From: eponine119 Date: Tue, 6 Feb 1996 19:11:11 -0800 Subject: NEW: Recondite (1/2) Recondite - remote from ordinary or easy perception...secret (Funk & Wagnalls Dictionary) Disclaimer: These characters belong to Chris Carter, 10-13, and Fox. The idea for the story was mildly inspired by the book "Cinderman" by Anne Stuart, but since this story isn't all that much like it! Anyway, no infringement or plagarism or anything is intended, don't sue me!!!! A couple of third season references, but no spoilers; you'll just go "huh?" Recondite by eponine119 eponine@uci.edu 2/6/96 Something smelled bad. Very bad. Almost like sulphur and plastic and something else, if they were all simmered on a low heat until they smoldered. Scully looked around the dark lab again, but she didn't see any smoke. "Hurry up," she urged. "Almost got it," Mulder muttered through clenched teeth as he tapped away at the computer keyboard. This was hard enough without her bothering him. "Did you try 'God', 'sex' and 'love'?" asked Scully. "Those are the three most common passwords." "Of course I tried those." said Mulder, typing s-e-x. The hard drive whirred to life. "Mulder-" "Not now, I'm in!" "Run!" Scully yelled, but it was too late. The yellow runny substance in the pot on the burner in the corner gushered up into the air like Old Faithful and showered them with faintly luminescent slime. Mulder took the brunt of the cascade, since he was closer and made a bigger target. "Ick," he said plainly, trying to wipe it away. "I need a shower." "We'll come back." Scully said, wiping the goop from her hair onto her hands and then on her skirt. Another suit ruined, she thought. They left for their respective homes. A few short hours later, Mulder knocked on Scully's door. "Scully?" he called. She didn't answer and he let himself in, wondering if she'd overslept. As soon as he got the door open and heard the shower running, he knew why she hadn't answered. "Scully?" he called again, approaching the closed bathroom door so she could hear him. Why do people who live alone close the bathroom door? he wondered, not for the first time. But Scully was like that. And it wasn't all the way closed... "Mulder?" She shut off the water. "Yes," he said. She turned the water back on. "We have a problem," he said, leaning against the door. "Can't hear you," she called over the sound of the spray. Mulder pushed the door open and stopped. If he went in, she'd murder him. A cloud of steam hit him in the face. Her shower stall door was opaque and he could almost see the outline of her body as she rinsed her hair. Guilt got the better of him and he went into the living room to wait for her. Scully shut off the water, suddenly feeling cold. She pulled her robe around her and stepped out into the large bathroom. The door was open. She frowned. Had Mulder...? He wouldn't do something like that, she thought as she wrapped up her hair. She dressed quickly and went into the living room. No Mulder. Scully went through the to the kitchen. He wasn't there. "Mulder, where are you?" "Here." he said. She turned and frowned. His voice came from the living room, but she didn't see him. "Come out, come out wherever you are," she said but she felt weird and uncomfortable. "I said we have a problem, Scully." Mulder repeated, knowing she hadn't heard him the first time. "Where are you? I can't see you?" she said, walking slowly into the living room. "Exactly." Mulder said, his hands clasping her arms as she walked into him. Her mouth opened and her eyes widened as they always did when she discovered something impossible. "I'm invisible," he said in a low voice. Scully couldn't move. It felt like she was pressed - quite intimately - against a warm, solid wall of male flesh. Male flesh that smelled like Mulder. But there was nothing there. She could see the far wall of her apartment. But she felt the strong familiar hands on her arms. "I'm still asleep," she said slowly, desperatelt refusing to believe this. "No," Mulder said, not releasing her arms. "It must have been something in the lab, the slime." "But then I'd be invisible!" Scully said, and shook her head. "This is impossible." "Think about it, Scully. Most of the stuff was on me. You hardly had any on you - maybe it's the quantity that matters." "Mulder." "Yes?" She looked up to about where she thought his eyes would be. "Did you come in when I was taking my shower?" "No." he said. "No. Of course not." Scully didn't quite believe him. Then again, she was pretty sure none of this was real. She had to be dreaming or delusional or...how could he prove he was invisible if she