Disclaimer etc. in Prologue...


Menage a trois
By DanaK35

PART SEVEN


Boston, Ma.
Thursday, 5:15 pm

Dana Scully left the Field Office and headed back to Beacon Hill. She had spent the week 
interrogating suspects, following up on leads, questioning witnesses. The case seemed to take 
on huge proportions and she was exhausted. At least today she had gotten some answers. The 
maid of the murdered banker had seen two men entering through the backyard. Mr. Jones had 
obviously known them. Scully suspected that Fondevilla was killing off his former business 
partners. Senator Adams was taken to a safe house in Virginia. She had spoken to Skinner 
briefly every day, but they'd never had the chance to speak undisturbed. 

At home, she drew a bath and poured herself a glass of white wine, sinking into the hot water 
gratefully. She had put on a CD, Phoebe had left couple of weeks ago and now the slow, sad 
piano and soothing voice of Sarah McLachlan enveloped her. Scully closed her eyes and 
thought about the last few days. 

She had been happy to return to Boston, but after two days she realized that she missed 
Walter Skinner desperately. She missed the conversations, his calm manner, his chocolate 
eyes, his presence. She missed his lips on hers, his hands on her body. 

So much for having some hormones. Could it be that it had become much more than that? 

Could she put her trust in him?

Like she had trusted Mulder. 

Mulder, Mulder. He sneaked back into her thoughts so many times. She had to confront him at 
some point; she needed to resolve the issues between them before she could even remotely 
think of committing herself to anyone. The unresolved tension, their history hung between her 
and her future. 

The phone rang. 

Hoping it would be Skinner she picked up. "Scully!" 

"Hey, Scully, it's me." It was Mulder. 

And he wanted to talk.


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


Fox Mulder parked the rental car and walked up to Scully's door. 

Two days ago he had decided that it was time to speak to her. Rachel had let him know in no 
uncertain terms that she wanted a commitment. He had told her that he felt he needed to 
make amends with Scully. 

When he informed Rachel that he would fly up to Boston she had been reluctant. And angry. He 
had pleaded with her to trust him. She had finally agreed. He had promised her to be back 
soon. 

Now, as Scully opened the door he was paralyzed. 
"Hey!" 

"Hey," she answered and motioned for him to come in. 

Mulder looked at her as she closed the door. Still gorgeous. Her hair was still cut in the same 
style she had worn it in San Diego and she seemed to shimmer from inside. Her jeans and 
button down sweater betrayed her years. 

"It's been a while, Scully." He said uneasily and looked around, searching for signs of Walter 
Skinner. 

"He is not here, Mulder."

Embarrassed Mulder looked down at his hands.


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


Walter Skinner finished up his meeting and rushed to the airport. As he boarded the plane to 
Boston, he briefly thought of calling Scully. When he flipped open his cell phone the flight 
attendant informed him that he would have to switch it off. "We are leaving in a few moments, 
Sir, no mobile phones." He had nodded and reluctantly switched off the phone. 

He would just have to surprise her.

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

Mulder sat down on next to her on the couch. They talked about a few unimportant things until 
Scully held up one hand. "Let's cut the chatter, Mulder" She said and the phrase rang in her 
ears, it had been one of Skinner's. 

"I... I have been feeling awful about the way we have parted for month now..." He started and 
went on hastily to tell her about Rachel. "I know about you and Skinner, Scully." He ended. 

Her face flushed but she didn't ask him how he knew. "Scully, I...when we made love that one 
time, I was confused. We had crossed that final line and I didn't know how to handle it... you 
have been my closest friend for years, I didn't want to spoil that," he continued. "Don't get me 
wrong, I don't regret it, making love to you was wonderful ... I love you, Scully, I truly do love 
you..." 

Tears welled up in her eyes. "Why do I get the feeling that there is a but..." she said. 

"Because you are my soul mate, but I have fallen in love with Rachel and that got me 
wondering... what if 
what we have is unique, but still not enough? What if we never even work as a couple, it is 
paranoid, I can't give you what you ought to have and I don't want to lose you!" 

For some strange reason he made sense, sometimes love just wasn't enough. The history they 
shared set them apart from all the clichés. 

Scully reached out and pulled him into a warm embrace. They kissed. It was a warm, soft kiss 
and for a moment she regretted that they'd failed. She thought of Skinner and his dark eyes 
upon her. 

"Tell me about Rachel, Mulder..." She said softly. 

An hour later he left. This time they parted as friends and she kissed him goodbye at the door, 
savoring his embrace. 

She didn't notice Skinner sitting in a car across the street.


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


Dana Scully put the wineglasses she and Mulder had used into the dishwasher and picked up 
the phone. When the operator in Miami picked up she identified herself asked to speak to AD 
Skinner. "He has already left, Agent Scully, he went back to DC this afternoon..." 

"Thank you!" She hung up and wondered why he hadn't told her. 

An uneasy feeling gripped her as she dialed Skinner's number. The answering machine picked up 
after a couple of rings but she hung up. She wanted to speak to him, not his machine.

