Title: One Simple Kiss Author: DM E-mail: unruhe1121@hotmail.com Feedback: Please! Rating: PG Category: V, R Key words: Mulder/Scully Romance Spoilers: Rain King and SR 819. Disclaimer: Not mine; they belong to 1013 Productions, FOX, and most importantly, David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson. Summary: "No one ever told me that getting ONE simple kiss would be *this* hard. But, with Scully, nothing is ever simple. She's wonderfully complicated." Notes: This is the third vignette in a series that follows Mulder and Scully through the episodes in Season 6. You don't have to read the first two to understand, but I'd love it if you would! The series goes as follows: `Kroner' `Georgetown' `One Simple Kiss' They may all be found here: http://www.geocities.com/dmldr42/fanfiction.html I want to thank Carol A and Sallie for all of their help and support! Couldn't ask for better betas! (`better betas.' Say *that* three times in a row!:) All of my other stories may be found at my website: http://www.geocities.com/dmldr42 One Simple Kiss By DM The mysterious vascular condition Skinner was dying of not one hour ago now seems to be in check, and he's showing no further symptoms. Rumors of a modern day miracle have been circulating the ICU. Scully and I slip quietly out of his room to let him rest. I haven't had a moment alone with her since we were interrupted by Skinner. When I say alone, I mean without doctors or nurses poking around. Sneaking into the hospital chapel seems like the best solution. However, it's not until I see her cross herself before joining me on the pew that I realize this probably isn't a prime location to make my move. Then there's the part about us being tired out of our minds, with little to no sleep since we left Kroner. Thank goodness it's the weekend. No work until Monday. I should have thought about all of this before dragging her in here, but I'm Mr. Impatient and didn't want to wait until we got home. That, and Scully said she wouldn't leave until she was absolutely sure the Assistant Director was in the clear. No one ever told me that getting ONE simple kiss would be *this* hard. But, with Scully, nothing is ever simple. She's wonderfully complicated. "Tired?" I ask after a long, drawn out sigh escapes her lips. "No," she's lying through her teeth and we both know it. "Let's go home. He'll be fine," I assure her, picking up her hand and squeezing it gently. "They'll call if anything comes up." She's silent for a moment and pulls her hand away from mine to rub her eyes. They're red and puffy and I'm suddenly amazed that either of us has lasted this long. "I'm taking you home," I decide for her as I stand up and pull her along with me. She doesn't argue, but leaves her cell phone number with the nurse on our way out. She fell asleep on the way home, and I was really looking forward to playing the hero by carrying her up the stairs. I seriously had this whole Harlequin Romance fantasy thing going on, envisioning myself bare-chested with long hair and all, but it's all crushed to pieces as the car comes to a stop out front of her building. She must sense that we're here, because she wakes up immediately. "Good night, Mulder." She mumbles and gets out of the car. I watch her until she's inside, and don't leave until the light in her apartment is switched on. *** Sunday, late afternoon 4:45 pm I called her from my car a half an hour ago, asking if I could come see her. Knowing the answer would be "yes," I spent the last thirty minutes picking up a video, some popcorn and a 6-pack of root beer. Forget the iced tea, I'm now addicted to root beer. She opens the door and steps aside so I can enter. Wordlessly she takes the popcorn and soda from my hands and goes into the kitchen. I take my usual place on the couch, and shortly after I hear the popcorn begin to pop, she comes back into the living room. She sits down next to me and grabs the movie case off the coffee table. Only seconds pass before she looks at me, dumbfounded. "'Sleepless in Seattle,' Mulder?" I just grin and lean back on the couch, putting my hands behind my head, making myself comfortable. "What?" I've always liked that movie. Well, it wasn't bad. . . what I saw of it, at least. I remember reading somewhere that women love it. Granted Scully isn't your average woman, but I've known her long enough to realize that she's not as tough as she'd have you think. Plus, I figure it can't hurt to set the mood. If I had my choice, we'd be watching `Plan 9 From Outer Space, but, sometimes one must sacrifice for the cause of a greater good. I can handle `Sleepless in Seattle.' The microwave beeps and she heads for the kitchen. I haven't talked to her since I dropped her off on Friday night. I spent most of yesterday sleeping and today I waited to call because I know she has church and usually spends the afternoon with her mother. Poor excuses, I realize, but this is brand new territory for us. I think she understands. If she were upset, I'd know by now. I have the video all cued up by the time she settles in on the couch with a big bowl of popcorn and two bottles of IBC. One for her and one for me. I hit `play' and turn to her, enjoying the view before saying anything. "So, what's wrong with `Sleepless in Seattle?'" She eyes me, amused. "Nothing." She's mocking me and I have to set her straight. "I have a sensitive side Scully." I lower my voice before continuing, "but it's not something I talk about. I have an image to uphold." She snorts and almost chokes on