Title: Happiness - Be Mine Author: shawntaw Category: MSR, Au Rating: G BIG NOTE: HEY, I WROTE IT ALL IN ONE PART AS A VALENTINE'S GIFT!!! NO CONTINUATION!! MIMIC WILL BE SO PROUD OF ME!!! :) Disclaimer: I don't own these characters. I am making no profit. But I am sure letting them have some fun. :) Summary: Who sent the Valentine? And who's it really for? Feedback makes me very happy at shawntaw@hotmail.com :) TO DANIELA LABOD WHO HAS MADE A WEBSITE OF MY STORIES: www.geocities.com/corran_14776/shawntaw.html Thank you.:) Note: I totally ripped off the premise from some movie - I think it was called "Love Letter?" It had Tom Selleck and Ellen DeGeneres in it. If I'm wrong and you recognize this premise, please let me know so I can write a better disclaimer. But, anyway - just so you know - I didn't come up with this idea. I just thought it would be funny in the X-files universe. So, I bow gratefully to the originators of this idea...whomever that may be. Um, and I don't any of the X-files characters either. Gee, I don't sound very creative, do I? *sigh* *L* I-I-I own the initiative to put all of it together in literature...so there! ;) ******************************************************* "I will be yours; won't you be mine? Meet me here at half past nine." The card was perfect. *Perfect* ******************************************************* Scully stepped out of the elevator on February 14th with a certain amount of trepidation. There had been no more hijinx from Mulder since 'the elevator incident' (and she wished he'd stop calling it that!), but she had decided not to lower her guard until AFTER Valentine's Day. She nearly stepped on the red envelope as she strode down the hallway to her and Mulder's office. Scully smiled and gingerly picked it up. *Hmmm, no ticking..* She laughed at her own joke and put it in with her own mail as she unlocked the door and let herself in the office. Setting her stuff down and getting herself situated for the morning with a cup of coffee and some files, she sat down to open her Valentine before Mulder arrived. Scully read it and smiled just as Mulder breezed in the door. "Hey, Scully," he greeted her as he set his stuff by his desk. She simply waved the card at him. "Where? Here at the office?" He paused in the middle of taking off his coat. "What?" She waggled the card at him. "Where?" "Where what?" Scully frowned. *Why is he playing games with me?* "Where at a half past nine!" Mulder stared at her for a moment and then knocked himself in the forehead with the heel of his head, saying "Dooooiiiiing!" "Who's on first, what's on second, I don't know's on third..what are you talking about, Scully?" Her concern abruptly became genuine. "This isn't from you?" She again held the card aloft. He walked over to her, reached for it. "No, where did you get this?" Scully looked stunned. "On the floor, right outside the door. I assumed it was a set-up from you." "Not me," he said and then grinned playfully. "Looks like you have an admirer." She shook her head and smiled back. "Who says it was for me? This is your office too, Mulder." He looked shocked at the prospect and re-read the card. "Who could it be?" He muttered. "Actually, the questions would be: Who sent it? Who is it for? Where does this person want one of us to meet them at half past nine? Sounds like here in the office, but it is pretty obscure." Mulder was nodding, deep in thought. "An informant?" Scully's eyebrows almost flew off her head they rose so fast. "A poetic and Valentine-loving informant, Mulder? An informant with a crush on you? Or me?" They both stared at the card for a minute or two. "Well," Scully finally said, breaking the silence, "we won't figure out anything this way. I'm sure more clues will be given." Mulder was still frowning in thought, but nodded and handed her the card. She stashed it in her briefcase. ****************************************************** Skinner smiled at the box of candy Maggie had sent him for Valentine's Day, opened it, ate a piece of chocolate, and closed it again. He opened his desk drawer and hid it inside. Closing the file folder he had been reading, Skinner pinched the bridge of his nose to ward off a headache and squeezed his eyes shut. *They had to replace all of their clothing because WHAT got on them?* He opened his eyes and the folder and looked again. Yep. Still there. Kim's voice sounded over the intercom on his desk. "Sir? Agents Mulder and Scully are here for your 9 o'clock meeting?" He sighed. "Send them in." ******************************************************* All and all, it went well. Scully was able to rationally explain most of the expenditures and Mulder explained the rest in his own way. Skinner was thinking that either he was getting used to Mulder's explanations or they were making more sense to him. Either option didn't make Skinner feel any better. He cleared his throat. "Fine, Agents. I expect all the proper paperwork to be filled out for the extra expenditures and then we'll see if Accounting will approve the funds for-" "Right here, sir," Scully had interrupted him and was holding out a slim manilla folder. Skinner took it with a scowl and, lifting an eyebrow, he opened it. Sure enough, it contained the forms he had been speaking about. *Have I gotten THAT predictable?