Ready
by Susan

Email: touchstone98@tx.rr.com
Classification: what-if vignette
Very brief references to: The Truth and I Want 
to Believe
Archive: No archive without permission.
Disclaimer: Mulder and Scully still aren't mine, 
but I sure am glad they're coming back.

Notes: I can't tell you how thrilled I was when 
I first heard the news about The X-Files coming 
back, and when I read David's Twitter message 
below, I just knew I had to write a little 
something about it.:)

"It's been 13 years, hope my suits still fit."

I have no idea how or even if Mulder and Scully 
are going to be put back in charge of the X-Files 
in the reboot, but I'd like to think that Skinner 
would ask them to come back for some reason or 
another, and this is my take on a little what-if 
scenario if that is indeed the case.

Summary: He hadn't worn a suit in over thirteen 
years.

~~~~

A towel around his waist, his hair still wet, 
Mulder stepped out of the steamy bathroom and 
walked into their bedroom closet.

There wasn't much hanging on his side of it, 
or hers either for that matter, but they had 
what they needed and it was enough.

He wasn't sure why he had still held onto it, 
especially given their circumstances, but it was 
one of the things Scully had hastily packed for 
him all those years ago when they'd left their 
lives behind.

"You might need it, Mulder," she'd said when he 
first opened the large duffel bag, but they were 
on the run then and though he doubted he'd ever 
wear it again, he'd found a place for it in the 
corner of their closet anyway.

She'd saved one of her suits as well and had only 
worn it once when she interviewed for the job at 
Our Lady of Sorrows seven years ago.

But now she was in the bedroom getting dressed 
in it for the second time, and though she was 
thinner than he'd like her to be, she looked just 
as confident and professional as she did when she 
wore it before.

"We should probably leave by 8:30, Mulder," she 
called out. "I'll be in the kitchen if you need 
me, okay?"

"Okay. I'll just be a few more minutes," he called
back.

Turning his attention to the back of the closet, 
he took the suit off the hanger and grabbed the 
blue shirt and striped tie that was hanging next 
to it, then walked back into the bedroom and laid 
them on the bed.

And that's when it hit him.

He hadn't worn a suit in over thirteen years.

For more years than he cared to count, it used 
to be all he did wear. Day after day, he went 
to his office in the basement and tried to make 
a difference despite the fact that most people 
didn't think he should even bother.

And now here he was again all these years later, 
heading back to the place that had tried so many 
times to get rid of him.

When Skinner first called him to tell him he
had a proposition for him, he was skeptical,  
but after talking it over with Scully and 
insisting that the two of them were a package 
deal or there was no deal, he'd agreed to hear 
exactly what their former boss had to say to 
them.

From what little they'd been told, it sounded 
like the challenge he'd been waiting years for, 
and yet he didn't want to get his hopes up.

He'd been surprisingly contented with the 
lifestyle they'd led for the past twelve 
years, but for the last year, he'd been feeling 
restless and ready for a change.

And so when the call came, despite his initial 
hesitation, his mind was now excitedly pondering 
all sorts of possibilities.

Of course, none of it would come to fruition if
Scully didn't agreed with what was being offered
as well, but for the past couple months, he could
sense that she feeling restless too. 

Despite his initial reservations about being able 
to fit into the suit, it went on rather easily 
and though it took him three times to get his tie 
just right, it felt good to dress this way again.

It felt even better to have a purpose.

Quickly running his fingers through his still 
damp hair, he sat down on the bed to put on his 
socks and shoes, then walked over to the mirror 
and looked at his reflection.

It was strange to see himself this way again, and
yet he felt more comfortable and in control than 
he had in years.

Taking one last look at himself, he grabbed his
watch off the nightstand and headed out to the
kitchen.

Her eyes met his the moment he walked into the
room, and she went to him, reaching up and
adjusting his tie, then slowly sliding her hands
down his lapels. "Are you sure you're ready for
this, Mulder?"

He kissed her cheek, straightened her collar,
then smiled and replied, "I am."


~end~



I hope you enjoyed reading this little glimpse into
the future as much as I enjoyed writing it.:) Drop
me a line and share your thoughts with me about the
show. I'd love to hear from you! 

Susan
touchstone98@tx.rr.com
 

http://possibilities98.wordpress.com/


Originally posted April 2015.