Twisted 1/3 By Crash mamymac@juno.com MSR/Angst NC-17 for sexual situations so hide the kiddies. Spoilers: Nothing too overt, one reference pre-5 reference, but deals with situations from US 5. Summary: A nasty storm forces Mulder and Scully to deal with the whirlwind of their own feelings. Keywords: Mulder/Scully romance Disclaimer: Aren't mine, none of 'em. Mulder, no. Scully, no. Skinner, no. Just having fun...or in this case having a bit of an angsty old time. No copyright infringement intended. Feedback? Yes please. I thrive on it. xxxxxxxx The cursor was blinking accusingly at Dana Scully, but she didn't see it. Her eyes were focused on a wall of threatening dark clouds descending on the small motor lodge. The green and yellow paisley curtains billowed in the wind and a blast of cool air ruffled her copper hair. A small sigh escaped her lips as she forced her attention back to the flickering screen of her laptop. Scully's fingers flew over the keys, she wanted to get the report finished and saved before a particularly bad Kansas thunderstorm blew her laptop and it's files into oblivion. She just had a few more paragraphs to type, a summation of her autopsies on the three victims. Victims of some bizarre occult ritual. Mulder had sworn it was demonic possession, leading them to a fight that rivaled their rift in Comity. Scully's jaw tightened at the thought. The wind picked up outside, howling slightly through the open window. She hoped it would blow her recalcitrant partner back to the hotel. As angry as she was with him, she didn't like the idea of him being out in a potentially dangerous storm. Her eyes cut back to the television. She'd muted the sound but could see the severe thunderstorm warning crawling along the bottom of the screen. Scully was fairly sure she'd torn it with Mulder when she'd thrown the evidence in his face. She had to admit to herself she'd been harsh. But the case was textbook occult. They'd even discovered the ring leader wasn't really able to move things with his mind, he'd just found a way to be really clever with thread. She'd really pushed that point with Mulder, and in retrospect was sure he'd felt she'd been accusing him of a poor investigation of the boy's true abilities. Mulder's faith in extraterrestrials had been tested, but for some reason his beliefs in other areas paranormal were never shaken. Scully herself had become more of a believer, but this case was way outside the realm of the remotely plausible. Mulder couldn't see it. In some respects, Scully was relieved he was back to arguing with her over these things. It meant he'd come out of his funk. But she was not happy it had led this acrimonious argument that sent him flying from their hotel in a rage. "You just can't cut me a break can you, Scully? You're so damn mired in that scientific crap you find so routine you can't step out of it anymore. Honestly, I think it's reflex with you now." "I'm set in my ways? You're the one who failed to realize a less than sophisticated 16 year old was pulling one over on you with a 59 cent spool of thread from Wal-Mart!" His face had clouded over and he'd thrown a file folder at her. "Damn you, Scully," he'd said in a defeated voice and then stormed out of the room. She'd seen the tan Crown Vic pull away from the hotel. So now she had no way of leaving if she wanted too. /Ditched again./ Scully finished typing the last lines of her report, clicked save and shut down the computer. Rain began to smash against the ground outside. She quickly stood and shut the window as a loud clap of thunder and large bolt of lightening filled the ever-darkening sky. She jumped as the adjoining door between she and Mulder's room crashed open. His hair was wet and clinging to his head and his eyes looked altogether wild. "Mulder?" He crossed the room in three short strides, managing to scoop up her shoes almost without looking, and thrust them into her chest. "There's no time, put these on we have to go," his voice was short and clipped and Scully couldn't recall ever seeing him look like this. Raw fear filled his face. She opened her mouth to speak, but he grabbed her arm roughly and pushed her toward the door. "One floor, no basement Scully. This place is going to be flattened." She barely managed to grab the laptop and her purse as he moved her out the door and started running for the car. The rain had let up and the air had grown deathly still. Scully noted the sky had turned the same hideous shade of green as the curtains in their hotel rooms. An ozone smell stung her nose. "Mulder, where the hell are we going in such a damn hurry?" "Get in the car and for once don't fucking argue with me Dana!" He paused momentarily and then pinned her with his eyes again, "Please." Scully pulled the car door open roughly and climbed in, slamming the door for effect. She pulled the seat belt over her and then crossed her arms in defiance over her chest. Her body jerked as Mulder threw the car into gear and sped out of the parking lot. Neither spoke for several minutes. Scully's eyes darted around the car and finally landed on the rear view mirror. Her eyes widened in shock. Several miles behind them she could see a funnel cloud moving it's way along the ground. Her mouth fell open and she whipped her head around to look at Mulder. He'd obviously seen it because she felt the car lurch forward as he accelerated further. "Mulder, we can't out run it. You've got to find some place to pull over that we can get under cover quickly." "I'm aware of that Scully," he barked angrily. Scully turned her head to see the twister rapidly gaining ground on them. She turned her head back to the front of the car as Mulder was turning onto a dirt road. She recognized the spot. The ring leader of the occult had held his rituals near this area, she remembered being there before. "There is an abandoned cellar here," Mulder grumbled, "I got that much out of the little bastard when I was interrogating him. He kept his weapons there." Mulder pulled the car over and they both bolted. Scully almost fell but Mulder caught her and pulled her back up. They approached the cellar doors and discovered they'd been padlocked. "Shit!" Scully screamed over the deafening roar. The tornado was only about a of a half mile away and there was no way they'd gain any more distance with the car. She heard two loud pops and turned to see Mulder had blown the lock off the doors with his gun. He grabbed her arm again and pushed her into the opening. She stumbled down the stairs and landed against a wall, a rush of air left her lungs and she swore. Light leaked into a small corner of the room as Mulder pulled the cord on the small 100 Watt bulb hanging near the wall. Mulder grabbed a crow bar near the entrance and shoved it between the handles of the cellar door and then