From: "starbuck22" <jbowne@top.monad.net>

Fletcher2:Rollercoaster by Dana Starbuck
Feedback: dks_starbuck@yahoo.com
Disclaimers: See Chapter 1
Thank yous:  Thanks to Athos & Selena for stepping in and "pitch hitting"
when I 'lost' 2 beta readers.  They seem to joined the starting lineup.
And a special thank you to deejay, who's done more than his share of
hand-holding, and not just over the beta reads.  He's worked his way from
the bullpen to the starting lineup, and now he's number one in the
rotation.  (Sorry, I'm a baseball fan, folks <G>)


<<Chapter 13>>

Friday, November 27th, 10:00 AM

Bill and Tara quietly slipped out of the house with Matthew without
arousing Maggie's suspicions.  Their cover story was that they were going
to visit the Naval Academy to see an old instructor's of Bill's.  Maggie
made a half-hearted 
attempt at getting them to leave Matthew behind, but Bill said he wanted
Matthew to have his first look at where he was going to go to college. 
Scully had listened with half an ear, and it sounded believable enough. 
<It's something 
Bill _would_ say in all honesty,> she thought.  <I wonder if he would've
said the same thing if 'Matthew' had been a 'Mary'?  I doubt it.>

An hour after they left, Jill walked into the kitchen, a newspaper in her
hand and Katie in her wake.  Scully had just finished the breakfast dishes
and was sitting at the kitchen table with Maggie.

"Dana, didn't you say something about needing a few new sweaters?" Jill
asked.

Scully saw nothing in her sister-in-law's eyes except curiosity. <She's
still a good actress, even if she doesn't do community theater any more.>
"As a matter of fact, yes.  How come?"

Jill held up a full-page advertisement. "Heavy specials at Macy's. Care to
brave Black Friday with us?"

"Hey, I love mob scenes," Scully answered, already getting up. "Why don't
you let me drive?"

"Sure.  We can make it a girls' day out at the mall."

"I don't think I've done an after-Thanksgiving sale since Melissa was a
teenager," Maggie said. "May I join you?"

The phone rang, saving Jill and Scully from having to come up with a
plausible excuse for _not_ inviting Maggie.  "Hello?" Maggie said into the
phone.  "Oh hi, Geraldine... What?"  She threw a quick look at the other
women. "Well, Geraldine, I'd love to, but..."  She got up and walked out of
the room, holding the mouthpiece away for a moment so her best friend
wouldn't hear her sigh. "Yes, I realize that..."

As soon as Maggie went into the other room, Jill sighed in relief. "Perfect
timing," she whispered conspiratorially.  "I called her Tuesday afternoon
and told her we needed help getting Mom out of the house, but not with us. 
Geraldine's going to invite her over, and she won't take 'no' for an
answer."

Scully gave her sister-in-law an approving nod. "That'll give Charlie a
chance to get the boys ready."  She glanced out at her mother, who was
still vainly trying to get a complete sentence in edgewise. "Good thing she
called just then."

"Sometimes you need a little luck with your military precision."

That broke Scully up. Bill had made everyone synchronize their watches the
night before, and he hadn't cracked a smile when he suggested it.

They heard Maggie relenting against Geraldine's full-court press.  "Come
on," Jill said, "Let's get ready to look disappointed. It's going to be
tough enough getting a parking spot." 

- - - - -

Scully was pleased she'd finally gotten her car detailed on Monday. <That's
what people with light work schedules do, I guess.>  She glanced in the
rear view mirror at Katie, who was talking to her teddy bear. 

"Do you have a dress for her to wear?"

"No.  She won't wear them; absolutely refuses to.  She wants to wear what
her brothers wear."

"I can remember being that way when I was her age.  I wanted to wear what
Bill wore.  Dresses were so inconvenient for rough-housing."

"And I'm sure you spent more than enough time in those 'wonderful' plaid
skirts and jumpers all through school."

"Catholic schools." Scully laughed and shook her head.  "I remember Melissa
rolling up the top of her skirt to make it shorter.  The nuns were always
punishing her for that, and the makeup."

