Title:- none as yet but for now let's just call it 'act of god'
Author:- Gabiabi
Rating:- G
Summary:- another case for Mulder and Scully - another hospital trip for Mulder, another bedside vigil for Scully. ...or is it?
Disclaimer:- any characters that you recognise are not mine.

Author's note:- this was originally written for a challenge subject: act of God - hence the working title. it wasn't finished in time however and has been sitting on my hard drive eer since, wiling me to get it finished and so here goes...chapter 2 coming soon.

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"Well...that was a total waste of time."

"Sorry Scully. I really thought that we would find proof, that this was the real thing."

Scully turned away from Mulder's downcast eyes, knowing that she would end up forgiving him too easily if she stayed looking at him. As she trudged further onwards, mud slopping right over and into her boots, she felt any sliver of forgiveness slip away. She felt her anger and frustration at Mulder bubble up inside her more and more with every step she took.

"Why, Mulder? Just answer me this - why would this time be any different?"

"I...I don't know Scully. I just thought..."

"No Mulder, no you didn't think. You didn't think at all. You never do. You just jump straight in, running off to wherever, dragging me along with you. Do you think this is what I wanted to be doing with my weekend? Do you think I wanted to be trudging through ankle-deep mud? ...And now it's staring to rain as well, brilliant. Just brilliant!"

And indeed it had begun to rain and soon the drizzle had turned into a downpour, soaking the pair of them. Scully held out her arms and looked up to the sky in despair, shaking her head before letting her arms fall to her sides. Mulder, on the other hand, didn't look up from the spot on the ground that he had decided to stare at during Scully's rant. His shoulders, which had already been sagging in dejection due to the failed case, had slumped further and further down with each angry word that she had spoken.

"I'm sorry Scully. I..."

"Don't bother Mulder. I've had enough of your excuses. I don't mind when its official FBI business but in future, whenever you decide to go off on a crazy field trip, please - don't bother dragging me along. Don't even ask because this is it Mulder. I've had enough. No more."

"Scully...I..."

Scully had started to storm off after finishing her tirade, angry with Mulder for dragging her out here but even more angry that she had let herself be dragged. When she heard Mulder speak though, she turned to hear what he had to say knowing that she couldn't leave him standing there. Her anger faded though when she saw him standing in the pouring rain, his arm stretched out towards her as if begging her to come back. In the moment that her eyes met his, she instantly forgave him for she realised that there was really nothing to forgive. Her heart ached for him as she watched him helplessly search for the words to apologise. As she opened her mouth to tell him that there was no need for him to speak, a fork of lightning jumped from the stormy clouds and struck Mulder's outstretched hand. Mulder, after uttering only a brief cry of agony, slumped lifelessly to the ground.

"MULDER!!!!!"