Amorem Animalem

She Named Me Fox

Scully rolled down the passenger window. The salty sea air was crisp and felt soothing against her skin. She wondered what Mulder was thinking as she stared out into the endless ocean. Was he thinking about the case? The victim's individual names? Her? Dana's mind ran in circles.

"Mulder," she spoke up timidly, "why did your mother name you Fox?" Even she was surprised by the random question that spilled out of her mouth.

Mulder glanced over at Scully with a raised eyebrow. Yes, people questioned his silly name most every day of his life, but no one bothered to know how he acquired such a title. "That certainly came out of nowhere." He joked.

"I've always wondered," Dana commented, "it's such a unique name, Mulder. Why did she give it to you?"  Dana looked at the side profile of her partner as he kept his eyes on the road. He stayed quiet for a few seconds and then opened his mouth.

"My mother became pregnant with me at a very young age-- eighteen or nineteen, I believe. She immediately married my father, a man she barely knew, in hopes to cover up the so-called 'scandal'. Well, her parents soon put one and one together and figured it all out. She was disowned by her father and mother before I was even born. She named me Fox after her maiden name; an apology to the man that pushed her away."

Dana bit her lip. It finally made sense to her. She finally understood why he refused his first name. "Mulder, it's not your first name that you dislike," she cooed, "You despise the name of the man that abandoned your mother."

Mulder shifted the car into park in front of Oscar Yentz's building. He looked over at the ginger-haired agent and offered a petite smile, confirmation enough that she was correct.

~

Yentz Psychic Matchmaking
and Tarot Card Readings
July 31st
9:14 AM

Mulder knocked loudly on the old, worn door. "Mr. Yentz, it's Special Agents Mulder and Scully. Open up."

Scully stood their quietly as she admired the old house that Yentz administered his business in. The paint was a light yellow, chipping in a few places and discolored from the rain. It was a two-story home, trimmed with swirled, hand carved wooden railings and two stone angels sat perched on the front corners of the roof as if to watch over the old building. It was similar to the house her grandmother lived in. Dana remembered sitting on the porch of the old house, playing Cats in the Cradle with her grandmother's old wrinkled hands. She awoke from her daydream when she heard footsteps approaching the door.

"Welcome, agents. Please come in, take a seat." Mr. Yentz said as he held open the door to his shop. Mulder and Scully walked into the dark building. Strange objects such as skulls, animal fetuses in jars, and creepy black and white photos adorned the walls. The two partners walked through a curtain of hanging beads and just to her luck, Scully's hair got tangled up in it.

"Mulder, a little help." She said quietly as she yanked on her red locks. Mulder quickly turned around and began to assist her in untangling her hair. His fingers were large and rough as he pulled on the knotted mess. Scully winced in pain but appreciated her partner's help nonetheless.

"You okay, Scully?" Mulder asked as he untangled the last strand and ran his fingers through her hair like a comb.

Scully was left speechless for a moment. She loved the feeling of someone playing with her hair; a feeling she hadn't indulged in since she was a young girl. This particular action of Mulder's brought another flashback to her mind of her and her older sister, Melissa, sitting in the yard of her childhood home. The two titian-haired girls sat in the tall green grass, french-braiding one another's hair and making flower crowns.