The Assignment

Sara B. 01/07

The assignment was asinine as far as Mulder could tell. Security detail for some foreign dignitary, an Ambassador Canton, from some small, but politically significant, country which had mineral interests that were interesting to the US.

Mulder threw his hands up in defeat and grabbed the phone.  “Hello,” Scully answered.

“Scully, please tell me you can tie a bow tie?  I keep strangling myself.”

She chuckled into the phone, “it’s been a while but I think I can manage.  Just let yourself in when you come to pick me up.  I’m waiting till the last moment to put that damned dress on, it weighs a ton.”

“Why the hell are we dressing like this again?” Mulder asked, not even trying to hide his exasperation at their assignment.

“Because, for the thousandth time, this is a black tie affair and we are supposed to mix in like regular guests.”  Scully replied with a tone matching his exasperation.  Mulder knew her annoyance was not at him but, like his own, at the lame assignment. 

Skinner called them in a week earlier and explained that the security detail to surround the reception’s venue was in place but they’d decided to add some agents inside acting as reception guests to act as eyes and ears; loose translation, they had to actually attend the function and watch everything but no weapons.  Both of the agents were surprised to hear that they’d been specifically chosen because of their looks and their ‘closeness’ as partners.  Skinner had handed Scully their invitation and thus lobbed his final grenade; they were attending as Mr. and Mrs. Fox Mulder.

~

Mulder opened Scully’s door and called out to her, a few seconds later a vision of Scully glided into the room.  This was not the Scully of the black business suits or even the Scully in her casual slacks and pullover sweaters; this was a Scully he’d never seen before.  Her hair was pinned up, her make-up was more dramatic and she was wearing a strapless midnight blue gown.  The bodice was tight against her skin and the skirt flowed gracefully to the floor with a small train that followed her.  She looked like a Goddess.

“Mulder,” she said a little sheepishly, “this is so cliché but would you?”  She turned and exposed her naked back to him.  “Would you do this clasp for me?”  She was holding the ends of a necklace together.  He took it and fumbled till the clasp finally let him win the fight.

“Scully, mind if I ask how that gown stays, um, in place?”  She turned back to face him, her features had gone dark and he backpedaled.  “Don’t get me wrong, it’s beautiful and you look terrific in it, fabulous actually, but it doesn’t have any straps and the back is, well, missing.”  He hoped he’d lightened his tone enough to forestall her anger.  He was rewarded with a smile.

“Don’t worry about the dress staying in place, Mulder.  Architects could learn a lot from women’s evening gown designers.  What do you think of this necklace?”  He glanced at the diamond and sapphire creation.  It was beautiful but he preferred her simple cross.  “Skinner had them send it over as part of the window dressing.  I guess since we’re hobnobbing with the rich and powerful we’re supposed to look the part.  Personally I’d rather just wear my cross.”  Mulder had to smile at the comment that mirrored his own thoughts.

“It’s lovely, but now I’m wondering if my assignment is to protect this politician or you and that necklace.  Now, about this damned tie…”  He held the offending item out for her.  Scully’s small, but capable, hands soon beat his tie into submission to form a perfect bow.

Mulder reached into his pocket and pulled out a ring box.  Inside were matching wedding bands.  Unlike the ostentatious necklace, the rings were the epitome of understated elegance. Perfect for a well heeled, old money society couple.  “They’re really beautiful, Mulder.  The evidence department outdid themselves.”

“These didn’t come from the FBI; they were my grandparent’s rings.”  He pulled out another box and opened it.  “When I saw these I knew…”  Mulder didn’t finish.

“Good call; I wouldn’t have been comfortable in those.  That diamond looks like something J’Lo would wear.”  Scully examined the rings and Mulder could see she was happy not to have to wear them.

“I know they’re beautiful but I just couldn’t see us wearing them.  These seemed more in tune with our cover.”  Mulder still sounded unsure of his choice.

“Mulder, it is classy over flashy.”  Her hand went to the necklace, “and I think we have flashy covered.  Come on, we need to meet the team at the Hoover.  We can give those back to Skinner then take our limo to the reception.”

“Limo?  I didn’t know we were taking a limo.”

“Old money doesn’t arrive in a fleet Taurus.”  Scully graced him with a saucy smile.

~

The car took its place in line, waiting to deliver its occupants to the door.  In the back Mulder, Scully and Skinner, who’d chosen to ride with his agents, went over last minute details.  Mulder and Scully were Fox and Dana Mulder of Massachusetts, Connecticut and, lately, Virginia.  Skinner was Walter Skinner Financial Banker.  When it was their turn, Skinner exited first then Mulder, who turned to aid Scully in a graceful exit.  They ascended the stairs leading to the entrance.  Mulder took Scully’s wrap and the trio joined the receiving line. 

They handed over their invitations and their names were called.  Mulder guided Scully with his hand at that spot just above her waist and they both realized the difference.  Usually he felt the fabric of her suit but this time it was naked flesh under his palm.  He moved to remove his hand but Scully’s gentle hand came back and covered his, smiling up at him. 

