Chapter Seven - I Never Inhaled
Mulder tapped on Scully's door around seven o'clock so he could escort her to the party in the Village.
As he waited for her to open the door he thought to himself how much he had missed not seeing her since that morning.
She opened the door and all thoughts of missing her went out the window as Mulder's jaw fell open.
Scully stood there clad in a low cut black sleeveless top that clung to her every curve. Beneath it she wore a black broomstick skirt and high heels that sent Mulder's imagination running wild.
Around her throat she wore a simple silver necklace replacing her gold cross. The pendant hung tantalizing close to where you could spot a hint of cleavage. Her wrists were covered with silver bracelets.
Scully saw Mulder's reaction and began to go back into the room muttering about changing her clothes.
Mulder stopped her with a hand on her shoulder and slowly turned her around to face him. "Don't change a thing Scully" he said a bit huskily. "Just give me a minute to overcome the urge to ravish you right here in the hallway."
This comment got a small smile from Scully. "Do you like it?" she said softly. "Randy talked me into buying it."
"Remind me to thank him" Mulder said under his breath. "Do I like it Scully? I would have to be without a pulse not to like it." He slowly spun her around so he could get a better look at her. "Hell, I think Charlie may even turn straight again when he sees you. I know for sure that Randy will be green with jealousy that you hotter than him tonight."
Scully smiled grew a bit larger now. "Really Mulder?"
"Really Scully" he said offering her his arm. They made quite a pair. Him in his black jeans, black t-shirt and black boots and her in her all black outfit.
They would definitely fit in with the crowd at the party.
They arrived at the party about 30 minutes later and it was already in full swing. It was held in the building owned by a friend of Charlie's - Eli.
The bottom floor housed an impressive art gallery while the upper floors housed Eli's apartment. The rooms featured high tin ceilings and floor to ceiling windows.
The furniture was modern and sparse with most of the seating coming from large overstuffed cushions thrown all around the room. Even though the rooms were rather large in size, they all had an intimate feeling to them.
Every room was swarming with people a fact that made Scully, despite her appropriate attire, quite nervous.
"Relax" Mulder said as they worked their way into the room. "Artist types, in general, like everyone even uptight FBI agents."
Scully gave him a dirty look but took his offered hand and followed him through the crowd.
Mulder spotted Eli and quickly introduced Scully to him. Eli pointed them in the direction of the bar and told them to make themselves at home.
"How do you know Eli?" Scully said barely able to hear herself above the crowd.
"He is another one of Phoebe's rejected lovers. We met at a cocktail party a few years back. We got talking and found out that both of us had spent considerable time in England. We began to play 'do you know so-and-so' and discovered that we had each been one of Phoebe's doormats."
Mulder gave Scully a smile as he poured her a glass of wine. "We have been buddies ever since."
Scully accepted the wine wondering if sipping it would help with the slight hangover she had from the several glasses of wine she had with Randy.
Mulder poured himself a beer, put his hand on her back and steered her away from the densest part of the crowd. He bent over and spoke into her ear.
"Thanks" he said simply.
"My pleasure" she responded "Why are you thanking me."
"For putting up with this and the Yankees all in one day."
She smiled at him and was about to respond when she heard a shriek coming from across the room. Listening carefully she realized that someone was shrieking her name.
"I told you he would be jealous" Mulder whispered as Randy descended upon them.
"Oh my God Dana!" he said circling her. "You look absolutely unbelievable."
"Fox, I can't believe you didn't ravish her on the spot when you saw her" he said looking at Mulder frowning.
Mulder just smiled and said nothing but nodded his greeting to Charlie who had joined them.
Randy took Dana's arm "Come on girlfriend, I know that Fox will hide in this corner all night" he rolled his eyes at Mulder "but you need to be flaunted and I am just the one to do it."
He walked away pulling Scully, who was looking nervously at Mulder, along with him.
As soon as she was out of earshot Charlie smiled knowingly at Mulder. "She is hot Fox"
Mulder smiled at his friend "and it is wasted on you." He and Charlie then began to dissect, for the third time that day, the Yankee game.
About hour had passed before Randy returned Scully to Mulder. She looked a bit flushed from both the heat of the room and the several glasses of wine she had been given.
