Best Friends: Mulder's Girlfriend by TBishop27@aol.com Rating: R for language in this first part only. NC17 to follow. Category: MSR Archiving: Yes, just tell me where. Disclaimer: This Mulder and Scully are mine. Chris would never let his play like this. Spoilers: Yes. Summary: Scully's feelings for her partner are forced out into the open when another woman comes into the picture. Author's note: This is my first attempt at a series. I will continue as long as there appears to be an interest, both yours and mine. Feedback: Please. Let me know if you want this to continue. As always, flames will be forwarded to that dark part of my writer's imagination that roams the night in search of victims. BEST FRIENDS: Mulder's Girlfriend I, Dana Scully, am in love with my partner, Fox Mulder. Stunning revelation that it is, only recently have I been honest enough with myself to admit it. I don't even know when it happened. Somewhere along the line in our seven year partnership I fell hopelessly in love with the man. I'm talking real love. The forever kind. God, help me, I'd do anything for Mulder. We're best friends. I should be grateful for that, and I am. Really. Did I mention my best friend is seeing someone? The worst part is, it's completely my fault. I pushed him into it, although it was certainly not my intention. Me and my big mouth. 'Mulder, you need to get a life. When was the last time you asked a woman out on a date? Have some fun for a change. Take a risk.' He chooses now to finally follow my advice. But I meant ME! I know I'm not the best at flirting, but I thought I was sending him the right signals. And he seemed to be responding in kind, which is what brought me to be so bold as to suggest the whole dating thing in the first place. I could just kick myself now. What ever made me think Mulder would actually ask me out on a real date? I've been opening myself to too many extreme possibilities. I'm starting to believe in fairy tales! If I had only approached this scientifically, I probably would have realized I didn't stand a chance with him. I never should have ignored the facts. Fact one. I'm his partner, for the love of God! One doesn't date one's partner. Well, technically, there's nothing stopping you. The Bureau hasn't made it official policy that dating is forbidden between partners. It's just sort of unwritten etiquette that one should avoid such behavior. Oh, there's that fraternization rule, but that's mostly just a legal thing to be used in sexual harassment cases. It's not like they'd separate us if they found out we were involved. We'd have to do it on the AD's desk to get that kind of a reaction. I have to laugh at the thought. I do believe I stand a better chance of getting Walter Skinner to do the wild thing with me than Fox Mulder. Too bad I'm not in love with my Assistant Director. Okay, fact number two. Mulder considers me his best friend. He doesn't have many friends. I suppose he would think it foolish to risk messing up our friendship by bringing sex into the equation. I'm an important part of his life. He needs me, or so I've been told. Gambling with our relationship is probably out of the question, as far as he's concerned. After all, we are closer than most married couples. He knows he can count on me. He never has to wonder if I'm going to be there for him should he need me. Why mess with that? Why indeed. Fact three. And this is a bitter pill to swallow. I'm not his type. I'm well aware of Mulder's preferences. A Diana Fowley I am not. Nor am I a Phoebe Green. And I'm certainly not a Bambi Berenbaum or an Angela White either. Although, to be honest, I don't really believe Mulder was seriously interested in the latter two. Not in a long term relationship kind of way. Mulder likes women who are very sexual. Beautiful women who are confident and aggressive. Women he can't wrap around his little finger from the first time he meets them. Well, that pretty much takes me out of the running. Which brings us to fact four. Even if he was attracted to a short, redheaded, FBI pathologists who follows him around like a damn puppy dog, he knows me too well. He knows all my flaws. He's seen me at my worst, despite my best efforts to avoid such indignities. He's well aware of the emotional baggage I carry with me. He knows my weaknesses, my failings, and my inadequacies. Mulder's been there for many of the injuries, so he knows where most of the scars are, both physical and emotional. I'm not a very attractive package when you stop to consider everything Mulder knows about me. Fact five is directly related to four. Mulder blames himself for most of the damage that has been wrought on me. When he looks at me he sees cancer and computer chip implants, my dead sister, and Emily. He sees me half frozen, infected with an alien virus in that ship in Antarctica. He sees me in a coma in the aftermath of my abduction. And every damn time he notices me look at an infant, I know what he's thinking. I know he's blaming himself for that too. I am one big fucking guilt trip for him. It doesn't matter that I hold him completely innocent in all of this. No matter how many times I tell him that I choose to stay with the X-Files at my own risk, he still thinks what happens to me is because of him. Who wants to sleep with their onus? What in the name of God was I thinking? Science. I abandoned my science. Oh, I know love isn't supposed to be looked at clinically or even rationally, but if I had, I wouldn't have completely screwed myself over. Mulder would still be my Mulder, however platonic; and I wouldn't be sitting up at three o'clock in the blessed AM imagining him rolling around in the sheets with that lanky blond knockout he's been parading around with the past two weeks. To be fair, she's an intelligent, friendly, likable woman with a promising career as a legal advisor to the State Department. And I hate her so much I want to kill her. I know that's horrible, but every time I see her with him I want to take her down. If he's smart he'll never leave us alone in the same room together, at least not when I'm armed. Yes, I'm terribly jealous. Insanely so. I'm surprised my eyes haven't turned from blue to green, for certainly I am possessed by the monster. I'm sure Mulder's noticed. I haven't exactly hidden it very well. I wonder what he thinks? Must be a real ego trip for him. I just pray to God he doesn't start teasing me about it. He does love to tease. But this I couldn't take. It would humiliate me to the point of mortification. It would be the cruelest thing he could ever do to me. It's awful enough hearing him talk to her on the phone. The way his voice gets all sweet and sexy. Hearing his soft, seductive laughter in response to whatever it is she says to him on the other end of the line. If I can get away, far away, I do. But sometimes he talks to her on his cell phone when we're driving in the damn car and I'm trapped. I stare out the passenger window and endure. What else can I do? I don't think Mulder would understand if I grabbed the God damn phone out of his hand and threw it out the window. Although, I've contemplated it as a viable possibility more than once. That would look wonderful on the expense report. Agent Mulder is requesting compensation for yet another cell phone as his partner threw it out the window of a speeding car in a jealous rage when he was talking to his girlfriend. He shouldn't be talking to her on Bureau time anyway! I don't know how I will be able to continue handling this. It's going to affect our partnership if I don't find a way to cope. But how am I supposed to deal with the fact that the man I love is involved with someone else? I could try to suffer through, if I thought it was a short term thing. But I have seen no indication that he's becoming disenchanted with her. I could ask Skinner for a transfer, but that wouldn't be fair to Mulder. He's entitled to a personal life without consequences to his professional relationships. Besides, I don't want to leave him. That would only make me more miserable. As much as I hate it, I can see there's only one real option here. I'm going to have to swallow my pride and talk to him about it. He's a decent man. And he is my friend...God, I'm starting to hate that word. I will talk to him and explain the situation and ask him to please be a little more discrete around me. It will be embarrassing for us both, I'm sure, but I'm desperate at this point. Hopefully, if I don't have to come face to face with the reality of Mulder's girlfriend on a daily basis, I'll be able to put it out of my head and work with him like we always have. Hell, I'm great at denial. It could work. I just have to do it before I chicken out. Tomorrow. We have to drive to Richmond tomorrow for a follow up on the Garrison murder investigation. I'll tell him then. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Scully sure seems nervous this morning. She's fidgeting. Scully doesn't fidget. What ever is bothering her, it must be big. At least she doesn't seem to be angry with me. I can't tell you what a relief that is. Hell hath no wrath like my Scully. I do wish I knew what was going on inside that pretty little red head of hers. She looks tired. Probably didn't sleep well last night. Now that I think about it, she's been a little off her game lately. Looking tired, acting more pensive than is usual for her, maybe even a bit melancholy. She's even lost some weight recently. You don't suppose... "Scully, are you okay? It's not the cancer again?" I can't help it just comes out before I can stop myself. She turns from the passenger window to me so fast, she probably gave herself whiplash. "What?" "I know something's wrong. What are you keeping from me?" I brace myself for the devastating confession I have feared most since her cancer went into remission over a year and a half ago. Maybe I should pull the car over. "It's not the cancer, Mulder." She reaches over and touches my arm, but only for the briefest of moments. Just enough to reassure me. I let out a breath I didn't even know I was holding. Thank you God! Fighting back a relieved grin, I chance a look at her, and everything changes again. She's crying. It's only a single tear drop clinging to her eyelash but it hits me like a punch to the gut. It takes a hell of a lot to make Dana Scully cry. She is a five foot two tower of emotional strength. What ever is wrong, I know it's going to knock me on my ass. I check the rear view mirror and pull the car off onto the side of the road. Wouldn't you know it. As soon as I turn off the ignition, my cell phone rings. I sigh in frustration. I know who it is. Cynthia, this woman who I've been seeing. It was actually Scully who suggested I start dating again. She basically goaded me into it. Now I'm worried as to why. Is she leaving me? Was that what it was all about? Did she mean for it to soften the blow? As if anything could. I'd be lost without her. "Answer it, Mulder." She says, snapping me out of my panic. I fumble for the phone with unsteady hands. "Mulder." (Fox, can you talk?) Cindy's voice usually sends a chill through me, but at this moment it's grating on my raw nerves. "Not now, baby. Can I call you back?" I see Scully wince and turn back to the window. (I'm about to go into a meeting, darling. It could last quite a while. Why don't I just try you back later this afternoon?) "Sure. Sounds good. Gotta go." I don't even wait for her reply before I disconnect. What's happening with Scully has me too distracted to care about anything else. Before returning the phone to my coat pocket I switch it off. I don't want any more interruptions. There is only silence. She keeps her vigil at the window refusing to look my way. I am growing more worried with each second that passes. Finally, I can't stand it any longer. "Tell me." I demand. "This isn't easy for me, Mulder." She stiffens her back, and seems to be preparing to deliver my death blow. "Just say it, Scully. We're best friends. You can tell me anything." A quick ironic laugh escapes her. "Yeah. We're best friends." I have no idea why that should upset her so. I don't think I want to know. But I'm about to find out. Of that I'm certain. She shifts in her seat and turns to face me now. Her eyes seek mine and she lets me see her anguish. I am paralyzed by it. My God, what could this be? "Mulder, I'm in love with you." "Huh?" What did she just say? "I'm in love with you." That's what I thought she said. Jesus Christ! Where is this coming from? I must be dreaming. This is all just a dream. Has to be. I'll wake up soon, take a long cold shower, and everything will be back to normal again. "I've been in love with you for a very long time. I'm only telling you now because I'm having a difficulty coping with the fact that you're involved with someone. God, this is embarrassing." She buries her face in her hands. I'm stunned. "I...I don't know what to say, Scully." "Don't say anything, Mulder. Just let me finish what I need to say." She stares straight ahead out the windshield. "When I so foolishly suggested that you date someone, I was really hoping... Shit!" She shakes her head and starts over. "If you wouldn't mind, Mulder...If you could just be a little more discrete. I think I could handle this much better if you weren't continuously throwing it up in my face." Absolutely unreal. I am suddenly aware that my mouth is hanging open and I close it. It's the only action I'm capable of at this point. She continues. "All I'm asking is that you refrain from the phone calls when I'm stuck riding right beside you in the car. At least at the office I can get up and leave the room. And if you wouldn't mind, could you give me some warning if she's going to drop by at the Bureau? I'd rather not have to face her, Mulder." "My God, Scully. I had no idea." "Oh, for Pete sake, Mulder! How the hell dense can you be? I should think it was fairly obvious how I felt." "Not to me." "Wonderful." She crosses her arms over her chest and rolls her eyes. "Well, that's it, Mulder. I've said what I needed to say. If you don't mind, I'd rather not dwell on this. Let's just get going, okay? We're due in Richmond soon." Is she kidding? She expects me to just go on as if nothing happened? As if she didn't just drop a fucking atomic bomb? "Dana..." xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Dana? Now I'm really scared. Mulder just called me Dana. Like I was a real person or something. A human being with feelings and a heart. I can count on one hand the number of times he's addressed me by my given name. I am touched, but at the same time wary. He's a masterful manipulator, my partner. He's not above using my name as a tool to gain an advantage. He reaches over and runs the back of his fingers along my cheek. Damn him! Can't he see how hard I'm struggling to keep it together? "Dana, I'm so sorry. Sometimes I can be as thick as a post. I swear I didn't mean to hurt you. God, I never want to hurt you." "It's okay, Mulder. I'll be fine. All I'm asking for is a little consideration." If he doesn't stop touching me I'm going to jump out of this car and make a run for it. "I'm not going to see Cynthia anymore." "No!" I turn to him. "Mulder, please. That was not my intention." "I know that." I can't believe I'm about to say this. "Mulder, she's a wonderful woman. She's great. Really. You could do a lot worse. I think you two make a nice couple... What are you grinning about?" I'm glad he sees the humor in all this. "You're a terrible liar, Scully." "Damn it, Mulder. I'm trying." He's obviously recovered from the initial shock. It's amazing how quickly he's become comfortable with the situation. In fact, he seems to really be enjoying himself now. The bastard. Not that I didn't expect as much. And then he does something I really didn't expect at all. He puts his hand behind my neck and pulls me over until our lips meet. Whoa. It's nothing more than a tender kiss but it effectively takes my breath away. Even Mulder seems to be struck by the electricity coursing between us. When we part, both of us just look at each other and we know. There's no turning back. The tiger's been let out of the cage. To be continued... Best Friends: The Date by TBishop27@aol.com Rating: NC17 Category: MSR Archiving: Yes, just tell me where. Disclaimer: This Mulder and Scully are mine. Chris would never let his play like this. Spoilers: Yes Summary: Their first date. Author's note: This is the second installment of the Best Friends series. It will continue as long as there appears to be an interest, both yours and mine. Feedback: Please. How else will I know if you want more? As Always, flames will be forwarded to that dark part of my writer's imagination that roams the night in search of victims. BEST FRIENDS: The Date I still can't believe any of this is true. I keep waiting to wake up from that dream but it never, thankfully, happens. I've got to be the worlds luckiest son of a bitch. Dana Scully is in love with me. She actually said so herself. Not once but twice, in fact. Scully is in love with me! Me, Fox Mulder, loser extraordinare. If that doesn't beat it all. Oh, I've known for quite awhile that she loved me. How could I not know? Just the fact that she puts up with me is enough proof of that. But I was totally blown away when she told me she was IN love with me. I never dared hope. I've been in love with her since our first case together. She stole my heart the way she gave me her complete trust and respect, even though they'd sent her to debunk me. I watched this wide eyed green recruit screw her courage to the sticking point and follow me like a soldier into battle. What she experienced during that case would have sent most agents scurrying back up to the AD's office, reassignment request form firmly in hand. Not my Scully. I think she was trying to prove herself to me. But for the life of me, I don't understand why. I was supposed to be proving myself to her. So she could make her report. So I could continue my work. I just love the irony. They sent her to shut down the X-Files and she winds up being the driving force that keeps them open. I couldn't do it without her. I meant it when I told her that. With each passing year I fell deeper and deeper in love with her until I found myself at last hopelessly devoted. I continue to be amazed by her strength and dedication to both me and our work. After all that she's been through, despite the horrors they've inflicted upon her, and admirably, because of those horrors, she continues to fight. I admire her. She is my hero. Nothing, absolutely nothing, can break her will. She remains at my side against all odds, against all rationality. I never stood a chance. I haven't seen her since our trip to Richmond two days ago. We got home late and she had plans to spend the next day with her mother. At least that's what she said. I have my suspicions though that she was just giving me time to settle things with Cynthia. I told Cindy the truth. She was none too pleased, but all in all, it could have gone a lot worse. I don't think she was too heartbroken. She was flirting something awful with this guy at the table across from ours, and I'm pretty sure she slipped him her phone number as we were leaving the restaurant. I don't think I'll tell Scully that. I called her last night and asked her out. Yes, a date. An honest to goodness, I'll pick you up at eight, dinner at Mario's and then we'll catch a movie, date. Scully loves Italian food, and I'm even willing to sit through one of those boring foreign films she's so fond of. There's some sappy French thing playing at the Regent, I'm sure she'll approve. Besides the Regent isn't far from the Riverwalk and the thought of strolling hand in hand with Dana in the moonlight has a certain appeal. Yeah, Dana. Why not Dana? I think she likes it when I call her that. She'll always be my Scully, but if we're going to be dating, the least I can do is call her Dana once in a while. But under no circumstances is she going to call me Fox. That's just a little too weird coming from her. I have to laugh. Like all of this isn't completely surreal. I'm driving in my car on my way over to Scully's place to take her out on our first date. My palms are actually sweating for Christsake! I bought a new shirt and tie. She'd laugh at me if she knew what a pathetic wuss I was being. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Mulder would laugh if he saw what a wreck I've been ever since he called me last night and asked me for a date. I managed to act all cool and collected on the phone but I absolutely broke into a panic once I hung up. I was thrilled and terrified at the same time. Of course I want it to be the perfect evening. I want to say the right things, wear the right clothes... I ended up spending most of today out shopping for just the perfect little black dress. Mom came with me. She was beside herself when I told her what had happened between us. I was never so embarrassed as when she steered me into the lingerie department and insisted I buy 'something special for Fox'. I could have died right then and there. I have never felt comfortable discussing sex with my mother. I know, I'm thirty five years old and I'm a medical doctor. For Godsake, I should be able to talk openly on the subject with another mature adult. And I can, as long as that other mature adult isn't my mother! I honestly don't know what got into her. She handed me the skimpiest little bra and panty set and a garter belt and stockings, and pushed me into the dressing room. I could feel the heat creeping up my cheeks. She just rolled her eyes and said, 'Oh, Dana, don't be such a prude, dear. Fox will love it.' I was too shocked to argue with her. That is the last time I take my mother shopping for date clothes. I have to admit though, I do feel kind of sexy wearing it. And the new perfume too. Why the hell not? Mulder's certainly worth the trouble and added expense. I just wish I could relax a little. My heart is actually racing. It's nearly eight. This is crazy, being so excited about seeing a man I see practically every day of my life. We've spent many a night alone together on stakeouts. We've hung out at each other's apartments going over case reports until the wee hours of the mornings. We've eaten in hundreds of restaurants together over the years. Why should I be so nervous over this? I look in the mirror for a final check and the answer is staring me straight in the face. The difference tonight is the dress, and more precisely the little scraps of black lace beneath the dress. It is the possibility of where this night will end that has me a jumble of nerves. If that kiss in the car was any indication of the passion that exists between us, it's inevitable that we will wind up in bed together tonight. I just hope I'll be able to concentrate on the rest of the evening knowing we could, in all probability, be making love before the night is through. Hoo boy... The last time I had intercourse with a man was... God, has it really been almost eight years?! No wonder my mother's picking lingerie for me. I just hope I don't disappoint him. All those videos that aren't his have probably given him very definite ideas. Besides, I've got some recent competition to live up to. Speaking of, I wonder how that whole thing went? I purposely gave Mulder an excuse not to have to see me yesterday. I figured he'd need to talk to her. I don't know why, but I worried about it the whole day. I was so relieved when he called me last night. At least I was able to get some sleep, knowing he was home safe and sound and most importantly... ALONE. I know it was stupid of me, but I had this nagging fear that he was going to see Cynthia and somehow change his mind about wanting to break up with her. So sue me, I'm insecure. I can't help it. Mulder is a very attractive man. If I had a dollar for every time I saw a woman check him out, I'd be able to afford the five hundred and sixty-two dollars I spent on this dress. Besides, Mulder really seemed to like Cynthia. One thing's for sure, no matter how much it's killing me to know what happened when he told her, I will not bring up the subject tonight. Tonight is about me and Mulder. I'm going to do my damnedest to keep the conversation off work and anything else that might otherwise be unpleasant. I hear a knock at the door and my heart starts pounding harder. I've actually got butterflies in my stomach. I take a minute to compose myself at the door before I open it. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Holy sweet Jesus! "Wow!" "Wow yourself, Mulder." She grins and lets me into her apartment. Once inside, I make a slow circle around her and inspect, allowing my eyes to wander up and down this vision of Sculliness. "I've never seen anyone look so incredibly beautiful in my entire life." She puts her head down to hide the blush of her cheeks, and peaks out from under that gorgeous red curtain, offering me a shy smile. What a picture. "Thank you, Mulder." That dress she's barely wearing is having some very profound effects on my little G-man. For the first time in seven years I don't feel a bit of guilt getting a hard on in Scully's presence. I'm pretty sure that was her aim when she made herself look so absolutely fuckable tonight. Mission accomplished, Miss Scully, your partner is sufficiently aroused. Let's see, we're what? Thirty seconds into our date? It's going to be a very long evening. "Is that a new tie, Mulder? I don't believe I've ever seen you wear it before." She comes over to me and makes a slight adjustment at my collar. I love it when she takes care of me. "Yep." Mmmm. She smells good enough to eat. "I like it very much." She croons as she runs one sensuous, manicured finger slowly down along the entire length of the silky fabric, exerting just enough pressure to send a shiver up my spine. "New shirt too?" She looks up with that trademark brow arched to punctuate her question. I only nod dumbly. She slips her hand under my jacket lapel and caresses the crisp white shirt beneath. The heat from her small hand burns right through to my skin. "Nice, Mulder. I love the feel of something brand new, don't you?" I bite my lower lip and snatch her hand off of my chest. She knows good and well what she's doing. Agent Dana Scully is coming on to me big time. I'm certain I'm dreaming now because these things just don't happen in real life. Only in my fantasies and erotic dreams would I be so lucky. I bring her hand up and place a kiss on her palm letting the tip of my tongue snake back and forth before I pull away. Something that is half moan, half growl escapes from Scully. "Are you hungry?" She asks. "God, yes." "Me too. I'm absolutely starving. What's on the menu tonight, Mulder?" The words are right, but the way she says them I can't be entirely sure if she's talking about dinner. "Mario's?" "Mmmm. Italian." God, I hate to break this little party up but, "We have reservations in twenty minutes." "Guess we better go then." Is it my imagination or does she sound disappointed? xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx I've had so much fun this evening. Mulder has been the perfect date, handsome, charming, witty, and very attentive. He held my hand across the table at dinner. The way he kept looking at me, I felt... I felt beautiful. If I wasn't already head over heels in love with the man, I'm sure he would have captured my heart tonight. After dinner he took me to my favorite movie house where we watched a romantic French love story. Mulder was so sweet. He actually had tears in his eyes when the woman killed herself. Her lover had been lost at sea, but he is rescued and returns only to find that she has taken her own life in her grief. He goes mad and spends his remaining years wandering the streets of Paris looking for his beloved. Mulder put his arm around me during the movie. I rested my head against his shoulder, breathing in his after shave and that heady Mulderscent. The movie ended far too soon for me. I could have sat there like that for hours and been completely content. It was his suggestion that we take a stroll along the Riverwalk after the movie. We walk silently, hand in hand, marveling at the moonlight reflecting off the glassy waters. My hand has suddenly become the most sensitive part of my body. I am acutely aware of even the slightest shift of his fingers as they remain intertwined with mine. His grip is firm but gentle. I can sense his nervousness in the clammy touch of his skin. Mulder's hand is so large compared to mine yet somehow we fit perfectly together. We come across a couple kissing on a park bench and pick up our pace slightly to give them their privacy. Mulder's grip tightens and he begins to caress the back of my hand with his thumb. Is he feeling what I'm feeling, I wonder? Is he trying to work up the nerve to kiss me again? If he only knew how badly I wanted him to, I don't think he would be so shy. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx I don't want this night to ever end. It's as though I've been transported into some alternate universe where I'm actually allowed to be happy, where all the nightmares are somebody else's not mine, where the most beautiful woman in the world is in love with me. Can this possibly be real? Or am I finally going to wake up, and Scully will be, just as before, an ache in my heart never to be soothed? I walk her to the door of her apartment and watch nervously as she opens the lock with her key. She slips in and switches on the lights before turning back to me. I'm trying to think of just the right thing to say when she smiles at this fool still standing in her hallway and says. "Aren't you going to come inside, Mulder?" Yes! Thankyouthankyouthankyou! She is across the room by the time I have shut and locked the door behind me. I hear the click of her stereo being switched on and the silent apartment is suddenly filled with soft music which eases the mood. "Can I get you anything, Mulder?" She asks, trying to play the good hostess. "Actually," I say, as I cross the room to stand before her. "There is something I would like." I pull her into my arms, staring down into the depths of two crystal blue pools. "Anything." Her voice is low and throaty, escaping from her lips in a puff of warm air that tickles my neck just above my shirt collar. "Anything at all." Maybe I'm not dreaming. Maybe I've died and gone to heaven. For certainly this is an angel I'm holding in my arms. I reach for one of her hands and bring it to my lips to press one tender kiss on trembling fingers. "Dance with me, Dana." She nods and smiles at me, then melts into my arms as we begin to sway to the beat of the music. I can't help it. I'm swept up in the moment. I begin to sing the words softly into her ear. "I feel wonderful because I see the love light in your eyes...And the wonder of it all, is that you just don't realize...how much I love you..." When the song ends, she looks up at me with dewy eyes. "I didn't realize you were an Eric Clapton fan, Mulder." I can't resist. She's walked right into it. I have to tease her. "Are you kidding? Lay Down Scully is one of my all time favorite songs." She chuckles and blushes. "That's 'Sally'." "Are you sure?" I feign ignorance. "Pretty sure." She nods and rolls her eyes. "Damn. To think I've had it wrong all these years." I say with a wink and a grin. She is all at once very serious. "How many years, Mulder?" I know what she's asking. "Since the very beginning, Scully... Since day one." xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx He expects me to believe he's loved me since the first time he saw me? As flattering as that is, I think I know better. But for tonight... Go with it, Dana. If Mulder wants to sweep you off your feet with his charm, why not let him? "Do you want to kiss me, Mulder?" I ask, deciding to push things along a little. "More than I want to breathe." "Then what's preventing you?" "I'm afraid where it might lead. I'm not sure I'll be able to stop myself." "Who says you have to stop?" "It's only our first date, Miss Scully." God, I love him! "We're both adults, Mr. Mulder. There's no reason we can't take this date to it's logical conclusion." "And where would that be, Miss Scully?" "My bedroom. But you have to kiss me first." "The price of admission seems fair enough." The way he's looking at me now turns my insides to liquid. As he leans forward to kiss me, I am trembling in his embrace. I'm not afraid of Mulder. I trust him completely. It's the anticipation that has me undone. I want him so bad. I want his kisses, his touch, the sweet union of our flesh. Our mouths find each other and this kiss is nothing like our first. It is hot and needful, as if through this single act we are seeking the release of years of sexual tension. It is a deep kiss with thrusting tongues battling for territory, teeth raking over and nipping at sensitive lips. Mulder's hands have moved up to tangle in my hair, he's pulling me still closer, consuming me in his ardor. My knees grow weak and my lungs scream for oxygen; yet even if I were able, I am not willing to break away from this paradise just yet. It is Mulder who finally puts an end to it. And I groan in protest. We are both breathing hard, faces flushed, eyes heavy lidded. I have sought his strength to reinforce my wobbly legs, and as I lean against him I can feel his erection straining beneath his clothes. My body is already primed for our joining. I am wet with carnality aching for his entrance. My pulse is racing. Mulder was right, we can't stop now. And then, without any warning, he sweeps me up into his arms. "Mulder! Put me down! You're going to drop me!" And carries me off to my bedroom. Setting me on the bed he fixes me with a lustful stare. He loses the tie first, and then the jacket. I watch with envy Mulder's fingers as they slowly unbutton his shirt and then move to the cuffs. He tugs the shirt tails free of his slacks then tosses the garment aside with the rest of his wardrobe. My eyes wait eagerly for more of Mulder to be revealed. Unhooking his belt, he pulls it from the loops in one quick move. The sound of the leather cracking through the air thrills me and I gasp. Mulder's eyes light up at my reaction. He kicks off his shoes one at a time but I can't take my eyes off that damn belt he's still holding in his hand. Why doesn't he put it down? When he hangs it around the back of his neck like he's keeping it for some purpose, I start to inch back on the bed a little further away from him. He removes his socks, slacks and boxers then stands before me completely naked save for that strap of leather around his shoulders. He moves toward me and I retreat to the very center of the bed. "Dana, take your clothes off." Mulder commands. He makes quite an intimidating sight standing there at the edge of the bed fully aroused and threatening with that belt... That belt that he just slid off his shoulders and he's holding at his side as he looks at me now. "Come on, Dana, don't make me get angry. I want to see you, all of you. As lovely as that dress is, I'm willing to bet what's underneath it is a hell of a lot prettier." God help me, but he's turning me on. I've never done anything like this before. It is only because I trust this man so completely that I'm willing to do it now. I rise up on my knees in the center of the bed and pull my dress up and off. Mulder's eyes wander over me, stopping here and there to study particular parts of my body that catch his interest. "Jesus, Scully." He breathes. "Tell me you haven't been wearing stuff like that to work all these years under those smart little suits of yours." He doesn't wait for my reply. Instead he literally crawls over the bed to me. I lay back and part my legs for him. I want him inside me now. I need him to fill me, to complete me, to end this agony I have endured for so so long..."Mulder, please. Take me." "Take you?" He says, straddling me now, his hard steel at the ready as he hunches over me on all fours. "Take you how? What's your pleasure, my lady?" I groan. Enough of this. "Come on, Mulder, just do it." I reach up and attempt to pull him down on to me but he refuses to be coerced. "Lay still." He says in a tone that I cannot disobey. I try very hard not to move a muscle. It's excruciating wanting him this bad and having him so close. He moves down me kissing here and there, teasing my nipples with his teeth trough the thin lace of my bra. Deft fingers work the clasp, freeing my breasts but he doesn't linger there. Damn him, he doesn't even touch them. I arch my back, straining to bring my nipples in contact with his mouth. He pulls back, shaking his head. "You don't listen very well, Scully. Lay back. Hold still. Don't make me say this again." He moves back up and whispers the last part against my ear. "Don't think I won't use it, Scully." Oh God! A current of heat rushes through me. I can't help the whimper that escapes. He waits until I am perfectly still. "That's better." He praises. "Now, if you can manage to behave yourself for a few minutes..." Smiling, he returns to his task. A kiss here... a kiss there...lower and lower until... "Mulllderr!" His tongue works it's way through the slit in those naughty little panties finding his target and sending a jolt of ecstasy through every nerve in my body. Oh oh oh...yes, please. His left hand gently caresses my inner thighs, and I am all too aware that his right fist is still clenched around that leather threat. It's killing me, but I'm suffering his assault on my most sensitive area without so much as a squirm. Within seconds he has me panting and I am struggling so hard again the natural urge to writhe and buck that tears are running from the corners of my tightly closed eyes. Just when I think I can't take anymore, when I have decided that I would rather risk Mulder's wrath then bear this sweet torture another moment, I am hit with the first wave of rapture. I claw at the bed, wild and unbridled. "God! Mulder...ahhh! Yessss!" I am lost in it. Tumbling out of control. Pleasure... so much it's blinding. I recovery slowly and Mulder is there smiling down at me. "You're beautiful when you come, Scully." "Please, Mulder." My voice is weak and breathy. "I need you inside me." He nods. And then moves into me. I am so wet that he slides inside easily despite the fact that it's been years since I've had a man. "No condom." He throws me a worried look. "Scully? I'm sorry.. Did you want me to wear one?" I hadn't even realized I said it out loud. "No! God, Mulder, no. This feels incredible. I was just thinking out loud. Thinking how good it is not to have anything coming between us. It's the first time I've ever done it like this." I can see the relief wash over him. He doesn't say anything more. He just starts moving slowly inside of me, stretching me, filling me, claiming me as his own. We move as one. Gradually increasing both rhythm and intensity. Mulder moans and whispers my name. "Wrap your legs around me, baby." He says it in a moment of passion as he's pounding into me for all he's worth. But the word echoes over and over in my head. I was so jealous when he called her 'baby'. I wanted to be the one Mulder bestowed those intimate titles upon. It's foolish, but I needed to hear him call ME 'baby'. To be continued... Author's note: What do you think? Do you want more? Shall I continue the series? E-mail is graciously accepted and always welcome. TBishop27@aol.com Best Friends:Sleeping Together by TBishop27@aol.com Category: MSR Rated: NC-17 Disclaimer: This Mulder and Scully are mine. Chris would never let his do such things. Feedback: Please, it's the determining factor in whether this series continues or not. As always, flames will be forwarded to that dark part of my writer's imagination that roams the night in search of victims. Author's note: This is the third installment of the Best Friends series. 1. Mulder's Girlfriend 2. The Date 3. Sleeping Together Eternal gratitude to MY best friend and beta reader, my husband David. BEST FRIENDS: Sleeping Together "Jesus, Mulder." I pant, rolling off him and flopping back onto the trashed bed. "That was fucking incredible." The heat radiating from my body right now could set these sheets on fire if they weren't soaked with sweat from our marathon love making session. "No, sweetheart, that was incredible fucking." He amends. "I'd say I stand corrected but I don't think I'm going to be capable of using my legs for quite awhile." I tell him with a sigh of exhausted contentment. Mulder just lays there, spent and beautiful, hair clinging damp to his forehead. I reach over blindly and place the flat of my hand on his chest. His respiration's are rapid, his heart is pounding fast and hard under his ribcage. When he offers only a sleepy moan in response, I glance over and see that his eyes are closed. Well, I guess he deserves the rest. That was quite a performance. Nothing I previously experienced would even come close to comparing with it. Mulder just seemed to know all the right buttons to push. I never would have believed myself capable of climaxing that many times. In the past I always considered myself lucky if I had an orgasm at all when I was with a guy. And no, I never faked it. I saw no point in flattering a man if he didn't deserve it. Sadly, my expectations for gratification during sex were very low. I figured I just wasn't one of those women who had multiple orgasms. Hoo boy, was I ever wrong! Of course, it would be Mulder who disproved my theory. God, I can't believe this finally happened. Less than seventy-two hours ago I'd given up all hope and resigned myself to a lonely and tortured existence. Though I'm fairly certain it wouldn't have gone on for long... Sooner than not I would have lost my mind entirely and probably shot Cynthia dead, or myself, or even Mulder. Who knows, maybe I would have taken us all out. I can't be positive how my jealous rage would have eventually expressed itself, but I don't doubt that it would have involved something horrific. I was wound that tight. It stemmed from years of working side by side with a man who drove me crazy with desire and being too proper or too afraid to do anything about it. Well, last night that man unwound me but good. All those years of sexual tension between us seem pretty ridiculous now. What the hell were we waiting for? Normally sex makes me sleepy. But I'm so keyed up right now there's no way I'm going to be nodding off any time soon. So I roll onto my side, prop my head in my hand, and settle in to watch Mulder sleep. He looks so peaceful when he isn't puzzling over a case, brooding about another injustice perpetrated by the shadow government, blaming himself for one of a million tragedies that aren't his fault, or worrying over me. The Mulder who took me out last night was so different, so much happier than my FBI partner. He was charming and blithe and...ordinary. At one point during dinner I actually excused myself to use the ladies room and made a call to verify that Eddie Van Blundht was still safely tucked away behind bars. Okay, so I'm overly suspicious...all right, paranoid. God knows I have reason to be. There was just no way I wanted a repeat of the little episode with that morphing freak. I was pretty sure where the evening was going to end up and there was no way anyone else but Mulder would do. He's breathing slow deep breaths now. I brush the wayward strands of hair off his forehead. A hint of a smile tugs at the corners of his mouth but he does not wake. I could get very used to this. To think I almost lost him to another woman after all this time. I should be grateful that she ended up bringing us together. But I'm not. I hate her. It's just the thought of her and Mulder making love... Damn it, it really bugs me! How could he do it? How could he sleep with her so easily? I couldn't go through with it with Ed Jerse. I wanted to, but stopped the poor guy at the last possible moment. It's no small wonder he went crazy on me the next day. I just couldn't do it. I felt like I was betraying Mulder. Ed said he understood, but how could he possibly? Even I didn't understand at the time. It's not like I imagined Mulder was faithful to me all these years. Well...maybe I did, a little. But I had no right to expect fidelity from him. After all, I was only his partner... it's just that it felt like so much more. He's dreaming. I can tell by the way his eyes are moving so rapidly back and forth. I hope it's a good dream. No nightmares tonight, Mulder. I brush a soft kiss across his parted lips. "Scully..." He sighs my name in his sleep. Being oh so careful not to wake him, I rest my head on his chest and cuddle up, wrapping my small body around his larger frame. Listening to his even breaths and the gentle thumping of his heart, I begin to feel drowsy. This is nice, drifting in that pre-sleep haze, holding Mulder in my arms, the intoxicating scent of our lovemaking heavy in the air. It's the most peaceful feeling I've ever known... ----------------------------------------------------- I wake to find myself in heaven, or at least my version of it; Scully's bed, her naked sleeping body tangled around mine after a night of passion that is certainly worthy of the record books. We were out of control last night, unleashed, wild. Neither of us could get enough. I can't believe I lasted as long as I did. Seeing Scully aroused beyond reason and hearing her sultry voice begging me not to stop was all the motivation I needed to push myself to the brink of injury. I wanted to satisfy her over and over until she couldn't remember anymore what it felt like to hunger for relief from her burning desires. The first time I made her come I was hooked. I had to take her there again and again so I could hear her fervid screams, and see that look of absolute rapture on her beautiful face. I was amazed how often I found myself going over the edge. I came hard four times before my dear little partner took mercy on me and finally let me sleep. I didn't believe it was physically possible for a guy to do it that many times. Leave it to Scully to prove me wrong. Phenomenal sex aside, our date last night was pretty spectacular too. It was nice to leave our badges and guns behind for once and just be ourselves. Scully surprised me. She's actually quite a little flirt when she lets her guard down. She's allowed me brief glimpses of Dana over the years, but this is the first time I was privileged to spend an entire evening in her company. I wonder what it's going to be like when we go in to work today? Will she still be Dana when we're alone together in the office or out in the field? Or is Dana only someone she'll share with me after hours? God, I hope it's not going to be awkward. I hope she realizes that this doesn't affect our professional partnership. I still need her to be Scully when we're working on a case together. She's been my better half for the past seven years. I hope I haven't screwed things up by giving in to my feelings for her. What we did last night can either be really great for us or a complete disaster, depending on how we handle the work thing. I think we should tell Skinner. I'm sure he's been wondering for years, like the rest of the Bureau, if Spooky's been getting it on with his redheaded knockout of a partner. He's always known what we meant to each other. When Cynthia came to have lunch with me last week and Skinner saw the two of us holding hands in the elevator, he looked quite bewildered and a little stunned. Like he caught me cheating or something. Later, when I returned from lunch I passed him again in the hall and he glared at me, and I'm talking daggers. It was pretty obvious that he didn't approve. He's always had a soft spot in his heart where Scully was concerned. I think he has a crush on her. Get in line, Walter. I'm not blind to the fact that Scully's got a whole lot of admirers down at the Bureau. They keep their distance though. I think I've done a fairly good job of scaring them away. If they only knew how unbelievably hot she was in bed, or could see this naked goddess sleeping in my arms, there wouldn't be anything that could stop them from making a play for her. Except maybe her six foot tall, armed and insanely jealous boyfriend. Oh my God... Boyfriend. That's going to take some getting use to. I'm Dana Scully's boyfriend. It sounds so... childish. Like we're back in high school going steady or something. She's starting to wake up now. I hear her take a deep breath. She's still for a minute, probably trying to figure all this out in her sleep addled mind. I stroke the silky skin of her bare back gently with the tips of my fingers and she shivers. Suddenly she props herself up on her elbow and looks at my face. She gives me the most beautiful smile. "Morning, sunshine." I smile back at her. "You're still here." She sounds as if she can't believe it. "Did you think I would leave?" I can't help the chuckle that follows. Is she kidding? She shakes her head. "No. I just thought I'd wake up and discover that it had all been nothing more than a dream." I pull her up on top of me and hold her tight. "Maybe we're dreaming the same dream again, Scully." I kiss the top of her head. "I don't believe it!" "What?" She shifts her body slightly and presses her center against my erection. Then she bites down on her lower lip and shakes her head in wonder and amusement. "How can you possibly be ready for more so soon, Mulder?" I think I'm blushing. I offer a sheepish shrug. "What can I say, Scully. I'm a man. We're primal creatures. We always want more." "Well, if you don't mind. I think I'll pass this morning. I'm a little sore." Now I feel guilty as hell. "I'm sorry. Did I hurt you?" "No. It's just been a long time. And you have to admit, that was quite a workout." Great save, Scully. My conscience and ego thank you. "Best sex I've ever had." She turns her face away. "Better than Cynthia?" "I never slept with her, Scully." The look she gives me I know all too well. It's her 'oh, come on' look. One she perfected on me long ago. "Seriously. I swear. Cindy thought I was crazy but I just..." She cuts me off with a kiss. ~END~ Author's note: So, do you still want more? E-mail me. TBishop27@aol.com Best Friends: Work Ethics by TBishop27@aol.com Category: MSR Rated: This series is NC-17 although not all parts necessarily fall into that category. Disclaimer: This Mulder and Scully are mine. Chris would never let his do such things. Feedback: Please! As always, flames will be forwarded to that dark part of my writer's imagination that roams the night in search of victims. Author's note: This is the fourth installment of the Best Friends series. 