From: miranda119@juno.com (M K P) Date: Sat, 5 Dec 1998 20:53:05 -0500 Subject: A Final Moment by Miranda Title: A Final Moment Author: Miranda Rating: G Category: VA Spoilers: None Keywords: None Summary: Mulder says a final goodbye to his partner. Disclaimer: Not mine, don't sue. X* X * X * X * X * X * X * X * X * X * X He stood by the door, nervously shifting the jacket he held over his arm, trying to find something to focus his sight on rather than the heart wrenching scene occurring around the occupied bed of the little hospital room. "Goodbye, Mom." a weak whisper came from the pale figure lying so still against the white sheets. The weeping mother smoothed her daughter's once striking red hair now dull and thin from illness. "I love you.." was all the mother could manage. "I love you, too." was the faint reply. It seemed so inadequate, both to mother and daughter. There were so many things left to say, yet neither had the strength to relay them in this final moment. It was too late for words, they realized. Now the heartbroken mother placed a gentle kiss against the cool skin of her only remaining daughter's forehead. "Dana..." her older brother touched her hand. She managed to squeeze it and give him a tired smile. "Tell Matthew and Tara... Bye." she spoke softly. He nodded, tears flooded his eyes as he tried to blink them away. He could say nothing. Father McKue began a quiet prayer, and the room was still in reverence. When he was finished, the dying woman raised her hand to them weakly. There was a long pause. "Mom.." she willed her mother to understand her wishes. "Let's go." Margaret Scully whispered and motioned her son and the priest toward the door. As they exited the room, she gave the quiet man in the doorway and sad smile. The door closed and silence claimed the tiny room. Finally his legs found the strength to make the journey across the room to her bedside. She stared at him, her clear blue eyes glassy with tears. "What do you have in your hand?" she whispered, motioning to the scrap of paper he held tightly within his clenched fist. "I... I wrote you something today." he answered in a shaky voice. "Read it to me." she instructed. He sat down slowly on the side of her bed. Her fingers went to his free hand. He took a deep breath and smoothed the paper so he could read. "I watch you as you lay in disquieted rest Your body so weak, so tired The essence of your life all but spent Weary from the battle, your resolve worn Waiting defeated, for the inevitable taste of death So you might then big the cruelness of this existence Farewell. So you might find that place of peace and rest Beholding your faith in unmitigated reality. You have fought a good fight, dear one One whom I solely and completely trust The darkness of a world gone awry But only the truth we sought so earnestly could show Two as one, one single mind and focus One hope for that kinder day, as a bond Holding our hearts fast, bonded together You alone know my heart, you exclusively understand How great the sorrow grips my heart to watch you Leaving, as so regretfully you squeeze my hand one final time... Staring into my eyes so tenderly, to understand my grief To feel my pain, to sense my loneliness As we whisper closing expressions of love and affection I know your departure is a result of some higher purpose One we cannot possibly begin to comprehend I know you feel the guilt as your fleeting journey Comes to an end. For I must continue on without you. As half a man, as one without his other side... for it is gone. Do not grieve, for I will forever hold you close Till my life is completed, my final step taken Your memory will resurrect your life in me, So you shall not then be so far away, you shall be alive. Do not spend your final breath in sorrow of my plight Rather hold my hand and let us spend this quiet moment together No evil will we think of in this peaceful passage No conspiracies to uncover, no horrors to unveil For the responsibility of the fight is vanished but for a minute Or maybe two As we hold each other As I bid my soul mate and my dearest confidant and friend... Goodbye." As he spoke the final word, he looked up. Her eyes were closing, and her body heaved a sigh. It was the last breath she would ever take. He gently wiped the tears that had cascaded down her soft cheeks, and placed a lingering kiss on her white lips. He felt strange as he laid beside her, bringing his head to her pillow. Numb. Calm. As if he himself had passed on from life to death with her. His body still alive, his spirit gone to another place with the only one he could ever love so deeply and truly. For life would not go on for him without her.