Disclaimer: Not mine

Spoilers: Every single thing from every single episode, savvy?

A/N: Fair warning: You are not getting answers in this chapter. Okay? As long as we're clear. Just wait a little and I will have another chapter. It's called realistic progression… know about it.

Sarah Wallace sat in the middle of her bed, folding her clothes and shoving them into a bag. She knew it would end this way, she had just been hoping she was wrong. Taking her glasses off, she wiped at the tears that fell down her cheeks. Crying was wrong. Crying meant there was someone else to blame. And there was no one to blame but herself. She sniffled and zippered the bag closed, then collapsed back against the plush pillows. She wasn't quite sure what to do now. Her dad had kicked her out, and she had no place to go. Sure, she had friends, but she couldn't live with them forever. She'd never known her mom, and she was certain that her dad's side of the family would take the news even worse than he had.

She stood up and slid into her shoes while looking out the window at the lights of the town. Maybe there was a shelter she could go to. Maybe she could crash in a hospital waiting room, where no one would think twice about the teenager sleeping in the corner. Maybe she should just wander and see where she ended up. It wasn't terribly cold, maybe she could sleep in the park. Pretend she was five again, camping out in the woods, back when life was easy. Back when she had everything.

She sighed and pulled away from the window, biting her lip and tucking a dark strand of hair behind her ear. She had to think of something. She wasn't a kid anymore. Hadn't been in a week. Never would be again, most probably. She wanted nothing more than to run downstairs, throw herself in her father's arms and cry. But he was too upset now. Eventually he would come around, but for now she needed to leave him alone.

Her stomach lurched at the thought of disappointing him. Her dad was her hero. Her Superman. He cheered the loudest at all of her recitals and plays and games. He was the dad that never complained about driving her place to place. He was the one who still kissed her goodnight and hugged her when she left in the morning. They were best friends. And she had broken his heart.

She paced back and forth in front of the window, staring at the phone across the room. She had a feeling of what to do. She just wasn't sure it would work. Her hand reached out and grabbed the phone, her thumb hovering over the numbers as she recited them in her head. She had memorized it years ago, but had never used it until now.

"Okay, so if I do the reports for September, that means you'll do them for October?" Mulder asked, running a hand through his already tousled hair.

"It's a fair deal," Scully answered with a slight shrug, taking a sip of her hot chocolate.

"Are you going to turn on me and complain that there is one more day in October than September?"

"No, because the extra day is Halloween, and you never work on Halloween."

Her grin was triumphant and he had to smile himself.

"So we have actually struck a deal and settled the seven year debate over who is doing the paperwork."

"I feel like we have accomplished something great."

They sat in silence for a moment.

"Scully, what are we going to bicker about now?"

"I don't know."

"That's our thing!"

The phone rang and she chuckled as she stood up from the couch, taking her glasses off.

"I guess we're going to have to find a new thing."

"Like how you always answer the phone when we're supposed to be working?"

"Shut up, Mulder," she said before picking up the phone. "Hello?... Sarah? Whoa, honey, slow down. What's going on?... What?... What happened, Sarah?... Oh, honey… Yes, I'll be there. I'm getting my shoes on and I'll be there as soon as I can, okay? It's going to be fine, honey. I'll see you in a bit."

She hung the phone up and pulled her shoes on before grabbing the phone again.

"Scully, what's going on?"

"Just…" she shook her head and hopped around, trying to get her left shoe on all the way. "Hey, it's Dana. Sarah just called me….I'm just wondering if that was the whole story… You really kicked her out?... No, I understand. I don't like it, but I get it… No, I'm coming down there… I'm leaving now… We'll talk when I get there… I know. I do too. I'll be there in a bit."

She hung up the phone again and grabbed her coat off the kitchen table chair.

"Mulder, I gotta go. Lock up when you leave."

"Wait, Scully, what's going on?"

"Family emergency."

"Is everything okay?"

"It will be. I have to go. I'll call you tomorrow."

She reached out and squeezed his hand, then left the apartment.