Okay! After long and tedious debate on copyright laws, and on the title of the story, here it is at last. I have named this 'The Winter Fire' because it is mainly about Scully, not Mulder. It is a M&S relationshipper, rated M15+, for language and adult themes--you know, life in general--, though no sex. Well, not between M&S, at any rate. Disclaimer-- Anyone you recognise belongs to the big CC and his crew; Twentieth Century Fox and to the people who portray them. No infringement intended; at any rate, I'm too young to be sued. Lyrics belong to Michael Jackson-- I know that's not what Mulder listens too; that's why he turns it off. The character Wayne Duval- while based on William James Dupre, is mine, as too the story line. (Yes, there is supposed to be one!) I'd also like to thank Mary Able, Paula Graves, Juliette, Stephanie, Kelli Rocherolle and Sheryl Martin for there insperation and/or support. Credit goes to them where it's due. I'm not farmiliar with the geography of Washington DC, or the government/police proceedures, so please bare with me if I'm wrong. Also, Australian spelling and word use differs from America. Well, here goes. -The Winter Fire- By Missy (Melanie Teychenne-King) ***************************** `Okay bitch, get in there!' Dana Scully landed face down on the small bed.`Don't think you're going anywhere.' She rolled over as her kidnapper came over andcuffed her to the bed post. A memory slammed into her skull. Jack--no, Dupre; had handcuffed her to a radiator while she had watched him die. But she had been found by now. Five days she had spent a captive of Wayne Duval, and she was beginning to lose hope of someone finding her. Of Mulder finding her. `Wayne, please...' she pleaded, but he just hit her again. Her jaw throbbed with pain as she leant against the rusty iron post. She looked out of the broken window, protected by bars and it's height, seven storeys high. Scully caught a glimpse of a police car in the distance, and rose to the window. Strong hands reefed her down again. `They can't see you Scully,' Duval spat at her, `so don't think you can get away...' He opened the door and turned to face her, a sly look crossing his face. `I'll be back for you before they will.' He closed the door behind him as he left.Scully heard the latch click as Duval locked the door from the outside. Scully looked down at her wrist, which was already beginning to chaff from the cuffs. She sat down on the thin lumpy mattress and looked out of the window. The policecar was gone; the streets were deserted. She sighed, her breathing shallow. She thought of Mulder. He had been so worried last time, not to mention her being missing for nearly 3 months after that... But so much had happened to him lately; his fathers death, finding out about Samantha.. --Always his sister.-- Scully thought angrily. --He doesn't have time for you... He probably doesn't care...-- Scully laid down on the bare mattress, scolding herself. --Of course he does, Dana,-- She closed her eyes, remembering the day Missy died. --You know he does...-- ******************************************************************** .....dreams....a man, smart suit....duval....mulder standing beside me....tip...says he knows about the murder......the murder of the old man.......asks us inside.......mulder called off..... gone......questions, many questions......not helping ........ hostile..... words.........threats.....gun .....call for help........no-one.......mulder........help....... ******************************************************************** Scully was woken by the screeching of sirens. She sat up as the door was flung open by Duval. He held a gun. `Sit tight, Scully..' he ordered as he made his way to the window, gun pointed to the ceiling. He stood, poised to shoot, peering out of the dirty glass. But the sirens faded as the car chase changed direction; and Scully felt tears well in her eyes as she laid back, her hopes finally smothered. Her eyes, as hollow as her face, ringed with shadows of fear, looked at Duval as he slumped against the wall. She suddenly felt the built up anger and hatred push its way to boiling point. `You bastard!' she shouted as she stood. `What do you want from us?! What do you want, you son-of-a-bitch?!' She tried to hit him, but fell backwards as Duval scrambled to his feet. `Shut up!' he screamed, and he hit her across her face. He pushed her back onto the bed and held the gun to her temple. `Just shut up, will ya!' He slapped her once and knelt over to her, pinning her by the wrists. `Just shut up and maybe you'll live to see another day.' He hit her again, this time with the barrel of the gun. Her swollen lips could utter nothing more than a groan as she fell unconscious. ********************************************************************** `Agent Mulder. They've located Duval !