TITLE: AN ENDING AND A BEGINNING Firelight stories 5 AUTHOR: Ewa E-mail: ewa@whatewa.com RATING: PG CATEGORY: S SPOILER: Millennium. Missing scenes and post ep. KEYWORDS: MSR A THANKS To Peggy and to Lynn, thanks girls, I'd never have made it without your help and advice and suggestions. Bless you for all your hard work and for putting up with me. Most of all thank you for having faith in me, you don't know how much that means. SUMMARY: New Year for Mulder and Scully DISCLAIMER: Any characters you recognize belong to Mr. Carter & Co. They don't deserve them but there you go- when was life ever fair! Others belong to me but I share. The Millennium doesn't belong to me either, I believe it's JC's. I will return them all when I'm done, in more or less the state I found them in. ARCHIVES: Let me know where it's gone please! Feedback please. Do we want this to go any further, taking into account that I can't write smut? ewa@whatewa.com See my stories at www.whatewa.com A HAPPY, HEALTHY AND PEACEFUL NEW YEAR TO YOU ALL! AN ENDING AND A BEGINNING She'd thought that, what with it being the holiday season and people not needing to get into work, there wouldn't be a great panic with coming to grips with the whiteout which had descended on Washington DC on Christmas day. She was wrong. The city elders had mobilized every snow plow, every blower they could lay their hands on. By the following afternoon even this area was cleared of any snow accumulation. "Now as crazy as this sounds, I have to ask. Would it have really hurt the good citizens of this fair city to have another day off from the grind? Oh yes, I forgot the tax dollars. And it's Sunday for God sake." Scully said to Mulder that evening. He smiled indulgently at her "Sarcasm is the lowest form of wit, Scully." She muttered something he didn't quite catch. They'd spent Christmas together. For that short span of time they'd managed to forget all about global conspiracies, consortiums, mutants and alien hybrids. Well, maybe not so much forget about as put that part of their lives on hold. It felt so good to deal with real-life issues such as cooking, making popcorn over the open fire, sharing time and laughter. Doing the ordinary everyday things that ordinary people did everyday. The sorts of things that normal people took for granted and which for them were so special. Officially they didn't have to report back to work until Tuesday morning. Another day and a bit of this idyll, provided there wasn't a phone call. Scully was glad that everyone at work had assumed she was going to spend Christmas with her Mom as usual. With a bit of luck it would take *them* a while to find either of them, should some other crazy case come up. She loved her job, but occasionally it would be nice not to be on call twenty-four/seven. TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA DECEMBER 30, 1999 They'd had a few days respite before the call came. Reports of FBI agents being buried alive, of grave robbery. The local PD matched the fingerprints of the dead man to the handprint on the back of Raymond Couch's headstone. "Well, got one pile of dirt. I'm guessing one man with a shovel. Other than that last night's rain hasn't left us much to go on. Well, go ahead Scully, naysay me. The body of an FBI agent gets disinterred only to climb out on its own and disappear into the Yuletide night." Scully smiled gently at him. "See, you had me until there." "Did I?" "I think it's what you said before. I think it's a grave robbery with a twist, You've got the fingerprints and the torn casket liner. Most likely it's rigged evidence that's been faked by whoever exhumed the body." "Faked for what effect?" "Publicity, fear, rumors. I mean, I don't know what specific effect but nevertheless it's__." She noticed her partner looking at the faint red ring around the gravesite. "What?" "Looks like blood." It was then that Scully had the very definite feeling that she wasn't going to like what was coming. She felt a shiver down her spine. FBI HEADQUARTERS WASHINGTON, DC They met up with Skinner and three other agents to discuss the case so far. The agents looked over the profile of the latest victim, Raymond Couch. It was known that he'd committed suicide. Things were going relatively well until Skinner asked Mulder his views on events. Scully sensed what was coming, even before Mulder spoke. "Well, I don't think it was grave robbery pre se, " he paused. "It was necromancy, the attempt to summon the dead to divulge ritual knowledge and perform mystic tasks." A joint gasp could be heard. Scully felt slight embarrassment for herself and protectiveness towards Mulder. Why hadn't she got used to this situation, these feelings? Hadn't she been down this road often enough? Every time Mulder expounded one of his 'out there theories.' Mulder explained, showing the picture of the crime scene, the circle of goat's blood, but that it was partially washed away by all the recent rain. He told them that blood attracted the spirits of the dead, while the magic circle would focus the necromancer's powers, and at the same time protect him from the spirits he was conjuring. As if that hadn't been enough Mulder went on to add that the necromancer might have also desired to wear the clothes of the body to create a bond with it. The other agents appeared skeptical to say the least, but Mulder was oblivious to the looks that were being exchanging. As the meeting broke up Skinner called, "Mulder, Scully, a word, please." He showed them a picture of the ouroboros; of a snake eating its own tail. He gave details some other disturbing facts; reports of four FBI agents who'd committed suicide recently and whose graves had all been desecrated. The other grave robberies had occurred in the last six months and the fact that the ouroboros was the symbol of the Millennium Group, a group which had consisted of former FBI agents who had fallen into disrepute. Mulder had heard of them and of their 'end of time' prophesies concerning the coming millennium. Mulder asked, in view of the date, how much longer Skinner planned to sit on the information. "Owing to the Millennium Group's former ties with the bureau this matter is sensitive, to say the least. Investigate them but keep a low profile." Skinner requested. One thing to be said for Skinner, Scully thought, he certainly trusts us and our judgment more than he would have a year or two back. It was not surprising that Mulder knew where to start. Later, in Hartwell Psychiatric Hospital in Woodbridge, Mulder introduced Scully to Frank Black. This man, Mulder had explained to her earlier, was the greatest profiler Quantico ever produced; someone Mulder greatly admired. Frank Black had originally been used to consult for the Millennium Group, yet later he had fought to bring them down, at great cost to his own career and his reputation. He was now in the psychiatric hospital on a voluntary basis, trying to get his life together again. Mulder wanted to enlist Franck Black's help in this investigation. Mulder suspected that the Millennium Group was behind the ritualistic killings and apocalyptic plans and that somehow Frank could point them in the direction of the one member of that group who had the power to summons the dead to try to bring the world to an end as the millennium drew near. Frank Black didn't want to discuss the case further. He was adamant, he wasn't helping. Involvement with the Group had already cost him more than he was prepared to pay. DECEMBER 31,1999 7:32 AM MARYLAND RURAL HIGHWAY That Mulder's necromancer had been at work again and his MO had altered, became obvious to the two Agents when arrived at the crime scene following morning. He'd used salt instead of goat's blood for his circle, and it was smaller, just big enough for a man to stand in. Mulder explained the significance of this to his partner. The corpse yielded further clues. In Mulder's opinion, the only person that could shed light on this was Frank, but Frank wasn't playing ball. Scully suddenly understood the reason for his reticence when they met up with the man again. Frank's connection to the Group had cost him his daughter Jordan and the life of his wife. His in-laws were now trying to prove him an unfit father. "I'll sell insurance. I'll do whatever it takes. I'll get well and jump through whatever hoops they want, but I will not mention the Millennium Group again," Frank told her when she'd challenged him with this information. Mulder looked at Scully; he *had* to persuade Frank to help. This was too important. "Look Frank, nobody needs to know about this. We're just three people sitting around talking." Frank relaxed enough to talk. "The Book of Revelations describes the end of the physical world in a battle between heaven and hell, Good against Evil. The Millennium Group believed that that time was upon us. These four," Frank said, pointing to the photographs taken from the file, "These four represent a schism in the group. They believe that for the end time to come, as it must, that man must take an active hand in bringing that about." "And to that end, they committed suicide?" asked Scully. "Yeah." Mulder took up the theory. "With the express purpose of being