From: Xfgafrk37@aol.com
Date: Tue, 28 Dec 1999 00:27:34 EST
Subject: The Wrong Impression
Source: direct

Disclaimer:  I do not own Mulder and Scully or anything
else off of the X-Files as to which might be presented
here. As much as I may dream sometimes that it is my 
show; fact is it isn't my show. But -sigh- there's
always the barbies and dreams of course

Subject:  I would have to say M/S romance it gets kind
of sappy towards the end sorry I am a sap for classic
romance. :o)  NOROMO WARNING SHIPPER STORY!

Summary: Scully walks in and gets the wrong impression,
which of course     sends Mulder flocking after her.  They 
end up at her apartment talking, and yes there is a
kiss in here somewhere.  

Title:  The Wrong Impression

Author: Mary Tramel (email xfgafrk37@aol.com)  PLEASE 
EMAIL ME WITH COMMENTS! And now


The Wrong Impression
By Mary Tramel


As Scully drove to Mulder's apartment she, once again,
went over her excuse to see him in her mind. It was 
purely logical she decided.  She'd tell him she wanted 
to go over the files that lay in the back seat. He 
wouldn't suspect a thing. She would get to be near him 
and maybe...  Stop it Scully she told herself she couldn't 
think those thoughts, not while she was driving anyway.  
The drive took fifteen minutes with the growing Saturday
evening traffic but it was worth it.  She would not spend
this Saturday night alone, cold, and aching to see Mulder
and to hear his voice.

She walked up to his familiar hallway with a faint smile
on her face. Finally she thought.  She knocked lightly 
and felt a sense of impending doom.  That's weird she 
thought aloud as Mulder opened the door.  He was wearing 
jeans; only jeans.  Nice view she thought and smiled 
slightly.  "Mulder I'd like to discuss," Diana Fowley 
walked into the room the sight of her stopped Scully 
instantly.  She was wearing a Knicks tee shirt. Mulder's
Knicks tee shirt.  It came down to her knees revealing 
nothing but the implications it gave tore threw Scully 
like knives.  She looked from Diana to Mulder, unable 
to control the raw feeling in her face, shocked, torn, 
angry. She looked down shoving the files at Mulder and 
simultaneously saying, "I should've called we can discuss 
these later." She rushed out the door.

"Scully" Mulder said realizing what she must be thinking.  
He grabbed a shirt from a nearby chair and strode after
her calling her name gently.  

As she heard him coming after her, she knew she couldn't
face him. I've got to get away.  Her stomach felt like 
it was being ripped out and hot tears flowed from her eyes.
She began to run.

OH GOD NO SCULLY! Not like this, he thought as he saw her 
run to the stairs.  I've got to get to her; I have to catch
her.  God if she leaves now and something happens to her
I'll never forgive myself. He sprinted after her and began
to rush down the stairs.

Scully took the flights fast all she wanted was to get away
from him.  It's true, god it's true! Mulder. Fowley. 
Years of holding back, of not going to him.  If only
I had done something, anything. She kept seeing Fowley
standing there in his Knicks shirt. As she reached the
outside door and rushed out. Everything became too
much for her. She couldn't hold it in any longer. 
Her stomach gave in and she fell to her knees emptying it.
  
When Mulder caught up to her she was still heaving 
thought her attempts brought nothing.

As he saw her on her knees it shocked him.  Oh my god!
He thought silently, she has an iron stomach.  She eats 
dinner while perusing autopsy photos and yet, there she 
was.  He gently put his hand on her back. "Are you 
alright Scully?"

She laughed inside.  Yeah Mulder I'm fine she thought.
I'm only kneeling here throwing up because I am just
peachy.

"Scully it isn't what you think.  What you saw... It
really isn't what you think," he repeated.

"Mulder you don't need to justify yourself to me. 

We're partners nothing more. Just go back up there
I'll be fine.  I should have called.  It isn't any 
of my business.
  
Her words stung him like a slap.  How can she say that!
It isn't true at all.  "Can you just listen to me 
Scully! Let's go somewhere come on just let me explain 
at least. I do owe you an explanation and I am not taking
no for an answer," he said like a stubborn child

"Mulder there is NOTHING to talk about, I think what 
I saw explains everything!" she said sharply.  
She began to walk away but Mulder grabbed her arm. 

"STOP IT SCULLY!!!  Don't act like this, you're better 
than this give me a little credit here. It's Diana 
for God's sake.  Can you let me explain?"

"Fine Mulder," she said defeated.  She didn't have 
the strength to argue with him at the moment.  
He led her to the front door of his building.  
"NO MULDER!" she said loudly.  Too loudly she 
realized belatedly.  

"Relax Scully," he said softly taking her hand 
and rubbing his thumb against it.  She was 
nervous and it showed greatly.  Her hands were like 
ice against Mulder's.  Mulder buzzed the apartment.

Fowley answered "Yes?"

"Diana I am going out for a while I'm not sure
when I'll be back."

"Sure Fox"

With a flash of anger he said coldly "don't call me
that".  He turned to Scully and they began to walk in
the direction of the garage.  "Did you drive Scully?" 
 
"No Mulder I flew," she said with an edge in her voice.  
With an exasperated sigh Mulder said, "I'll drive,
your too upset right now".

