Disclaimer: No infringement intended.

Chapter 15

The four agents finished their paperwork an hour later and then made the half hour drive back to Galena. The dinner reservation was at 7 p.m., which left very little time to shower, change and meet at the restaurant.

"You want to shower first?" Scully asked as she and Mulder entered the room.

"Nope …I had another idea," Mulder chuckled as he closed the door to the hall.

Scully gave him a puzzled look. "Like what?"

He stepped to her and scooped her into his arms. "Like we share it," he whispered in her ear as he ran his fingers through her hair. He blew air over her ear and ran his fingertips down the side of her neck.

Scully felt a shiver run up her back at his touch. She closed her eyes and played into his touch, but in the back of her thoughts she was mindful of the time. "Mulder, we don't have time," she reminded him plaintively"

"Yes we do," he replied pulling back from her. "We're just taking a shower." He looked at her and smiled innocently. He took his jacket off and laid it on the bed, and then began to loosen his tie and remove his shoes. She eyed him suspiciously for a moment.

"Are you going to get undressed or just stand there?" he asked, as he tossed his shirt on the bed and began to take off his pants. Before she knew it he was standing in front of her wearing only his boxers. She began to feel a little self-conscious. "Suit yourself," he remarked as he walked into the bathroom, leaving the door ajar. He turned the water on hot and removed his shorts. He stepped into the hot spray and turned so the water was pounding his back. After a minute, the shower door opened and his redhead joined him in the narrow stall.

"Hi," he mumbled as she squeezed into the space between him and the wall.

"Hi," she replied turning to face him. There wasn't a lot of room in the stall, which meant she and Mulder were standing practically on top of each other. She was staring at Mulder's chest, suddenly uncomfortable to be standing this close to him. This is stupid, I'm nervous and I have absolutely no reason to be. We made love last night, for Christ's sake. She felt his hands on her shoulders as he guided her sideways in the spray.

"Scully," he whispered, drawing her out of her thoughts.

"Huh?" Scully blinked and looked up at him.

"Are you okay?" he asked as he worked up lather with the bar of soap and began to rub his hands together.

"Yeah," she stammered. She sighed. "New situation anxiety."

He put his hands on her shoulders and lathered the soap into her skin. "How is this different from last night in the hot tub?" He gently rubbed the soap bar over her breasts and watched as her nipples tightened from the attention. He reached around behind her and caressed her skin delicately, reaching all the way to her buttocks. The sensation of his touch sent tingles over her flesh and sucked her into a daydream fantasy. She felt like she was paralyzed and couldn't move.

Mulder watched her face intently as her pupils dilated and her eyes glassed over. He ran the soap across her lower stomach and let his hand wander down between her legs. Initially he hadn't planned on getting this intimate with her, but he couldn't resist, because he could tell she was getting turned on. He found her center hot and wet, and began stroking it softly. Scully's eyes rolled up and her eyelids fluttered closed. She leaned her head back against the wall of the shower and braced her hand against the side.

Scully pulled her head upright as she realized she was neglecting her man while he pleased her. She reached for the soap and worked it into a thick lather, then ran her hand over his hardness and began to stroke him firmly. She heard his breath catch in his throat as she hesitated near the tip, making small circles with her thumb. She thrust her hips forward, positioning her body closer to him. He leaned into her and began to press harder on her center, his probing fingers working their way into her.

She was aching to put him inside her, but the space in the shower stall wasn't going to allow it….not to mention the vertical challenge presented by their height difference. She moved slowly into the corner of the stall as she stroked him firmly. She felt herself open and release a wave of pleasure against his pressure and she moaned quietly, blowing hard through her lips. Scully braced herself between the stall door and shower wall as she felt her body spasm against his probing touch.

Scully ducked over the hot spray and released Mulder for a second, pushing him right into the stream, rinsing the soap off him. Then she pushed him back against the shower wall and knelt in front of him. Before he could protest, she pulled him into her mouth, encasing him with her lips and hot tongue. She listened carefully for his reaction and heard him gasp her name as his pleasure rode over him. Scully felt his hands on her shoulder and the top of her head, moving in time with her strokes on him.

Mulder rolled his head against the shower wall and felt his knees weaken below him. He was in heaven. He had often masturbated to this fantasy. He braced his hand against the inner wall of the stall and the top of the door frame to steady his stance as Scully's head bobbed forward and back. As he felt the friction build, he flashed back to the sensations that had played over him as he made love to her on the couch, in the hot tub and finally in bed just an evening ago. Her skin was like silk and her core like molten lava. He breathed heavily as he felt his pleasure coming over him. He gritted his teeth and pulled Scully's head closer to his body as he pushed himself deeper into her throat.

"Shit …Scully," he moaned. He released her and tried to back away as he erupted. She reached out and pulled him closer as his seed emptied into her mouth. The pressure as she continued to stroke and flicked her tongue over him became almost painful and he pushed her back on her haunches as he pulled himself away from her.

"Stop," he moaned. He leaned back against the wall of the shower, closing his eyes as he regained his composure. "You can't keep doing that after I …." he gasped for breath and looked down at her. "It hurts, but in a weird – good way."

