From: risamy@epix.net (Amy Schatz) Newsgroups: alt.tv.x-files.creative Subject: NEW: I Could Fall - fall.asc [1/1] Date: 10 Oct 1995 17:05:27 GMT Hi there! This is Amy, again. What follows is the story I promised to post a long time ago. I do have an excuse: my computer crashed the same week as my server. Anyway, on with the story. **Disclaimer: Most every character you read about here is the property of CC, 1013, and FOX. Agent Eric James, and Ronny are mine. **Credits: The song "I Could Fall in Love With You" is by the late Selena. I remember somebody on this newsgroup once said that it was a nice song, and really applies to the X-Files. I thought the same thing. **Thanks: To Melissa, who is really helping me out on my longer story, but I sent her this one, too, because she really makes great comments and suggestions. Thanks, Melissa. **Note: I almost forgot to say that this is an M/S romance story. Here we go.... ___________________________________ I Could Fall FBI Headquarters, Washington D.C. Office of the X-Files August 23, 1995 9:02 a.m. The office in which the X-Files was situated was not expansive. It could hardly be called adequate. However, it was all that the Bureau could spare, and all they wanted to spare, so it had to suffice. On this particular day, Special Agents Fox Mulder and Dana Scully sat in their tiny, cramped workspace working diligently. They had been doing so since they arrived an hour earlier. Scully was at her desk, typing furiously on her computer, and Mulder was reviewing certain reports and organizing them into appropriate and coherent piles. They did not speak. But they *were* in communication. They didn't have to speak to get their ideas or feelings across. Not all the time. Over the past two years, their partnership had evolved into something quite special and rare: each knew what they other was thinking. Well, at least most of the time. Often, Mulder would look up, and be about to ask for a certain report, when Scully would hand it to him, without any words spoken. That was just how they were. They were synchronous. They perfectly complemented each other, most times, to the chagrin of their superiors or fellow colleagues. And sometimes, their relationship even evoked a slight twinge of jealousy from others. Scully suddenly sat back in her chair and rubbed her eyes. She was so tired. Tired of this case. Tired of writing a report that Skinner would barely read. Tired of chasing ghosts and aliens. Tired of being tired. But, the thought of leaving Mulder never entered her mind. She was committed to him, and in more ways than one; though she'd never let him know that. Glancing over at her partner, she smiled. He was so determined. Placing her hand to the side of her face, she stole a longer look at him as he sat reading. Her bright blue eyes flicked across his rame. His dark brown hair looked soft and she could imagine her fingers running through it. He wore a white dress shirt, and she could see the outlines of his undershirt, and beneath that, his lean, muscled shoulders. He reached up and turned a page and the muscles rippled on his shoulder. She wondered what they rest of him looked like with those- "Scully!" Her head snapped up, and she managed to smile at him. "What?" Mulder's deep hazel eyes locked with her's and she tried to remember if she had ever seen eyes quite so beautiful as his. No, she decided, she hadn't. His could be the eyes of a poet, she thought, if only he had been born in another time. She could get lost in those eyes. Get lost and never turn back. she told herself. "Why are you staring at me?" he asked her, a slight smile playing at the corners of his mouth. That mouth, a voice inside her chanted. How would it feel to kiss him? To be kissed *by* him? To- she screamed inside. "I wasn't staring at you, Mulder," she said aloud. Now a full smile spread across his lips. "Yes, you were." Scully forced a smile, and hoped he didn't notice the color rising in her cheeks. "I wasn't, really." "What?" he asked, looking down at his tie that was so loud, Scully was sure she could hear it screaming. "Did I have an accident at breakfast this morning?" Scully leaned back even further in her chair, and a devilish grin spread across her face. "Mulder, the only accident that happened to you this morning was when some demon took control of your body and picked out that tie." Mulder's gaze traveled to her, and he smiled weakly. "Funny. Very funny. You know, Scully, I think you've been hanging around me too much." She nodded. "A truer sentiment I've never heard." Then, quite suddenly, he looked hurt. "Gee, Scully, is it really that bad?" Scully felt something stab at her heart. The last thing she ever wanted to do was hurt him. God, she was...no, better not touch on that particular emotion when she was right in front of him. Mulder was so perceptive, he'd pick up on it in a minute. She leaned forward, and looked at him sincerely. "No, Mulder. I was just kidding." Suddenly he looked like a little kid who had pulled something over on a friend. "I know you were. I just wanted to hear you say it." Scully was tempted to throw something at him, and was in the middle of deciding just what, when a knock came to their door. They both looked up, and Mulder said, "Come in!" The door opened slowly, and as it did, a shaft of light fell into the room. A young agent stepped half inside, and looked at Scully, then Mulder. He looked nervous and anyone could tell that he didn't want to be where he was. Mulder smiled. The rumors would never die. "You can come in, Agent...?" The young man ran a hand through his ash-blonde hair, and wiped at his upper lip. "It's Agent Barnes, and that's okay. I'm supposed to tell you that Director Skinner's looking for you two," he said. Mulder nodded. "Okay." Both Mulder and Scully watched in amazement and humor as the young man fairly bolted from the doorway, closing the door on the way. Scully looked over at Mulder and chuckled. "Boy, what kind of stories about you are they telling at the Academy, anyway? You captured King Kong and have him chained up in here?" Mulder shrugged. "I don't know. But, you just reminded me. I have some literature on an extremely large sapian-like creature that was sighted in the depths of the African jungle. Maybe I can-" Scully stood up. "That's enough, Mulder." Mulder smiled, and headed for the door. He opened it, and followed Scully out, saying, "Yes, dear." * * * =========================================================================== From: Amy Schatz Newsgroups: alt.tv.x-files.creative Subject: NEW: I Could Fall - part 2 Date: 10 Oct 1995 23:54:41 GMT Office of Assistant Director Skinner 9:20 a.m. Director Skinner sat in his large chair, behind his large desk, in his large office, and sighed. He didn't relish these meetings with Mulder and Scully. They usually ended up with the two agents leaving his office angry. Angry because, once again, they had been denied the truth. At least this time he didn't have to reprimand them for anything. But, he wouldn't let them know that right away. After all, he had to have some fun in this job. "Director Skinner?" Skinner looked up and into the green eyes of a man. His hair was cut in a style that the Bureau favored, and was a mousy brown. The man was clean shaven, as the Bureau dictated, and looked like he slept ten hours a night. Suddenly an image of Fox Mulder popped into his mind. *His* hair was certainly not cut in a style that the Bureau favored. As Far as Skinner could tell, it wasn't cut to any style, except maybe the warped style of Fox Mulder. And Mulder usually had at least a night's growth of stubble, and he probably only slept three hours a night. In short, he was not the average FBI agent, but, then again, Mulder was the average anybody. "Yes, Agent James?" "Are you sure you want me present when *they* come in?" Skinner smirked. "Agent James, you will find out, in very short order, I'm afraid, that Agents Mulder and Scully don't really care who is present. They're barely aware of each other half of the time." James looked uneasily at his superior. He looked young, but in reality, he was thirty years old, and had some experience. "And the other half?" Skinner sighed, remembering countless missions and cases. "And the other half they're risking their lives for each other." James had no response to this, so he gave none. Inwardly, he felt a little awed. None of his Bureau partnerships had ever run so deep. Suddenly, he found himself anxious to meet these two "rogue" agents. Of course, while at the Academy, he had heard the stories of "Spooky" Fox Mulder, but he had never met him. He wanted to. And Mulder's partner, Dana Scully. James had also heard about her, but once again, only in connection with Mulder. He wondered what they were really like. He sighed, and leaned back on the couch, and into the shadows. He would soon find out. Skinner kept on working, acting as if James wasn't even in the room. Finally, a knock came to the door, and Skinner granted entry, but still did not look up. The door opened, and a tall, lean looking man stepped inside, allowing a rather petite woman to enter before him. She wore a black suit, with a wine red shirt underneath. Her auburn hair seemed very bright in this room, and James was shocked at it's intensity. The man wore an ash grey suit, a white shirt, and perhaps one of the most blaring ties that James had ever seen. His hair was a deep, dark brown, and seemed to go in whatever direction it wanted. As the man and woman walked over to stand before Skinner's desk, they both noticed James, but said nothing. In fact, they only gave him a cursory glance. James watched, in utter astonishment, as the two visitors walked over to the two chairs, and stood before them. But, they did not sit down. Still Skinner did not look up. He waited a few seconds more, and the silence in the room was almost unbearable for James. However, both the man and the woman, did not seem at all uncomfortable. This too, amazed James. Finally, Skinner put his pen down, sighed, and brought his gaze to the two agents before him. "Have a seat, Agent