From: shinkai@mlode.com (Susan Shinkai) Subject: Completed Story:2 Hot 2 Handle (1/1) Date sent: Fri, 20 Mar 1998 13:49:50 -0800 Title : 2 HOT 2 HANDLE(1/1) Author : Shinkai E-mail Address: shinkai@mlode.com Rating : R + (for sexual situations) Classification : SH Spoilers : none Keywords : Scully/Mulder friendship ;UST Summary : Sequel to `2 Close for Comfort' . What was Scully thinking as Mulder found his body responding to her closeness. What happened after they slept together in the bath tub. How much mileage can you get from loose door knobs, wet boxer shorts, pancakes, and multiple voices in Scully's head? Intro: This is fun, useless junk. Longer and not quite as funny as the first story, but more `shippy. The result of making an offer to write a sequel from Scully's POV. Only problem is... I think like Mulder not Scully. I was stuck on the ending until I spent and entirely unproductive night working on it and ending up craving pancakes and earl grey tea for breakfast. Disclaimer: Most of characters and situations in this story are not the legal property of the author or her agents. Their use is not intended to be an infringement to the rights of the legal owners. Use and distribution of this story is for non-commercial entertainment purposes only. 2 HOT 2 HANDLE "How do I get myself into these situations?" Scully asked herself as she laid under her partner in the backseat of a red vintage Mustang, with Mulder groping around under her blouse. Of course, it was all in the line of duty as they were acting as decoys for a pair of car jackers who preferred to take victims engrossed in an amorous embrace. And they had placed their weapons in positions easily reachable while in such a configuration. But as they settled into place, Mulder's hand roamed around her mid drift and instead of grabbing the handle of his gun , he grabbed a handful of Scully. "You're hands are cold." she remarked with surprising calm, dismissing any ideas of how to warm those hands." And it's a bit lower..." She tried to stay focused on the fact that everything that was `a bit lower' except the gun was officially no-man's land. Despite her resolve to stay professional, she couldn't help but realize that it real was a no-man's land, not out of choice but of circumstance. Working with Mulder pretty much killed her love life - manslaughter. At first it was the demands of the job, then as they grew closer as friends, dating another man seemed like cheating on her partner. Yet, they both understood that any romantic or physical relationship was off limits. But at a time like this, Scully wondered just how much his roving hands could handle. The heat from her body radiated invitingly to his nervous touch as he sought what he longed to take from her body. "Got it!" he gasped as his fingers surrounded the protruding handle, making sure the safety was in place. "I think if I just move my hips a bit..." he said, as he shift his body around hers. She felt a distinctly masculine landmark press into her hip. Unfortunately, `it' wasn't equipped with a safety to prevent accidentally discharge so she and tried to give him a chance to back out. "Is this position going to work?" she asked as innocently as she could, hoping to God he wouldn't say anything suggestive like `that depends on what you want to do next.' But instead of one of his wisecracks, Mulder just groaned an affirmative and settled into place on top of her. Scully could feel his hot panting breath, just inches from her ear. she thought Funny, that's what she thought prom night, just before she heard the sirens approaching. And tonight if she was paying closer attention, she would have heard the alarms going off in Mulder's body. Instead, she consoled herself that at least she was warm with his torso pressed against her. She felt him shiver slightly and felt a little guilty about stealing his body heat so she pulled him closer. She was just beginning to enjoyed the closeness as much as the warmth when she realize he was still shivering. Her small frame just couldn' t cover a man his size. So she started to move her body to handle his entire length. Suddenly he went rigid. He sat up erect and stared out the steamy windows. Then she realized that the it wasn't warmth he was seeking but some hot action. Mulder's hips were pushing hard into her. In fact, they were pushing something very hard into her. "Mulder! What the hell do you think...." she started to chastise but he interrupted her, and directed her attention to the urgency of the situation in hand.. It was the car jackers! She tugged at her weapon nestled in the small of his back and set her thumb on the safety at the ready. She needed to be ready but had no intention of accidentally blowing off her partner's ass. Was much as Skinner and other's loved to chew out that rear, she got a cheap secret thrill covering it when they were in trouble. Without her even realizing it, that thought of Mulder's ass in her protective custody sent her hormones into high gear, and her body responded in a reasonable fashion to his advances. Her leg began to rub shamelessly against his thigh while she wasn't looking. So while their minds were focused on duty and professional action, their bodies were having a wonderful time, totally unrestrained by conscious good judgment. Suddenly the real world came and crashed the party. In an instant, the windows shattered and the action came to a climax. She jumped forward past Mulder who forcefully yanked one of the attackers into the car. The other one pulled out before Scully could make her move so she ejected herself from the car and took off after him. Scully couldn't keep up with the man's frantic pace and lost him in a clearing. Standing in the open, she knew she was a clear target, sticking out like....something sticking out. Before she could take cover, she was pull down from behind. At first she wondered