An hour later she called him again, leaving a message.


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


Crystal City, VA.
Walter Skinner's apartment
Friday, 01:45 a.m.

Walter Skinner entered his apartment and set down his suitcase. Still in his coat he opened a 
bottle of vodka and poured himself a generous shot, using a water glass. He walked back to the 
living room and stared out at the city lights. 

His fears had come true.

He had lost her. 

To Mulder. 

Just like he had always suspected he would. 

He shed his coat and carried his suitcase upstairs to his bedroom. Mechanically, he undressed 
and put on sweatpants and a shirt. He switched on the TV and flipped through the channels, 
not really concentrating on the program. He finally threw the remote back on the coffee table 
and poured himself another drink. Then he noticed the light blinking on his answering machine 
and pressed the button. 

A bodiless voice echoed in the apartment: "Mr. Skinner, we suggest that you keep your 
involvement with a certain agent to a minimum!" 

Cold sweat broke out on his forehead and then Scully's voice filled the room like something 
alive. "It's me, Skinner, I've heard you're already heading back, well, call me when you get in!"

He replayed the message several times. He felt about two feet tall. 

The image of her and Mulder was burned into his mind. On top of the threat to his own life, the 
fear of losing her had become a reality. He should have told her he loved her. Would it have 
changed anything? His head had started to hurt and he rubbed his temples, taking off his 
glasses. 


He drained his glass and hurled it against the wall. It shattered into a million pieces. 

"Fuck!" He got up and poured himself another one.


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


Boston, MA
Dana Scully's residence
Friday, 02:30 am

Dana Scully dialed Skinner's number and waited for him to answer. The machine didn't get it this 
time and then she heard his voice. "What?"

 "Hey, it's me, Scully, I've been trying to reach you!" There was a pause. 

"What do you want, Agent Scully?" His speech was slurred. 

"What's the matter, Skinner?" 

"Nothing, it's nothing, leave me alone..." 

"What? What's going on?" 

"I think we have made a big mistake, Scully, so I will hang up now. Give my regards to Mulder!" 
With that he slammed down the phone. 

Scully looked at the receiver in paralyzed shock. He'd been drinking. 

Then it dawned on her. He had seen her and Mulder. He must have come to Boston directly.

She shook her head and buried her face in her hands.


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


Washington DC
Friday, 3:30 pm

Dana Scully got off the plane and looked around. Mulder was waiting for her and she embraced 
him quickly. "Hey! Thanks for getting me." 

"Hey, Scully, what's going on!" 

In the car she told him about Skinner. "I don't know, Mulder, it's Skinner. He has been drinking 
and then he told me that we'd made a mistake." She was close to tears. 

"You have really fallen for him, have you?" He asked softly. The thought still disturbed him. 

She nodded. "I guess," she answered. 

Mulder thought back to all the times Skinner had risked his life and career for them. He had 
risked everything to save Scully, had sold himself and his loyalties to the Cigarette Smoking 
Man to try and save her. 

"He loves you, he has loved you for a long time..." he said. 

She nodded, numbed by what she'd just heard. "Could you please take me to his apartment?" 


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


Crystal City, VA.
Walter Skinner's apartment
Friday, 04:30 pm

Scully used her key to unlock the door and stepped into Skinner's apartment. It radiated quiet 
masculinity with its grays and whites. 

She shrugged out of her jacket and set down her bag, stepping through the kitchen into the 
living room. First she noticed the broken glass on the floor. 

Then she saw him. He was lying on his couch, arm draped over his face, an empty bottle of 
vodka next to him. She stepped closer and looked down at him. He was dressed in gray 
sweatpants and a white shirt. His face was relaxed in his sleep, the lines around his eyes and 
mouth softened. Scully sat down and gently touched his cheek. He sat up abruptly and Scully 
got up. 

He squinted and looked up at her. "What do you want?" he growled and rubbed his eyes. 

"I wanted to see you." 

"Please leave, I have nothing to say to you." His voice was cold. 

"I think we should talk about this!" 

"There is nothing to talk about, I have seen you with Mulder, nothing's changed, nothing is 
new, just the fear of losing you and I have obviously lost you, you and Mulder belong together, 
so just go, Dana, please, don't make this any harder than it already is." 

"NO, I won't leave, so you've seen me with Mulder, I have spoken to him, I have embraced him, 
I have even kissed him, we have talked, that's it...please..." 

Skinner stared up at her. His head was spinning. 

"I want to be with YOU!" she said. 

His head shot up. " I have missed you." She said simply. 

He still stared at her, his eyes following her as she sat down next to him. He swallowed hard 
when she took his hand. 

"Why is it so hard for you to believe me,  to believe in me?" Scully said softly and looked into 
his bloodshot eyes. 

Her thumb caressed the back of his hand and she reached out and touched his face. He flinched and her face 
fell. "Do you want me to go, Skinner?" she asked. 

He shook his head and pulled her close. She could hear the rapid beat of his heart as her face 
rested against his chest. He was breathing hard and she knew that he tried to regain control of 
himself. His hands were in her hair. 

