Time Is Running Out Part Three
By Katie Phillips
Disclaimer Info located in Part One
December 20th 8 PM FBI Holiday Party Washington DC
Scully got out of the cab and pulled her coat around her tighter in a feeble attempt to keep the cold December wind from cutting right through her. She looked up at the Smithsonian all done up in white lights and wondered why she had let AD Skinner talk her into coming.
She smiled to herself as she walked up the steps to the main entrance. She knew exactly why she was here. She was lonely. In the months since Mulder's death she had thrown herself into her work on the X-files cutting herself off from practically everyone besides her mother and Skinner.
She knew it was time to go back out into the world again and she was scared. Scared to face a world that no longer had Mulder in it.
Scully had always known that she and Mulder had been uncommonly close for partners. Practically everyone she knew in the FBI assumed that closeness had been based on a physical relationship between them. Only she and Mulder knew that what they shared was even more intimate than sex and that sooner or later their physical relationship would catch up with their emotional one.
They had thought they had all the time in the world. They had been wrong.
Scully walked through the main doors and into the lobby that boasted a large brightly lighted Christmas tree. She checked in with the guard at the door and proceeded into the gallery.
It looked like something out of a fantasy. Twinkle lights were everywhere and they basked both the people mingling and the priceless artwork in a romantic light.
Scully could hear the sounds of the orchestra playing in a distant room and found herself longing to dance. But with whom?
She gave her wrap to the young man checking coats who, by the way he was looking at her, appreciated how she looked in the form fitting black velvet gown she was wearing that night.
Scully smiled sweetly at the young man and decided to head over to the bar before she lost all of her courage and ran back home again.
"A Cosmopolitan please." She said to the bar tender who appeared to be appreciating her outfit as well. Taking her drink she smiled her thanks and turned to find herself facing Tom Colton.
"Good evening Dana." Tom said with a not-to-subtle look at her outfit. "You look absolutely stunning."
"Thank you Tom." Scully replied taking a quick sip of her drink as she tried to think of an escape route.
"I am glad that you have decided to take yourself out of mourning long enough to have a little fun tonight." Tom said placing his hand on her back and gently moving her away from the bar where they could have more privacy. "A beautiful thing like you shouldn't keep herself locked up in the basement."
Scully fought the urge to throw her drink in his face opting instead to take another long sip. She smiled tactfully as Colton rambled on about the latest case they were working on in VCU, nodding at all the appropriate times and smiling weakly when he tried to be funny.
"Dana, do you hear that song?" Colton said halfway through another boring story about how he single handedly solved a major crime. Scully nodded.
"Well, it is one of my favorites so we simply must go dance."
This comment got Scully's attention as her eyes snapped open with the thought of Tom Colton being able to put his hands on her. "Well, I don't know" Scully began but she was interrupted by Colton grabbing her hand and tugging her towards the dance floor.
Scully downed the rest of her martini in one long gulp and managed to place her empty glass on a table as Colton pulled her towards the dance floor. She looked up briefly and wondered if Mulder, wherever he was, was looking down at her and laughing at her predicament.
Colton pulled Scully a little too close to him and as she feared placed his hands a bit too low on her back. Scully sighed and cursed herself for not bringing her weapon with her.
Colton's hand was beginning to creep downward when suddenly he stopped spinning her around and pulled back from her. Scully looked up to see Walter Skinner looking down at the two of them.
"Colton, I hope you won't mind if I cut in." Skinner said with a perfectly straight face.
"No, of course not Sir." Colton replied rather meekly as he stepped away from Scully. "Perhaps we can continue this later Dana."
Scully simply smiled and stepped into the arms of Skinner. He, unlike Colton, held her in a most gentlemanly fashion. Scully tilted her head up and smiled at him. "Thank you Sir."
Skinner smiled down at her. "Rank does have its privileges."
Scully smiled and relaxed enjoying the feel of Skinner leading her around the dance floor. They danced another two songs together before Skinner suggested that they take a break and get a drink. Scully agreed and waited while Skinner fetched them each a drink.
He gave Scully her glass and then motioned towards one of the quieter galleries where they could walk and talk in peace. They said nothing for a while just sipping their drinks and enjoying the paintings.
The entire main floor of the gallery had been rented by the FBI for the occasion which meant that there were plenty of rooms through which to wander. They did so and before long found themselves far away from the actual party.
