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atths--twice · 4 years

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The Accidental Date

As Pendrell prepares for an evening out alone, he runs into someone he had not unanticipated.

This story was an idea I had for a while now. I adore Pendrell and his love and adoration of Scully, was so adorable. He always had her back and was too cute with his awkwardness when he was around her.

I hope you all enjoy this little story. ❤️

The theater was not crowded, not that he expected it to be. He did not think many people were interested in this movie, it not being a blockbuster or an overly popular subject. Despite that, he had been looking forward to seeing it. So much so in fact, he was quite early, and for the moment was one of only five people in the theater.

That was not a problem for him, as he was there alone and not waiting for anyone to join him. In fact, if it was only him in the theater, he would call it a win. The less people the better, as he was not exactly overly outgoing.

Grabbing a huge handful of popcorn, he chewed it thoughtfully, wondering how the plot of the movie would match to the book he had read and enjoyed for so long. A long pull from his drink cleared the popcorn from his mouth and quenched his thirst. As he was taking one more drink, he saw someone come into the theater who made him choke on his soda.

He blinked his eyes as he wiped his mouth, sure that his eyes were deceiving him. But as she got closer, he was sure it was truly her. The woman who had captured his attention more than any other and appeared in his dreams, both day and night.

Agent Dana Scully.

He kept staring at her, frozen in indecision as to what to say or do. She had not seen him yet and he was both hoping she would and praying she would not. Just as he became resolute in his decision to say nothing, she looked his way and did a double take. She froze and then smiled, changing direction and seat decision, heading toward him instead.

“Shit,” he muttered, his heart pounding as he stood up. She smiled as she walked up to him, her hand outstretched.

“Agent Pendrell, what a pleasure to see you,” she said, grasping his hand and covering it with her other one. “Not much of a crowd for this one, huh?” Letting go of his hand, she put her hands in her coat pockets, looking around the theater.

God, she smelled so good, his mind screamed at him. Not wanting to seem creepy, but also unable to stop himself, he looked her up and down, the image of her in casual clothes an overload to his senses.

Jeans. She was wearing dark jeans.

Nowhere in his images of her, had he thought of her wearing jeans, the idea seeming far too common for Dana Scully. But damn if she did not look amazing. A button up olive green sweater under her coat was so unlike the business suits she wore, he had to drag his eyes away, so as not to appear to be staring at her breasts.

He would never reduce her to those thoughts, at least not willingly. She was so much more than a beautiful face, although it was undeniable to anyone who was lucky enough to look at her.

“Agent Pendrell?”

“Sorry, what?”

She chuckled and took off her coat, laying it over her arm. He forced his eyes to stay on her face, as much as he wanted to look at the porcelain skin just revealed to him. She shook her head back, running her fingers through her hair.

“I asked if you were here with anyone, or if you would like some company?” She smiled and looked at him.

“No.”

“No, you’re not here with someone or no you would not like some company?” she asked, pursing her lips, and smiling in a way he had never seen before. He saw a dimple in her cheek and his heart stopped beating in his chest, then worked double time to catch up.

“I’m no, not. I’m not here with anyone, no,” he stuttered out, feeling like a complete doof. “I would like the company, yes.” She nodded and smiled, laying her coat over the seat in front of them and sat down.

“Agent Pendrell? Are you going to sit?” she asked and he heard the teasing in her voice. Looking down, he found her looking at him as she pulled up the sleeves of her sweater slightly.

“Yeah,” he said, sitting down quickly, his head spinning at the dramatic turn of events the last five minutes held. He had been alone, completely fine with it, and now he was sitting next to Agent Scully.

Jesus Christ, don’t act like an idiot, he admonished himself, aware of every move she made, sounds he heard, and the scent of her perfume, which was intoxicating. It was light and airy, not heavy like the one Agent Cowell wore sometimes that nearly choked him.

“So, did you read the book, or are you just interested in the movie?” she asked, crossing her legs and arms, turning her head to look at him.

God, her eyes are so blue.

“Read the book, yeah,” he stumbled. “A few times actually, it’s one of my favorites.”

“Me too." She smiled and he smiled back, when suddenly something occurred to him, and he stopped smiling.

“Is … is Agent Mulder … getting popcorn?” he asked, knowing it was too good to be true that he would have her undivided attention.

“Mulder?” She laughed. “No, he’s not here. He’s out doing … I don’t know, Mulder stuff. We have no cases and I’ve been looking forward to seeing this, regardless of the popularity of it. So today I decided to do it and now I’ve run into you.” She smiled and he grinned, knowing he would be spending the next couple of hours with her and her alone.

“I hope they don’t butcher the book. Nothing worse than seeing the little movie you’ve created as you’ve read, turned to shit on screen,” she said, and his eyes widened at her swearing before he grinned again.

“I feel the same,” he agreed and looked at her. “Did you not get anything to drink or eat?”

She sighed and then nodded, looking a little sheepish. “I usually scope out the theater first and then get something. I’ll go get it now before the show starts. Would you mind keeping an eye on my coat?” He nodded enthusiastically and she stood up with a smile. “Thanks. Be right back.” He watched her walk away, the sway of her hips nearly hypnotizing.

“Pull yourself together, you moron,” he said under his breath, shaking his head. His heart pounded, awaiting her return, both nervous and excited.

Within minutes, she was back with a small popcorn, a drink, and a box of licorice. “Hope you like red. I don’t do black licorice,” she said, opening the box and offering it to him. He gladly took one, willing to eat anything she offered, no matter if he did not like it. She smiled and took one too, eating it as the lights went down.

For two hours, the movie transported them into the book they both loved. They made comments to one another, sighing loudly with disappointment when it strayed from the original story, and smiling when it stayed on point.

As much as he enjoyed it, he would need to see it again, as his attention was not entirely on the movie. He was hyper aware of her arm brushing his, his fingers touching hers as he took another piece of licorice, and her breath smelling of popcorn and sweet candy as she leaned in close to speak to him. No chance would he remember everything about the movie, not while she sat beside him.

“Well,” she said, as the lights came back on and people began to leave the theater. “It wasn’t as terrible as I thought it might be, but there were things I wish they had added and also things I wish they had spent less time focusing on. But all in all, it was good. What did you think?” She asked as she stood up and put on her coat and gathered up her trash.

“Um, I’d say I agree. It was good, but definitely had some hits and misses,” he agreed, putting on his own coat and picking up his trash. “I liked the part in the library.”

“Oh, that was always my favorite part in the book, I’m so glad they left it pretty much exactly the same. It’s so romantic and also … for a library scene, it’s quite steamy,” she said looking at him and winking, before she turned and walked out of the aisle.

Steamy and romantic. Jesus, she was going to kill him, he thought, his heart racing.

He followed her out and down the few steps, where they dumped their trash as they passed the trash can. She put her hands in her pockets and kept walking as he fell in step beside her. As they made it to the lobby, he saw it was already dark out, the winter hours still upon them, and the threat of rain hanging in the air.

“I was disappointed with the end, I wish it would have been happier. I always felt the book was bittersweet, but it felt more happy than sad. To me anyway.” She shrugged as she opened the door. The wind whipped around them as they stepped outside and she brushed her hair from her face.

“It wasn’t just to you, I felt that as well. Happy is always better. But at the same time, sadness leads to happiness. If not, what’s the point of feeling that pain?” he said, with a shrug of his own. She stared at him and smiled slowly.

“You’re right. I just like to see the happiness in it all. Life is not always happy, I do know that, but … having hope is always better than not,” she said softly and he nodded. Her eyes had taken on a far off look and he wondered where she had gone. Taking a breath, she shook her head slightly, and smiled again.

“Looks like we’re going to get that rain they’ve been talking about all day,” she said, looking up at the sky. He kept his eyes on her and hummed his agreement. “Do you have plans right now?” His surprise must have shown because she laughed when she looked at him.

“N-n-n-no. No … no plans,” he said, tripping over his words.

