The Lost Weekend - Part 1/? By Kellian (Kelso2@Pipeline.com) Disclaimer: Stole Mulder, Scully, Skinner, and the X-Files from CC and 1013 without a permission slip. Sorry! No harm intended. Rating: PG-13 couple of swear words - no sex or violence. A tiny hint of MSR - nothing big, but if you don't want mush, delete this now! Spoilers: None that I noticed Summary: Scully and Mulder visit her old college roommate, and Mulder thinks she might be a X-File. Author's Note: This is my first attempt at fan fiction, so please let me know what you think (don't flame me too hard!) This is a big fluff piece - thought I'd just let everybody have some fun in this one. Anyway, let me know if I should continue, or just quit while I'm ahead! "Don't throw those shells on the floor!" Dana Scully scolded, glaring at her partner. "Geez, relax, Scully, it's a rental car" answered Fox Mulder, but he obligingly opened the window and sowed the remaining sunflower seed shells along I-75. They were headed north into the suburbs of Detroit after having passed through the city proper. "Lovely place - I bet your friend has plenty of work to keep her busy" Mulder said as depressing-looking buildings flew by on both sides of the freeway. "The suburbs aren't bad at all - it's not as dangerous as it used to be. Washington's worse" answered Scully, neglecting to mention her own apprehension during her first visit to Abbey Ryan's hometown during their sophomore year in college. They'd met in the pre-med program at the University of Maryland, and had later become roommates. Together with classmate Cliff Scallini, they'd formed a triumvirate whose friendship that had lasted through college, medical school, and all the years that followed. Abbey was now a forensic pathologist, engaged to Cliff, who was in private practice, and she, Dana was...what? She sometimes wondered how to define her job, wondered why she'd forsaken medical practice to join the bureau in spite of her family's disapproval. She glanced over at Mulder, who was drifting off in the passenger's seat, and smiled quietly. In spite of all the terrible things that had happened, it had been worth it. ********** Twenty minutes later, Mulder awakened to a huge change in scenery. The neighborhood they were cruising through was full of trees and mellow-looking brick houses. "We're not in Kansas anymore" he commented sleepily "why'd you let me fall asleep like that?" "So I didn't have to listen to you crunching those seeds" Scully replied with a grin. "Don't worry, I would have gotten you up if I saw a UFO over the Stroh's brewery." She knew Mulder hated falling asleep in the car - he was afraid he was going to miss something important, which probably explained his on-going battle with insomnia. "Where are we, anyway?" he asked, sitting up and smoothing his rumpled hair. "Birmingham. Nearly at Abbey's" Scully seemed excited, and Mulder was glad that business could be mixed with pleasure for her on this trip. They didn't have to be back in Washington until Monday, and the plane was scheduled to layover in Detroit, so they'd rearranged their tickets, at Abbey Ryan's request, and were planning on spending the weekend. "What's Abbey like - you never talk about her much" "She's high-spirited, kinda crazy, completely indestructible. She's an unbelievable ME - she notices things that would pass by anybody else. She's got a talent for the work and a personality that keeps it from getting to her. She consults with the Bureau as a wound expert. Oh, here we are!" Scully pulled into the driveway of a lovely old Georgian house with black shutters and a slate roof. Before she could stop the engine, the front door flew open and a young woman ran down the front steps to fling herself against the car. Scully jumped out and they embraced, laughing and squealing like sorority girls while Mulder watched in amazement. Scully never even *laughed* anymore, and now she was jumping up and down and *squealing*? "Mulder, this is Abbey. Abbey, Mulder" Scully said as he got out of the car. "I'm so glad to finally meet you!" Abbey Ryan took his hand and smiled up at him. She was about the same size as Scully, but had an even more delicate build. Huge grey eyes looked up at him out of a pointed face surrounded by honey- colored curls. he thought "Can I call you Spooky? Please??" Abbey asked as they got the bags out of the trunk. She was smiling up at him charmingly and without a hint of malice. Mulder found himself thinking that maybe Spooky wasn't such a bad nickname after all. "Sure, I guess" he mumbled "But I can't help wondering who told you to call me that" he added, glaring at Scully, who was enjoying herself hugely at his discomfort. "Oh, everybody knows that" Abbey said breezily "Uncle Walt calls you that all the time" "Uncle Walt?" Mulder asked, "Didn't DiDi tell you? Well, probably not, I try to keep it quiet. I don't want a lot of people to know that I call the Assistant Director "Uncle Walt". He's not really my uncle, but I've always called him that. He was in the Marines with my dad. As a matter of fact, he's the reason we got interested in the Bureau." "No, *DiDi*, didn't mention that" Mulder said, caught somewhere between amazement and amusement. No wonder Scully didn't talk about her friend that much. And no wonder Skinner cut them so much slack! "She lets you call her DiDi?" "Oh, everybody's got a nickname around here. It's how I separate the friendlies from the not-so-very-friendlies. DiDi's vouched for you, so you get automatic friendly status." Abbey explained as they entered the house. "And you think I'm paranoid?" Mulder hissed into Scully's ear. ********** "Where's Cliff?" Scully asked later, as they sat in the living room, catching up. Abbey's smile lit up at the mention of his name. "Oh, he'll be here soon. Say forty-eight minutes" she said serenely. "He's