Disclaimer: I own absolutely nothing.

A/N: Ok, yeah, hi. I'm new. I don't know if you have this syndicate thing going on but please don't be intimidated by my sudden appearance. I do not intend to spy on you, or anything even remotely close to that. I'm just a regular X-file-fan who's recently discovered the joys of fanfiction and hope to explore it more.

This is my first X-file-story. In order to get to know Scully and Mulder properly (oh, I do know them, trust me, but I mean in a writing kind of way) I choose to start with something familiar. The kisses. Feedback always highly appreciated.

(Sorry for the long author's note, the story will start now.)

The near kiss

"After all you've seen you can just walk away?" Mulder rose from his desk in frustration. He couldn't believe she'd do this, not her. He'd learnt to trust her, to depend on her and now this.

Scully stayed by the door, looking into the dim lit room that was Mulder's apartment. She knew that if she'd enter, if she'd give him even an inch, she wouldn't be able to leave. Instead she looked straight back at him, with eyes determined not to give in. "I have. I did. It's done."

No, he couldn't allow this. He leaned forward and looked her straight in the eye. "I need you on this Scully."

"You don't need me Mulder. You never have. I just held you back." His eyes widened, was that how she felt? Or was it just a well-rehearsed line to make this easier? She started to turn around. "I gotta go."

And she left. Walking down the corridor she had the same argument with herself that she'd already had a thousand times over. This was the right thing to do. She was being transferred to Utah for God's sake. She couldn't move to Utah just to hold on to something that was impossible to find. They had nothing to go on. Nothing. And it would never end. No, it was definitely the right thing to do.

Scully didn't get far, mid-corridor her thoughts were interrupted by the familiar voice of Mulder. Apparently he wasn't finished.

"You wanna tell yourself that so you can quit with a clear conscience, you can, but you're wrong!"

Scully turned around to face him. She did after all know this argument, she new every direction it could possibly take. She wasn't going to give in. "Why did they assign me to you in the first place, Mulder? To debunk your work, to rein you in, to shut you down..."

"But you saved me! As difficult and as frustrating as it's been sometimes, your goddamned strict rationalism and science have saved me a thousand times over! You've kept me honest. You've made me a whole person. I owe you everything Scully, and you owe me nothing." His eyes were filled with such perfect honesty and she felt her own fill with tears. This episode had not been played in her mind, it wasn't one of her carefully calculated outcomes. She didn't know how to respond, all she could do was look at him. Try to make reason of what he said.

"I don't know if I wanna do this alone. I don't even know if I can." He looked at her pleadingly. "And if I quit now, they win."

Her sight blurred and she had to look down. Scully knew she had been beaten; she couldn't leave him. The only thing she could do was take a step closer, lean against him and put her head on his shoulder. Try to comfort him, to comfort herself. As to ascertain him she wouldn't leave she placed a gentle kiss on his forehead.

Overwhelmed by the words he had just spoken, surprising even to himself, he put his hands around her neck. He stroked her cheeks with his thumbs, saw her tears and realised how important she'd become to him. This war was no longer something he could fight alone, she had to be there. He leaned in closer.

As his eyes met hers she realised he was going to kiss her. A thousand thoughts rushed through her head. Should she try to avoid this? She soon realised that there was no point in trying; she was paralysed. And then she found herself meeting him. She could feel the warmth from his breath as he got closer and she wondered what it would be like when his lips met hers. She closed her eyes.

"Ouch! Something stung me"

I'm truly sorry for stealing so much, it's for a noble cause – I hope it will help me do these wonderful characters justice in the future (not that I'm pretending that I ever could). Not all chapters will be lacking personal creativity to this extent… xx