From: =?iso-8859-1?q?Elle=20Goldman?= <agent_starbuckuk@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Thu, 29 Mar 2001 13:10:32 +0100 (BST)
Subject: Time to Say Goodbye?
Source: direct

Title: Time to Say Goodbye?
Author: Elle Goldman
E-Mail: agent_starbuckuk@yahoo.co.uk 
Rating: PG
Category: MSR
Keywords: Mulder/Scully Romance, with a little humour (sort of!).
Spoilers: Mainly "Fight the Future" and a little "Drive".
Archivist: Sure if you really want to, but tell me where and keep my
name attached!! 
Summary: After being totally depressed by "Requiem" I
decided to rewind a little to happier times and write a piece of
complete fluff and no substance based around the early part of season
6.  Scully decides Mulder would be happier with the "she devil" as a
partner, but he has other ideas. Maggie to the Rescue!!!
Disclaimer: Guess what, I don't own them! The X-Files, Mulder, Scully
and Maggie are owned by "The Almighty Creator Chris Carter", Fox and
the ingenious Gillian and David.  I'm only borrowing them, you can
have them back and suing me will only get you my laptop, video
collection and custody of my cat (the first two you can have, but the
cat I'll fight for!!). 

Time to say Goodbye?

WASHINGTON DC
MULDER AND SCULLY'S 'OFFICE'
WEDNESDAY 11.21PM
He had loved her from the first moment he saw her.  Everything about
her captivated him. How could it not?  She was beautiful and had an
inner spark that seemed to glow and light up the whole room.  They
connected right from day one and everyone saw it, it was obvious so
why deny it? He knew she loved him, they were meant for each other.
They were never just partners; they were a team, mind and soul. They
even thought the same way; she supported his every word, believed him
implicitly, and trusted him totally. He had always believed they were
one in the same person...until she left. She'd left him and what
scared him the most was that he got over it and in time got over her.
His work had always meant so much more, so what if she had gone? He
still had his fight for the truth, he still needed to find Samantha
and nothing or no one would ever be more important to him, he needed
no one. 

Who was he trying to convince? Himself? As he stood frozen to the spot
watching the petite little red head in front of him pack the last of
her things into a box Mulder was screaming inside. He'd never loved
Diana. How could SHE think that? How could he think that? All those
years working side by side with Scully she'd rarely across his mind.
Sure he'd thought about her, but he had a new life, a new partner and
a new friendship with Scully he had never thought himself capable of
having. Right from the first day he thought she was the most annoying,
cocky and stubborn person he had ever met! That's what he hated, and
loved, most about her. That amazing skill Dana Katharine Scully had
for getting right under his skin! She was definitely under his skin,
everything about her lately was driving him crazy, the way she always
questioned everything he did, never left his stuff alone, always left
the dregs in the bottom of the coffee pot...she had this way of biting
her bottom lip when she was getting nervous or uncomfortable, and that
almost smile she'd get in her eyes that he was sure only he could see.
God, she was annoying!

Scully picked up her box and with out even looking in his direction
headed for the door. He needed to say something, anything, just
something to stop her leaving. He knew what he should say, what he
wanted to say, but he couldn't. This was it, he could say the words
now and stop her from leaving, three little words and she might stay.
Three little words and she might stay long enough to give him a left
hook and tell him where to go...well better than nothing,
"Scully, I..."
He started to say until the words drained from his body. He'd seen the
look on her face. Scully turned and scowled at him. He recognized the
face; it was the same scowl he'd seen a million times. This was
different though, as he looked into her eyes there was no warmth or
love just the cold exterior Scully she allowed everyone else to see,
he'd lost her...

She walked out and closed the door behind her. Mulder fell beck into
his chair, how the hell had he let this happen?

SCULLY'S APARTMENT
TWO DAYS EARLIER
12.30AM
Scully needed coffee, strong black coffee. Right now she would gladly
swap Mulder for a mug of hot, sweet, black coffee. Well maybe not all
of Mulder just a limb or two. God she was tired, but she would not
admit defeat until he did, she would keep working till she dropped if
necessary.  Her eyes wondered across to her partner sitting opposite
her at the breakfast bar. She had to admit he looked great in glasses;
actually he looked great in anything. Her eyes drifted down towards
his arms and she smiled, she wouldn't give those arms for all the
coffee in Columbia. She hated to admit weakness to anyone, especially
Mulder, but she never felt safer than when she was in those arms. Her
smile turned into a grin when she realised that was exactly where she
was when she had a run in with a certain bee a couple of months ago!

