From kelpie@zetnet.co.uk Fri May 16 14:00:32 1997 Newsgroups: alt.tv.x-files.creative Subject: Another Chance 1/1 by Susan Pearman From: Susan Pearman -------- From: Susan Pearman Subject: NEW: Another Chance 1/1 by Susan Pearman Disclaimer: These characters are not mine, if they were do you really think I would be working as a waitress?! They belong to CC, Fox and 1013. I'm just borrowing them, they will be returned unharmed. Authors Notes: This is my first post here so please be kind. I know that this episode is old news now, but I've just left school and I was bored. What else was I supposed to do to pass the time? (Revise for my exams? Get a life?. . .Nah) Anyway, hope you like it. I liked Ed Jerse and thought he deserved a second chance. Incidentally, sorry the title is so unorigional, I'm not good with titles. Any feedback will be greatly appreciated. Spoilers: Never Again - obviously. Vague spoiler for Momento Mori. Summery: I'm sure you can work it out from my earler ramblings. If not, read and find out, it's not like it will take you long. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ************************************************************************** ANOTHER CHANCE Scully walked slowly down the corridor. She remembered it well, surprisingly well actually, considering she had only been down it four times before, some time ago now, and all four times her mind had been strongly attached to matters other than examining her surroundings. She couldn't believe that she actually had the courage to come back here. Even if it had been a while, the memory of what happened still haunted her. As a wave of fear washed over her she wondered briefly if she was doing the right thing. After a second's thought, she decided that she was. She hadn't been able to stop thinking about him, despite the fact that he had tried to kill her, she corrected herself, . His image had plagued her mind for too long now. She had to see him again, if only to convince herself that she was crazy to want to do so. She had to know, had to have a glimpse of what could have been, of what still could be. . .She had come this far, it would be crazy and cowardly to turn back now. Whatever she was, Dana Scully was not a coward, her every day life was proof of that. She could handle this, she could see it through. Besides, she had no idea how much longer she had to try and make herself happy. True, she was in remission now, but you never knew when. . .She was unable to complete the thought. She was okay, and however long she had left, she was determined to make the most of it. And to do that, she needed to visit the man towards whom she felt great attraction, had done since the first time she had laid eyes on him. Finally she stood outside the door. Taking a deep breath to calm herself, she reached up and knocked lightly. There was no answer. she said to herself. She reached up and knocked again, louder this time, silently willing him to come to the door, yet at the same time, feeling slightly relieved at the prospect of not having to face him. Her patient wait was rewarded by a call of; "Hold on, I'm coming." Scully involuntarily took a step backwards as the door swung open to reveal a rather tired and run-down looking, but by no means less attractive, Ed Jerse. She let her eyes run over him quickly. He was wearing grey sweatpants and a plain black T-shirt. There were small bags under his eyes and his jaw was darkening with the beginnings of a beard. So what? She had seen Mulder looking a thousand times worse than this and she thought no less of him, it didn't change the way she felt about Ed either. Scully felt her heart rate increase slightly as she took in the sight of him. She wondered if the attraction was genuine, or if it was merely a reaction to her lack of romantic contact with men over the last few years. She couldn't tell, and at that moment, she didn't care. A look of surprise took over Ed's features as he realised who it was who was visiting him. She didn't blame him, a part of herself was still surprised to be here. "Dana, what. . ." his voice trailed off as he found her eyes with his own. She met his gaze and smiled slightly. "Ed," she said quietly, "Can I come in?" He hesitated for just a second before nodding mutely and stepping aside to let her past him. Scully walked slowly into the apartment, it hadn't changed one bit as far as she could tell. She turned to face him and looked at him silently for a moment, taking in, for the first time since she had arrived, the sight of the sling and the bandages that were just visable beneath it. She shifted her gaze to his face. "So, how is it?" she asked, gesturing to his arm. "Getting better," he replied politely. "I should have the bandages off in a couple of weeks," he added. "That's good," she said. There was an awkward silence, neither one of them knowing what to say. Scully had been so sure of what she was going to say before she had come here. She had been thoroughly prepared for this encounter. But, for some reason, her well thought-out speech had vanished from her memory. Ed spoke at last; "Dana, why. . .I mean. . .I never expected to see you again," he stammered. Scully smiled. "I know, neither did I really. But. . ." "What?" he prompted. "I just had to tell you it wasn't your fault," she blurted out. "I don't blame you for what happened, Ed." He smiled slightly, then hung his head. "Thanks, Dana, that means a lot," he said quietly. "But. . .I blame myself." Scully sighed, what decent man wouldn't blame himself? "You shouldn't," she told him. But the words did not have the desired effect. "Then who the hell do I blame?" he shouted. Scully was taken aback by the anger in his voice. It scared her. "My tattoo? Is that who I blame, Dana?" He realised that Scully had taken a step towards the door and took a deep breath to calm himself. "I'm sorry," he said, his voice scarcely more than a whisper. It was unclear as to whether his apology was for his outburst just then, or for his violence a while before. Scully decided that it was for both. She took a step closer to him and laid a hand on his arm. "It's okay," she whispered, looking up into his eyes. His expression softened. "I never meant to hurt you, Dana. I would never - " "Shh, I know," she told him. "The drugs, Ed. It was the drugs." "I'm sorry," he repeated. Slowly, uncertainly, he wrapped his good arm around her waist. Awkward as it was, Scully returned his hug, needing the closeness. She couldn't be sure just how long they stayed like that, she didn't really care. After a while, Ed pulled back to look at her. "I still can't believe you're here," he whispered, lowering his head slightly. "Well I am, so believe it." Scully replied, standing on tip-toes to meet him. The kiss was gentle, innocent, but it seemed to promise so much more. Scully pulled away and looked straight up at him. "Can we try again, Ed?" she asked. "Start again, from the beginning?" He nodded and she untangled herself from his arms. "That crummy bar you told me about. . .Take me there." ***END*** Please let me know what you think.