Part 16
They follow the tracks through the forest until they reach a point where the tracks weave into several trails with all trails having identical tracks. "Mulder, we could go on forever", says Scully motioning to the other trails. Mulder walks away and then turns toward her. "Its here. Its trying to trick us."
Just then they hear a roar and something runs by knocking Mulder to the ground. Scully reaches for her gun, but she realizes that she hasn't brought one. She rushes to Mulder and drops to her knees next to him. "Mulder, are you all right?"
"Yeah", says Mulder rolling to his side and then sitting up. "Whatever hit me felt like a train." Scully helps him to his feet. She looks around cautiously and then she feels something watching them.
"Mulder, I think its still out there. Why is it watching us if its so gentle?", asks Scully.
"Its curious about us Scully. Its not everyday that it sees humans. We are as strange to it as its strange to us."
"Mulder lets go back and continue this tomorrow. I'm getting the creeps from being out here and I just want to get dry. We'll be lucky if we don't get pneumonia."
"Okay Scully. We've come really far and I guess that we can continue in the morning", says Mulder. He takes her hand. "Thanks for humoring me."
"Well I have to admit Mulder, there is something out here. We've seen it twice now", says Scully.
"It was music to my ears when the fair agent Scully admitted that there was something out there", says Mulder pulling Scully towards him. They give each other a smile and then Mulder leans down to kiss her. Just as their lips touch, there is another roar and the creature rushes them. This time both agents land on the ground with Mulder landing on Scully. He rolls off her.
"You okay Scully?", asks Mulder concerned as he helps to sit up.
"Yeah, I think so", says Scully wincing as she presses her ribcage. I think my ribs got bruised, but nothings broken. "We've got to get out of here now Mulder." The two agents get to their feet and Mulder again takes her hand. "I think the creature is trying to separate us, but I don't know why. Which way is out?"
"Which way? I thought you knew which way", says Scully as the two of them scan the several trails in front of them.
"We're lost", says Mulder shrugging to Scully. "We'll just have to wait it out until the morning and then try to find our way back."
"Mulder! We are probably miles from our campsite with no idea which way to go. Theres something out there thats stalking us and I don't want to spend the night out in the open in the middle of the forest!", yells Scully.
Mulder walks away to sit next to a large tree. He motions Scully over and she finally sits down next to him. "Its stopped raining right Scully?" She nods. Mulder puts his arm around Scully and pulls her to him. "We'll be fine Scully. I'll always protect you and you know that."
"I don't need you protecting me Mulder", says Scully softly, her head resting on Mulder's chest. She leans up and looks at him. "You're the one who needs baby-sitting. You're always running off and I have to be there to pick up the pieces."
Mulder gives her a smile and then leans down to kiss her again. Scully responds most enthusiastically until Mulder makes a move to put his hand down her slicker. "No. There's no sleeping bags now and I am not about let our first time be out here in a muddy forest", says Scully resting her head on Mulder's chest and shutting her eyes.
'I wish it would start raining again', thinks Mulder to himself. 'Maybe this time it would rain sleeping bags.'
Part 17
The morning sunrise awakens Mulder. Scully is still asleep. He hears a twig snap in the woods and he reluctantly awakens her. "Scully." He gently runs his finger along her jaw and she sighs and tightens her hold on him. "Scully, you've got to get up. I heard a noise again."
Scully opens her eyes and then sits up. "Mulder, do you think its that thing again?", she asks.
"I don't know", says Mulder standing up and extending his hand to Scully. She takes it and gets up as well. The agents cautiously scan their surroundings. The sound of someone or something walking through the forest reaches their ears. Its getting louder and judging from the noise its making its getting closer. Mulder instinctively pushes Scully behind him as he waits for their visitor to make their appearance. He is weaponless as well. One of the few times that he has been careless in his career, but then this wasn't supposed to be an official trip. He had brought his gun, but it was back in the tent.
Just then the agents hear a voice from the woods. "Hey folks! I got a little worried there when you weren't at your campsite. I noticed one of the tents had been smashed up during the storm and thought maybe you tried to take shelter somewhere or maybe the Sasquatch had got ya", says Kate appearing.