"But not you."

"No, not me.  I was too busy trying to be the good student, the perfect
daughter," Scully said with a wry smile.  "I guess I was more like Bill
than Melissa."

"And Charlie was more like Melissa than either you or Bill.  He says he's
still amazed he got into Annapolis."

"He always was a smart guy, a good student.  He was just full of life."

"Still is, thank goodness," Jill said, her voice full of affection.

"He certainly seems to enjoy fatherhood."

"We've been lucky this past year.  With the 'Eisenhower' in drydock for a
refit, he's home more now than he's ever been."  She turned to face Scully.
 "You should come down for a visit.  It's been far too long since you've
visited us."

"Maybe in the Spring."

<I bet I could bring Fletcher with me.  Jill would understand.  And I know
Charlie and Fletcher would get along.>  Scully was suddenly saddened that
she hadn't - couldn't - share her relationship with Fletcher with her
family.  <Not yet.  I don't know when, but it'll have to be soon.  There's
no way I'm spending Christmas without Fletcher.  One holiday apart is one
too many.>

Jill noticed the sudden change in Scully's demeanor but said nothing.  It
was a subtle difference in the way her mouth was set, the way her eyes
slightly crinkled, but Jill could tell.  <I wonder what she's thinking
about?  She's had something on her mind since she's been here, but she's
not saying.  I don't think it's bad, despite what Mom and Charlie said. 
She looks too healthy and happy.>  The proverbial light bulb went on over
Jill's head.  <That's it - she looks _happy_.  I don't think I've _ever_
seen her look that way before.  I 
wonder what's changed in her life?  I doubt it's the job change.  Hmmm. 
I'll have to think about this.  What could it be?>



Friday, 12:15 PM

"You take me to the best places," Mulder said through a mouthful of lobster
roll.

Fletcher laughed, nearly choking on a spoonful of chowder. The Cherokee was
the only vehicle in the parking lot, and they had a great view of the
roiling waters of the Atlantic Ocean. Fletcher had slid her seat back as
far as it could go so she could stretch her legs.  Her soda bottle sat
between her legs.

"Much as I love a good Thanksgiving turkey, nothing beats lobster and fresh
clam chowder," she said, tossing her trash into the paper bag.

"Well, your Christmas turkey is pretty good," he remarked.

"Thanks."  She slapped his thigh.  "Let's go for a walk."

"A walk?  Now?"

"Come on," she urged.  "How often is the weather this nice in late
November?"

"Nice?"  His face was full of disbelief.  "It's only forty and the wind is
strong."

"The sun's out and fresh air will be good for both of us."  She zipped up
her coat, flipped up the collar and pulled her baseball cap down.  "Come
on, wimp. Let's go."

She jumped out the car and started down the beach.  Mulder thought for a
moment, then followed her.

"Wait up, Fletcher!" he called out.

Fletcher stopped and waited for him to catch up to her.  She faced the
water, the wind making her jacket flap loudly.  She shut her eyes and took
in a deep breath of the cold, salty air.

"I love the ocean so much," she said to him when he stood beside her.  "I
just wish I spent more than two weeks a year at sea."

"Why don't you?  It's not like you live that far from the ocean."

"I just never seem to find the time.  I tell you, when I was on active duty
in the Gulf War, I tried to get topside at least twice a day.  Even when I
was off-duty and supposed to be sleeping, I'd go stand on the fantail and
listen to the 
water, and the jets taking off and landing.  I know it was a lousy
situation - we were at war and all that - but I was happy to be at sea for
so long."

Mulder looked at his friend.  She'd never talked about the Gulf War before,
and she never talked about the sea either.  At least not with the
dreamy-eyed look she was now sporting.  <Maybe being in love is changing
her,> he thought.  <I 
know I said Scully was the one that 'glows', but Fletcher is getting close
to looking that way, too.>  He smiled warmly at her.

Fletcher threw an arm over Mulder's shoulders.  "I never did thank you
properly for finally introducing me to your partner, Spooky."