“Would you like to get something to eat? A drink?” He nodded and she smiled. “How about that place over there? Tio Juana’s? I like that place and the name makes me laugh.” Nodding again, he followed her over.

They sat and talked, sharing nachos and a large margarita each between them. He loosened up as the alcohol helped his nervous tongue. She told him about a case they worked on and he felt his eyebrows raising throughout the whole thing. She and Agent Mulder had seen a lot of amazing things.

As she spoke, he watched her. He saw how she smiled when she mentioned Agent Mulder, heard how many times she said his name, and how she lit up differently when the subject was him and the work they did. He knew he had no chance with her, not when there was a man like Agent Mulder around.

He would hate Agent Mulder if he was not such a nice guy and obviously oblivious to her feelings toward him. Most likely of his own as well, judging by the way he had seen him watching her, gazing actually, though not that he blamed him.

“Ugh, I’m stuffed,” she said, drinking the last bit of her margarita. “Oh, look, it’s starting to rain. We should get going before it gets too bad.” She signaled the waiter and he nodded, bringing over their bill. Before he could make a move, she handed over her credit card, the waiter taking it and walking away.

“I could have gotten it,” he said, not wanting her to think he assumed she would pay. Waving him away, she ate one last chip.

“You can get the next one. Buy me a birthday drink and we’ll be even.” Her face showed the same shock his did and she closed her eyes.

“It’s your birthday soon?” he asked, already thinking of how he could celebrate it. She sighed and nodded.

“Next Sunday,” she said quietly, opening her eyes and looking at him. “Not sure we’ll be in town, but if we are, maybe we could grab a drink. And you’re buying.” He smiled and nodded, as the waiter came up and brought back her card. She signed the bill and stood up, stretching as she did.

They walked out, staring at the rain, neither of them carrying an umbrella. She smiled at him and then stood close and kissed his cheek. Stunned was not a good enough word, but it was how he felt. Stunned and frozen.

“I had a fun time with you tonight, Agent Pendrell. Thank you.” She smiled and he nodded. Turning away, she headed out into the rain and walked quickly to her car.

“Sean,” he whispered, as he stared after her. “It’s Sean.”

________________

A week had gone by and he had his gift for Agent Scully ready, but kept debating whether or not he would give it to her. It was in his desk drawer, taunting him as it lay there. He knew she was in town, having seen her with Agent Mulder earlier in the hall. She had not seen him but he smiled as he remembered their dinner.

Looking in his desk drawer, he decided he would take it with him when he headed to the bar close to the bureau, the one where many agents went after work. He had seen Agent Mulder there alone, and also joined by Agent Scully many times.

When Agent Mulder was alone, women were constantly coming up to chat with him, but he kindly sent them on their way, never leaving with any of them. When Agent Scully was with him, they usually sat at a table in the middle of the bar, within sight of everyone, as though to prove a point. So many people assumed they were sleeping together, but he knew they could not be, not with the way he stared at her as she walked away.

He knew longing when he saw it.

The Headless Woman’s Pub was crowded, as usual. He took a seat at the bar, and saw them sitting close by in their usual spot. Not wanting to walk over with Agent Mulder around, he bided his time until he saw a chance to speak to her alone.

“Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you …” Looking up, he saw waiters approaching their table, some kind of candles or sparklers on a cake. He could not see her face very well, the crowds of people getting in his way.

Finally having a clear view of them, he saw Agent Mulder holding out a box to her and her smile as she took it from him. More people got in the way and he missed what was in the box. A woman was now speaking to them, the conversation looking serious, and then they left, going who knows where. His shoulders slumped and he ordered a drink. Then another. And another.

Then a taxi, to be sure he made it home safely.

He knew she and Agent Mulder were helping with the downed plane case, but still he came to the bar every night in hopes she would come in and he could speak to her. For three nights he came in, spending too much money and getting far too drunk. This was the best place to catch her, he knew it. Work was not the place he wanted to give her the gift he had brought with him every night.

Sitting on the bar stool, his third beer in front of him, he looked up and saw a flash of red hair and knew it was her. He reached out quickly, needing to stop her.

“Hey! Birthday girl!” He heard himself shouting, too late to stop, but knowing he should.

“Agent Pendrell, how are you doing?” she answered with a strained smile.

The GIFT!

“I, I have something for you. Where have you been?” he asked, feeling around for the box, realizing he had forgotten to take it from his desk drawer.

Idiot!

“I've been, uh, gone,” she replied.

“Oh. Can I buy you a drink?” he asked, seriously, trying to not sound so loud and drunk.

“No, you know what? That's okay. I'm with somebody.” She smiled and looked over to her usual spot.

“Oh,” he said, disappointed. Looking over and expecting to see Agent Mulder, he saw some guy he had never seen before.

Of course, he thought with a drunken chuckle. “Let me buy him a drink too,” he said, throwing up his hands.

“No, you know what? It's okay,” she said and he was not about to let his missed opportunity remain missed.

“No, no, no, I insist, I insist. Bartender, bartender!” he called out, rising to his feet.

“Yeah,” the bartender said as he walked over.

“Set me up with, uh, a couple of, uh, birthday girl drinks here,” he said, the room spinning slightly. “Can I have a couple of your finest beers, skip the glasses, and another one of these …”

“Sure thing,” the bartender said and walked away to grab them.

“So, I must have left your … oh,” he said, turning as he sat to wait and not finding Agent Scully. Looking behind him, he saw she had sat down with her new friend, and he sighed.

“No chance at all,” he said as he shook his head.

“Here you go, man,” the bartender said.

“Thank you, kind sir,” he said, standing to take the drinks. Picking up bottles of beer and a couple of glasses, he took them over to the table, maneuvering through the crowd of people. Almost to the table, he heard and saw Agent Scully, but was not registering what she was saying.

Turning to his right, he saw a man with a gun and then felt pain like he had never felt as he fell to the ground. Hot and searing, he realized he had been shot. He gagged, choking on blood, and he was certain he was going to die.

Then she was there.

“You're going to keep breathing, Pendrell. Do you hear me?” she said forcefully and he panted, gagging as he tried to nod. She ripped open his shirt and he knew it was bad by the look on her face.

And then she was gone, but quickly back again, pressing something into his chest, hard and exceedingly painful.

“We've got paramedics on the way,” she said, and he nodded, panting out his breaths. “You're going to the hospital. You're going to be okay. Look, we still haven't celebrated my birthday, Pendrell. I'm not going to let you off the hook like this.”

He laughed, wanting to believe her, needing to believe her, but the pain was overwhelming. Shallow breathing was all he could muster, unable to think of anything besides getting enough oxygen.

“This man has a puncture wound to his right lung. He needs to be intubated immediately." He heard her say and he found it hard to focus.

“He's an F.B.I. agent ... and he's not going to die.” It was the last thing he heard her say before they took him away.

It was cold outside, and then too hot in the ambulance. Words were said, too many words, things he did not understand. The sirens hurt his ears and the tube down his throat was painful. Everything was painful and he just wanted to sleep.

Closing his eyes, he thought of the blue of her eyes, the sweet smell of her perfume, the calming green of her sweater, and the sound of her laughter. He smiled as they stopped and he was shuttled into the hospital.

Lights, more words, and then nothing.

Only peace. No more pain.

_____________________

One week later

“Agent Scully?”

Scully turned as she heard her name called and saw a woman walking toward her with a sad smile on her face, a small box in her hands. “Agent Cowell. Hello,” Scully said, knowing who she was now and she sighed.

“I’m sorry … could we?” She gestured with her head to a large supply closet and Scully frowned. “Please.”

Nodding, she followed her inside. Once the door was closed, Agent Cowell, turned to her and gave her the same sad smile, setting the box on a shelf.

“I worked with Agent Pendrell and I knew him pretty well. I still can’t believe he’s gone.” She shook her head and closed her eyes briefly. “He was funny and goofy, but damn he was smart. He could work out problems and figure things out faster than anyone I’d ever seen. He never boasted of it, didn’t draw attention to himself, but he was amazing. He …” She stopped and covered her mouth.

