From: "Foxsong" Date: Wed, 16 Feb 2000 05:06:51 -0500 Subject: "Free" by Keeffie Source: xff "Free" (1/1) by Keeffie V, post-"Closure" Rated G Archive: ok! :) Feedback to keeffie@juno.com Disclaimer: Property of Fox and 1013, etc. Summary: The day after the end he thought might never come. ~~~~~~~~ FREE by Keeffie Fox Mulder opened his eyes slowly. They came to rest on the smiling face of Dana Scully. She brushed the hair from his forehead. "Hey, sleepyhead." "Hey." Mulder sat up in bed and took a deep breath. "What smells good?" "Lunch." Scully said as she held up a grease-stained bag. "Lunch!?" Mulder was stunned. "Guess I overslept." "Yeah, about thirty-six hours worth." "Thirty-six hours!?" "Yeah, Mulder. You've been asleep a day and a half," Scully laughed lightly. "Wow! No wonder I'm starving," Mulder said as he grabbed the bag from her hand and opened it. He inhaled deeply and smiled at the wonderful aroma of grease, onions and half-sour pickles. He carefully laid out his feast; cheeseburger with lettuce, tomato, ketchup and mustard just the way he liked it. French fries, onion rings and a big fat pickle. He gave Scully a huge smile. "Scully! My favorite!" "Well, I figured with all you've been through, you deserved your favorite artery-clogging meal." "There's only one more thing that would make this moment perfect." "Iced tea." Scully said, handing him the super-sized drink. "That's it! Scully, marry me today, right now! We're not that far from Vegas. We can drive up. Get hitched by an Elvis impersonator, shoot some craps, hit the buffet and take in Sigfried and Roy's late show. You know, really do it right! What do you say!?" Scully rolled her eyes, picked up an onion ring, and shoved it in his mouth. "I take it that's a no," Mulder mumbled. " Mulder, eat or I'll..." "Shoot me." "No. I'll make you eat salad." Scully threatened. Mulder made a face and they both laughed. Scully sat on the bed and picked at the fries as she watched Mulder scarf down his food. "Thirty-six hours... wow. I haven't slept that long since.... Samantha was taken. Without drugs, anyway." "Or nightmares. I checked on you. You were in a deep peaceful sleep, you were even smiling. How are you feeling?" "Fine. Great. You know, it's weird. My father was murdered, my mother committed suicide, and I found out my sister has been dead for a long time. I should be inconsolable but I'm not, I'm.... I'm free. Free!" Mulder nearly shouted the word. He looked and found her still smiling but a little puzzled. "Tell me." she said. "I...I feel lighter, like this burden, this weight I've carried around for so long, has vanished. I mean I miss them, I miss them all, I do. But I feel free. My soul feels lighter. Everything looks brighter, newer. I feel happy, joyful. Scully... is this what joy feels like?" The simplicity of the question caught her off guard. She realized that her partner of seven years didn't really know what joy felt like. What it felt like to be unburdened of the guilt and pain he had carried with him every day for over twenty-five years. The tears came to her eyes and ran down her cheeks before she could stop them. The look on Mulder's face immediately changed as he wiped away her tears. "Scully, I'm sorry, please don't cry, I'm sorry I said the wrong thing, I'm sorry." She cupped his face in her hands and smiled through the tears. "No, no, Mulder - don't apologize. Please don't feel guilty, it's alright, it's alright. Yes, Mulder, yes. This is what joy feels like." Mulder gave her a big smile. She had never seen him smile so much and so easily before. Mulder smiling made Scully's top ten of beautiful sights. "Sorry, Scully. This is all new to me. I've never felt like this before. Will you help me?" "Yes." Mulder engulfed her in a hug. "I love you, Scully." "I love you too, Mulder." "So you've reconsidered Vegas then." Scully pulled away. "Aw, come on Scully." Mulder whined. She punched him on the arm. "No way Mulder!" "Come on!" he rubbed his arm and whined. "I'm saving myself for Frohicke." After a pause, the two of them burst into laughter. When the laughter died down Scully asked, "What do you want to do today?" "Well, it's dumb." "What is it?" "It's childish." "What?" "You won't want to do it." "Mulder!" "Disneyland. I want to go to Disneyland and ride all the rides more than once and eat too much junk food." "Disneyland?" "Yeah, told you it was dumb. I just want to be twelve again." "Not dumb. Go shower and change. I'll pack. We'll find a place closer to the park." "Why?" "You need more than an afternoon to do all that." Mulder's smile got even bigger. "Go, go on. Get moving." Mulder stood up bent over and kissed the top of Scully's head. He entered the bathroom and closed the door. Moments later Scully heard the shower running and Mulder singing. Scully opened the door. It was a beautiful day. They would spend a few days at Disneyland and she would go on all the rides with him more than once and eat too much junk food. There would, no doubt, be more pain and guilt waiting for him in the future. Another crisis that would threaten to consume him. But today he was free! She would teach him joy and happy and freedom. For a while his sleep would be untroubled, filled with sweet dreams. For now Fox William Mulder was FREE! "Free!" Scully said aloud. What a beautiful word. ~~~~ Feedback? keeffie@juno.com ~~~~