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So much for those plans.
�Bad news?� Mulder asked as I turned around.
�Depends on your point of view,� I replied nonchalantly.
�And what�s your point of view?� Mulder asked casually.
I felt like screaming in frustration. �Look, Agent Mulder, I�ve heard about you. You were Patterson�s surrogate son, the golden boy of the BSU. It�s probably instinct for you to profile everyone you meet. That�s fine. If you�re gonna profile me, I�m not gonna stop you. But I just found out that I�m going to miss my godson�s birthday because I�m going to be here. I promised him that I would be home for his party. I�ve never broken a promise to him before.� I looked at the time and sighed. �Admiral Jakobs office is at the end of the hall, past the bullpen, second door on the left after the copy machine. Think you can find your way back to the mess hall after you�re done here?�
�Photographic memory,� Mulder said, tapping his temple.
�Handy,� I commented bitterly.
Mulder sighed softly in frustration. �Look, I�m sorry if I�ve offending you in some way�that was not my intention,� Mulder stated delicately. It was clear he wasn�t used to apologizing for his less-than-tactful actions. �I just� find you intriguing.�
�Like a specimen under a microscope?� I frowned.
�Microscopes are my partner�s thing,� Mulder replied. �I deal in human emotions. Human nature.�
�And I intrigue you?� I asked, still frowning. �What exactly am I supposed to make of that?�
Mulder shrugged.
�You are incredibly frustrating, you know that?� I said.
�It�s been intimated more than once,� Mulder said casually. �Second door after the copy machine?� he asked, nodding his head toward the bullpen.
�Just let the Petty Officer know why you�re here and you should be okay,� I nodded. Mulder executed a sloppy salute that made me cringe and then he turned on his heel and headed inside as I turned and started to head back to the mess hall in hopes of finding Harm.
TBC...