From: Linda Date: 22 May 1999 22:50:28 -0700 Subject: [xfcreative] Burn Out (1 of 1) From: Linda Title: Burn Out Author: Linda E-mail: taxpa30@yahoo.com Archive: Gossamer archive and Xemplary are fine, anywhere else just let me know first Summary: Scully pushes herself to exhaustion finishing a field report. Spoilers: none. Rating: G Classification: S, mild Angst Disclaimer: We all know who owns them; that crazy ol surfer who we know and love. I've taken care of them so, Chris, why don't do the same? Please don't sue me. It's not nice. ~Burn Out~ Field report by Special Agent Dana Scully. Continued... "In response to the request for a toxicological screening to be run on the second victim to confirm or deny the aforementioned conjecture to the effect..." Scully exhaled slowly, ignoring the ache of her muscles and heaviness of her eyes, and continued tapping away. The report was due the next day. Scully wasn't one to leave even the most boring report to the night before; she hadn't even suffered such procrastination in college. However, in college she didn't have a partner she had to chase after or autopsies to perform at the last minute, delaying the paperwork night after night. Her body was weak with exhaustion but she was determined. She had to finish the report. "...due to the lack of evidence supporting this witnesses testament, Agent Mulder was hesitant to commit to his claims..." She had been in this same motel room all day. Sitting on the couch with her laptop on the coffee table in front of her, her notes spread out around her. Lunch time passed unnoticed. The sun fell without acknowledgement. As darkness surrounded her unpenetrable concentration, Mulder poked his head into her room. He saw his partner in the glow of her computer, her shoulder's tense, her faced marked with exhaustion. "Scully." She didn't stop typing or turn his way. She didn't even blink. Mulder crept towards her and stood at her shoulder. "Take a break." He saw a slight movement which was gone before he could even be sure he saw it. A shake of the head. No. "Mulder, I have to finish this." Her voice was barely above a whisper but the exhaustion it contained was evident. Mulder sighed. He knew it was hopeless to argue with Scully when she set her stubborn mind on something and it was tearing him apart trying. He hated seeing Scully so driven against his, her's and John Doe in the morgue's better judgement just to complete a stupid report that Skinner would skim over and file away in an anonymous filing cabinet. He hovered over her shoulder for a moment longer, hoping to see some change in her expression or stance. He sighed in defeat and walked over to retrieve a folded blanket off the end of the bed. He curled it gently around his partner's shoulders and briefly rubbed her upper arms through the fabric to warm her even though she wouldn't acknowledge him. He threw a final look over his shoulder before leaving. She didn't notice. "...the suspect's history of witnessing domestic violence as well as several severe isolated violent attacks against him impacted on his ability..." Scully didn't notice as another hour passed. Nor did she register Mulder's silent return. He closed the door quietly behind him and looked over to where Scully sat motionless except her hands, not having moved in the time he was absent. He dropped a paper bag and a styrofoam cup on the end of the coffee table, stood behind the couch and gently dropped his hands to her shoulders. He felt her flinch in surprise but she didn't pull away as his hands started to softly massage her tense muscles. He started at the knots in her neck and made his way to her aching shoulders made stiff by hours of sitting in the same position. "Take a break." "No." "Scully, you can't -" "No." He stepped away from the couch and retrieved a medium sized mirror from the bureau and brought it back to where she sat. He sat next to his partner and brought his hand to her face, tilting it towards her reflection. Scully's fingers stilled as her detached gaze trailed across her reflection. "Scully, look. You're a doctor. You know what an exhausted person looks like. You know you can only push your body so far before it lets you down." Scully's hand stretched out and touched the mirror, tracing the creases on her reflection's forehead, the dark circles under her eyes. Her fingers rose from the mirror to touch her own forehead and eyes, as if awakening from a sleep. Her eyes met Mulder's for the first time all day and she saw a glimmer of relief as well as desperation in their depths. His hand slid from her face to her neck where it resumed a soothing massage as his other hand retrieved the styrofoam cup. "Here, drink. Its hot chocolate." She sipped the hot liquid tentatively and closed her eyes. "Leave the work, ok? For a while, at least..." Scully rubbed her forehead and sank back into the couch as Mulder pulled the paper bag towards him. He pulled out a blueberry muffin and passed it wordlessly to her. She took it hesitantly and nibbled at it. The sweet taste quickly revived her previously buried appetite and Scully munched on the offering hungrily. To Mulder's delight she accepted a second muffin and was making her way though it. A gentle smile played around Mulder's lips as he watched her eat. Her previously tense shoulders were slumped and her head had fallen against the back of the couch, her neck lacking the energy to support it's weight. Halfway to her mouth, the half eaten muffin paused. "Mulder, I need to finish that report..." Her eyes slid shut and for a second, Scully forgot to open them again. "It'll just... just give them something else to use... against us..." "Shhh..." The muffin dropped into her lap as Scully's eyelids fell shut again. He saw her try to shake her head in protest but the movement was too much effort and she didn't have the energy. Mulder took the remainder of he muffin from her and watched with admiration as her face smoothed peacefully. He slid his arm between her back and the couch, curled the other gently under her knees and lifted her small weight. The movement caused Scully to stir slightly before settling her head against his chest. He moved slowly away from the couch, his sleeping partner in his arms, and approached the bed. He lay her down as if she were made of delicate glass and pulled the blankets up to tuck her in. He smiled and brushed a lock of hair from her face before turning to the laptop on the table. He cursed it quietly before raising his hands to the keyboard. He typed for over an hour, occationally rubbing his eyes to delay the onset of inevitable exhaustion. During the moments when he thought how easy it would be to curl up on the couch and drift off he turned slightly and watched his sleeping parter. It was as if through this simple act some of her determination and strength rubbed off on him, encouraging him to continue, as well as remind him who he was doing this for. A sigh of relief could be heard in the dark motel room as Mulder typed the magical sentence he had steadily approached with anticipation. End of field report. ~end~ Feedback, both critical and complimentary, are welcome. How else will I learn? taxpa30@yahoo.com === All of my fanfic is available at my site: In The Name of X http://tatooine.fortunecity.com/delany/356/