Mulder stepped away from the bar and slowly walked towards her.  With his eyes locked to hers he made his way closer to stand by her side, his lips curved in a hardly there smile. 

"Hello.  My name is Rex, Rex Harrington," he said, a glint in his eyes that she recognised immediately but was sure no one else would pick up.

"Dana, Dana Scully," she managed to get out with a straight face, wondering how he kept his voice so clear of the laugh she knew was bursting to get out.  He took her extended hand and instead of shaking it brought it up to his mouth where he gently placed a kiss on her knuckles, surprising her and the barman Roddy, who turned away from the scene, knowing when he was beaten.

"Ms Scully pleased to meet you."

"Call me Dana, please," she said smiling at the small twitch in his eyebrow.

"Can I buy you a drink Dana?"

"A drink? I thought you were gonna buy me dinner?"

"Of course I am.  Would you like to dine here, or perhaps a lovely Italian that I know just down the street?"

"Italian…my favourite…however did you know!"

            She took his hand and he led her through the crowded bar out onto the cool night where finally her laughter gained the freedom it desired.  He looked down to her smiling and she returned it unreservedly.

"What on earth are you doing here Mulder?" she said as they started the short journey towards Francini O'Brien's Italian Restaurant.

"I'm Rex Harrington…man about town!"

"So what are you really doing here?"

"You left your phone in my bag and Jane rang to say she wasn't going to make it tonight."

"You came all the way down here to tell me that?" she asked surprised and suddenly aware that their hands were still clasped.

"Yeah…I couldn't get through on the bar phone.  I didn't want to leave you waiting."

"Thanks Mulder, but there was really no need.  I was just about to leave anyway."

"With that young barman?" he teased.

"God no!"

"Well I'm here now so we may as well eat."

            The door to O'Brien's chimed as he pushed it open for her and they were shown to a small candle lit table by the window.  Mulder ordered a bottle of white wine for them as the waiter left them the menus.  Sipping on the fruity crisp taste Scully let her gaze wander around the room, spying the predominantly couple orientated tables and the couples that adorned them her eyes fell back to Mulder who was watching her a curious expression on his face that she chose not to pursue.  After the orders were taking Mulder refilled their wine glasses and took a deep breath before relaxing back into his chair. 

"So you were talking to Jane."

"Yes, and I fear she may have had the upper hand."

"How so?"

"I'm pretty sure she has heard more Mulder stories than I have heard Jane stories."

"Oh Mulder…you're so paranoid!"

"How long has it been since you saw her?"

"Years…she's a surgeon…a busy surgeon."

"Would you like to have been a surgeon?"

"It was one of the reasons I went through four years of medical school," she said with a wry smile.  "But things change, priorities change.

"How have your changed?" he asked softly, taking a sip of his wine to do something with his hands rather than a desire for the taste.

"I guess I'm not as career driven as I used to be."

            Mulder coughed on his drink at her admission and looked up as her questioning eyebrow rose.

"I'm serious Mulder.  I gave up a lot to join the FBI and there were so many people telling me what a mistake it was. But all I could see was a career advancement."

"And now?"

"And now I have other cares, other worries…other thoughts and hopes."

"Like what?"

"Well you," she said clearly, surprising herself with the steady lilt in her voice and the sudden clarity that her thoughts fell into.  "You are an important part of my life Mulder.  There's no denying the complicated relationship we have.  There is no one more important to me than you."
            His mouth fell open slightly as if he need to take more air and his eyes widened with every word she spoke but as he was about to answer the waiter arrived and left a plate of mixed appetisers between them.

"So how have your priorities changed?" she asked taking a slice of garlic bread and glancing up at his still dumbfounded expression.

"I guess…in a strange way…the same as yours.  The XFiles aren't the only driving force in my life any more.  I have more important issues…more important things…more important…you."

            The look they shared was silent but it was all they needed.  A simple smile, a shared glance and thoughts or fears were dispelled under the weight or depth of their closeness. 

"So Scully, I guess we're not all that different after all."

"I never thought we were Mulder."

***

            After dinner, Mulder paid with a smile and told her that Rex Harrington always paid his way.  She laughed again and he marvelled at how free she had been with the delectable sound over dinner.  Strolling through the deserted streets they easily hailed a cab and she called out her address to the driver.

"Thanks for tonight Rex, I had a great time," she said as the cab pulled up to the curb at her place.

