From: little scully Date: Thu, 27 Apr 2000 20:51:54 -0700 (PDT) Subject: xfc: NEW: As Dawn Breaks (1/1) by little scully Source: xfc TITLE: As Dawn Breaks AUTHOR: little scully E-MAIL: starbuck92@yahoo.com DISTRIBUTION: Xemplary, Spookys, and anywhere else so long as my name and email stay attached. SPOILER WARNING: None really, but it helps to know what Scully went through during season 4. RATING: PG CLASSIFICATION: VA SUMMARY: A friend keeps watch over someone he cares about throughout the night. BEGAN/COMPLETED: March 20, 2000/April 27, 2000 DISCLAIMER: I don't own Mulder, Scully or any of the other X-Files characters, and all of my money is going to college right now so please don't sue. Author's Notes: I wrote this story on a whim, so I hope the readers can understand it. It was also written before "all things" aired, so I was a little amazed to see the use of a faucet dripping for story effect. Thanks go out to Georgia for looking over this little piece in a very short time and for being a fellow Braves fan. Kudos out to my best buds, Jessica and Lori, who always push me on ahead during writer's block. ********** 'The people on this planet never seem to rest. They're always on the go no matter what time of day it is.' The thought comes unbidden to me as I lean my head back against the cool porcelain of the claw-foot bathtub, listening to the early morning sounds outside. On the street, an occasional car will pass, the occupant probably rushing off to an early job in downtown Washington. In the distance, a dog begins barking, most presumably at the paperboy delivering his load of Friday edition newspapers. And on the tree just outside the window, the cheerful sound of a bird singing fills the air. The sound of water dripping from the faucet draws my attention back inside to the bathroom I am in. Drip. Drip. Drip. Suddenly everything is drowned out as I focus on the soft breathing coming from the woman in my arms. She has become my entire world, her every breath more precious than all the riches in the land. Inhale. Exhale. Inhale. Exhale. People usually take the simple act of respiration for granted, forgetting that they are indeed mortal. No one quite considers it until an event occurs that flips his or her world upside down. This realization hit me when Scully was diagnosed with terminal cancer. Since then, with every passing moment, I fear her next breath may be her last. The cancer has ravaged her already exhausted body, and the signs of it are clearly showing now with the treatments failing to make her any better. Scully shifts slightly in my embrace, snuggling her head beneath my chin, deep in sleep. I rub my cheek gently against her hair, closing my eyes and thinking about the terror that I felt when she became frighteningly ill tonight. We had returned to Scully's apartment after one of her chemotherapy sessions, and even though she denied feeling nauseous, I knew better. The chemo always made Scully sick to her stomach and tonight was no exception. The vomiting and fever struck hard against her tired body, scaring the hell out of both of us. She did not push me away as I held her hair back from her face, holding her close as she fought the effects of the poison they had pumped into her body. After countless hours, she finally fell into an exhausted slumber against me, tears and sweat still glistening on her flushed face. I could not help but silently break down when I knew for certain that she was asleep. The pain and fright of watching her become so ill was wrenched out of me in hushed sobs as I held her. I knew then that her life was slipping away from her rapidly, and the prospect of losing her was close at hand. Now I carefully look down at my wristwatch and blink in surprise at the time. Five thirty-five in the morning. We had spent the entire night in here, and now dawn would soon break. Scully has made it through another terrible night. The thought should lighten my dark mood, but it is of no consolation at the moment. Sure, she will live to see another day, but at what cost to herself? Spending her every moment in bed, unable to do anything for herself and wasting away before my eyes? Is it worth it? At that moment, I sense Scully waking up, and I gently hug her closer to let her know I am here. She yawns drowsily, leaning her head against my shoulder and looking up at me with sleepy blue eyes. A smile instantly flashes across my features, and I kiss her forehead tenderly. "Hi sunshine," I whisper. To my heart's delight, she gives me a small smile. "You feeling a bit better?" She once again closes her eyes, burying herself in my embrace. "Yeah, but I'm still sleepy," she says, barely audible. In reply, I kiss her forehead once again and lift her up in my arms, light as a feather. I carry her to the living room where I settle her on the sofa and pull a blanket snugly around her. "It's still early so you should try to get more rest. You've had a long night, Scully." When I do not receive a reply, I realize she has already plummeted into sleep once more. All is silent as the first rays of sunlight peek through the blinds of the windows. Dawn has broken, a new day is here, and Scully is still with me. I smile down at her sleeping form, coming to the conclusion that everything is worth it after all. I am thankful for her companionship, no matter how fragile her life may presently be. My soul becomes more at ease as I once again hear the treasured sound of her breathing. Inhale. Exhale. Inhale. Exhale. ********** End (1/1) ===== "What I find fantastic is any notion that there are answers beyond the realm of science. The answers are there. You just have to know where to look." ~ Dana Scully "You were my constant, my touchstone..." "And you are mine..." Fox Mulder and Dana Scully The Sixth Extinction: Amor Fati