Date sent: Tue, 30 Dec 1997 16:11:47 -0500 (EST) From: CINDYC824@aol.com Title- Mistaken Impression Author- C. Calvert E-Mail- CINDYC824@aol.com Rating- PG Category- Mulder/Scully romance sort of Spoilers- Keywords- Summary- Scully regrets something she says to Mulder and learns her lesson Special Agent Dana Scully stepped into the lobby of the J. Edgar Hoover building on the morning of January 5, 1998. Anxious to confront her partner, Fox Mulder, and apologize for her thoughtless comments made moments before the ball dropped on New Year's Eve, Scully stepped into the elevator and descended to the lowest level of the building... The basement. She and Mulder were the FBI's most UN-wanted. But that rarely bothered her. Thoughts had been running through her head all weekend. How could I have said those things to Mulder? She knew he would forgive her for most of that stuff. She had been drinking, and he knew it. But she had gone over the line in saying that she wished she'd never stepped foot into his basement "office" over four years ago. But he would forgive her for that, wouldn't he? He must know that I cherish that moment- the moment I first met Fox Mulder, a moment that changed my life completely... He does know I feel that way, doesn't he? Things started to seem out-of-the-ordinary when she stepped off the elevator. The basement seemed colder than usual- not just cold, but empty. As she rounded the corner, nearing the familiar room where she and Mulder had spent so many mornings brainstorming theories and motives, she collided with a broad-shouldered Assistant Director Skinner. "Hello, Sir. Good morning. Excuse me," she continued down the cold corridor. "Yes, Doctor Dana Scully, isn't it?" But she was well out of ear-shot by the time he could recall her name. He remembered that she had been a teacher at the FBI academy for years now.... What was her field of expertise? Then it hit him. Forensic Pathology. Doctor Dana Scully. God, his memory wasn't what it used to be. Dana knocked several times of the door to announce her arrival, then turned the knob to enter. The door was locked. "Mulder, are you in there? It's me," Scully casually recited. "Me, who?" The voice behind the door responded, as the door swung open, revealing a worn-down Fox Mulder wearing the typical suit and wire-rimmed glasses. Scully proceeded into the room and apologized, "Look Mulder, I'm sorry about New Year's. You know what alcohol does to me. I didn't mean any of it." "New Year's? Am I missing something> What was your name again, Me?" He was genuinely confused. "What? Me, Scully. Mulder, what's going on?" Mulder's confusion resulted in subsequent Scully confusion. "You walk into my office as if you own the place and start rambling about New Year's. Wait, were you at Bambi's party?" Fox Mulder was beginning to take offense at his visitor's casual mannerisms. "Mulder, sit down. You're obviously delusional. You were with me New Year's Eve, remember? Are you alright?" Doctor Scully pushed him towards the chair behind him. "I'm fine, and I'd appreciate it if you would leave." Dammit. What was wrong with him? Is he still mad about what I said? Dana Scully walked out of the office and the door shut abruptly behind her. At that moment, she had no idea what was going on inside Fox Mulder's head. Typically, she had a keen sense about Mulder's thoughts and intentions. She knew him better than he knew himself, didn't she? Mulder tried to focus on his work, but something kept nagging him. He hated being interrupted. He had a feeling about that woman, but he was certain he had never met her before. ***** Fox Mulder had been working alone on an under-cover FBI project, the X-Files, for years now. He investigated cases dealing with the paranormal- alien abductions, the occult, that sort of thing. He was good at what he did. He loved his work. It engulfed him. But on the morning of January 5, 1998, he was unable to focus on anything but that name. Scully. Who was that woman? In an attempt to put his mind back to work, he logged on to the FBI database and ran a search on Scully. A file on a 'Scully, Dana Katherine" popped up on the screen. "Daughter of Bill and Margaret Scully.... Attended University of Maryland.... Medical School... Recruited to FBI.... Professor at the FBI Academy... Forensic Pathology... Turned down offer to assist Fox Mulder on the X-Files and discredit his work." Mulder read out loud. His eyes glazed over as he reread the