Birth of a Partnership

Sara B. 10/05

In The Beginning There Was This Man and This Woman:

“So Spooky, what do you think of ole’ Skinner pairing you up with Doc Ice?”  Dana Scully and Kim Cook heard the voice yell out from around the corner and they stopped to listen.  Kim was A.D. Skinner’s Assistant who had been showing Dana her office and was now escorting Dana to the meeting. 

Kim mouthed, “Mike Tanner,” to Dana.

A much lower voice responded, “not much.  I think her nicknames say a lot about her.  She’s probably a 5’10, 250 pound Amazon.” 

Dana turned to Kim, “Fox Mulder,” and Dana nodded

“It sounds like a match made in heaven to me,” a third voice chimed in, “the prize profiler and the queen of the autopsy.  Anyone give me odds as to how long it takes before they kill each other?”

“Bill Parks,” Kim told Dana, then put a ‘hand-puppet’ gun to her temple, pulled the finger - trigger and said, “missed,” which earned her a big grin from Dana.    

The second voice, that the two women now knew to be Fox Mulder, responded.  “It won’t last long enough for that.  We’ll go out to investigate and as soon as I can I’ll ditch her and get on with my work.”

“Hey, we better get moving.  It won’t pay to be late to Skinner’s meeting; this case has him so up tight he could crack walnuts with his ass.”  The women recognized the agitated voice as the one that started the whole exchange.

“5’10, 250 pound Amazon and he plans to ditch me as soon as he can.  That arrogant bastard,” Dana Scully expounded before she broke into a very uncharacteristic chortle.

Kim joined in, “I can hardly wait to see their jaws drop when they see you.  Now come on let’s get the fun started.”  

The two women stood outside the conference room looking through the windows that lined the wall, they were off to the side so it was doubtful that anyone noticed them.  Dana didn’t like it, but Skinner asked that she come in ten minutes after the meeting started so he could tell the team about her.  The only advantage was that it gave her the opportunity to have Kim point out who was who.  Mulder’s back was to the windows but she’d seen his photo in several issues of the FBI Employee’s periodical.  Agent Fox Mulder was the best and he’d received quite a number of certificates and awards for his work.  Dana noticed that there were only two chairs unoccupied; one next to Skinner that she presumed was for Kim and the other directly across from Mulder.  She had a feeling the seating had been arranged but she wasn’t sure by whom.

Kim led her into the room and took her seat next to Skinner.  “Good, Dr. Scully, welcome to our team.  I won’t waste time with introductions; you all can handle that after the meeting.  You will be partnered with Fox Mulder for this case.”  He pointed to Mulder who nodded once without bothering to look at her. 

Kim distracted Skinner for a moment and Dana walked to where Mulder was seated and extended her hand out to shake.  Mulder was slightly taken back by the action but took her hand limply and looked at her for the first time.  Dana spoke very quietly and the movement of her mouth was so slight it was nearly imperceptible, “sorry to disappoint your preconceived perception of me.  You were only off by seven inches and a hundred and forty-seven pounds, more dwarf than Amazon I’m afraid.”  Her voice was devoid of emotion so Mulder couldn’t tell if she was angry or amused but he admired her guts.

Dana moved to the other side of the table and took the only open seat.  The agent seated next to Mulder leaned to him and whispered, “I think you’ve met your match.”  Mulder didn’t respond but his eyes never left the newcomer.

The meeting continued and several agents presented the findings to bring Dana Scully onboard.  Three people had been found murdered with their livers extracted and in each case there had been no discernable point of egress.  Also, in all the cases, the building where the attacks occurred were fully equipped with surveillance cameras yet no unaccounted for persons were seen. 

Skinner stood after the last report and looked at the white board where they had recorded the findings.  “Dr. Scully, would you please . . .” his hand gestured toward her. 

Dana stood and removed her glasses.  She noticed that Mulder leaned forward and cradled his head in his hands watching her.  “First, let me state that I am only reporting the findings and I make no judgment on them.”

They were only a few words and some might see them as weakness but Mulder knew better.  This woman had something that they had all missed.  His eyes begged her to continue.

“I performed the autopsy on the latest victim, Clarice Bowe, age 34, married mother of four, part time realtor for the Debins, Durning and Dell Agency.  She was found in the office she shared with Paul Sullivan.  Mr. Sullivan was out sick that day so it cannot be ruled out that he may have been the intended victim.  The autopsy revealed that Mrs. Bowe suffered a blow to her right temple then her liver was extracted while she was still alive.”  That little tidbit had never been found on the autopsies by the Medical Examiner’s office so Dana took a second to let that sink in to the audience.  “I contacted the M.E.’s office to find out if that had been the case with the prior victims.  I was unable to get a satisfactory answer.”  Mulder saw how that sloppiness bothered her.

“The M.E. also reported that the extractions had been done with some unidentified rudimentary tool, one speculation was a gardening tool, specifically something they termed a ‘lawn claw.’”  Scully bent and took something from her bag; she held up the tool in question.  “I found no evidence to support their conjecture and, after several attempts I could not duplicate the tool markings.  I was able to determined that the extraction was,” she paused and Mulder saw the minute shake of her head, she could hardly believe what she was about to say.  “The livers were extracted by the perpetrator’s bare hand.”  The room was abuzz with this revelation.  Dana pulled out a folder that contained a set of transparencies and handed it to Kim.  The lights were dimmed and the real show began.  The first one showed the wound on the latest victim and the next showed the previous victim’s wounds.  They were all the same.

