Date: Mon, 21 Sep 1998 12:24:02 PDT Subject: "A Kiss is a Kiss" by Sammy C., (1/1) Disclaimers: We all know who owns who, right? Good, then we can go about our non-profit business. Title: A Kiss is a Kiss part 1/1 Author: Sammy C. Category: SRA Rating: PG Spoilers: The X-Files Movie: Fight for the Future Keywords: Mulder/Scully UST, Flickfic Summary: While starting out for their first new assignment after the X-Files was reopened, Mulder and Scully internalize "the Kiss." "A Kiss is a Kiss" an X-Files story by Sammy C. Part 1/1 "It feels good to be on assignment again," Fox Mulder commented to his partner as they set out on a new case. It was their first new X-File since their department had been re-opened. "They didn't fire us, Mulder, and it's not like our *last* assignment failed to challenge you." Dana Scully shot back, a slight grin forming on her face. "You know what I mean, Scully." "Yeah, I know. You love chasing your little green men halfway across the country." Her grin was playful. It was also infectious, Mulder discovered, as he could not keep a mirroring grin from forming on his own face. It felt good--the light-hearted mood they were both in. He couldn't remember the last time they'd had fun together. he thought. As he did, his grin faded slightly. He'd almost lost her yet again. He didn't know how much longer he could take it--knowing how much she meant to him, yet unable to tell her. She must have some clue, of course, but neither of them seemed able to admit their feelings. Feelings? He'd thought his feelings for her were clear when he'd kissed her that night, nearly a month ago. Well...he'd *almost* kissed her. Her lips were so close to his that he could practically taste them. That night, however, seemed to have been forgotten. It had been pushed aside by the bigger issues of their lives. Mulder even wondered if she remembered that sweet moment before the bee had stung her. Sadly, she could have forgotten due to the trauma which had followed afterward. "Scully..." he said at last, meaning to broach the subject now that he had her alone in a moving vehicle. She turned her enchantingly inquisitive gaze to him. "Yes, Mulder?" "I... " he thought. "I... nothing. Never mind." He returned his concentration to the road. Scully went back to staring out the window. As the scenery rolled by, she wondered what had been on Mulder's mind. He'd sounded so intense that she almost expected some deep, intimate confession. Instead, nothing came from him. It was funny, but lately she'd gotten the feeling that something had come between them. He acted differently around her and, unconsciously, she acted differently with him. Not that she didn't know what had happened. Mulder had come very close to kissing her--and she him. Whether it had been a unconscious kiss--the result of the high emotions they'd both been feeling at the time--or something real between them, she did not know. All she did know was that whenever she saw him now, she yearned to tell him it was all right. The kiss--well, the *almost* kiss--would not have been unwelcome. She never said so out loud, however. How could she vocalize something like that? What would it do to their relationship? Was that why Mulder remained silent--to save the closeness they shared? Or had it meant nothing to him? Scully glanced over at her partner, silently urging herself to say something. "Mulder?" "Yeah, Scully?" "How much further is this place?" "About ten miles. That all?" "Yeah." She turned back to the window. The silence that ensued lingered until the agents reached their destination. Both exited the car feeling certain they had wasted precious time in which they could have opened their hearts to each other. Their lives had changed since that night, nearly a month ago, and yet had not changed at the same time. A kiss was a kiss, after all--except for one small bee. THE END Sammy C.'s other X-Files fanfic piece, "Noel," is available on Gossamer, and her Forever Knight fanfiction can be found at Fleurette's Home for Forever Knight: