From: Katy Wild Date: 14 Mar 2003 02:20:50 -0800 Subject: NEW: STUPID FOX Source: atxc NEW: STUPID FOX AUTHOR: KATY WILD RATING: PG13 CAT: S, SCULLY POV, MULDER POV CLASSIFICATION: JEALOUSY, ANGST, MSR, RST SPOILERS: General TIMELINE: Season 6 SUMMARY: For our intrepid duo, I love angst and happy endings. For the Fowl One, I love angst and really p---d off endings. DISCLAIMER: The characters belong to Fox, Mr. Carter etc. I'm only borrowing them for a bit. DISTRIBUTION STATEMENT: Gossamer OK, Ephemeral OK. Others, if you think it worthy, I'd be honoured. Just keep my headers and let me know so I can take a look. My sincere thanks go to Tabula Rasa for her excellent beta. FEEDBACK: Just a line would be nice. Constructive critisism is good for growth. Encouragement is good for the soul. EMAIL: katywild2000@yahoo.com.au BASEMENT OFFICE OF THE X-FILES "What in hell is wrong with you, Scully?" Mulder yelled at his partner. "Half the people in this building saw you walk in front of that truck. You could have been killed. What were you thinking? You're a trained agent for God's sake. How do you expect to be able to handle a dangerous situation on the job if you can't even cross the road safely?" Mulder towered over his partner who stood stiffly and defiantly in front of him, looking him straight in the eye. 'Oh great, he's really flipping out,' she thought bitterly. 'Arms flapping about like a pelican caught in fishing net. No, not a pelican, more like an ape, the king of the apes actually. Pissed off because one of his brood did something to upset his world a little.' She decided she wasn't going to let him get the better of her. "All right, Mulder, now that you've got all that off your chest, do you think you could drop it so we can get some work done around here?" she huffed. She gave him a stern glare then turned on her heel as she pushed passed him to get to her own work area. 'Who the hell does he think he is? After all I've been through for him. He thinks he can just toss me aside whenever he feels like it,' she continued ranting to herself as she fell heavily into her chair. 'And after all these years stuck in this dingy basement - he still won't even get me a damned desk.' Scully was becoming furious. Not about what happened right outside the Hoover Building. No, she was angry with him. How dare he make it out to be such a big deal. It could have happened to anyone. So she wasn't thinking straight when she stepped off the curb. Her thoughts were elsewhere - on one Diana Fowley, Mulder's 'ex-chickadee,' as Frohike so blatantly stated. And it was 'his' breakfast she'd gone out for.Oh, and he couldn't have the usual, could he? He wanted bagels and coffee from the new diner one block over. She didn't mind, really she didn't. She'd hoped her kind gesture might lend to his taking a bit of notice of her. 'Yeah, sure,' she thought. 'He'd hardly even looked at me since that bitch arrived in DC.' Who'd have thought a runaway delivery truck would come careening through the intersection like that? Luckily, her only injuries were a sprained wrist and a few bruises. Thank God she was wearing a heavy winter coat and gloves or she would have been scraped up pretty badly. 'Damn. That coat cost me a small fortune,' she sulked. 'How dare he go off at me! It's not like he never has any close calls. Hell, he's always getting into trouble. I'm always saving his butt, and I never yell at him for putting himself into dangerous situations. God, why is it that his photographic memory can lapse when it suits him!?' Mulder took a deep breath. "Look, Scully"," he began calmly. "Something's been bothering you for the last 3 weeks. You're not concentrating on what you're doing and your mood swings are becoming very worrying. It's dangerous, Scully." He leaned over and placed his hands flat on her desk in front of her. "If you need a break, if you want some time off, I'll arrange it with Skinner. Take as much time as you want. I'll manage." Scully's anger grew alarmingly. She was seething. With gritted teeth, she stood up and glared at him. Her mind was reeling with horrid things she wanted to tell him, thoughts she'd very much like to voice right now. 'So, it's as easy as that, is it, Mulder? Get me out of the way so you and Diana can screw to your hearts' content. I know when I'm not wanted. I don't need to hear you say it. After all these years, after all we've been to each other, how can you so easily ditch me? For that trollop! And I thought you were worth it Mulder, worth the sacrifice - you're not, you're not worth a damn more minute of my life!' Without a word, she pushed away from him and grabbed her coat and bag. Storming out of the office, she slammed the door behind her, leaving Mulder staring after her in a swirl of mixed emotions. (Mulder's POV) "Fuck," Mulder bellowed as his fist hit the wall hard. "Fuck, fuck, fuck," he yelled as pain shot through his hand and up his arm. "Great, Scully. Now we're both fucking cripples. Aw shit. Fuck!" Mulder sat heavily into her chair. He was exasperated. His hand throbbed and his head ached with tension. 