TITLE:   Conhouse - Chapter Ten
e-mail Address:  ErinStone1@aol.com
RATING: PG-13
CATEGORY:  Scully/Slash
SPOILERS: None
Keywords:  Scully Slash/Other Romance
Summary:  none

Disclaimer: Fox, Chris Carter and 1013 own them ALL, ***except Lena Conhouse,
she's mine, and of course, Wanda, who is mine in the literal sense.***

Comments are welcomed. Please send them to ErinStone1@AOL.com




"So Scully, how was your night?"

They sat at a small table by the window. Their wine had already been set in
front of them, food was ordered and presumably being prepared.

"Good Mulder." She knew, or thought she knew, what he was getting at, but
thought that maybe he didn't know how to ask.

"She's an amazing person."

"Yes," Dana tried to be casual, "she is."

"Listen Scully, if your inviting me to dinner is some kind of mercy mission
you don't need to bother. I'm a big boy, I can handle this."

"It's not a mercy mission. I just didn't feel comfortable with the way I left
things yesterday. I appreciate that you gave me your stamp of approval to go
back to Lena's Mulder, I just don't feel right about being sketchy with you
regarding my relationship with her."

"So, you've upgraded to a relationship?"  The pain in his voice was palpable. 

She sighed, then regarded him honestly, "Yes."

"That was quick."

She was going to argue, but realized that he was right, it was quick.

"I suppose it was."

"Scully, are you sure you can make a decision like that over the course of a
weekend?"

"Well, I know it sounds unlike me, considering my history of careful,
intentional living... but, yes... I think I can make a decision like that over
the course of a weekend. In fact, I already have."

Mulder stared at her across the table. His expression was unreadable.

"And I'm hoping that it won't be a burden on the relationship I have with you,
work or otherwise."

"We have no relationship other than work Scully. It's the thing that binds us
together."

"And I don't see why that should change.  Do you?"

"In my mind, no. In my heart..."

Dana dropped her gaze to her wineglass. She ran a finger around the mouth of
it. She was thrown by Mulder's statement, considering it.

"Scully, I'd be lying if I said that I had never considered kissing you. As a
matter of fact, I've considered it often over the past few years."

She looked up at him.

"I thought about it all night and I tried to figure out why I had never done
it."

"You did. Once." She stated, seriously.

He smiled at her, "Once, I tried."

She smiled back.  

"And failed." He said.

"After that," she said, "I just thought it wasn't meant to be."

He sighed. "That's one way to look at it."

"How did you look at it Mulder?"

"Like I couldn't do anything right. Like I have no luck and bad timing." 

"Well..."

"Well, now I know that I've blown it."

"No Mulder, you haven't blown it." She regretted her phrasing when she saw the
hopeful look in his eye. "What I mean to say is that I would have blown it for
you. I'm..."

"You're what?"

"A lesbian."

He was shocked, and... angry, "Scully, one weekend does not a lesbian make..."

"Mulder listen, it wasn't just one weekend. I had experiences... in college.
Attractions..."

"You don't have to tell me this."

"But I do. I don't want you to think that Lena is out there recruiting. She
didn't seduce me Mulder... well... anyway, she wasn't the first, exactly."

He was looking down now, staring at the tablecloth. "So, you're telling me
that I would never have had a chance to begin with?"

She sighed, "Well, you may have had a short run, but I would have been setting
us up for failure from the beginning, and we would have ruined a brilliant
partnership for a lie."

"Well, there's not much more to say then, is there?"

"Yes. There is. I need to know if you have any prejudices I should be aware
of."

"Oh Scully. I never could. Especially against you. If I do have any
prejudices, I'm unaware of them, and you can correct me along the way."

She smiled at him. "You're pretty amazing Mulder."

"I am?"

"Yes. You're complete lack of malice humbles me."

"Really. Well, good. I'm not always an asshole."

"I know that."


The waitress delivered their food and Scully watched Mulder shovel some into
his mouth. It was a relief to her. She knew that he wouldn't eat if he were
upset, the fact that he was able to was a clear indication that they could get
through this.

He noticed her staring at him and raised his brows, questioning.

"Have you named you tapeworm yet Mulder?" She asked.

He smiled at her and tapped her wineglass with his own.

She knew then that everything was going to work out.