couldn't see him? "If you're invisible, shouldn't I be able to see your clothes? That is how it works, isn't it?" She gasped and tried to jerk away from him. "You *are* wearing clothes, aren't you?" "Scully, I don't know when this is going to wear off -" "I repeat, you are -" "Yes." Mulder said, though he was actually enjoying her reaction. I must be twisted, he thought, but it didn't bother him. "It seems that anything that touches me is also rendered invisible." "I'm not invisible," Scully said, then added as an afterthought, "And I'm touching you." "I had noticed that, Scully." Mulder said, suddenly smelling the soft scent of shampoo drifting up from her wet hair and absorbing the softness of her skin beneath his hands. He slid his thumb across the inside of her wrist. She drew in a sharp breath as electricity shot through her. It didn't escape Mulder's notice. "Would you let me go?" Scully demanded. He did and she paced across the room. "It doesn't make any sense, Mulder." she said and turned and found herself facing an empty room. Maybe it was better when he was touching her, she thought, at least then she knew where he was. "I didn't say it did. But the fact remains." Mulder said. "Yeah." Scully sat down cross-legged on the couch. Mulder watched her. She moved differently, as though she were alone, even if she wasn't. She seemed more spunky, less ladylike. More real. She said, "Do you have any other superpowers?" He choked. "What?" "You know," she said, matter-of-factly. "Faster than a speeding bullet, leap tall buildings...can you fly?" "Scully!" "Have you tried?" She asked earnestly. "It's how it always happens, isn't it?" She put on an announcer's voice. "Exposed to unknown chemicals in an unfathomable lab accident -" "Scully, are you all right?" Mulder asked. She had to be hysterical to be seriously asking such a question. "Oh, I'm great. And you're invisible." She laughed softly. "Believe me, Mulder, I want to say, 'prove it.' I really do. But how can you? I can't *see* you." She closed her eyes, then opened them. He still wasn't there. "What do we do?" he asked. "I'll analyze some of the slime, try to figure out why it's doing this. See if there's an antidote." She rose from the couch to get her clothes from the night before. At least she hadn't washed them out yet. "What are you going to do?" "The possibilities are endless." he said in an almost cynical monotone so she wasn't sure if he was joking or not. "Mulder-" Scully began, but there was a knock at the door. She wasn't expecting anyone, so she moved cautiously over to it. "Who is it?" "Dr. Hansen." "Great," she whispered and opened the door. "What can I do for you?" The twitchy-faced older man who stood before her peered over her shoulder. "Who were you talking to?" "No one." Scully lied quickly and boldly. He fixed pink-rimmed eyes on her. The man was a rabbit, she thought, wondering if his first name was Harvey. "I heard voices." "Television." "It's not on." he observed. "Did you come here for a reason?" Scully asked impatiently to cover her tracks. "I'm looking for your partner. Seen him?" "No-o-o-o," Scully said slowly, bracing herself to hear Mulder laugh and ruin the game. He didn't. "Why?" "He broke into my lab last night. Stole the only sample of a secret compound." Scully's heart pounded. This was it! Her face twisted for a second as she tried to believe the scientist before her had invented a formula to make people disappear. "What kind of a compound?" "Tell your partner it's urgent I speak to him. There are things he should know about the formula before he gives it to someone who'll want to use it." "What kinds of things?" "Bad things." Oh, no, he doesn't work for the government, Scully thought. "Any specifics?" The scientist glared. "Just tell him when you see him." "I expect I'll have a lot to say when I *see* him." Scully couldn't help herself. "Goodbye." She closed the door and turned to face the seemingly empty living room. It made her slightly nervous - Mulder was hard enough to keep track of even when she could see him. "Mulder?" No answer. "Mulder?" Great. What if 'bad things' had happened and he was lying somewhere on her floor unconscious and she could only find him if she fell over him? "Mulder?" She tried again. Then she felt the breeze. The window in the bathroom was open. It faced out onto the alley and was just about the right size for a six foot invisible man to climb through. No wonder he'd been so quiet, she thought. He wasn't there. She started for the bedroom to get the slime sample. He'd left her to do all the work. Again. Mulder flicked on the lights