A moment later they were in; receiving warm greetings from the President, the First Lady and the Ambassador, whose eyes never strayed from Scully.  The Ambassador’s overt attention to Scully was not lost on Mulder or Skinner but Scully seemed to take it in stride and only her slight movement toward Mulder indicated her discomfort.  Skinner sped up their movements and soon got them away from Ambassador’s prying eyes; or so he thought. 

They were escorted to their assigned seats, where they each took turns surveying the room.  The Secret Service made their presence known and they recognized their fellow undercover counterparts.  They’d studied maps of the venue’s layout earlier but hadn’t been present for the walkthrough to keep their identities unknown.

The President addressed the attendees and introduced Ambassador Canton, who smiled broadly.  He scanned the room until his eyes landed on Scully, from whom they never strayed.  This time it was Mulder who moved closer to her, leaning toward her in an intimate manner.  She turned to him and whispered, “I think we need to play up the happy couple act.  I feel like he’s undressing me.”  Her hand drifted toward his cheek but he took it and kissed the palm.

“Oh, Scully, he is, he most certainly is.”  There was no humor in his voice.

After dinner the musicians took their places and everyone waited for the President and his wife and the honoree to take to the floor.  An elderly gentleman appeared beside Scully and informed Mulder and she that the Ambassador wished to have Mrs. Mulder open the dancing with him.  Scully was at a loss but one look at Skinner told her not to refuse the offer.  Mulder rose as Scully and the Ambassador’s emissary left the table.

“It’s only one dance, Mulder,” Skinner reminded him. 

“Yes, but that ogre has been ogling her all night.  You were right there standing in the receiving line, the way he looked at her was obscene.”  Mulder had a hard time keeping his voice down and his face neutral.

The two couples took the floor and the music began.  After the first turn, other couples joined them.  The song ended and Scully tried to disengage herself but the Ambassador wouldn’t relinquish her.  She dared not make a scene so she resorted to another tactic.  “Sir, I’m flattered but I would like to return to my husband.”  She tried to charm him by joking, “he actually promised to dance with me this evening.”

“Do not worry about your husband; he will be fairly compensated for your time.”  The man’s look was pure evil and Scully knew he was not speaking about a dance.  His hand drifted lower on her back but she was able to discretely push it back up.

Mulder was looking on and said, “something’s wrong.”

“What are you talking about?”  Skinner had been watching the couple just as Mulder had and hadn’t seen anything amiss.

“Scully just stiffened.  That oaf said or did something that upset her.”  Mulder had just finished his sentence when the Ambassador’s emissary was again at his side.

“Mr. Mulder, would you please come with me so we may discuss an arrangement?” 

Both Mulder and Skinner rose but it was Skinner who spoke.  “The only arrangement is that at the end of this song you will escort Mrs. Mulder back here and we will not be bothered again.  Do you understand?”  Skinner’s tone did not allow for any misinterpretation.  A few minutes later the emissary was returning with Scully who was shaken with indignation but was trying hard to hide it.

Mulder got her seated and handed her some water.  “Scully, what did he say to you?”  She just shook her head but he gently prodded her to tell him.

“Mulder, he said that,” she raised her hand to indicate she’d tell him later.  “I need some air.”  They began to rise when a young representative of the State Department came over and asked to speak with them in private.  The four of them made as graceful an exit as possible.  The representative led them to a small sitting room and a few moments later an impressive older man entered. 

“Agents, yes I know you are part of the security contingency, I’m Lionel Stanford of the State Department, I knew your father, Agent Mulder, fine man.  Agents, Ambassador Canton is key to sealing the deal for the US to secure the mineral rights with his country.  He has taken, shall we say, an interest in Agent Scully, or I should say Mrs. Mulder.”

Scully felt both of the men flanking her stiffen and begin to rise but she stifled their movements with her hands.  Everyone in the room watched as Scully rose regally and stared down the elder statesman.  Tense moments passed until she spoke.  “Sir, I am an agent with the FBI, a position I am very proud of.  I have sacrificed dearly for my country but, sir, I am no whore.”

The man stared at her with steely eyes.  “You keep that attitude and you won’t be with the FBI either.”

Skinner’s voice broke the standoff.  “You copy that Mitchell?”  He was speaking into his wire.  The statesman signaled to a guard who pulled the wire from Skinner and looked to the man for further instructions; Stanford issued none, he knew he was out maneuvered.  “I’d say,” Skinner began, “that if anyone is going to lose their position it will be you, sir.”  The man fell back into the chair.  “Now, my agents are going to leave unmolested and I’m going back in there and do my job.”

Before they could disperse the doors opened and the President and First Lady entered.  “Mr. and Mrs. Mulder,” he began, “we’ve just now learned of the inappropriate situation that you have been subjected to.  I’m deeply sorry that this happened.”

Mulder took the lead.  “Sir, it wasn’t your fault.  But I think you can understand when I say that my wife and I would like to leave.”

