Date: 13 Aug 1998 07:22:35 GMT
Subject: REPOST Stomping Grounds 1/7by Heather Hopkins

Summary: Suppose a certain pair crossed paths one semester in High School
before meeting again later in life.  Ooooh the tingly possibilities!!
Rating PG as usual, except for some language and potential teen sexual
innuendo
Spoilers: None Really, lots of MSR and UST but it's mostly MSR and UST-lite.
Legal Disclaimer: Yeah yeah, blah blah, Chris Carter is the man.  
Style Disclaimer: OK I am taking some serious creative license here, I don't
expect Mulder & Scully to truly forget, but I like the idea of the story &
wanted to run with it. Now originally I intended this to be a vignette, but
when I got Mulder & Scully together, well, I couldn't help myself.  (Neither
could they!)
 Liberties will be taken, shippy ones at that.  So deal with it.   Eschew
Obfuscation is the motto 
of this tale.    That said, direct complaints or compliments to moi at
dana1muldr@aol.com, flames 
used to decorate the hood of my V8.  
Posting/Archiving: Should you want to, go for it-archive away, but i'd  still
love to know 
 if possible.  Thanks to Geoff and Chris for their editing prowess and
support.  Go Saints!

Stomping Grounds

March 6, 1992

Special Agent Dana Scully could not get the image of her new partner out
of her mind.
 She was home packing for her first assignment with her new partner.  They
had just met and
 were leaving town to investigate their first X-file in "the plausible
state of Oregon".  Scully smiled to herself.  Spooky or not, he had a dry
sense of humor which she found terribly refreshing.  He was a brilliant
Agent, no mistake about that.  But it was something more than that.  More
than those incredible hazel eyes and a crooked teasing smile.  She knew
him from somewhere-someplace before.  Maybe he had attended one of her
lectures at Quantico.  No, she chided herself.  Given his familiarity with
her Senior Thesis, she knew he would have mentioned attending her classes
had that been the case.  No, it was something else.  He had been with the
Bureau for several years, so she doubted their paths had crossed while she
was in college.  She had gone to Europe one summer, & knew he had received
his degree at Oxford, but her trip had not included a stop in England. 
For some reason, Oxford stuck in her mind.  But she had never been, and
couldn't think of anyone who had.
 "Oh well", she thought to herself- "deja vu is probably something of an
Xfile in its own right"  Unwilling to trust airline food for sustenance,
she grabbed a bagel.  As she bit into it she picked up her laptop and
baggage, and made her way to the front door.  She moved past the bookshelf
in her hallway, and a particular book caught her eye.  "The Mariner, 1980.
"  "Oh my god."  She dropped her bags and set the bagel down.  It couldn't
possibly be him.  She pulled out the
 yearbook and sat on her couch.  Flipping through the pages, she found the
index and ran her finger
 down the M's.  Mackley, Mandifer, Meeps, Miller, Morrow, Morrow, Mulder;
Fox.  W.  Fox William Mulder. It was him.  Wordlessly, she turned to page
121 and scanned the page before her.  There he was.
 Very different in appearance, much younger, but the eyes were the same. 
Hair a bit longer, but it was him.  She sat there, oblivious to the
passage of time, letting the memories wash over her like a torrent. 
Unbeknownst to her, a very stunned Agent Fox Mulder dropped down onto the
couch of his sparsely furnished apartment, his feelings strangely
mirroring her own.  "D.K.", he breathed.  "Dana Scully.  I can't believe
it. After all this time......you?" 

January 5, 1980
7:15 a.m.
Chilmark, Rhode Island
"Fox!" Hurry up or you're going to be late!  I told Mrs. Scully to be
expecting you by now!
"I wouldn't be late, mom, if I didn't have to play chauffeur for a bunch of
Navy Brats."
His mother scowled to herself.  Sometimes,  he was so much like his father it
infuriated her.
"Fox William Mulder! You know darn well what it's like to be the new kid in
town, and what's
 worse, these kids have been dragged halfway around the world and back their
entire lives.  
Their father won't even be around for most of  the next year, he's  in
Annapolis. You know what it's like,
 not having a dad around."
His moody silence signified acceptance of her point of view.
"Besides, there's not much going around here this time of year anyway.  You
might make some friends."
"I have all the friends I can stand right now," he said.  "And I'll do this,
not because dad 
asked me, but because you did--I love you Mom."
The expression on her face melted.  Fox had a gift in his ability to soothe
with speech.  
Sometimes he was so tricky, it made sense to have named him as they had.
"I love you too, dear-drive carefully, I don't know if the snow plows have
been through yet or not."
"OK, mom, I will, but I'm not playing chauffeur tomorrow-after today they'll
know how to get there alone."
His eyes glinting triumphantly, he was out the door before his mother had a
chance to retort.
She sighed, shaking her head, and continued to prepare that evening's meal.

Fox William Mulder hopped into his 1968 Mustang.  Shivering at the cold, he
started the
 engine and smiled as it effortlessly came to life.  "Just like a kitten", he
spoke aloud.  The 
car had been a gift from his somewhat estranged father.  Life on the small
island was difficult 
enough for a child of divorced parents.  Not having any way of getting around-
getting away from 
it all sometimes, would have been unbearable.  Revving up the engine, he
backed the car gently out 
the carport and down his driveway.

Melissa was whining again.   "Mom, I hate it here! It is so cold, I can't
stand it!.  If daddy won't 
even be here with us most of the time, why couldn't we stay in San Diego?"
"Shut up Missy," retorted Bill Jr.  "The crew ships out together, you know
that."
"Yeah, Missy", Charles piped in, "we ship out together! Besides, I like the
snow.  DK, 
will you help me build a snowman after school?"
Dana turned to her younger brother and smiled.  "Dana, please Charlie-and
sure, I'd love to."
"OOH, it's Day-nuh, now is it, her older brother teased. La dee da, Day-nuh!
Sorry, twerp, 
but you're D.K. to me!
"Bill! Leave your sister alone! Missy, you know we go where your father asks,
end of story."
Dana smiled to herself.  It was cold here on this little island, but moving
had never really bothered her.
It was serene here and quiet, and she rather enjoyed the winter environment
for a change.
No, what bothered her most about this particular move was being so far away
from her father,
 her beloved Ahab.  Hearing his firm voice and seeing his smiling eyes when
she returned home 
from school.  She was used to the change in scenery.  On some level even she
was comforted by 
the constancy of change. But the idea of change without Ahab there, that was a
little scary.
BEEP BEEEP.
"Oh that must be the Mulder boy-O.K. guys, don't keep him waiting-Missy, Bill,
DK, 
you'd better get going! Charlie, are you almost ready?"
"Now, Bill, you have the key in case I'm not here when you get home, I have to
pick
 Charlie up from school at 3. " 
"Got it , Mom, See ya!"
"Bye Mom!"
"See you tonight, mom," Dana spoke softly, "if you talk to Ahab will you....."
"I'll tell him, "Starbuck" her mother said, "now get going!"
Dana winced a little.  She knew her mom was just trying to make her feel
better by using her 
father's nickname for  her, but it only served to remind her that he wasn't
there.
Noticing her siblings already getting into the car, she hurried her pace in
the whirling cold.
Missy had taken the seat next the driver, and Bill had packed himself in
behind her.  As Dana 
stepped to the passenger side, Bill reached in and pulled the door closed.
"Tough luck, DEE-KAYY, 
you snooze, you lose.  Dana rolled her eyes in frustration.
The driver got out and motioned her over to his side. "Here, get in over here-
it's freezing outside."
Dana smiled warmly.  "Thanks," she whispered as she climbed into the back seat
next to Bill.
Closing his door, the boy said, "so I'm Fox, and you are...."
"I'm Missy, this is my brother Bill and this....is my kid sister, Dana, but
everyone calls her DK."
Dana winced.
The boy continued, "its nice to meet you Missy, Bill," he paused, "Dana"
Dana looked up at his reflection in the rear view mirror, surprised, and
raised her eyebrows.
"Nice to meet you too Fox," she started, in a whisper.
Bill interrupted, so what the heck is there to do around this place, anyway?
"Yeah," Missy giggled, trying her best flirt move, "what do you like to do for
fun?"
The Mulder boy seemed surprisingly unenthused by Missy's attention.
"Well, during the winter it's pretty dead around here, but there are a couple
theaters on 
this side of the island, and uh, there are school dances and stuff. And,"  he
added, glancing in 
the rearview mirror,  "I play basketball, so there are games to go to."
Bill must have sensed something he didn't like when Mulder glanced at his baby
sister.
"Man," he scoffed, "Basketball is for wimps-football, now there's a man's
game, eh DK? Too 
bad you hate jocks so badly".
Dana silently scowled, praying for her older brother to shut up.  She knew if
she fought 
back it would only worsen his protective behavior.  Besides, she thought,
stealing a glance at the 
handsome, lanky, driver, it's not as if a guy like him would have anything to
do with a brainy little 
nobody like her.  Her self defenses went into overdrive, and she spent the
rest of the trip silently 
reminding herself  of  the many reasons a jock airhead like Fox would be a bad
relationship risk. 
"As if", she chided herself.
As the car pulled into the parking lot, Dana studied the faces of the teens
trotting into school.
She mouthed a silent prayer for support, and set into the familiar autopilot
of  new kid in school.
"Uh, thanks Fox.." she started to say, but stopped short as a gorgeous
brunette screeched "Foxy!" 
and launched herself at him.  They embraced and indulged in what Bill would
consider a tongue war.
Missy looked positively crushed for a moment, then without missing a beat
attached herself to 
a passing boy. "Oh, hi," she drawled, "I'm new here, and this is my first day,
could you please 
help me find the office?" she asked, smiling sweetly, 
"Poor guy," Bill confided to Dana- "he'll never know what him, eh DK?"
Despite being called by her hated nickname, Dana had to smile in agreement
with her elder brother.
"C'mon Doc, he said, protectively, "let's go do some damage."
With that they headed off through the school.
Had Dana turned round she would have seen a strangely bemused Fox Mulder
looking up from
 his recent embrace, regarding her departing form with a crooked half smile.
"C'mon, Foxy, let's go," his counterpart sulked, "first period will be
starting soon...I didn't see you all weekend...."

7:50 a.m. Westside High Office

Scully sighed in relief.  Small school or no, at least they had classes on par
with her ability.
First Period/Homeroom:  World History with Mr. Hansen
Second Period: AP English with Mr. Brayshaw
Third Period: P.E. with MS. Weston
Fourth Period: AP Physics with Mr. Hill
Fifth Period Lunch
Sixth Period: AP Biology with Doctor Munekee 
Seventh Period: Study Hall on alternate days with an Art Elective-History &
Theory of 
Contemporary Art with Miss Wilson on the other days
She smiled to herself-Ahab would be pleased at the variety of AP classes.  He
had always 
been extremely proud of her good grades in school.  Much as they might act
otherwise, her 
siblings were decent students in their own right, but Dana was the smartest
one, by far.  She already 
knew she wanted to study medicine, and become a doctor.  The classes she'd
requested were the sort 
that many senior year students were incapable of passing.   As the bell rang,
Dana hurried to get
 her things together. She took a breath and stepped into the familiarity of
the unknown.
She found her homeroom History class without any difficulty.

"OK everybody understand the assignment for tonight? All right, see you
tomorrow!"
The students began shuffling out the classroom.
Miss Scully? Could I see you for one moment?"
"Yes sir?
I just wanted to say I enjoyed your input this morning and look forward to the
rest of the semester.
Dana smiled gratefully.  "Thank you, Mr. Hansen, I enjoyed myself as
well...see you tomorrow."
She smiled shyly to herself.  One of the perks of being a brilliant student
had always been the 
level with which she carried her student/teacher relationships.  She had never
sought the position 
of teacher's pet, and luckily, never really been subject to one.  What she
usually did experience was 
a measure of mutual respect often lacking in her friendships.
Momentarily disoriented, she turned to a passing figure.  "Excuse me, I'm
looking for 
Mr. Brayshaw's AP English class.."
The figure turned and grinned wickedly.  "Well then, this must be your lucky
day..."
When he saw who it was, he halted.  (Or mine, he thought to himself)
"Oh..hi..uh, Fox," Dana stammered.
"As I was saying," he continued, "it's your lucky day-it just so happens I am
heading there myself."
"C'mon, follow me"
Dana was suddenly speechless.  Fox had slipped his hand gently to the small of
her back and 
was guiding her through the hallway.  The contact could not be construed as
anything more than
 polite, but she was intensely aware of the warmth of his hand on her back.
She was grateful for his 
position behind her as she felt warmth flooding her face.
"OK, Dana, now what period do you need to be there" he asked, "right now it's
senior AP English-I 
think sophomore AP is next period."
I can't believe it.  He must think I am some kind of idiot, Dana fumed to
herself.
"D.K. Is fine, Foxy," she retorted, "and actually I'm looking for senior AP
English.  Unfortunately it's 
the closest thing to collegiate level English that Westside offers."
Fox was stunned.  He hadn't intended any offense, but he had obviously,
grievously underestimated 
this particular redhead.  A mistake he wasn't planning on making again.
"Oh, uh, sorry, D-K? I didn't mean anything-it's just that most girls around
here are not too..."
"Bright?", she raged, further incensed by his generalizations. "Well most
girls aren't afforded the
opportunity in school to progress very far," and she whirled, "I don't
consider myself like "most girls".
"Thanks for the tour. Now excuse me, I have to report to Mr. Brayshaw"
"Brilliant" Fox goaded himself  "Could you have been any more of a jerk?"
He then silently agreed that indeed this blue eyed wonder was definitely not
like most girls he knew.
The period dragged by slowly, if uneventfully.
Dana had managed to secure a seat in the class as far away from Fox as
possible.  
For his part, he had seemed pretty out of it, and Mr. Brayshaw berated him for
it.
Probably mooning over his girlfriend, Dana thought glumly.
At last the bell rang and Dana exited quickly.  PE was far from her favorite
subject, but the prospect 
of getting as far away as possible from Fox held great appeal.
Mulder watched as Dana fairly flew out of the room.
"Mr. Mulder, I trust that tomorrow you will have your head out of the clouds
and back down 
here on earth with the rest of...us?"  Motioning towards the door, Mr.
Brayshaw chuckled softly. 
 "She's a remarkable young woman."
"Sir?" Fox asked, confused startled that his interest could have been that
obvious.
"Nothing, Mr. Mulder, just something I guess you'll have to figure out on your
own." 
"Or not," he mused, as the familiar face of Molly Blair swept into view. 
"Foxy, come on, there's only a few minutes before third period bell!!"

10:30 a.m.
Westside Gymnasium
Dana was having the worst day of her life.  First the fiasco with that Mulder
boy. Now she 
was not only unprepared in terms of clothes for the physical demands of P.E.
that day, but the 
teacher seemed to be intent on using her as the focus of a lesson on arriving
prepared.
And if that wasn't bad enough, Fox's brunette bimbo, apparently named Molly,
was there 
with her little group of gal pals, giggling and laughing at her.  
How typical of a guy to be so attracted to something like that-that show pony,
she thought.
Even though Molly had waltzed in several minutes late, reeking of cigarettes,
Dana was the one
receiving their gym teacher's wrath.  "Miss Scooly??, did you hear me?? What
are you waiting for?"
Suddenly realizing Miss Weston was addressing her, she spoke up. 
"It's Scully, Miss Weston," she corrected.
"More like Scummy," Molly giggled quietly, much to the delight of her
entourage.
Not quietly enough. Face reddening, Dana stepped forward.  "Yes, Miss Weston?"
More giggles.
"Well, Miss Scull-lee, what I just asked is that you complete our basic
physical ability test, 
starting with this."  She handed Dana the rope as Molly's chuckles grew
unbearably louder.
Fed up with her teasing, Dana decided to play it for all it was worth.
"But Miss Weston," she mock whined, "I'm not dressed for something....like
..this."
"It all goes back to what I said earlier about being prepared, Scully."
"All right, Miss Weston."  Scully stifled a smile.   The teacher then turned
her attention 
to the other girls, and began waxing on the merits of preparedness.
Being the daughter of  a Navy Captain and having a tough older brother had its
perks.
And showing Miss Priss here just what she was capable of was about to become a
major one.
Dana kicked off her keds and socks, and rubbed a little chalk into her hands.
Dusting them off lightly against her pant legs, she gazed upwards.
"Exactly how high do you want me to go, MIZ Weston?" she interrupted, sugar 
dripping from every syllable.
"Oh, Miss Scully if you can make it to the first marker I will be quite
satisfied."
Not me, Dana thought to herself.
She wrapped one leg around the rope and held in place with the other.
And then, reaching up hand over hand, proceeded to ascend.  You could have
heard a pin drop.

Zack Heflin and Bobby Pendrell were on the other end of the gymnasium working
on weight training.
"Oh my God."
That new girl, Dana Scully had made it to the summit of the rope climb in mere
seconds.
"Jesus, Bobby, did you see that?"
He certainly had.
"She's amazing," he breathed.  The new girl had already been in both his
earlier morning classes.
Bobby was impressed by her insight into the Vietnam war during first period,
and rather stunned to see 
another sophomore with him in Mr. Brayshaw's Senior English class.
Now he couldn't believe what he had just seen.
The diminutive redhead with sparkling blue eyes had climbed further up than
most of his
 male classmates were able to, and in less time than most.
"Amazing, shit, she's hot,"  Zack exclaimed.   "What's more, she's available."
Bobby frowned and turned to his workout partner, uncomfortable with his tone
of voice.

"How's that Miz Weston?", Dana asked, sweetly, "I seem to be at the end of my
rope"
The murmurs and whispers amongst the girls were unmistakable.
"Uh, that's great Miss Scully, excellent.  Thank you very much.  Well done."
Dana had made an impression. 
She clambered down with the same speed and grace that she had risen with
moments earlier.
"That was highly enjoyable"
Dana turned to the voice beside her, and met the gaze of a smiling, freckled,
red haired girl.
"We redheads gotta stick together," she said, offering her hand. "I'm Nancy-
you're Dana, right?"
"Yes," Dana replied, "Nice to meet you Nancy."  She smiled warmly.
"I'll give you  $10.00 if you'll do that again, just to see the look on
Molly's face."
Dana looked triumphant. "It was that good, was it?"
"Better!"
"What class do you have next?."
"Uh, AP Physics with Mr. Hill and then I have lunch."
"Rebecca whistled--AP Physics, ouch! That's OK- I have lunch 5th period  too-
wanna sit together?"
"Love to!" Dana grinned.
"Great!  OK Well, uh, I have to go, uh, change-sorry."
Dana looked down at herself, suddenly self conscious of her sweaty appearance
and lack of a  
change of clothes.   As they walked past the stunned girls who were laughing
earlier, 
Dana couldn't help but smile.   Sweaty or no, she had taught Molly not to
underestimate a person 
by size or appearance.   She passed a pair of boys near the gym entrance
without even noticing. 
their stunned expressions. 

Dana sighed. It was almost time for the third period bell.
Since she had no way to shower or change, she had left the gymnasium early.
The bell rang and she backed away from the door.
As students filed out of the classroom she saw a familiar smiling face.
"Oh, Hey,  DK."
"Hi Missy." How was PE?
"Oh I think I showed a few of the girls what Scully women are made of."
Missy smiled conspiratorially.  "Good for you, DK!"
"How was the physics class?"
"Oh, fine, DK, the teacher seems really nice..."
Missy started to turn down the hallway then paused.
"Dana?" 
Dana turned, surprised by her sisters use of her real name. "Yes?"
"Could you give me a hand with my regular physics homework tonight?"
Dana shot her a warm grin.
"Sure thing Miss, if you'll help me in Art."
Missy smiled. Her younger sister was a good kid. Dana needed her help in Art
like she
 needed a hole in the head.  But the gesture was appreciated.
"A-OK little sister-see ya!"
Missy's smile changed to a perplexed look as she made her way back down the
hallway.
Dana turned and slammed head on into Fox Mulder.  "Excuse me."
"No prob, Hey, DK- I was just waiting for you-- I wanted to apolo.." he was
cut off short.
"Foxy!"
They both turned.
Dana rolled her eyes and continued into the classroom.
"It's O.K. "Foxy," she mocked, "I have *AP* Physics right now so I need to get
going." 
Knowing Missy had just completed regular physics with Mulder, Dana emphasized
the *AP*.
"Foxy?"
He turned to Molly who watched the departing Dana Scully with more than a 
little venom in her eyes.   As Dana looked up from her desk, she saw Molly
whisper something 
into his ear.   Disgusting, Dana thought to herself.
Apparently they weren't discussing what she'd thought because Fox's eyes
suddenly grew 
large as saucers, and he gazed at Dana with a visibly bemused expression on
his face.
Dana turned to her desk her face burning hotly.
When she looked up, they had gone.

Physics was a breeze and Dana looked forward to the next class tomorrow.
Lunch with Nancy was even better.
Dana instantly felt a connection with her new friend, who was bright,
articulate and funny.
In relating a story of a local football hero's self-absorbed antics off the
field, Dana laughed so hard that 
she almost had milk squirt out of her nose.   They spoke with one another as
if they had been best 
friends for years.    A few more students joined them.  
Dana met Bobby Pendrell, a shy quiet boy she recognized from some of her
earlier classes, 
Zack Heflin, a stocky but attractive junior with steely gray eyes-that
reminded her of Ahab, 
and Lauren Pierson, a smiling Brown haired beauty with a taste for gossip.
"Rumor has it you shocked the Harpies in gym class," she joked, "good for you
Dana!"
"Yeah, we were there," Zack chimed, "and it was incredible."
He turned to her. "Dana, that was really amazing."
His eyes locked into hers, Dana shifted abit self-consciously.
"Thanks Zack," she said, smiling.
"We need to work out together some time," he said, grinning.

Fox looked up from the table where he sat with Molly and some friends from the
basketball team.
Zack was definitely putting the moves on the new girl, and for some reason, it
really bothered him.
>From what he knew of  Zack and overheard, he was the kind of guy who didn't
take no 
for an answer.   He watched the red haired sophomore turn towards Zack,
smiling warmly.
He felt his stomach tighten.
"Hel-lo? Earth to Fox??"
Molly's shrill remark was followed by a cold glare as she followed his line of
vision to Dana.
"Looking for a tutor, Foxy?" She teased.     "I understand Doctor Brain over
there could even
 teach you a few things about physics--Apparently she's the most brilliant
student to come along to
 Westside since-since-why, since you, Fox!"
Fox ignored her sarcastic mock surprise.
"Don't forget her physical..... talents," a jock next to Mulder added. 
"Zack Heflin said she climbed the ropes in like..."
"Yeah, I know, I was there, all right??"  Molly silenced him with a killer
look.
"Look, who gives a crap about "red" over there, anyway?"  Fox replied, "she's
just a twerpy little 
Navy Poindexter brat. Big Deal."
A sudden silence around his table gave Mulder pause.
He turned to see the angry face of  Bill Mulder. 
 "Just see that you leave my "twerpy" baby sister alone, you spook.  I've
heard plenty about your 
creepy family, and I doubt it gives you any right to be talking about Dana
like that."
Fox got up as the awkward silence at his table gave way to quiet whispers.
Molly automatically got up to follow.
"Not now, Molly,"  he stopped her and walked away.
"Well, I never,"  Molly fumed, arms crossed in front of her.
"Don't sweat it Molly," the boy next to her said, "you know how Fox gets when
you mention his family."
Molly shuddered a little bit.  Fox was brilliant and gorgeous, but that family
history of his gave
 her the creeps.  "You're right, Billy," she purred, flashing a killer smile.
"Thanks."

Subject: REPOST Stomping Grounds Part 2/7 by Heather Hopkins

1:00 p.m.
Inside Westside High Biology Lab
Dana waited patiently by the professor's desk while the rest of the class
shuffled in to the lab.
"Miss Scully, once everyone has arrived we'll set you up with a lab partner."
Dana smiled at the professor.   She had liked him almost immediately.  In some
ways he might 
seems seem outwardly spacey, but was an intelligent man with a brilliant mind.
When he used it for science.
"OK class, I trust you all had a good vacation, but it's time to get back to
business."
"This is Dana Scully, and she's joining our class as a mid season
replacement."
Professor Munekee grinned at his humor.
The rest of the class chuckled good naturedly, including Dana.
"OK what I need first is a volunteer, somebody without a lab partner at
present."
Several hands were raised.
"OK," Munekee scanned the room for a good candidate, "all right everybody,
thank you."
"Dana," he motioned, "would you please go sit there at the left towards the
back of the class?"
"Mr. Mulder will bring you up to date on where we are in the text.  For the
time being, you can just share."
Dana just stood there frozen, as a triumphant Fox Mulder stood, and motioned
her to the empty chair
beside him, grinning wickedly.
As she sat, he spoke softly, "Guess it really *is* your lucky day, eh DK?"
"Luck has nothing to do with it,  Mr. Mulder, just God's idea of a practical
joke on me."
She looked him squarely in the eye, the trace of a challenge on her face.
His fleeting attempt at looking wounded was replaced with a flash of teeth.   
"Mister Mulder, hmmm I like the sound of that! "
Dana rolled her eyes in frustration.
"Look, Fox -Raccoon, what-ever, I don't like this any more than you do, so
lets just try to 
make the best of it, O.K.?"  He must have sensed her annoyance, because he
sighed slightly 
and turned to a page in the biology texbook.
He began to scoot his chair closer to hers when she shot him a warning glance.
Hands in the air in a gesture of compliance he stood there while Dana edged
slightly closer to him.
As Professor Munekee launched into a lecture on the reproductive cycle of
various frogs, Dana groaned.
She felt a flush in her cheeks and willed herself to avoid the eyes of Fox
Mulder.
Which was just as well.
Hovering over her slightly, Fox found his gaze falling towards the juncture of
her blouse.
He could see she wore a gold coss necklace, & found himself hypnotized by the
rise and fall of her breathing.
Unable to restrain himself, he leaned in ever so slightly, inhaling deeply as
he did so.
No perfume like Molly, just the fresh, clean warm scent of her skin,
incredibly inviting.
So inviting in fact, that he failed to notice the professor behind him until
the chair beneath him 
tipped.  And he found himself, flat on the floor, looking up sheepishly at an
amused Dana Scully 
and a moderately annoyed Professor Munekee.   "Mr. Mulder, I'm afraid we don't
move on to the more 
*complicated* reproductive systems until next semester."
"Until that time, might I suggest you pay more attention to your book?"
Mulder blushed, and realizing what the professor was implying, Dana felt a hot
flush flooding her 
face.  As he got up and adjusted himself, Dana regarded him warily, eyebrow
arched.
She started to speak but Mulder held up his hand in protest.
"Just...just don't, O.K.?" He couldn't even meet her gaze.
Smiling she turned back to the book and concentrated on the professor's
lecture.
The rest of class he was surprisingly silent.

As Dana made her way to the library for her free period, she ran into Zack and
his quiet friend.
"Oh, hey Dana," Zack enthused, "We were just sneaking out for a quick one."
He opened his coat jacket to reveal a pack of cigarettes.
"Um, uh, that's O.K., I really need to get some studying done, but thanks."
She smiled
"I seriously doubt you'd need to study for a-a-anything, Dana,"  Bobby
Pendrell offered.
Dana rewarded him with another smile, "Thanks Bobby, but you'd be surprised."
As she made her way into the library, Bobby nodded in agreement.  "I certainly
would", he breathed.

Fox stopped in his tracks as he saw Dana pause to speak with Heflin and his
friend.
He didn't know much about Pendrell, but he got a tight feeling in his gut when
Heflin reached out 
and touched her shoulder.   Whatever he had asked her, she must have declined,
because she turned 
and continued into the library.   Zack turned and headed in his direction.
Catching his gaze, Heflin asked "What you looking at, Mulder?"
"Nothing, Zack," Fox met his eyes coldly, "Nothing at all."
Bobby threw Mulder a nervous glance as they passed him by.  "Hey Bobby."
Mulder smiled.
"Uh, hey..." Bobby replied nervously, then continued outside with Zack.
Mulder paused outside the library, contemplating whether or not to go in.
A shrill voice behind him helped him make the decision quickly.
He wheeled, a false smile spreading across his face.  "Hey Molly!"
"Wanna help me *study,*  Fox?" she asked smiling and batting her eyelids.
"Nah, I've got a better idea," he replied, snaking his arm around her waist,
guiding her towards the door.
"Oh goody," she giggled.

