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 fulfil a dream, and I give them back undamaged by the experience (They can just believe in the dream).
CATEGORY: ST and MSR themes.
RATING: NC-17
SPOILERS: None really.
NOTE: OK, here comes the history lesson. I originally wrote this 4 years ago as a joke for a friend. This was when I was just starting to develop my obsession with the X-Files, and before I had experienced the Internet or discovered fanfic. I didn’t know then that people actually wrote fanfic. I wrote the first draft of this story purely as shock value for my dear scotch-drinking friend, and offered it to her with the phrase "Oh, I have to hand this assignment in tomorrow, could you please proof-read it for me?" I thoroughly enjoyed watching her face as she read. Hehehehehehe.
I then promptly forgot about it, and went on with my life. Just recently, as I was unpacking some boxes, I came across some bits and pieces, including disks. I had been reading fanfic for a while by this stage, and was stunned to discover that I had truly forgotten my first story. Amazing, isn’t it?
I had a laugh at myself when I read it afresh, especially when it came to Web terminology as I had absolutely no idea of what I was talking about at the time, so I edited these parts to make them more realistic, and also added a new ending.
Please enjoy reading this as much as I have enjoyed writing and editing it. I am having so much fun here!!!
TITLE: Stay or Leave.
DATE: Originally written 1995, re-edited and posted November, 1999
AUTHOR: Triton
triton-x@yahoo.com
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Mulder leaned up against the door of Scully’s apartment, and tapped lightly. He glanced at his watch, noting that it was nearly 10:00 pm on Friday evening. Scully hadn’t turned up at their scheduled 8:00 pm meeting a few hours before, and although he was slightly concerned by her absence, he was also very aware of how tired she had been recently and anticipated that she had finally succumbed to sleep.
He tapped lightly again, and he heard the lock being released. Scully opened the door slightly, squinting up at him in the brightly lit hallway.
"Mulder, I'm so sorry. I just woke...."
"Hey, it's Okay. I fuddled along without you. I did think it was a good idea, however, to check on you before I headed home. I won't bother your rest."
"No, no. Come in, tell me how it went." she yawned, opening the door further to grant him entrance. She flicked on the light switch, and rubbed her eyes against the sudden illumination.
Mulder followed her in, noticing her dishevelled hair, her sleepy eyes and her crumpled dressing gown.
"You look rested" he quipped.
"Mmmm" she sighed contently. "I'll just go and change."
"No, don't bother, I won't stay long."
Mulder swept his gaze around the room, his attuned senses providing him with information on Scully’s recent activities, and he smiled to himself as his imagination retraced her steps over the previous few hours. The scent of jasmine and chocolate permeated the room. Working alongside Scully over the previous six years had given him enough insight into her habits to predict that she had indulged in a long, warm, jasmine scented bubble bath to relax, and then donning her fluffy white dressing gown she had curled up on the couch, with a cup of hot chocolate and a book. The novel she had carefully chosen was now lying open, unread, beside the couch, and the room had been dark. Scully had fallen fast asleep, and had slept through the rendezvous time and beyond.
"Oh. Okay. Well, sit down and tell me what you have discovered." Scully dropped down onto the couch, and moved the discarded book aside. Mulder placed his briefcase onto the low Baltic pine coffee table, and opening it, removed a swag of papers and a miniature tape recorder.
"Wait 'til you hear this, Scully! Walter Lopez worked for the Klymdote Gun & Ammunition Emporium, in Smith Street, for three months. This is the same three months that the first four bodies were found washed up in the Regency River. His employer, Mr Klymdote Jnr, dismissed him after it was discovered that guns were being taken from the stock room, rounds fired, and the guns returned the following day."
"How did Mr Klymdote Jnr know that they were going missing if they were still there the next day?"
"Apparently, Mr Klymdote Jnr has an amazing eye for detail, and noticed that the locked storage boxes he used were being tampered with. He began a discreet investigation and caught Lopez out, but didn't let Lopez know he had been discovered. He fired Lopez the next day, but told him that it was due to staff cutbacks!"
Scully frowned, and looked at Mulder inquiringly. He grinned at her and continued.
"Apparently the Klymdote family were involved with an immigration dispute at the time, and Jnr didn't want to make any waves. He also claims that he was so consumed with the dispute that he wasn't even aware of the murders, so didn't even see a connection between the guns disappearing and the murders!"
Scully reached for the folder that contained the interview notes from Lopez's arrest.
"Does Lopez still claim he is innocent?" she asked.
"Yes. And I still tend to believe his story. I have a feeling that Klymdote Jnr was lying, Scully, especially since his 'amazing eye for detail' conveniently identified the exact box of ammunition that Lopez was supposed to have used from the thousands of boxes of ammunition in stock. You will remember from his interview that Lopez is only nineteen years old, barely educated, with below average literacy skills. Lopez also does not have much knowledge about guns, nor does he seem devious or intelligent enough to steal the guns and then return them! I think Jnr took advantage of a social stereotype and tried to frame Lopez!"
Scully flipped through the interview notes again, then played the tape of the recent interview with the Klymdote family. She took a few notes, then sat back and thought for awhile. She turned back to Mulder.
"I think I’ll re-investigate the background check on Klymdote Jnr, and I'll also check into this immigration dispute while I'm there." She stood, and stretched, then headed to the computer and went on-line. Soon she was busy tapping away on the keyboard, engrossed with her queries.
Mulder pulled out his mobile phone. He hadn't had a chance to eat yet, so he dialled for a home delivery pizza. He then began re-reading his notes, looking for a possible clue that he may have overlooked.
When the pizza arrived, Mulder went to the door to collect it, and Scully looked up at the distraction. As Mulder walked back towards her, with pizza box in tow, he noticed her devilish smile.
"What's so amusing?"
"Oh, nothing. Just an image I conjured up."
"And you aren't going to tell me? Mmm, interesting! I thought you trusted me." and he grinned bemusedly at her.
She grinned back just as bemusedly. "To a certain degree I do, Mulder. But there are some things that should remain hidden, even to friends." she joked back.
Mulder laughed heartily. Considering how well he knew Scully, he guessed that the image must be somewhat x-rated, since that was the only thing they never discussed. When Scully realised that he had somehow misconstrued her meaning, she blushed slightly. She stood, and pulled her dressing gown tightly around herself.
"I'm definitely going to get changed now!" she quipped ruefully.
"Scully, if you feel you have to, then do so, but I'm not at all fussed. Actually, you seem so much more relaxed than you have been for ages. If it bothers you that you're sitting around in your pyjamas, then I'd rather just leave and go home than let you miss out on your comforts."
Scully looked at him, bemused, raising an eyebrow. She felt a bit unsure about the topic, but as she didn't want to make an issue of it, she reseated herself at the desk. At that moment, the computer screen began to flash.
"Mulder, the information is coming through. The Immigration issue was related to a shooting incident that occurred while Klymdote Jnr was going through customs in Germany. He was shot at by a man who claimed that Jnr had raped and murdered his wife. Apparently, not enough evidence was produced to warrant an arrest so Jnr came back here, but the German Government wanted to deport him back and keep him in custody while the case was being heard. I'll have to delve deeper into this."
"See if they have a record of his fingerprints. I'd like to run them against the so-called missing guns in Klymdotes Emporium, then check them into Ballistics. Maybe we can find a match. I'll also need to get a Warrant to search the gun shop...."
Scully began typing in his requests. Mulder opened the pizza box and pulled out a cheesy slice. He offered it to Scully, but she shook her head.
"Not yet, I'll just finish this first." She looked up at him and flashed him a rare smile that lit up her whole face.
Mulder smiled back at her. Scully was always much more comfortable when she was in work mode, and distractions were not part of the job description. Plus, she seemed to be enjoying herself. He took a bite from the pizza, and lounged back in the padded armchair, throwing his long legs up onto the coffee table.
