Title: Together Lost Author: Rachel Elston Address: agt_scully@hotmail.com Rating: not sure Spoilers: Small Potatoes Summary: Mulder and Scully are on another dead end case. But the experience takes its pleasant toll. Disclaimer: The following story is based on characters copyrighted by Ten Thirteen Productions, created by da bomb, Chris Carter, and who are the property of the Fox network and are used without permission. No infringement intended. Note: Please ask my permission before posting anywhere else. Mulder got out of the Jeep and stretched. "No Scully remember the last time we were in the woods?" Scully looked out from the Jeep's open door. "All I did was run from bugs and look at dead body's wrapped in cocoons. How could I forget" Mulder walked around to the back of the Jeep. "But aside from all that didn't you have the least bit of fun?" She got out stretching as well. "Aside from that...I have to admit it was interesting when we found the green larva in the tree" Mulder pulled out their bags from the back. Handing Scully's luggage to her he said "Then why are you so resistant to go out in the woods again?" She looked at him surprised. "Because Mulder I was almost killed!" Mulder walked over to her. "But that is a long ways from here." He raised his hands in the air "This is Montana!" Scully looked up at him startled. "Come on Mulder. Let's get this over with" Scully moved around him. He turned and followed her towards the trail.3O seconds later Scully broke the silence between them. "So who's this guy that's meeting us?" He looked over at her while talking "A man named George McDonnell. He claims to have found a place in the woods where the spirits gather" Mulder made a ghostly noise. "You've got to be kidding me." Scully said, "Actually that's what I thought too." Scully raised an eyebrow. "Yes it's true. I think that maybe. ." Mulder stopped as he saw Scully stopped walking abruptly. "What's wrong Scully?" She didn't look up. "I'm fine. Do you have a tissue?" Scully said quietly. "Yeah " Mulder pulled out two or three and handed them to her. "Thanks." She started walking down the path again. Mulder followed. "You sure you're fine?" "Yes" Two hours later... "You know we should reach the cabin tomorrow afternoon," Mulder said to Scully from across the campfire. "I know I'm just fine with this." There was silence. "Mulder?" Scully gazed over at him through the orange and yellow haze. "Hmm?" "I'm going to bed now ok?" "Ok." She stood up walked over to the tent and stopped. "Are you going to..." "No not yet. I'll stay awake for a little while." Reassured Scully unzipped her tent and crawled inside. Mulder must have stayed out all night because when Scully opened the flap of her tent door she saw that the fire still had a bit of embers burning. Mulder was no where in sight so Scully assumed he was in his tent. She crawled out and zipped the netting of the tent so no bugs would get in. Still she was in clothes from yesterday. She didn't get dressed yet though, something was calling for her to take a look around. Maybe it was the smell, maybe the beauty. Either way she was still walking, slowly over to the campfire ash and glowing embers. Scully looked over at Mulder's tent pushing away the urge to go over and wake him up. Instead she sat down on the perfectly sized rock he had been sitting on the previous night. She marveled at the mourning star, the just beginning sunset. Suddenly Scully whirled around at the crackle of twigs. "Wait don't move this reminds me of something." Mulder stood there framing her in a square he made with his hands. Scully looked at his tent then at him. "Where were you?" She asked. "Nature called, Scully" Scully rolled her eyes as she turned back to the sunrise. Mulder came over kneeling beside her. "So Scully if you want to get to the cabin as fast as we can you should start folding up your tent" She nodded. Mulder stood and walked to his tent. He kneeled down and unzipped it half of him disappearing inside. Scully also stood and took down her own tent. When they were all packed down the path they went. "When did you go to bed last night Mulder?" "Around 11:30 Why?" Scully looked over at him. "I just wanted to make sure you went to bed. Since you haven't been getting much sleep the last two days. I know you Mulder you can't go to sleep unless you have everything sorted out" "Uhuh. Well actually I did go to bed but I didn't go to sleep" Scully stopped and Mulder walked right past her. "Mulder" She hurried back up to him. "What did you do all night then?" He stared straight ahead "Here we are." Scully sighed and looked at the wood cabin growing slowly larger as they drew closer. "How long are we going to stay here Mulder" "Only a day or two by then we'll know if it's a fake" "I only needed a few minutes to figure that out." Scully mumbled. They both walked up onto the porch. Mulder opened the screen door then knocked on the wooden door behind it with Scully next to him. There was no answer. He knocked again. "Mr. McDonnell?" Scully called out loud. No answer. Mulder tried the door and it was unlocked. He pushed it open and pulled out his gun. "Mr. McDonnell?" He called. Scully moved in beside him taking the left wall of the hallway. She too had her gun drawn. Upon reaching the end of the hallway Mulder moved over to the left side of the gigantic living room Scully searched the right. She nodded towards the stairs. Mulder gave a nod back to confirm. Scully slowly ascended up the stairs with her back against the wall. "Mr. McDonale? Are you up here?" No answer. "I'm Agent Dana Scully with the FBI. My partner is the one you spoke to a week ago we're here to talk to you." No answer. She reached the first landing separating first flight of stairs from the next. Scully used the same method as before moving slowly up the few steps with her back to the wall. At the top she scanned the rather large hallway. Moving along the wall to the first room she tried the knob pushing it open swiftly. Mr. McDonale?" Scully walked into the room with her back to the wall. She scanned this room as she had the hallway. Seeing there was no sign of movement she walked to the closet opened it quickly then stepped back with her gun ready. Nothing. Mulder walked into the dark hallway towards the kitchen. He switched on the light as he moved toward the kitchen entrance. Walking though the kitchen he heard Scully's voice calling Mr. McDonnell's name. After he had moved around the room and checked under and next to everything he went back out to the hall. Swiftly he moved towards another door at the end of the hallway. He tried the knob but it was locked. Mulder knocked first, feeling somewhat stupid "Mr. McDonale? "There was no answer so he stepped back. With a strong kick the door flew open and he inched inside. "Mr. McDonnell'" A quick look showed that no one was in there to answer his call. Only a storage place with a safe and money drawer. "Damn!" Mulder walked out of the room he had looked everywhere down here. Scully was on her last room now. The lighting was terrible she could hardly see anything. Repeating her usual routine Scully tried the door and pushed it open. " Hello? Is anyone in here?" When she heard no answer it didn't surprise her. She had gotten the same response in the last two rooms. With one hand on her gun she took the other and felt the wall beside her, looking for a light switch. Her hand rested on a plastic surface with the light switch near. She flicked the switch and to her horror she saw a slumped body in the right hand corner of the room against the far wall. Scully gasped. "Mulder! Come here quick!" Scully rushed over to the man's side even though she knew it was too late. She heard Mulder's footsteps as he hurried noisily up the stairs and into the hallway. "In here" She said. Almost immediately she saw her partner's looming figure above. "This man is dead from apparent gunshot wounds to the chest. It looks as if he died not too recently either." She looked him over a second more then looked up at Mulder. "Is this him? Do you know what he looks like?" Mulder shook his head "I'm not quite sure it is him but who else could it be? He lives alone." "Well Mulder it looks as if we are going to have to bring him down stairs and I'll see what else I can find. And it also looks like we won't be staying her too long after all." Three hours later... Scully plopped down on the couch next to Mulder. "This is just great!" Scully brushed her hair back and sighed. "Were in the middle of no where, Scully" Mulder started "I tried the phones up stairs and down stairs, I went outside found the breaker box. The phone lines and power lines have been cut. I did however find a radio transmitter with it's own battery and sent out a distress call." Scully looked at him hopefully "No answer came of it. We are going to have to stay the night that's all. Then we will hike back up to the jeep drive to a gas station I think we passed and call someone to get the body back to Washington for an autopsy." She sighed. "I covered the body and put it in the storage room. It looks like there's plenty of rooms but only one bedroom. So one of us should sleep on the couch. " She looked over at Mulder. "It does have two beds" Mulder suggested with a grin. "Ok, ok I'm taking the one closest to the door though." Mulder nodded his head. "Don't worry Scully I'm not going to peek" She glared at him. "Alright. To make sure I'm going to bed first" Scully got up walking to her bags to get the pillow and sleeping bag. "Wait Scully" He lighted a candle and put it on the table since it was getting dark. "Why can't we talk for a little while?" "About what?" Scully looked at him sideways as she asked the question. "I don't know. When was the last time we just really talked?" She stopped suddenly being reminded of Eddie. "We haven't really talked, Mulder. Why is there something you need to talk about?" Scully moved over to the couch and sat down beside him. "Well there's nothing stopping us now except sleep." Mulder continued. Scully scooted closer to him. "I thought maybe we could just talk" Mulder looked up at her when she scooted closer. "This isn't a pick-up line Scully I just want to know more about this thing that's been bugging' me." She looked down then back at him. "Any question you have I'll answer it." Even in the dim light she could see his face grow confident. "Then what I wanted to ask you is about Eddie Van Blundht" Mulder stopped to see what her expression was when he said Eddie's name. "What is it about...Eddie?" Scully said a little concerned now at the