* He grumpily closed the folder and set it on his desk. "That will be all, Agents." Scully snapped her briefcase shut and the two rose, turning to leave. Skinner noticed Scully's eyes twinkling with amusement. ****************************************************** It wasn't until sometime after the meeting that Skinner found it. A card tucked neatly in between the last two pieces of paper in the folder. "I will be yours; won't you be mine? Meet me here at a half past nine." Skinner's mouth fell open. *A Valentine? From-from-from... Scully?!* ******************************************************* The phone in the X-files office was ringing when Mulder and Scully returned from lunch. Scully picked it up. "X-files Division. Scully." For a moment, there was silence. Silence and...breathing. "Hello?" *Obscene phone call?* "Um, hello...Agent Scully." *Skinner?!* "Sir?" Mulder was giving her the "What?" look, but she waved him off. She didn't know what was going on either. "Scully, I've been thinking about the...forms..you gave me this morning." She waited. "Yes sir?" "I think we should discuss this, don't you?" She frowned. "What? What?!" Mulder was buzzing around her like a fly. She covered the mouthpiece with her hand. "Stop it, Mulder!" Scully spoke again into the phone. "If you think it is neccessary, sir. I thought it was self- explanatory." More silence. "Where?" "Excuse me, sir?" "Where, Scully. I said, where? My office? Your office?" She blinked. "Where at half past nine?" he said again, still in a low, secretive voice. She gasped. "Hold-hold on a minute, sir," she quickly said into the receiver. She pressed the hold button and took a deep breath. "Are you going to tell me what the hell is going on?!" *Focus. Focus, Dana. Is Mulder speaking?* She looked blankly at Mulder. "Hello? I said, what's going on?!" Mulder looked indignant. Indignant and worried. "Give me a minute, Mulder," she said, running a hand through her hair. She ran to her desk and hauled her briefcase to the top of it. Unceremoniously, she dumped the entire contents on her desk. "Scully!" Mulder stepped toward her. She held up a hand to stop him and dug grimly through the contents of her briefcase. No card. She sighed and walked back to the telephone. Mulder was watching with wide eyes. Scully pushed the 'hold' button again to disengage it. "Sir?" "Yes. I'm still here. Scully," Skinner continued before she could interrupt, "I think we should meet. But only to discuss this. I had no idea you even.." He trailed off. "What about Maggie?" Skinner then said, sounding like a man trapped. "Sir," she said, taking another deep breath, "I didn't send the card. It got stuck in the folder by mistake." Silence. "I should have known," he muttered. She could hear him gritting his teeth in embarassment all the way from the basement. "Sir, don't be embarassed. I found it this morning and thought it was from Mulder. It wasn't. Now we don't know if it was meant for him or me or who it is from. It was left on the floor outside of our door this morning." She held her breath as more silence issued from the telephone. Skinner was mortified; she could tell. "Very well, Agent Scully. Please come at your earliest convenience to pick up your card." "Yes sir," she said with some relief. Mulder, having discerned what was going on from her side of the conversation, looked as though he were choking back laughter. Skinner hung up without saying goodbye. ****************************************************** Skinner stared for a moment at the telephone he'd just put back in its cradle. He wished desperately that he could take back the last few minutes. If only he'd thought it through more, he'd have realized. *I was shocked. Shocked and flattered.* He decided to do what he did best. Forget about it. *It never happened.* He threw the card on his desk and got back to work. ******************************************************* Kimberly pushed back a lock of her hair. It had been a long day already. She had been getting some back-filing done for another department as a favor when Skinner didn't need her. She gratefully entered her own office area and sat in her chair. *Ahhh...peace and quiet.* The intercom beeped. "Kim? Kim, are you there?" *How does he DO that?* She wearily leaned forward and pressed the button. "Yes sir, I'm back. Did you need something?" "Yes, I need you to refile these folders on the Carson case and pull some background information for me on another one for a briefing I have in the morning. I have that file in here." She sighed. "Yes sir." Kim wearily rose from her chair and went into Skinner's office. ******************************************************** It was after hours when she found it. "I will be yours; won't you be mine? Meet me here at half past nine." Kim stared at it for a moment. It was in the stack of folders Skinner had asked her to refile. *Did he place it there on purpose for me to find?* She gasped. The robe. *Could he have taken the gesture differently than I meant it?* Her mind whirled. Skinner was interested in...her? She stared at his door. He was still here. In fact, they were practically the only two left in the building. They had been alone before. Worked late many times. But this time it felt...a little scary. A little...exciting. She stared at his door. ******************************************************* Skinner heard his door open. He looked up. Kim was standing framed in the doorway. "Yes, Kim?" "I have the information you wanted....sir." She took a tenative step forward. Skinner nodded and held out his hand for the paperwork. "Thank you." Kim stared at Skinner and tried to picture herself involved with him. He was a handsome man. Much older, true, but sexy. Mysterious, strong and quiet. She had admired him from time to time when he wasn't looking. *What about John?