Friday, August 23, 5:07pm

"My car always picks the worst day to break down." Special Agent Fox Mulder of the FBI stood on a busy Washington, D.C. sidewalk. He was just outside the J. Edgar Hoover building and was trying to hail a taxi.

"All I want to do is go home and put my feet up," he thought, rubbing his temples. "It's been a long day." He kicked himself for not asking his partner and best friend Agent Dana Scully for a ride home. Then he could have avoided the craziness of Friday rush hour in the city. He would have asked her, too, if she hadn't run out an hour earlier that day, saying she'd forgotten a dentist appointment. In fact, she had run out so quickly she had left her trench coat behind.

"I'll have to give this to her on Monday," Mulder thought, looking at the coat tucked under his arm, "Or maybe earlier. I could stop by this weekend to give it to her."

At that moment a cab stopped next to Mulder. He was momentarily startled, so lost in his thoughts he had forgotten what he was doing.

"Are you getting in or not?" the cabbie asked tersely.

"Oh...yeah," Mulder said, finally coming to his senses. He opened the yellow door of the taxi and climbed in, placing Scully's trench coat beside him in the backseat. As he did this, he saw Scully's FBI ID Badge fall out of the left pocket.

"She'll definitely want that," Mulder thought, leaning over to pick it up, "And now I have an even better reason to go over to her apartment this weekend."

"Where're you going?" the cabbie asked as she pulled out into the endless traffic jam that was rush hour. She was a small, gaunt woman, presumably in her mid-thirties, with long, stringy blond hair that hung limply over her shoulders. She had gray eyes that cast accusing, suspicious glances wherever she looked.

"Just drop me off anywhere in Alexandria and I'll be fine," Mulder answered, shuddering at the glare the cabbie gave him. He didn't want to spend any more time with her than he had to.

"So, d'you work for the FBI?" The question the woman asked seemed more like an accusation.

"Yes I do, " Mulder replied politely. He turned to look out the window, trying to avoid looking at the cabbie's eyes, and to give her the hint he didn't really want to talk, especially with her. Despite Mulder's subtle hints, the cabbie persisted.

"What d'you know about the government conspiracies you're hiding from us?" Mulder had to stop himself from laughing.

"I only wish I knew," he replied, a broad smile creasing his rugged features and a twinkle in his brownish green eyes. The frown on her face told Mulder he had briefly stumped the cabbie. He took this opportunity to ask a question of his own.

"Would you mind turning on the radio? I'm not really in a talking mood right now."

"I'll bet you aren't." Sarcasm filled the cabbie's voice and her glaring eyes were once more fixed on Mulder. Nonetheless, she obediently turned on the radio.

"Now, here's Alanis Morissette's newest single "Head Over Feet" kicking off our ten in a row on WXFY, Washington's leader in rock music," the voice on the radio announced.

"Oh great, just what I need - blaring rock music," Mulder thought, "Well, it's better than chit chatting with that woman, I guess." He braced himself for the loud music he expected to come from the radio. He was surprised when a soft female voice came on instead.

"I had no choice, but to hear you
You stated your case time and again
I thought about it."

"That reminds me of the new case Scully showed me today," Mulder thought, looking at the ID badge in his hands, "She really made it sound interesting, even though it was pretty routine. I wonder how she does that."

"You treat me like I'm a princess
I'm not used to liking that
You ask how my day was."

"Scully asked me how my weekend was last Monday. I thought that it was really nice of her to take interest in me. And today she brought me a bagel and coffee in case I'd missed breakfast, which I had. I wonder how she knew that," Mulder mused, completely lost in his thoughts. The music continued.

"You've already won me over in spite of me
Don't be alarmed if I fall head over feet
Don't be surprised if I love you for all that you are
I couldn't help it
It's all your fault."

"I noticed Scully looked very nice today," Mulder's thoughts continued, "Maybe she styled her hair differently or used some new makeup, but there was just something about her that made her look radiant today. I wonder what it was."

"Your love is thick and it swallowed me whole
You're so much braver than I gave you credit for
That's not lip service."

"Scully may have saved my life on that last case. She was so brave to stand up to those guys like she did. I didn't know she had it in her, but I'm glad she did. She really saved my skin. I wonder if she knows how much I appreciate that."

"You've already won me over in spite of me
Don't be alarmed if I fall head over feet
Don't be surprised if I love you for all that you are
I couldn't help it
It's all your fault."

"You are the bearer of unconditional things
You held your breath and the door for me
Thanks for your patience"

"Scully has held her breath for me," Mulder thought as a harmonica wailed in the background. He smiled. "But just one breath. She's been extremely patience with my wild ideas too. I must give her lots of credit for that. I wonder how she puts up with me sometimes."

"You're the best listener that I've ever met
You're my best friend
Best friend with benefits
What took me so long"

"Scully's my best friend, or course. Heck, she's more than a friend. She really listens to me, even when my ideas are kind of bizarre. She's helped me out of tough situations so many times I can't even begin to count them all. But I wonder what they mean by "What took me so long." So long for what?"

"I've never felt this healthy before
I've never wanted something rational"

"Well, duh," thought Mulder, smiling. He grew more serious. "And these feelings I have right now are definitely not rational. Scully wouldn't like that. After all, rational is her middle name." He looked at her photo for what seemed like the hundredth time.

"I am aware now"

"Aware of what?" Mulder was bewildered.

"I am aware now"

Suddenly Mulder understood. As the chorus of the song played in the background, Mulder knew what he had to do.

"Can you take me to 3170 West 53 Road in Annapolis right now?" He knew Scully's address by heart.

"Oh, so you're awake back there. Yeah, I can take you there, but it'll cost you extra," the cabbie warned.

"I don't care, just get me there now." Mulder fidgeted in the backseat, trying to think of something to say when he finally got there.

"Why is this taking so long?" he thought. The fifteen minute drive seemed like an eternity to him, "Well, she's waited three years for me to come around. I hope she'll wait another couple of minutes." When they finally arrived at Scully's apartment, Mulder knew exactly what he was going to say. It was simple, but to the point. On his way in the door, he noticed a flower stand down the street and hurriedly purchased a flower. Then he rushed up the stairs to her apartment carrying her trench coat, ID badge, and a single red rose. When he arrived at the door, he hesitated for only a moment, then summoned his courage and knocked.

"I hope she's home from her appointment," Mulder worried. But before he could brood over it any longer, the door opened and a small redheaded woman stood in the doorway.

"Hi Mulder. What're you doing here?" Dana Scully asked.

"I just came over to give you this," he said handing over her trench coat and ID badge.

"Thanks. I was wondering where I put that," she replied taking her coat and badge and setting them down on a chair.

"I also wanted to give you this," Mulder continued, drawing a rose from around his back. Scully smiled as she accepted the rose.

"That was sweet of you," she said, "What's the occasion?"

"Wait, I have one more thing to give you," Mulder replied. Scully gave him a quizzical expression.

"What's that?" she asked curiously.

"This." Mulder took her in his arms and kissed her. Scully looked shocked for a moment afterward, but Mulder hurried to explain.

"I've fallen for you head over feet," Mulder said simply. Scully's shocked expression now changed to one of pure joy.