Skinner pointed to the light switch but Dana stopped them.  “There’s more sir.  Kim, would you put on the next transparency please?”  She waited until it was in place and the others had a moment to see it.  The screen showed an elongated collection of lines and swirls.  Mulder recognized it as a smudge he’d found next to the ceiling register at the second crime scene.  “This was found by agent Mulder at the second crime scene, Mr. Paul Muller.  Kim, the next film.  This was found at crime scene were the liver was extracted, thirty years ago and the next two from similar crimes that happened sixty years ago.” 

Now the room was a cacophony as the agents realized what she was saying.  The noise stopped abruptly with her next words, “and that is not the strangest thing.”

Everyone just stared at her for a moment and it was Mulder who spoke.  “Dr. Scully, please go on.”  His voice translated that he wasn’t mocking her but he was eager to know what she’d found.”

“I scanned the photos into the computer and well, Kim, just put up the next one.”

The transparency showed the four pictures side by side and even with the varying degrees of quality it was clear they were all the same.

Skinner asked, “so what do you think they are?”

“Sir, I did not make any assumption as to what they might be but my assistant, Gary Sparks, did some manipulation and it is on the next film.”  Kim, put the next film up.  The top had the photos as they’d seen them before but under each one was another that showed them manipulated and they looked like finger prints.  “I sent the results for analysis and they are all a match.”

“That’s impossible,” yelled the agent she now knew to be Dell.  “You are suggesting that we have some really old geezer out there breaking in and out of secured rooms and leaving stretched out prints.  Oh, yeah, and this guy is still strong enough to take out several very young and healthy people.”

“That isn’t what Dr. Scully is suggesting.”  It was Mulder.  “The evidence is suggesting it.”

Mulder’s words didn’t make a dent in Dell’s diatribe.  He continued to berate her findings.  Mulder moved to say something but Scully looked at him and something told him to back down.  He did sit back and cross his arms, he had a feeling he was going to enjoy what was to come.  Dell finished with, “this is all crazy crap.  Just who the hell’s side are you on, Doc?”

Skinner moved to respond but Dana beat him to it.  Her stance made her seem larger than she really was. “I’m on the victim’s side.”  Her voice remained calm but her eyes were like ice and Mulder remembered her nicknames.  Dell looked like a deer in headlights.  “I have presented the evidence as I found it.  I do not presume to imply anything to its plausibility only its accuracy.  I encourage you to bring forth workable alternatives and even provide proof to refute it.  My credentials are readily available for you to examine and you are welcome to do so.  But no one can question where my priorities lay.”  The room remained deathly quiet.  Mulder looked to Skinner and they nodded to each other.  Mulder had been pretty angry when Skinner approached him about his new partner.  But Dr. Dana Scully really impressed him.

Skinner adjourned the meeting and Dana stayed behind to collect her films.  Mulder walked up to her.  “You might not look it, but inside you are that Amazon.”  Mulder helped her with her things, “your office or mine,” he tossed at her with a leer.

Dana had been caught off guard and found herself smiling at the phony come-on.  “I think you may find out they are one and the same.  Basement, walls lined with old crime scene photos, messy – like Filenes Basement after the annual big sale.”

“That be the place.  They didn’t tell me we’d be sharing.  Kim take you there earlier?”

“Yes, but I’m not so sure I’d be able to run that maze again and find it.”

“Come on, I’ll point out the landmarks.”

A week later Mulder and Scully walked into the same conference room where they had first met.  They’d solved the case in spite the interference of several other agents who let the perpetrator go.  The result of that screw up was he’d gotten another victim and Dana Scully was sporting several bruised ribs and a black eye that she tried valiantly to cover with make-up.  Mulder had nearly not made it to her in time and the perpetrator, Eugene V. Tooms, nearly claimed his fifth victim. 

While the other agents disregarded Scully’s findings, Mulder and Scully worked from them.  They traced the cases from thirty and sixty year ago and found another group that was ninety years old.  Each time five victims, each with their livers extracted and all unsolved.  They located a suspect in the cases from ninety years ago, Eugene Victor Tooms, and found that one Eugene V. Tooms had been picked up for criminal trespass by the DC police just days earlier but he was out on bail.  His prints matched those that Scully had found and his mug shot was a match to the suspect in the earlier murders.  He was picked up but agent Dell got Deputy Director Simmons to drop it.  That night Tooms went after Scully.    

Mulder guided Scully in with his right hand at the base of her spine and she was greeted by polite applause and a handshake from Skinner.  All of that was nice but the best part was when Mulder leaned down and whispered, “great job partner.”  Agent Dell was noticeably absent. 

-x-

Three months passed and Mulder and Scully developed a good and productive working relationship and had the beginnings of a nice friendship.  It was Friday and they were in the office looking over their next case.  Scully put down the file folder, “Mulder,” she said getting his attention.  “We’ve been working together for three months and we’ve solved quite a number of cases, right?”