* He had sent her a very sweet card and a rose. A little voice harped in her head. *We've been on ONE date and I helped him through a flu. We're not married. I could date....someone else.* Kim realized Skinner was staring at her. "Something wrong, Kim?" She swallowed and turned toward the door. To his surprise, she closed it. He watched her as she then pulled one of the chairs in front of his desk closer. And closer... And closer. She sat with her knees touching his, an earnest look on her face. "K-Kim?" He couldn't quite read what was going on with her eyes. "I never thought of you that way before," she said. He could hear her swallow the 'sir' at the end. "But, I wouldn't be adverse to a date," she smiled nervously at him. "A date?" He parroted back at her. *What is happening here?!* "Or two," she said, gazing at him, "Where? Did you mean here at your office?" she added. "Huh?" Skinner was noticing that her eyes were green. Very green. "Where?" she repeated, still smiling. "Um..." *What is she talking about? Why didn't I ever notice how good Kim smells before?* She was leaning into his personal space now. "Where at half past nine?" Skinner reacted as though someone had poured ice water over his head. He practically leapt away from her. "What did you say?" Kim looked confused. "I said, where at half past nine?" He closed his eyes. *Will I ever learn? What is wrong with me?! Midlife crisis?!* "Kim," he said, gently, as not to hurt her feelings, "the card isn't from me. It was Agent Scully's. She received it from someone this morning and accidentally left it here when she gave me some papers at the meeting this morning. She'll be coming for it, probably tomorrow." He watched Kim first go pale and then turn bright red. "Um," she said, standing and smoothing her skirt, self- conciously, "alright. I apologize for my behavior, sir." Kim moved the chair back to its original position with small jittery movements and then practically dashed for the door. "Kim?" he stopped her with his voice. "Yes sir?" she said without turning. "Just to make things even, I will tell you a secret. I've never thought of you in that way either, but....I've always found you to be very attractive." Kim leaned forward until her forehead rested on the closed door. "Oh great, pity," she moaned. Skinner strode forward hurriedly. "No, no, Kim, it is very true." She turned and looked at him doubtfully. He swallowed. This was going to be embarrassing. "Kim, what I am about to say can never leave this room and you are never to mention it again; do you understand?" She nodded, a confused look on her face. He looked at the floor and closed his eyes. He put his hands on his hips like he did when he was making a presentation. He conjured up the one unprofessional thought he'd had of his secretary. "My favorite outfit of yours is the taupe one. It has a little slit on either side of the skirt, that - when you cross your legs - shows more leg than usual. Sometimes, when you wear that outfit, I'll call you in to take notes just so I can watch you sit in a chair and cross your legs." He opened his eyes and wondered whether or not she would bring him up on sexual harrassment charges. Kim was looking at him with watery eyes. She gave him a grateful smile. "Well, sir," she said in a slightly choked voice, "If there's nothing else that needs my attention, I think I'll head home." Skinner was immensely relieved. They were going to act as if this never happened. "I'll see you tomorrow, Kim." She nodded and turned to leave. ********************************************************************** Skinner was at home, shoes off, tye and jacket off. He was padding around in the kitchen, getting himself some supper when the phone rang. "Skinner." "Hello, Walter." He smiled. Maggie. "Hello, Maggie. Did you enjoy your Valentine's gift?" He had sent her an arrangement of orchids. Her favorite. "I loved the flowers, Walter, but where are you?" "What? I thought you said that you had to go to your cousin's house. I thought she was sick." "I did say that, Walter, but my cousin's husband stayed home from work, so I'm free. Didn't you get my Valentine's gift?" He felt confused. "Yes, Maggie, and I loved the chocolate. You're bad for my diet," he joked. "And?" "And?" Skinner repeated. "Walter, what time is it?" He looked at his watch. "9:50 p.m. Why?" "You're late, that's why." He suddenly realized. A grin broke over his face. *It WAS for me after all!