Continuing Mission
An ancient snippet I found in my files today. I'd completely forgotten about it, actually. Set after episode 1x02, Deep Throat. Thanks to JET and Lilydale for beta -- 13 years ago! (I think we might be getting old.)
***
"So, Mulder, how's the new partner?" asked Frohike, lifting the bottle of beer to his lips. On the TV in front of them Worf and Troi stepped into the turbolift and kissed passionately. Frohike rolled his eyes. Why'd they always have to ruin good sci-fi with all that sappy romance shit?
Speaking of shit, Mulder didn't look too great -- hadn't since he returned from the case in Idaho. He didn't answer the question, just kept staring at the screen with a blank expression, looking wrung out and tired, like he hadn't slept or eaten in days. Frohike tossed another slice of pepperoni pizza on his buddy's plate. The show went to a commercial break, and Mulder finally turned to face him.
"She's a scientist," he said. "A skeptic. Pretty, I guess. Short."
"Shorter than me?" Finding a woman shorter than himself was the holy grail. Well, that and uncovering the truth about JFK's assassination.
Mulder chuckled. "No one's shorter than you, Frohike. Anyway, don't get your hopes up, she's not your type. She's...prissy. She's a rule-keeper, a by-the-book kinda gal. She was sent to spy on me."
"Is she spying on you?"
Mulder took a long swallow of beer and slowly shook his head. "I don't know. She's obsessed with looking good in her field reports and she isn't exactly open-minded. But she saved my ass out there at the risk of her own reputation. Hell, her own life. If she hadn't been there..."
He wouldn't be here. That was the end of the sentence, the part he didn't say.
They both turned back to the television, where Captain Picard had returned to make it so. Women found that bald head irresistible. Frohike ran a hand over his own thinning hair.
"You should bring Dr. Scully around sometime, let me check her out."
Mulder raised his eyebrows.
"I'm just a good judge of character, that's all," Frohike said in what he hoped was an innocent tone of voice. "I tried to warn you about Diana, didn't I?"
"Shut up, Frohike," Mulder said, chewing his lip. "I told you that subject's off limits."
"Sorry." They watched the show quietly for a while. Guess Fowley's knife-in-the-back wound was still raw.
"You were right about Diana," Mulder finally said, breaking the silence. "I guess you were, I don't know. Anyway, maybe you'll meet Scully one of these days. Assuming she sticks around, which I doubt. She thinks I'm crazy."
"Well, we all think that, dude," Frohike joked, lightly punching Mulder's arm. Mulder cringed at the contact, just for a second.
"I'll get you another beer," Mulder said, quickly gathering their empty bottles and heading for the kitchen.
Frohike frowned and wondered just what the hell they'd done to him in Idaho. He'd said something about being held by the military, but he couldn't remember many details. The details Mulder could remember must not have been too pleasant.
Yeah, he definitely needed to meet this new partner, Agent Scully. He hoped she'd be someone Mulder could trust, who'd watch his back. He'd hate to see his friend get hurt again.
***
"So, Mulder, how's the new partner?" asked Frohike, lifting the bottle of beer to his lips. On the TV in front of them Worf and Troi stepped into the turbolift and kissed passionately. Frohike rolled his eyes. Why'd they always have to ruin good sci-fi with all that sappy romance shit?
Speaking of shit, Mulder didn't look too great -- hadn't since he returned from the case in Idaho. He didn't answer the question, just kept staring at the screen with a blank expression, looking wrung out and tired, like he hadn't slept or eaten in days. Frohike tossed another slice of pepperoni pizza on his buddy's plate. The show went to a commercial break, and Mulder finally turned to face him.
"She's a scientist," he said. "A skeptic. Pretty, I guess. Short."
"Shorter than me?" Finding a woman shorter than himself was the holy grail. Well, that and uncovering the truth about JFK's assassination.
Mulder chuckled. "No one's shorter than you, Frohike. Anyway, don't get your hopes up, she's not your type. She's...prissy. She's a rule-keeper, a by-the-book kinda gal. She was sent to spy on me."
"Is she spying on you?"
Mulder took a long swallow of beer and slowly shook his head. "I don't know. She's obsessed with looking good in her field reports and she isn't exactly open-minded. But she saved my ass out there at the risk of her own reputation. Hell, her own life. If she hadn't been there..."
He wouldn't be here. That was the end of the sentence, the part he didn't say.
They both turned back to the television, where Captain Picard had returned to make it so. Women found that bald head irresistible. Frohike ran a hand over his own thinning hair.
"You should bring Dr. Scully around sometime, let me check her out."
Mulder raised his eyebrows.
"I'm just a good judge of character, that's all," Frohike said in what he hoped was an innocent tone of voice. "I tried to warn you about Diana, didn't I?"
"Shut up, Frohike," Mulder said, chewing his lip. "I told you that subject's off limits."
"Sorry." They watched the show quietly for a while. Guess Fowley's knife-in-the-back wound was still raw.
"You were right about Diana," Mulder finally said, breaking the silence. "I guess you were, I don't know. Anyway, maybe you'll meet Scully one of these days. Assuming she sticks around, which I doubt. She thinks I'm crazy."
"Well, we all think that, dude," Frohike joked, lightly punching Mulder's arm. Mulder cringed at the contact, just for a second.
"I'll get you another beer," Mulder said, quickly gathering their empty bottles and heading for the kitchen.
Frohike frowned and wondered just what the hell they'd done to him in Idaho. He'd said something about being held by the military, but he couldn't remember many details. The details Mulder could remember must not have been too pleasant.
Yeah, he definitely needed to meet this new partner, Agent Scully. He hoped she'd be someone Mulder could trust, who'd watch his back. He'd hate to see his friend get hurt again.