` Fox Mulder looked up. The young agent at his door looked haggled, and dark rings shadowed his eyes. `Is Agent Scully there? Is she okay?' Mulder asked hurriedly as he stood. The other agent just lowered his head. `Dammit! Is she alive?!' Mulder jumped up at him, and pushed him into the corridor. The young agent's eyes filled with fear as Mulder grabbed him by the collar. `Where is Agent Scully?' `Mulder!' He spun around as Assistant Director Skinner rushed down the hall. `Leave him agent Mulder.' Mulder loosened his grip on the other agent, who ducked out from under his arms. `Where's Scully?' `Agent Mulder, they've located Duval but..' Skinner paused. `Agent Scully isn't with him.' He saw Mulder's face drop. `We have reason to believe he has her somewhere over on south-side. There's a squad over there now...` 'Sir!' Both men turned as another agent approached them. `They've located the building.' Skinner turned to Mulder. `Let's go.' ********************************************************************* Mulder pushed his way through the crowd. `Scully?' He looked inside the nearest paramedics van. Empty. He turned towards the shabby ten storey building, roped off by yellow police tape. Three figures emerged from it. `Scully!' She was being led out by a police officer and a paramedic. He rushed over. `Scully. Thank God your okay..' He looked at her hollow frame; her vacant eyes. `Dana, it's me; Mulder.' He stepped closer to her, placing his hand lightly on her arm. `Do you remember?' Scully flinched under his touch, and slowly shifted her gaze to the hand on her arm. She moved it away and closed her eyes as she let herself be led to the waiting ambulance, not once looking up at Mulder. He stood there, helpless, watching her go. 'Bastard!' he yelled and made his way to were Wayne Duval was being restrained, attracting a few glances on the way. He stood facing him, his face red with anger. `What did you do to her?!' Duval didn't flinch, and didn't talk. Mulder raised his hand to strike him before two officers came and grabbed him. They held his hands behind his back and started to pull him away. `What did you do to her?!' he yelled as he watched Duval being placed in the squadcar. `Let him go.' Mulder turned to see Skinner walking hurriedly towards him, waving off the two officers. `What did he do to her?' Skinner looked anxiously around him. `Agent Mulder, she was a hostage for over five days. She's sure to be shaken up. She's dehydrated, sick... You don't know...' `No sir. I know Scully. Something must have happened to her.' ********************************************************************* `Dana honey, you should rest.' Margaret Scully looked at her daughter across mugs of coffee. `No mum. I'm fine..' Dana smiled weakly at her mother. Maggie sighed. `It's been three days, Dana. You haven't left the house; you pale and thin... I think you should eat something and......' `Mum!' Dana looked at her mother. `I said I'm fine... They made me take a week off...' 'That's not an excuse, Dana Scully...' 'Mum,' Dana said cooly, narrowing her eyes at her mother, 'don't think I'm here because I want to be.... If you hadn't dragged me down here....' She didn't finish her sentence. The hurt and anger was evident in Margaret's eyes. She changed the subject. `Who was feeding your dog?' She knew that this would hurt her. That dog meant a lot to her daughter, and Magaret knew it. 'What's it's name? Haven't you starved it yet? I heard what it will do if it's hungry....' Scully just glared. Margaret straightened up in her seat and took a deep breath. She had one last trick. But this was for real, ever since Dana had joined the Bureau.... `I want you to leave the FBI.' Scully looked up sharply. It took her a second to register what her mother had said. `No way..' she whispered. `Look at you. You can't even talk to your own mother about what happened..' Maggie jumped as her daughter thumped the table with her fist. `I said NO!' She stood, and Maggie sat staring up at her. `I can't leave mum. You know I can't leave. My work's too important...' `What about Missy? Wasn't she important?' Dana glared at her mother. `Don't you dare use that on me! You know I cared for her. You know I didn't mean for her to be killed...' Her voice trailed as her shoulders dropped. `I didn't mean to kill her....' Maggie stood and put her arms around Dana's shivering body. 