1. Mulder's Girlfriend 2. The Date 3. Sleeping Together 4. Work Ethics I am dedicating this one to 'Grasshopper' who did the kindest thing and surprised me with an archive page of my very own! I was, and still am, totally flattered! I get the biggest grin every time I think about it. Thank you from the bottom of my little shipper heart. If any of you are interested in checking out her amazingly selfless efforts here's the URL: http://members.xoom.com/arcticfox42/Tbishop.htm The Literary G-Spot BEST FRIENDS: Work Ethics I'm not good at this. I did the my lover/my partner thing with Diana and it got so crazy at work that I ended up... well, I'm only going to make that mistake once. I have no intention of making Dana Scully the next ex-Mrs. Fox Mulder. I'm not going to let things get out of hand at the office. Scully and I had a great time last night but I'm not going to let myself get carried away like before. We're going to keep things simple. Work is work, our office is not an extension of our bedroom. OUR bedroom? Watch it, Spooky, you're walking a thin line there. Dating... we're only dating. By day we're dedicated partners on a quest for the truth, by night we're best friends who sometimes sleep together? No, Scully would hate that. *I* hate that. By night we're lovers who also happen to be the best of friends. Yes, I think she'd like that better. I know I do. The important thing here is that we both understand that there has to be a complete separation of the two sides of our relationship. I don't have sex with Agent Scully and Dana doesn't follow Agent Mulder into dangerous places hunting down the bad guys who's case files are all classified under X. I can't do it any other way. I know from experience that it gets too fucking complicated if you bring all those personal issues up at the office. And I can't be thinking about the woman who's responsible for covering my sorry ass when we're out in the field as anything other than a strong, competent, highly trained FBI agent. It's got to be clearly delineated. This is not going to become another fiasco like me and Diana were. I need Scully too much... and I need Dana too much... and I love them both beyond reason. ------------------------------------------------ After Mulder left this morning I spent a lot of time thinking about what all of this means. I'm happy. God, I don't think I've ever been happier in my life. But if this thing between us is going to stand a chance we're going to have to preserve our working relationship status quo. We've been one hell of a team for seven years and I'll be damned if I'm going to let that change. I don't want Mulder treating me differently because we're lovers now. It's important to me to be respected as a professional and his equal and not catered to because he happens to share a bed with me. I've worked too hard to be accepted into the boys club at the Bureau. If I let myself be seen as a sexual object I'll become just another joke to them. Maybe that's why I avoided this for so long. I was afraid of the reaction I might receive if it became known that Mulder and I were involved. As if the Mrs. Spooky jokes weren't bad enough before... I'd hate to hear what they'd say if they knew it were true that Mulder and I are doing the deed. Mulder they'd look at like some sort of macho-stud-God... offering him high fives for his manly conquest. Me they'd leer at thinking I was now fair game to prove their own virility to the rest of the boys in the locker room. Work has got to be sacred. We have to treat each other as if nothing has changed when we're on duty. We can't afford to slip up in front of our colleagues. I can't afford it. I know Mulder will understand. He's always treated me with respect... saving his little innuendoes for private moments when he knew no one else could overhear. Once, some rookie agent who didn't know who we were made a vulgar comment about me to Mulder and found himself up against the wall... Mulder's forearm pressing hard across his throat while my partner explained to him the importance of respecting his fellow female agents. The guy's since been transferred to another field office. I'm not entirely convinced Mulder didn't have something to do with that. It should be easier to keep from showing my feelings about Mulder at work now that I'm able to express them after hours. I know there were times in the past when I found myself wanting him so bad that I had to leave the office and take a long walk to calm myself. It's not going to be that way anymore... thank God! No more endless lonely nights in cheap motel rooms thinking about Mulder and masturbating through my guilty tears. It was agony knowing he was so close, just on the other side of the wall, but always beyond the reach of my desire... my aching need. That's over now. We have found each other. I have a release for all that sexual tension that threatened in the past to drive me insane every time I got a whiff of Mulder's unique scent or felt the heat off his body when he stood too close. It'll be better now. ------------------------------------------------ What was she thinking wearing that suit to work? I've never seen Scully show that much leg at the office. She's worn some short skirts in the past but this one borders on the unprofessional. Okay, maybe not unprofessional but certainly overtly suggestive. For Christsake the jacket almost covers the entire skirt! Every time she sits down and crosses her legs I catch a peak of the creamy soft skin at the top of her inner thighs. It's killing me. Jesus! If she shifts around in that chair anymore I'm going to go out of my fucking mind! I keep catching myself straining to see what she might be wearing under that sexy black outfit. Stop it, Mulder! Stop this right now! You promised yourself you weren't going to do this. This is Scully. Scully is your partner. You don't think about sliding your hands up Agent Scully's legs and slipping them under her skirt until you find that hot wet little bit of heaven hidden beneath those red curls. God, I want her! Right here, right now... I want to make her mine again. No! This is Scully. Remember that, Mulder! I'm really trying to do just that... keep her separate from Dana. The problem is they look so damn much alike! And smell alike. I could smell that sweet mix of perfume and pheromone the minute she walked into the office this morning. It hit me like ten thousand volts. Every nerve in my body was suddenly alert to her presence. Agent Mulder may be convinced that his partner is off limits at work, but his little G-man has a completely different opinion on the subject. I've had a hard on for the last two and a half hours! What's a guy to do? She sits there looking so absolutely fuckable and I'm not supposed to respond? Doesn't work that way. Biology is biology. I'm just going to have to try and ignore it. I thought this was going to be easier now that the tension had been resolved between us. I figured I'd finally be able to concentrate wholly on the work itself knowing Dana and I could attend to the 'personal matters' after hours. I could not have been more wrong it seems. As hard as I try, I can't seem to separate it. Every time I look at my partner now, I see Dana naked and writhing on her bed while I feast on that honey between her legs. Every time Scully says 'Mulder" now, I hear Dana's screams of ecstasy as she invokes my name at the height of her orgasm. Look at her over there sitting behind her computer typing away completely oblivious to the fact that I'm even in the same room. Those delicate little fingers stroking each key with perfect Scully-like precision... the same fingers that stroked me last night sending shock waves of pleasure all over my body. What have I done? I've destroyed our partnership. Scully's going to hate me. She won't understand this. She's expecting me to be an adult and act professionally. She'll never forgive me if I can't make this work. I'll never forgive myself. God, now she's chewing on her bottom lip again! If she doesn't stop she's going to see a grown man drop to his knees and cry for mercy. I know what's coming next. Be strong, Spooky old boy. Yep, there it is. The tongue. She always soothes her lip with an unbelievably erotic lick after she's been worrying it with her teeth. I don't think my heart can take much more of this. I know my little G-man can't. My libido is stuck in overdrive. Jesus, I'm starting to sweat. ------------------------------------------------ If he doesn't stop rolling his tongue around that damn pencil I'm going to scream! He's been driving me crazy all morning. For the last two hours I've been typing away at this case report and I haven't the slightest idea what it says. All I can think about is Mulder. To be more exact, all I can think about is doing the wild thing with Mulder. This is ridiculous! For seven years I've wanted him and managed to work at his side with a minimal of distraction...most of the time anyway. And even when it got bad I still didn't have this overwhelming urge like I have at this moment to rip his clothes off his body and run my tongue over ever luscious inch of him. Now, after spending one night together I'm completely obsessed with the man. I haven't been able to get him off my mind all morning. I've got to pull myself together! It would help if he'd put the pencil down and keep that extremely gifted tongue inside his incredibly kissable mouth. Oral fixation or not the man has got to realize some behaviors are just a little too provocative for the workplace. This is a first for me... I've never envied a No.2 Ticonderoga before. For some reason I can't seem to stop picturing Mulder standing naked in front of me with that belt draped around his neck. The fact that I've chosen this particular image to remember most of our night together has me deeply concerned. This is one I'm not even going to be able to confess to my priest! God have mercy on me or I'll surely burn in hell for the thoughts I've been thinking about my partner. What's he done to me? I've got to stop this. I've got to stop this right now! I get up from my chair slowly, on shaky legs. I try not to think about how I'm so turned on that even the motion of walking across the room stimulates my swollen and hyper-sensitive folds. Concentrate, Dana. You're going to get a drink of water from the sink. Water is good. Water will cool me down. Hoo boy, do I ever need to cool down! ------------------------------------------------ Scully just got a glass of water from the sink and as she passes me carrying her drink I notice that her hands are trembling and her face is flushed. Maybe I was wrong about her being oblivious to my presence. Maybe I'm affecting her too. God, help me, I've lived this nightmare before. It's me and Diana all over again. We were obsessed with one another. Even at work we couldn't keep our hands off each other. Scully would come unglued if she knew how many times Diana and I had sex right here in the basement. I was crazy over that woman. In retrospect it was purely a sexual attraction; but at the time, and for a long time after, I thought it was love. When things started to go bad I panicked. Big time panic. I married her thinking that somehow that would stop her from leaving me. The marriage didn't last three months and she was gone. I wore the ring even after the divorce was final. It took me a long time to get over Diana. Every relationship I've ever tried has ended in disaster. Scully's the only woman who's ever been willing to stick around for any length of time. I'm scared to death that I may have just made the biggest mistake of my life. I've got to tell her. Maybe it's not too late to turn this around and go back to the way things were. "Scully..." She jumps at the sound of my voice and the glass slips out of her hand shattering on the floor and splashing her with the cold liquid. She gasps from the temperature shock. "Shit!" "God, Scully, I'm sorry!" I fly out of my seat to make sure she's all right. "It's okay, Mulder." She laughs it off brushing the water from her skirt. "My fault." Suddenly I'm aware that I'm standing too close to her. I take a step back and try to compose myself. I realize it's not going to work when she bends down in that short little skirt and attempts to pick up the broken pieces of glass. I kneel down beside her to help with the clean up but something happens... something unexpected and completely beyond my control. ------------------------------------------------ Oh God... This is crazy. I'm laying on the floor of our office with Mulder on top of me and we're kissing each other like the world is about to end. Why am I letting this happen? We've got to stop this. The trouble is I don't want to stop. Um... Maybe we should consider taking this little party elsewhere? "Mmmmulder..." I say struggling to free my lips from his. "Stop." I try to push him away. He pulls back, leaning over me breathing hard. "I don't think I can, Scully." "Yes, you can." I assure him trying to sound like I believe it. "What if I don't want to?" He starts kissing my neck and I feel his fingers beginning to unbutton my blouse. "We can't do this here. It's... inappropriate. I want this as badly as you do, believe me, but not here." Someone has to be the voice of reason. Damn me anyway! "You're right." He agrees but doesn't make a move to get off me. I surprise even myself with the next words that come out of my mouth. "There's a hotel the next block over. How about we take an early lunch?" Mulder smiles. "Room service?" I nod. "Unless you want to do it in the main dining room of the DC Marriott?" I quip as he stands and pulls me to my feet. Without skipping a beat he says, "Naw, let's do something really kinky. Let's get the best room they've got, order the most expensive champagne they offer and think up a way to work it into our next expense report." "Mulder!" I try to sound appalled but the grin on my face is probably giving me away. ------------------------------------------------ Apparently the DC Marriott has seen it's share of 'early lunches' because the desk clerk didn't bat an eye at the fact that Mr. and Mrs. Hale wanted their room before the customary 2:00 pm check in. Scully and I could barely keep our hands off each other in the elevator as we rode the agonizingly long ride up to the nineteenth floor. I had taken my overnight bag that I keep in the trunk of my car for emergencies, (I believe this qualifies.), so we wouldn't look so obvious checking in without luggage. Unfortunately the hotel clerk insisted on sending the bellhop up with us to carry the bag. I thought he'd never leave! The damn kid was persistent, adjusting the thermostat and giving us a grand tour... like we were going to get lost in four hundred square feet of space! When he started explaining to me how the honor bar worked Scully pushed a ten dollar bill into his hand and hustled him out the door. I love forceful women! The minute we were alone I wrapped my arms around her hips, lifted her off the ground, walked over to the bed and dropped her onto the mattress, falling on top of her. Both of us were in such a frenzy we didn't even bother undressing all the way. She just lifted up her skirt and I helped her slip off her pantyhose. I barely had my pants down to my knees before she was begging me to take her. So we did it just like that. It was a little awkward with my legs tangled in my clothes but who the hell cares when Dana Scully is begging you to fuck her NOW? Somehow amid all the thrashing and thrusting we eventually managed to strip off every article of clothing. We were both a sweaty mess by the time either of us were willing to admit we were too exhausted to go on. Scully pulled herself up off the bed and stumbled into the bathroom. She returned almost immediately with a mischievous smile. "Mulder, there's a big jetted tub in here." Then she quirked a brow at me before disappearing once more into the other room. "I'll order the champagne." I call to her as I pick up the phone. ------------------------------------------------ Between the bubbles in the champagne and the bubbles in the tub I was soon so relaxed I was almost asleep in Mulder's embrace. I sat between his legs with my head resting back against his chest drifting in blissful contentment. He wrapped his arms around my shoulders and leaned his head forward to speak softly into my ear. "Scully, we need to talk." There was something in his tone that undid everything the bubbles and alcohol had accomplished. I couldn't respond. I could only hold my breath and wait anxiously for what he might say. "Dana, what happened today... the way we were at the office..." He sighs before going on. "I've been down that road once before. I know where it ultimately leads. And I don't want that to happen to us. Your friendship and our partnership are more important to me than..." "Fuck!" I don't need him to finish. I know when I'm being dumped. It's happened a time or two. "Scully?" "I'm sorry, Mulder. It's just that I like being dumped even less than I like being ditched." I start to get up but he's still holding me in that bear hug around my shoulders and I have no choice but to remain where I am. "I'm not dumping you!" He protests. "I just don't want us to have to run to a hotel every day because we can't keep our hands off each other at work." He clears his throat in that nervous way that he always does when he has to say something the he doesn't want to. "Scully, I need to tell you about something. I'm not sure how you're going to take it. It's a given though that you're not going to like it very much." "Jesus, Mulder. I'm not sure I want to hear it after that build up." "Never the less, I have to tell you. Please try to keep in mind that I love you." "Mulder, you're scaring me." "It's about me and Diana." "I already know that story." I am suddenly cold. The mention of that woman's name turns the blood in my veins icy. "No, you don't. Just listen to me, Dana. Would you please? I need to tell you everything. I can't keep this secret from you any longer." A secret about Diana Fowley and Mulder. Lovely. "If you tell me she's your wife, Mulder, I'll kill you." I expected a laugh or at least some witty reassurance that I was completely off base but all I got in return for my jest was silence. "That's not funny, Mulder." I turn to see the expression on his face. Oh, God! Nothing can stop me from getting out of the tub this time. I am free from Mulder's grasp and flee the bathroom, stopping only to grab a robe and pull it on. Mulder is following right behind me. "Scully... wait." I'm gathering up my clothes as quickly as I can. "Go to hell!" "Scully." He grabs my arm. "Stop!" "Let go of me, Mulder." I warn him. "No. We need to talk. I'm not letting you run out of here." I turn on him so furious I can't even see straight. "Why didn't you tell me this before!" "How?" He says sounding totally defeated. "Oh, I don't know... How about, by the way, Scully, I'm married!" I'm so angry with him that I'm shaking. "Well, actually I'm divorced, Scully. Please, come sit down and let me explain all this." He tugs at my arm and I relent after only briefly resisting. My curiosity has always been quite morbid. When we are both seated on the end of the bed, Mulder squeezing my hand so tight it hurts, he starts his story. My anger quickly evaporates as I see him struggle through a narrative of what must be yet another horribly painful and emotionally scarring episode in his life. If I didn't already hate Diana Fowley with every fiber of my being I would most certainly despise her now. She broke his heart and then had the nerve to return and expect his loyalty. The amazing thing was, he gave it and she betrayed him again. I have never forsaken Mulder and I don't believe for a minute that he would forgive me such a transgression. I am jealous of her, and what she meant to him. He assures me that I am the only one he loves and that he no longer wants anything to do with his ex-wife. The skeptic in me does not completely believe but my heart is willing to put aside my doubts. Anyway, he is so terrified of screwing things up between us I guess that says a lot. When all is said, we both agree that there has to be rules regarding our professional relationship. Running off to the nearest hotel and drinking champagne on duty is undoubtedly the surest way to get our butts kicked out of the FBI. The sexual tension thing is apparently going to continue to be an issue with us but I promise Mulder I can resist temptation if he can. It's a challenge between us now and neither of us are good losers. ------------------------------------------------ When we returned to work there was a note on our door that read --- Agent's Mulder and Scully, My office immediately! AD Skinner Very weird. Needless to say we didn't even bother going into our little basement hideaway, doing a one eighty instead and heading right back to the elevator again. Skinner's assistant looked at us with that pitying look she gives when her boss is in one of his ball busting moods. If we were smart we'd make a run for it right now. Too late, Kim waves us in. "He's been expecting you." Skinner is engrossed in some paperwork when we enter. He barely looks up. "Agents, have a seat." After exchanging worried looks, my partner and I settle into our respective chairs before the AD's desk. I always feel like I'm being called to the principle's office when Skinner requests a meeting. This time I'm not far off. Skinner finally puts aside his paperwork and looks back and forth between me and Scully several times. He's got this serious frown on his face and I honestly can't recall ever seeing him wear quite that particular expression before. He's starting to unnerve me when he finally speaks. "I attended the quarterly AD's meeting this morning. It's always held at the DC Marriott." He pauses for affect and I feel my face flush with heat. I risk a look over at Scully and see that she is blushing like a rose. Got to hand it to her though, the woman is eyes straight ahead meeting Skinner's accusing glare without a blink. After a pause so long as to be considered cruel, Skinner finally let's us have it. "It is not the Bureau's business and therefore not mine what the two of you choose to do in private when you're off duty... so long as it falls within the realm of legality. However, checking into hotels as Mr. and Mrs. George Hale for three hour lunches and ordering champagne when you're supposed to be downstairs finishing some extremely overdue paperwork is my business! Would either of you care to explain?" "No, sir." We both say almost in unison. "This behavior is wholly and completely unacceptable. You'd better both pray none of the other AD's saw you there." "Sorry, sir." Scully clears her throat and continues. "It won't happen again. You have our word." "See that it doesn't. Agent Scully, you're dismissed." Hey, just a damn minute! Scully shoots me a sympathetic look but makes a hasty retreat out the door. Skinner gets up and moves around to the front of his desk. He just leans there with his arms crossed over his chest staring me down. He's really got this authority thing down. "What?" I finally ask him unable to take anymore of that glare. "Mulder, you better have your shit together on this. I don't know who that woman was I saw you with last week and I don't want to know. All I'm saying to you on the subject is this... If you hurt Scully, you'll be answering to me. Do I make myself clear?" I have no doubt that Walter Skinner could and would kick my ass but good if I gave him an excuse to do so. I should be offended that he would think so little of my character but I'm not. I know his heart is in the right place. I knew he had a crush on Scully! ~END~ Best Friends: Jealousy by TBishop27@aol.com Category: MSR Rated: This series is NC-17 although not all parts necessarily fall into that category. Disclaimer: This Mulder and Scully are mine. Chris would never let his do such things. Feedback: Is always appreciated but only necessary if you want to see this series continue. This seems to have turned into 'request fiction' with so many of you offering wonderful suggestions that I'm always too happy to consider. As always, flames will be forwarded to that dark part of my writer's imagination that roams the night in search of victims. Author's note: This is the fifth installment of the Best Friends series. 1. Mulder's Girlfriend 2. The Date 3. Sleeping Together 4. Work Ethics 5. Jealousy **Thanks to Shell and David for beta! If you're missing a part of this series and would like to check it out, all my stories are now archived in THE LITERARY G-SPOT. http://members.xoom.com/arcticfox42/Tbishop.htm BEST FRIENDS: Jealousy My mother has been harping on me for the past two weeks about bringing Mulder over for dinner at her house. I've avoided it like an alien virus. I love my mother and she's a wonderful cook, but it's what else she's cooking up that has me afraid. After the incident with the lingerie I'm scared to think what she'd have in store for us if she held us captive for an entire evening. I keep telling her we're very busy on a case, but she is persistent. Eventually, I'm going to have to accept her offer and then pray to God she doesn't humiliate me in front of Mulder. I've seen my mother in action many times before. When she gets a whiff of love in the air, she starts talking up every wedding she's ever attended. If she knew Mulder was divorced she'd freak. Hell, I freaked! Although honestly, at this point, I'm sure she would be willing to accept just about any defects as long as her thirty-five year old unmarried daughter was involved in a serious relationship with someone... anyone! And she's always been fond of Mulder. Yeah, I suppose she would forgive him for being divorced. I'm not sure I've forgiven him yet, but I'm working on it. It's been an interesting two weeks. We've thankfully managed to control ourselves at the office ever since that fiasco where Skinner ended up discovering our little secret the first day. We have an arrangement now. Or as Mulder so delicately puts it, we behave ourselves all day so we can hump like little bunnies when we get home. We've been two very happy little bunnies every single night. Mulder hasn't been sleeping over though. I really would like him to but I don't want him to think I'm trying to push things. I need to take this slow. There's too much at risk here to make mistakes. Things really have been going better than I would have expected or even hoped for. We seem to have had no trouble making the transition from just friends to lovers. I guess it was something we were both ready for. It doesn't feel strange or awkward at all to be intimate with this man whose been my partner for seven years. I do find myself pausing for little reality checks though. I still can't believe I'm not dreaming or tripping in some mushroom induced hallucination. And I've had to resist the urge to draw a blood sample from Mulder to verify that he is in fact actually himself. I'm trying to believe all this. I really am... but it just seems too good to be true. Last night was Friday and Mulder took me to a concert in the park after work. I never knew he was such a fan of classical music. It seems my partner is quite knowledgeable on the subject in fact. Not only did he impress me with his ability to recognize each work that was presented, but you could have knocked me over with a feather when he went on about the political and satirical works of Dmitri Shostakovich and his tragic eventual concession to authority. I forget sometimes what a truly brilliant and well educated man my partner is. Occasionally, he intimidates the hell out of me. The fact that he thinks he needs me to validate his work is extraordinary. I never want to disappoint him. Tonight we're going to a Jazz club. This sudden revitalization of my social life has fostered the need for some additions to my wardrobe. It's a nice change of pace shopping for cocktail dresses instead of business suits. And Mulder is always appreciative of my efforts. I think I went overboard on the shopping today though. I'm struggling through the crowded mall parking lot, loaded down, with packages when I take a wrong step. My damn heel breaks and I fall quite inelegantly on my ass. "Damn it!" Not only did I ruin my favorite 'comfortable' heels, but I'm going to have one hell of an ugly and sore bruise. "Are you okay?" A man's voice asks and I hear heavy footsteps rushing up behind me. "I think so." I answer back and try to struggle to my feet. Of course, someone had to be around to see me. "Ouch! Shit!" A pair of hands grabs my shoulders to support me before I lose my balance and fall again. Great! I must have sprained my ankle. "Easy there. Looks like you hurt yourself." I finally turn my head to see who it is who has come to my rescue. We both laugh. "Agent Scully?" "Agent Trevor." He's a photo analysis expert with the Bureau. He teaches part time at Quantico. Mulder and I have worked with him a few times. He's very good. "Here, let me take those." He gathers up my packages. He watches me try again to put weight on my rapidly swelling ankle. No good. "Too bad. That's the right one. You're not going to be able to drive." He's right. I sigh and pull out my cell phone. "I suppose not. I'll call Mulder to come pick me up." He takes the phone out of my hand. "I won't hear of it. I was on my way home anyway. I'll give you