Title:           HERO DANCING BACWARDS IN HEELS

Author:          FatCat
                 (feedback to FatCat926@msn.com)

Rating:          NC17

Category:        MSR

Summary:         January 2002 challenge MSR

Disclaimer:      They aren't mine, dang it!  Chris
                 Carter Fox, 1013 and all those others
                 are the creators and controllers of
                 these characters.  Play nice or I'll
                 lure them away.

Author's Notes:  The elements of the challenge are
                 A Dreamcatcher
                 A FBI baseball cap
                 Cybersex of any form
                 Dancing in the moonlight
                 Viewing of an old horror flic
                 Green M&M's
                 A power outage

Summary:         Sometimes a woman has to Cowboy Up and
                 take what she wants.

Fox Mulder slammed his room door, flipping the safety
latch automatically.  He stopped by the connecting
door to see if Scully was back from the local field
office.  He unlocked his side and left the door open
slightly.  He heard her shower running and groaned.
He didn't need any help visualizing his partner naked
and wet, arms raised washing her hair.  Her full round
breasts would be lifted even higher than normal.  Her
small rose nipples would be hard and pebbled, aroused
by the heat of the shower and the cold of the room-
maybe even from the fantasy Scully would have running
through her mind.  He shook his head and purposefully
put the tantalizing picture out of his thoughts.  Damn
Diana for forcing them into that decontamination
shower together.

He toed off his hiking boots and strode toward his
bathroom, stripping off first his blue FBI windbreaker
and then the rest of his wet, muddy clothes as he
moved.  He cranked the shower on and adjusted the
water as hot as it would go.  One of these days he
would be in a motel with something other than lukewarm
water.  Not that he needed it 75% of the time.  Since
he accepted his love for Scully and his cowardice
about acting on his feelings, he was getting used to
the cold showers.

He glanced at his reflection in the mirror and smiled
as he notice that he still had the FBI baseball cap on
that Agent Finney loaned him when the monsoon hit.
This was Southern California-it wasn't supposed to
rain in June!

A half an hour later, Mulder was feeling like he would
live.   Damn!  He was getting too old to chase down
twenty-something suspects through the foothills of San
Diego.  Every muscle in his body ached.  He thought
that even his hair hurt, but he wasn't sure.   He had
just settled back on his bed with the remote when he
heard Scully's soft knock on the adjoining door.

"Are you decent?"  Scully called.

"Depends on your concept of decent, but at least I'm
dressed, Scully."  Mulder teased.

She pushed the door open and stood contemplating her
partner.  Mulder was reclined on the bed with only his
boxers on.  His bare chest and legs were muscular and
tanned.  'When had he become the standard for male
beauty?'  she thought.

"I heard that you caught the killer.  Pretty
spectacular chase, from Agent Finney's report.  It's
all over the news tonight.  You're a hero."

"Yeah, well, tell that to Melissa Connors or Jessica
Larson or Kendra Smith.  They're the ones that have to
live with the nightmares that monster left them with.
If I had just been able to see the pattern a week
earlier, they wouldn't have to face a lifetime of
memories."  Mulder felt like anything but a hero.

"A week later and they wouldn't have a life to live at
all Mulder.  Don't do this to yourself.  You are a
hero and you deserve every bit of praise you get."

"Yeah, fine, whatever." he said with a small smile to
cut the sarcasm of his words.

"Are you sure you don't want to join me for dinner at
Bill and Tara's house?"  Scully knew he did need his
rest and was extremely glad for an excuse to decline
the invitation.

"Thanks, but I'm going to crash as soon as I eat the
pizza I ordered from room service.  I feel like I
could sleep for a year."

"Don't forget we have an appointment to finish up the
paperwork with Detective Andrews at ten in the
morning.  We probably should check out before we head
over there.  Well, if you're sure you don't need the
car, I'll see you in the morning."

"You're not staying the night at Bill's are you?"
Mulder sat up, suddenly feeling alone.

"No, Mulder, but you'll probably be asleep when I get
back."  Scully quickly assured him.  She smiled
goodbye and left through her room.

Mulder settled back to wait for his dinner.  He knew
he would doze until she came back but wouldn't be able
to sleep soundly until she was safely in her room.

"I am so whipped."  Mulder said aloud with a grin.

An hour later he was full and napping when his cell
phone started ringing.

"Mulder."  He mumbled.

"Mulder, my man!  Hero of the hour!  You did it!
Congrats!"

"Langly?  Is that you?"

"Yep, hey, Mulder, did we catch you sleeping?"

"We?"  Mulder yawned and stretched.

"Yeah, I'm here too, Mulder!"  Frohike spoke up.

"You got the bad guy, dude.  Now you get to ride off
into the sunset with the girl!"  Langly joked.  "It's
all over the national news."

"Speaking of the lovely Agent Scully, where is she
tonight?"  Frohike asked.  "She wouldn't be snuggled
up next to you would she?  What's she wearing?"

"She's visiting her brother and his family," Mulder
replied in a back-off voice.  Mulder knew Frohike was
teasing, but sometimes his lewd curiosity about Scully
was more than he was willing to accept.

"Hey, no offence, man."

