Date: 13 Aug 1998 07:22:35 GMT
Subject: REPOST Stomping Grounds 1/7by Heather Hopkins

Summary: Suppose a certain pair crossed paths one semester in High School
before meeting again later in life.  Ooooh the tingly possibilities!!
Rating PG as usual, except for some language and potential teen sexual
innuendo
Spoilers: None Really, lots of MSR and UST but it's mostly MSR and UST-lite.
Legal Disclaimer: Yeah yeah, blah blah, Chris Carter is the man.  
Style Disclaimer: OK I am taking some serious creative license here, I don't
expect Mulder & Scully to truly forget, but I like the idea of the story &
wanted to run with it. Now originally I intended this to be a vignette, but
when I got Mulder & Scully together, well, I couldn't help myself.  (Neither
could they!)
 Liberties will be taken, shippy ones at that.  So deal with it.   Eschew
Obfuscation is the motto 
of this tale.    That said, direct complaints or compliments to moi at
dana1muldr@aol.com, flames 
used to decorate the hood of my V8.  
Posting/Archiving: Should you want to, go for it-archive away, but i'd  still
love to know 
 if possible.  Thanks to Geoff and Chris for their editing prowess and
support.  Go Saints!

Stomping Grounds

March 6, 1992

Special Agent Dana Scully could not get the image of her new partner out
of her mind.
 She was home packing for her first assignment with her new partner.  They
had just met and
 were leaving town to investigate their first X-file in "the plausible
state of Oregon".  Scully smiled to herself.  Spooky or not, he had a dry
sense of humor which she found terribly refreshing.  He was a brilliant
Agent, no mistake about that.  But it was something more than that.  More
than those incredible hazel eyes and a crooked teasing smile.  She knew
him from somewhere-someplace before.  Maybe he had attended one of her
lectures at Quantico.  No, she chided herself.  Given his familiarity with
her Senior Thesis, she knew he would have mentioned attending her classes
had that been the case.  No, it was something else.  He had been with the
Bureau for several years, so she doubted their paths had crossed while she
was in college.  She had gone to Europe one summer, & knew he had received
his degree at Oxford, but her trip had not included a stop in England. 
For some reason, Oxford stuck in her mind.  But she had never been, and
couldn't think of anyone who had.
 "Oh well", she thought to herself- "deja vu is probably something of an
Xfile in its own right"  Unwilling to trust airline food for sustenance,
she grabbed a bagel.  As she bit into it she picked up her laptop and
baggage, and made her way to the front door.  She moved past the bookshelf
in her hallway, and a particular book caught her eye.  "The Mariner, 1980.
"  "Oh my god."  She dropped her bags and set the bagel down.  It couldn't
possibly be him.  She pulled out the
 yearbook and sat on her couch.  Flipping through the pages, she found the
index and ran her finger
 down the M's.  Mackley, Mandifer, Meeps, Miller, Morrow, Morrow, Mulder;
Fox.  W.  Fox William Mulder. It was him.  Wordlessly, she turned to page
121 and scanned the page before her.  There he was.
 Very different in appearance, much younger, but the eyes were the same. 
Hair a bit longer, but it was him.  She sat there, oblivious to the
passage of time, letting the memories wash over her like a torrent. 
Unbeknownst to her, a very stunned Agent Fox Mulder dropped down onto the
couch of his sparsely furnished apartment, his feelings strangely
mirroring her own.  "D.K.", he breathed.  "Dana Scully.  I can't believe
it. After all this time......you?" 

January 5, 1980
7:15 a.m.
Chilmark, Rhode Island
"Fox!" Hurry up or you're going to be late!  I told Mrs. Scully to be
expecting you by now!
"I wouldn't be late, mom, if I didn't have to play chauffeur for a bunch of
Navy Brats."
His mother scowled to herself.  Sometimes,  he was so much like his father it
infuriated her.
"Fox William Mulder! You know darn well what it's like to be the new kid in
town, and what's
 worse, these kids have been dragged halfway around the world and back their
entire lives.  
Their father won't even be around for most of  the next year, he's  in
Annapolis. You know what it's like,
 not having a dad around."
His moody silence signified acceptance of her point of view.
"Besides, there's not much going around here this time of year anyway.  You
might make some friends."
"I have all the friends I can stand right now," he said.  "And I'll do this,
not because dad 
asked me, but because you did--I love you Mom."
The expression on her face melted.  Fox had a gift in his ability to soothe
with speech.  
Sometimes he was so tricky, it made sense to have named him as they had.
"I love you too, dear-drive carefully, I don't know if the snow plows have
been through yet or not."
"OK, mom, I will, but I'm not playing chauffeur tomorrow-after today they'll
know how to get there alone."
His eyes glinting triumphantly, he was out the door before his mother had a
chance to retort.
She sighed, shaking her head, and continued to prepare that evening's meal.

Fox William Mulder hopped into his 1968 Mustang.  Shivering at the cold, he
started the
 engine and smiled as it effortlessly came to life.  "Just like a kitten", he
spoke aloud.  The 
car had been a gift from his somewhat estranged father.  Life on the small
island was difficult 
enough for a child of divorced parents.  Not having any way of getting around-
getting away from 
it all sometimes, would have been unbearable.  Revving up the engine, he
backed the car gently out 
the carport and down his driveway.

Melissa was whining again.   "Mom, I hate it here! It is so cold, I can't
stand it!.  If daddy won't 
even be here with us most of the time, why couldn't we stay in San Diego?"
"Shut up Missy," retorted Bill Jr.  "The crew ships out together, you know
that."
"Yeah, Missy", Charles piped in, "we ship out together! Besides, I like the
snow.  DK, 
will you help me build a snowman after school?"
Dana turned to her younger brother and smiled.  "Dana, please Charlie-and
sure, I'd love to."
"OOH, it's Day-nuh, now is it, her older brother teased. La dee da, Day-nuh!
Sorry, twerp, 
but you're D.K. to me!
"Bill! Leave your sister alone! Missy, you know we go where your father asks,
end of story."
Dana smiled to herself.  It was cold here on this little island, but moving
had never really bothered her.
It was serene here and quiet, and she rather enjoyed the winter environment
for a change.
No, what bothered her most about this particular move was being so far away
from her father,
 her beloved Ahab.  Hearing his firm voice and seeing his smiling eyes when
she returned home 
from school.  She was used to the change in scenery.  On some level even she
was comforted by 
the constancy of change. But the idea of change without Ahab there, that was a
little scary.
BEEP BEEEP.
"Oh that must be the Mulder boy-O.K. guys, don't keep him waiting-Missy, Bill,
DK, 
you'd better get going! Charlie, are you almost ready?"
"Now, Bill, you have the key in case I'm not here when you get home, I have to
pick
 Charlie up from school at 3. " 
"Got it , Mom, See ya!"
"Bye Mom!"
"See you tonight, mom," Dana spoke softly, "if you talk to Ahab will you....."
"I'll tell him, "Starbuck" her mother said, "now get going!"
Dana winced a little.  She knew her mom was just trying to make her feel
better by using her 
father's nickname for  her, but it only served to remind her that he wasn't
there.
Noticing her siblings already getting into the car, she hurried her pace in
the whirling cold.
Missy had taken the seat next the driver, and Bill had packed himself in
behind her.  As Dana 
stepped to the passenger side, Bill reached in and pulled the door closed.
"Tough luck, DEE-KAYY, 
you snooze, you lose.  Dana rolled her eyes in frustration.
The driver got out and motioned her over to his side. "Here, get in over here-
it's freezing outside."
Dana smiled warmly.  "Thanks," she whispered as she climbed into the back seat
next to Bill.
Closing his door, the boy said, "so I'm Fox, and you are...."
"I'm Missy, this is my brother Bill and this....is my kid sister, Dana, but
everyone calls her DK."
Dana winced.
The boy continued, "its nice to meet you Missy, Bill," he paused, "Dana"
Dana looked up at his reflection in the rear view mirror, surprised, and
raised her eyebrows.
"Nice to meet you too Fox," she started, in a whisper.
Bill interrupted, so what the heck is there to do around this place, anyway?
"Yeah," Missy giggled, trying her best flirt move, "what do you like to do for
fun?"
The Mulder boy seemed surprisingly unenthused by Missy's attention.
"Well, during the winter it's pretty dead around here, but there are a couple
theaters on 
this side of the island, and uh, there are school dances and stuff. And,"  he
added, glancing in 
the rearview mirror,  "I play basketball, so there are games to go to."
Bill must have sensed something he didn't like when Mulder glanced at his baby
sister.
"Man," he scoffed, "Basketball is for wimps-football, now there's a man's
game, eh DK? Too 
bad you hate jocks so badly".
Dana silently scowled, praying for her older brother to shut up.  She knew if
she fought 
back it would only worsen his protective behavior.  Besides, she thought,
stealing a glance at the 
handsome, lanky, driver, it's not as if a guy like him would have anything to
do with a brainy little 
nobody like her.  Her self defenses went into overdrive, and she spent the
rest of the trip silently 
reminding herself  of  the many reasons a jock airhead like Fox would be a bad
relationship risk. 
"As if", she chided herself.
As the car pulled into the parking lot, Dana studied the faces of the teens
trotting into school.
She mouthed a silent prayer for support, and set into the familiar autopilot
of  new kid in school.
"Uh, thanks Fox.." she started to say, but stopped short as a gorgeous
brunette screeched "Foxy!" 
and launched herself at him.  They embraced and indulged in what Bill would
consider a tongue war.
Missy looked positively crushed for a moment, then without missing a beat
attached herself to 
a passing boy. "Oh, hi," she drawled, "I'm new here, and this is my first day,
could you please 
help me find the office?" she asked, smiling sweetly, 
"Poor guy," Bill confided to Dana- "he'll never know what him, eh DK?"
Despite being called by her hated nickname, Dana had to smile in agreement
with her elder brother.
"C'mon Doc, he said, protectively, "let's go do some damage."
With that they headed off through the school.
Had Dana turned round she would have seen a strangely bemused Fox Mulder
looking up from
 his recent embrace, regarding her departing form with a crooked half smile.
"C'mon, Foxy, let's go," his counterpart sulked, "first period will be
starting soon...I didn't see you all weekend...."

7:50 a.m. Westside High Office

Scully sighed in relief.  Small school or no, at least they had classes on par
with her ability.
First Period/Homeroom:  World History with Mr. Hansen
Second Period: AP English with Mr. Brayshaw
Third Period: P.E. with MS. Weston
Fourth Period: AP Physics with Mr. Hill
Fifth Period Lunch
Sixth Period: AP Biology with Doctor Munekee 
Seventh Period: Study Hall on alternate days with an Art Elective-History &
Theory of 
Contemporary Art with Miss Wilson on the other days
She smiled to herself-Ahab would be pleased at the variety of AP classes.  He
had always 
been extremely proud of her good grades in school.  Much as they might act
otherwise, her 
siblings were decent students in their own right, but Dana was the smartest
one, by far.  She already 
knew she wanted to study medicine, and become a doctor.  The classes she'd
requested were the sort 
that many senior year students were incapable of passing.   As the bell rang,
Dana hurried to get
 her things together. She took a breath and stepped into the familiarity of
the unknown.
She found her homeroom History class without any difficulty.

"OK everybody understand the assignment for tonight? All right, see you
tomorrow!"
The students began shuffling out the classroom.
Miss Scully? Could I see you for one moment?"
"Yes sir?
I just wanted to say I enjoyed your input this morning and look forward to the
rest of the semester.
Dana smiled gratefully.  "Thank you, Mr. Hansen, I enjoyed myself as
well...see you tomorrow."
She smiled shyly to herself.  One of the perks of being a brilliant student
had always been the 
level with which she carried her student/teacher relationships.  She had never
sought the position 
of teacher's pet, and luckily, never really been subject to one.  What she
usually did experience was 
a measure of mutual respect often lacking in her friendships.
Momentarily disoriented, she turned to a passing figure.  "Excuse me, I'm
looking for 
Mr. Brayshaw's AP English class.."
The figure turned and grinned wickedly.  "Well then, this must be your lucky
day..."
When he saw who it was, he halted.  (Or mine, he thought to himself)
"Oh..hi..uh, Fox," Dana stammered.
"As I was saying," he continued, "it's your lucky day-it just so happens I am
heading there myself."
"C'mon, follow me"
Dana was suddenly speechless.  Fox had slipped his hand gently to the small of
her back and 
was guiding her through the hallway.  The contact could not be construed as
anything more than
 polite, but she was intensely aware of the warmth of his hand on her back.
She was grateful for his 
position behind her as she felt warmth flooding her face.
"OK, Dana, now what period do you need to be there" he asked, "right now it's
senior AP English-I 
think sophomore AP is next period."
I can't believe it.  He must think I am some kind of idiot, Dana fumed to
herself.
"D.K. Is fine, Foxy," she retorted, "and actually I'm looking for senior AP
English.  Unfortunately it's 
the closest thing to collegiate level English that Westside offers."
Fox was stunned.  He hadn't intended any offense, but he had obviously,
grievously underestimated 
this particular redhead.  A mistake he wasn't planning on making again.
"Oh, uh, sorry, D-K? I didn't mean anything-it's just that most girls around
here are not too..."
"Bright?", she raged, further incensed by his generalizations. "Well most
girls aren't afforded the
opportunity in school to progress very far," and she whirled, "I don't
consider myself like "most girls".
"Thanks for the tour. Now excuse me, I have to report to Mr. Brayshaw"
"Brilliant" Fox goaded himself  "Could you have been any more of a jerk?"
He then silently agreed that indeed this blue eyed wonder was definitely not
like most girls he knew.
The period dragged by slowly, if uneventfully.
Dana had managed to secure a seat in the class as far away from Fox as
possible.  
For his part, he had seemed pretty out of it, and Mr. Brayshaw berated him for
it.
Probably mooning over his girlfriend, Dana thought glumly.
At last the bell rang and Dana exited quickly.  PE was far from her favorite
subject, but the prospect 
of getting as far away as possible from Fox held great appeal.
Mulder watched as Dana fairly flew out of the room.
"Mr. Mulder, I trust that tomorrow you will have your head out of the clouds
and back down 
here on earth with the rest of...us?"  Motioning towards the door, Mr.
Brayshaw chuckled softly. 
 "She's a remarkable young woman."
"Sir?" Fox asked, confused startled that his interest could have been that
obvious.
"Nothing, Mr. Mulder, just something I guess you'll have to figure out on your
own." 
"Or not," he mused, as the familiar face of Molly Blair swept into view. 
"Foxy, come on, there's only a few minutes before third period bell!!"

10:30 a.m.
Westside Gymnasium
Dana was having the worst day of her life.  First the fiasco with that Mulder
boy. Now she 
was not only unprepared in terms of clothes for the physical demands of P.E.
that day, but the 
teacher seemed to be intent on using her as the focus of a lesson on arriving
prepared.
And if that wasn't bad enough, Fox's brunette bimbo, apparently named Molly,
was there 
with her little group of gal pals, giggling and laughing at her.  
How typical of a guy to be so attracted to something like that-that show pony,
she thought.
Even though Molly had waltzed in several minutes late, reeking of cigarettes,
Dana was the one
receiving their gym teacher's wrath.  "Miss Scooly??, did you hear me?? What
are you waiting for?"
Suddenly realizing Miss Weston was addressing her, she spoke up. 
"It's Scully, Miss Weston," she corrected.
"More like Scummy," Molly giggled quietly, much to the delight of her
entourage.
Not quietly enough. Face reddening, Dana stepped forward.  "Yes, Miss Weston?"
More giggles.
"Well, Miss Scull-lee, what I just asked is that you complete our basic
physical ability test, 
starting with this."  She handed Dana the rope as Molly's chuckles grew
unbearably louder.
Fed up with her teasing, Dana decided to play it for all it was worth.
"But Miss Weston," she mock whined, "I'm not dressed for something....like
..this."
"It all goes back to what I said earlier about being prepared, Scully."
"All right, Miss Weston."  Scully stifled a smile.   The teacher then turned
her attention 
to the other girls, and began waxing on the merits of preparedness.
Being the daughter of  a Navy Captain and having a tough older brother had its
perks.
And showing Miss Priss here just what she was capable of was about to become a
major one.
Dana kicked off her keds and socks, and rubbed a little chalk into her hands.
Dusting them off lightly against her pant legs, she gazed upwards.
"Exactly how high do you want me to go, MIZ Weston?" she interrupted, sugar 
dripping from every syllable.
"Oh, Miss Scully if you can make it to the first marker I will be quite
satisfied."
Not me, Dana thought to herself.
She wrapped one leg around the rope and held in place with the other.
And then, reaching up hand over hand, proceeded to ascend.  You could have
heard a pin drop.

Zack Heflin and Bobby Pendrell were on the other end of the gymnasium working
on weight training.
"Oh my God."
That new girl, Dana Scully had made it to the summit of the rope climb in mere
seconds.
"Jesus, Bobby, did you see that?"
He certainly had.
"She's amazing," he breathed.  The new girl had already been in both his
earlier morning classes.
Bobby was impressed by her insight into the Vietnam war during first period,
and rather stunned to see 
another sophomore with him in Mr. Brayshaw's Senior English class.
Now he couldn't believe what he had just seen.
The diminutive redhead with sparkling blue eyes had climbed further up than
most of his
 male classmates were able to, and in less time than most.
"Amazing, shit, she's hot,"  Zack exclaimed.   "What's more, she's available."
Bobby frowned and turned to his workout partner, uncomfortable with his tone
of voice.

"How's that Miz Weston?", Dana asked, sweetly, "I seem to be at the end of my
rope"
The murmurs and whispers amongst the girls were unmistakable.
"Uh, that's great Miss Scully, excellent.  Thank you very much.  Well done."
Dana had made an impression. 
She clambered down with the same speed and grace that she had risen with
moments earlier.
"That was highly enjoyable"
Dana turned to the voice beside her, and met the gaze of a smiling, freckled,
red haired girl.
"We redheads gotta stick together," she said, offering her hand. "I'm Nancy-
you're Dana, right?"
"Yes," Dana replied, "Nice to meet you Nancy."  She smiled warmly.
"I'll give you  $10.00 if you'll do that again, just to see the look on
Molly's face."
Dana looked triumphant. "It was that good, was it?"
"Better!"
"What class do you have next?."
"Uh, AP Physics with Mr. Hill and then I have lunch."
"Rebecca whistled--AP Physics, ouch! That's OK- I have lunch 5th period  too-
wanna sit together?"
"Love to!" Dana grinned.
"Great!  OK Well, uh, I have to go, uh, change-sorry."
Dana looked down at herself, suddenly self conscious of her sweaty appearance
and lack of a  
change of clothes.   As they walked past the stunned girls who were laughing
earlier, 
Dana couldn't help but smile.   Sweaty or no, she had taught Molly not to
underestimate a person 
by size or appearance.   She passed a pair of boys near the gym entrance
without even noticing. 
their stunned expressions. 