When the bell rang signaling the end of the school day, Dana waited by the
office, looking for her siblings.
She spied them leaving out a side door with a group of new friends .
"Bill! Missy!" She called to them
"Hey DK!" Bill turned- "hey, can you catch a ride with that Fox kid? We're
heading over to an arcade with some
friends for awhile."  He tossed her the key.  "Here, Mom should be home with
Charlie in a little bit."
Dana groaned.  Riding home with Fox alone was not an enticing prospect.
Still, annoying as he was, she admitted that she rather enjoyed the banter
between them.  
Arguing with somebody who treated you as an equal could be 
very gratifying.  And at one point, she reminded herself, he had tried to
apologize.
She went outside to the student parking lot and scanned the area for Mulder's
Mustang.
Besides, he had a really cool car, she added to herself, smiling.

As she made her way over to where Fox's car was parked, Zack Heflin pulled up
in a beat up pickup truck.
"Hey Dana," he called. "Want a ride?"
"Um that's O.K. Zack," she called, "I've got one-thanks anyway-see you
tomorrow."
"Your loss!" Barely concealing a scowl on his face, Zack sped away,
inadvertently spraying
 Dana's legs with slush from the road.  Ugh! Dana threw her hands down in
disgust.
Man, it was cold.  She hurried her pace over to Fox's car, anticipating the
warm interior.
When she was about 4 spaces away, the Mustang roared to life and sped away as
well.
As it passed by, Dana looked up in surprise to see a smirking Molly waving at
her.
Now what?, Dana thought to herself.
Dana had always been the type of girl to mask her emotions.
She despised the feelings of pity showered upon her when anyone realized she 
was hurt or upset.  So she became quite good at hiding those feelings.
That did not mean however, that she did not have them.
Her eyes smarting from the chilly air & suppressing the urge to cry, she
steeled herself.
In true "Starbuck" fashion she began to slowly make her way home, impervious
to the wind and 
snow, and the freezing cold creeping up her legs.

5:25 p.m.
The Scully Household
"Mom, when's Dana gonna get home? We were going to build a snowman!!" Charlie
whimpered.
It was almost 5:30, and Mrs. Scully was beginning to pace.
" I don't understand, Bill, exactly why would you leave DK-Dana," she
corrected herself, 
"alone at school on the first day?"
"Well, mom, I thought the Mulder kid was gonna give us all a ride home, and
she'd just
 catch one with him, that she'd be O.K..."
"Well school ended almost 3 hours ago and she's not home yet so I guess you
figured wrong."
The telephone rang, momentarily freeing Bill from his mother's fury.
Missy nudged her brother.  I thought you said she had a ride home with Fox??
"I'm sure she did, Mis"  he retorted, "he probably just took her out
someplace.
That still doesn't mean I'm not gonna kick his ass, but I'm sure Dana is
fine."
They heard their mother gasp a little and looked towards her.  Her face paled
as she put 
down the receiver.   "Thank you, Mrs. Mulder, no that's all right.  Bill will
go find her."
She turned towards them, her eyes welling up with tears.
"Bill?  Please take my car and..and go find your sister, please."
"WHAT??" He roared, "She wasn't with that Mulder kid?? He didn't pick her
up??"
"No, Bill, he apparently, had other plans and..and..."  she sank down into a
chair,  
Missy rushed to her side.  "It's O.K. mom, Dana's fine. You know how stubborn
she can be.  
She's probably sitting inside the school office waiting on us, refusing to
call."
Bill strode out the door, cursing.  
When he found that Mulder kid, he was going to give him something to remember.
For the time being, his attention was focused on his little sister, and
finding her.  Fast.
5:30 p.m.
The Mulder Residence

"WHAT?"
"You heard me Fox."
"Shit."
"That's enough of the language, now get moving and go help find that girl."
She sighed.
"Honestly, Fox, what were you thinking? You knew I had told their mother you'd
bring them home 
today, so they could get their bearings...and now this?"
"Mom, I'm sorry it's just that...well, Molly and I.." he paused, stunned-
"I...I.. just thought...."
"No Fox, if you were around Molly I doubt very much that you were doing any of
the thinking.  
Now quit wasting time and go find Dana."  
She shivered a little to herself.  "It's got to be close to freezing out
there."
Ashamed and afraid for the copper haired newcomer, Fox bolted out the door.


5:40 p.m.
Somewhere in Chilmark

Dana was near collapse and more than half frozen.
The route she'd  thought would take her home had turned into a dead end near
the harbor.
Now trying to retrace her steps, she could not recall how she'd wound up where
she was
.Snow had begun to fall and was covering the tracks she'd assumed were her
own.
The vacant holiday cottages all looked the same.  Scanning the terrain for
anything familiar, 
she choked back the urge to cry.  It won't help matters, Starbuck, she told
herself.
Besides, it'll only worsen the sting of the cold on your face.
She tried to imagine what Ahab would do in this situation, and that helped
some.
She knew he would continue and persevere until he found shelter or someone
found him.
But she was so very cold.
Her levis were practically frozen where they'd been splashed with the slush
from Zack's truck.
She could barely feel her toes except for the constant stinging.
At least that meant they weren't frostbitten...yet. 
She mouthed a silent thank you to her mother for insisting she wear a hat &
mittens.
For a moment Dana saw headlights on the next road over from where she 
was, and rushed across the snow covered field.
She was running blindly, oblivious to the chill when she went down.  So smooth
and white was 
the snow that she hadn't even noticed the ditch.   "Shit!!" 
Tumbling, she felt the twist in her ankle and called out. 
Looking up, she saw the brake lights of the car turn red.
Dana couldn't hold it back any longer.  She started to cry.
She was cold and wet, her ankle hurt, she missed her dad and she was scared.
She slumped to the ground sobbing, oblivious to the cold, and buried her head
in her hands.
It felt kind of good to be lying down, she thought to herself.
Maybe she could just rest for a bit.
She closed her eyes, collapsed onto the snow, and sank into a bittersweet
dream.
She dreamed of her father, sitting with her under the stars.
"See that one, Starbuck? That's Orion, and farther above you can see
Draco...."
So many beautiful stars....

Fox slammed on the brakes, his car skidding ever so slightly on the icy
street.
On the next block over, he was sure he'd seen a figure running through the
snow.
Now straining his head around he saw nothing.  Frustrated, he continued to
make his way down the road.
Several miles down, the nagging in his head kept on.   He had sworn he heard a
voice cry 
out...or did he?  Was it just his overactive conscience, riddled with the
guilt of ditching 
someone who had depended on him?  Someone sweet, and smart, with piercing blue
eyes...
He swore to himself.   If he'd had any idea-if he had known-his head swam with
visions of the 
Scully girl smiling and defiant then shivering and afraid.   He felt a knot in
his stomach twist and tighten.
Resolved, he turned the car around and drove slowly back the way he'd been.
Another half hour had passed and it was growing dark.
Passing a vacant lot between summer cottages he saw something in the snow.
He drove up to the next street and turned back down towards where he'd seen
the dark shape.
He stopped the car and got out,  noticing the tiny footprints immediately.
He sprinted so quickly that as he came upon the still figure in the snow, he
very nearly 
trampled her and went into the ditch as well.
Oh god! It was her.  And she wasn't moving.  Her eyes were closed and her lips
were impossibly blue.
He out a hand to her cheek and shivered at how cold she felt.
Reaching his hand to her throat, he felt for a pulse.   Her eyelids flickered
just slightly.
Lifting her as gently as he could, Fox  carried her to the idling Mustang.
She said something which sounded remotely like "Ahab."
God, she's hallucinating, he thought.  He slammed his fists onto the steering
wheel.
Stupid. Stupid.  Carefully he drove to the Scully household.
He honked several times as he pulled into the drive, but wasted no time in
gathering Dana up.
The front door flew open as he stepped onto the porch.
"Dana! Oh Lord!" Mrs. Scully cried out when she saw her.
"Missy! Get some blankets-warm them in the dryer quickly, then call the
doctor."
Fox couldn't meet her gaze.  "Mrs. Scully, I-I..I'm so sorry..." he began.
"Shh, it's all right Fox, thank you for finding her."
"Is there anything I can do?"
Mrs. Scully looked into the face of the frightened young man and despite her
frustration, 
her heart softened a little.  "If you would help Missy get something warm to
cover her, I need to 
change her out of these cold wet things."
Fox felt stupid.  "Of course, Mrs. Scully, excuse me."
He hurried off to give her privacy as she stripped the icy clothes off of her
daughter.
Missy hurried in with some warm blankets.   She sat by her sister rubbing her
hands as their Mother rubbed her feet.
Fox slowly came back in, concern in his eyes.
"Fox, there is something else you could do..."
"Anything."
"Her older brother Bill is out looking for her in my car, and..."   Fox was
almost to the front door 
when it burst open unexpectedly.
"You sorry son of a bitch!!"
"Bill!!"
It was all he could do to keep from lunging at Mulder.  "Sorry, Mom but this
piece of shit is the reason for..."
"That's enough.  Fox is the reason she's home now and I won't have you
speaking that way in this house.
Now come here and sit with your sister while I try the doctor again."
Bill rushed to Dana's side, barely stifling a "fuck!" when he saw her bluish
complexion.
His eyes shot daggers at Mulder.  "You can go now *Fox,*" he spat, "you've
been enough *Help*  for today."
Wanting to speak to Mrs. Scully but wanting to depart, Fox edged to the door.
"Thanks Fox," Melissa murmured, "We'll call you later to let you know...."
"Yeah thanks, Fox," Bill echoed sarcastically, "now goodbye!"
Fox closed the door gently behind him.
As he made his way to the car he pondered the sinking feeling in his stomach.
Guilt, yes, but there was something more.
More than just concern that he'd been the cause.
More than the desire to make reparations.
His mother seemed relieved when he stepped through the door.
"Fox, thank goodness.  Mrs. Scully called a few moments ago..."
"Is she going to be all right?"
"They don't know yet dear, they're admitting her to the hospital, it's too
soon to tell."
Fox cradled his head in his hands.
"Molly called, I told her you'd be back shortly."
Fox strode to his room.  "Mom, I'm going to go to bed-unless Mrs. Scully
calls, I don't want to be disturbed."
Nodding in agreement, Tina Mulder set to preparing a sandwich for her son.
She knew better than to try to force conversation at a time like this.
After bringing the snack to his room, she retired to bed herself, and said a
prayer.

