Coming Home (6/6)
Part six
by Nessy and Cirglas
Disclaimer and everything you need to know is in part
one, please read the other parts beforehand. This chapter
won't make much sense standing on it's own.
"So... Where is my good-looking guy taking me tonight?"
"I said it'd be a surprise, Scully. As in 'not knowing
beforehand'."
Scully, caught off guard, laughed. "Oh, Mulder. I missed
you." Then, as if remembering something she had almost
forgotten, she closed the remaining distance between them and
said:
"Welcome home, Mulder."
They shared a small kiss. Then they both turned to the door.
Mulder opened it and guided her through with his hand on the
small of her back. Yeah, He was home. For good.
Scully and Mulder walked down the hall of her apartment
building. She leading the way, he towering over her, still
with the hand in the place just made for it, the small of her
back. As they approached the front door Mulder passed her
with a few quick strides and reached for the door knob.
Opening the door he grinned at her as she walked through it.
Okay, Mulder was being extra charming. And trying to humor
her. She could let him get away with it. As long as he didn't
overdo it. At her car Scully rummaged around in her purse,
trying to find her keys. Once again Mulder dangled them in
front of her, a broad smile decorating his handsome features.
"Unh, unh, unh-unh," he hummed in a sing-songy voice. "I'm
driving tonight. You just sit back and relax."
"Relax? When you're driving? You probably want to drive us to
some uncharted US Air Force base or some hide out of some
mutant. You sure we're going out to dinner, Mulder?"
"Come on, Scully, would I lie about that when I haven't eaten
for three hours?"
"Well, you're right. Didn't think of that." Their gazes
locked and a wide grin spread over Mulder's face. Scully had
trouble not to smile herself, but somehow managed to simply
display her killer-eyebrow.
Mulder held the door open for her once again then turned to
go over to the driver's side. After changing the seats in the
respective way - he sliding his all the way back, she moving
hers up to the front - he started the engine.
The ride was rather uneventful, other than that it was
relatively quiet. But not uncomfortably quiet. More like "We
have that special bond that doesn't need words anyway"-
quiet. Upon their arrival Scully's eyes widened. It was a
very expensive French restaurant which probably didn't even
have prices on the menu.
"Mulder?"
That unspoken communication-thing kicked in and he knew what
she had meant to ask.
"You know, I got tired of all that Chinese and Italian
takeout we always seem to have. Need to get a little variety
into our culinary habits."
They climbed the few steps to the entrance of the restaurant.
Suddenly the heel of Scully's shoe tangled in her dress and
she stumbled. Thanks to Mulder's quick reaction she didn't
fall. Well, she did. But only into his arms.
Mulder chuckled. "Hey, Scully. We haven't even had any wine,
yet."
He didn't pull his arm from around her shoulders. Scully
joined into his chuckling, then hooked her arm around his
waist, and replied:
"Well, I guess I'm not used to high heels and long dresses
any more. My days of partying are long over."
"What? You saying you're too old for parties? Oh, Scully, the
fun has just barely begun."
By now they had made their way through the door and stood
just inside the restaurant. She looked up to him and he met
her gaze with his. Their gazes locked and tied a tight knot.
With a few safety locks and chains wrapped around it. The
laughing soon forgotten they lost themselves in the eyes of
one another.
"Ahem?"
They jumped and turned their heads to the intruder. The
waiter was smiling at them. "Bonsoir, une table pour deux?"
"Yes please." Mulder said and then the waiter lead them to a
small secluded table in the back of the room. They sat down
and were each handed a menu, then the waiter disappeared.
"Mulder. This is wonderful. How did you come to know this
place?"
"Ah, I don't know, Scully. Maybe I shouldn't tell you my
sources. It would cheapen the whole thing. Let's just say, I
can work magic."
"Come on, Mulder."
"No way, Scully."
She pursed her lips. "You keeping secrets from me?"
He chuckled. "Oh, okay. The Gunmen told me about it."
"WHAT?!" Her eyes were big as saucers.
"See? I told you it would ruin the effect." He shrugged.
"You trust the guys on something as important as our
stomachs?"
"Don't worry. I checked it out beforehand."
Scully looked a little more relieved. No, she looked
beautiful. That's what she looked like.
Mulder thought something was strange, though: They were
sitting here, on their first date as a couple, and his speech
wasn't reduced to sputtering. Sure, every time Scully looked
at him with that affectionate look, his knees started to turn
to rubber but it somehow wasn't as bad as it had been when he
was a gawky teenager.
The dates he remembered within the last 15 years on the other
hand had been accompanied by a lot less tension than this
one. Either he hadn't cared about them that much anyway or he
just cared more about his Scully than he had for all the
others.
