Title: Image
Author: Shawen A. Greer
Rating: R
Classification: MSR, some UST to RST, mild angst
Summary: A new case brings Mulder face to face with a
mysterious stranger who forces him to deal with his secret
desires as well as revealing some of Scully's as well.
Disclaimer: Do I really need to put this???? You already know
the X-Files belongs to CC, 1013, and Fox right? Well, if not,
you do now.
Distribution: Anywhere as long as my name and email stay
attached, but please ask first.
Feedback: I love feedback!!!!! Please do!
shawen@altavista.com.
Or check out my website for my other stories as well as some of
my favorites by other authors. The Hall of 'X'
www.geocities.com/Area51/Quasar/8840. And if you visit, it
would make my day if you would sign the Guestbook! :)
-Apartment 42
Thursday 8:40 pm
It had been a particular exhausting day of reports and paperwork,
and Mulder had welcomed the thought of coming home and
taking a long hot shower. He loosened his tie from the collar
that had restrained it all day and paused to rub some of the
tension out of his neck. Sequentially, the remainder of his suit
was then thrown casually into the chair next to his bed leaving
him only in the comfort of his boxers. Feeling hungrier than he
remembered being, he decided to delay the shower for leftover
pizza and made his way to the kitchen.
After retrieving the white cardboard box and the six-pack of Sam
Adams that he had purchased on the way home, he took his usual
place on the couch. It took only a few minutes of quickly
scanning the viewing possibilities on TV, for him to decide on
the History Channel and their documentary on ancient Greece.
At the end of the program and his fourth beer, he proceeded to
the shower he had postponed earlier welcoming the even further
relaxation. He turned the knobs releasing the water in a
pounding force and stepped behind the curtain into the quickly
mounting blanket of steam. A sigh of release escaped him as he
stood motionless, allowing the hot water to knead his tired
muscles and his thoughts as always turned to Scully.
He enjoyed the fantasy world he had created in which she was
his lover and his ultimate erotic fantasy. In his heart he loved
her, as he could no other, and his desire for her was painfully
hard to control when he was close to her. The intoxicating smell
of her perfume and the way she bit her bottom lip taunted him
daily, and he had narrowly escaped surrender many times.
The heat and the steam worked their magic and eased the
transition from reality to a dream state almost fully allowing his
fantasy to take shape. He imagined her naked body joining him,
taking his wet body in her arms from behind and touching soft
kisses between his shoulders. Her small delicate fingers gently
caress his taut stomach before moving upward to play with the
hair on his chest as it rises and falls, his breath coming in
staggered gasps. Her breath is cool to his hot skin as her tongue
traces his spine sending uncontrollable shivers traveling through
his body. Her hips press up against him as her hands travel back
down, further this time, causing him to whisper her name in a
low moan that seems to excite her, causing her hands to become
faster and stronger. Unable to control the fire ignited now low in
his belly, he takes her in his arms and kisses her transferring the
passion in his own body to her.
Mulder snapped himself back to reality with a shake of his head
as he cooled the temperature of the water pelting his excited
flesh. He struggled to regain control over his pounding heart, his
breath in shallow pants in the rapture of his fantasy. He refused
to ever let his mind take over beyond those initial touches not
wishing to cheapen her, or his love for her with the same lustful
thoughts provoked by pornographic material that he reveled in at
times. She was so far above that, and his desire for her was only
an extension of the deep-rooted love that he had for her. His
thoughts were meant to be an enhancement of what he hoped
would be his future, not a cheapening of his longing for her.
After a few moments, he re-adjusted the water to a more humane
temperature, and quickly followed his mundane showering ritual.
He turned the knobs for the final time and slid the curtain back to
reveal the envelopment of steam concealing the doorway and
other details of the small room. He stood for a moment, the
water dripping from his hair and his wet skin, racing down each
curve of his body as he again sighed, trying to complete the
exorcism of her vision from his mind.
He dried himself off, the towel now as warm as the air around
him, and wiped his reflection into the clouded mirror. He
wrapped the blue towel around his waist, remarking silently that
it matched the blue of her eyes, and removed his toothbrush from
the usual spot on the wall.
After brushing his teeth, he returned once again to his bedroom,
pulled on his boxers, and climbed under the covers of his still
unmade bed. He turned out the light and arranged the extra
pillow snugly next to him, while uttering a silent prayer that it
would some day be Scully in his arms instead of the cold, lifeless
form he held every night.
--Basement office J. Edgar Hoover Building
Friday 7:45 am
Thanks to the assistance of Sam Adams and a shower hot enough
to induce fatigue, Fox Mulder had slept peacefully in his dreams
and was now anxiously awaiting the arrival of his partner to
discuss the new case they had just been assigned.
His wait ended as Scully entered the room, cheerful and smiling.
"Good morning Mulder, isn't it a beautiful day?"
"It would seem that spring has sprung wouldn't it," he smiled in
return, "the flowers in bloom, the buds on the trees, the birds and
the bees oh wait, that's something else."
Her blue eyes sparkled as she raised an eyebrow in sarcasm
shaking her head in retort to the typical innuendo she had grown
accustomed to. He watched her as she made her way to her desk
to set about her various tasks for the day, noticing every
movement with great detail to add to the collection of images
and memories in his head. Her hair had that little "bounce" in it
today that he loved, and it softly framed her porcelain skin. Her
long black skirt stopped just short of her ankles, and flowed
along her small but shapely figure, enhanced further by the
tailored jacket that just fell to the curve of her hips. He could
feel his breath quicken slightly as he looked at her, the ability to
swallow becoming more difficult as he watched her casually
push her hair behind her ear.
" Muse, tell me the deeds of golden Aphrodite the Cyprian, who
stirs up sweet passion in the gods and subdues the tribes of mortal
men and birds that fly in air and all the many creatures that the
dry land rears, and all the sea: all these love the deeds of
rich-crowned Cytherea." His Homeric quote was meant to introduce
their case, but seemed appropriate directed at her.
Her attention was quickly gained at the eloquence of his words.
"Excuse me?"
"How's your mythology Scully?" he asked as he walked over
and leaned on the corner of her organized desk, not really
expecting an answer, handed her the case file, and began his
synopsis not waiting for her to read it.
"A rare collection of paintings depicting the gods and goddesses
of ancient cultures, donated by Sir Francis Walter Reed, arrived
yesterday for a special exhibit at the Museum of Art to mark its
gala opening of the Deity Wing, set aside for all manner of art
depicting religion and deity, etc., etc." She leaned back in the
chair and crossed her arms across her front in preparation of a
long dissertation, her head slightly tilted to the side.
He raised his eyebrows in mock offense and continued the
details of the case. "Some time between the hours of 4:30 pm
yesterday evening and 6:30 am this morning, the image of the
Greek goddess Aphrodite, known also as Venus to the Roman
culture disappeared."
She took a moment to process the information, expressionless
and unmoving, preparing her thoughts before speaking them.
With a deep breath and a shift of her weight in the chair, her
brows knit as she began her rebuttal in her normal fashion.
"Disappeared."
He returned to his chair and propped his feet up on his desk,
unconcerned about the other files now under his shoes, and
locked his hands behind his head waiting for her to sort out the
information presented.
"Mulder, would you like to tell me why suddenly the theft of a
priceless piece of artwork has now become our jurisdiction?"
"I don't recall mentioning that the painting was stolen." he
retorted with the smug look he always wore at the failure of
mentioning an important detail.
"You said that the painting was missing. I am assuming that you
are not of the suspicion that it has been misplaced."
"I never said that the painting disappeared Scully, only that the
image of Aphrodite had disappeared," he paused, "from the
painting."
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
--Museum of Art
Friday 9:00 am
The resonant sound of Scully's heels danced on the gray marble
walls of the foyer, elegant with its brass trim and ornately
detailed tapestries. The creative vision, it seemed, had been the
likeness of a fairy tale castle, decorated for the ball, with the
crests of the noble families of the kingdom proudly displayed.
At the far end of the foyer, framed by the carved likeness of
pillars, was a large entrance with a blue tapestry displaying
"Deity Wing" in gold script. They showed their badges to the
guard at information desk, to which he politely nodded and
motioned in the direction of the wing entrance where a slightly
older gentleman in a gray suit now waited for them.
When they reached him, he extended his hand to each agent
respectively, introducing himself as Brent Collins, the museum
curator. He was politely formal with his British introduction as
he escorted the agents into the hall of the exhibit. Scully lagged
slightly behind the two men observing their similarities. The
charcoal gray suits walked shoulder to shoulder, each a clone of
the other, aside from the touch of silver in the dark hair that
topped the one.
"So Agent Mulder, they tell me that you are the authority when it
comes to the unexplainable."
Mulder couldn't help but smile at the man's accent that subtly
reminded him of a Tim Curry character. "I tend to be a little
more open to the possibilities than others I suppose."
The first works to be presented in the long tranquil hall were of
the Christ as well as his Blessed Mother, with paintings
representing the crucifixion as well as various visions accounted
throughout the world.
Mr. Collins halted suddenly, facing them with concerned eyes
and a knit brow. "Agents, I have no idea how to explain to you
what you are about to see or not see as it were. Its just the
damndest thing!"
As Mulder prepared to further question the mystified man, his
attention was diverted to his partner who stood in an odd stance,
mouth open in a silent attempt to speak. Her panicked eyes
retained their wide stare on the wall in front of her, as her
fingertips lightly rested on her chest, just below her cross.
Mulder let his gaze drift over the curator's shoulder to the
painting bewitching his partner, and the flames surrounding the
heart struck a spark of remembrance. "Maybe we'll just have to
see for ourselves, Mr. Collins." he answered as he gently tugged
at Scully's black sleeve to break the spell and lead her away
from her memories.
The Grecian display was situated near the end of the exhibit, and
Scully noticed the dramatic change as they passed from the
darker, fanciful style of the multi-limbed gods of the Hindu, to
the romantic style of the Greco-Romans. One long painting on
the far gray wall, however, did not conform to the layout so
elegantly portrayed in the other paintings. Though the rich blues
and violets beautifully complimented the illusion of glimmering
stars in the background, it was obvious that it lacked some sort of
focus to the eye. It lacked the resolution of placement, either of
an object or a person.
Mr. Collins stood aside and left the agents to their work,
searching for evidence to unlock this mystery. Scully set about
the tedious chore of analyzing the polished floor for anything
that would substantiate her theory that the original painting was
removed and a fraud left in it's place. The reasoning behind
such an elaborate scheme she had not determined as of yet, but
certainly it had to be a practical joke. Her search turned up
empty discovering no footprints or particles of paint that would
suggest a painting of that size being carried out, and certainly, it
would have taken more than one person. It was at least six feet
tall and three feet wide, not including the ornately carved
wooden frame surrounding it that added another five inches on
each side.
She returned to the side of a rather intense Mulder, his mind
processing every possible scenario to come to some rational
conclusion. However, what was usually considered rational to
Mulder was often quite irrational to anyone else, and this case
was to be no exception. He stood close to the painting, his eyes
focused on some far off place, as he looked at the painting rather
by touch, slowly running his fingers over the painted canvas.
Scully watched curiously as Mulder's fingers began to trace an
invisible line around the canvas. A pattern began to form and it
seemed that he traced the apparent outline of a shapely woman.
Mulder turned to her with that sparkle in his eyes and that
excited schoolboy expression that usually meant he had found
something to confirm his theory.
Scully took her "doubters" stance with arms folded tightly across
her chest and her head tilted slightly to the side. Her eyes
revealed her questions before she could vocalize them and he
interrupted her after "Mulder, you don't "
"She was here Scully." came the reply and he began scanning the
room looking for the answers to the new questions that were now
forming in his mind.
"Mulder," she began, but then decided to take a different
approach in her questioning. "If she was here Mulder, where did
she go? There were no footprints or traces of anything found on
the floor and the security cameras show no evidence of any one,
or any movement for that matter, on the surveillance tapes."
Before Mulder could offer his theory on the subject, the silence
was broken by the fluttering of wings descending from
somewhere above them, and they watched as a bird glided over
Mulder's shoulder and landed on one of the sculpted ledges
surrounding the room.