Mulder looked up a saw her grinning straight back at him. He was
startled to say the least, he rarely had the luxury of a big smile
like that from his beautiful partner and have no idea what he'd done
to deserve this one. He smiled back, a warm if slightly confused
smile, "Scully, I didn't think you found Kersch's cases so
stimulating. Had I known we could have been working on big piles of
manure years ago!" "I thought we already had",
She rebuked trying to cover her embarrassment at being caught out. 
"Actually I was thinking about bees", she said quietly, but seeing the
change in colour of Mulder's face she immediately wished she hadn't
been so flippant in bringing up the subject of bees. For the last few
months they had both gone out of their way to keep not only bees but
just about every other flying insect out of their conversations, and
this had been the one situation they where both trying to avoid.
"Sorry Mulder I'm tired, do you want some coffee?" she blurted out
getting up and knocking his half-cup of coffee all over the table.
Both friends seemed almost glad of the diversion, they started
cleaning up the mess, but the air had gone so thick that if one of
them didn't speak soon they both felt they would past out.
"So you choose now to bring it up?" Mulder stopped himself quickly; he
couldn't believe how sharp he'd sounded. "Well one of us had to
eventually, and frankly I was starting to believe you never would. I
realise you regret the whole thing, of course you do", why wouldn't
he, Scully thought trying to sound as casual as possible, "but we
can't carry on like this, a fly can't even land on my computer screen
without my face flushing with embarrassment for God's sake!"
Mulder was speechless, well almost, he couldn't believe Scully was
this upset; he didn't want to bring up the subject because he was
afraid to take the next step but she was actually embarrassed about
what had happened. How could she be so cruel! "Well I'm sorry to be
such an embarrassment to you!" Then Mulder said the words he knew he
would regret before he'd even said them, "Relationships and work are
not always so incompatible, I worked alongside Diana for years and she
never found me an embarrassment to be around!" Shit, had he really
said that out loud? Scully felt the tears sting her eyes; she didn't
know what hurt the most, that he'd thought she meant HE was an
embarrassment or that he'd brought Diana into this. Yes she did!
"DIANA! What does she have to do with us?" she screamed, just a little
louder than she'd meant to. He'd really done it now, the point of no
return. "You just got through telling me there was no us!" He said
quickly, but then he got the feeling he just said the wrong thing.
Scully grabbed his laptop off the breakfast bar and threw it as the
floor with such force it smashed into a million little pieces. He'd
definitely said the wrong thing. Mulder was truly speechless this
time; he'd never seen Scully lose it like this.  Scully looked down at
her handy work smashed all over the floor and couldn't believe she'd
been so irrational, why did Mulder have this power to drive her so
crazy? "I think you should go", she murmured as she bent down to pick
up what used to be her partner's computer off the floor. The tears
were flooding down her face by now and she didn't care.
Mulder jaw dropped as he surveyed the damage, he could believe what
he'd done. He wanted to say something but didn't know where to start. 
He simply picked up what little stuff he had left in one piece and
moved towards the door.  As he got outside he reached for his mobile
phone and scrolled down to 'MRS. SCULLY', he did want Scully to be
alone tonight.

Scully sank back onto the floor and cried more than she had aloud
herself to do in years. Why had she been so stupid? She'd ruined
everything.

MULDER'S APARTMENT
THE NEXT MORNING
10.30AM
He hadn't slept at all that night, how could he after what had
happened. He couldn't believe what he'd done, there he was with a
perfect opportunity to tell her how he felt and he'd messed it up,
he'd messed it up big time. He was still unsure of her feelings. He
knew of course that she cared for him, did care for him, but he didn't
know how much and he still felt bitter towards her for calling him an
embarrassment. He'd go to work and talk to her, if there was one thing
he always felt he could do it was talk to Scully. This time would be
different though, this time all the rules had changed. This time he
did know where he stood with her anymore and this scared him.

