"Never For You..."  An X-Files Novel  - Chapter  11/23   -Two Step-  Pt. I
by  L. McCullen

----------------------------------

[Two Step]


Monday, October 18
VCS Bullpen

Monday came quickly as Scully anticipated her first official day in the
Investigative Science Unit as the Assistant Special Agent in Charge of
Forensics.  She had learned her post was also supervisory over the
other three forensic agents endeavoring to join the I.S.U.'s profiling
machine.  Her last partner,  Special Agent Larry Holland was also
among the group.


They both went about their work as always.  Agreeing to disagree most
of the time, challenging each other's theories, and defying each other's
evidence.  For all intents and purposes, the were just being Mulder and
Scully as usual.  Somewhere along the way they discovered that magical
switch that they could turn on and off to their personal relationship.
Even though they weren't perfect about it, they both managed to detach
one from the other.

By Monday evening, both had a taste of what was to become of their
new working relationship.  It would never be the same as being partners,
but it was gratifying to both of them to be able to work on some of the
same cases.

Finishing dinner, Mulder started to clear the table.  "What were your
impressions of the manic-depressive gang known as the I.S.U.?"

"Overall, very interesting.  Even after one day, I can see the intense
nature of the people assembled on the team.  Kind of scary actually.
What about us?"

Looking back with a wicked smile, "Kind of scary actually," as he
repeated her answer.  "I was actually impressed with the younger agent
with brownish hair....what was her name again?"

"You mean Agent McCraw," she questioned.

"Yeah, that's her.  She kind of reminded me of someone I met a long
time ago."

Scully finishing her after-dinner coffee took a sip, "And who might that
be?"

"YOU.  I swear she was dead-on in some of the test cases we set up for
her.  It was eerie.  She even sounded like you when you're giving one of
your rational-explanations about some crazy theory of mine.  Scully......
she was truly 'spooky.'"

"Yeah, I knew I liked her for a reason.  For being so fresh out of the
Academy she does seem to be able to pick things up quickly."

"Just do me one favor Scully.  Don't ever let her change her hair color
to red, I would have to open an X-file on her myself."  Scully continued
to smirk at Mulder.

"Deal Mulder, but don't worry she's just a photocopy ..... I'm the
original."

"And much prettier."  Mulder added.

Loading the dishwasher, and setting the timer he continued, "What did
you think of Agent Hatfield?"  Mulder was now the one wearing a
sardonic smirk.

"Well Agent Mulder, in my professional AND personal opinion I think
he would qualify as a first class, ladder climbing, two-faced..........."

 "Jerk?"  Mulder offered.

"Yes, that would be the appropriate word.....along with pig, moron and
a few other words my brother's in the Navy would be very proud of."

"Ooooh.....that bad huh,"  Mulder said wincing.

"Let's just put it this way.  When he's not in front of you guys trying to
impress you with the few big words he memorized out of Reader's
Digest,  he's eyeing Agent McCraw and myself like a lecherous drunk
on a Friday night.    That .....PRICK .....actually had the nerve to ask me
if I was a real doctor.  You should have seen Holland, Mulder.  He was
almost ready to deck the guy, I can't promise I will stop him next time."

"So I take it, Agent Scully, he won't get your vote to remain at the
I.S.U.?"  Mulder sarcastically offered.

"How anyone like him could get past the psyche screening, much less
the I.S.U.'s interview is beyond me.......oh.....and that's a no!"

Mulder choked back a chuckle, to avoid his own untimely demise at the
hands of a petite red-head whose Irish temper could flare with the best
of them.  He threw the dishrag across the sink and flipped  the kitchen
lights.  Scully was still fuming over the replay she had just spelled out
for Mulder.  He walked up behind her while she was still sitting in the
chair, grabbed her shoulders and started to work the tension out of
her shoulders.

At his touch she finally began to relax and emit small sounds of
pleasure as he worked his way down and around her back.

Whispering into her ear, "You know Scully, Holland and I could take
Hatfield out back for a little chat tomorrow if you like?"

At that Mulder could feel her tense back up, "Hey, hey, I was only
kidding.  You know I would never try and kick his ass.......not when I
know you can do it better."  She relaxed again and smiled.  "Besides,
you got plenty of practice on me, and I know how good a shot you are."

Scully leaned back completely as she let him continue his labor.
"Mulder, did I miss something or did you just clean up the kitchen?"

"I don't know Scully, did you see any little gray men here?"

"No, " she answered questionably.

"Well then, it must have been me.  Come on Scully."  Mulder grabbed
both her arms from the back and guided her to the bathroom.  "I want
you to sit down, take a nice long bath and when you get out, we're both
going to catch up on some sleep that we lost over the weekend while
working late.  What do you say?"

"You going to stay here tonight?"

"If you don't mind."

"No.. not at all."  Looking like she wanted to ask something, but didn't
know how, " It...it doesn't bother you to... I mean since we haven't ...
you know."

Slightly miffed at her inference.  "You mean, can I sleep in the same
.....since we haven't...."  He made the same small gesture with his hand.

"It's just, I don't want to send.... mixed signals."

With a obvious amount of uncertainty. "You're calling the shots on this
one."

"I never wanted this to be a big deal... I mean..."

Wiping his brow with an open hand, he sat down to talk about
something that had been on his mind for a while.  "Scully, I think this is
making YOU uncomfortable..... and I don't know why exactly.  A part
of me is telling me you don't want risk anything more, but another part
is telling me you want to .... and ...."

Turning around he let out a breath full of frustration, bent on keeping
his word to her.  "I don't know what else to say,  except.... I'll wait.   I'll
wait until you're ready for this to happen.  I don't know what you're
afraid of, but I'll be here."

Without further protest, Scully began to undress as Mulder drew her
bath.  Finding one of  her sweet-smelling bath oils, he generously
poured a cap full in at the spigot and warmed the water to a notch
below scalding.  Watching her mischievously, he retreated to give her
privacy.  He locked up, turned off all the lights in the living room and
prepared the bed for her.  Catching the news on the television, he waited
for her exit so he could say goodnight.

The next thing he knew, Scully was dressed in her satin robe, prying the
remote from his hand.  He had dozed off to the sounds of SportsCenter.
Smiling at the sight of a freshly bathed Scully, Mulder stood up as she
turned off the television.  A small light came from her bedroom and lit
up the darkened living room so they could barely see each other's eyes.

"I have to be sure, Mulder.... that's all."

Crushed by her words, Mulder did his best not to let her see its effect
on him. Gently smiling, "Whatever it takes."

Mulder nodded his head that was full of conflicting emotions.  Love for
the woman he desperately wanted, fear that she would never be sure,
confusion because he didn't know how to assure her anymore than he
already had and empathy because he knew what she meant.   Even
though Mulder had reservations too, he knew the risk he was asking of
her.  Loving someone is always a risk.

"Scully, I know that .. the year we spent apart was painful.  I know that
we lost something wonderful, but what we could have.... what I think
we have now, could be so much better."

Her eyes closed in agreement of his words followed by a small nod.
"But, whatever it takes for you to be sure, I want you to take those
steps.  I'm going to need you to take those steps.   Not just for yourself,
not just for me, but for us."

The unfounded fears she had been battling with since that first night
together a few weeks ago would have to be dealt with.  In time she
would know how to deal with it.  She would find it in her heart to risk
the ultimate pain to find the ultimate reward.

"I'll be here to pick you up at seven, okay?"

"Ok, goodnight, Mulder."

"'Night, Scully."  Mulder leaned down and gave her a soft kiss for her
sake as much as his.

Reaching the door he unlocked the deadbolt and turned the handle.
"Mulder?"

Turning back around to see her standing in her bedroom doorway,
"Yeah?"

She just looked at him longingly, unable to say anything.

With as much conviction about this as he had ever had about anything
else in his life he read her mind.  "I know, Scully."




*************


Scully's Apartment
7:37 AM


Picking up Scully that morning, his practiced words of reassurance left
him.  Spending the better part of the early morning going over all the
possible ways he could make her understand, all it took was to see her
face to know that even though they hadn't taken the final step, there
was a difference.

A slight difference in how she kissed him, a slight difference in her
`good morning, Mulder' and a profound difference when she wordlessly
grabbed his hand from the wheel and held it for the duration of the trip
into the city.

Maybe that's what she needed.  Maybe she wanted to be in control of
this.  Maybe he needed to back off and not force the issue.  The fact
they were being so careful spoke to how much they wanted it.  Another
bizarre quirk in the relationship.

Arriving at the office at 7:30 AM, they headed for the cafeteria to get
an early breakfast that Mulder had promised.   Upon exiting the line,
they spotted an empty booth in the far corner.  Mulder grabbed a
newspaper and joined her.  Not long after sitting down, AD Skinner
spotted them and Mulder waved him over to join them.

"Well, look who the cat dragged in," Skinner opened.

"Good morning sir," Scully replied for both of them.  "What brings you
down here this early?  As I recall you don't do mornings very well."

"You're right Scully, I don't.  But, Kimberly is out sick, ASAC reviews
are due pretty soon, and O.P.C. is hounding me about a few
unscrupulous agents among our midst.  Speaking of O.P.C., I heard
through channels you two put on quite a performance at your hearing a
few weeks back."

Looking to Scully for her assent to continue, "Well, I just think we
made our point clear that they had nothing on us.  They were just
festering out some old issues that they wanted to explore."  Not wanting
to delve deeper into the details Mulder stopped.

"Well from what I hear, the dynamic duo of Mulder and Scully raised a
quite little stink that still hasn't cleared out of their office yet."

Mulder and Scully shared a slightly concerned look at each other and
then to Skinner.

"Oh, don't worry, you two.  I think they had their fill of you.  I don't
foresee them giving you guys anymore problems as long as you
continue to behave yourselves."

Visibly relaxing, the two let an uneasy smile creep to their faces.
Skinner felt good for easing their tense fears, at least for a little while.
Actually, he felt sorry for the O.P.C. board.  For he knew exactly how
formidable the pair could be, especially when backed into a corner.

"Well, I've got to run.  Lot's of work to get to.  Oh......Scully,
congratulations on the promotion, I hear you're supervisory now."

"Yes sir."  Scully answered in confidence.

"Well good luck, to you both.  I'll see you around."


*************


Monday, November 1,
I.S.U. Division
Conference Room #1,  9:30 AM


With the first week of orientation into the I.S.U. behind them, the teams
started digging into current cases that were taken into priority.   The
prime focus of the FBI's crack profiler's had become the recent rash of
serial killings in the Spokane, Washington area.  Since late 1997, a serial
killer was picking up street people of all types and systematically
murdering them without provocation.  He was up to number twenty.
His mode of operation was very plain for a serial killer.  Shoot them,
dump them, leave them to die.  He, assuming it was a he, usually used a
small caliber weapon and shot them in an area where it would be
possible to live long enough to realize they were going to die.  The
throat, the gut, even the groin for a few helpless victims.  Ballistics had
reported the lack of a consistently used firearm for all the killings.
There were matches for some of the same bullets, but it looked like the
killer was using several different guns.

The fear in Spokane was palpable.  No matter how much word got out
about the killings, people were still being dragged off to their deaths in
plain sight with no other visible clues.   These killings also harkened
back to the Green River killings in the Seattle area during the previous
decade.  Forty-one people had been murdered.  No one was ever
caught.  Even though the killings in each case bore no outward
resemblance to each other, the Washington State Police feared the killer
could be the same, only using a slightly different mode of operation.
The only commonality between the killings was the fact the victims had
nothing of substance in common.  They were blacks, whites, Hispanics,
men, women, teens, elderly.  It didn't seem to matter.  This serial killer
obviously subscribed to the equal opportunity offender plan.

SAC West had called a conference this morning to update the status of
the investigation.   Washington State Police was stumped and called
out to the FBI to help out.  This was becoming a nightmare for local
officials in Spokane and pressure from a newly elected Senator from the
state insured the I.S.U.'s top people be put on the case.

The meeting proceeded in a serious and somber atmosphere.  The FBI
was going to pull out all the stops for this one in case their worst fear
had come true.  If it had, there were many more dead to follow.

West continued on after his initial greeting, "As we're all well aware, the
Spokane situation is beginning to reach critical mass.  The Washington
State police has asked us for our help and were going to put the full
court press on for this one.  We will send two profilers along with a
forensics team, to be supported by the rest of us back here in D.C.
Folks, this is top priority.   ASAC Hastings will lead the joint task
force in the field from Spokane while the rest will support with research
out of the local Bureau office in Seattle.  I want this one bad folks.  I'm
getting pressure from up top that this would really make the FBI look
good.  And right now anything that makes us look good can only help
us in the long run."

Hastings stood up to take his place at the head of the table, "The
following agents will accompany me in Seattle for field duty.  Agent
Mulder, Agent Holland, and Agent Scully.  Your travel arrangements
will be at your desks by this afternoon.  I'd like to tell you guys
to pack light, but I have a feeling this trip will last a while.  Agents
Jefferson, Ramirez,  McCraw, and Sauls, you will head up the research
team to remain here to coordinate with the VICAP (VIolent Criminals
Apprehension Program)  You will be in contact with us on a daily basis
providing support where needed.   If there's any questions, please feel
free to ask now."   Looking around the room to field any questions, he
saw none.  "all right then, we'll adjourn for now.  Will the other three
field agents going with me stay here for some more briefing?"

Mulder glanced to Scully and knew right away the pained look was
actually her checking her concerns at the door.  Profiling had never
been easy on Mulder and she knew that the more harrowing cases
could easily send him into a depressive funk.

The room cleared out and the four agents sat around the table.
Hastings started, "Well folks, I guess we're gonna get a little more cozy
over the next few weeks.  And hopefully we'll get the killer put away."

Throwing a glance between Mulder and Scully, Hastings continued,
"And in case you're wondering, yes, I did hand pick the team with
West's approval.  I wanted you two especially since you've worked
together before and Holland here has spent time with Scully.  I'm hoping
the 'chemistry' between us will afford us an advantage."

After reviewing the case notes that had been sent by the Washington
State Police, they spent the better part of the day throwing around ideas
to each other.   Mulder was purposely being a little 'out there' to stir up
questions that might prompt new ideas.  Scully steadfastly pointed to
evidence to back him up or shut him down.  They worked through lunch
in order to finish the preliminary review so they could go home to pack.
Their flight would leave the next morning at 8:30.

"Are you going back to your place tonight to pack?"

"Yeah, however, I think everything I need is here," he said with a leer.

Relaxing on the couch, they both sat back and flipped through channels
trying to find something on they could both watch while reading
through the early case files.  The television found its way to CNN who
was doing a story on the Spokane killer.  They both watched intently as
some of the facts were played around with loosely.

"Mulder......are you going to be okay with this one?"

"I think so.....I may not be very likable over the next couple of weeks
though."

Equivalent to an apology for his behavior, Scully treated it as one.
"You're forgiven.....on one condition."

Mulder looked over warily, "What's that?"