Randy quickly told Mulder and Charlie that the dancing was about to begin on the second floor. He raised his eyebrow at Charlie who shrugged. "Sorry Fox, duty calls, we can talk more about those pitching changes later. See you up there?"
Mulder replied "I am sure we will be up there shortly"
Charlie and Randy left and Mulder turned his full attention to Scully appreciating how pretty she looked with her cheeks mildly flushed.
"Did you have fun with Randy?" Mulder asked
"Yes, I did. It's funny you know Mulder." She began "if you told me yesterday that I would allow a homosexual man I have never met before to not only pick out my clothes for me but then drag me around to meet practically everyone here tonight, I would have told you that you were crazier than normal."
Mulder laughed. "Randy has that effect on people. He starts talking and before you know it you are doing what he wants." "I was a bit surprised at how many people here know you Mulder" she said looking up at him a bit questioningly.
"I guess I have met most of them from time to time over the years. Eli is known for his parties big and small and I try to make as many as I can."
Scully nodded trying not to feel upset about yet another part of Mulder's life that she was not privy to.
Mulder sensed this slight change of mood and decided to try and lighten it. "And how did Randy introduce you. As the gun toting FBI Agent?"
Scully blushed a bit. "Actually he called me your girlfriend." She looked up at Mulder to judge his reaction. Seeing none she continued. "I didn't know whether or not to contradict him so I said nothing. I hope you don't mind."
Mulder smiled down at her. "How could I possibly mind being referred to as the boyfriend of the hottest woman in the room. All the single men here, and probably some of the taken ones too, probably had their eye on you. Guess they will be disappointed now."
Upstairs they heard the muffled sounds of the music beginning to play.
"Shall we?" Mulder said raising an eyebrow at his partner.
"Sure, why not" Scully said.
Mulder guided Scully upstairs to where a large room had been cleared of all furniture with the exception of a few chairs. The music poured from an old jukebox that had been preprogrammed with all of Eli's favorite songs.
They stood side by side in silence for a while just watching the couples move around the dance floor. Looking at the couples, Mulder couldn't help but remember how good Scully had felt in his arms when they had been forced to dance together as man and wife during the case in Minnesota.
The B-52's began to blast out of the jukebox and before he could ask her to join him Randy and Charlie walked over. Before she knew what hit her, Randy had dragged Scully out onto the dance floor leaving Charlie and Mulder alone.
"Randy's quite the dancer" Mulder said with amusement as he watched Randy gyrate around the floor.
"Yes he is" Charlie said laughing himself. "That's why I mainly stick to the slow dances."
Mulder laughed but he continued. "Randy also wanted me to come over and ask you why you two haven't danced yet. We both know you love to dance and I can't think of a lovelier partner for you."
Mulder shrugged. "What can I tell you, we are both are chicken when it comes to such things."
"Don't you care for her?" Charlie asked looking puzzled. Mulder nodded. "And from what I can see, she seems to care for you too."
Mulder shrugged again. "Perhaps"
"I think you two should stop thinking so much and just have some fun." Charlie said gesturing to Randy who was busily spinning Scully all around the dance floor. "Fox, take a page out of Randy's book - he never lets an opportunity pass him by."
The song finished and Scully and Randy returned both looking a bit flushed. Randy kissed Scully's hand. "That was a delight my dear" he said. "we shall do it again if he" he looked directly at Mulder "doesn't get his act in gear soon."
"Okay" Scully said still trying to catch her breath. "That will be fun."
The music began again. This time is was a slow Joe Crocker song. Randy raised an eyebrow at Charlie and they headed out to dance.
Mulder looked down at Scully. "Do you think you have enough strength let to take a spin with me?"
"I might be able to manage it" she said letting him take her hand and lead her out onto the dance floor.
They fitted together just as she remembered. Arms wrapped around each other's waists with Mulder's head resting gently on top of hers.
They spun slowly to the music totally unaware of anything but the feel of each other. Two more slow songs followed and they remained attached to each other until the music finally came to an end.
As they drew apart Scully looked up at Mulder expecting him to finally kiss her. He did, but once again chastely on the top of her head after he thanked her for the dance.
Scully smiled up at him although she felt a bit puzzled by his gesture. She had been sure that she had felt signs of his arousal as they danced but now thought that she had been just imagining it. Mulder offered to get her something from the bar and she opted for a martini. He raised an eyebrow at the switch from her normal glass of wine but said nothing.