As he finished getting ready he heard a knock at the door. 'Scully!'
he thought running to answer. As the door open his face dropped,
"Diana, come in" he mumbled as he walked away to finish getting
ready. "Fox, we need to talk", she said and walked towards him
throwing her bag on his couch. He really wasn't in the mood for a
heart to heart with Diana but nodded absentmindedly as he continued to
get ready. "Agent Scully, paid me a little visit this morning", she
said with a little more satisfaction in her voice than he liked, but
she now had his undivided attention. He didn't know why he felt so
angry with Diana, she'd done nothing wrong, but it was her name that
had ruined everything, her name that might have made him lose Scully.
"She came to see you? Why? What did she say? Is she still angry with
me? Why did she come to see you?" He'd already asked that but he
really didn't get it, Scully hated Diana, a point illustrated last
night! So why did she go and visit Diana of all people. 
"Agent Scully came to tell me that she'd handed in her resignation,
she wanted me to know the position as your partner was vacant and felt
that you would want me to hear about it as soon as possible. I didn't
realize you were interested in renewing our partnership Fox, I
presumed you were happy with Agent Scully in spite of her obvious
short comings. I'm glad I was wrong Fox. Maybe with me back on board
we could work on getting you reinstalled on The X-Files." 
Mulder stood speechlessly while Diana spoke, he couldn't take it all
in. When she finished he turn away for a second to collect his
thoughts then said, "I can promise you Diana I have no intention of
getting a new partner. Whether Scully leaves me or not has absolutely
no bearing on our renewing a partnership...of any kind. Whatever you
feel are Scully's 'shortcomings' they are nothing in comparison to my
own. I could never find anyone else how would put up with me, I
wouldn't want to." Diana sat down on the couch and said carefully,
"Fox, I don't want to 'put up with you', I want to be with you, I
always have." "Well I don't want you, I never have, not since I met
Scully. I don't know what you have assumed about my relationship with
Scully, but this obviously isn't as simple as you think it is. How
well do you even know her anyway?" he said sitting down next to
Diana. "Not very well I admit, but she hasn't given me much of a
chance", she whispered, giving Mulder a sly smile and a nudge to try
and lighten the air a little. "Well maybe she's a better judge of
character than I am." he said dryly. That was it; she'd had enough of
playing games, "Fox I realize you care for Agent Scully, you've worked
together for a long time, but you have to admit she never supported
you in your search as I did, that always meant everything to you", she
put her hand on his face as she said,  "What happened to you Fox,
you've changed so much?" "I met her Diana, she changed everything. I'd
give up my search tomorrow if she asked me to." This time it was
Diana's turn to look surprised, "I asked you Fox, I asked you twice to
stop the fight, to come away with me, but you just let me go!"
Mulder smiled at her surprise and said,
"But I never loved you the way I love her Diana." 
At that she knew she'd lost, she picked up her bag and left. Mulder
left soon after her determined to speak to Scully.

WASHINGTON DC
MULDER AND SCULLY'S 'OFFICE'
WEDNESDAY 10.45PM
He'd tried to find Scully all day but just seemed to keep missing her,
she'd gone around to everyone in the building to say goodbye and he
always seemed to come five minutes after she'd left. He went to see
Skinner and following a bit of shouting and a lot of ass kissing and
general grovelling (which he seemed to enjoy to much) he'd agreed to
try his best to get Scully's resignation off Kersch, any way possible,
and keep hold of it for twenty-four hours. Then he tried Scully's
apartment. No answer. He tried her mum but she refused to let him in
and told him she hadn't seen her. He didn't believe that for a
second. Now he sat behind his desk in what the FBI lovingly liked to
call his office and tried to think. As he was just about to go and try
Scully's apartment for about the twentieth time that day the door
opened and she walked in carrying one empty cardboard box. 
"Scully! I've been looking for you, we really need to talk." He jumped
to his feet and round to the front of his desk. "You may want to
Mulder but I don't, I'm really not in the mood for a repeat of last
night and I can't afford to break another laptop." It sounded like
another normal Scully put down but this was different, and he knew
it. He sat down and watched her pack her things, to shocked to move
and to stunned to talk.

Scully had spent the whole afternoon at her mums getting a long
lecture about how much he cared for her. Her mum loved him, she knew
that and she knew he liked her because he let her get away with
calling him Fox. She'd only ever heard three people get away with
that. His mother, her mother and Diana. Well they were all welcome to
him! It took her about half an hour to pack her stuff, a lot longer
than expected because she was finding it hard to concentrate. The
whole time he just sat there staring at her, he didn't even try to
talk, and he just stared. She picked up her box and headed to the
door, she looked at him out of the corner of her eye, but his
expression was blank. As she reached the door she heard him say her
name very quietly. 'What?' she thought, 'Scully, it's been nice
working with you, good look in the future, Diana and I will send you a
postcard from the Bermuda Triangle sometime'. She wasn't in any mood
for this; she didn't want to know how much he cared about her any more
than she wanted to hear how much he loved Diana. She turned and
scowled at him, 'don't do this to me Mulder, not now' she thought as
she turned to open the door, 'I can't take any more', she left hoping
that at least out of all this one of them would be happy.