so excited about seeing you - he was afraid you'd never speak to him again after the Grand Canyon incident" "The Grand Canyon incident?" Mulder really wanted to know how Abbey was sure about the forty-eight minutes, but he politely directed the curiosity towards small talk. Besides, dirt on Scully was always fun the have. "When we went on vacation out west last year, Cliff talked her into doing that donkey-ride thing and almost killed her." Abbey turned her grin on Scully "I haven't seen you so mad since the time you put dish soap in your coffee the morning before the anatomy final". This led to a series of do-you- remembers that left Mulder stunned. He simply couldn't imagine serious Scully riding donkeys, smuggling beer kegs into the dorm and answering to DiDi. Then again, the beautiful, laughing creature sitting beside him wasn't Scully, exactly. Some subtle change had occurred, and Mulder thought it had everything to do with Abbey Ryan. There was something about her that made you relaxed and comfortable. Mulder felt that he hadn't a care in the world, hell, he almost felt euphoric - a feeling that he hadn't experienced in a very long time. He found himself watching Abbey closely - she had some kind of secret and he planned to find out what it was. "Hey, we'd better go get ready - Cliff will be here in twenty-six minutes!" Abbey exclaimed "Com'on, DiDi, you can get dressed in my room". ********** End of Part 1 The Lost Weekend - Part 2/? By Kellian (Kelso2@Pipeline.com) Rating: PG-13 A couple of swear words, no sex, no violence. There is a hint of MSR, so delete this now if you're not into that sort of thing. Summary: Scully take Mulder to visit her college roommate, and Mulder thinks she might be an X-File! Disclaimer: Scully, Mulder, Skinner and The X-Files were all stolen from CC and 1013 without permission. Author's note: This part goes out to Dirae and Patti for encouraging me! Thanks ladies!!! Please E-mail me with comments and suggestions - this is my first attempt at fanfic, so I can use the guidance! Mulder changed quickly, giving him plenty of time to get back downstairs before Abbey's allotted twenty-six minutes were up. Laughter and music drifted down from the master bathroom, where Scully and Abbey were supposedly performing beauty rituals. Judging from the noise and carrying-on however, Mulder was afraid that pagan sacrifices were being performed in the bathtub. At Abbey's predicted time, on the dot, the front door opened to admit a tall blond man with a broad smile. "Hi, I'm Cliff. You must be Spooky" He said, dropping his briefcase and extending his hand. "I guess I am, whether I like it or not. Most people call me Mulder" Mulder grinned, slipping his stopwatch into a pocket before shaking the other man's hand. "Once Abbey and DiDi decide something, there's no changing their minds." "Yeah, I've noticed that" Mulder said dryly, remembering his many arguments with Scully about her refusal to accept unusual explanations for the strange things they encountered in their work. "They've been calling my "Cliffie" since day one, and I can't get them to stop. Compared to that, Spooky isn't so bad". A shriek of laughter echoed down and Cliff looked up at the ceiling, presumably afraid that it was going to crash down on their heads "Are they almost ready?" "I don't know" Mulder answered "I'm no expert on women, but when a couple of them are locked in a bathroom giggling and listening to Alanis Morrisette, it's a pretty safe bet that a guy shouldn't venture within twenty feet of them" "I couldn't agree more" Cliff said seriously. ******* "So, anyway, because the class was seated alphabetically, Cliff was between DiDi and I. Whenever I wanted to say something to her, I had to lean across him to say it. He was so good at passing notes that I just *had* to marry him!" Abbey was turned around in the front seat of Cliff's Jeep Grand Wagoneer, grinning merrily at Mulder, who was clutching the door handle and trying not to betray his fright at the wild after- dinner ride Cliff was treating them to. "You're marrying him because I passed him along to you! If we'd hit it off on that date, it would all be different. I'd be marrying him and you'd be on the Spooky Patrol" Scully teased her friend. "The Spooky Patrol?" asked Cliff, making a terrifying lane change. "That's what they call us" Scully answered. "Spooky and Mrs. Spooky". She punched Mulder lightly in the arm, but got no response. The lane change had left him speechless. "Dearest, I think you're scaring poor Spooky half to death!" "Oh, everybody drives like this here!" Cliff replied breezily. "Great! That makes me feel much better. Scully, did you bring your medical kit along???" They were headed down Woodward Avenue to meet Abbey's cousin Rick and his wife, Brienne at a club that Rick had called to suggest. Mulder had been surprised at Scully's enthusiasm for the plan. He'd been even more surprised when she came downstairs to go to dinner dressed in some kind of long black vest thing over baggy jeans, sporting strappy sandals, red lipstick and a funky hairdo. He kept eyeing her surreptitiously during dinner and decided that he liked the change. He'd also noticed that he wasn't the only one with a staring problem. Every once in a while, he'd catch Abbey scrutinizing Scully, or him, with a tiny little frown and a look that was somewhere between intense concentration and worry. ********** End of Part 2 The Lost Weekend - Part 3/? By Kellian (Kelso2@Pipeline.com) Rating: PG-13 A couple of swear words, no sex, no violence. There is a hint of MSR, so delete this now if you're not into that sort of thing. Summary: Scully take Mulder to visit her college roommate, and Mulder thinks she might be an X-File! Disclaimer: Scully, Mulder, Skinner and The X-Files were all stolen from CC and 1013 without permission. Author's note: This part goes out to Dirae, Patti, Danielle, and Sweet Almond for wanting to see more of this! for encouraging me! Please E-mail me with comments and suggestions - this is my first attempt at fanfic, so I can use the guidance! She hadn't let go like this in years. Mulder would probably tease her about it when they got back to D.C., but at this point, she really didn't care. Scully smiled up happily into the lights, loving the off-beat clothes that Abbey had loaned her, loving the feel of her hair sliding around her face. She hadn't danced since...well, she didn't remember the last time she'd been dancing. She usually didn't have the time or the inclination for frivolous pasttimes these days, but this weekend was an exception. She hadn't felt this happy in a long, long time. She glanced over at Abbey, who was whirling with graceful abandon, and smiled. While they were changing for dinner, Abbey had confided that she might be offered a chance to work in the forensic labs at the FBI full time. Scully thought wryly. The song ended, and she left the dance floor to take a breather. Mulder was waiting for her, holding a couple of big, bright blue drinks. "I didn't know you could dance, Scully" He said, handing her one of the glasses. "I didn't know I still could" she answered, taking a sip. Her eyes widened as she swallowed. "Jesus, Mulder, what *is* this? It tastes like Froot Loops!" "How would you know what a Froot Loop tastes like? It's called a Tahitian Paradise - it's good for you, chock full of vitamin C." he answered, leading her through the crowd. "Where are we going?" "To the table." "You actually got a table?" "Amazing what an FBI badge and a gun can get ya" ********** End of Part 3 The Lost Weekend - Part 4/? By Kellian (Kelso2@Pipeline.com) Rating: PG-13 A couple of swear words, no sex, no violence. There is a hint of MSR, so delete this now if you're not into that sort of thing. Summary: Scully take Mulder to visit her college roommate, and Mulder thinks she might be an X-File! Disclaimer: Scully, Mulder, Skinner and The X-Files were all stolen from CC and 1013 without permission. Author's note: This part rambles a bit - forgive me for not having a point! Do me a favor and give me your opinions on the MSR in here - how far should I go with it? I've got a couple of different versions that branch off after this segment and I just can't make a decision!!!!! Help!!! Comments, suggestions, etc. are appreciated and much-needed. Thanks to everybody who emailed their encouragements! "Anybody want to get coffee?" Abbey asked as they left the club and crossed the avenue. "I'd kill for a cup" answered Rick's wife, Brienne. "I'm not used to these hours anymore - we run on baby time now!" "Hey, let's go to the American Diner!" Cliff suggested. "Oh, God! Okay, but I'm not answering the phone this time!" Scully replied. "You'll love this place, Mulder, it's right up your alley." "Whoever sits at the end of the counter has to answer the pay phone and take the orders, in case you're wondering" Abbey explained, as she attempted to hop across a side street on one foot. They headed down the block to an old-fashioned silver diner blazing with neon lights. Inside, a long counter ran the length of the building and offered an appetizing view of the grill. The place was packed, and they had to scramble for seats. "Three'll do!" said Cliff, when Rick pointed out an empty space. "You can sit on my lap, DiDi" he teased. "Hey, better not hit on Spooky's girl - he'll shoot you!" giggled Brienne. The comment jolted Scully, and she almost protested, but something stopped her. Spooky's girl. For some reason, the thought gave her a warm, happy feeling. she thought. Brie's comment also startled Mulder, but he was having too good a time to worry about it. Instead of giving him the usual Crazy-Spooky-In-The-Basement reaction, this bunch accepted him as one of their own. He'd found a kindred spirit in Cliff, who loved basketball and firmly believed that he'd once seen the Loch Ness Monster during a trip to Scotland; and he'd made Brienne laugh so hard that she'd said she felt like she was going into labor again. As for Abbey, Mulder felt like he'd known her all his life, even though she scared him. He took the stool between Rick and Cliff, and Scully plopped herself down on his left knee, seemingly without a second thought. "You seem lighter" Rick observed to Brienne as she seated herself on his knee. "Rick, I just had a nine-pound baby! Of course I'm lighter!!! But thanks for noticing..." Brie kissed her husband on the nose, then leaned over to Scully and Abbey. "So, when are you two going to catch up with us?" "I can't wait" said Abbey "But Cliff and I will probably get into fights over who gets to play with the kid's toys". "If I had a baby, it would probably get eaten by a giant swamp alligator" Scully said. He tone was light, but Mulder felt her tense up a little. He saw Abbey wince slightly, as if someone had kicked her. She turned to Cliff, and some unspoken signal passed between them. "So, can I play a song for you Sweetie?" he asked. Abbey's sudden smile lit her eyes gratefully. "Of course, dearest!" She climbed off of Cliff's lap, and he went over to the jukebox in the corner. "Rick and Cliff always play songs for us when we come here" she explained. The waitress had just set down the coffee cups when the the Beach Boys' "God Only Knows" began. Cliff swooped Abbey off of their stool and into a slow waltz through the crowded diner. No one seemed to be perturbed, but Mulder figured that much stranger things happened in here on a daily basis. When they finished, Rick ordered onion rings and went to play "Little Miss Magic" for Brienne. Scully, enjoying the carrying-on, was taken by surprise when Mulder hefted her off his lap and ambled over to the jukebox himself. A few seconds later, he was