"Let me in.....let me be the one to help you come back.  You had a nasty
habit of ditching me when we were partners.....and I don't mean by
running off on your own.  I mean emotionally.  I know your intentions
are well meant, but I almost saw it destroy you and your career one
time.....and after now......I won't stand by and watch you torture
yourself when you don't have to."

"I know you're right, Scully.   But I only know one way to get into their
minds."

"Mulder, you're a better investigator if you can get into their minds and
then get out.   And I agree with Hastings.  I think he wants me along to
keep you in-line, but I'm sure he doesn't want to have to do it all by
himself."

"He just wants to get this over with quickly. It's extremely rare they
send four field agents out to one site, with a research team at home. I'm
sure the pressure West put on him could crack Mt. Rushmore.......but
whatever the reason.  It's nice to be together again."  Mulder took her
hand in his and gently stroked the back of her hand with his thumb.

"Do you think it might be a set-up Mulder?  Do you think they want to
catch us together or something,"  she looked into his eyes full of
concern.

"Wow, my paranoia did wear off on you, I'm proud."  Scully slugged
him in the arm.

"Haa, I meant that as a compliment......... I don't think they care
anymore, like Skinner said.   West would not have approved it
otherwise.  He knows about us, and that would be entrapment or
damn close to it."


*************

Spokane, Washington
4:34 PM PST

Arriving in Spokane a little after 12:00 PM, pacific time, the four agents
hit the rental car desk and rented two standard issue sedans complete
with bland paint job.  They checked into the local Courtyard Inn and
headed to the local Washington State police office where the case
officially resided. Detective Willmore met them at the front door along
with other members of the W.S.P. brass. Willmore was the lead
investigator and was soon being drilled by Mulder and Hastings in
tandem.  If anyone had of not known better, they would have thought
Willmore to be the suspect. Willmore gratefully answered all their
questions and officially handed the case over to the agents while
Holland and Scully headed to the local coroner's office to inspect the
bodies.

Later in the afternoon, Mulder's cell phone trilled.

"Mulder."

"It's me," Scully answered.

"What'cha got?"

"Well so far, pretty much what we expected.  All small caliber weapons,
all shot from point blank range.  All victims suffering a contusion of
some sort to the back of there heads.  Pretty straight forward.   We did
pull a few hair and fibers from one body that looked to be foreign to the
victims body.  We've sent it back to DC for analysis.  We should have
an idea tomorrow if it's important or not.   What about you guys.....is
Willmore still alive?"

Chuckling slightly, "Yeah, he survived.  Actually he did a pretty
thorough job considering.  What we can't figure out is why it took
twelve dead bodies with similar MO's for this to be brought to the
Bureau's attention.   The local field office doesn't have the staff for this
type of case, I guess that's why we got called. Hastings and I are
headed back to the hotel right now.  You gonna join us for dinner?"

"Yeah, we're just cleaning up right now.  We'll meet you at your room in
a few minutes.  See'ya."

"See'ya in a few."

Mulder hung up the phone and drifted to his thoughts.  Hastings
sensed what he was thinking and decided to let him off the hook.

"Mulder, I wanted to let you know that even though were here on
official business, the workday does end and you're free to socialize if
you guys feel the need."

Mulder looked over in distress, "Jeff, are we that obvious?"

"No of course not, you guys are playing it straight down the line like
you should be, but we might be out here a while and I want you two to
be comfortable.  That's part of the reason I wanted you two on the
team."

Reflecting for a moment searching for the correct response, "Scully and
I decided to keep things professional while in the field.  We don't want
to take a chance on setting a bad example, we already have enough
rumors floating around as it is."

"Yeah, I know.  That Colton sure is a prick ain't he?"   Hastings's
southern dialect showed through from time to time.

"You knew about him?"

"Yeah, everybody knows what a jerk he is."

Back to his original thought, "All I'm saying Mulder, is don't worry
about us.  We're not going to bother you two.  Holland, I assume,
already knows about you two and he's not going to tell anybody.
You're his idol."

"Uhhh......  thanks for letting me know.......we'll be okay."

"Sure thing Mulder, no harm."


*************


Courtyard Inn Restaurant
7:04 PM


After meeting  with the other two Agents over dinner, Mulder and
Scully were suspiciously left alone by Hastings and Holland under the
ruse of exchanging some files. Mulder knew what was happening so he
filled Scully in on what Hastings had told him before dinner.

Grateful for his understanding, she was still suspicious.  "You guys
started your profile yet?  I was wanting to sit in when you guys start
laying it out, I may be able to offer some assistance."

"No we were going to hash it out overnight.  Hastings doesn't sleep
well either while in  the field, so we decided to stay up and get started
on it.   You and Holland are welcome to join us.  It should be quite an
eye-opening experience for him."

"That's what I'm afraid of.  Mulder, he idolizes you.  I didn't want to say
anything to you,  but he likes to look up old cases of ours and ask
questions about how you made the connection in this case or the
other.  It's like his favorite pastime!"

"Afraid of reliving some of the fond memories?"  Mulder asked full with
amusement.

"You know what his nickname is around the Bureau?"

"I thought you told me not to listen to all that gossip."

Ignoring his comment, "Spooky Jr.!"

"Should I be flattered?"

"Mulder, you have no idea.  It's a bit unnerving to be with someone
who worships the ground you walk on."

His eyes wide pretending to be hurt, "Now I'm insulted."

"No seriously.... he admires you a lot."

"Hmm....you know....Jeff said something to me about that today
also.....I mean the idolize part.  Kind of reminds me of  Sean Pendrell."

"I don't think Pendrell idolized me, Mulder.  I just think he had a crush,
if anything."

"Nooo......," Mulder bit off in a sarcastic tone.  "You think?"

After another moment of prolonged silence, Scully faintly smiled, "I
kind of miss him.  He was always willing to help no matter what."

"I know.  He was a good agent.......and friend."

Taking her hand, Mulder attempted to shake her from the sudden
melancholy. "Scully, let's get this guy.  I'm tired of the bad guys winning
all the time."

She squeezed back,  "Like old times."



End of "Never For You"  Chapter 11/23  -Two Step- Pt. I

"Never For You..."  An X-Files Novel  - Chapter 11/23  -Two Step- Pt. II
by  L. McCullen

---------------------------------

After walking back to the hotel, Scully went to retrieve the more than
eager Agent Holland.  They all met in Hasting's and Mulder's room.
They laid out all of the recent case files on the beds and matched up
their notes with the correct deductions made by local PD and tried to
start the construction of a profile.

Since a lot of profiling is based on known offenders, past histories and
intuition be seasoned law enforcement officers, they had the basics
down by 1:00 AM.

It was agreed that the suspect was probably a Caucasian male, between
the ages of 25-40, military experience with a simple medical
background, most likely at least six foot tall, physically strong, the
product of the obligatory dysfunctional background, calm demeanor,
intelligent, probably wears latex gloves of some type.

The one thing that kept bugging Mulder was the ease with which the
victims were being taken.  Even though some of  them were street
people, something didn't add up.

Without excusing himself, Mulder abruptly went over to one of the
boxes of files that had been brought to his room.  He started digging in
them at the dismay and questioning glances that the other three were
giving each other.

Mulder came back over with a couple of the files in his arms, sat them
on the table and started reading through them without hesitation.  The
other two agents were now both looking at Scully giving her the 'what
in hell is he doing' look.

"Mullldddderrrr?   What are you doing?"  Mulder put up his hand to
stop her questioning and continued to look down at the file that was
open.  After a few minutes and a few exasperated sighs from the other
agents, Mulder shed a little light on to what he was thinking.

"All right people this is where you can start questioning my sanity, just
follow Scully's lead she's used to it."   This brought an 'oh-no here it
comes' look from Scully.

"Something keeps bothering me.  The ease at which this guy is taking
the victims.  We fail to find any signs of struggle other than the whack
to the back of the head or neck right?"  All three nodded in assent of
the facts so far.

"Well, back after the Green River murders had seemingly stopped, I did
a little looking around into those to see if they were X-file status."

Sitting back in her chair, Scully saw something in Mulder she hadn't
seen in a long time.  A fire, a spark of determination fused with
fascination that she was so familiar with.  "....so Reggie Purdue, my
partner back then, and I couldn't interfere with the official investigation.
He wasn't into the notion of X-files, but we did work up a preliminary
profile on who we thought this guy was, just for the hell of it.  The
kicker was the Green River murders were following a similar pattern....
right down to the lack of struggle.  I know this is going out on a limb,
but I think this is the same guy."

Shocking the hell out of everyone, Holland spoke up, "I think you're
right.....it is a leap, but the profiles I've studied suggest this Spokane
guy is not an amateur."

Agent Hastings looked to Scully for her opinion, "Well even though we
don't have any tangible correlation between the two killers, except for
the fact that the scenes of the crimes are in the same state, I've been on
too many cases with Mulder to totally discount anything he might
suggest.....outright."

This was as practically an agreement between the two old partners.
Hastings nodded and thought on the past few minutes.  "Well, whether
it is or not, we still have to catch this one.  Mulder as I recall, the Green
River murders didn't involve any firearms, so on the surface your
assumption would probably be dismissed by the local authorities.  But, I
don't want to discount any idea at this time.  Why don't you and
Holland spend tomorrow reviewing the Green River files and search for
anything that might link the cases to the same killer."

Mulder nodded his agreement.  "Agent Scully, you and I will go
interview some of the latest victim's relatives tomorrow to see if
anything they have to offer is of value.  As for tonight, I say we pack it
in.  We're still on D.C. time, you know.  Let's all meet for tomorrow
morning at 8 AM, sound good?"

Tired and slightly ornery, the group disbanded and prepared for a night
of rest.

"Jeff, I'll be right back, I'm going to go get some ice for the room."
Mulder picked up the ice bucket and headed out the door with Holland
and Scully.  Hastings just shook his head and went about preparing for
bed.  After wishing Holland a goodnight, Mulder walked back to
Scully's room to talk for a second.

After entering her room, Mulder slid into her arms and gave her a
long, passionate kiss, "Mmmm.  I think I could hold you forever."

"I liked the ice bucket excuse." she smirked.

"Desperate situations call for desperate measures Agent Scully."  After
holding each other for a few minutes more Mulder looked down, "Well,
I better get going.  We don't want to give anyone the wrong ideas."

"Don't forget your ice."

"Yep, I have a feeling I'll be needing it."

Frowning, "Yes Mulder.....I'll see you in the morning."  She leaned up
on her tiptoes to plant another kiss on his bottom lip, "Sweet dreams,
Mulder."

Mulder leaned down and whispered in her ear, "Sleep well."  A pained
smile graced his face as he left her room.  It would be a long case
indeed.

*************


Washington State Police
Spokane Office
Saturday, November 6
8:23  PM


Working non-stop for the past five days, the teams rotated with each
other, keeping all informed and fresh with the details, making sure no
one had missed something that might be critical

Mulder, Scully and Holland were sitting around the table inside the local
police department that they had requested for a small base of attack.
Flow charts, pictures and other evidence related paraphernalia adorned
the walls.  Hastings was busy on the phone talking to Section Chief
West giving him the latest update at the small, but steady progress
being made.

Mulder's mind drifted between conscious thought and wild speculation
as he listed to Scully drone on about some chemical analysis procedure
being used by the local police.  Giving way to the voice behind him
talking to upper management he tried to stay awake.

Jumping a bit at the sound of Jeff pulling out the chair next to him,
Mulder wiped his face with his hands attempting to clear his mind for
Jeff's report from the higher ups.  "All right folks, the Section Chief just
gave us the good word.  The local politicians are pleased at the
progress."

Seeing the sardonic look from Scully, "I said pleased, not happy.  But,
considering we've been at it for five days straight I convinced the boss
to give us a day off."

The other three looked up in surprise.  "I know it's not normal
procedure, but we might be here awhile and the latest lab results won't
be in until Monday afternoon so the Chief was willing to go along with
my suggestion."

Tired but happy, the group around the table seemed relieved to have
the chance to sleep in for at least one day.  "Guys, you have until eight
o'clock Monday morning to do whatever you want.  In fact, I don't want
to hear from you unless it's an emergency.  Until then...," Hastings said
looking at no one in particular.

Picking up his keys and motioning his way to the door, "As for me, my
reasons for the day off are purely selfish.  I'm headed out to a local river.
I hear the fly fishing is great this time of year.  Use the cell number if
you need to reach me."

The other three all looked around in disbelief at the past few minutes,
wondering what to do first.


*************

Courtyard Inn
9:07  PM


Arriving back at the hotel, Holland could sense the quiet tension slowly
building in the car and made his way for his room after a quick 'good-
bye.'  Leaving the two remaining agents to themselves, unable to say
anything.

"So..."  Mulder said looking uncomfortably at Scully.

Tapping her finger against her knee, "Yep."

Looking over to each other, in quiet contemplation, Scully broke first.
"My room.  Five minutes?"

With that, they both found their way to their respective rooms quickly,
yet patiently.

Entering his, Mulder expected to see Jeff there in bed or getting ready
for his fishing expedition the next day.  Neither was the case.

`He must have been renting the equipment,' Mulder thought to himself.

He sure hadn't seen him with any fishing gear.  Looking around, he saw
Hasting's smaller weekend bag was gone along with a few other items
from the bathroom.

Returning to Scully's room just minutes later, with his own small bag of
essentials, she opened the door before he could knock, pulling him into
the room without haste.

Locked in an enthusiastic embrace that lasted longer than either could
have imagined, they pulled away, lightly chuckling to themselves.

"I know this is not what you had in mind when you said you wanted
everything to be perfect, Scully."

Shaking her head into his chest, smiling.  "I know, but this will do."

His arm around her waist, loosely, he caressed her temple, pushing a
small lock of hair out of her face.  "There's a town east of here named
Opportunity.  Could be an X-file, you know."

Shaking her head, "In a strange sort of way, it's kind of appropriate
we're in the field when this happens."

Curving his own brow up in a question, "Confident, aren't we Agent
Scully?"

"I'll be back in a few minutes...... then we'll see who's confident Agent
Mulder."

After several agonizingly slow moments, for Mulder at least, Scully
exited the small bathroom in an exquisite, one-piece, blue nightgown
that flowed to the floor.  She started seductively walking over to where
Mulder sat on the edge of the bed.

"You packed that?"

"I told you I was confident."  The amused look of his face was priceless.
"A well prepared agent of the Federal Bureau of Investigation should be
prepared for all kinds of contingencies, Agent Mulder."

Sitting on the side of the bed in a stupor of awe and arousal, Mulder
could only offer one hushed word, "Unbelievable!"

"Don't stop believing now, Mulder."

Coming over to stand between his parted legs, he embraced her waist,
as she held his head to her breast.

"Mulder, this was hard for me...we've been so much to each other over the
years..... maybe I thought..... maybe I feared that this would change
things."

Puzzled, Mulder waited for her to continue.  "But, when you walked
out my door a few weeks ago....... that night.... I knew, no matter
what... this is what we needed.  We've wanted each other for so long....
maybe too long... I just don't want this to be an end ... a destination.......
I want so much more."