'Oh Dana, I'm so sorry.... You know I don't mean what I say... But I think it would be for the best if you left....' Dana pulled away. `No. I can't. Mulder trusts me to be there for him. He needs me.' `And do you need him?' Maggie looked at her daughter, seeking an answer. Dana looked away, tears coming to her eyes. 'The only truth he cares about is The X Files. I would never be able to tell him what happened to me...` 'But do you need him?' Dana lowered her head. `Yes.' She took a deep breath. 'But mum, I can't tell him what happened to me. I can't...' `Please Dana, tell me what happened. You know you can tell me.' `No, it's too hard...' Maggie pulled Dana close to her. `It's okay honey, I can help...' Dana put her arms around her mother, squeezing her tight. `Oh mum...' She began to cry as she told Maggie what happened. ******************************************************************** Mulder sat at his desk, absently chewing on the end of his pen. '...I am here with you. And though we're far apart, your always in my heart....' He snapped the wireless off and leaned back, rubbing his stiff neck with one hand; still gripping the pen with the other. His feet rested on a pile of papers on his desk. Mulder looked once again at the silent phone, as if daring it to ring. He had been waiting by it for four days, wishing Scully would call him. He was worried her, and hurt that she hadn't called. He gripped his pen, his knuckles white. He was mad. But at what? He didn't know. At Wayne Duval? Certainly. He had hurt Scully. His best friend. And he was only going to get 5 years. Whatever happened to justice? That bastard deserves life... At Skinner? He had tried to seem helpful, but all he was doing was shutting him off. At himself.....? He never seemed to be able to save anyone. Not his father or his sister. Not even Scully's sister. He had dragged Scully into his problems, and now Melissa was dead because of him. He mentally kicked himself. He couldn't even save Scully. She had been taken away too many times, and he was never there to help. Was he mad at her? Yes. He let go of the pen before he snapped it. Yes, he was mad at her. He had trusted Scully with his life story; his fears and dreams, his hurt and happiness. And now she was keeping the secrets. Mulder remembered the day he had told Scully about her abduction; about Duane Barry, meeting Maggie and Melissa, about Mr X, Skinner and Cancerman. Scully had seen how hurt Mulder was, telling her how much he had missed her, and seen his embarrassment as he told her how he had driven himself crazy looking for Duane Barry. And her.... At first, he had been a little reluctant to tell her everything; but Scully knew him too well, and saw straight away that he was hiding something. She had only looked away when he told her about his night with Kristen. Mulder had hated himself for a long time afterwards. He regretted it even today,nearly two years later. He thought if he was with someone else, the pain might go away. How could he think that he could replace Scully. No one could replace her.... He had betrayed her; but he couldn't tell her she was the only one he truly loved; the only one he would ever love.... Mulder shifted in his seat. Was he really mad at Scully? Or was he hurt that she wasn't telling him what he thought he ought to know. He ran his hand through his messy hair. --She'll tell you in her own time...-- he reassured himself. But he wished he was there to comfort her. Like when Melissa died. It had been the first time in months Mulder had felt truly safe; holding Scully in his arms, her body warm against his. They hadn't moved until Margaret had come in looking for her daughter. She had been more pleased than shocked at what she had seen.... Mulder jumped when a shrill ring shattered his thoughts. The silence that it left when it stopped seemed to pound in his ears. The phone rang twice more before Mulder answered it. `Mulder,' `Fox?' Mulder sat straight up. `Scully, is that you?' `No Fox, it's me. Maggie.' `Mrs Scully? Is everything okay? Is Scully with you? I mean, is Dana there? Is she okay?' Mulder heard Margaret sigh. `Fox, I think you had better come and see her.' Mulder bit his lower lip. `She hasn't asked for you....but she needs you. She, well, I think you had better come over.' `Mrs Scully, are you okay?' There was a pause. `Oh Fox...' Mulder heard Maggie start to weep. `Mrs Scully, I'll be