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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