From: Lone Gunwomen Date: Mon, 8 Nov 1999 19:54:29 -0800 (PST) Subject: Title: Tender Moments ; Author: Lark Source: direct Title: Tender Moments Author: Lark E-mail: Lark1180@aol.com, ladyfiada@yahoo.com, theagents1013@yahoo.com...check out my website @ http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Labyrinth/8251 Rating: NC-17 for sex and language. Category: MSR, Story Keyword: MSR, Little bit of Mulder-angst Spoilers: small one for Triangle Summary: In NYC, investigating a new case, Mulder and Scully realize just how much they mean to one another. Mulder's POV. Distribution/Archiving: I'd be honored, just let me know so I can visit! Feedback: Always. Just don't burn me! Disclaimer: The X-Files, Mulder, and Scully all belong to 1013 Productions and Chris Carter. I just put them in compromising positions... Enjoy! X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X Tender Moments (1/1) X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X Friday Afternoon J. Edgar Hoover Building Basement Office X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X I'm sitting here at my desk, staring at the spot where she had just been standing only moments before. She had turned, smiled, and bid me goodnight, then walked out the door and left me here. Not that I mind-it's a familiar situation. It's rare when we actually leave the office for the day together. So then why do I feel so bitter? Every time she is not with me, I feel a deep void that is so hard to fill. She brightens even my darkest moods, and though I don't always show it, my spirit soars whenever I am graced with her smile. I guess she knows I love her. It's not so hard to tell anymore, and I'm just not one to lay my soul bare to anyone, but I think the world of her. She is my rock- solid, strong, and unbreakable. But I know that she is also a vulnerable soul, and try as she might, she just can't fool me about some things. I have this hope that maybe she feels the same way for me as I do for her, but I try not to think about that. The mere fact that she has anything to do with me in the first place has put her in mortal danger more times than I care to remember. But I do remember...I am haunted by visions during the day of her being taken from me, being hurt...nightmares take the place of those visions at night...I wake up, bathed in cold, sweaty terror, heart pounding as I relive those months when she was gone...every single thing that has ever happened to her has been catalogued and filed away into the dark recesses of my memory. So I try to push her away sometimes. It's wrong of me to do-a weak, stupid, insensitive action that usually causes more damage than it prevents. And yet she stays with me, unwavering in her incredible faith in what we do. I know she doesn't believe in half of it, but she tries. I know she does. The frightening, but uplifting part is that she does this for me. Me. Of all people, the one who has caused the most hurt in her life is the one who she challenges her own beliefs for. The incredible senses of guilt and joy make my head swim. I know that it is she who must make her own decisions, and more often than not, she refuses to listen to reason, so I shouldn't feel such guilt. But it is impossible for me not to. Call it a macho-man complex, but I feel this need to protect her and keep her safe from anything evil. That's unrealistic, though, especially because of the nature of our work, but that's also the reason I go off without her so many times. I don't want her exposed to anything bad, and if she eventually has to see it, then I want to make sure I see it first. That way, I'm prepared to help her through anything, if the time ever comes when she needs me badly enough to be held. God, I love her...if only I could tell her and make her believe me. But I fear that I am too weak to make that commitment to anyone, even Scully. But sometimes it's just too much for me to handle. I slipped up one time. Only once. Her reaction, though not surprising, was disheartening. I can only come up with two reasons why she said what she did. Either she thought I was too drugged to be coherent and clear-headed, or she just couldn't deal with the effects of acknowledging those three little words. I still don't know which of those is right. Sometimes I think that the second one is more fitting, considering the way she ran like hell after she Oh brother-ed me. I sigh deeply and look up, as the door swings open. "Mulder? Oh, good, you're still here. Sorry to interrupt...I forgot something." I smile. "What did you leave?" "This." She holds up a copy of the latest case we've been working on. I nod slowly. "I thought we were done with that for the weekend?" We had pretty much done all we could with the case so far-Monday we'd be going out into the field to gather evidence and search for clues...basically begin a full-scale investigation. "I know, but there was something