Title: Nova

Author: Angel

Feedback: Please!

Archive: Please!

Classification: MSR, Colonization fic.

Rating: NC-17 (for some parts-very mild but to be safe!) Others are probably PG-13 or so.

Summery: The inevitable happens. Mulder has planned ahead and now does everything in his power to keep Scully safe. You MUST read all parts to understand! Available at Ephemeral and my home page.

Disclaimer: You know the drill. Characters are property of Fox, 1013, ect. No money is being made. No infringement is intended. Some poems are used without permission, names of authors are given. Prayers which I did not write, and I don’t know who wrote are included in some areas.

Homepage: (to find missing parts and sooner or later the completed version, also posted at Ephemeral)

A HUGE thanks to Evie my beta reader! Nova would never be doing this well, or going as fast, without her help! Thank you thank you thank you thank you!

Note: Want Nova updates in the mail? Just let me know!

"Baby don’t look up, the sky is falling." Tori Amos

(13/?)

Day 81

Mulder knocked on Byers’ door. It was swung open by Langly. "Don’t you guys ever stay in your own rooms?" Mulder mumbled in a voice rough from a slight cold.

Frohike stuck his head out the doorway, looking down the hallway in both directions. "Where’s Scully?"

Mulder rolled his eyes and pushed the smaller man back into the room and shut the door. "I need to ask you guys a favor."

"What?" Byers asked.

Mulder shoved his hands in his pockets and leaned back against the wall. He felt like shit for doing this, but he didn’t feel he had a choice. "Keep an eye on Scully."

"We already do that man." Langly said with a laugh.

Mulder nodded. "Yeah… But I need you to start keeping an eye out for Benjamin."

"Benjamin?" Byers asked in shock.

"Yes… He seems to have a little crush of Scully."

"Really? Wow…" Frohike sat back in his chair in thought.

"Yeah." Mulder rubbed his face with his hand. "I don’t know, this is driving me crazy."

"Does Scully know about this?"

Mulder looked over at Byers and shrugged noncommittally. "I don’t think so. She has mentioned anything to me and I haven’t to her. I’d just like to be really sure before I say too much."

"In other words, you don’t want to piss her off." Langly supplied.

"Pretty much." Mulder answered nodding.

Day 82

"What is this? Prison labor?"

Mulder looked up at Scully with a humorless snort and tossed another rock into a wagon. "Pretty much." He mumbled. "What are you doing out here?"

Scully leaned against a tree by Mulder. "I wanted to see how you were feeling."

Mulder smiled affectionately. "I told you this morning I feel fine. No headache, no sore throat, nothing."

"All right… just take it easy." She looked Mulder up and down, still not convinced that he was well. He looked fine though, his skin glowed from a thin covering of sweat, the only things he worn were a pair of jeans, his t-shirt shoved in his back pocket and a pair of gloves to protect his hands. The only thing that kept her from tackling him to the ground right there was the fact that a other people were around. "Why are you doing that anyway?" She asked with a slight nod towards the piles of rocks.

"Clearing this field out so we can plant here next season." He answered over the crack of rock against rock as he tossed them into the wagon. He glanced over at her trying to hide a smirk. "Why are you looking at me like that?"

"Like what?"

Mulder stretched his arms over his head, pulled off his gloves and took a long drink of water. "Like I’m a tasty piece of meat that you are about to pounce on. You look a little flushed too." He added she as blushed.

Scully glared at him. "It’s warm out here and I was watching you because I am worried about your back with all the lifting." She lied.

Mulder walked over to her with raised brows. "Likely story."

Scully couldn’t hide her smile. She shook her head good-naturedly as she reached up to wipe a smear of dirt off Mulder’s cheek.

"Thanks Mom."

"Mulder, maybe you should get back to work. I don’t see anyone else standing around." Benjamin called as he walked over to him.

Mulder turned, stepping away from Scully so that Benjamin saw her for the first time. "I was just taking a short break, Benjamin. Don’t worry, I’ll start up in a minute."

Benjamin smiled quickly. "Oh I was just joking. Take your time." He turned toward Scully. "How are you, Dana?"

Smiling politely she nodded. "Good, thanks for asking."

Mulder, unconsciously, took a half step closer to Scully, keeping his eyes on Benjamin.

Scully touched Mulder’s upper arm lightly. "I better get back. I’ll see you later."

"I’ll walk you back." Benjamin said quickly.