brought back to life. The four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. These four men bring with them war, pestilence, famine and death. He'll feel a need to take action. He'll return to the body the first chance he gets." "Rice County morgue," added Scully. Scully looked down for a moment, then she and Mulder exchanged a look of understanding before they started to walk towards the hospital exit. They were both so tired. They had taken it in turns to doze in the car as they traveled between locations but neither had seen a bed since Tuesday night. They had slept fitfully on the plane to Tallahassee on Wednesday night but by now it was late morning on Friday. She could kill for some coffee . Thank God for that small oasis of peace they'd shared over Christmas. It made times like this bearable. So much for her New Year plans for Mulder, it couldn't be helped. Forever the professional, she focused back on the case. "Mulder, you're telling me it's more important to track down four dead bodies than one live murderer?" "He's not our murderer, and those dead bodies aren't dead and the millennium is umm__ fourteen hours away." The door buzzed as they exited the hall. Scully was becoming more and more sure that she didn't like this case. There was a lot here that she couldn't get her mind around. At times like these, her implicit trust in Mulder's judgment kicked in; not that she was ever likely to admit this fact to him. I suspect he knows anyway she thought, a wry smile flitting across her face "Mulder, these people, even when they were alive, mangled biblical prophecy to the extent that it's unrecognizable. The year 2000 is just their artificial deadline and besides, 2001 is actually the start of the new millennium." She was surprised when Mulder smiled at her and said teasingly, "Nobody likes a math geek, Scully." Momentarily he transformed into the Mulder of the firelight. She found this comforting, but didn't allow it to interfere with her train of thought. She went on, "Anyway, I think that Frank's profile is sound." "I do too." "And I think with it we have our best chance of finding this necromancer, as you call him. So I'm going to the county morgue." "I absolutely think you should," agreed Mulder. "And what are you going to do?" "Follow the profile. The deputy was killed on a quiet road that seems to lead nowhere. I'm thinking that our necromancer lives nearby. I'm going to do a rundown on all single landowners in the area to see where the bodies are buried, since we all__" He halted as a thought leapt at him. There was an intense look in his eyes. "Scully, do me a favor will you? Don't let anybody remove those staples from the deputy's mouth, okay? Please?" He added softly, "Humor me. Thanks." With that he was away. She whispered into the empty air, "Okay Mulder." And then added, "Take care Mulder, take care for me. Please." She tried to phone ahead to the morgue to pass on Mulder's cryptic warning, but got the answering machine. "Let's just hope I get there in time," she said to the empty passenger seat. The feeling of disquiet surrounded her as she entered the morgue. She felt the hairs stand up on the back of her neck. There were three bodies lying on the tables. Where were the attendants? Where was the coroner? They couldn't *all* have just stepped out for a moment. Cautiously she called, "Hello?" What was wrong with this picture? As she walked into the adjoining room, saw the receiver dangling off the hook and heard the loud tone the phone was emitting, she drew her gun. In the corner on the floor, she saw the blood and the broken goggles. Warily Scully followed the trail of blood into the adjacent room. I need you, Mulder, she thought. The coroner lay against the wall. The woman was seriously injured. Covered in blood and bite marks, she gasped for breath, choking. Scully rushed over to help her, heedless of the danger. As she checked the woman's pulse she saw movement out of the corner of her eye. A man stood in the doorway. Scully aimed her gun at him, but a flurry of movement to her side momentarily distracted her. As the should-be dead Deputy rushed at her, Scully managed to let off three rounds into her attacker's chest. The bullets had no effect, and still he came at her. The gun was knocked out of her hand before she was knocked into oblivion. "Mulder," was her last conscious thought; that and the feeling of immense regret. By the time she came around the EMTs and police were swarming around. The injuries to her neck weren't too serious and had been treated by the time Skinner appeared on the scene. She heard him asking about her whereabouts. "She's in there," said the Sheriff. Judging by the look of first, horror as he approached the corpse under the sheet on the floor, and then by the sheer relief on his face, Scully assumed that he'd thought her injuries fatal. She wasn't badly injured, but felt so very tired. Coming up behind him, she addressed him. "Sir?" She'd made him jump. She could see concern on his face as he asked, "How are you feeling?" Gently he touched her jaw as he examined the injuries to her neck. She turned her head away from his scrutiny. "All things considered__?" "What the hell happened here? Who is that man?" "He was the Sheriff's deputy, the man that was found dead this morning. He was dead and then somehow he wasn't. He attacked me." You shot him," asked the AD. "Three rounds, center mass into his chest, with no effect." "There was a gunshot wound to his head as well," pointed out Skinner. "Yeah, this man, our suspect, Mulder calls a 'necromancer,' he was here too. He fired that shot with my gun. He saved me. I have no idea why. He got away, but I was in no shape to follow. Look sir, I can't even begin to offer an explanation for what happened, but I have to say it is exactly what Mulder feared." "Yeah," said Skinner. "Which is exactly why I would like to talk to him. Why isn't he answering his phone?" A look of concern crossed Scully's face. God, Mulder please don't have ditched me again. Do you really know the contents of the can of worms you've opened? Where the hell are you? RURAL AREA MARYLAND Meanwhile Mulder had arrived at the tenth suspect's house. He tried to phone Scully, but his cell phone registered 'no service.' "Welcome to the boondocks," he muttered to himself. Wish Scully was here to watch my ass, he thought. He was soon so engrossed he forgot everything except the task at hand. Exiting his car, he went over to the fence and the trash cans that stood there. "You can tell a man by what he throws out." Rummaging through one of the cans he found an empty sack of 'Kosher salt.' Some of the crystals remained at the bottom of the bag. Mulder absently poured a handful of the salt into his pants pocket. Climbing over the fence, he walked over to the front of the house. Nobody was home. Picking the lock on the door, he went in. He looked around. Inside there were stuffed wild animals everywhere. The heavily barricaded door to the basement attracted his attention. A moment later he'd removed the boards from the door, turned on his flashlight, and began the descent down wooden stairs to the dirt floor below. Mulder played the light around the basement room. A shiver ran down his back. A hand reached out of the dirt, then another and another, until four zombie-like men rose from the dirt. Shocked, Mulder spun around flashing his light on the creatures. He heard a sound, and whipping around, saw a man outlined in the doorway at the top of the stairs. Distracted, he was not ready to fend off an attack by one of the creatures, who sent him crashing against the bottom of the stairs. As Mulder started to sprint up the stairs, the door was shut and barricaded. "Open the door! Open the door! Open it! Let me out! Let me out!" Mulder yelled at him. But the man wasn't listening. Mulder turned__ and fired. 