From: raenright@aol.com (RaEnright) Newsgroups: alt.tv.x-files.creative Subject: New Short, possible long-Temper Temper Date: 20 Sep 1995 19:45:11 -0400 First of all, Ethan Minette is not a character I made up, but an actual fictional person created by the godlike CC, but cut from the pilot. He was supposed to be a subplot about Scully's love life, but they cut it to focus on the main plot. I reinstated him because the poor woman needs a life. Minette, Scully, Mulder, and all those familiar characters belong to the holy trio. The story and any other 'anti-show' characters are mine, copyright 1995 Ra Enright. This doesn't go anywhere, but it was a stroke of creativity and I wrote it anyway. I may continue it if I get suggestions--like with Gossip, only not that weird. So...where do the lurkers and other authors want to take it? Keyboards are standing by... Temper, Temper Dana Scully stood next to her kitchen counter and sipped a soda. She should be working on the case report; she should be putting together the last pieces of paperwork. But the paperwork could wait until tomorrow;after all, that was what Saturdays were for, right? *Listen to yourself, you just said Saturdays were for doing paperwork. Very, very sad, Dana.* She reflected on that for a minute, but it was Friday night and she didn't want to waste time thinking depressing thoughts. She wanted to enjoy some free time and do something if not productive, then at least entertaining. *Ethan.* she thought. Ethan Minette was a lobbyist on Capitol Hill, with a busy schedule and not a lot of time to spare for relationships. Likewise, Dana Scully spent most of her time in a basement or out chasing ghosties and ghoulies and things that go bump in the night. Neither had time for any sort of real attachment; but a few minutes together here and there never hurt. Spare-time dating, she called it. She considered calling Mulder first--after all, Ethan was most likely busy and hated to be bothered. But Mulder was probably out at a party or getting laid with some bimbo, and that she didn't care to think about. Damn, her mind kept sucking her back into dark thoughts. Time to call Ethan. He answered on the second ring, sounding harried. "Minette." "Hi, it's me." "Dana, just the person I wanted to talk to. Got a few spare moments tonight? I thought maybe we could go out-" "You read my mind. Are you off yet?" "Give me half an hour to get away and I'll pick you up." Well then, that was that. Why did she feel disappointed? She should be happy she wasn't out tracking pyrokinetics with Mulder. _____________________ Mulder hadn't particularly felt like going out that night when he got home-Skinner had yelled at him, the computer had 'lost' his report, and his stash of sunflower seeds was empty. He sort of floated over to the couch, dropped onto it, not realy moving if he didn't have to. He remembered something one of his professors at Oxford had told him. *Good idea* he thought. Now if he could find the energy to move... The phone rang, and he fumbled for it, finally picking up. "Yeah." "Jesus Christ, Mulder, it's Friday night and you pick up on the first ring? You need a life, my friend." "The problem, Jaimeson, is that all the good lives are already taken." Mulder smiled at his friend's admonishments. Of course, only Jaimeson would be desperate enough to call 'Spooky' Mulder and then tell him he needed a life. "Shoulda been a lawyer, Mulder. I figured it was about time for the monthly misfit-club meeting.." "Meaning you're dateless and need a drinking buddy." "Zactly. G-Man Grill, twenty minutes." "Right." ______________ Which brought him to where he was now. Mulder sipped a beer in the back booth of the G-Man, a bar near the J. Edgar Hoover building. Half the agents in the Bureau must have been packing into the small bar, jockeying for position in front of the ESPN-blasting TV screen or talking to the girls hanging around. They didn't get many female agents in here. Those that did work for the bureau probably had more self respect than to come to a place like this, he figured. "I'm telling you, Mulder, you're playing with fire." Jaimeson's voice brought him back to the present. "I can't have been that long since we talked last. We closed that case almost a year ago." Mulder grimaced. "Dope, I'm not talking shop." "So...?" "There's been some nasty rumors about you lately." "There's been nasty rumors about me since I was seventeen and ran away to Oxford, Jai. Are you talking the one about the haunted minivan or the satanically possessed cat?" "The one about you and Scully." "Oh that." Mulder waved it aside. "Old stuff. She *does* have a boyfriend, you know." "Yeah, the windbag lobbyist." "He's-" Mulder was interrupted by a hand slamming down on his shoulder. "Hey Spooky, where's your girlfriend?" Of course, it would have to be some jerk talking about him and Scully. He grimaced and shifted so that the man's hand fell off his shoulder. "She's my partner, and she's probably got a date." "Mrs. Spooky? Haw!" "Hamilton, why don't you go pass out somewhere?" Jaimeson asked quietly. "He your bodyguard now, Spooky?" Hamilton tilted his head at Jaimeson. "He is my friend and I think, Hamilton, that you'd better go find someone else to bother." Mulder said quietly. Hamilton made a mock-frightened face. "What're you gonna do, sic Casper on me?" "I'm warning you. Hamilton." Mulder stood slowly from the booth. "I think you need to leave." "You think you think youthink..." Hamilton began to slur. "You gonna think all night?" Mulder took him by the elbow and began to tug him through the crowd, who parted before the glowering agent. "Getcher hands offa me." Hamilton growled as Mulder shoved him out the door. "Freak!" Mulder shook his head and