over as soon as I can. Just look after yourself..' He grabbed his coat as he hung up the phone. He was halfway out the door when he stopped and turned. As an after-thought, he picked up the package from his desk as he left. ****************************** Margaret rushed to answer the door Mulder stood out-side, his tie loose around his neck; overcoat slung over one shoulder. He stood straight as the door opened before him. `Mrs Scully,' he nodded in greeting. She gave him a weak smile. `Please, come in out of the cold.' She stood aside and let him in. Although the fire in the lounge room had been lit, the room still seemed cold. Mulder shivered, and followed Maggie as she made her way to the kitchen. He looked at the photos on the mantle above the fire as he passed it. At least one photo of every Scully, dead or alive, was crowded among trinkets and ornaments. His eyes rested on a photo of Dana. It was obviously professional; with a soft green background and hazy edges. Mulder stopped. She was beautiful..... Her soft red hair; her fair skin; her small pink lips curled in a sweet smile. Mulder sighed and smiled to himself Being such a work-a-holic, a smile from Scully was rare. But when he did catch one, it was special, and was always accompanied by a twinkle of her deep blue eyes. And seeing her day in, day out in the suits she wore to work, Mulder didn't think she owned anything else. But the simple velvet dress she wore clung to her stunning figure like a swimsuit, and Mulder felt a tingle up his spine. He shook it off as Maggie called from the kitchen. She handed him a mug of coffee. 'She hasn't left the house in days. She won't talk to me about it anymore.... I thought maybe you could...' Mulder smiled faintly and placed down the coffee mug. `It's okay Mrs Scully. I'll do every thing I can to help her.' Maggie laughed lightly. `You sound like a doctor..' Mulder gave a small grin. `Prepare for surgery, Dr Scully...' --Pathetic try at a joke, Fox Mulder-- He reeled as he turned around. Dana stood in the doorway, her face hollow; her expression dark. She looked from Mulder to her mother and back again. The look of disgust on her face proved no need for words. Mulder opened his mouth to speak. `Don't bother, Mulder...' Scully turned to her mother. 'And you...How dare you bring him here... I'm not a broken toy to be fixed! Can't I trust you with anything anymore?' She turned before Maggie could reply. She stood in the doorway, looking at the fire place in the living room. Mulder stepped forward. `Dana, I didn't mean for it to sound that way...' `Save it.' She walked away from him as Mulder heard her start to cry. ******************************************************************* Dana sat at the desk, flipping the pages of her photo album; though not looking at the pictures themselves. She stopped when she heard whispers at the door. It creaked opened, and soft footsteps entered. `Room service.' Mulder stood next to the four posted bed, holding a mug of coffee in one hand; a package in the other. `Cream no sugar, right?' He placed the mug on the desk. Scully continued to turn the pages. `Look Scully. I'm sorry.' He sat on the bed, sinking into the mattress. He placed the parcel beside him. `Your mother asked me to come, but she hasn't told me anything.' Mulder began to finger the string that held the wrapping on his package. `I was hoping that you would tell me what happened.' He lowered his head. `I'm worried about you.' Again Scully stopped. She was staring at the page before of her. Mulder stood and made his way over to her. She felt him stand close behind her, looking over her shoulder. Scully looked again at the photo in front of her. Mulder's face stared up from the album. It was one of the few photos Frohike had given her after Mulder had disappeared. When she thought he was dead.. This one of Mulder alone; a smile and a look on his face Dana could never place; along with the one of the both of them together on Scully's first day at the Lone Gunmen's headquarters; were her favourite pictures. `You make a nice photo, Scully.' Dana jumped at the sound of his voice. She slammed the album shut and rose from the desk. Mulder turned as Scully moved to the window and looked out. The room seemed as cold and bleak as the day outside. `Dana, I know you angry and hurt; that's understandable. But I can't help you unless you tell me what you're hiding.' `Maybe I don't need your help.' Mulders heart wrenched. `So is this what you want? To hide out here, hoping everyone and everything will just go away?! Well I'll tell you now, Dana Scully; that's not going to happen. I'm not going to leave you like this.' He walked over and stood next her, looking at her pale features, trying to see why she was hurting. She caught his gaze. Her eyes, the eyes that usually told Mulder everything about her, were cold, dark and empty. `You know you can tell me anything Dana, and you know I'll try to help.' `No Mulder, you don't get it! Maybe I can't tell you.' Scully turned and looked up at him. 