A/N: This is my very first X-Files fanfic. I hope you enjoy it!

Also, thanks a whole lot for reading this over and giving me your thoughts, Rosie!

Disclaimer: As I'm sure you know, I do not own any characters from The X-Files.


Chapter 1: A New Case

Special Agent Fox Mulder sat in his office, contently reading through his latest X-file. He looked up happily as his partner, Dana Scully, entered the office. He longed to tell her, to show her, how happy she made him, but he also knew that there would come a time for that and that now was not that time.

Feigning deep concentration, he nodded an absent greeting to her. "We have an interesting new case today from Ashville, Virginia."

"Oh," she muttered disinterestedly. Usually she could at least tolerate the lengthy explanation of mostly bogus cases by focusing on just the rhythm of her partner's voice. Today, however, she was preoccupied with other thoughts.

Oblivious, Mulder continued on. "A woman in her early thirties was on a blind date with one Roger Morris. The next morning, her body was found on a nearby riverbank. An autopsy revealed that she had been killed by asphyxiation. Her blood tests showed that she had inhaled an extraordinary amount of a highly poisonous gas known as Neronge, which was the cause of death. It seems that she had been locked inside a gas chamber. So, why is this our case? Well, the strange thing is that it was further discovered that the killer had been holding her tightly while she was choking on the gas. There were even marks from his teeth found on her cheek. This means that he was standing in the chamber with her without needing a mask. Now, this is the third instance of such occurrences. What does this mean? That we may have a serial killer on our hands."

Only at this point did Mulder stop to notice that he was both asking and answering his own questions. Scully had not said a word since walking in. "Um, Scully? Are you okay? You look kind of out of it."

Abruptly, she looked up and asked, "Mulder, have you ever noticed that we don't really have lives?"

The worry that had begun to build up in him resided. He smiled and leaned back in his chair. "Come on, Scully, we've had this conversation numerous times before."

"I know, it's just that sometimes I need some time outside of the X-files. Some time to just breathe. Can't you understand that?"

He looked more than a little hurt by her comment. Scully was ashamed at this, she had by no means meant to imply that she needed time away from him, just from work. "Mulder, I mean…" She was interrupted by the ringing of her cell phone. "Excuse me."

She pulled out her phone and flipped it open, aware of his gaze on her. "Hello?" she asked guardedly. "Oh, Suzanne!" Her voice quickly went from tired and bored to happy and even perky, causing Mulder to look quite curious. "Hi! How are you?"

"Yes, I'm great! Seriously? Wow, you need to tell me all about it… You know what? I'll call you back later – I need to work now. Bye."

Mulder cocked his head at her as she put the phone back without comment. "An explanation, Miss No Social Life?"

"That was one of my new friends, Suzanne Miller. She offered to meet me for lunch, you wouldn't mind if I left a little early now, right?"

"Um, sure. Go ahead."

"Thanks!"

Mulder watched her intently as she left the room. A whole set of new friends? A new fear began to develop in the pit of his stomach. A fear that maybe she might find someone to replace him. He was shocked by how much this thought upset him.

Of course, he had known for a long time that he was completely in love with his partner. However, the strength of what he felt for her still surprised him every time.

Shaking his head, he tried to forget about it and focus on his work. No such luck.

Scully hurried up to the main floor of the building, then out to meet her new friend. She felt bad for ditching him as she had, but she couldn't stand the thought of possibly losing Suzanne. She had met her in a recent church group, and for some reason that Scully couldn't fathom, Suzanne had taken a liking to her and introduced her to a whole new circle of friends. Basically, Suzanne was the sole source of any social life that Scully had outside of work.

Not that she didn't love being with Mulder all the time, but she couldn't help the exhilaration that came with having brand new friends. At the same time, she knew that she had to actually put effort into maintaining these new relationships.

Meanwhile, Mulder had become a constant in her life, he was as vital to her existence as food or water or air, but he had also become just as expected. She could not imagine him ever really leaving her.

Suzanne Miller, on the other hand, she worried would ditch her in no time at the smallest thing. So, for the time being, she was planning on focusing her energy on Suzanne and her other new friends. It isn't like anything's going to change with Mulder anytime soon anyway, she mused wistfully.

