From: twins@twinparadox.org Date: Sun, 21 Jan 2001 02:52:17 -0000 Subject: xfc: HAVOC 6: The Balcony Scene (Sagan&Rah) Source: xfc Title: Havoc 6: The Balcony Scene Authors: Sagan & Rah E-mail: sagan@twinparadox.org & rah@twinparadox.org Summary: Mulder and Scully can't sleep. Classification: completed series (not a WIP); humor, UST, RST, a *little* angst Rating: PG-13 Spoilers: for the purposes of this series, Requiem and everything after do not exist; several general allusions to other episodes. Archive: Auto-archive, KTF, & Spooky's ok; others, please ask. Feedback: Always cherished. Disclaimer: Never were. Never will be. Shit. Notes: (important) at the end X HAVOC, Part 6: The Balcony Scene XXXXX XXXXX XXXXX X "...the Tower of Terror and Space Mountain, just to name a few," she yawned as they got onto the elevator, her shoes swinging from her fingers. "Okay," he said, "tomorrow, I promise. What is it with you and death-defying rides? Didn't you learn your lesson at the Test Track this afternoon?" he asked, leaning into his brassy reflection in the back of the elevator. Scully stood opposite him, her back against the doors. "Slow learner, I guess," she said with a grin. She stepped forward and turned her back to him as the doors opened. Mulder paused just outside the elevator and smiled down at her. "May I walk you to your door?" he asked. There was a boyish light in his eyes. Scully smiled and blushed. "Sure," she said. She slipped her arm through his and followed him to their door. Pulling the key-card from his pocket, he pushed the door open, but neither of them moved from the threshold. Scully leaned against the doorjamb and looked up at him. "This is my door," she said. He nodded, chewing his bottom lip contemplatively. They stared at one another for a long moment. When they spoke, they tried to speak at the same time. "I had -- "Tonight was --" They both laughed, and Scully dropped her eyes. Mulder reached out to touch her chin. "I had a good time tonight," he said. She did not look up, but he could see her smiling. He couldn't resist: he leaned down and kissed her. It was soft, and short. He leaned back, smiling into her eyes. She looked back at him, blinking and licking her lips. "So," she said. "So." "Maybe ---" "I'm going to ---" Scully grinned, turning her head briefly aside. When she turned back, Mulder was looking down, studying their hands, which had come together between them. He looked up and met her eyes with a smile. "I think," he said slowly, "that we..." Scully's eyes widened slightly in exquisite anticipation. "...should call it a night." Her eyebrows shot up before she could school her expression. Her mouth opened, and closed. Mulder was watching her anxiously, hoping -- *praying* -- that she would see the common sense that he was trying to inject into the situation. Scully answered his prayers with a smile and a low chuckle. Leaning up, she pressed her lips to his. "Goodnight, Mulder," she said, and with a last shy smile she walked into her room. XXXXX XXXXX XXXXX XX Mulder sighed into the crook of his elbow. He was lying flat on his back in the center of his bed, one arm flung over his face. The clock on the bedside table read 2:18. He knew that because it was less than three minutes since he had last checked it. And less than ten minutes since he had checked before that. He couldn't sleep. He couldn't sleep because his mind was focussed on one thing: Scully. How beautiful she had looked tonight, her eyes glowing electric blue over the pink of her sunburn... the way she moved when she danced, her hips rolling under that slinky grey dress... the throaty sound of her laughter and the brilliance of her smile when she turned its full wattage on him... the smooth curve of her waist under his hands while he held her close... the feel of her lips when he kissed her... He couldn't stay up all night thinking about her --- not if he wanted to be able to make intelligible conversation tomorrow. He sat up quickly, eyes searching for the remote. He grabbed it from the trunk at the end of the bed and flipped the TV on. After a quick look at the hotel directory and the limited choices on pay-per-view, he flipped the set back off. Clicking his back teeth together, he scanned the room for something to read. His suitcase near the dresser caught his eye, and he climbed off the bed to retrieve it. Unzipping one of the outside pockets, he pulled out the handful of haphazard paperwork that had accumulated over countless field trips and