Kindness for more
Ch 2
Twenty four hours earlier
Dana was finishing early for the day so she went by the office to see Monica, but she and Doggett are out, so she pops up to see skinner.
"Hi Mandy any chance I can see skinner?"
"he's on lunch at the moment but he'll be back soon and he has a free afternoon. You can wait in the office for him"
"thanks Mandy ill do that"
"I hope you can cheer him up" says Mandy
This confuses Dana but she takes her usual seat across the table, she's liked sitting there before but now it feels odd, she's not an agent anymore, he's just her friend, who she likes... A lot... She has thoughts about him at night and she wakes very excited and wishes things could be different but could never tell him, he'd never look at her like he used to, not now she's had Mulder's baby.
Soon the door opens
"hi Dana, how are you?"
He looks flustered and very wound up
"I'm ok, what's wrong?"
He sits in his chair
"this feels wrong" he says
He moves to sit on his desk,
"much better, now.. How am I? Pissed off... My blocks had a power cut since yesterday afternoon, so my place was freezing, so not much sleep and the powers still off. Apart from that I'm ok"
He tries to smile but can't
"are you sleeping at home tonight?" she asks concerned
"no, I'm going to find a motel, its way to cold at home"
Dana thinks
"your not going to a motel, come to mine"
"no its fine"
"no its not, I can't let you stay in a dingy hotel, stay with me"
"but..."
"No I insist, come by after work I can cook, it'll be nice to have you round. Say yes"
He gives in.
"if your sure? I wasn't hinting"
"its fine, anything I can do to help you"
He nods
"so what did you come by for?"
He quickly adds
"not that I'm not glad to see you, I am its not been the same without you around"
She nods
"I came to see a few old faces. I miss this place at times, and the people"
worrying she's giving herself away, she changes the subject and that chat usual stuff, about work, and William.
"Neway I'd better let you work, call me when you leave and ill put dinner on, ok?"
"Yes ok Dana, it will. Probably he about 5.30 as I've nothing really to do here. That ok?"
"yes fine"
She stands fully aware of the small distance there is between them
"see you later"
"yeah bye Dana"
And she leaves, he stays sat on the desk taking in what's just happened, he's agreed to stay at dana's, he's not sure it is a good idea. He lays in bed at night thinking about her, being with her and playing with William, being his father figure, but would Dana let him in that close, probably not, she's so guarded. It would never happen.
Dana gets out to her car, is she playing with the devil? Making skinner stay at hers... Over night... He's a good friend, has done lots for her so its the least she can do to help him out.
She gets home, has an update on Williams day from mom, who then leaves
"if you need me over the weekend call me"
"ok mom. Bye"
She then sets to changing the bed before William wakes up, she goes to sit on the sofa when she hears him thought the baby monitor. She goes to his room
"hi baby" she says moving the cot sides down
"you coming out?" he puts his arms up and she picks him up, she holds him to her shoulder and kisses his cheek
"I love you" she tells him.
"Come on let's change you then we can go play"
All changed she becomes aware that the days quickly passing by and no word from skinner, she's thinking he'll pull out. Why wouldn't he? He can't possible know how she feels for him? How could he? No one knows and why would he want to return the feeling? She's a single mom, never married, no chance of another child...ever. Why would any man want her? This thought upsets her, though she has William, he'll always be around but at times she'd like someone else around, moms always around but she wants him around, to care for her and love William, he's loosing out more than anyone, stuck round women all day. Who'll teach him all the things he needs to know about being a boy then a man... But she doesn't want just anyone to teach him... She wants him... Walter skinner...
Its soon approaching six o'clock but still no word, Williams having his bottle then he'll go to sleep then the loneliness sets in, sat on her sofa listening to every noise William makes, looking around at her things, wondering why she's so alone. William starts to drift off
"good boy" she whispers kissing his head.
Soon fast asleep she carries him to his cot,
"sleep tight baby" she kisses him again then walks out.
In the kitchen she sets to sorting out something to eat, she doesn't want to eat though, her minds full of loss and desire, desire to be held, to be loved. She's disturbed from her thoughts by her cell ringing, she looks its skinner
"hey, thought you weren't coming"
He laughs "No I got pulled into a meeting. Do you fancy a take away? My treat"
"yeah ok, what were you thinking?"
"Pizza, I know a nice place. What do you like?"
"Anything. I'm not fussy"
"ok well ill go get it, be over in 40mins"
"ok, see you soon"
She hangs up and is very excited suddenly, but she knows she must calm down before he arrives. She sets to making Williams bottle for the morning when he wakes at 8.30 in the morning. Her thoughts wander as she putting in the powder and she spills some over herself,
"shit"
Just then there's a knock at the door, she runs over and opens it,
"hi come in" she says
Walking back to the kitchen
"what happened to you?" he says shutting the door
"I wasn't paying attention while making Williams morning bottle"
He laughs, "what else were you doing?"
How can she be honest? 'Oww I was thinking about kissing you' no way...
"Just wondering when you'd be here. Your early neway"
"I know I called ahead to the restaurant, I know the owner and manager so it was ready as I arrived"
H sets the pizza down,
"these are for you?" handing her a bunch of flowers
"uh thanks, what they for?"
This stumps him..
"For letting me stay"
Such a lie, but he could hardly say 'cos I love you and wanted to show you' could he?. She finishes making the bottle and puts it in the fridge, she gets out plates and they sit down to eat.
Small talk is made between them
"so what was the meeting about?" she asks
"I have no idea... Two guys were arguing and I was in my own little world thinking"
"about what? If I may ask"
He looks down
"about you, me staying over, what I could get us for dinner to save you cooking"
Has he revealed too much he worries, but that is what he's been doing
"oww and about William, I bought him something, ill have to bring it up"
Danas surprised, he doesn't normally bring him presents.
"That's sweet, flowers and dinner for me, present for William your too much"
"not at all, I like getting you both stuff. Who else do I have to spoil?"
"no one"
"exactly, neway I'm uncle skinner I'm allowed by name to treat him"
Dana cleared the table and washed up while skinner watched,
"what you thinking?" he asks
"nothing much"
She was thinking about him snuggling up behind her while she does this but its only a dream. They move onto the sofa still chatting usual stuff mom,work,William
"are you working tomorrow?" she asks
"no, thank god"
"oww ok"
"why?"
"as William wakes early then goes back off then has his bottle, I thought I'd better warn you as you'll still be here when he does wake" she yawns
"am I keeping you up?" he asks sincerely
"a little"
He laughs
"ok well ill get Williams present so you can set it up then you can tell me where the duvet and all that is then you can go to bed"
"your not sleeping out here"
"Am I not?" surprised
"no, I'm not that cruel, you can sleep in with me, in my bed"
Both stunned, Dana cos she said it and him as he never expected to share a bed with her. His minds in overtime
"were two adults, I'm sure we can manage" she assures him
"yeah ok, fine. Ill be back in a second"