From: Lindsay Smith Date: Wed, 24 Dec 2003 15:36:57 -0800 (PST) Subject: The One You Can Depend On by Lindsay Smith Source: direct Title: The One You Can Depend On Classification: TRA - Adventure, Romance, Angst Keywords: Mulder/Scully Romance Rating: R for violence, language, and slight sexual content Spoilers: None Archive: Gossamer and any other MSR archives, as long as my name stays with it. Disclaimer: Mulder, Scully, Skinner, and the Lone Gunmen all belong to Chris Carter and the people at Fox and 10-13 productions. All other characters came completely out of my imagination. Summary: There's a killer on the loose and Mulder ends up missing. Can Scully find him in time? Authors Note: I actually wrote this story about 5 years ago, but I never got around to archiving it, so I finally decided to send it in to Gossamer. It is also available, along with my other fics, on my website www.geocities.com/Fishy_79 Feedback: Feel free to email me at Fishy_79@yahoo.com ---------------------------------------- Scully yawned as she flipped mindlessly through a magazine. She couldn't help but chuckle to herself as she replayed the conversation in her mind. She and Mulder had just finished investigating a case and had resolved to take a day off...or so she thought. Scully had stayed up late the night the night before, aware of the fact that she would be able to sleep in the next morning. A sharp ring stirred her from her sleep as she rolled over to look at the clock...7:00 AM. "Scully" she answered. "Good morning beautiful." "This had better be important" she stated annoyingly. "I was having a wonderful dream." "Oh?" Mulder replied. "Do tell." Scully could picture the sly grin on his face and scowled at the thought. "What do you want?" She demanded, rather harshly. Mulder pretended not to notice her tone of voice. "Well, I was looking over this case file and..." "Mulder!" Scully cut him off. "I thought we both agreed to take a day off, and now you're waking me up at 7:00 in the morning to talk about a case?!" "I couldn't sleep" was his only defense. "Well I was having no problem with that, so if you don't mind, please take your insomnia elsewhere and leave me alone." She abruptly hung up the phone before her partner was able to get a word in edgewise. She pulled the covers up over her head, expecting the phone to ring any minute. To her surprise, it didn't. She lay there for a few minutes and finally came to the conclusion that she was not going to get back to sleep. She slowly crawled out of bed and made her way to the shower. -------------------- It was now 8:30 AM. Scully set the magazine down and thought more about the abrupt conversation that had taken place just over an hour ago. She agreed to herself that she had been somewhat harsh on Mulder and reached for the phone. Then she stopped. "Why should I apologize to him?" She thought. "He should be apologizing to me for calling at 7:00 AM." Scully sat reflecting on this thought for a brief moment. Then she came to a revelation...she had absolutely nothing to do for the rest of the day. At least maybe if she called Mulder she could possibly spend the day with him, even if it was work. 'So much for a day off' she thought. She picked up the phone and dialed Mulder's cell number. No answer. 'Strange' Scully thought, 'It's not like him to not answer his phone'. She tried his apartment next. "You've reached Fox Mulder...." The machine began to ramble. Scully waited for the beep. "Mulder...I just wanted to call and apologize for being so harsh this morning. Please give me a call when you get this message." She slowly hung up the phone. --------------------- 10:00 AM Scully mulled around her apartment, having done everything she could to keep her mind off her boredom. Finally she walked over to the phone. She was just leaning down to pick it up when the sudden ringing startled her. "Hello?" "Agent Scully, I'm sorry to bother you at home." Skinner's voice was flat. "I wonder if you have spoken to Agent Mulder today?" "About 3 hours ago." A puzzled look crossed her face. "Is something wrong Sir?" There was a long pause before Skinner broke the silence. "When you talked to him, did he say where he was going?" "No Sir, I wasn't aware that he was going anywhere. We only talked for a minute...may I ask what is going on?" "Would you mind coming to my office? I can tell you everything then." "Yes Sir, I'll be right there." She said as she slowly hung up the phone. A worried expression crossed her face. Only 3 hours ago he was on the phone inquiring about her dream and now he was missing? She tried his cell phone again...no answer. She quickly changed into some business attire and headed for the door. "Damn it Mulder. What have you done this time?" she muttered as the door swung shut behind her. ----------------------- Fox Mulder squinted as he tried to see into the darkness directly ahead of him. He was sure this was the right place, he could feel it. He still felt bad about not telling Scully where he was going, after all, she was his partner, but she *had* specifically demanded him to leave her alone. He completely understood her reaction to his call...7:00 AM on her day off; although, it was his day off too. He had simply wanted to tell her that he was going to be gone for a day or so. He knew she would figure it out eventually when he didn't show up at the bureau the next day, but he didn't want to leave her completely hanging. After she had hung up on him, he was about to call her right back, but then thought better of it. 'She's just going to try to stop me anyway' he had thought. He cracked a little smile as he peered deeper into the darkness. 'Scully is definitely NOT a morning person' he thought to himself. ------------------------ Skinner was sitting at his desk going through some paperwork when there was a small tap at his door. He looked up as his secretary poked her head in. "Agent Scully here to see you Sir." Skinner stood up. "Send her in." Scully entered the room, smoothing out her jacket. "Close the door and have a seat Agent Scully." He motioned to the chair opposite his own. She did what she was told. She was anxious to know what was going on with Mulder, but she was waiting for him to speak first. Skinner took his seat on the other side of the desk. He folded his hands neatly together and looked at Scully. "Thank you for coming" he began "I'm sorry to have to call you in on your day off." "That's alright Sir" She replied bluntly. "I'm sure you're anxious to know what's going on" He paused "Would you mind telling me what Agent Mulder told you when you spoke to him this morning?" "Well, actually, nothing Sir. He called around 7:00 AM, I answered the phone, and he told me that he had been looking over a case file. I then reminded him that it was my day off, told him that I didn't want to discuss work, and hung up. I haven't heard from him since." Skinner nodded his head, placing his chin on top of his arched fingers. "Sir" Scully leaned forward "May I ask what this is about?" Skinner opened the top drawer of his desk and presented a piece of paper, which he handed to Scully. "This was delivered to me around 9:30 this morning." Scully took the paper and began to read its contents: To: Assistant Director Walter Skinner From: Special Agent Fox Mulder I have recently come across some new information in the Morris case which Agent Scully and I have just finished investigating. I have decided to do a little field work and will return to the bureau in a couple days. It was all typed out nicely with a scribble at the bottom which Scully immediately recognized to be Mulder's