Waking to an empty house was more than Scully hoped for as she ambled slowly into the kitchen, fixing her hair back and preparing a cup of coffee. Out the window she spied the military garden mowed with stripes just the way her father always insisted. The smile at the image of herself and Melissa raking leaves was fleeting but satisfying.
A key rattling in the lock dragged her attention back to the present and she turned in time to see Bill stepping in carefully, Mathew bundled up warmly in his carrycot, asleep. Bill lifted one finger to his lips as he crept into the living room to leave the child in peace. Scully prepared another cup of coffee, this time strong with two sugars and placed it on the table as Bill walked in.
"Mom and Tara weren't quite finished shopping so I opted to take Mattie home for a nap." Bills voice was low, obviously afraid to wake the child. "They told me not to wake you."
"Too late."
"It's great to see you Dana." It was a sudden statement filled with earnest but Scully wondered if there was more to come. As his eyes locked with hers they filled with intensity she had rarely seen before in her eldest brother.
"It's good to see you too."
"These past few months…its been tough…on Mom…on everyone."
"It wasn't exactly a picnic for me either Bill." Without thought her hand lifted up to her jaw a small thin scar could be seen fading away into her still all too pale skin.
"Why do you do it Dana?"
"Do what Bill?" Her voice was bored, but her eyes were angry.
"Why do you put yourself in these situations?"
"You're one to talk. Bill you go out to sea…for months at a time. Don't you think that's hard on Mom? On Tara?"
"Dana That's different. It's not something I can change. You can."
"No Bill." She stood and dropped her cup into the sink. "I cant."
Thinking of Mathew asleep in the living room she resisted the urge to slam her bedroom door, instead opting to take a shower to calm herself down. She switched it on as she continued to the bedroom to gather her things. The noise of the hot water streaming against the tiled wall almost drowned out her thoughts. Same words, same fights over and over every time she saw Bill.
Hot water for a hothead, she thought smiling at the Mulder remark as she stepped under the strong spray. The sweet smell of her rosemary gel lulled her gently into a calmer place with the hard massaging pressure she felt on her back, as the water danced on her skin like a thousand fingers, each one reaching a new level of relaxation.
After her finger showed enough signs of water submersion she forced her self away from the shower and dried off. Now that the water had been turned off she could hear Mathew crying in the next room accompanied by Tara's soft singing. Then as she stepped out, wrapping the town around her self tighter the sound of Bills raised voice swam up to her, making her stall her retreat to her bedroom.
"I. Don't. Care." He had shouted and she couldn't imagine her mothers face at been spoken to in that tone.
"It's important to Dana, so its important to me."
"Not in my house."
"William Francis Scully. I never thought I would hear such selfish words in my own son. Besides I've already made the phone call."
She could hear her mothers' steps storming out of the kitchen so Scully retreated to her bedroom to dress fully. Confusion rattled her mind at the thought of what they were arguing over. Hearing her own name mentioned had piqued her interest, but not enough to go down there to immerse herself in another Scully family drama. But alas hiding in her bedroom wasn't an option so she rummaged for something to wear.
Dressing in a pair of black jeans with a white plain long sleeve she slipped on her sneakers before tentatively walking down and spying her mother sitting on the garden bench. Scully took a jacket from the banister and walked out to join her.
"Everything alright mom? I heard you and Bill arguing."
"Everything is fine honey. Or it will be once Bill realises he doesn't rule the world."
Despite her glum mood Scully laughed aloud and hugged her mother close, enjoying the peace, enjoying the lazy day but still missing something.
***
The room was filled with the joyous singing of Muppets declaring strangers were friends he hadn't met accompanied by his light constricted snoring. Traffic outside was low for this Wednesday lunchtime, making the scene all the more surreal.
But all too soon the high-pitched ring of his phone dashed it. The first shrill had no effect on him while the second jolted him awake. The third found him fallen to the floor, confused and hurting. Scrambling to his feet he grabbed the handset and managed to hold it to his ear while his other hand rubbed the shin he'd knocked off the table.