case-outings. It was a bunch of odds and ends that he had been meaning to sort through some night on the road. If anything could put him to sleep, this would. x *...She could not sleep. Tossing and turning amid the luxury of her bed, her thoughts turned again and again to the man with whom she had spent the previous day, dwelling on each glance, on every touch. The memory of her one glimpse of his bare chest, tan and well muscled, caused her body to flush, sending warm tendrils of desire through every limb until she fell as though she must melt. If she continued to think in this fashion, surely, slowly, she would be driven mad with her passion. She rose from her satin sheets with sudden resolution -- she must find him, go to him and confess her love --!* Scully shut her book and threw it across the room. This wasn't working --! The book --- the pulp romance she had all but given up on in the car --- landed with a fluttery thud near the dresser. She sat in the center of her bed and twisted the top-sheet around her fists, aware that her heart was beating substantially faster than normal. She glanced at the clock. 2:23. She drew her knees up and pushed the heels of her palms against her eyes. She had to get some sleep. She thought about trying the meditation technique that her sister had taught her. Or perhaps she should go out to the wet bar and see if there was any chamomile tea in their hospitality basket. Or, she could -- She squashed the alternative that had sprung to mind as soon as it took shape (but oh, what shape...). She exhaled heavily, swung her legs over the side of the bed and grabbed her robe. "Shit," she hissed to herself, but she couldn't keep from smiling as she pulled the robe over her shoulders and headed for the door. x Mulder let the folder he had propped on his chest fall to his lap, rubbing his eyes behind his glasses. Glancing at the clock, he groaned -- out loud -- "Two-forty? Christ." Illumination spilled around the edges of his door as the light above the wet bar was turned on. Scully was in the living room. He watched as her shadow moved back and forth across the light. His eyes widened as the shadow intensified, collecting in a dark heap just under the door. She was right outside. He closed his eyes and took in a deep breath, opened them again and let his breath out. He sucked in his bottom lip, willing her to open the door. He waited. And waited. The shadow grew faint again as she left his door. He let out the breath he had been holding, and swung his feet over the side of the bed, hanging his head low and running a hand through his spiky bed-hair. He sighed. Getting up, he grabbed his t-shirt, pulled it back over his head, and walked out to the living room. She wasn't there, and the door to her room was closed. He ran his hand over his head again and went out on the balcony. Even the twinkle lights were out at this hour. He walked to the railing and leaned forward on his elbows, clasping his hands together. Tapping his linked thumbs against his bottom lip, he surveyed the horizon. The air was cool. A soft rain had freshened the atmosphere and released the various scents of the tropical foliage around the hotel. All was quiet, except for the intermittent rasp of the cicadas and the constant chirp of crickets. He took a deep breath and let his head sink onto his hands. This was big, he thought. He could feel himself wandering dangerously close to the line, passed which he knew there would be no going back -- no matter what happened, no matter how it went or what they felt. For all the blind leaps he had made in his life, all the times he had allowed himself to be lead purely by instinct, no matter how improbable or outlandish, he had never been so fully aware of all the choices in front of him, and of all the possible consequences. And now that the whole picture seemed lain out before him, he wasn't sure he saw an end he liked. Looking up again, his eyes scanned the dark and light shapes of the golf course below. It had to be close to 3:00 in the morning. He thought about going back to his room. Then he felt a warm hand against the small of his back. "Penny for your thoughts," she said, stepping up to the railing beside him and resting her cheek against his shoulder. She closed her eyes, sighing as she allowed her inhibitions to slip from their moorings and glide out to sea. He smelled the faint perfume of her skin as he moved, raising an arm and wrapping it around her shoulders. "I'd have to give you change," he