| Grant-Kohrs Ranch Natural Historic Site 6:30 P.M. The man looked over the egg and feather, then motioned for them to follow him. � You�ve heard of the Archaeopteryx, right?� � The link between dinosaurs and birds,� Mulder answered with a nod. � Is that what this is?� � Don�t know. All we know is that it had feathers and those could�ve been any color. It couldn�t fly--breastbone wasn�t big enough and it didn�t have the necessary muscle--but the rumor is that it could glide pretty well. Like a flying squirrel. My basic definition would be a dinosaur with feathers.� They looked over the fossils and imprints of the bird and its feathers. It was small, hardly three feet long. This wasn�t the culprit, but maybe something close to it was. Once they�d left with their clues and were sitting in the car she said, � So now what?� He turned the car on and pulled out of the parking space. � Now that we have an idea of what it looks like, we go find it.� � How?� Glancing quickly both ways, he pulled out onto Interstate 90. � Remember how I said it was going through the victims and states in alphabetical order? The most recent attacks were in California.� � So we go to California?� � No, we go to Colorado. We need to start researching everyone who has an obvious connection to mining and begin with A.� � That could take hours!� � No time like the present,� he replied. � My laptop�s in the back. I�ll take over when we get on the plane.� Airport Denver, Colorado 8:45 P.M. He looked out the window as the plane touched down, then switched his gaze to his partner, who�d fallen asleep a third of the way to their destination and had slowly slid to the side until her head was pillowed on his shoulder. It always amazed him that even when they were as far apart as the driver and passenger seats in a car she�d manage to end up with her head on his shoulder or against his arm. And even though he really didn�t want to bother her about it . . . � Scully. Scully, wake up.� She blinked sleepily and yawned, pulling herself upright. � Where are we?� � Crashed on a mountain in the middle of nowhere. You missed everything.� � What time is it?� � Three in the morning.� She released her seat belt and stood, reaching into the overhead compartment for her carry-on. She pulled it out and let it drop onto his head. � Ow.� She looked around it at him. � Oh, sorry. I forgot I was sitting beside an overgrown juvenile.� Deciding not to provoke her wrath any further with a sharp comeback, he got up and followed her out of the plane. They rented a car and fought over who would drive all the way to the parking lot. � I was not awake the entire time.� � Mulder, I know you. You were awake the whole time drinking soda and eating junk food.� � Scully, I can drive just fine. It�s not even nine yet.� � It doesn�t matter what time it is. It�s called jet lag, Mulder. It�s going to sneak up on you and you�re going to wrap the car around a tree and kill us both.� � You wound me with your skepticism, Scully.� � Give me the keys.� � No.� � Give me the keys!� � No.� She made a grab for them, but he lifted them high over his head. Grinning, he jingled them. � Wanna try again?� She swung her leg at his, knocking him onto his back. He hit the pavement with an audible �oof� of lost breath. He laid on the asphalt, blinking slowly and carefully as he tried to suck air into his lungs and coughed instead. After staring at him for a moment, she reached down and took the keys from his lax grip. � I�m driving.� He coughed again and the stars finally cleared away. Standing, he made his way to the car and leaned on the vehicle, glaring at her over the roof. � That was mean.� � Maybe next time you�ll give me the keys,� she retorted as she sat in the driver�s seat. � Maybe next time I�ll leave you on the plane,� he shot back. Route 141 Colorado 12:20 A.M. � Told you it would get you,� she told him, glancing over to see that he was still sleeping, scrunched down in the seat beside her. � You�re so bull-headed sometimes.� � I love it when you talk like that, Scully,� he said sleepily. � Makes me tingly all over.� � You�ve been awake the whole drive, haven�t you?� � Yes.� She quickly reached over and gave him an unexpected smack on the head. � Ow!� He opened his eyes and sat up. � Hey, what was that for?� � For being an idiot. Dammit, Mulder, it�s almost twelve-thirty! You should be sleeping, like normal people.� � What exactly is the definition of normal?� he inquired as he settled back down into his seat. � There is no such thing among human beings. Everyone is different; normal is just a superficial term to describe a majority of people who are outwardly similar, but have absolutely nothing at all in common.� She rolled her eyes and continued driving, not bothering to speak to him. After a few minutes she glanced at him once more and this time he really was asleep. Satisfied, she drove for another three hours before she noticed that she was drifting across the lane. She made it to route 46 and pulled off onto the shoulder, then turned to her partner. � Mulder, wake up. You can drive now.� He yawned and stretched leisurely. � Okay. Give me a second.� He opened the door, then quickly shut it again. � What�s wrong?� <--Section 1 Division 3--> |