From: mason@umr.edu (Niki)
Newsgroups: alt.tv.x-files.creative
Subject: New: Don't You Just Love the Snow (1/2) NC-17
Date: 9 Jan 1996 21:49:45 GMT


This is in response, a little, to Portia's challenge.  The idea hit me, 
probably upside the head just a little too hard, while I jealously watched 
the weather channel.  I'm sick enough to want to live where there's snow 
year-round. Anywho, here's my contribution with only a few leaps from 
reality.

Warning:  NC-17

Disclaimer: Main characters, Mulder and Scully, are not mine.  They are 
property of Chris Carter and associates.  I have borrowed them for this 
brief moment in time without permission, but without profit as well.  And 
since I am a poor, starving Grad Student, it wouldn't be worth the time 
and effort to try and sue me.  I don't even have my own computer (Sniff).

Don't You Just Love the Snow
     By
     Nicole Mason

     "Mulder, there's a snow advisory.  Can't we
just go home?"

     Mulder watched carefully as bag after bag passed before them.  
Scully's was sitting by her feet, but his was nowhere to be seen yet.  He 
had a feeling that terrorists had taken over Dulles and during a fight in 
the bowels of the building, his bag had been used as a shield and was now 
on it's way to Cleveland or something.

     "Scully, my car's at work.  We left from there.  Remember?"

     "You can take a cab."

     "I lost my wallet.  Remember?"

     "Yes, I remember.  And I remember the reason why I lost mine as 
well."  She was glaring at him.

     /Oops, I guess I should have kept my mouth shut./  "I'll replace your 
wallet, Scully."


"And the money that was in it?"

     "And -" He eyed her carefully.  "How much was in there?"

     "$250, Mulder."

     "What!  Why did you have that much money on you?"

     "Mulder- isn't that your bag?"

     "What?  Dammit, Scully."  He took off after the slow moving object.  
The problem was the baggage claim area was packed.  He'd fight his way 
to the carousel and just miss it.  By the time he caught up with the bag, 
he was back where he started.  They had been standing in the least crowded 
area, just so they wouldn't have to fight their way to the front.  Scully was 
smiling and shaking her head as she pulled the suitcase off of the revolving 
beast.

     "Scully, why did you have that much money on you?"  He repeated.

     "I didn't, Mulder.  I only wanted to see your reaction."

     It was his turn to glare.  "Scully, how are we going to get the car 
out of the garage?"

     "I keep enough for parking in the car, Mulder. This has happened 
before.  Remember."

          * * * * *

     Scully glared at the falling white stuff, glad that Mulder was 
driving.  She hated driving in the snow.  She took that back.  She hated the 
other drivers that tried to navigate in the frozen precipitation.  People were 
idiots when it came to bad weather driving.

     It took an extra 20 minutes to get to the Bureau with the road 
conditions.  He pulled into the garage and drove to where he had parked 
his car.  The place was practically deserted, even though it was still 
working hours.

     "Scully, are you sure I parked my car here?"

     "Since mine was right next to yours when we left, yes, I'm sure."  She 
looked around the empty area.  "Mulder, where's your car?"


     "Uhm, Scully?"

     "What?"

     "Was my car parked here on the third?" 

     "Since I was with you in Florida , tramping through swamps in my brand 
new shoes on the third, why yes, I do believe your car was parked here on the 
third."  She crossed her arms, tilted her head and narrowed her left eye. 
"Why, Mulder?"

     "Uhm, because there was a memo."

     "A memo, Mulder?"

     "It said something about repair work."

     "Mulder, why didn't I see this memo?"

     "Let me get those files and I'll drive you home, Scully."

     "Mulder, this is my car."

     "Scully-"

     "Mulder."

          * * * * *

     "Scully, I have to find that file."  He was throwing the other files 
on his desk around the room.

     "Mulder, if you told me what file, I could help you look."  She 
reflected that helping would get her home sooner.  The few minutes he 
had requested had already turned into 30 minutes.

     "The Roswell one."

     "Which Roswell one?"

     "The one I haven't read yet."

     "You mean the file that you woke me up at five o'clock in the morning 
for?"


     "I wanted to catch you before you left for work..."

     "You mean the file that you had me wade through three weeks of mail 
in your In basket for?"

     "Well, that was where I remembered putting it..."

     "The file that you wanted me to bring you? The file that had me stuck 
in traffic for over an hour as I brought it to your germ infested 
apartment?  The file that was, in essence, responsible for me catching 
*your* cold?"  She was glaring again.  He loved when she did that.

     "Scully, I think I know where the file is."

     "Mulder, if I didn't love you, I'd shoot you." She turned on her heel 
and headed towards the door.

     /She didn't mean it the way it sounded,/ he told himself.  "But you've 
already shot me, Scully."

     /I shot you because I love you.  That's sick, Dana,/ she said 
to herself and continued on to the stairs.

     Mulder hurried to catch up with her.  How could she move so fast in 
heels?  But, oh, they did marvelous things for her legs.  He could almost 
feel the slim muscles of her calf fill the palm of his hand.  He could now 
feel the smooth skin at the back of her knee as he raised her leg to wrap 
around his -

     /STOP IT!/

     He drew a deep, shaky breath as they reached the top of the stairs.  
Helooked at his hand.  It too was shaking.

     "Mulder, are you ok?"

     "Yeah, Scully.  Do you want me to drive?"

     She fished her keys out of her coat pocket. "Yes, you know I hate 
driving in this sh-tuff."

