From: Donna Honeycutt Date: Wed, 02 Aug 2000 08:14:37 -0400 Subject: New Story - Ditched II Source: direct Title - Ditched II Author - Donna Email address - donnah@pop.uky.edu URL - www.geocities.com/Area51/Quadrant/4571/ Rating - R Category - MSR Spoilers - None Keywords - MSR/angst Summary - Sequel to "Ditched for the Last Time" Feedback - Please Disclaimer - Mulder, Scully, the Lone Gunman and Skinner all belong to Chris Carter, 10-13 and Fox. No infringement intended. Ditched II He woke groggy and stiff. His mind automatically began searching his memories for why. As he tried to rise he groaned, oh yeah, he'd been stabbed. That memory came back and he rose more carefully. He eased his legs over the side of the bed. He was nude. What the. . . why were his boxers over there? He must have really been out of it. Oh yeah, those pills Scully gave him. Scully. A small smile formed as the dream came back to him. That had been one hell of a dream. His dreams of Scully had quite often been good before, this one had been excellent and damn real, if the sheets were any indication. He tested his ability to stand. Okay, if he took it slow. He headed for the shower. That did ease his stiffness. He reapplied his bandage and managed to dress slowly. He needed to check on Scully. She'd been furious with him last night. Not that he didn't deserve it. She had a valid point; if she'd been with him he probably wouldn't be hurt now. He glanced over at the connecting door. It was locked. He never did that. Oh yeah, another memory returning. He'd pushed her from the room, sending her away. She didn't want to ID his body. That memory stopped him in his tracks. ***** She woke slowly and stretched sensuously, her face flushing with the memory of last night. Had she really done that? Had she made love to Mulder? Had him at her mercy? Her blush deepened at the memory of him fully aroused and desiring her. And it had been her that brought him to that peak. Her name had been his only coherent uttering. She stretched again letting her hands run down her sides, cupping her own breasts and lightly brushing her nipples. She almost never slept nude, but last night she'd been completely wanton - not at all herself. She was already moist just from the memory. Okay Dana, time to get this under control. Last night was a one-time aberration. She'd just have to fuel her fantasies with the memory. The memory of him thrusting into her mouth renewed her blush. Now Dana! Get out of bed and shower. Last night is history, you have work to do and you have to face him. Get this under control. She showered and dressed, choosing a severe pantsuit to try to counteract her still raging libido. She was applying her lipstick when Mulder knocked on the connecting door. "Come on in, Mulder." He opened the door and struck his head inside, noting her suitcase on the rumpled bed and seeing her in the mirror of the bathroom. She turned to face him, capping her lipstick. "Are you okay?" "Yeah. You want some breakfast?" Damn he was having trouble looking at her; the dream was still that vivid. "Sure." She walked past him toward the door and her scent surrounded him. But it was just a dream, Scully would never . . . no. He shook his head and followed her outside. ***** He had trouble concentrating, the dream kept intruding. This was ridiculous, he'd had erotic dreams about Scully for years but they'd never interfered with his work before. They obtained permission for Scully to examine the man that had attacked Mulder and she trailed him to the cell. Standing at the entrance to the cell, Mulder turned to their escort. "Where's the man I brought in here last night?" "That's him. No one's been back here, not to see him, no lawyers, nothing." "That's not the man that stabbed me. He was larger, at least three inches taller." "Look, I wasn't on shift when he was brought in, but no one's been back here except to bring him breakfast. This is the guy I fed." "He was printed and photographed when he came in last night, I watched. Can I see those?" "Sure." The guard led them back out of the cell area and to the front desk. He rounded up the information they requested and left them alone with it in the interrogation room. After a few minutes Scully spoke, "I don't understand it. Someone had to have switched prisoners. We need the prints and photos on the man in the cell." When they could not be located, they were requested. The man in the cell was strangely subdued and did not protest the actions. Mulder would have been a great deal more aggravated if the memories of the dream had not kept intruding. Several times during the day he found himself looking at her, enjoying the sensations the memory aroused. When the prisoner's prints were brought in, Mulder leaned over them. "Scully, come here." She moved over to his side of the table to see where he was pointing. She leaned in closer and he leaned over her, at first to look more closely at the prints, but as his body loomed over hers he realized