Summary: The agents take time out at Mulder's insistence to relive 
some pressure and find themselves relieving that pesky UST thing as 
well. Mulderangest and HIGH UST levels included. Rated PG.

Kris "Beast" Abel
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Philosophy is a walk on slippery rocks
 Religion is a smile on a dog
 I'm not aware of too many things
 I know what I know
 If you know what I mean
 Do you?"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~Mistress of Shadows~
~Keeper of the Hovel~
~The Verjik Sorceress~
~The Beast of Creation~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Member of: DDTeens, XF-Fanfic, Fictalk, The Unholy
Trinity, Lone Gunwomen - Frohi, Underground Games
Club, and the Domi legacy.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I'VE GOT A SIG AND I AIN'T AFRAID TO USE IT!


From kabelicious@gmail.com Wed Jan 08 08:53:45 1997
I know there are people out there fixated with diaster, trauma, etc, but I
am not one of them.;) Lighting up these agents lives is my peroggative - not
creating more trouble for them to handle. So, here's a lighthearted attempt
at fan-fic that marks my first story towards an even 50 posted to the Net.
Number 26, here you go!;)

Summary: Mulder gives the agents the day off and they cavort, play, and even
get a little bit confessional on their downtime. Strong UST, slight MSR.
Rated PG.

Rating: H, R

Disclaimer: We all know who these people belong to and you all know the
drill. If you art completely bored, read this. If not, go right on ahead.
CC, 1013, and FOX own the X-Files not I and certainly not you. I was given
no permission by them to use these characters. 

Dedicated to the crazed Latin Conventions. People who study Latin are not
*all* geeks with bowties or nerds with pocket protectors. Actually, they're
party animals one and all. NUDI LUDI LIVES!!;)

"Free Spirits" (1/3)

       by Kris "Beast" Abel
          kabelicious@gmail.com

     "Mulder? What are you doing here this late?" Scully asked as she peered
blearily up at her partner. The clock on the wall said 1:30 am and she was
not pleased to be awakened from a good, sound sleep. 

     "Wanna play?" He smiled and opened the door to come into her room. 

     "*Play*?" She asked, malice in her voice. He turned those puppy-dog 
eyes on her and she felt her resolve melt. Damn those eyes!

     "Well, I figured that, since we've been traveling so much lately, that
we take tommorrow morning off to sleep in and fool around tonight. You know,
raid the hotel kitchen, pillow fights, movies, popcorn..." he draweled off.
"C'mon, Scully! Live a little!" He said and got up to rummage in her suitcase.
He threw at her a pair of sweats, socks, and a t-shirt. "Sorry, but silk
pajamas aren't good attire." He grinned. Scully shook her head and went into
the bathroom to change with the clothes. When she came out, she put her hair
into a neat ponytail.

     "Okay, you woke me up, got me changed. Now what?" She asked. He looked
at the ceiling and leapt up from his seat on her bed. 

     "Kitchen raid!" He grinned and grasped her hand to pull her out the
door. The April night was chilly still, but the ground was dry as they sped
across to the restuarant part of the motel. Opening the service door, Mulder
crept inside with a reluctant Scully behind him. He shut the door quietly
and then padded quickly to where the giant refreigerators were. Scully had 
to smile at the sight he made. He was dressed in soft gray sweats, a red
t-shirt, and socks. His hair was sticking up and his eyes were as wide as 
any child who's about to get into the cookie jar. She laughed at the image
and ran to catch up with her crazy partner. 

     "Hurry, Scully! Grab something!" He said excitedly. In his arms, he held
ice cream and pop. She looked into the fridge and grabbed a bottle of wine
along with some cookies and fudge. She would kick herself tommorrow for 
eating so much sugar, but that was tommorrow. There came a sound of footsteps down
outside the kitchen and they both fled for the service door. Launching 
themselves out of it, they ran to Mulder's room and locked the door behind
them. Mulder deposited there stolen stash into the room's private fridge 
before jumping up onto the bed. Scully just stood there shaking her head. 

     "Wasn't that fun?" He asked.

     "Yeah, seeing you acting like my godson is always cute," she grinned.

     "An eight year-old, Scully? Is that what you think of me?" Mulder said,
a sly twinkle in his eye. 

     "Well, tonight anyways," she flushed, looking away frmo those devilish
eyes. She went to the TV and flicked it on. She flipped through channels 
until she found a Bugs Bunny cartoon on. She reached into the fridge and got
out the double fudge ice cream along with two spoons. She deposited herself
on the bed next to Mulder with her feet on the pillows and her head near the
end of the head. Mulder shifted behind her and rearranged himself the same
way. She offered him the ice cream and he took out some with his finger.

     "Mulder! Use a spoon!" She said. 

     "Why?" He said, licking his finger clean. "This works just as well."

     "Because it reminds me of that guy Puck from the Real World series,"
she shuddered.

     "Dana Scully watches MTV?!" He acted shocked.
 
     "No, Dana Scully's niece watches MTV." She answered back. "I had to
babysit for her one weekend and they had a marathon on."

     "Ohhhh." Mulder grinned and took up a spoon instead. Scully was about
to dig into the ice cream with her own spoon, when Mulder offered the ice
cream on his spoon to her instead. She gave him the Look and he merely smiled
wider and pressed it to her lips. Wanting to get this over with, she opened
her mouth and ate the ice cream off the end. Something flickered in her
partner's eyes for a second but she didn't want to know what it was she saw.

     "So, ever been a fan of Bugs?" She asked, concentrating on the TV screen.
What followed was an hour debate on the credency of Looney Toons ever being
realistic. When the program ended, both agents had eaten all the ice cream
and drank a liter of pop each. Stuffed, Scully rolled over onto her back 
with a moan.

