TITLE: Live Bait (1/3) AUTHOR: Ceilidh (ceilidhgirl75@yahoo.com) DISTRIBUTION: Gossamer is fine. Anyone else, please let me know and don't change anything. SPOILER WARNING: references to "Triangle" and "Closure;" anything pre-"Chimera" is fair game RATING: PG-13 CONTENT STATEMENT: MSR CLASSIFICATION: X, R, A KEYWORDS: Mulder/Scully Romance, MulderAngst SUMMARY: "He knows his sister's fate. We can no longer use her to lure him into a trap. Time and time again he has shown that he would go anywhere to find his partner. His devotion to her will be his undoing." DISCLAIMER: They belong to Chris Carter, 1013 Productions, and Fox. I'm just borrowing them to get this idea out of my head so I can get back to my original fiction. Sue me and all you'll get are my debts. Trust me, it's not worth your time and effort. NOTES: This is my first foray into X-Files fanfic, so please be gentle. My thanks go out to my wonderful and incredibly supportive beta, Matilda. Thanks, honey! Both the city of Crossville and the play "Golgotha" are fictional as far as I was able to discern. [1] Sixpence None the Richer, "Angeltread," _This Beautiful Mess_, R.E.X. Music, Inc. R.E.X. 41016-2. FEEDBACK: I promise I'll write back. :o) (ceilidhgirl75@yahoo.com) Live Bait (1/3) Hands rhythmically grope The sheets again for you And off-rhythm the time slows To make moments eternal Moments eternal [1] -Sixpence None the Richer *** "We need your services again," he said before taking a long draw on his cigarette. "What do you need?" Krycek asked, shifting his stance uneasily. "Kidnap Agent Scully from her apartment and bring her to this address." The old man handed him two slips of paper and a syringe. "The dosage should be sufficient to knock her out for transport." "Why involve her?" The curious words came out softly. "He knows his sister's fate. We can no longer use her to lure him into a trap. Time and time again he has shown that he would go anywhere to find his partner. His devotion to her will be his undoing." "Do you have any intelligence about when she'll be arriving at home?" Krycek is once again all business. "She will arrive around 6:30. Mulder will arrive by 7:30 with dinner, so you must be gone by then." "Very well," he sneered. "I'll see you in a few hours." Krycek turned and left the old man to smoke his Morleys. *** Scully walked down the hall at a leisurely pace. Another lazy Friday night with Mulder and case files lay ahead of her. *I wonder what he'll bring for dinner. Pizza,* she decided as she reached her door. A smile played at the corners of her mouth as Scully turned the key in the lock and let herself in. She dropped her things and nudged the door closed with her foot. Before she could reach for the light switch, she felt a gloved hand close over her mouth. She fought back, managing to open her mouth enough for a finger to slip inside, then biting as hard as she could. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw a syringe coming in her direction. Finding a foot, she ground her heel into it and delivered a blow to the arm wielding the syringe. The syringe skidded across the floor as Scully felt a blow to her kidney. She staggered forward and turned to face her attacker in time to receive a blow to her face. Regaining her balance, she returned the blow and reached for her gun as the man fell against the door. As she took aim, a swift kick knocked the gun from her hands. Her attacker grabbed for her throat and began to choke her. She struggled against him, raining his face with punches and clawing at his wrists. As she started to lose consciousness, she felt one hand release her. Another blow to her head left her slumped on the floor. Krycek checked for a pulse and sighed with relief when he found one. "It would've been so much easier for you if you hadn't struggled." The empty sympathy fell from his lips as he found her handcuffs and restrained her hands. He then removed some rope from his pocket and bound her ankles. Looking around for the syringe, he found it lying empty on the floor by the wall in a pool of clear liquid. Turning back to Scully, he placed a small piece of paper on the floor by her head. Krycek picked her up in his arms and removed her from the scene unobserved. *** Mulder knocked lightly on the door. Shifting the pizza box from one hand to the other, he waited for her to appear at the door. When she didn't, he pulled out his keys and found the one for her apartment. Turning the key proved that the door wasn't locked in the first place. A quick mental recap of all the men who'd broken into Scully's apartment was all it took for the onset of panic. He quickly set down the pizza and pulled out his gun. Mulder carefully entered the apartment. He found it dark, Scully's things by the door. He closed the door and carefully surveyed the room. Seeing no one, he called out her name. No reply reached him as he slowly moved through the rest of the apartment. After checking all of the rooms, he began turning on lights to aid his search for clues. He found nothing until he re-entered the living room. He immediately spotted her gun lying over by the couch. He rushed over and a closer glance ensured that it was indeed hers. His heart leapt into his throat as he spied the syringe inches from the door frame. "Scully." The word came out as a strangled whisper. His eyes frantically scanned the room for a clue to who had taken her or where they had gone. His body soon joined in the act. The paper crinkled under his foot as he stepped on it. Crouching down, he examined the scrap. *Don't even think about calling the police or your colleagues at the FBI. We're waiting at Golgotha.* "Golgotha?" His mind went into overdrive searching for meaning. "The place of skulls. Calvary. They couldn't have gotten her out of the country already. Think!" He slammed the paper down against the floor. His eyes clenched shut as he fought for control over his anger. *You can't help her if you don't keep it together,* he reminded himself. Control was nearly lost as he picked up the paper again to find it smeared with blood. He knew in his heart that it was hers. He bolted from the apartment, barely stopping to lock the door. The pizza lay forgotten in the hallway as Mulder ran for his car. *** Scully felt a pounding in her head as she began to come to. Testing her limbs, she found herself to be bound to a chair. Her eyes flickered for a moment and the pain in her throat registered. As soon as she began to lift her head, she felt a sharp pain as a needle pierced her skin. She tried to cry out, but all she could manage was a whimper that barely escaped the confines of the duct tape across her mouth. As the drugs aided her slip back into unconsciousness, she managed this thought: *Please, God, help Mulder find me.* *** Mulder pounded furiously on the door. "It's me. Open the fucking door!" he shouted frantically. Byers opened the door and hurriedly stepped back as Mulder brushed past him. "What can we do for you, Mulder?" "They've taken her," he said as he dropped the scrap on the table in front of Frohike. "Who?" Langly asked as he wandered into the room. "Scully," Byers offered solemnly. He looked at Langly as if to say, *Look at him. Who else could it be?