One More Time

By Donna
donnah@donnas-stories.com


URL - http://www.donnas-stories.com/
Rating - PG-13
Category - MSR, angst
Spoilers - None
Keywords - MSR, angst
Summary - He can't lose her . . .
Feedback - Please
Archive - Anywhere, just let me know so I can visit

Disclaimer - Mulder, Scully, the Lone Gunmen and Skinner
all belong to Chris, 10-13, and Fox - Bless them for it!!  No
infringement intended.


One More Time

He was aware they were working on him, he knew there was
oxygen being pumped into his nose through the cannula and
that someone was wrapping his hands.  It didn't matter;
nothing mattered except what was going on the other side of
the glass.

She was burned, he'd heard them, they didn't know why she
was still alive.  90% of her body, her hair was gone and her
skin was blackened or raw.  She was unconscious, thank
goodness.  What would the pain have been . . . he didn't
finish that thought.  They were talking about amputating her
fingers to cut down on infection.  They'd already said if she
lived, if, that they would have to look for donor skin because
she didn't have enough left to graft.  He'd heard them; they
were using cadaver skin on her now.  God!

How had this happened?  It was too sudden.  There had
been no time to stop things, to save her.  He had been
caught off guard.  Scully had realized what was happening
before him and had shoved him out of the way.  He had
fallen and . . .

He wanted to be in there with her, he needed to be in there.  
He knew they wanted to keep the area sterile, but he needed
to touch her.  He had to touch her, he had to feel her.  He
wouldn't hurt her; he just had to be closer.

He turned to the nurse who had finished wrapping the burns
on his hands.  "Please, just for a moment.  I have to talk to
her."

"Mr. Mulder, she can't hear you."

"She'll hear me.  Put me in one of those paper wraps, I'll
wear a mask.  I just have to get in there, just for a moment."

The nurse looked helplessly at the doctor as he joined them.  
He had obviously heard the request.  "Mr. Mulder - "

"Please.  I won't hurt her, I just need to, I need . . . " his voice
gave out then.

"You're injured yourself, Mr. Mulder."

"No, I'm fine."

The doctor looked through the window at his patient.  The
extent of her injuries was horrific, and his experience told
him that she would not survive.  The look in this man's eyes
as he gazed at his partner was compelling.  He looked over
at the nurse.  "Get a gown for him."

"Doctor?"

"She needs the contact," he explained and returned to the
room.

The nurse helped him into the gown, being especially careful
of the burns on his hands.  He couldn't care less; he had to
get in there.  The door made a whooshing sound as he
entered.  There was positive atmosphere in here, forcing
oxygen into her damaged lungs.  He couldn't remember
when he'd learned that, it didn't matter anyway.

He shuffled forward and looked down at her.  He couldn't
help the wince and was glad her eyes were closed.  She was
completely wrapped in gauze; even her eyebrows were gone.  
How the hell could she keep him in line without her
eyebrows?  The scars wouldn't matter to him, not if she lived.  
He started to reach out, to touch her face but the doctor's
hand on his arm stopped him.  "I'm sorry, you can't touch
her."

"Is she getting enough pain medication?" his voice choked
off.

"She's not on pain medication, Mr. Mulder.  She doesn't
need it.  The nerve endings have been burned away."  The
nurse was whispering, for which he was grateful.  Scully
didn't need to hear that.

He winced but reluctantly nodded.  At least he was in here.  
She was breathing, she was alive.  He leaned in, "Scully, it's
me.  You're going to be okay.  I'm not leaving you.  You just
rest and get strong."

There was no response.  Not being able to touch her was
maddening, but he didn't want to make anything worse.  A
nurse moved closer to check the drip rate on one of her IVs
and draped a sheet over the forms around her legs.  It ruffled
as though a breeze had caught it.  Strange, there was no
window in here.  Then he felt the breeze on his face, it was
stronger and the nurse looked around.  It was growing
stronger still, the gauze on the tray was fluttering now and
then instruments were shifted by the wind that was whirling
around the room.  The tray tipped over and the nurse
staggered back a step.  It had turned into a gale.  Mulder
looked back down at Scully before he was blown off his feet.

