Date: 2 Feb 2004 16:32:59 -0000
Subject: Every Cloud Has A Silver Lining by OKayVal & Tali
Source: direct

Reply To: okayval@yahoo.com, Tali_Abdn@btinternet.com


Title: Every Cloud Has A Silver Lining
Authors: OKayVal and Tali
Email: okayval@yahoo.com,Tali_Abdn@btinternet.com
Rating: PG
Category: V, MSR
Disclaimer: Not ours. Would be nice.
Spoilers: Tithonus
Summary:  A walk in the park brings recovery, revelations and hope.

Notes:  Written for Haven's "Talk to Me III" Challenge
(elements at the end). You guys really want to get me
fired, don't you? I started this one at work again but
thank goodness Tali helped finish it, so this one 
belongs to her, too.
And it's over 700 words. oh well. ;)

***

"Hello?"

"Hey Scully, it's me.  How are you feeling this morning?"

"Much better.  And Mulder, thank you for the roses!  They're
beautiful.  That was very sweet and very unnecessary."

"You're welcome. But I thought it was necessary. I never did get
around to buying you flowers when you were in the hospital.  I
thought it would be a nice welcome home."

"Well, it certainly was.  I may tell my mother they are from a
secret admirer."

"You'd better tell her they're from me. Credit where credit is
due, Scully.  Anyway, before I come over, I wanted find out if
there's anything you need me to pick up for you."

"I was actually thinking about going out to the store myself,
Mulder."

"No way, Scully.  The doctor said at least two weeks at home,
resting, and that means -at home.-  Now tell me what you need and
I will pick it up for you."

"Mulder, I am perfectly capable of going to the store."

"Most days that's true, but not today.  We only just got back
from New York last night.  You've just been through a monstrous
ordeal and you need your rest."

"Yes, but that was weeks ago. I'm feeling much, much
better.  They would not have released me otherwise."

"Scully, you almost died. You have no idea how scared I was. I
almost lost you."

"But I'm still here, Mulder."

"And I intend to make sure you stay here."

"I appreciate your concern.  But I'm getting restless.  It looks
like a beautiful day and I would like to get out and enjoy the
sunshine."

"Sitting out in the sun and spending an hour at the supermarket
are two completely different things, Scully.  I'm not having you
dodge shopping carts in the checkout line."

"Mulder, you're exaggerating."

"You wouldn't say that if you shopped where I do.  Tell you what,
let me stop at the store for you, and then later this morning we
can take a short walk, if you're still feeling up to it.  But I
don't want you going out alone."

"Well, maybe I'm not one-hundred percent yet, because I don't have
the energy to argue with you right now."

"See.  Now give me your shopping list."

"I need some bread, some lettuce, some tomatoes, and some
Bermuda onions."

"That's it?"

"That's it. Thank you, Mulder.  You know, you don't have to spend
the entire day with me.  Shouldn't you be at work?"

"Nope.  The only thing on my schedule for today is you, Scully.
And I promise not to wear you out.  If you need to take a nap,
just say the word."

***

"Hey..."

"Good afternoon, sleepyhead.  Have a good nap?"

"Yeah actually, I feel really refreshed.  Have you been waiting
long?"

"Not long.  I arrived about an hour ago and I didn't want to wake
you.  You looked so cute lying there with your mouth open and
snoring sweetly."

"I do not snore!"

"Uh-huh."

"I do not.  Did you stop at the store?"

"Yep.  Got everything on your list and added a few items of my
own.  You can't live on rabbit food alone, Scully."

"There's nothing wrong with what I eat, but thank you."

"No problem."

"So Mulder, how about that walk you promised me?"

"I'm ready when you are."

***

"Now Scully, if you start to get tired, you'd better tell me."

"I will.  It just feels so good to get outside.  What a beautiful
day!"

"The sun is great, but it's kind of chilly.  Do you want to wear
my leather jacket?"

"No, Mulder, I'm fine."

"OK, OK. Which way shall we go?"

"Let's go this way.  We can walk to the park around the block.
Then we can sit for a few minutes and I can rest. Will that make
you happy?"

"Deliriously."

"Good. You really don't need to fuss over me, Mulder.  I'm glad
you're here, and I'm happy to spend the day with you, but I
really am going to be all right."

"I know, Scully, but I can't help it.  When I realized the truth
about Fellig, I knew you were in danger.  I just didn't know how
much.  I wish I had figured it out sooner.  This never would have
happened."