"None, taken Fro-I'm just strung out from this case.
Where's Byers?"

Langly snickered and Frohike laughed.

"He's in his room.  He needed some 'privacy'."
Frohike was finally able to say.

"Privacy for what?"  Mulder caught something in
Frohike's tone that suggested there was more to the
story than they were telling.

"Uh, well, I guess he won't care if Mulder knows."
Langly said.  "What do you think, Frohike?"

"Don't kid yourself, longhair, he'll kill us if we
tell Mulder."  Frohike replied.

"That's okay, guys, I can respect his privacy."
Mulder assured them.

"The hell you can, Mulder!"  Frohike brayed.  "You
know you're dying to know and we're dying to tell
you."

"Okay, what's happening."  Mulder smiled to himself.

"He's on-line, dude!"  Langly interjected, the smirk
evident in his voice.

"So?"  Mulder said when nothing more came out.

"You know...ON-LINE?"  Frohike added.

"So?  You guys are always on-line at one time or
another."  Mulder still wasn't getting the joke.

"Dude!  He's on-line with his chickadee, doing the
electronic hustle."

"Yeah, the long distance horizontal bop"

"You know...that which you desire with the lovely Agent
Scully in person."

"Jesus!  You mean Byers is on-line having cybersex?
Is that safe?  What does he know about this woman?"

"Relax man, it's Suzanne."  Frohike interjected.

"Suzanne?  The SUZANNE?"  Mulder was surprised.  "I
thought she was disappeared by the MIBs last time he
saw her."

"Yeah, but she popped up on his e-mail last month and
things have been hot and heavy since then."

"How does he know it's the real Suzanne?  I mean it
could be a ploy to infiltrate your computer systems."
Mulder sounded as paranoid as they were.

"It's cool, Mulder, she sent him the sign."  Langly
assured him.

"The sign?  What do you mean?"  Mulder questioned.

Both Frohike and Langly began laughing.

"You know, their safe signal.   She overnighted him
five pounds of green M&M's, Dude.  No one but Suzanne
would know that one."  Langly blurted.

"Good one, geekboy!  Now you've said it on the phone
and everyone listening knows what their safe sign is."
Frohike voice rose.

For the next few minutes insults flew between the two
Gunmen.  Mulder couldn't contain his laughter after
the first few jabs, but sleep was calling.

"Guys, guys!  Hey, I gotta go. I'm really tired after
this week.  It was great to hear from you.  Tell Byers
I said 'Way to Go!'  Talk to you next week."  Mulder
finally said to break up the fight.

"Later, Dude!"

"Congrats again, Mulder.  Don't forget to give my
regards to the lovely Agent Scully."  Frohike had to
add.

"Yeah, Fro.  Will do."  Mulder contemplated Byers and
Suzanne finally having some kind of relationship.

"Maybe there's hope for me yet"  Mulder said as he
picked up the remote to try to find something to watch
until he fell asleep again.

He channel surfed until he came across a double
feature of old black and white horror movies.  The
Frankenstein with Boris Karloff was just ending.
Mulder yawned and settled back to watch the movie
until Scully got back.  The Bride of Frankenstein was
up next.

"Shit, everybody's getting laid."  Mulder grumbled to
himself.  'But not you, you sorry son-of-a-bitch, as
Bill Scully so aptly put it.  No one wants Monster Boy
and especially not Scully.  So get used to it.'

Mulder tried to clear his mind of guilt, self pity and
memories of Samantha  by concentrating on the plot of
the old movie.  It really wasn't bad if you remembered
what they had to work with back then. . .

Dana Scully pulled up and stared at her brother's
house.  Base housing never seemed to change.  If she
squinted just right she could almost see her Mom
standing at the door waving to her and her siblings as
they walked to the bus stop.  This wasn't the house
she had lived in when Ahab was stationed at Miramar,
but it was identical in style and layout.

She sighed as she climbed out of the car, somewhat
sorry she had contacted Bill and Tara after all.  She
wasn't sure she was up to another fun filled visit
with Bill telling her everything wrong about her life,
her career, her assignments, her partner.  Maybe
tonight would be different.

Dana knocked and was greeted by an exuberant Matthew
and Tara.

"Dana, come in!"  Tara's gentle voice greeted her.

"Antie Day!  Antie Dana!  Antie Dana's here!"  Matthew
threw himself into her open arms and gave her a wet
smoochie kiss and a hug.  "Antie Dana, did you bring
me something?"

"Matthew William Scully!"  Tara chastised her son.
"You never ask for presents!  Tell Auntie Dana that
you're sorry."

"Sorry, Antie Day."  Matthew's lower lip trembled.

"Apology accepted, Matty.  But it just so happens that
I do have a present for you.  Let me get it out of my
purse."  Dana smiled and reached for the "Thomas the
Train"  book and tape she had picked up for her
nephew.  It was his new favorite and the happy little
boy gave his 'flavorite Antie' a kiss and ran into the
depths of the house to enjoy his newest treasure.

"Is Bill home yet?"  Dana asked.

"Oh, Dana, I'm sorry.  Yes, Bill is home, but he's
been following the news about the three kidnapped
girls so closely that when he heard the bulletin about
their return he..."

