The day of Scully's undercover operation had approached, everyone's nerves were on high alert. They had to wait a few days, risking that he hadn't already set his eyes on a new target. The team was getting their equipment ready, Scully getting dressed in her disguise. When she entered the conference room, Mulder's smirk grew, seeing her in regular clothes, and her brown wig.
"Not a word." She said as she glared at him. He huffed out a small chuckle, biting back the laugh building inside of him.
"Ah, come on Scully, you look cute." He teased. She rolled her eyes at him, leaving to speak with the SAC about the plan.
The entire team made the trek across town, Scully driving in her own bureau borrowed car, the others taking a different route in the surveillance van. She parked her car, maintaining her cover and entering the clinic for her appointment. They had tapped into the cameras inside the building, monitoring her every step.
"Agent Scully, tuck your hair behind your ear if you can hear us." The SAC said, waiting for her response. She paused, before reaching her hand up to the side of her face, sweeping a stray lock behind her right ear.
There were only 4 employees who matched their profile, making them their prime suspects. She was called back to a room, them only being able to follow her down the hall with the cameras. There was one other agent inside, posed as a volunteer, but they didn't want to trigger him, if there were too many unknown faces.
"Are any of the suspects on the clock today?" She whispered into her hidden mic, having the privacy of her own room.
"Only 2 of them. Someone's approaching your room, standby." She paused, taking a deep breath. Her stomach instantly began to turn at the sight of the person entering the room. He matched the description of their suspect perfectly, and was one of the 4 that they had profiled. She settled her nerves, attempting to maintain her cover.
"Hi, you're Katherine Harris?" He asked, entering the room with an unnerving grin.
"Uh, yeah, hi." She said in a hushed tone with a tightlipped smile.
"I'm Josh Turner. What's bringing you in today?" He asked as he slapped the gloves on his hands.
"Just a general checkup, mostly." She said carefully. She took mental notes, examining his overall appearance. Caucasian male, mid twenties, wedding band, and a smug grin that would make anyone uncomfortable. She knew her cover was working, the way his eye held a malicious gleam when he first glanced upon her.
"Any health concerns?"
"No, not really. I'm in med school, so maybe just exhaustion." She said with a shy smile. He nodded, beginning to run his fingers under her neck as he began his examination. Her skin began to crawl under his touch, hoping he didn't notice her slightly shiver in discomfort.
"Med school, that's ambitious. I got my nursing degree, but never could go all the way."
"Yeah, but I'm enjoying it. Don't get much time for myself, but it'll be worth it in the end."
"Other than the exhaustion, no other symptoms from the long hours?"
"He feels emasculated, that's why he does what he does. Try to veer towards that topic." Mulder whispered into her ear. She jumped slightly, not expecting the sudden interruption.
"Nope. Just typical stuff, I guess. I, uh, was wondering about birth control as well." She said in a cautious voice. His hands stopped, twitching slightly at the subject change.
"Are you sexually active?" The pure curiosity shining through his voice.
"No, not yet actually." She answered shyly, bowing her head to create the believability of her bashfulness.
"Really? I hope I'm not being too forward, but a gorgeous thing like yourself must have guys falling at your feet." He leered at her, the uneasiness of everyone reaching new levels.
"Thanks. I, uh, was always focused on my studies, not much time for any extracurriculars." She said, clearing her throat.
"I guess I just find that hard to believe." He said with a slight bitterness in his voice. "Well, let me just finish up my examination and we'll get you on your way." He said quickly. She could see the shift in demeanor in his eyes, confirming their theories.
She was dismissed, thanking him for his time. The other agent had already left, so that they didn't leave together. She got in the car, backing out slowly, driving to one of the safe houses they had set up in the area. Sure enough, a car began following her, the surveillance van already making their way on a different path.
"Just keep going straight, and make a left up ahead. Pull into the gas station, we want to see if he stops as well." The SAC said into her earpiece.
"Am I getting out of the car?"
"Yes, but you're only going to go inside to buy a water, and then get back in your car."
