The Marfa Murder Mysteries Part Four
By Katie Phillips
Disclaimer information located in Part One.
More than once over the next couple of hours, Scully had to resist the urge to pull out her ID and reveal her identity. It was bad enough that she hadn't been able to save Joe Iron Horse, but it was even worse that she couldn't find out exactly what killed him.
Because of her undercover role, Scully was just another witness. She was therefore not privy to the autopsy results--had they even bothered to do one--or any other piece of forensic evidence. She and Mulder had both given their statements to the police, and had been thanked for doing everything they could to resuscitate Joe. The police had assumed that Joe was the victim of a heart attack, but after some gentle prodding from Mulder, said they would consider looking into the death a little closer.
Mulder had spent the afternoon walking around the facility grounds with Bobby, trying to get a handle on what happened. He kept a close eye on the naturalist who, although upset by Joe's untimely death, didn't seem to be too surprised by it.
"Earlier you told Joe that he could make things worse. What did you mean by that?" Mulder asked, as he and Bobby squatted down where Joe had fallen. Bobby seemed a bit surprised by the question. "Apache spirits don't take kindly to unqualified people asking them to leave their burial grounds." Bobby looked over at Mulder. "You don't actually think that the spirits struck him dead, do you?"
"Do you?" Mulder responded with a raised eyebrow. "There are a lot of unexplained incidents in this area, the least of which are the mysterious Lights. If the theory of the angered spirits is correct, it would explain a lot."
Bobby chuckled at him. "For a scientist, you're very open-minded. Hey, what's this?" Bobby began rubbing the sand in the area where Joe was standing before he fell. Mulder joined his efforts and soon the two men had revealed a small, 4 inch square piece of metal. It was slightly warm.
"What do you think it is?" Bobby asked again, as he stood up and brushed the dust off his jeans.
"I have no idea," Mulder lied. He had a theory.
XXX
When Scully arrived at Mulder's apartment, she was greeting by the piquant aroma of Mexican food as Mulder ushered her in. "I thought I'd save some time by ordering in."
Scully shrugged out of her jacket and threw it over a chair, relieved to see that Mulder was in full-fledge work mode. Chances were good he was too wrapped up in the case to question her about her actions the night before. She looked around the apartment as she walked into the kitchen to grab a plate of food.
Mulder's apartment was basically one large room, with a small kitchen area set off to one side. It sported a huge fireplace, some living room furniture, two dressers and a king-sized bed. Scully swallowed when she saw it. The tables were covered with the papers Mulder was using to process all the information presented to him.
"The files I asked for just arrived. They came in a pizza box." Mulder chuckled to himself. "The neighbors must think I'm quite the pig. First several large pizza boxes arrive, and then I go out and buy three bags of Mexican food. Have a seat Scully."
Scully sat on the floor in front of the coffee table, and cleared a small spot on which to put her dish. It wasn't until she took her first bite of enchilada, that she realized how hungry she was. "This is absolutely fabulous," she said between bites.
"Yeah it is," Mulder agreed, enjoying the sight of Scully eating with such gusto. It was a nice change from seeing her pick at a simple green salad. "Are you upset Scully, that you can't do the old slice and dice on Joe?"
"It's killing me. I don't even know for sure if they're considering his death anything but accidental. The only thing I've been able to find out, is that they 'assume' he had a heart attack."
"His death was far from accidental Scully," Mulder mumbled, his mouth partially full. "I can almost guarantee that." Scully raised a questioning eyebrow at him. "I noticed some black, smudge-like marks on Joe's moccasins right after he died, but didn't think much of it until later."
"And what are you thinking it means now? Are you going to eat all that guacamole?" Scully gave Mulder her best beguiling smile.
"Help yourself, there's tons more in the kitchen. This afternoon, Bobby and I noticed a small piece of metal in the ground near where Joe fell."
"God, this stuff is good. And?"
"I think maybe an electric current was sent through it."
"You think Joe Iron Horse was electrocuted? By whom? And why? Besides Mulder, I don't think I need to tell you that electrocution leaves telltale signs, such as burned or scorched flesh, and charred or melted footwear. Prior to death there would have been violent jerking, twitching, or convulsions. We didn't see anything like that with Joe Iron Horse. Surely the coroner would have noticed any burning of the flesh, and realized that a heart attack wasn't the cause of death."