"Just what kind of thank you are you talking about?" he asked, a hint of
nervousness in his voice.

"Let's do something crazy tomorrow night.  Something we haven't done in a
long time.  You choose."

"Hmmm.  The possibilities are endless."  His smile turned impish, almost
naughty.  "How much time do I have to decide?"

"Just tell me on the way home tomorrow.  And Mulder?"  He looked at her.
"Whatever we do, it _can't_ interfere with Sunday night."

"What's Sunday night?" he asked, clearly puzzled.

Fletcher removed her arm from his shoulders and stopped walking. "Do I have
to explain _everything_ to you?" she asked, rolling her eyes at him.

"What?"

"I'm spending Sunday night with Scully."

"Oh, yeah, right. _That_."  Now it was his turn to roll his eyes.



Friday, 12:35 PM

"The color's okay?" Scully asked as she signed the credit card slip.

"Dana, it's perfect," Jill assured her, as the sales clerk bagged the deep
gold cashmere sweater.  "Normally, I wouldn't think yellow would be a good
color for you, but that shade is perfect."  <It's good to see her in
something besides black and navy.  Some color makes her seem a little less
severe, a little more relaxed.>

<Other than the price, it was actually a relatively painless purchase,>
Scully thought.  <Even the crowds haven't been as bad I thought they'd be.>
 She smiled as she put her credit card back into her wallet.  <I must've
been out of my mind 
to agree to shop in a mall the day after Thanksgiving, but it hasn't been
that bad. Jill made that task pleasant, even fun.>

They gathered up their bags and made their way out into the throng of
bargain-hunters.  "Can we see Santa Claus now, Mommy?" Katie asked for what
must have been the tenth time.

"After we get our pictures taken, honey," Jill explained patiently.

"Will you come too, Aunt Dana?"

"I wouldn't miss it.  Do you know what you're going to ask Santa for?"

"Uh huh," Katie nodded solemnly as she took her aunt's hand.

"And what _do_ you want for Christmas?"

"I can't tell anyone until Santa.  I hafta tell him first," she said with
the logic that only a four-year old could understand.

"Here it is," Jill said, leading them to the photographer's shop.

Charlie and the boys were waiting by the counter, looking at the various
photos displayed on the walls.  Charlie was wearing his dress blues, the
two gold stripes gleaming on his sleeves, the gold wings shiny above the
two strips of 
ribbons on his chest.  Both of the boys were wearing khaki slacks with navy
sweaters.  All three of them were sporting fresh Navy regulation haircuts.

"Where's Bill?" Scully asked.

"He and Tara and Matthew are having their picture taken first.  They're
giving one to Mom and one to her parents," Charlie explained.

"Is there someplace where I can change my clothes?" Scully asked.

"Down that hall, second door on the left."

Scully carried her purse and the paper bag down the hall and to the small
dressing room.  She quickly changed out of her blouse.  <A separate
photograph for Mom, huh?  That's a great idea.  I should have one done of
myself as well.  I don't think Mom's got anything more recent than the one
when I graduated from the Academy.>  She folded her blouse and placed it in
the bag.  <A photograph would make a good Christmas gift for Fletcher,
too,> she thought as she 
carefully pulled on her new sweater.  <She can put it on her desk in the
office - now that she's put away that one with Clarice.>

- - - - -

"So, did Dana say anything to you?" Charlie asked Jill while they waited
for Scully.

"About what?" 

"Is she sick again?"

"Oh, Charlie, look at her," Jill sighed.  "She isn't sick.  As a matter of
fact, I don't think I've seen her look healthier."

"Mom's worried," Bill added. "She thinks Dana's sick again and just not
telling anybody, that she's come home for one last hurrah."

"Bite your tongue, Bill," Jill chastised him.

"Well, something's wrong.  She's not acting like herself."

"Do you really want to know what I think it is?"

"Of course."

"I think she's in love," Jill said suddenly.  Tara looked at her, nodding
her agreement after a thought and a smile.

