From: "hotpinkdragoness ." Date: Wed, 05 Sep 2001 19:41:07 -0800 Subject: NEW: Issues of Past and Present Source: xff Title: Issues of Past and Present Author: hotpink E-mail: hotpinkdragoness@hotmail.com Category: VA Spoiler: Existence Summary: More controls our lives than our present. For some, the past has heavier influence than the future. "Scully, for the past eight years there have been two things that mattered to me. You, and the truth. Right now, there is a chance to find out more about that truth. I need to follow that chance." She stared at Mulder, who was sitting casually on the other side of the couch, his actions barely reflecting the declaration he was making. For some reason, she had always known that the choice would fall this way. That his obsession with the truth--and discovering the truth--was far beyond any human connections. Although Sam may have been the excuse of his quest, the facts behind the conspiracy and the actions taken by dying old men had eventually become more important. All had become part of a larger obsession that extended far beyond determining his sister's fate--an obsession that could not die with her, or even with him. He had shown it to her in so many ways, most recently when he hauled her along to break into the census bureau computer system. In fact, his death and rebirth had only intensified the pursuit, while his termination from the FBI had taken away one path through which to pursue it. But to hear the words from his mouth was more shocking than she wanted to admit. "You understand, don't you? These men--or whatever they are--must be stopped, no matter what the price. You and I don't matter in the final equation. Preventing what these men represent matters. Preventing what they want to bring upon the world matters. With William here, that makes it even more apparent. It must be prevented for him and his generation." She sat there, William asleep upon her lap, saying nothing. "But you have to stay here. For protection. We can't let them get their hands on William. The best way to do so is to keep to your normal schedule--to let them know that a missing child will bring consequences. The missing child of an FBI agent will be newsworthy." "Mulder, so you are saying that you've got a plan to search them down?" He glanced away then gave her that half-smile that meant he wasn't sure. "I know more than I can express. I just *know* it." William started to wiggle and whimper slightly as he awakened, disturbed by their voices. "Mulder, I need to take care of things here." "I know that." "And you're leaving despite that." "Yes." "Then go." Mulder stood, and Mulder left. ***** A couple of days later, she dropped into the X-Files office. John and Monica were bending their heads over some case file as she walked through the door, both sets of eyes intense on the report. She could see interest animating Monica's face, and doubt filling John's eyes. The semblance tugged at her heartstrings. John stood up as soon as he noticed her, ever the considerate gentleman. "Agent Scully, we didn't expect you back down here so soon!" He pulled out a chair, and motioned her to sit down. Monica met her eyes with a little smile. They had shared much on their harried trip, including the birth of her son. She answered back with her own smile. "Mulder has gone out on his own." Neither of them seemed surprised. "He is convinced that he can find out what's going on sooner than we can, confined by the rules and regs of the FBI and government." John frowned and looked back at the file. "That's not good." Monica shook her head. "No, that's what I expected." John looked at her inquisitively, and Scully with understanding. "It had become too limiting. The law does not understand what we are up against and cannot hope to govern it. But there is a need for people both inside and out--whether Mulder was the correct choice for his chosen position may be open for debate, but it was the only place he could be expected to chose." She could see that John still did not approve. "But he left Agent Scully behind here. That does not make sense." Monica sighed. "That was his choice. He could stay and do nothing, or go and feel as though he had an effect. From the little I had seen of him and what more I know of his life and career, he made the predictable choice. Hopefully those on the other side have not realized that. If they have, it gains him little advantage." Scully could not shy from the naked truth of Monica's statement, the predictability that that guided Mulder's actions. No matter how much it pained her, his past set a path for his future that he had decided to continue upon. Whether she could have, or should have asked him otherwise was a question for dark, sleepless nights. Not for here, not for now. John bristled, and Scully saw his protective instinct take over. He touched her gently on the shoulder and said "We will be there for you." She understood the promise, and accepted it for what it was. It was a human promise, with all the baggage thereforth. But she had learned many lessons in her life, and knew both the limits and power. End.