Title: A Strand of Gold
Author: Andrea
Category: MSR, missing scene
Rating: G
Disclaimer: All herein belong to CC et al
Spoilers: Requiem
Summary: A thin strand of gold carries a lot of faith.
Notes: This picks up when the cameras fade in the hallway scene.
I'd like to thank Dan for beta reading for me whenever I ask.
And a special thanks to Kell for beta reading this at the last
minute and for her gift of the summary line. Thanks to Jemirah
for her support and Judi for the request.
Archiving: I'd be honoured
Feedback: Please! ardywyn@hotmail.com
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"When will you leave?" Scully asked quietly, her arms still
around my neck.
"As soon as possible," I told her. Even though I knew that I
should hurry, I was reluctant to release Scully. I never
envisioned the day that Scully and I would be embracing in the
halls of the J. Edgar Hoover building and not caring if anyone
saw us.
I was still holding her tightly when Skinner came into the
hallway and cleared his throat. Scully and I separated slowly,
but we both reached for each other's hand. Apparently she had the
same desire to maintain at least some contact between us that I
did. If Skinner noticed or cared, he made no indication.
"Are you heading back to Oregon, then?" He asked.
"I am," I confirmed, "But Scully is staying here. Since it is
abductees that are in danger, she is staying in D.C." I informed
him.
Skinner nodded.
"But I don't want him to go alone. Just because he's never been
abducted, doesn't mean that there isn't any risk," Scully pointed
out.
"I'll go with him," Skinner spoke suddenly.
Scully and I said nothing--we both just stared at him.
"You want to explain this situation to someone else and convince
them to go with you at the drop of a hat?" Skinner raised his
eyebrows.
"Good point," I admitted.
"Plus I'll be able to sign your travel forms and sign out
whatever equipment you will need," he added.
"Right," I nodded. The man was full of good ideas.
"We really appreciate this, sir," Scully smiled.
"To be perfectly honest, Agent Scully, after I'd reviewed both
of your case notes, I wasn't entirely comfortable with you
going back there, either," Skinner told her. "But I'm also
surprised that you decided not to go."
Not being sure how she wanted to handle this, I deferred to
Scully.
"Mulder and I took several factors into account and decided that
it would be for the best if I stayed here."
"A wise decision, I think," Skinner concurred. "Now let's get
down to business."
It only took a few minutes to formulate the plan. Scully would
come with me and make the travel arrangements while we drove to
my place. Skinner would consult with the Gunmen to find out what
equipment we would need for our reconnaissance mission and then go
back to his place to pack. After collecting my gear, I would swing
by and pick him up on my way to Dulles.
We left Skinner in the Conference room looking a little doubtful
about the Gunmen's expertise in the realm of invisible spacecraft
detection. As we headed down the hall we heard Skinner bellow
"How many?"
Exchanging nervous glances, Scully and I hurried into the elevator
and let out simultaneous sighs of relief when the doors closed
behind us. Once we were on the road, Scully called the airline to
book the tickets, but as soon as she hung up, she fell silent.
Her hands lay limply in her lap, her shoulders sagged and she
wouldn't meet my eyes. She preferred, it seemed, to stare out of
her window. I had never seen Scully looking this defeated.
"No one will think less of you for staying here, Scully," I
finally broke the silence.
"I know, Mulder. It's just that I feel so useless," her sense of
helplessness was evident in her voice. "Normally when we're apart
during a case, it's because I have something useful to
contribute."
"Or it's because I've ditched you," I interjected.
This actually elicited a soft laugh from Scully. Keeping one
hand on the wheel, I reached over and squeezed both of her hands
and tried to encourage her with a smile.
"And somehow, Mulder, the mutually agreed ditch doesn't feel any
better than your usual ditch."
"Did you think that it would?" I asked as we pulled up in front
of my building.
"I thought it might feel less like being abandoned," her voice
trembled as she spoke.
"Oh, Scully, I'm not abandoning you," I tried to assure her.
"Intellectually, I know that, Mulder," she sighed.
But I could see that it was tearing her apart. As much as I hated
seeing her like this, I was still positive that we'd made the
right decision.
"Do you want to talk about it some more?" I tried to be
diplomatic.
"Do you feel any better about me going back to Bellefleur?" she
asked.
