Part 26
"We're lost Mulder, admit it", says Scully as they trudge along through the jungle led by the one small beam of light from Mulder's flashlight. The agents stop a moment and Mulder turns to look at Scully.
"We are not lost Scully. Haven't you ever heard of taking the scenic route", asks Mulder placing his flashlight in his mouth and unfolding the map to look at it for the twentieth time in the last two hours.
"Mulder, its going on ten o'clock and see that tree over there? We've been by that tree five times already", says Scully stretching her arms over her head. "I'm putting some of this stuff down. I'm exhausted." She proceeds to drop several bags into the dirt.
"Ahre ooh sayin tat we ahre goin in sucles?", mumbles Mulder as he continues to look at the map?
"No we're going in octagons Mulder and that means stop. Stop right now and camp here", says Scully.
"I'm ot givin upp", continues Mulder.
Scully walks up to him and grabs the flashlight out of his mouth. "Oww!", he cringes. "Watch the dental work Scully!"
"Fox Mulder, you have absolutely no idea where we are. Why won't you just admit it for once? We're lost", says Scully grabbing the map out of his hand and flashing the light over it.
"Well what do you want me to do Scully? Stop and ask for directions?", asks Mulder dropping his gear to the ground. He opens a bottle of water, takes a long gulp and recaps it.
"No, of course not", says Scully. "What are you using for a landmark on this thing", asks Scully.
"Theres supposed to be a huge pond in the middle of the island and to the north of that is the volcano. I would have been sure that we would have run into the pond by now. We were camped just south of it and I can't imagine how we could of missed it", says Mulder sitting down on a rock beside some large palm trees.
"Well we have and I'm not walking one more step", says Scully. Just then a spear sails through the air and imbeds itself into a palm tree to the left of Scully.
"Change your mind?", asks Mulder hopping up and quickly picking up his gear.
"Don't say anything", says Scully gathering up her load and aiming the flashlight into the darkness. She leads them into the forest cautiously listening for any sounds of their pursuers. "This is just great Mulder. They definitely know all about us now. If we hadn't been making so much noise walking through the jungle during the middle of the night they wouldn't be having too much luck tracking us."
"You weren't being too careful about making noise this afternoon", says Mulder as he struggles to keep up with Scully. She doesn't respond to his comment.
The agents continue on in silence. Finally they reach what looks like rock formations. Scully stops and looks at Mulder. "Is this our final destination?"
"I think so, but keep going. I don't think it would be wise to sleep in the first cave we come to. It would be too easy for them to find us." They pass about a dozen before Mulder stops and says, "This is it. We'll stay here." He drops his gear in front of a cave that is partially covered in brush." Scully drops her gear and crosses her arms over her chest and purses her lips.
"What?", says Mulder.
"I just don't see the reasoning behind this Mulder. What are we going to do, hide for the next three days? That means we have to sleep here for four nights....four nights in a dark, hard and critter infested cave."
"Oh come on Scully, it'll be fun", says Mulder pushing aside some of the brush and flashing his flashlight into the darkness.
"I don't want to sleep in there", says Scully.
"Well you should of mentioned in back at our other site Scully", says Mulder.
"Would that have changed your mind ", asks Scully.
"No, but you need to speak up Scully", says Mulder. Scully snorts.
"Since when do I need to speak up Mulder. I always let you know how I feel, but do you ever really bother to listen?"
Part 27
"Are you picking a fight with me? Because if you are I'm not going to even respond to that comment", says Mulder picking up his gear and going into the cave. Scully remains standing outside and reaches into her pocket and pulls out her own flashlight. She had been wanting to conserve the batteries, but now left alone she flips it on. She arranges some of her gear at the entrance of the cave and sits down. After five minutes Mulder pokes his head out of the cave.
"What are you doing Scully? Get in here."
"I am not sleeping in the cave Mulder. I told you that already", says Scully rolling up a sweat shirt for a pillow. I am going to sleep right here. There is only about five hours until sunrise anyway. Besides, I'll be fine", she says as she pulls out her gun and lies down on the sweat shirt.
"You've got to be kidding me", says Mulder. "I know I haven't had a shower for two days, but I can't smell that bad." He raises his arms and takes a whiff.
"Just go inside your little hole and go sleep Mulder', mumbles Scully.
"This is ridiculous", says Mulder. "I just unpacked most of the camping stuff and I have it set up pretty cozy in there and you are telling me that you would rather sleep out here in the open, alone than inside with me?"
"Yes", says Scully.
"What is wrong with this picture?", asks Mulder to himself. "Okay Scully whatever you want, but don't expect me to feel guilty. I was smart enough to pack my Indian blanket and I am *not* giving it to you. The only way you get it is to share it. Good night." He goes back into the cave.