Scully swallowed hard at the lump in her throat, remembering his blood on her hands, figuratively and literally. If they had gone somewhere else… if she had…

Instead of those thoughts, she remembered him drinking and laughing as they ate nachos. She thought of the look on his face when she kissed him good night.

“He always spoke highly of you. I think you knew he was quite taken with you,” Agent Cowell said as she smiled, wiping her tears, and Scully stared at her.

“Taken with me? No, I didn’t … I didn’t know that,” she said quietly, looking down, replaying their interactions. He had always been professional with her. Kind, sweet, and yes, a bit of a goof, he had helped her any time she asked. Sometimes dropping everything he was doing to … oh. Oh.

“I didn’t realize," she whispered and her eyes filled with tears.

“Yes, like I said, he thought highly of you,” she sighed, reaching over and taking the lid off the box. “I was going through his desk, and I found something for you.”

“Me?” Scully asked, looking up quickly.

“Yes.” She handed Scully a wrapped gift and smiled at her. Closing the box, she picked it up and nodded at Scully, before walking out of the supply closet.

Holding the gift in her hands, Scully let her tears fall, shaking her head. Her name was written on a card, in handwriting she recognized as Agent Pendrell’s. Running her fingers over the letters, she shook her head again and wiped at her eyes. Taking a deep breath, she opened the door, leaving the supply closet and heading for home.

Mulder would understand.

Walking into her apartment, she placed her keys on the dining room table, along with Agent Pendrell’s gift. Staring at it, she shook her head, and went to open a bottle of wine. No chance she could face this without a little liquid courage.

One glass in, she sat and took the card off the box. Opening it, she pulled out a small card with a drawing of a cake, but with the candles unlit. Frowning, she opened it to find a few simple lines written inside.

Because you should be the only thing shining brightly. Happy birthday.

Sean Pendrell

“Sean,” she whispered, knowing his first name at last. Sighing, she set it aside and opened the wrapping paper, careful not to rip or tear it.

Setting that aside as well, she opened the box and peeled back the green tissue paper. Tears filled her eyes as she found it was the book of the movie they had seen. Taking it out, she opened it to the first page and found it had been signed by the author.

To Sean

Thanks for reading

It was a book from his own personal library. Dog eared pages, stains from it being set down places, the spine worn in. It was a treasure and something he had loved very much. Shaking her head, tears falling unchecked, she thumbed through the pages, seeing which spots were his favorites.

Turning to the end of the book, she found the ticket for the day of the movie being used as a placeholder. On the last page, the last few lines were underlined and then a note had been added, in the neat scrawl of Agent Pendrell.

You said you liked to believe the ending was more hopeful than sad. When I got home, I reread the last few pages and though painful, it definitely holds the feeling of hope.

Pain hurts and bogs us down. But, the beauty it creates is worth it.

Always.

She ran her fingers over his words again, the pain of his death hurting, the beauty it would possibly create, far off and nowhere in sight. Putting the movie ticket back, she closed the book and put it back in the box with the card on top.

Pouring a small amount of wine, she lifted her glass and drank a toast to him, for the day they shared, the beauty buried in the aching pain, and for birthday drinks that were never shared.

“To Sean,” she whispered, tears shining in her eyes.

#The X Files #XF Fanfic #Season 4 #Movie Date #Dinner and drinks with a friend #Tempus Fugit #Max #Birthday Girl #Birthday Gift #Unrequited Crush #Angst and Tragedy #Minor Character Death #Pendrell deserved better

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loveinthekeyofx · 6 years

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You know, if Chris Carter really did not want Mulder and Scully to become romantically involved, he really should have controlled his urge to kill off every one of their possible love interests.

#Agent Pendrell #Melissa Scully #Monica Reyes #I mean really Chris #I love your show #I just wish you weren't such an ass #Pendrell deserved better #Melissa deserved better #Monica deserved better #Mulder and Scully deserve better

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sleepyscully · 3 years

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DANA SCULLY WHY ARE YOU SO RELATABLE

#I've bun uh gone #yeah #me too #dana scully #agent pendrell #he really deserved better #4x17 #tempus fugit #the x files #x files #my one billion screenshots

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all-thingsdotmp4 · 4 years

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x-files lesbians and bisexuals watching seasons 3 and 4

#he deserved better :(#agent pendrell

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wholesome90stv · 6 years

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So there’s still a chance, Agent Pendrell

#that smile at the end #who can blame him #who doesn't love scully #poor agent pendrell #he deserved better #teliko #the x-files #mulder #agent pendrell #txf #agent mulder #x files #brendan beiser #x-files #gifs #tv #90s #captions #david duchovny

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swinging-stars-from-satellites · 3 years

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x-files 👀👀👀👀

- blorbo (favorite character, character I think about the most)

probably Scully tbh but I consider Mulder more of a blorbo-from-my-shows for some reason??? BOTH OF THEM

- scrunkly (my “baby”, character that gives me cuteness aggression, character that is So Shaped)

zhdjdhsh tbh Mulder

- scrimblo bimblo (underrated/underappreciated fave)

SKINMAN MY BELOVED. Skinner deserves more love tbh, he's the best. also Scully's entire family, i ADORE Maggie and Melissa deserved so much better. Bill Jr. is on thin ice, I tolerate him bc I can understand why he's Like That but I wish he would be nicer

- glup shitto (obscure fave, character that can appear in the background for 0.2 seconds and I won’t shut up about it for a week)

...ok this is more about the actress, bc for some reason I got very attached to her, but clone!Samantha from Colony/End Game, Redux II, and The Sixth Extinction.

but also I do adore Agent Pendrell, rest in peace my beloved boy 😔

- poor little meow meow (“problematic”/unpopular/controversial/otherwise pathetic fave)

ALEX HECKIN KRYCEK

- horse plinko (character I would torment for fun, for whatever reason)

....Diana Fowley

- eeby deeby (character I would send to superhell)

Cigarette Smoking Man

#Lu rambles #asks #ask games #txf #shsjssh this is so funny actually #diana: *calls mulder by his first name*#me (along with both scully and skinner): alright time to go in the plinko :)

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spookyseraphs · 4 years

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supernatural and the x-files (specifically destiel and msr) parallels

this was intended to convert my spn friends to txf and my txf friends to spn and then it got out of hand. i got tired of finding sources for everything, so you’ll just have to trust me, i’m an expert on both subjects.

cas=scully

cas/scully's faith in god vs dean/mulder being non-believers (but believing in the other) (spn) (txf)

cas being the healer, scully being a doctor (spn) (txf)

cas is supposed to guard the michael sword but falls in love vs scully sent to debunk the x-files but falls in love (spn) (txf)

cas and scully are both immortal (spn) (txf) (also)

cas/scully's families hate dean/mulder (spn) (txf)

cas/scully coming to believe in humanity/the paranormal (spn) (txf)

i'm an angel vs i'm a medical doctor (spn doesn’t have a compilation) (txf)

they’re not like... the best drivers

hello dean vs mulder it’s me (spn) (txf)

dean=mulder

dean/mulder's fucked up fathers (spn) (txf)

dean/mulder's eldest child syndrome and their unhealthy need to protect their younger sibling (spn) (txf)

dean/mulder being the best in their respective fields (hunting and criminal profiling) and being well known for it

dean/mulder and their porn habits (spn) (txf)

no one has ever hated themselves the way dean and mulder hate themselves (spn) (txf)

dean and mulder both have issues with fire (spn) (txf)

both die, get buried, and then come back

sunflower seeds vs pie

also they both hate nazis (spn) (txf)

yellow fever vs war of the coprophages (spn) (txf)

ship parallels

blue and green eyes (hazel is close enough)

for some reason theres a pizza man parallel? (spn) (pt 2) (txf) (pt 2)

