by Angie T.
Professional. Aloof. Icy. Calm. Scully knew the expression on her face betrayed none of the chaotic emotions just below the surface. She lowered the lid on the copier and pressed the print button with more precision and perhaps a little more force than necessary.
While she appeared calm and unruffled on the surface, inside she was seething, frustrated, angry... hurt. Snatches of the conversation she had just overheard kept replaying in her mind.
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(15 minutes earlier)
She was in the small room that housed the copy machine, busily duplicating some reports and files, when she heard some people pausing at the coffee machine in the hallway outside. She hadn't intended to eavesdrop, but the conversation had been loud and even the hum of the copier didn't drown out the voices.
"So, have you heard the latest on the Spook Patrol? Seems, old Spooky and his partner submitted an expense voucher last week for ONE hotel room." The male voice was full of innuendo. She recognized it as one of the accountants in the finance department.
Scully remembered briefly the reason for the voucher in question. The hotel had overbooked and could only offer them one room. It had, however, had two twin beds. With no other option, they had shared the room.
"Really? I'm surprised!" Another male voice. Dana identified the speaker as Cooper, one of Tom Colton's cronies.
"Why's that?" a female voice this time, unfamiliar. "I wouldn't kick him out of MY bed, that's for sure."
Cooper snickered. "Oh, the Ice Queen wouldn't notice and even if she did, she'd just freeze him out."
"I hear ya there, pal" said another male voice, "What's her problem anyway?"
"I dunno," said the accountant. "But evidently her partner thawed her out!"
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The conversation had gone on from there, the voices continuing to debate over their coffee. One side painted her as a frigid bitch, (Cooper's exact words) who was probably unable to perform sexually with anyone. The other side, led by the accountant, maintained that it was all an act to cover the fact that she had been screwing Mulder from the start. And since they hadn't been separated or reprimanded for it, perhaps she and Skinner had an arrangement as well.
"After all," the accountant snickered, "Mulder went through alot of partners before her and none of THEM lasted more than a couple of weeks. He's gotta be getting something from her that he didn't get from the others!"
Everyone had laughed at that.
By the time the coffee break was over and the gossips had returned to their desks, she wanted to find a hole to crawl into. Normally so reserved, she was dismayed to find herself near tears. She let the copier come to a halt and braced herself against it, hands flat on the warm surface of the machine. Her lower lip trembled as she tried to control her emotions.
She was angry. She was frustrated. But mostly, she was hurt. She had known, intellectually, that she was not really accepted by her peers-- because of her intellect, her reserve, her work with Mulder. To have her nose rubbed in it struck a nerve she hadn't known was exposed.
Scully hated her Ice Queen image, but had learned when she was young, growing up with two older brothers, that a show of emotion was a weakness quickly exploited. She had cultivated the expressionless mask she wore until it was habit. Mulder could now see through it, but those who did not know her well often assumed that she was unfriendly and cold. It helped her alot in her work, but interfered in her personal relationships.
The comments about her supposed promiscuity were even harder to bear. It had been so long since she had even had a date that the rumours were ludicrous. And to be accused of fraternizing with Mulder! That burned!
She was by no means ignorant of her partner's striking good looks and personal charm. He was definitely sexy. She wasn't blind to the strong masculine attractions of her assistant director, either. She spent so much time with the two of them, especially Mulder, that she would have to be dead NOT to notice. But she knew that the biggest mistake she could ever make would be to act on the impulses that did occasionally grip her.
Deep in thought, her anger built steadily as she reflected on the unfairness of the words she had heard. She didn't notice the door swing open, nor Skinner standing behind Mulder in the doorway.
"Scully?" Mulder's voice behind her surprised her before she could get a handle on her emotions and since she trusted him, she said exactly what was on her mind.
"That depends..." she started, her back to the door as she gathered up the documents she had copied. "...on whether you are looking for Dr. Ice, the queen of the frigid bitches, or Agent Slut, who only mangages to keep her badge by sleeping with her partner and her AD!" She stood there, breathing heavily, whipping around as she heard two masculine voices swear at her words.
Her eyes grew large as she noticed Skinner behind Mulder.
Scully was mortified to have lost her self-control like that in front of Skinner. Bad enough to have done it in front of Mulder, in whom she still had trouble confiding. She felt she had lost the AD's respect, now. How could he ever take her seriously again, if a few rumours had made her react like this?
Her first instinct was to flee, so she could pull herself together. She would apologize later. She looked at the floor, mumbled "Never mind" and headed toward the door.
Scully felt a gentle hand on her arm, stopping her. Mulder guided her to a chair, and gently pushed her into it. He crouched in front of the chair, his face level with hers. Skinner pulled the door closed behind him. He stood with his back to it, blocking the way out.
"Talk to me, Scully." Mulder's voice was quiet but firm.
"Apparently, I was the topic of conversation at coffee break today." She gestured toward the coffee machine in the hall with a wave of her hand. "They must not have known I was in here. Word got out that we had to share a room on that last case."
She took a deep breath, trying to calm her voice, to stop the tremor she heard in it. "Depending on who you talk to, I am either too cold and unfeeling to be able to have sex... or I have been sleeping with you from the start."
She fell silent. Skinner cleared his throat, and when she looked up, raised his eyebrows and asked, " And the comments about you and I?"
She blushed deeply, then the mask settled over her face as she replied. "Well, sir, they believe I have been sleeping with you to avoid Mulder and I being separated. After all, if he and I were sleeping together, you should have transferred one of us." The bitterness in her voice betrayed her emotions.
The AD's face hardened and his eyes glittered.
All three were silent for a few moments, then Mulder tilted her head up, looked her right in the eyes and spoke to her.
"Firstly, no one who knows you at all could believe that you are cold and unfeeling. You are a warm and caring soul with a kind heart. As for the other part...you are a good agent and the best partner anyone -- man or woman -- could ask for. Don't let the idle chatter of a few jealous, ignorant wanna-be s make you feel insecure about yourself. You're better than that. And you know it."
She nodded, eyes locked on his. She looked up when the other man began speaking.
"Agent Scully, your conduct and professionalism are beyond reproach. I have never questioned it. And I will personally and quickly correct anyone who suggests otherwise. You have my respect and support."
He held her eyes with his own until he saw that she believed him, then nodded and said "We came to get you because I want to discuss some things with the two of you. And we need to go someplace ELSE to do it. So we are having a working lunch."
She nodded and collected her things. Mulder placed his hand on her lower back to guide her out, and Skinner had started to open the door when she stopped them both.
"Wait." She took a deep breath as the two men looked at her expectantly. "Thank you. Thank you both." She looked each of them in the eyes as she said it.
They both nodded to her, seriously, and they all headed for the door.
"They were right." she thought. "As long as I have the respect and trust of these two honest men, it doesn't matter what anyone else thinks! To hell with them all."
END
Author's Comments: This was my first fanfic. It is definitely not my best, though I have revised it to polish it up a bit.