Scully's Apartment.

Friday

31st Dec 12.03AM

Fox Mulder stood at the curb and looked up to the dark empty apartment. She wasn't home. He wondered briefly if she was looking for him but decided with a mirthless laugh that after what he'd done, it was unlikely. It was an accident but he'd still struck her. Another mistake and another reason he ought to end things. He lifted the paper covered bottle to his lips and took a deep swig, ignoring the overspill that ran down his neck and stained the already grimy collar of his shirt, even the foul taste of the cheap whiskey wasn't enough to make him stop.

So intent was he on finishing the bottle off he didn't hear the car door slamming shut across the street. The fallen snow muffled the footsteps and it wasn't until a heavy hand gripped his shoulder and spun him around that he saw David.

"David, little late for house calls isn't it?" Mulder slurred drunkenly, already knowing why he was here.

"Who the hell do you think you are?" David said through his teeth, gripping Mulder's lapels and pulling him closer. There was little difference between their heights so it was easy for David to hold him.

"Excuse me?"

"You're some piece of work Mulder. Coming back out of the blue like this. Treating her like shit."

"I never meant to hurt-" Mulder garbled defensively.

"No. You never do. And yet you seem so good at it." David shoved him back and watched him stumble to the ground, the bottle falling from his hand and hitting the snow covered grass with a muffled thud, rolling to the curb. David slowly reached down and picked it up "Why did you come back Mulder? Didn't dig the knife in deep enough in Seattle?"

"I didn't mean to hurt her." Mulder got to his feet and with his head bent he glared sideways at David.

"But you did. You hurt her when you left; you hurt her in Seattle and now your doing it again. Only you're not content with breaking her heart anymore. So you punched her?" David threw the bottle to the ground and enjoyed the loud smashing noise it made on the asphalt.

"I didn't!" Mulder shouted back. "It was an accident; I didn't realize she was standing so close behind me."

"Did you enjoy it Mulder?" David stepped closer and pushed his face into Mulder's. "Did you enjoy hitting her? Is that how it works for you now?" David's words whispered angrily into the swaying man's face, spitting as he forced his anger out. "I checked on your file Mulder, I know what happened to you."

"Fuck you," Mulder roared back as he tried to push David away but his grip was too strong. "You don't know anything about me."

"I know enough." David tightened his grip further and shook Mulder gruffly. "If you ever touch her again, by accident, on purpose, or even think about it I will come down on you so hard you won't ever forget it!"

A threatening silence hung between them for a moment then David pushed him to the ground. He stood over Mulder fallen body for a moment longer, sneering down at him in disgust before turning to walk away.

"You don't know anything David. You think she'll love you for this?" Mulder roared as he shuffled to his feet and somehow pulled himself up to his full height.

David laughed back his reply, turning to see Mulder standing so defiantly in the snow. His hair was wet and planted to his head making him look sorrier than David had ever seen him

"Love me?" he walked back towards Mulder and smiled. "I don't need to force her to love me Mulder. See I value her friendship. I know she cares about me and she trusts me. More than I can say about the pity she feels for you."

Mulder stared back at him angrily. Angry at the stinging words that he believed were so true. He needed to be punished, to feel the physical pain, anything to get rid of the dark aching in his chest that was threatening to overwhelm him. So he pushed David further.

"Maybe, but do you honestly think she won't forgive me for this?" he taunted as he curved his lips into a sardonic smile.

"Fuck you Mulder!" David said softly before whipping his fist towards him and connecting the uppercut just below his chin. Although he was expecting the retaliation, Mulder wasn't ready for the force of the punch that knocked him to the ground. He spat the blood out into the snow and touched a loose tooth with his tongue. Touching his jaw tenderly he turned to see David standing ready for him to swing back.

Mulder got to his feet again and rotated his jaw again, tilting his head from side to side.

"Nice swing," he muttered before rushing over and tackling David to the ground. They landed with a soft oomph, but David swung his legs around Mulder's and rolled over, forcing the unsteady former FBI man to slide beneath so he could sit on top of him. Mulder's hands shot up and punched David in the face but it was too soft and uncontrolled to do any damage.

