A/N: MERRY CHRISTMAS!

This fic is dedicated to Mini Reyes and Government Patsy, 'cos I like them (not that I don't like the rest of you :P)

ENJOY! - This is set end of season 5 (before 'The End' though)

I watched my sister stare out the window; she hadn't said anything but she was obviously missing her partner.

I didn't really know what to think about him. There was Dana, who adamant although he was a little eccentric; he was a truly good person and Bill who absolutely loathed the ground that he walked on. Dana wasn't exactly known for picking men that were good for her, but Bill had always hated any man that stepped within ten miles of her.

Mom seemed to be undecided. On one hand she saw a young man who treated Dana well. On the other was the man who took her daughter on dangerous cases, and had woven not just Dana but the whole family into a dangerous web of deceit and peril. We didn't know much about Dana's work, but she had told us (after a lot of pressing) that sometimes it could was dangerous for us as well. The people who tried to kill her may try and kill us, to get to her.

I saw Mom glance over at Dana and sigh, it was obvious she was head-over-heels in love him but just wouldn't admit it to anyone, not even herself.

The shrill ring of her cell pierced through her thoughts and she jumped. She fished it out of her pocket, flipped it open, and answered in her usual business like fashion.

"Scully," She listened for a few moments before pinching the bridge of her nose "Only you Mulder, only you." She murmured "How?..I've told you not to leave that basketball on the floor...seriously...jesus Mulder...fine...the gunmen gave you a lift?..one sec." She covered the mouthpiece of the phone "I'm sorry Mom, I've got to go, Mulder's landed himself in hospital and I'm his next of kin. They want me to fill in some paperwork and pick him up, he should stay the night but they'll let him out as it's Christmas Eve if I'll go get him, as his doctor."

"That's a shame Dana. Why don't you bring him back here?"

"Uh...yeah, alright, I'll be gone an hour or so."

I didn't miss the foul expression contorting Bill's features.

Just over an hour later Dana's car pulled back outside the house, Dana got out and opened the passenger door. A tall, well-muscled, dark haired man climbed out, a pained expression on his face. She handed him a set of crutches and helped him walk inside, one hand hovering a few inches behind his back. Tara let them in and he hobbled after Dana, into the living room. Mom stood up and walked over to him,

"Hello Fox," She place a hand gently on his arm "What happened?"

"Hi Mrs Scully, I, uh, tripped over my basketball and sprained my knee and hit my head. That's why Scull-Dana" He corrected himself "Had to come get me. They didn't trust me to fill in the paperwork."

"That and they've figured by now that you don't know your own blood type!" Dana added

"I do too!" He replied indignantly

She raised an eyebrow

"It's A..." He stole a glance at her "Positive..."

"Mulder," She shook her head "It's O."

"Close!"

She rolled her eyes "Bill's over there, you've already met," Her expression showed it wasn't a pleasant memory "This is my younger brother, Charlie."

I held out my hand. He balanced on one crutch and shook it.

"Hi, I've heard loads about you."

"And I about you." I replied

He glanced at Dana.

"It's all good. From Dana at least."

Mulder smiled at her.

"Come on, you need to sit down." Dana led him over to the couch

"Scully, would you mind grabbing some groceries for me when we get home?"

"What do you mean? You're staying with me, you have a concussion Mulder!"

"If you don't mind"

"Have I ever before?"

"No," He grinned at her "What would I do without you Scully?"

"I don't want to even contemplate that."

"Point taken."

I went to help Mom in the kitchen, but I could still see them on the couch. Dana had fallen asleep with her head resting on his shoulder. Mulder smiled at her sleeping form, then pulled the blanket of the back of the couch and covered her with it. He brushed a stray lock of hair of her face then expertly manoeuvred her so her head was in his lap. I dried the dishes as I watched them. I saw her begin to become restless and him caress her cheek, and whisper something to her. She flinched and shook, but he coaxed her back into a restful slumber. I walked back into the living room and saw him tense, ready for the ass-kicking Bill would have inevitably given him.

"Don't worry. It's only me." I told him

"Good" He sighed "She hasn't been sleeping well lately" He looked down at her in what I suddenly realised was a loving gaze. She began to stir and he brushed some of her hair away from her face.