"You've been really uptight lately, Scully. It's nice to see you relax and smile. I'm glad you've let down your guard, I was actually starting to think that you were having a problem with me!"
Scully stopped typing momentarily. She didn’t turn to look at him, and ran her tongue over her bottom lip. After an awkward few seconds, she began typing again. Mulder put down his half eaten piece of pizza onto the coffee table, and sat back into the chair, placing his crossed arms behind his head. He narrowed his eyes.
"Well, Scully, it is me? I am a problem? Are you going to tell me how and why?"
"No."
"No?"
"No!"
Mulder sat quietly, contemplating her negative and puzzling response. He didn't know whether to laugh or be concerned. With anyone else, he wouldn't really care what they thought of him, but this was Scully.
He watched her work for a short while, and it soon became obvious that she wasn't going to explain. This bothered him more, her reluctance to talk to him about the problem. She was usually very forthcoming if she had a problem with him, his theories, or his methodology. It was only when the issue was personal that she closed herself away from him.
"Do you want me to leave?" he asked soberly.
Scully shook her head, and raised her hand to indicate that he stay there. She finished typing the sentence, then hit the Enter button with a firm tap. She turned to him, sighing.
"No, don't leave yet. I just don't want to talk about it, and it's not really that important."
"Have I hurt you in some way? If so..."
"No, Mulder, you haven't done anything. And it's not exactly you who is the problem. It's just that at times I..." she groaned, "I can't explain without saying too much, so lets just leave it, OK!"
Mulder suddenly smiled, a lopsided grin that gave him an aura of boyish charm. He had finally clicked to what she was deluding to. "Ah, Scully, don't feel you have to hide things from me. You aren't the only one who gets sexually frustrated at times. I do understand, trust me." He picked up his pizza and continued eating.
"Mulder, I do not want to talk about it!" and she grinned self-consciously. "Now, your Search Warrant is being processed, but there is still a delay with the German data-base."
At that point, Mulder began flinging wild theories at her, and they bantered for a while, he with his paranormal speculations and her with her scientific reasonings. Scully picked up a piece of the pizza and began nibbling on it.
On one particular bite, one of the prawns slipped off it's capsicum nest, and slid down the melted cheese ribbons that temporarily held the split morsels together. Mulder deftly grabbed at the renegade prawn before it hit the table, and popped it into her mouth. She bit down gently on his finger and he pulled it back with an exaggerated yelp. Scully laughed at him, then returned to the computer.
"Oh, Mulder, they've found some prints!" Mulder and Scully turned to each other with glowing, excited eyes.
Mulder leapt up. "Aha, I knew it, it looks like Jnr has been a naughty boy. I'm going down to the Labs to run these fingerprints through our system. Can you e-mail them across for me?"
"Well, hang on a minute, I'll come down with you. You e-mail them across while I get changed." She stood up and made room for him to slide past her to access the computer. He turned just before he was about to sit, and looked down at her. He reached out and gently pushed a stray lock of hair from her eyes.
"Thanks Scully, I really do appreciate your assistance, especially at these ungodly late hours." Scully reached up and patted her palm against his chest. "Anytime, partner. I'd do anything for you."
Mulder stroked her hair again. "Even to the detriment of your health? I should respect your weekend time and let you relax. It's past midnight and you need some sleep. Don't push yourself too hard for my sake!"
Scully took a step closer to him and lay her head against his chest. "Thanks for the concern, Mulder, but I feel rested and I want to work."
He wrapped his arms around her and squeezed her gently to show his appreciation of her valuable assistance. Without her knowledge and exceptional skills, their case solve-rate wouldn’t be so high. (The ones that could be solved, that is!)
He buried his face amongst her dishevelled auburn locks. The smell of her hair was divine, so fresh and fragrant, so stimulating, that before he could prevent it, he felt the reaction in his groin.