*****

He was standing in his office in his dark gray suit.  How the
hell had he gotten here?  His hands weren't bandaged.  
Before he could look around he heard the door open.  

"Mulder?  Come on, Skinner's waiting."

He whirled around, startling her.  He was looming over her
now, not speaking.  His hand came up to touch the soft,
smooth skin of her face.  He caressed it softly, then one of
his hands, his undamaged hands, entwined in her hair.

"Mulder?"

He pulled her to him then, holding her against his body,
feeling her chest move with deeper breathing.  He bent down
then and took her lips with his own.  

She responded for a moment, then pulled back, staring at
him.  "Mulder, what are you doing?"

He still didn't speak, just devouring her with his eyes.  
Instead of racing away from him, she pushed the door shut.  
"Are you okay?  Mulder, what's going on?"

His lips moved, but he didn't speak.  He stood stock-still as
her hands came up to check for fever.  She checked his
pupil dilation and took his hand to feel for his pulse.  He
didn't protest, she was touching him and he reveled in it.

"I'll call Skinner and delay the meeting."

"No.  I'm okay."

"You're not okay."

"I will be.  Come on."  He took her arm, holding her close to
him as they walked to the elevator.  She didn't say anything,
but looked up at him with concern again.  He gave her a little
space when they exited the elevator on Skinner's floor, but
his hand was on her back.  He didn't usually do that in the
building but under the circumstances she was glad he had.  
Something was definitely wrong with him.  He-he'd kissed
her, kissed her like he meant it.  She needed some time to
explore what that had brought up in her.

Skinner looked up when they tapped on his open door.  He
motioned them in and they took their regular seats.  Mulder's
eyes caught sight of the folder on his desk and he froze.  

"I need the two of you to fly out to Chicago.  We've been
requested on - "

"We can't take this case," Mulder interrupted.

"Excuse me?"  Skinner looked up at him and Scully looked
over, but kept silent.

"It, it's not an X-File.  We - "

"And you know that how?"

"I . . . " Mulder looked over at Scully.

"Do you mind if I at least tell you what the case is?" Skinner
said with exaggerated patience.

"Please, go ahead sir," Scully encouraged him, turning away
from Mulder.

After another glance at Mulder, Skinner turned to Scully.  
"We have five victims over two states.  The latest victim was
found outside of Yorkville, Illinois.  There's a national park
near there.  The bodies have been burned beyond
recognition.  They're working on DNA identification."

Mulder turned away.  The movement caused Scully to look
over at him again.  His hands were shaking.

"You have experience with burning of this sort - "

"No.  This is not like Ruskin Dam or El Rico.  There's no X-
File here.  He burned them so we wouldn't know he couldn't
rape them."

Both Scully and Skinner turned to look at him.  "You've
already profiled him?" Skinner asked.

"No, I . . . Okay, I'll head out to Chicago, but there's no
reason for Agent Scully to go.  I can handle - "

"What?" Scully interrupted, not caring that Skinner was in the
room.

"There's no need - "

"Sir, we'll be on our way shortly."  She rose from the chair
and held out her hand for the folder.

Bemused, he handed it to her.  "I'll need a report in 24
hours."

"Yes, sir."  She started for the door and Mulder belatedly
rose.  He moved quickly so she wouldn't be out of his sight.  
Skinner watched them leave without a word.

Mulder lengthened his stride to reach her and raised his
hand to touch her back.  She anticipated it and moved aside.  
She hurried into the elevator and he moved after her.  There
were several other people in there, so he couldn't talk to her.  
He breathed a sigh of relief when everyone else exited.  
"Scully - "

"What is wrong with you?" she turned on him.

"Nothing.  I just wanted to save you from a wasted - "

"Bullshit," she spat at him.  "You just kissed me, you, you
held me, now you don't want to be around me?"

"No, that's not . . . "

She backed away when he moved closer.  "What is going on?  
I need to know."

