Chapter 2

On the flight

Six hours later, I woke up during a little turbulence and looked around me. I felt trapped in my seat and wanted to stand up but there was something blocking me. I looked down and found Mulder's head in my lap and his feet propped up across the non-occupied seat next to him. That reminded me of our first flight together to Oregon, where he tried to stretch out across a row of seats, listening to his Walkman and smirking at me. Anyway, my body didn't tense up in the turbulence this time because, he was touching me, comforting me with his presence.

Feeling me moving slightly, he snuggled a bit closer, stretched and then turned his head, so he could see my face. He smiled.

God, I want him smiling at me like this each morning for the rest of my life. He is so damn cute and beautiful. The butterflies returned immediately and I smiled back at him with the same sweetness he did.

"Morning sunshine.", I said. "Been cozy through the night?" As an answer he took my hand from his chest and kissed the palm and said "Thank you. I always sleep well when you're close to me."

Will he ever know what he does to me, when he says things like that? My eyes became wet and I had to swallow down the lump of emotion in my throat. He cupped my cheek with his hand then and I wanted nothing more than to kiss him, but thought better of it, being in a plane and all. Moreover, I don't think I can stop and leave it with just a kiss. Looking into his smooth hazel orbs, I realized that it would never be enough.

I want it all. When I give myself to him I will get lost in there.

This is exactly why I refuse to give in. He will definitely absorb me. I will drown in him, without ever wanting to resurface. That scares me to no end.

But those eyes! They are so reassuring that everything will be all right. I don't know what to do right now. I need more time thinking about it. So I just squeezed his hand in reassurance and asked him to let me stand up.

Spell broken again, I recognized some disappointment in his posture, but let it go anyway.

For the rest of the four hours on the plane we went all business and discussed the case. Going through all the evidence, comparing it to the old case. Fluky was back, there is no doubt about that. But there was something not quite fitting to the original case that I couldn't put my finger on. Mulder felt the same and was also wrinkling his forehead.

We agreed on our gameplan by me looking into the autopsies of the ten victims and him gathering all other evidence there is to get, even going into the sewers himself if needed. He didn't like the idea, but there won't be any way around that.

Finally we reached our destination. I never was in Rome before and was excited to see that historical city.

In Rome. October 9, 1997

We went out of the airport and found our host Enzo right away. He greeted us introducing himself and we went into his car, driving through the outskirts of Rome. While I followed the ramblings of our Italian counterpart, I watched the landscape passing by. There were flat hills and valleys surrounded by cottonwoods, typical Mediterranean houses with flat roofs and large windows with wooden shutters. The houses that just seemed to be strewn over the fields, developed into small villages and thickened into suburbs as closer we got into the city. Then all the modern and antique houses blend more and more into each other. A very unique mix of tradition and modern interpretation of the history of the city enfolded in front of us. Downright beautiful. I have never seen anything like that. When you are in a city, known to be the cradle of Europe, you realize how young the USA really is. Amazing.

Despite its contradictory image, Rome and Italy have stereotypes you have to overcome as an American. That might be true to many of those, but one stereotype was confirmed by Enzo's loud voice, when he started to get angry with the other drivers on the road. He yelled Italian swearwords out of the window, which were reciprocated by the addressee. Even more, that very certain body language was coming along with the enragement. Funny, some things are really true about Italy, the sunny weather is as hot as the boiling temper of the Romans, as well as the chaotic way of driving.

Then I was stopped in my train of thought, recognizing the beauty that stretched out right in front of me. The Colosseum. Oh my god. I never thought that I would see that in real. It was also bigger as I ever imagined it to be from pictures I saw. In awe, I observed it as we drove around it. Nearly at the middle of our circumvention I looked above it and saw the Palatine Hill with some ancient Roman mansions. The sun stood high and everything seemed to have a gloss. So wonderful. Totally absorbed by the sight, I only heard a distant rambling of a soft voice, fitting the scenery.

"Scully, what do you think about it?", Mulder said. When I didn't react, he touched my arm lightly. "Scully?" I didn't turned my head, because I was so captured by the sight outside my window.

"Hmm?" I couldn't take my eyes off the Colosseum.

Then he stroked my arm again and sled around my shoulders. He held me so tenderly. That got my attention immediately. Again he smiled at me warmly. Oh god. Being in that dreamy mood, my eyes couldn't resist to lock with his and my head got closer to his, so close our noses nearly touched.

"Scully, I asked if you first wanted to check into the hotel, or go to the field office." He said softly, playing with my hair at the nape of my neck.

Shivers ran through me. His gaze made me dizzy. I am losing the battle slowly. Damn. Does he not recognize I am at his mercy? My breath started to fade into shallowness, my whole body tingled under his touch and his beautiful eyes, revealing all his love for me. Kiss me! My mind screamed at him. But he didn't.

Shit. Please stop it right now. Get a grip, Dana! I yelled at myself. Squeezing his hand that had moved to my cheek, he let it drop and cocked his head. Patiently waiting for my answer.

I breathed in deeply to ground myself and looked away. Then I looked to the driver's seat and said to Enzo, that he should drive us to the hotel. I wanted a shower. A cold one. And a change of clothes.

In the meantime, Mulder went back into his own seat-half on the backseat of the car and let his hands settle in his lap. Sheepishly, he grinned shortly at me. He must have had a strong body reaction to our little spell, because he seemed flustered.

These spells hit us in higher frequency. I don't know how long I can resist him and not act on my feelings. This is so frustrating, to always let it slide. Maybe we will be alone here for a bit to see how this will unfold. For now, I needed to distance myself. A cold shower, yes that will help.