Dana called Lena as soon as she got back to her apartment.

"Hello?"

"Hi."

"How'd it go?"

"Well, ok, I think."

"Hmmm."

"He hesitated when I used the word 'relationship'. He was surprised."

"Is he okay?"

"Well, he ate."

"And that's good?"

"Yes, that's good."

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah, yeah, I am. What have you and the wonder dog been up to?"

"Wrestling."

"Who won?"

"The pawed one."

"Good for her."

"She's got a mean sleeper hold."

Dana smiled into the phone. "I miss you."

"I miss you too. I'm feeling needy and clinging. Not sure it's a good look for
me but I can't help it."

"I could be there in half an hour."

"I would love that, but it would be a huge hassle for you, wouldn't it?"

"No, I could get some clothes together and get ready for work at your place in
the morning."

"You're sure it's not a pain?"

"I'm sure."

"Do I sound desperate?"

"No more than I feel."

"Then come here."

"See you soon."




Monday - 8:10 am


Mulder was sitting at Lena's desk when she walked into her office.

"Good morning Mulder." She eyed him warily.

"Good morning."

They stared at each other tensely.

"Listen Lena, I'm not here to cause trouble."

"That's a relief. I hate trouble." She smiled tentatively, placing her
briefcase on the edge of her desk.

He smiled back. "Scully means a lot to me Conhouse."

"You mean a lot to her too. She was worried about you this weekend."

"I know, and I appreciate that. I also appreciate that she is the consummate
professional, and that our work environment could be jeopardized if I chose to
be an asshole about your feelings for each other."

Lena continued to stare at him, knowing there was more.

"So, I'm not going to be... an asshole."

She smiled. "Okay, well, then I won't be an asshole either."

"I would be, that is, if I thought you weren't good for her."

"I understand."

"But I have to admit, I haven't seen her this happy in a long time."

Lena smiled, she tried not to look to pleased with herself, but she was...
quite.

"Conhouse, I have worked with Scully for over 5 years. This morning, when I
came into the office, she was humming."

"Humming?"

"Yes. Humming. I didn't even know she could hum."

Lena tried not to smile wider. "That's odd."

"Yes. It is. And when I asked her =what= she was humming, she replied, under
her breath, I assure you, 'that French sex song'."

Lena pressed her lips together, trying to suppress a laugh. "French sex
song... hmmm."

"Any idea what that could be?"

"No Agent Mulder... no idea."

They regarded each other for a second, then his face broke into a smile. "You
comin down to the dungeon to look at some files this morning?" He got up from
her desk and walked to the door of her office.

"You bet. Just let me check my email and I'll be right there." 

"Okay, see you later."

Lena waited to make sure the Mulder was out of earshot and she started to
laugh. She pounded her palms lightly on her briefcase and stomped her feet in
unison. "Too funny..."

"Your job brings you that much joy Conhouse?" 

She looked up to see Skinner in her doorway.

"Yes sir."

He scowled. "Well, let's hope it continues to."

Lena quickly made her way around the desk to her chair, adjusting her skirt as
she went. It had ridden up slightly during her foot pounding. "What can I do
for you?"

"I'm wondering where we stand on the DNA testing."

"I have samples from all new agents sir, half of them are completed. I should
have the other half for you be the end of the week."

"Good."

"Is there something in particular that I should be looking for in the
samples?" She got some strange images from Skinner, mostly blocked, but some
were slipping through. He was looking for oddities in the DNA testing; it was
not routine, as he had led her to believe.

"Not yet Agent Conhouse. I'll let you know when I want you to extrapolate."
And with that he walked out.


She watched him leave. 'Thank you Agent Conhouse,' she thought, 'good job.
appreciate the hard work... you look nice today... is that a new suit?...'
then, she simply mouthed the words 'Dick head'.

Finally alone she unpacked her briefcase, looking through her daytimer to map
out her day. She could start the next set of DNA testing now, then go down to
the wonder twins office and be back up to the lab in the afternoon to set up
the next group of DNA tests. She was determined now to get the rest of the DNA
run by Wednesday. Maybe Mr. Surly would cheer up a little if she came in under
the wire.

She walked out into the lab area to set up the DNA blocks. It took her half an
hour. Finished, she stripped off her lab gear and left a note on her door that
read, "Need me? Page me." With her pager number written below it.