Mulder responded with a non committal, “hm, hmmm.”

“Why are all our cases so strange?  I mean, well, take this one, side show performers attacked over the last twenty years.  Each victim found with what look to be bites to their left side torso.  The attacks have happened in nearly all of the states in the continental US.”

“So what’s your point, Scully?”  Mulder asked, something had been bothering him about the cases they’d been given but he didn’t know why.  Now he was hearing that his partner was bothered too.

“I guess my point is just out of the laws of averages we should be given a serial murder or even a kidnapping but we always get these really strange cases.  Also have you noticed that most of them are marked with a case-file number that begins with an X?”

“It is odd; I guess Skinner just thinks we’re pretty good at the weird ones.  Besides, who should he give them to, Dell?”  Mulder threw back at her.

“Oh please, you might as well shred them.  That man couldn’t solve a case if it bit him in the ass.”

Mulder looked at the clock and saw it was after five.  “Hey Scully, you have any plans tonight or would you like to grab a bite before you go home?” 

“Nope, no plans but I thawed some chicken that I need to use.  How would you like to come by and let me dazzle you with my stir frying abilities?”

Mulder stopped home to change then followed Scully’s directions to her place.  Mulder approached the door to apartment 35 and heard voices.  One was his partner’s but the other was definitely male and, if he wasn’t mistaken, quite angry.  He thought about leaving but decided against it.  They’d been partners for just over three months and he’d never known Scully to mention being involved with anyone, not that he’d asked.  In fact neither of them mentioned dating or really anything outside of work.  He’d just about convinced himself he’d better leave when the door flew open and he was face to face with a very angry man.

“What do you want?”  He growled at Mulder. 

“Bill, don’t be an ass.  That’s Mulder; I invited him over for dinner.”  Scully pushed Bill aside and motioned Mulder in.  “Mulder, ‘that’ is my brother Bill, Bill this is Fox Mulder my partner.”

“You’re the reason she won’t go out with my friend tonight.”  Bill nearly spat out.

“No Bill, the reasons, that is ‘reasons’ with an ‘s,’ I won’t go out with your friend are one, you never checked with me, you just assumed I had no plans, two I don’t do blind dates and three your taste in men sucks, Bill.  Remember Trent Collings?”  Mulder saw the man actually blanch at the mention of the man’s name. 

“Now go home or whatever but just leave.  I have to get back to making dinner and you, my dear deluded brother, were not invited.”  She closed the door on a confused Bill Scully and leaned back against the door.  “I love him but he can be a pain.”  Scully said with a smile.

After dinner was cleaned up they went into the living room and plopped onto the couch.  Mulder felt so much at home that he nearly picked up the remote to start channel surfing.  Luckily his manners kicked in and he pulled back, but not before Scully caught him. 

“Go ahead, Mulder, I don’t mind.  I do have to warn you I don’t watch too much TV so I only have basic or extended basic or whatever they call it.  No HBO, Showtime or what have you.”

“And you call yourself civilized?”  Mulder said with mock horror.

“What can I say, I read.”  She put up her hand and chuckled at his mock shocked expression.  “Hey, let’s keep that our secret, just between partners.  I don’t want anyone to know I’m a little ‘Spooky.’”  She joked.

“You’re going to have to spell that with an ‘ie,’ ‘cause I’m Spooky with a ‘y.’” Mulder came back with.

“Deal.  You feel like dessert now?  Lemon Chiffon cake with whipped vanilla frosting, home made.”

Mulder’s eyes went heavenward, “she’s a doctor, her apartment is clean, she cooks like a dream and she bakes too?”  He looked at her, “you are my mother’s dream daughter-in-law.  Maybe I should propose now and save all her matchmaking attempts.”

“Maybe I should accept and save my mom’s matchmaking too.”

“Yours can’t be as bad as mine.  Teena Mulder is famous in three counties for her meddling.”

“Ha!  Your mom is an amateur!  You seem to forget my dad is a Navy Captain; we’ve lived at bases all over the world.  Your mom may be the matchmaking bane of three counties but my mom gives whole continents the shivers.  Add that she is the mother of two,” Scully raised two fingers, “count them, two unmarried daughters in their thirties and two married sons who have yet to produce any grandchildren.  Can you imagine the desperation?  You should kiss your sister’s feet for having her three kids.”

“Okay, I surrender.  Your mom may be more desperate than mine but remember, Samantha’s kids are ‘Kelloggs’ not ‘Mulders.’  Therein is the difference.”

“Come on let’s get that dessert, you want coffee?”

They kibitzed and joked for a time when suddenly Scully stretched.  It was a feline style, sensuous, full body stretch accompanied by a yawn.  Mulder had to look away.  He’d always known Scully was pretty, beautiful even, but it wasn’t until now that he let himself really see her.  Suddenly, Dana Scully went from being his partner and his really good friend to being a woman; a very attractive and sexy woman.  She didn’t even realize it and that made it all the sexier.

Mulder checked the mantle clock and was surprised to see it was after one.  “Whoa, I hadn’t realized it was so late.  I’m really sorry . . .”