that I wanted to look over before I left. I was just about to pull out of the parking lot when I realized that I had forgotten it." She is about to leave again, when, on impulse, I hold up a hand and stop her. "Scully, you don't have to leave, unless, of course, you want to." "I'm not going to be interrupting any work you're doing?" I almost laugh. "No, of course not. It's your office, too. And besides, I'm not really doing much of anything at the moment." "Okay." She sits at her desk and opens the file. I love to watch her work, read, whatever, just as long as I'm watching her. It sounds a little obsessive, but she is air to me-I can't get enough. I sigh again...a little too loudly, I guess, because she looks up, a concerned frown furrowing her brow. I bite my lip and look at my hands, which are folded on top of my desk, then grab my copy of the file for the current case. Since I can't just sit here staring at her, I decide that it's probably best for me to look over the file one more time. Maybe I can find something new, or gain a little more insight into our killer. So I open it up and start reading again. Apparently, we have yet another man who just disappears into thin air after he beats his victims to death. His victims have so far consisted of young women with dark hair-a la Son of Sam, minus the gunshot wounds. This guy isn't nearly so cowardly. And he'll make a kill even in broad daylight. There is no real evidence at any of the murder scenes except this strange, oily substance that my partner has identified as organic. The only thing is that we can't figure out what the substance could be. She said that the sample we were sent was at first written off as bile, or some other digestive juice, but that it has a more complex make-up. So now she spends hours poring over medical textbooks, trying to figure it out. It's got to be pretty boring for her, and I suppose she's just as eager to get out there in the field as I am. We have to fly to New York for this case, so at least we'll have something to do on our downtime. Hmmm. The city. That has promise. I open up the filing cabinet, where I had stuck a post-it about our accommodations. I've never really seen the point in booking a five-star hotel-we spend an average of about a week on a case, and we're rarely in the field for longer than two days. So why not find something cheap that won't look bad on finance reports? One less thing to get into trouble for, right? Well, sure. But for some reason, I have a feeling about this particular trip, and I want it to be special. Maybe it's just because for the first time, I know what I want. I want Dana Katherine Scully. And I don't just want her for a short, meaningless time, either. I want her forever. But, dammit, it's so hard to figure out how much time to ourselves we'll have. And, on top of that, I have to keep from thinking that this is going to be some sort of vacation trip...we're supposed to be working on a case, not making personal plans. Even so, I absently rub my temples and make a mental note to cancel the fleabag motel and go for something a little classier. I'm sick of the file already, so I pick up the phone, glancing sideways at her to make sure she's not paying attention, and dial the number of the motel. "Hello, Little City Motel..." A tired voice answers on the fifth ring. "Hello, this is Agent Fox Mulder, with the FBI. I'd like to cancel my reservations, please." "Just a minute..." Now the woman sounds bored and slightly annoyed. Maybe they get a lot of cancellations. Maybe that should tell me something..."When did you have reservations for?" I tell her the dates and she cancels them for me. I hang up the phone and dial directory assistance for the Manhattan Hyatt...not exactly the Waldorf, but it works. The operator sends the number and I dial up, and make the reservations for the week. By now, Scully has lost interest in the file and is staring at me as if I have grown three extra heads. The expression on her face is confused as well as surprised, and I almost laugh. She sees me looking at her, and shoots me a loaded look, as if to say, "What have you been smoking?" I just finish booking us, in adjoining rooms, of course, and hang up, then swivel in my chair and face her. "Mulder, what's wrong with the 'Little City Motel'? I'm sure we've seen the insides of worse." "Nothing...I guess. But I want to see what the big difference is. You know how all those other FBI types rave about the better things in life. And since we're going to be in the city, I thought what better place to try out a nice hotel?" She smiles a little, as if to say "Whatever, Mulder", and I can't help smiling back. We decide that it's really time to go home, and agree to meet at my apartment on Monday morning. "Who's car are we taking to the airport?" she asks as I walk her to her car. "I don't know...it doesn't matter. I guess we can just wait