how the suspect got behind her, then realized the warm hard body on her was none other than her faithful and overly hyper partner, trying to ensure her protection. Somehow he managed to pull off two shots as he went down on her. As the other agents caught up with the wounded suspect, Scully tried to catch up on her breathing. Some time between being grabbed and thrown to the ground and feeling Mulder's lower body pressing against her, she had held her breath. Her panting recovery triggered a release of a lot more than hot air, but before she could excuse her unprofessional conduct, Mulder ran off into the bushes, to avoid displaying an even greater breech of conduct. She was grateful that the female physiology opted for a much more subtle orgasm. Scully watched as her partner emerged from the bushes, red faced but not red handed, although there was little doubt in her mind what that hand had been doing as he hid from public view. Her professional side admired the tactfully way he handled himself while her more primitive (and honest) side admired the twitching bulge still obvious in his pants. Her professional side scolded her more primitive side who responded by making her blush bright red when Mulder asked if she was all right. Scully was grateful for the commotion that followed her bust, which she had shared with her partner. No one seemed too worried about the unusual intercourse between her and Mulder. That is, until it was time to return to headquarters. To her dismay, only one car remained on scene to transport her and five other agents, including Mulder. She seriously thought about asking to be put in the trunk instead of Mulder's lap, but it brought back memories of her abduction. she sighed to herself Then her primitive side added It was impossible for her to sit still during her ride in Mulder's lap. Each time she tried to avoid the more sensitive areas, gravity and accelerations coaxed her back. she concluded as she settled back to rest against a portion of Mulder's anatomy which WAS winning the fight against gravity. Scully knew that shifting around to get more comfortable would only stir things up but just the thought of the unintended intimacy got her stirred up. < What would it be like if I didn't have to worry about being so professional all the time?> she thought to herself. Her primitive side cheered internally and gave her a quick glimpse of just what might happen... Scully rocked her hips gently, forcing even more pressure against his swollen shaft. She silenced his moans as she brought her mouth against his, tasting for the first time the pout she loved to tease each day. But today was no tease - she meant business. He was gasping in excitement and panic as she rotated in his lap, allowing one hand to slip down to his belt. He made some feeble protest but, just as she did with some of his theories, she disregarded his comments for his own good. She let her lips part from his only long enough to slide them down his throat, where she took a gentle bite. He moaned louder as her hand undid his belt and opened his trousers. He tried to push against her but she pushed him back, making him wait to take only what she was willing to give. His moans turned in to desperate pleas as she slowly slid her hand down his manhood, caressing each inch of flesh as she exposed it. Just as she relished the thought of those last few intimate inches, he shrank back, responding to the jeers of his follow agents in the back seat. That's when Scully came back to reality... and boy, was she pissed. "WILL YOU ALL JUST SHUT UP!" she roared at those who had the nerve to interrupt such a wonderful fantasy. No one dared speak, as the fire in her eyes promised to burn up anyone stupid enough to cross her. Satisfied that there would no further interruptions, she began to resume her daydreaming when it became apparent that Mulder had picked up were she left off. But typical of Mulder, he was trying to control the action. His eyes were closed so she knew he was either asleep or in total fantasy mode. Actually, he wasn't in `total fantasy' because he was starting to act up in the real world. It was his real arms pulling her real hips against him. His real hands opening his real pants. Scully was real fascinated until she realized they would get into real trouble if she let this go on. So she dug her nails real hard into his real ribs. She hoped he wasn't into real S&M or things could get real nasty, real fast. Mulder opened his eyes and she glared back. She looked as threatening as possible and it seemed to work as he fumbled nervously, trying to resume a professional and less revealing appearance. Still, she could help but feel....a sense of disappointment when she realized his indiscretion reveal little more than a hint of what her partner was truly capable of showing off. For the rest of the evening , circumstances force them even closer together. Accidentally leaving his keys and wallet in the Mustang, Mulder was stranded, so Scully brought him home with her.... Mulder was anxious the whole ride home. She noticed he couldn't find any place to put his hands without fondling something. Gripping the edge of the seat seemed like the safest bet. She watched from the corner of her eye as he ran his fingers across the supple leather. She felt goose bumps rise on her own envious skin. She forced her eyes forward and drove onward, wishing they were in the Mustang again without the surveillance cameras. Once at her place, Mulder insisted on keeping is coat on. Desperate to see if he still felt aroused, Scully cranked up the heat hoping he' d be forced to take it off. It was a cheap trick but a harmless one. It became quickly obvious he was too embarrassed to show off anything so she resigned herself to nice warm shower. She offered to let him take a shower but quickly realized he wanted to be the heat in her shower, even if neither