"Bobby Durham wasn't too happy about a bogus medicine man being there. The person behind the murders may not have been too happy either, I don't know how to explain it exactly, but what if someone used a smaller amount of electricity than is usually fatal, just hoping to scare Joe Iron Horse. Maybe he had a bad heart, and the death was unintentional. We've been told that the deaths of the construction workers were 'suspicious,' and we know for a fact that the tourists were electrocuted."
"Agent Mulder, are you actually conceding that the other deaths were not caused by paranormal events? And you think they're connected to Joe Iron Horse's death as well? I may need to have a beer."
"Good idea, Scully. Grab me one, too." Mulder grinned when she moaned, got up from her seat, and returned with two beers and another helping of guacamole and tortilla chips. He opened the beers, took a long drink and continued. "No, Scully I don't think that these deaths are caused by the Marfa Lights. I think someone electrocuted all these people, not just the tourist couple. What if somehow he or she found a way to use a typically non-lethal charge to cause death by heart failure alone, without the signature scorching or burning? I just haven't figured out how or why yet."
Scully nodded. Mulder's explanation didn't sound as farfetched as some of his had in the past. "What do you suggest we do now?"
"You have tomorrow off, right?" Mulder leaned back against the couch and patted his stomach with satisfaction. "I thought Ashley would join Barry on a little hike around the facility grounds. I'll bring along some metal detectors, under the premise that I think that the Marfa Lights are drawn to certain types of metals. Do you know the approximate location of each of the deaths?"
"I think so."
"Good, we can check for metal plates in the ground. If we find them, we may have found our link."
"We have no motive and no real suspect."
"If we find what I think we're going to find, I think it will narrow down our suspect list quite a bit."
Mulder and Scully reviewed their notes and their lists of potential suspects in relative silence. No one on the list seemed especially likely to have committed the crimes, but none had air-tight alibis either.
Dishes were cleared and folders stowed away. Mulder got each of them another beer, and sat down on the couch, patting the seat next to him. "Come on partner, you look beat. Can I rub your shoulders for you?"
Scully hesitated for a second. She knew she was too tired to make the nearly one hour drive back to Alpine, but she was also nervous about sitting so close to Mulder. Her shoulder muscles felt like they were tied up in knots, and Scully was very much aware of the fact that no one gave better shoulder massages than her partner.
Mulder turned so his back was to the side of the sofa and he put one of his legs down on the floor, making a place for Scully to sit between them. Hesitantly, she settled herself in between his legs, and stretched hers out in front of her, leaning into his hands as he began his kneading. "Didn't sleep well last night Scully?" He spoke conversationally, as he worked on a particularly stubborn knot.
Scully rolled her head slightly at his prodding. "No, too much on my mind."
Mulder convinced the knot to surrender, and was now working on another. "Jesus Scully, you're as tight as a drum. Care to talk to Dr. Mulder about what's troubling you?"
"I think that would be difficult, considering it's Dr. Mulder who's the source of my problem. Oh yeah Mulder, right there. Do you feel that? That's been bothering me since I got here." Mulder moved his probing fingers to the spot, and Scully moaned again. After a little more pressure, Mulder felt her finally begin to relax.
"This is about more than the kiss, isn't it Scully?"
"I don't know, Mulder. You're the one with the psych degree; you tell me."
Mulder chuckled. Scully always sniped at him when he was right about her feelings and she didn't want to admit it. "I think, Scully, that you let your guard down, and were surprised that I had done the same. I think, or at least I hope, that the kiss we shared was more than you thought it would be." He stopped rubbing her neck and leaned forward so he could see her face. "Honestly Scully, I was only planning on giving you a bit of a peck, just enough to give Carlos the message that you weren't available." He flushed slightly. "I guess it turned into more than that."
"That was Barry kissing Ashley, Mulder. Not you and I kissing."
Mulder resumed his massage of Scully's neck, leaning back so she couldn't see him roll his eyes. "Well, Ashley and Barry aren't here now, if you care to see whether that really would make a difference."
"You don't have to cop an attitude, Mulder." Mulder could tell that Scully was about to go on the offensive again, trying to steer the conversation in another direction.
"No I don't, and you don't have to try pick a fight with me either."
Scully was about to angrily deny his remark, when she realized he was right. She was trying to divert him from discussing the two of them, and the feelings they might have for one another. "I'm sorry, Mulder. All I keep thinking about is how it's okay for Barry and Ashley to be together, but not okay for us. They don't have to go back to DC and work together."