"Hello?"
"Hello, Fox?" Wide-awake now at the mention of his name the voice curled around his brain as he ached to place it, he switched off the warbling of the Henson Muppets to pay more attention.
"Yes?" he answered cautiously.
"Its Catherine Scully."
"Of course ms Scully…is everything okay?"
"Yes. Everything is fine."
"Good. Good." Confusion swam around his sleepy head as he tried to understand what was going on. "What can I do for you?"
"I'm glad you asked Fox. Its about Dana."
"Scully?" His heart took another plunge after only recovering from the last one.
"I know she'd never say anything but she misses you."
"Misses me?"
"She came out here to see me. I could have killed bill for guilting her into it but now that she has arrived I can see she is miserable. But she won't return to Washington. After the few months you two just had she really need to be around someone who understands what she is feeling."
"Oh." Mulder tried desperately to see where this conversation was headed.
"So seeing as she wont go to you…I was wondering if you would like to join her here in San Diego?"
"Oh…I don't know…"
"You're more than welcome. I know Dana would be delighted to see you. I would be too."
"What about Bill?" The words spilled out of his mouth before he could stop them.
"Well you can spend time with him too but I thought you would prefer to see Dana." She smiled at the soft chuckle that travelled across the line. "Don't worry about him."
I don't know Mrs Scully. Wouldn't she like to spend some time alone?"
"No. I don't think she would. You are very important to her Fox. She needs you." Her final words all but booked his flight.
"Okay. Let me sort something out." Mulder replaced the handset and let his shoulders slump with a sigh.
To go or not to go, he pondered knowing the decision was already made.
***
Dinner was subdued at the Scully house. Mathew slept soundly for once adding to the eerie silence. No matter what efforts Mrs Scully made to keep the conversation going, filing them all in on her latest round of night classes. Bill sat ominously at the top of the table, his eyes fixed firmly on his food as he pushed it aimlessly around his plate. Without realising why Dana felt like the core of the problem and not for the first time since touching down at San Diego Airport, she wished she was lying on her own couch, sipping her own glass of wine and listening to her own music.
"The Donnelly's down the street are throwing a street party tonight," Tara said into the stilted silence as she cleared things into the kitchen.
"Oh how nice!"
"I think it's for the last World Series Game, they've put up a wide projection screen."
"That sounds like Fun. Dana, will you come?"
"No Mom, that's okay. I'm still kind of tired." Bill snorted softly disguising it as a cough at the sight of three pairs of eyes studying him with relish.
"Okay Dana. You get some rest."
Scully settled into the living room with a glass of wine and a book, waving good bye to the rest of the Scullys as they left to go to the street party. She tried to relax in the silence, the serenity that surrounded her but she found herself restless. Her finger tapped out an endless rhythm on the stem of her glass and she felt her toes twitching to the tune. Giving up she left the book on the table and walked the stairs to bed. She changed into her black satin pyjamas and went to brush her teeth wondering again why she didn't want to go the party with the rest of her family.
Just as she settled in bed, the light switched off and the blankets pulled up to her chin, the phone rang. She thought about ignoring it until she realised it was her mobile. Listening to one more ring she forced herself out of bed to grab the phone that rested on the dressing table across the room.
"Hello?"
"Scully. Its me."
"Mulder hi!" She smiled for the first time without effort that day.
"How are you doin?" his voice seemed to kiss her ear tenderly as she crossed the room back to her bed and climbed in.
"Not too bad."
"You don't sound convinced. And frankly neither am I."
"Mulder, I'm fine really." She was touched by his concern but there was little he could do. "So have you snuck in yet?"
"No. I've been too busy."
"Busy? Doing what?"
"Building." She laughed out loud at the thought of his handy man skills, the limit of which she had witnessed more than once.
"Building what?"