Mr. Collins spoke up for the first time since their investigation
began. "If you'll excuse me, I need to notify the guards about
this so they can take steps to get this bird out of the museum
before it before the pieces are ruined." He quickly exited the
exhibit and the two agents stood there alone, except for the
cooing bird above them.
"Scully, that's a dove." He retained that childlike fascination
that had started with the imaginary tracing, his eyes never
leaving the white bird above him.
"Yes, Mulder, it is. Now, would you like to explain to me how a
painted image simply walked off of its canvas and left the
building, eluding the museum guards and the security cameras?"
"Well, Scully," his voice was low and methodical as he analyzed
every word before it was uttered, his eyes never leaving the
ledge above. "What if she never left the building?" He stood on
a nearby bench, his long body leaning as far as he could,
attempting to get a better look at the dove. "And what if she
never walked?"
Scully took a moment to let the preposterous notion sink into her
logical brain before she challenged such a suggestion.
"Scully, hear me out." He jumped off the bench and took her
arms in each of his hands. Her heart skipped a beat at his touch
and she swallowed hard to maintain her composure as that
irresistible sparkle shown in his eyes with the intensity of
lightning. "Throughout the course of history, the goddess
Aphrodite has been illustrated as taking many forms in the
presence of mortals, the most common being the form of a dove.
A white dove Scully, much like the one before you."
They simultaneously raised their eyes to the ledge above them,
and before another word could be said to confirm or deny the
possibility of the embodiment of a painting come to life, the
suspect in question left its roost and quickly flew down the
corridor with Mulder in pursuit. Scully followed, but was no
match for her partner's long stride, and she entered the main
rotunda in time to see the dove gracefully fly out the door as a
surprised patron entered. She heard Mulder make his apologies
as he nearly knocked the man over and proceeded out the door to
continue the chase. She followed outside, finding him sitting on
the steps, bewildered and catching his breath.
"Mulder," she began, aware of the sarcasm that came from her
lips, trying not to sound patronizing, "that dove probably got into
the museum the same way that it just got out. I'm sure it was
just an odd coincidence."
His half-hearted nod was for her benefit alone as he slipped
again into his thoughts, one arm crossed in front of him
providing stability for the other, as his thumb tapped
contemplative beats just above his upper lip.
Scully waited for these captured moments, when all his
surroundings faded as he slipped into his private abyss. These
were the times that she allowed herself to look at him. Focusing
on each feature one by one, adding it to the collection of mental
images she had accumulated over the years. She was captured
first by his brilliant mind, but to say that his fit and supple body
and handsome face had not intensified the desire she had for him
would be a gross understatement.
For Fox Mulder was a desirable man. She alone knew of the
countless nights in the darkness wanting desperately to go to
him, longing to feel his body pressed up against her, his breath
sending shivers through her body as it slid like satin over her
skin. The thought of his kiss intrigued and excited her. Would it
be sweet and gentle as a whisper on her lips, or breathless and
passionate stirring the fire inside her until it consumed them
both? Lost in the reverie of Mulder's kiss, she jumped at the
startling reality of his hand covering hers.
"Are you ok, Scully?"
"Huh?" she answered, unable to quickly compose anything else.
"Are you feeling ok? You're a little flushed." Mulder placed a
tender hand on her forehead and reported that she did not have a
fever.
"I'm fine, Mulder. I think I 'm just hungry." she lied. "It's a
nice day, how about we have lunch at the park before we go back
to the office. We can discuss the case further there."
Mulder smiled at the thought of a spring picnic with Scully.
"Does an iced tea go with that offer Miss. Scully?"
"It's Agent, and you may have whatever you would like you're
buying!" she flashed him a quick but sarcastic smile, and was on
her way down the steps to the car.
He sat for a brief moment pondering her retort, and then with the
urgency of a schoolboy, bounded down the steps behind her two
at a time.
--Apartment 42
Friday 6:05 pm
The fading sun blazed through the window in an almost eerie
glow as Mulder came in, his arms heavy with case files and thick
hardcover books from the Bureau. After their short picnic of
hotdogs and soft drinks he had never known Dana Scully to eat
hot dogs, she must have been hungry she took the copies of the
surveillance tapes to the visual experts at the crime lab. Mulder
had searched for every possible reference to the goddess
Aphrodite in past case files, the extensive Bureau library, and
had even managed to find some rather interesting sites on the
Internet.
He had found nothing conclusive to support his theory regarding
the dove, but decided to go over the material again, alone with a
pint of Lo Mein. The pile of references hit the coffee table with
a thud, and he threw his jacket over the back of the chair
proceeding to the kitchen for a fork and hopefully a drink from
his barren refrigerator.
Scully had left the office before him on her way to meet a
professor at The University of Maryland who specialized in
ancient cultures, and reported on her way out what they had
already known. The visual enhancement gurus found no more
on the tapes than could be seen at the initial viewing this
morning. The only lead they had was the dove, and even Mulder
knew it was a stretch.
It had been almost an hour now, and the deepening purple sky
indicated that the sun was in the final stages of its departure.
With an aggravated sigh he sank back into the sofa to rest his
tired back, his arms flaccid by his sides and his head leaning
back enough to rest his neck in the soft support of the cushion.
His heavy eyelids closed for what was only to be a moment, and
he sat unmoving in the silence of the sounds around him. He
focused on the low hum of the aquarium filter almost drowning
out a light scrape as something brushed against his window. His
neighbor next door dropped what sounded like a bowling ball on
apparently his foot by the flood of obscenities that followed.
Mulder couldn't help the slight smile that formed on his face at
the thought of the man hopping around and swearing. He didn't
wish for the man to be seriously hurt, it was just that he didn't
particularly care for the man. He was condescending and
uncouth, and apartment walls being what they were, horribly
cruel to his wife on many occasions. Served the bastard right for
a change. As far as he knew the man had never been physically
abusive, but as Mulder knew from his own parents, sometimes
the mental abuse and emotional stress that one partner causes for
another can be even more damaging.
While Mulder analyzed the probability of eventual punishment
of evil, it occurred to him that the odd scratching was still at his
window. He opened his eyes to see what could be making the
odd sound, unprepared for what awaited him.
A small white dove was perched on the ledge outside in the
fading shadows of dusk, lightly scratching at the frame. Logic
told him that it was foolish to believe that this small feathered
creature could be the same one he had seen earlier today,
however, Mulder being quite illogical by nature, knew that this
may be the only chance he would ever get to substantiate his
theory. Afraid to startle the bird to flight, he slowly and
carefully opened the window and was amazed to see the delicate
wings flutter gracefully through the opening and land quietly on
the sofa. He turned to again lock the window, but upon feeling
the cool spring breeze drift past him into the stagnant apartment
decided against it in favor of opening another.
That task accomplished, he set out to discover the secrets of this
dove, only to marvel at the site before him as he turned to go
back to his mountain of research. On his sofa now was the most
beautiful woman he had ever laid eyes on. She just sat there
reading through his files; quite intrigued, quite elegant, and quite
naked if not for the flowing rose colored silk wrap that
strategically seemed to cover her more private parts. Her hair
cascaded in blonde curls over her bronze skin to her hips, though
it hardly hid the roundness of her bare breasts.
Mulder fell back against his desk in awe, his hand managing to
catch a stack of papers sending them flying as if blown by a
tremendous wind. The commotion drew the attention of the
beautiful stranger who turned to look at him with a smile of
amusement.
"You seem surprised Fox William," she spoke. "Surely you
knew I would come to you."
"I guess I've grown accustomed to the traditional knock on the
door more so than beautiful women flying through my window
masquerading as a dove." He tried to keep his sharp wit, but
standing here in front of this woman, this goddess, left him
uncharacteristically speechless.
"I've been watching you for a very long time Fox." Rising as
gracefully as she had entered, she approached him with slow
determined steps. Her wrap was pulled around her, the flowing
silk enhancing every curve, and her hair shone as if it were
reflecting the sun. There was a fire in her emerald eyes that
burned with truth, mesmerizing him in her gaze.
She touched his cheek with the palm of her hand and gently
stroked his skin with her thumb. "Poor Fox. So much pain."
was all she said.
He felt his eyes growing heavy, unsure if it was just exhaustion
from a long day or if it was the loving touch of the goddess.
Remembering his duty to this case, he deftly took her hand in his
own and willed his eyes to open, seeing the unshed tears that
filled her eyes.
She twisted her hand in his grasp and laced her fingers with his,
while taking his other hand and doing the same. He stood
unmoving but receptive to her observation and confession of his
heart to which he had locked away long ago.
"Fox, if we deny love that is given to us and refuse to give love
because we fear pain or loss, our lives will be empty. That is the
greater loss."
Finding his voice, his response came as a broken whisper. "Love
is no stranger to me." He breathed a sigh of despair as he
released her hands and stared out the window looking into the
darkness that had now settled again over his world. "However, it
has never quite been a friend."
"No, it hasn't." she agreed. "However, you must realize that
love, as with life is a lesson to be learned from and cherished. I
only wish I could have spared you the heartache of Phoebe. I
tried to dissuade you, but you were quite determined back then.
Though her love was strong, it was not what was chosen for
you."
Mulder's head snapped to full attention at the sound of that
name, a name that had haunted him for a very long time.
"Phoebe was capable of many things, but I can assure you that
love was not one of them."
Her eyes soothed him with their compassion as she continued her
tale. "Quite the contrary Fox, Phoebe was quite consumed by
you. I believe to some extent she still is today. It was I that
interceded there." She again gently took his hand and led him to
the sofa to attempt the explanation that he so desperately
searched for. "Centuries ago, in the age of the poets, mortals like
yourself discovered our existence and unable to understand our
purpose, presumed us all powerful and in control of the universe.
And so, the gods and goddesses were born. Though it is true that
the world is guided and ultimately controlled by a Supreme
Power, we are more like muses of nature and mankind. We do
not control things, only manipulate them a little to the greater
good of all."
It was now Mulder who was on the side of the skeptics; however,
he could offer no logical explanation. "And you manipulated
Phoebe."
"I'm afraid so," she confessed with her eyes revealing sadness
that Mulder felt must have been caused by such an action on her
part. "She was not the one that was chosen for you, but I did not
intend for it to be so devastating."
The silence was deafening as she gave him some time alone in
his thoughts to quietly reflect on the relationship that had scarred
him so long ago. Phoebe had left him hardened to the prospect
of love and as a result, he kept a certain part of himself distanced
and safe in every relationship. However, that was before his
little red headed spy came to him and he learned that love was
indeed possible, though for now it only inhabited his dreams.
"There is much I have to tell you Fox," she said, "so much for
you to learn. I am here to tell you all you desire to know."
The look in her eyes that accompanied her words was like
electricity in his veins. He did not have to question how she
knew his desires, for there was no doubt that she saw through his
carefully created facade into the truth in his heart. Desperately
seeking an escape he thought of the two remaining bottles of
beer in the refrigerator and excused himself to retrieve a much
needed drink, if only because the beckoning ale was degrees
cooler than his body temperature.
He remembered his manners as he stumbled clumsily toward the
kitchen, unsure of what he could possible offer a goddess. "Can
I get you anything or anything?" he asked. Once again he
received that beautiful smile and she lazily shook her head
declining his offer. He nodded his response and turned the
corner and walked into the welcoming kitchen in to compose
himself.
Her intentions formulated long before her arrival, she carefully
slid his cell phone from the pocket of his suit jacket laid
haphazardly on the arm of the sofa. Her long, thin fingers
carefully pushed the well-worn buttons and she listened to the
methodical ringing until the anticipated answer of "Scully "
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
--Scully's Apartment--
Friday 7:20 pm
The last of the remaining water drained from the tub in a
symphony of sloshes as she roughly shook the water from her
auburn hair with the towel. Pulling her robe tighter around her,
she turned off the light and lazily drifted to her bedroom and
dressed in her favorite pajamas that had been given to her by Bill
and Tara last year for Christmas. Dreamily lethargic, she sat on
the bed with her legs folded in front of her pulling the brush
through her slick, wet hair.
Her cell phone was on the fourth ring before she finally resolved
to answer the intrusion. "Scully "
Her greeting was answered with empty silence, though she could
tell that someone was on the line. "Hello?"
She started to end the connection when she suddenly
remembered a drugged and vulnerable Mulder once calling for
help and her mistaking it for a prank call. "Mulder?"
