You think you know... by Caroline O’Connell

Classification: PG (for language and violence.)

Story: MSR (See foreword!), S,A,H.

Set: After Detour, before Christmas Carol/Emily.

Spoilers: Detour, Latter half of season four.

Summary: A Stalker turns his unwanted attentions to Scully, throwing Mulder and 
her into a situation neither of them ever envisaged.

Disclaimer: I do not own these. I own nothing. I am nothing! I fall on my 
ungrateful knees basking in the glory of Chris Carter’s creations. (will that 
do?) The Characters of Janie Becker and Andy Warner are mine and may not be used 
without permission. Any similarity to persons living or dead ... yadda, yadda, 
yadda.... Thank you.

Distribution: Anywhere it may be read and enjoyed, as long as I retain writer's 
credit.

Foreword: I can’t believe I actually did this! I was challenged by a friend on 
our differing views over Mulder and Scully’s relationship and being an avowed 
“noromo”, I was challenged to write a shipper fanfic! And here it is! It started 
off small and took on a life of it’s own! I’ve never written anything this long 
in my life! Good job it’s only fanfic, though!

All comments, flames, chocolate to: ginger@cyberia.ie

Thanks for reading.

***************************************************************
To a hopeful romantic. For changing my mind... Briefly!
***************************************************************

You think you know... Chapter 1 - by Caroline O’Connell ginger@cyberia.ie

Dana Scully walked through the foyer of the J. Edgar Hoover Building on her way 
back from lunch. She actually made it outside for lunch today, instead of 
grabbing a sandwich and coffee at her desk. She was running late and she didn’t 
care, having stopped off at a small cafe after collecting her answering machine. 
It had recently developed an appetite and had already eaten 2 tapes. And she 
knew Mulder wouldn’t say anything to her.

“You’re late!” Mulder said as she entered the basement office. He stood in front 
of the desk, hands on his hips, like he had been waiting for a while for her. 
Scully was about to tell him where to go, when the stern look softened to a 
playful smile that didn’t manifest nearly enough. “Meet anyone nice for lunch, 
Scully? She shook her head, puzzled that he would ask such a question. “Oh, well 
these must be for me.” he moved from the desk to reveal a bunch of long-stemmed 
roses, standing in their own water bag.

“These are for me?” She asked, biting her bottom lip and folding her arns.

“Your secret love’s no secret anymore!” he whispered, enjoying her obvious 
embarrassment.

“I’m not seeing anyone.” she said defensively and took the note that nestled 
amid the perfect blooms. Dana, roses as perfect as you are. Handwritten on a 
small red card. She frowned. Mulder’s grin dropped to a look of concern.

“You’re not seeing anyone, are you.”

Scully rang reception. “Hi, this is Agent Dana Scully. There was a delivery for 
me... yes, they’re beautiful.” She rolled her eyes. “Do you know who delivered 
them?... Bellefleur. Thank you.” She quickly found the number for the florists, 
having used them herself and dialled. “Hello. My name is Dana Scully. I just 
received a delivery of roses to the J Edgar Hoover Building... yes they’re 
really beautiful. Can you tell me who placed the order? You see, I’ve lost the 
card and... yes I understand you’re not supposed to, but I’m in a very delicate 
situation, here.” She picked up a pen, as Mulder looked on bemused. “I need to 
know if they’re from my husband or not. You can understand my problem.” she 
feigned a nervous laugh. “Credit card payment... Lindsay Schofield. Thank you 
very much.”

“So they’re not from your husband, then?” Mulder asked, fingering one of the 
buds.

“Nope. And I don’t know any Lindsay Schofield, either.” she said, unable to take 
her eyes of the flowers. “Maybe it was a mistake.” She shrugged it off.

“Maybe.” Mulder said, still concerned. “If it is, somebody’s gonna be pissed at 
not getting their flowers!”

“I’ll give them a good home.”

***

She carried them carefully to her car at the end of the day and drove home. 
Looking at them through her rear view mirror, she tried to think of the last 
time she got flowers that weren’t related to a hospital visit. Scully flexed her 
tense shoulders. A long, long soak in a bubble bath and an early night. The 
prospect sounded better the closer she got to home.

She emptied far more bubble bath into the rushing water than was necessary. 
Steam filled the bathroom drifting out the open door. The scent of the roses 
mixed with the sweet smell from the bathroom. She was going to enjoy this!

Leaving the water running, Scully timed it perfectly as she undressed, tied her 
hair up in a pony tail, put on a CD, turned down the phone, she made it back to 
the bathroom just as the bubbles reached the rim of the bathtub.

A slow smile spread across her face as she sank into the warm water until she 
was right up to her neck. Her head dropped back against the cool enamel and she 
closed her eyes. Bliss. And then the phone rang.

Dana Scully blessed the invention of the answering maching, despite its ability 
to eat her tapes, and never so much as blinked. “Hi, this is Dana.” she mimicked 
the message. “I’m in the bath right now and can’t be bothered to move!”

With the low volume of the phone and the music playing, she couldn’t hear who 
was phoning... she didn’t care who was phoning! There was nothing that would get 
her out of the tub until she had shrivelled into a prune!

The phone rang again. She shook her head smiling, figuring out that it was 
probably Mulder with a hot tip, telling her to get her act together because 
thaey were off to Middle of Nowhere, Iowa, to investigate crop circles or 
something. “Whatever it is, Mulder, I ain’t moving.” she said stretching out.

When the phone rang a third time, less than 5 minutes later, her mild amusement 
turned to annoyance. “Take the hint!” she sighed, sitting up. She heard the long 
beep at the end of the message and found herself waiting for the phone to ring 
again. “Great! Now that I’m waiting for it, the damn thing isn’t going to ring.”

She slid back down into the water. The bubbles not as plentiful as before. Her 
feet rested at the end of the bath. She wiggled her toes and contemplated. When 
she was finished, she was going to paint her toenails bright fire engine red! 
She’d love to be able to paint her fingernails bright red too, but it wouldn’t 
exactly fit the image. ‘Special Agent Dana Scully, Slicer, dicer and 
investigator of strange things.... Mrs Spooky!’

Her thoughts were once again interrupted by the phone. She rose quickly, gragged 
a towel and dripped all the way to the phone. “Alright what’s the emergency?”

“I don’t like talking to the machine, Dana.”

She didn’t recognise who it was. “Who is this?”

“Did you like my roses?”

“Ah, Lindsay Schofield.” She said. “Why did you send me flowers? How did you get 
this number?”

“All good things to those who wait, Dana, and I’ll be waiting for you.”

“Yeah, right.” and she hung up. Within seconds, it rang again.

“Don’t ever do that to me again!” It was him.

“Listen to me, you jerk!” she growled into the phone. “You are messing with the 
wrong woman.” And she hung up again. This time she dialled *69 to find out who 
was ringing her. She couldn’t get an answer. Scully rewound the tape and played 
back the messages.

The first one was him. “I don’t like machines, Dana. I want to talk to you... I 
want you.” She stared at the machine as his voice appeared on the second 
message. “Playing hard to get?... You have no idea how that turns me on, Dana... 
Do you know what I’d like to do to you right now? I want to f....” She pressed 
the forward button, disgusted at the comments. “Are you thinking about me?... I 
can’t stop thinking of you.... I want you.... and I will have you.” The tone was 
becoming threatening, annoyed that she wouldn’t talk to him.

Scully looked over at her roses. No longer a mistaken gift, this was a lot more 
sinister. Leaving the phone off the hook, she switched off the machine. If her 
family or Mulder needed to contact her, they had her celphone number. She 
shivered and pulled the towel around her shoulders. She looked at the front 
door. This wasn’t the first time she had felt threatened in her own home. Eugene 
Tooms and Duane Barry had broken in. Invaded her privacy... invaded her life. 
Scully made sure everything was secure doors, windows. Anything that could be 
locked was.

It was just after eight. She threw on some clothes and returned to the phone. 
She hesitated before dialling. “Mulder, it’s me.”

“What’s up?” immediately noticing the tone of her voice.

“Lindsay Schofield rang me.”

“The roses guy?”

“He’s been leaving messages.... How did he get this number? I’m not in the book. 
I got nothing when I *69ed him.”

“Meet me at the bureau with the tape. Let’s find out what we can about our Mr 
Schofield.”

***

“It’s going to take some time to analyse this.” the young agent said, taking the 
tape. “We won’t be able to get the credit check until tomorrow.”

Scully wished Pendrell was still there. He’d have had the information for her in 
a flash.

“I’ll get to work on it straight away and ring you tomorrow with the results.”

She nodded and left the room. Mulder watched her leave. Her hair was still up in 
a pony tail. She looked a bit untidy in general.... Most un-Scully like!

“Are you okay?” he asked as they walked to the elevator.

“Yeah, I guess.” She shrugged.

“Because if you want, I can...” he stopped. “Nah, forget it.”

“What?”

“I was going to ask if you wanted me to stay over.”

She found herself smiling. “That’s very sweet of you.” He laughed at her use of 
the word ‘sweet’, knowing she was trying to lighten her own mood. “But, I think 
I’ll be okay. Mr Schofield probably got my number from Bellefleur the same way I 
found out it was him, and now he’s being a jerk... And when I get my hands on 
him....”

Scully hardly slept that night. She wanted to shrug it off as a prank, but she 
found herself waiting for the phone to ring, waiting to hear that voice, deep 
and resounding with heavy breath. If his intention was to make her think about 
him, it worked! The bastard had her awake and eating breakfast at 5.30am.

***

When Scully arrived in the office at around 7.30am, she half expected Mulder to 
be there before her. She checked herself whern she felt disappointed that he 
wasn’t. Lately his life hadn’t revolved around his work, which was a good thing. 
The quest to find his sister had turned into a waiting game. He had mellowed in 
the last year. He certainly wouldn’t have offered to stay with her 18 months 
ago! he would have suggested she accompany him somewhere to suss out information 
and take her mind off her troubles.

She jumped when the phone rang. Scully tentatively lifted the receiver. “Hello.”

“Did you stay all night, Agent Scully?” it was the technician running the tests 
on the cassette. “I was going to leave a message on your voicemail.”

“I came in early. What did you turn up?”

“Calls were made indoors. There’s no distinguishing noises and the voice has 
been modified. I won’t have any more details until we get the credit check.”

“I’ll be here.” she sighed. “Thank you.” He modified his voice. It rang through 
her head like a bell. This was a lot more serious than some jerk pissed at not 
getting flowers. Scully rubbed her hand across her forehead. She could feel a 
headache starting... it wasn’t going to be a good day.

***

“No luck with the tape?” Mulder asked, arriving and seeing her coat and purse 
draped over a chair.

“No.” She sat in his chair with her back to the desk, staring at the cuttings 
nad photos on the wall. Some had been there since the day she walked in 5 years 
ago. “The more things change, the more they stay the same.” she said quietly, 
squeezing her eyes shut, trying to get rid of the tired feeling.

“You get very profound when you’re tired.” Mulder said, as a mug of coffee 
loomed into her line of sight. She gladly took it, as he leant against the wall, 
facing her. “Didn’t sleep, huh?” She looked up with a slight smile. “Welcome to 
Insomniacs Annonymous!”

“What do you do when you can’t sleep?”

“Get up, watch TV. I usually fall asleep 10 seconds before they give the price 
and phone number on those infomercials and then wake up on the couch.” He 
watched her try to wake herself up. “Go home.”

“I can’t.” She started to protest. “There’s the work...”

“Go home.” he repeated. “Put your head down for a couple of hours.” He hauled 
her up by the shoulders and ushered her to the door. She knew when she was 
beaten.

Mulder insisted on dropping her to the door and drove back only when she closed 
her apartment door behind her. She sorted through her mail, separating the 
important post from the junkmail that arrived on a regular basis. She threw the 
junk to one side, except for a sample package of pot pourri from a new store in 
the neighbourhood. She spilled it into a small bowl on her mantlepiece and 
inhaled the sweet, woody scent. Scully wrapped a blanket around her and lay on 
the couch.

***

Before she knew it, it was midday, and her celphone was ringing.

“Scully.” she said half asleep.

“Sorry to wake you.” It was Mulder. “We got those credit details on Lindsay 
Schofield.”

“So, who is he and where can I find him.”

“He’s a she and you can find her in a cemetary in New York.”

“What?” Scully liked the sound of this less and less.

“I think you better come back to the office, Scully.”

***************************************************************

End of Chapter 1.

================================

You think you know... Ch 2 by Caroline O'Connell.

Disclaimer: See Chapter One. Rated: PG for violence and language.

Summary: A stalker turns his unwanted attentions to Scully, throwing Mulder and 
her into a situation neither of them ever envisaged.

***************************************************************

"It's definitely the right person?" Scully asked, hoping the information was 
wrong.

"Lindsay Schofield, same date of birth as the credit card application." Mulder 
replied, wishing he had better news for her. "She was found dead in her 
appartment in New York 3 months ago. Raped and strangled."

"So who sent the note with the flowers?"

"The hand writing matches the assistant in the flower shop. She remembered your 
phone call and wanted to know how your husband was." Mulder smiled, trying to 
lighten her mood.

"He's fine." She sighed, unable to take her eyes off the notes he had taken 
about Lindsay Schofield.

"And you?"

"I wish my husband was here!"

The discussion stopped when the phone rang. "Agent Scully, we have a delivery 
here for you at reception." Mulder watched her flinch.

"I'll be right up."

She collected an extravagant bunch of roses and a small package. It felt as 
everyone was staring as she made her way to the elevator to get back to the 
basement as fast as she could. They probably thought it was a wonderful gift 
from a lover. A romantic, flamboyant gesture in such a prim setting. If only 
they knew the truth... they'd stare anyway!

"What does the note say?"

He wanted to offer his help. Wanted to ask her if she was alright. Wanted her to 
know that all she had to do was say the word and he'd do whatever she wanted. 
But she probably felt crowded enough. If she did need him, she'd ask.

***

The day couldn't end fast enough for Scully. Mulder's protective glances were 
starting to annoy her. She knew he meant well, but nobody was going to get to 
them down in the basement. She hoped they'd get a case that would send them to 
Alaska for at least a month. Anything to get away from the flowers and gifts and 
the damn phonecalls. She had been right about the prints. They chased the trail 
from Lindsay Schofield's credit card purchase through a courier company, to the 
florists and on to Scully. All done by phone.

"The joys of credit card shopping." Mulder sighed. "Shop til you drop from the 
comfort of your own home."

"Speaking of which." Scully said flipping her file closed. "I am out of here to 
do some shopping of my own."

"Are you going to be okay?" Mulder asked, tapping her shoulder on the way out.

She turned around to face him, trying not to look too annoyed. "Mulder, I don't 
need a babysitter." she managed a smile. And he knew when to take the hint!

***

Scully pushed the shopping cart around the store. Despite some of the incredible 
things she had seen and done over the last few years, the ordinary things still 
had to be done like laundry and groceries. It was nice to be mundane sometimes. 
She wandered through the aisles, picking at a tray of strawberries as she filled 
the cart with necessities and a few luxuries. She more than deserved the treat! 
Strawberries, ice cream and a movie. She probably wouldn't get much sleep, the 
least she could do was indulge herself.

Scully had parked her car in the far corner of the parking lot. It had been full 
on her way in, but now, the cars around her were scarce. As she packed away the 
groceries, she was slammed roughly against the rear car door from behind. She 
felt cold metal at her throat. "Say a word and I'll slit your fucking throat." 
he hissed into her ear. "Give me your purse."

"It's in the car." Scully said quietly. She reached for the door handle to open 
it, but he grabbed her wrist, wrenching it awkwardly back. He kept a tight grip 
on it, knowing any movement by either of them would cause her pain. "Don't move, 
bitch." he prodded the blade closer to her as she tried to remain composed. "The 
money's in the car?" she nodded. "Thank you." Manouvring her by the wrist, he 
threw her to the ground. She cried out as she landed, knocking her head. 
Scully's fall attracted the attention of a nearby motorist who stopped her car.

"Somebody call the cops!" She yelled running to Scully as the attacker took the 
wallet from Scully's purse and ran off. The woman was joined by two others, one 
who dialled for and ambulance on his celphone. The other man checked her for 
some identification. He found her driver's license. "Dana... Dana?" He barely 
got a reaction from her. "My name's Andy. We're going to get you to the 
hospital."

***

Scully had vague memories of the ambulance and being brought to the ER. Andy 
stayed with her, making conversation, keeping her awake until she was brought 
away for tests. The doctor gave her a thorough examination that involved a head 
CT and x-rays on her wrist. By the time she had been admitted for observation, 
she was fully conscious. And seeing Mulder's expression, as he raced in to her 
room, she wished she wasn't.

