Title : Sensitive Side 
Author : Kelly Moreland
k_a_moreland@hotmail.com 
Archive :Anywhere, just let me know.
Spoilers : none
Rating : NC-17
Category : MSR
Summary : A bad case, and challenge.
Feedback : is what keeps me writing. k_a_moreland@hotmail.com
Disclaimer : In the big inning, CC created M & S, and the fans
saw that it was good. Then CC proclaimed 'Let them have any fun,
and I will sue you!' And the fans saw that this was bad, and did
it anyway! ;-)
Authors note : Thanks to Jade and Jemirah for all their help.
xxxxxxxxxxx


The minute he woke up, Mulder knew something was wrong.

He slipped from his motel bed, and silently crossed the room to
peer out the window.

Nothing moved along the walkway, or in the parking lot below.

Still his paranoia pulled at him. -Something- wasn't right.

He walked to the door that connected his room to Scully's, and
paused, holding his breath, head cocked to listen.

He heard a faint rustle from within, the sound of movement.

His chest relaxed, but his instinct didn't.

Using just his index finger, he tapped softly on her door.

If she were asleep, it wouldn't wake her, he reasoned. But if she
were awake, she'd know that he was too.

"Come in." Scully called quietly.

He sighed, knowing what had awakened him. He opened the door.

She sat in the chair by the window, her knees drawn up to her
chest, and encircled by her arms. It made her tiny frame appear
that much smaller. Mulder's heart always seemed to skip a beat
when he saw her like this.

She was his partner, and there was no one else he'd rather have
watching his back in any situation. There was nothing that she
couldn't accomplish when she was determined. There was no point
that she wouldn't argue with him, if she believed she was right.

That was his partner.

But when he saw her like this -sitting alone in the dark, drawn
up, small and vulnerable- he saw her as a woman. She didn't let
him see her like this often.

He walked over to her and squatted down in front of her chair,
she didn't look at him. Her face was turned, staring out the
window at the night.

"I know what you're thinking about." He said softly, his
attention drawn to her bare feet. He fought the urge to play with
her toes.

"I'm sure you do." She replied, her voice distant and distracted.

"Scully, we're all right. We're both fine."

She looked at him then, her eyes sad but not crying.

"I know we are. But what about next time?" Her gaze settled
heavily on him.

Next time wasn't something he thought about. This time had been
bad enough.

They'd cornered their suspect, and he'd been armed. Mulder's jaw
tightened as he remembered the tension and fear that had coiled
inside him.

Zeller had nervously shifted his aim from Mulder to Scully, as
they both held him in their sights.  He'd reported his wife
missing, abducted by aliens. It had taken less than three hours
to find her body, crammed into the basement wall.

No X file here, just a husband with his eye on a fat insurance
policy.

Mulder had tried to talk him down. Tried to get him to surrender.
Zeller was trapped and desperate, and luckily a bad shot. He'd
spent four rounds, before Mulder tackled him.

"It was stupid to charge him like that." Scully said, breaking
him from his reverie.

"I'm not known for moments of absolute clarity." He smiled softly
at her in the dim room.

She didn't smile back.

"Besides, I had you covering me." He pointed out.

"I knew you were going to do it, before you took the first step,
do you know that?" She asked thoughtfully.

"I'm not surprised. You know me better than I do." He placed his
hands on the tops of her bare feet, feeling how cool they were.

"Sometimes I think you've got a death wish." She turned back to
the window, not looking at him again.

He rubbed his hands over her feet to warm them, and brushed his
thumbs along her delicate ankles.

"No, I really have no desire to die."

"Mulder, we keep death in our back pockets."

"I know. It's part of the job description. See paragraph one
twenty nine, sub-section twelve, of the special agent handbook."
He was trying to joke, but it sounded hollow.

"Aren't you ever afraid that one day we won't walk away?" Her
eyes found his, and he choked for a moment.

"Scully, I'm afraid of that every time we get into a dangerous
situation. Just as you are." He moved his hands over her feet,
still trying to soothe her.

She sighed heavily, and he wondered why this time was bothering
her so badly. It wasn't like they'd never been in tight spots
before.

"C'mon Scully. What is it?" His tone softened.

"I'm just tired I guess. Can't sleep. I keep seeing it over and
over again. Keep seeing how it could have ended, rather than how
it did end."

"You need to get back into bed, rest at least."

"I can't. I've tried. I'll just stay up." She shook her head,
looking back out the window.

