Wolf by Kelli Ro

STORIES ON THIS SITE ARE INTENDED FOR ADULTS ONLY

Ok, first my disclaimer, then the real one. I am one of those people who do NOT want to see Mulder and Scully jump into bed together, (though I wouldn't have any objection to them addressing some of the UST, or even a we're-under-some-alien-influence-so-it-doesn't-really-count encounter, like this one), but nevertheless it is fun to fantasize about things we know we'll never see....and i share mine here with you-so enjoy!

*The following story is based on characters copyrighted by Ten Thirteen Productions, created by The Man, Chris Carter, and who are the property of the Fox network and are used without permission. No infringement intended.* - May 1995

Wolf by Kelli Ro

Wolf 1: Vertigo

Mulder and Scully entered his hotel room still discussing the day's events- or lack thereof.

"I don't know, Mulder. It doesn't make any sense, it doesn't fit any of the typical sex-crimes profiles we-- Mulder?"

Mulder no longer was listening to her; he was scanning the room carefully.

"Mulder what is it?"

"Somebody's been in here, Scully. Look." He indicated the desk below the room's only window. Scully followed his gaze to a small, clear glass vial that had been placed right in the center of the desk.

They approached the desk tentatively and Mulder picked up the vial. It was tiny, no more than a few inches in length. It contained a clear water-like substance. Mulder unscrewed the lid and smelled the contents: "Odorless..." Scully took a step closer and peered over his arm for a better look. He wiped his finger along the lid and examined it: "Feels like...water..." he muttered to himself "strange." He moved his hand to Scully for her investigation. Scully leaned in. She ran her finger across Mulder's, collecting her own sample and manipulating it between her fingers. She attempted to detect a scent, but could not.

"Call Danny and tell him what we've got- we'll send him a sample in the morning. I'll go check your room." He headed out the door and down the hall.

Scully was left standing there as an odd sense of vertigo started to come over her. The room began to spin. She placed a hand on the desk to steady herself, finding that she was suddenly nauseous and starting to tremble. It felt like she was standing in a cloud of static electricity. Then, a warm sensation from head to foot sent a blush of color to her cheeks...

Scully's room was clean, and Mulder headed back down the hall to his room. He opened the door and was aware of Scully sitting in the armchair just to the left of the desk. "Nothing in your room, Scully. Did you get a hold of Da-" Mulder looked over at her in mid-sentence and did a double-take. He hadn't noticed when he walked in. Scully was sitting in the chair, her legs drawn up underneath her. She was wearing one of his shirts-- and not much else. He smiled uncomfortably, scratched the back of his neck "Scully..." He looked uneasily to the side. "What are you doing?" he said slowly.

She didn't answer. She just sat there looking at him so....strangely. He placed his hands on his hips, decided to try again "Scully...?" She rose out of the chair and strolled toward him. Mulder watched her approach until she was standing inches in front of him. He looked down at her. His eyes followed the collar of his shirt to the first fastened button, which she had attached tantalizingly low. She stood there, hands on her hips, mimicking his stance. His discomfort intensified. "What's goin' on Scully?"

She didn't let up on her gaze. The heat in her eyes was almost tangible. "What do you mean?"

Mulder rubbed his chin. "You're, um... you're wearing my shirt."

She caught him off guard by slipping her arms around his neck. "I know."

He balked, reached behind his neck and brought her hands down "What are you doing?"

Scully never missed a beat. "What does it look what I'm doing?" She ran a finger over his bottom lip, sending every hair on his body standing at attention. She was coming at him like a freight train, and his voice was loosing it's strength. "Scully..."

Her eyes were half closed in desire as her arms moved back up around his neck. His resolve was wearing dangerously thin. He could feel her warm body against his own, could smell the clean, fresh scent of her skin, and the look in her eyes... that look...

Suddenly, the vial caught his eye. Realization spread across his face-- of course: this case, the liquid in the vial, it made sense. Mulder pulled away from her, moving to the desk to pick up the vial. He brought it over to the night stand and held it in the light. "That's it Scully. This liquid..." Scully moved closer, but she was not interested in the vial. His voice was intense with fascination. "It must contain some kind of *human* pheromone, Scully." He paused, considering this possibility, then said, "From the looks of things, I'd probably guess it's a male pheromone." He offered a smile. The humor was lost on her; she continued to stare at him. Mulder cleared his throat and continued. "Remember the Kindred case? We discussed the possibility of a synthetic--"

Scully removed the vial from his hand and placed it on the night stand. She took a step toward him, forcing him backwards. The back of his knees hit the bed, forcing him to sit down abruptly. He watched as Scully moved onto the bed, kneeling over him. She took his face in her hands and moved slowly toward him until she was just barely touching his lips with her own. Maintaining this distance, she tempted him by moving her mouth slowly back and forth over his.

