Stomping Ground, by E. Ripley
Rating PG as usual, except for some language and potential teen sexual
innuendo
Spoilers: None really, lots of MSR and UST but it’s mostly MSR and
UST-lite.
Legal Disclaimer: Chris Carter is the man.  I’m only studying his
characters but promise to set them free when the experiment is
concluded.  I ain’t making no profit from this here venture.

Style Disclaimer: OK I am taking some creative license here, I don’t
legitimately expect Mulder & Scully to truly forget, but I liked the
idea of the story & wanted to run with it. Now originally I intended
this to be a vignette, but when I got Mulder & Scully together, well,
I couldn’t help myself.  Liberties will be taken, shippy ones at that.
So deal with it. Eschew Obfuscation is the motto of this tale. That
said, direct complaints or compliments to moi at dana1muldr@aol.com,
flames used to decorate the hood of my V8.  Should you want to, archive
away, but id love to know about it if possible. Thanks to Geoff and
Chris for their editing prowess and support.  Go Saints!

Stomping Grounds

March 6, 1992

Special Agent Dana Scully could not get the face of her new partner out
of her mind. 
She was home packing for her first assignment with her new partner.
They had just met and were leaving town to investigate their first X-file
in "the plausible state of Oregon".
Scully smiled to herself.  Spooky or not, he had a dry sense of humor which
she found terribly refreshing.  He was a brilliant Agent, no mistake about
that.  But it was something more than that.  More than those incredible
hazel eyes and a crooked teasing smile.  She knew him from
somewhere-someplace before.  Maybe he had attended one of her lectures at
Quantico.  
No, she chided herself.  Given his familiarity with her Senior Thesis, she
knew he would have mentioned attending her classes had that been the case.
No, it was something else.  He had been with the Bureau for several years,
so she doubted their paths had crossed while she was in college.  She had
gone to Europe one summer, & knew he had received his degree at Oxford, but
her trip had not included a stop in England.  For some reason, Oxford stuck
in her mind.  She had never been, and couldn’t think of anyone who had. 
 "Oh well", she thought to herself- "deja vu is probably something of an
Xfile in its own right"
Unwilling to trust airline food for sustenance, she grabbed a bagel.  As
she bit into it she picked up her laptop and baggage, and made her way to
the front door.  She moved past the bookshelf in her hallway, and a
particular book caught her eye.  "The Mariner, 1980. "
"Oh my god."
She dropped her bags and set the bagel down.  It couldn’t possibly be him.
She pulled out the yearbook and sat on her couch.  Flipping through the
pages, she found the index and ran her finger down the M’s.  Mackley,
Mandifer, Meeps, Miller, Morrow, Morrow, Mulder; Fox. W.
Fox William Mulder. 
It was him. 
Wordlessly, she turned to page 121 and scanned the page before her.  There
he was.
Very different in appearance, much younger, but the eyes were the same.
Hair a bit longer, but it was him.  She sat there, oblivious to the passage
of time, letting the memories wash over her like a torrent.
Unbeknownst to her, a very stunned Agent Fox Mulder dropped down onto the
couch of his sparsely furnished apartment, his feelings strangely mirroring
her own.
"D.K.", he breathed.  "Dana Scully.  I can’t believe it. After all this
time......you?"