signature. She looked up in awe and met Skinner's gaze. "You knew nothing of this?" he asked "No Sir." He could tell by the look on her face that she was telling him the truth. "Sir" Scully began "Agent Mulder has a tendency to..." "I know what you're going to say Agent Scully." Skinner cut her off. He paused for a minute. She remained silent. "While I appreciate Agent Mulder informing me of his 'leave of absence', I don't appreciate him not speaking to me in person." Scully nodded in agreement. "What I also don't appreciate" he continued "is that he neglected to tell his superior, as well as his partner, his whereabouts." Scully couldn't think of what to say. Skinner sat up straight and refolded his hands on top of his desk. "You two had been investigating this case for the past week. At any time did Agent Mulder mention to you, or even hint, about this information? Some investigating he felt was left undone?" Scully thought about his question for a moment and then spoke up. "The only investigating he talked about was what we looked into at the time." She thought some more. "I don't understand it Sir. We caught Morris and verified our report. The case has been closed. What could he possibly be looking for?" "You're his partner, why wouldn't he tell you?" "I can only assume Sir" Scully began "That Agent Mulder knew what he was getting himself into, and he also knew that if he told either of us what that was, that we would try to prevent him." "Agent Mulder is a smart man" Skinner commented. Scully looked Skinner straight in the eye. "Sir, if you don't mind my asking...Agent Mulder has done this sort of thing before. Why the sudden concern this time?" Skinner sat up straighter and let out a sigh. Scully knew she was in for something big. "I received a call from the prison this morning. Charles Morris has escaped." "What?!" Scully sat up straight. "He's only been locked up for two days!" She lowered her voice. "How did it happen?" "They're not sure." "I'm assuming Mulder doesn't know?" "They called me right after I got his message. I was hoping you could tell me where he was so I could contact him." Scully sat perplexed and not quite sure what to say next. "That's not all" Skinner spoke up. "They looked over Morris' cell and found..." He was cut off by the door opening. Skinner's secretary walked in. "I'm sorry to bother you Sir, but that fax you've been waiting for has just arrived." Skinner nodded and she brought the paper to him. After she had left, Skinner handed the paper to Scully. "Well, see for yourself." Scully looked down at the fax. It was a scanned image of a wall. There was a message written on it: 10 is Mulder Scully looked up at Skinner, half in disbelief and half in question. "10 is Mulder" she mumbled to herself. "Another body was found this morning" Skinner quickly added "That would make the 9th victim." Both Scully and Skinner looked each other in the eye. "10 is Mulder" She said again. There was a silence. Scully stood up. "We've got to find him first." she stated as she made her way out of the office. ------------------------- Mulder swirled the flashlight around and as he explored deeper into the cave. Last night he had received a message from an anonymous source leading him to this place. It had told him that Morris had someone working with him and they were hiding out here. Of course, he knew it may be a trap, but he had to find out. "Shit". Mulder tripped over something. He dropped his flashlight and was engulfed in darkness. He started to feel around until he finally found what he was looking for and flicked the light back on. He hesitated going forward, wanting to go back and call Scully. Then he realized that the nearest phone was probably 20 miles away, and he continued forward, unaware of what was following behind him. --------------------------- There was a slight tap on door. "It's Scully -- open up" called the voice on the other side of the door. Frohike's eyes lit up as Byers made his way to the door. He looked through the peep hole and opened it. "Agent Scully...come on in" He said politely as he stepped back, allowing her to step inside. Scully glanced over to Frohike as she saw him stand and take off his hat in order to acknowledge her presence. She cracked him a small smile. She was aware that he had a crush on her, and was actually quite flattered by it. "Where's Mulder?" Scully looked over to see Langly sitting in the corner. All 3 men stared at her intently, as it was a rarity that she would come to visit them without Mulder at her side. "Actually..." she started "I was hoping you could tell me." Scully finished telling them the whole story up to the point where she left Skinners office. "I went to Mulder's apartment to look around" she stated "I didn't find anything out of the ordinary except for the fact that his cell phone was sitting on the table, which means..." "You have no direct way of contacting him." Langly broke in. Scully nodded slowly as she saw the look of awe come over all their faces. "So..." she paused "I came here next hoping that maybe he had talked to you." "Sorry." Frohike said, with complete sincerity. "We wish we could help." Byers added. Scully took out a piece of paper and wrote something on it. She then handed it over to Langly. "Here's my cell phone number. Call me if you hear anything?" "Sure thing." He replied Scully stood up and Frohike quickly jumped out of his seat to escort her out the door. She had barely made it out to her car when her cell phone rang. "Scully" She answered. "They've found Agent Mulder's car" Skinner said quickly "Where?" "In Clear Ridge, about 50 miles from here. They've sent some people up to look for him." "I'm going up there" Scully replied. "I figured you would. Go to the sheriff's office in town, they'll take you to the spot." he paused "and Scully..." "Yes Sir?" "Good Luck." "Thank you Sir." Scully hopped in her car and set out on her way. During her drive up there, Scully had plenty of time to think. It wasn't often that she drove large distances alone. She was usually with Mulder, and she was normally not the one driving. Most of her travel time was spent either in the passengers' side or, in many cases, sitting next to him on a plane. During these times he usually tried to keep the conversation going, filling her head with his theories on aliens, government conspiracies, and the like. During these times, when he rambled on, she would half listen, responding with simple nods and short words. Sometimes her mind would wander a little too far and something he would say would bring her back to the present. Not this time...she was alone. Worried about her partner, her friend, her Fox. "My Fox!" she said to herself as she snapped back to reality. Had she actually thought that? "You have to concentrate Dana" she said aloud, the sound of her voice surprising her for a moment. Yes, concentrate on the task at hand...you have to find Mulder...make sure he is alright...look deep into his gorgeous hazel eyes... "You're doing it again!" she scolded herself "What is wrong with you today Scully?" She pulled up in front of the sheriff's office before she had time to scold herself some more. Scully walked quickly into the office. She saw a man at the desk, a newspaper held in front of his face. Apparently, he hadn't heard her come in. "Umm" she cleared her throat The man lowered the newspaper, jumping to his feet. Scully's voice caught in her throat for a second when she saw him, Mulder being momentarily pushed out of her mind. The man was very tall with gorgeous dark hair, beautiful blue eyes, a lovely smile... She snapped herself