"He what, Sweetheart?  Dana, it's great to see you."
Bill Scully hugged his sister and walked her and Tara
into the living room.  "How have you been, Sis?"

Dana was glad to see her brother, even though most of
their get-togethers lately ended in an argument on her
life choices.

"I'm great, Bill.  We just ended our case and I wanted
to see you all before we returned to DC."

"That's great, Dana.  I'll bet your hungry.  I'll just
finish up dinner.  Why don't you two talk for a few
minutes?"  Tara gave her husband a warning look and
left them alone.

And surprisingly they did have a nice talk.  Bill
refused to bring up anything that was in the least
confrontational and Dana was more than willing to
cooperate.

After a great dinner, Tara shooed everyone out to the
living room.  She wouldn't take no for an answer.  The
dishes could wait.  They only had a limited amount of
time together and she was determined they enjoyed it.

Matthew had not let Dana out of his sight since they
sat down to eat.  He seemed to be thinking about
something very hard.  All the adults noticed his quiet
mood and were happy to see him smile again as he ran
from the living room towards his bedroom.

Dana and Bill were talking about the antics the Scully
children had pulled while living at Miramar when
Matthew raced back into the room.  His hands were
behind his back and a smile was on his face as he
stopped in front of Dana.

"Antie Day, I sorry I asked for a present.  Mommy told
me that it's more better to give than receive, so I
give you this."  With his pronouncement he pulled a
hastily wrapped present from behind his back.

Dana smiled at him and then looked from Tara to Bill
in askance.  They both shrugged and smiled back.  She
carefully peeled back the newspaper that covered the
gift and looked inside.  There was a homemade craft
item of unrecognizable origin, more precious to Dana
than a gift from Tiffany's.

"It's a Dweamcather, Antie Day.  We made them at
school when we learned about Indians and Cowboys."
Matty was proud of his gift.

"Matthew, I love it.  My very own Dreamcatcher.  I'll
hang it over my bed as soon as I get back home."  Dana
had tears in her eyes as she hugged the precious
little boy.  "Thank you sweetie."

Conversation gradually picked up and time passed
quickly.  Bill carried a sleeping Matthew up the
stairs with Tara but came right back down.

"Bill, I should go.  I've got a long day tomorrow."

"Hey, sis, at least wait for Tara to come back down
and say goodbye.  She won't be too long."  Dana nodded
her agreement.

"Do you mind if I turn on the evening news?"  Bill
asked as he flicked on the TV.  "I want to catch the
last update on the kidnappings.  Did I tell you that
one of the girls was the granddaughter of my CO?"

"Bill!  I didn't know."  Dana said.  She was going to
ask him what he wanted to know about the case when he
began talking again.

"Geese, Dana, if you had to be an FBI Agent you should
at least be working on cases like this one.  Rescuing
victims from animals like this guy is a worthwhile
job.  Not like working with that nutcase, Mulder.  The
guy who ran this sickie down is a real man.  Someone
that anyone could be proud of knowing.  Too bad you
couldn't find someone like this heroic agent and partner
up with him.  That's the kind of man you need to be with."

"Is that so, Bill?  Did you get the name of the agent
that made the arrest?"  Dana covered her anger well.
She let him dig his own grave-she was going to be the
one to push him in.

"Naw, you got here and I turned the TV off before I
heard the whole story."  Bill found the station he was
looking for and turned up the sound.   Tara joined
them as the evening news report began.

"Good evening.  I'm Jay Evans," said a sincere-
looking, middle-aged news man.

"And I'm Robin Moore and this is your early evening
news."  The attractive blonde smiled into the camera.

The screen flashed to Jay Evans again as he began to
speak.  " Today, the reign of terror that has
blanketed our area for the past six weeks is over.
The kidnapper of the latest three young girls from
suburban San Diego has been apprehended and the girls
returned to their families.  Young Melissa Connors,
Jessica Larson, and Kendra Smith were rushed to Mercy
Hospital for evaluation but released to their relieved
parents after a cursory physical."  A picture of the
three girls flashed on screen.

"The San Diego Police spokesman laid all the praise
for capture of the kidnapper at the feet of the two
FBI Agents sent from Washington DC-Special Agents, Dr.
Dana Scully and Dr. Fox Mulder.  Dr Scully was able to
identify through forensic evidence from the previous
victims clothing, leads, that Dr. Mulder used to
complete his profile of the perpetrator.  This profile
led to the identification and capture of accused
kidnapper and alleged murderer, Troy Stevens before
three more deaths could occur."

"That's right, Jay!  And not only did Agent Mulder
profile the killer, he was the one that chased down
twenty-eight year old Troy Stevens after he somehow
eluded the police net that surrounded the empty
warehouse where the girls were held.  The alleged
killer took off on foot through the foothills behind
the property at 1013 Fortuna Blvd.  Agent Mulder
single-handedly chased him down and had him in
handcuffs by the time the other officers caught up."

Footage of the tearful reunion of the girls and their
families began to roll with the continued voice over.
A muddy but happy Mulder surrounded by the three
scared young girls flashed on the screen.  At the
arrival of their parents the girls ran from Mulder's
protective presence into the arms of their arriving
families.  Dana could see Mulder's bittersweet smile
before he moved out of the view of the camera.