Subject: REPOST Stomping Grounds Part 3/7

Thursday, January 8
2:30 p.m.
Rhode Island Regional Medical Center

Dana opened her eyes slowly.
Confused by the strange surroundings, she looked up and caught the eye of her
mother.
"Dana," she exclaimed warmly, "hi honey!"
Dana felt it difficult to speak, and her mom brought her a glass of water.
She gestured around the room with a confused expression.
"Don't you remember honey, you tried to get home from school and must have
been lost-
you hurt yourself, and Fox found you then brought you home.  You've been in
the 
hospital for several days.  And," she added, eyes twinkling, "Fox has visited
you every single day."
Dana rolled her eyes.  Her mom could be so obvious. All the same, a light went
on inside her brain.
Fox had found her-brought her safely home, and then had come there to visit
her.
Suddenly, she felt extremely self conscious of her appearance.
"Missy and Charlie and Bill will be delighted to see you awake!"
At the mention of her family, Dana's eyes brightened and she turned towards
her mom.
"Ahab?" She whispered dryly.
"Sweetie, I spoke to your father and he was terribly concerned, but he is on
maneuvers 
and couldn't make it right now, I'm sorry."
Dana's eyes sank down.
"But he did send you this beautiful bouquet-how he managed to find lilies in
winter is beyond me."
Dana looked up to see a beautiful arrangement of stargazer lilies and smiled
despite herself.
There were balloons scattered around, and some other flowers, daisies and
carnations.
And another arrangement-beautiful pink  roses with baby's breath.
Dana reached for them and inhaled the beautiful aroma deeply.  They were as
fragrant as they were beautiful.
"Thanks, mom," she smiled.
"Oh, those aren't from me, dear, those are from Fox-read the card."
Dana nearly dropped the bouquet.  Somewhat shakily, she pulled the tiny card
from its sheath and read the
inscription.   It had a preprinted feel better soon message and written below
that, simply, 
"Dana--Please forgive me--Fox."   Dana smiled to herself as she placed the
card on her bedside table.
"Speaking of which I imagine he'll be here soon-usually is this time of day." 
"I hope he's not been skipping school."
Almost as if on cue, she heard a soft knock on the door.  It opened quietly
and Fox Mulder looked in.
When he saw Dana sitting up and awake, he practically gasped, smiling broadly.
"Dana! Uh, DK.." he corrected, "it's so good to see you awake!"
"Dana's fine," she whispered hoarsely, "Fox."
"Sweetie, I'm gonna go get you a drink of something, it may help ease the
dryness from your air tube."
Grinning, she got up, "Fox, keep an eye on her for me, I'll be right back"
He came over to where her mother had been sitting and seated himself next to
Dana.
"You had us all pretty worried," he admitted, looking down.   His brown eyes
darkened.
"Especially me, Dana, I feel terrible, it was really irresponsible of me to
ditch you like that-if I 
had realized you wouldn't be with Bill and Missy I wouldn't have left -I
swear..."  
His hands had tightened around the side bars of Dana's bed, knuckles
whitening.
Dana gently laid her hand on his for a moment.
"It's O.K. Fox, it was stupid of me to try to walk home.  It's my fault I was
so impatient.   I'm fine, really."
Dana still felt pretty bad but didn't want him to know.  
After all he'd put her through she was being so nice to him. Fox was stunned
with disbelief.
He had never met anyone like her before.
Scully broke the  silence.  "How's school?"
"Oh, Biology is a real drag without my partner, he grinned, and English well
isn't the same either-
everybody in school keeps talking about her, how she is and what she is doing
right now..."  he rambled on.
As Fox spoke Dana felt herself drifting in and out of consciousness.
She was suddenly, overwhelmingly tired, and powerless to resist.
Mrs. Scully opened the door to see Fox rattling off to a sleeping Dana.
"Fox?"
He started, and turned towards her.  "Mrs. Scully?"
"Uh, Fox, I don't want to hurt your feelings, but I think you've lost your
audience."
He turned and regarded the sleeping girl before him.
A solitary strand of her copper hair had strayed into her eyes.
He brushed it aside, and got up.  "Mrs. Scully?"
"Yes, Fox."
"Tell her goodbye for me?"
"Certainly dear, and thanks for visiting-it might not seem like it, but I know
it made her day."
"Well seeing her awake definitely made mine..." he paused  "I -I still don't
know what to tell you Mrs. Scully."
"It's all right now Fox, she'll be fine.  Really.  Don't agonize over this,
Dana wouldn't want that."
"Maybe you could help her catch up when she returns to school next week, make
sure she gets home warm?"
His hazel eyes lit up.  "Absolutely."
"O.K. then, drive carefully now, Fox!"
She couldn't help but smile as she noticed a sudden spring in the step of the
young man who had 
previously been dragging himself in and out of that room since Dana had been
admitted.
She was a devout Catholic, and  recognized the sign of true penitence when she
saw it.
And she couldn't help but notice something more, something else in his eyes
when he looked at Dana.
Margaret genuinely liked this boy, no question of that.

The next few days and weeks passed by in what seemed like a whirlwind.
Exceptional student that she was, Dana had little difficulty in catching up on
her schoolwork.
The difficulty came in concentrating whenever her newfound tutor came round to
help her.
Still, they found in each other an enjoyable and comfortable team.
Each one borrowing the strengths of the other.  It wasn't the type of
relationship Dana 
(or her Mother) had initially hoped for,  but in its own right, it was wholly
satisfying.
Fox was still seeing Molly, but his patience-and time spent with her decreased
rapidly.
Coincidentally, the time he spent with Dana seemed to increase.
There was a trust & familiarity between them--a friendship of mutual respect.
Nancy wouldn't let Dana get by with it and teased her endlessly.
Zack for his part, seemed to harbor some guilt from his part in her accident, 
despite the fact that Dana had refused his offer of a ride.  He seemed
inordinately attentive-
sometimes stiflingly so.   Before Dana realized it, it was time for prom.
Dances had never really held 
much interest for her, but she hoped this one would be different.   In between
classes, Fox had 
stopped her in the hallway.  "I really need to tell you something, Dana, can
we talk at lunchtime?"
"Sure."  She tried to sound casual, but felt as if he legs were about to
buckle under her.
The periods before lunch dragged on endlessly.   Most of Mr. Brayshaw's class
was spent 
exchanging crooked smiles and unspoken communication.
Finally, the bell rang and she gathered her things together, waiting by the
door for him.
"O.K., lets go by our lockers."
Dana could hardly take the fluttering in her chest.  This was it, she thought
excitedly!
He pulled an envelope from his jacket.  Dana paused, slightly puzzled.
Mulder opened the letter and handed it to her.  Go on, he jabbered excitedly,
read it!
As Dana scanned the page, she felt a sinking feeling in her chest and her face
tightened.  "Oh god."
"What?" He asked.
"Oh-god," she stammered, "this is just incredible. Wow. Congratulations, Fox."
Oblivious to her shock he continued.   "Isn't it amazing?  Not only am I
finally going to get out of 
this hole, I am going to Oxford, and I get to go early on  an independent
study!! 
All expenses paid by the scholarship!  Wahoo!! England! Can you believe it?!"
 He held his hand up for a high five.
Dana turned, fighting to hold back the tears that were stinging her eyes.
"That's great Fox, really...it's just that...I'll miss you."
Suddenly realizing the impact his news was having on her, he followed, his
hand on her shoulder.
"Hey-hey," he murmured, turning her round. "I haven't left yet-we still have
plenty of time-
and I'll be returning for my graduation, and for most of summer break too."
Dana smiled weakly, "oh good, that'll be great."
"Hey and don't forget the winter formal!"  Dana caught her breath in her
throat.
"Maybe you and your date could join Molly and me-rent a limo, go out to
dinner, do it up big. 
Who are you going with?"
Dana couldn't take it.
Tears spilling out of her eyes, she ducked into the ladies room leaving a
perplexed Fox 
Mulder behind her.   He didn't understand. He thought she'd be so happy for
him.
After so many years of wanting to get off this tiny island, his dream was
finally coming true.
And the one person he'd wanted to share the good news with most didn't seem to
care.
He sighed.   Well maybe Molly would be more excited by the news.

