Mulder's Apartment
Christmas Eve
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Mulder was sitting on his couch, watching "It's a Wonderful Life" continuously. He envied this Jimmy Stewart character's life. Sure, it took his guardian angel to show him the better side of his life, but Mulder's life was worse. Guardian angels had probably avoided him, knowing that they couldn't make a difference. Not where he was concerned. Hell, Satan probably had him on the top of the list. Yeah, he thought morosely, Satan has me on speed dial.
His cell phone rang. Pausing to spit out a sunflower seed shell, he picked it up. "Mulder," he answered. The gloominess could be sensed in his tone.
"It's me."
"Scully. What are you doing calling me on Christmas Eve? You have better things to do. Are you at your mom's house?"
"Yeah."
"I can see it now," he whispered bitterly into the phone, "Bill's hovering over you because he believes you shouldn't be talking to your crackpot partner on Christmas Eve, your mother's in the kitchen cooking, little children are darting around excited. All the signs of a good Christmas Eve." This was followed by a heavy sigh. He heard shuffling and then a "Bill, no!"
"Listen to me, you son-of-a-bitch. You leave my little sister alone. Can't you just leave her in peace? I mean, even a heartless ass like you can understand what holidays are for my little sister. It's practically the only time she can see her family...because of you!" This was said in an accusing tone. He heard shuffling. His head drooped. His manner was like a dog with his tail between his legs. He was giving up. He was surrendering. There was no point to fight.
"You're right," he muttered into the phone.
"Mulder, no! You can't do this self-flaggelation thing again! Okay? It's not your fault. It's just...It's the X-Files, Mulder."
"Yeah. You're my partner on the X-Files and I force you to come along with me on all these damn cases. Spend some time with your family, Scully. I'm such an asshole that I don't even give you time with your family." He sighed. "Merry Christmas, Scully." He clicked the phone off.
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Margaret Scully's House
Christmas Eve
7:00 p.m.
"William Scully Jr! You drag your butt over here!" Margaret Scully yelled. She was about two feet away from him. He cowered, his head hanging low, as he trudged over. His wife was standing next to his mother. And Dana was already ignoring him. "I hope that I have a hearing problem and that I didn't hear you right. Maybe my idea to monitor your telephone habits is a good idea. Seeing how you spoke to Fox."
"He deser--"
"Bill! You know he didn't!"
Dana Scully got her nerve and stalked over, her face wrought in an emotionless facade. Her skin was glowering a darker shade. "Bill Scully, I don't know if you know this, but before you came along, he was the most self-flagellating person I know. He blamed himself for everything! My cancer came, and he already blamed himself. Then, you confirmed his worst fears. It took me so long to convince him otherwise! You have told him that the problems that have been inflicted upon this family: Melissa's death, my cancer...all of it. You told him it was his fault. Do you know what they did to his already critical self-esteem? You killed it, Bill. Like running over a bird, backing up, and running over it again. I love him, Bill, and I swear to God, if you push him over the edge and he commits suicide because of your dumbass comments, I will kick your ass. You understand? I don't give a fuck if you're my older brother!" She stood, breathing in and out through her nostrils, resembling Bill of a charging bull.
"You need to stop with this stupid behavior, Bill! God, sometimes...I swear, you can be just as bad as Matt, sometimes," his wife added.
"Mom, excuse me. I am going to bring Mulder over here and treat him to a real Christmas dinner, okay?" She was rewarded with the bewildered and angry look he cast her. "If you say anything to him, Bill, I swear..." She added a growl.
Christmas Eve
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Mulder was sitting on his couch, watching "It's a Wonderful Life" continuously. He envied this Jimmy Stewart character's life. Sure, it took his guardian angel to show him the better side of his life, but Mulder's life was worse. Guardian angels had probably avoided him, knowing that they couldn't make a difference. Not where he was concerned. Hell, Satan probably had him on the top of the list. Yeah, he thought morosely, Satan has me on speed dial.
His cell phone rang. Pausing to spit out a sunflower seed shell, he picked it up. "Mulder," he answered. The gloominess could be sensed in his tone.
"It's me."
"Scully. What are you doing calling me on Christmas Eve? You have better things to do. Are you at your mom's house?"
"Yeah."
"I can see it now," he whispered bitterly into the phone, "Bill's hovering over you because he believes you shouldn't be talking to your crackpot partner on Christmas Eve, your mother's in the kitchen cooking, little children are darting around excited. All the signs of a good Christmas Eve." This was followed by a heavy sigh. He heard shuffling and then a "Bill, no!"
"Listen to me, you son-of-a-bitch. You leave my little sister alone. Can't you just leave her in peace? I mean, even a heartless ass like you can understand what holidays are for my little sister. It's practically the only time she can see her family...because of you!" This was said in an accusing tone. He heard shuffling. His head drooped. His manner was like a dog with his tail between his legs. He was giving up. He was surrendering. There was no point to fight.
"You're right," he muttered into the phone.
"Mulder, no! You can't do this self-flaggelation thing again! Okay? It's not your fault. It's just...It's the X-Files, Mulder."
"Yeah. You're my partner on the X-Files and I force you to come along with me on all these damn cases. Spend some time with your family, Scully. I'm such an asshole that I don't even give you time with your family." He sighed. "Merry Christmas, Scully." He clicked the phone off.
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Margaret Scully's House
Christmas Eve
7:00 p.m.
"William Scully Jr! You drag your butt over here!" Margaret Scully yelled. She was about two feet away from him. He cowered, his head hanging low, as he trudged over. His wife was standing next to his mother. And Dana was already ignoring him. "I hope that I have a hearing problem and that I didn't hear you right. Maybe my idea to monitor your telephone habits is a good idea. Seeing how you spoke to Fox."
"He deser--"
"Bill! You know he didn't!"
Dana Scully got her nerve and stalked over, her face wrought in an emotionless facade. Her skin was glowering a darker shade. "Bill Scully, I don't know if you know this, but before you came along, he was the most self-flagellating person I know. He blamed himself for everything! My cancer came, and he already blamed himself. Then, you confirmed his worst fears. It took me so long to convince him otherwise! You have told him that the problems that have been inflicted upon this family: Melissa's death, my cancer...all of it. You told him it was his fault. Do you know what they did to his already critical self-esteem? You killed it, Bill. Like running over a bird, backing up, and running over it again. I love him, Bill, and I swear to God, if you push him over the edge and he commits suicide because of your dumbass comments, I will kick your ass. You understand? I don't give a fuck if you're my older brother!" She stood, breathing in and out through her nostrils, resembling Bill of a charging bull.
"You need to stop with this stupid behavior, Bill! God, sometimes...I swear, you can be just as bad as Matt, sometimes," his wife added.
"Mom, excuse me. I am going to bring Mulder over here and treat him to a real Christmas dinner, okay?" She was rewarded with the bewildered and angry look he cast her. "If you say anything to him, Bill, I swear..." She added a growl.