     "Ok.  Hold these, will you?"  He handed her the stack of files that 
hadn't fit in his overflowing briefcase.

     "Mulder, you are coming into work tomorrow, aren't you?"


     "Yeah, but that's almost twelve hours away."

     She rolled her eyes and then closed them. "Mulder, it's worse."
He mentally groaned.  Several more inches of snow had fallen while they were 
inside.  He concentrated on the barely visible road, while Scully found a 
weather report on the radio.

     She mentally groaned as she listened. "Mulder, do you have any food 
at your apartment?"  She knew the answer.  But if by some miracle...

     "We can have something delivered if you're hungry."

     "Mulder, they're predicting another foot of snow tonight.  No one is 
going to be making deliveries."

     "Uhm, Scully -"

     "Just find one near your place.  I should pick up some things as well. 
If the stores aren't all picked clean."

     /She's going to kill me,/ he thought as he slowly circled the parking 
lot.  It was packed. Finally a slot opened at the end of the lot.

     Dana said goodbye to another pair of shoes. She promised herself it 
would be the last time she bought 'good shoes' for work.  She laughed at 
herself.  She'd only keep that promise until the next rumor of a sale 
reached her.

     She looked around the store and groaned. "Mulder, why are we here?"

     "You don't want me to stave to death."

     "Right now, that's debatable." She headed for the produce department. 
 Mulder followed meekly and watched in awe as she carefully selected a head of 
lettuce.  He'd seen the results of her shopping before, but never the actual 
process.  He thought about the three, maybe four, items he needed.  But since 
Scully looked like she was going to go down every aisle, he'd just pick up 
whatever he saw along the way.

     "Mulder, what else do you need to get?"  She stared at the one item 
he'd placed in the cart so far. 'Kickin' Kiwi-Lime Kool-Aid'.  So that was 
the weird neon-green glow emanating from his refrigerator that day.

     "Just seeds and maybe some pizza," he answered.


She rolled her eyes again and headed down the next aisle.  Oh, good.  
She was almost out of deodorant anyway.  She wished he'd put his trenchcoat 
back on.

     He was walking slightly ahead of her and the way his suitcoat hit him 
right below the hips was driving her crazy.  She bit her lip as her hands 
curled tightly around the handlebar of the shopping cart.  He was bending 
slightly, looking at something on a lower shelf.  The coat raised and 
revealed the tight muscles underneath.

     She looked away just in time.  She quickly grabbed a box and put it in 
the cart.  She saw it out of the corner of her eye.  It wasn't the brand she 
preferred, but putting it back would mean admitting she hadn't paid 
attention in the first place.

     "Scully, what do you think?"

     She walked towards him and looked up.  "About what, Mulder?"

     The wicked gleam in his eyes should have warned her, but it only 
succeeded in distracting her.  She stared at the object in his hand for a 
second before it registered.

     She would not blush.  She *would* *not*.  She was 31 years old.  It 
was a fact of life.  She would not blush.

     "It's not my favorite brand, but if it's the kind you like..."  Her 
shrug finished what her voice couldn't.

     Mulder was speechless.  For about two seconds. "Well, which one?  I 
want you to be happy."

     /If only that smile really was for me,/ she thought.  But it was for 
the audience he was playing to in the crowded aisle.

     Two could play.  "Actually, it's this one," she said and held up a 
different box.  "Do you think one box will get us through the snow 
storm?"

     "Barely.  We'd have to ration them," he said. Just to see if he could 
get her to blush a little more, he tossed the economy size box of condoms into 
the grocery cart.

     She silently headed toward the next aisle, no longer in the mood to 

joke around.

     Mulder wondered if he'd gone too far with the joke.  He'd only wanted 
to tease her.

     She moved quickly through the remaining aisles, ignoring items she 
would need in favor of ones she did need.  Mulder grabbed his seeds and 
pizzas.  He caved into her suggestion and added a couple of Healthy 
Choice frozen dinners. He might never eat them, but it would make 
Scully happy.

     They had been in the checkout lane for awhile when Mulder 
remembered.  "Scully, we don't have our wallets."

     "Don't worry, Mulder.  I never keep all of my plastic in one place."  
From somewhere in her coat, she produced a charge card.  "I'll just add 
this to your tab."

     He nodded his thanks and started placing items on the conveyor belt.  
He watched the box of condoms intently as it moved toward the hassled cashier. 
 With the way his life was going right now, they would be expired before he 
could use even half of them.  He reminded himself that it was his choice.  The 
woman he wanted was off-limits.  And substitutes left him with a feeling the 
he had betrayed her.

     Scully wondered at Mulder's silence as they loaded the bags into the 
car, but she shrugged it off.  Sometimes he was just quiet.  She ditched 
the cart and passed the keys to Mulder again.  The car was covered in 
snow and she searched under the seat for the scraper.

     "Get in and stay warm.  I'll do it," he said from very close behind 
her, almost in her ear. The hoarseness of his voice sent a shiver down her 
spine.  She was tired of lying to herself. It was definitely his voice and not 
the wind responsible for the goosebumps.

     He passed her back the keys as she handed him the scraper.  Mulder 
took his time clearing the car.  The chill wind helped calm his body down 
enough, so that he could think again.  Maybe thinking wasn't the word 
for it, because he kept seeing the same image.  Dana -no, Scully - Dana 
something insisted, had placed her knee on the passenger seat as she 
reached for the scraper under the driver's seat.  Her coat and skirt had 
moved with her, baring her right leg almost to mid-thigh.  Her full, 
curving hips had been right in front of him.  If he'd just taken two steps...