David reared up and slammed his fist into Mulder's face again, then into the side of his chest. Mulder took the beating like a penance, putting up only cursory defense. They were both oblivious to the car that pulled up alongside them.

Scully saw what was going on and jumped out of the barely parked car. Shouting for David to stop as she raced over to them, but he didn't until she all but dragged him off of Mulder.

"What the hell do you think you are doing?" she roared at David who was scrambling to his feet and lunging again towards Mulder. Scully put her hands on his chest, silently imploring him to step back. He looked down at her still red, swollen cheek and fought back the rage that built inside him.

Mulder managed to get to his feet and stood swaying on the icy lawn glaring at them both. Bloody and tearstained, one eye almost swollen shut and holding his chest. The silent communication that passed between them hurt him more then any punch David had thrown.

"Mulder, go inside." She called over her shoulder, her hands still on David's chest and her eyes still locked dangerously with his. "Go Inside now!"

He didn't move for a minute, and then finally his heavy feet trudged through the snow and up the few steps to her apartment. After unlocking the door he stepped into the darkened room and moved slowly over to the window. Peering down outside, he watched with a sinking heart as David leaned down and kissed Scully softly before enveloping her in a tight embrace. Mulder turned away. He felt sick. He peeled off his wet clothes and tossed them into the laundry basket in the kitchen, then trudged with heavy legs to the shower.

Scully let David hold her for a moment, knowing the threat he was feeling. When eventually he held her away from him and his eyes fell again to her reddened cheek, she stepped back from him.

"What the hell were you doing?" Her fury made him wince but she didn't care.

David said nothing. He looked down at her and all he could see was the mark on her face. He didn't trust himself to say anything.

"Go home David." She tried not to be angry at the way he had hunted Mulder down and attacked him but she couldn't help it. She never asked for his protection, she thought irritably to herself, and she didn't want it.

"Are you sure?" He glanced up to the apartment.

"Of course. I can handle him."

"Okay. I'll see you in the morning." He added hopefully but she was already turned away from him heading to her apartment. He walked back to his car and left.

Scully took a few moments to compose herself then slowly let herself into her apartment. The lights were all off but she could hear the shower running. The stale stench of alcohol was in the air and she shook her head in dismay. Maybe it was going to be too hard. Maybe she couldn't help him. Doubts circled her head, taunting her efforts to keep strong.

She shed her jacket and hung it up carefully on the rack. Lighting only the corner lamp she sank heavily into the sofa and waited for him to return. She listened to the shower then heard it switch off. The apartment was silent for a few moments and she imagined him standing in front of the mirror, looking at his scars, the fresh marks on his face.

Mulder braced his hands on the sink and was standing exactly where she imagined he was. He brushed his teeth and rinsed his mouth out before opening it wide in front of the mirror to examine his teeth. He had managed to bite his cheek in the fight and it was still bleeding. The bullet wound on his chest was painful, seeping blood; it looked raw and angry and his face ached from the punching he'd taken. The pain felt almost good.

He looked into the mirror again and his eyes fixed on the swollen lump just below his eyes where David had connected his hardest punch. He probed it with two fingers and winced at the pain, but it wasn't enough to dull the plummeting ache in his heart at the image of her matching welt.

He'd hit her. Scully.

Knowing she'd be out there waiting for him he pulled a towel off the rack and tied it around his waist. He took a deep breath and ran his fingers through his hair then walked out of the bathroom. He saw her immediately sitting on the couch with her back to him, but by the way her shoulders stiffened he knew she realized he was there.

"Hey," he said softly, stepping around her couch and perching on the edge of the armchair. She followed him with her eyes but refused to look directly at him.

"Hey."

"Scully I-" he started but she interrupted him before he could finish.

"Don't Mulder, please don't," she said turning to face him more. "I can't sit here and listen to…" her eyes fell from his face and looked down to the seeping wound on his chest. "Oh Mulder look at your chest!"

Jumping up she hurried into the kitchen and grabbed the first aid kit that had been left there earlier. She came back and sat on the table in front of him and pushed him back into the chair. He struggled to keep the towel around his waist and kept his knees together to save what little dignity he could muster.