'What in the hell is wrong with her? For weeks now she's been so difficult, at times downright impossible. Taking off without explanation, slamming file drawers and arguing over ridiculous things. Even Diana commented on Scully's odd behaviour a number of times.' Of course, he'd tried to talk to her about it. Especially those mornings when she came in looking like she hadn't slept all night. But all he got was "I'm fine, Mulder." Depressed, that's what she was. And if not depressed, she was a time bomb about to go off. And heaven help anyone within a mile of A-Bomb Scully. 'Although, come to think of it,' he reflected, 'I'm usually the only one around at those times.' He stood abruptly, knocking the chair over as he turned to the small refrigerator under the shelf. Grabbing the ice pack, which Scully thought would be a good thing to keep on hand for injuries, he pressed it lightly to the back of his hand, the cold and pain causing him to wince and bite his bottom lip. Just as he was about to go to find Scully, his cell phone rang. He grabbed it quickly with his left hand, fumbling with the ice pack and nearly dropping the thing in the process. "Scully?" he answered anxiously. There was a moment of hesitation on the line before a female voice answered. "Fox, it's me." "Diana," his voice showed obvious. "What's up?" "Fox, I thought you might like to go over the Antico file. There are a few things that don't quite add up and I think you should be aware of them. Skinner wants our opinion within twenty-four hours, so how about we could get together tonight and go through it. Perhaps at my apartment?" Mulder took a deep breath and replied without thought. "Not tonight, Diana. There's something I have to do. Leave it on my desk before you go home with a list of your queries. I'll check it out before the meeting." "Come on now, Fox. You know it would better to check them out together. Besides, I have to tell you personally. It's not a good idea to leave one's suspicions listed for others to see. And I'd also like to catch up with you. We haven't had a chance to do that since I came back. How about it Fox, for old times sake?" The smooth, sensual tone of Diana Fowley's voice was the wake-up call of all wake-up calls for Fox Mulder. If he ever deserved a smack over the head, he knew it was now. Diana Fowley. The logical reason behind Scully's unusual behaviour. She was feeling threatened by the return of his ex-partner and one time lover. Mulder shut his eyes and shook his head at his own stupidity. Then his face suddenly lit up like a Christmas tree as he saw the possibility that it was more the 'one time lover' part of his past relationship with Diana that was causing Scully to behave the way she had been. Mulder took a deep breath and very calmly spoke. "Look Diana, I don't want this. Not now. not ever. Whatever I thought I felt for you years ago wasn't real. I know that now, I've known it for a long time. So if you'd leave off trying to resume our past relationship I'd appreciate it. Heaven knows I've got enough to cope with." If looks could kill, and if he could see down the telephone line, Fox Mulder would be a dead man. "Fine," Diana replied spitefully. "Keep waiting for your skinny runt of a partner. She'll never come to you. You're wasting your life on her. She could never give you what I can. She was sent to spy on you Fox. Remember that? Or has she so blindsided you with her scientific rationale that you stand in awe of her? She's a schemer Fox, out to get to the top of the corporate ladder regardless of you." Diana's anger had risen to almost screaming point by this time, her breath coming in harsh pants and her voice straining to get the words out. "And in all these years has she ever made a pass at you, tried to get into your bed. I don't think so. Dana Scully is the Ice Queen, Fox. Sex with her would be like sticking your dick in a tub of 'No Frills' ice cream," she finally blurted out before her throat dried up and no more words could come out. It was then that Diana realised that Mulder was actually laughing. "Diana," he paused to get a grip on himself. "Scully is the most beautiful woman I have ever laid eyes on. She might be small but she fits me perfectly. The only thing I can honestly say I've wasted any part of my life on was the period I spent with you. And as far as giving me what I need, and even what I want, Scully gives me everything. More than you could possibly hope to be able to give any man. She is ten times smarter than you, and her loyalty is beyond question, unlike you, Diana. And as much as this may displease you, Scully is the warmest, most loving and most giving woman imaginable. Do you get my drift, Diana? Does that set you straight as far as my feelings for her are concerned?" Mulder's eardrum almost burst as Diana slammed down the phone. "Well, I finally got that bitch speechless," he mused with a smile on his face. Although he really wanted Diana to think he and Scully were sleeping together he hadn't actually said it, had he? 