out of it. "I'm Special Agent Dana Scully" she said, holding her hand out. He took her hand and shook it gently. "Sheriff John Marcus" he smiled. "I've been expecting you." He stepped back, letting go of her hand, and looked at her. She had such beautiful eyes, an exquisite figure, and her hair shown in the sunlight coming through the window. He looked down at her hand - no ring. "I've sent some of my deputies to search the area where your partners car was found. I've been waiting here to take you to the spot." "Thank you Sheriff." "Please, call me John." he smiled. He pointed toward the door, allowing her to step ahead of him. He placed his hand on the small of her back as she stepped out the door. She shuddered a little at the touch. They both got into his car and were on their way. Scully couldn't help but think about the man sitting next to her the whole way to the site. He was very handsome, and she couldn't get over his smile. They soon came to their destination and she saw Mulder's car. His thoughts immediately switched over to her partner. As soon as they stepped out of the car, one of the sheriff's men came up to him. "The men have just come back to check in. There's been no sign of him." It had rained that morning, so all his tracks had been washed away. Scully asked the deputy to gather the men around for a debriefing. When they were all gathered, Sheriff Marcus spoke up. "This is Special Agent Scully with the FBI and she will be in charge of the search. I want you all to give her your full attention while she briefs you on the situation." "Thank you Sheriff" she smiled and then turned to the group. "I want to thank you all for coming out here..." she continued to tell them the whole situation of the escaped killer and why they had to find Mulder. Under normal circumstances, she would just let him do his thing and come back when he was ready, but with Morris on the loose, they just couldn't risk it. She gave descriptions of both Mulder and Morris, search parties were formed, and they all set out. Not surprisingly, Scully was paired with John Marcus. ------------------------- Mulder was now so deep in the cavern that he wasn't able to hear the voices outside calling his name. He knew it was dangerous to come here alone, but he liked danger. Besides, he had a gun for protection. His initial plan was to find the so-called accomplice, call for backup, and apprehend him. Now, without his phone, he was going to have to go it alone. He also knew it was wrong to withhold information from his partner and his superior, considering that he had verified a full report, but he did it for Scully's sake. She had been very worn out from this case and he didn't want to drag it out. He decided to go alone because he didn't want Scully to find out, knowing that she would insist upon going with him. But what if this was all a joke and there really wasn't an accomplice anyway? He thought about all these things as he continued his exploration. -------------------------- Scully and Sheriff Marcus walked along the woods, checking in every once in a while with the other search parties. There was still no word on Mulder. They had been walking in silence for almost 15 minutes and John could see the worried expression on Scully's face. He broke the silence. "So, how long have you and Agent Mulder been working together?" he asked with a smile. "What?" Scully was a little startled by the sudden break in silence. "Oh...5 years." "Wow". John raised his eyes. "You two must be really close." Scully paused, trying to figure out how to respond. John stepped in suddenly. "I'm sorry...I didn't mean to imply..." Scully cut him off. "That's alright" she laughed "Mulder is my very best friend, but he is totally devoted to his work." "Oh." John replied, a hint of happiness in his voice. Scully smiled, she knew he was flirting. "So how about you Sheriff Marcus?" he shot her a look. She smiled. "I mean John...how long have you been sheriff here?" "4 years" he replied. "I was a deputy before that and became Sheriff when our old one retired." "What made you stay in Clear Ridge?" "This is my hometown...I never wanted to leave." Scully smiled and she could have sworn she saw him blush. She was about to ask him another question when they heard a loud clasp of thunder and saw the dark clouds forming overhead. "Looks like we'd better call off the search for tonight" She told him as she radioed the other search parties. "I'll have some of my deputies alternate shifts waiting by his car. I'm sure he'll come back to it eventually." Scully looked up at him. "Let's just hope it's not too late." He smiled, trying to reassure her. "I'm sure everything will be fine." She returned the smile, but said nothing. John spoke up. "I took the liberty of contacting all the motels and lodgings in the area. Agent Mulder never checked in anywhere. I'm assuming he was planning on staying up in the hills until he finds whatever he's looking for." Scully nodded in agreement, looking a little fatigued. "Why don't I take you out to dinner?" he suggested "We could both use a bite to eat." "That sounds great." She smiled. The rain just started to fall as they got to the car to head back. Two deputies stayed behind for the first watch. ----------------------- Scully had just finished drying her hair and was straightening her blouse when there was a knock on the door. After they had left the hills, John drove her back to the station to get her car and was to pick her up at the motel at 7:00 for dinner. She looked at her watch...right on time. Scully flung the door open to find John standing there. "Ready to go?" he asked. "Yes" was her simple reply. She grabbed her purse and shut the door behind her. John opened the car door for her. Once they were both in the car, he spoke up. "I've contacted my deputies who are on the watch. It's starting to get dark up in the hills and there's no sign of him back at the vehicle. The rain has let up, so another pair of officers have volunteered to go back out looking. Maybe he has stopped to set up some sort of camp." Scully looked over at him. He could see the appreciation in her eyes. "Thank you. You've really been kind in helping us out like this." "It's no problem, I assure you. The sooner we find him the better, right?" "Right." She said. "Mulder captured Morris the first time; we may need him to do it again, before Morris captures him." John saw the concern flooding into her eyes again and quickly changed the subject. They made small talk until they pulled up to the restaurant. As they stepped out of the car, Scully noticed John looking at her. "Have I told you how pretty you look?" This time, it was Scully's turn to blush. ---------------------- Mulder sat back and closed his eyes. He had been walking a majority of the day and had found no clues to anything. He leaned his head back against a rock. "Ow!" He reached his hand back to rub the back of his head. He felt something warm and pulled his hand forward to look at the blood on the tips of his fingers. He then glanced over to see the sharp shard sticking out of the wall. "Shit!" He grabbed a handkerchief, moistened it with his water bottle, and pressed it against the back of his head. He was beginning to think that this whole trip was a bad idea. "Stay where you are!" On second thought, it was a *really* bad idea. "Put your hands up" came a voice from the dark. Mulder recognized that voice. He put his hands in the air, letting the bloody handkerchief fall to the ground. He then looked towards the place where the voice was coming from. "I've been expecting you Mulder." The man in the