MULDER'S APARTMENT
THE FOLLOWING DAY
10.30AM
The phone rang just as Mulder got in the door, he'd slept on the couch
at the Lonegunmen's place last night, he hadn't felt like going home
to an empty apartment and he needed someone to talk to.
"Mulder." He said, answering the phone.
"Fox. It's me, I think we need to talk don't you?"
Mulder knew that voice straight away and smiled as he said,
"Mrs. Scully, I don't want you so get involved in this. I think Scully
needs an ally." "You're not her ally Fox?" she said, with a mock
surprised voice. "Of course I am, it's just she doesn't know that
right at this moment that's all. I don't think you should be taking
sides Mrs. Scully." "I have absolutely no intention of taking sides
against my daughter Fox..." "Of course not Mrs. Scully, I hadn't
meant..." he realised how that must have sounded. "But that doesn't
mean I don't think I know what's best for her," she said in a slightly
light hearted fashion, then continued in a more serious tone,
"I know Dana better than anyone Fox, or at least I used to, and
despite coaching to the contrary from my bully of a son I think, I
know, you make my little girl happy. Fox I didn't phone to give you a
lecture, I've already tried that with Dana and it didn't work. I just
phoned to tell you not to give up and that you have my total support.
Dana loves you Fox, I know she does and the from the description she
gave me of your argument the other night I think you feel the same. Go
and talk to her Fox and tell her how you feel. Let's face it, it
couldn't make things any worse than they already are, could it?"
There was a long silence.
"Fox are you still there?"
Another long silence,
"Fox?"
Then,
"You have no idea what this means to me Mrs. Scully, I've got to go,
and I'll call you later, bye!"

On the other end of the line Maggie Scully put the phone down and
smiled, her job was done.