* "Maggie, did you send me a card asking me to be at your place at half past nine?" "Of course," she said, obviously not understanding. "Do you know why it was found outside the X-files office this morning?" "What?" Maggie sounded amazed, "I taped it to the box of chocolates I left at the front desk for you this morning. I left it there so everyone would know you got a box of chocolates from someone for Valentine's Day." There was a smile in her voice. She was quiet for a moment. "But, then I did try to drop by Dana's office to see if she was there. I guess it could have stuck to me somehow." Skinner chuckled. "I'll be right over, Maggie. I'll tell you the whole sorted tale when I get there." "Alright," she said, amused, "but hurry up, Walter. Dinner's getting cold." ********************************************************************** The room was glowing softly with firelight and the two reclining figures on the couch were laughing. Maggie shook her head with merriment and looked at her date, sitting beside her, blushing and staring into the fire. "You thought Dana - my daughter - had sent you a Valentine?" He cleared his throat. "I'm having a birthday this week and I guess I've been feeling-" "Old?" Maggie supplied, smiling. She remembered when her husband had gone through this phase. Skinner nodded and glanced sideways at her. *She sure is taking this well.* "And I guess it flattered me to think that a younger woman had...a crush on me," he sipped his champagne, "Although I was going to turn her down flat, of course." "Of course," Maggie nodded with a sly smile, "But I'm sure you were wondering how to do that without hurting her feelings...especially when you happen to be dating her mother." Skinner was nodding, "Oh, and the story only gets better." ********************************************************************** Mulder had Scully by the hand and was almost bodily dragging her up the hill. "Mulder! For goodness sake, hold on!" "Come on, Scully!" He had a blanket draped over one shoulder and a picnic basket in his free hand. "If we don't hurry, we'll miss it!" Finally, they reached the top. Scully bent at the waist and tried to catch her breath while Mulder spread out the blanket. "Mulder," she huffed, "Mulder, what are we doing? Isn't it a little cold for a picnic?" Mulder pulled her down with him onto the blanket. "Lay back, Scully. Tell me what you see." The two of them lay side by side and looked up at the sky. Scully gasped. The stars hung thick, bright and low. "They're so bright," she whispered reverently, "so close." "We forget how beautiful the stars can be, living in the city," Mulder said softly from where he lay beside her. The two lay in silence for a moment. Suddenly, a streak of light cut the edge of the sky. "Mulder-" "Shooting stars; the radio said there might be some tonight," he turned and leaned on his elbow, looking at her, "Make a wish, Scully." She smiled to herself and continued to watch the occasional white streaks of light across the sky. She could feel Mulder watching her. Finally, he laid back too, and contemplated the heavens. ********************************************************************** Maggie's mouth was hanging open. "She said what?" Skinner flinched. He wondered why Maggie didn't find Kim's reaction as amusing as she had found his. "She said she wouldn't mind a date; funny, huh?" He crunched on a cheese cracker. "Walter, this woman is your secretary and she's attracted to you. Are you attracted to her?" Skinner took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "Maggie, she's an attractive woman. But I'm not interested in her in that way. By the way, you seem to forgotten that she also said she hadn't thought of me as dating material before." He decided then and there that he was NOT sharing his confession about Kim's taupe outfit with Maggie. Maggie still frowned slightly and stared into the fireplace where the flames flickered warmly. "I know I'm worrying for nothing, but, Walter, she's younger than I am. And very pretty. You're a single man-" He interrupted her by taking her face in his hands and slowly turning her to look at him. "A single man who is seeing someone....seriously, I hope." She nodded and smiled, a watery haze clouding her vision. Skinner smiled gently back at her and pulled her to him. ********************************************************************** On a nondescript hill, far outside of the hubbub of the city, two figures lay intertwined on a blanket under the witness of shooting stars. "Mmmm," Scully said, "Mulder, what time is it?" "Hmmm?" Mulder said from where he nuzzled her neck. "I said, what time is it?" He pulled away from her and pushed the light button on his watch. "10:45 pm. Why?" "Weren't we supposed to be at the office at 9:30 to see if anyone showed up?" Mulder smiled. Good, reliable, practical Scully. For once, Mulder could care less if some Valentine-writing informant was waiting for them. "Nah," Mulder dismissed her concern and, to her delight, pulled her back to him. ********************************************************************** The next morning Walter Skinner stepped almost cheerily out of the elevator and headed for his office. He knew he'd have to explain about the card to Mulder, Scully and Kim, but he was too happy to care. The card HAD been for him. AND he had a lovely evening with Maggie. He entered the office. "Good morning, Kimberly," he said in greeting as he started for his door. "Good morning, sir," she said, standing from behind her desk, eyes twinkling mischeviously. He stopped dead in his tracks. She was wearing the taupe outfit. Kim smiled at him and he almost smiled back. He ducked past her with his usual grumpy manner and went into his office, trying not to blush. ********************************************************************** Happy Valentine's Day!!!!!:) Feedback, pretty please!:)