     "My stomach wasn't made for this much ice cream," she moaned. Mulder
just grinned and propped his head up on his hands to look at her.

     "What?" She asked, noting his stare.

     "Nothing, just wondering how such a tiny person can eat so much," he
smiled softly. His hand reached out and deposited itself on her stomach;
rubbing softly. "That feel any better?"

     "Mmmmm...you stop and I shoot," she sighed, closing her eyes. The hand
rubbed her rioting stomach for a few more minutes before it wandered to her
side...and began to tickle her.

     "Mulder!" She cried out. Her eyes flew open to find Mulder looming
over her; poised for attack. Twisting out of the way, she grabbed the first
weapon she came into contact with - one of the hotel pillows'. With a shriek,
she pummeled him in the head with it as he tried to fend off her attacks.
Grabbing his own pillow, Mulder began to whack his partner as hard as he
could. One blow was so strong that it caused her to stumble and trip onto 
the other bed. He leapt across the narrow split between the two beds and
grappled with her as she continued to hit him with the pillow. When he 
caught her pillow and tossed it aside, Scully scampered off the bed to run 
to the other side of the room. Mulder dropped his pillow too and went after
her.

    It was a face off.

    Mulder was crouched on one side of his bed while Scully was poised to
run on the other. Her hair had come loose from her ponytail to dangle loose
about her face in rivulets. Her teeth were bared in a predatory grin as she
danced lightly out of his reach time and time again. White teeth flashing,
she ran around him in a quick dash and made for the connecting door between
their two rooms. Just as her hand closed on the doorknob, arms encircled her
and lifted her up in the air before depositing her none too gently on the
bed.


    "I won," Mulder grinned, pushing his hair back from his face with his
fingers. His cheeks were flushed red and a trickle of sweat was coming down
his face. Scully collapsed back onto the bed and tried to catch her breath.

    "How about a less physical game?" Scully breathed about tangled hair.

    "Poker sound good?" Mulder said, rummaging in his suitcase. He withdrew
a deck of Bicycles from it and proceeded to shuffle the pack.

    "High stakes?" Scully asked, re-tying her ponytail as she walked over
to the room's table/chair set. 

    "Strip poker?" Mulder asked, giving her the puppy dog look.

    "That only works so many times, Mulder," Scully grinned. 

    "Okay, if I win...you have to give me a shave," Mulder smirked. "Without
your t-shirt on." Scully felt a flush coming over her but she triumphed it
with a smirk of her own.

    "And if I win...you have to give me a backrub...without *your* shirt on."

    "Deal?" Mulder said, offering her his hand.

    "Deal." Scully said and shook it.

    What followed was a marathon of over fifty poker games accompanied by
bickering, munchies, and laughter. Although Scully was losing, she didn't
really care because it was the game itself that was so fun. Mulder was as
relaxed as she'd ever seen him and she knew that he saw a whole new side of
her too tonight. Finally, Scully admitted defeat and went to the bathroom
for shaving supplies. Mulder went and fumbled with the radio dial untli he
ended up on an Aerosmith music block. Seating himself on the bed, he awaited
his partner's return.

    In the bathroom, Scully filled the ice bucket with warm water as she
got out her partner's razor and shaving cream. She soaked a towel in the 
hot water and got a dry one as well. Gathering everything together, she 
went back into the hotel room. Mulder smiled at her from the bed as she set
everything up. She put the wet towel around his face.

    "Let that sit for a few minutes," she ordered briskly; intending to get
this over with as soon as possible. It was already nearing 4:30 in the 
morning and she wanted to get some sleep tonight before beginning the long
drive back to D.C.

    Unwrapping the towel, Scully was about to spray the shaving cream on her
hand when she felt a hand grasp hers.

    "You *do* remember the rest of the bet," he said, a wicked gleam in his
eyes. A flush crept over Dana's face as she set down the can and grasped the
bottom of her t-shirt instead. Quickly, she tossed the t-shirt over her head
and picked up the shaving cream can. Squirting some into her hand, she began
to smooth the cream over his jaw and chin. This brought her face a lot closer
to partner's than was normal. When she was done, Dana found herself faced
with the problem of how to shave her partner. Not from the side - she might
nick him. There was no other way except -

    "Try this," Mulder said, picking her up and depositing her on his lap.
Her legs straddled his waist and her face was only mere inches from his. A
shiver racked her half-clad body and she looked into Mulder's eyes. They 
were dark and warm as they gazed at her. His hands, still resting on her 
hips, began to caress her goosebumped back as she reached for the razor.

    "Hold still," she ordered and began to draw the razor down over his 
jaw. The bold bone structure of his face came out everytime she removed more
of the white soap from his face. Those hands of his, so fine and large, were
running up and down her back as if to warm her. A heat began to build in her
body as the close proximity of Mulder invaded her senses. Trying in vain to
ignore it, she trembled as she shaved him. 

    For Mulder's part, he was concentrated on the silky texture of her back 
underneath his fingertips. He could feel the goosebumps he was giving her
and that made him just rub harder. The tenseness in her muscles made him
aware of just how nervous she was right now. With Kristen, he had been the
nervous one as he placed his trust in her fragile hands. Luckily, his faith
had proven him right, but later she had killed herself anyways with her old
boyfriend. He had only been her toy for those few hours they were together.
Having Scully perform the same thing Kristen had was a cleansing ritual all
in itself; erasing part of the bitterness and despair. 

    There was a little trouble with his chin, that damn cleft in it, but 
Scully managed to shave him without a nick anywhere. Reaching out a hand, 
she felt her work for herself and smiled.

