Date sent: Wed, 04 Feb 1998 22:57:04 -0500 Subject: Temptation (1/1) From: SMartin@goodmedia.com (Sheryl Martin) Please do not post to ATXC - I'll do that myself... and Please Archive... grin... All Characters copyright of TenThirteen Productions and Chris Carter. No infringement intended on any part... go ahead, take me to court... I'm using the insanity defence... heh, heh, heh... Comments, complaints and just plain talk to sheryl_martin@goodmedia.com Summary: Valentine's Day coming up... and everyone's got a secret... Spoilers: None... Rating: G, Story... Temptation (1/1) by Sheryl Martin Dana Scully brushed a lock of red hair behind one ear; carefully balancing the stack of files in one arm. Turning slowly as to not drop them, she stared at the other large, menacing stacks. The phone rang. Grateful for the interruption, she reached over and tapped the speakerphone button with one hand; snatching it back as the top folder threatened to escape onto the floor. "Scully..." "Hey, woman - what's up?" Jackie St. George's voice shot through the speaker. "And what's with the speaker?" "I'm busy trying to reorganise the files..." A grunt as she stepped over a smaller pile of older forms. "Mulder managed to get us a new set of filing cabinets, and I'm taking the opportunity to get the updates filed properly." "Oh, okay... So where's Mulder?" "You think I'd let him anywhere near this?" A chuckle. "Jackie, he'd be sitting down in the corner hunched over some old case and trying to convince me that we should reopen it. I sent him to the cafeteria for a late lunch, and then hopefully he'll go home..." "Good..." Pause. "'Cause I got it." Scully looked quickly around the room; placing the stack on top of her desk. "You got it?" "Two pounds." "How the hell did you get that much?" St. George laughed. "It came through in the diplomatic pouch just this morning. I called in a few favours..." Brushing the annoying strand back behind her ear again, the petite woman scowled at the mess. "Want to get together at your place? In an hour..." "Hell, no!" Her voice lowered. "I can't have this in my apartment - Marty's due anytime and I can't risk it. As it is, I want to get this out of the Embassy pronto. Come pick me up ASAP, okay?" The redhead paused. "Yah, okay. Mulder won't mind if I leave this mess for him - give him something to do." "Right - see you in a bit." The phone went dead. Fox Mulder drew his ear away from the door where he had been listening. Not that he made a habit of easedropping, but at times it had been useful to see what sort of trouble their Canadian friend had gotten into. But this... He frowned. What the hell was this? He sure as hell knew Scully didn't do drugs. Or St. George. Although... "If I were that stoned..." "Oooh, if you were that stoned... what, Scully..." A conversation from the past. He shook his head, clearing the thought. Whatever it was, it wasn't his business. Probably some woman stuff. Opening the door, Mulder almost walked into the frantic woman as she swept her coat up from the chair; stepping over yet another stack of files. "Mulder, I'm out of here for the day..." She waved a hand at the mounds of paper. "I'll let you pick up where I left off..." "Oh... okay..." He stared at her, one eyebrow slightly lifted. "Where are you going?" "Ah..." A hand gestured towards the hallway. "I'm meeting Devon for an early dinner." She had always been a bad liar. He nodded. "Okay - I'll see you tomorrow." "Yah, okay... 'Night, Mulder..." The door shut quietly behind the frazzled redhead. And opened up a second later by her worried partner. Flicking his eyes left and right, he made sure she was out of sight. Quickly locking the door, Mulder walked briskly down the stairs to the underground parking lot. *********** Following Scully was easy; she didn't expect to see anyone behind her. But he still felt guilty, like he was rummaging in her briefcase. Again. Drumming his fingers on the steering wheel, Mulder watched as St. George walked out of the Canadian Embassy; her combat jacket easy to pick out in the crowd. Along with the large bundle tucked securely under one arm. He waited until Scully's car had pulled away from the curb with the two women before moving. After all, he knew where they were going. ************* "Hey, I get to choose the music...." Jackie hummed merrily to herself as she tossed her jacket on the couch; handing the heavy package to Dana. "Sheryl Crow's in my mind..." "Then get it out." Dana shot back as she carried the heavy square to the kitchen. "Any idea what we need for this?" "One helluva sharp knife." ************ Mulder felt stupid. Skulking in the bushes under Scully's window was one of the most childish, immature, embarrassing things he had done. This week. As it was, he hoped the neighbours didn't call the cops on him. That would be great, trying to explain this to the police. "Well, I was curious as to what my partner was doing..." "Yah, right - tell it to the judge, ya pervert..." Suppressing a shudder, Mulder looked in through the window. As soon as he was certain it wasn't something dangerous or nasty, he'd leave. Really, he would. Right away. "Oh, man..." A laugh came from the kitchen. Jackie. "I'd have done better with my sword... when did you last sharpen this thing?" "It's one of those Ginzus..." A grumble and a sharp grunt. "At least I thought it was..." "Well, we've got enough on us, anyway..." ********* Scully saw the bush outside move a fraction of an inch; sending her nerves into overdrive. Putting her fingers to her own lips, she gestured to the window. St. George frowned; then continued to prattle on about the songs playing. Picking up her pistol, Scully calmly walked to the front door. Lifting up her hand, she raised five fingers in the air and pointed outside. The Canadian nodded. Five minutes and then come out, guns a blazing. At least in