"No they don't." Mulder said nothing more, instead pulling Scully back so she lay against him as he reclined against the arm of the couch. He settled his chin on her head and waited for her to ponder what was happening between them.
XXX
Mulder was afraid that Scully may have dozed off when she finally turned around to face him, tucking her legs underneath her. "I don't suppose one kiss could hurt anything."
Mulder tried to restrain himself, replying calmly. "No, I don't think it could." He leaned over and placed his lips gently on hers. He pressed a bit harder and felt her respond. He had every intention of moving slowly, but within seconds found himself exactly where they had been the night before--each of them exploring the other, with a passion that surprised him.
They finally split apart, and Mulder placed a small kiss on Scully's forehead. He frowned when he saw the look of fear steal across her face. She was thinking again, thinking about all the possible negative repercussions. Mulder leaned back against the arm of the couch again, and maneuvered Scully into the same position she was in before their kiss.
Mulder just held her for a long time, his arms wrapped loosely around her, his hands on her hands, which rested on her stomach. He made gentle circles on the back of her hand with his thumb, as he patiently waited for her to relax. "Scully, sometimes you think too much."
Scully snorted. "I know Mulder, but I'm scared to take the plunge. Scared of what might happen."
Mulder kissed her neck and whispered in her ear. "You trust me, don't you Scully?" He waited until he felt her nod. "Then trust me not to let you fall." He placed small kisses behind her ear. "Don't think Scully, just feel. Can you do that for me?" Scully nodded again, and Mulder began his slow seduction, not proceeding until he felt his partner relax beneath him. "We'll take this as slow or as fast as you want. Okay?"
Hearing no objection, Mulder continued to speak softly as he slowly stroked and explored every inch of Scully's body within his reach. He whispered terms of endearments in her ear, and ignored the tingling in his legs as they lost circulation, instead concentrating on the small sounds Scully made when he touched her. After awhile he stopped talking briefly, to quench his parched throat with a sip of beer. It was then he realized why Scully had become so relaxed. She was fast asleep.
Mulder smiled when he looked down at her. Scully really could sleep through anything. He shook his head and watched her for a long time, until his legs really began to complain. Carefully he tried to extract himself from beneath his sleeping partner, his movement waking her up. She blinked once or twice, as if trying to remember where she was, and what she was doing. She looked up at Mulder who was sitting next to her grinning, and blushed. "Sorry Mulder. Don't take it personally, I was really tired."
"I know, I know. Some jerk pissed you off last night, and you were up all night thinking about it."
Scully smiled up at him. "How far did you go before you noticed I was asleep?" She sat up next to Mulder and stretched.
"I was rounding first, heading for second." Mulder wrapped his arm around her and gave her a squeeze.
"Too bad I fell asleep. What you were doing felt so good, I was thinking about letting you steal third." She leaned against him resting her head on his chest.
"What? No home run?" Mulder kissed the top of her head, enjoying the weight of her against him, as she wrapped her arms around his neck.
"On the first date? What kind of girl do you think I am?"
Mulder put his finger under her chin and tilted it up so he could look at her more closely. Although her eyes still showed signs of wariness, she was definitely in the mood to tease him, her mini-nap obviously having relieved some of the tension. "An intelligent, sexy one." He bent down to kiss her again, playfully groping at her until she erupted in giggles.
"Mulder, what are you doing?"
"Trying to get to second base."
Scully erupted in giggles as she tried to free herself from Mulder's grasp. He was too strong for her, and within seconds she was pinned beneath him. They stopped laughing, and Mulder looked down at her with such a look of naked desire that it almost took her breath away.
"Yes or no?" Mulder searched her eyes for the answer. Scully became perfectly still, and Mulder held his breath, fearing the worst.
"Yes." Scully said, as she pulled him down to her.
XXX
Scully opened her eyes, surprised to find the room bright with sunlight. She tried to move in order to glance at the alarm clock by the bed, only to feel Mulder tighten the arm he had around her waist. She rolled her eyes. Even asleep Mulder was possessive of her. Scully couldn't get annoyed with him though, not after last night and all the wonderful things he had done to her.
She snuggled back against him and closed her eyes, reliving the feeling as Mulder had slowly, systematically explored every inch of her body, first with his hands, and then with his mouth. Scully experienced sensations she hadn't thought possible--the things that man could do with his mouth. She had actually reached orgasm just from Mulder sucking on her ear lobe, but that was nothing compared to what he did to her when he explored between her legs.