"I want you to stay here.  Let me go to Chicago and handle
this case.  Maybe it won't take but a couple of days, and - "

"No.  Mulder look at me.  I am not letting you go anywhere
alone right now."

He looked like he started to say something but instead took
the file from her hand.  "I'll swing by and pick you up.  We
can ride together to the airport."

"No way.  I'll pick you up.  I'm not stupid, Mulder."

He wouldn't meet her eyes.  He would have left without her
and she knew it.  A classic ditch, but she knew him too well.  
He nodded and they headed for the office.  She picked up
her briefcase and turned to leave again.  "Wait up."  He
grabbed his own things and moved with her.  She waited as
he locked the door and they headed up to the parking
garage.

She could see his car, but he was headed towards hers.  He
walked her all the way to the car and stood there as she
unlocked it.  He didn't speak, so finally she turned to look up
at him.  Before she could ask again if he was all right, his
hand came back to the caress her cheek.  "Mulder - "

"I'll see you in a little while."

He turned then and moved toward his car, leaving her
speechless.

*****

Once at home, she hurried to pack, feeling the need to
check on him again.  He would tell her what was going on.  
She had to know.  She threw what she needed in her
suitcase and headed for his apartment.

He was ready for a change, waiting for her when she exited
the elevator.  It was as though he wanted to watch her walk
down the hall.  Mostly he was scaring her; not of him, for him.

He didn't give her a chance to ask, just picking up his
suitcase and stepping out into the hall with her.  Her brow
was furrowed as he locked up, then his hand was on her
back, more firmly than usual and leading her to her car.  
Silently she capitulated; he couldn't get away once they were
on their flight.  She'd get some kind of explanation then.

She took the seat by the window as usual, so that his long
legs would have the benefit of the aisle.  They couldn't talk
with all of the loading going on, so she picked up the file to
familiarize herself with the case.  Before she could get into it,
she felt his hand tugging lightly on the little finger of her left
hand.  He took possession of the hand and began playing
with her fingers, watching them, touching them.  She started
to pull back, but his grip tightened, not allowing her to leave
the confines of his hands.

Her concern for his mental state increased.  Maybe a
crowded plane wasn't the place to have the conversation
they needed.  What the hell had happened?

After takeoff he reclined his seat slightly and, keeping
possession of her hand, closed his eyes.  Finally she could
turn and look at him.  He wasn't asleep, she knew that, but
he had definitely put a barrier there.  She gave up on trying
to get her hand back; he wasn't hurting her, just scaring her.  
She did the best she could reading the file, but her mind and
her hand weren't in it.

It wasn't until they were ready to land a little over an hour
later that he sat up.  "Scully."  She turned to him but he was
focused on the seat in front of him, not looking at her at all.  
"Your safety, your life, is the most important thing to me.  
You need to know that."

She stared at him, wondering for a moment if he was truly
awake.  

"You know I love you, but I needed to say it."

That knocked the breath out of her.  His voice, always sexy,
had an added quality of rasp to it since his fight with the
tobacco bugs.  Now it was causing moisture to pool and she
sat there, struck dumb.  He released her hand then, but she
placed it on the sleeve of his suit.

"I'm in love with you," he said quietly.

She stared at him, her mouth open.  She jerked violently
when the tires hit the tarmac.  He didn't move, still not
looking at her.  He was the first one out of his seat when
they pulled up to the terminal.  He opened the overhead
compartment and lifted down both of their carry-ons.

He let her out ahead of him, but once in the terminal he
walked ahead of her, causing her to move faster to keep up.  
At the car rental counter she realized he wasn't even flirting
with the girl.  To be fair, he didn't really flirt, but that easy
smile of his always seemed to get them good service.  This
time he wasn't even looking up at the young woman.  Scully
could see the disappointment on her face.

He took the keys, mumbled a thank you and turned away.  
Scully followed silently and let him lead her to the car.

She got into the passenger seat while he loaded the trunk.

"We should go to headquarters."

Scully nodded.  This wasn't the time or place for the talk they
needed.  He had distanced himself on the plane, and with
the other passengers, she hadn't wanted to cause a scene.  
Eventually they'd get to a hotel and she'd force him to talk.