January 5, 1980
7:15 a.m.
Chilmark, Rhode Island

"Fox!" Hurry up or you’re going to be late!  I told Mrs. Scully to be
expecting you by now!
"I wouldn’t be late, mom, if I didn’t have to play chauffeur for a bunch of
Navy Brats."
His mother scowled to herself.  Sometimes,  he was so much like his father
it infuriated her.
"Fox William Mulder! You know darn well what it’s like to be the new kid in
town, and what’s worse, these kids have been dragged halfway around the
world and back their entire lives. Their father won’t even be around for
most of the next year, he’s in Annapolis. You know what it’s like, not
having a dad around."
His moody silence signified acceptance of her point of view.
"Besides, there’s not much going around here this time of year anyway. You
might make some friends."
"I have all the friends I can stand right now," he said.  "And I’ll do this,
not because dad asked me, but because you did--I love you Mom."
The expression on her face melted.  Fox had a gift in his ability to soothe
with speech.
Sometimes he was so tricky, it made sense to have named him as they had.
"I love you too, dear-drive carefully, I don’t know if the snow plows have
been through yet or not."
"OK, mom, I will, but I’m not playing chauffeur tomorrow-after today they’ll
know how to get there alone."
His eyes glinting triumphantly, he was out the door before his mother had a
chance to retort.
She sighed, shaking her head, and continued to prepare that evening’s meal.

Fox William Mulder hopped into his 1968 Mustang.  Shivering at the cold, he
started the engine and smiled as it effortlessly came to life.  "Just like
a kitten", he spoke aloud.  The car had been a gift from his somewhat
estranged father.  Life on the small island was difficult enough for a
child of divorced parents.  Not having any way of getting around-getting
away from it all sometimes, would have been unbearable.  Revving up the
engine, he backed the car gently out the carport and down his driveway.

Melissa was whining again.   "Mom, I hate it here! It is so cold, I can’t
stand it!.  If daddy won’t even be here with us most of the time, why
couldn’t we stay in San Diego?"
"Shut up Missy," retorted Bill Jr.  "The crew ships out together, you know
that."
"Yeah, Missy", Charles piped in, "we ship out together! Besides, I like the
snow.  DK, will you help me build a snowman after school?"
Dana turned to her younger brother and smiled.  "Dana, please Charlie-and
sure, I’d love to."
"OOH, it’s Day-nuh, now is it, her older brother teased. La dee da, Day-nuh!
Sorry, twerp, but you’re D.K. to me!
"Bill! Leave your sister alone! Missy, you know we go where your father
asks, end of story."
Dana smiled to herself.  It was cold here on this little island, but moving
had never really bothered her. It was serene here and quiet, and she rather
enjoyed the winter environment for a change.
No, what bothered her most about this particular move was being so far away
from her father, her beloved Ahab.  Hearing his firm voice and seeing his
smiling eyes when she returned home from school.  She was used to the change
in scenery.  On some level even she was comforted by the constancy of
change. But the idea of change without Ahab there, that was a little scary.
BEEP BEEEP.
"Oh that must be the Mulder boy-O.K. guys, don’t keep him waiting-Missy,
Bill, DK, you’d better get going! Charlie, are you almost ready?"
"Now, Bill, you have the key in case I’m not here when you get home, I have
to pick Charlie up from school at 3."
"Got it , Mom, See ya!"
"Bye Mom!"
"See you tonight, mom," Dana spoke softly, "if you talk to Ahab will