Scully was admiring a painting when she felt Skinner come up behind her. "Dana, did I tell you how glad I am that you came here tonight?"
Scully turned and looked up at him slightly surprised by the look in his eyes. "No, you didn't." she said softly.
Skinner smiled down at her. "Well, I am. I promised myself that I wouldn't talk about work tonight but I just want to ask you again if you are sure about your decision to leave the X-files to do consulting work out of Quantico."
Scully looked away then. "I am sure Sir. You and I both know that Mulder was the X-files. Without him and his ability to see things and believe things. . ." she stopped taking a deep breath before continuing. "I don't think that I am capable of working on the X-files without him Sir."
She felt Skinner come up behind her again and this time draped his arm over her shoulder and give her a little squeeze. "I think I will be more useful to both the Bureau and myself consulting out of Quantico."
"Understood Dana. But you know if you change your mind, all you have to do is ask and I will see to it that you get reassigned."
"Thank you Sir." Scully said leaning on him a bit more.
"Now that my official business is taken care of, I was wondering if you I could ask you for a personal favor." Skinner said sounding just a bit nervous.
"Anything Sir." Scully said turning towards him looking concerned.
Skinner took a look at her face and chuckled making Scully relax. "Since you will no longer be working for me, I was wondering if you would drop the 'Sir' at least outside of the office."
Scully smiled up at him. "I think I could do that Walter" she said teasingly. "Is there anything else?"
"Would you allow me to see you home?" Skinner said shyly.
Scully looked at him a bit confused for a second and then the implications of what he was asking began to dawn on her. "Yes, Walter you may but first I would like to dance some more." Scully answered taking his hand and leading from the room back towards the music.
February 1st Baltic Labs 6:30 PM
Mulder glanced up from his computer and had to laugh at the site in front of him. Alicia was standing up on a chair trying desperately to reach a bottle of spaghetti sauce that was placed on a high shelf.
"Why don't you let me get that for you?" Mulder said getting to his feet and walking slowly over to where Alicia was precariously perched. "All we need is for you to take a spill. Believe me, you don't want me nursing you back to health."
Alicia was about to tell him that she could think of little that she would like more than being nursed by him, but wisely kept her mouth shut choosing instead to take advantage of his close proximity to lean her body against his.
Mulder stood by her and reached the bottle in question presenting it to her before grabbing her around the waist and swinging her to the ground with great flourish. He dropped his hands from her waist immediately when he saw the look of longing flash across her face. Ever since he had gotten back on his feet, more or less, Alicia had been quite obvious in her desire to get him back on his back again.
Not that it wasn't a tempting offer, it was. Unfortunately for Mulder his desires were coming back to him as well as his strength. It was only the thought of Scully waiting for his return back to DC that kept him from taking Alicia up on her offer.
"I know it is my turn to cook tonight. I hope you don't mind spaghetti again."
"Not at all. I love spaghetti." Mulder replied turning his attention back to his computer. He wasn't particularly looking forward to eating spaghetti again for the third time that week, but he didn't want to disappoint Alicia. From what little she had told him, she had been forced to take on this assignment much the way he had. The least he could do for her is to try to make it as bearable as possible.
General Elliott had graced them with his company earlier in that week. He had spoken very little to Mulder other than to present him with a huge stack of data that the government had accumulated on the Syndicate over the past few months. Apparently his job was to analyze that while Alicia figured out the serum. Mulder's inquiries about Scully had basically gone unanswered.
Elliott had taken Alicia aside for a long private chat. Mulder assumed that part of their conversation had to do with him but never dreamed that it had been centered around him. Elliott was very interested in Alicia's attempt to distract Mulder from any desire to return to DC and was quite disappointed to find out that Mulder still often called out for Scully in his sleep.
It became clear to the General that he would have to do something to help break Mulder's tie to her. The solution was an obvious one.
After putting the water on to boil, Alicia walked over to one of the side tables and picked up a newspaper. Walking over to where Mulder was sitting, she handed it to him.
"This arrived with our weekly briefing." She said pointing to the small post-it note stuck to the paper. It read 'FBI story for Mulder'.
Mulder pushed back from his computer a bit and raised an eyebrow in curiosity. "I wonder what little tidbit General Elliott actually deems important enough for me to know about. Maybe we got a new director or . . . ."
