Chapter Six
~ ~ ONE YEAR LATER ~ ~
Fox Mulder's Apartment
Alexandria, Virginia
7:37PM
Mulder flopped down on the double-sized bed, knocking papers off in the process. Dana glared up from the report she was reading in time to see him scoop up the last few sheets remaining and discard them on the floor with the others. "Mulder, what are you doing?"
Mulder crawled up towards her with an innocent smile. That in it self set off warning bells in her head. Mulder never gave her an innocent look unless he was up to something.
He was now hovering over her stretched out legs, his face level with hers. "Nothing. You can keep doing whatever it is you're doing." He stared blankly at her.
A sigh escaped her lips. "Mulder, we have work to do," she protested. He often got this way when he was exceptionally bored and wanted her to suffer with him. "I'm not even half way finished with these reports. This is no time to fool around."
"Later. You can finish them later." He jutted his lower lip and eyed her with his whipped-puppy dog gaze. "Can we please go do something? How about we grab something to eat?"
Dana sighed again and sisterly patted his cheek. "We made an agreement, Mulder: no social life while working."
Dana was still not technically his partner. However, she had officially joined the bureau as a full-time pathologist. So, the two ended up consulting with each other; Mulder always requesting her to do his lab work. She was the only one he trusted to do it.
Mulder extinguished a frustrated sigh then rolled off, now lying on his back staring wearily up at the ceiling. "How am I supposed to focus on anything in this state? Right now, all I see flashing across my mind is a greasy, plump, heart attack quality cheeseburger."
"Live with it. There's no need to mope." She gazed at his exasperated scowl, noticing – not for the first time – how resolute his eyes were. "We'll do something later. As for now, we can't loss focus here because we're bored."
"Oh yes we can." He rolled off the bed. "I'm just as dedicated as you are, but we have been at this for six hours. I need to refuel."
She sighed, glanced around and realized she agreed with him. "Ok."
"Score!" Mulder bounded out of the room.
Dana headed for the kitchen and got herself a glass of orange juice. While she gulped down her drink, she thought about their relationship. They had grown extremely close over the last year, but – despite their constant bantering – they had yet to venture into anything romantic. She wondered why.
Finished, she strolled to the bathroom and knocked. "Mulder?" When there was no reply, she asked: "Are you in there?"
The door swung open to reveal a toweled-clothed man with wild eyes and a five o'clock shadow that gave his face a dusky appearance. "Yeah, I'm in here…do you want to come in," he leered; sweeping his hand to indicate that she could enter. "I haven't taken my shower, yet. Want to join me?"
"Mulder," she whined. "You're taking a shower now? I thought you wanted to go."
"Excuse me for wanting to be fresh." His hand snapped out and grabbed her, yanking her into bathroom and slamming the door shut with his foot. "Come on, give a guy a break."
She rolled her eyes. "You need serious help." She walked out, still shaking her head. "I'll take my shower when you're done, thanks."
End Chapter Six
AUTHOR'S NOTES: I know it's short, but I didn't want to combine this chapter with the last one.
Danielle: There is speculation as to whether or not Mulder was married to Diana (or, possibly, someone else). In one of the flashback episodes, Mulder is wearing a wedding ring. The ring, however, has never been explained.
DD: I'm trying! I'm trying! Lol. Don't worry, just one more chapter. And, are you feeling ok? That coughing sounded pretty serious.
Keys: I'm this close to killing Tiffany! That woman has updated in over a month! And I updated TLW for her a couple days ago. So, now it's her turn! Anyway, sorry I'm taking it away from you. I may write another X-files down the road. Feel better?
Brennan: Let's hunt them down and beat the shit out of them. Deal? And I hate Diana so I had to have some Diana-bashing in there somewhere. Lol.
Csm: I hate her, too. Granted in the end she died to save him, but I still hate her.
Samantha: Who couldn't love Mulder? Lol. It should be a crime to not love him. Anyway, please read what I wrote to csm. It applies to you, too. insert smile