Set after Syzgy – 2
..
As the adrenaline wore off Scully's mood deteriorated. She preferred being angry at Mulder for doing whatever it was he was doing with Detective White. For some reason though she just felt hurt. She knew she had no reason for it. He was not hers to be possessive of! As she drove through the night with the silent Mulder sulking in the passenger seat she tried to push her thoughts away.
"You smell like cigarette's Scully." She jumped at his voice, she hadn't heard it since she had told him to shut up when she drove through a stop sign. For once he had actually taken her advice.
"I only had one." She shrugged.
"I didn't know you smoked."
"Well I have rarely seen you drink in all the time I've known you." She retorted. She could smell the vodka on his breath, she had seen the bottle in his hotel room too.
"It wasn't what you thought…" He trailed off for a moment as if searching for the words. "In my hotel room… I wasn't…. You know."
"It doesn't concern me," she lied.
"Yes it does – you were clearly upset."
"Someone had been murdered, of course I was upset."
"I think it was because of Detective White." She shuddered at the name.
"The tension was high in this case Mulder, I suppose I felt you were too distracted by Detective White to have my back like you normally do." She had almost convinced herself this was the real reason she had been upset.
"I wouldn't have done that to you, Scully. She was afraid to go home alone… I asked if she wanted me to get her a hotel room. Before I could do anything she was on me, I tried pushing her off."
Was there something hidden between the lines here? Maybe he was trying to tell her he wouldn't sleep with another woman? Other than herself? She shivered at the thought. No. It couldn't be.
"Okay Mulder," she sighed loudly. "Let's just forgive and forget." She smiled at him and found him staring intently into her eyes. She nearly drove off the road.
"I'm not lying," he told her.
"Okay Mulder," she told him again getting irritated. Couldn't he just drop it?
"But you are." She felt a blush rise to her cheeks. He clearly knew she was trying to convince herself that she wasn't jealous of the attention he gave Detective White. "Don't worry I feel the same way when you are with other men." He admitted. He must still be drunk she figured. She wasn't sure how to answer. Did she admit she felt the same? Or continue her lie?
"Okay, I was a little jealous." She said softly. "I think I have just become used to having your attention on me…" She glanced over to gauge his reaction and found he had a smile on his face.
"Well then it's settled. We both have the potential to become green eyed monsters." He joked. "We will just have to live with it I guess."
There was so much more to what he said. She knew they were attracted to each other but that neither of them were willing to put their partnership, their friendship at risk. Before now it had been unspoken. She knew that they had to find a way to get around it. How could they keep living if they could never move on? She was too tired to think about it right now but felt his hand seeking hers. She held on tight taking comfort in the warmth and familiarity in the simple gesture. One day they would discuss it – but now was not the time.
The End.