Her breath was warm and sweet on his face. "Don't do this to me, Scully..." he whispered hoarsely. The force of her seduction was powerful and Mulder could feel himself begin to shake severely with longing. The feel of her so near convinced him that kissing her would drive him stark raving mad. He struggled to maintain control, but he could feel himself losing it. She leaned closer, teasing his ear lobe with her soft tongue. That did it. He exhaled hard as a rush of pleasure spread through him. "Scully," he whispered as his hands found her knees and began to journey further up her thighs. She lowered her hands to his neck and shoulders. Mulder's head was screaming NO but his body was adeptly ignoring it. His hands found her waist and he pulled her closer. She immersed him in her closeness, her proximity; he was aware of nothing but her presence.

Somehow, he managed to summon every shred of what was left of his self-control: he took her by the arms, spun around on her, pinning her down on the bed by her wrists. "That's enough, Scully. Stop it," he said desperately.

But she was not dissuaded by his plea; the passion in her eyes persisted. She simply said in a soft voice "...I want you..."

Never in a million years would he have expected those words to come out of Dana Scully's mouth. It left him feeling as if he'd just been struck by a tidal wave. He was light-headed with the sensation. He looked down at her - this bright, beautiful woman beneath him, this woman that he would give anything, everything for... who wanted him... He moved slowly, apprehensively, to kiss her, this woman who he wanted more than anything... his lips brushed hers. This woman who was his partner and friend... Mulder hung his head in frustration. He sighed, shook his head and looked back up at her. "No. No Scully. We can't do this....*I* won't do this." He reached for the end of the bedcover, pulled it toward them and cocooned her in it, pushing her onto her side facing away from him.

"I'm so tired all of a sudden, Mulder," she said, her voice heavy with the burden of sleep. Whatever synthetic substance had been in that vial, she appeared to be crashing from its effect. Mulder lay down next to her, put an arm around her stomach and pulled her to him. He held her until he was sure she was asleep. The last thing he needed was her wandering around the motel in her current state, running into some balding, lonely business man who would think it was the luckiest night of his life. When her breathing was deep and even, he moved to the armchair with a pillow and settled in to sleep. But sleep did not come easily, and the thoughts raced in his mind.

The next morning Scully woke feeling invigorated and well-rested. She felt as though she'd been asleep for days. The sun streamed through the window and bathed the bed where she lay. Scully sat up, groggy, thinking she had closed the blinds last night as it dusk fell. A sudden wave of disorientation swept over her. Hadn't her bed been on the *other* side of the room? How could that be? But no, she was sure- they'd been at this motel a week- the window was to the LEFT of the bed, not the right. Her glasses weren't on the night stand-- what was Mulder's gun doing there? And then she realized where she was. She looked down at the rumpled shirt she'd seen her partner wearing the night before. Oh my God, she thought, the panic creeping up in her like a serpent. Why was she wearing Mulder's shirt? She swung her legs from under the covers, hanging them over the edge of the bed. They were bare. What had happened there last night? "I'm losing my mind," she said to the empty room.

The sound of running water from the bathroom stopped, and a few seconds later Mulder emerged dressed only in his jeans, drying his face with a towel. He lowered the towel from his face to see Scully's shocked expression. It was priceless. He realized in an instant what she was thinking, and it was too good to pass up...

He pulled his t-shirt off the back of the chair, slipped it on and moved to sit next to Scully on the bed. "Hi" he said softly.

She regarded him suspiciously. "Hi..." It sounded more like a question.

Mulder smiled at her as he hooked an arm over her shoulders. "God, last night was great."

Scully's eyes widened and she continued to gape at him, unable to respond.

"How'd you sleep?"

"What..?"

The smile spread slowly across his face, and Scully had the bizarre image of the Grinch's devilish smile curling obscenely at the corners. "Yeah, right, who slept, huh?" Oh, he was enjoying this. "Scully, I never knew you had it in you, you...you were a wild woman..." Her lips parted slightly, but no sound was able to escape; she stared at him incredulously. He kissed her cheek. "How 'bout I go get us some breakfast?" He stood up and pulled on his sweater.

Scully sat there blinking back at him. "Mulder what's going on here?"

He pulled a shoe on. "What do you mean Scully?"

Her voice started to rise. "I mean what the hell is going on here? I-- I don't..."

Mulder feigned an wounded expression. "Scully, don't tell me you don't remember..."

"Remember what, Mulder?"

He rubbed his chin for effect. "You mean, you really don't remember?"

Scully's brows knitted together in concentration as she struggled to recall the previous day's events. "I remember coming back here, talking about the case, but after that..."

The confusion and alarm in her eyes mounted and Mulder took pity on her. "Nothing Scully."

Her confusion intensified "What are you talking about?"

"Nothing Scully, nothing happened last night-- I was just yanking your chain."

His words were small comfort. "But, I don't remember-- I'm wearing your shirt, I'm in your room... Mulder I'm in your bed..."

