Title - Exploring Something New - Part 3
Author - Donna
Email address - donnah@donnas-stories.com
URL - www.geocities.com/Area51/Quadrant/4571/
Rating - PG-13
Category - MSR, AU
Spoilers - None
Keywords - MSR
Summary - Sequel to Exploring Something New - 2
Feedback - Please
Archive - Anywhere, just please keep my name and let 
me know!

Disclaimer - Mulder, Scully, the Lone Gunman and 
Skinner all belong to Chris, 10-13 and Fox - Bless them 
for it!!  No infringement intended.

Exploring Something New - Part 3


She woke as he nuzzled into her belly. What the . . . ?  
Oh shit, they'd done it again.  The file she'd been reading 
was scattered on the floor beside the bed, the light was 
on and she was slumped to one side, toward him.  He 
had his head in her lap and was peacefully asleep.

She could see it was morning through the windows, but 
didn't know the time.  Her watch was in her room and she 
could see his lying on his dresser.

Once could be considered an accident, but twice?  What 
was she supposed to think?  What would he think?  She 
had never acted like this around a man.  She and Ethan 
hadn't slept together for nearly six months after they'd 
started dating.

But of course that was totally different. She and Ethan 
had sex, she and Mulder had only 'slept' together, and 
offered comfort.  So why the hell did she feel better 
waking up with Mulder?

Scully shoved that thought brutally aside.  She wasn't 
'waking up' with Mulder.  Well, yes she was, but not in 
the same context.   And why hadn't she moved yet?

She sat up straighter then, her neck a little stiff from the 
unusual position.  He protested this, burrowing his face 
deeper into her abdomen.

"Mulder?  Wake up."

"Umm?"  Then it penetrated what he was doing and 
where.  He came awake in an instant and moved away 
from her.

"Morning."  She spoke dryly.

"Oh god.  Nobody would ever believe this."

"I was thinking the same thing, Mulder."  She shook her 
head but he didn't hear anger in her voice.  "Maybe we 
should try getting rooms in separate hotels next time."

That surprised a chuckle out of him.  "I'm not sure that 
would help.  Two night's restful sleep for me.  I could get 
addicted."

"Better not, the Bureau frowns on fraternization."

"It also frowns on less than alert agents, but I'll let that 
pass.  Did you get any sleep?"

"Actually I did, but a hot shower sounds good."

"Yeah, good idea.  I'll, uh, I'll meet you in the hall?"

"Even better idea.  I won't be long."  She slipped out of 
bed and into her room, closing the door behind her.  He 
didn't realized until it didn't come, that he was listening 
for the sound of the lock snicking into place.

Rather than dwell on this, which would definitely be 
counterproductive, he also rose and headed for the bath.

When he tapped on her door less than an hour later, she 
was ready.  He didn't ask how, but she looked fresh and 
awake.  He felt a surge of gratitude that she was here 
with him.

She looked up and smiled, but his expression caught her 
off guard.  He was gazing at her with something like awe.

"Mulder, you okay?"

"I'm good."  He heard what he'd said then, he was good.  
Good?  He hadn't been 'good' in ages, decades, but he 
was now.  Who was this woman?

"Well, uh, we better get moving.  The body's not getting 
any fresher."

"Right, what about breakfast?"

"The sign said there was a continental breakfast in the 
lobby.  Will that hold you?"

"Sure."  No need to tell her he usually just had coffee 
after he got to the office.  Instead, his hand on her back, 
he escorted her to the lobby.  She choose a bagel, light 
cream cheese and some fruit.  He picked up a bear claw, 
a sweet roll and some fruit filled thing.

She laughed lightly when he joined her at the table.  
"Should I have an insulin injection ready?"

He just grinned taking a large bite of the fruit pastry.  It 
was nice to have an appetite.

In deference to the other guests, they refrained from 
discussing their next stop.  He watched her as she ran a 
hand around her neck and stretched.

"Stiff neck?"

"A little.  That's not my normal sleeping position."

"Here."  He rose and moved beside her, placing one of 
his large warm hands on her neck.  He massaged gently, 
"since it's my fault."

"You better stop or we'll never get out of here."  She saw 
the amused conflict in his eyes.  "Yes, we have to get out 
of here."