Dana sighed. It was almost time for the third period bell.
Since she had no way to shower or change, she had left the gymnasium early.
The bell rang and she backed away from the door.
As students filed out of the classroom she saw a familiar smiling face.
"Oh, Hey,  DK."
"Hi Missy." How was PE?
"Oh I think I showed a few of the girls what Scully women are made of."
Missy smiled conspiratorially.  "Good for you, DK!"
"How was the physics class?"
"Oh, fine, DK, the teacher seems really nice..."
Missy started to turn down the hallway then paused.
"Dana?" 
Dana turned, surprised by her sisters use of her real name. "Yes?"
"Could you give me a hand with my regular physics homework tonight?"
Dana shot her a warm grin.
"Sure thing Miss, if you'll help me in Art."
Missy smiled. Her younger sister was a good kid. Dana needed her help in Art
like she
 needed a hole in the head.  But the gesture was appreciated.
"A-OK little sister-see ya!"
Missy's smile changed to a perplexed look as she made her way back down the
hallway.
Dana turned and slammed head on into Fox Mulder.  "Excuse me."
"No prob, Hey, DK- I was just waiting for you-- I wanted to apolo.." he was
cut off short.
"Foxy!"
They both turned.
Dana rolled her eyes and continued into the classroom.
"It's O.K. "Foxy," she mocked, "I have *AP* Physics right now so I need to get
going." 
Knowing Missy had just completed regular physics with Mulder, Dana emphasized
the *AP*.
"Foxy?"
He turned to Molly who watched the departing Dana Scully with more than a 
little venom in her eyes.   As Dana looked up from her desk, she saw Molly
whisper something 
into his ear.   Disgusting, Dana thought to herself.
Apparently they weren't discussing what she'd thought because Fox's eyes
suddenly grew 
large as saucers, and he gazed at Dana with a visibly bemused expression on
his face.
Dana turned to her desk her face burning hotly.
When she looked up, they had gone.

Physics was a breeze and Dana looked forward to the next class tomorrow.
Lunch with Nancy was even better.
Dana instantly felt a connection with her new friend, who was bright,
articulate and funny.
In relating a story of a local football hero's self-absorbed antics off the
field, Dana laughed so hard that 
she almost had milk squirt out of her nose.   They spoke with one another as
if they had been best 
friends for years.    A few more students joined them.  
Dana met Bobby Pendrell, a shy quiet boy she recognized from some of her
earlier classes, 
Zack Heflin, a stocky but attractive junior with steely gray eyes-that
reminded her of Ahab, 
and Lauren Pierson, a smiling Brown haired beauty with a taste for gossip.
"Rumor has it you shocked the Harpies in gym class," she joked, "good for you
Dana!"
"Yeah, we were there," Zack chimed, "and it was incredible."
He turned to her. "Dana, that was really amazing."
His eyes locked into hers, Dana shifted abit self-consciously.
"Thanks Zack," she said, smiling.
"We need to work out together some time," he said, grinning.

Fox looked up from the table where he sat with Molly and some friends from the
basketball team.
Zack was definitely putting the moves on the new girl, and for some reason, it
really bothered him.
>From what he knew of  Zack and overheard, he was the kind of guy who didn't
take no 
for an answer.   He watched the red haired sophomore turn towards Zack,
smiling warmly.
He felt his stomach tighten.
"Hel-lo? Earth to Fox??"
Molly's shrill remark was followed by a cold glare as she followed his line of
vision to Dana.
"Looking for a tutor, Foxy?" She teased.     "I understand Doctor Brain over
there could even
 teach you a few things about physics--Apparently she's the most brilliant
student to come along to
 Westside since-since-why, since you, Fox!"
Fox ignored her sarcastic mock surprise.
"Don't forget her physical..... talents," a jock next to Mulder added. 
"Zack Heflin said she climbed the ropes in like..."
"Yeah, I know, I was there, all right??"  Molly silenced him with a killer
look.
"Look, who gives a crap about "red" over there, anyway?"  Fox replied, "she's
just a twerpy little 
Navy Poindexter brat. Big Deal."
A sudden silence around his table gave Mulder pause.
He turned to see the angry face of  Bill Mulder. 
 "Just see that you leave my "twerpy" baby sister alone, you spook.  I've
heard plenty about your 
creepy family, and I doubt it gives you any right to be talking about Dana
like that."
Fox got up as the awkward silence at his table gave way to quiet whispers.
Molly automatically got up to follow.
"Not now, Molly,"  he stopped her and walked away.
"Well, I never,"  Molly fumed, arms crossed in front of her.
"Don't sweat it Molly," the boy next to her said, "you know how Fox gets when
you mention his family."
Molly shuddered a little bit.  Fox was brilliant and gorgeous, but that family
history of his gave
 her the creeps.  "You're right, Billy," she purred, flashing a killer smile.
"Thanks."

Subject: REPOST Stomping Grounds Part 2/7 by Heather Hopkins

1:00 p.m.
Inside Westside High Biology Lab
Dana waited patiently by the professor's desk while the rest of the class
shuffled in to the lab.
"Miss Scully, once everyone has arrived we'll set you up with a lab partner."
Dana smiled at the professor.   She had liked him almost immediately.  In some
ways he might 
seems seem outwardly spacey, but was an intelligent man with a brilliant mind.
When he used it for science.
"OK class, I trust you all had a good vacation, but it's time to get back to
business."
"This is Dana Scully, and she's joining our class as a mid season
replacement."
Professor Munekee grinned at his humor.
The rest of the class chuckled good naturedly, including Dana.
"OK what I need first is a volunteer, somebody without a lab partner at
present."
Several hands were raised.
"OK," Munekee scanned the room for a good candidate, "all right everybody,
thank you."
"Dana," he motioned, "would you please go sit there at the left towards the
back of the class?"
"Mr. Mulder will bring you up to date on where we are in the text.  For the
time being, you can just share."
Dana just stood there frozen, as a triumphant Fox Mulder stood, and motioned
her to the empty chair
beside him, grinning wickedly.
As she sat, he spoke softly, "Guess it really *is* your lucky day, eh DK?"
"Luck has nothing to do with it,  Mr. Mulder, just God's idea of a practical
joke on me."
She looked him squarely in the eye, the trace of a challenge on her face.
His fleeting attempt at looking wounded was replaced with a flash of teeth.   
"Mister Mulder, hmmm I like the sound of that! "
Dana rolled her eyes in frustration.
"Look, Fox -Raccoon, what-ever, I don't like this any more than you do, so
lets just try to 
make the best of it, O.K.?"  He must have sensed her annoyance, because he
sighed slightly 
and turned to a page in the biology texbook.
He began to scoot his chair closer to hers when she shot him a warning glance.
Hands in the air in a gesture of compliance he stood there while Dana edged
slightly closer to him.
As Professor Munekee launched into a lecture on the reproductive cycle of
various frogs, Dana groaned.
She felt a flush in her cheeks and willed herself to avoid the eyes of Fox
Mulder.
Which was just as well.
Hovering over her slightly, Fox found his gaze falling towards the juncture of
her blouse.
He could see she wore a gold coss necklace, & found himself hypnotized by the
rise and fall of her breathing.
Unable to restrain himself, he leaned in ever so slightly, inhaling deeply as
he did so.
No perfume like Molly, just the fresh, clean warm scent of her skin,
incredibly inviting.
So inviting in fact, that he failed to notice the professor behind him until
the chair beneath him 
tipped.  And he found himself, flat on the floor, looking up sheepishly at an
amused Dana Scully 
and a moderately annoyed Professor Munekee.   "Mr. Mulder, I'm afraid we don't
move on to the more 
*complicated* reproductive systems until next semester."
"Until that time, might I suggest you pay more attention to your book?"
Mulder blushed, and realizing what the professor was implying, Dana felt a hot
flush flooding her 
face.  As he got up and adjusted himself, Dana regarded him warily, eyebrow
arched.
She started to speak but Mulder held up his hand in protest.
"Just...just don't, O.K.?" He couldn't even meet her gaze.
Smiling she turned back to the book and concentrated on the professor's
lecture.
The rest of class he was surprisingly silent.

As Dana made her way to the library for her free period, she ran into Zack and
his quiet friend.
"Oh, hey Dana," Zack enthused, "We were just sneaking out for a quick one."
He opened his coat jacket to reveal a pack of cigarettes.
"Um, uh, that's O.K., I really need to get some studying done, but thanks."
She smiled
"I seriously doubt you'd need to study for a-a-anything, Dana,"  Bobby
Pendrell offered.
Dana rewarded him with another smile, "Thanks Bobby, but you'd be surprised."
As she made her way into the library, Bobby nodded in agreement.  "I certainly
would", he breathed.

Fox stopped in his tracks as he saw Dana pause to speak with Heflin and his
friend.
He didn't know much about Pendrell, but he got a tight feeling in his gut when
Heflin reached out 
and touched her shoulder.   Whatever he had asked her, she must have declined,
because she turned 
and continued into the library.   Zack turned and headed in his direction.
Catching his gaze, Heflin asked "What you looking at, Mulder?"
"Nothing, Zack," Fox met his eyes coldly, "Nothing at all."
Bobby threw Mulder a nervous glance as they passed him by.  "Hey Bobby."
Mulder smiled.
"Uh, hey..." Bobby replied nervously, then continued outside with Zack.
Mulder paused outside the library, contemplating whether or not to go in.
A shrill voice behind him helped him make the decision quickly.
He wheeled, a false smile spreading across his face.  "Hey Molly!"
"Wanna help me *study,*  Fox?" she asked smiling and batting her eyelids.
"Nah, I've got a better idea," he replied, snaking his arm around her waist,
guiding her towards the door.
"Oh goody," she giggled.

When the bell rang signaling the end of the school day, Dana waited by the
office, looking for her siblings.
She spied them leaving out a side door with a group of new friends .
"Bill! Missy!" She called to them
"Hey DK!" Bill turned- "hey, can you catch a ride with that Fox kid? We're
heading over to an arcade with some
friends for awhile."  He tossed her the key.  "Here, Mom should be home with
Charlie in a little bit."
Dana groaned.  Riding home with Fox alone was not an enticing prospect.
Still, annoying as he was, she admitted that she rather enjoyed the banter
between them.  
Arguing with somebody who treated you as an equal could be 
very gratifying.  And at one point, she reminded herself, he had tried to
apologize.
She went outside to the student parking lot and scanned the area for Mulder's
Mustang.
Besides, he had a really cool car, she added to herself, smiling.

As she made her way over to where Fox's car was parked, Zack Heflin pulled up
in a beat up pickup truck.
"Hey Dana," he called. "Want a ride?"
"Um that's O.K. Zack," she called, "I've got one-thanks anyway-see you
tomorrow."
"Your loss!" Barely concealing a scowl on his face, Zack sped away,
inadvertently spraying
 Dana's legs with slush from the road.  Ugh! Dana threw her hands down in
disgust.
Man, it was cold.  She hurried her pace over to Fox's car, anticipating the
warm interior.
When she was about 4 spaces away, the Mustang roared to life and sped away as
well.
As it passed by, Dana looked up in surprise to see a smirking Molly waving at
her.
Now what?, Dana thought to herself.
Dana had always been the type of girl to mask her emotions.
She despised the feelings of pity showered upon her when anyone realized she 
was hurt or upset.  So she became quite good at hiding those feelings.
That did not mean however, that she did not have them.
Her eyes smarting from the chilly air & suppressing the urge to cry, she
steeled herself.
In true "Starbuck" fashion she began to slowly make her way home, impervious
to the wind and 
snow, and the freezing cold creeping up her legs.

5:25 p.m.
The Scully Household
"Mom, when's Dana gonna get home? We were going to build a snowman!!" Charlie
whimpered.
It was almost 5:30, and Mrs. Scully was beginning to pace.
" I don't understand, Bill, exactly why would you leave DK-Dana," she
corrected herself, 
"alone at school on the first day?"
"Well, mom, I thought the Mulder kid was gonna give us all a ride home, and
she'd just
 catch one with him, that she'd be O.K..."
"Well school ended almost 3 hours ago and she's not home yet so I guess you
figured wrong."
The telephone rang, momentarily freeing Bill from his mother's fury.
Missy nudged her brother.  I thought you said she had a ride home with Fox??
"I'm sure she did, Mis"  he retorted, "he probably just took her out
someplace.
That still doesn't mean I'm not gonna kick his ass, but I'm sure Dana is
fine."
They heard their mother gasp a little and looked towards her.  Her face paled
as she put 
down the receiver.   "Thank you, Mrs. Mulder, no that's all right.  Bill will
go find her."
She turned towards them, her eyes welling up with tears.
"Bill?  Please take my car and..and go find your sister, please."
"WHAT??" He roared, "She wasn't with that Mulder kid?? He didn't pick her
up??"
"No, Bill, he apparently, had other plans and..and..."  she sank down into a
chair,  
Missy rushed to her side.  "It's O.K. mom, Dana's fine. You know how stubborn
she can be.  
She's probably sitting inside the school office waiting on us, refusing to
call."
Bill strode out the door, cursing.  
When he found that Mulder kid, he was going to give him something to remember.
For the time being, his attention was focused on his little sister, and
finding her.  Fast.
5:30 p.m.
The Mulder Residence

"WHAT?"
"You heard me Fox."
"Shit."
"That's enough of the language, now get moving and go help find that girl."
She sighed.
"Honestly, Fox, what were you thinking? You knew I had told their mother you'd
bring them home 
today, so they could get their bearings...and now this?"
"Mom, I'm sorry it's just that...well, Molly and I.." he paused, stunned-
"I...I.. just thought...."
"No Fox, if you were around Molly I doubt very much that you were doing any of
the thinking.  
Now quit wasting time and go find Dana."  
She shivered a little to herself.  "It's got to be close to freezing out
there."
Ashamed and afraid for the copper haired newcomer, Fox bolted out the door.


5:40 p.m.
Somewhere in Chilmark

Dana was near collapse and more than half frozen.
The route she'd  thought would take her home had turned into a dead end near
the harbor.
Now trying to retrace her steps, she could not recall how she'd wound up where
she was
.Snow had begun to fall and was covering the tracks she'd assumed were her
own.
The vacant holiday cottages all looked the same.  Scanning the terrain for
anything familiar, 
she choked back the urge to cry.  It won't help matters, Starbuck, she told
herself.
Besides, it'll only worsen the sting of the cold on your face.
She tried to imagine what Ahab would do in this situation, and that helped
some.
She knew he would continue and persevere until he found shelter or someone
found him.
But she was so very cold.
Her levis were practically frozen where they'd been splashed with the slush
from Zack's truck.
She could barely feel her toes except for the constant stinging.
At least that meant they weren't frostbitten...yet. 
She mouthed a silent thank you to her mother for insisting she wear a hat &
mittens.
For a moment Dana saw headlights on the next road over from where she 
was, and rushed across the snow covered field.
She was running blindly, oblivious to the chill when she went down.  So smooth
and white was 
the snow that she hadn't even noticed the ditch.   "Shit!!" 
Tumbling, she felt the twist in her ankle and called out. 
Looking up, she saw the brake lights of the car turn red.
Dana couldn't hold it back any longer.  She started to cry.
She was cold and wet, her ankle hurt, she missed her dad and she was scared.
She slumped to the ground sobbing, oblivious to the cold, and buried her head
in her hands.
It felt kind of good to be lying down, she thought to herself.
Maybe she could just rest for a bit.
She closed her eyes, collapsed onto the snow, and sank into a bittersweet
dream.
She dreamed of her father, sitting with her under the stars.
"See that one, Starbuck? That's Orion, and farther above you can see
Draco...."
So many beautiful stars....

Fox slammed on the brakes, his car skidding ever so slightly on the icy
street.
On the next block over, he was sure he'd seen a figure running through the
snow.
Now straining his head around he saw nothing.  Frustrated, he continued to
make his way down the road.
Several miles down, the nagging in his head kept on.   He had sworn he heard a
voice cry 
out...or did he?  Was it just his overactive conscience, riddled with the
guilt of ditching 
someone who had depended on him?  Someone sweet, and smart, with piercing blue
eyes...
He swore to himself.   If he'd had any idea-if he had known-his head swam with
visions of the 
Scully girl smiling and defiant then shivering and afraid.   He felt a knot in
his stomach twist and tighten.
Resolved, he turned the car around and drove slowly back the way he'd been.
Another half hour had passed and it was growing dark.
Passing a vacant lot between summer cottages he saw something in the snow.
He drove up to the next street and turned back down towards where he'd seen
the dark shape.
He stopped the car and got out,  noticing the tiny footprints immediately.
He sprinted so quickly that as he came upon the still figure in the snow, he
very nearly 
trampled her and went into the ditch as well.
Oh god! It was her.  And she wasn't moving.  Her eyes were closed and her lips
were impossibly blue.
He out a hand to her cheek and shivered at how cold she felt.
Reaching his hand to her throat, he felt for a pulse.   Her eyelids flickered
just slightly.
Lifting her as gently as he could, Fox  carried her to the idling Mustang.
She said something which sounded remotely like "Ahab."
God, she's hallucinating, he thought.  He slammed his fists onto the steering
wheel.
Stupid. Stupid.  Carefully he drove to the Scully household.
He honked several times as he pulled into the drive, but wasted no time in
gathering Dana up.
The front door flew open as he stepped onto the porch.
"Dana! Oh Lord!" Mrs. Scully cried out when she saw her.
"Missy! Get some blankets-warm them in the dryer quickly, then call the
doctor."
Fox couldn't meet her gaze.  "Mrs. Scully, I-I..I'm so sorry..." he began.
"Shh, it's all right Fox, thank you for finding her."
"Is there anything I can do?"
Mrs. Scully looked into the face of the frightened young man and despite her
frustration, 
her heart softened a little.  "If you would help Missy get something warm to
cover her, I need to 
change her out of these cold wet things."
Fox felt stupid.  "Of course, Mrs. Scully, excuse me."
He hurried off to give her privacy as she stripped the icy clothes off of her
daughter.
Missy hurried in with some warm blankets.   She sat by her sister rubbing her
hands as their Mother rubbed her feet.
Fox slowly came back in, concern in his eyes.
"Fox, there is something else you could do..."
"Anything."
"Her older brother Bill is out looking for her in my car, and..."   Fox was
almost to the front door 
when it burst open unexpectedly.
"You sorry son of a bitch!!"
"Bill!!"
It was all he could do to keep from lunging at Mulder.  "Sorry, Mom but this
piece of shit is the reason for..."
"That's enough.  Fox is the reason she's home now and I won't have you
speaking that way in this house.
Now come here and sit with your sister while I try the doctor again."
Bill rushed to Dana's side, barely stifling a "fuck!" when he saw her bluish
complexion.
His eyes shot daggers at Mulder.  "You can go now *Fox,*" he spat, "you've
been enough *Help*  for today."
Wanting to speak to Mrs. Scully but wanting to depart, Fox edged to the door.
"Thanks Fox," Melissa murmured, "We'll call you later to let you know...."
"Yeah thanks, Fox," Bill echoed sarcastically, "now goodbye!"
Fox closed the door gently behind him.
As he made his way to the car he pondered the sinking feeling in his stomach.
Guilt, yes, but there was something more.
More than just concern that he'd been the cause.
More than the desire to make reparations.
His mother seemed relieved when he stepped through the door.
"Fox, thank goodness.  Mrs. Scully called a few moments ago..."
"Is she going to be all right?"
"They don't know yet dear, they're admitting her to the hospital, it's too
soon to tell."
Fox cradled his head in his hands.
"Molly called, I told her you'd be back shortly."
Fox strode to his room.  "Mom, I'm going to go to bed-unless Mrs. Scully
calls, I don't want to be disturbed."
Nodding in agreement, Tina Mulder set to preparing a sandwich for her son.
She knew better than to try to force conversation at a time like this.
After bringing the snack to his room, she retired to bed herself, and said a
prayer.

