Chapter Text
Second Chance
Author: Juliana Alves
Beta: Michelle Neves
Category: Romance, M&S, Season 5
Warnings: Spoiler 5x07
Rating: PG-13
Chapters: 8
Complete: [x] Yes [ ] No
Summary: After an irreparable loss, Scully is faced with a second chance. And this time she won't let go.
Disclaimer: Scully and Mulder unfortunately do not belong to me but to Chris Carter. But Henry is all mine ;)
Chapter 1
Mulder looked at his watch for the third time and was starting to worry, Scully was never late and today she was breaking every record, ever since the incident with little Emily she wasn't the same. He knew she was too secretive to open up to anyone and he was pretty sure she hadn't yet grieved for her little girl.
Scully burst into the room snapping Mulder out of his reverie, he looked at her curiously and saw her impeccable in her armor, as usual. But he knew those eyes all too well and what he saw in that moment made him sad and helpless, she had cried.
"Good morning, Mulder. Sorry I'm late". Her voice was a little husky, but steady.
"Good morning, Scully. Are you okay?" The usual question escaped him before he could stop it.
"I'm fine". He wasn't surprised when the usual answer appeared. "Do we have a case?"
Deviation, he thought as he stared at her. Sitting in her chair, she took a deep breath and looked at him.
"Mulder, stop analyzing me and answer the question".
"No case. Just paperwork". He tried to smile a little, but that wasn't enough, lately, nothing was enough.
With a little affirmation she started working on her computer ignoring him presence, with nothing else to do he started doing the same thing. Maybe this time he could write a full report.
The morning passed quickly, between reports of previous cases and several cups of coffee. They did a lot of paperwork, but the silence still persisted, which makes Mulder a little uneasy.
Suddenly, the phone started to ring and they both jumped, startled by the sudden noise. Scully picked up the phone as if she expected some bad news. Well... no one could judge her.
The call was quick and Scully hung up with a sigh. "It was Skinner, he wants to talk to us".
"I didn't do anything". Mulder spoke before getting up from his chair. That statement made her smile a little, which made Mulder's heart lighten.
They were greeted by the secretary and taken to his office quickly. Even before entering Mulder felt all the senses on alert, this meeting would not be good.
"Agents, glad you came quickly". Skinner spoke and indicated the chairs in front of him.
"Sir, what was so urgent?" Scully questioned impeccably professional.
"Well... You won't like this". He started and fixed Mulder with a guilty look. "I got a call at dawn, it was an officer in the Dallas department, he wants help on a case they're investigating".
"Is it an X-file?" Mulder was still trying to have a little hope.
"No". Two folders were placed on the table and Skinner waited a moment while they looked at the crime scene photos. "They need a profiler".
Scully stared at the boss in surprise, the last time they did these things didn't go as planned and they both knew this would be dangerous.
"Sir, I don't advise that we participate in this case". She tried to refuse, she didn't know if she would be strong enough to help Mulder in these murders.
"I understand, Agent Scully. But my hands are tied. Officer Henry Kenneth knows I have Mulder in my charge". Skinner sighed and took off his glasses, he ran a hand over his face and both agents noticed how tired he looked. "Mulder, you can refuse the case, however we know that only you can find this killer".
"I don't know--- no one approves of the way I make the connections between the clues". Immediately images of when he was in the violent crime’s division popped into her mind. It still hurt to remember the curses, the looks of fear and contempt. But worst of all was being alone with all that fury and sadness that threatened to destroy him.
What brought him out of his reverie was Scully's hand on his arm, she was looking at him worriedly. He tried to smile a little, but never reached his eyes. Turning his attention to Skinner he decided, the quicker they fixed this the quicker they would get back to the X-files.
"I can help, what do they have so far?"
"Mulder, are you sure?" The concern that came out of her voice almost made him flinch.
"I'll be fine".
Skinner watched the two of them as they stared at each other, and for a moment he wondered if they knew they loved each other or had this gone unnoticed. For two smart people like them, they could be pretty blind sometimes.
Skinner cleared his throat and the attention returned to him, that would be a little difficult to say. However, knowing that their best agents were on the case, the probability of finding the culprit was high.
"Six months ago, Officer Johnson received an emergency call, the house was in the central part of the city; middle class. When he got there, he found the whole family dead. Parents and twins, 14 years old". Taking a deep breath, he handed over another photograph. "They found this on the scene".
In the photograph there was a bagged note, the handwriting was perfectly legible and written in red ink: "I'm sorry".
"This has been happening since then, so far there have been eight houses and 24 victims". Skinner talked and tried not to look nervous, but that was impossible, as images of the carnage kept popping into his mind. "This person doesn't choose; they were victims of different ages, different ethnicities, different races. Nobody got a pattern. We don't know how to stop him".
"When will we contact Officer Kenneth?" Scully asked.
"Two tickets to Dallas are booked, you leave in three hours. He'll be waiting for you".
"Ok". Mulder spoke and stood up, Scully and Skinner didn't like his silence. She knew this was his way of closing off, avoiding hurting her.
As soon as they left Skinner's office, Mulder quickened his steps and she had to take a short run before the elevator closed in on her.
"Mulder". She called him furiously. "You won't leave me behind again".
"I'm not..."