shadows stepped forward, and Mulder was confronted face to face with Charles Morris. ------------------------ "Hello Cindy." John greeted the waitress as she set down glasses of water at their table. "Good evening Sheriff" she smiled brightly. "Who's your friend?" she asked, turning toward Scully. "This is Agent Dana Scully. She's working with our department on a case." "Agent?" Cindy asked with both surprise and question. "FBI" Scully replied. "Pleased to meet you Cindy." "You too" she paused "What would bring the FBI out here to Clear Ridge?" John answered for her. "We're not really at liberty to discuss it." Cindy nodded her head in understanding. "So what can I get for you?" she asked, forgetting that they hadn't really had the chance to look at their menus. They didn't seem to mind. John ordered the usual and Scully ordered a salad. Cindy scurried away to place their orders. The two began to engage in idle chit-chat when they were interrupted by Cindy at the counter. "Sheriff Marcus" she spoke up "You have a phone call, it's deputy Spencer." John immediately stood up and turned to Scully. "I told him I would be here if they came across something." He headed to the counter and picked up the phone. Scully couldn't hear the conversation, but her heart was lodged in her throat. She couldn't help but imagine the worst. She closed her eyes and started a silent prayer. Her thoughts were interrupted by John. "They came across a cavern back in the woods. There are footprints just inside the entrance leading in and none leading out." Scully breathed a sigh of half relief. "He probably went in to escape the storm." John was glad to see her relieved expression and regretted what he was about to tell her. "That's not all" he said. Scully heard the sorrow in his voice. "What?" her voice cracked. "There are *two* sets of footprints." He paused "He's not in there alone." Scully's eyes flooded with panic, but somehow she managed to keep her composure. John knew what she was thinking. "Let's go" he said quickly as he escorted her out the door. ------------------------ "Morris" Mulder stated with both contempt and question in his tone. "How did you escape?" "Doesn't matter." Morris said bluntly. Mulder cautiously lowered him hands down to his knees while Morris focused a gun on him. "How did you know I was here?" Mulder asked. Then it dawned on him. "The anonymous message..." "Was sent by me" Morris cut him off. "There is no accomplice; you just fell into my snare." Mulder opened his mouth to speak when Morris spoke up again. "I knew you'd come alone" he smirked "My plan is coming together nicely." Mulder hesitated and then spoke up. "They're going to come looking for me" was all he could think to say. "I'm planning on it" Morris' grin grew wider. "I've decided it's time to die, and I'm taking you with me." "So do it" Mulder's voice raised "Shoot me." "No" Morris stated "Not yet." He leaned forward and grabbed Mulder's gun from his holster. "Our audience hasn't arrived yet." Mulder looked up at him. "Audience?" Morris began to explain. "I left a little message as to the fact that I was coming for you. Your precious Agent Scully will come looking for you, I'm sure. And once she finds you, she'll have the pleasure of seeing you one last time before you precede me to the after life." "You sick bastard." Mulder growled. Morris retained his expression. "She helped you catch me. I can't let her go unpunished." "Just kill me now you son of a bitch!!" he screamed, losing his composure. "Now?" Morris stated slowly "What would be the fun in that?" He pulled his foot back and swung it forward, burying it into Mulder's ribs. "Ahh..." Mulder doubled over in immense pain. "Save your energy Mr. Mulder." Morris stood over him as he writhed on the ground. "The fun has just begun." --------------------------- Scully and John continued deeper into the cavern. When they got there, there were 4 men awaiting instructions. 2 were assigned to stay at the entrance. The other 2 were instructed to walk around the perimeter of the cave to look for other possible exits. Meanwhile, Scully and John had chosen to go inside. ---------------------------- Mulder's eyes slowly came back into focus as he tried to remember what had happened. He went to move his hand to rub the throbbing pain on his temple when he realized that his hands were bound behind his back. He looked up to see Morris sitting about 10 feet away from him and it all came back to him. Mulder attempted to shift his body, suddenly becoming aware of the sharp pain around his ribs. "Ohh" he groaned loudly. "Have a nice nap?" Morris asked without looking up. Mulder didn't answer. "If I'm not mistaken," Morris stood up and walked toward where Mulder was lying on the ground. "Your rescue team should be arriving fairly soon." "And if not?" Mulder asked, finally propping himself up against the wall. Morris lowered himself until his face was just inches away from Mulder's. "Then we'll have more quality time to spend together." Mulder spit in Morris' face. Morris raised his hand and made hard contact with Mulder's cheek. "Behave yourself" he snickered as he rose to his feet. Morris walked back over to the rock he had been sitting on and picked up the stick he had been carving. Meanwhile, Mulder was attempting to rise to his feet, which were not tied, but had no luck as the pain in his ribs was too excruciating for him. He finally gave in to defeat as he rested his back against the wall, now working on freeing his hands. After what seemed like an eternity, Morris stood up and looked over towards Mulder, a wide grin on his face. "Our audience has arrived" he said quietly as he turned off his lantern, engulfing both of them in darkness. -------------------------- Scully and John continued deeper in the cavern. She could have sworn she saw the faint glow of light ahead, but now the only thing around them was a shroud of darkness, save for the small beams of the flashlights they both carried. They were just rounding a corner when a cold voice stopped them in their tracks. "Nice of you to join us." The cavern was suddenly illuminated and both Scully and John turned slowly to see Morris with a wide grin on his face. Scully's heart leapt into her throat as she saw Mulder kneeling on the ground next to him, a gun pressed against his temple. "Welcome Agent Scully. Who's your friend?" "Mulder, are you alright?" she asked, ignoring his question. Morris gave Mulder a swift kick, causing him to fall to the ground with a loud groan. He kept the gun aimed at Mulder's head. "*I* ask the questions around here." Morris stated, the smile disappearing from his face. "Now...introduce me to your friend." "Sheriff Marcus." Scully said flatly. "Sheriff, eh?" The sly grin returned to his face "How impressive." "What do you want Morris?" Morris gave Mulder another kick, causing him to cough up a few drops of blood. "I told you...