Mulder walked over to the desk, picked up the vial and turned back to face her. "I'm telling you the truth, Scully. THIS is what happened." Without thinking, he threw the vial over to her.

Scully caught it swiftly and started to examine it. "What is it?"

Mulder vaulted for the bed as she started to unscrew the cap, seizing it from her hand. "No you don't..." Off her confused look he said, "I'm not sure, but I think it contains some kind of human male pheromone, Scully. Somebody left it here on my desk. You took one whiff and..." he smiled at her, looking very much like a mischievous school boy "...well let's just say you're lucky I'm such an honorable guy."

She pulled her eyes from his and cursed the color she could feel burning in her cheeks. She wanted to be able to blow it off, to chalk it up to the case we were working on. But she couldn't-- she was seriously embarrassed.

And it was absolutely endearing. Mulder picked her clothes up off the desk's chair, deposited them next to her on the bed. "I'll go get us some breakfast. Why don't you get dressed and I'll meet you back here in 15 minutes."

She nodded, studying her lap intensely. Mulder placed a hand under her chin and forced her to look up at him. "Hey, how are you feeling?"

"Like I just found out I was dancing on a table with a lampshade on my head." She looked back up at him to see him smiling at her. She couldn't help it; she suppressed a laugh.

Mulder moved his hand to the top of her head. "Trust me, Scully; you have nothing to be embarrassed about". He dropped his hand and disappeared through the door, leaving her to ponder over his parting words.

Mulder and Scully returned to the motel after another day of dead ends. The remnants of the previous day's events still hung in the air between them. They entered Mulder's room where Scully had left her laptop, intending on checking their e-mail to see if Danny had received the sample.

Once inside, Scully headed for the bathroom and Mulder sat at the desk to boot up her computer. The vial was sitting next to the laptop. Mulder picked it up, still pondering it's possible contents. Initially, he had thought it was more water-like, but on second look he thought it was heavier, more like alcohol. Mulder hoped Danny would be able to give him some more information.

Suddenly, Mulder realized that his fingers were wet. What the Hell-- was the vial leaking? As the e-mail message indicator sounded, Mulder felt a strange sensation come over him... and something dawned on him. He turned quickly to his trench coat hanging over the back of his chair, frantically searching the pockets-- and pulled out the vial. Oh my God he thought, it's not the same vial, it's not the same vial. He'd forgotten he'd put the original vial in his pocket when they'd left to send a sample....

Scully emerged from the bathroom.

Mulder turned his head slowly in her direction, the panic he'd seen on his partner's face the previous day now reflected in his own features. "Scully get out of here."

The tone of his voice made her stop in her tracks, but she continued to stare back at him with benign curiosity. "What? Why?"

Mulder broke out in a cold sweat, his body was trembling uncontrollably and his head filled with things he'd never before imagined. He looked up at her. "Get out of here Scully-- now."

"What's wrong, Mulder?" Her expression had changed to concern, and she started to walk towards him. He held up a hand to her and she stopped again. "Mulder talk to me."

"The vial, it's not the same, the liquid..." he tried, and all rational thought left him.

"What are you talking about, Mulder? Of course it is." She moved over to the chair where he sat, taking the vial out of his hand-- and then, too late, noticed the other one sitting next to the laptop. Realization spread over her face. She looked at Mulder. His eyes held the wolf.

Scully's mouth fell open and she started to take a step backward, but Mulder grabbed her wrist with one hand and rose to his feet. He towered over her. Momentary indignation flashed in her eyes and she started to protest as he pushed her back against the desk and touched her face with his free hand. Scully felt a cold, then wet sensation on her cheek as she realized he still had some of the liquid on his fingers. His free hand moved around to the back of her head, where he grasped a handful of her hair securely in his grip. He gently, but firmly, pulled her head back as moved to kiss her neck.

No, this was definitely not the same liquid. The fire spread through her body and its heat burned in her face. Her body relaxed against his as she experienced her last coherent thought: this particular pheromone--if indeed it was that, was not gender-specific.

As Scully started to respond, Mulder guided her face back to his and kissed her deeply. Scully had never felt anything like this in her entire life. It was like experiencing passion while under the influence of some powerful, mind-altering drug. Every touch, every fragrance, every taste was amplified. She could barely catch her breath. He moved his hands to her throat, then slipped them just beneath her collar, then one by one went after the buttons of her blouse. He moved with steady, purposeful design, but fueled by an intense urgency. The pace was feverish; he grabbed her arms and, peeling clothes off her as they went, brought her to the bed and collapsed with her onto it. With primitive hunger they ventured into uncharted territory, riding the waves of love's deep sea.

Scully woke up first, feeling at once that something was wrong, something was off. She opened her eyes to see Mulder's arm draped across her stomach, his face buried into his pillow as he slept next to her. It was true. What she thought had been a dream was in actuality a horrible nightmare. How could this have happened? How could they have *let* this happen? She slipped out from underneath his arm, gathered her clothes and disappeared into the bathroom.

