From: AltarGirl2 Date sent: Wed, 8 Apr 1998 16:13:54 EDT Subject: Story: A Light Breeze Blowing in the Windy City Title: A Light Breeze Blowing in the Windy City Author: Chase Buckingham Category: VR Rating: PG Spoilers: None Keywords: Mulder/Scully Romance Summary: Once upon a trip to Chicago, two FBI agents were caught in a tornado... Archive: Sure! Wherever, just let me know and keep my name on it! Feedback: YES! oh, please, oh, please! AltarGirl2@aol.com Disclaimer: NOT FREAKIN' MINE! Dedication: For Mayor Daley : ) "Chicago? Great! Buy why?" Scully asked her partner, wincing. She loved the city, but dreaded the bizarre case that might be taking them there. She'd done a few too many weird things lately, and didn't feel like chasing aliens across the country any time soon. "Skinner asked us to do a presentation with a few other agents at town hall... the Bureau wants to open an additional office there. It's just busy work, and we get paid in time off if we accept." Quite relieved and inspired by the notion of time off, Scully nodded eagerly. "Okay, let's do it. When do we leave and how long till we get home and I get a break?" Mulder laughed at her impatience. "We're on an early flight tomorrow, and we return in six days. And you get a break." She smiled. He could be so cute... she was actually looking forward to spending time with him outside of work. She didn't know him well enough, and some quality time would be much appreciated by both. They first of a series of speeches was the next afternoon, and although the weather was a bit sketchy, they began on time and were doing very nicely when the lights flashed twice. A security guard at the back of the room hurried to the podium. "Tornado, guys. No need to panic- out the door and to your left, three flights down to the basement. Let's go!" Scully rolled her eyes and threw up her hands, exasperated. Mulder laughed mockingly and followed her out of the room. They sat against the cold stone basement walls, somewhat angered at the glitch in their plans. Scully and Mulder sat talking about nothing in particular, and he was purposely trying to piss her off with alien stories. "Ya know what, Mulder? If the ceiling crashed in and killed you, I'd laugh." He arched an eyebrow. "Oh? And I assume you're what? Immortal? You'd be killed too!" She shook her head. "I'd still laugh." "Shut up, Scully. You know you'd miss me terribly. Come on, out with it- I'm indespensible." Scully smiled. "Okay, Mulder. Yes, you're indespensible. And I'm not just saying that- you are." She rubbed his shoulder amiably and rested her head back against the wall, sighing. "Aww, thanks, Scully!" He was mocking her. "Shut up. I was *trying* to be nice!" He laughed and shook his head. "Why are you so hardened against everyone, Scully? I know there's an emotional sweetheart in there *somewhere*- I see her every once in a while, but then she disappears. Where is she, Scully?" She gazed at him pensively. She had no idea how to answer his question. She wasn't even sure she herself knew the answer. "I have no idea, Mulder. I really don't." He was shocked. Though it was a simple statement, he had never seen her so unsure of herself than as she'd said those few words. "Hmm... isn't it hard to live so closed off from the world? Don't you miss love, compassion, sadness, exhilaration?" Scully smiled softly, breathing deeply. "I love and I am loved. Compassion I give to myself, and I cry when no one's around. And there are, in fact, a few things that exhilarate me." He shook his head. "I know full well that you love your family and they love you, but what about romantic love, Scully?" She laughed, and there was a sweetness to the sound. "You think I have not loved a man? That I do not now love a man?" Mulder's eyes widened, but then he laughed heartily. She was playing with him. Scully hadn't had a boyfriend in five years, and she didn't have one now. She wouldn't hide *that* from him. "Sure, Scully. Whatever you say. But I was serious- don't you miss love?" Scully arched an eyebrow, shaking her head, incredulous. "What's so unbelievable to you about the fact that I'm in love? I mean, I know it's not in my nature to lust, but there *is* someone, Mulder, and I do love him." "Oh. Well, I'm sorry. I am. You just don't seem the type to be a... *girlfriend*. It's just strange to me, and I apologize if I offended you. By the way, who on earth is the lucky man?" Scully smiled. "*Lucky*, Mulder?" "Yes. Lucky. Who?" She laughed. "You really hate me right now, don't you?" He nodded, grinning. "Yes, I do! Now *who*, dammit?!" She chuckled and patted his back. "Well, I *could* make you guess..." The look on his face was homicidal. "Or not. Well, he works at the Bureau... in the basement. He's rather handsome- the most amazing green eyes, captivating smile. And I think he loves me too. At least I hope so." The words were so very un-Scully, so very shocking, that it took Mulder a moment to process it. When it was clear that he'd gotten her message, she leaned tentatively towards him and rested her head on his shoulder. This, too, shocked him, but he placed his arm around her nevertheless, kissing her head gingerly. They sat there in this manner for a long while- perhaps thirty minutes- and finally Scully broke the silence. "Mulder?" She said quietly, hesitantly. He pulled her closer to kiss her hair once more before replying. "Yes?" She lifted her head to look into his eyes. Yes- amazing had been the correct word for them. "I love you," she whispered, and kissed him softly. He smiled and adjusted his arm so that it was now about her waist. "I love you, too. You know that!" She truly *grinned*- out of sheer happiness- for what he supposed to have been the first time in his presence. Suddenly they both started and sat up as each realized that twenty-eight other agents had witnessed the spectacle. They all smiled and began to applaud, which eventually evolved into loud cheering. A blushing Scully hid her face in Mulder's shoulder, and he just smiled and shrugged. He could read the mind of every agent in that corridor: end