    "All done?" Mulder asked.

    "Yep, nice and smooth," she softly smiled and got off his lap to begin
picking up the shaving materials. Back in the bathroom, Scully splahsed cold
water on her face in an attempt to cool down. Throwing back on her t-shirt,
Scully was all set to say her good-nights and go back to her own room. She
entered the room with her head down as she straightened her sweats.

    "I think I'm going to turn in, Mulder." She said. No answer. Looking up,
she saw that all the lights in the room had been turned off. The radio was 
on somewhere in the midst of the room; soft music emanating from it. Peering
into the darkness, she could just make out the connecting door from where
she stood by the light coming in underneath it. Carefully, she made her way
over to it; not knowing what sort of game her partner was up to. Just as she
reached the door, the bathroom light went off behind her.

    Trying the doorknob, she found that the door was locked from the other
side. Damn him!

    "Mulder? This is not funny!" She hissed and began to pull violently at
the door. Squinting, she looked in the direction of the bathroom. There was
nothing. No sound except the radio a few feet from her. Exasperated, Scully
edged her way to the nearest bed and lay down on it. If he wasn't going to 
let her out then she was just going to have to sleep in here tonight. Getting
under the covers, Scully found the electric blanket already on. 

    "Good night, Mulder," Scully said and shut her eyes. For minutes, the
room remained quiet and pitch dark as the radio played on. Suddenly, the bed
moved underneath her and Mulder appeared next to her in bed.

    "Hello, Scully," he whispered. In the dark, as her eyes adjusted, she
could make him out as he knelt next to her. From the outline, she saw that
his t-shirt was off and his chest bare.

    "What, Mulder?" Scully yawned, covering her mouth as she did so.

    "Since you shaved me so nicely, I figured it's my turn to repay you so
I'm giving you a backrub without *my* shirt on," he said. "Take off your
shirt, Scully, and roll over onto your stomach."

    "Okay, but no tricks, Mister," she warned and did as he asked. As she
positioned herself under the covers, she felt the covers being moved 
farther down until they rested about her hips. She felt a click and realized
that Mulder had unfastened her bra strap. 

    "Mulder!" SHe cried, clutching the bra to her chest. 

    "Relax, Scully, it's in the way," he hushed her. "I would never hurt
you," he added. 

    "I know that," she said softly. "Go ahead." Mulder twisted the bra off
of her body and then straddled her hips. Shifting, Scully propper a pillow
under her head and closed her eyes. 

    The first strokes she felt were gentle as Mulder rubbed up and down her
back using the "V" in his hands. Next, he concentrated on her spine; getting
all the kinks out so that Scully felt like she was going to melt beneath 
him. Being so relaxed like this, she found herself drifting between sleep
and reality. Vaguely, she felt Mulder's hands go to her neck and begin to
caress gently there; working out a stubborn knot there. The pressure released
and she gave a soft moan of pleasure at the feeling of it. Her eyelids slid
shut and she gave a tiny sigh before letting sleep overtake her. 

    Mulder, seeing this, thought her to be sound asleep and allowed his lips
to graze the back of her neck for an instant before pulling the covers up
about her. Her hands were curled like a childs' against the pillow she slept
upon and her lips were parted slight as she breathed evenly.

    Rare as it was to see her like this, Mulder couldn't help wishing that
he had told her the real reason for this escapade tonight. For the past few
months, he had come to the realization that, not only did he trust Scully
with his life, he also trusted her with his heart. Touching her had become a
secret means by which to portray this to her be it a simple nudge with his
elbow or a hand placed at the small of her back. Knowing this, he had decided
to spend a night just as friends with her. When the tickling idea came into
his head, he had no idea it would progress to a pillow fight to a poker game.
Having her shave him *had* exorcised the demon of Kristen from his mind, but
only my planting the memory of Scully there instead. And it had taken all
his will power *not* to follow that shave with the same event he and Kristen
had engaged in. Her eyes had had so much desire in them....

    When she had meekly gone into the bathroom, Mulder knew it was the right
time to repay his partner. As she wandered in the moonlit hotel room, he had
memorized every glance of ivory skin and every flash of auburn hair to be 
put with all those other memories of Dana Katherine Scully. 

    Sitting on the edge of the bed, he tenderly stroked the hair from her
face and smiled in answer to the tender one upon her features. Scully looked
so content, so peaceful right now that he was loathe to disturb her. Still,
the only electric blanket that worked was on this bed...

    "Good night, Scully," Mulder whispered and got under the covers on the
opposing side of the bed.
@~@~@~@~@~@~@~
Concluded in Part 2

"Do you have to let it linger?"

            -The Cranberries


From kabelicious@gmail.com Wed Jan 08 08:54:46 1997
Disclaimer, Summary, and Dedication in Part One

"Free Spirits" (2/3)

      by Kris "Beast" Abel
         kabelicious@gmail.com

The Next Morning
11:30 am

    Lazily, the sun drifted into the quiet hotel room; swirling dust motes
about over the occupied bed closest to the window. A single shaft of light
fell across the face of the tiny woman in the bed and on the back of the
tall man. Blinking eyes in the bright light, the woman yawned and blearily 
looked for the clock next to the bed. When she didn't see one, she immediatly
remembered just whose room she was in and why. Rolling over, she smiled 
when she came into contact with her still sleeping partner. In the sun, his
hair glistened and gave off a Mulderish smell that made her raise one hand
up to run fine fingers through it.

    "Morning, Scully," Mulder rumbled. Sheepishly, she withdrew her hand and
pulled the covers up higher over her half-naked body.

    "Morning, Mulder. Have you seen my shirt anywhere?" She asked, looking
around. He reached over the side of the bed for a second and flipped it over
to her. Quickly, she shrugged it on before sitting up in bed.

