DM
unruhe1121@hotmail.com
 

Feedback: Please!
Rating: PG
Category: V, R
Key words: Mulder/Scully Romance
Spoilers: Rain King and SR 819.
Disclaimer: Not mine; they belong to 1013
Productions, FOX, and most importantly, David
Duchovny and Gillian Anderson.
Summary: "No one ever told me that getting ONE
simple kiss would be *this* hard. But, with Scully,
nothing is ever simple. She's wonderfully
complicated."
Notes: This is the third vignette in a series that follows
Mulder and Scully through the episodes in Season 6.
You don't have to read the first two to understand, but
I'd love it if you would! The series goes as follows:
'Kroner'
'Georgetown'
'One Simple Kiss'
They may all be found here:
http://www.geocities.com/dmldr42/fanfiction.html
I want to thank Carol A and Sallie for all of their help
and support! Couldn't ask for better betas! ('better
betas.' Say *that* three times in a row!:)

All of my other stories may be found at my website:
http://www.geocities.com/dmldr42
 

One Simple Kiss
By DM

The mysterious vascular condition Skinner was dying
of not one hour ago now seems to be in check, and
he's showing no further symptoms. Rumors of a
modern day miracle have been circulating the ICU.

Scully and I slip quietly out of his room to let him rest.
I haven't had a moment alone with her since we were
interrupted by Skinner. When I say alone, I mean
without doctors or nurses poking around. Sneaking
into the hospital chapel seems like the best solution.
However, it's not until I see her cross herself before
joining me on the pew that I realize this probably isn't
a prime location to make my move.

Then there's the part about us being tired out of our
minds, with little to no sleep since we left Kroner.
Thank goodness it's the weekend. No work until
Monday.

I should have thought about all of this before dragging
her in here, but I'm Mr. Impatient and didn't want to
wait until we got home. That, and Scully said she
wouldn't leave until she was absolutely sure the
Assistant Director was in the clear.

No one ever told me that getting ONE simple kiss
would be *this* hard. But, with Scully, nothing is ever
simple. She's wonderfully complicated.

"Tired?" I ask after a long, drawn out sigh escapes
her lips.

"No," she's lying through her teeth and we both know
it.

"Let's go home. He'll be fine," I assure her, picking up
her hand and squeezing it gently. "They'll call if
anything comes up."

She's silent for a moment and pulls her hand away
from mine to rub her eyes. They're red and puffy and
I'm suddenly amazed that either of us has lasted this
long.

"I'm taking you home," I decide for her as I stand up
and pull her along with me. She doesn't argue, but
leaves her cell phone number with the nurse on our
way out.

She fell asleep on the way home, and I was really
looking forward to playing the hero by carrying her up
the stairs. I seriously had this whole Harlequin
Romance fantasy thing going on, envisioning myself
bare-chested with long hair and all, but it's all crushed
to pieces as the car comes to a stop out front of her
building. She must sense that we're here, because
she wakes up immediately.

"Good night, Mulder." She mumbles and gets out of
the car. I watch her until she's inside, and don't leave
until the light in her apartment is switched on.

***

Sunday, late afternoon
4:45 pm

I called her from my car a half an hour ago, asking if I
could come see her. Knowing the answer would be
"yes," I spent the last thirty minutes picking up a
video, some popcorn and a 6-pack of root beer.
Forget the iced tea, I'm now addicted to root beer.

She opens the door and steps aside so I can enter.
Wordlessly she takes the popcorn and soda from my
hands and goes into the kitchen. I take my usual
place on the couch, and shortly after I hear the
popcorn begin to pop, she comes back into the living
room.

She sits down next to me and grabs the movie case
off the coffee table. Only seconds pass before she
looks at me, dumbfounded. "'Sleepless in Seattle,'
Mulder?"

I just grin and lean back on the couch, putting my
hands behind my head, making myself comfortable.
"What?"

I've always liked that movie. Well, it wasn't bad. . .
what I saw of it, at least. I remember reading
somewhere that women love it. Granted Scully isn't
your average woman, but I've known her long enough
to realize that she's not as tough as she'd have you
think. Plus, I figure it can't hurt to set the mood. If I
had my choice, we'd be watching 'Plan 9 From Outer
Space, but, sometimes one must sacrifice for the
cause of a greater good. I can handle 'Sleepless in
Seattle.'

The microwave beeps and she heads for the kitchen.
I haven't talked to her since I dropped her off on
Friday night. I spent most of yesterday sleeping and
today I waited to call because I know she has church
and usually spends the afternoon with her mother.
Poor excuses, I realize, but this is brand new territory
for us. I think she understands. If she were upset, I'd
know by now.

I have the video all cued up by the time she settles in
on the couch with a big bowl of popcorn and two
bottles of IBC. One for her and one for me. I hit 'play'
and turn to her, enjoying the view before saying
anything. "So, what's wrong with 'Sleepless in
Seattle?'"

She eyes me, amused. "Nothing." She's mocking me
and I have to set her straight.

"I have a sensitive side Scully." I lower my voice
before continuing, "but it's not something I talk about.
I have an image to uphold."