The chief greeted them immediately and led them to a small
conference room where the evidence was laid out.  "I really
appreciate you coming out here so quick.  We have our
share of murders this close to the city, but not like this.  I
wasn't even sure the victim was female when I saw her.  
Those burns . . . " he shook his head.

Mulder looked away.

"I was told you have some experience with burns like these."

"Not exactly."  Without even glancing down, Mulder went into
his spiel.  "You're looking for a white male, between 25 and
35, high intelligence, physically attractive, able to put his
victims at ease.  He's not from here, but is comfortable
traveling . . . "

Scully tuned him out.  She'd get this information later; he
would have to file a report of his profile anyway.  Right now
her main concern was her partner.  He might look confident
and persuasive in that suit, but she could see he was
distracted, worried.  Yes, the victim, victims, were important
right now, but her job was to look after him.  If something
was affecting him, then it would take that much longer to do
their job.

The sheriff looked suitably impressed.  She wasn't the one to
tell him that Mulder hadn't even looked at the file.

"We've kept the body for you, Agent Scully.  If you like, I can
take you over there right now."

"We have a car, if you can give us directions . . . " she trailed
off.  Maybe Mulder wouldn't want to come with her.

Instead he nodded and listened to the directions.  They
thanked the sheriff, assured him they would return, and
headed for their car.  "Mulder, if there's something - "

He shook his head, so she dropped it.  They made another
uncomfortably silent drive to the morgue where she took
over.  Their IDs got them inside quickly and the coroner
stayed right with her, as though afraid she would try to
abscond with the body.  She glanced over at Mulder to roll
her eyes at the older man's behavior, but saw that Mulder
was riveted at the sight of the woman's burned and
blackened body.

He turned abruptly, as pale as she ever remembered seeing
him.  "I'll wait outside."

Before she could respond he was out the door, leaving it
swinging behind him.

"Weak stomach?" the coroner asked.

"Sometimes," was her response, though it wasn't true.  
Mulder had observed some of the most atrocious autopsies
she'd ever done.  She hadn't even touched this woman.  She
couldn't exactly chase after him, so she donned a gown and
gloves.  The autopsy had already been done, but that wasn't
going to keep her from checking out a few things for herself.

She found him sitting in the coroner's office holding a
magazine, but it didn't look as though he had turned a page.  
He looked up when he heard her footsteps and rose to his
feet.  His hand was reaching for her when he saw the doctor
behind her.

"He strangled her, Mulder.  She was dead before he set her
on fire."  Mulder nodded, but she saw him swallow reflexively.  
"We should get back to the station."  She thanked the doctor,
then led Mulder to the car.  "Do you want me to drive?"

He shook his head and got in on the driver's side.  She
sighed as she pulled the passenger door open and slid
inside.  

Back at the station Mulder finally took a seat and started
looking at the evidence.  Scully watched as he started
turning pages faster and faster, caught up in the information.

"Mulder?  Have you found something?"  'Yeah, something
that he recognized', he thought but he couldn't say that.  He
nodded.  "Should I get the sheriff?"

He shook his head.  He was no closer to knowing who the
perp was than his first visit here.  He wanted to step away.

"Let's get out of here.  We can grab a bite and get some
rooms."

He nodded.

*****

He pulled into the motel and got out without a word.  Again
she followed him.

"Do you have connecting rooms?" he was asking at the desk
by the time she joined him.

"I'm sorry.  They're already booked."

He glanced down at Scully, then nodded.  "Fine, two rooms."

She kept quiet.  They occasionally had connecting rooms,
but she couldn't remember him ever requesting them.  She
had to get him to open up.

She took the first room, and stood silently watching him as
he moved past her.  He barely hesitated when she stopped.  
He didn't say anything and wouldn't look at her though he
could feel her eyes on him as he let himself into his room.