“Stop, we were having a good time.  I didn’t realize we’d been talking for so long either.  Mulder, I have an extra bedroom and you look done in too.  Stay?”

“I wouldn’t want to impose.”

“Oh, come on.  You would not be imposing.  The bed is there and I’m sure Charles or Bill left some clothes for you to sleep in.  I even have a couple unopened toothbrushes to choose from.”  Mulder gave her a look and she almost heard his question.  “I buy in bulk and when a brush wears out I just open a new one.”  She crossed her arms, “satisfied?”

“Thanks, Scully.  And just think what our mom’s might say if we tell them we had a sleep over.”

“Don’t!  My mom would be calling the Priest.”

-x-

Dana answered the door to find her mom and dad.  It was after ten but she’d only gotten up about twenty minutes earlier.  Just enough time for a quick shower and dressing.  Her wet hair was bundled in a towel.

“Late night, dear?”  Maggie Scully asked as she gave her daughter a hug.  She’d spoken to Bill the night before when he called to complain about Dana not going out with his fiend.  Bill told her about Dana’s dinner with her partner.

“Uh, yeah.  I didn’t get to sleep till after one, nearly two.”  Dana replied. 

Just then footfalls were heard coming down the hallway and the three of them were greeted with the sleep tousled form of Fox Mulder.  His hair was askew and he was wearing an old pair of sweat pants and a Tee-shirt.  His eyes were hardly open and he seemed to be following the aroma of the brewing coffee.

Dana opened her mouth to say something, anything, but nothing came out.  Her dad came to her rescue, “its okay honey, we saw that he came out of the guest room.”  Dana let out a long breath.

Mulder walked in with a large mug smiling; until he saw the trio watching him.

Again it was Ahab to the rescue.  “You must be Dana’s partner Fox Mulder,” he said as he walked over to shake the newcomer’s hand.  “I’m Dana’s father, Bill, and that lovely lady is Dana’s mom, Maggie.  I can’t tell you how much we’ve been wanting to meet you.”

Mulder shook the man’s hand but couldn’t think of anything to say beyond, “nice to meet you, sir.”  Captain Scully’s attitude at seeing a man who obviously slept over at his daughter’s apartment was more than gracious. 

“Dana’s guest bedroom is really comfortable, isn’t it?” 

Mulder’s smile returned, “yes.  Great bed, really comfortable.”  He stumbled over his words.

The two women began to giggle which soon moved to full fledge laughter.  Captain Scully and Mulder looked at each other and joined in the merriment. 

“You two get ready and we’ll take you out for breakfast.”  Mulder began to protest, not wanting to intrude but Mrs. Scully wouldn’t have it.  “Anytime I walk in and find a man has stayed over at my Dana’s he’s darn sure going to have breakfast with me.  Now move, I’m getting hungry.”

Mulder and Scully went to get ready but before they got to the bedrooms they heard Maggie say, “she could do worse.”

Bill simply replied, “she has.”

-x-

A New Understanding:

Scully opened the office door only to find Mulder kissing some woman.  Mulder’s head jumped up at the sound of the door.

Scully dropped her head trying to hide her embarrassment and not cause Mulder to have any.  “I’m sorry, I, uh. . .”  She started to back out of the office when Mulder called her back.

“Scully, this is Inspector Phoebe Greene of Scotland Yard, an old, um, friend.”

Scully could feel both of them watching her; Mulder with embarrassment and the woman with unhidden disdain. 

Mulder was talking again, “Phoebe has a really interesting case she’d like my, uh, our help with.”

“Yes, ‘our’ help.”  Scully replied emphasizing ‘our,’ Mulder’s eyes told her he’d heard it. 

Phoebe Greene described the case.  Someone was targeting the aristocracy of Great Britain, torching them; three so far.  Beyond their social station and all having young and beautiful wives, Scotland Yard had yet to find any commonalities.  

After some preliminary work with the FBI’s resident arson expert, Scully returned to the office as Mulder escorted Phoebe out of the building.  Phoebe was catching the next plane to Boston to meet Lord and Lady Marsden.  Mulder would follow later that day but right now he needed to figure out how to make Scully stay behind. 

Mulder entered the office to find Scully packing her things up.

“Hey, Scully, I was thinking.”

“This ought to be good,” she joked.

“Ha,ha.  No, Phoebe’s my, uh, friend and it isn’t fair for me to drag you into this.  I told Skinner you wouldn’t be going on this one.”  He flashed his best ‘gotta love me smile.’  “You stay here and have a mini vacation from me.”

Scully just looked at him and nodded.  She tried to hide it but he saw the hurt and anger in her eyes.  He also saw the friendship and trust that had taken nearly a year to build melting away. 

Mulder realized he’d made a momentous mistake and moved to call her back only to hear the chime of the elevator announcing its arrival.  In the moments for him to get his head together, Scully had collected her things and was gone.

Mulder called Scully that night to tell her where he was staying.  The call only lasted a minute which was unusual for them.  Their nearly nightly phone calls were legendary for their length and the numerous topics.  This time Scully claimed she was busy and hung up right after he’d given her the information on his accommodations; hell, he wasn’t even sure she bothered writing it down.  Mulder still held the receiver in his hand when he realized the warm feeling he always had after speaking with her was missing.

