Chapter 10

Disclaimer: I do not own anything relating to the X-Files, I do own this story but am not making any profit from it.

When Dana was tucked up next to Sally her friend urged her once again to talk.

" We never really fight that much" Dana confessed, wiping the lone tear from her face, " Well not about anything big anyway."

" So why is it me next to you instead of him?" Sally asked

" Because he broke my trust." Dana answered truthfully, " He kissed another woman Sal, and whether it was her or him that initiated it, it still makes my skin crawl thinking that his lips where on someone other then me."

Sally nodded and then decided to confess, " I was at that party Dan"

" You were? But why?" Dana replied confused, " You're a freshman and you don't do psych, did you go with Nicole?"

" No" Sally blushed, " I went with Jack"

Dana grinned for the first time all night, " Are you two…..?"

" We're getting there" Sally remarked aloofly, before switching the topic back to Mulder " Everyone was filling him full of beer because it was his birthday in a few days. I noticed a girl was hanging around but he seemed to be only speaking to her in mono-syllables and generally blowing her off. When she wouldn't go away he came over to us, he stayed with us for the rest of the party and only went outside towards the end to get some fresh air. But he never came back in after that."

Dana nodded, trying to piece together the sequence of events in her head, " I do trust him you know. I pretty much believe that it was her that kissed him, especially after Trent's description of her today."

" But.."

" Like I said, it still makes me feel weird. We've been together for nearly three years. He's been mine for three years, I can't believe that another girl could just waltz up and take that away."

" She didn't" Sally replied with a shake of her head, " She only did it because she was jealous of what you guys have- she was probably trying to break you up. She hasn't succeeded has she?"

" Of course not" Dana answered, " Yes it's taking a few days, and it will be a bit weird for a while but we're stronger then that. You don't think Fox believes I'm going to break up with him do you? "

Sally shrugged, " I really don't know Dana. You have kicked him out of your room."

" I needed some time to myself."

" Maybe you should tell him that tomorrow, set a few things straight."

" Yeh, maybe" Dana agreed, then smiled at her friend

" Thanks Sal"

" No worries" she replied, turning off the lamp and rolling over

" And don't think I've forgotten about you and Jack either" Dana added, turning off her lamp as well

Sally smiled to herself; she should have known that Dana would remember that bit of gossip throughout he entire deep and meaningful conversation. She was going to get the third degree when things settled down with her and Mulder.

Sally and Nicole had early classes the next morning and had left the house by 9am, leaving Dana to pack the picnic lunch and meet them in the park near the campus after their class.

Showering she thought about all that Sally had said the night before, 'yes she was upset at Mulder, but she wouldn't dream of breaking up with him over something like this. If he'd been cheating maybe- but she trusted that this situation wasn't anything like that. She'd known Mulder for half her life, through various girlfriends including herself and he had never cheated on anyone.'

With a sigh she stepped out of the bathroom, dried herself off and got dressed. She grabbed her watch from the bedside table and fastened it to her wrist. It was 10:30am, she should probably start putting together the lunch and head over to meet the others.

When the picnic lunch was nearly completed Dana heard a familiar footfall behind her and instinctively turned her head to catch a glimpse of her boyfriend.

" Hi Fox," she announced, before turning back to her sandwich

" Hi" Mulder repeated, noticing that at least she was back to using his first name. He watched her from behind as she packed the remains of a healthy lunch into a cooler bag. He was familiar with every move she made, and yet everything seemed so different, so awkward between

them.

Clearing his throat he decided to try and do something about it as it was getting to hard to play indifferent. " Have you got some time? I was wondering if we could talk or you know…" he trailed off, words failing him as she looked up, things had never been this uncomfortable between them before.

" I'm going on a picnic with Nicole and Sally" she answered, zipping up the cooler

" Oh, okay"

She saw his face fall and instantly wanted to reach out to hold him, but she couldn't- not yet.

" Maybe later tonight?" she suggested, his eyes lifted from the floor to her eyes, a glimmer of hope shining in them.

" Yeh! That would be great" he answered, trying to hold back the enthusiasm he felt

Dana nodded and hauled the cooler off the table and throwing a picnic rug over her shoulder, " I'm meeting the girls on campus, but I'll be home later."

Mulder nodded, " I'll be here" he promised.

She nodded and then walked from the room, leaving him to watch her retreating back.