From phuwv@csv.warwick.ac.uk Fri Mar 07 07:15:04 1997 Newsgroups: alt.tv.x-files.creative Subject: NEW: Knockin' On Heaven's Door by Ian From: Ian Horsewell Date: Fri, 7 Mar 1997 13:15:04 +0000 -------- disclaimer: The characters aren't mine you see In fact they're owned by Fox TV Chris Carter and Ten-Thirteen too I'm doing what I shouldn't do I've just borrowed them for a while To write my very own X-File Archive: sure Spoilers: none Rating: a 'song story' vignette Warning: nothing special Summary: Mulder and Scully making a forced entry... shots are fired. Okay, this is the second in my Guns'n'Roses series. Same as the last one, if you've got the song, then put it on as you read. But this story's got no spoilers... hope you all enjoy it. Knockin' On Heaven's Door 1/1 by Ian Horsewell Mulder drew his weapon from the holster, right hand tight around the grip, finger through the guard, and the left hand cupping the butt of the gun, supporting it. Classic Weaver stance, thought Scully as she mirrored his actions. She glanced up at him and nodded, showing her readiness. It had taken them the better part of a day to find this place, and now time was short. No time to get back-up, no time to plan. This gang were known for being brutal, unafraid to cut their losses to escape if necessary. And both agents knew they couldn't let another child die. They didn't need to speak.. by now, they didn't even to use the handsignals that most agents found invaluable. The look on his face, the raising on an eyebrow, was enough, and had been for some time. And, as Scully heard the opening bars of the song from behind the door, Mulder took a deep breath and kicked it open. "FBI! Down on the ground, now!" His shout drew the men's attention, and Scully moved in to cover him, eyes scanning the room, counting and checking constantly. "Down, now! You're under arrest!" Two of the men stared in shock at the agents, and one made an abortive move to stand up from the table. But as Scully swung to cover him, he decided not to argue with the Sig-Sauer. Wise choice. Mama take this badge from me It's getting too dark to see The sound from the radio was a background to Mulder's voice as he called in alarm. "Scully - down!" Without questioning she dropped to the floor... but the gunshot echoed around the room at the same time as she felt the pain in her chest. The angry shout from the shooter overlaid the words of the song as Mulder's gun sounded, once, twice. Mama put my guns in the ground I can't shoot them any more. Vaguely, Scully heard a body dropping to the floor, a metallic clattering of a gun on concrete, and Mulder calling to her. "Scully? You okay?" But he really didn't need to ask; he'd almost felt the bullet in his own body, they were so close. Suddenly he was beside her, examining the wound. That cold black cloud is coming down... "Scully? Talk to me, Scully." She managed to nod and croaked to him, "Mulder - the men." He shook his head, the movement mussing his already tousled hair. "I was cuffing them when I saw the third man. They're not going anywhere." The concern in his eyes deepened as he realised where the bullet had gone... the pink froth around her lips told him that a lung had been punctured. Scully's eyes were clouding in shock, as the music played, one part of his mind noting it calmly, dispassionately. ...Luck if you could get out of life alive... "Scully... hang on in there. Help's on its way." She tried to nod, pain flashing through her features. Mulder gritted his teeth, stuffing his coat into a ball, under her head. Holstering his weapon, he picked up and pocketed Scully's where it lay on the floor, his attention instantly on her as she spoke. It wasn't that he didn't care; more that he had to do this, and she knew it. God knows, he thought, she's the most important thing to me. "Mulder... it hurts." He swallowed hard, hands on her shoulders, scared to touch her but needing to reassure, to comfort. Where was the damned ambulance, anyway? He looked down at his partner, reaching out a hand to touch her cheek to tell her that he was here. "Not going anywhere Scully." To Scully, his touch was gentle, somehow distant. The pain from the chest wound was fading, but so was everything else. The whole world seemed to be slipping away. She tried to focus on Mulder, his hand on her cheek, his gentle voice. But the song seemed to invade her mind, the words insistent. She mananged to smile as she slipped into unconsciousness, those words the last thing before it all went black. "Scully? Please, Scully." Mulder looked at her, realising that she was still breathing, the pulse in her throat visible. She was sstill alive. HE settled down to wait for the ambulance, praying that she wouldn't leave him, praying that he wouldn't have to carry on alone. The words from the radio seemed to mock his prayers, his hopes. Knock knock knockin' on heaven's door... THE END All feedback gratefully appreciated. Ian Horsewell University Of Warwick: i.j.horsewell@warwick.ac.uk The gods like an atheist; it gives them something to aim at.