Camp Lakeside Fun was closing for the year. Fox had only spent a few days with Dana. He cared for her and didn't want to let her go yet.
He'd loved talking to her. She hadn't asked about his family, the subject he wasn't very comfortable talking about. Somehow, he felt connected to her. She was an intelligent girl, very much into her study of the sciences, yet she hadn't laughed when he asked her about believing in life from beyond the stars. She'd just said, "I'm not sure."
Now was a time for goodbyes. However there were no tears. They were past the age of crying. They felt an immense sadness that they couldn't spend any more time with each other.
They were in an embrace by the bus Dana was to get on in five minutes. Fox liked the feeling of her head on his chest, his hand stroking her hair.
However, he nudged her when Danielle approached them. The girl looked like she hadn't gotten too much sleep in the past few days. "Dana, Fox, I don't mean to intrude but I'd like to thank you both for helping me."
Dana touched her arm. "No problem. We would have done it for anybody who needed help."
Danielle hesitated before handing them both slips of paper. "This is my address. I'd like to keep in contact with both of you. Dana, I'll get your address on the bus but I hear you're off to university in England, Fox. Perhaps you can write to me in your spare time. When you're not writing to Dana, that is." She gave a small smile.
"Sure, Danielle. That won't be a problem." Fox grinned.
She shifted. "Well, I'll leave you two alone. See you on the bus, Dana." She went to get her bags.
Fox put his hand on Dana's neck and traced her cheekbone with his thumb. "I am going to miss you so much. I just wish I had something to give you to remember me, just in case we never see each other again."
"Fox, I'll remember you no matter what. Just send me a picture when you get to jolly old England. That's all I want. I'll send you one of me when I can. Now, will you help me--"
He cut her off by pushing his lips against hers. She simply basked in this joy; she knew there was a chance she might never see Fox again.
After a few minutes, she managed to say, "Can you help me onto the bus?"
***
"Sure." He grabbed the bags that were on the ground. He followed her up the bus stairs.
Rachel sat at the back beside Danielle. "Dana, we saved you the seat across from us."
"I think Danielle should sit up front. The back is too bumpy," Fox said, setting the bags on the seat behind the driver. "Rachel, why don't you come sit up here as well?"
The two girls agreed and came to the front. "You are so lucky, Dana," Rachel whispered.
Before Fox got off the bus, he gave Dana another long kiss. "We'll see each other again. I'm sure of it."
Saying the last goodbye was the hardest thing he could have done. Dana felt the same way.
******
"Dana, sweetheart, there's a package for you on the kitchen table!" Dana heard her mother call as she came in the door after school. "It's from England."
Dana threw her book bag down and dashed into the kitchen. It had been nearly three months since she'd left Fox at camp. She hadn't heard from him since then but she knew that he was probably extremely busy with school.
The package was small and wrapped in brown paper. In the corner where the return address was, it said "F. Mulder". She tore the paper off and found a small white box. Carefully, she removed the lid.
Inside was a piece of paper. She unfolded it and read:
To Dana,
I miss you so much. I'd really like to see you again. Perhaps when I'm back in the States.
I hope us having to go our separate ways didn't break your heart. Do you remember saying that the only way I could kiss you was if I didn't break your heart?
Look under the photo of me.
Fox
She smiled when she saw the picture of him; he was smiling, standing against a tree. Dana moved the photo out of the box and gasped at what she saw.
A gold ring sat atop a bed of cotton. It had a heart on it, with an opal and an amethyst embedded in the gold. It was their birthstones.
Dana slipped it on her ring finger before rushing off to write Fox a thank you letter. She couldn't believe this was what he wanted her to remember him by; it was so extravagant and beautiful.
But it made her want to see him again.
Thirteen years later...
Dana Scully put on the small opal earrings and checked herself once over as she turned to open the door. She twisted the knob and pulled the door open to reveal the current love of her life, Steven Withbart. Steven was suave, debonair, and rich.
"Are you ready, Dana, my love?" he asked, bringing her hand to his lips and gently kissing it.
She blushed. "Of course, Steve. Let me go get my purse."