She did as instructed, him stopping to park on a curb on the back side of the gas station. As she continued on her route, the van got held up a few blocks away due to construction. She began to slightly panic, since she had arrived at the building. She knew she was being watched, and didn't want to make it obvious that she was talking into her mic.
"Do I go inside?" She asked in a hushed, small voice.
"No, we're finally moving again. We'll be ther-"
"He's getting out of his car. He - he's walking towards me."
"Agent Scully, your gun and badge are in your glove box. We are on our way."
She watched him approach in the mirror, everyone's breath holding. Mulder's anxiousness rising, wishing he could do more. They were about a block away, unable to move in the narrow streets with all the traffic. He couldn't handle it, he blew open the back door, continuing on foot. He ignored the indistinct yelling of his name, not caring about anything else in this moment.
He was disconnected from contact with her, so he was going in blind. They didn't even know how either of them were parked, and there was no way for him to know the layout of the situation. He could hear another agent following behind him in his stupid plan of action.
"FBI freeze!" Was all he heard before the muffled scream. He picked up his pace, sprinting as if his own life depended on it. He turned the corner, and could see her on the floor, head moving slowly, disoriented. She had a nasty bruise on her cheek, and her gun was laying beside her. She regained enough consciousness to reach for her weapon, but he was just standing over her, grinning as if he was a wild animal looking down at his prey.
"Don't move, hands up!" Mulder yelled as he approached within shooting range. His weapon situated high in his hands, determination in his eyes. Josh's head shot up, anger clouding his face. He huffed out in fury, turning to run. He was met with the rest of the team finally deciding to join the party.
As they took him into custody, Mulder immediately ran over to Scully, helping her sit up. Instant guilt washed over him, it was his fault she was in this mess.
"Scully, are you okay?" He rubbed her back gently, letting her come back to her surroundings.
"Yeah, I'm fine." She said in a small voice. She reached up and hissed when her fingers ran over the bruise on her cheekbone.
"Let's have the paramedics check you out."
"No, I'm fine. Really. It's just a bruise."
"Okay, then let me just get you home." He said sincerely. She nodded, head still cloudy from everything.
The ride to her apartment was quiet, both lost in their own thoughts. When he pulled up outside of her building, there was an unasked question hovering around them. She licked her lips nervously, bowing her head slightly before breaking the silence.
"Do you want to come in for coffee?"
"Sure, I'd love to." He said in a small voice, relieved that she had offered. He mostly wanted to make sure she got in okay, not fully believing she was as fine as she was saying.
"Make yourself comfortable." She said as she disappeared into the kitchen. He wandered slowly around her living room, taking in the small details that made everything about the decor so her. "You can sit, you know?" She said as she came back in to the room, biting back the small smirk on her face.
He smiled sheepishly at her, nodding as he moved to sit on the opposite end of her couch. She winced as she brought a frozen bag of vegetables to her face, finally feeling the effects of her eventful day.
"You're a doctor, and you don't have an ice pack?" He asked with amusement, trying to break the tiny ounce of tension in the room.
"My patients are usually dead." She said with a playful glare. He chuckled, finally relaxing in his surroundings.
"So...what happened?" He asked cautiously. She had been pulled aside to give her story, leaving him curious about how the events unfolded.
"I don't know, it all happened so fast." She said with a heavy sigh. "He was knocking incessantly on my window, asking me to step out of the car. I had already pulled my gun and badge from the glove box, waiting for him. I exited the car, and he was calm, it was unnerving, really. He glanced towards the side of my face, and I think part of my hair was coming out from my wig, because he just snapped. He began yelling that I was a liar, and I could see the anger building inside of him. That's when I stepped away, and called out my credentials. Before I could raise my gun, he backhanded me, and then I was on the ground."
"I'm just glad we caught him, and that you're okay."
"Do you know if he confessed, to any of the murders?"
"They're still interrogating him, I'm sure we'll find out more tomorrow. I, uh, should get going though. You should be resting." He said as he began to get up. She nodded, following him to the door.
"I really am glad you're safe. You should have never even been there, this was all my fault." He turned towards her, stammering.
"Mulder, stop. I'm fine."
"Sorry." He smiled sheepishly at her, realizing how closely they were standing. "I'll see you tomorrow, Scully."
"Hey, wait. What's on the third card?"
"Ah, right. We have another date, because apparently burgers don't count. I personally think she's setting too high of standards for myself, but she believes I can't completely mess this up."
"And where are we going on this proper date?"
"That...is to be determined. I'll let you know when I figure it out." He said with a wink as he made his way out of her apartment. She closed the door, smiling to herself. It wasn't a completely horrible day after all.
The next morning, they situated themselves in the conference room, having to listen to the other agents drone on about the conclusion of the case. Josh Turner finally broke after hours of interrogation, admitting to the multiple murders and attacks. Mulder was fidgeting in his seat, already completely bored with this meeting. When they were finally dismissed, Scully had disappeared, being pulled aside by another agent. He had reports to finish, and another case to follow up on, leaving him disappointed that he didn't have a moment to talk to her.
After several other meetings and a new case, Mulder's day flew by. He couldn't find Scully anywhere on the main level, and fled to the next place he suspected to find her. He smiled as he approached the morgue, seeing her in her scrubs, doing what she did best.
"What's up, Doc?" He said as he strolled into the room.
"Hey, busy day. I've been here pretty much since we left our meeting." She sighed, rolling her neck, welcoming the break.
"Yeah, I've had my nose buried in reports that I just love writing."
They both smiled, enjoying this newfound friendship. Other than a few flirtatious smirks, and suggestive notions, neither had made a move to imply that either wanted more than that. They were both being cautious, letting the other decide how this progressed.
"So what brings you down here?"
"I was coming to see if you were available this weekend, for, uh, our date." He said sheepishly. It was almost as if he choked on the last word, it only coming out in a whisper.
"I'm having lunch with my parents on Sunday, but other than that, I'm free."
Well, there goes his plan, not that he was fully sure he wanted to take her to the restaurant in Martha's Vineyard. His emotions were mixed, he loved the time they spent together, and didn't want to mess that up like he was always so destined to do. He had to do some research, think of a nice place to take her, since that's what he was being instructed.
"Saturday?"
"I'm charmed. Your chivalry needs work." She said flat-toned. He smiled, knowing she wasn't going to make this easy.
"M'lady, I would be so honored if you would dine with me this Saturday evening." He said sarcastically, bowing for effect. She rolled her eyes at him, biting back the amused grin on her face.
"Calm down, Romeo. Saturday sounds great. What time should I be expecting my prince charming?"
"Oh, I think he's busy this weekend, but I'm free to get you around 7?"
"And you're still not going to tell me where we're going?"
"No, and that might have to do with the fact that I haven't totally worked that part out yet, but dress nice." She chuckled, nodding in agreement as he made his exit.
Both of them were apprehensive about the date, neither knowing how the other felt. Saturday approached quickly, a little too quickly for Mulder's liking. All of this started by a forced nature, though it had turned into something he never could have imagined. He didn't have many friends, partly his own doing, and he welcomed the change.
Nerves building in every ounce of his body as he walked up to her apartment door, Mulder took a deep breath, as if this was an actual date. He knew she was only agreeing out of courtesy, helping him finish the tasks on his cards. His mind wandering to if this could mean more, but dismissing the thoughts in his own foolishness.
"Hey, let me just grab my coat really quick." She smiled as she opened the door.
He nodded, that's all he could manage after taking in her appearance. Comprehendible words not even a possibility, he chose to stay quiet. She was wearing a deep blue, fitted dress that silhouetted her figure in the best possible way. He had only ever seen her in pantsuits or scrubs, this a welcome treat. The knee-length, silky ensemble made from the heavens, accentuated all of her physical attributes, showing just a modest amount of cleavage that he already knew was going to drive him insane all evening. He exhaled deeply, breath catching in his throat as he saw her strappy, high heels, that he could only hope meant she was committed more to this date than just her sense of obligation.
