A.H. - After Hallway

Author: PhileyX

E-Mail: phileyxback@yahoo.com

Rating: I don’t know

Category: UST

Spoilers: After Season 5 and Fight the future

Intro: This is my very first attempt. After weeks of deliberating, I finally decided to send it in. Never thought much of my writing skills anyway so any criticism would be welcome. Oh yeah, excuse the spelling and grammar mistakes. And the town names are purely fictional. Never been to America…yet.

Disclaimer: They’re not mine. They’re not mine. They’re not mine. They’re not mine.

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30 days A.H.

2.22 pm

Somewhere

Special Agent Dana Scully was tired. Her eyes were closed as she listened to the hum of the engine as it purred smoothly on the road. Another god-forsaken trail, to nowhere. Of course Mulder promised that this would be **it**, this would be the town where they would find the mutant creature. She spent the last ten hours on the road with her partner on his crusade. It usually was **his** crusade, she had noticed. Well, he did go all the way to Antarctica in the freezing wilderness to find you, Dana scolded herself, the least I could do was accompany him now. She often wondered why she let him push her around so much. No one else in the Bureau dared. Even Skinner backed off when he knew he had gone too far. Only Mulder persisted. He just kept going and going and going until he managed to get her to tag along. He reminded her of a Duracell ad, she grinned.

Special Agent Fox Mulder glanced at his sleeping partner beside him. She was grinning in her sleep, his eyebrows shot up. I wonder what she’s dreaming about, or of whom? His mind recalled a tall, rabbit-teeth sheriff that had his usually unimpressed partner gawking at inappropriate parts of a male body. Hmmm… must start training again, he resolved thinking of his expired gym membership lying at the bottom of his drawer. Finally….

"Scully?", Mulder tapped her arm lightly, "we’re here." He got out of their rented sedan and stretched himself. "Nice quiet town, huh?"

"Yeah Mulder. Perfect for mutant breeding, "Scully emerged, also stretching.

"Ha Ha Scully", Mulder replied, with a slight grin. Scully had been unusually cooperative recently. He wondered if his confessions in his apartment hallway a month ago had softened his partner towards him. Nah, not my Scully. **My** Scully? I like the sound of it though.

" Mulder, what are we doing here?" Scully began to moan. "There’s not a soul in sight!" she waved her hands around her emphasize her point.

Yup, definitely not **my** Scully, he grinned even more as the familiar frown appeared on her forehead. "Straight out of a Clint Eastwood movie, huh?" he looked around at the rustic look of Eveten town.

"Mulder, I’m hot, I’m tired and I stink. I need a bath. Can we just go find a Motel, freshen up and go home?" Dana tried again.

"Scully, you never stink. Okay, maybe that one time the manure plant at…..never mind" Mulder retreated when Dana gave him the stare of death.

"Let’s go talk to those kids over there" he pointed towards a few bicycles leaning against a fence nearby.

Scully inwardly groaned but followed her partner into the Eveten town’s only school premises. As they approached the fence, they could hear several children’s voices. They seemed to be arguing about something.

"Hi," Mulder started catching their attention immediately. They sure don’t get many strangers around here, he mused as six pairs of eyes stared at them as if they were aliens from another planet.

Four boys and 2 girls. Ages between nine and twelve. The eldest boy stood up first. "Sorry mister, we can’t talk to no strangers. "

Mulder turned to look at his partner, who just shrugged. Dana glanced at the other 5 children that were sitting in a circle. They were all looking curiously at them, and a little guiltily too. She soon realized why, at the center of the human ring was an old coke bottle. They had just caught them spinning the bottle. She caught Mulder’s eye and gave a slight jerk with a head towards the glass item.

Mulder smiled. Ahhh, the adolescent age of raging testosterone and estrogen hormones.

"My name is Dana and he’s F..err… Mulder. We’re FBI agents. Mulder is gonna ask you some questions, okay?"

"Do you have guns?" one of the other boys asked, excited by the term FBI.

"Agent Mulder will answer all your questions."

Almost immediately, six distinctly pitched voices started asking a string of questions. Mulder gave Scully a look of despair as he tried to get them to calm down.

Dana glanced around the excited children. She arched her eyebrow as she came across a Playboy issue in between a stack of magazines beside the fence. She reached for it.

Suddenly, there was silence. Mulder looked up from his notepad. They were all engrossed with something on his right. He followed their stares and found their source of attention. They were all mesmerized by his partner, who because of the heat had left her trenchcoat in the car. The only thing that Scully had on was an old sweatshirt, which revealed way too much as Scully bent down again to replace the magazine. Even Mulder couldn’t resist the temptation. God, I gotta get a life, he berated himself for peeking at his own partner.

Dana righted herself up and found that she was the focus of attention. She frowned, "What?"

"Nothing," Mulder replied and turned back to the children. They were still in shock. The eldest, Roy was licking his dry lips. Hmmmm…… four hormonally bursting boys and two girls who just can’t wait to grow up…. this is really a piece of cake with Scully at his side. "So, did anyone see anything weird around here lately? A short creature with really big fangs?"

The children exchanged looks. They’ve seen something, he sensed. He waited as they silently contemplated whether to tell. The mischievous looks between the four boys prepared Mulder for the worst. He only hoped Scully was prepared as well.

"If Dana plays a game of Spin The Bottle with us, we’ll tell," he triumphantly offered a deal.

Mulder smiled, can’t beat teenage hormones. "Deal."

Dana’s eyes widened. " Mulder, could I talk to you for a sec?" She grabbed his sleeve and pulled him aside. "I am not gonna kiss any of those boys!" she glared at him.

"Oh come on, Scully. They’re just ten year olds"

"Yeah, greasy pimply- faced ten year olds with playboy subscription! I’m not doing it!"

"But I already said yes. If I break my promise, they won’t play with me anymore," he whined giving his famous puppy-dog look.

"Mulder, I’m serious," Scully glared harder.

Mulder knew that he was tiptoeing at the edge of the danger with his partner. He decided to compromise. "Look, if I join in the game, will that make you feel better?"

"No it won’t!" Scully groaned. He just didn’t get it. After a gross incident with Zack Heimen in junior high, Scully swore never spin a bottle again.

"Gees Scully, I never knew you were so against kissing," his mind briefly went back to the hallway encounter and wondered if Scully would have pulled a gun on him if he actually made contact with her lips. " I promise you don’t have to kiss any of them, okay?"

"How are on earth are you gonna keep your promise, Mulder?"

"Just pull out your gun when I signal you to," he instructed as he walked back to the waiting children.

Pull out my gun? Scully sometimes couldn’t figure her partner out. What does he want me to do? Shoot the bottle or the kid that the bottle points too? Whatever it is, he’d better keep his promise. If he doesn’t, I could always shoot him.

Mulder walked to the opposite side of the ring and motioned Scully to sit facing him.

