From: ephemeral@ephemeralfic.org
Date: Mon, 22 May 2000 23:03:02 -0500
Subject: Hymn to Hope (1/1) post-Requiem by Pita1013
Source: direct

Reply To: PitaM13@cs.com


Title: Hymn to Hope (1/1)
Author: Pita1013
Feedback: Please! PitaM13@cs.com
Rating: G
Classification: VA
Spoilers: Requiem
Keywords: none
Summary: Picks up right where Requiem left off.

Archive anywhere

Disclaimer: Characters from the X-Files are owned by Chris
Carter, 1013 Productions, and Fox Television. They are being
used without permission and without money changing hands.

Author's Notes/Intro: Just a quick extra bit to add to the
hospital scene at the end. I couldn't leave it alone. As a
side note, I don't have any clue about the baby's paternity.
I'm just assuming for the sake of a story.

*******
Hymn to Hope


~~Every signal that you send, until the very end,
~~I will not abandon you, my precious friend.
          ~~From "Whistle Down the Wind"


Had the situation not been so dire, the expression on Walter
Skinner's face would've been enjoyable. But as the situation
was, the look of blank shock was anything but funny. With
tear-tracks still drying on his face, the Assistant Director
could suddenly feel the weight of all that had happened,
bending his spine like a modern-day Atlas.

"Is it--" He couldn't bear to finish the question. His eyes,
filled with anguish, searched hers, trying to search out a
different answer. It was useless; he knew who the father
was. There was no question.

Scully knew that Skinner had it figured out, and didn't 
bother to answer. The truth was in the amazed smile that
broke through her tears, a joy only half-overshadowed by
loss.

When she met Skinner's eyes again, there was a steely
determination in her gaze. He suddenly knew, without any
doubt, that Scully would bring Mulder home. If it took
months or years or even decades, Fox Mulder would eventually
meet his child.

But the fact that he was gone at all was like a hot stone
in Skinner's stomach. <How many times can I let her down?
I watched her love and my friend vanish into the sky and
I couldn't do a thing to stop it.> He tore himself apart in
his mind, wracked by guilt.

Scully watched him as he started to sniffle quietly again.
Seeing her burly, stone-faced boss breaking down wasn't 
something she was equipped to handle. It was almost enough
to send her already-frazzled mind toward meltdown.

"I'm so sorry, Dana, I'm so sorry," Skinner whispered, so
softly that she could barely hear it. He rocked slightly
on his heels, back and forth, refusing to look at her again.

"Come here, sit down," Scully said, patting the bed next to
her. He perched there gingerly, as if making sure he could
escape quickly. She sensed it and took his hand gently.

"We both know Mulder. You and I both know that there wasn't
anything you could've done to stop him," she told Skinner
sternly. "If he was taken by force, or if he went willingly,
you wouldn't have been able to stop him."

Skinner looked unconvinced as he swiped at his eyes with
his free hand.

"I need you to stop kicking yourself in the ass and start
being useful," she continued, the hint of a smile playing
on her lips. "I can't find him by myself. I'm *going* to
find him, but it'll be with your help. We can't leave any
lead unfollowed, and that'll take two of us. Even more,
maybe," she added, thinking suddenly of Marita Covarrubias
and Alex Krycek. <Maybe they're finally allies? It's worth
a shot, at least.> She watched him expectantly, waiting for
his answer.

"We'll find him," Skinner declared forcefully, no trace of 
the sorrowful and guilty tears remaining. "We won't abandon 
him. We just have to follow the signs. Look for signals."

Scully graced him with a full-toothed smile, one she rarely
showed to anyone. With a final squeeze of his hand, she let
Skinner leave. She was willing to bet money that he would
be heading to Oregon at the next opportunity.

Her hand came to rest on the spot where her cross usually
hung. Where it would have been hanging, had she not given
up that small part of herself to send with Mulder, wherever
he had gone. Knowing that he held a part of her, even as she
had a part of him, was a comfort to her.

"I will not abandon you, Mulder. Never."

******
Finis

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