Written by Nat Wood

Unfinished Business (1/1) N42W@aol.com

Title: Unfinished Business

Author: Nat Wood

Rating: PG-13

Keywords: MSR- what else is necessary on this planet? (The answer is nothing).

Spoilers: The Movie, Triangle, Dreamland, One Son: no major revelations.

Distribution: Yep, send it wherever you like- as if I have the power to stop you. It would be nice to know where it's going though, and keep my name with it please.

Feedback: All comments, death threats and other words of wisdom welcome.

Summary: Scully's life is endangered when CSM hires a hit man.

Disclaimer: You know the story- Mulder, Scully, Skinner, Byers, Fowley and CSM don't belong to me, they belong to Mr. Carter, 20th Century Fox, and Ten Thirteen Productions. No profit is being made from this, and no infringement is intended.

Author's notes: Hi people and welcome to the fanfic world of Nat- we hope you enjoy your stay. Oh yeah you all have to kind of pretend that the PMP dance didn't happen. I know it was one of the best shipper moments from series 5, but for Scully's line to make sense you have to pretend- it's just for 5 mins (honest). For those of you who are interested this is set just after the unbelievably UST charged Dreamland II.



Unfinished Business By Nat Wood

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Every second of every minute you decide not only your fate, but the fate of others. Every minute of every hour you change history. Every hour of every day the decisions you have made effect your life. And only you can rectify the mistakes:- scary huh? or not?
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AD Barker's Retirement Edwardian Hotel, Washington DC 9:42 p.m

Here she was once again the target of the world's most secret government. Would it ever end? At this rate the answer would be no. Scully's mood quickly changed when her eyes diverted the crowds to see Mulder in a tux. What was it about guys in tux? Another one of the great mysteries of the universe. He had already spotted her and made his way towards her.

"Scully, you look...wow...I mean really nice"

"Thanks Mulder you don't look so bad yourself."

"You sure you're OK with this? It's not to late to pull out."

Scully's mind cast back to earlier that day. She had been practically asleep in the office when Mulder's cell phone brought her back reality.

"Mulder... Hi!... Yeah she's here"

That last remark had caught Scully's attention and she pried her head up from the desk to face Mulder. His hazel eyes turned very quickly from content to concerned. His mouth from a grin to a frown.

"He what?... OK... Are you sure?... Right I'll tell her... Thanks"

"Mulder. What is it?"

"That was Byers. They've been scanning the phone lines and..." Mulder paused as her decided the best way to inform Scully.

"*And*..." Scully was becoming increasingly impatient

At that point Skinner burst through the door looking exhausted.

"Agents Scully, Mulder an important situation has been brought to my attention. One which concerns *you*." His gaze was directed at Scully.

"Will someone please tell me what is going on here?"

Had Scully known that the answer to her question would change her life, she might have thought twice about asking it.

"I received a phone call about 10 minutes ago. Your life is endanger Agent Scully. He called to warn me that by the end of AD Barker's retirement evening tonight you would be dead."

Scully let out a little laugh.

"And your taking this seriously?" she paused to think "Hang on...Who's *he*?

Skinner looked at little confused. He rubbed the back of his hand across his forehead as he spoke sternly.

"*He* is the man who planted a bomb in your office Monday, has repeatedly called to make threats about your life, have you hit your head this morning or some..."

He stopped speaking as he realized that Scully was now the one who looked confused.

"Ah...Didn't Agent Mulder tell you?"

Scully looked across to Mulder who was trying to hide his face behind his hands, and then turned back to face Skinner.

"No. Agent Mulder didn't tell me."

"Well I had better leave you two to it then."

Skinner walked out of the door as Mulder proceeded to tell her about the week's events- death threats, small explosive devices that had been found under her desk before she came into work that day. He explained to her that he thought he was protecting her by not saying anything. He didn't realize this guy was serious. But now Byers had discovered who it was- a hit man employed by CSM.