back, grinning like a little kid. "May I have this dance, DiDi?" he asked, executing an ostentatious bow in front of her. She took his hand as Queen broke into "You're My Best Friend". "You didn't have to do this, Mulder, but thanks" Scully said, laughing as he spun her crazily through the crowded, grease- scented diner as their friends smiled and cheered them on. "I *wanted* to, Scully. Just don't step on my toes!" ********** The Lost Weekend - Part 5/? By Kellian (Kelso2@Pipeline.com) Rating: This part probably only deserves a PG rating, but has more than a hint of MSR, so delete this now if you're not into that sort of thing. Summary: Scully take Mulder to visit her college roommate, and Mulder thinks she might be an X-File! Disclaimer: Scully, Mulder, Skinner and The X-Files were all stolen from CC and 1013 without permission. Author's note: Mulder and Scully get quite a bit out of character here - but in my own defense, let me say that they've been drinking and are also wired on caffiene. Let me know how you think it's going - the advice I've gotten so far has been fantastic! Thanks to my Uncle Jim for the "Seven Magic Words" quote, and thanks to everybody who emailed encouragements and suggestions! "Are you sure this is okay, DiDi?" Abbey asked, shutting the blinds in her yellow and white guest room. "What?" Scully shut the water off and stuck her head out of the adjoining bathroom. "I said, are you sure you're okay with this?" Scully waved a depreciating hand at her friend. "Abbey, I've freaked out in this guy's hotel room in my underwear before! Of course I don't mind sharing a room! Besides, Rick and Brie are exhausted and they have to pick up the baby in the morning." "Just didn't want you to think I was cramming Spooky down your throat" Abbey said. "Maybe I wouldn't mind that, either" Scully deadpanned, and they both fell back on the bed, giggling hysterically. "Is it safe for me to come in here?" Mulder asked from the doorway. Abbey and Scully looked up at him and a fresh wave of mirth broke over them. "What did I do?" "Ours is not to questions why, but to simply accept" Cliff intoned from behind him. "Did you know that there are seven magic words that a man can use to make a relationship perfect?" "God, what are they? I need to know NOW!" Scully yelped and lost it again. "Okay, the seven words are: I'm Sorry Honey, It's All My Fault". Cliff said, grinning. Mulder cracked up and slid down the doorframe, while Abbey launched an attack from the foot of the bed. "Cliff, that's awful. You're gonna get it!" She giggled, clinging to his back. "Say goodnight, Gracie." he told her, carrying her over to the bed and dumping her on it. Scully sat up and hugged her friend. "Goodnight, DiDi. I love you" "I love you too, Ab" Cliff kissed Scully on the cheek, and told her to sleep well, then turned to Mulder, who was still sitting on the floor. "See you in the morning, if we live through the night!" "Get some sleep, Spooky, you look beat" Abbey bent down to hug and kiss him. "I am. This having fun stuff is exhausting" Mulder replied. "Well, rest up, 'cause we're gonna have more tomorrow." Abbey jumped back up onto Cliff's back and he thundered down the hall with her. Mulder got up and shut the door. "Are they always this energetic?" he asked, grabbing his bag and heading into the bathroom. "Usually worse" Scully replied, turning down the rumpled bed. "Does Abbey ever strike you as funny?" Mulder asked from behind the relative safety of the closed bathroom door. "Funny how?" Scully asked suspiciously. "Well, like this afternoon. How did she *know* Cliff was going to be home in forty-eight minutes?" "Mulder, I'm too tired to have this conversation. How did I *know* you weren't dead that time in New Mexico? How does my mother always *know* it me when I call her? People sometimes have connections like that. Abbey is NOT an X-File" . Mulder came out of the bathroom, brushing his teeth. "We have 'connections'?, Oooo" he leered teasingly, deciding to drop the Abbey issue and preserve the peace. "Go spit that toothpaste out, you look like a mad dog!" Scully ordered, glad for the change of subject. He leaned over her, as if trying to kiss her, and she swatted him with a pillow. "I already brushed my teeth, Mulder - I don't want your disgusting used toothpaste!!! Go spit that out!!!" she used the pillow to chase him back into the bathroom, slammed the door, hurled herself on the bed, and pulled the comforter over her head. A few minutes later, Mulder jumped on top of her. "Mulder get off me, you're breaking my ribs!!!" He obediently rolled to the other side of the bed and she emerged from beneath the covers, glaring. He smiled innocently at her. "No more toothpaste!" "You're not going to have any teeth, either unless you settle down!" "Does that mean I don't get a goodnight kiss?" he teased. "Well, you don't deserve one, but I'm a generous woman" to his immense surprise, she leaned over, gave him a chaste peck on the lips, and snuggled down beside him. "G'night, Spooky" Mulder turned out the light and slipped an arm around her. "G'night, DiDi" . Under cover of the darkness, they both fell asleep smiling. ********** End of Part 5 The Lost Weekend - Part 6/? By Kellian (Kelso2@Pipeline.com) Rating: This bit probably doesn't even deserve a rating, unless you consider cat bites violent. Some allusion to MSR here, but none of the actual stuff.. Summary: Scully take Mulder to visit her college roommate, and Mulder thinks she might be an X-File! Disclaimer: Scully, Mulder, Skinner and The X-Files were all stolen from CC and 1013 without permission. Author's note: Abbey's finally going to spill her guts, so this installment is a little heavy. They'll get back to having fun in part 7. Let me know what you think! Thanks to everybody who sent me encouragement and comments. The bright light