     He almost took a handful of snow to cool down his flushed face, but 

she would ask why.

     Scully wondered if he was clearing the parking lot as well, when he 
finally got in the car.

     "A few more minutes and we'll be at my place. Then you can be on 
your way home."  He winced as the words came out forceful instead of 
playful.

     /He could have at least offered to let you wait out the storm at his 
place/  Something inside of her was hurt.

     /He's right, though.  You're tired and you want to go home.  That's 
the reason why you aren't thinking clearly now,/  her cool, logical, 
professional self responded.

     She helped carry some of the things up to his apartment.  The grocery 
bags had required a minimum amount of rearranging to separate their stuff.  
Especially since neither one of them wanted to search for the box of condoms. 
She laid the files on the coffee table and took the plastic bag into the 
kitchen.

     Mulder set his suitcases and briefcase just inside the door.  "Scully, 
you can crash here, if you don't want to drive in this."

     "Thanks, Mulder.  But I think I'll just head on home."

     "Call me when you get there."

     "Yes, mom."  She smiled and closed the door behind her.  /No sense in 
torturing yourself/ she thought with mixed feelings.  The thrill she felt at 
his words faded into reality.  He was her friend.  But more importantly, 
he was her partner.  As that, she knew she was important to him.  As 
something other than partners, she didn't want to know.  The other 
women in his life had never come close to the same level of importance 
as Samantha and the X-files.  She liked where she was on his priority list.  
She wanted more, certainly, but she was content with the status quo.

     /Content.  What a word./ she thought sadly and climbed into her car.

          * * * * *

     Mulder quickly changed into sweats and waited for the heat to come 
on.  He debated on whether or not he should make one of the frozen 
pizzas, when the doorbell rang.  Grabbing the gun off the coffee table, he 

called, "Who is it?"

     "It's me."

     He checked the peephole and saw her standing in the hall.  She did not 
look happy.

     "Scully?  Oh, you've finally decided to move in," he said as she moved 
past him, carrying her suitcases.

     "My car won't start."  Before he could say anything, she added, "Do 
you know *WHY* my car won't start?"

     "You haven't winterized it yet?" he suggested helpfully.  Her glare 
told him that wasn't the answer.

     "My car won't start because someone left the lights on."

     "Scully, we weren't up here long enough for that to kill your 
battery."

     "Mulder, just help me bring up the groceries."

     "Yes, Scully."

          * * * * *

=====================================================================
=====

From: mason@umr.edu (Niki)
Newsgroups: alt.tv.x-files.creative
Subject: New:  Don't You Just Love the Snow  (2a/2b) NC-17
Date: 12 Jan 1996 00:09:47 GMT


Disclaimer:  See part one.

Warning: NC-17

Don't You Just Love the Snow, part 2a

     by
     Nicole Mason


     "You can have the couch, Scully."

     "But that's where you sleep.  I'll just take the bed," she said
and headed toward the other room.

     "You can't."

     "Mulder, where's your bed?"  The room was almost completely 
empty, except for the books and files laying everywhere.

     "I sold it."

     "Why?"

     "I don't use it."

     She didn't argue with that unbelievable statement. /What, he just 
goes to the woman's place?/  "So you're just going to sleep on floor?"

     "Unless you want to share the couch, Scully.  It is a fouton," he 
offered.

     "So, you're just going to sleep on the floor," she said again with 
a smile.

     A few minutes later, she was helping him turn to couch into a 
bed.  All of the things that needed to be refrigerated or kept frozen were 
put away.  The rest she'd left in the bags on his countertop.

     "Mulder, don't you have any heat?"

     "It is still cold in here, isn't it.  I'll check the
thermostat."  When he turned to face her, she was neatly tucking the
blanket around the corners of the mattress.  Her cross hung straight
down from her neck, and focused his gaze on the shadowed region
beyond.  Thankfully, she turned without looking up.  If she had caught
him staring...

     Dana's cheeks were flushed.  She hadn't meant to give him a 
show.  /Ok, not consciously/ she qualified.  "I'm going to get ready for 
bed."

     Mulder nodded mutely and turned the TV on.  Weather reports 
were not good.  A few moments later, he called, "I'm glad your car 
didn't start, Scully."


     "Why's that?"

     "Look how bad it is."

     She finished washing her makeup off as she watched the white 
screen.  "I think I'm glad, too," she said and went back down the hall to 
the bathroom.

     She was climbing under the blankets when Mulder asked, "Do 
you mind if I watch a movie?"

     "Depends on what type of movie, Mulder."

     "Oh, it wouldn't be anything that would test the bounds of your 
delicate sensibilities, Scully."

     "Don't you want to test how delicate my sensibilities are, 
Mulder?"

     Oh, yes, he did.  He wanted to know if reality was anywhere 
close to his imagination.

     Dana couldn't believe she said that.  They were both quiet as he 
flipped channels instead of putting a movie in the VCR.

     "Mulder, if you want to work -"

     "I can go into the other room.  Don't worry about it, Scully.  Just 
get some sleep."

     "Are you sure you're not going to wake me up in a little bit?"

     "I only get satisfaction if I use the phone."

     "That's a sad fact, Mulder.  Maybe you should see a doctor."

     He couldn't believe it.  He was blushing.  At least he thought he 
was.  His face was hot, while the rest of him was decidedly cold.  He 
paid more attention to the sound of her breathing, than he did to the 
movie on cable.  The deep even sounds relaxed him enough so that he 
fell asleep before midnight.  Now if he could only get more than a three 
hour block of sleep.

