Dana hummed to herself as she put the finishing touches on her
hair. The fuzzy grey sweater clung gently to her curves and the jeans she
wore fit even more closely. She turned around, looking at her back and
then her profile in the mirror, not out of vanity, but to discern whether
the gun holstered at the small of her back was noticeable under the
clothing. It wasn't. The sweater was loose enough at her waist to hide
the Lady Smith tucked there.
The pistol had been a gift from her father. When he realized that
she wasn't going to change her mind about the FBI, he had insisted that
she would need a back-up weapon. He knew she preferred revolvers over
automatics and the .38 was designed for to fit comfortably in hands as
small as hers. It only held five rounds, but could take .38 or .357
bullets. With Dana's excellent marksmanship, 5 rounds would be enough for
anything she was likely to encounter off-duty. *On duty* was another
matter.
Dana didn't want the gun to show because she didn't want Brian,
her date, to know she was carrying. She had only been out with him
once, but had talked to him on the phone every day from Council Bluffs,
where she and Mulder had been sent right after that date.
She had managed to avoid discussing the details of her work with
him through a series of half-truths, evasions and topic changes. She
knew she ought to be honest with him about her job, but it was so *nice*
to be treated like a normal woman for a change.
There had been so many guys who, once they found out she was an
FBI agent, were either intimidated by her and never called her again or
thought she was too masculine for succeeding in a male-dominated
profession. One or two had patronized her, believing she couldn't be a
"real" agent , given her size and gender.
Dana rather liked the way Brian treated her. He was respectful
without fawning. He listened to her opinions, debating gently when he
disagreed without ever insulting her or denigrating her point-of-view. He
opened doors for her, helped her put on her coat and, in general, was a
classic gentleman. Somehow, he did it all without making her feel
patronized or helpless. Instead it made her feel *feminine*, deliciously
so. It also made her feel like she was precious to him. She couldn't
fault his behavior when they had kissed good-night after their date
either. He hadn't taken the kiss as an opportunity to grope her nor had
he suggested that anything else was expected. And she *knew* he had been
interested. She had pressed herself against him passionately as they
kissed and, due to the difference in their height, the proof of his desire
had been digging into her navel. Yet he had kissed her hand and walked
away, whistling.
"Yes, " she reflected . " I definitely like this guy."
A knock at the door brought her out of her reverie. She opened
the door to see Brian standing there, a small bouquet of daisies and
carnations in his hand.
"I hope you like these," he said, smiling nervously as he
offered them to her.
The tall man was dressed in a black pair of jeans and a polo shirt.
A lock of his dark hair hung over his chocolate-colored eyes and she
fought an impulse to lift it back into place. The leather jacket he wore
emphasized his broad shoulders and muscular chest.
Her face lit up as she took them. She stood aside to let him in
and went to get a vase.
"Come on in...make yourself at home."
"How was your flight?" he asked, following her into the kitchen.
Dana made a face. "Horrible. A baby cried most of the flight, I
was seated in the very center, between Mulder and a rather big woman, and
we were in a holding pattern for half an hour before we landed." She
smiled up at him. "I was very happy to get home."
"I'm glad you are back. Are you sure you don't mind going to
the concert in the park? We can go someplace fancy if you'd rather." He
looked a little worried.
"I'm sure. I like classical music. And I don't feel like
dressing up tonight. Too tired."
"If you're too tired to go..." he began.
"No, I'm looking forward to it. Are you trying to get out of our
date?...Looking for an excuse?" she teased.
"Oh, no. Not at all." He smiled at her.
"Shall we?"
"Let's !"
------------------------------
The concert was beautiful and the atmosphere was very romantic.
By the time the strains of the last sonata floated away on the wind,
Brian's arm was around Dana and her head was resting on his shoulder.
They sat there on the grass, enjoying the night sky as they waited for the
crowd to disperse. Soon, they were practically alone under the stars, a
spring breeze ruffling their hair.
"Would you like some coffee?" he asked.
Dana nodded and they stood up. She slid her hand into his and
they began to walk through the park.
Silence reigned for a few moments, then he spoke up.
"Dana, can I ask you a question?"
"Sure. What's on your mind?"
"Is there a reason you won't discuss your work with me? Every
time I ask about it, you get evasive. I feel like you are hiding
something from me."
Dana was silent for a moment, trying to find a way to phrase her
explanation. She was about to reply when a rough looking man emerged from
the shadows and grabbed her right arm. She saw the gun in the mugger's
hand as his words broke the silence.
"Don't move...and don't scream. Do what I say and you won't get
hurt." Dana's training kept her calm and she hoped desperately that
Brian wouldn't do anything to panic the guy.
