From: formysunshineboy Date: 14 Mar 2004 18:32:20 -0800 Subject: xfc: Proxy II by shawntaw Source: atxc Title: Proxy II Author: shawntaw Rating: PG Category: AU, MSR implied, major SA and some S/Sk UST (this story ends in MSR eventually don't worry) Disclaimer: Their not mine, although I think I might've done a better job exploring the depths of some of the secondary characters... Spoilers: Um, Season 8, I guess. Summary: Who's the Daddy? feed the author at shawntaw@hotmail.com :) And Eons later...Proxy II!!*L* If you don't remember "Proxy I" don't worry. I'm reposting it too since its been so long so you can read them together!! Have fun!! *************************************************************************************************** In his mind he began thinking of it as their "faux marriage." She would show up out of the blue at his door, her edges softened by sadness and sleep-deprivation, ashamed of her neediness but too scared to care. The first time it happened, he didn't know what was going on but couldn't turn her away. She stood in his doorway at 11pm on a Tuesday night clutching the edges of her black trenchcoat together in front of her and shuffling her feet in ratty fuzzy slippers. "Scully?" He remembered being confused and a little embarrassed himself, being dressed in sweatpants and not expecting company. His immediate fear was for the baby. What horrible event had propelled her to him this late at night? She didn't say anything, but blinked at Skinner and licked her lips. She looked...off-kilter. Unbalanced. "I'm tired," was all she said and then something behind him caught her attention. She ducked under Skinner's arm and headed for the couch. To his shock, she stretched out on it and closed her eyes. He could only stand and stare. What the hell was going on here? Skinner shut the door and headed for the couch. He stood beside it and looked closely at her. That was when he realized that she was wearing pajamas under her coat. It had fallen open and Skinner could see that she wore silky, blue pajamas styled after old-fashioned men's pajamas with double pockets on the top and a wide collar. Scully had no make-up on either and every freckle on her face stood out. And there was that beauty mark he had only seen glimpses of over the years. Scully would never let anyone see her like this - save perhaps Mulder - unless she was in dire straits indeed. But she wasn't acting like anything was wrong... Was she sleep-walking? On a whim, Skinner walked over to the window facing the front of his building and looked down. He gasped. Sure enough, there was Scully's car parked haphazardly, the tail-end almost blocking part of the street. Finally there was some action he could take. Skinner dashed back to the couch and knelt beside Scully's slumbering form. He carefully dug in each of the coat pockets until he came across her keys and hurried downstairs to move her car, careful to shut the door quietly on his way out and on his way back into the apartment . Skinner placed the keys on his coffee table with a muted clink and once again looked at the small, red-headed woman sleeping on his couch. After a moment of consideration, he sighed heavily and decided not to wake her and get into the whys and wherefores of her presence here tonight. There would be plenty of time for that later. Maybe he would look up sleep-walking in that pregnancy book Kim had given him. He went to get a blanket to cover her and keep her warm. *************************************************************************************************** He felt the bed dip and smelled her before he opened his eyes, the smells of moisturizer and perfumed lotion that he used to associate with Sharon when she'd come to bed in the dark after he'd already retired for the night. But the scents were different and he jolted fully awake realizing that there was no way it could be his ex-wife. Skinner sat up and reached out on his side of the bed, clicking on the bedside lamp. Scully lay beside him, under the covers, her coat and slippers abandoned in a heap by his bedroom door. For several moments all he could do was sit and stare at her again, his hand still frozen on the pull-cord of the night table lamp. Should he wake her up? Let her sleep? He knew one thing; it definitely wasn't appropriate for them to be sleeping in the same bed. She HAD to be sleep-walking. Skinner flung back the covers and made his way to the couch. *************************************************************************************************** He heard muffled crying. Skinner sat up in the inky blackness of his living room and was instantly on alert. Who was crying? He slowly became more awake. Oh, that's right. Scully was in his room. Scully was crying? Skinner got up from the couch and made his way to his bedroom. It was dark and he didn't have his glasses. Skinner stubbed his toe on the edge of the couch and bit his lip to keep from swearing. He reached the bedroom door and pushed the door open. "Scully?" he whispered into the darkness. There was no answer but he could hear her continue to weep. He moved closer and then finally sat on the edge of the bed beside her. He reached out and turned on the lamp. "Scully?" Skinner reached out hesitantly and pulled on her shoulder to roll her to her back so that he could see her face. She looked up him in the dim light with soulful blue eyes. "What's wrong, Dana?" he whispered, brushing a comforting hand over her hair and down the side of her face. "I was so scared at my place. Sometimes I can't be strong anymore, Walter. Every time I would fall asleep, I would jerk awake dreaming that someone was in my apartment to hurt me...to hurt the baby. I'm so tired of being on alert. I'm only human. I don't know