and see if either of us wants to drive that early." We're meeting at 6 AM, so I'm assuming it'll be Scully who ends up driving. That sounds selfish, but I can barely function in the morning, let alone drive. Of course, she knows what this means, so she just nods and says "Be ready at 5:45." She's good like that. We reach her car, and after she unlocks it, she turns around to face me. "Should I call you beforehand to make sure you're up on time?" I smile as I open the car door for her and she sits down behind the wheel. "No, I can get myself up. Thanks, mom." She shoots me one of her patented "Screw-you-Mulder" looks as she grabs the handle and closes the door tightly. I wave as she pulls out of the parking space and then walk across the lot to my own car. There are so many things on my mind as I drive to my apartment. Why should I even consider that she might want to hang out on her downtime? That's silly, though. I can't think like that anymore because I know that she'd go somewhere with me. Things have changed between us, and the longer we keep up this "just best friends/partners" charade, the longer we're just kidding ourselves. She knows the truth. I know the truth. So why don't we just face it head on and deal with it already? X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X Monday Morning, 5:45 AM Mulder's Apartment Building X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X 5:45 sharp. She's already here, waiting, with two cups of coffee. I have no idea how she remembers how I take mine, but whenever she picks it up, it's always perfect. She hands me a cup, and I notice a slight tint around the opening in the lid. I glance at her and she smiles sheepishly. "Sorry...I forgot which was which. I found out rather quickly, though." "It's alright. I don't mind." I smile back and think...I really, really don't mind at all... If only she knew. But that could wait. For now, we have a plane to catch, and then a murderer to hunt down. X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X I must have dosed off because it only seems moments later when I feel her hand on my arm, trying to wake me. I open my eyes and am greeted by her beautiful blue ones staring at me. "Are you awake?" "Yeah. Sorry." I stretch and sit up. "What time is it?" "About 20 after 6. Come on, let's grab our stuff and head to the terminal." "Alright." I force myself awake even as my eyes are trying to close again, but I win the battle and open the door. The morning air is chilly, so I'm glad I brought my coat. Scully must have forgotten her's, though, because she is shivering a little bit, so I do the gentlemanly thing and slide mine around her shoulders. She looks up, gratefully. "Thanks. I didn't realize how cold it was out here. Are you sure you don't need it?" "Nope, I'm good." We gather up our things from the trunk and walk to the gate that our flight is taking off from. When we get there, we realize that we still have about a half-hour wait ahead of us, so I offer to go get some more coffee while she keeps an eye on our stuff. Funny, but I know how she likes her coffee, too, so I don't bother asking. She sends our suitcases through the luggage-check as I wander off in the direction of the coffee stand. About fifteen minutes later, I come back with the cups as well as some croissants, only to find my partner drying the tears of a little girl and speaking gently to her. She glances up at me, then points in my direction. The girl takes Scully's hand and they start walking towards me. I get to them first. "What's the matter?" "Jenny lost her parents, so we're going to the desk to find them." By now the kid has a relieved smile on her face, so I just say "Okay" and watch them go. I love to watch Scully with kids, even though it hurts so much. I feel her pain because this is something that she eventually wants, but can't have. And I know that it is I, indirectly, who robbed her of the experience of motherhood. But maybe...I did save that one little vile of ova...the Gunmen have that right now so that the ova don't die. It sounds downright disgusting and twisted of me to keep it, but it is Scully's, and even if I am not the man she ends up with, I want her to have that vile. Moments later, the girl's parents are running over to the desk and they pick her up, raining kisses all over her face and thanking Scully profusely. As I watch the happy scene, I can't help but think of how she helped that little boy, Trevor. The poor kid saw his mother kill his father, although he had know idea who they really were, and Scully was there the whole time, holding his face against her so that he couldn't really see anything, whispering to him that everything was going to be okay. I remember how she led him away, averting his eyes the whole time, and walked him back to his house, where by then, many cop cars had gathered. She stayed with him while the ambulance doctors