Chapter Text
She first heard the name "Dana Scully" when her son visited her for Christmas in 1993.
One of the rare times she saw him smile after her daughter's disappearance.
It was a well known fact that they didn't have the best relationship. At first she thought it was only a matter of time before he went on with his life - a life of his own -, with a job that kept him busy most of the time. It has happened to many of her friends, after all. The daughters and the sons of her fellow mother friends left as soon as they were 18 to study or to work and became independent people.
Only difference was that they still kept some form of touch with their parents. They paid them several visits. Teena could see from a distance their happiness of seeing their parents again, talking about their daily lives, bringing in new people to meet - potential life partners, even - and spending hours laughing and chatting.
She envied them.
Of course, there were cases in which children never visited their parents, or keeping in touch at all. Her friend Maisie's son left at 18 and never came to visit. From what she had heard Maisie's husband, kicked him out because he found out his son was a homosexual. The poor kid, he didn't even got the chance to finish school. Even after his father's death, he didn't speak to his mother. Maisie thinks it was because she didn't stop him from leaving.
If only he knew how much she loved him. He would surely return.
No, Fox wasn't exactly angry at her. At least, that's what Teena thought. He still called - once in six months at least - and still visited her - once a year, usually on Christmas-.
Still, it wasn't enough for her.
If anything though, she was understanding. He had a lot of work to do, working in the FBI wasn't easy. She learned that from experience. And she didn't need a degree in psychology - like the one Fox had - to understand he avoided any further contact with her. Only the necessary. Like the good, dutiful son he was raised to be. Even if he was raised alone after the age of 12, because his parents paid more attention to themselves than to the child left behind.
Nonesense she thought. Fox must despise me
That was not entirely true. He loved his mom, to be sure. She raised him, after all. And she loved him too. And poor Samantha.
Was that love true? Or was it out of the duty a son has for his mother?
Whatever was the case, Fox ended up paying her a visit that Christmas.
He looked different that year. Happier. He was only 32, as young as most of her friend's sons were. Only, since Samantha disappeared, he seemed to age 10 years in a single night. When he visited her, he always seemed so tired, worn out. And sad, always sad.
Perhaps he was lonely. He's not married, after all.
This year was different. He seemed like a boy again, only caring about his favourite team on the television and his math tests. He greeted her with a smile and gave her his gift for her, a perfume bottle that he knew she would like.
"Oh, Fox, you didn't have to buy me a gift."
Her son shrugged.
"It's Christmas. I had to buy you something special." he replied, smiling.
She didn't deserve a present, not from him. Not after everything she and his father did. But, he seemed happy, so she allowed it and guided him to the table.
The dinner was, as always, awkward. They made small talk, mainly focusing on the life in Martha's vineyard, how she and his Father did, if things were in order. She reassured him that everything was fine. As it always was. Well, mostly.
"So, how's work?"
The critical question was dropped before she even realised it. It slipped from her mouth as easy as a greeting. Ever the question to break the ice between you and your son who, if anything, despises you.
Usually, Fox would say "Fine" and the conversation would end there. They would go on with their meal, he would help with the dishes, he would stay for tea and then leave. Always leave. Never stay a second longer.
This time however, he said:
"It's good, actually" and paused. Teena smiled. Things must have been going on well for him.
And then, he said something completely new:
"I, uh, have a new partner."
Oh. That was new. And worrying. She couldn't remember the last time Fox had a partner, or really someone to work with. And get along.
The last time must have been bad. Because he didn't usually do well with partners.
"That sounds nice. Are you two getting along well?" she asked. This sounded more like a mother asking her child about his new friend he met at the park. But yet again, when did she get the chance to ask him such questions?
Fox looked at her with eyes that suddenly lit up.
"I believe so"
Wasn't he sure? What was that partner like that he didn't get along with her son? There were, after all, many arrogant young men at the FBI that thought they could finish a case by themselves in a minute, like Bill was when he first started. It wouldn't be that surprising for Fox to be partnered up with an airhead, young man who-
"She's very smart."
Oh. Oh. His partner was a "she". She didn't know women worked at the FBI.
How the times must have changed.
"Actually, she's brilliant" Fox continued. "She's a medical doctor and has a physics degree."
"She sounds very accomplished" Teena added. Fox smiled at that.
"Oh, yes, she is. Sometimes I think she's way smarter than me. We disagree on many things, especially regarding our job on the field. But she always seems so eager to prove me wrong, it actually became a habit"
"Doesn't that make your job more difficult?" she asked. She knew that, once people argue about things, it was difficult to change one's opinion on a matter. A scientist and a criminologist certainly had different point of views on many subjects. Fox was always so stubborn. If he set his mind on something, he would accomplish it, no matter who or what stood on his way.
Perhaps that was why he was searching for his sister so passionately.
"Oh, no, actually" he replied. "She's... Always so sceptical. She views everything with a scientific view and, well, I don't. And that certainly brings out room for arguments. But, here's the thing" he looked in Teena's eyes, with a sort of sparkle in his.
"She always listens to me, even if she doesn't believe me. She debunks my theories, but I don't really mind. Because she always listens to them first, even when she completely disagrees with them. I never really had that in my work before."
Ah, yes. His work. Teena didn't know a lot of details about the nature of his job, except that it was overlooked by the FBI. And that it meant a lot for her son. He viewed it as a way to find Samantha. She wondered if she knew about his sister or if she was clueless to Fox's journey.
No, that must not be true. If she's so eager to listen, she must know about this bizarre story. After all, Fox seemed to trust her.
She wanted to ask more about her. That partner seemed definitely interesting. Was she in the FBI long, or was she a young agent, as naïve as any other young person can be? What did she look like? Was she married? Did she have any children?
And most importantly: What does she think of you?
"How long have you been working together?" is what she settles for. His new rambling certainly brought a new light on their conversations and she didn't want to ruin it by asking descreat questions.
He couldn't have known the answer back then.
"A few months. Scully seems to like it and work has shown much progress with her presence."
She raised her eyebrow. Fox noticed it and quickly explained:
"Her name is Dana Scully, actually. But, um, I call her Scully, not Dana. She doesn't call me Fox either."
Of course, the everlasting presence of his embarrassment for his name. Even in that very important partner of his, he didn't allow her to call him with his first name.
Why would he allow a stranger, when he never even wanted his parents to refer to him like that?
"Well, she certainly seems like a very good partner." Teena concluded. Over the years, the "very good" would become something even more, but for now, it seemed enough.
First impressions can very often be entirely wrong.
"She is" Fox said with a sigh. "At first I didn't want a partner, you know. I thought she was a spy."
Teena nodded. Being at the FBI meant that people could be watching you. Whether that was because you did your job well, or, like Fox, didn't do what you were asked to.
"But now, I really enjoy our partnership."
She looked him with curiosity. He quickly corrected himself
"I mean, it benefits us both. Workwise."
Teena nodded. She knew that wasn't what he meant, but she wouldn't push this further.
Later, he would stay just a bit longer, untill he apparently had to leave. At the door, he hugged her as he put on his coat and she smiled at him. Fox looked at her with a curious look.
"What?" he asked.
"Oh, nothing. You just seem..." Younger. Contempt. Like you found someone really special.
"Happy"
He grinned. "Yeah. I suppose I am"
She thinks she knew Dana Scully before she even met her. Because her son never stopped talking about her.
She must have meant a lot to him. Even back then.