he was completely aware of the scent of her hair. It had been a dream, hadn't it? He shook his head to clear it. "Look at the prints." She was quiet a minute, then "Mulder, they're the same." "I know." "But he . . . the man in the cell is not the same man in the photos taken last night." "I know." ***** He tapped on the connecting door and at her answer opened it. She was lying on her stomach on the bed in her pajamas, poring over the file in front of her. When he entered she sat up and looked at him questioningly. "Everything okay?" "Yeah, I just needed a break from going over the stuff. The Day the Earth Stood Still is on cable." She smiled and looked down at the bed. "Nickto Barata Clackto, huh? You're not going off by yourself in the moonlight to see what's out there? Maybe find a little nest of werewolves or something?" "Do you think I'd ditch you, Agent Scully?" He asked in mock horror. Ah, the post-coital suggestion was holding. She looked down to hide her grin. "And why are you in here about the movie?" "Well, for one thing, your bed's cleaner. Wanna watch?" She put the file back together and closed it, patting the bed and shaking her head while she smiled at him. Last night had done her a world of good. He grinned and snatched the remote off the TV before joining her. He leaned back against the headboard, after adjusting the pillows and settled in to relax. She was sitting Indian style slightly apart from him, but totally aware of his presence sprawled on the bed beside her. She was already having trouble concentrating on the movie when he shifted over a little, closer to her. She said nothing, then felt his fingers trail down her arm. "Wouldn't you be more comfortable leaning back?" "Well, yeah, okay." He quickly pulled the other pillow out from under the bedspread and plumped it up for her. Placing it where her arm would be in contact with his. He couldn't know what had happened, she was pretty sure of that, but he was being awfully damn friendly. She did lean back against the pillow but at an angle that kept them still slightly apart. He was so smooth in his movements that if her body had not been on full alert she would have missed the motion that brought them back in contact. She almost said something when his arm went around her to pull her against him, but it was more comfortable and . . . oh shit, she'd been wanting to since last night. He made no comment, almost as though he didn't realize what he was doing. He was completely aware of what he was doing and had managed to hide the breath of relief when she accepted his arm around her. His body had been on overload around her all day. If he could have another dream like last night, he'd be so mellow he wouldn't mind going back into the sewer for another shot at the Flukeman. Too bad there was no way to get rid of his t-shirt, so that he could feel her skin against his. Whoa boy, back up. You had the dream, not her. When she comes to her senses you'll probably have a black eye anyway. He hesitated as she squirmed around, getting even more comfortable and shortly he realized she was asleep against him. Well, she'd probably not slept well last night - she'd been up late patching him up, and she was so angry with him that she might not have gotten to sleep even then. He took advantage of the fact she was unaware and nuzzled his nose into her hair. Yeah, he loved that smell. Watch it, guy, part of you is enjoying this way too much. He tried to shift his concentration back to the movie, though that did not relieve his physical problem. He finally slipped his hand into his sweats just to adjust himself. Everything was too tight. Bad idea, the dream was back in full force. Now should he curse his memory abilities or praise the gods for it? Well, she was asleep, as long as he didn't go too far. . . Does the term idiot mean anything to you? She shifted again in his arms and he jerked his hand from his pants, small beads of sweat appearing on his brow. She'd placed her hand on his chest and was talking in her sleep. He smiled gently when he realized she was still asleep then leaned in to listen to her voice. "Ditch . . . never . . . do you . . ." She cuddled in and her hand slid lower on his chest. His mind froze. Those were the same words. The same words as in his dream. Dream? It had been a dream; Scully would never. . . oh god! Had Scully? He shook his head, disturbing her slightly, not enough to wake her. With dawning realization, he knew what he had experienced had been no dream. It had happened! Scully had. . . He should be furious; she had drugged him and taken advantage of him. Hell, she'd raped him for all intents and purposes. If he'd done that he'd be facing 20 years to life. So why wasn't he furious? Because. . . because Dana Scully had done that to him. Dana Scully wanted him. His mind simply would not wrap around that concept. She had actually wanted him, his body. A woman like her, who could have any man she wanted, with him? The only thing he