Title: What He Can Do
Author: Spookyteacher
Rating: PG
Category: V, A
Subcategory: MSR
Spoilers: Essence
Archive: Spooky Awards, Epehemeral, HOF are okay. I've already sent it to Gossamer via atxc-xfc. All other site managers who want to archive it-- please just e-mail me (spkyteach@aol.com) where you have it. I want to visit your very tasteful sites!
           Summary: Assistant Director Walter Skinner's thoughts during ( and after) the final scene of Essence.
           Feedback: Please send all comments to spkyteach@aol.com.
           Notes: My other stories can be found at my archive, http://www.geocities.com/spookyteacher (Spookyteacher's Classroom X). 
           Disclaimer: Mulder, Scully, the Lone Gunmen, Skinner, Krycek, Doggett, Reyes, and Cancer Man, et al, are the creative property of Chris Carter, Ten Thirteen Productions, and Fox Television. You guys have written them so well I can't resist having a go at it myself. I really am a classroom teacher, which is synonymous with POOR. Hint, hint...
           
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           What He Can Do
           Skinner POV
           by Spookteacher
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           He keeps coming.
           
           There is no expression on his face.
           
           He's not yelling at me.
           
           He's not scowling at me.
           
           He's not even pointing a gun at me.
           
           Those things I could handle. 
           
           I've been yelled at plenty of times, by criminals and agents.
           
           And usually they're scowling or frowning or otherwise showing their anger.
           
           I've even been shot.
           
           But he's doing none of these things.
           
           And that makes it scarier.
           
           I look over the wall and note that the ground is a long way down.
           
           I know that is where my head, once separated from my body, might end up if this doesn't work. 
           
           He just keeps coming at me.
           
           Then I see Mulder.
           
           And then I don't see him.
           
           All I can see are my parents... 
           
           school... 
           
           Vietnam... 
           
           my friends... 
           
           my wife... 
           
           ex-wife... 
           
           Cancer Man... 
           
           the Gunmen... 
           
           Mulder...
           
           Scully...
           
           And then I see Billy Miles raising his arm at me.
           
           Instincts kick in and I make a sharp movement to my left...
           
           ... Billy goes flying past me and tumbles down...
           
           ... into the waiting garbage truck.
           
           Billy disappears inside that truck.
           
           Soon after, the tail lights from Reyes' car disappear, as well.
           
           I turn back to Mulder.
           
           He keeps looking in the direction where Scully has gone.
           
           I can see it in his face: panic. 
           
           I know he's frustrated that he is not the one driving that car.
           
           He has been Scully's protector for eight years.
           
           But now he cannot carry out that duty.
           
           He's relying on someone else, trusting someone else.
           
           And he hates it.
           
           I tell him we need to go check with Doggett.
           
           He says nothing.
           
           As we head back downstairs, neither of us speaks.
           
           Thoughts surge through my mind.
           
           I could have died tonight.
           
           Billy Miles would've killed me.
           
           He may still kill me because he's not dead.
           
           He will not stop until he gets Scully's baby.
           
           As we round a corner, I can see Mulder's face- panic is yielding to anger.
           
           I know how he feels.
           
           This entire situation is maddening.
           
           We should all be preparing to celebrate this miraculous birth.
           
           Instead, we're doing all this cloak and dagger stuff.
           
           And the man I believe is the father cannot be with the mother or child.
           
           This entire situation sucks!
           
           But what can I do?
           
           I just put my life on the line for them.
           
           Doggett and Krycek meet us as we stop at the exit door.
           
           We all stand staring at each other, but no word is spoken.
           
           Slowly, all eyes turn to Mulder.
           
           He walks out the exit into the hallway.
           
           He should not be here.
           
           He should be with her.
           
           I hate this.
           
           What can I do?
           
           Anything I can. 
           
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           5/14/01
           Hope you enjoyed it!
           Please send feedback to spkyteach@aol.com.