From: Eyegypt Date: 11 Aug 1998 01:43:00 GMT Subject: *** NEW: Class Project II (1/1) PreX,MSR by Carolina 1013 and Fox - please don't sue me. I'm just borrowing Mulder, Scully, Ma and Pa Scully, Reggie Purdue, and Patterson for this story- no $$ will be made from this Title: Class Project II Author: Carolina (Eyegypt@aol.com) Category: S, R (MSR, that is), Pre-X Rating: PG-13 (language, adult situations) Summary: Scully helps Mulder get through his first case where he makes an error, which costs the life of a fellow agent Spoilers: Young at Heart, Grotesque **Alternate Universe Note: This deals with the John Barnett case discussed in Young at Heart, except now Dana is his girlfriend. Also, remember that Mulder has yet to discover that his sister was taken by Little "Gray" Men - so no aliens and conspiracies. I've also decided to call Scully - Dana. And Dana is the Dana of the beginning of season one: young, innocent, laughs and smiles - not the jaded, `I've been screwed over by the gov't' Dana of season 5. Not that there is anything wrong with either Dana Scully ***Note: I might turn this into a series of stories. This one taking place around John Barnett. The others would be around: 1) Unusual Suspects and his hypnotic regression (May and June '89) 2) Travelers (Nov `90) 3) Mulder finding the X-Files and working with Diana Fowley (Late '91). What do you think??? THANKS TO DEB FOR PROOFING - SHE'S THE BEST __________________________________________________________________________ NOVEMBER 14, 1988 3:04 PM Dana was about to make a `Y' incision on her latest autopsy when the phone rang. Sighing, she removed her surgical mask and answered the phone. "Scully." "Dana, its Reggie." Mulder's partner sounded upset, which set off every alarm in her head. "What is it Reggie? Has something happened to Mulder?" "He's fine . . . well, physically. We cornered John Barnett as he was trying to make his getaway and everything went to hell." "What happened to Mulder?" Mulder's first case out of the academy was to solve a string of jewelry store thefts. They finally found out who the thief was, but he had gone into hiding. Since then, at each robbery, he would leave Mulder a note. The case was driving him crazy and Dana prayed they would catch him soon, for Mulder's sake. "Well, Barnett took a hostage and Mulder had a shot of him from behind. I guess he hesitated because of the hostage. Hell who could blame him. Anyway, his hesitation allowed Barnett to kill the armored car driver and a fellow agent. Mulder finally took a shot at Barnett, who's now in the hospital undergoing surgery." "Oh my God. Where's Mulder now?" She was already pacing around the autopsy bay. This was going to kill him; his first case and this has to happen to him. "He's giving his account of the situation to the AD Patterson. I just thought I should let you know." "Thank you so much Reggie. Will you please see that he gets home okay? I'll meet him there." "Sure thing Dana." She hung up the phone, wrapped up the victim and placed him back in the freezer; he could wait till tomorrow. MULDER'S APARTMENT Dana sat on his couch waiting for him to return home. Finally, around six o'clock she heard a key being inserted in the lock; standing up, she went to meet him in the hallway. "Mulder?" His head jerked up with surprise and Dana could tell from his bloodshot eyes that he'd been crying. His look soon turned questioning. "Reggie called me." He nodded and made his way to the kitchen. Inside, he grabbed a glass and dug around in the cabinets for a bottle of Tequila. Continuing to ignore Dana's presence, he poured himself a large glass and took a huge gulp. "Mulder," Dana placed a gentle hand on his shoulder. "NO!" He spun around viciously knocking her hand away. She jumped back in fear; she had never seen him so angry. He took another sip and continued his tirade. "God damn it! He had a wife and a son, Dana. That boy doesn't have a father anymore because of me and my stupid mistake!" It took her a second to figure out that he was referring to the slain FBI agent. "Mulder it's not your fault; it's John Barnett's." "The hell it's not, Dana. I had the shot and I hesitated like some untrained idiot!" "He had a hostage." Dana took a step closer to him. "I had a clear shot of his back and just stood there," he replied banging his fist on the counter. "Mulder, you couldn't possibly