Title: A Strand of Gold Author: Andrea Category: MSR, missing scene Rating: G Disclaimer: All herein belong to CC et al Spoilers: Requiem Summary: A thin strand of gold carries a lot of faith. Notes: This picks up when the cameras fade in the hallway scene. I'd like to thank Dan for beta reading for me whenever I ask. And a special thanks to Kell for beta reading this at the last minute and for her gift of the summary line. Archiving: I'd be honoured Feedback: Please! ardywyn@hotmail.com ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "When will you leave?" Scully asked quietly, her arms still around my neck. "As soon as possible," I told her. Even though I knew that I should hurry, I was reluctant to release Scully. I never envisioned the day that Scully and I would be embracing in the halls of the J. Edgar Hoover building and not caring if anyone saw us. I was still holding her tightly when Skinner came into the hallway and cleared his throat. Scully and I separated slowly, but we both reached for each other's hand. Apparently she had the same desire to maintain at least some contact between us that I did. If Skinner noticed or cared, he made no indication. "Are you heading back to Oregon, then?" He asked. "I am," I confirmed, "But Scully is staying here. Since it is abductees that are in danger, she is staying in D.C." I informed him. Skinner nodded. "But I don't want him to go alone. Just because he's never been abducted, doesn't mean that there isn't any risk," Scully pointed out. "I'll go with him," Skinner spoke suddenly. Scully and I said nothing--we both just stared at him. "You want to explain this situation to someone else and convince them to go with you at the drop of a hat?" Skinner raised his eyebrows. "Good point," I admitted. "Plus I'll be able to sign your travel forms and sign out whatever equipment you will need," he added. "Right," I nodded. The man was full of good ideas. "We really appreciate this, sir," Scully smiled. "To be perfectly honest, Agent Scully, after I'd reviewed both of your case notes, I wasn't entirely comfortable with you going back there, either," Skinner told her. "But I'm also surprised that you decided not to go." Not being sure how she wanted to handle this, I deferred to Scully. "Mulder and I took several factors into account and decided that it would be for the best if I stayed here." "A wise decision, I think," Skinner concurred. "Now let's get down to business." It only took a few minutes to formulate the plan. Scully would come with me and make the travel arrangements while we drove to my place. Skinner would consult with the Gunmen to find out what equipment we would need for our reconnaissance mission and then go back to his place to pack. After collecting my gear, I would swing by and pick him up on my way to Dulles. We left Skinner in the Conference room looking a little doubtful about the Gunmen's expertise in the realm of invisible spacecraft detection. As we headed down the hall we heard Skinner bellow "How many?" Exchanging nervous glances, Scully and I hurried into the elevator and let out simultaneous sighs of relief when the doors closed behind us. Once we were on the road, Scully called the airline to book the tickets, but as soon as she hung up, she fell silent. Her hands lay limply in her lap, her shoulders sagged and she wouldn't meet my eyes. She preferred, it seemed, to stare out of her window. I had never seen Scully looking this defeated. "No one will think less of you for staying here, Scully," I finally broke the silence. "I know, Mulder. It's just that I feel so useless," her sense of helplessness was evident in her voice. "Normally when we're apart during a case, it's because I have something useful to contribute." "Or it's because I've ditched you," I interjected. This actually elicited a soft laugh from Scully. Keeping one hand on the wheel, I reached over and squeezed both of her hands and tried to encourage her with a smile. "And somehow, Mulder, the mutually agreed ditch doesn't feel any better than your usual ditch." "Did you think that it would?" I asked as we pulled up in front of my building. "I thought it might feel less like being abandoned," her voice trembled as she spoke. "Oh, Scully, I'm not abandoning you," I tried to assure her. "Intellectually, I know that, Mulder," she sighed. But I could see that it was tearing her apart. As much as I hated seeing her like this, I was still positive that we'd made the right decision. "Do you want to talk about it some more?" I tried to be diplomatic. "Do you feel any better about me going back to Bellefleur?" she asked. I just shook my head. "Then as much as it hurts, I'll