shining through the edge of the blinds woke Mulder. He blinked, enjoying the sensation of being thoroughly rested, and then became aware of the warm heaviness on his shoulder and the soft breath on the back of his neck. He smiled, reached over to stroke the silky hair - and got bitten on the ear for his trouble. "What the---" Mulder rolled over and found himself face to face with a lanky black cat, who was obviously not a morning feline. Mulder felt a brief pang of disappointment as he realized that the bed, and the room, were empty. He sighed, stretched, and jumped out of bed. The cat followed him down the stairs, purring, apparently trying to make amends. The house was dappled with sunlight, and the only sound came from the kitchen, where Jan and Dean were promising two girls for every boy in "Surf City". He found Abbey alone in the big oak-appointed room, bopping to the music as she industriously filled a big wicker picnic hamper. "Hello there! I told DiDi you weren't dead!" she dropped her knife and hugged him like she hadn't seen him in a month. "Where is everybody?" Mulder asked as he accepted a mug of coffee and a plate of fresh coffee cake. "Rick and Brie went to pick up Rebecca from her folks, and Cliffie took DiDi out for a ride on his new bike." Mulder almost choked on his coffee. "Bike? You mean as in motorcycle?" "Yeah, its his new baby - he's so proud of it! Don't worry, I gave her boots and a jacket and stuff. She'll be fine." Abbey said, soothingly. "Scully's riding around on a motorcycle and nobody woke me up? Did you at least take pictures?" "We can take pictures later. We're meeting them over at the park in an hour for lunch" Abbey laughed. "By the way, I'm sorry about your ear - Pantherkitty can be grumpy in the morning". Mulder reached up to search for blood or any other indication of a cat bite, but couldn't find anything. "How did you know the cat bit me?" He asked, watching her closely. "Uh, that's something I wanted to talk to you about" For the first time since he'd met her, Abbey was subdued and serious. "DiDi said you know a lot about, um, unusual stuff. I thought maybe you could help me" She looked up at him, worry replacing the laughter in her grey eyes. "Help you with what?" Mulder asked gently, sitting down at the kitchen table. "Try to figure out why I'm like this, and what the extent of it is" "The extent of *what* Abbey?" She sat down across from him and took his hand in hers. She pointed to a small, faded scar on the back of his wrist. "You got this when you were six. You were racing your sister down the stairs. A vase got broken and you cut your wrist on one of the pieces." Abbey said softly, looking Mulder right in the eyes. "You can tell all that just by touching a scar?" Mulder asked. "I don't need to touch it. You've got a scar from a gunshot wound in your left shoulder. DiDi gave it to you" Abbey's eyes dropped "It goes further than that, Spooky. I don't just see scars on people's bodies - sometimes I see scars inside too" "Like what?" Mulder asked softly. "Like that you miss your sister everyday of your life. That's the biggest one. But you're also carrying around a lot of pain over the death of your father, over DiDi's abduction, a lot of other things." "Abbey" Mulder said "You can see these things - do you have any, uh, effect on them?" A brief flash of hope shot through him. "I can't heal anybody or tell the future or anything" Abbey almost laughed "I can sort of dull pain, but that's about all I can do for the living. Why do you think I went into forensics? The hardest part is playing by the rules. You know, doing the autopsies, ordering lab work, all of that, when I can tell exactly what happened just by concentrating on the body." "Does Scully know about this?" "She's seen me do some weird stuff, but she chooses to ignore it, and I'm not going to try to make her see it. I'm not losing my best friend over this. DiDi thinks I'm a really, really good ME, and I'm going to leave it at that. She doesn't need any more upsets in her life right now" suddenly, Abbey's big eyes filled with tears. "Spooky, what happened to her when she got abducted? That scar on the back of her neck? It's like a dead spot - I dont get anything from it except that there's a second incision where someone removed some kind of chip from her neck!" she looked like she was going to start sobbing at any second. Mulder left his chair and moved around the table to hug her. "I don't know, Ab. You don't see anything else wrong with her, do you?" "Besides the fact that she's a complete mess, no" Abbey said into his shoulder. "What do you mean?" "DiDi's always been determined, she's always been cautious, but I've never seen her like this. She's building this shell of pain and grief and guilt that I almost couldn't get through. I assume you noticed a change in her behavior?" "Uh, you could say that" Mulder asked, thinking of the laughing girl who had kissed him goodnight and slept in his arms. "I think you worked on me a little, too" "Just a little, so you could sleep. You needed to." Abbey answered simply. She pulled back to look Mulder in the eyes again. "You have to understand something, but you have to promise not to tell DiDi that it came from me" "I promise. Cross my heart" Mulder said, smiling at her. "She loves you just as much as you love her, but she's afraid. DiDi's always been completely loyal - when she went into the Bureau even though her father didn't want her to, when she feels like she got into the Bureau because of Uncle Walt, and when she thinks your theories are insane, it makes her feel guilty. That's why she tries to prove herself so hard. She's lost so much lately. She's afraid that if she lets herself love you, you'll be taken away from her. That part shouldn't surprise you - you've got the same problem" "But I like her the way she is! I'd