A/N: LET'S GET CRAZY! Thanks SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO much for the reviews. I HEART them!
Scully eyed the bathroom door. Mulder had just gone in to take a shower. She heard the water turn on. She had made her decision earlier that day, in a split second.
After the note, Scully had spent the day lost in her own head. She hadn't even paid much attention to what Mulder had told her, and she usually hung on his every word. She didn't want to hear him. She didn't want him to be a reason to change her mind, even though he didn't know that a decision has been made.
Scully truly felt horrible about Claire. She felt horrible that this small town, which consisted of the most warm and welcoming citizens that she had ever met, had been put through so much horror and heartache. She couldn't get over the feeling that this was somehow all her fault. She was going to catch this guy. And she knew that she had to get away from Mulder to do it.
She unlocked the door, opened it, and stepped into the cool evening air. She pulled the door shut quietly behind her. She took a deep breath and walked slowly down the steps.
The town was bathed in orange as the street lamps turned on. A few people were out and about, but not many. Scully was grateful for that.
She walked to where the Fall Festival had been taking place. Some picnic tables were still set up. She took a seat, her back to the table.
"If you want me, here I am, asshole," she said quietly to the air.
Her right hand drifted to her low back. She felt the hard handle of her gun, hidden beneath her shirt and stuffed into the back of her pants. She glanced around and prepared to wait.
A few minutes went by. No one. Nothing. She was getting a little impatient. This was not an easy decision to make, and she wanted to get this over with! Apparently, however, the killer had other plans. She wasn't going to get him out on her terms. It had to be on his.
She sighed and stood up, feeling frustration and anger rise up from within her.
Scully marched out into the middle of the road. She looked both ways. There was no sign of life.
"Here I am, you coward!" she yelled. "Come get me!"
***
Mulder stepped out of the bathroom, dressed in his jeans and a pair of socks. He was roughly rubbing the towel through his hair when he realized that Scully was missing.
"Scully?" he called.
He jogged into her room. Not there. He went to his room next. Empty too.
"Where the fu..."
Then he heard it. He could here someone yelling from outside. Mulder bolted out the door and down the steps, not sure whether or not he shut the door behind himself. He didn't care, anyway.
"What the hell are you doing?!" he yelled, running towards Scully.
She stopped yelling and turned to look at him. He came to a stop and stood in front of her.
"Are you crazy?!" Mulder had a very panicked look on his face.
"Mulder, I'm trying to catch this guy. I can't do it with you around me all of the time," she explained, sounding so calm and sure of herself.
"No. Fuck, no! Come on," he told her, grabbing her arm and trying to pull her back to their motel.
She broke his grip. "Mulder! I have to do this."
"Scully, this is not up for discussion. We're partners. We do things together. I will not let you do this! It's crazy!"
"Mulder, how many times have I let you go off by yourself to do crazy things? Things that turned out okay."
"Scully, I'm standing out here like a redneck- no shirt, no shoes. Please, just come back with me. We'll figure something else out. I promise. But I will not let you stand out here alone. So, please don't make me stand out here with you shirtless. I'm wet. It's cold."
She crossed her arms, but looked at him like she was contemplating his offer.
"You know, I will carry you back if I have to... You know I can," he added.
"Fine." Scully gave up and led the way back.
"Thank you."
"I just want you to know that I am unhappy about this," she said as they walked.
"Not as unhappy as I was when you pulled that crazy little stunt," he muttered.
She heard him but chose to ignore him.
Once they were inside, he pushed her towards the bathroom.
"Shower. Please. You smell like dirt."
"Thanks," she said sarcastically.
"I'll be sitting right here," he flopped onto the couch, "in case you try to escape from me again."
"You sound like you're my captor, Mulder."
"I am, Scully. Now, go."
She disappeared behind the bathroom door. He heard the water turn on.
What is wrong with her?! he thought, still a little freaked out by her actions.
He was good at hiding how freaked out he actually was. Mulder had never seen that kind of behavior from Scully. She was the safe one, he was the reckless one, and that's how it always had been. Lately, though, it seemed that their roles had been reversed. He didn't like it. He now saw how crazy he must drive her sometimes. He made a mental note to try to behave himself more often.
Scully stepped out of the bathroom wrapped in her towel. Her hair dripping wet. Mulder stood up.
"Yours or mine?" he asked.
"Yours or mine, what?" she asked, confused. She wondered if she ever knew what he was talking about sometimes.
"Your bed or mine?"
"You're not sleeping with me!" she stated firmly. "I'm not going to try to 'escape' again."
"That's nice, but I'd just be more comfortable if we slept in the same room."
"Let me guess, if I still refuse, you'll just pick my lock and come in anyway?"
"That would be about right. You're good!"
"Yours," she finally chose. "Is it okay if I get dressed alone? As much as I trust you, my dear partner, I still don't want to be naked in front of you."
Mulder smiled. "I don't know... You may need me to-" he cut himself because of the look on her face. She was not in a joking mood. He ran a hand through his still damp hair. "Go on. I'll be waiting out here."
It didn't take long for the two of them to slide into Mulder's bed. He turned onto his right side. She did as well, putting her back to him. He looped an arm over her waist and pulled her against his warm body.
"You scared me," he whispered his confession in her ear. "I can't lose you."
"I know," she replied.
They both knew that she meant that they couldn't lose each other, not just him losing her.