March 2000
"It's not here," Scully called from the annex of the office.
"And I don't see it on the desk here either," Mulder called back, shaking his head.
"It was there last night before we left. I know that I saw it," she said, walking back into his view.
"I did too."
"So…"
"I don't know," he said, sighing loudly.
"Well, Skinner's not going to be happy."
"If you tell him, he'll take it better," he said, raising his eyebrows at her.
"What? Why would you say that? Because I'm a woman? That's very sexist of you." She crossed her arms and frowned at him.
"What? No. That's not how I meant it."
"Explain what you meant then."
"Well… I just meant that he likes you. He cares about you." She narrowed her eyebrows, her expression hardening and he shook his head. "Not… not like that. Not in any way that's inappropriate. Just… he respects and admires you. That's all."
"And you don't think he feels the same for you? That he doesn't admire you? Doesn't appreciate and respect your tenacity?"
"My stubborn bullheadedness you mean?" he asked with a grin and he watched her fighting back a smile of her own. "I cause him stress and anxiety. Hell, I'd add hair loss to the list if he wasn't nearly bald when we first met."
"Mulder," she said with a quiet laugh, shaking her head.
"It's true and you know it."
"You could try to have that not be the way he sees you."
"I don't think it would matter at this point," he said, looking on the desk again for the folder they needed. "I think when he sees my name on his calendar, his blood pressure increases."
"Well, that I don't doubt," she agreed and he looked up at her, sticking out his lower lip in a mock pout. "Aw, poor baby." She walked across the room, stopping just in front of him and smiling. "Would a kiss make you feel better?"
"I thought you were very firm in your belief that we refrain from that while at work?" he asked and she licked her lips, biting down gently on the bottom one.
"I am. But…" She fiddled with his tie, the backs of her fingers trailing down his chest and bumping against each button. "You're so adorable when you pout."
"Am I?" he asked, wrapping his arms around her.
"Yeah. And I think you know it."
"How to get to you?" he asked, one hand moving to the back of her neck and he watched as her eyes slid shut and her mouth opened slightly. "Of that I am very aware."
He bent his head and kissed her, a soft moan escaping her throat as he did. She grabbed handfuls of his shirt, pressing as close to him as she could, as their kiss deepened. He gripped her hair and tugged it gently, eliciting another moan from her.
The desk phone rang and she pushed against his chest to make him move, their kiss halting.
"Scully," she said, baring her neck to him as she answered it, letting her desires be known. He grinned and began to lavish her neck with soft, silent kisses. "Mmm… No, I'm sorry, sir. I was just… reading the results of a blood test." She pushed at him again and shook her head. "Yes, we'll be right up."
Sighing, she hung up the phone and looked at him.
"Time to face the music," she said, raising on tiptoes to kiss him once more.
"You mean to lay on that Scully charm," he corrected her as he took his suit jacket from the coat rack and they walked out the door.
"He did sound extra perturbed given the early hour," she admitted, closing and locking the office door as he struggled with the sleeve of his jacket. "Oh, for god's sake, Mulder. You're a menace to yourself." She helped him with his jacket, smoothing the lapels and brushing at nonexistent pieces of lint.
"Thanks," he said, staring at her lips, desperately wanting to kiss her again.
"You're welcome," she said, shaking her head and walking to the elevator.
He followed her, smiling as he watched the sway of her hips. Not for the first time of course, but now with the knowledge of what those hips, and the rest of her, looked like naked.
Leaving his bed, or even better yet, walking towards it, those hips were mesmerizing.
She pushed the button to call the elevator as he caught up to her. Smiling at her, his hand at the small of her back as though it was a magnet calling for its mate, they stepped inside as the doors opened.
"He's gonna be so pissed," she said and he hummed, his fingers scratching her back in gentle reassurance.
The elevator stopped and his hand dropped as they exited.
In the waiting area of Skinner's office, instead of his assistant, they found him. He sighed as he looked down at their empty hands.
"Did you forget that we needed to have your report for the meeting currently taking place? Did something happen to it between the time I called you mere minutes ago and right this moment?" he asked, his voice low but firm, staring at each of them.
"Sir," Scully began, but he put up a hand to stop her.
"This is an important meeting," he said and Mulder shifted slightly. "I know they can be tedious, but they are necessary."
"And I agree," Scully stated. "We had the report in the office yesterday, but-"
"But what? You lost it? It grew legs and walked away? What?"
"Well, I didn't lose it. We lost it," she admitted, glancing quickly at Mulder. "I don't know how we could have, but it's-"
"Coffee table," Mulder interrupted, his fingers tapping repeatedly against Scully's hip.
"Excuse me, Agent Mulder," Skinner said, his eyes narrowing. "How is what you just said helpful?"
"It's on your coffee table," Mulder said, looking at Scully and ignoring Skinner. "I must have grabbed it with the other files when we left here last night. I remember now that I saw it. It's with the Beckman case notes."
She stared at him in confusion, then her eyes widened.
"It's there," he repeated with a nod.
"Sir," she said, looking at Skinner. "Agent Mulder is correct. It is there. I remember seeing it now as well. If I could have… an hour, I can have that report here. It's-"
"Go," Skinner said, shaking his head. They both began to leave and he stopped them. "Not you, Mulder. It's a task that only requires one person. You can join us in the meeting now and Agent Scully will do the same in an hour. One hour, Scully." He held her gaze and she nodded, her eyes flicking to Mulder's before she left the room.
Mulder sighed and turned his attention to Skinner who was looking at him questioningly.
"Sir?"
"You saw it on her coffee table last night," Skinner said in a quiet voice.
"When we were reviewing the Beckman case, yeah," Mulder replied with a nod. "We brought food back to her apartment and went over that case and did paperwork for a couple of others as we ate. The report for the meeting was on my desk, but I must have picked it up by mistake when I grabbed the other files."
"Must have," Skinner said, his expression unreadable, though Mulder suspected he was thinking that their evening had been more than dinner and work discussions.
Of which he would be absolutely correct, Mulder thought, remembering kissing Scully as she had sat astride his lap, moaning into his mouth as he had unhooked her bra.
"Yeah, it was just a mix up," Mulder said, clearing his throat. "We'd better join that meeting, huh? Or we'll be here all day. After you." Mulder smiled and gestured towards the office and Skinner scoffed as he led the way.
Please hurry, Scully, he thought, as he took a seat at the world's most boring meeting, his eyes constantly flicking to the door, awaiting her arrival.
