Chapter Text
It’s not the first time he does it. Murmurs a name, asking for help. The first time I heard it was about a week after we moved in together. At first I couldn't tell what he was saying so I just told myself he was talking in his sleep. I thought it was adorable. Then one night I hear it clear as day, “Scully, don’t leave me.” After days of this in my head, I finally decide to ask him about it while eating dinner.
“Who’s Scully?” His fork drops on the plate.
“Where did you… how did you…why?” He just stammers.
“In your sleep, the other night, you mentioned a Scully, I was just wondering who it was.”
“Oh, just my old partner at the FBI before I transferred back to Violent Crimes.”
The conversation ended there.
I think back to when I met ‘Fox Mulder, but please just call me Mulder.’ It was at a New Years Eve party, back in 1998. I didn't want to be there and I could tell he didn't either. My friend, Sarah, immediately ditched me and he wasn't talking to anyone so I decided to introduce myself. Which is very odd for me since I’m not one to go up to strangers. But there was something about him, a sadness in his eyes that made him look just so damn cute.
After his little introduction I laughed and said “Well my name is Josephine, but everyone calls me Jo.”
“Ah, like Little Women.”
I smiled, “Yes actually, that was my favorite book as a kid.”
The night was just a blur from there. We ended up talking for hours. We didn't kiss at midnight, but I gave him my number. He called a week later while I was teaching a class. When I returned his call during my office hours, he seemed so shocked to hear from me. On our first date, he seemed so apprehensive about everything, like he hadn't been out with someone in five years. Although we had a great time, I could tell he wasn't sure what to do. So I decided to just give him a short goodnight kiss.
It’s been over a year since then and though I love Mulder dearly, I can tell there’s still something he’s holding back from me. It took me a month to find out anything about his family and even longer for him to tell me about his sisters disappearance. We’ve been through a lot together, and I wish he could just open up to me more.
But then one morning, I see the thing, or person, he never talks about. He never really told me about her. We were out for breakfast on a Saturday and he suddenly stops in his tracks. I follow his line of sight and see her. Though she's quite smaller than me, she is beautiful. Her auburn hair and icy blue eyes both seem to reflect in the light from the windows. When we sit down I ask him who that is.
“It’s Scully,” is all he says. I don't know why I'm so surprised. I guess I just assumed his old partner was a man. I feel something shift between us, but I decide to act as if everything is fine.
“Oh your old partner at the FBI, right?” He just nods.
Maybe they had a falling out, maybe they were lovers. Either way, the memory of him calling her name in the night gives me the feeling that I've been punched in the gut.
Eventually she walks up to our table, but she looks almost terrified.
“Mulder, how are you?”
“Scully I’m fine, this is my girlfriend, Jo.” That would've been fine if he didn't look so guilty saying it.
Scully and I shake hands as she says “Nice to meet you, you can call me Dana.”
“So what are you doing here Scully?”
“I’m just, um, well I moved back. I’m practicing again at a local hospital,” she says not making eye contact with him.
He looks distraught but I can tell he's trying to hide it from me. He’s never really been good at that. It looks like he wants to ask a million more questions but I interrupt before the conversation can get any more awkward than it is.
“Dana, why don't you come over for dinner one night this week?”
She agrees and we plan for Thursday night at 8 because its the only night she's not working.
Well maybe by then Mulder will tell me a little more about her.