From: Kelli Rocherolle Newsgroups: alt.tv.x-files.creative Subject: "The Psychic" by Kelli Rocherolle Date: Sun, 1 Oct 95 21:09:31 -0500 Here's a short one I wasn't planning on posting, but a friend talked me into sharing it... hope you'll get a smile out of it! Please direct any comments to Kelli at XMSU55A@prodigy.com or KELLI176@delphi.com *The following story is based on characters copyrighted by Ten *Thirteen Productions, created by The Man, Chris Carter, and who *are the property of the Fox network and are used without *permission. No infringement intended. ************************************** The Psychic "Mulder what makes you think this woman is any more believable than that woman who told you you were going to witness the next Elvis sighting?" "I'm tellin' you, Scully, I have it on good authority that this woman is the *genuine* article." Scully 's brows came together doubtfully as she returned her gaze to the passing scenery... ********************************* They sat in front of a round table in a small, cluttered room. It was dark except for several candelabras scattered around and a single light illuminating the crystal ball on the center of the table. Mulder leaned forward on the table, his face intent with fascination. Scully sat next to him, leaning back in her chair with her arms folded in front of her. Her expression was one of utter disbelief and exasperation. "And you're sure that's all you could see?" Mulder asked the old woman. The psychic nodded slowly as she eyed Scully. "Well we'd like to thank you for your time," Mulder said as he started to get up. Still fixing her gaze on Scully, the woman spoke to Mulder. "Your friend, she doesn't believe." Mulder looked over at Scully with amusement. "Gee, whatever gave you that idea?" Scully eyeballed him as the psychic continued. "I can tell. Her aura is skeptical." She raised her eyebrows at the old woman. "My aura?" Mulder sat back down and his gaze moved back and forth between the two women as they talked. He was enjoying every minute of this exchange. "That's right," the woman said. "Some people can see them, others can feel them. *You* could feel them." "*I* could feel them..." she repeated uncertainly. The woman nodded. "I can see that about you. Why don't you try it?" "I don't think so..." Mulder decided to join in the attack. "Oh come on Scully. If there's nothing to it, why not humor her?" Scully considered for a minute, and decided to indulge them. "All right. What do I do?" she asked as she scooted her chair closer to the table to face the woman head on. "No no," she said. "Not me-- him." "Him?" "That's right." Now they were both regarding Scully with amusement. She looked at Mulder, smirking. "Is this a set up Mulder?" He displayed his palms to her in innocence, flashing her that roguish grin. Well, she wasn't about to back down now. She turned her chair to face him and brought it closer. Mulder shifted his chair so he was directly facing her. "OK now," the woman directed, "put your hands above his head." Scully lifted her hands and deposited them on Mulder's head. "No no, not *on* his head *above* his head. Don't touch him." Scully did as the psychic directed, moving her hands over his head but never making direct contact. Mulder's smile faded as the effect of her proximity settled on him like a delicate cloud. He studied her face so close to his as she followed the movements of her hands. She was so near, if he just leaned in the slightest bit... At this distance-- kissing distance, he could detect the faintest traces of her perfume, her soap, her shampoo. He felt dizzy at the sight of her lips, her mouth slightly open, right there in front of him, suspended before him like Eve's apple, tempting him to taste the sweet fruit. His eyes fell to her neck, past her collarbone to the top of her shirt. His skin seemed to bristle. Scully moved her hands slowly down over the front of his chest, up the side of his arms and back to his face. Suddenly, she caught his eye... and what she saw there scared the hell out of her. She froze, then dropped her hands to her lap abruptly and looked back at the psychic. She lowered her eyes. "I didn't feel anything," she said quickly. Now it was the psychic's turn to be skeptical. She looked back at Mulder and started to speak. Scully stood up suddenly. "Could we just get back to the case please?" she said sharply and took a few steps towards the door. She turned back to face them. Mulder looked awkwardly at the old woman and gave her a quick nod as he stood. "Thank you." The psychic nodded in return, then got up and shuffled to the back of the room where she disappeared behind a paisley curtain. Mulder and Scully stared at each other for a moment before Scully turned to head out the doorway. Mulder reached out and took hold of her arm. "Wait a minute, aren't you forgetting something?" "What do you mean?" "It's my turn." "Mulder..." "Come on Scully, I showed you my aura now you show me yours." His smile was gleeful. She stared at him; he wasn't going to give up on this. She straightened and made a conceding gesture. "Fine," she said coolly. Mulder stepped closer and held his hands just over her head. She kept her eyes focused on the ground as he started slowly moving his hands along the side of her head, barely touching her hair. He moved to suspend them in front of her face. Her mouth opened slightly as she attempted to take in more air; she realized she'd been holding her breath. She could smell the remnants of mild soap on his skin. He lowered his voice conspiratorially. "You ever heard of Tantric Sex, Scully?" "Excuse me?" He slowly let his hand fall to her throat, then outward across her collarbone. At her shoulders, he ran his hands down the length of her arms and back up again. "Tantric Sex. Have you ever heard of it?" She shook her head, eyeing him suspiciously. "It's all about transcending physical sex; a conjoining of 'sexual energy'. You don't have to touch. It's like having sex on a 'higher plane'." His eyes taunted her mercilessly. "Kind of like what we're doing right now." He ran his hands from her shoulders down her sides, tracing the hour glass of her figure to her waist, never touching, only teasing the air between them. But Scully had had enough; he was effecting her much more than she wanted to risk showing. Her hands came up and took hold of the forearms of his trench coat to push them away. But he turned his hands and took hold of her, so that they were holding each other's forearms. He leaned in close, his voice low. "What's the matter, Scully? You afraid I might read your aura... or maybe your mind?" She stared at him. "Why, what would I find there?" Scully cleared her throat and tried to maintain her cool. "What do you think you'd find?" "Secrets." "Secrets? What makes you think I have secrets?" The corner of his mouth turned up slightly. "Good girls always do." She swallowed. He was good; no doubt about that. She smirked back at him. "Maybe... but we keep them safely locked away." "Locked away? Well I have a key, you know." A glimmer of mischief brightened her eyes. "But do you have the *right* key?" Mulder raised an eyebrow at her. "Oh I have a special key. I can do great things with my key." She straightened, forcing him to do the same, and gave him a gentle push away. "I've seen your key, Mulder. It's not so special." Suppressing a smile, she held his gaze as she disappeared through the beaded doorway. Mulder stood there and watched her go, his face filled with delight. Behind him, a small crevice in the curtain closed. The psychic smiled. The End.