Title: Things That Make Mulder Wonder or The Enigma That Is Dana Scully
Category: X-Files (MSR)
Summary: A whole pile of post-eps for episodes in season 6 and 7 (not necessarily every episode), revolving around Mulder's thoughts, particularly about Scully.
Rating: G (I'm pretty sure) - this might change per chapter
Spoilers: Spoilers up to seasons 6 and 7. You'll know if you read the title of each chapter which episode it pertains to.
Disclaimer: I don't own these characters.

I started these a long time ago, part of my "old" collection of fanfics. I've found them, tweaked them a bit (if I could), and added a few episodes as inspiration struck. Some are better than others, but I hope you like them. Warning: they are pretty sappy, most of them.

Again, sorry about the delay with these. The holiday season is always a mess, particularly with a sick toddler and travelling. Thank you to those who are sticking by this!

Feedback is always much appreciated. Thank you in advance for any comments/criticisms. They put a smile on my face always. :) Happy New Year, all!


Agua Mala

He imagined their first case after the disaster with Diana would be slightly awkward, but he would win her over with their regular intelligent and fun banter. At least he hoped.

"We're not back on the X-Files yet, Mulder. I don't know that I need to be going to visit your friend."

"You heard him, it's a missing persons case. It's our job to follow up."

She scoffed at that, huffing out her response. He was afraid that she wouldn't go, but at least he'd gotten her to the airport. Not all was lost between them.

"Give him a chance, Scully. I think you'll like him."

The plane lurched as they flew into Naples, Florida. The pilot came on to tell them the landing would be rough, and Mulder looked over to see Scully's knuckles had gone white gripping the armrest, and her breathing was deep, eyes closed. Despite the empty seat she'd left between them, he wondered if she would mind if he reached out and held her hand. He didn't.

But god, she looked sexy wet with rain.

Arthur Dales wasn't a slouch with the ladies, and he loved a challenge as much as Mulder. Scully was certainly a challenge, in top form, not hiding her aversion to anything paranormal or her question of Dales' credibility. However, even Mulder knew when Dales had become a bit too dramatic, and led Scully back out into the storm.

Her sass hadn't left even if she was pissed at him. He could have stayed in the car for hours with her, debating with her and indulging her optimism in getting out of the city. He actually enjoyed her badgering; he enjoyed knowing that she sat next to him, relatively safe and warm in the middle of a raging storm, just the two of them.

While he made puns, she was the hero. She did emergency tracheotomies, medical investigations, and birthed babies, all with common household items, and all while looking adorable with her makeup washed off and her hair curling. He wondered if she would appreciate a compliment. He never got the chance to give it to her.

He got caught out in the rain, lucky enough, the cat reminding him of Scully's words. After she tended to his wounds at a busy hospital, they left to update their predecessor. Dales complimented Scully, and though Mulder tried to downplay it for reputation sake, he wondered if his intelligent partner – the same one who was extremely irritated that her hair had curled and puffed in the rain and humidity – realized that he would indeed have been dead a hundred times over if it wasn't for her presence.

"Charming friend you've got there," she said as they drove to the airport.

"He's not so bad. He was right, wasn't he?"

"Well, I'm not sure it was a water monster, Mulder. Maybe a species of octopus or squid."

He grinned, and wondered if Dales knew what a formidable opponent Dana Scully truly was.