Subject: REPOST Stomping Grounds Part 3/7

Thursday, January 8
2:30 p.m.
Rhode Island Regional Medical Center

Dana opened her eyes slowly.
Confused by the strange surroundings, she looked up and caught the eye of her
mother.
"Dana," she exclaimed warmly, "hi honey!"
Dana felt it difficult to speak, and her mom brought her a glass of water.
She gestured around the room with a confused expression.
"Don't you remember honey, you tried to get home from school and must have
been lost-
you hurt yourself, and Fox found you then brought you home.  You've been in
the 
hospital for several days.  And," she added, eyes twinkling, "Fox has visited
you every single day."
Dana rolled her eyes.  Her mom could be so obvious. All the same, a light went
on inside her brain.
Fox had found her-brought her safely home, and then had come there to visit
her.
Suddenly, she felt extremely self conscious of her appearance.
"Missy and Charlie and Bill will be delighted to see you awake!"
At the mention of her family, Dana's eyes brightened and she turned towards
her mom.
"Ahab?" She whispered dryly.
"Sweetie, I spoke to your father and he was terribly concerned, but he is on
maneuvers 
and couldn't make it right now, I'm sorry."
Dana's eyes sank down.
"But he did send you this beautiful bouquet-how he managed to find lilies in
winter is beyond me."
Dana looked up to see a beautiful arrangement of stargazer lilies and smiled
despite herself.
There were balloons scattered around, and some other flowers, daisies and
carnations.
And another arrangement-beautiful pink  roses with baby's breath.
Dana reached for them and inhaled the beautiful aroma deeply.  They were as
fragrant as they were beautiful.
"Thanks, mom," she smiled.
"Oh, those aren't from me, dear, those are from Fox-read the card."
Dana nearly dropped the bouquet.  Somewhat shakily, she pulled the tiny card
from its sheath and read the
inscription.   It had a preprinted feel better soon message and written below
that, simply, 
"Dana--Please forgive me--Fox."   Dana smiled to herself as she placed the
card on her bedside table.
"Speaking of which I imagine he'll be here soon-usually is this time of day." 
"I hope he's not been skipping school."
Almost as if on cue, she heard a soft knock on the door.  It opened quietly
and Fox Mulder looked in.
When he saw Dana sitting up and awake, he practically gasped, smiling broadly.
"Dana! Uh, DK.." he corrected, "it's so good to see you awake!"
"Dana's fine," she whispered hoarsely, "Fox."
"Sweetie, I'm gonna go get you a drink of something, it may help ease the
dryness from your air tube."
Grinning, she got up, "Fox, keep an eye on her for me, I'll be right back"
He came over to where her mother had been sitting and seated himself next to
Dana.
"You had us all pretty worried," he admitted, looking down.   His brown eyes
darkened.
"Especially me, Dana, I feel terrible, it was really irresponsible of me to
ditch you like that-if I 
had realized you wouldn't be with Bill and Missy I wouldn't have left -I
swear..."  
His hands had tightened around the side bars of Dana's bed, knuckles
whitening.
Dana gently laid her hand on his for a moment.
"It's O.K. Fox, it was stupid of me to try to walk home.  It's my fault I was
so impatient.   I'm fine, really."
Dana still felt pretty bad but didn't want him to know.  
After all he'd put her through she was being so nice to him. Fox was stunned
with disbelief.
He had never met anyone like her before.
Scully broke the  silence.  "How's school?"
"Oh, Biology is a real drag without my partner, he grinned, and English well
isn't the same either-
everybody in school keeps talking about her, how she is and what she is doing
right now..."  he rambled on.
As Fox spoke Dana felt herself drifting in and out of consciousness.
She was suddenly, overwhelmingly tired, and powerless to resist.
Mrs. Scully opened the door to see Fox rattling off to a sleeping Dana.
"Fox?"
He started, and turned towards her.  "Mrs. Scully?"
"Uh, Fox, I don't want to hurt your feelings, but I think you've lost your
audience."
He turned and regarded the sleeping girl before him.
A solitary strand of her copper hair had strayed into her eyes.
He brushed it aside, and got up.  "Mrs. Scully?"
"Yes, Fox."
"Tell her goodbye for me?"
"Certainly dear, and thanks for visiting-it might not seem like it, but I know
it made her day."
"Well seeing her awake definitely made mine..." he paused  "I -I still don't
know what to tell you Mrs. Scully."
"It's all right now Fox, she'll be fine.  Really.  Don't agonize over this,
Dana wouldn't want that."
"Maybe you could help her catch up when she returns to school next week, make
sure she gets home warm?"
His hazel eyes lit up.  "Absolutely."
"O.K. then, drive carefully now, Fox!"
She couldn't help but smile as she noticed a sudden spring in the step of the
young man who had 
previously been dragging himself in and out of that room since Dana had been
admitted.
She was a devout Catholic, and  recognized the sign of true penitence when she
saw it.
And she couldn't help but notice something more, something else in his eyes
when he looked at Dana.
Margaret genuinely liked this boy, no question of that.

The next few days and weeks passed by in what seemed like a whirlwind.
Exceptional student that she was, Dana had little difficulty in catching up on
her schoolwork.
The difficulty came in concentrating whenever her newfound tutor came round to
help her.
Still, they found in each other an enjoyable and comfortable team.
Each one borrowing the strengths of the other.  It wasn't the type of
relationship Dana 
(or her Mother) had initially hoped for,  but in its own right, it was wholly
satisfying.
Fox was still seeing Molly, but his patience-and time spent with her decreased
rapidly.
Coincidentally, the time he spent with Dana seemed to increase.
There was a trust & familiarity between them--a friendship of mutual respect.
Nancy wouldn't let Dana get by with it and teased her endlessly.
Zack for his part, seemed to harbor some guilt from his part in her accident, 
despite the fact that Dana had refused his offer of a ride.  He seemed
inordinately attentive-
sometimes stiflingly so.   Before Dana realized it, it was time for prom.
Dances had never really held 
much interest for her, but she hoped this one would be different.   In between
classes, Fox had 
stopped her in the hallway.  "I really need to tell you something, Dana, can
we talk at lunchtime?"
"Sure."  She tried to sound casual, but felt as if he legs were about to
buckle under her.
The periods before lunch dragged on endlessly.   Most of Mr. Brayshaw's class
was spent 
exchanging crooked smiles and unspoken communication.
Finally, the bell rang and she gathered her things together, waiting by the
door for him.
"O.K., lets go by our lockers."
Dana could hardly take the fluttering in her chest.  This was it, she thought
excitedly!
He pulled an envelope from his jacket.  Dana paused, slightly puzzled.
Mulder opened the letter and handed it to her.  Go on, he jabbered excitedly,
read it!
As Dana scanned the page, she felt a sinking feeling in her chest and her face
tightened.  "Oh god."
"What?" He asked.
"Oh-god," she stammered, "this is just incredible. Wow. Congratulations, Fox."
Oblivious to her shock he continued.   "Isn't it amazing?  Not only am I
finally going to get out of 
this hole, I am going to Oxford, and I get to go early on  an independent
study!! 
All expenses paid by the scholarship!  Wahoo!! England! Can you believe it?!"
 He held his hand up for a high five.
Dana turned, fighting to hold back the tears that were stinging her eyes.
"That's great Fox, really...it's just that...I'll miss you."
Suddenly realizing the impact his news was having on her, he followed, his
hand on her shoulder.
"Hey-hey," he murmured, turning her round. "I haven't left yet-we still have
plenty of time-
and I'll be returning for my graduation, and for most of summer break too."
Dana smiled weakly, "oh good, that'll be great."
"Hey and don't forget the winter formal!"  Dana caught her breath in her
throat.
"Maybe you and your date could join Molly and me-rent a limo, go out to
dinner, do it up big. 
Who are you going with?"
Dana couldn't take it.
Tears spilling out of her eyes, she ducked into the ladies room leaving a
perplexed Fox 
Mulder behind her.   He didn't understand. He thought she'd be so happy for
him.
After so many years of wanting to get off this tiny island, his dream was
finally coming true.
And the one person he'd wanted to share the good news with most didn't seem to
care.
He sighed.   Well maybe Molly would be more excited by the news.

You what??  I can't believe it!
This was starting to feel all too familiar.
"We'll still have spring vacation and graduation & the summer-and prom," he
added helpfully.
"Fox, I just can't believe it. I mean I'm happy for you and all, but..."
"Great Mol, thanks!"  He enthused, refusing to let her bring him down.
She seemed complacent.
"Oh, one other thing, Fox.  I am *not* going to be tailed around all night by
your little protege
 and her date.    This is my senior prom and I'm not sharing you with anybody,
I don't care 
how guilty you feel!"   Fox started to interrupt, but saw the futility in
that.
They continued on to lunch, and the rest of the day was uneventful.
Unless you counted the silence of a certain redhead.
It wasn't exactly the silent treatment, she responded to most questions in one
way or another, 
she just wasn't talking.   No witty return on his quips, no laughing smile or
raised eyebrows even at 
his most bawdy attempts at humor.   Nothing.  Figuring he was in it as deep as
possible, he decided 
to break Molly's news to her.   As they left the class for 7th period, he
pulled her aside again.
"Dana?"
"Fox, look, I really don't think I can handle any more news bulletins right
now."
"Well I need to tell you something....about prom."
Dana looked up at him suspiciously-the pools of her blue eyes flickering.
"It's just that, uh, I had a talk with Molly, and she decided she'd rather
not...."
He was stuttering almost.  Dana raised her eyebrow just slightly. "Rather not
what?"
"She just doesn't want to double date that's all."
The shock gave way to an almost eerie sense of relief.   "Oh, is that all."
"Well that's good, Fox, that's just as well, cause Zack and I weren't
interested."
Mulder's momentary sense of relief gave way to shock.
"You...you..you're going with Zack?" he choked out.
"Well,  yeah, since he did ask me," she added, angry for letting her guard
down twice in one day.   "And 
you should see a doctor about that stutter."   Silently regretting  such a
spiteful remark, Dana strode off.
As Mulder watched her fade into the crowd of students, a familiar tight
feeling crept into his stomach.

7:50 p.m. Saturday, March 18
The Scully Household

"Dana you look lovely.   Have a wonderful time."
"Prom is for pansies," Bill accused, "I can't believe you're even going, let
alone with that Heflin drip."
Missy had already left with her date, so Dana faced off her older brother
alone.
"Zack is very nice very charming-a very nice guy, she retorted.  
(Jeez, Dana, who you trying to convince-you or Bill?)
"What a sterling recommendation from Doc Scully," he teased.  "At least you're
not going with that
 butthead, Mulder."
The doorbell rang and Margaret Scully answered it.
"Hello, Zack, come in! I'm Margaret, Dana's mother, and I think you know
Bill."
Bill made a half hearted attempt at saying hi & went back to MTV.
Dana stepped forward shyly, "Uh, hi Zack," she offered, smiling.
He fairly beamed at her, a twinkle in his steely blue eyes.
"Gosh, Dana, you look wonderful-what a beautiful dress!"
Margaret smiled approvingly, "O.K. you two have a good time-Zack, see that
she's home by Midnight, please."
"Sure thing, Mrs. Scully," he replied in his best Eddie Haskell.
"And that's midnight tonight" Bill Jr. added, slamming a fist into his other
hand for emphasis.
As they exited the front door, Bill Jr. groaned in disgust, "Man, what a
loser!"
Margaret silenced him effortlessly in what would later become a patented
Scully look.
"Just cause you couldn't find a date Bill, don't ruin things for Dana &
Missy."
She frowned almost imperceptibly, "still, I had hoped she'd be going with
Fox."
Turning to Bill, "What in heaven is that you're watching??" Strange men
wearing what appeared 
to be plant pots on their heads were singing and dancing on a bizarre Western
set.
"It's M TV, mom,"  he replied as if she were a child, "don't you know Devo?"
Shaking her head, Margaret Scully busied herself about the kitchen, fearing
for her sanity that evening.

Dana in fact did look radiant  She was especially proud of her dress, which
she, her mother 
and sister had labored on at home.  She had no interest in any of the trendier
styled dresses 
that year, horrible confections of tiered lace and gossamer, or worse, garish
reproductions of 
Scarlett O'Hara type dresses.  No, when she decided to attend prom with Zack, 
(and in a way Fox made that decision for her ) she had also chose not to blend
in with the 
bland fashion statements of her peers.  She wanted something different-
special-and elegant.  
So she went into town with her sister and found the perfect dress in a pattern
book.  As shown in 
the book, crafted in a pink rayon knit, it wasn't particularly spectacular.
But Dana recognized the 
inherent style and beauty of the simply designed dress, and fashioned in
gleaming white taffeta, 
she knew the effect would be stunning.  Missy and her mother agreed.  There
was something about the 
way the knee-length dress accentuated Scully's small muscular legs, her trim
waist, and even her petite 
bustline.  She wore her hair down, simply styled, and had added just a
flourish of makeup.  Most of the 
women in her family rarely wore alot of makeup, and Dana was no exception.
The difference, while
 not obvious, was striking.

8:05 p.m.
County Road 9

Dana sighed.  It was noticeably silent in the truck, and she longed for Nancy
or even Bobby's
company.  She was unaccustomed to being alone with Zack, and it made her
uneasy.
He turned towards her and grinned approvingly. "I'm really glad you accepted
my offer after all."
Dana smiled back, tempted to explain why it was she had initially declined.
Thinking the better of it, she turned her attention to the road.  This was not
the way to the school.
"Uh, hey, Zack, where are we going?"
"You'll see," his grin broadened, "it's a surprise."
Smiling nervously, she attempted to look nonchalant.    Zack turned off the
engine of the 
truck and turned the key in the ignition.  They were in a parking lot
overlooking the bay.
"I thought before we made our appearance, we'd have a little drink."   He
produced a small flask
of what appeared to be whiskey or something.    And a metal tin of clove
cigarettes.
"Um, no thanks, Zack," she said, declining the proffered bottle, "I'll take a
cigarette though." 
Zack took a swig of the amber fluid then lit a cigarette in his mouth, handing
it to Dana.  
"Madame," he offered huskily, eyes glazing over slightly.   Dana accepted the
cigarette 
and took a deep drag.
"I thought so."
"What?"  Confused, she turned towards Zack.
"All that goody goody stuff is just an act, eh Dana?  Beneath that mighty
brain, you've got a 
warm, living breathing, feeling  body just like the rest of us humans......"
He leaned in towards her, his hand on the dashboard.  Dana exhaled the
cigarette smoke in his face.
He backed away, coughing only slightly.  His eyes darkened, then brightened.
"Let me see it," he demanded.  
Dana held out the cigarette, the intake of cloves and nicotine making her just
a tiny bit lightheaded.
"It's good," she murmured, changing the subject,  "really sweet, I've heard of
Clove cigarettes before, 
but never tried one."   Zack took a long drag, then grinned at her, holding it
in.
"Sweet." He exhaled thoughtfully, tossing the cigarette out his window. "Very
sweet."
He leaned in towards her again.  "Uh, Zack, I, uh, shouldn't we be heading to
the dance?"
His eyes darkened further as he grabbed her waist and drew her to him,
breathing heavily.
"No Dana, not just yet."  He pressed his lips upon hers and with a sickening
feeling 
Dana realized she could taste the liquor & tobacco on him.
She tried to push away from him, "Really Zack, I'd like to..."
"And I'd like to too," he said, cutting her off, "so why don't you quit the
shy little girl act."
She wrenched his hands from her waist as they moved up her dress. "Zack!"
"Or if that's how you prefer it, O.K. with me, I find a little struggle a big
turn on."
Without warning, he pulled her against him, then pressed his full weight upon
her, 
leaning her back into the seat of the cab.  She could feel him fumbling with
his pants and 
then at her dress.  Dana started to get scared.
"C'mon Dana," he urged, "you know you've wanted this for months."
 He pulled at her dress, tearing it slightly.  Fear was replaced with
indignance and anger.
"You arrogant bastard!" 
In one quick move, Dana brought the full force of her knee to bear in a very
delicate place.
Zack crumpled over beside her, gagging & making the most painful gurgling
noises.
Dana laid a hand on the door knob, turning it and jumped out of the truck.
She slammed the door behind her, but could still hear Zack gasping-- "you
bitch," he moaned.
"Now what?", Dana thought to herself, shivering.  Suddenly, Zack's truck
roared to life and sped away.
Dana still felt somewhat pleased with herself, preferring the cold outside to
the warmth inside the truck
with that asshole.  Shivering, Dana cursed out loud.  He could have at least
tossed her jacket out.
She sighed.  Well at least it wasn't snowing or freezing, and she knew where
she was.
Dana began the slow trek towards home, wishing she had opted for more sensible
shoes.

9:55 p.m.
Westside High Gymnasium

Ignoring Molly's incessant banter with a friend over who was wearing what and
with 
whom at the prom, Fox scanned the crowded gym floor.  He saw Nancy and Bobby,
but no sign 
of Dana and her date.   He started to turn when he caught a glimpse of an
obviously agitated 
Zack Heflin. (Was he limping?)  Zack approached Bobby and Nancy, and engaged
in what looked to be a heated
discussion.   Bobby must have said something to upset him, because the stocky
junior practically knocked him 
over, striding out of the auditorium. Nancy leaned over to help Bobby up.
Mulder hurried over to them, abandoning a fuming Molly in the process.
"Hey Bobby, Nancy, what's up with Zack?  Did Dana stand him up or something?,"
 he asked, hopefully.
They exchanged glances.  It was Nancy who spoke first.
"No Fox, apparently they had something of a...falling out, and he left her up
by  Harbor Point."
 "Harbor Point? What was she doing up there?"
"Apparently not everything Zack had wanted," Bobby blurted out.
"So, Fox, can we use your car to go get her......"  he trailed off as Mulder
took off after his 
former friend.   "Zack!  Hey Zack-Heflin!"
Heflin turned without breaking his stride, "what the hell do you want?"
"Where's Dana?"
Zack smirked.  "Wouldn't you like to know."
"What did you do to her?? Where is she?"
"Hey I didn't do anything that she wasn't asking me for,  what business is it
of yours..."
He halted as Mulder grabbed him by his jacket and pressed his face near Zacks.
"Did you hurt her?"
"Back off, Mulder."  Zack broke Mulder's grip & straightened himself
haughtily.
"That little redheaded slut got what was coming to her."
He didn't have the opportunity to finish his sentence because Fox pulled his
fist back and 
slammed it into Zacks stomach.  "You son of a bitch," he hissed.  "If you've
hurt her..."
Mulder socked him in the jaw, then released him.
Zack attempted to return the hit with a pathetic left to the side of Mulder's
face.
Regrouping, Mulder straightened himself and stepped towards Heflin scowling.
Seeing him flinch, he paused.  "You're just not worth it, you piece of shit."
"But if you've done anything to her-if you've harmed her in any way, I'm
coming back."
Mulder hurried out the doors of the gym and into the night.
Turning the key in the ignition, he thanked his luck for not renting a
limousine.
Steering the mustang onto the highway, he headed up the county road to the
infamous makeout spot.

