03/19/00 Puppy Tale III A Work in Progress by Araxdelan Fox Mulder was sitting at his desk when his partner walked in. He had a newspaper spread out before him, and was so intent on it that he didn't even notice her until she spoke up. "So, is that the beginnings of our newest case?" The sound of Scully's voice startled Mulder, and he looked up, still chewing on the end of the highlighter he held in his hand. "What...? Oh, no, it's not. I'm just looking for a new place." "Finally! I knew that cave you call an apartment was too small for a dog. You know, there's a building not too far from my place that has a 'For Rent' sign up. The units look pretty big, and there's a park right down the street, if you don't mind living near me..." Mulder clicked the cap back on the dayglow orange pen, and folded up the paper. "Of course I wouldn't mind living near you. But..." Scully arched her eyebrow. "*But?*" "I'm not looking for an apartment." "Condo?" "Nope. I'm looking for a house." "A *house*? Mulder, I know you want room for Willie to play, but don't you think a house is a bit much? All those empty rooms will just make you feel lonely." Mulder, avoiding Scully's gaze, turned towards the filing cabinets and began sorting folders and sliding them into the drawers. He hissed in a breath and said, "Scully, there's something I haven't told you." Unbeknownst to Mulder, Scully scrunched up her face in confusion. "What?" "I'm living with someone." "Mulder!" Mulder cringed. Scully walked up to him, grabbed his shoulder, and spun him around. "I can't believe you! You finally meet someone, and you keep it from me! Do you know how that makes me feel?" "I'm sorry, Scully. I really am. But I never found the right time to tell you..." Scully sighed, now more frustrated than angry. "So, are you buying a house because you're getting married?" Mulder snorted. "Not unless the shitheads in congress all go majorly liberal, and the religious right and public at large do a one-eighty." Scully gave him a confused look. Mulder exhaled a nervous breath. "Scully, the fact that I'm living with someone isn't the shocking part." "What? You got a couple of kids I don't know about?" she asked, sarcastically. "No.... um... I'm living with a man. And I love him more than anything." Scully's eyes grew wide. "Oh." Mulder began rapidly tapping his foot on the floor. "Scully." "Yeah, Mulder?' "That isn't the shocking part." Scully laughed nervously. "Let me guess. You're really a woman, and *you're* pregnant?" "No." "Oh, so you're the first male pregnancy, and you want to open an X-File on yourself?" "No." "So he's the first male..." "*No.*" "Then what the hell is so shocking? I mean, I never thought you were bisexual, but *still* it's not that big a deal..." "Please, Scully. Just let me tell you. You keep interrupting." "I'm sorry. It's just that what *I* find shocking is that you're so nervous. I'm your friend, Mulder, and what ever you tell me won't change that. Go on, tell me." "Before I do, just remember, I love him *more than anything*..." "Got it." Mulder paced the length of the office twice, gathering his courage. Finally, he stopped in front of the doorway, and spun to face Scully. "It's Krycek." Scully's confusion was evident. "What's Krycek? I thought we were talking about your lover." Mulder just stared at Scully, waiting for her to put it together. Apparently the thought was nearly inconceivable to her, because it took quite a few moments before it hit her. "Oh my God." Mulder waited for the rest of her reaction. The amazement on her face was soon replaced by one of annoyance. "Mulder, you're testing me." "What?" "I said I'd be your friend no matter what and then..." "Scully, that's not it." "Oh! Oh, God, why didn't I see it before?" "Huh?" She began laughing. "The newspaper, the nervous gestures, the slow build-up... Mulder, you're terrible! How can you be so mean? And it's not even April fools day or anything!" Mulder's eyes grew wide with shock and fear. "Oh no. Oh, Scully, no, it's not that." Scully's laughter grew nervous and a tad hysterical. "Mulder, you can drop the act..." Mulder took a slow step towards Scully, his hand extended in a pacifying gesture. "Scully, this is no joke..." "Okay, Mulder, enough." Mulder took a deep breath and began to speak in a loud voice, carefully enunciating his words. "Scully, listen to me. I. am. in. love. with. Alex. Krycek. We're going to buy a house together, and..." Mulder never finished his sentence. He was interrupted by a slapping sound as a heavy file folder hit the floor behind him. He whirled around towards the doorway and was met by the sight of Skinner, face comically frozen in shock. After a moment, Skinner snapped his mouth shut. Opened it. Shut it. Opened it, and said, "I... I had a problem with your report and tried to call you into a meeting, but there's something wrong with your phoneline and I couldn't get through so I came down here and..." he gathered himself a bit, "and I heard you using your work hours to tease Agent Scully. I'm appalled, Mulder. And, frankly, you almost gave me a heart-attack. I'm not the young man I used to be, and for a moment I thought you were serious." Mulder sighed, and took a moment to rub his temples. Then he quickly pulled two of the office chairs together, so they sat side by side. He took his partner by the arm and sat her down in one, and motioned for his confused boss to sit in the other. He had placed the chairs facing the desk, and took a seat atop it. He stooped down a bit to be face to face with Skinner and Scully. The he began to speak to them in a slow, careful voice one might use with a child. A child one has lost all patience with. "Now, you two listen to me. I am living with Alex, and have been for the past six and a half months. I love him. He loves me. We're buying a house." He received two blank looks. He heaved a sigh. "What do I have to do to prove it to you? Wait... I know." He pulled his cell phone from his jacket pocket, and handed it to Scully. "Okay, dial my home number, and give the phone back to me." Scully dialed the number with shaking fingers, and handed the phone back. As he listened to the ringing on the other end of the line, Mulder said, "Okay, lovely assistant, will you please inform the rest of the audience that it was indeed my number that you dialed?" Scully turned to Skinner, and nodded. Meanwhile, Mulder's answering machine picked up. He listened to the sound of his own voice on the tape, and then heard the beep. "Hello, Alex? It's me, baby. Please pick u... hi honey..." He laughed. "No, that's not why I'm calling... Well, I'd like to, but I can't right now... Yes, there is a reason why I called. "I need you to do me a favor... No, just talk to Scully for a minute.... NO! I'm *not* joking!" He began to mumble under his breath. "I have never played a prank in my life and yet everybody thinks I'm the worlds greatest joker..." Krycek made a comment, and Mulder returned to normal volume. "Nothing, nothing. Just, for the sake of my sanity, *please* just for me, talk to Scully... Thanks honey." He extended his arm to hand Scully the phone. She stared, wide eyed with horror and apprehension, before taking it and gingerly holding it to her ear. "H... hello?" After a moment, she said, "Well, because I didn't believe him when he told me he was living with you. Umm... uh, why don't you talk to Skinner now? No, Mulder isn't insane. Skinner walked in during our conversation and heard Mulder say that he loves you... Yeah, he told me... His exact words were, 'I love him more than anything.'... Mulder, he wants to talk to you." Mulder took the phone, and Krycek said something that made him smile. Then he turned to Skinner, and asked, "Do you still need to hear?" Skinner nodded. He picked up the phone as if he was half expecting to hear Frohike on the other end, saying, "Gotcha!" But the only voice on the other end was Krycek's, offering a nervous hello. At the sound Skinner thrust the phone back at Mulder. "No, it's me again... Yeah, I think I have them convinced now... I'll tell you the rest of the story when I get home... Ha! '*If*' indeed! Okay... okay... Love you too. Bye." He hit the end button, and returned his attention to the shocked people before him. To be continued...