From: lea92596@earthlink.net Newsgroups: alt.tv.x-files.creative Subject: NEW: Pulled Together, NC-17, by Lea Collins Date: Tue, 09 Apr 1996 14:17:18 -0500 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- // 3rd Season Spoilers Ahead // * and * *** ROMANCE WARNING!!! *** (By which I of course mean sex...) "Rating Disclaimer": This story contains M/S romance and descriptions of sexual situations. (Well, the second part does, anyway......Hey, come back here! -- You're supposed to read this part, too!) If this offends you or you are under the age of 18, BAIL OUT NOW... Part 1 is rated PG-13, strictly for some mild language. Part 2, on the other hand, contains the racier stuff. I guess I'd give it an NC-17. "Shameless Plea for Comments": This is my first attempt at published fiction, so to say that I seek constructive feedback regarding all aspects of my story is understating it quite a bit. I also admit freely and without reservation that I am addicted to email, so send your comments to: Lea Collins at: lea92596@earthlink.net "Copyright Disclaimer": Mulder, Scully and the X-Files are property of Chris Carter, 1013 Productions, and the FOX network. No copyright infringement is intended. "Author's Confession/Disclaimer": Well, IMHO, if ever an episode cried out for a "relationship" fanfic follow-up, "Pusher" was it, and though I realize I'm not the first (or second, or third...) to think this, here's my attempt at it. (It may also be that I'm trying to avoid finishing a longer story I'm working on, and this was an easy way to do it!) I wish I could tell you that some great, heretofore-unrealized psychological analysis or insight is contained herein, but alas, this whole scenario is just an excuse for me to get our two heroes to -- yeah, you guessed it -- have sex. Sorry 'bout that. ;-) "Acknowledgments": Thanks to Holly for her encouragement, support, suggestions, and for enabling my e-mail addiction! In the words of Bob Goldthwait: "Thank you for encouraging my behavior." ################################################## "Pulled Together" by Lea Collins April 1996 Scully was worried about him. He was looking positively shell-shocked, she thought, and she could easily understand why. Mulder had almost killed himself -- had almost killed *her*, for God's sake, and he looked about as drained as she'd ever seen him, his eyes haunted and his expression tortured in a way that made her eyes threaten to fill with tears, though not for the first time that day. He kept looking across the room at her as the rest of the law enforcement team questioned them both about what had transpired in the hospital room. Looking at her as if he couldn't tear his eyes away, as if he was trying to convince himself that she was really all right -- as if he was trying to apologize to her by capturing her gaze with his. Scully had no idea just how well she was reading him. Although he was going through the motions of answering the questions put to him, Mulder could focus on nothing but her. He didn't just want to apologize to her for what they'd been through, he wanted to beg her forgiveness. He wanted to hold her and bury his face in her hair and tell her he was sorry a million times over. Against his better judgment and his sense of reason, he just wanted her in his arms...safe, where he could protect her. It hadn't just been the look of fear on her face that was gnawing at him. No. It had been that look of pained disbelief. He had seen that, at first, she couldn't believe he'd turned the gun on her. But her expression had changed quickly to one which made it clear that she suddenly believed that he *was* going to shoot her. And he couldn't blame her for thinking that. She'd just seen him put the gun to his own head and pull the trigger without so much as a moment's hesitation. Didn't she know that he'd use every ounce of his willpower to not pull that trigger when the gun was aimed at her? That somehow he'd find some inner reserve of strength to save her -- a source of strength that he somehow hadn't been able to muster when his own life was on the line? That if he'd been able, he'd have used up every round in the chamber on himself rather than take a chance with her life? But no. Of course she didn't know that. She didn't know because he'd become very adept at hiding his feelings for her. She had no idea how many times he'd clamped down on his own instincts, keeping himself from throwing his body in front of her as a shield every time they were in a dangerous situation. More importantly, he didn't think she'd noticed how many times he'd forced his hands back to his sides when he'd been tempted to touch her hair, her face. How many times he'd snatched his hand away from the small of her back as he guided her through a doorway, fearing he'd linger there and allow what had begun as a simple gesture of chivalry to become an unconscious caress. All because he'd become more and more aware of his feelings for her. Even Modell had seen it. And now he was afraid those feelings were welling up in him to a point where he didn't know what he was going to do with them... Finally Scully had had enough of the questioning. As soon as she could, she'd shed her bulletproof vest, tossing it on a chair, barely restraining herself from flinging it across the room in an attempt to distance herself from the horror they'd just experienced. And now all she could think of was how much she wished everyone else would go away so