jumped down the stairs. The doors had started to rattle even before he got down them and the roar had become even louder. Mulder ran faster as he hit the floor of the cellar and pushed Scully further back into the small dark space and then pushed her to the ground, his body lying over hers. Scully was pissed. She'd had just about enough of his pushing her around and she wanted to tell him but the noise above them made talking impossible. The doors were really rattling and she wondered if they'd come off and she and her pushy partner would be sucked into the vortex. But at that moment she had more pressing concerns. Namely, her partner's heavy body that was pressing on her much smaller one. She squirmed slightly in an effort to wriggle from beneath him and then she felt his arms press down harder on hers. Suddenly his mouth found her ear. "Don't!" He said over the din. She stilled again. The roar grew louder and suddenly there was a deafening crash behind them. She whipped her head around to see the front end of the Crown Vic, now embedded in what used to be the cellar doors. /This is not good./ Then the lights went out. /Even worse./ Moments later, the roar was gone and a deafening quiet filled the small cellar. Mulder was still caging her to the floor with his body. Scully wriggled a little harder this time. "Mulder, dammit you're heavy, let me up." "Ooh, but what if I want to wrestle, Scully?" He said mockingly. /Oh great, it's Mr. Mercurial today. First he's pissed at me now he's playing with me./ "I mean it Mulder, let me up!" She twisted and turned in an attempt to get away from him but wound up rolling over under him so they lie facing one another. She started to bring her arms up to push him away but he pinned them again. "What's the matter Scully? Do you feel trapped?" His tone was angry again. "Mulder, what the hell is your problem?" "Same as yours, Scully? I'm trapped in my beliefs just like your trapped in your science, but some how you don't seem to mind. I'd like to see you mind." Scully twisted again and inadvertently ground her hips against his. She discovered another reason Mulder might be frustrated. She froze and her eyes flicked to his. "I'm a prisoner of that too when it comes to..." He trailed off and then jumped off of her body, retreating to a corner. Scully continued to lie prone, staring at him in disbelief. "I suppose you totally loathe me now," he grumbled staring at his feet. She slowly rose up on her elbows and then pushed herself up. "Mulder...look we've got to figure out how to get out of here and we also need to see if this car is leaking any gas into the room. Where's your flashlight? I can't do this alone, will you please come over here and help me?"Scully heard the rustle of fabric and suddenly a small light illuminated her partner's sleepy features. The half-light made him look even darker than usual. She heard thunder outside. Another storm was approaching. They had to walk close together in order to see. Although he was just steps behind her, Mulder wouldn't look at her face. /God, Mulder not now./ They inched their way to the car in silence. She got to the car and couldn't smell any gas. The front part of the car was a complete mess from being dropped through the doors, but the back end remained relatively intact. The main problem was going to be figuring out how to get the car out of the entrance. Crawling through the vehicle wasn't an option, all four doors were jammed in the entrance of the cellar. But they could get to the windows in the front, at least on the driver's side. Scully wasn't sure how much good that would do them, though. "I can't believe this...there's just no way we can get out of here," she turned around to look at Mulder. She couldn't really see his face in the dim light but she could tell he was looking at his feet in full blown Mulder-pout. Scully hung her head. "Don't do this now, Mulder. I need you to help get us out of this mess, everything else is going to have to wait until then." His shadow rose it's head. Scully heard him reach inside his suit coat again. A loud metallic beep signaled his cell phone coming to life. He dialed a number and waited. "What?" She asked. "All circuits are busy." "Damn! Well turn it off, you'll run down the battery." Mulder's shadow nodded. "We're going to need another flashlight too, this little pen light isn't going to do us much good. I think there's one in the glove box of the car." "OK, how do you propose we get at that?" Scully watched as the tiny penlight swung around the room. She heard Mulder moving around and then she heard him announce, "Here we go." She heard him walk toward her again. She could barely make out the large board he was carrying, but knew it would do the trick. He was suddenly standing next too her. "Hold the flashlight towards the windows, Scully.and stand back." She moved away and aimed the flash light at the window of the driver's side. WHOCK! WAAACK! CRUNCH! The glass gave way only partially. Mulder, kept pushing the board in to knock out all the glass. He ran it's rough edges around the rim of the window trying to dislodge all the loose sharp edges. He tossed the board aside and jumped up on the edge of the window. Scully held back a laugh as she watched his long legs struggling. "SHIT!" "MULDER! Did you cut yourself?" Scully said, running towards him. "No, I just can't reach the damn glovebox." He crawled back out of the car and faced her. Finally, she had the advantage and could see his face. She wasn't so glad she could. Even in the dark, the pain and defeat were evident on his face, and it wasn't just about not being able to get to a glovebox. It was about not being able to get a lot of things. Scully reached across the darkness and ran her hand soothingly along his arm. "It's OK Mulder. We'll get it. Let me climb on your shoulders." "Scully, you'll get cut." "Give me your coat, that much fabric should protect me." Mulder chuckled and shrugged off the coat, pushing it towards her. XxX "Almost, just push in a little farther." "Scully! Are you getting kinky with me?" "Shut up and stand on your toes, I'm almost in." Scully fell into the front seat and promptly dropped the flashlight. "Shit." "What?" "I dropped the flashlight.oh, there got it.HEY!" "Did you find the other flashlight?" "Nope, but I found the laptop. And it's not damaged." "Oh, good. At least Skinner won't be able to scream at me for wrecking the car AND the laptop." Scully opened the glove box and found the flashlight. She gathered both it and the laptop up and began to make her way out of the car . She perched herself precariously of the window on her stomach. "OK, Mulder. You have to pull me out, but be careful, there's still some sharp edges." She felt Mulder grab her arms and begin pulling her out, he pulled a little too hard and she lost her grip on the flashlight. It plummeted out of her hand and ,she could tell by the sound her partner made, crashed straight into Mulder's forehead. XxX "Are you sure you're OK?" "I'm fine, Scully." "What are you trying to do?" She heard him sigh heavily. She could make out his face as he worked feverishly over the laptop and the cell phone. The flashlight they'd found in the glovebox was one that also made into a lantern by pulling the handle up. It rested between them and was providing some light. Mulder was holding his penlight in his teeth so he could see the equipment." "Trying to hook the phone up to the computer," he grated around the metal light, "we may not be able to get anyone on the phone until the battery dies so I'm going to attempt to send an e-mail." Scully felt her eyebrow creep up her forehead. /Why didn't I think of that?