Disclaimer: Nope, these characters aren't mine. Category: SRA Classification: MSR Rating: PG Spoilers: Set around the fourth season. Archive: Gossamer. Spookys. Others ask me. Summary: You don't know what you have until it's gone. Thanks to Sara Lynn for tweaking. "Just Us" (1/1) by Lisa haven599@msn.com "One love We get to share it Leaves you baby if you Don't care for it" ---Bono, "One" Scully pushed some of the papers out of her way. "If you cleaned up some of this crap, I'd have a place to work." "This crap *is* my work," Mulder said. "Yeah, well, I'm trying to finish up the report for Skinner. At least I get them to him on time." Mulder stared at her. "What's your problem this morning?" "Nothing. I'm just trying to get some work done here. If I had a desk . . ." "Here we go again. The desk. I'm not the only one that can request supplies, Scully," he told her. "It's a bit more than just supplies, Mulder. It's an area for me to do my job," she stressed. "Anyway, they won't do anything until you clear a space. Which means you must part with some of your precious crap." She gestured to the filing cabinet and bookcases. "That's important files and research. I just can't toss it out in the garbage," he said. She sighed and turned back to her report. "Whatever." "What the hell is wrong with you?" he asked, coming closer to her. She swiveled her chair to face him. "Apparently, you've forgotten about this past week. Everything I mentioned as a possible explanation you shot down. My theories don't mean anything to you." "I didn't say that." "It was your actions, Mulder," she reminded him. "Well, maybe I mentioned -" "It's psychokenesis, Scully. I'm sure of it," she replied in a mocking tone. "I don't even know why I'm your partner. You obviously don't value my opinion." "No one's keeping you here," he told her. "Well, I could request a transfer . . ." "Let me get you the forms then." Mulder rifled through the bottom of one of his file drawers. "I'm surprised you can find anything in there," she replied as he dropped the necessary forms in her lap. She gathered the forms and her report from the printer, ignoring him as she headed towards the door. "Scully, you aren't really going to fill out those papers." "I can't keep fighting an uphill battle with you." He reached out and grabbed her arm. "Scully, wait . . ." "I'm sorry, Mulder," she replied. "I don't want to be stuck down here for the rest of my life with you." She turned on her heel and left him staring after her. **** Scully arrived at work the next day only to find out that Mulder had quarantined the office off, not allowing her to enter. Could this be because of the arrival of a new desk for her? It's about time. She wound up working in an empty office a few doors down from Skinner. Apparently he was privy to Mulder's renovations and perhaps her ultimatum as well. Skinner walked by a few times during the day with a worried look on his face. When Scully was about to say something, he looked away from her and continued on his way down the hall. She attended to her paperwork free from interruptions and tried to block out what Mulder was up to downstairs. Reaching for the transfer papers, she began to fill them out, blocking out all the good times and focused on how often Mulder undermined her ideas and theories. **** When she arrived the next day, the first thing Scully noticed were two name plates on the door instead of one. She walked inside to find two desks; hers marked with a name placard similar to Mulder's. It was equipped with all the normal office supplies. A new coffee maker was sitting in the corner filled halfway with fresh coffee. "Help yourself to a cup," Mulder said as he breezed in past her. "Sugar and cream are underneath the cabinet. He raised his arms. "Well, what do you think?" "That you made coffee or the new surroundings?" she asked. "Both." He pointed to the chair at her new desk. "Go ahead, try it out." She sat down in the big, cushioned office chair. "Nice." He poured himself a cup of coffee as he began to talk about another case that he had obviously formed an opinion on already. Was she going to be charmed by shiny new office furniture and her own name plate? He didn't seem to be asking for her ideas and opinions, just rattling on about his theory. Mulder could try, but he wasn't about to change overnight. "I'm sorry, Mulder." she said, getting up. "It's too late. I'm handing in those transfer papers tomorrow." "Wait, where is all this coming from? After all these years, why now?" he asked. "You never had a problem before." "Well, I do now. I just need a change, okay?" "Embarrassed to be down here with me, Scully?" He was blocking her way out the door. "Mulder, I don't want to do this now," she told him. "No, you started this by saying you didn't want to be stuck down here with me for the rest of your life," he reminded her. "Have all the comments gotten to you, Scully? Being Spooky Mulder's partner too much to live down? Afraid it will hinder your chances climbing up the FBI career ladder?" He turned away from the door and sat down at his desk, waiting for her answer. "Well, Scully, is that it?" She walked over to the edge of his desk. "No, I'm not embarrassed by you, Mulder. You're a brilliant man and I respect you and your ideas. I don't listen to any gossip around the Bureau. I form my own opinions." "Well your opinion must be that I'm not worth your time anymore," he countered, turning to the files on his desk. "Have a nice life, Scully." "Dammit, Mulder. I care too much about you to stay and watch you continue to find some elusive truth that's only important to you. and get hurt in the process over and over again," she told him. "I'm not making a difference at all." "You make a difference to me, Scully." He looked up at her. "I liked it being just us." "It was never us. It was Mulder and his partner, Scully." She felt the tears at the back of her throat and rushed away before she started to