Mulder moved without thinking, he followed his heart. He stood up
and scooped her from the chair, holding her against his bare
chest.

"Mulder, what are you doing?" He was already crossing the room,
heading toward his door.

"I'm taking you to bed." He smiled at his words, thinking how
many times he'd dreamed of that very thing.

"You're what?" She lay curled in his arms, looking up at him in
confusion.

He didn't answer, instead he set her down gently on the side of
his bed, and pulled back the covers.

He looked at her expectantly, but she didn't move.

"Get in."

She shook her head.

"I don't think..."

He picked her up again, and sat her down between the turned back
sheets.

"Now, don't think. Just lie down and relax." He got into his
side of the bed, and turned to face her.

She still sat, looking at him, her brows knitted together.

"Lie down, Scully."

She did after a long hesitation, and Mulder scooted closer to
her, pressing his forehead against her own.

"What are we doing?" She asked him.

"I thought if you knew we were here, together, and safe, that you
might be able to rest. But if you'd like to do anything else, I'm
open to suggestion." He leered at her, and she actually smiled.

"I just bet you are." She answered dryly.

'Well, I'm a single guy in bed with a beautiful woman... "

"Mulder, please. Don't make me shoot you after the kind of day
we've had. Although it would be a perfect defense at the trial."

He laughed, hearing her joke meant she was relaxing after all.

"I promise I'll be good."

She smiled at him, and he pulled the covers up, patting them
around her shoulders.

"Are you fussing over me?" She teased.

"I think I am." He feigned a confused expression.

"Okay, this is getting creepy. Who are you, and what have you
done with the real Mulder?"

He sighed with exaggeration.

"Try to show your sensitive side, and look what ya get."

"Mulder, I know you have a sensitive side."

"Damn. The secret's out, now I'll never be able to rebuild my
reputation as a hard-nosed son of a bitch."

"Don't worry. It took me years to realize that it was a sensitive
side, and not just wishful thinking."

His head popped up.

"Wishful thinking? Agent Scully, are you implying that you've had
warm, tender thoughts about me?"

She blushed. Even in the dim light, with her fair skin, it was
hard to miss.

"I didn't say that."

"But you aren't denying it." He goaded.

She closed her eyes and didn't reply, a strange smiled playing at
the corners of her mouth.

"Dear Diary, tonight Scully confessed undying love..."

"I did not!" She sat bolt upright in the bed and glared at him.

"Do you know what Freud would say about that strong of a denial?"
He teased, he was having too much fun with this now, and Scully
was back to her usual self.

"Do you know where Freud can stick it?"

"So you'd let Freud, but not me?"

"Mulder, I have the perfect defense for the trial, remember
that."

"I love it when you talk rough."

"You... " She seemed at a loss for words, and he jumped on it.

"Hurt me, baby." His voice low and husky, but his tone teasing.

"So I guess your sensitive side put in its yearly appearance, and
vanished into the void of your psyche again," she snorted.

"You couldn't handle my sensitive side twenty four and seven. I'd
sweep you off your feet. You'd be forever under my spell."

"I doubt that." She laughed back at him.

"Bet me." He dared.

"You're on." She accepted, throwing back the covers and standing
up.

"We'll be back in DC tomorrow night. Bring it on." She said,
walking across to the door.

"Scully?" She stopped and looked back at him. "I warned you.
Remember that." He was grinning broadly.

"I'll remember to rub your face in it when you fail miserably."

She stalked out to her room, and Mulder laughed softly to
himself, already starting to plan.


~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~


When they had parted company at the airport, Scully was still
flabbergasted.

Mulder had become the very definition of attentive.

It had started when she woke up that morning in the motel room in
Missouri.

He'd knocked on her door and brought her breakfast. He'd gently
placed a tray across her lap, containing coffee, fresh fruit, and
bagels.

"Good Morning." His smile was open and disarming.

"Good Morning. What's this? Breakfast in bed?" She looked at him,
clearly puzzled, but amused.

"Yes it is. Did you get some sleep?"

"Yeah, a little." She smiled.

He brushed a strand of hair back from her cheek.

"You can always catch a nap on the flight home this afternoon."

She picked up her coffee, already fixed just the way she liked
it, and took a sip.

"I'll let you enjoy your breakfast. When you are ready we'll
do the reports at the Police Department, but take your time." He
was still smiling, as he stood to leave.

