Title: Detours Along the Way (1/1)
Author:  Earth (Earth9798@aol.com)
Rating: PG - for a couple words, nothing major
Category:  VR
Spoilers:  Dreamland II, tiny ones for Irresistible, Memento Mori, and 
the Movie
Keywords: MSR, mid-episode vignette - alternate scene
Summary:  Response to XPFRS "Come with Me" challenge -- Scully 
contemplates a request.

Disclaimer:  If I worked for 20th Century Fox or Ten Thirteen 
Productions, my life would be very different . . . and my friends would
be insanely jealous.    No copyright infringement is intended.

Archive:  Just let me know first, �k?

Author�s Notes:  I discovered this on my computer, collecting dust and 
just decided to submit it.  Please let me know if that was a good idea!
 
And contrary to the title, this has nothing to do with that trip to the

forest.  

*****

". . . And you�re absolutely certain? . . . No, I - I know you guys
were thorough . . . Thanks, Frohike."

::beep::

Scully sighed as their car approached the lone figure waiting beside
the 
abandoned warehouse.

*****

". . . I�m out of the Bureau.  I�ve been censured and relieved of my 
position."

"No . . . you can explain it to them like you explained it to me, you 
have the data.  You can _make_ them understand.  You can get your 
job back."

A hint of a smile played around Scully�s lips as she closed her eyes, 
lightly shaking her head.  Typical Mulder.  Here his entire world was 
being turned upside-down yet he still managed to worry about her.  She 
looked back up at the unfamiliar face of Morris Fletcher.  "I�d kiss
you 
if you weren�t so damn ugly."

A slow grin spread across his face that proved contagious.

Seconds passed.

Their comfortable silence shifted, as his smile was replaced by an 
almost wistful look.

Slowly, Scully reached out and clasped his arm.  Then, stepping closer,

she threaded her arms around his waist.  Trying to give him strength.  
Needing to feel him one last time.

Closing her eyes, she saw Mulder.  Saw his strong arms circling around 
her, pulling her to him.  She felt him kiss the top of her head,
lingering 
for a moment, then gently stroke her hair.

For the first time in the past few days, Scully felt the tension leave
her 
body.  Her attempt at stability for Mulder�s sake melted into the 
warmth and comfort of his embrace.  The Donnie Pfaster case, after she 
was diagnosed with cancer, in his hallway after he had convinced her 
not to quit. . . these hugs were few and far between and she made 
certain to cherish every one of them.

Somehow, some way, she was certain the Earth had just halted on its 
axis.  Suspending them in this one glorious moment before continuing 
on, forcing them to go their separate ways.

But for now there was only stillness.  No sound but the beating of his 
heart against her ear.

Then. . .

A breath.

"Come with me."

So soft.

She wasn�t sure she hadn�t imagined it.

He moved closer to her ear, his warm breath sending a shiver through 
her body.  "Come with me . . . please."

The pleading in his voice made her pull away slightly.  Just enough to 
look into his eyes.  Mulder�s eyes.  A different shade maybe, but his 
eyes nonetheless.  Windows to the soul that she knew all too well.

Despair, passion, pain, heartache, love . . . 

This was her Mulder.

The one who would ditch her at the first sign of a weather balloon was 
now asking her to leave her life behind and run away with him . . .

. . . and damn him if he didn�t make it sound like the most rational 
suggestion she�d ever heard.

  That _is_ what she said she wanted.  No more secret 
military bases or mutants or chain-smoking son of a . . .

::HONK!::

"Take a picture, it�ll last longer!"

She looked back at the ceiling-mirrored cretin that inhabited her 
partner�s body.

The Earth had resumed its course.

Scully pulled away from Mulder�s arms, suddenly finding herself unable 
to meet his gaze.  "You have another life now," she whispered.  "And 
as . . . bizarre . . . as it may be, it would just make things that
much 
more complicated."

She raised her head slightly.  The hurt she saw in his eyes tore at her

heart, but she continued.  "Mulder, if there�s any chance at all to 
reverse what�s happened to you, I�ll find it . . . I�ll find a way."

For an instant he looked as if he were going to protest, yet he simply 
nodded, lightly brushing away an errant strand of copper hair.  "I 
know," he murmured.

Their eyes locked for a moment, then turning, she started to walk 
away.

"Hey, Scully," he said as he extended his closed fist towards her.  
Puzzled, she opened her hand and saw sunflower seeds fall into her 
palm.  He took one for himself and stepped back.

Scully eyed the seeds for a moment, suddenly aware of her blurred 
vision.  It had finally come to this.  No cataclysmic fight, no
transfers to 
Salt Lake City -- what had ultimately succeeded in separating them was 
a bizarre twist of fate . . . a billion to one chance.  But perhaps the

cruelest element was that outwardly, nothing had changed.  "Mulder"
was still an FBI agent and she . . . well, she would go on, knowing
that 
part of her heart remained here -- the seed he had taken back.

Blinking back the tears, she stared directly into the eyes of her
partner 
and best friend.  Focusing all her thoughts, she prayed that he could 
read what she didn�t trust herself to put into words . . .



She recognized the same affection reflected back at her -- he knew.  
Scully gave him a little smile then slowly walked away.

No, nothing had really changed.  They would continue their search for 
the truth, separately this time, but not alone -- each taking comfort
in 
the knowledge that the other was out there, continuing the quest.  
Scully realized that she had made that decision long ago, to forsake
the 
notion of a "normal life."  When it came right down to it, the idea
felt 
alien to her.  The Truth was what she knew . . . or rather, the
Pursuit.  
Perhaps that�s all she would ever know.

With a quick glance back, Scully slowly opened the door and got back 
in the car.


END

*****


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"This _is_ a normal life . . ." -- Mulder