Scully sighs. She doesn't want to admit it to Mulder, but she has always had a fear of caves. There had been a cave near one of the homes that she had lived in as a child and one day when her mother had taken Missy to the dentist she had left Bill and Charlie in charge of Dana. Her father had been fixing the car in the garage so the boys decided to explore the cave. Something they had been told never to do alone. Dana threatened to tattle unless they let her go along, so they did. When they had gone inside there had been a couple of tunnels and it had twisted and turned. It had been very dark, but the boys had thought to bring two flashlights. Somehow Dana had gotten separated from them and she had gotten lost. Lost in the pitch blackness of the cave. She could hear rats and other animals scurry by and she imagined snakes slithering along by her feet. She had stood for what seemed hours until her feet could no longer hold her. She had reluctantly slid to the ground and had sat there cross-legged crying until finally a beam of light appeared. She had launched herself into her father's arms while her brothers stood back embarrassed at having lost her. Her father had taken her home and her brothers had been grounded a week after it was discovered that they had intentionally tried scaring her with it backfiring. They really had lost her.
Scully dozes off for a couple of hours and awakens to the sound of something large moving through the trees. She jumps to her feet, flips on the flashlight and points the gun towards the sound." She is totally on edge and she starts to wonder if she had been right at choosing not to sleep in the cave with Mulder. She hears a sound behind her and whips around to see a sleepy eyed Mulder shielding his eyes from her flashlight. He puts up his hands.
"Whoa, what the hell are you doing? If I didn't know better I'd say you have PMS. You can the blanket, I won't put up a fight. Just *don't* shoot me."
Scully exhales and lowers her gun. "I'm just jumpy right now. I just heard something and I panicked", says Scully.
"Just come and sleep in here", says Mulder.
"No, I don't like caves Mulder", says Scully.
"Which do you like better? Caves or me?", asks Mulder.
"What a stupid question", says Scully. "You of course....although you better not be looking for compliments right now."
"Thats not what I meant:", says Mulder approaching her. "I was only trying to justify my actions." He grabs her, picks her up and throws her over his shoulder. He then starts to walk toward the cave.
"I will not be treated like a piece of luggage. Stop acting like a Neanderthal and put me down."
"Would you rather I drag you by your hair?", asks Mulder as they enter the cave.
"Mulder....", whines Scully.
Part 28
"Kimberly, get Agent Mulder on the phone", says AD Walter Skinner from his office.
"Sir? Agent Mulder is on vacation. You signed his request yourself, don't you remember?", asks Kimberly walking up to his desk.
"No, I guess I forgot. I'm surprised Mulder took any time off at all. Whats he got saved up? Six months of vacation time?"
"I don't know Sir, the last thing I knew his hours had stopped accumulating because he wasn't using them."
"Well get Agent Scully on the phone instead", says Skinner flipping open a file. "There is a case I need an opinion on and I want to see if Scully thinks its worth investigating." He glances up and then back down at the papers on his desk.
"Sir? Agent Scully is on vacation too. Actually I believe I put her request on your desk the same day as Agent Mulder's", says Kimberly.
"What? They both chose to go on vacation the same week? They know better than that. They are not allowed to go away at the same time. I need input on this. What the hell was I thinking? I must have signed them without realizing what I was doing. Walter, you need a vacation", he says to himself as he reaches in his pocket to pull out a handkerchief which he wipes his forehead off.
"Do you want me to try to reach the Agents at home?", asks Kimberly.
"I don't think Scully will be home, but call Mulder. I can't believe that he would have anywhere to go, unless hes gone to some UFO convention or something", says Skinner jokingly. Kimberly disappears and comes back a couple minutes later.
"I called Agent Mulder's apartment and his answering machine specified he would be away for several days. I also called Agent Scully, but she is not home."
Skinner frowns and chews a fingernail. "I don't know why I feel suspicious, but something is fishy here. Go pull those vacation requests. Let me look at them." Kimberly comes back with two papers.
"These are only photocopies Sir, the originals went down to HR." She sets them on his desk. Skinner lays them side by side to examine them. Both are typed and look completely identical. Except for the signatures. He stares at the two signatures with chin in hand.
"I can't understand why, but I have a hunch. Pull me the field report for that zombie case. Theres some field notes in there that I would like to see." Kimberly walks out the door again and returns with a thick file that she has pulled from a filing cabinet. Skinner flips it open and flips through the typewritten report noticing that the type on several forms matches the type on the leave requests. Finally in the back he comes to the signature page where the two agents had signed off on the case. He glances at the page and then at the form and back again. Mulder's signature looks genuine, but Scully's looks....strange. He flips through Scully's field notes until he comes to what looks like a napkin with chicken scratch on it. Mulder's notes are somewhat more disorganized than Scully's, but Skinner finds that part of Mulder's notations include documentation of their findings in his own words. 'Agent Dana Scully and I have sought the professional opinion of former Special Agent Frank Black........' He picks up a pen and traces the words 'Dana Scully' and then traces them over the form. He tosses the pen down. "Kimberly, get Lisa down here from handwriting analysis."
Ten minutes later Skinner has his answer. Agent Mulder had forged Agent Scully's name on her vacation form, but why?
