Title: Matter Of...Trust Author: Erin M. Blair E-Mail: eblair@sonic.net Classification: SRA--Story, Romance, Angst Content: Mulder/Scully Romance. Spender/Scully Friendship. Scully POV. Mulder POV. Spoiler: The Beginning. Rating: PG Archive: OK to Gossamer, Xemplary, Church Of X, and EMXC. Others: please ask first. Please forward to ATXC. Disclaimer: They're not mine. Chris Carter owns them. Summary: Can Spender change Scully's mind after leaving Mulder for a position at the San Diego FBI Field Office? Will Mulder win Scully back? -------------------------------------- MATTER OF...TRUST Written by: Erin M. Blair -------------------------------------- I packed my few belongings from my new desk into a box. New desk, in the new office Mulder and I were assigned to after the X-Files were shut down. I requested a transfer to the San Diego FBI Field Office. It was approved. I can finally be closer to my brothers. That's a lie. I want to be away from Mulder. I want to be gone before he finds out. I hadn't told him that I was leaving. Frankly, I don't care what he thinks. That's not true... I do care. A lot. It hurts so much to leave him but I don't want to see him again. Not after what happened yesterday. It all comes down to a matter of trust, and he doesn't trust me. I know that he's not going to chase me down, and beg me to stay. He trusts Diana Fowley after everything she neglected to mention, especially Gibson Praise. I can't understand him. Frankly, I don't want to try. I looked down at my watch, and I knew that he was coming in soon. I have to go. I walked down the hallway towards the elevators as I balanced the boxes filled with my belongings. Without noticing, I walked into the elevator. "Going down..." "Agent Scully?" Spender inquired. I could tell that he was shocked to see me, but he looked like he cared about me. Mulder always hated him, but I'd always liked him. He reminded me so much of myself when I started at the FBI. "What happened?" "I'm being transferred to the field office in San Diego. A forensic pathologist spot opened up... Besides, I'll be close to my brothers..." "You're kidding," Spender said, shocked. He paused. "You're not joking, are you?" I looked down at my box, and I whispered softly. "No, I'm not. It's done." "A lot of people won't want to see you go..." "I don't care. Don't tell anyone where I'm going," I said, with a sigh. I watched him nod grudgingly and he sighed. "What's wrong?" "Don't transfer to San Diego." "Why?" "Listen to me, Scully. You should stay and fight. It's not like you to quit," Spender said, with determination in his eyes. I wondered why he was trying to talk me out of quitting. "Why do you care?" "It's what I learned from you. I was in your forensic class when we found out that you were taken. After you came back, you transferred to the X-Files when it was reopened. You're a fighter, Agent Scully." "You were in my class?" "Yes," Spender said, with a smile. He paused. "Want to know why I hate Mulder." "Why?" "I'm jealous of him...I thought that he was your lover, and I knew that I wouldn't have a chance with you." "I had no idea that you felt this way towards me," I said, with a sigh. "Are you moving tomorrow?" "Yes." "That's a shame. Scully?" "What?" "I wish that you were my partner. You don't know how much I can't stand that Diana Fowley. She's so annoying!" "I'm jealous of her..." "Why? You have no reason to be jealous of Fowley. You're more classy than she is." "She shared a part of Mulder that I never will," I said, with a whisper. "What makes you think that?" "Trust. He trusts her more than me. It all comes down to a matter of trust, you know." "You're wrong, Scully. I think that it's just the opposite. I don't think that you're going to be happy out in San Diego." "Why not?" "You're gonna think about Mulder." "I want to put as many miles between us as possible." Spender sighed, and he looked into my blue eyes. "He's going to think something happened to you if you leave this way." He paused. "He seems to be the type who thinks the worst. He'll blame everyone in sight. He's going to put the blame on me." "It's not your fault. Mulder's the one to blame for what I feel," I replied, as the elevators stopped and the doors opened at the parking garage. "Want me to help you?" Spender asked, indicating the box that I was carrying. I could use the help so I nodded. I watched him as he helped me put the box in the car. "Thanks." I gave him a friendly hug, and I hoped that Mulder never saw me. * * * I just got out of my car when I saw Scully--my Scully-- with that Spender. I hate him for what he did to me. I know that he's not interested in the X-Files. First, he took the X-Files right from under me, and now, he took my Scully! Then, I saw her get in the car without him, and drove