A Couple
LRuth

Scully sat in the back of the conference room, trying to stay awake during the monthly department meeting. Sitting next to her was her partner, who every so often softly cracked another sunflower seed. As the meeting finally wound down, Mulder winked at her and leaned over.

"Can we sneak out early, Scully?" he whispered, then jumped as A.D. Skinner called his name.

"Mulder, can I see you and Agent Scully for a minute before you go?"

As the room emptied, they made their way to the front where Walter Skinner waited for them. Scully wondered what they had done this time to attract Skinner's attention. He had a worried look about him, not a good sign.

"Thank you for waiting. I'm sure you are wondering why I asked you to stay." Skinner was clearly uneasy. "The truth is, agents, I need a favor. A personal one."

Scully and Mulder exchanged looks. "Of course, sir, anything. What can we do for you?" Scully was concerned about their friend and supervisor.

"Thank you, Agent Scully. I appreciate your concern. Why don't we sit over here for a few minutes?" They pulled three chairs together and sat. Skinner only stayed down for a second, then jumped up and began to pace.

"What is it, sir? Are you ill?" Scully started to get up, but Mulder stopped her with a soft touch.

"What? Oh no, I'm not ill, not exactly. Umm, I don't exactly know where to start. I suppose you two remember meeting my wife several years ago. You know we have been separated for some time."

They both nodded their heads. They both remembered the shock of meeting Sharon Skinner at the time her husband was accused of murdering a prostitute.

Skinner stopped pacing and sat back down. Scully had never seen him have such a difficult time putting his thoughts into words.

"Is this about your wife, sir? Is she all right?" Mulder was just as concerned as Scully.

"Yes, we're fine, I mean, she's fine." Skinner put his head in his hands for a moment. "Okay, this is it - we have recently been trying to work things out, and a few weeks ago I moved back home. We've been in counseling, and the psychologist tells me I need to learn to be more social, more open. So, to that end, Sharon and I are having a little get-together this weekend." He sheepishly looked up at them.

"Sharon has a large group of friends that she is inviting. I need someone in my corner . . . will you two come? You are my only friends who are a couple - somehow I don't think my buddies at the gym would fit in!"

Scully was amused. Skinner was practically begging. Mulder had that goofy grin on his face.

"Of course we will come, won't we Scully?" Mulder was pleading with his eyes.

"Yes, we'll be there. Just give me the details. Do you want me to call your wife and let her know?" Scully pulled out her day planner.

Skinner let out a sigh of relief. "No, I'll tell her. Actually, she suggested it. She remembered you from before."

As Scully wrote down the directions, Mulder leaned back in his chair, grinning. He wondered how long it would be before Scully realized that they had just been invited out as a couple, by Walter Skinner no less!

* * * * * * *

On Saturday night, Mulder pulled up in front of Scully's apartment building, feeling a little like a 16-year-old on his first date. Entering the building, he checked out his appearance in the glass doorway. Satisfied with what he saw, he made his way to Scully's door.

Scully answered the door almost before he finished knocking. She had her cordless phone pressed against one ear, talking to her mother, but beckoned him in. He took advantage of the opportunity to check out her outfit while she was talking.

Scully wore a pale pink cashmere sweater over a shimmering satin skirt. The sweater had a scalloped neckline, with pearl buttons beginning just at the top of her cleavage. As she leaned over to pick up her shoes, he could just see the edge of an ivory satin bra strap. Lovely sleek legs were encased in ivory stockings.

She hung up the phone and smiled at him.

"Hey, Mulder, I'll just be a minute. Sorry, mom had some mother-daughter crisis that couldn't wait." She studied his outfit. "Am I underdressed?"

"What? No!" He looked down at his Armani suit, charcoal grey over a black turtleneck sweater. "I just went for classic. Is it too much?"

"No, Mulder, I'm just kidding you. You look great." She sat down on the sofa to put on her shoes.

He watched as she fastened tiny strapped high-heeled sandals. Her toenails and fingernails were painted in matching shimmering pink.

"Your feet are going to freeze, Scully," he noted. He could imagine more than one way to warm them up.

"What we sacrifice for beauty, Mulder," she quipped. "I was thinking we should take my car. I seem to remember a lack of heat the last time we went in yours."

"Nope, not this time Scully. Plenty of heat."

She looked at him quizzically. "Did you get the heater fixed for me, Mulder?"

He grinned. "Just you wait, you'll see."

After finding her earrings and her coat, Scully was ready to go. As they walked out of the building, she had a puzzled look.

"Where is your car, Mulder?" she asked. The only car parked nearby was a silver 1998 Volvo. Mulder walked up to it and opened the door.

"Your chariot awaits, madam."

Scully stood looking with mouth agape. Mulder just grinned.

"What little old lady did you roll for this, Mulder?" She was stunned.