a ride. It's the least I can do for a fellow agent. Besides, it's sort of a hobby of mine... rescuing beautiful women in distress." ------------------------------------------------ Scully and I are supposed to be going out to listen to Jazz tonight, but when Maggie Scully called me at home and invited us to have dinner at her house... well, I couldn't exactly say no. I'm not sure why she called ME, but then again there's no reason why she shouldn't. We've been friends a long time, since Scully's abduction. I would never have made it through that without her. Maggie is an remarkable woman. It's easy to see where her daughter gets her strength from. I tried to call Scully to tell her about the change of plans, but she wasn't home. I think I remember she said something about going shopping. She wasn't answering her cell phone either, so I decided to drive over and wait for her at her place. I'm about to use my key to let myself in when I hear laughter and voices coming from inside. That's 'voices', plural, MY Scully and some GUY! I freeze. Okay, let's not assume the worst here. Maybe her brother's in town. No, Charlie's overseas and that was definitely laughter I heard in there... to the best of my knowledge, Bill Scully doesn't laugh. I probably should just go and call her from the car, let her know I'm on my way over. I should, but I'm not! Damn it, I want to know who she's got in there! I knock on the door and try very hard to check my jealousy. It's a wasted effort though as soon as I see who opens the door... Agent Trevor. This slime ball has had his eyes on Scully for years. What the hell is going on here? "Hi." He says, like he lives there or something. "Who is it, Mark?" I hear Scully call out to him. Mark? She called him Mark? "It's Agent Mulder." He calls back over his shoulder. Damn fucking right it is! I push past 'Mark', into the apartment. Scully is sitting on her sofa with her leg propped up on a couple of pillows set on top of the coffee table. There's a bag of ice resting on her ankle. "Hi, Mulder." She offers me a sheepish grin. "What happened?" I let my concern win out over my jealousy for the moment. She shakes her head. "It's just a sprain. My stupid heel broke and I fell in the parking lot at the mall. I walk over and lift up the ice bag. Her ankle is really swollen. "Are you sure it's not broken?" She wiggles her foot and winces. "Nope, just hurts like hell. It'll be fine in a few days." I replace the ice bag. Now that I know she's all right, I can feel my green rage quickly returning. "What's HE doing here?" I ask so only she can hear. She gives me this funny look like she's trying to figure out who I am. "Agent Trevor was kind enough to give me a ride home from the mall. I couldn't exactly drive my car like this." "So it's Agent Trevor now? It was Mark a minute ago." "Mulder..." "How well do you two know each other? Is he often you're personal taxi service, Scully?" "Mulder, I..." "He certainly seems at home. Has he been here before?" "Mulder, enough!" I turn away from my now red faced partner and glare at the man who is still standing nervously in the doorway. "So, 'Mark', are you and Dana good friends?" "Maybe I'd better go." He says, backing up a little. "Oh please, Mark, don't leave on my account." He looks nervously back and forth between me and Scully. "No, I really think I ought to be going. I'll see you, Dana." He disappears out the door faster than you can say 'dead man'. ------------------------------------------------ What in the world just happened here? Has Mulder completely lost his mind or what? As if this whole thing wasn't embarrassing enough, Mulder has to show up acting like a jealous husband. My natural inclination is to really let him have it for humiliating me in front of a colleague, but I'm just not up for it. My ankle hurts too damn much. "We have to work with him you know, Mulder." I say, much calmer than I really feel. He stands in the middle of the room with his back to me. "What was he doing here, Scully?" I sigh and resign myself to deal with this in a calm, rational manner. "I told you. He gave me a ride home. He was in the parking lot when I fell. I was going to call you but he insisted on driving me." "I tried to call you. How come you didn't answer?" "Mulder, I don't appreciate you interrogating me like I'm a suspect. I haven't done anything wrong." "Really?" He asks in a way that makes it hard to keep my anger at bay. "Okay, Mulder, you caught me. I guess I'd better fess up. Agent Trevor and I were having sex in the shower... and I slipped and hurt my ankle. Happy now?" He turns around and looks at me with the most pathetically sad expression on his face. "I'm kidding!" What is wrong with him? "I don't find this funny." "Neither do I." We stare at each other for a minute. There are emotions swirling around in Mulder's eyes that I've never seen there before. Damn him! He's making me feel as though I've betrayed him by simply accepting a ride home from someone. Why should I feel guilty? I didn't DO anything! "I'm gonna go." He says at last. "Fine, suit yourself." I try to sound like I couldn't care less. He doesn't need to know that the thought of him walking out that door right now has me about ready to hyperventilate. He gets as far as the door and he stops. "I can't go." He says, his hand resting on the door handle. Thank God. He's finally come to his senses. "We have to be at your mother's at six o'clock for dinner." ------------------------------------------------ Scully and I haven't spoken a word to each other since I told her about her mother's invitation. I sat at the kitchen table while Scully hobbled about getting ready to go. I seriously thought about calling to cancel, but I didn't want to do that to Maggie. Besides, if Scully didn't want to go she could just as easily have picked up the phone and used her injury as an excuse. She's finally ready, or so I assume, because she's standing in the entry to the kitchen with her purse over her shoulder, glaring at me. I can't ignore it when she looks at me like that. "Two weeks! Two weeks, Scully, and already it's starting... With Phoebe I half expected it! Diana I didn't find out about until after she'd left! I can't believe you'd do this to me!" She comes over to where I'm sitting. When she speaks her voice is soft and quiet but there is just the hint of a tremor in it that warns me of the emotions under the surface. "First of all, Mulder, I haven't done anything wrong. Whether you choose to believe me or not is entirely up to you. I'm deeply hurt to discover that you don't trust me however... very deeply hurt. Secondly, don't you EVER compare me to either of those two women again." As I watch her hobble away, I feel the panic rising up inside me. I can't believe I just threw the infidelities of my ex-wife and my old girlfriend up in Scully's face, and accused her of being no better. If Scully's story is true, and I have no reason not to believe it, then she really hasn't done anything wrong... and I'm the biggest jackass that ever lived. "Scully, wait." I get up and hurry over to her. There are tears on her face and I want to kill myself for being the one who put them there. "I'm sorry. I do trust you. Only you. You know that. I was just jealous. Please forgive me. I'll apologize to Agent Trevor on Monday... I'll do what ever it takes, Scully. Just please, please forgive me." ------------------------------------------------ We were going to be really late to Mom's but this was our first fight... as a couple I mean. I couldn't stay mad at him. Not when he takes my face in his hands and starts kissing away my tears and mumbling over and over how sorry he is. I know he's using sex to get around me on this one, but I'm too damn turned on right now to care. "Please forgive me." He whispers in my ear, and then lets his tongue play with the gold hoop dangling from my lobe. "Please...please." he begs in between gentle nips to my neck. His hands have slipped beneath my shirt and are making an agonizingly slow ascent up my ribcage, softly touching and caressing my skin. I moan when his hands finally reach their goal and his thumbs roll lightly over the thin fabric of my bra making my nipples go erect. He pinches them and I feel the current of arousal pulling at my center. "Scully..." He whispers, his lips now brushing airily across mine. I shift a little to keep the weight off my bad ankle, and I'm amazed at how wet and ready I am for him. In such a short time Mulder has learned the best ways to get my body to respond. "...tell me you forgive me." He laps at my lips... but when I try to kiss him he pulls back. He waits, not letting our lips touch, but remaining so close I can feel his hot breath on my mouth. I swallow, the sound is loud in the stillness of the room. I try to resist, because I know that this is wrong. We should talk this out... we should. My tongue passes over my lips where Mulder's teased just a moment ago. His hands snake back down to hold my waist and he pulls our lower bodies together until they touch. I can feel his hardness pressing a promise against my belly. "Scully, I'm waiting." I can feel the vibrations of his words in the places where our bodies touch. His eyes are locked on mine. My head is tilted all the way back as I look up at him. I close my eyes, struggling for control, and he grinds his pelvis against me. His strong hands hold me firmly in place. Oh, hell! "I forgive you." The instant the words leave my mouth he claims me with a kiss so intense my knees buckle and I am a captive in his embrace. Oh, God... how does he do this to me? A few minutes ago I was furious with him and now I am willing to give him anything he wants. Mulder has this way of biting at my lips, not hard, but with enough repetition that it quickly causes them to swell and become hyper-sensitive. Then he uses his tongue to soothe them, and I'm always left trembling from the ordeal. When he finally pulls back from our kiss I am in just such a state. "I'm sorry I lost it today, Scully." He lifts me up into his arms and carries me out to the living room. "I'm a very jealous man when it comes to you." He sets me down on the sofa. "I can't stand the thought of some other guy touching you." He very carefully places my foot back up on it's nest of pillows. "I can't stand the thought of some other guy kissing you." He kneels in front of me and leans forward to taste my lips once more. His tongue probes deep and I moan when he uses the tip of it to trace patterns across the roof of my mouth. As he's kissing me, I feel his fingers hot against the bare flesh of my legs... they dig into me, almost bruising with their fervor, creeping higher and sliding my skirt up inch by inch until he reaches his objective. He ends our kiss and I let my head fall back against the cushions of the couch. "Forgive me." He says once more. "I already have." I whisper. "Not for that. For this." I gasp as suddenly he rips my lacy panties from my body revealing my sex to his hungry eyes. I am all too aroused to mind the destruction of my wardrobe. My insides are quivering in anticipation of what he might do next. "I can't stand the thought of another man getting hard at the scent of you." He rubs the damp scrap of lace against his face and draws in a slow deep breath. God, he's making me ache. "I can't stand the thought of another man tasting your essence, Scully." He tosses the panties aside and brings his mouth down on my center, his fingers parting me so his tongue can lap the pooling wetness from my folds. "Oh my God.." I groan, my eyes fall shut and I dig my nails into the sofa cushion. His tongue rolls over my hot spots, that he has carefully put to memory. Mulder knows just where... just how... He lifts his head, pausing briefly to make another point. "I can't stand the thought of another man making you come." And then he mercifully returns to his ministrations, nipping and suckling a little harder than before, refusing to let up until he pushes me over that edge... And I'm falling... My hands reach out blindly and I grab his hair, holding him to me until the last waves of rapture have finally subsided. I release him reluctantly. "More than anything else, Scully," he says, his tone suddenly taking on a dark edge. "I can't stand..." My eyes are shut tight but I can hear his zipper slide down. "...the thought..." I hear the rustle of fabric as his pants drop to the floor around his knees. "...of another man fucking you." He pulls my hips to the edge of the couch and enters me with one swift thrust, burying himself deep inside me. "Oh, Mulder...God, yes!" His hands hold my hips firmly in place while he begins pounding into me with punishing intensity. "I can't stand it..." He says and drives into me harder. "It makes me crazy..." His breathing becomes ragged. "I lose all control..." He moves faster. "I go out of my fucking mind, Scully!" He's taking me now so deep and so hard that I cry out with each and every thrust. "I won't share you!" There is no longer any rhythm, only frantic penetration. "You're mine! Do you understand me?" He stops my head from thrashing back and forth against the cushions by grabbing my face in his hand and forcing me to look at him. In his gaze I see jealous rage. "Yes!!!" I scream as the climax hits me with a force I've never experienced before. I lose all senses... cognizant of only the sexual exhilaration. When I return Mulder is laying spent over my body. He's breathing hard and trembling every now and then. My arm is heavy but I manage to lift it up off the couch so I can run my fingers through his damp hair. "Scully..." he mumbles into my chest. "I love you." I lean forward and kiss the top of his head, tasting the salt of his sweat. "God, Mulder, I love you too." ------------------------------------------------ We're nearly an hour late to Scully's mom's house. She forgets all about it though when she sees her daughter hobble in with an injury. "Oh, my Lord, Dana! What happened?" She rushes to Scully's side and takes over for me, helping her daughter to the nearest chair. "It's just a sprain, Mom. Don't worry. I broke a heel in the parking lot at the mall today and fell." "Oh, Dana. You really have to stop wearing those ridiculous heels!" She shakes her head and sighs. "I'm sorry we're late, Mom. It took me a lot longer than I thought to get ready." Scully and I exchange smiles with our eyes. "Don't give it another thought, honey." She plants a motherly kiss on Scully's forehead then turns to me. "Fox, it's good to see you again." When she smiles her eyes sparkle just like her daughter's. I lean over and kiss her cheek. "It's good to see you too, Mrs. Scully." "Oh, now that won't do." She frowns. "You're part of this family, Fox. Please, call me Mom. That is, if it doesn't make you uncomfortable?" Scully mutters something under her breath neither of us catch. "What, dear?" "Nothing, Mom. Is dinner ready?" "Yes. Why don't you and Fox just wait here while I get the food on the table." "Do you need any help...Mom?" I offer and she grins when she hears me call her mom. "No, dear. Thank you. Just stay and keep Dana company. I won't be but a minute." As soon as her mother is out of earshot Scully apologizes. "I'm sorry, Mulder. I should warn you, my mother is relentless when it comes to matchmaking. We're undoubtedly in store for an evening of not so subtle hinting on the subject of marriage." I must not be hiding my feelings very well because she chuckles softly. "I know that face, Mulder. That's your panic face." Sometimes I wish that she didn't know me quite so well. I don't have any idea what to say at this point. There is a long uncomfortable silence between us. "How about those Knicks, Scully?" It's a poor attempt at humor but that's all I've got right now. She surprises me with what she says next. "Relax, Mulder. I'm not looking for a ring. I gave up on that a long time ago. I just want your companionship... in what ever form you can offer. That's good enough for me." She even manages a smile. I don't deserve her. I know that. I put my hand on her cheek and she puts her hand over mine. "I love you, Dana." She grins. "Don't call me Dana in front of my mother, she'll book the church." We're both laughing when Maggie returns. ------------------------------------------------ The evening went pretty much how I had expected. My mother did her best to keep the topic of conversation on weddings and marriage. Mulder, God bless him, remained charming and at least outwardly calm throughout the entire nightmare. I wish I could say the same for myself. Maybe it was the pain in my ankle, or the stress from a really taxing day, or maybe it was the fact that my mother finally got so bold as to inquire outright whether Mulder had ever considered marriage. Whatever it was, I just couldn't sit there any longer and watch the man I loved be tortured. "Mom, Mulder's been married before!" I snapped. "And he's not interested in making the same mistake twice! So could we just move on and talk about something else? Please?" I regretted my outburst as soon as I saw the hurt look on my mother's face. Dinner was finished in relative silence from then on. I ended up with a pounding headache and we said goodnight early, my mother refusing all offers of help to clear away the dishes or clean up. I tried to apologize at the door but she just waved it off as if nothing had happened. It's now an issue between us that will have to be resolved over a quiet, Mulderless, lunch. On the drive home I held my aching head and Mulder put some soft music on the radio for us to listen to. He didn't say anything, and I wasn't sure if he was angry with me for telling my mother his little secret, or if all the talk about marriage had made him uncomfortable despite my assurance that I held no such ambitions. He pulls up in front of my apartment and I'm about to get out of the car when Mulder stops me. "Scully?" "Yeah?" He hesitates but then decides to go ahead with what he has to say. "I realized something tonight. I've been unfair to you. I've been making all the rules in our relationship and expecting you to live by them. I suck at relationships, Scully. I'm too selfish, I suppose. But I'm determined to make this one work. All your mother's talk of marriage tonight made me stop and think." "Oh, God. Mulder if you propose to me right now, I'm going to have to say no." He smiles. "Well then I won't. But I want you to know, Scully, someday I might." Jesus, my mother has a gift! ~END~ Best Friends: Blood and Water by TBishop27@aol.com Rated: NC-17 Category: MSR Feedback: If you want to see the series continue. Flames will be forwarded to that dark part of my writer's imagination that roams the night in search of victims. Disclaimer: This Mulder and Scully are mine. Chris would never let his play this way. Author's Note: This is the sixth installment in the Best Friends series. It is NOT necessary for you to have read any of the prior installments as they each are written to stand alone. But they are connected, so you might enjoy this more if you have the background of the other stories. You can find all previous installments on my personal archive page listed below. The stories in this series are as follows: Best Friends: 1) Mulder's Girlfriend 2) The Date 3) Sleeping Over 4) Work Ethics 5) Jealousy 6) Blood and Water ***Thanks to David, Shoshana and Shell for beta. And to Webmistress Grasshopper for keeping up the Archive. You can now find all my stories archived at: The Literary G-Spot http://members.xoom.com/arcticfox42/Tbishop.htm BEST FRIENDS: Blood and Water The hot spray of the shower feels good on my sore muscles after that workout. Scully's brother Charlie is a maniac on the court. I had a hell of a time beating him. I may be taller and have a longer reach, but the guy is five years younger than me and sadly it shows. I was determined not to be bested at my beloved roundball, especially with Scully watching intently from the sidelines. Had to impress my woman, after all. This is the first time I've met Charlie. He's a cut up. He says some damn funny stuff. Scully had warned me about it before he arrived this morning. She said he was sort of a clown and a big practical joker. I could see it the moment I met him, the sly quirk to his smile and a gleam in his eyes that makes him look like he's perpetually up to something. We got to talking and found out that we were both huge Knicks fans, funny Scully never mentioned that, and we both played basketball in high school. Of course, I had to razz him a little, he's only 5'8"! That's when he challenged me to a game. An hour and a half later, the battle was finally over. And being as we were both smelling like manly men, Scully and her mom insisted we hit the showers before lunchtime. Charlie went in to use his mom's shower off the Master bedroom, and I took the main bath upstairs at the end of the hall. Just as I start to soap up, I hear the bathroom door being opened and shut. I could have sworn I locked the damn thing. I see a shadow pass by the frosted glass. I KNOW I turned that lock. A minute later the shower door clicks open and my very beautiful and very naked partner steps in to join me. I'm momentarily shocked by her boldness. After all, we are in her mother's house. Maggie Scully doesn't seem like the type to condone such behavior in her properly kept home. Although, now that I think of it, Scully did tell me the story of her mother picking out that fabulous lingerie... what the hell. I'm not about to turn Scully away. She bites her lower lip, and I can see a little bit of a flush in her cheeks. Oh, so that's the game. She likes that she's being bad. Defying the guilt of her Catholic upbringing always seems to turn her on. Hell, it turns me on too. There's something strangely erotic about taking what is forbidden. I've never felt this way about other women. Perhaps it's because Scully is my partner and we both tried for so long to keep things professional between us. Or perhaps it's because she's nothing like the other women I've ever known. Scully is...this is going to sound corny, but she's special, or maybe exceptional is a better word. She's different. She's... my best friend. I respect her on so many levels. For years I kept her up on that pedestal, a virginal Goddess... well, at least in my fantasies she was. I'm still in denial about her past experiences. It's ridiculous, I know. But I'm insanely jealous of any man or boy from her past who might have touched or taken what I now consider to be mine. She is mine. All mine. And it's time to prove that again to both of us. I look her up and down slowly. My eyes caress each curve and valley as the hot spray of the shower rains over her. Steamy clouds drift around us in the tiny enclosure. As I pin her against the shower wall with my body, she hisses when her back meets the cold tiles. I let my gaze drop down to her chest, watching her ruddy pink nipples pucker, becoming hard and erect before my hungry eyes. "You naughty little girl. Does your mother know what you're up to?" I use the menacing voice that always seems to turn Scully on. She shakes her head and gives me the most mischievous grin. Oh God, I love this woman! "She thinks I went up to my room to rest." "Dana Scully, lying to your mother and sneaking off to seduce your boyfriend in the shower? What ever am I going to do with you?" The soap on my body makes a wonderful slipperiness between us as I press against her, intimidating her with my size and strength. She shrugs, and I see just a bit of apprehension along with excitement in her eyes. I step back from her purposely, letting her see the affect she has rendered on me. Then I touch myself as she watches, slowly stroking up and down my erection. "Now, look what you've done," I scold her. "Sorry," she offers meekly, but there is a spark of self-satisfaction lighting the blue of her eyes. I continue to slide my hand back and forth over my pulsing hard-on, and Scully watches with rapt attention, her back still hugging the wall of the shower. "Sorry isn't good enough, sweetheart. I'm afraid you're going to have to atone." Her eyes flutter shut and the hint of a smile quirks the corners of her mouth. I know she likes this game. She likes to be dominated. Since that first time when I said, 'Get over here, Scully,' and she obeyed, I knew. She may be a tough, independent, gun toting G-woman, but she likes to play a different game when it comes to sex. Uncovering this secret of hers has been the most amazing discovery of my life, and by far the most rewarding. I pull her towards me, taking her with a fierce kiss. She's more than eager, and we let our tongues explore as the water from the shower falls over us. Sucking the sweet glistening droplets that cling to her lips, drinking her in, tasting her breath, plundering the hot velvet of her mouth. The need to be inside her is growing more immediate with each passing second. When I finally release her, she looks up at me and I can see nothing but burning passion and desire in those heavenly pools of blue. Her eyes have always captivated me, drawn me in. From the very beginning I was mesmerized by their hypnotic depths. I feel her delicate fingers gently tracing the length of my erection, eliciting involuntary twitches, and a gasp I can't suppress. "I'm sorry I'm such a bad girl," she says with the voice of a wicked seductress. In the two months that we've been together as a couple, I've learned to expect the unexpected from this woman. She is careful to keep me guessing. There is always another side to her, left to be explored. I feel her nails now, as they drag across the sensitive skin where moments ago her fingers caressed. This time I moan. She's getting the better of me. If I don't stop her, there won't be any use pretending I'm in control. Reluctantly, I reach down and grab her wrist, abruptly pulling her hand away. "It's going to take more than that, Scully." "What, then?" Her tongue darts out just briefly from between those perfect lips to catch a water drop that has come to rest on the curve of her smile. It sends a surge of longing to my groin. I debate my options. We don't have much hot water left, so this is unfortunately going to have to move along. Not that I'm feeling especially patient at the moment anyway. There's just something about a subservient and biddable Scully that really sends me into overdrive. "Turn around." It is a command the way I voice it. The fire intensifies in her eyes as she willingly complies. **************************************************** I brace my palms against the wall of the shower and push back into him in perfect synchronous rhythm to his desperate thrusts. He holds tight to my hips, pulling me back harder