From: Muzinke@aol.com Date: Fri, 28 Jul 2000 10:22:35 EDT Subject: xfc: Threnody 9: Over Coffee and Croissants (1/1) Source: xfc TITLE: Over Coffee and Croissants AUTHOR: Tarin Z. Kesumin E-MAIL: Muzinke@aol.com CATEGORY: WIP, post-ep for 'Requiem'. KEYWORDS: implied MSR, A, X-File. SUMMARY: Scully and Skinner bring one another up to date, much to their dismay. SPOILERS: Big ones for =E2=80=98Requiem=E2=80=99. Smaller ones for =E2=80 =98FTF=E2=80=99, =E2=80=98The Beginning=E2=80=99, and season 2 episodes =E2=80=98Sleepless =E2=80=99 through =E2=80=98Ascension=E2=80=99 (also known as the Krycek episodes). ARCHIVE: Gossamer, Xemplary, Spookys are fine. Everyone else, please ask first. I haven't said no yet. DISCLAIMER: Not mine. Not a one of 'em, sorry to say. I'm only borrowing them from CC and Fox to help fill these lazy, hazy days of summer. AUTHOR'S NOTES: This is the eighth story in an ongoing series, and while you can get the gist of this one without reading the others, there are a few references to previous installments. To catch up, go to my website: http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Orion/5345/TheHole.html or go directly to the story website: http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Orion/5345/threnody.html While the street itself does exist in Georgetown, Scully=E2=80=99s street address as used in this story is of my own creation. I thought it was high time she knew just where it was she was going home to each night . The same goes for the caf=C3=A9; does exist, but the specifics of the decor are of my own making. Threnody, means literally 'mournful chant' or 'lament', and is also a synonym for requiem. Thanks go, as always, to Suzanne, for the beta and the praise. * * * 1419 Dumbarton St. NW Apt. 35, Georgetown May 30, 2000 7:14 am She had been home no more than five minutes, when the sound of insistent pounding against her door penetrated the dense fog, brought on by exhaustion and shock, that was slowly suffocating her. It took only a moment to wage the internal debate; grudgingly, Scully turned away from the beckoning comfort of her bed to greet her visitor. She was not surprised to see Walter Skinner, his imposing form fattened and distorted through the peephole, on the other side of the heavy oak door. =E2=80=9CAgent Scully,=E2=80=9D he said by way of greeting, as he took in t he heavy smudges of gray beneath her eyes, the rumpled, slept-in look of her clothing. His lips turned in disapproval, but he chose to say nothing. =E2=80=9CSir, please, come in.=E2=80=9D Hesitating, he quirked an eyebrow before replying, =E2=80=9CActually, I was hoping I could interest you in some breakfast before heading in to work. It appears I may have arrived a bit early, though=E2=80=9D he noted, gesturing to her appearance. Scully felt the heat rise to her cheeks. No more than four days ago, he had lectured her about taking care of herself; she could only imagine how disheveled she must look, wearing yesterday=E2=80=99s suit, yesterday=E2=80=99s make-up long since worn away. She had yet to take a good look in the mirror, so she could only guess how heavy the dark bags around her eyes must be. Raising a hand to her head self- consciously, she realized that her hair was as out of sorts as the rest of her. she thought dismally. =E2=80=9CTruth be told, sir, I had hoped to shower and stop by the Gunmen=E2=80=99s before heading to the office. They left a message telling me they might have some new information.=E2=80=9D =E2=80=9CThen I=E2=80=99m sure you also received the four messages I left last night on your answering machine?=E2=80=9D Scully remained silent, forcing her superior to continue. =E2=80=9CI believe you owe me an explanation, Agent Scully. Perhaps over breakfast,=E2=80=9D he stated in a stilted, gracious tone which brooked no argument. Keeping her silence, Scully merely nodded, reached to collect her coat and purse from the chair where they had been carelessly tossed only a quarter-hour ago, and pushed past him into the hallway. =E2=80=9CPastry all right with you, sir?