From: mgreten <mgreten@xtalwind.net>
Date: Mon, 18 Dec 2000 10:59:36 -0800
Subject: IN OTHER CONTEXT: Midnight Mass by Mary Greten
Source: direct

Disclaimer: NO infringement on anyone's copyrights is intended.
loc's appreciated and answered: mgreten@xtalwind.net
Spoilers: How the Ghosts Stole Xmass. up to season six
Archive: I'll send to Gossamer.  All others please inform me so I can
send you its url or the latest revision.  
S: PG: RST 
Summary: After 12:01:01 AM Xmass 1998
Episodes dialogue:  Chris Carter  

IN OTHER CONTEXT: Midnight Mass
ISMS ARRANGED by Mary Greten.
ORIGINAL MATERIAL by Mary Greten.

As irrational as Scully knew her fear of ghosts to be, her absolute
terror wasn't any less genuine.

Even as she and Mulder realized each did not shoot the other,  they
held on to ram the front doors quite willing to risk charges of
breaking and exiting.  The doors, however, opened effortlessly 
bringing them up short in the frosty 12:00:20 Christmas morning air.

They didn't notice the chill of their blood soaked shirt and blouse
primarily because their clothing were no longer soaked or bloody. 
They peeked between their shoulders at the foyer behind them.
The floor, which had been streaked red from wounds leaking their
life's liquid as they crawled towards each other to die, now bathed 
in its "mop and glo" shine.

Still, the two FBI agents fled the mansion at 1501 Larkspur Lane
somewhere in Maryland, content to leave interred there the mystery
of the three double murders on Christmas eves over the last 80 years
until
next year.  Any other intrepid investigators inquisitive enough to
imperil their lives or at least have the shit scared out of them on
an eve more suited to All Hallows than this Holy Night were hereby 
invited to try.  

These two intrepid agents ran to their cars, rev-ed their engines and
raced for the road. Mulder was in the lead for a mile when Scully
drove up beside him signaling for him to pull over to the side.  

"What did we stop for?", Mulder shouted above the traffic.   

"Check your weapon."

"Huh?"

"Your weapon.  Do you have it?"

They got out of their cars, reached in their holsters finding their
guns cool to the touch and safeties on.  Just to be sure, in 
synchronized motions, they released and examined their clips.  No 
bullets were spent.  Unable to dispel the ghosts' spell entirely, 
they quickly returned their guns to their holsters.

Scully leaned against her car and glanced at her watch.  12:03am
December 25th.

"Oh, Good" She thought unintentionally quoting the fictional
Ebeneezer Scrooge.  "The spirits have done it all in one night.
But of course they can.  They can do anything they want."

"What the hell I am thinking!!!".  Scully decided she needed a 
reality check and fast.

"Mulder, your directions.  Didn't they include a Catholic Church
nearby as a land mark?"

"Yeah.  You going to ask for an exorcism?

"I am going to Mass.  Help me put my packages in your car trunk. 
Mine is already full."

"You're kidding." 

"No, but my two sisters-in-law have.  Three to be exact.  Then there's
my brothers, my mother, aunts, uncles, cousins...  And...  I know I'm
over compensating.  But I need to...  at least this year."

"Right." Mulder, the psychologist, agreed.

While Mulder quickly transferred the packages.  Scully snapped open
her cell phone.

"Mom.  I just got off a stake out with Mulder and am going
to Midnight Mass while Mulder stays with the cars.  What later 
morning Mass are you all attending?  I'll be there when you return.  
We can open presents then.  

A brief discussion ensued on the other end.

"Fine, Mom.  Give the boys an Aunt Dana kiss for me."

Scully listened for a moment.  

"Really?  Well, we'll just have to muddle through somehow.  We've
done it before."

Mrs. Scully wasn't finished yet...

"I don't know, Mom.  I already did.  We'll play it by ear.  The
bells are tintinnabulating.  I got to go." 

Scully pocketed her phone.

"Follow me, Mulder." She yelled to Mulder who was already sitting in
his car.  It never occurred to her to doubt he would comply.   


Scully guessed a half a mile away the church was nearby.   They
circled for five minutes before finding parking spaces.  The whole
while Scully grew more and more pensive.

Scully locked her car and sat next to Mulder in his.
She folded her hands in her lap and spoke to them.

