Title:    Perfect Happiness (Part 3/4) 
Author:   Abigail 
E-MAIL:   littlemiss_spookymulder@hotmail.com 
Rating:   PG-13 
Category: MSR
Classification:  MSW-F
Keywords: Angst, Secondary Character Deaths
DISCLAIMER:  All characters from the X-Files belong 
the Chris 
Carter, Ten Thirteen Productions and Fox 
Broadcasting.

Summary: Scully's been shot by big brother Bill… 

Feedback is as precious as perfect happiness.

Xxxxxxx

Amidst the swirl of darkness, she heard voices, Mulder's voice, 
then another, her doctor, both faint.

"Is she going to be okay?" Mulder's voice, choked with tears, 
anguished and desperate. The doctor spoke, but she didn't hear it. 
She wanted to scream, to cry out to Mulder that she was okay. But 
somehow the words went unspoken on her lips.

XXXXXXX

Mulder reached out and put his own shaking hand on Scully's still 
one. He hated Bill, wanted to kill him for what he had done. When 
Anna had found out what happened, she'd be just as angry, 
promising to do something about it.

Just then the doctor walked in.

"Is she going to be okay?" Mulder asked, feeling unshed tears clog 
his throat.

"Well," the doctor began, "I can't be sure. She's not in a coma, but 
she's not with us. We were able to get the bullet out, so I think, yes 
she will make it. You're a very lucky man, Mr. Mulder. But," he 
said. "I have some news."

"Good or bad?"

"In a way," the doctor said, "it's both good and bad…"

XXXXXXX

"Bill, do you have any idea what you did?" Anna's voice rang in 
his ears as he remembered his earlier conversation with his niece.

~~~She continued. "You might have *killed* her, Bill..."~~~

He sat alone in the bar, chugging down shot after shot of strong, 
hard liquor.

~~~"She's almost in a coma, Bill..."~~~

He hadn't expected it to go that far. He hadn't expected to pull the 
gun, to shoot his baby sister.

~~~"You deserve to die..." she whispered.~~~

He paid for his drinks, tears blurring his drunken eyes, his vision 
blurry not only from the drinks.