looked him over and comforted him while he waited for his foster mother to come back from talking with the cops and getting looked over, herself. I will never forget the calm that came over the kid whenever Scully was close by. It's amazing to see her with kids. Now she's walking back to me as if she has done nothing out of the ordinary today. "Ready? The flight attendants are calling for all passengers." "Scully, that was amazing...usually kids who lose their parents are screaming and crying..." I bend down to grab our carry-on bags, trying to juggle coffee and pastry and everything all at once. She smiles and takes the coffee as well as a bag from me. "It was nothing. She was just wandering around, eyes streaming. I couldn't just leave her crying like that, could I? So I went to her and asked her what her name was and what was wrong, and she told me, and that's about the time you walked over." "Still...I probably would've had no idea what to do with a crying kid." "Oh, Mulder. I'm sure you would've had some idea." I smile and shake my head. We board the plane, find our seats, and settle in for the flight. It's not long to New York, but we at least have time to sleep a little. X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X 3 hours later Landing Strip LaGuardia International Airport X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X I feel a sharp bounce as I am jarred awake by the landing. I hate it when planes don't land smoothly. As I open my eyes slowly, I realize that, in her surprise at the rather harsh landing, Scully has grabbed my hand in her sleep. I like the feeling so much that I don't want to wake her just yet, but we don't really have much of a choice. As I try to withdraw my hand from her's, she frowns and her grip gets tighter. "Scully...come on...we've got to get our stuff..." I continue speaking softly to her, rubbing her shoulder with my free hand, and she starts awake. "Oh..." a soft blush creeps up her cheeks as she realizes that her hand is clenched around mine. "Sorry." I smile gently as she withdraws her hand. "It's alright. Ready?" She nods and we exit the plane. New York is just as chilly as D.C. was, so I let Scully hang on to my coat. We walk briskly into the terminal, claim our luggage, and go look for the hotel limo. This is all beginning to look pretty cool, actually, and I'm starting to look forward to this case. Of course, with luck, we'll have it finished early and be able to spend an extra couple of days here. Maybe I'll get the chance to set our record straight for once. X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X It takes us two minutes to find the limo, and much to my surprise, as well as Scully's, we find that it is a real limo, not one of the big vans that taxi people to and from hotels. She gives me a look with a capital "L", and I feel my cheeks getting hot. I didn't plan this part, but she obviously thinks that its all part of my hotel-experience experiment. Yeah, right. They must have thrown this in. The chauffer takes our bags and places them in the trunk, then opens the door for Scully. I climb in after her, and look around. The inside is spacious, and can probably seat about 6 people comfortably. Before he starts the car, the chauffer turns, introduces himself, and lets us know that the hotel limos are at our disposal for our entire stay. I thank him and turn to Scully. She looks at me and sort of smiles, then states, "This is actually pretty neat. I never thought we were missing out on much. I just hope we don't get too spoiled." I smile. "Nah...cool as it all may be, I still think the little places are nice. At least, some of them are." As we talk, the driver closes the partition, I guess to give us privacy. Scully glances over at the slight noise, and looks at me again. A light blush creeps up her cheeks and I realize what she must be thinking. She looks down quickly, but not so quickly that I can't see the want in her eyes. I smile to myself, thinking how good it will be when we finally straighten everything out. X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X About fifteen minutes later, we arrive at the hotel. It is a huge, beautiful building, grand in structure and almost intimidating. The chauffer carries in our bags as we follow, looking up and all around as we enter. Check-in takes a few minutes, and then we're in the elevator, keys in hand, with the bellboy. Our rooms are on the fourth floor, and as we arrive there, the doors open up on a huge lobby. "Wow..." she breathes, taking it all in. My sentiments exactly. The bellboy opens a door on the right side of the hallway. "Here we are," he says. He wheels our bags in and is about to leave. Scully and I look at each other in confusion. "Wait a minute," I say, stopping the guy. "We're supposed to have two adjoining rooms." The two of us hold up our separate sets of keys. "Front desk directed me to