*I* ask the questions, understand?" Scully decided to keep her mouth shut, not wanting to cause Mulder any more undue pain. John merely stood beside her, trying to come up with some sort of plan. He was having no luck so far. Morris focused his attention on the two of them, while still maintaining the gun firmly locked on its target. "Now," he spoke up."I want both of you to set your weapons on the ground and kick them over to me." They both lowered their guns. John kicked his over first and Morris kicked it further over to the side, out of anyone's immediate reach. Scully hesitated, looking at Mulder. Morris kicked him again. He groaned in agony and Scully fought back the urge to run to him. "Your gun...NOW Scully." She finally kicked it over to him. The rasping and wheezing of Mulder on the ground was the only sound heard as everyone remained silent for a moment. Scully was fighting back tears as she wanted so desperately to run to him and hold him in her arms. In the current situation, that would do him more harm than good. Morris leaned down and grabbed Mulder's chin. He jerked his head up, causing him to wince. He ran the barrel of the gun along Mulder's cheek. "Such a handsome man" he smiled wickedly and looked up at Scully. "Such a shame I have to blow his fucking head off." Scully shot Morris a glare that would sear through any ordinary man's soul, but Morris was no ordinary man. He turned Mulder's head so that Scully could see directly at him. The light was illuminating Mulder's face and Scully could see the look in his eyes. It wasn't a look of fear, but more a look of sadness and regret. Then Morris spoke again. "Tell me Agent Scully, do you have any final words to bestow on your dear partner?" Scully continued her harsh glare. She wasn't going to play his game. "Very well then." Morris raised the gun back to Mulder's temple and cocked it. "NO!" Scully cried, the word barely escaping her mouth. She bolted forward but John grabbed her arm and held her back. Losing all composure, Scully let free the tears that she had been holding back. She dropped to her knees, no longer caring that she was giving Morris exactly what he wanted. She buried her wet face in her hands as she felt John place his hand on her shoulder. All was silent except for the sound of Scully's tears. Then a voice broke the silence. "Scully?" Scully looked up, wiping her eyes. She saw Morris back up slightly, keeping his gun on target, allowing Mulder to speak. "Dana" Mulder looked her in the eye "This isn't your fault." He stopped to cough and take a ragged breath. "You're strong" he continued "You're stronger than this." "I should've..." "No" he cut her off with a soft yet firm voice. "I won't...I won't let you blame yourself." He stopped to cough again. "He wants you to suffer...don't give in...don't suffer for me." There was an eerie hush in the air. Morris stepped forward and closed his hand more tightly on the gun, finger firm on the trigger. The deafening sound of gunshots exploded the silence. --------------------------- "He's dead" John stated, immediately moving over to Scully. Deputy Spencer was already at her side. He had found a small entrance in the side of the cavern and managed to get there just in time. The gunshot through Morris' back had killed him instantly, but he had managed to squeeze the trigger of his own gun as he collapsed. The puddle of blood surrounding Scully's knees was rapidly growing larger. She tried to calm herself, knowing that it would not to any good for her to panic. She instructed Spencer to hold his hands tightly over the wound to help slow the bleeding while she put her medical skills to work. Mulder's face was ghostly pale and Scully had to fight to hold back her tears. She brought her hand up to his neck, checking for a pulse. Nothing. She immediately began CPR. The deputy who had been paired with Spencer ran outside to call an ambulance, as there was too much interference in the walls of the cave to call from inside. Scully was so engrossed in performing her task that she didn't notice John take over for Spencer. The young deputy was having trouble staying calm, so John sent him to go wait for the ambulance and bring the paramedics to them. John kept firm pressure on Mulder's side while he watched Scully work on him with fierce determination. He was about to tell her to give up when she suddenly looked up, a little surprised to see John looking at her. "I've got a pulse." No sooner had she finished her sentence when she heard a slight wheeze below her. She immediately brought her attention back to Mulder. She checked him over. His pulse was weak, as was his breathing, but he was alive nonetheless. She dug through the backpack Mulder had been carrying and managed to gather enough supplies to bandage the wound and momentarily stop the bleeding. John used some of the contents of the water bottle to clean a majority of the blood from his hands and then moved to Scully's side. She had shed her coat and laid it over Mulder's shivering body. She sat next to him, holding his hand and stroking his hair. Tears welled at the bottom of her eyes and slowly trickled down her cheeks. John put a reassuring arm around her and she laid her head on his shoulder, still keeping a gentle grip on Mulder's hand. They remained that way for what seemed like an eternity. John was trying to keep Scully calm as she became more and more anxious at the long wait for the paramedics. She froze when she felt a weak squeeze on her hand. Mulder's eyes fluttered slightly and opened just enough to make out Scully's form. "Scu..." his voice was barely a whisper and he couldn't even say her name fully before giving in to the pain. "Shhh..." she whispered, reaching over to touch his cheek. "I'm here." She returned the gentle squeeze of his hand. Mulder took a painful swallow. "Thanks." Scully cracked a small smile. Mulder's eyes began to flutter again as he slipped back into unconsciousness. -------------------------- "I'm sorry ma'am, you can't go in there." The nurse stopped Scully as she trailed the group of doctors hovering over the gurney. She just stood there, not sure what to do. She jumped slightly when she felt a hand on her shoulder and looked up to see John. "I'll take you back to the motel to get cleaned up." "No." Scully shook her head. "I'll bring you back later, there's nothing you can do for him right now." She paused for a moment and then nodded her head, accepting the fact that he was right, and he led her out the door. ----------------------------- Scully collapsed on the bed, many emotions raging through her. She was upset, exhausted, angry... She just laid there, staring at the ceiling. John would be back in 4 hours to take her to the hospital. After a couple minutes Scully stood up and made her way to the bathroom. The hot shower felt good. She kept an 'emergency suitcase' in her trunk in the circumstance that she might have to up and leave, like today. She pulled her most comfortable outfit from it and after drying her hair she sat in the chair. She was worried about Mulder and was considering driving herself to the hospital, but John was supposed to be back for her... A knock on the door startled Scully. She rubbed her eyes and looked at the clock. "I must have fallen asleep." She said out loud. She jumped up quickly and grabbed her shoes and purse. She flung the door open to find John standing there. "This is familiar" he smiled, trying to cheer her up. Scully managed a half smile, but she was in no mood for flirting right now. John picked up on that fact and motioned her by him, shutting the door behind them. ---------------------------- "I'm here to see Fox Mulder." She told the receptionist. The woman tapped a few buttons on her computer and looked up at Scully. "Are you family?" she asked. "No..." Scully said hesitantly, almost considering that 'yes' may have been a more appropriate answer. "I'm sorry." The receptionist began "We can only let..." "Agent Scully?" She was cut off. Scully turned to see a man in medical scrubs walking up to her. "Yes." She replied. "I'm Doctor Miller" he offered her his hand "I performed the surgery on your partner." He motioned her to follow him. Scully paused and looked back at John. "I'll catch up with you later." "Thank you." She smiled and began to walk alongside the