| � It�s okay, Sundance. You didn�t know the terrain was so unsteady.� He pet the bird and pointed at the television. � It�s called a television, or T.V. I love them. They show moving pictures all the time and can be really relaxing.� She poked her head in the room through the adjoining doorway and rolled her eyes. � Trying to lower its intelligence to match yours, Mulder?� � Well I don�t want it going all scientific on me.� She snorted delicately and disappeared back into her room. � Good-night, Mulder. Good-night, Sundance.� � G�night, Scully.� Sleep well, Scully! Mulder then began the arduous task of pointing out the best movies and shows to watch during the late night hours. Finally he got tired and turned everything off. � You have three choices, Sundance. Sleep on the bed with me, sleep on the other bed, or sleep on the floor.� He shrugged. � Or you could sleep with Scully, but she�s a pretty active sleeper.� Sundance hopped over to the other bed. I shall sleep here. � Okay. Sleep tight, Sundance.� Good-night, Mulder. Dulles Airport Virginia 1:00 P.M. � Exactly how are we going to get Sundance without drawing attention?� � We went over it while you slept. Don�t worry about it.� Outside, he whistled loudly. A far-away whistle was his answer. He headed that way, whistling again to get a better idea of where the answering whistle was coming from. He whistled one last time, then reached into the bushes when the other whistle replied. He pulled a limp Sundance from the bushes and headed out to the parking lot. Once at the car, he opened all the doors to let the hot air out, then laid Sundance in the back seat. It is much too hot! � Sorry. But the pavement�s hotter, if you�d rather lay there.� Sundance didn�t answer, but shifted a lot. Once they got in the car and shut the doors, Sundance shifted around to rest its head on the armrest between them. Is there anything to not make this thing so hot? He switched the air conditioning on, sending a blast of icy air directly into the bird�s face. Sundance flopped backwards in surprise, then resumed its previous position and closed its eyes, letting the chill air wash over it and ruffle its feathers. Much better, thank you. � So how did you like the fly back here, Sundance?� It was beautiful. Very scenic. The clouds kind of got in the way though. � You mean you went up as high as the plane?� Oh no! I could not breathe that high in the sky! But there was a storm and the low clouds got in the way. � Oh.� Scully then broke in with, � Mulder, the report is due today. We need to drop it off for Skinner.� � So?� � So what are we going to say about the culprit?� He shrugged one shoulder. � It ran off, but it was fatally wounded. A shot to the heart and the head. There�s no way it could live through that.� � I won�t cover for you this time.� � I don�t expect you to.� He glanced back over his shoulder. � Sundance, you�re going to have to play dead again.� � Mulder! You can�t take it in there!� � Scully, the car will turn into an oven real fast. Sundance will cook.� � Leave the car on!� � Get real, Scully. This is D.C. Somebody�ll steal it.� The argument continued all the way to the building. Once there, he turned the car off and opened the back door. � Time for your star performance, Sundance. We�re going to see my boss.� I shall try. Everything went fine on the trek to the A.D.�s office, though they got plently of odd stared from the other agents. Skinner�s secretary pretended Sundance wasn�t even there. � The Assistant Director has been waiting for you. Go ahead.� They went in and the first thing Skinner said was: � What is that?� � It was given to me,� Mulder answered without hesitation. � . . . Okay. I�m supposing you have the report ready?� Scully gave it to him. � Excellent. You may---� Mulder, Sundance said urgently, my beak itches. I have to sneeze! With that, the bird sneezed loudly. Oops. Bless me. I did not get anything on anybody, did I? Scully put her hand over her eyes and shook her head as she turned away. � No, I think everything�s clear,� Mulder answered defeatedly. Oh, I am so very sorry! I blew it, did I not? � That�s one way of putting it.� Skinner finally broke his surprise. � Agent Mulder,� he began sternly, � could you explain this?� � I could,� Mulder hedged, � but do I really have to?� � That�s an order, Agent Mulder.� Mulder looked to Scully, who said in a slightly amused tone, � I promise you I will tweezer your pieces from the floor and walls and put you back together so you look half way decent at your funeral.� � Thank you,� was the sarcastically grateful retort. Mulder then looked to the Assistant Director. � It�s just an exotic pet that I didn�t want to leave in the car.� Skinner lifted an eyebrow, but knew he wouldn�t get anything truer than that from the younger man. � Fine. But if I see it again the consequences will be harsh. Do you understand?� � Yes sir.� � Good. You�re both dismissed.� They turned to leave and Scully leaned toward her partner as they stepped through the doorway. � Way to go, Ace.� � Glad you liked it, sweetie.� Behind them, Skinner shook his head and began to read the report. <--Division 5 Division 7--> |