-Disclaimer: X-Files characters belong to FOX and 1013. due South
characters belong to Alliance Communications.
-Category: Crossover (w/ X-Files), Romance
-Rating: NC-17
-Spoilers: X-Files - none. due South - "Victoria's Secret" and "North".
-Summary: In the epilogue to "Dark Canada", Scully and Fraser find comfort
and answers with each other.

***

"Dark Canada Epilogue: Cold Comfort"


by Amatia

"I'm so afraid to love you, but more afraid to loose
Clinging to a past that doesn't let me choose
Once there was a darkness, deep and endless night
You gave me everything you had, oh you gave me light."

- Sarah MacLachlan, "I Will Remember You"

It was near midnight when they finished writing up the reports for
the case. It had taken a week to finish all the paperwork, and Scully and
Fraser had decided to take it for Fraser's apartment that night and finish
it up rather than drag it out for another work day. Skinner had given
Mulder and Scully an extension on the case, they had four days left, and
neither of them wanted to spend it doing paperwork. Chicago might not be
the best city in the world, but at least, Mulder reasoned, it wasn't D.C.

So Scully and Fraser were sitting at Fraser's kitchen table,
signing the last of the reports, yawning. The cinnamon candle Scully had
brought still flickered in the center of the table, the scent permeating
the room. It clung to Scully's sweater and jeans, and she was sure it clung
to Fraser's similar outfit. She had talked him into putting on something
more comfortable than his uniform, knowing that they would be up late
working on the case. She reached up to and rubbed the bridge of her nose.

"Dana?" Fraser asked. "Are you all right?"

"I'm fine, Ben." Scully gave him a smile. "Paperwork just tends to
make me tense."

He was out of his chair in an instant, and standing behind hers.
"May I?"

"Certainly."

Fraser laid his hands on her shoulders and began to work the
muscles gently, get with enough force to get the knots out. Scully sighed,
knowing that she was indulging herself too much today with Fraser's
kindness, but the massage felt so good. His thumbs slipped down to put
pressure on the area just beneath her shoulder blades. "You certainly know
where to touch," she murmured, and was rewarded with a soft chuckle in
reply.

"There are many hidden talents a Mountie possesses, ma'm, but often
they are saved for special occasions," he said, his face close to her ear.
She felt the wind of his breath on her cheek, and goosebumps followed it.
As his warm hands settled on her neck, the soft touch relaxing her to the
core, she felt a rush of warmth between her legs.

Fraser tenderly massaged all of the kinks from her neck, then
worked his way downward, following her spine. As his fingers hit a
particularily sensitive spot, Scully let out a small cry. He stopped
immediately. "Dana?"

"I'm fine," she said softly. "Just a sensitive spot."

His hands drifted back to the place, right in the middle of her
back, his thumbs pressing down as they moved in tiny circles. The warmth
between her legs increased as Fraser increased the pressure, her jeans
becoming confining and wet with her continued arousal. Another cry escaped
her lips, but this time Fraser did not stop, but rather continued his
gentle assault on her lower back. After a few minutes of the sweet torture,
he slid his hands up her back, and down her arms. "Dana?"

"Yes, Ben?" Scully could hardly control her breathing. Fraser's
fingers slid around her wrists, binding them.

"I can't help but notice that you are taking pleasure from this."

She swallowed. "Does it offend you?"

"Quite the contrary," Fraser replied. "Would you like me to touch
you more?" he whispered in her ear, slipping one finger underneath the cuff
of her sweater. His touch was so light, barely brushing her skin, that
goosebumps one again pricked her arms.

Scully felt her nipples harden underneath the heavy sweater at his
brief caress. "Yes," she whispered in reply. "Please."

"Your yes was sufficient by itself...I wish to touch you, as well."
She could hear the low edge of arousal in his voice. "Do you want to move
to the bed? I mean, I don't have a couch."

She chuckled, and nodded, and he helped her to stand, his hands
still on her wrists. When she stood beside the table, he released one
wrist, and gently spun her to face him. With his free hand he lifted the
cover of the candle and placed it on the jar. They watched the flame grow
smaller, then disappear in a wide ribbon of smoke. Fraser raised his eyes
to hers, and Scully saw that his pupils were dialated. He led her to the
bed, their pace slow and measured even in the short distance. He gestured
for her to sit, which she did. He then sat beside her, raising both his
hands to slide them into her hair, and lean in for their lips to meet. The
kiss was as slow and languid as his hands upon her back, and even sweeter.
One hand untangled itself from her hair to slide underneath her sweater and
caress her back. Scully did the same to Fraser with both her hands, and was
reveling in the warmth of his skin as he broke the kiss. "Ben," she
whispered against his lips. "I need you to touch me, everywhere."

He smiled against her mouth. "All in due time."