The memory of his actions made her squirm against him. Mulder's lower body noticed the motion immediately, and sprang to action. Apparently the rest of Mulder noticed as well. He gave her shoulder a quick nibble, before speaking with a voice husky from sleep. "Morning Scully."
Scully turned over so she was facing him, and smiled. He moved to kiss her, when she stopped him with a hand on his chest. "Oh no you don't." Mulder looked concerned for a moment, before realizing she was teasing. "You made a liar out of me, Mulder."
"How's that?" Mulder propped his head up on his elbow and looked at her. He had always thought Scully was a good-looking woman, but seeing her now, after a night in his bed, he was struck by just how beautiful she really was.
"I said you wouldn't be hitting a home run last night." Scully tried to scold Mulder but erupted into giggles as he attacked her. "Stop, Mulder."
Mulder stopped his assault and glanced at the alarm clock. "Damn, ten o'clock already? I don't suppose we could let the Marfa Police Department solve this case on their own?" Scully arched an eyebrow at him. "Didn't think so. I'm going to grab a quick shower and cook you breakfast, okay?"
Mulder was out of bed and halfway to the bathroom, when he stopped and walked back over to where Scully lay watching him. He bent over and gave her a long, deep kiss. "Thanks, Scully. Last night was better than I ever dreamed, and I've had some pretty good dreams. Promise me that when we're done with this case, we'll sneak off for a weekend together so I can indulge in the rest of my fantasies."
Scully stroked his face with her hand. "Deal." Mulder smiled down at her, and gave her a gentle kiss on the tip of her nose.
XXX
Scully and Mulder arrived just south of the research facility a little after eleven. They parked the car, threw on their packs and started their exploration of the grounds. They didn't speak much. Mulder was wearing a listening device that pinged every time the metal detector he was waving over the ground discovered anything.
Scully had charted out the location of all of the 'accidents,' and they started there. Mulder's theory seemed to be panning out, as they found small metal squares several inches under the soil at the three of the accident sites. Satisfied with the results, Mulder stowed his gear in his backpack before taking a long drink of water and addressing Scully.
"I want to walk around out there a bit too." He pointed towards where the Marfa Lights appeared.
Scully took her own drink of water and wiped some dust off her face. "God, it's dusty out here. What are we looking for?"
Mulder shrugged. "I have no idea, but I'll know it when I see it." He glanced around to see if anyone was within earshot, before offering Scully his hand. "This is probably the only assignment where I'll be able to show any public signs of affection for you, Scully. I plan to take full advantage of it." Scully looked at him a long second, before taking his hand.
They hiked for an hour or so, before finding some shade under a large outcropping of rocks. Mulder had taken out his metal detector again, but had found no signs of metal other than that in the occasional rock. He put down his pack, took off the headphones, and carefully lay the equipment against the rock ledge.
Scully, who had brought a small blanket in her pack, spread it in the shade and began unpacking their lunch. "Any ideas Mulder?"
"About the Lights, not one." He plopped down next to Scully on the blanket, and grabbed a sandwich. He took a large bite before continuing. "I do, though, have a theory about the murders."
He began drawing a picture in the dusty ground to help illustrate his point. "I'm not sure that the killer intended to kill any one in particular. I'm beginning to think that the killings are result of the victims being at the wrong place at the wrong time."
Scully nibbled at her fruit salad. "How so?"
"I think that a series of those small metal plates were placed all around the facility and its grounds. I think, too, that strong electrical currents are sent to those plates at random intervals. The attacks on the construction workers and those kids in the car were random acts designed to scare people."
"What about the exploding garbage can in the Ladies Room, and Joe Iron Horse's death?"
"I think the garbage can was rigged to go off sometime during the celebration. I also think that someone wasn't happy about Joe's little dance."
"Didn't you tell me that Bobby and Joe had a fight right before he was killed?"
"Yeah, but I don't think Bobby is behind this. He doesn't strike me as the kind who would spend time jury-rigging an electrical system." Mulder had finished his sandwich and was leaning against the rock, closing his eyes and enjoying the warm sun on his face. "Tonight, I think you and I should pay a little visit to Carlos's office. If we can find the plans for the electrical system, we can email them to the Gunmen and have them take a look at them."
Mulder opened his eyes and looked at Scully. "In the meantime. . ." He pulled Scully towards him and kissed her. "Our bosses are always accusing us of screwing around on their time. I think it's about time we prove them right."