"Mulder, are you ok?" She hadn't forgotten the challenge, but
this wasn't what she'd expected. Innuendoes, suggestive behavior,
yes. But not this.

"I'm fine. Promise."

He vanished through the doorway, closing it behind him.

"What have I gotten myself into?" She muttered to the empty room.

All day he had opened doors, pulled out chairs, and been her
beck-and-call-boy.

It was almost nerve wracking, except that he did it with such
charm.

At lunch he'd taken her out to a nice restaurant. Not one of his
usual dives at all.

'Just go along with it.' She told herself, 'enjoy it, then shoot
him down.'

To her utter amazement, he'd made conversation over lunch, which
had nothing to do with work or sports.

He'd insisted on carrying her bag onto the plane.

When they landed in DC, he'd said he would pick her up later that
evening.

"How about seven?" He smiled as they walked to her car.

"Where are we going?" She was getting a little nervous now, but
to back out was impossible.

"I thought we'd take a ride."

"A ride?"

"A ride." He was being purposefully vague.

"And if I say no?" She smiled at him.

"Then I'd probably cry myself to sleep tonight." He pouted.

"Guess we can't have that. Okay. See you at seven."

He gave her a bright smile, got into his car and drove off.

For the second time that day, she wondered what she had gotten
into.



At seven sharp, he knocked on her door. When she opened it, she
wasn't surprised to see him holding a huge bouquet of lilies.

"Flowers. Isn't this getting cliche?" She teased, stepping aside
to let him in.

"This is far from cliche, you just don't know it yet." He smiled,
and suddenly leaned in to kiss her cheek.

To her surprise, she blushed slightly.

"Why not roses?" She teased, trying to cover her embarrassment.

"Roses are for a lover. Lilies are for a potential lover." He
answered evenly.

"Potential lover?" She didn't want to think too much on that, and
walked into her kitchen in search of a vase.

"Yes, a potential lover." He said softly, following her to the
doorway.

"So that tells me where you think this evening is going." She
laughed, finding one in the upper cabinets.

"No it doesn't. Remember, you don't know this side of me. No
guarantees on what I might, or might not do."

"Should I wear my gun?" She laughed, hoping she didn't sound as
nervous as she felt.

"No, just a warm coat."

When she got her coat, he helped her into it and gave her
shoulders a light squeeze.

"Ready?" His voice was soft and rusty as he asked.

"I hope so. Let's go."

When they walked out her front door, she stopped, completely
surprised.

"A carriage ride?" She looked up at him, and then back to the
white horse-drawn carriage in front of her building.

"Oh, you thought I meant a ride in the car?" He was grinning
mischievously.

She nodded.

"Where's the fun in that?" He arched an eyebrow and opened the
door for her, holding out his hand.

She shook her head, smiling in spite of herself and got in,
sitting down in the large curving seat.

He sat down next to her, and spread a blanket over them. His arm
draped itself comfortably across her shoulders.

Scully wasn't about to tell him that she had never been on a
carriage ride before. He'd be too proud of himself, if he knew
that. But she had to admit it was fun. The slower pace made her
aware of things she'd never noticed before, even on her own
street, and the cool evening air drew them closer together.

"You went through a lot of trouble, didn't you?" She asked,
turning to look at his profile.

"I think you are worth a lot of trouble." He replied easily.

She was caught off guard by his remark, and fell silent.

"We should do this at Christmas. " He said after a few minutes.
"It would be a great way to see all the lights."

"Yes it would." She agreed, wondering if she could handle Mulder
in 'sensitive mode' at Christmas. Probably not.

"You could probably find a haunted carriage, just for the
occasion." She chuckled.

"It would take some looking, but I probably could." He grinned,
leaning closer to her, and brushing his lips over her cheek
lightly.

Even without the Christmas lights, it was still a wonderful ride.

After an hour, they were back at her apartment.

"Coming in?" She asked, as she unlocked the door.

"No. You have to ask me the right way." His answer made her look
at him suspiciously.

"And that would be what?" She folded her arms over her chest.

"Something you have to figure out." He shrugged. "Are you busy
tomorrow?"

"You know I'm not." She relaxed a little, dropping her arms to
her sides.

"Assuming is rather insensitive, asking is much better." He
stepped closer. "Will you go out with me tomorrow?" His voice was
soft and sexy as he asked.

"Where?"

"C'mon Scully. Don't spoil the surprise. Just say yes."

"Okay. Yes." She answered, determined to beat him at this game.