=E2=80 =9D Frustration getting the better of her, Scully started off without waiting to see the quick nod of acceptance he offered, yanking at the hem of her suit jacket and smoothing her palm against the stubborn hair at the crown of her head. Closing his eyes in tired exasperation, Skinner hastened to follow her. Once both had reached the cobbled sidewalk outside her building, Scully indicated their direction with a careless toss of her arm. Skinner, silent for many minutes, finally began to speak as they made their way down the quiet street. As she listened, Scully was surprised to find the first words from his mouth formed a soft question, rather than the harsh reprimand she had been anticipating. =E2=80=9CScully, what was so important as to keep you out all night?=E2=80=9D Her edgy defensiveness melted at his gentling tone, as she took a minute to sift through the knots of memory for the logical starting point. Taking a fortifying breath, she instead decided to begin where the night had concluded. =E2=80=9CThe smoking man, CGB Spender died early this morning, at 4:26 am from long-standing surgical complications and internal bleeding.=E2=80=9D A pregnant pause bloomed between them, and Skinner, looking sideways, scrutinized her a moment before replying. =E2=80=9CAnd how, exactly, did you come by this information? Is it reliable?=E2=80=9D =E2=80=9CThat depends on how reliable you find my medical expertise to be, sir.=E2=80=9D She pretended not to notice the slight falter in his gait as they turned the corner. =E2=80=9CYou were there.=E2=80=9D It was more difficult to ignore the underbelly of accusation in his voice. =E2=80=9CHis nurse found me last night at Mulder=E2=80=99s apartment, saying her patient had information that might help us to find Mulder. I couldn=E2=80=99t say no,=E2=80=9D she said softly , apology heavy against her tongue. =E2=80=9CScully,=E2=80=9D he said taking hold of her upper arm, pulling her to a stop and turning her to face him. =E2=80=9CI understand why you had to go last night. Just don=E2=80=99t take too many unnecessary chances while you=E2=80=99re busy leaving no stone unturned, okay?=E2=80=9D She graced him with a small smile, and though he was loathe to admit it, he felt a responding warm swell in his chest. He tamped it down quickly; Mulder didn=E2=80=99t need or deserve this kind of interference. =E2=80=9CNow, why don=E2=80=99t you tell me exactly what he told you last night.=E2=80=9D * * * With its sponge-speckled yellow walls, unobstructed windows, wrought-iron chairs and glass-top tables, the Patisserie Caf=C3=A9 Didier seemed to be the antithesis of the traditional coffee bar. Light, Baroque composition was the musical standard here, and a bank of shelves along the counter offered an array of updated magazines and newspapers, crossword puzzle books and board games. Perhaps it was the caf=C3=A9=E2=80=99s unconventionality that endeared it to Scully; or maybe it was simply the decadent chocolate croissants and silky Colombian roast coffee she habitually enjoyed while paging through the latest copy of =E2=80=98Vogue=E2=80=99. Whatever the reason, she had guided both herself and Skinner there, carried by the current of her recounting. By the time they both had placed orders from a small window- flanked table, she had brought her explanation to a close, and was waiting anxiously for his reaction. The intermittent plonking of juice glasses and coffee mugs, coupled with the constant hum of disembodied voices was a welcome distraction in the wake of their isolated silence. Finally, =E2=80=9CIt sounds like your earlier suspicions about Krycek were correct.=E2=80=9D Scully nodded mid-sip. =E2=80=9CSo, the question then becomes, how do we find him?=E2=80=9D =E2=80=9CBefore we begin to address that issue, I think I should fill you in on what I=E2=80=99ve been doing, now that I have the chance to speak with you, rather than you answering machine.=E2=80=9D Skinner was relieved to find that his companion took the gentle reprimand in the spirit it had been intended. =E2=80=9CI=E2=80=99m not sure if you know, but I met with the OPR panel yesterday afternoon, concerning my experiences in Oregon, and the continuation of the investigation into Mulder=E2=80=99s disappearance.=E2=80=9D =E2=80=9CHmm.=E2=80=9D She acknowledged through a mouthful of chocolate croissant. Given her amazing appetite=E2=80"Scully had ordered two of the calorie-heavy pastries=E2=80"Skinner concluded that Scully must be one of the few lucky women who did not have the dubious pleasure of experiencing morning sickness. He couldn=E2=80=99t help being relieved at the knowledge; it gave him one less thing to worry about, as far as her health was concerned. He=E2=80=99d be dammed if he would fail her, too. And maybe by watching over her in his absence, he=E2=80=99d be able to begin making things up to Mulder. =E2=80=9CNeedless to say, the panel was not impressed with my testimony.