From jcvangel@eonet.com Mon Jan 06 19:59:18 1997
Christmas 96: Shopping For The Men
by Mona Ray
knik@eonet.com

These are kind of sequels to my first two stories, but can stand or fall by
themselves.  The Second story in this duo is titled Christmas Ball.  I
would have posted them earlier, but a little thing called Christmas got in
the way.

This one is rated R, but the other is NC-17  S/S Romance Story
01/02

December 14th
D.C. Mall

          Holly, from Criminal Research and Kimberly Cooke, assistant to
Walter Skinner made plans for a day of shopping and visiting away from the
pressures of work.

          Kimberly walked along the crowded corridor alternating between
shop names and her list, which kept shrinking as her bags grew.   Holly had
most of her shopping done and enjoyed keeping Kimberly company.  She didn't
mingle well with the others at the bureau, especially in light of her
attacking the assistant director during Pusher's control over her mind. 
The A.D.'s assistant had always been friendly, and helped her through the
difficult rehabilitation she required.  A firm friendship was founded and
the two women had lunch together at least once a week.

          "I promised myself, no ties this year.  I will not get Skinner
another tie, but what to get a man like that."  Kimberly smiled at the
forbidden thoughts she had about him.  Not involving a relationship, no her
husband was the fixture of most of those thoughts, but Oh what a body.  She
was lucky to work for such a athletic man.

          "Maybe a book, does he read?"  Holly was still apprehensive, even
after all these months.  Walter Skinner had been so kind to her and seemed
to have forgotten the incident, but as she told her therapist, 'When I see
the harm that I, me who never hurt anyone before, caused to that innocent
man.  And he was just trying to help me.'  No Holly wouldn't forgive and
forget.

          "He doesn't wear tie tacks, he doesn't use cuff links.  Maybe a
toy for his office, you know the kind that people pick up and play with on
a whim.  I can just see his agents, 'Yes Sir, the murder was a gruesome
one.'  All the while holding a stuffed Kermit on their knee."

          Holly giggled.  "Somehow I think Kermit would end up on the
stanchion at the shooting range."

          A sobering Kimberly, "You're probably right."

          They approached the fountain in the center of the mall.  The base
was a seating area for those resting, and lovers making wishes by tossing
coins into the streaming arches of water, shooting twenty feet strait up,
then dropping to form a star burst. 

          Kimberly dropped onto the tile seat with a tired sigh, bags
spilling at her feet.  "Now I know why people mall walk for exercise."

          Holly looked around towards the water, dug out a quarter and
flipped it into the swirling mass.  "Maybe a tall and handsome stranger
will come and rescue me from shopping with you.  Do you think I can buy one
for a quarter, Kim?"

          "Doubt it, inflation."

          Holly's eyes scanned the crowd surrounding the thirty foot pool. 
Older people, kids, couples kissing and holding hands, and one couple
amalgamated together so tightly little was left to the imagination if it
weren't for the jeans and jackets separating the frenching couple.  He was
perched on the edge of the pool and she had straddled his hips, bringing
her groin into contact with his.  He was holding her in place with his arms
clasped together under her bottom.  Her legs dangled to each side of him
and he was leaned back against the edge of the pool, a position impossible,
except for someone with very long legs.  Something about them seemed
familiar, almost.  Then Holly gasped aloud, bringing Kimberly's gaze
sharply to bear on her.

          "What is it, Holly, are you all right?"  The concern in
Kimberly's voice drew her gaze momentarily from the tantalizing seen in
front of her.  "Look, I think that's the back of  the AD, isn't it?"

          Kimberly swiveled to look, taking a moment to register on who it
was Holly was pointing to.  "I'd recognize that back anywhere, and if you
want to know, the red head is Dana Scully.  They've been dating for about a
month now, and from the looks of it, things are progressing nicely."

          "You know that they are dating and didn't say a word to me?"

          "I like my job too much to so much as mention when the A.D. has a
cold, little lone an affair."

******************

That Morning
Dana Scully's Apartment

          "You're going to have to move, I can't breath."

          Walter Skinner moaned in protest, but complied, rolling off Dana
Scully and pulling her with him so she was laying on his broad chest. 
"You've destroyed me again Agent Scully, explain yourself?"  His voice was
thick with passion and a satisfaction.

          "Well Sir, it's like this.  An extremely handsome man came to my
door last night and made an obscene suggestion.  And after I told Mulder
never to darken my doorway again, I bolted it, turned the phone off, and
then I returned to bed where the torture and rampant sex continued until
well after midnight.  I wasn't done torturing, when you passed out, so I
had to finish this morning."