Scully stood up with a smile on her face. Her goal was achieved. His legs were shaking and she noticed that his hands were trembling. She turned to face the shower spray and let her mouth fill with water. After she rinsed her mouth, she spat the water and started laughing.

"We're even now," she remarked as she lathered her body up with the soap.

Mulder took a deep breath, still trying to regain his sea legs. He looked at her bare backside, and after a moment, once he was sure his legs had stopped shaking, ran his hand down her spine to her buttocks. He pushed himself off the wall and forced her legs apart with his knee. He slipped his hand into her center from behind and began working her pleasure point again. He leaned forward and whispered into her ear, voice husky from the waves of pleasure still rocking him.

"Even? Baby…. We're just getting started."

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They were late for the dinner reservation. Not just a little late either … very late. Their friends had taken the liberty of ordering basic pasta dishes on their behalf, which arrived at the table at about the same time that Mulder and Scully got around to joining them. As knowing glances were shared around the table, the pair was quickly ushered into the conversation.

After dinner, the six decided to go to a pool house called Stillman's Inn. The Inn was part of a grand hotel that dated back to Ulysses S. Grant's time. The dark rustic bar held a dozen pool tables, dart boards and a hoard of video game machines. The bulk of the crowd was hovering near a small stage in the far corner as a country band crooned George Strait tunes. The six friends took up residence at an empty pool table on the other side of the bar and joined in a hearty competition between friends.

Mulder leaned over the table lining up his shot and caught a peek at Scully sitting on a bar stool talking to Tracy and Amy, Dris's wife. Her face was glowing and her eyes sparkling as she relaxed among her friends. He made a meager attempt to hit the ball as the memories of their shower rolled over him. He watched as the cue bounced off the side wall of the table and completely missed its intended target. At least I hit my target with Scully, he mused with a small smile, thinking back to the earlier event.

She had fulfilled one of his deepest fantasies, and she didn't even know it. He knew her intention was to please him quickly so they wouldn't be late for dinner, but after his release, he needed to pay her back. She didn't resist. He had slid his hand between her legs and found her core hot and wet. He'd manipulated the pressure points in her center, the base of her skull and her breast and pushed all her buttons. He could tell by her breathing and the way her body trembled that she was very close to losing control. As he felt his body responding to his mind's demands, he'd turned her to face him and scooped her up in his arms. As she wrapped her legs around his waist, he'd carried her out of the shower to the vanity and deposited her on the counter. She had leaned back against the sink fixtures and the mirror as he entered her slowly, teasing her by pushing in deeply and pulling all the way out.

He'd watched her squirm under his pressure and laughed as she begged for him to get closer. Her hips had bucked rhythmically to his penetration and she had met his lips with a hungry frenzy. Their bodies had passionately rocked each other and met the crescendo of pleasure together. Mulder's knees had buckled and he'd stumbled forward against the sink as Scully slumped into his arms. He'd been amazed at his lack of control around her…. It was hard to contain himself when the gift she presented him with was so tempting.

Nester poked him with the pool stick and brought him back to the table. As he lined up his next shot, he noticed Scully was gone from the bar stool.

Xxxxx

Scully walked into the restroom at the bar and was grateful to find it empty, except for the restroom attendant. She entered the stall at the far end of the room and closed the door behind her, latching the rusty lock. She spied toilet seat covers hanging above the stool and was impressed by the extra touch. As she went about her business, she heard the door to the room open and a pair of loud shoes walked into the room.

After Scully left the stall, she stepped to the mirror, washed her hands, and ran her fingers through her hair, trying to squeeze some life back into it. As she stood there fussing with it, her cell phone rang. She cursed as she dug it out of her purse.

"Scully."

"Dana, it's me, Rick. Please don't hang up."

Scully felt the color drain from her face. "What do you want?" she asked him tartly.

"Look, I just want to talk to you. I don't understand why or … what's going on?"

"There's nothing going on," she retorted. "It's over."

"What's over? Why?"

"We're over, whatever it was we were doing … it's," Scully paused a second and took a deep breath. "We're done."

"And you just get to decide that without talking to me about it?" Cramer asked, his voice riddled with confusion.

Scully fingered the edge of the counter top. "There isn't anything to discuss."

"There is something to discuss. You owe me an explanation, because I obviously don't understand," Cramer pleaded into the phone. "Everything was going fine. We made love before …."

Scully cut him off before he could go any further. "Made love? That was your idea of making love?" She couldn't believe his audacity. "You fucked me, you ass!"

"Excuse me," Cramer retorted. "I did no such thing. You wanted that to happen as much as I did."

"I did, like hell," Scully replied, practically yelling into the phone. The restroom attendant busied herself at the sink cleaning the mirror. "I told you I had to get to the airport … you pressed the issue."

"Well, excuse me for wanting to spend some intimate time with you before you went on your assignment!" Cramer yelled back at her through the phone. His voice could be heard by the attendant and another bar patron in the room. "You're acting like I forced you to have sex! You could have said no like every other time we've been together!"

"You did force …."