=E2=80=9D =E2=80=9CI wish I could say that I=E2=80=99m surprised, sir. But you know a s well as I do that the OPR has very little tolerance for the X-Files.=E2=80=9D He had been expelled from, and remembered all too well, the panel of which she spoke. AD Cassidy had sneered at Scully=E2=80=99s experiences in Antarctica and Texas, and the conclusions she had drawn from them. Later, the same panel had stripped both her and Mulder of the X-Files, placing them in the hands of agents whose interests were murky as the cigarette smoke they habitually smelled of. Her distrust was not only natural, but completely and utterly justified, as far as he was concerned. And once he told her about the panels latest judgment from on high, he doubted her feelings for them would much improve. =E2=80=9CTolerance develops due to continued exposure over time, Scully. Between the two of you, I think the panel has gotten their fair share of exposure to the X-Files.=E2=80=9D =E2=80=9CWhat did they say?=E2=80=9D she said, eyeing him with a mixture of suspicion and hope. =E2=80=9CThat the X-Files will remain open, despite the disappearance of one-half of the unit=E2=80=99s assigned agents.=E2=80=9D She quirked an eyebrow at his sarcasm. He continued, oblivious, his voice slowly taking on the drone of disgruntled recitation. =E2=80=9CThe investigation into the disappearance of Agent Mulder will be headed by the X- Files unit, and the acting senior agent, Dana Scully. However, the status of the unit, and the investigation, will be contingent on the temporary and immediate reassignment of an agent from Violent Crimes to the X- Files. The agent will remain with the unit until such a time that the investigation into Agent Mulder=E2=80=99s disappearance has been concluded, and the unit=E2=80=99s status can be reviewed.=E2=80=9D Scully had to set down her coffee; her hands were shaking too much to keep the hot liquid from spilling over the rim. =E2=80=9CNo,=E2=80=9D she replied, her voice low and resolute. =E2=80=9CIt=E2=80=99s either that, or they close the unit, reassign you, mo st likely to Quantico, and hand over the investigation to Violent Crimes, labeled as a kidnapping. Believe me, Scully, I don=E2=80=99t like this any more than you do. I spent almost an hour arguing against it=E2=80"=E2=80=9C =E2=80=9CYou should have spent two hours, three hours, however long it would have taken to change their minds, because I refuse to trust this investigation with another agent.=E2=80=9D She rose from her chair, four cast-iron feet dragging across the hardwood with a high-pitched groan, and reached into her purse to find her wallet. He had expected her anger, and had known with a sinking certainty that, for Scully, it would boil down to this one thing=E2=80"trust. And he wished there was something he could do or say to make her trust him, not as much as she trusted Mulder=E2=80"he knew better than to hope for that=E2=80"but just enough to allay the fear so artfully masked behind the anger she now wore. =E2=80=9CAgent Scully,=E2=80=9D he said, his voice carrying the weight and strength of command he hoped necessary to reach through the haze of fury surrounding her. Scully stalled her frantic movements only when her took hold of her wrist as she lay several small bills on the table. =E2=80=9CAgent Scully,=E2=80=9D he said again, his tone losing none of its previous authority, =E2=80=9Cthe only assurance I can give you is that I will not allow this agent, whomever he may be, to become a replacement for Mulder. Nor will I approve the assignment of another agent like Alex Krycek.=E2=80=9D She was motionless for several seconds, before shaking her wrist free of his grip. He looked up to find that the inflexible anger had washed from her face, to be replaced by a pliable sorrow that produced an ache in his chest. =E2=80=9CI know that, sir,=E2=80=9D she said in no more than a whisper. =E2=80=9CBut don=E2=80=99t expect knowing that to make this any easier on me. Or whomever you partner me with.=E2=80=9D She turned and left the cafe, leaving Skinner alone, his back warming in the early morning sunlight. * * * End. * * *