"My pleasure Dana," he whispered before leaning in and kissing her cheek lightly.

"Oh Mulder all these date scenarios are so wasted on us.  Candle lit dinners, midnight strolls.  You should save them for the future Mrs Mulder."

"I wouldn't consider them a waste Scully.  Besides I have plenty to go round to woo whom ever I wish."

"Well maybe it was time you started to woo!"

            She climbed out of the cab and rushed up the path to her place before Mulder told the driver his address.  After changing out of her clothes she stood at the sink and brushed her teeth, smiling wickedly at the reflection. She knew she'd left plenty of room for interpretation in her final statement.  Her final half bottle of wine induced statement.  Her final half bottle of wine induced challenge.  All that she could do now was wait.  Having played that role for years Scully rinsed out her mouth and went to bed smiling.

***

            Mulder pulled his jumper off over his head and fell onto the couch heavily with a deep-rooted sigh.  Lying in the dark with the cars passing on the street below all he could hear was her soft voice, her words…her desire.

"Well maybe it was time you started to woo!" she taunted him in his head leaving him with thoughts he'd harboured for so long but never imagined she'd share. 

A Challenge, he realised.  She had placed a challenge in front of him, daring him to take it.

            He dragged his weary body off the couch and went to his bed where he took off the remainder of his clothes.  Climbing in under the cool sheets he let the smile loose across his lips as he relished in the feeling of a decision made and the wonderful contentedness it brought.

"Maybe it is about time I started to woo."

***

            The phone rang loudly shaking her from her sleep as she reached out to grab it from its cradle. 

"Hello?" she said groggily still half lying in the bed.

"Dana honey?"

"Mom…hi!" she said sitting up a bit as she ran her hand through her hair and glanced round at the clock to see it was almost noon.

"Did I wake you?"

"No…I was just…"

"Catching up on much needed rest?" her mother teased.

"Yeah."

"How are you feeling?"

"I'm fine mum really," she sighed.

"It's so good to hear your voice.  I missed you so much."

"Me too mom.  But I'm fine.  I feel fine."

"You and Fox both have a fortnight off, you should use it to relax."

"We will."

"How is he by the way?"

"He's fine.  We went out to Covers beach yesterday."

"Good.  Well I wont keep you I just wanted to say hi.  Bill send his love and he says you are more than welcome to join us out here if you want."

"Tell him thanks but I just wanna spend some time on my own."

"Okay Dana.  Love you.  See you soon."

            After replacing the phone Scully slung back the covers back over the bed, part of her wanting to stay but the rest of her needing to move.  She showered slowly, relishing in the feel of warm water over her skin before stepped out.  Dressing in a pair of navy cotton shorts and a tee shirt she stretched out on the couch and opened her book as she sipped her tea.  The breeze from the open window wafted across her bare lags and she immersed herself in the book and daytime television.

            As the wind turned cold she shut the windows but determined not to dress fully for her day of rest she decided to light a fire.  She was standing at the sink washing her hands when her phone rang and she fumbled with the towel to dry her hands before answering it.

"Hello?"

"Dana, its Jane."

"Jane Hi!" she said sitting on the arm of the chair to talk.

"I'm so sorry about yesterday.  Did you get my message?"

"Yes. I did," she said smiling at the image of Rex Harrington kissing her knuckles.

"I was called into surgery and I couldn't get out of it."

"Don't worry about it Jane."

"I'm flying out to Boston in a couple of hours so we'll have to make a date when I get back."

"Give me a call then."

"Bye Dana."

            Scully hung up and turned to face the fire.  Surprised to see how dark it had gotten she drew the curtains and sat in front of the flickering flames letting the heat lick her face.  A tickling rumble in her stomach warned her of how long it had been since she had eaten and she mentally thought of what she would like to eat.  Almost as an instinct she picked up the phone and dialled his number. 

***

            Mulder stared at the TV with his eyes glazed over the pictures were missed and the sound made no sense.  Glancing down at the papers that he had strewn around him he sighed and let his head fall back onto the couch.  With the Internet only three feet away he had managed to spend his day tracking a crop circle movement across the country.  After finally finding a pattern he began to trace it back to find the source but lost the scent over an hour ago.  His patience wore rapidly thin along with his desire to stare at the computer screen so he printed the pictures out and moved his study to the floor in front of the couch.

