Date: 1997/02/02
Subject: Just Another Day by Andrea 1/1

****It's well known that the characters and situations of the television
program "The X- Files" are the creations and property of Chris Carter,
Fox Broadcasting, and Ten-Thirteen Productions; they have been used
without permission. Lines also appearing from William Shakespeare's
"Sonnet".  No copyright infringement is intended.

Classification/Summary: Valentine's Day -- MSR -- Who could resist a
challenge?

JUST ANOTHER DAY (1/1) ---  

It hurt the most to see them laugh.  She was waiting in front of her
apartment for her partner to pick her up on his way to work.  The
couple just happened to be there.  They were about her age and very
much in love with one another.  They were holding hands and walking
down the opposite side of the street.  They stopped to look at the
icicles hanging off another apartment awning, laughing at a shared
secret.

Happy 'Singles Awareness Day' Dana she thought to herself.  She tried
to remind herself that Valentine's Day was just another day, but so
far it didn't seem to be working.  She wondered for the umpteenth time
if she should have gotten a card for Mulder.  No, he'd probably think
she was being silly and tease her about it for the rest of the day.

He didn't comment on the date when she got into his car.  Rather, he
launched right into conversation about a case that they were currently
working on.  She was glad that she didn't waste her money on a card.

At work it was hard for her to concentrate on anything.  The couple's
laughter from earlier on was still echoing in her head.  It didn't
help that many of the other women who worked for the Bureau had
received cards or flowers from their significant others.  She had seen
them on the way to her office.  She glanced at Mulder.  He seemed
focused on whatever he was working on.  If he even noticed that there
was anything different about today he didn't comment.

She somehow managed to make it through the entire day and was glad
when Mulder pulled up in front of her apartment building.

She unfastened her seat belt.  "Thanks for the ride".
"My pleasure as always".  He flashed her a brilliant smile.
She smiled back at him.  "Big plans for the weekend Mulder?".
He gave her a what only could be called a coy expression, "I plan to
perfect my Vulcan mind meld with the stray cat that I picked up".
She laughed and shook her head.  "Well don't hurt yourself".
She opened the passenger door and proceeded to get out of the car.
"Here Scully, don't forget your briefcase".
"Thanks".

Home at last.  Here she could hide from the Valentine Mania that has
captivated the rest of the country.   She flicked on the television.
Mindless babble was just what she needed.

"Running now until midnight, the greatest love stories ever made into
feature films"

She flicked off the television.  Maybe it would be better if she tried to
get the work done that she should have finished earlier on today.  She
fixed herself a microwave dinner and settled down at the table with her
briefcase.  She flipped open the familiar clasps.  It took her a moment
to adjust to what she saw.

On top of her file folders lay a single, perfectly formed red rose.

There was a note attached:

______________________________
For nothing this wide universe I call
Save thou, my rose; in it thou art my all

Happy Valentine's Day Scully
______________________________

She smiled slowly as she felt the velvety softness of the rose.  Before
she could change her mind, she reached for her phone and dialed one of
the only numbers she knew by heart.

----------------------------------------------------------------

JUST ANOTHER DAY (2/3)

Her fingers trembled as she dialed Mulder's home phone number.  She
wasn't exactly sure what she would say when he answered, but she
supposed that she would cross that bridge when she comes to it.

After four rings she heard the click of the answering machine as it
picked up.

"Fox Mulder, leave a message."

She hung the phone back on its cradle and tried to shake the twinge of
disappointment that came over her.  She knew she could phone him on
his cell phone, but she wasn't sure if she really wanted to know where
he was right now.  After all, it was Valentine's Day.

Whoa, what was that?  -- Jealousy?  She chastised herself mentally.
What did she expect?  That he would want to spend Valentine's Day
with his partner?  Get a life Dana, obviously he has one.

She looked at the rose again.  It was lying on the table where she left
it. Would he ever stop surprising her?

She dug around the kitchen for a vase.  She finally found one in the
very back of a storage cupboard.  It was dusty from lack of use.  How
ironic.  She tried to ignore the similarities of the vase and her love
life.

She washed the vase and filled it half full with water.  She picked up
the rose for the second time.  The florist had cut the thorns off.  She
wondered about how it must feel to be stripped of your only armor.
Vulnerable was her only answer.  She allowed the rose to slide from her
hand into the vase, noticing the subtle changes in its texture.