last sentence. Did that say what he really thought it said? He blinked and stared back at the screen. But the sentence was gone. "What the... I must be crazy," Mulder stated, convinced that his mind was mocking him. He removed his glasses, rubbed his temples, and shut off the computer. ***** Dana Scully took the rest of the day off- one of the few freedoms that came with an FBI investigative position- but returned home only to find an urgent message from the FBI Academy. A Professor James Chapman had called wondering why she hadn't shown up to teach her classes. He sounded furious. What was going on? Aside from being utterly confused, Dana Scully felt empty. She wanted to call Mulder and report to him how her life was turning into the makings of an X-File. She smiled, thinking of what his dry, witty response would be to this news. "The third time's a charm, Scully. You must really want to keep that record of most appearances in the X-Files." Mulder was certainly not a charmer, or even sensitive to her feelings sometimes. But he loved her. He had said so himself. But now she didn't know what was happening. She dialed her mom's number. "Hey mom, it's Dana. Something strange is going on. Can I come over and talk?" Dana Scully nearly pleaded for comfort. "Not now, dear. Melissa's over, and we're in the middle of baking. I'll call you back. Love you Dana!" And she hung up. Hundreds of thoughts ran through Dana Scully's head, but all she could do was lay down and cry. ***** When Dana woke up, she wasn't alone. Fox Mulder was leaning over her body, combing his fingers through her autumn hair. "It's about time you came alive. When you didn't show up for work, I got worried so I came over. Are you okay, Scully?" "Mulder? I'm... fine. I just had the strangest dream. You didn't know me. I didn't work on the X-Files. Melissa was... alive. I was so... scared, Mulder." He helped her sit up, and he held and comforted her. He thought, my God she's the strongest person I've ever met. "Mulder..." "What is it Scully?" his soothing voice coaxed her to smile. His hands rested comfortably on her shoulders. Scully didn't trust herself to speak, but words came freely. "I thought I'd lost you. I thought I'd blown my chance at being whole. Mulder, you... complete me." "Forget about New Year's Eve. I was stupid. You had every right to be mad," he pleaded. No, don't forget about it, Scully. It meant everything to me. Then the events of that night replayed vividly in her mind. ***** He had come over to spend the evening with her, to watch the ball drop and to make resolutions they knew neither of them would keep. They had nearly finished a bottle of champagne when he said, "Scully, I don't know how you feel... I usually do, but I just... I trust you, and I care about you. I love you." He had looked anywhere but at Scully for eternity, until she finally said, "You are my best friend, Mulder, I care about you more than anything. It's like I'm alive when I'm with you. I'm closer to you than to anyone, which is scary because... because of you I've lost so much." The second she said it, she regretted it. God, he looked so helpless in that second. She should have stopped then, but blame kept coming. "I never should have joined the X-Files. I wish I had never stepped foot into your office." She knew it was the alcohol talking, but the look in his eyes conveyed too obviously that he did not. At that moment her stomach knotted, and half of her left with Mulder- the half of her that had always been him. The door closed quietly behind him. Dammit. ***** But he was back, here with her now. "Mulder, I'm so sorry. I love you." "No, you don't have to do this now. It's not important-" Ignoring the fact that he was second guessing her again, as usual, she cried, "This is important to me. To us both. This ranks right up there with the first time we met. Mulder, I thank God every day that I met you." She caught his eyes and after a comfortable pause, their lips touched gently in a moment of joy and sorrow. ***** Mulder was in the kitchen fixing her some soup. The blinking answering machine light suddenly caught Scully's eye. She walked over to the machine and pressed the play button. "Doctor Scully, this is Professor James Chapman at the FBI Academy. I was just calling to see why you were absent from your classes this morning-" Dana Scully pressed the small gray erase button and walked to the kitchen to taste Mulder and his soup. The End. Well?