The sound of the bathroom door closing caused Mulder to stir. He sat up, disoriented briefly, then the night's events came flooding into his mind like high tide. He ran his fingers through his hair. "Oh my God..." he said out loud.

Inside the bathroom Scully dressed, ran the water in the sink, and was sick. She rinsed her mouth with the cold water. So many emotions ran through her. She was confused, shocked, ashamed, embarrassed. And she felt violated, though she had no one to blame for the violation. She had been a equal participant. Was the pheromone an excuse? Or had she wanted it to happen? Maybe she did, but not under these circumstances. He hadn't known what he was doing, and neither had she for that matter. They had sacrificed what might have been, and turned it into a meaningless, purely sexual encounter. She looked up at herself in the mirror. What had she done? How could she? How could she face him? Scully sank to the floor, still clutching the side of the sink. And as hard as she tried to will them away, the tears came down like rain.

Mulder desperately tried to think of what to say to her. What could he say? Was there anything? How could he possibly make her feel better about something like this? How could he make himself feel better? His thoughts were interrupted by Scully's emergence from the bathroom. "Scully..."

She stood by the bathroom door looking at the floor, her arms crossed in front of her.

"Scully..." He licked his lips. "I am so sorry, I--"

"Don't apologize, Mulder. You didn't do anything." She paused for a moment, still not looking at him. "At least not anything I didn't want you to do."

In an instant he knew what she was going to do-- shut him out. "Scully don't--"

"Mulder--"

He persisted. "No Scully, I'm not gonna let you do this. Let me--"

"I told you, Mulder, you don't need to apologize--"

He continued anyway. "Look if I hadn't had any residue on my hand when I touched you, you would've stopped me, you could've--"

"Well you did, and I didn't; and besides, I think I got some on me when I pulled the vial out of your hand anyway."

"Scully--"

"I'm going to go shower. Why don't you meet me in the lobby at nine and we'll go re-examine the crime scene like you wanted."

"Please listen to me, Scully... Dana--" But before he could finish, she disappeared through the door. He picked up a pillow and threw it at the door in frustration.

Mulder showed up at her door 10 minutes before they were supposed to meet in the lobby. He stood there looking consummately professional in his tie and jacket, hands stuffed in his trench coat pockets; nothing like the passionate creature from her dreams the night before. He gave her a weak smile. "Scully, I think before we go, we should... we need to talk about what happened--"

She cut him off again. "I *don't* want to talk about this Mulder." But her voice was shaky and she started to do just that; rambling as her mind attempted to rationalize the irrational. "We should just... forget it. We weren't acting of our own accord, right? It's like-- we should consider it a job hazard of working on these kinds of cases, like the time we, we didn't know if we were who we were... no different then if we were shot, or wounded. We were under the effects of the substance in that vial." She never once met his eyes. "I, um, I just got Danny's e-mail. He confirmed the sample we sent seems to contain some sort of pheromone, but he'll need to do more tests. So why don't we head over to the crime scene and maybe we can give him more to go on."

He regarded her carefully. She tentatively raised her eyes to meet his. The look in her eyes tore right threw him, breaking his heart. He could see how much pain she was in, so he respected her wishes. He nodded, and without saying a word, they left for the crime scene.

And they did not discuss it. Not that week, or that month. The time passed quickly, and they went on with their work pretending as though it had never happened.

But it persisted on Mulder's mind. He couldn't NOT think about it. The whole experience had impacted him profoundly. He loved the way she had started to glow, the way her body had come alive at his touch. They had been as close as two people could possibly be, and she had taken him to a place he never knew existed. It had been the most purely sexual, but at the same time deeply intimate experiences he'd ever had. And he'd never felt more secure in his entire life. The way he had felt about her while they were together... it wasn't just the pheromone; he was certain of that. He knew it without a doubt. It was as if the pheromone had brought down barriers that were usually there, and had set them free.

But why did he remember? She had said she had no memory of her seduction the night before when he hadn't been affected, yet he remembered every minute aspect of their encounter in vivid detail, from the taste of her skin to the intricate design of the small gold earrings she had been wearing. Obviously, she remembered this time as clearly as he did. And the effect of this pheromone seemed to have longer lasting consequences than the one that effected Scully. Was it different in nature, or had it's effects been fueled by something that had absolutely nothing to do with the contents of that vial? So many questions remained in Mulder's mind.

But the days moved on. Usually without event, though sometimes... One day they were in the cafeteria grabbing a quick lunch. They had taken to eating in crowded, public places. Scully pulled two sodas off the tray and absentmindedly handed one to her partner. Mulder took it, his hand covering hers as he reached for it. They froze, looking at their hands. Touching brought back a flood of memories as an electric shock passed between them. They met each other's eyes, and held the gaze for a long time before Scully abruptly pulled her hand away and continued to move down the line. As was usual when this would happen, they pretended nothing had occurred.

