From: "Jim & Carol Gritton" <jimcaz@dircon.co.uk>
Date: Mon, 29 Mar 1999 19:12:52 +0100
Subject: NEW: Kat 1/8  by Carol Gritton


TITLE: Kat 1/8

AUTHOR: Carol Gritton (jimcaz@dircon.co.uk)

DISCLAIMER: Fox Mulder, Dana Scully belong to Chris Carter, 1013 and
Fox TV.  They are used without permission and no infringement of
copyright is intended.

RATING: NC 17 for sexual content, language and violence.

CLASSIFICATION: S, A, R (Mulder/Other)

KEYWORDS: Alternate universe, Post XF, Mulder/other romance,
Scully/other romance, Mulder/Scully friendship

SPOILER: Vague references to "Paper Hearts" and "Redux II".

SUMMARY: Having forged a new life for himself after the X Files,
Mulder finds his new found peace and happiness under threat when
events from the past come back to haunt him.

AUTHOR'S NOTES: This story was inspired by "Is That All I Have To
Tell Myself?" written by Patty Hayes, and available on the Gossamer
archive.  This is not strictly a sequel and it is not necessary to
have read the original story as the events are covered in this text.

I would like to thank Patty for her extensive contributions to this
story, for her tireless encouragement and her patience as my sounding
board - if not for her, "Kat" would not be the story that it is.

Any liberties taken with the judicial system are entirely down to
artistic licence.

Angela Rose and Jarrod Pearce belong to Patty Hayes.

COMMENTS: Feedback is greatly appreciated and will be made welcome at
the above address.

Kat 1/8
by Carol Gritton (jimcaz@dircon.co.uk)

     Fox Mulder slipped unnoticed into the court room - unnoticed by
anyone except the prosecuting attorney.  She saw him out of the corner
of her eye as he took a seat at the back of the court, but didn't let
it distract her.  She carried on without missing a beat.
     "Come now, Mr Edwards - it's a simple enough question.  Were you
or were you not there on the night that Davis MacLeod was murdered?"
     The defence attorney was up on his feet.  "Objection, Your
Honour.  Counsel is badgering the witness!"
     "Sustained."  Judge Avery Harlan regarded the young Assistant
District Attorney over the top of his glasses.  "Ms Lawrence, please
don't let me have to remind you again."
     "No, Your Honour. My apologies - it won't happen again."  She
gave the judge a smile.  "I have no further questions for this
witness."
     "Very well.  The witness may step down.  Court will reconvene at
10.00 a.m. tomorrow."  Judge Harlan brought the hammer down on the
gavel, concluding the day's business.

     "Hey," said Mulder softly, running a hand over her back.
     "Hey yourself," smiled Katya Lawrence, tilting her face up to
receive a kiss.  She stuffed her papers into an expensive looking
briefcase.
     "You shouldn't be spending all day on your feet."  Mulder
caressed the softly rounded belly beneath his hand.  "You should be
taking it easy."
     "I'm fine, Fox.  I can't present my case sitting down - it kind
of undermines my authority, you know?"  She smiled up at him.  "What
are you doing here, anyway?"
     "I came to watch my wife in action," he replied with a grin.
"You ever tempted to go into private practice, Kat?  You'd make a hell
of a lot more money."
     "The same as you would if you went into private practice as a
psychologist, instead of chasing all those little mysteries of yours."
     Since Mulder had left the Bureau, he'd set up at as a freelance
investigator.  It was the thing he did best.  And he'd gotten married,
to Katya Lawrence, scourge of the DA's office.
     "I like being my own man," replied Mulder.  "And it gives me the
freedom to pursue other interests.  Like coming down here to watch my
wife!"
     "You'll never make any money sitting here watching me all day!"
said Kat good-naturedly.
     He grinned at her.  "Beats sitting at home waiting for the phone
to ring!  Actually, I'm here to offer you a ride home."
     "That's the best offer I've had all day.  I'd love a ride home,
Fox."

     "How's junior?" asked Mulder, keeping one hand on the wheel as
the other ran over Kat's belly.
     "Fine.  Mom's a little tired, though."
     "How much longer do you think the case will last?"
     "Another week, at least."
     Mulder made a face.  He would have preferred that she wasn't
doing court room work at this stage of her pregnancy.
     "What?  WHAT?  Fox, don't give me that look then tell me it's
nothing."
     "You know what it is.  I would prefer you to be taking it easy.
I can't help it if I worry about you.  You're important to me - this
baby's important to me."
     Kat squeezed his hand.  "I know, Fox.  It's important to me, too.
That's why I'm not taking any more cases after this one."
     "They'll miss you down at the court room.  I think Judge Harlan
has a soft spot for you."
     "A change is as good as a rest, as they say.  I've got plenty of
things that need to be done in the office."

     Mulder closed the door behind her, catching her arm loosely.  He
drew her towards him, and she smiled.  His arms slid around her waist,
and he kissed her, lightly at first, then harder, with more passion.
     "Take off your clothes."  Mulder's voice was deep and husky.
     "What?" laughed Kat.  "Fox, have you forgotten that we're having
dinner with Dana and Mike tonight?"
     "I haven't forgotten."  His hands ran lightly up and down her
arms.  "I'd still like you to take off your clothes."  He paused.  "Or
would you like me to do it for you?"
     "Is this why you came to meet me?" asked Kat, as she removed her
long line jacket.  "You wanted to get me home so that you could have
your wicked way with me?"  She turned her back to him.
     "I've been thinking about you all day."  He drew down the zipper
on her burgundy maternity dress.  "Is that a crime?"  Mulder slipped
the dress from her shoulders and kissed the soft, warm skin there.
     "No," answered Kat, leaning back against him, her eyes closed.
His fingers lightly stroked up and down her now bare arms.
     "Is that good, Kat?  Tell me you like it," he whispered softly.
     "I'd like it even better if you took something off.  I don't see
why you should be the one having all the fun."
     Mulder chuckled and shucked off his jacket.  "Better?"
     Kat shook her head.  "Not enough.  Take off your sweatshirt."
Mulder grabbed the bottom of the garment with both hands and pulled it
up over his head, tossing it to the floor.  Kat nodded approvingly.
"Much better."  Her hands ran over his chest, her fingers brushing
through the sparse covering of hair, then dallying at his nipples.
She heard a tiny sound in his throat, and smiled.  "Kiss me."
     "Yes, ma'am," smiled Mulder.  Kat threaded her fingers into his
hair, bringing his head down, and tilting her face upwards.   While he
was kissing her, Mulder undid the catch on her bra, then slid his
hands beneath to cup her breasts.  His thumbs moved slowly across the
nipples, now enlarged and protruding because of the pregnancy.
     "Wait."  Kat broke away long enough to remove the bra, leaving
her naked and exposed from the waist up.  Mulder's palms covered her
again, moving in slow circles against her nipples.
     "Now, I know you like that," he whispered in her ear.
     "Oh, yeah," she breathed.
     "You're still wearing too many clothes, Kat.  What say we get rid
of these?"  Mulder went down on his knees, and slipped his hands
inside her panties, sliding them down over her hips.  She placed her
hands on his shoulders to steady herself as she stepped out of them.
He placed a kiss on her swollen belly, his hands resting on her hips,
then nuzzled her centre.
     "Fox..."
     "Yeah, baby?"  He pressed his face against her, making her moan.
Kat's head fell back, and she took a deep, shuddering breath, her
fingers knotting themselves in his hair.  Then she found her voice.
     "Fox... I need to sit down.  I've been on my feet all day..."
She gave him an apologetic look.  "I'm sorry, but if you keep doing
what you're doing, my knees are going to give way completely."
     Mulder stood up.  "Sorry, I forgot.  I got a little carried away
there..."
     "Oh, I wasn't complaining," said Kat, undoing his jeans.  "Why
don't you take these off, and we can make ourselves more comfortable?"
     Mulder removed his remaining clothing, then led her to a dining
room chair.  He sat down first, then Kat straddled his lap, facing
him.  His hands ran up and down her back, his mouth teasing hers until
she let him kiss her.  Mulder's erection lay hard against her belly,
and she reached down, taking him in her hand, smoothing her thumb over
the drop of pearly liquid at the tip.  His head went back as her hand
moved slowly up and down his shaft, her touch as light as a feather.
     "Kat..."
     "Yeah, baby?"  She pressed her lips to the side of his mouth,
gasping as his fingers found her core and pushed their way inside her.
His mouth found hers, his tongue moving in time with his fingers as
they pressed slowly in, then pulled almost out.  By mutual agreement,
Kat lowered herself onto him, sighing with pleasure as he filled her
and stretched her.  Her arms looped themselves loosely around his neck
and his hands rested on her back as they moved together to completion.
     Mulder loved to watch her as she came, to see her abandon herself
completely to him.  He never tired of watching her, with an
accompanying sense of wonder that he could make a woman feel that way.
Spent, Kat slumped forward, her forehead resting against his.
     "You okay?" he asked softly, his big, gentle hands running
leisurely up and down her back.
     "Fine," she puffed.
     "Take a minute to catch your breath."  He pressed his lips to her
brow.
     "That's just an excuse so that you can keep me here a little
longer."  Kat smiled, and kissed the tip of his nose.  "That's fine
with me - I'm in no hurry to leave."  And to prove the point, she
squeezed his rapidly softening member with her internal muscles.
     "Ooh - I love it when you do that!" he chuckled.  He kissed the
tops of her breasts.  "I love you, Kat."
     "I love you, too, Fox."  They sat together for a while, just
enjoying the closeness, and exchanging whispered words of love and
affection.  "We should think about getting ready to go out," said Kat
eventually.
     "Yeah," replied Mulder, with great reluctance.  He patted her
bottom.  "You want to shower first?"
     "We can shower together, as long as you promise to behave!"  Kat
gave him a teasing smile, and he couldn't resist the challenge.
     "That's the best offer I've had in a long time!" he grinned.
"After you."

