Title - London Times Revisited1/2
Author - donnah
Email address - donnah@donnas-stories.com
URL - www.donnas-stories.com
Rating - R
Category - Pre-X, AU, MSR
Spoilers - Sixth Extinction, London Times 
Keywords - AU, MSR
Summary - When did they meet?
Feedback - Please 
Archive - Anywhere, just let me know

Disclaimer - Mulder, Scully, the Lone Gunmen and Skinner 
all belong to Chris Carter, 10-13 and Fox.  No infringement 
intended.



London Times Revisited (1/2)


He smiled as he heard the door open.  "It's me, Mulder," she 
called as though it could be anyone else.  He dried his hands 
and moved out into the bedroom and on to the main room.  
She was in the kitchen emptying a bag.

"You're spoiling me," he commented as he watched her put 
groceries away.

"I'm actually spoiling me," she responded.  "I've been eating 
here more than at home lately."

"And I appreciate it, but I really am okay."

"You're okay, but not ready for the fat and grease diet."  She 
pinned him with a look and he only grinned.  "Have you had 
a headache today?"  She glanced at his medications on the 
counter.  He could see her hand twitch to check.

"No, no headache, but if you don't take the bandage off 
today, I'm going to do it myself.  I think I'm getting lice."

"How charming," she commented as she looked him over 
with a clinical eye.

"Come on, Scully.  I've got to wash my hair, at least what 
they left me."

She sighed, but she believed him.  "They left you plenty of 
hair.  What if I wash it for you, Mulder?  I can keep the 
incision protected - "
 
"I've always wanted to shower with you, Scully," he 
interrupted, waggling his eyebrows.

She didn't bother to respond.  The eyebrow said it all.  
Shaking her head she left him in the kitchen, returning 
shortly with a towel and some shampoo.

She pointed to a chair and he meekly took the seat.  She 
carefully removed the gauze.  The incision was healing well 
but brain surgery, especially the way he had experienced it, 
was nothing to play around with.

"Okay, come on over to the sink."  She turned on the water, 
adjusting the temperature.

"You weren't kidding?  You're going to wash my hair?"  He 
sounded a little uncertain now.

"Yes.  I can check for fleas while I'm at it.  I did it for 
Queequeg all the time."

His eyes narrowed but he couldn't sustain it.  There was 
something . . . sexy about the thought.  She obviously 
caught the gleam in his eyes because he saw the color rise 
slightly in her checks.

"Come on, you're wasting water."  He obediently leaned over 
the sink and she wet his hair, then poured shampoo into her 
palm.  They hadn't shaved his head, so parts were long and 
thick and . . . damn it.

"Scully?"

He drew her back to the task.  "Almost finished," she said 
shortly.  She should not be enjoying this.  Regardless of her 
feelings for him, she had to maintain some distance, they did 
still work together, or they would when he was cleared to 
return to work.

"Okay," she blotted his hair dry, being especially careful 
around the incision.  "Once it's dry enough I'll rebandage - "

"Do you have to?  Couldn't we let it air out a little?" he asked 
immediately.

"We'll see.  I got your t-shirt a little wet.  Why don't you 
change while I fix dinner?"

"You are spoiling me.  Thank you."

His serious voice caught her off guard and she found herself 
blushing again though he had turned away.

When he returned she had dinner on the table.  "I cheated 
tonight.  It's not home cooked, but - "

"But it is home served and the company's the best."  He 
startled her by holding her chair, one of the things she 
instituted when she'd commandeered his kitchen was that 
they sit at the table, and they ate while she filled him in on 
her day and the news around the Bureau.

He was impatient to return to work and she knew it, but she 
held his health in higher regard than he did and would not 
back down.

After cleaning up, they moved into the living room.  "Were 
you on the computer all day?" she asked as he sprawled on 
the leather, his sock feet on the coffee table.

"Well, I took time out to check on Jill and Katherine.  I like a 
good cat fight."

At her look of confusion he grinned, "The Young and the 
Restless."  She rolled her eyes.  "Hey, I may not be one, but 
I'm definitely the other."

"Oh you're young enough.  Did you find out anything?"

