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.
Okay, I am pretty sure I skipped this in my postings (I cross out the chapters in my Word document that I have posted, and this was not crossed out), and I'm not sure if that was intentional so I could put it up during Christmas time, or if I just forgot. Anyway, do let me know if I've duplicated. Otherwise, here's a missing bit, and happy holiday season!
Feedback is always much appreciated. Thank you in advance for any comments/criticisms. They put a smile on my face always. :)
How the Ghosts Stole Christmas
Sitting at his desk in the bullpen at the Hoover building on the twenty fourth of December at nine PM is a low point in his life, but not the lowest. He's been reading up on Christmas related legends just to get in the spirit of the season, and that's when he finds it: the story of Lydia and Maurice.
He would have ignored it, but he is lonely and thinks if he digs deep enough, he can find a reason to get Scully to join him. Upon further research, he finds several eye witness accounts and reports that make this more than your usual ghost story.
He calls her quickly, leaves an urgent message, and takes off to change and head to the house in question. He sits outside for almost an hour and resigns himself to the fact that she's not coming. Sitting in a cold car in the driveway of an abandoned house or sitting in his drafty apartment in the dark with the TV on still has the same effect on him, so he figures he might as well stay put. The sound of her car pulling up almost startles him, but his mood lightens considerably and his heart beats faster.
He convinces her to join him in her car in his persuasive way. As she settles in he tells her the story, using every charm he can. In the end he swipes her keys. A low move, but he's desperate for her company today. No one else will do.
When the disaster is over and their mutual hallucination ends, he calls her from his car as she drives ahead of him.
"Shouldn't we talk about what happened?" he says to her.
"I have to be at my mom's house. I'll call you later." She hangs up.
His mood plummets and he goes home, he doesn't even take off his coat, and flicks on the tv. He tries not to think of Lydia's words to him. He tries not to think of himself of a pathetic man who brings down those around him by manipulation.
A knock on his door surprises him, and he's more surprised when he opens it to find Scully there. He can't even begin to hide his smile.
He gives her the Christmas gift he bought her on a whim. They rarely exchange gifts, and though they said they wouldn't again this year, for some reason he can't resist. Even better is that she has one for him, too.
He watches her tear her gift open with child-like enthusiasm. He wonders what she was like as a kid. He wants to ask her what she was like. He wants to get the scoop from Mrs. Scully. He wants to spend a Christmas morning with her.
"A star?" she asks, as she opens the scroll he'd had printed out for her. "You got me a star?"
"Yeah. We can try to find it one night if you want. These are the coordinates. Shouldn't be too hard for a sailor's daughter."
"Wow. Thanks, Mulder."
"Do you really like it?"
"Yeah, I do." She sounds genuine, so he decides to put aside his doubt and be happy he got her something nice for once. "I feel kind of stupid giving you something so obvious."
She's given him a video of a very controversial recent movie that is borderline pornographic and even more borderline science fiction. He smiles and nudges her with his shoulder.
"Guess you're going to have to watch it with me," he says.
"I'm so confused, Mulder," she says, leaning back and resting her head against the couch. Her feet barely touch the floor in this position. "What on earth would make us hallucinate like that?"
He shrugs "Ghosts with a penchant for pop-psychology? Were they right?"
"About?"
"I assume they tried to analyze you, as they did me. So, were they right?"
"I don't know. I don't think so. I don't want to think so."
"You know, Scully, I don't try to manipulate you. I know sometimes I can be selfish but I want you to believe so much sometimes… and maybe I am a sorry, lonely asshole, but my intentions are not malicious. I'm not that bad… am I?"
"No," she smiles, "you're not that bad. And, um, maybe I can sometimes be too harsh, but I don't mean to be, Mulder. I do have a skeptical mind, but I don't get any joy in you being wrong."
"I'm still not sure when I've been wrong."
She smiles, and it's the best gift he could have gotten.
"You know, Scully, I am glad you were with me. I don't think I'm that fun to be around and I guess I know you have better places to be, but I really do love exploring the unexplainable with you."
"Thanks." She groans. "I have to go, Mulder. I have to be at my mom's in just over four hours. I probably won't even get any sleep."
"So stay here. We can watch the movie. I'll make you breakfast before you go."
She smiles, but shakes her head. "I better go."
"Come on. I promise you won't be late. Do you really want to drive home now, then just get back in the car and drive all the way to your mom's?"
She sighs. "No."
"Alright. Get comfy. Let's watch this. Want some popcorn or something?"
Three and a half hours later he wakes up with a start. Scully had fallen asleep too, slumped against him. He grins. Would it hurt if he doesn't wake her?
Thinking against it, and fearing the wrath of her family, he strokes her cheek and she is up in a moment.
"What time is it?" are her first words.
"Five thirty."
"Oh god, I have to go. It's an hour drive."
"Want me to take you? I'm pretty awake."
"No, no, that's okay, Mulder," she says, pulling on her boots. "Thanks for the popcorn and the movie." She grabs her star and heads for the door, yanking it open. His eyes follow her as she goes, ready to hear the door slam, but instead she's stopped.
"Merry Christmas, Mulder."
"Merry Christmas, Scully."
He grins after she's left, looking at the discarded, buttery popcorn and the TV still on and wonders if Scully will have as wonderful a Christmas with her family as he did with her on his couch, warm and happy, talking about everything and nothing until they fell asleep.