after letting himself into the small basement office. He was surprized no one was there. A corner of his mouth turned up in a smile. Now he could finally get a look through the file cabinets. But first, he thought, he had to boot up the highly efficient computer that hid within the shell of an unassuming PC. He switched it on and sat down, readily typing the password when asked. Paranoid as these guys were, he couldn't believe they hadn't changed it. Mulder heard the turn of a key in the lock. "Hell," he breathed, checking his watch. At least he could see himself. He wondered why that was. He also wondered what the guys were doing here so early - didn't they have day jobs? He swiftly shut down the computer and moved to stand in the corner, out of the way. "Frohike, I thought I told you about leaving on the lights." said Byers. "I turned them off." cried Frohike. No one would believe him. Langly walked in and looked at the computer. "Someone's been here." he said. Mulder couldn't believe these guys - did they carpool? How very...normal. "I told you not to leave the Satellite Information Network report out." griped Frohike. The trio moved as a unit to the far table to check it. They sounded like the three bears. Mulder was appalled, but grateful for the diversion. He scribbled a note and stuck it on the computer screen, then stepped back. Frohike discovered it and looked around the room, shifty eyed and suspicious. "Mulder was here." he announced, "Left us a note." Langly took the sticky note and scanned it. "I'll get right to it," he said, turning on the computer. The boys got to work. Mulder moved to read over Langly's shoulder, watching him type. Mulder was amazed the keyboard didn't start smoking - his friend had to be typing 90 words per minute. He wondered what Langly's highest Pac Man score had been. "Mulder's gonna love this." said Langly. "This Dr. Hansen guy was apparently working on a new secret weapon." Byers and Frohike looked interested. Langly cracked a smile. "Invisible aliens." Inivisible aliens, thought Mulder. Scully's gonna love this. "Can't wait till he gets here." said Frohike and Mulder had to smile. "She still hasn't called you?" asked Byers. "I think he keeps her locked in at night." Frohike sighed melodramatically. Mulder realized they were talking about Scully. "Who, Mulder? Did you hear about that cockroach girl?" said Byers. "The entymologist who wouldn't give him the time of day?" Langly said. "Not to hear him tell it." Mulder was hurt. "Lay off." Frohike spoke up. "Give the guy a break." Thank you, Mulder thought. "Besides, it is obvious he is enamored of his lovely partner." Mulder's jaw dropped. "Are you trying to change your bet again, Frohike?" Byers asked. Bet! They had a bet...? Mulder had heard enough. He opened the door slowly and slipped out. "Now that's spooky," Langly said, watching the door open seemingly by itself. Mulder slammed it behind him. Scully rubbed her eyes and switched off the microscope light. She was getting nowhere with a chemical analysis of the substance. She'd identified the mixture but lacked any clear theories on why it would cause invisibility. She removed the rubber band from her hair and shook her head. She would just have to get back in and get a look at Dr. Hansen's research firsthand. Mulder could help with that, she thought, wondering again where he was. Scully sat down and put her feet up to think. Why would the good doctor be working up a formula for invisibility anyway? One answer came immediately to mind. Weapons. An army of invisible human-alien hybrids. The thought seemed to appear in her mind from nowhere. What a Mulder-like idea, she thought, but it did have some merit. The ability to render human spies invisible would come in handy. That was good news; it meant there would have to be an antidote. Scully assumed it would be in Hansen's notes. That only left the side effects for her to worry about. Mulder, where are you? she thought, returning to the microscope. Scully wanted to dial him up on his cell phone, but knew she shouldn't. She smiled, picturing it: his cell phone would ring and a roomful of executives, doctors and government types would answer their phones, only to find it was none of them. She shook her head and returned to the chemical puzzle before her. She looked up suddenly. Scully would swear she felt Mulder's presence. He didn't say anything. "Mulder?" she whispered, certain he had entered the room. No answer. She didn't return to the 'scope, trying to analyze what the feeling consisted of. It had to be a change in air pressure or something equally undetectable