Trial of Times

Chapter 6 (Scully)

Our road trip to Lexington started out with a McBiscuit for me and a bacon-egg-cheese bagel for Mulder. He was constantly laughing the whole time, which made me laugh with him. More like at him. That's usually how it is.

The car ride wasn't as bad as I thought it'd be, but it was still bad. The traffic was awful. I'm surprised that Mulder didn't get road rage from  it, because I certainly would've.

Because Lexington was an 8 hour drive, Mulder and I switched off driving so the other could sleep. Most of the time Mulder drove, but I objected quite a bit. He looked so tired but yet he still insisted he drive. Men. Still, it was a sweet gesture.

I've never met a man quite like Mulder. Most of them could care less about the girl they're dating, or in his case best friend/partner. He cares more about me than anyone I've ever met, relationship or not. He makes me happy in ways I never knew I could be. He's saved my life more times than I can count. Maybe it's not so impossible that he has feelings for me too.

As we continued to drive, I began to wonder if the case was real or not. It probably was forged, knowing Mulder. He thinks he's slick, but I know a fake file when I see one, being around them every work day. I smirk at the thought of Mulder forging a file to impress me.

"Whatcha thinking about, Sculls?" Mulder pokes my shoulder, which breaks my chain of thought. "Oh, nothing," I answer. "Just imagining A.D. Skinner with a mullet.". Mulder pauses for a moment, with an expressionless face. He then began to smile, one of the biggest and goofiest I'd ever seen come from his lips.

Suddenly, he looses it. Absolutely looses it. He began to laugh extremely hard, so much so that he made himself cry. Real tears, not of sadness, but tears of pure happiness. That set me off, laughing with him. And then it was just us, connected in a moment of pure joy and emotion. More unified then ever before. In the darkness of early morning, I realized how much I was actually in love with him.

Everything about him was beautiful and perfect. His contagious laugh, how his eyes twinkle when he smiles, his floppy hair, how he holds me tight when I need him the most, and his undying passion for the paranormal. I wonder if he thinks the same things about me as I do of him, if I'm perfect for him, if he needs me as much as I need him, if he loves me as much as I love him, or if he even longs to be with me like I do.

Good icebreaker for the awkward car silence, Dana, I say to myself. Right, like I'll tap him on the shoulder and say "Hey Mulder. 5 seconds to tell me everything you love about me. GO!" What am I, nuts? Even if I waited on him to do something, I would never just go up to him and say that. I'm a doctor, I'm supposed to have a level head at all times, even when talking to potential boyfriends.

Oh, no. No no no no!! I just referred to Mulder as a potential boyfriend!! This can't be happening, I can't say that. I'm on a case with him, not a date. I know Mulder. He's my friend and partner. He is not a potential boyfriend. But he is, my mind chides me. He is, but not now. No until he gives me some sort of sign. Anything, really.

"But seriously, Scully. What's on your mind?" Mulder asks again. You. "Really, Mulder. It's nothing." I say. Lie. "If it's really nothing, then why have you been so quiet this whole time?" Oh, Mulder. You're onto me. "Mulder it's not anything you should be concerned about."

He looks straight into my eyes and says "Alright Scully, this matter may not be something I should be concerned about, but I'm concerned about you. I always will be concerned about you." He shrugged, smiled, and turned his attention back to the road where it belonged.

He just told me that he'll always care about me. Those words didn't really just come from him. They couldn't have, could they? Does he even realize what he said? Or how much they mean to me? I grin, and say to him "Same goes for you, Mulder. You've got to have someone to keep you from breaking into government facilities or getting killed while alien hunting. I'll always be there to bail you out of jail."

He laughs. "Wow Scully, running around and pointing fingers now." I smirk and playfully hit him on the shoulder. "If you don't want the time, don't commit the crime." Mulder makes a face and retorts "Oh ok Scully, if you want to play the cliche game again then you're on like Donkey Kong! All that glitters isn't gold." "Barking up the wrong tree, Mulder."
"Scully you're the best thing since sliced bread."
"Oh Mulder, I cost an arm and a leg."
"Hit the nail right on the head, Sculls."
"Mulder you're off your rocker!"
"Scully let sleeping dogs lie."
"Hey, you theif! Last time we played I said that!" I chastise him.
"An elephant never forgets, Scully." And we both blast out laughing as the sun begins to rise.

a/n
hey guys!! this officially the longest chapter i've ever written!! i hope you enjoyed!! i probably won't update until 2018, so i hope you all have a good new year, and i'll see you next year!!
-emma