From: AHaynes33 Date: 17 May 1999 06:18:49 GMT Subject: NEW: "Our Secret" by Anne Haynes DISCLAIMER: Everybody belongs to Ten-Thirteen, Chris Carter and Fox. Don't they? I mean no infringement. CATEGORY: VA RATING: G SPOILERS: All of Season Six, including the finale KEYWORDS: M/S Angst SUMMARY: Withheld because I couldn't think of one that wouldn't give the whole thing away. Just trust me. This one should be safe for almost everyone. "Our Secret" by Anne Haynes AHaynes33@aol.com The doctor slid a note into the room, quickly before Mulder could charge the door. Nobody was sure that he was in any shape to read, but the doctor had overridden Diana Fowley's protest and agreed to try. Scully watched from the monitor, her vision blurred. Watching his anguish hurt. Worse than she'd ever imagined--and there had been times, back during the dark days of her cancer, when she'd imagined a scenario very much like what she was now facing. She just hadn't expected it to happen now, when everything had finally begun to go right for them. On the monitor, Mulder caught sight of the note and pounced. For a second, Scully was afraid that he'd rip the paper into shreds in his madness. But the second he touched the paper, he lifted his head and looked straight into the camera. "Scully," he said. It wasn't a scream like before. It was just a simple word. Almost soft. Almost sane. Read the note, Mulder, she willed silently. Trust me and read the note. His gaze dropped to the note and he scanned it. Looked back up at the monitor, his expression torn. I know it's scary, Mulder, but please, please trust me..... He narrowed his eyes, jutted his chin. Then he dropped like a shot to the padded floor of the room. Crumpled so quickly, so completely, that for a moment Scully was afraid she'd made a mistake. "Dr. Ryan--" Scully turned and looked at the attending psychiatrist. He cocked his head slightly, then turned and left the room. As Scully watched, the doctor and a pair of muscular orderlies carefully entered the room to check on Mulder. He twitched when they touched him, but he remained still. Compliant. The door in the observation room opened and Diana Fowley entered. She looked at the screen, her expression betraying her surprise. "What happened to him?" On the monitor, the orderlies were slipping Mulder's arms into a straitjacket. Scully bit her lip when Mulder lifted his face to the monitor again and seemed to meet her worried gaze. "What have you done?" Diana asked, her voice cold and low. Scully didn't answer. She moved past Diana, out the door toward Mulder's padded cell. * * * * * He was sitting passively, his head lolling slightly, when the doctor allowed her to enter the interview room. His head snapped up almost immediately, his eyes seeking hers. "You can leave us alone, Dr. Ryan." The doctor seemed inclined to protest, but Scully cut him off with a brisk wave of her hand. He frowned, double-checked the bindings on Mulder's straitjacket and the hooks that latched him to the table, then left the room. Scully pulled her chair closer to the table. "Mulder, we're being observed. Recorded." He gave the slightest of nods, his eyes twitching. "I have a lead I need to follow. I'm going to have to go away for a few days--" "No," he rasped, shaking his head violently. Her heart broke. "Mulder, listen to me." She rose and went around the table. "I'm going to take your straitjacket off now, but you have to promise me that you won't do anything they'll consider threatening, okay?" He looked at her for a moment, then nodded. "Okay." She stood and turned toward the camera. "Dr. Ryan, I am releasing Agent Mulder from his bindings. Please do not try to interfere unless I ask for your help. Understand?" She waited a moment, letting that idea sink in, then she released Mulder from his bindings. When the straitjacket fell free, Mulder slumped a little, as if the tight restriction had been all that was holding him upright. Scully caught his chin in her hand, lifting his face. She checked his eyes, noting the dilated pupils. "God, they have you so drugged up." "Help me, Scully." His voice was low and plaintive. She closed her eyes a moment, fighting for control. When she opened her eyes, Mulder's eyes were closed, his jaw moving almost imperceptibly against the curve of her palm. "I'm going to help you," she promised, cradling his face with both hands. "But I have to follow this lead to do that." Mulder opened his eyes. His gaze was uncomfortably direct. "You'll come back." "Of course." "Nobody else can help me, Scully." She was terrified that he was right, that she was his only hope. What if she failed? "You don't give yourself enough credit. You never did." He looked down. "I'm going crazy, aren't I?" "I don't think it's so mundane as that, Mulder." She tried to smile a little, keep him calm. She was afraid the doctors would bar her from seeing him if he became agitated again. But her gentle composure didn't seem to be enough. Mulder's body began to shudder--deep, wracking shivers. "She's watching isn't she?" She didn't have to ask who he was talking about. But on instinct, she looked up at the camera, as if she could see Diana Fowley looking back. Mulder tugged at her jacket. He kept his voice low. "Don't trust her, Scully. Don't trust anything she says. She's a liar." She looked back at him. "I know." He nodded slightly, still shaking. She wanted to wrap her arms around him to still the tremors. But she feared the doctor would put an end to this visit if she pushed the boundaries too much. "It's okay, Scully." Mulder curled his palm over her hip, giving a weak squeeze. "I know you would if you could." She looked down at him, a shiver rippling through her own body. He knew her thoughts. It wasn't possible, and yet--- "Don't be afraid," he whispered. "Our secret." She did embrace him then, her arms tightening around his shaking shoulders. He buried his face in her neck and let her hold him, soothe him until the tremors eased. "I will be back soon," she murmured into his ear. "I'll get you out of here." Dr. Ryan came into the room, flanked by orderlies. "Agent Scully, it's time---" Mulder let her go, looking up. "It's okay, Scully." There was a wry glint in his eyes, even as his lower lip trembled. "I'm fine." She almost laughed. Then she almost cried. = end = Anne Haynes My XF Fanfic is stored at http://members.aol.com/ahaynes33/index.htm