NEW: Wearing (1/3)
Nancy Lemieux
Boring but obligatory disclaimer:
Okay, while I wish I'd been inventive enough to make up characters like
Mulder and Scully, I didn't. They belong to Chris Carter, Ten Thirteen
Productions, Fox Television, and probably some government consortium that
keeps its secrets from us by making us spend all our time
watching/thinking about/writing about the X-Files. I don't claim any
ownership, other than the idea behind this story, and the actual text,
since I took the time to write it. Feel free to copy and distribute, as
long as you don't modify it in any way (keep the disclaimer, my name,
email, etc) and don't make any money from it. I sure as heck am not. It
would be nice, though, since I'm a poor graduate student who's about to
change fields and re-join the undergrad fray... lots of Kraft Dinners in
the near future, so trying to sue me would be like taking blood from a
stone... it won't happen.
There are some minor spoilers from seasons 1, 2 and 3, although nothing
very serious, and I presume that most countries have gotten that far in
viewing by now. The actual story is situated sometime after Pusher and
before Talitha Cumi. I also apologize for the lame title, but it's all I
could come up with.
**** NAUSEA WARNING*****
If you don't have the stomach to handle a Mulder/Scully romance, hit the
delete key now. Angst, WAFFs and heart flutters are some of the side
effects described from reading my story.
This story is for the general public (or maybe PG-13), with nothing
graphic, and no sex scenes (despite your probable first impression).
People say Mulder and Scully can't be in love and still function
normally... well there's you told! <g>
A special thanks to Tammy and Rhoni for reading my story and providing
comments, and to Anne (see you at LAFF!), who indirectly inspired me to
write this.
This story is divided into three parts to facilitate posting.
Comments, feedback, typos, flames, and all flowers can be sent to:
And now, with no further ado, I bring you:
Wearing
by Nancy Lemieux
"Scully, what are you wearing?"
He'd done it again. Just as she had finished another perfectly logical
explanation to hopefully bring his newest late-night theory back to earth,
he had to go and ask her that. Wouldn't he ever learn? *Well,* thought
Dana Scully, *I'm going to get him for this!*
"Do you really want to know?"
He was taken aback by that remark. Usually, there'd just be a small
silence at the other end of the line while she struggled between wanting
to strangle him for the teasing and trying not to laugh from the
suddenness of the comment. This time it was different, and the speed of
her reply had taken him off balance just long enough for him to miss his
chance at witty repartee, Fox Mulder's m.o.
"Not like you'd really tell me anyway."
There. He'd said something. Alright, maybe it was a lame comeback,
but at least he hadn't sounded like a total dweeb, and it was basically
the truth. Dana Scully - pragmatic scientist and all-around straight
arrow - was just not the type to start talking about her wardrobe over the
phone, unless it was a girlfriend calling to compare notes on what they
would be wearing for a party. Scratch that. Since she'd started working
with him on the X-files almost three years ago, he hadn't seen her go out
with friends more than a handful of times, and she'd only gone on this one
date, whereby a case had somehow managed to prevent her from going on
another.
Dana was enjoying this. If Mulder hadn't teased back, it meant he was
at a loss for words.... a rare occasion, and one to be milked for all its
worth.
"Well, if you must know, I'm wearing my silk bathrobe."
"Oh? Tell me more..."
So he wasn't flustered anymore, was he? She could tell he was back in
control by the slight teasing quality she could hear in his voice. A
mischievious idea crossed her mind. What would it take to get him off
balance again?
"Yes, it's the forest green one. It's a little small for me."
"Oh, it's a little tight.... That can be good..."
"Well, no actually, so that explains why I opened it up just now as I
sat down on the couch, revealing my black lace underwear."
Mulder froze. Of all the extreme possibilities he'd come face to face
with, this was probably the last one he'd thought would ever happen.
Someone had turned the heat up. Way up. His blood was coursing through
him, and pooling in certain areas that he didn't think it wise to
concentrate on right now. Barely managing to suppress a stutter, he tried
a mild reply.
" Oh, well that's nice. Well, I guess I'll let you go back to whatever
you were doing. Thanks for the help."
"What's the matter, Mulder? Can't take the heat?" Scully was biting
back her laughter, knowing it would just be too much for him if she did.
