From: ephemeral@ephemeralfic.org Date: Sat, 18 Mar 2000 15:14:46 -0600 Subject: Scientific Proof (1/1) by Kelso Source: direct Reply To: kelso28@excite.com TITLE: Scientific Proof (1/1) AUTHOR: Kelso ARCHIVE: anywhere SPOILERS: post-ep for Triangle CLASSIFICATION: MSR RATING: G FEEDBACK: send to kelso28@excite.com DISCLAIMER: X-Files/characters are owned by Chris Carter, Ten Thirteen, Fox. Used without permission, no infringement intended. SUMMARY: Scully wants proof. Scully wanted scientific proof. Mulder could handle that. He thought. For the next six days, in every spare moment, he racked his brain for help. And came up with nothing. *********** It had all begun the previous week, following his disastrous trip to the Bermuda Triangle. Mulder had awakened in the hospital, pumped up on pain medicine, seen Scully's face, and told her loved her. She'd promptly walked out of the room. Undaunted, the next day, he'd told her again. This time, she'd felt his forehead and asked to speak to his doctor. Given a clean bill of health, he'd been released from the hospital. And he'd told her yet again, as she was driving him home. She'd been so annoyed, she'd pulled over to the side of the road to order him, in no uncertain terms, to stop spouting such nonsense. "What makes you think it's nonsense, Scully?" he'd asked quietly, a little hurt by her curt tone. "Because." She'd hesitated. "Because it is. You got hit on the head and loaded up with drugs, and you woke up saying you loved me and you were just on a ship with a bunch of Nazis and a British version of me. What do you expect me to think?" "That it's true," he'd tried. "Oh, give it a break, Mulder." Well, he'd decided, if she'd given in this easily, he probably would have been disappointed. "What'll it take to convince you?" She'd heaved an exasperated sigh and wrinkled her forehead in concentration. Then, her eyes had lit up. "Scientific proof." "Scientific proof?" he'd repeated carefully. "Scientific proof. Rooted in fact. Give me that, and I'll believe you." He hadn't been able to provide her with scientific proof of much of anything in all the years they'd worked together. Somehow, it always disappeared or was stolen at exactly the wrong moment. But if Scully wanted scientific proof that he loved her, he would redouble his efforts. Which brought him to the present day. He hadn't thought of anything yet, but wasn't about to stop trying. He had, however, stopped declaring his love to a nonreceptive Scully. He figured he would tell her again as soon as he came up with some proof. However long that took. *********** From across the office, Scully glanced curiously at Mulder. He'd been quiet the last few days. Too quiet. Maybe she'd really upset him with her sharp reactions to his annoying insistence on being in love with her. But she hadn't been able to take it anymore. Not when she knew it wasn't true. He'd been hit on the head and gone through a very involved fantasy whose effects had lingered when he awoke. That was all. Demanding factual proof of this supposed love had obviously had the desired effect. It had been six whole days since he had said the words to her. She had to admit--if only to herself--that it had been nice to hear them. If only he'd meant them. She had no doubt that Mulder did love her, but not in a romantic way, as he had insisted. She'd had to shoot him down, for his sake and her own. Now, he'd apparently returned to reality and was too embarrassed to mention the subject again. But he would get over it and be back to his old self soon. There was no question. *********** Mulder left the office an hour early that afternoon. He allowed Scully to think it was because he was still a bit tired following his latest adventure. But actually, he'd found it too difficult to remain in the confined space with her any longer. Not when he'd finally realized how he truly felt about her. He acknowledged that he probably deserved the torture she was putting him through, if only for taking so long to come to his senses, but that knowledge did not make his situation any easier to bear. And he still hadn't found the proof Scully had demanded. Besides which, he couldn't think of where to look next. Collapsing on his couch, he grabbed the TV remote and flicked on a random station. The Learning Channel. He was about to flip past when a stray phrase caught his ear. He began to smile as he tested his hypothesis. It just might do, after all. *********** The next morning, when Scully entered their office, Mulder was already there. Not hard at work, but just waiting. And, when she walked in, looking at her. She tried to interpret the expression on his face. He looked like he had just peeked at a wrapped birthday gift, and liked what he'd seen. Which meant... what? He'd dug up another case, some excuse to re-enter the field? But somehow, that explanation didn't seem to fit. "Good morning," she greeted him uncertainly. "Occam's Razor," he replied. "What? Occam's Razor?" He nodded. Waited. "I don't..." "Come on, Scully, you know what Occam's Razor is, don't you? It--" She interrupted firmly. "Of course I know, Mulder. It's a principle stating that entities must not be multiplied beyond what is necessary." "And..." he prompted. She searched her memory. "It is also often stated as, the simplest of two or more competing theories is the most likely to be correct. In fact, Occam's Razor was even used to help prove that crop circles were created by humans, not UFOs," she finished triumphantly. He ignored her obvious dig. "So, you accept this principle." She nodded. "Yes. It's logical and helps to clear up misconceptions. But what are you getting at?" "You want me to prove I love you. You accept the scientific principle of Occams's Razor. And Occam's Razor supports my statement." She stared at him. "We're back to that? I'm sorry, Mulder. You've lost me. Again." "Not for long, Scully. Not for long. The way I see it, you think I told you I love you because I'd suffered head trauma and wasn't thinking straight. Yet, all of my extensive medical tests came out fine, and I've been perfectly normal--for me, anyway--in the seven days since my release from the hospital. "Now, *I* know I told you I love you because I mean it. So, which possibility is more likely, Scully? That I'm still suffering aftereffects, even now, or that I mean what I'm saying? Remember, you're operating under Occam's Razor here." He'd made a good effort. But she could still shoot down his 'proof.' "You're overlooking one thing, Mulder." He eyed her warily. "What's that?" "Occam's Razor only says that the simplest theory is most likely to be true--not that it necessarily *is* true." His face fell. "I was hoping you wouldn't bring up that point." He started to turn away, back to his desk. He was quitting so soon? The very fact that he had gone to all of this trouble was enough to convince her he was sincere. And somehow, Scully knew he wouldn't try again. He'd been telling her the truth all along, and she'd rejected him, and this was the end. Unless she refused to allow it to be. "Mulder." At the sound of her voice, he tensed but didn't look up. She went on. "Occam's Razor also says that until more facts present themselves, the simpler explanation is the preferable one. Right?" He did look at her then, to make sure he understood what she was saying. She was smiling. He smiled back. "Yeah, Scully, and all the facts have come out in this case."