"Are you going to stand there and stare at me all night, or are you taking me to dinner?" She asked, eyebrow arching, smirk appearing at the bewildered look on his face.
"I, uh, as much as I would love to take you up on that offer, I apparently owe you a proper date." He said with a sheepish smile.
"Mulder, this place is incredible. I'm impressed." She teased, taking in her surroundings. The Italian restaurant was dimly lit by candlelight and the twinkling decorations around each table. They were escorted to their seats, situating themselves across from each other, an awkward silence settling over them.
"I'd like to think this would satisfy her idea of a formal date." He huffed, still feeling ridiculous for having to follow these assignments set out for him.
"So what's the story there anyway? I've been meaning to ask about the mysterious cards." She said as she sipped her wine. He glanced at her wet mouth, watching as she licked an escaped drop off her plump lips. He fidgeted in his seat, mentally regaining his composure.
"I, uh, she was an old friend, Rosie, and she just recently passed away. She was widowed, never had any kids, and growing up, I sort of became her family. I helped her with her weekly errands, just kept her company. She lost her husband in the war when she was young, never remarried because she truly believed in the idea of a soulmate. She was imaginative, lively. She pushed me to do things far out of my comfort zone, which if I wasn't too stubborn to admit, actually probably saved me over the years." He said with a small smile.
"Hence the cards?"
"Yeah, exactly. Her last push, even beyond the grave." He scoffed, rolling his eyes. "I tried to check in on her as much as possible when I moved away, visited during the summers I came home. It became difficult when I started working, minimizing the contact to just a phone call every so often."
"I'm sure you did more for her than you'll ever allow yourself to realize. Though you should, considering she left everything to you."
"I know, I feel bad, distancing myself that way towards the end. She was in a way, the only family I really felt I had as well." His voice was distant, and she could see the sadness in his eyes. She reached over to cover his hand with hers in a comforting gesture. He stiffened at the sudden movement, smiling as he relaxed into the small contact.
"So how many cards did you say you needed to complete?"
"There are 10, or so I've been told. I only get one at a time, needing to fulfill that one before I can receive the next. It's probably because she knows I'd just make up some plan to finish them all, instead of enjoying the actual meaning behind them."
"And are you, enjoying your tasks?" She asked with genuine interest, a gleam shining through her eye. He smiled, nodding silently.
"Yeah, it's been alright so far."
"Your flattery needs work, too."
He chuckled, enjoying the ease between them. He had never felt this way with someone before, and he couldn't decipher his mixed emotions. He also had no indication on how she was feeling in relation to all of their time spent together, and didn't want to jump to conclusions. They were both treading on careful water, just enjoying their time together.
After dinner, the ride back to her apartment was rather quiet, both suddenly realizing that there was another card, following this one, and they didn't know if they were ready to move past this.
"I had a really nice evening, thank you." She said in a small voice. They were standing in her doorway, a nervousness surrounding them.
"It was my pleasure. I'll, uh, see you around work." He said as he began to walk away, both exchanging small smiles. He stopped in his stride down the hallway, turning before she closed the door. "Scully..."
"Yeah?" The anticipation of his interruption building her anxiousness.
"You look really nice tonight." He turned, before she had a chance to respond. She bit her lip, finding this part of his charm absolutely endearing. Her heart sank slightly, knowing he was only here because he had a commitment to fulfill. She pushed aside her personal feelings, taking him and their newfound friendship as it was.
Monday morning, Mulder stopped by Scott's office on his way to work. They had a picture taken of them while at dinner, as proof of the completion of the card. He had made himself a copy, just for his own keeping as well.
"Everything look's good, let me grab the next card for you." Scott said distractedly, escaping to his office to retrieve it. "I noticed you chose against the weekend retreat."
"Uh, yeah. I mean, we work together, and I just thought that would be a little too much. How did you know?" Genuine interest clouding his mind.
