TITLE: You shouldn't kiss me like this

AUTHOR: Cheryl De Luca : Emiliod@sympatico.ca

CATEGORY: DSR (part of the DSR story wheel), Mytharc, SA

SPOILERS: Through the end of S8 (XF)

RATING: PG- R a little swearing and something inferred

KEYWORDS: Scully / Doggett DPOV

DISCLAIMER: These two are the property of Chris Carter, not mine. No
infringement intended, but I sure enjoyed playing with them.

SUMMARY: This is Pt. 3 in a series, Pt. 1 is entitled; Shades of Similarity,
Part 2 has yet to be written (actually it's in the proccess of being
written) The DSR story wheel is a group of writers who have decided to get
together and write a story based of the words in a song - the only necessity
being that you have at least one line from the song in the story. Below is
the song sent to me by Azar, another DSR story wheel member.

FEEDBACK: PLEASE!!! :o)



"You Shouldn't Kiss Me Like This"
by Toby Keith

I got a funny feeling
The moment that your lips touched mine
Something shot right through me
My heart skipped a beat in time

There's a different feel about you tonight
It's got me thinkin' lots of crazy things
I even think I saw a flash of light
It felt like electricity

You shouldn't kiss me like this
Unless you mean it like that
'Cause I'll just close my eyes
And I won't know where I'm at
And we'll get lost on this dance floor

Spinnin' around
And around
And around
And around

They're all watching us now
They think we're falling in love
They'd never believe we're just friends
When you kiss me like this
I think you mean it like that
If you do baby kiss me again

Everybody swears we make the perfect pair
But dancing is as far as it goes
Girl you've never moved me quite
The way you move me tonight
I just wanted you to know
I just wanted you to know

You shouldn't kiss me like this
Unless you mean it like that
'Cause I'll just close my eyes
And I won't know where I'm at
We'll get lost on this dance floor
Spinnin' around
And around
And around
And around

They're all watchin' us now
They think we're falling in love
They'd never believe we're just friends
When you kiss me like this
I think you mean it like that
If you do baby kiss me again
Kiss me again




She doesn't look at me that much anymore. I think it is for fear that I will
see the emptiness in her eyes. I know I have caught her many times holding
back the tears. I also know that although it has been four months since both
Mulder and William disappeared it will take a life time to get over it... In
fact I'm certain that the horror of it all will never truly leave her, but
the pain will in time recede. I know this to be true because I too am a
survivor.

There is a thin knock on my door and before I even open it I know that she
is the one standing on the other side, laptop in hand and wearing the same
navy slacks and white blouse that she wore only twenty minutes ago when we
both agreed it was time to hit the sac.

"Agent Scully..." The words fall from my mouth as I open the door and step
back to allow her access to the cheap motel room that I am presently calling
home. This is one in an endless number as it seems of late, with it's bright
gaudy bedspreads and matching curtains they have all begun to blend into
one.

We're here to follow up on a report of a break in at what I have begun
calling Lab X, after it's true name; Existence Labs. It's a small
nondescript lab that was trashed and burned with one fatality. Normally
cases of this kind are handled by the arson and terrorist squad at the
bureau, but the fact that it's actually a corporate sister to Zeus genetics,
made it of interest to me. I was debating following this one up on my own,
hoping that it wasn't another false lead in our quest to find William. But I
couldn't do that to her. She needs to be involved, to feel like she is doing
something. I too have been there and know that drive all too well. And I
will be here to pick up the pieces when she falls apart at the end. It's my
job, as a partner and a friend. Though I have to admit that it breaks my
heart every time.

"It took a while, but I finally got an employee photo from the parent
company." She lifts the sheet on her clipboard and reads the name carefully.
"Kinesis labs, in Wessiming, Va." She drops the laptop on my bed ignoring
the fact that I am half naked and starts shuffling through the file in
earnest. There is a heightened air of excitement in her voice as she locates
the photo she is talking about and passes it to me.

My heart drops as I recognize the man in the photo. It's none other than the
long dead Dr. Parenti, or someone very much his twin. The man was definitely
a cadaver the last time I saw him, but then again so was Billy Miles. I try
to deflect the meaning of this, my mind not willing to stretch itself to the
point where I am able to believe in aliens, and shapeshifters. "Maybe they
sent you the wrong photo, Dana..." It's a lame explanation and we both know
it. "They both worked for Kinesis labs indirectly there could be a foul up
in human resources."