this suite...that's all I know..." I give the guy a tip, look at Scully, and shrug. We might as well check it out before we say or do anything about it. She steps inside first, and I see her eyes widen in surprise. "Mulder, it's huge in here..." I'm sure there is surprise written all over my face as I stand there, taking it all in. This is only the first room, and already I'm impressed. There are two large desks, complete with office supplies and chairs, a sofa, and thick carpeting, all done up in deep, rich earth tones. I wander ahead of her, into the hall, which branches off into two bedrooms. My eyes widen...maybe we could keep the arrangements as they are. Of course, I'll still have to call down to the front desk and find out if this was a mistake. I'm starting to hope that it isn't. She follows me, looking inside the two rooms. They are almost as large as the front room, each with a queen-sized bed, a dresser, closet and bathroom. She glances up at me. "Are you sure this is ours for the week?" "I don't know...I have to call the front desk and see if it wasn't a mistake..." I trail off, wandering toward the phone. I pick it up and dial downstairs. "Front desk." "Hi, yes...this is Fox Mulder..." "Mr. Mulder, hello. How are your accommodations?" "Actually, that's what I'm calling about. There must be some sort of mistake...I ended up with a suite for myself and my partner, when what I requested was two adjoining rooms." "Yes, I realize that. But we have a service here specifically for the business-oriented and professional customers who use our hotels. The suites, we hope, provide adequate workspace as well as personal space for our professional guests, where our regular rooms do not, I'm afraid." "Oh. Okay...I was just wondering if we were maybe in the wrong room." "That's fine. I'm sorry; the person you spoke with should have explained all that to you. Is there anything else I could assist you with?" "No, that'll be all for now. Thank you." "Thank *you*. And please, enjoy your stay." I hang up and turn to Scully. "Well, it appears that this hotel takes it upon itself to provide 'adequate work and personal space' for it's professional guests." She smiles. "So this is where we get to stay?" "I guess so." "Well...okay. I think I can deal with that." We continue our wandering of the huge place. Down the short hallway from the bedrooms is what I guess one could call a TV room...there's a mini-bar, a small refrigerator, a TV, VCR, and stereo system. Incredible. I still can't understand how a hotel can think of so many comforts that one would normally have at home. "Too bad we're only staying for a week at most, huh?" "Yeah. I love the city. I was hoping we'd have some extra time to do a little sight seeing, or something, you know?" Oh, I know. But that, with luck, is exactly what will happen. So I just nod. "C'mon. Let's go unpack our stuff and make those phone calls." The police chief of the 35th precinct is expecting our call upon our arrival. Unpacking takes maybe twenty minutes, and then we're right on the phone-Scully calls Chief Wallace, and I call the local FBI offices. The case is underway. X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X Three Days Later Manhattan Hyatt Regency Hotel 10:45 PM X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X I sink back against the cushions of my bed. I am so tired, but I'll bet Scully is even more so than I am. We have two suspects in custody, but have, as of yet, been unable to determine which is the real guy, or how the killer disappears. Scully, always the skeptic, stubbornly continues to try and find a way to connect the fluid samples with the murders. She has even gone so far as to collect blood samples from the two suspects, and has been trying to make the connection using those. I look at the clock, and see that it is nearly 11 PM, and Scully is still not back from the lab. This worries me a little, but I know how she is when she gets into a project-you can't shake her from it. Since I can't sleep when I'm not sure if she's okay, I pick up my cell phone and hit #1 on my speed dial. She picks up on the second ring. "Scully." There's something in her voice that puts me instantly on edge. "It's me, Scully. Are you alright? I was beginning to get worried since you're so late..." "I'm *fine* Mulder. I'm still working at the lab on those samples and I'm very busy, so I *really* have to go right now." Again, there it is...that sharp, almost metallic edge in her voice that means something is up and that she is most definitely *not* okay. As I ponder this, she says goodbye and cuts me off before I can utter another word. Now I feel icy fear running through my veins as my stomach turns into a block of ice. *Shit...