Title:Facing The Past Category: Angst, romance and deep friendship Author: Joey Feedback: Yep: Joey@Ram32.freeserve.co.uk Archive: Anywhere, where anyone wants it just let me know. Rating: PG-13, overall, I think. It has some mention of rape. Summary: Whilst spending a week with her family at an old summerhouse, Scully remembers something from the past that could destroy her future................ ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Part one - - - - - -- - - - - - - - -- Scully woke up with a start, her heart pounding wildly, tears streaming down her cheeks. It was dark and she was cold, freezing. She was in floods of tears, hysterical, and she didn’t know why. She wasn’t aware that she’d been crying loudly or that she’d called out for help in her sleep. The door to her bedroom opened and Margaret Scully rushed in, immediately taking her shaking daughter in her arms. Both women were occupied with the situation at hand so they didn’t notice the figure hovering at the open doorway, silhouetted by the light in the hallway. Finally, after an hour of confused and frightened tears, Margaret Scully’s gentle soothing eventually calmed Dana Scully down as her sobs subsided. Margaret turned to the man in the doorway and gave him a solemn look. “ Call Mulder,” Mrs. Scully ordered, remembering the only word she’d been able to make out during Scully’s sobs. Sensing rather than seeing her eldest son’s disapproving look, Margaret added, “ He’s the only one who can save your sister.” Bill Scully jnr reluctantly left the doorway and headed down the hall to call his sisters partner, praying as he did so that the man he despised so much could actually help his sister and save her - from herself. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Fox Mulder was startled when he received the call from Bill Scully. As startled as he was, Mulder did not hesitate in throwing on some clothes and grabbing his already packed bag before heading to the airport. During the entire, long journey, all Mulder could think about was the anguished sobs he’d heard coming from Bill’s end of the phone which he knew belonged to his partner, best friend and the woman he loved with all his heart. At that time, Mulder had no idea what was causing her pain but he somehow knew that only he could help her, she’d chosen him and if he failed, if they failed, his whole world would come to an end. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bill was silent as he drove Mulder from the airport to the Scully summerhouse. He only spoke when they pulled up outside the house and didn’t give Mulder any chance to respond. “ I know I’ve made no secret of my feelings for you, Mr. Mulder, but if you can help my sister through this, I’ll be forced to believe your intentions towards her are good and I’ll step aside and let the two of you make your own decisions. And I won’t blame you if you can’t save her. But I’ll warn you now, you’re taking on a big responsibility the moment you step into that house. Especially as she hasn’t spoken or let anyone near her since one this morning. This is the first time Dana’s been here since she was a child and we’re all counting on you to get her out alive.” With that, Bill got out of the car and Mulder followed quickly, desperate to find out what was hurting his partner - and determined to help her battle whatever it was. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mulder didn’t wait for instructions from Bill or Mrs. Scully who was waiting in the hall. Instinctively, he made his way towards the room he knew Scully was in and burst through the door, all of his fears and darkest worries coming to the surface as he saw her sitting at the window seat, staring dejectedly at the lake and small pier the Scully family had owned a part of for decades. She turned when she heard the door open and he saw her glassy eyes suddenly come into sharp focus as she realized he was here, for her. To an astounded Bill and Margaret Scully, after a moment of eye contact, Scully was in Mulders waiting arms, feeling safe, secure and loved as he held her tight, wanting nothing more than to protect her and erase all of the pain that evaporated from her in waves. Scully pulled back slightly and looked to her mother and brother before looking up at Mulder. “ You’ll have to excuse them, they’re a bit shocked I’m letting you hold me. Or you’re letting me hold you. Whichever one it is.” “ I think it’s both,” he whispered tenderly. “ Oh, Mulder. Thank you for coming...I..I need you so much...” Scully’s eyes welled up with tears as she buried her head in his chest. Mulder held her tightly, relieved she had come so readily into his embrace and pleased beyond all measures that she trusted him enough to finally