Scully became aware of it almost immediately, and in shock took a quick step backwards. She looked at him in amazement. Mulder simultaneously released his grasp and also stepped back, embarrassed.
"I'm so sorry, Scully. I just... I just got lost there for a moment. You've got every right to be angry with me, especially as I only just finished saying that you could trust me." He turned away, and headed towards the door. Stunned, Scully watched him proceed, while she collected her thoughts.
"Wait Mulder." He stopped briefly. "It's OK, I understand. You said it before, it happens to all of us. I do trust you, and know it wasn't intentional." She crossed the room and reached the door as he pulled it open. "And I think we should discuss this issue before it drives us both crazy. Or should I say crazier!!!"
She took his hand, closed and snibbed the door, then led him to the couch. Mulder couldn't meet her eyes, he was actually quite embarrassed that she was aware of his unexpected response to her closeness. Usually he was able to hide it. Scully sat beside him, facing him. He took a deep breath and meet her gaze.
"Sometimes, Scully, when I'm thinking about a case we are involved in, the thought hits me like a bolt of lightening. This thought relates to how integrated you are into my life. I've become so accustomed to you always being available to work with me, and that you are so willing to race off at any instant to search for answers with me..., for me..., for us. I liked it this way. But now this has changed, because I...."
Scully interrupted. "We know each other very well, Mulder. We've been together through the weirdest situations, the most horrendous scenarios, the most mind-boggling cases, but we've forgotten one thing. As adults we have needs that can't be met in our working relationship. Our lives are so intertwined, we're always on the go, always searching for answers. We need to make time where we can get away from each other so we can meet these needs. It won't work any other way."
Mulder sighed at this comment. He didn’t want any other woman to meet his needs, he wanted Scully. He wanted her so much that sometimes the intensity of his emotions scared him. He also knew the reality of the situation. Scully didn’t feel the same way about him, and actually radiated disapproval at the merest hint of the topic.
"Scully, the last thing I want to do is spoil our friendship, or our working relationship. My little indiscretion just now will affect all of that. It will take you a while to trust me again, no matter how hard I try to convince you." and he gazed into her eyes, pleading forgiveness.
She didn't respond immediately.
Mulder’s thoughts were frantic. They were a great team, and were both workaholics. And to stay a great team, they needed to be honest with each other on all issues. By hiding these feelings in the past, they had caused friction. They were also best of friends, and should be able to talk about anything. Unfortunately, how he felt at the moment was a contradiction of the above facts. How could he tell Scully that at this moment he was thinking very un-partnerlike thoughts about her?
Scully smiled ruefully at him. "I don't know how comfortable I am with discussing these needs with you. There are certain things that we really don't need to know about each other. But, I agree, getting things out in the open will prevent any more embarrassing or awkward moments."
Mulder nodded. "My problem is that I don't have the time or energy for a significant other. A relationship with a woman, on whatever level, will always come second to my quest to find out the truth. I want to find my sister, and I want to understand this Government conspiracy relating to the existence of alien life. We have discovered so much, and I do not want to stop searching now. I do not want to be distracted by romance or the pursuit of passion." He stood, and smoothed back his hair. "Which is why I must leave now!"
Scully's reaction was of astonishment. "Oh, and why is that?"
Mulder thought quickly, and decided humour was the best way to get out of this predicament honestly. "Because, you are gorgeous, you smell so nice and the temptation is more than I can handle at the moment. I don't want to make the situation worse." Mulder tried hard to hold back the grin as he watched Scully’s face process this statement and turn away as a blush crept up over her cheeks.
"OK Mulder, I understand. You need the distraction of work. Look, you go to the Labs, I'll email across the print and then catch up on some work here. Unless something important comes up, I'll see you on Monday."
"Ok, Scully. And thanks again, for everything."
They walked to the door together, and Scully unsnibbed the lock, then turned to face him. He looked so disheartened and weary, that she reached up and took his head into her hands.
"Hey, it's Ok Mulder. No hard feelings!" she tried to quip.
