From: bellydancergirl7@aol.com   
      
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   All notes disclosed in chapter one   
      
   June 30, 1998   
      
   Conflitti   
      
   Anyone who saw her face at the mention of Fox Mulder's name would   
   have known she was in love with the man. Anyone asking her if she was   
   in love with Fox Mulder, she would have immediately denied it.   
      
   Mulder came down to her morgue office everyday. Mostly they spent the   
   time in her office talking but sometimes the ventured out to lunch   
   together.   
      
   Dana listened patiently one day as he told her his side and what   
   really happened that horrible night in November all those years ago   
   when he lost his sister. She proved incredible to him again when she   
   didn't judge him or turn against him. She still continued to speak to   
   him day after day. She encouraged him to remember and share stories   
   from the good days of his life, the times he was happy and carefree.   
   He encouraged her to tell him embarrassing stories about herself,   
   both laughing all the while.   
      
   He was a wonderful man. She loved spending time with him. He was   
   incredibly intelligent, funny, kind, and, she could no longer deny,   
   unbelievably handsome.   
      
   Yeah, on some level she loved him. She could admit that to herself…   
   barely.   
      
   So why did she hear herself saying no when he asked her out on a date?   
      
   "… I won't stop asking until you say yes," Mulder pursued.   
      
   But she continued to bustle around her office, trying to look as busy   
   as possible.   
      
   "I just don't think we should," she told him, trying not to focus on   
   how close he was. "If anything were to happen… us getting involved…"   
      
   "Who said anything was going to happen? It's just dinner. If anything   
   does happen; well, we'll cross that bridge when we come to it and   
   honestly, I hope we do."   
      
   "Mulder…" He moved closer to her. He put his hand on top of hers,   
   stopping the shaking her hand was doing. He held it in his gently,   
   noting how perfect their hands fit together. He admired her lighter   
   complexion on his darker one.   
      
   "Mulder…" she repeated, faltering at the fire she felt coursing her   
   body at his touch. She had butterflies in her stomach but she managed   
   barely to complete her sentence, "I have to get back to work."   
      
   He squeezed her hand and tilted her chin up so he could look in her   
   eyes. His eyes pleaded with her as his lower lip slipped into a   
   pout. "Please."   
      
   Her eyes were glued to his, her heart beating faster at the tone of   
   his voice. And that lip… why hadn't she noticed that before?   
      
   She sighed in frustration and had to look away again at the depth of   
   his gaze.   
      
   "Where'd you learn to be so persuasive like this?"   
      
   He was smiling wide when she looked at his again. "It's a gift. Was   
   that a yes I heard?'   
      
   She shot him a look, trying to look angry but not passing it off. She   
   heaved a sigh again and replied timidly, "Yes."   
      
   "I'm sorry, I didn't hear you," he teased.   
      
   "Yes," she said louder, looking him in the eye.   
      
   "Good, will you ever let me pick you up?'   
      
   "Yes."   
      
   "Good," he said again. He released her hand reluctantly. "I'll pick   
   you up at seven thirty. Dress casual."   
      
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   Nervosi   
      
   Dana held up another shirt against her frame but quickly set it back   
   down. She'd already changed outfits four times and she still didn't   
   think she looked good.   
      
   She caught the sight of her alarm clock, panicking when she saw how   
   close to seven thirty it was. Then she saw it. A blue button down   
   shirt that was perfect to go with her dark slacks that she knew were   
   form fitting. They could be cutting off her circulation and she still   
   wouldn't care. She just wanted to look good.   
      
   She didn't have time, nor did she want to fix up her shoulder length   
   hair. She ran her fingers through it a few times to give it that look   
   she liked. She made sure her make-up was perfect, not too much but   
   definitely not too little.   
      
   She heard the knock on her door as she was going for her favorite   
   boots with the heels she loved. She made a quick grab for them and   
   hurried to the door. She ran her fingers through her hair one more   
   time, hastily putting on her shoes as well. She took a deep breath to   
   calm the butterflies in her stomach before turning the door knob.   
      
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   Comprensibile   
      
   "you gonna stare all night or are we going to order?'   
      
   "I'm not staring."   
      
   "Yes, you are."   
      
   "I can't help it. You should know that by now."   
      
   Dana glanced away to her menu. "Doesn't mean I have to get used to   
   it," she muttered. Mulder could still hear her, though. He ordered   
   quickly for them both, eager to be alone with her.   
      
   They sat close together at a table at a favorite Italian restaurant   
   of his. It had a romantic atmosphere he'd always liked, with tables   
   in strategic places to give customers their privacy.   
      
   He took her hand in his. "I want to thank you for giving me this   
   chance tonight."   
      
   "Why'd you wait a month before asking me out?" she asked, watching   
   his fingers toy with hers.   
      
   "Wasn't sure you'd want to," he admitted. "I spent most of the month   
   psyching myself up."   
      
   "Just because others don't like being around you doesn't mean I feel   
   the same way.   
      
   The way she said it made him realize how serious she was, how serious   
   she'd always been. Still, a person wanting to spend time with him was   
   a foreign concept.   
      
   "Thank you. That means a lot to me."   
      
   She squeezed his hand. She'd seen him get down on himself about   
   things in his life over the last month but she was always quick to   
   bring him back to reality, back to her.   
      
   "You know what I've been dying to ask you?" he said next.   
      
   "What?'   
      
   "Why did you choose pathology?"   
      
   Dana leaned back in her chair, a faint smile on her lips. "Do you   
   know how many people have asked me that in the last eight years?"   
      
   "Only your entire family, people close to you, and others who   
   occasionally inquire," he guessed. "But I bet none have asked for the   
   same reason I have."   
      
   "That's probably true. Most people think I did it to spite them or   
   for lack of a better offer. But I really chose it because someone   
   once told me a pathologist is a victim's last voice. I wanted to help   
   their story be told and their tragedy to be avoided. I want to help   
   solve puzzles and crimes that stump police and some FBI agents."   
      
   "I hope that's not directed at me," he teased with a smile.   
      
   She picked up on it. "No, I've heard your solve rate. Very   
   impressive."   
      
   He ignored her comment. "I'm glad you're in pathology. A woman's   
   perspective is what the FBI needs. I know I'm grateful for your view."   
      
   "It's nice to know someone appreciates me."   
      
   "I take it others don't like listening to a woman?"   
      
   She shook her head. "No, they don't like when a woman tells them   
   otherwise. So when I prove them wrong, I get a real thrill."   
      
   Mulder chuckled, his deep tone warming her entire body. She wasn't   
   even aware he was holding her hand anymore. They felt connected as   
   one. She definitely liked the feeling.   
      
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   Baci buona notte   
      
   Mulder reached over and grasped Dana's hand for what seemed like the   
   millionth time that night. She certainly wasn't complaining though.   
      
      
   [continued in next message]   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
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