The note that accompanied the rose caught her eye.  She smiled.  He
knew she loved Shakespeare.

She wondered where he was.  It wasn't as though he would have had a
problem finding a date for tonight.  O.K., she decided that she was
being ridiculous. She told herself to stop thinking about Valentine's Day
--- it was only a another Hallmark conspiracy generated to boost card
sales.

She decided she would have better luck with one of the movies.  At
least it would take her mind off of things.  She flicked the television
back on.  The next movie was just about to start.  She prepared to
drown herself in the storyline when she heard a light knocking on her
door.

She ran a hand absently through her hair as she got up off of the couch.
"Scully, open up, it's me".
Mulder.
She walked over and flipped the latch to unlock the door.
"Mulder..."
She took a step backwards to let him in.
They stood there facing one another for a moment.  Scully gestured him
inside.

She walked into the living room.  Mulder followed behind her, taking
off his coat and draping it onto a chair.  He sat down on the opposite
end of the couch as her.  He appeared nonchalant.
"Would you believe that I was in the neighborhood?"
She gave him a leveled look.
He smiled slightly and shrugged his shoulders.  "Actually, I just got
back from dinner with a beautiful woman".
"Oh."  Six years of post secondary education and that was the best that
she could come up with.  She mentally cringed.
"Yeah,  mom says 'hi'."
She could only manage to nod in response.

His eyes scanned the room and fell on the rose.  She followed his stare.
"Thanks for the valentine..."  She let the end of her sentence drift off.
He shifted his eyes to her.  He didn't respond.  She hadn't really
expected him to.

"Would you like anything to drink? -- I don't have much, but I think I
have some Ginger Ale cold."  He nodded.

She brought back two glasses from the kitchen.  He appeared to be
watching the movie.  She put her drink down on the coffee table but
handed his directly to him.  When he reached for the glass, she noticed
a paper thin cut running along the back of his right hand.

Traces of a smile rose to her lips.  "It looks as though your cat
resisted the entire mind-melding experience".

He looked directly at her.  He tilted his head slightly.  "You do
realize that every rose has its thorn, don't you Scully..."

JUST ANOTHER DAY (3/3 The End)

She gave him a look to let him know that the saying was clich  - even
for him.

He took the glass that she was offering and set it down.  He flexed his
'injured' hand.  "Besides, as a doctor, I think that you would agree that
it's only superficial."  His smile was genuine and the look he gave her
would have made millions if it could have been bottled and sold.

She broke the gaze first.  She fixed her eyes on the floor, seeming to
collect her thoughts.  She looked up at him again.  "Why did you come
here tonight Mulder?"

"I heard a rumor that they were showing "Sleepless in Seattle" on the
movie channel, and there was this freak accident with my cable..."

"Mulder, I'm being serious."  He could tell by her expression that she
was.  He decided to be honest.

"I knew that you wouldn't want to spend today alone".  He spoke the
words quietly, she almost couldn't hear him.

"I'm a big girl Mulder, I don't need your pity".  He had brought her
guard up and that was the last thing that he had wanted to do.  Not
now, not ever.

"My pity Scully?  You have my admiration, my trust, but never my
pity."

She averted her eyes from his.  Some of her hair fell onto her face.
Mulder brushed it back gently and pulled her chin up so that she was
facing  him again.  "More importantly Dana, you have my friendship...
always".

Their proximity on the couch had grown considerably since the start of
the conversation.  They were no longer very far apart.  Scully still
had not said anything, but at least she continued to look at him.

He smiled slightly.  "Besides, I can't think of anywhere else I would
rather be today other than right here."  His voice was low, almost as
though he wasn't even speaking.

She brought her face close enough so that they were a fraction of an
inch away from touching.  The tone of her voice echoed his.  "Happy
Valentine's Day Mulder".  She  leaned forward and kissed him lightly
on the corner of his mouth.  She rested her forehead against his and felt
his arms circle her waist.  They stayed like that for a moment.  She felt
him pull her into an embrace.

"I have something to tell you Scully"
"What's that?"
"I don't have a cat..."

She laughed and decided that maybe she wouldn't bouycot Valentine's
Day after all.

THE END
________________________________________

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