Mulder's Folly - Part 2
Mulder sat uncomfortably waiting for Walter to
arrive. He planned to present Scully with her sealed
envelope once Walter made his appearance. Hopefully,
Scully would ask fewer potentially embarrassing
questions with their superior officer present.
Scully turned to look at her partner, "You're unusually
quiet this morning. Something bothering you, Mulder?"
Mulder blushed, "You might say that." He stood slowly
and moved around his desk, "Walter's going to be here
in just a few minutes, Scully. I'd really appreciate it, if
you don't ask questions. Okay?"
Scully smirked, "Does this have anything to do with the
entertainment portion of yesterday's staff meeting, Mulder?"
She primly tucked her hair behind her ears, "I was rather
surprised by Section Chief Manscuzzo's choice of topics
for her video presentation." She smiled innocently, "I simply
had no idea, she was so interested in extraterrestrial life forms!"
Mulder squirmed under Scully's close scrutiny and playful
taunting, "Very funny, Scully. You're a laugh riot this morning.
What did you eat for breakfast? Corn Flakes?"
Scully laughed merrily, "At least I didn't have to eat my
breakfast standing up!" She wrapped an arm around her
partner and squeezed gently, "I bet Skinner had a lot to
talk about last night. Eh? I tried calling you at your
apartment twice. The machine picked up both times."
Mulder blushed furiously, "I don't want to discuss it, Scully."
He fingered the envelopes in his pocket, "Walter's going to
be here soon. I'd rather he not catch us talking about it.
Walter just might decide to make me tell everyone how he
showed me the error of my ways!"
Scully chuckled again, "I won't mention it again, Mulder
...at least not this morning. But, I do expect a full accounting
later. You are going to give me all the details and draw
diagrams, if necessary."
Mulder's chin dropped to rest on his chest, "Why do
you always do this to me, Scully? It embarrasses the
Hell out of me, when you make me describe how
Walter spanks me. It's really none of your business!
You should be ashamed of yourself!"
Scully reached back to give Mulder's seat a quick
pat, "I don't ever get to watch. What other choice
do I have, Mulder? I doubt Walter would be willing
to videotape one of your spankings for me. She offers
Mulder a hopeful glance. "Do you think he might consider it?"
She sighs wistfully, "Never mind. That is exactly what
landed your butt in this situation to begin with. Isn't it?"
She wandered slowly back to her desk, "You still haven't
told me why Walter is coming down here."
Mulder explained quickly about the apology letters,
"Walter decided he should go along and keep me company."
Scully held out her hand, "Do you have one for me too,
Mulder? I'd like to see it."
Mulder shook his head, "Not on your life! Walter insists
on watching me distribute these letters. I'm not even
taking them out of my pocket, until he's standing right
here. I have no intention of being invited back for another
discussion about disobeying direct orders!"
Scully finally relented, "Okay, I can wait." She sat back
down at her desk and began to download her e-mail,
"Well! Would you look at this?" She turned the monitor
screen around for Mulder to see, "Look!"
Mulder stared disgustedly at the screen, "How incredibly
hilarious! I am going to be in so much hot water with Skinner!
Who sent that url?" He walked over for a closer look at
the computer, "Do you think everyone at the meeting got one?"
Scully tried valiantly not to laugh at her partner's distress,
"It's okay, Mulder. Walter's going to know you didn't
send this e-mail. Even you wouldn't be foolish enough to
direct us all to the.." she paused long enough to read the
header on the computer screen, "...One stop online shop
for all our pornographic needs!" Finally unable to hold her
giggles, Scully added, "Oh, look! They accept all major
credit cards! Isn't that just too convenient?"
Before Mulder had an opportunity to offer his opinion,
Walter Skinner entered the office. He noticed the image
on the monitor screen immediately, "I know you didn't
send it, Mulder. You are ultimately responsible, though.
Aren't you?"
Mulder sighed, "But, Walter!" He could barely resist
reaching back to cover his backside, "Am I in trouble
for this, too?"