kept his hands out, standing on one side of the door while Hamilton stood on the other. The bouncers at the back of the bar began to sit up a little. A crowd began to form. "What did you call me, Hamilton?" Mulder said, teeth clenched. "A freak, too busy screwing ice woman to get a *real* job-" A fist connected with his face, and he stumbled backwards onto the sidewalk. Mulder followed. The crowd did too, and the bouncers began to make their way across the floor. "I'm giving you one last chance to walk away." Mulder said. Hamilton responded with a yell and jumped the taller man, taking him by surprise. A connecting left to the jaw and a right to the stomach made him gasp, but he got in three more good punches before Mulder hauled off and rammed his head against the pavement. By the time security had fought through the crowd, Hamilton was unconscious and Mulder was long gone. Jaimeson knelt by the bleeding man and shook his head. "Tsk, Hamilton, you shouldn't have said that about Dana Scully." ____________________________ "What's going on there, d'you think?" Ethan pointed as they drove down the street. Two men were fighting under the garish streetlights near a popular bar. "Probably some drunks beating each other up." She guessed, and looked back at him. "So where are we going?" ____________________________ END Okayokayokay...anyone want a sequel,or should I quit while I'm ahead? =========================================================================== From: raenright@aol.com (RaEnright) Newsgroups: alt.tv.x-files.creative Subject: Temper Temper part 2 Date: 24 Sep 1995 12:53:47 -0400 Ethan Minette, Fox Mulder, Dana Scully, and you-know-who-else all belong to CC. All right? Jaimeson and Hamilton are mine. And a *whopping huge* thank-you(THANK YOU!!!) to Windsinger for insightful insights, editing, and plot assistance, without which this would probably turn into a rather dull romance... Temper Temper part 2 "I thought we'd go to a movie." Ethan steered the car away from the two men battling in the street. "Have you seen A Walk In The Clouds?" "Not yet." Scully smiled at him. "I've heard it's good. Romantic." Ethan just grinned. _________________________ Mulder looked up from his bathroom sink and took the ice off his cheek. There'd be a hell of a bruise there in a few hours. Hopefully it would magically vanish before Monday. his mind taunted him. He shook his head, then winced at the injudicious movement. just the thought made him angry. he slid the ice across his jaw to the split on his chin. That wouldn't be healed by Monday, not in a million years. So, what would he use an excuse this time? Well... _______________________________ "Thanks, Ethan." Scully climbed out of the car and smiled. "You want to come in?" He checked his watch. "Oh, Dana, I'm sorry. Early meeting tomorrow." "Tomorrow's Saturday." "Oddball senators. I'm really sorry." She covered her disappointment. "That's okay. Maybe next week, right?" "Thanks, Dana." he smiled greatfully. "You're one in a million." "Seeya." The car zoomed off, and she headed up the steps to her apartment. Ethan wasn't that way on purpose, she told herself, he's just obsessed with his work. Like you are. Like Mulder is. No, Ethan and Mulder were *completely* different. Ethan was neat, sensible, logical, romantic...Mulder, well, wasn't. Why did she keep comparing them? Nonsense, it was only natural to compare one's boyfriend with the other male influences in one's life. If Ahab had still been alive, she would have compared Ethan to him. Wait a minute. Since when did Mulder rate next to her father as a male influence? The thought frightened her--she put it away and went to take a shower. Ethan and Mulder were different types, that was all. And even if she was attracted to Mulder--a thought she shoved down the minute it came up--it was one in a million he'd feel the same. Yet she knew that when Mulder dropped her off, he at least walked her to the door. _________________________________ The phone rang, startling Mulder out of the half-doze he'd achieved on the couch. He wiped the water off his face--what a concept, ice melted--and picked up. "Mulder." "Morning, sunshine, how's the face?" He sighed. Jaimeson. "It's sore. How's Hamilton? Hope I didn't kill the man." "No, he's woozy but fine. And I didn't tell, before you can ask. The doctors are sure he must have tripped and hurt himself, because of his BAC." "What's he saying?" "Nothing, he passed out." "Great, I've got time to call my lawyer before he slaps me with a lawsuit for assault." Mulder said sardonically. "What about the bar?" "Nothing was damaged, so they cleared everyone out and shut down." Jaimeson sounded philosophic. Mulder twitched and rolled over. "Jeez, it's six am? I thought I just took a nap." "By the way, Mulder, how do you intend to explain this one to Scully?" "Skydiving accident." "You must be kidding. You know that by Monday it will be all over Washington that Spooky Mulder beat up Charlie Hamilton over his partner's honor." Mulder groaned. "Sounds like something out of high school. I'm hanging up now, Jai. G'night." "You mean g'morning." "Whatever." _________________________________ Monday morning the scrape on his knuckles had healed to a scar, and he was sure the bruise to his ribcage was almost gone, but naturally the split chin wasn't, and neither was the large, by now greenish-yellow bruise on his cheekbone. And he was still thinking up excuses to tell Scully, none of which he knew she'd believe. He heard her coming down the hall and bent his head over his desk. Maybe if he ignored it, she would too. "Morning, Mulder." Scully set her case down on her desk. "How was your weekend?" "G'morning. Uneventful, as usual." he said, head still down. "How