As I sit here in my apartment for one, I contemplate what life would be like for those around me if I died tomorrow. To be sure my mother would be devastated, after losing Missy not long ago, I'm sure my friends, all two of them, would miss me...Mulder, my partner of the X-files, how would he feel?

In my mind I pictured the elusive man to whom I had grown close to the past six years. Nicknamed Spooky by his contemporaries, he wasn't well known nor liked by them. Mulder, with the dark hair, the deep hazel pools that were his eyes, the pouty lips, the lean figure, the tight...I stopped myself there, the picture I held in my mind was known only to me.

I leaned back on the soft sofa and sighed. It was getting late, but I wasn't tired. I was beginning to feel a bit like Mulder, the man who never slept. I get up and scan my cd collection but nothing interests me. A glance to the corner of the room reveals my computer. The end of boredom is just one click away, I think out loud.

I surfed the web for a while but feeling the need for companionship I head over to a chat site. For the late hour the room was surprisingly full. Using the alias of creepy_cookie I scanned the list of chatters, it wasn't until I reached the name Spooky_FM that my curiosity piqued. The name sounded like Mulder.

I sent Spooky_FIM and PM and received the standard reply of a/s/l. Feeling brave, I replied with 31/f/lonliness. I soon discovered that this person was 34/m/USS Enterprise. We bantered back and forth for maybe 10 minutes before he asked me for a picture. Still, I didn't know who I was talking to so I said I had no picture. He then asked me to describe myself. I hesitated for a moment then typed, "I'm a petite redhead with blue eyes." I wasn't going to lie.

I didn't receive a message from Spooky for almost three minutes. I wondered if maybe this really was Mulder, in my mind I hoped it was. When a reply came, the response was curt, "It's been nice talking to you Cookie, but I have an early start tomorrow." And with that Spooky_FM left the room. I didn't even get to say good-bye.

When I arrived at the bureau the next morning I found Mulder already there hunched over his desk, engrossed in some papers. I walked up behind him and tapped him on the back. To my surprise and delight, he let out an almost falsetto yelp. Out loud I laughed, but inside I thought, "Monotone Mulder gains a new pitch, tomorrow on Inside Edition." Mulder gave me a dirty look, almost as if he knew what I was thinking. It's too bad the rest of the building doesn't know what really happens down here, I thought, Mulder and I really do have a unique relationship.

Though my knowledge of the subject is at best shaky, I think Mulder made a pass at me today. It happened during lunch when we were dining at our usual sidewalk deli. I was getting into a fit of "make fun of Mulder" and began pointing out potential dates for him. He gave each woman a glance but looked totally uninterested in every one of them. Just as we were leaving, he gave me a look and said, "Scully, there's only one woman in this town who I think is truly beautiful." It melted my heart, even though I had no proof that I was that woman.

My life continued in the usual fashion for the next couple of weeks. Mulder and I remained close friends and nothing more. I logged into that chat each evening, but Spooky_FM didn't return.

One humid Wednesday the next week Mulder and I were slaving away on reports and such when the call of nature struck. I discovered to my dismay that the basement washrooms were out of order and I would have to make the trip upstairs. I never went upstairs. Somehow I dragged myself up the dimly lit steps and into the brightness of the world upstairs. I realized that it was wonder that Mulder and I didn't have serious eye problems from reading in the dark so often.

I try to avoid using the washrooms at the bureau whenever possible, mostly because gossipy women spend their days in there and I have a feeling that more often than not Mulder and I are the subject of that gossip. Thankfully when I push open the doors, the room is empty. I select a stall and go in. Though my stay in the stall was short, I soon got company. Two voices that I didn't recognize fill the silence, one says, "Did you see the tie Spooky is wearing today?" They now have my attention and I draw my feel up so they will not know I'm there.

As one woman describes Mulder's tie du jour the other laughs hesterically. I myself, think Mulder's tie is rather nice, but maybe I've been spending too much time in the basement.

"What do you think of Spooky, seriously?" asks the laughing woman, "I've never said more than two words to him but there's something about tall, dark, mysterious men in trenchcoats that i find irresistable."

I can hear the other making noises of agreement, "I'd go to bed with him in a second!" she replies. For some reason, the thought of that bimbo in bed with my Mulder made me queasy.

The pair went on to make some rather crude remarks about my relationship with Mulder and then finally left. I breathed a sigh of relief and finally left my stall. I hurried back downstairs, for I knew Mulder would be getting worried.

It was that night that I again came across Spooky_FM in that chatroom. I immediately sent him a PM and his response told me that he did remember me. The first question he asked was about my name, what made me creepy. I faltered a bit, not wanting to tell him that it was because of my line of work. Instead I fed him a story about it being an old highschool nickname. I decided to return the favour and asked him what made him Spooky. His response was what I already knew. At that moment my cell rang. I glanced at a clock, 2:15 am, the only person it could be was Mulder. I hit receive and said, "hello?" Sure enough it was Mulder's familiar voice on the other end. Though our conversation was short, I couldn't figure out any real reason for the call.

It may have been my imagine, but while I was speaking to Mulder, the PM's from Spooky slowed down, almost as if someone was trying to type with one hand. I'm sure that Spooky too, noticed a decline in the frequency of my messages. If he took any notice he said nothing.

After that night I found Spooky in the chat nearly every evening. We would spend hours just talking. By this time I was almost positive that the man behind the name was my Mulder. I had tried to give away as few personal details as possible, but it was hard. One evening Spooky suggested a meeting in person. We had discovered we were from the same area and it would make sense. While the rational part of my brain screamed don't do it! at me, the impulsive part said yes. We set up a time and a place and before I logged off, he asked me how he would recognize me. I hesitated for a moment and came up with a classic, "I'll be carrying a red rose."

For the days leading up to my romantic rendevous I was edgier that normal which caught Mulder's attention. He gently inquired into my well-being but I shrugged him off wtih my standard, "I'm fine."

On the day of the meeting, if Mulder was at all nervous he didn't show it. A sick feeling lingered in my stomach when I thought of the possibility that this man wasn't Mulder. I wanted so much for it to be Mulder.

I chose my outfit with care that evening, I wanted to look my best. All pant suits were out of the question, I wanted something the opposite of Scully; something Dana. I debated a bit before deciding on a long, slinky black dress. I added a pair of heels and looked in the mirror. Not bad, not bad at all.

After touching up my make-up, I picked up my rose and headed for the door. As I drove, the butterflies in my stomach intesified. When I caught sight of the bistro we had agreed upon, my stomach lurched. I parked the car and staggered towards the entrance. Smooth Scully, smooth I thought. I straightened myself up and entered. I did a complete survey of the room, no Mulder. I went over to a small booth in the corner and sat down.

After sitting there through four cups of coffee, no one had joined me. I was beginning to feel slightly ticked off and silly. Well, I decided, I will go use the washroom and if no one is waiting for me when I get back, I'm leaving. I perched my rose on the edge of the table.

As a I exited the bathroom I glanced at my table, it was empty. My heart sank. Suddenly I felt two strong arms wrap themselves around my shoulders. A male voice murmered in my ear, "Good evening beautiful" There was something familiar about that voice, those hands, even the smell of him. I knew who it was and smiled.

I turned around so that my head was on his chest and he rested his chin on top of my head. I looked up at him and said softly, "what took you so damn long?" We both knew what I meant.