rather fight with her than agree with anybody else!" Mulder exclaimed. The statement made them both laugh, Abbey wiping away tears. "Then let her know - and let her in" She kissed Mulder on the cheek. "We'd better get ready to go - they're going to wonder what happened to us. Can we talk more later?" "Any time." Abbey stood up, closed her eyes, took a deep breath and let her customary smile return to her face. "Well, I'm okay - how about you?" "I'm going to take a shower- and maybe some drugs" he said, grinning ruefully and shaking his head. This was turning out to be a hell of a weekend. ********** End of Part 6 The Lost Weekend - Part 7/? By Kellian (Kelso2@Pipeline.com) Rating: This part probably deserves a PG rating, but has more than a hint of MSR, so delete this now if you're not into that sort of thing. Summary: Scully take Mulder to visit her college roommate, and Mulder thinks she might be an X-File! Disclaimer: Scully, Mulder, Skinner and The X-Files were all stolen from CC and 1013 without permission. The names "Nick and Nora Charles" were stolen from Dashiell Hammett, but he's dead. All those songs I've been using belong to the people who wrote 'em and sang 'em and stuff... Author's note: Back to the big questions - will they or won't they? (even I don't know at this point!) Please send comments and suggestions, they've been really helpful. Especial thanks to Kim for proofing and encouraging and suggesting cool stuff! "So does Cliff know?" Mulder asked as they headed to the park in Abbey's little green Jaguar, which she drove like a pro. "Of course" the top was down and the radio, as usual, was blaring, so she had to yell to make herself heard. "Cliff is the only one who really knows, besides you." Her eyes didn't leave the road, but she reached out and squeezed his hand for a moment. "One of the things I love about Cliffie is that he's so accepting. If aliens landed in our backyard, he'd just want to know how they took their coffee. He's really helped me stop feeling like a freak, you know?" "Yeah, I know. Scully's done the same thing for me. She's the only person I've ever trusted completely." "It's a good feeling isn't it?" They stopped at a red light and Abbey turned to face him, peering over the tops of her sunglasses. "Want my professional opinion?" "As a coroner or as a woman?" "As a woman - and a friend, I say go for it, Agent Spooky. I know there are a lot of issues, but nothing insurmountable." "You don't think Scully's insurmountable, huh?" "Nah, she's definitely mountable" Abbey replied. Realizing what she'd said, she burst into laughter. "Don't *ever* tell her I said that" she yelled as the light turned green and they sped off. Scully and Cliff were lounging in the grass when they arrived at the park, with Cliff's Harley parked nearby. "Hey, slopokes! We thought we were going to have to forage in the woods for food!" Cliff called, running over to kiss Abbey and take charge of the picnic basket. "Morning, Sleepyhead" Scully teased as Mulder climbed out of the car. "Sleepy Spooky - that's me" he answered lightly "Too bad I didn't wake up earlier, I guess I missed my goodmorning kiss." Scully squinted up at him, both amused and hesitant. Something was happening here, but she wasn't sure if she should let it. If she kissed him here, in broad daylight, completely sober, then she was making a statement. She saw Abbey gesticulating wildly behind Mulder's back and smiled. What the hell, she was Spooky's Girl, wasn't she? she thought, and then stood on tiptoe to reach Mulder's lips. He looked down at her as his arms tightened around her and in that moment, everything changed just a little bit. They were startled out of their reverie by Rick, who pulled up alongside them and honked. Abbey ran over, ostensibly to help Brie with the baby, but also to give her a quick update on what they'd nicknamed "The Cupid Project". "I hope you packed a big lunch" Rick said as he got the stroller out of the trunk, "Or I might have to turn cannibal on you!" "Isn't that a little illegal?" Brie asked as she put a little sunhat on Rebecca. "How should I know? I cut up dead bodies for a living. Ask Nick and Nora Charles over there" Abbey answered, indicating Scully and Mulder with a nod. "I think I just lost my appetite" Mulder moaned. "You'll have to work it back. You can start by carrying the iced tea." Cliff said, handing over the jug. "Hey Scully, iced tea!" Mulder called happily. Scully, admiring Rebecca, blushed madly and no one could figure out why. ********** End of Part 7 The Lost Weekend - Part 8/? By Kellian (Kelso2@Pipeline.com) Rating: Nothing really ratable here, just some MSR and the beginning of a little angst. Summary: Scully take Mulder to visit her college roommate, and Mulder thinks she might be an X-File! Disclaimer: Scully, Mulder, Skinner and The X-Files were all stolen from CC and 1013 without permission. Author's note: Just a little mood-setting here, with some explanations thrown in for good measure. Thanks to Mark, Nikki, Jeff and Eric for inspiring me to re-write the following scene! Thanks and gratitude also go to everyone who's given me comments, suggestions, and help! Please keep it coming!!! "Is the grill almost ready? Cliffie'll be back with the steaks in fourteen minutes" Abbey called as she came out of the house with a basket of bread. Following their strenuous day of outdoor fun, they'd decided to cook out. Everybody pitched in, laughing and joking; Mulder had the not-unpleasant sensation of being in a suburban sitcom - or a beer commercial. "How do you *do* that?" Mulder asked, putting the lid down on the barbecue. "I'm not sure. Cliff's the only one I can do it with. I just seem to know somehow. Its one of the reasons I asked you to help me figure all this out. Maybe I can do more, or control this more, but I don't ----" She winced