let him in. “ I can’t...I want to trust them, Mulder but.... Oh, Mom. I’m so sorry. I...I can’t help it..” “ It’s okay, honey,” Mrs. Scully spoke soothingly, showing she understood. “ Your brother and I are leaving now. Call me if you want to talk. About anything, Dana.” “ I will,” Scully’s reply was muffled as she moved closer to Mulder. Mrs. Scully’s eyes held a glimmer of hope at the contented tone of voice Scully used as she looked at Mulder who was so obviously in love with her daughter, it pained her to see them try and deny it. “ Take care of her, Fox,” Mrs. Scully’s voice drifted over to him with a dream-like quality to it even though he knew she was only a few feet away. All Mulder could concentrate on was Dana Scully and the strength of the love he felt enveloping them as they stood in a close embrace. Neither Mulder nor Scully were properly aware of Mrs. Scully and Bill’s departure. They stayed where they were, how they were, for about half an hour after they had left. Then Mulder had taken Scully’s hand and led her downstairs to the living room where he lit them a fire and made them a light lunch, all without saying a single word, sharing only looks and touches. Mulder noticed, with some pleasure, that Scully lingered closer to him than usual but he was also fearful for the reason for this new-found closeness. --------------- Part Two. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mulder was sitting with his arm around her shoulder in front of the fire as they ate in a warm silence. Scully looked at him, seeing his thoughts play across his face as shadows from the fire flickered and danced across his handsome features. Suddenly, sensing he was under her gaze, Mulder turned and his concerned and tender hazel eyes met her wide and innocent blue eyes. Scully spoke first. “ I want to thank you, Mulder. For coming here. I really appreciate it. I really feel like I owe you an explanation for my behavior and my requesting your presence but I’d rather wait until tomorrow morning if that’s okay,” she waited he nodded his agreement before continuing. “ I know this whole thing is going to change everything between us so if you don’t want that, I want you to leave now. What I’m trying to say, and failing to do so, is that I trust you so completely, more so than I do my own family, because I love you. I know that’s a simple thing to say but......I have never felt like this before. I’ve never loved someone before and it scares me so much.....If you can’t deal with that, I want you to leave.” “ I’m not leaving, Scully. I love you so much...And I’ve never felt this way about anyone in my whole entire life and I’m pretty scared too but....I’ve needed you lots of times and you’ve always come through for me. Now, I want to do the same for you. Part of me needs to, just to reassure myself that you do need me.” The look in his eyes was painfully tender and he gazed at her with concern, devotion and a binding love so clear Scully felt slightly light-headed by it. “ Oh, Mulder!” Scully snuggled up to him, enjoying the feel of his arms around her and the feel of him in her arms. “ For the first time in my life, I actually feel like I’m home. I know that sounds so odd but it’s true. I have never felt this safe or loved or...or happy in my entire life. Can you understand that?” “ Perfectly clearly. I feel exactly the same way but Dana?” He looked down into her eyes as she gazed up at him. “ Once this, whatever it is, is over, things are going to get a lot better and I’m going to make sure you’re happy every day for the rest of your life so I can see that beautiful smile of yours more often.” “ I doubt it’s possible to be any happier but as long as you’re by my side, you won’t have to try hard to make me happy,” she murmured with a dreamy smile before they fell asleep in each others arms, blissfully unaware of what was soon to come. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- They slept peacefully for two hours before Scully woke up with a start, shaking vigorously as tears ran down her cheeks. She pulled away from Mulder and buried her head in her hands as the last flames in the fireplace died down. Scully wept as though her heart was breaking although she didn’t know why. With every tear that fell, she backed further away from him and was soon backed up against the wall. The room got colder, even more so than it should have done without a fire. It was...unnatural and very disturbing. Mulder woke up when he realized Scully was no longer in his arms and sat up. It was then he realized how cold it was and when he saw her huddled in the corner of the room, he felt even colder but this time the chill came from inside and wrapped its self around his heart. Scully looked so small and