But others were beginning to notice these incidents.

The following week they were unexpectedly called into Skinner's office.

"Come in, have a seat." The A.D. took a seat behind his desk while Mulder and Scully took theirs in front of it. After a moment he spoke. "The reason you are both here Agent Mulder, Agent Scully, is that there have been some allegations made of certain improprieties."

They exchanged a look.

"'Improprieties', sir?"

"Agent Mulder there are... rumors going around that you and Agent Scully... that you and Agent Scully have moved beyond a platonic partnership."

"I didn't realize the Bureau was so quick to accept the legitimacy of watering-hole 'rumors' sir."

"You know what I'm talking about Mulder, don't screw around with me here. If there is any--" He paused and took a deep breath. "If there's any truth to these rumors, the Bureau will find out. You will be reassigned. I just thought you should be forewarned."

Silence.

"Do you have anything to say Agent Scully?"

She had been sitting studying her lap, but now looked up to meet his eyes dead on. "No, sir."

More silence.

Mulder shifted in his chair. "Is that all, sir?"

Skinner eyed them both intensely. It was blatantly obvious to him that there was indeed some truth to those rumors. But at this point, Mulder was right, he had nothing but gossip to go on. After a pause, he let them off the hook. "No. That is all."

Now it was their turn to eye each other. They stood outside Skinner's office for what seemed like several minutes as unspoken words passed between them. They would have to be extremely careful from now on. No more mistakes like that. No more chances.

As time passed, it did get easier. They began to feel comfortable around each other once more. Scully even started to smile at some of his jokes again. She would never know how grateful he was for that.

And she would never know that sometimes, deep in the night, somewhere in the well-guarded realm of his dream state, Mulder would twist and turn fitfully in his sleep. And he would remember her.

Wolf 2: The Prey

Mulder's dreams persisted and invaded his conscious.

Since the "incident" with the pheromones, their relationship had improved, they gradually grew more comfortable around each other-- like it was before. Almost.

Mulder was tortured by the possibilities of what could have been. Couldn't they have become more than friends? They certainly had the commitment to make it work. And years of trust and friendship with which to build on. But Scully had shut that part of herself off to him. He had no idea what was going on inside her head. But it seemed to him that at last she'd finally been able to completely move past it.

Scully sat straight up in bed, drenched with sweat and short of breath, wakened from sleep. Her thoughts once again of Mulder. She flopped back down on her pillow. As much as she'd tried to push those thoughts.... thoughts of that night, deep, deep down into her subconscious, it was no use. She put an arm over her face, troubled with her thoughts. Every time she thought about it, her stomach rolled. This wasn't like leaving the ladies room with toilet paper sticking to your shoe; she had had SEX with her PARTNER for God's sake. He had seen the most intimate part of her, at her most exposed and vulnerable. It humiliated her. For the most part, they'd been able to move past it. But sometimes, she'd catch him looking at her, quickly averting his gaze when she met his eyes. In those instances, she knew what he was thinking about, and the heat would burn in her face. She was not entirely opposed to office romances; she and Jack had managed to handle an albeit slightly different situation. But she'd never had any indication from Mulder that he'd be interested in pursuing anything more than a platonic relationship with her. She supposed she wasn't exactly his type... if Phoebe Green was what anything to go by. And it was this fact that tormented her the most. That she was nothing more than a pheromone-induced one night stand for him. When she wanted to be so much more.

They had closed that case, unresolved, until recent events merited its reopening. Through his contact with the Lone Gunmen, Mulder had learned of rumors that the government had been experimenting with human pheromones at a previously undisclosed location. For some unknown reason, the site had been moved, and word of the previous location had leaked its way into the hands of the LGM. For the first time they considered the possibility that this current case might have no connection to the Kindred case. If this was true, and the government was experimenting with pheromones, to what end? And why contact them? They'd considered these questions over and over. Were they simply guinea pigs? Or had someone wanted them... distracted?

Under cloak of night, Mulder and Scully slipped into the abandoned two story building. It was fairly nondescript on the outside, giving no indication of the clandestine experiments going on inside its walls. The interior was modern and clean-- it had been left pretty much in order. Of course, the file cabinets were empty and computers were conspicuously absent. They began the tedious practice of exploring the building room by room. Most were empty, a few contained tables, chairs, some empty cabinets. Finally, at the end of the hall, a heavy steel door with no window had once signaled something forbidden inside. And there it was: the lab. Inside, flasks and tubes were in disarray on table tops and on the floor. Various other laboratory equipment was strewn throughout.

Mulder and Scully entered, eyes wide as they took it all in. Mulder placed his flashlight on the table and began examining one end of the room, Scully the other. Nothing; they weren't in there for a minute before realizing that every last shred of possible evidence had been meticulously cleared from the lab. They moved to meet each other at the center of the room.