Mulder looked up at her.  "Scully.... 'this' as you put ...... well, to me
... it's a small part of the better whole... something that can only bring us
closer...... that's all."   How appropriate in this moment for Mulder to
crystallize the situation so eloquently.

A soft smile formed at her lips as she affectionately looked down into
his watery, hazel globes.  "Yes, it is Mulder."  Leaning down to whisper
in his ear, "I love you, Mulder.  I've loved you for a long time."  He
could only pull her tighter into his embrace, as she stroked his hair.

The smooth satin material bunching in at the waist he held, Mulder
relaxed his hold, smoothing the gown around her hips.  His hands
became his eyes following their way around to her stomach.  In
reverence, Mulder drank in the feel of her smooth skin unaware of
where the gown ended and her flesh began.

A sharp intake of breath was released as Mulder found her breasts.
Sitting high on her chest, they were firm and wonderfully sized.  The
essence of beauty,  Mulder pushed the thin straps of the royal blue
gown off her shoulders, allowing it to pool at her hips.

Feeling his hands explore her chest, Scully closed her eyes offering
herself over to him completely.    The texture of his fingers gliding down
her front, they made their way back to her waist where Mulder slipped
the lingerie over her flared hips, exposing her.

The moment captured firmly in his memory, Mulder kissed her navel
working his way back to her lips.



*************


The early morning sparrows singing their beckoning call just outside
their window marked the beginning of a new day as well as a new dawn.
The soft siren's song of birds looking for a meal pulled Mulder from his
sleep.  Even though he had occasionally shared a bed with Scully
during the last month or so, this would be the first morning after
they had finally taken the next step into greater things beyond what
they had ever known.

Opening his eyes slowly, he could feel Scully's arm draped, protectively,
over his chest as she slept.  The early morning light creeping through
the window allowed Mulder to enjoy this bit of tranquillity as he
observed the woman he was falling deeper in love with every day.

After his glimpse of her last night, completely open and uninhibited, the
trust in each other they shared was raised impossibly another level.
The feel of her skin against his was so intoxicating, it bordered on
surreal.  His vivid imagination could never come close to the real thing.

Scully shifted a bit in her sleep, pulling herself closer into his side.
Unable to restrain himself, Mulder turned on to his side and hugged her
close before turning them both back so she lay atop him, using his
shoulder for a pillow.

As his mind drifted again, he wondered how many times she had lay her
head against that shoulder, in grief or pain, trying not to cry in front of
him.  Slowly stroking her back to sleep with his light pressure along her
spine, Mulder closed his eyes wanting to capture this moment in time,
knowing there would never be a first time again.  This was more
than special, it had turned out to be more than he could have ever
hoped for.

Scully was becoming more aware of her surroundings by the minute.
The light, even breathing from Mulder drifted down to the top of her
head, stirring a few tendrils of tousled hair against her face.

The sparse hair along his chest shifting against her breasts tickled
slightly, although not to the point of irritation as he rhythmically
breathed to his own pace.  Her own face moving slightly in
synchronous time to his chest, she let her own thoughts ride back to
the previous hours of this early Sunday morning.

The picture of Mulder mirroring her own brilliant smile was still firmly
implanted in her own memory, as she tried to remember ever seeing him
so happy and content.  The minutes following that first collective release
had been the culmination of  a love fashioned from so many years
together and so much time apart, each wanting desperately to never let
the minutes pass.

Feeling her eyelids blinking at a consistent rate against his skin, Mulder
squeezed her tighter.  "Hey there."

The sound of his voice in the morning hour so close to her own, she
propped her chin up on his chest smiling warmly.  "Hey."



*************

Courtyard Inn
Wednesday, November 10
3:38 PM PST


After several more days and one more body, the twenty-first to be
specific, the agents still had little to go on.  The hair sample that came
back from Washington did appear to be an unknown subject's.  Scully
also identified a talcum powder residue from one of the latex victims
which confirmed the latex glove theory and told them that the killer
probably took the gloves off at the murder scene, even though none
were ever found.

Similarities to the Green River murders were striking, even though little
of the physical evidence matched up.  The MO was similar in several
cases except for the murder weapon, and the suffering that the killer
inflicted upon the victim was also comparable.  By the following
Tuesday after a week had passed, tensions were mounting and the
investigators were growing impatient.

Scully and Mulder spent the day reviewing case histories of the victims
trying to find something that would place some commonality between
some of the more recent victims.  Police patrols were beefed up.
Newspapers, TV stations and local flyers got the word out to the street
about the killer.  As the time drew near for another body to show up,
Mulder feared the killer would escalate his activities afraid of his own
capture.

After lunch Mulder retired to the balcony of his hotel room and sat out
watching the city below.  Sensing his tension, Scully followed him and
started to repay him the backrub he had given her a few weeks ago.
"Feel good?"

"To be honest Scully, I don't know what feels better...the backrub or
just having a little peace and quiet with you alone."

She continued to work her small hands into the knots that had built up
over his neck during the past few days.   Quietly continuing she was
satisfied just to spend a little down time with him in silence.  They
watched the traffic below and Mulder relaxed a little more into the
plastic patio chair.    As she continued, Mulder started watching the
traffic patterns with great intensity.  He noticed that it seemed that
every dozen or so cars that went by a police car was not far behind.  His
mind on the edge of exhaustion from thinking so much, started to ride
the waves of unmolested thoughts that occasionally crossed his mind.

"Scully?"

"Hmmm?"

"What if the killer is hiding in plain sight?  What if he's right in front of
us and we can't even see him?"

"What are you suggesting Mulder, that the killer is invisible to the
human eye?"

"What I'm suggesting is maybe he's only invisible to the one's looking
for him.  He would still be visible to the potential victims...."

"I'm still not following you Mulder.  What are you saying?"  She took
her hands away from his neck and pulled up a chair to join him.

"I've been sitting here the last few minutes noticing that just about
every minute or so a police car goes by.  To the average 'Joe," they
wouldn't pay it much mind with the recent attacks, but what if ....."

Mulder was cut off before he could continue, "What if the killer was a
cop?   Mulder, you know... "

"What if it were Scully?  It would fit the profile.  Familiarity with
weapons, some basic medical knowledge, access to latex gloves,
possible military background......"

"You do have a point Mulder, but what about the Green River
connection?"  Scully looked to him with her arms folded across her
chest.  "It couldn't be that simple, could it?"

"What about we drop by the local P.D. headquarters and let our finger's
do the walking through some personnel files?"

Exasperated, "Mulder...they're not just going to let us waltz in there,
accuse one of their own, and hand over whatever we want."

"Why not?"  Mulder looked incredulously at her.  "I'll bet you a
backrub when we get home that they will."

Mulder looked extremely confident  "After twenty one murders, I bet
their Internal Affairs department is as much a bunch of snakes in the
grass as our O.P.C. is."

This caused Scully to pause.  Not at the bet, but at the reference to IA.
They were always a necessary evil.  "Deal Mulder, but don't be
surprised if they laugh at you."

Deciding not to waste another second they both retrieved their coats.
On the way to the station, Scully called Hastings to inform them of their
progress, without giving him the reasons why.  She still wasn't sure.

After finding Detective Willmore, they pulled him into an interrogation
room and calmly explained their suspicions.  Willmore was a little
hesitant like Scully, but he wanted this killer found just as badly, no
matter who it was.   He found his Lieutenant and they discussed the
possibility.  The Lieutenant was just as ready to get this over and the
'Fibbies' out of his hair so he set up the meeting with IA.

Mulder suspected it to be a patrolman if anything.  He would have
opportunity, mode of transport and time alone to commit the crimes.
Mulder convinced the Lieutenant to talk to IA over the phone, even
though the office was only two floors up.

Mulder and Scully both knew that the sight of them talking to anyone in
IA would send signals to the entire police force within hours that the
FBI were investigating one of their own. After only five minutes, the
Director of Internal Affairs agreed to the personnel reviews.

Leaning over to whisper in her ear while the Lieutenant made the covert
plans, Mulder could only think of one thing to say, "Sucker bet!"

Scully leaned back in her chair with a scowl as  Mulder sat up straight
twisting his neck as if he had a knot in his back.  'You better be glad
you're in public, Mulder.  I'll give your neck something to squirm
about.'  This silent message was received by Mulder who was now
smugly looking around.

The Lieutenant hung up the phone, "Well it's all set up.  We'll search
the computer database from my office and any files you want pulled I'll
have Human Resources deliver them to the Captain, who will transport
them to your hotel tonight.  That should keep the busy-bodies from
suspecting anything's up.  IA wants to join you to officially start an
investigation if needed.  Is that okay?"

"Sounds good to me, what do you think Mulder?"

"I think if we're right it won't take too long to search your database."
The Lieutenant threw Mulder a puzzling look and unconsciously asked
him to go on.

"We think that the same guy that is doing this is also responsible for
the Green River murders a few years back.  So, I would like to search
the employee database for any officer's that transferred here or used to
live or work in the Seattle area between the years of let's say.....1980
and 1989."

Detective Willmore started to put the pieces together in his head and
sat down behind the computer station.  With a password provided by
IA, Willmore started to search the database for all officers not on the
Spokane force in the 1980's.    It wasn't long after they had found three
possible suspects who had a military background, lived in Seattle
during the '80s and were full-time patrolmen.  A black, rookie cop who
would have been a murderer while still in his teens was quickly thrown
from contention, but the remaining two officers fit the age, description
and possible profile.

Mulder and Scully requested the two files and headed back to the hotel.
When they arrived back at the hotel full of energy, they almost scared
the other two, tired agents with their news.  This recent development
inspired Hastings and Holland.  It was not long after ordering room
service that Detective Willmore joined them with the two files.  Mulder
and Scully took one file and Hastings and Holland took the other.

After about thirty minutes Hastings interrupted the silence to inform
Mulder that the guy they were looking at couldn't be the killer.  He was
a Sergeant, who rarely patrolled and had just gotten back from a
vacation to Europe during which, one of the murders were committed.

Scully and Mulder, however, had a real good prospect.   Anthony Lee
Kospeki.  He was  39 years old, single, served in the Seattle PD
between the years of 1982 and 1988, did a tour of duty in Desert Storm
with the National Guard.  He fit the profile almost to the tee.

Kospeki was an average cop with average commendations who neither
got in to trouble,  nor distinguished himself in his duties.  Few
complaints, some charity work and rarely took vacations.

The next morning IA seized the patrol logs from the past several weeks
and continued to search for clues via the phone.  Only four people in
the Spokane Police Department knew the search had been narrowed to
one of their own officers. Willmore, his Lieutenant, his Captain and the
Director of IA.   Scully and Holland collected all the known forensic
information together and prepared to compare it to evidence they would
collect that afternoon after a search warrant had been secured.

Spokane PD  made sure that Kospeki was on patrol while Mulder,
Scully, Holland, Hastings, and Willmore quietly executed the warrant.
Mulder did not want this guy to get a whiff of suspicion so he made
everyone wear gloves and keep things in order  Accessing his
apartment was easy.  It was tucked away on the backside of an older
apartment building.  After picking the lock, one by one over the span of
twenty minutes they entered the apartment, not wanting to draw any
suspicion.   Scully went about collecting fibers from the carpet and hair
from the bathroom sink while Mulder and Hastings looked for the tale-
tell signs of a serial killer.  Finding several small caliber weapons that fit
the description that Scully had provided them, they confiscated them
along with a box of latex gloves from under the sink and a woman's
charm bracelet that had all the markings of a trophy from one of his
victims.

They left the building just as quietly as they had entered and made their
way back to the police station.  Needing time to analyze the evidence
gathered they had a partner assigned to Kospeki under the guise of new
officer training.  They knew he wouldn't try anything with a partner
along for the ride.   Kospecki would never know.

To further conceal their intentions, Mulder had announced to the press
that a new team from the FBI would replace them next week to try and
get a fresh approach on the crimes, they were stumped.

Over the next forty-eight hours the case mounted with unprecedented
clarity.  The samples collected from his apartment matched the few
pieces of evidence they had collected from the victims.   It wasn't a
surprise to find out the bracelet recovered from Kospeki's apartment
matched that of a victims that had been taken during the Green River
murders.  It would only be a matter of time before they could pin
Kospeki to the other murders up there too.


*************


Friday, November 12,
Residence of Anthony Lee Kospeki
4:02 AM

At four in the morning, not much in Spokane was usually awake.
Suffice it to say,  Anthony Kospeki wasn't either.  At exactly 4:01 a
SWAT team, followed by the four FBI agents rushed through his door
and startled the man awake throwing him in handcuffs, reading to him
his rights and executing the Search Warrant which now called for his
arrest under the suspicion of at least fourteen murders in the greater
Spokane metropolitan area.

Exiting the apartment just a few minutes later to make room for the
FBI's forensic collection team, they piled into their car and left for the
local office of the W.S.P. where they were prematurely welcomed as
heroes.  At least by the few desk officers that had heard the early
morning news on the radio.   They set down to fill out the necessary
paperwork that would turn the case over the local authorities and
started to make travel arrangements to leave town.  Spokane Police's
Internal Affairs along with the Washington State Police would head up
the investigation now.

Arriving back at the hotel by 11:00 AM, Mulder followed Scully back to
her room.  'To hell what anyone thinks now', he thought to himself.

As soon as the door shut, Scully found herself in his arms and
embraced him as hard as she could.  "You were right.....again."  She
continued to hold him as they rocked back and forth, enjoying the feel
of each other in their arms.

He smiled, looking deeply into her clear-blue eyes.  "It was a two step
process that got us the killer.......you and me......Scully and
Mulder....just like the old days."

Seized by his generous observation she pulled him down to kiss him
with all the passion she could draw forth. They would have gotten
farther if it weren't for the phone ringing in his coat.  Stepping back to
cool the moment, he answered the phone.

"Mul-Mulder."  Scully sheepishly laughed at the flustered look on
Mulder's face.

"Yes, Sir.......................thank you, sir................we had a fine
team,
sir..............I will tell them.............thank you again,
sir............your
welcome...........yes, we'll be arriving home early Sunday
morning..........good day, sir.

"Who the hell was that Mulder.....I've never heard you say the word 'sir'
that many times in one day let alone one phone conversation."

"You wouldn't believe it if I told you."

Near exasperation, "Whooooo?"

"The Director..."

Scully looked in awe, "You're right, Mulder, I don't believe you."

"He wanted to give us his thanks on a job well-done, and told us to take
Monday off."    They resumed their positions in each other's arms
smiling like there was no tomorrow.   The door knocked and Mulder
yelled "Come in," without letting go.

Hastings entered with Holland quick on his heels.  "We're not
interrupting anything are we?"

Scully held the embrace, "No, we were just celebrating the end of
this case.  You won't believe who just gave Mulder a call."

Hastings smiled, "If it's the same Director of the FBI that I spoke to, he
probably told you about taking Monday off."  At that moment
something clicked in his mind that he hadn't even thought of yet.

"You gave him my cell phone number didn't you," Mulder asked in
slight disbelief.

"Well as much as I would like to take all the credit, I can't.  I told the
Director that you were the one directly responsible who broke the
case."