"Mulder, I wouldn't blame you if you'd rather stay here.  But I
really need a "ground" for this.  Emily's death last Christmas and
Easter's aftermath, an abduction to Antarctica, nearly being roasted 
by alien flame throwers, and then tonight's horrors, I may need 
a both a pillar at by back and my face in a pillow to squelch my 
screams."

Her eyes darted toward Mulder. His knuckles were white from
grasping the steering wheel and his eyes stared over them.

"It won't be that bad", She gently coaxed placing her hand over his.
"Being this late, we'll be near the doors or even listening outside
if the sexton thought to mount speakers.   If there aren't enough 
Eucharistic ministers distributing Communion, I'll work my way up to 
one of them inside and meet you here shortly after.  But, again, if
you'd prefer to stay...  ".   

She opened his car door.

Putting his hand on her shoulder, Mulder spoke softly to disguise his
anguish.

"Not without me you don't." 


When they approached the old, large, ornate church, the High Mass
had reached the Gospel reading.  The parishioners made the sign of
the cross with their right thumbs on their forehead, lips and chest. 
Scully did the same but did not release Mulder's hand she held across
her waist. Thus he was prevented from emulating the ritual.  Mulder 
mentally waged the contents of the collection baskets Scully was
hanging in like a five year old's baby tooth; it wouldn't take much
for her to come loose.  For the next Blessed hour or so, Mulder 
wrapped himself around Scully like a double knit afghan keeping her 
warm and warding off the whirling winds of worries at her back.  

Despite litany of "begats" from Abraham to Joseph, the Gospel reading
was not exceedingly long and the homily was concise:

Joseph ultimately believed his bethrothed's impossible story of 
impregnation by a Spirit with the Son of God destined to be the
Savior of Humanity.  Seraphim, Cherubim and other heavenly hosts 
could not contain their jubilation. Shepherds and wise men stood 
in awe of a Baby incarnated in a stable.  Not yet, were the 
conspiracies against the Child hatched and seeds planted for the 
thorns in his crown.  But, the Mother knew they would be.   She 
studied the sacred writings and pondered them in her heart.  Today, 
however, we rejoice.  The Word that was from the Beginning was made 
flesh and would be with us even until the End of the world.

Mulder studied comparative religions and was familiar with the similar
threads that they all shared.  Still, he found these words both 
paradoxically particularly comforting and distantly disturbing.  He
wanted to believe.  Perhaps someday... for now, it was enough that
Scully believed.

While the collection baskets were being passed among the
parishioners, the choirs sang the perennial liturgical carols.  Mulder
knew the people inside the church were singing, but out here he only
heard Scully's off key voice.  The others respectfully milled about. 
Puzzled for only a moment, Mulder remembered Scully telling him about 
CAPE Catholics whose ranks she recently deserted.  These were the
no shows except for Christmas, Ash Wednesday, Palm Sunday and
Easter.  Scully exhibited no embarrassment at being the soloist in the
crowd. For her, God had two "disabilities": S/He was tone deaf and
color blind.  Mulder grinned at the analogy so symbolic of them.

After the collection offerings was placed near the altar as a symbol
of the first Christmas gifts, Scully dropped to her knees.  Startled, 
Mulder noticed everyone else did the same; he, however remained
standing with his hands on Scully's shoulders.  In the reverent hush
and everyone but himself kneeling, Mulder heard the priest say 
                       THIS IS MY BODY, 
saw him raise a large round wafer and hold it until a bell rang
three times, at each peal the worshippers lightly stuck their
breasts with the fist of their right hands reciting 
                      MY LORD AND MY GOD. 
The actions were repeated with a chalice and the words: 
                       THIS IS MY BLOOD.   
Mulder knew this to be the most sacred of the Catholic rituals - 
the Transubstantiation.  On the altar now and of what Scully will
soon partake is now the genuine Body and Blood of Jesus as He 
instructed at the last supper:
                     DO THIS IN MEMORY OF ME.  

Scully attempted to rise.  He loosened his grip.  Scully remained in
front of him.  Once again, he put one arm around her chest as she held
the other and leaned against him.  Some more carols and prayers
permeated the air.  If they sang Joy to the World or Silent Night,
Mulder didn't know if he could keep from laughing.  But soon he
became aware of people smiling, shaking hands mumbling a liturgical 
formula.  He was sure it was not E equals MC(squared).  

