From: Dasha Date: Thu, 2 Mar 2000 19:10:20 -0700 (MST) Subject: After Hours (1/1) Source: xff TITLE: After Hours (1/1) AUTHOR: Dasha Briqueleur EMAIL ADDRESS: redfox@holly.colostate.edu DISTRIBUTION STATEMENT: Archive anywhere, just let me know, so that I may bask in the glow of my achievements. =) SPOILER WARNING: The Field Where I Died, A tiny one for Pilot, I think that's it. RATING: PG, I guess, though it's really not any worse than prime time TV CONTENT WARNING: Some swearing, some angst, a little sexual tension CLASSIFICATION: V, and a little R SUMMARY: Scully thinks about her feelings for Mulder, takes place a bit after The Field Where I Died, not for no-romos, sorry Disclaimer: Scully, Mulder, not mine, Chris Carter's, Fox's, 1013's, but one day, Mulder will be mine, oh yes, he _will_ be mine *Maniacal laughter* Er, I mean, uh, just kidding, I'll have them back on your desk in the morning Mr. Carter After Hours Part One: Scully "Girl, you gotta love your man." -The Doors Dana Scully sat alone in the office she shared with her partner. It was silent except for the clatter of pencils dropping from the ceiling. (Damn him and that stupid habit, anyway. And where the hell is he? Probably at some bar; probably have to go and pick him up later.) She snorted and looked at the clock, eleven-thirty, time to call it a night. She sighed feeling a small stab of guilt for being so angry with Mulder, God knew he deserved to drink. He always seemed to take it so hard when these strangers died. Especially this time, though he barely knew Melissa Ephesian any better than any of the others. There was a connection between them lovers, in a past life. Scully frowned, as jealousy overtook her guilt, though she didn't know why. She could usually come up with a reasonable enough explanation to make sense if her partner's wild theories, but this was too much for her to swallow. He acted as though he were in love with a woman he had supposedly loved in a former life. (He was supposed to love _her_ dammit!) Scully pursed her lips together, irritated with herself. She rarely allowed herself to think that way; he was her partner for chrissakes. Not only could it cost her her job, it was simply taboo. Besides, he could have any woman he wanted. (Then why doesn't he, Dana?) Scully shook herself. She pulled her keys out of her pocket, barely recalling the ride home. She sorted through them. Her fingers rested briefly on the set marked "Mulder." She smiled ruefully, both loving and hating ever having heard of the X-files. She entered her apartment and thought of Mulder again, wishing she didn't always have to come home to a cold bed. She snorted and pushed the thought aside. Scully pulled on her comfy flannel pajamas, curled up on the couch with her book and began to read. "Oh," she gasped as he ran his fingers through her red hair. (Red?) "I've waited so long for this." "As have, my love, there is naught that could ever come between us, nor quench the raging fires of my passion for you." "Oh, Mulder, I love you." (Mulder? Dammit! Even in your fantasies you call him Mulder, Dana?) Scully sighed and closed the book; she wished she had a cigarette. Something, anything to help her relax. She rose and wandered about restlessly. Stared out the window for several minutes. She wandered back and forth, to the couch to the kitchen, her bedroom, the window, and back to the couch. The hours slid by and she was tired, beyond tired, almost too tired to sleep. Her body was weary, but her mind refused to stop. It replayed everything; from the first time she met him, ("Who did you tick off to get stuck with this detail?") to the tears in his eyes as he cried over the motionless form of Melissa. (What did she have that I don't? There was just something about him when he cried, she always wanted to reach out and...) No, wait, Scully shook herself. She felt like a teenager, gawky, hormonally out of control. She didn't know what to do with herself most of the time. She wondered if Mulder ever had nights like this. If he drank to forget more than his pain, if he could ever... The phone rang, causing her to start. Who could be calling at this hour? "Hello? Uh huh, okay, I'll be right there." She sighed if she didn't love that man so much she'd have to hate him. Scully dressed and grabbed her keys. The bar was downtown, just a few miles beyond what could be deemed scummy. She hoped the bartender has taken Mulder's keys so he wouldn't end up doing anything stupid. Scully drove as fast as she could and still avoid being pulled over. (Damn him!) He was going to end up with liver damage or worse, well, if he died... She shuddered at the idea. (What would you do if he _did_ die?) The bar was a dive, no, worse than a dive, (Was there a word for a place worse than a dive?) called the Kilmer. It had probably been a nice place once, but time, or something more cruel, had left it dingy and run down, in desperate need of a paint job. Mulder appeared out of the shadows of the doorway. (Dummy didn't even wear a coat.) He grinned blearily at her and walked towards the car. She popped the lock. "Don't you throw-up in my car." She warned. "'Kay." Mulder said softly, leaning his head against the window. She pulled away from the curb and drove into the quiet streets. Thunder sounded and rain began to fall, sheening the streets inky black. Scully switched on the wipers and glanced at her passenger, he was asleep. She smiled at him faintly, wondering why she bothered at all. (Because you love him, Dana.) No, because her was her partner, and partners always had each other's backs, right? (Keep telling yourself that, maybe it'll come true.) She sighed and glanced at him again. (What he doesn't know won't hurt him, right, Dana?) She rolled slowly to a stop in front of his building and reached over and shook him gently. "Mulder, wake up." She said, her voice low. He started. "Hmm" "Get out of the car, Mulder, you're home." She spoke a little more roughly than she intended. With some effort, he eased himself out of her car. She hurried to his side and he staggered into her. She fairly gasped at the press of his body against hers. (Steady girl) She swallowed and helped him into his building. He was heavy tonight, heavier than usual it seemed, but she managed. He stumbled into his apartment and dropped onto the couch. Scully helped him out of his blazer shoes and covered him with a blanket she managed to dig out of a closet. "Are you going to be okay?" She asked gently. (Now's your chance!) "Yeah." She turned to go. "Scully?" "Hmm?" (Go for it! There's no time like the present!) She looked at him. He grinned at her goofily. "Scully, I love you this much." He slurred, and sat up flinging his arms wide She froze. "Mulder, (I love you too!!) go to sleep." She quickly left the apartment and leaned tiredly against the door. (Dammit, dammit, dammit! Why can't you say it?) "I love you too." She whispered. (Too late now, Dana, you blew it again.) "He was drunk, he didn't mean it" She mumbled. Tears ran silently down her face as some part of her knew he did. She wiped them away and managed to compose herself enough to drive home. Barely though, she fairly trembled with the effort. Scully arrived home shivering with cold and misery. She was more than a little upset with herself. All she wanted to do was crawl into her warm (Cold) bed and forget it ever happened. After all, Mulder probably would. (What makes you think so?) She burst into fresh tears. Now she had hurt him on top of everything else. What the hell was wrong with her? She was waging war against herself, and losing badly. She was so tired. Scully finally gave in to her need for sleep and lay on her bed without even bothering to undress. She wrapped herself in her blankets, trying to chase away the cold and emptiness. Thankfully, sleep came quickly. Fox *************************************************** "You prescribed crystal meth for a toothache?" ***************************************************