she could have some time alone with Mulder. She kept having this increasingly overwhelming urge to put her arms around him and just hold him. Comfort him. Make his pain -- and hers -- go away. It was a feeling so purely sheltering in nature that it struck her as almost maternal. , she thought wryly, and then pushed the question away. She realized she probably wouldn't actually give in to this sudden, disturbing impulse she had, but at the very least, she was going to get him out of here before he broke down from sheer emotional exhaustion. "O.K., the rest of this can wait until tomorrow", she stated in a firm, no-nonsense voice, walking away from her questioners, and taking Mulder by the elbow to lead him away from his. "Agent Scully, just a few more questions, and then we can let you and your partner get out of here", protested one of the investigators, but Scully quickly cut him off. "No. You've got the essentials, and we'll be glad to give full statements tomorrow, but right now, we're leaving. I'm sure we've given you sufficient information to work on until then." And with that, she led Mulder out of the hospital room and over to the nearest elevator. She pushed the "down" button, the doors slid open, and Mulder stepped in first. A few of the SWAT team members who'd also been ready to vacate the premises were about to step into the elevator behind Scully, but she barred their way, instinctively allowing her protectiveness for Mulder to override her normal sense of courtesy. Firmly, she raised a hand as if to ward them off. "Would you mind taking the next one?", she asked in her best professional voice, and simultaneously pressed the "close door" button without waiting for the men to respond. When the doors closed, Scully reached toward the control panel to push the button for the ground floor, but Mulder stopped her, one of his hands gently encircling her wrist while the other pulled out the red emergency "stop" button. She gazed up at him in confusion. "Mulder?", she queried in a worried voice, but he cut her off with a slow shake of his head and slowly pulled her against him, his eyes closing wearily, one hand cradling her head against his chest. As he held her tightly, she could feel him shake his head slightly from side to side, his face buried in the hair at the crown of her head. "Don't say anything for a minute...", he murmured, his voice so low it was almost a whisper. , he thought, His mind lurched to a stop, panicking, and suddenly he knew with blinding clarity the truth of what his mind had just conjured up. And that thought led him right back to Modell again. Again his mind was spinning, covering the same mental territory over and over, and he tightened his hold on her, not caring if they stayed right where they were forever. After a few seconds he felt her relax into his embrace, slowly encircling his waist with her arms, hugging him close. Scully was overwhelmed by his actions. He was holding her so tightly it was as if he was trying to absorb her into himself. And it felt so good. So right. Knowing she shouldn't, she gave in to her body's response to him and closed her eyes, inhaling the scent of him, reveling in the feel of him, only his sweat-dampened t-shirt between her cheek and the warmth of his skin. She'd wanted this contact. Needed it, as if her skin was actually hungry for his touch. *These* feelings, she knew, were in no way "maternal". And then it struck her. Maybe this is what people meant when they said that, "when you find the right person, you'll just know". Because if there was one thing she did know, it was that she'd never had this combination of feelings for anyone else before. Wanting to hold him to comfort him one minute, and then wanting him close to her in a way that she knew was purely sexual the next. Scully tried not to think about it. Now was not the time nor the place. And yet she knew that, having come to this realization, she wouldn't be able to ignore it forever... After a few minutes, she forced herself to open her eyes and return to reality. He showed no signs of letting her go, and her concern for his mental state suddenly took over. "Mulder, are you okay? You're scaring me...", she said softly. She heard a rueful, almost bitter chuckle escape him as he slowly released her and stepped back. He wearily ran a hand through his hair and deliberately avoided her eyes as he replied, "Before today, I would have said you'd *never* have reason to be scared of me, Scully. I can't very well say that anymore, can I?" Scully's heart went out to him at the sound of self-recrimination she heard in his voice. "That's not the way I meant that", she protested softly, reaching out and taking his hand in hers. "I'm worried about you. I think that's understandable after what you've just been through, don't you?" But Mulder didn't answer her. He was staring into the distance, his expression blank. He was remembering the overwhelming power of Modell's voice inside his head ...and his own ever-weakening mind's arguments . And then the feel of his own fingers tightening on the trigger, against his will, despite his best efforts. Despite the fact that it felt like his guts were being ripped out. And then the undeniable realization that he was losing the battle -- he *was* going to shoot her...and he was unable to stop himself... "Mulder?", she said, trying to get his attention. He finally looked at her and gave her hand a half-hearted squeeze. "Yeah, Scully", he