Stepping away from Scully, he held out his hand to shake Hastings.
"That wasn't really necessary of you ...... I couldn't have done any of
this without you, Holland, or Scully."

"Well, it's high time you start getting some praise instead of the usual
jokes."  Looking over to Scully, "Wouldn't you agree Agent Scully?"

Scully stood beside Mulder with her arm around his waist, "I would
have to agree Agent Hastings."

Holland who had kept quiet until now piped up, "I would second that
Agent Hastings," as he held his hand out to Mulder who took it with a
firm shake.

Squeezing Scully a little tighter, "What do you say, we get out of here."

An hour later, with bags packed the weary investigators found their way
to the regional jet-port.   Before arriving they set out to enjoy an
afternoon dinner along the way.  Their flight would leave at 5:47 PM
and with a connection would arrive back at Reagan National at 2:45
AM.

Sometime after 4:00 AM in the morning the two exhausted travelers
collapsed into bed happy to be home again.



End of "Never For You..."  Chapter 11/23  -Two Step- Pt. II

"Never For You..."  An X-Files Novel  - Chapter 12/23  -Chances Are Few-
by  L. McCullen

---------------------------------

[Chances Are Few]





Tuesday, November 16,
J. Edgar Hoover Building
8:30 AM



Arriving back to work after spending the bulk of the past forty-eight
hours in bed for one reason or the other, the pair enjoyed the fact that
the daily grind would await them, or so they thought.

They were ill-prepared for the reaction they were to receive upon
entering the Hoover building that morning.  Everyone was staring more
than usual, pointing fingers and other non-descript gestures pointing
them out to others.  Upon arriving at their desks they discovered
newspaper after newspaper with the articles about the stories of their
capture of the suspect, circled and highlighted.  Mulder's phone ringed
first.

"Mulder"

"Hey, it's me....Can you believe this......I feel like a celebrity or
something."

"Or something.....don't get used to it, they'll be back to calling us Mr.
and Mrs. Spooky pretty soon, once things settle down.  Did you get the
letter from the Mayor's office in Spokane?"

"Yes I did, along with an e-mail for us to meet with SAC West for
debriefing in an hour."

"Yep, I guess it's back to the grindstone, as usual.  Skinner sent a note
for both of us, also.  He wanted to know how come we took so long to
make him look so good."

Scully stifled a snort, "We'll just have to tell him since we got out of
the line of fire from stern lectures on policy and procedure."

"Yeah well, I still don't think this will last too long.  Don't worry Scully,
I'll be sure to mess something up next week in order to get things back
to the way they were."

"Mulder, you really don't like being in the limelight do you?"

Scully looked across the bullpen to see him squirming in his chair.  "Not
particularly, no.  I never got into this for the glory moments.  I just don't
see the use in people getting overly praised for doing what they're paid
to do.  I don't want to sound ungrateful or anything, but if someone had
of been doing their jobs in Washington, maybe fifty or so people would
not have died."

"Well, you have a talent that is rare..."

Shaking his head back and forth, "Believe me, it's not a talent you want
to have."

"You truly amaze me, Mulder.  Every time I think I know you, you
uncover another layer of yourself that amazes me even more...."

Halting her in mid-thought, with a swarthy look from across the bullpen
"Scully.....would that be a good thing?"

Her head down studying something at her desk, Mulder could hear the
smirk on her face.  "Later, Mulder."

The debriefing lasted only an hour and was punctuated by more
glowing remarks than Mulder had ever heard in one sitting, let alone his
entire life.  He kept deflecting praise to Hastings, Holland, and Scully,
but West had already been informed by Hastings who was responsible
for what.   The case report, they were told would be published at
Quantico for study.


*************

Gertie's Grill
 1:14 PM

Relaxing over lunch, they exchanged the remarks made by fellow agents
and laughed at the silliness of it all.  From Bureau pariahs to Bureau
princes almost overnight.

"So Scully, it looks like they're going to make your forensics sub-
department permanent from what I hear."

"That's the word going around.  You think you could handle living with
an ASAC?"

Ducking to miss her oncoming blow at his next comment, "I feel like
I've been living with a bossy woman for the last several years."

"Watch it Mulder!  I'll make you regret those words....."

At about that time, an older looking man walked up to their table.
Tensing up, Mulder let his arm settle down to his side in the direction of
his weapon, by habit.  "Excuse me are you Special Agent Fox Mulder."

Cautiously answering, "Yes, that's me."  Scully had grown very quiet
and studied the older gentleman who had just brazenly broken into their
lunch.

Extending a hand, "Sorry to interrupt your lunch, but I'm Trent Rogers."

Mulder looked to Scully to see if the name registered with her.  A blank
expression extended into a similar plea of help from her.  She couldn't
ever remember meeting him, but for some reason his name and face rang
a bell.

"I'm sorry, but I can't place the name....Mr. Rogers?"

"Oh, please forgive me Agent Mulder.  I was a friend of your father's.....
We worked at the State Department around the same time. I wasn't able
to keep in contact with your father, but I recognized your name from
the paper this morning about the case you solved in Washington..........I
just wanted to say congratulations."

Visibly relaxing a bit, Mulder shook his hand, "Thank you." Gesturing
across the table to Scully, "Sir, this is uhh.............Agent Scully, who
was also on the team that caught Kospeki."

"Ah yes, Dr. Scully.  So nice to meet you too."  Offering his hand to
Scully,  "I've heard a lot about the Mulder and Scully team back a few
years ago when the FBI still had that X-files division.  It would seem
VCS, got the choice pick from that division."

Lightening up herself, "It seems as though they got the only picks, the
division was only made up of the two of us."

Mulder offered him a seat.  Sliding in to the booth next to Mulder, Mr.
Rogers offered a warm smile as a 'thank you.'    "So, Mr. Rogers, what
brings you to Washington?"

"Please call me Trent.   I live here in D.C. as well as Oklahoma....."

Scully's nirvana set in as she recognized the name and the face as one
of the key members of the Congressional Hearings into the IRS scandal.
"You're the Congressman, correct?"

Modestly smiling, "Yes, Dr. Scully, I'm that Trent Rogers.  It seems that
being a House Representative is not as inconspicuous as I was once led
to believe."

Mulder, by now, recognized this man and the key role he had played in
the hearings that eventually led to the IRS being overhauled along with
the tax codes.  "Well not if you're going to spend quality air time on
CNN day in and day out for close to six months."

Acknowledging the fact that these two were now familiar with his work,
Rogers could only shyly smile in return.

Interested in knowing how he knew his father, Mulder continued.
"So...Trent?  Did you know my father well?"  Mulder received a
warning glare from Scully.

"Well, not really.  We worked in different areas.  I knew of him through
other colleagues, mostly.  As you probably already know, Agent
Mulder, your father did a lot of 'traveling' in his work."

The word 'traveler' held significant meaning to Mulder as he recognized
it's importance to his father's secretive work.  Throwing Scully a
derisive smirk, "Yeah, that's what I hear........he really got around."

Sensing he had stepped onto a sore subject, "I'm sorry if I upset you....I
didn't meant to..."

Cutting him short, "No...no. it's history."  Taking another look at the
older gentleman sitting next to him.  "I've made my peace with my
father."

Rogers, feeling a little awkward about raising such a sensitive issue
decided to change the subject.   "If you're not busy next Monday
evening I would like to invite you to come to my home just outside of
Arlington for a celebratory party....all my campaign staff and family are
going to be there.....it would be nice to have someone from your family
there..."

Looking across the table to Scully, "You too, Dr. Scully.  I would like
to see you both there if you're not busy."

Before Mulder could get the question out, Rogers explained.  "It's not
official yet, but I'm going to announce next Monday, at a press
conference, my intentions to run for the nomination of my party to
become the next President."

Scully and Mulder simultaneously looked up from the table to observe
the distinguished gentleman who had so boldly joined them for lunch.
A potential candidate for the next Presidency of the United States.

Tensing up a little, Mulder answered.  "Uhh...well...please don't take
offense, but I'm not very good with politicians......or social events."

Looking over to catch Dr. Scully's reaction, Rogers saw a supportive
smile that echoed Mulder's sentiment.

"Oh....I see, well then, sorry to disturb you.  I just wanted to say you
two did a fine job.  Have a nice day."

Mulder, who was now a bit annoyed at the cumulative pace of warm
wishers, "Well, thank you sir.  It's nice of you to say so.......good luck."

Rogers disappeared into the lunch crowd as soon as he had arrived.
Scully turned her focus to Mulder.

"So what was up with my introduction, Mulder?  It sounded as if you
forgot I was here."  She sounded slightly hurt, letting him know she was
only putting on an act.

"No, no, .....it's just that for a minute.....I didn't know what to call you?"

"Call me?"  Scully screwed a perplexed look to her face.

"To be honest outside of work, I don't really know how to present
you?"

This produced an even more questioning look from her that told him he
was about to put his foot firmly in his mouth.  "Present me?

"Well... girlfriend is too immature, roommate isn't entirely true, best
friend doesn't say enough, were not technically partners anymore.......
help me out here Scully."

With a look of angelic innocence, "Oh no Mulder, you're doing a pretty
good job yourself of digging your own grave."

"Ahhh, Scully you know what I mean.  I just .........what are we?"

With her famous pointed look that could stop a runaway truck, "What
do you want us to be, Mulder?"

"I haven't much thought about it until recently.  The past couple of
months have been going by pretty quickly."

Sympathizing with his thoughts, "Well..... I haven't thought much about
it either."

The silence that reined between them was neither uncomfortable nor
easy.  It was time that they looked at each other in a way that maybe
they hadn't thought to yet.

"We've had one thing after the other to worry about since we got
together, it seems.  I have a feeling we'll figure it out in time, which
leads me into our next topic of discussion."

With a wary sound in his throat, "What's that?"

"Your plans for Thanksgiving. "

"What did you have in mind?"

"Well, my mom invited you over to join in the usual Scully feast.
Would you like to bring your 'girlfriend' along?"

Regretting his earlier words as she poked fun at his insecurities,
"Sounds good to me,  my mom usually goes to her sister's place
since..."

Cutting off his trip through memory lane, before he could mire himself
in the past, "Well it's settled then.  We'll spend the day in Baltimore with
mom and Bill's family....."

"Bill's coming?"   Scully grabbed his hand to get his attention.  "Mulder,
he's going to have to get over it sooner or later.......and if he doesn't......
I'm not going to lose much sleep over it.   Bill has always been stubborn,
he'll just have to live with it."

After lunch, they headed back to the office where a couple of week's
worth expense reports were waiting to be filed.  Accounting would have
a field day with the receipts that followed.



*************


Annapolis, Maryland
Friday, November 19,
7:23 PM

Finding the weekend at their doorstep, Mulder and Scully arrived home
and planned to do something that was a little more normal, at least for
them.  A night out in the nation's capital as a couple offered a nice
change into the realm of mediocrity that they felt was well deserved.

Changing into something a little more casual, the pair headed for the
door until the phone stopped them.  Scully u-turned to catch it before
the machine picked up, "Hello?"

Scully visibly tensed at the caller on the other end.   "Oh, hello
Mike..........yes, long time-no see........or hear..............yeah that case
kept me busy......................sorry Mike...............this is kind of a bad
time......................well Mike, I'm kind of seeing someone pretty steady
right now...........................no, I'm not engaged.................it will
probably................uh.............Mike, I think you
should...............Mike,
I'm not interested.................................uhh.....Good-bye Mike."

Mulder was now sitting on the couch in a state of amusement with her
fractured conversation with a probable past suitor.    After slamming the
phone down, she slumped down on the couch beside him shaking her
head.

In the most innocent sounding voice he could produce, "Why,
Scully do you have a boyfriend I'm not aware of?"  His smile was
bordering too far on the edge of sheer entertainment for Scully's liking.

"If you must know Mulder, that was Mike Jarvis.  He was in the Navy
with my brother.  Bill has been trying to set him up with me ever since
.....since.....hell I don't know."

Continuing with his probing, "yessss?"

"Well a couple of months or so after we went to VCS, during our
........period of discontent...."

"Ooh, very well put, Scully, I like that," he responded sarcastically.

Seething, "Shutup, Mulder.......as I was saying, during our..."

Mulder chimed in, "period of discontent."

"....yes, I gave in and went out on a couple of dates with him.  He was a
friend of Bill's from the Navy..... and I thought he was mine too.  Bill
kept pestering me to take him out... you know... show him the sights.
He was a nice guy.  Smart, somewhat attractive, but he just......just
wasn't what I was looking for.   I admit at the time I was a little lonely
and was trying new things."

"And........."

"On the second date, it was obvious where his interest lay.........and yes
the operative word was lay, Mulder."

"Why Dana Katherine Scully, are you suggesting he was trying to get
into your bed???"  Mulder was clearly having a good time with Scully's
plight.

Scully's eyes turned into slits, as if examining Mulder for dissection at
the use of her full name.

"More like my pants Mulder, and he wasn't too subtle.  Everything was
okay on the first date... then he got weird.... all he wanted to talk about
was my work.  I can't believe Bill would even know a creep like that."

Containing his laughter, "Well you know Scully, you have very lovely
pants to try to get into, you can't blame a guy can you?"

"Why does your answer not surprise me Mulder?"  She sat there
glaring at him with her arms folded neatly across her chest tapping her
foot.  The trio of doom that usually spelled disaster for whoever she
was questioning.

"Because all men are pigs?  Something about a beautiful woman makes
us go crazy?  It's biological?  I don't know.....take your pick."

Her stare softened a bit as Mulder turned serious.  "This Mike guy isn't
going to be a problem....is he?"

"No, he's harmless.  I think I'll just have to give my brother call to have
him inform Mike of my current status.

"And just what that status be?"  Mulder held a mischievous light in his
eyes.

"Taken, Agent Mulder."

"Come on Scully, let's go.  Mike will have to make other arrangements
tonight."  He pulled her off the couch and headed out the door.


*************

Hobart's Seafood
7:54 PM


They settled for a seafood restaurant called Hobart's along the Potomac.
Looking out over the waterfront, Reagan National could be seen as jets
would land and take off every few minutes.

Filling Mulder in on one of her family's traditions she told him the story
of how they would eat seafood on Friday nights, especially when her
father was out to sea.  The fact that such family traditions existed was
fascinating if not mildly depressing for Mulder.  Before that long
remembered night in November there had been such carefree days of
splendor and tradition.  Hopefully, now, there would be more.

Her mind still reeling from the conversation on the phone with Mike,
Scully tried to ease her mind.  "Out of curiosity, Mulder.  Did you see
anyone else, other than Janice, that year we were.....apart?"

Shaking his head, "Nope, just me and the Gunmen on occasion.
Frohike tried to drag me out to a couple of bars a few times, but I
usually just hung out and listened to Byers wax philosophical about a
lost love he once had.   It was pretty depressing actually and sometimes
made me feel a little better."

Eyes as wide open as he had ever seen them, "Byers?  You mean Byers
from the Lone Gunman?"

"Yes, that's the only Byers I know."