"Some lead," Scully said with a smirk as she continued to scan the counter tops. She leaned against the table with one hand, placing the other at her hip as Mulder retrieved his flashlight. "Do you think it's worth calling a forensics unit down here?"

Mulder didn't respond, he was staring down at his flashlight's reflection on the floor. Scully thought he suddenly looked sick, and became aware of her own stomach rolling violently. Mulder looked at her, the alarm evident in his eyes. "Look at the floor, Scully".

She complied, though her feeling of nausea escalated. The floor was wet. Realization spread over her face and she looked quickly to her hand, which was also wet.

Mulder slipped his own out from the bottom of the flashlight, and it, too, glistened with the substance. "It's all over the place, Scully, I think..." he was beginning to lose his train of thought. "I think... this was no accident..."

Scully looked up from her hand. Oh God Oh God not again she thought, desperately trying to hang on to her sense of control.

Mulder recognized the look in her eyes, and even as he was drawn closer to her he said softly, "It's okay, Scully, it's all right. Why don't we try to.... we can fight it..."

She averted her gaze, looking down at the floor as he stroked her hair. Images of their last encounter flooded her mind, fueling the rising sensation in her. "Then you better stop that," she said gravely.

Mulder stopped, then reluctantly pulled his hand away from the silky strands of her hair. It was taking everything in him to keep focused. "It might help... why don't we get out of this room," he said as he turned her around and guided her through the door.

In the reception area Scully went to retrieve her flashlight from a file cabinet. She felt like she was walking in slow motion, feeling Mulder moving just behind her. She arrived at the counter and reached up to grasp the light. Mulder's arms came around her as he covered her hands with his own. She could feel his breath at her ear, and a tingling sensation spread over the surface of her skin and she froze. "Mulder..." she whispered.

He continued to stand motionless behind her until she turned around to face him. "I'm sorry," he whispered back to her. Mulder watched her, she was looking at the floor, unable to meet his eyes. His hand came up to her cheek and he touched it lightly. "It's all right," he soothed.

She raised her eyes to meet his, her mind whirling. Fighting against her self-control, she raised her hands to his face, delighting in the rough feel of stubble against her palms. She lowered them to his throat, down his neck, where she loosened his tie and began unbuttoning his shirt. She was about half way down before Mulder took her hands in his.

"Don't Scully," he said, though he was enjoying every minute of her touch. He caressed her hands with his own. She moved slowly towards him, standing on her tiptoes until she was just inches from his face. She looked up at him, and he moved to meet her kiss. Their lips met in an explosion of heat and electricity. His kiss was full of intensity and passion, and she responded in kind. Mulder put his hands on her hips and sat her up on the adjoining counter. He threaded his fingers into her hair, holding her firmly and kissing her deeply as he moved to take his turn at the buttons of her blouse. Their breathing continued to grow heavy and uneven. Mulder pulled from the kiss, resting his forehead against hers. They were both visibly shaking now, struggling against their desire. As her fingers played with the hair at the back of his neck, he whispered softly. "Scully... I don't want to hurt you again..."

She nodded her head against his.

With every bit of resolve he could muster, he began to take a step back when he felt her ankles slip around to the back of his knees. She pulled him closer with her legs. And there they were standing at the threshold, battling two million years of human evolutionary design. But the influence of the pheromone was too great an opponent, and they were weakened by their feelings for each other. They surrendered to passion's demands.

Mulder woke the next morning lying on a couch in the lobby with Scully asleep on his arm. Unbuttoned but still clothed they lie there together under the makeshift blanket of Mulder's trench coat.

Mulder was devastated. How could he have let this happen again? He had fought so hard against it... He pulled the sleeping angel next to him closer and hugged her tightly. Please, Scully, please don't regret this he thought over and over to himself, as if sheer will could make it so. But an overwhelming sense of doom persisted.

She stirred suddenly and sat up, disoriented. Slowly, it came back to her. She swung her legs of the couch, sitting there for a few minutes before burying her face in her hands.

Mulder moved instantly for her, holding her in his arms. But he didn't know what he could possibly say to her. "Scully please..."

She pulled from him, standing to slip her jacket off a nearby chair.

Mulder pleaded with her. "Please don't go Scully..."

She wouldn't speak to him, held up a hand as he started to say her name again. "Mulder..." she managed, shaking her head.

"Talk to me--"

But she was gone.

She didn't show up for work the next day. Or the next. Or the next. Mulder agonized over whether to show up at her door or give her the space she needed. A week went by, and then Skinner showed up at the door to their office. Mulder was sitting at his desk, Skinner came in and took a chair on the other side of it.

"What's going on, Mulder?"

"Sir?"

Skinner removed a folded piece of paper from his pocket and tossed it onto the desk.

Mulder picked it up to examine it.

"It's Agent Scully's request to be reassigned."