He looked as though he were pouting, like a little puppy 
dog, until she shook her head at him, then he sighed and 
released her.

"Come on then, slave driver."  He took their trash over 
and she refilled both of their coffees, fixing his just as he 
liked it.

As they were leaving the room, they overheard one of the 
women turn to her companion and say, "I love to watch 
honeymooners.  They always look so happy."

Scully hesitated, but Mulder's hand steered her outside.

"Mulder, they thought -  "

"I know.  I heard.  Scully, I'm sorry.  I didn't mean to put 
you in such a position.  I - " He looked deeply concerned 
about her reaction.

"You didn't do anything, I did - letting you massage my 
neck."  The color had deepened in her cheeks.  "I think . . 
. I think maybe we're a little too comfortable with each 
other."

"We're not behaving professionally enough."  It was a 
statement.

"I've not had a partner assigned to me, Mulder.  We don't 
really need them at Quantico.  I don't want to mess this 
up."

He nodded, his mood plummeting.  "Yeah, we should get 
to work."

She nodded soberly, but didn't say anything when his 
hand returned to her back as they headed for the car.

*****

The facilities were adequate, maybe slightly more, but 
Scully had the impression that gunshot wounds from 
intoxicated hunters made up more of their work than what 
they were faced with now.  She requested the tests that 
Mulder had mentioned, then began her visual exam of 
the victim.

There wasn't a scratch or a bruise on him.  If it weren't for 
the fact he had no vitals, Scully would have told him to 
get up and stop with the jokes.

She took her time, and Mulder watched without 
interrupting; his mind still partially on the woman's 
offhand comment upon observing them.  Had they really 
looked like honeymooners?  She had just come from his 
bed, but not in the way he'd like.  Whoa!  Hold on Mulder, 
this was an intelligent, educated, sophisticated woman, 
not  like the type he'd actually spent time with over the 
years.  Since returning from England he'd been too busy, 
or too reluctant, to work at meeting a woman.  He 
certainly wasn't in her league.

He watched her pull over the tray to begin the incision.  
She was all business now, this may have been where 
she's gotten the name "Ice Queen".  How else would she 
be able to get through what she did.  But now he knew 
better.  "Scully, you don't need me here.  What if I head 
over to the site where they found him; see if there's 
anything there."

"Sure, take your time.  This is going to be thorough."

He managed a small grin and let himself out.  She 
watched him leave, a little concerned.  He'd been quiet 
since that woman had made that comment about them.  
He was probably mortified that she would think he was 
interested in someone like her.   He probably went for tall 
women, blondes with . . . she sighed.  She wasn't here 
for that, this was work.  Yes, they were comfortable with 
each other, but that could be the problem.   Why wasn't 
she treating him as professionally as she usually did her 
male colleagues?

Because she'd woken up twice in his arms.  The thought 
stung her.  Just how unprofessional could she be?  No, 
not now.  She had work to do.

*****

It was irrational to be angry at the victim, pissed at a 
corpse, but she was.  The boy should get up now and 
walk out of the morgue.  She'd checked everything - his 
heart was healthy, the same with his lungs, liver, kidneys, 
everything, damn it!

She glanced over at the test results that had been 
delivered just a short while ago.  They'd rushed them.  
There were some perks to working for the Bureau.  It's 
just that the results weren't helping; at least they weren't 
helping her.  Mulder was going to be pleased.

As though on cue her cell phone rang.  "Scully."

He hesitated at her tone.  "Scully?  Are you okay?"

"I'm pissed."

She could feel him blink at that.  "What . . . what 
happened?"

"Our victim."

"Scully?"

"He's not sick, Mulder.  He's not injured.  He should just 
stand up and walk out except for the Y-incision I put in 
his chest."  She shook her head.  "What about you?"

"Nothing on the ground."  He looked around him, "There's 
a strange burn pattern in the trees."

"Burn?"
 
"Yeah, I'll show you.  Did you, did you run those tests?"

He felt the hesitation on her part, and waited.

"I got the results, but I don't understand them."

"Listen, I'll be right there."

"Take your time; I'm not ready to give up yet."

That statement didn't surprise him.  "Okay, see you in a 
little bit."
        
*****

He didn't take his time.  He felt the need to connect with 
her.  It was an unfamiliar feeling, but not unwelcome.