     Dana woke up to a strange clicking noise.  It took her a moment 

to recognize where she was.  When she did, she also found out what the 
noise was.  Mulder.  She got up to go to the bathroom and almost 
yelped.  The floor was like ice.  Wrapping, the blanket around her, she 
went to check the thermostat.  It said the apartment was at 68 degrees.  
/Yeah, if the thermometer is reading Kelvin instead of Fahrenheit/ she 
thought.  She nudged the needle a little higher and went to the 
bathroom.

     Mulder woke up as he heard someone moving in the room.  Da-
NO! Scully.  God, he was cold.  He didn't bother getting out of his small 
cocoon; he didn't have anymore blankets.  Was Scully warm enough?

     She saw that his eyes were open when she returned.  She spoke 
in a low whisper anyway, "Do you have anymore blankets?"

     "Just turn the heat up."

     "I think it's broken."

     Mulder walked over to her, wrapping the blanket around his 
body.  "Great.  No, I don't have anymore."

     "Come on, then."

     He followed her because of the hand clutching his cover.  
"Scully?"

     "It's too cold for you to sleep on the floor.  I'll take the side 
closest to the wall."  When he hesitated, she said, "Come on, Mulder.  
It's *cold*."

     He grabbed his pillow and killed the silently flickering TV.  In 
the total darkness, before his eyes adjusted, he threw the blanket 
covering him across the fouton.  Quickly, he crawled under them and 
turned on his side away from her.  /Barely two hours of sleep/ he 
thought.  He'd get up and avoid this situation as soon as she fell asleep, 
he promised himself.

     The fouton was much warmer than the floor.  And Scully was 
close.  Really close.  He could torture himself all night like this.  If he 
acted like a teenager, maybe he could pretend to move in his sleep and 
hold her close.

     Dana was curled on her side with her back to him.  Now that she 
was awake, she realized how cold it was in the apartment.  She tried to 

huddle into a tighter ball to conserve her body heat.  It didn't help.  
"Mulder, don't take this the wrong way-"

     /What is she talking about?/  Then he felt her curve against his 
back.  "Scully?"

     "I'm cold, Mulder."

     "I could get up and see if I can fix it."

     Her mind went directly to the gutter.  He would be able to warm 
her up.  "Mulder, you are not mechanically inclined.  Just don't let any 
cold air in, Ok?"  The last was said when he shifted.

     "I could check and see if anyone else's heat is out."

     "You could."

     He wasn't sure if that was a request to go and see or if it was a 
comment that said she was just fine.  "Stay here.  I'll go see if anyone 
else on the floor is having trouble."

     "I'm not going anywhere," she mumbled and slid over, shivering, 
to the warm spot he had vacated.  She watched as Mulder pulled on a 
pair of shoes in the dark and shrugged into his coat.  "Don't forget your 
keys, because I'm not getting out of this cocoon."

     "Are you going to eat my liver and then hibernate, Scully?"

     "If I don't get warm soon, I'll be forced to."

     "I'll be right back."  He closed the door behind him and headed 
down the hall.  One of his neighbors was a night owl, so he wouldn't be 
waking anyone up.

     Dana heard the key and prepared to turn to ice again.  "Mulder?"

     "It's the building.  The repairman was called before the storm, 
but he left to get a part and then was stranded.  Scoot over."  She 
reluctantly did and Mulder climbed under the covers.  "Albert said he's 
been using his stove to keep warm."

     "Not while we sleep," she argued.

     "I'm not even sure the stove works."


     "Mulder!"

     "I'm joking, Scully."  It was usual to be teasing her like this.  It 
was late, he was on his couch, and she was falling asleep.  But the main 
difference was she was barely a foot away and he could smell her on his 
pillow.

     "Night, Mulder."

     "Night, Scully.  And just for the record, you woke me up this 
time."

     "No, your chattering teeth woke me up."

     He shifted to lay on his back and take up a little more room.  
/Ploys like this always worked.  Well only when the woman was willing 
anyway./  He felt Scully's icy feet near his knee.  When she didn't move 
away, he figured she was asleep again.

     Dana pretended to sleep until Mulder's breathing evened out.  
Then she tempted herself with the fantasy of moving into Mulder's arms.  
It was one of her more realistic fantasies.  All the others she couldn't see 
happening while they were still partners.  She gradually and stealthily 
moved closer to his heat.

     "Still cold?"

     Her jaw was clenched to keep her teeth from chattering so she 
nodded.

     "Don't take this the wrong way, Scully," he said and turned onto 
his side.  He loosely wrapped one arm around her and tangled his feet 
with hers.

     Dana fell asleep moments later with the realization of Non-sexual 
Fantasy No. 12 out of 376 was now fulfilled.

     Mulder felt the arm he was laying on go numb sometime later.  
But it was worth it.  He pulled her that much more closer.  He carefully 
tried to lift her head.  She mumbled and sleepily cooperated as he moved 
his arm under the curve of her neck.

     Mulder tucked her head under his chin and closed his eyes.  He 
allowed no other image but this one to enter his head and memorized 
every tiny detail.


     * * * * *

     An alarm was sounding and it wasn't her own.  A warm band 
circling her back left and the noise stopped.  The arm was back a second 
later, only a little cooler from the brief contact outside of the warm 
haven.  Dana drifted back into her favorite part of sleeping: the half state 
where she controlled all aspects of her dreams.  This one took shape 
while she was still getting her b.s.  For some reason, she was in an 
English pub.  She realized why, when a younger Fox Mulder entered 
without IT...

