From: phileandforget Date: Thu, 20 Dec 2001 09:00:29 -0800 (PST) Subject: New Submissions (3 more) Source: direct Title: Re: Yes? Author: phileandforget Date: November 5, 2001 Rating: PG13 Category: Vignette, Humour Keywords: M/R UST, M/S Romance Summary: Confused by Mulder, confused by Scully and confused as hell by their "birth notice," Reyes's contemplations of her first months in the basement give rise to nothing but one big question mark. Disclaimer: It ought to go without saying that if I owned Mulder and Scully, there'd be no "?" about it! Unfortunately, they are the property of Chris Carter. Who is just one big tease. Hrmph. Author's Note: Inspired by the "birth notice" put out by the Official Site. ;) If you haven't seen it yet, crawl out from under your rock and try Gillian & David: The Archives (http://www.gaddarchives.com/temporary/ItsaBoy.jpg) Thanks: To Circe Invidiosa for kindly offering to beta-read, and doing such an thorough job of it. I really appreciate it. :) Re: Yes? phileandforget I'd initially assumed that Fox Mulder was the father. I mean, a blind man could see she was in love with him. From our first meeting, I'd perceived that the man was "more than a partner," at least in the Kersch-sanctioned sense of the term. Everything in her body language implied it -- she wasn't just worried for her partner, she was worried for herself. She was worried as though her own life depended on our finding him -- and finding him alive, intact. She was watching the investigation grow colder and colder, feeling her own heart slow with the dread. She wanted answers, she wanted them *rightnowthisminute*, and no one had a damn clue what the answers were or if they existed at all. I could see the concentration pressed into her face like old age; the deep furrows in her brow, the tension in her lips. She was *willing* him to materialise, willing the truth to come out, as though it were poised, waiting for just the right threshold of wishing to cause it to tumble out of thin air and into our waiting laps. You might wonder how I knew. After all, I'd only just met her. And I admit, it was rather presumptuous of me to think I could read her face like a textbook on failure. Nonetheless, my impressions were only confirmed with each subsequent encounter: she loved him. A blind man could see it. Well, perhaps a blind *woman*, although I'll grant that even my old friend John had a clue. And believe you me, he can be pretty darn clueless when it comes to matters of the heart. But even he saw it. I don't think Mulder did, though. When he returned, I was astounded. How dare he treat her like that! His *partner*! And moreover, his friend, lover, or whatever he was to her. She must have meant something more to him than... that. Every time he looked at her, his eyes flashed with indignation, accusation. As if to say, "you saved my life, now you owe me." For whatever selfish reasons Dana might have so desperately wanted him back, I hardly think they merited his scorn. As for John -- I suppose I can understand Mulder's lashing out at him, misguided though it was. For almost eight years, Dana confided to me, they'd had no one but each other. They were partners, and everything else was peripheral. Everyone, too. She told me in a tone of penitence, apologizing for her partner, without quite excusing him. I could tell she was unimpressed. Then again, Mulder had no idea. He'd been six feet under (don't make me go into it) and oblivious. Even restored, he could be pretty oblivious, so it doesn't surprise me that he didn't know what John had done for him. I knew, and Dana knew, but Mulder had no freakin' idea. Which brings us back to his treatment of Dana. John was a stranger, Mulder's replacement -- Dana's confidence in him was clearly a betrayal of their trust. Perhaps that was why he acted the way he did -- resentfully, jealously. Like a jilted lover. Regardless of all that, I have to admit my inexpressible gratitude for his return and restoration. Aside from his effect on Dana -- her pious, piteous devotion to him, cruel or no -- he was having quite the effect on me, too. There was something about the way he looked at me. His eyes would light up as though at a dare, whenever we spoke, and he would see, I swear it, straight into me. If I were a blushing type of girl, I would have been a goner. Fortunately, I'm better at hiding my feelings than people might think -- buoyancy is a fine facade, I've discovered. So it was no threat to my image when I found myself light-headed around him. His presence made me positively giddy when combined with his genuine, "you've got my full attention" gaze. The more I got to know him, the more I understood why Dana loved him so. Selfishly, after a time, I began to want him for myself. I caught myself flirting on more than one occasion -- biting my lip, looking up at him with "wide, innocent eyes," practically batting my eyelashes, for God's sake! He responded, too; perhaps flattered, perhaps flirting back, I couldn't quite tell. And yet, whenever Dana was around, I would feel inexplicably contrite. At John's request, I found myself spending increasingly more time in D.C. Specifically, in the basement of the FBI. Somehow, I insinuated myself into John and Dana's partnership; became a third, then fourth, wheel. Around the time I became a fourth wheel, I also became very confused about something: If Dana loved Mulder, why wasn't he returning the affection? It's not as though she's unattractive; in fact, she's anything but. She's stunning. Sometimes I find myself staring at her, almost forgetting to breathe, considering the contours of her face