~~~"I can't believe you..." she said.~~~

He got into the car, barely seeing anything.

~~~"You don't know what trouble you've caused, Bill..."~~~

He didn't mean to, he'd screamed into the phone. And he didn't. He 
drove aimlessly, swerving in and out of the nearly empty lanes. It 
was then that his vision cleared just enough to see a semi headed in 
his direction...

~"You could've killed her..."~~~

The words rang true in his ears.

Youkilledhermuldersgonnakillyouyoukilledheryouratbastardsonofa
bitchyoudontde servetoliveIcantbelieveyou...

He swerved suddenly, not because of the drinks. But because of 
what he had done.

Youkilledheryoukilledhersonofaratmuldersgonnakillyouyoudeserv
etodieyou...

The driver of the semi honked loudly, motioning frantically to him.

He just kept going, not seeing anything but the color red.

itsyourfaultyoudeservetodieIwishyouweredead...

It was too late to change his mind as he crashed head-on into the 
semi.

yourgoingtodieratsonofamuldersgonnakillyou...

The front end of the car smashed in and the car immediately burst 
into flames.

But he didn't die right away.

The flames licked his body, taking him in...

yourgoingtodieyoudeservetodiesohereitisdanaImgivingittoyou...

He gave up his last breath as the car was engulfed in bright orange 
and yellow flames, lighting up the horizon, giving beauty to the 
world through a flaming torch of death.

XXXXXXX

The darkness began to clear, becoming brighter and brighter with 
every passing moment. She slowly opened her eyes.

The very first thing she saw was Mulder, his feet up on her bed and 
sleeping on a chair that he had probably pulled from its place 
across the room, judging by another chair next to an empty spot.

The next thing she noticed was a pain somewhere in her chest, and 
one in her lower abdomen. She tried to sit up, even a little, but 
when she moved, the pain worsened, causing her to let out a gasp.

Mulder immediately started, almost falling out of his chair. He 
rubbed his eyes frantically, and when he saw her awake he reached 
for her hand.

"Scully, oh god…" he trailed off, rubbing her hand gently now.

She smiled a little. "Mulder…" she cleared her throat, surprised at 
how gravely her voice sounded. "What day is it?"

"Thursday," he whispered.

Thursday. Bill came over Sunday. That meant… four days lost.

He cut into her thoughts. "Scully, I…I have some news for you."

"Good or bad?" she whispered, remembering what he had said to 
the doctor.

"I don't know, Scully," he answered. "Dana…you…you were 
pregnant…"

He heart leapt quietly at those words. But then…

"I…was?" she swallowed hard, tears filling her eyes.

He suddenly broke down, grasping her hand in both of his, leaning 
in them as tears filled his hazel eyes and choked his voice.

"Our daughter, Dana," he choked. "We were going to have a 
daughter. Nearly…nearly three months along…chromosome 
check…our daughter…"

Her own tears fell fast now as she felt his tears, scalding hot on her 
hand. She gripped his hands with her other one and pulled him to 
her, gently placing her lips on his knuckles.

"Oh, Fox…oh my god," she whispered past the lump in her throat. 
"Hold me…"

And they just held each other for a while before Mulder whispered. 
"I have more news. Bill is dead…"

Her eyes widened slightly. "What…what happened?"

He sighed. "Well, apparently, he felt so guilty about what 
happened to you that he fled. He went to a bar, got drunk, and then 
went for a drive. A drive that ended his life. The police don't know 
if it was an accident or not. I'm sorry, Scully, I know he was your 
brother."

She shushed him with a finger to his lips. "No, Mulder. It's okay."

He hugged her tight. It was good to have her back.

XXXXXXX

At Bill's Memorial...about a week and a half later...

Hillary Scully adjusted her blank tank dress and sighed as she sat 
down in front of the long white casket.

Of course, she thought to herself, it wasn't like they needed the 
whole thing. After what had happened to him. But in a way, she 
mused, he deserved it, deserved it for what he could've done to 
Dana. What he did to the baby.

Mulder and Scully soon joined her. Scully still looked a little pale, 
but she was getting better every day, considering she'd just lost her 
chance at having another child. His arm was holding her by the 
waist, a hand protectively in hers. Mulder had become even more 
protective of her since she was shot, always staying by her side.

Hillary sighed again. She'd just met Mulder the day before, and 
already she felt that he was a good choice for her cousin.

"How are you, Dana?" She asked, leaning forward to hug her.

"I'm doing better," Scully sighed. "I'm still sad about the baby, but 
I think I'll feel better soon."

"Good," she answered. "Dana, about Bill…I'm not glad he's dead, 