The sour look that would normally have crossed her face at this point is no
where to be seen, and this scares me somewhat. "It has him listed here as a
Dr. Killano." She reaches back into her file and pulls out another photo. "I
thought it could be a mistake, so I did some more checking."

What she means to say is that she thought I might try to come up with a
rational and terrestrial based explanation. The paper she hands me is a web
page from the AMA, on it are several photos. One is a smaller, but equally
as clear shot of Dr. Killano. Shit...

"Okay so we got the right man." I'm willing to concede this. I'd be a fool
not too. Dropping on the bed next to her I look at the files in her lap. She
raises her eyes to look at me, and in their clear blue depths I can see the
pain she is harboring. "What's next? What do you want to do?"

She looks down at her hands for a moment, and then back at me. There is
something of a plea on her face now, though she would never consider voicing
it. "I think we should go to his home. It says here that he has never been
married and has no dependents. There might be something there." She studies
me for a moment, no doubt trying to get a feel for what is going on in my
head. When I don't object she stands up and grabs my wrinkled white shirt
from the chair I had placed it on earlier and passes it to me. "His address
is just outside of town."

Right.....

* * * * * * * *



The air is cool and heavy with sea salt, as we drive along the darkened
shoreline. White waves, thick and frothy dash wildly up against the
intermittent rocks... It's beautiful, and under very different circumstances
incredibly romantic. Unfortunately, what has brought is much more insidious
and vile, than romantic.

Lab X is located in a small coastal town in New England. It's the kind of
town where nothing exciting ever happens, to the delight of it's occupants.
This fire and such has jarred both the local Police department, and the
residents. Sheriff Bonahee was more than glad to pass this investigation off
to us, though I was leery right from the start.

Up ahead the night is broken by a collection of colorful lights and sound. I
look at my partner and she shrugs.

"A party of some sort?" She suggests.

It actually begins right around where the houses do, and the sign announcing
the 10th annual block party, clearly makes it somewhere that everyone who's
anyone wants to be. "Great..." I mutter. Everyone in the neighborhood has
yanked their barbecue out along with patio sets, and if I'm not seeing
things there is even a clown wandering around. Shit... So much for
anonymity.

"The first house is 1711. Killano's is supposed to be 1721." She looks at me
a moment, and then eyes the barricade the residents have set up across the
road. "It's about 5 houses away. We could park here and walk along the
beach.."

I look down at the high heels she is wearing and my own dress shoes and
laugh, before pulling over a discrete distance away.

The party appears to be in full swing, so we go unnoticed as we slip from
the car and make our way across the street. The happy voices and the
carefree sound of laughter drift through the night making it seem less
formidable. A twinge of pain moves through me at the liberal similarity of
the sights and sounds. At one time I too had a life, barbecues on weekends,
family, and friends. At the same time, I can't help but wonder if this is
what my partner was seeking with Mulder and their child, before everything
went so terribly wrong.

I grip her arm as we step off the sidewalk and into the loose grainy sand,
and point to her shoes. "You'll never make it in those."

She smiles at this and pulls them off, her stocking covered toes wiggling as
they sink into the cool beach sand. She turns one arched eyebrow my way and
I quickly join her, freeing my feet of their confines and yanking my socks
off for good measure.

We move in tandem towards the shoreline the motion of the water making
everything around us seem a little askew. Beaches are a place for fun and
pleasure. Couples make love on them, lovers walk hand in hand on them and
children frolic. It seems an odd place to be packing a sig sauer and
worrying about aliens, shapeshifters and conspiracy theories.

"Have you ever though about just packing it in and moving to a town like
this? Living on a beach and just watching the waves day after day?" I can't
believe I just asked that. Being around water clearly makes me too
reflective.

She stops and looks at me for a moment, as a flicker of grief moves across
her face.

I never meant to hurt her. The question was rhetorical, and I could just
kick myself, now. The cool breeze coming off of the water playfully picks up
her shiny red hair and swirls it around her face making her seem much
younger and more vulnerable than her FBI persona reveals.

"I never thought I would want this kind of life." She digs one painted toe
into the sand. "And now that I can't have it it's all I want, Agent
Doggett.."

Her answer is brutally honest and it hurts to hear it. "You can still have
it, Dana." My words are meant to comfort, but they are useless even to my
own ears.