stay. But I want you to know, Mulder, that I'm not comfortable with you going back either." "You're not?" I asked in surprise. "Why didn't you say something sooner?" "Because I don't have anything to base my fears on. It's just a feeling." "Every case involves some risk, Scully. I'll be back here annoying you before you know it." "No doubt, Mulder," she tried to give me a quick smile, but her lips were trembling too much. We'd been having this conversation sitting in front of my building with the engine running. As I shut it off, something occurred to me. "Scully, we didn't think about how you were going to get home." "I did," she replied as she opened her door. I jumped out of my side to help her out of the car, but she was already on the sidewalk with her door closed when I got there. I looked at her expectantly, waiting for to enlighten me on her plan. "I was going to take a cab," she shrugged as she headed up the walk. "A cab!" I exclaimed. "With all of the dizzy spells I've been having I probably shouldn't be driving anyway," she pointed out. "Are you sure?" I asked as I held the door for her. "I'm sure, Mulder," she assured me and then clung to my hand all the way to my door. Once we were inside I offered to phone for the cab. "I was actually planning to stay here for a while, maybe take a nap and then head back to work. If that's okay with you?" she asked somewhat shyly. "That's fine with me," I shrugged. I thought that she'd be more comfortable at her place, I knew I was, but I didn't ask. I figured that she still wasn't feeling well, and needed to rest. She sat quietly on the bed while I quickly gathered my things. "Aren't you going to change your shirt?" she asked when I zipped up my gym bag. "Do you think I need to?" Scully had never suggested anything like this in the past. She nodded, biting her bottom lip. When I took it off, she held out her hand. "Can I have it please?" I handed it to her, not quite sure what she was planning to do with it. *I* was closer to the hamper. So I just stood there and watched as she stripped to her bra and panties, then slipped into my grey dress shirt and buttoned it up. "Wouldn't one of my t-shirts be more comfortable?" I couldn't help but ask. "I want to wear this shirt," she said evenly. I let it go. I didn't understand, but that was nothing new when it came to Scully. While Scully got under the covers, I changed to jeans and a t-shirt and then went to my closet to retrieve my fleece jacket and my vest. Scully was sitting up, her back against the headboard. She had rolled up the sleeves of my shirt, but she still seemed to almost disappear inside of it. She looked so tiny and fragile that I wanted to climb into bed and hold her until she fell asleep in my arms. But I knew that I couldn't and that she didn't expect that of me. "I have to go," I said gently as a sat down on the bed beside her. "I know," her voice was barely perceptible. Closing the distance between us, I kissed her softly. At first, I found it somewhat disquieting that I could smell my cologne on her. But then I realized why she had asked for my shirt. I can be amazingly slow sometimes. She wanted it because it smelled like me. "I'll be back safe and sound in no time, Scully," I told her as I pulled her into a tight hug. Once again, I didn't want to let her go, but time was running out. When I relaxed my hold she leaned back and looked into my eyes. "You'll be in my prayers, Mulder." The glint of her gold chain caught my eye. "I'm lucky that you have faith enough for both of us," I said as I lifted her cross with one finger. "Yes," Scully gasped, "That's it!" "What's it?" I was totally confused. "My cross, take my cross" she started to reach for the clasp. "I can't take your..." I began. "Please, Mulder, it'll make me feel so much better," tears started to form in her eyes. "Okay, Scully, okay." I only wanted to ease her fears. She was the one that was in danger, not me. But if this would appease her, I would do it. She relaxed visibly when she put the chain around my neck. "I lost this before I was abducted. Maybe if I'd been wearing it, I wouldn't have been taken." I couldn't bring myself to debate this with her. She was giving me so much more than a shiny strand of gold. She was giving me her faith--the only protection that she could offer, without actually being there with me. How could I deny her this? "Thank you, Scully," I said gratefully. "I know how much it means to you." "As long as you're wearing it, Mulder, no matter how far apart we are, I'll know in my heart that you're safe." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ please send feedback to ardywyn@hotmail.com