End of part four.
More than once over the next couple of hours, Scully had to resist the urge to pull out her ID and reveal her identity. It was bad enough that she hadn't been able to save Joe Iron Horse, but it was even worse that she couldn't find out exactly what killed him.
Because of her undercover role, Scully was just another witness. She was therefore not privy to the autopsy results--had they even bothered to do one--or any other piece of forensic evidence. She and Mulder had both given their statements to the police, and had been thanked for doing everything they could to resuscitate Joe. The police had assumed that Joe was the victim of a heart attack, but after some gentle prodding from Mulder, said they would consider looking into the death a little closer.
Mulder had spent the afternoon walking around the facility grounds with Bobby, trying to get a handle on what happened. He kept a close eye on the naturalist who, although upset by Joe's untimely death, didn't seem to be too surprised by it.
"Earlier you told Joe that he could make things worse. What did you mean by that?" Mulder asked, as he and Bobby squatted down where Joe had fallen. Bobby seemed a bit surprised by the question. "Apache spirits don't take kindly to unqualified people asking them to leave their burial grounds." Bobby looked over at Mulder. "You don't actually think that the spirits struck him dead, do you?"
"Do you?" Mulder responded with a raised eyebrow. "There are a lot of unexplained incidents in this area, the least of which are the mysterious Lights. If the theory of the angered spirits is correct, it would explain a lot."
Bobby chuckled at him. "For a scientist, you're very open-minded. Hey, what's this?" Bobby began rubbing the sand in the area where Joe was standing before he fell. Mulder joined his efforts and soon the two men had revealed a small, 4 inch square piece of metal. It was slightly warm.
"What do you think it is?" Bobby asked again, as he stood up and brushed the dust off his jeans.
"I have no idea," Mulder lied. He had a theory.
XXX
When Scully arrived at Mulder's apartment, she was greeting by the piquant aroma of Mexican food as Mulder ushered her in. "I thought I'd save some time by ordering in."
Scully shrugged out of her jacket and threw it over a chair, relieved to see that Mulder was in full-fledge work mode. Chances were good he was too wrapped up in the case to question her about her actions the night before. She looked around the apartment as she walked into the kitchen to grab a plate of food.
Mulder's apartment was basically one large room, with a small kitchen area set off to one side. It sported a huge fireplace, some living room furniture, two dressers and a king-sized bed. Scully swallowed when she saw it. The tables were covered with the papers Mulder was using to process all the information presented to him.
"The files I asked for just arrived. They came in a pizza box." Mulder chuckled to himself. "The neighbors must think I'm quite the pig. First several large pizza boxes arrive, and then I go out and buy three bags of Mexican food. Have a seat Scully."
Scully sat on the floor in front of the coffee table, and cleared a small spot on which to put her dish. It wasn't until she took her first bite of enchilada, that she realized how hungry she was. "This is absolutely fabulous," she said between bites.
"Yeah it is," Mulder agreed, enjoying the sight of Scully eating with such gusto. It was a nice change from seeing her pick at a simple green salad. "Are you upset Scully, that you can't do the old slice and dice on Joe?"
"It's killing me. I don't even know for sure if they're considering his death anything but accidental. The only thing I've been able to find out, is that they 'assume' he had a heart attack."
"His death was far from accidental Scully," Mulder mumbled, his mouth partially full. "I can almost guarantee that." Scully raised a questioning eyebrow at him. "I noticed some black, smudge-like marks on Joe's moccasins right after he died, but didn't think much of it until later."
"And what are you thinking it means now? Are you going to eat all that guacamole?" Scully gave Mulder her best beguiling smile.
"Help yourself, there's tons more in the kitchen. This afternoon, Bobby and I noticed a small piece of metal in the ground near where Joe fell."
"God, this stuff is good. And?"
"I think maybe an electric current was sent through it."
"You think Joe Iron Horse was electrocuted? By whom? And why? Besides Mulder, I don't think I need to tell you that electrocution leaves telltale signs, such as burned or scorched flesh, and charred or melted footwear. Prior to death there would have been violent jerking, twitching, or convulsions. We didn't see anything like that with Joe Iron Horse. Surely the coroner would have noticed any burning of the flesh, and realized that a heart attack wasn't the cause of death."