Part 29
Although the ground of the cave was literally rock hard Scully had fallen asleep almost immediately upon being put down by Mulder. She was simply exhausted and despite her fear of caves she welcomed sleep. Several hours later she awakens and feeling the dampness of the cave she tightens the blanket around her and snuggles closer against Mulder's back. His breathing is steady with an occasional snore. Years of sleeping on his couch has trained him for roughing it. She on the other hand still preferred a soft bed.
'This whole scenario is comical', she thinks to herself. 'Here I am sleeping with Fox Mulder on the floor of a cave.....and I am supposed to be on vacation.' She readjusts Mulder's jacket that he had given her for a pillow. She hadn't had time to gather up her own sweatshirt when Mulder had taken control. She was going to get him back big time for acting like a macho jerk. Thats one thing about Mulder that she liked. He didn't usually act like that. He humored her by letting her have her own way and never made her feel inadequate as an agent because she was a woman. He viewed her as an equal. Not that he was never concerned with her welfare. If forced to make a choice between his quest and her she liked to think that he would choose her. After all, he had made a choice years ago that she still felt guilty about. On that bridge he had chosen her life over Samantha's. It hadn't been the real Samantha, but he hadn't known that at the time. She had almost lost it when she had asked him, 'Why didn't you tell me it was Samantha?' and he had replied, 'Because I knew you would never let me go through with it.' He was right, she wouldn't have because she knew finding Samantha was the one thing that he had wanted the most.
Mulder turns over on his back in his sleep. She nestles her head on his shoulder. 'Yes this is where I belong...with Mulder', she thinks as she drops back to sleep.
*******************
An hour later Scully is dreaming of snakes. Lots of snakes. For some reason that case must of made a deep impact on her. Mulder had been talking about taking a trip to Greenwich, Connecticut to check up on the Reverend. Mulder had claimed that it was he that had cast snakes upon him and he wanted to sent his "righteous" fist right into the Reverend's holy face. She feels something brush against her foot and she jerks awake immediately. She sits up suddenly which awakens Mulder. He sits up too after instantly reaching for his gun.
"Whats wrong?", he asks groggily.
"I was having a nightmare about those rattlesnakes, but I just felt something brush against my foot", says Scully. She hates admitting fear to Mulder.
"It was probably my foot", says Mulder setting the gun aside and stretching his arms above his head.
"Could you please humor me and hand me a flashlight", says Scully. He reaches over and holds the flashlight out to her. She reaches for it, but grabs his nose instead.
"I'm not Rudolph.....my nose doesn't glow", jokes Mulder.
"Sorry", she says as she fumbles for the flashlight. She finally gets it and flips it on. She flashes it around her and is relieved to see no signs of snakes or any other creature. For good measure she reaches down and flips up the bottom of the blanket and shakes it out.
"There is no bed Scully, stop looking for monsters under it", says Mulder.
"I'm just taking precautions", says Scully readjusting the blanket again.
"I bet you were the type of kid that couldn't go to sleep with the closet door open", says Mulder. "Although you wouldn't admit it."
"I shared a room with Missy and she always left it open", says Scully. "And......I closed it every night before we went to bed. What about you? Did you leave it open?"
"After Samantha was abducted I slept in my closet", replies Mulder. "I was scared that they were going to take me too."
"Oh Mulder, I'm sorry. We haven't really talked about it, but are you really ready to accept what you learned about Samantha? Are you ready to go on with your life?"
"If you are asking me if I'm ready to go on......yes I am. Am I ready to forgive the CSM and my father for taking away my sister.....no I'm not. I'm not ready to accept that there was no choice in the matter", replies Mulder.
Scully looks down at her watch. It reads 6:30 AM. "I suppose we should be getting up and deciding what we are doing today", says Scully. She glances over at Mulder who is staring at her. Actually staring at her lips.
"What is it?", she asks. "Why are you staring at me?"
"Does it make you uncomfortable when I stare at you Scully?"
"Well no.. if I know why you are doing it", replies Scully.
"I'm staring at you because I simply enjoy doing it", says Mulder.
"Oh", says Scully coloring slightly.
"And because I have the intense need to kiss you right now", says Mulder as he leans in towards her.
"Well thank you for being honest", replies Scully as her lips meet Mulder's. She threads her hand behind his head and pulls him closer. He pulls the flashlight out of her hand and flips it off and tosses it over his shoulder.
"Mulder!", says Scully pulling away. We may never find that again. As you can see not a hint of sunshine is here."
"I couldn't think of any better way to spend a day than being trapped in the dark with Dana Scully", says Mulder huskily. He pulls her to him and kisses her again. She responds most enthusiastically by sliding her hands up underneath his gray t-shirt. He moans and moves away to pull her t-shirt over her head. He moves back in and starts to nuzzle her neck and she groans in response holding his head in place. Mulder pushes her back down into the Indian blanket and kisses her again.
"Now isn't this better than sleeping outside", asks Mulder between kisses.
"Bring it on G-Man", replies Scully.