9:17 PM PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL By nine in the evening Scully was frantic with worry. There had been no contact with her partner for nearly twelve hours. She had task force agents canvassing the northwestern Maryland area, but it was a large territory to cover. "We're running out of time, he's been gone for almost twelve hours. Sir, I'm afraid he may have found what he was looking for. I need your help in finding him." Frank still wouldn't help Scully. "I'm not sure that I really understand your reasons, sir, and I'm starting to wonder what this is really all about and how much you know about it. Mulder mentioned the four Millennium members whom 'liveth and were dead.' Now, this morning in the morgue, I saw what he was talking about." "Did you?" "One of them attacked me," she informed him. "I'm sorry." "Do you believe that the Millennium Group is actually capable of bringing about the end of time? Armageddon?" Scully asked "I understand their beliefs. I've spent years trying to unravel them, make sense of them. Doesn't mean I believe them myself." "But what if it were true," Scully cut in. "Good and evil__which would prevail?" She saw the blank look on his face as he said, simply, "I'm sorry." She would have to find Mulder herself. He was in trouble; Mulder needed her, she could feel it. She *had* to find him, but she didn't know where to begin looking, he could be anywhere. Dejectedly, she left the hospital. Frank Black checked himself out of the hospital soon after her departure. As she drove around in the dark and the pouring rain sometime later, her cell phone rang. "Scully." "This is Skinner. We back-checked Frank Black as you asked." "And?" "He took no calls at Hartwell Psychiatric other than from his daughter, but the staff took messages including one from a Rice County number." "Rice County? That's where I am right now," Scully all but yelled . "We ran the phone records for Agent Couch and the other desecration victims. All four received calls from this same number in the weeks before their deaths." "I'm going to need an address." RURAL AREA He didn't know how many hours he'd been down here, but the meager daylight that had filtered though cracks in the boarded up window had long since gone. In that time, he'd forced himself to stand upright, disregarding the pain from his injuries and the weakness caused by blood loss. He'd fought the effects of shock and fear. What had possessed him to take that handful of salt? That unconscious act had saved his life. Not losing consciousness had been so difficult. Falling out of his protective circle of salt would mean death. Mulder clung to that fear to stay awake and then he thought about Scully. She could kick ass as much as she liked, he certainly deserved it. In the cold dark basement, remembering all their 'firelight times' kept him going. He could almost feel the warmth of the fire. He thought of their disastrous walk in the wood, the Thanksgiving meal they had shared, and of Christmas. Had that been just a few days ago? He relived that time moment by moment, focusing his mind on those few days as if they were his salvation; trying to keep his mind off the danger he was in. He remembered her softness, her gentleness, the way her eyes had sparkled with tears when she'd seen that little girl who so resembled Emily. Building the snowman and how he had so nearly kissed her. Why had he hesitated? Then that mutt had put an end to the opportunity. He prayed that Scully would find him. He needed her so badly, she was his talisman, his keeper. She *would* find him; he believed that implicitly, all he had to do was stay alive and wait. Mulder heard the boards pulled away from the basement door. "Agent Mulder? Can you hear me? Agent Mulder?" Mulder was so relived to hear another human voice, he recognized it as Frank's. "Yeah,I'm down here. They're all around." Mulder said weakly. Now that help was at hand, his remaining strength deserted him. It was pitch black down there. Frank threw down a flare. The red light showed Mulder standing in the protective circle. One of the creatures, shot through the head, lay at the foot of the stairs. Frank threw a second flare down. "Are you armed?" shouted Mulder. "Oh. Yeah," said Frank and took out his gun. Mulder instructed, "Shoot them in the head. That seems to stop 'em. There's three more of them." "Where?" asked Frank. "I don't know. They're hiding." Frank came down the stairs. As he turned he saw one of the creatures running at him. He managed to fire off three rounds to its head. As it collapsed in a heap in front of him, they heard another one hissing. On the road Scully was driving and at the same time frantically trying to look at a map. Back in the basement, Mulder's legs gave out after the long hours in his weakened condition. He slid to the ground, but managed to stay within his circle of safety. Looking at him, Frank asked, "Mulder, can you get up?" "Yeah, I think so." As he started to get up he saw a movement out of the corner of his eye. "Look out!" he yelled at Frank, but it was too late. The zombie leapt onto Frank, pushing him onto the ground. Outside Scully had exited the car and was trying to pick the lock on the gate when she heard the two gunshots coming from the basement area. She unholstered her gun and took off at a run towards the house. Mulder managed to shoot the third zombie-like creature through the head, and was helping Frank up, when they saw the fourth and final one break through a wall and come at them. Mulder turned and fired at him, only to find the clip was empty. It hissed at them and moved to attack. Unexpectedly, out of the darkness above them came the flash of a gun being discharged and the sound of three shots. The creature fell. Scully was down the stairs and beside Mulder in a second. "I'm sorry Scully." She supported him as he sagged against her. Putting her arms around him, she held on to him for dear life. She felt Mulder wrap his arm around her waist and pull her even closer to him. "You okay, Mulder?" "Yeah, I'll be fine now that you're here." She nestled his tired head against her shoulder at the same time noting how cold and clammy his forehead felt. She turn to Frank. "Can you get me some light down here? I need to see what the damage is." Mulder slumped forward, but she managed to catch him. "Lie down Mulder, I need to see where you're hurt." "I'm fine Scully, honest. I just need to go home." "You're a lot of things Mulder but fine is not one of them," she aid in a tight voice, trying not to let it show how worried she'd been about him. Taking out her cell phone, she called for assistance using the 'agent down' code. Frank managed to locate a light switch. Ignoring the carnage around them, Scully gave Mulder her full attention while they waited for the ambulance to arrive. His pallor worried her has did the state of the wound on his right shoulder. He'd lost a lot of blood. "I'm sorry Mulder, I'm going to have to put some pressure on this to stop the bleeding, I'm afraid it's going to hurt, but it's got to be done." He gave her a weak smile. "Go on Scully, do your worst." Mulder tried not to wince as she applied pressure with her hand to his injured shoulder. "I'm okay," he whispered before he passed out. "Oh Mulder. When will you ever learn?" she asked softly. HOSPITAL TELEVISION ROOM Frank Black was watching the New Year's celebrations on TV. As the midnight hour approached, Scully joined him to inform him that Mike Johnson, Mulder's necromancer, had been taken for psychiatric evaluation and had been put on suicide watch on Frank's recommendation. Scully smiled as she continued, "And, um__." "What?" "There's someone to see you," she said and moved aside for Jordan, who ran in to her father. "Hi, Daddy!" "Hi, little one! Oh, I missed you, Sweetheart," he said as he hugged her to him. "I missed you too, Daddy." Mulder chose this moment to enter the room, his right arm in a sling and a smile for Scully on his face. Scully gravitated towards him. Frank and Jordan turned to leave. The hour to the end of the millennium was fast approaching, the countdown on the TV read 11:59:23. "You're not going to stay and watch?" asked Scully. "No, we just want to get home," replied Frank as he and his daughter left the TV room. Mulder and Scully turned towards the TV screen as the countdown to midnight continued. "Ten, nine, eight__seven, six, five__four, three, two, one__Happy New Year 2000." 'Auld Lang Syne' was playing and the firework display had started. The cameras panned the crowd in Times Square as the Millennium ball began it's decent. Mulder looked at the kissing couples, then at Scully, who was engrossed in the scene before her on the screen. His eyes dropped to gaze at her lips. He was tempted, oh, so tempted... Thought after thought flashed through his brain faster than the speed of any light. Surely after being her partner for all these years, after all that they'd been through together, with all that they meant to each other. Surely tonight of all nights, a kiss would not be out of place. He had come so close to it on a number of occasions, had wanted to kiss her so often. He had imagined that kiss, warm and sweet, tender and soft. Expressing the love he felt for her. A benediction, sanctifying his feelings for her. The level of nervousness he felt made his legs tremble, made *him* tremble. It was silly but he couldn't stop the feeling. These past few months, in their 'firelight' times, he'd been allowed to experience a tiny bit of heaven. They had been partners for so long, now suddenly at the dawning of the new millennium he wanted this to be the start of something more, so much more between them. He was uncertain of how she would react if he-. Her head came up slowly as she smiled up at him. He felt himself drowning in her blue eyes. The look in them made him weak at the knees. So many times in the past, when she'd looked at him like that, he felt devastated, but she'd never known. She'd never known the power she held over him. With that one look, she could have anything she wanted of him, but she'd never understood that power. He wanted to kiss her so badly he hurt, he needed to, but he couldn't do it without her permission. He never expected to get that permission. Until now. Until this moment when Scully turned towards him, love shining in her eyes as she tried to identify the emotion she saw in his. Lowering his face towards her, Mulder breathed out, "Oh Scully." Scully turned her face into his hand, and in response his hand cupped