Past, present, and future might work, too, he thinks, as he looks at the arrangement of cards. What was, what is, what will be - he only knows one of those things, as far as everyone involved is concerned. He lost track of everyone involved with the incident years ago; anything Scully says is at least possible.

She's talking to him the way she might talk to a witness or a patient, guiding him through the task she's set before them. If he comments on it, he'll break the spell, so all he says is, "And raring."