one would actually allow it to happen. She left the room quickly before she changed her mind and installed hot running Mulder in her bathroom. A cold shower would have chilled her passion but that wasn't what she wanted. She wanted a hot steamy encounter and since she couldn't have Mulder, she'd settle for the safe fantasy version. One who would shed his clothes and join her in the shower. His warm soapy imaginary hands would lather her entire body and gently scrub her back. From behind, the hands would wander to her slippery breasts and tease the nipples. As they became hard and sensitive, she would begin to feel him moving against her back, slowly probing with his own hard sensitive organ. Finally he would push gently and smoothly into her deep recesses, and his warmth would fill her from within. I t was a great fantasy until the hot water ran out. Scully climbed from the shower and continued her fantasy. Now Mulder was drying her body. The parts that would stay dry in her excited state. Clean, refreshed and ready, she was prepared for the next stop in this fantasy - the bedroom. She went to open the door but it was stuck. "Mulder, I need your help." Her Bad Girl took the opportunity to remind her that fantasy can come true. she said in double frustration. Mulder came quickly. He pounded and pushed. But the door wouldn't budge. The Bad Girl said Scully sighed and let it happen. Her voice turned sultry and pleading, breathing in quick pants between phases. "Push harder. Come on, Mulder, I know how hard you can push. Just imagine you need to get in. Pump that adrenaline." Within moments, Mulder flew threw the door and at fell at her feet. But he panicked when he realized his position gave him a perfect view up her robe and he scrambled to his feet only to the slam the door shut again. Scully doubted he could open it again but before he could warn him, he jerked off the door knob. Scully sighed as he handed her the useless device. A long night just got longer. Now there was no escaping Mulder until the door shrank down. In her fantasy, she was preparing for sex with extreme possibilities now she was stuck with a man who looked an awful lot like her fantasy lover. And as she could see by the bulge in his boxer shorts, he was just as ready as her lover except the real Mulder was terrified of her. It probably had something to do the hateful stare she gave him, the one that could almost ignite the door into flames. The one she used to cover-up the passionate desires she felt just looking at him. Him and his damn hard-on that kept coming back like a evil curse. She sat on the toilet seat as he laid in the bath tub trying hard to cover up his curse with a towel. She quickly realized the towel was way too small, as she strained to see just how big this particular curse had become. Mulder tried to break the curse with a cold shower. Scully heard his girlie scream as the cold water hit. The Bad Girl got passed Scully defenses and offered to warm him up. Scully scolded herself but listened closely as she heard Mulder stifled moans. Thinking about his potent nature so close at hand, she blushed, flushed and rushed until she felt her entire body glow. the Good Girl thought and so she pretended to be asleep. the Bad Girl said. the Good Girl replied. the Bad Girl teased. Suddenly the Scientist chimed in Scully told everyone in her head when she heard Mulder announce he was getting out of the shower. She held her breath as he stood beside her. She could feel waves of desire crashing against her. Either that or the toilet was running. At any rate, she didn't dare move. It was his turn to make a move. Then she could blame him if things got out of control. the Bad Girl announced. But Mulder managed to keep his beast at bay, and settled back into the tub. The Good Girl was very proud of her partner, while the Bad Girl made her do some shameful thing with her fingers. The Scientist wondered if there was a mathematical relationship between body temperature and intensity of orgasm, and started collecting data. After a few small orgasms, the experiment was terminated due to a lack of cooperation by the sponsors. Scully wanted out NOW. Mulder was far too tempting. She tried the door but it only moved slightly. He woke up looked longing at the door. Or maybe at her. Then she noticed he was damp and shivering. Suddenly she felt terribly guilty. He'd had one problem after another all night long and it was her fault she let the door get stuck in the first place. The least she could do was warm him up. Before the Bad Girl could make any suggestions, she centered herself on the deepest feeling she had for Mulder. Protect him. Trust him. All other thoughts quieted and she climbed into the tub next to him. Mulder was unsure if it was a safe thing to do at first. But her calm centered him as well. He accepted her warmth and forgot that he wanted her in any other way. As he relaxed, Scully opened her robe and spread it over him, resting her naked body atop his. He tensed and cautiously asked what was happening. She reassured him they were just friends sharing body heat and each others trust. Deep down, she also knew they shared a few fantasies, but for now the trust was enough. For now. The next few hours went by quickly. They slept quietly most of the time as the awkwardness faded into a comfortable intimacy. Laying naked atop her partner, Scully became aware of how big Mulder really was- her feet barely reached his knees. But more than his size, she was impressed by his firmness - the taut skin, pulled over the solid ridges of his stomach. The more she settled against his body, the more his heat began to rise. She didn't question the reaction, and just enjoyed the new sensation. Scully did manage to avoid adding stimulus to the other rising parts of Mulder's firm body. He took care of that himself. His gentle moans and pelvic rotation told