From: Neverm0@aol.com
Date: Mon, 15 Jan 2001 19:26:54 EST
Subject: vignette -- Traveling in Your Skin (Plain Text)
Source: direct


Title:  Traveling in Your Skin

Author:  Maureen Drouin

Posting Date: January, 01 

Rating:  PG 

Classification:  Vignette, MSR, Angst

Spoilers:  Assumes a general knowledge of events in 
Requiem 

Summary: Is Scully really all alone? Inspired by a 
quote from a Sam Shepard short story (You I Have No 
Distance From): "I can't remember what it was like 
before I met you.  Was I always like this? I remember 
myself lost... But you I have no distance from.  
Every move you make feels like I'm traveling in your 
skin."

Disclaimer:  Mulder and Scully belong to 1013 and 
Fox.  No profit is desired or derived from this lil' 
ol' story.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The moon echoes light across the empty sky. It's been 
too long since her gaze lifted upward... searching for 
him. The days and nights that pass have blurred her 
vision, dulled all her senses but one. In the dark 
stillness of nights such as this, she can almost feel 
his phantom touch... long, elegant fingers tracing 
whispers on her skin. Her hands shift, searching, 
across the empty bed... longing to connect with his and 
never let go, but never make contact. She has learned 
to slow her breathing and keep her eyes closed... the 
better to hear his soft breath in her ear and feel 
his heart beating next to hers. Is it the persistence 
of memory, that she imagines him beside her? Or is it 
the unyielding need she has for him, finding the only 
expression possible? Has she managed to conjure her 
heart's desire... or has he found a way to reach her 
from the abyss?

"Mulder?" she whispers in the dark.

No sound answers her... but she is almost certain 
something brushed her cheek... so gently. It makes her 
smile... she could swear she heard him sigh. 

"Why can't I find you, Mulder? It's all I want..." her 
voice breaks and she squeezes her eyes tighter, 
trying to hold back the tears.

Her hand. Someone is touching her hand... trying to 
open the clenched fist. She relaxes, holding it open... 
waiting.  What feels like his fingers graze her open 
palm, drawing small circles in the center.

"I won't stop looking, Mulder.  I'll never give up... I 
know you're out there somewhere and I WILL find you!"

His fingers still their movement... and she holds her 
breath. Then they are in motion again... moving up her 
arm and across to her now swollen belly. His large 
hand rests gently on the place she carries their 
child. The tears she's been holding back break 
through her defenses, falling down her face onto the 
pillow. His hand begins to caress her, seeking to 
soothe mother and child. 

Before long, his touch does its magic and her tears 
have stopped, her breathing is even and calm. And 
just before sleep claims her, she feels his lips 
graze her belly, bidding his child goodnight.

In the days that follow, she will draw strength from 
knowing that he is with her, always... until she brings 
him home. 

END