but I am happy that he's gone."

"I am too, Hill," Scully said.

Tara, Matthew, and Erin walked slowly up to them. Tears streaked 
Tara's face, but she smiled at all of them just the same.

Scully reached out to hug her sister-in-law. "Oh, Tara, I'm so 
sorry."

"Don't be," she said back, wiping tears from her eyes. "It's all right. 
The police think he may have killed himself. I know it would be 
because of what he did to you. I'm sorry."

Scully frowned. "It's okay, Tara. It's all going to be okay."

Tara's face crumpled and she fell into Scully's embrace as Mulder 
and Hillary hugged Matthew and Erin. Soon after, the minister 
walked forward and announced that the memorial was officially 
over.

XXXXXXX

A few days later...

"I'm sorry, Mulder, Meredith's not feeling too well today," Lela 
Brown said as she held the door slightly ajar. "She's been having 
headaches lately, but when she feels better I'll be sure to tell her 
that she's welcome to stay."

"All right, Lela," Mulder said. "Oh, and thanks. Tell Merry to get 
well soon. We'd really like to have her."

"I'll do that, Mr. Mulder. Thanks for stopping by."

Mulder turned and walked back to the apartment. when he got 
inside, he found Scully up on the couch, feeding Will a bottle.

"Scully," he admonished gently. "You should be laying down until 
you regain strength."

Her coloring was better, her paleness nearly gone. She arched one 
eyebrow in a challenging way. "Mulder...I am feeling better. How's 
Meredith?"

"She's not feeling well, which is kind of weird, since she's been 
kind of sick for awhile now," he answered. "But when she feels 
better, Lela said she can take a trip to the beach with us and stay 
over for a couple of days."

Scully smiled. "Good. I'm glad she's spending more time with us."

"Me too."

He sat down next to her on the couch and saw that Will had fallen 
asleep in her arms. "So, Scully...you're feeling better, Will's 
asleep…want to go cuddle?"

She smiled at him. "Yeah. I'd like that."

XXXXXXX

He pulled her into his arms and spooned himself around her, 
placing his hands on her flat stomach. She sighed and spoke softly.

"Mulder?"

"Yeah?" He asked, pulling her a little closer to him, nuzzling his 
face in her neck.

"Are you…angry…about our child?"

He pulled back a bit and kissed her ear. "Of course I am, Scully. 
I'm still mad at Bill for what he did to you."

"But," she said again. "Are you angry with me? That I lost our only 
chance to have another child?"

Mulder stopped kissing her ear. "Why would I be mad at you?"

"I jumped in front of that bullet," she whispered.

"Scully," Mulder started. "I could never be angry with you. You 
saved me, you saved my life, Scully."

She sighed again. "Okay, I just needed to hear that."

They laid in silence, him kissing her neck and ears gently, until 
they both fell into a light slumber, their dreams filled with images 
of what their little daughter might have looked like.

XXXXXXX

About a week later... 9:45 am…

There was a soft knock at the door. Mulder walked toward it, 
bouncing Will on one arm. He opened the door to see Meredith, 
her face pale and gaunt, light circles under her hazel eyes.

But a smile lit her face as she held her beach bag under one arm, 
and a white cover-up over her navy blue two-piece.

"It's a perfect day for the beach!" she said excitedly as she walked 
in and set her bag down. "Is everyone ready to go?"

Mulder nodded towards the master bedroom. "We're ready...I'm 
not sure about Scully, though. She's been in there for awhile."

She giggled. "I'll go in there and see what she's up to."

She walked into the master bedroom and found Scully in the 
bathroom, curling her hair. Meredith walked to the doorway and 
just laughed.

Scully started a little and turned. "Oh, hi...you're here already?"

"Um, Aunt Scully," she said, still laughing, "It's almost 10 o'clock. 
I'm actually a little late."

"Oh," she turned back to the mirror. "So, you just gonna stand 
there, or are you going to come in and have a look at your self?"

Meredith beamed and walked into the bright lights. She stared at 
herself in the big mirror. She lifted her hand and ran her fingers 
through her straight blonde hair and wrinkled her nose.

"It's so straight," she complained quietly.

Scully paused and turned glinting eyes to her niece. She reached 
out and clasped a piece of Meredith's hair in the barrel of the 
curling iron. She twisted it up and then let it go, leaving a perfect 
spiral.

Meredith looked up and smiled as Scully continued to curl her hair.

Suddenly Mulder appeared in the doorway with Will in his arms, 
both decked out in their swimming trunks. "Are you guys 
coming?" He turned away, mumbling, "Girls, Willie. They take too 
long to get ready, don't they?"