her that his mind had wandered far from her bathroom, at least she hoped so. The thought of him 'getting off' on her presence made the thought of getting off OF him sound like a good idea. Still she put her faith in their mutual trust to protect them from getting out of hand so she remained in her potentially compromising position. Before long she slept peacefully and slipped into her own surrealistic world of pleasures forbidden in real life. In her secret world , she was allowed to explore the masculine form below her. The firm muscles flexed in response to her touch, then relaxed to allow her fingers to explore deeper. He kept nothing from her and she hungrily took it all, feeling every muscle, bone and organ in her reach. Her hands settled on his most forbidden parts and he gasped as her grip tightened. She rapidly found her finger weren't sensitive enough and began exploring his flesh with her lips. It felt was if she was drinking in his essence and he sighed with the satisfaction of filling her completely. The heat was engulfing her to point of being unbearable. Just as she felt the barrier faded between their bodies, she awoke to a starling reality. Mulder was fast asleep but somehow his leg manage to open the hot water tap and it was filling the tub. "Damn" she swore as she jumped out of the steaming tub, her robe already soaking wet. She guessed Mulder must really be hot blooded as he didn't seem to be bothered by the hot liquid around him and continued to sleep peacefully. Figuring he wasn't waking soon, Scully removed her robe and wrung it out then draped it over the towel rack to dry. Then she checked the door, hoping the hot bath hadn't made things worst. To her pleasure, the door moved. She fumbled with the disconnected knob and was able to pull it partial open. Without any tools, she tried to continue to pry the door with mechanism of the knob. Her moist hands gripped the smooth bulb as she maneuvered the shaft around the narrow gap. Nervous that Mulder might wake and unaccustomed to the awkward movements, she lost control and the knob popped out of her hand and plopped into the tub, starling Mulder awake. She suddenly found herself staring straight into her partner's deep green eyes. Thinking quickly. she turned off the lights. "Scully, why is it dark in here?" he asked sleepily. "Because the lights are off." she replied quickly. Before Mulder could ask anything else she demanded "Give it to me... the knob... in your lap..." When he failed to respond in a coherent manner, she simply reached down and grabbed for it. He gasped as she groped blindly in the tub until she found what her wanted. Holding it firmly this time, she directed the shaft into the small crevice and eased open the swollen portal then slipped away, leaving the doorway gaping, along with Murder's mouth. Mulder was just comprehending that he was hot and wet from the waist down, when Scully had turned off the lights and was feeling around in the tub. Finally as she ran out he saw she had removed her robe.. Because of the lighting and the angle, he didn't actually see much of her but his imagination filled in the shadows without a problem. "She trusts you, she trusts you..." he repeated to himself to block out the possibilities he was considering. Suddenly a full covered Scully came back in carrying two large towels. "I guess we had an accident in the tub. The water got turned on." Handing him the towels she said "Take off those wet boxer shorts..." As he stood up she tried not to stare at his wet shorts and the details they revealed. she told herself while her Bad Girl subconscious told her she should be much more interested in handling what she was staring at. Scully, being a good Catholic girl, was very used to ignoring her subconscious but the Scientist in her wondered just how much more pressure Mulder could take this evening. Mulder felt more than a little vulnerable but he kept reminding himself that this was his partner and friend, Scully. He got out of tub and began drying himself off as Scully watched. "Uh...did you want something?" he asked hopefully, as he began to wonder why she was still there. His question broke her stare and she realized her lack of sleep was affecting her ability to behave properly. Trying to quickly explain her absence of good manners, she blurted out "Bed...we have to go to bed..." Her face reddened immediately but she didn't try to revise her remark. Instead she quickly left the room, ran into her bedroom and closed the door. The `Good' Scully told herself what a bad girl she was. The `Bad' Scully told herself what a good girl she was. The `Scientist' Scully looked at the clock and estimated how long it would take for Mulder to recover from the shock and come banging on her door. The real Scully wished all these voices would shut up and let her go to sleep. Mulder quickly got a hold of himself before he jumped to any conclusion, or into her bedroom. He knew that despite her words, Scully was not propositioning him. Still, he couldn't help but feel the rising tide of emotions and biological responses to the thought of joining her. He couldn't let it go. He had to show her what he was feeling. Just as he was leaving the bathroom, he noticed the warm liquid running down his leg. Removing the dripping boxer shorts and throwing them in the sink, he tightened the towel around his waist and advanced towards her doorway. He began with a gentle tapping but when she didn't respond he began banging away, steadily growing harder and harder. Finally, he was banging as hard as he could without awaking the neighbors. Her door flew open and her three personas each had their own thought. The Good Scully said out loud "Mulder, I'm sorry but I guess I'm too tired to make any sense. It's 4:30 and all I want to do is get a few hours sleep before we get Frohike's Mustang with your wallet and keys from the impound yard. You can sleep, eat, watch TV or do whatever you want until 7:00." The `Bad' Scully thought The `Scientist' Scully noted < 3 minutes 47 seconds. The next critical threshold should be the next time he makes an appropriate but suggestive remark. I estimate 5 minutes unless he leaves now but the probability of him leaving now is less than 20 percent.