/ She watched as he hooked a long plastic object up between the phone and the computer. Scully mused the bags they had to hold their laptops were sturdier than they looked. Within a few minutes she heard the familiar ping of the laptop coming to life. "Bingo!" Mulder announced. He began typing furiously, and then "Well, thanks to the wonders of modern technology, I've just sent the assistant director of the FBI an e-mail informing him his two intrepid agents are trapped in a dark hole and need rescuing and given him the number of the local sheriff to call. Now if he doesn't think I'm joking, we might just get rescued." They both laughed. "I'd keep trying the sheriff myself just in case Mulder," Scully said between chortles. Mulder faced her and smiled slightly. She could faintly see a bruise forming on his temple. "Come here, I need to look at your head." Mulder stiffened at first, but then moved towards her. Scully picked up the lantern to get a better look and leaned up so she could look down at the bump. Her chest was right at Mulder's eye line and she swore she heard his breathing quicken when she leaned in close. She chose to ignore it. She pushed the hair away from the bump and began to run her fingers over the bump. /Twice in one day I've hurt him./ She sighed. "I'm sorry, Mulder." "Hey, I should have done a better job pulling you out of there, then you wouldn't have dropped the flash." He stopped talking as she lowered her face to his. "That's not what I was talking about, Mulder." She was just inches from him and had pinned him with her eyes. She saw the fear that she'd seen before, when he'd come barging into the hotel room. Mulder to the rescue. But she saw something else now, and it was petrifying her. Mulder's raw feelings were hanging out. No matter that the room was pitch black. At this close proximity, Scully could see and feel it all. Mulder was hurting. She knew why, but neither one of them wanted to face it. It hurt her too. The fear of speaking the one truth that really frightened them. Neither one could admit it, it was their unspoken vow.Scully needed Mulder and Mulder needed Scully. In everything they did, one complimented the other. Their partnership had become an intricate dance that could not be performed without the other's presence. But she needed anyone else. She was relatively certain Mulder felt the same. She backed away pulling the lantern and it's blinding scrutiny with her. She shrugged out of his jacket and pulled her knees in close to her body wrapping her arms around her knees. Mulder was quiet. But not for long. He lunged across the darkness and grabbed her shoulders. He pulled her up off the floor and knocked the lantern over. She could no longer see him, but she could feel his breath on her face and the grip of his hands on her arms. "No, you don't." "Mulder." "Scully, don't say something like that, back away and expect everything to be alright, dammit. We're GOING to talk about this. Yeah, I was a jerk about this case but you certainly didn't have to go overboard with that speech about my investigative techniques this afternoon." "Look, I'm sorry Mulder. What more can I say?" She spat angrily. "But I don't think this case is the real issue here is it? You've been acting like a first class jackass for several months now.you keep shutting yourself off from me! Dammit, I know you're confused about things and so am I, but cutting me off isn't going to shed any light on the matter." "Cutting myself off from you! You're the one who is so aloof and always 'fine'. I thought you preferred I keep my distance from you. I wouldn't want to screw up any of your empirical." Scully pushed him away and turned her back, "You fucking coward.that's right Mulder, blame me. It's all my fault. I'm the one to blame for your crisis right now.I'm the one who has caused you to doubt your beliefs, yeah that's it! You bastard. I stand by you through all this shit and this is the thanks." "I never said you were to blame. I'm not blaming you." "Then why are you so angry with me, huh?" She picked up the lantern and spun to face him. She held the light close to his face. His jaw was slack, but working for words. "Tell me, why are you really so angry with me, Mulder. If I'm not to blame then why are you so mad at me." Mulder hung his head and then looked back up at her. She was terrified at his facial expression. Tears were threatening to fall and his bottom lip was trembling, "Because I don't know if you love me back." XxX Scully felt like lightening had struck her down where she stood. Mulder's words had been simple and clear, yet she found herself standing in front of him in disbelief and confusion. Why now? After five years of chasing each other and never following through, why now? Why lay to bear all those raw emotions they were always hiding from? She often lie awake nights wondering what would happen if she simply admitted her feelings to her partner. Underneath it all she knew he loved her too, but like her he was too much of a coward to admit it. So now it had happened. The Earth shattering event they'd both lived in fear of. One of them had finally let the storm inside break and said how he felt. Despite the raging storm outside, the walls of the cellar hadn't caved in around them. Dana Scully wasn't entirely sure, but she had a pretty good feeling that the Earth hadn't stopped spinning on it's axis either. There was still anger in the air. The sparks popping off of her and Mulder were far more dangerous than the lightening popping outside. Scully let loose a shuddering breath as she finally closed her mouth that must have hung agape for several seconds. Mulder was shaking. Scully raised her own hand and realized it was trembling too, but she stretched it out toward Mulder and touched his face. He brought one of his large hands up to cover hers. They sighed in unison. XxX "How much power is left on those batteries?" "Not much,Scully?" "Did you try the sheriff's cell phone