was yours?" "All right. Coffee?" "No thanks, I've already had my caffeine quota for the day." he held up the empty coffee mug next to his computer. "And if you can call it coffee, you're more imaginative than I am." She was about to respond when the phone on Mulder's desk rang. It must be internal, he thought, otherwise both telephones would have rung. He grabbed it and turned his face away from Scully as he talked. He hoped he was a good enough actor that she wouldn't notice. "Mulder." "Agent Mulder, if I could see you in my office? Immediately? I believe we have a few things to discuss." When Skinner talked like that it meant one thing--he was in trouble again. And this time he was pretty sure it must be Hamilton. "Yes sir. I'll be right up. Should Agent Scully--" "I'd prefer not. I'll expect you in ten minutes." "Yes, sir." he hung up, forgot himself, and turned in the chair to find Scully regarding him, a few feet from his desk. "What was that all--Mulder, what happened?" she squinted at his face. He tried to turn away again. "Wait, Mulder, what did you do to your face?" she grabbed his chin, and he winced. "Nothing," he said defiantly. "Skinner called. I'm in his office in ten minutes so I'd best be going." he stood and grabbed his coat. "Promise, I'll explain later." "Mulder..." He was out the door before she could say anything. She ran into the hall. "Mulder, slow down. What did you do?" "No time, Scully." he pointed to his watch. "*Later*, okay?" She stopped at the elevators. Before the doors closed she got one good look at his face. "Jesus, Mulder..." The doors shut and she was alone in the hall. ____________________________ Hamilton, looking battered but not much worse than Mulder did, was standing in Skinner's office when Mulder came in. A black eye, split lip, and a large round bump on his forehead stood out; other than that he seemed whole, if rather angry. "Agent Mulder." Skinner broke the eyelock between the two men. "If you'd both take a seat, I think this bears a little discussion." Hamilton slumped into the nearest seat; Mulder remained standing. For now, Skinner let it go. "You are aware that an assault on a federal agent by a co-worker is grounds for expulsion from the bureau, Agent Mulder?" "As is provocation. Sir." "We'll get to that in a minute. Right now I'm advising you of the extremely dangerous situation the both of you are in. I am *not* going to have my agents brawling in the streets like bums." Skinner fixed both of them with his gaze. "What you do on your own time is your business but when two agents are involved in a random fistfight for no apparent reason--" "Excuse me?" Mulder asked. "He was disturbing almost every customer in the bar." "You're crazy." Hamilton said calmly. "I was--" "Enough." Skinner roared. "I don't care who started it, or why or how. As of now you are both on probation. One more incident between you two and I'll have to suspend you. One more conflict after that and one, if not both of you, will be expelled from the bureau. Do I make myself clear?" "Perfectly." Mulder's voice dropped in tone. "May we go now, sir?" "Dismissed, agent." Mulder turned to leave. "Not you, Mulder." Hamilton left, smirking. Mulder stood at attention behind the desk. "What I'd really like to know, Mulder, is what on god's green earth possessed you to take a swing at that man?" "He was annoying the other customers." "Was he insulting you?" "Not me." Mulder's eyes went hard. "He was insulting...certain other people." Skinner raised an eyebrow. "You didn't think to call security?" "No sir. I believed I could handle the situation without violence. I was removing the man when...he provoked me." "Removing him?" "I had him out the door." "And how did he provoke you?" "He was...slandering...the relationship between Agent Scully and myself." "The terms of that relationship being?" "We're partners, sir. He seemed to think it was something else." Mulder said neutrally. Skinner sighed. "And you attacked him." "Yes sir." "Does Agent Scully know about this?" "Not yet." "That is all." "Sir?" "You won, didn't you, Mulder?" Mulder smiled. "Yes, sir, I did." "This is your warning. Dismissed." "Understood." ________________________________ =========================================================================== From: raenright@aol.com (RaEnright) Newsgroups: alt.tv.x-files.creative Subject: Temper Temper pt 3 Date: 2 Oct 1995 22:06:00 -0400 Dana Scully, Fox Mulder, Ethan Minette, et cetera, are copyright CC and all that. Jaimeson and Hamilton belong to me. So does this story. Many thanX to Windsinger, MacSpooky, and ADuclos for editing and commenting, without whom this story would not be the rather interesting thing it is today, if I do say so myself:-D ThanX, ladies! Temper Temper part 3 Scully, having almost caught up with Mulder on his way to Skinner's office, was waiting in the outer area when Hamilton came out smirking. He paused long enough at the front desk for her to see the vicious bruise on his forehead and black eye. It didn't take a genius to put Mulder's appearance and Hamilton's together and add it up. They must have gotten in a fight of some sort... Mulder emerged, looking half-chastised, half-triumphant. Scully crossed her arms and waited. He blinked. "Coming, Mulder?" She asked pointedly, and headed for the elevators. "Scully...wait up--" After a few stunned seconds he ran after her, catching up about halfway down the hall. "Scully..." She ignored him. When they arrived at the elevators he grabbed her arm. She looked skyward. "Mulder, I own a firearm. I am wearing it. Don't tempt me further." He winced. Dana Scully could be more threatening than some serial killers he knew. "Look, I can explain it if you'd give me half a chance--" She