TITLE:  In This Minute
AUTHOR:  Christine Leigh
E-MAIL: leighchristine@hotmail.com               
RATING: G
CATEGORY: V, MSR
KEYWORDS: AU
SPOILERS: Empedocles.
ARCHIVING: I'd appreciate a quick note first.     

SUMMARY: AU version of the scene in Empedocles when
Mulder visits Scully in the hospital.  Sort of a prequel to
Private Party, a post-Empedocles vignette that can be found
on my web site and at Gossamer. 

DISCLAIMER: All characters are the products of Chris
Carter. They also belong to Ten-Thirteen Productions and the
Fox Network. No copyright infringement intended.  A few
lines of dialogue are taken verbatim from the episode,
Empedocles.


Washington Medical Center

"But you're going to be fine?" 

"Yes." 

He reaches to touch her and his hand falls upon her stomach,
moving in a circular pattern.  It happens so naturally and for a
few seconds the world that has been unrecognizable to him
since his return now feels familiar.  This is Scully times two
he is caressing; his rock, doubled.  Their baby is now moving
beneath his hand, and that is a wondrous fact to ponder. 
They smile at each other and he feels at ease.  He needs for
this to last.  

"This is amazing." 

Scully nods.  There have been too few words between them
since Mulder came back, but the still, silence of this moment
while she observes his expression is the most meaningful
conversation they've had yet.  She needs for this to continue. 
They need it.  All three.  His hand, still upon her, is now
resting.

"You should sit down."

He shakes his head.  "I like it here, Scully."

"Where have you been?"

"I've actually been out in the field with Agent Doggett and
this female agent from New Orleans."

"Agent Reyes."

"Yeah, but . . . "  He breaks it off.  Business is the last thing
he wants to talk about right now.

"But?"

"But, it'll keep.  I'll tell you everything, but not in this minute,
if that's all right."

She looks at his hand splayed over her and smiles.  "Okay."

He has such beautiful hands.  Pianist's hands with their long,
graceful fingers, she'd thought, the first time she'd given them
a thought.  That seemed like a hundred years ago.  She wants
their child to inherit this from his or her father.

"Everything really is all right?"

"Yes.  And there hasn't been any indication that it shouldn't
continue to be.  Doctor Speake will tell me tomorrow,
probably, when I'll be able to go home."

Home.  He wants to be there, but wonders if she's ready for
that.  That's definitely not a conversation for this minute
either.  

"When you do, the pizza's on me."

"Sounds good."

"Scully, do you want anything while you're here?  Is there
something I can bring you?"  He doesn't have a clue what it
would be, but needs to ask.  Isn't this what fathers-to-be are
supposed to do?  That is, whatever needs to be done?  He's
watched enough television to know this much.  It couldn't all
be banal exaggeration.

She looks at him and they eye talk for the first time in a long
time, and then he knows that he won't be foraging through
her apartment, regardless of whether there is anything she
could use.  They both grin and for a flash it's 1994 again.  

"Mulder, everything I need or want is here, now."

"You say."

"I say, truly."  There is no teasing in her tone now.

He removes his hand from its resting place, and along with
the other takes her face in both.  Something momentous has
happened here tonight.  They are unstalled.  He leans in, and
as their lips join, he thinks about the future for the first time
since returning.  It is a kiss of hope.

"You should  try to sleep."  He pulls over a chair to sit down.

"You aren't staying?"

"I am."


- end  -

                         
http://cleigh6.tripod.com