because i just can't seem to stop.

please review, i have a very fragile sense of confidence.

none of these characters are mine, but the story is.

Later that day...

Mulder: It's days like these that make me question why I even bother coming in to work. There are no cases to solve. We're sitting around reading over old files to keep them fresh in our memory for cross-referencing. More than that, though, is the utter hell I'm in with nothing to distract me from you. I don't see how I could possibly be an asset to the FBI when the only task I seem capable of is drooling.

Scully: I'm shamelessly watching the clock on my computer. Making the FBI pay me for lusting after Mulder feels a bit like stealing, and makes me even more tense. I wish someone would ask me for an autopsy just to give me something to do. My prayers may have been answered as Skinner knocks and walks into the room.

Mulder: Skinner comes in, casual as ever, and then gets this stricken look on his face and steps back into the threshold. I can't possibly imagine what that's about. Maybe Scully smells bad. I personally think just the opposite, but then again in the state I'm in I'm not sure I can call anything I think fact when it comes to her.

Scully: Skinner seems to have walked squarely into the 800lb gorilla in the room, and is now fumbling for courage. I'm trying very hard not to smile.

"You two - uh" He stammers. "You can, um..." He swallows and tells the floor, "you can go home."

Mulder: I allow myself to smile, but only slightly. "Thank you, sir." I catch your eye as you rise from your chair and begin putting your file back together. I can see that you're trying to keep from laughing. The relief in your stance to be leaving, however, for reasons unknown to me, hurts my feelings a little.

Scully: Thank God. I thought I might drown. Your eyes lock on to mine for an instant and I have to quickly busy myself before I start blushing like a high school girl. This whole situation is so painful it's beginning to brink on physical comedy for me. I don't know anymore what I'm trying not to smile at. We're heading for the elevator, still unable to speak to each other when I glance up at you and catch your eye for little longer than a moment. You look guilty, like a school kid caught red-handed in the teacher's desk. I did that to you. I confused you and made you think that you should be ashamed of your feelings. And considering you're Fox Mulder, essentially what I did was make you think you should be ashamed of who you are. Suddenly nothing else matters but righting that wrong.

Mulder: I wish you wouldn't look at me that way. Even for an instant. I can't hide from you like I can from everyone else. I hate that. When the elevator doors open I watch you step in, and briefly consider taking the stairs. You've got a new confidence about you that I don't know what to do with. All I can think is to run.

Scully: Jesus you're going to take the stairs. Not now. Not when I finally have the courage and the opportunity at the same time. This chance will not repeat itself very soon, that I can be sure of. "Mulder, where are you going?"

Mulder: For an instant you look so frightened, so vulnerable, but then you quickly cover it up with a hint of sarcasm, smirking and putting the arm you had stretched out to me on the elevator button. I step into the elevator with you. Once the doors have closed and we're going up, I begin a long stream of what can only be described as a freakish compulsion to hear words form in my mouth.

Scully: You're trying to make conversation but I'm not paying attention. It's all just nervous behavior, and to be frank we're nearing our floor and I'm running out of time. Let's cut the crap.

"Kiss me, Mulder."

Mulder: Wait, what just happened? "I'm sorry, I was talking and couldn't hear you. I thought you said 'kiss me' or something." Surely this is just a terrible trick my mind is pulling on me.

Scully: "I did." I'm facing you now with no restrictions and no shame. I'm not even blinking. I'm just waiting.

Mulder: "Scully, are you feeling alright?"

Scully: Damn you for stalling. I drop my hold on your eyes for just enough time to punch the emergency stop button, and then I return to you, calm and determined.

Mulder: What the hell is going on? Is this some kind of sick joke? Are you testing me? This is so unlike you, it's scarier than anything. "Scully, honestly you're starting to freak me out." But what you say next snaps me out of my paranoia.

Scully: "Don't play stupid, Mulder."

Mulder: So you do know after all.