She had to admit that embarrassing him was fun. He was always the one who
got the blows in, with his quick wit and apparently unshakable attitude.
So this is how it felt when the tables were turned...
"I thought you knew me better than that..."
"Well, not in the biblical sense...."
That was it. Mulder was definitely not sure how to respond to that
one. It's not like he'd never flirted with anyone before, but this was
*SCULLY* he was talking to... not some chick in a singles bar he'd never
see again. She was his partner, his friend, someone he'd have to face in
the office soon. Someone who was making him feel like a hormonal teenager
all over again... Not good. Definitely not good.
"Scully, are you sure you're alright?"
"Oh, I'd say I'm *more* than alright..."
The click originating from the other end of the receiver startled her,
and got her suddenly worried as the line went dead. Why did Mulder hang
up so suddenly? Was something wrong? Had someone broken into his
apartment? Had he suddenly fallen ill? He was too young and in too good
a shape to have a heart attack, but the Consortium had gotten to him
before by drugging his drinking water... what's to say they hadn't done
something else to him?
Nervously, Scully pushed the first speed-dial number on her phone,
willing Fox Mulder to answer her call. After the fourth ring the machine
picked up. After what seemed like an eternity she heard the beep, meaning
the machine was recording, and started talking.
"Mulder? Mulder are you there? It's me, Mulder.... Scully. If you're
there, pick up. Is something wrong? Why did you hang up so quickly?
Please, if you're there, pick up the phone. Are you alright? Was it
something I said? Mulder... MULDER!!!!!!!!! Please!!!!!!!"
She waited a few seconds longer, hoping to hear the telltale click as
the receiver is lifted off its cradle. When nothing happened she hung
up. Scully began pacing in her living room. What had happened to him?
Was something wrong? Why wasn't he answering? Was it something she said?
She stopped dead in her tracks. *Was* it something she said? It had
been meant as a joke, to show he wasn't the only one who could come up
with witty comments and sexual innuendo. Now it didn't seem so funny
anymore. But that didn't make sense. Mulder had always been the type to
flirt. It had to be something else. Something must have happened while
they were on the phone... Perhaps the consortium *had* sent someone to get
Mulder. Her heart practically stopped at the thought. Not wanting to
waste another second, she knew she had to find out what had happened.
Running to her bedroom she pulled some sweats and t-shirt out of her
closet . Nervously she lifted her cotton nightie over her head and put
on the clothes. Running to the door, she barely had time to grab her keys
and wallet before she sprinted out to her car, so worried that she didn't
take the time to lock her door. So what if she was robbed? Mulder could
be lying bleeding in his apartment right now...
Willingly pushing that thought out of her mind, her fingers fumbled as
she unlocked her car door. It was just as hard to find the keyhole for
the starter. She let out a grunt of frustration seconds before she felt
the key find its way inside the barrel. *Finally,* she thought and turned
the ignition.
Nothing.
Unbelieving, Scully turned the key back and tried again. Still
nothing. Of all the *rotten* times that this could happen, why *now*?????
Cursing fluently, she popped the hood, reached into the glove
compartment for a flashlight, and went to take a look at the engine. No,
nothing seemed out of place. Silently she thanked her father for having
taught her the basics of car mechanics. She tested a couple of
connections. Everything was attached properly. No loose wires, nothing.
That meant there could be only one thing wrong with the car.
"Great," she said. "The one time I *really* don't need car trouble,
and my battery's dead."
Furious, she dropped the hood a little more quickly than necessary,
practically recoiling from the _thwack_ it made as it fell back into
place. Thinking quickly, she realized that her only other option would be
to call a cab.
She ran back into her apartment, grabbing the phone book. As she was
hunting for the appropriate number she heard a car skid around the corner
and come to a screeching halt nearby. Running to her window she peered
outside. It was Mulder's car. He jumped out and ran towards the
building. She put the curtains back just in time to hear his pounding at
the door.
Scully crossed the room quickly and opened the door, a question on her
lips. However, she never had the chance to ask it because the second the
lock came free Mulder pushed his way into her living room, grabbed Scully
by the throat and pushed her against the nearest wall, keeping her there
by applying pressure with his forearm just below her throat.
"Mulder, what are you do-" she tried asking, feebly, but stopped
herself when she felt cold metal pressed up against her ribs.
