Title: Fallout At Arcadia 2
Author: RocketMan >lebontrager@iname.com<
Disclaimer: Mulder and Scully belong to CC, 1013, and Fox. No fringe is
intended.

SPOILER::::Arcadia

~~~~
Fallout At Arcadia 2
~~~~

Mulder knocked on her door, then glanced to his watch.

Three o'clock.

He winced and waited for the cold stare as her door swung back slowly.

She was frowning and leaning against the frame, looking exhausted.

"Where's the face cream, Laura?" he said.

A flicker of confusion crossed her face and then she shook her head.

"I don't sleep in it, Mulder. You rinse it off after awhile."

He nodded, looking to the ceiling as if thanking God.

"Why?" she said, closing her eyes for a moment. "Does that put the thrill
back?"

Her eyes opened to see his staring intently at her, a dumbfounded look on
his face.

Recovering quickly, he said, "Most definitely."

She shook her head, as if just realizing that it was three in the morning
and they were talking about nonsense.

"What are you doing here, Mulder?"

"Ah, you get me all for yourself. . ." he said softly.

"Sorry. I thought I had traded you in for a newer model." she muttered,
letting him inside.

He stopped in the living room, looking back to her with a raised brow.

"Duh, Scully. This *is* the newer model."

She pushed him to the couch, then sat down herself.

He frowned. "You gonna make me a sandwich?"

"You gonna let me play house?" she shot back and rolled her eyes.

"HA! You admit it, then."

She stood up and left the room.

He stared after her, confused and half afraid she had left him out there,
no longer able to put up with his attitude.

After a few moments, she returned with a plate in her hands, and two
bottles of water cradled in  her right arm.

He watched in surprise as she sat down the plate before him, then tossed
the water in his direction. Catching it smoothly, he stared at her, mouth
open and his fingers twitching.

"I could get used to this," he said, pushing forward to grab the sandwich
and then scarfing it down with a few bites.

She smirked and sipped her water, watching him eat.

"You're good at playing house," Mulder said, finishing off his snack.

"So, tell me why you're here, Mulder." she said, staring him down.

"Well, Scully. Let's just say. . .you get to pick the names this time."
~~~~

She glared at him and then shook her head.

"Undercover?"

He smiled. "Naw. I was messing with you.  Another X-File."

"Hm, and I was just starting to enjoy playing house."

Mulder's eyebrows rose and he patted the couch. "We could still play
house."

Rolling her eyes, Scully realized the joke had gone a bit too far.

But the thing was, at three in the morning, she was less than herself,
more willing to act a bit loose, the memories of mud men and bloody deaths
still plaguing her.

She sat down beside him, sighing.

"Mulder, did you have to come at three in the morning?"

He shrugged. "We have to be on the plane at six-thirty. Letting you know
ahead of time."

She looked at him closely and frowned. "Are you getting any sleep?"

He rolled his head to the back of the couch, sighing.

"Not much, Scully."

She moved her hand to his forehead, checking again for a fever, any sign
of sickness.

He didn't duck away from her touch this time, merely stayed still,
breathing slowly.

"No fever. Are you feeling all right?"

"Yeah. I'm fine. Just can't fall asleep. It happens."

"You have cycles of insomnia?" she said, frowning, her eyebrows drawn
together.

He smiled and touched her forehead, smoothing away her wrinkled brow.

"I see why you put that cream stuff on, Scully. You frown all the time."

One eyebrow rose dangerously high, but she still said nothing.

"Can I just stay on your couch for tonight? We'll be leaving a few hours
anyway, and I don't think I'll get any sleep."

She frowned again and nodded, patting his shoulder. "All right, Mulder.
You can stay here."

He gulped down the last of his water and nodded at her.

"Thanks," he said, then fingered her thin cotton shirt. "Aren't you cold?" 

She shook her head, smiling a bit with his concern. "I'm okay. Do you want
me to stay up with you tonight?"

He sighed. "No. You need your sleep."

She rose, then bent over him to grab the quilt from the back of the couch.
Tucking it around him, she smiled into his soft face, then rubbed his
arms.

Out of reflex, or maybe it was an instinct and an odd motherly gesture,
she kissed his forehead, then ran her fingers through his hair.

He watched her leave silently, snuggling down into the smell of her
apartment and her skin.

He felt his eyes grow heavy and sleep stalking him hungrily.

Maybe his nightmares would leave him alone tonight.

Or maybe they'd be savage and bloody, and she'd come running in and kiss
him again.

He smiled.

"Bring it on," he whispered.
~~~~

end
adios
RM