Undercover ch 2
The ride in the elevator never took longer. It was tense as they headed down to their basement office both knowing they are about to fight the second their office door is shut behind them. They were both angry. Scully was angry that Mulder was trying to speak for her and bringing up Brother Andrews and Mulder that Scully was even considering putting herself in danger and also splitting them up again when they finally had a chance to be happy.
The click of the door behind her sounded so loud, they both stood in silence for a minute staring at each other as if waiting for the dam to break.
"I can't believe you," Mulder said, the first to break the angry silence, while walking towards his desk but instead of sitting down leaning against the wall behind it while Scully stood with her back to the door her arms crossed.
"Me? I can't believe you!" Scully said. "Why would you use Brother Andrews against me and in front of Skinner no less!" she yelled. He knew she was right, it wasn't okay to use that against her. She wouldn't throw Pusher in his face.
"You're right, I'm sorry, but this is so dangerous and you aren't taking that seriously!" he said.
"I'm not taking it seriously? I haven't even answered yet, Mulder! What I am not taking it seriously because I didn't yell at Skinner for proposing the case to us?"
"You shouldn't even be considering it, yet I can tell you are!"
"Why because it would be dangerous? How much more dangerous is it really?! Compared to other cases? Since I started working on the X-Files, I have almost been decapitated, kidnapped, held hostage, almost died from cancer, got shot, lost my sister, and nearly raped by Brother Andrews. So why is this more dangerous?" she asked and he had to admit she had a point. He felt the familiar pang of guilt come over him as the list of trauma and loss she's suffered for his cause was recanted.
"I am not saying that's your fault, Mulder, I am just saying that this job we have is dangerous. Why is this crossing a line?" she asked having seen the guilt cross his face. It wasn't her intention to make him feel guilty just to make him realize that danger is just a part of their job.
"Because…" he trailed off not sure how to get her to understand.
"Because what? Because now we are engaged?" she asked.
"No, because we are talking about prison, Dana. You won't have a gun or any other type of weapon, you won't have any real control over your life and oh yeah there is a man suspected of using mind control to rape inmates!" he said. "I mean we are talking about prison, losing your freedom, and most importantly to you- control."
"Temporarily yes…"
"But we don't know how long, Scully, it's not like we can say this is for a few days, a few weeks, a few months, I mean we don't know."
"Yes, but it is temporary and we can get through it, just like we do everything, together! These women need us"
"There are others, it doesn't need to be you!" he insisted.
"Mulder, we were asked not only because it's an x-file but also because of our partnership. This wouldn't just be a case for you, it would be personal, and when things are personal you put your everything into it, that wouldn't be the case for whatever other female officer would end up with the case," she said and he sighed knowing that she's right about that.
"I won't be able to be there 24/7 though," he said and she nodded before sitting in her seat. "What if something happens when I am not there or just not able to have eyes on you at that exact moment, I mean it's not like I'm gonna be glued to your hip, I would never forgive myself"
"That risk is always there, okay yes it is more in this situation, but something could go wrong at any point, that's life! We could decline this case and someone could break in while you are out getting Chinese"
"If that happens you have a gun, not in prison"
"Our job is dangerous, Mulder! I chose a job that I knew came with its dangers because I wanted to help people, I can help these women, so why wouldn't I?"
"We have been through so much already, Scully. We finally get our acts together and finally engaged and now this? Having to take a break now? Not having you at home, not being able to sleep next to you every night…and knowing that you are there instead and potentially in danger. I'm gonna be honest, Dana, I don't know if I can handle it" he said and she got up from her seat and went over and hugged him and he hugged her back.
"I love you and I don't want to do this either but we will get through it and like everything else it will make us stronger," she said. "Then after we get married and finally have our turn at a happy and semi-normal life."
"When will we ever have a normal life," he said and she laughed.
"Just don't ask me to like it," he said and she nodded.
"Besides you don't think you would enjoy getting to boss me around a bit?"
"I can do that without putting you in danger," he said and Scully laughed.
"What?"
"Sure go into this marriage thinking that see how that works out for you," she said and he laughed.
"I will enjoy cuffing you though"
"Oh? Well, that we can do" she said flirtaciously and he went to kiss her and she stopped him.
"We are at work"
"Then don't get me started," he said and she laughed. "We will have to make do with what little time we have the next 2 nights"
"Oh definitely," she said smiling at him suggestively.