He took a shower, as much to stall as to relax.  He was
pretty sure she'd be knocking on his door in a few minutes,
demanding answers.  He didn't have any.  Had he seen the
future?  Had he lived what happened to her?  Was that the
truth or was this?  Was this guy going to ambush them?  He
knew too much about this case.  Hell, he'd already had a
profile written, at least in his head, when they arrived.  But
he wasn't just reliving it, things were different.  They had a
different rental car, different rooms at the motel.  They'd had
connecting rooms before.  The doors had been unlocked,
always available to each other but he hadn't taken
advantage of her company.  Someday - that's what had
been in the back of his mind.  He sure as hell hadn't
admitted he was in love with her the first time.  The look of
shock on her face had told him what he needed to know
about that.

On cue he heard the knock at his door.  Hell, could he even
tell the sound of her fist against a door now?  He opened the
door in his jeans, a towel around his neck, his hair slicked
back.

"We have to talk."

He let her in and closed the door behind her.  "You'll think
I'm crazy."  He gave her a sick little smile.  "Okay, crazier
than normal."

Her eyebrow rose and he stared at it, then she saw tears fill
his eyes and he was pulling her to him.  Was he kissing her
brows?  Her arms slipped around his waist; it felt right.

"Muld - " his lips took hers then and she met them with equal
emotion.  This wasn't why she had come, but she wasn't
surprised.  After his revelation on the plane, she had realized
something drastic had happened.  Something that had jolted
him, and therefore her, out of the status quo.

She had no clear memory of reaching the bed, but they were
reclined on it, making out like teenagers.  She was well
aware of the bulge in his jeans.

She pulled back, but kept her hand on his waist.  The last
thing she wanted was to show him any rejection.  "Mulder,
talk to me, please."

"I saw you, burned, like that woman."  His hands fisted to
keep from pulling her back.

"You had a vision?"

"No, no I, I lived it.  We were here."

"Could it, could it have been a dream?"

"I had the profile in my head before Skinner handed you the
file.  I'm good, Scully," he gave her a tremulous little smile,
"but not that good."

"Go on," she squeezed his hand.

"The mayor called a press conference when we got here.  
Publicity . . . " he shook his head.  "We walked in unprepared
and our faces were out there along with too many details of
the case.  Our guy had to have targeted you from that.  Later
when we were at the station, a call came in about a fire.  You
and I took off with a couple of deputies.  We were out in a
wooded area, it was dusk.  I was ahead of you, and you saw
something.  I never found out what, but you tackled me.  
You're a strong little wench and I wasn't expecting it from
that angle."  He ignored her reaction to his description.  "I
went down and, and then there was a flash.  You, you went
up like a match."  He didn't speak then.

"Were, were you hurt?"  Her voice was low, battered by his
emotion.

"My, my hands, where I tried to put you out.  Don't do it.  
Don't ever push me out of danger and take it on yourself."

"It's part of my job, Mulder. Just like you - "

"No!  Your job is to outlive me, to - "

"No!" she shuddered at his words.  "No. Don't even - " He
pulled her against him and they held each other for a long
moment.  "Is that why you asked for connecting rooms?"

He took a deep breath, "We had them, the first time.  The
thing is, we were in our rooms, both doors between the
rooms were unlocked, accessible, but I didn't take
advantage of it.  I stayed on my side and you stayed on
yours."

"Why?" she asked in a small voice.

"Because of your expression when I told you I was in love
with you.  It made me think you didn't want to hear it."

"No.  I was stunned, but . . . Mulder, I'm here now."

"I can't let it happen.  I don't want you around this case."

"If this . . . whatever happened, what would have happened if
I hadn't shoved you?"

"You wouldn't have been injured," he responded immediately.

"Not good enough.  Would whatever it was have hit you?"

He shrugged.  She shook her head and now it was her hand
caressing his face.  More slowly this time he took her lips.  
They weren't frantic now, savoring each other, exploring,
tasting each other.  It wasn't long enough for him, but she
pulled back again.  "Mulder - "

He met her eyes.

"We can't - " She saw the shield come down on his emotions.  
She leaned in and kissed his nose.  "We can't do this now.  
It's not fair to either of us.  How will we know we're doing this
because it's the right thing?  There's too much emotion, too
much fear.  When we get home, when things have calmed
down, we need to explore this further."