"Thank God", says Scully. "We saw it. We saw Bigfoot. It attacked both of us and we got lost trying to figure out what path led back to the campsite. Can you lead us back Kate?"
"I got one better than that. You've been camping now for a couple of days. How about a hot shower?", asks Kate.
"Now that sounds really good", says Scully looking at Mulder. "Lets go get cleaned up."
"My jeep is just parked over beyond those trees over there", says Kate. "We'll stop at your campsite to grab anything you may need and then we'll head back to the trailer park." She leads the agents to her jeep and Scully hops in the front with Kate and Mulder sits in the back. At the campsite Scully starts to gather up her things.
"We may as well leave everything here Scully", says Mulder. "We'll be back before you know it."
"You want to come back here Mulder?", asks Scully looking amazed.
"Why wouldn't I? We have eleven more days on our trip", says Mulder. Scully nods reluctantly and the two agents both get into the back seat of the jeep this time.
"I have a question for you", says Kate as she drives along. "I didn't think that the FBI investigated these kinds of things. Do you belong to a special unit or something?"
"No, theres just the two of us", says Scully. "We investigate the X-Files which are cases that can't be solved."
"In other words they involve a paranormal tinge to them", says Mulder. "My partner has a problem with accepting that this is the reason the cases have been put aside as unsolvable. Although after being by my side for seven years I must say that recently she has become somewhat of a believer." He smiles at Scully who looks embarrassed.
"I usually only accept scientific fact", says Scully to Kate. "But I've been trying to have more of an open mind lately. Its really new for me, so I really can't say whether or not I am a true believer."
"Well you just said that you saw something out there", says Kate. "How can science explain that?"
"Well obviously its a genetic mutation", says Scully. "DNA is a cause and effect type of system. By changing one little gene in our bodies our whole makeup changes."
Mulder rolls his eyes. "She still hasn't accepted that science isn't always the answer, but then she hasn't accepted it yet that she is in love with me for my mind and not just my body."
Scully turns to him and gives him a warning look.
"I didn't think FBI partners could be involved", says Kate. "I mean I know that the attraction must obviously be there. Working close in dangerous life threatening situations. Dealing with stress and death everyday. Having no one to confide in that truly understands. Of course good looks do help and obviously you both are all set in that department."
Mulder looks at Scully who turns her head in embarrassment. 'She doesn't think that she is beautiful' he thinks to himself. He plans on telling her just how beautiful he thinks she really is.
Kate pulls up to the trailer park and lets the agents out. "The trailer you two stayed in before is still open. So you are welcome to use the shower if you want to. Mulder offers to let Scully use the shower first and she nods as she starts to enter the trailer.
"I'll go see about renting you another tent Scully", says Mulder following Kate toward the office.
"Don't bother Mulder", says Scully winking and then shutting the trailer door.
Mulder walks into the office and sees Howie behind the counter. "Hey Howie, hows it going?", asks Mulder.
"Good Mr. Mulder. We have a message here for you from someone names Walter Skinner."
"What did he want?', asks Mulder suspiciously.
"He just wanted you to call him and he wants to know if Agent Scully is with you. He needed to speak to you and couldn't reach either of you. He apparently did a search for you on major flights and found that you had bought two first class tickets to California. His exact words were, 'What the hell is going on?"
"He is totally overreacting", says Mulder. "Agent Scully and I are not on official business. We are here because we have been given two weeks of unpaid leave regarding a dispute on a case.
"It gets worse", says Howie.
"How can it get worse?", asks Mulder.
"He is coming here. He is on his way", says Howie.
"When did he call?", asks Mulder cringing.
"Three hours ago", replies Howie.
"Three hours. Okay..", says Mulder walking toward the door. He walks across the clearing to the door of the trailer. He opens it and smiles as he sees a trail of clothing leading to the bathroom.
