Title: Happiness: Flirting With Disaster Author: shawntaw Category: MSR, Au Rating: PG Disclaimer: I don't own these characters. I am making no profit. Summary: Happy or...comfortable? And is it neccessary to tell the difference? DEDICATED TO THE DIEHARD "HAPPINESS" SERIES READERS. I APPRECIATE YOU MORE THAN YOU COULD POSSIBLY KNOW!!:) 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: And, for those who were asking, here's the order of the stories in the "Happiness" series (BIG BREATH - THERE'S QUITE A FEW): "Happiness," (This is listed as (no subject) by shawntaw at xfc- atxc because at first I didn't know how to post. After the original "Happiness," each story title is preceded by the word "Happiness" to remind the reader what universe in which it happens.) Then came, "The Morning After," "The Secret," "The Secret II," "The Adjustment Period," "The Adjustment Period II," "Public Displays of Affection," "Public Displays of Affection II," "Family Dinner: Preparations," "The Gang's All Here," "Marking Your Territory," "Alone At Last," "Downtime," "Colds, Flu, and Ailments Of The Spirit," "Colds, Flu, And Ailments Of The Spirit II," "Share And Share Alike," "Share And Share Alike II," "Guilty By Association," "New Year's Eve Misadventures," "Get Ready To Rumble," "Lies and Excuses," "Truth And Consequences," "Back To Basics," "All's Fair In Love," "The Mark Of The Squirrel," "Be Mine," "Aftermath," and, of course, this one. (WHEW!*L*) If you can't find any of these stories and would like to read it - just e-mail me and I will gladly send it to you!!:) ***************************************************** Skinner blew out his breath and wiped a hand across his eyes, pushing his glasses up onto his forehead. Last night had been a long one. What had started out as a simple bust had turned into a potentially deadly situation in which one of his agents had been shot. Luckily, Scully was fine - the bullet only grazed one cheek - but dealing with Mulder in the ER had been another matter entirely. Mulder had gone from eerily quiet at the crime scene - holding and rocking his bleeding and unconcious partner - to a blood-soaked, disheveled lunatic at the hospital. He arrived the same time as the ambulance. He wouldn't let go of Scully's hand. He wanted to know every little thing that was being done to her. Why were they doing that? Was it serious? When Scully came to, he hovered over her. She raised her eyebrow at him in exasperation, but had been too tired to really argue with him. And then the kicker. They released her. Mulder flew off the handle. How could they release her?! She'd been SHOT for goodness' sake!!! Skinner had dragged him out to the waiting area and tried his best to reassure the younger man, but Mulder only seemed to bring his temper back down to a simmer when Scully actually came walking out to go home. He had carefully guided his druggy partner to the exit, giving a general scowl to the whole ER, encompassing Skinner and the other agents standing around as he and Scully left. Skinner sighed again. And then, in his own exhaustion, Skinner had made a mistake. ********************************************************************** (THE NIGHT OF THE BUST...) Skinner sat heavily as the automatic door hissed shut behind Mulder and Scully. *Mulder can be such a handful sometimes.* He could really use a cup of- "Coffee, sir?" He looked up. Kim stood there in blue jeans and a sweater, holding out a styrofoam cup, with a worried crease in her forehead. For a fleeting moment, he wondered why she was here. Then he remembered. She had been a part of the operation. When the team had met in a conference room at the Hoover building, there she had been unobtrusively getting coffee, ordering food, taking notes, making copies, and a hundred other small things that kept the operation running. At the staging area, she had set up thermoses of coffee and some snacks on a card table and continued to keep the agents plied with caffeine and sugar as they were briefed one last time. She had been packing up to leave when the news came in. Agent shot. *She must have come to the ER when she found out it was Scully.