He patiently waited for her return, then beamed as she took out the keys to lock and shut her door. He took her hand and lead her to his car. "Dana, you look positively ravishing tonight." He let his eyes wander down her body, surveying the twenty-eight-year-old redhead, who was wearing a sleek, form-fitting hunter green velvet dress that had a slit up to mid-thigh, and a neckline that was nowhere near her neck, but down about mid-breast. It was an off the shoulder dress that looked like it might have cost a fortune.
Steven and Dana's date had gone very well. After dinner and dancing, the two had gone for a romantic stroll in Washington Square Park.
"Dana, look at that bird over there." He pointed off toward the trees. "Do you think that he knows what he's doing, or where he's going in life?"
"I've never really thought about it before. I guess maybe so."
"I believe that every living thing had a purpose, a plan and a soulmate to share it all with. I believe that whatever happens to that poor creature, whether it be that he dies tomorrow, or lives on to be the missing cure to AIDS, there is a plan."
"That sounds logical." Dana nodded.
Steven stopped abruptly. "I also believe that the same it true for humans." His voice lowered significantly as he got down on one knee and presented her with a small jewelry box. "Dana Katherine Scully, will you become a part of my life? Not only as a friend or a lover, but as a soulmate?"
Dana lowered her head. "Steve, can I have a few days to think it over?"
"Of course Dana, after all, we do have forever together, I hope." He said as he got up, took her arm, and led her home.
The next day...
Section Chief Blevins peered at Dana from over his bifocals. He was an old man with white hair, slightly balding, and looked to be quite plump. "Agent Scully, I have a new assignment for you. Have you heard of Agent Mulder?"
"By reputation only, sir."
"And what have you heard of him?"
"I've heard that he is extremely brilliant, but has his head too deep to the paranormal. I’ve also heard that some of the kids in Quantico called him 'Spooky'."
Section Chief Blevins nodded. "Now you have a new assignment. You are to work with Agent Mulder on the X-files. You are to report to there as soon as we are finished with this meeting."
"Yes sir."
"Any questions?" he paused for a moment, watching her shake her head. "Well then, you are excused. Good day Ms. Scully."
*knock knock*
"Nobody down here but the FBI's most unwanted!" came the call. Dana slowly pushed the door open.
"Hello?" she glanced around the room. "Anybody here?"
"Who are you?"
"I'm Agent Dana Scully. Are you Agent Fox Mulder?"
"That would be me." Dana almost jumped when she saw the head pop out over the papers that were on what she thought was a desk.
She walked over to him. "Nice to meet you. I'm your new partner."
"So they sent you here to spy on me?"
"Um... I don't think so. If I am, I don't know, I can assure you."
"Of course you know."
She sighed, exasperated.
"So, Scully, who did you tick off to get stuck with this detail?"
"Actually, I'm looking forward to working with you."
"No you aren't. You just can't wait to get away from old spooky Mulder, right?"
"Mr. Mulder, if you're trying to drive me away, it's not going to work. I'm very persistent."
"I'm sure you are but I would really like it if you just did your work and not get in my way."
Dana raised her hands. "No problem. Where can I sit?"
Mulder put his glasses back on. He thumbed behind him. "There's a desk back there. Knock yourself out."
She made her way through the mess to the small desk. It was covered with folders so she guessed this was also his desk.
"Hey, Agent Scully, are you prepared to go to Oregon?"
"Um, yeah," she said, moving some books off the chair that was behind the desk.
She jumped when Mulder suddenly exclaimed, "Hey! Wait a minute!" He walked back to the cluttered desk. "Can I ask you a question about your childhood?"
"Sure but I may not answer you, depending on what the question is."
"Did you go to summer camp? When you were in your mid-teens?"
Dana raised an eyebrow. "Yes, at some camp in California."
"Called Camp Lakeside Fun?" he said eagerly.
"Yes. Why?" She rested her head on her hand. "When I was fifteen."
His eyes widened. "Oh my goodness. It *is* you!" He bent down slightly. "Don't you remember me?"
"No, not really." She narrowed her eyes.
"Fox Mulder, camp--"
"Counsellor! I'm sorry I didn't recognize you."