Part 30
"We have three more days here. I can't see staying here and waiting for something to happen", argues Mulder over breakfast. The agents have emerged from the cave and are sitting on the ground eating a simple breakfast.
"I'm just saying that exploring a volcano is not going to shed any light on the murders of those people", says Scully taking a bite out of a granola bar.
"Why must you always disagree with me? Was it a requirement for becoming the other half of the X-Files team?", asks Mulder.
"No.....I just am giving an opinion", replies Scully.
"Or are you trying to prove me wrong because its the only joy in your life?", asks Mulder.
"You sound like Lyda. Stop trying to use your pop-psychology on me", says Scully getting up and brushing the dirt off of her shorts.
"What is with you? One minute you are confessing your undying love for me and the next you are pushing me away", says Mulder getting to his feet.
"I'm sorry Mulder, I'm just on edge right now", replies Scully. "I have the creepiest feeling like we're being watched and its freaking me out."
"I know what you mean, but whether or not we like it we still have three days. We'll find the answers we need to, but for now please humor me Scully and go with me to investigate the volcano." Scully rolls her eyes.
"Fine, whatever Mulder and if it erupts don't expect me to save your sorry a**", says Scully walking off.
"Have I done something to p*ss you off? Please enlighten me", responds Mulder as he follows behind.
"No Mulder. Its not you, its me. I realized something later this morning after we made love again that I although its been a truth finding weekend for us, everything is going to have to go back to the way it was before", says Scully sadly.
"Wait a minute there Scully", says Mulder grabbing her arm and turning her around. "What in the world would give you the idea that we would forget that all of this ever happened? Do I mean that little to you that you would be willing to ignore my feelings for you?"
"No Mulder, I share those feelings. I meant every word I said, but our future with the FBI depends upon professionalism and theres no room for anything else in the eyes of our superiors. We joke about it, but what would Skinner do to us if he found out what happened? He would be forced to split us up. He wouldn't have any choice. You know that", she tries to pull away but Mulder won't let her go.
"What wouldn't Skinner understand? That after seven years of working together, depending on each other, rescuing each other from death countless times and being each other's best friend and confident that two agents.....two people couldn't fall in love? If he can't understand that than he has a heart of stone."
"But..you've worked so hard on the X-Files and you are so near to the truth. I don't want to be the reason for any more failures that come along", says Scully blinking back the tears.
"You will never be the reason for any of my failures. My failures are mine alone based on the choices that I make. You being partnered to me was never my choice, but it was the best act of fate that I've ever encountered. You're my constant, touchstone, one if five billion. How many other ways do I have to keep telling you that Scully? You are my first mate and there is no one else who I would rather have by my side on this voyage."
She nods and he takes her chin in his hand. Leaning in he gives her a gentle kiss on the lips. "When we get back we may have to be careful for a while. I agree that we shouldn't make our relationship public knowledge, but that is something that will change in time and once we get off this island I will prove to you that from now on we are going to have our own unspoken understanding about the future and where it will take us. We've fought the future because its laced with the conspiracies of those who have worked against us, but from now on the future to us is going to look more positive."
"You always seem to know how to make me feel better", smiles Scully. "Lets go explore your volcano. Maybe a volcano god is living there that can give us insight into the religion of these people." She tucks her arm in Mulder's as they start to walk toward the volcano.
"Scully, you read my mind. Actually I'm hoping of finding evidence that the volcano god is actually an extraterrestrial being that has been misrepresenting itself to the natives. Just imagine if aliens have been using this tribe as guinea pigs to gather experimental data Scully. This could have been going on for hundreds if not thousands of years."
"Mulder, when is the first documented case of aliens or ufos in history?", asks Scully.
"You must really love me....you're starting to ask questions regarding my favorite topics...by the way my favorite movie is Caddyshack", replies Mulder jokingly. Scully punches him playfully in the arm.
"I'm serious, when was the first documented case of extraterrestrial contact with earth", replies Scully.
"Well the earliest depictions of cylindrical objects representing ufos were found carved into a granite mountain on an island in the Hunan providence of China Scully. They are estimated at being 47,000 years old or falling into the life-span of the Neanderthal man. The first actual investigation into a ufo sighting occurred September 24, 1235 in Japan. General Yoritsume and his army were camped for the night and they witnessed mysterious lights in the skies. The general ordered a full scientific investigation into the circling lights that moved in a loop pattern. The report came back much like any other modern report. The explanation being a natural phenomena......its cause nothing but the wind making the stars sway." Mulder smiles at her.
"How do you know so much about paranormal stuff? I mean I only see you a few hours a day, but do you go home and just read everything you can get your hands on?", asks Scully.
"Pretty much, but I do watch the Discovery Channel a lot", replies Mulder.
"Now I watch the The Learning Channel for the operations. The other night they had on a heart transplant", says Scully.
"Not now Scully, I just ate", replies Mulder grimacing. She laughs softly and nods.
"Mulder when we get back I think we should ask Skinner for a raise."
"Well I agree, but what will be our reasoning?"
"We want to take a Hawaiian vacation.......a real one."