again?" She could barely see him. They'd turned the flashlight off to conserve it's battery after they'd found some candles. All she could see of him now was his silhouette against the odd flickering glow of the laptop. "Skinner hasn't read our e-mail either," he said sighing. "Mulder, come back over here." She said the words softly, but with enough force to get his attention. When he turned to face her, his face was still shrouded in shadows. She imagined he preferred it that way, give his feelings had been brought out into harsh, blinding light. He moved into the candle light and she could at last see his eyes. They looked tired and sad. She felt the same way. Not only had the day been emotionally draining, but they were now going on three hours trapped in the cellar. Mulder had rigged a bucket for them to relieve themselves in, but the candy bar they'd found in Scully's purse was doing little to combat their hunger. All of those things aside, Mulder had made a rather large announcement about an hour ago. They were both still dancing around how to deal with it. Scully decided, since Mulder made the first move, it was her turn to return the volley. Mulder started to sit down in front of her a few feet away, but she grasped his arm. "No, sit down next to me."He complied and stared dumbstruck at her as she stroked his arm up and down. She couldn't look at him, even under his scrutiny. This was a lot for her to take. Finally, she raised her eyes to his. "I do love you. Sometimes I think too much. But then, you've had this uncanny ability to make me believe in you. You do know that, don't you? I may make you work really hard at it, but I do believe you and in you and in everything you do. I'm not good at showing that, I know...but I also think you know that about me, and you aren't exactly the warmest person yourself," she stopped on a nervous chuckle. A loud thud and the howl of the wind kept them both silent for a few moments. Thunder crashed again and Scully jumped, only to be pulled into Mulder's arms. "It's OK," he said softly to her. Her head was tucked under his chin. She took a deep breath, inhaling his scent. Her breath ruffled the few chest hairs peaking out of the top of his open shirt collar. She brought a hand up and ran her fingers through them. Another clap of thunder shook the tiny cellar. She untucked her head from beneath his chin and focused on his eyes again, bringing her fingers up to stroke the stubble covering his chin The chafing sensation was leading her mind down a very prurient path. She'd begun to imagine what it'd be like to have whisker burn on her thighs. The thought made her bite her bottom lip hard enough that she gasped in pain. "Hey, what is it?" he asked, his voice heavy with worry. "Nothing..." she stammered, "I uh. I uh..." Mulder's face was so close and she'd wanted to for so long. /Oh, hell just do it./ She leaned forward and kissed him. Scully could tell she'd stunned him at first, but he didn't seem to mind the surprise. His tongue quickly wound its way inside her mouth to duel with her tongue as his hands followed the lines of her back. Scully brought her hands up to his face in an effort to pull Mulder even closer. She felt him increase the pressure on her back a little too hard and they lost their balance, toppling onto the hard, dirt floor of the cellar. Thunder crashed again and Scully could hear the pounding of hail against the car. Several of the hail stones worked their way around the car into the cellar and were melting next to the safety candles they'd lit. Scully dimly thought they should be afraid that the storm was worsening, but instead she and her partner were laughing like idiots as they lie sprawled on the floor. "You OK?" Mulder choked out between giggles. "Yeah, I'm fine.I mean I'm OK." His smile looked inviting in the warm glow of the candles. She started to reach for him but he jumped up. "Mulder? Where are you going?" "There's a blanket in the car and from the sounds of it, we're in for another rough storm. I figure we could use some warmth and if stuff starts flying it'll provide a little protection as well." Scully got up and walked over to the car and stood behind him. "Where is the blanket? Are you going to need help getting it?" Mulder stooped down. "Get on my shoulders, the blanket's in the back seat." Scully wriggled her way into the car again and leaned over the front seat. She spied the ugly, olive drab wool blanket. It wouldn't be very comfortable, but at least it was warmth and protection. She grabbed the scratchy cover and tossed it over her shoulder. A red and white package rolled towards her on the seat when she pulled up the blanket. Sunflower seeds. She grinned and grabbed them quickly tucking them into the breast pocket on her shirt. She glanced out the window of the car. The sky had gone a murky dark green again. Scully made her way out of the car without beaning Mulder on the head again. But when she got back down to the ground again, she rubbed the bump on his head in a gesture of apology. Not only for the bump but for all the tension between the two of them that day. She hoped he understood what her gentle touch meant. She saw him faintly smile in the candlelight. "I'm sorry too, Scully." She smiled back at him and then lightening struck just outside near the car sending them both sprawling back towards the rear of the cellar. Mulder tripped and knocked over one of the emergency candles smashing it. "Shit." "Don't worry, there are some others, I saw them when I got those two. Give me your flashlight." The hail was really pounding the rear of the car and a small cluster of hailstones now littered the steps and the floor near them. Scully found four more candles on the shelf. She turned to walk toward the back of the small space and saw Mulder moving some boxes around. "What are you doing?" "I've got a feeling there's going to be another twister, so I'm making us a little more shelter in case the wind whips some debris in around the car." "What's in those boxes Mulder?" "According to the labels, winter clothes and some old toys." Scully helped Mulder pile the remaining boxes two high and they then laid the blanket down behind it. Scully was glad they were in a cellar, because their makeshift shield would do them no good above ground. Mulder sat down against the boxes and Scully remained standing facing him. She walked over and got the candle that had survived Mulder's fall and placed it just close enough to them so they could still see. There were some shelves just behind them. She used the flashlight to see to clear off a space and lit a second candle and put it on the shelf to give them a little better over head light. She pulled the cell phone and laptop over and placed them on a lower shelf so they'd be close but out of harm's way. "I think the