From: "Ramona Japhy" Date: Thu, 22 Jul 1999 13:35:30 EDT Subject: Scully Wants A Life Source: direct Title: Scully Wants A Life Author: Ramona Japhy Classification: MSR Rating: PG 13, i think, for swearing. Archive: Anywhere as long as my name & email stay attached. Keywords: Romance Summary: Scully has a boyfriend, but who cares? Disclaimer: *I* don't own them, wish i did, but i respect the fact that the great godly chris carter controls the xfiles universe. im just borrowing them. if xfiles were reality, this is simply a dream. please don't sue. Author's Note: this is one of my first fanfics written, back in the day. i found it hiding on a disk, so I thought i'd post it. please, be kind, i was young, and couldn't write worth shit. Scully Wants A Life by Ramona Japhy Dana Scully briskly stepped across the concrete sidewalk as the wind ran its icy fingers through her hair. Her pace quickening, Scully glanced around the empty street. Oh, come on Dana. Stop being so paranoid, she told herself forcefully. After five years of Mulder's crazy theories, she couldn't help being careful. Mulder. Lately, Scully just didn't know what to think of him. He was a big a part of her life, and yet what were they? Friends? Sometimes she was so confused. Standing there, Dana realized that, other than her family, she barely even talked to anyone but her partner. "Oh God, is this my whole life?!" Scully sighed as she yanked open the door to her car. I need to get a life, and fast. Five minutes later, Scully found herself cautiously stepping into a bar. What the fuck am I doing here? This is crazy. Maybe one of Mulder's aliens has taken over my body, she thought somewhat bitterly as she turned to leave, plowing into an attractive man in his late thirties, who appeared as uncomfortable as herself. "Hi, sorry, guess I didn't see you. Tell you what. I'll buy you a drink." The man didn't wait for an answer, just started leading her to the bar, his hand softly covering hers. "I was just on my way out." she replied abruptly, pulling her hand away roughly and walking toward the door "Hey, wait a minute. I must seem really presumptuous. Maybe I'm not used to bars. How can I offer you a drink in a way that you'll accept?" Tell Mulder you're an alien and he'll drag me along. Dana almost said it, but realized that this guy was actually pretty nice, and maybe she would have a drink with him, so she obviously didn't want him to know about the X-Files. He'd think she was crazy for believing all that crap. Besides, the whole point of coming here was to meet someone other than Mulder. "I haven't eaten much all day. I was thinking of checking out that diner across the street. Why don't you join me?" Scully closed her eyes, still unsure of what she was doing. "Sure. I'm Michael Tybalt." "Dana Scully." The waitress turned and drifted to another table while Michael finished talking. "So how about you? What do you do?" Dana smiled at her companion as she sipped her coffee. "Well, I'm....an FBI agent" It was too late. She already said it. For some reason her job always seemed to freak guys out. Her mind struggled to decide how much she should say. Dana rushed on, praying he wouldn't ask questions. "I joined the FBI after medical school and taught at Quantico. Five years ago I was sent to work on the X-Files division as a field agent. It's really not as exciting as you might think." Dana closed her eyes, fearing his response. She'd enjoyed this past hour, and thought she could really get into this guy. As long as he didn't dump her over this. "Do you carry a gun?" Of course. That's the first question he asks. Dana sighed, relieved, and nodded the affirmative. A smile crept onto her face as she realized how ridiculous her fears had been. Mulder was sitting at his desk when she strolled in, later than usual. He looked at her briefly, curious, somehow suspecting a change in her. "I've got a new case." Mulder leaned back in his chair to hand her a folder. Scully took the file. "Great. What is it?" Fox Mulder eyed his partner nervously. She sounded sincere. He knew she liked working on the X-Files, but she'd never actually sounded enthusiastic about a case before. He glanced at the floor as he started to talk. It doesn't matter, he told himself. This was work. For five years, Mulder had tried to only think about his partner professionally, but it could get really hard. He was, however, very successful. Even though he sometimes couldn't stop unprofessional thoughts, he didn't think of her as anything but a partner and friend. "We're going to Wisconsin?" Dana watched as Mulder started. He obviously hadn't been paying attention to what he was saying. "Uh...yeah, why?" Dana tried to hide her disappointment. She and Michael had planned to go to dinner the next evening, and now she had to cancel. "So there's apparently no link between the deaths, except that a strange bacteria was found growing on them. It is uncertain......." Dana glanced at Mulder. She had to admit that she cared about him a great deal, and enjoyed being around him. Concentrate on the case, Dana. She coughed to clear her throat and her mind as she focused her attention. The case had been a tough one. Mulder crumbled onto his couch, flipping on the television. Scully was acting very strangely. As if she didn't care. She was preoccupied. Mulder, struck by an impulse, hopped off the couch, and practically skipped to the car. A knock sounded at Dana Scully's door. Dana stood up, apologetically glancing at Michael, and slowly walked over to the door. "Hey, Scully, I was just in the neighborhood and I thought I'd drop by. You didn't happen to cook me dinner, did you?" Mulder waltzed past Scully and dropped down on her couch. "Mulder, what are you doing here? I have company. I think you should leave." "Oh, yeah? Someone I know? Frohike, maybe?" Dana threw a pillow at him. "I'll see you at work tomorrow, Mulder." Mulder looked up as Michael angrily stood up and glared at the stranger. Mulder eyed him for a minute. "uh, sorry. I didn't, uh, realize you had a date." "Michael, this is my partner Fox Mulder. Call him Fox. Mulder, this is Michael Tybalt- my boyfriend." I don't trust him. Mulder almost laughed at his immediate reaction. Why should he be so quick to judge. I still don't trust