"Please don't lecture me." She said, not able to look him in the eye.

"I'm saying nothing, Scully." he replied, placing a hand on her shoulder. "I'm 
just glad you're okay."

"How did you find out?"

"You were unconscious and I'm your 'in case of emergencies' person. Call me 
crazy, but this looks like an emergency."

"Mulder, it was a mugging."

"Jesus, Scully, when they rang me, I thought it was the roses guy. I thought 
you... I don't know what I thought." He was getting progressively angrier. "I 
just... I got scared."

"I thought you weren't going to lecture me." She looked at him, her eyebrows 
raised, smiling slightly in the hope of calming him down a bit.

"I lied!" he said after a moment. He sat on the side of her bed and looked at 
the extent of her injuries. "Are you okay?"

As she was about to answer, Assistant Director Skinner knocked on the open door. 
"May I come in?" He wasn't alone. "Agents Fox Mulder and Dana Scully, this is 
Agent Jane Becker. She's here in connection with your enquiries after Lindsay 
Schofield."

"We worked together, briefly in 1991 on the Dawson case." She said shaking 
Mulder's hand. Then she turned to Scully. "And you. I turn my back for 5 minutes 
and this happens!"

"I have a note." Scully said, as the two men looked on, bemused. "We trained 
together in Quantico." she explained, smiling at their expressions.

"And if you'll excuse us, I need to talk to Dana about the attack." Becker 
ushered the two men to the door.

"Hold on a moment. Jane, what's going on?" Scully asked.

"Dana, you recieved phone calls, flowers and gifts. And now you've been mugged. 
You're wallet and keys have been taken. If we check your apartment, there's 
probably more flowers and another gift waiting for you." Becker said. 
"Unfortunately Dana, you are the next potential victim of a stalker who has 
killed at least 5 women and 2 men in the last 8 months in the New York and 
Washington areas."

"We're having your apartment checked now." Skinner said. "I'm on my way over 
there now. Mulder, you stay with Agent Becker." And he left them to their 
discussion.

"Excuse me, is Miss Scully okay?" A man stopped Skinner in the corridor.

"I'm sorry, sir, you are?" Skinner asked for an introduction.

"Andrew Warner. I found her, along with a couple of other people." he explained. 
"The police questioned us about it. I didn't see anything, though, just a man 
running off. We were more concerned about her to chase after him." He looked at 
the door to Scully's room. "Any way, will you tell her I was asking for her and 
that I hope she's okay."

"I'm sure she'd be happy to see you, herself." Skinner ushered him to the door.

Nervously, Andy knocked on the open door. "Hello?" The three agents stopped 
talking and looked at him. "Oh, this is a bad time. I'll come back."

"No, please, come on in." Scully said. "It's Andy, isn't it?"

"I wasn't sure you'd remember." he smiled. "I just wanted to make sure you were 
alright."

"Andy got me to hospital." Scully explained to Mulder and Becker. "You waited 
all this time?"

He nodded, shifting his weight from foot to foot, clearly embarrassed to be 
there while she had company. "I had to give a statement to the police anyway. 
I'll leave you and your friends to talk. I'll call again tomorrow, if that's 
okay?"

"I'm only here overnight for observation, but I'll be home for a few days." She 
took Mulder's notebook and wrote her phone number on it. "If you want to, you 
can ring me here." she handed him the note and he left, smiling broadly. "He's 
an artist." Scully said once he was out of range. She was smiling too.

"Dee, giving your number to strange men!" Becker said in mock disgust.

"But seriously, folks." Mulder interrupted. "What do we do about Scully's other 
admirer?"

"Keep surveillance on the apartment and keep Dana out of harm's way." Becker 
said.

"Wait a minute, Janie," Scully stopped her mid flow. "Where am I supposed to 
go?"

"Dee, he's a killer. A rapist and a killer. The fact that you're an FBI agent 
isn't going to deter him one bit. In fact, that's part of the chase." Becker 
explained. "He's getting more and more daring. Picking out women he sees as 
powerful. Previous victims were a lawyer and a cop. He stalks, he rapes, he 
kills, he moves on. And I am not giving him you to add to his tally." The anger 
in her voice was obvious.

"The only way we'll catch him is to lure him in. When I'm discharged, I'm going 
home. You can set up whatever you need to catch him from there." Scully said. "I 
am not running away from this."

"We can get 24 hour protection for you. When I'm not there, I can assign another 
agent to stay." Becker said, writing out a list of things she'd need.

"When you're not there, I'll be there." Mulder said. "You do the day shift, I'll 
do the night shift." He turned to Scully. "You at least know us. The last thing 
you need now is agents you don't know messing up your place."

"As opposed to agents I do know?" Scully sighed, rubbing her eyes.

"Dee, we'll leave you to get some rest. Don't worry because we're taking care of 
everything." Becker said and indicated to Mulder to come outside with her. "Do 
you know how long she's been getting phone calls?"

"We were on a case in Florida last week. When we got back, Scully's machine had 
eaten her messages. The first evidence we have is from yesterday." Mulder 
explained.

"I've been trying to catch this guy for 4 months." Becker said sitting into the 
moulded plastic chair in the hospital corridor. "Going after Dana has put me 
ahead of him for the first time in this case. And I have to catch him. I have to 
stop him, because the alternative doesn't bear thinking about."

"So, Becker," Mulder sat beside her. "How the hell are you?"

"Gee, Mulder, never better!" Becker replied sardonically.

"Are you back in DC long?"

"Just since this afternoon. My contact in the Credit Card company told me of 
purchases in Washington and that some agents in headquarters were also making 
enquiries. I wanted to find out who was muscling in on my case. When I found out 
it was Dee and she was in hospital..." Becker broke off, shaking her head. "I've 
seen this guy's handywork, Mulder. It's not pretty."

"You and Scully trained together?" Mulder asked.

"I warned her about you before she started working in the dungeon - sorry - the 
basement!" Becker laughed. "Further proof of the Disney theory of relativity!"

Mulder smiled as they both said "It's a small world, after all!"

Becker's phone rang disturbing them from the conversation. "Agent Becker."

"Agent Becker, this is Assistant Director Skinner. We're at Agent Scully's 
apartment now. There's flowers and a gift. We've preserved the scene for you."

"I'm on my way. Thank you sir." And she hung up. "Your AD, does he always sound 
so uptight?"

"Jeez, Becker, the Bureau seminar on tact really sunk in, huh?" Mulder laughed 
as he tagged along with her.

***************************************************************

End of Ch 2

========================

You think you know..." Ch3 by Caroline O'Connell.

Disclaimers in chapter one. Rated PG for language and violence.

Summary: A stalker turns his unwanted attentions to Scully, throwing Mulder and 
her into a situation neither of them ever envisaged.

********************************************************************************
*********** Mulder followed Agent Becker into Scully's house. "No prints, 
right?" She strode through to the reception room.

"Other than Agent Scully's?" One of the forensics team replied. "No."

Becker looked at the gift as Mulder slapped on some latex gloves to pick it up. 
Earrings to match the pendant Scully had been given earlier. "Wow." she 
exclaimed quietly. "These are exquisite." The amazement turned to worry. "He's 
serious about her. The mugging is his way of letting his victims know that he 
can have them at any time. The gifts are his way of showing affection. He then 
believes that he's entitled to a relationship because he's lavished such time 
and effort, that he's entitled to payback. So he rapes his victims." Jane 
sighed, too aware of what this guy was capable of, having seen the bodies of his 
previous 'conquests'. "And he's had them, he's had them, The chase is over. He's 
won."

"And he moves on to the next woman." Mulder interjected.

"He's been working his way up." Janie explained. "A shop assistant, a nurse a 
doctor, a lawyer. His last victim was a senator's assistant. He killed her 
boyfriend for good measure. Having a partner or husband is no deterrent."

"Once he fixates, that's it." Mulder said. "No hope of him getting bored and 
moving on?"

"No." She said. "I don't know if that's a good or bad thing, at this moment."

"What do you mean?" Mulder asked.

"Dana's his current obsession. He won't be unfaithful, no matter who he sees. 
Which means he won't move on until Dana's dead. I can't... I won't let that 
happen. I have the best chance I'm ever going to get to catch him, but that 
means using Dana as bait." Becker said bagging the neatly typed note that 
accompanied the flowers and gift. "And I can't do that to her. "

"Maybe you should let her decide for herself. She was very clear in the hospital 
about what she wanted to do." Mulder said. "Scully can be quite single minded 
when she wants." "Tell me about it!" Janie smiled, knowing well what Mulder 
meant.

"In the mean time, we should get this stuff out of here." Mulder said quietly, 
trying not to let his anger show. "Sort out changing the locks... I don't 
suppose changing the phone number will get rid of him?" Before she could reply, 
he sighed loudly. "Wishful thinking.... God will it ever stop?" He rubbed the 
bridge of his nose. The tension building in his neck and shoulders.

"Are you okay?" Becker placed a hand on his arm. "Of course you're not. How 
could you be? Do you want to go for a drink or something?"

***

I had no Idea she was so close to dying." Janie said eyes wide in horror as 
Mulder shared the story of Scully's illness. "But she's okay now?"

"Aside from the torn muscles, the bang on the head and the boot mark on her 
stomach, I'd say she's never been better!"

"Well, I'm sure if anyone knows how she really is, it's you." Janie smiled. "How 
long have you and Dee been together?"

"Since 1992." Mulder replied, missing the point totally.

"Duh, Mulder!" She looked at him and the penny dropped.

"Oh, oh no!" He said almost tripping over the words to clear up the 
misunderstanding. "We're not together together. Not like that at all!" He 
shifted uncomfortably in the seat. "Whatever gave you that idea?"

"The way you look at her ." Janie smiled. "There's not many people look the way 
you look at her."

"And just how do I look at her.?" "C'mon, Mulder! Do I need to draw pictures?" 
Becker laughed.

"Huh?" Mulder asked.

"I know official Bureau policy frowns on it, but you don't have to continue the 
act on my account ." Janie nudged him. "I'm not going to tell on you!"

"It's not an act, Becker." Mulder insisted.

"Oh. Strange." Janie frowned. "I usually have a talent for this kind of thing."

"What kind of thing?" Mulder asked, worried where the conversation was leading.

"How people really are." Janie explained. "They'll say one thing, but you look 
in their eyes and they'll say something completely different." She stared him 
right in the eye and found her gaze locked with his. "Did you ever plan on 
telling her?"

"What?" He blinked rapidly, taken aback at her directness.

"Oh come on!" Janie laughed as he tried to come up with another excuse. "I've 
seen you both for roughly an hour and I figured it out like that!" She snapped 
her fingers. "So when did it happen?"

"Becker!" He shook his head, a slight smile creeping across his face. "You have 
no idea how far off base you are."

"Deny everything, right?" Janie laughed, attracting the barman's attention for 
another round. "You haven't changed, Mulder."

"You have." He laughed.

"Some of us do actually grow up and do grown up things." Janie took a long 
drink. "Like get married... and divorced."

"Oooh." Mulder grimaced in sympathy for her. "What happened?"

"He'd forget to tell me things. Like bills being due, his parents coming to 
stay." She stopped for a moment, eyeing her empty shot glass. "His girlfriend."

"Ouch. I'm sorry, Becker." Mulder said. "But tis better to have loved and lost, 
yadda, yadda, yadda…"

"…Than to sit there doing nothing about it." She countered.

"Nice block, but I think you've got your wires crossed."

"Buy me another drink, and the subject's dropped!" Janie put her empty glass 
beside Mulder's. There was a brief silence after Mulder ordered another round.

"So, how about those Yankees?"

***

"Good morning." Janie swanned into Scully's hospital room, carrying an overnight 
bag. "Becker's Escort Agency to take you home."

"Sorry, I ordered something a little more male." Scully smiled, sitting up.

"Let's see. Tall, dark, looks good in a suit..." As Janie listed off each 
attribute, Scully nodded in appreciation. "Nice eyes and and extremely chewable 
bottom lip." Scully stopped nodding when she realised Janie was describing 
Mulder.

"Jane Frances Becker, stop that right now!" Scully exclaimed.

"I warned you about him." Janie laughed. "Ol Spooky will turn on the charm and 
you won't be able to resist."

"You did!"

"Ah, but I was engaged, Dee. Seriously off limits, and besotted with my no good, 
two timing, what did you ever see in him in the first place ex-husband!" She sat 
on the bed. "Can you honestly say, hand on heart, that you've never thought 
about it?"

"Janie, you made him out to be a complete weirdo!" Scully laughed, deftly 
avoiding the question. "What was the phrase? 'A psychologist in need of a good 
psychiatrist'."

"And he was." Janie countered. "He probably still is. But you'd know more about 
that than me."

"I'm getting changed!" Scully said, slipping out of bed and into the bathroom.

Fox Mulder and Janie Becker had a brief history together. Reggie Perdue had 
brought her in on the case of Charles Dawson not long after She and Dana had 
graduated. Janie's resemblance to Dawson's victims was instrumental in catching 
the serial killer. Scully remembered the long phone calls about Fox Mulder, the 
genius working in Violent Crimes. And yes, he was cute, but boy was he strange! 
Mulder's "Spooky" reputation had preceded him and Janie could report that it was 
well deserved. During his spare time, Mulder would look through old, unsolved 
cases, crank cases, UFO sightings... The cases that would eventually make up his 
X-Files.

Janie didn't relish the prospect of working closely with Fox Mulder again. She 
didn't dislike him, but she couldn't work with him. Couldn't in 1990. Probably 
wouldn't be able to now. The guy was just too weird and having spent all those 
years looking for little green - sorry, grey - men, he was sure to be weirder!

"So Dee, any plans for a wild weekend?" Janie asked through the bathroom door. 
"I heard about this great club. We could go talent spotting."

"Last time we did that Jane, we nearly got arrested!" Scully called back.

Janie didn't see Mulder arrive and hover around the doorway.

"Oh come on, Dee! A little criminal activity..."Janie started

"… never did me any harm." Scully opened the bathroom door, dressed and ready to 
leave.

"When did you get so settled?" Janie meant it as a joke.

"The day they took my baseball bat away." Scully grinned.

Mulder stifled the loud laugh that threatened to give him away. Dana Scully - 
Wild Thing! He'd have to find out more about that.

As Janie took Scully's belongings, Mulder made his way in. "Hi." Scully said, 
surprised. "I wasn't expecting to see you until later."

"Just making sure everything's okay." Mulder smiled. "Did Becker tell you we 
changed the locks? Here's the only key. If you want to give us copies, I can get 
it done for you."

The psychologist at work, Janie observed. Give her the only key. Give her back 
control. Nice work.

"I've been at your place with Agents Douglas and Ryder." Mulder continued. "We 
have a tracer on the phone. There's going to be a car outside on 24 hour 
surveillance."

"And, of course, you'll have company to keep you out of any trouble you may be 
thinking of causing." Janie interrupted, sensing the technical details were 
bothering Dana.

What bothered her more was the fact that she had to be wheeled through the 
corridors by hospital staff with Mulder and Janie carrying her clothes. This was 
the part about hospital policies that Scully hated. Being wheeled around like 
a... a patient. Whoever said it was right. Doctors do make the worst patients.

"I had better get back to the office." Mulder said as they made their way to the 
car. "I'll be over after 6."

"Have a nice day, dear." Janie smiled sweetly.

"Yeah, yeah." Mulder said scrunching his face. "Whatever."

"Children, behave!" Scully laughed as Mulder drove off.

"C'mon, Dee. Let's get you safe and home." Janie said starting the engine.

****************************************************************** End of 
chapter 3.

==============================

You Think You know... Ch 4 by Caroline O'Connell

Disclaimers: See Chapter One. Rated PG for violence and language.

Summary: A stalker turns his unwanted attentions to Scully, throwing Mulder and 
her into into a situation neither of them envisaged.

*******************************************************************

Mulder arrived at Scully's apartment and rung the bell. Janie Becker answered.

"Hi, can Dana come out?" he asked. She shook her head and let him in. "How is 
she?"

"She's fine." Scully said "She takes sugar too." put out that they were talking 
about her as if she wasn't there. Her arm still hurt a lot, must be near time to 
take more of the pain killers she was prescribed.

"Everyone was asking after you." Mulder said, noticing she looked tired. "I've 
spent the day talking to people who hoped I didn't exist!"