His instant reaction was to smile at her little joke, and he rolled his eyes. "I'll see you later."
He leant towards her, and gave her a gentle kiss.
What neither expected was the intense electric shock that passed through their bodies at that brief contact. Before they had time to think, she had pulled him closer, and his hands were twisted into her soft hair. They kissed again, the intensity increasing with an urgency that surprised them both.
She pressed her body close to his, and wrapped her arms tightly around his neck. His erection had returned, and this time she encouraged it by rubbing her stomach against it. She opened her mouth slightly and took his bottom lip gently between her teeth, and sucked on it. This caused spasms of pleasure to surge throughout his whole body, and he groaned. His skin tingled, and he desperately wanted to feel her skin against his.
He released her hair, and ran his hands down the back of her dressing gown, over her buttocks, then slipped his hands between her thighs, hoisting her up so that her legs wrapped around his waist. She reached down behind him, and untucked his shirt from his trousers, slipping her hand underneath the shirt, her fingernails gently scratching the skin of his back.
He ran his fingers under the dressing gown until he felt the skin of her thighs, stroking with gentle circles, moving higher up the inner thigh to where the skin became softer and more sensitive. She began to groan lightly, which increased in intensity as he rubbed a finger over the silky layer of her underwear. As he continued to caress the sensually fleshy area, she began to move her hips in small circles, rubbing up against his groin and throwing him off balance.
He dropped to his knees, and grabbed at the coffee table for balance. Scully felt the table under her buttocks and loosened her grip from around Mulder's neck, letting herself fall backwards and pulling him with her.
Lips still entwined, she freed her hands, and reached down to unzip his trousers and release his engorged and throbbing penis. She wrapped her fingers around the base and gently massaged the swinging scrotum. Mulder ran his hands down her shoulders and gently prised apart the top of her dressing gown, slipping his hands underneath the silky camisole and cupping her breasts. He rubbed the erect nipples with his thumbs, and Scully's reaction, apart from a deep moan, was to arch up, pushing her hips into his.
She let go of his penis long enough to rip off her knickers, then directed the erect organ into her own throbbing, wet genitals. Mulder gave a gentle push, and Scully propulsed herself towards him. He thrust himself further until he felt his whole length surrounded by the warm, moist muscle of her vagina. He paused briefly, enjoying the tight sensation, then thrust again. He reached between their joined bodies, and pressed his thumb against her clitoris, applying a revolving pressure.
Scully began writhing and thrashing as a fierce trembling coursed through her body. Mulder held her tight, so that the movement was centred around his penis, and the rubbing of the vaginal ridges against his extremely sensitive organ encouraged him to thrust harder and faster until sweat drenched their bodies and they were both moaning in ecstasy.
It was over quickly, both reaching satisfaction at roughly the same time. They slumped back, exhausted, with Mulder lying across her pliant body. They wrapped their arms around each other and held on tight while their orgasms slowly faded away and the tingles abated.
As Mulder went to withdraw his now flaccid penis, Scully tightened her vaginal muscles in one last caress. They sat up, she perched on the edge of the coffee table, him kneeling in front of her, and they embraced once again.
He picked her up in his arms, and carried her into the bedroom, placing her gently onto the bed. He pulled the covers up over her, then lay down on top of the covers beside her. The gazed into each others eyes for a brief moment, and he stroked her hair.
"Well, Scully, that was an interesting way to talk about our awkward moments!" he bantered.
She laughed, her eyes shining. "Well, at least it's now out in the open! No more frustration and reservations." She released one of her arms from the cover, and pushed a loose lock of hair behind her ear. "But, we shouldn't really have done it."
"It's too late now, Scully. We have. How do you feel now?"
"Basically, it was great and much needed, but it should never happen again. It would only get in the way of our work, and that is more important than us."
Mulder grinned ruefully. Deep down in the farthest recesses of his thoughts he knew that SHE was more important to him than US, but again reality surfaced and as far as he was concerned, whatever Scully wanted, she was going to have. He couldn’t lose her from his life.