"Beautiful." He whispered, leaning down to press his lips against
hers gently. After he pulled away, he smiled, "And I'm glad you
said yes too. I'll pick you up in the morning."

She stood in the middle of her living room after he'd gone, and
told herself she was being silly. He didn't mean any of it. It
was just a challenge. He didn't mean it.

For some reason her heart wasn't listening. It kept skipping
along feeling very happy and excited.




"Are you going to tell me where we're headed?" She asked,
tingling with curiosity, as they drove along the next morning.

"Nope." He grinned over at her from behind the wheel.

He'd shown up at eight, playful and excited.

"Not even a hint?" She persisted.

"Scully, it's a gorgeous day. Not a cloud in the sky, spring has
sprung, flowers are blooming, and we're going to have a good
time. Trust me."

"I do trust you. I just don't have a clue what you're up to," she
laughed.

"I know, and it's driving you nuts." He grinned back.

She stuck her tongue out at him, and he laughed.


Minutes later when he whipped his car into the parking lot of
Sassafras Harbor Marina, she stared at him.

"What?" He asked a little too innocently, shutting off the
engine.

"A marina?"

"When was the last time you went sailing, Scully?" He grinned
again, knowing that she loved being on the water.

"When was the last time -you- went sailing is a better question."
She said as they got out of the car together.

"I've never been. I'm curious to see what it's like. Take me?" He
managed to make the last part sound like several invitations
rolled into one.

"I'm not sure we can find a boat to charter on such short
notice."

"I've already taken care of that." He grabbed her hand, and
started toward the office.


He'd taken care of everything, she discovered. A twenty-five foot
Catalina day-sailor was waiting on them, complete with a picnic
lunch.

"Can you handle it, or do we want a captain?" He asked as she
admired the boat.

"I can handle it." She beamed up at him, making his heart melt.

"Then let's go." He said impatiently, tugging her along with him.


There are few things that can compare to sailing, Scully smiled
to herself. Except maybe watching Mulder while sailing. Ten
minutes into the trip, and he was hooked.

She had never seen him smile so easily, or so much. It was
magical. Sailing had that effect on people.

"Why didn't you ever take me sailing before?" He asked, with a
slightly accusatory tone.

"I never thought you'd want to go." She smiled over her shoulder
at him from the wheel.

"This is great Scully." He laughed, coming over to stand at her
elbow.

"It gets in your blood, Mulder. Be warned. It can be addictive."

"Teach me how to drive." He said suddenly, stepping closer.

"Pilot, Mulder. You drive a car, you pilot a boat."

"Teach me." He leaned down and let the words fall softly against
her ear.

She moved to one side but he caught her arm, shaking his head,
and pulled her back to where she had been standing.

He moved in very close behind her, putting his hands on the
wheel, on either side of her own.

He was close enough for her to feel the heat from his skin,
without any actual contact between them.

"Is this okay?" He said softly.

"Mmhmm." She answered, not quite trusting herself to words.

He learned quickly. By the time they dropped anchor off Kent
Island, to eat a late lunch, he was handling the boat well.
Scully wasn't handling him too well, however.

Being close to Mulder at work, in cars, and on flights was
nothing like being close to him at play.

He was an entirely different person.

After lunch, which he insisted they eat on a blanket spread out
on the deck, he'd stripped off his shirt to get some sun.

"You look too comfortable." She laughed softly, as he lay back
with his hands tucked under his head.

"You should try it. It is comfortable." He grinned at her. "Come
on."

"No, I think I'd be a lot less comfortable if I took off my shirt
and lay on the deck."

He sat up quickly. "Why don't you try it and find out." He leered
at her.

"I think not," she laughed, shaking her head.

"Okay. Leave the shirt on then, but you can lay down with me. I
won't bite, unless you ask me to."

"I won't."

"Won't ask me to, or won't lay on the deck with me?"

"Won't ask you to bite." She giggled, stretching out on the
blanket next to him.

"I've got a pillow for you right here." He patted his shoulder.

"I just bet you do." She chuckled.

"I said I won't bite." He pouted at her.

She gave an exaggerated sigh, and moved over to rest her head
against his shoulder.

His fingertips brushed at her temple, and he sighed contentedly.


He took her hand, and placed it on his chest, directly over his
heart.

"Mulder, I think you missed your calling." She laughed, "You
should have been an actor, not an FBI agent."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean all this. You play a part very well."