She looked up when he entered.  "Two things Mulder."

"What?"  He hurried to her side.

"I hadn't looked at the X-rays."

"And?"

"There was a small piece of metal in his sinus cavity. 
There's no scar, I don't know how it got there, or what it 
is."

"What it is?"

"Look."  She indicated the microscope, and waited.

"Do you, Scully, do you know what this is?"

"It looks like a computer chip, but Mulder, it can't be."

"Is there any medical reason for any piece of metal to be 
lodged or placed into someone's sinus?"

"No."

"None?"

"None that I know of."

He took a deep breath, "You said two things."

She turned back toward the body.  "His brain.  There's 
what appears to be . . . new growth."

"New?  I thought the brain didn't grow, couldn't even 
heal."

"There are some studies that are questioning that, but 
I've never seen anything like this."

"So let me get this straight, this boy has no wounds, no 
disease that could kill him, but there's what looks like a 
damn sophisticated computer chip up his nose, there's 
new growth in his brain.  Even though you haven't said, 
his glucocorticords are off and there's a reduction in the 
lymphocyte population.  Did I miss anything?"

She looked at him for a long moment, then dropped her 
eyes.

"Scully?"

She didn't look up, concentrating instead on removing 
her gloves.  "No, I think that covers it."  She knew she 
sounded hostile, and she could feel him withdraw from 
her even though he hadn't moved physically.

Scully took a deep breath, "I'm sorry.  I'm not angry -  "

"You're not?"

She did look up then and he watched her face soften into 
an ironic smile.  "Yes, but not at you."

He didn't return her smile.  "I shouldn't have asked you to 
come on this case.  Working with me will only . . . only 
hurt your reputation at the Bureau.  I don't know what I 
was thinking.  You should fly back to DC this afternoon.  
You can turn in your report and wash your hands of this . 
. . and me."

"Mulder?  Do you, do you want me to leave?"

"I think it would be for the best."

"Best for whom?"

"Best for you Agent Scully.  If you continue to work with 
me, it will ruin you at the Bureau and I would hate to have 
that on my conscience."

"You have that kind of power?"

He just stared at her, after a long moment, he nodded.

"I don't believe that."

"Agent Scully, I'm the lead agent on this investigation.  I 
requested your assistance.  You've given it.  I'd like your 
notes, but your phase of this case is over and I -  "

"No."

He blinked at that.  Most people didn't have the guts to 
speak to him like that, to defy him.

"You can't throw me off the case like this.  AD Skinner 
assigned me, not you.  We had a deal, if I found a 
mundane cause of death, you wanted to know it."

"But you didn't."

"I'm not through.  I haven't seen where his body was 
found or this strange burn pattern you mentioned."

"That's external.  You have his body here -  "

"Yes, but its only part of the evidence.  I am a part of this 
investigation and until it ends, I'm one of the agents of 
record.  I can't force you to work with me, but I'm not 
leaving."

That took him aback.  She didn't even come up to his 
shoulder without her heels, she was a green agent, yet 
she was defying him.  That was a first.  She didn't seem 
to be the least bit intimidated by him or his reputation.

"I'll need the car.  I can drop you somewhere."

"Why do you need the car?"

"I want to see the site."

"Alone?"

"If that's the only way I can."

"You're not listening to me.  I'm trying to save your 
career."

"I believe that's my job Agent Mulder."  Her tone had a 
touch of ice now and he was reminded of her own 
nickname.

"I'll take you out there."

"You don't have to put yourself out."

"I'm not . . . Damn it, Scully!"  He backhanded the 
instruments off the tray and she jumped at the sound, the 
violence.  "Fine, let's go."  He turned away from her.

"I have to, I have to clean up."

"I'll wait in the car."

"Mulder -  " but the door was closing behind him.  She 
closed her eyes.  What the hell had just happened?  
They had been working well together, but . . .

She hurried to get out of her scrubs and outside.  She 
spotted him in the car, his head lowered, brow resting on 
the steering wheel.  He sat up quickly when she opened 
the door, as though embarrassed to be caught in such a 
position.

He watched her buckle in, then reached for the key 
already in the ignition.  Her hand rested on his and he 
nearly pulled away from her.  "Mulder, please."