'Not my fault if she misunderstood me,' he shrugged his shoulders then laughed joyously. "Hey, my headache's gone. And my wrist doesn't hurt as badly either. OK Mulder, old man, you've got some apologisin' to do." 15 MINUTES LATER - OUTSIDE THE HOOVER BUILDING (Scully's POV) Because she'd put her car in for service on her way to work, Mulder had offered to give her a ride home that afternoon. But, no way was she going to have anything further to do with him today. So she stood in line for a cab. She counted five people ahead of her also waiting for rides home or wherever their lives were taking them. She was cold and tired. And she blamed Mulder. If he hadn't been so damned high and mighty, she wouldn't be standing here freezing her butt off. "What a prick," she said, a little too loudly. The older woman in front of her turned around and looked at her with an unpleasant expression. "Sorry," Scully apologised. "It's been a bad day." "And it's only half over, my dear," the woman replied with a broad Irish accent. The woman looked Scully up and down, noticing the clean, white bandage around the younger woman's hand. "Did he do that to you?" she inquired softly. "Who?" Scully asked, resenting the intrusion of this stranger. "The 'prick' you mentioned, did he hurt your hand?" "No! He would never hurt me. And it is none of your business anyway," she growled. But the woman wasn't fazed one bit. "So, if he didn't hurt you, would never hurt you, why is he a 'prick?'" "I had an accident and he yelled at me," Scully stated firmly. "He said I could have been killed. Made me feel stupid. He ranted and raved and made out like I was a complete moron. As if he cared what happened to me, as if he'd be devastated if I was killed. He...he...." Scully hesitated, the realisation came over her like a wave. Her face changed from an expression of anger to one of astonishment as her eyes stared blankly at nothing. She'd never seen him so angry before, never with her, anyway. Her voice became quiet. Her head dropped to her chest and she spoke with barely a whisper. "He...he was concerned for me...he was really terrified that I could have died in that accident." She glanced up to see the stranger smile. "He really does care for me." The woman raised her hand and gently touched Scully on the shoulder. "Like I said, the day is only half over. Don't waste the rest of it wallowing in self-pity. We all make mistakes, we all have feelings and we are all hurt at sometime by the one we love. Go back to him. Go back and tell him how you feel." Scully felt a surge of joy spread over her as her eyes glassed over with unshed tears. "Thank you. Thank you so very much...I'll do that...I'll tell him why I've been upset, that I thought he didn't want me around any more." She turned quickly to run back to the Hoover Building. However, she didn't get far. Before she'd taken two steps, she ran straight into the opened arms of Fox Mulder. "Oomph..." her chest thudded against him. She quickly looked up...and into the smiling eyes of the man she loved. Her eyes glazed with tears, she told him. "I'm sorry Mulder...it was so stupid of me, so careless. You were right. I could have been killed. I'm so sorry to have scared you like that." "No, Scully." He slid his arms around her and held her close. "I'm the one who's stupid. I should have realised what the problem was. I should have figured you were upset by Diana's return. Great profiler I am." Dana Scully buried her head in his chest and wrapped her arms around him. She didn't know what more to say. She had been scared at Diana's attempts to undermine her position with Mulder. It was obvious the woman was trying to get rid of her so she could have him all to herself. But that didn't scare her as much as Diana's plans to have Mulder in bed. She'd been so afraid of losing him, and there was nothing she could do about it. She loved him and she was losing him before she'd even had him. Mulder raised his head from where it rested on hers and noticed the milling crowds. A number of agents were looking rather knowingly at the couple standing with their arms around each other in front of the Hoover Building. "Let's get out of here, Scully, before we give the rumor mongers something else to titillate their dull lives." Scully turned to find the woman she'd been speaking with had gone. She looked to the left, the right and up the street but she was no-where to be seen. As she turned again to the