Dreamcatcher 31
Ally

St Mary's Hospital. Cleveland, Ohio. May 19th, 1999 10:14a.m.

Mulder eased open the hardwood door that led to Scully's room. She had been moved out of the ICU the evening before - her doctors unwilling as yet to surrender her completely from their care, but unable to justify having her take up the valuable bed space in that most specialized of departments set aside for only the very sick.

In truth, there was no reason for her to even be here at all. It was as though she had simply awoken from a long sleep. Disoriented for a short time, sure, but fully aware of her surroundings and in full control of her faculties.

They were calling it a miracle. Just one of many that had occurred during that long, long day.

Little Gina Robik had awoken from her coma. Refreshed and energized, she had seemed unconcerned by the apparent worry of those who had maintained a vigil beside her bed. She had been questioned at length by her doctors and, amidst much scratching of heads, been pronounced as fit and healthy as any other seven-year- old girl.

This news had filtered down to Mulder second hand. His request to see the girl had been denied by her parents.

Likewise, the sudden reappearance of Deborah Hollis remained equally perplexing. Found in her bed, curled up against the chill air of a room that lay empty, she had been fast asleep and smiling peacefully. The startled cry of Julia Brackenhurst had woken the child who, by all accounts, had shown no disorientation whatsoever. Neither had she any clear memories of where she might have been.

Again, this information had been passed to Mulder, this time by the Cleveland P.D. which had been called to the scene shortly after Debbie's discovery.

Again, he had requested to speak to the child. Again, he had been denied.

Which left only Scully. The only one who could even hope to help him fill in the gaps.

Mulder had been dragged from the arms of sleep by the sound of Scully's voice. The whispered words had cut through his dreams as cleanly as a knife through fresh butter and he had opened his eyes to find himself staring straight into the clear depths of her own. There had been no surprise there. Just an expression of acceptance, of peaceful serenity as she had smiled gently at him. And just for a second, he had *remembered*. Remembered the feel of her lips on his, the way she tasted, the scent of the sunshine in her hair.

But so very elusive a memory. One which had hung, suspended in his mind for just a heartbeat before it was gone.

She had slept deeply that night and he hadn't moved from beside her. Hadn't closed his eyes for a second as he drank in her image before him. He watched over her as she slept, occasionally soothing her softly as she flittered on the edge of wakefulness.

It was good to watch her sleep. Good to know that she was back with him.

And throughout that long night, Mulder had tried to remember all that was already breaking free from him. So many images swirling inside his head, too distant now to reconcile. It had been frustrating - was still frustrating - that he remembered so little. But at some point during the night, at that magical point where the sky becomes streaked with the first vestiges of dawn, he had given up. He didn't understand everything, but did sense that whatever had happened yesterday wasn't his to remember. One day maybe. But not now.

Now he had more important things to focus on.

In front of him Scully sat propped up in the bed, blanket folded down to her waist. She was staring idly out the window that Mulder had already discovered afforded a wonderful view of the parking lot. The plain blue hospital gown billowed around her small frame, succeeding admirably in making her look about twelve years old.

A tray of half-eaten food lay discarded on the small table beside the bed, and Mulder frowned when he saw it. "Not hungry?"

Scully started at his words, snapping her neck around and fixing her gaze on him. "It's *hospital* food, Mulder," she offered by way of explanation.

He shrugged lightly. "You need to eat."

It was a statement of fact, no argument permitted. He crossed the room silently and after planting a gentle kiss on her cheek, perched on the bed beside her. Picking up the paper carton, he eyed its contents dubiously. "You didn't touch your Jell-O. Here..."

And to Scully's amazement, he dipped the plastic spoon into the dessert's shimmering depths, scooped up a bite-sized chunk, and offered it to her. Even more amazing was the fact that, almost against her will, she opened her mouth obediently, as though being spoonfed by her partner was the most natural thing in the world.

Mulder grinned. "Better." He held out the carton toward her. "Here. You can do the rest."

Scully took the dessert from him and laid it carefully atop her knees, her eyes remaining downcast as she tried to find the right words.

"Mulder...," she faltered before raising her head once again, locking her gaze with his. "Everything that I saw...that *we* saw...it was real, wasn't it?"

Mulder smiled as he cupped her chin in his palm, stroking her cheek gently with his outstretched thumb, taking a moment before answering. Wondering, not for the first time, just how much she remembered. How much she would be willing to share with him. "Does it feel real to you, Scully?"

He was aware that his words didn't just refer to the events that had transpired over the preceding weeks. That somehow, they had become closer. Closer than he had previously imagined possible.

To have almost lost her again. To have to prepare himself to let her go. He hadn't thought he was capable of living through it. But he had. They both had. It could have turned out so differently.

She nodded. "Yes. It feels as real to me as you are now."

Mulder smiled and picked up the discarded carton again, his hand hovering in front of her.

"Then it's real, Scully."