'Oh, Mulder, you never said a word.' she thought to
herself.  She knew that Mulder was thinking of
Samantha as he watched the reunions.

"Agent Mulder declined to make a statement to the
press other than citing the outstanding work the San
Diego police had done in tracking and apprehending the
alleged killer.  Agent Scully was unavailable as of
air time.  We take our hats off to these unsung
heroes.  San Diego thanks you, Agents Scully and
Mulder."

"Yes, Jay, I certainly agree.  On another bright note,
the newest arrival at the San Diego Zoo is Tong Tshu,
a baby giant panda born. . ."  Bill flicked off the TV
and silence enveloped the room.

Bill sat with his head bowed.  "Why didn't you tell me
that you were working on this case, Dana?"

"You didn't ask Bill."

"I assumed you were out here hunting down UFOs or
little 'grey' men.  So Mulder is the one that captured
that slime, huh?"

"Yes, Bill.  Mulder is 'the real man who ran this
sickie down - someone that anyone could be proud of
knowing - the kind of man I need to be with' to
paraphrase your earlier statement."

"Well, if he's so great, why aren't you 'with' him?
Mom swears that you two are just partners and friends,
but I know you Dana.  You want more from him.  What
kind of man would ignore a loving woman like you.  He
has to be a nutcase or something!"

"Bill, you're impossible!  First you loathe Mulder
because he's in my life then you criticize him because
he hasn't taken advantage of me sexually.  Have you
ever thought that there was more to Mulder than most
men?"  Dana rose and stood toe to toe with her
brother.

"He is a brilliant, intense, caring man.  He is
dedicated to his work and to finding his sister.
Would you have looked for me for all these years,
Bill, if I had disappeared?  Want him?  No, I don't
want him in my life - I need him.  My life would be
diminished without him.  Why can't you understand
that, Billy?"

"You're in love with him."  Bill was shocked.  He
staggered back and sat down hard on the sofa.

Dana was silent for a long moment.  "Yes.  Yes, I am."

"Does he love you too?"  Bill realized all he had ever
wanted was his sister's happiness.  "Is he in love
with you?"

Again Dana thought before she answered.  "I don't
know.  It's complicated, Bill.  We have garnered
enemies that would use our love against us.  I know he
loves me and for right now that's enough for me."

"You deserve more, sis."  Bill said quietly.

"We both do, Bill."

"You're never going to let me live this down, are you
Dana?"  Bill said, still not looking his sister in the
eyes.

"No, Bill.  I'm not."  Dana waited for a some sort of
response from Bill, but when it wasn't offered, she
turned to leave.

"Dana, tell Fox that we. . . I am so proud of him - of
both of you.  Thank you both for all the hard work you
put in catching this man."   Tara gave her husband a
stern look as he remained silent and seated on the
couch.

The women moved toward the front door and hugged as
Dana prepared to leave.  The walk down the sidewalk
seemed endless.  Fatigue overtook her as she got in
the car.  She rested her head on the wheel for a
moment before leaving.  The knock on her window
startled her.  Her brother's face filled the window.

She lowered it, refusing to speak first.

"Dana, I'm sorry I didn't say goodbye.  I had a lot to
think about."  Bill said, still unable to look her in
the eye.  "Look, maybe I could be. . .  I mean it's
possible that I may have. . .  I might have drawn
certain conclusions about your job and everything that
could be incorrect."  Bill looked at her to see if his
backhand apology was going to work.  One look and he
realized only a true apology was going to be accepted
by this stubborn sister of his.

"All right!  I apologize for my past statements.  I
don't understand why you would give up a cushy career
as a medical doctor to be an FBI agent.  Dana,  I just
don't understand.  You worked so hard!"  Bill was at a
loss for words.

"I accept your apology, Bill.  I know you don't
understand why I do what I do, but can you at least
understand that it is my choice and I am happy with my
life?"

"I don't know, Sis, all I can promise is that I will
try."  Bill said honestly.

"I'm not the only one that you owe an apology to,
Bill."  Dana pushed.

"Geese, Dana!  I don't know about apologizing to
Mulder."  Bill squirmed.

"Bill. . ."  Dana started.

"Okay, I'll try about Mulder, too."  Bill said.  "But
it's probably going to be a cold day in Hell before we
like each other."

"Thank you, Bill, that's all I'm asking.  I better get
back to the motel."  As Dana spoke all the lights on
the street suddenly blacked out.

"Damn!  I'd better get inside.  They're working on
upgrading the electrical systems here on base.  This
unexpected rain has caused blackouts for the past week
or so.  Tara and Mattie will need me.  Can you find
you way off base without the lights, Sis?"

"Sure, Bill, I learned how to drive on this base,
remember.  It hasn't changed that much."  Dana smiled
at her big brother.

He started to walk back to the house but turned and
motioned for her to roll down the passenger window.
"We'll see you and Mulder at Mom's house at Christmas,
Dana.  Okay?"

