She was throwing
clothes in her suitcase. He’d done it again, he wouldn’t listen to her, he
never listened to her. Well, to hell with him. He could just go off, get
himself fired or killed. Maybe then she could get a little ahead at the
Bureau. Maybe she could still get in the VCU. She was a good agent. She
didn’t have to spend the rest of her life in the basement or chasing mutants and
freaks and . . . and aliens. She picked up her makeup kit and threw it
into the suitcase. Unless he got her fired too.
The knock on her
motel room door startled her. Had he come to his senses?
She opened the
door and was stunned to see Walter Skinner standing in front of her. “Assistant
Director?”
“May, uh, may I
come in?”
“Oh, of course.”
She moved aside and he stepped inside of her room. “What . . . what are you
doing here?”
“I got word that
Mulder had stepped into it and I thought I’d better get out here, try to diffuse
things.”
“Too late. He’s
taken off again.”
“Damn it. He
needs to drop this case; it’s not what he thinks.”
“What else is
new?” she asked dourly.
“Any idea where .
. . nevermind.” He backed off at the height of her eyebrow. “Come on, I’ll
drive us to the airport. Maybe we can catch up with him.”
She nodded and
reached for her suitcase. He had hold of it first and lifted it from the bed.
She said nothing, giving him a slight nod of thanks.
He put the
suitcase in the trunk of his rental car, and without thought opened her door for
her. Again she kept her mouth shut; it was just manners. She didn’t feel put
down at all; in fact it was kind of nice.
They pulled out
of the parking lot and he glanced at the fuel gauge. “I better fill up before I
get to the airport.” He looked up and down the strip, then headed for a gas
station several driveways up. It was just dusk, and the lights were beginning
to flick on. “Do you want anything to eat? We might have to wait for a
flight.”
“No, thank you.
I’m not hungry.”
He nodded and
pulled into the station. He filled the tank, then headed inside to pay. Scully
looked around as she waited. It was good of Skinner to come all the way out
here. Of course Mulder usually ended up hurting other’s careers as well as his
own.
She jumped at the
sound of a shot. What the hell? She saw a man burst out of the service station
and race around the back. She was out of the car, drawing her gun as she ran in
that direction. She saw a car jump the curb and pull out into traffic amid
squealing tires and blaring horns. No way to get the license tag, but she had
make and color.
No one else was
visible through the windowed walls of the service station and she cautiously let
herself in. Where was Skinner? “Federal agent! Is anyone here!”
“Is he gone?” A
pimply-faced kid rose from behind the counter.
“Where’s
Skinner! He came in here to pay - “
“Over there, on
the floor.”
“Oh my god. Call
911, now!”
She was on her
knees beside him. He was alive, but the blood was coming from his upper
abdomen. “Walter, can you hear me?” There was no response.
“The ambulance is
on the way, lady.”
She nodded, but
didn’t take her eyes off of Skinner. His pulse was weak. God, he’d come out
here on his own to cover Mulder’s ass, if he died . . . No!
“Walter, hang
on. The ambulance is on the way. Stay with me.”
She thought she
could make out the sound of a siren in the distance.
*****
“Agent Scully?
He’s out of surgery. They’re taking him to recovery. The doctor will be out in
a minute to speak with you.”
“Thank you.”
Scully put the styrofoam cup of cold coffee she had been holding on the table
and rose to stretch.
“Miss Scully?”
“Dr. Scully. How
is he?”
“Critical. He
lost a lot of blood, but we’re watching him closely.”
“May I see him?”
The doctor only
hesitated an instant. Her credentials had been presented to him. “Yes, but he
needs to rest.”
She gave him a
small smile. “Thank you.” Scully turned and followed the nurse.
Skinner looked
dead at first glance. The monitors told her differently, but he was pale and on
oxygen. “Walter? Can you hear me?”
She touched his
shoulder and was slightly surprised at the feel of his flesh to her fingertips.
His eyes fluttered, trying to open and she took his hand. His hand gripped hers
slightly.
“I’m right here,
Walter. Don’t worry about anything. You’re going to be fine.”
“Dana," he
whispered though his eyes didn’t open.
Scully settled
into the chair next to the bed and kept hold of his hand.
She woke when he
stirred, his grip on her hand tightened.
“Walter, are you
okay? Are you in any pain?”
“Dana. You’re
still here?”