"What?"  Charlie looked immensely shocked.  "Did she tell you that?"

"No."

"Then where did you ever get an idiotic idea like that?" Bill demanded.

"A woman knows," Tara said quietly.

"Right," he said skeptically.  "Like _she's_ going to be in love.  She's
got no life, a career that keeps her up to her elbows in dead bodies and
her only male friend, hell, her only friend is that space cadet she calls a
partner."  He 
groaned.  "Oh, Christ, it had better not be _him_."

Tara took his elbow and squeezed it hard.  He saw Scully heading toward
them and he quickly closed his mouth. Bill and Charlie tried not to stare
at their sister.  <She does look different,> Charlie thought.  <It's the
sweater. She finally looks like she's upgraded herself from black-and-white
to technicolor.>  He smiled at her.  <I wonder if Jill's right - that she's
finally seeing some guy?>

- - - - -

Scully suffered in silence through the whole series of photographs.  Over
and over the photographer repositioned the group, trying several different
poses.  When he finally snapped the last photo, Scully sighed.  <About
time,> she 
thought, watching the boys begin to fidget.

"Since it's a rush, I'll have the proofs ready for you tomorrow.  You'll
just have to let me know which one you want."

"I think we can _all_ find the time to stop by at some time tomorrow and
vote," Bill said, his voice full of authority.

"You can make your arrangements with my assistant out front," the
photographer directed them.

As the others headed out of the studio, Scully approached the photographer.
 He looked up and smiled.  It wasn't every day that he had such a pretty
woman in his studio, and the camera clearly loved this one.  "Yes?" he
asked.

"I know it isn't planned, but do you think you could take a photograph of
me?"

"For that special fella?" he asked, a knowing smile on his face.

"Actually, for my mother," Scully said with a wry smile.

<Sure,> he thought, his eyes mentally rolling.  <She's a woman in love and
the photo won't be for her mother.  I know better.>  "Did you want to take
them now?"

"Could we?  Or I could come back tomorrow," she offered.

"No, today, right now is fine.  I'll be too busy tomorrow."

"Thanks."



Friday, 2:20 PM

"I know it's not your job of choice, Mulder, but I'm glad you're coming
back to ISU," Fletcher said as they drove back into town.

"Why's that?"

"It'll be good to be working with you again."

"That's about the only positive thing about it."

"You've always been welcome in the department."

"As long as you've been there," he added.

"I'm not the only one that feels that way.  You wouldn't have been
requested if you weren't welcome, weren't needed."

"I suppose," he muttered.  "I just want to get back to the X-files."

"Would you rather be on that shit detail, or doing background checks?"

"No, no, anything but that."

"So put your time in and then in six months maybe things will have cooled
down enough so you can have the X-files back."

"I'll believe it when it happens."  He reached across and tapped Fletcher
on the arm.  "How does it feel to have _your_ career back on track?"

"What do you mean?"

"Didn't you feel exiled when you had to teach and couldn't work active
cases?"

"At first.  I was pissed, I admit it.  But I also realized I was lucky.  I
was given a second chance."

"You came pretty close to wrecking your career."

"I know.  And now look at me.  I'm almost 'management'," she laughed.

"You know you'll be next to sit in the 'big chair'."

"Maybe."

"Fletcher, everyone knows the second whip moves up to the boss's spot."

"We'll see.  I'm not so sure that's what I want to do."

"Well, you might feel differently.  What's Roy got, seven years before his
retirement?"

"Something like that."

"By then, you may want to stop working so many active cases."

Fletcher shrugged and looked over at him.  He looked like he had something
else to say, but was struggling not to.  "What?"

"I was just thinking..."

"About what?"

"How Clarice feels knowing she won't get to be boss."

"Why wouldn't she?"

"There's no way the powers that be would make her second whip if you're the
boss."

"Why not?"  <Not _everyone_ knows about me and Starling.>

"Think about it, Fletcher.  Do you really think they'll have two _women_
running the department?"

"That's assuming I move up.  And what makes you think she even wants to?"

"Hell, I've known it for years.  Surely you have."

