Disclaimer:  I don't own them.  Dana Scully, Mulder, CSM, (anyone else who
shows up/is referred to) and the XF belong to Chris Carter, 1013, and Fox.
Natalie, Janette, (anyone else who shows up/is referred to) and FK belong to
J.Parriott and Sony/TriStar.  
Archiving: on the ScullySlash website only
Crossposting: none
Rating: R 
Summary: fourth installment of the story that began with "Perchance to
Remember?" 
Notes/Spoilers: You'll be lost if you haven't read "Perchance" and its
sequels, "Memory Made Manifest" and "Realities," as well as part the first two
parts of PoNR.  They can all be found on the ScullySlash story archive.  This
is a Xover with Forever Knight, and takes place after its third season, with
heavy spoilers, especially for the last three episodes.  This story is fairly
concurrent with this season's XF, but no recent events are specifically
alluded to. //// ... //// denotes thoughts.  
Additional Notes: there will be three more parts to this story, and I *hope*
to have them finished and ready to post by the end of next week.  There are
also four more possible stories in this alternate universe (see what happens
when I start thinking linearly?), but I probably will not start work on them
until after this term ends.  
Feedback: hell, yes!  onlist, offlist, just send some!

Point of No Return
Part 3 - Last Chance Before the Cliff
by Nymue
Josette@aol.com

The water was hot.  Steam rose from the surface in little tendrils, mixing
with the smoke from the eucalyptus scented candles that were scattered across
the countertop, giving light to an otherwise dark room.  Sighing, Scully
lifted one her legs from the bathtub, watching as water droplets rolled down
its side, coming to rest in the pool from which they originated.  Slowly, she
flexed the elevated leg, bending it at the knee, tightening then relaxing each
of the muscles while admiring their even tone before finally wiggling her
toes.  After lowering her leg back into the heated bath, she repeated the
process on the other leg.  Once she was completely relaxed, she allowed her
head to rest on the attached bath pillow and let her mind wander over the
events of recent days.  

Mulder had been an ass.  At first titillated at the realization that he'd had
sex with an exquisite vampire, he had become thoroughly put out that she
intended to try and pursue a long-term relationship with one.  His anger had
less to do with the fact that her intended was a woman, or a vampire, and more
to do with how *he* would cope with 'losing' her.  And whether or not they
could be trusted.  And if this was her way of telling she didn't care anymore.
About any of it.  How to explain to him?  How to tell him the truth?
Especially when he really didn't want to hear her answers. 

The call from Frohicke two nights ago had left her unsettled.  When she met
the Lone Gunmen later, they told her that Mulder had asked them to check out
Natalie and Janette.  She wasn't really suprised.  She would have been more
suprised if he had done nothing.  What upset her was that Mulder, when told
that everything was Îkosher' (well, as kosher as it could be, considering),
stormed out vowing to find a way of stopping her.  So he tried to be
persuasive, tried to talk to her about this new relationship, but she was so
wrapped up in the details of what was to come that she told him they would
have to talk later.  And all he saw was that Scully -- his partner, best
friend, his lifeline and anchor, his confederate in the search and ally in the
fight ö was embarking on a new quest without him.  Or so it seemed.  And when
he realized she would not be dissuaded, he asked the Gunmen to forge a
connection between Natalie and the Consortium.  Obviously, they refused.  When
they told Scully, she was incensed.  If her mother hadn't been due to come
down the next day, she probably would have sought Mulder out herself and
simply given him a firm dressing down.  

But I didn't, she realized.  I yelled at him.  Hell, I shot at him.  And I
never told him about it --any of it-- because I was having trouble handling it
myself.  I never even thought about how he was handling this, or how he
*wasn't* handling it.  All I thought about was Îme, me, me.'  //And this is a
bad thing?// part of her questioned.  //How long has it been since you only
thought of yourself?// 

Stepping out of the now lukewarm water, she continued her internal dialogue
aloud.  "Maybe I don't pay enough attention to myself.  But since when is that
a reason to be so damn selfish?  Not that Mulder wasn't being selfish ö he
was.  But he was concerned about you.  Yes, you Dana Katherine," she told her
reflection which stared back at her from the other side of the mirror.  "And
all you were thinking about was yourself."

She was still thinking about herself, about Mulder, about their relationship
//whatever the hell it is// as she got dressed.  "I need this," she said as
she fastened her bra.  "But," she said as she pulled on her hose, "I need to
tell Mulder that this is what I need."  As she pulled on her skirt she
continued, "I also need to tell him everything about everything.  We need to
talk about our relationship."  She buttoned her blouse and tucked it in the
waistband of the skirt before adding a thin belt and her jacket.  "I need to
ask him what he wants, if he's willing to go through with this himself."
Carefully, she brushed out her hair and critically resurveyed her fingernails;
both looked pristine.  "But not tonight," she told her reflection as she
unhooked the tiny crucifix pendant and deliberately dropped it into a small
box before exiting the room.

As she opened the door to leave, she came face to face with someone who had
his hand up to knock.  Someone she hadn't thought she would see until later.

//Skinner.//  

//Damn.//

"Can I come in, Agent Scully?" he asked, his voice strained.

"Actually, sir, I was just leaving.  Could this wait?"

"In all truth?  No.  I came to speak to you personally, about something Mulder
told me earlier."

//Figures.//

"Sir, I *really* need to go.  If this is about what Mulder said --"

"Agent Scully, if you really must be going, at least let me walk you to your
car."

//Could be worse.//

"All right."

Skinner watched as Scully locked the door and waited until they had entered
the stairwell before speaking.

"Mulder came to see me early this morning.  He was shaken, but had calmed down
from whatever upset him.  He told me you were getting ready to do something
that was probably very · ill-informed." 

"What exactly did he tell you?" she asked, her apprehension levels rising.

"Not much, really."

Scully visibly relaxed.

"He made the allusion of you perched on a precipice, like you were about to
jump.  He was upset, and asked me to talk to you.  I guess what I'm saying is
I'm here to offer you a last chance, Agent Scully.  Mulder called tonight the
point of no return.  Whatever it is you're getting ready to do, right now you
can still turn back."

Scully smiled wryly before answering.  "I fell off that cliff over ten years
ago, sir.  Now, I'm finally going to find out what is waiting for me at the
bottom."

Skinner was silent.

"Would you do me favor?" she asked.

"If you'll do one for me," he told her.

"Tell Mulder I'll see him tomorrow or the day after.  And not to worry ö I
know what I'm doing."

He acknowledged her with a slight nod.  "Agent Scully ö"

She looked up.

He brushed his lips across hers.  

" ö be careful."

Slightly shocked, Scully could only watched as he walked back towards his car.
As he left, she felt her shaken equilibrium return to normal.  With a sigh,
she climbed in her car and started it.  She backed out and turned towards the
bright lights of the city, all the while thinking of what was to come. 

//Natalie.//

Scully felt a tingling start between her thighs.  She could hardly wait.

---end part 3---