Scully cracked a slight smile. Maybe this wouldn't be as bad as she thought!

Janie was making sure everything was in working order with the tracer and 
Scully's answering machine. "We've decided to tape the messages whilst we run 
the trace so we can bring both copies for analysis. If our guy keeps to form, he 
will ring tonight. I've brought Mulder up to speed. The Panic Button is working 
and we have a patrol car keeping an eye too."

Scully let Janie out and double bolted the door behind her. "Safe and secure." 
she sighed and unceremoniously dumped herself across the couch that was to be 
Mulder's bed for the next few nights.

"Did Becker feed you?" Mulder asked sorting out his luggage.

"No, I wasn't hungry. Do you want to get take out?" she reached for the phone.

"Actually, " he smiled. "I thought I might cook something up."

She looked over the top of the couch at him.

"Now that's a look I haven't seen since the killer pussycats!" he said as her 
eyes grew wide with abject terror.

"I'm sorry, you never struck me as the cooking type."

"I've been fending for myself for nearly 20 years. " Mulder said, unpacking the 
food he had brought over with him. "Do you think I lived on take-out for all of 
it?"

***

"Mulder, this is fantastic!" Scully said, testing the sauce that he was about to 
smother the chicken in.

"Amazing the things you get in jars these days!" he said putting a couple of 
handfuls of spaghetti into a pot of simmering water. "It should be ready in 
about 10 minutes."

"I've got a great bottle of wine that I've been saving." Scully said, opening 
one of the presses. "We may as well open it now."

"Oh, red." he said, sounding less than enthusiastic.

"Don't tell me you're one of these 'red wine - red meat' people." She joked . 
Fox Mulder - great cook and wine snob to boot!

"I don't like red wine. Sorry." he shrugged.

"But you introduced me to this when you....oh." She stopped. "That wasn't you."

"That wasn't me." Mulder said, remembering the Eddie Van Blundht incident.

"So, you don't like red wine?" Scully asked, trying to keep the conversation on 
a lighter note than work.

"Not even a summer grape-picking in France could convert me."

"You spent a summer in France?"

"Oui!" he exclaimed, testing the pasta by throwing it at Scully's pristine white 
ceiling. "In 1984. The fine weather started in April and didn't end until mid 
October." He couldn't help but smile at the memory of it.

"I've got white wine too." she said opening her fridge.

"Scully, how many bottles of wine do you keep on hand?" he asked as she returned 
the Cabernet Sauvignon to its hiding place.

"Not nearly enough!"

***

"Wow! If I'd known you cooked this well, I'd have had you around sooner, or 
invited myself over to your place!" She cleared her plate quickly.

He was pleased he was cheering her up "This is only because you're 
incapacitated!" he said grinning at her.

"So, you're only being nice because I'm being stalked!" She sighed loudly.

"Scully," he smiled sweetly, close to her face. "I'm always nice!" his

honeyed tones dripping with mock-sincerity.

The phone rang, startling her. It was only then that Mulder realised how much 
this stalker was upsetting her. He gave her the go-ahead after checking the 
tracer.

"Hello?" she said, trying not to let the fear show in her voice.

"Dana, hi. It's Andy, Andy Warner." Andy had called for the ambulance when she 
was hurt.

"Hi, Andy." she said, pleased to hear from him. "How are you?"

"I think that's my line!" he replied.

Scully smiled and switched off the machines. "I'm fine."

"Good.... I just.... you know... wanted to make sure." he stuttered bashfully 
down the phone. "And if you need anything, you have my number... so feel free to 
call me.... anytime.... please."

This time she laughed. Mulder watched her relax into the chair as he started 
clearing up. May as well be useful! Whoever this Andy guy was, he was at least 
taking her mind off her troubles.

"Thanks for ringing, Andy" she said after a few minutes of conversation.

"Anytime! And you never know." he said. "I might just ring again!"

"Good, you do that." and she hung up, smiling.

"Andy." Mulder said. "He's the guy who got you to hospital, right? Didn't you 
say he was an artist or something?"

"Yeah!" Scully said going to the fridge, completely ignoring his fishing 
expedition for information. She took out a large tub of ice cream, by-passing 
the bowl and going straight for a spoon.

Mulder watched her as she happily sat watching television. She was saying 
nothing, but obviously delighted with the attention. He continued clearing up 
the aftermath of his cooking and let her sit channel surfing, until he joined 
her with coffee about 20 minutes later.

"So, Mulder..." Scully said taking the coffee from him. "How's work?"

"Let's not talk about work now, Scully." he whined, rubbing his eyes. "I've had 
it up to here with work today. In fact, I don't know how I ever got through a 
case before you came!"

"Nice to know I'm good for something!"

"You have your uses!"

Scully wasn't turning the night into a sparring match and decided to change the 
topic. "Who taught you to cook so well, Mulder?"

He burst out laughing. "I knew you'd ask that! How do you know I'm not self- 
taught?"

"Because that's not a self-taught sauce and before you leave, I want the 
recipe!"

"Okay. Final year in Oxford, February 1986. I'd just gone through the big 
breakup with Phoebe." he explained, between stealing scoops of her ice cream. 
"We had been living together for a while so I moved out of the flat and in with 
a very good friend, Sally Redmond. She was originally from California, but lived 
in London from the age of 17. I slept on the sofa in Cookie's...."

"Cookie?" Scully interrupted

"We were Scott and Cookie, the Americans. Her nickname stuck, mine didn't! 
Anyway, I stayed at Cookie's until graduation in a house with 5 women." He 
couldn't help but smile at the memory. "And all of them wanted to nurse my 
broken heart!"

"I'll bet!"

"I'll thank you to keep your mind out of the gutter, Scully!" he said with mock- 
indignation. "It wasn't like that at all. Four of us were too busy studying for 
finals, the other 2 were too busy partying! Somewhere inbetween, I picked up a 
few tips when I worked weekends in a restaurant in Oxford.

"Sounds like you really enjoyed college." Scully said

"I can honestly say, Scully, I was never happier." he sighed. "I was a million 
miles from home. Nobody knew who I was or what had happened. A clean slate.... 
You have no idea how close I came to staying there."

He went silent for a moment, and Scully looked at him. Was that a trace of 
regret? "Why didn't you stay?"

"I spent the summer before graduation at home. Had to go home sometime, right?" 
He shifted in his seat, uncomfortable with discussing his home life. But knowing 
Scully wouldn't betray his confidence. "Dad had set up an interview for me with 
the bureau. I did the exam just to get him off my back. They said if I did well 
in my finals, I could start training after graduation. At this point my parents 
didn't know that I planned on staying in England and working there. After the 
break up, the need to stay in England diminished rapidly. So, I passed my 
finals, came home and the rest, as they say, is history."

This was good. Scully thought. They were talking like real people about real 
things. No giant flukeworms, no shapeshifting clones, no goatsucking aliens... 
no aliens at all! Surprisingly normal. Maybe Eddie Van Blundht's escapade 
finally rubbed off on Mulder! But this was more fun that Van Blundht. He was 
telling her all about him, instead of talking about herself... and it was fun. 
She was afraid they'd end up discussing Mulder's scarred psyche and all his 
deep, dark demons.

"So, what were you like in college, Scully?" He interrupted her train of 
thought.

"The same as now... only bigger hair." she said matter of factly.

"Err!" he made a buzzing noise. "Wrong answer! I heard Becker in the hospital 
the other day!"

"You heard what?"

" 'When did you suddenly become so settled?' I think that was the quote!"

"That wasn't referring to college." she said with a wicked smile. "That was 
referring to Quantico! I was a very good, quiet student in medical school. When 
I graduated... now that's when I started to have a little fun!"

"I always suspected you had a wild, wild side, Dana Scully!"

"And my wild, wild side is now heavily sedated because of the tablets I'm on." 
She smiled drowsily. "I'm off to bed. Goodnight, Mulder."

"Goodnight." He replied and watched her go into the bedroom, and close the door. 
That wasn't the complete nightmare he expected. He was delighted she liked his 
cooking. It had been a longtime since he'd actually cooked something substantial 
from scratch. He'd been too damn busy working! He's still too damn busy, but 
that was only because Scully was out of action for the next week or so. He meant 
it when he said he didn't know how he managed to get a case closed before she 
was assigned to work with him. He was all over the place. Files everywhere. 
Stuff everywhere. Needless junk that accumulated over a very short period of 
time. The office was still a mess, but at least now it was a semi-organised 
mess.

Bastard. Mulder thought. Whoever did this to her... was doing this to her.... 
Five minutes in a small room, that's all he needed and from some of the 
reactions he was getting from fellow agents, there would be no shortage of 
people to help him out should he get the opportunity.

He flicked absent-mindedly up and down the channels, not really watching 
anything. Scully had left pillows and bed linen for him to use. As he drifted 
into a deep sleep, they remained untouched. And Mulder slept soundly through the 
night.

*******************************************************************

End of Chapter 4.

=========================

You Think You Know... Ch 5 by Caroline O'Connell

Disclaimers: See Chapter 0ne Rated PG for language and violence.

Summary: A stalker turns his unwanted attentions to Scully, throwing her and 
Mulder into a situation neither of them envisaged.

**********************************************************************

Dana Scully woke to the sound of music gently playing in the next room. She 
could also smell fresh coffee. Looking at her alarm clock she was surprised to 
find that she had slept soundly until almost 10.00am.

She emerged, fastening her robe over her pyjamas, to find Janie sitting at the 
kitchen counter going over her case notes. "Good morning."

"Hi." Scully replied, still not fully awake. "Where's Mulder?"

"I took over at around 9.00 and he headed off to headquarters to hunt for some 
more little green men!" Janie said, hopping down and pouring some coffee for 
her. "He told me there was no calls from Psychoboy! How did you two get on?"

"Great. He cooked dinner and we talked for ages."

"Get out of here!" Janie laughed. "Do you need Pepto-Bismol?"

"Jane, it was incredible. The leftovers are in the fridge for lunch, later."

"Luke Skywalker cooks?" Janie shook her head in disbelief. "Did he bore you to 
death about work?"

"I wanted to know what was going on, but he was fed up with work and we just 
talked, for ages. Considering the circumstances, it was a great evening." She 
couldn't help but smile as she spoke.

"It's the Pod People." Janie said. "The Pod People have taken Mulder and 
replaced him with a normal person. Did you check him for implants?"

Scully laughed loudly. It was the closest explanation she could come to accept 
as to Mulder's unusual behaviour... or what she perceived to be unusual. She had 
forgotten how much fun Janie Becker was. They were inseparable during training 
at Quantico, but ended going their separate ways when they were assigned. Janie 
ended up in Seattle, whilst Scully remained in Quantico, teaching.

***

"So, Dee, " Janie started. Scully instantly knew she was up to no good! "Will 
Mulder be cooking for you again tonight?"

"As much as I would love another of his home-cooked meals, I hope he doesn't!" 
Scully patted her non-existant spare tyre. "He uses real ingredients, full 
cream, butter... the works! Not good for my figure!"

"So much for 'Spooky' Mulder! " Janie smiled. "But, let's not talk about him! I 
brought all my case notes over with me, as requested. Maybe a fresh pair of eyes 
will make a difference, because I have exhausted almost every avenue at this 
stage." She shook her head in disbelief. This case had been ongoing for over 6 
months. Two more people had died at the Stalker's hands since Janie had gotten 
involved on the case. Scully spent the rest of the day with Janie going over the 
case notes, reading Janie's detailed profile of the stalker. Without any 
positive evidence, they had no way of connecting him to any potential suspects.

Janie had profiled him as 25 - 35 male, caucasian, highly intelligent, affluent. 
He stalks women he feels are his equals and therefore, worthy of his attentions. 
Professional women. His victims include a doctor, lawyer, an art gallery owner, 
and now, potentially, an FBI Agent. Colour didn't seem to be a factor, as one of 
the victims, Sasha Barton was black. All victims were sent flowers and gifts, 
paid for with stolen credit cards. A husband or partner was no deterrent. Brian 
Lavelle, Elaine Lavelle's husband and Alan Reeves, Connie Vaughan's partner were 
among the victims. Once fixated, nothing seemed to stop him. Both men were taken 
hostage to convince the women to meet with the Stalker, resulting in both 
couples being murdered.

Looking over the photos of the victims, Scully felt a sense of dread. She knew 
she was safe. Her professional background and training offered her some sort of 
protection. But he had already attacked her... and could have easily killed her 
at the scene. Then he wouldn't have had the opportunity to woo her.

Janie surmised that in the sending of gifts and flowers the Stalker felt he was 
"owed" a relationship with these women and therefore "entitled " to have sex 
with them as some kind of payback. Once he had raped them, there was no more 
pursuit, no more fun for him to have. So he moved onto the next victim.

"Great. I'm now officially 'the victim'." Scully thought. That was the worst 
part of all of this. She had lost her independence. She was under 24hour 
surveillance from Janie and Mulder, which she could just about handle. At least 
she could tell them to leave her alone and they would. But this guy, her 
Stalker, wouldn't take no for an answer.

***

"It's a real page turner, isn't it." Janie sighed. "So, Doctor Scully, any 
insight you wish to throw into the pot?"

Scully shook her head. "Mulder's the profiler, not me. I'll dissect him, 
afterwards... actually; I'd like to dissect him right now. I can think of 
nothing I'd rather do than disembowel him ... he doesn't even have to be dead."

"Ah, the old 'don't get mad, get even' philosophy." Janie laughed.

"What are the prospects of him just getting bored and leaving me alone?" Scully 
half joked.

"I don't think that's likely, Dee." Janie sighed. "Which, I know, is not good 
for you. But, it does have its advantages. At least we know who he's after and 
his methods, and we will do everything in our power to get this guy for once and 
for all." The two women worked on the case for the rest of the day. Scully at 
least felt useful. Offering theories, looking over autopsy data. Taking in every 
detail and being able to give Janie a few more pages of notes to add to the 
collection.

Janie was pleased that she was being more than just a glorified babysitter. 
Whilst Dana Scully was, in theory, the victim, Janie couldn't have asked for a 
better one. She wouldn't be lured out easily. Wouldn't panic in the event of him 
attempting to get to her again. He had lost the element of surprise. The 
challenge had been laid down. The Stalker's ego wouldn't allow him to back away, 
to move onto somebody else. He had won every other time. He had set his sights 
on Dana Scully and Janie hoped she would prove to be his downfall.

***

Mulder's arrival took them by surprise. It was 6.00pm already and he was 
knocking on Scully's door to take over the night shift.

Janie answered. "Nice pasta, Mulder." She said as he came in carrying files and 
a large cardboard box. "What's for dinner tonight?"

"I'm afraid I'm swamped with reports to finish, so tonight's special is a large 
pizza with everything, but anchovies. And vanilla chocolate fudge ice-cream." He 
replied. "Would you care to join us?"

"I'm very tempted, but I have plans." Janie sighed "So you two kids behave and 
be in bed by ten."

"Becker, you have a life?" Mulder asked, sarcastically. She just laughed and 
waved on her way out. "Okay, to the kitchen before this pizza goes cold!"

As he searched for her pizza cutter, the phone rang. They both looked at the 
phone, then each other. With great apprehension, Scully picked up the phone. 
"Hello."

"I want you." Her heart sank as she heard the voice. "I want to see you."

"Tell me where you are and I can meet you right now." She said, trying to remain 
calm.

"Oh no, Dana, not yet.... All good things to those who wait. I'll meet you 
soon."

Mulder watched as the numbers slowly popped up on the read-out display.

"Do you want to know what we'll do then?" the voice asked, low and suggestive.

"Why don't you tell me." She felt sick at the thought of making conversation 
with him, but knew she had to keep him on the line to make the trace.

Mulder indicated that there were 3 numbers left.

"Next time.... " and the line went dead.

Scully looked hopefully at Mulder. He shook his head. "Shiiit!" she yelled, 
slamming the phone back into its cradle. "Dammit! He has to know we're tracing 
him and he knows exactly how long to stay on before he's caught!.... Bastard!" 
She paced angrily around the room.

Mulder watched on anxiously as she vented some of her pent up anger. "Hey," he 
said quietly moving towards her. She stood silently, running her hands back 
through her hair, trying to calm her breathing. All he could think was that she 
looked so fragile. This was upsetting her more than she ever let on. She stood, 
staring down at the ground, her hands hooked behind her head. She looked like 
she wanted to hide. He approached slowly and put his arms around her. He got 
none of the expected resistance from her. Quite the opposite. She held on to 
him. Held tightly.

She closed her eyes and disappeared into his embrace, hoping she wouldn't 
actually start crying. That was the last thing she needed. To break down like a 
helpless little girlie, unable to protect herself, relying on everyone else to 
save her.

To his credit, Mulder said nothing. No trite, "it'll be alright" or "don't 
worry". He just held her close, marvelling at the ease of it all. They had 
become so close lately. It almost seemed beyond friendship. They were both such 
polar opposites, yet they had lived and almost died for each other, particularly 
in the last year. Each trusting implicitly in the other's loyalty and 
friendship.

After a moment, Mulder stroked her hair. "You should open that wine you were 
saving." and he ushered her to the sofa. "Sit, watch ER, or something. You've 
got good wine, pizza, ice cream, scintillating company," he gestured to himself. 
"What more could you ask for?"

Before she could throw back a smart answer, the doorbell rang. Mulder went over 
and opened the door. Another flower delivery, this time they were white roses. 
Mulder took in the arrangement and tipped the delivery guy. "And now you have a 
vase of flowers." He sounded as disappointed as she looked. "Will I open the 
note?" She just nodded. "Hope you call soon, Andy." She took the note from him. 
"Andy? The hospital guy, right?"

As he spoke, she was dialling the number on the card. "You sent me flowers." She 
was trying not to sound agitated.

"Yes I did" Andy said. "Seems pointless to make you a vase and not put flowers 
in it."

"You made me a vase?" The angry looked softened.

"I did tell you I'm a sculptor." Andy explained. "But that was in the hospital, 
so it might not have registered."

"I remember." She said, a broad smile spreading across he face. "You made me a 
vase."

"I could also make you dinner?" He said, hopefully.

"Sorry, that's been taken care of."

Mulder scribbled a note HE KNOW'S YOUR ADDRESS? and flashed it up to her.

"Andy, how did you know where to send the flowers?" Scully asked, taking note of 
it.

"Ah, that FBI training!" he smiled. "I confess! When we found you, I got your 
address from your driver's license. We wanted to find out who you were, so we 
checked the car and your pockets.... Sorry. I'm being very forward."

"Yes, you are." She laughed.

"Well, I'll go now, so you can call me some other time."

"Thanks, Andy." And she hung up. "He made me a vase." She looked at it, smiling.

"Where are you going to put it?" Mulder asked glad that something was lifting 
her spirits.

"I think I'll put it in my bedroom. It's been a while since I've had flowers in 
a room that wasn't a hospital room!" She lifted it and immediately put it down, 
grimacing with pain. "Ow... ow ow ow!" she held her wrist carefully. "It's 
heavier than it looks."

Mulder left it on the table near the window in her bedroom while she took a 
couple of her painkillers. "How is it?" he gestured to her arm.

She looked at the moulded casing around her wrist; it could be removed at any 
time, held in place by velcro straps. "Sometimes it hurts like hell... sometimes 
I forget about it, then lift something" she sighed "and it hurts like hell!"

"You're lucky it's just muscle damage" he said, reheating the pizza. "If it had 
been ligament or cartilage damage you'd have ended up having operations and 
stuff."

"Thank you, Doctor Mulder!" She sat on the sofa and watched him uncork her wine. 
"When did you suddenly become such an expert on muscles and ligaments?

"Ah, my short but inglorious soccer experience!" he sat next to her handing her 
a very full glass. Mulder himself had opened a beer. "When I was in Oxford, a 
few of the guys in the halls of residence were trying to get a team going and 
they invited me along to a practice basically because I was tall and I could 
run!" he laughed at the memory. "So, they teach me the rules, which takes all of 
5 seconds, and we start playing. They're playing nice, passing me the ball and 
the next thing I boot the thing into the back of the net! I'm playing 15 minutes 
and I score a goal. Of course, the opposition thinks I'm a ringer and decide 
they're going to take me down. The next time I got the ball... Wham! This guy 
goes in for a sliding tackle, takes me down with him and I can't walk for three 
weeks!"

"Sounds like fun!" Scully said, happily drinking her wine and eating a slice of 
pizza.

"It's a game of two halves, and so was my leg!" Mulder said, taking a slice. 
"There were x- rays, check-ups, very strong painkillers, torn muscles and a pair 
of crutches that attracted more attention! I tell you, Scully, the next time you 
want to get a date, get a pair of crutches, a backpack and a look of extreme 
helplessness and they'll flock like bees to honey."

"I'll be sure to remember!" She laughed. If he was telling her stories just to 
cheer her up, it was working. Two college stories in 2 days. Maybe before the 
end of the week she'd find out exactly what Phoebe Green did to him. He had 
never said much about his time in Oxford. Getting personal details out of him 
was like getting blood from a stone. But now, he seemed quite willing to talk. 
It was good to know that some parts of his life were happy.

"I really have to get working." He grabbed the remains of his dinner and left 
her to watch tv as he used her laptop to type up a case history.

***

Mulder realised it was time to call it a night when he heard David Letterman's 
top 10 list. He took his beer and went to join Scully on the couch. "Who's on 
tonight?" he asked, crossing the room to find her laid on her side, sound 
asleep.

Mulder stood, hands on hips and lips pursed, looking at her. "You have two 
choices..." he thought. "One, you could scoop her up like Scarlett O'Hara and 
put her to bed which means she'd probably freak out... and we don't want that. 
Two, you could sleep on the floor and let her sleep there which means you'd 
really screw up your back... and we don't want that either. Or three, you could 
sleep in her bed which means you've had more to drink than you should have!... 
Three it is then."

He quietly placed a blanket over her and took his things into her room. He felt 
awkward being in there. This was Scully's Bedroom. Why was it bothering him so 
much? He'd been in there before. He'd even slept in her bed before... although 
that was alone too.

"Woah!" he said quietly. "Where the hell did that come from?" Janie Becker, 
that's where! He was perfectly fine thinking of Dana Scully as his best friend 
before Becker put in her 2 cents! He looked at the vase Andy Warner had sent and 
the roses.... Roses. Scully never struck him as the roses type... Maybe she was. 
Maybe roses were her favourites. He wouldn't know! They had been through so much 
together, but could he really say he knew her?

The strange thing was, for the first time in 5 years, he wanted to and was 
starting to regret not knowing these things. He had to stop thinking like that 
because he knew he was on a hiding to nothing! If something were to have 
happened between them, surely it would have happened by now... wouldn't it?

He undressed and got in bed. "Not only am I in Scully's bedroom, now I'm in 
Scully's bed." he muttered quietly to himself. "Definitely more comfortable than 
the couch! More comfortable than my couch... I could get used to this... Yeah, 
dream on Mulder!" He drowsily rubbed his eyes, aware of the delicate scent of 
her perfume on the pillow. "Go to sleep!"

***

Scully woke with a start. Why was she on the couch? Because she fell asleep 
watching the tv. The temptation to 'do a Mulder' and spend the night there was 
great, but she knew just a few paces away was her warm cosy bed. She made her 
way through the dark with little effort. It was her place and she knew her way 
around. Her painkillers had her feeling very drowsy as she quietly entered the 
room and half dressed, slipped into bed.

*********************************************************************

End of chapter 5

--------------------------

"You Think You Know..."Ch 6 by Caroline O'Connell

Disclaimer: See chapter 1 Rated PG for language and violence.

Summary: Scully attracts the unwanted attentions of a stalker, throwing her and 
Mulder into a situation neither of them ever envisaged.

*******************************************************************

Her bed, familiar, unlike so many motel rooms she had spent her career in. Warm, 
safe and occupied by somebody else!

With split-second timing, she sprang up, grabbed her gun and switched on the 
bedside lamp, yelling at whoever the hell was there.

Mulder, startled by her, tumbled ungracefully on to the floor. "Scully, it's 
me!" he said, scrambling to his feet, dressed only in his shorts.

She put down the gun, her heart racing. "Jeez, Mulder!" she yelled throwing a 
pillow at him. "You scared the crap out of me!"

"Sorry." He muttered.

"What the hell are you doing in my bed?"

"Sorry."

"I could have killed you!" She threw another pillow at him. She paced alongside 
the bed trying to calm herself down. "What time is it?" She picked up the clock 
before he could answer. "3.25am... Great!"

"You were asleep. I didn't want to wake you." Mulder said picking his clothes 
off the bedside chair. "The last thing you need is more disturbances. And I know 
you need the rest."

"I'm sorry" Scully sighed. "I'm also wide awake. Go back to sleep, Mulder. I'm 
going to watch TV."

"You think I could sleep after that?" He said throwing on a sweatshirt and 
trousers and following her out to the living room. I am never letting you have 
wine with your painkillers again!" He grumbled sitting beside her on the couch 
where they would both have the best view of the television.

"Yes, Mom!" She grumbled, playing with the remote control. Scully's mood 
suddenly altered when she came across 'A Matter of Life and Death'. "I love this 
film! Why are all the best films on so late?"

They sat and watched in silence. Scully dragged a blanket around her. Mulder 
held a cushion across his lap, both getting comfortable, preparing to last the 
distance. But neither lasting too long, drifting to sleep within minutes of each 
other.

***

"What the hell are you doing in her bed?" a voice muttered beside an elaborate 
voice activated tape recorder. Dana wasn't supposed to be seeing anyone. He had 
made sure of that. And he damned well wasn't going to share her! She wasn't to 
be shared. Dana was to be loved and adored by him alone.

And if FBI makes as much as a suggestion to her, he'd have to die... simple as 
that.

He listened to the film play quietly. The conversation had stopped. Was she 
alone? He'd have to make do with just listening. It would take too long to 
install cameras. They're too obvious anyway. Dana's that brilliant; she'd 
probably find them in a heartbeat.

It's amazing the things you can hide in small places in an apartment. A 
listening device on the mantelpiece in the living room, next to her lamp in the 
bedroom, even a small bug in the bathroom.

"I want to know everything Dana." He muttered beside the recorder. "To know all 
about you so when we finally meet you'll realise that we're perfect for each 
other."

***

"Aw... Perfect." The soft female voice giggled quietly as she watched Mulder and 
Scully sleeping soundly. Scully's head lay on the pillow on Mulder's lap. His 
arm was wrapped protectively around her shoulder, both blissfully unaware of 
Janie Becker's presence in the room. She had let herself in when she noticed the 
curtains were still closed. Janie managed to make fresh coffee without 
disturbing them. Having poured a mug, she decided it was time to waken the happy 
couple. She perched next to Mulder's ear. "Good morning, starshine." She 
whispered.

Mulder bolted awake, causing Scully to snap upright, with his arm still around 
her shoulder. "Doesn't anybody use alarm clocks anymore?" he asked, removing his 
arm, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. "Why does everyone feel 
the need to scare me half to death to wake me up?"

"Obviously not a morning person!" Janie grinned, handing him the coffee.

"What time is it?" he asked. "Ohmigod! It's 9.30. I am so late!"

"Sorry." Scully mumbled, wiping the sleep from her eyes. "You were sleeping so 
soundly I didn't want to wake you. I know you have trouble sleeping sometimes."

"Maybe once every other month." He said grabbing his overnight bag. "I'm 
sleeping fine at the moment, except for when I'm rudely awoken at 3 in the 
morning!" He locked himself in the bathroom.

"I thought you said he was one of those wide awake, tortured souls type." Janie 
said pouring more coffee.

Scully just shrugged. It had been a while since they had spent a night in each 
other's company. How could she have misjudged him so easily? All those nights 
she found it difficult to sleep, she wondered if Mulder was lying on his couch 
watching the same bad infomercials. It's probably just as well she didn't ring 
him. He wouldn't have appreciated being woken. Although he probably would have 
told her he was awake anyway.

"Will you be okay?" Mulder asked racing out, fixing his tie. "I can drop in 
later."

"The building's under surveillance, the phone is wired, I'm stuck here for the 
day." Scully smiled. "I think I'm safe."

"And of course, you have Scary Spice to babysit!" Mulder said on his way out the 
door. He just about heard the loud burst of laughter from Scully as he closed it 
behind him. It was good to hear her laugh again.

"Scary Spice?" Janie asked giving Scully a look that made her feel like she was 
looking in a mirror. "Scary Spice?" She took out her radio. "Hey Douglas, who 
came up with Scary Spice?"

Peter Douglas, one of the agents keeping watch outside tried not to burst into 
laughter. "I have no idea what you're talking about, Jane. You're not scary. 
You're lovely"

"Damn straight, Douglas!" Janie growled.

"I want to be just like you when I grow up." He said sweetly.

"Oh, you charmer!" Janie said as Scully continued to laugh loudly. "Now get back 
to work!"

"Are you like that all the time?" Scully asked.

Janie shrugged. "You have to have a laugh, sometimes. You know how bad work can 
get. You should hear us when Libby Ryder is with us. She's a riot. She and 
Douglas are close."

"It's been a while since I've been with a team, as opposed to working with 
Mulder, or teaching at Quantico. "

"Maybe it's time for a transfer?" Janie asked.

"No!" Scully exclaimed. "I love my work. I like working with Mulder. I don't 
want to change that."

Janie sat next to Scully on the couch. "It's been way too long, Dee. We should 
have kept in better touch after graduation."

"Good morning, Dana." The voice said, once again listening intently for some 
detail of Dana Scully's early life. "Did you sleep well? Did you dream of me?"

*** "I have interviewed friends and family, but have come up a complete blank." 
Janie said as Danalooked over her case notes "Unless he can crawl through drains 
or air conditioning systems, this guy is the invisible man"

Scully's mind immediately sprang to Eugene Tooms. "They still had their livers, 
right?"

"Eeewww! Gross, Dana!" Janie exclaimed. "You've been spending way too much time 
with Spooky!"

"Okay, Janie." Scully sighed. "What exactly do you have against him?"

"I read all of Fox Mulder's case histories when we were training. The man is a 
genius. He's brilliant and I wanted to work with him." Janie explained. "His 
insights, his ability to profile. He's not that much older than us, but he 
brought experience way beyond his years. He could have been an Assistant 
Director in VCU by now, but he throws it all away to look for ET!"

"Wow, Janie." Scully was taken aback. "That's one hell of an opinion. have you 
been talking -to Tom Colton or something lately?"

"That little toadie?" She replied sarcastically

Scully paused for a moment. "Mulder works on the X-files for his own reasons, 
but does good "work... we do good work. I don't know why everyone thinks he's so 
weird and ... and..." she searched for the right word.

"Spooky?" Janie offered.

"Spooky!" Scully exclaimed. "His methods are unusual, yes. His cases 
unconventional, but he doesn't treat me like some kind of subordinate and I 
trust him implicitly. I would take him over ten Tom Coltons any day of the 
week."

"Wouldn't we all honey!" Janie said, raising an eyebrow.

"I did not mean it like that!" Scully laughed trying to hide her embarrassment 
when she realised how it sounded.

"Come on, Dee, are you telling me, hand on heart, that you never ever thought 
about Fox Mulder in that way?" Janie asked. "Ever?"

"Me and Mulder?"

"You and the Fox!" Janie taunted playfully.

"Scully took a deep breath as if to vehemently deny any romantic affection, but 
stopped. "Can I plead the fifth?"

"Yes!" Janie exclaimed.

"No!" The voice spat. "No, Dana, you're mine, do you hear. I'll kill him if he 
touches you."

"Oh God, what have I said?" Scully sighed, head in hands.

"Does he know?" Janie asked. Dana shook her head. "Do you want him to know?" She 
repeated the motion. "Why not?"

"It would be too weird." Scully smiled, wistfully. "He's my best friend, he has 
been for so long."

"What if he feels the same?" Janie asked, knowing he did. It wasn't her place to 
tell them. They were both adults, and with the right nudging, they would figure 
it out for themselves.

"I don't know... I just... he doesn't." Scully couldn't believe she was having 
this conversation

"When did it change?" Janie asked quietly.

A broad smile crept across Scully's face. "A couple of months after I got out of 
hospital, we had to go on a seminar." She rolled her eyes. "And we ended up not 
making it to the seminar, but exploring the woods... long, long story! And 
Mulder, the jerk, gets himself hurt and we end up spending a night huddled under 
the stars trying to keep warm and ... and it felt right." She smiled at the 
memory. "We talked for a long time, trying not to both fall asleep and Mulder 
asked me to sing to him."

"Sorry, Dee, but you can't sing!" Janie laughed.

"I know that. But I sang anyway." She found herself laughing too.

"It must be love, Dee! What did you sing?" Janie was enthralled.

"Joy To The World."

"Both women collapsed into hysterical giggles, much to the annoyance of the 
stranger listening to every word.