The First Lady took one of Scully’s hands.  “I can see you are a strong woman but this situation is enough to get to anyone.”  She smiled, “looking at the two of you I’d say your husband is more upset than you are, my dear.”

An aide came in and spoke quietly to the President.  “Please excuse me, I need to get back.”  He turned to his wife.  “Coming dear?”

“You go; I’ll be there in a moment.”  As soon as the President was out of the room she turned to the aide and said coldly, “tell them to call that former intern.  She has no scruples, she’ll bed anyone.”  She regained her composure and made her goodbyes.

~

Mulder closes the door behind them when they reached Scully’s apartment.  He’d just finished locking the door when he heard Scully begin to laugh.  He couldn’t for the life of him figure out what warranted laughter from the evening’s events.  His confusion must have registered to Scully.  “The look on that pompous Lionel Stanford’s face when he found out that Skinner was wearing a wire and that the whole conversation was recorded.  Have you ever seen hot air disperse so fast?”

Mulder joined in her merriment.  “He must have heard his career crashing all around him.”  Mulder sobered up, “Scully what did Canton say to you?” 

“Mulder, you know me, I’m no prude but the suggestions that man made were the most disgusting things I’ve ever heard.  And that includes anything Frohike has hinted at.  When he put his hand on my ass I wanted to slug him.”

“Wait!  That bastard put his hand on my wife’s ass?”  Mulder was even more indignant than he’d been earlier.

“Mulder, I’m not…”

“He didn’t know that.  Tonight you were introduced as Mrs. Fox Mulder and that bastard tried to take…”  Mulder stopped when he realized what he was saying.

“Tried to take what, Mulder?  Take something that is yours, maybe?”  Scully’s tone was carefully neutral.  Scully watched him warily.  It was as close to a declaration as she might ever get and she was tired of playing the cat and mouse game that had been going on too long.  She made a decision.

Mulder’s head was lowered and he didn’t see or hear her move.  Suddenly her hand was on his tie and she pulled it loose.  Scully tugged on the tie’s ends and pulled so his lips were a mere breath from hers.  “He never could, Mulder, no one ever will.”

Mulder not only heard her words but tasted them too, he needed no further encouragement and he closed the gap.  The kiss left them breathless and hungry for more.  Mulder vaguely registered that they were moving but all he was doing was following Scully’s luscious lips.  It wasn’t until they turned that he knew they’d made it to Scully’s bedroom.  She pulled away gently and when he groaned in protest she smiled and raised her hand to his chest.  Scully took several steps back and put her hands behind her back.  It took Mulder three ragged breaths for him to realize that her dress was falling into a pool at her feet and Scully was standing before him in her panties, thigh high stockings, with lace tops he happily noted, and a pair of, until that moment terribly unappreciated, high heels. 

He was too stunned and turned on to move but he hadn’t seen anything yet.  Scully kneeled on the bed and crawled catlike toward the head of the bed.  Mulder watched her silk clad bottom sway with each movement.  She turned around and leaned against the headboard and spread her arms across the back wantonly.

“Your turn to undress, Mulder,” she paused and licked her lips, “slowly.”  Mulder was no shrinking violet; he’d had a number of lovers, from one night stands to a near marriage but no one had ever made him feel so gloriously appreciated as the look in Scully’s eyes was making him feel at that moment. 

He wanted to rip his clothes from his body and join her on the bed but he curtailed his instinct and graced her with a long, slow striptease revealing part after part of his body to her appreciative gaze.  He wasn’t doing any bumping or grinding, just slowly removing his clothes.  Scully was openly enjoying the show and the slow build up of intimacy his movements provided.  It didn’t take him long to realize that seeing her reactions turned him on more than he thought possible. 

When Mulder got to his boxers he joined her on the bed.  “Enjoy the show, Scully?”

“Mulder-vision is so much better than Letterman,” she whispered.

Mulder pulled one of her legs up and removed her shoe then repeated it for the other one.  “Don’t want to risk injury from those spiked heels, Scully.”

“Shut up, Mulder,” her lips claimed his.

~

Mulder woke with the magnificent feeling of complete satiation.  He felt Scully’s naked form draped over him.  He looked down to find her once pristinely pinned hair in disarray and he could feel her hand gently covering his groin.  He huffed out a quiet laugh.  “These belong to me now, Mulder, you can’t have them back,” she mumbled sleepily.

“Don’t want them back; you take very good care of them.”

“Damned straight!”  Her head lifted and he was nearly blinded by her smile.  Mulder felt her moving lower and his breath caught in anticipation.

“You take very, very good care of them.”  Those were his last cohesive thoughts for quite some while. 

End

Author’s Notes:  Okay, for the one person who didn’t get it, the intern the First Lady refers to, has the initials ML.  Sorry it was a little sleazy but I just couldn’t resist.

The scene where Scully tells Mulder to strip slowly I originally saw in a movie.  I think it was “North Dallas Forty” and I cannot remember the actress but I believe the actor was Mac Davis (singer, kind of popular in the ‘70’s and he made a few movies).