"So this is what you grew up to be! Wow!"
Dana frowned. "Well, what happened to your career as a psychologist?"
"I have my B.A. in psychology."
She looked down at her hands. "What happened to us? You used to write letters all the time but two years later, they just stopped."
Mulder avoided her glance. "I'd met somebody by then." He looked up and saw Dana's straight face.
"Oh, that's nice. I mean, we had to move on. However, it really hurt when you said you'd write but you never did." Dana picked a stray thread from her blazer.
"I know, and I'm sorry but my relationship and school took up my time. Then I moved out of the dorm and I lost your address."
She stood up. "Listen, *Mulder*, you don't have to explain. We're co-workers now. We're partners. That's all I want to be. I have a boyfriend."
"Fine, *Scully*. That's the way it'll stay. And whoever this guy is, he's a lucky man." Mulder flashed a smile and had it returned with a less enthusiastic half-smile from Dana.
OREGON,
MARCH 22, 1992
"Dear Journal," Dana Scully wrote:
"F-- I mean, *Mulder* and I are getting along well... still no mention of summer camp. Although I wish he would. Whenever I bring it up, he always finds a way to change the subject. I might confront him tonight. I say might because I'm afraid that he will hurt me once our protective barriers--Scully and Mulder--are gone, and Dana and Fox are are all that are left. I'm afraid we won't have the same chemistry, the same connection that we had before, and that would be disappointing. I'm afraid he doesn't remember all that we were once upon a time, when we were children."
"Scully" came from his mouth.
"Not Scully. Please. Call me Dana."
"No. Dana... Dana was a young woman at camp. You are Scully, the FBI
agent."
"No, Mulder. I am Dana Scully. Both the girl at camp and the agent.
I'm still the same person you knew at summer camp. I'm just older."
"No Scully. You are Scully. I cannot have you. Dana, I could have,
but Scully--"
"Why don't you let me be Dana tonight? Please?" Her eyes darted to
look at his hazel ones, waiting for some sort of reaction.
"Dana," He breathed, "I've missed you so much." He pulled her into
his arms.
"I've missed you too, Fox." She felt his body tighten at the sound
of his first name.
"Not Fox. I'm Mulder."
"No. No. No. You are Fox. You are the man I knew at camp. You always
will be. Fox and Mulder are the same person."
"You don't understand Scully. The only people who have ever called me
'Fox' are people who have hurt me. Fox has died. A long time ago. I
doubt he'll ever live again. Samantha, and my mom and -- and you."
His eyes, which had previously been darting around looking at the
stars, now pierced into hers with a uncharted magnitude. You hurt me,
Dana. That's why I can't call you Dana. Dana hurt me when she stopped
writing. That's why, for right now, can't you be Scully?"
"I love you Mulder. I love you too, Fox. Dana loves you both. She
just wished *you* hadn't stopped writing. It was so hard to cope,
not knowing what happened."
"If you had only asked, Dana. If you had only asked, I would have come
running from England to be with you. If you had only asked."
His last sentence hung in the air. The silence was almost palpable, as
was the tension.
Scully lowered her head. "This isn't right. Not now. I have a
fiancé and I love him. This wouldn't be good. When I decided to
come here tonight, I didn't even think of him but I am thinking
about him now."
"You're engaged? You never told me that... Wow, that much time
has passed."
"Fox--Mulder, it's been thirteen years since I've seen you and I
don't think it's proper to just leave my current boyfriend to go
back to one I had when I was a teenager, one who stopped writing
because he got a new girlfriend."
"That hurt."
"But it's true." Scully pulled away from him. "Did your girlfriend
tell you to stop writing to me?"
"No. I just forgot... Phoebe had nothing to do with it."
She sighed. "That's even worse. You did it on your own."
"I'm really sorry, Dana. I didn't know I'd hurt you so much,
but I never imagined you'd be one to hold a grudge."
"We have to get to work, Mulder. We'll discuss our camping days
later."
"Sure."
********
Scully was excited as she picked up the phone when she arrived
home from the airport. The long flight from Oregon had made her
wired.
