When she had walked into the room, she knew something was wrong. The office had never been this quiet. And when she found the letter on her desk, she knew that the office was morning.

Dana Scully felt as if the office was crying out for the person entailed in the letter. The walls felt hot like the face of a crying person, the floor saturated with salty tears.

Scully slowly opened the letter that was on her desk and read it carefully... slowly... not wanting to know the details.

One of her best friends had died. She knew it was coming but she never thought it would happen so soon. It was as if the whole world had stopped. The world had stopped and it would never turn again. She fell to the chair, dropping a hand to her heart.

Agent Dana Scully,

We regret to inform you that Barbara Chas has passed away. A memorial service will be held on February 14, 2002. We hope you may attend this service as we honor our fallen comrade.

Sincerely,

The US Navy

Scully sat, silent and brooding for a few moments, trying to clear her mind. She had work to do and yet she couldn't bring herself to get up. She remembered when she was informed of her friend's cancer. And the thought of it haunted her at the moment.

The letter had come as it had today, and she had read it, her mind reeling at the thought. Barbara had asked her to come and see her yet Scully refused. She didn't want to see her friend in this horrible state. So she had sent flowers and a card, expressing her regret and telling her friend that she was "busy on a case." Barbara had understood.

Scully had tried to avoid any contact with her, afraid to talk to her dying friend. And yet she didn't understand why she did that. She worked with dead bodies all the time and yet she was afraid to face someone who was dying. It didn't make sense to her.

Scully clutched the letter, the paper crumbling in her sweaty hand. Why hadn't she gone when she had had the chance? If she had gone to see her, Barbara would have seen her face one last time before she died? And now Barbara wasn't there. And there was nothing to do about it.

Dear God,

Why didn't I go? Please, forgive me for the trouble and pain I've caused her.

Scully prayed this small prayer in her mind, trying to clear her conscience. She lifted her eyes to the ceiling trying to think of something she could do. Something that she could do to clear her name. And yet nothing came to mind.

As she sat there, staring at the ceiling, she saw Barbara's face. Barbara smiled down at her, her soft eyes staring into hers. Scully felt a tear form, falling down her cheek lightly.

" I'm sorry I wasn't there for you," Scully whispered, shutting her eyes. And Barbara's face was still there, in her mind. As Scully glanced at her face, she smiled... a sense of peace washed over her and she knew she was forgiven. Even though she hadn't been there when Barbara needed it, she was there now... and she knew that she would see Barbara again. She would see Barbara when she was healthy and happy... and the two would discuss what they had missed when they had been away from each other.

For even death cannot put an end to a friendship.

For my friend, Barbara Chase, who died in 2001. May her spirit live on forever.