All Characters copyright of TenThirteen Productions and Chris Carter. No
infringement intended on any part... go ahead, take me to court...
I'm using the insanity defence... heh, heh, heh...

And all you Angst-ers thought you'd get away from Valentine's Day without a
romance... snicker... so this one's for all you folks who find it easier to 
believe in EBEs than in true love...

Yep, no plot again... just that romantic stuff that most of the free world
loves and the disbelievers hate... so be warned and go read something
depressing if you're not into this...

last chance...

Comments, complaints and just plain talk to sheryl_martin@tvo.org 


V-Day (NC-17)
by Sheryl Martin

Dana Scully was in a bad mood. No, she thought, she was in a grumpy, rotten,
kick-your-balls-so-far-up-that-you-think-you-have-mumps mood. That described
it a bit better. But it still lacked substance.

Throwing her briefcase onto the couch, the petite redhead tossed her trench
coat in the opposite direction; not caring if it hit anything other than the
floor. Kicking her shoes off with a sigh of relief, she headed to the
bedroom; buttons and zippers flying free as she walked. Reaching for a ragged
old pair of jeans and a worn work shirt took most of her remaining energy.

It wasn't bad enough that it was Valentine's Day, and the office had been all
abuzz with the typical frivolity that goes with the holiday. Cute red
balloons being delivered to the secretaries; boxes of chocolates being passed
around under the counter; as to not look unprofessional... But instead of
enjoying the blushing and chuckling of the other agents as they tried to over
embarrass each other; she had ended up in a two-hour argument in Skinner's
office. No, that was incorrect. She had ended up witnessing a two-hour
argument in Skinner's office. 

And the worst thing was, in the middle of watching Mulder and Skinner scream
at each other over the smallest line in a report on an obscure file that they
had no intention of pursuing; Mulder had winked at her. The bastard had
stopped in mid-tirade and looked at her for support and then grinned at her
and winked. Wonderful. Skinner was probably making out a special reprimand on
her now for some reason... 

There was a cold beer in the refrigerator. A single, lonely, cold beer from
some past holiday. Good. Snapping the top off, she paused before putting the
bottle to her mouth. Ladies don't drink from the bottle; her mother had once
remarked. Welcome to the Nineties.

And then Mulder had given in and agreed to redo the one stupid line. After
all that. Skinner had nodded and tossed them both; his snarl echoing in her
ears as the door slammed behind them. Then Mulder had turned to her and
smiled.

"Think he's getting anything for Valentine's Day tonight?"

That had been it. The last straw. After the last few weeks she had had it
with Fox Mulder and the X Files and the FBI and everything in the world.
Glaring at him; she marched down to the basement office, grabbed her
briefcase and coat and had left. 

Flopping down on the sofa, she wriggled her bare toes and sighed. Being
single wasn't so bad.

It was just the loneliness that hurt.

**************

Fox Mulder sat at his desk; tossing crumpled bits of paper at the distant
wastepaper basket, going for the three-pointer. The report was in front of
him, the offending line purged and made politically correct for Skinner's
eyes. But the next problem was to get Scully's signature to approve the
change. And with the way she looked when she stomped out; that was about as
likely as Skinner suddenly revealing himself as his sister with a sex-change.

But it had been fun; turning to her and throwing her that wink. After seeing
her sitting there, prim and proper watching the two of them verbally joust
over a few words, he had itched to just rattle her a bit; send the usually
calm and steady Dana Scully into an impromptu smile for the day. Would have
pissed Skinner off... rephrase that, it did piss Skinner off... The glare he
shot the pair of them when he tossed them out of the office was worth the
whole argument and his giving in on the rewrite.

So he had won... kind of. But now he had to get this signature; and if he
knew Scully it would cost him. Rubbing his temples, the tall man got to his
feet. Time to pay the piper, Mulder. Go and endure the storm to get a fast
scribble.

**************

Dana sighed loudly again as she drained the last of the bottle; knowing that
it was the one and only drink she had in the house. But it had tasted really
good, better than it should. With a frown she punched around the television
stations with the remote; trying to avoid the celebrations and the typical
newscaster jokes. It didn't work.

It wasn't that she hated Valentine's Day; when she had been younger and in
school it had been one of the best and funniest days - seeing who got a card
from whom; what they sent and giggling over the possibilities of finally
getting noticed by that handsome hunk that sat at the back of the class. Not
that he ever noticed her; the shy, short redhead that buried her head in a
book more than she should have at that age. And now what did she have to show
for it? Sitting here on one of the most romantic holidays of the year;
wanting to throttle her smartass partner. Well, it was something productive,
at least...