you....."
"I’ll tell him, 'Starbuck'" her mother said, "now get going!"
Dana winced a little.  She knew her mom was just trying to make her feel
better by using her father’s nickname for  her, but it only served to
remind her that he wasn’t there.
Noticing her siblings already getting into the car, she hurried her pace in
the whirling cold.
Missy had taken the seat next the driver, and Bill had packed himself in
behind her.  As Dana stepped to the passenger side, Bill reached in and
pulled the door closed. "Tough luck, DEE-KAYY, you snooze, you lose.  Dana
rolled her eyes in frustration. The driver got out and motioned her over
to his side. "Here, get in over here-it’s freezing outside."
Dana smiled warmly.  "Thanks," she whispered as she climbed into the back
seat next to Bill.
Closing his door, the boy said, "so I’m Fox, and you are...."
"I’m Missy, this is my brother Bill and this....is my kid sister, Dana, but
everyone calls her DK."
Dana winced.
The boy continued, "its nice to meet you Missy, Bill," he paused, "Dana"
Dana looked up at his reflection in the rear view mirror, surprised, and
raised her eyebrows.
"Nice to meet you too Fox," she started, in a whisper.
Bill interrupted, so what the heck is there to do around this place, anyway?
"Yeah," Missy giggled, trying her best flirt move, "what do you like to do
for fun?"
The Mulder boy seemed surprisingly unenthused by Missy’s attention.
"Well, during the winter it’s pretty dead around here, but there are a
couple theaters on this side of the island, and uh, there are school dances
and stuff. And,"  he added, glancing in the rearview mirror,  "I play
basketball, so there are games to go to."
Bill must have sensed something he didn’t like when Mulder glanced at his
baby sister.
"Man," he scoffed, "Basketball is for wimps-football, now there’s a man’s
game, eh DK? Too bad you hate jocks so badly".
Dana silently scowled, praying for her older brother to shut up.  She knew
if she fought back it would only worsen his protective behavior.  Besides,
she thought, stealing a glance at the handsome, lanky, driver, it’s not as
if a guy like him would have anything to do with a brainy little nobody like
her.  Her self defenses went into overdrive, and she spent the rest of the
trip silently reminding herself of the many reasons a jock airhead like Fox
would be a bad relationship risk.
"As if", she chided herself.
As the car pulled into the parking lot, Dana studied the faces of the teens
trotting into school.
She mouthed a silent prayer for support, and set into the familiar autopilot
of new kid in school.
"Uh, thanks Fox.." she started to say, but stopped short as a gorgeous
brunette screeched "Foxy!" and launched herself at him.  They embraced and
indulged in what Bill would consider a tongue war.
Missy looked positively crushed for a moment, then without missing a beat
attached herself to a passing boy. "Oh, hi," she drawled, "I’m new here,
and this is my first day, could you please help me find the office?" she
asked, smiling sweetly, "Poor guy," Bill confided to Dana- "he’ll never know
what him, eh DK?"
Despite being called by her hated nickname, Dana had to smile in agreement
with her elder brother.
"C’mon Doc, he said, protectively, "let’s go do some damage."
With that they headed off through the school.
Had Dana turned round she would have seen a strangely bemused Fox Mulder
looking up from his recent embrace, regarding her departing form with a
crooked half smile.
"C’mon, Foxy, let’s go," his counterpart sulked, "first period will be
starting soon...I didn’t see you all weekend...."