"Actually," Mulder laughed, "you aren't too far off. This is Mom's car. She stopped driving after her stroke, and asked me to sell it for her. I thought it was fitting for tonight."

Scully raised one eyebrow, and allowed him to help her into the car.

After only getting lost twice, they pulled up in front of Skinner's house. Scully waited in the car until Mulder came around and opened the door. As she exited the car, she noticed Skinner on the front porch, watching them with a silly grin on his face and a drink in his hand.

"Thanks for coming! Come on in and meet Sharon." Skinner was still looking at them with a smirk. As they entered the room, Mulder put his arm around her shoulders and gave her a quick squeeze.

The room was filled with people, none of whom Scully recognized. Sharon Skinner hurried over to them.

"Fox, Dana, I am so glad you came. I think Walter is feeling a little uncomfortable in this crowd. " Sharon reached out for Scully's coat, and handed it to Skinner. "Come and meet my friends."

Skinner followed them around as Sharon introduced them to people. Scully got the impression that Skinner was trying as hard as she to remember all the names and faces.

"Jerry, Amanda, I want you to meet Dana Scully and Fox Mulder. They work with Walter in DC. " Scully notice that Sharon avoided all reference to the FBI.

"What can I get you to drink?" Skinner was trying to play host. Mulder accepted a scotch and water, and Scully asked for white wine.

After a while, Scully ended up in the kitchen with several of the women, while Mulder was off talking basketball with a group of men on the patio. She could see him through the kitchen window, laughing and joking, a side of Mulder she didn't often see. Every so often he would glance her way.

"Honey, I don't know how you let that gorgeous hunk of man out of your reach." Susan Johnson was staring at Mulder through the window. "How long have you been together?"

Scully laughed. "Well, it depends on what you mean by 'together.' We've worked together for seven years."

Susan stared at her. "You mean he's not . . . you're not . . . don't even try to tell me you aren't a couple!"

Ann Lee joined in. "You act like you're at least engaged. He can't keep his eyes off of you." Mulder glanced over at her just as Ann finished speaking, and the women burst into laughter. He looked at the group with a puzzled smile.

Scully realized that she was blushing. "Well, we are kind of involved. But that's new, just a few months now."

"And about time, too." Skinner was standing in the doorway. Scully gasped, wondering how much he had heard. Skinner skirted the group, and filled a bowl with ice. "Carry on, ladies." He winked at Scully as he left the room. "What was that about?" Susan and the rest of the women were staring at her.

Scully couldn't even answer. Grabbing her wineglass, she fled the room. Avoiding Skinner, she finally found an empty bathroom, and locked herself in. Leaning her face against the cool tile, she tried to put her thoughts in neat rows. Skinner knew they were a couple - which was why he had invited them! And those women - they knew it too!

"Dana?" Sharon Skinner's voice startled her. "Are you all right?"

Scully unlocked the door, and Sharon slipped in. "I saw you run in here, and thought you might be ill."

"No," Scully murmured. "Just stupid."

Sharon let out a soft laugh. "Now, Dana, I have heard a lot of words describing you, but stupid has never been one of them. What is wrong - can I help?"

Scully looked at Sharon and smiled. "Maybe you can help. Am I the only one here who doesn't consider Mulder and me an established couple? We are partners, surely, and good friends. And lately there's been some, um, interest in other areas. But as far as being more than that, I didn't know anyone else knew anything."

Sharon pondered a moment. "Well, Dana, I know Walter thinks you are involved, and he seems to be happy about it. Mostly he's surprised that it has taken you two this long to get together."

"Sharon, I don't know what to think. I thought we were doing a good job of staying professional, trying to avoid being the subject of office gossip."

Sharon smiled at the younger woman. "Dana, you sparkle every time you look at Fox. And he radiates 'hands off' to every man in the room. I'm surprised he let you get two feet from him."

There was a quick rap on the door. "Sorry, occupied," said Sharon.

"Oh, sorry. I thought someone else was in there." It was Mulder, sounding worried. Sharon and Dana started to giggle.

"Hold on Mulder, I'll be right out." Scully checked her makeup, and smiled at Sharon. She opened the door.

Mulder was leaning against the wall. "Hey, you." He smiled at her. Sharon walked out the door and waved.

"Scully, why do women go to the bathroom in twos?" Mulder shook his head.

"It's a girl thing, Mulder, you wouldn't understand." She slipped her arm around his elbow." Let's go give them something to talk about."

Mulder lifted an eyebrow. "What do you mean, Scully?"

"I mean, Mulder, " Scully purred, "if everyone knows, I guess we should too."

Mulder laughed and hugged her. "About time!"

"That's funny, Mulder, Skinner said the same thing." Arm in arm, they walked back into the crowd.

Feedback

Home

The XFiles is the property of Chris Carter, Ten-Thirteen Productions, and Fox Broadcasting.
 Used without permission. No infringement intended.