"You’re playing?" Roy scowled as Mulder made himself comfortable beside him and reached for the bottle.

"Yeah," he winked at the two girls and spun the bottle.

I hope he gets the one in braces, Dana scowled as she cursed her partner.

Roy stopped the bottle. "We want Dana to start first"

"Why?" the girl on Dana’s right protested.

"Because it’s the girls turn and you all had your chance"

Dana sighed. Might as well get this over and done with. She reached for the bottle and spun it around.

All eight of them watched as the decreasing momentum of the spinning bottle went into it’s few final turns. Mulder coughed quietly, signaling Scully to pull out a gun. The ruse worked, the six youngsters forgot about watching the bottle.

"Whoa, it that real?"

"Do you have bullets in it?"

"Have you killed anyone before?"

Dana smiled, so that’s his plan. "Yes, yes and no," She answered all their questions. Amidst the distraction, Mulder reached forward and stopped the spinning bottle.

"Hey look, the bottle’s stopped," he called out.

Dana put her gun back in her handbag and turned to see four disappointed faces, two smiling ones and one grinning idiot. She looked down at the bottle. It was pointing to her partner, the grinning idiot. She jerked her head up to see Mulder already on his feet.

"Too bad boys, looks like it’s my lucky day," he walked towards Scully, helped her up and lead her behind the fence.

Okay maybe I don’t have to shoot him, Dana thought. "Good plan, Mulder. Now can we just ask the questions and get out of here?"

Mulder frowned," But Scully, I haven’t got my kiss yet"

"I’m not gonna kiss **you**!" her eyes wide open, mainly because a voice in her head actually liked the idea. Dana Scully, behave! She told herself.

"You won’t kiss them, you won’t kiss me, you don’t kiss anyone, do you?"

"Mulder, they’ll never know if we kissed or not, just go back and tell them we did"

"They’re peeping from behind the fence as we speak, Scully!"

Dana glanced behind her and saw a few heads duck.

" Besides you spin the bottle, you kiss the guy. Those are the rules," he insisted, trying to keep a straight face.

Okay, I should shoot him, she bickered with her mental voices. Or you could kiss him. What? You’ve always wanted to anyway. I’ve neve……Liar liar pants on fire!!!Shut up!Oh come on Dana, just what are you afraid of? Just look at those lips. Could you resist them?

Mulder watched as his partner’s glare turned in a stare and then into a look that he wasn’t accustomed to. A look that he had only seen three times throughout his five-year-partnership with Special Agent Dana Scully. The first with Brother Andrew, the second with Eddie Van Blundht and finally the last with him, in the hallway. He suddenly realized that he had started using that day as a basis of time when he thought of their relationship. Personally, he kinda liked the A.H. (After Hallway) compared to B.H.(Before Hallway). They were closer now. She had forgiven him for not telling her about Diana although he still couldn’t forgive himself for it. It was weird. He actually wanted to let Scully think that there could be something between him and Diana after all that time. It was like he wanted to make her jealous. That if she didn’t want him, someone else did. After all, Scully was the one that started keeping her distance after Emily’s apparitions.

"Mulder, do you really want me to do this?" Scully’s quiet voice woke him up to the moment.

"Only if you want to," he replied surprised at his own words. There wasn’t even a hint of teasing in it. Did he **really** want this? He argued with himself whether to lean down to accommodate his shorter partner but lost the battle due to his lack of guts. He wasn’t sure if Scully wanted to go through with this. And he sure as hell didn’t want to get decked finding out.

Scully reached for his tie and pulled him down to meet her lips. When she released him, his eyes were closed. Her mouth curved slightly, resembling a smile. She must have caught him off-guard. A few seconds later, she decided to speed up his recovery, "Mulder, let’s go ask the questions now."

Mulder opened his eyes. He blinked twice. What questions? All he could think of was her lips which were slightly redder than before.

Scully noticed his blurry eyes. Damn! I got him thinking of his video collection. "Come on, lover boy." She took his arm and led him back to the giggling kids.

"He cheated," muttered Roy, glaring at Mulder.

Scully was tired of fooling around. The day suddenly was hotter. Maybe it was the kiss. Shut up, stupid voice. "Listen guys, remember when I told you I never killed anyone just now. Well, I lied. So, anyone see a mutant with fangs hanging around?"

Six huge pairs of eyes anxiously looked back, waiting for the agent to pull her gun out and start shooting.

"Well?" Scully arched her eyebrows and her right index finger tapped impatiently on her handbag.

"W..we s..saw a..a l..lar..ge h..h..ound with h..hu..ge f..f..fangs," stammered Roy. "It b..be..longed to Mr. H.hend.ricks, b..but it r..ran a..away l..last w..e.ek"

"A huge hound with fangs?" Scully looked at Mulder, who was unusually quiet. "There’s your mutant, partner. Now, can we go home? …. Mulder?"

Mulder snapped his head up at the mention of his name. "Uh.. yeah Scully, anything you say," he mumbled under his breath and started towards the car.

Scully remained rooted where she was. Her head cocked slightly in surprise. What, no argument, no bizarre new Mulder-like theories? She frowned and made a mental note to check on her partner.

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6.00 pm

Somewhere

He kept his eyes on the road. His hands gripped the steering wheel tightly. Breathe in and out, he told himself just in case he forgot. He couldn’t understand what just happened. He thought he was ready for it. He had already prepared a witty tease if there was an awkward moment at the end of it. But the instant her lips touched his, he forgot everything. It was simple and yet…. exquisite. He couldn’t find any other word to describe it. An amazing reaction for such an innocent, little kiss. For God’s sake Mulder, it’s only **Scully**. You know the only woman you trust, your one in five billion. Actually she was more than that. He realized that a few seconds at the end of BH, just after she announced that she had decided to walk out of his life. He panicked. Life without Scully? He couldn’t imagine it. He couldn’t even remember his life before Scully. Who believed him when no one else would? Who did he trust? Who did he depend on? No one, his heart screamed and he went after her. He was pleased with that decision to go after her. He almost didn’t and shuddered at the thought of the consequence- life without Scully.

"Mulder, look out for that…………gees Mulder! Would you please pay attention to the road!" Scully yelled at her partner who just drove straight into huge pothole and out.

"Sorry," he mumbled under his breath, his thoughts still a million miles away.

Dana studied him. His intense hazel eyes were fixed to the road ahead but she sensed that his mind was somewhere in Mars. I shouldn’t have kissed him, she regretted guiltily. The motels around here don’t even have cable. Just how is he going to vent his frustrations? Oh she knew what he was thinking about. The kiss she gave him. It was so unprofessional Dana, reprimanded one of the voices in her head. But it was so yummy, another defended. Oh come on, the second began arguing with the first, admit it, you liked it too didn’t you? Errr.. well… it was sinfully gratifying in a way. Gratifying? Well, you know how Mulder keeps teasing you and making all sorts of innuendoes? This time you definitely taught him a lesson. Never underestimate a Scully, or rather the Scully lips. Dana smiled and quickly gave a cough to cover it up. One peep at Mulder assured her that she could be the mutant itself and Mulder wouldn’t have noticed. Good Lord, he missed the turning for the motel, "Mulder!"

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7.01 pm

Virtua Motel

He almost ran to his room. His assessment of the their relationship had gone way out of hand during the last mile. He was on the verge of unfastening Scully’s bra when she yelled at him for missing the turn. He didn’t get turned on the first time he saw Scully naked in Alaska. Maybe it had something to do with Scully being nearly frozen to death and melting aliens coming out of their pods. But he saw her naked many times after that in his dreams. Not blue and frozen either. He blamed it all on his photographic memory, not to mention his amazing graphic visualization that was getting a lot of practice lately. The girls in his fantasies have reduced in height over the years, their hair from blond to red, fiery red. Like Scully’s. Shit, I need a cold shower.

Scully grumbled as she dragged her suitcase and her laptop into her room. The least he could do was offer. And he didn’t even bother about his bag. Well, I’m not gonna get it for him. Must be checking for cable. Her eyes widened slightly when she heard the noise from the adjoining room that belonged to her partner. Surprisingly the TV wasn’t on but the shower was. She grinned. Well, well, Missy you were right all along. We, Scully women rule! Suf…fer Fox Mulder!!!

Scully stepped into the shower herself. She could hear Mulder’s shower even more clearly next door. Suddenly she blushed at the fact that a very naked Mulder is just next to her beyond the wall that separated them. So close and yet….. She sighed, sure Mulder was attractive. Any girl would be blind not to agree with her. She had seen the looks of the other female agents in the Bureau when they passed. Looks of longing at him and a vindictive scowl at her. She didn’t mind, in fact she actually enjoyed it. Gave her the feeling that she was important to him. And she was, he finally admitted it to her. It was originally the lowest moment of her life. After Emily, then Diana Fowley came along. The bitch, okay Dana, maybe she didn’t deserve that. But the way she tried to get back into his life, as though she could pick up from where they left of, how dare she! No way, bitch! You gave him up, too bad. Now, he’s mine. **Mine**. God, I’m delirious.

She got out of the shower and dressed herself in the bathroom. She stood there a while, not wanting to be further away from Mulder than she already was. She loved him and it scared her. She knew this a long time ago, but a front must be kept. For her sake, for Mulder’s…………. for her sanity mostly.

She’s out of the bathroom, Mulder heard the next door’s bathroom door close. That took longer than usual. This time she changed in the bathroom, he noted, taking advantage of the thin walls that divided them. He felt a little bit better now. When Scully was in the shower, he was in graphic mode again. Imagining that she was just beside him, well technically she was. The release he achieved was fulfilling, at least for now. Nevertheless he decided to stay in the shower just to be on the safe side.

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10.00 pm

Virtua Motel

Dana shifted again, still trying to find a comfortable spot to sleep on the bed. Mulder was still in the shower. She glanced at her watch on the night stand. She frowned, it can’t possibly be… 10pm already? Her stomach rumbled, okay so maybe it is. But that would mean Mulder has been in the shower for three hours now. She panicked. Had something gone wrong? She grabbled her gun which was also on the night stand and headed for the adjoining door.

She knocked. "Mulder?"

A noise. Mulder grabbed the towel and wrapped it around the lower half of his body. He reached for the bathroom doorknob.

"Mul…" Scully stopped as a very wet Mulder emerged from the bathroom. He shivered slightly because of the air-condition. Water trickled down, from his hair, to his neck, to his chest, following the trail of…..

"Sc..sc..ully, you wanted something?" he frowned, cursing himself for switching on the air-con before he went into the shower. He struggled to keep him teeth from chattering.

"I…er…just…..well….. I heard the shower on… that was three hours ago……"her voice trailed off as she followed another stream of water make it’s descent on Mulder chest. That would be another way to go, Dana approved as the stream branched out into a different direction.

Scully mesmerized? Hmmm…. maybe I don’t need a gym membership after all. He grinned mischievously, "Sc..scu..lly are y..y..ou chec..king me out?" He cursed himself again for stammering a perfectly good tease.

Dana! God he caught me! Relax, you can handle this. You’re a Scully, remember? Scullies can handle anything. "I was just waiting for you go into hypotermic shock" she took control of her voice. "You’re freezing. Mulder, dry yourself and get under the covers!" she ordered.

Mulder blinked for a moment. Scully had just ordered him into bed with her. Wait, she meant only him. Of course she did, stupid! Too late! He groaned aloud as he felt his male anatomy stir at his initial reaction of Scully’s proposal.

Scully mistook his groan as refusal and went into his bathroom to get another towel. When she returned, she practically pushed Mulder towards the bed. Mulder was getting graphic again because of Scully’s roughness. Stupid videos, he cursed his habit. She sat him down and began the task of drying him.

She’s driving me nuts! He grimaced as he felt her touch in between the folds on the towel. Seconds later, he snapped. "Scully, I’m fine. Get out of here!" He was on his feet and stepped back to keep a safe distance from his need.

"Mulder! You’re gonna get sick if you don’t dry yourself and get in between some clothes!"

"Scully. I meant what I said. Get out of here!" his voice was low but firm.

There was a strange feeling of deja vu. Of course, the same thing he said to her when she suspected him of doing something illegal a few months ago. He hurt his finger then, but being the stubborn idiot that he is, he tried to push her away. She started to walk towards him.

"Scully! I SAID GET OUT OF HERE!" he yelled at her now, very nearing the edge.

Dana stopped, stunned. This wasn’t supposed to happen. He never screamed at her like that before. They had arguments and fights all the time, but he never yelled like this. She stepped back.

Mulder was breathing heavily. He had gone too far, he realized. The look on her face was unmistakable. He had hurt her. "Scully, I…’he began to apologise.

"No Mulder. You don’t…. don’t have to say anything. I’m sorry."

Mulder didn’t know which was worse. Hearing her soft apology or watching her retreat hastily back to her room. He wanted to go after her. He knew that he would be the right thing to do. But, there was a more urgent matter at hand – a much-needed cold shower. Forgive me Scully, he whispered to himself as he headed for his bathroom.

Dana sat at the edge of her bed. She could hear the shower in Mulder’s bathroom turned on again. Good, I hope you get leumonia and die, Mulder. She bit her tongue the moment the thought crossed her mind. No! Don’t die, just ….. arghhh! The emotions whirling through her head were confusing. She felt hurt that he rejected her, angry that he yelled at her, ashamed for caring so much and terrified that all he said previously had been lies. "I trust only you". "You’re my one in five billion"."You make me a whole person". What happened Mulder? Why crucify me after hailing me queen? It’s a longer way to fall and definitely more painful.