"We're lost Mulder, admit it", says Scully as they trudge along through the jungle led by the one small beam of light from Mulder's flashlight. The agents stop a moment and Mulder turns to look at Scully.
"We are not lost Scully. Haven't you ever heard of taking the scenic route", asks Mulder placing his flashlight in his mouth and unfolding the map to look at it for the twentieth time in the last two hours.
"Mulder, its going on ten o'clock and see that tree over there? We've been by that tree five times already", says Scully stretching her arms over her head. "I'm putting some of this stuff down. I'm exhausted." She proceeds to drop several bags into the dirt.
"Ahre ooh sayin tat we ahre goin in sucles?", mumbles Mulder as he continues to look at the map?
"No we're going in octagons Mulder and that means stop. Stop right now and camp here", says Scully.
"I'm ot givin upp", continues Mulder.
Scully walks up to him and grabs the flashlight out of his mouth. "Oww!", he cringes. "Watch the dental work Scully!"
"Fox Mulder, you have absolutely no idea where we are. Why won't you just admit it for once? We're lost", says Scully grabbing the map out of his hand and flashing the light over it.
"Well what do you want me to do Scully? Stop and ask for directions?", asks Mulder dropping his gear to the ground. He opens a bottle of water, takes a long gulp and recaps it.
"No, of course not", says Scully. "What are you using for a landmark on this thing", asks Scully.
"Theres supposed to be a huge pond in the middle of the island and to the north of that is the volcano. I would have been sure that we would have run into the pond by now. We were camped just south of it and I can't imagine how we could of missed it", says Mulder sitting down on a rock beside some large palm trees.
"Well we have and I'm not walking one more step", says Scully. Just then a spear sails through the air and imbeds itself into a palm tree to the left of Scully.
"Change your mind?", asks Mulder hopping up and quickly picking up his gear.
"Don't say anything", says Scully gathering up her load and aiming the flashlight into the darkness. She leads them into the forest cautiously listening for any sounds of their pursuers. "This is just great Mulder. They definitely know all about us now. If we hadn't been making so much noise walking through the jungle during the middle of the night they wouldn't be having too much luck tracking us."
"You weren't being too careful about making noise this afternoon", says Mulder as he struggles to keep up with Scully. She doesn't respond to his comment.
The agents continue on in silence. Finally they reach what looks like rock formations. Scully stops and looks at Mulder. "Is this our final destination?"
"I think so, but keep going. I don't think it would be wise to sleep in the first cave we come to. It would be too easy for them to find us." They pass about a dozen before Mulder stops and says, "This is it. We'll stay here." He drops his gear in front of a cave that is partially covered in brush." Scully drops her gear and crosses her arms over her chest and purses her lips.
"What?", says Mulder.
"I just don't see the reasoning behind this Mulder. What are we going to do, hide for the next three days? That means we have to sleep here for four nights....four nights in a dark, hard and critter infested cave."
"Oh come on Scully, it'll be fun", says Mulder pushing aside some of the brush and flashing his flashlight into the darkness.
"I don't want to sleep in there", says Scully.
"Well you should of mentioned in back at our other site Scully", says Mulder.
"Would that have changed your mind ", asks Scully.
"No, but you need to speak up Scully", says Mulder. Scully snorts.
"Since when do I need to speak up Mulder. I always let you know how I feel, but do you ever really bother to listen?"
Part 27
"Are you picking a fight with me? Because if you are I'm not going to even respond to that comment", says Mulder picking up his gear and going into the cave. Scully remains standing outside and reaches into her pocket and pulls out her own flashlight. She had been wanting to conserve the batteries, but now left alone she flips it on. She arranges some of her gear at the entrance of the cave and sits down. After five minutes Mulder pokes his head out of the cave.
"What are you doing Scully? Get in here."
"I am not sleeping in the cave Mulder. I told you that already", says Scully rolling up a sweat shirt for a pillow. I am going to sleep right here. There is only about five hours until sunrise anyway. Besides, I'll be fine", she says as she pulls out her gun and lies down on the sweat shirt.
"You've got to be kidding me", says Mulder. "I know I haven't had a shower for two days, but I can't smell that bad." He raises his arms and takes a whiff.
"Just go inside your little hole and go sleep Mulder', mumbles Scully.
"This is ridiculous", says Mulder. "I just unpacked most of the camping stuff and I have it set up pretty cozy in there and you are telling me that you would rather sleep out here in the open, alone than inside with me?"
"Yes", says Scully.
"What is wrong with this picture?", asks Mulder to himself. "Okay Scully whatever you want, but don't expect me to feel guilty. I was smart enough to pack my Indian blanket and I am *not* giving it to you. The only way you get it is to share it. Good night." He goes back into the cave.