          "You give an excellent report, would you like to become an FBI
agent.  I know someone high-up, who for a few sexual favors, might let you
play with his big gun, that doesn't shoot blanks."  Walter ran his hands
over her smooth butt and down the backs of her thighs and up again gripping
her cheeks in an erotic squeeze that left Dana tingling with desire.

          "Mmmm."  Dana ran her tongue around a nipple until it was hard.

          "Why doesn't that old woman come when I'm really in trouble,"
Walter moaned.  "You're going to be the death of me, sweetheart.  I came
three times last night and once this morning.  I've never done that
before."

          Dana rose up on her elbows, "Yes you have.  Eight times last
weekend, I counted.  And I couldn't sit without squirming until Tuesday. 
And yes, Mulder noticed, 'Scully, what you need is pony, not a stallion.' 
And I  had to ask who he had in mind, himself.  'No, Frohike.'"

          "Is this Frohike someone I have to deal with."  Walter growled,
arms tightening around her back, pulling her onto him.

          "He's a paranoid friend of Mulder's.  He's harmless."  Dana
quickly changed topics, not wishing to give too much away about the Lone
Gunmen just yet.  "You promised to take me shopping today, if I can walk
that is.  I still have to find a gift for Mulder.  I threw his list in the
trash, where it belongs."

          "Screw Mulder.  Let's stay in bed."

          Dana smiled and thought, 'How did I end up with a man after my
own heart.  So many times I wanted to tell Mulder to piss off, like when he
tried to make amends for his comments about Queequag's demise.'

          Dana knew how to get Walter out of bed, albeit reluctantly, "If
you take me to the mall, I'll let you pick something out from Fredricks of
Hollywood for this evening."

          Walter smiled with his eyes closed as he conjured up Dana in a
flimsy black outfit, missing most of the vital parts of cloth.  "What are
we waiting for."  With that he rose from the bed, scooping Dana up headed
for the shower.

          A short time later, a couple emerged from her building, him in
jeans, a green long sleeve T-shirt and a brown leather jacket, and her in
jeans a matching T-shirt and oversized ski jacket of navy blue.  They both
wore matching Colorado hikers.  Walter had bought himself a new pair this
week and couldn't resist a smaller pair for her.

          At the mall they wondered, hand in hand, sharing intimate looks. 
While she browsed in the many shops, he kept his hands on her shoulders,
looking over her head making comments, or his hands on her hips pulling her
back into his groin.

          "Walter, someone might see."

          "I'm giving free looks today.  I want all the men to be jealous."

          "Someone we know might see us, and our secret will be out."  Dana
was still worried, not for her, but a respectable reputation went with his
position.

          "I'm tired of not being seen public with you, as if you're
something I'm ashamed of."  He turned her in his arms so he was embracing
her, "I love you, Dana.  I want to tell the entire bureau.  So many time
I've thought about a memo, 'I love Dana Scully, so all you ignorant
bastards eyes off, she's mine.'  What do you think?"

          "I think I love you, Assistant Director Skinner, with all my
heart, and definitely all my body."  She was loosing herself in his warm
brown eyes and the soft smile playing around his mouth.  "Let's get out of
this area before I molest you again, right here in the men's underwear
section.  By the way, did I ever tell you that I like your briefs so much
better than any boxers.  I'm glad you wear those tight low rise briefs." 
Her voice was purposefully seducing him.

          "Agent Scully, if we don't depart this store, now, I'm going to
make you buy me a new pair of jeans, as these are rapidly shrinking."

          Dana glanced down to admire the view as they left.  

          An hour and twenty shops later, they were exiting Fredricks of
Hollywood.  "Come on Sweetheart, let's go home."  Walter had what he wanted
and the rest of the world could go away, especially Mulder.

          "I still haven't found Mulder anything."  Dana found herself in
the grasp of her lover as he propelled her backwards towards the fountain.

          "I'm going to scream and throw a temper tantrum like that little
kid we saw, if you don't give me a fix, here and now."  His voice was deep
and rough with desire.  With that, he leaned back against the fountain,
bring Dana up to straddle his groin while his mouth claimed hers, tongues
dueling as both lost sight of their surroundings.

          They were ignored by most people, hurrying about their own
business.  Some young children watched and giggled while teenagers glanced
at them and then to their young dates, embarrassed by looking, and
wondering if they would ever have the nerve to kiss and hold someone in
that manor.