* Langly took one look at Mulder's distraught countenance and immediately realized the stupidity of his remark. "What does this mean, Mulder? Golgotha?" Frohike asked as he finished studying the paper and handed it to Byers. "That's what I need you to help me figure out," Mulder told him. "It means the place of the skulls," Byers explained as he passed the scrap to Langly. "Calvary." "I know that," Mulder retorted impatiently as he began to pace. "She's been gone for less than two hours. They can't be far." "So, what? They've taken her to a cemetery or something?" Frohike asks. "It's got religious significance, and Scully's Catholic. Maybe a church?" Byers speculated. Langly quickly moved to sit in front of one of the many computers in the room. "I'll start searching for likely matches." "We'll find her, Mulder," Frohike said, his voice betraying his own despair at Scully's disappearance. *** Dr. Scully knocked lightly on the door and heard a faint reply telling her to enter. She stepped into the room, chart in hand, "I have the results back from the latest run of tests, Samantha." She pulled a stool over and was about to sit when she noticed that Samantha was not alone. Sam's hand was clasped tightly in the hands of an attractive man she had never seen before. "This is my brother, Fox Mulder. Fox, this is my doctor, Dana Scully," Samantha explained. "John had to go out of town, so Fox came to take care of me." "Nice to meet you, Mr. Mulder," Dana said as she shook his hand. "Likewise," he replied. "Please call me Mulder." "All right," Dana replied slowly. "I guess if we're going with last names, you can call me Scully." After a pause, she asked, "Why Mulder?" Sam giggled. "He hates his name. Always has." Scully's smile flashed understanding. Under his intense gaze, she blushed and sat down on the stool. Remembering the chart in her hand, she opened it and scanned the results again. She sighed involuntarily and bit her lip as she realized what she'd done. "The cancer's back." Samantha stated quietly. She felt her brother squeeze her hand and smiled bravely at him. "I'm so sorry, Sam," Scully said quietly as she stared at her hands. "So what's next?" Mulder asked. Scully looked up at him, seeing the pain and tears lurking behind his hazel eyes. "It's up to Sam." She reached out and squeezed the other woman's knee. "We could try more chemo or radiation therapy. It may be that a mastectomy is the only way to keep the cancer from spreading." "When do I need to decide?" Samantha asked in a small, tired voice. "Take a few days to make your decision. I want you to be as comfortable as possible with whatever you decide. I know how difficult this is, Sam. I'm going to do everything I can to help you." Scully moved to stand. "What would you do?" Sam whispered as tears slid down her cheeks. Scully reached over and hugged her tightly, Mulder finally letting go of his sister's hand. "You know my story, Sam. I can't make this decision for you." She pulled back and gently wiped Sam's tears. "I know," she said meekly as she released her doctor. Mulder quickly enveloped her in a hug. Scully moved the box of tissues from the counter to the exam table next to Sam's chair. "Take your time leaving. Call me with your decision and any questions you may have." She pulled some literature out of the chart and placed it beside the tissues. "You have my number. Call any time, okay?" She noticed a slight nod from the siblings and left the room. *** "Scully?" Scully looked up from the pile of papers in front of her to see her patient's handsome brother. "Mulder, please come in." She watched him cross the room and take a seat in one of the chairs opposite her desk. "What can I do for you?" "Have dinner with me," he requested boldly, a small smile playing across his lips. "What?" she asked, unable to cover the surprise in her voice or stop the automatic arching of her eyebrow. She nervously pushed a strand of copper hair behind her ear. "I have a lot of questions I want to ask you about Sam. It's almost six and Sam's neighbor is staying with her." Looking into his eyes, she saw his urgency and something else she was afraid to define. "All right. Let me just finish up a little paperwork before we go." "I'll be out in the lobby when you're ready," he said as he stood to leave. "I'll be just a few minutes," she told him with a tentative smile. He returned her smile with a bright one of his own, then left the office. *** Scully rushed out of her office and hurried to the lobby. "I'm sorry to take so long, Mulder. I got a call from a patient's wife who was concerned about her husband's reaction to his chemotherapy. It took twenty minutes to calm her down and remind her that his reaction was exactly what we'd expected." "No problem," Mulder replied as he uncoiled himself from the chair. "I know how work can interfere with things like meals and a decent night's sleep." "What do you do?" she asked curiously as they walked through the automatic doors out into the cool night air. "I'm an FBI agent," he replied in a monotone. Scully stopped for a moment and stared at him as he walked ahead of her. "Never would have guessed," she mumbled as she hurried to catch up. "So where are we going?" "You tell me, I just got into town last night." He turned to eye her curiously. "What do you want?" Scully asked. "Italian?" "Sounds good to me. There's a nice little place over on Elmwood. Antonio's. Do you know where that is?" Mulder's brow wrinkled in concentration. "I think so, but I'll follow you just in case." Scully nodded. "Where are you parked?" He tapped the hood of the car beside him. "I'm at the end of the row," she told him. "I'll pull around so you can follow." *** Scully took a sip of her coffee and looked across the table at him. "So, Mulder is there anything else you'd like to know?" "What did you mean when you told Sam that she knew your story?" he asked hesitantly. Scully's eyes fell to the table and she took a deep breath. Before she could answer, Mulder spoke up. "You don't have to tell me. I was just curious," he said quickly. *I want to know everything there is to know about you.* She looked up to meet his gaze. "It's okay. I tell my patients; there's no reason I shouldn't tell you." She took another sip of her coffee and avoided the intensity of his hazel eyes. "Three years ago, I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Much like your sister, the cancer came back. I had to have my ovaries removed. I've been in remission since then, but I have to deal with the reality that I'll never have children." Finally meeting his gaze, she was surprised by the depth of the sorrow in his eyes. She had to look away before the tears that still occasionally fell made an appearance. "I can't imagine what that must be like for you," he told her in a soft voice. *No beautiful little Scullys running around the world. It's tragic.* He held back on his instinct to take her hand. Scully was surprised by the comfort she felt at his words. Her family had tried many times to ease her pain, but none of their words or prayers had helped nearly as much as this man's voice. The feeling was disconcerting. *You barely even know him!* "So tell me about the FBI," she requested. "Well, I'm always running off to catch criminals and solve crimes. It doesn't matter what day it is or even what time. I get a call and I'm off to pick up my partner and fly or drive to the site. It can be pretty draining, but that's the nature of the work." "What exactly do you do when you arrive?" she asked, curiosity shining in her blue eyes. Mulder smiled. "I'm a profiler. I use all of the available evidence to create a profile for the suspect. Then we track the person down. I revise as we go when necessary, but I don't do it very often." He swallowed some ice water and rolled his eyes a bit. "That's why they call me Spooky." Scully's eyebrow lifted toward her hairline. "Spooky Mulder?" she asked with a hint of laughter. "They think it's eerie how accurate the majority of my profiles are." He smiled wryly. "I'm sure my office decorations don't help matters." "Decorations?" she asked warily. *Do I really want to know?* "Really, it's only one thing. A poster of a UFO that says *I want to believe.