"Bobby Durham wasn't too happy about a bogus medicine man being there. The person behind the murders may not have been too happy either, I don't know how to explain it exactly, but what if someone used a smaller amount of electricity than is usually fatal, just hoping to scare Joe Iron Horse. Maybe he had a bad heart, and the death was unintentional. We've been told that the deaths of the construction workers were 'suspicious,' and we know for a fact that the tourists were electrocuted."
"Agent Mulder, are you actually conceding that the other deaths were not caused by paranormal events? And you think they're connected to Joe Iron Horse's death as well? I may need to have a beer."
"Good idea, Scully. Grab me one, too." Mulder grinned when she moaned, got up from her seat, and returned with two beers and another helping of guacamole and tortilla chips. He opened the beers, took a long drink and continued. "No, Scully I don't think that these deaths are caused by the Marfa Lights. I think someone electrocuted all these people, not just the tourist couple. What if somehow he or she found a way to use a typically non-lethal charge to cause death by heart failure alone, without the signature scorching or burning? I just haven't figured out how or why yet."
Scully nodded. Mulder's explanation didn't sound as farfetched as some of his had in the past. "What do you suggest we do now?"
"You have tomorrow off, right?" Mulder leaned back against the couch and patted his stomach with satisfaction. "I thought Ashley would join Barry on a little hike around the facility grounds. I'll bring along some metal detectors, under the premise that I think that the Marfa Lights are drawn to certain types of metals. Do you know the approximate location of each of the deaths?"
"I think so."
"Good, we can check for metal plates in the ground. If we find them, we may have found our link."
"We have no motive and no real suspect."
"If we find what I think we're going to find, I think it will narrow down our suspect list quite a bit."
Mulder and Scully reviewed their notes and their lists of potential suspects in relative silence. No one on the list seemed especially likely to have committed the crimes, but none had air-tight alibis either.
Dishes were cleared and folders stowed away. Mulder got each of them another beer, and sat down on the couch, patting the seat next to him. "Come on partner, you look beat. Can I rub your shoulders for you?"
Scully hesitated for a second. She knew she was too tired to make the nearly one hour drive back to Alpine, but she was also nervous about sitting so close to Mulder. Her shoulder muscles felt like they were tied up in knots, and Scully was very much aware of the fact that no one gave better shoulder massages than her partner.
Mulder turned so his back was to the side of the sofa and he put one of his legs down on the floor, making a place for Scully to sit between them. Hesitantly, she settled herself in between his legs, and stretched hers out in front of her, leaning into his hands as he began his kneading. "Didn't sleep well last night Scully?" He spoke conversationally, as he worked on a particularly stubborn knot.
Scully rolled her head slightly at his prodding. "No, too much on my mind."
Mulder convinced the knot to surrender, and was now working on another. "Jesus Scully, you're as tight as a drum. Care to talk to Dr. Mulder about what's troubling you?"
"I think that would be difficult, considering it's Dr. Mulder who's the source of my problem. Oh yeah Mulder, right there. Do you feel that? That's been bothering me since I got here." Mulder moved his probing fingers to the spot, and Scully moaned again. After a little more pressure, Mulder felt her finally begin to relax.
"This is about more than the kiss, isn't it Scully?"
"I don't know, Mulder. You're the one with the psych degree; you tell me."
Mulder chuckled. Scully always sniped at him when he was right about her feelings and she didn't want to admit it. "I think, Scully, that you let your guard down, and were surprised that I had done the same. I think, or at least I hope, that the kiss we shared was more than you thought it would be." He stopped rubbing her neck and leaned forward so he could see her face. "Honestly Scully, I was only planning on giving you a bit of a peck, just enough to give Carlos the message that you weren't available." He flushed slightly. "I guess it turned into more than that."
"That was Barry kissing Ashley, Mulder. Not you and I kissing."
Mulder resumed his massage of Scully's neck, leaning back so she couldn't see him roll his eyes. "Well, Ashley and Barry aren't here now, if you care to see whether that really would make a difference."
"You don't have to cop an attitude, Mulder." Mulder could tell that Scully was about to go on the offensive again, trying to steer the conversation in another direction.
"No I don't, and you don't have to try pick a fight with me either."
Scully was about to angrily deny his remark, when she realized he was right. She was trying to divert him from discussing the two of them, and the feelings they might have for one another. "I'm sorry, Mulder. All I keep thinking about is how it's okay for Barry and Ashley to be together, but not okay for us. They don't have to go back to DC and work together."