10:10 p.m. 
County Road 9

Scully shielded her eyes from the oncoming headlights.  Unsure, fearful that
it could be Zack, 
she backed off the road slightly.  She had removed her shoes, an idea which
proved to be only slightly
less painful than the chilly road under her feet.  As the vehicle pulled
closer, she breathed a 
sigh of relief.  It was a car, not a truck-hence, no Zack.  Certain she
recognized the familiar 
rumble of the car's engine-her suspicions were confirmed as Fox Mulder hopped
out of the blue 
mustang , worry on his face.
"Dana, thank goodness! Are you OK?"
Suddenly self conscious of her bedraggled state, she attempted to smooth out
her dress.   The tear in it 
didn't seem too obvious, and she brushed a stray hair from her face.  
"I'm fine Fox, she sighed, but I'd really love a ride."
(As if she had a choice, thought Fox, at this point, I'd carry her home if I
had to!)
He went around to the passenger side door and held it open.
As she came round he noticed the tear in her dress, took note of her reddened
eyes and saw what looked 
to be a slight bruise on her wrist.  His gut wrenched.  "What did he do to
you?"
"Nothing.  I'm fine, Fox, really."   (She lied.)  He cupped her chin in his
hands and lifted her gaze to meet his.
With his thumb, he rubbed a tear from her cheek.  "Do you want to talk about
it?"
"What's to talk about Fox?"  She felt anger well up inside her.  She didn't
need anyone's protection.
"Zack made me an offer I had to refuse, he didn't like the refusal, so I put
it another way."
"A very painful way," she added, a slight gleam in her eyes.
Fox's eyes widened with realization.   He helped her into the car, resisting
the urge to cheer.
As he got in, Dana looked down "Fox, you can just drop me off at home, I know
you need to be 
getting back......"  she trailed off, her heart pounding, "back to Molly."

"Actually, Dana," he offered, "I don't think she's too eager to see me right
now,
I kind of ditched her in a hurry."
Looking up in surprise, Dana noticed a slight red mark on the side of his
cheek.
"Did Molly do that?" she asked, stunned.
Mulder chuckled softly.  "No, if Molly slugged me, I doubt I'd be able to
drive...this is from Zack."
Realization crept into Dana's mind, and just as quickly, a smile spread across
her face.
She gently brushed his cheek with her fingertips.  "My hero."  (Was he
blushing?)
The sensation of her soft hand on his face nearly made Fox drive off the road.
"I guess I should thank you,"she said, blushing.
Fox returned her smile with a broad, toothy grin.  "No, it's something I've
wanted to do for some time.".
"I hadn't realized you were prone to such violent outbursts, Fox."
"Truthfully, neither had I.  I guess you just bring out the man in me," he
teased, leering.
Dana couldn't stifle the laughter that his puppy dog face and pathetic come on
line elicited.
Seeing her laugh only further brightened the look on his face.
The remainder of the drive home was spent in a happy comfortable silence.
Dana turned to get out of the car, and Fox jumped up and ran to get the door.
Helping her out, he said, "I know this was supposed to be a fun night for you,
if you want, we could..."
"No Fox," she interrupted him, "I think I've had my quota of fun for the
evening, 
but I appreciate the gesture."
(Gesture, what gesture, he thought wildly, I don't want to say goodnight yet)
"Walk me to my door?"
Looking down into those liquid blue eyes, Fox would have willingly walked her
to Kansas.
"You know this was supposed to be a fun night for you too, Fox," she turned,
"I'm sorry..."
"Ssssh," he silenced her apology with a finger on her lips.
Heart pounding, she looked up without moving his hand, intensely aware of his
touch.
Without thinking, she turned into his hand and kissed his fingers softly.
He slid his hand around to her cheek, stunned at the trust belied by such a
simple kiss.
Gently, he reached behind her with his free hand and drew her closer to him.
Eyes never flinching, he spoke her name softly, a question from his heart.
"Dana?"
Searching even deeper into his eyes, she gave him her wordless answer.
She tilted her head up as he leaned down gently and brushed his lips against
hers.  As she felt 
the kiss, Dana's whole body was acutely aware of each sensation caused by the
proximity of his
body to hers.  The place on her back where one hand now rested, the warmth of
his chest against 
hers, even the scent of his hair.  Overwhelmed by the moment, she drew back.
"Thanks Fox, good night." Without any hesitation, she slipped inside the front
door and was gone.
Avoiding the stares of her brother and mom, she hurried over to her room at
the back of 
the house, humming softly.   A few minutes later, there was a light knock at
her door.
"Dana?"
"Yes, mom?"
"Are you O.K. honey?-it's it's only quarter of 11,  I wasn't expecting you
home this early."
"Mm-hmm. I'm fine."
Margaret caught the dreamy expression in her daughter's eyes and decided not
to pry further.
Shutting the door behind her, she noticed a perplexed Bill Jr. at the window.
"Hey Mom, it wasn't Zack, it was that Mulder jerk in his Mustang.  What do you
make of that??"
Margaret smiled inwardly, her daughter's expression and manner suddenly making
perfect sense.
"Mom?  Mom?"
Bill Jr. sighed, the heck with em.  He was outnumbered in this house and he
knew better than to try 
to understand it's female occupants.  Shaking his head, he turned his
attention back to MTV once more.  

Subject: REPOST Stomping Grounds 4/7by Heather Hopkins

Monday March 20, 7:30 a.m.
Westside High School

Dana and her mother sat outside the principal's office.  After the events of
Saturday evening went from 
gut wrenching to heart lifting, Dana considered the matter closed.
Unfortunately for Fox, Mr. & Mrs. Heflin 
did not.  They were in the office with Fox and Mrs. Mulder, sorting out the
details of what Zack described 
as an unprovoked jealous attack.
Due to the nature of Dana's involvement, Principal Beim-Esche agreed with her
mother's wishes to 
interview them privately.  Still, they could hear the accusations flying in
the adjoining room.  After some 
time had passed they heard chairs move and footsteps at the door.  A very
tight lipped Lucy and 
Charles Heflin exited with a red faced Zack, still walking as if in a measure
of pain.  Dana tried hard to 
suppress a smug little smile.  Between her and Fox, they had really done a
number on that jerk.  At least 
now his reputation would precede him somewhat, hopefully eliminating the
chance of it happening to 
any other girls.  Behind them came Mrs. Scully, her face masked in a very
different expression.  You could 
see that she was upset, but there was still an unmistakable gleam of pride in
her eyes.  And then came Fox. 
His face was furrowed in a look of concern, but when he saw Dana, his
expression changed.  
The brown eyes sparkled and the lopsided grin returned.  He crossed his wrists
before him, 
imitating a handcuffed prisoner resigned to his fate. 
 
"C'mon Fox, let's go."  As they passed, Mrs. Mulder turned towards them.
"Hello Dana---Mrs. Scully,  I just wanted to tell you how sorry I am for your
trouble."
"Oh, it's no trouble," Mrs. Scully interjected, "and please, call me Margaret.
We are all quite...fond 
of Fox and I know he had the most honorable intentions in mind.  To my way of
thinking, this is 
the second time his assistance has proven invaluable to my daughter."
While all this was going on, neither Fox nor Dana broke eye contact.  No words
were spoken, there was 
no telepathic exchange.  But in the time they had spent together at school,
they had developed an 
uncanny ability to understand each other's expressions and body language.
Dana could tell from his posture that he wasn't quite out of the clear yet as
she would have assumed.
His face told her there was something troubling him, but his eyes eased her
(it's no big deal.).
She raised a brow, eyes growing large for a moment-(what just happened in
there?)
He rolled his eyes upwards and then caught her eyes and winked.  (I'm in a bit
of trouble but I'd do it again)
She flushed slightly and rewarded him with a small smile.  (So would I)
He turned towards her, eyebrows both up-his head cocked to the side.  ( ?
What are you trying to tell me?)
She grinned broadly then looked down.  
"Are you coming, Fox?"
Dana looked up.  His expression had changed to irritated  resignation.
She looked surprised-confused. (Where are you going?)
He motioned with his hands still crossed, to his mother, and sighed.  (Home)
As he slipped past her, he made a poor pretense of tripping, and caught
himself on the arm of her chair.
His face was unbearably close to hers.  She flushed from his nearness. He
leaned in towards her ear, 
and paused tantalizingly before speaking.  Dana closed her eyes, savoring the
proximity.
"Homework." he breathed huskily into her ear.  Dana almost swooned for a
moment until the meaning 
of the word hit her in the face.   "What?"
He straightened himself.  "Homework. Would you mind bringing me my assignments
this week?"
Understanding flooded her brain.  He was being suspended from school.  For a
week.  Because of her.
"Of course.  I'll have to get Bill or Missy to bring me over, though."
Teena spoke.  "Would that be all right with you....Margaret?"
Dana's mother smiled warmly and laid a hand on Fox's shoulder.  "For this
young man, anything."
Fox had to stifle the urge to kiss Mrs. Scully. 
"OK Dana, it's our turn to see Ms. Beim-Esche."  Dana got up and walked
towards the door.
She turned just as Fox was exiting, and he turned too.
She smiled a self conscious lip biting smile. (Bye Fox)
He returned the smile (Bye Dana) then winked (see you soon).
Seated in the principal's office she suddenly found it very difficult to
relate her story with the proper 
amount of reserve and seriousness.    Reminding herself that Fox was in much
more trouble than she was, 
Dana sobered up and relayed the tale.


"Well Dana, from what you've told me, and I'm not too surprised to say this, I
believe you."
"Zack will be remain suspended for 2 weeks and be on probation for the
duration of the school year.  
His parents were rather upset with this but I advised them how fortunate they
were that you and 
your mother would not be  pressing charges in which case I could quite legally
have had him expelled."  
"Now Fox," she paused, letting out a slight sigh, "Fox is another matter
entirely."  Dana could tell from the
principal's tone that she liked Fox, and regretted her role as disciplinarian.
"Motive aside, it remains
that he did in fact, attack another student in view of half the school.  So he
will have to continue 
suspension for a week.  However, since up to this point he has been an
exemplary student, this will not 
remain in his student records, and," she turned to Dana, "if you can assist
him in catching up with his 
daily work, I will see to it you are given your seventh period study hall this
week to help him."
Dana beamed. Trying to suppress her delight, she blurted out, "Yes, thank-you
ma'am, of course."
"All right then.  Mrs. Scully, does this resolve the matter to your
satisfaction?"
"I should say so," Margaret answered, "for both Dana and me."
As they got up, Margaret shook the principal's hand warmly.  "Thank you Ms.
Beim-Esche."
"Yes, thank-you" Dana added.
"Its my pleasure, she responded with a smile, "We feel very fortunate to have
a student of Dana's 
calibre in our school.  I hope that you will all be staying with us for quite
some time.  The summer's 
truly are wonderful here."

It was strange how uneventful the day seemed without Fox there.  Other than
spiteful looks from Molly 
in gym class, most of the kids at school seemed to regard her as something of
a celebrity.  Students 
she'd never met came up to her to say hello and practically everyone smiled at
her as she passed.   
At one point in the lunchroom Molly glared at her and got up as if she had
something to say, then 
seemed to think the better of it.  Dana was used to the stares from Molly &
her little clique, so this 
treatment didn't affect her in the least.  One thing she learned from
attending so many different schools was
that each school always had a group of narrow-minded people who would look
down on her 
and half the school.  She had discovered with Ahab's guidance, that the
opinions and cruelties of 
such people meant nothing to her life.  "Power perceived is Power Achieved,
Starbuck.  
If they sense you as a threat and treat you as such, reacting in kind will
only sink you to their level."
She smiled thinking of her father.  How she missed him.  Spring break was
coming and he'd made 
arrangements for them to stay on base that week in Annapolis.  It suddenly hit
her that if she was 
on the base with her family she wouldn't get to spend much time with Fox
before he left for Oxford.  

She cursed his luck then instantly felt guilty about it.
He was brilliant, and deserved every opportunity that came his way His
interest in Psychology was 
no surprise to her.   She recognized his natural ability to size up a person
almost immediately and 
accurately.  It could be infuriating at times, you'd wonder if he said things
because he meant them or 
because he knew it's what you wanted him to say.  Furthermore, he seemd to
have a perverse 
talent of knowing exactly what to say to unnerve you, what buttons to push.
And it seemed to give him 
great pleasure to do so.   She couldn't contain the grin which blossomed on
her face.  Ironic that the things 
which were most maddening about him were also what made him so uniquely
wonderful.  To be in 
the company of someone of the opposite sex and yet really feel
appreciated--respected for your
individuality was rare.  The closest she had ever come to that was with Ahab.
She knew he loved all his
children equally, but they had a special bond.  Common interests, respect and
something more-
something unspoken.  She snickered softly about her Freudian slip.  The
analogy of Fox to Ahab.  
Talk about something unspoken.  She knew time at Oxford would be incredible
for Fox, perhaps
envied him for it.    It was then and there that she decided not to let him
see a moment's 
hesitation in her happiness for him.  Once when she lived in San Diego, there
was a boy she was loved.  
But when her father accepted the transfer which took them to Asia for several
months, Steve was 
terribly resentful about it.  It made what should have been an incredible
adventure for her sad and 
bittersweet.  And a year later, when she returned, he scorned her, as if the
choice to leave had been hers.  
A pretty pathetic example of puppy love, to be sure, but Dana recognized the
moment for its truth.  
Love could build a person up, but just as easily bring them down.  So in time
she perfected a way of 
communicating without giving people any clues to her feelings.  It made
decisions simpler, tough 
choices easier.  She promised Fox would not be torn by her hesitance to say
goodbye.  And when he came 
back for the summer-for graduation, well they would have plenty of time to
discover one another. The sixth 
period bell rang.  Startled, Dana looked up.  So deep in thought, she hadn't
even considered the teacher's
instructions.  
"Miss Scully?"  Mr. Munekee motioned her to his desk. "Here's Mr. Mulder's
sheets on todays' lecture, 
you might review them yourself," he admonished her, looking over his glasses
with a stern expression, 
tempered by a twinke in eyes.  "Also here are some extra credit materials for
Fox to work on independently."  
"Now as I understand it, you have a ride waiting for you outside the front
entrance."
"Thank you Mr. Munekee."
"You're welcome, Dana, tell Fox we miss him."
She grinned, gathered up her papers and Fox's assignments, and practically
skipped out the door.
As she passed through the front door after signing out of the office she froze
in her tracks.  Bill wasn't there 
waiting for her, instead a silvery blue mustang was idling.  Surprised, she
fought valiantly to contain the smile 
which threatened to cross her face.  But when his twinkling brown eyes met
hers,  she conceded the battle.  
Fox saw her step out the front door and hesitate, surprised to see him.  
(His heat leapt-then he questioned it- What am I doing, --I'm leaving in less
than a month...)  
His gut wrenched as she favored him with a heart stopping smile.  It was the
kind of smile he rarely saw, 
but readily cherished.
He leaned over to open the passenger side door, and Dana climbed in.  
"Curbside service?" she questioned him.
He stared at her face for a moment-her intense blue eyes, lightly freckled
complexion in a soft red frame.  
This face was a work of art, he thought to himself.  This face....was raising
an eyebrow in a very endearing 
expression which made resisitance all the more difficult.  He cleared his
throat.
"You're not getting goofy on me now, are you Fox?"
He turned away, silenced for the moment, but smiling all the same.  Dana had a
maddening ability to
lay into him effortlessly.  In a masochistic way he revelled in it.  But she
would expect no less from 
him in return.   He mused over a proper retort.
Encouraged by his pause, she continued.  "Oh, you *ARE* getting goofy on me,
o.k...."
She looked out the window chuckling softly.  "Well you'd better de-goof a
little because it looks like 
all your teachers have decided to put a very unceremonious end to your mini
vacation."
He regarded the stack of books and papers she offered for evidence, and
groaned.
"Great. Thanks alot."
"Hey I didn't make up the assignments, and I certainly didn't attack Heflin at
the prom," she chided him.
"No, that's true, he conceded, "You reserved your *attack* for a much more
*private place*."  
He leered at her laughingly, obviously very pleased with himself at his double
entendre.
Dana nodded in agreement.  "Touche, Fox.  Just remember that it's a skill I
haven't lost."
She gave him *the look*.
Widening his eyes in mock trepidation, he gripped the sterring wheel stiffly,
eyes straight ahead.  
"Yes ma'am, Miss Scully, where to Miss Scully?"
Dana mulled it over. She didn't want to go to her house, Bill and Missy and
Charlie and Mom 
would all be there soon, and she didn't want to share him just yet.  But going
to his 
house--possibly his room--the implications were too much to consider.  She
felt her pulse rise 
in agreement. Without realizing it, she sighed out loud.
Mulder glanced at her quickly, seeming to comprehend of the weight of her
decision.  Reminding himself 
to do what was right and ultimately best for the both of them, he suggested
the Library.
Scully visibly relaxed by this neutral suggestion, nodded in agreement, and
gave him a tight lipped smile.
"Uh-huh.."
And so they spent several hours at the public library, and on the nights which
followed as well.
They passed the time pleasantly, joking, going over assignments and figures
and theories.
It was an easy, familiar routine.  And as they were each hesitant to end their
sessions, more often
than not  they found themselves evicted as a result of the librarian needing
to close up.

The remaining weeks at school passed in a similar fashion.  Well, almost.
Dana noted with some bitterness
 that when Fox returned to school, he also returned to his familiar routine
with Molly.  Terribly
hurt by this, Dana silently relinquished their evenings of study to her
unworthy opponent. 
Still, she had Fox to herself in many ways, in their shared classes.  And she
knew it was for the best 
no matter how it hurt.  Much to her delight, however, Fox openly defied
Molly's ego on several occasions 
by enthusiastically chatting with Dana in front of her.  He made no secret of
the fact that he and Dana 
had an intellectual partnership-an equality she could never share.  Dana took
great satisfaction in this.
She was not an eternal optimist, but not entirely jaded either.  She knew that
statistics were in her favor 
in terms of maintaining a friendship with Fox after high school.  Good friends
kept in touch.  High 
school sweethearts rarely did, no matter what the movies said.  And the
prospect of his friendship being 
there-an anchor in the turbulent years ahead was an inviting one.  After all,
she reasoned to herself, 
it would not be too long before the Scully clan was destined to move on to
another destination as well.   
Dream as she might of the fantasy of loving Fox Mulder- the reality of certain
friendship held even more 
appeal.  She couldn't bear the thought of repeating the Steve incident.  No,
she had at long last reconciled 
herself to just enjoying her time with Fox, however she spent it.  The only
problem was that there was so 
precious little of that time left.

Subject: REPOST Stomping Grounds 5/7 by Heather Hopkins

Dana couldn't stand it.  The last day of school before the beginning of spring
break was inching 
forward at an agonizingly slow pace.  What was worse, Fox wasn't there.  He
had taken the day off in 
preparation for his trip to England.  Nancy & Bobby tried to cheer her, but
nothing lifted the dark cloud 
hanging over Dana's head.  She tried to remind herself how much she missed
Ahab, how wonderful 
it would be to see him again.  The image of her father made her smile but
could not lift the heavy ache in 
her heart.  She glanced out the window, stifling the urge to jump up and run
out.   Lunch was dreary 
and uneventful.  As she made her way to 6th period Biology, normally her
favorite subject, 
(when her lab partner was there,) she was stopped in the hallways by Ms.
Ripley, the office secretary.  
"Dana I have a message for you...." she handed her an envelope and continued
through the hallway.
Dana froze, immediately recognizing the familiar handwriting.  She smiled
tracing her fingers over the 
ink, Fox had such beautiful handwriting.  She was suddenly overcome by
nervousness and tucked the 
note into her binder, scurrying in to the biology lab just as the bell rang.
Mr. Munekee glanced up at 
everyone, grinning.  
"I can see you are all almost as thrilled as I am to be here this afternoon.
As a method of passing the time, 
let me suggest that you open your textbooks and try to locate the answers to
the questions written on
the board.  Consider it an open book scavenger hunt.  Anyone who locates 100%
of the answers correctly 
will receive an A for the week.  Books flying open, her classmates hurried to
the task at hand.  
Dana opened her book slowly, and withdrew the envelope, turning it over in her
hand.  She raised it to her 
face and inhaled deeply.  No, it wasn't perfumed, she knew better than that,
but it did carry a lingering trace 
of his aroma.  She sighed for a moment, then tore it open.  Joy spread across
her face as she read it.