> The analytical Scully was right again. Mulder took her hand and said softly "I didn't mean to embarrass you, it's just that I...." Scully squeezed his fingers as she tactfully avoided looking at his exposed chest and the tempting contours of the towel. The sincere look in his eyes was all she needed to regain her composure. "We already talked about this. I understand what you're going through and I know you understand how I feel. Just relax and let me get some rest, OK?" He nodded and let go of her hand then pointed to the living room. "I guess I'll try to get some sleep as well. I've got a big day ahead of me trying to find replacement windows for the Mustang." "Try the `Mustang Ranch'." she yawned casually. "I thought the Mustang Ranch was a whore house in Nevada?" he replied hesitantly, as he wondered if she as just teasing him and his recent preoccupation with adult themes. "Sorry to get your hopes up, Mulder, but the IRS shut it down for tax evasion. This `Mustang Ranch' is a car shop that specializes in restoration of vintage Ford Mustangs." She smiled as she felt her nerves settle into the familiar teasing banter they enjoyed since day one. Instead of another clever reply, Mulder just said "Scully, you never cease to amaze me." Suddenly her nerves exploded in anticipation of his next move but he did nothing but smile. He also adjusted the towel but only to secure it from slipping from around his waist. she concluded. Before she felt compelled to provide proof to either confirm or deny just how amazing she could be, she said good night and turned away from him. Mulder remained in the door way as her walked to the bed. He released a deep sigh as she laid down and rested her head on the pillow facing away from him. As her eyes closed, the internal conference call began again in her mind. the `Good' girl said. replied the `Bad' girl. <4 minutes and 30 seconds.> observed the `Scientist.' Just then Mulder leaned over her reclining body and said "I'd better go to my bed for the night. Wanna come tuck me in?" The Scientist cheered. The Bad Girl cheered. The Good Girl pretended to be asleep but cheered anyway, since she figured as long as he was teasing her she was safe. However, it's common knowledge that Good Girls can't tell the difference between teasing and an open invitation. And if Scully had opened her eyes she would have seen just how open his invitation (and his towel ) was at the time and she would have known just how badly he needed to be tucked in. "Dana?" Mulder whispered in a barely audible tone. When she didn't answer he was fairly certain she was asleep. They both knew he only called her Dana when he was serious. He very gently kissed the top of her head and left the room. The instant she heard the door close, Scully let out the breath she'd been holding since he said her name. she told herself. The Bad Girl said she replied most sensible. The Bad Girl pointed out. she lied to her worst half. The Scientist interrupted with a logical analysis of the situation. The Scientist waited for a response but it seemed that all the rest of the Scully's had gone to sleep. she told them and went to sleep as well. All the Scully's were woken by a loud crash coming from the kitchen. It was 6 AM and just barely light. She reached for her gun then suddenly remember that she wasn't the victim of a break-in, just of circumstance. "Mulder! What are you doing?" she called out from her bed. "I'm fine. Don't worry." he replied in a voice that was really saying It was a VERY familiar voice. Scully groaned and got dressed in jeans and a T-shirt. She left the room fully expecting the rest of her apartment to be destroyed by a crazed insomniac named Fox Mulder. She found him in the kitchen attempting to make breakfast. Pots and pans were scattered on the floor, as a very guilty looking Mulder tried to conceal his inadequacies in the kitchen. Scully quickly took note of all his `adequate' parts and decided it was worth it to be woken up early on a Sunday morning. "What exactly were you looking for when you trashed my kitchen?" she asked as she started to pick up the scattered items. Mulder gently stopped her and lead her to a chair. "Don't worry. I 'll take care of it." he said in a soft voice. His genteel manner threw Scully off balance, so sitting down seemed like a good idea. "I...uh...was looking for an omelet pan. I thought I'd make you breakfast as a thank you for letting me stay here." he said sheepish as he went back to his chore. Scully watched as her partner turned away from her and bent down to put away the unused utensils. This was a side of Mulder she had never really seen before and she liked it. He was the perfect picture of domestic incompetence. There he was in her kitchen - barefoot and submissive, trying to make her breakfast. "Mulder, YOU were going to make an omelet?" "Don't sound so surprised. I have a lot of talents you haven't seen yet." he replied without a trace of teasing in his voice. Scully told the Bad Girl within who was more than willing to discover his other talents, with or without kitchen utensils. Sensibility reigned and she replied "Well, Mulder, talented as you may be, I don't have any eggs." She regretted as soon as she said it and expected some witty comeback about losing eggs during her abduction. But Mulder continued to play his part and held his tongue. So impressed was Scully, that she considered ways to loosen that same tongue. It seemed she didn't need to question him about his intentions. The Good Girl was fighting a losing