Again there was silence. "Mulder is that you?"
A loud thud interrupted the uneasy silence, shortly followed by
several clicks and the hum of a lonely dial tone. She dialed the
programmed number to his cell phone without hesitation only to
hear that he must be outside the calling area or once again had
not charged his battery. She was almost certain that it had to be
Mulder that called, but she was unsure where he was. So, since
logic suggested that he was most likely home, she again pushed
familiar buttons and waited for the rings that did not come.
Instead she listened as the unfamiliar voice of a recording told
her that the number had been temporarily disconnected.
The uneasiness in her stomach grew until the steady beat of her
pounding heart echoed in her ears and she had the terrible feeling
that something was wrong. So, she quickly traded her light blue
pajamas for jeans and a white t-shirt, her small hands
feeling slow and inept as she struggled with the laces of her
running shoes. After scooping up her keys from their usual spot
on the entry table, gun holstered under her jacket, she cursed
under her breath at her lack of dexterity as she fumbled now with
the locks on the door. The air was thick and thunder threatened
in the distance as she jumped in her car with the pounding of her
heart in her ears and silent prayers uttered to heaven that she
wasn't too late.
--Apartment 42--
Friday 7:45pm
His cell phone hit the coffee table with a dull thud as he
continued his walk on the invisible path through the small
apartment. "Dammit! It's not like Scully to not answer her cell
phone." A moment later he added, "Me maybe, but not her." He
had attempted to call her house as well, but had only reached the
answering machine. Feeling a little more comfortable now with
his guest, he was anxious to share the discovery with Scully.
"Fox, don't worry. I'm not going anywhere just yet, and I am
looking forward to meeting her." Mulder missed the devious
flash in her captivating eyes, not yet aware of her intentions.
"She's probably decided to wash up before it storms and is in the
shower as we speak."
Silently he responded that Scully did not take showers most of
the time, she enjoyed baths. That was enough for the visions to
invade his aroused mind. He could see her leaning back, low in
the deep tub, her auburn hair piled high on her head in rich
contract to the fluffy white bubbles at the level of her shoulders.
Her eyes were closed as the sound of Mozart washed away the
tension from her mind and he desired nothing more than to join
her at the side and wash away the tension from the rest of her
shapely body. However, what he voiced as he pulled himself
away again from his fantasy was, "They weren't calling for
storms tonight."
"No they weren't. Not until I got here that is." She rose from
the couch and tossed her hair in a triumphant flip behind her
shoulder, exposing one round breast behind the sheer material of
her wrap. "Zeus is mistaken to believe that I can be impressed
like a common mortal girl."
His breath caught in his throat as she sauntered toward him as if
approaching her prey, and he tried desperately to focus his eyes
on hers and not on the smooth skin that taunted him. His neck
tingled as her breath drifted across his skin, only inches away,
and he felt lost in the expanse of the room, as she slowly ran her
hand down the length of his arm. Upon reaching his hand, she
took it in her own and slowly and methodically raised it until his
palm met the warmth of her breast. The sensation was dizzying
as she slowly cupped his hand around the soft mound. A small
cry escaped him as he began to drown in the greatness of his
need.
He fought to control the urge that coursed through his body and
gently removed his hand and stepped back, his eyes remaining
closed to block out the sight of the desirable woman before him.
"I'm sorry," he stammered, "But I can't."
A pleased smile formed at the corners of her mouth, "Your heart
belongs to another doesn't it Fox?"
Not waiting for his answer she returned to the sofa. "The storm
will be here soon, why don't you go shower too." she almost
purred.
Still unable to find his voice, he nodded his agreement to her
suggestion and retreated to the bathroom, convinced that tonight
he would be unable to stop his usual fantasy, as it would again
play out in the hot stream of his desires.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Her green eyes sparkled with satisfaction as she watched him
practically run from her presence to seek sanctuary behind the
closed door beyond. So far everything was falling perfectly in
place and he had reacted to her advances just the way she had
hoped. Her test had been unknowingly passed as he resisted the
temptations of his flesh holding true to the unspoken love that
she knew was in his heart. She could hear the faint sound of the
shower as it started down the hall and felt herself sinking into her
transformation, her skin already fading into a soft shade of
porcelain white. She went to the front door and opened it
slightly, just enough to be noticeably ajar, before following his
path down the hallway.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
The shower wall felt almost icy against his feverish body as he
leaned back and closed his eyes, willing his need to subside. But
the images of Scully would not leave him, and he was lost again
in his desire for her so much that he didn't hear the latch of the
door.
Having left her wrap outside, she padded quietly toward the
closed curtain stopping only for a moment to admire the auburn
hair in the mist-covered mirror. Pleased with the likeness, she
carefully slid the curtain to the side, allowing a cloud of steam to
escape with its absence.
As he was still unaware of her presence, she took a moment to
observe him, his body and spirit naked before her. His pained
expression and slumped stature revealed his inward despair, and
she wasn't sure if the streams falling down his flushed cheeks
were from his closed eyes or from the pelting flow above him.
Through the course of her time and her role in the universe, she
had never before been so drawn to a man or wanted so much for
his happiness. His despair ignited her compassion and she set
about to make things right with a newfound determination,
secretly wishing she were able to foresee the outcome of her
elaborate scheme.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
The touch of her hand against his chest was so soft that he
disregarded it at first as a trick of his imagination, but the
unmistakable feel of her lips pressing soft kisses to his dampened
chest startled him out of his dream and into the reality of his
fantasy. With a startled jolt he grabbed the hands that rested at
his shoulders and forced the intruder back slightly, expecting to
look into the green eyes of his goddess, unprepared for the blue
eyes of his Scully.
Amazed at the incredible sight before him, and too exhilarated to
question, he pulled her tightly against him, her name barely more
than a breath escaping from his lips. The feeling of their bodies
entwined together was intoxicating, and his need for her quickly
became an insatiable hunger. His hands caressed her wet skin as
her kisses moved slowly down his chest to his stomach, and he
felt his body shake with anticipation.
The sensation overtook him in a wave of electricity, and his
knees almost buckled under the intensity. Unable to be silent
any longer as he drowned in this passionate sea, he cried out
"Scully!"
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Dana Scully pulled her car in front of the familiar apartment
building and slammed the gear into park, not even waiting for
the car to settle as she jumped out slamming the door behind her.
After entering the building, she ran up the stairs two at a time,
not willing to risk a second by waiting for the elevator.
Upon reaching his floor she cautiously ran down the corridor,
gun drawn, and fear filled her heart as she looked at his
apartment door resting slightly ajar.
Conditioned by her years in the F.B.I., she abruptly kicked the
door the rest of the way open and jumped back to shield herself
behind the adjoining wall. When greeted only by silence from
the shadows beyond, she carefully entered and closed the door
tightly behind her. She noticed that there appeared to be no signs
of a struggle and his car had been parked outside, but he had not
answered either phone on her continuous attempts to reach him
during her drive here.
After a few seconds she heard the distinctive sound of the
shower down the hall. Immediately irritated at his
unresponsiveness to two ringing phones and her own foolish race
for nothing, she shoved her weapon back into its holster and
turned on her heel to leave hoping to save herself further
embarrassment. Her hand reached for the doorknob only to
freeze as if icy fingers touched her back as she heard him cry for
her from the distant room. Without a moments hesitation she
was running down the hall toward his cry of "Scully!"
She again drew her gun in preparation for whatever threat may
lie ahead and threw open the bathroom door. "Mulder?"
Fox Mulder's eyes opened instantly at the recognition of Scully's
voice outside the curtain and he looked down in disbelief at the
woman he held in his arms and the soft green eyes that met his
own. Suddenly unable to breath in the hot, moist air that
surrounded him, he pushed her away as his mind spun out of
control, trying to quickly ascertain what had happened and with
those answers form some logical explanation as to what was
happening here. Unsure of what else to do, he peered through a
small opening in the curtain just to be sure that she really was
there.
Her gun lowered slowly as her expression struggled somewhere
between confusion and sadness, initially at his shocked face
peering through at her and even more so at the revelation of the
blonde haired woman who looked out behind him. Her eyes fell
to the tile floor beneath her, unable to meet his again.
"I'm sorry," she whispered softly, the knot in her throat
making it impossible for her to speak. She left the small room
closing the door closed behind her and moved down the hallway
to escape her embarrassment and the heartbreak that crept around
her. Unable to feel her legs carry her or her arms as they felt
along the wall to steady her, her vision started to close in to a
tunnel of black and she detoured her retreat to sink into his sofa
in an attempt to regain her composure. She leaned forward
slightly with her elbows resting on her knees trying to force air
into her lungs, as her gun still rested in her numb hands. She
tried to focus on the pattern of his worn carpet but soon she
could no longer see because of the tears that burned her eyes.
Feeling foolish for rushing to his rescue when he obviously was
trying to avoid interruption, and even more foolish for her
jealousy and tears, she wanted so badly to leave, but her shaking
body would not comply.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"Damn!" he cursed out loud and hurried to rinse off the soap that
moments before had been massaged on his skin with lingering
and attentive hands, then turned off the water to end this fantasy
turned nightmare.
Placing a caring hand on his arm in an effort to calm him as she
watched her well thought out plan begin to unravel, she tried to
explain. "Fox," she began, but he quickly silenced her and
pulled his arm away from her grasp.
"What the hell were you doing?" he almost hissed at her, his
eyes mixed with anger and pain, "Where do you get off playing
with people?" He slid the curtain open and reached past her for
the towel he had left on the edge of the sink.
"You don't understand." she tried again to explain, knowing that
his pain was so much greater than his anger.
"I understand all I need to," remembering her confession about
Phoebe as he quickly wrapped a towel around his waist, the
water still running down his body from his wet hair, unwilling to
risk Scully getting too far away before he could catch her.
"Haven't you done enough to hurt me for one lifetime?" and he
was out the door without giving her a chance to respond. He
didn't know what he could offer as an explanation for what had
happened. To lie made him the perverted scoundrel that
everyone perceived him to be, and to tell the truth forced his
admission to Scully of his feelings for her.
He ran into the living room planning to call to her from the
window, hoping she was still in sight, and was completely
unprepared for the sight of her sitting on his couch, and crying.
Her tears were silent, though the site of her tears spoke to him
louder than if she were yelling, and he knelt in front of her and
removed the forgotten weapon from her hands.
"Scully?" he spoke softly and lowered his head trying to look
into her eyes, but her head remained down focused on the floor,
unable or unwilling to look at him. He took her hands in his own
and he pleaded again. "Scully, please look at me." he begged
releasing only one hand and gently lifting her chin to force her to
face him.
She pulled her other hand from his grasp and quickly wiped the
tears away that streamed down her cheeks, reddened by crying
and embarrassment, but he had already seen them. "Mulder,"
she started, unsure where to begin, "I'm sorry for just coming
over, and I am terribly sorry that I you know back there." she
finished unable to speak the words to recapture what had
happened only minutes before. "It's just that I tried to call you
back after you called me, and you didn't answer your cell phone,
and you didn't answer your phone here, and I just thought
that well, in any case I was obviously wrong. I'll be leaving
now." She forced her weakened legs to move and carry her
towards the door, wishing only to end this humiliation afraid to
yet consider how she would again face him on Monday.
"Scully, I didn't call you." he stated, now even more confused at
all that was happening this evening.
"It's ok, Mulder," she answered not daring to look back, "you
must have hit my number by accident when you turned your
phone off, that would obviously explain why you didn't answer
when I called you back. Like I said, no problem. I'll see you
Monday."
Her hand was already opening the door as he ran over and pulled
his cell phone from the pocket of his jacket still resting on the
arm of the sofa. "Scully, my cell phone is still on." he held it up
for her to see even though her back was still to him. "And, it
doesn't say that I've missed any calls."
Scully noisily expelled a deep breath, "Mulder, just drop it ok.
I'll see you Monday." and with a nonchalant wave of her hand
she added, " Carry on."
"But, Scully, I didn't call you." he said the exasperation apparent
in his voice. Didn't she believe him?
In the aftermath of all that had just happened, why did he think
that she gave a damn about his government issued cell phone.
