TWO

Mulder drove Scully home feeling that she was too dazed to drive. At her apartment, he ordered a pizza and made some tea. Scully plopped down on the sofa and stared into oblivion, not quite knowing why she was this distressed. They were estranged to say the least. Harold's drinking had begun to diminish Scully's respect for her mentor, something that she was disgusted at herself for. Scully had whole heartedly believed that she had abandoned Harold when he needed her the most. Perhaps with her guidance, he could have overcome his dependence. But in seconds, she remembered why she strayed away.

Though never said in words after that moment, Harold never failed to show Scully how he felt with unwelcomed advances. She had begun to feel uncomfortable around him so when her time in med school was up and her tenure at the FBI began, Scully escaped. Only once did she return as a favor, not ready to watch her beloved mentor fall into obscurity.

Mulder watched uneasily from a distance. He wanted to give Scully her privacy but was conflicted in that he did not want to leave her alone. What was going through her mind? All in one fell swoop, Scully was reunited with her mentor to only have him be murdered.

"Mulder?"

"Yea."

"Why would anyone want to kill him?"

Mulder stood speechless. He had never seen Scully this vulnerable before. She was almost childlike and it frightened him.

"I don't know."

He moved away from the kitchen counter and inched his way towards Scully side.

"He wasn't perfect. He had his enemies but I still don't understand."

Mulder now stood behind Scully and began to tenderly massage her shoulders.

"Mulder, do you ever think about life – about how much time we have left?"

Scully reached behind for Mulder's hand indicating him to stop.

"Sometimes. Why?"

Mulder slid onto the coffee table so he could sit facing Scully.

"Do you ever think about second chances? Regret?"

"Scully, what's on your mind?"

"Roll with me here, Mulder. I think I'm on to something. I think Harold's death today made me … forced me to realize something I think I've been hiding."

'Scully?"

Mulder was getting nervous. What was she going to say?

"I'm tired of waiting. I'm tired of standing around and just waiting for things to happen. I was tired back then, back in med school, that's why I choose the FBI. But now it's happening again, but I think this time, it's a different type of restlessness.

Mulder, you might laugh at this, but sometimes I liken myself to water. Like water, I'm not made to stand still. I'm just one big deception. On the exterior I may appear cool but on the inside, it's turbulent and it's been getting worse.

A lot of things are like water but in different ways. Like water you need air to live and like water, I believe that you need love. Not familial or platonic love but more …"

"Scully," Mulder blurted. "You have love."

"Do I?"

"You have mine."

Scully laughed or rather, she let out a sigh of relief that evolved into a chuckle that preceded the tears which led to something completely unexpected.

He couldn't resist. Mulder was beginning to forget when he first fell in love with Scully; all he knew was that he was in love with her. It felt as if he always had. So when Scully began to unravel her heart, Mulder took it as his cue to finally act upon his impulses and kiss her.

It was short but nonetheless sweet. Scully was stunned; Mulder's feelings were yet to be determined.

"Thank you."

Scully couldn't believe she said that.

"Thank you?"

Mulder said mockingly.

"I mean … no … I do mean thank you. Mulder, I can't even begin to describe …"

"I know."

"You know?"

"You have no idea how long I've wanted to do that."

"Yea?"

"Yea."

"Oh God, Mulder, I don't know what's come over me. I think that … um … I think that Harold's death made me not want to wait any long – if that makes any sense."

"It makes perfect sense."

"Good."

"Now come here."

Mulder reached in for another kiss and this time they did not part so quickly. He found his hands roaming more than they should be, but he could not help himself nor was Scully giving indications of asking him to stop. In fact, Scully found her own hands doing some exploring. They had waited so long for this. There was no point in slowing down.