"And you'll be pleased to know, this time there was no clothing removed!" Scully 
said cryptically.

Obviously some college prank she had played with that Becker bitch. Now he had 
this vision of Dana Scully seductively removing her clothes and coming to him 
and being with him forever. Not even the might of the FBI could keep them apart 
You can't fight destiny, and it was destiny that he should have Dana Scully.

"Well, it's nice to see you interested in someone your own age for a change." 
Janie smiled. "This 'older man' complex really had to stop, Dee." Scully 
continued to laugh. "What? Come on, spill it!"

"It seems I have attracted the attentions of a younger man." She was referring 
to Andy.

"That means you've got Mulder, your Stalker and - gasp - Dana K Scully, a 
toyboy!" Janie exclaimed, loving every minute of making her friend squirm... and 
distracting Dana from her troubles.

"He's thirty one, Janie" Scully exclaimed. "Hardly cradle snatching."

"This is the artist guy from the hospital?" Janie asked.

"He made me a vase." she giggled, pointing it out. "Can you believe it?"

"What are his prospects?" Janie asked feeling her out.

"It's hardly the best circumstances to start a relationship." Dana shrugged.

"And there's that business with Mulder." Janie added.

"There's no business with Mulder!" Scully exclaimed.

"Exactly!" Janie said.

"I need to get out." Scully sighed stretching her arms over her head. "I'm going 
stir crazy here."

"How about I take you out to lunch?"

"Janie, you have the best ideas!"

**********************************

Dana Scully fixed herself up as best she could with her arm strapped up. She and 
Janie Becker left Scully's apartment for the first time in a couple of days. As 
they drove to the city looking for somewhere to eat, Janie rang the office. 
"Agent Mulder please." she said on the car phone, as Scully looked on in wide 
eyed horror. "Hi, Mulder. Wanna go to lunch?"

“Hey Becker," Mulder said. Where did you put Scully?"

Be careful, Mulder!" Janie chided. "You're on speaker phone!"

“So where do you want to meet?"

They arranged to meet in a restaurant near the offices. Janie managed to find a 
parking space within walking distance.

“Why did you have to invite Mulder?" Scully asked as they walked through the 
crowds enjoying the warm weather.

“I have an Idea.” Janie Smiled

I hate when you have Ideas." Scully sighed. "Well do I get to find out what this 
idea is?"

“When we get to lunch.” she grinned evasively.

I hate this Idea already." Scully grumbled. "And I think when I hear it, I'll 
really hate it!" Both women started to laugh. They had been so close at the 
Academy, but when Dana was asked to teach there and Janie posted first, in 
Seattle and then New York, the weekly conversations became monthly and that 
eventually whittled down to a message in a Christmas card.

***

They reached the restaurant moments later to find Mulder holding a table for 
them. "Skiving off on the taxpayer, huh, Mulder?" Janie asked sitting beside 
him, leaving Scully to sit opposite.

Okay, Becker, what's this plan of yours." Mulder asked.

“When our friendly neighbourhood stalker rings, you or I will answer.. We don't 
let him talk to Dana." Janie said opening the menu.

“Why? Mulder asked.

“To make him jealous. Not letting him talk to Dana will drive him nuts." Janie 
explained. "Two of the women had partners and they were attacked also. I believe 
this guy sees Dana as his girlfriend already. So if he's cut off from her, 
particularly by another man, it may bring him out into the open."

“It also may get Mulder hurt." Scully said. And I'm not prepared to risk anyone 
else to this guy."

“I'm prepared to risk it, Scully.." Mulder said quietly. "If it means catching 
this guy before he hurts you or anyone else again, I'll do it."

“Dee, we need to catch this guy." Janie said. "If we don't succeed, he'll move 
on and do it to somebody else. At least now, we are in a better position than we 
have been for months to catch this bastard."

“Janie's right." Mulder nodded.

“Oh my God!" Janie said. "did you hear that? We agreed!" She was trying to 
lighten the mood as they ordered food.

“Next thing you know, you'll be picking out wallpaper and stuff!" Scully smiled.

Mulder and Janie looked at each other from the corner of their eyes. "I don't 
think so!" Janie whispered loudly.

"Let's eat!" Mulder said, trying not to laugh.

***

Peter Douglas and Libby Ryder were keeping surveillance on Scully's apartment 
building. Since she had left with Agent Becker, both were aware that the stalker 
might try to get into Scully's apartment. The agents perked up when they saw a 
man carrying flowers ring her bell.

“Doesn't look like a delivery guy." Douglas said as they exited the car and 
approached the man.

“Excuse me, sir." Ryder said showing her badge. "Can we help you?"

“Oh my God. What's happened?" It was Andy Warner.

“Nothing, sir. We just need to have a word with you." Douglas said, ushering him 
towards the car.

“I'm a friend of Dana's." Andy explained. "I brought her to hospital when she 
was mugged last week. Is she okay?"

“Could I have your name, Sir?" Ryder asked as Douglas took out his mobile phone. 
Andy took out his driver's licence to show id.

***

“Becker." Janie said swallowing down a piece of chocolate cake. She listened 
intently and passed the phone to Scully. "Somebody called around to your 
apartment with flowers. Says his name's Andy Warner."

"I know him... yes... describe him? Okay." Scully sighed. "Five nine-ish, brown 
eyes, fair hair that's lighter at the front... Artist, sculptor. Has his ear 
pierced... Nice smile." She smiled herself as she described him.

Janie saw Mulder's expression. When Scully mentioned the nice smile", his face 
dropped. That wounded look that Janie was sure he used to pick up women all the 
time. Despite the weird streak, there was no denying it. He was very handsome, 
but with that look... wow! She couldn't understand why Dana hadn’t fallen 
sooner. Maybe she'd see him and realise he felt the same. It was so obvious! 
They loved each other. That was beyond a doubt. They had loved each other for a 
long time, but it would be interesting to pinpoint the exact moment they fell in 
love, instead of that caring protective love we feel for close friends and 
family.

Janie snapped out of her analysis when Scully handed her back the phone. "Well?" 
she asked

“It's Andy." Scully said. "He says he wanted to give me the companion piece to 
my vase." She smiled, laughing quietly at the thought of not only does he give 
her flowers, but makes the vase to put them in. So different from the other 
flowers bearing messages from her stalker. Lewd disgusting comments on what he 
planned to do once he had her.

Janie noticed her smile falling. The last thing she wanted was Dana dwelling on 
her predicament. "So, Dee, let's say we get this dessert to go an go meet 
Sculpture Guy!" It worked. Scully started smiling again. “Seeya later, Mulder."

And the two women left with their cake, leaving Mulder feeling a little dejected 
over Sculpture Guy.

***

Do you always look after each other like that?" Andy asked as Scully let him 
into her apartment

“It's complicated, Andy." Scully sighed. "I really can't talk about it." Janie 
followed them in.“Janie Becker, meet Andy Warner."

“Hi. We weren't introduced at the hospital properly." As they shook hands, Janie 
had a slight flicker of recognition. She couldn't place him, but knew she knew 
him from somewhere.

"You exhibited in New York late last year." She finally remembered why.

“FBI agent, and art critic!" Andy smiled.

Now the alarm bells were ringing in Janie's mind. She had never actually said 
when was an agent. "So, Andy, tell me all about you rescuing Dana the other 
night."

"Oh great, Janie!" Scully called from the kitchen. "Make me sound like a damsel 
in distress!"

“What dress?" Janie called back.

Scully shook her head as she watched the coffee percolate. Janie had a faster 
comeback than Mulder. She'd fix them up only they'd probably quip each other to 
death!

“Are you going to give me the third degree too?" Andy asked nervously. When 
Agent Ryder rang you she grilled me."

Janie relaxed. That's how he knew she was an agent. "No, that's Agent Ryder’s 
department. She stood up. "I'll check on the coffee."

“What do you think?" Scully asked quietly.

“He's sweet... and you're right about the nice smile." Janie smiled. "But..."

“But what?" Scully asked.

“I was pre-empting your but."

“Is it that obvious?" Scully said pouring the coffee. "He is sweet. And maybe if 
we met under normal circumstances... But I can't think of going out with 
somebody at the moment. It's just..." she struggled to put her thoughts into 
words. "It's the wrong time."

“Maybe you should tell Andy that." Janie said

Scully just nodded and took the mugs.

***

“Well that was just dandy!" Scully said re-entering the kitchen after about 20 
minutes, her voice dripping with sarcasm. Janie peered up from her notes, 
looking like she was bracing herself for impact. "It wasn't that bad, but boy do 
I feel like the bitch queen from hell."

“Wounded puppy dog look?" Janie asked.

Scully nodded. "But he'd still like to be friends."

“Ah, the vain hope of wearing you down syndrome." Janie smiled. "Been there. 
Doesn't work."

“He insisted I keep the vases, though." Scully said sipping her coffee.

“Where did you put the second one?"

“I haven't decided yet. It's all lilies and wild flowers... No damned roses!" 
Scully laughed.

“Put them in the bathroom." Janie said. "Or on the dresser in your bedroom. 
You'd be surprised the difference they make." She flipped her folder closed.

“Have you come up with anything new?" Scully asked taking the file from her.

”Naah. Still trawling." Janie didn't want to talk shop with her. "So tell me all 
about the break-up with Sculpture Guy."

“There was nothing to break up!"

“Good. Now maybe you can get your finger out and tell Spooky."

“Janie!" Scully sighed.

“I'm serious." Janie replied.

“I know! That's what worries me!"

“Spend tonight sounding him out. Let him cook again. Ply him full of wine and 
then have your wicked way with him." Janie giggled, loving the fact that she 
could wind her friend up so easily.

Scully laughed loudly. "You sound like an expert, Jane."

“You have no Idea!" Janie said with a wicked glint in her eye. She took the 
desserts they had taken home out of the fridge.

“Great. More comfort food!" Scully sighed. "We have to have ice-cream with 
them."

“You do comfort food so well, Dee."

“I do it too well!" Scully patted her non-existent spare tyre. "Between Mulder's 
cooking and desserts, I'm turning into the new Goodyear Blimp!"

"I thought the way to a man's heart was through his stomach." Janie said. "And 
the way to a woman's is through Bloomingdale's."

“The way to a man's stomach is through his mouth." Scully giggled.

"Now you're just being silly, Dee!"

***

He listened to the two women repeatedly bursting into laughter. Dana's peals of 
laughter were like sweet music to his ears. He'd make her laugh. He'd make her 
laugh so loud she'd beg him to stop. Then he'd make her beg some more. God, he 
was getting turned on just thinking about it. He'd have to ring her and let her 
know. Let her know right now.

"Hello?" Janie answered, automatically starting the trace. The speaker carried 
the voice around the room.

"I'm thinking of you." he breathed into the receiver. "I want you." he groaned. 
Switch it off" Scully said, sick to her stomach to hear the voice. Knowing he 
was jerking off down the phone.

“I'm sorry, you have the wrong number." Janie said. "You sick piece of shit!"

"No." he hissed. "You're the wrong person. Put her on."

“No." Janie said flatly.

“Put. Her. On!" he yelled angrily.

"No!" Janie matched him for anger. "If you want to talk to her, you come out 
from under your dirty little rock and talk to her face to face like a normal 
person.." She was hoping to keep him on the line long enough to finally make the 
trace.

"I'll kill you, you blonde bitch!" He screamed and slammed the phone down.

Immediately, Janie grabbed her phone. "Did we get it?... Is that it?...I know 
it's this area code." "She sighed angrily, trying not to take it out on the 
agent at the end of the phone.

“What now? More flowers? More gifts?" Scully tried to keep her emotions in 
check.

"Mulder was right. I should have taken that Californian vacation I've been 
promising myself."

“Janie put her hand on Dana's shoulder. "Hang on in there, Dee. He wants you 
badly. You're a challenge and he's prepared to wait.... He'll make a mistake and 
we'll get him."

“Oh Blondie, you think you know me." He sighed.

“He'll get careless at some point. He has to." Janie continued, unaware that 
their every word was being heard.

“You're putting a lot of faith on a guess." Scully sighed.

“Isn't that what you and Mulder do every day?”

"Let's just finish the cake." Scully sighed, dejected. For the first time in a 
week she felt almost normal. She looked better, now that the swelling under her 
eye had gone down and the bruises, though still prominent, could at least be 
hidden under makeup. She had lunch with friends. Had such a great day with 
Janie. It almost seemed normal... almost. Would it ever be normal? Would they 
catch him? Would they catch him? Would he get tired and move on... or would he 
somehow get her like all those other women.

***

Mulder dialled Scully's cellphone as he wandered down to his car.

“Hello?" she sounded almost timid.

“Scully, it's me. What do you want to eat tonight?"

“I want ice cream, chocolate and as much red wine as you can carry." She rattled 
off quickly.

"I was thinking more along the lines of a stir-fry, but we can do ice-cream."

“It's been a bad day, Mulder." Scully sighed. Janie prised the phone from her 
hand.

“Hi, honey." Janie sang down the phone. "Come home fast and we'll tell you all 
about it... and bring beer!"

“Behave, Becker!" Mulder laughed and hung up.

“So now you have beer, wine and half a bottle of tequila." Janie grinned, 
handing back the phone to Scully. "If memory serves me well, he can't hold his 
drink that well, so the wicked way will be yours in a matter of hours!"

“Janie, you have a one track mind!" Scully smiled, grateful for Janie's efforts 
to keep her spirits up. It was really starting to get to her, but she had to get 
over it, or it would eat her up inside. And she wouldn't let him win. Wouldn't 
give the bastard the satisfaction. Unfortunately, she didn't know he could hear 
every word.

“I'm bringing to a logical conclusion something that should have happened a long 
time ago." Janie smiled, packing up her things to make way for Mulder and the 
Night Shift.

“Oh come on, Janie!" Scully sighed, exasperated.

"Oh come on Nothing, Dee! I see him look at you. You should have seen the look 
on his face when you mentioned Andy Warner's nice smile."

“What if it doesn't work?"

“What if it does?" Janie countered. "Nobody's saying you have to get married and 
have kids straight away. Scully managed a wistful smile. She didn't feel like 
explaining her inability to have children. "Just think. Lots of little Scully- 
Mulders... scullymuldering around. Your brains, his looks... Unstoppable!"

“But what if they have his brains and my looks?" Scully laughed at the idea.

“At least they'd be gorgeous!"

****

He paced angrily up and down the room. "No nononono. No. No! She's not his! 
She's mine, you bitch! Do you hear me, Dana? You're mine and I swear I'll kill 
anyone who keeps us apart." His murderous thoughts were interrupted by the phone 
ringing. "Hello?... I told you never to call me ... come over tomorrow at eight. 
I'll pay you then." And he hung up.

"Would you miss me if I were dead, Dana? I bet you'd miss Mulder." he said as he 
heard Mulder enter Scully's apartment. "Who would comfort you? Who would be your 
friend?"

***********************************************************************

End Chapter 7. ===========================

You think You Know... Ch 8 by Caroline O'Connell ginger@cyberia.ie

Disclaimers: See chapter One. Rated PG for language and violence.

Summary: When Scully attracts the unwanted attention of a stalker, it throws her 
and Mulder into a situation neither of them ever envisaged.

********************************************************************************
***********

"I have enough for three, Becker, if you want to join us." Mulder said bring his 
shopping into Scully's kitchen. "Give me a few minutes and I'll have a 
vegetarian stir fry ready... If that's okay with you, Scully."

"Sounds wonderful." Janie said. "But, I'm outta here. You two are stuck with 
each other for the night. Now, behave and be in bed by 10.30." She winked at 
Scully who didn't know where to look.

"Becker's being nice all of a sudden!" Mulder smiled, setting himself up to 
start cooking.

"That's because the little bitch is trying to fix you two up" The voice said, 
listening intently to every word from Scully's apartment. "I won't let her do 
that, Dana. I can't. He's all wrong for you. Does he give you flowers? Does he 
give you gifts? The only good thing he does is phone you, but that's only for 
work. He couldn't appreciate you the way I do. He's all wrong for you, Dana, and 
when we meet, you'll know that."

"Nice vase" Mulder said, leaving the bathroom. "Was it that Warner guy? What's 
the deal with you two anyway?" He returned to his cooking. "Are you going to go 
out with him?"

"No, Mulder." Scully sighed. "I'm not going out with him."

"And why not?" He sounded genuinely interested. "Guy sends you flowers, calls 
you up, gives you gifts..." Mulder found the bottle red wine they had opened the 
day before.