"I haven't talked to her since she was transferred to Chicago."

"Bullshit.  You keep telling me that, but I can't believe you haven't
talked to her once in almost five years."

"Nope."

"Not even for work-related issues?"

"No, not once."

<Oh, boy,> he thought, <I knew it was a bad split, but I really had no idea
that they still can't even talk to one another.  What a shame.  They made a
great team, one of the best, when they worked together.  Man, Fletcher, I
still can't believe how badly you fucked up that one.  You'd better not do
it again with Scully.>

"Would you interested in playing three-on-three at Quantico?" Fletcher
asked, changing the topic.

"Did you sign up?"

"Yup.  I've got five of us signed up for a team.  I'd like you to join us."

"Who else?"

"Does the name Byron Turner sound familiar?"

""Lord' Byron Turner?  The kid who graduated from Annapolis two years ago? 
The best player to come out of Navy since David Robinson?"

"One and the same.  Seems he chose the Marines over Navy when he graduated.
 He happens to be one of the PT instructors at Quantico."

"How'd you get him?"  Mulder was practically drooling over the prospect of
sharing the court with such a talented player.  <Turner could've gone pro!
With him on the team...Oh, baby!>

"I think he wants to join the FBI when his hitch with the Marines is over."
 Fletcher grinned.  "And I pulled rank and gave him shit for being a Marine
instead of going Navy."

"Who else do you have?"

"Johnny Hill - " Mulder shrugged. " - a weapons instructor.  He's been at
Quantico for three years.  Played college ball at Nebraska.  And Daryl
DeStefano. "

"I remember Daryl.  I'm just surprised he's still at the Academy."

"He's one of the few guys I'd trust with my life.  You can't find a better
backup anywhere." 

<High praise from Fletcher,> he thought.  <That's the ultimate compliment.>
 "Sounds like you've got enough players."

"I wanted to make sure we always had enough players.  You know how much
we'll be on the road, and we can't always count on Daryl being able to make
it, either."

"When do we start?"

"After New Year's, Tuesday's at six-thirty."

"Sign me up."

"Good.  It wouldn't be the same without you playing alongside me, Mulder."



Friday, 3:30 PM

"Aren't the boys going to see Santa Claus?" Scully asked as she and Jill
walked Katie back through the mall.

"JR doesn't believe in Santa, and Kevin's still not sure.  He _wants_ to
believe, but not badly enough to stand up to his brother's teasing," Jill
explained.

"I can't believe how much they've grown.  JR's going to end up taller than
his father, I bet.  And Kevin won't be far behind."

"I thought with two boys so close in age that they'd be fighting all the
time, but they don't.  Sure, they wrestle with one another, but they're
best friends, too."

Katie began to tug harder on Scully's hand, the closer they got to the
'North Pole'.  "Hurry.  I don't want to miss Santa Claus."

"Easy, sport," Jill laughed.

When they finally took their places in line to see Santa, Katie was hushed,
saucer-eyed.  She couldn't take her eyes off Santa, or his elves.

"Do you want to take Katie up?" Jill asked.  "I need to get off my feet for
a few minutes."

"Sure.  Are you okay, Jill?" Scully was concerned.  Jill always seemed to
have an overabundance of energy.

"I'm fine, Dana." A wide smile spread over her face. "I just tire easy in
the first month or two." 

"Are you - ?" Scully's question hung in the air between them.  Jill nodded
and Scully hugged her sister-in-law.  "How far?"

"Almost two months.  We haven't told anyone yet, not even Mom."

"Is this..." Scully didn't know how to ask the question.

"A good thing?  Yes.  Unplanned, but yes, it's a good thing."

Scully reeled, ecstatic for her brother and sister-in-law. "Four kids. 
That'll be a handful for you."

"Not too bad. Katie starts school next year and the boys aren't much
trouble anymore.  JR is a big help now, especially with Katie."

"Well, you can count on me to come down for more than just a visit or two
now."

"You're not upset?"