Typical Mulder, so concerned about the truth and the facts that
he misses the obvious right in front of his face which in this case
was her and how deeply she cared for him. Was he really so
naive to life and affairs of the heart that he thought her tears were
only from embarrassment? This time she turned to face him her
irritation quickly building to anger. "Look Mulder," she began,
but the tall, beautiful blonde stepped from the hallway and
interrupted her, wearing to Scully's surprise not much more than
she had been in the shower.
"I called her." The goddess said, preparing the way to expose her
plan. "I knew that you would come if you thought Fox to be in
trouble."
Scully stood silent her hand still resting on the doorknob and her
mind quickly processing this information, apparent by the
intense look on her face. "And who the hell are you?" she
quipped angrily, demanding to know this woman's objective.
It was Mulder who offered the answer. "Scully, meet Aphrodite,
goddess of love, or at least muse of manipulation."
His partner gave him a questioning look to which he only
responded, "Scully," he lifted his hand to help better illustrate his
tale, then lowered it again thinking before he blurted something
out that he would regret later, "Don't even ask me right now, it's
more complicated than I know where to start."
The goddess slowly approached Scully. "Complicated don't be
ridiculous, it couldn't be more simple. He wasn't with me,
Dana, he was with you."
At those words Mulder turned abruptly away from them, sighing
a breath towards heaven and then pushing his fingers to his
temples, his eyes closing as if lack of sight alone could block this
scent out entirely. This was the crossroad where his life fell
apart, and everything decent in his life that had any worth would
be gone, shattered by the dream of a goddess. There was no
saving this situation now, he cringed at the thought of her
revelation. No, Dana, he didn't know that it was me, it was you
he wanted to slam up against the shower wall and screw like an
uncontrollable animal. Oh dear God, maybe he should just shoot
himself now with the gun he so carefully took from her, it
seemed a fitting end and it certainly could be no worse than
facing Scully after his secret was known.
He suddenly felt the need to be involved in this conversation, in
fact, to take control of it. If Scully was to find out the truth of
what was happening earlier, than she had to know the whole
truth that he was in love with her, and her coming to him had
been a dream come true. However, before he could say anymore
his fate was sealed by his blonde intervention.
"I can offer you clarity for your confusion, and give you the
answers that your heart seeks." she whispered in Scully's ear
and leaned carefully down placing a gentle kiss on the smaller
woman's brow.
The last thing she remembered was the feel of the stranger's soft
kiss on her forehead before her mind was enveloped in a
dizzying rush of images and thoughts. She found herself in a
shower leaning against the cold tile wall, sharp in contrast to the
hot water that danced over her skin. There was a slight rustle of
the shower curtain to her left and she could somehow sense the
presence of someone. Her eyes remained closed to her
surroundings until she felt the gentle touch of a hand as is trailed
lightly down her stomach. She reached out and forced the
mysterious intruder into her view and gasped as she looked down
at herself. But how was that possible, how could she be face to
face with wait she wasn't face to face, she was looking down at
herself an arms length away; a very long arms length away with
large, strong hands that held the other Scully's shoulders. Oh my
God, this wasn't possible, the vision unfolding before her wasn't
hers, it was Mulder's!
She watched unable to stop the scene that flashed before her,
able to feel every sensation as her own heart began to race. She
felt the kisses that lovingly traced a line down his chest, past his
quivering stomach until she gasped from the liquid heat that
raced through her veins through Mulder's veins.
He watched in amazement as his partner fell into some sort of
euphoric trance, her chest rising and falling as she gasped for air.
Panic filled his heart watching her, unaware of what was taking
place, seeing her pain as her body writhed and tensed with
enough force to close the door that she still leaned on. Then it
occurred to him that it was not pain that coursed through her
body but ecstasy, and he grew angry with himself for the arousal
that started to grow within him at the sight of her.
As quickly as it had begun it ended and Scully gasped back to
consciousness, her eyes open wildly taking in her surroundings,
her breathing still fast and unsteady. Confused and disoriented
she looked from the goddess to Mulder and then back to the
goddess again, unsure of what to say, her mind searching for an
explanation that she already knew.
The strange woman took her into her arms to soothe her, "I told
you Dana, he was with you." She held Scully for a few moments
more until her shaking stopped, ignoring the terrified and
anticipating look on Mulder's face. When she had given Scully
enough time to compose herself, she took her hand and led her
like a child to where her partner waited on the brink of fear and
desire.
"Scully, I " he began but stopped short unsure of what to say.
"It's ok, Fox," Aphrodite smiled, "she already knows."
She took Scully's small hand and placed it in Mulder's, holding
them together with her own until she had completed her task.
"Fox, I told you there was much for you to learn, and much for
me to tell you. The answers you both seek can be found in one
kiss." and with those final words she nudged him closer to his
partner.
He stood motionless for what seemed like an eternity, searching
her face for an indication of what she was thinking in response to
all she had just learned. Slowly and carefully, he leaned down to
her, his eyes never leaving hers, allowing her enough time and
room for escape.
It started with a soft kiss, a mere brush of their lips together, each
one touching and tasting the other. She shivered at his touch and
his passion climbed with each barely audible moan that escaped
her warm, moist lips until he pulled her tightly into his arms
tangling his fingers in her auburn hair. She hungrily accepted his
tongue as it explored her slightly open mouth and they were lost
in the power of this kiss, the final act of the goddess' plan.
An unexplainable surge of energy filled their bodies, forcing
their mouths apart as they cried out from the intensity, and much
like Scully's encounter a few minutes before, they found
themselves lost in visions and memories that were not their own.
The scenes rapidly passed before them as they each heard the
voice of the other echoing secret thoughts and desires of the last
seven years.
Mulder could see his partner in his office the day they met. "The
answer is there, YOU just have to know where to look for it!"
she had said with conviction. But what he hadn't seen was the
exhilarated smile of a schoolgirl as he turned away from her as
she delighted in the banter, having held her ground with him,
intrigued by his brilliance and quite taken with his good looks
and witty charm. He remembered his words "Do you believe in
the existence of extraterrestrials?" if he had only known then that
he had caused her heart to skip a beat with his sultry cynicism.
He saw her again as she came to his room in the dark of the
storm, her fear far outweighing her modesty. She had been too
afraid in those moments to see the way he looked at her as she
dropped the robe that covered her body, or consider the thoughts
that were stirred in him at the site of her. And she, unaware of
his desire, had thrown herself into his un-expectant arms, too
relieved to notice the pleasure of the moment reflected on his
face.
She remembered a restaurant in a small town where he had
gently wiped something from her mouth, and now she saw
herself in the same beauty that had captured his heart at that
moment.
For the first time she saw his desperate search for her after the
abduction. She knew that he had searched for her but was
unaware that it was at the sacrifice of sleep and other
assignments nor did she know that her cross had hung around his
neck as a constant reminder of the love that grew in his heart.
She had never known that his pain had been so great or his
determination so strong.
The memories flooded their minds faster and faster as passing
glances, innocent touches, and random thoughts and words
flashed between them. The relived near kisses and growing
desire that had been a very real part of the last seven years, but
more than that was the deep rooted love that had blossomed long
ago.
The most powerful scene came when Scully saw herself pale and
near death, asleep from exhaustion in the hospital during the
final stages of her cancer treatment. The memories of that time
in her life were painfully enough, and were now intensified by a
broken Mulder kneeling at her bedside, pure agony escaping his
body in sobs that shook his body.
The emotions from this last and most powerful memory came
crashing down upon them with enough force to return them to
the present and to the moment at hand. He looked down at the
face that was as familiar to him as his own having studied every
detail over the years. The tears that slid down her cheeks were
brushed away by his loving hand, even as his own tears joined in
the release.
It was he that spoke first. "Scully Dana, I've loved you since
the first moment I saw you, maybe even before." His hands
lightly cupped her face, needing to see her expression as he said
the words he had silenced for so long. "You gave my life
meaning and rescued me from the darkness that surrounded me,
and I love you more than any words can possibly express."
"I already know the words," she smiled at him through the tears
that still glistened in her eyes. "Thanks to where did she go?"
They scanned the room and saw the open window, the obvious
origin of her departure. Having finished the work she had set
about to do, her exit was as mysterious as her entrance. The only
evidence that she had been there at all, besides their encounter,
was a perfect white rosebud that lay on the outside windowsill as
he went to close it. He picked it up and turned it slowly in his
fingers studying its flawless beauty, a smile slowly growing at
the corners of his mouth.
He returned to where she waited for him and offered her the
souvenir, "Here, Scully, a little bird told me this was for you."
His words were sealed with a chivalrous kiss to her hand, to
which she responded with a shy smile that melted his heart.
"Scully, we should talk." he said, again turning serious. "How
about we go get something to eat. Are you hungry?"
"How about coffee?" she replied. "I'm still working on a hotdog
from lunch."
"Fair enough, coffee it is."
"And, Mulder, you may want to change into something a little
more appropriate for public viewing." she suggested jokingly, as
they both looked down at the towel still wrapped around his
waist.
He shook his head in agreement, a slight chuckle escaping him,
and turned back down the hallway to dress. "Not that I mind the
view." she called after him.
Stunned at the frankness of her words, he stopped and turned to
face her, a devilish smile on his handsome face. "Oh yeah? You
think this is good, just wait 'til later!"
With that he turned quickly on his heel and headed again towards
his room, her face quickly deepening more to the color of her
hair.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
-- Office of A.D. Walter Skinner, F.B.I. Headquarters --
Monday 11:40 am
"So Agents, I am to understand by your reports that there was no
case here, despite the eyewitness accounts that a painting was
"altered" with apparent explanation?"
"Not that we can find, Sir." Mulder answered. "The painting
remains intact on the far wall of the West Wing and the museum
officials have verified its authenticity. We met with Mr. Collins
yesterday afternoon after he called me and checked it out for
ourselves."
"Was it or was it not the same painting that you saw Friday,
Agent Mulder?" Skinner's eyes carefully scrutinized the two
agents as he waited for a response.
It was Scully who spoke this time. "It was in fact slightly
different than when we saw it initially the other day, however, it
does perfectly match the photograph in Mr. Collins' file.
They sat in silence as their stern superior scanned the reports
again. "So it is your findings that this was an orchestrated
scheme by someone in the curator's office?"
"We don't know who orchestrated this, or how for that matter,"
Mulder answered, "but, it was most certainly a hoax. A practical
joke possibly if you will."
Skinner looked from partner to partner, watching closely as
Scully's eyes darted from making contact with his on each pass.
"You concur with these findings, Agent Scully?"
Her eyes shot up and locked with the Assistant Directors', aware
of the same tell tale signs of lying that he was searching for.
"Yes, Sir. It's all been documented in my report."
He sat in silence, his eyes still locked with hers, and she dared
not even blink under his assessment of her and the situation, for
fear that he would question the validity of her statements. She
had decided with Mulder that same night what must be told, both
for the integrity of their mental stability as well as for their
secrecy.
"Very well." he concluded. "That will be all." Not waiting for
any further discussion he picked up the receiver of his phone and
began dialing, moving on to the next issue at hand as a very
relieved Mulder and Scully left the office.
Skinner watched as Mulder's hand lingered slightly longer than
usual at his partner's lower back, followed a second later by the
closing of the door. At the tone the time will be 11:57
and echoed from the phone as he returned the receiver to its
cradle he worked to piece together the truth. Much to his delight
and alarm, it was easily to determine the outcome. In a world
where the walls didn't have ears and evil didn't lurk around
every turn, he knew that they were meant for each other. But in
this world their new found relationship could cost them their
lives, and he knew that he would have to protect them now more
than ever before.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"So, do you think he knows?" Scully asked as they proceeded
down the busy hallway.
"How could he possibly know anything, now look who's being
paranoid!" was his response, but secretly he harbored the same
fear.
"I'm hungry, Mulder, what do you want for lunch?" The look he
responded with was practically evil and purely of lust. "Sorry I
asked!" she said sheepishly as they reached the elevators.
"I need to run pick something up at the lab, I'll catch up with you
in a minute." he said as the doors open and she stepped inside.
She nodded but her eyes were on a far off place, a faint smile on
her beautiful face.
"Hey, Scully, a penny for your thoughts." and her eyes found his
as her smile spread as it grew from her heart. "Oh yeah, that's
right. I already have them." he smiled back, just before the doors
closed.
