~The Fragile~

"She shines in a world full of ugliness. She matters when everything is meaningless. Fragile, she doesn't see her beauty, she tries to get away. Sometimes it's just that nothing seems worth saving, I won't let her slip away." ~Trent Reznor~ 'Fragile'

(OK, I'm a big NIN and X Files freak. While listening to the beautiful lyrics of the brilliant Trent Reznor, an idea for a story was born. I hope you like it!)

TITLE: The Fragile SPOILERS: none RATING: PG DISCLAIMER: I have no rights to the x files (or nine inch nails for that matter) No copyright infringement intended, so please don't sue. ~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~

Chapter 1 ~porcelain~

Like a porcelain doll, with white flawless skin, crystal azure eyes and flushed full lips framed by auburn locks, the fragility is preordained. It takes several blows to chip her, but it all comes crumbling down like the shot-in-the-air bodies falling over the Berlin wall under Khrushchev's ominous hands. My objective to cushion her esthetic glass-like exterior is as great as the tragic hero within on the quest for truth.

While I'm distanced from her by an invisible barrier built out of respect, my toes are always at the edge. I'm there to catch her if she were to ever fall through it; to be her shoulder to cry on. Because the cracks in this porcelain doll are reticent, the break is inevitable. Unlike Humpty Dumpty, this doll can be restored, however, I can only guide her two the pieces, for her pride will be bruised if I hand them to her.

I stand aside watching her blossom to my quest, to share my tragedy, to fly free over barricades and prejudice alike.

"Mulder?" The voice of the doll asks. "Are you ok? You've been staring at the wall for about ten minutes."

"The doll speaks." I smile.

She looks at me afraid yet concerned.

I laugh. "No. I'm fine, would you fly with me over all the land mines set to destroy our path to the truth?"

She sweeps the hair from my forehead; the touch of her cold palm sends a shiver down my spine.

"Mulder, you're burning up! Let me take you to a hospital."

"The fever doesn't lie, it just exaggerates a bit. I meant everything I said." I reassure her.

"What are you talking about? Let's go to a doctor."

"You know, the porcelain doll within, Scully." I remind her.

She looks at me like I'm stupid, what I like to think is a look of 'love'. She grabs both of our coats and holds out her hand. I let her help me stand and my vision goes black with little spots of light in the corners of my eyes that disappear when I try to look at them.

"That is sooooo cool! They disappear." I announce. I feel my knees buckle out from under me and I fall in slow motion to the floor. As I slip into unconsciousness, I hear the doll calling out my name, her cries muffle as dreams settle over my mind.

~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~

Scully sat beside Mulder in a white plastic chair, looking over the tubes running into his nose. His face was adorned with a peaceful smile. Scully felt better seeing him look content, it seem to help her digest the condition he was in. She rested her hand on top of his, as she faintly smiled at the grin upon his face.

"How's he doing?" A panicked Skinner inquired as he burst through the door.

"He's completely non-responsive. They're running a tox-screen right now, they should have the results in a matter of minutes." She answered.

"Do you think he took something?"

"I don't know. His temperature is at 102 and rising, they don't want to administer anything until they know for sure. They weren't able to detect any other symptoms of illness."

***More to come*** Natalie Icesparklesz@hotmail.com