Burst Pipes

Disclaimer: see 1st chapter

A/N Just so everyone knows, I'm writing this on my phone so the chapters probably won't be terribly long. Hope you still enjoy it.

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Chapter 2

Scully woke with a start. Groggily, she looked at her alarm clock. 2:00 AM. Rubbing her eyes, she tried to figure out what had awakened her.

Knock knock knock

Dropping her head down, she climbed out of her nice, warm bed and headed for her front door.

Only one person would be knocking this early in the morning…

Without even checking the peephole, she unlocked and opened the door. Mulder stood on the other side, an apologetic look on his face. In his hand he held a duffle bag, stuffed full of clothes she assumed. She stood aside and allowed him entrance.

His shoes squished and squeaked as he shuffled by her, making her raise an eyebrow. She turned on the light and gasped.

Mulder was soaking wet from head to toe.

"Mulder! What happened?" Immediately, Scully went into doctor mode, pulling his jacket off and placing it on the coat rack. Mulder took off his shoes and left them by the front door. He reached down, taking off his socks as well.

"My apartment flooded. I was hoping I could crash here for a few days while the damages are assessed and cleaned up," Mulder said. He still stood by the door, not wanting to get her furniture wet.

"Of course, Mulder. You know you can. You don't even have to ask," Scully replied. "Why don't you go to the bathroom and get dried off. Shower if you want to. I'll grab you a towel."

Mulder wandered into the bathroom and closed the door, while she pulled a couple towels from the closet. She knocked on the door. It opened and Mulders hand shot out. She handed him the towels and retreated to the couch to wait for him to finish.

She heard him sigh and then the shower turned on. She heard a groan and blushed, picturing him stepping under the hot water.

Scully had always found Mulder attractive. From their first meeting, she had been drawn to him. He was witty and charming. His boyish good looks hadn't hurt either. He had a vulnerability that had endeared him to her.

When he began opening up to her, sharing his experiences with her, she had ached for him. To lose his sister when he was so young, and having no clue what had happened broke her heart. She saw in him a survivor. He had moved forward, dedicating his life to finding out what had happened to her.

While she hadn't believed in aliens or alien abductions, she had, nonetheless, believed his story. She believed without realizing or understanding why. She believed because he believed. His belief made her believe.

When she herself had been abducted, her world changed. Waking up in the hospital, with no memory of her experience was troubling. She lost a month of her life, and had no clue why. For once, the science wasn't there. She couldn't fall back on it because what had happened to her was beyond the realm of science. It defied logic and reason.

But Mulder hadn't given up. When she found out all he had done to find her, all he had endured, her heart expanded. No matter what, he hadn't lost hope. Even when everyone else had, he hadn't. He believed she would be found. That experience strengthened the bond between them.

It strengthened other things too.

Ever since then, Scully had felt a stronger attraction toward her partner. She relished all the times his hands touched her, either accidental or intentional.

When Donnie Pfaster had kidnapped her, she knew Mulder would find her. She knew she would be rescued. She had no doubt in her mind.

When Mulder held her in his arms after, she felt safe and secure. She felt loved.

That was when she realized he meant more to her than just a friend and partner. That was when she knew she loved him. That she was in love with him.

Fox William Mulder.

Scully looked up as the bathroom door opened. She felt her mouth go dry. Mulder stepped out with a towel wrapped around his waist.

"Sorry. Forgot my bag," he said as he padded across the floor. He grabbed his bag and disappeared back into the bathroom.

Scully sighed. There's another one for the fantasy bank. Mulder had played a role in her imagination for quite a while. She had been pleasuring herself to thoughts of him for several years. If he only knew how often his name escaped her lips during orgasms…

Mulder emerged from the bathroom again, wearing a pair of loose shorts and a T-shirt. He walked to the couch and sat beside her.

"Feel better?" Scully asked.

"Much…." Mulder sighed. He laid his head back, closing his eyes.

Scully looked at his profile, a smile on her lips. He was so handsome.

"Come on. Back to bed now," Scully said, standing up. She turned off the light, and stood in front of him. Mulder opened his eyes and looked at her. She held out her hand. He raised an eyebrow. "We can share the bed. You'll be more comfortable there then on the couch."

Mulder visibly swallowed. He took her hand and stood as well. Scully smiled and led him toward her bedroom.

As they laid on their respective sides, the tension was almost palpable. Mulder sighed, blowing out a breath. He rolled toward Scully. She turned toward him.

Reaching out, he traced the side of her cheek with the back of his finger. "Thank you for doing this. I really do appreciate it," Mulder said.

Scully smiled. "Anytime, Mulder. Anytime."

They closed their eyes and fell asleep, each conscious of the other.

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