and harder, flesh slapping against flesh, the hot spray of the shower running down my back, across my shoulders, trickling over my breasts, caressing my body as Mulder drives into me with all that he has. He is so deep inside of me now. I can feel him pushing against my cervix, forcing my body to accommodate him. He's fucking me so hard that I'm about to climb up this damn wall! It's reckless to be doing it here, in my mother's house. This wanton act, letting Mulder take me here and now with my family near by, is very wrong; but for some reason it's one of the most erotic things I've ever experienced. I've never done anything so sinful before. "God, Mulder, yes," I whisper. It takes all the restraint I have not to scream it to the heavens. I rest my face against the cool tiles. This has to be killing him, doing it in this position, me being so much shorter. Good thing he keeps those long legs in shape by running. After an hour and a half playing basketball with Charlie it's a wonder he can even walk, let alone do this for any length of time...and he's been at it quite a while. He continues rocking into me, his hands holding firmly to my hips, his fingers digging in unmercifully. There will be bruises, but who cares. Mulder is possessing me, conquering me, owning me. I love feeling this way. The pleasure/pain of his demands is exquisite. I am moaning quietly, but it's torture... if we were someplace else, I'd be crying out from the force of his assault. Mulder brings his mouth down and starts kissing and biting the side of my neck. He sucks at my tender flesh, and laps at the water cascading down my skin. "God. Yes. More," I whisper. He hears me over the noise of the shower and gives a long, low, rumbly moan in reply. The sound of his voice pushes me to the edge. I am so close... Suddenly the shower door flies open, and Mulder and I both turn and look in horror at the equally shocked expression on my brother Bill's face. Oh my God! He's standing there looking at us, his mouth hanging open. "Christ! Son of a bitch!" he curses, and hastily slams the shower door shut. As Mulder and I abruptly separate, sharing distressed looks, we hear Bill slamming the bathroom door on his way out. ***************************************************** Scully and I are in her old room dressing and trying to recover from the humiliation of getting caught in the act by her brother. Jesus, that has to rank near the top of the list of embarrassing moments in my life. I'm sure it ranks high with Scully too. She looks absolutely mortified, and hasn't said a word since. Bill and I have never gotten along, but now I'm certain he'd like to see me dead. Not that I can blame him after this. He just caught me fucking his sister. He's probably in the other room gouging his eyes out at this very moment... There is a loud knock on the door. ...Or not. Scully gets up from her bed, having just finished putting her shoes on. She throws me a guilty side glance as she walks past. The door is barely open when he pushes his way angrily into the room, glaring and pointing his finger at me. "I want him the hell out of here, Dana, right now!" Scully immediately closes the door hoping to muffle her brother's loud voice. "Calm down, Bill. Do you want the whole house to hear you?" He spins around to face her. "Don't tell me to calm down! I'm shocked, Dana! Shocked that my little sister would behave in such a way! Is this what he's done to you? Is this what you've become? A slut who would fuck her boyfriend in her own mother's house!" Scully sees me opening my mouth to object and puts a hand up to stop me. "It's okay, Mulder. I'll handle this." Reluctantly, I hold my tongue. "He's leaving if I have to throw his sorry ass out of this house myself!" Bill moves in my direction, but Scully catches his arm. Her voice is calm, but I can hear the trembling as she struggles to keep her emotions in check. "He's not leaving, Bill. And before you go starting something you're most certainly going to regret, I will apologize for my behavior. It was inappropriate, I agree. But it wasn't Mulder's idea, it was mine. I'm sorry you had to see that... but what the hell were you doing opening the shower door anyway?" He looks disgusted. "I THOUGHT it was Charlie in the shower. Mom told me he was upstairs getting cleaned up after playing ball. I was going to give him shit about his tattoo." His eyebrows arch in true Scully family form. "Apparently, you've had some ink done yourself. I don't know who you are anymore, Dana. If Dad were alive, his heart would break seeing what this son of a bitch has done to you." I've got to hand it to him. He's good. He managed to cut us both with that last sentence. Scully draws a shaky breath. I can see her mentally counting to ten. "Mulder is not responsible for my behavior. He hates the tattoo probably more than you do." I do? Well, yeah, I do. But I never told her that. We've never even discussed it. "Don't waste your breath defending him to me! I've seen what's been happening to you over the last seven years since you got involved with him! You were a lighthearted, intelligent woman with a promising career ahead of you. You had respectable friends and a normal life. Now look at you! Your life is a mess! You've forgotten all your friends! And your morality is seriously in question! You weren't raised this way, Dana! The Church doesn't condone the way you're conducting yourself. Have you abandoned your faith too? Is fucking that loser so important that you're willing to give up every part of yourself!" Jesus, Scully's brother's an asshole. I look over at my partner to see that the forced calm has all but disappeared from her face. She looks like she's about to explode. And she does. "Who the fuck do you think you are preaching morality to me! You think I don't know about your girlfriend in tenth grade?" Scully must have brought out the big guns, because her brother's face goes stark white. Hmm, family secrets, from the look of it Billy boy's just been knocked off that high horse of his right onto his ass. "Yeah, I know all about it! The Church doesn't condone that either, now does it?" Go, Scully! "I was just a kid, Dana." All the fight is momentarily gone from his voice, the wind let out of his sails. "We're allowed mistakes in our youth." "No! You were allowed to make mistakes, and Missy and Charlie too, but never me! I had to do it all perfectly! I was never allowed to be human, to have failings! To give anything less than a flawless performance at all times!" Her body is shaking with rage, and her eyes have become glassy with unshed tears. "Damn it, Bill! For the first time in my life I've found real happiness. I have a career I love and a relationship with someone I care deeply about. Why can't you accept that I know what's best for me?" He doesn't miss a beat. "Because apparently you don't! Not if HE," he tosses his head in my direction, "is what you consider to be best! He's a loser, Dana! And he's dragging you down with him!" Just then Charlie pops his head in the door. "Hey, what's going on? What's all the yelling about?" "I caught our sister fucking her boyfriend in the shower." "Oh God," Scully groans, burying her face in her hands. "Why don't you just call everybody up here and give a full account, Bill? That is, if they haven't already heard you." Charlie throws me an amused look and enters the room, shutting the door behind him. "Can you believe this shit, Charlie? I was just about to give lover boy the old heave-ho." "Come on, Bill, Dana's a grown woman. If she and Mulder want to work up some steam in the shower together, it's really none of our business." The voice of reason. At least one of Scully's brothers is on our side. "Thank you, Charlie." Scully gives Bill a defiant look. "You approve?" Bill squints at his brother in disbelief. "Well, no... not really, but that doesn't give me the right to interfere." Charlie's words hit Scully like a slap across the face. She drops her gaze to the floor, and I can almost feel the shame radiating from her tiny form. Of course, Bill feels it necessary kick her when she's down. "You see, Dana, I'm not the only one appalled by your indecency. Charlie may not feel it's his place to correct you, but as head of this family, it's my duty..." I can't stand by and listen to this any more. "Oh, for Christsake, I'll go... just get off her back, would you please!" Scully looks over at me. "Mulder, no. Don't leave." "Scully, I don't want to be the cause of a fight. It's better if I go and let you spend the day with your family." I move to her and kiss her forehead. "I'll call you tomorrow." "No! Damn it, Mulder, stay." She clings to my hand. "Let him go, Dana." Bill makes the stupid move of trying to pull Scully away from me. That's when all hell breaks loose. "Get your God damn hands off me!" she roars at him. Bill Scully is either the bravest or the stupidest man alive, because he doesn't let go at her warning. In fact, he grabs her by the arms and shakes her. "Stop this! I want you to come to your senses right now! He's no good for you, Dana! Wake up and realize that!" He's really not being all that rough, but regardless, I refuse to see Scully mistreated in any way. I push myself in between them. "Don't you dare treat her like that!" I am rocked with a right cross that momentarily stuns me. Scully flies at her brother, throwing a punch of her own which he parries, and then he shoves her aside. His push is a little too hard however, and she ends up hitting the floor. That's it for me. I get up, prepared to rearrange this guy's face... I don't care if he IS Scully's brother, when suddenly I hear a voice that stops me cold. "What's going on up here?" Maggie Scully says, sounding every bit the role of Mother. And like a room full of guilty children, we all look from one to another and nobody says a word. I offer Scully a hand up, and we face her mother together. "Mom, I think Mulder and I are going to have to be going." "What in God's name for? What's this all about?" Scully goes to her mother and gives her a hug. "I'm sorry, Mom. We have to go." She looks over at Charlie and gives him half a smile. "Little brother, It was good seeing you again." Then she turns to me. "Come on, Mulder." I follow her out the door, but not before nodding at Charlie, and offering Maggie an apologetic smile. As we're walking away I hear Scully's mom begin questioning her sons. "All right. Which one of you two is going to explain this?" I know one thing for sure. I don't want to be around when she finds out what we were fighting about. ***************************************************** Mulder and I had this awful argument on the way home from my mother's house. The worst fight we've ever had. I was feeling guilty about what happened, and he said something that I took completely wrong. Then I attacked with a bunch of stupid, hurtful things I never should have said, because I really didn't mean them. He got mad and lost his temper, saying, if I really felt that way then maybe we should call it quits. And before I could stop myself, I had agreed. We broke up. I felt numb and stunned and sick. And when he pulled the car up in front of my apartment, I got out without another word, and he drove away before I even walked up the steps. I tried to call him all the rest of the afternoon and evening, but he wasn't answering either of his phones. I left messages telling him I was sorry and asking him to please call me back, but I never heard from him. Around two in the morning, I couldn't stand it any longer. I drove over to his place, just to make sure he was okay. All these wild imaginings kept running through my mind, and I had to know he was safe. When I got to his apartment he wasn't there, so I let myself in to wait for him. I didn't have to wait long. After only about twenty minutes, I hear a key turn in the lock. At first I'm relieved because he's home safe... and then the door opens. He's not alone. Mulder and this lanky brunette, (what else?) come stumbling into the room, obviously under the influence. He sobers up almost immediately when he sees me sitting there on his couch, with what must be a horrified expression on my face. "Scully!" He takes his arm off the other woman. "What the hell are you doing here?" I can't face this nightmare. I just can't. I've embarrassed myself enough for one day. I'm not about to stick around here and make a fool of myself in front of Mulder. I'm off the couch and out the door in a heart beat. I can hear Mulder calling after me, but I don't look back, I don't turn around, I don't stop running until I'm behind the wheel of my car. The tires screech as I push the pedal to the floorboard and speed off before he can catch up to me. With no one else to turn to, I end up at my mother's. The last place I should go, but I'm too upset to go home alone. It occurs to me I may not be in for a very warm reception if Bill told her what he caught me doing with Mulder in her shower, but since Missy was killed I've found myself turning to my mother more and more with my personal problems and for advice. My mother is amazing. I wake her up in the middle of the night, crying my eyes out, and she calmly makes us tea and sits me down ready to listen to her daughter's heartbroken ramblings. If Bill did rat me out, it hasn't made a difference. She has nothing but sympathy in her eyes as I tell her of the day's events. "I'm sorry, Mom... I'm sorry to bother you with this," I sniff. She reaches across the kitchen table and squeezes my hand. "It's okay, Dana. Don't be so upset, honey. You and Fox will work this out. Every couple has fights." "No, Mom, I didn't tell you the worst part." I look over and see Bill and Charlie standing in the kitchen doorway listening intently to my every word. Why the hell is my life always the family soap opera? "I... I went over to his apartment to apologize and he wasn't there. So I waited for him and... oh, Mom... He came home with another woman." "Oh, Dana." Mom looks as crushed as I feel. "What am I going to do, Mom?" I sob. "I love him so much. And now I've lost him, and it's all my fault. I've been waiting so long for this relationship... and... God!" I bury my face in my hands and cry harder. Mom sighs. "Honey, I know what Fox means to you..." "I thought I had a chance, Mom, a chance at happiness for the first time in my life. Why did I have to screw it up? I love him, damn it!" "And he loves you too, Dana. I'm sure of it. I've seen it in the way he looks at you. Those times when you were so terribly sick... when we were afraid you might die... he was beside himself." "Yeah, well, it seems I'm easily replaced," I tell her bitterly as the picture of Mulder and that woman comes into sharp focus again in my mind's eye. ***************************************************** All I keep seeing is that look on her face. Those wounded eyes. How could something so beautiful be so filled with pain? Me, that's how. And I hate myself for it. I tried to catch her, but she took off out of here like a shot. After she left I played the messages on my answering machine, and it was her voice telling me how sorry she was and pleading with me to call her back. Sometimes I can be such a stupid jerk. I was so busy feeling sorry for myself and drowning my sorrows in booze, that I didn't ever even consider what she must have been going through. We had a fight. That's all it was. Okay, maybe it got out of hand... but I don't think either of us intended for it to go as far as it did. It's just that when she made those remarks about me treating her like a whore because I would never sleep over, I didn't know how to respond. I suppose the truth would have been a good place to start. But how do I tell her? Scully, waking up with you in my arms is the most incredible feeling in the world and it scares me to death. Yeah, she'd love that. I couldn't sleep in my own bed for years after Diana left me. Couldn't stand the feeling of waking up each morning alone. That would definitely win points with Scully. Bringing up my ex-wife always has a positive effect on her. But I have to tell her. She's entitled to an explanation. She'll never understand though. I can already hear her rationalizing... 'then you must not trust me as you say you do, Mulder, if you're afraid of getting hurt.' It's not that I don't trust her. It's that I'm fully aware of my own propensity for destroying relationships. I think the best term to describe it is sabotage. I'm so afraid of being rejected, of being abandoned, that I subconsciously destroy the very bonds I'm am terrified of losing. It's nice to have a degree in psychology so I know how truly fucked up I am. It's a wonder Scully wants anything to do with me at all. I should go after her, but I don't have my car. They took my keys at the bar after my sixth round of drinks. Michelle drove me home. She lives in my building. She's a barmaid by night, graduate student in anthropology by day. She and her husband are moving to Tibet next summer when she gets her doctorate. Jeez, Scully thinks... There's a loud knock at my door. It's almost four. It has to be Scully. Thank God she's come back! Even if she intends to shoot me, at least she'll see I'm alone here. Maybe I'll even have time to explain and beg her to forgive me before she can riddle me with bullet holes. Scully's at the door all right, but it's the wrong Scully. My chances of being shot have just increased exponentially. "I need to talk to you, Mr. Mulder," Bill grumbles, with a hateful glare. I let him into my apartment and I can see him checking around with his eyes. "Your sister's not here," I tell him. "Yeah, I know. She's at my mom's house crying her eyes out because of you, asshole." "If you came here to kill me, my weapons over on the coffee table. Help yourself." He almost laughs. "Tempting as that is, it's not the reason I came here." He's still looking around, and it finally dawns on me what, or should I say who, he's looking for. "There's nobody else here. Michelle... the woman that Scully saw me with, she's a neighbor of mine. She gave me a ride home because I was too drunk to drive my car." That seems to relax him a bit. He nods, accepting my explanation. He's standing over by the bookcase now, looking at a photo of me and Scully taken several weeks ago when we went on a date to the zoo. The guy in the primate center was an acquaintance of Scully's, and he let her come into the nursery room and feed one of their baby chimps a bottle. When I went to snap her picture she said, 'come on, Mulder, let's make it a family photo,' and she asked her friend if he would mind taking the picture. The next day she presented me with a framed copy with a little note that said, 'It's amazing how much our baby looks like you, Mulder.' I laughed at the time, but what I really wanted to do was to pull her into my arms and hug her, and tell her how truly sorry I was that we would never know what a child of ours might look like. I can't put that photo away, it would hurt Scully, but I hate the way it reminds me of what we can never have. "You know I really can't stand you, Mr. Mulder. I think I've made that quite clear," he sighs. "Gee, and here I thought you dropped by to read me poetry and bring me flowers." He ignores my sarcasm. "I know Dana would be far better off in life if she'd never met you." "Yeah, well, I have to agree with you there." He moves from the photo to a book resting nearby on the same shelf. "This was my father's," he says, matter-of-factly. "Scully asked me to keep it for her." "I don't think my father would have cared for you much... But, then again, Dana was always his little Starbuck. I suppose he would have accepted you for her sake." He looks at the book for a moment longer and then sets it back down on the shelf and says, "I love my sister very much. Her happiness is important to me. I thought if I could convince her to leave the FBI and go into medicine she might have a chance at a normal life. I imagined her with this great guy who would treat her like a princess and keep her safe from harm. They'd get married, settle down together and have a family." He turns and looks at me with a sardonic smile. "But that's not what she wants. She wants to run around chasing little green aliens with you. Risking her life in a dangerous profession. And now I find out why... I'll be God damned if she isn't in love with you. Seriously in love with you." He walks around the room slowly, looking at things and occasionally stopping to frown over objects that belong to Scully. I never realized before just how much of her I keep with me here in my apartment. "The way she was tonight, crying like that, I've never seen my sister hurt so much. Dana's always been strong and independent. Tonight I saw a side of her I didn't know existed. A very vulnerable side. She's absolutely devastated at the thought of losing you." He stops in front of me. "I came here to bring you back to her. I want you to make things right. I don't want my sister crying any more. You're not my choice, but you ARE hers. And I'm willing to accept you for her sake... But I'm warning you. If you break her heart, if you fuck up and hurt her in any way, I'll come after you, and there won't be any place you can hide that I won't find you." ***************************************************** I'm sitting at the kitchen table clutching a cup of cold Earl Grey and pretending to listen to my mother's story about her first big fight with my father and how he shipped out before they could make up, and it was almost three months before she could get a letter to him to say she was sorry, and then another three weeks before his letter made it back to her telling her he was sorry too... All I can think about is Mulder back at his apartment with that woman. He's probably fucking her right now. Damn him! I know she can't mean anything to him, but I hate that he would just go out and pick up someone only a few hours after we broke up. Here I was, at home, in tears, trying to call him to apologize and make up, and where is he? Out at a bar hitting on some leggy brunette and bringing her home to do the wild thing. God damn him! I hear the sound of someone coming in the front door, and a few seconds later Bill makes another appearance in the kitchen. This time he's fully dressed, including his coat. Here I thought he went upstairs to bed when Charlie did. "Dana, can I see you in the living room for a minute?" he asks. When I'm reluctant to get up, he puts a hand out for me to take. "Please, sis." I look at him warily for a moment. I still haven't forgiven him for that scene earlier. And I'm not in the mood for another one of his lectures on how I should live my life. He's not going away though, so, with a sigh, I get up and follow him into the living room. Bill stops in front of me, blocking my entrance to the room. "Don't say I never did you a favor." As I'm puzzling at his remark, he steps aside and I see Bill's 'favor' standing there looking back at me. Mulder. If he never does another thing for me in my life, I will be eternally indebted to my brother for this. Mulder crosses the room in three long strides and then we are in each other's arms. "I'm sorry, Scully," he whispers. I can smell the gin on his breath and his clothes hold the odor of cigarettes and... women's perfume. Damn him! "Damn you, Mulder!" I shove him away. "Scully, I said I'm sorry." I turn my back to him. I don't want him to see my tears. I'm angry. No, furious! "How could you? We have a fight... and the first thing you do is go out and find yourself someone else. I thought our relationship meant more to you than that, Mulder." He puts his hands on my shoulders and I try to shrug them away, but he refuses to let go. "Scully, it's not what you think. That woman you saw me with is just a friend. She and her HUSBAND live in my building. She works part time in the bar I went to after our fight. She gave me a ride home because the bartender took my keys... I was too drunk to drive myself. If you don't believe me, you can ask Michelle yourself." Boy, do I feel incredibly stupid. And guilty. And relieved. Mulder starts massaging my shoulders and the tight muscles in my neck. "I know how it looked, Scully. And I don't blame you for thinking the worst. It's been a hell of a day." "Yes, it has." I move my head from side to side as Mulder's kneading is starting to relax the knotted muscles. His cool hands and strong fingers have a tranquilizing effect on me. I cover my mouth to stifle a yawn. "Oh... sorry." Mulder chuckles softly against my ear. "What do you say we go back to your place and spend a lazy Sunday in bed together making up?" His fingers reach up into my hairline sensuously rubbing my scalp, causing shivers to run down the length of my neck and back. I feel his lips press a kiss behind my ear, the response to that taking place somewhat lower in my body. He's doing it to me again. He's using sex to manipulate and distract me. There's no sense in fighting it. Both physically and emotionally I'm just too exhausted to resist. "You know I can't say no to you. Not when you ask like that anyway." "I'll have to keep that in mind the next time we're out on a case." He nibbles along the side of my neck and I lean back into him. "Don't you dare," I warn, but the moan that follows my words undermines the threat. He's feasting now, his lips and teeth and tongue finding all the places that he knows make me go weak and turn to putty in his hands. I submit, enjoying the feel of his fingers running through my hair, and his warm breath tickling my kiss-dampened skin. If we don't get out of here in a hurry, Bill's going to be giving me another lecture on my inappropriate behavior. ***************************************************** Her essence still flavoring my lips, I take Scully's mouth with my own and let her share with me the rich taste of her arousal. We barely made it home from her mother's place before we were tearing at each other's clothes and tumbling into the sheets for a naked and sweaty apology session. I had a lot of apologizing to do. I don't think I've ever heard my name used as an invocation that many times in one lovemaking session. By my count... and, yes, I do count... I took my dear Scully to the summit of love no less than five times. A personal best, thank you. She hums softly as I pull back from our kiss. "Mmm... Mulder." A smile plays on her lips. "You have a very gifted tongue." "I like to think it's the talent of the man behind the tongue, Scully." I lay next to her on the bed, propped on my side so I can admire the beauty of her bare body aglow from our sexual encounter. I take advantage of any opportunity I can get to memorize every radiant inch of her