If Mulder wasn't really attracted to her, the martini would help her forget Scully thought as she tried not to sulk.
Randy, who seemed to have a knack for spotting trouble, swooped down on her while she was pacing along the dance floor.
"You two looked very sexy out there Dana" he said before realizing that her mood had changed. "What's the matter, honey?"
"Nothing really Randy. I am having a good time, really. It's just that sometimes I forget that although Mulder seems to care for me it doesn't seem to be in a sexual way." Scully said before she realized that she was once again bearing her soul to a man she hardly knew.
"Trust me Dana" Randy said putting his arm around her and whispering to her confidentially. "I have seen Fox around many a woman in my day and I have never seen him look at anyone the way he looks at you."
"Then why doesn't he 'show' me?" Scully said pouting just a bit.
"Don't you see he is? He wants you to know he doesn't want you for the sex." Randy said straightening up as he saw Mulder approach. "You have to trust me on this."
"She has to trust you on what?" Mulder said handing Scully her martini and watching her knock half of it back in one gulp.
"That she looks unbelievable tonight" Randy said smoothly. "Don't you agree Fox?"
Mulder looked at Scully and anyone who was watching could see the look of appreciation on his face. Scully, however, was looking at the ground embarrassed. "She is the sexiest woman I have ever seen." Mulder said.
"See" Randy said in Scully's ear before walking away. "The guys are gathering upstairs Fox" he said "they want you to come up and join them."
Mulder told Randy he would be right along before turning to Scully who looked quite perplexed.
"Eli is another philosopher type" he explained. "While he parties are open to anyone and everyone, he invites some of his closest friends upstairs for a more intimate gathering." Scully nodded as if she understood although she didn't. She followed Mulder up another flight of stairs into a large sitting room.
The room was dimly lit and featured several large sofas forming a circle in the middle of the room. Sitting on the sofas were Eli, Randy, Charlie and a few other people to whom Scully barely remembered being introduced.
Mulder seemed to know everyone and promptly shook hands with the ones he hadn't already seen that night and sat down on one of the smaller sofas patting the seat next to him in invitation for Scully to join him.
Within minutes practically everyone seated there was engrossed in an in- depth conversation over the ethnic responsibilities of the government with concern to medical research.
Normally Scully would have been quite interested in such conversation, but the wine and martinis had made her mind wander a bit. As she paid half attention to the conversation around her, she glanced around the room.
There were other conversation areas set up and groups of people were huddled together discussing different topics. There were also large cushions scattered about and upon these sat several couple making out passionately.
Scully raised her eyebrows at this and wondered if Mulder had participated in such activities when he had come to Eli's other parties.
Listening to him converse with the others in their group, she could easily see how these parties would appeal to Mulder's intellect. It was the booze and the abundance of sex partners that worried her.
Was that why Mulder had never mentioned coming to these affairs in the past?
Eli's housekeeper, a matronly looking woman, walked around the room refreshing everyone's drinks and offering tasty looking tidbits to eat. Scully was enjoying one such tidbit when a burst of laughter from the group next to her caught her attention.
"Excellent point Fox" Eli was saying "I will have to quote you on that."
He then turned to his housekeeper "Mildred, would you be so kind as to bring out my special box?"
Mildred nodded and returned and handed Eli an ornate wooden box. He opened it and offered its contents to his friends.
They all accepted the smallish looking cigarette and immediately lit it. Within seconds Scully recognized the familiar smell of marijuana.
When the box worked its way around to Mulder he took it with a smile and offered it to her.
"Scully, do you care to indulge tonight?" he said with a bit of a wicked smile.
"Mulder, I am a Federal Agent" she hissed at him.
He smiled indulgently at her. "Not tonight you aren't." She continued to scowl at him. "Come on Scully, they say it expands the mind."
"I wouldn't know" Scully responded rather primly.
"You mean you have never smoked weed Scully?" Mulder who had been previously just teasing her was now truly intrigued.
"No, I haven't" Scully said still glaring at him. "And I suppose you have?"
"Oh, I haven't since I became an agent of the government" he said with mock seriousness "but I did when I was in college."
Scully tried not to look shocked. "Don't worry Scully, I didn't inhale."
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ End of chapter seven. Any thoughts on what happens now????
