Mulder walked into the office that morning, his mind still caught in the confusion surrounding Scully. As he approached his desk, something immediately caught his attention—a neatly folded t-shirt, one he had lent her two nights ago. He picked it up, running his fingers over the soft, freshly washed fabric.
It struck him as strange. Scully never returned the clothes he lent her. Over the years, she'd quietly accumulated a few of his shirts and jackets without ever handing them back, which had become something of an inside joke between them. But here it was, washed, folded, and left on his desk like a quiet message.
His thoughts lingered on that night. It had been tense, the two of them navigating a delicate moment. Whatever happened in that space, it seemed to hang over them now, unspoken.
Moments later, the door opened, and Scully entered the office. Her demeanor was distant, the same overly professional mask she had been wearing since the previous day. She carried a stack of files, her movements sharp and purposeful.
She placed the files on his desk without meeting his eyes. "All that's left is for you to sign," she said, her voice steady, but void of warmth.
Mulder glanced from the files to the t-shirt still in his hand. "Scully," he started, trying to break through the cold distance between them, "about the other night—"
She cut him off, her tone clipped and controlled. "There's no need to talk about it, Mulder. It's done."
He frowned, still holding the shirt, the unspoken meaning of its return heavy in the air. "You've never given me back a shirt before," he remarked, hoping to stir something deeper from her, something more personal.
Her eyes briefly flicked to the shirt, then quickly away, as if she had already made peace with the act. "There's a first time for everything," she said, her voice betraying none of the emotions he knew were roiling beneath the surface.
Mulder leaned forward, frustration and concern mingling as he tried to get through to her. "I'm not going to just sign these and pretend everything's fine."
Scully's jaw tightened, and for a brief moment, her composure cracked. There was something there—something she was struggling to keep buried. But just as quickly, she locked it away again, retreating behind her wall.
"Just sign the files, Mulder," she said softly, almost pleading. Her eyes remained on the paperwork, refusing to meet his. Whatever she was holding onto, it was too deep, too raw for her to share right now.
Mulder sat at his desk, the t-shirt still in his hand, trying to make sense of the quiet distance between them. Scully stood across from him, her eyes fixed on the stack of files she had just placed in front of him. He could feel the tension thickening the air between them, and it frustrated him that she was putting up walls instead of addressing whatever was going on.
He was about to push further when Scully spoke first, her tone crisp and professional. "Don't forget, we have an appointment with Skinner later today. 3 PM."
Her reminder was jarring in its cold precision, like she was purposefully steering the conversation away from anything personal. Mulder's brows furrowed in frustration. "Scully—"
"We need to be prepared," she added, cutting him off again. "He'll want to know the status of those reports, so please, just sign them."
Mulder's gaze shifted from the files to her, then back to the t-shirt in his hand. "You're just going to ignore everything?"
Her lips tightened. She glanced at him briefly, her eyes betraying a flash of emotion before she locked it away again. "I'm not ignoring anything, Mulder. I'm just focusing on what we need to do. We can't go into that meeting unprepared."
He let out a sigh, knowing that if he pushed too hard right now, it would only make things worse. "Fine. I'll sign them," he said, his voice tinged with resignation.
But as he picked up the pen, he couldn't shake the feeling that something much bigger was hanging over them, something they couldn't afford to keep pushing aside, even if she wanted to.
When Mulder and Scully entered Skinner's office for their meeting, they were met with an unexpected surprise—another woman standing beside him. Mulder's steps faltered for a second when he recognized her: Diana Fowley.
It had been years since he'd last seen her, back when they had worked together on the early days of the X-Files. She had been instrumental in their creation, but left before Scully had ever been assigned to the unit. And now, here she was again, in Skinner's office.
"Fox," Diana said, her voice soft but familiar, carrying a warmth that instantly put him on edge. She walked forward, not hesitating as she pulled him into a brief, casual hug. "It's been too long."
Mulder, caught off guard, stiffened slightly in her embrace. "Diana," he said, keeping his tone neutral as he tried to process why she was here.
