Chapter Text
Dr. Evans’ secretary peeks in the doorway.
“Your 2:00 couple is here,” she informs her. “The Bradys.”
“I’m ready, Cynthia, thank you,” Dr. Evans replies. She smiles as an attractive thirty-something couple enters her office. He is tall with cropped brown hair and a goofy smile. She is significantly shorter than him with chin length red hair and an uncomfortable frown.
Dr. Evans makes a mental note that the wife chooses the single chair instead of joining her husband on the small sofa.
“Welcome, Carol and Michael,” Dr. Evans greets them. “I’m Dr. Evans. Have you been to couples counseling before?”
“Once, about three years ago,” Michael says. “But we had a male counselor that time, and he spent half the session flirting with Carol here. Isn’t that right, Sweetie?”
“He was not flirting,” Carol retorts. “That’s our biggest issue. Michael accuses everyone of flirting with me, and he doesn’t trust me enough to handle it if they actually are flirting, which they usually are not.”
Dr. Evans nods, giving empathic looks to them both.
“And what made you decide to try therapy now?” Dr. Evans asks, looking from Michael to Carol.
“It’s our boss,” Michael begins. “Carol and I work together, and lately there’s been a rumor going around that Carol kissed him in the elevator. It’s been very distressing.”
Carol’s eyes register surprise and anger. Dr. Evans turns to her.
“And how have these rumors been affecting you, Carol?”
Carol licks her lips and takes a little breath before answering in a crisp tone.
“I didn’t know that any such rumors were going around the office, but whoever invented that rumor clearly did not have all the details. As I have told Michael many times, I have been a very loyal partner, who deserves his trust.”
“What do you think about what Carol just said, Michael?” Dr. Evans adjusts her glasses.
“I do trust Carol,” he says carefully. “But I don’t trust other men, and if I am being honest I’m not sure I really deserve her. I feel like any day now she’s going to realize that she could do better than me.”
Carol speaks up without being prompted. Her face has softened slightly.
“I’m not going to do that. I’m where I want to be. I’m not going anywhere—and there’s definitely nothing going on with our boss.”
Michael looks like he’s considering this. He shakes his head.
“It’s just hard for me to believe, Carol. It’s not just our boss. I’ve seen the way you look at my friend Melvin… always undressing him with your eyes.”
Dr. Evans takes note that Carol looks strained. Guilt? Or indignation?
For the rest of the session, Michael tells animated stories about men he believes are either flirting with Carol or secretly in love with her. (He believes their boss is in the latter category.) Carol is sitting on her hands by the end of it, as if she doesn’t trust herself not to reach out and slap him.
The Bradys are self-pay, so they arrange to meet twice a week.
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“What the hell was that?” Scully demands as soon as they get in the car. “I told you that I kissed Skinner platonically out of gratitude because he was helping me save your life.”
Mulder grins.
“The assignment was to play the part of the jealous husband,” he reminds her. “It’s the only thing the other couples had in common. Has to be done.”
He’s enjoying this too much. She frowns.
“At least I let you pick the names, Scully, though I didn’t peg you for a Brady Bunch fan.”
“It’s a classic show,” she insists. “And Brady is much less suspicious than Petrie.”
“It’s pronounced Pee-tree,” he corrects.
“Whatever.”
Their next session is Thursday.