The impressive Hoover Building loomed over them as they drove by in the slow morning traffic.  His sleepless night had been racked with thoughts of their almost kiss as he relived the soft caress of her breath on his cheek and the expression on her face when he watched her for a moment with her eyes closed.  When he opened the door to her this morning he had to busy himself with his tie to keep himself from pushing her against the wall and completing the move he began the night before.

"Having trouble?" she said as he struggled to fasten an acceptable knot in the dark red tie.

You have no idea, he thought but looked up and said, "The damn thing won't bloody work."

            She stepped closer and pushed his hands down.  Her fingers slid around his collar to lift it high and she straightened the tie before pulling it into a perfect knot.  After fixing his shirt she stood back to admire her work and smiled.

"Perfect."

"Where did you learn that?" he asked loosening it a bit and slipping on his suit jacket.

"Two brothers and a father, not to mention a childhood in catholic schools with uniforms."

"You in a school girls uniform? Now that I'd like to see!"

"In your dreams…"

"So, how do I look?" he asked and twirled in front of her.  He was wearing a black suit with a crisp white shirt and a plain deep red almost wine tie.

"Like an FBI Agent."

"Dammit, I was going for CIA!"

            His humour disappeared with the clear roads as they quickly became encased in rush hour traffic that seemed to be sucking all the good thoughts from him.  He glanced over at her to see her calmly watching the road waiting for the cars to move.  He liked what she was wearing, black trousers with a pale blue short sleeved blouse.  He noticed her jacket was hung up against the back seat window but he couldn't help but picture her in nothing but his old Knicks t-shirt.  Her hair was still down and he wondered what it would feel like to run his hands through it.  Looking into her face he saw that she was watching him and he'd been caught studying her.

"Is the traffic always this bad?" he asked looking away and loosening his tie even more, opening the top button of his shirt.

"Sometimes."

"I'm beginning to think I should have stayed at home."

            The car park was below the building and he looked around in wonder at the rows of matching cars.  She parked the car quickly and they both stepped out.  As she fit on her jacket and fastened her badge to the breast pocket he fixed his tie.

            The elevator ride to the ground floor was quick and he followed her down the hall towards the security check.  He copied her as she held out her badge for inspection.

"Hey Mulder, did you catch the Wizards game on Sunday?" one of the guards called as he stepped through the metal detector.  Mulder turned to see and older man smiling at him, obviously unaware of his situation.

"Yeah, quite a score."

"Do you wanna let it ride?"

"What?"

"The $20 you owe me, you know the Knicks are coming to town next weekend!"

"Sure…let it ride.  With the Knicks in town I'll get it back twice over."

"Yeah Mulder, that's why I like betting with you," the guard turned away laughing heartily.

            Scully watched the exchange carefully, ready to step in if he needed her to but he handled it fine.  He turned back to her, the smile still on his face.

"That was weird," he said.

"No Mulder, you always loose money to Gerry.  And with the Knicks…you'll loose more."

            He caught the gleam in her eyes and loved to see it.  Her easy mood and playful banter calmed his nerves as they made their way to the south elevator. 

"Basement office?" he said smiling, as she pressed the floor button " I thought you said they didn't like me?"

            She knew he was making jokes to calm his nerves and his hands wouldn't stay still.  They danced from his hips to his hair and to his pockets.  As she unlocked the door to the office she stood back to let him enter first.  One hand rested on his hip while the other rubbed the back of his neck. 

"Ready?" she asked.

"Yeah, let's do it."

            He pushed open the door and fumbled for the light.  The first thing he saw was the huge poster that was tacked to the wall behind his desk.  A wide smile spread across his face as he walked closer and saw all the cut outs and photos that were stuck to the notice board.  His desk was, much like his one at home, a clutter of papers files and his PC was covered in yellow post it notes reminding him to collect lunch or pick up Scully at the morgue. 

