Date sent:        Tue, 12 May 1998 12:48:44 -0600
From:             SARAH PADILLA <SPADILLA@weber.edu>
Subject:           Ouroboros

Title: Ouroboros    
Author: Sarah Rose Padilla
(specialagent_dana_scully@yahoo.com)
Description: Story/Humor..Mulder and Scully are on a stakeout
that is not getting anywhere.  Out of boredom Scully strikes up
a conversation that leads to new discoveries between the two
agents.
Rating: PG
Spoilers: Leonard Betts, Never Again, Small Potatoes.
Keywords: Mulder/Scully Friendship, post cancer.
Dedication: This story is dedicated to Shera for the patience
she had when I forced her to read all my rough drafts.
Disclaimer: The characters in this story were not created by
me, and in no way, shape or form am I making any money off
of this story.  Archive all ya want, just keep my name and
email intact. Constructive criticism and feedback appreciated.

Ouroboros
By: Sarah Rose Padilla

     Mulder was bored, she could tell by the way he sighed.  The
way that he incessesantly drummed his fingers on the steering
wheel, and the non-stop chewing of sunflower seeds. ``Penny
for you thoughts, Mulder.``, At the ending of the silence
Mulder looked up at his partner.
     ``Scully, you can have them for free.`` A shy smile crept
over her face as he watched her turn her attention back to the
house.  
     ``This doesn't appear to be accomplishing anything,
Mulder.  He's obviously not going anywhere tonight.``
     ``Well Scully...why don't we make the most of this time and
talk, or...you know I brought  Travel Battleship', if you're up
for a no hold barred  you sunk my destroyer' type of game.``
Two images sprung to her mind at his words....Ed Jerse, and
Eddie Van Blundht.  Talking with  Mulder' and his lecture
after she asked why she didn't have a desk. *You know we
could ask them to bring down another desk.  We wouldn't have
any room to move around, but if we face them together we
could play Battleship.*
     ``Ok, let's talk.``, she turned her body towards him, hitching
her right leg underneath her small frame. ``What did you want
to talk about?``.
     ``I don't know.  Anything.  Everything.`` he flashed a brief
weak smile towards her.  ``When you started working with me
did you expect for things to happen the way they have?``
     She was slightly shocked at the question. * He still blames
himself.*
     ``No...in fact my expectations and theories were way off. 
You've actually shown me more then I ever thought I could
see.``
     ``I didn't mean that.  Your cancer, abduction.  Scully, I
never wanted or expected any of that to happen to you.  If I had
known what they would do to you I never would have let you
stay.``
     ``I'm glad you didn't know.  I never would have had this
strong of a friendship with anyone else.`` She stretched her
hand out to take his fingers into her small fist.  Gently
squeezing his hand she asked, ``Do you remember our first
stakeout?``
     ``Of course, who would have thought of a liver eating
mutant?``
     ``Yeah..right.  You thirsty, Mulder.``
     He glanced at her, he immediately knew what to say ``You
got iced tea?  If you do...it really could be love."
     ``No...no iced tea, but I think I bought a couple of root beers
before you picked me up.``
     ``Damn.`` He reached towards the back seat to discover a
Snapple Iced Tea, and an A&W root beer. ``Oh, Scully, I'm
touched...you know you really should marry me.`` Grabbing
the drinks he sat back to face her, popping the cap on the root
beer and opening his ice tea, he toasted, ``To liver eating
mutants, Scully.`` She smiled and clinked her can against the
glass bottle.  Sipping her drink she stole a glance at his profile. 
*Oh Mulder...will you ever be happy?* she asked herself.
     Looking away, she started thinking of Mulder's Battleship
comment.  Her mind slowly drifted to Ed Jerse.  She had been
attracted to him, he had some of the same qualities of.....of
Mulder.   Quiet, brooding, strong.  She had been so lonely at
that time.   And the tattoo, that was just a method of controlling
something in her life.
     ``Ok, my turn, a penny for your thoughts, Scully.``
     ``I was just thinking of our little desk predicament.``
     ``Oh, my Battleship remark...right?``
     ``Yeah.``
     ``Scully, did you know then that you were sick?``
     She couldn't look at him.  ``I thought as much, but it had
never been confirmed until after?``
     ``How did you know?``
     Not looking towards him, she shuddered.  Mulder took her
hand and just held it, showing his support. ``When Leonard
Betts attacked me, he said that I have something he needed.``
Mulder just looked at her.  Lifting his hand to turn her face, he
gently touched the spot where the tumor had grown.  Running
his finger over her eyebrow, in a silent, guilty apology.
      Scully looked into his soul at that moment.  Accepting his
unneeded apology whole-heartedly.  ``It was never your fault
Mulder.  I don't want you to blame yourself anymore.``
     ``Doctors orders?``
     ``Yes.``
     He smiled and touched her hand. ``Thank you``
     ``So you really want a desk?``
     ``Nah, I can always use yours.``
     That brought the smile she loved to see back to his face. 
Turning serious once again, he asked her something he always
wanted to, ``Scully, can I see your tattoo?``
     She looked at him, stunned and relieved at the same time.
``I thought you'd never ask.`` She turned away from him,
lifting her jacket from her back, and pulling the hem of her
shirt from her waist.  ``It's...it's right here.`` She looked into
the window and saw his smile in the reflection.
     ``How fitting`` he said ``Do you know what it is?``
     ``No.  I don't know what it's called but I do know that its a
symbol for the continuity of life, the unending infinite cycle of
the universe.``
     ``It's found in a lot of different cultures, Aztec, Egyptians,
Mayans.  It's called an Ouroboros.``
     ``Ouroboros?``
     ``Unn-huh.  I guess it fit your mind-set at the time you got it
huh?``
     ``I'd say so``
     She felt Mulder hold the back of her shirt against her back. 
She felt his warm touch against the tattoo.  ``It's perfect Scully. 
Beautiful.``   The moment was perfect.  She finally felt a sense
of closure with Mulder and the whole Edward Jerse problem.
     ``Well Mulder, I'd love to sit and talk some more, but I
believe our suspect is leaving.``
      Mulder glanced up from Scully's tattoo, and saw the
suspect leaving the house. ``You ready to go, Scully?``
     ``Let's go get him.``

***THE END***