was truly upset about was that he hadn't been given the opportunity to reciprocate. Yet. But she hadn't wanted him to know. She had said absolutely nothing all day while he watched her and tried to curtail his fantasies. But she'd said she didn't want to ID his body. He had been sure she was leaving him forever. Even as he told her to go, he'd been terrified that she would. Okay, he hadn't felt that way when he woke, which was now a lot more understandable. She had never done anything like that before, at least with him. Had she? No, he would have known. His body would have known, like it had today. What would she do if he tried to kiss her? How was she going to react when she realized he remembered? That he knew? Would she be embarrassed? Relieved? Horrified? Please not that, not scared of him. How had he reacted? Had he talked? What had he said? At least he wasn't worried about having called out anyone else's name - hers was the only name that came to him when he . . . He'd learned to live with that guilt, since no one else provided the same relief. What would she do if he kissed her now, while she was asleep? Turn about was fair play, wasn't it? Hell, she didn't have a leg to stand on if she did get angry. She had started this. Cut the damn debate and do it, Mulder! He realized he was scared. How many women had he kissed in his life, with little or no feeling behind it? Now he felt like he was 14 years old and this was the first and most important kiss of his life. Well it was really, but after all these years he'd thought that he had a little more self- confidence than this. Go ahead, Mulder. You know how to do this. He leaned down and lightly brushed his lips across hers. She responded and encouraged he let the tip of his tongue touch her warm mouth. He nearly lost his courage when she opened her lips to him. But he couldn't resist, tentatively exploring her mouth; still afraid she would wake and quite possibly kill him for his actions. "Um, Mulder." She breathed when he pulled back for a breath. His name! She'd said his name! It was him she was kissing, even in her dreams. Now what should he do? She hadn't wanted him to know. He had to get out of here. He'd already gone too far - not as far as she'd gone, but too far nevertheless. He eased out of the bed, tucking her in and letting himself out of the room. No guilt tonight when he jerked off, she probably didn't realize she'd created a monster. ***** He managed to stay in his room until he heard her moving around the next morning. Couldn't go bursting in there and jump her while she was still in bed, no matter how much he wanted to. No, play it cool. She didn't want him to know, okay. She noted his demeanor over breakfast. He was in a better mood that she ever remembered seeing him. Had there been a break in the case and he was stringing her along? The guy was not a werewolf; she wasn't even going to go there. But where was that damn smile coming from? It made her want to smack him, she just couldn't decide with lips or hand. Watch it Scully, you're at work. "Scully, I want you to do a physical exam of the man we have in custody. See if there's anything abnormal about his spinal configuration or anything like that." "Mulder, he is not a werewolf." "I never meant to imply that he was. It's not a full moon and nothing has happened since he's been in jail. No one has tried to get him out, no visitors and he hasn't asked to make a phone call. He doesn't want out. Something out here is the problem and you saw the pictures and the fingerprints. We need a scientific explanation." She snorted, but didn't say no. He was right, nothing had happened since the man was placed behind bars. "What kind of abnormalities am I looking for?" "I don't know, something that would make the man taller, stronger - " "You want to know if he can `Hulk out'?" Mulder grinned, "Exactly." That earned him another snort and she turned away shaking her head. He watched her walk away, enjoying the sway of her hips, the muscles in her calves. He shook himself, not the best way to keep his mind on business today. Though staying in town a little longer was looking more appealing by the hour. That rapidly diminished as the day progressed. She took the examination very seriously, excluding him from the room. He could feel his mood plummet, as her professionalism never wavered. She didn't want him to know, had never wanted him to know what had happened. Could he live with that? Could he forget? No. Could he ignore it? It didn't look like it. Shit. Her findings were peculiar, which only irritated her more. And now Mulder was in a snit because she had kicked him out while she performed her examination of the prisoner. She returned to the examining room where the prisoner waited under guard. Scully stalked up to him, dismissing the officer. He was dressed now and seated on the table. He was watching her and seemed almost frightened. She slapped the palm of her hand on the examining table, causing him to