7:50 a.m. Westside High Office

Scully sighed in relief.  Small school or no, at least they had classes on
par with her ability.
First Period/Homeroom:  World History with Mr. Hansen
Second Period: AP English with Mr. Brayshaw
Third Period: P.E. with MS. Weston
Fourth Period: AP Physics with Mr. Hill
Fifth Period Lunch
Sixth Period: AP Biology with Doctors Munekee and Thomas
Seventh Period: Study Hall on alternate days with an Art Elective-History &
Theory of 
Contemporary Art with Miss Wilson on the other days
She smiled to herself-Ahab would be pleased at the variety of AP classes.
He had always been extremely proud of her good grades in school.  Much as
they might seem otherwise, her siblings were decent students in their own
right, but Dana was the smartest one, by far.  She already knew she wanted
to study medicine, and become a doctor.  The classes she’d requested were
the sort that many senior year students were incapable of passing.   As the
bell rang, Dana hurried to get her things together. She took a breath and
stepped into the familiarity of the unknown.
She found her homeroom History class without any difficulty.

"OK everybody understand the assignment for tonight? All right, see you
tomorrow!"
The students began shuffling out the classroom.
"Miss Scully? Could I see you for one moment?"
"Yes sir?
I just wanted to say I enjoyed your input this morning and look forward to
the rest of the semester.
Dana smiled gratefully.  "Thank you, Mr. Hansen, I enjoyed myself as
well...see you tomorrow."
She smiled shyly to herself.  One of the perks of being a brilliant student
had always been the level with which she carried her student/teacher
relationships.  She had never sought the position of teacher’s pet, and
luckily, never really been subject to one.  What she usually did experience
was a measure of mutual respect often lacking in her friendships.
Momentarily disoriented, she turned to a passing figure.  "Excuse me, I’m
looking for Mr. Brayshaw’s AP English class.."
The figure turned and grinned wickedly.  "Well then, this must be your lucky
day..."
When he saw who it was, he halted.  (Or mine, he thought to himself)
"Oh..hi..uh, Fox," Dana stammered.
"As I was saying," he continued, "it’s your lucky day-it just so happens I
am heading there myself."
"C’mon, follow me"
Dana was suddenly speechless.  Fox had slipped his hand gently to the small
of her back and was guiding her through the hallway.  The contact could not
be construed as anything more than polite, but she was intensely aware of
the warmth of his hand on her back.
She was grateful for his position behind her as she felt warmth flooding her
face.
"OK, Dana, now what period do you need to be there" he asked, "right now
it’s senior AP English-I think sophomore AP is next period."
I can’t believe it.  He must think I am some kind of idiot, Dana fumed to
herself.
"D.K. Is fine, Foxy," she retorted, "and actually I’m looking for senior AP
English.  Unfortunately it’s the closest thing to collegiate level English
that Westside offers."
Fox was stunned.  He hadn’t intended any offense, but he had obviously,
grievously underestimated this petite redhead.  A mistake he wasn’t planning
on making again.
"Oh, uh, sorry, D-K? I didn’t mean anything-it’s just that most girls around
here are not too..."
"Bright?", she raged, further incensed by his generalizations. "Well most
girls aren’t afforded the opportunity in schools to progress very far," and
she whirled, "I don’t consider myself like "most girls".
"Thanks for the tour. Now excuse me, I have to report to Mr. Brayshaw"
"Brilliant" Fox goaded himself "Could you be any more of a jerk to her?"
He also silently agreed that indeed this blue eyed wonder was definitely not
like most girls he knew.
The period dragged by slowly, if uneventfully.
Dana had managed to secure a seat in the class as far away from Fox as
possible.
For his part, he had seemed pretty out of it, and Mr. Brayshaw berated him
for it.
Probably mooning over his girlfriend, Dana thought glumly.
At last the bell rang and Dana exited quickly.  PE was far from her favorite
subject, but the prospect of getting as far away as possible from Fox held
great appeal.
Mulder watched as Dana fairly flew out of the room.
"Mr. Mulder, I trust that tomorrow you will have your head out of the clouds
and back down here on earth with the rest of...us?"  Motioning towards the
door, Mr. Brayshaw chuckled softly. 
"She’s a remarkable young woman."
Sir? Fox asked, confused startled that his interest could have been that
obvious.
"Nothing, Mr. Mulder, just something I guess you’ll have to figure out on
your own." 
"Or not," he mused, as the familiar face of Molly Blair swept into view. 
"Foxy, come on, there’s only a few minutes before third period bell!!"