Mulder tapped on Scully's door around seven o'clock so he could escort her to the party in the Village.
As he waited for her to open the door he thought to himself how much he had missed not seeing her since that morning.
She opened the door and all thoughts of missing her went out the window as Mulder's jaw fell open.
Scully stood there clad in a low cut black sleeveless top that clung to her every curve. Beneath it she wore a black broomstick skirt and high heels that sent Mulder's imagination running wild.
Around her throat she wore a simple silver necklace replacing her gold cross. The pendant hung tantalizing close to where you could spot a hint of cleavage. Her wrists were covered with silver bracelets.
Scully saw Mulder's reaction and began to go back into the room muttering about changing her clothes.
Mulder stopped her with a hand on her shoulder and slowly turned her around to face him. "Don't change a thing Scully" he said a bit huskily. "Just give me a minute to overcome the urge to ravish you right here in the hallway."
This comment got a small smile from Scully. "Do you like it?" she said softly. "Randy talked me into buying it."
"Remind me to thank him" Mulder said under his breath. "Do I like it Scully? I would have to be without a pulse not to like it." He slowly spun her around so he could get a better look at her. "Hell, I think Charlie may even turn straight again when he sees you. I know for sure that Randy will be green with jealousy that you hotter than him tonight."
Scully smiled grew a bit larger now. "Really Mulder?"
"Really Scully" he said offering her his arm. They made quite a pair. Him in his black jeans, black t-shirt and black boots and her in her all black outfit.
They would definitely fit in with the crowd at the party.
They arrived at the party about 30 minutes later and it was already in full swing. It was held in the building owned by a friend of Charlie's - Eli.
The bottom floor housed an impressive art gallery while the upper floors housed Eli's apartment. The rooms featured high tin ceilings and floor to ceiling windows.
The furniture was modern and sparse with most of the seating coming from large overstuffed cushions thrown all around the room. Even though the rooms were rather large in size, they all had an intimate feeling to them.
Every room was swarming with people a fact that made Scully, despite her appropriate attire, quite nervous.
"Relax" Mulder said as they worked their way into the room. "Artist types, in general, like everyone even uptight FBI agents."
Scully gave him a dirty look but took his offered hand and followed him through the crowd.
Mulder spotted Eli and quickly introduced Scully to him. Eli pointed them in the direction of the bar and told them to make themselves at home.
"How do you know Eli?" Scully said barely able to hear herself above the crowd.
"He is another one of Phoebe's rejected lovers. We met at a cocktail party a few years back. We got talking and found out that both of us had spent considerable time in England. We began to play 'do you know so-and-so' and discovered that we had each been one of Phoebe's doormats."
Mulder gave Scully a smile as he poured her a glass of wine. "We have been buddies ever since."
Scully accepted the wine wondering if sipping it would help with the slight hangover she had from the several glasses of wine she had with Randy.
Mulder poured himself a beer, put his hand on her back and steered her away from the densest part of the crowd. He bent over and spoke into her ear.
"Thanks" he said simply.
"My pleasure" she responded "Why are you thanking me."
"For putting up with this and the Yankees all in one day."
She smiled at him and was about to respond when she heard a shriek coming from across the room. Listening carefully she realized that someone was shrieking her name.
"I told you he would be jealous" Mulder whispered as Randy descended upon them.
"Oh my God Dana!" he said circling her. "You look absolutely unbelievable."
"Fox, I can't believe you didn't ravish her on the spot when you saw her" he said looking at Mulder frowning.
Mulder just smiled and said nothing but nodded his greeting to Charlie who had joined them.
Randy took Dana's arm "Come on girlfriend, I know that Fox will hide in this corner all night" he rolled his eyes at Mulder "but you need to be flaunted and I am just the one to do it."
He walked away pulling Scully, who was looking nervously at Mulder, along with him.
As soon as she was out of earshot Charlie smiled knowingly at Mulder. "She is hot Fox"
Mulder smiled at his friend "and it is wasted on you." He and Charlie then began to dissect, for the third time that day, the Yankee game.
About hour had passed before Randy returned Scully to Mulder. She looked a bit flushed from both the heat of the room and the several glasses of wine she had been given.
