The next morning, I focused on returning emails and phone calls from various sources, law enforcement agencies, and what seemed like several hundred emails from the Lone Gunmen. Always fiercely loyal, they were beside themselves with anxiety and perhaps needed to see Mulder just as badly as I had. After only an hour or so of actual work, I had leaned back in Mulder's chair, feet propped on the desk and was contemplating whether or not three of the dozen or so pencils stuck in the ceiling aligned with the constellation Orion. This amused me to the point that I went to find one of the many astronomical charts laying around the back part of the office. I was just about to make up my mind that, in fact, the alignment of the pencils was remarkably similar when an all too familiar feeling began washing over me. I licked dry lips and made the mistake of taking a sip of water. When was I going to learn? I let out a moan of defeat and made yet another dash for the basement bathroom.
Upon emerging from the ladies room a few minutes later, I was nearly stepped on by Agent Doggett.
"There you are, Agent Scully, I have a bone to pick with you on some things I found… Hey, are you okay? You look sick." I had a brief flashback to a rustic-looking motel in Oregon.
"I'm fine, Agent Doggett. What's your bone?" I walked past him and back into Mulder's office, sliding behind the desk and very gratefully sitting down.
"Hey, look, I don't want to bug you. I know things are tough right now, but I do want some answers. That is, if you're up to giving them to me." He peered at me and I knew what he saw, I had just seen it in the dusty mirror of the basement bathroom. It wasn't good. Only knowing that I would, essentially, be right as rain in a few minutes kept me from begging off.
"Have a seat and tell me what I can do for you, Agent." I'm fairly certain I kept from rolling my eyes, but wouldn't swear to it.
"I found some files down here that bear a striking resemblance to the case of Agent Mulder's disappearance." Now I did roll my eyes. "People go missing for anywhere from 3 weeks up to 6 months. They disappear from places rumored to have connections to UFO sightings. They report tests were done on them. Sometimes they get real sick and die. But, sometimes they get better and no one knows why or how."
"Agent Doggett, I know you're not familiar with abduction scenarios, but that pretty much sums up the reports of half the people who claim to have been abducted by aliens. What's your bone with me?"
He hesitated and stood back up. He came around the desk and perched himself on the corner of it. I was uncomfortable at his proximity, but he knew that. I was supposed to be uncomfortable. He was using a classic interrogation technique on me and I didn't like it one bit.
"Well see, Agent Scully, there's a file in there with your name on that it fits that description too. Why didn't you tell me you had a similar disappearance to Mulder's? It could have helped my investigation. Details that you remember, that aren't in your file could have helped us find him sooner."
I shot out of my chair and got in his personal space. Two can play the cop game.
"What exactly are you insinuating, Agent Doggett? Do you think that if I had any information that could have helped Mulder, I wouldn't have done everything I could to use that information to his benefit?" Doggett backed off and had the decency to look abashed.
"I'm not questioning your loyalty to your partner. The stunts you've pulled on me since I was given this assignment are enough to tell me not question that. What I do question is your motives for hindering my investigation into his disappearance. I know you and Skinner were running your side show. I don't know how you got the tip off on Gibson Praise, but I know how I got mine. You should have come to me. I'm here to help with this. I'm gonna find out where Mulder was and who took him there. But, I need help and cooperation from you."
Sighing heavily, I sank back into my chair and motioned for him to do the same.
"Do you really want to pursue this, Agent Doggett? You could end up with a guest chair down here in the basement if you say the wrong things to Kersch. Think about that." Doggett sat and stared at the "I Want to Believe" poster behind for some time before answering.
"A corner office with a view, hell a window, would be nice. But, what I really want Agent Scully, is the truth." In that instant, I began to respect Agent Doggett, maybe even like him a little.
"Find the others who were taken from Bellefleur, Oregon. That's where it all started. That's where we need to start now." Doggett raised an eyebrow at me and gave me a weak smile.
"We? Agent Scully?"
A/N: Much thanks to those who posted reviews! Many apologies for the lack of editing in the last chapter. Man I feel like a tool!