He gaped at her.  "You, you're not . . . "

"I'm not saying no, Mulder.  I'm saying let's get through this,
intact, because I would very much like to explore this part of
us more."

He seemed unable to respond to that, which caused her to
smile.  His smile grew in response.  "I, I should head back to
my room."

"Do you have to?  I mean, we've established that we're
going to wait - a little while, but if you stayed in here . . . "

She chuckled.  "Nice try, Mulder."

*****

The sheriff looked up when they entered the station the next
morning.  "Good, you're here.  The mayor's called a press
conference and - "

"No!" they said it together, causing the sheriff to fall back a
step.

"A press conference is the last thing we need," Scully put her
hand on Mulder's arm trying to keep him calm.

"We thought it was a good idea.  We need to warn the
populace that we have a serial - "

"No.  Any information is too much.  We don't want him to
know what we know, it's to our advantage if he thinks we
haven't even made the connection.  If he finds out an FBI
profiler is here he could escalate, start playing games.  You
need to talk the mayor out of this."

"You don't know our mayor.  He's old school, been mayor
since before dirt.  I won't be able to talk him out of anything
like this.  Maybe he'd listen to you," he sounded doubtful.

Mulder and Scully exchanged glances.  "I'll talk to him,"
Mulder said.  "I don't want - "

She shook her head, stopping his statement.  He looked
down at her and nodded when she motioned for them to get
some privacy.  "Excuse us."

Once out in the hall he turned to her.  "Just stay here.  I'll go
talk to the mayor, talk him out of this press conference."

"Call him, Mulder.  I don't want you to go over there either.  If
he has press, they could get a shot of you instead of me."

He started to protest that but the look on her face stopped
him.  "Okay, that makes sense.  Come on."  They returned to
the main room and the sheriff called the mayor's office for
him.  Once he was on the phone, the sheriff  handed Mulder
the receiver.

"Agent Mulder?  Glad I got hold of you.  I need you to come
over to my office.  I'm holding a - "

"No sir.  I'm calling to ask that you cancel this press
conference."

"Excuse me?"

"This is a sensitive case.  We don't want to alarm the public,
but we also don't want to alert this man that we're aware of
what's going on."

"I have to alert my people.  We've got a monster out there,
killing young women.  I want to make sure he doesn't get
any more victims from around here."

"Please, listen to me.  My partner and I are here to find this
guy.  If you tip him off that the FBI has made the connection
and sent a profiler out here he could escalate or decide to
play games."

"My people are more important.  I'm going to have this press
conference."

"I don't have the authority to forbid you, but I'm asking you to
reconsider."

The man's voice was cool now.  "Thank you for your
suggestion.  I have to go now."  Mulder found himself holding
a dead phone.

"Shit," he muttered as Scully looked over at him.  She joined
him, silently asking the question.  He shook his head.  "No
good.  He's going through with it."

"Okay, then we stay out of the way."

"Is that enough?" he asked helplessly.

"It has to be.  Come on, let's go over what we have one
more time."

She led him to the small conference room where the
information they had was spread out.  The sheriff joined
them shortly.

"Any luck with the mayor?"

"None.  How much information does he have?"

They compared notes until Mulder looked over at Scully,
shaking his head.  They all looked up at the knock on the
door.  "Cliff, the mayor's on."  One of the deputies stuck his
head in.

"Come on, there's a TV in my office."  The sheriff led the way.  
An older man with silver hair and a 'sincere' suit was
standing behind a podium.  Mulder closed his eyes, shaking
his head until he heard Scully gasp.

His eyes flew open to see a clip of them, the two of them,
leaving the hospital yesterday after checking out the body.  
"That son of a - "

"Mulder, what - "

"I want you on the next plane."

"No, I'm not leaving you out here alone."

"Uh, excuse me," the sheriff murmured, leaving them in his
office.

Once they were alone Mulder put his arm around her, pulling
her to the far side of the office, away from the door.  "Scully,
listen to me.  I want you to leave.  I'll take you to the airport."

