Fire and Ice An X-files Story by Jennifer Lyon Jenni10647@AOL.com (Disclaimer: The characters of "The X-Files" and rights thereto belong to FOX network, Ten Thirteen Productions, and Chris Carter. The remainder of this story is the property of the author. The first half of this story is PG-13, the second half is NC-17 and contains adult sexual activity. This is my version of an X-Files romance, and was written in two long sessions. I couldn't type it fast enough! :-) enjoy!) Another note: this story is dedicated for publication in the fanzine "X-Rated X-Files" by Badkarma.1@genie.geis.com Contact her for more information. This zine sounds like a winner to me! I love romance! :-) "Fire and Ice" Part 1 Just as Mulder was about to close the office door, FBI Assistant Director Skinner looked up from the file he was studying, "By the way, Agent Mulder, I expect I will see you and Agent Scully at the Bureau dinner and dance tomorrow night." Mulder stopped at the door, not sure whether to breath a sigh of relief or cringe. He hated those bureau social events with a passion. On the other hand, after the rough session he'd just had with Skinner, over the last case he'd 'forgotten' to file the proper forms on, it could have been something much worse. Though a particular memory from the last Bureau function he'd attended reminded him that it might just BE worse. "Unh..." he stumbled, turning around, but not quite meeting Skinner's eyes. "I hadn't really thought about it." "Dinner at eight pm, Agent Mulder. Tomorrow," Skinner said with a pointed look at his wayward agent. "Eight pm, we'll be there, sir," Mulder replied with a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach. Having received the answer he wanted, Skinner buried his head back into the file in his hands, silently dismissing Mulder who hurried out the door, almost slamming it behind him. Sometimes he just didn't understand what Skinner wanted from him. After Mulder left, Assistant Director Skinner put down the file he'd been pretending to read, leaned back in his chair, and smiled. --------------------------- Fox Mulder straightened his tie for the hundredth time before knocking on Scully's door. He eyed the bouquet of roses in his hand, part of him wanting to dump them before she answered the door. This felt too much like a real date, and somehow the fact that it was Scully - his partner, his friend - made him feel even more uncertain. But before he could make a move, Scully opened the door. "Mulder," she said with a smile. He just stood there and stared at her, the flowers clutched in his hand, his mouth slightly open, his dark hazel eyes fixated on her face. "Mulder, are you all right?" she asked worriedly, placing a hand on his arm. "What? Oh, I'm fine Scully. You look fantastic," he blurted out, thrusting the bright red roses out at her. Scully nearly sighed aloud with relief. She'd thought she looked pretty good in her new dress, but she'd been a bit worried about both his response and this whole evening. It was too much like a date, and she just wasn't certain how it was all going to work out. She was very aware, both emotionally and physically, of the deep attraction they felt for each other. However, there was their working relationship to consider, as well as their friendship. Could they possibly hold onto to it all at once? Scully wasn't sure she was ready to take the risk. Anyway, you just never knew with Mulder. His reaction to her could have been anything from complete unawareness of how she looked to utter ridicule. The deep warmth in his eyes as he looked at her was better than she could have hoped for. It made her glow inside. "Thank you," she said softly, taking the flowers and going inside to place them in a vase. Mulder followed behind her, closing the door behind them. He just couldn't take his eyes off her. She was like living fire, her bright auburn hair shimmering in soft curls around her face, her long red-velvet dress hugging her graceful figure then falling in elegant folds to her ankles. Her lips were as red as the roses she tenderly placed into a carved Chinese vase, her blue eyes sparkled like sapphires. He'd seen a lot of different aspects of Dana Scully during their time together: the calm professional agent, the tough forensic pathologist, the tomboy in sweats and ponytail, the courageous woman coping with her own inner demons and sorrows. But nothing like this. He swallowed and quickly tried to pull himself back under control. Tonight was going to be difficult enough without him mooning over his partner like an infatuated school-boy. "Ready," he asked, surprising himself with how calm he sounded. "Yes," she replied, giving him another incredible smile as she picked up her purse and followed him out the door. ------------------------------ Mulder weeded their way through the Friday night traffic with effortless control. Sitting beside him, Scully couldn't help studying him out of the corner of her eye. For once he had managed to find a tie that didn't give the viewer a sense of nausea. In fact this particular navy/black pattern was downright distinguished, as was the well-tailored black suit he was wearing. His dark hair had been carefully combed back, except for the one stubborn lock that always seemed to find its way onto his forehead. He looked cool, professional, handsome. Too handsome, she thought as he turned his head and gave her a bright, toothy grin. "Ready to beard the lion's den?" he asked as he pulled the car into the underground parking lot. "Lead on, Daniel," she replied, returning