line of people waiting for a cab, she realised that the same people were still standing there. No one had left, and no one had joined the queue. The woman had simply disappeared. She turned again to Mulder and with his hand on the small of her back they hurried to the garage and to his car. It wasn't until he put his hands on the steering wheel that she noticed the swelling. "Mulder, what happened to your hand?" "Oh, just another stupid thing I did, Scully - like all the other stupid things I do," he grinned. "Actually, I smashed it into the wall when you left - and I have this ringing in my ear caused by Diana slamming the phone down when I rejected her invitation to spend the night at her apartment, on the pretence of going over the Antico file. That was just before I told her how much I regret ever having a relationship with her. And that what I once thought I felt for her wasn't real." Mulder reached over and took Scully's hand in his and gazed into her eyes. "I told her you were the most beautiful woman I'd ever met, that you give me all I need, and are the warmest, most loving and most giving woman imaginable." Scully was dumbfounded. Had she really heard what she thought she'd heard? She looked into his eyes. "That sounds like you told her you were in love with me, Mulder, as if we were in an intimate relationship. Diana could misconstrue your words, she could think we were lovers," she whispered. "That was the whole idea, Scully. I want her to think we are lovers," Mulder replied. Scully's heart dropped to the pit of her stomach, realising that Mulder had only used her to get Diana off his back. She pulled her hand away and turned abruptly to reach for the door handle, wanting nothing more than to get out of that car. She could feel the constricting pain in her chest as her heart broke into tiny pieces. Before she could remove the seat belt, Mulder grabbed her arm and tugged back. His hand came to her cheek, turning her face toward his. His smile was so gentle, so beautiful. 'How could I leave him? He is everything to me. If he can't give me any more than his friendship then that will be enough. It will have to be, even if it is just so I can be with him on a mostly strictly professional basis,' Scully thought dismally. He dipped his head and spoke softly into her ear. "So, Scully, should we go home and expand on the wonderful relationship we have? Should we start being honest about our feelings for each other and stop this charade? Should we stop pretending we're not truly, madly, deeply in love?" The tears flowed freely as Scully's face blossomed into a beautiful smile. She looked into his hazel eyes and saw the truth. Gulping back the now happy tears she said simply, "My place or yours, Mulder?" Lips met, mouths melted and tongues searched out every crevice until a tap on the window brought them out of their private world. "Take it home, agents," the tall, bespectacled and smirking man spoke. "Yes, sir," Mulder laughed. He twisted the key in the ignition and threw the car into gear. Tires screeched on the smooth surface of the basement car park as they sped toward Scully's apartment. It was closer that his, and neither of them wanted to waste another minute. LATE NEXT MORNING - BASEMENT OFFICE OF THE X-FILES Diana cautiously opened the door. Mulder was at the file cabinet and Scully stood beside him. Mulder had a grin like a Cheshire cat. Scully heard the door open and turned toward it. She couldn't help herself. "Good morning, Agent Fowley. Isn't it a wonderful day?" Diana glanced over to Mulder, his grin getting bigger as he glanced at her and then to Scully. "Oh, by the way Diana. Thanks... for everything," Scully smiled as she turned to her new desk and skimmed her fingers along the top. "Yeah Diana, thanks." Mulder walked over to her. He leaned in close and whispered. "It was fantastic, the best." With the unleashed fury of a mini tornado, Diana threw the heavy stack of files on Mulder's desk and turned away from the sickening sight before her. When she reached the door she stopped and turned back. She had to have the last word. "AD Skinner will hear about this, agents. Mark my words...he will hear about this." Like a rehearsed choreography, both Mulder and Scully sat on the edge of the new piece of furniture. Simultaneously crossing their arms over their chests and sticking their chins out they spoke together. "Go ahead, agent. Be my guest." As door slammed behind her, the two lovers broke into fits of laughter, loud enough for Diana to hear from the corridor. Whether she heard the next words, they didn't know, and they didn't care. "I love you, Scully...I love you so very much." "And I love you, Mulder." THE END FEEDBACK: Just a line would be nice. Constructive critisism is good for growth. Encouragement is good for the soul. Katywild2000@yahoo.com.au From katywild2000@yahoo.com.au