whirled. "What the hell are you thinking? What the hell *were* you thinking?" "I..." he stopped as the elevator doors opened and a few people filed out. They got in, and the doors shut on a mercifully empty car. "I was *trying* to retain some dignity." he stared at the elevator lights. He wouldn't look at her face. "I'm sorry if defending myself offends you." "Defending yourself? *Defending yourself*? Hamilton's no match for you. To even try he'd have to be insane or--" "Drunk." Mulder finished. "Extrememly drunk." "When did it happen?" "Friday night." "All right, Mulder, you get one chance at explaining this." "He was drunk. I wasn't. He was being annoying. I tried to remove him. I've already gone over this with Skinner, I don't exactly want to do it again." "So you initated it." "Sort of." "Sort of?" He sighed. "Yes, I threw the first punch. Can I go back to my cell now?" Scully rubbed her forehead. "What did Skinner say?" "He's putting both of us on probation." Mulder finally turned his head to look at her. She looked tired. She also looked concerned, something he hadn't expected. "Mulder." She said quietly. "Why didn't you call me? You might have needed stitches. Or you could have had a concussion." "I'm fine. It's just a few bruises." he fingered the gash on his chin. "Besides, they were won honorably." "I wasn't aware a bar-room brawl was considered honorable." she smiled, against her better judgement. She really didn't want to forgive him yet, but she couldn't help it. "No, but injuries won in defense of a lady--" it was out of his mouth before he could stop it. "So there was a girl involved, too?" Scully shook her head. "You were born about five centuries late for that idea, Mulder." The elevator doors opened and they walked down the hall towards the office, Mulder relieved that the minor note of the lady involved being Dana Scully had been dropped. _______________________________ It was almost the end of the day, and Mulder was feeling relieved that everything else had gone by without incident. He was walking Scully to the parking garage like he usually did when Jaimeson caught sight of him. "Hey! Mulder! Scully!" Jaimeson edged through a crowd of people and grinned at them. "Mulder, I heard you got called on the carpet. Anything I should know?" "Sorry, Jaimeson, just probation. How's Hamilton?" "Bruised pride, telling everyone what a dirty fighter you are, but he's relatively harmless. Hey, Scully. Standing by your bodyguard?" "Pardon?" Scully looked inquiringly at Mulder. "Bodyguard?" "Jaimeson--" "Yeah, bodyguard. You know, defending your honor and all that." "I must have missed that." Scully turned her gaze back to Jaimeson. Mulder shook his head at the man. Jaimeson paled at the Death Look Scully was giving him. "Uh...you did tell her about that, right Mulder?" "No, Jai, actually, I hadn't." "Oh. Well, it's been a blast, catch you later." Jaimeson beat a hasty retreat. "Mulder?" Scully asked sweetly. "What was that about?" "You know Jaimeson." he hedged. "Not that well. Mulder, what exactly was Hamilton saying?" "Um. Well, I'm pretty sure the word freak came up..." "He wouldn't happen to have said anything about me, would he?" "I don't remember." Mulder cracked. "Bullshit." she ignored his threat. "The whole story, Mulder, right now." Mulder considered. She wasn't as likely to kill him here, where there were quite a few witnesses. On the other hand, if she *was* going to injure him, he'd rather suffer in privacy. Especially away from Hamilton. "Scully, do we have to do this right here?" She was killing him. Her eyes were going to burn holes right through his lungs. "Get in the car." she pulled out her keys decisively. "And don't say a word until we get home." "Home?" he asked, amused despite his rather precarious position. "Does that mean you're going to keep me?" "Don't push it, Mulder." Well, at least she hadn't decked him then and there. Maybe there was hope. ________________________ Mulder commited suicide mentally about eighty times in Scully's car on the way to her apartment. Jesus, now it was really in the fire. Scully knowing he'd been in a fistfight was bad enough; Scully knowing the fistfight was about *her* wasn't to be thought of. Maybe he could get off if he told her he was just standing up for his partner. She'd understand. Maybe. He stared out the window and anticipated a rather interesting argument when they got 'home'. Odd that he never thought of his own apartment as home, but it was second nature to think of Scully's as such. He glanced over at her, lips set, concentrating on driving. Well, what the hell. He'd improvise. It would work. _________________________ Scully half-concentrated on driving as the thoughts tumbled through her head. So, not only was Mulder uncharacteristically aggressive, she happened to be the cause. Though she could have killed him many times over for endangering his job and life--what if Hamilton had had his gun?