From: marcella schultz Date: Sun, 26 Jan 2003 14:17:59 -0800 (PST) Subject: New Story- Rumors Source: direct Title: Rumors Author: Girlie_girl 7 EM: Girlie_girl74@yahoo.com Date: 01-31-03 Category: Scully fic Spoilers: Existence then AU Disclaimer: Fox owns 'em. Archive: Anywhere Summary: Scully has a talk with Karen Kosseff. ~ Rumors ~ There is a soft knock on the door of Dr. Karen Kosseff's office of the FBI Employee Assistance Program. Karen rises from her desk to answer it. "Dana! How nice to see you, won't you come in." Dana Scully walks into the all too familiar office. "Thank you for seeing me Dr. Kosseff." "Please sit down." "Thanks." Karen takes her place behind her desk while Scully sits in front of it. "It's been a while since I've seen you here Dana." "That's right, several years." "So how are you?" Scully laces her fingers together as a small smile crosses her face, "A lot has changed." Karen leans back into her desk chair. "So I've heard. You seem happy." Scully looks up. "I am Karen, if I may call you that." "Of course you can." A moment of silence falls over the room. "Dana is there something you wanted to talk to me about." "Yes. Yes there is." Scully sits back into her chair and relaxes a bit. "I just wanted to thank you." "Thank me, for what?" Karen looks surprised. Scully looks her in the eyes, "For being there when I needed someone, I mean someone besides Mulder." Karen softly smiles, "That's what I'm here for." Scully looks around the room, a bit unsure of herself. "Yes I know, but you see when I joined the bureau I left behind my world or the world I thought of as my world, a place where I had girlfriends and people I could talk to." Scully looks down at her now tightly clenched hands. "I've never been a very open person but I would, on occasion, talk to others." "Where did they go?" Scully tilts her head; "You know different paths chosen, different lives led. Most of my friends settled down, got married, had kids and began their lives." "And you didn't." "No, I chose to work at the bureau, running across the country on cases that no one else wanted with a partner, that no one else wanted," Scully grins. Karen has to smile, "But you did." "Well, not at first. See Karen, the friends I lost were never replaced. I became Fox Mulder's partner, Mrs. Spooky." "Did that hurt?" "Hurt?" Scully is surprised. "I liked being partnered with Mulder. I don't know, I guess it was the rebellious streak in me." "I see." "But I didn't develop friends here either. In truth I think some of the woman were jealous. They chose to believe the rumors that I was sleeping with my partner and he does merit jealousy," Scully smiles. "But you weren't." "Oh no, not at all but it was assumed I was." "So you paid for a sin you never committed." Scully has to blush slightly, "Something like that." "But you could talk to Agent Mulder." "Yes he was, well, still is my best friend but there are times I miss having a girlfriend to talk with." "What kind of things Dana?" Scully looks up at the ceiling and then off to the side. "Umm, like what Mulder has done during the day to drive me crazy or how proud I am of him or even just water cooler gossip, except I was the water cooler gossip." Karen looks down at her desk, "I know Dana." Scully looks surprised by this statement. Karen softly confesses, "I heard the rumors too, it must of hurt." Scully looks at Karen with a glassy-eyed stare as she remembers the things that were often said. "It did, I guess." "Then why did you stay? With your background Dana, you could have worked anywhere you wanted in or out of the bureau." Scully shakes her head, "No, no I couldn't leave Mulder." "But you had responsibilities to yourself." Scully thinks for a moment, "I guess I never really looked at it that way. I just couldn't leave Mulder. Not that he doesn't drive me nuts or make me want to shoot him." Scully laughs, "Again." Karen grins, "I heard about that too. So why did you stay?" "I don't know, at first I felt the need to protect him. I saw something in Mulder that no one else did, then I think at some point protection turned into love and I think he loved me too." Karen looks puzzled, "You never asked?" Scully shrugs her shoulder and blushes, "No, it was just assumed." Karen rolls her chair back slightly and looks directly at Scully, "Dana why are you really here?" Scully shifts in her chair with a flight-or-fight look in her eyes. "I wanted to talk Karen, you've helped me through some very rough times. You were my friend." "And you need a friend now?" "Yes, but not like before. I'm not ill and Mulder is fine in fact that's why I'm here talking to you." "I don't understand Dana?" Scully slides foreword in her chair and rests her elbows on her knees. "You see, I've always came to you when things were bad but now I want to tell you how good things are." Karen smiles, "I must say that's a switch for me, but please continue." Scully is suddenly losing her