childlike as she cried uncontrollably. She shivered as the room seemed to get colder and colder and pulled her legs up closer into her body and tucked her chin as close to her chest as possible. It bothered her that she couldn’t remember why she was so upset, that she knew her mother and brother knew but they were too afraid to tell her. Mulder moved over to Scully, careful not to startle her, and reached out to touch her. As he did so, she flinched away and drew her body up into a tighter ball. “ Scully....Dana, it’s me,” he spoke soothingly as her mother had done but he wasn’t afraid to let his concern show in his voice. “ It’s okay now, I’m here. Everything’s going to be okay.” As he spoke, her sobs calmed down although she was still shivering violently. He moved closer towards her and laid a gentle hand on her shoulder. He was pleased when she didn’t flinch away and proceeded in moving even closer and wrapping his arms around her. She went willingly into his arms and cried softly as he held her and rocked her soothingly in the safety of his embrace. “ It’s okay, Dana. It’s okay.” “ Oh, Mulder,” she wept into his chest as her body shook with sobs. “ It was terrible. I was...There was...” Her voice trailed off as another wave of tears swept over her. She sobbed as her mind recalled the distorted images that both confused and terrified her and haunted her sleep. She couldn’t remember much, only that whatever she was remembering was so terrible that her family had stopped coming to the summerhouse and that there was someone else involved in the incident. “ You’re okay now,” he murmured lovingly, stroking her back. “ Take your time and tell me what you remember.” “ I... Something happened. There was someone else, someone I don’t know who I guess I knew before. It might have been a friend of the family, I can’t see his face. I’m only guessing it’s a male. My father was worried. He was angry and he was holding me, telling me it was over.... I...” Scully shook her head in confusion. “ I was here but I wasn’t here, it’s so strange. I don’t remember. All I know for certain is that whatever it was, whatever happened, it’s the reason we haven’t been back here. Until now.” “ We’ll get to the bottom of it, Dana. I’m gonna help you get past this,” he kissed the top of her head and half carried her over to the fire. Mulder wrapped the blanket around her shoulders and re-lit the fire before taking her into his arms and holding her in front of the fire. “ Go back to sleep. I’ll wake you if you start getting restless. No more nightmares tonight, I promise.” “ You can’t stay awake, Mulder. It’s not fair,” she protested sleepily. “ I’ve had more sleep than you have in the last couple of days,” he told her softly, sensing she was dropping off to sleep. “ Mulder?” Her voice was sleepy and soft. “ Yeah?” He murmured quietly. “ Thank you, for being here.” That was all Scully could say before sleep claimed her once more. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Scully woke up, startled to find herself alone. She stifled a yawn and sat up. She smiled when she heard someone moving around in the kitchen and sighed contentedly as the sun streamed in through the open curtains and warmed her skin. She leaned against a chair and closed her eyes as she waited for her partner to return to her side. Mulder did return less than ten minutes later, carrying a tray with breakfast on it. He grinned boyishly when he saw she was awake. “ Morning, Sunshine,” he set the tray down in front of her and sat down. “ Breakfast in bed. What more could a woman want?” “ I’m a woman now?” Scully looked up at him in surprise. “ You’ve always been a woman. Unless you’re gonna tell me we’re going on the Jerry Springer show?” Mulder looked at her, a puzzled expression on his face. “ I don’t mean like that, Mulder! I mean that for the past few years, you’ve never treated me like a woman. I’ve always been Scully,” she explained with a small laugh. “ Oh,” Mulder was still confused. “ So you want me to call you Dana instead of Scully?” “ Not necessarily! What I want is for you to look at me in the same way you look at other women,” she told him with a sigh. “ I do!” He grinned slyly at her. “ But not to your face, I was afraid you’d shoot me!” “ Very funny, Mulder!” Scully swatted his shoulder playfully and they ate their breakfast in a friendly silence. Mulder thought whilst he ate. He glanced at her from the corner of his eye and wondered if how he acted around her really did bother her or if she was using it to put him off asking her about her nightmare. Mulder wasn’t sure how long he could put off asking her about her nightmares but he was determined not to upset her by asking. Looking at her now, he could see she was a