jump. "Did you do it? Did you cut my partner?" "I don't know." He hung his head now. "What do you mean you don't know?" "Sometimes I . . . I black out. I wake up in strange places, like my cell here. I don't know if I stabbed him, but if I did, I'm sorry." "You're . . . you're sorry? What about the pictures - where's the man that Mulder brought in?" He shrugged, "I don't know." He hung his head. "Is it you?" A stupid question, but she was angry enough to ask it now. "I don't know." This time he looked up at her, fear plain in his eyes. "I hope not." That caused her to draw back. She studied the man closer. "What happens when you get angry, really angry?" He shuddered slightly and looked away, "I black out. That's when I wake up in strange places." "Are you on any medications?" He shook his head. "Therapy?" Again, no. "Are you willing to submit to a test?" He hesitated, obviously afraid. "Think about it. I'll go find my partner." She called the deputy back in and went to find Mulder. He was sitting in front of a computer, but when she looked at the monitor, the screen saver was dancing around. "Mulder?" That jerked him back to the present. He glanced at the screen, "Sorry." "Where were you?" "Doesn't matter. What did you find?" She looked at him closely. His mood had certainly changed. What was going on with him? Well, he wasn't going to speak apparently. "I want to run some tests. He's thinking about it." "What kind of tests?" ***** The transformation stunned them. Anger couldn't do that to a person, It had to be her imagination; the man couldn't have grown three inches in front of her. And his arms, they were bulging with muscles - they hadn't been. He'd been average just moments ago. The shock stole her advantage and before she could move he had grabbed her through the bars of his cell. She slammed into the metal, his arm across her throat strangling her. The other arm just below her breasts squeezing out what air she did have. "Scully!" She watched as Mulder reacted a second too late, reaching for his weapon. It wasn't there. They had both surrendered their guns before coming back here. Thank God they had, or she would already be dead, and probably him as well. "Let her go." Mulder put his hand on the officer's arm to forestall him drawing his own gun as the man's grip tightened around Scully's throat. Her vision was already turning red. His strength was incredible, how had Mulder managed to subdue him? "The bitch is gonna die. You all are!" Mulder saw her eyelids flutter as she began to lose conscious. She was becoming delirious. It looked . . . it looked as though Mulder had suddenly grown, looming over her as he charged the man, literally ripping the man's arms from her throat and body. She collapsed to her knees and heard the sound of flesh striking flesh and a body hitting the floor. Then Mulder's arms were around her, holding her. She had one hand on the floor, the other at her throat. "Let's get you out of here." He lifted her onto her feet. "Watch him." This was directed to the deputy who was staring at the cell in shock. He seated her at the desk, her breathing was returning to normal though bruises were already appearing on her throat. "Mulder, you're bleeding. You tore your wound open." She pulled his shirt open, only coughing a little now. "We need to get you patched up." "You should see a doctor." She chuckled, "We both should. Let's get out of here." He couldn't smile. The man had hurt her, nearly killed her and he'd been caught off guard. He managed to nod. She rose, this time helping him to his feet. ***** She led him into her room and seated him on her bed, pushing the blood stained shirt off of his shoulders. She removed the bandage and turned to get her supplies. His hand stopped her. "Why didn't you want me to know?" She looked at him puzzled. "Know what?" "What happened the other night. What happened in my room." Her eyes widened and tried to pull her arm away. "Scully." "I . . . I don't know what to say." "Do you want me to forget it? Because I don't think I can. He came close to killing you today and I was thinking that I'd never get the chance to tell you . . . to . . . Scully?" She looked like a deer caught in the headlights and his heart sank. "Look, I'm sorry." He rose from the bed and turned toward his own room. "Mul . . . Mulder, don't . . . "It's okay. I shouldn't have said anything. I know that's what you wanted." He opened the door and entered his room, shutting the door gently behind him. She sank onto the bed, his bloody shirt clutched in her hand. How could she have screwed up so badly? What was she going to do now? He'd known, how long had he known? What was she supposed to say to him? How did he feel about this, really? She had to know, she had to fix this between them or everything was ruined - for the rest of her life. How the hell had she thought that she could get away with what she'd done? That she could make love to a drugged Mulder and have him never realize it? She was a bigger