Eternity the Other Night by Kelida Flynn (kelida_flynn@hotmail.com) Rating: PG Category: VA Keywords: UST; character dies Spoilers: Momento Mori; Gethsemane Summary: The final moments in Scully's life and the events and emotions that lead up to it. Author's Note: If you don't like reading about character deaths--if it disturbs you, or upsets you greatly, please don't read this. I don't know what effect if may have on you. If you're for angst, well, I hope this fills your quota for it. Thanks: To Miki. A great editor as always, and a great source of support and friendship. I consider you one of my mentors in this scheme we call "fan fic" and someone I look up to. Thank you for being there for me. Disclaimer: The characters and situations of the X-Files are the property of Chris Carter, Fox Broadcasting and Ten-Thirteen Productions, and have been used without permission. No copyright infringement is intended, nor are the characters being used for commercial purposes. --------------------------------------------------- "I saw eternity the other night, Like a great ring of pure and endless light, All calm as it was bright." -Henry Vaughn --------------------------------------------------- Eternity the Other Night by Kelida Flynn (kelida_flynn@hotmail.com) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Death knows intimacy. It hovers with the wings of archangels in grey mists and black fogs. At times it has come dangerously close--a few times seemingly successful in the capture of its prey, but ultimately it was pushed away by some luck or cunning. Death charms--the allurement of the netherworld; the peace of slumber. Death is now seducing Dana Scully and it is slowly beginning to eat her alive. ***** They had been trying to dismantle her. These well-groomed men in pressed grey suits in the sterile confines of some upperclass building in the monotony of the metropolises of the world. They were trying to separate them by systematically taking her apart. They are beginning to succeed. ***** The decision had been made. Perhaps in haste--but that was necessary when time was no longer an ally. The facade of living had to be terminated. The dead can creep in and out of shadows with greater ease than can the living. There were sacrifices made though. More than *his* life had been given up in this pursuit. What sanity remained after all these years had slipped through the cracks, between shaky fingers that trembled in fear for her--and for himself--if he were to somehow lose her. ***** Scully rolls onto her side. A tiny moan in her sleep escaping in between raspy breathing. Sometimes she murmurs his name in her sleep. At times he wanders her dreams. She imagines he can feel her and in truth, he does. He can feel her. In the tug at his heart, the ache in his fingertips. In the quiet agony he feels as he searches for the holy grail that exists simply to elude him. She sleeps, but she is restless. She is waiting for something. For someone. ***** He is a man who chases truths. One who strives so hard to believe the unbelievable. He is possessed by demons and in love with ghosts. But eventually reality catches up with these boys who pose as men. They must learn to face up to the things that are too real--then and there--and put aside their playthings until later. He is aware that with the time remaining that there is only time left for one last strike. One final lunge to try to save Scully's life--one last chance to save his soul. ***** She can almost forgive him. For forcing her to go through the final days alone. For not saying goodbye. For all the things never said--never done . . . For so many things. But now all she can do is sit in wait. Once so vital--alive. Full of passion--hers and his--emotion, life . . . she can only wait in a sterile hospital bed with the stench of death overwhelming that of life for her time to come. To patiently wait to die. She wants to forgive Mulder. She wants to make her peace, to end this life with some sense of completion. But she can't forgive him, because he is not there to forgive. ***** This quest is waxing impossible. Hacking into computer systems--breaking into medical facilities. Talking, questioning, ranting, raving--in anger, in desperation. He regrets not being more organized. More planned. Dammit. He wipes the sweat from his brow. He shuts his eyes. The clouds are obscuring the sky, and he wants to see the sun again. ***** Grief has taken its wear on her almost as much as the cancer has. She went to his funeral. She heard their empty condolences, their