Sun Apr 13 15:38:00 2003 Date: 17 Mar 2003 03:49:33 -0800 From: Katy Wild Newsgroups: alt.tv.x-files.creative Subject: REPOST: STUPID FOX NEW: STUPID FOX AUTHOR: KATY WILD RATING: PG13 CAT: S, SCULLY POV, MULDER POV CLASSIFICATION: JEALOUSY, ANGST, MSR, RST SPOILERS: General TIMELINE: Season 6 SUMMARY: For our intrepid duo, I love angst and happy endings. For the Fowl One, I love angst and really p---d off endings. DISCLAIMER: The characters belong to Fox, Mr. Carter etc. I'm only borrowing them for a bit. DISTRIBUTION STATEMENT: Gossamer OK, Ephemeral OK. Others, if you think it worthy, I'd be honoured. Just keep my headers and let me know so I can take a look. My sincere thanks go to Tabula Rasa for her excellent beta. FEEDBACK: Just a line would be nice. Constructive critisism is good for growth. Encouragement is good for the soul. EMAIL: katywild2000@yahoo.com.au BASEMENT OFFICE OF THE X-FILES "What in hell is wrong with you, Scully?" Mulder yelled at his partner. "Half the people in this building saw you walk in front of that truck. You could have been killed. What were you thinking? You're a trained agent for God's sake. How do you expect to be able to handle a dangerous situation on the job if you can't even cross the road safely?" Mulder towered over his partner who stood stiffly and defiantly in front of him, looking him straight in the eye. 'Oh great, he's really flipping out,' she thought bitterly. 'Arms flapping about like a pelican caught in fishing net. No, not a pelican, more like an ape, the king of the apes actually. Pissed off because one of his brood did something to upset his world a little.' She decided she wasn't going to let him get the better of her. "All right, Mulder, now that you've got all that off your chest, do you think you could drop it so we can get some work done around here?" she huffed. She gave him a stern glare then turned on her heel as she pushed passed him to get to her own work area. 'Who the hell does he think he is? After all I've been through for him. He thinks he can just toss me aside whenever he feels like it,' she continued ranting to herself as she fell heavily into her chair. 'And after all these years stuck in this dingy basement - he still won't even get me a damned desk.' Scully was becoming furious. Not about what happened right outside the Hoover Building. No, she was angry with him. How dare he make it out to be such a big deal. It could have happened to anyone. So she wasn't thinking straight when she stepped off the curb. Her thoughts were elsewhere - on one Diana Fowley, Mulder's 'ex-chickadee,' as Frohike so blatantly stated. And it was 'his' breakfast she'd gone out for.Oh, and he couldn't have the usual, could he? He wanted bagels and coffee from the new diner one block over. She didn't mind, really she didn't. She'd hoped her kind gesture might lend to his taking a bit of notice of her. 'Yeah, sure,' she thought. 'He'd hardly even looked at me since that bitch arrived in DC.' Who'd have thought a runaway delivery truck would come careening through the intersection like that? Luckily, her only injuries were a sprained wrist and a few bruises. Thank God she was wearing a heavy winter coat and gloves or she would have been scraped up pretty badly. 'Damn. That coat cost me a small fortune,' she sulked. 'How dare he go off at me! It's not like he never has any close calls. Hell, he's always getting into trouble. I'm always saving his butt, and I never yell at him for putting himself into dangerous situations. God, why is it that his photographic memory can lapse when it suits him!?' Mulder took a deep breath. "Look, Scully"," he began calmly. "Something's been bothering you for the last 3 weeks. You're not concentrating on what you're doing and your mood swings are becoming very worrying. It's dangerous, Scully." He leaned over and placed his hands flat on her desk in front of her. "If you need a break, if you want some time off, I'll arrange it with Skinner. Take as much time as you want. I'll manage." Scully's anger grew alarmingly. She was seething. With gritted teeth, she stood up and glared at him. Her mind was reeling with horrid things she wanted to tell him, thoughts she'd very much like to voice right now. 'So, it's as easy as that, is it, Mulder? Get me out of the way so you and Diana can screw to your hearts' content. I know when I'm not wanted. I don't need to hear you say it. After all these years, after all we've been to each other, how can you so easily ditch me? For that trollop! And I thought you were worth it Mulder, worth the sacrifice - you're not, you're not worth a damn more minute of my life!' Without a word, she pushed away from him and grabbed her coat and bag. Storming out of the office, she slammed the door behind her, leaving Mulder staring after her in a swirl of mixed emotions. (Mulder's POV) "Fuck," Mulder bellowed as his fist hit the wall hard. "Fuck, fuck, fuck," he yelled as pain shot through his hand and up his arm. "Great, Scully. Now we're both fucking cripples. Aw shit. Fuck!" Mulder sat heavily into her chair. He was exasperated. His hand throbbed and his head ached with tension. 