Scully, standing just behind Mulder, took in the scene with silent curiosity. She had no idea who this woman was, but the familiarity between her and Mulder was impossible to miss. She kept her professional demeanor, though her eyes flicked between the two of them, clearly sensing the history that hung between them.
Diana turned to Scully with a smile, offering her hand. "You must be Agent Scully," she said. "I've heard a lot about you."
Scully took the handshake, her grip firm. "And you are?"
"Diana Fowley," she said, her tone light but with a hint of pride. "I used to work with Fox in the early days of the X-Files."
Mulder glanced at Scully, knowing this would be a surprise to her. Scully met his gaze for a brief moment before focusing back on Diana. "I see," she said, her tone neutral but polite.
There was a tension in the room, subtle but undeniable. Scully had no reason to distrust Diana, but the way she interacted with Mulder felt too personal, too familiar. And Mulder could feel it too—the unspoken awkwardness of reuniting with someone who knew a different side of him, a part of his past he hadn't shared with Scully.
Skinner, sensing the weight of the moment, quickly gestured for everyone to take their seats. "We have a lot to cover today," he said, his voice cutting through the lingering silence.
As Mulder and Scully sat down, Mulder couldn't help but glance at Scully again. Her face was composed, as it always was in these situations, but he could sense a shift—something quiet but significant. Diana's presence had disrupted the dynamic, and Mulder could only hope that it wouldn't complicate things further.
Diana, sitting across from them, smiled once more before the meeting began. Mulder felt the weight of the past and present collide, knowing that this was only the beginning of what was sure to be a complicated day.
Skinner cleared his throat, pulling the attention of the room back to the matter at hand. "So, given that Agent Fowley's partner is currently recuperating, and considering the unusual aspects of the case she was working on, I think it's best if you joined forces here." His gaze moved between Mulder and Scully, though it lingered a moment longer on Mulder, gauging his reaction.
Mulder tensed, his mind still processing the sudden reappearance of Diana, let alone the thought of working with her again. He shifted uncomfortably in his seat, glancing at Scully. Her face remained impassive, but he could see the slight clenching of her jaw, a sign she wasn't entirely pleased with this new arrangement.
Scully gave a small, professional nod, though Mulder could sense her reluctance. "Of course, sir," she said evenly, her tone betraying nothing.
Diana, on the other hand, appeared more at ease, leaning forward with a soft smile. "I appreciate the opportunity to collaborate with you both. I think our expertise can be quite complementary on this case."
Mulder's eyes flicked to Diana. There was a confidence in her voice, one he recognized from their past, and it unsettled him. He could feel Scully's silent presence beside him, steady but alert, watching the interaction unfold.
Skinner continued, "Agent Fowley's investigation involves several anomalies we believe might connect to some of the larger patterns you've both been pursuing. It seems right up your alley, Mulder."
Mulder leaned forward slightly, trying to regain his focus. "What kind of anomalies are we talking about?"
Diana answered, her voice smooth and controlled. "Strange electrical disturbances, abnormal biological readings… the kind of things that tend to fall under the purview of the X-Files. We suspect there might be extraterrestrial involvement, though we're still gathering evidence."
Scully listened quietly, her eyes narrowing ever so slightly at the mention of extraterrestrial involvement. Though she remained composed, Mulder knew this was exactly the kind of case that would put her skepticism and his beliefs at odds. And now, with Diana involved, the tension had only increased.
Skinner finished his briefing with a pointed look at Mulder. "I trust you can all work together on this. The sooner we get answers, the better."
Mulder nodded slowly, feeling the weight of Skinner's words. "We'll get on it."
As the meeting wrapped up, Diana turned to Mulder once more, her eyes bright with a familiarity that Scully hadn't yet earned from her. "It'll be just like old times, won't it?"
Mulder forced a tight smile, but his mind was elsewhere. He couldn't shake the feeling that this reunion, and the case ahead, was going to test more than just their investigative skills. And as he glanced at Scully, he knew she felt it too.