mulder/krycek vs dean/crowley (spn) (txf) (also)

cas/hannah vs scully/pendrell (poor hannah and pendrell never stood a chance... and died)

also cas/scully get laid ONE TIME (april/ed jerse) and they almost die because of it and then never do it again (spn) (txf)

vs dean/mulder having plenty of love interests/hookups

cas/scully have never done anything wrong ever

dean/mulder... sigh... i love them... but they've made some questionable decisions (i'm looking at you mulder: fucking the vampire THE EP AFTER SCULLY'S ABDUCTION AND WHILE WEARING HER CROSS and dean, kicking cas out and locking jack in the ma’lak box?? really guys?) (spn) (txf)

creators who think their relationship is platonic despite everyone with eyes saying otherwise (spn) (txf)

also the way that neither were ever written or intended to be romantic

the fandoms were split heavily between shippers and non shippers

they also both had to have scenes changed because they were being played too romantic

a kiss was cut from the episode memento mori and gillovny were always trying to hold hands (x)

jackles forever wanting to cradle misha's face and the cut i love you from the crypt scene (x)

just... gillovny vs cockles in general, i am not a real person shipper, HOWEVER they are both messy (spn) (txf)

their first meetings? iconic. chemistry? immaculate. dean/mulder are super defensive but tbh cas/scully fell in love at first sight (spn) (txf)

they also had no concept of personal space pretty much immediately (spn) (txf)

they have a baby (that has magic powers) together that they lose twice (jack dies and becomes god, william/jackson is adopted and then as far as they know he dies) (spn) (txf)

cas/scully also have a kind of kid (claire/emily) that dean/mulder are willing to co-parent regardless of the fact that they definitely aren't theirs (spn) (txf)

we get an i love you that still doesn't get taken seriously or make them canon (stuck in the middle (with you) and triangle) (spn) (txf)

dean keeping cas's trenchcoat vs mulder keeping scully's cross (spn) (txf)

they go absolutely batshit when the other is in danger or dies/is dying (spn) (txf)

they're also known and used by their enemies as each other's weaknesses (spn) (txf)

msr being mistaken as a couple vs every angel and demon cracking jokes about destiel being a couple (spn) (txf)

skinner and sam just off to the side looking frustrated while msr and destiel are having a couples moment (spn) (txf)

eating each others food (spn) (txf)

appreciating each others interests (spn) (and this one) (txf)

parallels except the roles are swapped

dreamland/small potatoes vs casifer, i just think scully/dean should have realized IMMEDIATELY (spn) (txf)

mulders fight the future speech vs cas's confession (spn) (txf)

they should have kissed and didn't

it almost ambiguously canonizes them both

AND THE SECRET TAPES, the most famous msr kiss isn't an actual canon kiss, it's a blooper of gillian and david making out in front of the camera (two different times) and it wasn't scripted it was literally just them messing around (x)

this is me manifesting jackles dropping the tapes and those tapes having the same energy

they just really love each other (spn) (txf)

non ship/general parallels

leyla harrison vs becky rosen being fandom stand ins (spn) (txf)

they were supposed to end on season 5

Good but bad (absolutely iconic) sci-fi shows

they both had two finales which both sucked

they shared soooo many cast and crew and both filmed in vancouver

they're such similar shows, motw/story episodes, the funny and serious episodes, dealing with the paranormal, they're basically siblings

also siblings in the way that they handle racism, misogyny and consent/rape/bodily autonomy

the supernatural book series vs the movie made about mulder and scully (spn) (txf)

mystery spot vs monday (spn) (txf)

tall tales vs bad blood (spn) (txf)

the benders vs home (spn) (txf)

why did both shows use live bees??? (spn) (txf)

the fbi's most wanted and the fbi's most unwanted (also everyone involved looks cute as fbi agents) (spn) (look how cute!) (txf) (cuties!!)

the syndicate vs heaven and the cigarette smoking man vs god

the bunker vs the basement office

every single side character on both shows deserved better!!! most of them literally didn't need to die!!! and i'm still angry!!!

the poor brothers adam milligan and charlie scully existing and then being literally forgotten about until the last season

the fandoms living for things cut from the scripts (spn) (txf)

team free will vs mulder, scully, and skinner

these ones are shippy, but more my opinion than factual

both pairs just keep getting traumatic events dumped on them for absolutely no reason

cas/scully both have major exasperated why do i love this man vibes

absolutely most iconic and slowest slow burn romances of all time and are just the longest games of will they/won't they, baiting, and were never INTENDED to be slow burns

they're always willing to die/kill for each other, however they WILL NOT talk about their feelings under any circumstances

in the field where i died, mulder says that he and scully have been around each other in past lives but never romantically and according to chuck, every other universe's castiel just pulled dean out of hell and listened to his orders

SO in these other lives/universes they were always linked to each other but only in this life/universe do they fall in love

the last seasons really fuck up my favorite characters

dean should not be that shitty to jack OR cas for that matter

and mulder shouldn't have left scully and william (and dearest dana?? DANA?)

and, controversial opinion, but cas/scully could do so much better and deserve so much better but dean/mulder... it's the best they'll ever get

HOWEVER, i feel like their love is MORE powerful BECAUSE cas/scully could do better but they don't want better or normal they want dean/mulder and they will fight to the death for it, it's not the easy choice, it's just what they want

and i say this with all the love in the world for both dean and mulder, but cas could have just followed his orders and returned to heaven like every other version of himself did. scully could have easily found a normal man to settle down and have 2.5 kids with. dean was always going to be stuck in chuck's plans, and mulder absolutely could not just go find a wife to settle down with.

cas/scully put up with SO MUCH SHIT from dean/mulder, while being ALWAYS FAITHFUL to them, it was never the easy option to love these men and stay by their sides, it was hard and they worked for it!!!

they’re both the greatest love story ever told, they tied

#spn #supernatural #destiel #deancas #txf #The X-Files #x files #msr #oops i guess the indented bullets don't work on mobile #anyway #i really spent two days doing this #making this made me really have to confront what is canon and what is fanon deeply ingrained in my mind #ALSO every msr moment is perfect when imagined as destiel #and vice versa #if i were smarter i'd write actual meta about this cause it was actually super interesting

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postmodernpromartheus · 5 years

Text

Couches

On a rainy Saturday morning, Mulder and Scully find themselves at Ikea in an effort to replace the couch that was destroyed in what they refer to as the Extreme Makeover: Russian Edition.

*Thanks to @greycoupons for her help and encouragement

“Why did we pick today, of all days, to come here? It’s a fricking zoo, Mulder.“

"Because we aren’t away on a case and we really can’t sit on that couch anymore.”

“I know, it just sucks. Why’d they have to destroy the couch? Couldn’t they have just waited to shoot us until we went outside? I really liked that couch.”

“We’ll find something even better. What about that one?”

“The back is too low.”

“What about this one?”

“I don’t like the cushions.”

“Why?”

“They’re too messy.”

“What the hell does that even mean, Scully?!”

“They’re going to get all bunched up and no. Just no. I don’t like them.”

“What about this one, then?”

“It’s green, Mulder.”

“It’s fabric. It can be changed. What about the look of it?”

“I don’t like the legs.”

“Seriously?! You pick one, then.”

“That one.”

“It looks like something from my old dorm room in college.”

“Don’t be an asshole, Mulder.”

“Let’s go sit on that one over there.”

"Ok. I'm ready for a rest. My feet hurt in these shoes."

"What do you think, Scully?"

“Hmmm. It's ok. It’s not terribly comfortable, though.”

“It has to get broken in a bit, Scully. It needs to mold to our butt cheeks.”

“The other one was perfect.”

“Which one, Scully? The one over there?”

“No, the one they destroyed.”

“But we can’t have that one. We need to pick a new one. So just pick and we’ll learn to like it as much as the other one.”

“I miss your leather couch.”

“Really?”

“Don’t you, Mulder? Don’t you ever think about it?”

