Brand New Day By Eve SUMMARY: After a trying case, Scully's a bit cranky. Mulder has other plans... DISCLAMER: I don't own them, but if I did...hoo boy... CATEGORY: MSR RATING:PG Sorry, smutsters... SPOILERS: Post-X-Cops DISTRIBUTION: Anywhere, just let me know AUTHORS NOTES: OK, this story was written with the idea that Moose and Squirrel are already on the choo-choo train of love, so to speak. Because, at this point, how can they not be?? The door of the Mega-Rest motel flew noisily open into room 16, followed promptly by a frazzled and some-what cantankerous Dana Scully. She shrugged off her jacket, sighing loudly, and hung it on the closet chair. She placed her gun and holster on the small table by the bed, glad to be rid of the extra weight. Leaving the door open for her partner, she made her way to the bed and in one fluid movement, collapsed on the un-made bed. She kicked her shoes at the opposite wall, making a satisfying 'thud .' "Hey Scully, can you get the door...oh, never mind..." She heard from outside the room. She closed her eyes, knowing very well that within seconds, the glaring, florescent lighting would be flicked on by her partner. He entered the room cautiously, handling their luggage like it was a balancing act. He kicked the door closed with his left foot, then paused for a second, regaining his balance. He hit the light switch, and with a few groans and grunts for attention, started moving furniture out of his way. "OK, I got everything out of the trunk, where do you want me to put it?" He asked, looking around the room. "Uggmmm.." Was the only response from the lump on the bed. "This looks good." Agent Mulder said to himself as he dropped the various bags, cases, and other necessities he had brought in from their rental car on the weathered carpeting. "So, what do you want to do now?" Mulder asked, jumping on the bed next to his partner, shaking her and the bed wildly in the process. He pulled his already loosened tie over his head, and un-tucked his wrinkled shirt from his pants. "Mulder, sweetie, I'm tired..." She said, the words coming out in a nasal whine. "Well, there's no need to get cranky." He said, bouncing the bed again, trying to get a response. "I am NOT cranky, I'm TIRED." She retorted, muffled by a pillow. "Is this about the rental car?" He questioned, leaning down to her ear, and brushing her hair away from her face. "Because I know we agreed on that other car, but it was just way too grandpa-esque. The sporty white one was just way more comfortable for me. And it wasn't about proving my 'manhood' or whatever-" "Mulder, I'm over the rental car fiasco. We've had this discussion." She replied, starting to whine again. "Is this about the motel change? Because I just thought that since were closer to the airport already, we might as well just stay around here..." He asked, lightly nuzzling her neck. "No, I don't care where we stay. All these places are the same when your eyes are closed." She said. "Well, then is this about the whole being on TV thing, because I think that whole rumor about the camera adding ten pounds is just a myth-" "This is not about the 'whole being on TV thing' either, but thanks anyway." She said sarcastically. "This isn't about ANYTHING. I'm exhausted. I'm getting too old for this, you've worn me out Mulder." She said, starting to sit up. "And I think you a re just way to wired right now. Why don't you go take a nice, hot bath." She stood up, and peeled her shirt off, throwing it across the room, so it made a nice pile with her shoes. The pants were next, along with the nylons. She grabbed her suit case, and threw it on the bed, un-zipping it, and sorting threw carelessly. She looked up, and realized that Mulder was still lying in the same position on the bed, except he was staring intensely at her. He raised an eyebrow, and smiled, biting on his lower lip a little. "Oh, no Mulder. Don't give me that look. I'm way too tired for what ever is going through your head right now." She said, shaking her head. "Scully, you can't just strip down like that in front of a guy and then expect him to go take a cold shower." He said, running his fingers threw his brown locks. "I didn't strip down, I'm still in my underwear..." She threw back. "And besides, I suggested a hot bath, not cold shower." She grabbed a pair of baby blue cotton drawstring pants and a white tank top out of the suit case. "I hate to disappoint you, Scully, but that little sheer black bra and panty number you have on leaves *absolutely* nothing to the imagination...not that I'm complaining, mind you." He said, shedding his shirt, leaving him in his dress pants and white r ibbed wife-beater. This earned him a smile, but not the invitation he was hoping for. She pulled a pair of dark flannel pants and a gray tee shirt out of the suitcase next, handing them to him. "Please don't make me turn you down tonight, Mulder. I can't turn you down wh en you look at me like that." "OK, OK." He complied, undoing his belt, and slipping his pants from around his ankles. "But just this once, because you were such a peach all day." He smiled, kissing her cheek, as he grabbed her from behind, wrapping his long arms around her bare wai st. "But tomorrow, when we're more rested, I'm going to have my way with you." That earned him an even bigger smile this time. The two finished putting on their PJ's, and went through the nightly routine of getting ready for bed. In the bathroom, Mulder was at the sink brushing his teeth while Scully sat on the edge of the tub putting moisturizer on her legs and arms. Mulder lo oked at her in the mirror above the sink and smiled. "What are you grinning about?" She asked. "I was just thinking," Mulder started, rinsing his tooth brush, "about how wonderfully normal this is. I mean, what a crazy night we just had, and here we are, getting ready for bed just like any other normal couple. I guess for a minute, I kind of fo rgot how peaceful it feels to just do every day stuff with you." "Well, it can't be high-speed car chases and shoot outs all the time." She smiled back, getting up from the tub and taking his hand. "I'm sorry about being such a pain today. On the case, and tonight back here. It's just, some nights, after cases like these, when it gets to be too much, I just want to fall asleep as soon as possible so morning will come faster and I can start a whole new day. Some times, I just like to forget the horrible things we see, you know?" "You know I understand." He said, laying his hands on her sides and pulling her close. He kissed her forehead for a few seconds, and then her lips, where he lingered a bit longer. He pulled back, and rested his chin on her shoulder. "It's partly my fa ult for being so forthright with my crazy theories in front of the cameras. I know you were just trying to protect me. I do appreciate it, I'm sorry if I don't say that enough." "You don't have to." She said, stroking the back of his neck with her lean fingers as his cheek pressed into her neck. "It's my job..." They smiled simultaneously. "As my partner, or as my 'woman?'" He asked, laughing lightly. "Both," She whispered, pinched his ear lightly between her teeth. "Oooohhh...I thought you said you weren't in the mood?" He said, pulling back and squinting his eyes playfully at her. "I am always in the mood for you, but tonight I fear I would fall asleep on you, and I don't think that would do much for your ego, or mine for that matter." She giggled. "Hmm...Falling asleep during sex...that's right up there with shouting out someone else's name. Not a good thing for either party involved." He smiled, taking her hand, and leading her out of the bathroom. "Come on, let's go to bed." He flipped off th e light by the bed, and they quietly slipped under the covers together. He wrapped his arms around her middle, and she nuzzled up just under his chin. "I love you." She said, running her hands over his lower back. "I love you, too." He replied, kissing the top of her head. "Now go to sleep. It's time to start a new day." AUTHORS NOTES: I enjoyed writing this pithy bit of fiction, I hope you enjoyed reading it. I know it's not fully developed, but that's not what I was going for. I also thought the rental car they were driving in this episode sort of strayed from their usual style, so I had to add that in there some where. If anyone wants to use my idea but make it a bit smuttier, go ahead. I'm horrible at writing smut, so I thought I would spare you all.