He didn't look at her, but he waited.  "Are you upset with 
me because I'm not convinced of the existence -  "

"No.  Hell no, Scully.  That's . . . it hit me what I've asked 
of you.  I realized what this is going to look like for you."

"Look like?"

"I'm a joke Scully, you know it.  Spooky Mulder.  I 
shouldn't have requested your help.  You could go places 
at the Bureau."

"I plan to, but I see no reason I can't go to those places 
with you."

He did look at her then, mouth slightly agape.  "With 
me?"

"Mulder, you're brilliant, you can teach me things I don't 
even know I need to learn.  You're good at what you do, I 
feel safe with you as my partner, and Mulder, I trust you."

Now his mouth was open and his eyes locked on her.

"Wh . . . why?"

Not exactly the question she was expecting, nevertheless 
she answered.  "The way you treated me on our first 
case.  You didn't condescend to the female agent, you 
didn't avoid me because I was green.  You listened to my 
theories and shared yours.  And . . . and when I fell apart, 
you put me back together and kept it confidential."

She was staring at her hands now.  "I assumed that had 
blown everything, but then just a few weeks later, you 
asked for me, for me, to assist you again.  I wasn't first in 
my class in medical school -   "

"You were at Quantico.  And being third isn't bad.  In fact, 
if you were male, I bet you would have been first."

Her head shot up.

He shrugged, "I read your file too."

"Mulder, I want to be here.  I want to work with you.  If we 
disagree about certain aspects, at least I feel like you've 
heard me."

"I just don't want you to regret this Scully."

"I promise, if you'll do the same."

He nodded and she realized she was still touching his 
hand.  Her cheeks colored and she released him.

"I'll show you what I found."  He started the car and 
pulled out.

*****

The site was still marked, though nature didn't show a lot 
of respect for the taped barrier.  He pointed to the trees.  
They were burnt near the top, maybe the top third of the 
trees, but no deeper.  There was no evidence of fire on 
the ground.

He watched her as she looked around.  He'd already 
seen everything he needed to, but he could enjoy 
watching her and what she felt was worthy of her notice.  
He wouldn't be asking for her again, he couldn't indulge 
in such selfishness.

He could just count on his memory for the feel of waking 
with his head cradled in her belly.  He shook his head to 
dislodge those thoughts and looked where he had last 
seen her.  She wasn't there.

"Scully?"  No response.  He raised his voice, turning to 
look around a little. "Scully?"  Still nothing.  A crease 
appeared in his forehead and he moved quickly to where 
he had last seen her.  "Scully, damn it!  Answer me!"

Nothing, no sound of birds, not a breeze.  What the hell 
was going on?  "Scully!"

*****

He was right, there wasn't really anything that was 
helping her out here, but she'd wanted to see it.  She 
didn't think the boy had been killed here.  Of course, 
knowing how he died would help there.  She shook that 
thought aside and turned to ask him a question.

He wasn't there.

"Mulder?"  She hadn't heard him leave.  But of course he 
hadn't left her, he'd probably just seen something and . . . 
he was used to working alone.  She turned back to where 
she'd last seen him.  "Mulder, can you hear me?  Where 
are you?"

There was no answer.  He wouldn't have left her.  Things 
had been back to okay between them.  Besides he 
wouldn't just leave her, not Mulder.  Where was he?  She 
turned in a complete circle - something seemed . . . off 
somehow.  Had it gotten darker?  It wasn't overcast, in 
fact there were no clouds.  But it was darker.  She 
glanced down at her watch, but realized it had stopped.

This was getting creepy.  Where was he?  Maybe she 
should head back to the car, at least the path they had 
followed was still there.  Still there . . . the yellow crime 
tape was gone!  That was impossible, but it was gone.  
She halted where she stood.  What had happened?  Was 
she hallucinating?

"Mulder?  Mulder!"  No don't panic, she was armed and, 
and she had her cell phone!  She was panicking.  She 
took a deep breath and pulled the phone from her pocket.

Nothing, not even 'no signal'.  She couldn't even get the 
thing to turn on.  She realized her hands were shaking.  
She was going to check, but she knew somehow that the 
car was gone.  Something had happened, something . . . 
supernatural.  She'd never had a thought like that before.  
Mulder was affecting her.

She marked her route carefully and returned to where 
she knew they had left the car.  There was no evidence 
that a car had ever been there.

