From: "The Fox" Date: Sat, 29 Dec 2001 22:45:59 +1100 Subject: xfc: NEW: The Comfort Zone by The Fox Source: xfc TITLE: The Comfort Zone AUTHOR: The Fox E-MAIL: xmarksthespot8@hotmail.com SPOILERS: Through S7, references to Millennium and Fight The Future RATING: PG-13, some profanity DISCLAIMER: Of course they don't belong to me. I know that. We all know that. I just like to have fun with them. SUMMARY: Mulder POV. Contemplating on New Year's Eve. AUTHOR'S NOTES: This is my second attempt at fanfiction. Thanks to all the positive feedback I received, I'm trying my hand at this short one. You guys are great for my ego! Hope this one stands up to your expectations. Happy New Year! XXXXXXXXXXXXXX The Comfort Zone by The Fox Washington D.C. FBI Headquarters Hoover Building December 31 Busted! Shit! I guess if I stare too much, it's inevitable. Sometimes I do that, just watch Scully as she hunches over her computer or some file that we're working on. She has this intense look on her face, her brows sometimes crease with concentration and she either chews on her bottom lip or has this slight pout. Her lips. Jesus. Today, she just seems to be licking them a lot. Maybe it's the heater in the basement that's causing dryness in the air. Her lips are one of the most intriguing parts of this woman. Well, apart from her sparkling blue eyes, her silky auburn hair, her petite frame.... Okay, well, just about all of her is pretty intriguing, but her lips are a real turn on. She is a beautiful woman, no doubt. Her lips are full and almost always in a pout. When she smiles, which is way too seldom, it can knock me right on my ass. Sometimes I'll find myself trying to think of ways to make her smile, not just a curl at the corners of her mouth, either - a real full-on smile, teeth and all. If I can actually get her to laugh, I know I'm going to have a great day. Staring at her lips has just gotten me busted. Watching her moisten them with her tongue is fascinating. I caught myself thinking of what it would be like to moisten them with my own tongue and now... Down boy! Not now! And now, she's caught me staring at her, so I stick a pencil in my mouth, chew on the end, place a file on my lap to cover the erection, my legs are sprawled on the corner of my desk, leaning back in my chair and feign boredom. "What?" She places her reading glasses on the open file in front of her. Her head is turned slightly, resting on her hand, elbow on the desk, and looking at me expectantly. "What?" I return her question. "That was my question, Mulder. You obviously have something to say, isn't that why you've been staring for the last half hour?" Has it been that long? Probably longer, but she hasn't noticed that. "I haven't been staring, Scully. I've been thinking." "Aah. And you happen to be thinking in this particular direction?" "Exactly. I usually get my ideas from staring at the wall behind you, and you're actually in the way." Pretty lame, but it works. She smiles and shakes her head, returning to the file before her. It's not actually a lie. I have been thinking, and not just about her lips. It's New Year's Eve and I've been thinking about this time last year. We'd fought the Millennium Group, both of us almost losing our lives and not just to the impending Armageddon. I think that's why I actually faced my own fears and cowardice to kiss Scully. The thought of the end of the world and not having even kissed the woman that I'm madly in love with was overwhelming. I would have preferred to make love to her, but I think that would have been slightly inappropriate. I was surprised when Scully hadn't pulled away from my advance. Since then a year has passed and my cowardice has returned. I know I love her, wouldn't be able to live without her but the sense to protect her is always blinding me. If others were to discover what she means to me they could use it against us. They would hurt her just to inflict damage on me and to the X-Files. Of course, Scully means more to me than the X-Files, but THEY don't know that. I think. After Dallas and Antarctica, I'm not entirely sure. Maybe they used Scully then to find out just what our relationship is. Christ, even I don't know! Maybe this is all part of my paranoia. Scully deserves better than that, better than me. I've actually watched and waited and dreaded for the day that she would find some man to take her away from all this, from me. There hasn't been anyone. There was some interest but nothing more. Some of that interest may have been repressed by yours truly stepping in, threatening body actions suppressing any other male preening his feathers before her. Pitiful, I know, but effective and selfish. I have no idea what I'd do if she actually did find someone. She's the reason I live. I know that Scully loves me, but I don't think she's in love with me. It's not often she displays her feelings and I guess that's how she's been inflicted with the 'Ice