Randy quickly told Mulder and Charlie that the dancing was about to begin on the second floor. He raised his eyebrow at Charlie who shrugged. "Sorry Fox, duty calls, we can talk more about those pitching changes later. See you up there?"
Mulder replied "I am sure we will be up there shortly"
Charlie and Randy left and Mulder turned his full attention to Scully appreciating how pretty she looked with her cheeks mildly flushed.
"Did you have fun with Randy?" Mulder asked
"Yes, I did. It's funny you know Mulder." She began "if you told me yesterday that I would allow a homosexual man I have never met before to not only pick out my clothes for me but then drag me around to meet practically everyone here tonight, I would have told you that you were crazier than normal."
Mulder laughed. "Randy has that effect on people. He starts talking and before you know it you are doing what he wants." "I was a bit surprised at how many people here know you Mulder" she said looking up at him a bit questioningly.
"I guess I have met most of them from time to time over the years. Eli is known for his parties big and small and I try to make as many as I can."
Scully nodded trying not to feel upset about yet another part of Mulder's life that she was not privy to.
Mulder sensed this slight change of mood and decided to try and lighten it. "And how did Randy introduce you. As the gun toting FBI Agent?"
Scully blushed a bit. "Actually he called me your girlfriend." She looked up at Mulder to judge his reaction. Seeing none she continued. "I didn't know whether or not to contradict him so I said nothing. I hope you don't mind."
Mulder smiled down at her. "How could I possibly mind being referred to as the boyfriend of the hottest woman in the room. All the single men here, and probably some of the taken ones too, probably had their eye on you. Guess they will be disappointed now."
Upstairs they heard the muffled sounds of the music beginning to play.
"Shall we?" Mulder said raising an eyebrow at his partner.
"Sure, why not" Scully said.
Mulder guided Scully upstairs to where a large room had been cleared of all furniture with the exception of a few chairs. The music poured from an old jukebox that had been preprogrammed with all of Eli's favorite songs.
They stood side by side in silence for a while just watching the couples move around the dance floor. Looking at the couples, Mulder couldn't help but remember how good Scully had felt in his arms when they had been forced to dance together as man and wife during the case in Minnesota.
The B-52's began to blast out of the jukebox and before he could ask her to join him Randy and Charlie walked over. Before she knew what hit her, Randy had dragged Scully out onto the dance floor leaving Charlie and Mulder alone.
"Randy's quite the dancer" Mulder said with amusement as he watched Randy gyrate around the floor.
"Yes he is" Charlie said laughing himself. "That's why I mainly stick to the slow dances."
Mulder laughed but he continued. "Randy also wanted me to come over and ask you why you two haven't danced yet. We both know you love to dance and I can't think of a lovelier partner for you."
Mulder shrugged. "What can I tell you, we are both are chicken when it comes to such things."
"Don't you care for her?" Charlie asked looking puzzled. Mulder nodded. "And from what I can see, she seems to care for you too."
Mulder shrugged again. "Perhaps"
"I think you two should stop thinking so much and just have some fun." Charlie said gesturing to Randy who was busily spinning Scully all around the dance floor. "Fox, take a page out of Randy's book - he never lets an opportunity pass him by."
The song finished and Scully and Randy returned both looking a bit flushed. Randy kissed Scully's hand. "That was a delight my dear" he said. "we shall do it again if he" he looked directly at Mulder "doesn't get his act in gear soon."
"Okay" Scully said still trying to catch her breath. "That will be fun."
The music began again. This time is was a slow Joe Crocker song. Randy raised an eyebrow at Charlie and they headed out to dance.
Mulder looked down at Scully. "Do you think you have enough strength let to take a spin with me?"
"I might be able to manage it" she said letting him take her hand and lead her out onto the dance floor.
They fitted together just as she remembered. Arms wrapped around each other's waists with Mulder's head resting gently on top of hers.
They spun slowly to the music totally unaware of anything but the feel of each other. Two more slow songs followed and they remained attached to each other until the music finally came to an end.
As they drew apart Scully looked up at Mulder expecting him to finally kiss her. He did, but once again chastely on the top of her head after he thanked her for the dance.
Scully smiled up at him although she felt a bit puzzled by his gesture. She had been sure that she had felt signs of his arousal as they danced but now thought that she had been just imagining it. Mulder offered to get her something from the bar and she opted for a martini. He raised an eyebrow at the switch from her normal glass of wine but said nothing.
