From: ephemeral@ephemeralfic.org
Date: Sun, 28 Jan 2001 10:25:10 -0600
Subject: The Road Less Traveled [1/1] by mercury_999
Source: direct

Reply To: mercury_999@hotmail.com


Title: The Road Less Traveled
Author: mercury_999
Rating: PG
Spoilers: none
Category: Angst/Romance
Keywords: Mulder/Scully
Disclaimer: Characters in this story are not mine . . . well wait,
what am I saying? Some of the characters are indeed my creations,
but Mulder and Scully are not.
Distribution: Please ask first, but I'll always say yes :)
Summary: Do we lead the same life no matter what decisions we
make along the way? What would happen if neither Mulder nor
Scully had become FBI Agents? Would they end up in the place
they are in right now?
Author's Notes: shippers, stick with me. I guarantee you'll like the
outcome of this story!
Feedback: mercury_999@hotmail.com

XxXxX

I'll never forget the moment I first saw Dana Scully. It was one of
those things that you can look back on and replay in slow motion,
with mood setting instrumental music blocking out the sounds in
the background. It was the memory that you know isn't going to
fade, and the event wasn't just a coincidence.

I guess I should start at the beginning. My name is Fox Mulder.
Yes, Fox. Ever since junior high I've forced everyone to call me
Mulder. I grew up with my parents and my sister, then after I
graduated from high school I went to Oxford to study psychology. 

Elizabeth was my best friend. We met at Oxford and returned to
America together. We married within a year, and eventually had a
daughter. Joey will be 12 in April. 

At the time, I thought that we had settled down for the rest of our
lives. A couple years after Joey was born, we decided that we did
love each other, but we weren't in love. She was my best friend, 
still is, but we just weren't meant to be.

Some people believe that your life partner is your best friend. She
was someone I could confide in, someone I could trust, she offered
moral support, and we always had a lot of fun together. We shared
everything, even after our divorce.
So we split up. Elizabeth kept my last name. I moved into the
apartment next door, and we continued to live our lives together
 . . . apart. 

Joey's real name was Josephine, after Elizabeth's grandmother, but
she was known as Joey for as long as anyone could remember. She
grew up very quickly. It's hard to believe that ten years ago, I was
married. 

It was during this time that my father was killed. Then a few years
later, my mother died after a long struggle with cancer. These
events brought Samantha to move back to DC. We became close
for the first time in our lives; the last time we lived in the same
vicinity were the days of teasing and sibling rivalry. Although such
tragic events had brushed the Mulder family, I never imagined it
could get worse. 

I often wonder if the lives we lead are influenced by our fates. Do
our entire lives change with one decision, or do we eventually end
up in the same place? 

I can still hear the stroke of midnight as it echoed through my
apartment. . .

XxXxX

Three Months Earlier

"Mulder?" Elizabeth asked, turning on my bedroom light. 

"What? What is it?" I asked, blinking rapidly and struggling to sit
up. "Are you okay? What time-" The toll of midnight came from the
hall way. Elizabeth stood in the doorway of my bedroom, her long
brown hair hanging limply on her shoulders. Her head was bowed
slightly, just enough to advert her eyes from my gaze. Her right
hand was resting on the light switch, and her left hand was pressing
against her abdomen. Her cheeks were pale and her body was
shaking.

"What happened?" I asked, swinging myself out of bed and rushing
over to her. My heart in my throat, I slid one arm around her waist
and guided her over to my bed.

"I don't know," she whispered. "I'm going to go to the hospital, can
you watch Joey?"
"I'm going with you," I said, "Where's your jacket?"

"Next door. Who's going to stay with her?" 

"I'll call Samantha. You just rest." Elizabeth nodded.

I took my key, and went next door. After I pulled her jacket out of
the closet, I glanced into Joey's room. She was sleeping soundly. On
my way out, I picked up Elizabeth's shoes and returned to my
apartment. I grabbed the cordless phone and called Samantha.

Her muffled greeting answered after the fourth ring.

"Samantha? I need you to come over and watch Joey while I take
Elizabeth to the hospital," I said, helping Elizabeth into her 
jacket. I could hear Samantha's husband talking in the background.