"Upset?  Why would I be upset? _Mom's_ gonna go ballistic when she finds
out how long you kept it from her..."

Jill bit her lip. "Well, I don't seem to have any trouble getting pregnant,
and you..."

"I'm fine with it, Jill.  Really."  She squeezed Jill's hand.  "I'll just
be their favorite aunt," Scully said with a warm smile.

- - - - -

Scully waited patiently while Katie whispered her requests into Santa's
ear.  She kept a careful eye on Santa and all of his 'elves'.  She hated
being suspicious of anyone working with children but she knew she had to be
cautious.  <I've read far too many reports and seen too many statistics to
not be wary,> she thought, trying to keep the frown off of her face.

Once Katie was done, they went back to Jill who had found a place to sit
down.

"We should get back.  It's getting late and Mom will need help with
dinner," Scully said.

"No rush.  Let Charlie and Bill help," she said as they headed back to the
car.

"You must be joking," Scully said, unable to hide her disbelief.

"Well, I can't speak for Bill, but Charlie knows better.  If Mom needs
help, he'll offer it.  Bill might even help if it's a choice between
helping Mom or taking care of Matthew."

"Really?"

"Dana, the man has yet to change a diaper."

"We've got to work on Tara, get her to start asserting herself."

"It's too late," Jill laughed.  "Bill's on the fast track, and she's going
to remain a proper Navy wife."

"Then they were truly meant for one another."



Friday, 11:30 PM

Scully put her cell phone in her robe pocket before heading downstairs. 
She thought everyone had gone to bed and was surprised to see her older
brother sitting on the couch, staring into the fire. "Bill, what are you
doing up?"

Bill didn't jump, but he did give her a weak smile. "I didn't want to leave
the fire unattended."

"Why don't you go on up to bed?  I'll stay up until it's out."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes.  I just came down to find a book to read, and now that I think about
it, sitting in front of fire with a book rather appeals to me."

"Okay.  It is late."  He got up from the couch, picking up his empty glass
as he did.  He paused for a minute, then looked away.  "Um, Dana, is
everything okay?"

"What do you mean?"

"You seem...different."  He paused. "Mom's worried.  I'm worried."  Then
his words came in a rush.  "If there's anything you need to tell me..."

"I'm fine.  Just passed my physical with flying colors a few months ago." 
She saw how uncomfortable he looked.  "Go to bed, Bill.  Rest easy, I'm
fine."

"Okay, whatever you say."  He was reluctant to go, but relieved.  He didn't
really want to pursue it, and definitely didn't want to know if she was
involved with her partner.  He kissed her cheek and went upstairs to bed. 

<What was that all about,> she wondered, watching him leave the room.  <The
look on his face was so strange.  And Mom's _worried_?  I don't know why. 
I'm not acting any differently.  I'm not sick.  I certainly don't look
sick.  Mulder would've said something if I did.> 

She wandered into her father's den to find a book to read.  <Dad's been
gone, what, five years?  Six years?  And it's _still_ 'dad's den'.>  She
ran her fingers over the high backed leather chair, suddenly missing her
father very 
much.  <What would you think, Ahab?  Would you like Fletcher?  Would you
approve?  I think you'd understand.  I hope you would, because I am happy,
daddy.  Very happy.>

She sat down in the chair and looked around the room.  It was full of
photographs of the family, ships he'd served on, certificates and awards
he'd won.  A model of the USS Constitution was still displayed prominently
on the center of the bottom shelf.  <Fletcher would've gotten along great
with dad, as long as they talked Navy.  I could see her with a room like
this if she'd made the Navy her career and not the FBI.>  She looked at the
clock, a small wooden captain's wheel with a clock in the center.  <I hope
it's not too late to call.  I really want to talk to her.>  She took her
cell phone out of her pocket and dialed Fletcher's number.

"Hello?"

"Mulder?  It's me."

"You have reached 1-900-SEX-4YOU. Tell us your fantasy and we'll make it
true."

"Mulder..." She could almost see the smirk on his face, and she smiled.

