X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X* When It All Comes Down To Trust by CyBear DISCLAIMER: All X-Files characters mentioned here are the property of CC. 1013 productions and Fox telivision... No infringement is intended. Thank you RATING: PG, Angst SUMMARY: Mulder tries to save Scully from certain death, but can he save himself as well? Please Archive and send to a.t.x.c. Thank You! X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X* A light rain fell like a mist on a secluded mountain road. A full moon filtered light through the trees and illuminated the forest floor. A black car sped along, leaving stirred up leaves in its path. Agent Mulder drove with a particular urgency. The unconscious body of Agent Scully was curled up in the seat beside him. She was wearing a hospital gown and wrapped in a blanket. Mulder glanced at the rear-view mirror then stepped on the gas. He glanced at Scully with a concerned look. Despite all his love and concern for Scully, all he could do at the moment is hope that she was all right. He turned onto a dirt road and continued driving. The road ended at a seemingly abandoned camp. The sign half hidden by the leaves and mist said "Mountain View Nature Camp - closed for the season." Mulder parked the car and got out. The damp cold bit through him instantly. He checked on Scully before turning on his flashlight and heading off into the woods towards a secluded cabin. He approached cautiously, shinning the light through the windows before entering. Mulder tried the door - it was unlocked. He stepped inside and looked around. The cabin was small. A bed was in the corner, a small table beside it. A chair was in the opposite corner. Besides being a bit dusty, it was ok. It had to be. Mulder had no where else to take her. Mulder went back to the car. He grabbed some blankets, pillows and an electric heater and carried them to the cabin. He made the bed, and turned on the heater. He then went back for Scully. Scully was still unconscious in the front seat. He picked her up in his arms and carried her to the cabin. He set her down on the bed. He pulled the blankets over her. She started to stir. "Scully?" Mulder whispered. "You're safe here Scully." "What happened?" she asked in a wavering voice. She tried lifting her head to look around, but she was too weak. "You were attacked Scully." He said, leaning over her. He placed his hand on her forehead. "You're going to be ok. Try not to move to much." " Where am I?" she asked, "how did I get here?" "I brought you here. It's the only safe place I could find." Mulder said. "Whatever you and frohike found out, it must have been good." Mulder started towards the door. "Hold on Scully", he said. "I have to get some supplies from the car. I'll be right back". He left the cabin. A few minutes later, Mulder returned to the cabin. He carried several brown bags of groceries and medical supplies. Scully was asleep. He stashed the bags at the foot of the bed, pulled up the chair and watched over his beloved partner as she slept. *************************************************************** "Good morning Scully, How are you feeling?" "Awful" she mumbled. "What happened?" "I got a call from Frohike. He said that your life was in danger. I rushed down to the hospital in time to save you from an unknown attacker. I brought you up here for safety." "Mulder, there is something I need to say to you. Please sit down." "Sure, Scully" Mulder sat down in the chair. "What is it?" "I want to clear the air between us, Mulder." She said. "I want to tell you how I feel before I die." "What do you mean?" "Mulder, We've been working together for four years. During that time I have seen a lot of weird things that tested my beliefs. During that time we have become close friends. I have a closeness to you that I never had with anyone else." Scully grabbed Mulders hand and stared into his eyes. "We have had our differences, but you've always treated me with respect. We've been through so much together. Things that I never thought could happen. And through all this I have become very close to you, Mulder. A closeness beyond partnership. Its more akin to being soul-mates." She paused to search for the next words. "You're very special to me Mulder. And I just wanted you to know that despite all the evil we've seen. I wouldn't trade it for anything." "Scully." he started. "Except Tooms. I could have lived comfortably without having met Eugene Victor Tooms!" She smiled. Mulder laughed. "I'm glad you are by my side" she told him sincerely. "Hold that thought, Scully" he said, getting up. "Where are you going?" she asked. "I'm going to see a man about a cure for cancer." Mulder rushed out the door. "Please don't go!" Scully called after him. "It's too late! I just want you here with me!" Mulder never turned back. *********************************************** Lightning illuminated Mulders way as he walked towards the small cabin. His mind was working over all the details that he had come to learn as fact over the past few years. He knew more of the truth now. He knew about the cigarette smoking mans exploits over the last 40 years. About the cover-ups and conspiracies. The overthrown governments, and sinister medical experiments on an unsuspecting population. He had the knowledge, but lacked the proof. There was one fact he could prove. This fact was of great concern to him. The fact that his partner, The Enigmatic Dr. Scully, was herself at deaths door. And there was nothing that he could do to stop it. He tried. He went so far as to beg help from Cancerman himself, but he was refused. All he could get from his arch enemy was: "Mr. Mulder. Death is inevitable." He pleaded with him to help. "I'm sorry Mr. Mulder" He said, puffing on a cigarrette, "I cannot help you now." He was rushing back to her. All he could do now is be there for her. Hopefully it wasn't too late. He opened the door to the cabin and stepped inside. Scully was lying peacefully in bed. She was asleep. Mulder closed the door behind him. He walked quietly to her bedside and held her hand. A trickle of blood dried on her lip. A slight bruise had formed on the bridge of her nose. Symptoms of the cancer that was slowly taking her from him. A pulse. It wasn't too late. The cancer hadn't taken her from him yet. There still was time. He sat in the chair beside her bed. Gazing down on her peaceful, unconscious form. Trying to grasp the words to describe all the things that he needed to say before the inevitable happens. Before she was gone forever. Lightning flashed outside. Thunder rumbled in the distance. He fought with himself. He needed more time to sort out his feelings. To absorb all he had learned. But the cruelest of fate had denied him of this most precious commodity. He grabbed her hand and held it in his "Scully", he whispered. "Dana. I now know so much, but it is too late to matter. For so long I have believed on my own. I walked the dark path of my quest without aid or companionship. Then our paths crossed. Eventually, my quest became yours. My beliefs became our beliefs. We became soul mates on our quest." He felt her hand squeeze his softly. His heart jumped in his chest. She heard him. Understood him. Agreed with him. "I started to lose my own faith, Scully. You were the only one I trusted. The only one I would believe. And know you are slipping away." His voice shook. A tear fell down his cheek. He could hear the rain start to fall on the cabin roof. "What is truth Scully? " Mulder asked "without trust?" Scully's breathing was shallow and labored. Mulder kissed her forehead gently. Then, suddenly, Dana Scully breathed her last. Mulder bowed his head and wept. He made no attempts at recucitation. He tried to hold back the tears, but it was futile. He was overcome with an overwhelming sense of loss. "I know so much now Scully, but without you, I fear I don't have enough faith to take the next step. I am lost without you. " Mulder looked down at the lifeless form of his partner. "How can I condone bringing you with me on my damned crusade? What justification can I offer that makes dragging your life down with mine acceptable? I know you came with me because you wanted to. But at a moment like this, I can't help but feel that I somehow forced you to follow me. That your death is on my hands." Mulder removed his gun from his holster and held it in his hands. "I can't go on alone, Scully." He started. "I can't continue on this quest not knowing how many other lives will get destroyed. I just can't continue." Mulder pointed the gun at his mouth, whispered goodbye to Scully, and pulled the trigger. Lightning struck. A bright flash of light. A loud explosion of thunder. The power failed. Darkness fell. *********************************************** CyBear cybear@earthling.net