“No. It was old and falling apart…not to mention, hideous. Why would you miss that?”

“So many important moments happened on that couch, Mulder. So many meals eaten, movies watched. We cried for your mom on that couch. We cried for a lot of things on that couch. We laughed. Opened presents. Mulder, William was created on that couch.”

“Possibly. Or in the bed, in the shower, against the front door, or on the kitchen table.”

“The front door. I forgot about that. That was a good weekend. You don’t miss your old apartment?”

“No. I have the memories I want to keep, the rest I’d prefer to leave there. I miss your old couch, though. The ugly, blue striped one.”

“It wasn’t ugly! It was quite “in” at the time, Mulder.”

“It was ugly, but I loved it. I used to love to find any excuse to go to your apartment and sit on that couch. Your apartment was Dana, not Scully. Dana was soft and innocent. I would imagine Dana sitting there reading Breakfast at Tiffany’s with her tea and a fuzzy blanket …”

“I haven’t read that in at least 15 years! I used to love reading that over and over.”

“I didn’t get many glimpses of Dana so being able to be in that space on that couch was like watching an animal at the zoo.”

“Thanks very much for that analogy, Mulder.”

“Dana only existed in that space. She hasn’t really existed since, has she?They took that innocence from you. I miss that part of you and I miss that couch. Unfortunately, much of my love for the couch was tarnished the day I went in to find you about to make out with Van Blundht.”

“The h is silent guy!! What was his first name?! It’s on the tip of my tongue! I hate that so many of those memories are fuzzy now.”

“Eddie.”

“That’s it! And I wasn’t about to make out with him, I was about to make out with you.”

“Whatever.”

“I miss my mom’s couch.”

“Why? What did it look like, Scully?”

“Not because of its looks. I miss that I could go over to her house no matter what condition I was in and my mom would sit me down on the couch and feed me and start a fire in the fireplace and cover me with a blanket and talk to me. I just miss what it represented.”

“I’m sorry, Scully. I can understand that, though. I miss the couch in Chillmark, the one we had when I was growing up before Sam was taken. We would build blanket forts around it and I would make her watch The Twilight Zone or Outer Limits, even though she was scared, because I didn’t want her to be weak. I wanted her to be a tough girl so no boy could take advantage of her. I thought I was toughening her up. After she was gone, my mom left the house exactly the same. She told people it was so that when Samantha came home, she would still recognize it. I know now that was a lie. My mom knew where she was the whole time. It was just a way to make my parents appear less suspicious. I still miss the couch, though.”

“Oh, Mulder, that’s awful.”

“Yeah.”

“What about the couch at your mom’s house in Greenwich?”

“I don’t really have any memory of that one. Why?”

“Funny enough, I do. Remember the time you brought me there and you got into a fight with your mom and ditched me. She had gone up to her room and I didn’t know where a phone or phone book was in the house so I had to sit on the couch and wait for her to come back down. Eventually, she did and that wasn’t too awkward. Thank you very much, Mulder. We called a cab and I sat on the couch while she hid in the kitchen, but you have no memory of the couch, you son of a bitch, Mulder.”

“Apparently, truer words were never spoken. I was an asshole back then. Sorry, Scully. You deserved better.”

“Yes. Yes, I did, Mulder. Thankfully, you outgrew the ditching.”

“It took me awhile, but I got there eventually. I’m a slow learner.”

“You know the other couch I really miss? You’ll think I’m crazy, but I really miss the gunmen’s couch.”

“Ew, Scully!!!! There had to be so many organisms growing on that thing. I shudder to think.”

“I miss the Friday nights you guys let me come along for Friday Fiesta. I miss Frohike’s cooking.”

“Yeah, he made killer Mexican food.”

“Why Mexican? And why did I never question that before?”

“He loved to eat it so he learned how to cook it. Pure and simple.”

“His huevos rancheros and his enchiladas. Mmmmmm.”

“Oh, the enchiladas. God, yeah.”

“I remember sitting and eating and playing video games. I miss the guys so much, Mulder.”

“Me, too, Scully. It used to feel like we were in high school when we’d sit on the couch and I’d figure out ways to touch you without anyone noticing.”

“They noticed, Mulder. You’d put your arm around me or we’d hold hands. It was so innocent and sweet.”

“Remember the Halloween parties?”

“Of course I do, what about them?”

“Remember the weird guy?”

“There was someone there who wasn’t weird…besides me, of course?”

“Very funny. No, the guy. The guy with the thing on his head who tried to hit on you?”

“Frankie!!! Yes!!”

“You remember his name?!”

“Yeah, I set him up with a woman from the lab. One of Pendrell’s co-workers. I think they're still married.”

“I hope they didn’t reproduce.”

“That’s mean, Mulder.”

“Maybe they got her genes.”

“I miss Missy’s couch. It was bohemian. It was colorful and smelled like patchouli.”

“Missy?”

“My sister, Mulder. Melissa.”

“God, I’m sorry, Scully. You don’t usually refer to her that way. You don’t usually refer to her at all, actually.”

“Did you ever see her apartment? While I was in the hospital, I mean.”

“No. She came to mine, once, to tell me to get my head out of my ass.”

“Did you sleep with her?”

“NO!! Why would you ask me that?! God, Scully!”

“I’ve always wondered. When I woke up you looked so guilty. She didn’t, but you did.”

“You could tell?”

“Of course. What did you do, Mulder? Why did you feel guilty? Did you sleep with one of my nurses?”

“No. While you were missing I slept with someone on a case. I felt so guilty. I couldn’t look you in the eye.”

“Was it someone I know?”

“No. It was a woman in a vampire case in California. Her name was Kristen”

“Did you see her again?”

“No. She died that night.”

"That's awful, Mulder! I'm sorry that happened to you. May I read the file later?"

"Sure."

“Where did you do it with her?”

“Bathroom sink.”

“Oh.”

“Did Ed have a couch?”

“Who’s Ed?”

“Jerse. Ed Jerse. Speaking of sleeping with someone on a case.”

“Mulder. Yes, he had a couch. He slept on it that night. And I didn’t sleep with him. I wanted to, but he couldn’t perform. He managed to do other things, though.”

“He couldn’t get it up?!”

“Nope, stop looking so smug, Mulder. He got me off just fine, though.”

“Oh.”

“God, I haven’t thought about him in years.”

“Unfortunately, I’ve had a constant reminder.”

“What?”

“Your tattoo, Scully.”

“Oh, Mulder! I have wanted to have it removed and you’ve stopped me every time! Why did you stop me?”

“At first I asked you to keep it out of spite. I got what he wanted. Screw him…”

“Mulder!! How dare you use me that way!”

“Wait…I said, at first. I was angry. I hated him for getting to be with you first. Then I realized it was in my spot…you know…where I always put my hand and that it represented our beginning years together.”

“Oh, Mulder…”

“Now, when I look at it, it takes me back to the days in our basement office.”

“Mulder, it was never about Jerse just like it was never about the desk. I wanted so desperately to know I mattered to you…”

“Scully, you…”

“No, Mulder, let me finish. I wanted to know that you wanted me by your side. I wanted a nameplate and my name on the door and a desk because I wanted you to tell everyone that I was your partner. That I belonged. That I mattered to you and to the work. That I wasn’t just assigned to you.”

“I’m so sorry that I ever made you feel like you didn’t. You were everything, Scully. You still are.”

“I know that now, Mulder. I just didn’t know it then.”

“I wish to God I knew that all I had to do was take you couch shopping to get you to open up to me. It would have saved me decades of frustration.”

“Mulder, let’s get a couch and go home.”

“A couch and meatballs, Scully. I’m here for the meatballs.”

“Yes. We’ll get you meatballs. Mulder?”

“Yeah?”

“I want this couch.”

“Ok. What color?”

“No, I mean I want this couch.”

“Why this one, Scully?”

“Because this one has memories already attached to it. I don’t want to start over, Mulder.”