Four days later Mulder sat in his motel room staring at the connecting door.  His side was open like it always was when they were in the field but Scully’s door remained closed and locked. 

Scully had come up the day before with everything they needed to solve the case.  He couldn’t believe how shoddy Scotland Yard’s investigation had been.  Scully had not only identified the murderer but she’d been able to trace his movements with relative ease.  Scully was working while he’d been playing tonsil hockey with Phoebe and planning a night of debauchery in her rented bed. 

He’d let Phoebe lead him around by his dick, again.  Would he never learn?  The woman was a vampire and he seemed unable to break her spell no matter how many times she’d betrayed him.  At least that was how it was until he walked into that mansion and found her lip-locked with his lordship.  He’d almost laughed at the absurdity of it.  How many times during their relationship did similar scenes play out?  This one was tame in comparison to several others.  He’d always blamed himself and his inadequacies for her numerous infidelities.  When Phoebe left him he’d been sure it was entirely his fault.  This time it was like someone ripped the blinders off and he saw the woman for what she was.

He’d damaged his relationship with Scully, his friend, for a common. . .  Mulder’s thoughts were interrupted by a knock on the connecting door.

“Come in, Scully.”  Mulder was thrilled she was finally going to speak with him.

“Mulder, I need you to read through this report and make sure I didn’t forget anything of importance.”

“Sure, Scully, have a seat and I’ll review it.”

“No, I’ll just leave it and get going.”  She gave the folder a little toss and it landed on the bed near Mulder’s feet.  Scully turned to leave.

Mulder was a little desperate to keep her there.  He had a feeling that if they didn’t fix this now it might never get completely fixed.

“Come on, Scully, we need to talk.”  Mulder shocked himself at how pleading he sounded. 

“I can’t do that yet.  I’m still too angry.”  Her hand was still on the door knob.

“Why?”

That stopped her and she turned back and pinned him with her glare.  It only lasted a moment but Mulder had never felt so alone in his life.  Scully shook her head and started through the door.  Just before she shut the door she turned back and said, “just for the record, Agent Mulder, I do not appreciate you making decisions for me and I sure as hell don’t appreciate being dropped like a fucking bad date!” 

If the wall shaking slamming of the door didn’t let him know she was mad the profanity certainly did.  He knew going after her was just counter productive.  She needed to calm down and he needed to figure out what to say to her when she started speaking to him again.

-x-

The next morning they loaded the rental car with their bags, not a word was exchanged.  Scully had turned her car in the night before.  The drive was equally silent and it wasn’t until Scully realized that they weren’t heading toward the airport that the silence was broken.

“Where are we going, Mulder?”  Her voice sounded tired and Mulder knew she thought he was headed toward one of his infamous tangent investigations.

“I called Skinner after I faxed our report to him and signed us out for a couple days.”  She waited for him to continue but he didn’t.  It was like he expected his cryptic sentence explained it all.  She was no longer mad at him just hurt and she wanted desperately to get home and away from him.  That anger was in jeopardy of being reawakened if he thought she would accompany him on some wild goose chase.

Scully held out as long as she could and she was really annoyed that he was making her ask, she hated these games he played.  “So, we have a few days off.  No problem.  But that doesn’t explain why you are not taking us to the airport and if I don’t get a reasonable explanation fast I will get out of this damned car the next time you stop.”

Mulder sighed.  He was usually able to get away with not spelling out his intentions.  Scully always seemed to indulge this little eccentricity and even enjoyed the mystery.  It seemed that one result in the aftermath from the ‘Phoebe incident’ was that her tolerance level had plummeted. 

“Look Scully, I just thought we needed some time to sort out the damage, to find out where we stand.  Last night you said some things that got me thinking.  Somehow your confidence in our partnership was torn apart. And I know it is my fault.  If we go back to DC today we will part at the airport and not see or even talk to each other till next week.  You will have cooled off but the resentment will still be there and the damage will spread.”  Mulder chanced a glance at her, to see if he was getting through.  “Besides, this is where I grew up and since I’ve met your family, including that loon you call a sister, it was time for you to meet the Mulders in all their glory – or gory.”

This earned him a rare and usually hard earned full Scully laugh.  “I guess that’s only fair since you suffered through one of Missy’s Tofu Surprise dinners.”  Scully turned in her seat.  “About that other issue.  I’m not mad anymore, just really disappointed and a little hurt.”     

“Scully, I,” Mulder faltered and took a moment to regroup.  “I really need to apologize for this whole fiasco.”  He was stammering but it had gotten her interest.  “I don’t want you to ever think I see you as some bad date, or unnecessary.  I, oh hell Scully, I don’t know what the hell was wrong with me.  Phoebe always gets to me and makes me do stupid and crazy things.  Please tell me that my temporary insanity didn’t cost me my best friend?”

Scully looked down.  She was sure he hadn’t even realized that he’d grasped her hands during his little speech.  Scully took a deep breath and started.  “Mulder, I understand how an old girlfriend can make you act a bit crazy.   Particularly one you obviously still have unresolved feeling for.  If you had left Scully, your friend, behind that would have been one thing but you left Special Agent Dana Scully behind.  You can’t do that; you cannot let your personal issues interfere with our jobs.  I have to know it won’t happen again.”