Her eyebrow reaching untold heights,  "Come on Scully he's not that
bad a guy.  I know Frohike and Langly can come off a little flaky
sometimes, but Byers is a pretty deep man once you get past his.....
formality."

"I suppose, but it's just kind of difficult to imagine you and Byers sitting
around talking about such things."

"Well, I don't know what to say.  I ran into him a few weeks ago.  He
was happy to hear that we had finally settled our differences."

"Have you heard from Janice lately?"

Mulder's eyes picking up in curiosity, "I got a message from her on my
machine at home last week.  It's been a while."

"Does she know.... I mean about us?"

Nodding in her direction, "She knows that we're..... seeing each other
exclusively now...."

"I'd like to meet her sometime, Mulder."

"Really?"

"Since telling me about her, I've been rather curious."

"How so?"

"I don't know.... I'm just curious to meet the woman that was finally
able to get you to open up."

"Don't worry, I think you loosened the lid a bit."  Mulder winked.


*************


Margaret Scully's home
Thanksgiving Day
November 25,


Mulder had dragged Scully from bed this morning in preparation of the
Holiday festivities.   As the day had crept upon them, it turned out
Scully was dreading the visit more than Mulder.   Mulder had decided to
turn his cheek at all barbs thrown his way.  This was Scully's family and
he was determined to be on his best behavior, if not for Scully's sake,
then at least for Mrs. Scully's.   There was an unspoken connection
between them that dated back to the horrible period when Scully was
missing for three months, he didn't want to let her down again.

Arriving on Mrs. Scully's doorstep at eleven, Mulder wrapped a
reassuring arm around a tentative Scully's shoulder.  Mrs. Scully
opened the door and hugged her daughter as she welcomed them into
the warm house with an overly cheerful smile.  The moment of truth
was soon arriving.

Bill Jr. and his wife Tara were sitting in the living room.   After hugging
his sister and trading a few sibling pokes at each other, he held out a
clammy hand to Mulder with a murmured, 'Happy Thanksgiving.'  To
his credit Mulder returned the handshake firmly, greeting Tara and
Charlie's wife in the same way, wishing them a warm holiday greeting as
well.

There for the Thanksgiving dinner were also Bill's three children.
Matthew, the one who was born on the day Scully's daughter died, was
growing fast.  Mulder hadn't even thought about the connection until
he had seen Scully play with the toddler earlier.  It would be a long day
for sure.

Mulder sat in the living room with Scully's brother and in-laws trying
not to say anything out of place, while Dana helped her mother in the
kitchen with last minute preparations.  Sarah's two little boys took an
instant liking to the man they knew as `Fox.'  Concentrating on his
young followers.

Fighting with a jar of cherries that didn't want to open, Scully took the
jar from her mother and opened it without trouble.  She handed it back
without a word, not wanting to acknowledge that as time was wearing
on, her mother wasn't as capable as she had once been.

Seeing her daughter carry on as if nothing was different, Margaret
Scully looked past her daughter to see a grown woman with
responsibilities, a demanding career and as of late a quiet serenity that
was a new aspect of her life.

Stepping closer to Dana, in order to keep her voice down, "How are
things, Dana?"

Replying from her automatic set of patterned answers for her mother,
"Fine.  Everything's good."

"And Fox?"

Scully recognized the tone of voice, the pitch of curiosity and the
wariness a mother would always have for a single daughter.  "Mulder is
doing well.... we're both doing okay."

"I'm glad you brought him today."  Margaret was always good at
detecting possible points of tension.

"I was a little unsure.... you know he isn't Bill's favorite person."

"He's just being a big brother, I'm sure Fox knows what it's like....."

Margaret instantly regretted the insensitive words, trying to suck them
back in to her mouth after seeing the look on her daughter's face.
Holding her mouth with a free hand, one might have thought she was
literally trying to do so.

"Mom...... I think holidays are a little uncomfortable for Mulder, this
one especially.  Try not to remind him of why."

"I'm sorry, I ... I don't know what I was thinking.  I can't believe I
forgot...."

Disappointed, Scully left the kitchen to find Mulder and call the rest of
the family to the table.

Talk around the table soon centered on the Spokane case.  Being in the
news nationally as well as locally prompted Tara to ask what it was like
to hunt down the killer.  Tara and Sarah had a real sense of adventure,
considering how they were usually homebound with the children while
their husbands were out at sea.

Mulder felt comfortable with this topic so he went about telling the
story, without the gore, to an increasingly interested audience.  Scully
beamed a little as Mulder recounted the details.  For someone who
shunned the spotlight, Mulder had certainly become adept at telling the
story.  It wasn't long before Bill became annoyed of the conversation
centering on Mulder.

"So Dana, I hear Mike Jarvis called you up last week.  Was there a
problem with seeing an old friend of mine?"  Bill was staring directly at
Mulder as Tara's fingernail dug her husband's leg under the table.  Bill
had obviously not kept his promise to remain civil.

Suddenly, Scully put two and two together.  Bill HAD known about her
and Mulder and  called Mike, to inform him and possibly stir up trouble.

Mulder was now politely smiling at a grimacing Tara as he continued to
eat in quiet.  He had done the arithmetic as well.

"No, we've just been rather tied up with work."  A direct and pointed
glare in her brother's direction only seemed to increase the hostility.
Scully fumed as she deliberated her next course of action.

"Well Mike is a friend of mine.  I hope you don't treat all YOUR friends
as coldly."  That was it.  Upon reviewing the situation, Mulder later
decided that the word 'coldly' was the beginning of the end for Bill.

The rest of the dinner was spent in idle family conversation making
Mulder feel a bit out of place.  In a strange way, it felt good.  The recent
Thanksgiving days of his were usually spent with his mother in
Connecticut trying to put on the facade of the dutiful son.

Thanksgivings, more than any other holiday,  had always been difficult
because of Samantha's disappearance.  In recent years, Mulder had also
taken a side trip of his own a couple days before the holiday.  A solitary
vigil to a sister's grave that had come to symbolize, in a perverse way,
all that he once sought for and all that was lost.

The meal over with and finding it increasingly difficult to be with her
family, Scully decided leaving might be the best course of action.

In the most civil voice she could produce, "Bill, it was really nice to see
you again." Reaching down to grab Mulder's hand, she pulled and asked
him with her eyes if he was ready to leave in one motion.  Mulder
pulled himself up, and walked around to Mrs. Scully.

Leaning down to kiss her cheek he told her softly, "Thanks for having
me Mrs. Scully, it was a wonderful meal, Happy Thanksgiving."  She
smiled warmly up at him with semi-pained look on her face.  Mulder
then offered his hand to both of the other women and wished them well.

Scully walked around and hugged her mother, "Sorry, Mom, but I can't
deal with him today."

Margaret looked up into her daughter's eyes with confusion and kissed
her back.  "Dana, you don't have to go so soon do you?"  Scully only
glanced over at her brother casting him a disgusting look.

Scully said her good-byes, conspicuously ignoring Bill.  "Come on,
Mulder.  Let's go."  Mulder took her hand and they both walked out the
door, leaving Bill to the awkward silence and glare of the remaining
Scully women.


**************

2:46 PM


"Just give him some time, Dana.  He'll never like the idea of me in your
life...... I understand."

There it was again.  Her first name.  It wasn't as if she objected to his
use of it, she just didn't think she would ever get used to hearing it from
him on a regualar basis.  To him, she was Scully.  She liked Scully.  It
was something...... totally Mulder's and Mulder's alone, she liked to
think.

"This is different, Mulder.  He's just not the brother I remember.....
Ever since Missy died, Bill  has been on a crusade to be my keeper,
protector."

Scully remained silent in her thoughts as Mulder drove, not noticing he
was headed in a different direction other than home.  Pulling around the
rolling green landscape dotted with marble, Scully soon realized where
Mulder had taken her.

"I hope you don't mind, but I think there is someone you need to see."


She opened the door as Mulder headed to the trunk and produced a
bouquet of flowers that he  obviously picked up this morning while
running a last minute errand for her.

He joined her at the side of the car and they walked the short distance
to Melissa's graveside.   Mulder remained silent for several moments
before setting down the eclectic mix of flowers before her grave.

Standing there, side by side with their arms around each other,
Mulder could see her silent tears falling down her face.  Pulling her
into his embrace he felt her chest heave up and down several times as
she slowly succumbed to her crying.  Over the course of the next few
minutes she let out a lifetime's worth of misery.  He held on tightly with
his chin resting on her forehead, trying to catch his own tears before
they soaked her hair.

"I had hoped we could get away this afternoon to come here.
Although, I was a little afraid to after.... what happened back there."

Feeling the betrayal of her brother again, Scully dropped her head back
down.

Continuing,  "I know you haven't been here in a while."

Looking back up at him sharply, Scully wondered how on earth he
could know such a thing.

"Over the past few years I have borrowed your sister's grave as a
substitute for my own sister who doesn't have one.   I come out here
every so often and think about how much we both lost and what we've
gained ..... and if it was all worth it."

Seeking his eyes, she was stunned at his words.  "I don't ever think I
told you how wonderful your sister was to me... when you were
missing."

Unable to find anything to say, all Scully could do was squeeze him
tighter as he gently rocked her side to side whispering words of comfort
in her ear.

After a while she pulled back to stare at the headstone along side of
Mulder.  "She was the one Mulder..... she was the one who told me
about you staying with me in the hospital........ all those nights.  She told
me how much I meant to you.......and I never believed her..........until
now.....these past few months........and I never believed her."

"Dana.....I didn't believe her either......was it possible she was smarter
than both of us?"

Lightly chuckling at Mulder's respectful reference to her sister's psychic
beliefs, "No Mulder, I think it was probable ........definitely probable."

After a few more minutes of quiet and more positive reflection, "Thanks
... I haven't wanted to come here in a while, not since....."

Looking down to her, he squeezed her hand, "I'll be waiting at the car.
Whenever you're ready......"  He turned and walked back down the
slight slope to wait.

Scully knelt down to pick one of the tulips from the bouquet.  Studying
the marker that bore her sister's name, she couldn't help but remember
that conversation with her just after she had been found in that hospital
in Georgetown.

Scully began talking to her sister for the first time in years.  "You told
me one time that the chances you're given in life are few...... and to
make the most of what you have.....even you couldn't have seen how we
arrived here..... I love him so much Melissa and even though you aren't
here to see it, I'm so thankful for the time you had to know him ........
you wouldn't believe it yourself, big sis."

"It's been awhile since I've come to see you.... I'm so sorry.  You've
never been far from my thoughts, but after Emily died.... I just didn't
have the heart to come back."

The wounds of loss that never seemed to heal, drew a tear down her
face.  "But I know.......... you're taking good care of her, Missy.  Tell
Dad I said I love him and I love you too."

Scully slowly rose and walked to the car.  Reflecting on the difficult
day, Scully found Mulder's arms again.  For minutes on end she just held
him.  Held him as close and as tight as she could, holding on to what
was most important to her now.




End of "Never For You..."  Chapter 12/23  -Chances Are Few-

"Never For You..."  An X-Files Novel  - Chapter  13/23   -Saving A Heart-
by  L. McCullen

---------------------------------

[Saving A Heart]




Saturday, December 10


A late, fall afternoon descended on the Annapolis, Maryland area,
supplying a crisp breeze with the hint of leaves in the air.  Christmas,
along with winter, was fast approaching.  Charlie's wife, Sarah, had
come over that morning to find Scully and Mulder eating a late
breakfast.  As often as possible, Dana tried to play the role of 'Aunt' as
best she could, especially while Charlie was away on duty.

Mulder took the opportunity to refresh his little boy skills by playing
football with them in the park.  It usually took the form of Mulder being
dragged to the ground a few hundred times as the boys wrestled with
the funny guy named `Fox.'

Sarah was an attractive, typical 'soccer mom.'  She taught at an
elementary school that allowed her time to spend with her sons.  While
Charlie was away she had to be extra careful about making sure the
boys would have as normal a life as possible.  Scully knew what they
would go through and offered her help as much as possible.
Mulder took it on his own to befriend the two young ones, allowing
himself to think of a time long ago, when Samantha and himself would
waste away the summer days on the Vineyard.  It seemed to help him
too.

Walking hand in hand, Scully and Mulder went about finding their way
home.   The park wasn't far from her apartment and Mulder was still
buzzing from this afternoon's activities.

His demeanor with her nephews was uncontrollably attractive.  His
fathering instincts taking center stage almost like he had done it before.
To some degree it was painful for both of them, dredging up feelings of
lost children that both of them had suffered in one way or the other.

Sensing her thoughts, Mulder entwined his fingers with hers, "Tough
day?"

"No....no....it  was a good day.  I've always enjoyed spending time with
children...especially my nephews."

"Brought back some painful memories didn't it?"

After a few more minutes of silence, Scully responded in a hushed
voice. "I guess it did.  I usually don't consciously think about Emily
when I see other children around her age, but .......it's December you
know..........she would be about their age by now." Mulder quietly
nodded his understanding as he recalled those few short days in
December some years ago.

"Mom called me last night.  She says Bill invited us to San Diego for the
holidays if we want to come.  It think he's trying to apologize for
Thanksgiving."

Looking up, his facial expression gave her an answer.  One he didn't
want to voice, but hopefully she could discern from his grimace.

"I just can't go back there either, Mulder..... not now."

After another immeasurable moment of silent conversation.  "Because
of Bill ........or because of Emily?"  It was almost more of a statement
than a question.

"I had no idea that pain could linger in someone's heart this strong after
this long a time."

Smiling sadly, "Time just puts distance between your heart and your
emotions.  The farther it has to travel, usually the more it stings."

Scully put his words into perspective.  They were especially true as of
late.

"Scully, it's not too late for you to be a mother.  Maybe you can't have
your own children, but there are other ways for you to be a mother."

She took a sidelong glance to the man at her side, "Other ways?"

"Well, there's always adoption, surrogates......."

Remembering the harsh criticism of her lifestyle from the social worker
in San Diego, "I already tried that one time ......as I recall I wasn't a very
popular choice with my career, being single and......"

Cutting her off, he raised their hands together. "Who says you'll be
single?"

Letting the words and thoughts of Mulder's last revelation sink in, she
cautiously pursued his lead.  "Are you talking about what I think you're
talking about?"

"Maybe.... I don't know  ..would you want to raise a child with
...........someone like me?

Stopping in her tracks and squeezing his hand to pull him to a stop with
her on the sidewalk, "You would do that .......  you would give me that
chance again?"

"You know I would give you anything."

Letting a smile drift to the corners of her mouth, she started walking
along the sidewalk again.  Mulder remained quiet following her lead.
As they approached the apartment building, she finished their
conversation.

"I might hold you to that, Mulder."


*************

8:34 PM


"Well, I don't think we're going to make it  to California for the
holidays, so did you have any plans that we should get underway?
Christmas is only two weeks away."

"I haven't thought much about it, Scully..... do you think Mom could
handle a trip down here?

"Don't look at me Mulder, she's your mother. You know her better than
I do."