     "How do I look?" asked Kat.
     "Beautiful," replied Mulder, and she knew he meant it - it was
there in his eyes. Kat picked up her purse, checking the contents one
last time.
     "Well, I'm ready."  She started to head for the bedroom door.
Mulder caught her arm before she got there.
     "Kat, I know you don't want to go, but be nice.  I don't ask you
for much, but if you could do that, just for me."  All he asked was
that she love him, that she was there at night when he went to sleep
and again in the morning when he awoke.  These days, Fox Mulder was a
man of simple pleasures.
     Kat touched his cheek.  "I'll be nice, Fox - I promise.  Now, we
should be on our way."
     He kept stealing glances at her as they drove to the restaurant.
He didn't know why Kat didn't like Scully.  She'd never actually come
out and said that she didn't like the woman, but it was obvious in the
cool way that she treated her.  Maybe Kat was jealous of the years
that he and Scully had been partners.  Whatever it was, he didn't want
to speculate on it now.
     "Here we are."  He pulled up in front of  the restaurant, then
came round to open Kat's door and helped her out.  His hand rested in
the small of her back as he guided her towards the restaurant
entrance.

     Dana Scully saw her former partner and his very pregnant wife
coming towards her.  The last thing she had expected was for Mulder to
get married, but somehow his departure from the Bureau had had a
rejuvenating effect on him.  It was as if he'd discovered what he'd
been missing in life all those years.  That and the fact that he was
now in contact with his sister, and had discovered a family he never
knew he had.  Mulder was, at last, a man at peace with himself and the
world.  Kat wasn't the first attorney he'd dated - before her there
had been Angela Rose.  By all accounts, that had been a pretty
passionate and intense affair, until Angela had been gunned down in
the street over a case she had been prosecuting.
     And what did Scully have?  What did she have to show for all the
years spent at the Bureau?  Nothing but two useless legs and a bravery
medal.  When Mulder had left the Bureau, she had transferred back to
Quantico and resumed her teaching career.  Out shopping one day, she
had stumbled into a store hold up.  She had drawn her weapon, and in
blind panic, the young thief had fired his gun.  The bullet lodged in
her spine, paralysing her from the waist down.  Scully had comforted
herself with the thought that at least this time Mulder wouldn't be
able to blame himself for her misfortune.
     Scully had met Mike Cotton at the rehab centre.  He'd been in a
bad car accident, and there were fears that he would never walk again,
but he had been determined to prove the doctors wrong.   He was an
inspiration - a triumph of the human spirit over adversity.  He
bullied and cajoled Scully, but he also loved her without reservation.
Her useless legs didn't matter to him - he saw the whole person.  He
loved her for who she was, not what she was.

   "Hey, Scully - how's tricks?" grinned Mulder, leaning down to kiss
her cheek.  "How you doin', Mike?"  The two men shook hands.
     "We're both fine, Mulder," replied Scully for the two of them.
"You look well, Kat."
     "Thank you," replied Kat graciously, sitting down on the chair
that Mulder had pulled out for her.
     "When is the baby due?"
     "Eight weeks," replied Mulder proudly, before Kat had a chance to
open her mouth.  "We're all packed and ready to go, aren't we?"
     "We are indeed," she answered, thinking of the dark blue tapestry
bag at the bottom of the closet.  Mulder had been packed and ready to
go from almost the moment Kat had told him that she was pregnant.
     "You attending the birth, Fox?" asked Mike.
     "Well of course I am!"  Mulder gave Mike a look that suggested he
was mad to even ask the question.  "I wouldn't miss it for anything!"
     The waitress came over and took their order: steak and fries for
Mulder, surf and turf for Mike, and chicken with a baked potato and
salad for Kat and Scully.
     "Still eating everything that's bad for you, I see," said Scully,
addressing her remarks to Mulder.  "You should take a leaf out of
Kat's book and try something a little healthier."
     "I think Fox is old enough to decide for himself what he should
and shouldn't eat," said Kat.  She smiled sweetly at Scully and
proffered her the basket on the table.  "Bread?"
     Mulder cleared his throat, anxious to change the subject.  "So,
Scully - what have you been up to lately?"
     "Oh, you know, Mulder.  The same old thing.  I don't know if it's
me, but the new intake seem less and less intelligent every year.  I
don't know how some of the recruits ever get through the selection
process in the first place."
     "Maybe the standards are slipping," replied Mulder.  Then he
grinned.  "Any organisation that had me in its ranks can't have been
that particular!"
     "Your skills are sorely missed, Mulder," said Scully.  "I don't
think the Bureau realised what they had until you'd gone."
     "It's like that old song says, Scully."  He popped a piece of
bread into his mouth.  "You can tell them I'd be happy to do consults
for them - for a large fee, of course!"
     Scully shook her head.  Many things about her ex partner might
have changed, but his sense of humour wasn't one of them.
Conversation was briefly halted by the waitress bringing their orders,
and another round of drinks.
     "How's life in the DA's office, Kat?" asked Scully.
     "Busy, as ever.  I'm going to miss it when I have the baby."
     "But you'll be going back after the birth?"
     "Not right away... I want to spend some time with our child
before I plunge back into the world of work."
     "Kat's presenting her last case now," added Mulder.  "I keep
telling her she should go into private practice, where the money is.
I could get a taste for the high life!"
     "I don't think you be very happy as a househusband, Fox," said
Kat.
     "How is business, anyway?" asked Mike.
     "Ticking over," replied Mulder.  "It's great being my own boss...
I get the time to pursue my own interests."
     "You never let working for the Bureau stop you pursuing your own
interests!" snorted Scully.  "It doesn't sound like much has changed
for you, Mulder."  Scully nibbled on a lettuce leaf.  "Were you
serious about doing some consulting work for the Bureau?  I think they
have a couple of cases that could use your expertise."
     "I'll entertain any reasonable offers of work, Scully.  It'll
cost them the going rate, mind you."
     "Okay - I'll mention it."

     The conversation continued over coffee and dessert.  "How are
things with you, Scully?" asked Mulder.  He had been devastated when
he'd learned of her situation.  Her cancer had been in remission for
two years, and then she had been cruelly struck down again, this time
by a trigger happy petty thief.
     "Fine, Mulder."  She smiled.  "I'm starting a new treatment next
week.  They're going to try and stimulate the nerve endings and
muscles..."
     "I read about that... they implant a small electrode in the
affected area and pass a current through it.  I gather it's been
successful in a number of cases."  He grinned at her.  "They'll make a
Bionic Woman of you yet!  I hope it works for you, Scully."
     "Well, if it does, it'll be a long time before I can walk again,
if ever."  Scully looked at Mike and smiled.  He took her hand,
brought it to his lips and kissed it.
     "If anyone can do it, Dana can," he said softly.
     "Especially if you're right behind me, bullying me!" she laughed.
     "Someone has to," he smiled.
     "A taste of your own medicine at last, Scully," grinned Mulder.
     "If I ever bullied you, Mulder, it was for your own good."
     "Yeah, yeah, yeah."  He glanced at his watch.  "Well, we should
be going."
    "I don't suppose we'll see you now until after the baby's born,"
said Scully.  "I hope it all goes well for you, Kat."
     "I'm sure everything will go smoothly," said Mulder, answering on
his wife's behalf.  "You'll let me know about those consults, Scully?"
     "Sure.  It'll probably be within the next few days."
     The check settled, they made their way to their cars, and said a
final goodbye.

     "That wasn't so bad, was it?" asked Mulder, as he drove them
home.
     "I guess not," admitted Kat.  She yawned, then gasped as she felt
a sharp kick in her abdomen.  "Oh, just what I need.  Junior's awake."
Mulder chuckled, and placed a hand on her belly, receiving his own
sharp kick.
     "Takes after his father," grinned Mulder.  "Another insomniac."
     "How do you know it's a boy?"
     "I don't, but how many girls do you know that can kick like
that?"
     Kat closed her eyes, laid her head back against the seat and
groaned.  "I can't afford any sleepless nights - I need to be fresh
for court."
     "Then that's a good reason for giving up the court work now,"
said Mulder.  "You need a clear head - you won't have that if you've
been awake all night because of junior's acrobatics."
     What Mulder said was true, but Kat was stubborn to the point of
obstinacy.  She loved her work and would be sorry to give it up, even
for the birth of their baby.  "I hear what you're saying, Fox, and
once this current case is over I'll stop the court work, I promise."

     Morning came all too soon.  Kat put her hand out to shut off the
buzzing alarm, and noticed that it was only six o'clock.  The alarm
had gone off half an hour early.  Mulder was wrapped around her, his
early morning erection pressing into her, and a hand had winkled its
way beneath the oversized t-shirt she had taken to wearing, coming to
rest on her breast.
     "What time is it?" he mumbled sleepily.
     "Six," she replied.  "Fox, did you alter the setting for the
alarm?"
     "Yeah."  He snuggled up even closer, his fingers teasing her
swollen nipple.
     "Why?"
     The only reply Kat got was a soft chuckle, and a nuzzling of the
wispy hairs at the back of her neck.  Mulder took a deep, contented
breath.  "You're so nice and warm," he sighed.
    "So are you," smiled Kat.  "In fact, you're quite hot."
     Mulder, now fully awake, chuckled again.  "Hot, huh?"  His
erection nudged her entrance, and she pushed back against him, making
him groan.  His fingers fumbled with her t-shirt, pushing it upwards
and exposing her breasts, then he pulled it over her head and tossed
it to the floor.  "That's better.  Full, unrestricted access."
     Kat let out a throaty chuckle as she rolled onto her back.
Immediately, Mulder's mouth came down on her left nipple, while his
fingers tended to the other.  Kat kissed the top of his head, and let
her fingers run lazily through his crazy bed hair.
     "Mmm...  I like that," she said, as his fingers found their way
to her centre, and stroked her gently.
     "I thought you might.  How about this?"
     Kat closed her eyes, and gasped as Mulder increased the pressure
just a little.  He smiled at the anticipated response.
     "Open your eyes, Kat.  Look at me."  Slowly, her dark brown eyes
opened, and met his.  "I wish you could see yourself as I see you,"
said Mulder softly.  His hands cupped her face and he kissed her -
little sipping kisses at first, then a touch more pressure.  Mulder
wrapped an arm around her, and pulled her gently towards him.  Kat
sighed as he kissed and nipped her neck and shoulder, then she turned
her head and sought his mouth as he slipped into her from behind.
     Mulder brought Kat to a gentle, rippling climax, then held her
close as they came down from the high.  Morning was definitely one of
Mulder's favourite times to make love.  Kat turned in his arms.
     "What did I do to deserve that?" she asked, nibbling at his lips.
      "I can't help it if the novelty of waking up to the same person
for the rest of my life hasn't worn off yet."  He kissed her brow, and
ran his fingers through her hair.  "I can't help it if I want to make
love to you every minute of the day and night."
     "Even though I look like a barrage balloon?" she asked, a look of
amusement on her face.
     "You look beautiful, Kat."  Mulder pushed the covers down over
her bump, and ran his hand across it.  "That's my baby in there - our
baby, a little piece of us."  He scooted down to plant a kiss there.
His hazel eyes met her brown ones, a host of unspoken emotions
reflected there.
     "I love you, Fox," said Kat softly, reaching out to him.
     "I love you, too, Kat," he replied, settling back into her arms.