said, in a voice that sounded to her like he was just humoring her, "That's understandable...", and then he was looking away again, his gaze focused somewhere else. Letting go of his hand, she reached over to the control panel and started the elevator in motion again. "C'mon, let's just get out of here." They reached the ground floor and made their way to the car, neither speaking. As they approached the vehicle, Scully broke the silence. "How about if I drive?", she suggested, trying to sound as nonchalant as possible so as not to betray her assessment that he was in no shape to navigate *himself*, much less an automobile. "Sure", Mulder replied in a listless tone, and they climbed into the car and headed out onto the road. They drove in silence, Scully occasionally stealing quick glances at Mulder's still-expressionless face. She was becoming more and more convinced that he was showing signs of actual medical shock, and made a quick decision that she'd keep him at her place tonight, just to keep an eye on him. As they pulled up in front of her apartment, Mulder slowly seemed to become aware of his surroundings, and finally asked in a confused tone, "What are we doing here? Aren't you going to drop me off at my place?" , she thought, finally deciding to try the one approach she didn't think he'd argue with. "Mulder, I think I'd just feel better if you'd stay here tonight. I think you might be in shock, and it'd be a lot more convenient to have you in the next room if you need medical attention, rather than me having to drive all the way over to your place in the dead of night -- O.K.?" He watched her as she made her case, and she knew he was trying to determine if she was just being overly cautious, or whether she really had cause to be concerned. Finally, he responded to her request. "Sure, Scully. Whatever you want...", he said, becoming dimly aware that he really was too drained to put up much of a fight. Scully breathed a sigh of relief, having avoided what could have been another typical battle of wills between the two of them. And the fact that he'd offered no protest at all just reinforced in her mind that she'd made the right decision in persuading him to stay. Once inside the apartment, she made up the couch for him as she always did when he stayed over, and handed him the spare pair of sweatpants and the t-shirt he kept there for just such occasions. "Why don't you go take a shower. Do you want something to eat?", she asked. Mulder shook his head, "No. Thanks.", and headed toward the guest bathroom. Scully realized she had no appetite either, and decided to make some herbal tea, thinking it might calm them both and give them at least a fighting chance of getting a decent night's sleep. Mulder emerged from the bathroom, his hair still damp, but looking slightly more like himself. He looked so vulnerable, so approachable, that Scully was suddenly very much aware of the intimacy of their situation, of her own sensitivity to his presence, and she began to have second thoughts about having insisted that he stay here. With the feelings she'd had in the elevator, maybe that hadn't been such a sound decision. Maybe it was too tempting -- even dangerous -- to have him here. For the second time that day, she mentally shook herself. . She handed him the mug of tea and he sat down on the couch. She went into the kitchen to get some sugar, and became aware that he was following her with his eyes again, the expression on his face a mixture of pain, regret, and sorrow that she was finding increasingly difficult to ignore. She returned to the living room with the sugar and sat on the coffee table in front of him, catching his eye as she said, gently but firmly, "Mulder, I'm okay. Really." He half smiled at her. She really *could* almost read his mind sometimes. "I know, Scully. I know you are", then dropped his gaze, unable to trust himself with looking into those warm blue eyes of hers when she was this close to him. Scully thought he sounded about as unconvincing as she'd ever heard him. "Do you want to talk?", she asked softly, and saw him shake his head before she even completed the question. "Not tonight", he said, his voice suddenly husky, "Maybe later." "Okay. I'm gonna turn in, then", she said in a resigned voice. "'Night, Mulder". "'Night, Scully" ################################################## She awoke with a start and sat bolt upright in bed, sure that she had heard someone yell her name. , she thought groggily, and then remembered that Mulder was just outside her room, asleep on her couch. Just then, she heard it again, but softer this time, and cut off, "Scul...". She rushed out to the living room, and cautiously stepped nearer to the sofa. Mulder was obviously still asleep, and in the grip of a nightmare. A chill ran up her spine as she heard him call her name again, and she instantly recognized the intonation of his voice, the strangled way he was speaking, and she knew without a doubt that in his sleep he was replaying their showdown with Modell. His face was tense, his eyes tightly closed, his hands clenched into fists, and though he wasn't actually thrashing around, Scully knew that in his nightmare, Mulder was fighting Modell as hard as he could. Again. She sat down gingerly on the sofa next to him, and shook him gently, her hands on his shoulders. "Mulder. Mulder, wake up. C'mon, Mulder, wake up -- it's okay. It's okay. It's just a dream..." He finally