A/N: I am totally digging these short chapters. They are gonna get longer soon.

She always hated doing autopsies after someone else already had. It felt like breaking some kind of code. But Mulder insisted that she would find something that was missed, something that would break the case and get them out of this town faster. She couldn't argue with logic like that.

But then she didn't find anything new. She went over and over and over the body and found nothing that was missed, nothing that was misinterpreted, nothing that was even remotely curious. She worked all day, trying to find something that wasn't there. Her feet hurt, her hands hurt, and her head hurt. All she wanted was a hot shower. But the moment she walked into her hotel room and saw the big fluffy bed, dreams of a shower fell by the wayside. She threw herself down against the pillows, burying her face in them. The muscles in her back pulled and stretched painfully. Standing all day and then immediately laying down was not a good idea. It almost took her breath away, but the tension soon eased.

"Hey Scully-"

"I didn't find anything new, Mulder."

"I know that. I was just going to tell you that the metal residue they found was matched."

"To?"

"Dog tags."

"Like military issue?"

"Yeah."

"Do you think we're looking for someone with a military background?"

"I really hope not, but it's possible."

"I want to examine the very first body then," she declared, sitting up and running her hand through her hair.

"What?"

"The first victim was found at a camp a few hours north. She's been buried, but maybe we can get an exhumation order. The M.E. noted that there were some bruises on her neck. Small, round ones. It could be from the dog tag chains."

"Scully, that victim was just buried two days ago."

"I know. That's why we need the exhumation order."

"I want you to think about that for a minute. The family just laid her to rest. Do you have to have the body, or will the M.E.'s report with the pictures suffice?"

She sighed.

"You're right. I should look at everything we have before I request an exhumation."

"I'll call and get them to fax the report to the station."

"Thanks."

He sat down on the bed next to her and pulled out his cell phone. She watched him as he made the call, noting the clench of his jaw, the way he loosely held the phone, the way his eyes half closed as he listened, and how they sprang open when he started to speak. All things she had noticed before, but always in such an incognito way. She never felt right just watching him before, but suddenly tonight, she was able to observe unabashedly.

"They're going to fax the reports over in the morning. They have to get someone to release them or something. I don't know. Montana is weird."

"So now we wait?"

"Now we wait."

"Wonder what's on TV here."

"Nothing, and a Rodeo."

"I like Rodeos."

"Why?"

"They're exciting."

"Why?"

"Have you ever watched one? Every time they open that gate, you wonder if the rider will last or not. It's like Nascar. You want them to succeed, but you're honestly watching for the crashes. Rodeo just gets to the carnage faster."

"Faster than Nascar?"

She just smiled and clicked the TV on. After flipping through the channels, they finally settled on an old Don Knotts movie.

"I love Don Knotts," Scully commented.

"Really?"

"Yeah. And I still have a crush on Andy Griffith."

"He's like 200 years old."

"I don't care, he's the best man in the world. He's made of integrity, he has an amazing smile. And have you ever heard him sing?"

"Are you fangirling all over me?"

"Sorry. I've liked him since I was old enough to sit up."

"Wow."

"But this right here is my favorite Don Knotts movie."

"Why?"

"I don't know. It's funny, and it has a good ending, and the thing he says on the porch... I've always wanted someone to say to me."

"You mean the thing about 'I'm an average guy and you're an above average girl, and average is just darn lucky to be sitting on a porch with above average'?"

"Yes."

"Well hey, average just darn lucky to be sitting here watching TV with above average."

"Aw, thanks Mulder. How did you know what line I was talking about?"

"I'm no stranger to this movie, Scully."

"Now you're neck and neck with Andy Griffith."

"High praise."

They settled in to watch the movie, slowly scooting closer and closer, relaxing more and more until the were both laying down, her head on his chest, and their eyes at half mast.

"Scully?"

"Hmmm?"

"I should go back to my room."

"Mmm."

"You're going to have to get up."

"Mmm."

"If I don't get up I'll stay here."

"Mmm-hmm."

"But the rules..." he said, starting to drift off.

"You don't care about the rules," she slurred back.

"You do."

"Not when I'm this," she yawned, "tired."

"Okay."

"Don't you dare tell anyone I let you sleep in here. I would never hear the end of it."

"Deal," he muttered as he drifted off to sleep. Her ear rested right over his heart, and it beat like a metronome, predictable and constant, guiding her comfortably into her dreams.