predict what Barnett was going to do with the hostage. Anyone else in your situation would have reacted in the same manner." "How could you possibly know what was going on? You weren't even there." "What did Patterson say?" "He and the rest of the gang are going to review the surveillance tape and get back to me tomorrow at 3:00," he replied in a sarcastic tone. Finishing off the rest of his drink, he put the glass in the sink, walked into the living room and sat down on the sofa. With his head in his hands, he silently began to cry. Sitting down next to him, she carefully gathered him in her arms. He continued to cry into her chest, while she ran her hand through his hair. "This was my first case and I fucked it up, Dana. What does that say about me as an agent?" "We all make mistakes, Mulder. And, like you said, this was your first case. You just have to learn from your mistakes and do better next time." "Maybe I'm not cut out for this." She lifted his head so that he was eye level with her. "You were the top of your class at Quantico and you're an excellent profiler. If it weren't for you, Barnett would still be out there. You have a gift Mulder, and you're using that gift to help others. You can't quit because you're not a quitter." She slightly smiled before her next statement: "I wouldn't be with a quitter." Leaning in, she placed a small kiss on his lips. "I love you and we're going to get through this. Okay?" He reluctantly nodded. "I'll never be able to forgive myself for the death of those two men, Dana." "I understand Mulder. It hurts bad really bad right now, but it will get better with time." He placed his head back on her chest and held on to her tight. "I don't know what I'd do without you. I love you so much." NOVEMBER 15th QUANTICO Mulder sat quietly in the conference as AD Patterson and others reviewed the situation, finally reaching the conclusion that Agent Mulder was not responsible for the death of the two men. `Yeah right,' Mulder thought to himself. He would report back to work immediately and begin preparing for the trial against Barnett. After the meeting, he went down to Dana's office only to discover she was in the middle of teaching a class. Waiting outside the autopsy room, he listened to the bone-saw cut into the poor bastard and he shivered, thinking `Christ, how could she do that?' Fifteen minutes later, the students began filing out of the room and Mulder entered to find Dana cleaning up. "Hey." "Hey you." She was surprised to see him. "How did it go?" He shrugged his shoulders. "They've cleared me of any wrong doing." "Well that's good. I knew they would." "Still doesn't make this an easier to deal with, Dana," he replied in a tense voice. She walked up so that she was face to face with him. "I didn't say that. Nobody's perfect and Patterson and the others obviously realize that you're not to blame for those deaths. John Barnett is - you should remember that." "I can't," he whispered. Placing a hand against his cheek, she looked at him in such a way that told him that she would help see him through this. "Agent Carson's funeral is scheduled for this Saturday . . ." "Okay," she instantly responded. "I love you." "I love you, too." ST. MARKS LUTHERINE CHURCH It had been a trying week; Dana was constantly being woken up in the middle of the night by Mulder's sobs, and her heart was breaking for him. She loved him so much, but anything she said to him didn't make his pain any less. She just kept reminding herself that he needed time. They stood in the back of the church and Mulder kept his head bowed the entire time. Dana could barely make out Mrs. Carson and her son on the front row. After the funeral, several people went up to the family to pay their respects as Mulder hung back, waiting for the crowd to disperse. Dana held onto his left hand tightly as they approached Mrs. Carson. "Mrs. Carson?" Mulder whispered. Mrs. Carson turned her attention to Mulder and Dana. She was a beautiful, tall blonde who seemed very composed given the situation. She held her son in her arms, his faced buried in the crook of her neck. Mulder continued, "I'm Fox Mulder; I worked with your husband and I just wanted to say I'm terribly sorry for your loss." Hearing his voice tremble, Dana squeezed his hand. "Thank you very much, Mr. Mulder." Her son stirred in her arms. Mulder reached out and laid his palm on