*" He watched her face closely for her reaction. Scully's eyes widened momentarily. "UFOs, huh?" "Everyone believes in something," he said as a challenge. "True," she conceded. "I believe in angels. My sister, Missy, thought I was crazy." "Past tense?" he remarked softly. "She was hit by a drunk driver, " she replied softly. "Her car was crushed into a telephone pole. She died instantly." "Sounds like your life is as surrounded by pain as mine," he confided. *Perhaps that's why I feel so connected to you, Scully,* he thought longingly. *** "I love you, too," she told him. "I'll talk to you tomorrow." Sam hung up the phone as her brother entered the kitchen. He looked around and eyed her warily. "Where's Mrs. Miller?" "I sent her home when John called," she said with a shrug. "I knew you'd be back soon, so told her to go back home to her family." "Sam," he began protectively. She held up her hand. "Don't, Fox. I'm fine. I told John and Mrs. Miller that I'd talk to him until you got back. If anything had happened, John could have gotten help. I got off when I heard your key in the door." She watched him slowly acquiesce. "I know it wasn't ideal, but I'm fine. See." She got up and twirled around in front of him. She gave him a peck on the forehead and sat down again, a smile playing on her lips. "So how was your date?" "It wasn't a date, Sam," he sternly informed her, all the while his cheeks flushed slightly. Sam's smile grew even wider and a giggle escaped. "You like her." "She's a very nice woman. Who wouldn't like her?" he sputtered in reply. Sam looked at him knowingly. "You're in love with my doctor." "That's ridiculous, and you know it." Mulder turned away from her and searched through the cabinets until he found the glasses. He pulled one down and filled it with water. "I know you don't believe in love at first sight, but you didn't see your face when she came into that exam room this morning. I was watching both of you." Sam leaned back in her chair. "And I don't think she was immune to you either, dear brother, so I repeat 'how was your date?'" He groaned and sunk defeatedly into a chair opposite her. *** The old man looked down at Scully and lifted her chin to get a better look at her face. "This is not what we discussed," he told Krycek without bothering to look at him. His tone of voice was sufficient to convey his displeasure. "She fought and I couldn't inject her. Besides, what does it really matter? It's not like either one of them is going to walk away from here," Krycek argued. "Mulder will be angry enough, but when he sees what you did to her, he may decide to shoot first and ask questions later." "I can handle Mulder," Krycek spat out disdainfully. *Don't expect any help from me,* he thought as he left Krycek to watch over their prisoner. *** Mulder stood impatiently behind Langly. "Anything?" "Not yet," Langly replied. "I'm going back to Scully's in case I missed something," Mulder replied as he hurried to the door. The Gunmen watched the door close behind him. "He's taking this harder than her other disappearances," Byers noted sadly. "Worse than the cancer," Frohike whispered as he turned back to his computer. *** "Dr. Scully." "Dana, it's Sam Waters. I've made my decision." Scully balanced the phone and reached for Sam's file. "What have you decided?" she asked quietly as she opened the file. "I want to try the chemotherapy again. We can switch to radiation if necessary." Scully made a few notes. "I'll make the arrangements and call you back as soon as I know when we can start." "Thanks, Dana." The line was quiet for a moment. "One question before I go." "Sure. What is it?" "Can you make it for dinner tomorrow? I'm making a special dinner for Fox in honor of his promotion." Sam held her breath. *This will be the big test.* Scully hesitated. *This is a patient. Remember that thing called professional distance?* She exhaled slowly as her compassionate side chimed in. *She needs to feel like her life isn't ending. Indulge her.* "Sure, what time should I be there?" "Will 7:00 give you enough time to get away from the office?" Sam asked trying to contain her laughter and excitement. "That sounds fine, Sam. I'll see you then." "I look forward to it. Good-bye, Dana." "Bye." Scully hung up the phone and sat in silence for a few moments. A smile was playing on her lips as a nurse entered the office. "I bet I know who put that smile there," Helen said with amusement. Scully jumped slightly. "Sorry, Helen. Guess I zoned out for a moment. What can I do for you?" "Your 11:00 appointment with Mr. Berringer was rescheduled for next week." She took a seat in front of Scully's desk. "So who is he?" "What?" Scully's face was full of confusion. "The cute guy I saw you with at Antonio's the other night. From the look on your face a moment ago, you just talked to him." "Actually, no. I talked to his sister, Samantha Waters. John's out of town, so Mulder's staying with her." Helen's nose wrinkled. "His name is Mulder?" Scully laughed. "It's Fox Mulder. He doesn't care for his first name." Helen cringed. "No wonder. Cruel parents," she muttered. "Anyway," Scully continued, "we spent dinner discussing Sam's condition and treatment." "From the looks of things, that wasn't all you discussed," she observed. "Well, yes, we talked about other things, but Sam was the reason for the dinner." "So when are you going to see him again?" Helen inquired, happy to see Dana showing interest in someone for the first time in three years -- and to have her suspicions confirmed. Scully flushed hotly. "Tomorrow," she mumbled as she turned her attention to the files on her desk. Helen chuckled and left the office. She walked into the break room and grinned victoriously at one of the other nurses there. "I told you. They're going out again tomorrow. I may have missed their first meeting, but I know sparks when I see them." As she left the room, she called over her shoulder, "Don't forget I like walnuts in my brownies." END {1/3) matilda1@uswest.net ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "It's the next big thing-- you just don't know it." I am posting this for a friend. Please respond to the email below. TITLE: Live Bait (2/3) AUTHOR: Ceilidh (ceilidhgirl75@yahoo.com) DISTRIBUTION: Gossamer is fine. Anyone else, please let me know and don't change anything. SPOILER WARNING: references to "Triangle" and "Closure;" anything pre-"Chimera" is fair game RATING: PG-13 CONTENT STATEMENT: MSR CLASSIFICATION: X, R, A KEYWORDS: Mulder/Scully Romance, MulderAngst SUMMARY: "He knows his sister's fate. We can no longer use her to lure him into a trap. Time and time again he has shown that he would go anywhere to find his partner. His devotion to her will be his undoing." DISCLAIMER: They belong to Chris Carter, 1013 Productions, and Fox. I'm just borrowing them to get this idea out of my head so I can get back to my original fiction. Sue me and all you'll get are my debts. Trust me, it's not worth your time and effort. NOTES: This is my first foray into X-Files fanfic, so please be gentle. My thanks go out to my wonderful and incredibly supportive beta, Matilda. Thanks, honey! Both the city of Crossville and the play "Golgotha" are fictional as far as I was able to discern. [1] Sixpence None the Richer, "Angeltread," _This Beautiful Mess_, R.E.X. Music, Inc. R.E.X. 41016-2. FEEDBACK: I promise I'll write back. :o) (ceilidhgirl75@yahoo.com) Live Bait (2/3) As he walked up to the door, Mulder noticed the pizza box on the floor. His stomach lurched as the smell reached his nose. *I'll never be able to eat this stuff again.* He stooped to pick up the box, then slid the key into the lock. He entered her apartment and quickly discarded the pizza. Mulder inspected every surface with a fine-tooth comb. Unbidden tears fell from his eyes as they locked on the smudge of blood on the floor. He sank to his knees and cradled his head in his hands. The ringing of his cell phone interrupted his sobs. Swallowing hard, he pushed a key on his phone. "Mulder," he choked out. "We found her," Frohike informed him bluntly, making no mention of the tears he heard through the phone. "They've taken her to a small theater in Crossville, Virginia where a production of "Golgotha" is being staged." "I'll be right there," he hastily replied. Disconnecting the call and scrambling to his feet, Mulder glanced around the room. Eyes lighting on a CD case on top of her stereo, he impulsively retrieved it. Flipping the case open, he confirmed that the disk was inside. He jammed it into his coat pocket and ran from the apartment. *** Mulder's car screeched to a halt behind the Gunmen's idling van. He jumped out and ran to the driver's side door. Frohike handed him a piece of paper. "Address and driving directions. We'll follow you." Mulder nodded. "Park a few blocks away so they don't think I have company." Frohike nodded and watched Mulder retreat to his car and take off amidst the sound of squealing tires. *** Scully tucked a lock of hair behind her ear and nervously pushed the doorbell. The