Mulder took an aggressive step towards her,

"How can you deny what so clearly happened tonight?"

He said with a large amount of restraint in his voice. His eyes were absolutely aflame, Scully could not recall a single moment in their past where he appeared to be this angry. She was taken aback, unable to summon the words, she didn't know if she should act ashamed or go on the defensive. Krycek moved in closer.

"Clear as a bell, don't you think Mulder?"

He didn't even look his way as he spoke; Kryceks eyes were on Scully, a look of triumph on his face. Without hesitance Mulder pulled his fist back and punched Krycek clean in the gut. He doubled over, but kept his footing, he took a few steps back and straightened. Scully grabbed Mulders arm and pulled him towards her, his eyes never left Krycek. A harsh breeze swept through the motel room as the door had been left ajar. Scully realized she was still in her underwear,

"Enough Mulder,"

She said with quiet authority.

"Yes Mulder, you wouldn't want assault on a fellow agent on your already rickety profile, now would you?"
"Fuck you Krycek, you have gone over the line this time. With every god damn move you make it only becomes more apparent where your loyalties lie, don't think you're so fucking sly. I see you, you son of a bitch!"

Krycek merely smiled as he held his stomach.

"What is it that upsets you more Mulder, her betrayal, or the fact that I got to her first?"

Mulder lunged for Krycek, but Scully kept a hold on his arm and shoulder.

"MULDER! It's not worth it!"

With a satisfied smile on his face, Krycek hastily left the room, slamming the door in his wake. No matter what, Mulder knew a part of him was furious; Scully had denounced him as nothing. He wanted more than she had given him. Mulder watched the door for a few minutes but it felt like an eternity. He didn't want to look her way; it would only be a confirmation of what he had just seen. The look in her eyes would be heartbreaking no matter what emotion she stood behind. He heard her take a seat on the edge of her bed; she took a deep breath but remained silent. Mulder looked to the floor, unable to look at her just yet. It was hard to find his voice but he finally did.

"Why…?"

Was all that came forth in a low broken whisper. She had taken the breath to speak many times, but still nothing was said. The silence was almost as unbearable as the explanation he would no doubt receive. She stood and crossed her arms, her eyes looking through the walls of the cheap motel.

"Do you want the truth Mulder, or an explanation?"

"DON'T PLAY WITH ME SCULLY!"

She didn't even flinch; he hated that calm rational look she always carried. He hated it. She was never Dana, always Agent Scully. He was furious; he wanted her to cry, to scream, to fall in to his arms, anything. But she just stood there, her eyes slightly brimmed with tears, but she refused to communicate the feelings that were so evidently fighting a battle behind those stark blue eyes.

"Just tell me Scully, why? Why Krycek?"

She was looking to the walls behind him, she wouldn't lock eyes with him, it only helped in upsetting him more. Mulder took an aggressive step towards her and grabbed her jaw. She looked in to his eyes, it did break his heart. She was so angry with everything and didn't know how to release it.

"Mulder, it was a rash decision, I didn't think…"

She stopped and sighed angrily.

"I did think, I thought about what it would mean, what you would say. I don't know what to say Mulder, I just went against everything my mind was screaming at me not to do."

Her voice was broken, worn. She backed away from his arms and turned her back to him. Her hair was slightly disheveled; her skin was flushed and still sparkled with a thin sheen of sweat. To know it was Krycek, to know that he touched her in the way Mulder yearned to do infuriated him beyond control. Mulder grabbed her shoulder and spun her in to his arms; his hands took her upper arms in an iron grip.

"I can't take it Scully, I can't take knowing he's had his hands on you. I can't even begin to explain how badly it pains me to know that you gave him something so personal! Why Krycek, didn't you have a clue as to what this could do to me; are you really that god damn selfish?"

She tore away from his grip and pointed accusingly at him.

"Don't preach to me about selfishness Mulder, don't you fucking dare! I have dealt with too much to have this conversation turned on me. So don't even think I'll stand here quietly while you rant about loyalty and pain. It's my turn Mulder; it's my turn to be the one causing the pain instead of constantly being bludgeoned down by it! I had sex with Krycek, right against that wall Mulder, right there,"

She pointed behind her, Mulder could do nothing but remain silent, no words would come forth. Her eyes began to water; the tears flowed down her cheeks as she shook with anger.

"He touched me, he made love to me,"

Mulder covered his ears,

"STOP, I DON'T WANT TO HEAR IT ANYMORE!"

"YOU'LL HEAR IT MULDER!"

She stepped quickly to him and tore his hands away from his head; his own eyes were beginning to tear.

"How does it feel Mulder? Do you want to know what I'm thinking, do you want to know what is going through my mind right now?"

She said on the verge of yelling, Mulder responded in a low voice.

"Yes."

She nodded, licking her lips. The tears kept falling.

"Well how does it feel to be denied? How does it feel to be in the dark?"

Mulder took a shaky step to her bed and sat down. He stared at his hands clasped in his lap.

"I don't know what to say Scully, I can't imagine something like this happening more than once."

She laughed bitterly.

"You'd think right? But in my case I not only imagined it, I went through it."

She crossed her arms over her breasts and sighed, she gently wiped the tears from her chin.

"I'm just a last resort, aren't I Mulder?"

His eyes shot to hers, he quickly stood to tower over her dainty form.

"How can you think that?"

He said in an angry whisper.

"I…"

Mulder decided to cut her response short. He took her face in his hands and brought her lips to his.

"You have been haunting my dreams since the first day I saw you."

He kissed her lightly, keeping his hands to either side of the soft flushed skin that swept over her jaw line and cheekbones. Scullys hands slowly encircled his waist beneath his light black trench coat. She feel of her hands gripping his lower waist made his spine shudder.