A loud crunching sound outside the window startled her. She glanced at the window, it's curtains closed, keeping out the dying light of the day gone by. Crawling to the end of her bed, the phone pressed against her ear, she willed it to turn into her phone. A light rap startled her and she froze.
"What's wrong Scully?" His voice said unexpectantly in her ear.
"I think there is someone outside."
"Outside?"
"Outside my room…Shhhh, there it is again!"
"Scully you've been hanging round with me for waaay too long."
"No Mulder I heard it…."
"Go and see who it is!" he urged.
Carefully she stepped off the bed and took a step towards the window, hearing Mulder soft rhythmic breathing in her ear gave her enough courage to reach out to the heavy cotton maroon material. Her hand clutched at the curtain and she took a deep breath as she prepared to pull it back. With one sharp tug and a loud swoosh she looked out waiting a second for her eyes to adjust.
Leaning on the window ledge with his arms crossed, one hand raised to support his head, his finger curled around his chin, playing with his bottom lip was Mulder. His smile was expressive and he displayed it proudly.
"Oh my god Mulder…." She said laughing, her hands covering her mouth as if it were about to overwhelm her.
"I thought it was about time someone climbed in through your window."
"You are insane…" She watched as he hoisted himself through the open window and dragged his legs in after him. "Did you build that?" Looking out the window below him she saw a tall white trellis lining the wall.
"Build is such a loose term don't ya think Scully?" He stood brushing off his knees before rising to his full height. "Lets just say it's there now…Hi," he added turning to her fully.
"Hi." She stepped into the circle he opened with his arms and leaned against his warm chest. "What the hell are you doing here?"
"I wanted to see you."
"Did my mom call you?"
"No. Why does she miss me too?" He loved the shake of her body as she laughed against him. "I missed you Scully."
"So you flew across the country to put together a trellis and climb in my bedroom window?"
"Something like that." Pulling away from her he held her at arms length to look into her eyes. "You look tired. Not sleeping?"
"No." Her words were frank and she surprised him with her honesty.
"Come here." He took her hand and led her to the bed. Fixing the covers her lay on top of it and tapped the space beside him. She sat next to him but with a chesty grumble he placed his arm around her and pulled her to closer to rest on his chest. Taking a deep breath se melded against him, her hand on his stomach and curled her legs against his.
"Langly and Byers were arrested the night before last."
"What?" She raised her head to check he was being serious.
"Frohike came over to see if I could get them out." His smile assured her it wasn't a serious incident.
"What happened?" She leaned back down onto him, snuggling closer, basking in his warmth. As his words unravelled the long story she felt her eyelids grow heavier and heavier until she could no longer hold them open. His voice was steady and low; it's soft rhythmic tone pouring over her like hot liquid. It wasn't long before he felt the hand resting on his stomach grow heavy and the chest pressed against his side move in a soft deep motion, telling him she was sleeping. He reached one hand into her hair, touching her scalp in small soothing strokes and pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead.
"Good night Scully."
The cocoon she covered him in was a toxin of it's own and coupled with the summer sounds and breeze flowing in the open window it wasn't long before Mulder and fallen over the unpredictable edge into slumber. It was close to 10pm when Mrs Scully came home insisting Bill and Tara remain at the party while she took care of Mathew. She climbed the stairs and placed the sleeping child into his cot. As she passed Dana's room she knocked lightly on it, but hearing no beckon or noise she pushed it open slowly, wanting to make sure he daughter was okay. The scene that greeted her lifted her heart beyond what she believed it could reach as she spied her only daughter tangled in the arms of the man she loved, both of them sleeping soundly. Closing the door softly behind her she descended the stairs, like her daughter, smiling for the first time without effort that day.
**I finished this chapter at last…it was just a matter of getting it up on the PC and this is the first chance I've gotten! Sorry for the HUGE DELAY! But I promise I wont abandon the fic! It will be finished, oh yes, it will be finished!**