battle and she opted to go on the offensive. Scully stood up and said "Thanks for trying but I'd just as soon fix my own breakfast..." Once again his gentle hand signaled her to wait. "I did manage to make coffee. I couldn't figure out that French press thing of yours - the coffee maker that is - so I improvised." Mulder took a kettle from the stove top and poured a suspicious thick black liquid from it into a cup he placed before her. Her Scientific side quickly thought She looked wearily at the cup, expecting the liquid to dissolve it. "You' re joking. You boiled the coffee grounds?" Mulder pushed the steaming cup towards her and smiled. "Try it. I used to make it for my Dad when we went camping. We called it `Cowboy coffee'." "The things I do to prove my trust..." she mumbled under her breath as she wrapped her small hands around Mulder's large cup. "Oh my!" she exclaimed as she quickly set it back on the table. Mulder jumped to her side and took her hand in his. Tenderly stroking her hot palms, he asked "Was it too hot ?" "Too hot and too big." she answered breathlessly. Suddenly she felt her own heat starting to rise as his soft caresses began to melt her cold front. she concluded. "Mulder, I'm fine." she said pulled her hands back. His expression immediately turned into the look of a rejected puppy dog. she told herself as her other self cried . Meanwhile her scientific self said Mulder suddenly touched his finger tip to her lower lip. "It's a good thing you didn't try to drink it. You could have burned your lips. Or your tongue. Maybe even your throat." His eyes looked into her saying much more, inviting her lips et al to explore something much more satisfying than coffee. Panic stricken, she responded with the first thing that came to mind. "You know, the Japanese make tea cups without handles so you can 't pick up the cup if it's too hot." It worked. His bedroom eyes turned back into kitchen eyes. "" Uh... no. I didn't know that." He stood up and tugged at his jeans to restore them to a natural fit. Natural that is for a man who was fully aroused with no where to go. "So what do you want for breakfast?" he asked, quickly changing priorities but still hopeful of the possibilities. The possibilities didn't escape Scully either. She felt the hunger as she rarely had before, gnawing at her, tempting her. She knew exactly what she wanted from the man in her apartment. "There's pancake mix in that cupboard." she said as she licked her lips in anticipation. Then the Bad Girl made made her say "And don't forget the syrup. I want some thing sweet to start the day." Before Mulder could react, she dashed off to the bathroom, telling herself not to tease him like that. Using the bathroom with Mulder in the apartment was more awkward than she realized. In his insomniac wandering. Mulder had replaced the door knob but she couldn't shut the door or run the risk a re-run of last nights antics. Yet the thought of completing her personal business within ear shot of him was just as embarrassing. The old running water routine seemed like the best plan to camouflage her actions. That was until she found his wet boxer shorts in the sink. If his shorts were in the sink that meant he didn't have anything on under those close fitting jeans. The Scientific Scully was logically unimpressed. One thin layer of cotton was not a significant barrier to stand against his well demonstrated manhood and it's absence made no differences in his potential performance. The Bad Girl argued that it's absence made it easy for a simple `accident', like the one in the car the previous night, to reveal that manhood in full bloom. The Good Girl stayed silent, mortified by the entire topic. That and she really needed to relieve herself. So she set about her task only to be more mortified when she realized her panties were almost as wet as his shorts but not from a hot bath. There was no escaping the evidence. She was hot for him, her partner, Mulder. The man in the kitchen doing everything he could to please her. The man with maple syrup and a great imagination. The man who in her best fantasies would drive her into wild ecstasy, so intense she'd forget her worst realities. The Scientist said The Bad Girl jumped in. < You can't argue with that logic. Just go for it and see what arises. Or if you prefer, feel what arises.> The Good Girl was running out of places to hid. With that she marched into the kitchen, carrying his damp shorts like a flag that all her selves could rally around. Mulder felt a bewildering contentment, making Scully's breakfast after spending most of the night at her side. The cool smooth linoemum floor beneath his bare feet vaguely reminded him of the cool smooth skin of her back, where he touched her as he searched for his gun during their stake out. The hot flat surface of the frying pan made him think of all her `hot spots' he couldn't touch. As the thick, pale liquid spread across the heated area, he heard the faint sizzle and watched the liquid froth and bubble, until the mass began to firm and take form. He flipped it over and watched the mass rise as the pan readily gave its heat to the semi-solid spread across it. Finally it reached it's peak, and he thrust the spatula under it and carefully laid it on the plate, still steaming. It waited for her to consume it, covered with melting, sliding butter and thick sweet syrup. Mulder was getting very turned on by a pancake. "Mulder. " Scully called as she returned to the kitchen, breaking his domestic debauchery. His damp limp shorts dangled from her finger tips. "You need to hang this off something if you want it to dry. It might get a bit stiff if you just let it air dry. If I hit it with hot forced air, it should relax the material and soften up so it wouldn't be so uncomfortable." As she spoke, a dazed look came across his face. Something set him off again, but now as her