Date sent: Thu, 28 May 1998 20:48:26 -0700 From: kellerp Disclaimer: They don't belong to me. I never intend to make any money off of this. They belong to CC and 1013 productions in case you are living in some sort of hole and didn't know that by now. Summary: Some insight on the final scenes of The End. Spoiler: The End Category: MSR (Not really not antishippers could possibly be offended) Angst. Rating: I don't know no higher than PG-14 Thanks to Chris, and Jenn, mis amigas, Tu quiero. And remember, if you read this Tengo una sacapuntas de anaranjado de Suia. You guys are the best! All comments can be sent to kellerp@norwich.net. Be merciful, I'm a teenager. And without further ado Up in Smoke, Together in Ashes. By Boo He jogged down the hallway, expecting the worst. Just minutes before he had been smiling, although strained, it was the first in a long time, and if down those stairs was what he expected, probably his last for a long time. *10 Minutes Previous* "Hello?" "Yes, Mrs. Mulder, is a Mr. Fox Mulder there?" "Uh, " her response was hesitant, "May I ask who's calling?" "Chief Marterson, may I please speak to a Mr. Fox Mulder, this is urgent." "Just a second." The red-head put her hand over the receiver and with the other hand, gently shook her partner awake. "Phone for you, says its urgent." "What, Scully why'd you wake me?" Was the groggy response of a man who had just gotten the first few minutes of sleep he had had in days. "Phone. Says he wants to talk to a Mr. Fox Mulder, tried to get him to talk the Mrs. But he wouldn't hear of it," the smile, "A Chief Materson." Still smiling, Mulder took the phone, thankful that Gibson wasn't there to read his mind. The smile faded as soon as the man started talking. As he hung up the phone he turned to her, she awaited eagerly and impatiently what he had to say. "We need to go to the office, there's been some sort of fire." In that one mono-tone sentence their worst fears had been realized. The entire car ride was silent, both occupants desperately trying to fight back tears. Composure had been regained as the two neared the J. Edgar Hoover building. He walked faster than she did, at almost a jogging pace. She stayed behind, knowing that if the worst did happen, he would need the time alone. He reached the basement office and with that, just like the office, he was sure his life had gone up in smoke. Behind him he heard the familiar click of her heels, but like everything else, it didn't register. Nothing registered, all he sensed was the pure agony of everything a man had worked for, being destroyed in the unstoppable rage of his worst fear. She looked around, the tears swelling up in her eyes. Five years of her life, what had changed her life so much that it had become her life and she didn't regret it. She doubted herself and her decisions, but never regret. She would never go back and change things, not even if she could. Except this, she would do anything she possibly could to change this. Her life reduced to ashes. After a moment of self-pity she had a correction to make. Their life. It was their life, up in smoke with only ashes as proof, end where we began, right? In the short time they had known each other, they had become one, a single entity. There was no him and her, no me, no I's, only us and we remained. No matter how many times they were separated no matter how many times they "ditched" each other, no matter how many Diana's, Phoebe's or Ed's came into their lives they always ended things together. Now at the ultimate end they would clean up the ashes and the ruble. Together they would pick up the pieces. Together they would start over. This end was a beginning and the only way to get through it was together. She then looked over to the man standing next to her. It wasn't the man she had known for five years, yet merely a shell. His entire world crumbling in mere minutes. His eyes seemed to stare straight at what remained of their lives but she was positive he didn't see them. His body ram-rod straight. She made her move over to him. Placing her hands on his forearms as if to say, "I'm here for you." Seconds later she laid her head against his chest hoping to convey the message "I need you just as much as you need me." She looked around the brunt office like a lost child watching her home burn down. It seemed like hours before either moved although it was merely minutes. He became painfully await of the woman looking for supports in him and yet, giving him support at the same time. This was hurting her too. She had told him one that the X-Files had become her life as well as his. HE thought of all she'd lost because of this crusade, because of this life. He realized that while the pain was different than his she was still hurting. She needed his comfort as much as he needed hers. She felt the familiar sensation of his arms sneaking around her waist. She took this opportunity to encircle his neck with her arms. The new position was more comfortable and the walls built so quickly came tumbling down. Her sobs were heard first, muffled in his chest, soaking his shirt with her tears. His soon followed, with nothing to muffle them, he buried his face in her hair. When no more tears could be physically shed four knees buckled and the two entangled bodies collapsed to the floor, literally shaking with agony. It took time for the two of them to get control of the physical results of the emotions, they were just about to start the emotional reconstruction when they were startled into s standing position as there was a knock on what remained of the door. While getting up they wiped tears from each others faces, the evidence of tears was still there, but at least they looked presentable. "Come in" "Agents?" "Yes sir?" "Gibson's been found." "Where?" "A hospital in Alexandria, they don't think he'll make it." A gasp is heard from Scully. She felt a reassuring hand on her back, tracing soothing circles. She was able to stand up straighter and ask the question she knew Mulder was dying to know. "And Diana? How is she?" The anticipation was evident in his red and puffy eyes, for his old friend, love and confidant. "They called it about half an hour ago, right after the fire." It was Mulder's turn to gasp and hold back tears he wasn't sure he could shed. He then felt a tender presence of the ultimate friend, love and confidant. From the same person he just seconds before had been silently comforting. Together, always together. "Sir, can we go see Gibson?" ** "Gibson, some people are here to see you." "I know." Mulder and Scully entered the room. Mulder went straight to the bedside, while Scully lingered back and talked to the medical staff that was near the room. When she neared the bedside, she whispered the diagnosis into Mulder's ear. Internal bleeding of unknown origin, he had two, maybe three hours. "I know I don't have long so I'm not going to waste my breathe." Both agents nod. "I don't remember anything from most of the time I was missing all I remember is the shot, being taken by an old man who smelled of cigarette smoke. He gave me to a bunch of other men and left. They stuck me with a needle and after that, I remember nothing." "It's okay Gibson. It really is." Scully comforted the boy and brushed his unruly hair from his face. Gibson turns to Mulder. "Can I tell her?" Mulder just nods, Scully has a curious look on her face. "He's thinking, thank God it wasn't you. That you're still here with him. That he couldn't have gotten through this night without you. That he loves you, that he needs you." Scully just stares at Mulder who is looking at his feet. "Can I tell him?" Another nod. "Ditto." And with that Gibson shut his eyes never to reopen them again. The familiar click of heels, as she walked around the bed, cupped his face in her hand and gave him a chaste peck of the lips. That small kiss spoke multitudes, all to be discussed later. For now, they were content to fall asleep in each others arms and grieve for everything, at the end, and together.