her cheek. His breath whispered warmly on her mouth and she waited. His lips were so gentle. To his surprise, her hands moved to the back of his head. She sighed softly and her mouth, like a flower's petals opening to gather sunshine, blossomed beneath his, parting without hesitation. She tasted so sweet, Mulder thought. Her mouth seemed to have been waiting for him, saving the nectar of her kisses for him alone. There was an innate innocence about her, a certain inexperience. It had all been so unexpected, so startling, so Pleasurable and for that brief moment she kissed him back with soft generous lips. It was as if his warmth was flooding her veins, touching the icy core of her with the heat of the sun that *was* him. Was this love? This poignant ache deep in her chest, this delicate butterfly feeling that fluttered through her and shook her world as she knew it apart. He was fearful of startling her, as his heart pounded in his chest. He wanted this kiss to go on forever. For a moment they were lost in the sensation, then the realization of what they were doing seemed to hit them simultaneously. When she met his eyes she was astonished by the haunting vulnerability she saw there, and with it, the look of wonder and affection. She took a shuddering breath. Something rose in her throat and she felt the sting of tears in her eyes, as the emotions raged through her, the strongest of which was a fierce tenderness for this solitary man who was even now holding her in the gentlest of hugs. They held on to each other for a moment longer. Even as Scully began to pull back she felt Mulder's hands release her. They looked at each other, both of them smiling shyly, their hands interlocked "The world didn't end," Mulder tried to quip, struggling to control his racing heart. "No," she agreed, "It didn't." Wistfully she thought that, although the old world hadn't ended, a new one had most certainly begun. "Happy New Year, Scully." "Happy New Year, Mulder." She looked so pretty when she blushed. "Take me home, Scully." Mulder put his good arm around her shoulders, and together they walked out of the hospital waiting room. It was a three-hour drive back for Scully before she finally parked outside her apartment. They could have probably stayed in a motel for the rest of the night, but most places would have been full, and anyway she just wanted to get them both safely back home. She needed feel the security of home around them, It wasn't very long into the drive that Mulder had succumbed to his exhaustion and pain. She had seen him fighting it, as his head kept on drooping, he hadn't wanted her to drive on her own. As she drove, with only the hum of the heater and Mulder's occasional snoring for company, she reflected on the events of the past few hours. More to the point, to the event that took place at midnight. The kiss had been something that she had wanted for the longest time. Somehow it had managed to erase that lonely ache in her chest that had held her in it's grip for so many years. Over the years they had come so close to it on so many occasions. Where would their relationship go from here? They were experts in the field of denial, but this they could never deny. They would find it excruciatingly painful to discuss, but denial would never be an option. This was their biggest problem, the fact that neither could articulate their feelings and needs. It would not be easy for them to move forward on this no matter what they did; she didn't presume that they could simply just love each other, their lives hadn't ever been that straightforward. It's sooo stupid, she thought. They had been so many things to each other over the years, best friends, partners, family, the other half of a whole; yet they'd never been lovers. She didn't know how to love him, what to do next. She needed him so yet was scared, not of him, never that, but of their relationship. They had taken a giant leap, and she didn't know if she was ready for it. Yes, it *was* something she wanted, but not immediately, not just yet. She wanted time to savor what they'd discovered about themselves today. She needed to be able to take tiny baby-steps forward slowly, taking pleasure in each new discovery they made about each other. This was so new, so important. She didn't want to rush things; after all, it had taken them seven years to get this far. She drove through the starlit night, on this night of nights. The world hadn't come to an end, but for the two of them there was a new beginning. It was past 3:30 am by the time they had staggered in through her apartment door. Both too tired to eat, Mulder sagged down onto her couch, a wistful look in his eye as he eyed the cold hearth. Scully went over to the thermostat and turned it up. It was cold in the apartment. "C'mon, Mulder, I'll get you an iced tea and a sandwich to go with that antibiotic the doc gave you and then it's bed." Mulder protested that he was too tired to eat and that he'd be okay on the couch, but Scully wouldn't hear of it . "Look Mulder, if you don't eat something with that antibiotic, you'll end up being sick." He was too weary to argue with her. She had to support him as she guided him from the couch to her bedroom. As it was, she'd only managed to lead him into her bedroom and help him onto the bed, before he appeared to be sound asleep. She got his shoes and socks off and gently covered him over with the soft down comforter. She bent over him and placed a chaste kiss on his forehead. "Sleep well, Mulder." He caught her arm with his good hand. "Stay with me, Scully," he murmured. "I will Mulder, I'm right here." She kicked off her shoes and shrugged out of her pants and jacket. She crawled under the comforter and snuggled up beside him against his back to warm him with her body, her arm snaking around his waist to keep him safe. The intrusive ringing of the telephone roused Scully from her deep, restful sleep. With eyes that rebelled against the sunlight streaming through the spaces of the blinds, she groped for the receiver, wondering why she hadn't turned on the answering machine. "Skinner here," said the all too familiar voice. He wanted to know if his agents were okay, and to remind them that he would need their report on his desk by Monday morning. "He's all heart, that man," Scully said to herself after she'd replaced the receiver. She yawned widely and looking at the clock on the nightstand, saw that it read 10:38. Mulder was still sleeping soundly next to her, lying in a tangle of bedding, his arm draped around her waist. His breathing was slow and steady, the phone hadn't disturbed his slumber. He looked so peaceful in his sleep, there was a childlike innocence about him, a look of vulnerability. Scully savored this rare moment of closeness. She propped herself up on the elbow and took this wonderful opportunity to study him. For a while she simply watched him breathing, his chest rising and falling in a slow, steady rhythm. Her eyes moved to his dear face, covered as it was in several days worth of stubble, she had to restrain herself from running her fingers across it. Would it be prickly? The patterns that his beard formed fascinated her, the way it formed tiny swirls and whorls, like a fingerprint; the pattern as complex and as uneven. Did each face have its own unique pattern she wondered? Her eyes were attracted to his soft , beautifully formed lips, and even as she watched they stretched into a tiny, secret smile but he didn't waken. Scully felt so possessive, so protective of this man who was lying so peacefully beside her. He looked so wonderful, so tempting! "Hey, sleepyhead, wake up!" she said, breaking the spell, before she did something she might later regret. The softly spoken words drew Mulder from a dream he couldn't remember, a dream that left him feeling warm and happy inside. Turning towards the source of the feminine voice, Mulder forced open his sleepy eyes, and saw Scully's face close to his. Very close. Too close. Scully could see the sherry-hued lights in the hazel brown of his eyes and the fine lines fanning out from their corners. He smiled and the lines deepened, and his mouth kicked up at the corners in a way that sent her pulse racing. Definitely too close, she thought, starting to sit up straighter. His good hand moved, and, without warning, she felt his knuckles gently stroke her cheek. The unexpected gesture stilled all movement but the erratic beating of her heart. "Did you know that you talk in your sleep?" he murmured, his touch feathering over the line of her jaw. Her eyes widened in surprise as the recollection of the kiss, a warm, soft mouth teasing hers to compliance in her dream leapt to mind. Dusty rose climbed to the zenith of her cheekbones. "I do?" He nodded and brushed the back of his hand across her heated cheek. "Mmm." "Wh-what did I say?" she asked, her tongue darting across her lips. Something very close to a groan escaped Mulder at the unconsciously provocative act. He pushed back a strand of auburn hair. "You asked me to kiss you." "I did?" Was that husky wisp of sound, her voice? "You did." End And then__Hey give'em some privacy you guys! You can give me some feedback though. ewa@whatewa.com