Title: Step #4: Lonely Man Walking
Author: Susan Frankovich
E-mail: sus...@ticnet.com or filesfa...@yahoo.com
Classification: vignette
Spoiler: post all things
Archive: No.
Disclaimer: These characters belong to each other,
not me.

Author's notes: This is the fourth in a series of
vignettes occurring late in season seven that
chronicle the start of Mulder and Scully's romantic
relationship.

*Another quick note at the end.

You can find all of the stories in the Steps Series
at Ephemeral or at my site here:
http://members.tripod.com/sfrankovich/index.html

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

Lonely Man Walking
by Susan Frankovich
~~~~~~

Hoover Building
9:33 am

When I pull into the parking lot, I immediately see
that she's not here.

I suppose that she could've parked her car in a
different spot today, but it's doubtful, considering
that she's been parking in the same area for the past
seven years.

Quickly finding a place to park, I pull in and get
out.  Scanning the lot a second time, I still don't
see her car, and my mind instantly goes into overdrive,
considering all the possibilities of where she might
be.

In one of the departments on the other side of the
building?  

At home?  

Driving around somewhere, trying to rationalize what
happened between us last night?

Well, there's only one way to find out...

Though I've walked through this building thousands
of times, once I get inside, everything seems different
to me.  The hallway seems longer.  The lights seem
brighter, and if I didn't know any better, I could
swear that every person I walk past knows that Scully
and I had sex last night.

And that she left me this morning without saying
goodbye.

Unsuccessfully trying to swallow the huge dry lump
now embedded in my throat, I pick up my pace and
hope that no one can see the sweat accumulating on
my forehead.

Is this how she felt earlier when she walked down
these same halls?

Finally after what seems like the longest five
minutes of my life, I reach our office.  As usual
the door is closed...Scully and I always keep it
that way now...but I'm surprised and a little more
than concerned to find that it's locked.

Pulling out my keys, I unlock the door and open it,
only to be greeted by an empty room.

And a note lying on the floor.

I quickly step inside and pick up the piece of paper,
already knowing who it's from before opening it. Then
I turn on the lights and walk across the room, though
I don't know how, considering how unsteady my legs
feel at the moment.

Sitting down at my desk, I wipe the sweat from my
forehead, then close my eyes and slowly unfold the
paper in my hands, not sure I really want to read
what she has to say.

Once my eyes are closed, my sense of smell quickly
takes over, and I find myself bringing her letter
up closer to my face so I can breathe in even more
of her.

And I remember.

The way her delicate hands glided across my chest.  
The way her tongue tickled the roof of my mouth. The
way her hips rose from the bed as I slid inside of
her.

The way she looked at me afterwards.

I'll *never* forget that.

Ever.

Making myself open my eyes again, I bite down on my
lip, and silently read her hastily scrawled words...

    Mulder,

    I came to the office this morning with every
    intention of treating this day like any other
    day, but you and I both know that it's not like
    any other day.  I don't regret what happened
    between us last night, but I need time. I need
    time to make sure this is right...for both of
    us. I know as soon as you read this you're going
    to want to come over to my apartment to talk
    things out, but if you do, you won't find me
    there.  

    I'll call you later, I promise.

    Scully

I immediately read her words again, and then a third
time before I suddenly realize that I've bitten down
so hard on my lip that it's bleeding.

Quickly folding up her letter and putting it in my
coat pocket, I swipe the blood off my lip with my
thumb, then leave the office and begin the long walk
back down the hallway.

Alone.

~step four completed~

*In case you were wondering, and even if you weren't,
the title for this step is simply a variation on the
title of the Sean Penn/Susan Sarandon movie "Dead
Man Walking.":)

Steps Series (so far)

#1: The Unexpected Curve Ball
#2: The Realness of Red Hair
#3: The Power of the Shower
#4: Lonely Man Walking