    "We better get up," she said, still looking for that clock.

    "Actually, if I remember correctly, we have the day off," her partner
mumbled; still drowsy.

    "Still, I would like to get a head start on that report for Skinner," she
said and started to get out of bed. An arm shot out from under the covers
and pulled her back onto the bed.

    "As I recall, I *said* we have a day off," Mulder said, opening his eyes
as he rolled over to face Scully. "That means *we* can sleep in as late as 
we want to." Rolling her eyes, Scully tried once more to get up, but was only
stopped again by Mulder.

    "Wanna try again?" He smiled lazily. Exasperated, she crossed her arms
and lay back; propped up agains the headboard by pillows. "That's better."

    "I still say this is stupid," she ground out.

    "Maybe, but I am the head of this department and what I say goes," he
answered.

    "Showoff," she grumbled, reaching over for the hotel's room service card.
"What do you want for breakfast?" She asked, flipping through the menu.

    "YOU!" Mulder growled and lunged at her. Faking growls, he nipped at the
sides of her neck as Scully laughed and tried to push him off her. This was
just too much. Agent Fox Mulder acting like a giant Saint Bernard.

    "Off mongrel!" She got out behind her laughter. Mulder smiled above her;
propped up on his elbows. Looking over the evidence from last night, Scully
decided that she would play along with her partner...for now. If he needed
this release to be functional, then she would give it to him. Besides, this
could be an interesting day...

    "Well, that certainly got you in a better mood," he grinned.

    "Oh yeah. A giant 6'1" Saint Bernard is what every woman needs this 
early in the morning."

    "Actually," Mulder said, checking his watch,"it's nearing noon as we
speak." Letting out a groan, Scully collapsed back onto the bed with a hand
to her forehead.

    "We really did sleep in," she moaned.

    "Yep," Mulder said, enthuiastic as a puppy. "Wanna order pizza in?"

    "No, I really should go take a shower and get dressed," she said, sitting
up.

    "*That* can be arranged," Mulder smirked and hauled his partner up into
his arms. He mad a dash into his partner's room and headed right into the
bathroom. 

    "Mulder! What the-," she began and shrieked as her partner turned on the
hot water and got into the shower with her. Mulder shut the door behind them
and held her tight as he adjusted the shower to the right temperature. Letting
her go, she immediatly pounded her fists on his chests in retribution for
this.

    "Jerk!" She yelled. "You could've warned me." 

    "But then I'd be in here naked with you, Scully," he said innocently. A
flush crept into her face that had nothing to do with the hot water.

    "Still, you *will* pay for this, Mulder," she glared at him. He just
grinned right back and reached out to grab her shampoo off the shelf. 
Squeezing some into his hand, he reached out and began to lather it into her
hair. 

    "Consider this an act of apology," he said. 

    "So it's from FBI agent to hairdresser?" She asked, shutting her eyes to
keep soap from them.

    "Did I ever tell you I was almost named Frank?" Mulder said.

    "No, did I ever tell you I was almost a Dan?" She answered, a smile
tugging at the corners of her mouth.

    "Having a male partner right now would definitely *not* be a good thing."
 
    "You mean you're *not* gay, Mulder?" Scully chuckled.

    "Excuse me?!" He blanched in pretended shock and raised a hand defensively
to his chest. Chuckling with her, he finished doing her hair and held her
under the spray to get the soap out.

    "The rumors they think up for us," Scully sighed. "I mean, we *must* be
their pet peeve or something."

    "Let's see...neither of us date, work in the basement office, investigate
UFOs, mutants, and vampires while always maintaining a solve rate higher 
than the rest of them," he laughed. "I think that, because we're so successful,
they want to tease us about it to make themselves feel better."

    "Could be," she muttered, wiping her face free of water as Mulder
finished with her hair. Opening her eyes, she gave a soft smile and changed
places with him. "You're turn."

    "All right, but none of that flowery shampoo please. If what you've 
heard is true, my reputation needs no more bolsters."

    "Hotel shampoo okay?"

    "Fine. Those things *never* smell like anything." So saying, Mulder shut
his eyes and awaited her hands.

    "Uh, Mulder, we have a slight height problem here," Scully fidgeted.

    "Has that ever stopped you before?"

    "No, but I'm afraid I'll end up washing something *other* than your
hair."

    "How about...this?" Mulder said, kneeling down in front of her. Scully
shut off the spray and crouched down behind him.

    "Great, just don't lean backwards or you're going to crush me." Mulder
nodded and Scully got to work. During the last few months, his hair had 
grown longer than the normal FBI cut. It was very fine hair and felt soft as
she worked the soap into it. When they were this close, Dana could almost
forget just how tall her partner really was. Whenever they talked, he was
crouched to her height to talk; cloaking over her so that what they said was
between them and them alone. Their voices would become low to an almost
intimate tone and it was that deepness in his voice that she came to recognize
as the one to listen to. The one that spoke the truth to her without the
wisecracks or the meanderings the rest of Mulder's speech did.

    "Turn on the shower," Scully said, finished. Mulder reached up and turned
it on. Boiling hot water came out of the shower and Scully hid behind Mulder
as he got blasted with it. The temp cooled and she came out of her hiding.
She chuckled at the sight of her steaming partner; soap dripping down his
face and a scowl on his face. What she wouldn't give for a camera right now.

    "All done?" She asked innocently.

    "Oh, yeah. I just have to murder my partner for not helping me there."
He growled.