10:30 a.m.
Westside Gymnasium
Dana was having the worst day of her life.  First the fiasco with that
Mulder boy. Now she was not only unprepared in terms of clothes for the
physical demands of P.E. that day, but the teacher seemed to be intent on
using her as the focus of a lesson on arriving prepared.
And if that wasn’t bad enough, Fox’s brunette bimbo, apparently named Molly,
was there with her little group of gal pals, giggling and laughing at her.
How typical of a guy to be so attracted to something like that-that show
pony, she thought.
Even though Molly had waltzed in several minutes late, reeking of
cigarettes, it was Dana on the receiving end of their gym teacher’s wrath.
Miss Scooly?? The teacher retorted, did you hear me?? What are you waiting
for? Suddenly realizing Miss Weston was addressing her, she spoke up. 
"It’s Scully, Miss Weston," she corrected.
"More like Scummy," Molly giggled quietly, much to the delight of her
entourage.
Not quietly enough. Face reddening, Dana stepped forward.  "Yes, Miss
Weston?"
More giggles.
"Well, Miss Scull-lee, what I just asked is that you complete our basic
physical ability test, starting with this."  She handed Dana the rope as
Molly’s chuckles grew unbearably louder.
Fed up with her teasing, Dana decided to play it for all it was worth.
"But Miss Weston," she mock whined, "I’m not dressed for something....like
..this."
"It all goes back to what I said earlier about being prepared, Scully."
"All right, Miss Weston."  Scully stifled a smile.   The teacher then turned
her attention to the other girls, and began waxing on the merits of 
preparedness.
Being the daughter of  a Navy Captain and having a tough older brother had
its perks.
And showing Miss Priss here just what she was capable of was about to become
a major one.
Dana kicked off her keds and socks, and rubbed a little chalk into her
hands. Dusting them off lightly against her pant legs, she gazed upwards.
"Exactly how high do you want me to go, MIZ Weston?" she interrupted, sugar
dripping from every syllable.
"Oh, Miss Scully if you can make it to the first marker I will be quite
satisfied."
Not me, Dana thought to herself.
She wrapped one leg around the rope and held in place with the other.
And then, reaching up hand over hand, proceeded to ascend.  You could have
heard a pin drop.

Zack Heflin and Bobby Pendrell were on the other end of the gymnasium
working on weight training.
"Oh my God."
That new girl, Dana Scully had made it to the summit of the rope climb in
mere seconds.
"Jesus, Bobby, did you see that?"
He certainly had.
"She’s amazing," he breathed.
He was impressed by her insight into the Vietnam war during first period,
and stunned to see another sophomore with him in Mr. Brayshaw’s Senior
English class. Now he couldn’t believe what he had just seen.
The diminutive redhead with sparkling blue eyes had climbed further up than
most of his male classmates were able to, and in less time than most.
"Amazing, shit, she’s hot,"  Zack exclaimed.
"What’s more, she’s available."
Bobby frowned and turned to his workout partner, uncomfortable with his tone
of voice.

"How’s that Miz Weston?", Dana asked, sweetly, "I seem to be at the end of
my rope"
The murmurs and whispers amongst the girls were unmistakable.
"Uh, that’s great Miss Scully, excellent.  Thank you very much.  Well done."
Dana had made an impression. 
She clambered down with the same speed and grace that she had risen with
moments earlier.
"That was highly enjoyable"
Dana turned to the voice beside her, and met the gaze of a smiling,
freckled, red haired girl.
"We redheads gotta stick together," she said, offering her hand. "I’m Nancy-
you’re Dana, right?"
"Yes," Dana replied, "Nice to meet you Nancy."  She smiled warmly.
"I’ll give you $10.00 if you’ll do that again, just to see the look on
Molly’s face."
Dana looked triumphant. "It was that good, was it?"
"Better!"
"What class do you have next?."
"Uh, AP Physics with Mr. Hill and then I have lunch."
"Rebecca whistled--AP Physics, ouch! That’s OK- I have lunch 5th period
too-wanna sit together?"
"Love to!" Dana grinned.
"Great!  OK Well, uh, I have to go, uh, change-sorry."
Dana looked down at herself, suddenly self conscious of her sweaty
appearance and lack of a change of clothes. As they walked past the stunned
girls who were laughing earlier, Dana couldn’t help but smile. Sweaty or no,
she had taught Molly not to underestimate a person by size or appearance.
She passed a pair of boys near the gym entrance without even noticing their
stunned expressions. 