Alarmed at his sudden grimace of physical pain, "What?  Mulder?"

"I just made myself feel really old......."

"You are old, Mulder!"  That got her a sofa cushion flung at her head.

"Watch it, mister!"

"Don't call me old then!!"

Smiling sweetly, "Don't worry, I think your exercise at the park today
will be screaming at you tomorrow, telling you exactly how old you
are."

Turning to pin her down on the couch, "Oh yeah, and I believe you owe
me a back rub because of a certain bet we made not too long ago.  I
have a feeling I'll be cashing in that I.O.U. tomorrow."



*************


Fox Mulder's Apartment
Christmas Eve
Friday, December 24,



As part of their vow to take things slowly, Mulder promised to make
Christmas eve dinner for Scully.  They would spend the night at Scully's
but dinner was Mulder's treat and he wanted to spend some time at his
place for a change.   Keeping separate places had turned out to be the
best for both of them.  It avoided questions from Scully's devoutly
Catholic mother and put up a good front for the Bureau.

The pair headed back for Annapolis around 10:00. The drive through
the nation's capital was quiet.  Not many people were out and those that
were bundled up on this chilly night.   Yielding to Scully's religious
beliefs, Mulder took her by the local Catholic church.

She was a little more than surprised that Mulder would  endure mass
without her prodding, but she wasn't surprised at his consideration for
her.  Although, it was not uncommon for him to indulge her wishes, especially
since they had grown closer since last August.



Arriving home, late, they decided to sleep in before going to pick up his mother
from the airport around 11:00 AM.

Scully started the fire in the fireplace, while Mulder went to fish out her
present from wherever he had hidden it in the car.  When he returned
she mysteriously disappeared to the bedroom to do the same.  Mulder
had retrieved some wine from the pantry and set the lights low with only
the crackle of the freshly started flames being heralded.  Scully
arrived to find him on the couch staring into the fire.

Sitting down on the couch, right next to him, she reached up with her
hands framing his face and lingerly kissed him whispering, "Merry
Christmas, Mulder," into his ear.  He pulled a long flat box from the
cushion beside him and returned the whisper, "This is yours, Scully."

Scully took the delicately wrapped box with a sparkle in her eye and
unwrapped the present.  She was greeted with a long, slender, blue-velvet
jewelry case.  Looking into his eyes to seek the permission
that she already had, she opened it.

Gasping and throwing her hand to her open mouth, "Oh Mulder......it's..
it's beautiful."

Cradled inside the case was a beautiful linked bracelet that sparkled with blue
emeralds that were just slightly darker than the shade of her eyes.

"Mulder, this is unbelievable"

Taking it out of its sanctuary of velvet, he gently wrapped it around
her wrist.

"I just thought you should have the same luxury of seeing what I see everyday."
He found the clasp and secured it to her wrist.  "Merry Christmas, Dana.  I hope
you like it."

Shaking her head at the absurd notion she wouldn't, Scully took
him in her arms, "I do..... I love it Mulder, it's exquisite...."

She pulled back with a wandering grin and handed him a rectangular
box about three feet long and about five inches tall, cheerfully wrapped
in red and green holiday wrap.

With a questioning look and a playful shake to see if it was ticking he
ripped the paper from the object that was slightly heavier than he had
expected.  Inside a cardboard box he found what looked to be an old
wooden box with a small gold latch.  It resembled a cigar humidor, but
was much longer and built  more rigidly.

With the same pause of hesitation she had given him, he gently opened
it to reveal an antique telescope layered in gold, sitting deeply in a bed
of felt material.  Without a word he picked it up to feel its weight.  It
was solid and weighty, a reminder of the reality of its presence.

"Dana?  I don't know what to say....it's beautiful...."

Feeling the need to further explain, she took it from his hands and gently
set it back down in the case in order to tell him the story.

Turning to face him, she took both his hands in hers.  "Mulder, this was
my father's telescope that was given to him, by his father, when he made
Captain and received his own ship.  He knew that every Captain needed
to guide his ship safely home, so he gave this to him  so he could always
find his way back."

The power of her words along with the sentiment was undeniable.
Unable to say anything coherent, he just stared between her and the
gift.

"I... I can't accept this.... it must mean so much......"  He trailed off as
his own words sank in.

Looking down to study the delicate instrument,  Scully squeezed his
hands tighter to regain his attention.

"Yes, Mulder.... it does mean that much to me..... more than you could
ever know."

Looking down at his gift that he now held, Mulder could see the
engraved name of her father etched in the gold plate that was fastened
to the top of the case.  Running his tongue along his lips, Mulder
attempted to say something, suddenly finding his mouth dry.

"Mulder, the two most important men in my life have been searching in
one way or the other.  One with his eye on the horizon, looking out over
the sea and the other watching the skies, saving his heart ........"

Mulder put the case down and took Scully in his arms.  "It was yours,
Scully...it was always yours."


*************

Annapolis, Maryland
Christmas Day
11:02

Mrs. Mulder's plane arrived from Connecticut right on time.   Mulder
was actually anxious to see her again,  a source of strength through
some very dark days.  To witness her survive the years with such grace
never failed to amaze him after seeing and knowing things she had to
live with.  Burdens no mother had a right to bear.  Retrieving her
luggage from baggage claim, the three of them arrived in Annapolis an
hour later.

The relationship between Scully and Mrs. Mulder was always a little
removed.  Strained, but understanding of the roles they both played in
Mulder's life,  they had originally met for the first time at a period of
mourning for her ex-husband while Mulder's fate in New Mexico was
still unknown. This was meant as a comforting gesture as Scully had
searched out Mrs. Mulder to let her know she believed her son would
be all right.

Teena Mulder knew the bond between her son and his former partner
was strong, but she had never seen them together except for a few
times.   She had found Dana to be polite, but a little skittish, almost
wary of her.  Some of the looks she received from Dana, she thought,  bordered
on a ones of mistrust.

Mulder had informed his mother about his renewed relationship with
Scully back in October.  His mother gave him a polite response at the
time, but felt uncomfortable injecting her own thoughts and ideas in
her son's relationships.  She and her ex-husband had never been proper
role models for a successful, extended relationship either.

Christmas day came and went as well as could be expected.  Scully and
Mulder's mother relaxed, putting any misgivings about her aside
in an effort to possibly understand what must have endured all those
years..

Seeing her son so happy, she couldn't deny herself feeling more
than affectionate towards Dana.  She was an obvious reason for her
son's happiness and since her stroke Teena had promised herself to do
anything to fix what had been broken in her life for such a long time.

With the revelations of her relationship with another man though,
Mulder had slowly withdrawn from her.

Mulder found the usual NBA basketball games on late in the afternoon
as the two women got to know each other a little better.  Mulder was
carefully keeping an ear on the conversation, trying to sense any
tension and was relieved to find little, if any.  The visit was comfortable,
but somehow awkward.  It hadn't dawned on Mulder until Christmas
night that his mother had not mentioned Samantha at all until he noticed
her looking at a photo of hers that rested on Scully's mantle.

"Fox, I know you can't understand this, but..... sometimes I just can't let
her go........"

Mulder couldn't think of anything to say, so he was relieved when she
decided to change the subject.  Forgetting that past would never be
possible, but day by day he was learning to live with the truth.

The rest of the visit went smoothly.  Although they would never be the
best of friends, Dana and Teena gained a greater understanding of the
other and in some ways saw some of themselves in each other.  Two
very strong women who closely guarded their hearts and had for some
time lived solitary lives in one way or another.  No more was mentioned




End of "Never for You..."  Chapter 13/23  -Saving A Heart-
of Samantha.

"Never For You..."  An X-Files Novel  - Chapter  14/23  -A Far Cry-
by  L. McCullen

---------------------------------
[A Far Cry]


J. Edgar Hoover Building
Thursday, December 30
10:35 AM



Unfortunately, serial killers didn't take the holiday off.  Mulder and
Scully were headed back to work on Thursday in an attempt to get a
jump on work, before too much piled up over the long holiday weekend
marking the dawn of a new year.  Luckily the new year would open on a
weekend, keeping immediate disasters at bay for a little while.

Halfway through re-drafting a case report, his phone rang.

"Mulder."

"It's me.  Do you have the lab reports on toxicology for the Spencer
killings.  My draft didn't have one."

Looking through his file, he found  two copies of the offending reports.
Holding it up so she could see it as he spoke into the receiver,

"Yeah, someone filed yours in my copy.  I'll bring it over in a second."

"Oh, no hurry, I really just wanted to chat for a second..  I was stopped
by McCraw this morning at the coffee table.  She couldn't wait to show
me her Christmas present."

"Yeah, it was kind of hard not to see her hand this morning, wasn't it?
So who's the lucky guy,  Scully?"

"Her old college sweetheart.   You know, I never noticed myself doing it until
now, but I think women have a subconscious predication to checking other women's
ring fingers or something.  I wasn't at the table for two seconds when I caught
the glimmering rock."

"Is that a scientific theory Agent Scully, because you know.....I could
suggest we investigate your hypothesis a little more over dinner
tonight."

Dismissing his suggestive remark, "Listen, I have a meeting with West
in about ten minutes.  I'll see you later."

Sensing her anxiety with a meeting with SAC West, "Anything up?"

"I don't know.  I've been a good girl lately.  I'll let you know, later."

"Okay, later."   Hanging up the phone, he wondered what this meeting
would bring about.  A meeting alone with a SAC was pretty uncommon,
but,  he shrugged it off, and forgot about it.


*************


Annapolis, Maryland
7:37 PM

Mulder arrived at Scully's a bit late due to traffic in Alexandria.  Scully
had been pretty quiet since his arrival, but he hadn't paid too much
mind.  Once in a while Scully would retreat into herself, especially after
a stressful day at work.  His mind instantly reminded him of her meeting
with West and wondered if this was a side effect of the get-together.

Startling her out of her trance, "Hey, Scully.  What was that meeting
with West about?"

For a  split second she thought he could read minds.  The meeting was
all she had been thinking about since that afternoon, "Oh, nothing
much.  He just offered me a transfer to Albany, New York to head
up the Bureau's field office there.  I told him no thanks and that was
pretty much it."

Mulder swung his head around from loading the dishwasher, "He
what?"  Scully shrugged it off like it was a common everyday event.

For several moments Mulder just stared at Scully who was routinely
going about the business of clearing the table as if nothing was going
on.  Mulder put down the plate he was holding and walked over to
Scully.

Mulder looked at her purposefully.  "Are you sure you gave him the
right answer?"

Scully paused a moment.  "Well, at the time I thought I did........... I still
do.."

"Don't read me the wrong way, Scully.  I'm just asking.....would you
like to take the position?  It has possibilities written all over it."  The
seriousness on his face was almost disturbing.

"I'm interested in it.  It would definitely have potential for a Director's
position someday, but......."

"But, what........I think you should take it.,"  Mulder said it with more
conviction than he thought he could deliver.

Brushing past him on her way out of the kitchen, "I'm not taking it and
that's it."

Finding her on the couch mindlessly flipping through a book she had
been reading lately, she looked to him with a look somewhere between
confusion and disbelief.

"Don't make me choose, Mulder..... I'm not going to let you martyr yourself and
what we have for my career..........."

Taking her by the shoulders, he soothed her fear, "Scully?  Who said
anything about choosing?"   Reaching down to pull her hand to his, he
continued.  "The choice has already been made... to us."

Scully looked away.  "Sometimes Mulder, I just ...........  I feel like I'm
waiting for the other shoe to drop and .....with you...and.."

Smiling as he saw the Scully he had first met all those years ago,
"Where you go, I go.  No more ditching."

Pulling her close, he could physically feel the relief drain from her light
body.   "Mulder, you will never know how decent a man you really are underneath
all that ego."

They both laughed at the suggestion.

Pulling back, but remaining in his arms, "What would you like to do
about this New York thing?"

"It's your call, partner........... why don't you tell West you would
reconsider."

"He did tell me to think about it, but...."

Feeling like she had missed something earlier, Warily spying him with her
classic look of confusion, "Mulder, what exactly did you mean by 'the choice has
already been made?'"

Moving away for a moment to collect his thoughts, he returned to face
her.  "Scully, you and I both know that you're on the fast-track.  I
thought about it a few months back.....that if you were ever offered a promotion
that would take you away from D.C..."

She approached him with a scrutinizing look about her, "Yessss......go
on, Mulder...."

"...that I could find another avenue of employment."   The surprise
registered on her face was slightly more than he had expected.  With her
mouth still open, he jumped into quell her thoughts.

"Look Scully, you and I both know that I haven't been the model agent
for the FBI for some time now.  Promotions have never been offered in
my direction, and with the big black X sitting in my file for the years
down in the basement......don't hold your breath on any offers coming
my way from the Bureau brass."

"But I was there with you...."

Correcting her before she misinterpreted his meaning, "Yes you were
Scully, but remember.  You were technically assigned to me.  The fact
that you turned the laughing stock of the Bureau into a viable and
respected division only seals the fact you have greater things in store
for you in the FBI."

Shaking his head, "But you've been one of the best agents in Bureau
history when it comes to solve ratio...."

"You and I also know that this is not a contest for who is or was the
best at their jobs.  You will deservedly get the credit for the work in the
X-files....someone has to..."

She smiled faintly at the compliment and started contemplating his
words.

Continuing,  "I've never been good at playing well with others."

Understanding his meaning, she considered his points.  "So you would
consider moving to New York,... IF.... I decided I wanted to take the position."

Offering his biggest tooth-laden smile, "I thought you'd never ask."

Scully held up her hand to stop him from assuming her answer.

"Not so fast Mulder.  I did say I was interested, but that doesn't mean I'm
taking the job quite yet.  There are a few other things I would need to
investigate before going.  I'll tell West tomorrow that I'll give him a final
answer next week.  Until then, let's just forget about it, okay?"

"Whatever you want, it's your decision.  I'll be with you no matter
what you decide."

Forgetting about it turned into the last thing Scully could possibly do.
It kept her up most of the night in quiet contemplation over the
possibilities of a move to New York state.

Mulder and her could literally start a new life.

They could shovel snow.

She would be a SAC in charge of her own division.

Mulder would have to find a new job.

The salary increase could go a long way in offering a secure future.

She would have to move away from her mother.

Mulder would be closer to his mom, whose health was steadily declining as well.

The pros and cons ping-ponged in her head for the rest of the night as she
floated in and out of sleep.

In the early morning hours, with that vision of clarity that one sees only
in the fringes of a near sleep state, a far cry of something sinister came
to the surface of her dazed mind.

A far and eerie cry from their past as partners joined her introspection. Her
suspicions grew larger and larger.  Although the end-result could be clearly
seen, she couldn't possibly see a motive.  Mulder had definitely worn off on her
over the years.

Thinking to herself, 'Jesus, Dana.  Not only are you paranoid, you're starting
to formulate theories without evidence or motive, like Mulder used to.'

She got up early to take a shower and eat breakfast while she deliberated over
her pre-dawn, cognitive revelation.  If her thoughts
about the possible reasons for her sudden transfer and promotion were
true, she would have to formulate a plan to extract some evidence of the
truth before she could give her answer.

At around 7:00, she slipped back into bed to rouse Mulder from his sleep.

"Wake up sleepy-head.......stop drooling on the sheets."

Mulder rolled over to face her with his eyes still shut, "I would, but
there's this incredible red-head who keeps intruding in on my dreams."

Laughing at his ability to make an innuendo even in his sleep, "Mulder,
will there ever be a day when you stop coming on to me?"

Opening his eyes with a start, "Nope!"

"Good, I think I would have to start worrying if you do.........now get
up....we're going to be late."


The ride to work was routine.  Traffic backed up on the beltway to the
hilt, but another good thing had come out of her and Mulder sharing her
apartment from time to time.  Now they were able to take the carpool
lanes.  Scully was busy organizing her thoughts about how to handle
West this morning.  She wanted to be subtle, yet she needed to gauge
his reactions in order to confirm or deny her suspicions.  Blowing
her cover and revealing her true purpose for reconsidering would
definitely sabotage any chances for future promotions.

The unscheduled meeting with West was arranged for 2:55 PM when he
was between appointments.  Special Agent in Charge David West was
your typical Bureau watchdog.  He played by the rules, remained loyal
to his superiors and was generally a pawn in the grand game of politics
played by the Bureau hierarchy.  Her suspicions about the reasons
for offer of  a 'promotion' would most certainly be known to West if he
were to successfully carry out whoever's orders he had been given.


*************

SAC David West's office
J. Edgar Hoover Building
Friday, December 31,
3:03 PM

Scully entered his office after his receptionist waved for her to go on in.
It hit her right then, that if she were to become a SAC, she would most
likely have a receptionist also.

`Hmm.. maybe I could get a really cute male one to torture Mulder with.'
Pushing those thoughts aside as she returned to the task at hand, she
put her hand out to greet West who, like a true gentleman, stood as she entered.

"Thank you, sir, for seeing me on short notice.  I won't take much of
your time, I just needed to let you know I would be reconsidering the
offer you made yesterday if it's still available?"

Perking up, "Why yes, Agent Scully, it is still 'on-the-table.'"

Sitting in the chair provided before her, she sat down with her legs
crossed, her hands clasped on her lap with the left hand on top.

"I feel that I should let you know that my transfer, if I were to take it,
would be on the condition that Agent Mulder could also transfer along
with me."

The reaction on his face she feared from West was the reaction she got
........and deep down expected.

"Pardon me Agent Scully, but what would Agent Mulder have to do
with your promotion.  He isn't your partner anymore, so there could be
no reason for you two to remain together in the ..........."    West bit off
the last portion with haste, fearing he had revealed too much.

With the knowledge gained from his last statement, Scully went about
putting a good spin on the situation in an effort to cover her tracks.
"Well actually sir, as you may well know from the O.P.C. hearing,
Agent Mulder and myself reside together.  If I were to become a SAC,
technically I could request his transfer.  Mulder and I would like to
remain together, maybe not as co-workers, but at the very least still in
the same area."

This last piece of information clouded whatever suspicions he had that
she knew what the true nature of her promotion was for.  It also
shocked him. His face had turned a little pale at this revelation which made
Scully concerned as to why it was so important that she and Mulder be separated
again.  Even though they had not moved in together, she used this little white
lie and the rumors circulating to her own advantage.  It was now crystal-clear
to her that separating them, at least within the workplace and maybe personally,
was the objective.

Thanking him for his time and informing West that he would have her
final decision by next Wednesday, she exited the office and made it to
the bathroom in time to punch a stall door, before she screamed.

Locked in a bathroom stall at the far end, Scully rested her forehead
against the cool enameled surface of the door.  After all this time, she
couldn't understand why they couldn't just leave them alone to work
and go on with their lives.  With the X-files shut down and access to
that world limited, Mulder and her had essentially put that part of their
lives behind them.

Not forgotten, but behind them while they were still relatively ahead.

Still alive.



*************



At precisely 5:00 PM, Scully headed for Mulder's desk.  Detecting her
uneasiness, he cut his phone conversation short as he saw her face
flushed with anger.

Mulder threw his arms up as if he had a gun pointed at him, "I'm sorry....I
didn't do it....I'll remember next time...."

Shaking her head in disgust as he tried to apologize for an act he had no
participation or knowledge about, she pulled him up by the collar of his
shirt. "Come on, let's get the hell out of here."

Mulder grabbed his jacket and hurried after her to the elevator lobby.
Passing the parking garage level, he realized she had punched the
button for the main lobby which would lead them out to the street.

Not saying a word, he followed her down the street to a tavern that they
had frequented a few times early in their partnership.  It was more of  a
'yuppie," upscale establishment than a bar.  In downtown D.C., these
hangouts were a dime a dozen catering to the legions of federal
employees.  He got a booth in the back corner while she summoned a
waitress from the bar.  She ordered a Scotch and soda, while Mulder
took an obligatory beer.

He attempted to pierce her thoughts. "The hard stuff?   What's
wrong Scully?"

She waited for the waitress to return, downed her drink and proceeded
to tell Mulder the whole sordid story.  Her suspicions, her impromptu
slight of hand and her clever cover up.  While she laid it all out, he
nursed his beer and took the news calmer than she expected.

After a moment of contemplative silence, Scully looked directly into his
eyes.  "You knew it, didn't you?  You suspected it the whole time!"

"Well.....to be honest.....I did have my suspicions.  It just seemed a little
too strange, you know...... especially after the hearing with the O.P.C.
last October."

Scully sighed in frustration as he continued.  "Don't get me wrong,
Scully.  You will make a great SAC, but you have to admit, there are at
least five other ASACs in our division alone that have more time in the
VCS, than we had in the X-files, put together."

Seeing his logic, she let out another sigh.  This time it was a breath full
of 'I know, I know, you're right.'

"Don't be so hard on yourself, Scully.  I didn't want to put a damper on
the situation and knowing how good you are, a part of me thought this
was legitimate."

Taking another swallow, "But the part of you that kept us alive all those
years, told you differently, didn't it?"

Smirking, "Who says paranoia's all bad.  It's saved our ass's on more
than one occasion."

Pausing a moment to let her feelings fall into place, he went on. "Even if
they won't let me transfer with you.  You can still take the job.  Like I
said before, my future in the FBI is limited, I could find something else,
you could become SAC....."

"Mulder, after what I witnessed today, I'm not sure if becoming one of
them and having to play their games, interests me anymore."

Lifting up her glass to finish her second drink, "Besides, I don't think it
would be a move up.....more like a move over.......and if nothing else....
the fact alone that I'm not going to let them dictate our lives to us
anymore is what will make my decision to stay where I'm at final."

Smiling, Mulder finished his beer.  The Scully he had know for all those
years was sitting proudly and defiantly in front of him.  Her fighting
spirit had given him strength on more that one occasion and would
surely see them through whatever tough times lay ahead.

"Mulder....?  What are you grinning at?"

"I don't know.... maybe I can't figure out what to be more proud of. The
fact that you figured out their game all by yourself or the fact that after
all these years, you're still that fiery, loyal partner who hasn't been
changed by all the crap they've dished out to us."

Scully took his hand from across the table, "I wouldn't have been able
to see it without you Mulder and that's why I think they want us apart.
They know better than we do that we're stronger together than separated."

"Well, news of your offer for promotion and transfer won't take too
long before it gets around the entire FBI.  I'm kind of surprised more people
didn't know it before today.  Didn't McCraw hear about it yesterday?"

"Mulder, despite what you think, not all women gossip.  In fact, I
believe, a woman working in the male-dominated environment that we
do today, is probably more sensitive to such notions than men."

"Another interesting theory there, Scully.  Probably true."  Changing
the subject slightly, "I didn't want to say anything, but I'm glad were not
moving to Albany."

Scully curiously looked to Mulder.  "Oh?  And why not?"

"Believe me, having lived up north when I was younger, shoveling
snow is no picnic.  Next time, see if you can swing a promotion further
south."  Mulder wore a lop-sided grin that told Scully he would follow
her anywhere.

"You ready?  We've got a New Year to ring in, Scully."

He laid out some money for the drinks and pulled Scully to her feet.
"Oh do we?  What's on tap for tonight?"

"Well, I thought we would continue a Mulder family tradition."

"I thought your family didn't have any traditions, Mulder."

Whispering in her ear, "We've got a few."

"And what would that be, oh sir?"  The excitement in her eyes lit up his
heart.

"Well it's only a tradition I started about ten years ago.  The guys and I
usually get together to chat about the latest conspiracy theories that
will be unveiled during the new year.  They offer'em up and I try to
shoot'em down.  Trust me, it's right up your alley.  I hope you're not
disappointed .  We could cancel, I'm sure they'd understand."

"Mulder, I think it's a great idea.  You never heard me say this and I'll
deny it if you tell anyone, but I've always kind of liked them.......even
Frohike."

"Oh my....Agent Scully.  You are in for a treat, just keep him at a
distance so I don't have to hurt him.  You know how he gets with a little
liquor in him."

The two walked out of the bar on this the last day of the year with
hopes and dreams for the coming days.  Celebrating a New Year with
friends, they found that the year that lay ahead would bring many
exciting days and nights as well as turmoil.



End of "Never For You..."  Chapter 14/23  -A Far Cry-

"Never For You..."  An X-Files Novel  - Chapter 15/23   -When is Forever -
by  L. McCullen

---------------------------------

[When is Forever]


Monday, January 3
J. Edgar Hoover Building
Violent Crimes Section
10:00

Stopping at her desk to leave her a note, Mulder noticed the yellow pad
that held the details for her day's itinerary.   Noticing the meeting with
West was now in progress, he sent her a mental note of 'good luck,'
while she maneuvered out of the promotion..  The rumors would be
pretty interesting to hear about this one, he admitted.

Speaking of the devil himself, Tom Colton came bustling around the
corner.  After standing back up to reach his full height, they locked eyes
in recognition of each other's presence.  Colton averted his stare first as
he whispered something to his partner, who promptly started to chuckle
at the sight of  'Spooky' Mulder.

Ignoring the two, he returned to sign his note, inviting Scully to lunch if
she made it back in time.  The word about her possible promotion had
gotten around the office even quicker than the news of Agent
McCraw's engagement.

Before he could finish, the object of his desire was standing by his
side.  Keeping her professional mask on, "Hello Agent Mulder.  Is there
something I can help you with."

Keeping up this charade was totally unnecessary, but it was done more
out of habit and a certain appeal of charm than anything else. "Why yes
Agent Scully, I was wondering if you would be free for lunch today?"

Frowning, "Sorry, Mulder.  I've got a lot of work to do.  Remember I'll
be taking the car this afternoon.  I've got that appointment with my
doctor today."

"Ohhh....that's right, I was gonna catch a ride with Jeff.  Your routine
six month check-up?"

"Yeah, the doctor says, if all things remain the same, he'll start to
schedule the visits yearly."

Smiling at the thought of her returning to a more normal existence after
the cancer, "Do you want me to bring you anything back from the
cafeteria?"

"Yeah, could you bring me back a chicken salad sandwich and a tea?"

"Sure, anything else I can do?

"No, I'll be fine.  I'll see you at home tonight."

Winking he let out a dutiful sigh, "Back in a few minutes."


*************

6:32  PM


The doctor's visit was routine.  This one, however, had an MRI along
with a PET scan scheduled with it that was done at least twice a year
since her remission.  The placement of the cancer, along the inside wall
of her nasal cavity, made it tough to determine if the tumor had returned
or ever would.  A PET was the only way to quickly determine, without
extensive bloodwork, if the tumor had returned.

The results were negative, with the only evidence of her cancer being a nasty
line of scar tissue along her sinus region.  The only physical side effect of
her illness was a slightly deepened voice.  For such a small person she had
always had a low pitched voice for a woman, but the cancer had deepened it only
slightly more.  More distinct and recognizable, Mulder would know it anywhere.

Arriving home later than expected, she found dinner waiting on the
stove while Mulder was napping on the couch still in his suit pants and
shirt.  Waking him would be too selfish, she thought.  After years of not
sleeping well, she let him rest whenever she saw him stealing a few
minutes here or there.

She returned to the bedroom to change and made her way to the kitchen to set the
table for dinner.  The rice and vegetables were still warm on the stove while
the baked chicken had a few more minutes to finish according to the kitchen
timer.  She would never stop being amazed at how Mulder could deftly handle
himself in the kitchen..

Hearing a utensil drop to the floor, Mulder awoke to hear Scully in
the kitchen.  "Oops, sorry Mulder, didn't mean to wake you quite yet."

"It's ok, I didn't mean to doze off anyway."  He roused himself up and
headed to the bedroom and also changed.

Upon returning to find dinner on the set table, he walked up behind Scully who
was just about to bring their glasses to the table.

Enfolding her in his arms, he buried his face in the crook of her neck
between her shoulder.  He lifted his head up to rest it there and pulled
her into his arms deeper.  The height difference between these two,
especially at home without any shoes on, always made a somewhat
interesting sight as Mulder would bend down to seek her eye level.

Mulder had always been a tactile person.  Even during their partnership,
he always found ways to emphasize his points with a touch here or
there.  They were never overt touches that she felt were unnecessary,
Mulder was just one of those people in life that were classified as the
'touchy-feely' type.  Playing pseudo-psychologist early in her days with
the X-files, with the little knowledge she had about his family life and
Samantha, she figured he was that way because of a lack of affection
that seemed to plague his history.

Even back then she felt a strange sense of duty to encourage that bond.
Never more than a hug, but they were intimate touches in the way two
close friends and partners could touch each other.  A hand laid over the
other's, a ruffle of his hair, or a guiding hand as they entered a room or
house.

After their relationship had developed, Mulder was more insistent about
expressing his feelings through touch, while Scully relished this new
facet that came along with their connection.  It was funny, Scully
thought, that she was the one that grew up in a close family, so
touching was something she had taken for granted.  With Mulder, however,  the
lack of a stable home life produced someone who needed the tactile feel of
another human to ground him.

These stolen moments were cherished as they served to remind the
other of their commitment to one another.  Turning in his arms to grace
him with a brilliant smile, Scully pulled him tighter to her own chest as
she sighed.  The relief of just being in his arms was sometimes enough
to make her other bodily needs, dissipate.

Slowly swaying back and forth to their own music, Mulder looked
down.  "How did the doctor's visit go?"

Without hesitation, "It went really well.  The scans were clean.  No
tumor. No sign of one.  Only a soft-tissue scar to ever reveal it was even
there."

Tightening his grip on her, "That's the best news I've heard in a long
time, Scully."

"Yes it is."


**************


Enjoying the meal and each other's company, Mulder ran through his
day with her, explaining his latest case, which she might be called in on
if things got stickier.

"Oh, I almost forgot.  How did the meeting with West go?  Did he
understand or......"

Beating him to the punch, "You mean did he flip his wig over an ASAC
declining a promotion?   No........it was rather odd.  I went in, sat down,
told him of my decision, he nodded, I said 'thank you for the offer', then
he dismissed me.  It was a very..... routine meeting.  Unlike Friday I
couldn't register whether or not he was pleased or dismayed....very
odd."