"No.." She shakes her head. "I'm in way too deep now. I've got too much
invested in this quest." She stops again and looks at me, her blue eyes
shining in the moonlight. "But it's not too late for you." She gives me a
thin smile. "You should get out, now."

This is not the first time she has warned me off.

I mimic her earlier actions, by shaking my head. "I'm already in way too
deep, as well." She looks at me oddly for a moment and then nods, and begins
to make her way along the beach in earnest. I'm glad she didn't want to go
there, to dig too deeply into the meaning of my answer.

"I think it's the blue one." I tell her a few moments later. One house away
there is a powder blue bungalow perched carelessly on the edge of the beach.
It's dark and has an air of abandonment about it. All of the other houses
have some kind of light and warmth emanating from them, this is the only one
completely dark. Stashing my shoes along side hers I stare down the small
lane way between the homes. "I'll go check the numbers at the front."

She nods and settles on the steps leading up to the house.

The party is in full swing as I make my way around the front. The building
itself has not been taped, leaving it inconspicuous and innocent in it's
surroundings. The numbers at the front confirm that it is the right place.
Glancing down the street I'm relieved to see that the bulk of the party is
near the first few homes. The last thing we need is an audience. Slipping
back along the small walkway, I make my way over to my partner, and tap her
lightly. "This is it."

Her gun is immediately in her hand as we make our way towards the back door.
The keys are probably blown to smithereens along with their owner, but that
point is now moot as I notice the splintered wood and broken frame of the
back door. Clearly someone has been here. Tapping the door open we move into
partner mode as I steal in first, gun at the ready.

The house has been completely trashed. It's sparse furnishings smashed and
strewn about, most of it little more than kindling now. The bookshelves have
been emptied their contents laying in broken piles across the floor. What
was once a study has been reduced to little more than rubbish.

I can hear a heavy sigh escape my partner's lips as we make our way through
the mess. The kitchen is big and open, and it too has been utterly
destroyed. The fridge has been tipped, though oddly enough there are no
contents anywhere to be seen. This along with the bare cupboards leads me to
wonder if anyone actually lived here at all. There is a small door leading
off the kitchen, and I am about to reach for it when I feel my partners
small hand on my elbow.

"Do you smell that?" She whispers in my ear and backs away slowly.

The heavy scent of rotten eggs wafts up at me from under the door and it is
then that I realize that this may be a trap. Speed is essential here, as I
turn and grab my partner, never mind trying to sneak out gently. Grasping
Scully around the shoulders I practically carry her out as the beginning
strains of heat reach my back, and the deafening roar of an explosion tears
through the small blue bungalow .

Two seconds later we're lying face first in the sand, hot debris flying
around us. Thankfully, I can feel my partner squirming underneath me. I roll
off and turn to look at the destruction. Already, I think I can hear sirens
in the distance.


* * * * * *

The ambulance and the fire department arrived in record time smashing
through the barricades and knocking over lawn furniture, and barbecues. They
managed to squelch the fire quickly once the gas line was turned off, all
that's left is a shocked and meandering group of residents and a large mess
to clean up.

Despite the quick work this there is little more that a burnt and rubbled
shell left. Sheriff Bonahee has been looking at me as if this whole thing is
my fault. After a few terse words, about the hows and whys of what went on
he left us, thankfully, to go and talk with the mayor.

My partner is sitting on the back of the fire truck as a paramedic attends
to her. She has a small bloody gash from where a piece of flying wood hit
her in the back of the neck, but other than that and the squashing she took
when I landed on her, she is no worse for wear.

"He's a little miffed, at me." I announce moving over to sit beside her.

She smiles at me and giggles a little.

"What?" I can't help but wonder if she hasn't finally lost it. "It wasn't my
fault..."

She shakes her head and laughs in earnest this time, her finger pointing to
the ground.

It's then that I realize the source of her amusement; in all of the
excitement I've been walking around barefoot. "Shit...." I mutter and she
laughs a little harder.

I stand up and hold my hand out to her. She takes it gingerly and slides off
the back of the truck, placing her own stocking clad feet on the ground.

The walkway between the bungalow and the home next to it have been blocked
off so we move over to the next walkway and make our way back to the beach.
None of the residents were injured in the mess, but both homes on either
side have sustained some fire and water damage. It's one of these owners we
hear letting loose on Sheriff Bonahee as we make our way back to where we
left our shoes.

