Scully and Mulder had been working together for 6 years, and they were more or less close between love and friendship, but Scully was adamant: there was nothing more and nothing less than friendship between them. Scully wouldn't go any further, she'd been very adamant about it, and Mulder wouldn't try anything embarrassing for her, he liked her too much to lose her. Scully believed in him; she was capable of stepping aside for him and he for her.