'My God! Why do you expect that I'll tell you and you can always make it better?! Maybe you can't this time! Maybe....' She bit her lip as she felt tears well in her eyes. `Maybe I don't need you.' Scully turned and left the room; not once looking back. ******************************************************************** Mulder heard the key turn in the lock. Margaret had given him the key to the house if he ever wanted to stop by on Scully, as she didn't expect that Scully would open it for him. He slipped in out if the cold and took off his coat. His eye caught sight of a brown piece of paper lying a few feet away. And another. His eyes followed the trail of paper and string to the sofa. Scully sat there, staring into the fire. Beside her sat a framed photo; on her lap a pure white bear; the contents of the wrapped package Mulder had left the day before. She didn't move when Mulder threw his coat over the chair; didn't look up when he made his way around the sofa; and didn't shift her gaze when he sat down beside her. They sat in silence, watching the fire. Outside, a light snow had began to fall, tapping softly on the windows. It was a while before either of them moved .Mulder watched Scully's finger outline the framed photo. After New Mexico, his mother had insisted on getting a recent photo done in a studio, so Mulder had persuaded Scully to go with him. Only the two of them knew about getting one done together. He had asked the photographer to keep it aside when Mrs Mulder had paid for them, and he had picked it up himself He had been a little reluctant to show Scully the finished product though.... Giving her a photo of the both of them? It just didn't seem right. But when Duval had taken her, Mulder knew he couldn't leave it any longer. If he lost Scully again... `Thankyou.' Mulder looked up. `Thankyou, Mulder. And I'm sorry...' Scully turned to look at him, but quickly looked away when his gaze meet hers. Mulder shifted to face Scully, his expression full of questions. She looked into the fire, her eyes reflecting the flames as they danced in the fireplace. `I just.... A lot of things have happened lately, and...' She screwed up her face, hugging herself tightly. `I just don't know anymore....' She began to sob. Mulder reached over and brushed a strand of hair from her face. She flinched. Her face lost any colour it had left and her breathing became shallow. Scully closed her eyes. `Please. Don't touch me...' `Scully, it's okay... I'm not here to hurt you...' He reached over again and placed his hand gently on her face. Scully stood, and shook her head. `No.... you don't get it...' She began to back away as Mulder stood. She was shaking violently. `Scully, please. What's wrong with you?' `Just leave me alone!' She stepped back, closer to the fire. `Scully!' She stood, paralysed, oblivious to the tongues of flames reaching towards her. She took one more step back as Mulder reached for her. `Scully, look out!' Strong hands reefed her by the waist as Mulder pulled her away. Scully stood in shock, watching the fire crackle dejectively, mourning it's loss. He led her back to the sofa and lowered her down. He squatted down in front of her, slowly drew her to him, and hugged her. She gradully seemed to come back to life, and eventually put her own arms around him. She began to cry once again, and Mulder pulled her closer towards him. `It's okay, Dana. I'm here... It's okay....' She sobbed into his chest; and he stroked her hair until she calmed down. She pulled away and closed her eyes as she tried to control her breathing. She gave a weak smile. Mulder just nodded. `Mulder, I'm so sorry.' He didn't look at her. Instead, he picked up the photo beside him. `I'm sorry for shutting you off..... I just haven't been..... Mulder, things have changed.' Mulder stopped playing with the photo and looked at Scully. She looked at her hands and took a deep breath. `It's Duval.... Mulder, he....' She looked away, fighting off more tears. `He raped me.' ******************************************************************** Mulder stood, fists clenched, deep in thought. Scully picked up her teddy bear. `I've named him after you...Fox...' He turned to face her. Her flushed face was turned towards his. Mulder walked over to the sofa, and knelt on the ground in front of her. He placed his hand on her knee. His touch sent a tingling sensation right through her body. But he had touched her before...Why was this different....? `Dana, why didn't you tell me?' 