Rating: NC-17
Classification: Case file/MSR, WIP, Humor, Alternate Universe…people are actually happy here…well, some of them
Spoilers: Everything through the first third of Season 7, the story taking place in the universe set forth in Absolute Beginners I, Absolute Beginners II–Better With Practice, and Absolute Beginners III–Comes The Morning—available on Ephemeral, Whispers of X, Fran’s Fanfic Addiction, and The Grove. (It’ll help to read ’em, honest!)
Keywords: Be careful what you wish for. Character death…not who you think. Necromancy. Santeria. Marriage Proposal.
Summary: This story takes place late in the year 2000. In the early Spring of the same year, Mulder and Scully finally got off the dime (after a false start, angst, guilt and a nightmare or two) and did the dirty deed. After a weekend of ‘solidifying their relationship’, they are pulled off the X-Files, but managed to find at least one way to console each other. Fast forward about six months–and you’ll be right we begin, dear reader.
Disclaimers: You know, they’re not ours. They’re Chris Carter’s. Just using them for the fun, no money involved.
Archive: Yes, anywhere. Just keep it intact.
Feedback: Yes, please. You can contact me: alvaradomccain@earthlink.net
Epilogue By Diehard and Dryad
10:30 am — The next day—Various Locations
~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~
Sgt. Lazarov leans back in his armchair, feet up on his desk, lazily going over a glossy catalogue of new office furniture he was sure he’d be needing when he got the call from the Superintendent. Oh, he’d be getting that promotion, he’d be the Mayor’s new Liaison for Community Affairs. He’s busted his ass for too long, and they had to toss him a bone after tying up the Gonzales case. The only thing he’s waiting on to get the ball rolling is Jorgensen’s goddamn report.
~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~
Kris Jorgensen’s hunches over an old Selectric, hunting and pecking what she hopes will be the approved version of the most bizarre case she’s ever had to deal with. Ostrowski and Clark were arguing about who was going to pay the tab at the Claddagh Ring, saying something about needing to cut back on the beers anyway. She’s hasn’t been to bed yet, drunk so much coffee that her teeth are chattering. Her phone rings and it’s Hannah, all excited and chirping in her ear about baby names. No, she tells her, there will be no Brittney or Justin. Hanging up the phone, she wonders if there are any openings in the coroner’s office. Somehow, the quiet seems really appealing right now. Going back to her typing, she hopes she’s spelling that Adisanya woman’s name correctly.
~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~
Iyalosha Adisanya waves off the gaggle of seekers, with their requests for love spells, healings, and divinations. She tells Osunrete to make her some hawthorn tea to lessen her sorrow, settles in to a chair in a small alcove in the rear of the temple. Murmuring ancient words she weaves a band of red and orange, a talisman for Omi. He will need to be kept safe from the predators in prison. She owes him her protection now, she will watch over him the rest of her life. Osunrete brings the steaming tea, and she reminds the girl to start gathering rose blossoms, myrrh and sweetgrass. There is a wedding gift to be made for the FBI man and his woman.
~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~
Walter Skinner doesn’t know why, but he’s feeling like odd man out when his phone assaults him with a blaring ring. It’s a call from SAC Mitrovic who takes great delight in letting him know that his agents are a traveling freak show, and that he’ll soon be regaled with details of their exploits. Walter takes great delight in telling Mitrovic what he can do with himself, hangs up on him, buzzes Kim and asks her for his Mylanta. She cancels his appointments for today, asks him if he still wants to meet with Mulder and Scully. He shakes his head, and tells her tomorrow, late tomorrow.
~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~
Mulder’s just finished stuffing himself, enjoying the hell out his breakfast in bed, and Scully’s in the bathroom running the shower. He tries to call Skinner, but Kim tells him the A.D. isn’t feeling too well, so he won’t be meeting with them until late the next day. He seizes on the opportunity, makes another call and pushes back their flight until four.
They’re all packed, so they have the rest of the morning and good part of the afternoon…
Scully’s standing under pulsating streams of hot water, working out the kinks in her neck, eyes closed and blissfully not thinking of anything. She feels a slight draft and the looming presence of someone who starts soaping her back, working away the tightness running along her spine.
“Just can’t let me take a shower alone, eh, Mulder?” She leans back into his slippery grip.
“I’m very ecologically concerned, Scully. Global reserves of water desperately need conservation.” He rinses off a shoulder and starts licking a trail to the nape of her neck.
“Unbelievable,” she laughs. “Oh…right there… that’s it,” as his hand slides slick concentric circles over her breast. She’s not laughing any more.
“Say, Scully,” his voice low and hypnotic, “studies recently show that men’s sex drives do not decrease as they enter their forties,” as he rubs the newly energized proof of his statement against the curve of her ass.
Reaching around to verify the necessary empirical evidence, “I’ll have to see that for myself.”
Spinning her around and pressing her to the tile, his mouth descends onto hers as he provides a very pointed illustration.
~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~
On a flight to Osaka—somewhere over the Pacific.
Vanessa Muraski stretches like a lazy cat in her first-class seat, uncrosses her long legs and rubs her calves until she feels his hands begin to do the work. “I wondered what it would take to get your attention, Hiroshi.”
Teacher. Her pet endearment for Hector Shinoda. He’s a brilliant instructor and she’s been an apt pupil. Unfortunately, his tutelage involves things like garrotting, a Makarov with a silencer, and bad men who’ve begged for mercy that never came.
“You’ve been reading a long time.” She reaches for the sheaf of papers on his lap, sees the title, ‘The Code of Bushido, and its Influence on Pathological Knight-Errant Response.’
“He wrote this?”
“Yes, my love, this was written by one who knows the Way…”
She regards him thoughtfully, “Are you planning on dealing with him?”
Shinoda turns to gaze out the window, white clouds forming everything and nothing. “No, but perhaps he may want to deal with me one day. A man must prepare for death always.”
Settling back in his seat and closing his eyes, Shinoda hoped he would be ready if their paths crossed again.
FIN
~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~ Author’s notes: diehard’s
This has been a labor of love, impossible to complete without the foundation I received from dryad.
To Dryad–I may have done more of the scribbling, but this story would’ve never happened without your bedrock.
To the wonderfully encouraging XDKSFAN, Inya, Fran Weugel, Sherri Kelm, girlie_girl74, Little Spooky, Linda (aka/linc), fifee, Evie Whiting, and Beach 2329—-you shored me up, got me through, got me going—and for that I’m so very grateful. For the wonderful sites, Ephemeral, Gossamer, WIPOL, WIP Nest, The Grove, Whispers of X, atxc, The Spookys, musea, Fran’s Fanfic Addiction—I can only express my deep appreciation for creating worlds of wonderful fiction.
To Ms. Suture–fellow traveler and brilliant writer–thank you for the glorious words!
And to Mulder and Scully and David and Gillian—you continue to occupy the best part of my imagination.