Mulder kept his anger in check as Scully got up on her toes and kissed him lightly. "Hurry back." She smiled shyly then turned to Benjamin and nodded off in the direction they needed to walk.

Mulder watched as they walked side by side out of view.

Shoving the Medical Room door open with more force then needed, Mulder walked in and scanned the small area for Scully.

"Hello, Mulder." Skinner greeted from his reclined position on the cot.

Mulder frowned. "Hi… Has Scully been in here?"

Skinner looked at with a half amused and half hurt expression. "Scully doesn’t stay here when I’m awake if she can help it."

"I’m really sorry about that, Sir."

Skinner held up a hand and shoed away the thought. "Not your fault, she means well. You know… You don’t have to call me ‘Sir’ anymore."

Mulder smiled shyly. "Habit I think." He regarded Skinner in thought for a moment. "Has Benjamin been into see Scully at all?"

Skinner nodded with a shrug. "Yeah, I see him at least once a day. Doesn’t he work in here?"

"The Medical Room?" Skinner nodded. "No, not at all. That bastard doesn’t do a damn thing but order everyone around."

Skinner raised his eyebrows in his patented ‘Mulder take it easy’ look. "Spill it Mulder, what’s going on with this guy?"

Mulder let out a tired sigh and sat in a chair. "As you know he’s the man how started Nova. He seemed like a great guy when we first got here. But now… I don’t know…He doesn’t lift a finger. His rules are ridiculous..."

Skinner waited for more but nothing came. "Why are you worried about Scully and him."

Mulder thought for a moment, he really didn’t want to tell Skinner about this. But he made the decision to trust Skinner, and he knew how he felt about Scully. He had always favored her. Treated her with care and compassion. Even when he should have been tough on her. "He seems to have a little thing for Scully if you know what I mean."

Skinner nodded quickly. "I could tell."

"Why? What has he done?"

Skinner held up a hand. "Calm down Mulder. He hasn't done anything. Its just his… body language. He fusses over her." Skinner took in Mulder’s sagged shoulders and sad expression. "The affection isn’t returned Mulder, don’t worry. She is kind to him, but nothing more."

Mulder nodded slowly, taking in the information. He pushed himself up from the chair. "Thanks, I need to go talk to Scully."

"Mulder." Skinner called as he was about to shut the door. "I’ll keep my eye out. I know I’m not going to be that helpful in my condition, but I’ll do my best."

"Thank you, Skinner." Mulder said softly before leaving to find Scully. He walked purposefully down the hall, oblivious to anyone or anything. He opened the door to their room with as much unnecessary force as he did in the Medical Room.

With a gasp Scully sat up on the bed at the noise of the door. She shivered as a cold sweat cooled her skin.

Mulder completely forgot about Benjamin when he saw Scully shake slightly, pulling her knees up to her chest and wrapping her arms around herself. "Scully? What’s wrong?" He sat by the bed and took her face in his hands, frightened by the look of terror in her eyes. "What happened?"

Scully shook her head slightly to focus herself. "It was a dream, I’m ok."

Mulder nodded and pulled her against him, kissing the top of her head. "Tell me about it."

Scully stretched her legs out in front of her, but kept her arms, and Mulder’s wrapped about her upper body. With him beside her she didn’t feel the need to completely protect herself, he was comforting and safe. She thought in silence for a moment. The whole thing was a blur. "I was being robbed." She thought out loud in a barely audible whisper. "Not of material items, but of part of me. Like I was being taken and left behind all at once."

"Maybe a flash back of your abduction." Mulder supplied softly.

Scully nodded lazily. "Maybe." For some reason she didn’t think that was it. This dream was different. "A person took it from me. Not an alien. I’m sure it was a person. I don’t know why but I know it was."

Mulder made a soft affirmative noise. "Well." He said pulling away enough to push her hair back from her face. "It was just a dream and it’s over now."

Giving a weak smile Scully nodded and laid back down on the bed, ready to sleep again. "I’m really tired tonight."

Mulder tucked the blankets around her, their talk could wait. She was shaken by her dream, he didn’t want to upset her anymore. "Go back to sleep."

She nodded again, already halfway there. "Wake me if I start to dream again." She mumbled rolling onto her side.

"Of course." He whispered even though she was already asleep.

Note: guess I’m back to my old posting habits!! It’s amazing what good feedback will do for a WIP writer! Keep it coming and so will I! Enjoy!