woke with a gasp, startled, sitting up so abruptly that Scully had to lean back quickly to get out of his way. Then he focused on her, breathing a little heavily, as if he'd been running. , she thought. "Hey", she said softly, "You okay?" Mulder ran a hand through his hair, finally fully aware of his surroundings. "I guess so." Then, swinging his legs around to sit up, "Was I yelling?" "Yeah. A little bit", Scully replied, trying to downplay it so he wouldn't feel bad about *that*, too. "Was it Modell?", she asked, knowing he would understand what she was getting at. "Yeah.", he muttered, resting his elbows on his knees and wearily covering his face with his hands. "Scully, I think maybe we need to have that talk now", he said, talking into his hands. He'd been tossing and turning all night, wrestling with the dilemma of how to get her out of the danger they were always in the middle of -- the danger he was constantly exposing her to. He had to find a way to protect her. It had gone too far. It had been bad enough when someone else had hurt her and he hadn't been able to stop it. But when someone else figured out how to use *him* against her -- he couldn't let that happen again. He turned to her, waiting for her response. "Okay", she slowly agreed, some subconscious instinct causing her stomach to tighten with anxiety. "Scully, I think you should ask for a transfer", he said, looking down at his hands, which he now had clasped in front of him. "What?", she reacted, one part of her not sure she had heard him right, the other part knowing with absolute certainty that she had. "You heard me", he said gently. "I think you should just file the paperwork with Skinner and get out of this." Scully studied him, and somehow resisted the urge to reach out, turn his face towards her, and *force* him to look at her. "Mulder...", she began, trying her best to remain calm and patient, "We can't let one little incident - " "One little incident?" He pinned her with his gaze, the intensity in his eyes startling her. "Scully -- I almost *killed* you yesterday. I almost shot you at point-blank range. You were in that room. The bullet was in the chamber when I pointed that gun at you. That bullet I put in Modell would've been *yours* if you hadn't pulled that alarm. You'd be dead. You'd be dead and I would have been the one who killed you. Not some nameless, faceless, enemy -- *me*. His voice was tense, angry, but somewhere in the middle of this outpouring, his eyes had started to fill with tears. She didn't think he was even aware of it. She wanted so much to just reach out and touch him. She wanted to take his face in her hands and tell him everything would be all right. And then, just as had happened when he was holding her in the elevator, she found herself wanting to touch him with an intent that had nothing to do with comfort. She wanted to rub her thumbs over the stubble on his cheek... feel his warmth... Scully gave herself another mental shake -- she knew she had to stop thinking like that and talk him through this. She had to try logic. "Mulder," she said, as reasonably as she could, "That wasn't really you. It was Modell. You know that. You can't hold yourself responsible. *I* don't hold you responsible." He started to shake his head, denying her rationalization. "Scully, you don't understand. This whole business has become far too dangerous. You need to get out now before it gets worse." Seeing that Mulder wasn't about to budge from his position, Scully decided to attack the problem from an entirely different angle. "Let's just say I did get out. What about you? Are you trying to tell me that it's less dangerous for you, somehow? Because if you are, I'm not buying it." Again, he shook his head, "That's not the point, Scully." Now *there* was an angle she could use, she thought. "Yes it is the point, Mulder. In case you've forgotten, I wasn't the only one with a gun aimed at me yesterday." Images of his face as he'd held the gun to his head and pulled the trigger flooded her mind, and she felt herself becoming as angry as she had been when she had witnessed the scene the first time. "Mulder -- you didn't look like you even *tried* to fight Modell when he had you pointing the gun at your own head." Suddenly Scully found herself telling him much more than she had intended to. "Do you know how that scared me? What would I have done if you had shot yourself, right there in front of me? How could I have lived with that, Mulder? How? Did you even think of that?" With great difficulty, Scully stopped herself from going on with that subject. She realized she was in danger of revealing emotions she wasn't ready to deal with, and forced herself back to her original plan -- to talk him out of this ludicrous notion he had about her transferring. "So don't tell me I'm the only one in danger because of the work we do. We both know that's not the case." Mulder sighed heavily. "Scully, I've been thinking about this seriously, and I really think you should take my advice for once. It would just be the best thing all the way around, that's all..." "Best for who, Mulder?", she interrupted him. "For me? Or for you? So you can find another partner you don't feel like you have to protect all the time, is that it? I can take care of myself, Mulder, I don't need you trying to shelter me from reality. I'm not some first-year rookie you have to constantly watch out for -" Mulder raised his hand in submission, cutting her off. "Scully. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to insult you. You know I trust your abilities. But you're not getting it. This isn't just some whim of mine. I was up for hours tonight, thinking about what happened -- I've thought it through a million times..." Scully was becoming increasingly frustrated with her inability to make any headway with him. He obviously wasn't about to be dissuaded, nor was he offering any particularly convincing backup data for his decision. She stood up and started pacing, deciding to take his line of reasoning -- or what he apparently *thought* was reasoning -- and take it to an extreme that even he wouldn't be able to deal with -- one that would make him see how ridiculous he was being. "So-- you've thought this through and this is your suggestion? You think I should just walk away? Away from the X-Files. Away from you." Just saying those words aloud felt like a knife in her heart, and suddenly Scully found herself becoming more and more genuinely upset. She had intended to just make a few quick points, but she was tired, her nerves were on edge, and her emotions had been on a roller coaster for most of the last 24 hours. She knew she was becoming more emotional than she had intended, and when Mulder didn't answer her, her words started tumbling out in a rush before she could even fully comprehend her own intentions. "Or maybe that's not it. Maybe you've actually been *wanting* me out of the X-Files, is that it? You want me to transfer as far away from you as possible? -- maybe back to Quantico? -- maybe out of the Bureau altogether? -- So that we don't have to work together, we don't ever have to see each other ever again, is that it? Better yet, maybe I should go so far away that we never even have to run into each other on the street, is that what you want?" Mulder was devastated. How could she think that? She *knew* that wasn't the way he felt. Then the cool, calculating side of his mind chimed in. Maybe he *should* let her think that, if it would get her away from danger. Maybe he should push her away for her own sake. His gut felt like it was tied in knots. What would he do if he was successful with this game and she really did leave? She paused abruptly, realizing that she was getting carried away, that she was deliberately goading him. She hadn't meant to push it that far. She'd seen his expression change as the implications of her words sunk in. She studied him carefully, wondering how he was going to react. He dropped his gaze, studying his clasped hands as if his life depended on it. When he didn't answer, she walked over and sat down next to him again. "Is that what you really want, Mulder?", she asked softly, regretting how harsh she'd just sounded. When he remained silent, she found herself giving in to the need she'd been fighting since he'd handed her the gun the day before. She reached out, turning his face to hers and forcing him to look in her eyes. "Is it?", she repeated, willing him to answer her. The look in his eyes was one of sheer agony, as if he was fighting a fierce inner battle, and she felt herself hopelessly drawn to him, all her defenses down. Without thinking, and before Mulder could even guess her intent, Scully leaned closer and brushed her lips lightly across his, a touch so brief he wasn't even sure he had felt it. She stayed close, so close he could feel her warm breath on his lips, but far enough away that she could look in his eyes. "Is it?", she whispered, and slid her mouth across his again, more slowly this time, and she felt him draw in a sharp breath. When she looked up, the hunger in his eyes stole her breath away, and she found herself wanting him so badly that she could barely remember what they'd been arguing about. "Tell me, Mulder," she urged in a low, throaty voice, her mouth still against his, barely touching him. "No...", he choked out, his voice hoarse from his failing attempt to rein in the desire she had unleashed in him. "No...", he repeated, whispering now, his self-control finally snapping. He brought both hands up to frame her face, his thumbs stroking the sensitive skin in front of her ears. And then he kissed her, brushing his mouth back and forth against hers in a hotter, more intense imitation of the way she'd teased him just moments ago. He felt as if he was drowning in the softness of her lips. He traced them gently with the tip of his tongue, heard her gasp at the contact, and found himself moaning as they parted to let him inside. Scully threaded her fingers through his hair to hold him even closer, feeling as if she wanted to devour him, as if she'd never get enough of him. She was overwhelmed by the ferocity of her own response, and she couldn't stop herself from whimpering softly as their kisses deepened, becoming wilder by the second. Reluctantly, they broke apart to catch their breath, their hearts pounding. Scully slid her lips across Mulder's jawline and over to his ear, teasing his earlobe with her tongue, then grazing it gently with her teeth. She wanted to taste his skin with an almost primal hunger, but she was soon distracted by the sensation of his mouth caressing her neck, his lips sliding across her collarbone. Mulder was intoxicated by the scent of her skin, so familiar to him, and suddenly so arousing. "Oh, God, Scully...", he moaned against her neck, his hands moving restlessly up and down her back, over her hips, gently pressing her