"About Genoa City?" he teased, "Actually there's not much 
out there on the phenomena.  Mind reading hasn't been 
documented nearly as well as you'd think."

"Mulder - "

"I was reading minds, Scully.  It nearly killed me, but I was 
doing it."  He took hold of her hand which had clinched when 
he'd spoken of his affliction.  "Even yours."  She stiffened 
and started to rise.  His grip on her hand tightened.  "I know 
you don't want to talk about it - "

"Mulder, please - "

"I know you don't want to talk about it," he repeated, "but you 
need to know.  You were there for me.  I could feel you, feel 
your fear for me, your caring.  I could always feel you.  I 
knew sometimes you were far away physically, but always 
with me."

"There, there were others worried about you."

He nodded.  "Skinner, I could feel him when he was at the 
hospital, nearby.  Diana . . ." he shook his head and dropped 
that line.  "I remember Frohike at least once."  He put his 
arm around her pulling her close.  "Stay away from him, 
Scully."

She chuckled and leaned against him.

"And there was one other person.  A boy or maybe a young 
man.  At first I thought it was Gibson.  He was obviously 
used to what was happening, but it wasn't him."

"Someone at the hospital?"

He thought for a moment.  "No.  I don't know where he was, 
but he made me think of Oxford."

"Oxford?"

He nodded, "I can't explain why.  Maybe since he felt 
younger I thought about when I was a kid."

"I'd like to have seen that."

"I was a stud, Scully.  You missed it."

She huffed.  "You were with Phoebe then."

He winced and she felt it.  "I wish you'd have come to 
England.  Maybe we could go there sometimes.  I could 
show you the sights."

"I've been to England, thanks.  It was not my favorite 
country."

"When were you in England?  You've never mentioned that." 
He looked down at her.

She shrugged.  "It was a long time ago; the summer after 
high school.  I went with a school group.  It was one of those 
'if it's Tuesday this must be Belgium' kind of tours."

"The crown jewels weren't impressive?"

"Wouldn't know, I never got to see them."

"You're kidding.  That's always where they take the tourists."

"Oh, it was on the itinerary, I just never made it.  The first 
night there . . . I was just unlucky.  Someone was targeting 
tourists or something.  We went to a bar, sorry, a pub, and it 
was attacked.  I don't remember what happened, but I was 
released, unharmed a few days . . . Mulder?"

"What pub?  When?"  She could feel the tension in his body.

"I don't remember.  What's wrong?"

"How many days were you missing?"

"What?  Uh, five I think.  Mulder, are you okay?"  She turned, 
sitting up to face him.

"It was the Kingsley pub.  Summer of '82."

"How would you know that?  Mulder, what's - "

"I was there."

She stared at him.  "What?"

His eyes were unfocused now, looking back in time.  "The 
little red head . . ."
Her mouth fell open and he focused on her.  "What do you 
remember?"

She swallowed, her brow furrowed.  "Noth-nothing really.  I 
hadn't even thought about it in years."

"Me either.  Scully, did we meet then?  Do you remember me 
at all?"

"I don't, and now, Mulder, it's getting late.  I need to get 
home."  She started to rise, but his arm went around her, 
anchoring her to him.

"Please don't run away."

She looked down at her hands; that's exactly what she had 
wanted to do.  Run and run fast as memories began to swirl 
around her.  How the hell could she have completely 
forgotten that time?  Did she want to remember now?  She 
would if she stayed around him and for some reason that 
scared her.

"Scully, please."

She forced herself to lean back.  "An X-File?"

"Sounds like it.  It would explain a lot."

She looked up at him then, "Explain what?"

He shook his head, not answering.  "You came into the pub 
with a crowd."  Reluctantly she nodded.  "What happened 
after that?  Why is it so damn fuzzy?"

"We had to have been drugged, probably the whole time.  
That's why we didn't remember when we woke up . . . or 
now," she offered.

"You're upset," he took her hands to keep her from wringing 
them.

"Did I forget you?  Why did I forget that week?  What else - "

"Scully," he pulled her against him, "don't."

"I need to get home."

"Stay here," he said softly.

"What?  No, I - "

"You can have the bed.  I'll sleep out here.  You're upset.  I 
don't want you driving."  His hand caressed her shoulder.