Mulder stopped mid-sentence his eyes growing huge at the story he had spotted. His eyes swept across the story once and then twice before he threw the paper down and stormed into his room slamming the door behind him.
Curious, Alicia picked up the paper and scanned it quickly. Nothing popped out at her immediately but when she slowed down she spotted it. A small story buried in the midst of the daily gossip section.
Sorry ladies, but today the FBI confirmed the engagement of one of Washington's most eligible and handsome bachelors, Assistant Director Walter Skinner to Special Agent Dana Scully. No date has been set.
"So that's who Scully is." Alicia said to herself understand now why Mulder had been ignoring her constant come-on's. "Well, this piece of news should make my job a little easier."
February 14th 7:00 PM Baltic Labs
Mulder let the water pour over his head trying once again to push images of Scully and Skinner out of his mind. He tried to be happy for her, he really did. He knew that she deserved to have a relatively normal life and he had no doubts that Skinner would take good care of her.
He was mad at her for leaving him but even madder at himself for always assuming that Dana Scully would sit around forever waiting for him to get his act together. Obviously she had gotten tired of waiting.
He couldn't blame her.
Mulder grabbed a towel and wrapped it around himself before walking out into his bedroom. He opened the bedroom door and stopped short blinking at the sight in front of him.
His room had been filled with candles, dozens of them, all lighted and filling his room with a golden light. He stepped into his room puzzled and his mouth fell open when he spotted Alicia lying across his bed wearing the smallest of teddies and black high heeled shoes.
Mulder gulped trying to think of a way out of his predicament even as parts of his body were already agreeing the Alicia's plan.
"Hi there." Alicia said her eyes filled with desire as she looked up and down his still damp body.
"Alicia," Mulder said grabbing his towel a bit more firmly as he entered the room. "I don't think that this is such a good idea."
"Why not?" Alicia said moving herself slowly in his direction until she stood directly in front of him. Mulder tried desperately not to look at her heaving breasts that she had presented to him.
"Well, we are supposed to be professionals." Mulder began gasping as Alicia began to tug on his towel.
"Even professionals can have fun Fox." She said reaching under the towel. "Now what do we have here? I think I had better get a closer look."
Mulder opened his mouth to protest but it was too late. She had already won the battle.
February 15th 7 AM Dana Scully's Apartment
Scully felt a strange weight on her as she slowly opened her eyes. It took a second or two for her brain to clear enough for her to realize that the weight was the arm of her new lover draped protectively across her.
She turned and looked at him still not believing that she had taken Walter Skinner to bed. He must of sensed her movement for he pulled her closer to him and snuggled his face into her hair.
Scully relaxed into his embrace and closed her eyes trying to remember exactly how she had ended up in this situation.
It had all began at the FBI party back in December. She and Skinner had danced and talked all night before he had escorted her home. She had been nervous as he walked her to her door, but he had been the perfect gentleman only placing a chaste kiss on her cheek before leaving.
A week later she had moved out of her office in the basement and back to Quantico where there had been a large bouquet of flowers, from Skinner, waiting to greet her.
With Scully no longer under his chain of command, he was free to court her and court her he did. He took her to the nicest restaurants and to the hottest shows. He had charmed her mother, stared down her brother and had held her when Mulder's tombstone had arrived and was placed at his grave.
It was that night, when Scully had been able to finally say 'goodbye' to Mulder that he had kissed her properly. That had been two weeks ago and when Skinner had asked her out for Valentine's Day, she had told him that she would rather stay in and had offered to cook him dinner.
Scully had been a wreck all day. When she was younger she had cooked all the time but during her years with the X-files, her culinary skills consisted mainly of deciding which type of takeout to order in when Mulder stopped by.
Her relationship with Skinner was so different than what her relationship with Mulder had been and she wanted to reflect that in her choices for that evening. Where as with Mulder she would have been comfortable wearing old sweats and eating pizza, with Skinner she wanted to look her best and impress him with her cooking.
Skinner had arrived promptly carrying a bottle of her favorite wine. He had complimented her on her outfit and the delicious smells coming out of the kitchen. Skinner was no fool and understood the implications of Scully's invitation but he was very careful to let her take the lead.
He had been the perfect gentleman only kissing her upon his arrival until after the dinner was done and she was standing at the kitchen sink getting the dishes ready to soak. Only then had he come up behind and wrapped his arms around her planting small kisses along her neck.