tighter against him. "God, I want you so much..." The urgency and raw need in his voice sent a shockwave of desire through her, and she instinctively rubbed herself up against him as she moaned into his mouth, barely able to form the words, "You've got me..." He didn't think she had any idea just how hot it was making him -- hearing her offering herself to him, feeling her unselfconscious response to his touch. Unable to restrain himself any more, he finally allowed himself to touch her -- to really touch her, the way he'd been dreaming of for so long. Still kissing her, he slowly slid his hands up and down her sides, over her pajama top, closer and closer to her breasts, deliberately teasing her, his knuckles just brushing the sides of her rounded softness -- and he felt her start to writhe in frustration. He hesitated there, lightly stroking, wanting her permission, until she pulled her mouth from his and whispered, "Please, Mulder...please". And he gave her what she wanted -- what they both wanted -- his thumbs circling closer and closer and finally, finally, brushing over her already-hardened nipples. Scully moaned and arched into his hands, her fingers digging tensely into his shoulders as he bent his head and she felt his teeth lightly grazing the tip of her breast, the slipping, sliding fabric of her pajamas creating an erotic friction between the hotness of his mouth and her sensitized skin. She wanted to touch him, touch him everywhere, but she was so overwhelmed by what he was doing to her, the way he was touching her, that all she could focus on was how she ached for him... And then Mulder was sliding his hands under her top, pushing the hem up, pulling the pajamas easily over her head. She shivered as the air hit her skin, and he started to dip his head to her breasts again, but she stopped him, murmuring "Mmmm... wait...". Scully was feverish with the need to feel his skin against hers, and she pulled his t-shirt over his head. His mouth devoured hers greedily as he eased her onto her back on the couch beneath him. She twisted herself sinuously against him, rubbing her breasts against the heat of his chest as his mouth made its way down over her neck, her collarbone, and finally closed, hot and wet, over her nipple. He was driving her wild, the incredible tugging and pulling of his mouth on her breasts making her hips rock unconsciously against him, seeking the friction she was aching for. "Ah, Scully, you're so soft... so beautiful...", he moaned against her breast as his hands eased the bottom of her pajamas down over her hips and legs. As she felt the cool air on her naked skin, she became almost frantic to feel the rest of him against her, and she pushed his sweatpants down as far as she could, imploring him, "Help me...". He lifted off of her just enough to free himself of the last barrier of clothing between them. And then he was lowering himself slowly back onto her, and she could feel him now, hard and hot against her skin. Her hands slid over his hips, urging him closer, her legs parting and her hips arching up to rub urgently against him. Mulder felt his self-control slipping, and lifted away from her slightly. "Scully, wait, I want to - ", but she cut him off, kissing him, hard. He slid one hand down over her stomach, over the hot, silky skin of her inner thigh, stroking slowly, feeling her muscles jump and hearing her moan his name in frustration as she tried to move against his hand. Overwhelmed by her response to him, he finally moved his hand over her, finding her so hot and wet that he felt himself harden almost painfully, and he groaned out loud, "Oh Scully...god...Scully...". Mulder felt her hand close gently around him, stroking, guiding him to her. Felt her breath hot against his ear as he eased into the tightness of her, and heard her murmuring his name over and over. He paused, wanting to let her body adjust to him, but she was urging him on, bringing her knees up higher, locking her legs around him, arching up against him to pull him deeper inside her. He began to move within her, and he heard her breathing quicken, incoherent whimpers and moans escaping her, wilder and wilder as his movements became faster and more urgent. And then he felt her tense and buck underneath him, the contractions inside her subsiding to tiny pulses as he found his own release, groaning into the warm hollow of her neck. As they both recovered, he tried to withdraw, afraid she was bearing too much of his weight on her slight frame, but she held him within her, murmuring sleepily, "Don't...don't move just yet..." He kissed her tenderly, "Mmmm... But I'm crushing you...". "No you're not..", she said softly, gazing up at him, her eyes drowsy and content, and then buried her face in his neck, suddenly shy, as she whispered, "You feel good...". He found himself stifling a moan as he nuzzled her neck, her words arousing him yet again. "Oh, Scully...that should be *my* line", he whispered, feeling her shiver as his mouth moved over her skin, unable to get enough of her. He knew they still had things to work out, things to talk over -- but he knew now that nothing was ever going to pull them apart again... ##################################### That's it! Hope you liked it, and sorry it wasn't able to be posted a little closer to when "Pusher" aired -- I'm still in the "agonizing over every word" stage of writing! ;-) Please *do* send me your comments: lea92596@earthlink.net - Lea