Most of the back porch had been burnt away by the explosion, and it sits
like the house, merely a charred remnant of it's former self. Our shoes are
wet, no doubt a victim of the fire department, but they are still wearable,
and fortunately not burned. As I reach down and pull on one soaking sock, I
notice a gray glint from under part of the porch.

"What's the matter?" Curiosity lights Dana Scully's face as I begin to crawl
under the scorched decking. It's just out of reach, so I dig a little
further, the wet sand sticking to my pants and socks.

"There's something here..." I announce, stretching and digging until my
fingers touch the cool metal. Jubilant I pull out an old and dented lock
box. The newly replaced lock gleeming in the moonlight.

My partners eyes shift warily around the surrounding beach. "This might have
been what they were looking for." Taking off her jacket she places it over
the box in my hand. "Let's go back to the hotel, we can look at it there."

She gets no argument from me as I follow her, my feet forlornly squishing in
my shoes.



* * * * * *

Dried and feeling immeasurably more human, I join my partner in her hotel
room. She has slipped into a pair of clean jean shorts an a very flattering
navy T-shirt. Deep red tendrils of damp hair hang around her face making me
more than a little aware as to how sexy she can be under the suit of armor
she wears.

Woah.. Don't go there I remind myself, and take a seat at the small work
table the hotel has provided. The lock box is on it hidden under her jacket
still on the floor beside it. She passes me a small tool set and uncovers it
cautiously after closing the curtains and dimming the lights.

Plopping it on the table in front of me I set to work digging at the simple
lock. It's mechanisms move easily and a moment later the lock pops open. I
can feel the heat of her body as she leans over my shoulder, the soft floral
smell of her freshly washed hair proving to be a distraction. "Ready?" I
ask.

As if in reply she carefully lifts the top.

The box is empty except for a thick maroon notebook. Reaching in I grab it
and begin to shuffle through it. It's full of odd writing, clearly a code of
some sort and numbers, much the same as those at the social security
exchange. She looks at me a moment, her lips silently reading off one of the
number strings.

"It looks like a hand written copy of the same information, Mulder tried to
retrieve. And this is Navajo code writing." Her former partner's / lover's
name slides off her tongue easily enough, but I catch the slight hitch in
her voice as she says it.

I nod as she begins to pace. "There are thousands of them of them..." My
fingers move through the pages individually now, from front to back. I stop
mid book my eyes catching something unusual. "Hey...." I call out a moment
before I realize I should have kept my big mouth shut. It is a small glossy
photo, slightly blurry and clearly taken while the subjects were unaware. It
is the man in the picture who startles me. Though not completely clear, I'm
certain that it is Mulder. In it he is holding a small child who could be
William and he is has his free arm gripping a dark haired woman, that I
swear I have seen before. They are leaving a building of some sort, though
the name is not visible.

"What?" She looks over the top of the book before I have a chance to hide
the photo or change the page and I swear I just heard her heart break.

Picking it up she fingers it for a moment, turning it over checking for a
date.

I'm at a total loss. "I... Could it be old?" At this point I'm hoping Mulder
had a secret life before Dana. Maybe he was married and had a child...

She holds the photo up, unable to disguise the tears in her eyes. On the
back the date reads May 19, 2001. Two months ago. The bastard!! I want to
kill him. I can't stand to see the look of utter devastation on my partner's
face.

"Dates can be tampered with." I tell her hoping that this is a plant,
something to lead us astray. But knowing at the same time that it is very
real.

She shudders slightly trying to pull herself together. Her words are shaky
and stuttering. "The .. The woman.. She's Diana Fowley. She's supposed to be
dead..."

I nod waiting for her to continue.

"And that's definitely William..." Her voice cracks at the mention of his
name. "The jumper is unique, my mother hand made for him."

She closes her eyes against the tears freely rolling down her face now.

"Shhhhhhh....." I mumble as I take her into my arms. "We'll find him."

My partner is openly sobbing against my chest now, her hot tears burning
their way through my shirt. I hold her doing my best to soothe away her
anguish, but failing miserably. I'm not the man she wants.

Rocking her, I wait for her to calm, and her breath to return to normal. I
like the feel of her in my arms and I will willingly hold her for as long as
she wants. A few moments later she pulls away mumbling an embarrassed
"Sorry..."

I shake my head in utter confusion. "For what? For being human? For being
afraid? Or for being hurt?." My hand gently reaches out and brushes her
cheek, my fingers slipping beneath her chin forcing her to look at me. "It's
okay to be human, Dana.."