“Do they even do that here? Can you buy a floor model if they have brand new ones ready to go?”

“Mulder?”

“Ok. Ok. I’ll get you this couch. You do know that lots of people have sat on this one, right? Kids with dirty hands. I’d think your germaphobia would want you to have the same one brand new. Wouldn’t it?”

“Mulder?”

“All right. I’m going to ask the employee over there who is going to think we’re insane.”

“Thank you, Mulder.”

“Ok. It took some finagling. She said no, at first. I think she thought we wanted a floor sample discount so I even offered to pay more, but she took the asking price. She just didn’t want to have to build a new sample. You’ve got your couch, Scully! We have to go rent a truck to get this thing home.”

“Oh, thank you, Mulder!!! Do you think it will fit through the front door?”

“I don’t know. Maybe the legs come off. We’ll figure it out. I need some meatballs, Scully.”

“Ok. Let’s go get you some meatballs. You might even get me to try one.”

“I think maybe there’s a part of Dana still in there after all, Scully.”

“I think you’re right, Mulder. I think you’re right.”

@today-in-fic @sarie-fairy @baronessblixen @suitablyaggrieved @kyouryokusenshi @fragilevixenfic @admiralty-xfd @toxgrl @chekcough

#x-files #mulder #scully #season 11 #msr fanfic

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contrivedcoincidences6 · 5 years

Text

The Bodyguard Ch. 22

Chapter 21

HEY GUYS! @alittlemissfit AND I DID A THING!

“Interesting”, Spender says into his phone before blowing a puff of smoke.

“That does add another component to this equation. Keep your eyes on her. Next time she goes out I’d like you to plant some bugs. I want to know the next time she is in contact with Mulder or Skinner.”

“And Carter?”, ‘Ryan’ inquires on the other end.

“Keep him drugged and keep listening. You come across any signs that Ms. Scully is believing his story, let me know.”

Spender instructs, hanging up the phone with a grim smile.

“So Fox is going to be a father,” he says to himself before exhaling a plume of smoke.

“Perfect.”

Pacing around the motel room like a caged tiger, Mulder glares at Skinner who’s reclined back in bed channel surfing.

“We don’t have time for this,” he snaps, running a hand through his already messy hair.

“I realize that,” Skinner groans. “But here we are, unless you want to run the rest of the way.”

Mulder stands still for a second as if considering it before shaking his head.

Just a couple hours before Skinner’s car suffered not one but two flat tires, leaving them stranded for the night until the shop next to the motel they’d limped on two flats to, opened for the morning.

Settling on an outlet for his nervous energy Mulder grabs his cell phone. Leaves the motel room with no explanation. Once outside he waits for his father to answer the phone.

“Hello,” a tired voice says.

“Dad…” Mulder starts, unsure though of where to go from there.

“Fox, it’s after midnight. Is something wrong?”

“A lot of things are wrong. I just- I have some questions for you, and I need you to answer me honestly because people’s lives may be at stake.”

“Can these questions wait until a more sensible hour?”

“No,” Mulder says sharply, pinching his bottom lip between two fingers before speaking again.

“You know next Wednesday is Sam’s birthday, right?”

“Fox..”

“She’d be twenty three years old, Dad. College graduate, or not.”

“Son, I don’t-”

“She’d probably travel. Take whatever money you set aside for Sarah Lawrence or Vassar and go to Peru or Morocco.”

“I’m going to bed, Fox.”

“Wait, Dad. Wait.”

Sitting down on a curb in the parking lot, Mulder lets out a heavy sigh. Runs a hand through his hair.

“She’s been on my mind lately. Her, and a lot of other things. Things I need to run past you now, tonight. Whether you want me to or not.”

“Fine, fine. What do you want to want to discuss?”

“Carl Spender. Who is he, Dad? How do you know him?”

“Spender? What on earth is making you mention-”

“My bodyguard,” Mulder blurts out.

“Scully. She’s in trouble, Dad. She’s caught up in a mess that she shouldn’t be within a mile of and I know that Spender has something to do with it.”

“I thought Dana was no longer your guard.”

“She’s not. Mom saw to that,” he says bitterly.

“Frankly, I supported you being assigned to someone else. I mean, really, sleeping with the person guarding you.”

“You’re avoiding my questions, Dad. And regardless of what happened with Scully and me, she doesn’t deserve any of this. You know that. If something happens to her because of our family’s fucked up past with Spender, I’ll never forgive myself. Or you.”

After too long a pause, Bill clears his throat and starts to speak,

“I’ve known Carl for years, Fox. We went to college together. When you were young we would vacation with him. I’m certain that he has nothing to do with any of this.”

“For being certain, you don’t sound so convinced,” Mulder spits.

“I know the kind of people you and Rousch are in bed with, Dad. The kind of people who’d use a little girl as leverage to get what they want, who would sacrifice anything or anyone who dared go against them. Did they tell you they’d take her somewhere safe? Did you know about her abduction before it happened? Did you even give a damn it did?”

“How dare you!” Bill exclaims.

“I have missed her every day. Samantha was your sister, Fox. She was my only little girl!”

“And still you let them take her,” Mulder spits.

“We have no idea what happened that night, and we’ll never know.”

“I’ll tell you this much though, what happened to Samantha is not going to happen to Scully. I won’t let it. And if you or any of your college buddies get in my way-“

“What are you getting at, Fox?”

“If you don’t answer my questions you better prepare for a damn shitstorm, Dad. As soon as Scully is safe I’m going public with everything I have on you and Spender, and don’t think you or anyone else is gonna stop me.”

Hanging up the phone Mulder fights the urge to fling it to the ground before going back into the motel room. Slamming the door shut behind him.

After returning from her now daily morning routine of a walk on the beach, Scully has an odd feeling in the pit of her stomach that for once isn’t morning sickness.

She’d replayed some of Carter's paranoid ramblings from the night before in her mind, and had effectively kicked her nerves into a higher gear.

While visiting him she’d made an effort to keep calm and collected, not wanting to stress her protege out more, but the truth was she believed every word out of Carter’s mouth. From the start this assignment had felt off, and everything strange that had happened since acted as proof.

How did Teena Mulder know about that night after the bar? How did she find out about her and Daniel? There were too many questions and in trying to find the answers, Scully found herself coming up with more. There was the smoking man who kept turning up who has certainly been up to no good.

There was also the matter of Carter’s new PT. The man was overly friendly and had Scully’s guard up. She didn’t like how he hovered whenever she was around and her feelings tripled knowing that Carter didn’t seem to trust him one bit.

Shaking her head to try to clear her thoughts, she picks up her cell and dials, deciding to do some digging.

“Hey Sean, you have a minute?”

After about a half hour of catching up with, Agent Pendrell, an old friend and a newly instated FBI agent, Scully turns on the charm and calls in a few favors. Asking for anything he can dig up on Bill Mulder and Carl Spender, including any connections they had to a PT who goes by Ryan. She also asks for a full background check to be done on Daniel, and for anything suspicious findings Pendrell came across relating to Artemis and Bill Mulder’s company, Rousch.

Her friend assures her he’ll have the information to her by end of day today, but after he hung up, Scully was unsure what to do with herself until then.

A trip next door would have to be handled delicately, if at all. With Ryan in the immediate vicinity, she knows better than to answer her phone or to speak candidly with Carter. Part of her even wondered if any of her phone calls were truly private.

Peering through the window she sees the light on in Carter’s room and a tall man in scrubs through the blinds. Scully grabs her phones and ducks into the bathroom and locks the door behind her. Hoping her mind would mellow out if she took a long, hot bath.

#txf #the x files #my shit #txf fanfic #the x files fanfiction #fox mulder #dana scully #msr

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fistful-of-fandom · 6 years

Text

Agent Pendrell deserved better

Say his name.

#i’m watching tempus fugit

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katiecomma · 3 years

Text

Ship Tag Game

Tagged by @frozenmemories1987 - thanks!

