From: ephemeral@ephemeralfic.org Date: 17 Nov 2005 19:14:20 -0000 Subject: Alphabet Soup: F is for Foundation by YappiChick Source: direct Reply To: yappichick@yahoo.com Title: Alphabet Soup: F is for Foundation E-mail: YappiChick@yahoo.com Summary: What if Scully did leave to become a doctor? Feedback: Would it help if I said "please"? Website: http://www.geocities.com/yappichick Rating: PG Spoilers: Fight the Future, The End Category: MSR, Angst Disclaimer: Not mine, never will be... Author's Note: This is 6th in a series. You should start at "A" and work forward! :) F is for Foundation YappiChick@yahoo.com Mulder dribbled his basketball on the floor of his apartment. He knew Ms. McMolly, his downstairs neighbor, would be banging on the door in five minutes, but he couldn't help himself; he was bored. The morning was spent catching up on errands. He made a trip to the dry cleaners, laundromat and grocery store followed by several household chores that included cleaning his apartment from top to bottom. He checked his email, paid his bills, and called the guys to set up a time to meet up for cheese steaks. He ate a late breakfast, which he made from scratch and had even washed the dishes he used. And it wasn't even noon yet. Mulder was trying to keep himself from replaying last night's kiss over and over. So far, he had been mildly successful. The fact that it was Scully who initiated the kiss was significant to him. She didn't do it out of desperation, like he had earlier in the summer. Instead, it was because she wanted to do it on her own free will. While part of him still desperately wanted Scully back by his side at work, most of him was eager to see how Scully the potential girlfriend would be. Mulder knew as long as she was with him, work or no, he was a lucky man. He paused for a few seconds as he thought back to Scully leaning into his personal space. The way those soft, silky lips looked, just a breath's distance from his own. The tightening of his stomach in anticipation of what was going to come. The feeling of her lips finally caressing his own--Mulder pulled himself short. He knew if he allowed himself, he would swallow her whole: body, heart and soul. On the flip side, he understood her need for space. Nothing was ever easy for them; this change in their relationship would be no different. Mulder glanced at his watch; only two minutes had passed. He needed to get his mind off Scully. Quickly. Before he could attempt to make any plans for the rest of his day, his cell phone rang. "Mulder," he answered. "Mulder, it's me," came the familiar response. He put down his basketball and leaned against the back of the couch. Maybe thinking about his favorite redhead would be a good thing. "Hey Scully," he said with a faint smile. "I was wondering if I could meet you over at your place instead you coming by mine." He wondered why Scully would change plans. Usually if he tried to do it, she would be ticked at him all day. Perhaps she couldn't get her mind off a particular subject either, he hoped. Out loud he said, "Mi casa es su casa. What time do you want to come over?" "In about an hour. That should give you enough time to clear off your coffee table." He looked at his freshly scrubbed apartment. "Oh ye of little faith, I'll have you know I put Cinderella to shame this morning. I don't think this place has ever looked better." Mulder could imagine her eyebrow going up. "Been busy this morning, have you?" "I've been trying to," he admitted. "Oh really? Why would you want to do that? Something on your mind?" she answered with a smile in her voice. Scully being playful was something Mulder wasn't accustomed to. He wished he saw more of this side of her. Maybe with all the changes between them he would, he thought hopefully. "Yeah, well, I keep on replaying one part of last night over and over." "I know," she agreed softly. Was it him or did her voice just get more...sexy? "It was unforgettable. I just can't seem to think of anything else." Mulder reminded himself to breathe. "Yeah," was the only word his brain could come up with to say. "I mean, Lucille's ribs. They are to die for." He let out a small laugh of disappointment. "You are a wicked woman, Scully." He paused for a second. "Why did you want to come over so early anyway?" She paused for a moment, almost as if considering whether or not to tell him. Finally she answered, "My job situation has possibly changed. I thought I should fill you in on what's going on." His stomach fluttered. Despite the progress he thought he had made, he still didn't like to think about Scully not being his partner anymore. "Ok, sounds good." He hoped he sounded more sincere than he felt. "It will be all right, Mulder. We're still in this together, remember?" He didn't trust himself to say anything other than, "Sure, Scully." Mulder heard her take a long, deep breath, a sure sign she was getting ticked at him. "We'll talk when you get here," he said, clicking off the phone before she could say anything else. An hour. He had a feeling that unlike this morning, the time would pass quickly. It was almost an X-File, he thought wryly. * * * * * The knock on his door was soft; it was a complete opposite from what Mulder was expecting. Hell hath no fury like a pissed Scully, he thought. He walked to his door and opened it for her. She looked at his face. Apparently finding what she was searching for, she continued inside his apartment. "I'm not mad at you, Mulder." He was still surprised how everyone thought he wore an expressionless face, yet Scully was always managed to see past that. "I didn't say you were." She shot him an "oh please, Mulder" look and walked into his living room. "Mom called me this morning with an offer," she said, going right to her point. "Father McCue knows another priest, Father Downs, in the area who runs a clinic for people who don't have insurance. Apparently, they are rather short staffed. When Father McCue mentioned me returning back to medicine, Father Downs asked if I would be interested in taking a position there." "What did you say?" "That I would have to think about it. I wanted to talk it over with you first." Mulder couldn't mask the look of surprise on his face. This woman, who had made every decision on her own for years, was looking for his input? He could hardly believe it. "I think you should take it, if you want," he said, knowing it was what she wanted to hear. "I do. I think it would be a great opportunity. When we are able to mass produce the vaccine, we would be reaching a part of the population that would have no chance of surviving otherwise," she explained. He noted her determination. There was no "if we get a vaccine", nothing other than success was acceptable to Scully. "If you already knew your answer, why are you asking me?" She sat on his couch. "Because your opinion matters to me and I want to see where you stand on this whole issue." It looked like she had more to say. "And?" Mulder prompted. Scully looked in his eyes and spoke softly, "Ahab told me something when I was young and it stayed with me. He said, 'The person who loves you doesn't have to always agree with you, but they should always respect you.'" "So, you're wanting to know if I love you?" he asked incredulously. "No," she said quickly, color flooding her cheeks. "But, I do want to see if this relationship is as important to you as it is to me." Mulder quickly joined her on the couch. "Scully, I can assure you that there is nothing more important. It's going to take me some time to get use to, but I know we are still fighting the same fight together, just in a different way. And, hell, I'd be lying if I said I didn't want you back in the Bureau, but I understand why you needed to leave there too." She gave him a suspiciously watery smile. "Thanks, Mulder." He put his arm around her. Despite the oddness, it felt good to have her so close. "Those guys won't even know what hit them. Mighty Mulder and Super Scully will win this battle." She leaned into his shoulder. "It's about time we do."