The knock at the door annoyed her. It had to be... Closing her eyes, the
woman tried to wonder what he would do if she just didn't answer him. Just
ignored him totally... That lasted until she heard the key snick in the lock
and start to turn.

Jumping to her feet, she pulled the door open; causing Mulder to temporarily
fall forward before catching his balance. Grinning sheepishly, he pocketed
the key ring again.

"Sorry... thought you might be out." He held up the offending report. "I... I
need your signature on this so I can give it back to Skinner first thing in
the morning; and I thought that in case you wanted to perhaps come in a bit
late..." He was rambling and he knew it. Deep down Mulder knew that he had
come to offer an apology, but didn't really know how to give it.

"Oh, and what were you going to do, just drop it on my bed and then hope I'd
see it in the morning?" Her voice was sharper than it needed to be; and she
knew it. "Mulder, I gave you that key for emergencies - not for you to use it
every time you don't hear me rush for the door. What would you have done if
I'd been in the shower or something?"

"Offer to help?" He beamed his best smile; withering inside as she glared at
him.

"How would you like it if I walked in on you all the time?"

"Everyone else does, Scully... And as I recall, you do." Ouch. This was not
going the way he wanted it to.

Grabbing the folder out of his hands, she spun around and dumped it on the
couch behind her, ignoring the papers spilling out onto the floor. "Right.
Thanks. See you tomorrow."

"Scully..." Closing the door behind him, Mulder raised his hands in mock
surrender. "Look, I'm sorry that I..."

"You don't have to apologise to me, Mulder." Crossing her arms, she stood in
front of him; barring him from the rest of the apartment. "As I recall, you
don't apologise to anyone."

"Not when I'm right." He protested. "I'm not going to roll over and play dead
for everyone who comes along, Scully. You know I'm not like that; that I
don't operate that way..."

"Oh, I know that." She snapped. "I also know that you don't give a damn what
anyone thinks or says; and that you don't worry about anything or anyone that
doesn't have to do with your version of how the world should be."

"Scully..." She held up a hand, silencing him.

"I've been your partner for years now; blindly following you around into
places where I've put my reputation and my life on the line because I believe
in the same causes that you do. But I'll be dammed if I'm going to let you
trash me in front of Skinner and make me play the blonde bimbo so your male
ego can be stroked..."

"What the..." His forehead creased. "It was only a wink, Scully..."

"And it's always something small!" Her voice stayed low and menacing,
reminding him of a National Geographic special on lionesses. "Either you dump
me in the middle of an investigation and go off on your own; leaving me to
pick up the pieces, or you're cutting off my phone calls or you're making fun
of me in front of other agents or policemen or something... I went through
the same training as you did. I deserve the same respect."

"You haven't got the same training." He pointed out. "We both came into the
Bureau in different fields... mine's a bit more mental than yours. You are a
medical pathologist; I'm a psychologist. Two very different areas of
training. And I spent more time in the field than you."

"Which means you can continually treat me like some rookie out of the
Academy?" Her voice was still deep; really scaring him now. "If you don't
give me respect, then none of the other agents will. And Skinner won't. You
don't know how contagious that can be; how as a woman I have to deal with
that every day."

He paused, his mouth slightly open as he pondered an answer. She continued
on; intent on releasing the fury that had been building up for weeks, maybe
longer.

"I have fought damn hard to get where I am; to be acknowledged as an agent in
one of the largest old-boys network in the country! And for you to blow me
off every time I either ask a question or if I don't mindless back you..."

Fox stared. "I hate to break it to you Scully, but I'm not exactly in the
inner circle myself." He slashed at the air with his hand. "Do you have any
idea how much I've given up over the years; how many friendships and
relationships and opportunities I've passed on or destroyed for this?" Now
his voice began to rise. "I'm sorry that I'm not living up to your picture of
what an ideal partner is but that's life. That's the nature of the beast; and
I'm not abut to change who I am to met your expectations.  And I've never
asked you to change for me." Reaching down, he grabbed her right hand and put
it to his face. "If you want to hit me for that one, go ahead. I don't care -
a free shot. But I'm never giving in to anyone's picture of who they think I
should be."

She froze, feeling the iron grip on her wrist combined with the thick stubble
of his jaw pressing against her palm. "Mulder..." Her voice went softer. "Do
you really hate the Bureau that much... the cases... me?"

Their eyes locked, and he saw the pain; ripping through his heart. "No." Fox
whispered. "It's not hate that fuels me..." His eyes closed. "It's love."

Dana's eyes widened as she saw it. A minute, tiny, almost invisible tear
emerging from the inside of his left eye; breaking free to run down and
settle against the very bottom of her palm where it still rested on his face.
Taking a step closer, she felt all the anger drain out of her in a rush,
leaving her exhausted and weak.