"Okay, Bill."  Dana smiled.   For the first time in
many years everything was going to be okay between
them.  She couldn't ask Bill to be best friends with
Mulder, but at least he was willing to try to accept
him in her life.  Now, she just had to work on Mulder
accepting Bill.

When Scully entered her room, she automatically
glanced towards the adjoining door and saw that
Mulder's TV was still on.  She quietly walked into his
room stopping just short of the end of the bed.

Mulder was asleep with the remote control still in his
hand.  She slid it from his fingers and turned to shut
off the TV when the movie on the screen caught her
attention.

Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire were dancing in the
moonlight.  They floated across the set staged to look
like the terrace of a fancy country club as one.  Dana
sat down on the end of the bed to watch the end of the
scene.  She was trying to remember what she had read
recently that referred to Ginger Rodgers.

"I didn't know you were a Fred Astaire fan, Scully."
Mulder's voice was gravelly with sleep.

"What makes you think I was admiring Astaire, Mulder?"
Scully teased back.

"Isn't that what all women want?  A man that can
romance them and dance with them in the moonlight?"

"That's not every woman's idea of romance, Mulder.
For your information, I was trying to remember a quote
I read a few days ago about Ginger Rodgers.  It was in
an article about women in the work place.  I think it
was something about how everyone admired Astaire, but
forgot that Ginger Rodgers danced every step with him
backwards and in heels."

At Mulder's groggy look she continued.  "It was a
reference to how hard women had to work to achieve
recognition in a male dominated society."

Mulder smiled and let his eyes close again.

"Speaking of recognition, did you catch the evening
news, Mulder?"

"Naw, I was watching the Bride of Frankenstein and
fell asleep a while back.  Anything I should know
about."

"I saw you with the girls at the hospital, Mulder."
Scully was almost whispering.  If he had slipped back
to sleep she didn't want to wake him.

"Oh," came his sleepy reply.

"You were thinking of Samantha, weren't you.  When you
saw them reunite with their parents, I saw your face."

"Yeah.  It was great to see them together."

"Mulder, we'll find her."  Scully promised.  She
clicked off the TV and moved to kneel beside him.
"We'll find her someday, Mulder, and we won't stop
until the truth is known to everyone."

Mulder kept his eyes closed but a single tear slid
down his face.  He reached for Scully as he scooted
over in the bed.  "Stay here with me for a while,
please Scully."  His voice revealed the pain in his
heart.

Dana kissed his forehead and promised to be right
back.  She hurried through her evening routine and
after pulling on her navy night shirt, moved back to
Mulder's room.

He pulled her into his arms and sighed contentedly.

"My hero,"  he said as he kissed her hair and slid
back into sleep.

"Mulder, you are the hero who deserves the happy
ending."  Scully whispered softly to him.  "And one
day you'll get it."

Scully lay awake thinking of her brother's words.  She
had admitted to him that she was in love with Mulder.
Why couldn't she tell Mulder the same thing?  Suddenly
it was all too much for Scully.

She knew he loved her as a friend for years.  She had
felt comforted by it and the love she felt for him as
a partner and a friend.

He told her he was in love with her after the Queen
Anne incident.  The love she felt for him as a man had
overwhelmed her and she had countered quickly with an
'Oh, Brother!' to hide the depths of her response.

She had been more terrified of loving him than she had
been of facing death from her tumor.  But, time had
eased her trepidation and now she realized that
acknowledging their love was more important than her
fear.

"I love you Mulder."  Scully whispered.  It wasn't as
hard to say as she thought it would be - especially
when she thought he was asleep.

"What did you say?"  Mulder gasped.

"I said I love you.  I'm in love with you."  Scully
decided that now was as good a time to tell him as
any.

Mulder was dazed.  Everything he had ever wanted was
just handed to him.  For an instant joy flashed
through his heart.  But as quickly as it flared,
reality stifled it.  He couldn't let Dana Scully know
how much he loved her and he couldn't allow her to
love him.

"Let me in, Mulder.  Don't shut me out."  Scully could
feel him pulling away mentally.


Mulder was silent for a moment longer and then jerked
away to sit cross-legged near the foot of the bed.

"I can't, Scully."

"Why?  Why, Mulder, why can't you share your love and
life with me?  Why do you think you have to be some
kind of modern day martyr?  Do you think you have the
market cornered on angst?"  Scully was losing her
temper.

Mulder snorted and flashed a sarcastic look her way.
"You of all people should know that hanging around me
is bad for your health and your career.  Scully,
haven't I hurt you enough by just being your partner
and friend?  Do you want to go for a triple double
and let me shitcan your life on a more personal level?"

"Mulder, could you try to be a little more crude?"
Scully was trying very hard to control her temper, but
he was pushing her beyond her limits.  Admitting her
feelings to Bill tonight had somehow opened a dam of
emotions and she was not sure she could remain calm.

"I'm sorry, Scully.  You don't know what you're
getting into here.  I'm not the best man for you.  You
deserve more.  You ought to have a normal life with
the right man.  You know-kids, house, dog, minivan,
orthodontia bills."  Mulder tried to tease her into
forgetting her declaration and failed.

"All I can offer is pain and danger.  I can't do that
to you."