Part 18
He knocks on the door of the bathroom. "Scully, you almost done in there? I really need a shower." The water stops and a couple of minutes pass before Scully opens the door dressed in a bathrobe.
"Its all yours", says Scully walking past him.
All Mulder can think about is a hot shower. He is tired and sore from being attacked twice by that awful monster last night. He spends a leisurely amount of time enjoying something that he normally took for granted. Twenty minutes later he exits the bathroom wearing just his boxers. He walks into the bedroom part of the trailer and sees Scully looking out the window still wearing her bathrobe.
"I need some fresh clothes" says Mulder pulling open a drawer where he had stashed some of his extra things.
"Yeah, I'm going to take some of my things back to the campsite too", says Scully turning to watch him search through the drawer.
He turns to see her staring at him in his boxers. "We may not be able to stay as long as we would of liked Scully", says Mulder.
"Why not?" asks Scully.
"Skinner tracked us down. He's on his way here", says Mulder sighing as he runs his hand through his hair. "He called about three hours ago and knowing Skinner he is on a plane right now."
Scully approaches Mulder and wipes away a droplet of water from his forehead with the tie of her bathrobe.
"Well that doesn't leave us much time", says Scully kicking the door to the bedroom shut.
"Time for what?", asks Mulder.
"Time to continue where we left off last night", says Scully untying her robe and dropping it to the floor. She is dressed in the teal teddy for real this time and Mulder's eyes widen as he looks from her eyes to her body. She steps nearer to him and runs her hand along his jaw, down his neck and along his chest. Leaning into him she pulls him down into a kiss and he wraps his arms around her. She runs her hands through his hair as their kiss deepens.
As he moves to nuzzle her neck he whispers in her ear, "Are you sure this is what you really want Scully?"
"Its what I've wanted from the very beginning", she whispers back as her grip on him tightens.
He pulls away from her and holding both of her hands in his he bends his knees so he is looking her straight in the eye. He gives her a little smile and says, "Me too." He leans in and kisses her once again. She wraps her arms around his neck as he lifts her and pulls her onto the bed.
The seven years of waiting is all over.
They follow the tracks through the forest until they reach a point where the tracks weave into several trails with all trails having identical tracks. "Mulder, we could go on forever", says Scully motioning to the other trails. Mulder walks away and then turns toward her. "Its here. Its trying to trick us."
Just then they hear a roar and something runs by knocking Mulder to the ground. Scully reaches for her gun, but she realizes that she hasn't brought one. She rushes to Mulder and drops to her knees next to him. "Mulder, are you all right?"
"Yeah", says Mulder rolling to his side and then sitting up. "Whatever hit me felt like a train." Scully helps him to his feet. She looks around cautiously and then she feels something watching them.
"Mulder, I think its still out there. Why is it watching us if its so gentle?", asks Scully.
"Its curious about us Scully. Its not everyday that it sees humans. We are as strange to it as its strange to us."
"Mulder lets go back and continue this tomorrow. I'm getting the creeps from being out here and I just want to get dry. We'll be lucky if we don't get pneumonia."
"Okay Scully. We've come really far and I guess that we can continue in the morning", says Mulder. He takes her hand. "Thanks for humoring me."
"Well I have to admit Mulder, there is something out here. We've seen it twice now", says Scully.
"It was music to my ears when the fair agent Scully admitted that there was something out there", says Mulder pulling Scully towards him. They give each other a smile and then Mulder leans down to kiss her. Just as their lips touch, there is another roar and the creature rushes them. This time both agents land on the ground with Mulder landing on Scully. He rolls off her.
"You okay Scully?", asks Mulder concerned as he helps to sit up.
"Yeah, I think so", says Scully wincing as she presses her ribcage. I think my ribs got bruised, but nothings broken. "We've got to get out of here now Mulder." The two agents get to their feet and Mulder again takes her hand. "I think the creature is trying to separate us, but I don't know why. Which way is out?"
"Which way? I thought you knew which way", says Scully as the two of them scan the several trails in front of them.
"We're lost", says Mulder shrugging to Scully. "We'll just have to wait it out until the morning and then try to find our way back."
