Partners By Chance - chapter four

Disclaimers found in chapter one

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Mulder looked at Scully and saw pure fear in her eyes. The knot in his stomach tightened considerably. Had he totally misread Scully over the past week or so? He thought was he was going to tell her would be as much of a relief to her as it was to him.

Perhaps he was wrong.

He approached her slowly and gently picked up her hand. He looked at her and saw the look of fear replaced by one of confusion. "Scully" he started "Today I did something I had never done before."

"What was that?"

"I actually looked something up in the FBI regulation book."

He dropped her hand and start to pace knowing that he was only confusing her more.

"I wanted to check on a regulation or two before we met for dinner tonight."

"Why was that?"

"Because where I am perfectly happy flying by the seat of my pants, I know you are a person that likes to play by the rules."

"Usually, yes"

"And I wanted to make sure I wasn't about to break any rules"

Scully just stood and stared at Mulder as he paced the room. He was obviously trying to make a point although she had absolutely no idea what that point would be.

"And are you?"

"I don't think so."

"Good, I think."

Mulder tried to smile at her and she looked at him waiting for more of an explanation. When none was coming she asked "May I ask which rule you were checking?"

Mulder let out a long breath finally figuring out that Scully had absolutely no idea what he was rambling on about. He stopped his pacing and walked back over to her again.

He picked up her hand and kissed it softly. "Fraternizing between agents" he whispered.

Scully eyes grew huge as she absorbed the meaning of not only what Mulder was saying to her but what he was doing to her by simply massaging her palm with his thumb.

"Oh" was all she managed to say.

Mulder tucked a stray hair behind her ear with his free hand. "Since we are not technically partners, they really can't interfere with our relationship as long as it doesn't interfere with work."

His fingers stayed on her face and were now stroking her cheek. He continued softly "Even if we were partners, they couldn't do a whole lot. At least I don't think they could although I get the impression that fraternization between partners is frowned upon."

Scully just nodded her response unable to take her eyes off of Mulder's face. Unless she was totally mistaken, Mulder was not only going to kiss her but was actually offering her some sort of real relationship.

The thought made her head swim and her lips parted slightly as his approached hers. She could feel his breath on her and the slightest touch of his lips on hers when the sound of both their cell phones ringing made them both jump.

Mulder laughed as he groped for his phone. "Keep that thought Scully, please" he said before answering his phone "Mulder"

He walked away from Scully allowing them both a bit of privacy for their phone calls even though he quickly realized they were both about the same thing.

"Another one sir? When? Who? Oh my God - I am so sorry to hear that. Yes, I can get hold of Scully. We will meet you in an hour."

He pushed the end button and looked over at Scully who had also just ended her phone call. He walked over to her and gathered her in his arms not for passion this time but to comfort them both. "Oh Mulder" Scully sighed pressing her head against his chest. "Who would want to kill Penny? She is - was -the sweetest person around."

"I don't know Scully but we will catch him, I promise before he hurts anyone else."

They held each other for another moment or two before pulling themselves together enough to head for the office. Mulder once again guided Scully with a hand on her back leading her to the car he had parked in front of his apartment.

Getting in the car he didn't notice the man watching them from a dark corner of the block.

"If you're not careful, you will be next" he muttered to himself before disappearing into the darkness.

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end of chapter four