'What in the hell is wrong with her? For weeks now she's been so difficult, at times downright impossible. Taking off without explanation, slamming file drawers and arguing over ridiculous things. Even Diana commented on Scully's odd behaviour a number of times.' Of course, he'd tried to talk to her about it. Especially those mornings when she came in looking like she hadn't slept all night. But all he got was "I'm fine, Mulder." Depressed, that's what she was. And if not depressed, she was a time bomb about to go off. And heaven help anyone within a mile of A-Bomb Scully. 'Although, come to think of it,' he reflected, 'I'm usually the only one around at those times.' He stood abruptly, knocking the chair over as he turned to the small refrigerator under the shelf. Grabbing the ice pack, which Scully thought would be a good thing to keep on hand for injuries, he pressed it lightly to the back of his hand, the cold and pain causing him to wince and bite his bottom lip. Just as he was about to go to find Scully, his cell phone rang. He grabbed it quickly with his left hand, fumbling with the ice pack and nearly dropping the thing in the process. "Scully?" he answered anxiously. There was a moment of hesitation on the line before a female voice answered. "Fox, it's me." "Diana," his voice showed obvious disappointment. "What's up?" "Fox, I thought you might like to go over the Antico file. There are a few things that don't quite add up and I think you should be aware of them. Skinner wants our opinion within twenty-four hours, so how about we could get together tonight and go through it. Perhaps at my apartment?" Mulder took a deep breath and replied without thought. "Not tonight, Diana. There's something I have to do. Leave it on my desk before you go home with a list of your queries. I'll check it out before the meeting." "Come on now, Fox. You know it would better to check them out together. Besides, I have to tell you personally. It's not a good idea to leave one's suspicions listed for others to see. And I'd also like to catch up with you. We haven't had a chance to do that since I came back. How about it Fox, for old times sake?" The smooth, sensual tone of Diana Fowley's voice was the wake-up call of all wake-up calls for Fox Mulder. If he ever deserved a smack over the head, he knew it was now. Diana Fowley. The logical reason behind Scully's unusual behaviour. She was feeling threatened by the return of his ex-partner and one time lover. Mulder shut his eyes and shook his head at his own stupidity. Then his face suddenly lit up like a Christmas tree as he saw the possibility that it was more the 'one time lover' part of his past relationship with Diana that was causing Scully to behave the way she had been. Mulder took a deep breath and very calmly spoke. "Look Diana, I don't want this. Not now. not ever. Whatever I thought I felt for you years ago wasn't real. I know that now, I've known it for a long time. So if you'd leave off trying to resume our past relationship I'd appreciate it. Heaven knows I've got enough to cope with." If looks could kill, and if he could see down the telephone line, Fox Mulder would be a dead man. "Fine," Diana replied spitefully. "Keep waiting for your skinny runt of a partner. She'll never come to you. You're wasting your life on her. She could never give you what I can. She was sent to spy on you Fox. Remember that? Or has she so blindsided you with her scientific rationale that you stand in awe of her? She's a schemer Fox, out to get to the top of the corporate ladder regardless of you." Diana's anger had risen to almost screaming point by this time, her breath coming in harsh pants and her voice straining to get the words out. "And in all these years has she ever made a pass at you, tried to get into your bed. I don't think so. Dana Scully is the Ice Queen, Fox. Sex with her would be like sticking your dick in a tub of 'No Frills' ice cream," she finally blurted out before her throat dried up and no more words could come out. It was then that Diana realised that Mulder was actually laughing. "Diana," he paused to get a grip on himself. "Scully is the most beautiful woman I have ever laid eyes on. She might be small but she fits me perfectly. The only thing I can honestly say I've wasted any part of my life on was the period I spent with you. And as far as giving me what I need, and even what I want, Scully gives me everything. More than you could possibly hope to be able to give any man. She is ten times smarter than you, and her loyalty is beyond question, unlike you, Diana. And as much as this may displease you, Scully is the warmest, most loving and most giving woman imaginable. Do you get my drift, Diana? Does that set you straight as far as my feelings for her are concerned?" Mulder's eardrum almost burst as Diana slammed down the phone. "Well, I finally got that bitch speechless," he mused with a smile on his face. Although he really wanted Diana to think he and Scully were sleeping together he hadn't actually said it, had he? 