million miles away. He hoped wherever she was, she wasn’t with the person in her nightmares. ---------------- Part Three ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ After breakfast, Scully showered and changed and then they went out for a walk around the lake. They walked in silence for a few minutes until Scully shivered, despite the fact there was not even a slight breeze. Mulder noticed and looked at her in concern. “ Cold?” He moved closer and put his arm around her shoulder. “ I know what you’re thinking, Mulder.” She stopped walking and looked up at him. “ So instead of putting it off, ask me.” Mulder felt his cheeks go warm at being caught. He asked himself. “ Okay. I want to know about your nightmares, Scully. And I want to know about this place.” “ Okay. I don’t really know what to tell you about my nightmares, I’m not really sure what they’re about myself. I just know they frighten and confuse me.” They started walking again, slowly, as she tried to gather her thoughts together. “ I’m not always in the house.” “ When? In your nightmares?” Mulder frowned. “ Where else are you?” “ Out here. Sometimes I’m sitting on the little pier, sometimes I’m in the water. I’m always crying and calling out to someone. My mother said I was crying out for my father, asking him to help me,” she murmured, a distant look in her eyes. “ You mentioned someone else last night, someone you thought was a man,” he took her hand and squeezed it reassuringly. “ Do you remember anything at all about him?” “ Not really. I get the impression I knew him really well, like he was family or something. And I think he was near my age, he wasn’t an adult but he was older than me,” Scully shivered again. “ He was towering over me, I think we were in the house but we were outside too. Jesus, Mulder. I’m so confused. I don’t know what happened. I know something did. I.. What if I’m remembering something about my childhood? Something my family have tried to hide form me?” “ I don’t know what to say. Except that I’m here for you,” he brought her hand up to his lips and kissed it. “ Maybe we should call your mother, find out.” “ I don’t want to call her. She’s too worried as it is. I’ve never seen her or my brother this scared before,” Scully heaved a sigh of despair. “ They’re scared of whatever it is I’m remembering. I heard them talking about me. They don’t want me to remember because they don’t know if I can cope with it. My brother asked my Mom what she thought I’d do and she said she didn’t know but she hoped I wouldn’t...” “ Wouldn’t what?” He looked at her, studying the pallor of her face carefully. She looked so innocent, so scared and so tired. Mulder sent a silent prayer up to a God he didn’t know if he believed in. “ She said she hoped I wouldn’t try to end it all, to stop myself from remembering any more,” she bit her lip. “ If I haven’t remembered anything else by tomorrow, I ‘ll call her and ask her if we ever had one of Bill’s friends stay with us or a cousin I don’t know about.” “ Dana?” Mulder stopped and faced her. “ Do you.. Do you think it’s possible that..” His voice trailed off as he stared into her eyes. Scully gazed at him, her head tilted slightly to one side. “ Are you trying to ask me if I think it’s possible I was raped?” “ Yeah,” his eyes widened in surprise. “ How did you know?” “ Because I’ve been thinking about it too. I mean, it’s possible, isn’t it? It would explain why I repressed these memories, it would also explain why there’s someone in my nightmares that scares me so much.” She looked out at the lake. “ If that’s true and it happened here, where does the lake fit into it? And why don’t I remember?” “ I don’t know.” Mulder felt helpless as he brought his hand up to her cheek and caressed it softly. “ But we’re going to find out,” he promised. “ I’m gonna help you find out.” --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- They remained outside for most of the day, only going inside for a quick lunch before going for a swim in the lake. They soon got cold in the water so they sat close on the small pier outside the house. “ You know, it’s so strange that this is happening to me here,” Scully spoke up suddenly, surprising him. “ What do you mean?” He watched her gaze out at the lake, wondering if she was thinking of her father. “ When I was a child, this place was my only stable home. We moved around so much with my father, I never really had a home. And since I was sixteen and we stopped coming here, whenever I needed to feel safe I’d think of this place. Now that might be taken from me,” she turned away, her eyes filling with tears. “ Dana,” he touched her cheek and gently turned her head so she was facing him. “ I don’t know what we’re going to find here but whatever it is, you can’t let it ruin all of your good memories of this place. And I promise you, when we leave here and go back to D.C, we’re going to make a home. For both of us.” “ Really?” Scully looked at him uncertainly. “ For both of us?” “ Yes. If you’re okay with that,” he was quick to add. She smiled at him sweetly. “ I’d like that,” she answered softly. “ But I thought you were attached with your bachelor pad?” “ It’s not a home, Dana. I’ve never had a proper home and to be honest, I’ve never really wanted a home.” It was his turn to look distant. “ So what’s changed?” She glanced at him, noticing how far away he looked.