"What?" Mulder unfolded the paper, not willing to believe it was true until he saw with his own eyes. He sat back in his chair, silent in disbelief.

"Can you tell me what this is about Mulder?"

"Will the request be approved?"

Skinner paused before continuing. "It hasn't been decided." After a moment, he asked "Does this have something to do with the... 'rumors' we discussed? Mulder?"

He continued to stare at the letter, a million miles away. "What? No sir. Excuse me." With that he got up and left, leaving Skinner sitting there looking after him in the dimly lit office.

Mulder was reaching breaking point. He sat in the dark of his apartment, furious, as the thoughts raced through his mind. How could she just abandon him like this? Without a word of discussion? He had to find out from SKINNER for God's sake. He couldn't go on like this much longer. Had it just been the pheromone, or something more... personal? And if it was, what then? Would he pursue it? Would he have the courage to make a move? He reached for the phone and dialed Danny's number.

In an attempt to avoid Mulder, Scully had slipped into the office in the middle of the night to box some of her belongings. As she started to re-file some reports that had been in her briefcase, the door opened suddenly, startling her.

Mulder stepped in and closed the door. Hard.

She was visibly shaken, but straightened herself and asked, "What are you doing here so late?"

He made no pretense about it. "I followed you."

She balked momentarily at his candor, then turned to the file cabinet to continue with the task at hand. "I just needed to get some things." Out of the corner of her eye, she saw him move to her right, though he maintained a distance. She had the distinct impression he was stalking her like prey. "I won't be long." His silence was unnerving her. He moved out of her peripheral vision once again. She was about to open the top drawer when she felt him come from behind her, his arms coming over her shoulders to rest against the file cabinet and pin her against it. She froze "Mulder, what are you doing?" she said slowly. He ran a finger along the back of her hand. It was wet. Scully's eyes widened- he wouldn't...

Mulder lowered his other hand momentarily, and when it returned, it deposited a single tiny vial onto the file cabinet. Scully exhaled hard in disbelief: how could he? He turned her around and held her face. The air between them seemed to spark with electrical energy as he bestowed the most gentle of kisses on her lips. Her breath quickened as her flesh seemed to come alive with the sensation. He moved an arm around her waist and pulled her to him. The sensation like fire rushing through her seemed in disproportion to the soft kiss he was giving her. He deepened it, fueling the passion between them with the gentle movements of their mouths. He broke away briefly to whisper to her. "Do you want me to stop, Scully? Do you?"

Her face flush with desire, she shook her head.

"Tell me..." he urged.

She finally managed to form the words: "No, no..." She slipped her arms around his neck.

He smiled softly at her.

"What?" she whispered.

Mulder caught his breath. "Water..."

"Water? What are you talking about?"

He reached behind her and displayed the vial. "It's water, Scully. I filled it myself."

Her brows knitted together in momentary confusion. She shook her head as the emotions flashed through her eyes: the initial confusion, realization, disbelief, and finally-- blind fury. Her mouth opened but no words could come.

"Scully--" Mulder started when she came at him, shoving him so hard he fell back against his desk.

"Just what the hell game are you trying to play?" she hissed, before stalking out the door.

"Scully wait--" he called after her, but he was alone in the office.

Scully sat on her couch deep in thought. She had just returned from a late night walk, still wearing her sweats and baggy T-shirt, her hair in a loose ponytail at her neck. She had hoped to clear her head a bit, but nothing seemed to be able to free her mind. Her thoughts were consumed with the incident in their office. What on earth possessed him? What was he trying to prove? Was he just being spiteful? That wasn't like Mulder. Why then? Scully wouldn't allow herself to think about her own reaction to Mulder's hoax. She pushed it out of her mind, it was safer to concentrate on *his* intentions.

A sharp knocking at the door startled her. "Who is it?" she called.

Silence, then a simple: "Me."

"Go away, Mulder," she called back, her tone cautioning.

As the keys started to turn in the lock she bolted from the couch, but was not fast enough. Mulder started to head through the door as Scully reached it and pushed it back against him. He held his ground, forcing the door open and stepping through it. He let it close behind him. "Did you think that all 5'2" of you was going to stop all 6 feet of me coming through your door, Scully? *You* were the physics undergrad." His smile faded against her harsh look, along with his feeble attempt at humor.

The hiking boots he wore with his flannel shirt and jeans made him taller than he already was, but Scully stood with her hands at her hips in an attempt to block him from entering any further. "I don't want to talk to you, Mulder," she said slowly, checking her anger. "Please go."

He stared at her.

"Get out of my apartment," she said, enunciating every word.

Mulder looked off to the side as he folded his arms across his chest, reinforcing his position. He wasn't about to budge.

She glared at him. "Don't try and bully me, Mulder. I grew up with two brothers," she reminded him.

"I'm not leaving, Scully" he said flatly. "Let me say what I have to say and then I'll go."