--she couldn't help but feel sorry for him, at the least. It wasn't easy being the butt of half the bureau in-jokes. Oh, but what if Hamilton had had a gun? Still, she was glad Mulder would at least stand up for himself. Even if he had odd ways of doing it, and an extremely bad sense of where and when to do it. Well, he was her partner. That was that. She'd have done it for him under the same conditions--no, she wouldn't have fought the man. And she'd have had the decency to tell him instead of trying to hide her injuries in the dim basement lighting. She wasn't blind, for Christ's sake. She noticed the dark Cadillac--Ethan's car--as she pulled over in front of her apartment. Oh no, just what she didn't need. Still his choice of timing was really, really awful. ___________________________ "Dana?" Scully heard Ethan call out from some other room when she unlocked the door. "I was hoping you wouldn't have to work late..." he trailed off as Mulder leaned into the doorway behind her. "Dana...?" "Hello, Ethan." Scully looked slightly embarassed. "Ethan, this is..." "Fox Mulder, right?" Minette extended his hand. If he noticed the other man's injuries, he ignored them. Mulder shook it with a questioning look. "You must be Mr. Minette." "That's me. I'm sorry I didn't let you know, Dana, but I wanted it to be a surprise..." Ethan gestured to the kitchen. "I made dinner..." "Wouldn't want to interrupt anything." Mulder said with a trace of a grin. "Look, I'll go--" "You don't get off the hook that easily, Mulder." Scully grabbed his sleeve without turning around. "Ethan, I wish I'd known..." "Hey, no prob." Ethan shrugged. "Just some sandwiches. I have to be back at the office later tonight, but I thought a few hours together would do us some good." Scully was torn. On the one hand, she wasn't about to let Mulder off this easily, not without a full explanation. On the other hand, Ethan had taken a few precious hours off from his work and *cooked dinner* for her. To send him away would be not only ingrateful but rude... Ethan made the first move, picking up his coat. "Hey, I'm sure you two have partner-type stuff you have to do. Gotta get those fugitives from justice, right? Look, enjoy the sandwiches. Catch you later, love." he kissed her on the cheek while Mulder watched uncomfortably, and left. "Scully, that is one forgiving man." Mulder watched him walk down the hall. "Politician, you say?" he asked innocently. "Nice to know there's a few honest ones left..." "All right, Mulder." Scully dropped her briefcase onto the couch and went into the kitchen. "I'm missing dinner with Ethan for this, so you'd better make it good." _______________________________ =========================================================================== From: raenright@aol.com (RaEnright) Newsgroups: alt.tv.x-files.creative Subject: Temper Temper part 4 Date: 8 Oct 1995 13:57:03 -0400 Dana Scully, Fox Mulder, and Ethan Minette belong to the Carter Crew. The people without first names, mainly Jaimeson, Hamilton, and Parker, belong to me, as does this story. ThanX once again go to Juliettt, Windsinger, MacSpooky, and ADuclos... Temper Temper part 4 Mulder debated his situation for a few seconds. If he told Scully the whole truth, i.e., what Hamilton had said about her to him, she would crucify him. And in her apartment there wouldn't be any witnesses... Of course, if he didn't make his story good, she'd crucify him anyway. Well, here went nothing. He took a deep breath-- "Wait, have a sandwich first." Scully interrupted him. God, you work up the courage to tell someone something like that and then they interrupt you. Story of his life. He breathed a sigh of relief as she continued. "You look awful, Mulder. I can just imagine what Ethan must think..." "That his girlfriend gets her partner beat up on a regular basis?" Mulder took the offered plate and sampled the meal suspiciously, then hungrily. "Well, at least you know he can cook." Now, why did it sound so odd for Mulder to be talking about her as someone's girlfriend? "Yes, he can cook, and you can fight. Between the two of you I'll never need another thing." She responded. "I'm touched, Scully." Mulder gagued her mood. Maybe seeing Minette had been a *good* thing. She seemed calmer. Now, if only *he* could have that effect on her once in a while... "That's nice, Mulder. Now, the details, please?" Scully sat at her dining table and directed him into the other chair. "We were sitting in a booth when he came up and started harrassing me. Jai told him to go pass out somewhere, and he took offense. He made a few pointed comments about you, and I marched him out of the bar. He got one last jab in..." Mulder flushed, remembering what the 'jab' had been, "And I punched him. I beat him and ran." he took a bite of the sandwich Minette had made. "Happy now?" "Almost. What did he say about me?" "It's not important. It's not true." "What did he say?" Mulder looked down at the plate, the food stuck in his throat. Oh, this was it. End of the line. Prepare to defend yourself. "He said I was a freak who couldn't get a real job?" he offered. "About me?" Scully tilted her head questioningly. "I have a right to know, Mulder." "Can I plead the fifth?" "Mulder..." Scully sighed. "It can't be that bad." "Yes it can." Lord, it was just like dealing with her six-year-old godson. Only worse. Well, maybe if it worked on her godson it would work on Mulder... "Look, if I promise to stay calm, will you tell me?" "No." Or maybe not. Mulder wasn't a six-year-old; he was much more tenacious than that. She tried one last tactic. "Mulder, I want to know what he said. Tell me, or I'll ask him myself. I'm sure he'd be glad to repeat it..." He winced and she smiled triumphantly. She'd won and he knew it. He got ready to duck. "Fine. He...first of all, he called you Ice Woman, which you *aren't*," he said fiercly, "And then he accused me of screwing you..." He took a deep breath. "And I was not going to stand there and listen to him say that about you." Dana had a sudden realization. He hadn't been defending himself. He had been defending *her*. He was looking at the sandwich intensly, angrily. "And if I could do it again, I would." he met her eyes, his own burning in his face. She stayed silent, mostly from shock. She'd rarely seen him this angry, or as defensive as he was now. Mulder interpreted her silence differently. "I should go." That snapped her out of it. "No, Mulder...." But he was already pulling his coat on. "I'll see you tomorrow. Look, I'm sorry--It won't