From: Wndchimes@aol.com Date: Sat, 5 Dec 1998 01:34:14 EST Subject: Story for submission... Title- The Truth Is Reveiled Written by- Lis Dunbar Clark Rating- PG Classification- MSR Spoilers- None Keywords- Mulder and Scully Summary- Mulder and Scully at a coffee shop, pondering over a case in some little town. Mulder and Scully disagree. Mulder and Scully argue. Scully's point of view on the whole mess. Disclaimer- I do not own any rights to the X-Files. It was created by Chris Carter. Don't sue. No money involved. You know the routine. "Mulder, I agree, this is one of the silliest cases we've been on. But it's still out duty to do it and to do it right. We can't just laugh at everyone," I explained patiently to Mulder, sipping my coffee carefully. A little too hot. It just wasn't a good day. Our first day in Mitny, Idaho. We were assigned to a case involving two farmers and potatoes. One farmer stole the other's potatoes and sold them with his own. Then the other farmer killed the farmer who stole his potatoes, but won't tell anyone where he left the body. Our job? You guessed it. To find the body. And Mulder was just screwing it all up. He was fooling around, upsetting everyone by making jokes. And I was being patient, I was trying. But it just wasn't working. "Come on, Scully. Lighten up. You know we were assigned to this case just to get us temporarily out of DC. It's a dumb case. The farmer's body means nothing to everyone. He was worthless. He stole potatoes. You know we can do much better than this," he said, grinning, which got me more annoyed. I sighed deeply, trying to get my nerves to calm down a little. I took another small sip from my styrofoam cup and burned my tongue in the process. "It may be a dumb case, but it's our duty to finish it. And nobody's worthless. At least, almost nobody." Okay, that last line was mean, and I knew it and he knew it. Maybe it was directed at him. I don't know, to tell you the truth. I just said it. "What's that supposed to mean?" Mulder asked, frowning. Something in his tone made me think that he thought it was directed at him. And the thing was, he was right. I think it was. Not because I meant it, but because I was being an ungrateful little spite. " Oh nevermind," I said, not wanting to deal with it. He was determined, though. "No, don't nevermind this. What did you mean?" he persisted. "Just forget about it, okay?" I didn't want to start a scene. I hate scenes. But he just wouldn't drop it, my tongue was burnt and I was a little pissed off. He put down his styrofoam cup. From the look on his face, he either burnt his tongue too, or was very upset. "You always say that. 'Just forget it, okay?' Guess what Scully? You're not getting away with it this time," he said, frowning even more. I pushed that thought away. He was mad and I was mad. I can't think things like that when I'm mad. The way he mimicked me was annoying. It was true! "Well, I think I am," I said bitingly, putting down my coffee and standing up. He grabbed my arm as I spun around, the jerk, almost making me fall over. "What is your problem today?" He raised his voice out of annoyance, causing the few people in the coffee shop with us to look over. "Nothing," I said between clenched teeth. *I* had a problem? Well, then, that makes both of us. I yanked my arm free and pretty much hissed at him, "Don't cause a scene. Not here, not now. I'm leaving," and turned again to leave. Mulder was probably just as annoyed as I was by this time. But he didn't say any more, so I guess I had a pretty mad look on my face. I slammed the door close angrily and walked across the parking lot to the motel. Another one of those cheesy places he booked us in. Once inside my room, I had the urge to scream. But fearing Mulder might hear me, I just let out another exasperated sigh and paced. Back and forth, back and forth. I don't think I'd done so much moving since the time when Mulder went aboard the Queen Anne. I felt like ringing his neck. All those people know we're the FBI agents in charge of the case, and he made us look like fools. I do not tolerate being ridiculed. And he knows it. Yet he did that. There was a knock at my door. Knowing it was Mulder, I rolled my eyes and debated my choices. Not let him in, or let him in and grill him to death. I was in the grilling mood, so I opened the door. "Mulder, we've got work to do, so this better be quick," I snapped. "No work. They found the body," he said, his voice sounding very jolted, like he was trying not to say or do something drastic. I relaxed a little. "Good," I said, softening my tone just a tad. He seemed visibly relaxed, too. "With no help from us," he added, his voice still having that edge. That set me off again. "What is with you? Can't you just drop it?" I asked him, rubbing my temples. All this tension was giving me a headache. Before I knew it, he was right in front of me. I looked up, and basically almost bumped noses with him. I looked up at him curiously. His face leaned in closer, and then he kissed me. Not a tender, nice kiss like I imagined it would be like, but very hard and passionate. I didn't quite pull away, but I didn't encourage him to keep kissing, and he finally figured that out and pulled away. Now this really got on my nerves. Why did he kiss me? "Mulder, what in the world is your problem?!" I shouted. He didn't answer, but looked like he was going to kiss me again. So, without thinking, I slapped him. Hard across his left cheek. As soon as the blow landed, I regretted it. I had hurt him. I realized I kind of enjoyed the kiss. He didn't deserve both the yelling and the slap, so I lowered my voice a little. "What was that for?" I asked. "Dammit, Scully!" he