            The filing cabinets that lined the back wall caught his eye next and he pulled one open to see it lined with folders that had red lined edges.  He moved his fingers through them and removed one at random.

"X-213-0089, Status Incomplete," he read.

"Welcome to the X-Files," she said.

"There are a lot of incomplete files in here," he said as he flicked through more of them.

"They date back to the early 1900's and I've only been working here for a few years!"

            He laughed out loud.  Loud enough to surprise her but she loved to hear it.  He turned in time to catch her smile before she put it away.  Sitting into her desk she switched on her PC.

"Are you working on the Carson case?"

"Yes.  I've got to be up in Skinners office in half an hour to report progress."

            She watched him wander into the back room his hands idly running over different objects.  He finally made his way back to his own desk and his long fingers reached out for the basketball that had been staying in his in tray.  A rustle of paper beneath his feet made him look down to see a folder spilled out on the floor.  Picking it up he read the post it asking for Scully's signature.

"Here, did you see this?" he asked as he walked over to her desk holding it out.

"Yeah.  Agent Watters left it for me." She leafed through the small file and set it onto her desk.  "It's a report on your accident last Friday.  He needs me to sign it to verify his account."  Her voice was steady but he could tell she was making an effort to keep it that way.

"Can I read it?"

            She paused for a moment before handing it over to him.  He returned to his desk and dropped the ball back into its in tray.  From the corner of her eyes she watched him, his eyes moving quickly over the text.  She'd already read it and although it was an accurate account of the accident, it didn't speak of the horror she felt watching him fall, or the panic that rose up in her stomach when she found his blood.  It was clinical and precise making it an excellent report but void of these emotions she thought it would be harder for him to read.  He needed to know that he wasn't alone when he lay bleeding on the road, that she travelled with him to the hospital and waited for him.  He needed to know that he wasn't alone. 

            Silently she stood away from her desk and approached him.  He'd closed the file over as he finished reading and she leaned against his desk, her knee barely touching his.

"You okay?"

"Yeah.  It's strange to read of the account of what happened but having no cognitive memory of the event."

"Not yet anyway."

"Are you always so optimistic?" he said smiling, bumping her leg with his own.

"No, but I have faith.  In you."

"I wish I did."

            They sat in silence for a moment before she moved away.  She printed off some pages from her PC and gathered them into her case.

"I have to go to the meeting.  Would you like to join us?"

"No, I'd only be in the way."
"Are you sure?"

"Yes.  I'd rather not speak with anyone right now.  I don't think I could face the questions."
"Okay…well I shouldn't be too long."

"It's okay Dana, don't worry, I have a lot of reading to get through," he said throwing his thumb over his shoulder to the cabinets behind him and wearing a crooked smile.

            He could hear her heels clicking towards the lift at the end of the hall and even the tinny ding as it arrived.  He rested his hands flat on the desk moving the mouse as he did and the PC screen came to life.  It opened up on his email page.  He clicked on the RECEIVE ALL button and waited for the 5 messages to download fully.  Glancing at the door with a feeling like he was prying he tried to sit still.  Two of them were from the building security about lights that had been left on in the car park.  One was from Scully dated from last Friday about what they were going to do for lunch.  The last two were from anonymous senders with no return address.  After reading through the mails about latest UFO sightings and Crop Circles he smiled at the lone gunmen logo on the bottom of each letter.  A little laugh escaped when he remembered that day when they visited them in hospital.  They had swept him into a chair and brought him down to the canteen explaining about hospital conspiracies along the way.  He could never imagine Fox Mulder, FBI Agent being friends with these men all so different, but Dana had told him stories to the contrary.

            Another taste of the unknown.  Guessing wrong about what type of man he was supposed to be.  Trying to imagine how he was supposed to react.  Dana kept telling him to just work with his instincts because he was Fox Mulder and his reactions would be the same.  But it was so hard.  Everywhere he looked he could see reminders of the man he was supposed to be.  Accolades on the wall screamed of an education he didn't have.  Reports he'd signed held facts he couldn't recall.  Posters and clippings on the wall displayed passions and beliefs he had no convictions in.

