TITLE: Uncut AUTHOR: E.D. RATING: NC-17 CATEGORY: MSR, Mulder angst KEYWORDS: Mulder/Scully romance SPOILERS: Our Town, post-ep SUMMARY: An axe, a neck, and a nightmare. FEEDBACK: enigmatic76@hotmail.com DISCLAIMER: No ownership, no profit. Thanks to akajake for the beta. UNCUT Mulder was trying to calm himself down as he drove back to the field that started this whole case. He couldn't catch his breath; the adrenaline coursing through him focused all of his attention on her. Scully was gone, and time was running out. The needle on the speedometer pushed past 80 as his brain shut down. Instinct took over. "Love you, love you, love you, love you," echoed through the rented sedan. He didn't want to dwell on the fact that the words couldn't reach her ears. The bonfire was visible from the road. As the front tires broke through the tall grass, he slammed on the brakes and jumped out. Crackling from the fire and chanting voices taunted him. He had a feeling that their luck was running out, but he needed to get to her. The dead grass crunched with each footstep, marking off the seconds as he ran towards the fire. As he neared the clearing, he saw her. Her head was strapped down on an old block of wood, but she was facing him. The sharpened blade of the axe shone in the orange light from the fire as it was raised above her head. Even from a distance, he could see the tears wetting her face. He could tell when she saw him. She went still and her eyes, shining the most vivid blue, went wide. It was like she wanted to take a final snapshot. What a picture he must have made. He barely felt the cool metal of the gun in his hand before the axe started to fall. A sickening noise broke through his consciousness. His eyes were open, but he didn't see it. He blinked, not believing that it had actually happened. Her last heart beats pushed blood around the blade embedded in the wood. Small bits of dried grass stuck to her hair, which was spread over the ground. Her head was face down. At least he didn't have to see the light in her eyes go out. "Nooooooooo!!! Scuuuuuullllllllyyy!! Noooooooo!!!" Mulder woke with a gasp. Tears ran down his face and into his pillow as he drew fast, shallow breaths. He looked up to see Scully sitting on the creaky hotel bed, her hands on his shoulders. "Mulder, it was only a dream." He sat up quickly and pulled her into his arms. "I didn't make it. Your head..." He ran his hands up slowly to her shoulder blades and tried to calm down. Her back rose and fell with each breath. She was alive. "Oh Mulder." She wrapped her arms tighter around his waist and laid her head on his chest. She must have been able to hear his heart racing. Slowly, Mulder pulled away. She was alive, sitting on his bed in a stretched out T-shirt. Her hair was a mess and her eyes were shining in the dim light coming in through the window. She was beautiful. The picture of her head on the ground flashed in his mind and he couldn't push it, or his tears, away. He sat in a daze as she wiped his tears away with the backs of her fingers. "Shhhh. Mulder, I'm here. You made it in time." She softly placed her hands on his face and tipped his head up until his eyes met hers. "You saved me Mulder. I'm alive because of you." He knew that this wasn't the best time or place, but right now, that didn't matter. He didn't want to wait until it was too late. Mulder took a deep breath and reached up to move her hands, to hold her hands in his. Gently, he began tracing patterns up her arms with his fingertips. He felt tiny goosebumps on her forearms, up past her elbow to the hem of her sleeve. Next, he traced her collarbone. Then he saw it. A red mark, only about an inch long, glared at him from the left side of her neck. He reached up to touch it. The proof of how close he had come to losing her was small, but powerful. He ran his fingertips gently over the areas the straps had touched, looking for other signs of trauma. He could tell that she decided to indulge him, tipping her head from side to side, to give him access. Her eyes drifted shut. "Scully, I was so close to losing you again. I can't let this go on." "What do you mean? I want to keep working with you. We've had this discussion before, Mulder." He could hear the anger seeping into her voice. She straightened up and watched him warily. "Yes, we have. That's not what I meant. Let me show you." Her brow furrowed, and he smiled just a little before leaning in to touch his lips to that red mark. She smelled a little like the hotel soap and a little like her