TITLE: AN ENDING AND A BEGINNING Firelight stories 5 AUTHOR: Ewa E-mail: ewa@whatewa.com RATING: PG CATEGORY: S SPOILER: Millennium. Missing scenes and post ep. KEYWORDS: MSR A THANKS To Peggy and to Lynn, thanks girls, I'd never have made it without your help and advice and suggestions. Bless you for all your hard work and for putting up with me. Most of all thank you for having faith in me, you don't know how much that means. SUMMARY: New Year for Mulder and Scully DISCLAIMER: Any characters you recognize belong to Mr. Carter & Co. They don't deserve them but there you go- when was life ever fair! Others belong to me but I share. The Millennium doesn't belong to me either, I believe it's JC's. I will return them all when I'm done, in more or less the state I found them in. ARCHIVES: Let me know where it's gone please! Feedback please. Do we want this to go any further, taking into account that I can't write smut? ewa@whatewa.com See my stories at www.whatewa.com A HAPPY, HEALTHY AND PEACEFUL NEW YEAR TO YOU ALL! AN ENDING AND A BEGINNING She'd thought that, what with it being the holiday season and people not needing to get into work, there wouldn't be a great panic with coming to grips with the whiteout which had descended on Washington DC on Christmas day. She was wrong. The city elders had mobilized every snow plow, every blower they could lay their hands on. By the following afternoon even this area was cleared of any snow accumulation. "Now as crazy as this sounds, I have to ask. Would it have really hurt the good citizens of this fair city to have another day off from the grind? Oh yes, I forgot the tax dollars. And it's Sunday for God sake." Scully said to Mulder that evening. He smiled indulgently at her "Sarcasm is the lowest form of wit, Scully." She muttered something he didn't quite catch. They'd spent Christmas together. For that short span of time they'd managed to forget all about global conspiracies, consortiums, mutants and alien hybrids. Well, maybe not so much forget about as put that part of their lives on hold. It felt so good to deal with real-life issues such as cooking, making popcorn over the open fire, sharing time and laughter. Doing the ordinary everyday things that ordinary people did everyday. The sorts of things that normal people took for granted and which for them were so special. Officially they didn't have to report back to work until Tuesday morning. Another day and a bit of this idyll, provided there wasn't a phone call. Scully was glad that everyone at work had assumed she was going to spend Christmas with her Mom as usual. With a bit of luck it would take *them* a while to find either of them, should some other crazy case come up. She loved her job, but occasionally it would be nice not to be on call twenty-four/seven. TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA DECEMBER 30, 1999 They'd had a few days respite before the call came. Reports of FBI agents being buried alive, of grave robbery. The local PD matched the fingerprints of the dead man to the handprint on the back of Raymond Couch's headstone. "Well, got one pile of dirt. I'm guessing one man with a shovel. Other than that last night's rain hasn't left us much to go on. Well, go ahead Scully, naysay me. The body of an FBI agent gets disinterred only to climb out on its own and disappear into the Yuletide night." Scully smiled gently at him. "See, you had me until there." "Did I?" "I think it's what you said before. I think it's a grave robbery with a twist, You've got the fingerprints and the torn casket liner. Most likely it's rigged evidence that's been faked by whoever exhumed the body." "Faked for what effect?" "Publicity, fear, rumors. I mean, I don't know what specific effect but nevertheless it's__." She noticed her partner looking at the faint red ring around the gravesite. "What?" "Looks like blood." It was then that Scully had the very definite feeling that she wasn't going to like what was coming. She felt a shiver down her spine. FBI HEADQUARTERS WASHINGTON, DC They met up with Skinner and three other agents to discuss the case so far. The agents looked over the profile of the latest victim, Raymond Couch. It was known that he'd committed suicide. Things were going relatively well until Skinner asked Mulder his views on events. Scully sensed what was coming, even before Mulder spoke. "Well, I don't think it was grave robbery pre se, " he paused. "It was necromancy, the attempt to summon the dead to divulge ritual knowledge and perform mystic tasks." A joint gasp could be heard. Scully felt slight embarrassment for herself and protectiveness towards Mulder. Why hadn't she got used to this situation, these feelings? Hadn't she been down this road often enough? Every time Mulder expounded one of his 'out there theories.' Mulder explained, showing the picture of the crime scene, the circle of goat's blood, but that it was partially washed away by all the recent rain. He told them that blood attracted the spirits of the dead, while the magic circle would focus the necromancer's powers, and at the same time protect him from the spirits he was conjuring. As if that hadn't been enough Mulder went on to add that the necromancer might have also desired to wear the clothes of the body to create a bond with it. The other agents appeared skeptical to say the least, but Mulder was oblivious to the looks that were being exchanging. As the meeting broke up Skinner called, "Mulder, Scully, a word, please." He showed them a picture of the ouroboros; of a snake eating its own tail. He gave details some other disturbing facts; reports of four FBI agents who'd committed suicide recently and whose graves had all been desecrated. The other grave robberies had occurred in the last six months and the fact that the ouroboros was the symbol of the Millennium Group, a group which had consisted of former FBI agents who had fallen into disrepute. Mulder had heard of them and of their 'end of time' prophesies concerning the coming millennium. Mulder asked, in view of the date, how much longer Skinner planned to sit on the information. "Owing to the Millennium Group's former ties with the bureau this matter is sensitive, to say the least. Investigate them but keep a low profile." Skinner requested. One thing to be said for Skinner, Scully thought, he certainly trusts us and our judgment more than he would have a year or two back. It was not surprising that Mulder knew where to start. Later, in Hartwell Psychiatric Hospital in Woodbridge, Mulder introduced Scully to Frank Black. This man, Mulder had explained to her earlier, was the greatest profiler Quantico ever produced; someone Mulder greatly admired. Frank Black had originally been used to consult for the Millennium Group, yet later he had fought to bring them down, at great cost to his own career and his reputation. He was now in the psychiatric hospital on a voluntary basis, trying to get his life together again. Mulder wanted to enlist Franck Black's help in this investigation. Mulder suspected that the Millennium Group was behind the ritualistic killings and apocalyptic plans and that somehow Frank could point them in the direction of the one member of that group who had the power to summons the dead to try to bring the world to an end as the millennium drew near. Frank Black didn't want to discuss the case further. He was adamant, he wasn't helping. Involvement with the Group had already cost him more than he was prepared to pay. DECEMBER 31,1999 7:32 AM MARYLAND RURAL HIGHWAY That Mulder's necromancer had been at work again and his MO had altered, became obvious to the two Agents when arrived at the crime scene following morning. He'd used salt instead of goat's blood for his circle, and it was smaller, just big enough for a man to stand in. Mulder explained the significance of this to his partner. The corpse yielded further clues. In Mulder's opinion, the only person that could shed light on this was Frank, but Frank wasn't playing ball. Scully suddenly understood the reason for his reticence when they met up with the man again. Frank's connection to the Group had cost him his daughter Jordan and the life of his wife. His in-laws were now trying to prove him an unfit father. "I'll sell insurance. I'll do whatever it takes. I'll get well and jump through whatever hoops they want, but I will not mention the Millennium Group again," Frank told her when she'd challenged him with this information. Mulder looked at Scully; he *had* to persuade Frank to help. This was too important. "Look Frank, nobody needs to know about this. We're just three people sitting around talking." Frank relaxed enough to talk. "The Book of Revelations describes the end of the physical world in a battle between heaven and hell, Good against Evil. The Millennium Group believed that that time was upon us. These four," Frank said, pointing to the photographs taken from the file, "These four represent a schism in the group. They believe that for the end time to come, as it must, that man must take an active hand in bringing that about." "And to that end, they committed suicide?" asked Scully. "Yeah." Mulder took up the theory. "With the express purpose of being