eyes drifted down to his crotch, she knew only a few buttons on his fly held back the beast within. A very few very small buttons. And the material was already strained against them. He shifted nervously then by some mysterious force, the top bottom began to slide through the material and undid itself. Just then, someone came. There was a knock at the front door. "Agent Scully, it's AD Skinner. Can I come in?" Mulder became even more dazed so Scully quickly went to the door and opened wide for the large commanding figure of a man that she called `sir'. "What can I do to...for you, Sir?" she asked nervously. "I was trying to get a hold of Agent Mulder..." Skinner replied seriously then he noticed the shorts she was still carrying around. Then she noticed that he noticed and blushed bright. "Oh...I see...you already got a hold of him." he said harshly. Throwing the shorts towards the kitchen, Scully quickly explained "Agent Mulder left his keys and wallet in the stake out car last night. So I offered to let him stay here." "It appears he honored your offer." Skinner replied through pursed lips. Mulder tried to listen in but all he could hear was Skinner saying something about `on her' and `off her'. In a sincere gesture to protect her honor, Mulder came out to explain her offer. Unfortunately what Skinner saw, was Mulder buttoning his fly as he picked up his shorts as he walked out barefoot from the kitchen. Skinner thought to himself. "I'm sorry. Am I interrupting something?" Skinner said tactfully. Scully couldn't believe her partner's lack of good timing or good sense. "No !" she insisted. "Yes, you are..." Mulder contradicted "You're interrupting our breakfast." He smiled at Scully because he thought it was a clever comeback. She scowled at him because she thought it sounded like a bad innuendo. He continued despite her objections. "Would you like some coffee?" Scully remember what kind of coffee Mulder had made and tried to protect her boss from bodily harm. "Uh Sir, I don't think that's a good idea." Skinner assumed she was nervous about being `busted'. Either that or she was anxious to get back to her `breakfast'. "Don't worry. I can handle it." he said confidently. They all moved to the kitchen and Mulder poured Skinner a cup of the Cowboy coffee, which had been still sitting on the burner. Skinner took the hot cup, nevermind the handle, and swallowed a large gulp. "Not bad. For Camp Coffee. The stuff we made in `Nam could eat holes in sheet metal." Scully was amazed he could drink it without getting burned or poisoned. Mulder thought Skinner was challenging his manhood. "I could have made it stronger but I was making it for Scully." he said in defense. Skinner glanced at the untouched full cup on the table. "It was too hot for her." Mulder whined. Skinner took another gulp and said "It not the only thing too hot in here." Before Scully could protest, Skinner went to the range and turned down the burner. "Mulder, I assume you're the one cooking here." Mulder nodded and fidgeted with his shorts. Pointing at the pan, Skinner announced "You've got the damn thing too hot. When you cook the batter, it'll burn up before your done. You'll be stuck with a hard outside and a gooey mess in the middle." Skinner took off his coat, rolled up his sleeves and grabbed the pan handle "There, let me show you." Scully watched the large hands of her boss gingerly stir the batter as he remarked. "Mulder, you're beating it too much and too hard. You can't get a good rise out of this stuff." Before Mulder could protest, Skinner doctored the battered batter and let a few drops fall from the spoon on to the pan. He watched with a satisfied grin and whispered "Perfect." With a confident smooth movement, he laid the batter gently onto the pan, pulling back just at the right time. Unlike beginners, he resisted the urge to turn too early or to peek at what was happening on the bottom. He sensed the perfect moment to deftly flip the pancake with just a twist of the wrist. He wiped his brow as he came to the perfect finish. He slid it off the pan on to the plate then handed it Scully. She tasted it without hesitation, not even stopping to add syrup. It was the best pancake she ever had. Now Scully was getting turned on by pancakes. Too bad for Mulder, they were Skinner's pancakes. In an effort to regain his control Mulder asked "Sir, surely you didn't come here to make Agent Scully breakfast?" "What's wrong, Agent Mulder. Jealous?" Skinner said snidely. In fact, Skinner was very proud of his kitchen talents. Little did Mulder know, Skinner had considerable experience in cooking. For all her loveliness, Sharon couldn't cook and they would have starved when they were first married if he didn't learn to make something decent. Suddenly Scully realized Mulder was jealous but not of Skinner's culinary talents. Momentary taking a break from stuffing the wonderful pancakes in her mouth, Scully turned to Skinner and said "Sir, I thought you said you wanted Agent Mulder?" Skinner frowned and said "But he doesn't want any pancakes. Oh...that's right!" Skinner reached into his pants and pulled out Mulder's personal treasures - his keys and wallet. "Here" he said as he handed him the items. "I told them it was a private vehicle so they completed the forensic collection last night. I have the name of a Ford Dealer that will replace the windows and bill the Bureau. He can't get to it until Monday so you may as well leave it at the impound yard until then." "Thank you, Sir." Mulder mumbled as he sheepishly took the keys. Here, Skinner was trying to be nice and all Mulder was thinking of was flattening that bald head like one of his pancake with a frying pan. Scully turned back to Skinner "Sir, have you been working on this case all night?" He nodded sternly. "Would you like to lie down in my bed?" she offered innocently as Mulder began to panic. she thought Skinner thought for a moment Regarding the anxious look Mulder gave his partner, he thought <...some closer than others.