confidence. "Are you sure, because if you. . . " "No Dana, tell me, not as Doctor Kosseff but as your friend Karen." Scully nervously rubs her hands down her dress pants, "Well Karen, I umm, this is so strange for me." "Take your time. So how is Agent Mulder?" Scully's face lights up, "He's great. Did you know he teaches at the academy." "I had heard that rumor too," Karen smiles. Scully continues with a lilt in her voice, "He's doing so well. During the beltway shooting spree the FBI emptied out the academy and brought all the students in on the case, several of Mulder's students have been offered work in the VCS and in the BSU." "That's wonderful." "Yes it is. I think he is finally getting the recognition and respect he deserves." "Does he miss the X Files?" "Some, but between teaching and William, he manages to stay busy." "How is the baby?" Scully beams at the mention of her son, "He's great, he's perfect." "And Mulder is taken with fatherhood?" Scully forgets her apprehension and chatters away. "It's amazing, he can't wait to get home to play with William. Did I mention Will is walking?" Karen has to smile at the effect talking about the baby has on Scully. "No, is he?" "Yes. Every Saturday Mulder takes William to the café down the street where they share a cinnamon bun while Mulder gets coffee and William has chocolate milk, then they bring me back breakfast. He says it's their time for male bonding." "That's nice that he loves being with his son." Scully's eyes sparkle. "All the energy he once put into his work he now puts into the care and raising of our child. Not that there aren't times when they get on my nerves but I still love where my life has led. "So now you've caught up with your friends?" Scully smiles as the realization dawns on her, "I guess I have." "Have you renewed any of your old acquaintances?" Scully looks surprised, "No should I?" Karen reassures her. "Dana, its up to you but you did say you missed having a girlfriend to talk to." Scully shakes her head slightly, "I know you're right but if I spent time with a girlfriend it would mean taking time away from Will and Mulder." Karen is beginning to get the picture, Scully just needs to tell someone, anyone that she has done okay and is happy. "Rumor has it that you and Agent Mulder were recently married." "We got married right after the beltway killings stopped. Mulder said we had waited long enough but I think the killings, being so random and senseless, had a profound effect on him so he asked me if I wanted to get hitched." Scully laughs, "Not exactly the proposal I had always dreamed of but this is Fox Mulder we're talking about here." "So things are working out fine?" "Oh yes. I love it. The wedding was small but it was so romantic," Scully blushes, "And Mulder looked so sweet standing there in his tux with his hands stuffed into his pockets, shuffling his feet. He was so nervous." Scully continues, "My brothers couldn't make it so A.D. Skinner gave me away. I think he was as nervous as Mulder. My mom had William there, he must have sensed something important was going on, my mom cried and William looked up at her and he cried too. The whole church burst into laughter." Karen laughs then says, "So your mom likes Mulder." Scully grins, "Likes him, at times I think she loves him more than she does my brothers." Scully looks toward the window and softly adds, "When I went missing she and Mulder spent a lot of time together. I think that's how they both survived it. They developed a strong relationship that has only grown." Karen changes the subject, "What does your mother think of the baby?" Scully snaps out of her hazy thoughts and smiles, "She loves him as much as Mulder and I do, she can't wait to see him. I know I should have told her I was pregnant much earlier than I did but I couldn't, not before Mulder knew." Scully drops her head slightly and softly says, "Then when we found him, I, I knew I had to tell her, she would guess soon enough." "How did she take it?" Scully sighs, "She said she had known it for months. It seems I gave off an aura. My mom called it a glow but Mulder said it was an aura," Scully smiles. "The rumors at the bureau must of hurt you." Scully shakes her head and looks down, "Karen, I had too many things on my mind to worry about gossip. I had to find Mulder and then when we did. . .," Scully looks up with tears in her eyes. "I had a child to nurture and protect. My pregnancy was not without problems so the last thing on my mind was gossip." Karen leans over her desk on her elbows, "Dana you knew I was always here for you." "I know but A.D.Skinner became my lifeline," Scully softly says as she wipes away the tears, "And yes I heard those rumors too." "You're a strong person Dana." "I know but I have learned that it's not a failing to need someone." She smiles, "So I guess that's why I'm here." "You need me now?" "I just need to talk." Karen leans back into her chair, "So how