the smile. ------------------------------- The Grand Hotel Ballroom was crowded with people, mostly men in dark suits. Even 'off duty,' federal agents managed to look like federal agents, Mulder thought wryly, again pulling at the somber tie he was wearing as a concession to the event. He hated it. It made him look like his father. But when he'd first put on the tie he preferred with this suit, he'd suddenly envisioned what Scully's face would look like when she saw it. It just wasn't worth the argument. Scully put her hand on his proffered arm as they melded their way into the crowd. Mulder used the advantage of his height to scan the room. "There," he pointed. "Better pay our respects to Skinner now. That way we can escape early." Before Scully could comment, he pushed ahead, literally pulling her after him as he forced his way through. "Hey Spooky!" called a loud, jovial male voice. Scully felt the muscle's of Mulder's arm tense under her fingers. Mulder stopped abruptly as Agent Phillip Greyson stepped in his path. "Hello, Gray," Mulder replied politely. "Haven't seen you in a while. How's life? Caught any little green men lately?" Gray asked, laughing. "Gray." Scully interrupted before Mulder could even open his mouth. "What?" Both men turned to her. "It's little GRAY men, Gray," Scully said sweetly. Mulder coughed, strangling the laugh that rose in his throat. Gray stared at the lovely woman in astonishment as she added, "Or is it silver, Mulder?" "Unh...Kind of cream-colored, I think, but they do have a silvery tinge," Mulder replied seriously. "You see, Agent Greyson," Scully said in an utterly reasonable voice, "'Little Green Men' is a definite misnomer. Their blood is green, but their skin is a creamy silver color. Well, that's when they are in their natural form. Sometimes, they disguise themselves as human beings and you can only tell one by their green blood." "You have to be very careful of that, though," Mulder interjected. "Their blood carries virus that is deadly to human beings. I almost got killed by it a couple of times. If it hadn't been for my partner, I'd be dead." he smiled down at Scully. She smiled back at him, then looked calmly up at the open-mouthed Gray. "I found out that cold keeps the alien virus from multiplying. It stimulates a rapid increase in red blood cell formation, so that the victim's blood soon reaches the consistency of jelly, and is unable to flow properly: instant heart- attack. So we simply kept Mulder frozen until we could replace his thickened blood with uninfected blood that also contained drugs that would cause the blood to thin out. It took a while, but we brought him out of it." "What...?" Gray responded, looking shocked. He'd expected weirdness out of "Spooky," but not out of his cool partner. She had always had a reputation for being the cold professional pathologist: scientific, logical, and somewhat sexless. In fact he was still smarting from her rejection of him when they'd both been at Quantico. But that reputation was a far cry from the fiery, feminine woman hanging onto her partner's arm and smiling sweetly up at him as she spouted this ridiculous story. They could be making fun of him, but they both sounded so serious. The drunken Gray decided he needed another drink. Mumbling, he excused himself and staggered away towards the bar. Mulder felt tension draining from him as he watched Gray's retreating figure. He had no doubt the man had been waiting for him, ready start another fight. Scully had blind-sided Gray, and Mulder deeply appreciated it. "Thanks!" he whispered in her ear. "You're welcome," she said, giving Gray's back a grimace. "I didn't know you knew him." "I wish I didn't," Mulder replied, then he looked at her in surprise. "I didn't know you knew him." "I wish I didn't," she echoed with a slight laugh. In response to Mulder's quizzical look, she explained. "We both taught classes at Quantico a couple years ago. He tried to pick me up. I told him to get lost." "Too bad he didn't take your advice," Mulder said sadly. Scully smiled. -------------------------------- By the time they were seated for dinner, Scully was feeling enraged and Mulder was as tense as a coiled spring. Skinner had been polite, but no-one else had been. After the scene with Gray had been replayed for the fifth time with five different agents, Scully was about ready to shoot the next person who said "Spooky." Mulder reacted by withdrawing, his sharply-defined features hardening into a stone mask that moved only when he struck an opponent with a caustic verbal barb or an outrageous assertion, always delivered with that intense calm composure. To an outsider he would have looked languid, at ease. But to Scully's familiar eye, the glitter in his diamond eyes, the tight thrust of his jaw, the controlled power in his movements, all betrayed his inner rage and humiliation. She felt outraged, furious that he would be treated this way. She knew his reputation, and was well aware there were elements in the Bureau who felt this way, but she hadn't been prepared for such a severe outpouring of ridicule. They had managed to work with other agents productively before, so she knew there were reasonable people in the Bureau. Those agents must have had the sense to stay home tonight. Dinner only made things worse. They were publicly ostracized. To Scully's surprise, Mulder didn't seem to mind. He even relaxed somewhat, managing to make her laugh despite the anger that coiled in her gut. Still, she felt like she was on stage in front of a hostile