suddenly. "What is it?" Mulder asked, both concerned and intrigued. "DiDi just cut herself in the kitchen. Not bad, don't worry" Abbey replied, just as Scully appeared at the back door. "Ab, where do you keep your Band-Aids?" "They're upstairs in the linen closet, I'll go with you." As she'd done earlier in the day, Mulder watched her close her eyes and give a little sigh. When she opened them she was once again full of merriment. She winked at Mulder. "It's my little mechanism for separating myself from it." she explained, heading into the house. "How's it going?" Abbey asked as she rooted in the linen closet. Scully smiled softly. "I'm confused as hell, but I'm having a great time - which is making me more confused" "You sound like a girl who needs a drink" Rick said, coming out of the den after checking on Rebecca. "What'll it be, ladies?" Abbey grinned at Scully as the comment elicited memories of a certain post-exam party in medical school. "Shall we?" Abbey shrugged. "Why not? Rick, I think I feel a massive margarita drunk coming on." Rick went downstairs and Abbey deftly bandaged Scully's cut. "We'll talk later when everybody settles down" she promised. "We may have to wait a long time" Scully chuckled. It was evening and the beautiful twilight had been augmented with citronella lamps that burned brightly around the perimeter of the patio and the strings of little white bulbs that twinkled in the trees. Music poured out of the house, and people danced on the lawn or lounged in the deck chairs. Several neighbors had dropped by the join in the fun, and Mulder found himself trapped in the middle of a golf conversation with Neil From Down The Street and Jack Next Door. He couldn't think of an excuse to get away - Cliff and Abbey were dancing, Rick and Brie were in the kitchen, and he didn't know Jen The Vet or Steve From Across The Street. Then Scully came out of the house with a fresh pitcher of margaritas. She glanced at him, and Mulder saw his chance to escape. " 'Scuse me guys, my girlfriend's looking for me" The phrase that came so glibly to his lips sent his mind reeling. Things had been odd all day - they'd been giving each other pecks, holding hands, and hugging all day in between bouts of their usual banter, but nothing had been said. "I heard that, Mulder" Scully said as he approached her "I think we need to have a chat" She set the pitcher on the table and desperately poured herself another drink. "Yeah, I think you're right" he said, and led her into a shadowy corner of the yard. Abbey Ryan watched them, concern clouding her face. She was sorry this was so hard for them, but figured that would just make them appreciate everything more when they got it worked out. "Can you do something for them?" Cliff asked quietly. She touched his cheek and gratefully buried herself in his embrace. "I want to, but I'm not going to. This is something they have to do on their own." ********** End of Part 8 This is the rest of "The Lost Weekend" I really messed up the numbering when I posted it in August, and this section never made it to the Archive. Scully gripped her glass tightly - she didn't want him to notice that her hands were shaking. She studied her margarita as though it had suddenly become the most interesting thing on earth. "What's going on here, Mulder? What are we doing?" she asked, hoping that her voice didn't sound as shaky as it felt. "We're having fun" he teased gently "You can't be so out of practice at having fun that you don't even recognize it". Her head snapped up and her eyes grew icy. "Fun? Is that all this is to you?" She thought her heart might possibly be breaking. she thought, recalling with embarrassment that only this morning she'd held Rebecca and pretended that she was their baby. Hers and Mulder's...... "I'm not taking this lightly, if that's what you mean" Mulder answered, sounding panicky. He wasn't good at this sort of thing. He was adept at climbing into the minds of aliens and fiends, but rooting around in his own emotions always left him feeling awkward. He recalled his conversation with Abbey and decided to lay it all on the line for once. "I think you know how I feel about you, but I was afraid to say anything. You're the only person I trust, Scully, you're the only person I really care about." Her smile melted the steel in her eyes. "Mulder" she began, and then found that she couldn't speak around the lump in her throat. She felt a mad giggle forming somewhere in her stomach, dropped her glass on the lawn, and threw herself into his arms. They looked at one another for a long moment, and then he kissed her, really kissed her, for the first time. About ten seconds later they were interrupted by the cheering and applause bursting across the lawn from the patio. Scully and Mulder parted, grinning sheepishly at their friends. "Finally!" Brie yelled, lifting her hands and eyes skyward. Neil From Down The Street and Jack Next Door were whooping victoriously, even though they weren't sure why. Cliff was grinning broadly, hugging Abbey, whose eyes shined with happiness and relief. She often saw pain grow, but seldom got to see it fade before her eyes. They still had a lot ahead of them, she knew, but at least they were headed in the right direction. ********* The neighbors had gone, Rick and Brie had taken Rebecca home, and Cliff and Mulder had both gone to bed. Abbey and Scully sat on the moonlit patio together, sharing conversation and camaraderie over tapioca pudding and creme soda. It reminded Scully poignantly of other late-night picnics and girlish confidences. The food was the same, but the talk was much more serious. "Ab, what am I going to do? This is crazy" Abbey licked her spoon thoughtfully. "Why is it so crazy? Besides the obvious fact that falling in love is a crazy thing to do, I mean" "We've been different this weekend. Everything's