Scully, Agent Mulder," he said. Both agents sat down, and it seemed to James that they were very tired. He also noticed that they moved in almost perfect unison. As if they never stopped working as a team. "Agent Mulder, I've called you both here, because I have received some unsettling information." Mulder, who sat closest to the door, spoke first. "Sir, if this is about the incident at Sea World's aquarium, I'm sure we can explain. Scully told me that it was just a scuba diver feeding the fish, but I swore he had gills. After that, the whole situation just went downhill." Mulder's expression was deadpan as he finished, and Scully's rivaled his own. Skinner was not happy. "Agent Mulder, I do not appreciate your humor." Mulder smiled faintly, looking at Scully. "Not many people do, sir." Skinner coughed, trying to control his frustration. "I asked you both here because I have a new assignment for you." A look of fear, fatigue, and confusion crossed over both agents' faces. "A new assignment, sir?" Scully asked cautiously. Skinner read the question on her face, and quickly put that fear to rest. "Not of that nature, Agent Scully. You and Agent Mulder are still partners." Skinner watched with interest, as Scully sighed in relief. "The assignment came about when a case came in last night." Mulder ran a hand through his hair, and his hazel eyes turned a little bit more brown,forcing the green to retreat closer to the pupil. "What case is that, sir?" he asked suspiciously. In the back of the room, James could not believe that anyone would speak to his superior as Mulder had. This assignment was becoming more interesting by the minute. "It involves the death of a man. He was apparently killed by his fiancee. However, the woman claims that she did not do it, even though all evidence points to her. It is a very unusual case." Scully spoke up. "Sir, usually any case that falls in under our department is unusual. What does the woman say happened?" Skinner set his jaw. "That, Agent Scully, is precisely why I have assigned this case to the XFiles division. She seems to think that the ghost of her dead husband killed her fiance." James almost choked. Scully was used to all of this by now. She had stopped questioning at the beginning. She accepted the initial theory, and questioned later. "Has she or anyone else seen such an apparition?" she asked calmly. James eyes widened in shock. How could a normal FBI agent accept such a ludicrous claim? Skinner nodded. "*She* claims to have felt its presence. But, as you must know, we need more evidence. However, you two can figure all of this out later. Right now, we have a more pressing issue." "And what might that be, sir?" Mulder asked, the picture of serenity. Skinner's gaze moved past Scully and Mulder, and came to rest on Agent James. Mulder and Scully did not move, nor did their eyes. They had been observed enough times to not really care anymore. "Agent Eric James is from the Behavioral Sciences department. He has no *real* field experience. There is a school of thought that perhaps, he could learn something from the two of you." Mulder's eyes darkened and narrowed, as did Scully's. "Sir," Mulder began, looking first at Skinner's desk, then at Scully, "I think that Agent Scully and I have a right to know whose school of thought that might be. And, Agent Scully and I do not appreciate being observed like rats in a maze." James was slightly offended that neither agent acknowledged his presence or even looked at him. Skinner looked back at Mulder. "Agent Mulder,that is not what is happening here." Mulder kept his gaze on Scully. "Really? Perhaps you have forgotten the name `Alex Krycek?'" Skinner looked at Mulder and Scully, frustration clear in his voice. "No, Agent Mulder, I have not. However, Agent James is a bona-fide FBI agent. You can check him out yourself." Suddenly, and in violation of all protocol, Mulder and Scully rose, as if they were communicating by telepathy. Scully headed for the door first, once again taking a casual glance at James. Mulder looked at James a bit longer; measuring him. Then, without so much as an apology, he followed Scully. He stopped in the open doorway, Scully hovering like a spirit by his side. "We'll do that, sir." Then he closed the door. * * * The office of the X-Files 12:10 p.m. Mulder and Scully sat around Mulder's desk, staring intently at the computer screen. They were *indeed* checking James out. Once again, they did not speak. There was no need. Scully's left hand rested on Mulder's right shoulder, as she looked over it, reading about James' education. She began to read aloud. "Bachelors degree in Sociology from Syracuse University, and a minor in Political Science," she read slowly. Mulder rolled his eyes. "Well, this guy's probably tons of fun. How in the hell did he get into the FBI, anyway?" Scully didn't bother to answer. "It says that he went straight from the Academy to the Behavioral Sciences Unit. He really doesn't have any field experience." She really couldn't believe that. "Great," Mulder sighed. "That's all we need. Babysitting a junior on his first case." He sat back in his chair. "Why us, Scully? *They* must really hate us?" "Guess they think that if they torture us enough, we'll give up." Mulder had to smile at that remark. He also noticed how the light from the only window in the room fell on her hair, and made it sparkle like a rare mineral. And her eyes, they were so blue, so clear. He could almost see his own soul in them. Maybe he already did. A knock on the door interrupted his reverie. "Come in," he said tiredly. Agent James stuck his head inside the door. Mulder and Scully looked at each other in unhidden disgust. Scully was the first to stand, and Mulder was soon towering above her. "Can we help you, Agent James?" she asked in her best FBI voice. James looked a bit bewildered as he looked about the office. Papers, reports, books, videos, and countless other things were piled around the room. He stepped fully into the room, straightened his tie. "Director Skinner told me to come down here and find you. And I've got to say that without Skinner's directions, I would have still been looking." Mulder looked at Scully. "Remind me to thank Skinner for his gracious nature." Scully smiled, but they both realized that there was no way that they were getting out of this. Scully stepped out from behind Mulder's desk and extended her hand. "I'm Agent Scully," she said, shaking his hand. Mulder soon stood beside her, a scowl on his face. "And this," she said, looking fondly at Mulder, "is Agent Mulder." James offered his hand, and after Scully stepped on her partner's toe, Mulder shook it. "So pleased to meet you," he said venomously. James noted Mulder's hostility, but ignored it. He was determined to get some respect here. After all, he had been with the FBI for three years. He was no rookie. "The same here, Agent Mulder." Then, Scully and Mulder retreated to their respective desks, and returned to their work. They were still hoping to scare this man away. James stood in the middle of the room for a few seconds, before speaking. "Excuse me! Would either of you care to tell me what I did to deserve being treated like this?" Scully sighed, and looked up at this flustered man. She sighed. "I'm sorry, Agent James, it's just that-" And then Mulder was out of his chair so fast it seemed impossible. "Scully, stop apologizing!" he shouted at her. "We don't have to say we're sorry, and you know it!" Scully stood up, looked straight at him. "Mulder, we don't know if what we suspect is true. His records *are* clean." James stood there, his arms crossed over his chest in disbelief. "You actually did check me out? Just what *do* you suspect?" All Mulder could see was a carbon copy of Krycek. He turned on James. "Let's cut the crap, okay? You know damn well why you were sent here!" James nodded. "Yes, to observe you and Agent Scully on a case." Mulder threw his hands up in aggravation. "Please!" Then he turned to Scully. "You'd think they could've come up with something better than that." Scully nodded, but she was beginning to believe that they had misjudged this man. "Agent James, do you know what kinds of cases Agent Mulder and I work on?" James shook his head. "No, but I suspected that your department was an offshoot of Violent Crimes." Scully nodded again, her mind working. Then she turned to Mulder, who had returned to his desk. "Mulder, he doesn't know. He could be the real thing." Mulder did not look up. "Is that your official opinion, Agent Scully." Scully sighed, hearing that playfulness come back into his voice. He had come to the same conclusion. "Yes." Still Mulder did not look up. "Are you hungry, Scully?" Scully looked at James. "Yes, I believe I am, Mulder." Mulder stood up and reached for his jacket. "Then let's remedy that." He walked to the door, and looked back. "Agent James, I assume that we'll be seeing you tomorrow." James was so confused, he could barely nod. After Mulder had departed, Scully grabbed her suit jacket, and walked to the door. She felt that this poor man deserved an apology. "Agent James, please accept our apologies. We did not mean to insult you by any means. We just have to be careful." "Agent Scully, what is with you two? I'm not the bogeyman, you know." Scully nodded, and a slight frown flickered across her face. She knew that she had met many bogeymen in her time with the X-Files. "I know that, and so does Agent Mulder. We just find it hard to trust anybody except each other. Too many things have happened to us for us to go around trusting everyone who says he is an FBI agent, and he wants to be our friend." She was about to leave, when James stopped her with another question. "Agent Scully, who is Alex Krycek?" Suddenly, the memories of her separation from Mulder and her abduction came, unbidden, into Scully's mind. They were things that she didn't want to think about. The nightmares she was forced to endure were bad enough. "I don't wish to discuss that, Agent James. I would appreciate it if you would not mention it again." Then she closed the door, leaving James alone to contemplate how such a beautiful woman could be so cynical and distrustful. He decided he would like to change that situation. * * * =========================================================================== From: risamy@epix.net (Amy Schatz) Newsgroups: alt.tv.x-files.creative Subject: NEW: I Could Fall - part 3 Date: 11 Oct 1995 02:32:14 GMT _________________________________ Dana Scully's apartment Washington D.C. 11:21 p.m. Scully and Mulder sat in his car in silence. When they had returned from lunch, James had thankfully not been there. They then spent the rest of the day finishing up the paperwork on their last case. They had finished around ten, grabbed a quick sandwich, and then Mulder had driven her home. There was a fine rain falling outside, and Dana looked up at the hazy moon hanging in the sky. Then she looked over to Mulder, and she almost thought his eyes were glowing. "Mulder, stop thinking about him." Mulder smiled. "How do you know what I'm thinking about?" Scully smiled in return. "I know *you.