"No, but if I find out who sent that e-mail....," Skinner
shook his head, "Never mind. You have other things to
take care of." He nodded toward Scully. "Don't you have
something to say to your partner, Agent Mulder?"
A sheen of perspiration covered Mulder's blushing face,
"Uh..yeah." Reaching into his pocket, Mulder extricated
the stack of envelopes. He fumbled through them nervously
to find Scully's, "Here, Dana. This is for you. I'm really
sorry for the practical joke yesterday. I've written you an
apology." He swallowed hard and licked his dry lips,
"I hope you weren't offended. I don't plan on doing anything
quite so foolhardy again."
Scully accepted the letter graciously, "Thank you, Fox.
I appreciate the effort on your part." She winked
conspiratorially at her partner. "May I read it now?"
Mulder glanced quickly at his supervisor. "It's fine
by me. What do you say, Walter?"
After Skinner nodded, Scully tore open the envelope
and scanned the page, "You really put a lot of thought
into this letter, Mulder. I'm impressed. You're forgiven
and you may consider the incident forgotten."
Mulder sighed with relief, "Thanks, Dana." He smiled,
"That wasn't as hard as I thought it would be."
Skinner slapped him on the back, "One down and
how many to go, Fox? Nine?" He led his wayward
agent toward the door, "Your partner has some rather
urgent business to attend to, Agent Scully. He'll return
shortly, if..." staring intently at Mulder, "...Things go smoothly."
Mulder blushed again before offering Scully a small
wave, "I'll return shortly."
They entered the elevator and Mulder asked Skinner,
"You're really enjoying this, aren't you?"
Skinner smiled broadly, "Yes. As a matter of fact, I am.
You've reigned as Brat Prince long enough, Fox. It's time
you took a tumble. Think of this as another lesson in humility,
if it makes you feel any better."
Mulder sighed, "I'd prefer to think of it as a very bad
dream. One that I'm going to wake up from soon!"
They exited the elevator and entered a large common
office. Row upon row of small cubicles filled the space.
Each three- walled cubicle offered agents a modicum
of privacy to conduct interviews, telephone inquiries
and computer research.
Walter peered at his list, "You have four letters to
deliver, Mulder. Get to work." He glanced at the
legend posted on the information desk, "First row,
third desk is where you will find Ms. Geneva Cornelison."
Mulder blanched, "She's a Gorgon, Walter! She'll
eat my nuts for breakfast with a cup of coffee! Can't
I just slip the letter in her mail basket? Please?"
Walter stared stonily, "Did we discuss the option of
slipping letters into mail baskets, Mulder? Quit stalling."
Mulder smoothed his hair and straightened his jacket
before approaching Agent Cornelison, "Hello..good
morning. I'd just like to say how sorry I am.."
"WELL...you certainly are," the woman snarled. Geneva
Cornelison was whipcord thin. Her eyes bulged prominently
from a delayed diagnosis of hyperthyroidism. Shaking with
fury, she resembled nothing more than a rabid Chihuahua,
"Your behavior yesterday was absolutely despicable,
young man!"
Mulder agreed, "Yes, ma'am. It certainly was. I'm simply
trying to tell you how sorry I am." He held out the letter
as a peace offering, "This is a personal letter expressing
my feelings, Ms. Cornelison. I would like to get past
yesterday's unfortunate incident. Please, won't you accept
my apology, ma'am?"
Geneva ripped the envelope nearly in half to retrieve
the enclosed letter, "Hummphhff." She scanned it quickly,
"I will accept your apology, Mr. Mulder but don't think
for one minute I'm not keeping my eye on you! See that
you dot every i and cross every t or you'll be out of here
so fast, even Skinner won't be able to save you!"
"Yes, ma'am. Thank you." Mulder immediately turned
to leave while he still had a shred of dignity left.
Geneva Cornelison watched and waited. As Mulder
reached Walter, she stood and called loudly, "You're
so very lucky, Mulder! Section Chief Manscuzzo says
you remind her of her little brother! He was always
getting into mischief, too!"
Mulder's back stiffened. He opened his mouth to reply.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you," Skinner cautioned.