resplendent form. I have mentally catalogued every freckle and mole, dip and curve, and even the scars. Both of us are a bit battle-worn from our years with the Bureau, but the remnants of old wounds cannot mar her loveliness in my eyes. One of the most amazing things about this woman is the fact that she has no idea how incredibly beautiful she really is. Scully reaches up and puts her palm against my cheek, pulling me from my task to meet her gaze. "Why do you do that?" "What?" "Look at me that way? Like you're studying me or something?" "I am. I want to have a perfect picture of you in my mind for the times when we can't be together." That seems to bother her. She looks away. "You know, Mulder, we could be together more..." "Are you proposing to me, Scully?" I hope she doesn't notice the way my body just kicked into panic mode. "Nothing so drastic as that. You can relax, I wouldn't dream of jeopardizing your bachelorhood. I was just thinking it might be nice if you didn't always rush home every night." There is a long pause as I try to think of the right response to her suggestion. Unfortunately, the lull speaks for itself and Scully draws her own conclusions from my silence. "Forget I said anything." She turns her back to me. As my eyes wander across her fair curves, the dark contrast of her tattoo suddenly catches my attention. Even before we were together as a couple I was doing things to drive us apart. This has to stop. I love her too much to keep hurting her like this. I get up from the bed and walk over to her closet. Jesus, she's got a lot of black clothes. I stand akimbo and sigh at the neatly organized yet slightly crowded collection of suits and blouses. There's even a few dresses, newer additions to her wardrobe that bring back fond memories. "Mulder, what are you doing?" "Wondering where the hell all my Armanis are supposed to go." ~END~ End note: Would you like more? If so, please feed the author at TBishop27@aol.com Best Friends: In the Future by T Bishop Rated: NC-17 Category: MSR Disclaimer: Any resemblance to the characters created by Chris Carter are purely intentional. Summary: What does the future hold for Mulder and Scully? Author's Note: This is the seventh and final installment in the Best Friends series. It is NOT necessary for you to have read any of the prior installments as they each are written to stand alone. But they are connected, so you might enjoy this more if you have the background of the other stories. You can find all previous installments on my personal archive page listed below. The stories in this series are as follows: Best Friends: 1) Mulder's Girlfriend 2) The Date 3) Sleeping Over 4) Work Ethics 5) Jealousy 6) Blood and Water 7) In the Future I'm sorry it took so long for me to get this one out to you. So many have written and asked when and if there would be more, and I know I kept putting you off with the promise that the next one was on the way... forgive me. It's done now. I hope you enjoy it. And thank you for all the wonderful letters of encouragement. Feedback: Please send it to my NEW addy - tbishop27@mindspring.com Thanks to David, Shoshana, Shell, Brigitte and my Smut-sis Char for inspiration and beta. And, as always, to Grasshopper for keeping up the archive. You can find all my stories archived at The Literary G-Spot http://members.xoom.com/arcticfox42/Tbishop.htm or try The Literary G-Spot Mirror http://tbishop.freeservers.com/ BEST FRIENDS: In the Future (Part 1 of 3) When Frohike told me, I couldn't get over there fast enough. I flew out of my apartment, taking the stairs two and three at a time, because the thought of waiting even twenty seconds for the elevator seemed unbearably long to me. I drove like a maniac, breaking every posted speed limit, and running three stop lights along the way. I was across town when it finally dawned on me that I'd run out on my friend, leaving him there in the middle of my living room... Not until I'm standing on Maggie Scully's front porch, does the full realization hit me; and I find myself nearly doubled over with the shock of it. I stand there clutching the door frame and trying very hard not to hyperventilate. I'm certain I didn't knock, or maybe I did - my mind is too dazed by the impact of what I have just learned to comprehend anything with a reasonable amount of certitude right now; but suddenly the door opens and I am looking down into the concerned face of Margaret Scully. "Fox? Are you all right?" My pale appearance impels her to put a motherly hand on my cheek. Fighting back tears, I somehow manage to get the words out. "Where is she?" For the better part of a year, I've lived without her, trying to convince myself that I did the right thing all those months ago when I moved out of her apartment and broke off our relationship. It was more than our relationship though - our partnership ended that day as well... also at my request. The look on Scully's face when I told her it was over, when I told her I was involved with someone else, I'll never forget. The devastation and betrayal that I saw as I looked into her eyes, shimmering with tears, still haunts me - and I know it always will. I broke her heart. Another successful foray into intimacy for Fox Mulder... Jesus Christ - How could I do that to her? After all our years together. She stood by me through the worst of times. She never failed me. A better and truer friend, I couldn't hope to find if I lived a thousand lifetimes. The woman loved me in spite of all that I'd put her through over the years. My partner - in every aspect of the word. And how do I thank her? By starting a love affair with her and then refusing to really commit, by destroying her trust in me, by pushing her away, by abandoning her for my own selfish reasons. It WASN'T the right thing, but it was all I was capable of at the time. "Dana's up in her room. Come in, Fox. I'll let her know you're here." Maggie has to literally pull me into her home, guiding me to a chair in her living room and encouraging me to sit, before disappearing upstairs to give her daughter the bad news. When she returns so quickly, I fully expect rejection - to hear that Scully refused to have anything to do with me - I deserve Scully's rebuff, but that's not the case. "Come on," she whispers, the hint of a smile softening her worried features. Leading me to her daughter's room, Maggie gives my arm a squeeze of reassurance as she opens the door. I enter alone, pounding heart suddenly moving up into my throat. Even though I believed Frohike when he told me, my mouth still drops open as I take in the sight of her propped up against a mountain of pillows, the bed covers tented over her bent knees. I hear a small sound and find myself drawn in closer. Before I know what's hit me, I'm looking down in wonder at the tiny new life on Scully's lap. When I am capable of speech, only one word comes to mind, "How?" "An extreme possibility. A miracle. A gift from God. There's a scientific medical explanation, but I like to believe his conception wasn't just random luck." "A boy?" In my peripheral vision I catch Scully's nod; I can't tear my eyes away from the sight of my newborn son. MY son. "His name is Daniel. Daniel William... " her voice trails off as I reach out for the amazingly perfect miniature hand that just found it's way out of the swaddling of blankets. As soon as I touch his soft new skin, five delicate fingers put a death hold grip around my thumb. I'm struck by his strength, and overwhelmed by the idea that I had a part in the creation of something as unbelievably beautiful as this child. I have a son. "Do you want to hold him?" Scully's question is simple enough, but do I dare? Do I have any right to such a privilege? I wasn't there to support her through her pregnancy, or even to comfort her during childbirth. What right do I have to come here now and claim this baby as mine and marvel in his life? Unfortunately, Scully takes my hesitancy as a sign of disinterest. With a sigh, she tells me, "Mulder, I want you to know that I didn't list you as the father on his birth certificate. In no way do I expect any kind of support or involvement from you in Daniel's upbringing. There isn't a need for you to feel a sense of obligation or responsibility. I'm more than capable of raising this child on my own." The cold no-nonsense tone she chooses to deliver her words, tells me everything I need to know. During our separation Scully has rebuilt the walls around her heart that for years kept our relationship platonic. How can I blame her though? After what I did to her, it's in her own best interest to shield herself from me. "Scully, if you need anything..." The baby starts to fuss, and he lets go of my hand. Could it be that he senses his mother's emotional constraint where I am concerned? Does some instinctual wisdom tell him that I am an enemy, one to be feared? "I don't need anything from you." Scully says it softly as she tries to quiet Daniel, but I know she'd like to scream it at me at the top of her lungs. I can feel the bitterness she carries inside. "I'm sorry this happened." Her laughter is harsh. "I'm not." She shifts the baby around in her arms and settles him close to her breast. "Please go now, Mulder. I have to feed my son." Our eyes meet briefly, and I try to show her my remorse. I receive only a dispassionate dismissal in reply. And then her attention returns to the baby. The last image I have of her is one so beautiful it fills my eyes with tears. Scully, suckling our newborn babe, the morning sunlight streaming in her bedroom window, bathing mother and child in the promise of a new day, a new future... without me. XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX Mulder's visit this morning left me an emotional wreck the rest of the day. And these damn hormones aren't making it very easy to pull myself back together. I need to be strong for my son. I'm all he has, and I don't want him to think his mother isn't in control of her life. It's bad enough I had to move in with his grandmother - when you're pregnant it's somewhat difficult to find anyone willing to take you seriously as a prospective employee. I suppose I should have stayed with the Bureau, transferred to another department; but the controversy of a knocked up Agent Scully leaving the X-Files division would have been too much to bear. And I really didn't want Mulder to know. He made his choice. For whatever reasons, he decided he wanted me out of his life. I didn't want him hovering around me out of some guilt-ridden sense of obligation while I puked my way through the first half of my pregnancy. Or offering me marriage to assuage his feelings of culpability. I wouldn't have trusted myself in the emotional Missy was always fond of that saying... 'If you love something, set it free. If it comes back to you, it's yours. If it doesn't, it never really was.' Well, my sister would be proud of me. I've set him free. I don't expect he'll return to me, at least not for the right reasons... and I won't take him back for anything less. As I watch my son sleeping peacefully in my arms, I can't stop the tears from running down my cheeks. I wish they were tears of joy for this beautiful new life that Mulder and I have created, but they're not. I'm filled with sadness as I look upon Daniel's sweet angelic face. Sadness, because I want to give him everything, I want his life to be wonderful and happy and filled with love, and already I've failed him. He has no father. I think back to the day I found out I was expecting. Some doctor I am; I thought I had the flu. Imagine my shock when I went to my physician and he informed me that my illness would last approximately nine months and result in the delivery of a (hopefully) healthy baby boy or girl. I made him run the test three times before I would believe his diagnosis. And, even then, I considered going for a second opinion. Apparently, the procedure that was used to harvest my ova wasn't 100 percent. Surprise. After I got over the shock, the panic set in. Mulder and I had been struggling with our new living arrangement. Under pressure from me, he had agreed to move into my apartment. But his heart wasn't in it... and neither were most of his belongings - which he kept back at HIS apartment, stubbornly refusing to give up the lease. He claimed he wanted to move in gradually, avoid the awkward stress of trying to cram all of his stuff into my life at once. 'You've got the important thing, Scully. You've got me.' That's what he said, and for a while I fooled myself into believing it was true. For a while. Until it became undeniably obvious that Mulder was holding back, that he wasn't comfortable or happy with our new status as live-ins, and that our relationship was in serious trouble. Then suddenly, there I was, pregnant. I had no idea how he would take the news. And I never got the chance to find out. Timing, as they say, is everything. And Mulder's was decisively perfect. While I was wasting most of the afternoon in the waiting room at the clinic, my partner had been a busy bee. I returned home to find him packing the last of his possessions into the trunk of his car. And as we stood there on the sidewalk in front of my apartment, he gave a well rehearsed speech about how sorry he was, but that things just weren't working for him, and how he'd met someone else and wanted to pursue a relationship with her. And then he delivered the death blow... 'Scully, I don't think we can be partners anymore. This history between us will undoubtedly cause friction in our working relationship. It's better if we go our separate ways. You understand, don't you?' I didn't understand at all. But through my anguish, I could hear my sister's words as clearly as if she were standing right beside me speaking them. 'Let him go, Dana. Set him free.' I could have told him right then and there about the baby - He would never have been able to leave me then. But I wanted him to stay because he LOVED me, not because honor bound him to it. And so I watched Mulder drive away, and I swore to myself I would somehow find the strength to face the future without him. And now I hold that future in my arms. A boy. A precious little baby boy that looks so much like Mulder already I wonder how I will ever be able to keep his paternity a secret. My mother knows, of course - I had to tell her. And the Gunmen... well, Frohike, but I assume he's told his compatriots by now. You see, I had the misfortune of going into labor while I was taking a walk (or rather, a waddle), around the neighborhood for exercise. I had no idea the contractions would come on so sudden and be that strong. Trying to make my way back to my mother's house, I was intercepted by her elderly neighbor Mrs. McNeely. When she discovered that my mother was off at the market and that I was planning on driving myself to the hospital, she insisted on calling an ambulance. I was more than irritated at the time - however, in retrospect, her judgment in the matter was far better than mine. I delivered Daniel enroute. The EMT's name was Dan. It was his first day on the job... thank God he didn't tell me that until afterwards. I was in too much pain to notice his hands shaking. But somehow we all managed to get through it just fine. And Dan was very happy that I'd chosen him as the baby's namesake for his heroism. Anyway, long story short, Frohike heard my name on the scanner, and was waiting at Georgetown Memorial when they rolled me off the ambulance. Doped up on pain meds and overwhelmed from the experience I had just been through, when I spoke to Frohike later in my room, I confessed all. I'm sure that's how Mulder found out. I swear, if next month's issue of 'The Lone Gunmen' has a birth announcement in it... XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX I always promised myself that if I ever became a father I would NOT be the kind of absent, detached parent MY father was. I would make every effort to instill in my child the feeling that he or she was loved and wanted. I swore to myself a million times over that no child of mine would grow up in an unhappy, dysfunctional home - like the one I endured in my youth. My child would have a REAL father, a supportive, caring, loving role model. Someone to take him to baseball games and help him with his homework. My child would never doubt his self-worth because he would find the approval he sought every time he looked into his father's eyes. Fate, it would seem, has a twisted sense of humor. Since I first laid eyes on my son I've been haunted by memories from my own childhood. Memories of my relationship with a man who, for whatever reason, could not or would not love me, despite the fact that he called me his son. Painful remembrances of a lonely, confusing, despondent upbringing where I blamed myself for the love I didn't receive. Looking back, I can't recall a time when the relationship between my parents wasn't strained. They never displayed affection toward each other. And their frequent arguments were bitter and often violent. I think their divorce was more painful for me than it was for them. I imagined a loss they probably never even felt. These memories are not what I want for my son. I don't want him to be ashamed of who he is or where he comes from. Scully expects me to let him grow up thinking his father didn't want him, didn't love him enough to acknowledge his patrimonial responsibilities? She would have our son believe that I would deny him my name? I know she wants to hurt me - and I don't blame her for that, but she's hurting Daniel too; and for that reason alone, I have to try and change her mind. And then there is the other consideration that has me once again driving through this familiar Georgetown neighborhood, my destination a modest home on Williamsburg Avenue. Dana Katherine Scully. She may hate me for what I have done to her, but seeing her yesterday made me realize that I've been kidding myself thinking that I could ever really live without her. She is as vital to my life as the air I breathe. There's no use pretending otherwise. I need Scully. I've been slowly dying all these months without her. Though it is arrogant and selfish of me to hope for a reconciliation with her, I have to believe that it's not too late to win her forgiveness. XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX After all this time he thinks he can reenter my life because it suits him now to do so. When for months I waited, hoping and praying that he would call, and I never heard a word, not one word from him. Now, because he knows about Daniel and his conscience is nagging him, I get two visits in less than twenty-four hours. I won't even let him in the house this time. Instead, we take our discussion outside, where my mother won't be able to overhear what is bound to be one hell of a fight if he thinks I'm going to let him anywhere near my son. Arms folded defensively over my chest, I glare at him, daring him to answer. "Why are you here, Mulder?" His incredulous laughter only fuels my contempt. "I think we need to talk, don't you?" "I already told you. You're off the hook." "What if I don't want to be? Daniel is just as much mine as he is yours and I..." "Whoa whoa whoa! Where in the hell are you getting that from?! Just because you contributed a little genetic material, Mulder, it doesn't give you right of ownership! I carried him in my womb for nine months, nurturing and loving him even before he was born..." "You never gave me that chance, Scully. If I had known about the baby, I would have loved him all those months too. I would have found ways to be involved in your pregnancy. You can't blame me for something that I had no control over... Why didn't you tell me?" "You hurt me, Mulder. I trusted you... and you hurt me. I was brokenhearted and lost, devastated that my best friend had abandoned me - betrayed me in a way that I never would have believed you capable, but I wasn't so desperate that I would use my pregnancy as a means of trapping you in a relationship you didn't want. I have more pride than that." Shamed by my words, Mulder hangs his head. "I know I screwed up, Scully..." I am too filled with resentment to offer him pity. "Yeah, you did. Big time, Mulder - you screwed up. And so did I, by trusting you in the first place." Though we are standing only a few feet apart, the distance between us has never been greater. It's difficult to hold back the tears, but I don't want Mulder to know how much I still care, so I fight the emotions welling inside me, determined to deny him any evidence of the love I feel - or the sorrow that consumes me as I look upon this penitent man. As far as I'm concerned, he doesn't deserve the satisfaction of knowing I continue to hold a place for him in my heart. His remorse, while genuine, is motivated by guilt, not love. When he finds it within himself to look me in the eyes again, he doesn't hide his own pain. Steeling myself against his tears, I remind myself how cold those same eyes looked when I desperately searched them for affection the day he walked out on me. "How can I fix this? What can I do? Scully, please tell me. I want you in my life again. I want to be a good father to my son." "MY son, Mulder, not yours. Mine." His frustration gets the better of him and he grabs my arms, managing to stop himself just short of shaking me in anger. "Don't do this!" "I want you to leave. Now." My reply is willfully calm, though it takes an incredible effort not to betray the excitement I feel at his touch. He lets me go, realizing the mistake he's made. I can see him mentally kicking himself for losing control. And then he stares at me, as if he doesn't know what to do next, tearing me apart with those sorrowful eyes. "Scully, please... " He's not going to do this to me. I'm not going to let him play on my sympathies. I have a right to be angry, damn it! Before he can use that pleading puppy-eyed look to con me out of the fury that is justifiably mine, I turn my back on him and go inside, leaving Mulder alone with his guilt, and I hope, a little bit of the heartache that has been mine all these long, lonely months. XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX ...Her back arches off the mattress and she calls out my name, an orgasm taking her as I watch with utter fascination the beauty of her passion. Scully. My gorgeous, incredible, sexy as hell partner... Jesus, what it does to me to watch her come! My sweaty body pleads with me to let go, taut muscles trembling from being held back, screaming at me to give in to the need and pound away at her with reckless abandon. My cock is driven to the point of throbbing as she contracts around it, the tight, wet, silken heat of her making me ache for more. But I will not give in to my own desire until she lies flushed and sated beneath me. The pleasure of seeing her this way is something I have always cherished. Knowing that I am the one that takes her to this place is the most extraordinary ego rush. Dana Scully comes for me, because of me, only for me. And when she returns to herself, she looks up at my awed expression with fiery eyes that burn only for me, and in the sultriest of voices demands, 'Now I want to watch YOU come, Mulder. Do it. Come for me. Do it now.' Christ Almighty, that voice alone nearly puts me over! And then, my little G-woman-turned-seductress thrusts her hips upward and clenches the muscles that hold my cock within her, and I can't deny myself another second. I pound into her over and over and over until I'm certain I'll split her in two. But she's right there with me, taking all the punishment I can dish out, and seemingly loving it every bit as much as I am... Why in the hell did I send her away? How could I let go of something as spectacular as what we shared? She was perfect. And she was mine. And she loved me. And I threw her away. I hurt her. And now there's a child. A consequence of our intimacy. A life brought into this world because we loved each other so many months ago. Scully gave birth to my son. And I wasn't there. Not for any of it. I never saw how beautiful she looked, round and glowing with expectant motherhood. I wasn't with her when she heard his heartbeat for the very first time, or saw the ultrasound pictures of the new little life growing within her. I wasn't there to comfort her through the morning sickness, and the aches and pains of pregnancy. Or to reassure her, when she worried or got scared. I missed out on the joy of seeing my son born. I missed it all. And I miss her... "Agent, are you feeling all right?" Skinner's voice breaks the silence of my office. I can't bring myself to face him with my tears, so I nod, keeping my head buried in my hands and hope like hell he'll go away and leave me alone. I hear the door shut and heavy footsteps approaching my desk. Figures. "Mulder? What's going on? You've been sulking for weeks. I've put up with your bouts of depression since Agent Scully quit, but your behavior lately has me very concerned." Why should I keep this a secret? The whole fucking world should know what kind of screw up I am. "Congratulate me," I say, tossing him the envelope with the pictures Maggie sent. "I'm a father." I look up, no longer caring whether he's witness to my weakness, wanting to see his horrified reaction, needing the satisfaction of being judged for my iniquity. His face is stone as he looks through the stack of photos - until he gets to the official one that the hospital photographer took... the one that records the baby's name and vital statistics. His jaw tightens, and I can see the anger building inside him. "Jesus, Mulder, is this why she left?" My reply is bitter with self-hatred, as I confess to Skinner the horrible sins I have committed against my partner. "No. She left because I asked her to go. I wanted out of our personal relationship and so I lied to her and I told her I was involved with somebody else. I told her I couldn't see us working together anymore either. I sent her away." "You walked out on her when she was carrying your child? What the hell is wrong with you!" "I didn't know about the baby. She never told me. I only found out a couple of weeks ago, just after Daniel was born. I went to see her, to see them both... Understandably, she wants nothing to do with me." "I don't believe that." He is resolute in his statement. "You can believe whatever the hell you want! Look at what I've done! For a man who claims to have dedicated his life to the truth, because of me, my own son is living a lie from the moment he's born! Scully kept my name off of his birth records. He'll grow up never knowing who his father is." "That doesn't have to happen. You can fix this, Mulder. And you damn well better. She