“ Mulder, hello? Are you still with me?” “ Yeah, I’m sorry,” he turned back to her and flashed her a grin. “ I was just wondering when I changed. I never wanted a home until I met you. I can’t imagine anywhere being home unless you’re with me.” “ Why, Agent Mulder, I didn’t know you were such a charmer!” Scully teased, trying to hide how pleased she was at his comment. “ Shh! You’ll ruin my reputation!” He joked, making her laugh. --------------- Part Four - Authors note, during the nightmare sequence (you’ll hopefully know it when you get to it), any dialogue between the <> is what Scully’s remembering. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mulder and Scully stayed outside until it was fairly dark. Scully fixed them dinner and they went straight to bed, both exhausted. Mulder tucked Scully up in her bed in her room before leaving to go to sleep in the adjoining spare bedroom. He wasn’t surprised to wake up near mid-night to find she was curled up next to him, as if drawing comfort from his presence. He was glad she trusted him enough to come to him when she needed support so he wrapped his arms around her and fell asleep holding her close, hoping he could protect her from the demons she was fighting in her nightmares. As Mulder slept, Scully was haunted by the past she knew nothing about. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Scully was running, running as far away from the house as she could. Without realizing it, Scully ran straight into the lake. She shivered as she collapsed in the shallow water, anguished sobs wracking her body. She faintly realized in some distant part of her mind that the cold water was seeping through the thin material of her pajamas. She cried uncontrollably, her body shaking violently. A vision of a young boy, slightly older than herself, flashed in her mind. Her mind whirled as she whimpered and she saw her father and the boy together only she rarely saw her father as angry as he was which only served to encourage her fear. Scully was confused, was Aaron the boy’s name? The two continued arguing as Scully wept and shivered. The boy, Aaron, seemed proud of his conquest, not ashamed. This obviously shocked her father as Scully saw her beloved Ahab reach out and strike the boy angrily, a look of pure disgust on his face. Captain Scully turned to face his baby girl and Scully could almost see his heart breaking. She tried to call out to him but she couldn’t speak. Aaron’s last statement was clearly Captain Scully’s breaking point. With a hatred in his eyes that shook Scully to the core, her father swung round and began advancing on Aaron. In the darkness, Scully watched the two struggling, she heard splashing sounds and then a cry before her father trudged towards her, his steps causing the water to ripple. He knelt down in the water next to her and pulled her into his safe embrace. “ Dana!” Scully continued to cry, her arms wrapped tightly around... herself. “ Dana!” The voice didn’t fit, it wasn’t her father’s voice. “ Dana, wake up! Please!” It was Mulder’s voice and he sounded so far away but the pleading tone he used tugged at her heart. She felt herself being shaken gently but urgently just before her world faded....................... -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Scully woke up to see Mulder kneeling in the water next to her. She looked around at her surroundings, trying to get her bearings, wondering how she got outside and why she was sitting freezing in the lake. “ Mulder? Why are we outside?” Scully spoke as soon as she was able and she gave Mulder a bewildered look. “ Where..?” Her voice trailed off as she looked around, shaking her head in disbelief. “ I woke up and you .. you were gone,” he explained, his eyes dark with concern. “ I looked everywhere till I saw you from the window. Are you okay?” “ I’m fine...” Scully started to say her usual line, then she broke off and shook her head. “ No, I’m not okay.” Silent tears fell from her eyes and ran down her cheeks. “I.. ..I was here, he was here.” “ Who was here?” Mulder frowned. He stood when she didn’t reply and pulled her to her feet. “ Let’s get you warm and dry and then you can tell me.” Wordlessly, Scully nodded and allowed him to lead her back up to the house. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Mulder lit a fire whilst Scully changed out of her wet clothes. It seemed to him like an eternity before Scully joined him by the fire. “ Hi,” she smiled a shy smile and hovered in the doorway, watching him watch her. “ Hey,” he smiled back and held his hand out to her. “ Come over here.” Scully took his hand and settled next to him in front of the fire in a way that reminded them both of their first night together at the house. “ Do you think you can tell me what you remembered?” Mulder asked softly, hating himself for having to ruin the peaceful atmosphere that had settled around them. “ I can tell you but you won’t want to hear it, Mulder,” she answered with a heavy sigh. “ I was assaulted.” “ Then why do you look so guilty?” He watched the shadows made by the flickering flames dance across her features. “ Because he died for it. He was killed for hurting me and it’ my fault,” her words came out in a rush as tears threatened her once more. Mulder pulled her close and she cried as he rocked her in his arms. “ It’s okay, Dana,” he spoke soothingly, lovingly, reminding her of her father. Scully pulled away and took a deep breath, knowing that if she didn’t tell him now she’d never be able to get the words out. She composed herself before taking another deep breath and continuing. “ I remember being... touched by someone called Aaron. He.. He was my brother, I think. I don’t remember him but my father yelled at him for hurting his sister, me. I ran out of the house, I was trying to run away from Aaron, I think. He followed me and so did my father. I was crying, in the lake where you found me. My father was so angry, Mulder, I’ve never seen him so mad in my whole life,” she shivered remembering the look in her father’s eyes. “ I can’t blame him for being angry, Dana. From what I’ve gathered, you were his baby girl and he loved you a lot. If anyone hurt you, then he’d hurt too. That’s how I feel about you,” he kissed her forehead. “ I wish you could have met him, Mulder,” she smiled wistfully. “ You would have got along perfectly.” “ I’ve met him, in a way, Dana,” he told her lovingly. “ I see your father in you.” “ Thank you,” she kissed his cheek softly before settling back in his arms. “ He killed Aaron for me. Then he came and held me and told me it was all over, that I’d be safe.” “ You shouldn’t feel guilty, Dana,” he murmured as he tightened his grip on her. “ You did absolutely nothing wrong.” “ But my father killed my brother for me! I know my father, Mulder, that in itself would have killed him! He’s always hated it when he’s had to hurt people but his own son!” Scully started crying again. “ He must have felt so bad.” “ I don’t think he would have felt that bad, Dana. He was protecting you. And I understand that. I have to fight the urge to protect you when you don’t need protecting because I love you. And your father loved you. If he hadn’t done that, Aaron would have probably continued to hurt you or at least try to hurt you. And your father didn’t want that to happen. And if Aaron was still alive, I’d kill him,” Mulder shifted so he could hold her closer. “ Dana, you are in no way to blame for what happened. Any of it.” Scully didn’t respond. She had also stopped crying. Mulder moved again and sighed with relief. Scully had fallen asleep. He reached around her and pulled the blanket off the couch and wrapped them both up in it, content in the knowledge that even after all she’d been through, Scully still trusted him enough to fall asleep in his arms. He watched her sleeping, noticing how child-like and innocent she looked before gradually falling asleep himself. ---------------- Part Five ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ They had a relatively peaceful night after that. Scully didn’t sleepwalk or have anymore nightmares. Mulder was relieved to wake up with her still in his arms and not sitting in the lake. He watched her sleep for a while as he had done the previous night. He noted with some satisfaction that she looked more relaxed in the morning’s light than she had during the night. Scully stirred and then her eyelids fluttered. She opened her eyes, looking slightly dazed, and blinked up at him sleepily. She licked her dry lips and sat up. “ Morning, Mulder.” “ Morning,” he smiled warmly and stretched his arms over his head. “ Did you sleep well?” “ Fine, with the exception of last night’s unplanned paddling session,” she pulled a wry face and sighed. “ I’m gonna have to call my Mom, aren’t I?” Mulder nodded solemnly. “ If you’re not happy telling her everything, just tell her that you’re okay and that the hardest part is over.” “ Hopefully.” She stood with another sigh. “ I’m going for a bath, then I’ll call her.” “ I’ll fix some breakfast. And don’t even think about protesting!” He gave her a stern look when she started to object. “ You’re going to eat something, you need to keep up your strength before you get emotionally exhausted.” Scully nodded and left the room but not before Mulder heard her mutter under her breath. “ And here I was thinking I was the one with the medical degree!” Mulder grinned at the comment, seeing it as a sign his Scully was finally coming back to him. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- After her bath, Scully changed and started to go downstairs to the kitchen where the wonderful aroma of breakfast was coming from. The smell made her realize how hungry she was and her stomach grumbled in agreement but Scully found herself going into her parents room instead of down the stairs. She didn’t really know what she was looking for, all she knew was that she’d know when she found it. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mulder got worried when Scully hadn’t come down after a full hour had past. He turned off the grill and practically sprinted up the stairs, calling out her name and trying not to sound as worried as he was. “ Scul.. Dana?” He looked in the bathroom. Empty. He checked her bedroom. Also empty. Then he heard muffled sobs coming from the room at the end of the hall. He raced over to the door and opened it, not expecting the sight he was presented with. Every drawer and cupboard in the place was open and there were papers everywhere. He saw Scully lying on her parents bed, her head buried in the pillows as she sobbed uncontrollably. Mulder was surprised that although he had seen Scully cry more these past few days than he had in the past few years, the sight still unnerved him and seemed so unfamiliar. His Scully rarely cried, at least not in front of him, and it broke his heart to see her try to hide it. Had she been hiding her tears from him for the past five years? Mulder moved over to the bed and picked up the new cause of her tears. It was a black scrap book, with handwritten letters and newspaper articles in it. Mulder glanced through it and realized it was a book meant for Scully from her father. It had articles taken from newspapers about her eldest brother, Aaron, and his disappearance. Mulder scanned one of the articles and found Dana Scully’s name in the text. He re-read that part carefully and memorized what it said: It is suspected that the kidnapper of 19 year old Aaron Scully is also the person responsible for the injuries suffered by his youngest sister, 16 year old Dana Scully. At this time, there has been no official word from the hospital or the Scully family on Dana’s condition but sources have said that she lapsed into a coma-like state at the family summerhouse. The Scully family have released no official statements but are said to be ‘very distraught’ at the disappearance of the eldest son. Mulder turned the page and read the letter from Scully’s father. In it, Captain Scully described to his daughter how sorry he was for letting the abuse go on for as long as it did and how sorry he was for dragging her into a world of lies and deceit at such a young age. He also told his daughter that he loved her and felt no remorse for what he did and didn’t want her to - Aaron had apparently been going to see a therapist since a very young age and had always been a ‘problem child’ although the family tried to help him. Captain Scully also wrote that he thought he did what was best for them all - the abuse was affecting the whole of the family and all of Scully’s siblings were scared of Aaron and he was afraid Aaron might even try to hurt himself. Mulder put the scrap book down and reached out to put a hand on Scully’s shoulder. She instinctively moved towards him and he stayed with her as she cried all of the tears she had left. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Scully stopped crying and let Mulder silently lead her downstairs. Breakfast was ruined but neither cared, they both had their minds on other things. Scully picked up the receiver and dialed her mothers number without being told. Mulder sat on the couch next to her and held her hand tightly, quietly offering her his support and strength. Mrs. Scully picked up on the second ring. “ Hello?” “ Mom, it’s me,” Scully closed her eyes briefly, summoning all of the strength she could muster. “ Dana! Honey, how are you?” Mrs. Scully’s voice was a strange mixture of relief and worry. “ I’m.. I’m going to be okay, Mulder won’t let me be anything other than that,” Scully smiled weakly