Queen' label. Now and then I receive a glimpse of the inner Scully and it makes me wonder if she has deeper feelings for me and I find myself hoping. Then I realize what I'm hoping for and a pang of guilt washes over me. She deserves better. I want to tell her how I feel, though I think it's been hanging on my sleeve for so many years, it may be obvious without saying a word! If I tell her, I may scare her away, especially if she doesn't reciprocate my feelings. Why would she? She's too intelligent to even think about being with someone like me. I know that there's betting going on within the Bureau, has been for some time, probably since we were assigned together. I can't help the way I act around her or the way I look at her and that in itself is probably how the speculations started. I probably stand too close to her when we talk and constantly touch her. That's just the way I am -- with her. Are we or aren't we? That's the question I overhear at the Bureau, sometimes in a hallway, sometimes passing an office. Christ, I'd like to know! "Mulder?" Fuck! I've been doing it again! Staring at her and she's not going to take my bullshit now. She's giving me her arched eyebrow, so I know I've got to say something and not just give her a lame excuse or some sexual innuendo. "Mulder, you obviously have something you want to talk about. Do you want to discuss this case report?" "No. I think you've been very thorough, Scully." I start tapping my pencil on the file. I have these habits that give me away, especially to Scully. After almost seven years together I think we can read each other's body language well. Too well, sometimes. "Okay..." Scully sets her glasses aside again. This time she folds her arms and swivels her chair so now her entire body's turned to face me. "You have my full attention now, Mulder. Tell me." "What is it you think I have to tell you?" Sometimes I surprise myself. "Mulder..." "Okay." I better be truthful. "I was thinking that today's New Year's Eve." "And?" I receive another raised eyebrow. "And...considering last New Year's Eve's events..." Scully turns back to her desk. Shit! Maybe it's something she wants to forget. I continue anyway. "I was just wondering if you had plans." She's not answering, just straightening the file. "Scully?" "No plans, Mulder." She sets the file aside and is now scanning her e-mails. There is no emotion in her face so I can't read it. "There's a party..." "I hate the parties they hold here each year. I went the first year I was appointed at Quantico..." "You only went once and you judge every one since then by that one time?" "I didn't say I went once." "You went other years?" "I was about to say... no, forget it. They're just an excuse to get drunk, fabricate stories and everyone feels compelled to licentious remarks." "Whoa, Scully! Is that what you got up to?" I can't help but chuckle. "That's the reason I don't go." "Who made the remarks?" Must've been hurtful remarks because she doesn't answer the question and looks back at the desk. Jesus, maybe some were in reference to me. I could kick their ass. I could kick my own for laughing. "Well, what's YOUR opinion on the FBI parties?" She's still looking at her desk. "I wouldn't know. I've never been to one." This catches her attention. "Never?" "No. And from what you've just told me, I don't think I want to. That's not the party I was referring to anyway." "I always thought you hated parties." "It's not the party, just the company." "Oh really?" "Yes, really. Wanna go?" "I'm flattered you consider me 'company'." She's smiling now. "Always, Scully. So, you wanna go?" "Depends on where it is." "Does it matter?" She regards me with another arched eyebrow. "Scully, 'the company not the party', remember?" I can't believe she's still smiling and considering my proposition. "It's the Gunmen, isn't it?" She's turned off her computer. It must be after five. I guess I've just lost track of time. "What makes you think they'd be having a party?" "Mulder, is it or isn't it? Can't you just answer rather than reciprocate with another question?" "Do I?" I can't help myself. "Mulder!" She's standing now and reaching for her coat. If I don't say something now, she's going to leave. Maybe I should let her go. I know I'm a fool and I give in to my selfishness. "Scully, it's not the Gunmen. I was thinking of just going into town. Party on the streets of D.C." She's folding her coat over her arm. "That's a lot of people for company, Mulder." "But you're the only one I'll know. Just my company." "Noisy." "I thought maybe it'd be within your comfort zone." "My 'comfort zone'?" "Yeah. Just in case you didn't want to be caught alone with me." "Why wouldn't I?" "You would?" Is she throwing an innuendo at me? My groin's stirring again. "Mulder, do you want me to go with you or not?" "I can't think of anyone else I'd rather kiss on New Year's Eve. Somehow I can't think of the Gunmen that way." I go with something