said. "Couldn't sleep?" He shook his head. They stood this way without speaking for some time before Scully broke the silence. "Mulder, what are we doing?" He opened his mouth to speak, then closed it again, choosing instead to pull her closer, fitting her snugly against his chest. She could hear his heart beating, and his raspy intake of breath as he prepared to say something. She opened her eyes. The chair she had been sitting in when he happened out onto the balcony was directly in her line of site as she rested her cheek against his chest. She held her breath and focussed on it, waiting for him to speak. Nothing. And then he sighed. Oh God, she thought. She knew what was coming. She dropped her chin and drew a breath to still herself. "You don't think this is a good idea," she said. He looked down at her, caught her eye. "No --" he said, laughing gently. "That's not it." His eyes glittered as he lifted her chin with his thumb. "That's not it at all." She tilted her head into his palm, letting out a shaky breath. She kissed the edge of his hand. "Oh God, Mulder -- this is so crazy," she breathed, closing her eyes. "I don't know..." She trailed off, and he pulled her against him again. He crossed his arms around her, clasping his hands over her back. "Neither do I." Scully's voice was muffled against his chest. "I only hoped that we could --" Mulder bent and stopped her mouth with his own. He kissed her slowly. He didn't want to hear the rest. He didn't want to think about what could or couldn't happen between them. He kissed her slowly, deeply, knotting his fingers in her hair, hoping that whatever this was leading to would just *be*. x They moved apart at the same time, and he pressed his forehead against hers. Her breathing was shallow, and he could feel her short breaths on his face. Funny, he thought, because he couldn't seem to remember to breathe... Raising one hand, he smoothed her hair down at the back of her neck and left tiny kisses along the skin exposed at the collar of her robe. Moving close to her upturned face, his lips hovered over hers, barely touching. The tension hung in the air between them for a long moment until she moaned, "Jesus, Mulder --" His lips came back down on hers, sliding over and around, between and back over as he pulled her against him, closer than before, his hands cradling the back of her head. She slid into him, her arms wrapping around his neck and her lips responding eagerly. "Scully," he said. Her name was like a prayer and a benediction as it slipped from his lips. She leaned up and rubbed the tip of his nose with her own. "So," she said. "So," he mimicked, catching her around the waist again. He linked his hands at the small of her back and pulled her toward him again. "How does a late breakfast and a day of death-defying rides sound to you?" "I think it would sound better after a few hours sleep," she said, after a long breath. "I think we should go to bed." Mulder let her see only the smallest part of the disappointment he felt. He smiled crookedly, looking at her from under his lashes. "Alone," he clarified. Scully gave a short laugh, looking away as she felt a hot blush rise in her cheeks. She nodded, turning back toward him. "Yes," she said. "*Alone*." His chin sank, and he rocked his clasped hands gently against the small of her back, causing her to sway. It elicited a smile and a soft, breathy chuckle from her. Drawing his breath in with a sharp hiss, he turned wild eyes at her. "Ah -- Scully!" he exclaimed, his face a mix of delight, frustration, and wonder. Eyes searching hers, he shook his head slightly, then dropped his chin again. "You're right," he said ruefully. "And you know how I can't stand it when you're right." He brought his hands to her face and kissed her lightly. She took a reluctant step backwards. "Goodnight, Mulder," she said. "Good morning, Scully," he said, leaning down to leave a soft kiss beneath her ear. Moving away, she kissed him on the cheek and ran her fingers once more through his hair. "See you in a few hours?" she asked. Mulder stretched and twisted his back from side to side, bringing his arms around to hug himself and rub his upper arms. Smiling back at her, he said "In a few hours then," and watched as she walked back inside. TO BE CONTINUED X Look for HAVOC, Part 7: Rainy Days and Mondays (PG) to be posted on Sunday, January 21, 2001. NOTES: For links to previous parts of this series and information about how it came to be, go to www.twinparadox.org.