the boy's back, looked down, and turned to leave. Once they were in the car, tears began to flow down Mulder's face. Leaning over from the driver's side, Dana wrapped him in her arms. She just let him cry. ONE MONTH LATER SCULLY RESIDENCE Mrs. Scully opened the front door. "Hey you two. How was the movie?" "Hey Mom," Dana leaned in to hug her. "It was great; you and Dad really need to go see it." They followed Mrs. Scully into the living room where Capt. Scully was sitting in his chair. He rose and greeted his daughter and Mulder. "So, Rainman was good, huh?" he asked. "Yes sir, it was excellent," Mulder replied. "Well, I hope you two are hungry. Maggie made enough to feed an army." "So what else is new." Dana added. "Dana was telling me that the big trial for John Barnett starts on Monday." Mulder took a deep breath, "Yes sir, I'm scheduled to testify on Wednesday." "Dad, lets not talk about work, okay." "Fine with me." Just then, Maggie came back into the living room to tell them that dinner was ready. During dinner Dana's parents caught her up on the on goings of her brothers and sister. "I can't believe that they all are going to be here for Christmas. The last time that happened, Dana, you were in undergrad." Dana nodded. "Fox, are you going to be spending Christmas with your Mom?" Mrs. Scully knew from Dana that Mulder and his father hardly spoke. "She's taking a cruise with her sister." "Well then, you must spend it with us. The more the merrier." "I'd love to. Thanks for inviting me." When dinner was over, Mulder and Mr. Scully went into the den to watch a football game while Dana helped her mom with the dishes. "He loves you so much. I can tell by the way he looks at you." Dana blushed, "Well, I love him too." "Any talk about marriage?" "Mom! We haven't been together that long." "It's been almost eight months." Dana always had to remind herself that her mother thought that they had been dating four months longer than they really had. A lie that she started and would have to continue. She sighed, "We've both only been in our new jobs for a couple of months. We're still trying to adjust to that. The last thing we talk about is marriage. So, you're just going to have to get grandkids out of Bill Jr. for now." Dana had only met Bill Jr.'s fiancee, Tara a couple of times, but was looking forward to being a bridesmaid for her big brother's wedding in California that coming January. "I just want to see you settled and happy." "I am happy; I don't need to be `settled' to be so." "You and your sister are so difficult." Dana laughed. MURDER TRIAL OF JOHN BARNETT WEDNESDAY Dana sat with Reggie as Mulder gave his psychological profile of John Barnett, after which, he was cross-examined by Barnett's attorney. The Defense attorney continually repeated the facts that Mulder was a recent Academy graduate and that the Barnett case had been his first, trying to paint him and inexperienced and ignorant. He taunted Mulder with questions about his education and field experience, but Mulder's answers were succinct and eloquent; he never let himself rise to the bait the attorney offered. As a result, the Defense had only made itself look foolish. Dana smiled to herself. Finally, he was allowed to leave the stand. He walked past Barnett and took a seat between Reggie and Dana. She instantly joined their hands and they both looked at Barnett. He was turned towards them and they watched him mouth the words: `I'll get you' to Mulder. Mulder only smiled uncomfortably back at Barnett. `Just try and get me from you 2x4 cell that they'll let you rot in, you Son of a Bitch,' Mulder thought to himself. A week later, John Barnett was sentenced to Life in Prison. Mulder secretly wished that DC had the death penalty. ****** He was supposed to meet Dana at her place after work. Using his key to her apartment, he unlocked the door to find Dana gagged and tied to her kitchen chair. She had tears streaming down her face. Next to her was John Barnett who had a gun to her head. "Dana!" "I told you I'd get you Mulder," Barnett rasped. "And what better way to get you than to kill what you hold most dear. Let you feel responsible for another death." Mulder watched as Barnett squeezed the trigger. "NO!!!!!!!!!!!!" Mulder shot up in bed soaking with sweat. His sudden movement woke up Dana. "Mulder are you okay?" she asked in a sleepy voice. He instantly gathered