She handed over her keys without regret.  She was 
sooo angry with him but she realized she would have
to be in a car with him for at least fifteen minutes 
maybe twenty.  How the hell could he lead me on like 
this, she thought bitterly.  Everything we've done 
everything we've seen. Our whole relationship is a lie.
Before Antarctica in his hallway, hell after it on the
mall by the reflection pool.  The joking, the looks,
the hugs, the almost kisses, the dreams, the nights 
when all she wanted was him to be near him everything 
a lie.  All along that bitch had dwelt with him, in 
his heart, and his mind.  And she was a bitch. A bitch to
shame other bitches.  She was a lying, stupid, betraying,
ugly -and god was she ugly- bitch.  How could he? 
with her, and really not even a her, a horribly annoying 
thing; an it.  How could he?!? Her thoughts made her 
even angrier with him: angry and hurt.  Wounded tears 
that wouldn't stop flowing ran down her soft, flushed
cheeks in streams.  What is supposed to happen now, 
she wondered silently?  Am I supposed to forget how 
much he means to me? Can I continue to pretend that 
I don't love him,that we're just friends?

"Scully damnit at least say something."

She realized he had been talking while her tangled
thoughts wove their web in her head.  "What?"

"Have you heard anything I just said," Mulder 
said in a tired voice.  Scully shook her head slowly; 
she was very distracted.  He touched her shoulder 
carefully she looked at him with sad broken eyes.  
Betrayed eyes.  

God those eyes, they always make me feel as though
I am the worst person in the world.  He couldn't 
look at them and turned away concentrating on the road.
Those eyes level me with one quick look.  She 
could kill me with those eyes.  

They drove in silence passing obnoxious nightclubs
and people going to expensive restaurants.  As they
entered Georgetown, Mulder glanced at Scully.  She
had managed to stop the tears but she looked distraught
and horribly upset.  When they arrived at her apartment,
Mulder sat down and Scully excused herself to bathroom.
Mulder looked halfheartedly at the cases that Scully
wanted to discuss realizing that they were old and with
a grin realizing they had already been solved.  Meanwhile,
Scully was making a feeble attempt to make herself
presentable and calm down at least a little bit.  When
she came out Mulder was sitting on the couch.  She sat
down at the other end of the couch moving as far away
as possible.  

"Scully I need you to let me talk without interruption."

"Go for it," she said sarcastically.  

"First of all," he said with a hard edge in his voice,
"You are always welcome at my apartment and don't ever
hurt me by saying you should have called.  We're too
close for that kind of thing, besides the point 
that's bull shit and you know it."

"MULDER," she protested irritably.

"Let me finish Scully," he cut her off, "Secondly
what you saw is not at all was you must be thinking
right now.  I am not involved with Diana.

"No you're just fucking her," she said sharply.

"SCULLY YOU HAVE NO RIGHT," he shouted.

"I have no right? I HAVE NO RIGHT!!!" she yelled 
back. "You, you you," she stammered.

"I what?" Mulder replied evenly.

The tears came again and Scully made no attempt 
to conceal them or wipe them away, she was furious.
 
"You lied, you led me on, you pretended to love 
me, you said, you said."

"Scully," he said a hurt tone creeping into his voice.

"Stop yelling and let me finish my train of thought."

She crossed her arms, "fine".

"I am not involved with Diana, I'm not fucking her as 
you put it. I have not lied to you, or led you on, or 
any of what you said.  Fowley was at my apartment and 
dressed like," he searched for words, "like she 
was, because she is temporarily staying with me.
She was evicted from her apartment because someone 
left a cigarette burning and set her curtains on fire.
Her landlord was furious because she could have 
burned down the whole building and threw her out.
 
She was dressed for bed because she was out all
night last night and she was sleeping in my Knicks
shirt because it is comfortable.  We aren't even 
staying in the same room!  I sleep on the couch and 
she sleeps in my bed because she is my guest and 
an old friend.  So you see nothing happened."

The tears she had managed to stop showed in her
eyes. "Then why was she prancing around in her
nightie in your apartment for all to see.  Just 
admit it Mulder you still have something between
the two of you. You love her Mulder."  She sounded
defeated and desperately fought the tears that
threatened to come once more.   

"Scully I can't love her, I could never because, 
because.... I...I...I" he stammered then paused. "I love
you Scully," he said quietly. 

She looked completely shocked and the tears that 
she tried to sustain came slowly, running down her
face.  Mulder stood up slowly and moved next to 
her on the couch.  He put his arms around her gently
she clutched tightly to him.  She laid her head on 
his chest; they held each other in a tight embrace
for what seemed like ages.  Eventually she lifted 
her head and looked directly into his eyes. "I love
you too Mulder," she said without breaking their
intense stare.  He started to lean in and she closed
the gap between them.  They kissed slowly, cautiously;
and then hugged again.  "Mulder what happens now?!?"  

"I don't know," he said softly, "are you alright with
Fowley staying with me?"  

"Well I trust you, but not that."

"Don't Scully," he interrupted.  "Well I can't just
throw her out," he said exasperated.

"But you could sleep here in the guest bedroom, or 
the couch, or...well... " She stopped unable to finish 
her sentence.

He smiled brilliantly, "I think I understand what
you are trying to say and I believe I like that
idea Scully".


End