how long a person can do this. I don't think I can do this without Mulder. I-" She was sobbing now unabashedly and Skinner was fighting an inward panic that told him he didn't know how to deal with this. The guilt he carried over the loss of Mulder threatened to choke him as he watched one of the toughest agents - one of the toughest people - he knew break down. "I'm sorry," was all he could think to say and she sat up suddenly and hugged him. He was frozen for a split second but then settled his arms around her and awkwardly patted and rubbed her back. "I'm so sorry," he repeated and tightened his hold on her when he realized he was tearing up too. He cleared his throat. "It'll be alright," he tried to promise, but Scully pulled away and looked at him. "It will," Skinner said to her doubtful look, "you'll be fine and the baby will be fine and everything will..be...well.." he was fading off realizing he had talked himself into a hole. "Fine?" Scully finished with a sniffle and looked like she was going to start laughing. But instead she sniffed again, "I don't think I can lie about being 'fine' anymore. I'm not fine! I'm losing my mind!" Her lip quivered and she lowered her gaze from his inquisitive eyes. "Do you know why I came here tonight?" She said to his chest. Skinner stared at the top of her head. "No," he finally said, "not really." She lay one hand on his bare chest and he willed himself not to shiver. It wouldn't be right and it wouldn't be welcome, he knew. "I knew I'd be safe here," she whispered, "I need to feel safe." She almost sounded like she was begging, "I just want to sleep, Walter" Now she did look up at him. "I never need anyone," she stopped for a moment, "No, that's not true. I never WANT to need anyone. BUT I am asking you to let me stay here, at least for tonight. I just need to feel safe and get some real sleep." He was just sitting and listening, his brown eyes almost impossible to read in the dim light. Scully swallowed her pride. "Please?" Skinner looked startled. "Scully, surely you know that I wouldn't mind. You're welcome to stay here as long as you want." He wasn't a man who was any good at emotional displays, but he reached out and took her hands in his. He stroked them and gave them each a squeeze as he gave her a small smile. "You'll feel better after a few nights of good, solid rest," he spoke decisively now, "You're going to stay here for a few days until we can find a way to make you feel safer at your place." Scully's eyes shimmered with moisture, but she didn't cry again as she nodded her head once. He patted her hand and stood, "Now, get some sleep. We've got work tomorrow and you'll have to get up early to go back to your place for clothes and to get ready." Again she nodded once, firmly, her lips pressed together. He got as far as the door when he heard it. The words that made his heart leap into his throat. "There's no point in you taking the couch. You'll kill your back and the bed's big enough for the both of us." Skinner turned to look at her in disbelief. She blushed and then blustered defensively. "Unless you're afraid I'll attack you in your sleep?" She challenged, but she was still red-faced and looking over his shoulder rather than at him. He opened his mouth to tell her he actually had a guest room when it hit him. She was afraid to be alone. She trusted him that much. The realization heartened him. No matter his immense respect for her and his simmering attraction to her, more than anything else he wanted her happiness. And he knew that deep down Scully felt he loved both she and Mulder and would do anything to keep their baby safe. She was right. They were his family. But what she wasn't aware of is that Skinner had been harboring some very real and deep feelings for her for years. He'd carefully filed that away and locked it up under "Never Going To Happen" and tried to forget about it. He could still see Kim's face when she thought he was Scully's baby's father and remembered the split second of longing he'd felt for it to be true. He had taken too long to respond and now Scully was mortified. "Forget it. No big deal. See you in the morning." She lay down and rolled to her side. Skinner slowly padded in his bare feet to her night table lamp and turned it off. He crossed to his side of the bed and flung the covers back. One deep breath and he climbed in. He could feel the tension from her side of the bed. "Good night, Scully," he said after a few minutes and tried to sound casual. "Good night, sir," she responded automatically, sleep already clouding her voice as she relaxed. He fell asleep amused at having his bedmate address him by 'sir'. ************************************************************************************************** Skinner awoke to the sound of retching. He felt his own stomach turn a little. It was one of his biggest weaknesses; he hated the sound of puking. He sat up in bed and looked toward his bathroom. "Dana? You ok?" She retched again and he could hear her throw up. She moaned. He swallowed uncomfortably and got out of bed. He approached the bathroom door with reluctance. "Morning sickness?" he said from just outside the half-open door. "Uh-huh," she managed and got sick again. It sounded horrid and wet. Skinner felt sweat break out on his face and knew that he wasn't going to make it if he stood here and listened. "Anything I can do?" he choked out. "Nuh-uh," she said in a wobbly voice. He wiped his upper lip shakily with his hand. "Um, alright then. I'll be-" Whatever he had been about to say was cut off by the sound of Scully being sick again and that was the last straw for Skinner. He pushed the door out of the way and bolted into the bathroom. Seeing Scully kneeling in front of the