Three ships: Buddie (911), 00Q (Daniel Craig Bond movies), Merthur (BBC Merlin)

First ever ship: Probably Mulder/Scully (X-Files)... first non-canon ship is probably Scully/Pendrell (X-Files) ;) He deserved so much better.

Last song: Miles Away by The Zolas... I'm addicted to the new album and can't stop listening.

Last film: Eve's Bayou - one of my all time favourites.

Currently reading: Harrow The Ninth by Tamsyn Muir - lesbian necromancers in space. How can it go wrong?

Currently craving: Cookie dough ice cream and pizza.

Currently Watching: Rewatching X-Files and CSI, started Jack Reacher on Prime but I haven't had a ton of time for something new

Tagging: @panchostokes @thethistlegirl @nade2308 @stephmcx @turtle-steverogers @12percentplan

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peacenik0 · 6 years

Text

Pendrell

For this anon request: I have a prompt for you 😘 Set before Tempus Fugit/Max. Mulder goes to the bar he frequents in FTF as he’s struggling to deal with Scully’s cancer only to spot a slightly inebriated Pendrell at the bar. They talk and, in his drunken state, Pendrell tells Mulder no one has a chance with Scully while Mulder is around.

Rated: PG ( yes, that’s right). So this is SAFE FOR WORK.

A fluffy/angsty little ficlet.

Tagging @today-in-fic, @i-gaze-at-scully, @msraddicted, @serahsanguine @baronessblixen

------

It was Friday night, and Mulder was continuing what had recently become a routine for he and Scully. They would go to the bar for a few drinks after work, they didn’t usually get drunk together, but Mulder enjoyed getting to see happy tipsy Scully. Especially since her nosebleeds seem to be getting worse. There is a pang of guilt, and somewhere deep in his chest, something akin to heartbreak. Sometimes they just need to forget.

“Ooof, I think I need to go home, Mulder,” Scully says from the bar stool next to him stifling a yawn. She raises her hands above her head to stretch, and he is almost drunk, so he lets his eyes slide down to her breasts. He notices how skinny she has been getting lately.Tonight he is trying to put all of those things out of his head. He wants to have a good time, for Scully.

“Oh, are you sure? It’s not even midnight, Scully,” he says. “One more drink?” Mulder tries to convince her. He gives her his best puppy-dog look, which he knows usually works. Her shoulders relax and she sighs in defeat.

“Well ok, one more drink. But you’re buying.” she taps his shoulder in time with her words.

“If I must,” he says with a small grin. He faces the bartender, and points towards their glasses, indicating he’d like two more beers. The bartender shakes his head, but acquiesces to the request. Out of the corner of his eye Mulder sees the door swing open, and young Agent Pendrell walks through. Pendrell’s gaze finds Scully immediately, and Mulder notices a goofy smile spread across the younger agents face. As soon as Pendrell spots Mulder the smile turns into a grimace.

“Oh, Pendrell, it’s nice to see you out and about” Scully smiles brightly at him. A smile that can easily stop any man in his tracks, and Pendrell is no exception. Pendrell quickly grabs the barstool right next to Scully. “I’m not staying for much longer, but you should have a drink with us,” Scully raises her hand to get the bartender's attention.

“Uh, sure, I’d love to,” Pendrell says nervously. Scully gives Mulder a look that says ‘don’t be rude’, and Mulder knows exactly what she means.

“Hey, Pendrell,” he says softly, trying to hide the irritation in his voice.

“Hey there, Agent Mulder,” Pendrell says awkwardly, but his eyes don’t leave Scully’s face. Jesus, could this guy be any more obvious? The bartender comes over to take Pendrell’s drink order.

“I’ll have whatever they’re having,” Pendrell says happily. Mulder cannot help but roll his eyes at the younger agents exuberance. Scully turns towards Mulder, and quietly whispers in his ear. “I think it would be nice for you to offer to pay for his drink,” Scully’s breath tickles his ear. Mulder has trouble saying no to Scully, especially when he has had a few drinks.

“Why?” Mulder whispers back into her ear.

“Because, he has helped us out a lot. It would be a nice gesture,” Scully’s breath sends tingles all over his scalp, making the hair follicles stand on end.

Looking over at Pendrell, Mulder notices that the young man’s features look at bit crestfallen.

“Put it on my tab,” Mulder calls to the bartender.

----

Scully keeps ordering drinks, and putting them on Mulder’s tab. Usually, Scully and he split the tab, but he doesn’t mind buying drinks for her. Pendrell on the other hand… Pendrell is clearly a light-weight, and he is already slurring his speech, and staring moonily at Scully. She doesn’t seem to notice the attention from the younger agent, and Mulder is grateful for this. But it sorta makes him want to punch Pendrell right in the lovesick face.

“Well, fellas, I’m headed out to meet my cab,” Scully gets up from her stool, and grabs her handbag. She places her hand on Mulder’s arm to steady herself. He grabs her hand, and feels a spark between them, as her eyes meet his. For the second time tonight, she leans down to whisper in his ear. Her hand is still on his shoulder. “Be nice, Mulder,” her breath tickles his ear. She then lifts her head up, and Mulder’s heart begins to beat rapidly when she looks into his eyes. Their noses are almost touching. Mulder has a habit of ignoring Scully’s advice, but when she looks at him like this, all bets are off.

“I will,” he mouths to her. At this he hears Pendrell slam his shot glass down.

“Another shot please,” the younger agents says to the bartender.

“Do you want me to walk you out?” both men say at the same time, and Mulder cannot help but curse Pendrell. He knows she can take care of herself, but he had hoped to get one more minute alone with Scully before he had to spend the whole weekend without her.

“No, I’m fine,” Scully says with a grin, as she moves her blazer to the side to show her weapon. ”You boys have fun,” and there is that smile again, Mulder wishes he could see that smile more. Deep down he knows he is the reason she doesn’t smile so much, and that fact really kills him inside.

“Yes, of course,” Mulder tries to say nonchalantly. Mulder tries to think of an another excuse to see her this weekend, but he is on his way to being extremely drunk, and nothing is coming to mind. Mulder watches Scully walk away, and his heart clenches in his chest. An irritating voice and a hand on his shoulder brings him back to reality.

“Hey, Agent Mulder, what’s going on with you and Dana?” Pendrell asks slurring his speech a bit.

“What do you mean, Pendrell?” Mulder is playing dumb on purpose. He is fully aware of what people around the FBI think about he and Scully.

“I’ve seen the way she looks at you, man,” Pendrell looks down at his empty shot glass. The words reverberate in his ears.

“Not that it’s any of your business, but there’s nothing going on between Agent Scully and I. We are partners, and we are friends, that’s it,” Mulder is not in the habit of being so honest with others about the nature of their relationship. But he has had a few drinks in him, and his inhibitions are down a bit. Pendrell shakes his head.

“So you’re telling me that you and Dana aren’t sleeping together?” Pendrell says with barely contained irritation.

“No, we’re not,” he pauses and honestly cannot believe what he says next. “She’s not dating anyone, so why don’t you just ask her out,”

“ Ha!” he shakes his head in disbelief. You’re and idiot, man,” Pendrell says drunkenly, then immediately covers his mouth with his hand. “I’m sorry I don’t usually say things like that. It’s just something about you…” He looks down embarrassed.

“Yeah, I know. I seem to have that effect on people,” Spooky Mulder knows that no one can stand to be around him. Except for Scully, and she might not be around for much longer. The thought of her brings on a another bout of self-loathing.

“It’s just that, for such a smart guy, you are pretty oblivious,” the younger agent shakes his head. His expression turns crestfallen.“ No one has a chance with Agent Scully while you are around,” Pendrell’s expression is honest. Mulder cannot help but be shocked at hearing the words spoken out loud. He tamps down a small glimmer of hope, which is immediately followed by another bout of self-loathing.

“She deserves better,” Mulder wallows in his own self-pity. It feels ugly.