You what??  I can't believe it!
This was starting to feel all too familiar.
"We'll still have spring vacation and graduation & the summer-and prom," he
added helpfully.
"Fox, I just can't believe it. I mean I'm happy for you and all, but..."
"Great Mol, thanks!"  He enthused, refusing to let her bring him down.
She seemed complacent.
"Oh, one other thing, Fox.  I am *not* going to be tailed around all night by
your little protege
 and her date.    This is my senior prom and I'm not sharing you with anybody,
I don't care 
how guilty you feel!"   Fox started to interrupt, but saw the futility in
that.
They continued on to lunch, and the rest of the day was uneventful.
Unless you counted the silence of a certain redhead.
It wasn't exactly the silent treatment, she responded to most questions in one
way or another, 
she just wasn't talking.   No witty return on his quips, no laughing smile or
raised eyebrows even at 
his most bawdy attempts at humor.   Nothing.  Figuring he was in it as deep as
possible, he decided 
to break Molly's news to her.   As they left the class for 7th period, he
pulled her aside again.
"Dana?"
"Fox, look, I really don't think I can handle any more news bulletins right
now."
"Well I need to tell you something....about prom."
Dana looked up at him suspiciously-the pools of her blue eyes flickering.
"It's just that, uh, I had a talk with Molly, and she decided she'd rather
not...."
He was stuttering almost.  Dana raised her eyebrow just slightly. "Rather not
what?"
"She just doesn't want to double date that's all."
The shock gave way to an almost eerie sense of relief.   "Oh, is that all."
"Well that's good, Fox, that's just as well, cause Zack and I weren't
interested."
Mulder's momentary sense of relief gave way to shock.
"You...you..you're going with Zack?" he choked out.
"Well,  yeah, since he did ask me," she added, angry for letting her guard
down twice in one day.   "And 
you should see a doctor about that stutter."   Silently regretting  such a
spiteful remark, Dana strode off.
As Mulder watched her fade into the crowd of students, a familiar tight
feeling crept into his stomach.

7:50 p.m. Saturday, March 18
The Scully Household

"Dana you look lovely.   Have a wonderful time."
"Prom is for pansies," Bill accused, "I can't believe you're even going, let
alone with that Heflin drip."
Missy had already left with her date, so Dana faced off her older brother
alone.
"Zack is very nice very charming-a very nice guy, she retorted.  
(Jeez, Dana, who you trying to convince-you or Bill?)
"What a sterling recommendation from Doc Scully," he teased.  "At least you're
not going with that
 butthead, Mulder."
The doorbell rang and Margaret Scully answered it.
"Hello, Zack, come in! I'm Margaret, Dana's mother, and I think you know
Bill."
Bill made a half hearted attempt at saying hi & went back to MTV.
Dana stepped forward shyly, "Uh, hi Zack," she offered, smiling.
He fairly beamed at her, a twinkle in his steely blue eyes.
"Gosh, Dana, you look wonderful-what a beautiful dress!"
Margaret smiled approvingly, "O.K. you two have a good time-Zack, see that
she's home by Midnight, please."
"Sure thing, Mrs. Scully," he replied in his best Eddie Haskell.
"And that's midnight tonight" Bill Jr. added, slamming a fist into his other
hand for emphasis.
As they exited the front door, Bill Jr. groaned in disgust, "Man, what a
loser!"
Margaret silenced him effortlessly in what would later become a patented
Scully look.
"Just cause you couldn't find a date Bill, don't ruin things for Dana &
Missy."
She frowned almost imperceptibly, "still, I had hoped she'd be going with
Fox."
Turning to Bill, "What in heaven is that you're watching??" Strange men
wearing what appeared 
to be plant pots on their heads were singing and dancing on a bizarre Western
set.
"It's M TV, mom,"  he replied as if she were a child, "don't you know Devo?"
Shaking her head, Margaret Scully busied herself about the kitchen, fearing
for her sanity that evening.

Dana in fact did look radiant  She was especially proud of her dress, which
she, her mother 
and sister had labored on at home.  She had no interest in any of the trendier
styled dresses 
that year, horrible confections of tiered lace and gossamer, or worse, garish
reproductions of 
Scarlett O'Hara type dresses.  No, when she decided to attend prom with Zack, 
(and in a way Fox made that decision for her ) she had also chose not to blend
in with the 
bland fashion statements of her peers.  She wanted something different-
special-and elegant.  
So she went into town with her sister and found the perfect dress in a pattern
book.  As shown in 
the book, crafted in a pink rayon knit, it wasn't particularly spectacular.
But Dana recognized the 
inherent style and beauty of the simply designed dress, and fashioned in
gleaming white taffeta, 
she knew the effect would be stunning.  Missy and her mother agreed.  There
was something about the 
way the knee-length dress accentuated Scully's small muscular legs, her trim
waist, and even her petite 
bustline.  She wore her hair down, simply styled, and had added just a
flourish of makeup.  Most of the 
women in her family rarely wore alot of makeup, and Dana was no exception.
The difference, while
 not obvious, was striking.

8:05 p.m.
County Road 9

Dana sighed.  It was noticeably silent in the truck, and she longed for Nancy
or even Bobby's
company.  She was unaccustomed to being alone with Zack, and it made her
uneasy.
He turned towards her and grinned approvingly. "I'm really glad you accepted
my offer after all."
Dana smiled back, tempted to explain why it was she had initially declined.
Thinking the better of it, she turned her attention to the road.  This was not
the way to the school.
"Uh, hey, Zack, where are we going?"
"You'll see," his grin broadened, "it's a surprise."
Smiling nervously, she attempted to look nonchalant.    Zack turned off the
engine of the 
truck and turned the key in the ignition.  They were in a parking lot
overlooking the bay.
"I thought before we made our appearance, we'd have a little drink."   He
produced a small flask
of what appeared to be whiskey or something.    And a metal tin of clove
cigarettes.
"Um, no thanks, Zack," she said, declining the proffered bottle, "I'll take a
cigarette though." 
Zack took a swig of the amber fluid then lit a cigarette in his mouth, handing
it to Dana.  
"Madame," he offered huskily, eyes glazing over slightly.   Dana accepted the
cigarette 
and took a deep drag.
"I thought so."
"What?"  Confused, she turned towards Zack.
"All that goody goody stuff is just an act, eh Dana?  Beneath that mighty
brain, you've got a 
warm, living breathing, feeling  body just like the rest of us humans......"
He leaned in towards her, his hand on the dashboard.  Dana exhaled the
cigarette smoke in his face.
He backed away, coughing only slightly.  His eyes darkened, then brightened.
"Let me see it," he demanded.  
Dana held out the cigarette, the intake of cloves and nicotine making her just
a tiny bit lightheaded.
"It's good," she murmured, changing the subject,  "really sweet, I've heard of
Clove cigarettes before, 
but never tried one."   Zack took a long drag, then grinned at her, holding it
in.
"Sweet." He exhaled thoughtfully, tossing the cigarette out his window. "Very
sweet."
He leaned in towards her again.  "Uh, Zack, I, uh, shouldn't we be heading to
the dance?"
His eyes darkened further as he grabbed her waist and drew her to him,
breathing heavily.
"No Dana, not just yet."  He pressed his lips upon hers and with a sickening
feeling 
Dana realized she could taste the liquor & tobacco on him.
She tried to push away from him, "Really Zack, I'd like to..."
"And I'd like to too," he said, cutting her off, "so why don't you quit the
shy little girl act."
She wrenched his hands from her waist as they moved up her dress. "Zack!"
"Or if that's how you prefer it, O.K. with me, I find a little struggle a big
turn on."
Without warning, he pulled her against him, then pressed his full weight upon
her, 
leaning her back into the seat of the cab.  She could feel him fumbling with
his pants and 
then at her dress.  Dana started to get scared.
"C'mon Dana," he urged, "you know you've wanted this for months."
 He pulled at her dress, tearing it slightly.  Fear was replaced with
indignance and anger.
"You arrogant bastard!" 
In one quick move, Dana brought the full force of her knee to bear in a very
delicate place.
Zack crumpled over beside her, gagging & making the most painful gurgling
noises.
Dana laid a hand on the door knob, turning it and jumped out of the truck.
She slammed the door behind her, but could still hear Zack gasping-- "you
bitch," he moaned.
"Now what?", Dana thought to herself, shivering.  Suddenly, Zack's truck
roared to life and sped away.
Dana still felt somewhat pleased with herself, preferring the cold outside to
the warmth inside the truck
with that asshole.  Shivering, Dana cursed out loud.  He could have at least
tossed her jacket out.
She sighed.  Well at least it wasn't snowing or freezing, and she knew where
she was.
Dana began the slow trek towards home, wishing she had opted for more sensible
shoes.

9:55 p.m.
Westside High Gymnasium

Ignoring Molly's incessant banter with a friend over who was wearing what and
with 
whom at the prom, Fox scanned the crowded gym floor.  He saw Nancy and Bobby,
but no sign 
of Dana and her date.   He started to turn when he caught a glimpse of an
obviously agitated 
Zack Heflin. (Was he limping?)  Zack approached Bobby and Nancy, and engaged
in what looked to be a heated
discussion.   Bobby must have said something to upset him, because the stocky
junior practically knocked him 
over, striding out of the auditorium. Nancy leaned over to help Bobby up.
Mulder hurried over to them, abandoning a fuming Molly in the process.
"Hey Bobby, Nancy, what's up with Zack?  Did Dana stand him up or something?,"
 he asked, hopefully.
They exchanged glances.  It was Nancy who spoke first.
"No Fox, apparently they had something of a...falling out, and he left her up
by  Harbor Point."
 "Harbor Point? What was she doing up there?"
"Apparently not everything Zack had wanted," Bobby blurted out.
"So, Fox, can we use your car to go get her......"  he trailed off as Mulder
took off after his 
former friend.   "Zack!  Hey Zack-Heflin!"
Heflin turned without breaking his stride, "what the hell do you want?"
"Where's Dana?"
Zack smirked.  "Wouldn't you like to know."
"What did you do to her?? Where is she?"
"Hey I didn't do anything that she wasn't asking me for,  what business is it
of yours..."
He halted as Mulder grabbed him by his jacket and pressed his face near Zacks.
"Did you hurt her?"
"Back off, Mulder."  Zack broke Mulder's grip & straightened himself
haughtily.
"That little redheaded slut got what was coming to her."
He didn't have the opportunity to finish his sentence because Fox pulled his
fist back and 
slammed it into Zacks stomach.  "You son of a bitch," he hissed.  "If you've
hurt her..."
Mulder socked him in the jaw, then released him.
Zack attempted to return the hit with a pathetic left to the side of Mulder's
face.
Regrouping, Mulder straightened himself and stepped towards Heflin scowling.
Seeing him flinch, he paused.  "You're just not worth it, you piece of shit."
"But if you've done anything to her-if you've harmed her in any way, I'm
coming back."
Mulder hurried out the doors of the gym and into the night.
Turning the key in the ignition, he thanked his luck for not renting a
limousine.
Steering the mustang onto the highway, he headed up the county road to the
infamous makeout spot.