cry. **** Scully started working in pathology a few days later. She had no problem getting Skinner to approve her transfer. He almost had a look on his face that said "you put up with him long enough." She worked mostly by herself, but was told she could have an assistant after being there three months. The coworkers she met seemed glad to give up some of the workload. Scully couldn't help but wonder if they said things behind her back like "isn't she the one that worked on those X-Files" or "He was probably too strange to work with." Science was her ally down here. There were no gray areas. Solutions were always found. Hypotheses were either proven or disproven. Factors identified or ruled out. Theories established and revised. Ultimately a cause of death was determined from these facts and established as the reason for death. No room left for interpretation. Science was always the final answer. **** Scully had a date. The first one in years. He was a detective from the local police department that she assisted on a murder case with. They went out to dinner one night. She actually felt like a real person pursuing a normal life. No talk of ghosts, spirits or strange phenomena. It was a refreshing change. Working regular hours allowed her to meet some of her neighbors. She even had coffee with a couple of the ladies whom lived in her apartment complex. A couple times she babysat for her neighbor's child for a few hours on a Saturday morning while she went shopping. It made Scully long for a family of her own even more so than she already did now. Hopefully, one day that dream would come to true. Everything was going well until she spied Mulder down in the morgue one day. He was consulting with one of her coworkers about a case. He looked good. She wondered what it was about, but was late for her date with Brian. Removing her lab coat and goggles, she grabbed the hangar which housed a little black cocktail dress and rushed into the bathroom down the hall. Unfortunately she ran right into Mulder as she came out. "Scully?" "Sorry, I wasn't looking," she said, picking up her keys and purse. Dammit, she thought he would have been gone by now. He looked at her more closely now that she was standing up. "God . . . you look beautiful." She averted her eyes from his gaze. "Thanks," she replied. "Meeting someone?" She nodded. "A date?" She looked back into his eyes to gauge his reaction to her plans. "Yeah. A date." Did he really say beautiful? "How are you liking it down here?" he asked, totally ignoring the fact that she had a date. "Pretty good. The people seem nice." Neither of them said anything for a few moments. Scully had to break the silence. "Well, I got to go." "Sure. Don't want to keep him waiting," Mulder commented. "I guess I'll see you around." She hurried off down the back stairs. Scully was so preoccupied with Mulder's comment that she had a hard time concentrating on her date and their conversation. A couple times he asked if she was all right, but Scully just passed it off as having a long day. Seeing Mulder brought back all those memories she was trying to forget. It wasn't as easy as she thought it would be. Over the next few weeks, she found herself missing Mulder more and more. It got lonely many times working all by herself. She wasn't real close with anyone so far and found herself missing the consistency of a partner. Someone to bounce ideas off. Scully couldn't believe she was actually feeling this way. She began to have very erotic dreams about Mulder. It surprised her because she never had these when they were working together. Scully did fantasize about having sex with him, but those were only daydreams when she was particularly lonely. However, these recent installments had a bit of a different flavor to them. They weren't just idle fantasies, she was happy in them and they usually took place at her apartment. She awoke with a feeling of satisfaction, almost as if he was right next to her. These were much different experiences. Dreams of a woman who was in love with a man. Scully woke up crying in the middle of the night. She realized she had made a terrible mistake. . . **** Her desk was still occupying the basement office. She had gone to Skinner to request reassignment back to the X-Files. He was happy with her change of heart. The pathology department didn't shed any tears over her leaving. She didn't belong there, anyway. Brian told her he hoped Mulder knew how lucky he was to have a second chance. Mulder. She hoped he would take her back. She prayed he would understand. "Scully?" he said, walking through the door with a file in his hand. "What are you doing here?" "Mulder, sit down," she said. He did as she asked, sitting behind his desk. "What's wrong?" he asked. "Are you all right?" "I don't know," she replied. "That's up to you." She took a steadying breath before continuing. "Mulder, I want to come back. I made a mistake by leaving. I found out the grass isn't always greener on the other side. I didn't like my new assignment as much as I thought I would. More importantly, I missed you. Will you let me come back?" "Scully, you were right. I wasn't treating you with the respect you deserve. I was an asshole. I'm sorry," he admitted. "Skinner couldn't find anyone to be my partner, so I guess I'm really a pain in the ass to work with." She smiled at him, not expecting an apology so quickly. Perhaps this separation was good for both of them. She moved closer to him. "I also realized I need your objectivity. I get caught up in my own ideas and can be single-minded sometimes. I need your science to balance me out," he said, reaching for her hand. "I missed you, too." She took a risk and leaned down, pressing her lips against his. It paid off and he returned her kiss. "Aren't you worried about someone seeing us?" He glanced briefly at the door. "Don't worry, Mulder," she told him. "It's just us." He smiled at her and pulled her down onto his lap. **** END (1/1)