She tried to recall what happened. All she did was to help him dry off. He was shivering. His teeth were chattering, for God’s sake! She knew he didn’t like to be mothered. But most of the time he would let her. Let her take care of him. The countless times she took the place of his irresponsible mother, she couldn’t keep count. But, he let her comfort him in the most excruciating moments that it was a privilege. Something she knew that only she had the right to do. No one else tried, not even Diana. But maybe she went too far tonight. You’re his partner Dana, that’s all. Stop being so protective. You’re like a mother hen. It’s so God-damn irritating, pathetic even. He is not your son. Though you’ll never have any to call your own, doesn’t mean you can lay a claim to treat him like one. She gave up the fight and tears streamed down. No more, Fox William Mulder, I can’t let you hurt me anymore. Not like this. I won’t be able to survive another of this. It was a long time before she fell alseep.

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31 days A.H.

7.32 am

Virtua Cafe

Fox Mulder watched the door of the café for his partner to arrive. She was late. That worried him. He spent last night thinking about this morning. How to explain, how to tell the truth without the details. He couldn’t tell her that he wanted her sexually. It would disgust her, it would totally ruin everything they’ve achieved since B.H. Scully trusted him like no other. He couldn’t live with her thinking that she was just a sex object, just like all the other bimbos in his crude hobby. And she wasn’t. She accompanied him in his thoughts, fantasies and daydreams because she belonged there. The moment she stepped into the basement office five years ago, she began to invade him, bit by bit, day by day and now she’s **almost** conquered every part of him. Reality would the final blow and Mulder knew that nothing could help him then. He would belong totally to Dana Katherine Scully, body, mind and soul. He’d probably follow her around like a puppy dog, with his tongue hanging out. Judging from last night, he wasn’t far from the inevitable.

Dana frowned as she approached the café. She didn’t want to get out of bed this morning. It had nothing to do with the measly 2 hours of sleep that she managed to get. She just didn’t want to face Mulder. The emotions in her were still too fresh, too raw. She didn’t know if she could pull it off without him knowing that last night almost destroyed her. She sighed, he’s my partner, I’ll have to face him sooner or later. Maybe I should just quit. Have you forgotten Dana, if you quit now, **they** win. She only wished that the problem were **them** and not Mulder. She drew a deep breath and finished the last few steps to the entrance.

Their eyes met.

I’m sorry, Dana saw his apology in Mulder’s eyes. He stood up and waited for her to come over to the table. A flame of anger sparked when he flashed her a smile. "I took the liberty of ordering breakfast for you."

"I can order my own breakfast, Mulder" she icily replied as she sat opposite him.

Okay, she’s not forgiving me….. yet. Mulder studied his partners face as she read the menu glued on the table. She will, she always does. I’ll just be a good boy now. "You want me to cancel the order then?"

"Actually I’m not hungry, can we just go?" she didn’t bother to wait for his answer and left him sitting there alone and surprised. Scully, without coffee or food? This is gonna be a long drive.

He caught up with her. "Scully, you haven’t eaten anything since lunch yesterday. Are you sure you don’t want anything?"

"Yes"

"Scully, about last night…." he tried again.

Dana cut him off before she felt even more humiliated. Nothing’s worse than Mulder explaining himself. He always used humour to cover his ass and she wasn’t in the mood today. "It won’t happen again, I promise."

I hate it when she walks away from me like that. That happened twice within minutes. Is this how she feels when I get so obsessed with a case that I ditch her? Utterly miserable?

The moment Mulder pulled out of the motel driveway, Dana leaned back and closed her eyes to get some sleep. Her stomach grumbled loudly and she thanked the gravel for covering up the sound. Mulder opened his mouth to try to explain himself again but closed it after seeing that she was asleep. Oh yeah, it’s gonna be a long, long drive.

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32 days A.H.

8.32 am

FBI Headquarters DC 

Assistant Director Walter Skinner watched his agent. Fourteen, he mentally counted. Fifteen…..sixteen….

"Sir?" Dana arched her eyebrows at her superior.

"Huh?" Skinner snapped his head up to meet the blue eyes that glared daggers at him.

"I finished my narrative," she said and sighed. Great, even Skinner doesn’t take me seriously. I need to get a new job, a new boss, a new house, new friends, a new partner, a dog…….a new partner mostly.

"I’m sorry. Er… I ..er……." Skinner frowned trying to remember the last thing Scully said.

"You want us to pass the field reports to Kim and that will be all?" Dana offered sweetly, still glaring at him.

"Yes…yes," he nodded, a little embarrassed at being caught for not paying attention. "That will be all, thank you."

Mulder’s eyebrow cocked. Did he hear Skinner say thank you? He was about to smile but Scully had turned to his direction so he held it and waited for her to move pass him to the door. She did without looking at him. He followed her but stopped long enough at the doorway to explain his partner’s mood. "Time of the month sir. Sorry you got bitten."

Skinner watched his door close before he indulged in a smile. Time of the month indeed. You must have done something Mulder and thank God **I’m** not her partner. He wondered what the hell did Mulder do to get Scully so pissed. Oh he saw all the signs of Special Agent Fox Mulder being repentent, a little boy trying his best to be good to gain back the favour of his favourite person’s heart, Special Agent Dana Scully. The first obvious sign was the latter’s silence. Not a word throughout the whole narrative, no smart-ass remarks, no irritating come-backs. Just kept stealing glances at her. Sixteen times to be exact. Beating the previous record by eight times. Boy, are you in for some major serious sucking up, Mulder.

Mulder was still behind Scully in the corridor leading to the elevator. A soft burring sound made him reach for his pocket.

"It’s mine," Dana announced and flipped the mouthpiece. "Scully!"

I just love the way she answers the phone, don’t you? Mulder silently asked no one in particular. But a voice answered anyhow. Yeah, me too. But most of all, the frown she makes when the static gets in the way of the call. Uh-uh….

"I’ll be right there," Dana replaced her phone in her pocket and walked back to Mulder. "Mulder, I need the car keys. I left my car at home today."

"What happened?" he saw the worried look in her eyes.

"Mom, she’s in the hospital. She fainted at mass this morning."

"What? Is she gonna be all right?" Mulder fumbled for the keys in his pocket. He liked Margaret Scully. She took him in when he was lost, when Scully was missing. He was feeling guilty as usual and she helped by opening up to him, telling him about ‘Dana’s tomboy years’. He never told Scully though, she’d be mortified. "I’ll drive you," he offered.

"No, Mulder" her voice was firm as she held her palm up for his keys. "It’s all right. Bill will be there. I don’t need you."

His heart constricted at her last sentence. In a daze, he dropped the keys into her palm and watched her walk away from him….again. Her words lingered in his brain for a few seconds.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

1.25 pm

St. Elizabeth's Hospital

Margaret Scully’s eyes fluttered open. "Mom?" Dana called.

"Dana. Where am I? What happened?" her eyes darted around the white clothed room.