"I'm not leaving.  Things aren't like you remember them.  
You said yourself things are different."

"No, they aren't.  Everything is happening just like before.  
The differences are minor; car color, motel rooms.  But the
big things are the same.  Your picture was on television."

"So was yours," she hissed at him.

"I'm not his type."

Her eyes narrowed.  "I'm not leaving you here.  We know
what could happen, we can watch for it."

"Like we were able to watch out for the press conference?  
Scully, this is important."

"Yes, it is and I'm going to be by your side.  We're a team,
Mulder."

Mulder's lips moved, but no sound emerged.  He was torn
between wanting her close and wanting her as far away as
possible.  What was the damn right thing!

The sheriff rejoined them then.  "Sorry to disturb you, but we
could use some help out here.  The phones are ringing off
the hook."

Mulder didn't seem to hear him, but Scully nodded.  "The
press conference.  We're going to receive a lot of calls now."  
She started for the door and that jolted Mulder back to the
present.  He followed silently, things were out of his control,
again.

They began taking calls while the sheriff began calling in off-
duty personnel.

*****

Mostly now he was disgusted.  They were wasting time
listening to disgruntled neighbors and troublemakers.  He
looked over at Scully again.  She was being professional,
taking down the information from one more caller.  She had
tucked her hair behind one ear and he appreciated again the
smooth skin of her jaw line.  He had to keep her safe.

"Hey, sheriff!  We've got a report of a fire out on highway 58,
in that wooded area."

"Shit!" the sheriff muttered.  Scully looked over at Mulder and
saw that he had frozen in place.  Feeling her eyes, he looked
over at her.  The pleading look in his eyes shook her.  She
stiffened her resolve and rose.  

"We need to check that out.  The victims have been burned.
We need to see if that's what's happening here."

The sheriff looked startled.  "You think - "

"We need to make sure."

"Okay.  Take Carruthers and Smith.  Stay in contact."

Mulder looked betrayed when she turned back to him.  
"Come on.  We'll follow the deputies."

He stood then, jerking his jacket from the back of the chair.  
He was silent until they were seated in the car.  "Are you
trying to get yourself killed?" he hissed at her.

"No.  We know what we're facing, Mulder.  We have to do
this together.  There's no one else that I trust to cover my
back like you do."

"I didn't - "

"You will."

He closed his eyes at that, then started the engine and
pulled out behind the deputies.  He looked down to see her
hand resting on his thigh.  He covered it with his hand.

"This is the place," he said softly when the deputies turned
off the main road, heading toward a wooded area.  They
could see dark smoke rising from the trees.  "Stay in the car,
Scully."

"You know I can't do that.  You need me."

"Exactly!"

"We're forewarned."

"So you do believe I've lived this before."

She blinked, yes, she did believe him.  As incredible as it
was, she had fallen into that belief.  He was so sure.  "I know
you, Mulder.  Something happened.  Let's get this guy and
go home."

Go home.  Yes, that's what he wanted for them.  She was
opening her door, so he took a deep breath and did the
same.

They followed the deputies toward the woods.  Two fire
trucks were already on the scene and they could hear a third
approaching.  Mulder looked over at Scully and pointed to
one of the trails heading into the woods.  She nodded and
pulled her gun.  She told the deputies where they were
headed, then fell in behind Mulder.

He looked back at her, then they entered the trail head,
moving away from the activity of the fire.  They didn't speak
as they moved quickly and quietly.  He tried to look
everywhere.  He didn't know what she had seen, but he
couldn't miss it this time.

They were moving deeper into the woods and the smell of
smoke was stronger.

There, was there a movement?  He started to turn his head,
but she was already moving to tackle him.  He didn't fight her,
allowing himself to go down, but this time his arm shot out,
snagging her waist.  He yanked her down beside him and
then rolled covering her body with his own.  He could feel the
heat of the flash bomb as it flew over them, where she had
been standing just seconds before.  It hit a tree a few yards
from them and crashed into the underbrush, setting it aflame.