comical so that it's not going to be too intense for her. I really don't want to scare her. She's opening the door. Fuck! I've blown it! Why can't I keep my big mouth shut for once! "Pick me up at eight, Mulder. Maybe we can get a bite to eat before the festivities start." She turns and smiles before leaving me alone to pick up my jaw from the floor. "And Mulder, nothing garlicky. I'd rather not taste that on you for New Year's Eve." XXXXXXXXXXXXXX The Comfort Zone Part 2 by The Fox "Hey, Scully, check that out!" I point to the sky above us as an early firecracker explodes, illuminating the night in bright colors. Scully's face tilts upwards, a smile forming on her lips. At this moment, I can forget about the hundreds of people milling about, jostling us with their incessant movements in the street. I am focusing on this one person; this one very beautiful woman by my side on the streets of the Old Post Office, Washington D.C., her blue eyes reflecting the colors in the sky. She catches me staring at her, but this time I don't mind. I want her to know that she has my full attention, above the firecrackers or the festivities around us. I want her to know that I feel blessed that she has chosen to be with me right now to ring in the New Year, that at this moment I couldn't be happier. "What, Mulder?" Her voice is soft and I have to lean closer to hear her. I don't mind. "Does there have to be a reason, Scully?" "You're doing it again." "Doing what?" "Answering my questions with a question." "And that's a bad thing?" "It can get annoying." "Are you trying to tell me something, Scully?" I guess I'm just too good at this. "Mulder..." "Sorry, I couldn't resist. I was just thinking..." "Now, that can be dangerous." She releases a laugh, almost inaudible with the din surrounding us. I laugh along with her. Good one, Scully. "I suppose it can be. I was thinking that it's pretty ironic you being here with me." "Oh? Why's that?" "Well, you're an intelligent, beautiful woman..." I notice she's blushing. Her fair skin gives her away every time. "Mulder..." "Scully, take a compliment for once, especially one that's true." She glances at her gloved hands and lifts those alluring blue eyes to mine. "Thank you." "I'm just at a loss as to why you're not... with some one right now." "I am." "You know what I mean. You deserve so much more than this. So much more..." "Mulder," she grabs my hand, "stop it. This is what I want to do. No one is forcing me to do anything I don't want to. I want to be here... with you." At this moment, hearing her words, I'm more than happy. I'm ecstatic. I'm probably grinning like an idiot but I don't care. Scully's with me. She wants to be with me. I'm so elated that I hadn't noticed Scully's shivering. We're both wearing long coats, but I have a turtleneck sweater and jeans on underneath but Scully only has a flimsy sweater and skirt on. I pull her toward me and wrap her within my coat. She doesn't pull away and I'm a little surprised as I feel her hands working their way around my waist. I rub her back and hold her tighter under my coat. I hear her sigh. "Scully, are you coming on to me?" I intend this to lighten the situation so she has plenty of opportunity to escape. "Yes, Mulder, I am." Jesus. I'm stunned and speechless for once in my life. Scully tilts her head back and locks her eyes with mine, a mischievous grin playing at her mouth. At the same time the crowd joins in the countdown. I tune it out and focus only on the upturned face before me. Nothing really matters but this moment. I let instincts take over and lean in to taste those pout lips, fireworks erupting overhead. I recall last year's kiss but it can't compare to this. Her body is tight against mine, enveloped in my coat and the kiss is not chaste by any means. She parts her lips and I take that as an invitation and slip my tongue in to taste the velvet of the inside of her lower lip. She greets me with her own tongue and an inadvertent groan escapes me. I can't help the stirring in my groin. I shift slightly, not sure if Scully can feel my growing hardness. She's pressed so close to me, sliding her hands along my back. We part briefly for air before she attacks my lower lip. God, I had no idea this petite woman could do this! It's been worth the wait. "Mulder..." It sounds more like a whisper into my mouth. "I think you're warm enough." She kisses the corner of my mouth and shifts in my arms. Shit! She has noticed. My body has betrayed me. I clear my throat and see if I can save this moment. "We missed the countdown." "No, Mulder, we didn't." That mischievous grin is back. "I think they'll show re-runs on TV, don't you? How about we ring in the New Year at my place?" I nod, not really sure that I heard her correctly. I could get used to this. I am considered to be a true believer in the unexpected and I'm ready to go into un-chartered territory as long as Scully is with me. XXXXXXXXXXX The End