doctor. "Your partner sustained a gunshot wound that punctured his lower right lung. We were able to successfully remove the bullet, but he has lost a lot of blood and his breathing is still a concern." Scully told him that she was a medical doctor. He nodded and began to explain everything in medical terms. "....so we're keeping him on the respirator to help him breathe, but it looks positive." He stopped in front of one of the recovery rooms and opened the door. "You can see him now." Scully smiled and stepped through the door. Dr. Miller shut the door, leaving her *alone* in the room. She looked over to the bed. Mulder looked almost lifeless except for the small rise and drop of his chest. She walked over to the bed and pulled up a chair. She sat down and took Mulder's hand in her own. After a few moments of silence, she began to speak out loud. "I've been thinking a lot" she said softly "About everything...The X-Files and everything we've been through." Her eyes started to well with tears. "I feel that it has made us both stronger, yet, I still depend on you." She gripped his hand tighter. "You've always been there for me...with the abduction, the cancer, Missy, Emily..." her tears began to fall freely. "I can't go on without you Mulder. You are the one thing that has been stable in my life, the one person I can truly depend on." She wiped the tears from her eyes and leaned forward to plant a kiss on Mulder's forehead. "I love you." Still gripping his hand, she laid her head down and fell asleep at his bedside. ------------------------ Scully awoke with a start and startled the nurse standing on the other side of the bed. "Good morning...or afternoon I should say." The nurse smiled at her. "What time is it?" "2:00 in the afternoon. Visiting hours have come and gone, but you looked so peaceful that we didn't want to wake you." Scully smiled at the nurse and looked down at Mulder. "How is he?" "His breathing is getting stronger. He should be off the respirator soon." Scully pushed back a lock of Mulder's hair and smiled. "He's a fighter." "Ah, sleeping beauty awakes." Scully turned and smiled when she saw John standing in the doorway. He walked into the room and came up beside her. "How are you?" "Good, although I am a little hungry." "A little?" he asked. "Okay, I'm starved." Her smile grew wider. "We can fix that. Come on." John said, motioning towards the door. "My treat." Scully looked at the nurse. "We'll contact you if there's any change." "Thank you" Scully rose and headed out the door, John following closely behind. --------------------------- Scully took a large bite from her sandwich as John brought over 2 cups of coffee. She hadn't wanted to go far in case Mulder woke up, so they settled for the cafeteria downstairs. John sat across from her and took a sip of coffee. He looked up and a large grin formed on his face. Scully gave him a quizzical look. All of a sudden, John leaned across the table and reached his hand to her face. He took his thumb and wiped a small glob of mayonnaise from the corner of her mouth. Scully's mind immediately flashed back to the time in Delta Glen, Wisconsin, when Mulder had done the same for her after a piece of BBQ ribs. John pulled back and met her wandering gaze. After a minute, Scully spoke up. "I need to tell you something." "Sure, what is it?" "Yesterday in the woods, I wasn't lying when I said that Mulder and I are just friends..." "But?" he asked, knowing there was more. "But I do have feelings for him, feelings that he is unaware of." "Oh." John sank back in his chair. "I tried to put them aside, but I didn't realize how strong they were until I almost lost him." John's pager went off. He looked down at it and then looked up at Scully. "I have to get back to the station." They both stood up. John walked around to Scully's side of the table. "Would you like to go back to your motel for anything? Pick up your car?" "No." Scully smiled. "I think I'll stay here a bit longer. I'll take a cab back." John nodded and suddenly, to Scully's surprise, pulled her into an embrace. She realized that it was a hug for comfort, not passion. "Tell him" he whispered as he pulled back "He needs to know." He turned and walked out of the cafeteria, leaving Scully alone with her thoughts. ------------------------- Scully put down the book and rubbed her eyes. She looked over at Mulder. He was off the respirator now and was resting peacefully. After her conversation with John, she had checked up on Mulder and then went back to her motel. She picked up a few things and made a couple phone calls -- one to Skinner to brief him on the situation, and the other to the Lone Gunmen to let them know that everything was alright. She was now back at the hospital. Mulder had stayed on the respirator throughout the night and they had taken him off this morning. It was now 1:00 in the afternoon, almost 24 hours since she had spoken to John and admitted to anyone, for the first time, her feelings for Mulder. Actually, she had admitted them to Mulder at his bedside, but the fact that he was unconscious at the time made it so that it didn't count. She heard a small groan and rushed immediately to Mulder's side. He began to stir a little and Scully gripped his hand. "Mulder?" she whispered softly. His eyes opened slowly as his eyes came into focus to make out Scully's form. "Am I dead?" "Mul..." "I must be dead...there's an angel at my side." Scully smiled and began to blush. "Flattery will get you nowhere." Mulder gave her his trademark lop-sided grin and squeezed her hand. "What happened?" "You got shot. The bullet punctured your lower right lung. You also sustained some pretty severe bruises around your ribcage, but you're going to be fine." Mulder's eyes suddenly grew wide. "Morris?" "He's dead." Mulder closed his eyes and let out a sigh. "What day is it?" "Thursday." "That's the most sleep I've gotten in a long time." There was an awkward silence, as if neither of them knew what to say. Scully just sat there holding his hand while Mulder closed his eyes. After a while, he opened his eyes again and looked at her. "Scully?" "Hmm?" "I'm sorry I called you at 7:00 AM." Scully began to chuckle. She reached her hand up and lightly ruffled his hair. "Paybacks are hell Mulder." He gave her that famous grin of his again and she could feel her heart begin to beat a little faster. John's words rang in her ears and Scully knew she had to tell him. Mulder closed his eyes again. Scully let go of his hand, which she had been holding the entire time, and sat back. "I have to go back to DC tomorrow to give Skinner a report. I'll be leaving tonight." Mulder looked at her again. "I'll come see you before I leave." She stood up. "Get some rest now." He smiled and nodded. Scully returned the smile and quickly walked out of the room. -------------------------- It was now 8:00 in the evening. Scully quietly walked in and stood by the bed. He looked so peaceful; she couldn't help but stare at him. She reached down and straightened the sheet covering his long body, then slowly reached her hand up and brushed back the small lock of hair covering his face. She turned and headed towards the door. "Scully?" She turned to see Mulder lazily looking at her. "I'm sorry" she whispered, walking back towards the bed. "I didn't mean to wake you." He shook his head. "No, it's alright." Scully pulled the chair over and sat down. "How do you feel?" "Better, I think." He tried to sit up but the pain in his lungs wouldn't allow it. Scully reached out instinctively and gently helped him lie back. "Try not to move, you're still very weak." He