She nods quietly, but I can slowly feel her pull away emotionally. I want to
tell her that bottling up all of her emotions won't help. In the end it just
hurts more, because at some point you can't take it anymore and everything
falls apart. But a lecture is not what she needs right now.

Her red rimmed eyes look up at me for a moment, and she smiles, relief mixed
with sorrow spreading across her face. "At least I know he's okay.. That
he's being cared for."

Yeah by another fucking woman, and a man who I will kill if I get my hands
on him. I don't say this to her. Instead, I rub the weariness from my eyes
and respond to the rumbling in my stomach. Originally, we had agreed on room
service and an early bedtime, but I don't want to leave her alone, not
feeling the way she does. "Listen, I'm starving... Let's go out and get a
bite. There are a lot of unanswered questions here, and being the typical
male that I am, I can't think on an empty stomach." She looks like she is
going to turn me down, so I go on easily slipping into my former southern
twang. "Miss Scully, my mama always tole me dat a man works best on a full
belly.."

She cringes slightly and almost cracks a smile. I don't know whether to be
offended or grateful to have lightened her mood.

When she turns to get her jacket I grab the photo and the notebook and slip
it into my pocket. I have no intention of keeping the picture from her. It's
just that everything is still so fresh. I don't want her coming back here
later and staring at it all night.


* * * * * * *

The place we've ended up at is the only place in town that's open after 10
p.m.. With it's thick knotty wood covered walls, tacky Christmas lights and
chunky furniture it lends itself to a loose country and western feel. Up
against one wall runs a full bar with the typical assortment of drunk and
almost drunk patrons. One woman in particular catches my attention. She
gives me the eye big time as we walk in. Normally, that kind of thing
doesn't bother me, however she looks remarkably like a very large, and much
younger version of my grammaw wearing a halter and an ill fitting mini
skirt. Instinctively, I put my arm around my partner, and grin painfully at
her when she looks up at me in surprise. Her eyes follow mine and she nods,
a smirk crossing her face.

In the middle of the dance floor there are several couples dancing to some
ancient country song. And a few more hiding in booths along another wall.
Thankfully woman with the menus leads us out onto the patio overlooking the
water. It's empty except for another couple who are too involved in a
lip-lock to notice us.

Dropping the menus on the table in front of us the waitress warns us that
the kitchen is closing in half of an hour, and beats a hasty exit. She's
back a moment later with water and waits patiently as we decide on our meal.
Not too surprisingly my partner orders a grilled chicken salad, while I
decide to have a steak and potato.

Orders placed and left alone to our devices, the situation becomes decidedly
uncomfortable. My partner casts her stare out at the water a look of
melancholy spreading across her face. A moment later she turns to me and
forces a smile. "So you're a tried and true southern boy?" She does a very
poor rendition of a southern drawl.

I grin at her thankful for the conversation. "Yes Ma'am. Well you've had the
distinct honor of visitin' my home town..."

She nods sadly. Williams birth, not a subject that I want to visit. Before
her mind slips back Mulder and William, I go on. "I lived most of my life in
Whistler's Hole about 30 miles away from Democrat Hot Springs.. And that I
tell you was a bustling metropolis. We even had a Seven Eleven there..
That's all we had mind you." She almost laughs at this.

"Well..." She stares down at the red checkered table cloth, her finger
tracing one of the squares. "At least you were there for most of your life..
I mean up until you left. I was a Navy brat. We moved bases every few years,
there was very little stability."

"Yeah.. Well stability isn't all it's cracked up to be, sometimes it's
downright boring.."

"Is that why you left?"

"Yeah, that and the fact that my mother was certain that if I stayed I would
end up in jail for sure." I can't help but grin at the memory of my mama
telling she'd picked up the enrollment papers for the marines. It had only
been a threat, but I took it as an opportunity.

She shakes her head. "How much trouble could you get into in a town with
only one seven eleven, what did you do rob it repeatedly?" Clearly I've
peaked her interest.

I laugh at this. "Are you kidding? If they had over $40 in the till at any
one time I'd be surprised. Besides if you did rob it there was no where else
in town to spend the money anyway. Nope we did worse things like, swapping
street signs, painting the reverend's house red, oh and cow tipping."

"Cow tipping?" She looks utterly befuddled.

"Yeah, it's a felony." I explain.