"You're doing this again". She spoke in frustration, they were in the elevator alone and her voice echoed throughout the room. "You can't keep me out".
"Sorry, Scully, but I learned from the best". He accused and she cringed reflexively.
"That's not fair".
"Sorry". He took a deep breath and took a step toward her, closing the distance between them. "See? I haven't even started profiling and I'm already hurting you".
Scully could see the pain and concern in his eyes, as much as she didn't want to admit he was right, she'd cocooned herself after what happened to Emily, but that was just too painful to remember. They took care of the little one as if they were their own and that was still hard to relive, for a few days she could pretend she had a family of her own and then everything was ripped away from her.
"Mulder, I... I must apologize too. I know I pushed you away during this situation with Emily, but it's just..."
"I know, it's too painful". She stated with a nod. Without warning Mulder wrapped his arms around her and hugged her as he should have done at the wake. And there, in the middle of the elevator, she broke through the barrier that had been threatening to spill over for the past two weeks.
Mulder squeezed her even tighter in his arms trying to comfort her and ease her crying, he didn't like to see her sad, but that little outburst would be the first step for her to trust him enough to tell her feelings.
The sound of the elevator doors made them pull away. Before she could run away Mulder caught her.
"Hey, I understand if you don't want to talk, but don't hide". She nodded in agreement. "I promise I'll open up more too, okay?"
"Ok". She tried to smile a little and whispered. "I needed this. Thank you. But now we need to work".
Scully saw the little flash of fear flash across his eyes, she knew what could happen if he lost control of his emotions, he wouldn't hurt anyone but himself. With a squeeze of encouragement, they headed for the office.
Five hours later, they were landing in Dallas, Mulder had read all the files Skinner had provided; some sheets of his notebook were filled with specific theories and topics.
"Mulder, do you have any theories yet?" Scully questioned when they were in the car.
"I think so, but I need more information". He said thoughtfully. "I need their histories, how they lived".
"Ok". The silence was comfortable until they arrived at the police station. Before they parked, the sound of a huge argument filled their ears. Looking at each other they ran to the place.
A man in a gray jacket was arguing with a shorter one and the police around him tried to soften and separate them.
"You're not going anywhere with that profile, Johnson".
"It's not my fault if the guy is a crazy psychopath who doesn't know who to kill". Snapped Officer Kenneth.
"Excuse me". Said Mulder and everyone turned to him and his partner. "What's going on here?"
"Who are you?" Asked Johnson angrily.
Mulder and Scully looked at each other curiously, because of the heavy climate that was there, their job wouldn't be easy.
"Agents Scully and Mulder, FBI". Scully's voice resounded in the silence of the room. "We were asked to help with the case".
"Oh... thank God you guys made it". Kenneth spoke. "We're lost here".
"Not quite, sir". Johnson tried to argue.
"See? We haven't stopped arguing since the last crime". Wearily Kenneth sat in one of the chairs he had around him. "I believe Walter talked about the crimes".
"Yes, Sir". Said Mulder uncomfortable for everyone to stare at him. "I have some theories, but I need some information".
"What do you need?"
"I want the files on all the victims. Where they worked, if they were married before, if they moved cities, if they traveled to other countries". He enumerated each item with one finger and looked at his partner. "Scully?"
"I need all the victim autopsy reports". When she spoke Officer Johnson glared at her, she glared at him and raised an eyebrow in defiance.
Johnson got up and muttered that he would get the reports and disappeared into the department. Kenneth smiled a little, he heard from Skinner several stories of his agents and seeing the little interaction between them, he knew his friend hadn't exaggerated.
"Agents, you'll have a room to work in during your time here. I'll have one of my men book rooms for you at the hotel". He started. "They will have everything they need and we will follow the lead they give". He said tired. "Oh--- excuse my manners... I'm Officer Kenneth and I need your help".
"Sir, I'll do my best". Mulder held out his hand and both men shook hands. "I only ask that you respect my partner".
Scully stared at him with narrowed eyes, some people watched in surprise and waited for the visitors to get into a discussion about sexist rights, but to everyone's surprise they both smiled before Mulder spoke again, "I don't want your men to get hurt. She's small, but has a gun". Scully patted his arm and rolled her eyes.
Kenneth smiled a little and shook his head. "Message received, I won't stand in your way, nor will my men".
Before anyone could speak again the sound of the phone had everyone on their toes, they watched the young policeman answer and speak quickly, hanging up the phone he looked at the boss:
"We have another crime".
"Give me the address". Johnson spoke entering the room. "I think you're going to start work sooner than you intended".
Mulder clenched his fists at his sides trying to control his temper, the cop was looking for a fight, but Mulder wouldn't give him that taste. Scully followed the troublemaker and stood in the doorway looking at her partner.
"Mulder, aren't you coming?"
"I'm right after you". He said before taking a deep breath. He followed Scully and they both got into the car. Before arriving at the house, they could see three police cars and a big commotion. Curious people were everywhere and two television stations too. Neither one of them liked that, both had already had to talk to the cameras when closing important cases, the experience hadn't been the best.
"Are you ready, partner?" He questioned and she could hear in his tone a little fear, he was fulfilling his promise to be more open to her; she would have to have the same courtesy.
"No. But we'll be able to work this out". They got out of the car and headed for the scene of horror they would find.
To be continue...