     She opened one eye as the buzz sounded again.  Mulder only 
moved enough to hit the snooze.  His eyes hadn't opened.

     She went back to the smokey pub, the scene only slightly 
changed.  Mulder-no, he was Fox here- was sure of himself without 
being too cocky.  Half of the worry lines were not present, making him 
look almost boyish.  Fox had spotted her and was headed toward her...

     The buzzing jerked her from her fantasy again.  As it stopped, 
she said, "If you hit that snooze one more time, I'm going to have to 
hurt you, Mulder."

     "I think it's still snowing, Scully."

     "Are you going to keep hitting the snooze until it stops?"

     "I don't want to move to find out."

     "Where's the remote?"

     "Across the room."  She hadn't pulled away from him, so he 
didn't move either.

     "The phone?"

     "Near the remote."

     "Mulder, get up and turn on the stove."

     "No thanks, Scully.  I'm fine."

     "Ok, I'll do it."  She moved quickly, throwing the covers off of 
both of them.  Mulder yelped as the icy air hit him and Scully scooted to 
where she could get out of the bed.  She ran into the kitchen, opened the 
oven and turned it on, then she practically hurtled the coffee table as she 
grabbed the remote.  He gave her a 10 for the dive that had her back on 
her side of the bed.

     "Jesus, Scully."

     "I can't feel my toes, Mulder."

     "If it's the icy needles stabbing me in my legs, I think they're still 
there."

     "See how bad it is out there," she ordered and tried to near 
Warm again without the help of Mulder's body heat.  They were both 
awake now, so she couldn't use the sleep excuse.

     He turned on the TV and flipped to the news report. 
"...government is shut down today..."

     "You think that means us?"

     She smiled at the hopeful note in his voice.  "Well my car is 
dead.  Your car is in some impound yard.  And it looks like every cab in 
the city has gone south for the winter."  Only her eyes were visible 
above the covers, as she tried to watch the screen over Mulder's chest.  
"Mulder why don't you call and see."

     "I guess since you turned the oven on, I can get the phone."  
What he didn't say was that he was taking the covers with him.

     "Dammit, Mulder."

     "Sorry, Scully."

     "Yeah, right," she mumbled and pulled the covers back around 
her.
     "Come here."  He was going to use every excuse at his disposal.  
He pulled her unresisting form closer.  He grimaced as her cold nose 
found the hollow of his throat.

     He dialed the Bureau and was put on hold by a computer's voice.  
He tried to listed to the TV instead of the Muzak and stared at the wall.  
After a few minutes, there was a series of clicks, signalling that his call 
was being transferred all over the building.  Finally there was a human 
voice.  "Give me your name, division, and which century you think you'll 
be dug out."

     "Director Skinner?"

     "Unless I've finally lost my mind, that is not your name."

     "It's Mulder."  His arm tightened as Scully tried to pull away.  
They weren't doing anything wrong.  He wouldn't let her act like it.

     "If you're stranded in Florida, I think I'll increase your paperwork 
load."

     "No.  We were three hours late, but we landed."

     "And your excuse for not making it in?"

     Mulder was a little off balance.  Skinner sounded amused.  
"Uhm, my car appears to have vanished while I was gone."

     "Mysteriously, or it there a more conventional explanation?"

     Dana could hear both sides of the conversation and was enjoying 
herself immensely.

     "I think it was towed."

     "So you were the perpetrator."  Walter Skinner felt that this was 
making up for being stranded in the building until Bureaucracy knew 
when.

     "Yes, sir."

     "Mulder go ahead and tell Agent Scully not to even try and come 
into the office.  The entire city's shut down."

     "Active tense, sir?"

     "What?"

     "You used come in instead of go in.  Are you stuck in the 
building?"  Scully could feel Mulder's amusement, which meant Skinner 
definitely heard it.

     "Why yes I am, Mulder.  And remember, I have keys to all but 
three offices in this place.  I'm sure I'll find something to keep me 
occupied for a day or two."

     Mulder groaned as Skinner hung up.

     "It's your own fault, Mulder."

     Mulder felt her lips move against his skin as she spoke.  His eyes 
closed at the sensation.  "I know.  I just -"

     "Couldn't help yourself."

     She smiled this time with the words.  He knew he was going to 
be thankful and rueful regarding his memory of these moments later in 
life.  "Oh, Agent Scully, don't bother going into the office today."

     "Why thank you for the newsflash.  I think I'll go back to sleep 
then."

     "Scully, let's switch places."

     "What?"

     "I can't see the TV from this angle.  And I think I need to have 
the Super repaint the apartment."

     She looked over her shoulder at the wall.  There was a black line 
where the back of the couch usually was.  "What have you been doing 
on your couch, Mulder?"  He had that gleam in his eye.  "Nevermind, 
Mulder.  I don't want to know."

     "Scully are we going to switch places?  You won't be able to see 
if I move so I can."

     "Alright, Mulder.  We'll switch."  There was an awkward pause 
as they thought about the possibilities.

     Suddenly he was above her with both arms extended.  She stared 
up at him.  What would he do if she pulled him down on top of her?

     "Scully?"

     The uncertainty in his gaze held her for another moment.  She 
mentally shook herself and moved to the outside of the fouton.  She 
tucked the blanket under her chin and pulled her legs up to her chest.


     He'd seen.

     Oh, God.  He had seen.

