Title: THE ANIMAL AWAKENS: FIRE AND RAIN" Part Two Author: Reddi @ Red1401@btinternet.com Spoilers: Upto end of season 6 Rating: ?? ***ssssslash-tastic baby*** Disclaimer: I don't own 'em. Also included are ickle song lyric quotes - in this case, the titles. I don't own them either. In fact, when you really think about it, I own very little, except maybe my weird and wacky imagination. Summery: Samantha is found. Scully is lost. "The Animal Awakens: FIRE & RAIN part two" Le Malls Restaurant, Washington D.C. Scully arrived ten minutes early and was surprised to see her dining partner was there before her. As she crossed the room her long black dress swept around her legs, the low cut bias kissing her curves in all the right places. Her companion arose and visibly sucked in a breath. The voice inside her mind sounded half shocked. Scully inclined her head slightly and accepted the compliment. It wasn't often that she was told that, and it felt ...good. Her dining partner pulled a chair out for her. Scully allowed it. 'There is something to be said for chivalry,' Scully thought, 'Especially when I feel so *different*, so womanly.' "Thank you." An easy silence ensued. Both perused the menu lazily. A waiter appeared and glances at Scully appreciatively. Her partner indicated that she should order for both of them. Scully smiled slightly. "To start, hmm, we'll have the melon followed by the house special, it's chicken isn't it. Thank you." As she handed him the menu, the waiter caught hold of her hand. "Thank*you*,.... Have you had a chance to look at the wine menu? The House White is fabulous with Chicken and Fish." Scully looked at her companion who merely shrugged. "Sure. Why not? Thank you." She smiled and the world stopped moving. At least for two people in the restaurant. The waiter, suitably pleased by her response, walked away. Her companion simply looked at her. "Well... Scully, I mean ... wow!" Scully felt the blush rising in her cheeks. "I mean,... it's just that,... well you look beautiful Scully." A bemused smile crossed her face as she was reminded of a nervous schoolchild. "I thought your sister was coming." Mulder's face fell instantly. Mulder considered avioding the question, didn't she understand this was too hard for him? He had felt the heat around them. And even as his partner is a fiesty woman, never had he felt her emotions scorch so intensly. 'And Samantha? What did he think of that? Did he know? Furthermore, did they know? Do they know where they're headed, what they have instore for them? Do they understand their feelins? Will they embrace them or push them away?' All the while Scully's vioce invaded his brain... <"Not everything is about you, Mulder."> He knew it to be true. But this was his life. Much more than his career. This was unrequited. His love for Scully transcended all the barriers which had tried to restrain him. He loved her completely, and she loved him. He was certain of it. Was it a sexual love? Perhaps, but to describe it as so is to rob it of the elegance it deserves. He loved her with all of his being, with everything he was and would ever be. <"I've only held you back."> 'No. Never. Couldn't she see? But above all of this, above all of his personal feelings, he wanted, no, he *needed* Scully to be happy. And if being with Sam made her happy....' Mulder tried to keep the sadness of his heart out of his eyes. Unsuccessfully. Scully noticed the subtle change in her partner and knew it was time to discuss *that night*. "Mulder I ..." "Scully, don't. I know. I understand. I *felt* it. I don't know if I can describe it... it was almost electric." Before she could stop it, an image of Darrin Peter Oswald appeared inside her mind. She was glad she hadn't ordered the beef. Mulder let a smile flicker across his lips. He shook his head almost imperceptibly. Scully was much more amusing inside her own head. Mulder tried not to violate Scully, not to read her, but the truth was if Scully wanted to block him out, she would and indeed could. The fact that he heard her thoughts meant she was letting him in. Allowing him the briefest of glimpses into her world. The world of Dana Katherine Scully, MD. He thought about her iron control. Those carefully constructed walls which he enclosed herself in,... but underneath... Dana Scully is no ice-queen. "So ...", he started. She nodded and met his gaze. "What does she know?" Scully pondered the question. "Mulder..." "Scully please. I deserve this at least." Scully smiled at her long-time partner and best-friend. She concentrated. In her mind the words 'You're the only one I trust' echoed, unsure if they were from him or her, she took a deep breath and composed herself. "She knows you are 'changed'. What's more, she knows why and very likely the perpetrator. She didn't say who. She had expected the ... *attack*..." Mulder winced at the word, Scully continued delicately. "She understood, she *understands*, Mulder, the X-Files, you, me, everything. She knows why you felt you had to do what you did. She expected it." An uncomfortable silence filled the air. Mulder reached across for Scully's hand. "It's not what you think Scully. This isn't your fault. I admit I had deliberately denied the possibility of Samantha being a clone." He smirked. "The skeptic and the believer. All this role-swapping maybe we should go to a swinger party?" The comment was not lost on Scully. He was asking her to justify her reaction, her emotion, her *feelings*. But now was not a good time, he sensed this even through the iron walls. Scully was surrounded in confusion. The waiter interrupted their thoughts. He placed the meals down on the table Mulder did not fail to notice the seductive stare he threw at Scully. She merely smiled and said "Thank you." His grin turned into a fully-fledged smile. Inside Mulder's head, the words "He does *not* have buck teeth!" appeared. Mulder almost failed to stifle his laughter as Scully's polite smile morphed into a knowing grin. 'Everything is going to be all right' Mulder thought, relieved. The remainder of the first course was spent reminiscing about old cases, nothing too gruesome though. They hadn't done this in how long? Too long, they decided. They laughed but more than that, they laughed together. Scully was the first to broach the subject. "You need to talk to her Mulder." "I know." He wanted to tell her how afraid he was. Afraid to lose what he had spent so long searching for. Afraid of losing himself to the constant noise inside his brain. Afraid of losing the things most dear: his sister, his sanity, .... his Scully. Scully placed her hand over his own. She *knew*. He considered making a joke ... 'Psychic-Scully?' She smiled and he thought for the briefest of moments he had heard her voice. It said He smiled back. The skeptic and the believer. All was right again. * * * Outside, a lone figure sat on a rusting bench. Cloaked in darkness, a solitary light flickered in his eyes. An orange glow. There was a hiss of protest from the ground as a cigarette dropped from his hand. He even corrupted the rainwater. He smiled a gruesome smile. The light in his eyes extinguished. A little boy walked passed with his parents. He pointed at the man and said but one word ... "Devil!" The man bore hard into the child's eyes, making him wince with pain. Once there he placed a single word inside the child's mind. !end part 2! Red @ http://www.btinternet.com/~red1401/Red.htm