TITLE: S. W. and the 7 D’s (aka 7 Steps to Apple Pancakes).

PART TWO: "Sneezy" (2/7)

AUTHOR: Triton

Email: triton-x@yahoo.com

or visit my little library at: http://geocities.datacellar.net/triton-x/Fanfic

DATE: 16th January, 2000

SUMMARY: Scully deals with an important aspect of her character, with a little help from a group of height-challenged, trouble making muses.

DISCLAIMER: X-Files, Mulder, Scully and all related characters belong to that amazing person called Chris Carter, Ten-Thirteen Productions and the Fox Network. I mean no infringement. I am just borrowing the characters briefly to have a play, to see what I can do with them while CC isn’t watching. He can have them back anytime he likes (well, that depends on what happens during Season Seven!! I may have to consider a hostage situation).

CATEGORY: ST and MSR themes.

RATING: R

SPOILERS: None whatsoever. I think.

ARCHIVE: Sure, Fine, Whatever!

NOTE: This is Part Two of an expected Seven Part fanfic. Mainly Scully POV.

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She had to admit, he was doing a good job of treating her wounds. She relaxed considerably as he tended to her grazes, and reposed into his closeness. She found herself concentrating on the sensations rather than on the physical examination, on the tickle of his breath on her face as he peered in closely and the stroke of each finger as he ran them gently through her hair, feeling for abrasions around the tender bumps. His proximity was warming, his scent heady. He pulled her close, placing her head against his chest as he surveyed her nape looking for broken skin. He removed her jacket and ran his hands gently down her back and arms, feeling for damage.

Mulder kept a neutral expression on his face, a gesture that indicated that he was taking this seriously, focusing on her pain and discomfort, watching her face for grimaces, his eyes flickering over hers for signs of distress.

She briefly wondered if he felt the same sense of intense awareness when she dressed his wounds, whether the feel of her breath on his skin had ever affected him in the same way, whether the caressing touches of her fingers over his body had ever aroused him as he was affecting her now.

She was in a pleasant stupor when he again took her hand in his and led her slowly towards the bathroom. While she sagged wearily against the door, he placed the plug in the base of her bath and ran the water, pouring in a large dollop of purple tinged bubble bath. She watched spellbound as Mulder attended to the lighting, placed two large soft towels on the edge of the bath, then reached down and swirled his hand lazily through the rising water to effect more bubbles. He then quietly stood and walked past her, leaving her with privacy.

Alone, she undressed, sore muscles protesting, and dropped her clothes idly to the floor as she stepped into the delicate lather.

Sinking slowly, she lay back in the scented water, placing a dampened face washer across her eyes. It didn’t take long for her tired and sore muscles to succumb to the warmth of the surrounding water and she slowly relaxed, her arms laying over the sides of the bath, her toes peeking out from the bubbles at the end of the tub.

The room was dim, lit only by six vanilla-scented candles placed at different spots around the room. Soft music drifted in from the lounge, she could hear violins and a soothing lilting vocal and she focused on it.

Time seemed to disappear as she floated in her cocoon of scented wet warmth and she sighed deeply, drawing in the atmosphere.

The bubbles tickled at her nose and she sneezed. A series of mini sneezes followed as her nose tried to expel the irritant. From underneath the face washer, where it gaped between her nostrils and cheeks, she watched mesmerised as her sneezes caused the water to lap around her glistening body, sliding around in slick eddies, rushing up over the mounds, slipping down through the crevices, and pooling in hollows. The movement of the water caressed her skin, licked at it, stroked it, making her quiver in delight.

She could see her pale breasts poking up amongst the bubbles, slick frothy water caressing the nipples as they slid up and down between the glossy suds with each breath, their peaks jutting up through the foam then disappearing back into the abyss.

There was a small movement from the side of her slim panel of sight. She slid her gaze to the dark shape, noting the sock-clad feet peeking in at the open doorway.

Holding back a smile, Scully took in a deep breath, fully exposing the nipples to the cold air, making them pucker and harden. Knowing that he was watching her sent a sensual humming through her body. As she let out the breathe, she heard the echo from Mulder.

There was a long pause, where all she could hear was the lapping of the water against the porcelain, and then she became aware of the muffled sound of his feet padding across the bathroom tiles.

"Hey, Sneezy!" he whispered, as he leant over her to pull the plug from the bath. As the water drained away, he unfolded one of the towels and lay it out over her body, impeding the cold air from reaching her skin as the water level dropped. He moved to the head of the bath and crouched down, reaching for the second towel. With slow, careful movements, he used the fluffy cloth to caress each strand of hair, soaking up the excess moisture, his long fingers stroking her scalp, being careful not to apply any pressure to the swollen lumps.

"Mulder?" she whispered coarsely, "When have I ever treated your wounds so gently?"

"Every single time, Scully. Every single time."

END.