            A sudden ball of anger welled up from the pit of his stomach and before he could stop himself his arm swept along the desktop clearing it of its contents.  He reached for his nameplate and threw it across the room, breaking a pane of glass as it smashed against one of the few windows the room had. 

            Unable to bear the close confines of the Mulder infested room he bolted.  Curious glances were afforded to him as he all but ran from the building into the cool morning air.  He needed to escape.  Go somewhere he hadn't been before.  With a laugh he realised he had no idea where he had or hadn't been.  Looking around at the traffic at an almost standstill he quickly crossed the road and disappeared in to the morning crowds.

***

"No sir," Agent Simpson said, "We had no luck in Arlington yesterday.  He wouldn't speak but I know he was hiding something.  Maybe if we could get him down here for questioning…or get a warrant-,"

"I don't really see any one approving a warrant to search the professor's house when we tell them our theory," Agent Watters all but shouted drawing the attention of the small crowd.  Agents Scully, Watters, Simpson, Reilly and Salmon sat at the conference table in Skinners office.  Skinner walked behind them, almost pacing the room.  He was listening to the progress reports from each individual Agent and was trying desperately to curb his frustration. 

"Agent Watters that is enough," he said sharply.  "I understand that Agent Reilly and Salmon have a list of possible associates."

"Yes sir," Agent Reilly handed out a copy of the small list to each agent and sat again. "From the list of names that we collected from talking to other inmates and guards, and checking the visitations each prisoner received we have compiled this short list of people that might be involved."

"Good work."

"We are trying to get locations for them all but so far we have address for only half of them.  Five without even parole officers and the rest we are still working on."

"Good.  Get back in touch with Burns' team and lets see if we can't get this case moving any quicker."

            The Agents took that as their cue that the meeting was over and stood to leave.  Skinner walked over to where Scully stood fixing her files and placed a hand on her shoulder.

"Can I speak with you a minute?"

            She finished packing her case and sat down again waiting for the room to clear before Skinner could talk.  He pulled out a chair beside her and sat next to her his arms on his knees he sat forward.

"Did I see you walking in with Agent Mulder this morning?"

"Yes sir.  He came in to take a look at the office to see if it jogs anything."

"Did it?"

"No.  No sir, it didn't."

"How is he coping?"

            She thought for a moment wondering if she should honestly speak of Mulders struggle but when she looked up to Skinner she didn't have to say anything.

"How about you?" he asked but before she could reply with her customary I'm fine he continued.  "I understand your wish to continue with this case Agent Scully but it is obviously taking its toll."

"Sir if you're going to ask me to take time off-," she began.

"No I'm going to advise you.  That's all.  Advise from a friend."

"I appreciate your concern sir, but I'd rather continue working," she said flatly.

"Okay."  He watched her for a minute before standing.  "That will be all."

            She quickly left and rushed back to the basement office.  Finding the door ajar and stepping in she audibly gasped at the sight before her.

"Mulder?" she called tentatively.  She carefully stepped through the mess and put her belongings down on her desk.  After lifting a few pages she stood back and heard a crunching under her feet.  The broken glass lay in chunks and looking up she could see the small window he'd broken.  She bent down to pick up a few pieces of glass but dropped them as a sliver ran along the bottom of her palm slicing it up neatly.

"Dammit…" she said aloud.

            She searched for the first aid kit but the wound continued to bleed telling her a few stitches would be required.  However unlike Mulder she didn't have a medical physician on hand at all times so she resigned her self to a quick trip to the emergency room.  After calling the janitor about the broken window she gathered her things and left.  While stuck in traffic she called Mulders apartment and left a message.  She knew he wouldn't be there but she just needed to be sure.

