From: Erinstone1@aol.com

Shrink - Chapter 13
ErinStone1@AOL.com
Rated: R
Spoilers: none
Category: Scully/Slash
Archive: Yes-please make me aware of any final posts to a site.
Feedback: Any/all is welcome
Disclaimer: Scully and Mulder are not mine. I make no profit from this story.

Summary:  Scully decides she needs to take responsibility for her unhappiness.

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"Mulder."

Scully seized up. She didn't want to have this conversation. "It's me."

"Hey Scully."

"Mulder I'm going to be unavailable for a few days."

Silence. 

"I've gotten involved in an assault case and I'm assigned to personal 
protection duty until the suspect is apprehended."

More silence.

"Mulder?"

"Sounds pretty boring."

She sighed into the cell phone. "It is, but I'm stuck here for a while."

"Why are you whispering?"

"I'm at the house of the protectee. She's trying to sleep and I don't want to 
wake her."

"How did you get wrapped up in a body guard assignment?"

"It's a long story."

"Anyone could handle this Scully. I'll call up to Skinner and have him find 
someone to relieve you. I need you here."

"No!" Scully squinched up her face as she realized her overreaction. "No 
Mulder, I've made a personal commitment here and I have to see it through."

"Do you know the victim?"

"I know the woman who was assaulted, yes. She's a friend." 

"Oh. Sorry Scully, I didn't realize." His demeanor softened considerably. "Do 
you need any help?"

She smiled into the phone. "No Mulder, but thanks."

"Sure. Well· call me if you need anything. And keep me posted ok?"

"Thanks for understanding."

"Talk to you soon, watch your back."

"I will. Bye." She hung up and breathed a sigh of relief. 



Her next call was to Detective Johns.

"Johns."

"This is Agent Scully. Any news?"

"Well yes, as a matter of fact. Our friend Mr. Pickett has a laundry list of 
priors. Anything from shop-lifting to assault. And by the way, Pickett is an 
alias. The guy's real name is Pelt, Bob Pelt. He's from California 
originally."

"Any idea where he is?"

"No. We've been to his apartment and there was no trace of the guy. He's 
employed at the 'Lock and Save' just outside of Georgetown. We've got 
officers there now going through each storage unit. Real pain in the ass but 
he could be hiding in any one of 'em."

"Were his prior assaults on women?"

"Women and men. He seems to go after women most often. You should know Agent 
Scully that this guy frequents shrinks. Three of his assault victims have a 
'Dr.' in front of their names. The little trick he pulled on Dr. Aris wasn't 
his first time. Tell her that would you?"

"Am I mistaken or was that a show of compassion Detective?"

"Hey, when I'm wrong I say I'm wrong."

Scully smiled at the sleeping form in the bed, she almost wanted to wake her 
to tell her she hadn't been the only one who was played by this guy. 

"Agent? If you'd like I can authorize round the clock protection for the 
doctor. I know I told you that I couldn't spare the officers but now that I 
know what we're dealing with here I'd be happy to send a few your way."

"That's a nice offer Detective but I think I have it handled. You concentrate 
on finding the bad guy ok?"

"You bet. I can reach you at your cell phone number if I come up with 
anything?"

"Yes."

"Alright then. You take care Agent Scully."

"I will, thank you."



Scully set her cell phone down on the coffee table and walked to the kitchen 
for more coffee. 

There, laying in the sink blissfully asleep, was a small tortoise-shell 
colored cat.

She reached over and stroked his head, "Hey little one." The cat opened it's 
eyes and rubbed the side of it's mouth against her nails. In a short time he 
was purring loudly. "Where were you hiding?"

She pet him for a second more then turned and poured more coffee into her 
mug. As she made her way back to the couch she noticed that Gail was sitting 
up in bed.

"Can't sleep?"

"No. Any word?"

Scully walked over and stood next to the bed. "Yeah." She smiled.

"Is she awake?" Gail asked as she pulled her legs toward her and patted the 
mattress.

Scully sat down and shook her head, "No. But I talked to Detective Johns."

"Oh?"

"Bob Pickett's real name is Bob Pelt. He's a California native."

Gail narrowed her eyes, "He told me he was from Florida."

"He's got a long list of priors that include assaults on psychologists."

"No way."

Scully nodded, "Yes way. I don't know the details but he's done this to at 
least three other women doctors."

"You mean he assaulted them?"

"Yes. He's made it a hobby."

Gail rested her face in her hands, "Wow."

Scully sipped her coffee.

"What kind of assault?"

Scully's brow raised, "What do you mean?"

"Was it sexual assault? Physical assault?"

"I don't know but I suppose I can find out. Are you sure YOU want to know?"

"I think so, yes."