audience. Scully had always tried to act in a fully professional manner, especially around her colleagues. Being outrageous to play with people's heads was Mulder's style, not hers. In fact, her cool attitude had earned her the nickname of "Doctor Ice" at the Academy. She had never let on how much it hurt, but the experience had helped her to understand Mulder's intense dislike for his own nickname. Now, she felt like getting up on the table and screaming. "Scully?" Mulder's voice broke through her reverie and she refocused her eyes on his concerned face. "I'm fine, Mulder," she responded, putting down her fork and eyeing the barely-cooked prime rib on her plate with disgust. "I was just thinking." "Want to talk about it," Mulder asked softly, trying not to pry. To his surprise, he was handling the inevitable teasing without it getting truly annoyed. He was angry, but more for Scully than for himself. He hated seeing her touched by his reputation. And the way several of the men had looked at her...it made him itch to punch them hard enough to knock the leers of their fat faces. He didn't care what they said to him, but Scully deserved better. "Its nothing, Mulder. Really," she replied, pushing her plate away and looking up at him. "OK," he said, leaning back in his chair. "How about we call it a night?" Scully almost said "YES!" but a sudden thought struck her. She wasn't quite ready to leave yet. First she wanted to make a couple of waves. If these fools were going to whisper about Mulder and her, why not give them something to REALLY talk about. "Not yet, Mulder. We haven't had a chance to dance yet. You promised me one, remember." Mulder sighed and nodded. "Guess, I did." He looked over at the bare end of the room where the band was setting up. "Looks like they're getting ready. Want to head over?" "Sure," she replied with a wide smile. --------------------------------- Mulder glanced down at Scully's bright head as they moved out onto the dance floor. Something was going on in that clever head of hers. He wondered what she was thinking. Scully felt a deep satisfaction as she settled into her tall partner's arms. She placed her arms around his shoulders and rested her head against the hollow of his shoulder. Mulder held her close, resting his chin against her hair as he guided her fluidly across the floor. The music swelled and flowed around them as they moved as one. Scully felt all the tension drain out of her as she relaxed into Mulder's embrace. He was even better dancer than she had expected. All grace and ease, he never missed a step. All she had to do was follow his movements, melding her body against the strong, masculine warmth of his. Mulder tightened his clasp around his lovely partner, burying his face into the sweet-smelling silk of her hair. She felt vital and hot against him. He could feel her heart beat against him, her breath warm against his chest. His awareness of his surroundings faded away until he was focused solely on the beautiful woman in his arms. Together, they flowed across the dance-floor, oblivious to their surroundings. The gentle, lilting song lasted for an all-too short eternity. The change of music from the slow-paced love song into the quick, heart-pounding beat of a pop-rock dance tune brought them to a sudden halt. They disentangled quickly, avoiding each other's eyes, not quite sure what to say. After a brief moment of embarrassment, Mulder responded to the beat of the drums and guitar and began again to dance. He threw his hands up over his head, clapping them together, as he balanced from foot to foot, toe to heel, in a graceful, sexy gyration. Scully found herself laughing up at him as she, too, began to respond to the easy rhythmic music. "I didn't know you could dance, Mulder," she teased. "I took a class at the 'Y'," he replied with a laugh as he continued to move with the music. Scully gave in and joined him in the modern dance, matching his movements with her own. Absorbed in the dance, they did not realize the picture they made: the tall, dark athletic man and the stunning red- haired woman. Mulder moved like a shadow, his feet barely seeming to touch the floor. Scully spun and twisted around him, like a flame leaping up into the night. Her fiery hair flew around her face in a soft cloud, as she tossed her head to the side and grinned up at her partner. Mulder grinned back and spun on his toes, never missing a beat. Scully turned her back to him and felt him fit himself up against her, nudging her forward, then pulling her backwards. She went with him instinctively, somehow knowing, even when she closed her eyes and let the music build within her, that he would be right there where she needed him. He caught her hand and spun her out, then spiraled her back into his arms, tilting her down in a dip. When she came back up, they were both laughing with joy. They kept dancing through the next three songs until Scully collapsed against Mulder, gasping for breath. "Enough," she said between gasps. "I think I'm dizzy." "Me, too," Mulder replied with a brilliant grin. "How about a drink." "Sounds good," Scully suddenly was jolted back to awareness of her surroundings, and of the fact that they were still alone on the dance floor. It was now ringed by a number of their colleagues, all of whom were watching them with astonishment. "Oops," she said, nudging Mulder with her eyes. "Unh...Scully," he said as he guided her by the arm off the floor, "How about we get out of here?" She nodded quickly, and pushed her way through past two agents, one of