"No they don't." Mulder said nothing more, instead pulling Scully back so she lay against him as he reclined against the arm of the couch. He settled his chin on her head and waited for her to ponder what was happening between them.
XXX
Mulder was afraid that Scully may have dozed off when she finally turned around to face him, tucking her legs underneath her. "I don't suppose one kiss could hurt anything."
Mulder tried to restrain himself, replying calmly. "No, I don't think it could." He leaned over and placed his lips gently on hers. He pressed a bit harder and felt her respond. He had every intention of moving slowly, but within seconds found himself exactly where they had been the night before--each of them exploring the other, with a passion that surprised him.
They finally split apart, and Mulder placed a small kiss on Scully's forehead. He frowned when he saw the look of fear steal across her face. She was thinking again, thinking about all the possible negative repercussions. Mulder leaned back against the arm of the couch again, and maneuvered Scully into the same position she was in before their kiss.
Mulder just held her for a long time, his arms wrapped loosely around her, his hands on her hands, which rested on her stomach. He made gentle circles on the back of her hand with his thumb, as he patiently waited for her to relax. "Scully, sometimes you think too much."
Scully snorted. "I know Mulder, but I'm scared to take the plunge. Scared of what might happen."
Mulder kissed her neck and whispered in her ear. "You trust me, don't you Scully?" He waited until he felt her nod. "Then trust me not to let you fall." He placed small kisses behind her ear. "Don't think Scully, just feel. Can you do that for me?" Scully nodded again, and Mulder began his slow seduction, not proceeding until he felt his partner relax beneath him. "We'll take this as slow or as fast as you want. Okay?"
Hearing no objection, Mulder continued to speak softly as he slowly stroked and explored every inch of Scully's body within his reach. He whispered terms of endearments in her ear, and ignored the tingling in his legs as they lost circulation, instead concentrating on the small sounds Scully made when he touched her. After awhile he stopped talking briefly, to quench his parched throat with a sip of beer. It was then he realized why Scully had become so relaxed. She was fast asleep.
Mulder smiled when he looked down at her. Scully really could sleep through anything. He shook his head and watched her for a long time, until his legs really began to complain. Carefully he tried to extract himself from beneath his sleeping partner, his movement waking her up. She blinked once or twice, as if trying to remember where she was, and what she was doing. She looked up at Mulder who was sitting next to her grinning, and blushed. "Sorry Mulder. Don't take it personally, I was really tired."
"I know, I know. Some jerk pissed you off last night, and you were up all night thinking about it."
Scully smiled up at him. "How far did you go before you noticed I was asleep?" She sat up next to Mulder and stretched.
"I was rounding first, heading for second." Mulder wrapped his arm around her and gave her a squeeze.
"Too bad I fell asleep. What you were doing felt so good, I was thinking about letting you steal third." She leaned against him resting her head on his chest.
"What? No home run?" Mulder kissed the top of her head, enjoying the weight of her against him, as she wrapped her arms around his neck.
"On the first date? What kind of girl do you think I am?"
Mulder put his finger under her chin and tilted it up so he could look at her more closely. Although her eyes still showed signs of wariness, she was definitely in the mood to tease him, her mini-nap obviously having relieved some of the tension. "An intelligent, sexy one." He bent down to kiss her again, playfully groping at her until she erupted in giggles.
"Mulder, what are you doing?"
"Trying to get to second base."
Scully erupted in giggles as she tried to free herself from Mulder's grasp. He was too strong for her, and within seconds she was pinned beneath him. They stopped laughing, and Mulder looked down at her with such a look of naked desire that it almost took her breath away.
"Yes or no?" Mulder searched her eyes for the answer. Scully became perfectly still, and Mulder held his breath, fearing the worst.
"Yes." Scully said, as she pulled him down to her.
XXX
Scully opened her eyes, surprised to find the room bright with sunlight. She tried to move in order to glance at the alarm clock by the bed, only to feel Mulder tighten the arm he had around her waist. She rolled her eyes. Even asleep Mulder was possessive of her. Scully couldn't get annoyed with him though, not after last night and all the wonderful things he had done to her.
She snuggled back against him and closed her eyes, reliving the feeling as Mulder had slowly, systematically explored every inch of her body, first with his hands, and then with his mouth. Scully experienced sensations she hadn't thought possible--the things that man could do with his mouth. She had actually reached orgasm just from Mulder sucking on her ear lobe, but that was nothing compared to what he did to her when he explored between her legs.
