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applecameron) wrote2005-01-02 12:38 am
applecameron) wrote2005-01-02 12:38 am
(SV) XFiles "She Is Not Me" (gen, post-episode)
Author: SV, 1997
Title: She Is Not Me
Fandom: X-Files
Author's Notes: Immediately following that "She is Me" episode [Elegy -- Apple]. Definite
spoilers. Character study, Scully/Mulder. Angst.
Reprinted by express permission.
by Sidra Vitale
Her car was still there when he walked out several minutes later. He broke into a lope, peering into the slightly steamed window. Had something happened?
Scully was leaning back in her seat, eyes closed, hands on the steering wheel as if driving. Mulder could see her chest rising and falling, and a tension in the back of his neck relaxed.
He walked around the back of her car and knocked on the window, raising a hand at her when she looked swiftly into the back seat. Climbed in after she unlocked the door.
Looked at her. No blood anywhere. Red eyes peered at him, but she didn't say anything.
He traced a fingertip on the dash, leaning against the window as he spoke. Not looking directly at Scully.
"Run out of gas?"
She relaxed a little. "No." Shook her head. Sniffled lightly, trying to hide the sound. He risked a glance. She was looking in the rearview mirror.
"I saw Harold a few minutes ago."
That got his full attention. "Where?"
"In the back seat."
Mulder turned and looked. "Quiet guy. Hardly know he's there. Doesn't even leave gum wrappers in the cushions." He spoke lightly.
"Mulder."
"It's okay, Scully."
"No, it's not okay. I...It, " She gestured forward. "It...bothers me." She spoke clearly, holding the statement at arms length. "To depend on you so much."
"I know."
She looked at him, almost shocked. Then off to the distance, head cocked as she sorted, cataloged, figured. Inserted something into a vast internal database.
When Mulder had her attention again, "It bothers me, to depend on you, so much." He said it back to her. He shifted, taking his partner's hand. "We're a team, Scully. Smelly socks and everything."
"Your socks are fine, Mulder." Absently batting at his statement.
"That's because I wore fresh ones today, just for you."
Wry and sad, "Thanks."
He stroked a thumb along her jawline. "I'm right here." He reminded her. "Not going anywhere."
She sighed and started the car. "I hope so." Looked at him, waiting for him to get out of the car, then realized he had no plans to do so. Verifying the obvious: "Are you coming with me?"
He leaned in real close, holding her gaze for a moment. Nodded. Smiled. "Shall we?" Looked forward down the street.
"Don't you want to get your car?"
"Only if you promise you're going straight home."
She nodded.
He studied her carefully, waiting. Then, "I'll be right behind you." Got out of the car, locked the door behind him, and strode off to his own vehicle.
Scully checked the rearview mirror one last time, for unexpected...guests. Then pulled forward to wait for Mulder.
He didn't say anything. Just followed her into the kitchen, shaking his head at the offer of something to drink. Trapped her in a hug as she turned with a small bottle of water in her hand.
For about 2 seconds, she was perfectly still and he regretted the impulse. Then he heard a sniff, and her back shuddered as she relaxed. Sighed deeply and let her arms wrap around his waist. She was so short. Small and smart and strong.
"Let me help you carry the weight, Scully."
Shaky breath. Shaking head against his shirt. "Mulder, you carry too much already. My problems are mine." The bandaging on her hand rasped against his coat as she pulled back.
"Humor me for a while."
She disengaged completely and walked out of the kitchen. "I'm going to bed."
"Want company?"
She shot him a look and he raised his eyebrows at her, pointed at the couch. Scully nodded and went into the bedroom. He turned off the lights and dragged Scully's afghan over his legs.
Lay awake listening to her lay awake for a long time. Then lay awake listening to her sleep. He wasn't surprised when she opened her door some hours later, dressed in dark pajamas and a blanket. Just moved over on the couch and wrapped his arms around her when she sat down.
"Thank you."
Does it matter which one of them said it?
Title: She Is Not Me
Fandom: X-Files
Author's Notes: Immediately following that "She is Me" episode [Elegy -- Apple]. Definite
spoilers. Character study, Scully/Mulder. Angst.
Reprinted by express permission.
by Sidra Vitale
Her car was still there when he walked out several minutes later. He broke into a lope, peering into the slightly steamed window. Had something happened?
Scully was leaning back in her seat, eyes closed, hands on the steering wheel as if driving. Mulder could see her chest rising and falling, and a tension in the back of his neck relaxed.
He walked around the back of her car and knocked on the window, raising a hand at her when she looked swiftly into the back seat. Climbed in after she unlocked the door.
Looked at her. No blood anywhere. Red eyes peered at him, but she didn't say anything.
He traced a fingertip on the dash, leaning against the window as he spoke. Not looking directly at Scully.
"Run out of gas?"
She relaxed a little. "No." Shook her head. Sniffled lightly, trying to hide the sound. He risked a glance. She was looking in the rearview mirror.
"I saw Harold a few minutes ago."
That got his full attention. "Where?"
"In the back seat."
Mulder turned and looked. "Quiet guy. Hardly know he's there. Doesn't even leave gum wrappers in the cushions." He spoke lightly.
"Mulder."
"It's okay, Scully."
"No, it's not okay. I...It, " She gestured forward. "It...bothers me." She spoke clearly, holding the statement at arms length. "To depend on you so much."
"I know."
She looked at him, almost shocked. Then off to the distance, head cocked as she sorted, cataloged, figured. Inserted something into a vast internal database.
When Mulder had her attention again, "It bothers me, to depend on you, so much." He said it back to her. He shifted, taking his partner's hand. "We're a team, Scully. Smelly socks and everything."
"Your socks are fine, Mulder." Absently batting at his statement.
"That's because I wore fresh ones today, just for you."
Wry and sad, "Thanks."
He stroked a thumb along her jawline. "I'm right here." He reminded her. "Not going anywhere."
She sighed and started the car. "I hope so." Looked at him, waiting for him to get out of the car, then realized he had no plans to do so. Verifying the obvious: "Are you coming with me?"
He leaned in real close, holding her gaze for a moment. Nodded. Smiled. "Shall we?" Looked forward down the street.
"Don't you want to get your car?"
"Only if you promise you're going straight home."
She nodded.
He studied her carefully, waiting. Then, "I'll be right behind you." Got out of the car, locked the door behind him, and strode off to his own vehicle.
Scully checked the rearview mirror one last time, for unexpected...guests. Then pulled forward to wait for Mulder.
He didn't say anything. Just followed her into the kitchen, shaking his head at the offer of something to drink. Trapped her in a hug as she turned with a small bottle of water in her hand.
For about 2 seconds, she was perfectly still and he regretted the impulse. Then he heard a sniff, and her back shuddered as she relaxed. Sighed deeply and let her arms wrap around his waist. She was so short. Small and smart and strong.
"Let me help you carry the weight, Scully."
Shaky breath. Shaking head against his shirt. "Mulder, you carry too much already. My problems are mine." The bandaging on her hand rasped against his coat as she pulled back.
"Humor me for a while."
She disengaged completely and walked out of the kitchen. "I'm going to bed."
"Want company?"
She shot him a look and he raised his eyebrows at her, pointed at the couch. Scully nodded and went into the bedroom. He turned off the lights and dragged Scully's afghan over his legs.
Lay awake listening to her lay awake for a long time. Then lay awake listening to her sleep. He wasn't surprised when she opened her door some hours later, dressed in dark pajamas and a blanket. Just moved over on the couch and wrapped his arms around her when she sat down.
"Thank you."
Does it matter which one of them said it?