going to change when we go back to DC tomorrow." "It doesn't have to. A lot of times, reality is what you force it to be. It's probably going to be hard, but that's never stopped you before" "We're different. We're going to argue. God, Abbey, our fundamental beliefs are a hundred and eighty degrees apart! How do you make something like that work after the first excitement's worn off?" Scully grabbed her creme soda bottle and sighed miserably. Abbey put her bowl on the ground and embraced her friend. "Hon, I love you, but you've got some really skewed ideas about relationships. People who never disagree don't have good relationships, they're just hiding the bad stuff. You guys balance each other out - you tone him down, and he peps you up; that's the kind of stuff that keeps it interesting. Your relationships never work out because they've all been boring - you keep trying to find people that you'll never disagree with. You can't date yourself, it's dull" Scully's laugh sounded suspiciously teary. "Maybe you're right - but there's still the work question. What am I going to do about that? I'm not throwing my career and my reputation away on a whim" "There's no written rule against agents being involved, though I'll admit it's unusual. It's also unusual for a doctor to marry a coroner, but Cliffie and I are going to do it in spite of that fact that it makes some of his patients nervous when they find out. Mine don't care, obviously." Abbey grinned at her friend "Let it be a challenge to you, just like becoming part of a paranormal investigation team was a challenge" "It's still a challenge" Scully said, smiling ruefully. "Then you should be used to it. I've never seen you back away from anything else you wanted - why should this be different?" "Why are you pushing this so hard?" Scully asked, staring intently into Abbey's grey eyes. Abbey returned the stare levelly. " 'Cause I want you to be happy, and I think you will be if you take the risk. I've just got a feeling" "Now you sound like Mulder" "Good" Abbey replied, "Spooky's cool!" they gathered up their dishes and carried them back into the house. Scully was apparently still looking for something to worry about, though. "Say it does work out - how would I ever manage a normal life around my work? What if we have kids, Ab?" Abbey cocked her eyebrows slyly. "The condoms are in the top drawer of the nightstand. Worry about that later" Scully looked at her, momentarily shocked, and they dissolved into giggles, muffled into the dishtowels. "What would I ever do without you?" Scully asked, chuckling and wiping her eyes. "You'll never have to find out" Abbey promised. "Now go upstairs and tell Spooky you love him too". "How?" "Oh, you'll find a way!" ********** "Morning, Mulder! Want to help me surprise the night owls with breakfast in bed?" Cliff looked up from the sink where he was washing green peppers. "What time did they finally come in, anyway? I never noticed Abbey coming to bed. I was out like a light!" "About two fifteen" Mulder answered, grabbing the coffeepot. "I'll make the coffee. I think they're going to need it" He hummed merrily under his breath as he performed the task, and Cliff watched him out of the corner of his eye. There was only one reason he could think of for a guy to be that cheerful in the morning...... Upstairs, Abbey was knocking softly on the guest room door. "DiDi?" she called softly. When she didn't get a response, she opened the door and peeked in. Scully was fast asleep, face down in her pillow with one arm hanging off the edge of the bed. Her nightgown dangled from the bedpost and the floor was littered with condom wrappers. Stifling a giggle, Abbey slipped into the room to pick them up, knowing that DiDi would be embarrassed if they were still on the floor when the guys brought the breakfast tray in. She was just reaching for the last one when she heard Scully stir. Abbey looked up at her friend, who was staring back with wide eyes and a very red face. "I told you you'd figure something out!" Abbey said merrily. "I'll be back in a minute - I'm going to dispose of the evidence" She winked conspiratorially and disappeared into the bathroom. Scully grabbed her nightgown and yanked it over her head as her friend returned. "Okay, spill - I want all the gory details!" Abbey said, jumping up on to the bed. Scully hugged her pillow and grinned. "It was incredible, Ab. I never thought I could feel this way about someone - I mean, I attacked my partner in your guest room, and I don't feel anything but elated. He-He said he loved me, and that's all that matters, isn't it?" She looked up with pleading, shiny eyes. "Of course it is! You'll work everything else out somehow, and I'll help any way I can - I'm so happy for you, DiDi - and for Spooky, too!" Their ecstatic hug was interrupted by Cliff and Mulder, who marched in, presenting omelets and hashbrowns with a flourish. "Breakfast is served, ladies, complements of chefs Scallini and Mulder!" Cliff announced. He set the tray on the bed and they crowded around it. "I could get used to this!" Scully announced, munching on her toast. Mulder smiled at her, with a new light in his eyes. "Gonna keep me around for maid service, Scully?". "I'm going to keep you around, but not for your cooking skills!" Scully replied, grinning meaningfully, as Cliff and Abbey exchanged one of their knowing glances. "This calls for a toast!" Abbey exclaimed, lifting her orange juice, "Uh, to new beginnings!" "And healing old wounds" Mulder added, winking at her. "And to you guys coming to DC and having a perfect wedding!" Scully said. "And to being Spooky's girl" Cliff teased, looking slyly at Scully, who started to blush again. she thought, and felt a wave of pure happiness break over her as the room filled with the sound of crystal touching crystal. ********* The End