching the blonde sneer at Bella. Bella smiled back placidly, unfazed. Mulder and Edward walked over and sat on the bar stools.
"Hi, Cora," Edward said, smiling at the motherly-looking black waitress.
"Hiya, handsome. What can I get you?" she asked, polishing the top of the Formica counter with a bleachy dishtowel.
"Vitamin R. Same for my pal, Fox."
Cora raised a brow. "Fox, huh? You're the Fed, aren't you?"
"Yeah," Mulder said, taken aback.
"Well, I hope you and the Chief catch this maniac soon. People are frightened. Any progress?" Cora wondered. "Boys want to know."
A bunch of fishermen who, in Mulder's estimation, all greatly resembled the Cryptkeeper, turned to stare at him beadily.
"Uh, my partner and I ... are following some leads," Mulder stammered.
"Good," Cora declared, moving to the glass-doored fridge to get the beers.
Mulder looked at Edward, gawping. Edward shrugged. "Forks has an astoundingly good grapevine. There are no secrets in Forks."
Beside him, there was a bray of laughter. Both men frowned and turned to look at the author of it. Edward's face cleared. "Oh, hi, Stephi," he smiled.
"Hello, smexy. How's it hangin'?" the woman asked, sheltering the screen of her laptop.
"Peachy. This is-"
"Fox. I heard. Hi." She went back to her typing.
"Hi," Fox responded, bemused.
"This is Stephi. She's a writer. So, I lie. There is a secret in Forks. Stephi is a famous novelist. She's working on the next Big Thing. It's about what, Steph? Werewolves?"
Cora set down two frosty beers in chilled glasses. Edward thanked her quietly.
Stephi shook her head, typing madly. "Nope. Zombies."
"Awesome." Edward picked up his beer and sipped it. Mulder copied him.
Suddenly, Edward stiffened.
The tough blonde was rubbing her tits up against his back.
"That's definitely the word I would use," she cooed, flirting shamelessly and blowing in his ear.
"Lauren," Edward growled, bristling.
"When are you going to leave that pale little girl and spend some time with a real woman, Edward?" she simpered.
"Not interested," Edward snapped coldly, turning his back on her.
"Well, if you ever change your mind," Lauren said, running her hand down his shoulder and arm.
"I don't think so. Now run along before I tell Jessica you're angling for Mike again."
"Who wants to settle for Mike? I like my men top class, Edward," she purred.
"I'll be sure and let Mike know that," Edward said frostily. Without a word, he slid off the bar stool, with his beer, motioning for Mulder to follow. To Mulder's shock, the blonde looked at him lasciviously, running her tongue lewdly around her lips.
"Happily married," Mulder said, hurrying after Edward, who turned and did a double-take.
"Oh, boy. You just made it a challenge for her to get in your pants," he warned.
The men slid into chairs next to Bella and Dana. Cora came over to take their orders.
"I just want a Coke," Bella shrugged. Edward looked at her in concern. She looked a little sheepish.
"Usual, Edward?" Cora asked, not bothering to take notes.
"Yep. Thanks, dear."
Cora took Mulder and Scully's orders, smiled, and walked away.
"I'm not feeling all that well today," Bella admitted.
"Did you go out in the sun yesterday?" Edward asked slowly, peeking at her from under his lashes.
"Well... yeah," she reluctantly admitted.
Edward snickered. "And here, I thought I was being sneaky, to keep you safe."
"You went out, too?" she gawped.
"Yeah, and I've been feeling all guilty about it. Here, we could have saved ourselves a lot of trouble, and just been honest and said we wanted some sun. Gee, we could have spent the time together. That sucks."
"Sappy date."
"Takes one to know one. Rats. Oh, well. I dunno about you, but I'm going to be sick tomorrow."
"Likely. Well, we can be ill together. That beer isn't going to help, you know," she said, mouth turning down.
"In for a penny," he toasted her, drinking more of it.
"In for a pound," she said with an eye roll.
"Hope Carlisle doesn't kill us," he said, grinning mischievously, not realizing a caramel-haired woman was breathing down the back of his neck. He froze, the smile fading. "Crap. I'm dead. Hi, Mom."
Esme cuffed him on the ear so he slopped his beer on the table. "Idiot."