her translation. The redhead pulled the door shut quietly behind her and headed for the back door. ********* Sticking his head up warily, Mulder tried to see over into the kitchen and to the mysterious bundle. St. George kept getting in the way, pacing back and forth and chattering like a rabid chipmunk. Chattering... He swallowed heavily. "Hold it right there!" The angry command almost caught him unaware. Lifting his hands out of his trenchcoat pockets, Mulder couldn't hold back a groan. "Walk backwards out of the bushes towards me - and don't try anything. I'm with the FBI, and I don't like stalkers..." Scully's voice dropped off as she recognised the tall dark figure emerging from her windowsill; taking carefully measured steps in the light snow covering the ground. "Mulder..." She exhaled, dropping her right hand to her side; holding the pistol steady. "I almost shot you." "Again." Turning around, he smiled. "Again, Scully..." Scowling, she tucked her pistol into the small of her back. "What the hell are you doing out here?" "Ah..." Mulder's eyes darted around frantically. "I thought... I think I saw... well, I mean..." The Look nailed him square on; her eyes locking with his in a death duel of honesty. "Ah... I followed you and St. George here from the office..." He muttered. "I heard about the package and wanted to see what it was." Crossing her arms, the petite woman stood in front of him; the cool air tossing the back of her own trenchcoat from side to side. "You followed me?" He nodded, breaking away to stare at the frozen ground. "I just..." A frown crossed his face. "Scully - what's that on your hand?" Bashfully she put up her left hand; palm towards him. He looked at the dark stain spread across her hand; creeping up along her thumb and index finger. "It's... chocolate..." Scully said slowly. "Swiss chocolate, to be precise. Jackie wrangled two pounds of it for Valentine's Day." "Oh." Moving closer, Mulder took her hand; inspecting it. "And you were cutting it up to..." "One half for each of us." Even in the darkness she could feel her cheeks begin to burn. "One pound for her and Marty, and one pound for..." "Us?" "Yes..." She exhaled slowly, her hand still trapped in his grip. "I thought you'd appreciate a sugar overdose after all we've been through." "Hmm..." His eyes locked with hers again; dark and smouldering . "But I think I better taste test the product..." Before she could react, his mouth had dipped to her hand; moist lips closing on the tender skin. His hot tongue rasped along the surface; tugging lightly at the webbed skin by her thumb, drawing the now liquid chocolate into his mouth with agonising slowness. Scully swallowed, unable to pull her eyes away from his. Another gentle lapping; a tug of his teeth as they danced over the delicate skin, trapping it for his tongue's pleasure. His eyes still stared into hers; darker in the dim light. As if daring her to pull away. Staring at the ball of her thumb, he methodically licked away every trace of chocolate from her skin; finally drawing the tip of her thumb into his mouth. And began to suck on it. Hard. His tongue circling it. His teeth nipping at the exposed nail. Then he stopped. A grin spread over his face as he slowly pulled his lips free from the wet flesh; tongue flicking out over his mouth in a vain attempt to recapture the distinctive taste of Dana Scully and chocolate. He blinked. She blinked. Switching hands, he held her left hand now in his left; lifting his fingers to lazily draw patterns on the moist skin in the palm of her hand. "I get a whole pound of this?" He murmured. "Uh-huh." "Good." Lifting his finger to her cheek, he let out a low chuckle. "Can't wait, Scully..." Her eyes dropped to the watch on his right hand. Oh, god... "J... Jackie's going to be out here in a minute, ready to shoot you." Taking a step back, Dana took a shuddering breath. "I told her to give me five minutes - we thought you were a burglar." "No, just your favourite Peeping Tom." Mulder smiled. "I'm outta here before she shoots me just to keep me here." "Yah.... right... whatever..." The redhead watched as Mulder walked past her and towards his car. "See you tomorrow, okay?" "Right, Scully." "And let's keep this from her..." A finger jabbed back at the bay window they had been standing under. "You know how she is..." "Oh, I think no one knows that, Scully..." Mulder leaned on the car door, watching his partner disappear back inside the apartment building. Waiting. ******* "It's okay..." Swinging the door open, Scully walked straight to the kitchen; seeing a calm and relaxed St. George. "It was just a dog in the bushes..." "Oh, okay..." Jackie grinned. "I finished cutting up the chocolate. Think Mulder's going to like it?" "I don't know..." Right now keeping her own name in mind was hard enough. "I guess I'll have to wait and see..." "Uh... I think he'll like it..." Putting a hand to her mouth, the Canadian let out a laugh. "I think he likes it just fine, Dana..." A hand waved at her face. "Go look in the mirror, G-woman... and tell me it wasn't a Fox outside in the bushes..." Turning quickly on her heel, Scully walked into the bathroom and stared at the mirror... ...to the large wet chocolate "M" traced on her cheek. *********** Mulder first heard the riotous laughter of St. George; countered by the useless but loud excuses and explanations of his partner. Chuckling to himself, he got in the car. "Mine..." He told his reflection in the rear-view mirror. "Mine..." ******************** the end... "Mulder has an oral fixation."- DD in "Inside the X-Files..." ******************************************************************* "Heart of a warrior, mind of a fool... soul of a romantic..." - Jackie St. George "I am a brother to dragons and a companion to owls..." The Book of Job - sent via an evaluation copy of BulkRate (unregistered).