By fran58
fran58@wonderhorse.net
 

http://www.fran58.net/authorspgs/wonderhorse/stories.htm
Category: V
Rating: PG for one bad word
Feedback: Of course <g>
Distribution: Wherever - just let me know.
Spoilers: Pilot
Disclaimer: Characters owned by Chris Carter, Ten Thirteen
Productions and 20th Century Fox.
Summary: Early in the series. A late night encounter.

Author's Note: Thanks to addicted2fanfic for the beta. All
errors are mine.This was done for the emuse Secret Santa
exchange 2004.

On nights like this, when it was late and quiet, Mulder often
thought he might see the ghost of J. Edgar sashaying down
one of the darkened halls in a pair of stiletto pumps. He could
be wrong. The old man may have preferred sling backs.

Mulder stopped in front of the bullpen door. From his pocket,
he pulled several keys he wasn't supposed to have, and
inserted one. He had compiled some information for Agent
Budwalla and thought he would leave it on the other Agent's
desk. During normal working hours, a friendly visit from
Spooky in the bullpen would surely set other Agent's tongue's
wagging. Budwalla had always been polite. Respectful.
Mulder had no desire to make life unpleasant for him.

The door opened silently, and Mulder stepped inside. There
was a single pool of light spilling onto a desk to his right.
Another night owl. As Mulder drew closer, he could see Agent
Scully's head bent over her desk. She was making notes with
one hand while the other flipped through a document that lay
on her desk. Well, well. He could hardly pass up an
opportunity like this, now, could he?

Mulder walked briskly past Scully's desk and loudly dropped
Budwalla's information onto his desk then turned to face her.
Scully looked up, inhaling suddenly, eyes wide.

"God, Mulder. You gave me a start."

"You're here late. Especially for a Friday. I thought everyone
except ultra-dedicated employees like me always left at three
to get a head start on the weekend." He studied her. She
looked so young and sincere, with her long, straight hair. Too
young to be a doctor. Too young to be an agent.

"I was late to work this morning. My ride isn't coming for a bit,
so I thought I would do some catching up," she said.

"You're car pooling?"

Scully smiled. "For now."

"I read your report," Mulder said shortly. He reached for a
nearby chair and drew it in front of her desk and straddled it.

Scully raised an eyebrow. "And?"

"And I guess I should congratulate you. Somehow, you
managed to put the salient details on paper without sounding
like a nut." He picked up a pen from her desk and twirled it in
his fingers. "Without making me sound like a nut."

"I don't think you're a nut, Mulder."

"No? You don't think I'm spooky?"

"Oh no," she laughed suddenly. It was clear and rippling. "I
do think you're spooky. I just don't think you're crazy."

Mulder leaned his elbows on her desk. "Really."

"Really."

"I thought you were being paid to prove I was a nut case."

Scully pressed her lips together. "I told you before, in
Bellefleur, I'm not a part of any agenda."

"I bet that's not what whoever assigned you to me thinks."

Scully looked at him. "They can think what they want."

"You're going to piss someone off with that attitude," Mulder
murmured, and leaned back. He dipped one hand into his suit
coat pocket and pulled out a handful of sunflower seeds. "So.
You think I'm spooky."

"If it makes you feel any better, I also think you're a good
agent."

"Well," Mulder said, leaning forward again and tossing a
couple seeds into his mouth. "That's refreshing."

"Mulder, not everyone thinks you're nuts."

"Just most people, huh?"

"Some people," she said. "Believe it or not, I've heard good
things about you, too."

"Do tell."

A small smile played over Scully's face. "Well, Nora in
Accounts Payable thinks you're sex on a stick. You seem to
have made quite an impression. Of course, Nora isn't too
happy about the fact that you've stopped returning her calls."

Mulder folded his arms across his chest. "Yeah, I can be a
real asshole sometimes. Did you hear about that time when I
was still profiling and slashed the tires on Agent Hawkins'
car?"

"Oh?"

"He was on his way to arrest the wrong man for a series
mutilation killings -- teenaged boys -- and he wouldn't listen to
me. We were in the middle of Bumfuck, Nowhere. Slashing
his tires slowed him down since that was the only
transportation we had." Mulder slid his hand into his pocket
again for more seeds. "Technically, he was AIC, and I should
have been listening to him"

"Is that story supposed to scare me off?"