"I agree with you, Scully. But I need to make sure things are OK between us, no embarrassment, no bad feelings. That will affect our work more so."
She took on a very serious look. "No, it's OK, I'm fine with it. As long as it remains here. No mention of it again, no hints, no snide remarks, no jokes or rumours. Especially to others!!"
"So, what do you want me to do now? Stay or leave?" Mulder asked gently.
"You go to the Lab. I'll grab some sleep, and catch up with you later." she murmured sleepily. Mulder leaned over and gave her a quick but gentle kiss................. "Mulder...Mulder.....wake up!!" Mulder felt the fingers pressing into his arm, shaking his limb, jolting him into a sitting position. He looked up into Scully’s face with a look of confusion.
"What........?" he murmured, wondering why he felt so cramped and curled up.
"Mulder, you were dreaming."
"I was dreaming? Yes I was......" and suddenly he became aware of the cramped space around him, the close sloping of the roof, the little knobs and vents above him, the small uncomfortable seat with the armrest digging into his ribs, the seat in front of him digging into his knees, and the large window beside him, presenting a view of a vast expanse of blue sky. Oh! He was on a plane.
"Yes, I was......" he stumbled, trying to collect a clear thought. He looked up at Scully’s face again, she gazed back at him with a neutral expression. "Um......I was dreaming?" he began.
"...and Mulder, you were becoming quite vocal!" Scully glared at him briefly.
"I was?" The memory of the dream flashed through his memory at this point, and he turned away quickly to prevent her witnessing his blush. "What was I saying?"
"Oh, just lots of moans and groans Mulder."
Silence.
Mulder reflected on this.
"Scully?"
"Yes Mulder?"
"Was that all?"
Silence.
"Well, yes, that was all. Nothing specific, but you were distracting me from my work." She raised a puzzled eyebrow at him, then turned back to her notes and continued to write. Mulder watched her for a few minutes, trying to read her face. He sighed and settled back into the seat. He was horrified with himself. He couldn’t believe he had experienced one of his Scully dreams whilst sitting next to her. He always tried very hard to control the existence of them, waiting until he was alone at home, or in a motel room. For the first couple of years, he was horrified that he was actually having the sexual dreams about his partner, then resignation emerged simultaneously with his recognition of adoration and love for her, and he drew up a series of rules to deal with his feelings.
He had definitely overstepped the line this time. He glanced up at Scully again, wondering what she had heard, wondering if she knew what he was dreaming about. She continued to write at her notes, there was no indication in her facial expression that she was aware of his indiscretion. He felt very relieved.
The "Fasten Seat Belts" sign flashed at that point, indicating that landing procedures were in process, and Mulder watched as Scully packed away all her documents and paraphernalia. He placed his hand over hers, as was their routine, reassuring Scully that the landing would be smooth, feeling her hand stiffen, as per usual, as they plane bounced slightly when the wheels hit the tarmac. He waited, as per usual, for Scully to unfasten her seatbelt and rise, and collect her briefcase before he reached for his own seatbelt. This time, though, she stopped and turned to gaze at him, reaching out to touch his shoulder, leaning over and brushing her mouth against his ear.
"Actually Mulder, it was the ‘quote’ Oh Scully, OOOhhhhhh Scully ‘unquote’ that was distracting me from my work.", and she then stood and moved into the crowd of people milling around her, all trying to leave the airplane at the same time. Mulder froze, blushing again, totally mortified. Thoughts jumbling, mind racing, heart pumping, sounds swirling around his ears, the end is near the end is near the end is near, Mulder didn’t move for an eternity, his hands still grasping the armrests of the chair.
A hand touched his shoulder, and he looked up into Scully’s eyes yet again. Expecting anger, he was astonished to notice bemusement. "...and Mulder, in MY dream, I ask you to stay.", and she flashed him a wide delighted smile as she turned and disappeared into the crowd yet again.
END