Dana in his arms and held her tight against him. "God, I love you so much," he mumbled into her hair. "Mulder, what happened?" "Just a bad dream." "Want to talk about it?" "No. No. I'd just rather forget it." He placed a kiss on her lips. When he broke away, she leaned in for another: this one, much deeper than the first. Their bedclothes were soon shed as they showed each other how much they meant to one another. As he kissed his way down her body, he felt Dana's hands grip his hair. He worked his `tongue of many talents', as Dana called it, on her then moved up to look her in the eyes. Resting his forehead against hers, he kissed her deeply as he moved to be inside her. After they both came down from the exertions of their lovemaking, Mulder gathered Dana up in his arms so that her head was resting on his chest. "Marry me." She propped herself up on her elbow. "What?" She couldn't believe her ears. Was he serious or was it the sex talking? He sat up against the headboard and pulled Dana into a sitting position facing him. Taking both of her hands in his he repeated his question, "Dana Katherine Scully, will you do me the honor of being my wife?" She felt tears welling up in her eyes, "Yes; I'd love to be your wife." Mulder leaned over, kissing her deeply before wrapping his arms around her. "You're sure about this?" she asked. "I mean, we haven't been together all that long . . ." "I don't think . . . no wait . . . I KNOW I can't live without you. I want to spend everyday of the rest of my life with you by my side." "I love you so very much." They made love again. Afterwards, Dana began to laugh. "What's so funny?" "We're going to have to come up with a better `how'd did he propose story'. I mean certain people, a.k.a. my parents, definitely don't want to hear the true version." "Our entire relationship is a lie to them," he joked. "I know. Just remember we've been together eight months, Mulder, eight months." They both laughed themselves to sleep. The next morning they both went into town to find Dana an engagement ring. They chose a simple gold band with a one caret pear-shapped diamond with two smaller ones on either side. Dana stared at it all the way home. She just couldn't believe she was going to be married, much less to Fox Mulder. Fate works in weird ways. DECEMBER 24th SCULLY RESIDENCE Dana and Mulder knocked on the door of her parent's house, each squeezing the other's hands before they broke the `big news' to her family. Her youngest brother Charlie opened the door. "Dana, it's about time you got here." Dana hugged her brother, "Good to see you too, Charlie. How's school?" "Good. I can't believe I graduate this spring. I feel like I just started." Charlie went to school at Virginia Tech and was graduating in May with a degree in Civil Engineering. "Mulder, this is my younger brother, Charlie. Charlie this is Mulder," Dana introduced. They shook hands. "Nice to meet you, Mulder." They walked into the den and Mulder couldn't believe his eyes. There was a huge Christmas tree, tons of food on a buffet table and all of Dana's siblings along with her parents. Mulder made the observation that the Scully women were tiny while the guys were actually gather big. All the necessary introductions were made for Mulder: Bill Jr., Tara, and Melissa. Dana and Mulder continued to stand. She could feel her sister's, Melissa, eyes on them. "Have a seat you two," Mrs. Scully ordered. "Actually Mom, there's something we need to tell you all. Mulder and I are . . ." she took a deep breath, "engaged." Her mother's eyes instantly lit up and she ran over to hug her daughter and soon to be son-in-law. "I am so happy for you two. You'll be so happy together. When did this happen?" "About four days ago." "And you waited this long to tell me!" she teased. "Sorry, we wanted to tell everybody at once." Her mom hugged them both one more time, then her father walked up to her and Mulder. "So you finally found someone who makes you happy?" "Yes Daddy." "Well then, congratulations, my little Starbuck," he leaned over and hugged his daughter. "Thanks, Ahab." "Make sure you take care of my little girl," he directed at Mulder. "I will, sir." They shook hands and the rest of the family offered the newly engaged couple their congratulations. Later that night, everyone went into his or her perspective bedrooms. Mulder and Charlie shared his room