LOST AND FOUND - THE RETURN
			By Clare and Sharron
 
Rating NC17, most definitely.  Scullyslash, F/F sex, Scully angst.
 
Disclaimer:  Dana Scully, Fox Mulder, Walter Skinner, Melissa Scully and
Maggie Scully belong to Chris Carter, 1013 Productions and the Fox
Network.  We are just borrowing them for a short time.  Natalie Driver
is ours though.
 
Summary:  After returning back to England, Natalie is shocked to find a
change of heart in Dana.
 
Please read Lost and Found and Lost and Found -The Sequel before reading
this, if you haven't already, otherwise you won't have the faintest idea
what the hell we're going on about!!
 
Enjoy!!
 
 
The buildings seemed far below them now and the sky was grey with dark
clouds. Rain started to spot on the windows as the place ascended higher
and higher leaving the bad memories of England far behind for Dana and
Natalie. 

Natalie had gone to work to hand in her resignation and Dana had managed
to book a flight to Washington for the next day. The plane was cramped
and uncomfortable for Natalie being a little taller than Dana. They had
already seen the movies that were playing on the flight and the clouds
seemed to hold more interest for Dana who just stared out of the window.

Mulder had agreed to pick them up at the other end, glad that Dana was
coming back. It wasn't that he didn't trust Natalie but he liked to have
his ex partner close so he could feel he was at least trying to protect
after all that had happened whilst they had been together.

Dana felt her eyes close and the lull of sleep drift over her as she
felt Natalie's arms curl around her shoulder for comfort. It wasn't
until she felt a finger stroke her cheek that she realised how long she
had been asleep. It brought back memories of the flight over to England.
The weather wasn't much better in Washington she noted as the plane
landed with rain pelting on the ground beneath them.

Mulder saw the two women first and noticed the difference straight away.
Dana was much thinner and paler then when she had left and Natalie had a
huge gash down the side of her cheek. He had no idea of the trauma's
they had gone through whilst in England but he sure was glad to have
Dana back.

In big strides he found them and Dana fell into his arms in an emotional
reunion. Natalie just smiled and lingered awkwardly in the background
whilst the two friends were reunited.

The car journey was quiet with trying not to fall asleep again. Her
energy levels were still not back to normal since the last nosebleed she
had and her headaches had become more pounding.

"I talked to Skinner and he said he'll see you both tomorrow in his
office at 10am." Mulder said.

"What did he say ?." Natalie wanted to know.

"He gave nothing away at all. I'm sorry I can't tell you more." Mulder
apologised.

The car drew up outside Natalie's apartment block and Mulder got the
luggage from the trunk as Natalie leaned forward to talk to Dana.

"Do you want to stay tonight Dana ?." She asked but Dana shook her head
and for once Natalie had no idea what she was thinking as her face held
a mask that showed nothing at all.

"I need some time by myself Nat. I'll see you at the meeting tomorrow."

Natalie's hurt look was obvious and she had no idea what had happened.
Just yesterday Dana had been begging her not to leave and they had made
a vow to stay together no matter what. Her eyes threatened to spill the
tears she felt there but she blinked them back.

"What's going on Dana ?. Are you trying to tell me something here ?." 

Dana turned away unable to look her in the eyes. "I just need some time
by myself okay Natalie." She replied sounding almost like the business
like Scully she had met first.

Natalie got out of the car without another word and thanked Mulder for
taking her luggage in. She didn't look back.

Natalie stepped into her apartment and locked the door behind her.  What
was happening here, why didn't Dana want to be with her?  She felt a
lump in a throat and the tears started to well up in her eyes.  Dana was
the only person she wanted to be with right now, after everything they
had been through, but she obviously didn't want to be with her.

Natalie sat down on her sofa and ran her hands through her hair,
stopping at the back of her head, bringing it down so her elbows were
touching her knees.  She clenched her fists in her hair and screwed her
eyes up tightly and the tears began to fall freely.

"Oh God Dana, why are you doing this to me?  I need you."

She wondered what she had done wrong, was Dana going to leave her?  That
was something she wouldn't even contemplate.  The only thing she could
do now was to wait for Dana to get in touch with her.