fool than she had ever imagined herself to be. Her desire to crawl in a hole and pull it in after her was all consuming. That wasn't an option. She took a deep breath and straightened her spine. She had to repair this - at least try to. And she had to face him - quickly before she lost her nerve completely. The door wasn't locked, much to her relief, and she quietly entered his room. He was seated much as he had been that other night. If only she could go back to that time - not do the stupid thing she had done. "Mulder? Can I . . . Mulder please let me talk to you." He turned to look at her, not bothering to respond. Thought he tried to hide it, she could see how deeply she had wounded him. What the hell had she been thinking? That was the problem, she hadn't been thinking - she'd been furious with him. He'd once again gone off without her, and he could have been killed. She'd been punishing him. What kind of person was she? What was she going to say? She sank onto the side of the bed beside him. "What can I say to you Mulder? I never meant to hurt you. I'm so damn sorry. I wasn't . . . " "Sorry. That's how you feel? You're sorry about what you did?" "I wasn't . . . I lost control Mulder. I was angry and hurt at your actions. And I was scared too. You could so easily have died in a senseless act." "And you didn't want to identify my body. I remember that part quite clearly." "Yes! That's right!" Her anger flared again. "I didn't and I don't! I never want to have to ID your body Mulder, because I never want you to die! You can't die because then I - "Her words stumbled to a halt. "Because then what?" He hadn't moved, but she could feel the tenseness in his body. She started to rise, she was revealing too much. If he knew this about her . . . His hand shot out to stop her, taking hold of her arm. "Because then what Scully?" She tried to pull away and his grip tightened. She stopped, closing her eyes to block the sight of his eyes searching hers. It didn't help - she could see him just as clearly. His hair was spiked and disheveled from his fight for her life, he really needed a shave and his eyes - his eyes had turned chocolate with emotion. She was lost. She loved this SOB. This wasn't like anything she'd felt for a man before. But he needed so much. Did she have that much to offer? Would she give herself away completely? And if she did, leaving nothing for herself and it wasn't enough - what then? She felt his finger tentatively tracing her cheekbone. "Scully?" "I don't want to love you this much Mulder! I'm afraid to." There, it was out, her most precious secret. His eyes widened. "You love me?" It was only a whisper. She dropped her head, mournfully nodding. His finger under her chin brought her eyes back up to his. "Scully, you love me?" "Damn you Mulder! I've never loved anyone the way I do you. It's insane - we're totally wrong for each other. I could never make you happy." "Never make me . . . Scully, do you honestly not know?" Somehow his hands were on her shoulders now and rubbing her upper arms. She was focusing on his chest - unwise, but she'd left his shirt on the floor on her room. She wanted to be against him, held to that chest by his arms. She wanted to never be released from that grip. He read her mind again, pulling her gently against him, allowing her freedom to escape if she wanted. She didn't, sinking into him, her arms coming around to his back, kneading those muscles, molding herself to him. She felt him take a deep breath; unaware it was the first one since he'd seen that monster grab her. "You make me happy Scully. You always make me happy - even when we're at each other's throats about one of my insane theories, I'm happy. You stimulate me, you listen to me - I've told you and you've got to hear me - you make me whole. For the first time in memory I'm whole and it's 100% due to you. I'm not asking for more than you can give - just let me stay with you. Let me love you. I'm not talking the physical here Scully. If you don't want that - " "I do Mulder." She said it so quietly he thought he'd imagined it. "What did you say?" "I do want the physical. I want what I stole from you the other night. I want you aware, wanting me in return." "Did you doubt that the other night?" She felt the color stain her cheeks as she remembered his reaction, his voice crying out her name. "No." He felt the word more than heard it and pulled her against him once again. "We can take this at your pace Scully. As long as I know you have feelings for me - " "I love you Mulder." She stated it simply, as the inevitable fact that it was. "Stay with me tonight Scully. I'm not exactly in top form, but let me hold you tonight. Let me reassure you - while I'm awake and alert - that I won't ditch you again. That you are the only thing that matters to me." "You did all right the other night, drugged and with a fresh stab wound." "You always bring out the best in me Scully." He stretched out on the bed, folding her against him.