Dana Scully stared at his back for some minutes after
his speech.  Stared at his beautiful, bare, sexy back.
She crawled across the bed and wrapped her arms around
his neck.

Moving her lips to almost touch his ear, she said
sweetly  "Who the hell do you think you're dealing
with, Mulder?"  She flipped him down onto his back and
jumped on his chest, pinning his arms down with her
knees.

Mulder struggled until he realized that his face was
closer to heaven on earth than he ever thought he
would be.  He tore his gaze from the crotch of her
silky navy panties and let it burn up to meet her
eyes.  The fire in her eyes mesmerized him.  A shock
of desire held him in place.

"Mulder, tonight I told my brother and Tara that I
love you, am in love with you.  Bill fought it, but
eventually accepted that I am a grown woman and he had
to let me love whom I chose.  Yet, when I tell you -
you the man that has proven time and time again his
loyalty, his depth of caring and even stated his love
for me - YOU reject me!"  Scully's anger was growing
with each moment that passed.

"I refuse to accept your rejection!  You want me.  You
love me, and you're damn well going to have me!  And
I'm going to have you."

"Scully"

"Shut up, Mulder.  I'm doing the talking here.  For
months now I have tried to deny that you told me you
loved me.  Coming after almost losing you again, it
was too much to deal with.  But you said it and I
heard it and now, I'm ready to hold you to it.  I love
you, too, Mulder.  And I want you in my life in any
way you are able to give.  If all you can do is be my
partner and hold on to your secret love Jones, I can
accept it.  But that's not what I want."  Scully could
tell that she was scaring him.

After a few moments he was able to ask, "What. . ." he
cleared his throat.  "What do you want, Scully?"

"I want it all, Mulder.  I want you as my partner.  I
want to cover your back and know that you will always
be there for me.  I want my friend - my best friend.
Someone that knows when to tease and when to walk
away.  Someone I can always count on."  Scully licked
her lips and continued.  "I want to openly love you
and I want you to love me back."

Scully scooted lower on Mulder's chest.  She let her
eyes lock on his lips and moved as if to kiss him.

"I want you in my bed, every night.  I want you."  She
allowed herself one kiss before she continued.

Her lips lowered to him in a kiss that was almost
chaste.  Mulder's lips molded to hers and smiled as
she moved away.

"Scully, I don't think you know what you're asking
for."  Mulder quietly responded.

"Oh?"  Her eyebrow slowly rose.  "Just what do you
think I'm asking for, Mulder?"

"I can't give you normal, Scully.  Oh, I could give
you the house and the dog and probably even the kids -
one way or another.  But it could be taken away in a
moment by any one of the people who populate our
world.  I can love you, Scully.  But even that
wouldn't be what you deserve.  You deserve 'happy ever
after'.  All I can offer is a pretty shaky now."

"All you do is tell me no.  I once again reject your
'No'.  I don't need your definition of normal.  I
don't even want normal.  I haven't been fighting by
your side for all these years and stayed the same,
Mulder.  I may have thought that the kid-house-dog
scenario was what I wanted when I was young, but that
was before I grew up and realized that there was more
than that in life to pursue."

"Once again, we're back to asking what do you want,
Scully?  All I can offer is my love and all the pain
that goes with it."

"That will do, Mulder.  Your love will give me all I
need."

"Jesus, Scully, make it hard for me why don't you.
You have to know that I'm afraid I'll hurt you."

"Mulder, your love could never hurt me."  Scully was
quick to assure him.

"I wasn't just talking about my love, Scully.  I...
I'm afraid that my passion will scare you - will turn
you away.  You're everything to me and I don't think I
could live if I had a taste of your love and then you
took it away."  Mulder was baring his soul to her.
How could she do less?

"I don't think you know the depth of my passion for
you, Mulder.  I can understand how you feel; I
sometimes have the same fears."

"You afraid, Scully?  Come on, you're the strongest
person I know."

"I am afraid sometimes, Mulder.  My need for you is
overwhelming, blinding me to everything else
sometimes.  Luckily, it usually flares when I'm alone
in bed and I've been able to hide it from you."

"You want me?"  Mulder gulped, trying to free his arms
to hold her.

"Uh, uh, uh!  I'm the one in charge right now,
Mulder."  Scully was enjoying looking down at Mulder
for a change.

"Yes, to answer your question, I want you."  She
smiled sweetly at him.

"How?  How do you want me?" he whispered.

"Oh, Mulder, so many ways, I want you so many ways
that it's hard to verbalize."

"Try," was all he could say.

Scully let her gaze rove over his face and come to
rest on his beautiful eyes, returning his intense
stare.

"Mulder, I'll tell you, but you have to promise not to
interrupt me.  I need to tell you this all at once.
Can you agree to that?"

"I'm not sure I can, Scully.  I can promise I will
try.  Is that good enough?"

Scully smiled then, "Yes, Mulder, for you that's good
enough."  She closed her eyes and gathered her
thoughts before she began.