Natalie decided to get some sleep, she was exhausted from the flight. 
She had a shower before getting into her pyjamas, but just as she was
about to climb into bed the phone rang.  Her heart quickened in
anticipation that it was Dana.  She picked up the receiver.

"Hello?"

"Hi Natalie, it's Mulder."

Natalie's heart sank.

"Oh hi, I thought it might be Dana, nothing's wrong is it?"

"No, I'm just ringing to give you a message from her."

Why the hell, couldn't she ring herself? Natalie thought.

"Yeah?"

"She told me to tell you that she needs to be alone for a few days, she
needs time to think."

"And what the hell does that mean Mulder?  Why can't she trust me with
her feelings, I thought we had sorted this out,"

Mulder began to feel a little uncomfortable.

"Look, I'm sorry, I'm just passing on a message, but I wouldn't worry
Natalie, she loves you, even I can see that."

"I'm sorry Mulder, I shouldn't be taking this out on you. Thanks for
letting me know. Bye"

Natalie put the phone down and began to cry again, she lay on her bed 
wondering how she would be able to continue without seeing Dana, she
wanted to be with her so much and what would happen tomorrow in
Skinner's office?  Natalie cried herself to sleep, thinking that her
world had finally begun to fall apart.  Her only wish being that Dana
would want her back. She just couldn't understand what had happened in
such a short time to make Dana so cold towards her.

Mulder had been with Dana when he called Natalie. She had given him the
message to pass on and had fallen asleep on the couch. She was obviously
totally exhausted physically and mentally. Without Natalie though she
hated sleeping - Natalie had kept her safe but she knew in the end
they'd take her too so it was easier if she tried to keep the distance
now. 

Without Nat beside her the nightmares came back to haunt her and she saw
her mother being ripped away from her family, Nat being dragged by her
hair into a grave and she could hear the her screaming as slowly the
ground closed over here.

"No, No not again". She screamed and her eyes snapped open, tears
pouring down her cheeks. Mulder was beside her.

"Scully what is it ?. Are you alright ?." He asked concerned.

She could only nod as she wiped the tears away, the memories of the
nightmare still evident in her mind.

"I. . I just couldn't sleep. I'm fine now".

"You want to call Natalie ?." Mulder asked hopefully knowing that was
what the nightmare was all about.

"No" Dana said too quickly "I need time away from her for a while."
telling herself it was the best thing for both of them.

"Well ok, if you're sure."

"I'm sure Mulder, now I'd like some time on my own, if you don't mind."

"I don't like leaving you like this Scully. I..."

"Mulder, please."

"Ok, ok, I'm going, but call me if you need anything."  Mulder said in
such a way as to mean 'call me anyway'.

"I will and thank you."

Mulder left and for the first time since getting back, Dana was alone. 
She sat on the couch for what seemed forever, thinking of Natalie,
knowing that she was the most important person in her life, but if she
let her back, she believed that 'they' would take her away.  She also
didn't want to put her through the difficult times ahead there would be
with her cancer.  She would have to call her eventually to explain what
was going on, but for now her main concern was getting through the
meeting with Skinner tomorrow.

Dana drove into the parking lot at the FBI Headquarters and immediately
spotted Natalie's car. 'She's here already' she thought to herself and
felt a knot grow in her stomach.  

"Come on, you can do this."  She whispered to herself.  She took in a
deep breath and got out of her car and made her way to Skinner's
office.  On the way Mulder caught up with her.

"Hey, how ya doin' Scully?"

"I'm fine Mulder, I have to get to my meeting with Skinner."

"I know, I just wanted to wish you luck."

"Thanks, that means a lot.  I'll probably see you after ok?"

"Yeah, you know where I'll be."

"Yeah, I know."

Dana got in the lift, it seemed to take forever for it to reach
Skinner's floor.  Eventually, it came to a stop and the doors opened, as
she looked up she saw Natalie waiting.

"Dana" Natalie blurted out before she knew what she had said.

Dana took a deep breath to keep the cool head she had promised herself
but looking at the state she had put Natalie in it was nearly
impossible. Though she had tried to cover it with make up Dana knew her
well enough to see she had cried alot last night.

"Nat I'm sorry. I . .we have a meeting with Skinner." Dana said softly
trying not to hurt her even more than she had too.

"Just tell me where I was wrong Dana and I'll put it right. Please I
love you Dana." Natalie was nearly in tears in the middle of the a
crowded corridor.

Dana ushered her to one side and sighed. 

"Look Nat we need to talk but not here. Let's just get this meeting over
with and see where we go from there okay ?."

Natalie nodded and they walked silently side by side to Skinner's
office. He was waiting for them.

"Agent Scully, Agent Driver - take a seat" He gestured.

They sat, both upright in the hard  chairs. Dana sat with her hands
clasped tightly together in her lap whilst Natalie had her hands
clenched by her sides.

"You both know what this is about and you both know what the
consequences of your actions were. This applies especially to you Agent
Driver. It means you are no longer assigned to work with Agent Scully or
as an FBI Agent."

Natalie just stared past Skinner as if she knew what he was going to
say.

"I'm willing to accept those consequences sir" She replied.

"You'll be assigned to the Communications section working with Agent
Lewis. Scully, you'll be back with Mulder undertaking official FBI
duties."

"Thank you sir" They both murmered in unison.

"Is that all Sir ?." Dana asked.

Skinner nodded.

"You start as from tomorrow".

Dana and Natalie both left the office in silence.

Natalie turned on her as soon as they were out of earshot.

"Dana please talk to me. I don't know what I've done wrong but I love
you and I missed you so bad last night." Natalie's tone was that of
desperation.

"I can't . . I can't go back to what we had Nat" Dana told her in a low
voice. 

Natalie stood shocked unable to believe what she had just heard.

"You . . you want us to split up ?." She whispered.

"It's . .it's for the best Nat. Please believe me when I say I am doing
this for you." She whispered back with tears welling in her eyes and the
knot in her stomach tightening as she tried to contemplate life without
this woman. "I gotta go. I'm so sorry Nat." She choked out and
practically ran from the scene like it was a crime.

Natalie just stood and watched her go without a word, too shocked to
move. She had no idea why this was all for the best and how she could
convince Dana otherwise. Life without her wasn't worth living and she
had to make her see.

Dana went to find Mulder, he was busy looking through some slides in the
basement office he
still had.  She burst through the door, looking like she had just done
the worst thing she could
imagine.

"Scully, what is it?"

"Oh Mulder, what am I going to do?  I've split up with Nat and the look
on her face, I..."  Dana
burst into tears and Mulder came over to hug her.

"Come on, it'll be fine, you'll see."

"But I shouldn't have to give her up, I love her, but if I don't I'll
lose her Mulder, they'll take her
from me, just like Melissa and how do I know that mom's car accident
wasn't their doing too?"

"Hey, you don't know that and your mom's death was an accident, you'll
probably be together when you're old and grey."

"But I can't take that chance Mulder, if they were to take her away,
kill her, I'd never be able to live with myself."

"You may be right Scully, but can you live without her in your life?"

Dana wiped away the tears, Mulder had a point, could she really go on
without her.

Natalie had gone home, all the way thinking of ways to convince Dana
that she was wrong, that they had to be together, no matter what.

Later that evening as she sat by the phone, Natalie contemplated whether
or not to ring Dana, she had picked it up four times now and each time
putting it back down, but she knew she had to do it.  She rang Dana's
number, her heart racing.  

"Hello?"  came the reply.

"Dana, it's Nat, please don't hang up."

"I wasn't going to."

"I need to talk to you, please, I need you Dana."

"Nat, I explained all this earlier, I don't think we should see each
other any more."  Natalie could feel her heart breaking  "It's for your
own good."

"What do you mean it's for my own good?  I don't understand Dana, the
only thing that is good for me is you."  Dana was hurting so much, she
wanted Natalie to be part of her life, but felt that this was best for
both of them.  "Please Dana, don't do this to me, to us, I love you, we
can work this out, I can't go on without you."  There was a long pause.

"Dana?"

"I'm sorry Nat, it's over."

Natalie heard the phone go dead, she was in shock, unable to take in
exactly what Dana had done.  She had to have her back and she new Dana
was hiding something from her.  Complete despair washed over her and
that night she didn't care what happened and she drank half a bottle of
whisky to try and forget, but it only made her hurt even more.  She
passed out on the couch and when she woke she felt like she'd been hit
by a truck.  She also had to make a quick dash for the bathroom as her
stomach was telling her that that much drink was not good.

It was 8.30 when Natalie made it to her new office in the Communications
Section.  Waiting for her was Agent Lewis, who for some reason Natalie
was surprised to find out was a woman.

"Good morning, you must be Natalie."  Agent Lewis held out her hand.

"Yes, Agent Lewis?"

"Please, call me Holly."


Dana had been at work since 7.00, she hadn't been able to sleep for
thinking of Natalie.  There was no point just lying there making herself
miserable, she needed something to occupy her mind.  Mulder was busy
going over some paperwork that was well overdue, but he couldn't
concentrate as  he worried about Scully.  He could see she wasn't paying
attention to her work, but he didn't want to say anything for fear of
upsetting her.

Mulder glanced over at his partner, he didn't think she was doing the
right thing by splitting up with Natalie.  He saw a chance to try to
rectify the situation, well at least he could try.

"Scully, I have to be in Skinner's office in 5 minutes to hand in this
paperwork, would you mind taking this to Communications for me?"

"But Mulder I......"  Dana tried to object.

"Scully, I really need this to go, I wouldn't ask you unless it was
really necessary."

"Mulder, please don't ask me to do this.  I can't."

"I'm sorry Scully, but it really has to get there and Skinner's
waiting."

Scully was not happy with the situation but she felt like she didn't
have a lot of choice in the matter.
She took the file from Mulder and walked out the office.  Mulder smiled
to himself.

Dana felt nervous as she got closer to the office in question.  She just
planned to drop the file off and leave, hopefully without any
confrontation.  As she walked up to the office, she overheard Holly
talking to Natalie.

"So do you fancy coming out for a drink tonight?"  Holly asked.

Natalie was all set to say no, as going out without Dana was the last
thing she wanted to do, but as she was about to take a raincheck, she
spotted Dana out of the corner of her eye and the words came out before
she could stop them.

"I'd love too Holly, what time?"

Dana took a deep breath, put the file on the desk without saying a word
to either agent.   She couldn't believe what she had just heard.  Could
Natalie really replace her so quickly?  Dana suddenly felt another
headache coming on as she walked back to the office.  Mulder was still
in his meeting and she sat down in his chair, thoughts racing through
her mind, she held her head in her hands, trying to relieve the pain,
but then she felt the all to familiar feeling of the trickle of blood
from her nose.  She couldn't go on today and decided that home was the
best place.  Dana left a note for Mulder and headed off.

Later that night.

Holly invited Natalie in to her apartment after they had spent the
evening sociallising, though Holly did most of the talking.  Natalie
wasn't paying much attention to her new boss, but she had been drinking
quite a lot.  She decided that she should go around 11pm, but Holly
decided otherwise.  

"Please don't go Natalie, its early."

"No, I really should be going now, thanks for a great evening Holly."

Holly stepped closer to her, too close and Natalie felt uncomfortable
with the situation, but also aroused that someone else was interested in
her.  Holly said again,

"Please don't go, I really want you to stay."  She placed her hand on
Natalie's arm and moved even closer.  Holly leaned in to kiss her and as
their lips almost touched, Natalie pulled away.

"I'm sorry, I can't." She mumbled and rushed to the door, grabbing her
coat as she ran out of the apartment building.  There was only one place
she wanted to be and that was with Dana and she'd be damned if she was
going to be turned away from the woman she loved more than her life.  

As she reached Dana's apartment, she felt the anxiety build, but she was
a determined woman.  She knocked on her door, there was no response and
she assumed Dana was in bed and so knocked again.  This time she heard
footsteps, she waited and then Dana opened the door to her.

"Nat, what are you doing here at this hour?" Dana asked wearily.

"What do you think I'm doing here Dana?  I've come to see you, there is
no way I am going to be parted from you, I don't care what it takes."

Dana realised that the threshold of her apartment was not the best place
to discuss this and she let Natalie in.

"Look, I've told you how I feel , I thought I made myself clear."  Dana
said, wishing with all her heart that she didn't have to.

"Dana, you have to listen to me, I can't go on without you and I don't
want to go on without you, you mean more to me than anything, my life
even, without you I have no life.  I know you feel the same but you're
too stubborn to admit it to yourself.  You're trying to protect me
aren't you?" Natalie was almost pleading with her now as it seemed that
was the only way to make her listen to what she wanted and what she knew
that Dana wanted too.

"No I'm...oh God, I'm so afraid that if I love you, that if we're
together they will take you away from me, like they did with Melissa.  I
couldn't bare to lose you Nat, I wouldn't be able to forgive myself,
you're better off without me."

"But don't you see, I don't want to be without you.  I'd rather have a
week with you than a lifetime without you Dana.  Can't you get it into
that head of yours that I love you more than anything.  You're my life."

"But what kind of a life would you have with me ?. I'm dying of cancer
Nat and there's no cure. I can't let you go through this with me and
watch me die." 

"But I want to go through this with you Dana.  I want to help you
through this, no matter how long it takes."

Natalie looked at Dana, almost begging her to take her back into her
life and she could see this in her eyes.  Dana couldn't take it any
longer, she felt the same way and trying not to cry she moved forward to
take her into her arms.

Both women began to cry as they fell into one another's embrace. 

"I love you Dana" Natalie whispered into Dana's hair. "I don't ever want
to be apart from you like that again."

"I love you too Nat. I only wanted to protect you from the pain." Dana
explained softly. "I've missed you so much"

"Dana I want to taste you again so much. I've missed waking up next to
you and I felt so empty without you there beside me."

There were no more words to be said as Dana leaned forward to capture
her lovers mouth and let their tongues reunite into the familiar
territory that they so loved. The kiss was hot and hungry - they had so
much time to make up for.
 
"Lets go into the bedroom."  Dana suggested as she took Natalie by the
hand.
 
They stood at the end of the bed, just looking at one another, realising
what they nearly had lost.
 
They kissed long and passionately, until Natalie started to move down
Dana's neck and onto her collarbone, making her lover's held fall
backwards.  Natalie kissed her way down between Dana's shirt, undoing
the buttons then placing a kiss on the exposed skin,  Dana running her
fingers through Nat's hair. 
 
When she reached Dana's belly button, Natalie put her tongue into it,
sending goosebumps all over the beautiful redhead.
 
"Oh God Nat, I want you now."
 
"I want you too Dana."
 
The two women quickly undressed and got into bed, side by side, they
pulled one another close, their breasts touching, sending sparks of
electricity through their bodies.  They kissed, their tongues entering
the other's mouth, then Natalie pushed Dana onto her back and climbed on
top of her.  She kissed her way down, taking one of Dana's breasts into
her mouth, the nipple already hard.  She licked the tip of it, making
her sigh, then gently sucked on the breast.  Her free hand was softly
stroking the other one, but she knew where Dana wanted it to be.  She
stroked her way down until she reached her clit and started to rub it in
a circular motion, Dana rotating her hips to the rhythm of the fingers.  
Dana's head was pressed into the pillow, her back slightly arched off
the bed as Natalie slid two fingers into her, sending a surge of
excitement through her body.
 
"Oh God Nat, I want you so much aaaarrrhhh..... you feel so good inside
me."
 
"I want to taste you, I've missed that so much Dana."
 
Natalie kissed her way down to Dana's very wet pussy and removing her
fingers, she slide her tongue into her.  It felt so good and she thought
she might cum herself as she watched Dana writhe around on the bed.  She
plunged her tongue deep into her, rubbing her clit with her fingers
harder and harder.  Dana was so close and she knew it wouldn't take much
more. She continued to tongue fuck her, drinking the juices that poured
from her hole, Natalie couldn't get enough. Then Dana's back arched
completey off the bed and she heard her scream her name.
 
"Naaaaatttttt, oh God, aaaaaarrrrrrrhhhhhhhhh."
 
Dana was shaking as she dropped back on the bed and Natalie went to take
her in her arms,  kissing her, letting Dana taste herself.
 
"I've missed you so much Nat.  I couldn't live without you, I wouldn't
want to.  Please forgive me."
 
"Dana, I forgive you, but only if you do one thing for me."  She said
giving her a look that Dana couldn't resist.  "Do it to me now, or I'm
going to going to burst."
 
"Oh baby, I think that can be arranged."
 
Still lying beside Natalie, Dana kissed her deeply as she slid her hand
between her lovers thighs, parting them slightly.  'My God, she's so
wet'  Dana thought to herself, turning her on even more.  She lent down
to take a breast into her mouth, still rubbing the hardened clit.  Dana
could see she was close and she didn't want to miss the opportunity to
taste her as she came.  She moved her head between Natalie's thighs and
licked up the juices already there, then without warning she slid her
tongue deep into her.  Natalie was biting her bottom lip, the sensation
she was feeling was just over powering her.  Dana continued moving her
tongue in and out, still rubbing her clit faster and faster.
 
"Oh God Dana, I'm cuming yesssss.....ohmygod fuck me please."
 
Dana was going as fast as she could when Natalie's body tensed
completely and she came  so strongly that she actually clasped Dana's
head between her thighs. It took a few seconds for her to realise what
she was doing and realise her from her vice-like lock.  
 
Dana didn't seem to mind as she had been too busy cherishing the taste
of her lover.
 
"Oh God Dana, are you ok?"  She asked rather worriedly.
 
"I'm fine."  Dana replied as she came up to her side with a big grin on
her face.
 
Natalie pulled her close to kiss her and after a while they just lay
there, together again, Dana's head on Nat's chest.  Before long were
both asleep.

They slept through the whole night, not a single nightmare and no sign
of a nosebleed either.  Dana was first to wake, she looked across at
night sleeping peacefully and she gave her a small kiss on her forehead,
not wanting to wake her. She decided to take a shower before breakfast.  
The water was hot and she felt good, she had Natalie back and that was
all that mattered.  She began to wash herself, moving the soap over
every part of her body then she nearly jumped out of her skin.
 
"Oh Jesus you made me jump."  She said as Natalie stood just outside the
shower door.
 
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to startle you, but you look so good in there
and also a bit lonely."
 
"Oh do I?  So you think I need company do you?"
 
" I think that sounds a good idea."
 
Natalie opened the door and stepped into the shower.  She took the soap
from Dana and began to rub it over her neck, then onto her breasts,
where she lingered for a few moments, slowly down her stomach until she
reached her pussy, drawing it over her hardened clit, making Dana gasp
with pleasure.  Natalie dropped the soap but kept her hand on Dana, now
rubbing her clit with her fingers, pushing her back against the cold
tiles, Dana gasped as a shiver went up her spine.  Natalie lowered her
head and took one of Dana's breasts into her mouth.  Dana was finding it
hard to stand up, her legs felt like lead and she had to balance herself
on the walls of the shower.  Natalie then dropped to her knees and
started to kiss her clit, making her moan, tossing her head about.
 
"Oh Naaaat, go on please, make me cum."
 
Natalie nuzzled deep into Dana, her tongue flicking out every now and
again until Dana felt a familiar energy build up in her and she came
having to hold on to Nat for support.  

Both women just leaned against each other, enjoying the close feeling
they had missed when they had been apart.

Dana recovered first and finished washing herself whilst Nat took a
little longer to come back down to earth.

There was a comfortable silence as they dried and dressed then Dana
spoke softly "Nat I'd really like us to talk now".

Nat smiled and knew there were things that needed to be discussed
between them. She had wanted to wait till Dana was ready as she knew
that she found it difficult to talk of her fears and their future
together.

"Let's get some breakfast and we'll talk okay Dana ?."

Dana nodded, grateful that Nat understood her need to discuss things and
though she wasn't completly sure that taking her lover back was the
right thing to do she was happy. 

"Dana, you hungry ?." 

Nat's voice brought her out of her own thoughts and she shook her head,
moving to sit on the couch.

"Nat, what happened between you and Agent Lewis ?." Dana blurted out. It
had been on her mind since last night and she hadn't meant for it to
come out quite like that, so bluntly. 

Nat grinned and sat down beside the fragile looking redhead.

"Dana, nothing happened between Holly and I." she sighed. "Yes she did
make a move on me but it made me realise how much I loved and needed
you. I love you so much" 

Dana looked uncomfortable now and studied the floor intently.

"Dana, tell me what you're thinking." Nat asked gently, sensing that
there was more that her lover needed to talk about.

Dana looked up and caught a loving gaze from the green eyes in front of
her. She looked down again.

"I. .I guess it just seems a little strange that you would want to be
with me knowing that I have this disease, knowing that everything that
has happened to you was caused by me. I don't want you to go through
this pain Nat. I don't want you to sit here and watch me die while your
own life is on hold. There's so much else you could do and other people
that could love you." She paused for a few minutes before carrying on.
"That's why I needed some space Nat after we came back from England. I
kept thinking of all that had happened to you and I wanted to give you
time to try and forget me and find someone else. Someone without a fatal
disease and someone . .someone who dosen't get you beaten up on every
corner of the street and forced out of your job." She was starting to
get tearful again now and Natalie moved to take Dana into her arms to
comfort her.

"Dana I love you and whatever might happen to me or to you I want us to
be together. I couldn't leave you now if I wanted too. We're together
now, that's what matters. As much as it hurts me to think of you not
ever being here I have you here with me now so lets cherish what
precious time we have." Nat urged. "I left my job - no one forced me and
getting beaten up is part of being an FBI agent."

"What about your job with Agent Lewis ?." Dana asked tentitavely.

"Well I guess I'll have to talk to Holly.I'm sure we can work soemthing
out. Do you want me to tell her about us - to explain ?."

"No" Dana answered quickly. "What we do is our own business and I don't
want it spread around the bureau. It'll only cause you more
embarrasement when people learn you are linked with me."

"Dana, stop this self destruction thing right now and lets get one thing
clear. I am with you because I love you and you are my friend and lover.
I would shout it to everyone right now that I love you as you make me so
happy." She tilted Dana's head to look at her. "Come on lets get out of
here for a while you look like you could use some air."

Dana got up wordlessly and moved to go to the bathroom when the phone
rang.

"Can you get it please Nat ?." She called.

Nat moved across the room to pick up the shrilling phone.

"Dana Scully's phone." 

The voice on the other end was very loud and excited, obviously Mulder
of course. Nat couldn't quite understand what he was saying as he was
talking so fast but soemthing about a microchip and Scully's cancer.

"Mulder, MULDER . .hang on I'll get Dana." Natalie shouted to get him to
stop talking for a second.

She knocked on the bathroom door and Dana came out, now dressed fully
with make up and hair perfect. 

"It's Mulder and he's hyper." Nat explained shaking her head in
amusement at Dana's rolling eyes.

"Mulder what is it ?." 

Her eyes widened when she understood what Mulder was talking about and
the effects it could have on her life. 

"I. .I don't know what to say" She finally managed to stutter. "I..I
need to know more about it before I can even consider it and I have to
talk to Nat."

Natalie smiled when she heard this as whatever it was that Mulder was
telling her about it meant she thought more of her lover than ever
before to say that she had to consult her.

The click of the phone being disconnected brought her back to reality
and she realised she was smiling to herself.

"That was Mulder." Dana said unneccessarily.

"What was all that about ?. I couldn't understand what he was saying."
Nat replied moving to stand next to Dana.

"He. .He says he has a cure for my cancer. A microchip that was taken
out of my neck. A few months later I discovered I had cancer and now
Mulder says if I put in back in it could cure me". She said incredously.

"And what do you think about this ?."

Dana shrugged. "I don't know. I mean I don't know anything about this
chip but then what other choices do I have to try. The treatment I have
had so far has done nothing to improve my condition. What option do I
have but to to try it."

"Then do it Dana. If it's another option that might rid you of your
cancer then please try it, if not for yourself then for me. I don't want
to lose you." Nat hated herself for getting all tearful again.

Dana nodded and sighed. "I'll call Mulder and we'll go tell my doctor.
Will you come with me Nat ?."

A huge smile lit Natalie's face as she realised again how much Dana was
trying to include her as her lover in all this and she leaned over to
hug her tightly.

"It's all going to work out Dana, you'll see. Whatever happens you know
that we are going to be together and you won't have to be alone."

Dana met Nat's open mouth in a passionate embrace then pulled away.

"Agent Driver, I do believe you are trying to distract me here." she
said playfully. "There is time for all this later."

"We have the rest of our lives together to do this Dana" Nat said
softly. 

"I can't wait." Dana whispered back "but there's no time like the
present".

The End