Fin
Author: Shawen A. Greer
Rating: R
Classification: MSR, some UST to RST, mild angst
Summary: A new case brings Mulder face to face with a
mysterious stranger who forces him to deal with his secret
desires as well as revealing some of Scully's as well.
Disclaimer: Do I really need to put this???? You already know
the X-Files belongs to CC, 1013, and Fox right? Well, if not,
you do now.
Distribution: Anywhere as long as my name and email stay
attached, but please ask first.
Feedback: I love feedback!!!!! Please do!
shawen@altavista.com.
Or check out my website for my other stories as well as some of
my favorites by other authors. The Hall of 'X'
www.geocities.com/Area51/Quasar/8840. And if you visit, it
would make my day if you would sign the Guestbook! :)
-Apartment 42
Thursday 8:40 pm
It had been a particular exhausting day of reports and paperwork,
and Mulder had welcomed the thought of coming home and
taking a long hot shower. He loosened his tie from the collar
that had restrained it all day and paused to rub some of the
tension out of his neck. Sequentially, the remainder of his suit
was then thrown casually into the chair next to his bed leaving
him only in the comfort of his boxers. Feeling hungrier than he
remembered being, he decided to delay the shower for leftover
pizza and made his way to the kitchen.
After retrieving the white cardboard box and the six-pack of Sam
Adams that he had purchased on the way home, he took his usual
place on the couch. It took only a few minutes of quickly
scanning the viewing possibilities on TV, for him to decide on
the History Channel and their documentary on ancient Greece.
At the end of the program and his fourth beer, he proceeded to
the shower he had postponed earlier welcoming the even further
relaxation. He turned the knobs releasing the water in a
pounding force and stepped behind the curtain into the quickly
mounting blanket of steam. A sigh of release escaped him as he
stood motionless, allowing the hot water to knead his tired
muscles and his thoughts as always turned to Scully.
He enjoyed the fantasy world he had created in which she was
his lover and his ultimate erotic fantasy. In his heart he loved
her, as he could no other, and his desire for her was painfully
hard to control when he was close to her. The intoxicating smell
of her perfume and the way she bit her bottom lip taunted him
daily, and he had narrowly escaped surrender many times.
The heat and the steam worked their magic and eased the
transition from reality to a dream state almost fully allowing his
fantasy to take shape. He imagined her naked body joining him,
taking his wet body in her arms from behind and touching soft
kisses between his shoulders. Her small delicate fingers gently
caress his taut stomach before moving upward to play with the
hair on his chest as it rises and falls, his breath coming in
staggered gasps. Her breath is cool to his hot skin as her tongue
traces his spine sending uncontrollable shivers traveling through
his body. Her hips press up against him as her hands travel back
down, further this time, causing him to whisper her name in a
low moan that seems to excite her, causing her hands to become
faster and stronger. Unable to control the fire ignited now low in
his belly, he takes her in his arms and kisses her transferring the
passion in his own body to her.
Mulder snapped himself back to reality with a shake of his head
as he cooled the temperature of the water pelting his excited
flesh. He struggled to regain control over his pounding heart, his
breath in shallow pants in the rapture of his fantasy. He refused
to ever let his mind take over beyond those initial touches not
wishing to cheapen her, or his love for her with the same lustful
thoughts provoked by pornographic material that he reveled in at
times. She was so far above that, and his desire for her was only
an extension of the deep-rooted love that he had for her. His
thoughts were meant to be an enhancement of what he hoped
would be his future, not a cheapening of his longing for her.
After a few moments, he re-adjusted the water to a more humane
temperature, and quickly followed his mundane showering ritual.
He turned the knobs for the final time and slid the curtain back to
reveal the envelopment of steam concealing the doorway and
other details of the small room. He stood for a moment, the
water dripping from his hair and his wet skin, racing down each
curve of his body as he again sighed, trying to complete the
exorcism of her vision from his mind.
He dried himself off, the towel now as warm as the air around
him, and wiped his reflection into the clouded mirror. He
wrapped the blue towel around his waist, remarking silently that
it matched the blue of her eyes, and removed his toothbrush from
the usual spot on the wall.
After brushing his teeth, he returned once again to his bedroom,
pulled on his boxers, and climbed under the covers of his still
unmade bed. He turned out the light and arranged the extra
pillow snugly next to him, while uttering a silent prayer that it
would some day be Scully in his arms instead of the cold, lifeless
form he held every night.
--Basement office J. Edgar Hoover Building
Friday 7:45 am
Thanks to the assistance of Sam Adams and a shower hot enough
to induce fatigue, Fox Mulder had slept peacefully in his dreams
and was now anxiously awaiting the arrival of his partner to
discuss the new case they had just been assigned.
His wait ended as Scully entered the room, cheerful and smiling.
"Good morning Mulder, isn't it a beautiful day?"
"It would seem that spring has sprung wouldn't it," he smiled in
return, "the flowers in bloom, the buds on the trees, the birds and
the bees oh wait, that's something else."
Her blue eyes sparkled as she raised an eyebrow in sarcasm
shaking her head in retort to the typical innuendo she had grown
accustomed to. He watched her as she made her way to her desk
to set about her various tasks for the day, noticing every
movement with great detail to add to the collection of images
and memories in his head. Her hair had that little "bounce" in it
today that he loved, and it softly framed her porcelain skin. Her
long black skirt stopped just short of her ankles, and flowed
along her small but shapely figure, enhanced further by the
tailored jacket that just fell to the curve of her hips. He could
feel his breath quicken slightly as he looked at her, the ability to
swallow becoming more difficult as he watched her casually
push her hair behind her ear.
" Muse, tell me the deeds of golden Aphrodite the Cyprian, who
stirs up sweet passion in the gods and subdues the tribes of mortal
men and birds that fly in air and all the many creatures that the
dry land rears, and all the sea: all these love the deeds of
rich-crowned Cytherea." His Homeric quote was meant to introduce
their case, but seemed appropriate directed at her.
Her attention was quickly gained at the eloquence of his words.
"Excuse me?"
"How's your mythology Scully?" he asked as he walked over
and leaned on the corner of her organized desk, not really
expecting an answer, handed her the case file, and began his
synopsis not waiting for her to read it.
"A rare collection of paintings depicting the gods and goddesses
of ancient cultures, donated by Sir Francis Walter Reed, arrived
yesterday for a special exhibit at the Museum of Art to mark its
gala opening of the Deity Wing, set aside for all manner of art
depicting religion and deity, etc., etc." She leaned back in the
chair and crossed her arms across her front in preparation of a
long dissertation, her head slightly tilted to the side.
He raised his eyebrows in mock offense and continued the
details of the case. "Some time between the hours of 4:30 pm
yesterday evening and 6:30 am this morning, the image of the
Greek goddess Aphrodite, known also as Venus to the Roman
culture disappeared."
She took a moment to process the information, expressionless
and unmoving, preparing her thoughts before speaking them.
With a deep breath and a shift of her weight in the chair, her
brows knit as she began her rebuttal in her normal fashion.
"Disappeared."
He returned to his chair and propped his feet up on his desk,
unconcerned about the other files now under his shoes, and
locked his hands behind his head waiting for her to sort out the
information presented.
"Mulder, would you like to tell me why suddenly the theft of a
priceless piece of artwork has now become our jurisdiction?"
"I don't recall mentioning that the painting was stolen." he
retorted with the smug look he always wore at the failure of
mentioning an important detail.
"You said that the painting was missing. I am assuming that you
are not of the suspicion that it has been misplaced."
"I never said that the painting disappeared Scully, only that the
image of Aphrodite had disappeared," he paused, "from the
painting."
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
--Museum of Art
Friday 9:00 am
The resonant sound of Scully's heels danced on the gray marble
walls of the foyer, elegant with its brass trim and ornately
detailed tapestries. The creative vision, it seemed, had been the
likeness of a fairy tale castle, decorated for the ball, with the
crests of the noble families of the kingdom proudly displayed.
At the far end of the foyer, framed by the carved likeness of
pillars, was a large entrance with a blue tapestry displaying
"Deity Wing" in gold script. They showed their badges to the
guard at information desk, to which he politely nodded and
motioned in the direction of the wing entrance where a slightly
older gentleman in a gray suit now waited for them.
When they reached him, he extended his hand to each agent
respectively, introducing himself as Brent Collins, the museum
curator. He was politely formal with his British introduction as
he escorted the agents into the hall of the exhibit. Scully lagged
slightly behind the two men observing their similarities. The
charcoal gray suits walked shoulder to shoulder, each a clone of
the other, aside from the touch of silver in the dark hair that
topped the one.
"So Agent Mulder, they tell me that you are the authority when it
comes to the unexplainable."
Mulder couldn't help but smile at the man's accent that subtly
reminded him of a Tim Curry character. "I tend to be a little
more open to the possibilities than others I suppose."
The first works to be presented in the long tranquil hall were of
the Christ as well as his Blessed Mother, with paintings
representing the crucifixion as well as various visions accounted
throughout the world.
Mr. Collins halted suddenly, facing them with concerned eyes
and a knit brow. "Agents, I have no idea how to explain to you
what you are about to see or not see as it were. Its just the
damndest thing!"
As Mulder prepared to further question the mystified man, his
attention was diverted to his partner who stood in an odd stance,
mouth open in a silent attempt to speak. Her panicked eyes
retained their wide stare on the wall in front of her, as her
fingertips lightly rested on her chest, just below her cross.
Mulder let his gaze drift over the curator's shoulder to the
painting bewitching his partner, and the flames surrounding the
heart struck a spark of remembrance. "Maybe we'll just have to
see for ourselves, Mr. Collins." he answered as he gently tugged
at Scully's black sleeve to break the spell and lead her away
from her memories.
The Grecian display was situated near the end of the exhibit, and
Scully noticed the dramatic change as they passed from the
darker, fanciful style of the multi-limbed gods of the Hindu, to
the romantic style of the Greco-Romans. One long painting on
the far gray wall, however, did not conform to the layout so
elegantly portrayed in the other paintings. Though the rich blues
and violets beautifully complimented the illusion of glimmering
stars in the background, it was obvious that it lacked some sort of
focus to the eye. It lacked the resolution of placement, either of
an object or a person.
Mr. Collins stood aside and left the agents to their work,
searching for evidence to unlock this mystery. Scully set about
the tedious chore of analyzing the polished floor for anything
that would substantiate her theory that the original painting was
removed and a fraud left in it's place. The reasoning behind
such an elaborate scheme she had not determined as of yet, but
certainly it had to be a practical joke. Her search turned up
empty discovering no footprints or particles of paint that would
suggest a painting of that size being carried out, and certainly, it
would have taken more than one person. It was at least six feet
tall and three feet wide, not including the ornately carved
wooden frame surrounding it that added another five inches on
each side.
She returned to the side of a rather intense Mulder, his mind
processing every possible scenario to come to some rational
conclusion. However, what was usually considered rational to
Mulder was often quite irrational to anyone else, and this case
was to be no exception. He stood close to the painting, his eyes
focused on some far off place, as he looked at the painting rather
by touch, slowly running his fingers over the painted canvas.
Scully watched curiously as Mulder's fingers began to trace an
invisible line around the canvas. A pattern began to form and it
seemed that he traced the apparent outline of a shapely woman.
Mulder turned to her with that sparkle in his eyes and that
excited schoolboy expression that usually meant he had found
something to confirm his theory.
Scully took her "doubters" stance with arms folded tightly across
her chest and her head tilted slightly to the side. Her eyes
revealed her questions before she could vocalize them and he
interrupted her after "Mulder, you don't "
"She was here Scully." came the reply and he began scanning the
room looking for the answers to the new questions that were now
forming in his mind.
"Mulder," she began, but then decided to take a different
approach in her questioning. "If she was here Mulder, where did
she go? There were no footprints or traces of anything found on
the floor and the security cameras show no evidence of any one,
or any movement for that matter, on the surveillance tapes."
Before Mulder could offer his theory on the subject, the silence
was broken by the fluttering of wings descending from
somewhere above them, and they watched as a bird glided over
Mulder's shoulder and landed on one of the sculpted ledges
surrounding the room.
