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 think - 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. Sometimes I wish I did, sometimes I think it's better I don't. They'd be having too much sex.

Hey all, as you may know, I wrote these stories some time ago and I'm simply posting them up here now for record keeping sake, and to share them with all of you. When I wrote them long ago, I didn't necessarily write them in order, and this was such a case.

Anyway, I would like to apologize for mixing up the order of the episodes. I like to ensure that everything is laid out the way it was televised, not how it was supposed to be or what I think it ought to be.

Having said that, I did upload The Goldberg Variation before this one. I didn't intentionally shift the order, so if you're just starting with these and are seeing this one first please read this before the Goldberg Variation. If you're reading this too late… oh well. Just know I acknowledge my mistake and it's supposed to be the other way around!

Once again, feedback very welcome, and I thank all those who take time to say something nice. It means a lot to me.

Rush

In an effort to be as supportive as possible, Mulder attempted to allow Scully some recovery time after the failure of the IVF attempts. Truth be told, he needed recovery time, too. His heart was heavy, and he firmly believed that it had been his last chance as well.

However, the perfect distraction was an X-File, and this was a doozy. He winced and looked away at first sight of Deputy Ronald Foster, his skull obliterated by something as innocuous as a flashlight. This was a job for Scully.

"What's in Pittsfield?" she asked when he called her.

"A medical mystery. I saved it just for you."

"Just for me, huh?"

When she got there his eyes were drawn to the cleavage he could see thanks to his vantage point and close proximity, not to mention her low buttoned top. He was glad he called her in; she was better with the local authorities and probably sexy enough to get the teenagers involved to relate to her. While he was preoccupied with forces and spirits, she played with his tie and persuaded him to listen to reason in a way only she could.

While his "betty" looked for a more corporeal suspect, he favoured the paranormal. He didn't mean to flirt with her over a dead body, but he really couldn't help it. And as a result of the perfect partnership they had, they came to a compromise and a consensus on who did it. How he did it was another issue.

"Mulder," she asked on the drive back to the Hoover, "what were you like in high school?"

"I was a lot more Tony than Max. No Chastity hanging off my arm, but I had a good heart."

"No Chastity? Maybe a girl with a more traditional upper class New England name?"

"What were you like, Scully. Were you a Chastity?"

"I don't know. I don't think I was as pretty, but I always did like the bad boys. The older the better. I think that was Melissa's influence."

"Oh yeah? Did you have a Max in your life?"

She smiled. "A few Maxes. And a few Tonys, I suppose."

"Whoa, Scully, all of these guys in high school?"

She shrugged. "I liked playing the field. Besides, high school was the longest we'd ever stayed in one city. An entire three years. I had a lot of opportunity."

"Think you would have hung out with me if we were in high school together?"

"Oh, I think so."

"In between your Maxes and Tonys?"

"Maybe instead of the Maxes and Tonys."

He looked at her and grinned, then turned his eyes back to the road. He wondered if she felt it too, this almost imperceptible shift in their relationship. It was like every moment was building to something bigger, that they were on the cusp of a monumental change and he was helpless to stop it. Even if he could, he didn't want to stop it. He wondered if she felt the same.

"If you're a Betty, what does that make me?" he asked.

"An Archie?"

"Oh, Scully. You're dating yourself."