Upon finally arriving at the diner, she pushed these thoughts from her mind and searched for Suzanne. "Hi!" she said brightly.

"Hello, darling!" cried Suzanne. "How are you?" She rose to greet and embrace Scully when suddenly she froze and looked her up and down. "Oh, my. Dana, what are you wearing?"

Scully's pale skin blushed red. "Well, it's what I have to wear to work…" she began weakly.

"Forget lunch, hon, we're going shopping. It's no wonder your partner hasn't made any moves on you."

Scully instantly regretted ever mentioning Mulder to this woman. Desperately trying to not sound pathetic, she countered, "Well, that's not an issue for me as I currently have a boyfriend."

"Oh," said Suzanne, a little put out. "Well, I'm sure that I'll find one any day now. Anyways, tell me about him."

"Umm, maybe later, Suze."

"Whatever. Let's go shopping!"

Back in the office, Mulder yawned and looked at the clock. She should be back by now. Bored, he got up and decided to take a stroll through the building.

He took the stairs up from the basement, feeling very much like some underground creature emerging from hibernation. He had forgotten how nice it felt to have company with him. Calm down! his brain screamed. She's been gone for two hours! You can't be this pathetic. You can last for two hours.

Mulder quieted the conflicting voices in his head as he walked down the building's main hallway. He was immediately struck by the fact that a majority of people were not at their desks, rather gathered around something and murmuring. He nearly walked past until he heard his partner's name mentioned by an eager-sounding male agent.

"So, Miss Scully… it is miss, isn't it?" he questioned flirtingly.

Mulder wasted no time to push to the front of the crowd until he was next to Scully. "Well…" she was saying.

"Just so you know," Mulder interjected. "It would be Doctor Scully, actually."

The agent backed off, embarrassed. "Sorry, I was just saying… Anyways, you look nice, Scully."

Mulder finally turned to examine her more closely. He was near floored. He always thought that Scully was beautiful, but he had never seen her dressed like this before. She was wearing a low-cut, blue sweater that complimented her eyes. Her skirt was cropped short and her hair fell straight and had a slightly windswept look. At this moment, to Mulder, she wasn't beautiful. She was absolutely stunning.

"Mulder!"

"Yes, Scully?" he replied, still slightly dazed.

"Mulder, please stop looking at me like that! I really would rather not have everyone I work near crowding around me like this."

"Sure, of course." He placed his hand on the small of her back and led her wordlessly through the throng, intensely aware of the feel of her skin through the shirt's thin fabric.

"When they were a little away from everyone, Scully stopped and turned to him. "That was weird. I don't get what everyone was so worked up about."

"You look… you look just a little different than usual."

Scully flushed. "Well I was changing Suzanne took my real clothes and threw them out!" She uncomfortably pulled on her shirt. "I feel so prominent and underdressed in this."

"Trust me, don't worry about it. You look great."

"I look very unprofessional."

"That's not a problem. You know what, we can even cut out of here early today, alright? You think maybe you'd like to go out for dinner tonight?"

"Go out?" she echoed. Like, a date, you mean?

Mulder smiled and did not clarify. "Yeah, go out. You know, drive to a restaurant? Eat me dinner? I know you said you had no life, but seriously, Scully…"

She gave him a glare, then smiled. "You know what? That would be really…"

"Agents Mulder and Scully, get in here!"

Both stopped short and turned to face Skinner. "I need to talk to you two." He looked with interest at Scully's ensemble as the two passed by him and entered his office. "Interesting wardrobe choice today, Agent Scully."

"Sir, I…"

"No, I need no explanation. Just a little comment. The reason I called you in here was to check your progress on the Morris case."

"Umm…"

"I thought so. Listen, this case is very important. We fear know that he will try to kill again. The police down in Ashville are working full-time on it, but I feel that with your background in deciphering strange occurrences you would be assets to the investigation team. I want you two there by tonight, do you understand?"

"Yes, sir."

Skinner noted the apparent disappointment in both their voices. "What, did you guys have some hot date tonight?" He smiled to himself at the improbability of this. The total dedication to work of these two agents was infamous by this point.

"We'll be fine, Sir." Mulder stated, noting that for the second time in just ten minutes Scully's face had turned bright red.

"Good. You are dismissed. Have a nice trip!"


Thanks for reading! Please review and let me know what you think so far.