She cleaned his wound and applied a small film of antiseptic cream before carefully covered it with a thick dressing. Standing up she stood behind his chair and pushed him forward to do the same for the wound on his back.

"Is it sore?" she asked as she applied the last piece of tape to the dressing.

"A little."

"You have to be more careful Mulder, you can't get this infected or you'll end up back in hospital," she lectured angrily. "Is that what you want?"

"No, of course not."

"Then for god sake will you wake up." She gathered up the first aid stuff and went back to the kitchen to pack it away. He followed behind her and gently rested his hand on her shoulder.

"Scully," he said and slowly he turned her to face him. He looked over at her cheek and regret overwhelmed him. "Scully I'm so sorry." Tenderly he brushed his hand over her cheek and slowly rubbed the pad of his thumb over it "I'm so sorry." His hand cupped her cheek then moved down to circle her neck.

"Forget it Mulder, it was an accident." She said but her voice was trembling with emotion.

"I wish I could forget it. I wish I could forget a lot of things." His eyes became distant and unfocused. "I'm so sorry." His head bent low and she saw the tears threatening to fall onto his chest.

She touched his scraped chin and forced him to look up to her. Both their eyes brimming with tears, both their faces red and swollen and both their hearts sinking under the heavy emotional strain.

They came together by consensus; the hug was fierce and tight, both of them drawing as much strength as they could from it. His hands held her against him, one appropriately resting on the small of her back and the other buried in her hair holding her head against his damp chest. She had her hands splayed out on his back, her fingers pressing hard into him, leaving small round white marks.

He lowered his head and rested it on the crook of her neck not caring that she could feel his tears or the sorrow racking his chest. The warmth she provided was enough to chase those ghosts away for now. Like that night in Seattle, that seemed a lifetime ago, suddenly he wasn't too afraid anymore.

When their breathing slowed and their tears dried up she loosened her grip and felt him do the same. But he didn't move, instead his hands joined at the small of her back and suddenly the air changed. Without either of them comprehending it an electric charge exploded between them.

Mulder felt it curling the hairs on his arms pushing goosebumps to the surface of his skin and sending a chill down his spine. He couldn't help himself. His lips gently brushed the soft skin where her shoulder met her neck and he felt her shiver beneath him. Her hands moved down his back and encircled his waist. He couldn't stop himself, his lips moved without him, caressing her neck and traveling slowly towards her ear.

She moved her head slightly to the side as he kissed her lobe. Nipping it gently he basked in the soft moan that escaped her lips. His arms tightened around her waist and he pulled her closer, bending her back a little to cover her neck in soft tender kisses. His hands roamed over her back and slipped under the hem of her blouse to caress the soft warm skin beneath.

Before he could stop himself they roamed around to her stomach and gradually made their way up to her breasts where they strained against the constrictive material of her blouse. His lips found hers as she kissed him back. Their tongues crashing hungrily against each other in the warm wet security of her mouth. His fingers hurriedly opened her blouse and pushed it back over her shoulders, trapping her hands behind her where his hands clasped them both. He broke the kiss and stared down her. Both of them panted softly, all traces of their tears chased away.

Their eyes locked.

Mulder pulled the blouse off her and tossed it to the floor then he cupped her face with his hands before kissing her again, this time languidly. Her hands were on his waist, her fingers ran along the edge of the towel, and then traced soft lines up the middle of his back.

He gasped into her mouth standing on the balls of his feet as his skin tingled with pleasure. As he unzipped her slacks and pushed it over her hips, she traced her fingers over his shoulders and ran the tips of her nails through the soft hair on his chest. He moaned softly, pulling her against him as he turned to the couch and backed her into it.

Somehow his towel had remained around his waist, but Scully moved her hands over his chest and gripped the edge. He gasped lightly as her nails raked below the rim and she lowered her self onto the couch, their lips still touching, she pulled him with her then tugged the towel away from him.

Smiling against her lips, he lowered himself over her but winced at the pain in his chest from the confined space on the couch.

"You okay?" she asked when he gasped in pain again as he tried to adjust his weight over her.

"Yes, I'm fine." He lowered his head and kissed her again but she could feel the tension in his body, the pain he was feeling.