Scully moaned softly at his touch, the first he had made along these lines with her, and Skinner had taken that as encouragement. "Leave them." He said huskily as he slowly began to devour her neck.
Scully said nothing but stripped the rubber gloves she had been wearing off her hands before turning towards him. She looked up and saw nothing but affection and desire in his eyes as he bent down and picked her up.
Scully smiled at the memory of the rest of the evening. She would have never guessed that a man as strong as Skinner could be so tender, so loving. He had made her realize just how much she had missed being with a man.
Behind her she could feel Skinner begin to wake. He snuggled against her his hands beginning their seductive stroking. "Good morning." He said his voice deep from sleep. Scully turned to them and they began again.
May 1st 1:30 PM Maggie Scully's House
Maggie Scully poured her daughter a cup of tea and sat down across from her. "Are you going to tell me what is bothering you so much Dana?"
Scully smiled at her mother surprised, yet again, at how easily her mother knew when something was bothering her.
"It's about Walter Mom." Scully said reaching for a cookie and nibbling on it.
"What about Walter Dana? You two seem to get along so well." Maggie said suddenly concerned.
"Well, that's the problem Mom. We get along great. We have a good time together and understand each other's work commitments."
"Then what is it Dana?" Maggie asked.
"It's just that he isn't. . . he isn't. . ." Scully began.
"He isn't Fox." Maggie said softly. "You still love him that much honey."
Scully looked at her mother shocked at such a statement. She had never admitted her feelings for Mulder to anyone, even herself.
"Don't look so shocked honey." Maggie said smiling at her daughter. "Maybe you fooled a lot of people, but you two didn't fool me."
"No we just fooled each other." Scully thought to herself before speaking. "So what do I do Mom, I think Walter is thinking about marriage."
Maggie nodded understandingly at her daughter. She liked Walter, a lot, but knew that her daughter would never feel for him what she felt for Mulder. She also knew that Walter was no fool and had probably realized this himself.
"Talk to him Dana. He loves you. He will understand."
"I hope so Mom. I would hate to loose him too."
++++++++++++++++++++++ end of part three - what do you think?
Disclaimer Info located in Part One
December 20th 8 PM FBI Holiday Party Washington DC
Scully got out of the cab and pulled her coat around her tighter in a feeble attempt to keep the cold December wind from cutting right through her. She looked up at the Smithsonian all done up in white lights and wondered why she had let AD Skinner talk her into coming.
She smiled to herself as she walked up the steps to the main entrance. She knew exactly why she was here. She was lonely. In the months since Mulder's death she had thrown herself into her work on the X-files cutting herself off from practically everyone besides her mother and Skinner.
She knew it was time to go back out into the world again and she was scared. Scared to face a world that no longer had Mulder in it.
Scully had always known that she and Mulder had been uncommonly close for partners. Practically everyone she knew in the FBI assumed that closeness had been based on a physical relationship between them. Only she and Mulder knew that what they shared was even more intimate than sex and that sooner or later their physical relationship would catch up with their emotional one.
They had thought they had all the time in the world. They had been wrong.
Scully walked through the main doors and into the lobby that boasted a large brightly lighted Christmas tree. She checked in with the guard at the door and proceeded into the gallery.
It looked like something out of a fantasy. Twinkle lights were everywhere and they basked both the people mingling and the priceless artwork in a romantic light.
Scully could hear the sounds of the orchestra playing in a distant room and found herself longing to dance. But with whom?
She gave her wrap to the young man checking coats who, by the way he was looking at her, appreciated how she looked in the form fitting black velvet gown she was wearing that night.
Scully smiled sweetly at the young man and decided to head over to the bar before she lost all of her courage and ran back home again.
"A Cosmopolitan please." She said to the bar tender who appeared to be appreciating her outfit as well. Taking her drink she smiled her thanks and turned to find herself facing Tom Colton.
"Good evening Dana." Tom said with a not-to-subtle look at her outfit. "You look absolutely stunning."
"Thank you Tom." Scully replied taking a quick sip of her drink as she tried to think of an escape route.
"I am glad that you have decided to take yourself out of mourning long enough to have a little fun tonight." Tom said placing his hand on her back and gently moving her away from the bar where they could have more privacy. "A beautiful thing like you shouldn't keep herself locked up in the basement."