“Yes. I’m not
going anywhere.” She saw the grimace of pain and pressed the call button for
the nurse.
Pain medication
was added to his IV and he drifted off again. She pulled out her cell phone and
started to call DC to give an update, then realized the time. It could wait,
his vitals were stable and he had no family - except maybe her and Mulder.
She made herself comfortable
again and tried to get another nap.
*****
The next morning
he was more aware, and she was able to report to the Bureau with a more positive
slant. Scully assured them that she was able to stay, and it was agreed that
the information should be kept from the media. There was no need for the public
to know that an Assistant Director of the FBI could be gravely injured in
something like a convenience store hold up.
She didn’t
attempt to reach Mulder. He was out there somewhere trying to ruin his and
everyone else’s career. Skinner wouldn’t be lying here like this if he hadn’t .
. .
*****
Mulder let
himself in his apartment and dropped his suitcase by the door. He’d learned
nothing and nearly gotten himself killed in the process. Scully had been right,
but he was grateful she hadn’t been with him.
He should call
her, let her know he was back, and try to win her forgiveness once again.
There was no
answer at her apartment, so he tried the office. He got the machine there too,
and her cell phone had been turned off. Great, she must be really pissed this
time. He’d better give her until the morning. Face to face at the office
things might be better.
The next morning
she didn’t appear, and he finally realized he might be in more trouble that he’d
thought. He called up to Skinner’s office. Maybe she’d taken a few days.
“Kim? Can I
speak to AD Skinner?”
“I’m sorry Agent
Mulder. He’s taken a few personal days.”
“Oh. Well, do
you know if Scully - “
“I’m sorry, I
don’t have a location on Agent Scully.”
“Oh, I thought
maybe she talked with Skinner . . . “
“If she did, he
didn’t leave me a note. Excuse me I have another call.” She broke the
connection, and left Mulder looking at the receiver in his hand.
Okay, she was
probably over at her apartment. He needed to apologize face to face, eat some
crow and give her the opportunity for a good ‘I told you so’. He’d better head
over to her place.
It was obvious
she wasn’t there when he arrived. Her car was gone and she wasn’t home. Her
suitcase wasn’t there. She . . . she wasn’t waiting for him . . . No, she
wouldn’t be hanging out in Boise, would she?
So where the hell
was she and since when did Skinner take personal days? Something felt . . .
off.
Several hours
later he had no more information and was feeling totally stonewalled. He had to
get a handle on what was going on, he had to find Scully. No one seemed
concerned that she hadn’t checked in. Hell, she might be missing.
He grabbed his
jacket off of the back of the chair. Screw this, he was going to find Scully.
Something was wrong.
He decided to
start back at Boise. There didn’t seem to be much of a trail. Luck was with
him though, and he was able to snag a direct flight.
When he got back
to the motel, the desk clerk recognized him.
“I need to know
when the woman that I arrived with checked out.”
“The red head?
She left the same day you did.”
Mulder leaned
against the counter. Damn it! “Do you by any chance remember what time? Did
you call her a cab?”
“No, she left
with a man.”
“What?”
“Yeah, big man,
bald. He showed up here a little before dark. He took her bag out to the car
and seemed, I don’t know, really friendly with her.”
“Yeah, I guess
so.” He straightened up. Skinner had come here? And she’d left with him?
Then Skinner decided to take a few personal days?
“That was a wild
evening. Right after she left, there was a shooting at the gas station just up
the street. You know, sometimes I forget how dangerous it can be working nights
like this.” The man shook his head, and answered the phone that rang.
Mulder moved
toward the door, but stopped. When the conversation was over, he turned back to
the desk clerk. “A shooting? Do you know who was hurt?”
“Uh, no. There’s
been almost no publicity about it. I had the impression that it was a tourist
or something. The paper didn’t give an address or anything.”
“Yeah. What, uh,
what hospital would they have taken the victim?”
“Probably Mercy.
It’s the closest.”
*****
He stepped back
to let the couple exit, then entered the hospital himself. He headed straight
for the information desk, withdrawing his ID.
The woman looked
up and smiled, her eyes appraising him. “May I help you?”
“Yes, could you
tell me what room Walter Skinner is in?” He was playing a hunch, but no one
seemed to want him in the loop.
After checking
her computer she looked back at him. “I’m sorry, we don’t have a patient under
that name here.”
