Mulder crouched by the fire and tried to poke it back to life.  With his side of the couch now empty Scully pushed her legs out further basking in the cool sense of relief that washed over her as she stretched her weary limbs.

"Leave it Mulder, it's getting late anyway."

            Standing he dusted his hands off and came back to his seat which was now occupied by her feet so instead he slid to the floor resting his shoulders beside her head. 

"So this is how the normal half of society live?" she murmured.

"I guess so."
"Maybe it's more than this…maybe it's something we're missing."

"Maybe everyone else is missing something Scully and we've got it just right."

"You think?"

"No…I'm just rambling."

"Stray thoughts lead to deep truths."

"Deep truths lead to unsafe ground."

"Unsafe…well we should be ready for that then," she said more than a little mirth diluting her low voice.

"Why Scully I do believe you have drank too much and finally that scientific tongue of yours has found a new level of verbal communication!" He tilted his head back as he spoke and rested it on the seat beside her, smiling at her sideways and showing a little more teeth than she was used to.  "It's late I better go," he added quickly, standing up and walking to the kitchen to deposit his glass in the sink. 

"You can't drive Mulder, not after all you've had to drink."

"I'll call a cab," he answered moving to the phone.

"You can stay if you want Mulder…" she started to say but he was already talking on the phone and strangely she noticed telling the cab he'd meet it on the street at the end of he block.

"Thanks for dinner Scully, it was delicious."

"Anytime Mulder."

            He walked over to the door and turned to find her standing close behind him.  Looking down at her small stocking clad feet he smiled at her petite stature and mussed hair tucking a strand behind her ear before the betrayal of his fingers could be stopped.

"You can stay Mulder," she said softly.

"No…I cant," he admitted his eyes darkening and dancing away from hers. "I have to leave."

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing…not yet.  I have to leave before it all goes wrong," he said backing away into her hallway.

"What are you talking about Mulder? What's going to go wrong?"

            He saw the confusion in her eyes and heard the slight tone of controlled panic in her voice as his lips brushed her softly.  What he had intended as only a gentle goodnight kiss moved up a step as his arms came down to encircle her waist pulling her against him as the kiss deepened.  Her initial reaction to freeze quickly thawed and she soon found her fingers gripping his t-shirt clinging to him tightly.              Slowly his lips receded moving away from her and taking a step back, he held her at arms length, his breath coming out in shallow ragged pants.

"Something like that…" he whispered before turning away and walking out closing the outer door behind him, leaving her rooted to the spot with shock.

            He walked briskly through the cool nightly breeze to the end of the block where he met the cab.  After calling out his address to the driver he leaned back into the slick leather seat with a deep sigh and a laugh he couldn't hold back.

"You okay buddy?" the driver asked.  "You look a bit flushed!"

"Flushed? Yeah I guess I am!"

"You okay?"

"Yeah, I'm just stepping up to bat."

***

            For a few moments she listened to the faint noises of the traffic passing on the street but as the cold bitter wind passed in through the still open door she quickly closed it and made her way to her room to change for bed.  Her mind reeled with so much and yet offered her little consolation, no rest, no reprieve from the simple feelings that played across her lips again and again as she closed her eyes to the sight of him bending towards her, his lips moving closer and finally touching hers before the smile she felt creeping across her lips opened into a huge grin.

            I had only been one night ago when she had thrown the gauntlet down and the quickness of his response to her challenge shocked her.  Still unable to formulate a coherent sentence she settled for the sensations that were racking her body as she climbed into bed and let the wine in her blood lull her into a fitful sleep.

***

            His apartment seemed different.  Smaller somehow.  Pacing the length of the living room he pounded the ball before his feet until the loud banging from the flat below made him toss the ball to the couch behind him.  Pacing now without the comforting repetitive sound of his ball Mulder struggled to keep calm and felt his blood bubbling at the sight that haunted him since he walked out of her apartment.  That final expression in her eyes as he descended towards her mouth his mind still battling with the action he was taking and yet still unsure of what that action was.  Sharp banging on his door tore his thoughts back to the present and he swiftly walked over expecting to see his surly neighbour.

"Frohike?" he said surprised at the small badly disguised gunman that pushed past him and started to close his blinds.

"Mulder you have to help me…" he whispered into the room.

"What's going on?"

"Langly and Byers have been arrested…they're after me."

"They? Who?"

"Te Government."

