TITLE:  AVALON DREAMS
AUTHOR:  SHERYL MARTIN
E-MAIL:  MARTIN@DAYSTORM.COM

Thanks to all who liked Dragons of all Sizes -- sorry about the
posting...I screwed up...

And I'm still accepting votes on whether to bring Jackie St. George
back...looks pretty positive that M&S are coming to Toronto soon...

Here's my most recent quickie...literally...and be warned...I'm not
even sure myself if it was or wasn't...but I am taking votes on what
you think...

Spoiler Notice: Yes, this is kinda an X File story, kinda a love story
between M&S -- if that's not what you want to read, no problem...but
you've been warned...

remember
trust no one

All Characters copyright of TenThirteen Productions and Chris Carter.
No infringement intended on any part...I like being poor, really...

Warning -- this story contains a bit of sex, not enough to get an R
rating, but probably enough to get me in trouble with quite a few
folks...therefore, please be forewarned and do not flame me since you
got this warning, okay???

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Fox wiped the inside of the windshield angrily, smudging his view even
more. Beside him, Dana pondered over the map.

"We should be at the cut off already." Trying to see through the
violent downpour, she looked back down at the map.

"Well, it's not there." Mulder snapped, instantly regretting it.

"Let's look for a hotel." Scully tried to make peace, the weariness
showing in her voice. "The sheriff's not expecting us until noon
tomorrow."

Fox sighed. It could wait...but he hated the not-knowing. But Scully
was right -- in this storm it would be too easy to have an accident.

"There's a hotel." Dana pointed it out through the mist. A blue neon
sign lit up the front door of the single level, wooden structure.

"Avalon. Catchy name." Fox wrestled his overnight bag from the trunk,
dashing to the front door through the rain. Dana joined him, shaking
the drops from her red hair.

"You need a room." It was more of a statement than a question. Fox
nodded, reaching for his wallet.

"Don't worry. On nights like this we don't charge after a certain
hour." The elderly man smiled, a reassuring smile that flowed over the
pair like honey. Scully shivered, trying to place that sense of
safety...

"Here. Two rooms." He put the keys on the desk. "You're all set."

"See you in the morning." Dana nodded to Fox, closing the door behind
her. The room was small but clean with a fresh bouquet of wildflowers
in a vase on the table. Changing quickly, she crawled under the thick
blankets and drifted off to sleep, lulled by the gentle sound of the
raindrops on the roof.

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

She walked into an empty room, feeling safe. A chair materialised,
then a table, then another chair. She remembered the dining room set
from her mother's house...

"Have a seat, Starbuck." Dana swung around, coming face to face with
her father. He smiled as she ran into his arms, the tears coming
unbidden. Hugging her tightly, he murmured into her hair softly until
she released him.

"What...a dream...but..."

"Whatever you want to believe it to be." He motioned towards the
table. "Let's talk."

"Dad..." Dana wiped her eyes with the back of her hand.

"You've been pretty busy lately. A lot of bad things." He took her
hand across the table, holding it gently. "It wasn't your fault, any
of it."

Her mind raced back over the abduction -- the nightmares -- the look
on her mother's face when she came back...and Fox...She began to sob
again as she felt her inner soul begin to purge itself of the pain and
guilt of the past.

"It's not a bad thing to be honest with yourself, you know." Pulling a
white handkerchief from his plaid flannel shirt pocket, Ahab gently
dabbed at her face. "I've always been proud of you, and I still am."
He pointed at the door she had entered by. "You go through that, when
you're ready, and you'll find what you're looking for."

She was confused. "Am...am I dead? Is that why you're here?"

He chuckled, making her smile despite her tears. "No, but I'm always
going to be with you. I want you to remember that. And when you want
to talk, I'll meet you here. But right now, through that door is
another challenge, one I hope you'll accept." He got to his feet. Dana
rose, sniffling softly. Clutching him one last time, she let go and
stood back.

"Remember, I'm always with you." He went transparent, then vanished.

Dana stood alone, rubbing her eyes. She gazed at the door, uncertain
of what to do.

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

"Fox?" He spun around, not wanting to believe his eyes.

"Samantha." Mulder began to sob uncontrollably, dropping to his knees
before the young woman. She crouched down beside him, wrapping him in
her arms.

"Fox...I'm okay. I'm alive."

"But I don't know..I don't know where to find you..." He whispered.

"I'm coming home soon...I really am." Touching her lips to his
forehead, she smiled. "And you have someone else to care for right
now."

"But I chose...Dad thinks..." Samantha shook her head.

"You did the right thing. Dad doesn't know anything, and he won't ever
know...You need her, and she needs you." Getting to her feet, she
pulled her brother up. "I'm alright, and that's all I can tell you
right now. And I'll be back, I promise." She pointed to the door.
"You've got another mission right now, and that's my cue to go."

"Samantha." He cried, not wanting to let go again. She rested in his
embrace for a few minutes, rocking him back and forth. Finally she
released him, patting his hands.

"Never forget that I love you, Fox." She faded away, leaving him alone.