I just shook my head.
"Then as much as it hurts, I'll stay. But I want you to know,
Mulder, that I'm not comfortable with you going back either."
"You're not?" I asked in surprise. "Why didn't you say something
sooner?"
"Because I don't have anything to base my fears on. It's just a
feeling."
"Every case involves some risk, Scully. I'll be back here
annoying you before you know it."
"No doubt, Mulder," she tried to give me a quick smile, but her
lips were trembling too much.
We'd been having this conversation sitting in front of my
building with the engine running. As I shut it off, something
occurred to me.
"Scully, we didn't think about how you were going to get home."
"I did," she replied as she opened her door.
I jumped out of my side to help her out of the car, but she was
already on the sidewalk with her door closed when I got there. I
looked at her expectantly, waiting for to enlighten me on her
plan.
"I was going to take a cab," she shrugged as she headed up the
walk.
"A cab!" I exclaimed.
"With all of the dizzy spells I've been having I probably
shouldn't be driving anyway," she pointed out.
"Are you sure?" I asked as I held the door for her.
"I'm sure, Mulder," she assured me and then clung to my hand all
the way to my door.
Once we were inside I offered to phone for the cab.
"I was actually planning to stay here for a while, maybe take
a nap and then head back to work. If that's okay with you?" she
asked somewhat shyly.
"That's fine with me," I shrugged.
I thought that she'd be more comfortable at her place, I knew I
was, but I didn't ask. I figured that she still wasn't feeling
well, and needed to rest.
She sat quietly on the bed while I quickly gathered my things.
"Aren't you going to change your shirt?" she asked when I zipped
up my gym bag.
"Do you think I need to?" Scully had never suggested anything
like this in the past.
She nodded, biting her bottom lip. When I took it off, she held
out her hand. "Can I have it please?"
I handed it to her, not quite sure what she was planning to do
with it. *I* was closer to the hamper. So I just stood there and
watched as she stripped to her bra and panties, then slipped into
my grey dress shirt and buttoned it up.
"Wouldn't one of my t-shirts be more comfortable?" I couldn't
help but ask.
"I want to wear this shirt," she said evenly.
I let it go. I didn't understand, but that was nothing new when
it came to Scully. While Scully got under the covers, I changed
to jeans and a t-shirt and then went to my closet to retrieve my
fleece jacket and my vest.
Scully was sitting up, her back against the headboard. She had
rolled up the sleeves of my shirt, but she still seemed to almost
disappear inside of it. She looked so tiny and fragile that I
wanted to climb into bed and hold her until she fell asleep in my
arms. But I knew that I couldn't and that she didn't expect that
of me.
"I have to go," I said gently as a sat down on the bed beside
her.
"I know," her voice was barely perceptible.
Closing the distance between us, I kissed her softly. At first, I
found it somewhat disquieting that I could smell my cologne on
her. But then I realized why she had asked for my shirt. I can
be amazingly slow sometimes. She wanted it because it smelled
like me.
"I'll be back safe and sound in no time, Scully," I told her as
I pulled her into a tight hug. Once again, I didn't want to
let her go, but time was running out.
When I relaxed my hold she leaned back and looked into my eyes.
"You'll be in my prayers, Mulder."
The glint of her gold chain caught my eye. "I'm lucky that you
have faith enough for both of us," I said as I lifted her cross
with one finger.
"Yes," Scully gasped, "That's it!"
"What's it?" I was totally confused.
"My cross, take my cross" she started to reach for the clasp.
"I can't take your..." I began.
"Please, Mulder, it'll make me feel so much better," tears
started to form in her eyes.
"Okay, Scully, okay." I only wanted to ease her fears. She was
the one that was in danger, not me. But if this would appease
her, I would do it.
She relaxed visibly when she put the chain around my neck. "I
lost this before I was abducted. Maybe if I'd been wearing it, I
wouldn't have been taken."
I couldn't bring myself to debate this with her. She was giving
me so much more than a shiny strand of gold. She was giving me
her faith--the only protection that she could offer, without
actually being there with me. How could I deny her this?
"Thank you, Scully," I said gratefully. "I know how much it means
to you."
"As long as you're wearing it, Mulder, no matter how far apart we
are, I'll know in my heart that you're safe."
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