Defying Gravity

Scully walked in to the office "Oh, my God!" she exclaimed as she walked in. Papers were everywhere, the office was unrecognizable, all the files had been pulled out of the filing cabinet, most of the pictures posted were torn down or awry. < What the hell happened! > She heard Mulder yelling at someone, she didn't care who. The minute he saw her he was by her side.

"Scully, thank God! Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine. What happened here?"

"Someone just came in and trashed the place. Nothing was found no prints or any thing except the ahhh...note."

Scully barely heard a word he said her gaze was fixed on the office and the terror wreaked in it.< This was deliberate and directed at you. > She thought as she let her gaze travel the room. Mulder was called over by the police officer and she could hear him mutter his "Oh, hell." and was immediately curious.

"What is it, Mulder?" she asked intrigued what the conversation was about.

"There was a biker here last night asking for you he might be our only lead."

"Biker? What biker?"

"I was hoping you would answer that for me."

"Well, what did he look like? What did he say?"

"He was a biker, ya know the chains,leather, and boots, and he just asked if you worked here and where you were."

Scully mentally jogged her memory and could think of nobody that matched the description of the biker.

"Do you know who that man might have been?" Mulder asked apparently seeming to read her mind. Sometime there was no need for words between them.

"No, no clue. What about this note?"

Mulder handed her a plastic bag with a crumpled-up piece of paper within. In big bright letters it read

Agent Scully stop disturbing my gravity or I'll have to hurt you don't make me hurt you.

As she read the words the threat to her life just seemed to be very real and she'd never been pursued and that was a frightening thought.

Mulder tried to see her reaction when he handed over the plastic evidence bag with the letter contained within. For a moment the investigator face showed up, the face he'd seen so often and then her expression changed, it softened, and for a moment fear crossed her features. That made him take notice, she was so strong and powerful that to anyone she met she instantly fooled, and then she belied her appearance with her intelligence and spirit. The two qualities he most admired in her, but now she looked helpless and vulnerable. His chivalrous side took control. He gathered her up in his arms and she took comfort in his strength, but she pulled away with her usual Scully way of putting distance between them.

"I'm fine Mulder." Was her response when he took her by the shoulders and gathered him up in his arms those powerful arms that cuddled and cradled her as if she were a child. She could easily become addicted to this man. She didn't want to become addicted the logical side of her head was telling her he was infuriating, egotistical, crazy, obsessed, warm, strong, hard. < Hard?! > she pulled out of the embrace to put distance between them.

"I think you should go in to protective custody until this is straighted out," he said in a matter-of-fact way.

"I think I can take care of myself, Mulder." she said in a voice that broke no argument, though Mulder wasn't on to give up easily.

"Scully you are the practical on here, you need to be in protective custody until this is over."

"I'm not going, Mulder!" she said almost yelling at him.

Mulder noticing he wasn't going to get anywhere with this argument, he said blandly "Well, If you won't go into custody, I'll have to stay with you, two is better odds then one."

At this proclamation her head shot up. < Mulder and me living together! Not now, not when he has just kissed her not more then two days ago, she couldn't stand it. >

"I don't need a watch-dog, Mulder, I am a big girl. I can take care of myself."

"Hey," he said jokingly, trying to lift her humor, "I'm offended." He said with feigned hurt.

"I'm telling you in plain and simple terms, Mulder-there is no way on God's green earth that you are moving in with me!"

Scully's apartment 6:45 pm

"Mulder, you are *not* moving into my apartment!"

"Don't screech, Scully. It doesn't become you." He said his arms laden with a heavy box, and Scully had no choice but to back up.

"I'll get even for this, Mulder! I swear I will!"

"I can hardly wait." He said moving past her with a wide grin on his face, that Scully would just love to rip off right now.

With a groan of frustration she went into the house and into her bedroom. She heard him yell "It's rude to abandon a guest, Scully." and that just made her all the more angry. He was treating her like a child who needed protecting from a bad dream, not with the usual professional courtesy and respect and not to mention the friendship that he had come to regard her with. She shouted back at him, "I don't recall inviting you." She heard him utter an oath and put the box down.

"Damn." he muttered under his breath. She was scared shittless and he could tell, she didn't need him pushing her buttons. He uttered another curse and headed down the hall toward her bedroom, where he assumed she was judging by the direction of her voice. Again he uttered another curse under his breath as the picture of her took his breath away. She was standing, her back ramrod and her arms crossed in front of her chest, she was looking out the window, but was too preoccupied in her own thoughts that she did not hear him enter the room. "Scully?" he whispered afraid he talked any louder he would set off a nuclear bomb.

"Go away, Mulder." she said through a clenched jaw that he could see plainly.

"No, Scully. I can't and I won't, whether or not you realise it you're scared to death, and it's okay but damnit, Scully, don't shut me out. I can't bare to see you like this."

Scully turned and looked at him and wondrous awe. She looked into those sad deeply green eyes that held comfort, grief, and something else she could not name. She was touched, until now she had never considered to ask Mulder why he was doing this. "Like what?" She asked still looking into those hypnotic green eyes.

"Like this," he said as he took her wrists in a gentle grip and opened her arms and pulled her up against him. "Looking like you are all alone and friendless in the world. You're not alone, Scully. You've got me and I'll be here no matter what, I know i can push and prod and order and ride roughshod-"

"You read Regencey Romances?"

Startled he looked at her and said "What does that have to do with anything?"

A secret smile slid up Scully's face, < Mulder, Regencey Romances? > "That is the only place where anyone rides roghshod over anything these days. Mulder, this is my place and it was my right to offer the invitation, you just take over and I'm growing tired of it."

"You do a pretty good job of standing up to me." He reminded her.

Yes, she did she thought, and maybe she was scared. Hell if she was honest with herself she was scared to death. All that violence was directed at *her*. "Why do you read Recencey Romances, Mulder?"

"I read some of everything. I'm a compulsive reader. Quit trying to change the subject. We need to get this straightened out. Agent Scully you are a target and that means you are not leaving my sight until this guy is caught."

She understood now why Mulder was trying to protect her. It wasn't that she needed baby-sitting, it was that *he* was scared and for her. That thought touched her very heart that Mulder would care that much about her. She then grabbed his waist and put her head on his shoulder and said "Thank You." For now she understood.

As Scully hugged him, Mulder felt this tender warm spot in his middle. He barely heard her 'Thank You' against the fabric of his shirt. In just a moment he had her face between his hands and her eyes shouted her gratitude and understanding. "You're Welcome" he said as he strode out the door leaving Scully to follow in his steps.

"This is your last chance to tell me where to roost or I'll set up camp here." he said trying to distance himself from the woman standing across from him.

Smiling, she said I'll give you the guest room." he followed he up the stairs thinking what a cute tush she had and that thought made him smile as well.