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Title: Fin, Part 2
Author: Dana E. Vassy (Lola's pseudonym)
Rating: PG13, some strong language!
Category: MSR, character angst, Scully POV
Teaser: Our favourite agents are called to Glasgow to investigate some mysterious happenings on the Glasgow Underground.  And the events are not the only mystery involved.  A response to a challenge to write how the series should bow out...
Disclaimer: Chris, ol buddy ol pal - I know they're yours.  1013 and Fox have their rights kind of respected.  The Underground belongs to Scottish Passenger Transport (SPT) but only because no one else wants it.  Any secondary characters are all mine Mwahahahah...If you wanna sue me Chris, it would make you a bad person.  I have to support my daughter Daisy dontcherknow.  And what would young Dana think of you etc?  But seriously - legal action? Don't. I have a lot of friends in high places....
Dedications: To all at DFHB, CADF, anti-fowley and an XFObsession.  To Jill whose fencer fic inspired me to write again, and Jamie for reminding me why I love literature.  LisMee for everything!   Elaine Sutherland for her anecdote about arranging a Scottish wedding for Americans.  Philip, I hope you're still proud honey!

Engulfed by the voluminous white sheets, Scully could not help but think of last week’s hospital visit.   The fear of her cancer returning, of the fragile myth shattering.   It was even more frightening the second time.

It was last Wednesday, while she and Mulder had been finishing a minor case report.   Ironically, it had started as such a carefree day; she even had time for a proper cream cheese bagel.   For some reason she had decided to go to the bathroom mid-report.   On her way to the door of their quaint basement office, she tripped on an outstretched power lead – landing somewhat ungracefully face down.  Then it happened: she felt dizzy and felt the dreaded warm trickle from her nose; the nose that hadn’t been hurt by her fall.

Shock hit like a tidal wave.  She was unable to move, to speak.   Mulder sensed her worry and swept her up, immediately heading for the car park.  All the while she cried silently into his shirt, and grasped his arm as they drove to hospital.  As he helped her out at the A&E entrance, she saw it.   The concern etched into his handsome face sparked a reaction in her dulled senses.  Through the fog of fear she felt an eerie connection to Mulder that felt suspiciously more than platonic.  Bur the imminent ordeal left her little time to dwell on it.

Now the memory seemed distant, surreal even, and Scully found herself drifting into sleep.  She succumbed to her exhaustion, and let her dream take over.  Her next thought found her in a hospital bed, the whiteness of the surrounding almost painful to her dazzling blue eyes.  There was background music playing, and she mentally rolled her eyes at the symbolic ‘qualities’ of the vision.  The song became louder, and although she had never heard it before, it seemed infinitely familiar.

                   “I finally found someone

                   That knocked me off my feet

                         I finally found the one

                         That makes me feel complete.”

The melody continued as Mulder appeared in the open doorway.   His eyes sparkled as vividly as her precious gold cross, and the brightness of his smile was not quite matched by the flowers he held in his left hand.

 

                        “It started over coffee

                         We started out as friends

                         It’s funny how from simple things

                         The best things begin

 Watching him, his perfection, caused tears to stream down her pale cheeks.   Without speaking, he was at her side, the typical boyish grin sending shivers down her spine.  He asked after her health, and teased her about running in heels.  She should just accept she was small and wear trainers to work, apparently.

             “You had me worried, I thought I would end up with a lawsuit” he joked, watching her intently

             “It’s…not your…fault” Scully whispered in reply, her throat dry from sleeping so long.

             “Well, you’re just fine, the cancer is still in remission Dana…”

             “Dana? Have we met?”

             “Funny.  You can be back at work in a coupla days if you want.  The sooner the better I think.  Ssh, don’t speak, just listen to me”

            “Why? Don’t I matter, Mulder?” she sighed, too tired to fight his insistence

             “You matter more than most people, Dana.  I’ve seen you in pain too often, so please don’t reassure me about blame.  If it hadn’t been for me, you wouldn’t have been so frightened today…” he paused, waiting for her outburst.  None came.

             “I saw that reaction, and it scared me.  That my pointless quest has hurt you so badly, ruined your life.   So the X-Files are over for us.”

             “You can’t give up Mulder.  Remember if we quit, that bastard CGB Spender wins…I can’t walk away” Scully protested, her strength gradually returning.

             “I’m not giving up Dana.  You’ve been reassigned, for health reasons.  I have a new partner” his voice trailed off, feeling his betrayal.

 Scully slapped him.  As the tears flowed stronger down her face, she watched his eyes for regret.  Finding it, she could no longer hold back.  She kissed him.

 He returned her kiss, his lips meeting hers tenderly, protectively.  But they were quickly interrupted by a voice from the clinical corridor.

             “Fox?” it whined

 Diana fucking Fowley.   Perfect.

 Scully could only watch in horror as Mulder left her side and went to Fowley.  He could not bear to look as her heart shattered into shards, cutting her spirit as it smashed.  As the doorway became empty once more, nothing could stem the flow of tears.

 With a start, Scully awoke.  Where was she?  Fowley was alive?  The questions plagued her until the sleep cleared from her head.  She was in Glasgow, still working on the X-Files, and still with Mulder.  But the same dream had plagued her rest all week.  The hospital visit was a blur, but nothing like her subconscious had implied.  All she had to remember it by was a slight bruise from an injection, and flowers from Mulder, ones that were wilting thousands of miles away in her Maryland apartment.

 From the room next door she heard a radio playing the song from her dream.  “I Finally Found Someone” by Barbra Streisand and Bryan Adams, as the DJ duly informed his listeners.   It meant nothing, but satisfied her curiosity as to why she had heard it.  She prepared to return to her rest, mentally reminding herself that Diana Fowley was dead, she’d been told officially.  Scully also chastised herself for treating Mulder so badly on the strength of something she dreamed.  Her attraction to him was an obvious result of her frustration, and would pass with time.  She hated being so hormonal.   On doing so, she caught sight of a shadowy figure by the window.  Sliding her gun out from under her pillow, she moved to confront her intruder.  Damn hotel security…

"And it wasn't even real cream cheese it was light 
cream cheese"