Chapter Two

He drove onto the highway and pressed the blue tooth button on his steering wheel. He was going to try and call her one last time, then he would leave it. She hadn't answered his calls all afternoon after leaving, and he was worried about her. Mulder flashed another driver as he let him get into the slow lane. He selected Scully's name and listened as it dialled her number.

The phone rang again and he waited. He reached over and grabbed a sunflower seed from the passenger seat. The bag was ripped at the bottom and the seeds were going everywhere. He frowned in frustration as he swept away the crumbs to the floor of the passenger side. 'Where Scully should be sitting.' He thought. He missed her, but he knew this was for the best.

The X-File was sitting under the bag, with crumbs covering the case number. He looked back at the road and still heard the phone ringing until..

'Mulder?' He heard her speak down the phone. He sat up straight.

'Scully?' He exclaimed, happy to hear her voice. 'Are you ok?' He asked. There was a sound of her sighing and silence on the other end. Mulder frowned in concern.

'I'm just about to go to sleep Mulder.' She mumbled. Mulder nodded to himself picturing her in her dressing gown. He smiled a little as he remembered when he had been with her like that, every night. Until he blew it.

'Ok ok, but.. just hear me out.' He started. She sighed again.

'You've got 2 minutes.'

'Ok well can I just start by apologising?' He begged. She was still silent. 'I can hear you hating me down the phone.'

'I don't hate you Mulder. I could never hate you no matter how hard I tried to... wait, are you..?' She sounded confused and he imagined her listening to the faint rumble of the tyres. 'Are you on the road?'

'Yes, I'm driving to Maryland.' He said and nervously gaged her reaction.

'What are you driving to Maryland for Mulder?' She replied. Mulder took a sigh of relief. She didn't sound too mad.

'Skin Man gave me a case today. I thought I would check it out.' He said.

'What? Without talking to me first?!' She exclaimed. Mulder grimaced awkwardly. Now she sounded mad.

'I'm just going to take a look, I'll be back tomorrow.' He said cooly.

'Mulder, I don't feel great about you going out there on your own..' She started.

'I'm a big boy now Scully.'

'I know but..' She started. Mulder waited. He knew what she wanted to say.

'I will be back tomorrow afternoon.' He said. 'You're taking the day off right?'

'Sure.' She said flatly. Mulder frowned.

'It'll be good for you.' He said gently. She sighed again on the other end.

'I'm not so sure about that. I want to get my mind off Mom, but I know I'll just be forced to focus on her all day.' She said, her voice breaking. Mulder felt concern for her, he wished he was with her now.

'Look Scully, if you want I will turn around right now and we can spend the day together, just you and me.' He said, hoping that she would accept. She didn't.

'No Mulder, don't worry.' She said. He knew that he would.

'I'll call you throughout the day, let you know what I find, Ok?'

'Sounds good to me. Make sure you are back tomorrow though Mulder.' She said with determination. He smiled to himself.

'I will.' He said happily. 'I wouldn't want to piss you off more than I already have today.'

'I'm sorry Mulder…' She started. Mulder shook his head.

'You don't have to be sorry, I'm sorry. Skinner and I, we were just concerned.' He said softly. She was silent again. 'Sometimes you just need time to grieve Scully. As painful as it is, you need to let it all out.' He said, worrying that she was alone and sad. He felt his heart call out for her. 'Look, I'm coming back to Washington..' He started, and indicated to come off the highway.

'No, no, no.. you go. I am fine. I will be fine.' She pleaded with him, not wanting him to put himself out for her.

'You sure?' He asked. She nodded.

'Just be careful Mulder. And remember to call me.' He heard her shift into bed. 'Good night.'

Then she hung up.

Frederick County, Maryland

Mulder checked his watch.

7.34am.

He opened the car door and got inside, leaving the motel. He opened the X-File on his lap. He scanned the pages and found the witness records.

He was off to question Tessie Downs.

He pressed the call button again on his steering wheel and dialled Scully's number, hoping that he wouldn't wake her. He swerved onto the road and the blaring sun hit his windscreen. He pulled down the visor.

'Morning..' A sleepy voice filled his ears.

'Hey Scully, how are you?' He asked, smiling at the sound of her voice.

'I'm.. ok.' She said.

Mulder indicated right.

'Uh huh.' He said, knowing that she wasn't really. 'How did you sleep?'

'On and off..'

'Right..' He mumbled. He stopped at the next red light.

'So are you going to tell me about the case?' She started, changing the subject.

'Yes, of course.' He said, and did a drum roll with his hands on his steering wheel.

'Was that a drum roll?' Scully asked, her voice picking up slightly with amusement. Mulder smiled again, happy that she was sounding more upbeat.

'Yes it was Scully, and that is because this is a real hum dinger.'

'Hum-dinger?' She repeated playfully.

'Absolutely. Scully, have you ever heard of someone who could control you with their mind?'

'You mean like a hypnotherapist Mulder?' He could see her now, rolling her eyes.

'Exactly like a hypnotherapist, however this hypnotherapist is bad news.' Mulder said in dramatic fashion. He imagined her raising her eyebrow in response.

'Bad news, Mulder?'

'3 gruesome suicides Scully, and all witnesses said they saw a dark figure at each crime scene, standing watching what was happening. Some witnesses even say that he seemed to be controlling the victims.' He pulled up outside the house.

'What were the suicides like?' She asked.

'One decapitated their own head..' He started, feeling grim. 'One cut out their organs while still alive, and the other drowned themselves..'

'Awful.' She responded.

'Yes. At the last murder, one witness said that she saw the man reciting demonic phrases while the suicides took place.'

'Mulder, that sounds like it could be a dangerous case.' She said, worry filling her voice. 'I should be out there with you.'

'No Scully, I've told you. I'm just going to check it out. I will be back this afternoon.' He said, reassuring her.

'Does Skinner know you're out there?'

'Yes he does, and I will check in with him too, ok?'

She was silent again, as if she was torn.

'Ok.' She said softly. Mulder undid his seat belt.

'I've gotta go, I'll call you later. Get some time to yourself OK?' He said gently.

'Please, be careful.' She said, and hung up. Mulder got out of the car and walked towards Tessie's front door.

Thank you for reading you lovely people! x More soon x