toilet, he grabbed the wastebasket and puked into it. "Ugh..." he moaned and sank to the floor. Scully was hanging her head over the toilet, pale and hollow-eyed but frowning with concern at him. After a few minutes, Scully stood, flushed the toilet and began to run water in the sink to rinse out her mouth. Skinner stood as well, embarrassed but still a little nauseous. He met her questioning gaze in the mirror over the sink. "The sound of puking tends to make me sick," he explained, the tips of his ears red, "I'm usually pretty good at controlling it though." "Sympathy morning sickness," she diagnosed after rinsing and spitting, "It usually happens when the father is wrapped up in the mother's health and is worried about the baby," she glanced up at him, "Its very unusual in someone who is not the father, but I think I can understand it." She rinsed and spat again and then stepped out of his way as he bent over the sink to do the same. He said nothing because he could think of nothing to say. After that eventful first night and morning-after, she stayed for three days while the "gunmen" made her place as safe as they could. From then on, she'd appear sporadically at his door in the middle of the night, terrified and just wanting to lay in bed next to him with her cold feet warming against his calves and talk about her fears and hopes for the baby as he spooned around her, making her feel safe. Many a morning he awoke to her snuggled up against him; just as many mornings he awoke to the sound of her being sick in his bathroom - although he was never sick along with her again. They would exchange pleasantries, talk about what to eat for supper, get ready for work and drive away in separate cars. His "faux marriage", he reflected, was going better than his real one had. He tried not to fall desperately, hopelessly in love with Dana Scully. ************************************************************************ Skinner was staring at Scully. Kim saw it right away and had the sudden urge to march over and stomp on his toe. Didn't he realize people were watching him and would eventually draw the same false conclusions she had? He was purchasing a donut from the cart and distractedly doling out change to the vendor from his pocket while he watched Scully leaning over her desk in the bullpen, making a phone call. He wondered how she was feeling. She'd had a particularly bad bout with morning sickness yesterday and after Skinner's harping had agreed to make an appointment with a doctor this morning. Now that the X-files had been closed, and Scully had been reassigned - again - to that idiot Kersh, Skinner had been watching Scully more closely than ever whenever he was in her vicinity at work. He was using her nearness to his advantage now, trying to see if she was actually well and if she went to see the doctor. Kim could see why he was staring so intently. Scully was pale and looked tired. She munched miserably on a small package of crackers and sipped at a can of Sprite. Skinner's frown deepened as he thanked the donut-cart gentleman and started over to Scully. *Oh, not here, sir. Don't do this here.* Kim thought. And then, digging in her suit jacket pocket, she acted. "Excuse me, sir?" she said in her 'I-have-something-that-needs-your-immediate-attention' voice and strode toward him purposefully. It worked. He blinked and turned to look at her. "Yes, Kimberly?" "This was labelled urgent, so I thought I'd better get it to you right away, sir," Kim said and handed him a slip of paper. He took it from her and read it... It was a receipt for Kim's lunch. Ham and cheese on rye with mustard. Medium Coke. Oatmeal cookie. $3.54. He frowned, confused and flipped the paper over. Nothing. *Please get it, sir.* Kim mentally projected. He raised his eyes at her, utterly without a clue, and opened his mouth to speak. "Did you want me to pull those files right away, sir?" Kim blurted, shifting her eyes to Scully and then back to him. Agents flowed around them, going about their usual business, seeing nothing unusual in the discussion between the A.D. and his secretary. Skinner's frown eased a little and understanding lit his eyes. She watched him blush slightly to the crown of his head as he cleared his throat. "No, I'll see to this myself. Thank you, Kim," he said and studying the paper intently, stuffed it in his pocket. Skinner took a casual bite from his donut as he strode away back toward his office. Kim nodded and nonchalantly walked through the bullpen toward the women's restroom. Of course, to get there she'd have to pass Agent Scully's desk... As she got closer, she could hear Scully talking urgently to someone on the phone. "Frohike, I'm fine! Would you guys stop?! I'm not leaving work yet, especially if I can use the F.B.I.'s resources to search for Mulder," she paused as she saw Kim getting closer, "Look, I'll talk to you later, ok?" Scully hung up and gave Kim and expectant look. "Hello, Agent Scully," Kim said, "I don't get a chance to talk to you much anymore with your reassignment. How are you doing?" Kim looked at the soda and crackers and back at her, cocking an eyebrow. Scully sighed and rolled her eyes heavenward. Kim reflected that she was having a lot of nonverbal conversations with people today. Scully motioned Kim closer until they were practically face to face. "Tell Walter I'm fine. He sent you, didn't he?" Scully whispered. Kim went ahead and nodded. It was easier than explaining that she was acting as a go-between on her own decision. Scully heaved a sigh. "Tell him that I went to the doctor this morning - AS I PROMISED HIM - and all this nausea, throwing up and everything is perfectly normal - AS I TOLD HIM," she harshly whispered into the air between them. "I will, Agent