area's secure, Agent Scully," Mulder said chuckling, "So why don't you come over here and take a load off," his voice suddenly sounded thick and sweet, like rich chocolate and Scully wanted another taste. She fingered the bag of sunflower seeds in her pocket. Taste. A wicked idea was forming in her head. XxX Scully slowly edged her way over towards Mulder and sat down just out of his reach. "Hey? You having regrets about what happened earlier?" He asked suddenly nervous. She smiled coyly at him. "Nope. Not at all." She got a small smile out of him but she could tell he was still nervous. She pulled the packet of seeds out of her pocket and dangled them in the air. "OH WOW! Scully, I thought I'd lost those.uh, hey toss 'em here I'll split them with you." "Not so fast G-Man. Possession is nine-tenths of the law, but I'll let you have some."Scully watched as his grin widened. Mulder had finally caught on she was playing with him. It wasn't something she did very often, but she knew he liked it when she did. Today had been rough enough and from the sounds of the wind and the hail outside it might be a long night. She desperately wanted both of them to relax and she hoped she could manage it, for them both. She tore open the package of seeds, pulled one out and popped it in her mouth. She bit down on the hard shell and popped it open. Using her tongue, she pulled the meat out and spat out the shell. She picked up another and another, repeating the process. Mulder, was absolutely transfixed. Scully was fighting the urge to chuckle. Her over observant partner couldn't stop watching her mouth. Scully cut her gaze back up to Mulder. She crunched another seed, discarded the shell and then spoke. "Don't you want some, Mulder?" "Oh, I want some all right." Scully had sat down across from Mulder with her back to the cellar's wall. Mulder crawled over toward her. She watched him from where she sat, legs pulled in close to her body. He stopped when his arms were resting on either side of her thighs. His face was just inches from hers. "May I have a sunflower seed, Scully?" He asked lasciviously. She pulled one from the bag and placed it on his tongue. He sucked her finger as he pulled the seed into his mouth. She shivered at the sensation. Once again her mind wandered to other thoughts of what that magnificent tongue could do. "These are really delicious," he told her, moving his face closer, "Let's share one." She arched her eyebrow at him, "Share one?" Mulder lifted one of his large hands and slipped it inside the bag. He pulled out a seed and popped it into his mouth. He cracked the shell and spit it out then covered Scully's mouth with his. Scully opened her mouth in surprise and then she felt Mulder push the meat of the seed onto her tongue. She swallowed it quickly as he backed away. "See, isn't sharing more fun?" Mulder laughed. She giggled slightly and repeated the process with him. He went to get another seed but Scully stilled his hand. "Let's try that without the seed." Mulder leaned closer and Scully moved towards him. Their lips met again, slowly at first and then their tongues began to twist like the winds outside. XxX "This is where we left off just a bit a go, isn't it?" Mulder asked as Scully backing away slightly. Scully noticed his eyes were hooded and he was having trouble breathing. "Yes, but we fell," she replied bringing a hand up to his cheek. "Right, that." He smiled but then looked down shyly. Scully could sense from his body posture that he was backing away. She moved her hand down from his cheek to put pressure on his shoulder to get him to stop. He froze and she thought she felt a nearly imperceptible tremble. Thunder shook the tiny shelter and he jumped away from her. He turned his back on her and was pretending to stare at the car and the rain falling in on it. "Mulder! What is it?" "Doesn't the storm make you nervous, Scully?" Scully moved closer to him and ran her hand along his back. Typical Mulder. He'd make a move and then when she responded, he'd immediately withdraw. He didn't move away but she could tell he was shaking. "No the storm isn't making me half as nervous as you are right now, Mulder." Mulder blew air through his teeth in a tight chuckle. "I make you nervous? That's cute Scully. But do I scare you? Because God woman you scare me." He turned to face her and Scully could see tears in his eyes. /What the hell?/ "Mulder, why do I scare you? I told you how I felt about you and you know I'd never do anything to hurt you..." "And I'd never do anything to deserve you...Scully, I don't doubt how you feel about me and it scares me to death," he reached up gently and touched her face allowing his thumb to trace her lower lip. "God, I love you so much but I never mean to hurt you and I do it all the time and I don't think you meant to hurt me this afternoon and you did, but I asked for it..." "Mulder," her tone was slightly threatening, "I'm sorry I was so hard on you this afternoon, but you know that's how we've always worked cases together. I'm sorry if it was..." "Shh," he said moving closer, "It's OK, you didn't let me finish. Part of any dynamic...any relationship will involve some feelings getting tromped on now and again. That's not what scares me, that's what I was trying to say. I'm scared because I don't deserve you or your love and I'm scared you'll realize that and go away. I mean, Christ Scully, what do I possibly have to offer you?" "You have a lot to offer me, G-man," she said smiling broadly. She kissed his thumb that was still caressing her lip. "You have a brilliant mind that challenges me and cares about me and it's probably what I love most about you." Mulder chuckled and brought his other hand up to tuck her hair behind her ear. "Are you saying you love me for my mind, Agent Scully? Here all this time I thought you were after my athletic body." He smirked at her. Scully raised her eyebrow and then drew his thumb all the way into her mouth, running her tongue along it. Mulder gasped. "Mulder, I've always loved your mind. But I think it's high time I got to love that athletic body of yours," she said huskily around his thumb. Scully pulled away from his thumb sucking as she went. When she finally released it totally Mulder coughed and his eyes were wide. "Uhh...Scully...I..," he reached for her hand and pulled it to his mouth and kissed her palm, "I guess it would be stupid of me to ask you if you knew what that little maneuver just did to me," he nodded in the direction of his pants which were now sporting a noticeable bulge. Scully smiled widely at him. "Yes, I do know. Are you complaining?" "No." "Mulder?" "Yes, Scully?" "I want to touch you." Scully had to choke back a laugh at his confused expression. /Honestly, he can be so thick./ She pinned him with her eyes then trailed them