From: XScout - Date: 11 Jan 1999 18:39:55 -0800 Subject: Grace SeriesII Title: Grace Series II: Amazing Grace Author: XScout Classification: VA Rating: PG Keywords: Character Death Spoilers: None Summary: Scully cradles an injured man in her arms, her voice bringing him comfort, as he has always brought her. Disclaimer: They aren't mine, if they were I would never allowed him to cut his hair. They're CC's and 10-13's, Fox's too. And not one of them stopped him from chopping off those marvelous locks. Damn it. *************** Amazing Grace *************** She wiped the sweat from his brow, her fingers trembling as they traced across his forehead. She felt the heat on her senstive fingertips, the fine silkiness of the damp locks brushing his temples. He began to cough, a harsh wet sound that echoed in the darkness. She pulled him closer, her arms wrapped around his torso, his back resting against her stomach, his head pillowed on her chest. A few moments later and the coughing subsided, the strained wheezing of his breath replacing it. He shifted against her. "Scully?" His voice was soft, he hadn't strength for anything more than a whisper. She looked down at the top of his head, the bridge of his nose, the long legs stretched out in front of him, her own on either side. "Yes Mulder?" He took a deep breath, his chest shuddering under her embrace, a fresh wetness welling up from underneath her arms. "Would you...sing to me?" She swallowed the lump in her throat, once again unable to stop the tears from escaping. She lifted one hand and ran it soothingly up and down his shoulder. "Of course I will." Even though she could not see his face she knew he smiled. She made no remarks on how she was tone deaf, did not ask what he wanted to hear. They were trapped in this dark room, niether help nor escape possible. There was no one to hear her except him. There was no one except him that mattered. His breathing was slow and shallow, an almost relaxing rhythm to it. She closed her eyes, remembering her life with this man, what he had shown her, what she had learned from him. She parted her lips and began to sing, her voice filled with truth. "Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, That saved a wretch like me. I once was lost, but now am found, Was blind but now I see." Hands enfolded her own. They were cold and yet their touch set her skin on fire, her pulse quickening. She could feel the thick warm liquid drip across their entwined fingers, the essence of life christening their grasp. He twisted his neck back so that he could look into her eyes, hazel orbs dark with emotion and pain. It was with him that she truly found meaning, felt that she was more than she had ever thought possible. "'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear, And grace my fears relieved. How precious did that grace appear, The hour I first believed." He coughed again, only once. But it was more from weakness then from a lack of need. His eyelids drooped lazily, his lips curling upwards slightly. She returned the smile with a sad one of her own. Through him she had discovered her hopes and dreams, vanquished her fears and realized her truth. She had come to believe in him. In herself. In them, as one. "Through many dangers, toils, and snares, I have already come. 'Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far, And grace will lead me home." The pressure against her chest lessened slightly as he lifted his head, bringing their clasped hands to his lips. Exhausted by the simple effort he fell back into her embrace, his eyes again seeking her own. Through all her trials and tribulations he had been there. Guiding her to safety. He had brought her hope in times of dispair, happiness in times of sorrow, and love in times of loneliness. With him she had found her soul. "When we've been here ten thousand years, Bright shining as the sun, We've no less days to sing God's praise, Then when we've first begun." Their love would last forever, long past the ends of time, coursing it's way through the heavens. Something so pure and true that nothing could destroy it, lessen it's strength. His grip tightened, his cold fingers sliding through her warm ones. He stared into her sea blue depths, smiling softly, and whispered, "Thank you." His eyes closed slowly, his body going limp in her arms. She bit her lip, not aware of the wetness on her cheeks, of the shaking of her body. She bent over and placed a kiss upon his forehead, cradling him against her as she rocked back and forth, her heartfelt voice filling the dark silence. "Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, That saved a wretch like me. I once was lost, but now am found, Was blind but now I see." *********** Continued in `Good Graces'