* You can't ever let anything go." Mulder shook his head, and looked at Scully hard. "Scully, I'm just so tired of all this deception. I can't deal with all this again. What if he's another spy? What if..." Scully felt compelled to hear the rest of his thoughts. She gently touched the side of his cheek with back of her fingers. "What, Mulder?" He looked away, then. "What if something happens to you again? I *definately* couldn't take that. I couldn't lose you again." Scully's heart was breaking for him. In a moment of bravery, she reached out and turned his face to her's. "Mulder, you're not going to lose me. Not ever." And then, suddenly, he was pulling her close, and he held her. And Dana Scully never felt safer in all her life, than she did at that moment, in Fox Mulder's arms. Finally, she whispered into his ear. "Come on, Mulder. You're staying here, tonight." Mulder made no protest as she opened her door, grabbed her bag, and then moved around to his side. She opened his door, and taking his hand, pulled him up. She didn't let go of his hand as they walked up the steps to her apartment. She slid the key in, opened the door, and led him inside. Turning the lights on, she walked over to the couch. "Sit down," she said softly, as she made her way to her bedroom. Mulder shrugged off his jacket, and leaned his head back. He heard her opening drawers, and he heard the rustle of clothing. Soon, she reappeared wearing a white T- shirt and shorts. She handed him one of *his* T- shirts and a pair of *his* sweatpants. She always had a change of clothes for him to wear. He often spent nights at her place when they had worked too late. "Go and change." Mulder said nothing. He was too tired and drained from the day. After he closed the bathroom door, Scully made her way to her bedroom, and began to turn down the bed. Soon, he came out, and stood in the hallway, watching her. Even in his sleepy state, he couldn't help but notice that she was beautiful. Her hair looked soft and silky as she pushed it away from her eyes. He also noted how natural it felt for her's to be the last face he saw before his eyes closed in sleep. He was still contemplating this when Scully turned and found him leaning against the wall, barely able to keep his eyes open. "Mulder, what are you doing?" Mulder was too tired to play their little game. "I was just watching you." "You were watching me?" He nodded. "Yes." He turned to go. "Well, goodnight, Scully." Scully's hands were on her hips. "Mulder, stop." He stopped in his tracks. Slowly, ever so slowly, he turned around. "If I wanted you to sleep on the couch, I could have let you go home." Mulder's sleepy eyes widened ever so slightly. "Excuse me?" Scully moved forward and took one of his hands. She then led him back to the bed, pushed him down into a sitting position on the left side. She moved to the right side, and sat down as well. Turning the light off, she said, "Mulder, we're both adults here. I think that we can sleep in the same bed, don't you? I mean, I'm sure that both of us can control our animal instincts, right?" She had meant it as a joke, but somehow, they both knew that it wasn't. Mulder couldn't resist the opportunity. He shrugged, and swung his legs under the covers. Laying back on the soft pillow, he said, "If you say so, Dana. But if I have to concentrate on doing that all night, how will I ever get any sleep?" Scully did not miss the fact that he had called her Dana. She slid her feet under the covers, and lay back on her own pillow. * * * That night, before Dana fell asleep, she wondered how it would feel to fall asleep next to Fox Mulder every night. She imagined him kissing her goodnight, and then wrapping his arms around her. She glanced over at his still form and sighed. she told herself. she thought. * * * Some time later, Dana was awakened by a noise. She opened her eyes, and found that she was facing the window. Turning over on her back, her half closed eyes fell upon Mulder. His brow was spotted with sweat, and his face had a pained expression. Suddenly, she realized that he was mumbling something. Dana sighed. She knew all about Mulder's terrible nightmares. Often, he would call her up in the middle of the night and would tell her about them. He was so alone, she realized. If he didn't have her, he would have no one. "...Samantha!" he moaned in his dream. "...I'll find...you!" Scully moved closer to Mulder. She reached out tentatively and patted his arm. "Shh, Mulder. It's okay," she murmured, in her best doctor's voice. Mulder paid her no heed. He was deep in the clutches of one of his more terrible nightmares, and it would take more than a few words to bring him back. "...Samantha!...I'm sorry!..." he mumbled. And then, Fox Mulder did something that Scully never expected. A look of terrible loss came over Mulder's face, and he clutched at the blankets. "...Scully!...Scully!...Don't leave...me!...Scully!...I'll be all alone!..." A natural instinct overwhelmed Scully and she could do nothing but obey it. She reached out to Mulder and took him in her arms. Pulling him and the covers close, she stroked the side of his face. "Fox, you are not alone," she whispered into his ear. She realized that it felt good to have him so close. He was warm, and it felt right to be holding him. "I'm here for you, Fox." Then, Scully swallowed dryly, wondering if she should say what she desperately wanted to say. In the end, she decided to say it. He was asleep and would never hear her anyway. She pulled him a bit closer, and felt his soft hair on her cheek. "You are not alone, Fox. I'm here, and...and I love you, Fox...." Then and just at that moment, Mulder's nightmare seemed to fade away, and he settled into a deep, peaceful sleep in the arms of his partner and friend. * * * Dana Scully's bedroom Just before dawn 5:03 a.m. Mulder slowly opened his eyes. He felt strange. Something was not as it always was when he awoke in his lonely, dark apartment. he wondered. Then, he remembered that he had spent the night at Scully's. But still, he felt that something was slightly off. Not wrong. God, anything but wrong. No, it was more like he felt like he had finally come home. Mulder felt warm, and content, and...He swallowed down the urge to smile. God, he felt loved. He felt loved. Suddenly his vision registered in his mind and he realized that he was holding on to something...no, someone. His gaze swept to the left, and it fell upon a mane of fiery red hair, and pale skin. Scully. It hit his mind like a bolt of lightning. He was in Scully's arms. Then, another shot came from the dark. He liked it. He liked holding her. It felt right to him. It felt natural. Then a memory began to creep from his subconscious into his mind. He vaguely remembered the remnants of a nightmare. Then, he recalled feeling safe and calming words floated, uncomprehended through the mists of his dreamworld. Someone had their arms around him, and they were holding him tenderly. Someone who was warm and soft. Then he heard three words that were as foreign to Fox Mulder as was having a peaceful night's sleep. He heard a soft, loving, and distinctly female voice say: I love you, Fox... Mulder shifted his weight, and looked, really looked at Scully. Her head was turned towards the window and away from him, and she looked peaceful as she slept. Peace during sleep was something that Mulder was not usually privy to; nor peace at any time. But Scully seemed able to separate her troubles from her personal life, and therefore, was able to sleep in variable serenity. Unable to stop himself, he reached out and swept a stray lock of red hair off of her forehead. As he did, his fingers brushed her skin, and suddenly he knew that the words of affection that he thought had been only in his dream, had been *real*. They had been real, and Scully had said them. She had said them to *him*. The force of this realization was so great that Mulder had to take a deep breath. In doing so, he awakened Scully. Slowly, her magical blue eyes were revealed to him, and he smiled. She was so beautiful that he almost couldn't believe that she was real. But, she was. And he was in her arms. "Good morning," he said softly. His soft, hazel eyes looked up at her, and she knew that she could refuse him nothing. Those eyes made her melt. Dana looked down at him, and knew that she had lost the battle. She had lost her heart to a tall, dark, roguish man with the eyes of an angel. "Did you sleep well?" she asked as casually as she could. Mulder nodded, and sat up, leaving the warm embrace of her arms. "Yes, but just after I woke up, I remembered a dream I had." Scully nodded, thinking that he would tell her about a bright light, and his sister being taken away. She was not prepared for what he did tell her. "I remember having a nightmare, but then the dream changed, and I wasn't scared any more. I felt safe and...and I felt loved." Scully's heart was doing somersaults as she listened. She knew then, that he hadn't been totally asleep when she had spoken to him and held him close. But, she retained her composure. "Really?" Mulder