> "No thanks, Agent Scully. But I would like to use your bathroom to freshen up some." Scully pointed the way and he quickly left the room. She had just started to focus on Mulder again when she realized she had sent Skinner to her bathroom from hell without warning him. Skinner had just settled down to finish his business, when Scully frantically pounded the door. "Sir, I forget to warn you. This door gets stuck sometimes. Should I try to open it?" "NOT NOW!" Skinner roared. "If I need help, I'll let you know." Scully went back to the kitchen where Mulder had started to eat some of Skinner's pancakes, covered in butter and syrup. "These really are good." he said with a full mouth. She sat absent-mindedly next to him and took a sip from her coffee cup, which had cooled considerably. To her surprise, the coffee wasn't bad at all. She smiled at him to express her approval. As he smiled back, she noticed some stray syrup dripping from his chin. She licked her index finger and used it wipe the sweet fluid from him. He froze as he watched her place the finger back into her mouth and sucked softly. To add emphasis to the effect she closed her eyes and she heard Mulder's moan muffled by a mouth full of masticated pancakes. Scully knew precisely what she was doing to her partner. But she also knew it wouldn't go any further. As much as they loved teasing each other, their friendship was like the coffee - best enjoyed when it was allowed to cool to the proper temperature. Not too hot but not too cold neither. As she opened her eyes and laughed, as if to say `Got you!', he knew too. Mulder smiled back as he smeared syrup across his lips with a leering playful grin. She obliged by standing close to him, pressing her chest against his and wiping the syrup off with his damp boxer shorts. He pulled back, grabbed the shorts and threw them across the room. Then he laughed and hugged her tightly. That unspoken bond between them could stand the strain of arguments, philophosical differences, half unbuttoned tight jeans, and power breakfasts. Scully gave him a gentle kiss on the top of his head and laughed again. "Sorry, I couldn't help it. I'll wash your shorts and bring them to the office on Monday." Mulder let go of her and shook his head "You don't think that will start some rumors? Tell you what - wash them but keep them here. You never know when I might have another accident." "Or when I'll have to shoot you again." she added. "You should always have clean underwear when you go to the Emergency Room." He looked down at his jeans. "Or at least some underwear." They laughed again only to be interrupted by a loud roar from down the hall. Skinner was shouting "Stop fooling around and open this damn door!" Mulder and Scully stood side by side and pushed in unisons. In one thrust, the barrier flew open. A flustered Skinner emerged, handed her the knob which he pulled off trying to get out and growled "Agent Scully, unless you want to be accused of unlawful imprisonment, I'd advise you to repair that door." He grabbed his coat and grunted a farewell. "Excuse me, Sir?" Mulder asked "Can you give me a ride home? I' ve already imposed so much on Agent Scully." "Come on." Skinner grumbled. <`Imposed?' Is that what their calling `it' these days? I need to get out more.> Mulder looked at his partner and brushed her cheek with the back of his hand. "Thanks. For everything you've done for me tonight." he said softly. She took his hand in hers and said "Thank you. For everything you haven't done." Skinner asked impatiently "Are you coming?" "No." Mulder replied wistfully. "I'm going." then followed Skinner out the door. That afternoon a package arrived at Mulder's apartment. It contained two Japanese style tea cups, unusual in that they had English style handles on them. Enclosed was a note which read... " It is wise not to handle anything so hot it might harm you. But sometimes even if it is too hot to bring it to your lips and drink, it still has an essence worth savoring. That's why they added the handles - to bring the cup close enough to enjoy the experience without getting burned. We must decide at what point it's safe to take a drink. We can wait for the cup to cool or we can learn to enjoy the heat. If we try to drink too soon, there's always the handle, and we can take small sips without harm. Mulder, I know it's a strange analogy but you and I are not unlike the cups. A matched pair for a matched purpose. What we hold within may be different but we remain together because we want to share our differences. Sometimes we need `handles' if things become too extreme. We are `hot' by nature, intense individuals, stubborn and proud, but still wanting to share what we can. Maybe someday, as our mutual trust and caring develops, we can leave the `handles' behind but for now, that's us - 2 , Hot, 2 Handles. From one `hot' partner to another " Scully sat in her car and watched the delivery boy exit from Mulder's apartment building . She waited a few minutes for him to read the note then called. "Mulder, it's me." He was silent for a moment then she saw him look out the window and wave to her. "I just got a couple of fancy tea cups. How'd you like to stop by and help me break them in? I promise not to burn you this time." She smiled as she got out of the car."You read the note, Mulder. You can never be too hot to handle." END ___________________________________ Please don't ask for another sequel. They get progressively worst as I grind a theme into the ground. On the other hand if you actually like this ramble, let me know and I'll consider where they can go next. How about "2 Good 2 Bee True" and I can toss in Uni-Blond and Rat Boy? Just kidding (I Hope....) All comments should be forwarded to shinkai@mlode.com