Falling 
Chapter 30
Disclosures on previous chapters
stand for this as well.  
******************************************************

Mulder's eyes shot open, the noise that woke him disappearing
in the dark room.  He glanced down at the quiet snoring directly
to his right, Scully's even breathing calming him instantly.

He brushed his fingers through her hair as he flexed the tendons
of the arm she currently had her head rested on, the pins and 
needles prickling his extremeties.  Scully stirred slightly 
at the movement and turned away from him, giving him perfect
access to spoon around her completely, placing a light kiss
to her shoulder.  

Did he dream it?  He wouldn't normally jolt awake if something
external hadn't prompted it.  He quieted his breathing 
for a few moments, listening.  Hearing nothing, Mulder settled
back into the pillows and began to drift into consciousness
as his fingers drew lazy circles around Scully's navel.  

He felt himself begin to slip back into unconsciousness, 
a warm, hazy envelope of happiness where he would have 
at least another hour of oblivion before they were due to 
prep for their fact finding mission at Kirikova.  

Brian's voice, yelling in the den, sent him on full alert, 
his sleep addled mind sure of it's intruder this time.

Mulder slipped away from Scully, causing her to turn again
at his warm absence and carefully tried to raise himself up
to standing.  He pulled on his jeans and grabbed the small
.357 Magnum from his duffle.  

"Where are you going?" Scully mummbled, eyes still closed.

"Bathroom.  Go back to sleep." Mulder whispered as he edged
out the door and closed it with a snick.  

In bare feet, Mulder eased into the short hallway, light from
the den concerning him far more than it ought to.  Brian was
arguing with someone, another male from the sound of it.  The
timbre of the second voice was familiar, but Mulder's mind was
reeling from adrenaline, so he couldn't place it from the muted
murmurs.  

He flattened himself against the last piece of brick wall that
the hallway would afford him as a hiding place and listened,
the argument suddenly involving a female... Ava.  Brian was 
hissing at her, the other man silent.

The coolness of the kitchen and the fear of the situation caused
goosebumps to break out over Mulder's bare chest, the cold
floor freezing his bare feet.  He slid the gun out of his jeans,
keeping it in a low profile and slid the safety off.  

"You have no jurisditcion or right to barge in here at all hours
 of the morning.  Come back with a warrant." Brian growled, 
some ruffling sounds being made.

"Brian, if he came for them, then we have to give them up.  They 
are fugitives." Ava said calmly.

Almost rehearsed.  

"YEah, I wonder how in the hell he found them, Ava.  You got any
suggestions?"  Brian said sarcastically.  Mulder could have sworn
he heard 'traitorous bitch' under Brian's breath, but he wasn't
sure.  

"Look, Mr. Ashton.  They are MY agents.  I have jurisdiction 
wherever they are on the planet.  Agent Scully disappeared from 
MY investigation and I am trying to keep them from being court
marshalled.  We are talking TREASON here.  This is not anything
to play around with." 

"Who said I am playing with anything?  I want you to leave my 
house now.  Come back with the Czech police if you must."
Brian said with finality as he opened the front door.  "I told
you already that they were not here."

"It's okay, Brian." Mulder said as he walked around the corner,
sliding his gun back into his jeans.  "It's fine.  Thank you."
he said, clasping Brian's shoulder, shock coloring his face.  

Ava completely averted her eyes.  

"Sir?  I am assuming you aren't here for the skiing." Mulder
said, running a hand through his spikey hair.  

Skinner was standing before him, a bundled tower of stoicism
and seriousness, his eyes steel flecks of animosity.  

"Where is she?"  he said simply.  

"Who, Sir?" Mulder asked, holding Skinner's stare as solidly
as he could.  

Skinner's eyed narrowed at Mulder's obvious immature response.

"May I see you privately, Agent Mulder?" Skinner asked, brushing
past Brian and AVa and heading into the kitchen.  Mulder looked at
Brian and silently asked for his t-shirt.  Brian handed it over and
Mulder slipped it on as he followed Skinner into the kitchen.

"Coffee, sir?" Mulder asked as he rounded the corner and began filling
the pot, his back to Skinner.