          * * * * *

=====================================================================
=====

From: mason@umr.edu (Niki)
Newsgroups: alt.tv.x-files.creative
Subject: New:  Don't You Just Love the Snow  (2b/2b) NC-17
Date: 12 Jan 1996 00:12:22 GMT


Disclaimer:  See part one.

Warning: NC-17

Don't You Just Love the Snow, part 2b

     by
     Nicole Mason


     Mulder settled onto his side, close to but not touching her.  He 
was going to get himself in trouble, he just knew it.

     He had misread her expression, he tried to tell himself.  He 
wanted to see an invitation in her eyes so much, that he was imagining it 
in full daylight now, instead of just in the dark hours of the night.

     He stared at the TV screen over her head, not really seeing it.  
He had to find a way to put things back on track.

     "Mulder, we need to talk."  Her voice was calm, self-assured, 
and didn't fool him for a second.

     "No, we don't."  /Nothing has happened.  No lines have been 
crossed./

     /Yet./

     "Yes we do, Mulder."

     He moved so that his forehead rested against the back of her 
head.  "You're right, Scully.  We have to talk."

     She felt his warm breath move through her hair.  She was calm, 
amazingly so, because she was about to lose the most important person 
in her life.

     "Mulder -" She stopped when he started shaking his head.

     "Fox."

     Her heart tripped.  She shook her head.  "No.  I can't call you 
that.  I -"

     Mulder stiffened.  He had been wrong.  Or right, if he considered 
his pessimistic 'pep' talks to himself.  The longing he had seen in her eyes 
was just wishful thinking, but she had seen the truth in his.  /Here comes 
the top ten list of why things shouldn't change./

     "Mulder, nothing can happen between us."

     He felt his universe slowly collapsing.  He had only two dreams 
and one was being shattered as she spoke.  He couldn't find the pride 
necessary to stop her words, though.  The only words that would stop 
her would hurt her; he couldn't do that.

     "For one, it's against Bureau Policy."  She was glad she was 
facing away from him.  The tears gathered as he nodded his agreement.  
"Two, it would cloud our judgement in the field."

     /Not anymore than it already is./ 

     "Three -"

     "No more."

     She stopped at the anger in his voice.  "Mulder?"

     "I know the reasons, Scully."  He threw his share of the blankets 
over her and somehow made it out of the bed without touching her.  
"Don't worry, Scully.  I won't burden you."

     /Now what did he mean by that?/  "Mulder?"

     He pulled on his shoes and coat and left without another word.

     "That's it, Dana.  No more.  When he gets back, the two of you 
are going to get this settled."

     It was still cold in the apartment, but the kitchen was 
manageable.  She started some coffee and debated on breakfast.  Maybe 
if he was eating he would be quiet long enough for her to speak.

     Mulder leaned against the wall outside of his apartment.  He 
could've just called the Super to check on the status of the heater, but he 
headed for the stairs.  He'd seen one of his neighbors with a jacket 
advertising the local electricians union.  Maybe he could talk the guy 
into ignoring union rules.  Especially if he pointed out that his own heat 
would be turned back on as well.

     A half an hour later, Dana sat at the kitchen table with a hot cup 
of coffee, some scrabbled eggs and toast, her trenchcoat and a pair of 
Mulder's socks.  If necessary, the socks could have covered her legs a 
few inches above her knees.  The way they were bunched around her 
calves reminded her of the legwarmer fad from the early eighties.

     Another half an hour found her working on the report for their 
last case.  There was still no sign of Mulder and breakfast had been 
cleaned up.

     /He can really sulk sometimes/ she thought.  At least he could 
only disappear in the building and not across country this time.

     Finally there was a knock at the door.  She didn't answer it.

     "Scully, it's me."  There was a pause, then he stated the obvious.  
"I forgot my keys."

     /Don't be a child, Dana/ she ordered herself and went to let him 
into his own apartment.

     "The heat should be on in a second," he said, just as a blast from 
the vent hit her legs.

     "You didn't fix it."

     "No.  I found someone who could, though.  Is that coffee?"

     She waited until he had the cup in his hand and had finished the 
first drink.  "I can't pretend anymore, Mulder."

     He carefully set the cup down and turned away from her.  
"Pretend what, Scully?"

     She had made the decision to tell him.  She would stick with that 
decision.  "I love you."

     Mulder's head dropped forward and silence reigned.

     /What did you expect, Dana?  A shout of happiness?  Tears of 
joy?/

     /Yes/

     He finally turned around and spoke.  "Scully...I... Dana...I..."

     "Don't worry, Mulder.  I won't say it again."  They stared at each 
other for a long time.  She broke eye contact and went to sit at her 
computer set up on the kitchen table.

     He was in shock.  He was so surprised he couldn't even speak.  
He looked at her bent head as she tried to ignore him.  So much 
strength.  So much more strength than he ever had.

     "Scully.  Dana, I-"

     "Forget it, Mulder."

     "I can't.  I don't want to."  He knelt by her side and cupped her 
cheek, forcing her to look at him.  "I love you, Dana."  He swallowed.  
"I have for a very long time now."

     "Mulder?"

     "Fox."

     This time she didn't argue with him.  "Fox."

     His thumb caught the tear that was trailing down her face.  Very 
carefully, he leaned forward, still convinced this was not real.

     Eyes wide and heart soaring, Dana leaned towards him as well 
until their lips just met.

     "What are we going to do, Dana?"  he asked against the cool 
flesh of her lips.

     "Well, first you're going to kiss me again."

     "Just try and stop me," he said right before he placed his lips 
firmly against hers.