to the conscious mind, she decided. Scully looked around again, scrutinizing. Nothing had changed. Convinced nothing was there, she once again bent over the microscope, trying to concentrate, but she was distracted. First she thought she felt something in her hair. She raised her hand and smoothed it down. Then she felt the slightest brush against her thigh. She frowned. Her imagination? It had to be. Antidote, she reminded herself, think antidote. Something warm and soft whispered across her cheek. A puff of breath near her ear. Scully sat upright, tense and scared and well, a little aroused by the phantom touches. "Mulder?" she said, but it didn't abate her nerves. Why would he do this? The door closed noisily. Scully whirled around to look. She saw nothing, of course. "Hi, Scully." Mulder's voice came from the door. "Find anything?" She frowned, feeling ridiculous and slightly paranoid, but she had to ask. "Did you just get here?" "Yes." He sounded a little to innocent, but she took him at his word. "I know what's in it, but I don't know what causes the invisibility or what will cure it. Dr. Hansen told me to warn you of side effects, so we need to get back into his lab." As she spoke, Mulder stood behind her and leaned around her to look through the microscope himself. He put his arm around her to brace his body against the worktable. Scully felt the heat and strength of his body against hers, much closer than he usually got. She wanted to close her eyes and savor the sensations, but reminded herself that he could see her even if she couldn't see him. "How were the Lone Gunmen?" she asked. Mulder stiffened and drew away from her. Scully turned to look at him and was surprised again that he wasn't there. "How did you know that's where I went?" She shrugged. "I just knew...I'm right, though, aren't I?" She tried to determine where the notion had come from, but she didn't know. "'I just knew'," Mulder mocked gently. "Sometimes I think you're psychic, Scully." "Sure." she said evenly, "Did you find out anything?" "Hansen's working on a new, top secret weapon involving alien hybrids and this formula." "Aliens?" said Scully, a weird feeling in her stomach. "You don't think this contains alien technology, do you?" he asked, bending over the microscope again. "Of course not," she replied immediately, "I've identified all of the substances, but I can't figure out what makes it work." "We've got hours before Hansen's employees go home and we can get into the lab." Mulder said, "What should we do?" "I have an idea," Scully said and made a grab for his hand, rising from the chair. "Let's go." "Scully, I'm tired." Mulder whined. "One more time," she urged. He set his jaw stubbornly, though she couldn't see him. She'd subjected him to rather unscientific tests for the last hour or so. Mulder could think of better uses for his time. "Why don't you run it once? I'll time you this time?" She'd removed her jacket and thrown it on the ground a few minutes before and all Mulder could think of was the curve of her breasts under her tight little sweater. "Mulder." she said in that way she had. "I think this thing is affecting my libido," he muttered, remembering his hijinks in the lab. He knew he should feel guilty for that bit of mischief, but he didn't. "What make you say that?" Scully asked, licking her pencil and scribbling in her notebook again. He smiled. Pure science, he thought, amused, knowing he couldn't answer with the truth. A convienent joke, then, he thought. "Come over here and find out." She raised her eyebrows at him and put her hands on her hips. "OK, so we've determined that you can't run any farther or any faster. Can you lift more than you could before? Maybe strength..." "Come over here and find out." he said again. She looked hurt. "No, Scully, I was joking." Mulder said quickly. Still that little squint to her eye. "I didn't mean -" he moved towards her, trying to make this right. Open mouth, insert foot, he thought. "I was joking." he said again. "You have a beautiful body." He touched her arm. Scully's blue eyes widened as she looked up at him. Oh hell, he thought, that's not any better. Her mouth softened from its tight line for a moment and he squeezed her arm. She looked uncomfortable and moved away to put on her jacket. "So, can you fly?" She said, half-serious. "I'm not Superman." "X-ray vision?" I wish, he thought as she buttoned her jacket. "This is getting us nowhere." he said, "I could really use some sleep and a shower." A cold one. Scully's eyes fixed on him again, uncannily. As though he knew what he was thinking. As though she