"Fox? What happened?" Samantha asked.

"We're not sure," I said.

"I'll be right there," she replied, hanging up the phone.

"She's coming," I said, helping Elizabeth stand up. 

"I'm relieved," she said, then cried in pain when she tried to take a
step. She sank against me, and asked "What's wrong with me?"

"We're going to find out, sweetheart," I said, picking her up and
carrying her out of my apartment. I locked the door, and took the
elevator down to the lobby. We met Samantha as she entered the
building. "Thank you so much," I called, tossing her a key to
Elizabeth's apartment, then continuing out the door.

I carefully set her down in the passenger seat of my car. Tears
glistened in her eyes. "Hurry, Fox," she whispered urgently. I
buckled her seat belt, and ran around the car. After a few seconds
we were driving toward the hospital.

When I reached the hospital, Elizabeth eye's were shut and her head
was tilted back on the head rest. My right hand was holding hers. I
pulled up to the entrance, and parked my car. A technician came
outside to greet us, pushing a gurney. I carefully lifted Elizabeth
from the seat of the car and put her on the mattress. 

"Sir, you'll have to move your car," the technician said, and I 
looked down at the large 'no parking' letters painted on the 
ground. "She'll be in good hands," he comforted, wheeling
Elizabeth into the hospital and leaving me outside in the crisp
 air. 

I moved the car into a parking space, telling myself that she'd be
okay. It wasn't until I was jogging across the parking lot that a
feeling of dread came over me.

Inside, people were standing and sitting in the waiting room. The
main desk was straight ahead of me, and the door to the Emergency
Room was to my left. The waiting room, a hallway and a set of
elevators was on my right. Doctors came in and out of the
Emergency Room studying charts or talking to colleagues. Nurses
wandered about, calling patients names and leading them through
doors. 

My feet were frozen to the doorway; I was unable to face what I
might see. I looked to the left, then I looked to the right. My
pounding heart slowed it's rhythm, as I saw a doctor walk toward
me. She was petite, with red hair cut at her chin. She was frowning
at a chart, walking with a brisk stride. She looked up and our eyes
met.

She continued walking by, turning her head to look over her
shoulder. I stared after her, as she walked into another doctor. Her
cheeks flushed as he handed her the chart she had dropped, and
with one last quick glance at me, she disappeared through the door
to the Emergency Room.

I stood awkwardly in the doorway, before I realized one of the
receptionists was talking to me.

"Sir? Are you alright?" She asked.

I jumped. "I'm looking for Elizabeth Mulder," I said. 

"I'm sorry, you'll have to wait. The doctor will come out as soon as
possible." I walked into the waiting room and sat down. Each
minute seemed years longer the previous. After an eternity of
staring blankly at the door to the Emergency Room, I got up and
started pacing around the room. The waiting room was slowly
becoming less and less crowded. I glanced at my watch. It was 1:27.
I sat down and stared at the doorway again. 

All I could hear was the low hum of the soda machine to my left.
The receptionists were talking quietly at their desk, and the flow of
people had stopped almost all together. A nurse came out of the
door and headed for the waiting room. There was only two other
couples and myself waiting. She walked over to me.

"Mr. Mulder?" She asked.

"Yes," I said, jumping up. "Can I see her?"

"She's asking for you. Follow me," the nurse replied, leading me
through the Emergency Room doors. I followed her down a long
corridor with rooms on each side. The main desk for the Emergency
Room was located in the middle of four connecting hallways. We
turned right and walked to a closed door.

The nurse opened the door and I entered. Elizabeth was laying in
the bed, her eyes closed. The blankets were at her chest, and her
fists clenching and unclenching. An IV ran from the suspended bag
to the back of her right hand. She looked up when she heard the
door open. The nurse closed the door behind me. 

"Elizabeth!" I exclaimed, rushing over to her. She smiled slightly.
"How are you doing?"

"They don't know what it is," she said softly. I sat down beside her
and took her hands.

"It's okay," I whispered. "We'll get through this. How bad can it
be?" She shrugged and looked away from me. I leaned over and
kissed her forehead.