answering of any question regarding that pile of goo. "I need to know what happened before I came in there" He paused waiting for her to answer. When she said nothing he added, "If you don't want to talk about it I'll understand." She was still looking at him thinking how she should say her answer. "Well he came over with a bottle of champagne and we just talked" Mulder's expression darkened "You weren't just talking when I came in" Scully looked at the floor. "I'm sorry, Mulder I was just...." She didn't know how to say it. "About to kiss him" Mulder finished for her. "No. I didn't know it was him." Mulder's face was unreadable. "So you were about to kiss...me" Scully looked up at him. "I guess so." They just stared at eachother. Mulder looked at her lips then her eyes. He was about to shoot a little closer when a loud bang got his attention. "What was that?" Scully said her eyes wide. Mulder got up and moved toward the center of the room stopping to listen. *Bang* That time he knew where it was coming from. Quickly he moved into the hall and opened the front door. The screen door hadn't been closed and was being violently slammed into the side of the house by the growing wind. He leaned out tugging on the fragile door then finally snapping it shut. He closed the last heavy wooden door before returning to Scully still sitting on the couch. "It was just the screen door," Mulder said comfortingly. Scully got up from the couch walking over to Mulder. "I'm going to go to bed now unless you want to talk some more?" Mulder looked down at her. "No it's late and there's a strong storm out there which means that we will be getting up early to see what damage it has done." She nodded, picked up her pillow and candle, and walked slowly up the stairs. Mulder put his hands on his hips while he watched her go upstairs. There was a sound of thunder off in the distance. Mulder stopped to see how far away it was. As soon as see had been out of sight for about 20 min. Mulder picked up his own pillow and headed up with his candle also. When he reached the room he could see the glow of her candle still burning. He tried to be quiet as he walked over to his bed taking each step slowly. But the floor would creak everywhere he stepped. Mulder decide that he would sleep in his clothes as not to wake her up with his movements. Plus he felt weird about undressing with his partner in the room. Mulder opened up the covers and slowly tried to sink in with out making a noise. Then a louder crash of thunder made his eyes grow wide. That's pretty close he thought. When he was in bed finally and had blown out the candle Scully's voice melted the silence. "Goodnight, Mulder" There was a long pause before he answered. Rain pounded on the roof then settled down and soon faded away. "Goodnight, Scully" Scully blew out her own candle and went to sleep. The Next Day.... Scully woke up seeing Mulder still in his bed asleep. "Finally" she said to herself quietly. This was the first time she had seen him fast asleep like this. He looked so peaceful. She stared at him while he slept then stopped herself and looked up at the ceiling. Memories from last night flooded her head. The small talk, the long silence, then that horrible bang. She started imaging what would have happened if the bang never had occurred. A kiss? Who knows she could have slept with him! Scully giggled at the thought of that then her smile faded off as she thought that it was possible that could have happened. Scully looked back over at her partner. I better get dressed before he wakes up she thought to herself. Scully didn't know why she got undressed last night into just her shirt. Maybe she had forgotten that it was Mulder sleeping with her up here. Or maybe that's the reason why. She pushed the thoughts out of her head as she got up out of bed. Grabbing her pants she crept down stairs so she wouldn't wake him up. As soon as she had left Mulder opened one eye then the other. A sigh of relief escaped his lips. Mulder didn't know why he had pretended to be asleep in the first place. He looked up at the ceiling thinking of last night's fatal attraction. Or should he say fatal unattaction? He couldn't read her expression as they just stared at eachother. His self- conscious only allowed him to look not touch and that stupid door flapping in the wind was right on que. Mulder put his hands behind his head as he re-played the evenings events. Starting with his idiotic idea of talking. He had to think fast; he couldn't just say ' I want you to stay down here so I can hear your voice'. It had worked and when he thought about it now the question about Eddie had really been bothering him. Then he played back the scene when she answered "I guess so" and just stared at him. Mulder re-played it again. Again. Trying to decode her tone her face. Was there a deeper meaning to this plain answer? She was scared He decided. Scully probably didn't have a clue as how to answer. She was just as uncomfortable as he had been. Now what? Mulder got out of bed and changed his shirt quickly then headed downstairs. Scully had taken a look at the body again as soon as she got downstairs. Then with nothing else to do she just sat there on the couch. Thinking of who could have done this. Mulder had told her that the man lived alone