'Tell you...?' He just looked at her. Scully sighed. `I didn't tell you because... I don't know, I just didn't know how you would react.... I thought you might....' She stopped when she finally saw the hurt in Mulder's eyes. `Oh Fox, I'm sorry.' She brushed away a few stray stands of hair from his forehead. He closed his eyes as she stood. `Mulder, like I said. Things have changed.' She walked wearily over to the fire, rubbing her hands together. She took another deep breath. 'My mother wants me to quit the FBI.' She heard Mulder gasp. `And you?' `And I... I think it would be for the best.' Scully looked down at her hands. Mulder closed his eyes briefly, then stood. He walked over to the window and stood there, silent, watching the snow. It was Scully who spoke. `Mulder, I know I'll be deserting you... And Samantha. And I feel terrible. I feel like... Like I'm betraying you....' She looked up at him, but he wasn't looking at her. She continued. 'But Mulder, I can't keep going on like this! Everything is just getting too dangerous. I know after Missy died I said I needed my work, but....' She watched Mulder from behind. `Don't you understand?' He didn't move. `Can't you take leave or something?' Scully walked over to the window and stood beside him. `Mulder, please. I can't do this anymore.' She turned to face him, but he looked away. `Mulder, this is something I need to do! Please, understand...' She choked back tears. `Understand that I will miss you.' She sat on the window ledge and closed her eyes. Mulder stepped in front of her, taking both of her hands. `Dana, you are more a part of me than anything else. More than the X Files... And if you left........' He sighed. 'Why is this always so hard...?' Dana smiled to herself. `Look. What I'm trying to say is...I'd try and do anything.......' He knelt down, their height now equal as she sat on the low window ledge. `Dana, I...' Scully raised her finger to Mulders lips. `Fox, just because I quit my job, it doesn't mean I wont be with you....' She leaned down until Mulder felt her sweet breath on his cheek; her voice whispering softly in his ear. `Just hurry up and kiss me....' All of Mulder's senses came to life.Only in his dreams had he thought that she....that is... 'Pinch me.....' Dana grinned, her wide smile just inches from his own. 'Ow!' She brought up his hand and genlty kissed the palm. Mulder sat, paralised. 'No dream, Fox Mulder....' Her height rose as she stood. She cupped his chin in her hands as she drew him close to her, and his hands circled her small waist. Her soft lips parted his when they met, warm and moist. Mulder pulled her down to him, his hands tracing her spine with his soft touch, pulling her closer against him. Mulders head was spinning as Scully leaned back to look at him. She looked even more beuatiful than the photo. Her eyes were wide and dark, her cheeks flushed; her lips wet. Mulder found his breathing heavy and uneven, looking at her in the dim light of the room. She kissed him once more; soft; brief, undemanding. Her warm lips brushed over his as she spoke. `It doesn't mean we wont be together...' She gave him one of her rare smiles and stood, running her hand across his chest as she walked around him. She sat on the sofa, resting her head in her hands, watching Mulder with a smile as he got unsteadily to his feet.She reached up and pulled him down beside her. Their eyes locked, silent words passing between them. What would this do to their partnership? Mulder thought. Make it stronger... Scully's eyes replied. Together forever.... She moved and sat in his lap, her head resting on his. `I'll even haunt you after you die.' she whispered. He smiled at her. `You'll probably be sick of me *long* before I die....' Dana smiled to herself and wrapped her arms around him. She closed her eyes. --Never-- she thought. *********************************************************************** "Only in silence, the word; only in life, is death; only in darkness, the light....." "To appreciate the light, we have to live in darkness." End. Well? Comments gripes complaints or advice--Please e-mail