Chapter 7 - Slow Burn

As the sun was beginning to seriously decline and its rays were sending so much less energy toward the Unremarkable House, Mulder gave up his handy work for the day. He gathered his tools and material, stored them in the cellar, then, after grabbing a beer in the fridge, settled on the rocking chair of the porch.

Bare chested and still coated by sweat, Mulder let the cooling air dissolve the superfluous heat of his upper body.

As he was sipping his fresh brevage, relaxed and satisfied, enjoying the luminous colors over the landscape, unease and prickles popped up on his upper back. Checking with one hand the skin of his shoulders, Mulder realized that he might have been incautious.

He picked up his smartphone and texted Scully.

'Scully, doing well on this sunny day?'

Mulder waited for an answer, cell on his lap, eyes on the horizon, still sipping his beer. After a couple of minutes, the phone buzzed.

'Very well, thanks. You? Finished the porch repairs?'

'Almost. It'll be ready tomorrow morning. Lunch still OK for you?'

'Of course. Can't wait to see what you've done. How's your back?'

'No pain at all, I've followed your advice.'

'Can't wait to test its strength.'

'Me too. Though, I've been reckless.'

'How so?'

'I've been working bare under the fierce sun.'

'Bare?'

'Top bare.'

'Relieved.'

'I've slowly burned, I'm afraid.'

'Badly?'

'Let me show you.'

Mulder took a few photos of his shoulders and his upper back, as best as he could. He looked at the photos -they weren't good at all- then sent them to Scully.

'How bad, Doc?'

'I'm not sure of what I'm seeing. Don't seem too bad.'

'Wanna check IRL?'

'Better I'm calling you.'

And, indeed, in less than a couple of seconds, the phone rang.

"Is that so bad that you have to tell me with your MD voice?" Mulder asked.

"No, it's not, Mulder. But listen."

In the background, Mulder heard the characteristic sound of water rushing down a bathtub.

"Oh, yeah. I didn't want to bother you, Scully. I'm sorry."

"It's OK, the bathtub isn't filled yet. But I can't go see you. Mulder, you'll have to apply a moisturizer on your shoulders and back for the night."

"It's hard, when alone."

"Do it and I'll check tomorrow. My hands would then be available."

"Mmmm… Can't wait. You're sure you can't come later this evening?"

"Close your eyes, Mulder."

"Done, Doc."

"Just concentrate on my voice and feel. I'm behind you and I'm reaching your neck with my hands. You're feeling my fingers, lingering on the back of your neck. Then, they're slowly sliding on the top of both your shoulders. Just how you like, Fox, featherly feather touch."

"Hell, I thought you just wanted to play doctor."

"Shh… Shut up and feel. Feel, I'm circling with my palms now, moving down and lightly, so lightly, massaging over your scapulas. Feel the warmth alleviating the pain, Fox."

"Aahhh… I'm feeling. I'm feeling your magic hands, Dana."

"Yeah, good boy… Feel, I'm all on your back, now. Still gently smoothing your soft pink skin."

"Mmm… Yesss… I've got goosebumps all over my arms and chest, now."

"Surely due to a gentle cool breeze as the sun is setting, Mulder."

Mulder opened his eyes, and, indeed, the sun was just above the tree line of the horizon and the air had cooled to an almost uncomfortable level.

"Scully! Your damn rationalism woke me up! I was slowly burning under your touch, inside my chest, belly and below, and now, I'm just cold outside."

"Bummer... Look, my hot bath is ready, I'm afraid I have to let you down."

"Wait a sec, Scully. You owe me one. These things must be shared."

"Okay, then."

"Put your phone down and put on the speaker."

"Done."

"What are you wearing, Scully?"

"Mmm… Already nothing at all."

"Good for you. Close your eyes… Well, maybe not. I don't want you to fall or slide. Concentrate on my voice and put your right foot into the water, very slow-ly. Feel the warmth enveloping your toes... your arch... your heel... your ankle. Imagine the heat coming from my large hands. I'm the hot water, Scully. Slow-ly, let me warm up your calf from bottom to top... then your knee, I'm circling around it... Feel it, Scully?"

"Mmm, yeah…"

"Let's do the left one. Slow-ly… The foot, from toes to ankle... then the calf, bottom to top... the knee, gentle circles... Wanna more?"

"Sure…"

"Damn, it's just a bathtub, no stairs… We can't continue inch by inch. Listen, Scully. The water is my whole body. You just have to slow-ly dive down into my warm embrace... I'm all over you, Scully, wrapping you up, touching you with all my skin, radiating my body heat. Feel it?"

"Mmmm…"

"And then, there are places where my hands are wandering, teasing and squeezing. Places where I'm slowly burning you, honey."

"Oh yeah? You're now the one playing doctor?"

"I'm playing whatever you want, whenever you want. Tell me what you need."

"Mulder, I'm feeling so good right now, I just want to relax."

"I'm sorry, Scully. I didn't want to intrude in your sacred ritual and bother you."

"Don't, I'm the one who's started teasing."

"Such a slow-burning teasing, Scully."

"Call it as you want, Mulder."

"I'm calling it slow burn, Scully. That was us, and that's still us. It seems we're all over again stuck in that slow-paced dance of us… But remember, Scully, I'm the most patient man found in a basement, or on a porch... On this, enjoy your burning water. I'm waiting for you, as always. And tomorrow, I'll be on that repaired porch."

"See you, Mulder. And don't forget the moisturizer."

"See you."

Mulder put away his phone, smiling.

His relationship with Scully was still sailing across limbo, waiting for its fate to be properly resolved and anchored into a solid ground -hoping it would be into their once shared white house- yet, he and Scully were enjoying so many good times together, even remotely.

Mulder had the impression to relive his end-thirties, sharing status quo and playful banter with Scully, waiting for her to follow his subtle push-forward moves, or him taking in and welcoming each step toward resolution she would make. But, this time, they were both older, wiser, and more disentangled from work concerns, both fully appreciative of the chance given to them to have a second chance.

These last months, they were experiencing so many slow heart-burning feelings through all the little things over which they were connecting -little things that always felt better when shared- reaching step by step the threshold of a renewed commitment that they both sensed was bound to happen. They were well aware of all the exquisite parts of what was waiting for them ahead, hoping this time they would overcome the unavoidable difficulties of being a daily couple, of being them full-time.

Mulder would remain alone in the white house this evening, for the night and the morning, but he didn't care. He won't apply a moisturizer on his supposedly sunburns, preferring to be disturbed and feel tingles or even moderate pain during these long hours to come, making him remember that Scully would visit him tomorrow and would take care of his body as she always had. It wasn't a heroic choice, just a way to sustain his longing for her presence -sunburns to maintain slow burn.

Mulder stood up from his chair and looked at the porch while natural light was still there. He had done a good job and Scully would be glad, appreciative of his efforts and proud of him -plus, maintaining and taking care of their nest was clearly a duty he was happy to handle. His lower back wasn't aching at all, thanks to Scully's wise advice, and she would also acknowledge his discipline for that matter.

As for his sunburns, certainly she would admonish his lack of cautiousness -at his age he should have known better and that he was more at risk- but that would be a good means to share simple intimate gestures and concerns.

Sunburns for a slow-burning wait and tease, he was all for that.