     There were years of pent up passions that needed to be 
exercised.  But this dream come true was too incredible to rush.  
Against the clamoring needs of his body, he slowly learned the feel of 
her lips, the smoothness of her neck and face, the shape of her ears, the 
sweet smell of her skin that still held a tang of him from sleeping in his 
arms.

     Dana felt the roughness of his jaw against her skin and the firm 
pressure of his lips.  She parted hers on a sigh as he moved across her 
face.  She cupped his jaw in her hands and held him still for her own 
explorations.  The shiver that went through him as she nipped his 
earlobe was echoed in her body.  She pulled back to look in his eyes.

     They were half-closed with a heavy sensuality that made her 
heart beat faster.  The changing hazel depths had darkened to a brown-
green as his pupils dilated.  The skin across his cheekbones was pulled 
tight and his nostrils flared as she leaned closer once again.

     She traced the sound of her name on his lips lightly with her 
tongue.  She heard the groan rumble in his chest for a moment before it 
was released along with his restraint.  He raised his other hand to her 
face and plunged his tongue deep between her parted lips.

     Fox tasted the coffee and the deeper, more satisfying essence of 
Dana.  There was the smooth, hardness of her teeth, the texture of the 
roof of her mouth, the joy as their tongues glided and moved together.

     He dragged huge, gulping lungfuls of air into his chest as he now 
learned the taste of her skin.

     Dana leaned into his slowly moving mouth.  She had forgotten 
how to breath and didn't even bother trying to relearn.  Her hands 
moved from his jaw into his hair.  She savored the sensations she had 
denied herself for years.  Her fingers tangled in the short dark strands, 
letting her learn how silky they felt as they tickled her palms, letting her 
learn how Fox moved into her caresses.

     "Fox."

     "God, Dana," he said hoarsely and covered her lips again.

     She felt the urgency in him increase as the slow exploration gave 
way to a wild mating of their mouths.  His hands moved from her face to 
her arms to her back.  The coats were no longer needed to ward off the 
cold.  Dana shrugged out of hers and turned to fully face Fox.

     He couldn't control the wildness of the kisses.  Hearing her 
breath catch and turn ragged only fueled his passions.  As she faced him, 
still sitting in the chair, he tried to pause, to savor the sight of her 
swelling lips and the intensity of her desire reflected in her eyes.  He 
raised his fingers to her lips and gently traced them with his thumb.  Her 
tongue darted out to taste the pad of flesh, and the way she savored his 
taste made him groan.

     "Dana?"

     "Let's move this to the bed, Fox."  She just had to say his name 
again as she stood up.  "Fox."

     "Are you sure?"

     "Oh, yes.  I've dreamt of this for months, for years.  I want to 
touch you while you're healthy and awake and I'm not acting as your 
doctor.  I want to feel your muscles moving under my hands and across 
my body.  I need to feel you touching me.  I need to feel you inside of 
me, Fox."

     His head dropped to rest on her stomach and his arms wrapped 
around her hips.  "I think you're going to have to carry me to the bed, 
Dana."

     "No problem," she whispered and cupped his faced as he stared 
up at her.

     His strength was renewed as she bent to kiss him.  The sharing 
turned almost savage as he stood up and pulled her into his arms.  One 
hand gripped her hip to pull her close and let her feel the effects her 
words had on him.  The other hand became tangled in the smooth 
auburn strands of her hair.

     Dana felt the strength of his erection and tried to more even 
closer.  She wanted to cradle him, to bring him into her empty, aching 
body.

     Fox didn't bother to end the kiss as he bent his knees to lift her 
into his arms.  The feel of her breasts through their clothing wasn't 
enough.  He wanted to see them, feel the weight of them in his hands, 
taste her softness, and hear her pleasure as he did these things.  He 
placed her on the fouton and loomed over her, much like earlier.

     Dana didn't hesitate to use her hold on his neck to bring his 
weight on top of her.  She made room for the hard leg that was seeking 
a place and whimpered as he settled his full weight on top of her.  "I 
love you," she said against his ear.

     He moved a little to the side, running his palm from her shoulder 
to her knee.  On the return trip, his hand moved under the sweatshirt 
and T-shirt she was wearing.  Dana arched up into the sensation, her 
own hands were pulling at his clothing.  She cried out into his mouth as 
his hand covered her breast and began to gently knead it.  The hard palm 
soothed and teased the aching nipple.

     Fox lifted to remove the heavy shirt she had bunched under his 
arms.  Dana sat up and gripped the hem of her shirts.  It took a large 
amount of effort for him to keep his eyes open.  But he wanted all of his 
senses involved in this.  The smooth globes of flesh with their distended 
peaks shifted as she laid back down and reached for him.  Slowly, 
carefully, he settled his chest on top of hers.  They both gasped as their 
flesh made contact.  Her fingers dug into his shoulders as he lowered his 
mouth to hers again.

     Dana gasped his name as his lips moved down her throat and 
along her collarbone.  She hooked her knee around his leg as he moved 
further down her body.  The searing heat of Fox's mouth on her breast 
had her shivering from head to toe.  She could do no more than hold 
him closer as he moved back and forth to worship each mound.

     "Fox...please...more," she managed in a soundless voice.  She 
arched tightly as his teeth scraped across the swollen peaks.  Her hips 
moved restlessly against him.  She throbbed with the need to have him 
fill her.  Dana lifted her hips as she felt his hand curve around her 
buttock and squeeze.