door swung open and a smiling Sam stood before her. "Dana, you made it. Come on in," she said enthusiastically. As soon as Scully was inside, Sam pulled her into a hug. Scully laughed as she extracted herself from the embrace. "I'm glad to see you in such good spirits, Sam." Sam put her arm around Scully and led her into the living room. "Fox is around here somewhere. Just make yourself at home while I check on dinner, okay?" Before she could answer, her hostess had disappeared. Scully smoothed the hem of her blue sweater and began to acquaint herself with her environment. She was drawn to a picture of the Mulder children that was hanging above an upright piano. Her heels clicked lightly against the wood floor as she moved to take a closer look. She studied the photograph intently, seeing the closeness between the siblings that still existed. Mulder quietly appeared in the doorway. "We begged for days until Mom and Dad finally agreed to let us decorate the tree all by ourselves," he told her. "Neither one of us was tall enough to reach the top, so I hoisted Sam on my shoulders. I handed her ornaments, and she put them on the tree." "Including the angel," Scully murmured with a smile as she turned to him for the first time. She held out the bottle in her hand. "Congratulations, Mulder." She felt a flutter in her chest as she took in his khakis and dark green cotton sweater. He stood close to her and slowly took the bottle, his fingers brushing hers in the process. "Thank you, Scully." He smiled at her, then glanced down at the label of the Mondavi dessert wine. "I hope you'll like it," she replied with a hint of nervousness. He gazed at her and smiled. "I'm sure I will." Sam found them standing inches apart and gazing into each other's eyes. "Dinner's ready when you are," she announced in a sing-song voice before disappearing back down the hall. *** Sam stretched and rose from the chair. "Goodnight, Dana. I'm going upstairs to call John, then go to sleep." Scully glanced at her watch. "I should be going too," she said. "Nonsense," Sam told her. "It's early. Stay and keep Fox company." She watched the hint of uncertainty enter the other woman's eyes. "I wouldn't be deserting yet if I hadn't promised to call John in five minutes." "I suppose I could stay a little longer," she conceded. When she glanced up at Sam, she noticed her amusement. "Sam, I don't know what you're thinking," she began warily, "but-" "Only good things," she promised. "Like how nice it is to see you outside of our usual doctor/patient relationship. I'm really glad you came tonight." Sam smiled and glanced at the clock on the mantle. "Gotta go. Night, Dana." With a quick wink she disappeared. Scully sank back into the cushions feeling as if, at any moment, she'd wake up from the bizarre dream she'd been living in for the past week. She allowed her mind to wander back over the events. Meeting Mulder, having dinner with him, Helen's perception of feelings she herself wasn't quite ready to admit to, then the brownie she found on her desk that morning. The cryptic note beside it had said, *Thanks, Dana. -H.* She'd plied Helen and few of the other nurses in the office for information, but had only gotten a few mysterious smiles for her efforts. "Penny for your thoughts," Mulder asked quietly as he held out a glass to her. She jumped slightly before reaching for it. "Sorry," he said as he sat beside her. "Where'd Sam go?" A smile tugged at the corners of her mouth as her fingers traced the length of the glass's stem. "She said something about a date to talk to her husband and going to bed." A lopsided grin of his own was followed by quickly raised eyebrows. "Remind me not to pick up that phone anytime in the next few hours. I've already made that mistake once this week." Scully couldn't contain a giggle. As he joined in her laughter, she realized his initial comment had slipped past her. *In the next few hours?* Her pulse began to race as she contemplated the possibilities suggested by his words. Mulder watched her closely as she grew quiet and fidgety. Understanding dawned and he took a sip of wine. He smiled appreciatively. "So tell me about your brothers," he requested, steering the conversation into what he hoped were safe waters. *** Scully set her mug down on the glass table amidst the empty wine bottle, glasses, and empty carafe of coffee. Suddenly the need to know the time gripped her. She was shocked to find that is was nearing two a.m. "I had no idea it was this late," she sputtered as she slid her feet out from beneath her and back into her shoes. "I should go." He tried to hide his disappointment and, following her lead, he stood. "I'll walk you out." She smiled sweetly at him as she slid her purse onto her shoulder. She walked with him to the doorway and passed through it as he held the door open for her. "Congratulations again, Mulder," she told him as she pulled out her keys. The warmth of his hand on the small of her back as he guided her down the walk renewed her earlier fluttering. "It's really not a big deal, but thanks. I think Sam's just in a flurry to find anything positive she can and latch onto it." The flash of lights as she unlocked her car signaled that she would soon be gone. "I can certainly understand that," she whispered. She leaned against the driver's side door and looked up into his eyes. "I don't usually do this sort of thing, but I just couldn't say no to her." "Thank you for coming tonight," he said softly as he brushed imaginary strands of hair from her face. He hadn't meant for it to being anything other than chaste, but when Scully responded so fervently to his kiss, intentions held little weight. His hand slid from her cheek in a slow path past the soft knit of her mock turtleneck. The path was interrupted as her arms found their way to his neck and her fingers dove into his hair. His hands slid around her ribcage and between her layers of clothing, leaving his hands surrounded by the silk that encased her. He held her tightly against him as their tongues continued their exploration. "You are so beautiful," he told her as their lips parted. She smiled in embarrassment and reached up to wipe his lips. "I could say the same about you, but I really don't think this is your color." He smiled and kissed her forehead lightly. "Sleep well, Scully." Her discomfort forgotten, her smile shone brightly in the semi- darkness. "You too, Mulder," she told him as she scooped her keys off the car's hood and moved to get inside. Mulder watched her drive away in an unbelieving daze. As he turned to reenter the house, he noticed movement at the window of Sam's room. The curtain swayed slightly as it settled back into place. *Going to bed, my ass, Sam. Still spying on me after all these years.* *** The knock on her door startled her out of her thoughts. She pulled her robe more tightly around her and slid the pan off of the burner. A glance through the peephole afforded her the view of a delivery man. Scully unlocked the door and smiled inquisitively at a man no taller than herself. "Dana Scully?" he inquired as he looked up from his clipboard. "Yes," she answered only to have a vase of tulips thrust into her hands. "Have a nice day," the man said as he disappeared back down the hall. Scully closed the door, turning the lock as she stared at the red, white, and pink blooms poking out of the glass bowl. Now back in her kitchen, she set the vase down on the table and found the card. She opened the tiny white envelope. Instinctively, she knew the writing on the card belonged to Mulder. *Have dinner with me tonight. I need to see you. -Mulder.