are you now Dana?" "Me, I'm fine. I'm happy. I work when they need me, autopsies, that sort of thing." "So who watches the baby?" "Mulder does. We keep our schedules flexible so my mom or one of us is with William, as Mulder always says, 'trust no one'." "Do you ever wish things were different?" "Different how?" "You and Agent Mulder led an exciting life, never knowing where you would be from one moment to the next in a highly charged relationship. Kind of an 'us against the world' relationship." "You will never fully know just how true that statement is," Scully sighs. "Do you miss that?" "No, not at all." Scully hesitates, "Well maybe a little, old habits are hard to break. The past holds many bad memories; my abduction, my cancer, the closing of the X Files, my being separated from Mulder, the list goes on and on. I did enjoy the stakeouts with Mulder and the satisfaction we got when we solved a particularly difficult case, his friendship and companionship, the times he protected me, and the times I saved him. Karen has listens quietly to Scully, "Dana do you notice a pattern here." Scully looks puzzled, "No, I'm sorry, I guess I don't." "All the positive thoughts you have revolve around Agent Mulder." "Yes, I guess they do, "Scully smiles a little confused. "Is that bad?" "No, not at all," Karen lets out a small chuckle. "Tell me as your friend, as Karen, how is your relationship going?" Scully hesitates and wrings her hands. "Dana," Karen drops her head to try to look into Scully's eyes. "It's me your friend." Scully gets up and walks to the window and nervously laughs; "It's been so long since I've had a conversation like this." "Well then would you like to hear about my new snow tires?" Karen jokingly asks. "No, that's okay," Scully laughs. "My relationship with Mulder, umm. . ." She walks to the chair and runs her hands across the back. "It's the same but it's different. He's still intense and driven but it's in a different way. He wants William to learn, to experience, to reach his potential. He's incredible with the baby. He's so warm and giving with his feelings now. I don't know maybe being a father brings that out in him." "Or maybe its you." "Me?" Karen folds her hands on top of her desk. "Dana, you bring something to this relationship too. Have you changed?" "Umm, you could be right. I know I'm not so quick to anger. I'm more at ease and have learned to let my guard down just a little more." "So what's in the future for you two?" "Well Mulder and I are just settling in to what might be called a normal life but we have talked. We would like to find a house nearer the academy, maybe closer to my mom. Mulder loves teaching and as long as he's happy then I'm all for it." "And you?" "Me? I want to keep working at the bureau at least part-time until Will is in school." "Anymore children in your future?" "We've discussed it." Scully blushes, "Mulder wants a whole baseball team but I'd settle for another one; if we can." "You've had some trouble in the past." "I wasn't even supposed to be able to get pregnant. Things were done to me during my abduction." Karen grows quiet, "I remember that Dana." "More rumors?" Scully smiles. "But we have received one miracle maybe we'll get a chance at another." "Karen, my life is good. I have a man in my life who's my friend, my best friend, my confidant, and the father of my child. I love my son with my life. Sometimes I just wonder if it will last." "Dana, you've earned it. This life isn't something that can be taken from you, you can change it but you're in control." "Have you ever tried to control Fox Mulder?" Scully laughs. "No but you seem to be the one person who can." "Another rumor." Scully comments. "No just and observation," Karen says meaning it. Scully leans back into the chair, "I don't want to control Mulder." Karen smiles, "But you do keep him out of mischief." Scully looks down and softly laughs, "Something like that." Karen gets up and moves around to lean against her desk. "Dana." Scully looks up. Karen begins, "It's okay to be happy. It's okay to be in a wonderful relationship with the man you love and it's okay to have fears but don't let the fears prevent you from being happy." Scully gets up from her chair and straightens her jacket. "I'll try and remember that. Thanks for listening, as a friend." She turns to leave but Karen stops her. "You know Dana, you're not the only one who needs a friend. Do you know how uncomfortable people are when they find out I'm a therapist." "I'm sure." Scully smiles, "I got over that when I was partnered with a psychologist. Now Karen is the unsure one. "Dana would you like to go shopping with me on Saturday?" A large smile crosses Scully's face. "I'd like that. See you then." Scully moves toward the door, Karen stops her once more. "Oh and Dana, bring the baby. I would love to see him." Scully looks up at her friend, "Okay, I will." With that Scully closes the door. ~ The End ~