Title: "Getting Acquainted"

Author: Emmyjean (emmyjeanb@yahoo.com)

Disclaimer: Do I really have to do this every time? Look, don't sue me- I don't have any money. So obviously I'm not making any off of doing this.

Spoilers: Deep Throat

Rating: PG

Archive: Sure, just let me know first. J

Comments: I'll write this fic again one day with Mulder's POV. But I wanna see if you like this one at all before I do that.

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Scully took a moment to inspect her surroundings after the waitress had come with their food and then left again. It wasn't as crappy as some diners she'd eaten in…in fact, it was quite charming. Clean, colorful, and bright despite the fact that it was almost ten-thirty at night. They had just gotten through with their case regarding the formerly missing Colonel Robert Budahas, and had been so hungry that they could not wait to get back home to eat. They were driving back to avoid having to stay in the town another minute longer than they had to, and Mulder hadn't even had time to shower or shave after his questionable experience at Ellen's Air Base.

She looked up at him - he was occupied with trying to pick the onions off of his gyro. As she watched him rearrange the food on his plate, occasionally popping a fry into his mouth, she began to think idly to herself.

She had always hated this part of any…well, relationship. It didn't matter if it was romantic, friendly, or work-related…she had always felt self-conscious eating in front of someone she didn't know. She knew it was stupid and probably something that required some sort of psychiatric evaluation, but it was just something that she did not enjoy. Say what you will, it's very hard to look professional while shoving food in your mouth.

Mulder suddenly looked up and caught her staring at him. He gave her a sheepish smile and said, "Sorry…bad manners, I know. It's not that I don't like onions or anything…I just don't love 'em. They always pile 'em on these things…"

She shook her head and interrupted, "It's alright…I hate onions. Anyway, I wasn't really paying attention. I was spacing out a bit, I guess."

Mulder licked his thumb and asked, "Something on your mind?"

She had actually been thinking a lot about their last case…first of all, she had a hard time accepting the fact that Mrs. Budahas had done such a complete about-face and refused to co-operate right when they had come close to getting answers about her husband's condition. She didn't like the fact that the military had been able to basically kidnap Mulder and, from what it looked like to her, perform medical tests on him. Despite all this, however, something about the experience stuck in her mind that bothered her more than anything else.

"No…no, nevermind."

He studied her for a moment as if trying to gauge whether or not she was telling the truth and, uncomfortable under his scrutiny, Scully reached for her sandwich. At least maybe it would make him drop it.

It didn't. He continued to look at her as she chewed, and she prayed that her face wasn't turning red. What was it with this weird thing of hers? Who cares if he watches you eat? Let him, if he really wants.

"Scully…would you tell me if something was wrong?"

She swallowed and replied, "Mulder, I told you…forget it."

He nodded and took a bite of his pita, which she assumed signified the end of the conversation. However, after stuffing a couple pieces of meat in his mouth with his fingers, he continued talking with his mouth full.

"You know, Scully," he paused to swallow, "if we're gonna work together, it's important that we are able to communicate our feelings clearly. Especially since, by the decree of the powers that be, we're supposed to work as partners. You really can't get a closer professional relationship."

She looked up indignantly and washed down some fries with a sip of pop before she answered, "You know, you're not exactly a poster-boy for open lines of communication, Mulder. Or at least you haven't been so far."

He frowned now, and said quietly, "What do you think I was trying to do when I told you the whole story involving my sister and her disappearance? You think I tell all that to every Tom, Dick, and Harry I meet on the street?"

She shrugged slightly, conceding that, but specified, "Mulder…I don't appreciate being ditched. I mean, imagine what could have happened to you if I hadn't caught that phony reporter in his lies!"

He looked down and shook his head. "Scully…I had to go check it out. I had to, if for nothing else than to satisfy my own conscience about Colonel Budahas. You weren't exactly enthusiastic about coming with me, and I figured it would be better if I didn't force you to make that decision."

"Yeah, well from now on don't make decisions for me. I'm a big girl."

Angry, they both took bites of their food, chewed, and swallowed before Scully looked up again.

"Mulder…I want you to tell me honestly. Do you want me to ask for a transfer?"

He looked up at her, a fry halfway to his mouth. "What?"

"I mean it. I…look, I didn't know what to expect walking into your office a few weeks ago, but… I know you're not crazy. I've come to respect you both as a fellow agent and as a person."

He put the fry back down on his plate, listening intently to her.

She continued, "But…I know that I must be something you didn't need in your investigations into the paranormal. Let's just say that I can see I'm cramping your style a bit."

She smiled slightly at him, he merely blinked.

"So…if you tell me to ask for a transfer, I will. I could arrange it. No hard feelings. The fact is, I don't feel comfortable with this responsibility they have given me- reporting on your work. I think we both know what they want and expect from me…and my personal moral code will not allow me to do it."

He looked down, put the aforementioned fry in his mouth, and seemed to contemplate for a long time. Scully looked at the top of his head as she drank her soda…she would be sorry to leave. Her short run with Fox Mulder had been nothing if not interesting.

He looked up suddenly and, looking her directly in the eye, said, "Maybe I needed my style cramped a little."

She raised her eyebrows, confused.

He sighed and said, "Look, Scully…you're right. I wasn't elated at the news that I was being assigned a partner, much less one who was a medical doctor. I think you could tell that from our first conversation. I'm a loner, I'm used to working alone, and I certainly didn't think that a scientist would help me in the least with my work on the X-Files."

She nodded slowly, and he continued, "But considering all that…you surprised me. You weren't as closed off as I had come to imagine in the month I had to think about it. You actually backed me up in our first case together…I'll be honest, that shocked the hell out of me."

She laughed a little, and he finally smiled. His voice remained serious, however, as he continued, "I could have done much, much worse than you. I think…that this might turn out to be very interesting, Scully. Maybe even good for me and for the X-Files…who knows?"

He looked at her for a moment before finishing, "So…I'd like you to stay on, if you have no objections."

She smiled and nodded slowly, surprised herself at the honesty and openness he was showing her now, as well as at his answer to her question. She had been sure he was going to take her up on the offer.

"Anyway," he continued, picking up his gyro, "you know a woman's capable when she has the confidence to order a cheeseburger in front of a guy."

Scully looked up, wide-eyed, and saw that he was smiling playfully at her.

"Mulder…you are a jerk."

His smile shrank just the tiniest bit as it turned serious, and his voice was almost affectionate as he replied, "Why? I was being completely serious."

She shook her head and went back to her dinner, a little less self-conscious now. Mulder may have been somewhat of a jerk at first, with lingering traces still rearing their ugly heads at times, but as each day passed she felt a little bit less uneasy. She knew that the administration at the Bureau would separate them soon enough, but having confirmed that she wasn't such an affliction in Mulder's life…she was going to fully take advantage of the experience while it lasted.

Decision made. Case closed…at least that made one for the day.

FINIS