End of Part One


Kat 2/8
by Carol Gritton (jimcaz@dircon.co.uk)

     "What are your plans for today?" asked Kat, as she slipped a navy
long line jacket over a matching maternity dress.  She'd be glad once
the baby was born and she could get back into her snappy suits.
     "Special project," replied Mulder.
     "Oh?"
     "Yeah.  If I tell you, then I'd have to kill you."  He grinned at
her, and pinched her behind.  "You nearly ready?"  He had to run Kat
to work - because he'd picked her up the night before, her car was
still at the court house.
     He dropped her right outside the door.  "There's your best
friend," said Mulder, nodding through the windshield as the defence
attorney mounted the steps.
     "Floyd is such an asshole," said Kat with disgust.
     "Yeah - I've met some people like that in my time.  The Bureau
was full of them."  Mulder paused.  "Kat, why don't you like Scully?"
     Kat looked uncomfortable.  She wasn't aware that her feelings had
been that obvious.  "Fox, I don't have time to discuss this now..."
     "I'm not asking you to discuss it - I'm just asking why you don't
like her."
     "Honey, I really have to go..."  Kat had the seat belt undone and
the door open, poised as if ready to run.
     "You can't avoid the subject forever, Kat."
     She reached out and touched his face.  "I know, baby.  We'll talk
about it later, I promise.  Have a good day.  I love you, Fox."
     "Yeah - me too."  He leaned over and kissed her.  "Take care,
Kat.  I'll see you later."

     Kat was exhausted when she arrived home that night.  She slid her
key wearily into the lock and opened the door.
     "Honey - I'm home!"  She grinned as she said it - she'd picked up
the phrase from Mulder.  It was his favourite greeting when he came
back from wherever he'd been.  Kat tossed her briefcase and purse onto
an armchair as Mulder appeared from the small room they were planning
to convert into the nursery.  He wore paint spattered jeans and a
t-shirt, and there were flecks of paint in his hair.
     "Hey.  How was your day?" he asked, kissing her firmly on the
mouth.  Kat made a face.  "That bad, huh?  You can tell me all about
it later."
     "So, how was your day?  Dare I ask what you've been up to?"
     "I made a start on the nursery," he answered, looking pleased
with himself.
     "I take it that was your special project?  Can I see?"
     "No - not until it's finished.  I made dinner..."
     "I thought I could smell something cooking.  What is it?"
     "Just a casserole, with rice and salad.  I'll go wash up then we
can eat."
     "Is there anything I can do?" asked Kat as he disappeared.
     "No - just sit down and relax.  Everything's taken care of."

     After dinner, Kat sat on the sofa, her feet in Mulder's lap.  His
fingers massaged her aching feet.
     "You ever think of becoming a masseur?" smiled Kat.  "That feels
fantastic."
     Mulder looked up at her from beneath his lashes.  "Thank you.  I
do a great back rub, too."
     "I'm sure you do."
     "I never had any complaints."  He gave her a rakish grin.  "So
what did Floyd do to annoy you today?"
     "It was more like what he didn't do!" snorted Kat.  "He keeps
introducing irrelevant lines of questioning, trying to bamboozle the
jury.  I think Judge Harlan is as tired of him as I am.  I was up and
down like a yo-yo today, objecting right, left and centre."  She
paused to allow herself to calm down.  "Fox, this is an open and shut
case as far as the DA's office is concerned, but Floyd is turning it
into a fucking circus."
     "Hey, hey - calm down.  It's not good for you to get het up like
this."
     "I know, Fox...  I know I shouldn't let it get to me, but Floyd
is such a shithead!"
     "Kat, he's doing his job, just as you are.  He has to try every
tactic in the book to get his client off..."
     "Aren't you supposed to be on my side?  On the side of the good
guy?"
     "You know I'm on your side, baby.  I've seen my share of defence
lawyers in action, I know how they work.  Sometimes it seems as though
they have no integrity..."
     "It's a dirty job, but someone has to do it, right?"  Kat smiled,
and Mulder smiled in return.
     "Yeah, something like that.  It must be the hardest job in the
world trying to defend someone when you know they're guilty."
     Kat sighed.  "I just feel like the guilty verdict is slipping
away from me..."
     "Then you have to play Floyd at his own game," said Mulder.  "I
know it's not in your nature to play dirty, but maybe that's what you
have to do to get the verdict you want, and put this guy behind bars."
     "I don't know if I can, Fox.  I'm so tired... I just want it to
be over."
     Mulder pulled her into his arms.  "It will be - soon, and then
you can take it easy.  I want you to be relaxed in time for the baby's
birth.  Junior's entry into the world should be calm and trouble free,
and I intend to see that it is."  He squeezed Kat's slim shoulders.
She was tiny, not much taller than Scully, but with a more womanly
figure.  Generous breasts, and a trim waist that flared into softly
rounded hips.  Petite, but perfectly in proportion.   "Now, I'm going
to run you a nice, warm bath, okay?"

     Mulder helped Kat into the bubble filled tub.  "I'll let you soak
for a while.  Call me when you want me to wash your back."  He threw a
grin over his shoulder as he went through the door.  Kat closed her
eyes and let her thoughts roam, trying to steer clear of her current
case.  Before she knew it, Mulder was back.  He knelt down by the side
of the tub.
    "Hey - you didn't call me," he said softly.
    Kat's eyes fluttered open.  "Fox... I must have dozed off."  He
was lathering up her bath sponge.
     "Lean forward a little... that's it."  He moved the soapy sponge
over her back in gentle circles - up to her shoulders and down to the
small of her back.  Mulder stole a glance at her as he bathed her -
her head was slumped forward, her chin almost resting on her chest.
It was difficult to tell if she was still awake.  He started to rinse
the soap off, then gently pushed her back to her original position.
Leaning over, he brushed away the bubbles from the tops of her breasts
and kissed them.
     "Thank you for washing my back," said Kat tiredly, her fingers
toying with his paint flecked hair.
     "You're welcome," replied Mulder, settling himself on the floor
beside the tub, his forearms resting along the rim, and his chin
resting on his forearms.  "Kat?"
     "Mm?"
     "About Scully..."
     "Oh, Fox... do we have to talk about it now?"
     "Yes, we do.  It's important, Kat.  Scully's my friend... I would
like her to be your friend, too.  I need to know why you don't like
her."
     "I never said I didn't like her, Fox."
     "No, you didn't, but that's the feeling I get from you whenever I
talk about her, or she's around."
     Kat opened her eyes to see his eyes searching hers, looking for
answers.
     "Kat?"
    Kat took a deep breath.  "She's so damned perfect," she said.
"She irritates me to hell... I hate the way she treats you, like...
like you're some errant schoolboy.  God, Fox - how did you put up with
her for all those years?"
     Mulder chuckled - he couldn't believed that she'd gotten so riled
up over a simple question.  "Kat, calm down!  Honey, did it ever occur
to you that Scully might have had to put up with a lot from me in all
that time?  It cuts both ways, you know!  Sure we got on one another's
nerves, but we had to make the best of it.  We were partners, and I
couldn't have wished for a better partner than Scully.  She saved my
ass more times than I can count..."
     "That doesn't mean you have to be beholden to her for the rest of
your life!  And why are you  laughing at me?"
     "I'm not laughing at you, baby.  I would just like you to try and
be a little nicer to Scully, that's all."
     "I'll try, Fox, but I can tell you now - we are never going to be
bosom buddies."  Kat came into an upright position.  "Could you pass
me the towel... I think I should get out of here before I turn into a
wrinkly prune."

     One week later, Kat sat in her office.  The case she had been
fighting was over, and she had secured the guilty verdict that she'd
wanted.  Kat was now officially off court room duty.  She stared at
the pile of folders on her desk, slipped on her glasses, took a sip of
her herbal tea, pulled the first one off the top and began reading.
     By the time she'd reached the eighth case file, her eyes were
beginning to glaze over, and she felt the tell tale signs of a
headache creeping up on her.  This particular folder was thicker than
the rest, and Kat studied the name on the front again: it belonged to
one Salvatore di Gregorio.  Kat started reading, and most of it went
over her head until two names leapt out at her from the page.  Fox
Mulder and Angela Rose.
     Kat had never met Angela Rose, but she had heard of her, and what
had happened to her.  Working for the District Attorney's office had
its share of occupational hazards just like any other law enforcement
job.  Kat also knew that Fox and Angela had dated - she'd found that
out when she had announced that she and Fox were getting married.  She
had never discussed the relationship with him - it was in the past,
and would only stir up sad memories.
     Kat was so engrossed in reading the file that she didn't notice
the time slipping by.  She glanced at her watch and swore under her
breath.  If she didn't leave now, Fox would be frantic.  She
rearranged the papers in the file and locked it in her desk.  She
didn't want anyone else getting their hands on it.  Snatching up her
jacket and briefcase, she headed out of the office.