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

"This is all a dream..." Dana walked through the door bravely,
noticing that her clothing changed from her no-nonsense trench coat to
a light blue nightgown, her favourite when she wasn't expecting to get
up for work.

Fox stood before here, wearing only a pair of grey sweatpants. He
stared at her, his eyes soft and inviting.

The room held only a four-poster bed, tastefully decorated in pink and
rose colours. Fox took a step towards her, not sure of what to say.

"Ah...Dana..." He reached out, touching her face gently as she moved
closer to him. Running his hand down her cheek, he sighed as she
turned into his palm, closing her eyes. Her lips parted slightly as he
cupped her chin in his hand.

"Is this a dream?" Fox whispered, drawing closer.

"I don't know." Dana murmured as she grazed his lips slowly with her own.

"I don't care." He said into her mouth as their lips met.

Surprising them both, Scully fiercely devoured his kisses, all
pretence of modesty abandoned. Fox drew back, gasping as he slid his
mouth down to her neck. His hands slid down her body, fingers tugging
at the thin fabric as he bunched it up in his fists.

Pressing her lips to his forehead, Dana began to sob softly as his
strong hands pulled the flimsy nightgown up and over her head, leaving
her naked before him. Tenderly he dropped a hand to her left breast,
caressing it in slow, leisurely circles.

"Fox..." She was getting weak in the knees, a sensation totally
unknown to her. Bringing his face back up to hers, he smiled, a full
bodied grin that echoed deep in her heart. Picking her up, he took the
two steps to the bed and laid her down on the soft plush pillows.

Taking the initiative, she pulled him down beside her, running her
fingers lightly down his chest. Her hands slipped inside the waistband
of his track pants, eliciting a soft groan as she began to stroke him.

"Dana." He whispered, almost reverently. She tugged at the pants for
only a moment before he ripped them off eagerly.

Reaching down, Fox placed his hand between her thighs, twisting his
fingers in the copper-coloured hair. His misty eyes stared into hers,
questioning...

"Yes..." Dana sighed, her own hands reaching down to caress and hold
him. She ran her tongue over his lips, eagerly answered.

A few minutes later, she pulled at his hips, making her request clear.
Laughing lightly, Fox ran a finger down the side of her face, tucking
it behind her neck. His deep hazel eyes looked deep into hers, and
what he saw brought a joy to his heart he had never known. Positioning
himself above her, he slowly entered her, savouring her soft moan of
acceptance.

"Dana...I think I love you." He murmured, bringing a smile to her lips.

"I don't want you to think."

Fox grinned, feeling the ache begin to build in him. She arched her
body, matching him thrust for thrust; pulling his face down to hers as
her hands ran over his broad back to his thighs, clutching to them as
they moved in unison. Dropping kisses down over her forehead, neck and
face, he began to increase the tempo.

They crested together, leaving him gasping for air. Lifting himself
off her, Fox smiled down at Dana, kissing her lips lightly.

"I like this dream. Should have it more often."

She nodded, still trying to catch her breath. "I agree." Rolling off
her, he pulled Dana close. She laid her head on his chest, satisfied
and sleepy.

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

Fox rolled over, clutching a pillow to his chest. His eyes slowly
opened, then closed again, catching the last vestiges of sleep. What a
strange dream...a smile formed on his lips.

Carrying his bag out to the car, he met Scully, already loading her
luggage in. She looked at him quickly, then dropped her gaze.

"Sleep well?" He asked.

"Pretty good. Had some wild dreams. Must have been the storm. " She
led the way to the front desk.

"Hello?" Mulder called. The office was deserted. Shrugging, he dropped
the pair of keys on the desk, with a few dollar bills. "Guess they
sleep in late here. Let's go."

Scully sat silently in the car, not sure what to say. Did she...did
they...but it did seem real...but how could she ask Mulder? Sure as
hell she wasn't going to approach that subject. A smile crept onto her
face as she remembered.

Mulder looked over. "You happy for anything special?" He didn't know
what to do. The peacefulness in his soul only made the confusion
worse. But such a lucid dream...he's never had one so strong before.

"Just a thought." He pulled onto the damp highway, nodding to her.

"Get that map again. Let's see what we can find today."

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

"Thanks for coming so soon. We appreciate it." The young sheriff wiped
his forehead. "Where'd you stay last night. We tried to find you
'cause of the storm."

"Little place called the Avalon. Small hotel." Fox volunteered.
Tucking his hands deep into his trench coat, he tried to remember
where it was on the map -- for future reference.

"You can't have stayed there." Dana came up at that point.

"Why not?" She asked.

"'Cause Avalon burnt to the ground ten years ago, I remember it like I
do my own birthday. Nothing left but a bunch of ruins, and no one ever
tried to rebuild it." A deputy waved a phone at him "Excuse me."

Fox looked at Dana. "A ghost hotel?"

"No. He must be mistaken."

"And if he's not..." The question hung in the air between them.

"That place was real, Mulder , it was..." Her voice trailed off as the
memories ran through her. "It was a nice place to spend the night."
She smiled at Fox, receiving one in return. "Let's get back to work."


END