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La Vérité Nous Sauvera (The Truth Will Save Us) By Char Chaffin and Tess Prologue 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Epilogue Text Only Epilogue San Diego, California Days Inn, Balboa Park Monday, 10:42AM Scully glanced over her shoulder and reaffirmed that Mulder was in the bathroom, packing his shaving kit, before stepping out of his view and furtively easing her arm from the sling. She dropped her chin toward her chest and then rolled her head back toward her shoulders, enjoying for a moment a respite from having the weight of her arm supported by the sling around her neck. Across the room, Mulder's cellphone chirped. "I'll get it," she called as she walked around the bed. She instinctively reached for the phone with her right hand and bit back a gasp as an arrow of pain lanced down her arm. Wincing, she wrapped her injured arm around her waist and lifted the phone to her ear with her other hand. "Scully." She listened to the caller for a moment and the dull throbbing in her arm was not the sole cause for the grimace on her face. "Just a moment." She skirted the bed and almost collided with Mulder as he stepped out of the bathroom. "It's for you." She slapped the phone into Mulder's hand with unnecessary force. He frowned at both the tone of her voice and her unsupported arm. 'Put your arm back into the sling,' he mouthed as he raised the phone to his ear. The mystery of Scully's suddenly icy demeanor was quickly solved as Diana's husky voice came through the phone. Mulder groaned under his breath but dutifully listened to the mostly one-sided conversation, dividing his attention between brief responses to Diana's inquiries and watching his partner shove clothing into her suitcase with jerky motions. After another moment or two, he ended the call and stuffed the phone into his pocket. "Let me." He laid a hand over Scully's as she struggled to knead the tension from her neck using her uninjured arm. She reluctantly dropped her hand and waited docilely as he unfastened the sling. He rested his warm hand on her neck and let his thumb glide over her collarbone in a gentle massage. "She's got the X-Files, Scully. That's the reality of it." His voice rumbled from above her head and she lifted her gaze to meet his in the mirror mounted over the low bureau on the other side of the room. "And she can keep us in the loop." He dipped his fingers beneath the collar of her shirt, tenderly kneading the tightness from her shoulders. "More than that," he continued, "she's a friend." Scully closed her eyes. His tone was implacable, but his touch pleaded with her for understanding. She turned around and lifted her face to his. "I don't trust her," she reaffirmed her earlier position with quiet emphasis. "And it's my job to watch your back." They regarded each other with grave eyes, silently acknowledging the other's viewpoint. Understanding that neither would relent in their opinion, but instead would strive to work around it much the same as with any other dissension in their professional and personal relationship. It was too important to them, not to remain focused on what was most vital... Their future. Together. Mulder helped ease Scully's arm back into the sling and refastened it behind her neck. When she would have moved away he caught her around the waist and bent to her, his expression soft and adoring. "I love you," he vowed softly. Scully stroked her fingers over his jaw in a gentle caress before she stepped back and lifted her black tote from the bed. Her murmur of, "I love you right back," made him smile from ear to ear. She slung the tote strap over her uninjured arm and moved to the door. Over her shoulder she sent him a mock-impatient glance. "Come on, Mulder. I seem to recall that you owe me a dinner at Milano's." She tugged open the door and stepped out into the sunlight. Mulder grabbed their suitcases and hurried after her. He quickly tossed the bags into the trunk of the car and then circled it to open the passenger door for her. When she was settled into her seat, he leaned down to fasten her seatbelt. His murmur in her ear was suggestive. "I'm pretty sure we agreed to getting takeout and bringing it back to my place..." Scully raised her eyebrows and a tiny smile graced her lips. "Let's go home, Mulder." End ADDITIONAL AUTHORS' NOTES: This story was a real challenge for both of us to write, having been set in a timeframe that had Mulder and Scully at great odds with one another. Keeping a loving relationship going between them as well as adhering to the overall tense and stressful reality of their partnership during early Season Six was a true balancing act for us. Doing it all in the midst of a dangerous casefile was an added challenge. And dropping them back into the midst of continuing stress regarding their lost X-Files was a |
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