From: Sophie Brady <cashfan@hotmail.co.uk>
Date: Thu, 31 Jul 2008 11:52:12 +0000
Subject: 'Usurper' by Elizabeth Jennings. rated PG
Source: direct

Usurper
 
'I think I know why you're here... Agent Mulder' said Agent John Dogget 
staring his predecessor down.
Mulder walked into the office that he had used to call his home... he still
couldn't believe that it was over.
'You do? That's reassuring... I wanted to know how shrewd you really are' 
Mulder replied... making Dogget grit his teeth.
'You can drop the Agent... I'm fired- it's just plain Mulder now' continued 
Fox bluntly.
The silence was heavy before Dogget asked what he wanted.
'I thought you knew' insisted Mulder... calmly giving Dogget everything
but a straight answer.
'So did I... you want to make sure I'm running your old ship properly I
assume?'
'In a sense' replied Mulder approaching Dogget sat in his seat... at 
his old desk... surrounded by the objects and files that had all been 
parts of Mulder's crusade.
' You dropped this I believe?' said Mulder placing the Apollo medallion
onto his old desk in front of Dogget.
'I did... in the woods' said Dogget simply... able to tell immediately
that saying anything else about the object at that moment may well be unwise.
Mulder stared at Dogget witheringly... that intense look that Dogget already 
hated- he wondered what Scully saw in him.
' Well... thank you for returning it to me- is that all I can do for you?'
' No... that's not all. You watch your ass as far as Scully's concerned.' 
Mulder warned him... his eyes darkening.
'I don't know what you mean'
'I think you do Dogget... I'm no longer a dead man- nor am I blind. I can 
see why you want to be down here- why suddenly you've forgotten your 
promising career path in favour of pursuing a cause that isn't yours'
'I was assigned here'
' Initially... yeah . But you had the chance to leave and even if Scully
hasn't worked it out yet... I know why you stayed'
' Look... are you angry that Scully gave me this? If it means so damn much 
to you then take it back'
' I gave it to Scully... then it became up to her what she did with it.'
'Yeah... and she gave it to me as a symbol of the products of teamwork..
You gave it to her as a birthday present.' said Dogget unable and unwilling 
to keep the leer out of his smile.
'What's on your mind... John?' asked Mulder softly and accusingly.
' It's just funny... you know that I read all your case files? I know all 
about you... and about Scully too. 
That woman had been working tirelessly by your side for four years and you
gave her a key ring for her birthday.'
Mulder bristled... he wasn't expecting this kind of reproach.
'What about it? What does that tell you exactly?'
'It tells me that either you know nothing about women... or that you never 
did deserve a partner like her'
'Really? You think everything that's ever happened between me and Scully 
is in a case file or a gift?'
' No... but I find this trinket typical. You never told her why you gave
it to her I'll bet... you let her find the reasoning behind it'
' What of it?'
' She wanted to find meaning in it... truth is you were probably amused by 
it and thought it would be a characteristically strange gift....you let her 
find the meaning in it -but it's false. You've been misleading that
woman for eight years... starving her of facts because you're not man enough 
to produce them for yourself'
'Watch your ass!' Mulder warned... this conversation wasn't going how
he'd planned it to.
'Right... fine. Well... maybe you can get to the point then Mulder. You don't 
work down here anymore so you have no business as far as I can tell.'
' Scully's my business... I'm watching you Dogget.'
'I'm different than you Mulder- so you can relax... I wouldn't put her 
in constant and unnecessary danger.'
' No-one cares for her well- being more than me' insisted Mulder hotly.
' That's where you're wrong... just because no-one cares for you the
way she does- doesn't mean it works the other way'
' You love her... is that it?' demanded Mulder... finally shutting Dogget up.
'It must be that ... otherwise- as I said earlier... why would you have 
stayed here?' 
' Out of loyalty partly... I care about Scully's reputation and her career
....I don't want it to be ruined due to a simple lack of effort on my
part.' Dogget was no longer trying to keep the accusatory tone out of his
voice.
'What are you trying to say here?'
' I know what she went through for you... I know what she's lost. I know 
that until recently... motherhood was no option for her... and that she lost 
a sister and almost her own life in the time she worked with you'
Mulder was silenced... Dogget was pressing all the right buttons- most of them 
enraged him but this actually hurt.
He had been carrying guilt over the damage his cause had wrought on Scully
for a long time now. It was a guilt that would never end... after all- how
could he ever make any of it up to her?
' I don't think you care if I love her Mulder. You probably know... being 
the arrogant... self righteous... asshole you are- that she loves you.'
'She's not said as much to me but...'
'But you're down here warning me off anyway. You've apparently had too 
much time on your hands Mulder... too much time to think.'
'And you should be warned that you're acting like you're not thinking
at all'
' I think of Scully's welfare... that's the difference between us Mulder. 
There are plenty more differences- namely that I'm assigned to the X-files 
now and I'm Scully's partner- not you.'
'Suck it up Dogget... you're no partner for her.'
'Well... I don't know. I may not make her work weekends... or try and use 
my research as a way of keeping her for me alone. But as far as I'm aware 