nodded, and he ran a hand through his hair. He looked straight at Scully, and decided that he would press this issue. He couldn't go on pretending any longer. It was too much work. He would tell her how he felt, and even if she didn't feel the same, at least he would have said it. It would be off his chest, and he'd be able to get on with his life. Or however much of a life he'd have left without her. That was something he didn't want to think about. At least not until he had to. "Scully...Dana, last night I could have sworn that I heard you say something." She put her hand out to stop him. "Mulder...Fox, you were having a nightmare and I tried to calm you down. I'm sure that's what you heard." He shook his head. "No, that's not all I heard. Dana, I'm sure...no, I know I heard you say-" She put her fingers on his lips, and her eyes were suddenly full of tears. "Yes," she conceded, "I said it. I'm sorry, Fox. I shouldn't have said that to you." And then she was up and out of the room. Mulder sat there in astonishment for a few seconds, before he slid out of the bed, and walked into her living room. He found her sitting on her couch, tears running down her cheeks. Her arms were wrapped around her. "Dana, what is it?" he asked as he knelt down before her, his hands on her bare knees. She shook her head sadly. "I don't know why I said that to you. I just wanted to say it so much, and you were asleep. I didn't think you'd hear, let alone remember." He looked up at her with affection in his eyes. "But I did hear, Dana." She nodded. "I know. I don't know why I ever thought you might feel the same. Who could ever love the Ice Queen? I forgot, I'm too cold, too inhuman to love somebody. The Ice Queen only loves herself." Mulder had heard the stories about Scully that were passed around the Bureau. How no man wanted her because she was so passionless; so devoid of emotion. However, once he had spent enough time with Scully, he soon came to know that these rumors were anything but true. When she was defending her position on a case she displayed more passion than any other investigator Mulder had ever seen. And she was always there to take care of him when he needed it. No, she was anything but cold. What also worried him was that Scully seemed to believe these terrible ideas. He had to put her fears to rest. "Dana, you are not the Ice Queen, and I'll kill any bastard who calls you that. You are a warm, caring person. You are very special to me." He hesitated only a second before saying what he had known in his heart for a long time. "I love you, Dana." She raised her eyes to his and looked at him for what seemed eons. Then, she was in his arms, and held him close. She pressed her cheek to his neck, and let a few more tears slide down her face. "You don't know how much that means to me, Fox. I love you, too." She pulled back and looked into the eyes that were the windows to the soul that so captured her heart. Then, slowly and tenderly, she leaned down, and kissed him. The kiss was full of passion and promise. After, as they sat there, on Dana's living room floor, and held each other, they knew two things: each of them had found the missing part to their soul, and they were each loved unconditionally and totally by the other. * * * =========================================================================== From: risamy@epix.net (Amy Schatz) Newsgroups: alt.tv.x-files.creative Subject: NEW: I Could Fall - part 4 - fall4.asc [1/1] Date: 11 Oct 1995 16:49:43 GMT Boy, I've gotten a lot of e-mail from people who've been asking me where part two was. As I told them, and said in my repost of part two - I hit the wrong button. But now I have another question: did my repost of parts two and three reach everybody? I'll gladly repost them, but I don't want to annoy people. Either drop me a line through e-mail at risamy@epix.net, or post it here on the newsgroup. Thanks. Here's part four... ______________________________ * * * Office of the X-Files August 23, 1995 8:07 a.m. Mulder and Scully sat in their office engrossed in watching each other. In fact, they were exerting monumental will power just to sit across the room from each other. Only three hours before they had discovered their mutual feelings for each other, and they wanted to be together. However, they knew that they had to keep their new relationship separate from their work, and not let anyone find out. Scully had managed to turn her attention to the report that she was trying to type, and Mulder had finally been able to immerse himself in a synopsis of the new case that they were set to begin. They had just settled into their everyday, working groove, when a knock came to their ears. Scully didn't look up, but said, "Come in." Agent Eric James stepped into the small X-Files office, smiling. "Good morning, Agent Mulder," he said. Then he turned to Scully and gave her a special smile. "Agent Scully." Mulder had looked up when he heard James' voice, and had not missed the special attention the agent had given Scully. However, he was too tired to worry about it. Besides, he knew how Scully felt about him. "What do you want, James?" he asked, his voice a little less hostile than the day before. James stepped forward to stand in front of Mulder's desk. "I thought you knew, Agent Mulder. We're supposed to work on your next case together." Mulder nodded and sighed. "Yes, I know." He glanced at Scully, who was still typing. "When will you be finished, Scully?" Scully smiled, hit the enter key, and looked up at him. The sound of the laserjet printer whistling to life resounded through the room. She gave Mulder her special smile that spelled out exactly how she felt about him. "Right now. Why?" James marveled at the fact that Scully acted as though he weren't even in the room. He smiled inwardly. He would change that. He had already decided that Scully needed to get away from the XFiles; away from Mulder. They were no good for her. If the rumors about what had happened to her were even remotely true, then this assignment was an overly dangerous one; for anybody. He would get her away from it. He liked her too much to see her great talent wasted in such a dead end position. Mulder smiled back knowingly. Then, he gestured to James. "Mr. Ambitious, here, wants to get started on our next case." Finally, Scully's eyes fell on James. She did not smile; merely assessed. "Oh, is that true? Well, then, Mulder, what do you have? What did Skinner give us? I've seen you enraptured in some new tidbit of information all morning. I know it's got to do with a ghost, but who's? Did Houdini kill Mitch Blaser?" Mulder smirked. "Hardly." He stood up and headed for the dreaded overhead projector. Scully's face took on a look of fear. He hadn't used that in a long time. This case must be special. "Oh, no," she said in mock horror, "not the-" "Yes," said Mulder, smiling as he cut her off. "The projector." Scully sighed, and sat back in her chair. "I knew it." Mulder looked at James. "You might want to take a seat. I have been known to let the power of a slide projector go to my head at times. Scully can attest to that. As they say: power corrupts; the power of a slide projector corrupts absolutely." Scully nodded. "I'd take a seat, Agent James. Mulder doesn't lie." James sat down near Scully and waited. Mulder turned the machine on, and the picture of a middle-aged woman came onto the screen. "This," he said, pointing to the blonde haired woman, "is Anne McSaden. She has been accused of killing her fiancee, Mitch Blaser, as Skinner told us." A picture of Mitch popped on. "The local police have collected evidence such as fingerprints, nitrate residue on her cheek, etc. and purport that she indeed committed the crime. However...." "Here it comes," said Scully as she sighed. James looked at her curiously. These two seemed to be in telepathic connection. They finished each others sentences and unsaid thoughts. He wished that someone knew him so well. Maybe one day she would. They heard a click and the picture of another man was shown to them. He had greyish hair, and looked rather cruel. "...Ms. McSaden insists that the ghost of her dead husband took control of her body and killed Mitch Blaser." Scully rolled her eyes. "*Unchained Melody*," she intoned softly. Mulder's head snapped around to face her. "Yes, Scully, sort of like what happened in the movie *Ghost.* Only in this case, the ghost was not very nice. Apparently, and according to Ms. McSaden, her husband, Derick McSaden, was angry and jealous that she was involved with another man." "But her husband is dead, isn't he, Agent Mulder?" asked James from his seat next to Scully. Scully and Mulder shared a private smile then, and Scully spoke up. "You will find, Agent James, that a small fact like that is not enough to stop Agent Mulder." Mulder turned the projector off and the lights back on. Then he took a seat at his desk. "Scully, this is similar to the case of Howard Graves and Lauren Kytes. Only this time, the spirit is not interested in protecting those he left behind. He wants revenge." Scully folded her hands on the desk in front of her. "That's true, Mulder. But we have never come across a ghost that is able to take over the body of a living human being." James looked from Scully to Mulder and back again. He couldn't believe what he was hearing. "Are you two nuts, or something?" he finally asked. "You're sitting here, actually discussing the possibility that a ghost killed somebody. How do you even know that ghosts exist?" Scully smiled at Mulder, then, and it was beginning to annoy James. Why didn't she ever smile at him that way? It seemed all she could offer him was the occasional smirk or scowl. "Agent James, when I was first assigned to work with Agent Mulder, I was as you are now: a true skeptic. But, as time passed and we found certain cases, I saw things that I had never even thought possible. I am still a skeptic, and I still try to base everything in science, but sometimes, science just doesn't apply, and I have to accept the fact that Mulder may be right." Then she turned to Mulder. "Where and