"Oh, Mulder..." She felt a muscle twitch under her hand. Sliding it around to
cup the back of his neck, she pulled his head down until their foreheads
touched. "I'm... I'm sorry."

His hands settled on her waist automatically; without any conscious thought.
Still with his eyes closed, he felt her soft breath on his face; her cheek
rubbing along his as she took another step.

Dana squeezed her eyes shut tightly; shouting down the inner voice that kept
warning her to back off; to become the astute professional again. But she
just couldn't move away; the silky skin under her touch drawing her to him
with a deep set need she had almost forgotten existed. Nuzzling her nose
alongside his, she felt another wet trail under her lips. Following it down
to his chin and back up to his mouth with a gentle determination, Dana felt
something inside her snap as she lightly brushed her lips against his.

He shuddered inwardly at the first hesitant touch; his mouth greedily opening
to receive her moisture and warmth with a hunger that only grew worse every
second. Gentleness soon evolved into an over-powering need; his tongue
duelling hotly with hers for domination as his hands swept up from her waist
to tangle in the auburn waves. Taking a step forward, Fox felt her waver,
then move back as her mouth refused to leave his. With a determination born
of necessity he manoeuvred them to the sofa, his eyes barely open as his
hands flew over her body; memorising every curve.

Pulling her down as he sat back, he reluctantly released her to quickly shed
his coat and suit jacket; her softness moulding itself against him as her
lips travelled along his jaw line up to rest at his ear.

"Mulder." The word was whispered with a variety of mixed emotions; fear,
apprehension, want...

"Shush." His hands ran up under her shirt as he lay back; pulling her to lie
atop him. "Shush." He repeated, murmuring into her ear as his fingers lightly
traced her spine; creeping under the old shirt to find only soft, velvety
skin.

She was too dizzy to think; her face pressed into his neck as her mind spun
around in a twisting mixture of logic and emotion. This was wrong... this was
going to make work just that much harder... this was Fox Mulder... oh, to
hell with it... 

Her hands quickly undid his tie with surgical preciseness and skill; moving
then to the buttons of his white dress shirt. Running her fingers along the
lightly furred chest, she smiled as he let a groan escape him; the rumble
echoing through her ears as she pulled the bottom of the fabric free of his
pants with little effort.

A low laugh came from the man beneath her as she realised that he was
feverishly working on the buttons of her shirt at the same time; their hands
colliding and battling around each other for access. Lowering her head back
into the curve of his shoulder; Dana paused to catch her breath.

"Hmm..." Fox shifted his hips slightly, already feeling himself strain
against the suddenly coarse material of his boxers and pants. Running his
hands back down to her waist, he carefully adjusted her to fit perfectly
against him. Instinctively she arched her back; pressing him down into the
cushions, pulling a sharp grunt from him.

Taking ahold of the back of her neck, he pulled her gently up to face him;
his heart pounding at the moist, swollen lips meeting his eyes. Her own eyes
were dark and deep; a multitude of emotions racing through them.

Dana broke the connection first; shifting her hips nervously. A spark of
desire shot from the inner core of her being into her nerves; making her
close her eyes in a combination of embarrassment and wanton need. Her hands
wandered back down to his waist; to slyly undo the belt.

With the same eagerness he slipped his hands under the loose jeans;
frustrated at the demin barrier as his fingers traced the silk panties and
curved under to stroke bare skin. As she lifted herself off him to undo the
button and zipper on his pants; he pouted at losing contact with her warmth,
his lower lip poking out at her.

A gentle persuasiveness travelled through her delicate touch as she tugged
his pants down; pushing them well past his knees. Running her hands over the
front of his dark blue boxers; she couldn't repress a smile of pleasure.

"You're looking very smug." Fox whispered into her hair, flexing his legs to
kick the offending pants off the end of the couch. "Reminds me of the cat
that ate the canary." A answering hug sent his mind soaring. "And I'll pass
on the feline jokes for now."

"Better..." He felt an elbow jostle against his ribs. "Unless you really
want..."

"I know what I want." Wrapping his arms around her tight, he wrestled with
the front of her jeans for only a second; swiftly sliding them down and off
her. "I think..." Pressing his mouth to her ear, he said in the softest of
whispers. "I think I want to hear you purr..."

The edges of Dana's mouth twitched upwards at hearing this, and she searched
for a suitable response; determined to not let him get the last word. But
suddenly she was moving and he was gripping her and the world twisted around
and she felt the familiar fabric of Mulder's trench coat under her; the
sleeves of her shirt flopping around her arms as it loosely hung off her
shoulders.