Scully turned and laughed. "In a minute, Fox." She turned back.

Meredith smiled. "Yeah, in a minute," she whispered, a smile on 
her face.

XXXXXXX

At the beach…

Meredith plucked William from Mulder's arms as soon as they 
reached the ocean. "I'll get his sunscreen on, okay?"

Mulder just nodded as Meredith sat down on her towel and put 
William between her knees.

"Wa-wa," William babbled.

"Yes, William, that's the water," Meredith cooed as she spread 
sunscreen on his back. "You know, Mulder, I can't believe we're 
the only ones here. It's so beautiful today."

"I know. It's great," he replied.

Mulder sat down on his towel, and a minute later, he felt soft, 
warm hands on his upper back, gently caressing.

He sighed and turned to see Scully, rubbing milky white sunscreen 
on his back. She smiled and kept going, traveling downward and 
spreading the sunscreen on his lower back and arms

"Ah, Scully," Mulder said softly. "Keep going."

She chuckled lightly. "Mulder, I have to do your front, too. 
Besides, you have to do me when I'm done with you. Wouldn't 
want me burning, now would you?"

Mulder laughed. "No, Ma'am." He leaned back to rest his weight 
on his elbows as she came around him and straddled his legs to put 
sunscreen on his chest. He grabbed her hips and she scooted back.

"Mulder," she said quietly as she worked. "Meredith's right here."

"So?" He leaned up and gave her a big hug, pushing himself 
around her so he could do her sunscreen.

He slowly rubbed the sunscreen on her back and shoulders. She 
sighed contentedly and watched Meredith put sunscreen on 
William. She was slow and careful and precise, making sure that 
he wouldn't burn.

Mulder came around to the front and started doing her stomach. He 
tickled her gently, and she laughed under his assault.

He had just finished with her when Meredith said, "I'm done with 
me and Will. Can I take him in the water, if I'm very careful?"

Scully answered, "Sure, sweetie, just stay close to the shore, 
okay?"

She nodded and was off in a flash, helping William walk by 
holding his hands.

Mulder suddenly grabbed Scully. "Mrs. Mulder, your water 
awaits."

"No, Mulder…" she squealed as he picked her up easily and 
carried her to the shore. He grinned down at her as he walked out 
until the water was up to his waist.

She gripped his arms tightly. "Mulder, you wouldn't dare…"

"Oh," he laughed. "I dare." He let go and dropped her into the 
water.

She came up sputtering for air. "Mulder!"

He just grinned at her again and dunked under the water, grabbing 
her legs in the process and pulling her back under.

Meredith watched from the shore as her aunt and uncle played in 
the water together. She shook her head good-naturedly. They acted 
like little kids sometimes. She held William's hands and he tried to 
get out to his parents.

She scooped him up and giggled, "No, William. They'll be back 
soon."

"Da-da," William said.

"Yes, there's daddy. And mummy."

"Ma-ma-ma," Will cooed in response.

Meredith suddenly felt a stabbing pain in her temple. She reached 
up with one hand to help the pressure. Then it went away. She 
hoped it would stay away for the rest of the day.

After a little while, Mulder and Scully came back, dripping wet 
and laughing like school children.

"Looks like you two had fun," Meredith giggled.

"Oh yeah," Mulder laughed, shaking his head and spraying water 
on Meredith and Scully, much to their delight.

Mulder took Will and left the girls to talk. He walked toward the 
shore as the sun began to set. "Well, bud, looks like we need to 
find something to do now that your mummy and Merry are 
talking."

Will giggled and said, "Da-da," as he brought a little hand up to 
touch Mulder's face. Mulder laughed and pretended to bite 
William's finger, to which he laughed and yanked his hand away. 
Mulder fingered Will's hair, now more grown out, brown with a 
hint of Scully's auburn in it.

"Will, someday, you're going to know how lucky you are, to have 
your mother. She loves you so much, and so do I. Bud, you've got 
a good life, and I hope you never want to trade it."

Will calmed and looked up at his father, his eyes wide, like he was 
listening. Mulder smiled. "There's so much you're going to know 
someday. About Samantha, about me, about your mother. And-"

He was interrupted by a muffled cry and the word, "Mulder!"

Mulder immediately ran over with Will to find Meredith 
unconscious on her towel, her pale face looking more gaunt than 
ever. Scully leaned over her, trying to help, to no avail. "Mulder, 
we've got to get her to the hospital now!"

She took Will, and Mulder picked up Meredith. Tears stung his 
eyes as he felt how tiny she was, how thin and sickly she looked. 
As they carried her to the car, Mulder hoped with all his might that 
she would be okay.

END OF PART 3