The mugger yanked Dana's arm, separating her from Brian. The grip
he had on her arm wasn't painful but she could tell from Brian's face that
he was about to try and rescue her.
"Take out your wallet, buddy!" the mugger snarled, waving the gun
at Brian.
"Do what he says, Brian." Dana said urgently, reassuring him with
her eyes. She thought about her gun but knew she wouldn't be able to draw
it left-handed before the man holding her right arm could fire at Brian.
Better to wait.
"Hand it to the pretty lady!" Brain complied.
"Now turn around." Brian again obeyed the mugger's command.
"Okay. Now Red and I are going for a little walk. You stay right
where you are or she might get hurt--- and we wouldn't want that, would
we?" The mugger walked backward, dragging Dana with him off the sidewalk
and into the shadows.
"It's okay, Brian...I'll be all right." She called out, hoping he
wouldn't try anything heroic.
When they were several yards away from Brian, she felt the
mugger's attention shift and the instant the gun was no longer pointed at
Brian, her training took over.
She elbowed him in the solar plexus, winding him, then knocked the
gun out of his hand. It went flying into the grass. She took two steps
back to distance herself from the assailant, knowing he would try to grab
her if she stayed close. She was drawing her gun when she heard Brian's
footsteps pounding toward them. The mugger took advantage of her
distraction by getting to his feet and running off.
She pointed the pistol at the fleeing man and bellowed in her best
"don't mess with me" voice "FBI! Freeze!"
She cocked the pistol for effect. The mugger stopped at that
tell-tale sound, his hands in the air.
"Kneel! Now!...move it!" There was steel in her voice. She
continued to train the gun on the mugger, following procedure until he was
flat on the grass.
"Brian, reach into my jacket pocket. Take out my cuffs for me."
Dana felt his hand reach into her pocket, heard the metallic clank as he
opened the cuffs. She didn't let her gaze waver from the man on the
ground.
"Ok, " she spoke firmly, "this is what is going to happen. Brian,
I am going to keep this pistol pointed right at his guy's head. I want
you to cuff him without getting into my line of fire. Can you do that for me?"
"I believe so."
Brian cuffed the guy quickly then stepped back. Dana relaxed them
and took her cel phone out of her other jacket pocket. She dialed 911 and
spoke crisply into the phone.
"This is Special Agent Dana Scully, FBI. I was accosted in
Memorial Park a few minutes ago. I have detained the assailant, but I
need a unit to pick him up."
She watched Brian out of the corner of her eyes as she talked but
couldn't read his expression in the poor light. After describing her
location, she was told that a unit would be there soon. She retrieved the
mugger's gun, then sat down a few feet away from the prone man, her weapon
still in her hand.
Brian sat down next to her. He seemed to be brooding.
"Great, Dana!" she thought, "Just great! You've scared him off
now. Super Agent to the rescue!"
She was about to explain things to him when the D.C. police
arrived. They had evidently been in the area. There had been a rash of
muggings after the park concerts and they believed Dana had gotten the man
responsible.
It took 15 minutes for her to explain the evenings events and turn
the suspect over to the police with a promise to stop by the precinct the
next day to swear out a statement.
After the police lead the mugger away, Brian looked at Dana sideways and
asked, "Do you still want that coffee?"
"Yes! Please." Her response was fervent.
They began to walk through the park.
"Brian, " Dana began, "I haven't lied to you."
"But you haven't exactly been honest." his voice was quiet.
"No. I wasn't. I'm sorry. But will you let explain? Please?"
She let regret color her tone.
"Of course."
"I am a pathologist. I am also an FBI agent. Often, my autopsies
provide the clues that solve a case, like earlier this week."
"Why hide that from me?"
"My job is ...unusual. My partner and I get cases that can't be
explained by normal procedure. We see some pretty frightening things."
"Your partner -- Mulder?" he interrupted.
She nodded.
"Ok, go on."
"Because of the intensity of my job, " she began again after
collecting her thoughts, "I haven't had much of a social life, lately. It
has been a long time since I have been able to *Dana* instead of *Agent
Scully*. Mulder and I aren't held in high regard by our peers because of
the work we do."
She paused again and they walked on in silence for a while.
"When I met you, you didn't know I was an agent. You treated me
like, ...well...like a normal person. I liked it. I didn't have to worry
about whether I was acting professionally or if you had a political motive
for being there."
He looked puzzled. "A political motive?"
"Some of the higher ups don't like what we do. They keep looking
for reasons to shut us down. I have to be careful who I trust."
"And you couldn't trust me enough to be honest with me?" He
sounded hurt. They reached a small sidewalk cafe and sat down. They
ordered coffee and pastry before speaking again.