and Scully knew for sure that Mr. McDonale's death wasn't connected to this wild story he had told Mulder. Or was it? Maybe there was more to this than he had told Mulder. Maybe it wasn't a place where spirits gather. There was something more. As if reading her mind Mulder's voice smashed through the silence. "I was just thinking, Scully. Maybe there's more to this story then old man McDonnell told me." Scully's attention was on him now. "Yes Mulder I think your right. His death had nothing to do with that story version or maybe I don't know." She looked at what he was wearing. The same jeans as yesterday and a white T-shirt. Nothing special but she was still attracted to him no matter what he wore. "Yeah Scully I guess I have to agree with you for now. But his story still might have some truth to it." Scully got up surprised at his answer except for when he said there was still truth to the story. That was just like Mulder. Mulder watched her walk over to the bar by the kitchen. He studied her clothes. Same dark navy blue, long sleeved sweater with matching pants. However different to her usual wear he was still attracted to her (in a professional way...Yeah right!). Scully sighed. "We should head outside to check what happened during the rain and thunderstorm" She said already walking to the door without his answer. "Yeah your right" He followed her to the door. Opening it while squinting from the glare of the sun that had been unexpected. Mulder walked out onto the porch noticing the screen door had come unlocked again during the night. "Everything looks fine. It's just wet out." Scully walked out on to the porch next to him. "I'll get my bags ready." With that she went back inside. Mulder soon followed her in leaving the door wide open. They hadn't unpacked much so soon they were both ready to go. Mulder had shut the door behind him and Scully. Then he had put up a notice saying to stay away from the house. They had reached the Jeep by 1:00 and after 50 minutes of sputtering it had kicked in. Cruising down the road now there was no conversation. It was getting dark so Mulder turned on the headlights. A few minutes after that the car slipped. Swiftly it descended away from the road. Scully gasped holding tight to the arm of the chair. Mulder jerked the wheel turning it around so the side of the car was going down. The car slowed and rested at the base of a huge tree. "Looks like something did go wrong during the storm." Mulder said slowing his breathing down. Apparently the road had been washed away. "Now what, Mulder?" Scully said letting out a breath she didn't know she had taken. "We still have some fuel. We could stay here until mourning then hike back to the cabin or hike the way we were going. About 140 more miles to go Scully" Mulder grinned. Scully still hadn't let go of the armrest. "How about we stay here then hike to the Cabin." Scully sounded tired. "Whatever you want is fine," Mulder said as he laid his head back. "But I think were going to have to stay in the Jeep. The ground is still wet." Mulder peered over at Scully. "Alright, Mulder" She said with a sigh closing her eyes. Mulder wanted to talk more maybe it was because he wasn't tired. What would he talk about anyway? He hated waiting to go to sleep. It was so...so...boring. If it had been his choice he would have been on his way to the cabin. He thought for a while then after becoming even more bored he looked around the dashboard and under the seats. Mulder had to find something to do. Then looking in the glove compartment he found a portable tape and radio player. "Hey Scully is this...." Mulder looked up at Scully stopping. He saw his partner fast asleep. Mulder smiled putting the earphones on. He turned it on to the first station. Hearing the words of a song he hadn't heard before: ~I wanna feel you. I want to show you baby that I need you. I want your body every last drop...~ "This is stupid" Mulder mumbled. Turning the station he came to rest on a Janet Jackson Marathon. "Is there nothing I like?" He must have flipped through all the channels twice. Still he had found nothing. So he retreated back to 101.1. Mulder sat back listening to the radio host introduce the next song. ~ We have a request for a sexy song so I'm putting on a little Marvin Gay. This song is of course Let's Get it on. ~ The song started and he surprisingly did not change the station. Mulder looked over at Scully a feeling surging through him. A feeling he had pushed down since day he met her. A feeling he did not like to have for his partner. A feeling he tried satisfying with certain movies and magazines. Even through he didn't want this feeling he continued staring at her still listening to the song. No. No Mulder stop torching yourself. *Click* Mulder placed the radio down between Scully and himself. Being in this Jeep so close to her as he thought these things made him feel...dirty. Taking one last glance at her he turned around on his side trying to go to sleep. An Hour later¬ An Hour later¬ An Hour later¬ Scully woke up in the middle of the night. She rubbed her eyes trying to focus while looking out at the pitch-black darkness. "Great" she said with a sigh. She felt wide- awake. Nothing would get her to sleep now. She looked over at Mulder. He was asleep! Scully tried