Mr. Collins spoke up for the first time since their investigation
began. "If you'll excuse me, I need to notify the guards about
this so they can take steps to get this bird out of the museum
before it before the pieces are ruined." He quickly exited the
exhibit and the two agents stood there alone, except for the
cooing bird above them.
"Scully, that's a dove." He retained that childlike fascination
that had started with the imaginary tracing, his eyes never
leaving the white bird above him.
"Yes, Mulder, it is. Now, would you like to explain to me how a
painted image simply walked off of its canvas and left the
building, eluding the museum guards and the security cameras?"
"Well, Scully," his voice was low and methodical as he analyzed
every word before it was uttered, his eyes never leaving the
ledge above. "What if she never left the building?" He stood on
a nearby bench, his long body leaning as far as he could,
attempting to get a better look at the dove. "And what if she
never walked?"
Scully took a moment to let the preposterous notion sink into her
logical brain before she challenged such a suggestion.
"Scully, hear me out." He jumped off the bench and took her
arms in each of his hands. Her heart skipped a beat at his touch
and she swallowed hard to maintain her composure as that
irresistible sparkle shown in his eyes with the intensity of
lightning. "Throughout the course of history, the goddess
Aphrodite has been illustrated as taking many forms in the
presence of mortals, the most common being the form of a dove.
A white dove Scully, much like the one before you."
They simultaneously raised their eyes to the ledge above them,
and before another word could be said to confirm or deny the
possibility of the embodiment of a painting come to life, the
suspect in question left its roost and quickly flew down the
corridor with Mulder in pursuit. Scully followed, but was no
match for her partner's long stride, and she entered the main
rotunda in time to see the dove gracefully fly out the door as a
surprised patron entered. She heard Mulder make his apologies
as he nearly knocked the man over and proceeded out the door to
continue the chase. She followed outside, finding him sitting on
the steps, bewildered and catching his breath.
"Mulder," she began, aware of the sarcasm that came from her
lips, trying not to sound patronizing, "that dove probably got into
the museum the same way that it just got out. I'm sure it was
just an odd coincidence."
His half-hearted nod was for her benefit alone as he slipped
again into his thoughts, one arm crossed in front of him
providing stability for the other, as his thumb tapped
contemplative beats just above his upper lip.
Scully waited for these captured moments, when all his
surroundings faded as he slipped into his private abyss. These
were the times that she allowed herself to look at him. Focusing
on each feature one by one, adding it to the collection of mental
images she had accumulated over the years. She was captured
first by his brilliant mind, but to say that his fit and supple body
and handsome face had not intensified the desire she had for him
would be a gross understatement.
For Fox Mulder was a desirable man. She alone knew of the
countless nights in the darkness wanting desperately to go to
him, longing to feel his body pressed up against her, his breath
sending shivers through her body as it slid like satin over her
skin. The thought of his kiss intrigued and excited her. Would it
be sweet and gentle as a whisper on her lips, or breathless and
passionate stirring the fire inside her until it consumed them
both? Lost in the reverie of Mulder's kiss, she jumped at the
startling reality of his hand covering hers.
"Are you ok, Scully?"
"Huh?" she answered, unable to quickly compose anything else.
"Are you feeling ok? You're a little flushed." Mulder placed a
tender hand on her forehead and reported that she did not have a
fever.
"I'm fine, Mulder. I think I 'm just hungry." she lied. "It's a
nice day, how about we have lunch at the park before we go back
to the office. We can discuss the case further there."
Mulder smiled at the thought of a spring picnic with Scully.
"Does an iced tea go with that offer Miss. Scully?"
"It's Agent, and you may have whatever you would like you're
buying!" she flashed him a quick but sarcastic smile, and was on
her way down the steps to the car.
He sat for a brief moment pondering her retort, and then with the
urgency of a schoolboy, bounded down the steps behind her two
at a time.
--Apartment 42
Friday 6:05 pm
The fading sun blazed through the window in an almost eerie
glow as Mulder came in, his arms heavy with case files and thick
hardcover books from the Bureau. After their short picnic of
hotdogs and soft drinks he had never known Dana Scully to eat
hot dogs, she must have been hungry she took the copies of the
surveillance tapes to the visual experts at the crime lab. Mulder
had searched for every possible reference to the goddess
Aphrodite in past case files, the extensive Bureau library, and
had even managed to find some rather interesting sites on the
Internet.
He had found nothing conclusive to support his theory regarding
the dove, but decided to go over the material again, alone with a
pint of Lo Mein. The pile of references hit the coffee table with
a thud, and he threw his jacket over the back of the chair
proceeding to the kitchen for a fork and hopefully a drink from
his barren refrigerator.
Scully had left the office before him on her way to meet a
professor at The University of Maryland who specialized in
ancient cultures, and reported on her way out what they had
already known. The visual enhancement gurus found no more
on the tapes than could be seen at the initial viewing this
morning. The only lead they had was the dove, and even Mulder
knew it was a stretch.
It had been almost an hour now, and the deepening purple sky
indicated that the sun was in the final stages of its departure.
With an aggravated sigh he sank back into the sofa to rest his
tired back, his arms flaccid by his sides and his head leaning
back enough to rest his neck in the soft support of the cushion.
His heavy eyelids closed for what was only to be a moment, and
he sat unmoving in the silence of the sounds around him. He
focused on the low hum of the aquarium filter almost drowning
out a light scrape as something brushed against his window. His
neighbor next door dropped what sounded like a bowling ball on
apparently his foot by the flood of obscenities that followed.
Mulder couldn't help the slight smile that formed on his face at
the thought of the man hopping around and swearing. He didn't
wish for the man to be seriously hurt, it was just that he didn't
particularly care for the man. He was condescending and
uncouth, and apartment walls being what they were, horribly
cruel to his wife on many occasions. Served the bastard right for
a change. As far as he knew the man had never been physically
abusive, but as Mulder knew from his own parents, sometimes
the mental abuse and emotional stress that one partner causes for
another can be even more damaging.
While Mulder analyzed the probability of eventual punishment
of evil, it occurred to him that the odd scratching was still at his
window. He opened his eyes to see what could be making the
odd sound, unprepared for what awaited him.
A small white dove was perched on the ledge outside in the
fading shadows of dusk, lightly scratching at the frame. Logic
told him that it was foolish to believe that this small feathered
creature could be the same one he had seen earlier today,
however, Mulder being quite illogical by nature, knew that this
may be the only chance he would ever get to substantiate his
theory. Afraid to startle the bird to flight, he slowly and
carefully opened the window and was amazed to see the delicate
wings flutter gracefully through the opening and land quietly on
the sofa. He turned to again lock the window, but upon feeling
the cool spring breeze drift past him into the stagnant apartment
decided against it in favor of opening another.
That task accomplished, he set out to discover the secrets of this
dove, only to marvel at the site before him as he turned to go
back to his mountain of research. On his sofa now was the most
beautiful woman he had ever laid eyes on. She just sat there
reading through his files; quite intrigued, quite elegant, and quite
naked if not for the flowing rose colored silk wrap that
strategically seemed to cover her more private parts. Her hair
cascaded in blonde curls over her bronze skin to her hips, though
it hardly hid the roundness of her bare breasts.
Mulder fell back against his desk in awe, his hand managing to
catch a stack of papers sending them flying as if blown by a
tremendous wind. The commotion drew the attention of the
beautiful stranger who turned to look at him with a smile of
amusement.
"You seem surprised Fox William," she spoke. "Surely you
knew I would come to you."
"I guess I've grown accustomed to the traditional knock on the
door more so than beautiful women flying through my window
masquerading as a dove." He tried to keep his sharp wit, but
standing here in front of this woman, this goddess, left him
uncharacteristically speechless.
"I've been watching you for a very long time Fox." Rising as
gracefully as she had entered, she approached him with slow
determined steps. Her wrap was pulled around her, the flowing
silk enhancing every curve, and her hair shone as if it were
reflecting the sun. There was a fire in her emerald eyes that
burned with truth, mesmerizing him in her gaze.
She touched his cheek with the palm of her hand and gently
stroked his skin with her thumb. "Poor Fox. So much pain."
was all she said.
He felt his eyes growing heavy, unsure if it was just exhaustion
from a long day or if it was the loving touch of the goddess.
Remembering his duty to this case, he deftly took her hand in his
own and willed his eyes to open, seeing the unshed tears that
filled her eyes.
She twisted her hand in his grasp and laced her fingers with his,
while taking his other hand and doing the same. He stood
unmoving but receptive to her observation and confession of his
heart to which he had locked away long ago.
"Fox, if we deny love that is given to us and refuse to give love
because we fear pain or loss, our lives will be empty. That is the
greater loss."
Finding his voice, his response came as a broken whisper. "Love
is no stranger to me." He breathed a sigh of despair as he
released her hands and stared out the window looking into the
darkness that had now settled again over his world. "However, it
has never quite been a friend."
"No, it hasn't." she agreed. "However, you must realize that
love, as with life is a lesson to be learned from and cherished. I
only wish I could have spared you the heartache of Phoebe. I
tried to dissuade you, but you were quite determined back then.
Though her love was strong, it was not what was chosen for
you."
Mulder's head snapped to full attention at the sound of that
name, a name that had haunted him for a very long time.
"Phoebe was capable of many things, but I can assure you that
love was not one of them."
Her eyes soothed him with their compassion as she continued her
tale. "Quite the contrary Fox, Phoebe was quite consumed by
you. I believe to some extent she still is today. It was I that
interceded there." She again gently took his hand and led him to
the sofa to attempt the explanation that he so desperately
searched for. "Centuries ago, in the age of the poets, mortals like
yourself discovered our existence and unable to understand our
purpose, presumed us all powerful and in control of the universe.
And so, the gods and goddesses were born. Though it is true that
the world is guided and ultimately controlled by a Supreme
Power, we are more like muses of nature and mankind. We do
not control things, only manipulate them a little to the greater
good of all."
It was now Mulder who was on the side of the skeptics; however,
he could offer no logical explanation. "And you manipulated
Phoebe."
"I'm afraid so," she confessed with her eyes revealing sadness
that Mulder felt must have been caused by such an action on her
part. "She was not the one that was chosen for you, but I did not
intend for it to be so devastating."
The silence was deafening as she gave him some time alone in
his thoughts to quietly reflect on the relationship that had scarred
him so long ago. Phoebe had left him hardened to the prospect
of love and as a result, he kept a certain part of himself distanced
and safe in every relationship. However, that was before his
little red headed spy came to him and he learned that love was
indeed possible, though for now it only inhabited his dreams.
"There is much I have to tell you Fox," she said, "so much for
you to learn. I am here to tell you all you desire to know."
The look in her eyes that accompanied her words was like
electricity in his veins. He did not have to question how she
knew his desires, for there was no doubt that she saw through his
carefully created facade into the truth in his heart. Desperately
seeking an escape he thought of the two remaining bottles of
beer in the refrigerator and excused himself to retrieve a much
needed drink, if only because the beckoning ale was degrees
cooler than his body temperature.
He remembered his manners as he stumbled clumsily toward the
kitchen, unsure of what he could possible offer a goddess. "Can
I get you anything or anything?" he asked. Once again he
received that beautiful smile and she lazily shook her head
declining his offer. He nodded his response and turned the
corner and walked into the welcoming kitchen in to compose
himself.
Her intentions formulated long before her arrival, she carefully
slid his cell phone from the pocket of his suit jacket laid
haphazardly on the arm of the sofa. Her long, thin fingers
carefully pushed the well-worn buttons and she listened to the
methodical ringing until the anticipated answer of "Scully "
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
--Scully's Apartment--
Friday 7:20 pm
The last of the remaining water drained from the tub in a
symphony of sloshes as she roughly shook the water from her
auburn hair with the towel. Pulling her robe tighter around her,
she turned off the light and lazily drifted to her bedroom and
dressed in her favorite pajamas that had been given to her by Bill
and Tara last year for Christmas. Dreamily lethargic, she sat on
the bed with her legs folded in front of her pulling the brush
through her slick, wet hair.
Her cell phone was on the fourth ring before she finally resolved
to answer the intrusion. "Scully "
Her greeting was answered with empty silence, though she could
tell that someone was on the line. "Hello?"
She started to end the connection when she suddenly
remembered a drugged and vulnerable Mulder once calling for
help and her mistaking it for a prank call. "Mulder?"