could see him. "Have you showered since the accident?" "Trying to tell me I'm not Sure?" he joked. She frowned. "I thought maybe the residue from the substance could be causing the invisibility-" "No, I showered when I got home last night." "Then let's go." She started down the hill to where they'd left the car and he followed, watching her maneuver her way in ridiculous three inch heels. So incredibly impractical, he thought, but it was nice to know she had that bit of vanity. Her ankle wobbled and turned. She lost her balance and started sliding down the hill with a surprised cry. Mulder rushed to her side and caught her in his arms. He didn't break the embrace right away. It felt good, he realized, her softness pressed up against him; it felt right. She looked up at him. Oh hell, he though, what a time for me to realize I'm in lo- "Mulder." Scully said, a wealth of information in her breathy tone. She averted her eyes to the ground and took a step back. He didn't release her. She shoved him. Hard. "Scully?" asked Mulder, puzzled. She faced away from him, her arms wrapped around herself and her eyes closed. "Did you hurt your ankle?" No reply. "Are you OK?" He put his hands lightly on her shoulders. She jerked away. "Don't touch me!" she cried. Anger stirred inside him. "What's this about?" he asked, quickly losing his patience. "You need to get your thoughts out of the gutter." It was as though someone dumped an entire tray of ice cubes down his back. Mulder couldn't breathe. "What do you know about my thoughts?" he asked, fearing her answer. "I can hear them." she muttered, turning away to purposely obscure the words. End of part one. Yes, well, bit of a cliffhanger there. Sorry about that. I will get part two posted as soon as I can - probably tomorrow (Wed.). OK? I live for your comments! Please email me! eponine119 eponine@uci.edu =========================================================================== From: eponine119 Newsgroups: alt.tv.x-files.creative Subject: NEW: Recondite (2/2) Date: Wed, 7 Feb 1996 17:33:55 -0800 Disclaimed in part one. If you missed part one, email me. Recondite part 2 by eponine119 eponine@uci.edu Catch-up: Mulder's invisible. And Scully... "You what?" cried Mulder. "I can hear them." she repeated. "Your thoughts." "All of them?" "Let's go to Dr. Hansen's lab and get the antidote." she said, and started down the hill. "Answer my question first." he demanded. She stopped and took a deep breath. "No. Not all of them." "Which ones?" He moved to catch up with her. She didn't answer. "Which ones?" His fingers dug into her wrist to enforce his point. "Uhh-" She twisted, but he didn't let go. Her head was beginning to hurt. It was hard enough to block her own feelings without his in her head as well. He was angry. He almost...wanted to hurt her. "It's worse when you touch me," she said, still trying to get away from him. "Is this a result of the slime?" he asked. "I don't know. I assume-" Her voice was strained. Scully's own emotions were confused; she'd hoped to deny this ridiculous, impossible thing. His voice was low, sexy, close to her ear. "What am I thinking?" he asked and concentrated on one image, trying to send it to her. She blushed and backed away and he knew she'd recieved it. "You want to kiss me, too," he said. "You can - It works both ways?" asked Scully, her face tinged a deeper shade of pink. Her ears turned red. "No." he said. "But it doesn't take a genius-" "Stop!" she cried. "People have millions of thoughts every day that don't mean anything. That they never act on." He sighed and touched her hot face. She jumped and he dropped his hand. "Let's go get the antidote." Mulder said, sounding like his everyday self. Back in control. Scully hurried to the car. Mulder switched the computer on and typed the system password. The machine beeped at him. "Damn," he said. "They changed the password." He got to work trying to guess the new one. "Did you try god, sex, and love?" Scully asked, wandering about the lab. "Of course I did," he snapped, "What was Hansen's birthday again?" Scully thought a moment. "Ten-thirteen?" "Scully, that's my birthday," Mulder said, but tried it anyway. "Eleven-twenty one?" Scully tried again. "I thought you had a photographic memory." She discovered an experiment in progress underneath the window and leaned in to examine it more closely. A fine mist drifted up from it. Scully's nose itched and she rubbed it, jiggling the bowl of liquid with her other hand. More of the liquid vaporized and sprayed into the air. Scully sniffed it: no odor. Immediately she was cold and her skin began to