Bookyalex: I love that episode, too! It was a great Mulder-angst episode! Lol. J'ai pris la classe française, aussi! (Sorry, I'm a little rusty. Did I say that right?)
Daydr3am3r AND Fuel AND CB15: Thank you very much!
Gillian Leigh: Just to warn you, I tend to leave things hanging. Lol. I hope that doesn't bother you!
NightBloomingJasmine2: Of course they are! I'm too big of an X-phile: they must be together! Lol. Thank you for the review!
Samantha: I HATE HER, TOO! Hence, why I killed her. Lol. Granted, she ended up saving Mulder in the end (on the show), but still!
Creeps: Well, this is the last chapter. I hope you approve!
Brennan mulwray: Whether Diana was dead or alive she would never be allowed to be with (*cough*MY*cough*) Mulder! Lol. Thanks for the review!
CHAPTER THREE
FOUR MONTHS LATER
October 13 (Friday)
Casey's Bar
10:13 PM
Soft rock and the murmur of conversations filtered through the crowded tavern. In the back room you could hear a drunk getting pissed as he lost yet another round of pool. The lights were – typically – dimmed to a few shades shy of being off.
A sensual woman sauntered over, gliding into the barstool beside Mulder, her hand straying up his thigh. "Hey, handsome, you look lonely. Would you like company?"
He managed to flash the busty brunette a small smile. "I'm not welcoming company tonight." He hissed as her delicate fingers stroked him through his suit pants. Like a teenager experiencing a woman's touch for the first time, he became instantly aroused. He sighed, shifting away from her. He removed her playful hand from his crotch. "Look, you're very beautiful. And I think it's obvious that you're a turn on. However, the only company I want is Vodka with a dash of Scotch." He pecked her on the cheek, then drew back and winked at her. "I know you'll be able to pick up any other man in here. So, why don't you go ahead?"
The stunned prostitute slowly brought her hand to where he had kissed her. She was dazed…and utterly charmed. "I…maybe a rain check, then?"
"We'll see." Mulder had no intention to sleep with the whore. He never stooped that low. Besides, he was a law enforcement officer: talk about being a hypocrite.
The gorgeous woman slid off the seat. "See you later, handsome." And she disappeared into the crowd leaving Mulder to his drink.
"Is this seat taken?"
He turned wearily at the sound of a soft female voice. He really didn't want to handle another prostitute. Looking up, he chuckled. "Why, doc, what brings you into my neighborhood?"
Dana Scully propped herself onto the stool the whore had just vacated. Ignoring his question, she said: "I saw how you handled that woman. It was charming. Most men would have either taken her offer or brushed her off harshly." She ordered her drink then turned her attention back to him. "Though the kiss may have been a bit much."
"Jealous," he inquired teasingly.
"No." She took a sip of her drink. "You left the hospital without a goodbye, Agent Mulder."
"Missed me?"
"No way, but all the nurses on the floor did."
"Liar." He drummed his fingers on the countertop. "So, what brings you into this neck of the woods? You don't live nor work in D.C."
"I was consulting on a case for D.C. Homicide." She scanned him over, but her scrutiny wasn't lustful – she was in doctor mode. "So, how's everything healing? You're lucky the wounds were clean-cut."
"Yeah," he snorted. "Lucky." He finished his glass in one fluent toss. "Look, I'm not good company this evening. So, if you don't want a moody ass on your hands then maybe you should…"
"Hey, mister, I think I can decide if I want to put up with you or not." She smiled, running her fingers along the rim of her glass. "So, was it a rough day at work?"
He looked around then, leaned into her personal space. "You want to blow this joint?"
She gazed up into his earnest – and soulful – eyes. "Yeah." She gathered up her stuff and followed him out the door. On the street, she was surprised when he didn't hail a cab, but just started strolling down the sidewalk. She rushed to catch up. "Want to tell me about your adverse day?"
He kicked a stone, sending it scattering somewhere into the darkness. "Work was actually ok. How about you?"
"Fine. So, what has you in a depression chokehold?"
He chuckled, slipping his hands into his pockets. "Damn you're persistent. This day is always just a shitty day." He smiled sideways at her. "It's my birthday."
"Oh. I would say happy birthday, but obviously that will go in one ear and out the other. What do you have against your birthday?"
"It's the day that marks when my pitiful life came into existence." He barked out a laugh. "God, isn't it ironic that October thirteenth is my birthday? I was even born on a Friday. And now look at my life. I've lived up to my birthday – I hunt aliens, Big Foot, and Fluke-men for a living!" He tossed his hands skyward and yelled: "I am Fox "Spooky" Mulder!"
"Spooky?"
By now they had made it to the reflecting pool.