Dana sighed. It was almost time for the third period bell. Since she had no
way to shower or change, she had left the gymnasium early.
The bell rang and she backed away from the door.
As students filed out of the classroom she saw a familiar smiling face.
"Oh, Hey, DK."
"Hi Missy." How was PE?
"Oh I think I showed a few of the girls what Scully women are made of."
Missy smiled conspiratorially.  "Good for you, DK!"
"How was the physics class?"
"Oh, fine, DK, the teacher seems really nice..."
Missy started to turn down the hallway then paused.
"Dana?" 
Dana turned, surprised by her sisters use of her real name. "Yes?"
"Could you give me a hand with my regular physics homework tonight?"
Dana shot her a warm grin.
"Sure thing Miss, if you’ll help me in Art."
Missy smiled. Her younger sister was a good kid. Dana needed her help in Art
like she needed a hole in the head.  But the gesture was appreciated.
"A-OK little sister-see ya!"
Missy’s smile changed to a perplexed look as she made her way back down the
hallway.
Dana turned and slammed straight into Fox Mulder.
"Excuse me."
"No prob, Hey, DK- I was just waiting for you-- I wanted to apolo.." he was
cut off short.
"Foxy!"
They both turned.
Dana rolled her eyes and continued into the classroom.
"It’s O.K. 'Foxy,'" she mocked, "I have *AP* Physics right now so I need to
get going." 
Dana emphasized the *AP*.
"Foxy?"
He turned to Molly who was watching the departing Dana Scully with more than
a little venom in her eyes.   As Dana looked up from her desk, she saw Molly
whisper something into his ear.   Disgusting, Dana thought to herself.
Apparently they weren’t discussing what she’d thought because Fox’s eyes
suddenly grew large as saucers, and he gazed at Dana with a visibly bemused
expression on his face.
Dana turned to her desk.
When she looked up, they had gone.

Physics was a breeze and Dana looked forward to the next class tomorrow.
Lunch with Nancy was even better.
Dana instantly felt a connection with her new friend, who was bright,
articulate and funny.
In relating a story of a local football hero’s antics off the field, Dana
laughed so hard that she almost had milk squirting out of her nose. They
spoke to one another as if they had been best friends for years. A few
more students joined them.
Dana met Bobby Pendrell, a shy quiet boy she recognized from some of her
earlier classes, Zack Heflin, a stocky but attractive junior with steely
gray eyes-that reminded her of Ahab, and Lauren Pierson, a smiling Brown
haired beauty with a taste for gossip.
"Rumor has it you shcoked the Harpies in gym class," she joked, "good for
you Dana!"
"Yeah, we were there," Zack chimed, "and it was incredible."
He turned to her. "Dana, that was really amazing."
His eyes locked into hers, Dana shifted abit self-consciously.
"Thanks Zack," she said, smiling.
"We need to work out together some time," he said, grinning.

Fox looked up from the table where he sat with Molly and some friends from
the basketball team.
Zack was definitely putting the moves on the new kid, and for some reason,
it really bothered him.
From what he knew of Zack and had overheard, he was the kind of guy who
wouldn’t take no for an answer.   He watched the red haired sophomore turn
towards Zack, smiling warmly.
He felt his stomach tighten.
"Hel-lo? Earth to Fox??"
Molly’s shrill remark was followed by a cold glare as she followed his line
of vision to Dana.
"Looking for a tutor, Foxy?" She teased. "I understand Doctor Brain over
there could even teach you a few things about physics--Apparently she’s the
most brilliant student to come along to Westside since-since-why, since you,
Fox!"
Fox ignored her sarcastic mock surprise.
"Don’t forget her physical..... talents," a jock next to Mulder added. 
"Zack Heflin said she climbed the ropes in like..."
"Yeah, I know, I was there, all right??"  Molly silenced him with a killer
look.
"Look, who gives a crap about "red" over there, anyway?"  Fox replied,
"she’s just a twerpy little Navy Poindexter brat. Big Deal."
A sudden silence around his table gave Mulder pause.
He turned to see the angry face of  Bill Mulder. 
 "Just see that you leave my "twerpy" baby sister alone, you spook.  I’ve
heard plenty about your creepy family, and I doubt it gives you any right
to be talking about Dana like that."
Fox got up as the awkward silence at his table gave way to quiet whispers.
Molly automatically got up to follow.
"Not now, Molly,"  he stopped her and walked away.
"Well, I never,"  Molly fumed, arms crossed in front of her.
"Don’t sweat it Molly," the boy next to her said, "you know how Fox gets
when you mention his family."
Molly shuddered a little bit.  Fox was brilliant and gorgeous, but that
family history of his gave her the creeps.  "You’re right, Billy," she
purred, flashing a killer smile. "Thanks."