"Jeez, Mulder, you make him sound like a stalker!" Scully half laughed taking a 
glass of wine from him. "I'm not going out with Andy Warner because one; it's 
the wrong time to start a new relationship, two; I don't think he's my type and 
three I..." She nearly said it. She nearly told him she wanted their 
relationship to progress. "I think your stir fry is burning!"

Mulder grinned widely as he finished preparing the food. 'She's not going out 
with him... Yess! She's not going out with you either. Fix that. Ask her... ask 
her now. No don't. She just said it was the wrong time to start a new 
relationship. So just spend the night and keep her company.' The grin relaxed to 
a wistful smile. He filled his plate, grabbed a beer and joined Scully at the 
table.

"There's tequila aswell." Scully said throwing him a look that might be 
perceived as a challenge.

"Regular party, huh?" Mulder said.

"Something like that." Scully pushed the food around on her plate, not really 
eating.

"You should run a bath or something." Mulder said, noticing she was down. "I'll 
handle stuff here."

"To be honest, Mulder, I'd sooner just sit and talk." For the first time since 
she left hospital, Scully felt really low. "I want my life back. I feel like I'm 
under house arrest. Having lunch out today was like tasting freedom. I let 
myself think things are normal and then he calls again and it all just... just 
comes crashing down." She dropped the fork noisily on to her plate as if to 
emphasise her point. This was the first outburst she'd had since the whole thing 
started. "I am so sick of him running my life!"

"Don't worry Scully, we'll catch him." Mulder said quietly.

"When? Next week? Next month?" She started to pace. "And in the meantime, I 
can't work and I need minders. I have no privacy anymore. I feel like he knows 
everything I'm doing. He's watching and listening and eating into my life." She 
started to choke up. "And right now, I would give anything to make it go away." 
She stood and looked at him, desperately trying not to break down and cry. 
Scully couldn't believe she was so upset. Crying like some stupid girlie victim, 
waiting for somebody to rescue her. "God, I hate this!" she said as the tears 
finally fell. "I hate having to be protected. I hate having no control. And I 
hate that I'm crying over this." She started to laugh. Mulder stood up and 
wrapped his arms around her. She hated the fact she felt so good just by being 
held by him.

"Time to break this up." The voice said seething with jealousy.

Mulder felt her jump as the phone rang. Why the hell now? Scully hesitated and 
answered after a couple of more rings.

"I want you." He said. "I want you all for myself Dana, and I..." Scully slammed 
the phone down, much to his annoyance. They were supposed to talk so they could 
trace him, but he knew how long to stay on. He was the one to hang up. Not her. 
He angrily redialled. "Don't you ever do that again!"

"Or you'll what?" Scully yelled angrily. "Drop dead!" and she slammed the 
receiver down again. This time, she lifted it out of the cradle an left the 
phone off the hook.

"What are you doing?" Mulder asked quietly.

"Taking back my life." Scully said, defiantly. "If only for the night."

He repeatedly slammed the phone off the table, yelling obscenities. Everything 
was great until that bastard Mulder showed up. "I'll kill you!!" he screamed at 
the tape recorder. capturing every word of Mulder and Scully's conversation.

"Tell me you bought ice-cream." Scully said shutting her empty freezer door.

"I couldn't choose between Rocky Road and Cookies and Cream so I got both." 
Mulder replied holding up 2 large drums.

"I could kiss you!" She said taking them from him.

'I wish!' Mulder thought. 'I should bring ice-cream more often.'

''WHAT THE HELL DID YOU JUST SAY!?' her mind screamed. 'Why did you say that? He 
thinks you're a jerk!' She piled the ice-cream high into 2 bowls, grabbed the 
tequila and sat down in front of the tv.

"You're drinking tequila?" Mulder asked

"Do you want some?" Scully offered him the shot glass.

"I can't."

"Mulder, you don't have to say sober on my account."

"Seriously, Scully," he laughed. "Three shots and I'm anybody's!"

"Mulder, relax." Scully said, pouring 2 shots. "It's Friday, there's a car 
outside, the phone's off the hook and I am not getting smashed by myself!" She 
knocked it back in one gulp. "Oh. My. God! That's strong!" she wheezed.

***

"...I'm serious!" Mulder said adamantly, sitting cross-legged on the floor 
beside the empty tequila bottle and several beer cans. "Seven of us stood on the 
tables in the library in Oxford so Eric Leighton could propose to his 
girlfriend. We sang Dusty Springfield's 'You Don't Have to Say You Love Me'. 
Badly!" Scully was lying across the couch, laughing loudly. He was glad she was 
laughing, enjoying herself. Mulder knew he was having a great time!

"Did she say yes?" Scully asked

"She had to!" Mulder replied. "We got into so much trouble over that little 
stunt." He shook his head in disbelief that he actually did it.. and that he 
told her. "I had just broken up with Phoebe and had a wild phase that lasted 
about 2 weeks."

"Viva la revolution, huh, Mulder."

"Something like that." he sighed. "I did a few things I shouldn't, a few things 
I'm glad I did and I found out who I could really trust." Mulder raised his 
glass in a toast to the good days he'd spent at college.

"Well, here's to... whatever!" Scully said half-drunkenly raising her glass. "To 
Fridays. There should be more of them."

"Now you're just being silly!" he giggled. "More beer?"

"Oh yeah!"

***

He paced angrily. It was all going wrong. He'd go around right now and teach her 
a lesson, only her baby sitter was there. Why wasn't she scared? Why wasn't she 
freaking out like the rest of them? God, it only made him want her all the more. 
She was worthy of him. Not like the rest. When push came to shove, they just 
screamed and begged like stupid dogs, but Dana would be different. She was 
making him wait. Making him jealous. Making him see she was worth the effort and 
she would be the One.

***

Scully knew it was morning because of the light flickering in her eyes through 
her curtains. She rolled over to find herself face to face with a soundly 
sleeping Mulder. "Oh holy sh... please tell me that I didn't." she thought as 
she closed her eyes again. His left arm was draped protectively across her. She 
peered down to see that she was still dressed. So was Mulder and he was lying on 
top of the blankets. "We didn't." She sighed with relief. "Why didn't we? And 
how did he end up in my bed... again?"

Scully thought hard, trying to recollect. She had vague memories of starting on 
beer after they had finished with the tequila and both of them completely 
pouring their hearts out. But they stopped shy of revealing how they really felt 
about each other. Did they kiss? She wasn't sure, but she knew for definite he 
put her to bed. She had asked him to stay and talk because she didn't want to 
sleep. The nightmares upset her when she actually could sleep. She slept like a 
log tonight. Sedated by alcohol and safe with Mulder... Sound asleep and looking 
so calm. So serene. So cute.

He moved. She froze. Would he freak out? He rolled away, still asleep and 
settled on his back. Scully quietly covered him with a blanket that had been 
kicked off the bed. She stared at his face. That full bottom lip... she wondered 
what it would be like to kiss it.. To kiss him. To make mad, passionate, loud, 
toe-curling love to him... God, she was still drunk! Had to be because she'd 
never entertain those thoughts when she was sober.

She realised just how close her face was to his. Two more inches and she could 
find out for once and for all... do it... kiss him. Taste him, feel her hands 
wander all over his body. Touch his... 'Stop it, Dana! Stop it now!! This is 
crazy!' She thought. 'For one, you're still drunk. Two, you're still upset and 
three, he's not ready for you. If he was, he'd let you know. Go back to sleep.'

She lay back down and curled over on her side, away from him and quickly drifted 
off. She didn't see him open his eyes and look over at her. And she certainly 
didn' t see him smile.

'So close, Scully...' he thought. 'So so close... but you'd only be taking 
advantage of her vulnerablity and that's beneath even you. Let it go.' And he 
fell back in to a deep pleasant sleep.

***

The next time she woke up, Scully was alone and boy, did she have a headache! 
She swallowed to clear her throat and the first thing she thought was that she 
was glad they didn't kiss because she tasted like a furry trash heap. She 
shuddered to think what her breath was like. Throwing on a fresh change of 
clothing, Sculy went to face the day.

"Good afternoon." Mulder smiled, looking as fresh as a daisy. He handed her 
orange juice and two aspirin.

Scully grumbled non-responsively as he dropped the round white pills in her 
outstretched hand.

Mulder just smiled. "How the hell are you not hungover?" She moaned. "You had 
far more to drink than I did!"

Oh, you wish!" Mulder laughed. "I don't know. I don't get hangovers." he 
shrugged matter of factly. "Becker rang earlier. She'll be over around 4pm.

Scully looked at her watch. It was 12.40 "You put the phone back."

"He hasn't called."

"He will." She said with a resigned tone. Taking a mug of coffee from Mulder, 
she leaned against the bank of cupboards in the kitchen. "Thanks for last night. 
I was a bit morose and self pitying and I..."

"I think last night was good for you." he interrupted, knowing she felt very 
self conscious. "We should do it more often." He smiled again and rubbed her 
shoulder playfully.

She found herself smiling back and she didn't know why. She brushed her hair 
back from her face and found herself looking straight into his eyes. Scully's 
smile dropped and she moved in, tilting her head, opening her lips, never losing 
eye contact. His hand gently reached up and touched her face as finally their 
lips met for the briefest of seconds...

When the damn phone rang. They backed away, startled from their embrace. 
Scully's heart was racing as she picked up the receiver.

"Why did you do it to me Dana?" It was him. He sounded upset. "Why did you 
betray me?" Mulder watched as the machine traced the call, listening on the 
speaker. " I send you flowers and gifts and all this time...All I needed to do 
was get you drunk!"

Both agents eyes grew wide with horror. How could he have known that? Scully 
said nothing. She wasn't going to engage him in any conversation.

"See, now you won't even talk to me." he sounded like he was crying. "After all 
I did, all I gave you. I love you, Dana. Will he give you diamonds? Will he love 
you forever?" Mulder watched on anxiously as the numbers popped up. Only two 
more and they'd have him. "Would he die for you?" There was a brief pause as the 
final digit appeared. "I would."

A gunshot rang in her ear. Eyes wide and gasping for breath, she dropped the 
phone.

Mulder scrambled for the receiver. "Hello... Hello?" The tracer gave him an 
address. He rang Janie, on his cellphone knowing she was probably on her way 
there already. As he raced around her, Scully stood against the wall, staring at 
the phone as it lay on the table where Mulder had discarded it. She thought if 
she moved away from it she'd fall apart.

He had killed himself. Killed himself for her. The ultimate act of obsessive 
love. And it was her fault. She was responsible. The noise of the gunshot rang 
through her head over and over again. She had heard gunfire before, seen people 
die before, but this? This was incomprehensible.

"Are you okay?" Mulder asked gently, knowing well she couldn't be. Scully 
nodded, but couldn't take her eyes off the phone. He put his hands on her 
shoulders and moved into her line of vision.

Mulder looked her in the eye. He had never seen her look so scared before. "I'm 
going to call a doctor. You're in shock."

"I'm okay." She finally said. "I don't need a doctor."

***

It took a few minutes before she could move away from the wall. Mulder stood in 
front of her, gently stroking her hand. All the time talking to her, but she 
didn't hear what he was saying. All she could hear was the gunshot. All she 
could see was the phone. She didn't even hear Mulder's phone ring. But snapped 
out of it when she realised it was Janie Becker ringing from the address the 
tracer had given.

"We're in a studio in the city. There's a body. Self inflicted gunshot wound to 
the head... messy. It'll be a fingerprint job." Janie walked around the dimly 
lit room as forensics started work.

There were photos hung around of Scully. By herself, with mulder, and Mulder 
scratched out of them. Surveillance quipment lay on the table. She could hear 
Mulder's voice in stereo. Over her phone and through the tape recorder, picking 
up every detail from the bugs. "Jesus, when he broke in, he bugged the place." 
The revulsion showing in her voice.

Mulder passed on the information to Scully. "Bugged?" Scully asked, the anger 
rising in her voice. "Where? Where the hell are they?" She started to up end 
furniture.

"Jane, I'll get back to you." Mulder hung up. "Scully, it's..."

"It's not alright, Mulder" She snapped. "Don't say it is, because it's not. It's 
bad enough that he was in my home, but he heard everything. Knew everything I 
was doing!" She turned over the coffee table, sending its contents sprawling 
across the room. "Where the fuck did he put it? Where is it?"

"Scully, stop it, please." Mulder followed her around as she continued to rip 
her house apart.

"Scully... Scul... DANA!" The unfamiliar use of her first name snapped her out 
of her mania.

Janie listened as Mulder pleaded with Scully to stop. Glass could be heard 
breaking, heavy objects could be heard tumbling to the ground.

"She must feel so violated." Peter Douglas said quietly as they heard Mulder

calm her down.

Janie saw that every one was listening, and pulled the plug. "Show's over, 
people."

***

Scully slumped to the ground, sitting amongst the ruins of her sitting room. She 
ran both hands back through her hair and took a deep breath to fight back the 
emotions that were surging to the surface.

"It's over, Scully." Mulder said. "He's gone. You have your life back." He 
hunched down in front of her. "It's going to be okay."

Without a word, she knelt up and put her arms around him and hugged him tighter 
than she had ever held on to anyone in her life. She flet his arms across her 
back holding him to her. The softness of his skin as their cheeks rested against 
each other. Scully closed her eyes as small tears of relief finally fell . It 
was over and at last she felt safe.

As he held on to her, Mulder started to feel disappointed. They had come so 
tantalisingly close and fate once again whacked him overthe head with the "not 
going to happen stick" . It was probably for the best. Their working 
relationship would have ended, which meant he'd probably never see her again! 
What if it hadn't worked? What if it had fallen apart after a short time? That 
would have been worse than not knowing. He sighed. So close and yet so 
far...Story of his life!

"Oh my God. I really trashed the place!" She half laughed, breaking the silence 
and the embrace.

"Now it looks like my apartment." Mulder laughed. "You go get freshened up. I'll 
repair furniture." He hauled her up and ushered her towards her room. As soon as 
the door close, he started returning cushions to their place and checking for 
broken glass. He rang Janie mid clear up. "Becker, it's me."

"How is she?" Janie asked. "We heard some of what happened."

"She's okay. I just thought you'd like to know."

"I want to get a team over there to sweep for bugs." She was feeling guilty. "I 
should have picked that up. Check for unopened mail. Unusual stuff..."

"Janie, can it wait until Monday?" Mulder asked. "Give us the chance for her to 
sort herself out."

Janie immediately picked up on the fact that Mulder referred to he and Scully as 
"us" Something had happened. "Sure. You should stay over tonight. You know, just 
to make sure she's okay."

"I hope so...I mean, if she needs me to, I will." He said quietly.

Janie quietly punched the air. "I'll find out who our sicko is here, and I'll 
let you know the second I do."

"Good luck getting identification on a Saturday night!" Mulder said.

"Hey, I'm Scary Spice, remember?" Janie laughed. "Seeya."

"Thanks, Jane." Mulder said. "For everything." And he hung up.

"Ladies and gentlemen, Agents Mulder and Scully look like they're about to live 
happily ever after." Janie proudly announced.

"Not if I can help it, you Blonde bitch."

**********************************************************************

End of Chapter 8. =======================

You Think You Know..." Ch 9 by Caroline O'Connell

Disclaimers in Chapter 1

***************************************************************************

Scully emerged from her bedroom after a short while looking and feeling so much 
better. The horror of the earlier events had passed and she now knew it was all 
over. She could get back on with her life. Mulder had continued his restoration 
of the room and was once again in the kitchen cooking for her.

"He cooks, he cleans." Scully laughed. "One of these days, Mulder, you'll make 
someone a lovely wife!"

"I live in hope." He replied, cracking an egg into the frying pan. "I don't know 
about you, but I feel like screwing up my cholesterol." He prepared a huge fry 
for them both.

"This is really going to help my hangover." She muttered, filling her plate with 
bacon, sausages and tomatoes.

They lapsed into silence for a few minutes, knowing they would eventually have 
to broach the subject of what happened earlier between them, but neither wanted 
to be the one to bring it up.

"I'm afraid that has totally cleaned out your refrigerator." Mulder said washing 
down several million calories with a mug of tea.

"So you won't be cooking for me tonight." she said, smiling but sounding 
disappointed.

"I could go to the shops." he suggested, hoping to get the invitation to stay 
over another night.

"Or we could eat out." She suggested. "Get dressed up and celebrate the end of 
all this."

"Or we could get take out, stay in and veg out to celebrate the end of all 
this." Mulder replied.

"Nope! I've made my mind up." She said getting up from the table. "I'm taking 
you out to dinner as a thank you. So go home, pick out a nice tie, or something, 
and meet me back here at 8.00."