Then Mulder was on his knees, his gun out, firing at the
figure fumbling to light a second device.  He felt Scully rise to
her knees as well and could feel her firing though he didn't
consciously hear it.  Her hand on his arm finally stopped him
and he realized he'd been pulling the trigger on an empty
chamber for some time.  The figure was down, had he really
fired ten shots?  He was changing magazines even as he
raced toward him, Scully at his side.

He stood there, over the body as Scully checked for vitals.  
He could see the man was dead without her examination.  
He'd emptied his gun into him and Scully had to have hit him
a few times.  The second incendiary device lay beside him.  
He hadn't been able to light it before Mulder's first bullet had
hit him.

He turned then and grabbed Scully to him, crushing her
against him.  Their lips met and merged as they gave life to
one another.

The sound of others racing toward them penetrated and they
broke apart.  They stared at each other; a barrier was gone
from between them now.

"Agent Mulder!"

"Over here.  We need an ambulance."

The two deputies skidded to a halt beside them and looked
down at the body.

"What did you find?" Scully asked them.

"A body, woman.  It's going to take some science to identify
her."

Scully nodded.  He'd lured them here with another victim.
The only positive was there would be no more victims from
this guy.

"I'll do the autopsy on the victim," Scully was speaking to
Caruthers.  "Obviously I can't autopsy him since I'm one of
the shooters."  She looked down at the body once again.

Caruthers responded to her and Mulder saw him speaking
into his radio, but he couldn't follow his words.  Slowly it
came to him that he was in shock.  It was over and she
hadn't been injured - maybe crushed a little when he'd
sprawled atop her, but not injured.  Why were there so many
people around when he needed to talk to her, only to her?

She looked over at him and recognized the symptoms
instantly.  "Agent Mulder and I will meet you back at the
station after we clean up.  Would you like to take our
weapons?"

"I, uh, I guess I better for evidence sake.  I'll let the sheriff
know you'll be there shortly."

Scully nodded and moved closer to Mulder.  His hand
managed to stop at just touching her lower back.  They were
in public, and he escorted her to their car.

"Let me drive, Mulder."

He shook his head, but allowed her to open her own door.  
Once she decided he was okay to drive, since there wasn't
much traffic, she relaxed slightly.  She didn't resist when he
took hold of her hand and placed it back on his thigh,
covering it again.

"Mulder - "

He shook his head, so she subsided.  They could talk later.

He escorted her to her room and watched her swipe her card.  
When the light turned green she pressed on the lever and he
turned away.  Her hand caught his sleeve and he turned
back.  She pushed the door open and tugged him in after her.

He watched her as she shut the door behind him.  "You were
right, about everything.  You saved my life."

He shook his head.  "I saved mine."

Her hand around his neck pulled him down to her.  "Thank
you for saving both of us," she whispered into his lips just
before she took possession of them.  He lifted her and felt
her legs go around his waist.  

*****

"Ten rounds, Mulder?  While I agree that you got your man, I
need to know why you fired ten rounds into him."

"That was all the gun held," Mulder replied with no inflection.

Skinner's eyes narrowed but before he responded, Scully
spoke.  "He had at least one more incendiary device, we
needed - "

"You put five rounds into him, Agent Scully.  I'll get to you in
a minute."

She looked down.  Skinner studied the two of them with
obvious frustration.  "What the hell do you know about this
case you're not telling me?"

"Everything is in the report, sir," Scully responded for them.

Skinner muttered something she couldn't quite hear, though
it sounded like 'fat chance'.  "Dismissed," he said abruptly.  
Mulder was on his feet before Scully processed the words.  
Skinner glared at them as they left his office.

"Mulder?"

"We were dismissed.  Let's get out of here."

"And go where?"

For the first time he smiled.  "I know a place."

"Mulder . . . " her lips twitched.

"Yeah, there," he looked into her eyes, his smile fading.   His
hand came up again to caress the soft, smooth skin of her
cheek.

"We're okay, Mulder."

"I know."  He took her hand, ignoring the looks that
generated in the hall and led her to the elevator.


~~~