"It's my job to know what's on the cards, I have to know that you complete them entirely."
"Oh, right."
"So, since you didn't take her for the getaway, can I imply that you don't care for her in that way?"
"Why does that matter?" Mulder's tone was harsher than he intended, annoyance rising by the sly smirk on Scott's face.
"Well, I was wondering if I could ask her out."
"It's not my job to say whether you can or not. She's just a friend, a coworker who got wrapped up in this mess."
"Right...well then, I suppose I'll take my opportunity. I'll see you after you're done with that one." Scott said, amused my Mulder's discomfort. He gritted his teeth, nodding as he made his exit.
On his way to work, his mind was in a whirlwind. He didn't have a claim on Scully, she was simply going along to help him finish his tasks, and he never indicated that he wanted more from this. He chastised himself, slamming his hand on the steering wheel. He didn't want to jeopardize anything between them, but didn't want to hold her back either. He mostly just hoped she wouldn't fall for Scott's tricks.
He was working on another profile, a milder case. Wanting to escape from his own mind, he made his way to the downstairs basement, hiding from the outside world. Hours had passed, and he was startled when the small knock on the door came, before opening slowly.
"I figured I'd find you down here." Scully said with a small smile.
"What can I do for you?"
"I have found your most recent victim on my table. I was just bringing you the autopsy reports, in case you needed more for your profile."
"Great, thanks."
"So, did you get your new card today?" She asked distractedly, genuine interest in her voice. He chuckled, knowing the lack of information was killing her.
"I did, but I haven't opened it yet."
"Oh, okay. Are you, uh, going to open it?"
"I think you're more interested in my next task than I am." He teased.
"Well considering the first 3 involved me, I'm just curious."
"Fine, I'll open it." He playfully glared at her, smiling at the gleam in her eye. He read the card first, biting back his laugh. He handed it to her for her to read, finding amusement in her small pout.
'Take a vacation. Time for yourself is of great importance.'
"There's not more to the card?" She asked, flipping it over as if she was willing more words to appear.
"Nope. It's a pretty simple direction. I have enough built up vacation days to be gone for a year." He scoffed.
"Do you have an idea of where you're planning to go?"
"I have no clue, I'll have to think about it, I guess. Should be a pretty easy task to complete though."
"Yeah, you'll, uh, have fun with it, I'm sure." She said with a small smile, attempting to mask the disappointment on her face. Without the cards, it almost seemed as if he didn't want to be around her, but she didn't want to bring that to attention, seeming needy.
"I don't plan on being gone for longer than a few days." He said quickly, not fully understanding why he felt the need to reassure her of that. She flashed him a timid smile, before nodding and making her exit.
He slumped back into his chair, stalling about picking a place for his vacation. He was dreading it, never really having the time for days off. He usually felt restless and antsy the minute he had too much down time. An idea popped into his head, finding his own loophole in this mess. He jumped up and made his way to the filing cabinet, dusting off a few of the drawers before opening a new can of worms. He began sifting through several of the files, his mind excited about the different cases he was reading about. He found one that was plausible enough, and headed upstairs to put his plan into action.
"Agent Mulder, you understand that these cases are in the basement for a reason? They're unsolvable, cold cases with absurd claims." The Assistant Director Skinner explained.
"Yes, and I'm not asking you to send me on a case. I was going to be taking some vacation days soon, and was hoping to investigate this, unofficially." Mulder explained carefully.
"I suppose I can't stop you from that."
"I was also hoping that I could bring along Dr. Scully, just to investigate the bodies of the victims. It's been believed that they all died from some kind of hex put on them, I was just hoping for her medical opinion."
"So you want a consult, a partner, for this unofficial investigation?"
"Yes, but she would be officially investigating." Mulder said, scolding himself for how idiotic his plan now seemed. AD Skinner sighed, rubbing his hands on his temples, exasperated by the ambitious agent in front of him.
