Reconsider

"This isn't going to work."

There. The words she's been longing to say for hours now are finally out. No longer do they burden her and weigh down her mind with constant thoughts and concerns.

She breathes out in relief and fixes determined blue eyes on her partner. She hadn't wanted to say anything lest it upset him – he'd been through a lot lately – but it was a huge comfort to let it all out.

Mulder looks back at her in mild bewilderment and pinches the bridge of his nose between his index fingers. "What isn't going to work?" he asks softly. He tears his eyes from hers to search the room for any problems that may be present and then switches back to her, as confused as ever. Everything looks normal for a 3 star motel room.

"This," she says. "This room. It's unhygienic. In the past hour alone, I've seen five cockroaches and a rat. I won't even start on the swarms of insects. And I think they must have forgotten about housekeeping – for the entire time this place has been open. Have you seen the state of the bathroom and the sheets?"

She gestures fiercely around them and slices the air with her hand.

Eyebrows raised, Mulder nods in the direction of his room. "Mine's not as much of a hell hole. I've only seen half as many vermin and there are even clean sheets! We could share? The only thing is that there's just one bed…"

She studies him carefully. Smiles. "You're sure about this?"

"I am. My place is your place. Make yourself at home," Mulder winks at her. "And don't worry. I won't try anything."

"Thank you." Collecting her possessions from the end of the bed – she'd not yet begun to unpack – she heads towards the door. She glances back to watch Mulder as he follows and she not so quietly wonders, "What if I want you to try something?"

A short, nervous laugh escapes Mulder's lips. "If that were the case, I may have to reconsider."

fin.