"You’re in a hospital mom. You fainted during mass," her daughter replied taking her hand and squeezing it lightly, to calm her.

Margeret took the hint and took a moment to clear her thoughts. "Did I miss communion?" she asked.

Dana had to laugh. It would be just like her mother to think about the mortal sin of not fulfilling her religious obligations at a time like this. "I think you did mom. But I think the Lord would make an exception this time, don’t you?"

Margaret looked at her daughter and laughed herself. She was being silly. She couldn’t remember what happened. She was singing Alleluia just after the 2^nd reading and then everything turned black. "What did the doctor say?"

"Well, they still want to do one or two tests but right now all they could come up with is fatigue. Bill says you have been helping out at the counseling center."

"Yes. But I just go there three times a week. I don’t think it would tire me enough for this."

"Well, whatever it is you need the rest. How would you feel if the two of us took a nice drive to Carrington Base for a few days?"

"Don’t you have to work?"

"Yes but I do have a whole lot on vacation time pending."

Margaret frowned at the daughter. Something is wrong. "Is there something you want to tell me, honey?"

Dana was surprised, did it really show? "Mom, I just want to spend more time with you. And I really need a break."

"From work or ….?"

"From everything," she answered quietly, hoping to leave it as that. She didn’t want to talk about it. Lord knows she’s wasted many hours at night thinking about her life and where it led her.

Hmmmm…Margeret watched her daughter closely. Everything would be Mulder. They had a fight. It was her turn to squeezed her daughter’s hand. Dana returned the gesture with a smile.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

36 days A.H.

8.11 pm

FBI Headquarters DC

Mulder looked at the pencils that hung from the ceiling. Sooner or later admin would surely make me pay for a new one, if any one of them ever comes down here. He sighed for the millionth time today as he looked over at Scully’s part of the office. He missed her.

She didn’t even call to say that she was taking time off. Had to find out from Skinner. Mulder tried to call her to ask how her mom was but Bill picked up her cell-phone. And talking to Bill wasn’t any fun. He gave him the third degree, as usual, like it was his fault Margaret fainted. Maybe it was. I mean if it weren’t for me, Melissa would be alive and Scully would probably the head of forensics in the F.B.I. by now.

Mulder loved doing this to himself. Blamed himself for everything in the world. In **his** world. Samantha, Dad and Mom’s divorce, Dad’s death, Mom’s failing health and Scully’s family tragedy. He was the key to it all. He sighed again.

He looked at his phone on the table. Impulsively he picked it up and pushed the first speed-dial button.

"Scully!" her voice was unusually hushed.

"Hey, Scully. Miss me?"

Dana’s heart skipped a beat at the sound of his voice. It’s been four days since she last heard it. And though her resolution to put some space between them still stuck, she found herself willing her cell-phone to ring these past few days. She glanced at Ben across the table. He was studying the menu. Suddenly she was irritated at herself. This is a good start Dana. Finally find a normal man to bring you out and you’re gonna ignore him for Mulder?

"Scully?" he frowned.

"Yeah Mulder. I’m kinda in the middle of something right now. Could I call you back?"

"Scully why are you whispering? Are you in the middle of a stackout or something"

"Actually I’m on a…." she broke off to point at the dish she wanted on the menu "..sorry… a date."

"Good one, Scully. Try another. Are you watching a movie with your mom? Ballet?"

"Mulder, I’m on a date with mom’s doctor if you must know," she hissed back, getting an arched eye-brow from Ben.

"Oh"

Dana couldn’t be sure but she thought she heard a sharp intake of breath over the line. Oh come on, it’s not like you’re in love with me or anything, she chided Mulder silently.

"What’s he doing in Carrington Base?"

"He was originally from here. He decided to join us. Besides, he wanted to keep an eye on mom," she didn’t bother to reveal that she knew Ben from a long time ago.

"Is he 40, bald with a bad leg?"

Dana groaned. God, sometimes Mulder can be so predictable. "Yeah, Mulder but what the heck, I don’t have much of a life anyway. Gotta go." She pushed the disconnect button and went back to her date.

"I’m glad to hear I’m giving you a life," Ben smiled, teasing.

Dana blushed slightly. He is **so** good looking. Okay, not as gorgeous as Mulder but she loved him so it could be a prejudiced judgement. The Scullies spent 1 year in Carrington Base when Dana was 9. It was the longest they ever stayed in any fifteen years of moving around. Margaret made many friends there and so did Dana. Ben was one of her classmates. He wasn’t so cute then. Too geeky looking but Dana enjoyed his intellect and wit. Discussing the wonders of the universe and trying silly experiments were sure more interesting than dolls and dresses. She could remember the first kiss she had. It was an experiment with Ben. They even wrote a report on it. Their conclusion, it sure wasn’t hygienic.

"That was my partner. He’s kind of a loner. So I guess he needs me around to bug."

"You like him bugging you?"

"Well, it’s okay at times."

"You could always get Bill to talk to him if you want him of your back. The questions he asked me before we left? Whew! I almost decided to have a case of really bad diarrhea. But then you walked down the stairs and I decided I could take anything. You looked amazing!"

She smiled shyly. Well, this is surely different from Mulder’s dry wit. Why do I keep bringing him up? "You’re just saying that because I’m armed, aren’t you?" she joked.

"You are?" his eyes scanned her blue-green dress, wondering where on earth the gun could be hidden. "Well in that case did I ever tell you, you have the most drowning blue eyes I’ve ever seen? And the just how often do you train? You lost a few pounds since the last time I saw you."

"Is this a proven way to flatter a women, Ben?"

"Well, according to my research, it’s worked 70% of the time."

"And just what are the after-effects of this kind of flattery?"

"They all fall madly in love with me, make me fall madly in love with them, then they dump me."

"Poor thing."

"Uh-uh. So Dana Katherine Scully, are you in love with me yet?’

"I don’t know Ben. Do you believe in extra-terrestrial beings and that the United States Government is part of a global conspiracy with them to colonize the earth?"

"Aaahhh, the human drama of unrequited love."

Dana was stunned, "How did you know?"

"Bill mentioned about your partner. You know I really hope he doesn’t join any of your family reunions, he’d never make it past dinner."

She sighed. "Bill is just being over-protective. I didn’t even know he was coming here to see mom until this morning, sorry you had to go through that."

"It was nothing compared to what your poor partner must have gone through."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, there was a really chilly glazed look in Bill’s eyes when he was talking about your kooky partner. I really think you should place your pal under protective custody or something."

Dana laughed. "Don’t be an idiot Ben!"

"I’m serious," but his eyes twinkled mischievously which caused Dana to break out again.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

39 days A.H.

9.32 am

FBI Headquarters DC

Dana studied the samples carefully. She marked out a few items on the list beside her. She frowned suddenly. She had a strange feeling someone was watching her. She looked up. Through the lab screen she caught Mulder’s eyes. They held each other gaze for as long as they dared. Dana broke away first, looking down, back to the samples in front of her. She realized that she was holding her breath and began normal regulation to steady herself. She heard the lab door open. Trying to best to gain her usual composure, she started first. "Hey Mulder, miss me?"