"Fine. Send me the travel details to approve, and the vacation hours." He said as he waved him out of the office, actually relieved to have him out of his hair for a few days. Mulder went wide-eyed, unbelieving that his scheme actually worked. He was excited to spend his 'vacation' with Scully, finding different ways to be around her more.
"Pack your best bikini, Scully. We're going to the lovely city of Miami." Mulder exclaimed as he strolled into the morgue. He was holding the case file in his hands, his presence causing her to become suspicious.
"Mulder, what on earth are you talking about?" Her hand movement stopped, scalpel still resting on the skin of her latest autopsy victim. She could see the gleam in his eye, knowing something made him excited. She found some small solace in the fact that it might have to do with her, too.
"I found a case to 'unofficially investigate' in Miami. I'll just use my vacation days, and head down there to check it."
"You must be a little vague on the meaning of the word vacation." She said flat-toned.
"Ha ha, Scully. I'm making it my own version of a vacation. I was wondering if you would like to come with me." He paused, realizing how it sounded. He didn't want to make her feel uncomfortable in any way, seeing her stone faced response, he was quick to add that it was simply for work. "To, uh, do an autopsy. I already got the clearance." The sheepish smile sweeping over his face, causing her to lips to curl into a smirk.
"Only one of us has vacation days built up, Mulder."
"Well, for you, it would be an official investigation, on the bureau dollar. You even get to write a report when you're done and everything." He mocked excitement, causing her to shoot him a glare.
"So, I'm getting dragged out to some random case, just because you don't know how to just lay around at the beach and actually be on vacation?" Eyebrow arching to new heights, challenging him.
"Not if you don't put it like that."
"Your chivalry still needs work." She said completely void of emotion. She was so desperately attempting to mask the full grin on her face. She resumed her slicing and dicing, leaving him there confused. He didn't know how to respond, so he slowly began to leave before she spoke up again. "When do we leave?"
"Really? You're agreeing?" He turned abruptly, that boyish grin on his face that she's loved seeing.
"Yes, but we get at least one day of actual vacation."
"Deal. I'll call you later with the details." He said with a bright smile. She chuckled as she watched him walk away, wondering what this trip would exactly mean for them. It was strange for her, to feel herself being pulled towards someone so strongly. She couldn't decipher the emotions, just suppressing them as they arose.
Mulder had sent her over the details, both of them anxious about the trip. She was meeting him at the gate, her heels clicking on the hard floor of the airport. He glanced up at the familiar sound, smiling as she approached him.
"Scully, I really hope you brought clothes for Miami, this is a vacation." He said lightly, smirk touching his lips. She glared at him, pursing her mouth to hide her own smile.
"I read over the case file. Witchcraft?" She said judging his choice, looking towards him with anticipation of his explanation.
"You have to admit, it's curious that these young women all visited Madam Mercier right before they mysteriously died."
"So you're saying that these unsuspecting college students just wandered into the wrong palm reading shop on the beach, and were all cursed?"
"Well, at least those specific ones. Maybe she saw something in their fortune that was evil, and wanted to rid of those spirits."
"I don't even know where to begin with an explanation for that."
"Why? Worried she'll see something in your future?" He wagged his eyebrows at her, causing her to huff out a small breath. She opened her mouth to say something in response, closing it as they called boarding for their flight.
They made their way on the plane, settling into their seats comfortably. He could sense the shift in her mood, anxiousness radiating from her. She was attempting to control her breathing, she hated flying. Once the plane was finished with boarding, and it began to move, he could see her hands gripping on the armrest between their seats. He reached over, placing his warm hand over hers. They didn't look at each other, just let the calming air around them settle. She slightly stretched her fingers to link just the smallest sliver of their fingers together, silently giving her thanks.
The rest of the plane ride was rather quiet, neither really knowing what to say. They had left their hands linked that way the entire ride, not wanting to move from their small, unspoken moment.
When they arrived to the hotel, she was surprised about where they were staying. This was her first out of town assignment, but she had heard from others that the bureau didn't exactly spring for the best accommodations. She gave him a puzzled look, causing that sheepish smile to sweep across his face.