tingle. She frowned and took a step back, drawing in fresh air, but in a matter of seconds, her skin was numb. "Mulder-" she said. He turned to look at her. Something was wrong. "What is it?" "Another of Hansen's experiments." she said. "I inhaled some of it and my skin went numb." "All of it?" She nodded. "Can you get a sample of the liquid without breathing it in?" She asked. He asked and did so, his eyes fixed on her the entire time. "Did you get into the computer?" "No." He put the sample vial into her hand and it slid through her fingers. Mulder picked it up and put it into her jacket pocket. She was trembling. "Are you OK?" he asked. "Fine." she said. "I can feel pressure, but nothing else." "Scully, you're bleeding." Mulder realized, grabbing her hand and straightening her fingers. She'd gouged her palm with her fingernails. She nodded calmly, not looking at her hand. "You did this on purpose?" "I had to find out -" "I'm taking you home." Mulder declared. "I don't think I can drive." "I'll drive." "Mulder, you're invisible." "It's two in the morning, Scully, no one'll notice. Can you walk?" His arm went around her shoulders. "I'm fine." she insisted, though she wasn't. She could feel a cool layer of nothingness, like insulation, and beneath that, her blood was starting to throb. Like it was trying to get through a barrier but couldn't. And her head ached terribly. With his arm around her, she could feel his concern for her. It was close to too much. "Lay down on the back seat," Mulder ordered when they got to the car. "Mulder, I'm fine." she insisted. "Do I have to put you back there myself?" he roared and she got in. The car started. Mulder was still surprised not to see himself in the rearview mirror. "Are you sure this isn't the result of poison?" he asked. "It's another weapon." Scully said. "An army of invisible mind reading soldiers isn't enough. Imagine if they didn't feel pain?" She looked out the window. "Where are you going?" "The No-Tell Motel on Rte. 61." He glanced at her in the mirror. She refused to lie down. "This is too convienent, Scully." he said. "Every time we go into Dr. Hansen's lab, we're exposed to one of his weird experiments. I don't think it's an accident. He's setting us up as -" "Test subjects!" Scully cried. "That's why he was looking for you this morning, not because of any side effects, but because he needed to keep you under observation." He stopped the car. "You'd better get the room." he suggested. Scully got out of the car and stood for a moment staring at the blining neon sign. It really was called the No-Tell motel. She glanced back to look at Mulder, and didn't see him. Why did she keep forgetting he was invisible? She asked for a double and the desk clerk gave her an odd look before he handed her the key. She went back and got Mulder out of the car, feeling the clerk's eyes on her. She was having trouble walking. She opened the door and turned on the light. "I asked for a double." she said, staring at the one bed draped with a hideous orange bedspread. "This is it." Mulder brushed past her as he went inside. Scully shut the door. "You did this on purpose!" "It's 2 AM, we have no luggage and we're hiding out so you can get some rest." Mulder said, his voice soothing. "We need someplace where they won't notice us. Now lie down and sleep this off," he instructed gently, taking her hands and leading her to the bed. Not quite how I imagined it'd be when he led me to the bed, Scully thought. Mulder intended to sit up and watch TV, she sensed. "When was the last time you slept?" she asked in her doctor voice. The plastic chair creaked and she knew he'd sat down. He shrugged, but realized she couldn't see him. "Doesn't matter. I'm not tired." She knew he was lying. The TV snapped on and the volume lowered. "Besides, you're the one Hansen can see." Scully frowned. "We can't just confront him." Mulder's shoulders sagged. He wished she would get out of his mind. He rested his head on his shoulder and stared at the TV. "I wish I could get out of your head, too," Scully said. "But we can't go and see Hansen tomorrow." "He's a scientist. We're FBI agents, with guns and an advantage." Mulder told her. "We don't know who he's working for." "But we'll find out." Mulder tried again to end the conversation. Sleep, he thought to her. "He's not going to hand over the antidote so easily." "We can't get into his computer." Mulder argued. Sleep, he thought more forcefully and looked at her. At least she was lying down. "I can't sleep with you shouting at me in your head." Scully said, trying to swallow a yawn. She blinked and saw