    "Bye!" Scully said and dashed out of the shower and into Mulder's room.
She shut the door behind her and locked it. A body slammed into it and then
there was the sound of footsteps running around to the room's main door. She
raced to it and tried to lock it, but Mulder was faster and stronger. The
door came open; throwing Scully back onto the bed near the window with an
"oof!".

     "Now, Mulder, it *is* against the law to assault your own partner," she
began. He just grinned beneath dripping hair and reached out his hands for
her. Scrambling backwards, Scully tried to make herself as small as possible
as Mulder lunged at her. The bed creaked and she felt him close, but nothing
else happened. Opening her eyes behind her hands, she saw that Mulder's face
was inches from her own and he had a very odd expression on his face.

     "Peek-a-boo," he whispered and took her hands away from her face. 

     "Caught?" She asked.

     "You bet," he said and got up off the bed. "Point for Mulder." He
vanished into the bathroom and she could hear him pulling towels off the 
rack. 

     Whatever his attentions about today, Scully could see that she was going
to have a harder time figuring them out then she thought. He was behaving 
like an adolescent teenager which in turn made her act like one. Yet, 
underneath they were both grown man and woman and the things they were doing
could be interpretated as flirting or things young lovers would engage. But
the fun she was having and that Mulder was having was so great that it seemed
a great burden was lifting from both their shoulders.

     "Catch," Mulder said, breaking off her thoughts. He had removed his
soaked t-shirt in the bathroom and has virgorously drying his hair and chest
off. Scully looked down at her white t-shirt and blushed at just how see-
through it had become. Her sweats clung to her legs and she knew she would
have to retreat to her own room to dry off fully. 

     "So, what do you want to do? The rooms are pretty much trashed and we
really *should* get out on such a lovely day...,"

     "How about this: go get dressed, grab something for an overnight, and 
meet me at the car in fifteen minutes, okay?"

     "Got it," Scully answered and went into her room; shutting the door 
behind her.

     "Got you," Mulder smiled as he turned away from the connecting door.

@~@~@~@~@~@~@~
Fifteen Minutes Later...

     "All set?" Mulder called out from his perch on the Taurus' hood. 

     "Yep," Scully answered, putting on her jacket as she walked. She had
been a bit indecisive on what to wear, but had finally put on jeans, a 
t-shirt, and light blue flannel. She tied on her boots and ran out the 
door; jean jacket in tow. Looking at her partner, she saw she had chosen
right. He wore jeans, black turtleneck, black leather jacket, and boots.
All in all looking like some model from a runway show.

     "So...where are we going?" She asked, coming up next to him.

     "Oh, you'll see," he grinned, that mischievious glint in his eyes.

     "Better not be some UFO hotspot. The *last* time we did that, we were
chased out by army helicopters and *you* got your memory erased," Scully
warned.

     "I assure you, Scully. You'll like it." 

     And that was the end of the conversation.

     Settling herself into her seat, Scully looked out the window at the
passing landscape in a dreamy state of being. Today just seemed so surreal 
that she had no way of explaining it. No longer it seemed was she apart of
a partnership, but rather a friendship. A friendship bordering on something
much more deeper entirely. It felt so comfortable that it made her fear it
all the more. Looking over at Mulder, she saw that he was humming along with
the radio as he drove the sedan smoothly down the highway. With a grin, he
turned the radio up louder and motioned for her to sing along with him. She
chuckled and cleared her throat as she recognized the song. 

    "Once I ran to you
     I ran..
     Now I run from you
     This tainted love your givin'
     Take my fears and that's not
     tainted, oh!
     Tainted love!"

    The song finished out and Scully laughed. She would never have figured 
Mulder to have such a nice singing voice. Nor did he think she had such an 
awkward one either.

    "Where did you learn to sing?" Scully asked.

    "Boys choir in church," he shrugged. "It was one way to not be bored every
Sunday. Weren't you ever in the choir?"

    "Nope, too busy running amuck with my brothers. We used to sneak up to 
the altar before a service and hide under it during the services. When the
preacher reached a crucial point, my brothers and I would run screaming out
from under it." She laughed. "I remember my father warning us time and time
again *never* to do that, but, somehow, we always managed it at least once
a month." 

    "Dana Scully! You shock me!" He said, pretending disgust.

    "Yeah, well, you shock me sometimes too, Mulder," she answered with a
grin. Mulder smiled at her and then put his right turn signal on. They slowed
on the highway and turned off onto a dusty dirt road that went on it seemed
forever. Admist many twists and turns, Mulder navigated with ease. Scully
sat in the silence, enjoying how comfortable it felt as they drove through 
the sun-dappled woods. She hardly noticed it when they came to a stop.

    "We're here," Mulder said gently. She shook her head and looked out the
window at a tiny cabin nestled amongst the evergreens. Getting out of the 
car, she saw that there was a lake right behind the cabin. A narrow dock
jutted out into the lake and she saw a canoe on sawhorses near it along with
a motorboat docked at the side; covered by a tarp.

    "Where are we?" She asked, looking at the endless blue of the lake.

    "My father's hunting lodge." Mulder said. "He used it for privacy after
the army and before he met my mother. I still come up here sometimes when I
need to think straight."

    "And we just happened to be in the area?" She said, a frown on her face.

    "Actually, yeah." He said and went up the steps to unlock the door. 
Opening it, he gestured her inside. "Ladies first."

    Stepping inside, she saw it really *was* a hunting lodge. A few deer 
heads hung stuffed above a large, fieldstone fireplace around which was 
scattered two couches, armchairs, and coffee tables. In the corner facing 
the lake was the kitchen area with fridge, stove, oven, sink, and cupboards.
A small alcove had been built into the wall overlooking the lake and served
as the dining area. What she didn't see was where they were going to sleep
tonight.