Mulder nodded, smiling and made for the front door. Before he opened it, he 
stopped and turned around, facing her. "I don't want to jump to any 
conclusions." He shuffled , staring at his feet. "But is this.... you know?... I 
mean, we almost..."

Scully started to giggled nervously. "Sure looks like it." She was as successful 
as him in avoiding eye contact.

"Okay..." He paused for what seemed like an eternity. "Okay." Every word seemed 
like a sentence on it's own. "Then let's finish what we almost started."

Scully nodded and moved towards him. Her look of nervous anticipation reflected 
in his face. She could hear her heartbeat... hell she could almost hear his, he 
looked so nervous. "This is ridiculous!" She thought. The doctor and the 
psychologist acting like a couple of virgin teenagers on prom night... It was 
her prom night all over again and she couldn't help but start to laugh as they 
stood inches from each other.

"What?" Mulder asked, puzzled.

"This!" She laughed. "Look at us Mulder. We're about to have a coronary over 
this. The look of panic on your face just now! It's a kiss... it's just a kiss 
an we're treating it like... like prom night."

"Like prom night?" he repeated, trying not to laugh in her face. Now she's truly 
lost it! Probably post traumatic stress disorder.

"We're forcing it. We have to stop anticipating it and just let it happen." She 
was still smiling.

"Okay Just let it happen." he repeated. "I'll pick you up at 8 and we can let it 
happen then."

Mulder leant in and kissed her lightly on the cheek. "Seeya." He whispered in 
her ear and left with a big schoolboy grin on his face. "You want prom night, 
Scully?" He asked, driving off in his car. "We can do prom night."

***

Scully tore through her wardrobe like a woman possessed. What the hell was she 
going to wear? No suits, that was for sure. Skirt? Too short. Blouse? Too plain. 
Trousers? How the hell did they get there? The blue dress? The black top? The 
little black number? "I have a little black number?" Too little for dinner. 
Maybe the next date. "Oh my God! I'm going on a date with Mulder... Mulder is my 
boyfriend and I need to sit down and think this through."

She sat down and thought it through. "Me and Mulder... Mulder and I... I am out 
of my mind!" She shook her head smiling and something in her closet caught her 
eye. A long, pale green wraparound skirt with a long sleeved, low cut sweater... 
Perfect. She probably even had matching shoes.

***

"I want a small bouquet of flowers." Mulder said to the assistant in the flower 
shop. "Prom night."

The assistant smiled warmly. "We have some lovely long stemmed roses..."

"No roses!" Mulder said. "Anything but roses!"

After much deliberation, he settled on an arrangement of small sunflowers, 
carnations and chrysanthemums. the type of flowers weren't important, but the 
colours were. Bright yellows, oranges, peaches and cream. Warm and sunny. The 
arrangement was in a free-standing cellophane bag filled with water and 
decorated with a garland of ribbons. When it caught the light, it looked like a 
crystal vase.

Mulder couldn't believe he was actually doing this. Buying flowers for Scully. 
The last time he'd done that was the day he found out she had cancer. He had 
joked that he had robbed them from a patient with a broken leg. A couple of days 
after that , he realised that he loved her and the thought of life without her 
was unbearable. They fought her cancer and they won, but the idea of a 
relationship was furthest from his mind. He was just happy to know that she'd be 
around. But now, tonight would bring their relationship to another level.

***

Janie Becker waited in her cubicle for the fingerprint identification and 
forensics to come through. She went through each of the case files, sorting out 
the evidence, tidying up notes, readying herself to finally put this case to 
bed. She interrupted her work to answer her phone.

"Agent Becker, we're sending the results by fax now." Thanks." She hung up and 
raced to the section fax machine. It was already printing out a photo with name, 
address and as many details as were on record. Raymond Stephens, 29. A little 
young, Janie thought. She took the information back to her desk and logged on to 
her computer.

***

Mulder found a suit that didn't look like one he wore for work. He wore a white 
grandfather shirt with black buttons. Dressy, but not too dressy and he didn't 
have to wear a tie! He gave himself the once over and he had to admit, he didn't 
look too bad. Checking his watch, he decided to be on time for a change and left 
the apartment carrying the flowers.

A van had double parked, hemming his car in. He put the flowers in his car and 
went to look for the owner of the van. It was a delivery truck and the back door 
was open. Looking around to see if the driver was there, he saw only a bunch of 
roses. The realisation hit him instantly.

Mulder didn't have a chance to panic. He was brutally beaten across the head 
from behind, dropping to the ground completely unconscious, such was the 
ferocity of the blow. Mulder was roughly bundled into the back of the van, his 
wrists and ankles tightly bound with a cord and then covered by a canopy. He 
remained oblivious as the truck drove off.

*** "This isn't right." Janie said to nobody in particular. Ray Stephens was a 
small time crook and junkie. He wouldn't have had the drive to stalk these 
women. Judging by his criminal record for petty thievery, he didn't seem smart 
enough to devise such elaborate plans to send flowers, to purchase electrical 
equipment in order to trap these women. He didn't appear in any of the photo 
fits. To be on the safe side, Janie began sifting through the many photos and 
personal effects of the victims hoping to come up with some clue as to why this 
man, now deceased, stalked and killed these women.

She couldn't help the niggling feeling that had followed her since they had 
found the body. It was over. Why didn't it feel like it was over? "Janie, you're 
spending too much time with Spooky Mulder again!" But she carried on regardless.

***

It was 8.20pm. Scully sat on the chair, careful not to mess her outfit. She 
definitely said 8.00pm. Not 8.30pm . Why hadn't he rung to say he was late? This 
was so like him! She looked over at the machine. The volume was down so not to 
disturb her preparations. She'd had enough of the damn phone. No red light 
flashing. No message. "Great start." she sighed. Their first date, and he was 
standing her up.

Mulder felt kind of weightless, but unable to move. His attacker carried him, 
still bound, over his shoulder through the darkness with Mulder weaving in and 
out of consciousness. The brief bouts of lucidity, coupled with extreme pain 
weren't long enough for him to fully figure out what was going on. The effort to 
stay awake would become too much after about half a minute. It was easier to 
sleep. It hurt less.

He was gently, almost carefully placed on the ground. His attacker untied 
Mulder's wrists. If he wanted to fight back he'd have to do it now, but Mulder 
barely had the presence of mind to keep breathing. He was hauled into a sitting 
position and leant against a metal roof support. He opened his eyes as his head 
made contact with the cool metal. It soothed the aching in his head, but 
couldn't make it stop. He turned to see who had done this, but before he could 
focus, the dizziness and the pain once again overwhelmed him and he passed out. 
His wristwatch was removed and his arms bound securely around the pole, behind 
his back.

"You're going nowhere." The voice said. "I'm not sharing her with you."

"That's it Mulder!" Scully stormed to the phone. "You are toast!" She angrily 
tapped in his phone number and heard a ringing tone. She waited for either him 
or the machine to answer... "Great Mulder, the machine. So what came up? It's 
now 8.45 and you're not here. Who contacted you with a tip off? What was so damn 
important that you couldn't even contact me?" She paced angrily around the room. 
"God, why did I think this would work?... So much for prom night! Actually, yes, 
this is prom night My prom night was a disaster and I never saw him again. Seeya 
round Mulder." She was sad more than angry as she went on. "Over before it 
began." And she hung up.

***

Janie continued her work, knowing there was more to Ray Stephen's death than a 
suicide. When she could say for definite she'd call Dana. Believing Mulder to be 
with her at the apartment, Janie knew Scully had protection once she wasn't 
alone.

***

Scully kicked off her shoes and went back to the bedroom to change. It had been 
so long since she'd spent time getting ready to go out for the night and it 
hadn't been easy with her wrist. Looking at her reflection in the full-length 
mirror as she began to unfasten the buttons of her sweater. She looked great! 
"What a waste!" She sighed to no one in particular

She stopped as she heard a knock at the door. "Go away!" she yelled, thinking it 
was Mulder. At least he didn't have the arrogance to use his key and just let 
himself in.

"Dana, it's Andy."

"Great!" She sighed and went to answer him.

"I've got wine and a video." The muffled shouts became clearer as Scully opened 
the door mid-sentence. "Wow! You look incredible." Her look of annoyance 
softened into a smile. "I'm sorry, I didn't know you were heading out. I can 
leave this for another time."

"No, it fell through. Come on in." She let him in. "I'll get changed."

"If you don't mind me saying so, it seems like a waste to get all dressed up 
like that and not go out. Why don't we go?"

"Andy... I don't know." Scully said, having already told him how she felt.

"No strings, I promise." Andy smiled. "We can go out, have a bite to eat and go 
our separate ways. After what you've been through, you deserve a night out, 
Dana."

He was right. She did deserve it. "I'll get my jacket."

As they were leaving, Scully's phone rang. She continued closing the door behind 
her.

"Aren't you going to answer it?" Andy asked.

"Nope." She said, thinking it was too late for Mulder to call and apologise. 
"The machine's on. I can get it later."

"Hi this is Dana Scully. I'm not in at the moment. Leave a message after the 
beep."

"Dee, if you're there, pick up." It was Janie. "Okay, you're not there. Where 
the hell are you?" She paced around. "Right, Dana this is important. Your 
stalker is not dead. He set us up. I'm on my way to your place now. Don't let 
anyone in but me. I'm going to call your cell phone and Mulder's place on the 
way. Contact me as soon as you get that." And she hung up.

As she went to grab her car keys, she knocked a glass, half filled with water. 
Grabbing it to stop the contents ruining her report, she placed it down on one 
of the photos she had been looking through earlier. The remaining water 
magnified a couple of faces in the background.

"Oh my God!" Janie gasped, recognising one of them

***

"Do you mind if we head to my place so I can change into something a little less 
casual?" Andy smiled. He was in jeans and a shirt compared with Scully's outfit. 
"I don't want to lower the tone!"

Andy's place was a large studio, filled with artist's materials, canvases and a 
potter's wheel. Scully was fascinated by it all. "You live here?"

"Sort of. I work out of here, but lately I seem to spend all my time working. 
When the muse hits, you just go with the flow." Andy explained. "I moved some 
clothes and stuff over from my apartment across town." He left her to get 
changed and Scully took the opportunity to get a better look at some of his 
work. There were a couple of sculptures in a similar style to the vase Andy had 
made for her.

Reappearing moments later, Andy was dressed in a grey suit with a white shirt 
and a colourful tie. "How do I look?"

"Not like an artist, that's for sure!" Scully smiled. He looked more like a 
businessman, or an FBI agent... No, the tie was a bit loud for an agent!

"Well, I was never one to conform to people's ideas of me." Andy looked at his 
watch. "We better go If we're to get somewhere other than McDonalds!"

Scully's earlier reservation had been taken due to her late arrival. As they 
drove around looking for a restaurant, she felt guilty for leaving the message 
on Mulder's machine.

"Are you okay?" Andy broke the silence.

"Yeah." She sighed. "I'm just a little tired. It's been a long day."

"This is turning into a bit of a treasure hunt. It's Saturday. Any half decent 
restaurant won't have a space. Maybe we should just get take out."

"No, I'm fine." She tried to brighten up. "What time is it?"

"Around 9.30." Andy looked at his watch.

"Scully noticed the design. "Small world."

"What?" He asked.

"Your watch." Scully explained. "It's very similar to my partner's."

He nodded thoughtfully. "You like him don't you." Andy half smiled.

"We have a history." Scully said, not wishing to get into the complications of 
her relationship with Mulder.

"You two strike me as the type who'd do anything for each other." he said.

"Scully was a little perturbed by his comment. We're friends, Andy. We've been 
through a lot together... Is something the matter?"

"Dana, he is so wrong for you."

***

The door to Andy Warner's apartment splintered as it was forced open by a team 
of police officers. After a brief check, it was obvious there was nobody there. 
Agents Douglas and Ryder were co-ordinating the search for Warner whilst Janie 
was looking for Mulder and Scully.

Getting no response from Scully's apartment, she had made her way over to 
Mulder's to see if they were ignoring messages and getting away from it all. 
Janie got no reply from his doorbell, but saw his car as she was leaving. Her 
heart sank as she saw the flowers in the back seat. Something was definitely 
wrong. Checking closer, she found Mulder's car keys near the vehicle. Guessing 
very quickly Andrew Warner, Scully's stalker, had kidnapped Mulder in an attempt 
to force Dana into co- operating with him.

She rang Douglas to pass on the new information. If he stayed true to form, then 
Andy had Mulder alive. The murdered couples were found together. He would 
probably bring Scully to wherever Mulder was. But finding that would be the 
proverbial needle in a haystack.

***

Scully lashed out with her elbow, crashing it into Andy's chest. The car 
screeched to a halt and she tried to get out, but gasping for breath, he grabber 
her injured wrist, subduing her as the pain shot up her arm.

"Don't you care where he is?" Andy hissed in her ear. "I can take you to him."

"You've already killed him, you bastard!" She yelled.

"No, Dana. I wouldn't do that to you. I know how you feel about him." Andy was 
surprised that she could think such a thing.

"You don't know the first thing about how I feel."

"You'd be surprised what I know about you." he said proudly. "I've been doing my 
homework."

"Then you'll know, if you have killed Mulder," she turned to look at him. "I'll 
kill you."

"Now, Dana," he ignored her remark. "I'm trusting you to behave yourself while 
we get there. have a gun and I will use it if you provoke me." Andy turned the 
key in the ignition and started driving.

***

"Mike? Hi, it's Janie Becker." She was rining her contact with the credit card 
company. "I have an emergency situation here. I need an urgent check on any 
purchases on all the numbers I gave you and I have 2 more. The names are Ray 
Stephens and Dana Scully." Janie quickly listed off dates of birth and Scully's 
card numbers, stolen during the mugging. "How long will it take? Im not trying 
to pressure you... actually, I am trying to pressure you. This is life or death 
stuff. Thanks Mike. I owe you."

***

"Why me?" Scully asked as the drive around the city continued.

"I saw you at a crime scene." Andy smiled warmly, delighted to be telling her 
how he fell for her. "The way you controlled it, the way everyone jumped to your 
tune. I thought, wow, I have to get to know you."

"Like you got to know Lindsay, Trina and the others?" Scully snapped 
sarcastically.

"Completely different situations." Andy sighed. "They weren't like you. I only 
wish they were! Stupid whining women. You touch them an they scream. I couldn't 
have them screaming." He was so matter of fact about the whole thing. "They took 
my flowers and gifts quickly enough, just like you did, Dana and then they 
expect to do nothing in return? It's not on."

"What makes you think I won't scream?" Scully asked, trying to remain calm.

"You're not the screaming type." Andy stopped the car outside his studio. He got 
out and went to her door. "I see you 'look don't touch'." He took her arm and 
ushered her inside, making a point of showing her the gun in the waistband of 
his trousers. "You give off this unattainable air." He locked the door behind 
her. "You were just waiting for the right person."

"And let me guess, that person is you." Scully said trying to disguise the fact 
that she was scared out of her wits.

"We're a lot alike, you and I. We both play games to get what we want." Andy 
said into her ear. "I've worked hard to get to this moment. I deserve you Dana. 
I've spent a small fortune on you and now it's payback time." he caressed her 
cheek. She slapped his hand away. "This hard to get routine is wearing really 
thin." There was an edge to his voice

"I want to see Mulder." Scully said. "Have you killed him?"

"No I havent killed him!" Andy laughed like it was the most stupid question in 
the world. "Just taking care of the competition, Dana. I'm not going to share 
you. Don't worry, he's safe."

"I don't believe you! I said I want to see him!" She yelled.

"Fine!" he grabbed her injured wrist and pulled her down a flight of stairs to 
the basement.

************************************************************************** End 
of chapter 9.

============================

"You think you know..." Chapter 10 by Caroline O'Connell

Disclaimer: See Chapter One. Rated: PG for violence and language.

Summary: A stalker turns his unwanted attentions to Scully, throwing Mulder and 
her into a situation neither of them ever envisaged.

********************************************************************************
***********

The basement was dimly lit and very cold, in comparison to the well lit warm 
studio above. Scully squirmed from Andy's grip and dropped to her knees beside 
Mulder to check for a pulse. It was slight, but there. His skin was cold and 
clammy. He wouldn't survive these conditions much longer.

"He needs to go get to a hospital." She tried to get a reaction from him. Her 
caress brought Mulder around for a second, but he soon lapsed back into 
unconsciousness.

"Dana, get away from him." Andy tapped her shoulder to attract her attention.