“Excuse me? He
was the shooting victim at the service station near the airport.”
“Oh, yes.
Scully.”
Mulder’s hand
gripped the desk, “Scully? Was the victim a man?”
“Yes. He’s in
327.”
“Thank you.” He
was already moving toward the elevators.
He moved directly
toward room 327 and stopped just outside to look through the window in the
door. Yes, that was Skinner in the bed. Scully moved into his sight from the
side and leaned over the man. She had her back to the door but it . . . It
looked like, no she hadn’t kissed him.
Maybe not, but
she had taken his hand into hers and was holding it. He moved away from
the door and leaned back against the wall. No, she might walk out and suddenly
he wasn’t as ready to see her.
He headed back
toward the waiting room and into the men’s room. What the hell was going on?
She’d been upset when he talked about checking out the clue he’d found, but . .
. He splashed some water on his face and took his time drying it.
When he felt
ready, he emerged from the rest room and turned toward Skinner’s room again.
He tapped on the
door and Scully turned to watch him enter the room. “Hi. How, uh, how’s he
doing?”
“They think he’s
going to make it. He was awake a few minutes ago.”
Mulder nodded.
“You made it back
again, I see.”
He tried to grin
at her, but it didn’t quite come off. “Yeah. I went to DC, but I couldn’t find
you.”
“I haven’t made
it back myself yet. Skinner came out to try to stop you from making a fool of
yourself.”
“He should know
better than to try by now.”
“I guess he
should.”
Mulder swallowed,
this wasn’t going well. “What, uh, what happened?”
“He realized he
was too late to stop you, so he was taking us to the airport. He wanted to fill
up the rental car, so we pulled into a convenience store.” She shrugged. “He
was shot when he went in to pay.”
“Were you hurt?”
She shook her
head. “I was waiting in the car until I heard the shot.”
He nodded, not
sure what to say next.
“You know he’s
here under the name of Scully?”
“We decided it
wouldn’t be good publicity for an Assistant Director of the FBI to be shot in a
$20 hold up. It’s not the image the Bureau likes to show. We’ve kept the media
out of it as much as possible.”
“Probably a good
idea. Do you, do you know when you’ll be coming home?”
“He can’t
travel. His condition is still listed as serious.”
“You’re
staying.” It wasn’t really a question.
“Until I can
bring him home. Yes.”
“Would you like
me to stay with you?”
“That’s not
necessary. We’ll be fine.” Her hand rested on Skinner’s shoulder and Mulder
watched her thumb lightly caress the skin there.
“Mmm, Dana?”
“I’m right here,
Walter. Do you need anything?”
He shook his head
slightly and reached for her hand. Mulder watched the gesture and felt his
heart sink. What was going on here?
Skinner seemed to
fall back asleep now that he had hold of her. Mulder waited a minute, then
looked into her eyes. “I guess I should get out of here,” he whispered.
To his surprise,
she nodded, so he turned and exited the room. Once in the hall he lost all
momentum, and found himself leaning against the wall outside of the room again.
He wasn’t at all sure his legs would take him all the way to the elevator.
Scully and Skinner?
Then he heard the
door open and forced himself upright. “Scully?”
“He’s asleep.
You should go on back to DC, Mulder.”
“That’s what you
want?”
“You have plenty
to do without me around. You’ve proven that often enough.”
“That’s what this
is about? You’re punishing me for ditching you?”
“Punishing you?
I’m doing my job, Mulder. Something you don’t seem to understand. Just go on
back to DC.” She turned from him then and he couldn’t help himself, he reached
for her arm and turned her back toward him.
“Scully.”
She stood there,
not bothering to pull her arm away; her eyebrow cocked as she just watched him.
He released her
and stepped back. He gave a thoughtful nod. “Yeah, I’ll be in DC. Call me if
you . . . if you need . . . “
She finally
nodded and turned away from him to return to Skinner’s room. Once the door was
closed, he made himself move to the elevators and press the button. He kept his
mind carefully blank as he pulled out into traffic and turned toward the
airport.
It was unusual,
but he had a couple of drinks on the plane, anything to numb this feeling of
impending doom. Once back at his apartment he found he couldn’t sit still,
couldn’t focus on anything. It was late, but he returned to his car and drove
over to the office.
He spent the next
several hours going through old files, refreshing his memory, trying to find
something that would hold his interest. Nothing helped and he finally drifted
off to sleep at his desk, his head lying on an X-File.