And, well, the ease wasn't such a big surprise, since they'd
known each other for seven years - no, almost eight years -
now. They had gone through a lot together and had their own
jokes, their own rules. But they weren't shy teenagers, not
embarrassed every time being caught staring at the other.
But what he did feel like, was a lovesick teenager. He only
needed to look at her and then a giddy feeling overcame him.
She loved him. And they had proceeded with their
relationship. They held hands throughout dinner, as if
loosing contact would somehow be a fatal occurrence. They
also played footsie under the table and got a kick out of
being a normal couple for a little bit. And everything was
going just fine.
Oh, sure, he saw the looks the other men gave Scully. He
noticed how they followed her with their eyes. But she didn't
seem to notice and it satisfied him infinitely that, as soon
as he showed their observers clearly that she was his, they
never got too obvious again. Well, okay, the way he was
showing that they were together gave him the most pleasure.
Like when he bought the whole bouquet of red roses from a
salesperson coming to their table. And especially the look
she had given him then. In her eyes had been surprise,
confusion, exasperation - the smallest component in her look-
, understanding, amusement and then so much love his breath
caught in his throat.
After finishing dinner, they decided to take a walk around
after depositing the roses in the car. They strolled down the
block and came to the Potomac, then stopped at the wall
keeping the people from falling down the few feet to the
actual riverbank. Scully stood in front of it, laying her
hands on it and looking up to the sky. Mulder stood behind
her with his arms around her shoulders and his chin resting
on the top of her head.
He was so close he had to notice the shiver that ran through
her.
"You cold?", he asked her softly in a concerned voice.
She nodded. "A little. The dress is sleeveless."
He reluctantly tore his arms from her and shrugged out of his
jacket.
"Here. Take this." He helped her into it.
"Thanks."
They were silent again while Mulder went to lean against the
wall and taking her hand in his, and fingered it. Scully was
looking up at the stars again.
"Oh, Mulder, this night is incredible! The stars are so
beautiful."
When he didn't reply right away she turned her head to look
at him.
"Well, Scully, you see, I think the most beautiful stars are
the ones in your eyes."
She gave his hand a light squeeze and pointed her head in the
direction of the car. "Shall we?"
He nodded and straightened. They turned together and he
wrapped his arm around her shoulders. They walked back to the
car and drove home.
Not able to conceal his hunger for her any more, Mulder
swiveled Scully around to him. She had been trying to open
the door to her apartment but with the light still broken it
had taken up more time than Mulder could wait for a Scully-
kiss. So he simply kissed her where they were now. In a dark
hallway in front of her apartment door. /Who cares?/
But while the heat was rising and they became more reckless,
the door to the apartment across from Scully's opened and a
woman in her mid-thirties emerged with a young child on her
arm. Upon seeing them the kid exclaimed:
"EWWWWWW!!"
And before other statements of disgust could be wailed,
Scully opened her door and pulled Mulder into her apartment.
/What is that kid doing up at this time of the night
anyway?!/
This is what Cirglas' sister behaves like when people kiss on
TV. Kids are great! Really, I do like them. But, well, they
just DON'T know much about love. --Nessy)
-------------------------------------------------------------
Monday
8:55 AM
Skinner's waiting room
"Mulder, would you please stop pacing? It's driving me bats.
And stop fiddling with your tie." She gave him an
understanding smile. "Come here."
Mulder walked over to Scully and stood in front of her. "I'm
sorry, Scully. It's just..."
She reached up and straightened his tie. "Don't worry,
Mulder. Skinner likes us. Otherwise he would have closed us
down a long time ago."
Mulder smiled as he recognized how right she was about that.
But he wanted the X-Files back. And he needed to work with
her. But they might be separated if the higher-ups found out
that they had gotten involved. So they needed Skinner's okay
that they would be allowed to work together even if they
became lovers.
Mulder heard something that sounded suspiciously like a sigh
from his left and turned his head to find out who or what had
caused it. He noticed that Skinner's secretary had taken an
unhealthy interest in their interactions. And she was smiling
at them with a satisfied smirk on her lips. Mulder took a
step back from Scully who had finished with his tie.
He remembered the looks they had received from the security
guards down in the entrance hall. They had recognized him and
Scully and had not hidden their amusement at seeing them
together once more. /Yes, you're right guys. Mr. and Mrs.
Spooky are back./
Suddenly Skinner's door swung open and an anxious Skinner
peeked out. His gaze landed on Scully.
"I just looked on my schedule and saw your name, Agent
Scully. Is there anything I can do for you?" Then he noticed
that she wasn't alone. "Mulder?"
