Chapter 9: 101 Things to do with fruit salad

Friday.

Dana Scully peered cautiously around the corner.  She could hear someone coming, so she flattened herself against the wall.  She pulled her gun from the small of her back, to hold it high by her cheek – ready.  The footsteps grew nearer and nearer.  Glancing onto the ground just beyond the corner she saw a large shadow advancing on her position.  Taking a deep breath, she stepped out in front of the figure – gun aimed ahead of her.

“Freeze.”  She said in a determined voice.  She stood facing Mulder.

“Scully!”  Mulder said, relieved – lowering his gun.  Scully sighed with relief and, she too, lowered her gun.

“Where did he go?”  She asked.

“We must have him lost back in the tunnels.”  Mulder said in an exasperated tone.  “Dammit!”  He exclaimed, kicking a barrel out of his way. 

XXXXXX**

“We’ve got *nothing* on him.”  Mulder complained as he collapsed into his chair.  Scully sat across from him with the case file spread out on the desk in front of her.

“What about..”  She began, but he cut her off.

“It’s pointless.”  His tone was bitter.

“You’re giving up!”  Scully exclaimed, standing up and walking over to him.  “I never thought you were the quitting type Mulder.”  He sighed and looked up at her.

“I just don’t have the heart for it anymore.”  He finished feebly.

“You think that *I* do?”  She licked her lips.  “It was me that freaked out in the kid’s department, not you.”  Mulder smiled weakly.

“You’re pretty cute when you’re freaking out.”  Scully smiled into his eyes and kissed him lightly.  “I don’t know how I kept it together.”  He admitted as he reached up and pulled her down onto his lap.  “I’ve already imagined all the worst possible things for Samantha and for..”  He swallowed with difficulty.  “…you.  Now I’m applying them all to a baby, and it’s tearing me apart.”  Their eyes locked.

“I didn’t mean it when I blamed you.”  Scully told him with sincerity.  “I don’t.  If anything I blame myself.  I was the one that started this mess by lying to you.  If I hadn’t lied, they wouldn’t have been able to cover it up the way they did.”

“It’s neither of our faults.”  Mulder interjected.  “We couldn’t have known.  We have to beat them by staying strong and not letting anything break us up.”

“A minute ago you sounded like you were going to quit.”  Scully reminded him. 

“*You* said that I was going to quit.  I was merely contemplating the situation.”  Mulder pointed out.  Scully grinned.

“That’s what I love about you – your lateral thinking.”  Mulder returned the grin.

“Would ‘horizontal’ thinking be any better?”  As he finished the sentence he leant her backwards across the desk and trapped her with his body.

“Mulder!”  She meant it to sound severe but laughing ruined the effect.  It began with *him* kissing *her*, but it did not stay that way for long and, in the end, it was Mulder who broke the contact.

“Work is not the place for this.”  He admitted.  Scully shrugged.

“It’s past six Mulder, let’s go home.” 

“I have to finish this report first.”  He said with regret.

“How about…?”  She put her arms around his neck and pulled him closer to her.  “…I go home and have a bath.  Then you come over when you’re finished.”  She kissed him lightly.

“Sounds wonderful.”  Their mouths met in a tender kiss which held exquisite promises for the night ahead.

XXXXXX***

He retreated further into the shadows as the door of the basement office opened.  Dana Scully stepped out into the unflattering fluorescent light of the corridor.  Despite the harsh light she still managed to look stunning – he hated her for it.  To make things worse she was smiling, not just a little smile but a smile which lit up her whole face with an expression of perfect happiness.  <What the fuck is she so happy about?>  How dare she be happy, after all he’d done to try and make her unhappy.  His hand reached up to touch the permanent scar on his cheek.  He still owed her for the scar.  Dana Scully had better grab what happiness she could while it lasted, because it would not last for much longer. 

Dr. Thad Narcote waited until she was out of sight – then he strode over and knocked on the door.  Mulder’s voice called him in.  Narcote opened the door and faced his ‘friend’. 

“Hi Fox.”  Narcote said quietly.

“Thad!”  Mulder acknowledged with surprise.  “What are you doing here?  I thought you were still on the West Coast.”

