A quick note: I've neglected to tell everyone
just how mired this fic would be if not for
Sybil's awesome beta.  Thank you, my dear. 
You've gone above and beyond the call of duty
with this one! :)


A Familiar Heart
Chapter Thirteen



"Shi -" Mulder bit his lip, stifling the epithet
as he reached for the blanket.  He didn't rush;
after all, they were adults.  Charlie's outrage,
while birthed from brotherly protection, wasn't
warranted, and he'd be damned if he let it shake
him like a teenaged boy.  It wasn't like Scully
was a timid, underage girl, either.  She was a
woman, able to do what she damn well pleased.

"What the hell is going on here?"

Scully, he was thankful, didn't skitter away like
a child caught with her hand in the cookie jar. 
She gracefully got to her feet, giving Mulder a
little smile as she wrapped the blanket around
her.  Facing her brother, who stood just inside
the door, she calmly asked, "And what are you
doing here, Charlie?  Watching us?  I never
figured you for a voyeur."

At the hardening of Charlie's face, Mulder stood. 
He saw Charlie's furious gaze dip to his open
pants, and he took his time doing up the buttons,
making sure Charlie saw that he'd never exposed
himself.  It didn't help all that much, but it
made it clear that he and Scully hadn't had sex. 
Reaching for his sweater and undershirt, he
pulled them over his head.  "Charlie, calm down. 
I can explain everything."

"*We* can explain everything," Scully corrected
him, standing at his side like the blanket she
covered herself with was a suit of armor.  "I'm a
big girl, Charlie.  I can do what I want."

"In Mom's house?  Jesus, Dana." He ran a hand
through his hair, and Mulder knew from his look
he wished that hand was around Mulder's neck.

"Oh, like you and Ellen never did anything in
this house?  Please."  Her eyes rolled, and
Charlie flushed.  Mulder knew it was time to step
in, or there'd be hurtful words tossed around in
no time.

"Dana... get dressed, please." he whispered in
her ear, his hand stealing up to brush over her
back with soothing emphasis.  "I need to talk to
Charlie."

She bristled as if her dismissal irked her, but
he knew she would do as he asked.  It was best
for the moment to stand down; this was a delicate
situation and Charlie expected him to explain,
not her.  His affronted rage was normal, and he
stood puffed up, guarding her virtue like any
male relative would.  Mulder felt a tinge of
relief that it was Charlie standing before them
and not her father.  That scenario would have had
him standing before a priest with a shotgun at
his back before the night was through.  Though
maybe that wasn't such a bad idea...

"Get that right out of your mind," Scully warned. 
He looked down at her stern face, wanting to
smile at the way she'd gleaned his thoughts.  "No
decisions made about me while I'm gone."

As stately as a queen, she gathered her clothes
and walked to the stairs, giving Charlie the
same, pinched glare.  To his credit, her brother
had the sense back down a bit, stuffing his fists
into his pockets.

Mulder waited until he saw Scully disappear at
the top of the stairs, then he stepped forward,
regret in his voice as he said, "It's not what it
looks like, Charlie."

"It isn't?" Charlie sneered.  "I trusted you,
Mulder.  And then you go and seduce my sister
under my very roof?"  Mulder opened his mouth to
reply, but Charlie was on a roll.  "And don't
give me that crap about 'you didn't really do
anything'.  The intent was there, and you know
it.  Another ten minutes and you'd have been -"

"Charlie," Mulder growled, his own fury at
Charlie's near insult of Scully making his face
darken.

"Fucking her brains out," Charlie finished, his
sneer daring Mulder to hit him.  "What - the
whores in Hong Kong weren't enough for you?  You
had to make my sister into one?"

"That's enough!"  Mulder turned his back on his
friend in an effort to keep from knocking him
flat on his back.  He stared into the fire,
willing his anger to subside.  "Say what you want
about me, Charlie.  But one more word about Dana
and I'll knock your teeth down your throat."

Charlie huffed behind him, then, his voice full
of hurt, he said, "I trusted you, Mulder.  Hell,
I even *wanted* you to get together with my
sister.  She's been through a lot - I figured you
for the kind to stick around, not get some tail
and run."