He sat up suddenly, dragging her with him.

"What are you saying?" He wasn't smiling anymore. "You think this
is a game?"

"Isn't it?" She cocked her head at him. It had to be. Didn't it?

"Not to me, it's not." His voice was low, but far from soft. He
got up abruptly and walked to the stern.

Scully sat staring after him.

"We should probably go back." He said without turning around.

She winced at the change in his mood. She'd hurt him, and she
wasn't sure how to apologize for it.

She approached him quietly.

"Mulder, I'm sorry. I just thought..."

"I got a clear impression of what you thought just a minute ago."
He interrupted, suddenly turning to face her.

"Do you really think I'd play with your, or anyone's, emotions
like that?"

"No, I just thought you were making your point from the other
night." Way to go, Dana, she chided herself.

"We really need to go back." His face was carefully masked.

"Fine." She sighed.

The trip back to the Marina and then on to her apartment was
tense. They spoke only when absolutely necessary, and then it was
in short clipped tones.

When he stopped in front of her building, she tried again to talk
to him.

"Mulder, I'm sorry."

"It's okay. Really." He gave her a plastic smile.

"No, it's not okay." Her throat felt hot and tight. "I didn't
mean to upset you."

"Scully, it's all right. No biggie."

He was lying, and she knew it.

She got out of the car, and made it to her apartment before the
tears started.


~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~


She tried calling him several times, but only got the machine,
and his cell phone was turned off as well.

After another hour had passed, she grabbed her keys and drove to
his apartment, determined to make him listen.

He yanked the door open after the first knock, but didn't say
anything.

"We need to talk." Scully said.

"About what?" He asked, walking away from the open door abruptly.

"About today. Give me a chance to say I'm sorry, Mulder."

"You didn't give me a chance, did you?" His tone was hurt and
accusatory. "You just assumed that I was playing some kind of big
joke on you, that I would go to any extreme to make a point."
His voice got louder and louder as he spoke.

"Can you blame me? You go to extremes to prove any point that you
believe in!" She yelled back, walking in and slamming the door
behind her.

"Listen to what you are saying. Any point that -I BELIEVE IN-."
He poked his chest to emphasize his meaning.

She was brought up short by her own words, thrown back at her,
and by how much he meant them. Oh God, it wasn't a game. It never
had been. He had been showing her his feelings, and she had made
it into a joke.

"You're right. I didn't really give you a chance, and I'm sorry.
I screwed up a really nice day for both of us, and I'm sorry for
that too. Now I'm here to apologize, are you going to let me?"

"Knock yourself out." He shrugged, plopping down on his couch.

She walked over to where he sat, and knelt between his thighs,
watching his eyes widen. She leaned forward, and crossed her arms
over his lap as he swallowed hard.

"You've been trying to show me a different side of yourself.
Maybe it's time you saw a different side of me too." If he could
be honest, and open, she could too.

She slid her body slowly up against his and kissed him, not
missing the sharp intake of his breath, at her movements.

She teased his tongue with her own, before catching his bottom
lip in her teeth, then sucking on it gently.

A tremor ran through his body and his arms came around her like a
vice.

She pulled back.

"Nope. You've got to play by my rules now." She pulled his arms
away from her, and stretched them out along the back of his
couch.

"I can't touch you?" He asked, breathing harder.

"Not yet." She smiled impishly at him.

He made a noise somewhere between a groan and a growl.

She nipped at his neck, as she tugged his shirt from his jeans,
and slowly drew it over his head.

He tried to slip his arms around her again.

"No, no." She scolded him softly. "Not yet."

"You're trying to kill me, aren't you?" He groaned, holding the
back of his couch in a death grip.

She just smiled and ran her hands over his bare chest, brushing
across his nipples.

He took a deep breath, and let it out as a low rumble. She leaned
forward and licked one nipple, feeling him shudder. She lazily
unbuttoned his jeans as she teased him, his breath growing more
ragged.

She slipped both her hands inside his boxers, sliding them around
to cup his ass.

"Lift." She said quietly.

He raised his hips, and she pulled both his jeans and boxers down
to his knees in one smooth motion.

His cock throbbed against his flat stomach, as she slid his
clothes away from his body.

She stood up and undressed herself, keeping her eyes on his,
watching him, watching her.

"Christ." He hissed, when she stood naked in front of him.

"Something wrong?" She teased.

"Can I move yet?"

"No." 

He growled again, leaning his head back and closing his
eyes. She was starting to like the sound of that growl.