She sized him up, finally resolving herself to the fact that he wasn't going anywhere until he'd said his piece. She turned around and deposited herself in a nearby chair.

Mulder hesitated, then moved to the couch opposite her.

He sat there for some time trying to muster the courage he so desperately needed at this moment. He looked up at Scully.

She raised an eyebrow at him.

She wasn't going to make this easy. "The vial-- I talked to Danny and he said a pheromone would only break down inhibitions and act as an aphrodisiac; it wouldn't create something that wasn't already..." his thoughts were working faster than his words could keep up, but he plodded on the best he could, "...the thing with the vial, I just wanted to show you, to prove to you, it wasn't just the pheromone, it was more than that..." She regarded him quizzically, her face softening the slightest bit. Feeling encouraged, he slowed, took a deep breath and continued: "I think you know, Scully, you know how much I value you as a partner, and a friend..." he struggled with his words, his voice low, he looked at the floor as he spoke. "And I think you know I wouldn't want to do anything to-- anything that might change that. I don't know what I've done to deserve your trust, or your friendship, but I'm so grateful for it. I don't take it for granted. I might have-- at first. But I don't now. I need you to know that, Scully: I wouldn't ever take you, or your friendship, for granted." He took a deep breath, exhaling slowly. "I need you to know that," he repeated in a whisper, then paused for a moment before continuing. "But, it's just that, it's just, every time I look at you Scully, it's very clear to me what I want." He swallowed hard; his voice was low. "It's you Scully. It's you."

That was it. He'd laid his heart at her feet, whatever the consequences. He continued to stare at the floor, terrified to look at her. He could hear the gentle rhythm of her breathing not far from him. It seemed like a torturously long time passed as they sat there in silence, then Mulder heard her get up and approach him. She stood there just in front of him; he was glaringly aware of her presence. He felt her hand just above his head, then, she tentatively reached out to touch his hair. Mulder sat completely still, afraid to move. Then he reached out to her, wrapping his arms around her waist and pulling her to him. He buried his face against the warmth of her stomach and held her tight, the relief and happiness flowing through him. She moved slowly through his embrace until she was kneeling in front of him. They held each other's faces, then moved slowly, haltingly, to kiss, feeling like they were doing so for the very first time. Mulder's touch was feather-light, as if for fear she would break into a million pieces like a china doll before him. They kissed for a long time, relishing in the unhurried pace of this pheromone-free encounter.

The sweet smell of sweat on her skin, of her body as it started to warm in response to him, assailed him; he was driven wild by the scent of her. He pulled away, removed his shoes and socks and swung his feet up onto the couch. He guided her onto the couch until she was sitting just in front of him, her back to him. He let her hair loose. Moving his hand to her sides, he slowly started to pull up her shirt. She raised her arms in cooperation as he slipped it over her head. He then removed his own, and pulled her back against him, reveling in the feel of her skin against his. He kissed the back of her neck, the delicate curve of her shoulder. His breath at her ear, he slid a single finger under one of her bra straps and guided it off her shoulder. He took hold of her hands, playing with them gently as he whispered, "What are you thinking?"

"I'm a little scared, to tell you the truth." She felt him nod in agreement, and it reassured her. She took his hand and kissed the palm. He slipped that hand to her jaw, and gently turned her face until he could kiss her. Then, he turned her around so that she sat facing him, her legs straddling his. They stayed like that for a while, exchanging kisses, indulging in the feel of smooth flesh, the presence of each other, until Mulder moved his hand down her mid-section to the waist of her jeans. He unfastened the button. Pushing her back on the couch, he moved on top of her, and began the work of helping her remove the rest of her clothing. As the desire continued to rise through them, Scully tugged recklessly at the buttons of his jeans. Mulder held her hands over her head as he kissed her cheek, her neck. He was driving her absolutely crazy. "Now...." she pleaded. She didn't have to ask him twice.

He moved to her with timid anticipation. "Say my name," he whispered in her ear.

"Mulder..." she responded.

He shook his head, and with a shy smile he said, "Not that one..."

Surprise gave way to understanding as she realized that, in the intimacy of this moment, he wanted to hear her say his name; he needed to hear her say it. "Fox...." she said softly, as her hands moved to hold his face. Then, they found love's gentle rhythm, and moved together, the building intensity finally erupting into waves of ecstasy.

The sweet, sweet bliss of the moment stayed with them all night as they lay there together. Mulder held her in his arms, feeling more at peace than he ever had in his life. This was it. Somehow he had always suspected that she would be the one. The one to show him what love was supposed to be like: pure and unconditional. He tightened his hold on her, placing a kiss on her ear. Feeling his soft breath at her neck, she drifted off to sleep with his name on her lips: "Mulder..."

And in the gentle light of the morning they slept, content and secure in each other's arms, as their dreams were filled with a resounding awareness: Things would never again be the same for them.

They would be better.

The end.

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