She quickly dialled a number and let the phone ring. "Dani, it's
Dana."
Danielle Benson gave a small squeal over the phone. "Hey, you!
How have you been?"
She cut to the chase. "Guess who I was partnered with at the FBI?"
There was silence before Danielle asked "Who?"
"Fox Mulder."
"Oh my goodness! You're kidding? What's he like now?"
Scully sighed. "Really weird. We were investigating a case about
a UFO. He's into that."
"So how is everything with Steve? Everything okay on the
soon-to-be homefront?"
"He doesn't know about my past with Mulder, if that's what you
mean." Scully sat on her couch, rubbing her neck with her free
hand.
"Mulder? No first names?" Danielle chuckled.
"We're professionals."
"Well, say hi to him for me. I wonder if he'll remember me."
Scully said, "I'm sure he will."
"Bye, then, Dana. Enjoy your night."
Danielle and Dana had stayed friends since camp, and now they
lived an hour from each other. They spoke on the phone often and
now that Fox was back in her life, Dana knew she'd be seeking
Danielle's advice more than usual.
Working with F-- Mulder would be hard because she couldn't
get rid of the memories of what they'd been for a few days in
that summer thirteen years before.
A week later...
When Scully came home, she had a message on her machine from Steve.
"Dana, honey, it's Steve. We need to talk. Call me."
My fingers were trembling as I dialed his number. Then something
shocked her.
A woman answered.
"Hello?" she said in a cheap, floozy voice.
"Hi. This is Dana." Scully's voice sounded confident. "Is Steven
there?"
She giggled. "Stevie!" she called. "It's Dana. Are you home?"
"NO! I don't want to talk to her ever!" His voice was slurred. "Tell
that bitch to go screw someone else since she gets so much practice!"
Dana hung up the phone before she could hear the end of the
conversation. Tears sprang to her eyes as she called another familiar
number.
"Mulder?" she almost whispered. She could here moaning in the
background, and then she heard a button click.
"What is it, Scully? You sound horrible."
"It's my fiancé. He-- he... I mean..."
"Calm down Scully. What happened?"
"He thinks I'm cheating on him. He called me a--" That's when the
tears came.
"Scully, I'll be right over."
They both hung up their phones and after ten minutes, Scully heard
a small knock on the door. "Scully?"
She practically ran to the door. Opening it, she saw him standing
there in a pair of black jeans and a navy blue T-shirt.
"Mulder!" Scully cried as a fresh wave of tears struck her. His
arms came around her. His head rested on hers and he stroked her
auburn hair.
"It's O.K.. Everything is O.K." He led her by her hand to the couch
and he sat down, patting the seat next to him. Scully burrowed her
head into his chest and he held her.
"I loved him. I was gonna marry him. He thought you and I were--"
Scully could feel his body stiffen against hers. Her head came up to
look at his expression. It was total shock.
Trying to cover up what she just said, "It doesn't matter what he
thought. All that matters is that he didn't trust me." She continued,
"It always happens like this. I get involved and then the other person
loses all faith in me."
His face contorted into a frown. "Not every time. When we were Dana and
Fox...I mean.... Dana, I always trusted you with my mind, heart, and
soul. It never mattered how far away you were from me. It didn't matter
when we lost contact. Scully, I would have given my life for you at
anytime. I had always, in a deep part of my mind, believed that you
would too." His face looked up to hers as a kind of confirmation. His eyes,
silently asking in a language that could never be written, if she felt the
same way.
As an answer, Dana dipped her head in and met his mouth with hers. The
kiss was light, almost gentle, until the more primitive forms of their
selves began to take over. His tongue entered her mouth to taste her,
and seemingly liking what he found, began to devour.
She lifted her head from his. His eyes were closed in sheer delight.
He was mouthing "Scully" over and over again. She put a finger to his lips.
"Not Scully tonight. Dana."
His eyes came open. "I love you Dana. I will love you forever and ever.
Just as long as--"
Her eyebrows shot up. "Just as long as what?"
"Just as long as you promise me you'll kiss me like that for as long
as I live."
"Amen." She whispered as she dove in again.
END
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