nodded in answer, a wheezing cough escaping his lips. Scully reached over to his bedside table and handed him the glass of water sitting on it. He graciously accepted it. "I talked to Doctor Miller. He says you should be strong enough to move tomorrow to the D.C. Hospital, but they'll want to keep you there a while so you can heal." "I think I'd heal better at home." "Mulder...I've seen the way you live." He shot her a 'what's that supposed to mean?' look and pouted his lower lip. It drove her crazy when he did that...that lip was so sexy. Scully reached her hand out and caressed his cheek. "Get some sleep handsome." She whispered softly. Then without thinking, she leaned down and connected his lips with her own. When it dawned on her what she had done, she pulled back quickly. Mulder's eyes were wide open. She felt the flush rise to her cheeks and without a moment's hesitation she was on her feet and out the door. ------------------------- Scully stared at the clock ticking away on the wall. It was 7:55 AM. 2 weeks had passed since 'the incident' at the hospital and the moment Scully had been dreading for the past 2 weeks was upon her. Mulder was returning to work. They had kept him in the D.C. hospital for a week and after another weeks rest at home, he had convinced Skinner that he was ready to return to work. Scully had avoided going to the hospital, she wasn't sure she could face him after what she had done. She knew she would have to confront him at some point, but her mind kept telling her that it was okay to put it off. He had left 4 messages on her machine since he had been home, all saying the same thing - "we need to talk". Each one was left unanswered. He had even stopped by her apartment a couple times. She had anticipated that-which was the main reason she had been staying with her mother the past week. When she returned home last night she was not surprised to hear the messages on her machine, or to find the note sitting on her coffee table: Scully, I've already talked to Skinner and will be returning to work tomorrow. I'll be in the office around 8:00 AM. See you then, Mulder Scully looked again at the clock. 7:59. he would be here soon. She had thought it best to be in the office before he arrived to make herself look busy, to make it appear as if she had not been trying to avoid him the past 2 weeks. She thought again about the messages that he left her. "We need to talk". Obviously he wanted to talk to her about what happened at the hospital in Clear Ridge. Was he angry at her? Was he going to try to let her down easy? Or, best of all, was he going to say he returned her affection? Her mind was whirling with possibilities when the turn of the door handle brought her back to the present. She immediately grabbed the folder in front of her and attempted to look interested in it. "Hey, you do still exist." Scully looked up to see Mulder's lopsided grin. She easily returned the smile, but made no attempt at words. "I've been trying to contact you. Have you been out of town?" Ah, an easy question to answer. "Yes...I...uh...went to spend some time with my mother." "Oh." he replied, eyeing her intently. Scully didn't know what to say next and was relieved when Mulder finally broke eye contact and made a move to his desk. Her eyes shot back down to the folder in her hands, although she had no idea what was even contained in it. She could feel Mulder eyeing her once more. "So, what are you reading?" "What?" Her eyes immediately shot back up to meet his and she could feel the dumbfounded look on her face. He motioned to the folder in her hands. "The file folder. What's it about?" "Oh...um...nothing." she replied, literally tossing it aside. he had to know. "So, how are you feeling?" "Fine" he paused "Is something wrong Scully?" "No...no, why do you ask?" "Oh, I don't know, you just seem distant." "I'm just surprised to see you back so soon, that's all." "Skinner wanted me to take more time, but I told him I was ready." "Ahh.." She grabbed the folder and walked over to the file cabinet. "Scully?" "Hmm?" she replied, her back facing him. "Are you happy to see me?" She froze momentarily, not turning to face him. "Of course I am. I'm glad to see that you're feeling bet..." "Because" he cut her off "I'm happy to see you." "Are you?" she said, her back still to him. "Uh huh." She heard him rise from his chair and could feel him coming closer. This time she froze completely. He stopped just behind her, reaching his right hand out and closing the drawer in front of her. He then leaned down close to her ear. His warm breath on her flesh sent shivers down her body. "Scully?" he breathed "Hmm?" She tried hard to swallow the lump in her throat. "Do you know how much I missed you?" She closed her eyes and shook her head. Her mind was racing. He leaned in closer, his lips lightly brushing her earlobe. "I thought about you everyday." Scully let out the breath she didn't realize she'd been holding. Mulder smiled. His little seduction was going quite nicely. He gently put his hands on her shoulders and turned her to face him. He then used his fingers to gently lift her chin and looked her deep in the eyes. "Scully?" "Hmm?" He paused for a moment and then suddenly, without warning, lowered his head down and captured her lips with his own. She was taken aback a first, but then allowed herself to give in, deepening the kiss. After a long period of time, they finally broke apart, each gasping for a breath of air. Mulder looked once again into her eyes and saw the tears forming within them. He suddenly became worried. "Scully, what's wrong? I'm sorry, I shouldn't have..." She cut him off by placing a finger to his lips and shaking her head. "No...I'm just happy you feel the same way I do." A wide grin formed across his face and he pulled her into a tight embrace, stroking her hair. "Oh Scully, did you ever doubt it?" He pulled back and looked at her once more. This time he had tears in his eyes. "I love you." At those words, Scully completely broke down. Mulder helped her down to the floor, cradling her in his arms as she let the tears fall. "I'm so sorry Mulder" she managed to say between sobs. "Sorry? For what?" "For waiting so long." She wiped away some of her tears. "For not coming to see you. For running away." "It's okay..." "I was so scared. I was afraid you..." He silenced her with a light kiss to her cheek. "It's alright, we're here together now." She wrapped her arms around him in a tight embrace and put her lips close to his ear. "I love you too." The widest smile Mulder was capable of making spread across his face. He gently kissed her forehead and pulled her closer to him. What on earth did he do to get so lucky? "Mulder?" she asked quietly, after a few moments had passed. "Yeah?" "Do you mind if we get off the floor?" He couldn't help but laugh. "Sure, anything you want." He jumped to his feet and helped her up. Scully began to giggle. That sound alone made his heart soar. They stood in the middle of the office wrapped in each other's arms, each enjoying how the other felt. Sure they had embraced in other occasions, but this was different, more intimate. Suddenly there was a knock on the door. They quickly let go of each other and stepped back a bit. "Come in" Mulder called. Skinner opened the door and stepped into the office. "Hello Sir" Mulder greeted. "Mulder, Scully." he nodded to each of them. He paused for a minute when he noticed Scully's eyes, still swollen from her recent tears. "Are you okay Agent Scully?" he asked, concerned. "Yes sir, I'm fine." She smiled at him. Skinner looked to Mulder for reassurance