"You don't know that, Mulder.  I'm grateful you even figured it
out at all.  But we can't change what happened."

"Well, I'd like to.  What if he'd locked you away in some attic
and Ritter never found you?  Not that he was much help,
considering he was the asshole that shot you."

"It wasn't his fault.  Can we please not talk about this now?  I
just want to walk and enjoy the fresh air."

"I'm sorry, Scully.  Now I'm the asshole for ruining our walk.
You're right, we can't change what happened.  What's important is
that you're alive, safe, and here with me."

"Well, two out of three isn't so bad."

"Oh you wound me, Scully."

"You know I'm kidding, Mulder.  Look, that's the park over
there."

"I never realized this was here.  This is a great little park."

"Yes, it is.  I like to come here when I can.  There are always
lots of kids in the playground."

"Does it make you sad to watch them?"

"Sometimes."

"I wish I could change that, too."

"I know you do.  That means a lot to me."

"Where do you want to sit?  We -are- sticking to the plan, right?
Time to rest?"

"Yes.  Let's sit over there, in the sun."

"I was right; you -are- cold."

"No, I'm not."

"Come here.  Let me warm you up."

"Mulder, I am not going to sit in your lap."

"Fine, but scoot on over."

"Jeeze, Mulder, ease up a little.  I still need room to breathe."

"OK, how's that?  Now I can keep you warm.  And safe."

"This -is- nice.  And I always feel safe with you."

"I'm sorry I couldn't keep you safe in New York, Scully.  I don't
know what I would have done if I'd lost you."

"Mulder, you haven't lost me.  I'm right here. I'm not going
anywhere."

"Promise?"

"I promise. . .oh god what are you doing?"

"What does it feel like I'm doing?"

"My-my-ear-"

"You have beautiful ears, Scully.  You have beautiful lips, too.
I think I have to show you how beautiful."

"Mulder, STOP!  Is this about New York?  You don't need to do
this.  I'm fine, it wasn't your fault."

"You think I want to kiss you out of some misplaced sense of
guilt?"

"Well, why else would you want to kiss me now?  We've been
partners for over six years and you've never tried to kiss me
before."

"That's not true.  I almost kissed you right before Antarctica."

"Yeah, right after I said I was leaving.  Are you seeing a
pattern here, Mulder?  You only try to kiss me when things are
going wrong, never when things are good."

"I--"

"It's OK, Mulder.  I know you care, really I do.  And I love you
too.  But what I don't need is pity, or some desperate attempt to
keep me with you.  I am here because I want to be, Mulder.  Never
doubt that."

"I don't.  And I'm not acting out of pity.  But I was afraid.  I
can't lose you, Scully."

"You won't, not if I can help it."

"Scully, do you really love me?"

"What?"

"You just said, before, that you loved me."

"Oh--I didn't realise--"

"So, do you?"

"Yes, of course I do."

"But how do you love me Scully?"

"What--what do you mean--'how do I love you'?"

"Well, do you love me like just another co-worker? Like, say,
Skinner, for example?"

"Mulder, I do not love Skinner.  He's our boss!"

"So do you love me like a brother, then, or it is more than
that?---Scully?"

"Look, I am feeling pretty tired.  I think I need another nap.
Will you walk me home?"

"Of course."

***

"Here we are. Do you want me to come in, Scully?"

"No.  I think I need a little time to myself. I'll call you
later, OK?"

"It's not OK, but I'll go, if that's what you want."

"Wait--Mulder?"

"Yeah?"

"I don't love you like a brother."

"Really?!  I mean, that's great.  It's wonderful, actually,
because you know, I don't love you like a brother, either."

"Well, I would be little worried about you if you did."

"Ha ha, Scully--you know what I mean."

"Yeah, I think I do."

"So, maybe there's hope for us yet?"

"Yeah, maybe there is."

Finis

***

Challenge Elements
700 Words
All Dialogue

Set During or Immediately after one of these episodes:
     Ice
     Grotesque
     How the Ghosts Stole Christmas
     Humbug
     Tithonus
     The Field Where I Died
     Kill Switch
     Young At Heart

To include any 5 of the following words (we used more):
     sunshine
     leather
     congratulations
     Bermuda onions
     attic
     roses
     monstrous
     schedule
     snoring
     diaphanous