No reply. Dana looked up at the lab door. Lab tech Ozz Sullivan looked back at her, his eyebrows high. Dana blushed. Mulder was nowhere to be seen. Great Dana, this is a great addition to the Mr. and Mrs. Spooky soap-opera-romance-gossip going around in the office.

Trying to regain some ounce of dignity left, she gave Ozz a glare to which he automatically retreated out of the lab and she went back to work.

Mulder was seated behind his desk. She’s back and she went straight to work. She didn’t check in with him on the next case. Just took the file he left on the table and began immediately. He sighed as he thought of the look they exchanged between the glass screen. She’s still mad at me. He groaned in frustration, picked up the car keys from his table, his coat and headed out the door. It was weird, all week he was waited for her to come back and now that she is, he needed time from her.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

42 days A.H.

4.15 pm

FBI Headquarters DC

A.D. Skinner noted the dates on the lab reports. Agent Scully has been spending too much time in there. He looked at the latter seated across him. "Agent Mulder didn’t join you in this research?"

Hesitation, he noticed.

"Agent Mulder was away on an official inquiry related to this case. But we haven’t had time to put our stories together yet."

"Where is he now?"

"I…I’m not sure," she admitted sheepishly. "He was supposed to get back here in time to see you. I spoke with him this morning on the phone." If you could call a 1-minute phone-call a conversation, she added silently.

There was a knock on the door. Mulder entered. "Sir, sorry I’m late. Car trouble," he explained and took his seat next to his partner.

They didn’t even look at each other, Skinner frowned. Something was wrong. Did the consortium finally manage to tear these two apart? "Agent Scully, do you mind if I talk to Agent Mulder alone?"

"Of course not , sir." Dana nodded slightly at her superior and left the room.

Skinner waited for a while, watching Mulder fidget under his scrutiny. "Agent Mulder, as much as I love to save time and increase productivity, I am quite concerned with the way you and Agent Scully handle your cases these days," Skinner leaned back comfortably.

"Sir?"

"Why didn’t Agent Scully go along with you on your inquiry?"

"Well, it was a simple interview. I didn’t think I needed her help. Besides she was busy with the samples. I know how she hates being interrupted in the middle of a research."

"Did you even ask her if she wanted to come along?"

Mulder frowned. Scully wouldn’t rat on him. He ditched her numerous times, but she never complained. Yelled at him maybe but never squealed to Skinner. Skinner read his mind, "No Agent Scully didn’t say anything. I just wanted to know," he defended her.

"Sir. I’ve been working with Scully for five years now. We have an understanding."

"Do you? Agent Mulder, Agent Scully is one the best agents I’ve got and I’d be grateful to have her covering my back. She’s done a good job so far. I don’t think you should underestimate your enemies. And you have made many, Agent Mulder. Maybe she has too. I think you two should stick together, I’d hate to lose either one of you just because the other was trying to be cost effective with the Bureau’s salary."

Mulder digested his words slowly. Skinner knows something. I doubt he knows about my sexual frustrations but he sure does know that Scully and I ain’t talking these days. He’s right. If things went on like this, **they** would win. And the irony would be that they didn’t even have to try anything. Scully and I would destroy ourselves. "I understand sir. Would that be all?"

"Yes. I shall see you tonight, Agent Mulder," Skinner dismissed him with a wave of his hand.

"Tonight sir?"

"The Bureau Ball."

"I never go for that stuff sir!"

"But Agent Scully signed in for it….unless….." she bringing someone else, he finished the sentence in his head. He looked at Mulder’s face and cursed himself for giving Scully away.

"Excuse me, sir." Mulder didn’t wait for Skinner’s reply. He headed for the basement. The corridors were

full of people, leaving early to get ready for the FBI event of the year. Mulder didn’t even apologize when he bumped into several staff members. He wanted to catch Scully before she left. They needed to talk.

He finally reached the office. Damn, I missed her. He saw a note on his table. A familiar scrawl made him reach for it. ‘Mulder, left early. Gotta pick up my dress. Enjoy your evening! Scully’ She **was** going to the ball. Five years she never went. They spent the time in the office together. Finishing up the bits and pieces. Taking comfort in the thought that they were all alone in the office. No, pain-in-the-ass agents who thought that they were candidates gearing up for the Loony Bin. This year, she’s going? But with who? He slumped back in his chair. The Doc!

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

42 days A.H.

8.17 pm

The Sheraton Hotel DC

"And you thought you wouldn’t have any fun, did you see at the jealous looks the other women are giving you when we waltzed past them?" Ben grinned at Dana.

Dana smiled. Ben was so easy to be around with. She wondered why he hadn’t settled down. A great guy like him shouldn’t have any trouble finding a wife. She caught Skinner looking in their direction with interest. Immediately she felt a little guilty. Guilty for ditching Mulder.

"Come on, let’s dance," Ben pulled her towards the dance floor.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Mulder glared rudely back at all the stares he received. Okay, so this the first time he’s been to a Bureau Ball but this is no way to treat a new-comer. His ears burned at the word ‘spooky’ being whispered as he searched the crowd for his partner.

"This is gonna be fun…"muttered Kim under her breath. Skinner heard her and looked at where she was looking. Mulder? Oh-oh…..

Mulder stopped when he finally found his partner. She was in the arms of a handsome man. He watched them a few feet away as the latter effortlessly spun her around on the dance floor. His mouth nearly gaped opened when she giggled. My Scully giggles? Suddenly he forgot the simple art of breathing. The room had grown hotter and stuffy. The room started to spin. He needed air. Desperate to leave the room he knocked into the food bar on his way out, causing quite a commotion. Scully craned her neck to see what the problem was. She frowned as she thought she saw a familiar back profile, but shook her head to dismiss the idea. He never comes to this stuff.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Ben kept Dana on the dance floor for a number of songs. She couldn’t remember the last time she had this much fun. Her little voices however kept nagging her. She wondered what Mulder was doing. Whether he noticed that she had disappeared, whether he even cared. She didn’t even realize Ben had steered her out of the hall. "Getting too old for this Ben?" Dana teased.

"You must be getting lots and lots of exercise chasing little green men, I’m out of breath," he admitted.

Dana walked towards the exit of the FBI building. "Some fresh air would do you good. Come along now Doctor."

"Yes, ma’am."

Dana shivered slightly as the cool night wind took advantage of her off-shoulders dress. She felt Ben cover her with his coat and smiled. He is wonderful. She turned to thank him but was surprised with his sudden nearness. His eyes bore into hers, making his intentions clear. He leaned down slowly. Dana almost backed away, but she forced herself to meet his lips. She needed to know if it was just Mulder that could make her feel desire or has it just been too long. She remembered clearly how wet he looked from head to towel, from towel to toe. His lean tanned body glistened and she found her mouth dry…….