"Scully? Scully?"

Her mind was brought back to tonight as Mulder placed his hand on her shoulder and whispered into her ear.

"You don't have to do this you know. We can just..."

"No Mulder. I want to catch this guy as much as you do. They're not going to win this time"

She pulled away, walked into the main hall and headed to their table. The room was large, very large. A stage was positioned at the far end where the live band were playing. In the center of the room lay an immaculate dance floor, around it were the numerous chairs and tables. To the left was a bar where she noted Diana Fowley had made herself very comfortable.

Scully had insisted that this ordeal be kept a secret. Only herself, Mulder, Skinner and two agents posted outside the building knew. She had decided against wearing a bullet proof vest. Much to Mulder's disapproval. If she was going to die tonight she wanted to at least be dressed well.

Mulder joined her at the table and looked in awe at her blue silk dress. It accented her body perfectly and he wondered why she had never worn it before. The open back stopped just before it would have got interesting for Mulder's mind. Her eyes glistened more than usual and he found himself lost in a sea of blue swirls.

"Mulder? Something wrong with my face?"

"Hmmm... No... Sorry... Hey look there's Skinner." he said desperately trying to change the subject.

Skinner approached and sat down on the other side of the table.

"Scully. You OK about this it's not too..."

"Yes Sir. Thank you for your concern. I'll be fine."

"Mulder, everything working OK?"

"Yes, I checked my radio before we came in."

The speaker in his ear was barely visible and that's the way he wanted to keep it. He knew how important it was to Scully to keep this secret. Even though AD Barker was retiring they didn't want to get on the wrong side of him. He had been a well respected member of the FBI for 35 years. And ruining his evening with false alarms was the last thing Mulder and Scully wanted to do.

* * * * *

The evening went slowly, too slowly for Mulder's liking. The food had been great, the wine excellent, and now came the speech. For 30 minutes AD Barker babbled on about how great the FBI was, the changes he'd seen in his time there, yadda, yadda, yadda. The only thing keeping Mulder awake was the sight of Scully in *that* dress. He hadn't been able to keep his eyes off her all night. That and Skinner's and the other agent's reports in his ear every 10 minutes. Skinner was positioned on the other side of the room. There had been no sight of any suspicious activity all night. The fact that they didn't know what the hit man looked like made things 10 times worse. Everyone in the room was a suspect.

The speech finally finished and Scully decided to calm her nerves with a drink. Taking Mulder's order she proceeded to the bar.

"Dana what a pleasure to see you again" Fowley smirked.

"Same here" Scully forced out of her mouth, bringing a fake smile with it.

"I didn't realize that you was here with *Fox*. I'll have to come over in a minute"

"I'm sure *Mulder* would like that"

Scully's blood was boiling. She hated this woman for all she was worth. The barman handed her the drinks and she was glad to be able to create space between her and what she could only describe as *the bitch*.

Fowley swiveled on her stool to face Scully and wave goodbye, but she didn't realize how drunk she was. She fell of her stool, taking her drink with her. Scully turned to see Fowley as a broken heap on the floor with beer all over her. Scully couldn't help but pour another drink over her face.

"Oh! Sorry. It just... slipped." "Good waste of a couple of dollars though" she mumbled to herself.

Fowley knew full well that was deliberate but didn't care. She would get her revenge later.

After getting more drinks, Scully walked off smiling to herself at her achievement. She placed Mulder's vodka and orange juice down on the table and placed her own white wine next to it.

"Any news yet?"

"Nope doesn't look like this guy is gonna show."

Mulder was bored out of his mind, and in desperate need of something to do. He stood up and outstretched his hand to Scully.

"May I have this dance?"

Scully had a look of both shock and delight on her face and Mulder was left contemplating whether he had done the right thing or not. But his nerves were to be calmed in a matter of seconds.

"Sure. As long as your leading, I haven't danced in a long time."