"Mmm, Mulder you shouldn't let me sleep this long in the day, I won't sleep at night" Dana murmured sleepily.

"You haven't been sleeping at night anyway" He replied flatly.

"Touché," She grinned and he smiled back at her. She picked up his arm, turned it over and glanced at his watch "Time for your meds."

"Crap" He mumbled

"Don't be a baby." She dug around in a paper bag that I hadn't noticed before. She handed him two small white pills

"Charlie would you get him a glass of water please?"

I complied and watched him grimace before swallowing them both at once.

"Keep an eye on him for a minute would you, I want to ask Mom something."

"Sure"

"I don't need babysitting!"

"Yes, you do. Look what happened when I left you alone for a day!"

"Fine!" He grumbled

"Thanks" She ruffled Mulder's hair and left the room.

We sat in silence for a few minutes.

"Any interesting cases recently?" I offered tentatively

"You could say that, there was this guy, who, uh, ate brains..." He trailed off at the rather alarmed expression on my face

"What happened?" I asked

"He attacked us. We shot him."

"Jeesh, Dana said your work was unusual.

"Understatement much!"

I shook my head in disbelief "Was it true what she said about that worm-man thing?"

"Eh, what?" His forehead crinkled in confusion "Oh! The flukeman! Yeah, that was real. Unfortunately." He added as an afterthought "That was ages ago, when did she tell you that?"

"Last time she was round mine. She was still on medication for the cancer and the alcohol affected her a little more than it usually does..."

"I see" He grinned

"What are you guy's talking about?" Dana walked back into the room

"You drunk" Mulder informed her truthfully

"You don't know the half of it. If you want to know about the real drunk Dana Scully, talk to Ellen"

I stared at her in suprise.

"I will" Mulder replied

She rolled her eyes "I'm surprised you haven't already!"

Danni pulled into the driveway, back from the mall. I went out to greet her and overheard some of Dana and Mulder's conversation.

"Are you armed?" She asked

"Just the ankle holster. Why?"

"That's my sister-in-law and niece and nephew" She told him "I've hidden my weapon out of their reach"

"Oh. Would you get mine?" He asked

"Sure"

I led Christy into the house with the intension of introducing her to Mulder. We'd both heard a lot about him.

He was gone. I gave her a quick kiss and told her to stay there. I went to check that he hadn't gone walk-about and injured himself further. I walked up the stairs and peered around the corner.

The sight that met my eyes was a surprise to say the least. Mulder had discarded his crutches and was stood on both legs with ease. He had his hands on my sister's hips. She had one hand on his chest and the other on his shoulder. She grinned up at him and when he spoke his voice was husky;

"Let's not stay apart that long again."

"Let's not," She agreed "That was a brilliant plan Mulder. The sprained knee, pure genius!"

"Scully, I seem to remember, you were the mastermind behind that plot!"

"You flatter me Mulder." She giggled. In all my 33 years I have never EVER heard my sister giggle.

I knew I should leave but was transfixed by the aura of what appeared to be pure love radiating from them. Mulder leant down and placed a gentle kiss on her lips. They broke apart and smiled at each other. He pressed a soft kiss to her temple. I watched as he kissed her again. She looped her arms around his neck and he moved his hands down to her ass. I chose this moment to leave before I saw any more than I needed to.

Maybe I was wrong, Dana had obviously admitted she loved Mulder. To him and herself both.

When they returned to the living room I looked for the signs that they were more than just partners, or friends. I must admit, they hid it pretty well, I supposed they'd have to, I was pretty sure the FBI didn't approve of partners being in a relationships. Now I knew, things I'd passed off as friendly gestures, albeit intimate, but purely platonic registered as more than that. The way they seemed to be magnetised to one another, the way the touched at every each other at every opportunity, and the gazes. When they didn't think anyone was looking they would gaze at the other, almost drinking in the image.

I didn't object to their relationship. In fact I welcomed it; no-body thought Dana would ever settle down. And although I doubted that she and Mulder were in a settled relationship, I could see that their bond was stronger than most married couples, whatever sort of relationship they had, she would never be alone and I knew he'd do everything in his power to keep her safe.

A Christmas Story
by kenikigenikai