"What did you print this time?" Mulder said with a smile walking to the kitchen to get a glass of water.

"Only a small story about suspected clone replacements for high ranking officials and the only steps a human could take to kill them," he said sheepishly as if he knew he had gone too far.

"Jesus Frohike," Mulder said laughing.

"Well they came down to the office and took Byers and Langly…I was out at the time but I saw it from across the street."
"I'm off duty Frohike, suspended for two weeks.  There's nothing I can do," Mulder explained.  "Besides political assassination IS a federal crime."

"Selective victims with selective suspects."

"Look Frohike, they'll be questioned and psychologically tested then released by the morning."

"They are going through our office Mulder.  There is too much sensitive evidence there to risk loosing."

"Frohike.  Listen to me…I have no jurisdiction, there's nothing I can do."

"You have to stop the search!" Frohike said incredulously.

            For a moment Mulder looked at the anguished expression on his old friends face and he sighed.

"I suppose I can make a few calls," he conceded and with a groan he stood and reached for the phone.  Frohike paced slowly behind him as he sat at the desk taking names and numbers of the officers that were in charge.  It seemed like hours had passed and when Mulder looked at his clock he noticed that they had before he got to replace the phone in it's cradle and turn to where Frohike now sat on the couch.

"Okay, there's not going to be any charges made only a warning on your record.  The search was discontinued as of one hour ago when I told them about the alien technology you were studying for me…I guess now they think you're as crazy as me!"

"When will they be released?"

"In the morning.  We'll go by and collect them.  But right now I'm off to bed."

"Eh…Mulder…"

"Sure Frohike…blankets and pillows in the hot press," Mulder said over his shoulder as he went into his room. 

            Throwing his clothes to the floor Mulder fell heavily onto the bed and took a deep breath.   Letting it out in a deep sigh he closed his eyes delighted to see the last couple of hours hadn't yet tainted the image of Scully that had been lingering in the back of his mind for his undivided attention. 

            He woke to the sound of clanking cutlery in his kitchen a sound so unfamiliar to him he didn't recognise it at first.  Pulling his arguing limbs from the sheets he staggered into the living room where he found Frohike sitting with a bowl of cornflakes.

"Mulder that is one sad state of a fridge you got there."

"You got your cereal didn't you?" Mulder said as he walked into the kitchen and switched on the kettle.

"Just…I had to borrow some milk from your neighbour…it was in the hall…you'll repay then right?"

"You stole his milk?"

"You'll get your coffee wont you?" Frohike retorted.  Mulder walked back shaking his head and reached for the phone to dial a cab.

"Yeah I need to go to Alexandria…as soon as possible.  Great thanks."

            As he walked by Frohike to get dressed he ignored the small mans curious gaze.  Retuning in time to fix his drink he sat next to Frohike and switched on the TV.

"Actually tastes better with free milk," Mulder laughed.

"Why are we getting a cab to Agent Scully's?"

"To pick up my car."

"Why is your car at Agent Scully's?"

"That's where I left it last night!"  Frohike smiled knowingly and followed Mulder out to the street where the cab was waiting impatiently.

***

            The angle her body had taken to lying across the bed emphasised the mood she felt as her eyes pulled themselves open forcing her to face the day that had arrived so quickly.  Waking to a bright room was quickly becoming a habit she knew she could learn to love.  Forcing herself to get out from the warm sheets she started the shower and went out to the kitchen.  Searching the fridge for something she knew she would find in there she couldn't help herself as she slowly sauntered over to the window.  Stealing a quick look out to the path she frowned at the empty space where his car had been parked.  Pressing her face closer to see if she missed where he had left it but she could see no sign of it.

            Without thinking she walked away from the window and spied the steam curling around from behind the half open bathroom door and reached for the phone.  Dialling his number she walked to the bathroom and shut the door before the steam set off her smoke alarm.  After a few rings she heard Mulder's message.

"Hi Mulder it's just me.  I was about to bring your car back to you when I noticed it was gone.  I hope you've already collected it or you might have a bit of an automotive problem…call me when you can," she said and replaced the phone.

            Her eyes glazed over and she wondered briefly what time he had collected it and why he hadn't called in before tossing her hair over her shoulders along with her thoughts and walking into the bathroom to commence her morning routine.

**Sorry it's short but it's pretty tough writing this piece as it's all fluff and not much substance and I don't have sub plot to keep the action moving…I'm working on it though…I might stop it though if it gets too silly…dang L**