brought back to life. The four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. These four men bring with them war, pestilence, famine and death. He'll feel a need to take action. He'll return to the body the first chance he gets." "Rice County morgue," added Scully. Scully looked down for a moment, then she and Mulder exchanged a look of understanding before they started to walk towards the hospital exit. They were both so tired. They had taken it in turns to doze in the car as they traveled between locations but neither had seen a bed since Tuesday night. They had slept fitfully on the plane to Tallahassee on Wednesday night but by now it was late morning on Friday. She could kill for some coffee . Thank God for that small oasis of peace they'd shared over Christmas. It made times like this bearable. So much for her New Year plans for Mulder, it couldn't be helped. Forever the professional, she focused back on the case. "Mulder, you're telling me it's more important to track down four dead bodies than one live murderer?" "He's not our murderer, and those dead bodies aren't dead and the millennium is umm__ fourteen hours away." The door buzzed as they exited the hall. Scully was becoming more and more sure that she didn't like this case. There was a lot here that she couldn't get her mind around. At times like these, her implicit trust in Mulder's judgment kicked in; not that she was ever likely to admit this fact to him. I suspect he knows anyway she thought, a wry smile flitting across her face "Mulder, these people, even when they were alive, mangled biblical prophecy to the extent that it's unrecognizable. The year 2000 is just their artificial deadline and besides, 2001 is actually the start of the new millennium." She was surprised when Mulder smiled at her and said teasingly, "Nobody likes a math geek, Scully." Momentarily he transformed into the Mulder of the firelight. She found this comforting, but didn't allow it to interfere with her train of thought. She went on, "Anyway, I think that Frank's profile is sound." "I do too." "And I think with it we have our best chance of finding this necromancer, as you call him. So I'm going to the county morgue." "I absolutely think you should," agreed Mulder. "And what are you going to do?" "Follow the profile. The deputy was killed on a quiet road that seems to lead nowhere. I'm thinking that our necromancer lives nearby. I'm going to do a rundown on all single landowners in the area to see where the bodies are buried, since we all__" He halted as a thought leapt at him. There was an intense look in his eyes. "Scully, do me a favor will you? Don't let anybody remove those staples from the deputy's mouth, okay? Please?" He added softly, "Humor me. Thanks." With that he was away. She whispered into the empty air, "Okay Mulder." And then added, "Take care Mulder, take care for me. Please." She tried to phone ahead to the morgue to pass on Mulder's cryptic warning, but got the answering machine. "Let's just hope I get there in time," she said to the empty passenger seat. The feeling of disquiet surrounded her as she entered the morgue. She felt the hairs stand up on the back of her neck. There were three bodies lying on the tables. Where were the attendants? Where was the coroner? They couldn't *all* have just stepped out for a moment. Cautiously she called, "Hello?" What was wrong with this picture? As she walked into the adjoining room, saw the receiver dangling off the hook and heard the loud tone the phone was emitting, she drew her gun. In the corner on the floor, she saw the blood and the broken goggles. Warily Scully followed the trail of blood into the adjacent room. I need you, Mulder, she thought. The coroner lay against the wall. The woman was seriously injured. Covered in blood and bite marks, she gasped for breath, choking. Scully rushed over to help her, heedless of the danger. As she checked the woman's pulse she saw movement out of the corner of her eye. A man stood in the doorway. Scully aimed her gun at him, but a flurry of movement to her side momentarily distracted her. As the should-be dead Deputy rushed at her, Scully managed to let off three rounds into her attacker's chest. The bullets had no effect, and still he came at her. The gun was knocked out of her hand before she was knocked into oblivion. "Mulder," was her last conscious thought; that and the feeling of immense regret. By the time she came around the EMTs and police were swarming around. The injuries to her neck weren't too serious and had been treated by the time Skinner appeared on the scene. She heard him asking about her whereabouts. "She's in there," said the Sheriff. Judging by the look of first, horror as he approached the corpse under the sheet on the floor, and then by the sheer relief on his face, Scully assumed that he'd thought her injuries fatal. She wasn't badly injured, but felt so very tired. Coming up behind him, she addressed him. "Sir?" She'd made him jump. She could see concern on his face as he asked, "How are you feeling?" Gently he touched her jaw as he examined the injuries to her neck. She turned her head away from his scrutiny. "All things considered__?" "What the hell happened here? Who is that man?" "He was the Sheriff's deputy, the man that was found dead this morning. He was dead and then somehow he wasn't. He attacked me." You shot him," asked the AD. "Three rounds, center mass into his chest, with no effect." "There was a gunshot wound to his head as well," pointed out Skinner. "Yeah, this man, our suspect, Mulder calls a 'necromancer,' he was here too. He fired that shot with my gun. He saved me. I have no idea why. He got away, but I was in no shape to follow. Look sir, I can't even begin to offer an explanation for what happened, but I have to say it is exactly what Mulder feared." "Yeah," said Skinner. "Which is exactly why I would like to talk to him. Why isn't he answering his phone?" A look of concern crossed Scully's face. God, Mulder please don't have ditched me again. Do you really know the contents of the can of worms you've opened? Where the hell are you? RURAL AREA MARYLAND Meanwhile Mulder had arrived at the tenth suspect's house. He tried to phone Scully, but his cell phone registered 'no service.' "Welcome to the boondocks," he muttered to himself. Wish Scully was here to watch my ass, he thought. He was soon so engrossed he forgot everything except the task at hand. Exiting his car, he went over to the fence and the trash cans that stood there. "You can tell a man by what he throws out." Rummaging through one of the cans he found an empty sack of 'Kosher salt.' Some of the crystals remained at the bottom of the bag. Mulder absently poured a handful of the salt into his pants pocket. Climbing over the fence, he walked over to the front of the house. Nobody was home. Picking the lock on the door, he went in. He looked around. Inside there were stuffed wild animals everywhere. The heavily barricaded door to the basement attracted his attention. A moment later he'd removed the boards from the door, turned on his flashlight, and began the descent down wooden stairs to the dirt floor below. Mulder played the light around the basement room. A shiver ran down his back. A hand reached out of the dirt, then another and another, until four zombie-like men rose from the dirt. Shocked, Mulder spun around flashing his light on the creatures. He heard a sound, and whipping around, saw a man outlined in the doorway at the top of the stairs. Distracted, he was not ready to fend off an attack by one of the creatures, who sent him crashing against the bottom of the stairs. As Mulder started to sprint up the stairs, the door was shut and barricaded. "Open the door! Open the door! Open it! Let me out! Let me out!" Mulder yelled at him. But the man wasn't listening. Mulder turned__ and fired. 