her root beer. "Let's just watch, okay?" I say as though I've been highly offended. *** The credits roll and I hit mute, blocking out the overly dramatic Celine Dion song that appropriately concludes the film. Some time during the movie her head fell to my shoulder. I can't pinpoint the exact moment, but. . . okay, fine. I can. It was the part where Meg Ryan's character watches Hanks and his son play on the beach. What can I say? I'm an investigator by trade, I'm trained to notice these things. "Scully?" "Hmm?" She sounds tired, but thankfully she's not asleep. "Good movie, huh?" "Mmm. . ." Somehow in my own twisted version of things, I draw a striking parallel between the characters and ourselves. Two people searching for their own truths, thrown together most unconventionally. Repeatedly missing their chance, sometimes not even realizing the other is there waiting, then finally finding each other after their luck is about to run dry. I'm hoping our story will have an equally happy ending. "I'm glad you called," she begins, halting my train of thought, which is probably a good thing. "I'm glad you answered," I smile down at her and she leans back enough to make eye contact. We just look at each other for a moment, neither of us willing to break the mood. Slowly she pulls free from my half embrace and rests her elbows on her knees. She looks down at her feet, hesitates a moment, then speaks in a quiet, almost timid tone. "Why does it have to be so hard for us?" I feel a little bit dizzy. This honest route we've been taking lately has really thrown me for a loop. Not that we're not honest with one another, but we usually keep our emotions under lock and key. Not that that's right, but it's the truth. I'm surprised at how calm and sure of myself I sound. "Because we have more to risk." "I've been thinking," she still won't look at me. "If this is so right, it wouldn't be this hard." I wasn't expecting this, although I probably should have. I doubt her mind has had one moment of peace since our conversation last week. I'm positive our relationship has been fully analyzed, categorized, and reshuffled a thousand times over. "Are you having second thoughts?" I need to know what she's concluded. "Second, third, and fourth thoughts, Mulder, but, despite it all, I can't help but want this." Only now does she turn to look into my eyes. "Tell me this is right. Tell me I'm not crazy." I smile, cupping her cheek with my palm. We're here. After six years, we're finally here. "This *is* right, Scully. And you can't be crazy. . . that's my job." She smiles and I kiss her. It's a slow, deep kiss, a good kiss. The best first kiss I've ever experienced. We've come such a long way, and I'm positive we have much farther to travel. I'm so blessed to have this woman by my side. We part, breathless, but satisfied. She rests against me again, our hands entwined. I could die happy, I think to myself. But, for the first time in a very long while, the thought of death, of leaving her, sends a cold chill through my body. I must have actually shivered, because she turns to look at me. "You okay?" The simple question has more layers than I can count. For the first time in 26 years, I *am* okay. I'm more than okay. I don't answer, but choose to brush my lips across hers once more, hoping it will be enough to assure her. In the middle of my reassurance ministrations, I hear what sounds like thudding. I choose to ignore it, thinking maybe its just Scully and my kisses have caused her heart to pound. Well, it's a nice thought and I smile into our kiss. "Dana?" I recognize my error only when Scully's name reaches my ears and, being that my mouth is otherwise engaged, I know I didn't say it. I think we both realize this at the same time, and she pulls away just as we hear the lock on her front door being turned. The door opens slowly and she's on the other side of the couch already, smoothing down her hair. There's a crimson blush that colors her fair skin, making her more beautiful than ever. "Dana, honey? You home?" Her mother steps inside and Scully is off the couch and walking towards her before I can blink. "Mom, sorry. I was in the kitchen. . ." Scully embraces her mother quickly then pulls away. Mrs. Scully looks from me, still seated on the couch, to her daughter, whose Irish coloring isn't helping her obvious embarrassment. "Fox," she greets me. "It's nice to see you again." She pauses for a moment, a faint smile flirting with her lips as she forms a silent understanding that I'm sure is closer to the truth than Scully would like. "I'm not interrupting anything, am I?" She so knows, and I feel like laughing, but Scully is obviously uncomfortable, so I refrain. "We're just finishing up some business from last week, Mrs. Scully." I attempt to remove the attention from my partner. "Maggie," she encourages me to use her first name. I stand and walk over to Scully. I squeeze her shoulder and allow my hand to remain there a bit longer than necessary. "I was just about to leave, so I'll let you two visit." I smile and let my hand run down her back before breaking contact. "See you at work tomorrow?" She nods her head and gives me this look that I know means I'm in trouble. I can't help the small chuckle that escapes as I bid Scully's mother "Goodnight." The blushing beauty follows me to the door and as soon as I'm out of Maggie's sight, I mouth, `love you.' An award winning smile creeps across those incredible lips of hers, and I can't help but grin like an idiot all the way home. End.