* She smiled and placed the card on the table. "I need to see you, too." She returned to making pancakes and hummed tunelessly to herself. *** Half an hour into the trip, Mulder became disgusted with the radio and remembered the CD in his pocket. He couldn't even remember what it was, and the darkness surrounding him would lend no aid. He sighed and removed the disk, slipping it into the CD player. In seconds, his ears were greeted with the haunting sound of guitars. Drums soon joined in, followed by a clear female voice. Crickets rhythmically sing Their mournful melodies A monotone by request But they fail, they fail To soothe the mess [1] *** Frohike looked into his rearview mirror and sighed heavily. "Shit," he muttered as he turned on his turn signal and pulled over to the side of the road. He watched a cop pull Mulder over ahead of him. "Just what we needed," Langly said sourly. "Mulder's going to go ballistic." *** Before the cop could even lean down to the window, Mulder flashed his badge and launched into an explanation. "My name is Special Agent Fox Mulder with the FBI. I am on my way to negotiate the release of my kidnapped partner. The men in the van behind us are with me." "I'll need to run a check on your weapon. Standard procedure." He took the proffered gun from Mulder. "Are there any others?" "No. Can we please just speed this up. I'm in a hurry," Mulder growled. "Well, that's very nice Mr. FBI, but why aren't the police or FBI escorting you to the scene?" the man snidely remarked. Mulder shoved the bloodstained paper under the officer's nose, but never let go. "Because of this note." The man scanned it quickly. "Oh." "So can we please get out of here?" he asked, his patience quickly wearing thin. The officer looked back towards the van for a moment. "I'll be right back." He walked back and met the other officer in the squad car. "What do you think, Dennis?" he asked as he began to run the check. "I was told they're looking for the other fella's partner who was kidnapped. What did he tell you, Charlie?" Dennis asked. "Same thing," Charlie replied. "He said they can't involve the police or FBI because of the note that was left." "Did you see it?" "Yeah, smeared with blood and everything. I saw his badge, too. I think it's legit." Dennis glanced down at the screen as new information popped up. "Okay, the gun's his. Let's send them on their way then. I'd hate to pick up the paper tomorrow and find out the partner died because these guys didn't make it on time." Charlie nodded and climbed out of the car. He walked back to Mulder's car and handed him his gun. "Are you sure there's nothing we can do to help?" Mulder shook his head. "I can't risk it. They wouldn't think twice about killing her." "Well, get moving then and good luck." "Thanks," Mulder replied shortly as he started the engine and took off. Charlie watched the van swiftly follow. Once back in his car, he Turned to Dennis. "His partner's a woman. No wonder he was in a hurry." "You don't say," Dennis replied in awe. *** She leaned back against the closed door and regarded the two men flanking her patient. "I'm starting to think I need bigger exam rooms. John, Mulder, would you mind stepping out while I examine Sam?" It was more of a command than a request, but Scully was always polite. As the men filed out, Helen stood to the side waiting to enter. "Popular place," she muttered as she stepped past Scully. "So how have you been feeling this past week?" Scully asked. Sam swallowed hard. "It's getting bigger," she whispered. "It's possible," Scully told her. "Why don't you get up on the table and we'll check it out?" The fear in the eyes locked with her own caused a constricting feeling in her chest, but she kept her tone soothing and even. *Don't get personal. You have to help your patient.* Sam settled herself on the table and the ritual began. *** He watched her calmly explain that the cancer was increasing at an alarming rate and that his sister's options had changed. Few of her words actually registered in his brain beyond the initial unwelcome news. Outwardly she seemed in control. He knew better. In a few short weeks, he'd memorized the facial cues and meanings of particular shades of blue in her eyes. Her eyes were dark now - the same dark blue they had been that first night as she told him of her own struggle with cancer. The corners of her mouth twitched every so often, as though she were reminding herself that her feelings didn't belong in this room. She wouldn't even allow herself to frown. "We'll schedule the biopsy and proceed from there." Her voice suddenly jarred him from his observations. "I'll call as soon as I have more information." He felt his sister squeeze his hand. He watched the diminutive woman's departure, then followed his sister and her husband. Looking back over his shoulder, he watched her shoulders slump as she hurried to her office. *** She wearily laid her head down on her desk. Though the office was dark, she could still see the bouquet of yellow roses -- the latest delivery from Mulder. It was always something different, so she never knew what to expect next. They'd seen each other almost every day since their kiss at Sam's. Those days she was too busy or Sam needed him, she found herself missing him terribly. She knew their involvement wasn't a good idea. His sister was a patient. His home was elsewhere, and soon he'd have to return there. His work, which she found fascinating, would draw him back. He would leave her with a broken heart she thought might never heal. *** Mulder pulled the car to a halt in front of the harmless looking theater. *No other cars,* he noted. He checked his gun and reassured himself that the extra clips were in his pockets. His nerves on edge, his senses worked overtime to gauge his surroundings. Mulder left the car and approached the building with caution. As quietly as possible, he opened the door and entered the darkened lobby. The beam from his tiny flashlight bounced around the room. Seeing nothing unusual, he crept to the door and slowly entered the theater. The house lights were dimmed and the stage completely dark. Dispensing with his flashlight, Mulder was startled by the sound of a lighter. He quickly trained his gun on the source. "Glad you could finally join us, Agent Mulder," the smoking man intoned before returning the cigarette to his lips. "Why am I not surprised to see you here?" Mulder snarled. "I suppose Krycek is lurking in the shadows somewhere." The old man merely smiled condescendingly. "Where is she?" Mulder demanded. "Close by." He shook his head. "This is your fault, you realize." "Like hell," Mulder growled. "I think it is. The only way to get your attention these days is through her." He was silent for a moment as he dropped the cigarette butt and crushed it with the toe of his shoe. "But that won't be a problem anymore." As soon as the words left his mouth, the room went dark. Mulder felt for his flashlight. Suddenly a row of lights on the stage lit up casting light over Scully's still form. "Scully!" Mulder cried as he burst into a run down the side aisle. He stopped and crouched by a chair as a shot hit the wall behind his head. "I don't think so, Mulder," Krycek informed him as he came into view on the stage. "I could kill you and no one would blame me. After everything you've done to me and Scully, you certainly deserve it," Mulder said as he stood. Krycek laughed loudly. "I hardly think you're in any position to make threats." Mulder stepped closer, taking in the bruises on Krycek's face and noting the cord running to his ear. "It looks like you're the last one to boast from the looks of what Scully did to you." "Which one of us is left standing?" he retorted. "A situation I'm more than happy to rectify," Mulder said icily. Krycek reached up to his ear for a moment, concentrating on the message he was receiving through the ear piece. "Maybe another time," he replied as he moved to leave. Seeing Mulder in hot pursuit, he turned and shot at Scully. "No!!" Mulder watched in horror as Scully slumped farther over in the chair. He ineffectually squeezed off a few rounds as he closed the distance to the stage. After what felt like an eternity, he had found a weak pulse and had her feet and hands freed from the cuffs and rope. Finding the entry wound on the back of her right shoulder, he stripped off his jacket and ripped the sleeves from his shirt. Stripping the rest off, he quickly folded it into a bandage and used the sleeves to hold it to Scully's body. He removed the duct tape as gently as possible. "Scully, can you hear me?" She remained silent. "Stay with me, Scully. I'll get you to a hospital." He wrapped her in his coat to