Into My Arms by Harrison Coin

STORIES ON THIS SITE ARE INTENDED FOR ADULTS ONLY

DISCLAIMER: XF is owned by CC, Fox and 1013. But we're all entitled to a little fun, aren't we? "Into My Arms" copyright Nick Cave and Reprise Records. MST3K copyright Best Brains. Mr. Nelson, Mr. Murphy, and especially Mr. Cave, please do not sue this poor wretched fanboy. I love you guys, man!

WARNING: no sex, but there will be in part two....

AUTHOR'S NOTES: As usual, this story is exclusive to this archive. The title and song Mulder and Scully dance to is by Nick Cave, from his latest, The Boatman's Call, which is completely different from Red Right Hand. I quote from it, but I do so with the utmost respect. Buy The Boatman's Call, it's an excellent CD to listen to. And to my reference hunters, both of you (yes, there are two people who write me and guess where the literary and movie references are in my stories. What scares me is how they're right most of the time), there's just one...an allusion to a certain James Cameron movie...

Into My Arms by Harrison Coin

Dana folded up into a little ball, crying into her knees, mind roaring with pain and fury.

It's never fun when you've been dumped, especially when it's someone you went to for comfort.

Frank was a prick, she could see that now. She was better off rid of him. So why did it hurt so much?

"So, what, I was a dildo that made sound effects?"

"It's nothing like that..."

"Bullshit it's nothing like that! Out of the blue you call me up and say it's over, and you expect to get off without an explanation."

"You want an explanation? Fine, I'll give you an explanation. I know you're boffing your partner." Michelle's voice was cool as ice.

"Oh, please! We have a PROFESSIONAL relationship, platonic, nothing more. You're just using my partner as an excuse..."

"Get real, Fox. I just explained to you, and if you don't like it, tough shit."

A dial tone droned in Fox Mulder's ear. He threw the reciever against the wall, and turned on the TV. It kept him from focusing on his feelings for Dana.

Michelle was nice, but it was a weekend kind of thing, they fucked more than they talked, and when they talked it was about movies or books or something, not about life or politics or anything. They really couldn't have a serious conversation.

But Dana was smart, beautiful, nice, and she cared for him, if not in the way he wished she would. And he wasn't sure that he wanted that to change. She was his friend, one of his few friends, and he didn't want to lose something so important to one night of passion.
He just wanted to be happy, and to make her happy, was that so wrong?

Scully sat up, getting out of the fetal position. What she needed was to talk to a friend. But who could she call?

She flipped through her meager rolodex, and ripped out Frank's card in fury.

She went to the first number and dialed.

"Hi, I'm not here right not, but leave a message..." CLICK

"Hello?"

"Sarah, I really need to..."

"GOTCHA!!! But machines need love too, so leave a message..." CLICK

Three more calls later, she was down to one number.

"Hi, this is Fox Mulder, I'm not here right now..." The phone screamed with feedback "Hi, sorry, watching a video, hello?"

Despite herself, she smiled at Mulder mentioning his habit. And then the pain rushed back in.

"Mulder..." her voice choking on tears.

"Dana, what's wrong?"

"Can..can..can I come over to your place? I just don't want to be alone tonight."

"What about Frank....never mind." Mulder sometimes wasn't as dense as he seemed.

"Frank...isn't what I need right now."

"The bastard dumped you, didn't he?"

"Yes." And Scully started crying again.

"Dana, don't leave your place, I'm coming right over."

Ten minutes later there was a click as Mulder opened her door. He saw Scully sitting on the couch, crying. Pushing his feelings behind an all-too-familiar barrier, he ran to her, and her arms encircled him. Her head rested against his shoulder, wetting the trenchcoat with tears. He patted her on the back, and made little soothing noises, just trying to help.

Eventually, Scully stopped crying, and he just rocked her in his embrace. Finally, she broke away, and wiped her eyes, asking: "Coffee?"

"Tea, you need some, I'll make it." She told him where it was, wishing he would just stay a little closer for just a little while longer...

She pushed that out of her mind. Frank had accused her of sleeping with him, that had been his excuse. Oh, she desired him, but she kept her feelings stowed away in a small place where they couldn't hurt her or, more importantly, him. She knew he had a girlfriend, somebody he loved, and she didn't want to make his life any worse.

Something fell out of his coat, which he had thrown onto the coatrack as he got up, the left shoulder wet with tears. It was a CD case, with a somewhat handsome man on the cover.

"Mulder?" she called.

"Yes?"

"What's this CD?"

"Oh, just something I picked up at Media Play."

Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds. She'd never heard of them. Strange album title, probably referred to a song.

She put it on the coffee table, watching Mulder as he walked in with the two mugs. She nodded thanks, and he sat down next to her, picking up the remote.

"What you need is something to relax...do you have cable?"

She nodded.

It was a long shot, but... "Cinemax?"

"Yeah." It was a hoarse whisper, but it was something...

"Great!" Mulder switched channels with a practiced motion. She wondered what he was doing and smiled as she saw a man with all-over-the-place blonde and brown hair and neon green glasses describing his experiment on one poor shmuck by the name of Mike Nelson. "Mulder, what is this?"

"Mystery Science Theater 3000, the Movie. A little gem."

It turned out to be mostly one guy and two puppets making wisecracks on a godawful 50's science fiction movie. She soon forgot Frank, laughing so hard she cried, and Mulder laughed with her, happy she was enjoying herself.

When the movie ended, she sat back, saying "Oh, god, Frank would have loved..." and it all came rushing back, and she found the warmth of Mulder's embrace. He rocked her for a little while longer, and then stood her up.

"I think what you need, is to do something Frank wouldn't have done, right now."

"Frank refused to dance. He said he was a lousy dancer."

"I'm not golden-toed either, but more than willing to dance with you. All we need is some...ah, perfect." He picked up the CD on the coffee table and popped it into her player. He held out his hand to her, his eyes silently begging: Please.

She took his hand, and he pulled her off of the couch gently, and hit the Play button, releasing a slow piano melody with a strong deep voice singing...

"I don't believe in an interventionist God
But I know, darling, that you do.
But if I did I would kneel down and ask him
Not to intervene when it came to you.
Not to touch a hair on your head
To leave you as you are
And if He felt He had to direct you
Then direct you into my arms...

Into my arms, O Lord
Into my arms, O Lord
Into my arms, O Lord
Into my arms."

They didn't really dance, they just stood and rocked together like they had for a while. With the next verse, Mulder wished he could tell her this is how he felt:

"And I don't believe in the existence of angels.
But looking at you I wonder if that's true.
But if I did I would summon them together,
And ask them to watch over you.
To each burn a candle for you,
To make bright and clear your path,
And to walk, like Christ, in grace and love
And guide you into my arms..."

After a while, they went into the bedroom, and she snuggled up against him, and fell fast asleep. Mulder held her for a while and then fell asleep himself, glad to have Dana in his arms.

END

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