and her figure. It's indisputable -- she's a fine-looking woman. She's also intelligent, exceptionally so. Her personality is hardly lacking, either; though often brusque, she's faultlessly sincere, and there's a quirk at her mouth sometimes that belies a subtly wicked sense of humour. Quite frankly, I don't see what's not to love about her. Still, there must be something, because he avoided her like a hive of bees. At first, I took that as a good sign. I thought it implied an interest elsewhere on his part -- an interest, perhaps, in me. I should have known better than to get my hopes up. Just a short while ago, Dana sent me this message: === From: D. Scully To: Monica Reyes Date: XX, XX, 2001 Subject: FWD: babe watch Monica- I suspect someone has a little too much time on his hands. Nonetheless, I though you might appreciate this... ---Message Attached--- From: FWM To: Scully Date: XX, XX, 2001 Subject: babe watch <> === Working out of John's desk for the time being, it took me a few minutes to figure out how to open the image, but it eventually revealed itself to be something of a "birth announcement." From Dana's comment, I assume it's something Mulder made up. Cute though it was, I couldn't keep my heart from sinking. I just don't understand those two! For the longest period after his return, he treated her so coldly -- his was a constant physical presence combined with an impassive emotional distance. It was hard to watch. Eventually, I suppose, I put it down to their being former lovers, the product of which was this child, William. Of late, he's been kinder -- gentler, more communicative. It makes me wonder whether they've reconciled, whether they've put aside whatever it was that caused the rift. Despite myself, I hope so. John seems to think they've got a lot of chemistry -- their banter certainly crackles with it -- but with all the tension, I wasn't sure how to classify their relationship. Dana just successfully managed to both clarify and confuse the hell out of it. Since she seems to be working diligently on a document (which I suspect is and sincerely hope is *not* John's latest report, concerning a case she wasn't even on), I decide not to disturb her. Instead, I call up my e-mail program, and am in the middle of typing her a quick message when the door bursts open. Expecting to see my partner (who is currently AWOL and hopefully receptive to the waves of disapproval I have been sending him all day), I miss seeing Mulder cross the room with babe in arms. I don't, however, miss seeing him place a gentle kiss on Dana's forehead, or her face light up as she pays it back upon the infant in his arms. Warmly, I watch the scene and wonder how I could have been so naïve. He's clearly besotted with her. Whatever it was, it's resolved now. But one thing isn't. I return to my message and erase what I'd written. It takes all of a half moment to dash off, and I press the "send" button eagerly. === From: Monica Reyes To: Dana Scully Date: XX, XX, 2001 Subject: Yes? "?" === I flick back to my other screen, and leave Dana and Mulder to coo over their(?) baby in some semblance of privacy. I know they wouldn't mind my interruption, but whenever they're together, they just seem to inhabit this private world, only just large enough for themselves and tiny William. Nonetheless, I am delighted to hear a soft "ding!" and see a new message awaiting me. === From: Monica Reyes To: Dana Scully Date: XX, XX, 2001 Subject: Re: Yes? Yes! === Only in retrospect do I realise, that doesn't answer my question! Yes, Mulder's the father? Or yes, there's room for doubt? I curse myself silently, making a mental note to forgive John for ditching me this morning, and then find out what he knows. He might be a man, but he's still an investigator, and like I said, I don't think he's entirely lacking for brain cells. In fact, given his friendship with Dana, she might even have told *him* what she's obviously enjoying not telling *me*. Out of the corner of my eye, I glance up at my colleagues. Dana catches my eye and I send her a mock-glare, letting her know that I am utterly confused and she'd better not laugh. Nonetheless, I see that quirk twitching on her her lips. Tease. My cell phone goes off then, jarring us all out of our mean and thoroughly unfair little game. Somewhat relieved, I seize it quickly. The call display reads: JDOGGETT "If this is not my partner and he's not in this building, I'm hanging up right now." Fortunately, it is. "Missed you too." He sounds congested, and I realise with a pang of guilt that he's been home sick. I impulsively decide to pay him a visit after work (which was technically about a half hour ago). After a moment, John adds curiously, "Listen, did you get a strange e-mail from Mulder just now?" Huh. With a triumphant glance at Mulder and Dana, I reply, "Actually, yes. Care to decipher it?" The line is silent. Then, "Dammit! I thought *you* knew!" "Oh. Well, I do have *some* idea..." I reply casually. He pounces on that like it's the most exciting thing he's heard all week. And, if I knew the damn answer, it probably would be. "You do?" "Yes?" I say, and it rises like a question. I hear his intake of breath and just as he is about to ask me to explain that, I hang up. Turning to my partners, I smile sweetly. "See you both tomorrow!" "Yes," they reply in unison, faces inscrutable. Was that a reply, an answer or a joke at my expense? Undecided, I glower at them for a full three seconds, before grabbing my bag and making a break for it. End Feedback: webmaster@withinrach.com Fanfiction: http://fanfic.withinrach.com (Hint - view the dustjacket there! ;)