**********

Dreamcatcher Epilogue

Georgetown. May 20th, 1999

Scully fitted the key in the lock, twisting it deftly while pushing with her shoulder. In response, the door swung open and she stepped aside to allow Mulder to enter before her.

The apartment smelled dusty, unlived-in, as it always did when she returned from any time away. She knew it would take at least a day, maybe more, before she felt completely at home here again. She turned to Mulder, smiling as she did so. Because regardless of the apartment's current state, it was good to be home.

"You didn't need to bring me all the way back here."

Mulder shrugged. "Hey, I had nothing better to..." The words died in his throat and just for a second, Scully tensed. The expression on his face was guarded as his gaze settled on something in the distance.

Scully followed his eyes with her own, unable to see what it was that had commanded his attention. "Mulder? What is it?"

He didn't answer her, just drifted slowly toward the small table that graced a corner of his partner's living room, his back to Scully as she watched him pick something up from it's surface. "You got a package."

He held the beautifully wrapped parcel aloft for her inspection.

Scully crossed over to join him.

"A well-wisher maybe?" he suggested.

Scully shrugged. "Maybe." She took the parcel from him, turning it over and over in her hands. "There's no return address."

"Maybe it's on the inside," Mulder supplied helpfully. "You won't know till you open it." Scully narrowed her eyes at him. "Do you know anything about this, Mulder?" She stopped, though, as her partner held up his hand seriously.

"Scout's honor, Scully. Nothing to do with me."

"Hmph." Scully wasn't convinced, although his expression suggested that he was just as intrigued as she was. Rather than arguing the point further with him, she carefully peeled back the paper covering.

"Oh, my God," she breathed as the wrapping fell away to reveal an intricate circle of dazzling silver thread interwoven with groups of crystalline beads. Perfectly formed, they resembled teardrops against the silken strands.

Lifting the Dreamcatcher aloft she held it toward Mulder, who caught hold of one of the snowy white feathers that hung suspended from its center, running it through his fingers. It was dazzling, in both its complex workmanship and its unnerving beauty. It caught the light and shimmered as though with a life of its own.

"Who sent this?" she asked quietly, not overly surprised when he didn't answer.

He didn't need to.

Instead, he knelt down slowly, capturing a piece of paper that had, unseen by Scully, fluttered to the ground from within the parcel's bindings. He held it to her, watching as her eyes scanned the words, understanding clouding her delicate features. Words written for Scully, perhaps by a child who would remain missing forever. Locked inside a dream world of her own making.

The words were familiar, written in the careful hand of a young girl. A young girl who had set them free.

*A dream itself is but a shadow.*

End

AUTHOR'S NOTES This has been the most amazing journey. I started this way back when and left it languishing on my hard drive till Peggy came along and urged me to finish it. I'll always be grateful to both her and Meg because together they showed that I *could* do this. They has been with me every step of the way, never nagged when it was going badly and made some wonderful suggestions regarding characterization and plot development. They have been my main betas for this story and have made time in their hectic lives to hold my hand.

This was a major undertaking and I could never have done it alone. My beta team deserve a huge pat on the back, not only for sticking with this for the better part of a year, but also for putting up with my whining when I found myself suffering from the most appalling writer's block. For eight weeks they got *nothing* from me whatsoever, then just took up where we'd left off without even a murmur of complaint.

So, Peggy, Jina, and Meg (who incidentally seems to get much more of a kick out of all this than I do <g> - thanks, Meg!), please know that if I were rich I'd buy you all diamond-studded Dreamcatchers. Unfortunately, though, I'm not rich, so instead I offer you my undying appreciation. {{{{{}}}}}

Every novel needs an editor, right? <g> Susan, you came in right at the last minute and bulk edited the first 24 chapters of this thing without even batting an eyelid. You are amazing! Thanks need to go to the wonderful Amanda (MaybeAmanda) for her help in designing and maintaining for me a web site just so Dreamcatcher could have a place to call home. It shares the space with all my other fanfic and they seem to cohabit quite nicely. ;-) She did this all for the price of a few bars of aero chocolate and a pic of DD in a kilt. <g> Definitely money well spent.

It has to be said too that although my fellow 'philey friends of O3P didn't actually contribute to the physical writing of this story, the fact that they have always taken the time to let me know what they have thought of my fic efforts made me have the confidence to do this. I love ya, guys!

But the one who has had more of an impact on me than everyone else is my best friend Pamala. She got me into this fic writing lark in the first place and betaed my very first offering to the fanfic world. More than that, though, she has become like an extension of my family. The 3000 miles that separate us melt away to nothing and although my bank manager is having serious problems with the fact I keep haring off across the world, I'm choosing to ignore him. <g>

Finally, to all those who sent me feedback whilst this was still a WIP. THANK YOU! You have no idea how much it helped when I was struggling to get it all edited, polished and ready to post. Feel free to send more!

Only one more thing to say really...I will NEVER attempt another novel length case file fic as long as I live! <g.> Now how's that for famous last words?

Ally xx :-)