"What now, Andy?" She stood up and looked him in the eye. "Do you rape me too?"

"Dana, I'm not going to make you do anything you don't want to do." He sounded 
hurt.

"What do you want me to do?" Her heart was racing as he stroked her hair from 
her face.

"It's what we both want." He smiled as his arm snaked around her waist, drawing 
her close to him.

"You don't know what I want. You don't know the first thing about me."

"Oh but I do, Dana." Andy leant in like he was whispering sweet nothings. "I 
know you paint your toenails, even though nobody sees them. You love soul music, 
a good wine, long hot baths and strawberries. You have a great sense of humour 
and a beautiful laugh. You see, I do know you, Dana, and you're wonderful." He 
kissed her gently on the neck. Every muscle in her body tensed, but it was a 
means to an end. If she could get a hold of the gun, she'd have no compunction 
about using it. "That's better. See how easy this is?" he moved back to look at 
her . She faked a smile, but her insides were churning. Every touch made her 
feel sick.

Andy began to fumble with the buttons on her sweater. She made no effort to 
help, or stop him. "You're not making this easy for me." He laughed.

Scully thought, he's insane. Mulder lay to one side, seriously hurt and Andy 
believed he was seducing her!

The last button popped open and his hands went under caressing the bare skin 
from her hips to her back to start on her bra strap. Seeing her chance, she 
moved in closer as if to return the embrace. Scully caught hold of the gun and 
kneed Andy in the groin. He dropped to his knees in agony.

"You son of a bitch!" She yelled at him. "Don't you ever touch me again!"

"Dana?... Wha... what are you doing?" he gasped. He couldn't understand why she 
had done this to him.

"Now you know what it's like." She circled around him, pointing the gun at his 
head.. Two weeks of pent up rage exploding. "You're wondering if I'm going to 
kill you. I could, you know. I could blow your fucking head off right now and 
they'd give me a medal." Trembling with fear and rage, she knew she had to 
gather herself to resolve this. She took a deep breath. "Place your hands on 
your head, fingers laced together." He remained still. "Do It!" Slowly, Andy's 
hands moved to his head. "You like to see me control a scene? Well, I'm in 
control now, you bastard." Taking the remainder of the cord used to tie Mulder, 
Scully looped it and hooked it around one of Andy's wrists to restrain him.

As she went to tie his two wrists together, Mulder faded back to consciousness 
and groaned quietly. It distracted her long enough for Andy to lunge at her . 
She lost her balance and in an effort to hold on to the gun, landed heavily on 
her left wrist. Before the pain could sink in, Andy straddled her and attempted 
to wrestle the gun from her. Instinct took over and Scully fired blind. Andy was 
thrown back from her as the shot blasted between his eyes and out through the 
back of his skull.

Scully lay on the ground for a moment trying to register what had just happened. 
She heard muffled sounds overhead and within seconds, the room was overrun with 
law enforcement officers including Janie Becker.

"Dee, just lie still." She took the gun from Scully's hand.

Scully locked into 'autopilot'. "No, I'm fine, but Mulder's hurt." She sat up 
and saw the paramedics cut him loose and tend to him. It was then she realised 
her top was undone. When she attempted to fasten up the buttons, the pain in her 
wrist was almost unbearable.

"Let me do it." Quickly, Janie fastened the sweater to save Scully any perceived 
embarrassment.

"Warner's dead." Agent Douglas said.

"Oh God." Scully whispered. "I told him I'd do it. I told him I'd blow his head 
off. I didn't mean to. He jumped me and..."

"Save it for the report, Dana." Janie said quietly, putting her arm around 
Scully's shoulder. "You don't need to explain yourself to anyone here."

"How did you find us?" Scully asked as the 2 women got to their feet.

"Welcome to your place!" Janie explained. "It was rented using your credit 
card."

"Tell me I can get a refund!" Scully sighed. "This place is a dump."

"Agent Scully." One of the paramedics interrupted them. "We should get that 
wrist looked at."

***

They were taken in the same ambulance. Mulder was still just about holding his 
own, but theparamedics were still unable to waken him. On reaching the hospital, 
Scully was led to x-ray as Mulder was brought into the ER trauma room. She felt 
so helpless. She wanted to see him, needed to see him but every attempt was met 
with her being escorted in one direction and him in the other.

After about two hours, Scully was finally let into the ICU where Mulder was 
still unconscious. His results showed no internal bleeding, but he was to be 
kept under constant observation. A heart monitor beeped quietly and constantly 
beside him. Her arm was in a cast, having broken her wrist in the fall. Sitting 
in the chair beside his bed, she took hold of his hand and held it tightly.

"How are you?" Janie stood by the curtain separating Mulder's bed from the 
others in the ward.

"If you're here to take me home, you can for get it." Scully raised an eyebrow.

"I value my internal organs, thank you very much!" Janie replied, causing Scully 
to smile. "But here's a coffee - it's terrible, by the way! - my jacket, a 
blanket and half of the Post's crossword. I have a lot of paperwork to file. 
Keep me posted." She turned to leave. "I'll drop back in the morning."

"Janie, thanks." Scully said. " I don't know what I'd have done this last week."

Janie wanted to say something, but the only thing that came to mind was a glib 
'Just doin' ma job, ma'am.' and Scully deserved better than that. Janie just 
smiled and left them.

****

Mulder felt like he was tightly wrapped in cotton wool. Nothing was functioning 
right and why didn't his alarm clock switch off? It had been beeping for ages! 
It sounded different too... Why did it sound different? He finally reached his 
hand across to switch it off, but instead, knocked over a tumbler of water, 
which in turn startled Scully from her slumber. "Hey." She said quietly, smiling 
at him. "Welcome back."

His eyes blinked rapidly as he tried to focus on her. Mulder looked confused as 
his eyes darted around, finally aware of his surroundings. "What happened?" his 
voice just above a whisper. "Why am I here?"

"You were attacked." She said trying to calm him as he looked anxiously at her. 
"Last night, you received a blow to the head which fractured your skull."

"Last night I was at your house." He said like he was searching for the 
information. "You fell asleep on the couch."

"Mulder, what day do you think it is?"

"Thursday?" He said hopefully.

"It's Sunday." Scully shrugged. "You don't remember any of the last few days?"

He shook his head slightly, indicating he didn't. For the first time since he 
woke up, he could see her clearly. "You're all dressed up." Her hair was a 
little tossed, her make up smudged but in her green outfit, she still looked 
great. She smiled, but said nothing. Then he noticed the cast. That wasn't there 
the last he remembered. "What happened to you?" The concern in his voice was 
obvious.

"It's long and complicated." Every detail from the previous night was still 
fresh in her mind. "Short version for now is; Andrew Warner, Sculpture Guy, 
stalked and killed those women. He attacked you, kept you hostage and then 
called on me."

"Oh my God." Mulder sat up. "Did he..."

"No." she interrupted him as he looked in obvious discomfort. He lay down again, 
had to his head, eyes screwed tight. "No, he never got the chance. You need to 
rest." For once he didn't argue. He just nodded and quickly drifted back to 
sleep. She gently stroked his hair back from his face. "Over before it began." 
She sighed and finally left him alone.

***

Janie was on her way in as Scully was trying to arrange transport home. "How's 
Mulder?" She was concerned that Scully looked upset.

"He came around a while ago. He's going to be okay." Scully sighed.

"So, what's wrong?" Janie asked.

"He remembers nothing of the last 4 days."

"Oh." Janie exclaimed. "C'mon. I'll take you home."

"I really thought this was it." Scully sighed, getting into the car.

"So tell him." Janie said.

"I can't do that."

"Okay." Janie said slowly. "Stupid question time, Dee. Why not?

"Oh come on, Janie. Look at the facts." She laughed loudly. "Hey, Mulder, the 
first bad guy wasn't our bad guy. Our bad guy asked me out on a date after 
taking me to hospital. By the way, we were supposed to go on a date last night 
only you got concussion and we nearly kissed too!"

Janie smiled at the implausibility of it all. "Sounds like one of your X-Files."

They finally made it back to Scully's apartment. The first thing that greeted 
her on her arrival was the vase Andy had made for her. Without a word, Scully 
grabbed a garbage sack and tipped it in, shattering it as it made contact with 
the floor. She repeated the process with the second vase in her bedroom.

"What are you doing?" Janie asked.

"You think I'm going to keep them after what happened?" Scully asked angrily.

"No, of course not. What you should have done is sold them." Janie smiled. "Dead 
artist? His stuff is going to be worth a fortune!"

Scully laughed, giving Janie the reaction she hoped for. "You're evil, Janie 
Becker, you know that?"

***

Despite her arm being in a cast, Scully turned up for work on Monday. The first 
person to hear was AD Skinner. He dropped down to the basement. "Agent Scully, 
you're not fit for active duty."

"I'm just doing paperwork sir." She said picking up files one at a time and 
leaning them on the cast.

"I don't care if you're counting paper clips!" he replied in that all too 
familiar authoritative tone. You shouldn't be here. Give yourself time to 
recover. I saw Agent Becker's report and..."

"Sir..." She interrupted him. "With all due respect, I'd sooner be here. I've 
spent enough time cooped up in my apartment to last a lifetime."

"Then go for a walk. Take in the scenery." He took the files from her. His gruff 
tone belied the concern on his face. "Give yourself time." he repeated.

She knew when she was beaten.

***

Scully spent the next few days relaxing. She took long walks, went shopping and 
visited Mulder who was improving every day. Tests showed he had suffered no 
brain damage.

"There has to be a brain to damage first!" He joked.

Scully filled him in on everything that happened with Andy, hoping to jog his 
memory. "You don't remember anything?"

"Bits and pieces." He shrugged. "I remember Letterman, ice cream, lunch with 
Becker... andthat's about it, I'm afraid."

"To be honest, it's not a weekend I want to remember either." She smiled, 
painfully aware of the missed opportunity, but glad that it happened. "Parts of 
it were good, though."

"Which parts? It might help me jog my memory."

"You cooking for me, for one." She couldn't disguise her enjoyment of it. "And 
keeping me company. We really had a great talk. I found out a lot about you..."

"And I remember nothing of what you said." He was a little frustrated.

"Believe me, you missed nothing!" She laughed. "The semi-drunken ramblings...."

"You got drunk?"

"We got drunk!" She corrected him. "And I was the one with the hangover!"

"I don't get hangovers." He said like he was telling her for the first time.

"I know." she replied, knowing all to well.

"If it makes you feel better, I concuss very easily."

She looked at him. He couldn't help but notice the sadness in her eyes. The 
regret? Maybe was seeing more than was there. Maybe it was the concussion!

"You should rest, now." She gently caressed his hand with a tenderness he never 
remembered from her before.

Mulder watched her leave. Why was she so sad? What was she not telling him? What 
did he miss? Because of that damned attack, he knew he might never find out.

***

After a few more days in hospital, Mulder made his own way home by taxi. Both he 
and Scully were unable to drive because of their injuries He was relieved to be 
getting out, back to his own life. Back to his place and not to Scully's.

Suddenly he felt disappointed, but couldn't figure out just why he felt like 
that. That was the worst feeling. The not knowing was the worst part. Scully had 
filled him in, but there was a little doubt niggling in the back of his mind 
that she had been economic with some of the details. Had they argued? Had it 
been a total disaster of a week and she was just being kind? Whatever, maybe it 
was best left forgotten.

On entering his apartment, the first thing he did was check his messages and 
post. The tape rewound and the first message played. It was a tele sales ad for 
some magazine. It had barely finished the introduction when Mulder forwarded to 
the next message. It was Scully.

"Great, Mulder the machine!" She sounded angry. His heart was racing as he 
listened to her vent her spleen. "So much for prom night."

Prom night? Prom night! The realisation hit home like a sledgehammer! The were 
going to dinner. He brought her flowers. They kissed... oh, wait, no they 
didn't. But they nearly did. He rewound the message and played it again. "... 
Why did I think this would work."

He grabbed the phone, but hung it up just as quickly. This isn't the kind of 
conversation you have on the phone. This was a life altering conversation. 
Mulder's heart was racing. Annoyed and ecstatic at the same time. Why didn't she 
tell him? Why did she leave out that part, knowing they felt the same about each 
other? One way to find out.

***

Scully sat sprawled across the couch feeling completely sorry for her self. Two 
completely superfluous outfits were thrown on the chair, neither was suitable 
for work and therefore would not be worn! They certainly wouldn't be worn on her 
next date. At her current speed, her next date would be sometime around 2004 so 
the black satin dress would be completely out of fashion! "Should have told 
him!" she sighed out loud. She should have told him, but no, that would have 
made sense. And her damn wrist still hurt... and it itched!

Grabbing the take-away menu by the phone, she read intently. She could barely 
dress herself properly, she certainly wasn't going to cook! Sweet and Sour 
sounded right. And prawn crackers... and fried rice. Then a big scoop of vanilla 
chocolate chip and chocolate fudge ice cream. In fact, scrub the Chinese meal!

Scully went straight to the fridge, scooping one flavour into the other and 
whipping a beer from the lower compartment. Trying to open it proved a challenge 
she couldn't win. It was the same with the wine. She couldn't grip the bottles 
properly to open them. "I hate this cast!!" she growled as she grabbed a can of 
Coke. Because of her annoyance, she was far from gentle and when she did finally 
manage to open it, cola squirted wildly, drenching her.

And then the doorbell rang. "No no no no no no!" she said with each step 
punctuating her displeasure. Scully looked through the spy hole to see Mulder. 
"No!". She raced to the bedroom to change.

"Scully?" He called knocking on the door.

"I'm coming!" She yelled back trying to sound nonchalant.

"I brought dinner." he said as she opened the door. He held up the bags as 
proof. "It's Chinese. Sweet and sour. I hope you're hungry."

She smiled. He must be psychic. Scully let him in, but said nothing. He noticed 
the clothes and the ice cream, but silently went to the kitchen to set out the 
food.

The uncomfortable silence was broken by both of them. "How are you?"

"We're trying too hard... again." Mulder smiled. "Make yourself comfortable. 
I'll be ready moment."

Again? Scully turned away, eyes wide as saucers. She composed herself very 
quickly. "Do you need a hand? I have one good one."

"Naw, it's okay." He carried the 2 plates to her and they sat at the dining 
table.. "This all feels familiar." He smiled, handing her dinner. He paused for 
a moment. "Were you ever going to tell me?"

"Wh... what?"

"I got your phone message." he said. "The one from Saturday night."

Scully scrunched her face up. "Oh dear. I'm sorry I was angry."

"Don't apologise. It triggered everything." He smiled. "You mentioned prom night 
and it was like somebody opened a door and there it was."

She smiled, embarrassed by her small rant.

"Why didn't you tell me?" He took hold of her hand.

"Would you have believed me?"

"Probably not."

"See." She said quietly, watching as their fingers knitted together.

There was silence for a moment. Both fascinated by the hand holding. "This seems 
to be a running theme." Scully said, moving in. "We can't seem to get beyond 
this point."

"The implications." he said moving closer to her . "What do we tell everyone." 
He could smell her hair... Smelt like cola?... He liked cola.

"What do we do about work?" She asked, the anticipation making her heart race as 
their foreheads touched. "What do we tell our families?" They were almost there.

"I don't care." His hand caressed through her hair, bringing them even closer.

Finally she kissed him... or he kissed her. They kissed and it was perfect. 
Leaning across the table, knocking condiments as they moved to hold each other. 
The kiss becoming more urgent with time. They were completely lost in each 
other.

To see it from an outsider's point of view, it looked awkward and a little 
clumsy, but the world and its mother could have been watching and neither would 
have cared.

Breaking off after a moment, Mulder smiled. "That was nice." His arms stayed 
around her, as if he was afraid to let go, in case she disappeared. Scully said 
nothing, just looked around her. "What are you doing?"

"I had come to the conclusion that something was bound to go wrong after what 
happened the last time we tried this." She said. "I'm waiting for something to 
happen, like hell to freeze over or pigs to start flying. At the very least, the 
roof should fall in!"

"Nothing's happened." He whispered in her ear. "Yet."

"And what do you think could happen?" She grinned as her hand made contact with 
the bare skin of his lower back.

"What say we go and explore some extreme possibilities!" he giggled in her ear, 
unable to keep his hands off her either.

For once, she knew he didn't mean work.

***********************************************************************

Fade out.

***********************************************************************

The end…. Or is it the beginning. You never can tell!

Comments etc to: Caroline O'Connell ginger@cyberia.ie

Thanks for reading.

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