resisting the urge to run her hand through his hair it just wasn't a thing she would consider doing. It had come a complete shock she had even scooted closer to him. She scooted over again not knowing why. It was just a good feeling she got when she was close to him. "Ouch" she whispered glancing down at her side. "What the hell is this" She pulled out the radio player. "How did this get here?" then she looked at Mulder grinning as he mumbled something in his sleep. Dreaming most likely, she thought. "Well now I know how it came to be here and it stopped me from doing something I shouldn't have thought of in the first place" Scully whispered. She moved back over to her side of the car. He was still too close. "Now I'm talking to myself." She looked down at the radio in her hand. This might just help me get to sleep, she thought. Scully slipped on the headphones than turned it on. The DJ was just finishing up a conversation with a caller and it didn't seem exciting so she tried another channel and another. All she could hear was static. "Great now what" Scully stared over at Mulder while he stirred in his sleep. I guess I can delight myself in this one pleasure while he's asleep, she thought. She reached out and put her hand taking away a small leaf that had blown through the open window into his hair. Touching his hair sent a joy through her since she hardly ever touched him. Mulder stirred again and she stopped short. Turning to face the other way she closed her eyes. Daylight * There was silence. Nothing stirred. If you were to look inside the car it may have looked like two lovers together. Sleeping soundly. Then Mulder stirred feeling warmth by his neck. When his vision cleared he looked down. Scully was asleep with her head on his shoulder. Soon she stirred also looking up at him surprised to be so close. Not being able to help it he smiled whispering to himself. "I hope it was as good for you as it was for me" Scully lifted herself up into the seat. "Huh?" she said even when she heard him. Instead of answering her truthfully he decided to carry on with the stupid joke. "You don't remember last night" He winked at her and she grunted. "Stop it Mulder." She said frustrated. He got out of the car jogging in place. "You wanna start walking or have some time to wake up." Scully stretched. "I'm awake...and hungry." She unzipped one of her bags looking for something to eat. "Not much around here but bark." Suddenly Scully whipped out a candybar. "Aha!" She ripped of the wrapper quickly. Before she ate Scully looked up at Mulder. "Want a piece?" His eyes grew wide as he hurried over to her side of the Jeep. "Definitely" Scully broke it in half for the both of them. With a piece of the bar in one hand, and their bags in the other they stared at the steep hill leading towards the road. "I don't want to go up all that way slipping and falling." Scully started " Why don't we head through the trees in the direction of the cabin." Without a word both of them agreed. "Mulder? I was wondering about that body I had studied." Scully said out of the blue. "What about it?" "Well the body was shot. There was no gun in the house. If it was murder then what reason would someone have to kill him?" Mulder ducked under a tree branch not answering. "Your not thinking it was because of the story he told you about. Is it?" "Well Scully I think that even as far fetched as his story is there must be some truth to it." Scully grunted. "Why don't we cut through this way, Scully?" He waved his hand off to the left of them. "Mulder we should go along with the road otherwise we might get lost." Mulder looked at her as if she was stupid. "You happen to be walking with the woodland king." "HA! No thanks Mulder I like it this way better." Then Mulder turned his best puppy dogface on her. "Please. I have a feeling." Rolling her eyes Scully agreed finally. "You better be right." "I'm right." Mulder assured her. "Trust me" "We're Lost!" Scully said dropping her hands on her lap. Mulder was sitting on a rock next to her by a creek. "We're not lost.... Just detoured." "I have a feeling Scully.... Trust me." She imitated sarcastically. Mulder sighed. "I'm really sorry Scully I forgot that we had to turn right instead of left. But I know where to go now so tomorrow we can start again and be there by supper." He smiled. Scully surprised, at the cute smile he gave her, took pity on him. "Alright, Mulder. I'll trust you still" As she said this she patted his leg. Mulder reached down behind him testing the water for no apparent reason. Must be boredom. "Oooohh. It's the middle of the day and it's getting cold out here" Scully said rubbing her arms. Mulder stood up and got a blanket from his bag. "Here" he said wrapping the blanket around her. "This should keep you warm" He started to head over back to his own rock, but she caught his arm. "Aren't you cold too?" Mulder shook his head. "Come on Mulder sit down," Scully said patting a spot next to her. Silently he accepted sitting down next to her. "You ever wish things were different?" Scully asked her head spinning at how close he was. "I wish my sister were still with me and I wish you weren't dying." They both looked at the ground. "I've been thinking about that now and I found that there is something good that comes out of