back down to his pants. "Oh," he finally answered, understanding slowly falling over him like the rain outside. Thunder rumbled yet again in the distance. "You want to touch me." He smiled and kissed her palm again and then placed it flat against his chest leaving his own heavy hand over her smaller one. Scully felt him put slight pressure on her hand pushing it downward. Scully's breathing quickened. It was really rather mundane, she had to admit, but some how the idea of Mulder guiding her hand as she touched him was one of the more erotic things she'd ever experienced. Her hand slowly made its way down his chest over his left breast and then down over his navel, his shirt made a delightful rustling noise as they travelled. Scully didn't think it possible, but some how the slight sound was drowning out the storm outside. They paused at the waistband of his trousers. Scully flicked her eyes up to his and wriggled her hand free from under his. She scooted closer and undid his belt buckle. Compared to the rustle of his shirt, the metallic slide of his zipper was deafening. She stopped once she had the zipper all the way open. She pinned him with her eyes. "Why don't you finish guiding me down?" She offered Mulder her hand. He kissed her palm again and gently pushed her hand down onto his boxer clad erection. Scully heard him gasp and watch him tip his head back slightly as she worked her hand inside the opening to his boxers. Mulder started to move his hand away. "No, Mulder. I want you to keep touching me while I touch you," Scully told him in a low whisper. She leaned forward and kissed him lightly on the lips, then backed away watching his eyes. A fear storm raged in those hazel depth...but desire was on the horizon. Outside the rain stopped and the air grew very still. Scully began to slowly trail her fingers along his length as his hand rested heavily atop hers. She felt him lengthen and harden even further under her touch and she felt her own desire spark in her belly. A clap of thunder split the air closer to their cellar shelter. "Sc..Scully. I...I need to touch you," Mulder said touching her face with his free hand. "You are touching me, Mulder." "No, Scully I want to touch you the way you're touching me." His words shot straight through her and the spark became a flame. Mulder pulled their hands out of his pants and rose. He stripped out of his shirt and tossed it aside. He kicked off his shoes and stepped out of his pants. Scully smiled when he finally looked at her. She was enjoying the show. Her eyes followed the hard lines of his body. She admired his lean runner's legs and his strong swimmer's chest and then...well then there was what was in the middle. "What?" Mulder asked her chuckling. Scully gave him a wicked grin, "Mulder, what are you doing?" "Umm..." She had to stifle a laugh as she watched him realize she'd never answered his question, he'd just launched into full strip mode. He blushed. "I guess...I should...uh..." Scully laughed out loud. "Mulder...it's fine, like I said, I really do want to love your body." The rain had started again outside, the sound of it hitting the car was almost as mesmerizing as Mulder's expectant stare. Of course he wanted the words. He was so unsure of everything else going on in his life and she some how hoped their final coming together would ground him at least one area. But she did know he loved her and she loved him and they deserved this. Scully also knew Mulder needed to hear the words. But she wanted to give him more. "Mulder, I'm going to make love to you." Thunder crashed overhead and the candles flickered as a rush of wind breezed pass the car. He cocked his head to one side as if he hadn't heard her correctly, You're what?" Scully pulled his hand into hers and then pulled them both down onto the scratchy wool blanket. "Lie on your back," she instructed him. He grinned at her but still looked rather bemused. She straddled his waist and leaned forward and kissed him. "Relax, will you. I AM a doctor." He chuckled but said nothing. She kissed him a little harder and he stopped laughing. Scully felt him push his hand into her hair, pulling her head closer. She opened her mouth to allow his tongue inside. She felt his free hand drift down her back and deftly undo the clasp to her bra. She dimly wondered how much practice he'd had at that. The thought flew from her head as she felt his strong fingers trace along the outer edge of the bra until they came to the underside of her breast. They felt like silk against her hot skin as he trailed his index finger up and began to circle her nipple. It hardened instantly under his touch. She moaned into his mouth. /Who's making love to whom here?/ Scully decided she needed to get control of the situation quickly. This needed to be about him first. Not because she felt obligated but she loved him so much and wanted to give him pleasure. She broke the kiss and he growled chasing after her with his head. But she managed to get both of his arms and pin them to his sides. "Please don't fight me, Mulder.I want to give this to you," her mouth was just inches from his and she could feel his ragged breath hitting her lips. The wind howled outside. Mulder stilled his struggling. "OK. What are you going to do Scully?" He asked huskily. She gave him a sphinx smile in a vain effort to clear her thoughts. The rain had started again outside, the sound of it hitting the car was almost as mesmerizing as Mulder's expectant stare. She kissed his jaw, running a series of kisses along it. From the corner of her eye she could see he'd gripped the blanket tightly and his eyes had slipped shut. His mouth was hanging open and he was gasping. Scully thought she'd never seen him look more sexy in her life. She was battling her own arousal as much as he was and now it was taking all of her willpower not to simply tell him to take her right then and there. Scully drew in a deep breath and moved her mouth over Mulder's adam's apple, she sucked on it lightly. Mulder's voice rattled around it and it startled her slightly. "Oh God, Scully.please.I just. I need." She moved her face back over his, "What do you need, Mulder?" His eyes flicked open and he cradled her head in both of his hands, "God I love you so much Scully, I want this to..I know what you're trying to do and I can't tell you how arousing it is.it's too arousing, I want this to be equal Scully I want to pleasure you as much as you pleasure me." A flash of lightening lit up the darkening cellar. Scully's hand had steadily been climbing up Mulder's thigh, lightly stroking him as he had been speaking to her. Mulder lowered his hands from her face to her breasts and began to circle her nipples with his index fingers, she sucked her lower lip in to keep from moaning. "Touch me now, Scully, please." Scully