Date: Fri, 04 Jun 1999 05:09:33 -0400 Subject: NEW: A Seal Upon the Heart by Jill K. TITLE: A Seal Upon the Heart AUTHOR: Jill K. E-MAIL: jill_k@hotmail.com CATEGORY: Mulder/Scully Romance, Post-EP RATING: PG SPOILERS: Season six. The story is set following One Son. DISCLAIMER: This is purely nonprofit fanfiction. No copyright infringements intended. Trust me, I haven't quit my day job. ;o) The characters belong to Chris Carter, 10-13 Productions, and Fox Network. DISTRIBUTION: Please inform me first. SUMMARY: The apparent rift between Mulder and Scully following One Son is explored. A special thanks goes to Rhoni Lake and Leigh Alexander for their helpful editing and encouragement! ~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~* "Set me as a seal upon thine heart, as a seal upon thine arm: for love is strong as death; its jealousy is cruel as the grave; the coals thereof are coals of fire, which hath a most vehement flame." Solomon, 965 BC ~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~* Fox Mulder carefully surveyed the dim interior of his apartment. It had been the first time since the evacuation that he had entered his dwelling place. At least things were back in order. He wondered how his neighbors had reacted to having their lives inconveniently uprooted due to a contagion of unknown origin. No doubt, they were far from amused. He walked over to the window and peered outside. Glancing up at the threatening overcast sky, he shunned the uneasiness that crept through him as his thoughts drifted toward Scully. With all that had transpired, his partner's aloof behavior nettled him. Her answering machine mocked his attempts to reach her over the weekend. The recent friction between them was a source of concern for him, made even more pronounced with the announcement of their reinstatement into the X-files. A hollow knock on the door interrupted his reverie. He grimaced, wishing to avoid contact with any agitated neighbors. As he considered ignoring the insistent rapping, he heard the jingling of keys and spied the doorknob turning. He strode closer into the entryway and was greeted by the steely blue eyes of Dana Scully. She stepped inside his apartment unannounced, and waited quietly for some form of acknowledgment. Mulder met her gaze unflinchingly as he quipped, "You making house calls these days, Scully? It would be easier to just answer your phone messages." Scully let out a long sigh before responding, "What I have to say, I would prefer not to discuss over the phone, Mulder." He motioned for her to be seated. She sat on the edge of his couch, as if she were in no frame of mind to make herself comfortable. She appeared tense, with sullen irritation barely kept in check. He chose the chair opposite her, feeling immediately uncomfortable. Bracing himself for the verbal intercourse, he tentatively asked, "So, what brings you by?" "I just spoke with AD Skinner. It appears that Diana Fowley is not answering calls from the Bureau. Skinner remarked that unless she makes her whereabouts known immediately, it's questionable that she will continue to be assigned to the X-files. Since we've been reassigned, I figured you'd want to know." Mulder snorted. "You ignore my messages for days; but, when Diana doesn't respond to Bureau calls you see it as news-worthy of a personal visit. Am I the only one who sees the irony here? Or is it that you feel the need to say, I told you so?" he challenged. Her eyes pinned him to the chair. "No, but I'm alarmed that you can't see the ramifications of her absence. This isn't about who is right or wrong. It's about Agent Fowley's possible alliances with those who have sought to destroy our work--our very lives. Denying the truth could be costly. I'm not willing to take that risk." He defensively crossed his arms over his chest. "I've known her for years. Until things are cleared up, I owe Diana the benefit of the doubt, regardless of how suspicious it looks to you or to Skinner. I thought I made myself clear. I'll not be a part of your personal crusade to incriminate her." His words stung far more than she dared betray. For the first time she acknowledged the pain and latent jealousy that lay cloaked beneath her anger. She gazed out the window for a long while. Carefully tucking the deeper emotions away, she turned and faced him squarely. "I see. So, you've chosen to ignore my concerns, and question my motives instead--because you owe her." With newfound clarity, Scully nodded her head slowly. Glancing toward the main door, she coolly stated, "Somehow that's incongruent with what you shared in the hallway. But I assume your declaration