*Chapter 8*
"What, do you need proof?" Scully asked. "Does the skeptic need cold, hard facts? Well, allow me to present evidence A: one Dana Katherine Scully. This woman has been rescued from various dangerous situations by one Fox William Mulder. Not only has this man saved her life, but he has also saved her soul from loneliness and despair.
"You think that you are the only one who suffers from bouts of depression, but I, too, have experienced a lot, sometimes, I think, too much. And in those times of darkness, I turned to you. For comfort. For support. Even just for a smile.
"Mulder, do you know how many times I have thanked God for being assigned as your partner and for giving me the opportunity to discover a new friend, a best friend. I never knew how lost I was until I met you"
She took a few seconds rest and continued.
"Would you like me to continue because I will. I have countless instances that I can use to convince you to admit to yourself what a wonderful person you are."
Scully had Mulder's complete attention throughout her argument. She would have made a great lawyer. He felt so incredibly lucky to have this woman by his side. Was she even aware of his adoration?
"You are absolutely incredible, Scully. I mean it. I may have never told you before, but I am forever thinking it. I have wanted to tell you on numerous occasions, but no time has ever felt more appropriate than right now. No one has ever said that or anything like that to me before. Thank you."
Scully was truly touched. She was also beaming with pride after his heart- felt compliment. She never knew positive feedback like that could completely lift your spirits. She had experienced the occasional "good job" and pat on the back during her career, but nothing compared to this. Nothing ever compared to Mulder. She felt six feet tall (considering her current height, that was tall). Mulder's compliments were scattered at best so she was going to have to savor the one she just received.
She also felt that their conversation was about to delve into uncharted territory. Hell, this entire night was one large uncharted territory for them. Dances, kisses, feelings. An X-File perhaps? Perhaps not, but still a very unstable night. She was starting to feel extremely uncomfortable because Mulder was staring at her so intently, almost willing her to come out and speak her mind. Scully decided to change the subject.
"You never did tell me what was wrong back at the table. The truth, I mean." There, she was positive that this topic was relatively safe.
Mulder smiled. She sure did change subjects quickly, he thought. Well, he knew she wasn't going to approve of his response because it brought them right back to the "forbidden topic."
"Are you sure you want the truth?" he asked. He was giving her one last chance to save herself by letting it go.
"Always."
Here it goes. "Well, ever since I saw you tonight in that gorgeous dress looking so beautiful," he saw her blushing, "I have been asking myself, 'When did she change?'."
"How do you mean?" she asked, quite baffled, first by the uncharacteristic but flattering compliment and then by the question posed.
"I mean, when did you change from the skeptical person that I work with to the woman who keeps me up at night."
"Mulder, for as long as I have known you, you have been a chronic insomniac," Scully said, trying to rationally explain his situation.
"That's not what I mean."
He got up from the chair and started pacing back and forth, trying to decide the best way to approach this. He stopped pacing suddenly and stood in front of Scully to prevent her from turning away from what he had to say. Mulder was going to, in essence, "pour his heart out." He hoped that he wouldn't hate himself in the morning.
"Dana..." he started.
"Dana?" Scully was genuinely surprised when he used her first name. Wherever this was going, it couldn't be good.
"Yes, Dana." Of course he would use her first name. It was much more intimate.
"Does this mean that I get to call you Fox?"
"No." He was in no mood to joke around and didn't even laugh at the use of his first name.
Scully was going to open her mouth to continue on with the safe subject but felt Mulder would get angry with her for trying to lead him off of his original topic again. She was in no position to argue with him when he was looming over top of her with that determined look in his eyes.
"Now what I have to say is important," he continued, "so I would appreciate it if you would listen with an open mind and an open heart."
Uh-oh. Trouble, Scully thought.
"In the beginning, you were just the woman they sent to spy on me. Then I began to respect you as a doctor and an FBI agent, and you became my partner. Trust came with this partnership, which, in turn, developed into friendship. This friendship is the best thing that has ever happened to me. No one has ever been able to dive into my mind; understand and accept me the way that you do. I am so grateful for what you have brought into my life; peace of mind. If you think I'm a wreck now, you should have seen my before you first walked into my office." He chuckled slightly. "Scully," he returned to using her last name because it was more comfortable, "I wouldn't trade what we have for anything."
"So what's the problem?" she asked softly.
"The problem is that I think I found something that I would risk our friendship for."
Faithful readers: I do apologize for this lapse in posting. The real world annoyingly got in the way this week. Weekend in Maryland. Loss of cable (ie no internet). And, SHOCK! work. Hopefully, you guys won't have to wait this long for another chapter. I do appreciate those who have stuck it out Hope this was worth the wait.
crazytook: To answer your question, Scully shot Mulder in the episode Anasazi. Mulder finds out that Krycek killed his father and is about to shoot him with the gun that was used to murder his father (therefore, incriminating Mulder in the act of patricide) when Scully shows up and prevents this by shooting him. Very tense, very cool. I'm glad you liked the beginning and the chapters following it. There have been definite issues with the kissing, all that I can say is to suspend reality for awhile. This show, after all, does contain aliens, monsters, and a gorgeous FBI agent who hadn't gotten some in how many years!?! And as long as you keep reading, I'll keep writing.
Kiki Cabou: "Yay" What a fabulous review. So glad that you are enjoying the ride. I hope that I haven't lost you with this extended hiatus. I know the wait has been long, but it shouldn't be too much longer till the end.
Jamie Sculder: Haha, if you liked the last cliffhanger, well you have got to hate this one. I won't make you wait too long for the next chapter. I wouldn't be that cruel. Thanks so much for your continuing reviews.