"Ok, I'll look into it and have the information when I come tomorrow."

"No Scully, you need to sleep tomorrow." Gail looked her in the eyes, 
"Listen, I never expected you to do this. You don't have to. You're putting 
everything on hold to be here with me. I appreciate it, I do, but I would 
completely understand if you needed to make other arrangements."

Scully held up her hand as Gail spoke but the woman would not stop.

"We know it's safe in here now right? I'll be here all weekend. The security 
system is set. You don't need to come back tonight Scully. I'm fine, really. 
If you could just let me know how Marlene is doing·"

"Gail, shut up."

Gail's brows raised and her mouth snapped shut.

Scully smiled at her small victory. "I'm going to be relieved from duty by 
the Agent who will be here in," she looked at her watch, "one hour. I'm going 
to go home and go to bed. I'll wake up around 3 p.m., clean myself up and go 
to the hospital to check on Marlene. I will then make a stop at the police 
station and get the information on Pelt that you've asked for.  I'll be back 
here at 5:30."

Scully paused to take a breath and then continued. 

"I will have no arguments. I will take no excuses. I will stay here with you 
until I'm relieved by another agent in the morning. End of story."

Gail started to protest. "But·" 

"No."

She looked stunned for a moment, then held up her finger and pointed at 
Scully "You know·"

Scully raised her brows in warning.

"Marlene told me 'no' for the first time last week and she said just like you 
did. Just · 'NO'."

Scully laughed. "Did you deserve it?"

"A flat out 'no' like that? Absolutely not." Gail looked smug and Scully 
chuckled a little louder.

Then a look of panic crossed Gail's face.

"What?"

Gail waved her hand, "Nothing· just thinking." And Gail thought to herself, 
'just remembering why Marlene said 'no' to me and wishing I'd never brought 
it up'.

"So what prompted Marlene tell you 'no'?"

"Nothing, it's not important. I'm just a little concerned with the sudden 
trend." Gail smiled at her.

"Hmmmm." Scully didn't buy her explanation but she let the subject drop. 
Sailboat sprung onto the bed and rubbed against her back. Scully reached 
around an scratched his head.

"You mustn't be nice to Sailboat."

"You named your cat 'Sailboat'?"

"Yeah."

"Why can't I be nice to little Sailboat here?"

"Because he's a terrorist."

"Ooooo k." Scully looked at her oddly but didn't let on that she'd heard the 
pledge call and knew =exactly= how Sailboat had earned his 'terrorist' 
reputation.

Scully's cell phone rang. She got up from the bed and answered it.

A minute later she was back at Gail's bedside. "The agents are here with the 
phone equipment."

Gail got up and grabbed some paper and a pen out of a kitchen drawer. She 
scribbled a few lines and handed it to Scully. "These are all the doors with 
their cooresponding codes."

"Thanks."

It took another hour to get the agents in and the equipment set up. They 
instructed Scully, Gail and the agent who was there to relieve Scully on how 
to use the machinery. They'd installed a caller ID so Gail could see prior to 
answering if she knew the caller. If a call came through as 'Out Of Area' it 
was possibly Pelt and the recording equipment had to be turned on prior to 
answering the phone. If it was a friend or relative the phone call, 
obviously, didn't need to be recorded.

The phone crew left and Scully introduced Gail to the Agent who'd be 
relieving her. 

"Dr. Aris this is Agent Phelps. He'll be with you today until I get back."

Gail noticed that Scully had gone back to using her title and last name in 
the presence of the other agents. She was reminded suddenly that they weren't 
supposed to know each other as well as they did. She played along willingly, 
not wanting to jeopardize Scully's reputation.

"Agent Phelps." She shook the man's hand. 'Handsome guy.' She thought. 

Scully put her coat on and Gail followed her into the foyer. Agent Phelps 
walked around the warehouse.

Scully motioned for Gail to come closer. She nodded toward the other agent, 
"He looks like a kid at Disneyland."

Gail smiled at her.

"Your home is amazing, did you know that?"

Gail tilted her head, amused, "You really think so huh?"

"Yeah." Scully shifted on her feet. She seemed· what? Hesitant? "I'll see you 
tonight." Scully turned and got into the elevator and Gail pulled down the 
slat door for her. She unlocked the emergency stop and the elevator started 
to move.

Gail stood for long seconds in the foyer. 'What is this?' She had a really 
weird feeling in her belly that radiated upward. She felt· depressed, she 
guessed, but in an odd way· Maybe a little lost? 'This is ridiculous' she 
thought to herself. 
'I'm a grown up for Christ's sake.'

She turned and walked back into the warehouse. She could see Agent Phelps 
standing in front of the fountain. He turned to her and wide-eyes asked, "Did 
you make this?"

-end-