Again there was silence. "Mulder is that you?"
A loud thud interrupted the uneasy silence, shortly followed by
several clicks and the hum of a lonely dial tone. She dialed the
programmed number to his cell phone without hesitation only to
hear that he must be outside the calling area or once again had
not charged his battery. She was almost certain that it had to be
Mulder that called, but she was unsure where he was. So, since
logic suggested that he was most likely home, she again pushed
familiar buttons and waited for the rings that did not come.
Instead she listened as the unfamiliar voice of a recording told
her that the number had been temporarily disconnected.
The uneasiness in her stomach grew until the steady beat of her
pounding heart echoed in her ears and she had the terrible feeling
that something was wrong. So, she quickly traded her light blue
pajamas for jeans and a white t-shirt, her small hands
feeling slow and inept as she struggled with the laces of her
running shoes. After scooping up her keys from their usual spot
on the entry table, gun holstered under her jacket, she cursed
under her breath at her lack of dexterity as she fumbled now with
the locks on the door. The air was thick and thunder threatened
in the distance as she jumped in her car with the pounding of her
heart in her ears and silent prayers uttered to heaven that she
wasn't too late.
--Apartment 42--
Friday 7:45pm
His cell phone hit the coffee table with a dull thud as he
continued his walk on the invisible path through the small
apartment. "Dammit! It's not like Scully to not answer her cell
phone." A moment later he added, "Me maybe, but not her." He
had attempted to call her house as well, but had only reached the
answering machine. Feeling a little more comfortable now with
his guest, he was anxious to share the discovery with Scully.
"Fox, don't worry. I'm not going anywhere just yet, and I am
looking forward to meeting her." Mulder missed the devious
flash in her captivating eyes, not yet aware of her intentions.
"She's probably decided to wash up before it storms and is in the
shower as we speak."
Silently he responded that Scully did not take showers most of
the time, she enjoyed baths. That was enough for the visions to
invade his aroused mind. He could see her leaning back, low in
the deep tub, her auburn hair piled high on her head in rich
contract to the fluffy white bubbles at the level of her shoulders.
Her eyes were closed as the sound of Mozart washed away the
tension from her mind and he desired nothing more than to join
her at the side and wash away the tension from the rest of her
shapely body. However, what he voiced as he pulled himself
away again from his fantasy was, "They weren't calling for
storms tonight."
"No they weren't. Not until I got here that is." She rose from
the couch and tossed her hair in a triumphant flip behind her
shoulder, exposing one round breast behind the sheer material of
her wrap. "Zeus is mistaken to believe that I can be impressed
like a common mortal girl."
His breath caught in his throat as she sauntered toward him as if
approaching her prey, and he tried desperately to focus his eyes
on hers and not on the smooth skin that taunted him. His neck
tingled as her breath drifted across his skin, only inches away,
and he felt lost in the expanse of the room, as she slowly ran her
hand down the length of his arm. Upon reaching his hand, she
took it in her own and slowly and methodically raised it until his
palm met the warmth of her breast. The sensation was dizzying
as she slowly cupped his hand around the soft mound. A small
cry escaped him as he began to drown in the greatness of his
need.
He fought to control the urge that coursed through his body and
gently removed his hand and stepped back, his eyes remaining
closed to block out the sight of the desirable woman before him.
"I'm sorry," he stammered, "But I can't."
A pleased smile formed at the corners of her mouth, "Your heart
belongs to another doesn't it Fox?"
Not waiting for his answer she returned to the sofa. "The storm
will be here soon, why don't you go shower too." she almost
purred.
Still unable to find his voice, he nodded his agreement to her
suggestion and retreated to the bathroom, convinced that tonight
he would be unable to stop his usual fantasy, as it would again
play out in the hot stream of his desires.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Her green eyes sparkled with satisfaction as she watched him
practically run from her presence to seek sanctuary behind the
closed door beyond. So far everything was falling perfectly in
place and he had reacted to her advances just the way she had
hoped. Her test had been unknowingly passed as he resisted the
temptations of his flesh holding true to the unspoken love that
she knew was in his heart. She could hear the faint sound of the
shower as it started down the hall and felt herself sinking into her
transformation, her skin already fading into a soft shade of
porcelain white. She went to the front door and opened it
slightly, just enough to be noticeably ajar, before following his
path down the hallway.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
The shower wall felt almost icy against his feverish body as he
leaned back and closed his eyes, willing his need to subside. But
the images of Scully would not leave him, and he was lost again
in his desire for her so much that he didn't hear the latch of the
door.
Having left her wrap outside, she padded quietly toward the
closed curtain stopping only for a moment to admire the auburn
hair in the mist-covered mirror. Pleased with the likeness, she
carefully slid the curtain to the side, allowing a cloud of steam to
escape with its absence.
As he was still unaware of her presence, she took a moment to
observe him, his body and spirit naked before her. His pained
expression and slumped stature revealed his inward despair, and
she wasn't sure if the streams falling down his flushed cheeks
were from his closed eyes or from the pelting flow above him.
Through the course of her time and her role in the universe, she
had never before been so drawn to a man or wanted so much for
his happiness. His despair ignited her compassion and she set
about to make things right with a newfound determination,
secretly wishing she were able to foresee the outcome of her
elaborate scheme.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
The touch of her hand against his chest was so soft that he
disregarded it at first as a trick of his imagination, but the
unmistakable feel of her lips pressing soft kisses to his dampened
chest startled him out of his dream and into the reality of his
fantasy. With a startled jolt he grabbed the hands that rested at
his shoulders and forced the intruder back slightly, expecting to
look into the green eyes of his goddess, unprepared for the blue
eyes of his Scully.
Amazed at the incredible sight before him, and too exhilarated to
question, he pulled her tightly against him, her name barely more
than a breath escaping from his lips. The feeling of their bodies
entwined together was intoxicating, and his need for her quickly
became an insatiable hunger. His hands caressed her wet skin as
her kisses moved slowly down his chest to his stomach, and he
felt his body shake with anticipation.
The sensation overtook him in a wave of electricity, and his
knees almost buckled under the intensity. Unable to be silent
any longer as he drowned in this passionate sea, he cried out
"Scully!"
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Dana Scully pulled her car in front of the familiar apartment
building and slammed the gear into park, not even waiting for
the car to settle as she jumped out slamming the door behind her.
After entering the building, she ran up the stairs two at a time,
not willing to risk a second by waiting for the elevator.
Upon reaching his floor she cautiously ran down the corridor,
gun drawn, and fear filled her heart as she looked at his
apartment door resting slightly ajar.
Conditioned by her years in the F.B.I., she abruptly kicked the
door the rest of the way open and jumped back to shield herself
behind the adjoining wall. When greeted only by silence from
the shadows beyond, she carefully entered and closed the door
tightly behind her. She noticed that there appeared to be no signs
of a struggle and his car had been parked outside, but he had not
answered either phone on her continuous attempts to reach him
during her drive here.
After a few seconds she heard the distinctive sound of the
shower down the hall. Immediately irritated at his
unresponsiveness to two ringing phones and her own foolish race
for nothing, she shoved her weapon back into its holster and
turned on her heel to leave hoping to save herself further
embarrassment. Her hand reached for the doorknob only to
freeze as if icy fingers touched her back as she heard him cry for
her from the distant room. Without a moments hesitation she
was running down the hall toward his cry of "Scully!"
She again drew her gun in preparation for whatever threat may
lie ahead and threw open the bathroom door. "Mulder?"
Fox Mulder's eyes opened instantly at the recognition of Scully's
voice outside the curtain and he looked down in disbelief at the
woman he held in his arms and the soft green eyes that met his
own. Suddenly unable to breath in the hot, moist air that
surrounded him, he pushed her away as his mind spun out of
control, trying to quickly ascertain what had happened and with
those answers form some logical explanation as to what was
happening here. Unsure of what else to do, he peered through a
small opening in the curtain just to be sure that she really was
there.
Her gun lowered slowly as her expression struggled somewhere
between confusion and sadness, initially at his shocked face
peering through at her and even more so at the revelation of the
blonde haired woman who looked out behind him. Her eyes fell
to the tile floor beneath her, unable to meet his again.
"I'm sorry," she whispered softly, the knot in her throat
making it impossible for her to speak. She left the small room
closing the door closed behind her and moved down the hallway
to escape her embarrassment and the heartbreak that crept around
her. Unable to feel her legs carry her or her arms as they felt
along the wall to steady her, her vision started to close in to a
tunnel of black and she detoured her retreat to sink into his sofa
in an attempt to regain her composure. She leaned forward
slightly with her elbows resting on her knees trying to force air
into her lungs, as her gun still rested in her numb hands. She
tried to focus on the pattern of his worn carpet but soon she
could no longer see because of the tears that burned her eyes.
Feeling foolish for rushing to his rescue when he obviously was
trying to avoid interruption, and even more foolish for her
jealousy and tears, she wanted so badly to leave, but her shaking
body would not comply.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"Damn!" he cursed out loud and hurried to rinse off the soap that
moments before had been massaged on his skin with lingering
and attentive hands, then turned off the water to end this fantasy
turned nightmare.
Placing a caring hand on his arm in an effort to calm him as she
watched her well thought out plan begin to unravel, she tried to
explain. "Fox," she began, but he quickly silenced her and
pulled his arm away from her grasp.
"What the hell were you doing?" he almost hissed at her, his
eyes mixed with anger and pain, "Where do you get off playing
with people?" He slid the curtain open and reached past her for
the towel he had left on the edge of the sink.
"You don't understand." she tried again to explain, knowing that
his pain was so much greater than his anger.
"I understand all I need to," remembering her confession about
Phoebe as he quickly wrapped a towel around his waist, the
water still running down his body from his wet hair, unwilling to
risk Scully getting too far away before he could catch her.
"Haven't you done enough to hurt me for one lifetime?" and he
was out the door without giving her a chance to respond. He
didn't know what he could offer as an explanation for what had
happened. To lie made him the perverted scoundrel that
everyone perceived him to be, and to tell the truth forced his
admission to Scully of his feelings for her.
He ran into the living room planning to call to her from the
window, hoping she was still in sight, and was completely
unprepared for the sight of her sitting on his couch, and crying.
Her tears were silent, though the site of her tears spoke to him
louder than if she were yelling, and he knelt in front of her and
removed the forgotten weapon from her hands.
"Scully?" he spoke softly and lowered his head trying to look
into her eyes, but her head remained down focused on the floor,
unable or unwilling to look at him. He took her hands in his own
and he pleaded again. "Scully, please look at me." he begged
releasing only one hand and gently lifting her chin to force her to
face him.
She pulled her other hand from his grasp and quickly wiped the
tears away that streamed down her cheeks, reddened by crying
and embarrassment, but he had already seen them. "Mulder,"
she started, unsure where to begin, "I'm sorry for just coming
over, and I am terribly sorry that I you know back there." she
finished unable to speak the words to recapture what had
happened only minutes before. "It's just that I tried to call you
back after you called me, and you didn't answer your cell phone,
and you didn't answer your phone here, and I just thought
that well, in any case I was obviously wrong. I'll be leaving
now." She forced her weakened legs to move and carry her
towards the door, wishing only to end this humiliation afraid to
yet consider how she would again face him on Monday.
"Scully, I didn't call you." he stated, now even more confused at
all that was happening this evening.
"It's ok, Mulder," she answered not daring to look back, "you
must have hit my number by accident when you turned your
phone off, that would obviously explain why you didn't answer
when I called you back. Like I said, no problem. I'll see you
Monday."
Her hand was already opening the door as he ran over and pulled
his cell phone from the pocket of his jacket still resting on the
arm of the sofa. "Scully, my cell phone is still on." he held it up
for her to see even though her back was still to him. "And, it
doesn't say that I've missed any calls."
Scully noisily expelled a deep breath, "Mulder, just drop it ok.
I'll see you Monday." and with a nonchalant wave of her hand
she added, " Carry on."
"But, Scully, I didn't call you." he said the exasperation apparent
in his voice. Didn't she believe him?
In the aftermath of all that had just happened, why did he think
that she gave a damn about his government issued cell phone.
