All notes disclosed in chapter one. Also, the date in chapter one is wrong. It should be October 16, 1999

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'They say I'm not the girl they used to know

'Cause I don't always wear revealing clothes

But don't be fooled a moment, I can't hold

I'm lettin' loose, 'cause then I'd probably choke'

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October 18, 1999

Mulder feigned sleep the next morning when Dana came in. He'd been thinking about what he was going to say to her and he still had no clue. He couldn't just start it off 'So, you're engaged.' He needed something intelligent to say.

He heard the rustle of papers on his left, knowing she was checking his vitals. He felt her pull down his gown away from his shoulder so she could check his wound. Soft fingers pressed around the wound. He just couldn't resist.

"Good morning, Dr. Scully," he greeted in a low rumble.

Dana jumped back, a hand covering her heart. "Jesus, Mulder! I thought you were asleep."

He opened his eyes and lolled his head over to look at her. God. Even though he was semi-angry at her, she still took his breath away.

"Nope, I was just faking it in case you wanted to take advantage of me." His playful eyes turned apologetic when he saw her take in a few deep breaths. "I'm sorry."

She didn't say anything. She just moved back over to him once she was sure her heart rate was back to normal. Or as normal as it could get around him.

She pressed her fingers back to his shoulder. "Have any trouble with it last night? Any pain right now?"

"No and no. I think this is going to be my fastest recovery ever," he mused with a smile. "Must be my excellent doctor."

She still chose to keep quiet. He watched her face as she quietly worked. There was a story behind the face and he wanted to read every line of it.

Mulder pulled her left hand into his good one, his thumb brushing against her ring finger. He noticed how soft her skin was but he also noticed…

"Where's your ring?" he wondered. His eyes traveled up to hers and saw the lie forming there.

"What ring?"

"Your engagement ring from Dr. Waterston."

Her eyes broke away from his. The atmosphere grew somber. Her voice grew soft. "I know you didn't hear that from Anna."

He shook his head. "No, your fiancé stopped to ask where you were last night and he happened to be right outside my door. I'm a little heartbroken."

He tightened his grip on her hand when she tried to pull away. "Mulder, please," she begged, "I have to finish this and be on my way. I have another patient checking in soon."

"Just answer me one question and I'll let you go," he promised. At her nod, his grip lessened but he pulled her closer. "Are you happy?"

Her eyes fell downcast. He could see her putting up a defense shield. What happened to the lovely, smiling woman he'd been annoying yesterday?

"Yes," she whispered but he could tell she was lying.

He slowly nodded like he believed her but he still didn't release her hand. He didn't feel her pulling away either. Instead, he laced their fingers together, smiling inwardly at how perfect they fit.

"Okay, then answer me this one last thing."

"What?" She looked up at him.

"Go out with me sometime."

Dana blinked a few times before answering. Did he really say what I think he said?

"What did you say?"

"Go out with me sometime."

"But I'm engaged. You know I'm engaged. Shouldn't that stop you?" she babbled on.

But Mulder couldn't be swayed. "No, it just makes me want to try harder."

"Mulder…"

He squeezed her hand to stop her. "Just think about it. We still have another day together."

Surprisingly her face softened. Her fingers gently caressed his in the slightest way. Her heart was fluttering at the look in his eyes. She could feel her knees giving out.

She opened her mouth with the intent to lie to him but when she saw that lower lip jut out, she chickened out.

"You have my word that I'll think about it," she promised.

And damn it, by the time she was leaving for home that night, she was still thinking about it.

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November 2, 1999

"Dr. Scully, you have a visitor in your office," Kelly told her when she stopped to sign papers.

"Male or female?" She really hoped it wasn't Mr. Daniels again. That man really needed to learn to listen to instructions.

"Male, he's been there for a few minutes."

"Thank you, Kelly." She slipped the pen under the clip of the clipboard and started for her office. "Mrs. Greenlee is still asleep. Give her her medicine when she wakes up, please."