She snorts and almost chokes on her root beer.

"Let's just watch, okay?" I say as though I've been
highly offended.

***

The credits roll and I hit mute, blocking out the overly
dramatic Celine Dion song that appropriately
concludes the film.

Some time during the movie her head fell to my
shoulder. I can't pinpoint the exact moment, but. . .
okay, fine. I can. It was the part where Meg Ryan's
character watches Hanks and his son play on the
beach. What can I say?  I'm an investigator by trade,
I'm trained to notice these things.

"Scully?"

"Hmm?" She sounds tired, but thankfully she's not
asleep.

"Good movie, huh?"

"Mmm. . ."

Somehow in my own twisted version of things, I draw
a striking parallel between the characters and
ourselves.

Two people searching for their own truths, thrown
together most unconventionally. Repeatedly missing
their chance, sometimes not even realizing the other
is there waiting, then finally finding each other after
their luck is about to run dry. I'm hoping our story will
have an equally happy ending.

"I'm glad you called," she begins, halting my train of
thought, which is probably a good thing.

"I'm glad you answered," I smile down at her and she
leans back enough to make eye contact.

We just look at each other for a moment, neither of us
willing to break the mood.

Slowly she pulls free from my half embrace and rests
her elbows on her knees. She looks down at her feet,
hesitates a moment, then speaks in a quiet, almost
timid tone.

"Why does it have to be so hard for us?"

I feel a little bit dizzy. This honest route we've been
taking lately has really thrown me for a loop. Not that
we're not honest with one another, but we usually
keep our emotions under lock and key. Not that that's
right, but it's the truth.

I'm surprised at how calm and sure of myself I sound.
"Because we have more to risk."

"I've been thinking," she still won't look at me. "If this
is so right, it wouldn't be this hard."

I wasn't expecting this, although I probably should
have. I doubt her mind has had one moment of peace
since our conversation last week. I'm positive our
relationship has been fully analyzed, categorized, and
reshuffled a thousand times over.

"Are you having second thoughts?" I need to know
what she's concluded.

"Second, third, and fourth thoughts, Mulder, but,
despite it all, I can't help but want this." Only now
does she turn to look into my eyes. "Tell me this is
right. Tell me I'm not crazy."

I smile, cupping her cheek with my palm. We're here.
After six years, we're finally here. "This *is* right,
Scully. And you can't be crazy. . . that's my job."

She smiles and I kiss her. It's a slow, deep kiss, a
good kiss. The best first kiss I've ever experienced.
We've come such a long way, and I'm positive we
have much farther to travel. I'm so blessed to have
this woman by my side.

We part, breathless, but satisfied. She rests against
me again, our hands entwined. I could die happy, I
think to myself. But, for the first time in a very long
while, the thought of death, of leaving her, sends a
cold chill through my body.

I must have actually shivered, because she turns to
look at me. "You okay?"

The simple question has more layers than I can
count. For the first time in 26 years, I *am* okay. I'm
more than okay.

I don't answer, but choose to brush my lips across
hers once more, hoping it will be enough to assure
her.

In the middle of my reassurance ministrations, I hear
what sounds like thudding. I choose to ignore it,
thinking maybe its just Scully and my kisses have
caused her heart to pound.  Well, it's a nice thought
and I smile into our kiss.

"Dana?"

I recognize my error only when Scully's name reaches
my ears and, being that my mouth is otherwise
engaged, I know I didn't say it.

I think we both realize this at the same time, and she
pulls away just as we hear the lock on her front door
being turned.

The door opens slowly and she's on the other side of
the couch already, smoothing down her hair. There's
a crimson blush that colors her fair skin, making her
more beautiful than ever.

"Dana, honey? You home?" Her mother steps inside
and Scully is off the couch and walking towards her
before I can blink.

"Mom, sorry. I was in the kitchen. . ." Scully embraces
her mother quickly then pulls away. Mrs. Scully looks
from me, still seated on the couch, to her daughter,
whose Irish coloring isn't helping her obvious
embarrassment.

"Fox," she greets me. "It's nice to see you again." She
pauses for a moment, a faint smile flirting with her lips
as she forms a silent understanding that I'm sure is
closer to the truth than Scully would like. "I'm not
interrupting anything, am I?"

She so knows, and I feel like laughing, but Scully is
obviously uncomfortable, so I refrain.

"We're just finishing up some business from last
week, Mrs. Scully." I attempt to remove the attention
from my partner.

"Maggie," she encourages me to use her first name.

I stand and walk over to Scully. I squeeze her
shoulder and allow my hand to remain there a bit
longer than necessary. "I was just about to leave, so
I'll let you two visit." I smile and let my hand run down
her back before breaking contact. "See you at work
tomorrow?"

She nods her head and gives me this look that I know
means I'm in trouble. I can't help the small chuckle
that escapes as I bid Scully's mother "Goodnight."

The blushing beauty follows me to the door and as
soon as I'm out of Maggie's sight, I mouth, 'love you.'
An award winning smile creeps across those
incredible lips of hers, and I can't help but grin like an
idiot all the way home.

End.