Scully fought the urge to throw her drink in his face opting instead to take another long sip. She smiled tactfully as Colton rambled on about the latest case they were working on in VCU, nodding at all the appropriate times and smiling weakly when he tried to be funny.
"Dana, do you hear that song?" Colton said halfway through another boring story about how he single handedly solved a major crime. Scully nodded.
"Well, it is one of my favorites so we simply must go dance."
This comment got Scully's attention as her eyes snapped open with the thought of Tom Colton being able to put his hands on her. "Well, I don't know" Scully began but she was interrupted by Colton grabbing her hand and tugging her towards the dance floor.
Scully downed the rest of her martini in one long gulp and managed to place her empty glass on a table as Colton pulled her towards the dance floor. She looked up briefly and wondered if Mulder, wherever he was, was looking down at her and laughing at her predicament.
Colton pulled Scully a little too close to him and as she feared placed his hands a bit too low on her back. Scully sighed and cursed herself for not bringing her weapon with her.
Colton's hand was beginning to creep downward when suddenly he stopped spinning her around and pulled back from her. Scully looked up to see Walter Skinner looking down at the two of them.
"Colton, I hope you won't mind if I cut in." Skinner said with a perfectly straight face.
"No, of course not Sir." Colton replied rather meekly as he stepped away from Scully. "Perhaps we can continue this later Dana."
Scully simply smiled and stepped into the arms of Skinner. He, unlike Colton, held her in a most gentlemanly fashion. Scully tilted her head up and smiled at him. "Thank you Sir."
Skinner smiled down at her. "Rank does have its privileges."
Scully smiled and relaxed enjoying the feel of Skinner leading her around the dance floor. They danced another two songs together before Skinner suggested that they take a break and get a drink. Scully agreed and waited while Skinner fetched them each a drink.
He gave Scully her glass and then motioned towards one of the quieter galleries where they could walk and talk in peace. They said nothing for a while just sipping their drinks and enjoying the paintings.
The entire main floor of the gallery had been rented by the FBI for the occasion which meant that there were plenty of rooms through which to wander. They did so and before long found themselves far away from the actual party.
Scully was admiring a painting when she felt Skinner come up behind her. "Dana, did I tell you how glad I am that you came here tonight?"
Scully turned and looked up at him slightly surprised by the look in his eyes. "No, you didn't." she said softly.
Skinner smiled down at her. "Well, I am. I promised myself that I wouldn't talk about work tonight but I just want to ask you again if you are sure about your decision to leave the X-files to do consulting work out of Quantico."
Scully looked away then. "I am sure Sir. You and I both know that Mulder was the X-files. Without him and his ability to see things and believe things. . ." she stopped taking a deep breath before continuing. "I don't think that I am capable of working on the X-files without him Sir."
She felt Skinner come up behind her again and this time draped his arm over her shoulder and give her a little squeeze. "I think I will be more useful to both the Bureau and myself consulting out of Quantico."
"Understood Dana. But you know if you change your mind, all you have to do is ask and I will see to it that you get reassigned."
"Thank you Sir." Scully said leaning on him a bit more.
"Now that my official business is taken care of, I was wondering if you I could ask you for a personal favor." Skinner said sounding just a bit nervous.
"Anything Sir." Scully said turning towards him looking concerned.
Skinner took a look at her face and chuckled making Scully relax. "Since you will no longer be working for me, I was wondering if you would drop the 'Sir' at least outside of the office."
Scully smiled up at him. "I think I could do that Walter" she said teasingly. "Is there anything else?"
"Would you allow me to see you home?" Skinner said shyly.
Scully looked at him a bit confused for a second and then the implications of what he was asking began to dawn on her. "Yes, Walter you may but first I would like to dance some more." Scully answered taking his hand and leading from the room back towards the music.
February 1st Baltic Labs 6:30 PM
Mulder glanced up from his computer and had to laugh at the site in front of him. Alicia was standing up on a chair trying desperately to reach a bottle of spaghetti sauce that was placed on a high shelf.
"Why don't you let me get that for you?" Mulder said getting to his feet and walking slowly over to where Alicia was precariously perched. "All we need is for you to take a spill. Believe me, you don't want me nursing you back to health."
