There and Back Again
by Decoyly

Reply To: decoyly@gmail.com

Disclaimer: Mulder, Scully aren't mine...blah, blah, trust no one, 
the usual... :)

Rating: PG

Classification: MSR

Summary: Just a little thing inspired by our newest XF2 set picks...

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"Scully wait--"  But she was out the door before he could stop her.  
Knowing he couldn't let her leave upset, Mulder headed out into the 
early morning cold.  He caught her just before she could get the car 
door open. 

"Scully it was just an accident.  The roads were bad, I'm sure it 
has nothing to do with--"

When she turned to face him he was shocked to see tears in her 
eyes.

"Mulder, you and I both know if we help with this Investigation..." 
she trailed off, unable to look at him.

She didn't have to finish her sentence, he already knew exactly 
what she was thinking.  He'd thought the same thing when they'd 
approached him yesterday asking for his help.  He and Scully had 
already lost enough, had been on the run too long.  Things were 
finally starting to settle down into as close to a normal life 
as they'd had in five years.

"Hey..." he said softly, cupping her cheek so she'd look at him.  
"Nothing's going to happen to me.  I promise."  At  Scully's look, 
Mulder took her hand, brushing across the ring on her finger.  
"We've made it this far Scully.  I'm not about to jeopardize it now."

Scully searched his gaze for a long moment.  He could see the 
internal fight she was suffering with herself.  He'd been through 
the same thing yesterday.

"Mulder, if they find out..."

"They're not going to find out."  He smiled, brushing back her hair 
and squeezing her hand.  Scully looked so sad it was tearing him 
up inside. 

"Trust me."  

The words seemed to have a deep effect on her and when Scully 
looked like she was about to protest again, Mulder cut her off the 
only way he knew would prove he wasn't about to let anything 
happen to either of them.  

He proved it with a kiss.

When Mulder pulled back, he knew Scully--however much she 
might be opposed to taking this job--understood why he had to.  
He also knew she was on his side no matter what.  That she may 
argue with him and try to talk him out of everything they were 
about to do every step of the way, but she was sticking by his 
side.  And when he really thought about it, wasn't that how it 
always was?  Wasn't that all that mattered?

"Okay?" he asked quietly, unwilling to let her go just yet.  He 
didn't care if they were standing freezing there in broad daylight, 
he needed to know Scully was really all right with this.  If she 
wasn't, he'd drop it in an instant.

Scully stared up at him, then down at the ring on her finger.  
Finally she let out a soft sigh and met his gaze again.  "Okay."

The relief he felt was more than he was expecting, and Mulder 
pulled her into another hug.  "You'll see Scully, it'll turn out to 
be nothing."

"Just another nice trip to the forest?" she asked, a hint of a 
rueful smile gracing her lips as she pulled back to look at him.

He grinned, opening the car door for her as he placed her 
briefcase in the back seat.  "At least the cold will keep the bugs 
away this time."

Scully did not disappoint.  She gave him The Look, then smiled 
despite herself and got in the car.

"Just promise me you won't go running off until I get back?" 

His grin deepened.  "Cross my heart and hope to--"

"Don't say it," she quickly interrupted, turning the key in the 
ignition.  "With our luck you'll be jinxing the whole thing."

Mulder laughed and stepped back to let her go.  She was 
halfway down the drive when he suddenly remembered 
something.

"Oh, hey, Scully?"

She stopped, waiting for him to reach the open window. "Yes?"

"Could you pick up some milk on the way home?  We ran out 
last week and I keep forgetting to get some more."

Scully looked like she was about to roll her eyes, but just said, 
"Milk.  Good.  Anything else?" 

Mulder thought about the nearly empty refrigerator and decided 
not to tell her he'd forgotten pretty much everything else she'd 
sent him out for yesterday.  Instead of risking The Look again, 
he merely grinned and said, "Nope I think that's it."

Knowing Scully she would come home with everything else 
he'd forgotten anyway.

Mulder watched her drive off then headed back towards the 
house, thinking what the next few weeks might bring.  A cool 
breeze slid through the trees and he paused a moment to let it 
wash over him.  Whatever happened, they'd get through it as 
they always did--with each other.

Mulder took in a deep breath and sighed.  It felt good to be back.

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Whew! It DOES feel good to be back again! I haven't written in 
so long I forgot how much fun it is! :) I'm so happy Mulder and 
Scully are finally BACK!! Whoohoo!