    "Where's the bedrooms?" She asked. Mulder pointed to a ladder running
up from the floor to a trap door in the ceiling. Setting her bag down, Scully
walked over to it and began to climb. She grunted with the effort to open 
the trap door and sneezed when it opened with a shower of dust. Climbing into
the opening, she brushed her face off before scanning the area. In front of
her stood three doors. She stood up on the floor and opened the one to her
left. Inside was a queen-size bed draped with dustcloths and a lot of packed
boxes with labels like "ski equipment" on them. Behind the middle door, she
found a small bathroom complete with a shower. Closing that door, she went
to the next and gasped in amazement. A large, canopy bed with creamy coverings
shrouding it stood in the center of the room; facing large bay windows that
opened to the lake and a small balcony. It was beautiful and she somehow 
knew that Mulder had planned this from the start.

   Seating herself on the bed, she looked out at the lake and thought. Their
case here had been nothing more than cursory at best. It had only taken them
two days to wrap it up with the criminal turned over to local law enforcement.
That left them three days before their departure back to D.C. The first had
been spent doing paperwork until Mulder decided it would be a "fun" night
and then today was their second day. So far, it was only one o'clock and they
still had a lot of daylight time left to use up. This place, with the one
usable bed, was also seemingly planned all too well. Knowing her partner's
travel styles over the last few months, he hadn't been here at all before
this case. But then, why was everything so clean downstairs? He must have
come here sometime during *this* case when I didn't notice it. He *did* go
off for a few hours on his own the first day that we got here, she mused.
He must have come here then and cleaned this place up for us. But why? What
*is* it that he is trying to pull?

    "Penny for your thoughts?" A voice said from the doorway. Spinning 
around, Scully saw it was Mulder. He had taken off his jacket and turtleneck
to replace them with an old, scruffy t-shirt. 

    "You planned this, didn't you?" Scully accused, looking back out at the
lake. Footsteps sounded behind her as Mulder crossed her view of the lake
and seated himself next to her on the bed.

    "Yes, I did." He said quietly.

    "Why? What are you doing all this for? I *know* you only cleaned this
place up a few days ago for us, but why?" She said, still not looking at him.
A gentle hand turned her face to him.

    "Because I thought that we deserved a break, Scully. Even if it was only
for a few days, I thought that we should be able to relax and not have to 
worry about secret government conspiracies or mutants or murderers or any of
that stuff. I wanted to spend some time with you as a friend, not a work
partner," he said. "Was I selfish?"

    "No, no, it's just that, well, you could have asked," she said, then
smiled. "Thank you, Mulder. It really is quite beautiful here." Lightly, he
stroked her cheek before letting his hand drop to his lap.

    "You're welcome." He answered and looked back out at the lake. "So...up
for a canoe trip?"

    "You bet." Scully said and got up, pulling him to his feet. "But I don't
have a bathing suit." Mulder just smiled and rummaged in a dresser to one 
side of the bed. From it, he pulled out a green tanksuit that, as far as she
knew, was still at home in her own dresser.

    "Like I said, you planned this, didn't you?" She echoed as she shooed 
him out of the bedroom so she could change. 

    Outside the door, Mulder shook his head and climbed down the ladder to 
the bottom floor. It was going great so far. They had arrived at the cabin
in one piece and Scully was accepting everything he told as truth so far.
Going over to a desk in one corner of the main floor, he opened the top
drawer and withdrew the tiny black box in it. Opening it, he smiled at the
soft glow of diamond in it before shutting it tightly and putting it away
again. He would ask her at dinner tonight and not any later or sooner. After
four years, Mulder could not afford to wait any longer....

@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~
A Few Minutes Later...

    "Are you sure this thing is safe?" Scully asked as Mulder slid the canoe
into the water.

    "I just used it a few months ago. If it can hold me, your little self 
won't sink it either," he grinned and got into the aluminum construction. He
held out a hand to Scully as she climbed aboard after him. Seated in the bow
of the tiny craft, she picked up a paddle to underneath her seat and pushed
against the dock to point them out at the lake. Behind her, Mulder was doing
the same. 

    "Stroke!" Mulder called out and they began to paddle their way out into
the lake. For what seemed hours, they fought against the slight current to
make their way to the middle of the lake. When they reached it, the sun had
begun to make it's descent in the sky; causing the world to glow a dull red.

    Wiping the sweat from her brow, Scully removed the light t-shirt she
wore over her bathing suit and leaned back exhaustedly in the canoe. Looking
up, she saw Mulder had already done the same and was taking off his shoes.

    "Care for a swim, Scully?" He asked, throwing out a weighted anchor. It
would keep the canoe from drifting too far from them while they swam. 

    "Sure," she stretched and wobbily stood up in the canoe. Two hands came 
up behind her and shoved her into the water. With a yelp, she entered the
cold water and clawed her way to the surface; sputtering water as she glared
at her laughing partner.

    "Come in the water, Mulder, and I'll wipe that grin off your face for
you," she taunted. He grinned at her and dove into the water on the other
side of the boat. Afraid the canoe would tip, Scully balanced it before 
backing away and looking around for her partner. 

    "Mulder?" She called. No answer. Afriad he might have hurt himself, 
Scully dove down into the deep blue water to swim under the canoe in search
of her partner. Mulder, on the other side of the canoe, heard her dive and 
quickly got out of her way. He surfaced and took in a deep breath of air 
before ducking under again just as Scully surfaced. Seeing the bubbles on 
the water's surface, Scully dove straight down from where they were. Plants
caressed her as she dove to the bottom of the shallow lake to find nothing
but mud and fish. 