Alicia was about to tell him that she could think of little that she would like more than being nursed by him, but wisely kept her mouth shut choosing instead to take advantage of his close proximity to lean her body against his.
Mulder stood by her and reached the bottle in question presenting it to her before grabbing her around the waist and swinging her to the ground with great flourish. He dropped his hands from her waist immediately when he saw the look of longing flash across her face. Ever since he had gotten back on his feet, more or less, Alicia had been quite obvious in her desire to get him back on his back again.
Not that it wasn't a tempting offer, it was. Unfortunately for Mulder his desires were coming back to him as well as his strength. It was only the thought of Scully waiting for his return back to DC that kept him from taking Alicia up on her offer.
"I know it is my turn to cook tonight. I hope you don't mind spaghetti again."
"Not at all. I love spaghetti." Mulder replied turning his attention back to his computer. He wasn't particularly looking forward to eating spaghetti again for the third time that week, but he didn't want to disappoint Alicia. From what little she had told him, she had been forced to take on this assignment much the way he had. The least he could do for her is to try to make it as bearable as possible.
General Elliott had graced them with his company earlier in that week. He had spoken very little to Mulder other than to present him with a huge stack of data that the government had accumulated on the Syndicate over the past few months. Apparently his job was to analyze that while Alicia figured out the serum. Mulder's inquiries about Scully had basically gone unanswered.
Elliott had taken Alicia aside for a long private chat. Mulder assumed that part of their conversation had to do with him but never dreamed that it had been centered around him. Elliott was very interested in Alicia's attempt to distract Mulder from any desire to return to DC and was quite disappointed to find out that Mulder still often called out for Scully in his sleep.
It became clear to the General that he would have to do something to help break Mulder's tie to her. The solution was an obvious one.
After putting the water on to boil, Alicia walked over to one of the side tables and picked up a newspaper. Walking over to where Mulder was sitting, she handed it to him.
"This arrived with our weekly briefing." She said pointing to the small post-it note stuck to the paper. It read 'FBI story for Mulder'.
Mulder pushed back from his computer a bit and raised an eyebrow in curiosity. "I wonder what little tidbit General Elliott actually deems important enough for me to know about. Maybe we got a new director or . . . ."
Mulder stopped mid-sentence his eyes growing huge at the story he had spotted. His eyes swept across the story once and then twice before he threw the paper down and stormed into his room slamming the door behind him.
Curious, Alicia picked up the paper and scanned it quickly. Nothing popped out at her immediately but when she slowed down she spotted it. A small story buried in the midst of the daily gossip section.
Sorry ladies, but today the FBI confirmed the engagement of one of Washington's most eligible and handsome bachelors, Assistant Director Walter Skinner to Special Agent Dana Scully. No date has been set.
"So that's who Scully is." Alicia said to herself understand now why Mulder had been ignoring her constant come-on's. "Well, this piece of news should make my job a little easier."
February 14th 7:00 PM Baltic Labs
Mulder let the water pour over his head trying once again to push images of Scully and Skinner out of his mind. He tried to be happy for her, he really did. He knew that she deserved to have a relatively normal life and he had no doubts that Skinner would take good care of her.
He was mad at her for leaving him but even madder at himself for always assuming that Dana Scully would sit around forever waiting for him to get his act together. Obviously she had gotten tired of waiting.
He couldn't blame her.
Mulder grabbed a towel and wrapped it around himself before walking out into his bedroom. He opened the bedroom door and stopped short blinking at the sight in front of him.
His room had been filled with candles, dozens of them, all lighted and filling his room with a golden light. He stepped into his room puzzled and his mouth fell open when he spotted Alicia lying across his bed wearing the smallest of teddies and black high heeled shoes.
Mulder gulped trying to think of a way out of his predicament even as parts of his body were already agreeing the Alicia's plan.
"Hi there." Alicia said her eyes filled with desire as she looked up and down his still damp body.
"Alicia," Mulder said grabbing his towel a bit more firmly as he entered the room. "I don't think that this is such a good idea."
"Why not?" Alicia said moving herself slowly in his direction until she stood directly in front of him. Mulder tried desperately not to look at her heaving breasts that she had presented to him.
"Well, we are supposed to be professionals." Mulder began gasping as Alicia began to tug on his towel.
"Even professionals can have fun Fox." She said reaching under the towel. "Now what do we have here? I think I had better get a closer look."
