TITLE: Rational Delusions (1 of 1)
           AUTHOR: Rhetta
           RATING: G 
           CLASSIFICATION: Vignette
           DISTRIBUTION: Posted with Rhetta's permission at "So Little Time X-Files Fanfiction Archive" Anywhere else just let me know.
           FEEDBACK: rhoannan@home.com  
           SPOILERS: 'Duane Barry' and the first part of 'Ascension'
           DISCLAIMER:  Mulder, Scully, and The X-Files don't belong 
           to me.  You're thinking of Chris Carter, 1013, and Fox. 
           But hey, I'm flattered you thought they did. I'm just 
           borrowing them for a little while. I'll return them. Really.  
           Well...maybe not Mulder. 
           SUMMARY: What was going through Mulder's head on the 
           drive to Scully's apartment at the beginning of 'Ascension'?
           
           
           **********
           
           She was okay.  She was an FBI agent.  Trained for any kind 
           of situation.  She knew how to take care of herself. She 
           probably even had her gun on whoever had startled her right 
           now.  Well, it had been more than startled.  
           
           The noises he'd heard had sounded more dramatic than that.  
           And the fear in her voice.  "Mulder, I need your help!"  
           
           He shuddered.  
           
           He was positive his heart had stopped for a moment when 
           he'd heard that.  Of course now it seemed to be beating 
           faster the closer he got to her apartment.  He stepped on 
           the gas and sped through the next intersection.  
           
           The sound of car horns vaguely reminded him that it had 
           been on a red light.  
           
           Not that it had mattered.
           
           She was okay.  She'd be in her apartment waiting for him, 
           smiling sheepishly at overreacting on his machine.  He 
           smiled to himself.  She always hated it when she got 
           emotional in front of others.  Especially him.  
           
           She might even have a scientific explanation for her 
           outburst ready when he got there.  It always amazed him 
           how she could rattle off those complicated rationalizations 
           without a moments hesitation as if she'd only then plucked 
           them out of thin air.  Whoever had coined the phrase `smart 
           is sexy' definitely knew what they were talking about.  
           
           Not that he thought of Scully that way.  
           
           She was his partner not his...well, they were just friends.
           
           That was all.  
           
           Good friends.  
           
           And she had called his name. "Mulder, I need your help!"  
           He swerved around a slow moving car and sped back up.  He 
           was having trouble catching his breath and his heart was 
           about to burst out of his chest.  He took a deep breath 
           and tightened his already vise-like grip on the steering 
           wheel.
           
           She was okay.  He knew it.  She might even be outside her 
           apartment tapping her foot impatiently.  "Nice to see you 
           Mulder.  Glad you hurried."  Then she'd give him 'the look.'  
           Although he'd never admit it to her, or anyone for that 
           matter, he loved that look.  In fact, there were times when 
           he would say things even he thought was `out there' just to 
           see it.  The look was special.  It was reserved for him 
           alone and even though it always meant she thought his 
           current theory was insane he still got a little thrill 
           every time he saw it.  That and her "Mulder's it's me" over 
           his cell.  
           
           Which, now that it occurred to him, brought up another 
           disturbing thought.  
           
           Why hadn't she called him to let him know she was okay?  
           That it had all been a false alarm. He glanced over at his 
           cellphone.  It was on.  If she had called he would have 
           gotten it.  If she could have called.  
           
           He turned the corner faster than he realized and skidded 
           over into the other lane.  Fortunately it was empty at the 
           time.  The sight that greeted him as he pulled onto her 
           street sent a shiver of alarm down his spine. Directly 
           ahead was two police cars and what sounded like a helicopter
           was hovering up above. Also, there was a large group of 
           plainclothes and uniformed police gathered around her 
           apartment building.  It was a lot more activity than there 
           should have been for a simple arrest.  He felt another 
           shiver, stronger this time, and his heart was beating so 
           loud he was sure it could be heard by passersby.
           
           But she was okay.  She had probably called them to pick up 
           whoever was there.  Since she was a Federal Agent they 
           probably overreacted.  She was obviously inside answering 
           a few questions.  That's why he didn't see her out front.  
           She was in there giving them a full account.  That was it.  
           He pulled as close to the building as he could get and 
           turned off the engine.  "Mulder, I need your help!"  
           For some reason his fingers weren't functioning properly.  
           It took him forever to unlock his seatbelt and clamber out 
           the door.  
           
           If he could only get the sound of her voice out of his 
           head he might be able to believe what he'd been thinking.  
           The alternative has too painful.  Too horrifying.  He let 
           out a ragged breath.  He couldn't think that.  Not and make 
           it to her door under his own power.  And the sooner he got 
           there the sooner Scully could tell him everything was fine.  
           He began to walk towards her front door as quickly as his 
           unsteady legs would let him, lifting the police tape and 
           pulling out his ID as he went. 
           
           She'd be okay.  She had to be.
           
           
END