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From: gabrielleb@aol.com (GabrielleB)
Newsgroups: alt.tv.x-files.creative
Subject: Right Again- new short story
Date: 31 Jan 1995 08:32:09 -0500
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This is my first attempt at writing anything and I'm sure you'll all think
it sucks, but I thought I'd go ahead and post it anyway.
All characters belong to Chris Carter, used without permission and they
can go ahead and sue me because I own nothing but a broken car that won't
start. Here goes... Please send any comments, encouragement, etc to
gabrielleb@aol.com 
***
Right Again
by Gabrielle Bruck
 1/27/95   

 The blizzard that had stranded them in the cabin showed absolutely no
signs of slowing up.  Scully sat in front of the fire trying to keep warm
without admitting that she was freezing. Mulder sat across the room, so
driven by the thought of  proving a point that he appeared not to even
notice the cold. 
 The point, of course, being that under no circumstances would he ever be
any closer to Dana Scully than he absolutely needed to be, even if it
meant freezing his ass off.  Besides, he figured, it doesn't look like
she's any warmer over there.
 Scully watched hopelessly as the fire began to die out.  She knew there
was no chance that he'd go out and get more firewood for her and here 36
inches of snow that had fallen on top of the six that were already there
rendered her  completely useless.
 What a marvelous night for a blizzard, she thought dejectedly, the only
night  I would ever really rather that I was dead than sitting in a room
with Fox Mulder.
 Mulder sat, shivering, watching her. He knew she was worried about the
fire. He knew there was no way she could do anything about it. . He could
barely trudge through it himself.  So far, he'd managed to completely
convince her that he couldn't care less about her, now, if only he could
convince himself...
 Scully stared silently as he got up and walked out into the raging storm.
She just figured that the fire must warm the whole room up somewhat- that
he was only doing it for himself.  After the, uh, discussion they'd had, 
she pondered how he'd been able to stand her for the two years they'd been
working together. He really hated her, she was sure of that. As much as
she tried to deny it, that had really bothered her. It wasn't even that
they'd  had a big blow-out emotionally-charged fight.  The fight had been
practically devoid of emotion all together. Tears began to slide down her
cheeks as she tried in vain to convince herself that she didn't care that
he hated her. But he doesn't hate me, she thought, he's completely
indifferent toward me--he just doesn't care. Every word he'd said to her
ripped straight though her. And the cold stare he been giving her all day
was beginning to scare her.
 Suddenly, the door opened and she hasitly wiped away her tears.  She
wouldn't let him know how much he'd hurt her. It was the only defense she
had left. As he threw fresh logs into the fire  stoically, she noticed he
was bleeding right above his left eye.  Without even thinking, she reached
over and wiped the blood off. He turned and fixed the steely gaze on her
and she immediately felt like she had no right to be concerned about him.
 "You're bleeding." It was all she could think to say. 
 "He turned back toward the fire. "I walked into a tree branch. Guess it's
my punishment for being mean to you." He looked back at her and trailed
off  when he noticed her tear-streaked face. He felt so guilty for hurting
her. "I'm sorry." He managed in a barely audible whisper.
 Scully simply stared at the floor. She certainly hadn't been expecting an
apology. She been hoping, at best, that he'd simply drop it and eventually
things would go back to the way they had been.
 "Really, Dana, I didn't mean what I said." He reached out and took her
hand. 
 She met his eyes. He meant it. The cold stare was gone, replaced by more
emotion than he knew what to do with. "Me too, Fox"
 Mulder gave her a lopsided grin before he pulled her against him. She was
about to protest when he stopped her. "We'll be warmer." And she relaxed. 
 Later, with his arms around her waist and  her head against his chest,
Scully admitted (if only to herself) that he'd been right again.