"Dana?" Ben broke her reverie.

"Huh?"

"I’m not that good," Ben arched an eyebrow.

Dana blinked twice. She couldn’t believe that she was actually thinking about her partner while kissing another man. It was weird, rude…. spooky. She looked at Ben who she sensed was already preparing himself for a typical it’s-not-you-it’s-me discussion. She was about to lie when Skinner interrupted them. "Agent Scully?"

"Sir." Dana saw him glance at Ben. "This my date, Doctor Ben Star. Ben, my superior, Assistant Director Walter Skinner." They shook hands and exchanged pleasantries.

"I’m sorry to er….interrupt but something has come up, could I talk to you for a minute, Agent Scully?"

Ben motioned that he would he waiting inside and left them. Dana cautiously studied her boss’s face. He saw them kiss. She could feel his piercing, accusing look as he briefed her about a new assignment in Texas the next morning. What the hell did he care? He’s not supposed to encourage romantic relationships among his agents. And yet why did she feel like she was just caught kissing someone she shouldn’t have and Skinner, her dad was just about to ground her. "I shall expect to hear from you in Texas tomorrow. One more thing, I couldn’t get Agent Mulder on the phone," he stopped. Dana squirmed. "Would you mind informing him?"

"Of course not, sir. I’ll try to reach him."

"Good. I hope to see everything back to normal by the time you get back," with that he walked away leaving Dana wondering just how much did he know about Mulder and her. She didn’t wonder long, there was Ben to take care of. She walked into the building to find him. He was leaning against the reception desk.

She knew she had to make it short and fast. "Ben…. I’m sorry."

He sighed. "Yeah, sure you are. They’re all are." But he waited for her to explain anyway.

Dana began slowly, "Five years, there’s so much that Mulder and I went through. I don’t think any other person could ever understand the life we led, the life we’re still living." She paused. "I had a daughter, did you know that?"

Ben shook his head, surprised.

"She died. I don’t know how or why. I do know that I need to find out, I need to go on fighting this war. I need to make some meaning out it."

"And Mulder understands?"

"Well, most of it. I know he trusts me, respects me….sometimes needs me. I know he has his own reasons in this fight. But we’re going the same way."

"Are you? Then why did you run away from him? Why let me in?"

Dana hesitated. She felt ashamed but needed to seek his forgiveness. "Because I needed a distraction. Mulder has a …..a habit of pushing people away. It’s a character defect I can’t get used to. I’m sorry I used you." She waited for him to respond.

Ben looked into her blue eyes. They were dull and weary, so different from the eyes that sparkled on the dance floor. Aged, so much innocence lost. She was right. Even if she told him, he just wouldn’t understand all she went through. And from the sadness in her voice, she probably went through hell and back, several times. He sighed again. "Dana, if you ever get fed up of the fight. And just want a boring, less painful relationship, you know where to reach me."

Dana burst out laughing. She gave him a quick hug. "I’ll remember that, Ben."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

9.42 pm

FBI Headquarters DC

Mulder watch the bottle dance in front of him. Okay, now I’m drunk. Scully, he realized would sooner or later be the cause of his alcoholism. A day B.H., he also guzzled a few shots of poison to numb the pain. He only wished the after-effects included poor memory. He grabbed the bottle and took another shot, one more attempt to forget the vision of Scully with Doctor Star, top surgeon of the year 1988. He got the Lone Gunmen to do a full background check on the guy. He not only checked out but he seemed to be perfect . Too perfect, Byers comforted him. Not Scully’s type. And just who was Scully’s type? Definitely not the asshole who has put her in danger more times than the devil incarnate C.S.M.’s daily cigarette count. The same jerk that keeps ditching her to run after his own marathon. His marathon round the circle of deceit and conspiracy, usually ending up right back at the starting line. The door opened, he looked up.

Dana wasn’t really surprised to find him in the office but was startled at his get-up. He was wearing a tux. She frowned slightly thinking of the commotion earlier in the hall, it couldn’t be. He peered to look at her. She wondered why until she saw the bottle in his hands. "Mulder", she acknowledged his presence.

"Hey Scully," he called back, trying to focus on all the three Scully images at once. All three looked great. He wished his partner would be less conservative during working hours. He leaned back in his chair.

Dana bit her lip in confusion. Her mind raced back to their recent encounters, trying to figure out where their relationship stood. Was she still not talking to him. I think so. Was he mad at me? No, I was mad at him. He ditched me again, remember? She shook her head a little and concentrated on getting the stuff she came back to get for the trip to Texas. Texas! "Uh Mulder, Skinner wants us over at Texas tomorrow. Something’s come up." She glanced across the room. Mulder was nodding his head, fascinated at the way his cup bobbed about in synch with his movement.

"Mulder?"

"Yup, I heard ya."

Dana sighed. "Are you drunk?"

"Yup."

Dana frowned. "Why are you drunk?"

"I can’t remember." He closed his eyes tightly as if trying to recall the reason for his guzzling. "Scully."

"What?" Dana was exasperated with him now.

"No," Mulder groaned irritantly. "Why I drank? Scully!"

"You drank because of me."

"Are you Scully?"

Dana sighed louder and rolled her eyes. "Come on Mulder, I’ll drive you home." She walked over to him to help him up. He let her. She held him at his waist, he leaned heavily on her. "Mulder, you gotta help me out here. You’re too heavy for me."

"Then get on top me."

Dana ignored him. "Come on Mulder, you gotta walk on your own. I can’t drag you, we’ll never make it to the car.

"You such a nag, Scully."

"I know Mulder. Don’t worry, I’ll dump you at your doorstep."

"I miss you, Scully."

Dana was absolutely stunned because she forgot to hold him up and he just crumbled onto the floor. "God Mulder, I’m sorry," she knelt down to feel his head. He knocked it when he fell. It seemed to sober him up a bit. He looked slightly dazed but more alert. In a second, he recalled his words. He blushed a little. "I’m fine." He gently pushed her hand away and slowly sat up.

Dana backed off, a little hurt that he pushed her away **again** and angry that she allowed him to **again**. She looked at the floor, not wanting him to see her feelings.

Mulder saw the reaction and inwardly cursed himself. I had to go do it again! Mulder, you are a piece of work, a rotten stinking asshole! He impulsively grabbed her hand. She looked up.

"Scully," his voice only slightly more than a whisper. "I’m sorry."

Her cheeks flushed. "You don’t have to apologize. You’re drunk. I’ll send you home."

"Kay," he didn’t argue.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Dana glanced at her passenger. He was slumped awkwardly next to her. She concentrated on the road again.

"Scully, pull over!"

"What?"

"Pull over," he almost yelled this time.