"I figured we should at least enjoy the vacation part a little." He teased.
"I'm impressed. Maybe there's hope for you yet." She teased back as he escorted her to the room.
When they entered, they were both taken back by the view that stared back at them. They were only a block away from the beach, but high enough that all they could see was the water. There were two rooms, one on each side of the large living room area, both just as luxurious as the other. They got themselves situated in their rooms, and met back in the living area just in time for lunch.
"You look nice, Scully." He said as glanced upon her fitted jeans and tank top. It was definitely hot, and humid, also causing her hair to curl, which he loved.
"Thanks." She answered with a shy smile. "So, uh, where are we off to today?"
"Well, I was thinking we'd just have lunch, and then hit the beach. I want to stop into Madam Mercier's shop, just as random tourists, see if anything seems suspicious about it." She nodded with a tightlipped smile, already knowing she was in for an adventure.
They ate lunch and then strolled along the beach walkway, taking in the locals. It was definitely a completely different scene than their normal work day. When they approached the shop in question, Mulder's eyes lit up in anticipation.
"Ready to find out about your future?" He wagged his eyebrows as she rolled her eyes in response.
Wandering around the shop, Scully let her fingertips graze over some of the crystals strewn about. Mulder was taking in his surroundings, trying to find some kind of clue that this was the right place. A small, elderly woman entered from the back, stopping in her stride to take in the customers of her shop.
"How can I help the lovely people today?" She asked in a thick accent. Mulder smiled at the tiny woman, noticing the gleam in her eye, as if she had just bestowed her eyes on her next victim.
"We are just visiting in town, on vacation. Your crystals are gorgeous." Scully said as she turned her attention towards the woman in question, hand resting over another crystal candle.
"That one there, that is for new love. Is that what you are in search of?" Madam Mercier asked with a knowing tone to her voice, glancing between Scully and Mulder. Her eyes went wide, retracting her hand as if the unlit candle burned her.
"We were more just here to check everything out, look around." He answered quickly, noticing the color rising to Scully's cheeks. He found that response absolutely amusing.
"Can I interest you in a quick palm reading? Free of charge unless you would like the details." She said as she sat in her normal seat, signaling for Scully to sit in front of her. Madam Mercier was curious about these two, wanting to confirm her initial suspicions.
"Oh, that's not necessary. Thank you for offering."
"Ahh, un sceptique. Just a quick one, maybe open your interests."
Scully nodded, nervously sitting in the spot designated for her. She was a skeptic, not believing in this stuff, constantly rolling her eyes at her imaginative sister, Melissa. This was definitely more her scene, but Scully had to admit, she was always curious about it. Madam Mercier cradled her hand gently, running her finger over her palm.
"You're strong, emotionally, physically. You should open yourself up more, love is there, you're just too closed off to see it."
"As in I already know the person I'm supposed to be with? Or are we just speaking in vague notions?" Scully answered with pursed lips at the general statements. Anyone who spoke to her for a few minutes would have probably come to the same conclusion.
"If you doubt my abilities, I could give you a detailed reading. Tell you what you really want to know about what that new man in your life means for you." Madam Mercier said as she subtly glanced towards Mulder.
"No, that's okay. I think I have all I need. Thank you for your time though, it's a lovely shop you have here." She said with a small smile as she got up. He nodded towards the elderly woman, exiting the shop, leading Scully out with his hand placed on the small of her back.
"So...?" He asked cautiously as they made their way back to the hotel.
"She's a complete scam artist. Giving vague statements, as if it's supposed to actually be a glimpse into my life. She only gives you more details, though I doubt even that, if you pay her. She's nothing more than any other scammer of a palm reader." She huffed in disbelief.
"I think you should go back, I'll pay for the in depth reading."
"You can't be serious, did you not hear anything I just said?"
"I did, but I still think there's more there. Maybe, tomorrow while I'm looking around where the victims were found, you can head back alone. It might change the atmosphere."
"It's not going to change my mind though. If you think it'll help your 'unofficial' investigation, then fine."