happen again. Tomorrow." he repeated firmly, almost to himself. "Mulder, your car is still at the bureau--" "I'll walk. Night air, good for you and all that." he faked a grin and headed out the door. "See you, Scully." And that was that. Damn the man! Damn both of them! How dare he, how dare Hamilton say that about her to him, and how dare he take offense! She realized something else--Hamilton got exactly what he wanted. The more either of them denied anything, the more everyone would believe...and now, in some immature, schoolboy fight, Mulder had confirmed Hamilton's beliefs. Perfect. Oh, what she'd do to either of them....... No, Mulder didn't deserve that. He'd just been doing what came natural--fighting anyone he couldn't reason with, in typical Fox Mulder fashion. And for all his psychological degree, he was still a human being, not above emotions. The thoughts tumbled around in her head until they gave her a headache. And now Mulder thought she was mad at him; well, she was, but not for the same reasons... She gave up thinking about it for the night and occupied herself with some inane TV show. Maybe tomorrow she could get it sorted out. ___________________________ His feet hurt. It wasn't that it was a particularly long walk back to the bureau to get his car, or even to his apartment, for that matter, but it was easier to concentrate on his feet than his temper, or what it had gotten him into now. Tomorrow...he'd find Hamilton and he'd make him pay for-- No, that would get him in worse trouble. Fine. He'd ignore Hamilton, maybe find some way to make it up to Scully, clean his desk or something. Or maybe she wouldn't be there, maybe she wanted a transfer... Scully wouldn't get a transfer because of that. Would she? He hated this. Just seeing the look in her eyes when he told her...he should have made something up, anything, but he hated lying to her more. Which leaves you right back at square one, when you should have ignored Hamilton and called security. And if he had, he wouldn't be walking back to the bureau with a bruised cheekbone and a chin that was bleeding again. __________________________ Hamilton looked up from his coffee. Ah, perfect. He grinned at the men standing around nearby. "Hey, look, it's Mrs. Spooky." he shouted at the redhead walking by. Assorted snickers from the group made her look up. "Hi, Scully, how are you? How's Spooky?" "Who?" she asked neutrally. "I don't know anyone named Spooky." "The dimwit partner of yours." "I don't have a dimwit partner." "Mulder!" Hamilton's tone went from teasing to slightly frustrated. "Oh, Mulder." she responded blandly, though she gave herself a point for not pulling her gun. "He's fine." "Really? Well, that's dandy." Hamilton sneered. "Hey, guys, what do you call a Spooky impersonator?" "What?" one of the guys from the back yelled. "A Faux Mulder." Hamilton laughed at his own cleverness. The men joined in. "You know, I used to respect my peers. Now I'm not so sure anymore." Scully said sharply. Hamilton stopped laughing. "Like you're one to talk. Breaking every reg in the book, including sleeping with your partner..." "Yeah, Scully, what's he like?" One of the others asked. And these were supposed to be the cream of the Washington DC crop. What a disappointment. "I don't think she knows, Parker, but I'm sure I can find someone who could tell you." A voice said from behind them. Parker and Hamilton both whirled to see Mulder leaning in the doorway, looking rumpled but whole. "I don't really see why *you'd* want to know, either." Parker looked stunned. The men nearby couldn't help but laugh quietly. "Well, Mulder, *I'd* be surprised if you could find someone." Parker came back at him. "*I* don't know any women who'd want to date Spooky..." "You don't know any women, period, unless you paid for them." Scully cheered inwardly. Mulder was beating them at their own game. Parker reddened. "And you'd know, Mulder?" Hamilton almost charged him. "You and Ice Woman here--" Something snapped. The next thing he knew Hamilton found himself up against the wall, the agent's face three inches from his, hands gripping his lapels. "You call me that once more, Hamilton, and I swear you'll never walk straight again." Mulder thought admiringly. Because he had no intention whatsoever of pulling his partner off Charlie Hamilton, any more than anyone else wanted to try. There's a fine line between bravery and sheer stupidity. And Hamilton, thinking he could handle the small woman, crossed it. He looked her straight in the eye and did something monumentally dumb. "Ice Woman." he said. Mulder, who had braved the wrath of Scully many times before, stayed where he was; the other agents, seeing what was about to happen, backed away. Hamilton didn't have the chance. Before he knew it he was on the floor; before he could get up a smart navy suede pump was pressed into his throat. "I know where all the major nerve bundles in the body are, Hamilton. I could paralyze you for life with a twist of my heel. This is to emphasize the complete annoyance directed towards you from Agent Mulder and myself. If you do not cease to be a nuisance, we will take appropriate measures." Scully was bluffing, and most of the agents knew it; but Hamilton was in no position to call anyone's bluff. He just stared upwards and nodded. Mulder thought idly that Scully would have made a great lawyer. She slowly took her heel off his throat and began to walk away. What happened next was only recreated with the assistance of several other agents; one minute both Mulder and Scully were walking away, victorious, and the next moment Mulder and Hamilton were on the floor, wrestling--again--and half the agents in the bullpen were trying to pull them