'Not my fault if she misunderstood me,' he shrugged his shoulders then laughed joyously. "Hey, my headache's gone. And my wrist doesn't hurt as badly either. OK Mulder, old man, you've got some apologisin' to do." 15 MINUTES LATER - OUTSIDE THE HOOVER BUILDING (Scully's POV) Because she'd put her car in for service on her way to work, Mulder had offered to give her a ride home that afternoon. But, no way was she going to have anything further to do with him today. So she stood in line for a cab. She counted five people ahead of her also waiting for rides home or wherever their lives were taking them. She was cold and tired. And she blamed Mulder. If he hadn't been so damned high and mighty, she wouldn't be standing here freezing her butt off. "What a prick," she said, a little too loudly. The older woman in front of her turned around and looked at her with an unpleasant expression. "Sorry," Scully apologised. "It's been a bad day." "And it's only half over, my dear," the woman replied with a broad Irish accent. The woman looked Scully up and down, noticing the clean, white bandage around the younger woman's hand. "Did he do that to you?" she inquired softly. "Who?" Scully asked, resenting the intrusion of this stranger. "The 'prick' you mentioned, did he hurt your hand?" "No! He would never hurt me. And it is none of your business anyway," she growled. But the woman wasn't fazed one bit. "So, if he didn't hurt you, would never hurt you, why is he a 'prick?'" "I had an accident and he yelled at me," Scully stated firmly. "He said I could have been killed. Made me feel stupid. He ranted and raved and made out like I was a complete moron. As if he cared what happened to me, as if he'd be devastated if I was killed. He...he...." Scully hesitated, the realisation came over her like a wave. Her face changed from an expression of anger to one of astonishment as her eyes stared blankly at nothing. She'd never seen him so angry before, never with her, anyway. Her voice became quiet. Her head dropped to her chest and she spoke with barely a whisper. "He...he was concerned for me...he was really terrified that I could have died in that accident." She glanced up to see the stranger smile. "He really does care for me." The woman raised her hand and gently touched Scully on the shoulder. "Like I said, the day is only half over. Don't waste the rest of it wallowing in self-pity. We all make mistakes, we all have feelings and we are all hurt at sometime by the one we love. Go back to him. Go back and tell him how you feel." Scully felt a surge of joy spread over her as her eyes glassed over with unshed tears. "Thank you. Thank you so very much...I'll do that...I'll tell him why I've been upset, that I thought he didn't want me around any more." She turned quickly to run back to the Hoover Building. However, she didn't get far. Before she'd taken two steps, she ran straight into the opened arms of Fox Mulder. "Oomph..." her chest thudded against him. She quickly looked up...and into the smiling eyes of the man she loved. Her eyes glazed with tears, she told him. "I'm sorry Mulder...it was so stupid of me, so careless. You were right. I could have been killed. I'm so sorry to have scared you like that." "No, Scully." He slid his arms around her and held her close. "I'm the one who's stupid. I should have realised what the problem was. I should have figured you were upset by Diana's return. Great profiler I am." Dana Scully buried her head in his chest and wrapped her arms around him. She didn't know what more to say. She had been scared at Diana's attempts to undermine her position with Mulder. It was obvious the woman was trying to get rid of her so she could have him all to herself. But that didn't scare her as much as Diana's plans to have Mulder in bed. She'd been so afraid of losing him, and there was nothing she could do about it. She loved him and she was losing him before she'd even had him. Mulder raised his head from where it rested on hers and noticed the milling crowds. A number of agents were looking rather knowingly at the couple standing with their arms around each other in front of the Hoover Building. "Let's get out of here, Scully, before we give the rumor mongers something else to titillate their dull lives." Scully turned to find the woman she'd been speaking with had gone. She looked to the left, the right and up