Disclaimer : Mulder and Scully are not mine. They of course belong to Chris Carter, 10-13 Production, and Fox Studios. Let's see - oh, and the song "Head of Feet" isn't mine either - that belongs to Alanis Morrissette ( sorry Chris! ).I think that covers every thing! This another short little ditty! There may be a little tiny hint of romance, nothing major! This story is for Jen who made me sit and listen to this song in the first place --- thanks Jen! : ) This is also to Jaedd, who provided me with the transcript, I hope you like it! And I can't forget Nancy - my "big sis" and Laura - mi amiga. :) Any comments, praises? I'd love to know what you think! Send them to - I love E - mail! Aware by : Keri Givens 6-18-96 Mulder yawned and slid around in the seat - trying to find a comfortable position . "Trying was the key word." he thought as he tilted the car seat backwards and leaned his head back. He stretched and closed his eyes. At least he might be able to get a little shut eye this way. The stillness inside the car combined with the soothing motion of the car had almost succeeded in putting Mulder to sleep when Scully's voice cut through. "Mulder ... are you awake?" "Now I am." he thought grumpily. Maybe if he didn't answer her she would think that he was asleep. He waited and a few minutes passed, Scully never said anything else. "I guess she bought it." thought Mulder with some degree of satisfaction. "Now maybe I can really go to sleep ...." Scully turned on the radio. "Oh come on Scully! Don't do this to me." he groaned inwardly. How was he ever going to get to sleep with her station surfing? She turned off the radio. "Ah yes. Peace and quite. Much better." he thought thankfully. Mulder sneaked a glance at her from under his eyelids. She was rummaging through her purse for something, but what? After a few minutes she pulled out a cassette tape. Well that was certainty interesting. He didn't even know she owned any cassette tapes, let alone carry them in her purse. Well he was wide awake now, and it looked as though his chances of a nap were rapidly diminishing. He closed his eyes and listened as she put in the tape. "I've got me a Chrysler, it's a big as a whale ...." Whoa! Scully listened to Love Shack ?!?! She fast- forwarded it to the next song. The opening strain of Everything I Do... floated out, but she fast-forwarded pass this one too. "Hmm.." thought Mulder. "Not only did she carry cassette tapes in her purse, but from the sounds of it, it seemed that this tape contained her favorite songs." He was curious to know what else was on there. She continued fast-forwarding through a few more songs. She stopped again, and this time the opening line of "Ironic" came through, load and clear. Oh no. That was all he needed, he was so sick of that song - it seems that the local DJ's didn't know the meaning of the word "over-kill". Please don't tell me that this is the song you wanted to hear Scully. Once again - he heard the tape fast-forwarding. He breathed a sigh of relief. Now a new song came on, he didn't recognize the tune. ~I had no choice but to hear you. ~You stated your case time and again. ~I thought about it. He groaned as he recognized the voice. Oh no not *her* again. How could Scully listen to this?!? He was about to protest when he realized that Scully was singing along. "She sang?!?" he thought with disbelief. Maybe he would listen after all. ~You've already won me over, in spite of me. ~Don't be alarmed if I fall head over feet. ~Don't be surprised if I love you for all that you are. ~I couldn't help it, ~It's all your fault. Mulder's memory flew back to the day when they first met. "I'm looking forward to working with you." "Really? I was under the impression that you were sent to spy on me." He had been so sure that she had been sent down there to "de-bunk" the X-Files, so he had done everything in his power to scare her off. Nothing worked. No - everything he threw at her only made her more determined to stay. ~You're the best listener that I've ever met. "She disappeared when she was only eight Scully" .... "This is it Scully...hard proof that the government has known about the existence of extraterestals..." ~You're my best friend. She was. He hadn't known anyone his whole life that he cared about and trusted more than her. ~Best friend with benefits She was more than just a partner to him. She was a friend. She was talented, well educated, warm, caring, and .... ~What took me so long? ...beautiful. He sighed. He had known that from the very beginning, only he had refused to acknowledge it. Now after three years .... he found it increasingly harder to do so. ~I've never felt this healthy before ~I've never wanted something rational He had almost lost her. The painful memories of Duane Barry rushed back. "Where is she ?!?!" The red hair, the delicate gold cross, visions of her frail body laying so still on the hospital bed .... she came so close to slipping away. ~I am aware now He couldn't loose her, not then, not now. He had lost so much, ... they had both lost so much. He knew he depended on her. She listened to him, stood by him when no one else would. She had helped him through so much. ~I am aware now Of how much you mean to me .... ************************ What did you think? Please let me know! + To frown we exercise 87 muscles; to smile we exercise 13. Why work overtime? + :)