whom reached out to grab her arm. "Hey, Scully, how about a dance with me?" asked the taller, blond one, not bothering to disguise his attempt to peer down the front of her dress. Scully pulled back in disgust at the exact same moment that Mulder struck out with his fist, connecting with the blond agent's chin in a loud . The slightly drunk man went down with barely a muttered gasp, his head bouncing off his friend's stomach before hitting the floor. Scully's eyes widened in surprise, but she reacted quickly, grabbing Mulder's arm and literally hauling him away before anyone else had a chance to react. Luckily, by the time the other man came out of shock and called attention to his unconscious partner, Scully and Mulder were slipping out the door. ------------------------------- Scully was silent as Mulder parked the car in front of her apartment. He glanced apprehensively at her as he turned off the engine. He knew hitting that man had not been the brightest thing he'd ever done, but surely she couldn't that mad at him. Still, if she was angry with him over the punch, better that than if she was annoyed with him for getting too, well, affectionate, in public. They had made quite a display of themselves, and Mulder couldn't help worrying. He didn't mind, as long as Scully wasn't upset; he had long since given up caring what the rest of the Bureau thought. He just didn't want to let anything come between him and Scully. As Scully got out of the car and walked up to her front door with Mulder trailing behind her, her thoughts and feelings were in a turmoil. She very upset with herself - with her utterly unprofessional behavior. She'd let her anger over their colleagues' treatment of Mulder push her into making a public display of herself. And she was felt humiliated by the way she'd thrown herself at Mulder. Once they got to the door, she fumbled for her keys and unlocked it without meeting his eyes. "Scully..." he said hesitantly. "Mulder, I..." she started to say as she steeled herself to meet his eyes. Her voice broke off as she caught the worried vulnerability in his face. "Scully, I'm sorry if I did anything to embarrass you. I knew better than to go tonight. You shouldn't have been subjected to that." He studied her anxiously. "You have nothing to apologize for, Mulder," she replied vehemently. "You're not responsible for them, and they have no right to treat you like that." Mulder shrugged. "It comes with the territory, Scully. I don't mind too much for me, it's when they direct it at you that I get angry." His eyes turned liquid with warmth as he looked down at her. Scully found all her worries about her behavior fading away as she drowned in the dark depths of his eyes. Without saying a word, she leaned up against him and pulled his face down to hers. "Scully?" he whispered as he bent down to brush her lips with his. She answered him with a kiss. The apartment door slammed shut, as Scully pressed Mulder against it. With her hands tightly clasped around his shoulders, she stepped up onto her toes so that she could more easily nuzzle her face into the hollow between his shoulder and chin. His breath caught in his throat as she licked at the pulse beating wildly in his neck, his mouth buried into the hair on the crown of her head. His fingertips traced every inch of her back avidly, tracing every line, every curve, like a blind man reading Braille. He breathed in the scent of her, clean and fragrant, a slight flowery perfume mixing with the strawberry of her shampoo. She tugged hard at the back of head, lowering his face down closer to hers so that she could tease the length of his jaw with her tongue, tasting the salt of his skin, nibbling at the point of his jaw. With a muttered groan, he tilted his head down even further, chasing her mouth with his. A silent laugh echoing in her mind, she twisted her head to avoid him, instead planting wet kissed along every bit of skin she could find: neck, chin, cheekbones, nose. Finally, he caught her mouth with his, plunging his tongue into the moist depths. The shock of that kiss sent flames racing along every nerve in her body. Opening her mouth, she rewarded him with full access, twining her fingers into his hair to pull him even closer. Desire ran through them both like molten lava. Neither was aware of anything except the other. One bruising kiss followed another, they explored each other's bodies with possessive hands and mouths. Scully tugged at his tie, tossing it aside with total disregard, turning her attention to the frustrating buttons on his shirt. After fumbling with a couple, she gave up and yanked at the silky fabric, ripping it open. Sighing in satisfaction, she finally forced his shirt and coat off his body, then devoured the heated flesh of his chest with her hands and mouth. Mulder unzipped her dress, lowering it off her shoulders until it hung loosely from her elbows, revealing the milky-white skin of her chest and the upper slopes of her rounded breasts, still encased in the strapless red-lace bra. She rested in his arms, the shimmering red fabric falling in soft folds from pale, scented skin. He bent over her to taste the hollow of her throat as he deftly undid the bra and dropped it to the floor. Scully's eyes closed in pleasure as he drifted downward to lick around the edge of her right breast in teasing circles, working inward slowly - slowly. Her head fell back, a cry escaping her parted lips as he finally closed his mouth upon the already- hardened nipple, grazing it with his teeth, then caressing it with