Dana did as he told. Before the car could stop completely, he had already opened the door and began retching. Dana got out of the car and walked over to his side. When he finished she offered him a tissue. He took it and wiped his mouth. She waited for him to recover.

"Remind me never to touch that stuff."

"You never listen to me anyway, Mulder."

"I always listen to you," he defended himself.

Dana gave a half laugh. "Mulder, the number of times you listen to me, I can count with my fingers."

"I never doubted you could count with your fingers Scully," he deadpanned.

She scowled at him. Trying to take control of the anger slowly rising, she turned away to face the darkness.

Great Mulder, there you go again. I should just shoot myself and put her out of her misery. He rubbed his face in despair. Say something, damn it. "Ben Star is quite a catch." Dana turned and stared at him. Opps, wrong thing.

"And what do you know about Ben Star?"

He looked down, kicking the dirt as if it was his butt. "……. Graduated first in his Med class, breezed through his internship, got offered a place with the best surgical team in Chicago, quit to take part in a Red Cross Crusade and finally settled in D.C., head of the ER.

"You checked him out?"

"Like you didn’t!" he braved himself to look at her.

Dana frowned. "Mulder, I’m dating him. I have the right."

"Exactly, you’re dating him."

She frowned even more. God how he loved that frown!

"And you have the right because……?"

It was his turn to frown now. "…. I …. You’re …. My partner. Right, I should know if my partner is in danger or not. That makes sense." He nodded his head vigorously.

" Mulder, you’re **not** my father. I have enough trouble with Bill as it is. Don’t **you** start!"

"I’m just looking out for you."

"Don’t! You know what, you can take a cab home. I can’t take you." She walked to her side of the car and got in. Mulder was still sitting in the car. "Get out!"

"Scully?"

"I said get out, Mulder"

"No"

"Get out now!" She yelled.

"What are you gonna do, shoot me?" he dared her.

She grimaced, a vain attempt to control her emotions. "I hate you, Fox William Mulder! Why is it that I get out when you ask me too, but you won’t when I do?"

Mulder was stumped for a second. Slowly, he realized that she was talking about the night at the motel. Okay, this is it. You asked for it Scully. "Scully, do you have any idea how attractive you are?"

Dana stared at him like he was from the planet Pluto. "Wh…at?"

"You’re not fat or ugly and it has been a while since I….. ," he sighed. "The point is that night at the motel I asked you to get out because I wanted you. I **really** wanted you." He looked at the dashboard, completely ready for an outburst of obscenities from her.

It took her thirty seconds for her to make the next sentence. "You wanted….me?" she asked him incredulously.

"Yes." It’s coming… it’s coming….

Dana began laughing. Mulder looked at her in surprise. She controlled herself when Mulder’s face distorted in confusion. "Sorry."

"Mind telling what’s funny? I spent the whole night in that damned shower!"

Dana couldn’t take it and burst out again. Mulder was even more confused. It was good to hear her laugh. It’s been a while but he just couldn’t see the joke. "Scully?" he growled.

She sobered. "Sorry." She drew in a deep breath to compose herself. Her lips still threatening to smile. " I just recalled something Melissa used to say."

"What?"

"She used to say that the Scullies had great lips."

Mulder let out a breath he didn’t know he was keeping. She wasn’t gonna scream at him after all. Hmm…. She actually likes me thinking of her as a sexy, attractive woman. Wonder of wonders! "Well, I’ll have to agree with her. I mean your sister’s hot."

Dana felt a strange stir of jealousy in her stomach and immediately felt guilty for it.

Mulder continued, "Your mum’s really great looking too. If she were younger, I’d kiss her. I can’t say the same thing about Bill though." He made a face.

Dana smiled, her earlier thoughts dismissed. How he missed him like this. Teasing and irritating.

"I never met Charlie. I doubt he even exists. You know, we should open a file on him. ‘Mysterious Charlie …Something…. Scully. Is he a figment of the Scullies’ imagination?’

"You left out one Scully," her quiet voice calmed his insane ramblings.

"Well, I… I’ve never met your father either. But I’m sure he has great lips," he slyly avoided what she was getting at.

Dana glared at him. Oh-oh, it was her patented stare-of-death. He muttered softly, "I could never leave **that** Scully out, even if I tried."

Her glare softened. She looked away, slightly breathless at the emotions he sparked.

"Scully?"

"Yeah?"

"Would you like to dance?"

"Here?"

"Yeah, your radio works doesn’t it?"

"I dunno, I never turned it on before."

Mulder fumbled at the knobs. He picked a station. A ballad…. Good. He got out and went over to her side. Opened the door and held out his hand. She looked at it unsure.

"I’ve got a breath mint in my pocket. I didn’t puke on my clothes."

She smiled and took his hand. They walked a few steps from the car. She lifted her left hand to place it on his shoulder but he stopped her. He unwrapped his breath-mint and popped it in his mouth. Then, he placed both his hands on her waist, leaving her no choice but to wrap her arms around his neck.

"You’re too tall," she grumbled. Her heart beating faster at the close proximity of his chest.

He smiled. "You’re perfect."

She refused to look at him, afraid her face would give her feelings away. They moved slowly trying hard to follow the beat of the song, it was too soft. Not that it mattered. They were too conscious of each other. They didn’t even notice the song end.

"Scully?" Mulder whispered in her ear, causing her to gasp a little.

"Hmm…." She didn’t want to say anything in case her voice cracked.

"Wanna keep me company tonight?" he teased in the best sexy voice he could produce.

She smiled and found courage in the familiarity of his innuendoes. "In you dreams, Mulder."

"Yeah….probably," he sighed, knowing that it would be another frustrating night. She giggled and his heart soared. Yeah, my Scully giggles.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Skinner’s mind tiredly scanned though the next day’s agenda. He hated long meetings with people he didn’t know.

"Sir, isn’t that Agents Mulder and Scully?" Kim caught his attention and pointed at a pulled up sedan at the side of the road.

He slowed down and peered harder through the darkness. He found what Kim was pointing at. Mulder and Scully in an embrace? No wait, they’re dancing.

"Looks like they made up, huh sir?" Kim grinned.

He looked at his secretary beside him. "Shall we interrupt them? Maybe they had some car trouble."

"Don’t you dare!" Skinner raised an eyebrow. Kim grimaced humbly, "Sorry sir, it’s just that I’ve got a lot in the office pool. It’s been five years. The stakes are really high….." she waited for a lecture.

Skinner frowned. He struggled with one hand on the wheel and another in his coat pocket. He pulled out a fifty. "Put fifty bucks in for me, will ya? But keep it to yourself."

Kim eyes widened. "For or against, sir?"

"I want to win, Kim."

Kim grinned again. "Right sir. For."

He stepped on the oil, watching his agents grow smaller and smaller in his rearview mirror. He’d win and so would Kim. It was just a matter of time.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

End of A.H.

Okay, please tell me if I should go on writing or get back to just watching my X-files videos.

phileyxback@yahoo.com