shampoo. It was a comforting smell. He moved his hands to the bottom of her oversized shirt and slowly worked it up around her thighs. "Is this OK?" he whispered into her ear as he stroked her legs through the cotton. Feeling her nod, he pulled away to watch her as he pulled the T-shirt off over her head. She was so small, especially compared to the space she inhabited in his heart. Although she was now completely revealed in front of him, her eyes held his interest. He smiled as he saw her scoot closer and felt her hands burrow under his shirt to pull it up. They worked together to get his shirt off, then he stood briefly to push his boxers down and to pull back the sheets. "Scully, I need to feel you with me. Please stay." Another nod, and she climbed into the warm bed. He clicked on a table lamp, not satisfied with the light coming from the street lamps. For a long time, they laid side-by-side, holding hands. Even though she was right next to him, he couldn't keep the dream out of his mind. He grimaced and tears began to pool. "Mulder, don't think about it any more. Just hold me." They embraced, a little awkwardly, and bumped noses before their lips touched. The kiss was just a brush at first, as their bodies came into contact. Warmth spread through his body as her skin touched his. Her skin was so soft that he briefly thought he could melt into her completely. He felt her deepen their kiss as he rolled her underneath him. Their hands started a methodical exploration. He felt her long strokes up and down his back, eventually gripping his waist. His hands stroked her sides, then grasped her breasts, squeezing them lightly and running his thumbs over her nipples until she gasped, breaking their first kiss. "Ahhhhh," her moan reverberated in his ear. He could feel his body vibrate with it. As she stretched up to kiss him again, her hands slid down the front of his body. She gripped his hips as her mouth landed on his. His erection was caught between them and she drove him crazy pulling his hips in a slow rhythm. Finally, he balanced above her with one arm as he curled his fingers around his erection and brought it down over her. She whimpered and bit her lip once she felt him there, just at the entrance. He was happy to see her cheeks flushed and her lips swollen and a deep pink. As he stroked her clit, he watched her. Her eyes slipped shut as wetness coated his fingers. A flush spread down her chest and her breathing quickened. "Scully, open your eyes." Her mouth dropped open as she recognized what he meant. This wasn't just to calm his fears. "I love you. I have for so long. Since you were returned, I've wanted to tell you, but I'm a coward." "No you're not. Not any more than I am. I've loved you, well, almost since we met." He couldn't help his goofy grin. Her smile, one that he saw so rarely, distracted him for a few moments. As he pushed into her, he ran his hands up her back and threaded his fingers through her hair. Her neck arched up to meet his lips. His shoulders and sides felt her burning touch. His slow, regular pace made her body go nearly slack. Every stroke forced a grunt from her throat. He felt the sweat beading on his brow as he held back. "Harder, please, Mulder" she begged between thrusts. He pulled her up and began snapping his hips. He felt her nails dig into his back as she became more frantic. She tried to match his pace, but the pleasure rocketing through her must have distracted her from her goal. "Aaah...loooooove yooouuuu!" As she came back down from her orgasm, he made sure to watch her eyes refocus. He never thought he would get to see this. His lips moved to her neck as he pushed her legs further apart. "Loveyouloveyouloveyou" was his constant chant as he moved more and more quickly over her. He was close. His arms were shaking from exertion and his fingers were slack against her head. He felt her knees slide up his sides. Immediately, he felt the difference and, after a few strokes, spilled into her, sighing in her ear. Before he collapsed, he rolled them to their sides and pushed the damp hair from her brow. He kissed her flushed cheeks and brought her hand up to place over his heart. Scully snuggled up to him and kissed him slowly, as if savoring the feel of his lips on hers, his tongue against hers. She smiled when he touched her neck, finding that red mark without having to look. He knew this wouldn't be the last time that she would be in danger on the job, but it was the last time she would face death without knowing that he loved her. END