* "Sir?" He blinked. He still hadn't answered her. "Um, thank you, Kim," he said, reaching up and taking the cup from her. She sat next to him. "I was glad to see Agent Scully wasn't hurt too badly," she said and then smiled, turning her head to look at him. "I thought Mulder was going to blow a gasket," she said softly, for his ears only, her mouth trying not to smile. He did smile, albeit grimly, and nodded in agreement. He took a sip of coffee and grimaced. "Hospital coffee, sorry. Best I could do on short notice," Kim apologized. He set the cup down beside his chair. "That's alright. I've probably had enough coffee for today anyway." She considered him for a moment and then lightly bumped his shoulder with her own. "Come on, I'll buy you a cup of decent coffee. There's a diner around the corner." His eyebrows shot up at her. Kim reconsidered her casual manner. "Sir," she added. Skinner huffed in amusement. "No, I wasn't chastising you, I was wondering how you knew the diner around the corner has decent coffee." She blushed lightly, "Oh, because I've been there before. I don't live far from here." They sat for a moment staring at each other, shoulder to shoulder. Agents milled about them, picking up their gear and going home. Bust was successful. Injured agent was alright. It was over. Everyone was studiously ignoring the A.D. and his secretary, seemingly in cozy conversation. But keeping up appearances was the last thing on Walter Skinner's mind at the moment. *Its just coffee. Co-workers going out for coffee at the end of work. No crime in that.* Having convinced himself, he nodded at her and stood. "So, show me where this diner is so I can get my decent cup of coffee." Kim smiled and stood next to him, digging her keys out of her pocket. ********************************************************************** Skinner groaned to himself, remembering his faulty reasoning. It had indeed been an innocent cup of coffee - on the surface. But it had also been witty conversation, unspoken attraction, and...comfortable. He knew Kim - she'd been his secretary forever it seemed - and she certainly knew him. Heck, she knew all of his quirks and habits and was STILL interested in being around him. That had to count for something. Didn't it? There was no new relationship awkwardness, no getting to know each other. *Maybe that's all it is....comfortable and familiar. That doesn't have to mean anything. I would be honored to call Kim my friend. Nothing wrong with that..* Skinner nodded to himself firmly and decided. *Friends. Nothing more....and I don't have to tell Maggie because there's nothing to tell.* He nodded again and got back to work. ********************************************************************** When Mulder stopped by to ask about his and Scully's 302, he paused by the window before going in. Kim was sitting at her desk talking to herself. He blinked for a moment and his forehead crinkled, wondering. Finally, he simply shook his head in dismissal and went in. "Its nothing. Nothing. No big deal," she was muttering loud enough for Mulder to hear. "What's nothing?" Mulder asked, shutting the door behind him. Kim startled. "What? Oh, its...nothing. Don't worry about it. Did you need to see A.D. Skinner, Agent Mulder?" she said formally. He considered calling her on it, but decided against the notion. "Yeah, could you ask him if he could see me for a moment? I just wanted to ask him about a 302." She nodded and buzzed her boss on the intercom. Skinner's terse voice affirmed that he did indeed have a few minutes available. "Go right in, Agent Mulder," Kim said smoothly. *Is it my imagination, or is there a little tension in the air?* "Thanks, Kim," he said aloud, and entered Skinner's office. ********************************************************************** Skinner looked up as Mulder swung the door wide in a cheery fashion to enter his office. *Scully must be alright; he's certainly in a light mood today.* Skinner's eyes flitted to the view of his secretary seated at her desk primly, framed by the doorway. For a split second, he allowed himself to admire her hair as she bent over her work. Then he turned his eyes to Mulder. "Yes, Mulder?" he said, gruffly. But Mulder's eyes were studying him. He hadn't missed the quick, unprofessional appraisal of Kim. *Damn profiler!* He simply raised an eyebrow. "Agent Mulder? You needed something?" "Yes," he answered smoothly, "I was wondering if you'd had a chance to look over the 302?" "Ah, yes. The Nevada suicides?" "The UNSOLVED deaths that were ASSUMED to be suicides." "Yes, yes. I approved it. Sent the paperwork interdepartmental mail an hour ago." "Thank you, sir," Mulder paused as though he had something more to say. "Yes, Agent Mulder?" Skinner finally asked. "Nothing, sir," Mulder finally said, echoing Kim's words, "Nothing at all, I'm sure." Skinner frowned worriedly at the door as Mulder shut it. ********************************************************************** More to come.... I think we'll start planning the wedding...whatcha think?:) Also there's the little matter of Diana's revenge...what? You didn't think she'd just let this go did you? (evil grin) She's been biding her time....plotting... (Or maybe I just forgot about her until I was rereading the series (I do that sometimes to make sure I'm not leaving anything forgotten or unresolved) and didn't want to leave that plot point hanging. *clearing throat nervously* It could be either! *L*)