this." She looked up at him seeing he was staring at her. "Like what?" He asked. "Now because of this we are forced to see just how short a time we have together. And you know Mulder there's just enough time to tell eachother how we feel" He swallowed. "How do you feel, Scully?" She looked at his lips then his eyes again as she moved closer. He saw her change the view of her eyes to his lips and moved closer. I know she must want this as bad as I do, he thought. Slowly as he brought his face closer to hers, too close, Scully didn't wait for him to make the final move. She closed the small distance on them fast, but just as she was about to change everything Mulder moved back slightly teasing her. She flashed a smile and their breath mingled. It seemed like time stood still they just sat there staring. Do I really want to do this? they thought in sync. Mulder made his mind up. He put a hand up to her face. She leaned her cheek into his palm. Then Mulder raised her face slowly looking at her for a moment. They both agreed with their eyes and Mulder tilted his head as he moved in. It was a small kiss so as to just give eachother a taste. He embraced his hands around her and they kissed again. A deep, passionate kiss that was intended, on Mulder's part, to be longer. But the two of them stopped short hearing a noise not too far away. A helicopter. Soon the blue and white flying machine brushed over the trees into the clearing, which they were now standing in. Scully jumped up and down waving her arms. Seeing them the helicopter landed and a man in a uniform stepped out ducking his head. "You the agents in trouble?" He asked with a sort of country accent. "Yeah. I'm Agent Mulder, this is Agent Scully." Mulder gestured over to the helicopter. "How did you guys know about us?" "We was making a scan on the radio and picked up your distress call. It took us a while but we finally found someone who would bring us up here to try and look for ya." Mulder and Scully made eye contact then broke away. "Thank You" Scully said walking towards the helicopter. Mulder and the man followed. "Before we go back can we check the cabin up ahead? We have a dead body that we had found. And we still don't know what happened." The man nodded asking, "Is this cabin that you're talking about George McDonnell's cabin by any chance?" Mulder looked over at the man seeing annoyance on his face. "Yeah, Do you know him?" The man stared down at the tops of trees. "Only by reputation." The man looked up at Mulder "He was one of those guys who believed to have been taken up in one of them "spaceships". Crazy junk like that. After the town forced him out his wife left him and he been liven out here since." Mulder glanced at Scully who was fingering her lips thinking. "Well thank you for getting us so quickly Mr.?" The man slapped his own leg. "I didn't even introduce myself did I? The name's Kealsy, Sheriff Kealsy." Mulder grinned. "Bond, James Bond." "Excuse me did you say something, sir?" Sheriff Kealsy asked. Mulder shook his head. "Nevermind" He felt Scully's eyes on him. When turning his head to look back, her attention went to her window. "Um, Sheriff Kealsy, you said the town forced him out were they angry at him?" "Some were most just annoyed." Mulder got a look on his face Scully couldn't decipher. "Was they're anybody in particular that had a grudge or was angry enough to do something violent towards Mr. McDonnell?" Kealsy thought for a moment. "If there was I didn't see any disturbance that would tell me that." Mulder nodded disappointed. "We're coming up on the cabin" The helicopter pilot started. "But there are flames.. It looks like a fire." Mulder stood up as much a he could trying to get a better view. "Fire?" Concern gripped Scully's voice. "Is it bad?" The pilot answered her quickly. "I don't know, ma'am, with all the smoke it looks huge." She looked around the cabin building. "Is there any way we can get down there?" The operator pointed over to a clearing. "That's as close as we can get." Scully nodded. "Ok then land there and call for extra help to get this fire under control." Just as she finished her sentence the pilot started the landing procedure. Once on the ground Scully and Mulder split up trying both sides of the house to find a safe way in. "This is too risky, it's dumb" Scully yelled out at Mulder. There was a crash and Mulder's voice filtered though the crackling flames. "Scully! Here quick!" She took off around to the Mulder's side of the house. "What's wrong?" She said as soon as she saw Mulder. "I found a way in." He pointed at a broken window. "You wait out here and I'll go in to get the body" He started towards it. "Wait Mulder it's just a body" Sweat glistened on her forehead. "Scully it's the only proof we have." He touched her shoulder breifly, then climbed into the window. "Proof of what?" Scully asked too late. Once inside Mulder looked around, as best he could in the smoke and flames. Why am I in here? he thought, I hate fire! Pushing that fear aside he walked courageously through a doorway. Looking around he decided he must be in the living room. He strided across the room while avoiding the flames and smoke. Finally Mulder reached the door to the storage room where Scully had left the body. Gagging on the fumes Mulder