     Swimming back to the surface, she felt something close around her ankle
and pull her back down. Struggling, she tried for the surface above. Gaining
ground, Scully was a foot from the surface, when the face of her partner
appeared before her. His hair was standing straight up under the water as he
let her up on the surface.

     "You idiot!" Scully yelped as she took in a deep breath of air.

     "What?" Mulder said, putting on the I-Don't-Know-Anything,-I'm-Innocent
Look. Scully just scowled and then dunked him soundly under the water. He
started splashing her even as she did the same to him. Realizing she could
never move the volumes of water he did, Scully dove under the water and swam
away as quick as she could. All those hours of swimming helped Mulder to
catch his water-rat partner and capture her in his arms as she tried to get
away. Laughing, he kept ahold of her as she pounded diminutive fists against
his chest. Relaxing, Scully fell back in his arms to float on the surface of
the water.

     "Feel better?" He asked, supporting her lower back. Her legs had 
entwined themselves around his waist for balance as she floated.

     "Yeah, but I still wish you had told me about this idea of yours," she
frowned. "Why didn't you?"

     "I was afraid you would say 'no'," he said, pulling her back up against
him. "I didn't want to come here alone, either. Not this time at least.." He
trailed off. 

     "For your information, Mulder, I would have said yes to you," she said.
"I mean, vacationing with you is *always* more interesting than family." He
smiled at her; transfixed by the red blazes her hair made in the dying light
of the fun. She smiled back at him unsurely. "What is it?"

     "Your hair looks like fire," Mulder mused, reaching out to comb it away
from her face. "You have the softest hair." He mumbled. Feeling a flush 
coming over her, Dana realized just how close she had allowed them to become.
Kicking herself free, she swam over to the canoe and climbed precariously
back in. Getting a towel, she dried herself off and put back on her jeans 
and t-shirt. Shivering slightly, she toed on her shoes and looked to the 
fading sun.

     "We should head back or we'll loose sight of the shore," she said, 
feeling goosebumps wash over her. Mulder put his flannel shirt around her
shoulders and she pulled it on in gratitude. "Thanks." 

     They paddled to shore quickly and made it right as the sunset ended and
twilight approached. Mulder tied the canoe to the dock and Scully pulled the
tarp up over it. 

     "Now," he said, opening the cabin door,"how about this. I cook dinner,
you get showered and changed, and then we eat." 

     "How about I set the table?" Scully said.

     "Nope, *I'm* doing this for *you*, Scully," he said. "You just go shower
and change and leave the rest to me." So saying, he gently took her arm and
escorted her to the ladder leading upstairs to her room and the bathroom.
"Go, Scully." He said and she did.

     Watching her climb the ladder, Mulder felt a twinge of fear strike his
heart. What if she didn't feel the same about him? What if they never worked
together afterwards? What if-Stop it! His mind screamed. At least you'll 
know one way or the other after tonight! 

     And, one way or the other, Mulder knew he would try his damndest to 
make sure she was his.

@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~
Onto to Part Three.
I just these little cliffhangers, don't you?;)


From kabelicious@gmail.com Wed Jan 08 08:55:24 1997
Disclaimer, Rating, and Dedication in Part One.

"Free Spirits" (3/3)

     by Kris "Beast" Abel
        kabelicious@gmail.com

    "What *are* you doing, Mulder?" Scully sighed to herself as she lounged
under the hot steam of the shower. Beginning to feel the hours, she had come
straight from the ladder to the shower where she gratefully found her things
already placed inside the shower. Washing her hair free of lake water, she
scrubbed herself clean of all make-up. Now she was just standing with her
back to the showerhead; enjoying its hot massage.

    Not knowing his intentions for tonight made Scully all the more nervous
of going down that ladder and into that tiny alcove to eat dinner with this
man who so overpowered her senses. For a given, he was handsome, witty,
intelligent, and kind. But he was also tortured, obsessive, stubborn, and
protective of her to the point where he might as well just lock her up to
keep her safe. And she loved him for all of it. *Loved*. Oh, God, Dana. You
*do* love him, don't you? And not in that sisterly way you always think of,
but the I-Want-To-Spend-Eternity-With-Him love.

    Jerking the shower off, Scully quickly exited the shower; trying to
leave those thoughts behind her. Wrapping a towel around herself, Scully
entered the main bedroom and rummaged in her bag for fresh jeans and 
underwear. Dressing in them, she searched in the dresser where she found 
more of her old things tucked carefully away. She withdrew a warm wool
gray sweater out from amongst her things and put on a cotton t-shirt under 
it. She put on some wool socks also before padding back into the bathroom to
dry her hair. After that, she left her face make-upless and paced nervously
before climbing down the ladder. The moment her foot touched the second rung,
Mulder's voice hollered for her to not come down yet. So she sat, waiting, at
the edge of the top floor until she looked down and saw his face below.

    "Okay, you can come down," he said with a smile. Climbing down, she felt
his hands go to her waist to help her down the last few feet. She was about
to turn around, when Mulder's hands went over her eyes.

    "Mulder...," she began.

    "Shh, it's a surprise," he said softly. "Just walk ahead of me." And she
did. He lead her to a chair and seated her safely there. "Keep your eyes
shut." Mulder warned and sat down in his own seat across from her.

    "Now, open them," he said. She did and was startled at the sight. The
small alcove was lined with candles and their heat reflected warmly on her
chill body. Before her, was a salad, prime rib, potatoes, corn, and a glass
of red wine. The light flickered off the walls and both their faces as the
silence stretched for minutes as Scully gazed about her and Mulder at her.

    "You like?" He asked. She turned to him with a beautiful smile in answer.

    "It's great, Mulder. Thank you." Scully smiled. 

