X-Files: The Next Generation

A Wink and A Smile

Sitting across from each other at a local diner outside Tacoma, Charles and Aria remained silent. Aside from the sounds of silverware clattering on the plate, cups being placed back onto to the table and an occasional cough, lunch wasn't anything to boast about.

"So what made you choose the FBI?", Agent Shale broke the silence, slicing through it like a knife.

"Uhh well I've always been drawn to it you know. Can't really explain it sort of like a siren's call in the distance I guess", he laughed nervously. "What about you?", Charles took a gulp of his black coffee.

"Well I did the doctor thing, treated patients, thought I was doing my life's mission but couldn't help but feel like something was amiss. I did my senior thesis on genealogical forensics so it was already an interest for me and the Bureau didn't have a ton of people with that area of expertise. So here I am", she was confused where this sudden interest in his personal life had come from.

The entire flight you would've thought they were strangers, she enjoyed the professionalism and distance. But this sudden change in her character was odd and unfamiliar, she knew better than to get close to another partner.

"Hmm well that's pretty interesting. I read your thesis paper and I must say really interesting stuff. Might be of help to us while we're up here", he winked at her and returned his focus to the slice of pie just handed to him by the waitress.

As they finished up and asked for the bill, Charles checked his phone briefly before asking Aria, "so what's your home life like, do your folks like the kind of work you're in?".

She was taken aback, 'home life'?! She knew the guy for a couple of hours and he was already prying at her. 'Damn he's persistent', she thought.

"Well uh, I don't really like talking about personal stuff at work all that much. But short answer is I have a mom, dad and sister. Mom thinks my new profession is great for me. Dad thinks I've made a massive mistake but I think he's more concerned this will take away from my personal time more than anything else. What about you?", she was entertaining him to hopefully keep this entire process moving smoothly. She needed to simply put together a report about his work and once she got back to Washington she would be free.

"Ugh well, to be honest, my folks and I don't really see eye to eye all that much. They weren't entirely fond of me joining the Bureau. And then once I started my work on the x-files they really went into complete unsupportive mode. So we uh, don't really talk to much these days". For a brief moment his eyes softened, she had struck a nerve she realized. A nerve that he had brought up first.

As she stared she couldn't help but notice how attractive he was. He lifted his eyes and met her's. For a brief moment they shared the gaze, Aria could sense this electricity between the two of them. She quickly dropped her gaze.

The waitress must have sensed the tension as she swooped by with the bill at the perfect moment. She had been all over Charles, Aria noticed. I guess she saw what Aria had for that last brief moment. His quick wit and humor, strong jawline accentuated by his perfectly groomed mustache. He licked his lips as he took his last bite of pie and reached for his coffee. She shook that thought from her head, 'it must be the jet lag talking' she thought.

"Well would you look at that", Charles leaned in and got close to her, his mustache practically tickling her nose. "I think I've got a secret admirer", he tilted his eyes and head back to the counter where their waitress stood with another one making occasional glances and sharing giggles. He slid the bill to her where she saw the name Sara scribbled along with a phone number and winky face. All of a sudden a twinge of jealously bubbled up inside of her.

"Mmmyeah I couldn't help but notice her eyeing you up since we sat down. I think she came by to refill your cup after your every sip", she quipped.

"What're you getting a little jealous Agent Shale", he leaned in again this time closer. His eyes locked with her's, his hand reached out tapped her's. She felt like she was burning up, but she couldn't tell if it was from lust, embarrassment or both.

She quickly leaned back and moved hand, scoffing she replied, "oh yeah that's exactly what it is". She rolled her eyes hoping she had covered herself well enough.

As they left the diner, they were met with a cold gust of wind and a sudden downpour of rain. Trying to protect her hair from the wet, Agent Shale pulled her coat of her head as she and Charles ran to their rental car.

"Well good thing we packed for the weather", Charles reached for the backseat and pulled out a bag for Agent Shale and one for himself. Inside the bag was their clothing for the next part of their investigation, trekking through the woods to find this mysterious house all these women had moved to. He reached back again this time bringing out two pairs of hiking boots.

Looking at the tongue of the shoe Agent Shale was amazed that Charles had gotten her shoe size exactly right. She looked up stunned, "h-how did you know my size?". Charles began to rub his temples leaning toward her, "hmmm I forgot to mention that I'm also telepathic on my mother's side".

She slightly backed away, he was doing it again but by now she dismissed it as his playful nature. Maybe that's from his father's side she thought.

"But seriously, I read your file found your shoe size. A lot less exciting of an explanation though". He smirked and backed away as he started the car. "So I've already tried the local police before we left from Washington and they want nothing to do with this. To be honest they sounded a little spooked talking about it. Like someone else had already gotten to them".

He turned to look around as he backed out the car, "so we're going to have to do some exploring ourselves. I hope you're a outdoors kind of gal cause we're all packed to hike and camp this one out".

The last bit about being an outdoorsy person flew right past her head. 'He had read through my file?!', she thought. Meaning he must've seen the very thing she had been trying to keep from him. But he hadn't brought it up so maybe he just read through the basic name, DOB, educational background stuff.

"Well I was a scout and did get my camping badge so I think I'll be able to handle myself just fine". She smiled at Charles for the first time since they met.

Charles was taken aback, surely he had felt some kind of connection before in the diner, he knew to be careful about mixing work and relationships. He had seen first hand the danger and distress it could cause, especially with the things they were poking around within the x-files.

But as cautious as he was he couldn't help but feel this tingling, butterflies feeling brewing inside of him. He hadn't felt this way since Vanessa was in his life. He suddenly winced at that thought popping back in his mind and bringing back all of the pain and self-doubt with it.

He put the car in drive and began their drive up to the mountains in search of the mysterious house.