The Return (1/12)
by charvill

Email: charityharvill@yahoo.com 
Genre: MSR 
Spoilers: Post-IWTB
Summary: There are some things you just can't escape.



"Hey! I'm home!" 

His voice startles me and I hastily shove the tissues deep into the
sad excuse for a pocket my jeans supply.

"Hey," he says, his head popping out from around the edge of the
door frame. "There you are." 

"Yeah, I was just finishing up in here." I tug self-consciously on the
hem of my shirt. 

He looks over at the sink and my heart pounds so loudly in my ears
that I'm afraid he'll hear it, too. I thought I cleaned up the last of it,
but he stares so hard at something there it's giving me doubt. 

"You know, it's just gonna be us and Skinner. You didn't have to
go all out."

I follow his line of sight and let out a deep breath. The makeup.
Ever since I stopped working at the hospital --- after Christian's
recovery --- I hadn't even bothered with the stuff. "Yeah, well, it's
been awhile since we've seen him. I wanted to look my best," I say
with a wink.

He clutches his chest dramatically, as though my words have
wounded him.

*Just act natural or you'll blow it!*  I force out a chuckle.

"Anyway, we probably need to go if we're gonna beat the DC
traffic. You remember how crazy that restaurant gets after five and
I don't know if my stomach can handle an hour of smelling that
wonderful aroma of garlic, tomatoes, and cheese."

Straining my lips into a smile, I nod my head. "I'll be right there."

We look at each other for a moment and I turn away first,
pretending I need to look for something in my makeup bag. 

He doesn't move to leave. "You okay?"

"I'm fine, Mulder. Just trying to find my lipstick."

He takes a step towards me and I continue digging. I feel his finger
under my chin, tilting it up until I have no choice but to look into his
eyes; I stop breathing.

"You already have some on," he says and rubs his thumb lightly
across my lower lip before pulling it away to show me the evidence. 

I look down at my shoes, the mirror, the sink --- anywhere, but his eyes.

"What's going on, Scully? You're scaring me."

*Come on, say something!*  "It's nothing, I just want to get this over
with." 

"Really?" One eyebrow raises, speculating. "But, this was your idea."

"I know, but...well, it's just been awhile since we've been back to
DC without there being a..." I struggle to figure out where I'm going
with this.

"Call of duty?" He finishes for me with a smirk.

I nod. That was so much better than anything I could have come up
with. 

"I can call him and cancel, if it's bothering you this badly."

"No, that would be really selfish of me," I reply and push myself up
on tiptoes to place a light kiss on the tip of his nose. "It *was* my
idea, after all."

"Okay, if you think you're up to it." 

"I am." 

He searches my eyes again, keeping me locked in his gaze; and, to
my horror, my tearducts begin burning. 

"I'll be in the car," he announces before turning around and walking
back into the living room. The thud of his boots gets softer and
softer until, finally, I hear the front door open --- and then slam shut.

With tears streaming unchecked down my cheeks, I reach into my
pocket and drop the blood-soaked tissues into the toilet. I close the
lid, so I don't have to look at them any longer, and flush twice ---
just to be sure. 


END PART 1/?