    And that was how dinner went for the next half-hour. They spoke of small
things like family, friends, and even their pasts. Nothing but polite banter
that any people could share over dinner. Nothing about Mulder even suggested
to Scully his reasons for bringing her here. So, slightly puzzled, she went
along with his game. When dinner was finished, Mulder got up to put the dishes
in the sink before refilling both their wine glasses. He got out a bag of
marshmallows and escorted her over to a mass of pillows near the fireplace.
Handing her a stick, Mulder set about roasting happily his marshmallow. 
Following his example, Scully did the same; reclining in the soft pillows.
When it caught fire, she withdrew it from the fire and blew it out before
popping it into her mouth. The melted marshmallow tasted fantastic and she
eagerly put another on her stick.

    "Find your lost love?" Mulder asked.

    "I may have," she grinned, eating another marshmallow.

    "If you eat too many of those, you're going to get sick, Scully," he
warned. 

    "I'm a doctor, Mulder. I know my limits," she protested, and kept right
on munching. "Besides, these taste *much* better than any ice cream."

    "Hmmm," was her answer. The partners fell into a comfortable silence as
they roasted their candy. When Scully reached for another marshmallow, she
found the bag was no longer beside her. Looking up, she saw Mulder leaning
over her with the bag stowed safely behind him.

    "Give me the bag," she said. He just shook his head and took the 
marshmallow on his stick off and presented it to her mouth.

    "Mulder! I am not going to eat-," she was cut off by him placing the
marshmallow right up against her lips and delicately placing it in her open
mouth. So as not to choke, she took it with her lips, chewed, and swallowed.
Mulder watched her every move intently and she felt like she was under a
microscope as he watched her. 

    "Mulder?" She said, waving her hand in front of his face. In answer, he
took her hand in his and pulled her up into a kneeling position facing him.

    "Scully, do you remember that case with the Peacock family?"

    "Yes..." she said, not sure where this was going.

    "Do you remember what we said about settling down?" She nodded. "Well, I
think that I'm ready for it." He breathed; looking her dead in the eye. She
swallowed and bit back her tears as she realized he was leaving her. *That*
must be the reason for this weekend. He wanted to break the news for her
easy and in private - away from work and D.C. Breaking her heart in total
confinement so she would have to listen to him no matter what.

    "I'm happy for you Mulder. Who's the lucky woman?" She said, straightening;
the steel coming back into her voice. Mulder laughed aloud and dropped back
onto the pillows. Exasperated, Scully crashed next to him; shutting her eyes
to ignore him. For a long time, the partners just lay there. Scully enjoying
what she believed to be her last few hours with him all to herself while 
Mulder figured out his next move. 

    The warmth from the fire caused Scully's body to calm and she vaguely
sensed herself falling asleep; curling on her side facing away from Mulder.
Shortly, she became aware of a warm presence at her back and knew her partner
had spooned her. The warm, strong length of his chest was pressed against 
her back even as his legs tangled with hers; his hips cradling her backside.
 
    "Scully?" He murmured, running a hand up and down her side.

    "Hmmmm?" She said sleepily, drowning in the peace.

    "Wanna play a game?" 

    "What one?" She muttered, eyes cracking open into slits.

    "I believe it's called 'Truth'," he murmured. "Sort of like 'Truth or
Dare' without the 'Dare' part."

    "So, ask me," Scully said, going farther into sleep. She was comfortable,
warm, and safe here - a powerful sleep potion.

    "How do you feel about me?" Mulder asked. Scully's eyes jumped wide open
as she registered that question.

    "W-what do you mean?"

    "I mean, do you love me?"

    "I-I don't think we should be talking about this," Scully answered, 
rolling over to put some distance between them.

    "But I think we do," Mulder growled, turning her back over to face him
and pulling her against him. She immediatly buried her face in his chest so
she wouldn't have to look at him.

    "Why, Mulder? Why complicate things?"

    "Things already *are* complicated, Scully. If you are ever in jeopardy,
I go into a mad rage to get you out of danger. The same thing happens to you
whenever I'm in danger...at least, that's what I've been told."

    "By who?"

    "Your mother." He answered, nailing the lid on their coffin.

    "Figures," she sighed.

    "So...what do we do about this?"

    "Nothing. Just go along as we have been."

    "And have no fun with it?" Mulder grinned, pulling her head back to look
into her eyes. "*I* think not." Leaning over, he delicately kissed her neck
- centering on her pulse point. A groan came out of her mouth and she tried 
to shake his hold on her.

    "Stop it!" She gasped as he moved even further down. Wherever his lips
went, a trail of fire followed. With one last heave of energy, Dana tried in
vain to break his hold of her and fell back into his embrace limp and 
panting.

    "Calm?" He muttered, not looking up. 

    "Stop playing with me, Mulder!" She raged.

    "Why?"

    "Because of your fiance, Mulder. I am *NOT* a one night fling!" She
growled and kneed him in the stomach; breaking free. Crouching on the floor,
Dana felt as if *she* was the one who had been kicked in the stomach. A small
black box appeared under her face and then was opened by Mulder as she
crouched there. Inside was a beautiful emerald ring with silver engravings.

    "Read it," Mulder said. Shaking, she picked up the ring from the box and
squinted to read the writing around the inside of the band.

    "To my love and my partner, Dana," she read, feeling a tremor come over
her as she looked up into his eyes; knowing what he was going to say.

    "Dana Katherine Scully, will you marry me?"

@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~
Gotcha!;) Well, whaddya think?
Sequel or no?
Once again, I leave it in your hands.
E-mail me at kabelicious@gmail.com 
I only buzz when you do.;)
@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~
"Where do you go?
 My lovely."