She still looks confused.

"The cow is sleeping right.."

She nods.

"Well you run up and push it over."

Now she really looks confused. "And this was fun?"

I shake my head. "No, but we were dumb assed stupid, so we did it out of
boredom. Though it could get kind of dangerous if there was a bull in the
field."

"Okay.." She looks at me a moment a grin on her face. "Does it hurt the
cows?"

"It can." I tell her honestly. "But I only did it once. Ole farmer Tim
caught me and my daddy beat the living shit out of me. I never did it
again."

She winces at this and finally I see some of the light come back into her
beautiful blue eyes. "Was your father a farmer?"

At this I have to laugh. "Hell no, he was the Sheriff."

An unexpected "Oh shit..." Slips from her mouth.

"Yeah that's pretty much what I would say every time I would get caught
doing something stupid.... Anyway, I joined the marines at 17 and finally
made my mama proud."

"It must have made your father proud too." Her words are soft and somewhat
wistful.

"It did." I nod. "He was really happy when I joined the NYPD, as well. He
used to brag to all his friends. He died before I headed to Quantico." The
memory is bittersweet. He never lived long enough so see his grandson, nor
thankfully to be there when we lost him. "Was your daddy happy about you
becoming an agent?"

"No.." She nods sadly at this her delicate fingers picking at the table
cloth in front of her. "I think he was disappointed that I didn't become a
Doctor. I spent 8 years in University and then went on to Quantico, he
wasn't impressed."

"If you were my daughter I would have been." I tell her in all honesty. "The
FBI no matter how much it is forced to change is still pretty much and old
boys club. Any woman who can put up with some of the shit some the old boys
dish out deserves admiration."

"Thanks." She looks at me in earnest now, her face a little flushed from my
compliment. "My mom says he was proud, that he loved me, but I continually
replay our last meeting in my mind and have to wonder. She had to make him
ask me how work was going. He never wanted to discuss it, or even
acknowledge it."

"Maybe he was afraid for you." I suggest.

"Maybe... I suppose I'll never know for sure." She nods thoughtfully, and
utters a quick Thank you, as the waitress drops her food in front of her.

"Mmmmm." My mouth begins to water as the steak is placed before me, but my
bladder is yelling too. Taking one bite to satisfy my rumbling stomach, I
excuse myself and head off to find the bathroom.

Inside, the music has become considerably louder and there are a few more
couples on the dance floor. The bartender indicates the back right hand
corner of the building when I ask him for directions.

A loud moan escapes someone as I enter the dark stinky hole that is supposed
to be a washroom. Jesus... I've been in out houses that are cleaner. Pulling
up in front of one of the urinals I unzip, another moan emanating from one
of the stalls behind me. Shit... This better be someone hurting.. I'm about
to ask if everything is okay, when I hear a throaty "Oh yeahhhhh, babyyyy"

Just fucking great. Another groan and a decidedly female giggle clinches it
for me. I finish and rezip, yanking my ID out of my back pocket. "Take it
home.." I yell and I pound on the stall door. Slipping my badge under the
door, I can't help but laugh at the sudden scramble and emission of swear
words from the other side.

Before the occupants can exit I clear the bathroom and head back to my
partner. I've almost made it out onto the patio when I feel a thick meaty
hand grasp me around the waist. I'm almost afraid too look, already knowing
who it is.

A slurred. "Hey Hon." Comes out of her as I look down at the woman I noticed
when we first entered the bar. She's even more scary from up close with her
slightly smeared fire engine red lipstick and thick dark eyeliner.

Damnit all to hell, anyway. I hate to be mean no matter what the woman is.
"Hi..." I respond reluctantly. Grabbing her chubby fingers I unclasp them
from my midsection, and indicate my partner who is now unfortunately staring
at us. "Uhhhh... I'm kinda with someone.." I watch the amused smirk that
runs across Dana Scully's features.

My face is burning, as I turn my attention back to the woman beside me. "I'm
sure she won't mind if we have one little dance." Her fingers grasp my belt
and she moves if at all possible even closer. "Besides what do you want with
a little scrap of a woman like that when you can have a real woman like me?"

I'm pretty sure the look on my face is one of horror, and I am at a loss for
words.

"Hey sweetheart..." I am so grateful when I feel Dana Scully's arms around
me. "I was missing you..." She leans into me, her mouth coming up to meet
mine.

