| Title: Pumpkin Patch Author: DM e-mail: [email protected] Rating: PG Category V/XF/R Key words: Mulder/Scully romance Spoilers: none that you shouldn't already know about Disclaimer: Don't own them. All credit belongs to David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson. Oh, yeah. Chris Carter and Fox too. Summary: Mulder and Scully go in search of the Headless Horseman. Set in S6 or 7. Notes: This was just a fun and quick Halloween challenge I gave myself. Hope you all enjoy it as much as I got a kick out of writing it! And, as always, thank you to Carol for her encouragement and wonderful beta work! It started out just like any other case. I walked into the office, on time as usual, only to find my partner, already knee deep in his files. Our files, I should say, although I've never considered them mine. The work is ours, but the files are his. I could tell he'd been at work for a while. I looked closely at his attire to see if he'd even gone home, and with relief noticed that he was in a different suit than yesterday; he was even wearing a new shirt. I took the slightest moment to admire how perfectly it fell across his chest, defining the muscles just underneath the fabric. He'd been working out lately and it showed. "Anything new, Mulder?" My voice was characteristically indifferent. I reserve showing emotion until his wild theories draw it out of me. I've found I'm more effective that way. "San Diego, California," he closed the file in front of him and looked directly into my eyes. "There has been a series of strange deaths, one each night for the past five nights." "And?" I urged him to continue. After so many years of working in this department, a series of strange deaths doesn't even spark much curiosity any more. "Heard of The Headless Horseman?" His eyes were shining and he knew that he was pushing a button. So, I didn't let him win. Not yet. "I have." He looked mildly taken aback, and I couldn't help but quietly congratulate myself on a job well done. But, his look of surprise didn't last long. "Halloween is just around the corner, Scully." "Need I remind you, Mulder, that The Headless Horseman is a myth, a legend?" My voice remained calm and collected. I was really out doing myself this time. "So was El Chupacabra." And with that, there was nothing more to say. I couldn't argue it, so there was no use trying. Six hours later we boarded a flight to California. Another five hours later I was exhausted and ready to pass out. I can't sleep on airplanes. We flew into Los Angeles International and Mulder booked us rooms for the night just under the flight path of every single airplane that made its way in or out of LAX. By the time morning rolled around and I met my partner in the lobby, dark circles framed my eyes and I was grumpy. Mulder, obviously having overcome his usual bouts with insomnia, was bright eyed and bushy tailed, anxious to get right down to the business of solving the legend of Sleepy Hollow. In San Diego. The drive there took just under two hours. The traffic was amazingly light for southern California freeways. We met with the local law enforcement who didn't take Mulder's theory quite as well as I did. "Are you serious? Is he serious?" Detective Elwood turned to me, eyes full of amusement and a tinge of frustration. I stepped back, avoiding his question and allowed Mulder to take it from there. I've been assigned to work with him, not try to explain him. Detective Elwood rolled his eyes and shrugged his shoulders. He explained that the few eyewitness accounts lent some credence to Agent Mulder's "theory" but was following my take on the matter. It's a tall tale. Just because a bunch of frightened farmers believed they saw The Headless Horseman did not mean it existed, or that it was responsible for the deaths of five people. It did not mean that our murderer was a mythical creature. Of course, Mulder was not dissuaded and we made the forty-five minute drive up to Tate's Farm. On the way, Mulder confided in me that he'd already spoken to the witnesses on the telephone. In a strange way I was relieved that he hadn't come up with such a fantastic story all on his own. Tate's Farm was not what I had expected, and by the look on my partner's face, it wasn't what he imagined either. Before us loomed a deserted carnival type pumpkin patch, complete with a cornstalk maze and game booths. Detective Elwood explained that business had plummeted after the last death. He explained that the farmer who owned the farm was witness to three of the attacks and his son saw the other two. As we spoke with the farmer and his son, it was obvious to both the detective and I that their story was either completely fabricated or they were spooked by one too many ghost stories. Mulder, of course, was fascinated by the mere possibility that such a creature might exist. I pulled him away when I realized we were getting nowhere and all he was managing to accomplish was to feed a frenzy that needed to be extinguished as quickly as possible. In order to make him cease, I agreed to accompany him on a stake out of sorts that evening. Against my better judgment, but true to my promise, I followed him as we made the trek back up the foothill just after dark. We sat in silence, and after about an hour and a half, Mulder opened his door and swore up and down that he saw something move in the distance. "If you're pulling my leg, Mulder, I swear I'll hurt you." "Hurry up, Scully," and he was out of the car, moving quickly. Why I followed him through the dusty parking lot and into the cornstalk maze, I'll never know, but I did. It wasn't long before I realized I had no clue where he was. I turned around only to find that I was now lost. Even though I didn't believe we were chasing a Headless Horseman, I did have a strange feeling in my gut that something wasn't quite right. "Mulder?" I whispered, as loudly as I dared. If something were out there, I didn't want to take any chances. I couldn't hear him so I reached for my weapon only to find it wasn't there. With an exasperated curse I remembered the agitation I felt in the car when it kept poking my back. It was an unfortunate decision that I took it off and left it lying on the dashboard. Just as I turned to head back in the direction I came from, I heard a rustling just around the corner. I flattened myself against a couple of cornstalks and prayed that it was Mulder. No such luck. Father Farmer, accompanied by Junior, rounded the corner and all my eyes could focus on was the sharp blade of a large ax. Father tested the blade's sharpness with one of his dirty callused fingers and calmly asked me, "Are you prepared to die?" I about lost it at that point and screamed at the top of my lungs for my partner. "Mulder!" Two gunshots later, Father Farmer fell to his knees, petrified. His son cowered sheepishly behind him. Where Mulder emerged from, I couldn't tell you, but I couldn't remember when I'd been happier to see him. We then cuffed father and son, solving the mystery of the Headless Horseman. "Sorry it's not what you expected, Mulder." I tried to ease the disappointment I could read on his face as we watched the police cruiser take off with our suspects. Without words, he turned and walked back toward the corn maze. And, this is where it got weird. To clarify before I continue. I'm not blind, I find Mulder attractive, but we work together. Anything more than the intense friendship that we already share could ruin everything. At least that's what I thought. I followed him through the hazy light and into the entrance way of the maze. He stopped and turned around. My eyes met his and I could tell something heavy was weighing on his mind. "What is it, Mulder?" He just continued to look at me. After a few moments, it became uncomfortable. "Mulder?" I tried again. Then, he said it. Where it came from, especially after the events of the evening, I'll never know. "Would you think it was a bad thing if I told you all I want to do right now is kiss you?" I could feel my palms dampen and my cheeks burn in a sudden flush. All of a sudden, I realized that I wanted him to kiss me. All at once, it didn't make sense to hold back. I can't lie, I've thought about it before. After having a taste of what he had to offer last New Years Eve, like any sensible woman, I thought about it. But, no one had ever said something like that to me before. What kind of an answer was he expecting? It was like a line from a movie, a critical turning point in the lives of two characters as they are faced with a life altering decision. If I didn't know better, I could swear I heard music swell in the background, setting the tone for what I was about to say. "It would only be bad if you wanted to and didn't." My voice was soft and I wondered if he even heard me. But he did. Boy, did he ever. The next thing I knew I was consumed with everything that was my partner. It might sound cliche, but it was a kiss to end all kisses. And, that's how it happened. Odd timing most might say, but not so much unlike us. Mulder and I have never fallen under the category of normal. Why start now? End. Feedback would be much appreciated at [email protected] |