Dana-
Hey.  Sorry I'm not there to make the last day of the semester.  Mom seemed
pretty intent on making sure we 
were prepared for the trip.  It seems funny since we won't even leave `til
Monday.  I wanted to tell you 
although I'm really excited I will miss you.  As soon as I have my address, I
`ll write you, and probably 
before that as well.  I want us to spend some time together & talk before you
leave to meet your dad.  
I'll be waiting out front at the beginning of 7th period if you're bold enough
to skip!!
I dare you!!  (he had underlined the word dare, and beside it drew a smiley
face)
Fox

She beamed, re-reading the letter several times before finally putting it
away.  Looking up, she scanned 
the questions and began to jot the answers down on her own.  She smiled.  The
textbook wasn't even 
necessary.  Fox would have loved that.  He always made her feel as if her
textbook mind was a gift, not a 
brainy curse.   Finished, she began to tap her fingers absentmindedly on the
table until Mr. Munekee 
interrupted her.
"Dana? If you have completed your work, you may bring it up here and be done
for the day."  
He smiled at her.   "And that goes for the rest of you as well.  Once you're
finished, get out of my sight! 
And have a safe week," he added. The room was filled with excited murmurs as
students continued their 
frantic rush to get out of school early.  Dana gathered her books up and
dropped her paper on 
Mr. Munekee's desk.  "Thanks, Mr. Munn, she offered then waved,  stepping out
the door.  
She breathed an audible sigh of relief and hurried to her locker.  Putting her
workbooks away, 
she paused to brush her hair quickly, then made for the front door.  She
inhaled deeply, and closing her 
eyes, uttered a short prayer.  Let him be there, please, let this
work.......she exited out the front of 
the school and stopped short, her heart sinking.  Fox was there all right,
waiting in his car as promised.   
And standing outside the car, a pouty brunette was scolding the driver in her
best little girl fashion.  
She seemed  visibly upset.
Dana turned to go back into the school building when Fox spotted her.
"Dana!"
She turned and saw him smile and wave her over.  "C'mon, we need to get going
!"
Smiling self consciously, she strolled over towards the car, trying her best
to appear casual.
"Uh, Hey Molly," she offered, rather flippantly.
For her effort she was rewarded with a dark sneer.
Suddenly the expression "If looks could kill" held more meaning to her.
She made her way over to the passenger side door.   Fox leaned over and opened
it for her from his seat.
As Dana slammed the door shut, he leaned over and gave her a quick kiss on the
lips.
Stunned, her eyes wide, she turned to Fox, who was rolling up the window.
"I'm sorry Molly, but like 
I told you, it's really over between us."
If Molly said anything or did anything, Dana was completely unaware.  She
simply sat there, stunned 
by what had just transpired.   She turned to look at him, her eyes asking an
unspoken, but rather 
obvious question.  She felt like a deer facing oncoming headlights.
Grinning his evil wicked wonderful grin, Fox  looked over at her. "What?"
Dana blinked for a moment then started to regain her conscious thought.  
"What do you mean,  What?  What do you think I mean?"
"Huh?"  He acted perplexed, as if he really didn't have a clue.
"That thing-just now-with the kiss-what was that?"
"Let's just call it an encore of the night after prom, a command performance, 
and a way to get Molly off my back."
"So, a command performance for an audience of three??"  She looked annoyed.
Dana enjoyed the kiss, she really really enjoyed the kiss.  And on a certain
level maybe even relished 
the fact that it had happened in front of Molly.   But it was a level she
strove to avoid.  
And she despised the idea that the kiss was orchestrated as Fox's signal to
Molly that the relationship 
had ended.  No, that kind of behavior was too much like Molly herself.
Fox started to say something. He bit his lip and paused, then began again.
"Dana...."
"Yes?" 
"That was a dumb thing to do, I'm sorry."
She considered this.
After a few minutes of silence, Fox started to squirm.  Dana reminded herself
she had less than 24 hours to 
enjoy his company.   Knowing his discomfort, she decided to let him off the
hook, *sort of.* 
But not too easy.   Still silent, she turned and stared at him, her eyes an
unreadable sheet of cool blue ice. 
And then it came to her.    As they pulled up to a stop light he turned
towards her.  The cold blank
expression she fixed on him was having its effect.  When she sensed the timing
was right, 
(she swore she saw sweat begin to bead on his brow), she did it.  With his
questioning eyes still 
locked on hers, she turned her gaze down to his feet and moved slowly up his
body.  As she hit his now 
surprised face, she turned her gaze down once more and briefly fixed on his
lap.  She then looked him 
straight in the eye, expression unreadable again, and raised an eyebrow.  
"What?" he quizzed her nervously, what?"
She acted as if suddenly roused from a trance.  "What?"
"What do you mean what?" As soon as he had spoken the words, he realized what
had just happened.
Dana was triumphant.  "Gotcha!"
"You've got nothing!"
"Oh no, I really had you worried there..." She chuckled good naturedly and he
returned it with a smile.
"OK, maybe for like a millisecond."  He mimicked her gaze up down and up
again.  "What exactly was 
*that*, anyway?"
"I dunno, Fox, mental payback maybe, or just being silly, I guess.  It's just
that whole ...thing...in 
front of Molly, I'm not sure I understand."
Fox's face turned softly serious.  "I really am sorry Dana, for using you that
way-in front of her to 
make a point..." When he saw how downcast the expression was which crossed her
face, he continued.
"I didn't plan it, it was just very spontaneous-I wanted her to know that I
don't have those feelings for 
her anymore, and that...."he paused, wanting to chose the next words very
carefully, "that I think 
I want to have-that I do have..those feelings," he looked at her with an
intensity which gave her 
goosebumps, "for you."
He pulled into the driveway of his house, and put the car in park.  He turned
the engine off and 
turned towards her, his arm on the back of the seat behind her-close enough to
touch her-
(God, he wanted to touch her) but unsure.
He waited patiently for her reply.
She looked out the window.
Without looking at him, she began.... "Fox, I'm just not sure that *those*
feelings are a good idea right now."  
He started to say something, but she interrupted, "please Fox, let me finish-
this is hard enough as it is."
(Oh god o god..think think think, -just look at him-he wants to be with you-
just look at him)
She looked towards him for just a moment and he could see them pooling in her
eyes, tears she 
refused to release. She turned back to look out the window.  "I'm going away
tomorrow ,Fox, and then 
you're leaving Monday  for the rest of the school year and-" she paused,
trying to hold back the tears,  
"and it's good that you go-it's an incredible opportunity-heaven knows I'd be
on a plane this second if  
I had a chance like that-" (OK, not *this* second-I'd freeze this moment in
time if I could!)  
"But it's not fair-to either of us to start something tonight which we know
would  be a long distance...thing."  
I've tried it Fox, and it's just..." she halted choking a sob which was trying
to escape, "it hurts too much."
She turned towards him, a tear running down her cheek, expecting to see anger
or confusion or resentment.  
What she saw instead made her heart very nearly break--his eyes-his face were
filled with pure love and
concern-perhaps even fear.  He rested a thumb against her cheek, brushing away
the tear, softly 
turning her head to face him.  
"Dana, I would never-I could never..,ever hurt you.  I know it sounds like a
line, but I've never met 
anyone like you-I don't know how to explain it except to say I can't imagine
not knowing you-being 
near you.  And I know that whatever time I can spend with you before I leave-
before Oxford-before life-
before our lives -go on, well it would be a precious gift.  However (and he
emphasized this) you're 
willing to give it."  
She looked at him, tears now streaming from her eyes. "I just don't know
Fox....I..."
She could no longer hold back the sobs and Fox slid over to her, holding her
against his chest, 
letting her tears flow.  She wrapped her arms around him trying to commit the
sensation to memory-
his soft clean scent, the warm, solid curve of his back, the feel of his arms
around her shoulders, 
holding her, his heartbeat pounding.  
Fox must have understood her hesitation.  Suddenly a nagging thought occurred
to him.   He turned 
her face towards his.   "Dana-I don't want you to think that I'm asking you-I
mean, this isn't about, 
what I'm trying to say is that I'm not trying to...." embarrassed, he felt his
cheeks burning.  
"What I want is to assure you that I'm no Zack Heflin.  I just want to spend
the night--he locked his gaze 
upon hers-or as much of it as possible, with you.  And I'm not asking you,
to...to...I mean, of course if you 
wanted to I would love to I mean....argh."  He sighed in exasperation.
Dana smiled at how embarrassed he seemed by the whole matter.  It made her
heart soar to know that 
he respected her wishes so fervently and earnestly.  That the choice was hers
to make.  "So are you 
asking me out on a date?"
Fox brightened. "Yes."
"Well it's about damn time."  Dana grinned.  "What do you want to do?"
"Well right now, I'd like to show you my room..."
Dana raised both eyebrows.  
"And the rest of my house--my mom is home--no monkey business, I swear."
Nodding her approval, Dana acquiesced.  "O.K."
It was a nice little house, smaller but nicer than the one they were renting,
Dana noted.  Still, there was a 
quiet sadness to the home, something she couldn't quite put her finger on.
She knew Fox had a 
sister, and that something had happened to her.  It was an obviously painful
subject for Fox, 
one she had not pursued.  She found herself gazing at pictures on the wall,
merriment in her eyes as 
she came upon his baby pictures.  "Oh, this is nice, Fox, really nice."
"I didn't realize you were into kinky naked pictures."
He came up behind her rather abruptly, "what?"
She motioned to an incredibly embarrassing picture his mother had displayed of
him holding on to a 
coffee table.  He was obviously just learning to walk, and stark naked except
for a pair of cowboy boots 
and matching hat.
He groaned.
"You know, Fox, Nancy is on the yearbook committee, if you like, I could pull
a few strings and see that 
this gets added in next to your senior portrait..."
"You wouldn't dare!"
"Oh, now if  it's a dare, I  have no choice but to follow through."
"Yeah well to do that you have to live through today!" He threatened her
teasingly, and 
began to tickle her.  Dana stood stifling a  yawn.  "Uh, Fox, she asked, "you
may not realize it, but 
having an older brother and sister, you build up immunity to certain
tortures."
He looked into her eyes, fooled for a moment, then caught a twitch at her
mouth. He continued until 
finally, giggling, she could hold it back no longer OK! ok! ok! , I give up!,
I relent!, now please, cease fire!
Her gasping laughter subsided to a giddy heavy breathing as she sank to her
knees.
"I had you going there for a second."
"You did not, he replied indignantly, "I knew you were trying to trick me, you
had nothing!"
He looked at her face, slightly flushed from laughter & realized he had never
truly realized how beautiful 
she was. "Wait."
"Hold on a second--don't move."
Dana frowned a little, but remained there, letting her breathing return to
normal.
"Dana."  She looked up and saw stars as a blinding flash went off in her face.
The Polaroid camera spat out a picture as she got up to cover her face *flash*
another one went off.
"Fox! Cut it out!"
"Aww come on Dana, you have to give me *something* to remember you by in
England," 
"Oh I'll give you something to remember me by, all right, she threatened,
yanking the camera out of his 
hands, but not before he made off into the living room with the still
developing pictures.
She gave the camera the once over, and turned in the other direction, towards
his room.
"A-ha, just as I thought!" *Flash*
The sound of the camera going off drew Fox towards the rear of the house.
"What are you doing?"
"Gathering evidence, she grinned, then turned and flash, the camera went off
in his face.
"I should have known you were a KISS fan," she laughed, waggling her tongue at
him Gene Simmons style.
"Honestly Fox, how you managed to pass as cool all these years is beyond me!"
All Fox could see were little white spots.  Blinking, he complained, "hey!
that was a long time ago-
-I just haven't found a poster to replace it with."
"Mmm-hmm" Dana's tone smugly told him she believed everything but.
"Gimme that!" He reached for the photos, but she waved him off. "Unh -uh-uh"
"Maybe we can exact a trade. You show me yours....." She stopped, wary of the
implication.   
"Never mind."
"No, no, Fox teased her, this is starting to sound interesting, please
continue."
"He looked down at the still developing photos in his hand.  The first one was
incredible. 
She was looking up from her crouch on the floor, incredibly un self-conscious.
Her expression was soft, 
her blue eyes clear, and a slight trace of an almost smile on her lips.  He
turned eagerly to the next one,
and laughed so hard he nearly fell over.
"What?" Dana was obviously irritated.
He flashed her a quick glance of the photo. She was reaching towards him,
mouth agape, her eyes in
an expression she hoped never again to see, her face contorted  in a weird
grimace.
"Give me that!"
"Oh no, this is too precious, I could never..." he began.
"Just give me that!"
"Now now Dana, lets come to an agreement."
"I'll trade this for the photos of me & my room."
She examined them both for a second, and feigned agreement.  Nodding she
offered them out to him 
with one hand.
As he held it out to her, she dropped the Kiss photo and grabbed the one of
her, snatching back the 
hand which still clutched the photo of Fox in the hall.  No way was she going
to give that one up.  
It was a far cry from a great portrait, but his serious expression was
captured perfectly in that moment.  
"I'd say that we are just about even, Fox.  Now if you don't mind, if our date
has concluded, I'd like to go home."
Fox leaned up and looked at her, his eyes filled with concern. "I'm sorry
Dana-I thought..."
"It's OK Fox, I'm only kidding.  What I would like to do is decide on our
plans are so I can call Mom."
Fox looked relieved. "Oh." phew.
"They sat at the kitchen table going over the available choices of movies in
local theaters.  They 
agreed on "Alien" which was showing later that night at the El Rey on the
other side of the point.  
It was a bit more of a drive than most kids took, but the idea of avoiding any
friends from school was a 
great motivation.   Neither one wished to share the other with anybody.  Fox
drove Dana home, and 
promised to return in an hour.  She practically floated to the front door,
which was opened by an irritated Bill.  
"Where the heck have you been Dana?"
Surprised to hear him call her by her full name, she nonetheless ignored him.
"Mom, I'm going out with Fox tonight, ok?"
"Well it's about time...cutting it a little close aren't we, Dana?"  Her
mother smiled.  
"Be home by midnight, K?"
Dana was up the stairs in a heartbeat.   "OK Mom, thanks Mom!"
Bill started to interject something, a complaint, since they were leaving the
next day.
Both Missy & his mom instantly shot him the look, and he drew back, silenced.
They then smiled at one another.

They enjoyed dinner at a local cafe together, and had a good time at the
movie.  Both of them 
realized there was still more that they wanted to say.  Lingering outside in
the theater parking lot, 
Fox dropped his head down to meet Dana's.  "I wish we had more time, it's
almost 10:30 now."
Dana met his gaze.  "I really do have to get home on time, mom always waits
up.  But I have an idea..."
Any idea which came from the mind of the stunning beauty before him had merit.
"What?"
"Take me home now-early" her heart skipped as she saw the instantly wounded
expression cross 
his face, "and then come back for me a little bit later.  I'll sneak out and
have Missy cover for me if need be."
His face lit up. "Are you sure?" She nodded. "Ok-ok, but how do I get your
attention?"
"You've always had my attention," she purred, smiling.
Appreciative, he grinned back, "Ok,  how do I let you know when I'm there
without alerting the media?"
"Don't you watch  TV?  Just toss a pebble at my window!"
"Which window?"
"Hmm, they all have mini blinds-but it's on the top floor on the right."
Seeing doubt in his expression she made a face.  "I'll  leave a mark or
something at the window, all right?"
"Will that work?"
"Works for me." He grinned.
As they pulled into her driveway, they both fell silent.  Dana's heart racing,
she started to turn the handle on the door. 
Fox pulled her hand away...."Don't."
Confused she turned towards him.
"We don't want to....arouse suspicion, he murmured, his eyes lowered.  We just
arrived.  If you go bolting in there
right away, your mom'll know something's up.  No teenager leaves a date that
quickly...except for Zack."   
He smiled mischievously.
Smiling at his brilliant logic, she agreed.
"Oh yeah, that's a very important point....You're absolutely..."
He leaned over to her, his hands on either side of her face.  The kiss was
gentle yet so demanding, it took her breath
away.  Moments after the initial shock wore off, he drew back slightly, his
eyes heavy with desire.
She took one look at him then returned the kiss so fervently it almost
startled Fox.   She tasted 
faintly of peppermint as her soft lips explored his.  He opened his mouth and
she parted hers, 
welcoming his tongue greedily. 
Fox realized he had underestimated this petite girl once again.  His
adolescent dreams of this fiery 
redhead paled in comparison to the real Dana.  He answered  her passionate
kiss in kind, biting 
gently at her lower lip, planting kisses along the side of her face and neck.
She gasped at his caresses 
then pulled his mouth back to hers, teasing it with her tongue.  He accepted
this, and pulling her close 
against him ran his hand through the silky soft flames of her hair.  He
inhaled deeply, taking in the 
incredible overwhelming scent of her before she pulled away a little bit.  She
was breathing rather 
heavily, her face flush and her eyes were glassy.  
"Fox? Walk me to the door?"
He could tell by the expression on her face that she did not want to stop any
more than he did.  
But Dana  possessed a reserve he lacked in moments like this.  Grumbling good-
naturedly, he agreed.
As they stepped up to the porch, Dana turned and flashed him a knowing smile,
winking.
She spoke a little louder than necessary.
"Thanks alot, Fox, I had a really nice time tonight! She bugged her eyes out
at him.
"Yeah, me too Dana.  Have a nice spring break!"  He made a face & stuck his
tongue out.
She waggled a finger at him, eyebrows arched with curiosity.  
"Yeah, have a good flight & write me when you get there."
"Oh I will, if I can find the time....."  He was cut short as she jabbed him
in the gut.
"Yeah, well, Ok......good night then."  She turned as if to go inside when he
grabbed her by the waist 
and pulled her close to him as if in a very passionate embrace, then paused to
give her only a slight peck 
on the cheek.  "I wouldn't want you to think I'm easy," he  said with a
twinkle in his eyes.
Dana feigned mock disappointment.  "Why not?"
He raised his own eyebrows up and down.  "Hmm, good question....why indeed?"
Gazing at her with an intensity that sent a shiver of pleasure corsing through
her body, he claimed 
her mouth with his, and for a moment they were one.
Breathless, they drew back, their gaze never lifting.
"Good night Fox," she murmured.
He smiled very softly, his hand on her cheek.  "Good night Dana."
She closed the door behind her and met the gaze of her family. 
"Yes?" 
They all stared at her, as her mother broke the silence, smiling. "Hi honey,
did you have a nice time?"
Dana wasn't ready for all this right now, and ran up to her room, closing the
door behind her.
Missy came in.  "You all right, Dane?"  Dana looked up at her older sister,
smiling through tears.
"Yes and no."
Missy sat down on her bed, perplexed.  What do you mean?
Dana wiped a tear from her eye.  Missy I need your help.  Missy raised her
eyebrows in concern.
As Dana related the story, Melissa found herself surprisingly nonplused.
Her concern for Dana's spirit overriding her concern for Dana's virtue, she
agreed.
She went down to her mom and outlined the details of Dana's sorrow at leaving
Fox, and her fear 
of never seeing him again.  She explained that she and Dana were going to
share a room that night & 
try to talk it out.  Margaret agreed wholeheartedly.  She knew the tolls a
military life could take on a 
young woman were difficult ones, and was grateful that her daughters were able
to comfort 
one another so readily.   "If she needs anything, Missy, I'll be in my room."
"Thanks, mom."