slowly moved her hand to the tip of his penis. She felt the bead of moisture there and swirled it around the head. Her eye's never left Mulder's. She felt one of Mulder's hands drift from her aching nipples and trail down between her thighs. He used one of his graceful fingers to stroke between her folds and she could no longer hold it in. "Oh God, Mulder, yesss." She attempted to keep the same rhythmic strokes on him as he was using on her, but the state of her arousal was making it harder and harder to concentrate. Then she felt him push a finger inside her and she cried out. She felt him hesitate. "Am I hurting you?" he gasped. "No." she choked out, "Please, don't stop." "Oh God, Scully." He was pumping his finger in and out of her faster and she'd lost any ability to continue her own touching. Her hips bucked against his hands as she began to give herself over to the sensations. "That's it, Scully, let me give you this.God I love you so much." "Mulder! Please, I want you inside me NOW!" Mulder turned her over on her back and gently slid into her in one slow slide. They both moaned in pleasure and he stilled for a moment once he was inside her. The wind whipped furiously outside, ripping up a small sapling that scraped against the carcass of a car blocking the cellar's entrance. But neither Scully nor Mulder heard it. About a mile away a funnel cloud touched down. Mulder moved his hips and Scully moved with him. He felt so wonderful and large inside her. She reached behind him and grabbed his ass, urging him to move faster. Mulder stilled her, then helped her to put her legs over his shoulders so he could get better leverage. He pumped inside her. "Is that good Scully," he asked thrusting inside her. "Oh God, yes Mulder." She could tell he was holding back trying to prolong her pleasure but she could feel how close his own orgasm was. "Touch me, Mulder." She too was close, but she needed a little more. Mulder seemed to read it in her face when he looked at her and he trailed a hand along her leg and worked a finger between them. He stroked her lightly at first stilling his own movements. "More Mulder, please." She felt his hand moving faster and faster and then he was thrusting inside her again and then she screamed as her orgasm crashed over her like the tree that had just crashed through the window of the Crown Victoria. Within seconds Mulder was crying out as well as his own orgasm ripped through him and then he collapsed a top her. He quickly recovered enough to turn them both on their sides. Scully kissed his face and then opened her eyes to stare into those of her lover. That's when she realized the candles had all blown out. XxX "Mulder, did you hear that noise." "Yeah, Scully the Earth moved for me too." "Mulder all the candles blew out," she said in a loud whisper. "Mmmhmm," he said sleepily running a hand along her arm. Scully felt his lips find her forehead in the dark and kiss her gently. She heard a dull rumbling noise, but the wonderful friction of Mulder's large hand against her skin made her forget it quickly. "Shouldn't we relight them?" she asked nuzzling closer to him. "Nah. Let's conserve them. From the sounds of the storm we'll be here awhile and it's nearly nightfall," she felt his hand move to the small of her back and he pushed lightly on her, "C'mere Scully, I wanna cuddle...and I'm cold," he told her chuckling. Scully smacked him playfully on his exposed butt and he let out a howl and then rolled over so he was pinning her to the ground. "You wanna wrestle Scully? I bet I'd win." He began to tickle her sides and she started squirming. "Mulder stop!" She was giggling but managed to use her own strength to leverage him off of her when he shifted his balance. They toppled in a heap on the floor and she started to scramble away from him, even though she was enjoying the game she wasn't about to let him win. But he caught an arm and pulled her to him. She expected him to start tickling her again but he didn't. He kissed her, long and slow. She melted into him and began to protest when he stopped, but Mulder placed a finger over her lips. "Please...Scully, I really do just want to hold you for awhile." "I'd like that, Mulder." Scully scooted closer to him and snuggled against his chest. He wrapped his arms around her and she felt his hands running up and down her back in a soothing motion. He kissed her forehead and she heard him murmur he loved her. Scully tangled her fingers in his chest hairs and murmured the same and let her eyes slip shut as she finally relaxed. Then she heard the rumbling noise again. "Mulder..." "Yeah, Scully I hear it too." She heard him fumbling around in the dark and for their lantern. He made a positive noise and then he clicked the light on and pointed the strong beam in the direction of the cellar's entrance. Scully's jaw went slack when she saw the large trunk of a tree now firmly imbedded in the car's rear window. She could faintly see more rain blowing in. "Oh shit!" Mulder griped. Then they both jumped as they heard something large and heavy hit the car just out of site. "Scully! Scoot up against the boxes, now!" The distant rumbling was now a loud roar. Another twister. She rolled her body until she felt it come into contact with the soggy cardboard of the boxes. Then she felt Mulder sit down next to her and then roll over on top of her. "Mulder!" She felt him pull the wool blanket up over them too. He moved around and then shined the flashlight on his face. She could barely hear him as he shouted, "I have to cover us both, I think it's going to hit us full on." Just as the words left his mouth the noise became deafening. Scully was sure a freight train was running over the top of the cellar. She heard several loud pops and the grating squeal of metal against concrete and another loud thud. And then suddenly debris was flying around in the small cellar she heard a sickening whump and Mulder groaned above her and the flashlight dropped from his hand. She tried shouting to him but she wasn't sure he could hear her over the din. She reached her hands up to touch his face and she felt a wet sticky substance. /Oh God, no./ Then suddenly it was quiet. "Mulder! Mulder!" She fumbled and found the flashlight and shined it up to his face. A small trickle of blood was running down his face, his eyes were shut and he was moaning. "Oh God, Mulder let me...I've got to get out from under you." She squirmed out from under him and he seemed to come around a bit, but it was hard for her to tell in the dim light the flashlight was providing them. She grabbed it and shined it on his face. He had a long ragged gash running along his forehead. "Oh God Mulder, you've been hit..." She shined the flashlight around searching for her purse. She'd stuffed it back by the wall when they'd come behind