Mulder," she said pushing him up and wriggling under him.

"If you want me to get off you, wriggling like that isn't going to help!"

"Move it Mulder!" she said laughing and as he eased off her, she stood next to him. Wearing only her bra and panties, she was unaware of how alluring she looked as she took his hand in hers and slowly led him into the bedroom. The sheets were refreshingly cold against his burning skin as she pressed him leisurely to the bed. Crawling up the sheets beside him, she straddled his waist and surveyed the bruises that were already blossoming on his chest from David's handiwork.

"Does it hurt?" she asked tenderly touching the bluish welts.

"Not really."

Bending lower she pressed her lips to the bruises, kissing his chest softly. Her tongue appeared and wet the outline before she kissed it some more, then lifted her head back up to look at him.

"How about this one?" she asked pointing to a different mark on the other side of his chest. "Does this hurt too?"

"A little," he said smiling, as he trapped his lower lip between his teeth and held his breath, enjoying the warm sensation of her tongue on his tender skin. It was exquisite. Too much for him to bear and with a little push off the mattress he rolled her over and lay on top, trapping her legs with his and gently holding her hands over her head.

His lips crushed hers as he kissed her hungrily; letting his hands roam all over her body. He slipped one behind her back and lifted her enough to open her bra and pull it away, kissing the delicate skin it was covering. He looked up to her and smiled at her panting face.

"Does it hurt?" he said suddenly solemn. His eyes looked at the red mark that tainted her satin skin and she tried to turn away from him. But he forced her to look back at him. He edged his way up the bed so they were face-to-face then he kissed each eye. He let his lips trail feather light touches to her temple and across her cheek. He didn't realize the tears were falling from his face until they splashed onto her cheek.

"Mulder?"

"I'm so sorry," he whispered.

"Look at me Mulder." When his eyes eventually met hers she was smiling. "I know you didn't mean it. I know you'd never want to hurt me like that. I know. It's ok."

She lifted her head and kissed him. Tenderly at first until their passion grew past their sorrow and drowned any regret. His lips broke free from hers and he kissed soft wet trails over her jaw and down her neck. His body slid over hers slowly and his fingers found and gripped the edge of her panties. She lifted her hips for him and he slid them off teasingly, exposing an inch of skin at a time and kissing it tauntingly, slowly before sliding them lower. As he tossed them over his shoulder with a smile, she lifted her head to see him watching her carefully. His smile was wide, a little crooked and he seemed unaware of the bandages and bruising on his chest as he crawled over the mattress towards her.

Suddenly the sound of the phone ringing made them both freeze. Their eyes crashed together and with a sigh of resignation, Scully rolled over to her side to answer it.

"Hello?"

"Agent Scully. It's Detective Ellis."

"Yes Detective, What can I do for you?" Mulder had crawled up the bed beside her, lying closely spooned at her back. His arm reached over her waist and he pulled her back to lie even more snugly against his body.

"I'm at the second murder scene in St Benedict's hostel. There is something here you might want to see. I tried calling Agent McLane but I couldn't get in contact with him."

"I'll call him and we'll be right there."

She placed the phone back and glanced at Mulder. His eyes were closed and his breathing was shallow.

"You have to go?" he said without opening his eyes.

"Yes."

Reluctantly he loosened his grip on her waist and let her slip off the bed. She quickly dressed in a pair of slacks and a light sweater, while he lay naked on the bed watching her ruefully.

"I'll be back soon."

"Scully!" he called out before she could leave the room and he leapt off the bed to grab her. "Just before you leave…"

His hands encircled her waist and he pushed her back against the wall. His lips claimed her possessively as he pressed his body against hers. With a little grunt he lifted her off the ground, moved his leg beneath her for support and kissed her more roughly this time. His desperation not lost on her. Her legs wrapped around him as if it was a natural pose and her arms draped over his shoulders. For a moment he thought of tearing her slacks off, but he knew she had to leave so making the kiss deeper and delving in further with his tongue, he let his hands softly brace her breasts, his thumbs and fingers pinching her nipples before finally releasing her.

They stood apart panting and staring at each other for a few seconds more then he smiled.

"Just to keep you in the mood."