help keep her warm. He carefully lifted her into his arms, applying any pressure he could to her wound. As Mulder carried her out the front door of the theater, he shifted her weight in order to remove his keys from his coat pocket. Once he had them and she was settled back into his arms, he pushed the unlock button on his remote. The blast from the car sent Mulder flying onto his back, Scully held tightly in his arms. Car parts littered the parking lot as the shell began to burn. *** As he came around, Mulder felt someone trying to take Scully from him and held her tighter. "Damn it, Mulder, let go!" Frohike yelled. Mulder opened his eyes and realized help had arrived. He reluctantly released Scully, and Frohike took her to the van as Langly helped him up. They hurried to the van where Byers sat at a safe distance from the burning car. Once inside, Mulder took charge. "He shot her, damn it! Get us to a hospital now!" Mulder exclaimed as he pulled the coat off Scully's shoulder to inspect the bleeding. The shirt was already soaked. Before he could strip off his own, Langly quickly tossed him a tee shirt. Mulder shot him a grateful look as he strapped the makeshift bandage to her gunshot wound. "Who was it?" Frohike asked quietly as he stared fearfully at the prone form of Dana Scully. "Smoking man and Krycek," Mulder replied through clenched teeth before his features softened and he kissed Scully on the cheek. "Stay with me, Scully. Please," he whispered softly. *** Scully steeled herself for what lay ahead. It had never been so hard to talk to a patient's family. Not even the first time she'd had to inform someone that their loved one was gone. She prayed for the emotional distance that could get her through the next few minutes, but she knew it was futile. That distance had been disappearing ever since their eyes met. She turned the corner and avoided his searching gaze. She focused on John instead. "How is she?" John asked desperately. She was thankful that he was the one to ask the question. "The surgery went well. She'll be in recovery for a while before we move her to a private room. A nurse will come get you when you can see her." "Is it gone?" both men asked, verbally tripping over each other in their haste. "I think so. We'll perform additional tests just to be sure." Scully's eyes remained focused on John, despite the intensity and desperation she felt coming from Mulder. "Scully?" he ventured in a pained tone. The beeping of her pager saved her from having to face him just yet. She glanced down at the small screen. "I have to go. I'll keep you posted." She hurried away, pushing down the tears as she escaped. Mulder took a step to follow, but John laid a restraining hand on his arm. "Let her go. She needs to do her job." Mulder ran a hand through his disheveled hair and sighed heavily. "She wouldn't even look at me," he whispered. "She needs time, Fox. Your relationship has made this particularly difficult for her. Give her the space she needs right now. She's not running." John led him to a chair and watched over his brother- in-law as his thoughts wandered to his wife. *** Scully hung up the phone and sighed. *Is she going to call every time her husband has a treatment?* she wondered wearily. She turned to see a nurse leading John and Mulder to recovery. Too late to avoid it, she was held paralyzed by the hurt she saw in Mulder's eyes. Tears hit with sufficient force to free her, and she took off blindly in the opposite direction. *** He opened the door to the chapel and was met by the sound of her sobs and the sight of her kneeling, her head in her hands. He walked silently and knelt by her. Timid hands reached out to stroke her back soothingly. He felt her shudder under his touch as her sobs deepened. "None of this is your fault, Scully," he whispered. Her head shook violently in opposition. "It came back," she argued. Mulder gently moved her so she was leaning back against the pew. "That's not your fault. It's a terrible thing, but you are not responsible. You didn't give my sister cancer." "Maybe not," Scully said through her tears, "but I should have done more. It shouldn't have gotten to this point." She continued to stare at the carpet, refusing to look at him. He gently took her face in his hands and forced her to look at him. "You did everything you could for Sam. Did you blame your doctor for what happened to you?" "No," she murmured. "And Sam doesn't blame you, Scully. I promise you that." His hands left her face to take her own. They were silent for a moment, then Scully looked down at their joined hands. "I identified with her -- more than with any of the others," she began. "But as scary as it had been for me, it was somehow worse for her. She has a husband. They were about to start trying for kids when the cancer returned. Did she tell you that?" She glanced up at him and saw that he hadn't known. "It's just so unfair. This shouldn't have happened to her." "I hate that my sister has had to endure this pain, but good *has* come out of it." He watched her look up to stare incredulously. "She's still alive, Scully. It hasn't beaten her, and, if I know my sister, she'll be stronger than ever. She can still have children and she will. Sam has been a fighter since the day she was born." He watched Scully accept his words and squeezed her hand. "And I can't be sorry because it brought you into my life." He brought her hands to his lips and kissed them. "I love you." He felt her stiffen slightly. "I don't want to make you uncomfortable, Scully. I just needed you to know." He released her hands and moved to stand. "I love you, too," she whispered. She allowed him to hold her as her tears renewed their strength. *** She closed the apartment door behind them and locked up before leaning back against it. "Mulder, I don't-" she began uncertainly. He placed his index finger over her lips to halt her speech. "It's been a long time for me too, Scully. We don't have to do this now if you're not ready." He slid his hand to stroke her cheek with his thumb. "I want to," she assured him. She pressed her lips to his and began unbuttoning his shirt. They slowly made their way down the hall to her bedroom, leaving a trail of discarded clothing. Mulder pulled back the covers as Scully placed kisses across his back. The wetness of her tears caught him by surprise. "Scully, what is it? What's wrong?" He sat on the bed and pulled her down beside him. "We shouldn't do this tonight," he decided as he read the emotions in her eyes. He bent down to retrieve his boxers from the floor. Scully grabbed them out of his hand and threw them across the room. "It's not what you're thinking." She placed her hand over his heart. "I want to give you everything, Mulder. You deserve it, but I-." "Scully, you are all I need. What you just said goes both ways. We love each other and nothing else matters." She smiled brightly at him. "Thank you for walking into my life," she told him before pushing him onto his back and covering him with kisses. End (2/3) matilda1@uswest.net ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "It's the next big thing-- you just don't know it." I'm posting this for a friend. Please respond to the email below. TITLE: Live Bait (3/3) AUTHOR: Ceilidh (ceilidhgirl75@yahoo.com) DISTRIBUTION: Gossamer is fine. Anyone else, please let me know and don't change anything. SPOILER WARNING: references to "Triangle" and "Closure;" anything pre-"Chimera" is fair game RATING: PG-13 CONTENT STATEMENT: MSR CLASSIFICATION: X, R, A KEYWORDS: Mulder/Scully Romance, MulderAngst SUMMARY: "He knows his sister's fate. We can no longer use her to lure him into a trap. Time and time again he has shown that he would go anywhere to find his partner. His devotion to her will be his undoing." DISCLAIMER: They belong to Chris Carter, 1013 Productions, and Fox. I'm just borrowing them to get this idea out of my head so I can get back to my original fiction. Sue me and all you'll get are my debts. Trust me, it's not worth your time and effort. NOTES: This is my first foray into X-Files fanfic, so please be gentle. My thanks go out to my wonderful and incredibly supportive