their makeshift shelter, she'd even found a small box to put around it. After some fumbling she managed to find it, along with the shattered remains of the laptop. It had been flung into the corner in the melee. She rifled through her purse, holding the flashlight with her chin. She located a set of alcohol wipes. Unfortunately, they'd not be enough to fix the gash running through the laptop. Scully hoped Mulder's cellphone was in better repair. She moved back over towards Mulder and gently cleaned the wound. She found his discarded t-shirt and ripped off a piece to tie around it. Locating his trousers and dress shirt, she helped him back into them to keep him warm and to keep him from going into shock. She checked his eyes for signs of concussion, there were none to her relief. "Hey Scully," he murmured weakly. "What Mulder?" "You forgot to put your own clothes back on, but I'm not complaining." She shot him a dirty look and went to find her own clothes, but smiled inwardly. /He can't be hurt too bad./ Her shirt was sopped and she couldn't find her bra. She pulled on Mulder's t-shirt and was glad she'd had the good sense to rip off a section of the bottom of the shirt. Her pants had luckily been tossed into a corner that remained dry, but they were covered in a bit of the dust and grime that she was now finding permeated the cellar. She shook the garment a few times to dislodge a bit of it. It had grown cold in the cellar and Scully noticed Mulder shivering when she shined the flashlight in his direction. She ceased to care what had happened to her shoes and crossed back over toward him. She gathered up the grimy blanket and wrapped it around them both, moving as close to him as she could to share her body heat. XxX "No sign of them in the car, sir." "I should hope not, the thing's a mangled mess. Let's check the cellar." "I can't believe you were actually able to land last night Mr. Skinner...I can't believe you flew out here at all." "I often find myself personally responsible for these two agents." XxX Scully slowly woke and swore she heard voices. She looked over at Mulder who was still dozing and gave him a shake. "Huh...wha'...Oh, hey Scully," his head dipped forward and he groaned. She picked his chin up with her finger and felt over his make shift bandage. The bleeding had stopped but he had a nasty knot on his head and she was positive he'd be suffering from an IRS sized headache for a couple of days at least. Scully started to kiss him but a gruff familiar voice caused her to freeze. "I often find myself personally responsible for these two agents." "But you've never told me, how did you know we might find them here?" "I somehow received an e-mail from Agent Mulder." Scully jumped up almost causing Mulder to hit his head yet again. As she turned around she could see sunlight dripping into the dank cellar long with residual rainwater. Some how, the Crown Vic had been pulled out of the cellar's entrance. She surmised it happened when the second twister hit, but with Mulder injured there had been more pressing matters to attend to rather than whether or not they could get out of the cellar. "SIR!" Scully called out. "Agent Scully?" Assistant Director Walter Skinner's bald head appeared in the entrance to the cellar. "Scully! Are you OK?" he groused as he moved his large frame down the cellar steps. "Yes sir, but Agent Mulder is injured..." she started but the AD quickly pulled out a two way radio and requested the paramedics bring down a stretcher. "Sir, what are you doing here? Did you get Mulder's e-mail?" "Yes, Agent Scully and as bad as this storm is I feared the worse for you both. According to the news report I heard before I left, this storm is responsible for at least 100 deaths." Scully turned white. She and Mulder could have easily been killed had they not been in the cellar and Mulder almost was killed. She never was able to ascertain what hit him in the head. The paramedics entered the cellar. Scully stood aside so they could get the stretcher over to Mulder. She went into doctor mode explaining his various contusions and admonished them several times to handle him with care as they got him out of the cellar, she was about to do it again when she felt the AD's hand on her shoulder. She turned to face him and he handed her his jacket. "Sir, I'm not cold." "You may not be cold Scully, but that shirt isn't...well," Skinner was actually blushing. Scully looked down and saw that Mulder's t-shirt had gotten a little wet and wasn't affording her much modesty. She quickly took the jacket from him and wrapped it around, it fell almost below her knees. "Thank you," she said sheepishly. The AD gave her a stern look but then smiled. "I'm glad you're both OK, Scully. You're both lucky you found this cellar. It's a good thing you had the laptop as well." "Had operative word, sir." Scully looked at her feet and then crossed the room and picked up the shattered remains of the PowerBook. The AD chuckled, "I hate to say it Scully, but that thing looks much better than your vehicle." Scully quirked an eyebrow at him. "We found it about 100 yards from here, it's barely recognizable..." "Sir, I'm really sorry, I..." "Scully. I don't give a damn about the car or the laptop. This was an act of God or Nature or whatever...it's OK." He chuckled. "Besides, we've grown to expect that disaster follows you and Mulder wherever you go." Scully gave him a weak smile. "Sir, let's get out of here." XxX Epilogue One Week Later The dim light of the hotel room enveloped Scully as she typed the last lines of her report. She closed the word processing program and started to shut the system down but paused. She ran her fingers over the sleek new laptop. She'd had to promise Skinner she'd take better care of this one but that she'd always have it with her. The memory of a dank cellar in Kansas made her shiver until two large arms wrapped around her. "Do my t-shirts always make you cold, Agent Scully." "I wasn't cold, the damn thing was wet," she groused running her hands up her partner's strong arms. Then she felt a stream of water run down her chest from above. "MULDER!" "I wanted to see this view sans head injury," he laughed spinning her around. She shoved him back hard onto the bed. "Dammit Mulder!" "Oh c'mon Scully, don't be mad, it's not like I haven't seen you naked before," he leered. "I'm not mad about that you idiot! You almost spilled that water on the new laptop!" Then she cracked up. "Ooh! Yeah, sorry Scully. Maybe we should send the AD another e-mail." "What about?" she asked giggling. Mulder crossed the room to her and wrapped his arms around her, kissing her deeply. "Why don't you tell him the Disaster Mulder is about to strike you?" he said huskily. She flashed him a blinding smile, "Why would I ever want to be rescued from that?" End