and Melissa and Dana went into another. Only Tara and Bill Jr. had a room to themselves, but it was two twin beds. When Dana and her sister were settled in bed, Melissa rolled over to face her sister. "Dana, you sure about this?" "About what?" "Marring Mulder." "Yes; definitely; with all my heart. Why do you ask?" "He's very dark, Dana. Not necessarily in a bad way, but he's very . . . disturbed." "Oh. And how would you know that?" She hated when her sister got all weird on her. If anyone should be called Spooky it should be her. "I was studying his aura at dinner . . ." "You would," Dana sighed. "I don't know Dana. He's very troubled." "It's probably due to the fact that he's just over a very rough case he was working on." There was silence in the dark bedroom. Dana continued, "Listen Melissa; I'm not going to lie to you. He had a very troubled childhood and doesn't get along well with his parents, but we both love each other very much and want to spend the rest of our lives together. So, could you please leave your crystals and Tarot Cards at the door and be happy for me?" "I am happy for you." "Thank you." "I'm just surprised you've found someone willing to put up with your attitude for the rest of their life. Poor Bastard," Melissa teased. Dana pulled out her pillow and hit her sister on the head. Melissa grabbed her pillow and a small fight began. They both began giggling hysterically which could be heard in Charlie and Mulder's room. **** "Those two. You know, when I was younger, Melissa and Dana used to put the antennae on my head and tell me they were zapping my brain cells. I would cry and cry till mom would break them two up." Mulder laughed at Charlie's childhood story. "But I would have to say that Dana turned tomboy and used to hang with Billy and me when Melissa started dating and doing `girly' things." Charlie continued to tell Mulder odd Dana stories until they feel asleep. ***** "So, how'd he propose?" Melissa asked. "Well . . . there's two versions. Which one do you want to hear?" "The true one." Dana smiled, "We were in bed." "Before or after orgasm?" "Melissa!" She threatened to swat her with the pillow again. "Obviously after." "What can I say; I'm good." Dana quipped. Melissa laughed then continued, "Now what are you going to tell Mom and Dad?" "The usual proposal story. We were at dinner at this fancy restaurant and the waiter brought us dessert and there was the ring on top, blah, blah, blah." They both continued to fill each other in on what they had been up to until they fell asleep. DECEMBER 25TH Mulder walked over to his fiancée who was still fast asleep. She looked like a little girl buried in the frilly lace of the comforter. Softly siting down beside her, he leaned over and kissed her gently on the lips. "Mmmm," she responded as she slowly opened her eyes and smiled at Mulder. Then she took in her surroundings, shot up and bed and looked to where Melissa was sleeping, only to find that she was gone. "Everyone is downstairs ready to open their gifts. I told them I'd come wake you up." Mulder answered to her confusion. "Well, thank you." She wrapped her arms around his neck and leaned in to kiss him more fully on the mouth. He responded in kind and she pulled him down till his upper body was on top of hers. Working his hand under the sheets, he was soon able to work it up the inside of her nightshirt where he massaged her right breast. She smiled into the kiss and forcibly worked her tongue inside his mouth to show how much she was enjoying his hands. The fact that they had forgotten where they were was soon interrupted by a coughing sound in the doorway. They quickly broke apart to find her mother there. "I seem to be catching you two in this situation a lot. Don't I?" Mulder, who was now standing, replied, "I'm sorry, Mrs. Scully. I know this was very disrespectful of me to do such a thing under your roof." Mrs. Scully smiled, "Don't worry about it. Just promise that this leads to plenty of grandkids." Dana frowned. "Come on downstairs you two; the masses are getting suspicious." With that said, Mrs. Scully walked back down the hall. Sitting back down on the bed, he rested his forehead on hers, "Dana Katherine Scully, I tend to keep my promise to you and your father: I'll take care of you and make you very very happy. Now about the grandkids, how many does she want?" Dana laughed. THE END