9:17 PM PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL By nine in the evening Scully was frantic with worry. There had been no contact with her partner for nearly twelve hours. She had task force agents canvassing the northwestern Maryland area, but it was a large territory to cover. "We're running out of time, he's been gone for almost twelve hours. Sir, I'm afraid he may have found what he was looking for. I need your help in finding him." Frank still wouldn't help Scully. "I'm not sure that I really understand your reasons, sir, and I'm starting to wonder what this is really all about and how much you know about it. Mulder mentioned the four Millennium members whom 'liveth and were dead.' Now, this morning in the morgue, I saw what he was talking about." "Did you?" "One of them attacked me," she informed him. "I'm sorry." "Do you believe that the Millennium Group is actually capable of bringing about the end of time? Armageddon?" Scully asked "I understand their beliefs. I've spent years trying to unravel them, make sense of them. Doesn't mean I believe them myself." "But what if it were true," Scully cut in. "Good and evil__which would prevail?" She saw the blank look on his face as he said, simply, "I'm sorry." She would have to find Mulder herself. He was in trouble; Mulder needed her, she could feel it. She *had* to find him, but she didn't know where to begin looking, he could be anywhere. Dejectedly, she left the hospital. Frank Black checked himself out of the hospital soon after her departure. As she drove around in the dark and the pouring rain sometime later, her cell phone rang. "Scully." "This is Skinner. We back-checked Frank Black as you asked." "And?" "He took no calls at Hartwell Psychiatric other than from his daughter, but the staff took messages including one from a Rice County number." "Rice County? That's where I am right now," Scully all but yelled . "We ran the phone records for Agent Couch and the other desecration victims. All four received calls from this same number in the weeks before their deaths." "I'm going to need an address." RURAL AREA He didn't know how many hours he'd been down here, but the meager daylight that had filtered though cracks in the boarded up window had long since gone. In that time, he'd forced himself to stand upright, disregarding the pain from his injuries and the weakness caused by blood loss. He'd fought the effects of shock and fear. What had possessed him to take that handful of salt? That unconscious act had saved his life. Not losing consciousness had been so difficult. Falling out of his protective circle of salt would mean death. Mulder clung to that fear to stay awake and then he thought about Scully. She could kick ass as much as she liked, he certainly deserved it. In the cold dark basement, remembering all their 'firelight times' kept him going. He could almost feel the warmth of the fire. He thought of their disastrous walk in the wood, the Thanksgiving meal they had shared, and of Christmas. Had that been just a few days ago? He relived that time moment by moment, focusing his mind on those few days as if they were his salvation; trying to keep his mind off the danger he was in. He remembered her softness, her gentleness, the way her eyes had sparkled with tears when she'd seen that little girl who so resembled Emily. Building the snowman and how he had so nearly kissed her. Why had he hesitated? Then that mutt had put an end to the opportunity. He prayed that Scully would find him. He needed her so badly, she was his talisman, his keeper. She *would* find him; he believed that implicitly, all he had to do was stay alive and wait. Mulder heard the boards pulled away from the basement door. "Agent Mulder? Can you hear me? Agent Mulder?" Mulder was so relived to hear another human voice, he recognized it as Frank's. "Yeah,I'm down here. They're all around." Mulder said weakly. Now that help was at hand, his remaining strength deserted him. It was pitch black down there. Frank threw down a flare. The red light showed Mulder standing in the protective circle. One of the creatures, shot through the head, lay at the foot of the stairs. Frank threw a second flare down. "Are you armed?" shouted Mulder. "Oh. Yeah," said Frank and took out his gun. Mulder instructed, "Shoot them in the head. That seems to stop 'em. There's three more of them." "Where?" asked Frank. "I don't know. They're hiding." Frank came down the stairs. As he turned he saw one of the creatures running at him. He managed to fire off three rounds to its head. As it collapsed in a heap in front of him, they heard another one hissing. On the road Scully was driving and at the same time frantically trying to look at a map. Back in the basement, Mulder's legs gave out after the long hours in his weakened condition. He slid to the ground, but managed to stay within his circle of safety. Looking at him, Frank asked, "Mulder, can you get up?" "Yeah, I think so." As he started to get up he saw a movement out of the corner of his eye. "Look out!" he yelled at Frank, but it was too late. The zombie leapt onto Frank, pushing him onto the ground. Outside Scully had exited the car and was trying to pick the lock on the gate when she heard the two gunshots coming from the basement area. She unholstered her gun and took off at a run towards the house. Mulder managed to shoot the third zombie-like creature through the head, and was helping Frank up, when they saw the fourth and final one break through a wall and come at them. Mulder turned and fired at him, only to find the clip was empty. It hissed at them and moved to attack. Unexpectedly, out of the darkness above them came the flash of a gun being discharged and the sound of three shots. The creature fell. Scully was down the stairs and beside Mulder in a second. "I'm sorry Scully." She supported him as he sagged against her. Putting her arms around him, she held on to him for dear life. She felt Mulder wrap his arm around her waist and pull her even closer to him. "You okay, Mulder?" "Yeah, I'll be fine now that you're here." She nestled his tired head against her shoulder at the same time noting how cold and clammy his forehead felt. She turn to Frank. "Can you get me some light down here? I need to see what the damage is." Mulder slumped forward, but she managed to catch him. "Lie down Mulder, I need to see where you're hurt." "I'm fine Scully, honest. I just need to go home." "You're a lot of things Mulder but fine is not one of them," she aid in a tight voice, trying not to let it show how worried she'd been about him. Taking out her cell phone, she called for assistance using the 'agent down' code. Frank managed to locate a light switch. Ignoring the carnage around them, Scully gave Mulder her full attention while they waited for the ambulance to arrive. His pallor worried her has did the state of the wound on his right shoulder. He'd lost a lot of blood. "I'm sorry Mulder, I'm going to have to put some pressure on this to stop the bleeding, I'm afraid it's going to hurt, but it's got to be done." He gave her a weak smile. "Go on Scully, do your worst." Mulder tried not to wince as she applied pressure with her hand to his injured shoulder. "I'm okay," he whispered before he passed out. "Oh Mulder. When will you ever learn?" she asked softly. HOSPITAL TELEVISION ROOM Frank Black was watching the New Year's celebrations on TV. As the midnight hour approached, Scully joined him to inform him that Mike Johnson, Mulder's necromancer, had been taken for psychiatric evaluation and had been put on suicide watch on Frank's recommendation. Scully smiled as she continued, "And, um__." "What?" "There's someone to see you," she said and moved aside for Jordan, who ran in to her father. "Hi, Daddy!" "Hi, little one! Oh, I missed you, Sweetheart," he said as he hugged her to him. "I missed you too, Daddy." Mulder chose this moment to enter the room, his right arm in a sling and a smile for Scully on his face. Scully gravitated towards him. Frank and Jordan turned to leave. The hour to the end of the millennium was fast approaching, the countdown on the TV read 11:59:23. "You're not going to stay and watch?" asked Scully. "No, we just want to get home," replied Frank as he and his daughter left the TV room. Mulder and Scully turned towards the TV screen as the countdown to midnight continued. "Ten, nine, eight__seven, six, five__four, three, two, one__Happy New Year 2000." 'Auld Lang Syne' was playing and the firework display had started. The cameras panned the crowd in Times Square as the Millennium ball began it's decent. Mulder looked at the kissing couples, then at Scully, who was engrossed in the scene before her on the screen. His eyes dropped to gaze at her lips. He was tempted, oh, so tempted... Thought after thought flashed through his brain faster than the speed of any light. Surely after being her partner for all these years, after all that they'd been through together, with all that they meant to each other. Surely tonight of all nights, a kiss would not be out of place. He had come so close to it on a number of occasions, had wanted to kiss her so often. He had imagined that kiss, warm and sweet, tender and soft. Expressing the love he felt for her. A benediction, sanctifying his feelings for her. The level of nervousness he felt made his legs tremble, made *him* tremble. It was silly but he couldn't stop the feeling. These past few months, in their 'firelight' times, he'd been allowed to experience a tiny bit of heaven. They had been partners for so long, now suddenly at the dawning of the new millennium he wanted this to be the start of something more, so much more between them. He was uncertain of how she would react if he-. Her head came up slowly as she smiled up at him. He felt himself drowning in her blue eyes. The look in them made him weak at the knees. So many times in the past, when she'd looked at him like that, he felt devastated, but she'd never known. She'd never known the power she held over him. With that one look, she could have anything she wanted of him, but she'd never understood that power. He wanted to kiss her so badly he hurt, he needed to, but he couldn't do it without her permission. He never expected to get that permission. Until now. Until this moment when Scully turned towards him, love shining in her eyes as she tried to identify the emotion she saw in his. Lowering his face towards her, Mulder breathed out, "Oh Scully." Scully turned her face into his hand, and in response his hand cupped