            The ER was relatively quiet but before she could speak to the receptionist she heard someone calling her name.  Turning she saw Dr Tracy Lawrence approach her a wide smile on her face.

"Dana, what have you done this time?"

"Hi Tracy.  Just a small cut from broken glass.  A couple of stitches should do it."

"And you came all the way down here?" she said smiling as she led Scully into a small room.  Scully sat on the bed as Tracy located out a suture kit before sitting next to her on a high stool.  "The Dana Scully I worked with would have tacked this together Rambo style and continued about her daily business.  Too distracted by that gorgeous partner of yours, I'd say!"

            Scully smiled but it was all an effort.  She winced at the sharp pinch from the local anaesthetic.

"Where is he today?"

"Working."

"Ahh the age of chivalry is dead in today's men.  Where have all the good ones gone Dana?"

"I don't know Tracy, I don't know."

            Later that day Scully sat in the basement office her neck being caressed by the breeze that came in through the broken window.  One of the janitors had cleared away all the glass and had left the pages piled on her desk in no order.  She had sorted most of them out but she knew she was simply hanging around waiting for Mulder to call her.  Finally at 6pm she couldn't take it anymore and she packed up her case and left.

            Sitting in traffic as the anaesthetic started to wear off she could feel the small stinging sensation returning to her palm.  She ran her fingers over the small bandage and could feel the stitches.  A loud blare from a cars horn told her the lights had turned green and she took off.  The sight of her familiar building brought more than a little relief.  Having already left two messages for Mulder to call her she struggled not to drive directly to his apartment.  But decided against it, giving him the room he needed.  She often told him he had to be patient and now it was time for her test, a test she knew she would fail if he didn't contact her soon. 

            She pulled into a space and collected her things from the back of the car.  Juggling her case and coat she managed to open the door to her apartment and immediately dropped them onto her kitchen table.  Her hand reached up to her hair where they pulled her hair away from her face but she froze when she saw the upturned mug on her washboard.  Having rushed out that morning she didn't have time for coffee.  A soft rustling of clothes behind her made her whip round her hand automatically reaching for her gun as she told herself an intruder would have made coffee and certainly wouldn't have cleaned up after it.  As she stepped cautiously into the living room she spotted Mulder lying, asleep on the couch. 

            Her whole body relaxed and she re-holstered her gun as she stepped around the couch and bent down by his head.  She could see the damp streaks where his tears had fallen and her hand reached out to brush away his hair but she found her fingers gently touching his cheek.  She collected a blanket form the hot press and draped it over him.  Unsure of how he made it to her apartment or how he had gained entry she was just glad he was here and safe.

            She showered quickly and changed into a pair of soft cotton black trousers and a red top.  He was still sleeping when she brought her coffee into the living room and set up her laptop on the low table in front of him.  Settling herself on the floor by his chest she took another quick look at his sleeping form before getting to work.

            Later that evening he woke to the rhythmic tapping of her fingers on the keys and his eyes fluttered open.  The room was dark save for the glow from her screen.  He watched her silently for a moment.  He wouldn't be able to watch her if she knew he was awake.  Her hair was up into a high ponytail exposing her long neck and before he could stop himself his fingers reached out and gently touched her neck causing her to jump a little in surprise.

"Mulder…you're awake!" she said, her voice barely a whisper.  She turned her head but his hand didn't move and his fingers gently brushed around her shoulder and stopped on her collarbone.

"Hi," he said his hand still touching her and his thumb gently rubbing small circles into her soft skin.

"What happened? Where did you go?"  She moved away from his reach unable to concentrate with the sweet sensations he was creating.  She sat on the edge of the low table and leaned forward resting her elbows on her knees.

"I left," he said plainly.  He sat up slowly and entangled his legs in the blanket.  He rubbed his face with both hands and hoped she didn't notice the damp streaks he could feel beneath his fingers.

"Why?" she pushed.