that you owed me everything served its purpose at the time. After all, I stayed, didn't I? At least now I know where I stand." "What's that supposed to mean?" he demanded, as his own irritation mounted. "It's pretty apparent that your relationship with Agent Fowley is taking preference over our partnership." Scully resentfully remarked. "And that presents a problem, because unless we can come to some sort of a resolution, I'll no longer help you." "What about, 'my work is with you, Mulder. If I quit, they win?' Aren't you forgetting the commitment you made to me after Antarctica?" his hazel eyes blazed. He knew it was a cheap shot, but his mind shifted into overdrive. Scully dodged the reference. She didn't trust herself to discuss her loyalty to him. For her affections ran far deeper than their partnership. "Yet, that requires trust, Mulder--something we have professionally shared in the past. I won't ignore the implications of your waning faith in me. I can't foresee us operating as a team without it." He shook his head, and smirked, "That's rich. I expect you to give me credit where Diana is concerned--to trust me. And where does it get me? Right back to square one." Scully stiffened, and pursed her lips. "Well, apparently square one is where you choose to be--siding with Agent Fowley." "So, what are you saying, Scully? It's her or...what?" The challenge lay at her feet, daring her to cross over the line. To do so would betray her carefully guarded emotions. Her brow rose, as she sized him up. The conversation had taken an unexpectedly dangerous turn. One that she was not willing to pursue. "Forget it," she replied, as she stood abruptly and pivoted toward the door. Without hesitating, Mulder blocked her path before she managed to open the door. "Let it go," she persisted. "I'm not interested in playing games with you." She reached around him to grasp the door handle, but his hand deftly covered hers and securely held it in place. The firm contact made her heart constrict. She had to get out of his place before she lost control of her heightening emotions. She was unprepared to deal with his ultimatums. "What kind of games are you referring to, Scully?" his hot breath brushed her ear. His nearness was unnerving, making her pulse quicken. Briefly, she closed her eyes attempting to regain composure. "Enough, Mulder," she sternly warned, hoping to sound more forceful than she felt. "On the contrary. I say, let the games begin," he intoned. Scully attempted in vain to pull away from his grasp, as his free arm snaked around her waist. He drew her close so that she was pressed against him. Glaring up to meet his stare, she saw desire mingled with something else. When she opened her mouth in protest, Mulder took full advantage by dipping his head and capturing her mouth roughly with his own. The kiss deepened, growing earnest and demanding as pent-up passion broke free. Startled, she was like a rag doll in his arms. His warm, inviting lips spoke of promises and hidden yearnings; yet, she was unwilling to explore what finally kissing Mulder meant to her. Not with Diana hanging between them as a bitter reminder of the current rift in their relationship. With great restraint, she pressed against his chest, and at the same time turned her head to break away from his drowning kisses. She would not lose herself in his embrace, for the price was her self-respect. She demanded more from him. "Mulder, stop," she managed to say. "I'm not interested in competing for your trust--or anything else you might offer. I had hoped that you thought more of me than that." He loosened his grip, although not entirely. "Are you implying that I don't?" he questioned. "I don't know what to believe anymore," she honestly replied. She observed hurt flit across his features. At that, he dropped his arms and turned away. They remained at arm's lengths apart, although it felt like a titanic chasm. His voice grew distant as he spoke. "Is it that you don't know what to believe--or that you don't want to believe what you know to be true?" "What do you mean?" she cautiously inquired. "It's not like I haven't made attempts to clarify my feelings for you, Scully; although, your rational mind might argue it's been under duress and even heavy sedation. Nevertheless, 'You made me a whole person' and 'I love you' are pretty clear sentiments. Yet, you continue to discount or discard my emotions and misjudge my motives for sharing them." Strained silence stretched on, increasing the tension that hung taut between them. Scully was speechless, as she grappled for words that didn't form. "So, I'm left to conclude," he continued, "that