“Scully, I can assure you that Phoebe will never be a problem between us ever again.”

“I’ll hold you to that Mulder.”

“I’d expect nothing less.”

-x-

Mulder pulled up to the building and shut off the car.  “Here we are.”

Scully looked at the large, ornate house and the confusion showed on her face.  “I thought we were staying with your family?”  She paused for a moment then her eyes brightened as she figured it out.  “Sorry, I wasn’t thinking.  Do I have a reservation?” 

“Reservation?  What the hell are you talking about Scully?”

“For this Bed and Breakfast.  I just assumed your parents didn’t have room so you made arrangements for me to stay here.”

“Scully, this is my parent’s house.”  Mulder said a little sheepishly.  Suddenly he realized they’d never discussed his family’s fortune.

Scully’s jaw dropped slightly but she recovered quickly.  “Maybe I’m going to have to let my mom do her matchmaking thing on you after all.”  The tension melted with their laughter.

A man walked out of the ‘house’ and Mulder tossed him the car keys.  “Hey, Dean, our bags are in the trunk.  Mine are the black leather and Sc, I mean Dana’s are the tan.

“Fine, sir.”

Scully looked at Mulder and he shrugged.  “You keep unfolding like a flower Mulder.”

Just then the front door opened and two boys who looked to be about seven or eight came bounding out followed by a toddler who looked like she would fall with each faltering step.  “Uncle Fox!  Mom, Dad, uncle Fox is here.  And he’s got a girl!  And she’s real pretty!”

Mulder was captive in the embraces of his two nephews while Scully lunged for the steps just as the little girl reached the edge of the porch.  “Nice save,” came a man’s stern voice from over her head.  “Jen, what have we told you about steps?”

The little girl, now safely in Scully’s arms nuzzled her face in Scully’s neck.  A little, muffled, “sowee, want see unk Fox.”  She burst into tears and hugged Scully tighter who soothed Jen’s tiny back. 

“My, my, that’s a lot of noise.”  The man said as he reached for the girl.  His voice had lost the sternness.  “I just don’t want anything to happen to my baby girl.”  This appeased the child and her tears ceased.

By now they had been joined by two women and another man, Mulder’s parents, Bill and Teena Mulder, and his sister, Samantha.  Scully figured out the man was Samantha’s husband Eric Kellogg, the two boys were Thomas and Geoffrey and, of course, little Jen. 

Mulder made all the introductions and Teena led them to the dining room where a large buffet brunch waited.

Conversation was light and the children were completely taken with Scully.  Jen pulled Mulder down to talk to him face to face.  “I love her unk Fox, she’s got pwetty hair.”

After they’d eaten, Dana excused herself to go unpack and call her family.  The rest moved to the rear porch that overlooked the ocean.

“Fox, your partner is very interesting.”  Teena Mulder started and Mulder knew what was coming.  “Do I remember correctly that you said she is a medical doctor?”

“Yes, Mom.  She specializes in pathology but she’s patched me up more than once.”

Bill Mulder watched his wife and knew he needed to alter the direction of the conversation.  “Not that we’re complaining but what brings you all this way from DC?  Since you have your partner here I’m going to assume it was a case.” 

Just then Scully walked out and saw her partner at a loss of what to say so she stepped in.  “Yes, it was a case,” she proceeded to tell them about it; in typical Scully fashion, she stuck to only the pertinent information and didn’t say how they’d become involved.

“My word, Fox, how on earth did you get such a case and why would you go after anything that had to do with fire?”  Teena Mulder was clearly disturbed that her son had taken such a risk.  “I mean, Fox, after what happened you don’t even like a fire in the fire place.  You failed to get your ‘Survivors Badge’ in Indian Guides because you wouldn’t start a campfire.”

Mulder mumbled something about it being part of the job when Samantha chimed in.  “You said it had something to do with a British lord.  Fox!  It wasn’t Phoebe was it?  She didn’t bring you this case, did she?”  She looked at her brother and knew that had been the case.  “You really can be a fool, Fox.  I’ll bet you put poor Dana here through the ringer.”

The partners looked at each other but neither said anything.  Scully soon excused herself to take a walk with the children who’d been nagging to show her around.  Mulder invited himself on their sojourn as a means to avoid explaining further how he let Phoebe manipulate him. 

They had reached the bottom of the stairs when Bill Mulder was heard to say, “he could do worse.”

Teena replied, “he has.”

Scully waited till they’d gotten a fair distance away. “Sounds like your track record is no better than mine.” 

-x-

Scully had been distracted during dinner and secreted herself away as soon as it was polite to do so.  Mulder immediately felt her absence and went to find his partner.

His search led him to the back porch where he found Scully sitting on a chaise looking out toward the ocean.  She was so focused she didn’t notice his approach.  Mulder was merely a yard from him when the light from the window caught a shimmer on her cheek.  

“Scully?”  Mulder spoke softly not to startle her but she still jolted slightly.  Her hand quickly wiped her cheeks.  “What’s wrong, and don’t even try telling me you’re fine?  Dana Scully doesn’t cry over nothing.  Is this about what happened?”

