From: ephemeral@ephemeralfic.org Date: 17 Aug 2005 18:04:09 -0000 Subject: Alphabet Soup: A is for Absolute by YappiChick Source: direct Reply To: yappichick@yahoo.com Title: Alphabet Soup: A is for Absolute email: YappiChick@yahoo.com Summary: What if Scully did leave to become a doctor? Feedback: Welcome with open arms! Rating: PG Spoilers: The End, Fight the Future Category: MSR, Angst Disclaimer: Not mine, never will be. Author's notes: Whoo boy! This is the beginning of a series where Scully leaves after FTF to find a way to use her immunity against the virus to save others. Yes, I really do plan on having 26 parts, one for each letter of the alphabet. J A is for Absolute YappiChick@yahoo.com "You should go be a doctor while you still can." "I am, Mulder." His head shot up and studied Scully. He definitely had on his panic face. "Well...good, Scully. I'm glad for you. At least I'll know someone in the hospital the next time I get the crap beat out of me. Maybe you could sneak me some extra lime jello." "Mulder..." she warned. "No, really I think it's great. No more Spooky Mulder around to tarnish your image." She rolled her eyes. Mulder in a pouty mood is not what she wanted to deal with. But she knew that he was trying to push her away again and she wasn't going to let that happen. "Mulder when I became a doctor, I took an oath that I would heal people.When I became a FBI agent I took an oath to protect and serve people. How can I justify my inaction to you, Skinner or anyone else who may diefrom this virus I had? The answer is inside me and I am not going to throw this opportunity away." His eyes looked up from the place on the ground into her eyes. There wasan absolute certainty there. For the first time since the X-Files had been destroyed, Scully had a purpose. He tried to push aside his feelings of envy, but knew he had been unsuccessful. Fortunately, she didn't call him on it. Instead, she kept talking, trying to keep some kind of line of communicationopen. "Skinner finally accepted my resignation. He fought me tooth and nail before the...incident. He wouldn't even look at it. When I came in today he just took it no questions asked." She frowned. "You don't think he was coerced into accepting it do you? I mean, we know that Cancer Man was down in Antarctica. He could have easily arrived here before us and talked to Skinner." Mulder went back to looking in the crowd, trying to keep his anger in check.She was acting more concerned for their boss than him. Would it be so hard for her to see how I'm doing, he thought. Out loud he said, "I think he thinks what everyone in the Bureau does. That this final escapade finally broke your spirit. No one would willingly stay in a job that demands so much and gives back so little." She seemed to consider that. He could almost see her playing out the argument in her head. Could her logic agree with this hypothesis he presented her? Her grim smile was all the answer he needed to know she agreed with him. "This could be used to our advantage then. Maybe I'll have more time to operate without Cancer Man slowing me down." Finally, he couldn't take it anymore. "Just how do you plan on doing this? Pop over to Georgetown and say 'Hey, I was recently infected with an alien virus. But don't worry, my dashingly handsome and brave partner gave me the antidote so I'm now cured. Now I want to do my civic duty and save everyone else'?" Her shoulders sagged. She knew he would resist to what she was trying to do. He expected her to do nothing with this gift she had received and follow him. Well, she thought, in this line of work he should know not to expect anything. "Mulder, I don't have all the answers yet. But I do know I'm going to do whatever it takes to find the answers. This is bigger than you, me or the FBI. This is the human race we are talking about and I will not sit by the wayside and watch the world be defeated." She set aside the newspaper and grabbed his hand. "Just because I'm not in the FBI anymore doesn't mean we're not partners." She swallowed. Heartfelt declarations were not her strong suit. "You are my best friend. You make me feel empowered, Mulder. Your intuition and my science are not a force easily destroyed. Together we can make impossible ideas a reality. That's what my time with the X-Files and you have taught me." He squeezed her hand back briefly. "I have to go, Scully." He walked away without looking back. Scully stayed back and sighed. Maybe next time, she thought, I'll skip the talking and go straight for the kiss.