hurried to test the doorknob and open it. With one lunge he was inside. He had expected to find the body of the old man in here still. To his astonishment there were nothing but brooms and the usual cleaning supplies. Mulder covered his mouth coughing as he looked around the small room and then in the hall. Nothing! Now his lungs couldn't take it anymore, they needed air. He quickly stumbled out into the living room. "Mulder!" Scully's voice could barley be heard over the sounds around him. Mulder maneuvered his way back to the broken window barreling through. As soon as he hit the ground Scully was next to him. "Mulder, are you alright?" She helped him to a sitting position. " *Cough* the body *cough* Scully it's gone." He stood with Scully's help and stumbled back away from the house. "What do you mean the body's gone?" Her hands were still on his shoulders as if keeping him from falling. "You left it in the storage room, right?" She nodded. "Well it's not there" Scully's hands dropped to her sides. "How? Who?" He shook his head. "I don't know, Scully" They both stood there gazing at the house as the flames engulfed it. Mulder burst through the doors of the police station. "Where is he?" The cop pointed to the second door beside them. "Thank you" Scully came in after him and followed him in. A man was slouched in a chair by a small table. He looked dirty and his skin had a dark tan. "We found this guy walking on the road shortly after we found the house." Sheriff Kealsy's voice started from the closest corner in the room. He walked over to them talking in a lower tone. "I started thinking about what you asked me, about who would have a motive?" Mulder nodded. "This guy here has lived in the woods for the longest time and nobody knows his name for sure. He got into to a small fight one of my deputies stopped. It seemed that he was mad at old George because of the attention he caused towards the woods around where this guy lives." He stopped looking down. "I never took it as the beginning of a big problem" Scully nodded her head in the direction of the strange man. "Did he confess?" The sheriff quickly responded. "Oh yeah. He said he wanted to have no attention brought on himself, but I guess he never considered this." He smiled briefly. "I guess that means we have no case here than" Scully said glad to be able to get home. Mulder looked at her noticing the tone of her voice. "Thank you, Sheriff, for your help." Scully smiled slightly and shook his hand. "My pleasure" Kealsy said in reply as he shook Mulder's hand also. Scully quickly left while Mulder took one last look at the man and then left with her. Mulder had only driven for about 30 minutes and his mind was already wandering. He looked over at his partner thinking back to what had happened before their rescue. Scully was leaning against the door gazing out the window. His thoughts took in memories of how sweet and soft her lips had been. They were indeed great actors. To be able to conceal what had been happening. How close they had become in four years! He forced his eyes on to the road. "So, uh..." Mulder tried to think of something to say but nothing came out. "So.." Scully repeated looking at him now. "How do you feel about the uh closer of this uh case?" He glanced at her briefly. "I think it all fits perfectly and I'm glad it's over." She smiled slightly looking out over the road in front of them. "Why are you glad I thought it was kind of...uh.. fun when we got lost." He looked at her waiting for the response. Scully looked over at him remembering the moment, the longing, and the kiss. She touched her lips then quickly stopped seeing he had been staring. "Umm well...I guess it was.." She trailed off not wanting to talk about it. "What?" Mulder said pushing it. "Look Mulder, I don't know what your talking about.. I was mad when we got lost." She folded her hands on her lap determined to play hard to get. He turned into the parking lot of the motel and parked in front of their door. Neither of them got out. Mulder put his hand over her folded hands. "Scully.. Dana, I meant what I did. Didn't you?" His hazel eyes bore into hers. She opened her mouth to speak but nothing came out. He looked at her lips then her eyes as if asking for a chance to finish what they had started. Scully looked down nodding her head. "I.... did...but .." She joined his gaze again seeing worry." How could this work between us?" She felt the grip of his hand that was still on hers loosen. "Dana, I.." *Tap, Tap* "Excuse me sir will you be checking out of these rooms anytime today? Check out time was at 5:00." Mulder let go of Scully's hand slowly as he let out a deep sigh. "Yeah yeah. Just give us a few minutes and we'll clear out." He unlocked their doors and got out. The man who was obviously the manager left with a brisk nod. Mulder walked up to his room, as did Scully. Scully put her keys into the lock then stopped before going in. A feeling swept over her as if she was being watched. She slowly turned her head seeing Mulder staring at her his face was sad, or unhappy like he lost something dear to him. She broke the contact and pushed her door open as she walked into the room. The feeling of his heavy gaze diminished as soon as she shut the door. "What am I doing?" She asked herself in a