10:10 p.m. 
County Road 9

Scully shielded her eyes from the oncoming headlights.  Unsure, fearful that
it could be Zack, 
she backed off the road slightly.  She had removed her shoes, an idea which
proved to be only slightly
less painful than the chilly road under her feet.  As the vehicle pulled
closer, she breathed a 
sigh of relief.  It was a car, not a truck-hence, no Zack.  Certain she
recognized the familiar 
rumble of the car's engine-her suspicions were confirmed as Fox Mulder hopped
out of the blue 
mustang , worry on his face.
"Dana, thank goodness! Are you OK?"
Suddenly self conscious of her bedraggled state, she attempted to smooth out
her dress.   The tear in it 
didn't seem too obvious, and she brushed a stray hair from her face.  
"I'm fine Fox, she sighed, but I'd really love a ride."
(As if she had a choice, thought Fox, at this point, I'd carry her home if I
had to!)
He went around to the passenger side door and held it open.
As she came round he noticed the tear in her dress, took note of her reddened
eyes and saw what looked 
to be a slight bruise on her wrist.  His gut wrenched.  "What did he do to
you?"
"Nothing.  I'm fine, Fox, really."   (She lied.)  He cupped her chin in his
hands and lifted her gaze to meet his.
With his thumb, he rubbed a tear from her cheek.  "Do you want to talk about
it?"
"What's to talk about Fox?"  She felt anger well up inside her.  She didn't
need anyone's protection.
"Zack made me an offer I had to refuse, he didn't like the refusal, so I put
it another way."
"A very painful way," she added, a slight gleam in her eyes.
Fox's eyes widened with realization.   He helped her into the car, resisting
the urge to cheer.
As he got in, Dana looked down "Fox, you can just drop me off at home, I know
you need to be 
getting back......"  she trailed off, her heart pounding, "back to Molly."

"Actually, Dana," he offered, "I don't think she's too eager to see me right
now,
I kind of ditched her in a hurry."
Looking up in surprise, Dana noticed a slight red mark on the side of his
cheek.
"Did Molly do that?" she asked, stunned.
Mulder chuckled softly.  "No, if Molly slugged me, I doubt I'd be able to
drive...this is from Zack."
Realization crept into Dana's mind, and just as quickly, a smile spread across
her face.
She gently brushed his cheek with her fingertips.  "My hero."  (Was he
blushing?)
The sensation of her soft hand on his face nearly made Fox drive off the road.
"I guess I should thank you,"she said, blushing.
Fox returned her smile with a broad, toothy grin.  "No, it's something I've
wanted to do for some time.".
"I hadn't realized you were prone to such violent outbursts, Fox."
"Truthfully, neither had I.  I guess you just bring out the man in me," he
teased, leering.
Dana couldn't stifle the laughter that his puppy dog face and pathetic come on
line elicited.
Seeing her laugh only further brightened the look on his face.
The remainder of the drive home was spent in a happy comfortable silence.
Dana turned to get out of the car, and Fox jumped up and ran to get the door.
Helping her out, he said, "I know this was supposed to be a fun night for you,
if you want, we could..."
"No Fox," she interrupted him, "I think I've had my quota of fun for the
evening, 
but I appreciate the gesture."
(Gesture, what gesture, he thought wildly, I don't want to say goodnight yet)
"Walk me to my door?"
Looking down into those liquid blue eyes, Fox would have willingly walked her
to Kansas.
"You know this was supposed to be a fun night for you too, Fox," she turned,
"I'm sorry..."
"Ssssh," he silenced her apology with a finger on her lips.
Heart pounding, she looked up without moving his hand, intensely aware of his
touch.
Without thinking, she turned into his hand and kissed his fingers softly.
He slid his hand around to her cheek, stunned at the trust belied by such a
simple kiss.
Gently, he reached behind her with his free hand and drew her closer to him.
Eyes never flinching, he spoke her name softly, a question from his heart.
"Dana?"
Searching even deeper into his eyes, she gave him her wordless answer.
She tilted her head up as he leaned down gently and brushed his lips against
hers.  As she felt 
the kiss, Dana's whole body was acutely aware of each sensation caused by the
proximity of his
body to hers.  The place on her back where one hand now rested, the warmth of
his chest against 
hers, even the scent of his hair.  Overwhelmed by the moment, she drew back.
"Thanks Fox, good night." Without any hesitation, she slipped inside the front
door and was gone.
Avoiding the stares of her brother and mom, she hurried over to her room at
the back of 
the house, humming softly.   A few minutes later, there was a light knock at
her door.
"Dana?"
"Yes, mom?"
"Are you O.K. honey?-it's it's only quarter of 11,  I wasn't expecting you
home this early."
"Mm-hmm. I'm fine."
Margaret caught the dreamy expression in her daughter's eyes and decided not
to pry further.
Shutting the door behind her, she noticed a perplexed Bill Jr. at the window.
"Hey Mom, it wasn't Zack, it was that Mulder jerk in his Mustang.  What do you
make of that??"
Margaret smiled inwardly, her daughter's expression and manner suddenly making
perfect sense.
"Mom?  Mom?"
Bill Jr. sighed, the heck with em.  He was outnumbered in this house and he
knew better than to try 
to understand it's female occupants.  Shaking his head, he turned his
attention back to MTV once more.  

Subject: REPOST Stomping Grounds 4/7by Heather Hopkins

Monday March 20, 7:30 a.m.
Westside High School

Dana and her mother sat outside the principal's office.  After the events of
Saturday evening went from 
gut wrenching to heart lifting, Dana considered the matter closed.
Unfortunately for Fox, Mr. & Mrs. Heflin 
did not.  They were in the office with Fox and Mrs. Mulder, sorting out the
details of what Zack described 
as an unprovoked jealous attack.
Due to the nature of Dana's involvement, Principal Beim-Esche agreed with her
mother's wishes to 
interview them privately.  Still, they could hear the accusations flying in
the adjoining room.  After some 
time had passed they heard chairs move and footsteps at the door.  A very
tight lipped Lucy and 
Charles Heflin exited with a red faced Zack, still walking as if in a measure
of pain.  Dana tried hard to 
suppress a smug little smile.  Between her and Fox, they had really done a
number on that jerk.  At least 
now his reputation would precede him somewhat, hopefully eliminating the
chance of it happening to 
any other girls.  Behind them came Mrs. Scully, her face masked in a very
different expression.  You could 
see that she was upset, but there was still an unmistakable gleam of pride in
her eyes.  And then came Fox. 
His face was furrowed in a look of concern, but when he saw Dana, his
expression changed.  
The brown eyes sparkled and the lopsided grin returned.  He crossed his wrists
before him, 
imitating a handcuffed prisoner resigned to his fate. 
 
"C'mon Fox, let's go."  As they passed, Mrs. Mulder turned towards them.
"Hello Dana---Mrs. Scully,  I just wanted to tell you how sorry I am for your
trouble."
"Oh, it's no trouble," Mrs. Scully interjected, "and please, call me Margaret.
We are all quite...fond 
of Fox and I know he had the most honorable intentions in mind.  To my way of
thinking, this is 
the second time his assistance has proven invaluable to my daughter."
While all this was going on, neither Fox nor Dana broke eye contact.  No words
were spoken, there was 
no telepathic exchange.  But in the time they had spent together at school,
they had developed an 
uncanny ability to understand each other's expressions and body language.
Dana could tell from his posture that he wasn't quite out of the clear yet as
she would have assumed.
His face told her there was something troubling him, but his eyes eased her
(it's no big deal.).
She raised a brow, eyes growing large for a moment-(what just happened in
there?)
He rolled his eyes upwards and then caught her eyes and winked.  (I'm in a bit
of trouble but I'd do it again)
She flushed slightly and rewarded him with a small smile.  (So would I)
He turned towards her, eyebrows both up-his head cocked to the side.  ( ?
What are you trying to tell me?)
She grinned broadly then looked down.  
"Are you coming, Fox?"
Dana looked up.  His expression had changed to irritated  resignation.
She looked surprised-confused. (Where are you going?)
He motioned with his hands still crossed, to his mother, and sighed.  (Home)
As he slipped past her, he made a poor pretense of tripping, and caught
himself on the arm of her chair.
His face was unbearably close to hers.  She flushed from his nearness. He
leaned in towards her ear, 
and paused tantalizingly before speaking.  Dana closed her eyes, savoring the
proximity.
"Homework." he breathed huskily into her ear.  Dana almost swooned for a
moment until the meaning 
of the word hit her in the face.   "What?"
He straightened himself.  "Homework. Would you mind bringing me my assignments
this week?"
Understanding flooded her brain.  He was being suspended from school.  For a
week.  Because of her.
"Of course.  I'll have to get Bill or Missy to bring me over, though."
Teena spoke.  "Would that be all right with you....Margaret?"
Dana's mother smiled warmly and laid a hand on Fox's shoulder.  "For this
young man, anything."
Fox had to stifle the urge to kiss Mrs. Scully. 
"OK Dana, it's our turn to see Ms. Beim-Esche."  Dana got up and walked
towards the door.
She turned just as Fox was exiting, and he turned too.
She smiled a self conscious lip biting smile. (Bye Fox)
He returned the smile (Bye Dana) then winked (see you soon).
Seated in the principal's office she suddenly found it very difficult to
relate her story with the proper 
amount of reserve and seriousness.    Reminding herself that Fox was in much
more trouble than she was, 
Dana sobered up and relayed the tale.


