From: DnaMulder@aol.com Date: Sun, 2 Jan 2000 12:23:13 EST Subject: Story for Gossamer Source: direct Title: Discovered Secret Author: Tracy Winston Rating: Not Rated Spoilers: Fight the Future-but if you haven't seen it, how can you be a fan of the show? It just isn't right! Keyword: UST to MSR Disclaimer: As my psychologist says, Fox Mulder and Dana Scully do not belong to me. They belong to Chris Carter, FOX, and each other : ) Feedback: Yes, please do! FBI Headquarters 8:50 a.m. "Why can't Mulder be more organized," Scully asked herself as she desperately searched their basement office for the paperwork on their previous case. Mulder was off somewhere--probably going to search a lead, half cocked, without me, again, she thought--so he was of no help. Finally giving up to the dozens of piles of paperwork and other junk, she decided that she would just go to Skinner's office and request a second copy. Sure, she would look foolish"because of Mulder, yet again"but at least she would have that paper for documentation. Once near Skinner's office, she was able to see Kimberly, Skinner's secretary, rushing around, trying to get things in order. "Skinner must be out, or she'd never let him see her like this,=99 she thought to herself with a smile. Her thoughts were cut off by Kim seeing her. "Agent Scully, is there anything I can help you with?" "Well, I was really looking for AD Skinner, but would you happen to have any paperwork from-" The busy secretary cut her off. "Agent, any documentation on your and Agent Mulder's work is right over there; feel free to take them back down to your office. They seem to have accumulated over the last year or so." Shocked by the fact that she and Mulder had let it stay there for that long, but not letting it be noticeable, she picked up the two foot pile and proceeded to take it down the hall to the elevator, and then to their office. Once there, she realized that Mulder was there. Taking two more steps, she heaved the paperwork onto her desk, while Mulder didn't even look up from his computer screen, until he heard the sound of the papers landing on he desk. "Gees, Scully, what's with all the paperwork? They giving it away upstairs?" "Good morning to you, too." "Sorry I'm late, but I got an-" "Another lead," she finished for him. "And just how did this lead end, Mulder? Did you find what they said you would find?" The look on his face was classic. "Right. Well, while you were out, I had to deal with your 'organization.'" "It works for me," he half-jokingly used to defend himself. "Whatever you say. But anyway, since I couldn't find what I was looking for here, I had to go to Skinner's office. Apparently, he decided to take the day off or something, and she was reorganizing the place. There was what Kimberly says is about a year's worth of paperwork and documentation for our cases that had been accumulating." She paused to sit down at her desk with a cup of coffee and took a few papers into her lap. "And *I* am the one that gets to go through it all." "Well I could-" "No, I'll do it for now. But I'll give you some later when you look like you are starting to slack off." At that she smiled. With that, they both sat at their desks for a while, quietly going over whatever they had to go over. About three files from the top, Scully came over a file that she hadn't seen before. From the date on it, it was turned in a little after the Antarctica incident. Flipping through it, she found a report, written by Mulder, describing what happened once he was aware of Scully's whereabouts. Attached to it was an expense report. What she saw there made her choke on the bit of beagle she had just put in her mouth. "Scully?" He looked up to see her looking over a file, and choking on something. He rushed over immediately. While she made small flailing movements with her arms, he came up behind her to help her dislodge the food. Getting it out and into a tissue, she took another sip of her coffee. Rubbing her back, he asked, "God, Scully, you okay?" She started to nod, but then asked, "Mulder, did you file a report after the thing in Antarctica?" Confused of where this came from, and a bit nervous about what she was asking, he nodded. "Because I was just going through here," she pointed to the pile, "and found that report." "Is there something wrong with it?" "No, it's just that I found this expense report attached to it, and it says here, that you spent," she looked to double check her numbers, "about seven hundred and fifty-thousand dollars trying to save me." She paused to look up into his eyes. What she saw there she couldn't identify. "Well, I, uh, I had to get to you, Scully, so, I took whatever measures I could." Thrown aback a bit by his words, she looked down at the file in her hand. "What it also says is that you paid for most of it out of your own pocket." At that, he suddenly found his feet extremely interesting and stared at them like they would give him a way to get out of this. "As I said, I just had to get to you, and I, uh, didn't have much time. I just couldn't see myself without you. I *had* to get to you." She looked back at him, and put her hand on his left cheek. In doing so, she was able to see that tears had formed in his eyes and that they were now spilling down his cheeks. "Oh, Mulder." At that, she pulled him into her arms. It was only a second before his arms were wrapped around her waist, holding her to him like she could be taken away with a simple breeze. Struggling only slightly to get a bit of air, she put her arms around his waist, as well. With his face down on her shoulder, face turned to her neck, he began to quietly sob. Even muffled by her hair, Scully could make out words that he barely managed to get out. "I had to get to you, but I couldn't find you. No one was listening to me, said that it would take time, but I didn't have time. I had to find you. But it was *so* cold, I had to look harder, more snow, less time. I was so scared. I couldn't find you, Dana, I couldn't." Not saying anything about the uncommon use of her first name, she finally spoke up. "But you *did* find me, Mulder, you did. You were able to find the vaccine and my location, and then you practically walked on water to get to me. You saved me, for the *billionth* time. It took every source you had to do it, but you *did* do it." She paused upon finally realizing something. "And I never thanked you for it." He leaned back a bit, but kept his arms around her, as she did he. "Dana, you don't have to thank me for *anything*. It had to be done; you can't be taken from me without me putting up a fight. I owe you, your mother, and your brothers that much." Wiping a drying tear away from under his left eye, she said, "First, Mulder, you don't owe *anyone*anything* except to be yourself, how ever troublesome that may be." At that, she got a smile, which she returned. "All *I* ask is that you not ditch me as much and agree with me once in a while." Not allowing him to argue, which he had just opened his mouth to, she raised her left hand to his face and held it over his mouth. "We can talk about *that* later. We seem to have covered a lot of bases all ready today, and we don't need another. Agreed?" At that he nodded and kissed her hand that was still over his mouth. Taking her hand from his lips, he put it in his right and intertwined their fingers. "I have an idea." Mesmerized by the feeling of his hand and hers together, she replied with, "Mmm. And what would that be?" "Well, Kimberly said that Skinner wasn't going to be in today, right?" When she nodded, he continued. "So, why don't you and I take the day off? We could take some time to relax after all that gone on recently, and to discuss your recent discovery. Sound good to you?" "Mulder, that sounds like the best idea I've ever heard." *****THE***END***** Hey, what'd you think? Should there be a part two? Should I add what they do on their day off? Well, I can't get you answer telepathically!! Write feedback! I'm here at DnaMulder@aol.com. Thanks for reading!