He checked his list again, "Stacey Shipman. Her desk
is two rows over, Mulder. I'm staying right here, so
don't get any ideas. If I see you anywhere near Agent
Cornelison again, you are not going to like what happens
next."
Agent Stacey Shipman was a fresh faced young blonde.
Mulder had chatted with her several times in the employee's
lounge. He approached her cubicle confidently, "Hi, Stacey.
How are you this morning?"
She smiled sympathetically at Mulder, "Better than you,
huh? I heard Skinner was really angry with you yesterday.
Is he going to put something in your personnel folder?"
Mulder shrugged, "No. He was very angry but he's
decided not to take any official action. He did insist I
write apology letters, though. Here's yours, Stacey."
He handed her the envelope with a smile, "So, am I forgiven?"
She giggled, "Oh, sure! I thought the whole thing was
pretty funny, myself. Old Geneva nearly swallowed
her tongue though!" She giggled again, "Thanks, Mulder.
The letters are a very nice touch, even if it was Skinner's idea."
Mulder smiled brightly, "Thanks, Stacey." He glanced
over his shoulder at Walter's scowling face, "Look, I've
got to go now. I'll talk with you later, all right?"
Mulder approached Walter with his smile still intact,
"Piece of cake. Who's next on the list?"
Skinner gave Mulder his most daunting glare, "This
isn't supposed to be fun, Mulder." Unclenching his
fist, Walter smoothed the list enough to read, "Jeanette
Goldberg. She's located," Walter peered at the legend
again, "Last row, second to the last cubicle. Do I need
to impose a time limit, Mulder?"
Mulder grinned again, "Nah. I don't know Jeanette
that well. No need to make small talk."
He sauntered down the row, feeling much better
about this entire ordeal. Only four more letters to
deliver, and he was home free! Trouble reared its
ugly head, when Mulder arrived at Ms. Goldberg's
cubicle and found Geneva Cornelison hissing into
Jeanette's ear and slapping her own letter against
the palm of her hand for emphasis.
Mulder put on the brakes instantly, remembering
Walter's instructions. He had no desire for another
encounter with Geneva and even less desire for
Walter to make good on his threat.
Slinking back up the aisle, Mulder cringed, when
he heard Geneva shout his name again.
"Mulder? Are you still here? I figured you'd be out
on the streets pandering to unsuspecting children by
now!" She tittered shrilly at her own joke, "Well?
Have you nothing to say for yourself?"
Whirling on the skeletally thin woman, Mulder replied,
"Oh! I have plenty to say Yo Quiero! Why don't you
just drop the Chalupa, and give me a fucking break?"
Stepping closer as he warmed to his subject, "You are
without a doubt, the most self righteous and judgmental
person I've met in my entire life!" Mulder stopped mid
rant, as a large hand firmly attached itself to his shoulder.
"That will be quite enough, Agent Mulder," Skinner
stated in an amazingly even tone. "As a matter of fact,
I think you need to leave this office immediately." Jerking
the remaining letters from Mulder's fist, Walter flipped
through them, extracting only the one addressed to S.C.
Manscuzzo. He forced the rest into Geneva's hands, "See
to it, that these are delivered to their prospective recipients,
Agent Cornelison. Make sure you do so immediately,
because I will be checking on your progress."
Pushing Mulder ahead of him, Walter exited the office
hastily, "You had to do it, didn't you, Fox? Why couldn't
you keep your big mouth shut, just this once?"
His intention was to deal with Fox in the men's room but
as they rounded the corner, Walter watched in dismay
as three men converged on the door simultaneously.
Stopping at the elevator, Walter pressed the button
much harder than necessary.
"Where are we going, Walter?" Mulder asked in a
weak and reedy voice, "And what are you going to
do when we get there?"
Walter glared at Mulder and stabbed at the button
again, "You'll find out, soon enough."
Finally one of the doors opened silently on its track.
The car was empty. Walter shoved Mulder inside
and stabbed the close door button. Pressing a button
at random, Walter waited for the elevator to begin its
ascent. He then pressed the stop button and the car
came to an abrupt and shuddering halt, "Take down
your pants, Mulder."