After a while she sat up. "Why don't you take a shower, I'll fix us something to eat." 

Still silent he got up and went upstairs to shower. He stood numbly under the hot water, the 
tense muscles in his neck finally relaxing. 'Why did she have to come here?' he asked himself. It 
had been so easy to tell her he didn't care but seeing her... she was gorgeous in her anger that 
he wanted nothing more than take her in his arms and tell her that he had fallen madly in love 
with her, that he never wanted to lose her. 

But he couldn't. 

The love for her made him weak, vulnerable.



It had happened before, when he sold himself to the Smoking Man for her safety. Mulder had 
been the one to safe her. Now he, Walter Skinner, was still just another pawn, his life in the 
hands of Alex Krycek. If he openly loved Scully he would be even more touchable, she would be 
in grave danger again. 

He couldn't let go, wasn't used to losing control like this. The feelings were there and there was 
nothing he could do about it. Even now the thought of telling her to go, to leave him alone 
once and for all, made him physically sick. 

But he knew he had to end this right here, right now. 

He stepped out of the shower, dried off and dressed in faded jeans and a black cotton shirt. 
Putting on his glasses he walked back downstairs barefoot. Scully was at the kitchen counter, 
pouring coffee into mugs. A simple omelet and a salad stood on the bar. 

"Feeling better?" she asked. 

He nodded and silently took one of the mugs, taking a sip of the hot liquid and sitting down on 
one of the barstools. Scully placed the food in front of him. She watched him picking at it 
without enthusiasm. 

He took another sip of his coffee and looked up, his eyes blank, his face stony. "I think it is 
better if we stop this, Scully." He said matter-of-factly.

She almost dropped her coffee. "Excuse me?" 

"I think we have made a mistake when we got involved... it will be better if we stop seeing 
each other outside of the FBI." He had gotten up and placed his plate in the sink. 

Scully swallowed the tears that had welled up in her eyes. She sat down her cup and started 
out of the kitchen. "Is this still about Mulder?" she said over her shoulder.

He knew he should say that it was but he couldn't lie to her. "No." 

She stopped in her tracks. "Then what is it about?" She asked sharply. "Don't you think I 
deserve to know why?"

He was silent. Scully waited then turned on her heel. "You know what if that is what you want, 
Skinner, fuck you!" 

The door slammed shut behind her. 

He was alone. 


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


Scully ran blindly out of the building, looking for a cab. She caught one about a block from 
Skinner's apartment building and when the driver asked her for her destination she gave him 
Mulder's address. 

The driver regarded her curiously in the mirror as she hid her face behind her hands and openly 
sobbed. "Hey lady, you need help?" 

She shook her head and he turned back around, concentrating on the street ahead. 


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






Alexandria, VA
Fox Mulder's apartment
07:30 p.m.

Fox Mulder stared at her when he opened his apartment door. The last thing he'd expected was 
his crying ex-partner. 

"Scully?...What's wrong?" He pulled her inside and closed the door behind them, ushering her to 
sit down on the couch. "Is it Skinner... has something happened? Is he in the hospital again?" 

"It's over, Mulder, it is over before it even started..." Between sobs she told him about her 
discussion.

She was shaking and Mulder took her into his arms tenderly, stroking her hair and whispering 
words of comfort. "Please...Dana...ssh...it will be okay..."

He gently kissed her forehead, her cheeks, then her mouth. Softly, his lips barely touching hers 
until he found her answering his kiss. Her mouth tasted salty from the tears. Soon their kiss 
grew more intense, her lips opening slightly, welcoming his tongue. A wave of pleasure 
overcame him as he ran his hands through her hair, down the length of her back, finding their 
way under her shirt, touching her soft skin. Her hands came up and cupped his neck, pulling him 
down on her, holding on to the silky strands of his dark hair. In a few swift movements they 
freed each other from their clothes until there was nothing that separated their naked bodies 
from each other. 

Their lovemaking was frantic, a claiming of each other in pure lust, bringing them to an intense 
climax, screaming. They lay in each other's arms, breathing hard, when the shrill ringing of the 
phone brought them back to reality. The answering machine picked up. "This is Fox Mulder...I 
am not home...leave a message!" 

"Mulder?" A woman's voice. Rachel's voice. 

Mulder got up hastily and picked up the phone. "I am here..." He said hoarsely. 

Scully shook her head as if wakened from a trance and pulled on her clothes. 'Oh, this is not 
good,' she thought, 'I can't handle this...' 

On the phone, Mulder had turned his back to her and was saying something inaudible. His voice 
was soft, pleading. "No, I'll be there...half an hour...yes, I totally forgot the time..." 

Scully closed her eyes briefly and took a deep breath. Quietly, she picked up her bag from were 
she had dropped it next to the door and slipped out of the apartment. 

Mulder replaced the receiver and turned around. "Scully...I am sorry..." He started only to find 
her gone. 

He was alone. 

It was as if she'd never even been there, safe for his crumpled clothes on the floor.



End part seven