when?" Mulder looked down at the case file, smiled, and looked back up. "Oh, you're gonna love this one, Scully. We leave today for a little town in Ohio called Salem." Scully had to chuckle. "How appropriate. Well, I suppose that we all better pack." She turned to James. "This could be a long trip." * * * Agent Eric James' apartment 10:13 a.m. Mulder and Scully sat outside of James' apartment, waiting for him to come out. They were all packed and ready to go. But James seemed to need a lot more time to get ready. Mulder sighed and turned the car off. He stared up at the windows of the apartment for a couple of seconds, but his gaze eventually strayed to Scully. She was looking up at the grey sky that threatened a storm. "Scully?" She didn't look at him. "Yes." "I hope you're not thinking that you want to take back what you said to me." Now her eyes met his. "Of course not. Why would you say that?" "Oh, come on. There's tons of guys who are better than me. Tons who'd probably treat you better than I do. You know I'm not the flowers and candy kind of guy. Besides, I've seen the way James has been looking at you." She looked confused. "How?" Mulder rolled his eyes. Those beautiful eyes that held the key to Scully's heart. "Please, Scully. He was practically drooling!" Scully was genuinely surprised. "Really? I must not have noticed." Mulder sighed. "How could you not notice? The guy could be a model for *GQ*." Scully looked around to make sure that James wasn't coming, and then she leaned in close to Mulder. She gently touched the side of his face. "I guess I was too busy watching you." Mulder had to smile at that. "Oh? That's funny, because the whole time I was talking about that ghost, all I could seem to think of was how I wanted to jump across that room and tear your clothes off." Scully smiled devilishly. "Ooh, tell me more," she cooed, pulling him even closer. They were about to kiss, when Scully looked up and saw James walking towards them. She quickly pushed Mulder away, and said, "Agent 99 is on his way." To his credit, Mulder recovered quickly, and by the time James slid into the backseat of the car, he and Scully were able to act quite normal. As they drove to Washington National Airport James couldn't stop himself from asking question after question. Mulder was just about ready to pull the car over and throw him out when Scully thankfully jumped in. "Agent James, perhaps these questions could wait until after we've arrived." James looked slightly hurt, but he still flashed Scully his special smile. A smile that Mulder caught in the rear view mirror. It was a smile that he didn't like. "What about on the plane? Perhaps, since you and Agent Mulder always work together, *we* could sit together, Agent Scully." Finally, Scully caught his implied meaning. She glanced at Mulder and could practically *see* the steam coming out of his ears. She knew it took Mulder a long time to get upset, but when he did, look out. She knew that she had to diffuse this situation immediately, or James would go the way of Cancerman and Dr. Daly. "Ah, Agent James, Agent Mulder and I usually like to compare notes while on the plane. Also, I usually begin my report to Skinner," she said as she held up her laptop computer. "So, it would be best if Mulder and I sat together." Mulder wanted to clap and cheer at the way Scully had handled that. James merely nodded dejectedly and said, "Oh, okay." They rode in silence the rest of the way. Finally they arrived, and after finding parking, they all trudged into the terminal. After checking all their baggage they sat down to wait for boarding. As James was finding out, Scully and Mulder *always* sat together. He decided to sit down next to Scully. Scully tried to be polite, but she really wished he wasn't quite so close. For one, it was really getting under Mulder's skin, not that she didn't mind seeing him jealous. Secondly, she had absolutely no interest in him. Suddenly, James turned to Scully. "Agent Scully, may I call you Dana?" Mulder, who had been looking up at the computer monitor praying that they were called soon, snapped his head back in their direction. Scully, for her part, was taken completely back. "Well, *Agent* James," she said, emphasizing the word *agent*, "I don't think that that would be appropriate, do you? After all, I've known Agent Mulder for almost three years and I don't call him by his first name. Do I, Mulder?" Mulder smiled. Once again, Scully had won the battle. "No, you don't, Scully. But, then, that's a different story." James smiled, a bit sardonically, at Mulder. "Yes, but you don't call him *Agent Mulder* all the time. I think that we can dispense with the pleasantries, Agent Scully. You can just call me James." Scully forced a small smile. "All right, *James.* You may call me Scully." Clearly James had been hoping for more. His eyes fell, and he nodded. Just then, a voice came over the loudspeaker. "All passengers booked on flight 809 to Akron, Ohio may begin boarding at Gate 12." Mulder and Scully both rose as though they were one. They walked off together, James trailing behind them, an annoyed look in his eyes. * * * =========================================================================== From: risamy@epix.net (Amy Schatz) Newsgroups: alt.tv.x-files.creative Subject: NEW: I Could Fall - part 5 Date: 11 Oct 1995 17:17:22 GMT And here's part five.... Send all comments to: risamy@epix.net _________________________________ * * * On board Flight 713 >From Akron, OH to Washington, D.C. August 31, 1995 4:21 p.m. Their time had been wasted, Scully thought as she sat next to Mulder on the plane as they flew home to Washington. They had spent a week in Salem, Ohio, only to find that Ms. McSaden was truly delusional. But, Mulder, of course, had witnessed some strange event the last night they spent there, and he insisted that Ms. McSaden's story was true. Scully saw only a mentally disturbed person who had become that way because her previous husband had abused her. Scully looked over at Mulder as he slept next to her, his head resting lightly on her shoulder. It felt good to have him close to her. Once again, she had had to fight off James, telling him that she and Mulder really needed to write up their final report. James had put up a better fight, saying that he could help her, but, in the end, Scully had won again. Now James sat across the aisle from them, reading a magazine. She didn't look at him long. Sighing, she opened her laptop and turned it on. Agent Eric James was quite upset. The whole week he had spent with Mulder and Scully had been very aggravating. He was hardly ever alone with Scully, and that angered him. However, one day, Mulder went off to the library to do some sort of research, and James and Scully went off to do some background checks. At lunchtime they found themselves sitting in a small diner. James couldn't have been happier. She looked so beautiful in her light grey suit with the cream blouse. Her hair seemed almost to glow in the early afternoon light, and her blue eyes were intense. After they had ordered their food Scully had turned her attention to the window, and thoughts of Mulder. Once again, James found himself being ignored, perhaps not intentionally, but nonetheless ignored. He didn't like it. "Scully, can I ask you a question?" Scully's eyes stayed focused on the scenery outside of the diner. "Yes." "How long have you known Agent Mulder?" Scully thought this question a little strange, but saw nothing wrong with it. "For almost three years. Why?" James shrugged. "No reason." In reality, though, he had a very good reason. "Did you ask to be assigned to the X-Files?" Again, Scully didn't like the personal nature of the question, but saw no real harm in answering it. "No. I had been teaching at Quantico when I was transferred. No reason was given. That's when I met Mulder and my whole life changed." James didn't like the sound of adoration in her voice. "Meeting one person changed your whole life? I find that hard to believe." Scully finally looked at him and smiled. He liked being the sole receiver of that smile. "Well, then you don't know Mulder very well. When we first met, we didn't really like each other. I was angry at being put in what I, at the time, considered a dead-end position, and he thought I was there to spy on him." James' eyebrows raised. "Were you?" Suddenly,though, Scully's eyes took on a look of distrust. It was something he hadn't seen in them for a few days. "Agent James," she said in her best FBI `I'm in charge' voice, "just what do you want to know?" Her insolent tone angered him. He made the mistake of speaking without thinking first. It was a mistake he would not soon forget. "Oh, I don't know, Scully. Maybe what you see in Mulder? I mean, the guy's a nut." James never knew what happened until it was too late. Scully leaned forward, across the diner table, and grabbed James by his lapels. She pulled him across the table hard, knocking some silverware and cups off in the process. She brought her face very close to his. When James looked into her eyes, he thought he had never seen such fury in anyone's eyes before. "Agent James, I suggest that you do not speak of Agent Mulder in that way again!" The rest of the people in the restaurant looked in their direction, but Scully didn't seem to care. "If I *ever* hear that tone from you again, you *will* regret it! Have I made myself clear?!" James gulped loudly, clearly frightened. He nodded quickly. "Yes." Scully let him go quickly, as if touching him was totally repugnant. She didn't speak to him again for the rest of the meal. But James simply stared at her in wonderment. He realized that he had underestimated her. He hadn't thought that such a small person could be so physically intimidating. He wouldn't make the same mistake twice. However, he also had a whole new respect for Scully, and a new determination to eventually win her affections.He didn't know that he never had a chance. Now, as James sat on the plane, a whole aisle *and* Mulder separating him from Scully, he decided that he really didn't like Mulder at all. In fact, his dislike was uickly blossoming into hate. James hated Mulder for having met Scully before he had, and he hated him for somehow being the only man Scully smiled at, or laughed with, or wanted. He looked across at Mulder, who also sat on the aisle. However, Mulder's head was on HER shoulder, and that really bothered James, almost to the point that he wanted to scream. But, he didn't. He had everything figured out. He would offer to take Scully home. She couldn't refuse him again. Scully had brought up her word processing program, and had already started their report. She laughed at the word *their.