Author's foreword: this *story* (scenes of a story, well, it's not really a story...oh, you'll see) takes place in parallel worlds, in which the relationship between Mulder and Scully differ slightly or dramatically within each world. these scenes explore the realms of *the relationship*. pay attention to the subheading's, or you'll get lost. Characters and the x-files are property of Chris Carter, Ten thirteen productions ("I made this!"), and the Fox Broadcasting Company. No copyright infringement is intended. Again, if you are looking for quality science-fiction, then discontinue reading, this is the wrong place. = = = = = = = = = = "Difference" by dulce vita sweetlifex@aol.com comments are very welcomed and very encouraged. enjoy, boys and girls.=) *3rd piece of fanfiction. if you like this one, the others would be enjoyed. requests go to the author.* 9:32 pm FBI headquarters parallel one Agent Fox Mulder sits at his desk, looking at his tie. *Maybe*, he thought, *I should have worn the plaid one*. He shakes his head, not believing he actually is thinking about that. He glances at Scully, sitting in his chair, going through the file. "So, what you're saying is, Mulder," she says slowly and carefully,"that you think this is inevitable?" "Well, yes, just look at all of this evidence. I mean, who would have not already suspected the phenomena had been-" "Mulder, I know, but do you really think that that's what happened?" He stares at her. "You know I do." Scully stands to face him. "I guess we're going to New Orleans then." In the car, Highway 810 Mulder is looking out the window while Scully is at the wheel. She looks over at him. "Are you feeling okay?" He turns and forces a smile. "Yeah, just tired." "What's new," She mumbles. "When are we not tired?" The ride is a quiet one, unusually silent for a routine trip. Mulder is up for a while, before he gives in to a short nap. Scully drives, thinking her usual thoughts, about her job, about the case, about Mulder. Scully had always known how important Mulder was to her, as a partner, as a friend, and she only recently began to understand that importance. She knew that he trusted her, with everything, and that she trusted him. She'd had spent almost every waking moment with this man, and how could she not feel such gratitude towards him? He had saved her life, multiple times, and she had risked hers for his, a risk she was willing to take. When Mulder awoke, he had looked over at Scully and blinked. He had just been dreaming about her, about their last case and how well she handled the whole thing. Mulder knew what a important role Scully played with the X-files. He knew that without her, he would get almost nothing done, because it was almost as if he needed her to think, let alone *do* anything. She played that role for him, that irreplaceable role that only belonged to her and no one else. It was almost better than a romantic relationship, because he needed her, in a way that had more importance than any other need. Of course, the other thought had crossed his mind too, but he decided it would only screw things up, complicating matters. They had hard enough of a time admitting that a friendship existed, but they both knew it, so there was no use going against it. This special bond that they had...it was different. And when Mulder looked over at her at this moment, she knew too, she knew everytime they looked at each other that this special bond that they had...it was different. 9:32 pm Dana's apartment parallel 2 "Fox, come sit with me." Dana calls to him from the couch. It had been five months since she met Fox, since she had met him at that party, and everything was going better than she'd expected. She had been so lucky to meet someone like him, someone so intelligent, someone so sexy, she couldn't take her eyes off him. She could feel herself falling for him, it was inevitable. "Okay," He says, coming from the kitchen. Placing a silver bowl of popcorn in front of her, he stops and just takes the time to look at her. He thought she had been so pretty when he first saw her, and even now, months later, she looks better than ever. He had been searching for someone like her his whole life, and now that he had finally found her, now that he had found the truth, he wasn't going to let it go. She giggles at his stares. "What? What is it?" "Nothing." He sits and smiles. "Fox-" She is going to say it, she really is. "Yes?" Their eyes meet, and they can feel the glance penetrating deep into each other's eyes. The heat takes over right there. The popcorn, apartment, couch- everything disappears right then except for the two. Their bodies are so close, almost touching. Lips so close, almost touching...then suddenly, they are. The kiss is magic, just like the first time in the car. The heat takes over and leaves nothing but thoughts of genuine unexpressed love, care, and feeling. He has her clothes off in a second, and he lays them beside her, not torn them off like it was sex. He knows that they are making deep love, not sex. And Dana, she felt for this man, she feels for him like there is no other feeling. He brings her to her feet, slowly guides her to her room, where he lays her on the bed gently while kissing her so intimately. Fox awakes first, in the middle of the night. At first he is unaware that he is holding her, his body intertwined with hers, a tangled mass of two bodies. He remembers then, and he sighs with relief, to know that, indeed not, it wasn't another dream. Not meaning to wake her, he slips out of her grasp as gently as he can and repositions himself so that he can look at her face. He gently tucks her hair behind her ear, a simple gesture, and she is awake. Or maybe she was already awake, she just opened her eyes. He could no longer tell the difference anymore, because she was so peaceful either way. Dana blinks. "Fox..." He puts a silent finger to her lips. "Fox...I love you." "Dana." They both feel the trust then. They feel it inside, there was no need for words really. The two of them knew that this special bond that they had was special...it was different. 9:32pm FBI headquarters parallel 3 Agent Melissa Scully gestured to Mulder to come to the window. She grinned and pointed down. Mulder looked, and was pleasingly surprised to see his partner's sister, Dana getting out of her car. "Scully, you didn't tell me that she was coming." "I know, she had wanted to surprise you." "Oh...well." It had about three, four months since Mulder had met Dana, in that time they had become great friends, close friends. Dana had been there for him, when he was all alone, when Scully had disappeared. The abduction. Dana was different in a way from Melissa, she had a spunk to her. Mulder could tell from the moment he had met her that she was quite the thinker. A few moments passed before he learned that she was, indeed, a doctor slash medical school professor for Stanford University. She was a woman of great intelligence, he knew, and he was glad to have such a great friend like her. She was definitely different from Scully. And he actually wasn't surprised that Dana had "dropped by", and asked him if he wanted a bite to eat. It was exactly the kind of thing that she knew he desperately needed, and he always counted on her to do the right things. Scully would *never* do anything like that. Dana was just so different. When Mulder had got into Dana's car, she had flashed him a lasting smile. "Dana," he breathed,"How are you?" He paused, "Are you okay?" "Fine, Mulder." Dana had some getting used to calling a friend by his last name. She every-so-often slipped and called him Fox, but quickly pulling attention away from it with a killer smile. Fox Mulder. He was a handsome man, 35, Melissa had said, and yeah, he was sweet. He really listened to her, whenever she had anything to say. Dana knew that this guy was someone she could trust, that he was her friend, and that this special bond that they had...it was different.