At that, Mulder swung around.  "Do you see me
running?"  He hated the distrust on Charlie's
face.  "God damn it, Charlie, I'd marry your
sister in a heartbeat if she wanted me to."

"Marriage?"  For all his bravado, Charlie seemed
to be realizing his histrionics could make life
very difficult for his sister.  Mulder pounced,
coming to stand before him.

"She's very vulnerable right now, Charlie," he
murmured, hearing movement upstairs.  "What we
did..." He bit his lip, not quite knowing how to
say it delicately.  "Was something wonderful. 
Hate me if you want, but don't force Dana into a
situation she's not ready for."  He had to make
Charlie see this unfortunate discovery of his
would best be kept secret.  For now, anyway. 
"Your sister is the best thing that's ever
happened to me.  I would never abandon her or
mistreat her.  But God help me, Charlie... you
make her a pariah with this and I will make you
wish you'd never been born.  Got it?"

Threatening his best friend galled him, but at
this moment, he would crush the Pope himself to
protect Scully.  He waited, watching Charlie's
gaze search his face for some sign he was
bluffing.  Calm but unblinking, he stood his
ground, hands clenched at his sides.

Until Charlie relaxed into a grin.  Not a big
one, but a truce, nonetheless.  "I knew it."

Mulder, confused beyond belief, looked up,
sensing Scully was moments away from re-joining
them.  "Knew what, damn it?"

"I knew that you and Dana were made for each
other.  Of course, maybe it's because I wouldn't
wish either of you on someone else."  Sobering,
he lowered his voice, moving in until he stood
nose to nose with Mulder.  "But I'm telling
*you*, Mulder - you hurt her and you won't answer
to me.  You'll answer to Bill."

"Your Dad?"  Impossible.  Though a big man, Mr.
Scully had a good thirty years on him.  Not that
he wouldn't do his best to ruin his Naval career,
such that it was...

"My brother, you idiot."  His eyes shifted,
hearing his sister come down the stairs, then he
whispered, "Think my brawn and Dana's temper. 
Then kiss your balls goodbye."

Jesus.  Mulder felt himself pale, just as Scully
hit the last rug-covered step.  "Charlie, did you
hit him while I was gone?"  She rushed to
Mulder's side, grabbing hold of his arm, her
eyebrows drawn together with concern.  She'd
changed into a soft, fuzzy sweater the color of
shimmering pearls.  If he wasn't so queasy, he'd
have smiled his appreciation.

"Only below the belt." He raised his hands at
Scully's scowl.  "And only in some future
universe, if he's not smart."

Mulder, at Charlie's pointed look, gently took
Scully's hand from his arm and put a bit of
distance between them.  He had an idea what was
coming next, and he started for the stairs.

"Mulder, where are you going?"  She turned to
Charlie, her frustration at their cryptic
conversation growing.  "And what the hell are you
doing here, anyway?  I thought you were going
dancing."

"I was - I *am*.  I just came to get my wallet,
then I'm meeting the others at The Crystal
Ballroom."  His voice carried up the stairs with
sterling clarity.  "*After* I take Mulder to a
hotel."

"Be right down, Charlie," he threw over his
shoulder.  "Just gotta get my things."

Scully's reply was incredulous, and he was glad
to be out of the line of fire.  "A hotel? 
Charles Andrew Scully -"

"You know, with that little line in your
forehead, sprite, you look just like Mom."

"Oooh..."

Even with being caught 'in flagrante delicto',
Mulder thought, he wouldn't want to be in
Charlie's shoes at that moment.  He chuckled,
closing the door to Charlie's room behind him.


**********


"I can't believe you," she growled, flopping into
her Dad's chair as she turned on the lamp.  The
yellow light showed the dent in the middle of the
couch where just minutes ago, she'd been wrapped
in Mulder's embrace.  It made her blush, but she
ignored Charlie's smirk, shifting her furious
gaze back to him.  "You made me feel like a
sixteen-year-old."