"What have you done with the real Scully?" Mulder spat out, looking
down at the woman before him.
Shocked silent, Scully took a second to observe his appearance. He had
obviously run out of his apartment. He wasn't wearing a coat despite the
November chill, he was breathing heavily, and sweat was beginning to bead
on his forehead. One look in his eyes made her blood run cold. Those
were the eyes of a madman. Something was obviously *very* wrong.
"What do you mean?"
"I said, what have you done with the real Scully!!!!!" The last few
syllables had been forced out through clenched teeth, and he pushed the
gun tighter against her, causing a sharp intake of breath to cover the
pain.
"I *am* Scully!"
"No you're NOT!" He yelled, obviously starting to lose the precious
little control he still had. "You're *not* her! That wasn't Scully I was
talking to on the phone. She'd never do something like that, and unless
you tell me where she is right now, you're going to find yourself with a
new orifice."
"Mulder, if I'm not Scully then who am I?"
He paused for a second, not quite sure what to respond. He was sure it
wasn't her, but he hadn't had much time to think about who it could be.
Suddenly a thought hit him, and his eyes narrowed as he growled.
"It's *you* isn't it? What happened? Your spaceship wouldn't start?"
Scully looked at him wide-eyed, now completely confused.
"What?"
"Don't play dumb with *me*. You've passed yourself as me before, and
now you're acting as Scully! Well, I won't take this. TELL ME WHERE SHE
IS!!!!!!"
It took a moment for Mulder's words to sink in, considering she was
starting to feel the first stirrings of panic. When they did, Scully was
hit with the realization of what he'd said. He thought she was the bounty
hunter!!!!!! *Damn,* she thought. *How am I going to get explain my way
out of this one?*
"Mulder, if you calm down for a second and let me explain you'll
realize I'm not who you think I am," she tried, keeping her voice as even
as possible.
"Damn straight! Now, last time... where is she?"
"*She* is right here, Mulder! I'm Scully. I'm here! I'm *not* a
morphing alien bounty hunter!"
He was obviously shaken by her words, but still not convinced.
"Why should I believe you?"
"Because I'm your partner. Because I'm your friend. Because we trust
each other."
"I trust Scully, but I don't trust you!"
"Well, what are you going to do, Mulder? Shoot me?"
Yet again he hesitated.
"That's right, you'd better worry. Because if I'm the real Scully,
which I am, you're going to feel terribly guilty at having shot me. And
if I'm the alien, then you're going to be infected again by that
retrovirus, and while it's chilly outside, I don't think it would be cold
enough for you to be put in the proper hypo metabolic state again to save
your life. And with the way you're acting right now, I'm not sure I'd
want to save you again anyway."
There. She'd said it. It was harsh, and not completely true (she
*would* save him again without hesitation) but she hoped it would be
enough to convince him.
As an afterthought she added, "after all, *I* felt pretty guilty when I
shot you."
That definitely seemed to phase him. He was looking her in the eyes
now, probably trying to read her thoughts. Not that he was ever
successful, she always managed to mask them rather well. Trying to push
her argument across, she gave him one of her patented looks, and he seemed
to relax visibly at the sight.
Silently, she breathed a sigh of relief. She was starting to get
through. He may not be completely convinced yet, but at least he was no
longer aggressive.
"Go ahead, Mulder. Ask me a question. Ask me something only I would know."
He looked at her for a moment longer, then let out a long drawn-out
breath, relaxing some more and leaning towards the wall, and consequently
into Scully. She didn't protest, but rather kept her gaze steady -
forcing him to look at her, to see her for who she really was. His
partner, his friend, his *very* close friend who was just realizing that
one of Mulder's legs had nudged its way between hers, pinning her to the
wall sometime during the struggle.
She could see he was thinking, searching his mind for something, a
moment that only they would know about.
"Okay. On the stakeout. The one in our first year as partners, you
brought me some food. What was in the bag?"
She smile for a second, remembering that night in the car, when they
had been keeping surveillance on Victor Eugene Tooms. "If there's an iced
tea in that bag.."
Focusing back on Mulder's face she answered calmly. "I brought you a
liverwurst sandwich and a can of rootbeer."
Mulder's face didn't change.
***********
FoLC, DueSer and X-Phile Relationshipper