Scully sighs. She doesn't want to admit it to Mulder, but she has always had a fear of caves. There had been a cave near one of the homes that she had lived in as a child and one day when her mother had taken Missy to the dentist she had left Bill and Charlie in charge of Dana. Her father had been fixing the car in the garage so the boys decided to explore the cave. Something they had been told never to do alone. Dana threatened to tattle unless they let her go along, so they did. When they had gone inside there had been a couple of tunnels and it had twisted and turned. It had been very dark, but the boys had thought to bring two flashlights. Somehow Dana had gotten separated from them and she had gotten lost. Lost in the pitch blackness of the cave. She could hear rats and other animals scurry by and she imagined snakes slithering along by her feet. She had stood for what seemed hours until her feet could no longer hold her. She had reluctantly slid to the ground and had sat there cross-legged crying until finally a beam of light appeared. She had launched herself into her father's arms while her brothers stood back embarrassed at having lost her. Her father had taken her home and her brothers had been grounded a week after it was discovered that they had intentionally tried scaring her with it backfiring. They really had lost her.
Scully dozes off for a couple of hours and awakens to the sound of something large moving through the trees. She jumps to her feet, flips on the flashlight and points the gun towards the sound." She is totally on edge and she starts to wonder if she had been right at choosing not to sleep in the cave with Mulder. She hears a sound behind her and whips around to see a sleepy eyed Mulder shielding his eyes from her flashlight. He puts up his hands.
"Whoa, what the hell are you doing? If I didn't know better I'd say you have PMS. You can the blanket, I won't put up a fight. Just *don't* shoot me."
Scully exhales and lowers her gun. "I'm just jumpy right now. I just heard something and I panicked", says Scully.
"Just come and sleep in here", says Mulder.
"No, I don't like caves Mulder", says Scully.
"Which do you like better? Caves or me?", asks Mulder.
"What a stupid question", says Scully. "You of course....although you better not be looking for compliments right now."
"Thats not what I meant:", says Mulder approaching her. "I was only trying to justify my actions." He grabs her, picks her up and throws her over his shoulder. He then starts to walk toward the cave.
"I will not be treated like a piece of luggage. Stop acting like a Neanderthal and put me down."
"Would you rather I drag you by your hair?", asks Mulder as they enter the cave.
"Mulder....", whines Scully.
Part 28
"Kimberly, get Agent Mulder on the phone", says AD Walter Skinner from his office.
"Sir? Agent Mulder is on vacation. You signed his request yourself, don't you remember?", asks Kimberly walking up to his desk.
"No, I guess I forgot. I'm surprised Mulder took any time off at all. Whats he got saved up? Six months of vacation time?"
"I don't know Sir, the last thing I knew his hours had stopped accumulating because he wasn't using them."
"Well get Agent Scully on the phone instead", says Skinner flipping open a file. "There is a case I need an opinion on and I want to see if Scully thinks its worth investigating." He glances up and then back down at the papers on his desk.
"Sir? Agent Scully is on vacation too. Actually I believe I put her request on your desk the same day as Agent Mulder's", says Kimberly.
"What? They both chose to go on vacation the same week? They know better than that. They are not allowed to go away at the same time. I need input on this. What the hell was I thinking? I must have signed them without realizing what I was doing. Walter, you need a vacation", he says to himself as he reaches in his pocket to pull out a handkerchief which he wipes his forehead off.
"Do you want me to try to reach the Agents at home?", asks Kimberly.
"I don't think Scully will be home, but call Mulder. I can't believe that he would have anywhere to go, unless hes gone to some UFO convention or something", says Skinner jokingly. Kimberly disappears and comes back a couple minutes later.
"I called Agent Mulder's apartment and his answering machine specified he would be away for several days. I also called Agent Scully, but she is not home."
Skinner frowns and chews a fingernail. "I don't know why I feel suspicious, but something is fishy here. Go pull those vacation requests. Let me look at them." Kimberly comes back with two papers.
"These are only photocopies Sir, the originals went down to HR." She sets them on his desk. Skinner lays them side by side to examine them. Both are typed and look completely identical. Except for the signatures. He stares at the two signatures with chin in hand.
"I can't understand why, but I have a hunch. Pull me the field report for that zombie case. Theres some field notes in there that I would like to see." Kimberly walks out the door again and returns with a thick file that she has pulled from a filing cabinet. Skinner flips it open and flips through the typewritten report noticing that the type on several forms matches the type on the leave requests. Finally in the back he comes to the signature page where the two agents had signed off on the case. He glances at the page and then at the form and back again. Mulder's signature looks genuine, but Scully's looks....strange. He flips through Scully's field notes until he comes to what looks like a napkin with chicken scratch on it. Mulder's notes are somewhat more disorganized than Scully's, but Skinner finds that part of Mulder's notations include documentation of their findings in his own words. 'Agent Dana Scully and I have sought the professional opinion of former Special Agent Frank Black........' He picks up a pen and traces the words 'Dana Scully' and then traces them over the form. He tosses the pen down. "Kimberly, get Lisa down here from handwriting analysis."
Ten minutes later Skinner has his answer. Agent Mulder had forged Agent Scully's name on her vacation form, but why?