beta, Matilda. Thanks, honey! Both the city of Crossville and the play "Golgotha" are fictional as far as I was able to discern. [1] Sixpence None the Richer, "Angeltread," _This Beautiful Mess_, R.E.X. Music, Inc. R.E.X. 41016-2. FEEDBACK: I promise I'll write back. :o) (ceilidhgirl75@yahoo.com) Live Bait (3/3) Mulder watched the local police leave and began to pace a section of the hall. He stopped short and reached for his cellphone. Unfortunately, it was still in his coat, which had gone with Scully into a trauma room. He turned to the Gunmen, who were seated in the plastic chairs to his left. "Do any of you have a phone?" Byers pulled one out of his blazer pocket. "Here." Mulder nodded his thanks and punched in a number. "Sir, it's Mulder." Mulder held the phone away from his ear for a few moments. "Yes, sir, I realize what time it is, but I figured you'd want to know what happened." He paused as the man on the other end inquired what in God's name he was talking about. "To make a long story short, Scully was kidnapped and shot by Krycek. We managed to get her to a hospital. She's in surgery now." Mulder listened and forced back the lump in his throat that grew larger by the second. "Thank you, sir. I'll call as soon as I know more." Mulder pushed the end button and handed the phone back to Byers. He resumed his pacing as his friends eyed him warily. "Do you think he's told her yet?" Langly whispered. Frohike shook his head. "Not since Bermuda. I think he's still dealing with it himself." Langly nodded thoughtfully. "Think he'll tell her after the dust settles from today?" "No way," Frohike insisted. "Yes," Byers replied without hesitation. "Mulder? Are you all right?" he asked as he watched the agent's gait become unsteady. Mulder turned to face them, unshed tears shining in his eyes. Before he could open his mouth, the doctor appeared. "How is she?" he asked as he and the Gunmen rushed to meet him. Dr. Bradley stopped in front of the men. "She's going to be fine. The surgery went well and she's being moved to recovery right now," the older man informed them. "Thank you," Mulder whispered skyward as he felt three hands gently squeeze his shoulders. "May I see her?" Dr. Bradley briefly wrinkled his brow. "For just a moment," he told Mulder sternly. "She can have longer visits after she's out of recovery." "Thanks," he replied before turning to the Gunmen. "I'll be back in a few minutes." "Follow me," Dr. Bradley told him. *** Mulder paused before entering the room. He'd seen Scully in too many hospital beds for too many different reasons. *That bastard was right. It is my fault.* Dr. Bradley cleared his throat, and Mulder pushed the thought away. He entered the room and approached her bed without a sound. The waiting tears finally slid down his cheeks as he took her small hand in his. Her red hair contrasted sharply with the crisp white sheets. Bruises and small cuts were scattered across her pale face. "I'll make it up to you, Scully. I promise." He leaned down to kiss her forehead, then contemplated her still form. "Agent Mulder?" Dr. Bradley's voice startled Mulder. "I'll be back as soon as they'll let me, if not sooner," he whispered. He squeezed Scully's hand before releasing it, then walked over to the doctor. "Looks like this is familiar territory for you two," Dr. Bradley commented once the door was closed. Mulder sighed. "You could say that." Dr. Bradley nodded as Mulder wandered back down the hall in search of his companions. *** Scully stretched and rubbed her eyes. Getting out of bed, she padded down the hall to the kitchen. The smell of scrambled eggs and toast greeted her as she got closer. She paused in the doorway and observed Mulder. She was momentarily caught up in the play of his muscles as he stirred the eggs in the pan before she continued into the room. Mulder turned to see her approaching. "Good morning," he said with a smile. Even straight from bed, he still thought her the most beautiful woman he'd ever seen. "Good morning," she said as she wrapped her arms around his waist and nuzzled his neck. "Breakfast smells good." "It's almost ready. Have a seat." He planted a kiss on her forehead and he shooed her away. Scully took a seat and drank thirstily from her glass of orange juice. "Did you sleep well?" he asked as he set a plate in front of her and another for himself. She smiled. "Very well, thanks. And you?" "Better than I have in a long time." Mulder returned to the table with two steaming cups of coffee, then took a seat. Scully watched him as she slathered her toast with blackberry jam. "What is it, Mulder? I can tell there's something you want to discuss." Mulder took a bite of eggs before answering her. "What happens next?" "With us?" she inquired. Taking in his slight nod, she continued. "I don't know." She took his hand. "I love you, Mulder. I know it'll be complicated, but I think we should just let things progress on their own." "As long as we're together," he said as his raised her hand to his lips. She shifted herself from her chair into his lap and initiated a long, slow kiss. As his fingers began working on the buttons of her pajama top, she heard a steady beeping noise. Try as she might to ignore it, the sound became louder and more distracting. *** The steady beeping continued and Scully began to think it was her alarm. She began to lift her right arm to silence it, but winced in pain. *What the hell?* she thought. She suddenly noticed there was weight across her stomach. She slowly opened her eyes and tilted her head slightly to find an arm across her waist. Following that arm, she found that it belonged to her sleeping partner. His head was nestled on the mattress. *He can't be comfortable,* she thought hazily. *Then again, he sleeps on his couch instead of in his bed.* She reached out and stroked his hair. Immediately, Mulder sat up. "Scully," he breathed. He gently moved to sit on the edge of the bed and cradled her face in his hands. She covered his hand with her own and whispered, "I knew you'd find me." "Always." She smiled as he leaned over to kiss her gently on the lips. After the kiss, she drifted back into sleep. *** As sunlight crept through the window, Scully woke again. Mulder had returned to the chair, but his fingers were interlaced with her own. She squeezed his hand to wake him. "Mulder, what happened? Why does my shoulder hurt? Why am I in the hospital?" she whispered softly. "Krycek-" he began groggily. "Kidnapped me, I know," she interrupted. "I just don't remember what happened after that." "It was to lure me into a trap. He shot you to keep me from going after him," Mulder informed her. "Mulder," she said as sternly as possible, "I'm not-" He placed a finger over her lips as he sat on the bed. "Shh. You'll wake them up." Her brow wrinkled in confusion and he removed his finger. "Who?" "The Gunmen. They helped me find you," he explained. She smiled slightly, then became serious again. "Mulder, I'm not going to let you blame yourself for everything that happens to me," she whispered determinedly. "But-" "No *buts,* Mulder. There's no way I'm going to contribute to your self-flagellation." He looked into her blue eyes and saw the depth of her determination. "Scully, I know you think I blame myself for too many things that are out of my control, but I know I'm responsible for this. They told me they used you to get to me." Her eyes narrowed. "Who is *they*?" Mulder winced. "Krycek was working for the smoking man." "It wouldn't be the first time," Scully reminded him. She lifted her left hand and gently traced the lines on his face. "Mulder, I hate watching you do this to yourself. I-" Scully cut herself off and her hand dropped to the bed. Mulder watched her close her eyes as she struggled internally. "What, Scully?" He rubbed his thumb gently across her cheek. "What were you going to say?" He watched her shoulders shudder and tears leak from the corners of her eyes. He carefully gathered her in his arms and hugged her. "What's is it Scully? I can't fix it if you don't tell me." Scully moved to release herself, so he reluctantly laid her back down. "Just forget it, Mulder." She tried to look away, but