Chapter Two

A week later Scully met Michael again. A case had come up the day after their last date, taking her out of town and preventing them from going out. She was at the restaurant when he arrived, only ten minutes after she had. As she stood up to greet him she noticed a nasty looking shiner on his left eye that was beginning to fade. Once he had sat down, she decided to ask about it.

"That looks pretty sore. How did you do it?"

"Oh, well after I left you at your building the other week I was walking back along the side walk when this guy comes across from the other side of the road and starts threatening me. He said he was a friend of yours." Scully's eyebrows shot up immediately.

"Did he give a name?"

"Yeah, um it was Mulder something." Scully's jaw set in anger. How dare he do that!

"Anyway, he said something like 'If you hurt her I'll kill you' then socked me right in the eye." Scully couldn't believe it. What gave Mulder the right to do that to a guy she went out with?

"I'll have words with him. I'm really sorry Michael. He had not right to do that to you."

"He was probably just concerned."

"That's beside the point! It still didn't justify him hitting you." Michael leaned across the table and took her hands in his.

"Let's not let him spoil our night, huh?" Scully smiled slightly and nodded. That was the last time Mulder was mentioned for the rest of the evening.

The next morning Scully got into work a little earlier than usual. She walked into the office at 7:30 am, hung her coat on the stand and put her briefcase by her desk before sitting down. Mulder watched her from his seat at his own desk.

"Quiet this morning aren't we?" She didn't reply, busing herself with her autopsy report notes. She was still fuming from Michael's revelation last night.

"Not in the mood to talk huh? Bad date?" That was it.

"As a matter of fact no. But in future stay the hell out of my private life. It's got nothing to do with you."

"Oh so he told you what I said?"

"Yes, although he didn't really have to show me what you did. What the hell possessed you to hit him Mulder?" His expression went blank.

"Hold on a second. Hit him? I don't know what you're talking about."

"You really think I'm going to fall for that? Come on Mulder give me some credit. I saw the shiner you gave him!"

"Scully he may have a shiner but I wasn't the one who gave it to him! All I said was that I know you're old enough to look after yourself but if he hurt you he'd have me to deal with. That was it."

"Save it Mulder," she spat. "I don't believe you. Just stay out of my private life from now on." Now it was Mulder's turn to get angry.

"So let me get this straight. You believe someone you've only know for what, five minutes over me, your partner whom you've known for nine years? Well that's loyalty for you."

"Don't you dare make this into a loyalty issue Mulder!"

"I didn't. You're the one who doesn't believe me when I'm telling the truth!"

"Mulder I don't want to hear it ok!" Seething, she went back to her notes and refused to utter another word. Mulder shook his head, feeling hurt, angry and confused. He hadn't laid a hand on that guy, and what he'd said he'd said because he was looking out for Scully and didn't want to see her hurt. Silently he went back to his paper work. Neither of them spoke another word for the rest of the day.

Later that evening Scully was sat working at her computer when a knock at the door disturbed her. With a slight sigh she got up, walked over to her front door and opened it. She was more than a little surprised to see Mulder standing there.

"Can I come in?" he asked after a couple of moments. She withdrew to let him pass before shutting the door and turning round to face him, crossing her arms in front of her chest.

"Well?" she asked, waiting for his explanation.

"Look, I didn't come here for another argument. I can't take another day like today, you giving me the silent treatment. I want things to be ok with us, so I'm going to apologize, even though I've done nothing." Scully's eyebrow shot up.

"That's supposed to be an apology?"

"Yes, although I don't think I should be apologizing."

"Then why are you?"

"To keep the peace between us."

"Mulder if you really want to keep the peace you'll admit hitting him and stay out of my private life in future, ok?"

"No. I'm not admitting to something I haven't done!" Scully could feel she was losing her temper rapidly. She bit her lip, trying to control it.

"Look it's obvious you don't believe me so I really don't think there's any point continuing this discussion. I'm going to go. I'll see myself out." A slightly hurt look on his face, Mulder turned and walked out of Scully's apartment, shutting the door as he went.

As soon as he was gone Scully let out a loud sigh and flopped down on her sofa. She lent her chin in her hands and stared at the wall. She couldn't help but feel a little guilty for the way she'd been with Mulder. But he was the one in the wrong, why couldn't he just accept that? Shaking her head, she stood up and went back over to her desk. She had a mountain of paperwork to finish.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sorry it's taken a while for new postage, but I'm giving yall an extra helping to make up for it though.
Lily
-x-