Part 29
Although the ground of the cave was literally rock hard Scully had fallen asleep almost immediately upon being put down by Mulder. She was simply exhausted and despite her fear of caves she welcomed sleep. Several hours later she awakens and feeling the dampness of the cave she tightens the blanket around her and snuggles closer against Mulder's back. His breathing is steady with an occasional snore. Years of sleeping on his couch has trained him for roughing it. She on the other hand still preferred a soft bed.
'This whole scenario is comical', she thinks to herself. 'Here I am sleeping with Fox Mulder on the floor of a cave.....and I am supposed to be on vacation.' She readjusts Mulder's jacket that he had given her for a pillow. She hadn't had time to gather up her own sweatshirt when Mulder had taken control. She was going to get him back big time for acting like a macho jerk. Thats one thing about Mulder that she liked. He didn't usually act like that. He humored her by letting her have her own way and never made her feel inadequate as an agent because she was a woman. He viewed her as an equal. Not that he was never concerned with her welfare. If forced to make a choice between his quest and her she liked to think that he would choose her. After all, he had made a choice years ago that she still felt guilty about. On that bridge he had chosen her life over Samantha's. It hadn't been the real Samantha, but he hadn't known that at the time. She had almost lost it when she had asked him, 'Why didn't you tell me it was Samantha?' and he had replied, 'Because I knew you would never let me go through with it.' He was right, she wouldn't have because she knew finding Samantha was the one thing that he had wanted the most.
Mulder turns over on his back in his sleep. She nestles her head on his shoulder. 'Yes this is where I belong...with Mulder', she thinks as she drops back to sleep.
*******************
An hour later Scully is dreaming of snakes. Lots of snakes. For some reason that case must of made a deep impact on her. Mulder had been talking about taking a trip to Greenwich, Connecticut to check up on the Reverend. Mulder had claimed that it was he that had cast snakes upon him and he wanted to sent his "righteous" fist right into the Reverend's holy face. She feels something brush against her foot and she jerks awake immediately. She sits up suddenly which awakens Mulder. He sits up too after instantly reaching for his gun.
"Whats wrong?", he asks groggily.
"I was having a nightmare about those rattlesnakes, but I just felt something brush against my foot", says Scully. She hates admitting fear to Mulder.
"It was probably my foot", says Mulder setting the gun aside and stretching his arms above his head.
"Could you please humor me and hand me a flashlight", says Scully. He reaches over and holds the flashlight out to her. She reaches for it, but grabs his nose instead.
"I'm not Rudolph.....my nose doesn't glow", jokes Mulder.
"Sorry", she says as she fumbles for the flashlight. She finally gets it and flips it on. She flashes it around her and is relieved to see no signs of snakes or any other creature. For good measure she reaches down and flips up the bottom of the blanket and shakes it out.
"There is no bed Scully, stop looking for monsters under it", says Mulder.
"I'm just taking precautions", says Scully readjusting the blanket again.
"I bet you were the type of kid that couldn't go to sleep with the closet door open", says Mulder. "Although you wouldn't admit it."
"I shared a room with Missy and she always left it open", says Scully. "And......I closed it every night before we went to bed. What about you? Did you leave it open?"
"After Samantha was abducted I slept in my closet", replies Mulder. "I was scared that they were going to take me too."
"Oh Mulder, I'm sorry. We haven't really talked about it, but are you really ready to accept what you learned about Samantha? Are you ready to go on with your life?"
"If you are asking me if I'm ready to go on......yes I am. Am I ready to forgive the CSM and my father for taking away my sister.....no I'm not. I'm not ready to accept that there was no choice in the matter", replies Mulder.
Scully looks down at her watch. It reads 6:30 AM. "I suppose we should be getting up and deciding what we are doing today", says Scully. She glances over at Mulder who is staring at her. Actually staring at her lips.
"What is it?", she asks. "Why are you staring at me?"
"Does it make you uncomfortable when I stare at you Scully?"
"Well no.. if I know why you are doing it", replies Scully.
"I'm staring at you because I simply enjoy doing it", says Mulder.
"Oh", says Scully coloring slightly.
"And because I have the intense need to kiss you right now", says Mulder as he leans in towards her.
"Well thank you for being honest", replies Scully as her lips meet Mulder's. She threads her hand behind his head and pulls him closer. He pulls the flashlight out of her hand and flips it off and tosses it over his shoulder.
"Mulder!", says Scully pulling away. We may never find that again. As you can see not a hint of sunshine is here."
"I couldn't think of any better way to spend a day than being trapped in the dark with Dana Scully", says Mulder huskily. He pulls her to him and kisses her again. She responds most enthusiastically by sliding her hands up underneath his gray t-shirt. He moans and moves away to pull her t-shirt over her head. He moves back in and starts to nuzzle her neck and she groans in response holding his head in place. Mulder pushes her back down into the Indian blanket and kisses her again.
"Now isn't this better than sleeping outside", asks Mulder between kisses.
"Bring it on G-Man", replies Scully.