SCULLY'S APARTMENT
TWENTY MINUITES LATER
10.54AM
She had absolutely no idea where she was going but she had to go
somewhere, anywhere away from the chance of bumping into him. She
couldn't bare the thought of bumping into them together. She seen the
look and Diana's eyes when she'd told her, she didn't want to see it
again. She'd go and stay with Charles, he was always asking her to
visit and this was her chance. She refused to be miserable; she wasn't
going to let him make her miserable... "Oh, who I am I kidding!"
Scully said out loud as she dropped on the couch. She was miserable
how could she be anything else? With one stupid slip she'd ruined
everything. Just as she thought life couldn't get much worse the
doorbell rang. "Shit!" Scully hissed as she got up and made her way to
the door, "This is the last thing I need." Things got worse when she
looked through the peephole and saw her EX-partner grinning back at
her. "Life just doesn't get much better than this." Why did she get
the feeling her mum had more than a little to do with this visit.
She'd probably been on the phone all afternoon to him telling him
that, 'her poor little daughter is so upset' and begging him to come
round just to clear the air and make sure she doesn't top herself.
That is if he has time in his busy schedule before skipping into the
'happy ever after land' with the beautiful Diana! "Mulder." she said,
more as an accusation than a greeting. "Scully!" he said, with more
humour in his voice than Scully liked from someone she was still mad
with.  "Mulder if you've got something to say then say it, if you
haven't then go. I still have a lot of packing to do!" Mulder looked
around and for the first time noticed all the boxes on the floor and
gave Scully a puzzled look. "I'm moving Mulder, I far away from you as
I can possibly go before I start coming back!" "Fiji?!" Mulder joked,
then he realised she was serious about the moving part,
"Where are you going?"
"To stay with my brother for now, Kersch gave me leave until my notice
is up, then I'm gonna try my hand at real doctoring for a change."
Mulder's jaw dropped a little,
"Scully, what if I told you I didn't want you to leave me?"
"I don't think that's any of your business any more Mulder. Anyway why
should I stay there's no room for me in your life any more. You should
be happy, you have Diana back, you can pick up from where you left
off!" She could feel her eyes filling up with tears as she spoke.
"I don't have Diana back Scully."
"Don't tell me she turned you down Mulder, I was sure by the look on
face yesterday morning she'd be right over." "I didn't mean she turned
me down Scully, I didn't want her back. I never did. I told her
whether you left me or not I'd never want another partner. You're my
partner Scully I don't want anyone else." Mulder knew it was now or
never, "I love you Scully, please don't leave me. I couldn't cope
without you." He'd said the last part very quietly but Scully had
heard every word. She walked over to him and touched the side of his
face with her hand, "Do you really mean that Mulder?" she whispered
quietly and was surprise he heard the words at all. He didn't answer;
he just moved down and kissed her. First lightly, then hungrily as
they both realised this was it, this was the step they had been
waiting to take for six long years. The step they had both been
terrified of taking. After a couple of minutes Scully started laughing
uncontrollably. Mulder looked down at her, more than slightly confused
and a little hurt. When Scully finally controlled herself she smiled
up at her partner, "I'm sorry, it's just I can't believe how stupid
I've been!" Mulder grinned,
"You! Stupid! Never! A woman of such wisdom not to mention taste... I
can't believe you thought I'd choose Diana over you though." Kissing
her gently again as they moved over and sat down on Scully's couch.
"What did you actually say to Diana, if you don't mind me asking"; as
Scully spoke she moved her legs onto Mulder lap and put her head on
his chest. "Actually I told her the reason that she hadn't got to know
you better is that you have better taste than me!" "You didn't!" Now
Scully's happiness was complete, "You have some taste, you choose me."
Scully added with a cheeky smile. "That wasn't a choice, that was
fate!" Mulder smiled and conceded, "With just a little bit of help
from your mom." Scully looked up at him and frowned.
"Not that I needed any help realising I love you, but I wasn't sure if
you felt the same way. I just needed a nudge in the right direction!"
"I'm not surprised you got that from my mom, she loves you, almost as
much as I do. You know why she never tells you to call her Maggie?"
Mulder shook his head and kissed her gently on the forehead,
"It's embarrassing really. She always say's it'll only waste time, you
getting used to calling her Maggie. That she's waiting to tell you to
call her mom. I told you it was embarrassing, I wish I'd not said
anything now!"  "It's not embarrassing, it's nice to be excepted by at
least one of your family." "Make that two Mulder, you are my family. I
only wish daddy could have known you too..." Mulder moved her closer,
"How do you know he wouldn't have hated me as much as your brother for
putting his little girl in danger." Scully tried not to sound angry,
"You have never intentionally put me in danger Mulder, you never will.
I am here because I want to be and daddy knew better than anyone that
I have always done exactly what I want...you haven't forced me to say
with you, I'm here because I want to be with you, I love you. Daddy
would have seen that and loved you every bit as much as mommy does,
because you make me happy. Your search is not yours alone anymore
Mulder, it's ours and I'm not going anywhere." Tears welled up in
Mulder's eyes as they sat in silence for a few minutes taking in
everything that had just happened. Then Mulder said, "Skinner didn't
tell me Kersch had given you leave." Scully leaped off Mulder and
headed to the door in one, relatively, smooth movement,
"God! Mulder my resignation, I handed in yesterday, do you think
they'll let me withdraw it?" Mulder leaped up and grabbed his coat,
"What time is it?"
"11.30, why?"
"We've got half an hour to catch Skinner, I explain on the
way...run!"

ONE WEEK LATER
MULDER AND SCULLY'S 'OFFICE'
10.30PM
Scully had been working across town doing a couple of autopsies. They
had been working hard all week and had barely had any time to spend
together. They shouldn't complain though, Skinner had not only managed
to help them by making Kersch lose Scully's resignation he'd also
convinced him to take them off all the 'SHIT' cases. They arranged to
meet at work so that they could go home together, Scully was starting
to notice that Mulder was becoming even more protective over the last
week and she had to admit that despite herself she quite liked it.
As Mulder came through the door the first thing he noticed was a
laptop with a big red bow round it on his desk. He smiled as he felt
Scully's arms hug round his waist; she rested her check on his back
and whispered, "I can't believe you didn't have insurance Mulder. I
thought I'd train you better than that." "Actually, I did have
insurance Agent Scully, but is turns out it doesn't cover rabid
partners hurling it at the floor in jealous rages." Scully blushed but
covered by teasing, "Well maybe you should up your policy if you plan
on spending more time with me Agent Mulder." Mulder turned to face
Scully, "I plan on spending as much time with you as possible Dana."
"Well in that case you can consider your gift an early engagement
present." Mulder couldn't believe she knew,
"How did you...." he started to say but then Scully took his right
hand in hers, kissed him and revealed a small satin box from his right
pocket. She smiled again, for the hundredth time that week, as he
slipped the ring onto her finger. "I guess I know you better than you
know yourself Fox Mulder!"

THE END

Thanks for getting to the end without throwing up; at least I hope you
did.   Feedback would be nice but don't be to horrible, I know it's
terrible!!