If Mulder wasn't really attracted to her, the martini would help her forget Scully thought as she tried not to sulk.
Randy, who seemed to have a knack for spotting trouble, swooped down on her while she was pacing along the dance floor.
"You two looked very sexy out there Dana" he said before realizing that her mood had changed. "What's the matter, honey?"
"Nothing really Randy. I am having a good time, really. It's just that sometimes I forget that although Mulder seems to care for me it doesn't seem to be in a sexual way." Scully said before she realized that she was once again bearing her soul to a man she hardly knew.
"Trust me Dana" Randy said putting his arm around her and whispering to her confidentially. "I have seen Fox around many a woman in my day and I have never seen him look at anyone the way he looks at you."
"Then why doesn't he 'show' me?" Scully said pouting just a bit.
"Don't you see he is? He wants you to know he doesn't want you for the sex." Randy said straightening up as he saw Mulder approach. "You have to trust me on this."
"She has to trust you on what?" Mulder said handing Scully her martini and watching her knock half of it back in one gulp.
"That she looks unbelievable tonight" Randy said smoothly. "Don't you agree Fox?"
Mulder looked at Scully and anyone who was watching could see the look of appreciation on his face. Scully, however, was looking at the ground embarrassed. "She is the sexiest woman I have ever seen." Mulder said.
"See" Randy said in Scully's ear before walking away. "The guys are gathering upstairs Fox" he said "they want you to come up and join them."
Mulder told Randy he would be right along before turning to Scully who looked quite perplexed.
"Eli is another philosopher type" he explained. "While he parties are open to anyone and everyone, he invites some of his closest friends upstairs for a more intimate gathering." Scully nodded as if she understood although she didn't. She followed Mulder up another flight of stairs into a large sitting room.
The room was dimly lit and featured several large sofas forming a circle in the middle of the room. Sitting on the sofas were Eli, Randy, Charlie and a few other people to whom Scully barely remembered being introduced.
Mulder seemed to know everyone and promptly shook hands with the ones he hadn't already seen that night and sat down on one of the smaller sofas patting the seat next to him in invitation for Scully to join him.
Within minutes practically everyone seated there was engrossed in an in- depth conversation over the ethnic responsibilities of the government with concern to medical research.
Normally Scully would have been quite interested in such conversation, but the wine and martinis had made her mind wander a bit. As she paid half attention to the conversation around her, she glanced around the room.
There were other conversation areas set up and groups of people were huddled together discussing different topics. There were also large cushions scattered about and upon these sat several couple making out passionately.
Scully raised her eyebrows at this and wondered if Mulder had participated in such activities when he had come to Eli's other parties.
Listening to him converse with the others in their group, she could easily see how these parties would appeal to Mulder's intellect. It was the booze and the abundance of sex partners that worried her.
Was that why Mulder had never mentioned coming to these affairs in the past?
Eli's housekeeper, a matronly looking woman, walked around the room refreshing everyone's drinks and offering tasty looking tidbits to eat. Scully was enjoying one such tidbit when a burst of laughter from the group next to her caught her attention.
"Excellent point Fox" Eli was saying "I will have to quote you on that."
He then turned to his housekeeper "Mildred, would you be so kind as to bring out my special box?"
Mildred nodded and returned and handed Eli an ornate wooden box. He opened it and offered its contents to his friends.
They all accepted the smallish looking cigarette and immediately lit it. Within seconds Scully recognized the familiar smell of marijuana.
When the box worked its way around to Mulder he took it with a smile and offered it to her.
"Scully, do you care to indulge tonight?" he said with a bit of a wicked smile.
"Mulder, I am a Federal Agent" she hissed at him.
He smiled indulgently at her. "Not tonight you aren't." She continued to scowl at him. "Come on Scully, they say it expands the mind."
"I wouldn't know" Scully responded rather primly.
"You mean you have never smoked weed Scully?" Mulder who had been previously just teasing her was now truly intrigued.
"No, I haven't" Scully said still glaring at him. "And I suppose you have?"
"Oh, I haven't since I became an agent of the government" he said with mock seriousness "but I did when I was in college."
Scully tried not to look shocked. "Don't worry Scully, I didn't inhale."
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ End of chapter seven. Any thoughts on what happens now????