It was late when
he woke, with a stiff neck. He looked like he’d slept in his clothes, which
wasn’t surprising. He wanted to call Scully; that was his first waking thought,
as usual. He needed to talk to Scully. They could work this out. Okay she was
truly pissed this time at his rash actions, but he hadn’t gotten hurt, he hadn’t
been reprimanded by the brass.
He rubbed his
forehead with his hand; he’d only nearly gotten Skinner killed. The way she had
hovered over him, held his hand . . . maybe she had kissed him while he
was watching from the door.
Skinner had been
good to her, had supported her and tried to protect her and her career from the
beginning. With a flash of insight that was as unwelcome as it was painful, he
realized that Skinner cared about Scully. More than cared.
What had he done?
He’d thrown the
woman into his arms. Maybe not literally, but close enough.
He had to repair
this. He had to get her back. It would help if she were speaking to him, but
surely that wasn’t insurmountable. They had so much history.
Yeah, so much
history. Shit. Maybe she’d come to her senses and realized what a horrible
idea remaining his partner was.
*****
Since no one
seemed to want him in the loop, he got his information on his own. With his
badge number, he was able to get the hospital to keep him informed. Skinner
continued to improve, and Scully continued to stay by his side.
He waited at the
gate for them to emerge. They’d called for a wheelchair, so he expected them to
be with him shortly. Seeing her quickened his heart rate, but it plunged when
he saw her hand come to rest on Skinner’s shoulder and she leaned over to ask
him something. Then she moved behind the chair and started to push him toward
baggage claim. Mulder’s hand closed over hers.
“May I help?”
She looked up,
obviously startled, then jerked her hand away.
“Mulder, it’s
good to see you.” At least Skinner was speaking to him.
“You too, sir.
You look a lot better than the last time I saw you.”
Skinner looked a
little surprised. “You were at the hospital?”
“Uh, yeah.” He
glanced at Scully and then away.
“Well I
appreciate you coming to pick us - “
“We can call a
cab,” Scully interrupted.
“I’m already
here, Scully.” He took over the wheelchair. “Let’s get your bags.”
Scully walked
beside the chair, ahead of Mulder and didn’t speak.
Mulder loaded the
car and Skinner relaxed in the front, reclining the seat slightly. Scully sat
in the back. After a couple of attempts, Mulder gave up on conversation and
just drove to Skinner’s apartment.
Once there,
Skinner allowed Mulder to support him into the apartment, also carrying his
overnight bag. Scully carried the other bag, and followed them in.
Inside, Skinner
sank gratefully into an easy chair and sighed. “Walter, are you okay?” Scully
was beside him, having dropped what she was carrying near the door.
“I’m good, Dana.
I’m just glad for the opportunity to sit in this chair again.”
“Well don’t get
too comfortable, you’re going to bed.”
“Dana - “ He
stopped at her look.
“Uh, I’ll take
your things on in.” Mulder grabbed up the bags.
“That one’s
mine. Put it in the guest room.”
“You’re staying
here?” The words were out before Mulder could stop them.
“Dana, really,
I’m - “ Skinner started.
“You should
be in a convalescent home.” Her voice brooked no argument.
Both men
subsided; Skinner hadn’t realized her eyebrow could get that high.
“Now, I want you
to go get ready for bed. Do you need any help?”
“No,” his answer
came swiftly and he glanced over at Mulder, whose face was a mask.
Without another
word, Mulder took the bags into the two bedrooms, then stood uncertainly after
they’d settled Skinner in his room.
“Scully - “
“Thank you for
the lift. We’re settled in now.” She moved toward the door to let him out.
Damn he felt like he was standing downwind from a glacier.
“Scully, we need
to talk.”
“I’m tired, and I
need to check on Walter.”
“Yeah, okay,
tonight, but . . . “
“Goodnight,
Mulder.” She opened the door and after a slight hesitation, he left the
apartment even more depressed. He had to do something. At least she was back
in town. She’d come back to work now and . . . and he’d find a way to repair
this.
***** Author's Note - A good
friend read this one and demanded I finish it, can't tell you how long it's been
on the shelf. Hope you enjoy...
Skinner was quiet after that, just watching the two of them. He had wondered
about Mulder’s absence from Scully’s side, but he hadn’t wanted to ask, and just
assumed he was working.