"I'd like you to hold me," she murmured. I nodded and slowly slid
an arm behind her back. She eased her body forward into my arms,
then rested her forehead against my shoulder. I slowly massaged her
back, and she draped her arms around my neck. "Oh, Mulder..." she
cried.
"Sweetie, it's going to be okay," I whispered, leaning down to kiss
her temple.

"I love you," she said, hugging me tightly.

"I love you, too," I replied. She tried to pull away from my embrace,
but gasped in pain. "What? Elizabeth are you okay?" I asked
frantically. She nodded, blinking back tears. I laid her back down
onto the bed. "Are you sure?" She shook her head, allowing her
tears of pain to stream down her cheeks. I pushed the call button
several times. 

A nurse opened the door. "Is everything-" she was interrupted by the
sound long beep as Elizabeth's heart flat lined. "Doctor!" I touched
Elizabeth's face with my hands.

"Elizabeth!" I cried, my voice cracking. "Oh God!" Three
technicians entered the room, following two doctors. I vaguely
recognized one of the doctor's as the mysterious red-head. Her face
was strained as her male counterpart ordered a technician to get me
out of there. "Elizabeth!" I cried again, as a man pulled me away by
my arm. "I love you."

The next thing I knew I was outside the room, all by myself. I could
hear murmuring beyond the door. I backed against the wall, and
allowed myself to crumple to the floor. I realized then that a
moment like this is the real eternity. Forever is but a moment when
we are suspended awkwardly in air. We don't know if our world is
going to soar, or going to come crashing down on us. So I waited.
The minutes were painfully slow. I couldn't make myself listen to
the chatter inside the room, so I sat there, numbly staring ahead.

The door opened. I leapt up and was face to face with the petite 
red-head doctor. I read the name tag pinned to the front of her
jacket, 'Dana Scully, MD.' She took a deep breath, and my heart
dropped to my stomach.

"I'm sorry, " she whispered. "I'm afraid Elizabeth is no longer with
us." The words I'd been dreading slapped me with reality. We had
vowed to spend the rest of our lives together; even our divorce had
kept that promise. Now all I could hear were her earth-shattering
words echoing in my mind. Something broke inside me, and I
slumped forward into her arms and started to cry.

I caught her by surprise, but she stood there for only a moment
before she wrapped her arms around my back to try and ease the
pain. "I'm so sorry," she whispered. She didn't say anything more
after that. Her fingers continued tracing abstract patterns on my
back. She held me for countless minutes, and just as I was ready to
pull away, she brushed her lips softly over my temple. 

When I finally lifted my tear-stained face from her shoulder and
pulled away, I could see a glassy look in her eyes.

"Are you going to be okay?" She asked.

"I think so," I whispered. "Thank you." I walked past her and
continued down the corridor. I passed the Emergency Room main
desk, and went back into the lobby of the hospital. The lights were
dimmed in the vacant waiting area. There was no one at the main
desk, so I walked into the waiting room, sat down and held my head
in my hands. Thoughts about Elizabeth raced through my mind.
Eventually, those thoughts changed to Joey, and finally Dana. 

"Mr. Mulder?" a voice cut through my mind. I raised my head and
saw Dana standing in front of me. She was no longer wearing her
white coat. "Do you want me to call someone for you?"

"No," I whispered. She sat down on the chair beside me, then she
placed her hand on top of mine.

"If you want to talk about it, we can," she said. I paused for a long
time. 

"I think I would like that. Do you think we can get out of here and
grab some coffee when your shift is over?"

She nodded, then said, "My shift was over three hours ago." Out of
the corner of my eye I glanced at my watch. It was now 3:17. I
didn't question her motives, instead I stood up and she followed
suit. As we walked side-by-side across the waiting room, our hands
brushed slightly. I reached over and took it in mine, feeling slight
closure from within.

XxXxX

Present

Right now, as I remember this untimely sequence of events, the
glow of my fish tank has turned my living room a light blue, the
door is open a crack to Joey's bedroom, and Dana's head is resting
calmly on my shoulder. I feel a presence settling peacefully in the
room, and my gut instinct tells me that we're being watched from
above. I stare at the fish for another moment, then I pick up Dana
and carry her to our bedroom.

XxXxX

FINIS

mercury_999@hotmail.com

XxXxX