his tongue. After a few moments, he moved to give the other one the same meticulous attention, loving the way her soft flesh molded to his lips. Her legs gave way and she rested in the strength of his arms, rotating her hips to fit her body against the hard length of his. He held her tight for a precious moment, then leaving one arm to support her back, he used the other to strip off her dress. It fell around her feet in a bright shiny pile of red satin. Then he swung her up into his arms and weeded his way through the semi-darkness into her bedroom. He climbed up onto the bed, then lowered her ever so gently onto her back. She reached up for him, crying out in dismay as he pulled away to sit on the edge of the bed. She curled up swiftly to press herself into his back, stretching her arms under his to close them around him from behind. He leaned back against her, one hand still clutching the shoe he had removed, turning his head to meet her mouth. They savored a long slow kiss, then she pulled back and brushed his ear with her hot moist breath. "Let me, please." He nodded slightly and dropped the shoe as she pulled away to get down on her knees in front of him. He watched her with desire-darkened eyes, his heart pounding in his chest, as she removed his other shoe, his socks, then reached up to undo his belt buckle. He bent down over her to kiss the top of her head as she undid his pants and tugged them down over his hips. He helped her pull them off, then sat back, for a brief moment, fear and uncertainty clouding his expression. Scully saw the emotions race across his mobile features, and reached up to reassure him. She kissed him gently on the mouth, then trailed quick darting kisses down his chest and belly. He moaned deep in his throat as she finally closed her mouth around his engorged penis, slipping her hands around his buttocks to hold him where she wanted him. Scully loved the feeling of having his flesh tight and swollen in her mouth, glorying in the physical expression of his desire for her. She continued licking and sucking on him until he cried out, his body jerking against her mouth, a few salty drops squeezing out of him. With an almost violent effort at maintaining control, he grasped her shoulders and thrust her away. She fought him briefly, her teeth dragging along the length of him before, she surrendered, letting him lower her to the floor. Mulder fell forward on top of her. She wrapped her arms and legs around him, pulling his head towards her so that he could share the taste of him in her mouth. He met her fiercely, his hands closing upon the sensitized flesh of her breast. They stayed locked in that position for a few moments, then he reluctantly released her mouth, both gasping for breath. With every intention of taking it slowly, he began to kiss his way down the length of her body, pausing to breath in the warm, sweet scent of her between her breasts, to taste again each rosy tip, to bite at the gently-rounded skin of her belly. But his desire to know all of her rose sharply as he stripped away her remaining undergarments, and found himself staring down at the auburn curls at the juncture of her legs. A keening cry of ecstasy escaped Scully's swollen lips as Mulder assaulted her aching moist center with his lips and tongue. She felt her insides melt and flow, as fire curled through her belly and stretched outward. She spread her legs wide giving full access to her, her hands clutching at his hair, her eyes closed, her breath coming in short gasps. Mulder loved the taste of her, lapping at her with his tongue, then moving to take the soft folds of flesh between his teeth. He nibbled at her for a while, then used his tongue to find and tease the very apex of her need, riding with her as her body began to convulse against him. Continuing to tongue her vigorously, he slid his right hand under her, then slowly pressed a finger into her. She opened for him like a flower in the spring. Satisfied she was fully ready for him, Mulder pulled up away from her, then came down covering her, silencing her protest with another passionate kiss. Feeling him settle down between her legs, she moaned into his mouth, wrapping her legs around his waist. "Please..." she murmured against his lips, "now." In response, he poised himself to enter her, then froze as a sudden worry struck him. "Oh, Scully....?" She clutched at him wildly, but as her passion-filled eyes met the question in his, she sighed and forced herself to relax. Closing her eyes, trying to focus on where she had stored that box of condoms, was the hardest thing she'd ever done. "There...drawer by the bed," she said, her voice trembling. Reluctantly he pulled himself up off her and reached for the drawer. Scully watched him move through heavy eyelids; appreciating the slender but strong lines of his body, enjoying the way the muscles flowed under his skin, the way his hair stood on end in the back, and the way the dark swath of bangs dominated his forehead. Above all, she loved the way his eyes glittered as he turned back to her with the small plastic necessity in his hand. "Let me?" she asked him, and again he let her take control, rolling over to lie on his back on the floor and opening his hand to let her retrieve the condom. She took her time applying it, caressing him with gentle, but thorough, fingers, liking the sound of his breath as it caught in his throat, then expelled in a whistling rush. She lingered over him for a moment, until he reached down to grasp her under her arms and slide her up across his