Dana was elated.  The plan was going fine.  Her brothers were asleep in their
room and her mother 
would soon be as well.  Luckily, Dana's room was nearest the stairs, and her
Mother's the farthest, 
all the way to the end of the hall.
Missy, how should I signal Fox which window is mine?
"How about a candle," Missy suggested? "One if by land, two if by sea?"
Dana tossed a pillow at her.  "This is romance, not a revolution!"
"I don't know Dana, the idea of my baby sister sneaking out to meet a boy
sounds 
pretty revolutionary to me..." This time Missy ducked and avoided the pillow
sailing towards her.
"I know," said Dana, "give me a lipstick you don't like."
Melissa frowned, then went to her dresser and removed one in a deep shade of
red.
"Here, this was never my color, anyway. I really don't think it's you,
either..."  
She trailed off as Dana shot her a look that said she should have known
better.
Switching on the desk lamp, she made a big red X in the pane of  one of the
windows.
"Tic tac toe, anyone?"  she offered.
"Seems to me like it's Fox's move now" was Missy's smug reply.
Dana's face turned serious.   "What am I doing Missy?"  Her shoulders sagged a
little.
"Following your heart.  If this guy is the one for you, nothing can keep you
apart."
Gratefully, Dana looked up at her older sister, her eyes misting a little.
"I'm serious, Day-I don't know how else to say it except that I truly believe
love always finds a way.
Maybe not at the exact moment you ask the question, but eventually it's
answered.  I know it may
sound a little trite, but I mean it.  Do you love him?"
Biting her lips, Dana nodded meekly.  "I think so."
"And does he..."   Missy stopped when she saw the expression in her sister's
eyes.
"Yeah, of course, how could he not?"
Dana hugged her tightly.
"Now as your older sister I do feel compelled to explain a few things first."
She handed Dana a 
small foil square which she had removed from her wallet.  She couldn't duck in
time to miss the pillow, 
which landed squarely about her head.  
"Missy!" Dana exclaimed, her eyes widening.
"Hey you're my little sister and I just wanted to make sure you were protec...
Dana interrupted her.  "Missy I'm going to be a doctor someday, I think I've
got the birds & 
the bees covered.  Besides," she added, her eyes flashing, "I'm not sure
that's going to be part of the 
plan tonight. We haven't really ... discussed it yet."
Missy eyed her with disbelief, her mouth twisted & head to one side. "He's a
guy, right?"
She pressed the condom into Dana's hand.  "You'll *discuss* it.  Trust me."
Dana blushed, and tucked the condom into her jeans pocket.  She knew better.
Fox was not the type 
of guy to pressure her into anything.  She smiled, remembering his discomfort
earlier when he was so 
worried that she might think that was all that he wanted.  No, she was safe
with Fox.
The question was, was Fox safe with her?

Subject: REPOST Stomping Grounds Part 6/7

For a short time, Dana paced nervously.  She knew Fox would wait until the
rest of the lights in the house were out before trying anything.  After a
while, the idea that he had experienced a change of heart became a nagging
thought.  She considered slipping out on her own just to clear her head
when she heard a click at her window.  Heart racing, she hurried over and
peered out.  As a flood of relief washed over her face, a new concern
presented itself.  What was she doing?  She had always been a child of
logic and reason, even very young.  But when she waved down to Fox, who
was grinning like a schoolboy, she also waved those fears aside.  This was
it. Their last chance together for months.  For one time in her life, Dana
was going to ignore the calm level headed side of her brain and think with
her heart. 

The drive over to Dana's filled him with dread.  What if she changed her
mind?  Or her mother suspected?  What if she were caught sneaking out.  As
badly as he wanted to see her this night, he didn't want to put her in a
compromised position at home.  Then his thoughts turned to their date
earlier that evening.  She had surprised him with her interest in seeing
the Ridley Scott movie, Alien.  He would have pegged her for wanting to
see a chick flick or documentary.  But as they sat beside one another in
the darkened theater, one arm around her, and the other holding her hand,
he understood.  It was a terribly suspenseful film, and he was gratified
as more than once he had the opportunity to enjoy the sensation of her
clinging to him at particularly fearsome moments.  The creature in the
film was horrifying and the special effects quite good.  Holding her
there, her hand willingly placed in his, he marveled at the unending
surprise which was Dana Scully.  As he turned onto the street, he pulled
in front of the cottage two doors down from the Scully house.  He killed
the engine and quietly slipped into Dana's back yard. "Yes!"  It was an
easy matter to determine which window was hers.  The light was on and a
big red "X" was drawn directly onto the pane of the window.  He mentally
hugged Dana for her brilliant conniving mind. "I guess X marks the spot,"
he said to himself as he looked for a small pebble or something.  Dana was
right.  He did feel rather like a character from an after school special
version of Romeo and Juliet, or perhaps the Brady bunch.  But her
cherished the feeling all the same.  He flicked the stone lightly at the
window, flinching as he narrowly missed hitting the one next to it. 
Holding his breath, the stone collided into the appointed window with a
light crack.  Barely a second passed before he saw Dana at her window,
waving excitedly to him.  His head swam with the mere sight of her.  She
motioned him around to the front, and he nodded and waved in return.  Fox
stood off to the side of the front porch silently thanking the powers that
were for the gift of this person in his life.  Hearing the click of the
door as it opened, he turned expectantly.  She looked at him with such
joy, he wondered how he had deserved this moment.  Do I look like that to
her?, he mused.  Pushing the thought away, his grin widened as she flew to
his side, nearly tripping in her hurry.  "Shhhh" he admonished her with a
glint in his deep brown eyes.  "Shhh yourself," she said, feigning
indignance.  "So where are we going?"  "Well, I kind of thought I'd leave
that up to you..."  Dana eyed him with amused exasperation.  "Tell me
again which one of us has lived here his whole life?"  "OK, I can take a
hint,"  Fox replied.  "I did have some...ideas."  "Well you know how I
like your ideas," she enthused, slipping her hand around his waist.  Taken
aback momentarily by the comfort & ease with which she drew herself to
him, he wrapped his arm around her shoulder, leaning her even further
against him.  She rested her head into his chest and sighed contentedly. 
Fox dropped his chin onto the top of her head, comforted by how right this
felt.  As they came to his car, both were hesitant to break from the
casual but intimate contact. 

As they got in the car, Dana leaned over to Fox and kissed him lightly on
the cheek, her breath hot and light on his face, her lips soft and moist. 
He felt his legs twitch.  "What was that for?"  She blinked at him. "For
this--for right now--for today--and....for me."  He gazed at her and took
her chin in one hand.  He kissed her softly on the cheek.  "This is for
right now."  He brushed his lips against the other cheek, making Dana
shiver with pleasure.  "This is for today."  He leaned over towards her
ear and pressed his lips against it, moving his hand from her chin to her
shoulder, and bringing the other hand to rest on the back of her neck, and
holding her gently but firmly,
 whispered, "and this is for me.."  Fox began to trace his lips against
her ear, moving down the graceful curve of her neck, his touch searing her
wherever he kissed. Dana felt as if a million tiny electric shocks were
shooting through her brain.  Without realizing it, she moaned.  Fox paused
from his tender ministrations, a look of delight heavy in his eyes. 
"Hmm....so perhaps that *was* more for you than me," he joked softly. 
"Well then," she replied, her blue eyes softening, "then *this* is for
you."  Surprise gave way to sensation as Dana parted her lips softly and
pressing her mouth upon his, teased him gently with a delicate motion of
her tongue.  She explored his mouth and took his lips between her teeth,
gently nibbling on them.  As he yielded then responded with a fervor of
his own, she accepted his tongue and gave in to the need pounding in her
head.  Kissing with eyes first closed then open, they regarded each other
as their hands sought solace upon their bodies. Pushing back a bit, Dana
managed to speak huskily.  "Fox, I don't want you to get the wrong idea,
but could we do this someplace else?"  Fox inhaled sharply, then letting
the air escape his lungs in a rush, agreed.  "For obvious reasons, I
thought we'd avoid the harbor point."  Smiling wryly, she nodded in
agreement.  "So, we could go to my place or maybe to the beach.  I know
it's a little chilly for that but I brought along some.... provisions.  I
also have access to a few vacant summer cottages."  Dana raised an eyebrow
at this, but decided to let it go.  "Hmm, why don't we go to the beach and
then if need be we could always retire to a cottage."  This seemed like a
plausible solution, and so they went on their way.  The drive over was
very nice.  Dana scooted close to him, her hand entwined with his, the
radio playing softly in the background.  When they arrived at the beach,
Fox parked the car but instructed her to wait inside.  He bustled about
outside briefly, then with a mischievous look, helped her out, asking her
to close her eyes.  She complied, and with Fox leading her, felt the
warmth of a fire upon her face. 

She opened her eyes to see a blazing campfire set before her, with what
could only be described as a midnight picnic.  Blankets were strewn about
the sand, Fox had brought along a thermos of hot chocolate, a bag of
marshmallows and provisions for S'mores.  "I hope this doesn't seem too
hokey, " he half apologized, I'm just not the drinking kind." "Its
wonderful Fox, she whispered, her eyes aglow, it's..perfect!"  She
shivered a little.  "Come here, he offered, holding up a fuzzy blanket. 
They sat down on a quilt he had spread out, and he drew her up against his
chest. Dana sighed blissfully and snuggled in.  They sat there like that
for a few minutes, just enjoying the feel of one another.  Fox rested his
chin against her head, massaging her shoulders.  Dana drew her head to one
side, granting him an inviting view of her soft warm neck.  It was an
invitation he readily accepted.  Hungrily, he drew his lips to her neck,
nibbling and biting playfully.  She let out an involuntary gasp at the
tingling touch of his mouth. "Fox."  He tugged at the neck of her sweater,
exposing her shoulder.  She shivered as he continued to delight her, his
mouth hot and hungry on her skin.  She tasted salty and warm and sweet. 
Fox felt as if he could continue exploring the secrets of this woman
through the sunrise.  She breathed his name again, barely audible, "Fox.." 
He moved a hand cautiously towards the front of her sweater.  She clasped
his hand in hers and pulled it into the soft inviting confines of her
sweater, holding it gently against the rise and fall of her chest. 
Cupping her gently, he leaned back towards her and claimed her mouth with
his once more.  She turned herself to face him, gently stroking the back
of his neck.  "Mmmm Dana," he breathed.  He eased himself down onto the
blanket, bringing her alongside him.  His eyes alight with the reflection
from the fire and with a fire all their own, he seized her gaze, and
intertwined his fingers with hers. She looked breathtaking in the light of
the fire, her face cast with flickering shadows and love.  She searched
his eyes with a burning intensity which asked him an unspoken question,
giving him her answer all at once.  An answer which promised love.  He
startled himself with this thought. Love. It all seemed so fast.  Was it
love which lit her eyes so?  He had taken an almost immediate liking to
this splendid girl almost instantly.  She had a wit and a fire about her
that was a blessing to behold.  But love?  Fox had never put Love into any
equation before, and it scared him a little.  Suddenly, leaving was thrown
into a whole new light and his carefully balanced world seemed suddenly
quite precarious.  His throat tightening, he found it difficult to
breathe. 

Dana looked up at him, her piercing blue eyes reflecting concern.  Their
hands still intertwined, she pull his against her heart.  "Fox?" she
questioned, worriedly.  (Am I that transparent, he wondered?)  He had
always been something of a skeptic where matters of the heart were
concerned.  Facing the beautiful young redhead alongside him, he felt that
wall crumbling, and considered facing life as a believer.  "It's all right
Dana, it's just that..."  His heart broke when he saw the look of
dejection in her eyes, as she turned her head down.  "No!" He lifted her
chin up.  "Let me finish..."  He eyes flickered with something unreadable,
and she nodded.  "It's just that while I want this, I hadn't really
thought it through. I didn't consider the consequences or the
implications...for either of us, he added.  Dana I want this more than you
know--he smiled softly and could swear he saw a flush of rose in her
cheeks. "But I don't want this to be a goodbye. I think we should wait. 
We should save this for our hello.  I'm not sure I could go and leave you
after........he trailed off with a sigh.  At first, Dana couldn't believe
her ears.  She had looked into her heart and relinquished this moment to
him. That he would be the one to receive the gift that her youth could
give but once.  And after everything that had happened between them, to
think he did not want her.  Disappointment threatened to overwhelm her,
until as he continued, she caught the expression in his face, and
awareness flooded her brain.  He didn't want a parting gift.  He wanted
more.  She felt a sudden pang of guilt for the hormone induced thoughts
she had just entertained.  "Oh Fox!" she breathed.  The look of doubt on
his face gave way to relief and then something more.  "Then...it's
Ok?.....you understand?" he inquired.  She fixed a steady gaze of warmth
upon him, squeezing his hand tightly.  "Yes," she replied fervently, "I
can't believe it on one level, but on every other level...Yes!"  "She
winked at him with an impish grin.  "Just don't make a habit out of it,
OK? I'm not sure my ego can take too much more chivalry!"  "Oh, I promise
to be anything but gentlemanly for the rest of the night," he assured her
menacingly.  Dana made a futile attempt at scrambling away but he caught
her up and pulled her against him roughly.  She acted as if she was about
to protest when her eyes flashed and she quickly sealed his mouth with
hers.  Still exploring his mouth, she nudged him over a bit and then in a
swift motion rolled over him so that she was on top, triumphantly
straddling him with one leg on each side.  Fox's expression of surprise
gave way to a leer.  "Um, Dana, you know all that stuff I just said about
waiting , uh, well I was thinking, *perhaps* it was a little rash of
me..."  Dana jabbed at him smugly from her perch atop his suddenly
uncomfortably tight jeans.  "I don't think so," she answered, playfully
squeezing him with her thighs. He reached up and dragged her face down to
his, keeping her on top, but pulled flat against him.  Dana could feel his
arousal pressing into her stomach as she lay on upon him.  It left her
feeling giddy.  Combined with the sensation of his hands upon her, under
her shirt, along her back, Dana was overcome with the desire to press back
into him.  Hungrily, she answered his kisses searching along his body
until she came to the smooth hard swelling in his jeans.  Fox groaned
wildly.  They weren't going to give in completely this night, but that
didn't mean other outlets could not be found.  They continued on this way
for what seemed an eternity.  Each one exploring the other eagerly, but
with restraint, so certain unsafe borders were never breached.  She
marveled at his response to her touch, stunned that she should have such
an effect on him.  And Fox, warmed by her enthusiastic reply to his
kisses, continued the loveplay until they could both stand it no more. 
Wordless, they lay before the crackling fire, Dana spooned into Fox,
content in the silence of their company.  "Dana?' "Mmm-hmm?"  "Hungry?" 
"Mmm-Hmm!" she answered, the inflection belying a hunger for something
other than food.  Fox got up and set about to prepare for roasting
marshmallows.  Dana undid the lid of the thermos, and poured a single cup,
plopping a marshmallow in.  She waited for Fox to return, and offered it
to him as he sat before the fire.  He handed her the stick as he sipped
gingerly from the cup.  Mmmm, he murmured, pulling her to him again,
delicious!"  Fox closed his mouth on hers and Dana delighted in the warm
chocolaty taste of him.  "What, no marshmallow?"  He smirked at her, and
took the roasting stick from her hands.  "Hey you nearly burned it!" he
joked.  "Well my mind was on other matters, " she countered suggestively,
trailing a finger alongside his chest, hooking it into the loop of his
jeans.  Distracted from the task of removing the molten confection from
the stick, Fox gasped suddenly. "Ouch!"  He waved his hand about, gingerly
blowing on it where the burning hot marshmallow had stuck to him.  "Let me
see that," Dana ordered, a hint of concern on her face.  Examining it
closer, her expression changed to amusement.  "Baby," she chided him,
"it's not the least bit inflamed."  "Well it still smarts, he whimpered, a
trace of a pout on his puppy dog face.  Dana softened and took his
marshmallow coated finger to her lips, kissing it tenderly.  "Is that
better?' she queried innocently.  "A little bit" he murmured hopefully, a
slight smile evident on his lips and in his eyes. He gasped again, but
this time not from pain as Dana took his finger to her mouth, gently
sucking on it and swirling her tongue around it.  "Maybe my finger isn't
inflamed," he groaned, his breath suddenly heavy, "but I am."  Dana
continued the attack on his injured digit, manipulating her mouth in such
an excruciatingly pleasurable manner Fox felt as if he would faint.  He
started to pull at her again, but she remain steadfast.  "Un-uh" she
refused, licking the tip of his finger and giving it a final kiss before
stopping.  "Where is my s'more?"  "Funny that's exactly what I was
thinking," he retorted, his lower lip sticking out in a mopey expression
which Dana adored.  "You mean you want *s'more* too?" she giggled, then
squealed as he made a dive for her.  "Oh, I'll give you *s'more* all
right," he threatened, as he pursued her around the campfire.  The merry
chase continued for a moment and Dana dived back onto the quilt, laughing
as Fox tackled her from behind.  He pulled her over onto her back, &
holding her down gently, marveled at how beautiful she was.  Sensing a
slight change in mood, Dana looked into the deep forever of his eyes.  And
felt a heaviness tugging at her heart.  "Fox, we don't have a whole lot of
time left, she began, "could you just hold me for awhile?"  He smiled
broadly in agreement, and held out his arms to her.  She snuggled against
his chest, her eyes damp.  He looked at her briefly, then regarded the
night sky.  "Dana, do you suppose we're alone in the universe?," he asked. 
Somewhat relieved at the change in direction, she considered the question. 
"Well, I don't really think there are "Alien's" lurking out there like we
saw earlier today she answered, smiling as he grabbed her abit tighter. 
But a once a friend of mine told me something her father had said
before...she faltered a little, not wanting to ruin the moment with a
painful memory.  He brushed a hand against the back of her hair, silently
giving her time to continue.  "He told her that given the infinite
universe, filled with billions of stars and billions of solar systems
filled with billions of planets, well, if we were the only ones, it would
sure seem like a terrible waste of space."  Satisfied with her answer, he
joined her in once again gazing up at the night sky.  Dana pointed out a
few constellations and the planet Venus, and they continued in easy
conversation, neither wanting to break the spell of the moment with
reality.  Before long, without realizing it, they fell asleep in each
other's arms. 