Kneeling over her, Fox dropped his mouth down to the delicate skin of her
neck; rolling his tongue in a long leisurely trail to her left breast where
he paused, looking back up at her.

Dana couldn't suppress the smile breaking across her face at the picture of
Fox Mulder; his eyes soft and warm with his tousled hair brushing across his
forehead with the kindest and deepest of smiles, waiting. Lifting her right
hand to curl around and in the thick hair, she closed her eyes again; feeling
the first parts of her soul shatter and let him in.

Greedily taking her nipple into his mouth, he flicked his tongue over the
rock-hard tip; feeling her arch up against him as her grip tightened in his
hair. Sliding one hand under her neck to support her, he slipped the other
down to her hip; fingers playing and twisting in the flimsy material.

Dana's free hand travelled freely over his back; under the loose shirt to
slowly stroke down his spine; instinctively causing him to push against her.
The hot skin under her touch shifted back and forth as her palm came to rest
on the elastic waistband of the boxers. Turning her head to one side, she
caught the scent of his aftershave on the thick coat under her.

Moving his lips to the other breast, Fox slowly moved his lower hand around
to her front, tracing the flat lines of her stomach down to the thin silk.
Lifting his eyes to hers, he gave a mischievous wink as he slid his hand
under to gently stroke her.

Any retort that had attempted to come to the front of her mind flew into
space as she arched up sharply against him; feeling the pressure increase
from both his lips and his hand.

His mouth travelled back up to her neck; to graze there for only a second on
the soft skin before meeting her lips again in a burst of desire that
surprised them both. Tugging playfully on her lower lip with his teeth, he
began to slide his fingers faster and faster around and inside her; his hips
instinctively moving with every motion as he heard the air rush from her
lungs in short; wanting pants.

With a gasp she slid both hands down to pull him closer; pushing the boxers
down eagerly. Rolling her hands across the sweaty surface, she took ahold of
him tenderly, feeling him jerk at the touch.

Pulling his mouth away, he moved back up to the side of her face; his voice
suddenly ragged and rough. "Scully..." He swallowed, the noise loud and out
of place. "I..."

Then he was inside her and it was too much for him to think about; much less
verbalise. With a shudder he began to move slowly, trying to retain just a
shred of self-control as he increased the movement of his hand; his eyes
clenched shut as he groaned into the thick coarse fabric lying under her
hair.

Dana turned her head to one side; unable to control the raging waves of
desire and pleasure threatening to overtake her, the thoughts and emotions
that she had never thought existed racing to claim her. Resting both hands on
his lower back, she moaned as he began to move faster; a whimper escaping
into her ear from his lips.

It was only pride right now that held him back from letting go; the typical
male pride that he thought he'd managed to ignore. The moisture under his
touch increased as he rocked back and forth; circling his hips. His grip
tightened on the back of her neck; knotting in the red strands as he felt her
begin to tense up; to buck up against him faster and faster...

With a sharp cry she arched up around him; her hands clenching on his skin in
pulsating movements for what seemed like hours. The soft sighs echoing in his
ear was all he needed as he groaned in release; his body shuddering inside
her in a long-waited rhythm of love and pleasure.

Moving his hand away to gently caress her hip, Fox couldn't help smiling as
the sensitised skin twitched under his touch; her eyes still closed as he
rested his palm against her side. Putting his lips to hers in a light, tender
kiss, he rolled to the right; putting her against the back of the sofa.
Gathering her into his arms, he waited; his face buried in the silky auburn
curls.

Dana came back to herself slowly; her heart pounding so hard she thought it
might burst out of her chest. Then another kindred sound resonated under her
face, and she recognised it as Mulder's.... no, Fox's. Should at least be
alright to call him that now. Lifting her face up, she nuzzled his chin with
her nose, seeing the edges of his mouth twist up.

"Hmm... can I call you Fox now?" She whispered. He frowned.

"I'll think about it." He chuckled as she lightly punched his chest, curling
up around him. Reaching up, he pulled down the blanket from the top of the
sofa, tucking it around them carefully, twisting his shirt around to loosen
it on his shoulders. With a satisfied smirk he realised that he was going to
definitely get this trench coat dry cleaned before the next outing...

Then he stopped, and listened. Looking down, Fox watched as Dana drifted off
into a contented sleep; her face relaxed and peaceful against his chest. But
there was something... 

With a grin he realised that she was purring.

*****************
"You've become a world-class hopeless romantic."
"Not hopeless... hopeful. A world-class hopeful romantic."
Joan Wilder -- Romancing The Stone

For the Wookie, who still laughs when I protest that Initial Encounters like
this just don't happen in real life...

******************