"Mulder!"  She tried again, a little hopelessly.  What 
should she do?  It was getting dark more rapidly than it 
should.  Did she return to where he had left her, or try to 
hike out?

No, somehow she knew there was no 'out'.  She shivered 
at that thought.  He'd found her before, could he do it 
again?  The only thing she was sure of was that he was 
going to try.

She made her way back to where the body had been 
found.  There was nothing there, but it was where he had 
left her, so it was where he could find her.

She was shivering again, not from the cold, from 
reaction.  This was beyond weird and she couldn't help 
but wonder if she was conscious or maybe in a 
nightmare.  It was full night now, and she couldn't have 
been alone an hour.

She backed up to the large tree that had had yellow tape 
around it and slid down to a sitting position, her arms 
locked around her knees.  "Mulder."  But this time it was 
barely a whisper, more of a prayer.

She eventually let her eyes slide closed, there were no 
sounds, no rustle of leaves or chirps of birds.  She 
couldn't help the tear that escaped her eye.

*****

He was beyond frantic.  The one thread of sanity he was 
clinging to was unraveling.  He'd checked the car, she 
hadn't slipped past him, not that she would.  She'd heard 
his story last night, he'd told her about Samantha -  there 
was no way she would pull something like this, even if 
she could.

Where the hell was she!  He ran his hand through his hair 
again.  He needed reinforcements.  He needed help.  But 
he was out of range for the phone.  He couldn't force 
himself to leave.  She was here, it was like he could 
sense her, but . . . the sounds had returned.  Whatever 
had caused the birds to be silent was gone.  Gone . . . 
and her with it.  He stumbled and caught himself on the 
tree where he had last seen her.  He'd been searching 
for her for over two hours now.  If her . . . if her body were 
here he would have found it.  She wasn't here and he 
had to leave, for just a little while to get some help.

"Scully."  He whispered it, his eyes closed.

Then he forced himself upright again.  He had no choice, 
he wasn't going to find her alone.  He might not find her 
at all.  That nearly brought him to his knees.  Like 
Samantha, was this going to be like that?

He'd barely remained sane when they took her.  He knew 
his father had kept his breakdown out of the record.  
Would he be able to come back from this?

He'd taken a couple of steps from the tree when he 
realized that the birds were silent again.  He felt his heart 
rate soar.

"Scully!"  He roared the word this time, turning back in 
time to see her scramble to her feet from the foot of the 
very tree where he had been leaning.

"Mu . . . Mulder?"  Then she was in his arms, being 
crushed against him as his lips tasted her.  Her arms 
gripped him as well, unable to speak.  She looked up at 
him and their lips met, melding together.  Her eyes 
opened wide at the sensation, but as she opened her lips 
to him, her eyes slid closed unable to take in any more 
stimulation.

She met his kiss with equal passion, wanting to be 
completely encompassed by him, held in his arms safe 
forever.  He was more than willing to accommodate her, 
unsure he could physically release her anyway.

When he could finally speak, it was into her hair.  "Are 
you . . . are you alright?"

"I want to get out of here."

He nodded and they turned toward the car.  There were 
no fingers lightly touching the small of her back this time.  
He had a gentle but firm grip on her arm.  When they got 
to the car, he opened the drivers' door.  She got in and 
climbed across, apparently neither wanting the width of 
the car between them.

He reached across her to buckle her in himself.  He 
needed to touch her.  He couldn't drive holding her hand, 
so after an instant, he placed her hand on his thigh.  He 
glanced at her as though seeking her okay.  She couldn't 
smile, but squeezed his leg to reassure him.

He lost no time getting them out of there.  As he neared 
the lodge, he finally spoke.  "You need to eat something."

"I can't."

"Something light.  Come on."

She closed her eyes, but he pulled into a diner nearby.  
He opened his door and hurried around to open hers.  He 
helped her from the car and she allowed it.  Hell, she 
needed it as much as he did.

He led her to a booth in the back and seated her, then 
instead of sitting facing her, slid in beside her, as though 
shielding her from the rest of the world.  He didn't 
comment on her shaking hands, but ordered both of them 
the homemade chicken soup.

When the waitress left them. He turned and softly asked, 
"Do you want a drink?  A beer or something?"

"No.  If you want one . . . "

"I don't do much drinking.  My father . . . my father has a 
problem, and I . . . "

She nodded and they fell silent again.  When the waitress 
brought their soup, he picked up his spoon.  "Scully, you 
need this.  It'll warm you."

Again she nodded and managed to still her hands 
enough to take a few sips.  "Mulder, I -  "

"Not now.  We can talk later."

She met his eyes, then returned to her soup.  She didn't 
finish it, but he let her get away with it, finishing his own, 
then helping her back to her feet.  She wasn't as pale 
now, but touching her made him feel better.

He walked her to her room and took the key from her 
hand, opening her door.  He followed her inside and she 
sank onto the foot of her bed.

"Mulder, I don't know what -  "

"Scully, no.  Not tonight.  You've been through enough, 
we both have.  Why don't you get ready for bed?"

"I'm not sure I can sleep."

"I, uh, I have a suggestion."  The color was high in his 
face, but he continued.  "Since, since we're probably both 
destined for nightmares tonight, what if we just started 
out in the same bed."

Her eyes widened, but she didn't protest.

"I'm not, Scully, I'm not suggesting anything more than, 
than comfort.  I just think -  "

"I agree."  She interrupted.  "I don't think I'll be sleeping 
either, but I don't want to be alone."

He gave her a grim smile, "Take one of those long bubble 
baths you like and I'll meet you here in a little while, 
okay?"

She blinked, how did he know she liked to soak in a hot 
bath?  That wasn't in her file.

He winked at her and rose, holding out his hand.  She 
took it and he pulled her to her feet.  "Take your time."

She disappeared into the bathroom, turning one last time 
to look at him.

*****

He was back when she emerged, wearing her pajamas.  
Her robe was belted around her.  He was lounging on her 
bed, wearing his sweats and a t-shirt.  He had the TV on, 
turned so low she hadn't heard it in the next room.

"Scully, I don't want to make you uncomfortable, if you -  "

"You're right.  Neither of us will get any sleep tonight, I'd 
rather not be alone."

He nodded and turned down the bed.  She managed a 
quick smile and lay down.  He got in on the other side 
and without words, seemingly without thought, they came 
into each other's arms - not sexually, just holding each 
other.

After a few minutes, she spoke.  "Aren't you going to ask 
about what happened?"

"Not tonight.  I don't want to think about it and I'm sure 
you don't."

"I wish I could stop."

"I do have one question."

She pulled slightly away from him, waiting.

"Who's Ethan?"

The question startled her.  Ethan?  That was the last 
thing on her mind, but she recognized the psychologist in 
him - leading her to other areas, taking her mind off of 
this afternoon.

"He's the man I was seeing."

"Was?"

She gave a small shrug, "I don't know if we're still seeing 
each other or not.  He was pretty upset when I changed 
our plans."

"Were they that important?  Were you meeting his mother 
or something?"

She actually gave a light laugh at that.  "I'm not sure 
Ethan has a mother, maybe he was hatched.  No, it 
wasn't that big a deal.  We were supposed to have dinner 
with some of his co-workers."

"Then I don't understand."

"Ethan is . . . controlling.  He tolerates my job when it 
doesn't 'interfere'."

"I guess I'm surprised you put up with that."

"I don't think I realized it before . . . before Seattle.  It was 
easy just to go along, letting him have his way."

"After Seattle?"

"I don't know, I just felt stronger.  That sounds strange 
given what happened, maybe I felt alive again.  While I 
was there, I knew you were looking for me, but I 
wondered if you'd get to me in time."

He gave a small nod; he'd wondered the same thing.  
He'd gotten lucky, and he'd found her before the pervert 
had a chance to . . . to hurt her.

"Back to Ethan, what does he look like?"

"Look like?"  She smiled then, "Why?"

"I don't know, I guess I'm interested in the kind of guy you 
go for."

"Well, I'm not sure I have a 'type', at least physically.  
Ethan had light brown hair.  He had the tips lightened."  
She grinned at Mulder's surprise.

"He works in TV, a producer.  He does some of the news 
shows, you know, Sunday morning."

'Good looking, huh?"

"Well, not as much as he thinks."  And not nearly as good 
looking as you, she thought, then remembered where 
they were and blushed.

