December 11, 2009

The first one, sitting inside her bag, should have been a clue, but Scully ignored it, her morning already a hurried rush.

The second one, she also brushed aside. It was Christmas and candy was abundant at that time of year.

Although not usually in her lab coat pocket.

The third one made her stop and give pause, as it sat on her desk. And this time, it was more than one, it was six: two each of green, red, and the classic silver.

Six chocolate kisses sitting in a pattern, waiting for her on the desk.

Looking around, she saw no one and she could not imagine who would have done it anyway. It was odd, but she thought perhaps it was the office Secret Santa she had quickly signed up for, not really paying much attention at the time. Were they supposed to give candy? She would have to ask Carolyn, the organizer, when she saw her later.

Picking up a kiss, she unwrapped the green foil and slid the chocolate into her mouth, sighing as it hit her tongue. Closing her eyes, she leaned back in her chair, with a deep breath.

It had been a hectic few days and the surprise chocolate was helping to ease her tension. It must be her Secret Santa person, who most likely asked around and found out she enjoyed chocolate and this was a cute way to give her her gift.

She opened her eyes and picked up another kiss, unwrapping it and letting it slowly melt in her mouth.

Better, she thought, taking another deep breath. Thanks, Secret Santa.

She stood and scooped up the other kisses, dropping them into her pocket, as she grabbed a file and walked out the door.

During the course of the day, more kisses appeared, causing her to watch everyone, wondering who was doing this to her. Patients handed them to her with a knowing smile, five were given to her when she paid for her lunch, as the cashier grinned with a wink.

Frowning, she headed back to her office to eat and see if she could find Carolyn and speak to her, to get some clarification. It was beginning to unnerve her a little bit.

Arriving in her office, she discovered another bunch of them on her desk, this time arranged in two hearts; one larger one, with a smaller one inside of it.

"What the hell?" she muttered, looking around again as she set her tray of food on the desk. Shaking her head, she picked up the phone and dialed Carolyn's extension.

"Hello?" Came her cheerful voice and Scully closed her eyes.

"Carolyn, it's Dana."

"Dana! Hello! How are you today?"

"Fine, thank you. Busy, but you know how that is," she said and Carolyn laughed. "I just had a question about the Secret Santa you had us sign up for, was it last week? I don't remember."

"We signed up two weeks ago and I sent you an email about it last week. Did you not get it?"

"Oh! I uh… let me double check," Scully said, knowing she had definitely ignored it when she saw it last week. Carolyn was a bubbly doctor who was very kind, but sometimes too much for Scully. "Oh, yes here it is, I guess I missed it." She read it quickly, seeing she had to get something for Doctor Tyler by the eighteenth.

"Did the email answer your question?" Carolyn asked kindly.

"Not exactly. I see the date we will exchange gifts, but… we don't do it early right? No one should do that?"

"Umm. No, I wouldn't think so. That's our staff party date. I don't know why anyone would do it early. Did you receive a gift?"

"No. I'm sorry. I think it's just the season, people are in the sharing spirit. Thank you, Carolyn. Sorry to have bothered you."

"Dana, you're never a bother. Happy I could help. Goodbye."

They hung up and Scully looked at the kisses set out in heart shapes again, shaking her head. She was being paranoid, too much time around Mulder all those years. Maybe someone was just being nice, sharing and embracing the season.

Still, she would be vigilant. Keep an eye out.

No further kisses appeared after her lunch, for which she was thankful. Able to concentrate on her work, the day passed quickly and at seven, she packed up her bag and left her lab coat on the coat rack.

Putting half the kisses in her desk drawer, she put the others in her coat pocket, a treat for the drive home.

As she closed the gate and drove up their driveway, she smiled at the sight before her. Somehow, somewhere, Mulder had found some Christmas lights and put them up around the porch; the big colorful bulbs from when they were young. It was just a few strands, but it made her happy.

Turning off the car, she took her bag from the backseat and walked up the porch stairs, looking at the lights as she shivered. When she got to the door, it was pulled open before she could touch the knob. Mulder grinned at her and glanced toward the lights.

"Huh?" he asked and she looked over her shoulder at them. She smiled as she turned back to him.

"I like it. It looks very Christmasy," she said and he nodded. As she made to step inside he stopped her and she frowned at him.

"Look up," he said and she did, finding mistletoe hanging above the door. Smiling as she looked at him, he winked at her. "I'm gonna need a kiss." He put his palm out and she frowned again.

"What?"

"Oh come on, I know you have to have at least one left," he teased, and she realized what he was talking about.

"It was you?" she said, reaching into her pocket and feeling the small remaining handful of the colorfully wrapped kisses.

"I would hope so. Unless I should know about someone else leaving you kisses at your place of work," he said with a grin.

"How did you do that?"

"Nope, not until you give me a kiss." He pushed his palm closer to her and she grinned, taking one from her pocket and placing it in his hand. "No, I want a red one."

She laughed and took the handful from her pocket and found a red one for him, exchanging it for the silver one he already held. He smiled and nodded, unwrapping it and putting it in his mouth while she did the same with the silver one, and put the extras back in her pocket.

They stared at each other with a smile as the chocolate melted in their mouths. Reaching out, he put his hand on her cheek, his thumb grazing softly.

"Now, I'll take a real kiss," he said and she licked her lips, his head coming closer to kiss her softly, which quickly intensified, as his tongue slid into her mouth.

No longer caring how he did it, only that he did, she wrapped her arms around his neck, her bag hitting his back. He laughed into her mouth as he pulled her inside and closed the door, his kiss tasting of the most delicious of chocolates.