"Thank you." He said as he bumped her arm with his. She rolled her eyes at him, the smirk touching her lips.
The next morning, Mulder made his way off to the former crime scenes, most of them being cleaned up by now. The most recent victim was found about 4 months ago, and wasn't even slightly investigated. Scully strolled back down to the shop, her stomach turning as the nervousness ran through her. She didn't believe in this, but the curiosity inside of her was overwhelming.
"I've been waiting for you." Madam Mercier said knowingly. Scully held back on rolling her eyes, trying to remain open minded for the sake of Mulder's case.
"I - I'm just curious, I suppose." She said in a small voice. The Madam nodded, situating herself in her usual seat. Scully sat in front of her, putting the payment on the table. The tiny woman smiled, preparing herself for a full reading.
"When I said that love was there, it is meant that your soul is already intertwined with another's. You've already met the man you are to spend the rest of your days with."
"You said something about a new man...is this the person that is my soul mate, or is it someone of my past?" Eyebrow arching, awaiting the answer.
"It is a new love, blossoming. Does the name, William, mean anything to you?"
"Sure, it's a family name. My father and brother, but how did you know that?"
"It will mean more to you than that. Open the heart, and it'll come to you." She said as she ignored her questioning. She smiled to herself, closing her eyes as a vision came to her. "It may come sooner than you think."
"Thank you...I think that's all for today." Scully cleared her throat, rising from her chair. She nodded towards the elderly woman, briskly exiting the small shop.
She began walking along the beach, needing to clear her mind. She wasn't expecting to be so affected by today's visit to Madam Mercier, but her thoughts were bouncing around sporadically. Her heart told her who she wanted to this new man to be, but her brain shut down those thoughts. Always overthinking the situation. She jumped slightly when her phone rang, it breaking her from her reverie.
"H - Hello?" She answered distractedly.
"Is this Dana Scully?" An unfamiliar voice spoke back to her.
"Yes, this is she."
"This is Scott Lewis, Mulder's friend handling all of his tasks. We met briefly last week."
"Oh, yes. How can I help you?"
"I hope I'm not interrupting your day, but I was wondering if I could interest you in joining me for dinner sometime this weekend?" She could hear him attempting to charm her through the phone. Her heart dropped slightly, surely this can't be the man Madam Mercier was speaking of.
"Uh, sure. I'm available on Saturday." She said in a small voice, licking her lips nervously. She could see Mulder walking towards her, knowing this was going to be an awkward situation.
"Perfect. How about we plan for Saturday around 7. I'll be in touch in a few days to go over the details. I look forward to seeing you then."
"Yeah, sounds good." She said before hanging up the phone. Mulder furrowed his brow, sensing something was definitely running through her mind.
"How'd the reading go?"
"It was fine. She mostly just focused on my love life, which apparently is getting more exciting by the minute." She scoffed, bowing her head. He bumped her shoulder with his arm, regaining her attention.
"Don't make me guess."
"Sorry, I, uh, that was Scott. He was calling to invite me to dinner this weekend, and I accepted."
"Oh, that's...great."
"I don't want to make things weird between us. I know he's your friend, and we work together. Not that we're not friends, too. I just mean -"
"It's okay, really, Scully. You'll have a good time, I'm sure." He said in a small voice. His heart sank, knowing this was his own doing, but he didn't want to jeopardize anything between them. He enjoyed their newfound friendship, and didn't want to ruin it as he had done so many times before. "So what did Madam Mercier say specifically?"
"Mostly just a repeat of yesterday, saying my soul was already mixed with someone else's. She said I met this man, but it's a new, blossoming relationship. She asked me about the name William, which for me, is just a family name, but she said it would mean more." She said with a shrug, not really paying much mind to the information.
"William?"
"Yeah, why?"
"That's Scott's middle name. Maybe she wasn't wrong after all." He said with a tightlipped smile, strolling ahead, leaving her wide-eyed on the walkway. He only knew this information, because it was his own middle name, too.