By Kat
5. 45 AM EST-Time, Friday
Arlington, Virginia
The sineway beeping of his alarm clock pulled Mulder out of his recent slumber. He reached for it and hit the button that was supposed to stop the beeping. Still sleepy and not really into this world he rolled on his back and yawned. With eyes still closed, he thought he'd rather just stay in bed. Why had he decided to go jogging this morning anyway? But he smiled as he remembered:
Mulder? And then a very rare giggle from her. You should really look at yourself now. When was the last time you went jogging to keep yourself fit? With this tempo even my grandmother could overtake you!
Scully. That's what she had said, after they both chased a little crook down the streets but Scully got to him first. He could still see her amused face. Well, he had been busy a lot lately. Other things than keeping fit and practising his jogging stamina. A lot of cases, journeys through the whole country and eating dinner in way too many cheap restaurants. And it all lead to him being everything else but fast, or at least as fast as he used to be.
Tiredly he swung his legs over the side of his bed and combed his dishevelled hair with his fingers. Well, come on! – he tried to motivate himself and started for the bathroom. The next time he saw his partner he wanted to present a better image. Not gasping for air but an example for fitness. There was more to loose thanjust his reputation.
6. 01 AM EST-Time, Friday
Somewhere near Mulder's appartment
Although very early in the day, it was quite warm outside. Washington DC, as well as the rest of the east coast, experienced one of the hottest summers of the century. And although it was statisctically detected that a hot climate caused the crime rate to rise, it seemed to proof the statistics wrong in this summer. Even in the rest of the US there was nothing important going on. Mulder even doubted the evil in the world. So, because of this summer heat and the lack of cases it was nearly the fourth week that he and Scully hadn't been called out of town. You are more valuable for us here, Agent Mulder! Skinner had said. Mulder just laughed about it and the "normal" cases, such as drug dealing or homicides, started getting on his nerves. He literally craved for and x-file. Mulder started smiling again – Scully would think he was nuts. But actually everybody was thinking that anyway.
He jogged towards Arlingtons cemetery for the war heros and used the little side roads to avoid too much traffic. Apparently, he was not the only one that had decided to get some things done before it started getting too hot. He shot a quick glance at his watch and took the next street on his left.
7. 30 Uhr EST-Time, Friday
FBI-Headquarters, Washington DC
This special morning it had been really hard for Dana Scully to find something to wear. The clothing was supposed to be decent, according to FBI standards, but not too warm either, according to her standards.
It was literally like a shock to get out of the airconditioned car and into the sweltering heat of the parking lot. It's just half past seven! How can it be so hot at that time of the day? She made her way to the stairs leading to the sandy coloured FBI building. At least she knew that there was airconditioning inside.
7. 38 AM EST-Time, Friday
FBI-HQ, basement office
Annoyed she pushed the door to the basement office open. Of all things it had to be today that the FBI's airconditioning was out of order. While shaking her head she approached Mulder's desk and threw her suit jacket over an empty chair. Mulder was nowhere to be seen. When has he ever arrived on time? Scully sighed loudly and started unbuttoning the first buttons of her white blouse.
"Hey, sceptic, what are you doing there?"
Scully whirled around to see Mulder sitting on the ground, surrounded by hundreds of photos, folders and old x-files.
He was grinning impudently and his eyes trailed from her face to the open buttons of her blouse. "Uhm, Scully, you know that we can't lock the office door from the inside, do you?"
She started grinning as well. I wonder where your thoughts are now, Mulder! "Well, Mulder, I'm sorry for you, but you may have been anticipating too much here." She answered with a grin plastered over her face, while moistening her lips with her tongue.
Mulder's eyes sparkled into her direction and yet they had this typical soft impression. "Oh, yeah, I see. So, maybe another time!"
"Only in your dreams, spooky!" Using his nickname, she crossed the room and approched the spot where he was sitting on the floor. "What are you doing here, anymway?"
"I'm thinking about the good old days … you know, taking a walk on memory lane!" He did not look at her but placed a photo next to another one.
"The good old days?" She asked doubtingly and with an insecure smile on her face as she scanned the pictures that were sprayed in front of her. These were pictures of murder victims, crop circles, unidentified phenomenas and serial killers.
"Yep!" Was all he said.
"Do I have to worry about you?" She asked back.
Finally, Mulder looked up and gave her a reassuring smile. "I don't think so."
So Scully nodded and strolled back towards that empty chair to have a seat. "Fine." She sat down with a sigh while using an old manila folder as a fan. "It's so typical that just today the airconditioning broke down."
Mulder grinned and shot her a quick glance. Like the wings of a humming bird she was swining the folder to create a breeze of cool air. "Uhm, Scully, … by the way … I went jogging this morning. Just to inform you." Mulder exlpained, proudly rolling up the sleeves of his shirt.
Scully opened her eyes and turned her head towards him. "Wow, Mulder. Do you want to race me any time soon?"
Mulder nodded his head no and his grin grew wider. "No, not you, Scully, but your grandmother." And she started smiling right away. That was what he had intended. Again, he looked down at the pictures as the phone on Mulder's desk rang.
Scully stood up and strolled over to the phone, not too fast because it was simply too hot for any rapid movements. "Scully." She said, still using her fan. She breathed out and seated herself on Mulder's much more comfortable office chair that answered with a squeak.
Agent Scully?
Skinner's calm and deep voice could be heard on the other end of the line and Scully immediately sat up straight, as if the Assistant Director stood right in front of her. "Mr Skinner, Sir?"
So, fill me in about your latest case – this Anacostia homicide …
"We just closed the file yesterday, Sir." Scully answered and looked over to Mulder who stood up and walked towards her.
Very well. I'd like to have your reports on my desk by noon. Understood?
Scully nodded and tried to catch a recusant, red strand of her hair behind her ear. "Of course, Sir."
Mulder sat down and studied Scully's face while she spoke to Assistant Director Skinner.
Good, so you and Agent Mulder have a nice weekend then. Right now, there are no new cases that need immidiate investigation. Unless you have no old cases to work on, you can leave for today.
A very grateful smile spread across Scully's face. Working was inhumane with such a heat anyway. "Thanks, Sir!" She said before she hung up.
"What did he want?" Mulder asked and searched Scully's blue eyes.
Contenly she smiled and made herself comfortable in Mulder's office chair. "We are free to go – he gave us the rest of the day off!"
"I knew there was a god!" Mulder jumped up and gripped his marine jacket and then Scully's hand.
She looked at him questioningly but followed. "Where do we go?"
"What about having an ice?" They were standing in front of the elevator and Mulder pushed at the button just as the steal doors slid open and they were able to step inside.
"Mulder …" Actually, Dana Scully was not the spontaneous kind of person. But it definitely sounded tempting. An ice – that would be wonderful. But did Mulder have nothing else to do?
"Oh, come on! What's better than an ice on a day like this?" He asked leaning against the cold elevator wall with his shoulder, while his soft brown eyes pleadingly looked at her.
"I don't really know, I mean …" She shrugged her shoulders and arrangend some strands of her auburn hair. Apparently he really ment it.
"Come on, there's this Tofu-ice-thing waiting just for you." He teased her and nudged her arm slightly. He knew that she liked this healthy stuff.
Scully smiled. "Fat free?"
Mulder started grinnig. "Even fat free. I'm buying. Oh, come on. When are we going to get such an opportunity again?"
Like a little boy, he stood in front of her and begged her with his eyes. Of course she wanted to come, she was really looking forward to it. Instead of an answer she just started smiling brightly.
"So, I take that as a YES!"