A/N: Thanks for all the reviews. I do save each and every one of them, even if I don't write back. This chapter is another Johnny McShortandfat, but I kind of like them this way.

By the time the plane landed in Boise, their luggage was retrieved and they managed to get on the road, it was after 1 p.m. local time. Scully was trying really hard not to be cranky, but she had a crick in her neck and some caffeine would have been much appreciated.

"Hey look, Pocatello," she said, pointing to a passing freeway sign.

"Who?"

"Pocatello, Idaho. I had a friend from there. We called it Pokey Jello."

Mulder glanced over at her, not quite sure what to say. She returned the glance and smiled.

"Leave me alone, I'm tired."

"Obviously."

"Why'd Skinner book a flight through Boise? It would have been faster to fly into Spokane and make us drive the 8 hours than fly into Boise and make us drive for like 14."

"Skinner can't read a map."

"Neither can his secretary."

"He has a fill-in secretary right now. Arlene went on vacation, remember?"

"Well she needs to come back. This is ridiculous."

"What you don't want to spend 14 hours in a car with me without a radio?"

"We might actually have to talk to each other."

"We should have stopped and bought a travel Yahtzee game or something."

"I know. This sucks."

"Wanna play Truth or Dare?"

"You can't play that in a car. It turns into all truth and then we'll fight like all the other times we've tried to play that while sitting in a car."

"Maybe you need to take a nap."

"Are you my mother?"

"Dana, go to your room."

She smiled and leaned back against the seat, kicking her shoes off and tucking her feet up underneath her as best she could.

"Wake me if you want me to drive."

"I will."

Her eyes slowly slid shut and it was only a matter of minutes before she was in a dead sleep. He loved to watch her sleep. It was peaceful. Ever since the cancer and Emily, he had been paying careful attention to how she slept. He had noticed more restlessness; furrowed eyebrows, erratic breathing. Many nights he had stolen into her hotel room, hoping to somehow soothe her back into a normal sleeping pattern. Most times all it took was a hand on her forehead and he could chase the nightmare away. She never knew he did this, and he wasn't planning on telling her any time soon.

They arrived in Butte exhausted, hungry, and in desperate need of showers. They managed to find a hotel that was pretty clean, had two adjoining rooms available, and didn't cost too much. A minor success, but one they enjoyed.

Mulder called the local P.D. and agreed to meet with the sheriff in the morning. From there they would figure out their next step in the case.

"I'm going to go for a run in the morning. Want to come?" Mulder asked, flopping down onto her bed.

"I'm going for a root canal in the morning. Want to come?" Scully countered, scrunching a pillow up underneath her head.

"Got it. Will you be ready to go around 8?"

"I will if you get out of here and let me sleep."

"You slept for like 4 hours in the car."

"Yeah, but I only slept for 3 last night and... leave me alone."

He smiled and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.

"Night, Scully."

"Night."

He made no effort to get off of the bed, and after a moment, she opened one eye and stared at him.

"Mulder, after going to three hotels and finally finding one that had two rooms, you actually want to share?"

"No, I just don't want to get up. How do you always manage to get a good mattress?"

"Our mattresses are probably exactly the same. You just want this one because I have it."

"I'm not five."

"You're not? Had me fooled."

"You were a bully growing up, weren't you?"

"I was like Scut Farkus's toadie from "A Christmas Story." Being short with red hair forced me into it."

"Forced into a life of crime- next on Geraldo."

"Your jokes get worse the tireder you get."

"Tireder?"

"More tired. Shut up."

He smiled and reached over for her hand.

"Scully?"

"Hmm?"

"I know I don't tell you this enough, but I'm glad you're here with me. I'm glad you're my partner. I wouldn't want anyone else."

"You don't have to tell me that, Mulder. I know already."

"Just making sure."

Their fingers danced together for a moment before he finally stood up.

"Catch you on the flip side, toadie."

"Night."