* Mulder always found a way to get out of doing reports. Her gaze fell on him again, and she couldn't help a warm feeling from passing through her. HE was asleep next to her; leaning against her. He trusted her. She had to smile at that. A few years ago she couldn't have imagined such a sight, or loving him; really loving him. But, she did. She knew that was a fact just as breathing was a fact. It happened; involuntarily. You needed to breathe, and she needed to love him. And just as breathing is uncontrollable, so was her love for him. She reached down, then, and took his hand in hers. It was warm, and soft, and she felt like the whole universe was right when she touched him. He stirred slightly, and nuzzled her neck. She sighed in contentment and put his hand back down. She had to finish this report. She began typing again. Scully saved her report and closed her laptop. Rubbing her eyes, she sighed, and by accident, jostled Mulder. His eyes slowly opened and hazel met blue as he gazed up at her. Smiling, and thinking of the time they would spend together that night, he sat up straight. "Are we almost there?" he asked sleepily, leaning over her to peer out the window. All he saw were clouds, and the sun reflecting off them. Scully nodded and consulted her watch. "We should be landing in about ten minutes. Did you sleep well?" Mulder was busy rearranging his dark suit. Scully, for her part, also wore a dark suit. They both also wore white shirts. They had joked earlier that morning that they must be in telepathic connection. "Jeez, Mulder," she had said, as they stood by the car waiting for James, "do you think if I burned my hand with a frying pan you'd feel it, too?" Mulder had smiled, remembering countless bad paranormal television shows, and that ad for books that asked you all sorts of questions, and then told you to read the book if you wanted to find out the answers. "Only if you handed it to me." They had both laughed at that. Then, James had arrived, and their faces had grown solemn. Now, as they sat in the big jet, Mulder nodded. "Yes, I did. You know, Scully, it's strange, but whenever I fall asleep with you, my nightmares don't come." Scully squeezed his arm, making sure that no one, particularly James saw. "I don't find it that strange, Mulder." She gave him that special smile that promised time they would spend together later. "Hey, what are you guys whispering about?" James called to them. Mulder turned, reluctantly to him. "I was just asking when we would be landing. Well, James, what will you be doing after this?" James' eyes narrowed and he felt an angry response welling up in his throat like a growl, but he somehow controlled himself. He even managed to shrug casually. "I don't know. I suppose that Skinner will decided how well I performed on this case, and if the situation permits, assign me a partner, and put me out in the field." Scully looked over at him. "You do know that, if you *are* given field duty, you will probably be transferred to a field office?" It seemed to James that she actually enjoyed telling him that. Like she would be happy to get rid of him. Well, he would change all that tonight when he took her home, pulled her close, and swept her off her feet. She'd forget about Mulder so fast... He nodded. "Yes, I know that. By the way, Scully, do you need me to add anything to your report?" James had hoped to get a smile and a `yes.' He did not. Instead, Scully smiled at *Mulder*, and said, "I don't know why you should, Mulder never does." James nodded through gritted teeth, and sat back in his chair, as the captain announced that the plane would be landing soon. The two agents said nothing else to Agent James. =========================================================================== From: risamy@epix.net (Amy Schatz) Newsgroups: alt.tv.x-files.creative Subject: NEW: I Could Fall - part 6 Date: 11 Oct 1995 17:19:54 GMT It's part six! Read on.... ________________________________ Washington International Airport 5:00 p.m. Mulder, Scully, and James trudged off of the debarking ramp, and headed for the baggage carousel where they hoped their luggage would appear. As they stood above the circling machine watching suitcases of all sizes, shapes, and colors float by, they finally spotted theirs and grabbed them quickly. Mulder, who had been the first to find his things, turned and headed for one of the exits. He had only gotten three steps, when a man who was passing him, grabbed him in a headlock, pulled out a semi-automatic gun, and pointed it at Mulder's head. "Everybody, stop!" the man screamed at the top of his lungs. Everyone in the airport stopped what they were doing to stare at the scene before them. Scully felt as though time moved in slow motion, as she turned to confront the scene before her. What she saw scared her to death. The man had his left arm encircled tightly about Mulder's neck, and the other held a gun to Mulder's right temple. Mulder had dropped his luggage when the man grabbed him, and now Scully did the same. She immediately put her hands out in front of her in a calming motion, and spoke. "Sir, what is the problem?" she asked in a voice that was both soothing and authoritative. The man was tall, as tall as Mulder, but much heavier. He had blonde hair cut in a bowl fashion, and thick, black glasses. His forehead was beaded with sweat, and he wore jeans and a white T-shirt. The man was breathing in short gasps. "I have to get out of here!" he yelled at Scully. Scully nodded, and looked in back of her to see where James was. He was just *standing* there! She had forgotten that he had no field experience, and he hadn't gotten any on their last case. If it had been Mulder back there, he would already be behind the criminal, ready to attack. Scully stopped her mind from running away from her. She had to think clearly. She *had* to save Mulder. She looked back at the man. "Sir, I am going to reach into my coat pocket and get my badge, okay? Do not be frightened." The man nodded. "Okay, but I'm watching you." Scully did as she said, and held her credentials before the man. She was standing about forty feet from Mulder and this person. "I am a federal agent, sir. I can help you, but only if you help me. What do you want?" "I want a ticket on a plane that's going out of the country." "Okay, sir, I can do that." Scully looked over at one of the ticket counters. She found a frightened woman staring back at her. "Ma'am", she called, "please find a plane for this man!" The woman managed to nod, and suddenly the sound of computer keys rang out in the deathly silent room. Once again, Scully turned back to look at James. He was still standing there like an idiot. She realized that she would have to find a way to save Mulder without any help from James. She turned back to the man holding Mulder hostage, and knew what had to be done. "Sir, what is your name?" The man smiled in that strange way that mentally disturbed people do. "Nice try, lady, but I don't think so." Scully smiled, too. "No, sir, you don't understand. Just tell me your first name." The man smiled again. "Ronny." Scully sighed. "Okay, Ronny, I am going to slip my jacket off." Ronny looked at her in interest. "Okay..." Scully did so. "Now I'm going to take my gun off." "Goody," said Ronny, rather like a schoolboy. In his hard grasp, Mulder fought just to get enough breath. Scully's gun and shoulder holster soon joined her coat on the floor. Behind her, James was frozen with fear. Now Scully faced Ronny fully. She had to phrase this just right, or he wouldn't go for it. "Ronny," she began, "do you plan to take that man with you wherever you go?" Ronny looked down at Mulder, whose knees were bent slightly. "No." "He's kinda tall, isn't he?" she asked. Ronny nodded. "Yeah." "He'd only get in your way, Ronny. You need somebody smaller. Somebody who wouldn't put up a fight." The minute those words left her mouth, Mulder's eyes bulged and he fought against Ronny's arm, trying to push it away from his throat. He succeeded, and was able to mumble. "Scully, no!" he gasped. Scully shot him a look that said everything at once: shut up, you dolt, I love you and I'm trying to save you! Ronny looked back at Mulder. "You know her?" Scully sighed. She had hoped that he wouldn't have found this out. "Yes, Ronny, he's my partner." Ronny suddenly realized the implications. Partners protected each other; they were supposed to be able to die for each other. "Oh really?" "Yes, Ronny." "Well, then, maybe I *do* want to keep him." Scully saw that she was losing him. "Ronny, wouldn't you rather take me? I'm small. I'm a woman. I wouldn't be any trouble to you." Ronny considered this. He had no idea of what kind of training the FBI put ALL its agents through. Besides, he was rather sexist and figured that no woman could defend herself against a man. He nodded. "Yeah, I think I would." Scully sighed in relief. "Okay, then. I'll come close to you, and we'll make the change. Deal?" "Yeah, as soon as someone brings me some masking tape." "What for?" she asked, though she already knew what the answer would be. Ronny looked at her as if she were an idiot. "To tie your hands, sweetie." Standing behind Scully, James finally understood something. He realized how much these two people meant to each other. He also realized that Scully would do anything for Mulder; give him anything, including her life. He was her whole world. James finally understood that. He also realized what a fool he had been to think that he could ever