When Scully entered the basement office, their visitor scheduled for the morning was already seated opposite Mulder.
"Good morning," Scully said. "I'm very sorry if I'm late."
She launched a quick heavy-packed stare to Mulder, summarizing what she would have said if there weren't stranger ears in the room: I told you so, that we didn't have time to linger in your warm sheets this morning, that I had to pass by my apartment before going to work, that we had scheduled a too early appointment, and that… oh, shit, that was so good that I don't regret any second of it.
"You're in time, Scully," Mulder answered, with a light but smirky acknowledging smile. "Our guest Mrs DuBois came in a little early. She was even waiting for me with a coffee cup at the reception corner."
Their visitor turned into her seat.
"Don't apologize, Agent Scully, it's all my fault," Mrs DuBois added, watching Scully hanging up her coat at the entrance rack. "I'm just glad you've agreed to receive me. I admit I'm still surprised you're ready to hear and pay attention to my concern."
Scully stepped toward Mulder.
"You're welcome," Mulder replied, slightly shifting his seat to the right, as Scully was sitting on the office chair he had settled very close to his left.
This new arrangement around the main desk when they had visitors in their office —or in other sparse occasions— had started with a joke and ended up as a way to send them reciprocal transgressive thrills at work.
It also made them be level as a team for someone facing them.
"We were just chit-chatting while waiting for you, Scully. Now, Mrs DuBois, let's start. Could you show us the documents you brought and fill us in with all the details?"
Mrs DuBois opened the folder on her lap she was toying nervously with since she had taken her seat. She picked up the first item appearing and laid it on the desk, a business card.
"Look, that's how I've contacted you. Your card, Agent Mulder, plus the name of Agent Scully that had been added, handwritten, by neither of my young. I really don't know how they found this card or who gave it to them. If you flip it, you can see some more handwriting. It's my daughter's. She had written it in front of me, once I worried about their business: 'Contact them if we're in trouble'. When handing me the card, she told me: 'If one day there's a problem, a big and real problem happening to us, you call those guys. They're FBIs, they're pros, they're legends, nothing could go wrong with them. But, beware, don't contact them for nothing, just in case of an emergency situation, which I'm sure would never come'."
Mrs DuBois paused for a few seconds, not letting Mulder or Scully time to answer. "Words for words. I remember as if it were yesterday… Well, I wish I weren't there today and would have never had to meet you, honestly."
Mrs DuBois was about to wet her eyes, but restrained the emotion rising up; she had promised herself to remain strong. Mulder and Scully nodded with sympathy when meeting her sight, and let her continue.
"A picture of them," Mrs DuBois said, showing a large print of the young couple, their heads close, all smiling and beautiful. "My daughter Lori, and her partner of life and of business, Roy. I call it business but it's not. It's just a passion they have for their pastimes. Well, more than that, it's an obsession. They're part of a network of amateurs, solving mysteries, searching missing people, debunking hoaxes and whatnots. It's a consuming hobby they're doing with humility, passion and intellectual rigor, I was told. Their daily jobs are nevertheless demanding. Lori is a psychologist, and Roy, a mathematician. Both scholars."
Mulder picked up the photo and looked at the faces, confident and happy. He glanced at Scully, and couldn't help thinking there was a kind of similarity with themselves, even if they weren't alike at all, physically speaking.
"Mrs DuBois, we'll do what we can to find them," Scully said. "I'm sure there's an explanation about their disappearance. And if they are as sound and smart as they seem to be, they might have overcome any trouble they may have stumbled in."
Mrs DuBois acknowledged with a light nod. She would want to believe in those statements, but a sour and bad feeling was still lingering in her stomach.
"So, what can you say about their last investigation, or, maybe, obsession?" Mulder asked.
Later on, when Mrs DuBois had left their office and after exchanging their first impression, Mulder asked Scully: "So, you think we should take this case thoroughly and go to the field?"
Scully stood up and paced the office.
"And what about this audit Skinner warned us about?" Scully asked.
"Not until weeks, or a couple of months, it seems. I'm sure we have enough time ahead of us," Mulder answered.
"And you think this case has a sufficient X-File flavor?"
"Mmm, you heard Mrs DuBois… There's something in here. I also might have had some hints about this location from the Gunmen. Long ago. Seemed just vague rumors at the time, not worthy."
"It won't be an easy trip, I'm afraid."
"Yes, I know."
Mulder pondered a little while, looking at Scully. He wouldn't want to taint the bliss they were in, those days.
"So," Mulder resumed, "If you don't want to, we don't go. We'll do what we can from afar. Your choice, Scully."
Scully moved to the desk and picked up the photo of Lori and Roy.
"Look at them, Mulder. It could be us. I wish them happiness. For the rest of their lives."
"So do I," Mulder concluded after a beat.