body until she was resting on top of him. "I like this position," she told him with a smile. "I'm sure you do," her replied, returning her smile. His face suddenly closed up and he looked up into her deep blue eyes seriously. "Scully, are you sure?" She didn't even pause for a second. "Yes." Not willing to wait for him any longer, she pressed her hand into the tight space between their naked bodies, and closed it upon him, guiding herself down onto him. He went with her joyfully, thrusting up deeply into the furnace of her body, then lifting up a foot, he rolled them both over so that he could lower himself even deeper into her. They started with a slow, easy motion at first, moving rhythmically and, always, in total synchronicity. But neither remained in control for very long, and their movements quickened. Mulder thrust into her over and over, harder and faster. She arched her hips up against him, inviting him, welcoming him. They flew together, higher and higher, riding each wave of ecstasy until they both flew wildly over the edge. Mulder's body shook, while Scully dug her teeth so deeply into his shoulder she pierced the skin. For one brief moment, their bodies, minds, and souls melded into one. ----------------------------- Margaret Scully walked briskly up her daughter's front yard, unable to avoid the small trickle of remembered fear that always accompanied her as she faced this door. She would never lose the memory of the night she had raced here, guided purely by her intuition, only to find the apartment surrounded by the glittering police lights - to find that her daughter was gone, abducted into the night. She shivered slightly, then forced herself to put the fear aside, resolutely assuming a calm expression as she knocked perfunctorily at the door, then opened it and stepped inside. "Dana?" she called out, surprised not to hear her daughter's warm voice calling out to come on in. Dana was expecting her, they had planned this day over a week ago. Surely Dana would have called her if something had come up at work. Just as a new flood of fear began to clutch at her heart, her foot hit something soft and yielding on the floor. Bending down, she found herself standing on top of a discarded pile of bright red velvet. Not far from it she noticed another pile of clothes, this time a man's suit jacket and white shirt. Automatically, she gathered it all up off the floor, her eyes widening in a mixture of surprise and growing amusement. If this meant what it looked like it meant... A small black folder fell out of the pocket of the jacket to land half-open at her feet. The corners of her mouth began to creep slowly upward as she reached to flip it open to see the small grainy photograph of a familiar man, dark hazel eyes staring up calmly from a strong, handsome face. Her smile grew until it filled her entire face, and she only barely stifled a laugh. Oh yes! Please let mean what I think it does, she prayed, picking up the I.D. folder and walking as quietly as possible into the living room. No-one there. She deposited their clothes on the couch, draping the dress out carefully, and smoothing out some wrinkles absentmindedly as she considered the situation. She could just turn around and leave. There would almost certainly be a pay- phone at the convenience store around the corner. It might be a good idea to call and remind Dana she was coming. On the other hand, a mischievous glint sparkled in her dark eyes, this was too good to miss. Putting her purse down on the bedside table she tip- toed over to the slightly ajar bedroom door. Putting a hand on the doorknob she slid it open slowly, leaning around the edge to peer into the room. Light filtered through half-open curtains to illuminate the two entwined bodies on the bed. Dana was half- covering Fox, her bright head resting against his chest, his fingers buried in her auburn hair which shimmered in the morning light. His other arm was wrapped tightly around her back, his fingers splayed possessively over the small of her naked back while her left hand curled around his shoulder. Fox's face was relaxed in his slumber, the lines of worry and anguish so often present in his waking our smoothed out, taking years with them. He looked achingly young and innocent to Margaret Scully's approving eye. She stood in the doorway for a few long moments, warm delight infusing her heart. Over the past year, she had come to love Fox Mulder as though he was one of her own children. His courage and rock-hard faith had supported her through the long weeks of Dana's abduction, and no-one had suffered greater anguish then this man when Dana had been so near to death afterwards. Margaret could not have wished for a better man to fill her daughter's life: he was intelligent, decent, kind, and strong. Above-all, his love for her daughter was real and true. What more could any mother ask? She did realize that there were problems facing the young couple sleeping peacefully in front of her. While she didn't know all of it, Dana had told her enough to know that there were terrors haunting Fox's past and present. And the risks of their chosen profession was enough to give any loving parent nightmares. But they were both adults, and she had to respect their right to make their own decisions. Besides, she felt that as long as they were together, there was nothing they couldn't overcome. Perhaps that was overly romantic of her, she thought, but she had learned to trust her instincts. In this case her instincts were singing with joy. The only question remaining