* What the hell is going on? My phone rings suddenly, and I answer with dread. "Mulder." "Agent Mulder, this is Chief Wallace...we have a problem." "Tell me. What happened?" "One of your suspects escaped." "What?! How?" "Well, it seems that he just disappeared. There are no signs of a break or anything like that. He just disappeared into thin air...the door to his cell was even locked." Even as the man is talking, I'm getting my things together and running out the door. I make sure I have my gun, my keys, my badge and everything else I might need. I race out the front door of the hotel, and it is then that I realize that Scully has the rental car. "Oh SHIT!" "Agent Mulder? Are you alright?" "Listen to me carefully, Wallace...I want your guys to head up to SciMed Labs on 35th, but be very, very discreet. And HURRY the hell up...I think this guy's got my partner..." "I'm on it. I sure hope she's alright." "So do I ...oh, god, so do I...just make sure that you're very VERY careful-I don't want this guy having any clue that we're about to catch up with him. I'll be there as soon as possible." I click my cell off, and then I run up the steps to the front desk. "I need car service *immediately*...this is an emergency!" The woman at the desk is most helpful. I explain exactly what I need, flash my badge, and soon I have the keys to one of the luxury cars that the hotel keeps. I run out as fast as I possibly can, hop into the car, and screech out of the parking area. There isn't much time to help her, and dammit, I feel like it's my fault again. X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X I arrive at the austere-looking building, parking a safe distance away, and I enter it as quietly as possible. Driving in, I've noticed several plain-clothes cops and unmarked cars parked here and there. I walk toward the staircase, and then suddenly, there is a huge commotion coming from the upstairs lab. "Damn you, you *bitch!* Come back here!!!" Oh god...what the hell is he doing to her? I can't wait any longer to find out, so I run up the stairs, motioning to two of the cops to follow me as I do so. They are right behind me, guns drawn as we sprint upstairs. It is then that I hear the shriek along with a gunshot, then a muffled groan. Oh fuck. Oh *fuck*. Now I don't even pay attention to the questions and warnings the cops are shouting to me, and I fly up the stairs, to find Scully standing frozen, holding her gun in one hand and a syringe in the other. She drops both when she sees me, and points at the hunched up figure writhing on the floor. Amazingly, the man gets up again and lurches toward Scully. Anger clouds my vision as I see the utter terror come over her face when he suddenly gains speed and sprints at her with fists balled and poised to do damage. He nearly closes the distance between them when I realize what is about to happen, and I spring into action. I take aim and fire my gun. He falls backward, and thankfully, does not get up again. I want to wring the guy's neck for trying to hurt her, but the officers who followed me up the stairs are pulling me back. They see the asshole lying on the floor and two of them go to see if he is still breathing. I let the cops take care of that-if I come any closer to him, I won't be held responsible for my actions. Besides, Scully is looking incredibly pale, and all I want to do is hold her tight and tell her that it's all going to be okay. For once, she looks so vulnerable. Thankfully, she welcomes my arms around her with a relieved look, and finally I can be there for her. These moments are so few and far between that words are never enough. So we never use them. I kiss the top of her head, silently thanking whoever is listening for letting her be okay. "God, Scully...that was close." "I know it was. But I knew you'd understand when I said I was fine. You always see right through that." She smiles even as the first relieved sob wracks her small frame. I hold her tighter. "Shhh...it's alright now. I'm right here. I always will be..." I stroke her hair tenderly, so glad for this moment and yet so angry for letting it happen at all. "Promise?" "Promise. For always, Scully." Her arms wrap around me tighter than before and she sobs out all that fear and adrenaline that forced her to shoot that rotten bastard. I can't let go of her...it is so terrifying to almost lose the one you love, or to see that person be harmed in some way, and I can't stop touching her. It's almost like I have to make sure she really is still here with me. She dries her tears, heaves a great sigh, and leads me over to a couch in the outer area of the lab. We sit down, my arms still around her, and she leans into my embrace. "Scully...what happened? Won't he disappear again?" She shakes her head slowly. "No. He won't be slipping away ever again." She draws a shaky breath. "I figured out what he does. The substance that was found at the murder scenes is produced by his skin...he excretes it, Mulder, and it makes his body permeable. Things go through it, or..." "He goes through things." "Yes. You