Three Little Words

Spoilers: None
Category: MSR, UST
Disclaimer: I don't own 'em. Never will.

"Goodbye, Mulder."
"Goodbye, Scully."
Why couldn't he say it? His life's work has just been shut down
for the last time. Scully had to be transferred to Pennsylvania and he
had to stay in Washington. He would only see this petite, fiery red-head
once or twice a year at most, and he couldn't say it. Three words. Not
that many. But to tell this woman, this goddess that came into his life
unwillingly six years ago, that he loved her, that would be the hardest
thing he'd ever have to do. But he couldn't do it. He just couldn't.
"You still with me Foxy?" Scully said laughingly, knowing full
well that Mulder hated that name. She had to do something to lighten the
mood.
"I may not be your partner anymore, but I am still a FBI agent,
an FBI agent who happens to hate that name, and an FBI agent who happens
to have a big gun and a short temper, Dr. Scully." Mulder said snapping
out of his reverie at the sound of her voice.
"Listen Mulder, I am really going to miss you. You were the most
insane, paranoid, spooky person I knew,and for some reason, I've always
liked you for that. I'm gonna miss the Lone Gunmen too. Speaking of which
I'd like to give them one last visit before we have to go."
"Already taken care of, Scully. Tommorow at my place. They're making
you dinner," he said with a smile.
Scully smiled back and soon grew serious. "I'm really gonna miss you, Spooky."
"I'm gonna miss you too, Mrs. Spooky."
They embraced, and Scully was trying to hold back tears. Mulder
was trying to do the same thing.
"I'll see ya tommorow Mulder."
"Ditto."


FOX MULDER'S APARTMENT
THE NEXT EVENING



Scully took a deep breath and stepped into the small apartment.
She was hit by all sorts of good smells coming from the kitchen.
"Hey, who would've thought that the three most paranoid men on
earth could make something that smells so good?"
"Unearthing government conspiricies aren't the only things
we're good at."
"Yeah, what made you think we can't cook Dr. Scully?"
"Oh you guys, come out here." They came in a line, first Byers
then Langly, and finally Frohike. They all greeted her with a hug,
Frohike hanging on a little longer than needed. Then Mulder came out
and also gave her a hug. The five of them spent the next few hours
talking about the latest conspirecies and laughing. Then it was time to
leave. Scully stood up and gave them all a hug.
"Too bad I won't be able to get your magazine."
"Agent Scully, even if you hadn't given us your new address, we would
have found you anyway," Byers said with a smile.
Scully gave him another hug, and one to Langely.
"Hey, why do I get the short end of the deal?" Frohike protested.
"Come here little man." She then walked over to him and kissed
on the lips. Frohike startred sputtering and Scully gave him another kiss
on the lips. Frohike smiled and said "I always knew you had a soft spot
for me, Scully."
"Oh yeah. I had the hots for you the moment I saw you." she
laughed, giving him a hug. "Goodbye you guys. I'll miss you. And
Mulder, I'll see you tommorow morning."
"Fine. The tall guy always gets the woman." she heard Frohike
point out. She began laughing all over again as she walked down the
hallway. Her laughter was then silenced, remembering that after tommorow,
she wouldn't see any of them again. It was the thought that she would
never work with Mulder again made her want to break down and cry. Why
couldn't she just admit those three little words? Three words, 8 letters,
three syallables, and she couldn't do it.Oh, there was no doubt she
wanted to. Her lips would be forming the "I" and then she would stop.
She couldn't do it. She just couldn't.




DANA SCULLY'S APARTMENT
8:30 AM
THE NEXT DAY


Mulder knocked on the door and shifted his weight impatiently.
"Come on, Scully, open the door" he yelled.
"Coming." came the reply. She opened the door and smiled.
Mulder was breathless. He almost never saw that smile.
"Hey, Scully." He then brought out the dozen roses behind his
back.
"Oh, Mulder. They're beautiful. I have a present for you too.
hold on." She retreated into her apartment and came back with a large
package. He dug into it and found a U.F.O tie He laughed and dug deeper. He then found a
picture of them in a nice silver frame. It was at a F.B.I. Christmas party and Scully was in
his arms, dipped down, laughing. Mulder tried not to cry. He really did. But
he couldn't help it.
"Oh, Mulder. This is not the end. We will see each other again.
Don't you trust me?"
"You are the only one I trust, Scully, you know that."
"If I remember correctly Spooky, trust no one."
"Would I lie to you Mrs. Spooky?"
"Of course not Mulder."
"Let's go then." In the car ride to the airport, they couldn't
stop talking, laughing and crying. When they got there, they made it
through everything in record time.
"Boy am I gonna miss running through the airport on some crazy
case with you Spooky."
"And I'm gonna miss your endless 'logical' explaninations for
everything."
"Ha." She looked tearfully into his warm hazel eyes and gave him
a hug. They clung to eachother, both appreciating the comfort the other
provided. The last boarding call for Scully's flight was called, and
Scully looked at Mulder. 'Three little words,' her mind screamed at her
'eight letters, three syllables.' Meanwhile, Mulder's mind was doing the
same thing.'Come on, Fox old boy, three little words, not that many.'
Scully spoke first. "Goodbye Mulder."
"Goodbye Scully."
Scully walked away, never turning back. "I love you, Mulder,"
she whispered.
Mulder watched her leave, his eyes following her steps to the
plane, her steps to Pennsylvania, Her steps out of his life.
"I love you, Scully," he whispered. 'Three little words my ass.'
his brain retorted.
Scully sat down sadly on the plane. 'Three little words,'her
brain said,'three little words indeed.'