mean as much to Scully as Mulder did. Magically, a woman appeared behind Scully and handed her the tape. Scully held it up for Ronny to see. "Okay, Ronny, here it is." "Have that guy behind you tie your hands." Once again Mulder fought to speak, and once again, Scully glared at him. Behind her, James took the tape and came to stand in front of her. He wound it around her wrists. As he did, he leaned down and whispered in her ear. "Scully, are you sure about this?" he was able to stammer through his fear. Scully didn't look at him. "James, there is nothing to be sure about. That is Mulder over there, and I have to do this. I have to save him. Now, stay back." James finished his job and stepped back. Scully looked at Ronny, then at Mulder. When she spoke, she never took her eyes off him. "I'm ready, Ronny." Ronny swallowed. "Okay, then. Come here. Come right up close." Scully glanced out the huge viewing windows and at the late afternoon light that fell through them. As she closed the distance between herself and Ronny, she asked God to keep her and Mulder safe. When she stood right in front of Ronny, he looked at her appreciatively. "Hey, you're pretty," he leered. Mulder stirred again, his mouth set in a grim line of determination. Scully looked down at Mulder, and her eyes begged him to be still. Then, she forced a smile. "Hey, nice jacket, Mulder. Too bad mine's not as nice." Mulder looked at her quizzically. What the hell was she talking about? Suddenly, Ronny threw Mulder away from him hard, and grabbed Scully in the same headlock Mulder had been in. The rest of the people looked on in horror. They couldn't believe that what they saw was real. Mulder lay on the floor a few feet away from Ronny, gasping and clutching his throat. After a few moments, he coughed, and stood up. Now Mulder faced Ronny and Scully. He was about to speak when Ronny did. "Hey, isn't my ticket ready yet?" Mulder looked over to the woman, and she shook her head. "Not...yet, Ronny," he said haltingly. "Look, Ronny, you...don't have to hold her like that. Why don't you sit down?" Ronny saw how much this man cared for the woman he held. He wanted to make sure that this man knew that he meant business. He looked to his right and found a shiny wall. Smiling, and pulling Scully up to her full height, he grabbed her collar, and began to walk over to the wall. Before he got there, he said, "Yes, Mr. FBI, I think we will sit down." Suddenly, he threw Scully into the wall as hard as he could. Scully hadn't been expecting anything like that, so she hit the wall full force. Her head hit the wall first, then the rest of her body. She cried out and fell limply to the floor. "Scully!" Mulder screamed, and ran towards her. He was stopped by Ronny's gun. Ronny had it pointed at Scully's still form; at her head. "Come any closer, and I'll shoot her!" he shouted. Mulder knew that Ronny was telling the truth. But his arms ached to hold Scully, and touch her; tell her that everything would be okay. Mulder put his arms out and said, "Okay, Ronny. You're in charge." Ronny nodded and smiled fiendishly. "That's right. I am." His gaze then flicked to Scully. He pushed at her with his foot. "Get up." A low moan escaped her lips as she rolled from her stomach to her back, then to her side. She faced Mulder as she lay there a thousand drums pounding in her head. Ronny pushed at her again. "I said get up, lady." Scully used all the willpower she had to open her eyes, and found that they weren't much use. Her vision was dark and blurry. Her hands went to her eyes and rubbed them. When that didn't help, she forced herself up onto all fours, her head hanging low. "Scully, are you all right?" Mulder asked from his position twenty feet away. Apparently that was the wrong thing to say, because before Mulder could count to three, Ronny was before him, with the gun to his throat. His eyes looked like they were on fire. "Did I say you could talk to her, Mr. FBI?" he yelled. Mulder somehow kept his cool. "No, Ronny, you didn't." James didn't know how Mulder wasn't fuming by now. He shook his head. he thought. Actually, Mulder was nearing the breaking point. He just didn't intend for Ronny to know that. Ronny was still before Mulder, when a thought seemed to strike the lawless man. He looked Mulder up and down. "Hey, do you got a gun?" Mulder thought about lying, but then decided against it. It would only serve to make Ronny angrier, and that might provoke him into really hurting Scully. "Yes." Ronny stuck his empty hand out. "Hand it over, Mr. FBI." Mulder very slowly slid held his jacket open, and reached for the gun that sat in his shoulder holster. He hadn't used it before, because he never would have had enough time to get it. He handed it over to Ronny, and then Ronny retreated back to Scully, who was still on all fours. "Hey, lady, I told you to get up." Scully looked up at Ronny through her hair, and all she saw was a dark, blurry form. she thought. "I can't see very well," she mumbled. Ronny's face darkened. He hated females that didn't listen to him. Suddenly, a wave of anger overcame him, and he kicked her hard in the stomach, sending her crashing to the floor. Mulder was about to charge to her, when Ronny pointed two guns in his face. "Stop, Mr. FBI!" he shouted. "Stop hurting her, you bastard!" Mulder yelled back. His eyes fell on Scully, who lay on her side in a fetal position, clutching her stomach. A thin trickle of blood, that came from a cut on her forehead, eased down her temple and cheek. Around them the patrons of the airport looked on with eyes as wide as the ocean. Ronny looked to Scully. "Get up!" he yelled, and pushed at her now sensitive stomach. She immediately recoiled from his touch, and got up into a sitting position, as quickly as her pain would allow. Leaning back against the cool wall, she absently wiped some blood away from her mouth. She took a few deep breaths, and then spoke. "I'm okay, Mulder." Ronny glared at her, but took no action. Mulder looked at her and his heart broke. How many times had she been hurt because of him? How many more nights would she have to endure terrible nightmares that reminded her? He knew that she had them. The night they had spent together, he had heard her mumbling. He had seen her toss and turn. he thought wryly. Mulder didn't dare speak to her and risk provoking Ronny again. Even though he wanted to soothe her, and whisper to her, he knew he couldn't. So, he nodded to her. Meanwhile, Scully was studying Ronny. He was obviously getting nervous and jittery. she wondered. "Ronny, why don't you ask about your ticket?" she said casually. It was a mistake. Ronny had been staring out the huge window. Upon hearing her voice, he swirled in her direction, and his foot once again swung to make contact with her stomach. This time, however, Scully was ready for him, and when his foot hit her stomach, she caught it and kept it there. Then, in a motion swift and quick, she raised to her haunches and threw him backwards with all her strength. Ronny fell hard on his back. No one moved. No one breathed. No one even blinked. But inside Mulder cheered. He also made a mental note never to get on Scully's bad side. Ronny lay there, regaining his composure, but mostly, he couldn't believe that a woman had just done that to him. As Mulder watched Scully and Ronny helplessly, something she had said to him resounded in his mind. Finally, leaving one gun on the floor, Ronny got to his feet and rushed Scully, who was now standing. Scully let him come. She had devised a plan since seeing that he had left his gun. She only hoped that Mulder remembered her clue. Scully waited until Ronny was so close that she could feel his hot breath, and then she stepped slightly aside, and drove both hands, still tied together and entwined into a double fist, down onto his back, sending him, once again to the floor. The minute he fell, she took two steps forward and then dove for his other gun. As she did so, Mulder leaped for Scully's jacket, and *her* gun. Ronny, however, recovered first, and came up to his knees, swinging his gun around to aim it at Scully's head. Scully's vision was still hampered and her hands were tied, so she was having some trouble, and wasn't as quick as she normally would have been. Mulder reached her gun, and swung it in an arc that came to rest on Ronny. He saw that Ronny was about to shoot Scully, and he did not hesitate before pulling the trigger. The bullet tore through Ronny's left shoulder, and sent him crashing, once again, to the floor. When Scully saw what happened, and realized that she had come so close to death once again, it was too much for her. She dropped the gun, Mulder's gun, from her hands, and sunk to the floor. Mulder looked back at James, who stared at him slackjawed. He motioned for James to bind Ronny, and call the authorities. Then Mulder ran to Scully. He took her in his arms and stroked her face gently. Her eyes were half open, and they looked glossy. "Good plan, Scully." She smiled faintly, feeling safe now that he was near. Pulling closer to him, she rested her head against his chest, and breathed in the familiar smells of him: his cologne, the smell of his suit, the faint odor of his hair. "I knew you'd figure it out." Mulder sighed. "Scully, why did you take such a risk? What if I hadn't remembered what you said?" Scully didn't waver. "I knew you would. I trust you. Besides, I had to save you." Mulder shook his head. He also didn't know if he should feel frightened to death, or grateful, or happy. No one had ever loved him so much that they would risk so much for him. It was overwhelming. And it warmed his heart. As he looked down at this petite woman who had fought a two hundred pound man and won, he felt his love for her swell to encompass his whole soul. He remembered an old saying: Love isn't love until you give it away. That day, Scully had offered her life for his. She had offered to give her life away because she loved him. She had been willing to die for him. She *had* almost died. He knew he could never let her go. He could never love anyone as much. He didn't