"I've got more. Lots more. All I'm saying is that, no one would
blame you if you asked for a transfer."

"Mulder, if you're trying to get rid of me, you're going to have
to try harder. I don't have any intention of asking for a
transfer. I took the assignment gladly. I meant it when I said I
was looking forward to working with you."

"If that's true, you've got bigger cajones than the last two
agents they assigned to me. The first one knew me from
VICAP and thought I could walk on water, the second one
thought I was his own private freak show," he said.

"Why didn't the first one stay?"

"He was too intimidated by me and my god-like intellect."

Scully raised her eyebrows. "But not with your ego
problems?"

"Apparently not." Mulder leaned close and leveled his gaze at
her. "You know, I prefer to work alone."

Scully shook her head. "Like I said, if you're trying to get rid of
me..." She broke off. "Look, Mulder, I don't have much field
experience, and the way your mind works is... unique. I know
I have a lot to learn. I don't agree with all your theories, and I
don't condone some of your methods. But I believe that your
intentions are honorable. If you don't like me, you'll just have
to deal with it. I'm not going anywhere."

Mulder pushed back from her desk again. "That was quite a
speech. I guess I'll drop those sexual harassment charges
against you."

"Excuse me?" She looked up, startled.

"Well, you did come into my room and drop your robe without
any invitation on my part."

Scully closed her eyes and blushed. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry
about that. I don't usually panic easily."

There was a long moment of stillness, abruptly cut short by
the ring of Scully's desk phone.

Smiling, Mulder snatched up the receiver. "Dana Scully's
desk."

A surprised pause on the other end of the line. "This is Ethan.
Is Dana there?"

"One moment please." Mulder punched the ?hold' button on
the phone set and stage-whispered, "It's *Ethan*." He was
gratified to see Scully blush again.

She took the handset and turned slightly away from him. "Hi
Ethan. Yes, that was him. What time?" She glanced at her
watch. "No, it's okay. I'll catch the bus... all right, yes, I'll
catch a cab. Promise. I know it's getting dark." Mulder heard
her stifle a small sigh. "I'll see you around ten then. Bye."

"So, the boyfriend? He's working late, too?" Mulder asked.
"You seem well matched then." Scully gave him a too-tight
smile. Well, maybe not, Mulder thought.

"So, Doc Scully, you're intent on seeing this assignment
through to the bitter end?"

"I guess I'm just a glutton for punishment." Scully leaned over
to switch her computer off.

"You want a lift?"

Scully turned to look at him, surprised. "All the way to
Annapolis? Which way are you going?"

Mulder shrugged. "Save you a hefty cab fare."

"Thanks, Mulder, but I can't ask you to go out of your way for
me."

Mulder stretched and got to his feet. "Need any help here?"

Scully chuffed. "I think I can put my things away and turn off
the desk lamp just fine all by myself. Thanks."

Mulder gave her a short nod. "Okay. Then I'll see you
Monday." He felt a small stab of disappointment.

"See you Monday," she echoed.

The parking garage was nearly empty. His was one of only
two cars along the east wall. As he reached into his pocket for
the car keys, he heard the sharp tapping of heels against
concrete. Maybe J. Edgar had decided to make an
appearance after all.

Mulder turned to see Scully walking briskly toward him. She
stopped a few yards away.

"If you don't mind, I guess I could use that ride after all." Her
eyes dropped away from his face then resolutely slid back.

Mulder nodded. "Of course." He unlocked the doors and she
slid into the passenger's seat.

"I was going to stop for a sandwich or something," Mulder said
carefully. "I skipped dinner."

Scully looked steadily at him. "A sandwich would be nice. I
haven't eaten since lunch."

Mulder felt suddenly buoyant and the beginnings of a smile
tugged at the corners of his mouth. He leaned forward and
turned the key in the ignition. "Then let's get this show on the
road."

End. Thanks for reading!
 

******************************************
******************************************
 

Late Night at the Hoover II: Lunch

By fran58
fran58@wonderhorse.net
 

Category: V
Rating: G
Feedback:  Of course <g>
Distribution: Wherever - just let me know.
Spoilers: Uh, first season
Disclaimer: Characters owned by Chris Carter, Ten Thirteen
Productions and 20th Century Fox.
Summary: Set early in the series. "She said she was having
lunch with a friend."
This takes place after Late Night at the Hoover.
(http://www.fran58.net/authorspgs/wonderhorse/stories.htm)
You can probably understand this on its own, however.
 