"Surprise," Mulder said in his usual humor-soaked voice.
Skinner waved them over into his office and closed the door
behind them. Then he shook Mulder's hand with a fierce grip.
"Good to see you again, Mulder."
"Good to be back, Sir."
"And? Did you find out something about your sister?"
"Yes. I found her, Sir." Mulder couldn't have stifled the
tiniest smile at that thought.
"That is great news, Mulder." He looked over to Scully and
said: "So how long is he back?"
"A few days."
"And you didn't think it necessary to inform me about it?"
"Oh, Sir, we thought we'd surprise you."
"Well, you sure managed to do that."
"Um, Sir?" Mulder spoke up.
"Yes, I think it's time to take up the business talk. Please
take a seat." They complied as Skinner walked around behind
his desk and sat down in his chair.
"I can imagine what has brought you here. And I'm glad to be
able to say: You can have the X-Files back."
Skinner smiled at the happy faces across from him. His two
favorite agents were back. Finally the boring years were
over. But there was something else in their faces.
"Is there anything else I can do for you?" He asked.
"Well, there is one more thing, Sir." Mulder said and took
Scully's hand. "You see, Sir, Scully and I have decided to
pursue our feelings for each other."
A shocked pause. Then: "How recent is that decision?"
"Very recent, Sir," Scully answered.
Skinner frowned. /Oh, no, please don't let him tell us we
can't work together anymore./
Skinner looked first one then the other in the eyes. "Hmm.
You know, I could have sworn that you two had gotten involved
years ago."
Mulder was utterly confused. Was he saying that, even though
he thought they had gotten involved, he hadn't separated
them? "Sir?"
"Well, I know that kind of 'fraternization' is frowned upon,
but why separate my best agents? I just hope you will stay my
best agents." After they had nodded their confirmation - they
were still too perplexed to say anything - Skinner continued:
"It'll take a little time to get the paper work through. But
you should be able to start to work on the X-Files again by
Monday morning. I'll notify Quantico of your transfer, Agent
Scully, and make sure that they find a replacement to start
immediately, so that you can move your things back down to
the basement and get settled."
Mulder and Scully stood up and Mulder said "Thank you, Sir."
"You're welcome. I'm glad to have you two back." Skinner
nodded at them. Just as they wanted to walk out the door he
called them back.
"You sure that the decision is recent?"
Scully smiled her enigmatic smile and after glancing at
Mulder replied, "The decision is."
As the door closed behind them Skinner shook his head and
murmured: "Better late than never."
On the other side of the door Mulder leaned down, wrapped his
arms around her waist, picked Scully up and spun her around
in the air. That surprised a giggle out of her. Mulder was
just so happy. He had everything he ever wanted. His sister,
the X-Files, Scully. Especially Scully. He carefully set her
down again and kissed her passionately.
What they hadn't noticed was that the door to the hallway
stood open and they could also be seen through the glass
window. So they earned themselves catcalls, howling and
applause for their kiss. As they broke their kiss she was
flushed, but not from desire this time. Her blushing made him
smile.
Mulder's next reaction was the most natural in the world -
for him. He cradled her face in his palms and kissed her
again. For good measure. The applause and noise perked up
again.
Skinner, wondering what all the noise was about, opened the
door and looked out. What he saw made him smile - for the
second time this day, in only about twenty minutes.
There they stood, his best pair of agents, in the middle of
his outer office, kissing as if their life depended on it.
Kimberly, his secretary, had propped her head up on her hands
and was looking dreamily at the two lovebirds.
Skinner placed his hands on his hips and enjoyed the show.
/Let the fun begin./
The End
Ah. Finished. Finally.
So. What do you think?
Scully still has to meet Samantha. Or is the story just so
horrible that Cirglas and I should immediately get rid of our
comps altogether?
You are the one who I want to
Spend my life with
You are the one who I want to
Share my thoughts with
Together in this crazy world
We'll be strong if we hold together
Holding on to love
In good or bad
Happy or sad times
We'll go through it together
you and me
We'll show the world
That love's eternal
Time and time again we'll be
Holding strong
You are the one who I want to
Spend my life with
You are the one who I want to
Share my thoughts with
Together in this crazy world
We'll be strong if we hold together
Holding on to love
In good or bad
Happy or sad times
We'll go through it together
you and me
We'll show the world
That love's eternal
Time and time again we'll be
Holding strong
Falling for you
You're the one, for me now
Falling for you, love
In good or bad
Happy or sad times
We'll go through it together
you and me
We'll show the world
That love's eternal
Time and time again we'll be
Holding strong
---- Kara Johnstad (Holding on to Love)