Fox felt a chill, and looked around, momentarily disoriented.  As his eyes
focused on the still form of the sleeping redhead beside him, his reverie
was interrupted by the faint pink and orange glow on the horizon.  It was
almost daybreak and that meant his time with Dana was almost at an end. 
Conflicting emotions warred within him.  She looked so serene and
beautiful in sleep, he could not take his eyes off her.  If he woke her,
she might want to leave.  If he didn't wake her, he would miss what
fleeting time they had left to share in each other's company.  Still
undecided, he snuggled up against her.  Dana stirred a little then rolled
over to face him.  Her eyelids fluttered open, registering a passing
confusion which was quickly replaced with a twinkling smile.  "Hey," she
murmured softly.  "Hey yourself," he replied gently, brushing his lips
upon her forehead.  "Morning sleepy."  "With a faint trace of alarm, she
started, looking up to the still dark sky then scanning the horizon,
taking in the distant glow.  "It looks like almost daybreak, Fox, what
time is it?"  He checked his watch.  "5:27," he replied, "we still have a
little time left."  He tried to look upbeat, but his eyes belied their
mutual frustration.  Dana sighed lightly.  "I'm going to have to go pretty
soon, Fox, my family will be awake in a little while."  Fox nodded.  "Stay
for the sunrise?" he asked.  Her blue eyes softened and she smiled. 
"Umm-hmm!"  She sat up a little and leaned against him.  Pulling the
blanket tighter around them, Fox encircled her in his arms, and leaned his
chin upon her shoulder.  Dana could hear him breathing and felt his breath
warm against her cheek.  She reached up and squeezed his hand.  "Screw the
sunrise Fox, look at me."  Amused by her choice of words, he turned
towards her.  "I'll never forget this Fox, ever."  Fox tried to ignore the
sadness in her voice, which echoed a pain of his own.  He tried humor. 
"Thanks, are you trying to imply that I might?"  She rolled her eyes
sheepishly. "No, I just want you to know that..."  Fox interrupted her.
"It's OK, I know-I feel the same way, Dana."  She looked down for a
second. When she looked up he leaned in and kissed her.  She blinked back
tears, trying hard just to concentrate on the moment, to commit every
touch and sensation to her memory.  He must have sensed this, for he
pulled back a little, concern in his eyes.  Dana shook her head.  Fox
understood.  Words failed them both, and the best they could do was to
hold one another.  He pressed his lips gently against one eyelid, then the
other.  He brought his forehead to hers, holding her head with both hands. 
A solitary tear streamed down her face.  She parted from him and planted a
kiss on his brow tenderly, and closed her eyes.  They embraced tightly,
and she whispered into his ear, gulping a little, "OK, Fox, we'd better
go..."  He mutely agreed and gathered up their things.  Silently, they
walked to the car.  She got in as he placed the blankets and provisions in
the trunk.  Halfway to Dana's he started to say something, then stopped. 
She reached over and took his hand in hers gently.  She searched her mind
for something to say, some word to commemorate the moment
something-anything that would make the transition easier.  Nothing came to
mind.  After another long silence, they both began to speak at once. 
Embarrassed, they both tried to yield to the other.  "Go ahead, Dana." 
"It's OK Fox, you go on."  "No, I insist, ladies first."  "I was just
going to say that once we arrive in Annapolis I could call you but then I
realized that not all the family housing units have telephones."  Dana
felt a little awkward.  "What was it you were going to say?"  Fox sighed. 
"Well I was just going to tell you I could write to you there but I
realized that mail from the UK probably wouldn't arrive before you left. 
So I'll just write to you at your home address."  "Yeah, that's a good
idea."  Dana's reply was less than enthusiastic.  "And then I'll send you
my address at Oxford," he added.  "Oh, good.  That'll be great."  Dana bit
her lower lip. Why in god's name couldn't she bring herself to be more
pleasant?  Because you feel anything but, she reminded herself.  Fox
turned his attention back to the road and Dana looked absent-mindedly out
the window.  Before they knew it, they were on Dana's street.  He parked
the car several doors down and turned off the engine.  "Dana?"  "Fox,
let's not make this any harder on each other than it already is?"  Dana's
emotional self-preservation had kicked into overdrive.  She refused to let
the tears show.  Taken aback momentarily from the chill of her tone, Fox
began to understand.  He wanted so badly to touch her, to make her see the
impact of this moment for him, but knew she needed her distance.  Knew
that it would help a little with the hurt which would ultimately come with
separation.  He let himself out and came around to the passenger side
door, opening it & helping her out.  He opened his mouth to speak, and she
silenced his words with a final kiss.  They lingered that way for what
seemed like ages, until the sound of a door interrupted their
concentration.  They looked up to see Mrs. Scully on the porch of their
home.  "Oh shit, Fox breathed.  "It's all right, she reassured him. "I'll
talk with her.....um, so I'll see you around later then?"  "Uh, yeah," he
stammered, "later."  Have a good trip.  You too.  He watched as Dana
strode up to her mother's house, head held high.  He noted with some
relief that Mrs. Scully's expression did not seem one of anger or
indignance, but motherly concern.  She nodded to him as Dana walked up the
steps. Opening the door to their home, they both turned and waved for a
moment.  Then the door closed & they were gone.  Fox let out a loud sigh. 
Turning the key in the ignition, he headed the car home, alone in his
thoughts. 

Subject: REPOST Stomping Grounds Part 7/7


"Dana?"  Her mother's question was not an angry one.  It was not an accusation
or reprimand, but a simple concern.
"Are you OK, honey?"
Dana sniffled a little.  "Yeah, mom, I'm fine."
"You know you don't have to act stoic with me honey, Ahab's not here right
now."
"I know mom, I really am fine."  Dana headed up the stairs.  Almost to the
top, she paused.  
"Mom? We didn't...I mean....nothing happened, mom, we just wanted to say
goodbye."
Margaret Scully tried hard not to smile.  If only Dana knew her mother's heart
as well as she in turn knew Dana's. 
Then she would've known there was no need to defend her actions.
Margaret sobered a little.  Something had happened in the hours between dusk
and dawn.  Something that she knew 
in time, would become either a source of great pain or great joy to her
youngest daughter.   
Recognizing the expression she had seen in Fox Mulder's eyes as he watched
Dana walk away from him, she hoped 
for the latter.

Spring vacation was surprisingly pleasant.  For whatever reason, Bill was in
an unusually good mood, and even called
Dana by her real name, and not "D.K." or even "Doc."  The time she spent with
Ahab was wonderful.  He was
delighted to hear about their accomplishments in school, and intrigued by her
descriptions of Fox.  
"Sorry I didn't get to meet this young fellow, Starbuck.  But I trust your
judgment.  If  you trust him, well that's
good enough for me."
"Well you'll get to meet him eventually, Ahab, he'll be back in time for
graduation in June."   Dana beamed.  She was
so happy at the prospect of seeing Fox that she missed the exchange of worried
glances between her parents.
When she wasn't on walks with her father, Dana spent time with Missy, talking
over recent events.  She couldn't help
but feel that something was amiss.  While as sensitive as always, Missy seemed
uncharacteristically solemn.
Before long it was time to pack up and prepare to head back to Chilmark.  Even
though she knew Fox 
wasn't there, Dana still longed for the sense of connection that Chilmark
afforded her.  As she finished
packing her things together for the return trip in the morning, Missy came to
her door.  "Day? Mom and 
dad want us all to come down for a second."  Dana looked up, slightly puzzled,
but joined her brothers 
and sister around the dining room table.
"OK everybody, I have an important announcement to make.  As you all know my
transfer to Annapolis was a
temporary one and I've spent the last few months running around the eastern
seaboard.  As of 19:00
 hours last night my tour here has ended and I have new orders to return to
Miramar.  We're going home!"
Bill and Charlie whooped, and Missy smiled broadly then  shot a worried glance
to her younger sister.
Dana had a blank, bewildered expression.
In times like this Ahab had always relied upon his Starbuck to help him gather
enthusiasm for 
another move.  She was his staunchest supporter, after her mother.  But this
time the expression 
in her eyes belied a sense of betrayal and hurt.   CAPTAIN?Mr. Scully felt a
pang of guilt for the 
life he had chosen and it's effect on his youngest daughter.
Quietly, Dana excused herself from the kitchen table and slipped into her
bedroom.  Her mother and 
father exchanged looks, and Margaret Scully turned to follow her daughter.  
Still whooping it up with his older brother, Charlie turned as his favorite
sister exited the room in silence.  
"What's wrong with Dana, dad? I thought she loved San Diego."
Captain Scully patted his son on the head.  "She does, son, but I think this
time Dana has made some 
friends that she really doesn't want to leave behind."
Not quite getting it, but satisfied with his father's answer, Charlie
continued on excitedly, chatting 
about the friends and places he was looking forward to seeing again.

Margaret knocked softly at the door to Melissa & Dana's room.  Hearing nothing
she stepped inside to see Dana
sitting quietly, contemplating the window.  As she sat down beside her,
Margaret saw that tears were streaming down
Dana's face.   Torn  by her daughter's atypical expression of emotion, she
placed her hand upon her shoulder and
waited with her.
Finally Dana spoke, in barely more than a whisper.  "How much time, mom?"
Margaret sighed. "We're driving there tonight to gather our personal things
and we'll leave in the morning."
Nodding her head, Dana continued.  "Well I won't have much of a chance to say
goodbye to anyone, not even my
teachers."  It was more a statement of fact than a complaint.
Margaret agreed. "Well you can write to everyone and explain it to them, I'm
sure they'll understand, honey."
Dana blinked as tears continued to stream down her face, but still silently.
"Not everyone will," she whispered.
Her mother swallowed as a lump formed in her own throat.   Facing a situation
she dreaded.  As before, Dana was
being separated from a love with no choice but to accept it.  Unlike San
Diego, however, they weren't being
transferred to an exciting exotic locale.  And the boy Dana was leaving
behind, without even the benefit of a proper
goodbye,  was decidedly unlike Steve.   She had never quite understood Dana's
initial attraction to her first boyfriend.
But the Mulder boy--he was a different matter.  Brooding, serious, and good-
looking, with a brilliant mind and a
ready wit, he was definitely more of an match for her daughter.  And he cared
deeply for her, that much was obvious.
Still Margaret reconciled matters in her mind, Dana was so young and had so
much ahead of her.  In time she would
find another boy to equal and replace the feelings she had for Fox.  Until
then, it was best to wait, and be patient, and
let her daughter get by it in her own way.
Lost in her own misery, Dana barely noticed when her mother got up to leave.  
"I'm here if you need me, Ok, Dana?"
Oh, how Dana despised the piteous looks her family gave her when she was hurt.
It made her feel weak and more
vulnerable, knowing her feelings and emotions were evident to others.  She
steeled herself a little.
"OK mom, thanks.  I'll be fine."
Fine. The word rang hollow and cruel in Dana's mind.  As if she could ever
truly be "fine" again.  She had lost Fox
already, after barely even finding him, and now he would be lost to her
forever.
"I didn't even get to say goodbye...." she whispered to no-one in particular.
Taking a page from her journal, she
began to write a letter.  "Dear Fox....."

Despite the bustle and excitement around him, Fox sat silent and alone on a
couch in the Student's UNION.
He thoughtfully contemplated the picture in his hands, tracing his finger over
the lines as if contact might suddenly
bring with it some hidden memory lost to him.  Even possessed of a
photographic memory, Fox wanted more.
So engrossed was he that he failed to notice the form lurking behind him,
assessing his posture and manner with a
trained eye.  The good looking American hadn't given her a sideways glance in
a week.   Her trained eye did not fail
to notice the subject of his attention and Phoebe Green grinned wickedly with
the thought of a challenge.
"She's rather sweet looking....your sister??"
Fox turned round and was overwhelmed by the presence of the sandy haired
female. She stepped forward into his
personal space, her eyes lingering on his.
"Uh...excuse me," he replied.
Phoebe motioned to the slightly worn Polaroid in his hands.  "The snap, there,
is that your sister? She's cute."
Her tone icy, words chosen carefully, she brought the full weight of her
sexiest smile to bear, licking her lips.
(This was too easy.  In a day, he'll deny ever knowing her.)
His deep brown eyes faltered for a moment, then fixed back upon her, meeting
her gaze without hesitation.
"No, she's not my sister, she's my girlfriend back home, and yes, she is
beautiful."
Taken aback by his resistance to her charms, Phoebe re-assessed him  (OK, not
the usual American tosser then.)
"Lucky girl," she conceded, "too bad she's not here."  She shifted the books
in her arms so that their weight pulled
down the neck of her sweater a little.  Her eyes widened.  He wasn't even
giving her a sideways glance. 
Perhaps this moody little yank was a subject worthy of her full attentions.
Mental gears turning she switched to a traditional psychological approach.
"What's her name?" she purred.
"Dana."
"Dana," she breathed, "what a beautiful name. Have you written her yet?"
Unnerved a little bit by Phoebe's attentions, Fox faltered.  "Why?"
She smiled conspiratorially, "Well it's just that a lovely bird like that
probably doesn't take too well at being lonely."
"Far away as you are now, you need to be reassuring her  of your affections."
Fox eased his guard down a little.  The friendly British girl seemed less
forward than he originally surmised.  Not
every girl other than Dana was a man hungry harpy, he reminded himself.  Like
Molly.
"Well actually yes, I have. He pulled an envelope from his coat pocket.
"That's one of the reasons I'm here in the
UNION...I need to get this mailed off to her so she knows I made here all
right.
Phoebes eyes flashed with pleasure and she grinned wildly.
"Well this must be your lucky day...."
"Uh, Fox."
"Well this must be your lucky day then, Fox...it just so happens I work in the
student message center and if you need
to post a letter to your love, then I'm your bloke!!  My name's Phoebe, by the
way,"  she added.
Shaking hands he felt a surge of relief.  He had been suffering from lack of
contact with anyone besides his mother
since he'd arrived.  And she was leaving in another week, going on to Germany.
Being a bit  younger than some of
the current Oxford students, he felt a bit wary & out of place.
Confronted by a friendly face, and a pretty one at that, he relaxed.
She guided him on through the hallways.  "Yeah, I'm here every morning for
pick up of the post and then back in the
afternoons after class, that's when you'd collect your mail.....from me.
Fox counted out the change and looking at his watch, thanked her, handing her
the letter.  
"It's really good to meet you Phoebe, maybe I will see you tomorrow when
classes start?"
"And every day when you pick up your mail!," she reminded him sweetly.
"Oh yeah, he enthused, well, gotta go, see ya!"  He strode off through the
crowd of students.
Phoebe watched as he was swallowed up into the assemblage of bodies.
She licked her lips a little, her smile turning up as her eyes flickered.  
"Oh yeah," she murmured to herself.  She looked around quickly then tore up
the letter and dropped it into the trash.
This was going to be easier than she had thought.  And far more enjoyable than
her usual mind games.   Yes, it was a real shame that the post could be so
unreliable.  She had a feeling it was going to get even worse.
Grinning darkly at the prospect of a new conquest, she pulled the blinds up
from her window, turned her attention to the queue of students lined up for
their mail.  

Subject: Stomping Grounds:Epilogue NC-17!

Stomping Grounds:Epilogue NC-17
By Heather Hopkins  <Dana1muldr@aol.com>

It had been almost a month since they were safely returned to Washington DC
The X-files were reopened. However, while they both would deny and refuse to
admit it, things were not the same for either of them.

After the initial weeks of being partnered together on the X-Files, they had
sworn to put away their high school memories. Both of them hurt, stunned by
the belief that the other had forgotten, Mulder & Scully put everything into
the
job. Mulder often took off on his own, in a seemingly careless manner which
tortured Scully. He never intentionally meant to hurt her, but he did. Mulder
had to prove he still could be independent and capable on his own.
For her part, Scully promised to never again let him in to her heart, or see
her
pain. Even in the direst circumstances she kept a brave front, always insisting
she was fine. It drove him crazy. It was something of a testament then, to the
both of them, that despite all this their partnership and in turn, friendship
flourished. Events which surely would have sundered the strongest love only
served to strengthen the bond between them.

But one night, in an almost-moment, walls were brought down. And then,
as it had so many times before, fortune intervened. This time the culprit was
no
government trained assassin, no mutant or psychopath. Fate^Òs intervention
came in the simple form of a virulent Africanized honey bee. Returning from
the events in Antarctica, both Mulder & Scully returned to old habits.
Deny everything.
Believe the Lie.
Pretend it never happened.
And it was tearing them apart.

Their current assignment, in the middle of the Arizona desert, had taken its
toll
on them physically & emotionally. After Antarctica, Scully thought she could
never be warm enough again. Whitney, AZ had proved her wrong. And
Mulder^Òs head injury was exacerbated by his own physical demands in the
field. He had something to prove, even if he wouldn^Òt admit to himself what it
was. But now the case was wrapped up.
In a rather non-X-File fashion, the killer was an extremely average human
being with no unnatural or supernatural gifts. Unless you counted his taste for
homicide. But with Fadale locked away and local law enforcement breathing a
sigh of relief, they allowed themselves to relax. Facing a long hot night in
what
passed for government approved lodgings before their flight back to DC early
the next morning.

"So, Scully, what^Òll it be?"

She shot Mulder a tired exasperated look.
"Unless you^Òve found a restaurant with facilities inside a meat locker, I
believe
it^Òll be bed".

Mulder tried his best bright eyed schoolboy look to no avail.

"It^Òs so hot Mulder, why don^Òt you call me when the sun goes down?"

"Scully, could I see your neck for just a moment?"

Getting the joke, she smiled weakly. "It^Òs OK, Mulder, I haven^Òt ordered pizza
in weeks."

Seeing that his usual chiding was getting him nowhere fast, Mulder relented.
"All right," he agreed. "I didn^Òt sleep too good last night anyway, maybe I^Òll
take a nap. It is pretty damn hot out here right now."

"Maybe if you ask, they^Òll transfer you to a room with just a sofa and you can
get some rest."

Mulder twisted his mouth in a wry expression. "Oh Scully, now *that* was
funny. I^Òm glad to see the heat hasn^Òt affected your sense of humor... you
still
don^Òt have one!"

Nodding her head, stifling a slight chuckle, Scully opened her door turning
round before she closed it-- "see you later, Mulder!"

After her door had closed, Mulder smiled, wiping his brow. At least she
sounded a bit more like her old self. The joking between them had always been
a source of great comfort in times of fear, anger, even sickness. In many ways
it
was a thermometer of their relationship. Thermometer. He realized how hot
and sticky he felt in his "bureau approved" suit. Unlocking the door to his
room, he stepped into the cool interior, breathing an audible sigh of relief.
He
stripped and made for the bathroom, amused by the idea that his partner had
driven him to yet another cold shower.
Once that was finished, he flopped onto his bed, luxuriating in the wet
sensation of cold. Grabbing the remote by his bed, he began flipping channels,
pausing on what appeared to be a 24 hour adult channel. Oh well, he thought to
himself, he could always take another cold shower.

As soon as she entered the room, Dana stripped off her suit and sat in front of
the A/C unit. The frosty air sent icy shivers of delight across her flesh. She
remained that way for several minutes, when she heard the sound of water
running in the room next door. Mulder was taking a shower.
Still feeling hot, tired from the heat, she collapsed onto the bed, reveling in
the
smooth, cool feel of the comforter. Relaxed at last, she began to drift off.
Until a noise from Mulder^Òs room awakened her. Confused and disoriented for
a moment, she remembered where she was. Then unsettled by the sound of
moaning next door, she automatically grabbed her sig, and leaned against the
shared portal, listening. It took about 2 seconds for her to realize Mulder
wasn^Òt
in mortal danger. Unless you count a cranky partner poised to shoot him a
second time.
She shook her head, laying her gun down on top of the TV.
She opted instead, to take a bath. The idea of soothing music and relaxing in a
bubble bath was incredibly decadent. Dana liked it immensely. As the water
ran, she poured a capful of fragrant bath crystals in and brushed her hair.
Before she stepped in, she turned off the tap and listened. She groaned. There
it
was, same channel. Dana let out an exasperated sigh. Not really wanting to
disturb her disturbed partner, but unwilling to share his entertainment,
she decided to fight back a little. She strode into her room and flicked on the
television. She didn^Òt care what was on as long as it wasn^Òt *that*. She found
a
suitably bland film and turned up the volume. Maybe he^Òd hear her TV and
realize it was a two way street. She grinned to herself.
She set her suitcase on the table in her room, edging over her laptop. It
nearly
fell to the floor. She pushed it in slightly, confident it was secure. Dana
went
through her suitcase, pulling out her silk bathrobe. Nothing like a few
creature
comforts to make her feel at home. She reached in for her portable CD player.
She rarely had the opportunity to use it, time with Mulder was usually spent
going over casework.