Mulder dropped onto the bench. (Note to readers: the following dialogue was taken from the movie): "I'm a key figure in an ongoing government charade. An annoyance to my superiors. A joke to my peers. Whose sister was abducted by aliens when he was a kid. Who now chases little green men with a badge and a gun, shouting to the heavens and anyone who'll listen that the fix is in. That our government's hip to the truth and a part of the conspiracy. That the sky is falling, and when it hits it's gonna be the shit storm of all time."
She was speechless. He is a nut…or is he? Maybe it is only the alcohol talking. "I…I don't understand. You're sister was…abducted…by aliens? And you think the government is in on it?"
He groaned, bending at the waist. "God, I don't want to drag you into my demented world. Damn me for being drunk. I always ramble off when I'm drunk – it is one of the reasons why I quit drinking in the first place."
She gently placed a comforting hand on his shoulder, but he sharply brushed her off and leapt to his feet. "Damn it," he screamed at her. "Get the hell away from me! You don't understand what you're walking into!"
She flinched, a sense of fear crawling up from the pit of her stomach. He saw the look of fright peering out from her eyes and he instantly regretted his outburst. He sighed then, whispered: "Look, Dana, I…I admire you. I…like you. It's just that…I'm dangerous. My work is dangerous. My associates are dangerous. My past is dangerous. I just…death follows me around. Everyone in my life dies. I don't want anymore blood on my hands."
"I'm not afraid, Fox." She rose to a stance, taking his large hand in her slender one. "Let's go back to my place for some coffee."
October 14 (Saturday)
Dana's Residence
4:35AM
He moaned as the headache dragged him out of slumber. He rubbed at his sore eyes then, stretched. He froze. A weight on his chest brought his eyes flying open and he gasped. He was met be red hair fanning out just underneath his chin. He squeezed his eyes shut to try and force the memories of last night to resurface. Did they have sex?
He remembered how they had gone to her place for coffee. They'd staggered over to her sofa and collapsed on top of the soft cushions. After a long, thick pause Dana had flipped the TV on and retrieved them some popcorn. They both must've fallen asleep while watching the World War II documentary.
Mulder licked his dry lips, sighing in relief.
-*-*-*-
She wasn't surprised or angry when she awoke at seven o'clock alone on the couch. She curled deeper into the cushions, not sure how to feel about his vanishing act.
Then she heard the sound.
Dana quietly crawled off the sofa. She grabbed the lamp from the side table, poising it over her head in readiness to smash it over the intruder's head. She tiptoed over to the kitchen. She swung around into the room, the weapon slipping from her hand and crashing to the floor. "Fox!"
He was barefoot and standing over the stove frying bacon, eggs, and sausage. "Hey, welcome to the land of the living." He piled two plates with the steaming breakfast. "I was afraid I was going to have to wake you. But you made it just in time."
"It's seven in the morning," she stated as though that in its self should explain why she had still been sleeping. "And it's Saturday."
"I know. Otherwise I would have been up at five." He filled the two coffee mugs on the table then, set the plates down beside them. He settled in a chair and picked up his fork. "You going to stand there all morning or are you going to eat?"
Dana realized she was still gawking like a fool and mechanically plopped down in the chair opposite of him. "I was positive you had gone."
He nodded understandingly. "Yeah. I was rather surprised myself that I stayed. I mean…this is…awkward." He shoved some eggs into his mouth. After swallowing, he continued. "I woke up last night and nearly freaked, about to run for the hills. But then the most amazing thing happened. I realized I was under you and I didn't have the heart to wake you. You looked so peaceful and comfortable. So, I decided to stay."
She blushed.
"Yeah," his face was flaming red. "I don't want to discuss it. If you analyze it then the intrigue disappears. It's mystifying by nature and not meant to be understood."
She took a tentative sip of her coffee. "I don't want to analyze it either – yet. However, I end up analyzing everything. But I don't want to spoil this morning. So, let's switch gears, Mr. Domestic. What do you do in the FBI? All you told me was that you have your own division. And you chase little green men. I wouldn't think the FBI would handle such claims."
"It's called the X-files. I investigate paranormal activities of any sort."
"You said last night that our government knows "the truth". What truth is that?"
He looked at her, shaking his head. "Forget everything I said. Dana, you have no clue how deep and intricate this mess is. It goes way to the top and touches the lives of everyone – whether they know it or not. I can't…there's no way I could drag you into my world."
"Yeah, yeah, I know. You told me last night about how everything is dangerous. But, Mulder, I want the truth. Would you deny me that?"
"Deny everything," he muttered.
"What?"
"Nothing."
She eyed him strangely. "Ok, I'll let it go – for now."
END CHAPTER THREE