“Yeah, I know. But why don’t you let her decide that?” Pendrell’s boyish face is open, sincere. It spurs Mulder to make what is probably a less than wise decision.

“Excuse me,” Mulder gets up from his barstool wobbly, and heads to the door. Once outside, he sees Scully opening the door to her yellow taxi.

“Scully!” He calls to her, hoping to get her attention before the taxi takes her away from him.

“Is everything all right, Mulder?” She looks at him with worry wrinkling her brow. No, everything is not all right. Instead he says;

“Thank you for coming out with me tonight, Scully.” He tries to say this lightly enough to take away her worry. Her mouth curves up in a small smile.

“You’re welcome,” Her eyes gleam under the streetlamp. She is a picture against the ugly gray city sidewalks. “I had fun,” she crosses over to stand near him. Her eyes meet his, and a rush of emotions course through him. Don’t die, don’t leave me. He is too greedy, too selfish, too fucked up. He should be better, for her. Mulder wants to tell her everything, but at that exact moment the cabby beeps his horn impatiently.

“Well. I gotta go. I’ll see you Monday, Mulder,” at this she reaches up on her tiptoes and places a soft kiss on his cheek. She gingerly gets into the cab, and turns to wave at him. Mulder stands there unable to move, as he watches the taillights of the cab disappear into the night. He cannot help but curse himself. Wishing he could save her from the cancer, wishing he could save her from himself. Mulder puts his hand over his cheek, still warm from her kiss. In a perfect world… He watches the taillights of the cab disappear into the night whispering softly to himself.

“See you Monday, Scully,”

----

Authors note: Thanks to whomever wrote that anon prompt! This was not bet’d at all. It actually felt nice to write something that had not a wink of porn in it. I’m thinking of it as a pallet cleanse. Poor Pendrell!

#msr fanfic #pendrell you sweet man #xf fanfic #anon prompt #fluffy angst #cancer arc #pendrell you left us too soon #i'm sorry you never had a chance #msr #the x-files fanfic

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sunflowerseedsandscience · 7 years

Text

Someday Your Child May Cry

24. Evasion

Agents Mulder and Scully generally arrive in Assistant Director Skinner’s office in one of three ways.

Most commonly, they stride through the door confidently with their heads held high, fully prepared to justify whatever insanity they’re being called to the carpet to defend. Sometimes, they slink in with their heads hanging down, an almost palpable aura of guilt surrounding them, steeling themselves to weather the ass-kicking they know they probably deserve. And once in awhile, usually when Skinner calls them in while a case is still in progress, one or both of them will be nervous and jumpy, all but shouting that they’ve got something in the works, that they’re about to do something reckless that will most likely lead to them being called back to this office within days.

Today, though, when Mulder and Scully arrive and take their usual seats in front of the desk, Skinner can tell immediately that something is different. Mulder is all nerves, to be sure, fidgeting restlessly in his chair, crossing and uncrossing his legs, searching his pockets for something to play with, and repeatedly looking at Scully. She, on the other hand, is the perfect picture of calm, legs crossed at the ankles, her hands clasped in her lap. She seems wholly unflappable, her demeanor making it perfectly clear that nothing that Skinner says or does will rattle her.

“Thank you for coming, Agents,” he says, seating himself behind his desk. “I’m sure you’re wondering what this is about.”

“Yes, Sir, we are,” says Scully. To her left, Mulder continues to fidget.

Skinner pauses for a moment before continuing. He’s walking a very fine line here, he knows it, and he can read all too clearly in Scully’s face that she knows it, too. There are things he’s not permitted to ask, or even insinuate, but if he could just convince them, for once, that he’s on their side....

“Agent Mulder, I’m glad to see you back from your medical leave,” he says.

“Thank you, Sir,” Mulder says, looking bewildered. Clearly this wasn’t what he’d been expecting.

“But before I officially sign off on your return to the field,” Skinner continues, “I need to know: is there anything that I need to know about your physical condition that might make your returning to active duty an unwise idea?” He looks back and forth between them. “Either of you?” Scully narrows her eyes.

“If you have questions regarding my health, Sir,” she says in a clipped voice, “please state them clearly.” Skinner curses to himself. Does she have to make it so damn difficult when all that he wants to do is help?

“I’m not trying to pry into your personal business, Agent Scully,” he says carefully. “I just want to make certain, as your superior, that I am doing all that I can to keep both of you safe. And if there’s any reason that field assignment is not the appropriate place for one or both of you- even if it’s only a temporary situation- I need to know.” He sighs. “I’m on your side, Agents. I want to make things easier for you, not harder. Is that so hard to believe?” Scully’s face softens ever so slightly. She glances at Mulder, who gives the slightest of shrugs.

“At this time, Sir,” Scully says, her voice a little less formal now, “there is nothing that would render either Agent Mulder or myself unfit for active duty. But I can promise you that if that changes, we’ll let you know at once. You don’t need to worry about m-” She stops herself. “About us staying in the field past the point where it could be considered safe.” Skinner holds her gaze for a moment longer; then, finally, he nods in concession. This is all the confirmation Scully is willing to give him right now, and he’ll have to be satisfied. He knows better, by now, than to try to force anything from her that she doesn’t want to give. It’s an exercise in futility.

“All right, then, Agents,” he says. “That will be all.” At his dismissal, Mulder and Scully rise to leave, Mulder looking relieved beyond measure as he allows Scully to precede him to the door. “Oh, and Agents?” They stop and turn back. “Off the record... congratulations.”

----------------

It’s hours later when Mulder meets him in a back table at The Headless Woman. Scully, Skinner knows, doesn’t much like this place, ever since Agent Pendrell’s fatal shooting here, almost three years ago, so he’s not surprised when Mulder slides into the booth across from him alone. He orders a beer from the server as she’s passing, then turns to face Skinner.

“So,” he says, heaving a sigh, “I guess you’ve got some questions.”

“A few,” says Skinner wryly. “I thought... that is, I was under the impression that this wasn’t possible.” He’s read the reports, of course. They might not all make perfect sense to him, but he’s been able to understand the basics: whoever had taken Scully, years ago, had kept her ova when they’d returned her. There had been that sad business with the little girl out in California the Christmas before last- Skinner can’t remember her name- and he’s always sensed that asking Scully for any clarification on the issue would border on cruelty.

“There was one thing I never told you,” says Mulder. “I only told Scully less than two years ago, actually. Not too long after she was diagnosed with cancer, during the early days of our investigation, I found a vial of Scully’s ova at a top-secret research facility. The baby Scully is carrying was conceived through in-vitro fertilization, using those ova.”

“And are you-”

“I’m the father, yes,” Mulder confirms, and Skinner would have to be blind to miss the pride in his subordinate’s face. “Scully asked me to help her.” Mulder’s beer arrives, and he takes a long swig. “It took a few tries, but we got there in the end.”

“When is she due?”

“Right around Christmas. As of now she’s planning to stay in the field as long as possible, but she’s promised me she won’t work one day longer than she feels able.” Skinner snorts; he can’t quite help it.

“Scully kept working through cancer until she quite literally passed out in my arms and nearly bled to death in front of half the bureau’s top brass,” he says, shaking his head. “What makes you think she’ll be any different now?”

“Because then, she was only risking her own health,” says Mulder. “After everything it took to get us here, she’s not about to take any unnecessary risks, believe me. This is too important to her- to both of us.”

“So am I to assume your duties didn’t end with your donation, then?” Skinner asks, and Mulder looks at him incredulously.

“Of course not,” he says. “I’m in this with her, a hundred percent. I want this just as much as she does.” Skinner nods and sits back in his booth, taking a long pull from his scotch.

“So you’re going to be a father,” he says, finally, and Mulder grins.

“Yeah,” he says. “Does that scare the shit out of you or what?” Skinner considers it thoughtfully.

“You know what?” he says. “I know it should... but somehow, no, it doesn’t.”

#x-files fanfic #my fic #fictober #octoberficfest #Someday Your Child May Cry

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