     Mulder had the front door open before she was even half way up
the path.
     "Fox, I'm sorry..."  It hadn't even occurred to her to call him
on her cellphone.
     "Where have you been?  I've been worried sick!"
     "Honey, I'm sorry."  She stood up on tiptoe to kiss him.  "I was
reading a case file - I didn't notice the time."
     Mulder closed the front door behind her, taking her briefcase.
"Well, you're home now."  He looked a little sheepish.  "I'm sorry I
over reacted... I'm just worried about you, about the baby..."
His arms went around her and he held onto her as if he were clinging
for dear life.  Kat's hands rubbed gently up and down his back.
     "It's all right, Fox.  It's my fault - I should have called you.
I knew you'd worry... once I realised I was late, I just wanted to get
home as soon as I could."
     "I didn't make any dinner..."
     "We'll have take out - my treat.  What would you like?  Chinese?"
     "Sounds good to me," smiled Mulder.
     "You order while I get out of these clothes."
     "Need any help?"  He leered at her, and she couldn't help but
laugh.
     "No, thank you.  Just concentrate on ordering us some dinner."
     While she changed, Kat went over the file again in her head.  She
could hear Mulder ordering their meal over the phone as she pottered
about in the bedroom.  Then he stuck his head around the door.
     "Thirty minutes.  I'll put some plates in the oven to keep warm."
     "Okay," said Kat.  She hung her dress and jacket on the outside
of the closet, then went through to join Mulder.
     "So how was your first day in the office?" he asked, as he took
two pairs of chopsticks out of the kitchen drawer.
     "Fine.  I spent it reviewing files."  Kat reached into an upper
cabinet and took out two glasses.
     "Uh huh.  Lap or table?"
     "Lap."  Should she mention the di Gregorio case file?  Kat didn't
think so, not at this stage.
     "Kat?"
     "Huh?"
     "I asked you what you wanted to drink."  She looked up, and saw
the concern in Mulder's eyes.  "Honey, are you all right?"
     "I'm fine, Fox.  I was miles away, I'm sorry.  I'll have fruit
juice."
     Mulder took the juice from the fridge, and poured a glassful.
"You're missing the court work already, aren't you?  It's only been
one day, Kat - you'll be back before you know it."  His hand moved up
and down her arm in a gesture of reassurance.
     "It's not that, Fox.  I'm just feeling tired, and I have a bit of
a headache."
     "Well, maybe you should have an early night, but not until I've
shown you my surprise."  He gave her a smile just as the doorbell
rang.  "That's our dinner."

     Mulder brought the food to the kitchen counter, and Kat started
to divide it up.  "I'm so hungry I could eat the cartons!" she said.
They carried their plates and glasses through to the living room and
settled on the sofa.  Kat put all thought of the di Gregorio case out
of her mind for the time being and just enjoyed her meal.
     "So what's this surprise?" she asked, spearing a piece of beef.
     "Finish your dinner, then all will be revealed," answered Mulder,
trying his best to look mysterious.
     "Did Dana call about those consults?"
     "Yeah.  I'm meeting with her on Thursday."
     "At the Hoover Building?"
     Mulder grinned.  "At the Hoover Building.  I swore I'd never go
back there once I'd left, but if they're willing to pay my price..."
     "And are they?"  A piece of green pepper went into Kat's mouth.
     "It looks like it.  They know I'll do good work, Kat - I was one
of the best profilers they ever had.  According to Scully, these cases
have already done the rounds of the Bureau's best.  She suggested that
I take a look to see if there's anything they might have missed."
     "Do you miss it, Fox?  The Bureau?"
     He didn't even have to think about it.  "No. They made their
feelings clear when they stuck me down in that basement - it was out
of sight, out of mind.  That suited me, in a way - I was quite happy
to be left to my own devices.  They'd haul me out and parade me around
when it suited them, but most of the time, I was an embarrassment -
like the crazy relative locked in the attic."  Mulder smiled and
squeezed her hand.  "I like what I'm doing now - at last I feel like I
have a life.  That just wasn't possible before."
     "I'm glad, Fox."  Kat pushed her empty plate away.  "Oh, when you
see Dana, tell her I said 'hello,' would you?"  The side of her mouth
quivered slightly, and she tried not to smile at the look of surprise
that crossed his face.
     "Sure."  He stared after her as she carried the plates out to the
kitchen.
     "Now, what's this surprise you have for me?" she asked when she
came back.
     Mulder stood and put his arms around her.  "I finished the
nursery."
     "You didn't!" she cried.  "When?  Can I see it now?"
     "This afternoon, and you may see it now.  But... you have to
close your eyes and let me lead you."  Mulder placed his hands over
her eyes as he manoeuvred her into the small room.  It smelled of
fresh paint.  "Okay - you can open your eyes."
     Kat did just that, and was confronted by pastel walls.  A frieze
of teddy bears ran all around the room at mid height.  Fox had stained
and varnished the floor, and installed the crib and a small dresser.
A colourful nursery rug adorned the floor, and a Winnie the Pooh
mobile was suspended above the crib.  Kat covered her mouth with her
hands, tears in her eyes.
     "Oh, Fox... it's beautiful!" she breathed.
     "Do you like it?"  His face was alight with anticipation.
     "Yes... yes, I do."  She grabbed his hand.  "Our baby is going to
love it."

     Come ten thirty, Kat was ready for bed.  "I'm going to call it a
night, Fox."
     "Okay.  I'll carry on here a while longer, do you mind?"  He was
sitting at the computer.
     "No."  Kat patted his shoulders, then kissed his cheek.  "Maybe
I'll see you later."
     Kat found sleep impossible - the details of the di Gregorio file
were going around and around in her head.  She was still tossing and
turning when Mulder came to bed at one o'clock.  He moved about the
room quickly and quietly, then slipped into bed beside her.
     "Fox..."
     "Kat - did I wake you?"
     "No, I can't sleep."
     His hand went straight to her belly, stroking gently.  "Is junior
active tonight?"
    "Something like that."
    Mulder wrapped an arm around her, and was surprised at how tense
she was.  "How's your head?  Feeling any better?"
     "Not really."
     "Kat, you're so tense.  You need to relax, baby."  He slowly
caressed her arm, her hip, her thigh, over and over, until he felt her
begin to relax under his ministrations.
     "That's nice," mumbled Kat sleepily.  She shifted, making herself
more comfortable, feeling her eyelids start to droop.  One last
thought crossed Kat's mind before she drifted off to sleep - tomorrow
she would speak to the DA about taking on the di Gregorio case.

     Kat stopped in her office long enough to pick up the file, then
headed for Jimmy Neilson's office.  "Is he in?" she asked Rosa, the
DA's secretary.  Rosa nodded.  "Good.  Hold all his calls, would you?"
     Kat strode into the office of James Neilson, District Attorney,
and slammed the di Gregorio case file onto his desk.
     "Where did you get that?" he asked.
     "It was in that pile on my desk.  When did it come in, Jimmy?
Why didn't you tell me?"
     "It came in about two weeks ago.  You weren't supposed to see
it."
     "Why?  Because Fox's name is in it?  Don't you think I would have
found out sooner or later?"
     Jimmy Neilson rose from behind his desk and came around to stand
before Kat.  He was in his late forties, tall, slim and distinguished
looking, with thick, steel grey hair and warm brown eyes.
     "Kat, I didn't want you to worry about this case.  You've got a
baby to think about..."
     She cut him off.  "I want this case, Jimmy."
     "No.  You're off court work now, and there's the conflict of
interest aspect, too, if you're prosecutor and Fox is a potential
witness.  I'm assigning the case to Charlie Spencer."
     "What?  You can't!  With all due respect to Charlie, he has
neither the expertise nor the experience to win this case."  Kat paced
the floor in small strides, running a hand through her short dark
hair, then came to a stop, leaning on the DA's desk.  "Damn it,
Jimmy - I'm the best assistant DA you've got.  I can win this case.
We can get round the conflict of interest - assign Charlie as
co-counsel and he can do the direct if Fox is called as a witness."
     "You know the defence will tear Fox apart because of your
relationship and the relationship he had with Angela, don't you?  Are
you prepared to sit there and watch them do that?"
     "You can try and talk me out of it as much as you want, Jimmy,
but I'm going to take this case.  I am going to take this case, and
I'm going to win it."  With that, Kat picked up the file and marched
out of the office.  James Neilson watched her go, and hoped to God
that he'd never have to face her across a court room.
     Kat's office door reverberated in its frame as she slammed it
shut behind her.  She sat down at her desk and took out a legal pad,
then opened the case file.  She had a lot of work to do.

        Jimmy knocked on Kat's door, opened it a crack and stuck his
head round.  She was sitting at her desk, a half eaten sandwich in one
hand and a pencil in the other.
     "Is it safe to come in?" asked Jimmy.
     "Only if you've come with good news," replied Kat, a smile
playing around her lips.  "Have you?"
     Jimmy came into the office, closing the door behind him.  He took
the chair opposite Kat, and ran his fingertips along the edge of her
desk.
     "They used to call her the Georgia Peach," he said.
     "So I'd heard," replied Kat.
     "You have many of the qualities that Angela had.  She would have
made a first class DA one day - just as you will if we don't lose you
to the lure of private practice first."  He wouldn't be surprised if
one of the big law firms didn't try and poach Kat before long.
     Kat chuckled softly.  "Fox is always trying to talk me into
private practice - I think he has visions of being a kept man!"  She
studied the older man, her expression becoming serious.  "I see myself
being here for some time, Jimmy - someone has to fight for justice on
behalf of the common man."
     "Is that what you feel you'd be doing by taking on this case?"
     Kat sat back in her high backed chair and thought for a moment.
"Just because Angela was one of us, that doesn't mean she should be
denied justice, does it?  As a fellow attorney, the least I can do for
her is to put the bastard that killed her behind bars, and I'm going
to do it with or without your blessing."
     Jimmy tapped the end of his finger on her desk.  "I'm still
worried about the ethics of you being prosecutor and Fox being a
witness for the prosecution - that would be a very powerful stick for
the defence to beat us with."
     "I can handle it, Jimmy."  Kat's unwavering expression left him
in no doubt that she could.
     "And can you handle Fox being torn apart in the witness box by
the defence?  As I see it, your relationship with him, and the
relationship he had with Angela are their main trump cards, and they
are going to play them every chance they get."
     "It's a risk we have to take.  Fox has been in the witness box
before - he knows how to handle himself."
     "I still don't like it.  You're a married couple - surely that's
going to affect..."
     "Jimmy, when I'm in court, I'm Katya Lawrence.  When I go home at
night, I'm Katya Mulder.  The two are quite distinct and separate.  I
won't let Kat Mulder interfere with what Kat Lawrence has to do.  It's
up to me to remain as professional and dispassionate as I can when I'm
in that court room with Fox."  Kat paused.  She could almost see the
wheels grinding in her boss's head.  She leaned forward, her forearms
resting on the desk, her hands clasped in front of her.  When she
spoke, her tone was soft.  "Jimmy, we owe it to Angela to at least
try, don't we?  I'm confident that I can win this case, but to do
that, I have  to go into that court room with your blessing."
     Kat sat back again and waited.  James Neilson inhaled deeply and
his eyes met hers.
     "All right.  The case is yours.  Charlie Spencer will be
co-counsel..."
     "Actually, I've been thinking about that," interjected Kat.
     "Come on," sighed Jimmy.  "Let's hear it."
     "I have nothing against Charlie, but my feeling is that the
defence will eat him alive.  We need another heavyweight on the team."
Kat paused, and took a breath.  "Give me Jarrod as co-counsel.  He
knew Angela, and they worked several cases together..."
     "Jarrod's already well into prepping another case..."
     "Give it to someone else."  Kat was uncompromising.  "Jimmy, I
need Jarrod."
     The DA sat and considered the options.  He knew she was right, of
course - Kat and Jarrod Pearce would make a formidable team.  Kat
watched the slow grinding of the wheels once again.
     "You know, I'm afraid that I'm about to lose my job," smiled
Jimmy.  He waved a finger at her.  "You drive a hard bargain, Kat.
Here's the deal - you get Jarrod as co-counsel, and he will do the
direct on Fox when the time comes.  I'll also let you have Charlie, he
can do the running around. It'll be good experience for him to see the
two of you in action.  You will see to it that Fox can recite his
testimony in his sleep - I don't want any slip ups.  The moment
there's a sniff of trouble, I'm pulling you off the case, is that
understood?"
     Kat could hardly keep from smiling.  "Loud and clear.  Can I
finish my lunch now?"
     Jimmy unfolded his long frame from the chair and smiled.  "Finish
your lunch, Kat - you've earned it."