"Well Dana, from what you've told me, and I'm not too surprised to say this, I
believe you."
"Zack will be remain suspended for 2 weeks and be on probation for the
duration of the school year.  
His parents were rather upset with this but I advised them how fortunate they
were that you and 
your mother would not be  pressing charges in which case I could quite legally
have had him expelled."  
"Now Fox," she paused, letting out a slight sigh, "Fox is another matter
entirely."  Dana could tell from the
principal's tone that she liked Fox, and regretted her role as disciplinarian.
"Motive aside, it remains
that he did in fact, attack another student in view of half the school.  So he
will have to continue 
suspension for a week.  However, since up to this point he has been an
exemplary student, this will not 
remain in his student records, and," she turned to Dana, "if you can assist
him in catching up with his 
daily work, I will see to it you are given your seventh period study hall this
week to help him."
Dana beamed. Trying to suppress her delight, she blurted out, "Yes, thank-you
ma'am, of course."
"All right then.  Mrs. Scully, does this resolve the matter to your
satisfaction?"
"I should say so," Margaret answered, "for both Dana and me."
As they got up, Margaret shook the principal's hand warmly.  "Thank you Ms.
Beim-Esche."
"Yes, thank-you" Dana added.
"Its my pleasure, she responded with a smile, "We feel very fortunate to have
a student of Dana's 
calibre in our school.  I hope that you will all be staying with us for quite
some time.  The summer's 
truly are wonderful here."

It was strange how uneventful the day seemed without Fox there.  Other than
spiteful looks from Molly 
in gym class, most of the kids at school seemed to regard her as something of
a celebrity.  Students 
she'd never met came up to her to say hello and practically everyone smiled at
her as she passed.   
At one point in the lunchroom Molly glared at her and got up as if she had
something to say, then 
seemed to think the better of it.  Dana was used to the stares from Molly &
her little clique, so this 
treatment didn't affect her in the least.  One thing she learned from
attending so many different schools was
that each school always had a group of narrow-minded people who would look
down on her 
and half the school.  She had discovered with Ahab's guidance, that the
opinions and cruelties of 
such people meant nothing to her life.  "Power perceived is Power Achieved,
Starbuck.  
If they sense you as a threat and treat you as such, reacting in kind will
only sink you to their level."
She smiled thinking of her father.  How she missed him.  Spring break was
coming and he'd made 
arrangements for them to stay on base that week in Annapolis.  It suddenly hit
her that if she was 
on the base with her family she wouldn't get to spend much time with Fox
before he left for Oxford.  

She cursed his luck then instantly felt guilty about it.
He was brilliant, and deserved every opportunity that came his way His
interest in Psychology was 
no surprise to her.   She recognized his natural ability to size up a person
almost immediately and 
accurately.  It could be infuriating at times, you'd wonder if he said things
because he meant them or 
because he knew it's what you wanted him to say.  Furthermore, he seemd to
have a perverse 
talent of knowing exactly what to say to unnerve you, what buttons to push.
And it seemed to give him 
great pleasure to do so.   She couldn't contain the grin which blossomed on
her face.  Ironic that the things 
which were most maddening about him were also what made him so uniquely
wonderful.  To be in 
the company of someone of the opposite sex and yet really feel
appreciated--respected for your
individuality was rare.  The closest she had ever come to that was with Ahab.
She knew he loved all his
children equally, but they had a special bond.  Common interests, respect and
something more-
something unspoken.  She snickered softly about her Freudian slip.  The
analogy of Fox to Ahab.  
Talk about something unspoken.  She knew time at Oxford would be incredible
for Fox, perhaps
envied him for it.    It was then and there that she decided not to let him
see a moment's 
hesitation in her happiness for him.  Once when she lived in San Diego, there
was a boy she was loved.  
But when her father accepted the transfer which took them to Asia for several
months, Steve was 
terribly resentful about it.  It made what should have been an incredible
adventure for her sad and 
bittersweet.  And a year later, when she returned, he scorned her, as if the
choice to leave had been hers.  
A pretty pathetic example of puppy love, to be sure, but Dana recognized the
moment for its truth.  
Love could build a person up, but just as easily bring them down.  So in time
she perfected a way of 
communicating without giving people any clues to her feelings.  It made
decisions simpler, tough 
choices easier.  She promised Fox would not be torn by her hesitance to say
goodbye.  And when he came 
back for the summer-for graduation, well they would have plenty of time to
discover one another. The sixth 
period bell rang.  Startled, Dana looked up.  So deep in thought, she hadn't
even considered the teacher's
instructions.  
"Miss Scully?"  Mr. Munekee motioned her to his desk. "Here's Mr. Mulder's
sheets on todays' lecture, 
you might review them yourself," he admonished her, looking over his glasses
with a stern expression, 
tempered by a twinke in eyes.  "Also here are some extra credit materials for
Fox to work on independently."  
"Now as I understand it, you have a ride waiting for you outside the front
entrance."
"Thank you Mr. Munekee."
"You're welcome, Dana, tell Fox we miss him."
She grinned, gathered up her papers and Fox's assignments, and practically
skipped out the door.
As she passed through the front door after signing out of the office she froze
in her tracks.  Bill wasn't there 
waiting for her, instead a silvery blue mustang was idling.  Surprised, she
fought valiantly to contain the smile 
which threatened to cross her face.  But when his twinkling brown eyes met
hers,  she conceded the battle.  
Fox saw her step out the front door and hesitate, surprised to see him.  
(His heat leapt-then he questioned it- What am I doing, --I'm leaving in less
than a month...)  
His gut wrenched as she favored him with a heart stopping smile.  It was the
kind of smile he rarely saw, 
but readily cherished.
He leaned over to open the passenger side door, and Dana climbed in.  
"Curbside service?" she questioned him.
He stared at her face for a moment-her intense blue eyes, lightly freckled
complexion in a soft red frame.  
This face was a work of art, he thought to himself.  This face....was raising
an eyebrow in a very endearing 
expression which made resisitance all the more difficult.  He cleared his
throat.
"You're not getting goofy on me now, are you Fox?"
He turned away, silenced for the moment, but smiling all the same.  Dana had a
maddening ability to
lay into him effortlessly.  In a masochistic way he revelled in it.  But she
would expect no less from 
him in return.   He mused over a proper retort.
Encouraged by his pause, she continued.  "Oh, you *ARE* getting goofy on me,
o.k...."
She looked out the window chuckling softly.  "Well you'd better de-goof a
little because it looks like 
all your teachers have decided to put a very unceremonious end to your mini
vacation."
He regarded the stack of books and papers she offered for evidence, and
groaned.
"Great. Thanks alot."
"Hey I didn't make up the assignments, and I certainly didn't attack Heflin at
the prom," she chided him.
"No, that's true, he conceded, "You reserved your *attack* for a much more
*private place*."  
He leered at her laughingly, obviously very pleased with himself at his double
entendre.
Dana nodded in agreement.  "Touche, Fox.  Just remember that it's a skill I
haven't lost."
She gave him *the look*.
Widening his eyes in mock trepidation, he gripped the sterring wheel stiffly,
eyes straight ahead.  
"Yes ma'am, Miss Scully, where to Miss Scully?"
Dana mulled it over. She didn't want to go to her house, Bill and Missy and
Charlie and Mom 
would all be there soon, and she didn't want to share him just yet.  But going
to his 
house--possibly his room--the implications were too much to consider.  She
felt her pulse rise 
in agreement. Without realizing it, she sighed out loud.
Mulder glanced at her quickly, seeming to comprehend of the weight of her
decision.  Reminding himself 
to do what was right and ultimately best for the both of them, he suggested
the Library.
Scully visibly relaxed by this neutral suggestion, nodded in agreement, and
gave him a tight lipped smile.
"Uh-huh.."
And so they spent several hours at the public library, and on the nights which
followed as well.
They passed the time pleasantly, joking, going over assignments and figures
and theories.
It was an easy, familiar routine.  And as they were each hesitant to end their
sessions, more often
than not  they found themselves evicted as a result of the librarian needing
to close up.

The remaining weeks at school passed in a similar fashion.  Well, almost.
Dana noted with some bitterness
 that when Fox returned to school, he also returned to his familiar routine
with Molly.  Terribly
hurt by this, Dana silently relinquished their evenings of study to her
unworthy opponent. 
Still, she had Fox to herself in many ways, in their shared classes.  And she
knew it was for the best 
no matter how it hurt.  Much to her delight, however, Fox openly defied
Molly's ego on several occasions 
by enthusiastically chatting with Dana in front of her.  He made no secret of
the fact that he and Dana 
had an intellectual partnership-an equality she could never share.  Dana took
great satisfaction in this.
She was not an eternal optimist, but not entirely jaded either.  She knew that
statistics were in her favor 
in terms of maintaining a friendship with Fox after high school.  Good friends
kept in touch.  High 
school sweethearts rarely did, no matter what the movies said.  And the
prospect of his friendship being 
there-an anchor in the turbulent years ahead was an inviting one.  After all,
she reasoned to herself, 
it would not be too long before the Scully clan was destined to move on to
another destination as well.   
Dream as she might of the fantasy of loving Fox Mulder- the reality of certain
friendship held even more 
appeal.  She couldn't bear the thought of repeating the Steve incident.  No,
she had at long last reconciled 
herself to just enjoying her time with Fox, however she spent it.  The only
problem was that there was so 
precious little of that time left.