Since Scully was already holding his hand in front of her, she
squeezed tightly, tilted her head back, chin up, toward him and
offered him the truest wish in her heart, 
                       PEACE BE WITH YOU
            "... And Mulder, *MY* peace I give to you".  

Mulder, with his hands already occupied, was at a complete loss what
to do or say.  So, he did what seemed natural to them.  He leaned over
and kissed her lightly on her forehead, then noting no objection from
Scully, he kissed her nose and finally her lips.  Their height
difference put them in too easy reach to deny himself.  Scully, eyes 
already linked to his, let her lips, laced with tantalizing promises 
of intent, linger on his longer than ritually correct, but, point
made, not long enough to incur penalty of forfeit of Communion.

In the cold, Mulder felt strangely warm.  Not the sexual heat that he
expected kissing her,  but the from emotions of a man who knows
his love is reciprocated and desired.  Passion would come in its own
time.

When the Eucharistic minister arrived, she raised a small Wafer in
front of Scully asking
                       BODY OF CHRIST?
Scully smiled nodding her assent. "Amen". She released of Mulder's
hand and cupping her left hand atop the right, accepted the small 
Wafer.  Then with her right hand, she placed the host in her mouth, 
chewed, swallowed and became One with her God. 

They stayed until the Last Blessing and Mission:

   "THE MASS HAS ENDED. GO IN PEACE TO LOVE AND                   
  SERVE THE LORD AS WE LOVE AND SERVE EACH OTHER ".  

Being in the extreme rear of the crowd, it became prudent to leave
immediately to avoid being trodden by the long deprived smokers, the
bladder bursting, the doubled parked, the hungry and thirsty.  The
last of all Scully now felt in full force.  

On the way to their cars, Scully suggested they stop at the first
diner, MacDonald's, Burger King, Checkers, or all night hot dog stand.
She didn't care.  She was starving.  They found an open Fifties style
diner, ordered a Fifties style breakfast and waited in weary silence 
until Scully dared to venture another idea.

"Mulder?"

Mulder's thoughts were still on her Kiss of Peace. 

"Mulder!" Scully touched his arm.

"Hmm? Sorry. I was still at Mass. What did you say?" 

"Mulder, with Saddam rattling his saber again it is possible neither 
Charlie nor Bill may be home today.  My mother would very much
like you to spend the day with us.  I think she really misses a
familiar male presence around the holidays. If you're not busy, going 
to your Mother's or over to the Lone Gunmen's, whatever, I'd 
appreciate it if you would accept her invitation."

Mulder drummed his fingers on the formica tabletop.

"When?"

"I'll come for you around ten o'clock. They should be getting home
from the nine o'clock Mass soon after.  We'll put the gifts under
the tree.  We could leave the them in the cars untill then."

"Ok, but only your mother calls me Fox."

"Are you sure? I'm told the boys have been calling you Uncle Fox. 
An honorary title and purely out of respect.  They think its "kewl".

"Even Matthew? He should be syllabic by now."

"It would kill Bill.  But, I think Mat is capable of imitating 
the others."

"Then, you'll be the only one calling me Mulder"

"Would you really want it any other way?", She smirked chin on her
palm.

"No, I don't think I have heard all the inflections you can
give to it yet."

He was rewarded for the second time in three hours with a full Scully
laugh.

"I think I scared myself again", Mulder quipped as breakfast arrived.

They ate the full breakfast of two eggs, bacon, sauasge, pancakes
slowly, tiredly, spoke little and overdosed on coffee before the long
ride to their respective apartments. Consequently, no visions of 
sugarplums danced in their heads. Instead the doubts and fears of 
all the years and four hours past returned to nag their psyches.


Overtired and caffeine prodded, Scully recalled the last gift she had
to wrap.  She purchased it earlier during the week wondering if she
should have bothered.  Now, she marveled that the fates allowed her
to find it.  Exhausted, she lay on her sofa, but, to no avail...
  

Mulder wondered who could be knocking on door before sunrise. He
turned off the TV before answering.

"Scully?"

"I, uh...  I couldn't sleep.   I was, um....", Scully sighed shyly.

Stunned at her early appearance, Mulder momentarily forgot his
manners and their even earlier hastily made plans.

"Come in. Aren't you supposed to be opening Christmas gifts 
with your family?", he courtly chided. 

Scully's mind, however, was Not on her family...

                              ~~~