doesn't deserve this. That woman stood by you through thick and thin. You owe her more." "I tried. She says she doesn't need anything from me. She told me to leave." Skinner shakes his head, less than impressed with my self-pity. "Since when did you ever do what you were told?" "Look, I appreciate your concern, especially on Scully's behalf, but I've destroyed any hope of ever having her back in my life. She hates me. I've lost her trust. I shattered her faith in me. And I've broken her heart... Besides, she looks at my attempts at reconciliation now as nothing but manifestations of my guilty conscience. She's never going to take me back." "If you've lost her trust, then you'll have to find a way to earn it back. Get your shit together, Mulder. That baby needs a father and Dana Scully deserves more respect from you than this." He hands me back the photos. "He's a cute kid. You must be proud as hell of him." Long after Walter Skinner has gone, his last words echo in my mind as I, again and again, look through the stack of pictures of my son. Before I left her house that first day, I asked Maggie if she wouldn't mind sending me photos of Daniel every once in a while. And she promised she would as long as her daughter had no objections. At least Scully couldn't find it in her heart to deny me this much. He IS cute, despite the fact that he looks an awful lot like me. Humph. Proud? How could I not be? ~End of Part 1 of 3~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ BEST FRIENDS: In the Future (Part 2 of 3) "Hey, Sis, Mom said it was all right for me to come up and have a peek at my new nephew." Bill stands in the doorway to my room, waiting for permission to enter. "Two minutes earlier and I would have put you on diaper detail," I tell him, welcoming him in with a smile and more than a little trepidation. This is the first I've seen or spoken to my brother since he was told about the baby. Mom spared me the details of the call, but I could tell by her demeanor after she hung up the phone, Bill didn't handle the news very well. He's here though. And so far he's being civil; but I expect any minute the lecturing will begin. "No, thanks." He comes over to stand beside me while I finish dressing Daniel on the bed, offering me a warm hug and a kiss on the cheek in greeting. Then I slide Daniel nearer the edge, closer to us, so Bill can take stock of the newest member of the Scully family. He looks down at the baby, and for a moment he doesn't say anything. I know what he's thinking. I asked Mom not to tell Bill and Tara that Mulder was Daniel's father, but I'm sure my brother was suspicious of the lie. And one look at his nephew has likely removed any lingering doubts. I prepare myself for the inevitable 'I told you so' speech regarding my relationship with Mulder. He has every right, of course, but I pray he shows me mercy. "You know, you forget how tiny they start out. It's hard to believe Matthew was ever this small." And then he does something so sweet and unexpected that my eyes blur with tears. He leans down over Daniel and, kissing him on the forehead, says "Take it from your old Uncle Bill, Danny, you got lucky when it comes to moms." It's not often I receive a compliment from my big brother. In fact, I can't remember when the last time was. I don't even know how to respond to praise from Bill. As fate would have it though, I don't have to... Mom suddenly appears at the door, and the look on her face has my heart pounding faster even before she comes over to me and whispers what it is that's distressing her so. "Fox is downstairs," she tries to say it so that Bill won't hear, but big ears has his radar up. "I warned him that right now wasn't a good time, but he refuses to leave until he speaks with you." "I'll talk to that son of a bitch!" Bill is already half way down the hall, all of hell's fury guiding his steps. Mom runs after him, but I know even SHE won't be able to stop this fight from happening. I race after her, both of us chasing Bill down the stairs, shouting for him to stop! Mulder is waiting in the foyer, and Bill flies at him in a rage, knocking him into the wall and sending Mom's curio shelf and all it's fragile contents crashing to the floor. "I warned you if you broke my sister's heart, if you hurt her in any way, I'd come after you, you sorry bastard!" He's got Mulder's face pressed up against the wall, and one arm twisted hard behind his back. "In case you didn't realize, asshole, getting her pregnant and running out on her qualifies! Before I kick your ass out of this house for good, I'd just like to know, where you get off treating my baby sister like that, huh?!" Mulder isn't putting up much resistance. "Look, before you kill me, can I say what I came her to say?" "Bill, let him talk to Dana." Mom is trying to wedge her body in between the two men, as am I. Both of us working together, however, are no match for my furious brother. Thankfully, Bill remits on his own, letting go of Mulder and taking a step back. Mulder turns to me immediately. "Scully, I came here because..." he stops as we all hear the sound of something hitting the floor upstairs. XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX I'm about to pour my heart out to Scully, right in front of her mother and brother, begging her to forgive me and take me back, when a noise from the floor above, and Maggie's fearful expression, stops me cold. "Dana, where's Daniel?" There is an unmistakable edge of panic in Maggie's voice. "God, Dana, you didn't leave him on the bed, did you?" her brother asks with equal alarm. Scully's gasp and distressed cry as she races up the stairs has me following close behind her. When she reaches the bedroom, a heartbeat ahead of me, she let's out a scream the likes of which I have never heard her issue. "NOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!" Oh God! I see him now as she falls into the room and drops to her knees beside his tiny body. He's lying face down, he's not moving, he's not crying... Jesus, God, please let him be all right! Her hands are shaking so bad she can't find a pulse; and I share her horror as she carefully rolls him over and we discover he isn't breathing. Through her sobs, Scully performs CPR on our infant son, frantically trying to give him back the life that has vanished from his small body. Her mother kneels beside us now, crossing herself and muttering prayers through her own tears. "I called 911, they're on the way," Scully's brother tells us all, the phone still in his hand as he comes running into the room to witness the tragedy. Daniel is not responding. Scully's barely keeping it together enough to continue to administer CPR. As the minutes tick by, I'm imagining the worst - his neck is broken. Scully will know the pain of losing another child. I'm already grieving as I hear the distant siren grow louder until it finally stops out in front of the house. Seconds later, Bill leads a team of paramedics to the rescue. He's already informed them of what happened. Maggie and I have to pull Scully off Daniel so the EMT's can begin their work. No longer charged with a task, Scully can't stop herself from trying to run the code. The techs do not welcome her interference. And the scene that ensues is nothing short of a nightmare. Our son lies dead on the floor while Scully and the paramedics battle over procedure. The ride to the hospital is no better, as Scully forces herself into the ambulance and refuses to get out. I climb in and try to convince her to sit with me, but she shoves me away - she won't leave our son's side. All the way to the hospital the battle continues between Scully and the techs over Daniel's resuscitation. If I had any clue how to help, I would. But all I can do at this point is stay the hell out of the way and watch the drama unfold, hoping that all their valiant efforts aren't in vain, and that our little boy comes back to us. At the hospital, Daniel is whisked away. The ER docs, having heard Scully's behavior over the radio, refuse to let her in the trauma room. For a minute I think she's going to try and fight her way past the security guards, but she finally lets me guide her to a quiet corner of the waiting room where I offer her the comfort of my arms, but she turns away, determined to cope alone. Watching her body tremble as she quietly cries through the pain is more punishment than I can stand. She puts up a fight, but I am bigger and stronger and more resolved, pulling her into my arms and holding her tight. Realizing she is trapped, she collapses into my embrace, sobbing her remorse. "I killed him...I killed my baby! How could I be so careless? What kind of a mother leaves her newborn right on the edge of a bed where he can fall? He's dead! Oh, God, Mulder, he's dead! He's dead and it's all my fault!" Her fists pound against my chest in frustration. "Scully! Stop! Do you hear me? Shhh. It's not your fault. It was an accident." "I'm his mother, damn it, Mulder! I'm supposed to protect him from harm. I'll never forgive myself. Never!" "Dana, let's just wait and see..." "He's DEAD, Mulder! He's dead! I killed him. He's dead, he's dead, he's dead..." She continues chanting the horror, her cries muffled in my jacket as Maggie and Bill approach. I hope Scully's brother has the good sense to put our rift to the wayside for the time being, at least in front of Scully and her mom. If he were to go on the attack right now... in the state I'm in, I wouldn't want to be held accountable for my actions. Whispering soothing words to Scully, I try to calm her as best I know how. The only reason I'm managing to keep it together myself is because I know Scully needs me to be strong for her. I've been absent through too much of what she's endured these past several months; being her support now is the least I can do. Maggie meets my eyes with an outpouring of sympathy and grief. Bill looks only at his sister; his compassion for her shows - I see him bite his lip to hold in his own emotions, and he shuts his eyes as if seeing her pain is too much to watch. This can't be happening. None of this is real. I'm willing myself to wake up, but the nightmare won't end. Another Scully family tragedy and I'm right in the center of it. Sometimes I wonder if it isn't possible that I am Dana Scully's very own bad luck charm. The admitting clerk leaves her desk to talk to us. "I need to start a chart on the infant that was just brought in. Are you the parents?" I nod. Scully doesn't acknowledge the woman's presence. She's gone quiet in my arms... hopefully gathering her strength for whatever is to come. "I need to get some information from you. The child's name, date of birth, your names, your address, your insurance carrier... It won't take long." Her eyes are apologetic as she addresses us. "I'll give you as much of that information as I can." Maggie cuts in, taking charge of the situation. "I'm the baby's grandmother." I send her a silent 'Thank You,' grateful that she understands that what Scully and I need most right now is this time together. But when I hear her response to the clerk's first question, I can't stop myself from objecting. "Child's name?" "Daniel William Scully." "MULDER." I say it so loud that I draw the attention of half the waiting area and a threatening glare from Bill. "Daniel William MULDER," I insist. And when Scully looks up at me, her face flooded with tears, I tell her in a much softer voice, "I will not have our son living a lie." XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX Subdural hematoma. That was the findings of Daniel's CT Scan. I gave written consent and he was rushed off to surgery to relieve the pressure on his brain. I never even got to see him before they took him away. And now we wait on pins and needles, hoping against hope that he is strong enough to survive the surgery. And praying that his fragile little brain was not permanently damaged by the trauma. I hate myself for letting this happen. I still can't believe I left him alone like that. How could I be so stupid? It doesn't matter that they try to tell me differently - the blame for this rests solely on me. I've been sitting watching Mulder pace the floor for almost an hour. His concern for Daniel is genuine, and for that, I will accept his presence here. But I will not allow another scene like the one we had in the ER. As good as it felt to have his arms around me, and to lose myself in his protective embrace, I must keep the distance between us. I have to remember that up until he heard about the baby, Mulder made no attempt to reestablish a relationship with me. He doesn't really want me anymore. And I suspect, what he came to my mother's place to tell me today was some carefully thought out guilt ridden apology, along with another request to be a part of Daniel's life. A request I would have turned down. And then Mulder could go on his way with the knowledge that he tried to do the right thing. My mother would send him photos every now and then, and he would castigate himself each time another envelope full of pictures arrived - almost masochistically deriving pleasure from the self-flagellation, but then Just as Mulder finally gives up on his pacing and takes a seat on the sofa beside me, Daniel's pediatric neurosurgeon comes looking for us. She must see the fear in our eyes, because she immediately tries to reassure us with a smile. "Mr. and Mrs. Mulder?" Neither of us bothers to correct her as we get to our feet and prepare ourselves for the worst. We're both holding our breath, anxiously waiting for the news. "I'm Doctor Abbott, your baby's surgeon. Everything went perfectly. He's being transferred as we speak, to the NICU. It's on the fifth floor. If you head up that way, you'll be able to see him shortly." I feel Mulder's body sag with relief next to mine, but I've still got a lot of questions I need answered before I'm willing to breathe that sigh with him. "Doctor Abbott, I'm a medical doctor too. What's your prognosis for Daniel? How do you intend to treat him?" "Your son will likely make a full recovery; although as you know, with something like this, there are no guarantees. We have him on a ventilator now to help bring down the cerebral edema." "How soon will we know if his brain has been permanently affected?" She sighs. "I'll run visual and auditory stimuli test over the next few days; the EEG should tell us if his cerebral cortex is functioning properly. Unfortunately, with infants it's very difficult to assess higher brain function with any kind of certainty. We'll follow him closely over the next few years to see that he's developing normally. If a problem should arise, it's best to intervene as early as we possibly can. But your son will likely enjoy a full recovery, with his surgical scar being the only lasting reminder of his fall." Her smile brightens. "That, and about a dozen or so new gray hairs for his mom and dad." Years... Because of my carelessness, Daniel will be seeing specialists for years to come. God blessed me with a beautiful healthy baby and I ruined his life before he was a month old. Dr. Abbott places a compassionate hand on my shoulder. "Try not to beat yourself up too badly over this. Accidents DO happen. He's going to be fine. You've got a precocious kid. Most babies aren't capable of rolling over at his age - it's not unheard of - but the vast majority don't have the motor skills to pull off such an amazing feat. It's usually the wiry little ones like him that though that surprise us. Every once in a while one of the newborns will show off for us in the nursery. Oddly enough, as soon as they put some weight on they seem to lose this particular talent and return to the normal stages of development." We both shake her hand and express our gratitude. And I allow Mulder to guide me down the hall to the elevators. I know it's wrong of me to take this bit of comfort from him, but it comes so naturally, and is given without condition. His gentle guiding touch at my back is something I've sorely missed. XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX I hate seeing Scully like this. She blames herself for Daniel's accident and refuses to be cheered by the doctor's assurances that our son's recovery is going as well as we can hope for. It's painful to see him tethered to all those tubes and wires, but he IS getting better - and in another week if all goes well, we should be able to take him home. As Scully stands vigil beside Daniel's incubator, I watch her thoughtfully from across the room. So many tiny babies fighting for their lives; our son is one of the lucky ones who will survive. He seems big compared to most of the preemies being cared for here. One little girl is so small I could slip her into my coat pocket quite easily - just over two pounds - amazingly, she's expected to survive. Each time one of these miracle babies goes home, the nursing staff holds a little celebration, and the baby's picture is added to a huge collection that adorns the walls. I am looking forward to seeing Daniel's photo become part of that happy collage. The faces of the parents who come here to visit their children are bittersweet; hope mixed with fear, joy tempered by sorrow. Guilt is a common burden they all share. These are our children and as parents we are tasked with their well-being and protection. It's not easy watching them struggle, feeling that we should be able to help, agonizing over what we could have done differently that might have prevented this suffering. If only... Scully blames herself for leaving Daniel unattended on the bed - I blame myself for this whole situation. We can't undo the past. History has been written and stands for us to reflect upon. We're meant to use the lessons of our past experiences to make a better future. Instead, I've been letting a painful history destroy any hope of a happy future. My fear of repeating the disastrous relationships I've had caused me to abandon my relationship with Scully. I'm through living with ghosts. Diana has haunted me long enough. Scully is nothing like my ex-wife. As much as I loved Diana, she always had her own best interests at heart, her own secret agenda that made it impossible for her to give herself to me completely, to commit herself fully to our marriage. Scully's been committed to me from the very beginning, and she's never wavered in her loyalty, not once. Diana cut me pretty deep, and each time she came back into my life, the wound would reopen. Somehow, whether she realized it or not, Scully always found a way to stitch that wound closed again. And now she is the one who has been hurt - hurt by me. And selfis This is Daniel's third day in the NICU. Scully has been here with him around the clock. I'm here too, but staying well clear of Scully, who seems to only tolerate my presence. My attempts at engaging her in any sort of meaningful conversation have been complete failures. She's determined not to let me in. I don't know what, if anything, I can do at this point to win back her favor. But I do know that trying to go on with my life without Scully and my son is unthinkable to me now. Being near her again after all these months, holding her in my arms the other day, it's as if my black and white existence has been suddenly doused with brilliant color. I don't want to go back to Kansas, Toto. I want to stay in Oz. XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX "Dana." My mother peeks her head in the door. "Hi, Mom." "How's my grandson doing?" She's carrying a bouquet of brightly colored mylar balloons. Mom has yet to visit empty handed. It's a good thing the little boy who shared this room with Daniel went home today - we need every inch of extra space we can get with Grandma Scully and all her 'get well soon' gifts. "Dr. Abbott was here a few minutes ago. You just missed her. She said his test results all look good." "Thank God." "He should be able to go home in another couple of days." Mom nods, and adds the balloons to Daniel's ever-growing collection of spoils. She hesitates a little, then says, "I saw Fox out in the hall." "He refuses to go home. I don't know what he's trying to prove." "Maybe he's just worried about his son, like you are." I give my mother a disapproving look. "Are you going to take his side in this?" "I didn't realize there were sides to be taken. He IS the baby's father, Dana." "Not according to Daniel's birth certificate," I point out. "You did that to hurt him, Dana. To get back at him for hurting you. It's wrong to use Daniel in that way." "I'm not..." She puts up a hand to stop my protest. "You most certainly are. You and Fox need to work out your differences without involving this baby." "Daniel is the only reason Mulder is even here." "He loves you. He always has." "Huh! Is that why he left me for another woman? Is that why he forced me to walk away from a career to which I'd dedicated my life? Is that why I didn't get a single phone call or letter from him in over six and a half months?" "There wasn't ever anyone else, Scully. I lied to you about there being another woman. I couldn't tell you the real reason. You wouldn't have accepted it. You wouldn't have gone away." Mom and I turn in unison to find Mulder standing in the doorway. Damn him for listening in on a private conversation! As he comes further into the room, Mom starts her retreat. She touches him on the arm as they pass each other, exchanging meaningful looks. I've been set up! My own mother has conspired against me! She leaves the room and I make a note to myself to remind her of this the next time she accuses me of not sharing my feelings with her. "Scully..." Mulder reaches out for me but I turn away from him and watch my sleeping son. "So you lied to me. Is that supposed to make me feel better? You wanted me out of your life and I am - at least I was - until you made the decision to intrude where you're not welcome." "I don't blame you for being angry at me. What I did to you was unforgivable. I only want you to know that I've been miserable without you. I've missed you both personally and professionally. And I'm willing to do whatever you say, if you'll just give me another chance." "If this is the part where I'm supposed to be moved into accepting you back, I'm afraid it hasn't worked." "You always were a tough sell." Peeking around at my face, he grins in true Mulder fashion, trying to inveigle his way into my heart. "I'm immune to your charm, Agent Mulder." He is standing right behind me. Too close. He has me trapped between his body and Daniel's crib. As hard as I try not to show any reaction to his proximity, when he breathes a heavy sigh and I feel that rush of heat on the back of my neck, I shiver. He doesn't miss my response and takes full advantage, shifting his body a little closer and bringing his lips down to brush them seductively along my neck. Not this time, Mulder. I know your games too well. And I know all too well the price I'll pay if I let you have this victory. Struggling against the surge of sexual fire he has ignited within me, I push back hard - shoving him away from me before my ability to fight back is lost completely to his wiles. And I move to the center of the room where he won't be able to entrap me again. "Stop! Stop using sex to manipulate me, Mulder! It's over between us! I can't... I can't do this anymore! My life is a mess! Do you have any idea how much this hospital bill is going to be? I don't have a job or any insurance, thanks to you! I'm living with my mother for Christsake! I have enough problems right now. I can't handle this..." "I'm sorry." "Just go away, Mulder. Just go away and leave me... leave US alone!" My gaze shifts from Mulder to Daniel. And as I hear the door slam shut, I realize my mother was right. I AM using this baby to hurt him. God, forgive me. XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX This could quite possibly be the dumbest thing I've ever done in my life, but I'm a desperate man and willing to attempt anything, no matter how suicidal it seems - if there's a chance I might get her back again. I really blew it the other day when I tried to seduce her. I've used that trick too many times to avoid the real issues between us. Now she won't even let me near her. She's afraid I'm going to find a way around her defenses. At least I know the feelings are still there; buried in anger, but there nonetheless. A glimmer of hope is all I've ever needed to cling to. Scully knows me well enough to know that too. She let me see that spark of light in her. She wants me to find my way back into her heart. I'm not going to let her down. Bill Scully answers the door with a look of incredulity. Can't blame the guy. I have to be out of my mind to show up here after everything that happened last time. "Mulder, I've misjudged you. You're an even bigger idiot than I gave you credit for." I shrug. "What can I say?" "Try good-bye. Unless you really do have a death wish. She doesn't want to see you." "I actually came here to talk with YOU, Bill." "I don't want to see you either." "You told me once that your sister's happiness was very important to you." His eyes narrow on me. "It is." "She isn't happy right now." "Because of you, asshole." "Yes. Because of me. And I want to change that... I've had some bad experiences in the past, relationships with women who didn't have your sister's integrity or virtue. I got burned a couple of times." "You're breaking my heart, Mulder." "I'm not looking for sympathy, Bill. I'm only trying to explain why I did what I did. I've never loved anyone as much as I love Dana. It scared me that I had come to depend on her to the extent that I had. All I kept thinking about was how devastated I was going to be when she eventually and inevitably realized what a mistake she'd made allowing herself to become involved with me personally. I convinced myself that the only way to avoid being consumed by the pain of rejection was to be the catalyst myself - to be the one who called it off." "This isn't helping my opinion of you." "I know it was selfish, but, at the time I was certain she would ultimately leave me. I'd been expecting it to all fall apart any day, trying to prepare myself for it - hell, I was doing things to hasten it. Part of me wanted for it to just be over and done with, to accept the inevasible and let the grieving process begin. Finally I couldn't take it anymore, and I decided to end it myself... I was surprised by her reaction. I figured she'd be angry and tell me I could go to hell. I never imagined it would hurt her as much as it did. But then it was over and done with and I figured it was best just to leave it alone. When I found out about the baby... the first thing that went through my mind was that