Mulder pondered this for a moment, "Hmmm........who knows....I gave
up a long time ago trying to read my superiors reactions.  Skinner
ruined me of that."

Continuing to eat in silence, Scully was somewhat reluctant to explore a
topic that had been on her mind for the past few days.

 "Mulder, I didn't want to say much at the time, but you got me to
thinking.  What would you do if you ever left the Bureau?"

Considering on how to answer, "Well.....um..... with my experience and
reputation in the field.  I could do some lecturing.....maybe write some
books on our experiences dealing with the paranormal.   I haven't given
it a tremendous amount of thought, but I'm sure I could land on my
feet........why?"

"Oh, I was just wondering.  You sounded like you had really given the
idea of leaving some serious thought when you were talking about it the
other night."

"It's not like that's the first time, Scully.  There have been several
instances where my patience with the political bullshit has worn
thin.......you know that."

"Yeah, I know."  Scully looked off at a distant point behind him, caught
in her thoughts.

"What would you think about me leaving?  Would you be upset?"
Mulder was intrigued by her forthcoming response.

"No, maybe leaving the Bureau someday would be a good change for
you.  You wouldn't mind me leaving with you, would you?"

Interesting development, Mulder thought.  "Umm... something you want
to tell me, Scully?"

"No, not really.  It's just after days like today and meetings like the one I
had with West, I'm wondering what it would be like to.........I don't
know..... go into private practice.....take a teaching position at a medical
school....you know...just wondering 'what if.'"

"To answer your question, no. It wouldn't bother me for you to leave
the FBI.  Whatever you want to do with your career, you know I'll
support you ."

"That's all I wanted to know.  Sometimes, I feel like I'm not making a
difference anymore."

"Scully,  you make a difference everyday."  Mulder picked up their
plates and left her to ponder his meaning.  Whether he meant it
professionally or personally, she decided it made her feel kind of good either
way.


************


The week passed slowly as the daily grind returned to normal after the
holidays and the agents of the VCS were becoming increasingly busy.
What was it about Christmas time that brought about violent killings.
All week tensions in the office were high.  An undercurrent of tautness
seemed to flow in the building. An ominous air of something distressing
making its way into the psyche of their fellow agents.  Mulder and
Scully were not oblivious to the atmosphere, but refused to lend it any
credence.  After all, they were used to the pressures.


Annapolis, Maryland
Tuesday, January 11
7:13 AM

As this day dawned, the oncoming train of misfortune had gently
shifted tracks. It would not directly cross their paths this time, but the
train, nevertheless, made its impact.

As Mulder and Scully were about to leave for work, the phone rang.
AD Skinner was on the other end.   Hearing from the AD was not
uncommon, but the fact they hadn't reported to him in almost two years,
coupled with the time of day, it yielded a certain atmosphere of disaster.

"Mulder."

"Agent Mulder, this is Skinner. I hate to disturb you guys this early, but
I have some news for you that can't wait.  You might want to put Agent
Scully on the other phone if you can.  I don't have much time.

Signaling to a curious Scully to go pick up the phone in the bedroom,
"It's Skinner, he has some news, go pick up the other line."

Scully dashed to the bedroom, "Good morning, sir.  What's wrong?"

"I really hate to be the bearer of bad news, Agent Scully, but Agent Jenny
McCraw was found in her apartment late last night.................  she was
brutally raped and murdered."

Mulder heard Scully's gasp in stereo.  From the bedroom and in his ear
as his own stomach dropped to floor in  twisting anguish for a fellow
agent who he and Scully worked.  For someone he had begun to consider a friend.

Skinner continued, "I just got back from the crime scene.  This was
being handled by the D.C.P.D., but after it was revealed she was an FBI
agent, we are naturally going to join them.  I cleared it with West
already.  You two are going to head up the case.  I want the best we
have to nail the son-of-a-bitch who did this."  Not one to show great
emotion, Mulder was sure he heard Skinner's voice crack on his last few
words.

Feeling that Scully would be unable to reply, Mulder jumped in.  "Thank
you for letting us know, sir.  Has her family been notified?"

"Not as of yet.  I'm in my car on the way to her folks house in
Woodbridge, Virginia.  They will know by 10:30 at the latest."

Regrouping herself from the initial shock, "Sir, we'll head over to the
crime scene first thing.  Call us if you find out any details you think
might help us."

"Will do, Agent Scully.  I'm sorry, I know you two worked with her."

With that, Skinner hung up.  Mulder knew what he would find when he
reached the bedroom.  After last August when Mulder and Scully had
rescued their friendship and especially since they had become intimate,
Scully no longer kept her emotions in check as much with Mulder
around.  It was yet another sign of the ultimate trust and belief she had
in Mulder.  She knew he would not judge her.  She knew that all he
wanted was to understand and make her feel loved.  That she was not
alone, and didn't have to be.

The strength of the woman he loved so much never ceased to amaze
him, but only when she let her emotions flow towards him did he see
how brave she really was capable of being.  What she had perceived for
years as being a sign of weakness, to him was yet another aspect of
how strong she truly was.

It was because of this that he was not surprised to see her sitting on the
side of the bed weeping in silence.   Death had traveled in her inner
circle for years.  It was the side effect of being with the dead so much of
her professional life, but death close to her was somehow made more
sobering and real.

Coming to sit by her on the bed, he waited for her to make the first
move as always.  This kept her control firmly within her grasp until she was
ready to let the bough break.

As she began to shudder, she leaned into her strength.  Mulder
wrapped his arm around her as his eyes moistened not only because of
a fallen agent, but because of his breaking heart.  As intimate as one could be
with another person in life, it would never quite match the experience of
selflessly allowing herself to cry into someone else's shoulder.  To physically
purge the body of grief with the one person that she loved more than anything
was a comfort that few would understand.

After a few minutes, Scully looked up with a half-smile.  A look that
held so many emotions.

Sniffling, "I think we better get going, before they reassign it.  I want
this guy Mulder. I want him bad."

Kissing her left temple, "Let's go."

*************

Agent McCraw's Apartment
9:54 AM

Examining the crime scene was horrific.  Even for a victim you knew, this one
was especially gruesome.  The fact that the killer used, from the looks of it, a
dull knife made for queasy stomachs.  Steeling herself against the sight, she
began to take notes, examine primary wounds and protect the corpse from
contamination.  Mulder started going around with other agents and D.C.P.D. to
interview neighbors and potential witnesses.

Unfortunately, as with most murder cases, the suspects start with those
most familiar with the victim.  The first one to be questioned and cleared
was her fiance, Thomas Moore.  Mr. Moore was an architect who was
currently in Phoenix on a business trip.  The fact that Agent McCraw
was recently engaged wasn't lost on Mulder or Scully, either.  It just made the
sting pierce a little more in their hearts.  Her only other family, her parents,
were in Woodbridge, Virginia the previous night at a church function.

Funny how silver clouds can be found in the most dismal of situations.
It was no small relief to Scully that neither her family or fiance were
involved.  The fierce savagery of this particular crime would have been
difficult to comprehend if had been some one that close.

Against Mulder's and other's wishes, Scully demanded to do the
autopsy.  If Skinner wanted them on the case, she wouldn't trust
anyone else to do it right.

Although not an official break in Bureau policy, Scully reached deep within
herself and  performed the autopsy with extreme diligence.  Being incredibly
thorough with this post mortem was in effect her way exacting some measure of
motivation in finding the killer.  Her effort did not go un-rewarded.

Pulling semen, fibers, hair, and finger prints off the body would go a
long way to convict the perpetrator when they found him.  Arriving
home late that night, she found Mulder studying transcripts of the
interviews from his day's work.

Standing up to greet her with a kiss, "How'd it go?"

Honestly replying, "Pretty good actually...... we got a lot of physical
evidence off the body.  Whoever we catch will have a hard time
disproving it was him.  We'll nail the son of a bitch."

Perking up at her good news, "That's good.  I've got some decent
news of my own.  We lifted some prints off the back seat of her car.  It
looks like she either had a friend with her or some guy hid out in her car
waiting for her.  Either way it looks like she knew the killer or the killer
knew her."

Perplexed, "Why do you say that Mulder?"

"Well, there were no signs of forced entry to her car or her home.  We
also have someone else's prints from her car keys, but they look
smudged.   Also, if someone were hiding out in her car, they would
know her car, thus knowing her.   I know it's a leap..... but I've just got a
feeling.   When will you get the toxicology back?"

"Tomorrow, why?"

"We found an opened bottle of vodka near the body.  Even though it
was clean, it had residue floating in the bottom.  We think the killer
might have slipped her something to relax her defenses.  If so, that
would definitely point to an acquaintance."

"Did you find any glasses as evidence of her drinking with the
suspect?"

"No, but he could have taken them.  I assume we'll find alcohol laced
with a sedative of some type when we get the report on her bloodwork."

"Mulder, I can believe that this person knows her, but something tells
me she's not the one to be socializing late at night, during the week,
while her fiance is away on business.  It just doesn't add up.  You
know?"

"I'll put that in my profile.  You did know her pretty well, Scully.
Would you say she was the type to drink by herself?"

Sighing in slight frustration. Almost whining, "To be honest, I have no
idea Mulder.  I went out with her after work one night while you were
gone to Quantico for a lecture.........she did drink vodka that night as I
recall......straight I believe......why?"

"I'm just wondering if her drinking by herself would explain the lack of
glass a tumbler...something."

"Not very lady-like, but..." Unsure of what to say, "I guess that's a
possibility."

"Well, I'll have the Sci-Crime Lab check the bottle for lipstick.  Maybe
she was alone."

Scully went to the bedroom to rid herself of her work clothes.

Coming back out she went to the couch and stared blankly at the television as
Mulder continued to pour over the interview results.

"Hey, Scully.  We also had one neighbor report that he heard a
disturbance at around midnight and saw some guy running from the
building......"  Noticing that Scully was a million miles away, he shut up.
He closed the folder and turned out the desk lamp on the credenza.

Sitting down beside her, he flipped off the television she wasn't paying
any attention to and sat with her in silence.    After a while, Scully began
to ramble on aimlessly about minuscule details she had found in the
autopsy.  Shoving herself into 'scientist' mode was another way she
dealt with the harsh cruelties she seemingly witnessed everyday.

"Mulder, you said it yourself one time.  We were almost twins.  Except
for her being a little taller, her hair being longer and a deeper color we
could have passed ourselves off for sisters."

Scully's innocent reference to her own sister caught her more off guard
than it did Mulder. Realizing that both Jenny and Melissa had been
killed in cold blood did nothing for her earlier feelings of comfort.

Continuing on, "she even drove the same car as me....."

Mulder who was being as supportive and comforting as possible
instantly jumped into alert mode.  His mind was always working.  It was
a curse and sometimes a blessing.  This time he couldn't figure out
which.

"Scully, you mean she drove a silver Taurus as well?"   Scully, caught
up in her own grief, failed to notice Mulder's investigative mode switch
back on.

"Yeah, she even liked to park it next to mine on occasion, saying she felt
better if her car didn't feel so lonely..........silly huh?"  Scully's words
were now interspersed with tears dripping off her cheeks.

Mulder leaned into her and shut down his mind for the night.  Scully
was hurting and needed him to be there for her just like all those times
he had needed her.


*************

Wenesday, January 12


The next day wasn't any better.  The Bureau flew its flag at half staff
in honor of the fallen agent.  The mood in the VCS was somber but
deliberate.  Everyone knew Mulder and Scully were working the case
and they had received words of encouragement all day in finding the
bastard who did this.

After finishing his profile, with the help of ASAC Hastings, Mulder
concluded that the killer must have known Agent McCraw.  Whether
McCraw knew him  could not be determined at this time.  The body was
delivered to the mortuary in as good a condition as Scully could
provide, but thanks to the killer, the chances of having an open casket
had been unfeasible from the beginning.

The toxicology did prove Mulder's theory right about one thing.  She
had been drinking and there were traces of Rohypnol, the 'date-rape'
drug in her system.

The questions still remaining were rather obvious.  Who, why, and
how?  One thing that still puzzled Mulder was the prints that matched
the ones off her body found in the car. These questions would have to
wait until more leads developed.


*************

Woodbridge, Virginia
 January 15
10:49 AM


The funeral for Special Agent Jenny McCraw was on Friday morning,
three days after her death.  Going to a funeral was always an uneasy
task no matter how close or far away the departed were from you.
Mulder stuffed his trenchcoat pocket with Kleenex from the bathroom,
just in case Scully needed some.  Unfortunately, he would probably use
a few himself.   Funerals always seemed to bring his own closely
checked emotions to the surface as well.

It was a beautiful day.  Not a cloud in the sky.  Woodbridge, her
hometown, was a bustling little tourist trap just off of I-95, about forty-
five minutes south of Washington.  A memorial service had been held
the night before.  Unable to bring herself to attend, Scully insisted that
they be present at the graveside service.

Her bronze casket shined brightly under the intense winter sun.  About
thirty to forty of her closest friends and co-workers drew around the
grave.   The minister read from Psalm 23 as her parents sobbed openly
into the grave of their only child.  Her fiance read aloud from a prepared
statement and offered the prayer at the end of the service.  It was only
then that Mulder and Scully saw him almost collapse from the
inconsolable depths of emotions, bringing everyone in attendance, including AD
Skinner, near tears.

After a few moments people started to make their way to their cars.
Having met Thomas Moore once in the Bureau lobby while she was
working with Jenny one day, Scully felt bereft at not offering a
comforting word or two.

As she approached, Thomas saw her proximity and tried to pull himself together.
Seeing his anguish and feeling her own,  Scully pulled him into fierce embrace
that expended a few more tears.  After a few words of comfort whispered into his
ear, she let him depart to find his way back to Jenny's parents who were waiting
for him by their car.

Mulder slowly made his way to Scully's side as she stood in front of the
headstone reading the inscription:

                                Jenny Monroe McCraw
                     Beloved Daughter, Friend and Fiance
                                     When is Forever

At the bottom of the headstone, Scully recognized the final three words
as the same final words at the end of Thomas Moore's prayer.  Turning
to Mulder, she looked slightly confused. "Mulder, I've never seen or
heard that.......what does it mean?"

As he looked down into Scully's face, a lone tear streaked down his
cheek telling her that he did indeed know what it stood for.  Pushing a lock of
hair out of her eyes, he began to tell her the heart-wrenching truth.

"Scully.  When I was in school in England ........I saw it on a few
headstones.........it-it's not a question like most people think..........it's
an
old Scottish saying for 'I love you.'"

"It was meant to declare that 'when'......."

He closed his eyes to continue, "the first time WHEN.. someone told you that
they loved you, it meant that they would love you forever...."

The tears were now streaking down their faces at the significance of
those words, Mulder pulled Scully into his arms as they both found
comfort in the other.

In a whispered voice, "When is forever,  Scully."



End of "Never For You..."  Chapter 15/23  -When is Forever-