whisper. She put her hand on her forehead, thinking. I love him.. Don't I? Why am I pushing him away? Then it dawned on her. She is pushing him away because she wants to protect him. Why though? He's a big boy he can take care of himself. Letting her hand fall she walked over to the bed. I should tell him that I love him she thought if there were any trouble we'd be in it together as always. She dropped her key on the bed and started over to his apartment. Mulder watched her go in. He even stayed there a few seconds after she shut the door. Then slowly and miserably he walked into his room closing the door. "What am I doing?" He said to himself out loud. He put a hand through his hair, thinking. I love her.. Then why am I pushing it? Maybe she was just scared and lonely. Maybe she really doesn't want to go down this kind of path with me. He took two steps over to his bed; sitting down he thought more. Or maybe she did really love him. Maybe it was more than 'fate'. Could that be possible? If that were true it would explain a lot. He must be moving to fast. He should just back off for a while and see how it works. Mulder smiled nodding his head. What if she doesn't at all and their friendship is ruined because of this. Because of him. He fell back on the bed in frustration. *KNOCK, KNOCK* Mulder jumped up startled. He went to the door not bothering to look in the peephole. He opened the door and the smell of strawberries filled the air. Scully looked up as he opened the door. "Scully?" He said both surprised and glad. She pushed herself in and closed the door behind her. Mulder was just standing there still looking at her. "Oh Mulder...I'm so sorry" His brow wrinkled. "For what, Scully?" She smiled a rare smile that lit up her face. "I've been too harsh. I've been the stupid one." She looked down as her smile deteriorated. Before saying much more she walked over to his bed sitting down. Mulder sat next to her. Scully turned her body so that she faced him better. "Fox..." She waited seeing if he would protest. Instead he waited silently. "We've been though so much in four years that I have dismissed our relationship as just being partners. We're good friends, right?" He looked at her still waiting. "Well I came here to tell you I don't want to be just friends." She reached up, brushing back a small strand of his hair. His face looked hopeful or did it? "That is of course if you have the same feelings that I do." Mulder still stared at her with a slight grin. She looked at him. After about two minutes of staring Scully grew impatient. "Mulder how much more big of a hint do I have to give you to get you to kiss me?" He smiled. She smiled. "I was just waiting for the go" He replied finally as his smile got wider. "You really like teasing me, don't you." She let out a chuckle. He smiled again with a chuckle of his own. She put her hand on his cheek. "I love you...so much" Mulder kissed her deep. His kiss was like fire. A fierce burning passion with in both of them united. They fell back on the bed entangling eachother as they continued kissing. Their kissing became more intense with each passing moment a love like this was not an everyday occurrence. It felt so good kissing him Scully almost melted right then. After all he was a good lookin' man. She had been attracted to him from the start. Over the years they had grown closer. She had backed off from that path because she knew she had to deal with compatition. Women must flock all around him, she had thought. Over the years she had found that to be not entirely true. He was a very lonely man searching for his sister alone. Now look at where they were now. Fire and Ice. A sizzling passion as their heart's beat close. It was so great kissing her Mulder could hardly think himself worthy. She was no regular woman. She had this hold on him whenever they were together. The two of them against the world. What could be sexier? He stopped with her underneath him as he held her. Mulder looked her over, smiling. So sweet, pure, and innocent. Scully smiled up at him as she saw his smile. As if reading his mind she flipped over suddenly so that he was underneath her. "I'm not that innocent" She smiled as she giggled. Her head fell onto his chest and they both laughed a good few minutes. Scully rose from his chest still close. He reached up his hand to her neck bringing her down closer to him. Their lips met once more, but only briefly. *KNOCK, KNOCK, KNOCK* Scully rolled off of him and onto the bed while he got up to answer it. Mulder opened the door only to hear the one voice he didn't want to hear right now. "Are you done packing?" The manager asked frustrated. "I have other customers!" Mulder stuffed his hand into his pants pocket quickly. "Quit the attitude Ok? We're staying another night!" Mulder said throwing money at the man and closing the door. The manager's voice could be heard even without the door open. "You have a good evenin' now" Scully giggled jumping up off the bed. "Don't stop now," Scully said grabbing his shirt pulling him. Mulder fell back pulling her with him onto the bed and started kissing her once more. As they rolled around on the bed the manager took his eye out of the peekhole. "I knew they were perfect together." He smiled fingering the money as he headed to the lobby.