Part 30
"We have three more days here. I can't see staying here and waiting for something to happen", argues Mulder over breakfast. The agents have emerged from the cave and are sitting on the ground eating a simple breakfast.
"I'm just saying that exploring a volcano is not going to shed any light on the murders of those people", says Scully taking a bite out of a granola bar.
"Why must you always disagree with me? Was it a requirement for becoming the other half of the X-Files team?", asks Mulder.
"No.....I just am giving an opinion", replies Scully.
"Or are you trying to prove me wrong because its the only joy in your life?", asks Mulder.
"You sound like Lyda. Stop trying to use your pop-psychology on me", says Scully getting up and brushing the dirt off of her shorts.
"What is with you? One minute you are confessing your undying love for me and the next you are pushing me away", says Mulder getting to his feet.
"I'm sorry Mulder, I'm just on edge right now", replies Scully. "I have the creepiest feeling like we're being watched and its freaking me out."
"I know what you mean, but whether or not we like it we still have three days. We'll find the answers we need to, but for now please humor me Scully and go with me to investigate the volcano." Scully rolls her eyes.
"Fine, whatever Mulder and if it erupts don't expect me to save your sorry a**", says Scully walking off.
"Have I done something to p*ss you off? Please enlighten me", responds Mulder as he follows behind.
"No Mulder. Its not you, its me. I realized something later this morning after we made love again that I although its been a truth finding weekend for us, everything is going to have to go back to the way it was before", says Scully sadly.
"Wait a minute there Scully", says Mulder grabbing her arm and turning her around. "What in the world would give you the idea that we would forget that all of this ever happened? Do I mean that little to you that you would be willing to ignore my feelings for you?"
"No Mulder, I share those feelings. I meant every word I said, but our future with the FBI depends upon professionalism and theres no room for anything else in the eyes of our superiors. We joke about it, but what would Skinner do to us if he found out what happened? He would be forced to split us up. He wouldn't have any choice. You know that", she tries to pull away but Mulder won't let her go.
"What wouldn't Skinner understand? That after seven years of working together, depending on each other, rescuing each other from death countless times and being each other's best friend and confident that two agents.....two people couldn't fall in love? If he can't understand that than he has a heart of stone."
"But..you've worked so hard on the X-Files and you are so near to the truth. I don't want to be the reason for any more failures that come along", says Scully blinking back the tears.
"You will never be the reason for any of my failures. My failures are mine alone based on the choices that I make. You being partnered to me was never my choice, but it was the best act of fate that I've ever encountered. You're my constant, touchstone, one if five billion. How many other ways do I have to keep telling you that Scully? You are my first mate and there is no one else who I would rather have by my side on this voyage."
She nods and he takes her chin in his hand. Leaning in he gives her a gentle kiss on the lips. "When we get back we may have to be careful for a while. I agree that we shouldn't make our relationship public knowledge, but that is something that will change in time and once we get off this island I will prove to you that from now on we are going to have our own unspoken understanding about the future and where it will take us. We've fought the future because its laced with the conspiracies of those who have worked against us, but from now on the future to us is going to look more positive."
"You always seem to know how to make me feel better", smiles Scully. "Lets go explore your volcano. Maybe a volcano god is living there that can give us insight into the religion of these people." She tucks her arm in Mulder's as they start to walk toward the volcano.
"Scully, you read my mind. Actually I'm hoping of finding evidence that the volcano god is actually an extraterrestrial being that has been misrepresenting itself to the natives. Just imagine if aliens have been using this tribe as guinea pigs to gather experimental data Scully. This could have been going on for hundreds if not thousands of years."
"Mulder, when is the first documented case of aliens or ufos in history?", asks Scully.
"You must really love me....you're starting to ask questions regarding my favorite topics...by the way my favorite movie is Caddyshack", replies Mulder jokingly. Scully punches him playfully in the arm.
"I'm serious, when was the first documented case of extraterrestrial contact with earth", replies Scully.
"Well the earliest depictions of cylindrical objects representing ufos were found carved into a granite mountain on an island in the Hunan providence of China Scully. They are estimated at being 47,000 years old or falling into the life-span of the Neanderthal man. The first actual investigation into a ufo sighting occurred September 24, 1235 in Japan. General Yoritsume and his army were camped for the night and they witnessed mysterious lights in the skies. The general ordered a full scientific investigation into the circling lights that moved in a loop pattern. The report came back much like any other modern report. The explanation being a natural phenomena......its cause nothing but the wind making the stars sway." Mulder smiles at her.
"How do you know so much about paranormal stuff? I mean I only see you a few hours a day, but do you go home and just read everything you can get your hands on?", asks Scully.
"Pretty much, but I do watch the Discovery Channel a lot", replies Mulder.
"Now I watch the The Learning Channel for the operations. The other night they had on a heart transplant", says Scully.
"Not now Scully, I just ate", replies Mulder grimacing. She laughs softly and nods.
"Mulder when we get back I think we should ask Skinner for a raise."
"Well I agree, but what will be our reasoning?"
"We want to take a Hawaiian vacation.......a real one."