"I couldn't take it Dana.  Sitting in that room, reading files I'd written, looking at things for the first time that had me stamped all over them but…it's not me anymore.  I can't be that Fox Mulder."

"You don't have to be…you only have to be yourself."

"Yeah, follow my instincts? Well I did.  And my instincts told me to get the hell outta there."

"What are you afraid of?" she asked her voice suddenly becoming angry.

"Afraid? I'm terrified…of failing.  Of not living up to anyone's…to your expectations."

"My expectations are for you to be honest.  That's all I want from you.  And if that means telling me to mind my own business and leaving you alone-,"

"I'm already alone," his voice was soft and had she not seen his lips moving she might have thought she imagined it.

"You're not alone."

"From what I can see I have no family left, my friends consist of three men that I would consider institutionalising and you."

"Mulder-," she began but he cut her off.

"I couldn't remember my address."  He pulled the blanket from his legs and piled it on the couch beside him.  "I couldn't remember my address so I came here.  The cab ride cost €30.   I was sitting on your doorstep for about an hour before this old guy came." 

            She watched him speaking.  Not waning to interrupt she let him continue and wondered briefly when he started crying.

"He called me Mulder and asked if you and I had had a fight," he smiled, catching her eyes for a second before they returned to his hands.  "I said I'd forgotten my key and he let me in.  He said he was the super and he wasn't supposed to let people into the apartments but because it was me he'd make an exception."

"Mr Reynolds…you saved his cat last summer, he's taken a liking to you."

"Well I got here about lunch time and I've been sitting here, thinking…I guess I fell asleep.  I didn't think you'd mind."

            His voice had become somewhat detached and his eyes wavered from her face to his hands.  His nervous composure scared her, having only seen Mulder like this on very few occasions she wasn't sure how to react.

"Of course I don't mind.  I was worried about you."  She took his hands in hers.  "I was relieved to see you."

"You are the most puzzling one of all," he said suddenly.

"What do you mean?" her brow furrowed slightly at his words.

"You are the one that scares me the most."  His hands tightened on hers and he looked up at her, a new found bravery welling up inside him as he spoke, "I don't know what type of relationship we had, I don't know what kind of friendship we had but I cant help but feel like I want something more."

"More?" her mind couldn't process his simple words quick enough and before she could say anything else he pulled her closer still holding her hands between them and kissed her.

            Her surprise quickly faded as his warmth sank through her body and exploded in her chest catching her breath.  He felt her move her head to the side and took his cue to deepen the kiss.  Letting one of her hands go he reached around her back to pull her closer still but the shrill ring from the phone cracked through their spell.  She slowly pulled away from him and with only a quick glance in his direction she dashed to catch the phone.

"Hello," she said standing with her back to him her breathing uneven.

"Scully, it's Jack Simpson, we have a situation going on down here.  Carson is cornered at the gallery, we need all units to respond."

"I'll be right there."

            She hung up the phone and turned to see him still sitting in the same position with a small smile on his face.

"I have to go."

"Yeah I heard."

            Unable to explain and unsure if she wanted to she dashed into her room and changed into a pair of jeans and threw on a jumper.  She carried her boots into the living room and sat in the chair across from him.  He still hadn't moved and she glanced at him as she tied her laces.

"I'm sorry."

"It's okay…I'll go-."

"No," she said quickly, "Please stay.  I'll be back as soon as I can."

"Are you sure?" he asked his lips curving into a smile.

"Yes." 

            Before rational thought could creep into her head and wipe out all of her impulses she walked over to him and lifted his face up.  She pressed a kiss against his lips and hated pulling away but did so before the hand he reached up to her waist convinced her to stay.  She didn't speak as she gathered her gun and badge and turned to him only as she stood in the open doorway.  His smile was inviting so she left quickly before she answered it.

**This is my second favourite chapter…sigh.  Dammed rain is making my writing all soppy…Sigh…I love it really!! **