“I moved back a year or so ago.”  Narcote answered, avoiding the issue.  Mulder walked over to him and they hugged liked the old friends Mulder supposed them to be.  As they pulled apart Mulder noticed the scar on his face and questioned him about it.  That gave Narcote all the information he needed – the stupid bitch still hadn’t told Mulder the whole truth.  <Big mistake Miss Dana Scully>  Maybe the effects of the program had not gone as wrong as they had suspected them to.   

“I was mugged.”  Narcote lied smoothly.  Mulder accepted the explanation with suitable sympathy. 

They reminisced for a while, until Mulder reached for the phone.

“I’d better call Scully and tell her that I’ll be late.”  He said matter-of-factly.  Narcote realised then why Dana Scully had looked *so* happy on her way out of the office.  It was a tribute to his acting ability that he did not start laughing at the beautiful irony of the situation.  Not only would be breaking up the working relationship – he would be breaking up a romantic involvement as well.  Now that would hurt Miss Dana Scully the way that he wanted to.  Mulder picked up the phone.

“No need.”  Narcote added on, stopping Mulder’s action, and stood up.  “I can’t stay.  I just thought that I’d drop in now that I’m back in town.”  Mulder sat holding the receiver.

“Are you sure you can’t stay?”  Narcote shook his head and Mulder replaced the receiver.               

“I’m afraid not.”  Narcote moved to the door and checked his watch.  “In fact, I’m late for my meeting as it is.”  Mulder’s brow creased in confusion.

“You’re meeting someone in the building?”

“Yes – another old friend.  He’s asked for my help with something.”

“I thought you said you’d *never* come back to work here.”  Mulder laughed. 

“It was an offer I couldn’t refuse.”  Narcote returned.

XXXXXX******

Mulder knew it was childish but he couldn’t resist.  He knocked on the door and then hid in the blind spot around the edge of the door frame.  Scully opened it almost immediately and looked out in confusion when she saw no one.  Mulder stepped up behind her and put his hands on her waist.  She jumped in shock and tried to turn but he didn’t let her.  He buried his face in the hair at the base of her neck.  

“I missed you.”  He said with feeling.  She smiled and rubbed herself against him.

“It’s only been three hours.”  She pointed out.

“I missed you after three minutes.”  He admitted as he turned her in his arms.  Their kiss was long and passionate.  They moved inside out of necessity. 

Lying in bed – a long time later – Scully happily curled up against Mulder. 

“What did you put in your report?”  Scully asked him.

“Some crap that they would have wanted to hear.”  He answered bitterly.

“You’re really down aren’t you?”  She asked with surprised concern.

“You mean that you’re not?”  He replied.

“Not at this exact moment.  I’m feeling pretty good right now.”  She smiled at him, and he gave a twisted smile in return.  She sighed.  “You’re a lousy date.”  She teased.  This time his smile was genuine.

“Ooh, *This* is a date.  I’m glad you haven’t *dated* many men in the last few years.”  She hit him lightly.  “I’m sorry, I always forget to count my blessings.”  He turned and looked at her seriously.  “You are a definite blessing.  I love you.”  He kissed her.

XXXXXX******

Saturday morning.

“Dana?”  Mulder called.

“Yeah?”  She answered – past toothpaste – from the bathroom.

“Why do you have nothing but bowls of fruit salad in your refrigerator?”  He was standing in the kitchen, wearing just his boxers.  He wanted some food, but six bowls of fruit salad was not exactly what he had in mind.

“Mom’s having a party – she asked me to make some food.”  She called back.

“Fruit salad?”  He was incredulous.  She finished in the bathroom and came through to the kitchen.  She was wearing a burgundy bathrobe.

“I like fruit salad.”

“I hope everyone else does.”  She stepped into his arms and kissed him. 

“What are we going to do today?”  She asked.

“No shopping.”  He replied.  She nodded in agreement.  “I thought that we could stay in.”  He kissed her.  “We could watch some TV.”  He kissed her.  “Order some pizza.”  He kissed her.  “Drink some wine.”  He kissed her.  “And spend the other forty-seven hours and fifty-five minutes of this weekend making love.” 

“Great idea.”  Scully replied and kissed him.  “By the way, I’ve thought of something we can do with all that fruit salad.”

“Ooh, I’m listening.” 

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