Mulder wouldn't let her. "No, Scully. You're not going to get away with it this time. I won't let you hide from me and tell me you're fine when I know you're not," he said not caring that he was no longer whispering. "Mulder, please," was her soft plea. He shook his head. "If I can't blame myself, then you can't play this game either. It goes both ways." He brushed her hair back from her face. "I love you, Scully. Why won't you let me in?" She stared into his eyes and couldn't dismiss those words like she had before. The truth shone brightly in his eyes. "You're already in, Mulder. That's what scares me." Mulder frowned. "I don't want you to be afraid of loving me." "I was more afraid that you didn't feel the same way, and that my feelings would ruin everything. I couldn't lose you, Mulder. I couldn't face that," she told him through her tears. Mulder's features hardened. "I can believe the last part, but the first isn't true and you know it, Scully." Scully felt like she'd been slapped. Here she was finally telling him how she felt and he was calling her a liar. "Mulder," she whimpered. "I've made my feelings for you perfectly clear, Scully. You may have been scared, but it had nothing to do with doubting my feelings. For someone who prides herself on being scientific, you're awfully eager to dabble in fortune-telling." "What are you talking about, Mulder?" she demanded defensively. "I'm saying that you've thought of everything that could possibly go wrong and convinced yourself that it would. It's easier to do nothing than to risk getting hurt, right Scully?" he said bitterly. Scully stared at him in silence as guilty tears coursed down her cheeks. She watched him bite his lip as he struggled to keep from comforting her. "Are you always going to psychoanalyze me?" she finally asked. He shrugged. "Second-nature." "I'm sorry, Mulder. I was so scared. It was easier to take your friendship than to risk losing you completely." Mulder gently wiped her tears. "I was terrified when I got to your apartment and you were missing. I could barely think straight." "You found me, and that's all that matters," she replied as she rested her palm against his cheek. "I love you, Mulder." He leaned down and brushed his lips against hers. He felt her fingers tangle in his hair as she kissed him back. He finally let the weight fall from his shoulders. *Why did we wait so long?* he wondered. When they broke the kiss, Scully hugged him tightly with her left arm. "I can't wait to get better," she whispered suggestively in his ear. He pulled back in mock surprise. "Why, Agent Scully, are you coming on to me?" "Get used to it," she told him as she pulled him into another kiss. "About time," a voice across the room muttered. Mulder quickly turned around to see their audience leaning against the wall. "Shut up, Langly." "I'm just saying," Langly began. "Shut up." Byers accented his words with an elbow to the ribs. "Come on, guys, let's go find some coffee." He lead the way followed by Langly. Frohike gazed sadly at Scully, before shooting a message at Mulder. *Don't hurt her, you lucky bastard.* Mulder nodded. *I won't,* he silently promised. Frohike turned and silently left the room. Mulder turned back to Scully and kissed her again. *** Mulder entered the hospital room and smiled to see Scully dressed in her own clothes. "You ready to go?" "As soon as we deal with the release forms." She smiled and absentmindedly adjusted the sling immobilizing her right arm. He sat down beside her and gave her a quick kiss. "I have something for you," he told her as he produced a gift bag and placed it on her lap. "A present?" Scully asked with an arched eyebrow. "Just open it." He looked on as she reached into the bag with her free hand. CD in hand, she shot him a confused look. "Mulder, I already have this one." His expression suddenly became guilty. "Well, you did," he replied as he stared at the gift bag. "Mulder," she questioned with a hint of anger. "It was in my car when it exploded. I figured the least I could do was replace it," he told her sheepishly. Scully laughed quietly. "Thank you." She grinned at him. "So did you get a new car, yet?" Mulder shook his head. "I'll deal with it once we get back home. I picked up a rental." He watched her nod, and hesitantly continued. "Speaking of new things, maybe it's not my place to say, but I think you should think about getting a new place." "Mulder, I like my place." He watched a frown form on her face and sighed. "I like it too, but look how many people have broken in. I don't like to think of you being in danger in your own home." "Mulder, if I move it means that they have power over me. I don't want to give that to them," she argued. He nodded understandingly. "Just promise me you'll think about it." Scully took a deep breath and sighed. "Okay, I'll think about it." Mulder kissed her softly. "Thank you." Dr. Bradley knocked and entered. "I've got your release forms." *** Scully stretched carefully and rubbed her eyes. Getting out of bed, she padded down the hall to the kitchen. The smell of scrambled eggs and toast greeted her as she got closer. She paused in the doorway and watched Mulder. Suddenly, she was hit with a feeling of deja vu. Mulder turned to see her watching him with an odd expression on her face. "What's up?" The feeling passed and she entered the room. "Good morning," she said as she wrapped her arms around his waist. "Breakfast smells good." "It's almost ready. Have a seat." He planted a kiss on her forehead and he shooed her away. Scully took a seat and drank thirstily from her glass of orange juice. She squirmed slightly and resisted the urge to scratch her shoulder. "Still itches?" he asked as he set a plate in front of her and another for himself. She nodded. "It's driving me crazy," she admitted. Mulder returned to the table with two steaming cups of coffee, then took a seat. Scully watched him as she slathered her toast with blackberry jam. "What is it, Mulder? I can tell there's something you want to discuss." Mulder took a bite of eggs before answering her. "What happens next?" "With us?" she inquired. Taking in his slight nod, she continued. "I don't know." She took his hand. "I love you, Mulder. I think we should just let things progress on their own." "As long as we're together," he said as his raised her hand to his lips. Before his eyes, her expression changed back to the one he'd noticed in the doorway. "What is it?" Scully closed her eyes as images flashed before her and the feeling of deja vu became overwhelming. For the first time, her dream came back to her. She squeezed his hand as she sucked in her breath. "Scully?" he asked, a twinge of fear lacing his voice. "I- I had a dream when I was kidnapped," she explained softly as she opened her eyes. "Ever since I moved in here, I've been having flashes of deja vu. I didn't know why until I remembered the dream. It's exactly like my apartment in my dream. And we had this exact same discussion. You made the same breakfast and everything." "What else happened?" She locked eyes with him. "Sam was there. She was my patient." She watched sadness briefly enter his eyes. "I've had lots of dreams over the years where Sam was still with me." "She is, Mulder. She'll always be with you. Right here," she said as she placed her hand over his heart. He smiled at Scully. "I know. My family may be gone, but I'll never be alone as long as I'm with you." "I love you," she told him with a dazzling smile as she lifted a piece of toast to his lips. To her surprise he took a bite then got up and headed for the front door. "Mulder?" "I'll be right back. I almost forgot something." He grinned mysteriously then disappeared. Scully stared mystified until he returned. A bouquet of red roses appeared from behind his back and was placed in her hands. "I had them at my place," he explained as he resumed his seat. Scully laughed brightly. "I wonder what Skinner will say when he realizes you moved in next door to me." "As long as I have you near me, I don't care what he says," Mulder retorted. "Nothing could keep us apart." He pulled her onto his lap and began to feed them both. END (3/3)