From: Erinstone1@aol.com

Shrink - Chapter 7
ErinStone1@AOL.com
Rated: PG-13
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.





"So this caller, does he make threats against you?"

"Not me, he never mentions me. He only talks about Dr. Aris."

"Does he talk about hurting her?"

"He didn't in the beginning but he's started to now."

"Do you have any idea who might be making the calls Marlene?"

"No. Dr. Aris seems to think it's a client but I'm not so sure."

They'd gotten a booth at Casey's. Marlene was nursing a Chardonnay and Scully 
sipped on coffee. Neither was hungry so they'd decided to skip dinner. 

"Why's that?" Scully had her notebook open and was writing down notes as they 
talked. 

"I don't recognize the voice. I know the client Dr. Aris thinks is making the 
calls, but when he comes in... I don't know. I just don't think it's him."

"I noticed the doctor doesn't wear a wedding ring. Is she married?"

"No."

"Anyone significant in her life now?" 

"I don't think so, no."

"Are there any old boyfriends who might be angry with her? Maybe a guy she'd 
had one date with and never called again...  someone like that?"

Marlene looked uncomfortable. "No."

"You're certain?" Scully was surprised that Marlene wouldn't even entertain 
the possibility. 

"Dr. Scully, I'm certain it's not an old boyfriend."

Scully couldn't imagine a woman like Dr. Aris not being chased. "No old 
boyfriends at all?"

Marlene nodded. "The doctor has different interests." She watched Scully as 
the information started to sink in.

Scully felt her heart quicken. "Dr. Aris is a lesbian."

Marlene confirmed softly, "Bingo."

"I didn't realize· I mean· I never would have known." Scully took a breath 
and tried to regain her composure. "And you're sure it's a man's voice?"

"Well, it's altered, but it certainly sounds male."

"There are all kinds of devises out there that can alter the voice. Some of 
them have the ability to make the caller sound like the opposite sex."

"Well if it's a 'her' then she must have one of those devices, because she 
definitely sounds like a 'him' to me. And the things he says... he refers to 
all manner of body parts that a 'her' just isn't packing. Know what I mean?"

Scully smiled slightly.

Marlene dug through her purse and pulled out a zip lock bag containing three 
small cassettes. "Here, listen to these and tell me what you think."

"The caller?"

"Yep, the caller. It's also got messages from suppliers and one or two pledge 
calls from Dr. Aris. If I erase one message they all go, so please try and be 
discreet when you listen to them. I don't think there are any other clients 
on the tapes. If there were I wouldn't be able to give them to you. It'd be a 
breach of client privacy."

Scully took the tapes and put them in her coat pocket. "What's a pledge call?"

Marlene smiled widely. "It's a message to me from the doctor. She makes me 
say a pledge with her when she does something she doesn't want to do again. I 
guess she figures if she makes a pledge with me present that she's less 
likely to be a repeat offender."

Scully looked confused. "What kinds of things do you pledge her about?"

Marlene smiled, "Listen to the tapes. I swear she makes me pledge with her at 
least twice a week."

Scully was still confused.

"She's really quite loopy Dr. Scully. But I mean that in a good way of 
course."

"Of course."

"You know," Marlene paused and Scully thought she looked like she was going 
to cry, "I love that girl."

Scully smiled at her. "I can tell Marlene."

"I'd never want anything to happen to her and I don't think she's taking 
these threats seriously enough. She's getting these calls at home too, I'm 
sure of it. She looks like she hasn't slept in a week for god's sake."

Scully held Marlene's hand across the table. "I'll look into some phone 
records for you and we'll figure out if there's a real threat here. I'm glad 
you asked about this, I think it's better to check it than to ignore it, 
especially if the calls are getting more violent."

"They're getting awfully graphic as well, but you'll hear that soon enough." 
Marlene pointed to Scully's pocket. "Hope you don't blush easy."

Scully smiled and released Marlene's hand, "Marlene, where does Dr. Aris 
live?"

"She lives near Market and Jefferson."

"That's all warehouses down there isn't it?"

"She lives in a warehouse. Well, a converted warehouse."

"Really?"

"Yes. One giant room. It used to be a canoe factory. Wooden canoes I think."

"Seems like it would be drafty."

"Oh no. I was there once when she was ill. It takes a little getting used to 
but it's actually quite nice. She's got a large stone fireplace right smack 
in the middle of the place that could heat the whole thing. And she makes 
good use of fabric screens and those indoor trees."

"Trees?"

"Believe it or not, yes. Trees. Lots of ficus and the like. Only problem is 
you walk too fast past one of those things and you're picking up leaves for a 
half-hour. I told her they need more water."

"Where does she park?" Scully knew the area to be a little shaky. 

"Inside. She's got an opener and she drives right into the first floor level 
of the warehouse. She's got an old elevator that takes her up to her living 
area. The second level. It's like something right out of a movie, I swear."

"Wow." 

"Yeah, that's what I said. She had to go through hell with the zoning 
commission to even be able to start renovations on the place. But it must 
have been worth it because she seems to be happy there."

Scully seemed deep in thought for a moment. "Wish I could see it, it sounds 
really interesting."

"It is that."

"Well, I think I have plenty to go on Marlene. Can I get your home number? I 
may have questions."

Marlene recited the number for her and she added it to the end of her notes.

"Dr. Scully it's important to Dr. Aris to keep her private life private. She 
doesn't like clients to know about her preferences."

"I understand."

"She'd kill me if she knew I told you where she lives, or anything about it 
for that matter."

"I won't say a word." Scully patted her hand.

"I feel I've already hopped up and down on the client privilege issue with 
you. I'm feeling a little guilty. It's just that I felt if I went to the 
police it would really shake the doctor up. I feel that you have more decorum 
and frankly you're smarter than they are. If it's nothing I'll be relieved. 
If it something, well, I guess we'll just play it by ear."

"I'll let you know the minute I find out where the calls are coming from. 
We'll get this figured out Marlene. Try not to worry."

"Thanks."

-end-