off. What's going on? I want some answers and I want them now! Breathe. Just breathe. I told myself to calm down. This isn't going to win her back. I could confront Spender, but I decided against that for obvious reasons. That's no way to get the X-Files back, and it wouldn't impress anyone. Then again, I never tried to impress anyone either. Kissing people's asses isn't my style. I have to be reasonable. Yes, that word is in my vocabulary. I *can* be reasonable. I *have* to be. I decided to jump back into my car, and follow Scully when I still have the chance. I have to find out why she was leaving before she even started the day. We both said some pretty awful things to each other yesterday. Could she still be angry with me, maybe? Usually we both get over our anger quickly and move on. I wish I had never said that I didn't trust Scully. I trust her as I have never trusted anyone else. I know it all comes back to a matter of trust. I blew it. Big time. I need to find Scully. I have to. My life depends on it. We all know that my life is pretty bleak without having her in it. I imagined the time when *they* had taken her away from me not once, but twice. I hated every second of my time without her. I cut off the engine, and I saw her walk into her apartment building carrying boxes. What's this? I have to follow her, and I have to find out the truth. Her door was open, and I walked into her apartment unannounced. We always seemed to do that with each other. "Scully, what's going on?" I know that she could tell by my voice what I was asking, as I gazed into her blue eyes. "I had a feeling that you'd come," Scully said, with a sigh. "I guess that I should tell you before you find out from AD Kersh." "What is it?" I asked, in a low voice. "I'm transferring to the San Diego FBI Field Office..." "You can't leave me..." "I can and I will." This reminded me so much of that fateful scene in my hallway when the bee stung her. "I need you on this, Scully. We're getting close to the truth... We must be if they gave the X-Files to Spender and Diana." "You said her first name, Mulder. Go be with her, not me, if you love her so much," Scully said, as her eyes welled with tears. She ran towards her bedroom, and I ran to her. I can't let this end. Not like this. "You're wrong!" I paused. "You made me feel like a whole person." "That's not going to work this time..." I had to make her see how much I want her. It's time for us to break down the walls. "Scully, you can't run away from me. We're soulmates. We're made for each other. When I'm with you, I feel so complete. So whole. I can't go on if we're not together. You're the only one I love. Please believe me." "What did you say?" Scully asked, as she looked into my hazel eyes. "I said that I love you. I love you, Scully. Not Diana." I paused. "Do you love me?" "Yes, I love you," Scully said, touched. I pulled her close to me, and I gazed into her open blue eyes. Suddenly, I could feel her warm lips on mine. My mind flashed to the time when we almost kissed, and I realized that this was going to be different. She wants to kiss me as much as I want to kiss her. Our lips locked with the intense passion between us, and it was the most amazing kiss that I ever had. After we broke apart, I knew that she was never going to leave me. She's going to stay with me. Forever. I began to think that everything was going to be fine for us as much as it can be. "I'm going to have to ask AD Kersh to rescind that transfer," Scully said, with a beaming smile. "I'm glad," I said, with a murmur. "I may not have the X-Files but I still have you. As long as we're together, nothing else matters." I paused. "I trust you, Scully." "And I trust you with my heart and soul," Scully said, as she held me in my arms. It all comes down to a matter of trust... End of Story NEXT UP: A Matter of Love Can Mulder and Scully's love pull them through? Author's Note: I'm sorry but I'm so pissed off at the season premiere so I wrote this story. I also gave Spender some background info which was needed for this story. About the title, I had picked out this after I watched the season opener last Sunday. It also fit an idea for a possible series that I'll be working on called "Matter Of". My apologies to those of you who are using this title. This is the *revised* version with the grammar and content corrections. This is a Spenderfic premeire. I had already posted this story to Gossamer and XFCreative. Feedback: I would love to receive any feedback regarding this story. Flames will be used to torch Diana Fowley and will be laughed at your expense. Send to: eblair@sonic.net ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- - Erin Blair - eblair@sonic.net - "And if I quit now, they win." - from the X-Files: Fight the Future Movie