the telephone receiever rise up into the air. She moved to the other side of the bed. "Sit down." The bed sank as he did. She slipped her jacekt and her shoes off, listening to him. "Hello...Langly? OK. Langly, I need a favor." Mulder said. Scully closed her eyes. If she concentrated, she could get an impression of him through Mulder. Langly was upset. She smiled. Mulder was interrupting his evening. At least someone's got a life, she thought, wondering who Langly's dream girl was. "It's important." Mulder insisted. "I need you to get a file from Hansen's computer." Langly refused. "I know you can - damn it." He slammed down the phone and looked at Scully. "He hung up on me." She opened her eyes. "He wasn't alone." She knew instantly that Mulder didn't understand, that he wasn't taking her literally. "He was, um -" She searched for a euphemism. "You know, ah-" "Oh." Mulder said quickly. "How do you know?" She shrugged and smiled. "Eavesdropped." "And you knew what he was thin-" "Vague impressions. Not like with you." Scully said. Mulder got up off the bed. "You don't have to sleep in the chair." she said. "We can share-" "No." said Mulder, carefully trying not to think anything about her. Scully closed her eyes and listened to the channels change on the TV. Mulder opened his eyes and stretched. The sun was up. He looked at his watch. 9:30 am. He shut off the TV and glanced at Scully. Still asleep. He went in the bathroom and looked in the mirror. Still invisible. He rubbed a hand over his scratchy face. How *did* vampires shave? he wondered. Best not to think about it. He went in the other room and hoped Scully's affliction had worn off. Mulder watched her sleep. He had to wake her up; they had to get going. He sat down on the bed. Scully rolled over and scrunched her face against the pillow. Her arm stretched across his chest, as though she was reaching for her lover. Something strange happened in Mulder's stomach when he wondered who the last man in Scully's bed had been. He watched her breathe. She was still asleep. He picked up her hand and opened it, looking at the tiny marks from her nails. He rubbed his thumb lightly over her palm. She didn't react, but he still hoped the numbness had worn off. Scully rolled onto her back. He still held her hand. She would awaken soon, he thought - or was she a restless sleeper? Mulder swallowed hard, fighting his attraction to her. When did it get this bad? he wondered, thinking back. He couldn't pinpoint it to a day or a time. Scully sighed and moaned softly, arching her back slightly. Mulder stared at her, almost horrified. She was having an erotic dream? About him? What if it wasn't about him? What was he supposed to do? She made a little noise in the back of her throat and Mulder groaned. This was too much. It took all of his self control and then some not to attack her. He slowly brushed a strand of hair away from her lips, letting his fingers trail down her cheek and throat. His thumb brushed across her nipple. She opened her eyes and caught her breath, the dream gone. Mulder jumped back, probably not fast enough. She looked at him, her gaze intense. She's reading your guilty thoughts right now, he thought. Her face colored and she slapped him accurately and painfully. "Don't you ever do anything like that again!" she said. "I wanted to see if the anesthetic had worn off." Mulder said innocently. "Yeah." She was breathing hard. "Well, it worked, didn't it?" he asked and for a second he thought she was going to hit him again like an outraged Victorian virgin. "You took advantage of me while I was asleep!" Scully yelled at him. "What were you dreaming about?" he asked. "I don't remember." she lied, feeling warm all over. "That's not the point." "What is the point, Scully?" Mulder asked calmly. "You touched my breast-" "Big deal." Mulder said. "What do you have that's so special? Besides, you're always harping on equality. You want to touch me?" he challenged. Scully fought her reaction. Any reaction. She stiffly got up from the bed and stretched. Conscious of his invisible eyes on her, she rubbed her hands along her arms. "Well, at least I can feel again," she said and turned to face him, "But you're still invis-" "You never could feel," Mulder said coldly. She flinched and watched the door open and close. "Damn it." Scully said and went to take a quick shower. The seatbelt was drawn over the passenger seat when she got into the car. Scully tried to be glad she didn't have to see him there in the other seat. She hated fighting with him. "I think you should go in and see Hansen and I'll scare him." Mulder