Slowly and languidly she covers my mouth with hers. I swear it feels like
electricity is shooting through me, as her tongue suddenly slips between my
lips and she begins to explore sweetly. I can't help myself. Mindlessly my
own arms slide around her waist and I pull her in deeper.

You shouldn't kiss me like this, I warn her away mentally. Though my mouth
is too occupied to actually say the words. A loud huff sounds beside me and
I feel a sharp jab in my ankle. Absently, I note that the mountainous woman
is stalking away.

A moment later my partner pulls away, and smiles at me, her blue eyes
sparkling. "Sorry if I interrupted...." She takes my hand leading me through
the doorway.

"You didn't and I'm not.." I tell her honestly. I like the feel of her hand
in mine, even though it is just for show.

"I don't know..." She teases making her way back to the table. "I thought I
caught some lust and desire in your eyes there for a moment."

"That wasn't lust..." I drop into the seat across from her. "It was fear.."

Dana's look is one of thoughtfulness for a moment, and then she shakes her
head, the cool ocean breeze tugging at her wild red-gold strands. "Other
than your mother, I don't think you've ever been afraid of a woman before in
you life, John Doggett. I think you know exactly what to do when you meet a
woman you really want."

Surprised, I consider this a moment, trying to figure out if this is just a
continuance of her teasing or something more. I decide it needs a serious
answer. "It's those women that scare me the most, Agent Scully, because they
alone have the greatest potential to do the most damage."

With this a sad look comes into her eyes, and she bows her head in
acquiescence. "Been there, done that, and know the feeling all too well...."

At this point I'm fairly sure that it is Mulder she's talking about, but I'm
not going to go there. Tonight was supposed to get her away from all that,
even if it is only for a few hours. I agree wordlessly and focus on my food.
My knife goes easily through my steak. So I slice it and pop a piece into my
mouth. It's slightly cold but fills the spot nicely.

"I'm not sure that it's Mulder."

Her words take me off guard, but I look at her waiting for her to continue.

"The man in the photo." She stares at me. On her face I can see her need to
make the situation other than it appears to be. Her crystal blue eyes have
the beginnings of tears in them.

"Okay.." I know she wants to believe that he didn't just run off with their
child just so that he could raise him with another woman. She loved Mulder
and trusted him. To accept this means that she will also have to endure the
fact that he has betrayed her is the worst of ways. But I don't want to
support her illusion either.

"I'm willing to accept that it is a new Mulder. I think we were right before
in believing that Mulder did under go the change into the same type of thing
Billy Miles became." She waits for a response from me, hopeful in her
countenance.

"It's possible...." I find myself agreeing somewhat. I don't want to do this
to her, letting her hope is unfair, but how can I deny her it? It hurts just
to look at her.

"That might also explain Diana." She continues to stare at me, certainty
marking her voice. "She was dead too."

"So she's one of them as well?" I don't like the way this sounds. If it is
even remotely true then that would put William in more danger. At least with
my scenario he's safe and loved. I can't tell her this.

"I know what you're thinking.."

It worries me that she probably does.

A crease appears in her forehead and she swallows hard. "I'm not in denial."
Pushing aside her little touched meal she leans into the table. "As much as
it would hurt unbearably, to find out that Mulder had simply taken our child
and left me for another woman, part of me wants to believe that to be the
case. At least then William wouldn't at any risk.." Tears have begun to roll
down her cheeks, and she swipes at them angrily. "But I can't just sit by
and accept that. None of this makes any sense and you've seen it." A sigh of
resignation escapes her mouth before she leans back in her seat and turns
her attention back to the breaking waves. "But I can't force you to believe
something you find so inconceivable." Her words trail off as she stares into
nights inky blackness. A sudden humorless laugh escapes her. "Now I know how
Mulder felt all those times."

Reaching across the table I grab her hand, forcing her attention back to me.
"I don't like any of this. I don't want to believe that your baby is in any
danger at all, but whether I believe in aliens or bounty hunters or child
napping fathers I will support you, Dana. And most importantly I will do
anything I can to return him to you, which is the only place I know he'll be
truly safe."

She nods at this, accepting for the time being, what I am able to give.

"I don't mind telling you that it terrifies me. All of this." I have to be
honest with her, It's important that she knows I'm not intentionally disrega
rding her theories, it's just that right now my head simply refuses to
believe. Her hand is cold and trembling in mine. "Come on..." I stand and
drop two twenties on the table. Dana Scully is clearly emotionally drained.
"Bedtime."