"Oh no you don't!" Cramer interrupted her. "Don't act like you didn't want it. Need I remind you that you starting groping me before I made any moves? Or did you conveniently forget that little detail? Trying to act like the victim now? The rumors about you being the 'Ice Princess' are spot on!"

Cramer's voice echoed loudly through Scully's phone, and his last sentence caught her off guard. Her face flushed with anger, and she wanted to fire back at him with guns blazing, but she caught the glares from the other women in the room and snapped the phone shut instead. She jammed the phone into her purse and put her defensive wall up around her. He was not going to get the best of her tonight. Scully stormed out of the restroom and made her way through the crowd back to the corner where Mulder, Nester and the Driscolls were standing. She didn't notice Tracy following a few steps behind her or realize that Tracy had been in the restroom when Cramer had called.

She felt like she was being smothered. The weight of the crowd pressing on her and Cramer's accusations taunting her were too much to bear. She needed to get out of the bar, and she suddenly wanted to go back to the Inn. As she approached the pool table, she watched Mulder relaxing with their friends and felt sick to her stomach. The call from Cramer had derailed her evening. She walked over to Mulder and touched his sleeve.

"Mulder, I'm ready to go," she stated, not asking permission or to check if he was ready. She just put the statement out there.

"What? Scully … are you for real? I'm just getting ready to single handedly beat Driscoll." Mulder laughed and looked over at her. He caught her eye for only a second, but could tell by her expression that her defensive walls were back in place. The glow that had emanated from her just moments earlier was gone, replaced by a sternly set jaw and a face flushed with anger. Okay, what happened? If she says 'I'm fine' we're sunk, Mulder thought as he steeled himself to ask the question.

"Scully, are you okay?"

"I'm fine, Mulder," she replied curtly. "I just want to leave." She turned her back to him and walked to the chair where her coat was hanging.

Mulder watched her for a moment and then glanced quickly from Driscoll to Nester, sharing a non verbal conversation with his friends. He looked back over at Scully and caught movement from Tracy out of the corner of his eye. She put her hand up to her ear, extending her thumb and pinky finger like a telephone receiver and shook her head. Mulder looked at her and nodded. He glanced back at Driscoll and Nester. They all knew that Cramer had called Scully again and set her mood off for the night.

Mulder and Scully rode to the Inn in silence. He didn't ask any questions. Her walls were up and he didn't want to come off as overprotective. He changed into his pajamas while she shut herself into the small bathroom. Mulder climbed into bed hesitantly, wondering if she was going to ask him to sleep on the floor. Which Scully is going to emerge from that room? he mused as he waited for her exit. The door opened and she padded out, shutting off the light as she approached the bed. She crawled into the bed and lay next to him, not moving for a moment. He watched her in the darkness, timing his response to her mood based on previous experience.

Scully felt tears welling up in her eyes. She was embarrassed that she had dragged Mulder from the bar in front of her friends, but still felt defensive about her conversation with Cramer. The separation from her partner and lover was tearing her emotions. She wanted to be close to Mulder, to melt into safety of his embrace, but she didn't want to talk about what had transpired. After several minutes, she took a leap of faith and scooted herself back against him. She felt Mulder wrap himself around her wordlessly, and Scully finally felt like she could breathe again.

As Mulder felt her body relax, he made a mental note to himself, The Cramer situation needs to be dealt with soon.

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Monday morning.

Mulder and Scully made their way to the Assistant Director's office as soon as they arrived at the Dubuque field office. Nester had called Scully's phone as they drove to Dubuque, advising them that the AD was requesting to see them when they got in. .

Scully and Mulder sat down in the open seats in front of Assistant Director Driscoll's desk quietly. The Assistant Director was on the phone, and by the sound of the conversation, was ready to wrap it up. Mulder glanced over at Agent Driscoll and darted his eyes toward Scully. Driscoll tilted his head slightly and winked at Mulder, then cast his gaze downward.

Operation Kill Bill is a go, Mulder thought to himself as he bobbed his head and then rolled his neck. Three other agents filed into the office and took seats on the couch and at the conference table.

Assistant Director Driscoll ended his phone conversation and placed the receiver back on its cradle.

"Agents, good morning," he paused for a second and acknowledged their nods and responses. "I've called you to this briefing to hand out your duty assignments for the next few days. Agents Tranor and Bell, you will be escorting the prisoner to the arraignment at 10:30 this morning. Agents Jasper, Scully and Nestor, I want you to dive into the case file of the first victim. We need to have a definite answer about whether she is linked to his case or not. Agents Driscoll and Mulder, you're booked on the 11:35 flight back to D.C. this morning. You are to brief AD Kirsh on the case and report back to Dubuque tomorrow." The Assistant Director looked around the room at the talent pool in front of him. "Any questions?"

"Yeah," Dris piped in. "We can't just brief Kirsh over the phone?"

His father tilted his head and stared at his son in silence. After a few seconds he replied blandly, "No". He glanced around the room again and then addressed the team.

"Okay. … I'll be in the office all week, pushing paper around on my desk, so let me know if you need anything. Dismissed."

TBC