Typical Mulder, so concerned about the truth and the facts that
he misses the obvious right in front of his face which in this case
was her and how deeply she cared for him. Was he really so
naive to life and affairs of the heart that he thought her tears were
only from embarrassment? This time she turned to face him her
irritation quickly building to anger. "Look Mulder," she began,
but the tall, beautiful blonde stepped from the hallway and
interrupted her, wearing to Scully's surprise not much more than
she had been in the shower.
"I called her." The goddess said, preparing the way to expose her
plan. "I knew that you would come if you thought Fox to be in
trouble."
Scully stood silent her hand still resting on the doorknob and her
mind quickly processing this information, apparent by the
intense look on her face. "And who the hell are you?" she
quipped angrily, demanding to know this woman's objective.
It was Mulder who offered the answer. "Scully, meet Aphrodite,
goddess of love, or at least muse of manipulation."
His partner gave him a questioning look to which he only
responded, "Scully," he lifted his hand to help better illustrate his
tale, then lowered it again thinking before he blurted something
out that he would regret later, "Don't even ask me right now, it's
more complicated than I know where to start."
The goddess slowly approached Scully. "Complicated don't be
ridiculous, it couldn't be more simple. He wasn't with me,
Dana, he was with you."
At those words Mulder turned abruptly away from them, sighing
a breath towards heaven and then pushing his fingers to his
temples, his eyes closing as if lack of sight alone could block this
scent out entirely. This was the crossroad where his life fell
apart, and everything decent in his life that had any worth would
be gone, shattered by the dream of a goddess. There was no
saving this situation now, he cringed at the thought of her
revelation. No, Dana, he didn't know that it was me, it was you
he wanted to slam up against the shower wall and screw like an
uncontrollable animal. Oh dear God, maybe he should just shoot
himself now with the gun he so carefully took from her, it
seemed a fitting end and it certainly could be no worse than
facing Scully after his secret was known.
He suddenly felt the need to be involved in this conversation, in
fact, to take control of it. If Scully was to find out the truth of
what was happening earlier, than she had to know the whole
truth that he was in love with her, and her coming to him had
been a dream come true. However, before he could say anymore
his fate was sealed by his blonde intervention.
"I can offer you clarity for your confusion, and give you the
answers that your heart seeks." she whispered in Scully's ear
and leaned carefully down placing a gentle kiss on the smaller
woman's brow.
The last thing she remembered was the feel of the stranger's soft
kiss on her forehead before her mind was enveloped in a
dizzying rush of images and thoughts. She found herself in a
shower leaning against the cold tile wall, sharp in contrast to the
hot water that danced over her skin. There was a slight rustle of
the shower curtain to her left and she could somehow sense the
presence of someone. Her eyes remained closed to her
surroundings until she felt the gentle touch of a hand as is trailed
lightly down her stomach. She reached out and forced the
mysterious intruder into her view and gasped as she looked down
at herself. But how was that possible, how could she be face to
face with wait she wasn't face to face, she was looking down at
herself an arms length away; a very long arms length away with
large, strong hands that held the other Scully's shoulders. Oh my
God, this wasn't possible, the vision unfolding before her wasn't
hers, it was Mulder's!
She watched unable to stop the scene that flashed before her,
able to feel every sensation as her own heart began to race. She
felt the kisses that lovingly traced a line down his chest, past his
quivering stomach until she gasped from the liquid heat that
raced through her veins through Mulder's veins.
He watched in amazement as his partner fell into some sort of
euphoric trance, her chest rising and falling as she gasped for air.
Panic filled his heart watching her, unaware of what was taking
place, seeing her pain as her body writhed and tensed with
enough force to close the door that she still leaned on. Then it
occurred to him that it was not pain that coursed through her
body but ecstasy, and he grew angry with himself for the arousal
that started to grow within him at the sight of her.
As quickly as it had begun it ended and Scully gasped back to
consciousness, her eyes open wildly taking in her surroundings,
her breathing still fast and unsteady. Confused and disoriented
she looked from the goddess to Mulder and then back to the
goddess again, unsure of what to say, her mind searching for an
explanation that she already knew.
The strange woman took her into her arms to soothe her, "I told
you Dana, he was with you." She held Scully for a few moments
more until her shaking stopped, ignoring the terrified and
anticipating look on Mulder's face. When she had given Scully
enough time to compose herself, she took her hand and led her
like a child to where her partner waited on the brink of fear and
desire.
"Scully, I " he began but stopped short unsure of what to say.
"It's ok, Fox," Aphrodite smiled, "she already knows."
She took Scully's small hand and placed it in Mulder's, holding
them together with her own until she had completed her task.
"Fox, I told you there was much for you to learn, and much for
me to tell you. The answers you both seek can be found in one
kiss." and with those final words she nudged him closer to his
partner.
He stood motionless for what seemed like an eternity, searching
her face for an indication of what she was thinking in response to
all she had just learned. Slowly and carefully, he leaned down to
her, his eyes never leaving hers, allowing her enough time and
room for escape.
It started with a soft kiss, a mere brush of their lips together, each
one touching and tasting the other. She shivered at his touch and
his passion climbed with each barely audible moan that escaped
her warm, moist lips until he pulled her tightly into his arms
tangling his fingers in her auburn hair. She hungrily accepted his
tongue as it explored her slightly open mouth and they were lost
in the power of this kiss, the final act of the goddess' plan.
An unexplainable surge of energy filled their bodies, forcing
their mouths apart as they cried out from the intensity, and much
like Scully's encounter a few minutes before, they found
themselves lost in visions and memories that were not their own.
The scenes rapidly passed before them as they each heard the
voice of the other echoing secret thoughts and desires of the last
seven years.
Mulder could see his partner in his office the day they met. "The
answer is there, YOU just have to know where to look for it!"
she had said with conviction. But what he hadn't seen was the
exhilarated smile of a schoolgirl as he turned away from her as
she delighted in the banter, having held her ground with him,
intrigued by his brilliance and quite taken with his good looks
and witty charm. He remembered his words "Do you believe in
the existence of extraterrestrials?" if he had only known then that
he had caused her heart to skip a beat with his sultry cynicism.
He saw her again as she came to his room in the dark of the
storm, her fear far outweighing her modesty. She had been too
afraid in those moments to see the way he looked at her as she
dropped the robe that covered her body, or consider the thoughts
that were stirred in him at the site of her. And she, unaware of
his desire, had thrown herself into his un-expectant arms, too
relieved to notice the pleasure of the moment reflected on his
face.
She remembered a restaurant in a small town where he had
gently wiped something from her mouth, and now she saw
herself in the same beauty that had captured his heart at that
moment.
For the first time she saw his desperate search for her after the
abduction. She knew that he had searched for her but was
unaware that it was at the sacrifice of sleep and other
assignments nor did she know that her cross had hung around his
neck as a constant reminder of the love that grew in his heart.
She had never known that his pain had been so great or his
determination so strong.
The memories flooded their minds faster and faster as passing
glances, innocent touches, and random thoughts and words
flashed between them. The relived near kisses and growing
desire that had been a very real part of the last seven years, but
more than that was the deep rooted love that had blossomed long
ago.
The most powerful scene came when Scully saw herself pale and
near death, asleep from exhaustion in the hospital during the
final stages of her cancer treatment. The memories of that time
in her life were painfully enough, and were now intensified by a
broken Mulder kneeling at her bedside, pure agony escaping his
body in sobs that shook his body.
The emotions from this last and most powerful memory came
crashing down upon them with enough force to return them to
the present and to the moment at hand. He looked down at the
face that was as familiar to him as his own having studied every
detail over the years. The tears that slid down her cheeks were
brushed away by his loving hand, even as his own tears joined in
the release.
It was he that spoke first. "Scully Dana, I've loved you since
the first moment I saw you, maybe even before." His hands
lightly cupped her face, needing to see her expression as he said
the words he had silenced for so long. "You gave my life
meaning and rescued me from the darkness that surrounded me,
and I love you more than any words can possibly express."
"I already know the words," she smiled at him through the tears
that still glistened in her eyes. "Thanks to where did she go?"
They scanned the room and saw the open window, the obvious
origin of her departure. Having finished the work she had set
about to do, her exit was as mysterious as her entrance. The only
evidence that she had been there at all, besides their encounter,
was a perfect white rosebud that lay on the outside windowsill as
he went to close it. He picked it up and turned it slowly in his
fingers studying its flawless beauty, a smile slowly growing at
the corners of his mouth.
He returned to where she waited for him and offered her the
souvenir, "Here, Scully, a little bird told me this was for you."
His words were sealed with a chivalrous kiss to her hand, to
which she responded with a shy smile that melted his heart.
"Scully, we should talk." he said, again turning serious. "How
about we go get something to eat. Are you hungry?"
"How about coffee?" she replied. "I'm still working on a hotdog
from lunch."
"Fair enough, coffee it is."
"And, Mulder, you may want to change into something a little
more appropriate for public viewing." she suggested jokingly, as
they both looked down at the towel still wrapped around his
waist.
He shook his head in agreement, a slight chuckle escaping him,
and turned back down the hallway to dress. "Not that I mind the
view." she called after him.
Stunned at the frankness of her words, he stopped and turned to
face her, a devilish smile on his handsome face. "Oh yeah? You
think this is good, just wait 'til later!"
With that he turned quickly on his heel and headed again towards
his room, her face quickly deepening more to the color of her
hair.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
-- Office of A.D. Walter Skinner, F.B.I. Headquarters --
Monday 11:40 am
"So Agents, I am to understand by your reports that there was no
case here, despite the eyewitness accounts that a painting was
"altered" with apparent explanation?"
"Not that we can find, Sir." Mulder answered. "The painting
remains intact on the far wall of the West Wing and the museum
officials have verified its authenticity. We met with Mr. Collins
yesterday afternoon after he called me and checked it out for
ourselves."
"Was it or was it not the same painting that you saw Friday,
Agent Mulder?" Skinner's eyes carefully scrutinized the two
agents as he waited for a response.
It was Scully who spoke this time. "It was in fact slightly
different than when we saw it initially the other day, however, it
does perfectly match the photograph in Mr. Collins' file.
They sat in silence as their stern superior scanned the reports
again. "So it is your findings that this was an orchestrated
scheme by someone in the curator's office?"
"We don't know who orchestrated this, or how for that matter,"
Mulder answered, "but, it was most certainly a hoax. A practical
joke possibly if you will."
Skinner looked from partner to partner, watching closely as
Scully's eyes darted from making contact with his on each pass.
"You concur with these findings, Agent Scully?"
Her eyes shot up and locked with the Assistant Directors', aware
of the same tell tale signs of lying that he was searching for.
"Yes, Sir. It's all been documented in my report."
He sat in silence, his eyes still locked with hers, and she dared
not even blink under his assessment of her and the situation, for
fear that he would question the validity of her statements. She
had decided with Mulder that same night what must be told, both
for the integrity of their mental stability as well as for their
secrecy.
"Very well." he concluded. "That will be all." Not waiting for
any further discussion he picked up the receiver of his phone and
began dialing, moving on to the next issue at hand as a very
relieved Mulder and Scully left the office.
Skinner watched as Mulder's hand lingered slightly longer than
usual at his partner's lower back, followed a second later by the
closing of the door. At the tone the time will be 11:57
and echoed from the phone as he returned the receiver to its
cradle he worked to piece together the truth. Much to his delight
and alarm, it was easily to determine the outcome. In a world
where the walls didn't have ears and evil didn't lurk around
every turn, he knew that they were meant for each other. But in
this world their new found relationship could cost them their
lives, and he knew that he would have to protect them now more
than ever before.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"So, do you think he knows?" Scully asked as they proceeded
down the busy hallway.
"How could he possibly know anything, now look who's being
paranoid!" was his response, but secretly he harbored the same
fear.
"I'm hungry, Mulder, what do you want for lunch?" The look he
responded with was practically evil and purely of lust. "Sorry I
asked!" she said sheepishly as they reached the elevators.
"I need to run pick something up at the lab, I'll catch up with you
in a minute." he said as the doors open and she stepped inside.
She nodded but her eyes were on a far off place, a faint smile on
her beautiful face.
"Hey, Scully, a penny for your thoughts." and her eyes found his
as her smile spread as it grew from her heart. "Oh yeah, that's
right. I already have them." he smiled back, just before the doors
closed.
Fin