From: ephemeral@ephemeralfic.org
Date: 13 Sep 2001 01:45:22 -0000
Subject: "911" by little Starbuck*
Source: direct

Reply To: starbuck42ajw@yahoo.com


Title: 911
Author: little Starbuck*
Rating: PG-13 (simply for the events that took place yesterday)
Category: MSR, current event
Feedback: Always treasured and always answered! Send to 
starbuck42ajw@yahoo.com
Disclaimer: They don't belong to me... but I think we all feel the same 
pain.
Spoilers: baby
Distribution: I would be happy to share, please keep my name on it.
September 11th, 2001, a horrific day for the nation. I hope this 
provides a little peace and comfort through this terrible time.

~*Pleeze Enjoy*~

911
by little Starbuck*
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Scully, are you seeing this!?!"

"I'm busy."

"Scully," He stood and retrieved her from the bedroom.

"What's the matter?" She asked as he sat her down on the couch. He 
grabbed the remote and turned up the volume.

"The World Trade Center in New York... the second tower has just 
collapsed... it's horrifying. The loss of life today is unimaginable..." 
The young male reporter stumbled through his papers, trying his hardest 
to do his job well. The truth was, he was having the same reaction as 
everyone else.

"Oh, God." Scully whispered to herself, reading the headlines as they 
scrolled across the bottom of the screen.

"I know. The pentagon too." He sat down next to her and placed his hand 
on her knee.

"Look at that!" Her eyes widened as she watched the footage from 
earlier.

"I know. Want me to call your mom?" He reached for the phone.

"I will in a minute." She exhaled and stood, "I'm gonna get Willy." She 
disappeared into the bedroom, taking the phone with her.


He sat on the couch, alone, simply staring at the horror on the 
television. He always knew this would happen someday... somewhere in the 
back of his mind. It was like something out of a movie. 

"Mulder, my mom's fine. She says she can't come down now, the traffic... 
tomorrow she will." Scully joined him on the couch again, this time 
struggling with the baby. Soon, she managed to undo her night shirt and 
began to feed him.

"Okay. Good. We should call Skinner." He stood, found the phone, and 
made his way into the kitchen.


Now she sat alone. She couldn't help but think about the effect this 
would all have. What would William have to go through in fifteen or 
twenty years? Where would they go if this was to be the beginning of the 
next world war. Her eyes became wet with warm tears as she watched a 
young woman's account of the events.

"Then the whole thing just... it just fell. And then I couldn't see... 
my husband, Mike... I couldn't find him..." The woman broke down. She 
was covered in dust, as was the supposed husband standing next to her. 
Scully tightened her grip around William for a moment. Friends of hers 
worked at the pentagon. So many people had just died. It was so much to 
take in.

"Skinner says he's okay. He is trying to contact other agents and his 
family... hey, you realize the date? Nine one one. Think that's a 
coincidence? This is unbelievable."

"You never know what to expect." She said steadily, keeping her eyes 
glued to the television.

"Nope..." He shifted his weight from one foot to another. What he was 
planning to do this morning would certainly have been unexpected. But, 
he wasn't sure if, after what had happened, this would be the best time. 
Perhaps, in some sick way, this was a kind of a sign for him to wait.

"My good friend from the academy works at the pentagon, Mulder. I hope 
he's okay." She looked up at him for a moment. He saw her eyes. He could 
not ask her now. He had gotten so close, though. Damn the things that 
happen when they aren't supposed to.

"I hope so, too, Scully. Who would do this?"

"Probably... some middle eastern, religious--" He cut her off.

"No, I know that. But, who... what kind of human would do this to other 
humans? Those poor people on the planes."

"I guess there will always be that kind of evil in the world, Mulder. I 
mean, we're all capable of it. It's just a case of how you contain 
it..." She drifted off.

"I think we've seen our share... and like you said, you never can know 
what to expect." He fiddled, anxiously, with the ring in his pants 
pocket.

"No you can't," She glanced down at her little miracle, laying 
peacefully in her lap, totally oblivious to what was happening. They had 
certainly not expected him. It brought a smile to her face, thinking 
this. 

He thought of asking then... just blurting it out, will you marry me? 
But, that tiny smile was enough for today. Her smile was always enough 
for him. And through the chaos and terror that surrounded them, there 
was a moment of peace in their living room. Her smile faded, though, 
into a frown, as she knew... this peace would be hard to find any place 
else.



~*End*~


Notes: To all of those who lost loved ones, I dedicate this to you. I 
cannot even imagine what it must be like. I know that writing a story 
based upon fictional characters can hardly provide the comfort this 
country needs. But, it made me feel a little better. I hope it did the 
same for you. Again, terribly shocked and terribly sorry. We'll never 
forget 9/11.

Little Starbuck*