            More hours passed and it wasn't long before he realised he had been sitting in the dark looking at maps that he could barely make out.  His stomach growled for attention and he mentally pictured the empty fridge.  Glancing at the phone he could almost taste the cardboard pizza or Chinese so he stood and grabbed his keys and jacket.  He slammed the door closed behind him and rushed down the hall to catch the closing elevator doors and didn't hear his phone ringing in the apartment behind him.

***

            Scully's smile faded as she replaced the receiver and strolled into the kitchen.  She put water to boil in one pot and poured rice into it before taking the chicken pieces out of the fridge.  Straining across the counter she hit the CD1 button on her stereo and the room filled with soft acoustic guitar.  She recognised the song immediately and swayed with the music as she cooked the chicken.  Reaching into the press she grabbed two jars of sauce and was deciding between satay or sweet and sour when there was a knock at the door.  Taking both jars with her she slowly made her way through the apartment and answered the door with a slight frown, that quickly disappeared when she saw him standing there with a bottle of white wine.

"Ms Scully, I hope you don't mind the intrusion," Mulder said smiling.

"Oh Rex, I knew you'd come!"

            She backed away and turned to walk in to the kitchen hearing his footsteps behind her but feeling his presence fill the room.  Holding out both jars to him he tapped the lid of the satay sauce while nodding his head and looking for a corkscrew.

"I dunno how much more wine I can take," she admitted as he handed her a glass.

"C'mon Scully we're on vacation…sorta…live a little!"

"You think you could live with all this free time?"

"God no, I cant wait to get back to the decadence that I know so well in the dark basement!"

"I thought so," she said with a chuckle.  "Me too."

            They shared the moment in silence letting their smiles fade of their own accord.  Mulder put plates and cutlery on the table as she drained the rice and served the food.  Idle chat passed between them as they spoke about their day and soon he found himself washing dishes in a sink full of suds while she dried them beside him.

"Jeez Scully, I never knew you were so lazy."

"Lazy?"

"While I've been working away-," he began but she slapped his arm incredulously.

"I'd hardly call printing out pictures of geometric shapes in crops working!"

"While I've been working away…gathering evidence, you've been basking in a luxurious day of daytime soap operas and quiz shows."

"I'm just relaxing."

"You haven't even dressed yet," he said gesturing to her bare feet, shorts and tee shirt.

"I'm just really relaxing.  You should try it sometime."

"It's a whole new side of you Scully," he added as he drained the water from the sink.

"It's a side even I don't see very often," she admitted with a sigh and he paused to look at her.

            Taking the now damp towel from her hands he tossed it to the table and led her to the couch.  Returning to the kitchen only for their glasses of wine he sat down next to her and watched the fire for a moment with her.

"I love fires," she said softly almost unaware that she had said it aloud.  "Reminds me of Sunday evenings at home."

"It's nice you know.  I like it," he said turning to face her.

"The fire?" she asked absently.

"No," he chuckled.  "You.  Like this.  It's good to know I haven't completely destroyed your spirit."

"Oh Mulder don't day that."

"I'm just saying it's nice to see you relaxed."

"If I can change for these two weeks then so can you."

"Change? What could I possibly change about all this?" he said in mock horror as he gestured to himself.

"Your self indulgent unnecessary tendencies towards self blame and guilt."

"Oh that."

"Just see how it is Mulder," she continued, barrelling down a path she wasn't sure she'd been on before but not able to stop.  "Try it on for size."

"I can't change the way I feel Scully," he said turning away from her and looking down at the delicate glass in his hands.

"I don't want you to change how you feel…only how you express it," she said sitting forward a bit to catch his eyes but they remained elusive.  "In some aspects of your life you are so passionate and involved…and in others you shut down completely.  It's a constant battle."

"Be free…"

"Free…"

"To express how I feel…"

"Yeah…I mean without the overload of sarcasm and self righteousness."
"No repercussions?"

"Well it's not like I'm gonna be able to laze around in these after this fortnight," she said pulling at her clothes.  "Not at work anyway!"

"I dunno Scully I know a few agents who wouldn't mind."

"Well Mulder they have two hopes of seeing that…no hope and bob hope!" she said smiling.  "After these two weeks it'll be back to Dana whatever-they-call-me Scully and Fox Spooky Mulder!"

"Okay Scully.  You know I love a challenge!"

**Sorry about the delay and shortness but works been mad busy.  Should get the next update out in a day or so!!**