     Fox took the opportunity to push the sweats off of her.  He 
smiled as he recognized the socks and his eyes gleamed as he saw her 
offering herself to him.  He groaned as she sat up and reached for the 
drawstring on his sweats.  Their fingers and tongues tangled as they 
removed the rest of his clothes.

     She reached for the straining, throbbing proof of his desire.  
Dana looked up with the question in her eyes as Fox's fingers wrapped 
around her wrists.  "Later.  You can explore next time."

     "Fox, please."

     "Next time, Dana.  I won't be able to wait if you do."

     "I don't want you to wait."  She raised her hands to his shoulders 
and his slid along her arms to her back.  "I need you inside of me, Fox," 
she said against his lips.  "I need to feel you inside of me."

     He groaned deep in his throat and brought her flush against him.  
His hands moved wildly over her back and around to her front.

     She trembled as his fingers trailed low on her abdomen and then 
tangled themselves in the short, curling hair at the apex of her thighs.  
Dana moved against him as he found the swollen flesh and moved lower.

     He added another finger to the exploration of the wet, hot folds.  
He gently separated them, stretching her, preparing her for him.

     "Please, now, Fox.  Now."

     She was right.  It was time.  "Dana, I have to-"

     She arched up against his hand.  "Now, Fox."  Her voice was 
hoarse and commanding as it sounded in his ear.

     He tried again.  "Dana, I-"  The words ended in a strangled 
sound as her hand closed around him.

     "Now.  Fooox."  She panted as she tried to adjust to his entry.  
Fox's breath wasn't any steadier.  His forehead rested against her's as 
their hearts pounded together.  Oh, god, finally.  He was finally inside of 
her, stretching her, filling her.

     "I love you, Dana," he managed as he laced their fingers together 
by her head.  He watched with half lidded eyes as she arched beneath 
him when he started to move within her.  Fox could concentrate only on 
bringing her pleasure.  Slow, deep movements.  He released one of her 
hands to smooth down her body.  He caught her knee and pulled it 
higher on his hip, tilting her for even deeper penetration.

     Dana raised her other leg and hooked both heels around the 
backs of his thighs.  She clenched tightly around him as his fingers 
trailed into the cleft of her cheeks.  She felt his fingers move lower and 
play along the area already stretched tauntly by him.  Dana chanted his 
name in time with the surging of his body within hers.

     He gazed down at her, intent on bringing her to climax before he 
reached his own. He moved his hand between their bodies.  Dana arched 
violently underneath him as she sobbed Fox's name.  He gasped as her 
nails dug into his shoulder and the nape of his neck hard enough to draw 
blood.  The years of dreaming paled in comparison to reality as the inner 
contractions of her release urged him to let go.

     Dana gasped as Fox's pace quickened and sent another wave of 
pleasure through her.  His fingers were digging almost painfully into her 
hips, lifting her into each thrust.  The waves built upon each other as he 
pounded forcefully into her.  She was standing on the edge again, ready 
to soar.  She felt Fox spasm with in her, releasing the hot flood of his 
orgasm.  The sound of her name catching in his throat, sent her once 
again into a mind altering state.  From far away, she felt his hips jerk 
once, twice more and then he was still.  His full weight crushed her into 
the mattress.

     Dana slowly uncurled her legs from around Fox and lowered 
them along side of his.  Her fingers moved languidly across his sweat 
covered back.  Eventually he found enough strength to lift some of his 
weight from her, while still keeping them joined.

     He just stared at her for a moment.  "I love you."

     She smiled and traced his lips with her fingertips.  "I love you, 
too."

     "I didn't wear a condom."

     "I know."

     "I tried to tell you."

     "I know, Fox.  It's Ok.  I trust you."  A smile played on her lips.  
With as often as he was in the hospital...

     "You won't be able to call me that at work."

     "That's what I tried to tell you earlier.  I'll only use it when we're 
like this."


"Which will be often, Dana."

     "I hope so."

     "Dana, are you sure it's Ok?  You're on the pill?"

     "Yes and no."

     "Explain, Dana Scully."

     "It's Ok.  The timing's not right."

     He didn't want to move, the damage was done, so to speak, but 
he was probably crushing her.

     Dana moaned in disappointment as he moved to the side.  He 
kissed her again as he pulled her across his chest.

     "Dana -"

     "Fox, it had to be like this.  I had to feel *you*."

     "Scully -"

     "Mulder, it's Ok."  She kissed him again, just to keep him quiet 
for a moment.  "We can use the condoms in a few seconds."

     "And I thought they would expire before I could use them all.  A 
few seconds?  But Scully, what if-"

     "Life is being created as we speak?"  He nodded solemnly.  
"Mulder the odds of that happening right now are astronomically low."

     "Haven't we had this conversation before?"

     They shared a smile as she said, "Only parts of it."  He tucked a 
wild strand of hair behind her ear.  "Mulder, it's hot in here."

     "You're right.  I'll check the thermostat."  He had recovered 
enough to move without hesitation.  As he turned to move back into the 
arms of his partner, a flash of white caught his eye.  "Scully, come look 
at this."

     "What is it, Mulder?"  she asked and followed him into the other 
room.

     He pulled her into his arms as they stared out the window on the 
scene below. "Don't you just love the snow, Dana?"

     "Not as much as I love you, Fox."

     "Do you know why sex is a lot like snow?"

     "Of course I do.  You never know how many inches you're going 
to get or how long it's going to last."

     "So I repeat my question."

     She felt the stirring of his body and shivered in response.  "Yes, 
Mulder, I just love the snow."


          * * end * *