Charlie deliberately sat in that spot, stretching
his long arms like an albatross along the back of
the couch.  "Comfy."  His grin faded a bit. 
"Perfect for a woman who's twenty-seven but
*acts* like she's sixteen."

She bit back her retort, seeing something in
Charlie's face besides sarcasm.  From the dip of
his lashes to the way he worried his lower lip,
he looked as if... someone had taken away his
favorite puppy.  All her residual anger died at
his crestfallen expression; she'd not only put
him in an embarrassing situation, she'd
disappointed him.  Despite their relation to one
another and their gender differences, she and
Charlie were best of friends.  Coming upon her
and Mulder in the throes of passion was bound to
tilt his nice, orderly world off-center.  He'd
gone through the war just as they had, but he was
relatively unscathed, thank goodness.  And she
didn't have the heart to disillusion him further
by telling him of her true first meeting with
Mulder.

"Charlie?"

"Yeah?"  Dropping a hand, he picked at his coat.

"I'm sorry.  Not for what we did... I only wish
we'd shown more discretion.  I know it upset you,
and I'm sorry."

"I'm a big boy, sprite," he stated, finally
looking up at her.  "It just... shocked me.  I
can't say I was too happy about seeing my sister
naked."

"Ewww." She made a face, feeling the mood
lighten.

"Yeah, ewww." He grinned and added, "Thank God
Mulder still had his pants on - I probably would
have been scarred for life otherwise."

From what she'd seen of Mulder back in the cabin,
he put most men to shame - and that was while
unconscious, much less fully aroused.  Of course,
if the sensation of being filled to almost
painful proportions was any indication...

"I *don't* want to hear it, Dana," Charlie
growled, apparently seeing her blush.  He wasn't
angry, just embarrassed because he'd seen her
thoughts written plainly on her face.  "There's
such a thing as too much information, you know."

Her smile was fleeting.  She wanted to tell
Charlie what she was feeling, and Mulder's
absence had given her the opportunity. 
"Charlie?"

He leaned forward, resting his arms on his knees,
his face serious.  "Yeah?"  She'd always been
close to Melissa, but Charlie was a sibling with
a like soul and heart, and she thanked God for
it.

"I think I'm -" She was what?  In love with him? 
Sure, it was easy to think so when still
shuddering under his capable hands and mouth. 
But Charlie would think she was nuts if a
declaration of love spewed from her lips.  "I
care for Mulder," she amended.  "Very much."

Charlie's eyes widened, then he hung his head
with a soft 'whoosh' through his lips.  "Jesus,
Dana."

Oh, God, she thought.  More arguments.  "Look
Charlie, I think I'm old enough to know -"

"It's not that."

"Then what is it?"

"I think he's in love with you, too."  Charlie
laughed nervously, rubbing at the back of his
neck.  "Beats me how you two managed it..." His
head snapped up.  "And I *don't* want to know."

Scully's head still reeled from the possibility. 
Mulder in love with her?  "Charlie, I didn't say
anything about love."

"You don't have to.  Neither does he."

They fell silent as she contemplated the night's
revelations.  During the war, it was common for
overnight romances to blossom; she'd learned this
when she got back home.  Last chances before an
iffy future, men and women married within a
week's time of knowing each other.  No one looked
askance at those unions.  And now, the marriage
market was growing by leaps and bounds -
sweethearts for years weren't waiting any longer
to seal their unions.  Ellen and Charlie had
waited six months for the church and reception
hall at the Governor Calvert House.  Of course,
that was Ellen - the whole nine yards.  Charlie
would have been satisfied with a quickie in
Vegas, though her mother would have croaked.

Groaning silently, she pressed a hand to her
head.  Her mother.  Her father.  Always the
sensible one, they'd said of her.  If they ever
got wind of this... no.  This torn, unworthy
feeling would have to go.  She could do what she
pleased with her life.

"Ready, Charlie?"

Mulder's soft words brought her head up.  "You
can't leave, Mulder."  Just the sight of him
standing behind Charlie, his gaze traveling over
her like he was remembering what every bit of her
skin looked like... God, it made her shiver all
over again.

"Sorry, sprite," Charlie said, standing.  "This
one I insist upon."

