I must reply to this because, first, I do consider TOM a difficult and painful fic to get one's head around. I disliked it the first time through, although I knew it was special. I have come to consider it a masterpiece of tragedy.

Second, it is VERY atypical Jess. I believe she wrote it when in a justifiably bitter state concerning the series, and as a goodbye to all that. Oddly enough, it appeared at about the same time as her "Beginning," which though not for the ladylike is quite a laff riot. And there is much earlier fic which is easy to take and fun. Try "University," in which undercover M&S pose as professor and student respectively. You can imagine Mulder's exploitation of his role and Scully's determination to solve the case despite his lollygagging.