"Mulder! We are probably miles from our campsite with no idea which way to go. Theres something out there thats stalking us and I don't want to spend the night out in the open in the middle of the forest!", yells Scully.
Mulder walks away to sit next to a large tree. He motions Scully over and she finally sits down next to him. "Its stopped raining right Scully?" She nods. Mulder puts his arm around Scully and pulls her to him. "We'll be fine Scully. I'll always protect you and you know that."
"I don't need you protecting me Mulder", says Scully softly, her head resting on Mulder's chest. She leans up and looks at him. "You're the one who needs baby-sitting. You're always running off and I have to be there to pick up the pieces."
Mulder gives her a smile and then leans down to kiss her again. Scully responds most enthusiastically until Mulder makes a move to put his hand down her slicker. "No. There's no sleeping bags now and I am not about let our first time be out here in a muddy forest", says Scully resting her head on Mulder's chest and shutting her eyes.
'I wish it would start raining again', thinks Mulder to himself. 'Maybe this time it would rain sleeping bags.'
Part 17
The morning sunrise awakens Mulder. Scully is still asleep. He hears a twig snap in the woods and he reluctantly awakens her. "Scully." He gently runs his finger along her jaw and she sighs and tightens her hold on him. "Scully, you've got to get up. I heard a noise again."
Scully opens her eyes and then sits up. "Mulder, do you think its that thing again?", she asks.
"I don't know", says Mulder standing up and extending his hand to Scully. She takes it and gets up as well. The agents cautiously scan their surroundings. The sound of someone or something walking through the forest reaches their ears. Its getting louder and judging from the noise its making its getting closer. Mulder instinctively pushes Scully behind him as he waits for their visitor to make their appearance. He is weaponless as well. One of the few times that he has been careless in his career, but then this wasn't supposed to be an official trip. He had brought his gun, but it was back in the tent.
Just then the agents hear a voice from the woods. "Hey folks! I got a little worried there when you weren't at your campsite. I noticed one of the tents had been smashed up during the storm and thought maybe you tried to take shelter somewhere or maybe the Sasquatch had got ya", says Kate appearing.
"Thank God", says Scully. "We saw it. We saw Bigfoot. It attacked both of us and we got lost trying to figure out what path led back to the campsite. Can you lead us back Kate?"
"I got one better than that. You've been camping now for a couple of days. How about a hot shower?", asks Kate.
"Now that sounds really good", says Scully looking at Mulder. "Lets go get cleaned up."
"My jeep is just parked over beyond those trees over there", says Kate. "We'll stop at your campsite to grab anything you may need and then we'll head back to the trailer park." She leads the agents to her jeep and Scully hops in the front with Kate and Mulder sits in the back. At the campsite Scully starts to gather up her things.
"We may as well leave everything here Scully", says Mulder. "We'll be back before you know it."
"You want to come back here Mulder?", asks Scully looking amazed.
"Why wouldn't I? We have eleven more days on our trip", says Mulder. Scully nods reluctantly and the two agents both get into the back seat of the jeep this time.
"I have a question for you", says Kate as she drives along. "I didn't think that the FBI investigated these kinds of things. Do you belong to a special unit or something?"
"No, theres just the two of us", says Scully. "We investigate the X-Files which are cases that can't be solved."
"In other words they involve a paranormal tinge to them", says Mulder. "My partner has a problem with accepting that this is the reason the cases have been put aside as unsolvable. Although after being by my side for seven years I must say that recently she has become somewhat of a believer." He smiles at Scully who looks embarrassed.
"I usually only accept scientific fact", says Scully to Kate. "But I've been trying to have more of an open mind lately. Its really new for me, so I really can't say whether or not I am a true believer."
"Well you just said that you saw something out there", says Kate. "How can science explain that?"
"Well obviously its a genetic mutation", says Scully. "DNA is a cause and effect type of system. By changing one little gene in our bodies our whole makeup changes."
Mulder rolls his eyes. "She still hasn't accepted that science isn't always the answer, but then she hasn't accepted it yet that she is in love with me for my mind and not just my body."