"For B&D, press 1. For water sports, press 2. If you're a SEX 4YOU Fun Club
member, press 3. For a list of barnyard animals, press 4..."

"Your credit card statements must make very interesting, Mulder," Scully
cracked. "Where's Fletcher?"

"Getting the rest of the beer out of the Cherokee," he said, his words
slightly slurring.  "She'll be right back.  How's the family?  Is your
brother Bill still a jerk?"

"Mulder, are you drunk?" Scully asked, ignoring his question.

"Yup.  And damn proud of it, too."

Scully rolled her eyes.  <Poor Fletcher.  A drunk and obnoxious Mulder on
her hands.  I suppose, though, if anyone could handle it, she could.  I
think they've both had their share of taking care of each other.> 

"Y'know, Scully, I'm still amazed that the _man_ of your dreams turned out
to be a _woman_."

"Mulder..." she warned.

"Think about it, Scully."

<No, I'll give you something to think about Mulder.>  "I'll let you in on a
little secret, Mulder," Scully said, her tone teasing, taunting.

"What?"

"The next time you're watching your videos..."

"Yeah?" his voice cracked.

"The ones that are just women..."

"Scully..."

"Keep in mind, that when I'm with Fletcher..."  Her voice dripped with lust
and he swallowed hard.  "It's _better_ - _hotter_ - than anything you could
ever watch on one of them."

"Uh, geez, Scully..." he sputtered as she laughed.  Fletcher came back into
the room, two six packs of beer in her arms.  He quickly thrust the phone
at her.  "It's Scully," he said, still a bit flustered.

"What's wrong?" she asked Mulder, taking the phone from him.

"Nothing, nothing.  I need a beer."

She looked at him, a frown on her face.  "Hey, Red," she said into the
phone.

"Fletcher."

"What the hell did you say to Mulder?  He's blushing like crazy and he just
chugged half a bottle of beer."

"I just gave him a little taste of his own medicine."  She told Fletcher
what she'd said.

"Shit, just what I don't need - a drunk _and_ horny Spooky Mulder."  She
looked over at Mulder who was holding the cold bottle against his face. 
"Thanks _ever_ so much, Red."

"Anytime," she laughed.

"Good thing we don't get the 'Spice' channel here.  One of us would have to
leave, and it wouldn't be me."

"I'm okay, I'm okay," Mulder said, finishing his beer.

"Uh huh.  Why don't you go take a cold shower?"

"No, really, I'm fine."

"Just as long as you stay in your own bed, and I don't want to hear any
strange noises coming from your side of the room."

"Nothing any stranger than what _I_ heard Tuesday night," he countered.

"Don't make me hurt you, Mulder."

"What's going on, there?" Scully said.  "What did he say?"

"Nothing that needs repeating," she said to Scully.  "He's being his usual
piggish self."  She looked over her shoulder at Mulder.  "Oink, oink."

"Fletcher, do you want me to call back later?"

"Sorry, Red."  Fletcher turned her attention back to Scully.  "What did you
want?"

"I just needed to hear your voice.  I miss you."

"I miss you, too."

"Oh, Scully, I love you so much.  I miss you," Mulder said loudly in a
sing-song voice.  "I can't live without you."

"Mulder, shut up," Fletcher snapped.

"I heard him," Scully said.  "Do you want to shoot him yourself, or do you
want to wait and have me shoot him Sunday?"

"I'll take care of it."  She walked toward Mulder and he shrank back on the
bed, certain he'd crossed the line this time.  "Enough, okay?" she said in
a cold voice.

"Yes, boss."

Fletcher went into the bathroom and shut the door.  "I should've thought of
this before," she said to Scully.

"What's that?"

"I'm in the bathroom.  It's the only place I can have some privacy."  She
sat down on the floor, her back against the tub.

"Is he really being that bad?"

"No worse than usual.  I'm used to it.  I just like to put a little scare
into him every now and then," she laughed.  "How was your day?"

"Family photos and a trip to see Santa Claus were the high points."

"My sympathies."

"Thanks, but it really wasn't that bad."