Carefully setting the player on the top of the toilet tank, she gingerly
stepped
in. The water was perfect. Not too hot, but not too cold. She sank up to her
neck
in bubbles, mindful of the cord, and felt relaxed for the first time in a week.
Mmmmmm, she breathed sighing contentedly. As the first strains of her
custom made cd began, it occurred to her that she really ought to get a small
gift for Frohike. Leave it to him to act on an off handed comment, and come up
with the best birthday present she^Òd received in years. OK, one year,
if you count the keychain. But by Mulder's admission, she had another three to
go before she needed to worry about Mulder^Òs next gift. Using new cd writing
technology, Frohike had tailor-made a cd for her, with some of her favorite
quiet songs off of a variety of albums & tapes. Mulder liked to tease her about
Frohike^Òs amorous obsession, but she saw it as a very thoughtful gesture. And
she really loved the combination of musical scores, ballads and instrumentals.
All hand picked with her in mind. Before the third track had begun, Scully was
sound asleep.

Mulder remained engrossed in the particulars of the movie on his tv when
sounds from Scully^Òs room jarred him out of his reverie. Shit, he breathed.
If he could hear Scully^Òs movie...?... if he could hear hers, it meant she
could
hear his... he felt his ears flush. Stepping off the bed, he turned the volume
down.
Realizing he was already dry, he slipped into a pair of boxers, then pulled on
a
pair of jeans. He wished he^Òd brought shorts, but they hadn^Òt seemed
appropriate G-man wear. He smiled. Not very *macho*. Turning the tv off, he
listened again next door. Either the movie had ended, or Scully had changed
the channel.
Intrigued by an idea, he turned his tv back on, slowly switching channels until
he found the one which mirrored the sounds coming from Scully^Òs room.
It was the beginning of a slasher movie called Shocker. He laughed out loud.
If Scully was actually watching this, she was either keeping her secrets really
well, or she was really really bored. Taken with the perverse pleasure of
knowing & watching what Scully was watching at the exact same moment, he
sat on his bed. In typical guy fashion, he found himself caught up the plot of
the
B-film, amused by it^Òs theatrical take on serial killers.
Funniest of all was that the actor playing the villain really looked alot like
Skinner. He made a mental note to present the AD with a copy of it come
Christmas.

He started to lean back onto his bed when a sudden crash next door brought
him to his feet. "Scully?" he hollered at the adjoining door, "You ok in
there?"

Hearing no reply, he opened his door, but found hers locked. "Scully?" he
shouted again, a hint of panic evident in his voice. Erring on the side of
caution, he went out his front door and knocked on hers.

"Room service" he called wryly, rapping on the door, knowing it would fool no
one if in fact there was an intruder. Pulse racing, he tried the doorknob. And
felt his heart sink as it slowly turned in his hands. His partner would never
leave a hotel door unlocked. His gun ready, he burst through the door striking
the proper stance, prepared to level the gun at an unseen invader. "FBI!"
Mulder scanned the empty room.

Sweat beading on his brow, he saw the bathroom door was closed.
He listened intently and heard nothing. With a lump in his throat, he gently
pushed it open with the barrel of his sig. He stepped in, nearly dropping the
gun on the floor when he saw her.

Although he should have been greatly relieved to see his partner was alive &
well, the lump in his throat only tightened. Scully was relined in a bathtub
filled with bubbles, (rather strategically placed, he noted,) fast asleep. She
had
headphones on and he thought he could make out the faint sounds of music.
He wondered idly what Scully listened to in the bath. She stirred.
"Shit," he mouthed, backing out the door, but not as quickly as he should have.
He couldn^Òt avoid taking a lingering look at the woman who had been his
companion, confidante, partner and friend for the last 5 years. The woman who
had been the girl he wanted so many years ago.
The girl who had forgotten him, who hadn^Òt wanted him in return.

He wished there was a way to see the tattoo she had gotten in Philadelphia.
She had been naked in Antarctica, but circumstances precluded any looking.
At that time, the absence of her clothes was a liability that nearly cost them
their lives. They were lucky that a rescue party arrived before they had both
frozen.

Luck -the word took on new meaning for Mulder as he gazed appreciatively at
Scully^Òs shapely legs. And quickly, luck deserted him, as shivering with
gooseflesh, his partner fluttered her eyes open.

Her eyes wide with shock, she just gaped at him for a moment.
His eyes wide with shame, he began to murmur an apology, forgetting she had
headphones on.

"MULDER!!" She bolted upright for a second, then seeing his gaze drop down,
she sank back into the bath. She whipped the headphones off. "Jesus Christ,
Mulder, what the hell are you doing?"

"Get out of here!!" She commanded.

Mulder retreated faster than she^Òd thought possible. Stunned and shaken from
the unexpected start, she lay there fuming. Realizing she was shivering and
that
the water had cooled, she stepped out of the tub, slamming against the door to
insure it was shut. She turned the lock, and breathing heavily, leaned against
the door for support. She suddenly felt sick and dizzy... and... and...
something
else. She saw the look in his eyes when she caught his gaze, and it was
definitely not a brotherly one.

Since the near kiss in his building she had felt that he^Òd regretted his
actions,
and had immersed himself back into the X-files, and as far away from that
night as possible. But that look. It reminded her of a starry night years ago,
and
a beach. And a boy who didn^Òt seem to mind being called Fox, but had quickly
forgotten her.
Immersed in thought, she dried herself off, almost stepping out of the bathroom
stark naked. She paused & donned her silk robe, checking herself in the mirror.
Instinctively she pulled it up and around her, trying to further conceal
herself.
She started to open the door then hesitated. She smoothed the silky fabric down
and straightened the sash. If Mulder had come for an eyeful, maybe she
wouldn^Òt completely disappoint him. Doubtless he had been *encouraged* by
his movie selection. Her eyes darkened at this prospect, & Dana decided to give
him an earful as well.

"I just don^Òt understand," she continued.

Fox began to get a little defensive. While guilty in some respects, his
original
intentions were good. "Look, I heard a crash, and you weren^Òt responding. How
was I supposed to know you had zoned out in the tub?"

Scully continued to eye him with a skeptical glare.
She had to make some concessions to the man she had trusted with her life for
more than 5 years now, but he was not entirely innocent either. His guilty way
of avoiding eye contact acknowledged as much.

"OK, I can see that my laptop did get knocked over, Mulder, but that^Òs hardly
call for a raid."

"Well Scully when you didn^Òt answer me and your door was unlocked, I got
nervous."

This gave her pause. While she wouldn^Òt readily admit to it, had the
circumstances been reversed, she would have acted similarly. "I can accept
that," she conceded. "But what was that in the bathroom-with the eyes, and
the... thing?" Scully gestured somewhat wildly.

Mulder looked confused. "The thing?"

Frustrated with all this, Scully blurted out. "Mulder you were ogling me, admit
it!"

Mulder fixed his gaze at a point on the wall above her and started to speak.

"Mulder, I^Òm over here," she complained. "You had no trouble looking at me a
minute ago."

He met her angry stare, his hazel eyes flickering green with emphasis. Simply
by making eye contact with Mulder-his expression heavy and uncertain, sent a
jolt of electricity through Dana. She softened a little, and paused, allowing
him
time to continue.

He took a deep breath. (This is it, he thought to himself. Ultimate dishonor.
Might as well come clean) "Scully... Dana" he corrected himself. The gorgeous
win stars that acted as a window to Scully^Òs soul blinked with surprise at his
use of her first name. "I^Òm sorry... and I^Òm not sorry. When I bolted in here I
was afraid something bad had happened."

"Now that it *has*," he grimaced, "I might as well explain myself."

She nodded him to continue, her expression masking any emotion.

"Remember in the hallway before... when you told me you were leaving?" She
nodded. "Scu...Dana, it wasn^Òt just your leaving that upset me. I meant
everything I said about how you^Òd saved me and kept me honest, how you
complete me. I still feel that way." She bit her lip and closed her eyes for a
moment.

"But Dana I^Òve felt that way for years..." he paused. "long before we were
partnered on the X-Files."

She shot her eyes open, stunned at what she was hearing.

"Mulder?" she began, a note of warning in her voice.

"No let me finish now before I chicken out..again. I know you either don^Òt
remember or don^Òt want to admit it, and I^Òve dealt with that. But you...I...I
never forgot what we were in Chilmark. Never."

Scully^Òs face was a mixture of anger, and frustration and something indefinite.
But her tone was gentle. "You^Òre bringing that up now, Fox?" (it slipped out)
"After all this time and all I^Òve had to do to put it behind me..." She paused
for
a breath. There was an icy edge to her tone now, and Dana Scully, Ice Queen,
was back.

Her soft expression was gone, replaced by the cool unreadable exterior Fox had
grown to hate. When he saw that face, it meant he was being shut out.

"I^Òm surprised you admit to it now, after all this time, Mulder. It was just
High
School-only a few months of high school at that. I^Òve gotten over it Mulder,
I^Òm
not 16 any more. But since you seem to want to bring it up, no I didn^Òt forget
it
either. How could I?" She shot Mulder a bitter glance. "And how could you?"

His bewildered expression only served to further her anger.

"You were leaving for England Mulder, why did you have to do it?
If I meant so little to you why ruin it for me and make me think you felt
something more...she let out a strangled sob, only to forget me?"

Mulder got mad. "Scully to my way of thinking, you^Òve got it backwards."
(This isn^Òt happening , he told himself, not now, not after all this)

"Not to my way of thinking, Mulder. Since you never wrote, I got your Oxford
address from your mom. Mulder, you never answered a single one of my letters.
I actually thought my world was coming to an end when I realized we were
leaving Chilmark."

She rocked her head into her hands for a moment, then continued.
"And when I discovered you were with the Bureau-I even thought for a
second-when we were partnered..." she threw her hands up in disgust.
"Mulder, you didn^Òt even recognize me."

Something was nagging at him from the back of his mind, and Mulder didn^Òt
like it. But Scully had triggered his defensive nature, and he was damned if he
would let it slide. "Scully, I didn^Òt write? What are you talking about? I sent
you a dozen letters the first month alone. You^Òre the one who never replied,
and when I returned for graduation, you were gone...."

He shook his head, memory reeling from the pain of that long ago moment.
"And you think *I* forgot? How could I not know everything about you while
you were at Quantico? Head of your class, hot shot doctor on the up & coming
list, that whole mess with Jack? No, I knew. Gave me some surprising insight
to your "ice queen" title. Do you really think it was merely coincidence that I
had a copy of your senior thesis on my desk the day we met? *Again*?," he
blurted, correcting himself.

Scully sat there, absorbing the weight of his words. It just wasn^Òt possible.

Mulder regarded her out of the corner of his eye. This was more painful than he
had imagined. She seemed genuinely shocked by his words and he was stunned
by her version of events. She was slumped onto the bed, head down in a
defeated manner he was unaccustomed to. It made him uncomfortable to see his
partner like this.

She looked up, tears streaming from both eyes and he realized how wrong he^Òd
been. How could he possibly have tricked himself into believing Dana didn^Òt
care, that she^Òd forgotten. Unconcerned with the details, he sought his solace
in
the Truth. A truth which Scully was desperately trying to conceal. Mulder drew
his partner into his arms, breathing soft words of comfort.

"I didn^Òt know-I didn^Òt realize. I^Òm not sure what happened, Dana, but I did
try
to write you-I never forgot. I couldn^Òt-didn^Òt want to. Forgive me for thinking
you had?"

Dana clung to him, his honeyed words a feast for her ears. She pulled tighter
to
his chest, comforted by the closeness which hid her face from view. She turned
her head a little.

"Fox," she murmured.

He shivered with delight in the way his name rolled off those lips.

"I believe you. After 5 years of trust, I can^Òt ignore my instincts." She
sighed.
"It^Òs just that after so much time I guess it was easier to believe the lie.
For both
of us."

"That night in the hallway, I honestly thought leaving the Bureau was my only
option. I couldn^Òt bear the thought of being forced to go to Utah-of losing you
again. So I tried to take control....and wound up losing it. When you told me
*everything* you looked so hurt-I couldn^Òt bear to think I was causing you pain
and when I kissed your forehead , it was like everything I^Òd been trying to
deny
came through...and then..." she trailed off, wiping tears from her eyes.

"And then that Goddamn bee!" he added, a trace of humor in his tone, his eyes
brightening.

Dana let out a cry that became a laugh. "Yes," she said, looking away as she
pursed her lips. She backed away as Mulder reached gently toward the collar of
her robe, pulling it away from her neck. Her beautifully smooth porcelain neck.
He brushed her skin lightly and it sent shivers of pleasure through her body.

"No bees here."

She met his eyes, her gaze frozen. She reached up to his hand and pulled it in
front of her, inspecting the tips of his fingers. "No marshmallow, either."
His moment of confusion giving way to wide-eyed awareness, he gulped for air
as she drew a finger lazily to her mouth, taking it gently between her lips.

The gulp gave way to a guttural groan.
Scully was doing things to his fingers he had only imagined.
Things his mind had relinquished to a distant memory.
Things that were suddenly making his breath heavy and his head swim.
His knees buckled a little. Smiling, Dana relinquished possession of the
affected digit slowly. "And I thought I had a good memory," he slurred. "Dana,
if this is all too sudden, too soon, we can...."

"Mulder-Fox..." she corrected, "Too sudden??"
"Don^Òt you think that we have both waited long enough for this?"

"Sorry" he whispered sheepishly, "years of denial, holding back....bad habit."

Dana started to remove her robe, but Fox stopped her.
"Let me help you," he murmured his voice thick with longing.
Dana shivered a little again as he gently undid the sash of her robe and parted
the sides away from her body to slide off her bare shoulders. He breathed
heavily, taking her in.

"My, god, Dana, you^Òre so beautiful!" He walked round her, his gaze never
leaving her. When he caught sight of the place where a small circular tattoo
adorned her back, he kneeled boldly behind her. His hands on her hips, Fox
gently brought his lips against the design.

Dana raised up on her toes for a second as Fox^Òs mouth made contact with her
skin. She gasped. "Mul-drrrr."

Still fully clothed, he stood up and brought her roughly against him.
The contact of his hands on her skin left a trail of sensitized flesh. Dana
grew
hungry, longing to reciprocate. She slipped her hand underneath his shirt,
urging him to remove it. As he complied, she trailed her fingertips across the
muscular expanse of his chest. She gently rolled a thumb along his nipple,
hardening it instantly.

Fox rocked his hips against her naked body, letting her know the impact she
was having on him.

She slid her hand tentatively into the waist of his jeans. He groaned loudly,
and pushed himself into her. Giddy with desire, she fumbled with the button of
his jeans.

He waited patiently for a moment, & as the button was released, shoved the
confining garment down over his hips, and stepped out of it.

Dana smiled approvingly, and brazenly ran her hands over the curve of his
backside. (How many times in as many years had she longed to do this very
thing) She ran her hands carefully along the side of his hips. Fox took her
chin
in his hand, bringing her face to his, and kissed her urgently.

Any need for modesty abated, Dana slid her hand into his shorts and grabbed
hold of him.

Fox gasped, his body reeling with sensation, his mind reeling at the vision of
this woman in his arms. Every fantasy come true...and then some.
He quickly stripped off the shorts and dropped back onto the bed, pulling her
down on top of him. She brought herself up to straddle him, and he could feel
the moist heat between her legs. It made his arousal all the more insistent.

"Now this seems familiar," he crooned huskily. (Was she blushing?)

She bit softly at her lower lip, smiling while her eyes burned brightly.
"I can^Òt believe you remember that!"

"What^Òs the point of an eidetic memory if you can^Òt do anything with it?"

Dana giggled softly as he grabbed her and pulled her mouth to his.
She nibbled at his lower lip and then sealed his mouth with her own,
exploring once more with her tongue.
Fox began to plant kisses along her face, making his way towards her ear.
He tongued along the outside gently then sucked a little on the lobe, biting
softly but not too hard. His breath heavy in her ear, Dana moaned out loud
when his nipping grew fiercer.

"Scuuuly"
"Dana"

Her mind exploding with fireworks from every caress, she continued to moan.
"Oh, Mulderrr, oh God"

"Dana"
He brought his thigh between her legs and she squeezed against it eagerly.

"Mulder, yes."

The sight of her, arching into him was more than he could take.
He brought his weight to bear on one side and flipped her onto her back.
Supporting his weight on one arm, he gently slipped his hand between her legs,
stroking her at the outside, then gently parting her lips to press his fingers
deep
within her. She cried out softly.

He played his fingers in and out of the drenched folds until he found the
sensitive head of her labia. Scully was breathing hard now, moving and
squirming under his touch. He gently kissed her neck and moved his head
down to the supple expanse of her breast. He suckled at the already hardened
nipples, rolling his tongue along them then blowing gently, while stroking
firmly against her vulva. He could feel her body tensing in anticipation under
his touch.

She moaned again and urged him "Please Mulder--Fox, oh," she moaned, "I
want you now."

No further urging was necessary. He brought himself against her passage,
then gently thrust into her a little, pulling out again and thrusting back into
her
a little more until finally he was at the hilt. He gasped for air as the heat
of her
body enfolded the entire length of him. He slowly began to rock in and out of
her while the walls of her body gripped at him.

"Oh, Dana, oh Sculllly, oh yes, god"

She urged him deeper, and met each thrust with her hips, her hands pulling at
him closer, deeper, all the while her mouth searching hungrily, tasting heat
and
sweat and skin wherever her lips touched.

He brushed a stray hair from the side of her face, and kissed her deeply.

As she lay beneath him, meeting each thrust with an urgency of her own,
Scully concentrated, trying to commit the moment to memory. The heat of their
bodies together, the gentle weight of him upon her, the slippery momentum as
he slid easily in and out, threatening to bring her to climax before him. She
wrapped her legs around him, squeezing tightly and groaned softly. "Oh Fox..."

He sensed her impending zenith, and quickened his pace in response.
His breathing shallowed and he started to pant a little more with each thrust.
"oh god  Oh Scully...Oh god...yes...yes.."

She murmured words of encouragement and matched his cries with gasps of
her own. As his movements became more erratic, Mulder lifted her legs a little,
deepening his thrusts.

"C^Òmon Scully, oh god , just a little bit more oh god, you^Òre so beautiful"

Her eyes clenched shut, Dana writhed beneath him as a surge of pleasure tensed
up within her and blossomed into a million tiny explosions throughout her
body. She quivered beneath Fox just as he arched his head back and his body
spasmed. Fox gulped for air, and grabbing hold of her arms pulled her to him
as he rolled onto his side. He continued panting like that for a moment, sweat
dripping from his brow.

Dana exhaled sharply as her body went through tiny aftershocks. She stretched
her legs out, twitching a little and squeezing him gently between her trembling
thighs.

He looked over at her tenderly. She placed a hand on his cheek, ran her index
finger across the contours of his face. His dark brooding eyes clouded with
love
and wonder.

She blushed a little, smiling, and laid her head against his chest, feeling the
pounding of his heart. She listened as his breathing slowly regulated itself,
each
steady breath becoming less labored and more hypnotic. She felt her muscles
relax, her eyelids grow heavy. Tightening her arms about Fox, she whispered,
"I love you, Fox...." before nodding off to sleep, dreams answered, safe at
last.

He marveled at the sight of Dana in his arms-warm and real. He shut his eyes,
replaying the scene in over in his mind, relishing every detail, her eyes wild,
body tensing and writhing with pleasure.

She whispered her love to him and he felt his heart fairly breaking,
overwhelmed by the ease with which she had given herself so completely. Fox
sighed with a contentment he^Òd never imagined possible, and stroking her hair
gently, he whispered "I love you Scully" into her ear and laying a kiss upon
her
head, joined her in sleep.

The truth would have to wait until tomorrow. This day, at last, belonged to
them.
FINIS!!