Mulder opened his mouth to protest but it was too late. She had already won the battle.
February 15th 7 AM Dana Scully's Apartment
Scully felt a strange weight on her as she slowly opened her eyes. It took a second or two for her brain to clear enough for her to realize that the weight was the arm of her new lover draped protectively across her.
She turned and looked at him still not believing that she had taken Walter Skinner to bed. He must of sensed her movement for he pulled her closer to him and snuggled his face into her hair.
Scully relaxed into his embrace and closed her eyes trying to remember exactly how she had ended up in this situation.
It had all began at the FBI party back in December. She and Skinner had danced and talked all night before he had escorted her home. She had been nervous as he walked her to her door, but he had been the perfect gentleman only placing a chaste kiss on her cheek before leaving.
A week later she had moved out of her office in the basement and back to Quantico where there had been a large bouquet of flowers, from Skinner, waiting to greet her.
With Scully no longer under his chain of command, he was free to court her and court her he did. He took her to the nicest restaurants and to the hottest shows. He had charmed her mother, stared down her brother and had held her when Mulder's tombstone had arrived and was placed at his grave.
It was that night, when Scully had been able to finally say 'goodbye' to Mulder that he had kissed her properly. That had been two weeks ago and when Skinner had asked her out for Valentine's Day, she had told him that she would rather stay in and had offered to cook him dinner.
Scully had been a wreck all day. When she was younger she had cooked all the time but during her years with the X-files, her culinary skills consisted mainly of deciding which type of takeout to order in when Mulder stopped by.
Her relationship with Skinner was so different than what her relationship with Mulder had been and she wanted to reflect that in her choices for that evening. Where as with Mulder she would have been comfortable wearing old sweats and eating pizza, with Skinner she wanted to look her best and impress him with her cooking.
Skinner had arrived promptly carrying a bottle of her favorite wine. He had complimented her on her outfit and the delicious smells coming out of the kitchen. Skinner was no fool and understood the implications of Scully's invitation but he was very careful to let her take the lead.
He had been the perfect gentleman only kissing her upon his arrival until after the dinner was done and she was standing at the kitchen sink getting the dishes ready to soak. Only then had he come up behind and wrapped his arms around her planting small kisses along her neck.
Scully moaned softly at his touch, the first he had made along these lines with her, and Skinner had taken that as encouragement. "Leave them." He said huskily as he slowly began to devour her neck.
Scully said nothing but stripped the rubber gloves she had been wearing off her hands before turning towards him. She looked up and saw nothing but affection and desire in his eyes as he bent down and picked her up.
Scully smiled at the memory of the rest of the evening. She would have never guessed that a man as strong as Skinner could be so tender, so loving. He had made her realize just how much she had missed being with a man.
Behind her she could feel Skinner begin to wake. He snuggled against her his hands beginning their seductive stroking. "Good morning." He said his voice deep from sleep. Scully turned to them and they began again.
May 1st 1:30 PM Maggie Scully's House
Maggie Scully poured her daughter a cup of tea and sat down across from her. "Are you going to tell me what is bothering you so much Dana?"
Scully smiled at her mother surprised, yet again, at how easily her mother knew when something was bothering her.
"It's about Walter Mom." Scully said reaching for a cookie and nibbling on it.
"What about Walter Dana? You two seem to get along so well." Maggie said suddenly concerned.
"Well, that's the problem Mom. We get along great. We have a good time together and understand each other's work commitments."
"Then what is it Dana?" Maggie asked.
"It's just that he isn't. . . he isn't. . ." Scully began.
"He isn't Fox." Maggie said softly. "You still love him that much honey."
Scully looked at her mother shocked at such a statement. She had never admitted her feelings for Mulder to anyone, even herself.
"Don't look so shocked honey." Maggie said smiling at her daughter. "Maybe you fooled a lot of people, but you two didn't fool me."
"No we just fooled each other." Scully thought to herself before speaking. "So what do I do Mom, I think Walter is thinking about marriage."
Maggie nodded understandingly at her daughter. She liked Walter, a lot, but knew that her daughter would never feel for him what she felt for Mulder. She also knew that Walter was no fool and had probably realized this himself.
"Talk to him Dana. He loves you. He will understand."
"I hope so Mom. I would hate to loose him too."
++++++++++++++++++++++ end of part three - what do you think?