"What, do you need proof?" Scully asked. "Does the skeptic need cold, hard facts? Well, allow me to present evidence A: one Dana Katherine Scully. This woman has been rescued from various dangerous situations by one Fox William Mulder. Not only has this man saved her life, but he has also saved her soul from loneliness and despair.
"You think that you are the only one who suffers from bouts of depression, but I, too, have experienced a lot, sometimes, I think, too much. And in those times of darkness, I turned to you. For comfort. For support. Even just for a smile.
"Mulder, do you know how many times I have thanked God for being assigned as your partner and for giving me the opportunity to discover a new friend, a best friend. I never knew how lost I was until I met you"
She took a few seconds rest and continued.
"Would you like me to continue because I will. I have countless instances that I can use to convince you to admit to yourself what a wonderful person you are."
Scully had Mulder's complete attention throughout her argument. She would have made a great lawyer. He felt so incredibly lucky to have this woman by his side. Was she even aware of his adoration?
"You are absolutely incredible, Scully. I mean it. I may have never told you before, but I am forever thinking it. I have wanted to tell you on numerous occasions, but no time has ever felt more appropriate than right now. No one has ever said that or anything like that to me before. Thank you."
Scully was truly touched. She was also beaming with pride after his heart- felt compliment. She never knew positive feedback like that could completely lift your spirits. She had experienced the occasional "good job" and pat on the back during her career, but nothing compared to this. Nothing ever compared to Mulder. She felt six feet tall (considering her current height, that was tall). Mulder's compliments were scattered at best so she was going to have to savor the one she just received.
She also felt that their conversation was about to delve into uncharted territory. Hell, this entire night was one large uncharted territory for them. Dances, kisses, feelings. An X-File perhaps? Perhaps not, but still a very unstable night. She was starting to feel extremely uncomfortable because Mulder was staring at her so intently, almost willing her to come out and speak her mind. Scully decided to change the subject.
"You never did tell me what was wrong back at the table. The truth, I mean." There, she was positive that this topic was relatively safe.
Mulder smiled. She sure did change subjects quickly, he thought. Well, he knew she wasn't going to approve of his response because it brought them right back to the "forbidden topic."
"Are you sure you want the truth?" he asked. He was giving her one last chance to save herself by letting it go.
"Always."
Here it goes. "Well, ever since I saw you tonight in that gorgeous dress looking so beautiful," he saw her blushing, "I have been asking myself, 'When did she change?'."
"How do you mean?" she asked, quite baffled, first by the uncharacteristic but flattering compliment and then by the question posed.
"I mean, when did you change from the skeptical person that I work with to the woman who keeps me up at night."
"Mulder, for as long as I have known you, you have been a chronic insomniac," Scully said, trying to rationally explain his situation.
"That's not what I mean."
He got up from the chair and started pacing back and forth, trying to decide the best way to approach this. He stopped pacing suddenly and stood in front of Scully to prevent her from turning away from what he had to say. Mulder was going to, in essence, "pour his heart out." He hoped that he wouldn't hate himself in the morning.
"Dana..." he started.
"Dana?" Scully was genuinely surprised when he used her first name. Wherever this was going, it couldn't be good.
"Yes, Dana." Of course he would use her first name. It was much more intimate.
"Does this mean that I get to call you Fox?"
"No." He was in no mood to joke around and didn't even laugh at the use of his first name.
Scully was going to open her mouth to continue on with the safe subject but felt Mulder would get angry with her for trying to lead him off of his original topic again. She was in no position to argue with him when he was looming over top of her with that determined look in his eyes.
"Now what I have to say is important," he continued, "so I would appreciate it if you would listen with an open mind and an open heart."
Uh-oh. Trouble, Scully thought.
"In the beginning, you were just the woman they sent to spy on me. Then I began to respect you as a doctor and an FBI agent, and you became my partner. Trust came with this partnership, which, in turn, developed into friendship. This friendship is the best thing that has ever happened to me. No one has ever been able to dive into my mind; understand and accept me the way that you do. I am so grateful for what you have brought into my life; peace of mind. If you think I'm a wreck now, you should have seen my before you first walked into my office." He chuckled slightly. "Scully," he returned to using her last name because it was more comfortable, "I wouldn't trade what we have for anything."
"So what's the problem?" she asked softly.
"The problem is that I think I found something that I would risk our friendship for."
Faithful readers: I do apologize for this lapse in posting. The real world annoyingly got in the way this week. Weekend in Maryland. Loss of cable (ie no internet). And, SHOCK! work. Hopefully, you guys won't have to wait this long for another chapter. I do appreciate those who have stuck it out Hope this was worth the wait.
crazytook: To answer your question, Scully shot Mulder in the episode Anasazi. Mulder finds out that Krycek killed his father and is about to shoot him with the gun that was used to murder his father (therefore, incriminating Mulder in the act of patricide) when Scully shows up and prevents this by shooting him. Very tense, very cool. I'm glad you liked the beginning and the chapters following it. There have been definite issues with the kissing, all that I can say is to suspend reality for awhile. This show, after all, does contain aliens, monsters, and a gorgeous FBI agent who hadn't gotten some in how many years!?! And as long as you keep reading, I'll keep writing.
Kiki Cabou: "Yay" What a fabulous review. So glad that you are enjoying the ride. I hope that I haven't lost you with this extended hiatus. I know the wait has been long, but it shouldn't be too much longer till the end.
Jamie Sculder: Haha, if you liked the last cliffhanger, well you have got to hate this one. I won't make you wait too long for the next chapter. I wouldn't be that cruel. Thanks so much for your continuing reviews.