End of Part Two


Kat 3/8
by Carol Gritton (jimcaz@dircon.co.uk)

Kat was exhausted come home time.  She'd spent the afternoon with
Jarrod and Charlie, going over the case file and showing them the
notes she'd made.  They'd had preliminary discussions as to who would
be doing what in relation to the court appearances.  All she had to do
now was break the news to Mulder.
     He greeted her with a long and loving kiss when she arrived home,
and that didn't make her feel any better about telling him.
     "I called you this afternoon," he said, as she headed into the
bedroom to change.  "They said you were in a meeting, so I left a
message.  Did you get it?"
     Rosa had handed Kat a sheaf of messages just before she'd left
for the night.  Kat had left them on her desk unread.
     "I'm sorry, Fox - I didn't get a chance to look at my messages
before I came home.  Was it important?"
     He smiled.  "No."  He came up behind her and slid his arms around
her non existent waist, then let his hands slide over her belly.  His
cheek rested against her hair as they faced the mirror together.
Suddenly he chuckled softly.
     "What?" asked Kat.
     "I can feel the baby moving... it's as if he's doing somersaults.
God... I didn't realise they moved about so much!"
     "Tell me about it!" snorted Kat.  "Try to imagine that going on
inside you when you're trying to get to sleep."  Her hands came to
rest on top of Mulder's.
     "What's it like, Kat?  Describe what it feels like."
     "Well... when I first noticed the baby move, it was like a
fluttering in my tummy.  Now the baby's so much bigger, the movement
is more solid... it's like..."  She paused, looking for the
appropriate words to describe the feeling.
     "Alien," said Mulder.
     "Excuse me?"  Kat turned and gave him a funny look.
     "Alien.  You know... in the original "Alien" movie, that thing
attaches itself to John Hurt's face, then one day it's gone.  The next
thing you know, it's bursting out of his stomach and scuttling across
the floor."  He grinned at her, and she gave him a playful slap on the
arm.
     "Our baby is not an alien!" she chuckled.  "And thank you so very
much for reminding me of that scene just before I eat my dinner!"

     After they'd eaten, Kat settled herself on the sofa with her
legal notepad and the di Gregorio file while Mulder worked on the
computer.   Around nine thirty, Mulder got up to make coffee, and saw
Kat staring into space.
     "Kat?  You okay?" he asked softly, coming over and squatting down
in front of her.
     "Fox..."
     "What?  What is it?"
     Kat noticed the barely concealed hint of panic in his tone.  She
closed her eyes momentarily, then pulled off her glasses and laid them
on the coffee table.
     "Fox...  I've taken another case."  There - she'd said it.
     "What?"  Mulder's voice was no more than a whisper.  He stood up
and ran a hand through his hair.  "Kat, you promised... you promised
you wouldn't take another case."  Then the pacing started.  "How could
you do that?  How could you break your promise?"
     "Fox, I..."
     "You promised me!" he yelled.  "Why did you do it, Kat?  Do you
care so little about your health?  About the health of our baby?"
     "That's not fair, Fox..."
     "And neither is your taking another case.  I can't believe you've
done this... what possessed you?  Did Jimmy assign this case to you?
You go in there tomorrow and tell him you're not taking it..."
     "Jimmy didn't assign me the case, Fox - I asked for it."
     "You... You asked for it?"  Mulder couldn't believe he was
hearing this.  "Are you out of your mind?  You're due to give birth in
little over a month..."
     "I'm aware of that, Fox, that's why we need to start moving on
this case now."
     "No... no, you are not going to do this."  Mulder was pacing and
shaking his head.  "You go in there tomorrow and you tell Jimmy you've
changed your mind..."
     Kat was up on her feet, her dark eyes blazing.  "How dare you!
How dare you dictate to me!  Who do you think you are?"  She waved her
left hand at him.   "Just because you put this ring on my finger, it
doesn't mean that you own me!"
    "I'm well aware of that!" he bawled.  "I dare because I care about
you!  I dare because I can't believe how fucking reckless and
irresponsible you're being!"  He grabbed her arms, his fingers digging
into the soft flesh.  "Kat, please don't do this..."
     "You haven't even bothered to ask why I've taken this case.
Don't you want to know why I'm doing it, Fox?"
     "Right now I couldn't care less about your motives for taking
this case.  I just want you to promise me that you'll go in tomorrow
and tell Jimmy that you've changed your mind."
     "I can't do that, Fox."
     "Then there's nothing more to say."  He let go of her arms,
dropping his hands to his sides, and moved towards the door.  Mulder
walked into the small hall and snatched up his car keys and leather
jacket.
     "Where are you going?" asked Kat, following him.
     "What the fuck do you care?" he spat.
     "Fox..."  Kat reached out, but it was too late.  He was gone, the
slamming of the front door resounding in her ears.

      Mulder drove around aimlessly, more or less driving on
autopilot.  His mind was going round and round in circles.  He
couldn't understand why on earth Kat would go back on her word and
take on another case.  He hadn't meant to upset her - he was just so
worried about the toll this case would take on her in the last few
weeks of her pregnancy.  Finally, he ended up back at the house, just
sitting in the car.  He slammed his hands on the steering wheel in
rage and frustration, mostly with himself.
     It was past midnight when Mulder quietly let himself back into
the house.  He was surprised that he didn't get back to find the place
locked up and himself locked out.  The house was in darkness - Kat
obviously having taken herself off to bed.  He left his jacket on a
hook in the hall and made his way to the bedroom.
     Mulder didn't undress and get into bed - he settled himself in
the little chair in the corner of the room and watched Kat sleeping.
He was startled when he heard her softly speak his name.
     "Fox?"
     "I'm here, baby."
     Kat half sat up, squinting in the darkness.  "Where did you go?"
     Mulder shook his head.  "I don't know.  Nowhere in particular.
I've been sitting outside for the past hour."
     "It must have been cold out there."
     "It was," he replied.
     Kat lifted the covers.  "Come to bed, Fox."
     He quickly undressed and slid beneath the sheets, but made no
attempt to touch her.  "I thought you were asleep," he said.
     "How could I sleep not knowing where you were?  You left your
cellphone, I couldn't even call you..."
     His hand reached for hers, their fingers intertwining when he
found it.  He lifted it to his lips and kissed the back of it.  "I'm
sorry, Kat," he whispered.
     "So am I, Fox.  Would you hold me?"
     Mulder pulled her towards him, her back against his chest.  They
lay together in silence for several long minutes.  Eventually Mulder
couldn't stay quiet any longer.
     "Kat, why did you ask to take this new case?  Why is it so
important?  What's so special about it?"
     "Does the name Salvatore di Gregorio mean anything to you, Fox?"
     He thought for a moment, then said, "Yeah.  He was a known
associate of Harrington's.  What's he got to do with your case?"
     Kat turned to face him.  "Fox...  He killed Angela Rose."

     Mulder sat up and switched on the lamp on his nightstand.  When
Kat looked at him, she could see the colour had drained from his face.
     "They made an arrest at the time, but the suspect walked on a
technicality.  The bastard had a high priced, smart mouth lawyer."
Kat could hear the disgust in his voice.  "Are you now telling me it
was the wrong guy?"
     "It was a set up, Fox.  The guy they arrested was willing to take
the fall for di Gregorio - don't ask me why.  He's now turned States
evidence in return for immunity from prosecution on other matters.  I
guess they must have had a falling out somewhere along the way, and
it's payback time."
     "I don't want you to take this case, Kat - it's too dangerous.
When Angela was gunned down, those shots were also meant to kill me."
     "I know the risks, Fox - I know what I'm dealing with here."
     "I'm sorry, Kat, but I don't think you do.  That was the mistake
Angela made, and it cost her  her life."
     "Fox, don't you think that Angela deserves justice after all this
time?  I'm doing it for her.  As I said to Jimmy -  as a fellow
attorney, it's the least I can do for her."
     "I'll be called as a witness?"
     "Yes.  Jarrod Pearce is co-counsel and he'll take your
testimony."
     "Because of the conflict of interest?"
     "Exactly."  Kat was cautiously pleased that he was one step ahead
of her.  She tucked an arm around him and pressed her lips to his
chest.  "We have to do this, Fox.  We have to do this for  Angela."

