AD Skinner wasn't at home when Mulder called him, but he answered his page only minutes after it was sent. He listened attentively as Mulder explained the situation to him.
"What exactly is it that you want to do, Agent Mulder? Are you saying this is some kind of X-file?"
"No, not at all, sir," Mulder hastened to assure him. "I see no paranormal or unexplainable phenomena." He paused to gather his thoughts. When he spoke again, his tone was thoughtful. "To be perfectly honest, sir, this is something I need to do. I knew the victim, I grew up around here with Chief Norton, and Scully and I are living here now. If it's all right with BSU and VC, we'd like to work this case with Andy. We're here already, after all."
"In other words, this is personal?"
"Yeah," Mulder answered without missing a beat. "It's personal."
Skinner was silent for a moment and Mulder respectfully remained quiet.
"Is Agent Scully ready for this?"
"She's assured me that she'll be observing the autopsy only and I'll make sure that she doesn't do anything to hinder her recovery. Mostly she'll handle the lab results and coordinating the data retrieval. I'll be in the field with the Chief. Scully will be safe."
"I'm going to hold you to that, Mulder," Skinner intoned gruffly, but not unkindly.
Mulder grinned. "Yes, sir."
He could hear the rustling of papers in the background and just when he thought Skinner was going to refuse, the AD spoke. "All right, you two are on the case. But you make sure I'm kept in the loop every step of the way. I'm going to want regular reports, all lab results and updates of anything that's pertinent to the situation, no matter how trivial it may sound. I assume you're going to profile"
"Yes, sir," Mulder answered, relieved. "We've got everything we need in the way of faxes, phones and computers. Scully will escort the body and evidence up to Quantico first thing in the morning."
"I'll make the arrangements."
"Thank you, sir."
"Just make sure you get this lunatic."
After Mulder hung up, he could hear the shower running and he hurried back to join Scully. Removing his clothes in record time, he nonetheless took several seconds to just simply gaze upon her as she lathered her body in the steamy water. He marveled again at the glistening ivory of her skin, covered with sweet vanilla sugar scented body wash and she knew that she was indulging his fantasies as she slowly and sensuously continued to smooth her skin with the cloth.
"Thought you'd forgotten about me," she murmured, trying to sound disappointed, but Mulder caught the twinkle in her eye and wasn't fooled.
"You know what they say about anticipation," he teased her lightly as he ran his hands all over her naked flesh. She poured a dollop of the soap in her hands and proceeded to return the favor. Mulder groaned in ecstasy.
His enjoyment was cut short when he tried to massage her right leg and she couldn't hide a grimace of pain.
"What is it Scully?" He cupped her face in his hands and gently forced her to face him.
Scully sighed. "I just overdid it a little. And I think a storm might be coming – I seem to be more sensitive to barometric changes these days. I'm fine. I'll go up to watch the autopsy, which I promise will be less strenuous than a workout with Jane. Just need a day off and I'll be fine. I promise."
"Skinner is going to let us do that, but let me tell you that he's personally holding me responsible for your safety in all this – so promise me you'll take care of yourself and your leg, all right?"
Scully nodded. "Enough about my leg, so why don't we turn this into a bath and you come down here and keep me company," she purred in her most seductive voice.
As expected, Mulder couldn't resist and the shower turned into a bubble bath. He massaged her leg and helped her towel dry and get into her pajamas, when he saw that the fatigue was getting the best of her. Quickly donning a pair of sweats and a t-shirt, he scooted to the other side of the bed and helped her get comfortable.
Exhausted after her workout with Jane earlier and the long hot and enjoyable shower with Mulder, Scully was sleeping soundly ten minutes after slipping under the thick downy comforter, snuggled securely in his embrace.
For Mulder, sleep was not as forthcoming. Like Andy, he couldn't believe this was happening in the normally quiet community. That he knew the victim was even more disturbing to him as well as the evidence that this wasn't an isolated incident. After over an hour of trying to turn off his mind and just go to sleep, he gave up. He knew Scully had to be tired if she didn't wake up when he slipped out their bed.
Restless and fidgety and unable to sleep, he worried that his movements would keep her from getting the rest she needed, so he thought he'd try to watch some TV.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"Mulder."
With a start, Mulder's eyes flew open and he jerked upright when he saw Scully bending anxiously over him. She had one hand on his shoulder and the other supporting herself on the sofa, staring closely at him with eyes filled with concern.
Rubbing at his eyes to clear away the sleep with one hand, he looked around the room and saw that he had fallen asleep with the TV on; his notepad on his chest and his glasses in his other hand.
"Oh – hey Scully." He pulled himself upright and put his papers aside. "What time is it?"
"4:30," she said wearily and sank down to him, carefully situating her leg brace in a more comfortable position on the couch.
"Sorry that I woke you," he murmured, placing a kiss on the top of her head as she nestled closer to him.
"It was you – not – being there - that's what woke me," she said pointedly, giving him a good-natured elbow in his rubs.
Mulder chuckled and gave her a gentle squeeze.
"So I guess I don't need to ask what you were thinking about," Scully commented, staring absently at the TV, glad that the sound was off so that she didn't have to listen to a mindless, useless infomercial.
"Yeah, I was trying to get my notes together, everything I want to talk to Connie about."
Scully yawned, discreetly covering her mouth. "Why don't you come back to bed for just a little bit? I'm going to call Jane at 7 and make sure she knows she doesn't have to come over today."
"What are you going to tell her?"
"The truth. Something came up. And don't worry, I can still visit the gym at Quantico – it's not like I can't accomplish something with my rehab today – I know what I need to do."
Mulder acquiesced. "Okay – "
Suddenly Scully stiffened beside him and instinctively, he did as well.
"What's wrong?" He whispered looking around and not seeing anything amiss.
"Sshh," Scully admonished him, pulling herself up a bit. "Did you hear that?" Her gaze was focused on the window across the room that had been left open to let in the cool night air. Gauzy curtains blew lazily in the night breeze and prevented them from seeing anything outside
Mulder sat frozen, straining his ears to pick up the slightest sound. All he heard was Scully's breathing and his own heart pounding. He was about to question her, but she beat him to it.
"I thought I heard someone outside," she whispered, even as she made as if to get up and go check it out. The sound was repeated and they both jumped slightly.
"Oh, no you don't," Mulder hissed. "You can't move quickly or quietly enough." Without giving her a chance to argue, he handed her the cordless phone and pulled his gun out from the briefcase he had left open on the coffee table.
Frustrated, but knowing that Mulder was right, Scully held onto the phone and stared again at the window. She –had- heard someone, she was sure of it; a someone – not an animal. She was inordinately pleased that Mulder believed her without hesitation but she hated that she wasn't able to back him up properly.
Suddenly there was a blaze of light as Mulder came around the corner of the house sweeping his flashlight in the area in front of the open window.
"It's okay, Scully, there's nobody here." He called, moving closer.
Scully threw open the window fully and leaned out, searching the area below. "There's nobody here, now," she corrected him, pointing to the soft dirt where a mishmash of footprints could be found. Mulder shone the light nearer and then tried to track them, but the trail was lost when it hit the gravel driveway. Mulder was about to take off towards the street when they both heard an engine start up and speed away.
Mulder shook his head. "I couldn't see anything," he groused.
"Me, either," Scully said despondently. "But who in the world could it be?"
"Maybe just some kids and a prank," Mulder said without really believing his own words.
Scully shook her head. She didn't believe him either. But neither one wanted to think that it had anything to do with the murder investigation they were about to begin. After all, who knew besides Andy?