was whether she should wake them or let them sleep. They made such a lovely picture pressed close together, clinging to each other even in their dreams. If only she had a camera. Wait! Her smile deepened. She DID have a camera. She'd wanted to get a couple up-to- date pictures of Dana, so she'd loaded her small instant camera and put it in her purse before she'd left the house that very morning. Trying to make as little noise as possible she went back into the living room. Fox Mulder squinted and shielded his blinded eyes. "Nooo," he tried to scream, reaching out for his sister as she floated from the room, but no sound came out. He bolted upright in bed, his eyes jerking open to face a woman pointing a camera directly at his face. A very familiar woman, he suddenly realized as she lowered the camera and grinned at him "Mrs. Scully?" he whispered in shock, the feel of movement against his naked -naked?!- skin suddenly reminding him of where he was. His eyes widened, his jaw dropping, as a slow blush began to creep its way across his cheekbones. "Fox..." Dana murmured, still half-asleep, reaching out to pull him back down towards her. Her only conscious desire was the need to feel his arms back around her, to regain the taste of his mouth on hers. With heavy-lidded eyes, she focused up at him, only to find his eyes were fixed, staring in horror out over the top of her head. "What?" she asked, slowly turning to look back over her shoulder, her blue eyes widening in surprise as she met her mother's amused gaze. "Mom, what are you doing here?" she blinked and rubbed her eyes. Sudden realization dawned, as memory struck her. "Oh no, Mom, I completely forgot!" She said struggling up to a sitting position, clutching the sheet up against her breasts. "That's obvious, dear," Margaret said, her voice filled with laughter. Almost simultaneously, an aggrieved male voice said into her ear, "Forgot what?" "Mulder!" she turned to face him. "I'm sorry, Mom and I had planned to go out to lunch, then shopping to buy Melissa's birthday present. I just completely forgot," she rambled, embarrassment flooding her cheeks with color. "That's okay," Margaret said, lifting the camera again. "Just turn around and smile." The camera flashed again the moment Dana turned her head. "MOTHER!" she yelled, shielding her eyes. "Don't do that!" Behind her, Mulder buried his head in his hands, sliding down underneath her. "Sorry, Dana, but you two make such a sweet picture. Your kids will love seeing these pictures someday." "Kids!?!?!? Mother!" Dana replied with annoyance. "We..." she started to protest, but the warmth and laughter in her mother's eyes was contagious, and one look at Mulder, still hiding his face in his arms was just too much. She started to giggle. Hearing her, he peeked up though his fingers at her and gave her such a boyish look of annoyed embarrassment, that she lost it and started laughing loudly. Her mother grinned again and joined in, both women shaking with mirth. "This isn't funny!" Mulder protested, his cheeks still burning bright red. Dana coughed and tried to halt her laughter as she reached out to brush tenderly at his bangs. "No of course not," she said, her blue eyes twinkling like sapphires. "Its not funny at all." But she couldn't help herself, he looked so incredibly cute, she started giggling again. He stared at her for a moment, still stiff with irritation, but she was so beautiful. Her fiery hair curled in every direction, her eyes sparkled with light and warmth, her red, full lips were curved upwards in a sweet smile, her laughter made her chest heave appealingly. A sudden rush of emotion, desire and warmth, love and joy, overwhelmed him. Sighing, he gave up on being annoyed, and found himself starting to laugh too. Actually, it really WAS rather funny. ---------------------------------------- Whistling under his breath, Fox Mulder walked briskly into the busy lobby of FBI headquarters. He favored the desk clerk with a brilliant smile as he fastened his I.D. badge to his jacket. Wandering down the hallway towards the elevator, his mind was miles away. It had turned out to be one of the happiest weekends of his life. Thank goodness Mrs. Scully had been so approving of him and Dana. Otherwise, it could have been a really difficult situation. But she had seemed to be delighted, and the three of them had spent a wonderful day together. For the first time since he was twelve, he felt like he had a real family. That feeling made everything seem warmer and brighter. He knew they had a ton of problems to work out, but for the first time, in a very long time, he actually felt like they might succeed. There was still the question of juggling their personal and professional relationship. And of keeping it a necessary secret. He could only hope they hadn't spoiled things Friday night at the dance. But who could have known that miserable Bureau function would end the way it had. He bared his teeth in a grin as he wondered what Skinner would have to say if Mulder thanked him for getting him and Scully 'together.' He shook his head slightly, as he reached to press the elevator button. "Hey, Spooky!" called a voice behind him. His back stiffened automatically in response to the detested nickname, as he turned around to face Agent Greyson and a couple of his friends. Oh no, please not now, he thought, with a rush of panic. He kept his face composed and expressionless as he stood looking at them, fiercely determined not to let them ruin his mood. "I wouldn't have believed it." Gray said shaking