her cheek. His breath whispered warmly on her mouth and she waited. His lips were so gentle. To his surprise, her hands moved to the back of his head. She sighed softly and her mouth, like a flower's petals opening to gather sunshine, blossomed beneath his, parting without hesitation. She tasted so sweet, Mulder thought. Her mouth seemed to have been waiting for him, saving the nectar of her kisses for him alone. There was an innate innocence about her, a certain inexperience. It had all been so unexpected, so startling, so Pleasurable and for that brief moment she kissed him back with soft generous lips. It was as if his warmth was flooding her veins, touching the icy core of her with the heat of the sun that *was* him. Was this love? This poignant ache deep in her chest, this delicate butterfly feeling that fluttered through her and shook her world as she knew it apart. He was fearful of startling her, as his heart pounded in his chest. He wanted this kiss to go on forever. For a moment they were lost in the sensation, then the realization of what they were doing seemed to hit them simultaneously. When she met his eyes she was astonished by the haunting vulnerability she saw there, and with it, the look of wonder and affection. She took a shuddering breath. Something rose in her throat and she felt the sting of tears in her eyes, as the emotions raged through her, the strongest of which was a fierce tenderness for this solitary man who was even now holding her in the gentlest of hugs. They held on to each other for a moment longer. Even as Scully began to pull back she felt Mulder's hands release her. They looked at each other, both of them smiling shyly, their hands interlocked "The world didn't end," Mulder tried to quip, struggling to control his racing heart. "No," she agreed, "It didn't." Wistfully she thought that, although the old world hadn't ended, a new one had most certainly begun. "Happy New Year, Scully." "Happy New Year, Mulder." She looked so pretty when she blushed. "Take me home, Scully." Mulder put his good arm around her shoulders, and together they walked out of the hospital waiting room. It was a three-hour drive back for Scully before she finally parked outside her apartment. They could have probably stayed in a motel for the rest of the night, but most places would have been full, and anyway she just wanted to get them both safely back home. She needed feel the security of home around them, It wasn't very long into the drive that Mulder had succumbed to his exhaustion and pain. She had seen him fighting it, as his head kept on drooping, he hadn't wanted her to drive on her own. As she drove, with only the hum of the heater and Mulder's occasional snoring for company, she reflected on the events of the past few hours. More to the point, to the event that took place at midnight. The kiss had been something that she had wanted for the longest time. Somehow it had managed to erase that lonely ache in her chest that had held her in it's grip for so many years. Over the years they had come so close to it on so many occasions. Where would their relationship go from here? They were experts in the field of denial, but this they could never deny. They would find it excruciatingly painful to discuss, but denial would never be an option. This was their biggest problem, the fact that neither could articulate their feelings and needs. It would not be easy for them to move forward on this no matter what they did; she didn't presume that they could simply just love each other, their lives hadn't ever been that straightforward. It's sooo stupid, she thought. They had been so many things to each other over the years, best friends, partners, family, the other half of a whole; yet they'd never been lovers. She didn't know how to love him, what to do next. She needed him so yet was scared, not of him, never that, but of their relationship. They had taken a giant leap, and she didn't know if she was ready for it. Yes, it *was* something she wanted, but not immediately, not just yet. She wanted time to savor what they'd discovered about themselves today. She needed to be able to take tiny baby-steps forward slowly, taking pleasure in each new discovery they made about each other. This was so new, so important. She didn't want to rush things; after all, it had taken them seven years to get this far. She drove through the starlit night, on this night of nights. The world hadn't come to an end, but for the two of them there was a new beginning. It was past 3:30 am by the time they had staggered in through her apartment door. Both too tired to eat, Mulder sagged down onto her couch, a wistful look in his eye as he eyed the cold hearth. Scully went over to the thermostat and turned it up. It was cold in the apartment. "C'mon, Mulder, I'll get you an iced tea and a sandwich to go with that antibiotic the doc gave you and then it's bed." Mulder protested that he was too tired to eat and that he'd be okay on the couch, but Scully wouldn't hear of it . "Look Mulder, if you don't eat something with that antibiotic, you'll end up being sick." He was too weary to argue with her. She had to support him as she guided him from the couch to her bedroom. As it was, she'd only managed to lead him into her bedroom and help him onto the bed, before he appeared to be sound asleep. She got his shoes and socks off and gently covered him over with the soft down comforter. She bent over him and placed a chaste kiss on his forehead. "Sleep well, Mulder." He caught her arm with his good hand. "Stay with me, Scully," he murmured. "I will Mulder, I'm right here." She kicked off her shoes and shrugged out of her pants and jacket. She crawled under the comforter and snuggled up beside him against his back to warm him with her body, her arm snaking around his waist to keep him safe. The intrusive ringing of the telephone roused Scully from her deep, restful sleep. With eyes that rebelled against the sunlight streaming through the spaces of the blinds, she groped for the receiver, wondering why she hadn't turned on the answering machine. "Skinner here," said the all too familiar voice. He wanted to know if his agents were okay, and to remind them that he would need their report on his desk by Monday morning. "He's all heart, that man," Scully said to herself after she'd replaced the receiver. She yawned widely and looking at the clock on the nightstand, saw that it read 10:38. Mulder was still sleeping soundly next to her, lying in a tangle of bedding, his arm draped around her waist. His breathing was slow and steady, the phone hadn't disturbed his slumber. He looked so peaceful in his sleep, there was a childlike innocence about him, a look of vulnerability. Scully savored this rare moment of closeness. She propped herself up on the elbow and took this wonderful opportunity to study him. For a while she simply watched him breathing, his chest rising and falling in a slow, steady rhythm. Her eyes moved to his dear face, covered as it was in several days worth of stubble, she had to restrain herself from running her fingers across it. Would it be prickly? The patterns that his beard formed fascinated her, the way it formed tiny swirls and whorls, like a fingerprint; the pattern as complex and as uneven. Did each face have its own unique pattern she wondered? Her eyes were attracted to his soft , beautifully formed lips, and even as she watched they stretched into a tiny, secret smile but he didn't waken. Scully felt so possessive, so protective of this man who was lying so peacefully beside her. He looked so wonderful, so tempting! "Hey, sleepyhead, wake up!" she said, breaking the spell, before she did something she might later regret. The softly spoken words drew Mulder from a dream he couldn't remember, a dream that left him feeling warm and happy inside. Turning towards the source of the feminine voice, Mulder forced open his sleepy eyes, and saw Scully's face close to his. Very close. Too close. Scully could see the sherry-hued lights in the hazel brown of his eyes and the fine lines fanning out from their corners. He smiled and the lines deepened, and his mouth kicked up at the corners in a way that sent her pulse racing. Definitely too close, she thought, starting to sit up straighter. His good hand moved, and, without warning, she felt his knuckles gently stroke her cheek. The unexpected gesture stilled all movement but the erratic beating of her heart. "Did you know that you talk in your sleep?" he murmured, his touch feathering over the line of her jaw. Her eyes widened in surprise as the recollection of the kiss, a warm, soft mouth teasing hers to compliance in her dream leapt to mind. Dusty rose climbed to the zenith of her cheekbones. "I do?" He nodded and brushed the back of his hand across her heated cheek. "Mmm." "Wh-what did I say?" she asked, her tongue darting across her lips. Something very close to a groan escaped Mulder at the unconsciously provocative act. He pushed back a strand of auburn hair. "You asked me to kiss you." "I did?" Was that husky wisp of sound, her voice? "You did." End And then__Hey give'em some privacy you guys! You can give me some feedback though. ewa@whatewa.com