my affections have fallen on deaf ears. Don't let the door hit you on the way out." Being hurt caused him to retreat behind familiar, self-erected walls. "You're dismissing me because I need more," she spoke in frustration. "That's the point, Scully," he retorted, as he spun around to face her. His intense gaze was palpable. "You don't want more. I was a fool to press it. You were right. All you want from me is trust and friendship--nothing more. The truth is you withdrew from my kiss like it was toxic." He shook his head in confusion as he continued, "But if all I am is a friend to you, then stop playing the part of a territorial lover, because you can't have it both ways." She felt the sting of his rebuke, but she was not easily dissuaded. "I need your assurance that my place by your side is secure--that our partnership is secure. I want your trust back. Is that too much to ask?" He bridged the gap between them. Placing both hands on her upper forearms, he earnestly implored, "Tell me how I can convince you, when you minimize my words and gestures. I'm at a loss to prove to you that no one can fill your place by my side . . ." He paused, before softly added, "or in my heart." He searched her face, desperate to read her unspoken language. "But it's the truth, Scully." She was stunned. Swallowing the lump in her throat, she fought back unwelcome tears. His loving words humbled her. For he was willing to voice what was enshrined in the coffers of her heart. As her eyes swam with tears, a look of momentary regret streaked across her graceful features. He quickly feared that he had said too much. Putting aside his affection, he felt the need to salvage the remains of their partnership. Scully regarded him thoughtfully. Tentatively, she began, "Mulder-" He cut her off. "Scully, listen. My relationship with Diana Fowley is ancient history--nothing more. Any loyalty I felt for her was born out of a sense of obligation, not devotion. Your friendship, our partnership, means the world to me. You mean the world to me. I'm asking you to believe that. And I'm sorry if my recent behavior has led you to think otherwise. You deserved a fair hearing regarding Diana, and I've acted like an idiot. I'm sorry. Furthermore, I was wrong to press you with unwelcome advances. It won't happen again. You have my word on it." Scully sighed deeply, leaning back against the door with her full body weight. She closed her eyes while weighing his words. "That's unfortunate, Mulder," she finally spoke. Her tone was laced with sadness. Confusion played across his features. He had blown it--no doubt about it. His heart plummeted, as he struggled to catch his breath. His mouth opened, but he was unable to form words. His mind screamed the cry of his heart. His mistake was crossing over the line and acting on it. Reluctantly, he braced himself for what he feared might follow. If she left, he couldn't endure watching her turn and walk out. He bowed his head in defeat, shutting his eyes to block the pain and possible rejection. He sensed her nearness and inhaled her scent, before he felt her soft lips sweep along his jaw and lightly brush his mouth. Too stunned to respond, his eyes flicked open and he gazed in wonder as Scully reached up to caress him with a gentle kiss. When she finished, their eyes locked. Her eyes shone with warmth as her lips curled slightly in an upward tilt. Joy mingled with relief washed over Mulder's countenance. "Then it looks like the ball's in my court if there are to be further advances made," she tenderly avowed before claiming his mouth again. Mulder drew her close and eagerly responded as the kiss lingered. When they finally pulled apart, he weakly joked, "I'm game." As he had done in the past, he planted his lips on her forehead. His arms encircled her as he cradled her head to his chest. Such a familiar gesture, yet it felt different, more intimate. Her arms slid around his waist, as she leaned in to murmur, "Good thing, G-man. But I feel it's only fair to warn you--when I play, I play for keeps," she earnestly explained. He softly chuckled into her hair, "Agent Scully, might I remind you--you're sounding rather--territorial. If I were a betting man, I'd call it love." She smiled into his chest. Mulder was making it easy on her. "Oh yeah. It's love, all right," she truthfully spoke. Enfolded in his arms, she felt him stand perfectly still. She heard the rhythm of his heart skip a beat. She could almost imagine his keen mind wrapping itself around that truth. "Yep, I've gottcha big time, Mulder." And she did. ~*~*~*~*~*~ "Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it." Solomon