Edward looked mortified, then he smiled self-deprecatingly. "Thank you," he responded cheekily, grabbing paper napkins to mop it up. "I love you, too. Mom? These are new friends of ours. Fox Mulder, and Dana Scully. Dana? Fox? My darling mother: Esme."
The how-do-you-do's were affected.
"Who has our kid?" Bella wondered.
"I just stopped in because I saw you from outside. Jake and I are taking her to Port Angeles. She's grown again. Needs new clothes."
Edward sighed. "Within reason."
"Why do you think I didn't bring-" Esme jumped. "Oh. Hi Alice."
The little pixie-like girl stood at her mother's elbow, practically growling.
"Jake and I are taking Ren to Port Angeles, shopping. Care to ... tag along?" Esme winced.
The girl grinned all over her face. "Thanks. Yes, I would. There's this nice new little shop off the main drag that carries high-end designer kids' clothes. I'm sure Ness will-"
"Please don't call her that, Alice," Edward begged.
"She prefers it, Edward. It's her name," his sister argued.
Edward rolled his eyes. "Keep the shopping down to a dull roar, would you please?"
"Oh, Edward! When do I ever go over the top with her? I've been really, really good."
He closed his eyes against the unstoppable feminine tide. "Sure, sure. When do you expect to be home, ladies? Should Bella cook supper for Ren?"
"No, we'll take her out," Alice grinned.
"So ... we can expect a few hours..." he drawled, smouldering at his wife strongly enough to set her panties on fire. She smouldered back.
"Yeah, Mr Romance. Feel free to make some noise," Alice giggled.
Edward turned faintly grey around the edges. "Couth," he remonstrated.
"Whatever. See ya later. Nice to meet you, Dana. Fox." The pixie skipped away.
"I'd better go hold them down before they float away," Esme said, sighing. "Nice to meet you both," she said. She squeezed Edward's upraised hand, kissed him on the forehead, and Bella on the cheek, and left.
Cora brought a huge chicken Caesar salad for Dana, and a deluxe burger plate to Fox. She returned with a basket of bread sticks and set them in front of Edward, along with dip, and a small bowl of cottage cheese. He picked up a bread stick, dipped it in the cheese, and crunched it happily. Then, he noticed Dana and Fox staring.
"What?" he inquired blankly around his bread stick.
"Uh, is... that what you're having?" Dana winced. "We could have gone somewhere where you could eat something ... more substantial."
"That's very considerate of you. But you mustn't worry about us. Dad keeps the house thoroughly stocked with stuff we can eat. And when we're not feeling our best, we have tons of protein shakes. If we get rebellious about eating, he threatens us with IV's -which he also keeps at home, by the way- so there's no arguing with him. I love these bread sticks. Cora keeps them especially for me. I'm fine, really."
"We both are. Now entertain us with some cool stories. What's Quantico really like?" Bella demanded, sipping her Coke. "I bet you have to deal with some real, regimental-type jerks. We know all about dealing with law enforcement and politicians, between my Dad and our Brazilian connections."
Fox and Dana relaxed, deciding it was okay to chat with these young ones. For once, they would bite back their standard, no-commit answers. Perhaps... this charming young couple could be trusted as friends, however temporary the relationship might be.
This X-File was turning out to be a nice little break after all.
When they were nearly done their leisurely lunch, a uniform approached their table, hat off, interrupting the laughter.
"Mark?" Edward acknowledged.
"Uh, sorry to disturb you guys. Mr Mulder? Ms Scully? Chief Swan wants you to come with me. They've found the location where Sheila Cooper was murdered."
The two couples exchanged startled, serious looks.
"Thank you for lunch, and for your company," Mulder said, standing. He pulled out Dana's chair for her.
"I hope we can do it again," Edward said, shaking hands. "Hey, why don't we keep Queequag for the rest of the day, for you. You can pick him up at our place tonight."
Mulder and Scully agreed, pleased. They followed Sergeant Mark outside, and climbed in their SUV.
"Nice folks," Scully remarked, preparing to follow the police cruiser.
"Yeah," Fox agreed. "But they're odd, Scully. I still say he's a vampire."
Scully rolled her eyes, tires squealing as she tailed the Sergeant. There was no use arguing with Mulder, without compelling evidence to the contrary, she decided.
Some things, you just had to let go, if you wanted to get along.