"When I'm alone at night and think about what I need,
what I want, I think of you.  I want to kiss you and
hold you close any time I choose.  I want to run my
fingers through your hair and feel the softness of the
strands as they fall through my fingertips.  I want to
draw my nails through you hair and scrape your scalp,
massaging it and hopefully arousing you. I want to
move my hands down to stroke your face.  I want to
skim across your forehead and move to trace your
eyebrows.  I want to kiss your eyelids and taste your
eyelashes with my tongue."  Scully lowered her hands
to follow the path her voice had blazed.

"I want to run my finger tips over every inch of your
face and follow them with my tongue and lips.  I want
to give you Eskimo and butterfly kisses.  I want to
trace your lips with my finger tips.  I long to slide
them down the crease between your nose and your upper
lip and follow around the outline and back across the
crease to slip my finger into your mouth.  I know it
will be hot and exciting, with a flavor of toothpaste
and Mulder when I slide it out and pop it into my
mouth for a taste."  Once again Scully's finger
followed her words and she gave a satisfied groan when
she discovered she was right.

Mulder's brain felt like it was going to explode.  He
clenched his fists in the coverlet of the bed, trying
to hold on to his sanity.

Scully grinned at him and continued.  "I want to kiss
you for hours, Mulder.  I want to kiss you lips so
many ways."

"Ungh!  Ways?"  Mulder was reduced to single word
sentences.  He was in big trouble.

Scully slid lower still so that she could whisper
directly into his ear.  "I want to kiss you sweetly,
closed mouth kisses that caress and tease for about an
hour and then slip my tongue between your lips and
explore.  I want you to take over the kiss and fuck me
with your tongue, Mulder, until we're both so hot and
ready that all we can do is rip off our clothes and
come."

"Uhh, Scully."

"Shhh! Mulder.  You promised."  She began to rub her
breasts slowly against his chest.  The buttons on her
night shirt worked open, one by one.  His eyes were
locked on the glimpse of Scully that flashed before
them.

"Oh, Mulder, I want to kiss you down your body, your
beautiful, sexy body."  Scully slid lower still as she
talked.  She let her hot breath touch him everywhere
she wanted her lips to go, but would not give him the
relief of actual touch.  She slid her sex down his
body, slowing as she felt his erection slide in
between her legs.  She deliberately hesitated and
allowed the heat of their arousals to build before she
continued to slide down.  She allowed the friction of
her downward path to raise her night shirt.  Their
mutual moans of please brought smiles to both their
faces as skin slid across skin.

She came to the waistband of his boxers and stopped.

"Mulder, I want to slide your boxers down and . . ."

"And?"  Mulder gasped out.

"Ah, but before I feel I have the right to do
something like that, I would need to know that I am
wanted.  That I am loved.  That what I feel is
forever, not just for one night or a short while."

"Scully, you're killing me here."  Mulder was able to
say.  "Please, you know that I love you."

She slid her fingers under the waistband and tugged.
"No, Mulder, I don't know that.  I've heard you say
you love me one time.  You were drugged and in a lot
of pain.  I don't know if that is enough."

She moved to rise from the bed and was gently tugged
back down.  Mulder's hands held her face close to his
and he kissed her.  All she could think of was the
Kevin Cosner quote from Bull Durham - it was a long,
slow, deep, wet kiss that aroused her more than any
kiss she had ever received before in her life - ever!

"Finish what you were saying about the boxers Scully."
Mulder growled.  "A man can only take so much."

"I think you forgot the 'l' word, Mulder," she teased.

"You finish your thoughts first.  When I tell you I
love you, I want my cock to be buried deep in the heat
of your body.  I want my hands on your breasts, and my
lips devouring yours.  The hell with it."  Mulder
pulled her night shirt over her head and ripped her
panties off her body.  His deep green eyes burned her
everywhere they touched.  He moved to tear off his
boxers and to lean above her.

"You want my love, Scully?  You've got it.  You've had
it for years.  You are everything to me.  Your touch
is in every part of my life.  I get home from work and
I have to masturbate to release the pressure of being
so close to you all day and not being able to touch
you.  Sometimes I don't even make it home.  When I
come, I yell your name.  It's for you, Scully, no one
else."  Mulder began to stroke her stomach.

"When I eat alone I order food that I know you like.
When I work around the apartment I clean it so that
you will feel comfortable when you come over.  Each
time I change the sheets on the bed, I wonder if this
time, maybe, just maybe, I'll get lucky and be able to
share the bed with you.  When I sleep I dream of you.
The nightmares are a bitch, but sometime I get lucky
and I dream of us and we're happy."  Mulder moved his
hands to caress her breasts.  Scully never let her
gaze leave his.

"You are everything to me, Scully.  I know you think
that my quest to find Samantha is the most important
thing in the world to me, but you're wrong.  I've
known for years that the older I get without finding
her, the less the chances are that it will ever
happen.  You, Scully, are the reason that I am able to
get up in the morning and face another day without
her.  You fill me up with just a glance, a touch, a
word.  When we do find Samantha, she will owe as much
to you for her rescue as to me."  Mulder nudged her
legs apart and lowered his body to lie between them.

He slid his hand between them and began to tease her
clit.  "Your friendship and support have kept me sane.
My love for you has kept me strong.  You are the most
important person in my life.  I love you, but I never
allowed myself to believe that you would love me
back."  Mulder groaned when he slid his fingers into
her.  The proof of her readiness made him clench his
jaw to hold in the 'Oh Fuck' the reverberated through
his mind.