were right. Except for the disappearing part. He really just went underground to the sewers, or the subway...wherever he happened to be. So, I figured out what allows the body to produce such a chemical, and I found that subjecting the fluid sample to a careful balance of electrolytes, as well as the active ingredient of deodorant, caused it to deteriorate at a rapid pace. I was just finishing up the writing when I grew suspicious. Something was moving in the shadows, and that's about the time you called. When I realized that he was in the building, I managed to suck up some of the mixture into a syringe and inject him when he came after me. When he found that his body couldn't produce the chemical, he grew angry and came after me again. I ran as fast as I could, but..." She points at a piece of wood that has been tossed carelessly aside and shudders. "He nearly took my head off with that, but I ducked and shot him in the arm." I hold her tighter. "Don't worry. He's back in custody, and now that we know what will stop him, we'll be sure to never let him out again." I grasp her face in my hands and lift her chin so that I can look right into her eyes. I am so lost in that gaze. "Goddammit, Scully, I was so scared...I was going to save this for when the case was done, but I realize that that is so wrong to do...life's too short to wait anymore..." And with that, I slowly lower my lips to hers. Her eyes widen for a split second with surprise, and then she kisses me back. My stomach drops...my partner, the one who I have loved for what seems an eternity, is kissing me back. Relief, joy, and a thousand other emotions run screeching through my head, and for once I don't try to clamp them down. I show her with increasing passion how much she means to me, kissing her thoroughly, wrapping my fingers in her hair. I don't ever want to stop. Some one clears his throat, and then there is a spattering of applause. Scully and I look up, a bit sheepishly, to see most of the cops standing around waiting for us to finish. The chief walks forward. "Agent Scully, are you alright?" She nods, turning a little pink in the cheeks. Then he turns and throws over his shoulder, "Do I even have to ask?!" The cops all laugh good-naturedly, and the two of us stand up, ready to go write out witness reports and finish up everything else we have to do. She still seems a bit unsteady, so I hold on to her hand as we walk downstairs. I open the hotel car door for her, go around to the driver's side, and we follow the cops to the station. X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X Two Hours Later Manhattan Hyatt Regency Hotel New York, New York X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X We finally arrive back at the hotel and can settle in for the evening...or what's left of it, anyway. By now, it is 1 AM, and though we are incredibly exhausted, we don't want to relinquish our newfound fondness for kissing each other. As we enter the suite, she closes the door and leans against it. I walk to her, wrap my arms around her, and kiss her passionately again. I can't get enough of this. We've taken the first crucial step, and now there is no need to rush anything. I am content with locking my lips to hers for eternity, and by the way she is kissing me back, I can only assume that she feels the same exact way. "Do you know how much I love you?" I whisper in her ear. "I love you too...but tell me again...I want to hear you say it again." "I love you, Scully...I love you so much..." I walk with her down the hall and we sit down on the couch. She curls herself around me and delves her fingers in my hair, pulling my face down low to hers. She leans her forehead against mine and looks deep into my eyes. For once I can stare back and become lost in her. She continues gauging the depths of my mind for what seems an eternity, then plants a long, deep kiss on my lips. She stands up, stretches, grabs my hands, and leads me down the hall. She's walking backwards, alternately facing me and watching the hallway in front of her, as we make a right turn into her room. She stops to kiss me again, and the kiss grows with increasing passion as we make our way into the bathroom, with her slowly unbuttoning my shirt and I slowly unbuttoning hers. I finish first, gently part the fabric and slide it down over her shoulders. It falls away and puddles at our feet. We continue undressing until we are standing in nothing but our underclothes. She turns the water for the shower on, steps inside the spacious area, and motions for me to follow her. I take her hand and step inside. We stand under the running water for a few moments, just drinking each other in. I break the spell by reaching out my hand and caressing her cheek and letting it glide down her neck, her shoulder, her stomach, and her hip. She shudders as I step closer, bringing my hands up to her breasts and kissing