"I can't take your bed.  I'm okay."

"Scully."  She finally looked up at him.

"I won't take your bed.  You're recovering from major 
surgery."

"Okay, you take the couch.  Just stay here.  I'll make sure 
you're up in time to head home first."

"I . . . "

"Please."  His eyes held her.  She bowed her head, she 
might as well admit it, she wanted to stay.  

*****

He lay in bed unable to sleep.  He wondered if she was 
having the same problem.  How the hell had he 'forgotten' 
about a five day gap in his life?  How had he forgotten 
meeting her, no matter how briefly?  She said she had never 
remembered what happened during her first abduction, well - 
maybe second now.  He'd never really believed that but 
knew better than to press.  It was a little surprising she had 
agreed to stay here.  Just showed how shaken she was by 
what she did remember.

They'd have to talk about this eventually.  He heard 
something in the other room.  If she couldn't sleep either 
there was no reason to stay apart.  Mulder rose and pulled 
the door open.  She was on the couch, asleep, but restless.  
Of course she was having bad dreams.  He moved to her, 
taking a seat on the coffee table.

As though sensing him, her hand came out.  With the 
shadow of a smile he took it and the tension eased from her 
face.

Whatever she remembered, or didn't, they were together.  
He'd loved her for a long time.  Whether she could admit it 
out loud or not, she loved him.  He knew that now.  Oh hell, 
he rose and lifted her gently, taking a seat on the couch and 
letting her sleep against him.  Fuck regulations and 
fraternization and whatever else the Bureau frowned on.  
This was his woman and she needed him, maybe as much 
as he needed her.  He got comfortable on the couch and 
shortly drifted off with her in his arms.

Her restless movements woke him, or maybe it was his own 
dream.  She looked up at him and started to draw back.  
"Mulder?"

"Sorry.  I was lonely in there."

She just looked at him and he shrugged but didn't release 
her.

"What were you dreaming?" he asked gently.  She shook her 
head and he cuddled her closer.  "Come on, let me help."

She sighed.  "A metal room."

He blinked at that, then nodded.  "Yeah, with a shelf on the 
wall . . . " His eyes widened.  "Scully."

She had closed her eyes now.  

"You had sex with Marcus in the back seat of his car."

She jerked, pulling away but he didn't let go.  "I, I never told 
anyone - "

"You told me, in that room."

Her eyes were wide and he saw her swallow hard.

"Do you remember?"

"You were . . . you were nude," she managed to say.  Her 
color was high now and it was him that closed his eyes as 
new memories flooded his mind.

"You wore that gauze-y thing once we got it."   He looked at 
her now.  "How could I forget . . . " he growled.

"Mulder?"

"They made me forget this, forget loving you."

"I remember it now," she said softly.

He caressed her face watching her, but he didn't speak.

"It explains a lot of things, Mulder."  He looked confused.  
"We've always been . . . close, even when we were just 
learning each other.  I, I was always drawn to you, even 
when I didn't want to be."

"Didn't want - "

"We do work together."

"But it's more."

"Of course it's more, Mulder."  There was the hint of a smile 
on her face.  "You did give me my first orgasm."

His eyes lightened then.  "I did, didn't I?"

"Why?  Why do that to us?"

Mulder didn't answer immediately, thinking, remembering.  
"The triplets - "

She gasped.  "The bounty hunter!"

Mulder nodded.  "We've been on the X-Files for a long time."  
She closed her eyes then and he knew fear.  "I'm sorry."

"It's not your fault.  Why did they do this?  Why us and what 
was the purpose?  It makes no sense.  If it was for the two of 
us to meet . . . "

"They took other people.  I don't remember all the details, 
but there has to be a record.  I'll research it today.  All of the 
pubs hit were ones I knew, ones I'd been to."

"With Phoebe?"

He looked down at her.  "Uh, yeah.  What are you thinking?"

She shook her head.  "I don't know; just thinking out loud."

"Don't think, not right now.  It's still the middle of the night.  
Let's try to get a little more sleep.  Do you want me to go 
back to the other room?"
 
She shook her head.  She wouldn't sleep, but lying here with 
him felt safer.

"Close your eyes, Scully.  I've got you."