him. He's no good. I hate that bastard. Mulder pushed the thoughts aside and attempted a joke. "Yeah, you must be pretty lonely without Eddie." "Are you referring to Ed Jerse or Eddie VanBlundht?" Scully responded lightly to his remark, all the while hinting that he should leave, subtle hints, like, oh, handing him his coat and shoving him towards the door. "Nice to meet you, Fox," Michael intervened. "Why don't you stay a while? I'd like to get to know you." Scully smiled devilishly at Mulder's first name, as the tall man winced, nevertheless tossing his coat back on the couch and placing a hand on the small of Scully's back to lead her to the table. Michael's eyes narrowed, and Scully quickly retreated to the kitchen. Dana weakly pulled the door shut and leaned back against it. What the hell was he doing? Mulder was usually all business, and so was she. But now he was interrupting her dinner with Michael, then sitting down to join them. Even worse was the realization that it wasn't that strange. Mulder popped by occasionally, and the two spent a lot of time together, though most of it was during work. Dana considered them friends, but always simply work friends. She didn't know when they had crossed that line. Dana grabbed an extra plate and utensils, and ran into Michael as she headed out the door. He guided her inside and looked at her quizzically for a moment. "I didn't know you and your partner were so close." Dana's eyes widened as she turned away and avoided the question with an equally vague answer. "We've been partners for five years. Naturally we've become friends, but I don't consider us that close." Dana squeezed her eyes shut. It was true that neither of them easily confided in the other with their feelings, but sometimes they didn't have to... Michael seemed satisfied with that, though still a little suspicious. They made their way back to the table, where Mulder was waiting with an familiar grin on his face, relaxed, but not at ease. "So, Scully, how long have you been dating him?" Mulder's words were bitter, resentful, and purposely spoken only to his partner. "Not quite two months," Scully answered, her eyes resting on the suddenly fascinating fork in front of Mulder. "TWO MONTHS! Damn it, Scully. Why didn't you fucking tell me?" "Hey! She doesn't have to tell you everything, you know. Or are you two so close that you know all there is to know about each other?" More bitterness and doubt. Dana rose, her gaze drifting over the two men, who in turn shifted their glare from each other and watched her. "Mulder get out. You have no right to interfere in my personal life." Scully spoke wearily in a low tone. "I'll see you tomorrow." Mulder, with one more glare at Michael, mumbled an apology and angrily walked out. Dana turned to Michael, "Michael, I'm sorry, I just... I don't want to take advantage of you....I just needed a life....away from work, but...." Dana swallowed and her teary blue eyes rested on the floor. She opened the door for the two of them, and stood motionless, waiting. Michael paused as he neared her. "We shouldn't just....end it like this.... we need to talk...whatever's going on, I...You're right. This is best. Bye, Dana" After a few tries, Michael smiled in defeat. As Michael left, Dana sat down on her couch and stared ahead. She had no regrets about breaking it off with Michael, but she hated having Mulder leave angry. Oh, well, it didn't matter. They'd be fine at work the next day, even if they were angry. That's when Dana realized that she didn't give a damn about how they worked, she cared about their friendship more than their partnership. But what the hell gave Mulder the idea he could just barge in and interfere with her life?! Dana watched the door swing shut, then, exhausted, headed to clean up. She jumped at the sight of Fox Mulder, stationary at the door, watching her with attentive eyes that searched inside her, waiting, solemn. She broke the gaze between them almost the second she met his eyes. Turning away, she sighed wearily and carried the plates into the kitchen. Mulder remained stationary until she trudged past him, then followed quietly and meekly. Finally, after she set the last dish aside and dried her hands, Dana faced him. "Scully- I, uh,...I want to apologize. I shouldn't have come here.....none of my business...," Mulder mumbled, his eyes probing the floor. "Mulder, I'm sorry I didn't tell you, but it's my life. Why do you care anyway?" "You know that I, um, worry about you, and especially if you're not always honest with me. Scully, you need to trust me." "I'm sorry Mulder, I just wasn't sure how you'd react." "It doesn't matter how I feel. You're right, it's your life." "It does matter to me how you feel. Why can't you just tell me for once." "Okay, fine. I feel rejected. I don't know why, I, um, I know you don't love me, but you're, uh, my best friend. It hurts to see you with someone else, okay? Scully please, just leave it alone. You know that I love you. Stop toying with my emotions. " Mulder told her softly, then headed out of the apartment. "You love me?" He turned, tears ready to explode from his eyes. His face held a look of surprise, he'd thought she'd known that, and when she didn't say anything, he knew she felt differently. He nodded slightly, head falling to gaze at the floor, all the while twitching to turn and run out as fast as he could. Dana felt waves of joy wash over her, and she didn't even know why. Oh shut up. You know why you're so happy. You love him. Her eyes filled with tears, and Mulder, misinterpreting them, turned slowly. Dana rushed over and shoved the door shut. They were now inches apart, her arm reaching past his chest, faces close, with Dana looking up as though trying to communicate without words.. Mulder looked at her with hurt eyes. Please don't do this. he told her silently. His eyes rested again on the floor. "Mulder...," she murmured, "I love you too." Mulder's eyes shot up from the floor to study her own. A smile invaded his solemn face as he leaned in. Scully placed a hand on his chest to halt him for a moment, and looked into his eyes, then her eyes dropped to the floor, and she blushed, embarrassed at her hesitation. Mulder's hands pulled her head back up as he reached down to finally kiss her.