     It seemed odd entering the Hoover Building as a visitor.  Mulder
attached the 'Visitor' badge to his jacket and made his way up to the
fourth floor, and Scully's office.  Her own office, with her nameplate
on the door.
     "Hey, Scully!"
     Scully looked round, to see Mulder grinning at her from the
doorway.  Her face broke into a smile.  "Mulder!  Come on in."
    He gave a low whistle, and leaned down to kiss her cheek.  "Nice
office, Scully."
    "It pays to have friends in high places, Mulder.  Shall we go?"
    "Where are we going?"
     "You're taking me to lunch."
     "I am?"
     "Yes.  Now, shall we go?"
     Mulder wheeled Scully to the deli three blocks down.  They found
a table by the window and placed their orders.
     "I thought we could have lunch first then I can give you the
papers on those profiles later."
     "Sounds good to me, Scully.  How's the treatment coming along?"
     Scully shook her head, and looked up as the waitress brought
their sandwiches over.  "Thank you," she said with a smile.  "I'm not
optimistic, Mulder."
     "You can't give up hope just yet, Scully.  These things take time
and patience."  He took a huge bite out of his club sandwich.  Scully
looked on with amazement, and Mulder felt that he had to offer some
explanation.  "I didn't have breakfast."
     "Oh.  How's Kat?"  Scully noticed the cloud that seemed to pass
across his face at the mention of his wife's name.
     "Fine.  She said 'hello,' by the way."
     Scully's eyebrow shot up in surprise.  She was more than aware of
the other woman's coolness towards her when they were together, but
didn't feel that it was her place to say anything to Mulder about it.
Scully was sure that it hadn't gone unnoticed by him, either.
     "That was nice of her," smiled Scully.  "Everything okay with the
baby?"
     "Fine."  The cloud passed across his face again.  Scully took his
hand.  There was something he wasn't telling her.
     "Mulder, what's wrong?" she asked softly.
     He mustered a smile for her.  "Nothing's wrong, Scully.
Everything's fine."  He sounded less than convincing.  Scully didn't
believe him.

     Back in Scully's office, they settled down to look at the case
files she had dug out for him.   They were interrupted by a phone call
from Mike.  While Scully talked on the phone, Mulder  looked over the
files and it didn't take him long to make a few missed connections,
even with the most cursory of glances.  He shook his head in despair,
recalling that Scully had mentioned that the Bureau's best profilers
had already been through the files.
     When Scully turned her attention back to her ex partner, she
found him nursing his empty coffee mug, a blank look on his face.
     "Mulder?  You okay?" she asked softly.  The sound of Scully's
voice made him start.
     "Scully..."
     "It's all right, Mulder.  You were miles away."  She touched his
arm, her voice and expression full of concern.  "Mulder, what's the
matter?  Is there something wrong with Kat or the baby?"
     Mulder hesitated.  He didn't want to be discussing their private
business with anyone else, but he felt he had to talk to someone, to
get his worries off his chest.  But Scully wasn't 'anyone,' he
reasoned - she was the best friend he'd ever had.  She knew him better
than anyone, better even than his own wife.
     "Kat took on another case," he said at length.  "She took on
another case after promising me she wouldn't."
     "And you argued about it," guessed Scully. It would be a brave
man that tried to tell Katya Lawrence Mulder that she couldn't do
something once she'd set her mind to it.
     "Yes."  Mulder let out a long, defeated sounding sigh.  "I lost
my temper and stormed out of the house."
     "When was this?"
    "Last night."  Mulder sighed again.
    Scully regarded him with alarm.  "Mulder, you have been home since
then, I hope?"
    "Yeah.  I was only gone for a couple of hours.  I just needed some
time to cool off."
     Scully was relieved to hear that.  She knew from experience what
it was like when Mulder went off on his own, without telling anyone
where he was going.  She'd spent hours, sometimes days, wondering
where he'd gone, worrying whether he was dead or alive - she didn't
want Kat to have to go through that, especially now that she was
pregnant.
     "So tell me about this case she's picked up.  What's so special
about it?"
     "It's the guy who murdered Angela," said Mulder softly.
     "Angela Rose?"
     Mulder nodded.  "The thing is Scully, I can see why Kat is doing
this, and I'm really proud of her for that, but I'm so worried that
it's going to put additional strain on her in the last weeks of her
pregnancy.  She needs to be resting, not burning the midnight oil and
being on her feet all day."  He ran his fingers through his hair.
"You know what happened to Angela, Scully - I'm so scared that they
will come after Kat, but she just can't see that, or she doesn't want
to see it."  He paused again.  "I'm crazy about her, Scully.  I never
thought I'd find anyone, or be this happy.  I have everything I could
ever want - I'm my own boss, I have a beautiful and successful wife, a
nice home, a baby on the way...  I just don't know what I'd do if I
lost all that."
     Scully took his hand.  "I don't know what I can tell you, Mulder.
Did you tell Kat that you were proud of her?"
     Mulder hung his head.  "No," he admitted.  "I didn't want to
encourage her."
    "Oh, Mulder.  You should tell her... temper your disapproval with
something positive.  Kat's going to do what she wants to do,
regardless of anything you say - you should at least show her some
support."
     "Yeah, I guess so," he sighed.  "But not now - it's not the right
moment."
     "Well, don't leave it too long, will you?"
     "No."  He smiled and squeezed her hand. "Thanks, Scully."
     "What for?"
     "Listening - being a friend."  He pecked her cheek, then resumed
his businesslike demeanour.  "So, Scully - when do you need these
profiles?"

     Kat let herself into the house at the end of another exhausting
day.  Enticing aromas were coming from the direction of the kitchen -
garlic and herbs to name but two.  She dropped her briefcase and
folders onto the coffee table.
     "Fox?"
     Her husband appeared in the kitchen doorway, smiling.   "Hey.
What happened to 'Honey, I'm home'?"
     "I felt like a change," she replied, as he put his arms around
her and nuzzled her just below the left ear.  "Mmm - what's all this
for?"
    "I love you - I missed you," answered Mulder.  "Is that a crime?"
     Kat smiled - it was more like he was suffering from a guilty
conscience.  "Of course not, Fox - I love you too."  She stood on
tiptoe and kissed his cheek.  "Something smells nice..."
     "It's only pasta with meat sauce - don't get too excited!"
     "It sounds and smells wonderful," said Kat warmly.
     "Oh - there's something else as well.  Close your eyes, and don't
open them until I say so."
     "Okay."  Kat would play along with his little game if that's what
he wanted.  She heard Fox walk away, then the sound of his footsteps
as he came back again.  She thought she could hear paper rustling,
too...
     "Hold out your arms," instructed Fox.  Kat did as he asked, and
felt something being laid across them.  "Now open your eyes."
     Kat looked down - in her arms lay an enormous bouquet of flowers,
beautifully wrapped and tied with a large bow.  "Oh, Fox... they are
gorgeous.  You have all my favourites here..."  Kat buried her nose
amongst the sweet smelling blooms, and her heart was suffused with
love for her husband.  "Come here," she said softly, laying the
flowers on the sofa.  Kat wrapped her arms around him, the top of her
head just fitting in beneath his chin.  "I love you, Fox.  I love you
so much that sometimes I'm afraid it's going to burst out of me."
     Above her, she heard Mulder chuckle softly.  "Not like the alien
thing, I hope!"
     Kat slapped his backside.  "Don't you ever take anything
seriously?"  She looked up at him with a smile on her face.
     "Only the important things," he replied softly, his hands cupping
her face.
     "And just what do you consider to be the important things?"
     "Loving you, and knowing that you love me; being a good husband
and father - when the time comes; supporting you, even though I might
not agree with what you're doing..."
     Now they were getting to it.  "You understand why I'm doing it,
don't you, Fox?"
     "Yes... yes, I do.  And I think it's to be applauded... I just
wish it could have been someone else that had picked up the case."
His hands stroked her face.  "Kat, you understand my feelings, don't
you?  My first concern is for you and the baby... I want Angela to get
justice as much as you do, but not at your expense.  For the first
time in years, my life has some meaning, some purpose... becoming a
father is like being on the threshold of a great adventure, and I
don't want to miss out on that.  I want that experience, I crave it...
I want to prove to myself that it's possible to have the name 'Mulder'
and live a normal life."  His hands had closed around her upper arms,
and he moved them slowly up and down, almost without thinking.  "Kat,
I need you there beside me, guiding me... to pick me up when I
stumble...  I can't do it without you."
     Tears shimmered in Kat's dark eyes.  "I'll be there, Fox... you
won't be alone.  You'll never be alone again..."  Her hand went to the
back of his neck, curling around it and bringing his head down.  She
tilted her face up towards him and kissed him passionately, leaving
him breathless when they broke apart.
     "Dinner's almost ready."  He had to force himself to think about
it.  If a pan of sauce hadn't been simmering away on the stove, he
would have made love to her there and then.  "Why don't you change
while I finish off in the kitchen?  Would you like me to put the
flowers in water?"
     "Yes please.  Fox?"
     "Yeah?"
     "I do love you."
     He touched her face.  "I know," he whispered.  "I love you, too."

     The flowers took pride of place on the dining table, in their
crystal vase.  Fox's pasta and meat sauce was delicious, and try as
she might, Kat couldn't get him to tell her the recipe.
     "It's a secret," he declared.
     "I can see I'm going to have to watch out - you're going to
become a better cook than me before long."
     "Well, you know what they say - practice makes perfect.  I'm
really getting to like cooking,  I enjoy it."
     "Good, I'm glad."  Kat rose, and took her empty dish to the
dishwasher.  "So, how was your day?  Did you pick up those profiles?"
     "Yeah."  Mulder cleared the rest of the things off the table.
"You know, Kat - it felt really odd to be going back as a visitor."
     "I'm sure it did.  Can you do anything with the profiles?"
     "I've already put together a preliminary report.  I can't believe
those guys missed so many clues."
    "Well, we can't all have brains that are connected up the wrong
way round!"  Kat grinned at her husband.  That was the way it seemed
sometimes with Mulder.  He had the uncanny ability to see things that
others couldn't.  She squeezed his arm.  "I'm glad you're able to
help."
     "So am I.  And the money will come in useful."
     "How was Dana?" asked Kat.  She felt she should ask out of
politeness.
     "Fine.  I told her you said 'hello.'  We had lunch at the deli."
     "How is she getting along with the new treatment?"
     Mulder shook his head.  "She's not very optimistic... I told her
she has to give it a chance.  You don't get instant results after that
sort of injury, unfortunately."  He filled the kettle with water.
"I'll make some coffee.  You go and put your feet up."