It couldn't have been long before she felt his lips on her 
forehead and his hands moving slowly over her back.  She 
moved against him and her eyes looked down involuntarily 
and widened.  Good lord, she was pretty sure you could see 
that from space.

"Scully?"

"We shouldn't."

"Why not?"

"I, I don't remember."  She felt his chuckle as his arms 
tightened around her and his lips found hers.  Clothes were 
discarded along with inhibitions as they explored and 
remembered.

When he sank into her body their eyes met and widened.  A 
circuit completed, they were one entity.  The small part of 
her that could still think realized now why no other man had 
ever been right for her.

*****

He was already awake when she stirred.  "Morning." He 
smiled down at her.

"Mmm."

"I know, coffee.  Just a minute, I need you to call in.  Tell 
them you need to take the day."

"Mulder, as much as I'd enjoy it, we can't spend the whole 
day - "

"Sure we could, but that's not what I'm talking about."

"Okay, fill me in."

"We need to be some place."  

"Some place?  I need a little more than that."  She couldn't 
help her hand coming up and caressing his stubbled face.

"I, I don't have a lot more.  Do you have anything really hot 
on your desk?"

"Uh, no," she said with a small laugh.  "Like Kersh would 
give us something 'hot'."

"Call in, I'll make coffee then I'll explain."  He kissed her 
again, then climbed over her to leave the couch.  She 
admired his body for a moment, then stretched and rose 
herself.  "Use your cell; you don't want them to know you're 
over here this early."

She cut her eyes at him in a 'duh' manner and he grinned.  
Nothing was going to hurt his mood today.  After all these 
years, he had made love with Scully again.  Part of him 
wanted to laugh out loud.

"Okay?" he asked when she joined him in the kitchen.

"I left a message.  I don't take a lot of sick days, so I'm not 
too worried.  Now, what's up with you?"  Again she found her 
glance moving down his body and he did laugh then.  

"Who couldn't spend the whole day . . . "

"Shut up, Mulder.  What's going on with you?" she rephrased 
her question.

"We need to take a trip south."  She waited for the punch 
line; it didn't come.

"Okay," she said slowly.   "South.  Where south?"

"I'm not entirely sure.  I'm thinking North Carolina."  He saw 
the expression on her face.  "Hey, I'm not ditching you.  
Come on, field trip."

"Not Brown Mountain."  Her face lost a little color at the 
thought.

"No, not Brown Mountain."  He assured her quickly and 
poured two cups of coffee.  He watched her savor hers.  "I'm 
thinking Durham.  Come on, we need to shower and pack a 
bag."

"We need to shower?" She watched him nod rapidly and 
chuckled.

He got his way, so it was a long shower, but finally he was 
tossing a couple of days clothing into a bag.  "We'll stop by 
your place and get your things then head out."

"Mulder, you have to tell me where we're going and why," 
she balked at the idea again.

"I, hell I'm not sure.  After last night, after we were together, I 
don't know if it was a dream, but I know we need to go to 
Durham."

"Just like that?"

"Yes, Scully, just like that.  Trust me?"

She was shaking her head as she took his hand and they 
headed for her car.  Packing took little time and they were on 
the road.  She insisted on driving and after a while he shut 
up about it.  Instead they talked about their memories, 
bringing details back for one another.  "I cannot believe how 
calm we were - " 

"Or how horny," Mulder interjected.

Scully shook her head again.  "What kind of drugs were they 
using on us?"

"We'll probably never know.  Was anyone else from your 
tour group taken?"

"Uh, yes, they were.  A couple of the guys, at least three of 
the girls."

"Would you know how to get in touch with them?"

"I'll look into it.  I didn't stay in touch with any of them."

"As I recall you didn't look too happy to be in their company 
even then."

"I wasn't.  The pub was their idea.  I was tired from the flight 
and wanted a - "

"Bubble bath.  You haven't changed that much, Scully."

She cut her eyes at him, but he was right.  This man knew 
her and, if she was honest with herself, she knew he had 
read her mind.  He knew she loved him.  It was a little scary 
that he knew things she had kept hidden, or tried to, for so 
long, but honesty should count for something.  This man was 
in her life and she was better for it.  She hoped he had 
picked that up as well.

*****