apart. Scully, apparently, charged into the fray, only to connect with someone's elbow. In trying to pull them apart, Parker, who had grabbed Hamilton, took a nasty blow upside the head, and Scully, yanking on Mulder, was thrown to the ground. Ten minutes found all four in AD Skinner's office, waiting for him to arrive. He didn't even waste time asking them what had happened; he went directly to his desk and, according to the testimony of Scully and Parker, downed three Advil, dry. It was going to be one of those days... =========================================================================== From: spookygirl@usa.pipeline.com(Aviva N. Roller) Newsgroups: alt.tv.x-files.creative Subject: Temper Temper, part five Date: 16 Oct 1995 23:41:31 GMT Hi, people. This is not mine (I *wish*). This belongs to Ra, so send your comments to RaEnright@aol.com, while I wish that I could churn out quality with quantity. Sigh . . . But I guess there's something to avoiding AOL's net connections. :-) Dana Scully, Fox Mulder, Ethan Minette, and Walter Skinner all belong to CC and his company. Why am I telling you this? I don't know. Guess I'm just covering my ass. Anyway, Hamilton, Parker, and Jaimeson are mine. So is this story. Are we having fun yet? Hundreds of large thank-yous go to Aviva Roller, who is posting this for me as AOL net-connections are down and nothing is getting through. THANK YOU, AVIVA!!! Temper Temper, part 5 Scully watched, apprehensively, as Skinner downed three Advil. Dry. This did not bode well. She wiped her bloody nose on a tissue. Skinner sat down. "I'm not exactly sure how you all managed to show up early, or how you all managed to start a brawl in the bullpen before I even arrived." he began quietly. "I do know that you, Mulder, and you, Hamilton, were both warned about violence in or out of the bureau. Agent Scully, Agent Parker, I'm sure you were made aware of the situation." "Yes sir." Parker responded. Mulder took the tissue Scully proferred and daubed at the blood on his forehead. Skinner promised himself he wouldn't explode. "Agent Scully?" "Yez, sir." she said thickly. "Then you both know the penalty for disobeying these orders. However, I want to make sure I fully understand the situation before I suspend anyone, as we're already short of agents this week." He held up his hand as Hamilton began to open his mouth. "Mulder, I want to hear it from you first." Mulder thought wryly that Skinner was so used to hearing weirdness from him, he really couldn't ask anyone else to explain it. "Yes, sir. When I came in, Agent Hamilton was harrassing Agent Scully. Under provocation, she took action." "In the form of?" "Holding Agent Hamilton against a wall. He continued to threaten her, and she...decked him." he grinned at Scully, who was looking down and still trying to stop the bleeding in her nose. "And...?" "When he agreed to leave us alone, she let him up. He came after me. Parker and Scully charged in..." Mulder shrugged. "And the other agents can testify to this." "I see. Scully, do you have any defense?" Somehow, Scully didn't think 'he was calling me names, sir' would be the best excuse. "No zir. Agend Mulder told it gorrectly." "Hamilton?" "That she-bitch--" He began. "Thin ice, Hamilton." Skinner warned. "She jumped me! And Mulder did *nothing!!*" "With all due respect, sir," Mulder hid a smile, "I wasn't going to risk losing a body part to her." Scully glared. One more smart comment like that and bloody nose or no, her partner would suffer a similar fate to that of Hamilton's. Skinner regarded her carefully. "I see your point." "Director Skinner, I can't believe you're going to allow--" Hamilton began to whine, but Skinner cut him off. "Agent, I have *not* said this will go unpunished. Parker, were you involved?" Parker looked over at Mulder. "Yes, sir." "Dare I ask in whose favor?" "Agent Hamilton's, sir." Parker reddened. "I...don't think I'd do that again." "Me either." Skinner agreed. "And as almost half the bureau saw you four fighting, I doubt I could let it get past me. Agent Scully, Agent Parker, I understand you were not on probation but as you were aware of the situation I must include you in the summary punishment. One week suspension, half-pay, and Hamilton and Mulder, I'll think about keeping this off your permanent record. If I catch any of you doing this again, this will seem like child's play." Skinner picked up his pen. "Dismissed. Agent Scully, if you would stay behind..." Parker and Hamilton filed out, relieved. Mulder hesitated for a moment before meeting Skinner's warning stare. He gave her shoulder a quick squeeze and left reluctantly. "Scully..." Skinner trailed off. "You're the last person I'd suspect would be involved in this." He looked at her curiously. "What did he *do*?" She gave him a small smile. "He called me Ice Woman." "And, as Agent Mulder put it, you 'decked' him. Have you ever considered transferring to violent crimes, Scully?" "No, sir." "Misplaced loyalty, Scully, and it won't make you any friends. But between you and me..." Skinner leaned forward, "Hamilton's needed to be taken down a peg for months. And you gave me the opportunity." he picked a file off his desk. "I was going to assign this to you this morning. However, since you've been suspended, I can no longer do that." "I understand, sir." "No, I'm not sure you do." Skinner let a smile slip. "I'm giving it to you anyway. You two aren't recorded as suspended. Yet. I want you to make sure you get out of the area for the week. Think of it as a vacation." "A vacation...?" "This case just needs closure. Shouldn't take more than a few hours." Realization dawned. "Yes, sir." Scully smiled. "I understand, now, sir." "Good. Dismissed." Skinner turned to his work. "Oh, and