"Are you having a good time, Red?"

"Yes, but..."

"But what?"

"I didn't think it would be this hard."

"What are you wearing, Red?" Fletcher said suddenly, her voice low and
husky.

"Fletcher, not now...I can't..."

"Why not?"

"I'm not in my room.  I'm downstairs in my father's - in the study."

"So shut the door."

"Fletcher," she protested weakly.

"Shut the door, Red." 

Scully got up from the chair and closed the door, latching it, then she
returned to the chair.  "Okay, it's shut."

"Now what are you wearing?" Fletcher repeated.

"Pajamas - the red satin ones," Scully said, feeling her desire begin to
grow.

"Do you have a robe on?"

"Yes."

"Untie it."  She waited a moment, then continued.  "Unbutton the top
button, slowly," she ordered.  Scully did as she was told, even though her
mind was screaming at her not to.  "Now reach in - slowly - and touch your
breast.  Imagine that my fingers are touching you, squeezing your nipples."

"Fletcher...I can't do this..." Scully said even though her fingers had
begun to pinch her nipple.  She squeezed her legs together.

"Then don't.  Just listen to what I'd do if I was there, next to you,
holding you."

<I can't do this,> Scully thought.  <Not here.  It's...it doesn't feel
right...>  She buttoned her top back up.

"Fletcher, please stop.  You're driving me crazy."

"Red, I want to be touching you, I want to be in you, feeling you move
against my fingers...so deep in you..."

"No...don't do this to me, Fletcher," Scully moaned.

Mulder suddenly knocked loudly on the door.  "Open up, Fletcher...I gotta
take a leak.  Now."

"Goddamnit," Fletcher swore.  "What a mood killer," she muttered standing
up.

"What?  What's wrong?" Scully asked, relieved.

"Mulder needs the bathroom."  She opened the door to let Mulder in.  "Don't
forget to put the seat back down, Mulder," she said, returning to the
bedroom.  "I almost fell in last night."

"Fletcher, it's late," Scully said.  "I need to go to bed."

"Okay.  You're right, Red."

"I love you."

"I love you, too.  Only one more night."

"The hardest one."

"I know.  Sleep well."

"You, too."

Fletcher waited until she heard the dial tone before she set her phone
down.  <I'm going to kill him. Just you wait, Mulder.  Payback's a bitch.>

- - - - -

Scully stepped as quietly as she could, wincing at every creak in the
floorboard.  It had taken an hour for the fire to burn down, so it was
doubtful anyone was awake by this time.  Even so, it still wouldn't do to
have anyone ask questions about her wakefulness.  There was no sound from
the boys room, or from the room Charlie and Jill shared with Katie, and
only snoring from Bill & Tara's room.  <Bill still saws wood like a
lumberjack,> Scully thought, suppressing a giggle.  Maggie's door was
closed, but Scully could see the light was still on.   She knew her mother
always took a book to bed with her.  <She probably dropped off in the
middle of the new Charlotte MacLeod,> Scully decided.  She still went by on
tiptoe, waiting to hear her mother call to her, as she did to Melissa every
time she came home late and tried to 'sneak past the guard.'

Maggie listened to her daughter pass her door and step into her room. She'd
nearly called out, "Good night, Dana," but had stopped herself.  <Let her
have her secret,> she thought to herself, grinning in spite of her
sleepiness. <She'll tell me in time.  She's probably embarrassed.  I guess
she should be. I've seen it coming for Lord knows how long.  I guess it
just took them longer to admit it to each other.  And to themselves.>

Maggie had been reading her new book when a pulsing headache came over her,
so she had gone downstairs for aspirin and a glass of warm milk.  She had
seen the light on in the office and started to go in, when she heard Dana
say, "Mulder? It's me... Mulder..."

Maggie heard the smile in Dana's voice, and immediately knew what it meant.
<Finally,> she had thought, smiling.  <Jill must be right, and it must be
Fox that she's seeing.  It's about time.>  She had backed away from the
door, not needing to hear anymore of the conversation.

<<End Chapter 13>>