his head in disbelief, and reaching out to slap Mulder on the shoulder. Mulder winced slightly and pulled back to stare quizzically at Gray. "What wouldn't you believe?" he asked hesitantly, not sure he really wanted to find out what this jerk was going on about. "That you would have what it takes to melt 'Doc Ice.'" Gray boomed, the other two men joining him in laughter. "Way to go, man!" Gray pummeled Mulder's shoulder, then moved away, his two groupies in tow, both leering at the astonished Mulder. "'Doc Ice?'" Mulder echoed, standing frozen in place, feeling like his jaw had just hit the floor. What on earth? "Agent Mulder!" an impatient female voice demanded his attention. "Yes," he responded, turning to see Skinner's assistant eyeing him with disfavor. "Assistant Director Skinner would like to see you in his office immediately." She pushed her glasses up on her nose, turned on her heel, and stalked away, leaving him to trail dejectedly after her. Here it comes, he thought, trying to brace himself. "When I agreed it would be a good idea for Mulder to attend the Bureau dinner, it was not meant to be permission for the two of you to put yourselves on public display, Agent Scully." Skinner said in his best Marine Sergeant's voice. Scully shifted in her chair, feeling like she was a teenager sitting in the high school principle's office. "I'm sorry, Sir," she replied. "We didn't mean to do anything unprofessional. All we did was dance. We assumed that's why there was a band and dance-floor available." She met his eyes defiantly. Skinner had to try hard not to start laughing, but he had years of experience at keeping his expression grim. "Dancing? Indeed." He peered at her sternly through his glasses. "I hope you realize, Agent Scully, that the F.B.I. frowns on personal 'relationships' between its agents, especially agents working together." Scully swallowed nervously, then looked her boss straight in the eyes. "Yes, I understand that, Sir." "I certainly hope so. Further, I expect you and Agent Mulder to behave with proprietry. I will not tolerate any further public displays of that sort. Do you understand?" he replied, his voice devoid of emotion or emphasis. Scully leaned forward in her seat, blue eyes widening slightly. Had she really seen him wink at her? Presently, he was gazing calmly at her, waiting for her reply. "Ye..yes,sir," she stuttered. "I do understand. It won't happen again." "Good. That will be all, Agent Scully," he dismissed her, picking up a pencil to write a quick note on the file in front of him. She watched him for a brief moment, then got up and went to the door. Opening it she ran straight into Mulder who gazed down at her in surprise. "Scully?" "Mulder, I..." she turned and looked back at Skinner who lifted his head to peer at them both. "That's all right, Agent Mulder. Agent Scully can fill you in." "What?" Mulder asked in confusion. "I'll tell you later, Mulder," Scully answered, taking Mulder by the arm and leading him away. As they walked down the corridor, Mulder leaned down to talk into her ear. "What was that all about, Scully?" "He just wanted to make sure we did not indulge in any future displays of 'unprofessional behavior.'" Scully replied, her shoulder brushing his arm as she smiled up at him. Mulder enjoyed the warmth of her smile for a moment, then his brow crinkled in uncertainty. Why did she seem so happy about it. In his experience getting reamed out by the A.D. was like getting a tooth pulled. No one ever enjoyed it. "He said no further PUBLIC displays, Mulder," she said, her smile widening into a bright grin. "You don't mean?" "I'm not sure, but I'd swear he winked at me." "Skinner?" Mulder stopped dead in his tracks and stared down at her. "You're kidding!" Scully shook her head, auburn curls sliding over blue- clad shoulders. "No, but we'd better be careful not to push our luck." Mulder nodded agreement. They walked over the elevator in silence, keeping just enough discreet space between them. But as soon as the elevator door closed behind them, Mulder seized Scully's shoulders and pulled her against him, kissing her hungrily. She leaned into his embrace, then pulled away to gaze up into his liquid, green-tinged eyes. "Getting caught like this is hardly going to do out reputation any good, Mulder," she chided, the warmth in her face belying her words. "It may not do your reputation any good, but I think this has already done wonders for mine," he replied ruefully. "What is that supposed to mean?" she asked eyeing him with concern. "Oh nothing....'Doc Ice,'" he said, giving her a slow, teasing grin. "What!" her eyes darkened in sudden fury. "Where did you hear that?" "Who else, but Gray," he replied. "That son-of-a-bitch!" she whispered furiously. "You never told me you had a nickname, Scully," he said, still giving her that incredibly annoying grin. "Use it and I'll kick your butt, 'Spooky!'" She glared at him, her eyes spitting daggers. He tried straighten his expression, since he really did understand how much that nickname must have hurt her. The problem was that she looked so incredibly gorgeous, her full red mouth trembling in a slight pout, her blue eyes glinting, her cheeks flushed. "Hmm, now that has possibilties!" he just had to say. Then before she could open her mouth to speak, he silenced her with his mouth, drawing her into a long, exquisitely sweet kiss. Afterwards he held her close for another fleeting moment. As the door began to open, he let her go, but not before he whispered in her ear. "I love you, Doc." The End