the street but she was no-where to be seen. As she turned again to the line of people waiting for a cab, she realised that the same people were still standing there. No one had left, and no one had joined the queue. The woman had simply disappeared. She turned again to Mulder and with his hand on the small of her back they hurried to the garage and to his car. It wasn't until he put his hands on the steering wheel that she noticed the swelling. "Mulder, what happened to your hand?" "Oh, just another stupid thing I did, Scully - like all the other stupid things I do," he grinned. "Actually, I smashed it into the wall when you left - and I have this ringing in my ear caused by Diana slamming the phone down when I rejected her invitation to spend the night at her apartment, on the pretence of going over the Antico file. That was just before I told her how much I regret ever having a relationship with her. And that what I once thought I felt for her wasn't real." Mulder reached over and took Scully's hand in his and gazed into her eyes. "I told her you were the most beautiful woman I'd ever met, that you give me all I need, and are the warmest, most loving and most giving woman imaginable." Scully was dumbfounded. Had she really heard what she thought she'd heard? She looked into his eyes. "That sounds like you told her you were in love with me, Mulder, as if we were in an intimate relationship. Diana could misconstrue your words, she could think we were lovers," she whispered. "That was the whole idea, Scully. I want her to think we are lovers," Mulder replied. Scully's heart dropped to the pit of her stomach, realising that Mulder had only used her to get Diana off his back. She pulled her hand away and turned abruptly to reach for the door handle, wanting nothing more than to get out of that car. She could feel the constricting pain in her chest as her heart broke into tiny pieces. Before she could remove the seat belt, Mulder grabbed her arm and tugged back. His hand came to her cheek, turning her face toward his. His smile was so gentle, so beautiful. 'How could I leave him? He is everything to me. If he can't give me any more than his friendship then that will be enough. It will have to be, even if it is just so I can be with him on a mostly strictly professional basis,' Scully thought dismally. He dipped his head and spoke softly into her ear. "So, Scully, should we go home and expand on the wonderful relationship we have? Should we start being honest about our feelings for each other and stop this charade? Should we stop pretending we're not truly, madly, deeply in love?" The tears flowed freely as Scully's face blossomed into a beautiful smile. She looked into his hazel eyes and saw the truth. Gulping back the now happy tears she said simply, "My place or yours, Mulder?" Lips met, mouths melted and tongues searched out every crevice until a tap on the window brought them out of their private world. "Take it home, agents," the tall, bespectacled and smirking man spoke. "Yes, sir," Mulder laughed. He twisted the key in the ignition and threw the car into gear. Tires screeched on the smooth surface of the basement car park as they sped toward Scully's apartment. It was closer that his, and neither of them wanted to waste another minute. LATE NEXT MORNING - BASEMENT OFFICE OF THE X-FILES Diana cautiously opened the door. Mulder was at the file cabinet and Scully stood beside him. Mulder had a grin like a Cheshire cat. Scully heard the door open and turned toward it. She couldn't help herself. "Good morning, Agent Fowley. Isn't it a wonderful day?" Diana glanced over to Mulder, his grin getting bigger as he glanced at her and then to Scully. "Oh, by the way Diana. Thanks... for everything," Scully smiled as she turned to her new desk and skimmed her fingers along the top. "Yeah Diana, thanks." Mulder walked over to her. He leaned in close and whispered. "It was fantastic, the best." With the unleashed fury of a mini tornado, Diana threw the heavy stack of files on Mulder's desk and turned away from the sickening sight before her. When she reached the door she stopped and turned back. She had to have the last word. "AD Skinner will hear about this, agents. Mark my words...he will hear about this." Like a rehearsed choreography, both Mulder and Scully sat on the edge of the new piece of furniture. Simultaneously crossing their arms over their chests and sticking their chins out they spoke together. "Go ahead, agent. Be my guest." As door slammed behind her, the two lovers broke into fits of laughter, loud enough for Diana to hear from the corridor. Whether she heard the next words, they didn't know, and they didn't care. "I love you, Scully...I love you so very much." "And I love you, Mulder." THE END A quick little note, to let me know if you liked it, would be nice! Katywild2000@yahoo.com.au