at him and squeezed his hand in a gesture of thanks. “ I remember. Everything. And I found Dad’s scrap book. I.. I just wanted to tell you to stop worrying.” “ Oh, Angel, I’m so sorry for not telling you. Your father... He didn’t want to upset you, not when we found out you’d repressed the memories,” Mrs. Scully apologized, close to tears. “ I understand, Mom. Really. And it’s gonna be okay. Everything is going to be okay,” Scully assured her mother, genuinely feeling nothing but love for her. “ I think we’ll be coming home tomorrow. We’ll come over and see you.” “ We?” Mrs. Scully couldn’t help a smile. “ I assume you mean you and Fox?” “ Yeah, I do. He’s been great,” Scully shot a look at Mulder who was blushing to her surprise. “ I don’t know what would have happened without him. I’m so glad you have someone like him, Dana,” Mrs. Scully sighed. “ I’m lucky to have him, I know,” Scully smiled slightly - the first sign of a genuine smile Mulder had seen in days, not a forced smile put on for his benefit. “ I’ll see you tomorrow.” “ Love you, Dana,” Mrs. Scully smiled into the receiver. “ Love you, too.” Scully hung up and placed the receiver on the cradle. Then she leaned against Mulder and sighed. “ The hard part’s over now, Dana,” he kissed the top of her head, tenderly stroking her back. Scully sat up and looked at him with a wary expression on her face. “ That’s what you think.” ----------------- ----------------- Part Six -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mulder stared at her, looking confused. “ What is there left to do but clean up and pack?” “ Put my past to rest,” she bit her bottom lip and pulled away, suddenly very interested in her hands. “ My brother was murdered in the lake and I was drawn there last night which scared me. And Dana Scully doesn’t like being scared. Or admit to it.” “ I could have told you that,” he joked lovingly. “ So what is it you want to do? Confront your fears?” When she nodded, he continued. “ How can I help?” “ Will you spend the night with me on the lake? In my fathers boat? I just need to do this, I don’t know why. And I think that..” She took a deep breath and looked him squarely in the eyes. “ I’m scared that if I go out alone, I’ll not come back.” “ Of course I’ll go with you. I’d go anywhere with you,” Mulder touched her cheek. “ I love you, remember?” “ I love you too,” she leaned in and surprised them both by giving him a soft kiss full of longing and love. “ And thank you. For doing all this. It really goes above the call of duty, even when you love me.” “ Not this kind of love,” he brushed off her thanks and smiled at her. “ Why don’t we go fix something to eat?” “ Only you could think of food at a moment like this,” she rolled her eyes and stood up. She held out a hand which he took and they went through to the kitchen to salvage what they could of breakfast. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mulder and Scully found themselves in Captain Scully’s boat as planned that night. It was only a small rowing boat but they managed to fit in by holding each other tightly. They shared a blanket and lay on their backs, gazing up at the stars and the moon in the clear sky. “ Mulder?” Scully’s child-like voice broke the silence that had fallen over them. “ I’m here,” Mulder answered softly, almost in a whisper. “ Why did you come here? I know Bill asked you but... Why’d you come?” “ I had a feeling that you needed me so I came.” “ What kind of feeling?” Scully shifted so she could see his profile. “ It’s hard to explain, Dana. I just had the feeling that if I didn’t come here and at least try to help you, I’d end up losing you. To the past.” He stared up at the sky, pulling her closer when she shivered as the cool breeze swept over them. Scully was silent for a while and Mulder began to suspect she’d fallen asleep until she shifted a little restlessly against him. “ What’s wrong?” His voice was like the breeze, it just seemed to sweep over her. “ I think I’m going to start believing in ghosts,” her statement shocked him as she had known it would. “ What... What makes you say that?” “ I think the lake’s haunted, by my brother.” She closed her eyes as he drew lazy circles on the back of her hand with his forefinger. “ He’s not going to hurt you anymore, Dana,” Mulder murmured. “ I’m here.” “ I know,” she smiled sleepily and they were silent again. Mulder fell asleep before she did and she smiled to herself as she looked at him. He was right, everything was going to be okay as long as he was by her side and she was by his. It was where they belonged. Scully let the gentle rocking motion of the boat send her to sleep but not before she heard it. -------------------- The End. ------------------- Did you like it?