Dana didn't wait for a reply, just made her way to her office quickly. She hadn't seen Mulder for two weeks. She often found herself thinking of him late at night before she went to bed. She couldn't deny that he'd had an impact on her the four days he was in her care. But she also knew that since then, she'd thrown herself into her work. She was working as many shifts as she could. Daniel didn't like it but she needed to do it. She needed to prove to herself that she really did love Daniel and that she was happy with him.

She opened her office door with her head held high, feeling confident once more about her decision. She put on her work smile and stepped through.

"Hi, what can I do for you tod…" Her smile fell and her words failed her when the man in the chair turned around to face her.

"Well, if it isn't my favorite doctor. How are you today, Dana?"

She snapped her attention back to the man at the sound of her name.

"Mulder," she breathed.

"Dana," he mimicked.

"Wh… uh wha… what are you doing here?" she stuttered miserably, which only caused him to smile more.

"I came to see how you are. I wanted to surprise you. I also wanted to give my shoulder enough time to heal. Nice work, by the way."

"Uh, thank you. Why are you here?" She hadn't noticed but she'd backed up as far away from him as she could, which incidentally put her right up against the closed door. He chuckled at the sight.

"You never gave me an answer about going out with me so I figured I'd come back and ask you again with an offer you couldn't refuse," he revealed. He moved toward but he saw her tense up, causing his heart to restrict.

"I'm not going to hurt you, Dana. Besides being a guy out to get your heart, I'm also a guy that I hope you consider a friend."

She loosened up a little at that. "I know that and I do. It's just… just…"

He stepped up to her, his hands finding their way to her arms. He was glad he didn't feel her tense up. "Can I ask you a question? A different question?"

She nodded her assent. "Don't you feel it?" he asked her. She stared at him wide-eyed before she understood what he meant.

"I won't deny that I have feelings for you or that I'm attracted to you," she started.

"But?" he filled, knowing what was coming.

"But I just need some time, I need to think about some things," she unknowingly apologized. "Can we settle on just being friends for now?"

Mulder smiled and slid his hand down to clutch hers. "I think we can do that… if you go out with me."

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The next day

I can't believe I am doing this. Why am I doing this? It's insane. I'm engaged, for crying out loud! This is ridiculous!

A million reason whys she shouldn't meet Mulder ran through Dana's mind as she walked through the park.

I hope I'm wearing the right thing. I hope my hair's okay. It wouldn't cooperate earlier. Oh, my God, there he is. Am I doing the right thing? God, he looks good. I never noticed how handsome he is. Okay, so I did but still—in the sunlight it's magnified. Okay, here I go. Deep breath

Mulder stood from his place on the ground when he saw her.

She looks even better than I imagined. Wow, she's beautiful. What is with me? I can't believe this is happening to me. I used to have a wider vocabulary.

"Hey," he greeted her. "I was beginning to think you stood me up."

"Sorry, I got held up."

He held out a white rose to her. "That's okay. I would wait forever."

Her eyes met his and she saw the sincerity behind them. For once, she wasn't scared. Like in a daze, she accepted the rose and inhaled the sweet scent.

"Thank you, it's beautiful."

"I thought you'd like it. I never knew there were so many colors of roses. Never thought I'd get out of there alive," he joked.

Then the sweetest sound came to his ears. She was laughing. I made her do that

'Yes, there are quite a few selections, I'm afraid." She knew they were getting over the awkward phase of the date and she was grateful. She didn't want to put on her mask today.

"Can I make one request before we officially start?"

"Sure."

"I don't want to be with Dr. Scully today; I'd like to meet Dana."

She froze for a moment. How did he know? "Not a problem."

They soon found themselves sitting on a blanket he had spread out under the shade of a tree, eating a dinner that passed her standards. He didn't know what types of food she liked but on a streak of luck, he had picked right.

"Tell me what you used to be like," he asked of her, forgetting his dinner in lieu of watching her.

She swallowed a bite of her sandwich before answering. "A little shy, mostly not. Being a Navy Brat'll do that to you. Everything changed when I started med school."

"You still have that woman inside of you?"

Dana nodded shyly. "I think I can find her… if you'll help me."

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Continued in next chapter…….