The memory of his actions made her squirm against him. Mulder's lower body noticed the motion immediately, and sprang to action. Apparently the rest of Mulder noticed as well. He gave her shoulder a quick nibble, before speaking with a voice husky from sleep. "Morning Scully."
Scully turned over so she was facing him, and smiled. He moved to kiss her, when she stopped him with a hand on his chest. "Oh no you don't." Mulder looked concerned for a moment, before realizing she was teasing. "You made a liar out of me, Mulder."
"How's that?" Mulder propped his head up on his elbow and looked at her. He had always thought Scully was a good-looking woman, but seeing her now, after a night in his bed, he was struck by just how beautiful she really was.
"I said you wouldn't be hitting a home run last night." Scully tried to scold Mulder but erupted into giggles as he attacked her. "Stop, Mulder."
Mulder stopped his assault and glanced at the alarm clock. "Damn, ten o'clock already? I don't suppose we could let the Marfa Police Department solve this case on their own?" Scully arched an eyebrow at him. "Didn't think so. I'm going to grab a quick shower and cook you breakfast, okay?"
Mulder was out of bed and halfway to the bathroom, when he stopped and walked back over to where Scully lay watching him. He bent over and gave her a long, deep kiss. "Thanks, Scully. Last night was better than I ever dreamed, and I've had some pretty good dreams. Promise me that when we're done with this case, we'll sneak off for a weekend together so I can indulge in the rest of my fantasies."
Scully stroked his face with her hand. "Deal." Mulder smiled down at her, and gave her a gentle kiss on the tip of her nose.
XXX
Scully and Mulder arrived just south of the research facility a little after eleven. They parked the car, threw on their packs and started their exploration of the grounds. They didn't speak much. Mulder was wearing a listening device that pinged every time the metal detector he was waving over the ground discovered anything.
Scully had charted out the location of all of the 'accidents,' and they started there. Mulder's theory seemed to be panning out, as they found small metal squares several inches under the soil at the three of the accident sites. Satisfied with the results, Mulder stowed his gear in his backpack before taking a long drink of water and addressing Scully.
"I want to walk around out there a bit too." He pointed towards where the Marfa Lights appeared.
Scully took her own drink of water and wiped some dust off her face. "God, it's dusty out here. What are we looking for?"
Mulder shrugged. "I have no idea, but I'll know it when I see it." He glanced around to see if anyone was within earshot, before offering Scully his hand. "This is probably the only assignment where I'll be able to show any public signs of affection for you, Scully. I plan to take full advantage of it." Scully looked at him a long second, before taking his hand.
They hiked for an hour or so, before finding some shade under a large outcropping of rocks. Mulder had taken out his metal detector again, but had found no signs of metal other than that in the occasional rock. He put down his pack, took off the headphones, and carefully lay the equipment against the rock ledge.
Scully, who had brought a small blanket in her pack, spread it in the shade and began unpacking their lunch. "Any ideas Mulder?"
"About the Lights, not one." He plopped down next to Scully on the blanket, and grabbed a sandwich. He took a large bite before continuing. "I do, though, have a theory about the murders."
He began drawing a picture in the dusty ground to help illustrate his point. "I'm not sure that the killer intended to kill any one in particular. I'm beginning to think that the killings are result of the victims being at the wrong place at the wrong time."
Scully nibbled at her fruit salad. "How so?"
"I think that a series of those small metal plates were placed all around the facility and its grounds. I think, too, that strong electrical currents are sent to those plates at random intervals. The attacks on the construction workers and those kids in the car were random acts designed to scare people."
"What about the exploding garbage can in the Ladies Room, and Joe Iron Horse's death?"
"I think the garbage can was rigged to go off sometime during the celebration. I also think that someone wasn't happy about Joe's little dance."
"Didn't you tell me that Bobby and Joe had a fight right before he was killed?"
"Yeah, but I don't think Bobby is behind this. He doesn't strike me as the kind who would spend time jury-rigging an electrical system." Mulder had finished his sandwich and was leaning against the rock, closing his eyes and enjoying the warm sun on his face. "Tonight, I think you and I should pay a little visit to Carlos's office. If we can find the plans for the electrical system, we can email them to the Gunmen and have them take a look at them."
Mulder opened his eyes and looked at Scully. "In the meantime. . ." He pulled Scully towards him and kissed her. "Our bosses are always accusing us of screwing around on their time. I think it's about time we prove them right."
End of part four.