"Well we'll soon fix that problem"

Mulder grabbed Scully's hand and lead her to the dance floor. Many couples occupied the space and Mulder was grateful for it. He didn't want her and him to stand out- they did enough of that at work. Scully placed her hand around his waist. Electric pulses of pleasure ran though his body and he quickly let out a breath he didn't know he'd been holding in. She began to move her hand away frightened she'd done something wrong. Mulder instinctively grabbed it, placing it back around his waist, giving her a quick smile. He took her other hand, and placed it on his heart. For the first time that evening Scully felt entirely safe. Knowing that this man would do anything for her and intern she would do the same for him. She laid her head on his chest and he slipped his arms around her, allowing his hands to rest on the small of her back.

They swayed in perfect time to the music and Mulder decided to be the one to break the silence that had fallen between them.

"Scully?"

"Hmmm..."

"Do you ever wish you could leave your life behind you, and just exist in one moment forever?"

He was expecting her usual rational, scientific answer. Instead he got a reply that shocked them both.

"With you I do."

Scully felt her cheeks turn a bright shade of red, too bright for her liking, as she realized what she had said. 'Damn her for speaking her thoughts out loud. Oh great now you've done it Scully.' she thought.

Mulder hadn't known whoever to take that as a joke or not, not until he felt a heat to rival the Sahara Desert radiate from her cheeks.

"Scully, did you mean that?"

'Make or beak time Scully... Or maybe for once we'll stand our ground'. Scully raised her head from his chest and locked her eyes into his. Instant tension was formed.

"Did you mean it when you said you loved me?" she countered.

This was a moment that would change his life, and that fact made it a lot harder for him to reply.

"Yes... You know I did."

She looked inwards and realized that it wasn't so much the first word that shocked her, but the last four. She *had* known deep in her heart but never really thought about it. But now she had to confront those feelings and resolve the tension that had gone into overdrive between them.

"Did you mean what *you* just said?" Mulder asked again.

This time there was no where to run. Mulder had just laid his feelings bare and she had to do the same.

"For someone who's got a degree in psychology you're pretty slow sometimes."

Her look said it all. Mulder ran his hand up her back and into her soft copper hair. He pushed a stray lock behind her ear, and caressed her face with his thumb. He was seeking permission and Scully granted it by moving her hand up to the back of his neck. He drew her close, Scully smiled as she realized what was happening. 6 years of tension was about to be resolved in one minute of passion when...

"MULDER. AGENT MULDER. HE'S HERE."

A shot rang out in Mulder's ear and he realized what was happening.

"No. Not now." he sighed as he released his grip form Scully.

"Mulder? Did I do something wrong?"

Her answer stood in the doorway waving a gun at people, telling them to freeze. Mulder stood to the side of Scully.

"We'll finish this later. OK?" he whispered

Mulder drew his gun slowly trying not to attract the hit man's attention. But it was too late. Mulder turned slightly to see a red dot on the beautiful blue fabric of Scully's dress. Before he could react two shots ripped through Scully's skin, sending her crashing to the ground. In a burst of anger he sent two bullets from his own gun square into the chest of the hit man. A state of panic swept over everyone forcing them to rush through the hall's giant oak doors.

He bent down to see Scully covered in blood. Two gunpowder stains were visible, one on her chest the other on her right shoulder.

"Scully? Scully?" he whispered. Mulder removed his jacket and placed it over the wound in a frantic attempt to stop the blood, as tears fell from his eyes. "Scully? Can you hear me?"

Her eyes opened slightly to sight of Mulder gently stroking her face. It was in those sapphire eyes that he found hope and realized that waiting for an ambulance could cost Scully her life.

"I'm gonna get you out of here" he said choking back the tears that now soaked his face.

Mulder heaved her limp body into his arms as she let out a whimp of pain.

"Sorry. It's just for a minute."