of- that's not how partners treat each other. Partners are supposed to 
be equals.'
' Scully is my equal' stated Mulder firmly... sure that his convictions
couldn't be swayed.
' She's been chasing shadows... monsters and aliens all this time- I don't 
think she believes half of it. I just think she doesn't want to disappoint you' 
Mulder flinched... that last line was exactly what Bill Scully had told him
when Scully was in hospital with cancer.
' Not wanting to disappoint your partner... that's not equal footing in
a working relationship Mr Mulder- in case you didn't know'
'You think you know her... you've no idea about my work or my partner!'
'My work now Mulder... and my partner' he said bitingly- fixing his steely... 
resolute eyes on Mulder's.
Mulder set his jaw hard as this cock sure impostor corrected him... he wanted 
to kick his ass.
' You're wasting your time here Mulder... if you are worried that I'm
going to steal Scully away from you then forget it. She only seems to have
eyes for you... I don't know why- but there it is'
' You don't know why- because you don't know either of us'
' I've already told you that researching the X-files wasn't my first
priority... to begin with I learnt all about you. Then I learnt all about 
Scully... knowing that I was to be partnered with her. I know plenty Mulder-=
trust me. What I haven't picked up from records... files or the word of
mouth- I have learnt through simple observation'
'And what have you observed? What can you possibly know about mine and 
Scully's seven year partnership from observing us together for a week?'
' I see her change when she's around you... she becomes passive- compliant. 
Up until now I would never have used either of those words to describe
her. You are without any sense of responsibility for yourself or her... she 
must find your recklessness appealing I guess.'
'Just shut up now Dogget. You've had your fun... you can speculate all
you like- but don't ever try this crap on Scully.'
'Why? Are you afraid I'll turn her off you and onto me instead by simply 
dropping a few home truths? Relax Mulder... I think she already knows all
this- that's why I think it's incredible that you can still expect anything 
from her.'
'I expect nothing but her loyalty... not that it's any of your damn business 
any how'
' Is that all? Is that your baby that she's carrying? You should realise 
that you're not acting very responsibly for a father to be.'
' What the hell is your problem?' asked Mulder... troubled by the constant 
stream of questions and theories Dogget had concerning him and Scully.
' You being here is my problem. I've been working with Scully for seven
months now... and in that time I've seen her go through a whole lot because 
of you..'
'And that's also my fault I suppose?' asked Mulder sarcastically.
'No... maybe not. I just thought that if I met you- it would all click into 
place. Why she was so distraught and constantly searching for you for instance.
I respect that woman... she's strong and intelligent- and since meeting you... 
I cant understand why she favours you above all others. A woman that looks 
like she does could have plenty of 'others' as well - but
you know that don't you Mulder?- Otherwise you wouldn't be down here I
guess- trying to mark what territory you have left. '
' Well... believe it or not Dogget- it's not how you feel about me that
I'm concerned with....'
' I figured that already Mulder... you just want to make sure that you haven't 
wasted all the time you had here right? You want me to tell you now
... that there's nothing between me and Scully and that I'm not trying
to be anything except her partner... correct?'
'Don't flatter yourself Dogget... you're no threat. I just wanted to
make sure you don't read into this gift from her too much- it's a hand
me down and her giving it to you doesn't mean that you'll have the same
partnership as she had with me.'
'You in a position to speak for her? You know her that damn well huh?'
' You don't know what Scully means to me and you never will- no-one ever 
could.'
'Not even Scully herself... and it's not from lack of searching or patience 
on her part- so I hear'
'Hear... from whom?'
' Like I said- I've observed you both... and people talk a lot in this
building-'
'About us? Don't bother reciting the stories- I've heard them all. What 
is it now- this poll they've created- hedging bets for who the father
is? Is it me... am I the forerunner?'
'Yeah... most people figured you two were a couple behind closed doors. Others 
think that you managed to ruin Dana's career with your half baked theories... 
successfully trapping her down here with you for all that time.
Which is true?'
'Neither.'
Dogget nodded at him... looking amused at the exasperation on Mulder's face.
' Whatever you say Agent Mulder. It's none of my concern really... what
happens to Scully now ...and in the future is what matters to me'
'That's my concern-not yours!' warned Mulder... the blood rising to his cheeks.
' Sure... if you say so. But you are in no position to believe that she's 
aware of that fact.'
Mulder didn't know what else he could say... he had underestimated Dogget
- the man seemed to have given his new partner a lot of thought.
Mulder left... frustrated- and with the last sentence John Dogget had spoken 
to him repeating over and over in his mind.
Maybe there was the tiniest bit of truth in that statement... he knew he should 
find a way to communicate the extent of his care for her... before it
was too late. He knew that there was a truth he and Scully had been aware of 
for a long time... when the time came he would reveal what it was.
 
 
Word count- 2052 words approx