Scully’s head bent forward and shook slightly.  “No, well maybe a little.”  She returned her gaze to the ocean.  “Mulder, is there something about me that you are ashamed of?”

“God, no!”  Mulder had no idea where this was coming from.  “Scully?”

“Mulder, we’ve been partners for a year and we’ve been friends, best friends, for nearly as long.  We eat dinner together at least three times a week, more if we’re working on something.  You met my entire family within three months.  I told you about Jack and Ethan and you are the only person I have ever spoken to about my almost affair with Daniel.  But I don’t learn about Phoebe until she involves us, sorry, you in a case?” 

She turned to look at him for the first time since he found her.  Mulder realized that despite what she’d said this had little to do with Phoebe.  But, even with that realization he wasn’t prepared for what came next.  “I realized that I barely know anything about you.  I can fix your coffee the way you like it, I could order something you like from nearly any menu, I can even buy you the right type, brand and size underwear.  What I didn’t know,” she raised her arms up to gesture around them.  “This, none of this.  Your home, your family.  It just got me thinking that’s all.”

Scully turned slightly away from him and Mulder tensed.  “Just before dinner I was talking with Samantha and she was telling me how they’d all wanted to meet me for a long time.  And they were starting to think I was some sort of snob because I managed to always dodge their invitations whenever they visited you in DC.  Imagine my surprise.  And imagine how hard it was to act in a way so that she didn’t know you never invited me.”

“Scully, I. . .”  Mulder didn’t know what to say or how to explain, or even if he could.

Scully looked at him and suddenly she understood and she nodded.  “In the military every child knows the ranks of their friend’s parents, it doesn’t make a difference but they know.

Civilians don’t have bars and clusters on their collars but they have other trappings of their position in life.”  She looked at him for a moment. 

“Mulder, I had a friend when my father was stationed in Japan.  He was one of the few friends I had that wasn’t military.  His father worked for the Embassy but Josh, that was his name, Josh never elaborated further.  We finally learned that his Dad was the Ambassador when he was recalled to the states.  Josh was afraid on being treated differently, of not being accepted.  Or worse, being accepted for the wrong reasons.”  Scully took Mulder’s hand.  “People treated you differently when they found out didn’t they?  You were afraid that I would treat you differently, right?”

Mulder nodded his head but he didn’t say anything.  He was sure Scully felt insulted.

“Old habits die hard, Mulder.  That’s what it was wasn’t it?  An old habit.”

Mulder put his arms around her.  He should have known that Scully would understand.

Unbeknownst to the couple wrapped in a comfortable embrace they were being watched.

“Don’t get started, Teena!”  Bill Mulder admonished knowing full well it fell on deaf ears.

-x-

Christmas Always Brings Surprises

“Mulder,” he said as he answered the office phone. 

“Fox,” was all Teena Mulder got out before her panicked son interrupted her.

“Mom?  Is something wrong?”  She never called the office, “is it Dad or . . .”  Scully was at his side and he grabbed her hand.

“Fox, no nothing’s wrong.  Calm down.”  He nodded to Scully and they both released their breath.  “I called about Christmas.  Put Dana on the phone.” 

Mulder pulled the phone from his ear and held it out to his partner.  “She wants to talk to you about Christmas?”  The look on Scully’s face told him she was as in the dark as he.

“Teena, what can I do for you?”

“I just wanted to know if you were coming with Fox or with your family next week?”

“I’m sorry, I don’t understand.”

“Oh dear, hasn’t your mother talked to you about our Christmas plans?”

“We’ve been out of town.  We just got in last night and I was too tired to call my parents.”

“I’m sorry, I just thought you knew.  Your mom and I talked and we made arrangements for the two families to spend the Christmas holidays here.”  Scully’s eyes went to the ceiling and Mulder knew something was afoot.

“I guess I’ll have to let you know when we figure everything.  Would that be okay?”

“That would be fine, dear.  Give my love to Fox.”  Teena hung up.

Mulder went to take the phone.  “She said to give you her love.”  Scully said as she cradled the receiver.

“So, are you going to tell me why my mom is calling you about Christmas?”

“The match-maker twins have decided that you and I have taken too much time to fall in love so they are ganging up on us over Christmas.”

“Oh, crap.  Do you think we can find a case that we could stretch out for a couple weeks?”

“No, but I think I’ll buy futures in Mistletoe because I have a feeling that there won’t be a doorway unadorned by it.”

“I bet they’ll have it over our beds,” Mulder added. 

Scully picked up the phone and called her mom.

-x-

The men were gathered in the foyer sharing looks of commiseration while they waited for the women to finish dressing and come down so they could go to the country club’s annual holiday gala.  Scully’s family, with the exception of her parents and Scully herself, were staying in the guest house but Teena arranged for the women to all dress in the main house.

Mulder, his father, Eric, Scully’s brother Charles and Melissa’s, latest, fiancé Ben were dressed in Tuxedos.  Captain and Lieutenant Scully were in their dress whites.

“My!  Maggie have you ever seen such a handsome gathering of men?”  Teena gushed as they ascended the stair.

“They do clean up well don’t they?  Maggie replied.

