From: "David Hearne" Date: Mon, 22 Jan 2001 10:54:50 -0500 Subject: xfc: That's Just Life (1 of 1) Source: xfc TITLE: THAT'S JUST LIFE (1 of 1) AUTHOR: DAVID HEARNE CLASSIFICATION: Post-ep for "Badlaa" RATING: PG SPOILERS: Badlaa, One Breath, Patience, Roadrunners, Invocation Send feedback to ottercrk@sover.net Website is located at http://members.dencity.com/hearne AUTHOR'S NOTE: Hey, we had actual interaction this week! And in a John Shiban script! Granted that a dwarf on wheels is no more scary than pussycats lurking in a sewer, but still... The Drill Sergeant will leave you alone this week, Mr. Shiban. He scoffs at your killer midget, but he grudgingly commends you for allowing Gillian Anderson to act. By the way, CindyET and I have just completed a joint interview with each other. If you have interest in what we have to say, check out http://www.geocities.com/intheirownwords. XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX He saw John Doggett sitting at the bar and walked up to him. "Agent," he said. Doggett turned to see Walter Skinner standing next to him. "Evening," he replied. "Planning to drink alone or can I sit with you?" Doggett indicated the empty stool next to him. After he sat down and ordered a drink, Skinner said, "How's everything on your end?" "Didn't you read my report?" "I'm more interested in the things not in the report." "In that case...maybe you should be talking with Agent Scully." "I'm talking with you." The bartender set a glass of beer in front of Skinner. He didn't touch it. He watched as Doggett sipped at his whiskey. "Well?" Skinner said. "She's having trouble." "From what I understand, she saved a young boy's life. How is that trouble?" "She had to shoot another young boy to do it. Or what looked like a young boy." "But it wasn't." "That didn't make it any easier to do." Doggett had another taste of whiskey. "What worries her is that the next time she might not make the right choice." Skinner picked up his glass, but didn't drink from it. "I imagine it is difficult for her -- approaching an X-File with Mulder's technique, that is. She doesn't have his instincts." "From what I gather, no one has Mulder's instincts." Skinner smiled. "True." "I sure don't. If Scully feels lost, imagine how I feel." Skinner put down his glass. "I don't have that much imagination. So tell me." Doggett spread out his hands in a helpless gesture. "Manbats, cults which worship a parasite, little boys who come back from the grave to avenge themselves...how am I supposed to deal with any of this shit?" "Are you saying you want to leave the X-Files?" Doggett looked straight at Skinner. "I don't walk away from things just because they're tough. I just want a little guidance. I want to know how I'm going to deal with the moment when I can't trust my eyes." Skinner turned away from Doggett. He leaned his arm on the bar and stayed quiet for several moments. When he spoke, he said, "I was in 'Nam." "So I heard." "When I was there, I shot a young boy. And he was nothing but a young boy." Skinner looked at Doggett and saw the wariness in the other man's eyes. "It wasn't My Lai, Agent," Skinner assured him. "The boy was covered with grenades. I had to choose between him and the lives of myself and my friends." He paused, then added, "Of course, that didn't make it any easier. What I'm trying to say is -- it's not just the X-Files where you encounter situations that test your judgment. Such things can happen any second of any day. That's just life." "In other words...suck it up and deal with it." "That's what I'm saying. But I will also say that I have faith in Agent Scully to make the right decision. And I'm learning to have faith in you, Doggett." Skinner stepped away from his stool. He laid three dollar bills on the bar. "Don't drink too much," he told Doggett. "You've got work tomorrow." Skinner turned and walked away. His glass of beer remained full on the bar. XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX