TITLE: Together
AUTHOR: Kathy
EMAIL ADDRESS: SADanaMldr@aol.com
ARCHIVE: Anywhere, please keep my name and address attached and let me know where.
SPOILER WARNING: Just be aware of Mythology plot line 
RATING: PG-13 Language; reference to sexual situations
CLASSIFICATION: MSR
SUMMARY: Scully's cancer has returned
DISCLAIMER: Fox Mulder, Dana Scully and Samantha Mulder belong to CHRIS CARTER, 
TEN THIRTEEN PRODUCTIONS, and FOX TELEVISION... 
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Very short, cancer piece... enjoy.

TOGETHER
by Kathy

My head is throbbing, my nose is aching, my heart is beating
at least a million times a minute. I think in these past
three days I've had to fight to keep my breathing at a steady pace.
You'd think I was the one who was sick, the one who was...
I can't bear to even think it.  She isn't going to leave me.  No.
She'll get better; she's always been the strong one.  Stronger than
I, stronger than anyone I've ever met.

Her eyes are closed right now, but I don't think she's asleep.
I wonder what thoughts are crashing through her mind.  She
sits, head uncomfortably leaned against the head rest of my 
car.  We're headed to the hospital, another chemo treatment.

She's being her usual stoic self this morning, but I realize now
that is the way she has to deal with stuff.  Inside of herself
I believe she's created a shelter from all things that can
mar the human spirit.  I know her's has been bent and bruised 
over the years with me, but I think that she has someplace where
she goes in her mind and retreats from the rest of the world.
I'm glad of that, there were those times I wanted to be allowed
access to that place.  But, now I realize I only wanted access
to her heart, I just wanted a chance to give her my support,
my friendship... my love.  Yes, I do love, Dana Katherine Scully
...With everything that I have and everything that I am.

Last night I told her that.  It would've been the most
wonderful night a man could ever hope to experience, except
one thing... CANCER. That word wringing in my soul
like a monster waiting to attack.   

I just don't understand myself.  Why did it take this for me 
to tell her how I feel? Why did I take so damn long?  I'd 
give anything to have her healthy and happy and loving me.  

Oh yes, she said it back.  She loves me too.  The crazy thing 
about it is I didn't believe her at first.  I thought she trying 
to spare my feelings.  But, then she looked up at me, and I 
saw it.  Shining in her eyes, amidst the quivering tear drops that
hung at the base of her beautiful blue orbs.  She blinked
then, and the singular streams of liquid cascaded down
her pale face.  

My Scully, she is my savior, my night in shining armor, 
my warrior, my hero.  

We made slow, careful, passionate love into the night.  

I've always thought of my partner as an attractive woman to say the 
least, but my Scully, my...lover... is, I found
last night, the most exquisitely beautiful woman God put
on this earth.  As she revealed herself to me, I couldn't
help, but sob... I felt so many emotions right at that
very instant.  I was motionless, standing, staring...
so beautiful, so lovely, God please don't take her
from me please.  I broke down right in front of her,
fool as I am.  Like she doesn't have enough to deal with.
But there she was by my side in all her naked glory, holding
me, comforting *me*.  I felt like such a fool, but I need
it... I needed to let go.  Soon after we fell into 
her bed, and into each other.

Now she sits and waits.  I can feel the knots in her stomach,
myself... Is this what they mean by sympathy pains?
I am so very relieved that she has allowed me to take
her to her treatments, I need to be there for her.  I need
to know what's going on.  

But more than anything I need her.  And I'll be damned if
I'm gonna let some disease take her away.  I'll be
damned to hell!

"Mulder?" her voice so small, but so loud through the
painful silence of the car.

I clear my parched throat, "Yeah, baby?"  Oh God, did
I just call her baby... Duck run for cover... Pout!  That's
it.. she can never resist it when I pout.

I turn to her only to see that her eyes have slipped shut
once more.  There is a small smile playing on her lips, and
she sighs deeply.  I take it she likes the nick name.
Now there's a shocker, Dana Scully sucker for terms of
endearment...  Suddenly, I feel a soft hand cascading
over my fore arm.  I love that feeling, it's always
tingled me to the very core...  

"We're here."

We've been sitting here parked for the last five minutes,
I know, but I just can't seem to move... We go inside
this cancer takes reign in our lives.  It is king,
and we are mere subjects kneeling at its feet begging
for mercy.

No.  No... I won't beg... I'm going to fight, we're
going to fight!  God damn it, we did it once
and we'll do it again.  We'll fight the dark forces,
we will live together for ever...in this world,
in our world.  I promise this to you, Scully.

I shift my head slightly only to meet her questioning
eyes.  I nod slowly, letting her know I'm all right.
I reach for her hand, the one sitting lightly above
my arm.  Capturing it gently within my own, smoothing
my thumb back and forth across her sweetly soft knuckles,
I smile at her, a smile of hope and reassurance, ten thousand
smiles of strength and the power of love.  Bringing
her tiny pale hand to my lips, I caress it softly with
a kiss.  "I love you," I whisper.

To my surprise she practically jumps from her position in
the seat next to me and in to my arms.  She kisses my
neck, my ear, my temple, and now my cheek.  She frames
my head between her seemingly delicate, but more than
capable feminine hands.  My heart is in my ears as I wait
for her next... 

"Mulder..."  her eyes fill with tears.  "Thank you," she
lets out in a ragged whisper.  And then, she kisses
me, it is a kiss of thanks, of hope, and of desperate love.
We drain each other's souls, only to pour them right back in,
new fresh... alive.  

Yes, we will beat this Scully.  We will.  

We break apart breathlessly and prepare to face the long road ahead.

Together.

THE END