Title: The Truth is Out There--Scene 56 from XF3

Author: Lolabeegood
E-mail: lolabeegood@gmail.com
Distribution: Archive freely with my name attached

Rating: R
Categories: S, R
Keywords: Mulder/Scully romance, Post-IWTB
Spoilers: IWTB
Summary:  The truth is something Mulder & Scully may have to pay 
a steep price for

Author's Notes: 

Ever since I watched IWTB I have thought of the ideal way to 
start and storyline a third movie.  So, after much thought and 
deliberation I have a series of scenes that I have written for 
the third XF movie.  The scenes will not necessarily run right 
after each other but they are in sequence.  They are more like 
scenes I would like to see in the XF3 that develop character, 
tie loose ends, and add plot interest.  

I do not own the characters and I don't make any money from 
this.

Enjoy!

**********************************

After a bucket of chicken had been devoured, and Patrick had 
successfully beaten everyone at his video game, he was soundly 
sleeping in the other room.  Monica had left just after supper 
to get back to her house and would return again tomorrow with 
more supplies.  

It was midnight and John Doggett was feeling the day close in 
on him.  He shut down Monica's laptop and stretched his arms.

"I'm done" he announced as he rose from the table "I'll take the 
other bed in Patrick's room."

"We can sleep in there, if you want some privacy" Scully offered, 
about to gather their things.

"Nah" he said dismissing the offer "it looks like you two might 
still be up for a bit."

"I'm making someone go to bed now," Mulder said reaching over her 
head and shutting down her laptop.

"Mulder, I still wanted to look at..."

"A file that will still be there in the morning" he said 
looking down at her "you're exhausted."

Scully straightened in her chair "I'm not that tired."

"Tell that to me again, five minutes after your head hits the 
pillow" he smiled at her "working at 20% tomorrow is not going to 
help us come up with a plan."

She lowered her head and conceded his point.

"Goodnight" John Doggett called softly as he shut the adjoining 
door.

Scully rubbed her face in her hands and Mulder rubbed her 
shoulders.

"Come on" he said as he coaxed her to rise.

She padded across the room following behind him as they entered 
the washroom.  They were used to sharing the same space after all 
these years.  As Mulder globed on his toothpaste and began to 
brush, she washed off a days worth of make-up and grime.  They 
went about their nightly routine quietly and with little 
acknowledgement of the other.  When Mulder left the washroom he 
shut the door behind him and went to get on his pajamas.  

He pulled some clothes out of the Target bag and ripped the tag 
off with his teeth.  The blue plaid flannel bottoms looked 
comfortable and the new white t-shirt, although stiff, would be 
adequate.  He rifled through the bag and pulled out a short grey 
jersey nightshirt he had bought years ago for Scully.  He hoped 
she would be too tired to notice it was short.  He ripped the 
tag off with his teeth and laid it on the bed for her.

With perfect timing the door opened and Scully shuffled toward 
the bed.  

"Mulder, I think I'm going to have to borrow a t-shirt again, I 
didn't bring pajamas with me this weekend."

"I noticed" he smiled at her "did you think it was clothing 
optional in Chicago?"

"I guess I just didn't think I'd have much use for them" she 
softly grinned "but then I end up on the run from the law..."

"There's a nightgown on the bed" he offered "I had some clothes 
for us in the trunk of the Corolla."

Scully looked at the jersey nightie on the bed and smiled 
"Mulder, you shopped for me."

"Don't get too excited..." he smiled "it's all Target clothing 
that I bought in about 20 minutes.  You might not be impressed, 
when you see the rest."

She pulled her shirt over her head and slipped on the nightie 
before taking off her pants.  The nightie was a little large 
but at least seemed comfortable.

"Thanks, Mulder" she smiled as they climbed into bed.

"Anything for you" he said as he pulled her closer "even 
shopping."

She leaned in and gave him a sloppy kiss goodnight and then went 
to roll onto her side of the bed.  He took his cue and let her 
pull away.  It had been a long, sometimes emotionally charged 
day and, in all the years he'd known Scully she had always 
liked her space.  Her space to sleep, to focus, to re-charge, 
to process.  She was not a cuddler and he could count on his 
hands the times she had fallen asleep in his embrace.

Mulder waited for her foot to inch its way over, to touch him 
like it always did, before she could fall asleep.  He started 
to feel anxious when that did not happen.  Her foot did not 
move, and instead he felt the bed shift and an arm snake around 
his waist and a hand move up to rub against his hairy chest.  
She nuzzled into his back and her body seemed to go limp.  
Within a minute she was softly purring against his back as 
he felt her chest rise and fall against him and her one hand 
hold him against herself.  She was out for the night and for 
the first time in a long time Scully had fallen asleep 
wrapped up against him.  That comfort alone, caused Mulder 
to drift off peacefully to sleep.  

******************************
The end of part 56