dry sentiments. It was all so meaningless. She sighs. He has died so many times. Each time only to revive once again, in stronger faith, but this time it was more definite. She saw them lower him into the damp ground. If he were to somehow miraculously come back from the dead this time, then she would, in truth, most likely be unable to meet him again. Her mother stays with her most of the time. She watches her daughter wither away. Sees her heart dry up. Senses the dry pain ready to burst. Sometimes she can only sit there and watch her sleep, wondering if she will wake up. One night she sees her wake up with a choking heave. She jerks forward, shaking. In her arms her daughter finally cries, her cold flesh trembling. Maggie Scully tries to comfort her. To tell her that it is ok. That it is harder to cry, harder to admit that you can be weak, then to try and look strong. She sobs. A frightened child in her mother's comforting arms. It is because she has felt the strings loosen. Because she now finds herself grasping to keep a hold on life. ***** It has seemed like an eternity. He is wary of his actions. What this would do to her after all that had happened. He creeps in at night. The moon hugs the sky in an eerie yellow. There is a faint light in her room. She looks calm as she sleeps. He dares to walk in and sit besides her. He checks to see if she is still breathing. She is. He, on the other hand, is barely breathing himself. She stirs, and he is suddenly compelled to leave. But her arm comes down upon his. The frail little hand. And he sees her open her eyes. She tumbles out of sleep and begins to push away, in fear--of him. "Oh God. . .Who are you . . . what are you?" Her voice is filled with fear, anger, and so much sadness. Deep, but so tired. "Scully . . .no, no . . .It's me. I didn't . . ." Her face twisted into a grimace. The worn face. It doesn't look like her, but it is her. What is left. He reaches over and touches her face, gently. His hand burns. It always burns when he touchs her. ". . .Oh my God. . .Mulder . . ." She tries to lift herself up and he completes the task by taking her into his arms. Holding her. Nearly crushing her. She buries herself into him. "I'm so tired, Mulder. Where have you been . . .what the hell . . ." Her voice fades, and she shuts her eyes. He quiets her, kisses her chastely on the forehead--with some difficulty--and lays her back down. She sleeps a little. So easily fatigued now. He sits and watches her. He begins to grieve her. "I don't know how to let you go . . .I just don't . . ." "Just close your eyes and say goodbye, Mulder." He twitches. "What?" She looks at him, awake, eyes partially shut now wide open. So solemn. So deep he could drown.. "Just let go, Mulder. I can't stick around forever. Just hold my hand . . . a kiss goodbye . . .tell me the pressure against my brain will be gone soon. Tell me that I will be better off. . .anything. Don't grieve for me." "Scully, it's not your time yet, please . . ." "I can't hang on forever. I simply. . . can't. You know that. Make your peace here. I forgive you. Now you forgive me. And stay with me. I need you here . . . now." She paused to take a breath. "Finish our journey. Find your truth . . ." ". . . ours. . ." "Yes. Ours." "Stay with me." "I can't, Mulder. You know I don't want to give up, but . . .it's getting darker. I'm not cut out for this anymore." A faint smile. Her eyes grew darker, and she began to slip away. "I'm glad you were here." Quietly into the light. Into his darkness. "Scully! No. . .stay in my eyes. Hold me in your eyes. . ." She touches his arm. And then it falls. "Stay in my eyes. . ." And she was gone. Vanished. The world closes on him that night, leaving him alone once again to chase his truths and love his ghosts. And once again, he dies. The End -------------------------- Feedback please. My sophomore slump piece is begging for some feedback. Please no flames. Constructive criticism is asked for. I would love any of your ideas on how I could possibly improve my writing--always. Please, don't make me beg for feedback. It's quite a sad spectacle. I tend to rant and rave. ;-) Please send feedback to this address: kelida_flynn@hotmail.com *************The X-Philes Finis Romantics Society************ http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Zone/2095/ ***********Kelida Flynn's Fan Fiction Homepage*************** http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Delphi/5471/kelida_flynn.html "Lovers are fools, but Nature makes them so." -Elbert Green Hubbard