Author's Note: Thanks to addicted2fanfic and probe for the
beta, Pacquin for suggestions, and to bcfan for proding.

~~~

Late Night at the Hoover II: Lunch
By fran58
 

Scully began to gather her things for lunch.  Mulder knew the
signs.  The little table that stood a short distance from his desk
was littered with her papers.  God forbid she would leave
without putting them in neat stacks.

"Lunch plans?" he asked.

"Mmm.  I'm meeting a friend."

Mulder rose.  "It's not Colton again, is it?"

Scully stopped fussing with the papers in front of her and
looked at him.  "And what if it was?"

Mulder frowned.  "Just that I would have thought that you'd
have learned your lesson where Colton's concerned.  He
probably just wants to pick your brain again."

Scully half-smiled and focused on shutting off her laptop.  "Tom
has his own brain."

"Yeah," said Mulder "But yours is better."

"Was that a compliment?  I should probably write this down."
Scully looked up at him again.  "Don't worry, I'm not meeting
Tom."

"Then Dick?  Harry?"  Mulder walked around the desk.  "You
know, if you really wanted to impress him, you should have
picked that blue skirt you used to wear."

Scully raised her eyebrows.

"Not that there's anything wrong with what you've got on now,"
Mulder backtracked.

"I'll remember to call you in the morning for fashion advice."

Scully bent over and dug in her briefcase and extracted a set of
keys.  "Besides, that skirt doesn't fit me any longer.  I'll say one
thing for Ethan, when we were together, he managed to work
those extra pounds off."  Catching Mulder's look of
consternation, she blushed.  "I didn't mean... it was just that we
used to go running together in the mornings.  I've been
slacking off."  She grabbed her coat.  "Gotta go," she mumbled
and was out the door.

XxXx

Mulder gazed at Nora and wondered if she would prefer to hear
about Eugene Tooms or the Beast Woman from Jersey.

Probably neither.  The inhabitants in the Bureau's Accounts
Payable Department weren't known for their wild imaginations.

Mulder tried to remember what he used to  find so interesting
about Nora.  She did like basketball, he remembered.  That
was a plus.  She had played in college.  She had an athlete's
body.  Long and lean, great legs... that was it.  He had loved
her legs.

Somehow they seemed to have lost some of their charm.

Mulder caught sight of something out of the corner of his eye.
Scully.  Scully at a table in the corner with Skinner's Deputy
Assistant Director, Spencer Warren.  Nora followed his gaze.

"That's you new partner, right?"

"Mmm."

"Already having lunch with Warren.  She's a fast worker."  Nora
sipped her coffee.

"No."

Nora blinked.  "No?  No what?"

Mulder looked at her.  "No, not a fast worker.  She isn't like
that."

Nora looked at him thoughtfully.  "Well, I can only think of three
reasons why she'd be eating lunch with him.  She screw up at
work lately?"

"Not that I know.  And we've been working pretty closely.  She
said she was having lunch with a friend, but..."  Mulder shook
his head.

"Okay then.  It's either a date, or a job offer."  Nora put her cup
down firmly.  "Ready to go?  I've got to get back."

Mulder felt a pang in his chest.

XxXx

When Scully didn't call him after lunch, as was her habit,
Mulder went upstairs to the bullpen in search of her.  He stood
in front of her empty desk and stared until a voice heckled him.

"Hey, Mulder, staring at the desk isn't going to make Little
Spooky suddenly appear.  Poof!"

Little Spooky.  Cute.  Mulder turned to the other agent.  Penski,
if he remember right.  "Has she been back at all this
afternoon?"

Penski lifted a shoulder.  "Haven't seen her.  But then, I'm not
her keeper."

A mellow voice came from behind Mulder.  "She's usually back
by 1:30 or so.  Maybe she had a meeting today.  I'll tell her you
stopped by."

Mulder turned and smiled.  "Thanks, Budwalla.  I would
appreciate that."

The afternoon hours ticked by slowly.  Mulder went home
without hearing from Scully.

XxXx

The knock was almost tentative.

"It's open."

Scully stepped into Mulder's office, a set of keys dangling from
her fingers.  Her laptop and briefcase bumped against one
knee.  "I wasn't sure you'd be in this early."

Mulder looked up as she deposited her things on the table.