I had to see Dana. I had to know that she was all right. But then I saw Daniel... YOU know what it feels like, Bill. You have a son too. You want to be the best father you can be, you want to be better than you are... you want to give him everything." Bill nods. And I'm not sure, but I think my plan may have worked; I may have reached him by appealing to him as a father and not as Scully's overprotective big brother. I need him on my side if I'm going to become a part of this family. And that's what I want more than anything. I want to be part of Scully's family. "I need your help, Bill. I want to be a good father to my son. And I want to make Dana my wife. I swear to you, I will be a good husband to your sister. I'll spend the rest of my life making up to her for the pain I've caused. Please, help me. Help me get through to her." I wait with tense anticipation as Bill considers my plea. Gaining his support isn't going to convince Scully to take me back, but the fewer enemies I have in her camp, the better my chances at winning the battle. Bill looks thoroughly disgusted - with me, with my petition for his complicity, with this whole fucking situation; and I brace myself for a stinging retort - and maybe a hard right cross as well. But then I see a hint of resignation softening the edge of his dagger stare. "Mulder, I still think you're one sorry son of a bitch. And I wish my sister had never met you. But the fact remains, Dana will never be happy now without you. And my nephew deserves to have his father around, no matter how pathetic you may be... I'll help, but only because I want to see Dana and the baby looked after. But if you fuck up this time, Mulder, I swear - I'll kill you." ~End of Part 2 of 3~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ BEST FRIENDS: In the Future (Part 3 of 3) Daniel is one month old today. He's bounced back remarkably from his surgery, and is amazing us all with his precociousness. I think he's doing his best to reassure me that he's going to be just fine. Mulder did a very generous thing. He put the baby on his medical insurance. It was a huge relief, considering the total cost of Daniel's treatment was over eighty-thousand dollars. (NICU stays aren't cheap.) I felt terrible accepting his kindness after the horrible way I've treated him. But I really didn't have a choice. There's no way I could pay a bill like that. And though Mom offered to help, I didn't want to see her use that much of her savings, without knowing how soon I could pay her back. Besides, Mulder had basically insisted that I allow him to provide for his son... and let's face it, eighty- thousand dollars is a hell of a lot of money. Practicality over principles - rationalize it later. I had Mulder listed as Daniel's father on the birth record. It was the least I could do, considering - a small gesture of gratitude for Mulder's good turn. And I promised myself that I'd stop using Daniel to get back at him for hurting me. There's no point in carrying on a feud with my son's father. Bill is heading back to California tomorrow, and he is insisting that I go with him to the mall to buy a crib for Daniel. Mom volunteered to baby-sit while we shop. I couldn't refuse either offer, but leaving my baby for the first time has me a bundle of nerves. Every new mother goes through this, I suppose, but I've been especially overprotective after everything that's happened. "Bill, maybe we should take Mom and Daniel with us." I try to make the suggestion casually, but my apprehension isn't that cleverly veiled. He laughs at me and starts the car. "Dana, you're not going to be one of the dopey first-time moms that can't cut the cord, are you? I mean, give the kid a break." "I was only thinking that Mom might be a help in picking out the crib." "Mmm hmm." He snorts. "Sure you were." Damn, I wish I still had my cell phone. Mom could at least call if she had a problem. Okay, Dana, you can get through this. We'll just go to the store so Bill can play up his uncle role, and we'll be back before Daniel even wakes up from his nap. God, my brother drives like an old man! And where in the hell is he going anyway? "Hey, where are we going? The mall isn't this way." "I've got a stop to make first. It's not far." "Bill, come on. Can't you do that later? The baby might get hungry if we're gone too long." "Relax, will ya. Jeez." Well, this is great. We're cruising around Georgetown and Daniel's probably crying his little lungs out and I have no way of knowing if he needs me and... "Bill, I want to go home." I state my desire clearly, with no room for argument. My brother pulls into the driveway of a small colonial cottage, which I assume means he's turning us around. But then he shuts off the engine and I realize this was his destination all along. "Come on," he says, getting out of the car. Frustrated, I follow him up the step and onto the front porch. He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a key, unlocking the door to let us inside. "Ladies first." He gestures for me to go in. Eyeing him suspiciously, I enter the house ahead of him, not sure what to make of this. Immediately, I recognize the furnishings. They're mine! The things from my apartment that I'd put in storage when I had to move in with Mom. I turn back to Bill to ask him what this is all about, but he's gone. And Mulder is standing there in his place. How does he do it? How does Mulder get my family to be his accomplices? Especially Bill. "Mulder, what is this?" "Home." He says it confidently, but I can see the anxiety swimming in his eyes. "Whose home?" "Ours." I'll say this much for the man, he'll go to any and all lengths. "I'm outta here," I tell him, making a break for the door. Unfortunately, that means getting past Mulder, and he does not intend to let me go so easily. He grabs hold of my arms and stares down at me with pleading eyes. "You've always wanted to see the proof, Scully. Well, that's what this is. Proof that I love you. And that I want you and Daniel in my life. Proof that I'm ready to commit... really commit. I bought this house for us. All our things are here, yours and mine." My head is spinning by this sudden and unexpected turn of events. Did he say 'bought'? "Mulder, you're crazy," I stammer, looking up at him with utter disbelief. "Only for you, Scully." "Oh brother." "Come on. You're here. At least let me give you the tour." "And then can I go back to my mother's and kick my brother's ass?" He laughs. Apparently he thinks I'm kidding. Knowing Mulder the way I do, I figure it's pointless to fight him on this. The sooner I let him play tour guide, the sooner I'll be able to get home to Daniel. With a reluctant sigh, I humor his real estate fantasy. And as he escorts me from room to room, I see that he really is true to his word. He's moved all of his things and mine into this charming little house. Amazingly, it somehow fits... a bit eclectic, but not too bad. I suspect there were greater forces at work here than just my domestically challenged ex-partner. "Who did this?" "Me." That earns him a skeptical look. "Okay, your mother helped a little." Greater forces, indeed. "I don't think... No, I KNOW I don't like you conspiring with my family against me." "Not against you, Scully, FOR you. This is all for you... for US. You, me and Daniel. I did this for us." What am I supposed to say to this? The man went out and bought a house - a HOUSE, for Godsake! (And it's not a bad house at that.) He's trying awfully damn hard to make his point with me. But it's not easy to trust him after all that's happened between us. And I'm not sure what's motivating this. Does he really want me back, or is it only his guilty conscience at work? "Mulder, this is wonderful but..." He's not listening. He grabs my hand and pulls me up the stairs. "Come on, Scully. I want to show you the nursery." Hardly able to contain his own excitement, he pushes open a door at the end of the hall... Oh, my God! >From the cherry wood crib to the antique glider rocker, right down to the Moby Dick prints on the wall. It's perfect. The crib bedding is decorated with boats and anchors and smiling little fish. There's even a stuffed white whale resting next to a lighthouse lamp on a bookshelf already loaded with a collection of children's stories. No fair. He's not playing fair. He's got me fighting tears again. "Damn you." Still clutching my hand, he draws it up to his chest, placing it over his heart as he speaks. "Scully, give me one more chance. I want to make up for what I've done wrong. I know I hurt you. And I'll never forgive myself for not being there when you were pregnant, or when our son came into this world. But I'm here now. And I'm begging you for another chance. Come back to me, Scully. Be my partner again, at work and in life." "Mulder... Do you know what you put me through? Do you have any idea?" I break away from him, our physical contact is unraveling my resolve. Entering the nursery, I am torn by the desperation I hear in Mulder's voice and my own feelings of doubt. "I didn't mean to hurt you. I was afraid. I'm not afraid anymore. I want to marry you. I want my son to have a better father than I knew. Scully, I miss you. I want you to come back to work with me. I'm nothing without you. Everything I've done has been meaningless since you've been gone... I've worked it all out. You can have your old job back. We can be partners again, Scully. Your mother is willing to look after Daniel. There's a spare bedroom she can stay in when we're away on a case. Our son will never have to leave the comfort of his own home. We can do this, Scully. We can make this work." I close my eyes, needing to shut out this scene, this promise of a life I've only dreamed of, before it clouds my judgment any more than it already has. Mulder is the real issue here. I've missed him; missed his touch, his smell, his taste... his sharp wit and his companionship. It's been too long since we last made love, since I felt him inside me, and lost myself in him. Far too long. But can I ever trust him again? Can we build that perfect life together? Can I really believe what he's saying to me? I want to believe... A vision of that familiar poster flashes in my mind. I do so want to believe... XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX Getting Scully to consent to moving in with me took many hours of negotiations. There were several conditions put on the living arrangement. First and foremost being the platonic rule. Scully was adamant that sex have no place in our new relationship. She said she doesn't know if she can ever let herself get that close to me again. I'm not happy about it, but Scully and I do not share a bedroom in our home. She guards herself at all times. And I know better than to overstep the bounds she has set. I don't want to jeopardize what little she is willing to give. I've got my family together, living under one roof; that's all I can hope for right now. Scully is also back working at the Bureau. Not surprisingly, we are the hot topic of conversation at the water cooler and amongst the rumor mongers in the bullpen. Everyone knows about Daniel - Baby Spooky, as they call him; they guess at the rest... and they're not often kind with their hypotheses. It hasn't been easy. I've overheard some rather nasty comments made about Scully. There have been a few incidents in that regard where I was not able to control my temper - hell, I completely lost it a time or two when Scully's honor and reputation were brought into question in my presence. Skinner has threatened to transfer one or both of us if I can't handle the heat our relationship has created. I can take the heat. I just can't take seeing Scully hurt anymore because of what I have done. Though she and I have resumed our partnership, working together again is a daily effort. Scully doesn't trust me anymore. And she has even less patience than before with my wild theories and hunches. I'm reluctant to push. She holds a lot of anger and resentment within her, and it manifests itself in little things she says and does through the course of a workday. Sometimes I think she's just looking for an excuse to start an argument and carry it over to our home life. She's expecting this to fail. Frustrating doesn't begin to describe what it feels like - starting over from the negative after all our years together as a team. Despite the fact that she is determined to punish me, I'm glad to have her back at my side... even if most days it seems like a pointless exercise trying to rebuild our partnership. What's holding us together at this point is Daniel. Thankfully, Scully hasn't been selfish with him. She lets me share in his life as an equal caregiver. Some of our closest moments together occur when we are with our son. I treasure those brief times when she revels in the joy of motherhood and forgets herself, letting me in; letting me see her heart with a smile so genuine that it nearly brings me to tears remembering what was once mine... what I threw away. But those precious moments are much too rare. And her heart is not full of love for me, but our little boy. I've lost her. No matter what I do, I can't seem to make her believe in me again. I doubt she will ever come back to me, the way she once was. The best I can hope for is to heal our friendship. But I want more then that. I want her to love me again. I want her to trust me. I want her to know that I love her. I want her to be my wife. Though I'm certain I'd have more luck convincing her to marry Frohike... There are times when facing her daily rejection becomes unbearable. I know I deserve it. I know I'm lucky that she's even speaking to me, let alone living in the same house with me; but there are times - like tonight - when I'm so lonely for her that I physically ache. Her contempt isn't calculated. She isn't mean-spirited. She's a good person; a good person who has been wronged. And I understand why she's afraid to get close to me again. I understand... but it still hurts. Like me, Daniel doesn't sleep very well. There are many nights when we keep each other company, catching replays of classic sports; watching old movies on the Sci-fi channel, or sometimes we just sit and talk. Tonight we're cozied up in the big chair in the living room. There's a crackling fire providing our entertainment this evening. After a while, Daniel loses interest in the dancing flames and turns his attention my way; his eyes, two round blue saucers as he looks up at me, wondering with great seriousness at the tears on his father's face... XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX Awakened by a horrible nightmare, heart racing, I jump out of bed and pull on my robe. I need to see my son. I have to know he's all right. It was that kind of dream. One that's so real that you have to convince yourself it's not true, that it never really happened. But to my horror, I discover Daniel is not sleeping peacefully in his crib... he's gone! And before I can stop myself, I'm running into Mulder's room to tell him the baby has been taken. His room is empty too. His bed hasn't been slept in. I'm waking up a little more and putting two and two together now. This time I WALK down the stairs where I'm fairly certain I will find father and son asleep in front of the TV. But what I find freezes me in my tracks. It is a picture both sweet and sad. Mulder is sitting in the big overstuffed chair in our living room, holding Daniel on his lap. Glowing light from the fireplace catches on big wet tears running down Mulder's cheeks. Daniel is wide- eyed, watching his father's emotional display with great interest and concern. Mulder's tears are falling faster than he can wipe them - one gets away, christening the forehead of our baby boy, who blinks in protest. "I'm sorry, son," he whispers, reaching out to brush the wetness with his thumb. Daniel doesn't miss the opportunity, and grabs onto his father's hand, gripping Mulder's little finger for all he's worth. This only causes Mulder to cry harder; as he weeps, Daniel is showered in his father's teardrops. I find it impossible to keep my own face dry as I listen to Mulder pour out his soul to our son. "Danny... I don't know what to do. I love your mommy so much. God... I've messed up. Daddy made a terrible, unforgivable mistake, and I want... I want to make it right again, but I don't know how... I don't know how. I want your mommy to love me again. I want her to trust me. If I could only take away the hurt I've caused her..." Our baby stares up at his father, awed by the emotional display. My pounding heart is now throbbing with remorse and contrition as the honesty of this moment overwhelms me. "Your mommy was the best thing that ever happened to me. She made me a whole person. She believed in me when no one else would. She challenged me. She cared for me... She loved me. I think she's the only person who ever really did... And I was stupid. I didn't believe in her, I told her I did, but I really didn't, not the way I should have... And I hurt her because I was afraid... I thought for sure she was going to hurt me." Oh, Mulder... "I'm so sorry, Danny. You didn't deserve this. You're such a sweet baby. Daddy loves you. God, I love you. I know what it's like growing up in a home where your parents can't make it work. I don't want that for you. I'm trying... I'm really trying to make things right again between me and your mommy, but she's afraid now... afraid I'm going to hurt her again. And I don't blame her for that. She's been through too much pain in her life because of me... I ruined it for all of us. God... I'm sorry, son. I'm so, so sorry." And then, in his sorrow, he bows his head over Daniel, and immediately the baby grabs a fist full of his daddy's hair, holding on tight, pulling him closer, as if he actually understands the confession that he's just heard, and the need to offer comfort. Mulder's entire body shakes with grief as he cries his heart out to our son. What have I done to this man? How could I be this heartless and cruel? Have I been so blinded by my own anger and self-pity that I failed to see the hell I was putting him through? As much as I wanted to punish him - and I shamefully admit that I did want vengeance - I never meant to cause him this much pain. Nothing he's done to me makes him deserving of this. Through and above everything that has happened, I have remained in love with him and always will. It's unbearable to watch him suffer another moment, knowing that I hold the power to deliver him from this heartache. With a determined stride, I cross the room to put an end to Mulder's agony. I kneel, embracing them both, my son and his father. "Enough," I whisper into Mulder's ear through my own tears. "Enough. We've hurt each other enough. It stops right here, right now... I love you, Mulder. I'm sorry for what I've put you through. God, I'm sorry." He looks at me, uncertain whether to believe the words he's heard me say, yet with a spark of hope lighting his tormented eyes. Our faces are only inches apart, and I close that distance quickly; bringing our lips together, answering his unspoken doubt with a reaffirming kiss. At first he's afraid to return my affection, hesitant to let himself accept the forgiveness I am offering. But soon he can no longer deny the passion he feels and he gives his tenderness to me along with his tears. For a long time we hold each other, crying and kissing and trying to say we're sorry without any words. Soon it becomes obvious that both of us are ready for more, wanting to reconcile on more intimate terms. "Why don't we put the baby to bed, Mulder. If we're going to make up, let's do it right." At my suggestion, we all head upstairs, Mulder explaining the situation to Daniel as we go. "Son, there are some things in life that can only be explained as miracles. You've just been lucky enough to witness one. However, the rest of this show is for mature audiences only. So I'm afraid, it's off to bed for you, little man." Together we tuck Daniel into his crib, kissing him good night and telling him how much we both love him. He gives us one of those full body smiles in reply, squirming excitedly, a toothless grin his expression of joy. Quietly, we slip out of his room, but once we're out in the hall, Mulder stops in an awkward moment of indecision. "Your place or mine," he laughs. "Ours," I tell him with conviction. Then I take him by the hand and lead him into the bedroom where, up until now, he has slept alone. There is a familiarity and a strangeness to this at the same time. Sex has always been intense and passionate between us in the past - and I pray it will be again someday - but tonight we are shy with one another. I'm nervous about letting him see my body; it's changed a great deal as the result of my pregnancy. And he seems apprehensive, not quite sure of his standing with me yet... In the darkness, we reunite beneath the bedsheets. I'm reluctant to give up the modesty of my clothing, stopping Mulder when he finally works up the nerve to reach for the buttons of my pajama top. He questions me with a worried glance. "I've changed. The pregnancy..." And I shrug uncomfortably, unable to articulate my embarrassment. Understanding begets relief and Mulder hastens to reassure me. "Scully, you're beautiful. You'll always be beautiful to me. Don't ever think anything else." Then he brings his lips to mine, and as we lose ourselves in an endless deep kiss, he gently undresses me and pulls me close against his own naked body. The sensation of our flesh- to-flesh contact after being so long denied has my pulse racing and my libido fully aroused. And Mulder is fully aroused as well... VERY fully aroused. I let my left hand slip between us and gently run the tips of my fingernails over his erection, up and down, slowly, remembering how much this use to please him. I am rewarded with a hiss and a shiver, as his cock twitches in reaction to my touch. While I continue to stroke and caress him, Mulder brings his mouth to my breast. It hasn't been that long since I stopped nursing Daniel, so his suckling stimulates a tingling letdown response and with that a trickle of milk. He looks up at me but only pauses from his deed long enough to murmur with heated breath upon my wet nipple, "So sweet, Scully... I gotta have more." He teases me a moment with his tongue, then returns to his task with fervor, as I cradle his head, running my fingers through his thick soft hair, moaning and practically purring from the incredible pleasure he's giving me. When he touches my own sex, working his fingers through the slippery heat, rubbing and grinding in just the right places and ways that he knows drives me insane with desire, I can't take the relentlessness of his ministrations any longer... As I climax, Mulder pushes himself deep inside me, filling me up as I contract around him. He is on top of me, inside me, surrounding me in a loving embrace as I cling to him; fingernails digging into his taut muscles - crying out with the passion of an orgasm so intense I nearly lose consciousness. The crest of the wave finally breaks and I regain control of myself once again. Mulder is beginning to move in me and I force my trembling body to follow his lead. We dance our lover's dance - slowly at first, reestablishing our intimate partnership - but the rhythm is soon set by the needs of our bodies, urges too strong to ignore. We thrust into each other, pumping and pounding, faster and harder, giving as we receive. "Scully... Jesus, Scully, I've missed you," Mulder pants as he keeps up our frenzied cadence. I want to answer him, but I can't. I'm on the edge and his next penetration hits in just the right place, sending me over, free- falling once again in rapturous bliss. We come together. He is there with me; and in the earnestness of the moment I find myself begging him never to leave me again. And as our sweaty bodies fall together exhausted, he swears to me his promise. XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX "Poor little guy was really tuckered out; he didn't even wake up when I was changing him into his jammies." Scully is just slipping in between the covers as I enter our bedroom. "I can't believe Danny is a year old already. It's amazing how fast he's grown." "Yeah," I agree, and my mind flashes back to an image of a tiny newborn, his miniature fist wrapped tightly around my thumb. And that same little boy today, chubby fingers clutching the toy bat I bought him for his birthday, knocking that huge ball a whole six inches off the T, his face lighting with excitement as I grabbed him up and pretended to run the bases with him, his mother cheering us on. "Scully, do you think we've been away too much lately? The last couple of cases we've worked have kept us apart from him a lot more than usual." "No guilt, Mulder... remember? We agreed. He's got his grandma here when we can't be. And they have a wonderful relationship. Mom says he does just fine when we're away." No guilt. I'm supposed to look into my kid's big blue eyes and not feel guilty as hell that I drag his poor mother all across the country chasing mutants and monsters, investigating things that go bump in the night; following up one paranormal lead after another - where there's always the risk that one or both of us won't return home. No guilt. Right. "Mulder." The admonishment is clear in my wife's tone. "Danny is doing fine. He's a happy, well-adjusted, normal, twelve month-old. We're not the only parents in the history of the world to have careers. Don't do this. Don't start feeling guilty, because then you make me feel guilty. And I don't want to have to choose between being your partner and being a good mother to my son." "You ARE a good mother, sweetheart. I'm sorry. You're right. Our lifestyle doesn't seem to be adversely affecting Danny in any way." She pulls the covers back, inviting me in and at the same time putting an end to my paternal guiltfest. "Come to bed, G-man. Your son's asleep. We don't have go into work in the morning. I've got plans for you." The provocative look she's giving me serves its purpose well. She doesn't have to make this request twice. "A horny redhead in a black teddy - dangerous combination." I shake my head and draw in a deep breath as I look her over. "What are you worried about?" Her eyes settle approvingly over the obvious tenting of my boxers. "Looks like you're well equipped to handle the situation, Agent Mulder." "Don't be eyeing my weapon, Red," I warn her menacingly, falling into bed beside her. Scully's sexy laughter fills our bedroom as I show her the proper procedure for apprehending and frisking one so dangerous as she. ~END~ Life is too short to drink bad wine.