her again. She throws her head back as I slowly begin to knead her breasts and she utters a soft moan. It's easy to forget that I want to take this slowly because things have suddenly sped up to a place I never thought we'd experience. My fingers run up under the wires in her bra and she utters another soft moan as the tips run over her nipples. At this second moan I've totally forgotten my previous thoughts and I feel myself getting hard. "Can I take this off now?" I whisper in her ear. She nods slowly, and I unhook the bothersome piece of clothing and let it fall away. I continue letting my hands run all up and down her body, and I must admit, taking a shower has never been more erotic for me than now. She suddenly grows bolder and runs her hands down my chest toward my boxers. As she reaches the waistband, she hooks her thumbs in and slowly draws them down my thighs. I step out of them and am amazed when she gets down on her knees and takes me in her mouth. My knees go weak as she begins working utter magic, and soon I feel as if I can hold on no longer. "Scully...Scully, stop...please...I want to come inside of you..." I pant the words out. She straightens up, a slight smile playing on her lips. I take a deep breath and walk towards her as she backs up against the shower wall. She looks up at me as I bend my head to give her another hot kiss, and I slowly trail my mouth down toward her breasts and then her stomach. When I finally reach the band of her underwear, I slowly drag them down her thighs until she steps out of them, then straighten up and kiss her again as I slide a finger deep inside of her. She gasps slightly as I work my fingers around her clit, gently rubbing her until she's got her head thrown back, gasping. She must have decided she's had enough because she gently removes my hands and instead guides me inside of her with her free hand. I lift her up, cupping her bottom, and slowly slide the rest of the way into her. I can't believe that this is finally happened. I love Scully more than words could ever express, and now she has given me the best, most important gift I have ever received-herself. Body, Mind, Heart, and Soul; we are now one. As I move inside her faster and more rhythmically, she moans again and rocks her hips in time with mine. The water continues to pour all around us as we ride each other harder and faster. I can't hold on much longer, but I don't want this to end too soon, either. I lean my forehead against hers and gaze deep into her eyes. The lovely blue orbs are clouded over with passion and love and desire fulfilled. Her eyes squeeze shut tightly as her climax suddenly builds up, and as she reaches her release, her muscles clench around me, and I follow after her, with one final thrust and a low moan. I wait a few moments to catch my breath and then gently pull out and wrap her in a tight embrace. "Scully...I love you so much..." "I love you too," she whispers. I lean my head down and kiss her again and again. I can't recall how long it has been since I felt so complete. My better half has accepted me for everything I am, and embraced me wholeheartedly. For this I can never thank her enough. She slowly removes herself from my embrace and turns the water off. I reach for one of the huge towels the hotel has provided and wrap her in it, then grab one for myself. We make our way back into her bedroom, dry off, and fold each other up in robes, then walk back to the TV room and flop down on the couch. She settles herself down across my lap and looks up, smiling her beautiful smile. It's all I can do to keep myself from taking her again, so I bend my head and catch her with a tender kiss. She smiles around my mouth and I can't help but smile, too. I look down and whisper "What?" "Nothing..." she says. "I just love you so much. Do you have any idea how happy you make me?" "Scully, I feel like the luckiest guy in the world. No one could ever do for me what you do." She smiles again, and then a devilish glint appears in her eyes. "Want to make me happy again?" she asks demurely. What can I do but accept an offer like that? So I stand up, lifting her in my arms as I do so, and carry her off into her room, kissing her all the way there. Okay, so I was wrong. She *does* want to hang out with me, after all. The End!! In the immortal words of the amazing Dave Matthews: "So, anyway, the song's kinda about [weird low accent] love and huggin' and kissin' and dancin' and gettin' babies, and makin' babies, and makin' LOOOOOVE [normal Dave voice] It's called number thirty-six..." "...I slip into my lover's arms/Kiss me, won't you kiss me now, and sleep I would inside your mouth...Don't be us too shy, for knowing it's no big surprise that I will wait for you...I will wait for no one but you...oh please, Lover Lay Down...and you weep...Lover lay down...cause it's over...Lover Lay Down..." ~Lover Lay Down, DMB~ =====