She knocked gently on the door to the office and heard Mulder say, "come in".

She entered, looking briefly toward Scully, then to Mulder, and sat in the
only chair available. "Hello family."

"I have presents for you." Mulder said, grabbing some files off the debris
field on his desk and reaching to hand them to her.

"For me?" She smiled. "You shouldn't have."

Dana sat at her desk watching them interact. 'It's going to be okay.' She
thought. She let her eyes wander the length of Lena's crossed legs. She had
left that morning before Lena was dressed and hadn't seen this suit. Lena's
skirt was shorter than anything Dana would dare wear. It was camel colored,
resting above her knee when she stood. But when she sat down, it rode up. Not
too much, but some. And Dana liked it. She had on a matching blazer and a
shirt that was also camel colored. Her nylons and heels matched perfectly and
the overall effect elegant and professional. And she had just put on her
reading glasses. Scully felt her abdomen warm slightly with desire. She
quickly looked away, to Mulder, to see if he had noticed. He seemed unaware.
When she looked back to Lena, she was surprised to have her gaze met. Lena
regarded her over the tops of her glasses, her eyes narrowing slightly. Dana
felt wetness pool between her legs. Lena smiled slightly and looked back down
to the file in her lap.

"Mulder, do you have access to the logged evidence in this file?"

"You mean the swatches of cloth?"

"Yes."

"I can get access."

"Good. I think that would help."

"Tachometry?" Mulder asked, surprised.

"Yes."

He looked at Scully, smiling in slight wonderment. He mouthed the word 'cool'
at her and she smiled.

Lena looked at Mulder again; "You haven't identified one of the girls?"

"I was hoping you could do that."

"I believe I could, if I had the fabric heart from her clothes."

Mulder picked up the phone and dialed, "I'll have someone bring it over."

As he made his request Dana spoke to Lena, "Those little girls were brutally
murdered Conhouse."

"So the file says."

"Can you figure out who the girl was without having to see her killed."

Lena smiled, "I think so. Don't worry."

Dana did not smile back.

Mulder hung up the phone. "It's on its way."



The FBI courier showed up an hour later with the evidence pouch in hand.
Mulder signed for it and carefully removed the fabric heart from the plastic
bag. He handed it to Conhouse, then sat at his desk, watching her intently.
She held it in the palm of one hand and ran the fingertips of her other hand
over it slowly; her eyes closed.

"Uh... six... she's six years old... she was on her way to the bus stop..."

Dana was concerned; thinking that Lena was leading up to the murder.

"Kelly... her name is Kelly... she's from Virginia... Chapel Hill, I think..."

"Are you getting a last name?" Mulder asked.

"...It's ... Westfall... Kelly Westfall." Lena opened her eyes. "Kelly
Westfall."

Mulder got busy looking up the Chapel Hill police department while Scully made
arrangements to have the girl's skeletal remains sent to Lena's lab. They had
to verify dental records, assuming there were some, before being able to
notify the victim's family.

Three hours later the women were in the lab, Kelly Westfall's remains lay on
the table in front of them.

"Poor baby." Lena said. "So little."

Dana placed her hands on the table and looked into Lena's eyes. "Did you see
it?"

"No, I saw her parents briefly. I could see her walking to the bus stop. She
was singing to herself. She never saw him coming."


"Well, the dental records faxed over by the Chapel Hill PD are a match." Dana
said as she examined the small teeth. "She hadn't even lost all of her baby
teeth yet."

She sighed and placed the skull back on the table.

"Is Mulder calling the parents or is he having the Chapel Hill PD take care of
it?"

"He's going to let them handle it, they seem to know the Westfall family
pretty well."

"I wonder if it's true that it's better for the families of missing persons to
know what happened to them. I mean, it kills their hope for finding the person
alive... and to realize what kind of horrors that little girl saw before she
died. It must be awful."

"I don't know. I've watched Mulder struggle for years not knowing where his
sister is."

"Why do you think he hasn't asked me about her yet?"

"I'm not sure. Maybe he doesn't want to know."

Lena nodded. "Well, it's his call. I'll wait until he's ready."

Scully nodded in agreement, then looked at her watch. "Are you hungry?"

"Mightily, what time is it?"

"Two. Let's go round up Mulder and get something to eat."

-end-