Scully...and take care of yourself, ok?" Kim said and stood upright again. Scully smiled at her. "Thanks, Kim." Kim just smiled back and continued to the Ladies' room. ************************************************************************************************************************** Skinner was in full 'A.D' mode when he found the slip of paper in between two files in his 'IN' box. "She went to the doctor and everything's normal. Kim" His hand trembled for a moment and then he crumpled the paper and tossed it into the trashcan. ******************************************************************************************** And that was the end of the major drama for awhile. Agent Scully still visited A.D. Skinner's office more often than usual, but Skinner was being much more discreet. And when Scully's morning sickness faded, she started acting like and looking more like herself again. Her late night visits to Skinner's place tapered off, even though they still ate together every evening. And so, everything was going along fine. Until Scully began showing. ******************************************************************************************** It seemed to happen almost overnight. To Kim it seemed like one day Scully looked normal and the next like a pregnant woman. And Kim could see that Scully had decided there was no point in trying to act like she wasn't pregnant any longer. Her suit coats hung open and her small stomach pooched through her skirts. Kim was sure the skirts had to be held on with safety pins or else she couldn't see how they would still fit. Like lightning, people began to make the obvious connections. Spooky disappeared. Mrs. Spooky's pregnant. Obviously Mulder had headed for the hills once he'd found out. Some got more adventurous. Thinking of Scully's legendary temper, some speculated that SHE had killed Mulder and hidden the body like a black widow spider. But then, some started noticing other things. She arrived every morning in the same elevator with A.D. Skinner. Could they be riding into work together? She reported to him several times during the day. He doted on her. She was heard one day fussing at a "Walter" on the phone in her cubicle. The final straw was when someone saw "What to Expect When You Are Expecting" lying on the floorboard of Skinner's vehicle. Noone bothered to ask why someone was peering into the A.D.'s vehicle. It began to be the final consensus. Skinner was the Daddy. The rumors spread like wildfire. ****************************************************************************************** It had been a long day. No scratch that. A really, REALLY long day, Skinner reflected. He collapsed on his couch still wearing his coat and carrying his briefcase. He wearily lifted his wrist and looked at his watch. Nearly midnight. Damn, he thought, I have to be back at work in less than eight hours to get ready for the morning conference with the team. He was in charge of an investigative team that the Director himself had put together in order to find a missing Senator's daughter. There were rumors of cult or possible militia involvement. Skinner sighed. It was very possible that the girl had simply run away. His head fell back on the edge of the couch and he lightly dozed, waking once when his briefcase fell from his limp hand to land loudly on the floor. He went back to sleep after that, waking only when he felt cool hands on his face removing his glasses. "Huh?" he managed and his head came up. He looked about fuzzily. "Shhhhhhhh, its just me," Scully said as she set his glasses on the coffee table, "I fell asleep waiting for you in the bedroom." "You o.k.?" he asked muzzily as she tugged on him to sit up so she could remove his trench and suit coat one arm at a time. "I'm fine; I just couldn't sleep at my apartment," she said, concentrating on his tie as she loosened and removed it. She folded it neatly and set it beside his glasses. "Bad dreams?" he asked, blinking as he tried to clear the sleep from his brain. Scully didn't answer. She unbuttoned the cuffs of his now rumpled white dress shirt and then started on the shirt itself. He sat passively for a moment, but then realized what she was doing. "What are you doing?" he grabbed her hands and flattened them against his chest, stopping their work. She frowned and looked up at him, "Getting you ready for bed," she said matter-of-factly. It was though a film had been lifted from his eyes as he turned his head to talk to her. She knelt beside him on the couch in silver pajamas, her mussed red hair tucked behind one ear, her face scrubbed clean. She looked...beautiful. And her intelligent blue eyes were looking at him as though he lost his mind - half concern and half amusement. But her expression was open. Accepting. Was this how she looked at Mulder? And did his heart do a flip whenever she did? Skinner let go of her hands and she pulled them from his chest. He wobbily stood and looked down at her. "I can do it myself, thanks," he said gruffly and headed for the bedroom. Scully looked after him, her head tilted thoughtfully. *************************************************************************************************** Well, here it is. Part Three is coming in a timely manner. I have been getting really inspired lately, so look for an update on "Alpha and Omega", and a new story putting Mulder and Scully in a situation my husband and kids and I found ourselves in just the other day. A blizzard and forced to spend the night in a roadside motel with no drinking water?!! Yep! Cliche' and yet it really happened!!*L* Watch for further updates...thank you for your attention....:P I'm hungry for feedback...I'd like to supersize it with fries and a drink please!!! :D shawntaw@hotmail.com