From: "Karen Black" Date: Wed, 24 Feb 1999 22:52:35 -0500 Subject: 1st submission Title: Left Behind From: Blackstone kmblack@mindspring.com Disclaimer: I mean no disrespect to Mssrs. Carter, Duchovny & Ms. Anderson - only the greatest respect. Of course the characters belong to them and can only be maligned by my tampering with them. Still, I'm bored, so?on with (well, not exactly) the show. Feedback: This is my first and possibly last fanfic ever?so go ahead & take any potshots you wish. Of course, I would greatly appreciate any kind words you have to impart as well. Either way, I respect all opinions - bring 'em on! ****************************** Findlay, Ohio Sunday, 12:00 noon "What the hell was that all about, Mulder?" His lack of response wasn't surprising to Scully, but it still pissed her off. Even as she slammed the motel door, Mulder continued ambling around the room, picking up papers and crime scene photos. "The pictures, Scully. Did you see them? The shadows in the rear around the car don't match the other objects in view. That car wasn't really there, Scully. Darren Mitzen just wished that it was, and so it appeared in the photograph. I had to see the other photos Darren kept to see what else he had 'wished' into them, so I went back to the first crime scene?Scully?" He didn't know when, in his speech, she had left. She was just gone. He looked around the room, and then pushed through the adjoining door to her room. "Scully?" The only answer was the roar of a Ford Taurus as it tore out of the motel parking lot. ************************* Monday, 12:01 am Mulder couldn't believe it. Could - not - believe it. She just left. The car was turned back into the rental place and one seat filled on a 747 to Washington, D.C. Mulder was left behind at the 'Hometown Hotel' with two rooms full of crime scene photos, old takeout containers, and clothes & girl stuff. Mulder ground his teeth as he tore around her room, looking for Scully's things. Boy, she'd regret it - just leaving like that with all of her perfect little suits and makeup and shit still all over the room. Good thing he was here to pick it up, he thought, as he angrily threw a bottle of some type of cream into her bag. Shit! Like a fucking maid or something, he thought. Like I have to jump when you decide to leave. Like I have to finish wrapping up the loose ends of a case when you get tired of it. Like I'm second in command?well, he stamped down on that thought. No need to turn into a sexist pig just because she treats me like one. But I am her superior, and we were assigned to this case by Assistant Director Skinner, and leaving in the middle of a case is a serious breach of protocol. This was one pain in the ass move that the lily white Agent Dana Scully would be punished for, if he had to do it himself. With that, Mulder slammed the hotel door shut. ************************** F.B.I. Headquarters Monday, 8:04 am He was still seething when he pulled into the parking deck. Unfortunately, the lack of sleep and food for the last 24 hours hadn't improved his mood. All he could think about was her, which made him even angrier. *Crunch* "Fuck!" He swore loudly as the bumper reached over the cement bar at the end of the parking space. Scully was the root of all of this. God, if she had helped him tie up all the loose ends and complete the investigation they would've been on the plane at a reasonable hour. Instead, he arrived at 2:45 am and didn't hit the sheets until an hour later. But sleep never came anyway. Mulder didn't notice the startled glances when he strode into the elevator and repeatedly smashed the basement button. When the doors opened he was at the office door in seconds. And there, the object of his prey appeared in the cross hairs, appropriately dressed in red. She didn't even look up when he entered. "Mulder, Skinner wants our report on the Mitzen case ASAP. I did it on the plane back yesterday - if you want a look before we head upstairs. The only thing missing are the crime scene photos and the diagrams of the superimposed car and other objects in the photos. If you have those in the files you're holding, we can go ahead." As she finished talking, she pulled some papers off the printer and added them to the folder on his desk. She then turned to see him for the first time. Her first thought was, poor Mulder. His tie was askew, and his hair was matted down on one side. The stack of files under his left arm were a mess, in danger of falling any minute. His coat and shoes were still covered with the road-salt kicked up everywhere around Findlay, Ohio in mid-January. Only after seeing this pathetic site did Scully's eyes climb back up to Mulder's face. Her feelings of pity evaporated in an instant, and began to match the fury dancing in Mulder's hazel eyes. "Good morning, Scully. So good to see you. I presume the case you are referring to is the one I completed for us in Ohio early this morning. I appreciate your efforts in compiling a report, but your work is of no value in its incomplete form. Perhaps if you had continued the case to its logical end along with me you would have some knowledge of its resolution. Too bad your attention to detail and respect for Bureau protocol has fallen below the most rudimentary standards," he finished icily. Mulder was pretty proud of his little speech, given the rage boiling inside of him. "Fortunately, I was able to step up in your absence and complete the report myself. Would you like to carry it up to Skinner now, or first review it for any hint of paranormal nonsense before the pristine Scully signature joins that of 'Spooky Mulder' at the bottom?" Mulder glowered down at her, a cold smirk of satisfaction dancing around his lips. He held his breath, waiting for her poisonous response. "That will be fine," she replied calmly. Scully picked up the papers she had collected and walked toward the door, passing Mulder. Just as she reached for the handle, fingers of iron grabbed her arm and spun her around. Scully couldn't help the gasp of shock that was forced out of her chest. A sea of papers flew into the air. "Is that all the 'queen,' has to say for herself?" Mulder ground the words out between clenched teeth. "Mulder, maybe you need a moment to yourself. I'll wait outside while you collect yourself and the evidence you've just scattered over the floor." Scully