From: "lisa.danilowicz" Date: Sun, 28 Feb 1999 14:12:47 -0600 (CST) Subject: NEW: "Safe" (1/1) by Lisa Disclaimer: These characters belong to Chris Carter. Category: VA Classification: Mulder/Scully UST Rating: PG Archive: Gossamer. Others ask me. Spoilers: Drive Feedback: Knock yourself out. Summary: A late night incident frightens Scully. Author's Note: I did some research with respect to cities and mileage mentioned in this piece. However, discrepancies and inconsistencies may be present, as I am unfamiliar with the areas. Warning: Angst ahead! "Safe" (1/1) by Lisa (danil001@bama.ua.edu) The silence in the car was deafening. I was assuming she was all right, physically at least, but then she would never cry right in front of me. Even during her cancer, I never saw her shed a tear. Scully called me about a half hour ago and told me she was at a police station in Silver Spring, Maryland. She had been carjacked on her way to a friend's house. Apparently, she stopped to pick up a bottle of wine and a man forced her to drive to Maryland. I guess her didn't hurt her. He just let her out of the car. I'm driving her back home and we still have at least another half hour to go. I want to reach out and hold her hand, but she is leaning against the window watching the rain fall. That small space between us seems miles away. It's dark. It's late. It's cold. I'm just relieved she's safe. **** We walk through the door of her apartment and she slips her coat off, hanging it in the closet. She is wearing a short black dress that is a few inches above her knee. I've never seen her this dressed up. I did notice earlier that she was wearing more make-up than usual, but the coat concealed her formal attire. I almost wished I was escorting her to that party. She would introduce me to her friends as . . . well . . I don't know, but I would love to be at a party with Scully. I'd want her to smile at me from across the room when we'd split up and mingle amongst the other revelers. She'd glance my way and we'd come back together as always at the end of the evening. Maybe, if she'd let me I would come back to her place and the evening would linger on for another drink or two before I'd have to go home. Alone, as always. "Mulder? Mulder?" Her voice brings me out of my fantasy. "What?" I ask. "I'm fine." she states. "You can go home now. Thanks for coming to get me." She heads towards the kitchen. "No problem." I tell her. "I'll pick you up on Monday for work, Ok? They may not find your car by then . . . Maybe, I don't know . . ." "Sure, that sounds good." Scully busies herself buy boiling some water for tea, not looking at me. "I'm just going to make some tea and go to bed." "If you need to go anywhere this weekend, just let me know. I don't mind driving you. It's no problem, really." I offer. "I really don't think I need to go anywhere, but thanks anyway." she answers, reaching for a cup. It slips out of her hand and falls to the floor. Broken. "Dammit," Scully exclaims. I rush over to her side. "Let me help you." "I've got it, really . . ." she says, bending over to pick up the fragments of glass. "I loved this cup. My mother gave it to me when I was a child. I should have been more careful. I should've looked." She began to cry. "Scully, it's Ok. It's just a cup." I assure her. "No, I should've looked. I . . . I should have been more careful then . . . then he wouldn't have been able to point the gun at me and make me drive him." she sobbed. "It's not your fault." I remark. "C'mon . . . Come and sit down." I motion towards the couch. She does as I suggest. I sit down next to her. "I didn't even want to go to the party. I promised her a few weeks ago and almost forgot, but didn't want to renege on that promise." she explains. "Well, you got your wish, you didn't go." I comment. She smiles a little at my attempt at a joke. "I was scared, Mulder." she reveals. "I shouldn't have been, after all the things that I've been through, this was minor. I should have handled myself better." "Anyone would've been scared in your position. I would have." I admit. "I know what you were going through. Remember when I had to drive that man west to try and save his life? He had a gun pointed at me the whole time." Scully nods weakly. "I couldn't get in touch with you." she remarks. "If I only had my gun, but I didn't want to take it to a party. I thought I would be fine. But no one is really safe." She looks down at her hands resting in her lap. There is sadness in her eyes and voice. "You need to get some rest." I suggest. I grasp her hand and she doesn't resist as I lead her to the bedroom. She seems a little unsteady. "I feel hot." she claims when she's sitting on the bed. I lean over and press my lips against her forehead. "I don't think you have a fever." I wonder if I should have taken her to the hospital, but she just wanted to go home and I figured the police would have asked her if there was anything wrong. She's a doctor, she would know if something was wrong, right? "Help me unzip my dress." she asks. "I need to get comfortable." I did as she asked. Then she starts taking off the dress and I figured I'd better leave before we both are embarrassed. "Mulder, where are you going?" She took off her pantyhose and is standing there in her slip. I can't take my eyes off of her. It's white. There is lace covering her breasts and the rest is just pure white all the way down to her thighs. She looks beautiful except she's upset and traumatized from her ordeal. Besides that fact, I'd be really turned on. However, her being afraid quenches any desire I might have. "I . . . I'm going go and let you get some . . . sleep." I mumble. She sits down on the bed, lowering her head. "Ok, but . . I . . . " she begins, meeting my gaze. "I feel safe with you." I look deep into her eyes. They are swimming with tears. For a moment, I want to take her far away with me, far away from our work, our lives, and all the people that could hurt us. Just the two of us in some remote place where nothing and no one could find us. I could protect her for the rest of our lives. Scully curls up on the bed, closing her eyes. I sit on the edge of the bed stroking her hair away from her face. Her eyes are still closed. She murmurs something and clutches the bed sheets. I take off my jacket and toss it on the floor. I unbutton the shirt I'm wearing and it joins my jacket at the side of the bed. Since she's lying here in her underwear, I figure I should be a little more comfortable as well. I gather her in my arms. She feels cold. Goosebumps cover her arms. I caress her hair and her back. I feel her nestle against my chest and bring her arm around me. Now I feel safe. END (1/1)