"But Mom thinks he's staying with us - won't it
look odd if he just up and leaves?"

Between them like a brick wall, Charlie looked
first at Mulder, then her, before remarking
dryly, "We can just say the couch was... too
small.  And Mulder has a bad back, or something."
He colored, as if his thoughts were descending
into remembrance of his arrival.  "Geez.  C'mon,
Mulder.  I'm late already.  Ellen'll begin to
wonder where I am."

As he turned for the stairs, Mulder held out a
hand.  "Got it for you," he said, handing Charlie
his wallet.  "Can we have a minute, Charlie?"

Scully's heart leapt in her chest at Mulder's
request.  Though they'd done just about
everything with one another they possibly could,
suddenly, she was nervous to be alone with him. 
What was he going to say?  It's been a riot,
Dana.  See ya next time I'm in port?

No.  He wasn't the type.

"Sure.  I'll wait in the car. *One* minute only,
Mulder."  Scully barely registered the slam of
the door behind him.

Oh, God.  What if he brought up the marriage
thing again?  She turned to stare into the dying
fire.  She'd have to throw some more logs on
before her parents got home, because they liked a
late-night drink...

She jumped at the arms that circled her from
behind.  "Mmm... I knew it."

"Knew what?" she breathlessly replied.

"I kept catching a whiff of something upstairs...
something on my skin.  You.  I smell like you."

Gulping, she closed her eyes.  "Yeah... I noticed
that, too."  She knew there was no way she was
bathing before bedtime; just the prospect of
sleeping while wrapped in his scent was heady. 
Of course, she'd much rather the real thing
snuggled under the covers with her.

"Scully?"  His mouth tickled her ear.

"Yeah?"  Here it comes, she thought.

"Sweet dreams."  He pressed a kiss to her
collarbone.  "I'll call you tomorrow."  His
warmth was snatched from her in an instant.

Oh, no.  That's not the way their goodnight was
supposed to happen.  She whirled, seeing him pick
up his bag slowly.  "Mulder!"

Turning, he looked at her, his face hopeful, yet
guarded.  Walking slowly toward him, she said,
"Get Charlie to put you up at the Belmont.  The
day after tomorrow is the Rehearsal Supper.  I'm
supposed to be spending the night with Ellen."

Dropping his bag, he crossed the distance between
them, a smile emerging.  Her arms went around his
neck as his gathered her close, his gaze
wandering over her face.  Shaky now, her voice
lowered, "You owe me a bed, sailor.  Make sure
it's a double because -"

He kissed her like a drowning man, devouring her
mouth until she was gasping for breath.  And
then, he let her pull away only to cradle her
head in his hand as his lips traversed her cheek
and jaw.  "The Belmont," he murmured absently. 
"Do they have big bathtubs, too?  'Cause I love
bubble baths."

Laughter rumbled through her and she kneaded the
muscles of his back, not wanting to let him go. 
"It's across the street from Uncle Mike's -
that's where we're having the supper.  And I
think they have bathtubs, yes.  Nice place."

Groaning into her neck, he said, "Uncle Mike's? 
Not again."

"Leave Uncle Mike to me," she whispered, moving
to kiss him again as she heard Charlie blow the
car horn.  "You just remember to call me
tomorrow, okay?"

"Is six a.m. too early?"

Tears filled her eyes at the question; he was so
beautiful, so eager.  So unabashed in his wooing,
his eyes alight with desire and... was Charlie
right?  Did Mulder actually love her?  Time would
tell, she knew.  And they had all of that to
spare now.

"Make it seven.  I like to sleep in."

"In what?  Silk?  Satin?  Nothing at all?"

She practically pushed his grinning face out the
door, then stood on the porch until she could no
longer see Charlie's car.

A half hour later, she was getting ready for bed
when the phone rang.  Breathless from running
down the stairs to answer it, she said, "Hello?"

"I just wanted you to know that I miss you
already."  He paused, then added, "And that this
bed is nice.  Very big.  Good night, Scully." 

She stared at the phone for a good minute after
Mulder hung up, her smile watery.  So this was
what happiness felt like.


End Chapter Thirteen