started. I've heard his 'dammit Scully' speech before, or at least, I thought, so I interrupted him. "Just leave it okay?" I said, almost in a whisper, but filled with venom. He ran his hands through his hair. "Dammit, just listen to me! What is your problem today? All day you've been ragging on me, and it's getting me really... angry," he ranted, Mulder style. Now, I don't like to be yelled at. Especially by Mulder. "My problem? Okay, you want to know my problem? It's you!" I yelled right back at him. "Me?! What did I do to *you*?" he asked. I was fed up with this. "You know what? Forget it. It just isn't worth it. So just forget it!" I was really losing it. He had this hurt and angry look on his face, like an angry puppy dog. "I won't forget it. You know I love you Scully! Didn't we admit so much to eachother? We love eachother, not in the usual FBI partner way. Then I kiss you, and you scream and slap me? What is with you?" he bit off. Ouchouchouch. I did love him. He knew it, I knew it. But I couldn't let him win this battle. Even if it meant hurting him some more. "Well, sometimes people lie, Mulder," I said quietly, my heart beginning to rip in half. At this, his eyes filled with... tears, was it? "No. I just don't accept that! You said that. You meant it. You know you did. Don't admit otherwise," he said stubbornly. "Okay. So I did. But people change their minds, you know." I was hurting him, oh was I hurting him. I could see it on his face. His look became one of defeat. "Fine," he said, his voice back to his normal level. But he sounded colder, not hot with rage. And he sounded defeated. Only once or twice had he sounded or looked like that. It tore my heart some more. *I* had done this to him. I had the greatest urge to hug him and forgive him and ask him to forgive me. But I didn't. I couldn't. I had dignity. Without saying anything more, he walked to the door, looked at me one last time, and walked out the door to his room. Once he was gone, I plopped onto my motel bed, disgusted with myself. Burying my head in my hands, it sunk in what I had done. We were starting to get somewhere, and I just ruined all of it. How were we going to face eachother now? We can't act like nothing had happened. Suddenly, all the energy was drained from me. I slept. When I woke, the problem jumped up at me. Some one had to apologize. Knowing I was more in the wrong, I decided to. It was raining out as I walked the few paces to Mulder's room. Hesitantly, I knocked on his door. "Who is it?" he called from within. "It's me Mulder," I said. I waited. No answer. And I was getting wet. I knew the answer to that question. His heart was crushed, like mine. "Please let me in, Mulder," I said, desperate to fix the problem. He must have heard the desperation in my voice because the door opened, and there he was. He looked terrible, but I supposed I didn't look any better, all wet and everything. He let me in, and I stood there, grasping for words and shivering. He didn't say anything. He didn't need to. I was the one who had to apologize. "Look, I was angry. I didn't mean those things," I said finally. Sure, it was lame, but it was the only thing I could think of, besides throwing myself at his feet and begging his mercy. "Oh, you meant them," he said bitterly. He obviously was still upset. My voice had no traces of the venom it had earlier as I said, "I was angry. I tend to do rash things when I'm angry. You know you're the last person in the world I'd ever mean to hurt." He still didn't buy it. He sat on his bed, not looking at me, as I continued. "I *do* love you, Mulder. It just took me a long time to get myself to admit it. But today, after you left, I learned that I do. And I'm not just saying that. You mean so much to me. I can't afford to lose you, but I'm afraid I already have. And it's completely my fault." Then he looked at me. His eyes were... well, they were a combination of forgiveness, love, hate, and anger. He wasn't ready to forgive me. We just stayed in our places, him on the bed, me standing by the door, both silent. Finally, he broke the uncomfortable silence. "I shouldn't have kissed you," he said simply. "No. That was okay. It was just wrong of me to yell at you, and then slap you," I said, feeling ashamed of my actions still. The anger was gone from his eyes now. Only forgiveness, love, and hate remained. "Scully, you and the X-files, you're all I have left. I almost lost you twice, and I feel like you're slipping away from me right now, when you're right in front of me. Something's just... missing. I don't know what it is, but I don't think it's right for me to say I love you to you until we find what's missing. And it may take a while," he said slowly. I nodded, not trusting my voice. Right about now, begging at his feet seemed like a good idea. But I didn't. Reluctant tears sprang into my eyes. Involuntarily, I sniffed. Something in his heart seemed to soften just then. He got up, and walked over to me. Thinking he wanted me to leave, I started towards the door, but he grabbed my arm, very gently. I turned to face him, and something inside me exploded. I burst into tears, right then and there. He held me close, letting me sob on his shoulder. I thought I felt his tears fall onto my hair, but it might have just been my imagination. I cried until I felt void inside. It felt like I had cried my emotions out, and now I was just a limp rag doll. Mulder kissed the top of my head and held me at arm's length. "Scully, we have to give this time," he said very seriously. I knew exactly what he meant. And I was willing to give it all the time it needed. THE END So what do you think? Pllleeeeaaaassseeeeee send feedback. I love it.