* * * * * * *

I know that there is something wrong the minute that we enter the parking
lot. Both mine and Scully's rooms were in darkness when we left, but now
both are fully lit.

She gazes at me anger marring her pretty face. "Son of a bitch." My usually
controlled partner slams her fist into the window as I turn from the parking
lot.

"What are you doing?" she asks as we move back onto the main road and head
for the nearest highway.

"Everything of importance is here in the car. The only thing I have back at
the hotel is a change of clothes and a shaving kit. I know you put the case
file and your laptop in the trunk so I'm assuming the same for you. Just
clothes and toiletries, right?"

"Are you forgetting the book?" Her voice is laced with frustration.

"No I'm not. It's here in my pocket." I tap my jacket. "I don't know about
you, but I'm in no shape for a run in with any MIBs, bounty hunters or Billy
Miles types tonight, especially not over toothpaste and a shaver." Up ahead
is the turnoff leading to the interstate so I pull over. "I think we should
get this book somewhere secure. Everything we can do here has been done.
Both fires and the death of Dr. Killano were just someone cleaning house,
this is what they were after and we have it. We need to keep safe from
whoever 'they' are."

Exhaustion is evident in her face and not for the first time do I wish I
could take it all away.

"Okay.." The resignation in her voice is more than evident.

"Why don't you try to rest?" I suggest and start moving again.

* * * * * *

I awake with a start, my heart pounding in my chest. The daylight is
blindingly bright and I hear the giggles and delighted screams of children
somewhere off in the distance. It takes me a moment to remember where I am,
the womb like warmth of the sunlight making me lazy and dulling my senses.

I pulled off somewhere near dawn and decided to nap. My partner was out cold
no doubt the result of the crazy emotional roller coaster she's been riding
lately.

Remembering the tortured sleep she'd had most of last night, I turn to look
at her only to have my heart almost stop completely. The seat beside me is
empty.

Panic mode sets in and I am out of the car almost immediately, my eyes
straining against the midday sun. I'd pulled into an empty parking lot over
looking an vacant beach as the sun rose and had allowed the sound of the
water to lull me to sleep.

The beach is not nearly so bare now. There are families and teenagers
sprawled out all over. They're laughing and playing oblivious to the fate of
the world my partner sees it. Amongst them all is Dana her fiery hair
gleaming in the sun. She's sitting on a small log away from everyone her
eyes trained on the distant horizon.

She doesn't even notice me when I approach, her eyes only coming up to meet
mine when involuntarily my hand runs itself through her flaming locks.
"Hey...."

Her nose wrinkles a little as she squints up at me and smiles. My breath
catches in my throat, as I catch glimpse of the woman Dana Scully was before
the X-files. Her skin is pale almost incandescent in the brilliant sunlight.
Small girlish freckles decorate her nose and cheeks, off set by a very sexy
mole that she clearly keeps hidden under make-up. Instinctively, my fingers
comes up and I touch it. "You're very beautiful." I tell her, before my
brain has a chance to kick in, and stop me. Her full mouth spreads into
another smile and she laughs and shakes her head.

It's not necessarily the response I was expecting, but then again nothing
with my partner ever is as I expect.

"Agent Doggett, you are so different from Mulder..." Her hand comes up and
she tugs me down next to her on the log.

A moment of silence passes between us and I find myself staring at tiny sand
crystals stealing their way into my shoes. I reach down and sweep them away.
"Is that such a bad thing?" I ask, almost afraid to hear the answer.

"No.." She shakes her head. "No it's not." Her hand comes out to silence
mine and she threads her small fingers in between my own. "It's refreshing.
You're honesty and emotional openness was scary at first, but I like the
fact that you are willing to lay yourself bare. There is no pretentiousness
with you at all. You just say what you feel."

"Do you know what I'm feeling now?" I look at her the words just rolling off
my tongue before I have a chance to stop them.

Her clear blue eyes lock onto my own and I swear for a moment she can see
through me, straight into my soul. She bites her lip a moment a flicker of
uncertainty passing through her eyes, and then she nods. "I think I do..."

Solemnly I accept this. "Then be very careful what you do with that
knowledge, Agent, because you're the type of woman that scares the hell out
of me."

She laughs outloud, and then for the second time in twenty-four hours I feel
her lips touch mine.