Mulder watched as the women made their decent.  Scully was bringing up the rear so she was mostly obscured by the other women.  When his line of sight cleared he gaped at her then helped her with her cloak.  “I may just have to let our mother’s get their way and ask you to marry me?”

“I may just have to say yes.”  She countered with a seductive smile.

The gala was resplendent with tuxedoed men and gowned ladies.  Many of the women wore sparkling jewels that flashed as they moved.  Mulder looked at the women in their party and thought they were all the more lovely for their lack of glitter.  The Scully’s military background would never afford them the gaudy bobbles out for display.  His mother and sister had many jewels but opted to forgo them in deference to the Scully women.  He glanced around the room and took notice of the unmistakable stares of admiration that the ladies were receiving.  He had no doubt that the hardware so on display tonight would remain in their vaults at the next gathering of the high and mighty.

Bill Mulder stood off to the side watching his son.  He wasn’t as meddling as his wife in matters of the heart but that didn’t mean he would sit idly by as his son fought his attraction to Dana; his tactics were just a lot more subtle.

Mulder and Scully were dancing near the edge of the dance floor.  Mulder was laughing at something Scully had said when a manicured hand touched her shoulder.  They stopped and turned to the newcomer.  She was tall with long flowing blonde hair and her attention was completely aimed at Mulder.

“Fox, it has been years since you came to one of these things.  Dance with me?”  She’d unceremoniously dismissed Scully and claimed Mulder.

Scully started toward the sidelines when she was captured and being led around the dance floor.  Her partner introduced himself as Aaron Kingman.  “So Dana, where has our Fox been keeping you?” 

Bill Scully Sr. saw a sly smile spread over Bill Mulder’s face.  “I have the feeling it isn’t just our wives doing a little matchmaking.  Care to let me in?”

Bill Mulder pointed to where Fox was dancing.  He was leading a beautiful blonde around the floor.  “That is Carla Tremont.  She’s had her sights set on Fox since they were children.  Fox calls her the barracuda.  Well, let’s just say she never learned the fine art of seduction.  She just threw everything out there.  Now follow Fox’s sightline.”  Captain Scully did and saw his Dana being mauled by a dark haired man.  He made a move to go to her rescue but Bill Mulder stopped him.  “Don’t worry, Dana is more than capable of handling it and the song is nearly over.  That is Aaron Kingman, nicknamed the lecher.  Now follow her line of sight.”  She was watching Mulder watch her.  They both looked miserable.  The song ended and before their partners knew what happened Mulder and Scully had left them stranded to get back together.

Captain Scully commented, “interesting maneuver.  How did you arrange it?”

“Just a word or two in the right ear that Fox would be here tonight and I knew the barracuda would be out in full battle gear.  And as far as Aaron goes he hasn’t failed to target a beautiful woman since he hit puberty.  I knew he’d have to get his hands on Dana.  I hope you will forgive me for not warning her?”

They saw the couple in question leaving the ballroom.  “In my career I’ve often realized that the strategies had to be forgiven when the outcome is favorable.”

In the hallway Mulder and Scully found a small bench partially hidden in the shadows.

“His hands were all over you, Scully.”  Mulder lamented.

“She looked like she was trying to have sex right there.”  Scully said at the same time. 

They were quiet for a moment. Then they both asked, “are you all right?” 

Scully started with a small chuckle and Mulder followed then they were both laughing at the absurdity of the moment.

“I was so jealous I wanted to rip his head off,” Mulder admitted between chuckles.

“I was worse; I was ready to break her nails.”  Scully shot back.

“Oh, the horror!”  Their laughter was renewed.  “Scully, do you think our mom’s are right?  I mean about us.”

“I can only speak for myself but when you dated Maureen last summer . . .”

Mulder interrupted her, “Two dates does not constitute dating.” 

“Whatever, the reason I was so mad had nothing to do with those three unfinished reports.”  Scully looked down at her hands, embarrassed at her admission.

“Why do you think I called you every fifteen minutes that time you went out with Tom Morgan?”  Mulder said, making his own confession.

“Yeah?”

“Oh, yeah.  I was ready to make him disappear and that Betty woman who set you up too.”

“I told you that I was only doing her a favor.”  Mulder shrugged.  Suddenly Scully pointed to the ceiling, “Mulder, look.” 

“I don’t see anything Scully, what is it?”  Mulder was trying hard to see what she was pointing at.

“If you look just right you’ll see a small sprig of mistletoe.  Do you see it now?”

A smile crept over him.  “There it is.  I guess we’re just going to have t. . .”

Scully put a finger to his lips.  “Will you just shut the hell up and kiss me?”

-x-

Trainor carried the mail on the silver platter and lowered it so Carla Tremont could reach it easily.  His duty complete he left the morning room.  He got half way across the foyer when he heard his mistress scream.  He quickly returned to find Miss Tremont shaking what looked to be a card and repeating, “no,” over and over.

“Miss?  Can I assist. . .” 

She threw the offending card at him. Trainor was able to catch the card and read it:

Captain and Mrs. Wm. Scully cordially request your presence for the marriage of their daughter Dana Katherine to Fox Wm. Mulder on the 6^th day of March at 2:00 pm at Our Lady of Hearts. . .

End