Scully groaned in frustration as he kissed her again, but responded
just as passionately, her hands sliding around to caress his flat stomach.
She felt him tremble slightly at her touch. He dragged his mouth from hers,
gasping for air. His eyes on her face, he untangled the other hand from her
hair, and slipped up the front of her sweater to cup her lace-covered
breast. Scully closed her eyes at the delicious feeling as her nipple
hardened even more against his palm.

With his other hand, Fraser unhooked her bra. "May I?"

"Please, do," Scully whispered, concentrating on the feeling
spreading throughout her entire body, She parted her legs slightly,
unconsciously. Fraser gently pulled the sweater over her head, and slid her
bra straps down her arms. He tossed the sweater and the bra onto the chair
that was beside the couch. Scully opened her closed eyes and looked at him.
He gave her a slow smile, and lowered his mouth to the spot where her neck
and shoulder came together. Scully tipped her head in the opposite
direction as he trailed warm, wet kisses along her neck. "Ben," she groaned
as his hand came up to cup her breast.

Her hands found the button on his jeans, but he stopped her.
"Neither of us are the kind of people to rush into things," he whispered
against her cheek. "I need to know why you're here in my arms, Dana."

"I'm lonely," she whispered in response. "And I want you for that
reason - because you don't rush into things."

"And..."

"Even federal agents have needs," Scully murmured. "Ever since we
were kidnapped..." her voice trailed off. Then she raised her head to look
into his eyes. "I've slept six hours total in the last week, Ben. And only
you can take away the part of me that's once more afraid of the dark.
Because you were there, and you know..."

Her voice trailed off as he responded by pressing her down onto the
bed and covering her body with his. Scully groaned at the full contact,
arching up against him. "Close your eyes," Fraser whispered.

"I can't," Scully murmured.

"Dana, I know what it's like. I've been blind. You have to trust
me." He raised a hand, and passed it over her face, closing her eyes. Then
he dropped a light kiss on her lips. "Trust me."

"When was the last time you were with a woman, Ben?" she asked,
struggling against the fear as he continued to press kisses down her neck.

"With Victoria," he replied softly.

Scully raised a hand, and traced a line down his cheek. "Don't
think of her when you're with me. Please."

Fraser shook his head so that she could feel it. "I wouldn't dream
of it."

With that said, he dropped his head and kissed her passionately.
Her moan got lost in the heat of his mouth, tangled in his probing tongue.
His hands skimmed over her upper body, caressing, teasing. Scully's hands
found the top button on his jeans once again, and this time he didn't stop
her. She undid the buttons, and Fraser paused in his exploration to slide
the jeans down and to the floor. Scully's hands tugged his sweater off as
well. "Patience," he whispered.

"I want you too much to be patient," she replied, opening her eyes.

His smile greeted her. "You're supposed to keep your eyes shut, Dana."

"But I want to look at you," she protested with a grin, running her
hands over his chest.

"I want you to be naked," he growled, popping the button on her
jeans and unzipping the zipper. "Close your eyes."

Scully complied with a sigh, and Fraser slid her jeans off, adding
them to the pile of clothing on the floor. "You warm enough?" he whispered
against her shoulder.

"Mm-hmm."

Her hands found the elastic waistband of his briefs, and cool
fingertips slipped inside. "Dana.,.." Fraser moaned as her hand wrapped
around his shaft. "Wait..."

Her hand slipped back out. "I don't want to wait, Ben. If you don't
take me soon, I'm going to scream."

"I'd rather hoped you'd scream if I did," he replied, sliding her
panties down her legs.

"Your sense of humor is showing, Constable," she chuckled, but the
sound turned into a moan as his fingers traced the folds of flesh between
her thighs.

Then his briefs were on the floor, and he was buried inside of her,
and Scully opened her eyes to watch his face. Their gazes locked as they
found a rhythm, Scully breathing his name like a mantra. "Ben..."

It was over too soon, and Fraser pulled her close to him as orgasm
claimed them both. She cried out as he'd predicted, but it was stifled
against his throat. Gently, he released his hold on her as the aftershocks
subsided, pulling out of her body and collapsing onto the soft matress.
Scully nuzzled close as he pulled the sheets over them, pillowing her head
on his chest, her hair spread out like flame. "Thank you," she whispered,
as they lay peacefully in the darkness. "Thank you for taking the fear
away."

His hand cupped her chin so she's look up at him. "You took my fear
away as I took yours, and you took my pain as well. I can't repay you for
that."

"You have already," Scully murmured in reply, her eyes closing.
"Good night, Ben."

He wound his fingers through hers. "Sleep well."

"I will..."

Fraser laid awake for an hour, listening to her breathe, watching
her chest rise and fall in the moonlight. He ran the fingers that weren't
tangled with hers gently through her hair, combing out the knots until each
strand lay fanned across his chest, red-gold in the silvery light.

Life, although hard, is seldom truly dark, he thought to himself.
And true darkness, when encountered, can often be frightening...

...but it is rewarding to overcome.

***
-Email: violinst@pitnet.net