He wedged the jacket between his body and hers, and held her tight, trying to apply as much pressure to the wounds as he could without hurting her even more. Mulder sprinted to the fire exit and pushed the doors open. He ran to his car and fumbled for the keys in his pocket. A slight glint of relief could be seen in his eyes as he unlocked the back door and gently lay Scully down on the seat. Mulder climbed in the driver's seat to a very unwelcome voice.

"Fox. How are you?"

Mulder spun his head around to see an extremely drunk Diana Fowley.

"What?... Diana I don't have time for your games. Not now. I don't know what you're doing in my car but get out. NOW."

"But Fox what we had was so great. Leave Scully, no one will know. You and me we can just..."

She was interrupted by a slap to her face.

"You know what" Fowley said drawing her gun and holding it to Mulder's temple "I *was* going to let you live. Your friend cancerman was right you're just little boy sticking your nose into government conspiracies that don't concern you."

"I think that world colonization *would* concern me. Don't you?"

"Not when you're dead"

Fowley reached to pull the trigger on a helpless Mulder, when with her last breath Scully knocked it out of her hands. Mulder took the opportunity to open the door and throw Fowley onto the cold concrete below. He chucked her gun out after her.

"But I'm very much alive" he shouted and sped off to the hospital.

Northwood Hospital Washington DC 1:15 a.m

Time had once again gone into snail mode. Scully was in surgery. The doctors were confident she would make it out alive. But Mulder still had his doubts. A tall shadow loomed over him, one he knew could only be Skinner. He took a seat next to Mulder and laid a sympathetic hand on his shoulder.

"How is she?"

"She's in surgery. The doctors are hopeful."

"The man sent to kill Scully... he was dead on arrival to the hospital. It's a good thing you took Scully here yourself. The ambulance took 20 minutes to come."

Mulder let his lips form a half smile across his face. He still left his head bowed in shame. He blamed himself for Scully's condition, and wished he could have done more for her- no matter what anyone said.

"Agent Fowley's working with cancerman. I'm almost certain of..."

"You won't have to worry about her" Skinner interrupted "she was found in the main car park with a gun shot wound to the head."

Mulder looked up for the first time at Skinner, with a surprised expression on his face. He didn't really care, but still wanted to know her condition.

"How is she?"

"In a coma. The wound appears to be self-inflicted, but I guess we'll never really know. The doctor's say a recovery will be a miracle."

What seemed like hours passed before Scully came out of surgery. Even with Mulder's persistent protest, the nurse wouldn't let Mulder see her until the morning.

7:27 a.m.

"Hi ya! How you doing?" Mulder presented her with a bouquet of flowers. "The doctors say you're doing fine and you'll be out of here in two weeks." He placed the flowers in a vase next to her bed, and gently kissed her forehead.

"What happened to the man who shot me?"

Mulder went to shut the door and came back to sit next to her. He put one arm over her legs, and held her hand with the other.

"He's dead Scully. He didn't even make it to the hospital."

"Are you going to be prosecuted?"

"No. Skinner's covering my ass."

"Why is there never any justice with these men? They can just walk away as if nothing ever happened and no one would ever know."

"But Scully, there has been justice served. You're alive. You beat them at their own game. You won this time."

Scully squeezed Mulder's hand tight and caressed his face with her other hand.

"No Mulder. Your wrong. *We* won"

Two Weeks Later Edge of Civilization 8:26 p.m

Scully had been discharged from the hospital 2 hours ago. Mulder had said he had a surprise for her, blindfolded her and dragged her to the car. They had been driving ever since.

"Mulder. Are you sure this isn't a kidnapping or some kind of hostage situation."

"No." he chuckled "We're almost there."

"You've been saying that for the past 1 and a half hours. The last time I was in a car this long with you, you took me to Area 51. Please tell me this has nothing to do with aliens or government conspiracies. And do I really need this blindfold"

"Yes. Don't you remember me telling you about random acts of unpredictability, the element of surprise? The blindfold enhances it."