"Scully?"  He was confused now.  Did she think Ethan 
was attractive or not?

"He, uh, Ethan's 5'9", on the thin side."  At least 
compared to you she added to herself.

Mulder gave one nod, he didn't understand what he was 
hearing.  This was the guy she was dating.  What was 
the deal?

"How long have you been dating?"

"Almost nine months."

He absorbed that in silence.  Nine months.  He'd only 
been around her what, three, four days?

"Mulder?"

"I guess you're pretty close."  I guess you're really 
'sleeping' with him, was what he was asking, though he 
couldn't use the words.

She looked away then, "I guess."

"Scully?"

"Turn about is fair play.  Who are you seeing?"

"I'm, uh, I'm not seeing anyone."

"Mulder?  Are you serious?"

"Yeah, why?"

"I don't know, you don't look like you'd have trouble 
getting dates."

He blinked, "What?"

"Dates, going out with someone of the opposite sex 
usually."

"I know what a date is."

"You didn't sound like it."

"I don't go out much.  My job takes me out of town a lot, 
usually at the spur of the moment.  And when I'm 
working, I'm not really good company."

"You mean you're better company when you're not 
working?  I'm not sure I could take it."  

He stared at her for a moment, not sure if she was 
kidding.  "Are you, are you teasing me?"

She sighed, "Maybe a little."

"Are you uncomfortable with me here?"

"The short answer, yes.  But I want you here."

His eyes searched hers.

"What?"  

"I don't remember anyone ever saying that to me before."  
He finally answered.

Her eyes held his, "Maybe you haven't been listening."

"I want us to leave tomorrow."

"We haven't solved this case."

"It's not a case that's going to be solved.  Even if I could 
prove that little green men killed them, someone would 
change the evidence, get rid of it.  I'd look like a fool 
again, and this time so would you.  Besides, I want you 
away from here."

"You've seen this kind of thing before."  It wasn't a 
question.

"The boy, yes.  I knew what you were going to find with 
the tests - not the chip or the business with his brain 
tissue.  Or what happened out there."

She shivered at his words.

"Sorry, I said we weren't going to talk about this tonight.  
Relax, we're safe here."

"Are we?"

"Yeah."  He pulled her tighter, "get some rest."

After a moment she nodded.  "You won't leave?"

"What?"  He chuckled, "The opposite of what happens 
every time we get together?  Rest Scully, I'm right here."

*****

He even managed a couple of hours sleep himself, with 
her there in his arms.  He hadn't changed his mind about 
leaving the next morning and she didn't fight him.

She waited as he loaded the information online and email 
it, though he didn't tell her to whom.  He placed the chip 
and the slides of brain tissue in his pockets, then decoys 
of the same in his luggage.  She asked no questions, not 
at this time.  He had more experience in these areas - 
more than she had even imagined and for now she 
needed to follow his lead.

They were quiet on the flight, though he held her hand 
most of the way, remembering her remark about not 
being a good flyer.

She wasn't entirely sure what he had told local 
authorities, probably that they were continuing the 
investigation and would be in touch.  That might be true 
on his part, but she knew without being told, that he 
would not accept any more of her help.  From the set of 
his shoulders, probably forever.

He still hadn't asked what had happened, seeming to 
understand that she couldn't talk about it yet.  She didn't 
know what to tell him anyway.  Nothing had happened, 
she had just been . . . elsewhere.  With no explanation.

She didn't have a lot to say that she felt would help at this 
point.  She was still shaken on a deeper level than she 
could analyze about what had happened the day before.  
She needed to process this, get her feet back under her 
and, as much as he made her feel safer, she needed to 
do this on her own.

He didn't seem at all surprised that his luggage was 
missing when they landed, but refused to talk about it.

"Let's find your car.  I need to get the evidence 
somewhere safe."

"I can -  "

"Let me get you to your car, just in case.  I am going to 
need your written report."

"I'll email it to you."

"Thanks."

She looked deeply into his eyes, but he didn't back down.  
"I enjoyed working with you Agent Mulder."

He nodded, "You too Agent Scully.  Good luck at 
Quantico."

She managed to smile and turned toward the parking lot.  
She didn't see him close his eyes, or the deep breath he 
took before following her.   And she didn't realize how 
long it would be before they would have the conversation 
they needed to have.