          Several minutes later they had slowed to gentle pecks on each
others lips, while murmuring words of love.

          "Feel better, Hon." Dana grazed his lips with her own.

          "Mmmm, it'll do for now."

          "I think I know just what Mulder needs."

          "He can't have you."

          "Besides that.  I'm taken anyway.  Put me down and I'll show
you."

          Walter reluctantly let her slide away from his grasp and
followed, keeping his hand firmly glued to hers.

*************************

          Holly had never been held in that manor and kissed.  She felt a
wave of envy rise and would have given anything to be in Dana Scully's
shoes.  Not that she wanted that particular man, just any man who would do
that to her.

          Kimberly, with her usual perception, thought, 'Now who can I set
Holly up with.  Let's see there's Agent Colton, no he's an ass.  Agent
Rider, no I heard he has a girlfriend, Agent Pendrell, no he's got a crush
on Scu....Wait a minute.  Yes, Agent Pendrell.'

          "Come on Holly, I know exactly what Walter Skinner is getting
from me this year."

          Questions were rushing to Holly's lips as she hurried after
Kimberly now marching firmly towards a store with purposeful strides.  They
stopped outside a small liquor store, selling expensive wines and
champagne.  "A bottle of something in a blush with a note not to drink
alone will be appreciated much more than the half dozen tacky ties he
usually receives."

          Kimberly quickly made her purchase, hiding it deep in an existing
bag.  One of her duties which fell under 'other duties assigned,' was the
many gifts that had to come from the office of Assistant Director at
Christmas.  His position deemed it necessary to play host to a vast array
of political amenities, both in the form of properly motivated cards to
strategically sent gifts.  A couple weeks before Christmas every year,
Kimberly would slip into the A.D.'s office with a list of possible items
and Skinner would place names by the items.  Every year the list grew as
new contacts were carefully cultivated.  This was one part of Skinner's job
he didn't like, but saw the necessity of such actions.  Monday and Tuesday
was Kimberly's job to distribute the items and collect the bounty usually
reciprocated from colleagues and superiors.  The assistants to the
assistant directors and department heads would have their own private gift
exchange party after work on Monday the 23rd.  This years party was
scheduled to be in the office of Walter Skinner, and Kimberly had already
extracted a promise from him that he would vacate his office by 4:30 so she
could decorate.

          "I think I'm finally done Holly.  Let's have dinner someplace and
call it a day." With that, both women headed towards the exit where Holly's
car was parked.

          "Kimberly, Holly, wait up."  They both stopped and looked around
for the owner of the masculine voice.

          Kimberly spied him first and with a smile greeted Agent Pendrell.

          "Out for some last minute shopping, Danny?"  Kimberly glanced at
Holly to gage her reaction to Agent Pendrell's arrival.

          "Just a couple items.  I'm going to my folks for Christmas, and
my brother and sisters will be their, with all the kids."

          "Sounds like you have a full schedule then, any woman to take
home to meet Mom, Danny?"  Kimberly was making sure of his lack of
commitment before launching her newly developing plan.

          "I wish I had the nerve to ask Agent Scully out." 

          Holly almost choked on this.  She had heard the rumors about his
obsession with Dana Scully, but had forgotten in light of her exhibition by
the fountain earlier.

          "I think Agent Scully has a boyfriend."  Holly spoke before
Kimberly could steer the conversation away from Scully.

          Danny Pendrell's face fell and he challenged, "How do you know
that?"

          Holly realizing her faux pas tried to salvage the situation while
not giving any secrets away, stated, "You know, the usual rumors from
work."

          Pendrell brightened at that, after all the rumor mill had Dana
sleeping with Mulder for years now, and he had Mulder's word that nothing
like that had ever happened.  He glanced around at the shoppers and
Kimberly was sure he would spot Dana and Walter in a compromising position
if she didn't get him out of the mall.

          "We were just on our way to eat, come join us, we'd love your
company."

          Pendrell was honored.  The A.D.'s assistant had always been cool
and cordial towards him, but not friendly, and Holly was as shy as him at
instigating new relationships.

          To Kimberly's relief he agreed.  If all went well Holly and Danny
would accompany each other to the bureau Christmas party to be held the
following Saturday in the immense ballroom of the D.C. Hilton.  All she had
to do was ask the right questions and make the subtle suggestions and once
again her skills as a matchmaker would bring happiness to those she worked
with.

END OF PART ONE