She settled back down between his legs and kissed the inside of
his thigh. His entire body shivered in response.

She traced her tongue along his swollen flesh, flicking it
rapidly over the small ridge near the tip.

"Scc-ully." He hissed.

She swirled her tongue around him, and slowly took in as much of
him as she could. His hips twitched toward her, as she moved back
up to start again.

She coaxed him to the edge, only to stop and begin once more. His
body was taut, and covered by a fine sheen of sweat. His mumbled
words were nothing recognizable.

She kept him on that thin line until his body began to jerk at
even the slightest touch of her tongue, then she increased the
pressure and suction.

He convulsed and cried her name, his hips arching up off the
couch, as she swallowed all of him.

She cradled him in her mouth until he softened. Then she
released him.

"Now you can move."

He lifted his head and looked at her for a moment, then dropped
it heavily back to the couch.

"No. I really can't." He laughed.

She stood up and straddled his thighs, settling herself onto his
lap.

"Then again..." He smiled, pulling her naked body to him, and
kissing her lips.

His hands stroked up and down her back lightly, simply playing
across her skin.

"You know, a sensitive guy like me would pick you up and carry
you to bed right now." He chuckled against her hair. "If said
sensitive guy was sure his knees wouldn't buckle."

"I take that as a compliment." She smiled back at him.

"It is, but don't think this is over." He lifted her off his lap,
and sat her gently on the couch next to him. "It's my turn now."

He reversed their positions, kneeling before her. His lips and
tongue searing her breasts as his fingers explored her warm,
moist flesh. He moved down slowly.

The taste and scent of her set his nerve endings on fire, as he
devoted himself to this. His tongue grazing over her sensitive
skin, seeking, questing, and building.

Her fingers combed through his hair as he revered her. She moaned
his name softly, and the sound of it bore into his soul.

He felt her body coiling tighter, muscles tense and trembling, as
he pushed her over the edge. He heard her calling his name, and
gently slowed his intimate caress.

He rested his cheek against her thigh, breathing almost as
harshly as she was, his own passion renewed by hers.

He gave her just a moment more, before picking her up off the
couch.

"Bed." He grunted the word with all the implications of a
sentence, and she understood.

He spread her out on top of his comforter, and lay his lean body
between her thighs, his engorged flesh rubbing against her damp
curls.

His lips moved restlessly over her neck, breasts, and face. He
left no patch of skin unkissed, or unloved. Her breathing
quickened at his touch, and she arched her hips beneath him,
imploring.

Slowly and carefully, she felt him slide deep inside her. It was
one long push. No jarring thrust, or plunge.

He drew a deep breath when he was completely sheathed by her
body, and the sound of it alone brought her close to the rim.

He looked down at her, his eyes both dark with passion, and
shining with love.

"I love you Mulder." The words were away from her, before she
could even think to stop them, and she bit her lip, as he became
absolutely still.

"Oh God, Scully. I love you too. I have for so long." His voice
was raw, and she was startled to see tears in his eyes.

She pulled him close and kissed them away.

"You are so beautiful." He whispered, moving slowly again.

Their hands twined together, fingers interlaced, anchoring each
other as long years of passion broke free at last.

The rhythm of their movements was synchronized to a perfect
harmony. Their minds and bodies in tune.

A slow wave built within them, and crashed forth, sweeping both
of them away. Blinding white in its intensity.

Her breathless cries echoed by him, and her name was like a
prayer on his lips.


When he could breathe again, he rolled onto his back, pulling her
body across him, unwilling to let go.

She lay with her cheek pressed against his chest, listening to
the steady beat of his heart.

"So this is what your sensitive side is like?" She teased, her
voice soft in the late afternoon glow.

"Yeah. This is the demon I've been keeping from you all this
time." He answered, a smile in his voice.

"I'm not sure why." 

"Because I thought you'd run. Anyone whose ever seen this side of
me has vanished. I didn't want you to leave, so I... "

"Mulder, I'm not going anywhere. Now, or ever." She fixed him
with a look that spoke the truth of her words, and he loved her
that much more for it.

"But now you're forever under my spell." He sighed, pulling away
from the tenderness that threatened to overcome him again.

"I think you're under mine." She countered, tapping one fingertip
against his chest.

"I think you're right, but cut a sensitive guy a break, would
you?" He laughed, kissing her softly.

"That'll be the day." She smiled against his lips.



Fini~