regained her calm and shrugged easily out of Mulder's slackened fingers. Once again she walked to the door. It took Mulder a moment to come to his senses, but when he did, the door handle flew out of Scully's hands and the door shut with resounding force. "I've had more than a moment to myself, Scully. I've had about 20 hours of it, actually. I had it in the hotel room while I waited for an airport limo to pick me up at midnight. I had it on the fully booked flight with a sweaty salesman leaning on my arm. And, I had it in front of my computer this morning, typing out a report on which I could have used your input. I don't need a moment to myself - I deserve a moment of your time. I demand it." He finished, his breath hot on her face. Mulder's eyes blazed into Scully's eyes, and for the first time in a long time, she didn't flinch. "I'm sorry, Agent Mulder, were you left behind? Did your partner discard you like a piece of luggage in order to pursue another agenda? Were you forced to remain, and pick up the pieces and save your partner's ass? I only wish I could empathize with what you're going through - but I can't. My partner would never leave me behind. He has only too much respect for my medical and investigatory expertise, not to mention my concern for his safety. He would never run off and pursue endless leads, even out of the country, without informing me of his whereabouts. He certainly wouldn't put himself in jeopardy without his partner to back him up. No, Agent Mulder, I'd like to say I know what you're going through, but I don't. I imagine you'll get over it, though?as I have." Scully's eyes were chips of ice, but the spots of color on her cheeks showed her agitation. If Mulder had had some rest in the past week, he could have appreciated how starkly beautiful she was at that moment and considered her comments. But, as luck would have it, reason was in short supply and self-righteous indignation was at an all-time high. "Well, Agent Scully, I agree with you on one point. You don't know what I've been through. Because even though you may have been momentarily thwarted from joining the chase from time to time, you haven't been left in the lurch because of your partner's foolish pride. You may have been redirected because the investigation demanded the fast action of one individual, but not because your partner sought to even an old score." "I suppose the fast action you refer to includes a quick lay with a bimbo detective in Comity? I suppose the Bureau is always looking for a few good men, and you're certainly ready to 'redirect' your partner in order to fulfill that duty, right, Agent Mulder?" Scully's eyes started flashing as brightly as Mulder's. The heat was coming off of her in waves, Mulder momentarily noticed. He took a step closer, deliberately sliding his hand along the door above her head and leaning into her. "Oh, I'm sorry, 'Queen.' I didn't know that all you needed was a little 'fast action' of your own." Scully felt another wave of fury wash over her with his 'Ice Queen' comment, as well as a white hot bolt of desire as his thigh brushed between her legs. But the fury won out, as Scully decided a whole new kind of action was needed to bring her partner to attention. So she brought him up to speed with a quick knee to the groin. Unfortunately for her but fortunately for the unborn uber-Mulders, Scully's height worked against her and Mulder was able to thwart her kick with his own knee. Soon, the argument turned into a wrestling match. Scully shoved Mulder back with all her might while he held onto her forearms. But Mulder's quick movement to protect his groin also left him off balance, sending him flailing backwards to the floor. Scully tumbled along as well, but soon found herself pinned beneath him. "Son of a BITCH! Get the hell off of me!" "Has it been that long, Scully? It's kind of hard to give you the fast action you're looking for from across the room!" "Mulder, I'm going to remove that part of your anatomy so fast?" "Ooh, Scully, you can do anything as long as you do it slowww?" "You bastard!" She jerked her arms back and forth, but Mulder's grip on her wrists held them firmly above her head. Scully tried to bring her leg up, but his heavy knees forced her legs apart. After a period of struggling and heavy breathing, she became motionless and grudgingly looked into his eyes. The hardness of the floor and the pain in Scully's wrists faded with what she saw there. His eyes were so dark, so fierce and exciting that she felt his heat boring into her wherever he looked. His hot breath on her face suddenly seemed to blow right into her mouth as his lips descended on hers with a deep, searching kiss. Their lips slid apart as Mulder's tongue dueled furiously with hers for control. The heat was almost unbearable but she knew that ending it would be raw pain. So it continued, on and on, hot and wet and fusing their bodies as his hips ground into her with each movement of his tongue. Finally, with one last thrust, Mulder grudgingly pulled away. Their breath mingled as their lips came apart, and Mulder felt a soft moan escape him as he looked at her soft, wet lips. *Bing!* Both heads whipped toward the door upon hearing the elevator doors open. Scully and Mulder scrambled to their feet and grabbed for pieces of paper, books, anything that might be considered work. One knock, and the door was opened by Assistant Director Skinner. "Agents, I expected to receive your report this morning on my desk at 8:00 sharp. It is presently 8:45 and I am late for a meeting. The report, please?" Mulder shuffled through his papers and pulled out a folder to hand to Skinner. "I apologize, sir. We just got back from Ohio this morning sir, and, well?I know you're late so I won't waste any more of your time." "Thank you, Agent Mulder." Skinner accepted the folder and turned to the door. As he walked out, Skinner paused. "Oh, and Mulder, I'm glad to see you in good health. Agent Scully told me about your emergency proctologist appointment this morning, and I was concerned. At any rate, get to work on that kidnapping case and we'll have a progress meeting tomorrow." With that, Skinner left the room in a wake of uncomfortable silence. "Scully?" Mulder began through clenched teeth. Scully smiled wickedly as Mulder advanced upon her. THE END kmblack@mindspring.com 706/227-9657