    Kat was reading though her case notes when Mulder came through
with the coffee.  He tutted when he saw her.
     "Honey, I thought you were going to relax."
     "I'd love to, Fox, but the trial date is coming up fast and
there's still a lot of work to be done."
     "Well, at least put that stuff down while you have your coffee."
He removed the papers from her lap.  "That's better."
     To be honest, Kat was glad not to be looking at those papers,
even if it was for only five minutes.  She felt as if she knew the
notes word for word, but she kept going over and over them, not
wanting to forget one detail, the one detail that might prove crucial
in securing a guilty verdict.  She drained her cup and placed it on
the floor beside her, then picked up the papers again.  She chewed the
end of her pencil, and looked at Mulder.
     "Fox, I need to know about you and Angela."
     "You read the file," he replied.
     "Yes, I did, but I want to hear it from you."
     "I can't remember."
     "Yes, you can, Fox.  What about that eidetic memory of yours?  Or
is it that you don't want to remember?"
     When he looked at her, his hazel eyes were full of pain.  "You
weren't there, Kat.  You have no idea what it's like to see someone
you... someone you cared for gunned down in front of your eyes, in
cold blood.  It took me months to get over it.  I couldn't shut my
eyes at night without it coming back to haunt me, and now you're
raking it up all over again."
     Kat took his hands in hers.  "Honey, I know it's painful, but you
have to tell me everything.  I don't want any surprises up there on
the witness stand.  The defence will try and make something out of
nothing - they'll try and hamstring us if they can.  I want to be
ready for them - I want to cover every eventuality.  You have to be
completely honest with me.  Forget I'm your wife for the moment - just
talk to me as you'd talk to any other attorney."
     "Where do you want me to start?"
     "How about at the beginning?"  Kat squeezed his hands
encouragingly, then picked up her pad and pencil, ready to make notes.

End of Part Three


Kat 4/8
by Carol Gritton (jimcaz@dircon.co.uk)

     Mulder cast his mind back to his first meeting with Angela Rose.
It had been in her office, and she was going over his testimony with
him, fine tuning it to her requirements for presentation in court the
following day.
     "This was the Harrington case, right?" asked Kat.
     "That's right.  Jonas Harrington was a piece of low life trash,
except he had friends with connections."
     "So you went over your testimony together..."
     "Yeah.  The next day I was in court to give my testimony.  I was
the last witness of the day.  I suggested that we went for a drink to
unwind, maybe have something to eat...  Angela was reluctant at first,
but eventually she agreed.  Our intention was to eat then go our
separate ways, but then we got talking... we sat in that bar for
hours."
     "Which bar?"
     "Is that relevant?" asked Mulder.
     "It might be," replied Kat.  "Which bar was it, Fox?"
     "That bar round the corner from the court house, where all the
lawyers go... Mancini's."
     Kat wrote the name down.  "Go on."
     "Angela was just so easy to be with... it was as if we had some
sort of... connection.  It was getting late, and she had to drive me
home.  I'd left my car at the parking lot by the court house, so of
course it was locked by the time we came out of the bar."
     "So Angela ran you home..."
     "Yes."  Kat noticed Mulder fidget, and a flush creep over his
cheeks. "We sat outside my apartment, in the car, and we um... we
kissed."
     "Uh huh.  Go on."
     "It was late, so we said our goodbyes, and Angela drove off.  I
next saw her two days later.  I went to the bar after work, on the off
chance that she might be there.  I felt a definite attraction to her,
yet part of me didn't want to get involved.  She came to the bar when
she finished work, and after a drink, I suggested that we went
somewhere quiet to talk.  We took my car, and Angela directed me to
her apartment."
     Kat noticed Mulder fidgeting again, and his gaze fixed somewhere
over her left shoulder.  She put down her pencil and touched his
cheek, turning his head so that he had to face her.
     "Fox, I need to know everything," she said softly.
     "I know you do, and I don't intend keeping anything from you.
I'm just not comfortable talking about my previous sexual history with
you."
     "I understand that, Fox, but we're both adults.  We both know
that the other has had sexual relationships in the  past.  I'm not
going to hold it against you, or throw it back in your face the next
time we have an argument, if that's what you're worried about.  All
that concerns me is the relationship that we have now - I'm not
interested in what happened in the past, or who you slept with.  I'm
not asking you to go into great detail about what you and Angela did
together - I just need to know whether you slept together, and when."
     Mulder nodded, but he still felt uncomfortable.  Kat picked up
her pencil again.  "Whenever you're ready, Fox."
     Mulder swallowed and licked his lips.  "We made love a little
while after arriving at Angela's apartment, then fell asleep.  When I
woke up, we ate, and talked about how the Harrington case was
progressing, then she told me that she didn't usually jump into bed
with someone so soon after meeting them.  I left a short time after
that.  I didn't have any contact with her over the next few days - I
wasn't sure that I was doing the right thing in pursuing our
relationship.  I'd argued with myself long and hard about getting
involved with Angela."
     "In the meantime, work had kept us apart.  I'd been out of town
on a case, and it was another two weeks before I saw her again.  I
called her, and arranged to meet her at the bar.  I still wasn't sure
that I was doing the right thing in attempting to have a relationship
with Angela.  I explained that there were people out there who would
harm her to get to me.  Call me a coward, but I wanted to give her an
out, but she wasn't falling for it."
     Mulder gave a half smile as he thought of that night.  "Angela
told me to cut the crap, that she'd heard all the excuses there were
to hear in her time, and that we could go our own separate ways there
and then - no hard feelings.  So what did I do?  I offered to take her
to dinner, but she had a deposition that evening.  She told me that
she'd be home later.  I went to her place around nine thirty, and we
spent the night together."
     "How long had you known Angela by this time?" asked Kat.
     "About a month, I guess," replied Mulder.  "Does that have any
bearing on anything?"
     "Probably not, but you never know - the defence might try to make
something out of it."
     "Like what?"
     "I don't know, Fox, that's why I want to have every eventuality
covered.  They are going to try and tear you apart, attack your
credibility - we have to be ready for whatever they throw at you.
They are going to attack you for your involvement with the lead
prosecutor in both cases - as Angela's lover in the first instance,
and as my husband in the second.  They will make as much capital out
of that as they can."
     "Kat..."
     "Honey, all you have to do is tell the truth - they can't hurt
you for that."  She smiled at him.  "You're doing fine, Fox... are you
ready to carry on?"
     Mulder pulled on his bottom lip and nodded.  "The next evening, I
went by Angela's place in the hope that I might see her.  I waited
around for a while and she showed up, but I didn't stay that night.
Angela had had a long day, and she fell asleep on the sofa, so I made
her comfortable and went home.  I picked her up at the court house the
next evening, and the plan was to have dinner then head back to my
place.
     We left the restaurant around ten, and I drove us to my place.
Angela had just stepped out of the car when a Ford came towards us at
speed.  I saw a gun, pulled my weapon and shouted a warning to Angela
to get down, but bullets were already flying everywhere.  I didn't
even get off a shot.  By the time I got to Angela, it was too late.
She was fatally wounded."
     Mulder's eyes were fixed on Kat's pad, and her hand as it
scribbled across the page furiously.
     "Did you see the shooter, Fox?"
     "Only a passing glance.  It was dark, and it all happened so
quickly.  I didn't even get the licence plate of the car."
     Even now, Kat could hear the regret and guilt in his voice.
"Okay.  Go on, Fox."
     "There isn't much more to tell," he said with a soft sigh.  "I
didn't go to the funeral.  I took myself off to Mancini's to drown my
sorrows.  That's where Scully found me.  She told me that the Ford had
been found in Norfolk, abandoned, and that someone had been arrested
in connection with the shooting.  She'd done some digging - in fact
she'd spoken to Jarrod - and discovered that Angela had been receiving
death threats.  He'd tried to talk her into having some protection,
but she refused.  Scully also told me that those bullets had been
intended for me, too.
     Two months after Angela's death, Harrington was convicted and
sent to jail for the rest of his life.  It was only after it was all
over that I felt I could visit her grave.  I went up there that
afternoon to lay some flowers and to give her the news of his
conviction.  She'd won her case, but at a dreadful cost."
     Mulder slumped back against the sofa, as if recalling it all had
exhausted him.  "I was powerless to save her, Kat.  It happened so
quickly, yet at the time it was like it was happening in slow motion.
One minute we were sitting in the car, the next minute she was dead."
     Kat placed her pad and pencil on the floor and snuggled up to
him, wrapping her arm around  him.
     "It wasn't your fault, Fox."
     "I know that, Kat, but I still wonder sometimes if there wasn't
something I should or could have done to prevent what happened.  I
still blame myself for not spotting that car following us... if I
hadn't been so intent on getting Angela back to my place..."
     "Fox, it's done, it's in the past.  You can't change what
happened.  What happened was terrible, but you were not to blame.  It
wasn't your fault."

     The next week positively flew by.  Kat had several very late
nights in the office, which only added to Mulder's concern for her
health and that of the baby.  Towards the end of the week, he'd had a
meeting with Kat and Jarrod to go over his testimony in preparation
for his appearance in court.
     Come Saturday afternoon, Kat sat on the floor surrounded by her
papers, going over everything one more time.  Mulder came through from
the kitchen and stopped when he saw her.
     "No, no, no."  Mulder knelt down and took the papers out of her
hands.
     "Fox!  What do you think you're doing?" cried Kat. "I still have
work to do on those papers!"
     "You've done enough, Kat.  Let it go now.  It's time you
relaxed... you're wound up like a coiled spring."
     "Fox, give me back those papers.  Now."
     Mulder shook his head.  "No.  I mean it, Kat.  You need to take
some time out.  You've been on this for weeks now.  I don't want you
to think about the case until you get into that court room on Monday."
     "But what if I've missed something, Fox?  Something crucial?"
     "Kat, you know that file inside out and back to front!  You can
recite chunks from it in your sleep!  What could you possibly have
missed?"  He took her hands.  "Honey, you need to step away.  You've
done all the preparation you can.  It's up to the judge and jury now."
     "But Fox..."
     "But nothing, Kat.  Help me pick up these papers."
       "I love it when you're so masterful."  Kat gave him a broad
smile.  She secretly liked it when he put his foot down.
     "Turns you on, does it?"  He saw Kat's cheeks flush, and smiled.
"Maybe I should lay down the law more often, in that case."
     The papers safe in their boxes, Mulder joined Kat on the floor.
He sat behind her, his legs either side of her, and gently massaged
the knots out of her shoulders and neck.  Kat felt herself gradually
relax under his ministrations, and she closed her eyes.
     "Mmm... that's nice.  Just a little to the right... perfect."
     "Lean back," said Mulder softly.  She did as he asked, and his
hands went to her belly, moving over it in large, gentle circles.
"Just relax, Kat.  Let me take care of everything."  His mind went
back to the night he'd told her about his relationship with Angela,
and the comment Kat had made about them both having had previous
sexual relationships.  It had been on the tip of his tongue to make
some smart comment, but somehow it didn't seem appropriate at the
time.  His hands continued massaging her belly.  Maybe now was the
time to have a little fun.
     "So, Kat... I wasn't your first," he said.
     "My first what?"
     "Lover."
     Kat looked over her shoulder at him.  He knew damn well that
she'd had other men before him, just like he'd had other women, but
she'd play along if that's what he wanted.  "Where do you think I'd
been living up until the day I met you?" she asked.  "In a convent?"
     "You were never a convent girl," he grinned.  "Definitely not."
     "Oh?  And how do you know?"
     "Well, unless I'm very much mistaken, a convent education doesn't
include those little tricks that you seem to be so familiar with."
His fingertip stroked her cheek lightly.
     "Which little tricks?"
    "Oh, I'm too much of a gentleman to mention them out loud, but I
could show you if you want."  His hand accidentally brushed against
Kat's breast, making her shiver.  "Oops... sorry."
     "Don't be," replied Kat.  There was silence for several minutes,
then she felt Mulder's warm breath on her ear.
     "Come to bed."

     Mulder undressed her slowly.  It was something he was so good
at - uncovering her flesh bit by bit, bathing every newly exposed part
of her with soft and gentle kisses and caresses until she stood before
him naked, every nerve in her body taut, like the strings on a musical
instrument.  Like a master musician, he knew just where to pluck to
make her sing to his tune.  And right now, he had all the time in the
world to do it.
     "You okay?" he asked softly.  He wanted this seduction to be
perfect.
     "Fine, Fox.  Don't you think you ought to even things up and take
off your clothes?  I'm at a bit of a disadvantage here."
     "All in good time, baby.  Come and lie down."  Mulder led her to
the bed, making sure that she was comfortable before removing his own
clothes and lying down beside her.  He ran his hand across her breast,
down over her swollen stomach and on to the flare of her hip.  "You're
so beautiful, Kat... never more so than now."  For months, he'd
watched her body changing, becoming more rounded, fuller, softer.
     Kat chuckled softly.  "I look like a beached whale, and you know
it."
     "Well, okay.  But a beautiful beached whale."  He grinned, and
she gave him a playful punch on the arm.
     "Just shut up and kiss me."
     "Whatever the lady wants, the lady gets."  Mulder's mouth covered
hers, his lips warm and soft against her own.  A hand strayed to her
breast, caressing, gently rolling the nipple between his thumb and
forefinger.
     Kat mirrored the movements of her husband, lightly scratching a
fingernail over his flat nipple, and she heard a tiny moan in the back
of his throat.  Mulder broke the kiss, and transferred his mouth to
her breast, lapping at the nipple while his fingers were busy with the
other one.
     "I love the way you do that," said Kat softly, her fingers
running through his hair.  "I love the feel of your mouth on my
breasts."  She sighed, arching slightly at his touch.  Her breasts
were more sensitive than ever, thanks to her pregnancy.
     "I'm always happy to serve," smiled Mulder, before switching his
attention to her other breast.  He lingered there before moving slowly
downwards - pausing to drop a kiss on her belly - to the patch of dark
hair at the juncture of her thighs.  Mulder pressed his face against
her.  He loved the smell of her, the taste of her.
     "I'm surprised you could find your way down there," chuckled Kat.
"I can't even see it any more."
     "Well," replied Mulder, his cheek resting on her thigh.  "It's a
good job one of us knows how to find it!  I could find my way there in
the dark, like a blind man knows the way home, even though he can't
see where he's going.  All I have to do is follow your scent... your
own sweet smell, and I'll be home, safe and sound."
     "Ah... you say the most romantic things," sighed Kat, ruffling
his hair.  She gave a little jolt as Mulder's tongue came into contact
with the tiny bundle of nerves between her legs. Above him, Mulder
could hear her whimpering as he supped from her, her fingers
alternately pulling on his hair then loosening their grip once again.
She was almost on the edge when he pulled away.  "Fox?  Why did you
stop?"
     He lapped at the underside of her jaw, then cupped her breasts,
kissing each one in turn and letting his tongue skim the nipples.
"Didn't want you to have too much of a good thing," he replied, then
settled his mouth on hers once again.  Kat could taste herself around
his mouth and on his tongue.   Mulder's gently inserted two fingers
inside her, moving them slowly in and out, his thumb circling her
sensitive little nub.
     "That feels so good," sighed Kat.  "I love the way you make me
feel."  She was quiet for a moment, then her dark eyes met his, and
for the first time ever, Mulder saw self doubt there.  "What if I
fail, Fox?"
     "You won't, Kat."  Failure was not an option that Kat usually
entertained.  "You are going to win."  He kissed her mouth.  "Now roll
onto your side."
     Kat duly obliged, and he slid into her effortlessly from behind.
Her presence around him was like being clothed in all the rich fabrics
the world could offer - satin, silk and velvet.  He sighed in utter
contentment, then began a slow and gentle thrusting.  Mulder turned
her face towards him  and kissed her again.
     "Look at me, Kat... I want to see your face when you come," he
said softly.  "I want to hear you say my name."  She was almost there,
so he thrust in again, and once more...
     The wave overtook her, tossing her like shingle on a beach,
receding then coming forward again and again.  Mulder rode it with
her, then she cried out his name, spurring him on to his own release.
They lay together in the silence and the fading light, allowing their
breathing to return to normal.  Kat gave Mulder a final squeeze, then
he withdrew from her, but stayed close, spooning her against him and
nuzzling her neck and shoulder.
     "I'm so proud of you, Kat.  I didn't feel that I could tell you
before, but I wanted you to know before we go into court on Monday."
     Kat turned in his arms, her hands resting on his damp chest.  "It
means a lot to hear you say that, Fox."  She reached up and touched
his face.  "I love you."
     "I love you too, Kat."

     For about the fifth time, Mulder stuck his head around the
bedroom door and saw that Kat was stirring at last.  He went swiftly
to the kitchen and collected a ready prepared breakfast tray, then
headed back to the bedroom.  He toed the door open and walked in.
     "Good morning," he said brightly.
     Kat struggled to sit up, looking up at him with bleary eyes.  Her
husband was standing there, holding a tray, with a folded tea towel
over one arm, just like a waiter.
     "What's all this?"
     "Breakfast in bed," announced Mulder, handing her a single red
rose.  "Today I'm going to pamper you.  You are not going to talk
about the case - you are not even going to think about it.  We're
going to enjoy a nice, relaxing day."  Mulder sat on the edge of the
mattress and laid the tray across her lap.  "Now, I have here for your
delectation fruit juice, coffee, warm croissants and strawberry
preserve."
     "Aren't you having any?" asked Kat, noticing that there was only
enough for one.
     "I've already had breakfast.  I went out for a run first thing.
Didn't you hear me in the shower?"
     "No.  I must have been well away."  At least that explained his
damp hair.
     Mulder gave her a wicked grin.  "Wore you out last night, did I?"
     Kat snorted.  "As I recall, you went to sleep before I did!
Junior was a little on the active side last night."  She held the rose
up and inhaled deeply.  "This is lovely, Fox - thank you."
     "You're welcome.  Now eat your croissants before they get cold."
     "You've started something now, Fox - you realise I shall expect
this sort of treatment all the time, don't you?"  Kat smiled up at him
as she popped a piece of buttery croissant spread with jam into her
mouth.
     "I'd do anything for you, you know that," he said softly, running
a fingertip along her bare arm.  Then the wicked smile was back.
"Just as long as you don't get crumbs in the bed.  I hate crumbs in
the bed!"
     "I'll try not to," laughed Kat.
     Mulder picked up the rose.  "I'll put this in water."
     "There's a bud vase under the sink - just chop a little off the
stem."
     Mulder was soon back with the rose in the bud vase.  He set it on
Kat's nightstand.  "I thought we'd go to the mall today."
     "What happened to relaxing?"  Kat licked her fingers free of
remaining crumbs, then wiped her hands on the tea towel Mulder had had
draped over his arm.
     "I just thought you might like to get out of the house for a
while, that's all."  He wanted to divert her attention away from the
case and the opening day in court the next day.  "And we haven't spent
much time together lately, have we?"
     Kat had to concede on that point.  She reached out for his hand.
"I'm sorry, Fox.  That's my fault, I know."
     "I wasn't apportioning blame, Kat - I just want to spend some
time with you, that's all."  He poured her some coffee.  "There'll be
three of us soon, and I'd just like to have you to myself while I
can."
     "Thank you.  Well, there are a few things we still need for the
baby..."
     "Oh God."  Mulder rolled his eyes.  "You're not going to buy up
half the store again, are you?"
     "No," chuckled Kat.
     "You say 'no' now, but once you get in there, you seem to lose
all sense and reason!"  Mulder hadn't forgotten their last trip to the
baby store.  They had come out laden with bags, most of which he
didn't know the contents of, and he was sure they didn't need half of
what they'd bought anyway.  And as for the clothes - Mulder figured
that Kat had enough outfits to dress half a dozen babies, never mind
one.  "I shouldn't think they've even had a chance to restock since
your last foray!"

End of Part Four