"It wasn't so much distrust than it was that I enjoyed being *Dana* with
you." She reached across the table and took his hand. " I didn't want you
to think of me as *Agent Scully*." She looked him right in the eyes, sincerity
shining through.
"I'm glad you feel that way. 'Cause I am very fond of Dana. That
Agent Scully woman scared me spitless!" His eyes turned merry.
Dana laughed then blushed.
The waitress brought their order then and when Brian spoke again,
his face was serious once more.
"Dana, is your job....what you do...is it dangerous?" Worry shone
in his eyes.
"It can be. But Mulder is always there to back me up. And I have
pulled his backside out of the fire a few times. We watch each other's
backs. " A shadow crossed her eyes, and she frowned. "But there is
something you should know. And I will understand if you decide ...you
know..."
"What is it?"
"I have some very powerful enemies. They can be very ruthless.
They tried to kill me once. They got my sister instead." Tears formed in
her eyes at the memory.
He looked shocked and squeezed her hand. "I am so sorry, Dana."
She smiled weakly at him, then stared intently into his eyes.
"What I am trying to tell you is that being with me, dating me,
getting close to me... may put you in danger. I don't want you to get hurt
because they are trying to get at me."
"Dana, I *want* to be with you. And I am not going to deprive
myself of your beauty, your warmth, your company...just because of what
might happen. Okay?"
Relief flooded through her. She smiled sweetly at him and nodded,
her eyes moist.
They finished their coffee in companionable silence. As they
walked to the car they held hands, each still quietly enjoying the
presence of the other.
In the car, his hand resting on hers as he drove, she found
herself surprised that she had opened up to him so soon. She realized
that she would have answered any questions he cared to ask her that
evening. She trusted him. How had that happened? One part of her mind
knew that trusting him was dangerous, but another somehow knew her trust
was not misplaced.
--------------------
Brian walked with her to her door. She looked up at him, smiled and
nodded toward the door, one eyebrow raised. He nodded in response, a
small smile playing on his lips.
She unlocked the door, flicked on the small lamp as she dropped
her keys on the table next to the door. Brian closed the door behind him.
He turned to her and gathered her in his arms.
Dana's mouth eagerly sought his, their tongues teasing each other,
lips gliding, nibbling, and sucking and exploring each others' mouths in a
passionate contest of desire. One of his arms pulled her close to him,
nearly lifting her off her feet. The other hand tangled in her hair,
cupping her head tenderly.
He kissed her with a gentle ferocity that stirred her desire. Her
hands clutched the front of his jacket as if to save herself from drowning
as she tried to mold herself to him.
He lifted his head and looked straight into her eyes. His hand
slid down from behind her head to cup her cheek gently, the thumb tracing
her parted lips. She kissed the thumb, then caught it beween her teeth.
Brian sucked in a noisy breath at the desire evident in her eyes.
He leaned over again and kissed her firmly, yet briefly.
"I should leave now, while I still can." he whispered.
Dana nodded, her eyes locked onto his. Her tongue flicked out to
moisten her lips and her voice was unsteady as she asked, " Lunch
tomorrow?".
Her body was screaming at her "No you idiot!!...don't let him
*leave*!!!". She wanted him badly and she could barely control herself.
"Lunch. Of course."
"Is 11:30 okay? I have a meeting at 1:00."
"Sounds great."
"Pick me up at my office?"
"Of course."
The entire exchange took place with their eyes locked together.
They were holding a logical conversation on one level but their eyes were
holding a conversation of their own on a more private subject.
Brian suddenly tore his gaze away from her flushed face.
"Good-night, Dana."
"Good-night, Brian. Take care."
"You, too"
------------------
Dana closed the door behind him, throwing the deadbolt, then
leaning against the door. The phone rang then. She was still breathless
when she answered it.
"Scully."
"You alright, Scully?"
"Yeah, Mulder. Just got in...I'm ...uh... winded from the
stairs."
"Uh huh. You had a date with Brian tonight, didn't you?" Mulder
teased her.
"Um, yes I did."
He chuckled. "I'll let you go, then. Wouldn't want to keep him
waiting."
"He just left. Nosy!"
"Yeah, sure." Another chuckle. "Just thought I'd say good-night."
"Good-night Mulder."
"Good-night Scully."
"And, Mulder...."
"Yeah?"
"Thanks for checking up on me."
"You're welcome. Sweet dreams."
Dana put the phone down, sighed and went to bed. Sweet dreams,
indeed.
END
Author's Comments: I haven't written a third story in the series. I've decided that Skinner is the man of Scully's dreams and no one can convince me otherwise.