"What? Here?" Mulder's voice was nearing squeal
pitch, "But..but..someone's going to call the maintenance
department and report the elevator is out of service!"
"Then we don't have very much time, do we?"
Walter snapped his fingers and pointed to Mulder's
fly, "Drop them. Now."
Mulder undid his belt and zipper, bending to lower
his trousers and shorts.
Walter stepped forward and wrapped his arm around
Mulder's waist, pinning the younger man against his
side, "Stand still, Mulder." He begin to spank Mulder's
bruised and still slightly swollen backside, "When I tell
you to do something, I expect you to do it. I told you to
stay away from Geneva Cornelison, didn't I?" Walter
was nearly breathless from exertion, "She started it but
you made sure you finished it, in fine Mulder fashion!"
Mulder grabbed two handfuls of Walter's pant legs
and held on for dear life. Tears streamed down his
face, and he grunted from the effort of trying not to
cry out. Besides, Walter was making more than enough
noise for the both of them!
Walter stopped when his palm was red and stinging
too badly to continue, "Get your pants up, Mulder.
You still have one last letter to deliver."
Mulder tucked his shirt in carefully and before
scrubbing at his eyes, "Now?! You're going to make
me go to S.C. Manscuzzo's office, like this?" He nearly
started crying again, "No, Walter. Please?"
Walter clapped Mulder on the shoulder, "Relax. I'll
let you stop in the men's room to freshen up, Mulder.
I'm a mean son of a bitch, but I'm not going to make
you walk into Maria's office with a tear stained face."
Mulder leaned against the elevator wall, "Thanks, Walter."
He wiped at his face again and tried to slow his sobbing
breath, "I'm sorry. I told you what a hateful bitch Geneva
is, though! I tried to warn you what would happen." He
sighed, "I'm sorry I let my temper get away from me. I
should have tried harder to ignore her."
Walter restarted the elevator, just as the buzzer activated.
He grinned, "How's that for timing, Mulder?"
As the elevator doors opened, a crew of maintenance
men had gathered to consider how best to correct the situation.
Ever the professional, A.D. Skinner wrapped a supportive
arm around Mulder's waist, "See? Everything is fine now,
Mulder. The doors are open. See? We're getting out of the
elevator, okay?"
He whispered to one of the men as they passed, "He's
terribly claustrophobic. I thought he was going to lose it
completely. Thanks for solving the problem so quickly."
Mulder gratefully allowed himself to be led to the men's
room. He turned on the cold water tap and splashed his
face, "Ahh..this is wonderful! Wish I could sit in it for a while.
Would you mind terribly, Walter?"
Walter tried his best not to smile, "Get on with it, Mulder.
I don't have all day." He tore paper towels from the
dispenser and offered the wad to Mulder, "Wipe your
face and for Pete's sake, comb your hair! You look like
Buckwheat!"
Mulder scowled into the mirror at Walter but ran his
comb under the stream of water, before attacking his
unruly hair, "I don't look anything like Buckwheat,
Walter! I'm much taller than he is."
Walter stood impatiently by the door, tapping his foot,
"Take your time, Mulder. It's not like we have work to do."
Mulder checked his look in the mirror one more time,
before slipping the comb back into his pocket, "Okay,
I'm ready!"
Walter marched him down the hall to Section Chief
Manscuzzo's office, "I'll bust your ass right in front of
Maria, if you try to pull anything, Mulder. I'll lose my
job, but I'll do it."
Mulder replied, "I'm not going to give you any more
trouble, Walter. You can bank on it."
They entered the anteroom and Walter requested the
secretary to announce them, if the Section Chief was
not otherwise occupied.
She buzzed them right in without delay.
As they entered the office, Maria Manscuzzo turned
from her computer screen, "Perfect. Just the two
people I need to speak with." She turned her monitor
around, "Either of you care to comment on this?"
The screen displayed the same image as Scully's computer
in the basement, "I received this link in an e-mail message
this morning." Arching her eyebrow, "Agent Mulder? You
wouldn't have any idea, who might have sent the message,
would you?"
End of Part II