and was relieved to see Mulder give him a slight smile and nod. "Good." he replied, not pushing the subject any further. "The reason I came down here was I just got a call from Denver police. They have some mysterious deaths they need looking into and I thought you two would be perfect for the job...That is, if you think you're ready to go back into the field." "Yes sir" Mulder replied quickly. "I'm ready to get things back to normal." Skinner raised his eyebrows at the last word he said and Scully couldn't help but laugh. "We're ready sir." "I thought you'd say that, so I've already made the travel arrangements." He handed Scully a folder, which contained case information and 2 plane tickets. "You'll be leaving for Denver tomorrow morning." Both Mulder and Scully nodded and he turned to leave. As he reached the door, he once again turned to them. "Oh, and by the way...it's great to have you back." "Thank you sir." Mulder smiled as Skinner turned and left the office. After he was gone, Mulder reached out and took Scully's hand. "What happens if they find out Mulder?" A worried expression crossed her face. "They'll break us apart." "No...no, they're not going to find out." He looked her deep in the eyes. "And so what if they do? This will only make us stronger." He paused "Scully, you have to believe me. Nothing...*nothing* will tear us apart." Scully looked into his eyes and saw the passion burning within. "I believe you Mulder, with all my heart." He smiled and pulled her to him. Their lips met in a passionate kiss. The kiss soon became deeper until their tongues were dueling with one another. He found his hands beginning to explore her. One hand ran through her hair. The other slowly began to unbutton her blouse. Scully quickly put her hand to his chest and pushed him back. "No...not here." "But Scully..." he whined, giving her a pouty lip. "There will be plenty of time for that when you come over tonight...you *are* coming over, right?" He laughed. "Try to stop me!" He reached for her again but she pulled back. "But, if we don't want anyone to find out, we can't let this interfere with our work." She picked up the folder and held it up to him. "C'mon, we have a file to look over." "Aww, Scully" He sagged his shoulders and pouted his lip again. She playfully punched him. "Hey!" he laughed. "Don't pout, it doesn't suit you." She smiled and sat down, opening the folder. Mulder just stood there staring at her. Finally she turned and faced him. She arched one eyebrow in the air. "Are you going to go over this with me or not?" "Okay" he sighed, giving in to defeat. He sat in his chair across from her and took some of the papers from the file. He was honestly trying to pay attention to what he was reading, but he stole a glance at Scully whenever he got the chance. This was going to be a long day. --------------------------- Mulder dashed up the stairs to her apartment. He'd somehow managed to make it through the day and now had only one thing on his mind....Scully. He'd rushed home, changed his clothes, and quickly packed up some things for their trip....he wasn't planning on going back home tonight. He finally made it to her door and knocked quickly. "Come in" she called. He tried the door, finding it unlocked and stepped inside, closing and locking it behind him. It was dark inside and Scully was nowhere to be seen. "Scully?" He called, stepping into the room. "In here Mulder!" He followed her voice through the darkness, the only light being the moonlight coming through the window, which was just enough to keep him from running into anything. He knew where her voice was coming from....she was in the bedroom. He stopped just inside the doorway, looking around the room. "Scully?" All of a sudden he was pushed down onto the bed, lying on his back. He then felt a pair of warm lips close over his own in a hungry kiss. Both of them could feel the other's passion and desire as the kiss grew hotter. After a while, they broke apart. "Jesus Scully." Mulder gasped, a huge grin on his face. "What took you so long? How dare you keep me waiting." "I'm sorry, the traffic was..." She cut him off by placing a finger to his lips. "Never mind." She slowly began to caress his body, pausing at his waist to pull his T-shirt from his jeans. He followed suit, one by one undoing the buttons of her blouse. He pulled the fabric away from her body and dropped it carelessly on the floor. He then lifted his arms, allowing her to rid him of his shirt, and then wrapped his arms around her, feeling for the clasp on her bra, but paused. "Scully, are you sure..." She brushed his lips to silence him. "I've never been more sure about anything." That was all the answer he needed. They both quickly resumed where they left off and were soon completely naked. There were no obstacles between them now. The moonlight through the window shone on both their bodies, allowing them to briefly study one another. Mulder rolled so that he was hovering above her. He then reached down and caressed her breast. "God you are so beautiful." Scully smiled. She could feel his need rubbing against her thigh. A thousand sensations were running through her. Passion...Desire...Need ...Love. She looked into his eyes shinning in the moonlight and saw those same feelings staring back at her. Scully reached up to caress his cheek, running her thumb across his full lips. "Make love to me Mulder." Mulder leaned down and captured her lips once again. He shifted his body and paused for only a second before slowly entering her. Scully broke the kiss and gasped. "Oh god!" She thrust her hips up to meet him and their movements immediately became synchronized. They both felt drunk with pleasure. Neither of them were sure when they lost coherent thought, they were only aware of each other. The only sounds filling the room were the fierce moans and cries as each of them came closer and closer to their peak. Finally, Scully reached her climax and Mulder was not far behind. He collapsed on top of her, both of them spent. He gently rolled to her side and wrapped his arms around her. They both drifted off into a peaceful sleep. ------------------------ The next morning Scully was the first to wake. She smiled as she felt Mulder's arms wrapped around her. She looked at the clock and slowly turned to Mulder. He looked so peaceful that she hated to wake him. "Mulder" She whispered, shaking him gently. His eyes fluttered a bit and he let out a soft moan. Scully smiled and shook him again. "Mulder, wake up." His eyes opened and slowly came into focus. He smiled and reached up to touch her cheek. "Good morning." he yawned. "What time is it?" he started to sit up to see the clock. "6:00 AM" she informed him. "Urgh" he groaned, falling back on the pillow and closing his eyes. Scully chuckled. "You *do* realize we have a plane to catch in 2 hours." He opened one eye and looked at her. "Cancel the flight, I'm staying right here." She laughed. "I'd love to, but if memory serves me correctly, weren't *you* the one who insisted to Skinner that you were ready to go back to work?" Mulder's other eye popped open. He couldn't argue with that. He sat up and made a motion as if he were going to get out of bed and then suddenly turned and jumped on her. "Wha..?!" she exclaimed, surprised. "I guess if I have to be *Special Agent* Fox Mulder for the rest of the day, I'm going to spend as much time being plain old Fox Mulder as I can." He looked at the clock. "We've got some time." He grabbed the covers and pulled them up over their heads. Scully exploded in giggles as Mulder sent butterfly kisses down her neck.