want to. * * * =========================================================================== From: risamy@epix.net (Amy Schatz) Newsgroups: alt.tv.x-files.creative Subject: NEW: I Could Fall - the conclusion (part 7) - fall7.asc [1/1] Date: 11 Oct 1995 17:31:25 GMT And, finally, the conclusion. If anybody's missing any parts, just let me know. Write to me at: risamy@epix.net Oh, and Melissa, I swear that I'll send you something today! Amy _____________________________________ Georgetown Medical Center Washington D.C. 8:07 p.m. Scully sat on a hospital bed while a young doctor examined her. She sat quite patiently, and didn't look very upset. Mulder stood right beside her, while James lingered at the foot of the bed, where the shadows were. The doctor took out a small light, and shone it in her eyes. "So, you say that your eyesight has returned to normal?" Scully nodded. "Yes. It cleared up about an hour ago." She looked at Mulder. "I think it was right in the middle of the press conference." Mulder chuckled softly. "Do you have any other lingering after-affects?" asked the doctor, as he consulted Scully's medical sheet. Scully shook her head. "Nothing except for a headache," she said as she touched the bandage that covered the nasty cut she had received from hitting the wall. The doctor nodded. "Okay," he said softly, "I'll let you go home, but if it's possible, let someone else drive you. Your eyesight still concerns me. If the blurryiness returns, please call." Scully agreed. "Okay." The doctor turned to Mulder. "Can she be trusted?" Mulder grinned lopsidedly. "No, but I'll watch over her." Scully almost blushed. "He always has." Mulder looked her right in the eye. "And I always will." The doctor left, then, a bit confused, but he had heard stories of these two agents. After all, they made frequent trips to the hospital. According to the grape vine, they chased monsters, or some such nonsense. Mulder turned to James. "So, I guess we'll see you tomorrow, James." James smiled at the two agents. Any fool could see that they were head-over-heels in love with each other. How had he missed it? Perhaps, his own ego had blinded him. Either way, he knew when he was beaten, at least for now. He wasn't about to hang around and be reminded of it every minute. "No. When I told Skinner about what happened, I asked to be returned to the Behavioral Sciences Unit in Quantico. I thought it was for the best." Mulder was truly surprised, but, he had to admit that James didn't have the stuff of a field agent. "Really?" James rolled his eyes. "Oh, come on, Mulder, I think that the airport is our best evidence. I was so scared I couldn't even move. I'm definitely a scientist, not a cop. I'll be happier there." Mulder extended his hand. "I wish you the best of luck, Agent James," he said sincerely. James shook it. "Thank you." Scully, following suit, extended her hand. "Yes, Agent James, the best of luck." James smiled at her and shook her hand. "You know, Agent Scully, when I first met you and Mulder, I thought that you'd be better off without him and the X- Files. Now, maybe you could learn to live without the X-Files, but I don't think you could bear to loose Mulder. You must know that that was very hard for me to accept. But, after what I saw today at the airport, I can only hope that someday, someone will care as much for me. Goodbye." After he left, Mulder turned to Scully. "Do you know what he was talking about?" he asked innocently. She looked at him with equal innocence. "I haven't any idea." Mulder moved closer to her. "By the way, Scully, I didn't know you were the *Karate Kid's* understudy." Scully encircled his neck with her arms. "You never asked." Mulder smiled and pulled her closer to him in a soft kiss that seemed to last forever. * * * Dana Scully's Apartment 10:13 p.m. Mulder unlocked her door, and guided her inside. Scully had been silent the whole ride home. Mulder knew her well enough to know that she had been thinking about their situation. He hoped that she didn't want to take it all back. How could he go on if she did? He didn't want to think about it. Scully headed for her couch, but Mulder stopped her. "No, Scully. Time for bed." She gave him a curious smile, but he ignored it in top Mulderesque fashion. He gently sat her down on the edge of her bed, and then left the room. For a minute, Scully actually entertained the idea that he was going to leave her there alone. "Fox!" she called out softly. She was tired, but not overly so. She just wanted him close to her so she could feel safe again. Looking down at her stomach, she touched it gently. It wasn't as sensitive as it had been. Mostly, it was her head that hurt. Moments later, Mulder came back into the room holding a glass of milk. His eyes were glistening with mischief, and he wore that lopsided grin that Scully had come to know and love. As he stood there, a car cruised down the street and its headlights flickered across Mulder's face. Scully didn't like that look. "Fox," she said, still not used to calling him that, "what have you done? What do you have?" Mulder held the glass out in front of him. "Warm milk," he said, his eyes sparkling. Scully brought a hand to her forehead in melodramatic fashion. "No, anything but warm milk!" Mulder thought about it for a minute. "Would you believe iced tea?" he asked, imitating Don Adams. Scully gave him "the Look" and sighed. "No, I wouldn't, Maxwell. Besides, I'm not Agent 99, that was James, remember?" Mulder smiled and handed her the milk. "Well, drink it anyway, Dana. It will help you sleep." Dana rolled her eyes. "I'm-" He held his hand up, cutting her off. "And don't you dare say, 'I'm fine, Mulder.'. You're not fine, Dana." "I was going to say that I'm not tired. Is that allowed?" Mulder nodded in exhaustion. "Yes, Dana, that is allowed. Now, drink up," he said as he gestured towards the glass. The moment the glass touched her lips, Mulder was up and out of the room again. she thought. Seconds later, Dana heard music drifting through her small apartment. It was a nice, soft rock station. Just what she liked. Mulder then reappeared and knelt before her. He slipped her shoes off and then retreated to her dresser. Rifling through it, he finally found a set of pajamas. Shoving them under one arm, he went back to her, and helped her off the bed. She looked up at him curiously. "Fox, what are you doing?" "Helping you to the bathroom so you can change," he said matter-of-factly. After he had closed the door behind her, he returned to her dresser, and went straight to the drawer that had become "his." Taking out a fresh set of sweatpants and a t-shirt, he quickly changed, and was turning down the bed when Scully emerged from the bathroom. He turned to look at her and his found his breath gone. She was so beautiful, even after what happened to her today. She had removed all her makeup, and looked fresh and young. She still had the bnadage on her forehead, but that would heal in a few days. Her hair was brushed away from her face, and her eyes were clear. That reminded him. As he helped her to the bed, he asked, "How are your eyes?" Dana looked up at him affectionately. He could be so gentle and kind when he wanted to be. She reached up and touched his cheek. "It's fine. *I'm* fine. Don't worry." Mulder sat her down on the bed again, and mumbled, "Yeah, right. I'll just stop worrying after three years. Sure, I can do that." Dana smiled, layed down on the pillow, and held out her arms. Fox smiled back at her, slipped under the covers as well. Suddenly, she was in his arms and close to him. She rested her head on his shoulder and wrapped her arms around him. She sighed in contentment. Now she was safe. Fox reached up and turned off the light. The sweet, faint smell of her shampoo and perfume filled him, and he never felt so happy or safe than when she was with him. He knew that no nightmares would assault him this night, because she was there to stop them. He was loved, and so was she. And whatever would happened tomorrow or the next day, they knew they would face it together. Always together. Fox held her tighter, and whispered, "Dana, I love you. Always." "I love you, too, Fox." There was silence, then, except for the soft sounds of music and lyrics winding together like a magical potion. "Dana?" She sighed. "Yes, Fox?" "Thank you for today." "I only did what I had to do. You're my partner, and I love you." "You could have died, and it would have been for me." He felt Dana nod. "Yes, that's right." She pulled away from him then, and looked deeply into those beautiful eyes of his. "I *would* die for you, Fox. I love you. That's what you do for someone you love. You risked your life for me lots of times." He touched her cheek. "I know. But no one ever loved *me* that much before." A tear glistened in his eyes, and she wiped it away. "They never knew what they were missing." At that moment, Fox thought that he could never love her more. He leaned close and kissed her gently. She responded by pulling him closer and down onto the pillow. Then, as they held each other, and drifted off to sleep, the lyrics of a song floated into their room and minds. I could lose my heart tonight If you don't turn and walk away Cause the way I feel I might Lose control and let you stay Cause I could take you in my arms And never let go I could fall in love with you I could fall in love with you, baby I can only wonder how Touching you would make me feel But if I take that chance right now Tomorrow will you want me still? So I should keep this to myself And never let you know I could fall in love with you I could fall in love with you, baby And I know it's not right And I guess I should try To do what I should do But I could fall in love with you I could fall in love with you So I should keep this to myself And never let you know But I could fall in love with you . . . That night as they slept they were one mind, one consciousness, one soul. They had fallen in love and it had healed both their broken hearts. They would never be alone again. THE END ___________________________________ Let me know what you think.