Scully turns to him and gives him a warning look.
"I didn't think FBI partners could be involved", says Kate. "I mean I know that the attraction must obviously be there. Working close in dangerous life threatening situations. Dealing with stress and death everyday. Having no one to confide in that truly understands. Of course good looks do help and obviously you both are all set in that department."
Mulder looks at Scully who turns her head in embarrassment. 'She doesn't think that she is beautiful' he thinks to himself. He plans on telling her just how beautiful he thinks she really is.
Kate pulls up to the trailer park and lets the agents out. "The trailer you two stayed in before is still open. So you are welcome to use the shower if you want to. Mulder offers to let Scully use the shower first and she nods as she starts to enter the trailer.
"I'll go see about renting you another tent Scully", says Mulder following Kate toward the office.
"Don't bother Mulder", says Scully winking and then shutting the trailer door.
Mulder walks into the office and sees Howie behind the counter. "Hey Howie, hows it going?", asks Mulder.
"Good Mr. Mulder. We have a message here for you from someone names Walter Skinner."
"What did he want?', asks Mulder suspiciously.
"He just wanted you to call him and he wants to know if Agent Scully is with you. He needed to speak to you and couldn't reach either of you. He apparently did a search for you on major flights and found that you had bought two first class tickets to California. His exact words were, 'What the hell is going on?"
"He is totally overreacting", says Mulder. "Agent Scully and I are not on official business. We are here because we have been given two weeks of unpaid leave regarding a dispute on a case.
"It gets worse", says Howie.
"How can it get worse?", asks Mulder.
"He is coming here. He is on his way", says Howie.
"When did he call?", asks Mulder cringing.
"Three hours ago", replies Howie.
"Three hours. Okay..", says Mulder walking toward the door. He walks across the clearing to the door of the trailer. He opens it and smiles as he sees a trail of clothing leading to the bathroom.
Part 18
He knocks on the door of the bathroom. "Scully, you almost done in there? I really need a shower." The water stops and a couple of minutes pass before Scully opens the door dressed in a bathrobe.
"Its all yours", says Scully walking past him.
All Mulder can think about is a hot shower. He is tired and sore from being attacked twice by that awful monster last night. He spends a leisurely amount of time enjoying something that he normally took for granted. Twenty minutes later he exits the bathroom wearing just his boxers. He walks into the bedroom part of the trailer and sees Scully looking out the window still wearing her bathrobe.
"I need some fresh clothes" says Mulder pulling open a drawer where he had stashed some of his extra things.
"Yeah, I'm going to take some of my things back to the campsite too", says Scully turning to watch him search through the drawer.
He turns to see her staring at him in his boxers. "We may not be able to stay as long as we would of liked Scully", says Mulder.
"Why not?" asks Scully.
"Skinner tracked us down. He's on his way here", says Mulder sighing as he runs his hand through his hair. "He called about three hours ago and knowing Skinner he is on a plane right now."
Scully approaches Mulder and wipes away a droplet of water from his forehead with the tie of her bathrobe.
"Well that doesn't leave us much time", says Scully kicking the door to the bedroom shut.
"Time for what?", asks Mulder.
"Time to continue where we left off last night", says Scully untying her robe and dropping it to the floor. She is dressed in the teal teddy for real this time and Mulder's eyes widen as he looks from her eyes to her body. She steps nearer to him and runs her hand along his jaw, down his neck and along his chest. Leaning into him she pulls him down into a kiss and he wraps his arms around her. She runs her hands through his hair as their kiss deepens.
As he moves to nuzzle her neck he whispers in her ear, "Are you sure this is what you really want Scully?"
"Its what I've wanted from the very beginning", she whispers back as her grip on him tightens.
He pulls away from her and holding both of her hands in his he bends his knees so he is looking her straight in the eye. He gives her a little smile and says, "Me too." He leans in and kisses her once again. She wraps her arms around his neck as he lifts her and pulls her onto the bed.
The seven years of waiting is all over.