1:00 p.m.
Inside Westside High Biology Lab

Dana waited patiently by the professor’s desk while the rest of the class
shuffled in to the lab.
Miss Scully, once everyone has arrived we’ll set you up with a lab partner.
Dana smiled at the professor.   She had liked him almost immediately.  In
some ways he might seems seem outwardly spacey, but was an intelligent man
with a brilliant mind.
When he used it for science.
OK class, I trust you all had a good vacation, but it’s time to get back to
business.
This is Miss Dana Scully, and she’s joining our class as a mid season
replacement.
Professor Munekee grinned at his humor.
The rest of the class chuckled good naturedly, including Dana.
OK what I need first is a volunteer, somebody without a lab partner at
present.
Several hands were raised.
OK, Munekee scanned the room, all right everybody, thank you.
Dana, he motioned, would you please go sit there at the left towards the
back of the class?
Mr. Mulder will get you up to date on where we are in the text.  For the
time being, you can just share.
Dana just stood there frozen, as a smiling Fox Mulder raised from his seat,
and motioned her tothe empty one beside him, grinning wickedly.
As she drew nearer, he spoke softly, "Guess it really *is* your lucky day,
eh DK?
Luck has nothing to do with it,  Mr. Mulder, just God’s idea of a practical
joke on me.
She looked him squarely in the eye, the slightest trace of a challenge on
her face.
His fleeting attempt at looking wounded was quickly replaced with another
flash of teeth.   "Mister Mulder, hmmm I like the sound of that! "
Dana rolled her eyes in frustration.
"Look, Fox -Raccoon, what-ever, I don’t like this any more than you do, so
lets just try to make the best of it, O.K.?"  He must have sensed her
resignation, because he sighed slightly and turned to a page in the biology
texbook. He started to scoot his chair closer to hers when she shot him a
warning glance.
Hands in the air in a gesture of compliance he stood there while Dana edged
slightly closer to him.
As Professor Munekee launched into a lecture on the reproductive cycle of
various frogs, Dana groaned.
She felt a flush in her cheeks and willed herself to avoid the eyes of Fox
Mulder.
Which was just as well.
Hovering over her slightly, Fox found his gaze falling towards the juncture
of her blouse.
He could see she wore a gold necklace, found himself hypnotized by the rise
and fall of her breathing.
Unable to restrain himself, he leaned in ever so slightly, inhaling deeply
as he did so.
No perfume like Molly, just the fresh, clean warm scent of her skin,
incredibly inviting.
So inviting in fact, that he failed to notice the professor behind him until
the chair beneath him tipped.  And he found himself, flat on the floor,
looking up sheepishly at an amused Dana Scully and a moderately annoyed
Professor Munekee.
"Mr. Mulder, we don’t move on to the more complicated reproductive systems
until next semester. Until that time, might I suggest you pay more attention
to your book?"
Mulder blushed, and realizing what the professor was implying, Dana felt
again a hot flush flooding her face.  As he got up and adjusted himself,
Dana regarded him warily, eyebrow arched.
She started to speak but Mulder held up his hand in protest.
"Just...just don’t, O.K.?" He couldn’t even meet her gaze.
Smiling she turned back to the book and concentrated on the professor’s
lecture.
The rest of class he was surprisingly silent.