suggested. I'm sorry, he thought, but wouldn't say the words. "Sure, fine." said Scully. "Whatever." Mulder nodded and looked out the window, wondering again how she'd been able to hit him so accurately without seeing him. "I can sense you." she answered and put her hand on his thigh, farther up from the knee than he was comfortable with. Her eyes never left the road. "I see." said Mulder. Her hand didn't move. "Can you read everyone's mind?" "No. Just yours. I think it's because we work so closely as a team. I can get impressions from other people, but not thoughts." "Why can't I read your mind?" he asked. She shrugged. "Maybe you don't want to." Wrong, he thought. "Maybe it's because women are naturally more intuitive." He felt her dig her fingers into his leg. "They are, Scully, it's a fact; it has to do with nurturing children. So these super-warriors are designed to work in male-female teams." "Why not 2 females?" she asked. "Or 2 females." Mulder conceded, wishing she'd removed her hand. "That's enough." he said. "Uncomfortable?" she asked, manipulating him. "Not as uncomfortable as you'll be if you don't move it." he said, sending her an image of them making love in the car. "Let's try a new game." Scully said. "You see if you can send me a thought that's not about sex." I'm sorry, he thought honestly. I'll behave myself. He even gave her his puppy-dog look. After a moment, she removed her hand from his leg. "Dr. Hansen." Scully said, entering the lab. He looked at her in surprize. "Do you have a minute?" "Certainly." he said, swinging his chair around to face her. She noted the computer was on. Good. "Have you seen your partner?" "No." "I've told my superiors that he's selling stolen secrets. He could be in grave danger-" "Who are your superiors?" Scully demanded. "Run along and find your partner." Dr. Hansen said impatiently. "Don't dismiss me like that." Scully said. Dr. Hansen twitched. "You know we've broken into your lab, and we know you're using us as human test subjects. There never were any side effects, were there?" Dr. Hansen twitched again. "I want the antidote and I want it now." Scully ordered. Mulder grabbed Hansen's hands and held them up in the air. The scientist began screaming. "He's no use." Mulder remarked, disgusted. "Guess he has no appreciation for his own work," said Scully. She ignored Hansen's yells and set to work on the computer. She found the formula and its inverse, jammed a disk in and pressed save. Dr. Hansen screamed for her help; apparently invisible men terrified him. The computer beeped at her and she removed the disk. Then she crashed the hard drive. "Let's go," she called to Mulder, sauntering out of the lab. Dr. Hansen slid to the floor, dazed as Mulder released him and left as well. Hansen was still lying on the floor when a tall, thin man entered the lab. "Get up, you idiot." he ordered. Hansen got to his feet. "An effective test." the man stated, lighting a cigarette. Hansen ripped through his desk until he located his backup disk and clutched it to his heart. "They have my research." he said at last. "Those two will destroy it once they have the antidote. And this will remain a secret." The man dropped his cigarette on the floor and ruthlessly crushed it out. "Won't it?" he smiled grimly and took the disk from Hansen. He turned and left. Hansen could only stare. "It's nice to see you again." Scully said, sitting on her couch, watching her partner. "Nice to be seen." Mulder smiled back at her. They grinned at each other for a long moment before Scully smacked the couch and called her dog. Mulder pulled his feet up from the floor, glaring at the carnivorous creature. "I got you a new toy." she said to the dog. "Fetch." She tossed the plastic disk over her shoulder. The dog ran after it and Mulder could hear crunching, slurping sounds from across the room. "That's the end of that." she said. "It had a fatal flaw." "What's that?" Mulder asked. "You don't think they purposely engineered the formula to produce *horny* invisible mindreading pain-tolerant alien soldiers, do you?" said Scully as though it was perfectly normal. "So we're blaming this on the formula?" Mulder asked. "The cosmos, cockroaches, and root beer were taken." She said matter of factly. "Someday we'll run out of excuses." Mulder said softly, his eyes darkening as they held her gaze. "Yes," she agreed, a glimmer of promise in her eyes. Then she smiled mischeiviously. "But not today." Mulder smiled back. He could wait. The end. Comments! I want to hear what you thought. Please? Pretty please? With sugar on top? -eponine119 , eponine@uci.edu