"I have loved you for years, Mulder."  Scully
whispered.

"Oh, God, Scully."  Mulder rose above her and held
himself ready at the lips of her vagina.  He lowered
his head to kiss her but her words stopped him.

"I need you, Mulder.  I need you inside me now.
Please."

Scully only had to ask that once and Mulder was lost.

He moved his hips forward to slide into her.  He knew
he needed to go slow for her.  She was so tight he
didn't want to hurt her and he wanted the added
advantage of dragging out the moment and letting the
exquisite feeling of entering her last forever.

Scully sucked in her breath and held it as he slowly
entered her body.  He was so big.  She was so out of
practice.  He felt so good.  She had never felt this
full and complete before.  She had always loved the
feeling sex with a tall man.  They enveloped her and
bombarded all her senses, making her pleasure more
acute.  Sex with Mulder was proving to be almost more
sensory stimulation than she could bear.  When he slid
in the final inches, she could feel him pressing up
against her cervix.  She felt beautiful and wanton and
loved.  She was beyond words.

"Scully!"  he breathed.  "You feel so wonderful, so
tight, so hot.  I love you Dana Scully."  Mulder rose
up so that he could see where they were joined.  "Look
at us," he commanded.  "Look at us and know that I
love you, Scully.  I worship your body, I need your
friendship, I admire your intelligence, and I crave
your love.  This is our forever, Scully."  He began to
thrust his hips into her harder.

"Even when we're too old to do this, I'll love you.
You are my oxygen.  If you are taken from me after
this, I will live what's left of my life alone.  I
will never have another.  You are my wife, my mate, my
other half and no one else will ever do.  God, I love
you Scully."

"Mulder. . ."  she began.

"Shhh, you don't need to say anything."  He lowered
his lips to hers and they kissed as he worshiped her
body with his.

Mulder's lips left hers and slid down to her throat.
Scully thrust her head back as he began to kiss and
bite her neck, marking her has his.  The feeling of
his lips sucking on her at the joint of her neck to
shoulder sent another bolt of heat thru her body.  As
she moved to meet his now powerful strokes, she could
feel her orgasm building.

"Mulder, I love you too.  I want you forever.  You are
my other half.  I was empty until I met you.  I had
built all these.."  A groan completed her sentence.

"All these what, Scully?"  Mulder loved that she was
talking.  Her words and actions mingled to arouse him
further - he could actually feel his cock grow harder
and longer.

"Walls,  Mulder" she groaned.  "Walls, I built them to
keep others out because I felt so empty and
incomplete."  Scully let her lips latch on to his neck
and marked him as hers.

"I was missing you, Mulder.  You are the one that
completes me.  Jesus!  Do that again."  Scully nearly
shouted as Mulder began to thrust into her harder.
She could feel him pounding her cervix and before long
a new sensation began to overwhelm her.  Scully raised
her legs higher, locking her ankles when the pleasure
gained by her movement seemed to peak.

The orgasm that swept over her was so strong, so
overwhelming that she almost made him stop to keep it
from crushing her.  Wave after wave of intense
pleasure surged through her body.  The strong
contractions of her vaginal walls drove Mulder over
the edge.  His previously smooth strokes became
erratic and his breath left his body in small gasps
and groans.

"Scully, ohgodiloveyouloveyouloveyouyouyou."  The last
was said as he came and came and came and finally
collapsed over her.

Many moments passed before they were able to crawl up
the bed and settle themselves under the covers.
Scully nestled up to Mulder's side, wrapped in his
arms and his love.

Neither of them had the energy to do more than lazily
kiss and snuggle for many minutes.

"Scully, did you say that you told Bill that you love
me?"  Mulder was suddenly seized by panic.  He pulled
away to look at her face as she answered.

"Mulder..."  Scully giggled.  "There's no need for
your panic face.  I think Bill has finally accepted
the fact that I am old enough and smart enough to make
my own decisions."

"Okay.  What about Charlie?"

"Charlie will be okay with this, too.  He trust's my
judgment."

"That's great."  Mulder murmured as he slid closer to
sleep.

"Mom is the one you have to worry about."  Scully
waited for the reaction.  Three, two, one.

"Maggie?"  Mulder sat straight up in bed as if
expecting to find her in the room.

"Relax, Mulder."  Scully smiled to herself as she
pulled him back down to snuggle.  "The worst part will
be fending off the offer of Father McQue's services."

His silence was so profound that it scared her.
"Mulder?"

"What if I don't want to dodge your Mom or refuse the
services of Father McQue?  What if I want forever?"
Mulder's voice was laced with uncertainty.

Scully sucked in her breath, stunned by his words.

"Are you trying to be Fred Astaire here, Mulder, and
dance me across the terrace in the moonlight?"  Her
gentle teasing and stroking hands soothed his fears.

"If I am, will you be my Ginger Rogers?  My partner
for life?"  Mulder felt the warmth and love of her
voice and touch.

"Oh, Brother."  Scully kissed him.  "I better get to
sleep.  Big day tomorrow, you know.  I have to learn
to dance backwards in heels."