"How can I forget?" she said dimly

The car grounded to a halt. Mulder turned off the engine and opened the door.

"Be back in a min."

"No... Mulder... Your not... Ugh what's the point?"

And with that Mulder exited the car, leaving Scully in suspense for yet another 5 minutes. He returned, as promised, with a boyish grin covering his face. Opening the door he intertwined his fingers with hers and led her up the grassy hill. Mulder stood behind her and gently untied the knot holding her blindfold together.

She gasped as the first rays of light entered her eyes allowing her to view the scenery. They were standing on top a small cliff near the coast. Scully walked to the edge. She looked down to see miles and miles of un populated golden sand. Her eyes shifted upwards to view the reflection of the setting sun in the crisp, clean sea. It was absolutely beautiful, a view you normally only find on postcards. She turned around to see Mulder sitting beneath a large tree. He was seated on a tartan blanket. Upon it various foods lay- cheese, bread, fruit, dips and champagne.

"Like it?"

Scully knew that no words could ever describe the feeling she held within her. So, she decided to answer him with her lips. She bent down and rewarded his efforts with a tender kiss.

"It's beautiful"

The beginning of tears were forming in her eyes, and she blinked them away. Mulder sat her beside him and placed his arm around her shoulders. She leaned into his chest and sighed. He poured them both a glass of champagne and handed one to Scully.

"A toast."

"To what?"

"To life, truth and the little gray aliens that fatefully brought us together"

'Trust him to make a joke of everything' she thought. They brought their glasses together with a clink, and Scully had no choice but to laugh at his comment.

"What's so funny?"

"Aliens don't the make the most *romantic* cupids. You could have chosen fate... destiny ... God... even *Skinner*"

This time he was the one laughing. He was glad to see his rational Scully back.

They finished the food, and watched the sea crash into shore in each others arms. Mulder had one more surprise for Scully. He turned to face her. Scully was sitting with her legs crossed, and hands in her lap. Mulder took both of them in his and once again intertwined their fingers as a symbol of their unison.

"Scully... I've erm... I've been thinking... a lot actually." she nodded for him to go on "You scared the crap out of me that night. And it was in that moment when I saw your body on the floor, I knew that with you is where I want to stay... forever."

Scully was on the verge of tears and she opened her mouth to speak, but Mulder quickly covered it with his finger.

"Scully, before I met you the X-files was my life, now *you* are. I can't count the number of times you've saved my life, my ass, my job, *our* work... I have to admit when I first met you your scientific explanations were the last thing I wanted to hear on a case. But now I've come to depend on your opinions, they've kept me grounded, kept me sane - well partly."

They both let out a quiet laugh. Mulder reached into his jean pocket and pulled out a small black box. He sat on his knees and presented the now open box to Scully.

"Scully... OK... I'm not very good at this sort of thing... But I know that I love you and I'm damn certain that I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Stuff Bureau policy... Will you marry me?"

Scully was in tears. Huge waterfalls were running down her face, and Mulder hoped that they were tears of happiness.

"Yes, on one condition" Mulder nodded and she continued "I can keep my surname. I think two Mulders is too much for the world to handle right now."

Mulder removed the ring from it's box and slipped it onto Scully's finger. She gazed at it's beauty. It was a gold ring encrusted with a twist of diamonds. He pulled her into a passionate kiss. Reluctantly he pulled away for air. He stood up and reached out his hand to Scully.

"I do believe we have some unfinished business." he said doing his best impression of Sherlock Holmes.

Scully was puzzled but took Mulder's hand anyway. He pulled her close and wrapped his arms around her, leaving his hands at the small of back. Just as he had done in the hall.

The sun set leaving a warm glow to which they finished their dance.

THE END

Thanx for reading I'd love to hear what you think: N42W@aol.com

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You are now exiting the fanfic world of Nat goodbye and good luck.
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