"Seems like we missed each other yesterday afternoon."

Scully concentrated on re-stacking a few stray files.  "Yes.
Sorry about that.  I got caught up in something and had trouble
getting away."

Mulder opened his mouth to ask if ?getting caught up' had been
personal or job related, then stopped himself.  None of his
business, really.  Instead he nodded and asked her if she had
turned up any more information on the disappearance of
Darlene Morris.

XxXx

Scully had been quiet all day.  True, even at her most
exuberant, she wasn't what Mulder would call loud.  This quiet
was different.  As if she had toned herself down.

It disturbed him.

She cleared her throat in a way that made Mulder think she had
bad news.

Super.

"Mulder..."  Scully looked up from her laptop.  She was at that
table a few feet from his desk again.  Her table.

"Yeah?"

She rose and walked to his desk slowly.  "I may have done
something..." she paused, flustered.  "I told Deputy Assistant
Director Warren..."

Mulder sighed impatiently.  "Spit it out, Scully.  How bad can it
be?"  Secretly, he thought it could be very bad.

"Sorry.  I've been feeling guilty about his all day."  She fingered
the hem of her jacket.  "He offered me a position with the VCU.
They liked the work I did on the Tooms case."

"You did do a good job."  Mulder forced himself to look
pleased.

"Thanks."

A moment ticked by.  "And?"  His throat was dry.

Scully blew out a breath.  "And I turned him down."
 
Mulder closed his eyes briefly.  "What's so bad about that?
Other than he probably thinks you're actually crazy enough to
be down here with me now."

Scully dropped her gaze.  "It's bad because they weren't just
angling for me.  They wanted you, too."

Mulder laughed.  "If they wanted me in the VCU, why not just
ask me?  Why be so circumspect?"

Scully worried her lower lip.  "Because they *have* asked you.
And you made it clear that you wanted to stay here."  She
motioned stiffly around his office.

"I'm not following."

"And I'm not explaining well.  I think," she looked at him.  "I
think that they thought if they could get me to transfer, that you
might be persuaded to follow."  She glanced at him again,
cheeks pink.

The afternoon sun was just beginning to filter in through the
meager windows that lined the top of the office walls.  Mulder
watched the sunlight play over the top of his partners head.
Her lips were pursed.  "Well," he said.

Scully turned pinker.  "I'm not sure what they were thinking.  I
tried to explain that they had the wrong idea.  Anyway, I said
no."

Mulder nodded.

"And I'm sorry I didn't consult you first."  She drew a long
breath.  "I'm not ready to give this job up, but I had no right to
decide something that affects both of us on my own.  It just
seemed like the right thing at the time.  It wasn't until later that
it occurred to me that you might want to have a say."
 
He stood unmoving, letting this news sink in.

"Anyway, I gotta run," Scully mumbled, looking embarrassed.
She quickly powered off the laptop and stowed it in its case.
Looking back, she gave Mulder a tight lipped smile.  "See you
later."

Mulder snapped to attention.  Scully was already by the
elevators and he had to run the short distance to catch her.
The doors were opening and he put one hand out to hold them
open.

Still in the hall, Scully glanced away from the doors and back at
him.  "I'm really sorry, Mulder."

"No, Scully, it's okay."  The doors bumped against his hand and
he let them close.  "You were right."  He placed his hands
gently on her shoulders and turned her to face him.  "Your
instincts are good.  You did exactly what you should have."  He
reached past her waist to punch the elevator's ?up' button
again.

A small, relieved smile tugged at one corner of Scully's mouth.
"Are you sure?"

"Of course."  He turned to go, then hesitated.  "You know,
Scully, they might have been angling to get me into the VCU,
but don't sell yourself short.  You did good work.  They would
have taken you with or without me.  They'd be fools not to."

Scully closed her eyes.  When she opened them, she smiled
fully, brilliantly.  "Thanks.  I'll see you then.  Tomorrow."  The
elevator doors opened and she stepped inside.

Mulder stood in front of the closed doors for several moments.,
then laughed.

End