Mulder to Scully: "Can I buy you a drink?"

Nope, no Mulderism here, as he actually lifts his hand to summon the bartender! And this only moments after coming up behind her at the bar, leaning his face *way* into hers in the classic going-in-for-the-kill kiss position; he keeps going and going and I find myself holding my breath..."Is he really gonna? Is it gonna happen?" And then... she lifts her head (darn!). Whoo! *wiping my arm across my forehead* That was a close one!!

Yes folks, on this their second case together (Scully actually calls him "Agent Mulder"), M&S are definitely entrenched in the "You know my new partner really is kinda cute!" phase. And although there is no dramatic UST or 'shipper scene akin to the robe-dropping of "The Pilot", there is a venerable smorgasbord of UST nuances running throughout. Not quite enough to make your heart beat fast (well, except for the bar scene), but just enough to make the corner of your eye twitch a little! Some things to watch for:

* The Mulder-as-shark and Scully-as-helpless-bar- swimmer scene just after the teaser-- watch it, then rewind it and watch it again!

* Scully taking a deep breath as Mulder excuses himself from the table. What is she thinking? "Gee, my new partner really is 'spooky' !" Or more likely, "Damn! My new partner is one fine specimen of masculinity!! Why oh why did I raise my head?!?"

* On the Budhaha's doorstep, just after Mulder finishes knocking, he turns and playfully wags his eyebrows at Scully, then puts his hand on her back to guide her into the house.

* Mulder and Scully hold hands all the way up the hill! Really! You can see them let go when they get to the top.

* Mulder laying *quite* comfortably on Scully's motel room bed- and he's not wearing a suit either! (Although to be fair, he actually had some decent ties in this episode.)

* M&S in the car after dropping off the kids- Mulder sticks in a tape of guitar-riff rock and assumes the air guitar position, lips slightly puckered and shoulders moving to the beat of the music. Scully just stares at him and he finally pops the tape out- "Kids today, huh?" Then the famous 'stoned' remark:

Scully- "Did you see their eyes? If *I* were that stoned-"

Mulder leans in towards her yet again- "Oooh...if you were that stoned *what*?" Man, does he want her bad or what??

And watch carefully whenever Mulder makes a joke in this one- Scully actually (yes, I think it is, here it comes!) SMILES!! What a little charmer our Mulder is! A good UST ep all around.

by Rebecca Foster

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