Scully?" "Yes, sir?" she turned at the door. "Don't tell Mulder." This time she broke out the big smile, the one she reserved for seeing Mulder wake up after almost dying, or waking up after almost dying herself. "I don't like injustice, Scully. And you two see too much of it as it is." "Thank you, sir." She shut the door. Skinner paused for a minute, watching Hamilton and Parker walk to their cars through his office window before returning to paperwork. Mulder needed a vacation. Maybe this time he wouldn't get himself killed. ____________________________ Mulder was waiting for her outside of Skinner's office when she came out. "So, how'd it go?" "Does bend over and grab your ankles mean anything?" "That bad?" he asked sympathetically. "It's been worse. I actually talked him into giving us the case he was going to assign. The one condition is we stay for the week." "You're kidding." he took the folder. "You should have become a lawyer. Or joined Minette up on Capitol Hill." "I don't think I could stand it, after all the action I see around here." she started to walk down the hall. "What, being on the Hill or joining Minette?" he matched her stride. "Either, I suppose. And his name is Ethan." She corrected him. He shrugged. "Force of habit. And if you don't want to spend the rest of your life with him, why are you dating him?" Scully shook her head. "What?" "The whole point of dating is to find someone you want to marry, right?" he asked. "I suppose that's one way to look at it." "And you know that sooner or later he's going to ask you to marry him." "And just how do you know that?" "The way he looked at you last night." Mulder answered philosophically. "He obviously has some positive romantic intentions towards you." Scully shook her head. "Sometimes you're more perceptive than I give you credit for, Mulder. Been studying the dictionary recently?" "Gee, Scully, don't go flattering me or anything." Mulder grinned. "Seriously, if you don't want to marry him, why are you still dating him?" "I don't know." she shrugged. "It's better than nothing. At least I can pretend to have a life." He snickered. "More than I've got, right?" "You could say that. Where are we going?" "Hm?" he asked, confused. She tapped his arm. "The case." "Right." he consulted the folder. "South Carolina. Sounds like fun." "Yeah." she smiled as they climbed into the elevator. "It does." ________________________________ "Hi, this is Dana Scully, please leave a message and I'll get back to you." "Hi...Dana? It's Ethan. Listen--" "Ethan, I'm here." Scully picked up the phone, toweling her hair off from the shower. "Almost missed you." "Good, I wanted to talk to you live." Ethan sounded tired. "Last chance. I'm leaving for South Carolina tomorrow." Scully shifted, uncomfortable. She really didn't want to hurt the man... "Glad I caught you. Uh...I really wanted to see you in person, but I guess this is next best." "Something wrong?" she sat on the couch. "I hope I didn't forget a date..." "No, not at all. Ah...look, Dana, I don't think this is going to work." "This...?" "I just...I really am fond of you, Dana, but--I just can't handle things right now. I worry too much. Especially after what happened today...." "What happened today." She repeated. "Yeah, your partner called me." "*MULDER???*" "Mm-hm. He said you got into some sort of hot water today, and wanted to know if I was going to be able to be with you tonight, because he thought you might want someone to help you out or something." "So...Dana, I can't be there every time you get banged up, or sick...and you should have someone who can spend more time with you...and I need time too...and...well..." Ethan finished lamely. "I don't want you to be hurt or anything..." "No, no, that's okay. I understand." "You sure you'll be okay?" "I'll survive." she smiled into the phone, trying to sound injured. "I should have seen it coming." "You're sure." "I'll be fine. Maybe some other time." "Sure. Well...I guess I'll see you around." "Yeah." "Bye, Dana." "Bye, Ethan." Saved from having to dump by being dumped. Ironic. Mulder called Ethan, hm? She wondered if he'd told him he liked his sandwiches. Knowing Mulder, he probably had. Well, that was an interesting turn of events. The phone rang again. "Scully..." she answered. "Hey, it's me." Mulder sounded eager. "Just thought I'd check up...." "I'm fine, Mulder." "Minette call?" he asked innocently. "He did. Said you called him." She made herself sound accusing. He winced on the other end of the line. "I may have. So, what'd he say?" "He dumped me." "Oh. Scully, I'm sorry..." "Saving me from dumping him." "*Oh*." "I'll tell you about it tomorrow, Mulder. It's too late tonight." "Eight thirty sharp, the plane leaves for Carolina." "Bet I beat you there." "I bet you do. I don't do mornings. See you then." "See you." Scully hung up the phone. A week's vacation with Mulder. Well, sort of a week's vacation. Time enough to 'get over' Ethan. And sort out quite a bit with Mulder. Maybe she wouldn't kill him, just maim him. Maybe if he was good she'd only scold him. A week's vacation. Should be fun. END Yes, that says END. Meaning there is no more. Yes, I know I can't just leave it there, but I have other stories to work on. I promise I will work on the followup, but it may not be posted for a while. Tentative title: Temper Fi. Not as many fights, though:-) -- ************************************************************************** Aviva Roller -- spookygirl@usa.pipeline.com LGW #1 The not-so-few, the proud, the paranoid. SKKS, SYX, Trouper, waitress, and Dragon Posse girl at heart... Wanna subscribe to my spiffy zine? E-mail for more info! **************************************************************************