Title: Curtain Call (6/6)
Author: Dana E. Vassy
Rating: PG 13, although some scenes are more harrowing
than others.
Category: Story, MSR, non-episodic.
Spoilers: Slight Pusher and Duane Barry, nothing much
else.
Disclaimer: Mulder, Scully and Skinner are the property
of CC, 1013 and Fox. No profit being made. Sunset
Boulevard, the musical is copyright of the Really Useful
Group, based on an idea by Billy Wilder. I won't do any
damage, and although I never actually paid for my
tickets, please let me play... Mary, I now own your
family, just try to sue me.. Marion, Annabelle, Joel and
other incidentals you don't recognise are my own
creation.
Feedback: Send me it, or I'll hurt you like that beast
woman, Mulder. You get the point.
scullys_no_slut@viceprez.fsnet.co.uk
Distribution: Anywhere and everywhere, just drop me a
line at the above addy first...
Thanks to: Mary and her mad ideas on Yahoo. And
Nickerless the human air timetable.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Mulder and Scully, in transit
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Having alerted the police, Mulder had dragged Scully and
Myra to the car. He wasn't insured for it, but drove
anyway, ignoring Myra's protestations. His theory was
that Joel had gone to the warehouse his family owned,
since their wealth had been so central to his life. It
was what caused him grief from his peers, but also his
source of power and money. There was still no sign of
either the daughter or the ex-husband.
Mulder halted his train of thought about Brightman's
mental faculties. He had a more important problem to
address.
"Scully, I want to apologise."
She turned to face him with a more than sceptical gaze.
"What for Mulder? They needed your help. Our help."
"For everything. Being an ass in general. For ruining
your holiday, for snapping at you about the King and I,
and for breaking my promise to take you to dinner. That,
and all the other stuff I still deserve to feel guilty
about."
"Well, I forgive you. I hope you know I always will,
we can't change the past. And everything is as much to
do with me as you – we're a team. You can unbreak that
promise later."
He smiled contentedly, causing Scully's heart to miss a
beat. She loved making him happy, even though it was
slightly against her feminist principles to be concerned
with that. As Myra squirmed in the back seat, they were
painfully reminded that it wasn't over yet.
* * * * * * * * * *
Maru's warehouse
* * * * * * * * * *
If Marion had been shocked before, she was almost
destroyed by the sight of her daughter before her. The
daughter she had left behind to pursue her acting career.
It hadn't been easy, but they were on their way to
reconciliation after fifteen years. And as fifteen years
of guilt came cascading down on her, and Marion felt the
stinging tears despite her certainty that no fluid
remained in her body. Annabelle was a striking contrast
to Marion in appearance, but had her nose, and the same
determined set in her jaw. Apparently not dazed, she was
horrified at her mother being held like this.
Looking around, she could see no one to explain what was
happening. Annabelle could not remember how she came to
be in this dingy building, only that she was stiff and
bruised. Someone was watching her, she could feel an
invasive presence around her. Setting her gaze once more
on her mother, she was met by a look of weary panic. Her
instinct was to rush up and free the older woman from her
restraints, but something was holding her back. As
though her mother were warding her away. But was that
just paranoia, borne of countless years of rejection?
Marion hated to be vulnerable, especially in front of the
daughter who idolised and hated her in turn. Annabelle
was vaguely aware of a commotion outside, as she felt her
feet moving her unwittingly closer to her mother.
Annabelle felt her mind become foggy, like a damp night
on the Thames she loved to stare out of her mother's
window at. A dark, almost liquid quality consumed the
air she was breathing, and before her eyes the room was
moving slightly. Fighting back nausea, all she could see
were the swimming grey eyes of Marion. Filled with
dread, anxiety and about another thousand emotions she
couldn't identify. But there was love, unmistakeable
amongst the urgency and compassion. For the first time,
Annabelle accepted that her mum did love her, no matter
what the past said to the contrary. And she stopped.
Overcome with the emotion of her discovery, she stopped.
As she did, the door to the warehouse burst open. Two
strangers lead the charge, followed by a horde of police
officers and 'Aunt' Myra. Chaos reined, and Annabelle
had little sense of what happened as she saw Marion slump
to the floor.
Scully rushed to the motionless form of Tom, sprawled on
the floor about two feet in front of Marion. As she did,
Mulder freed the restraints on Marion's wrist, trying to
motivate her circulation. Joel was led away by the swarm
of police officers, his skin a sickly pallor and his hair
soaked with sweat. His revenge had taken its toll.
Unfortunately, it had been a much worse strain on Marion
and Tom.
"He's alive, just unconscious. Mulder?"
"Her breathing is weak. Heartbeat erratic. Get over
here, Scully."
Behind them, Annabelle burst into tears. Surely now,
after all they had endured – happiness wasn't going to be
snatched away? It seemed that happy endings really only
did happen in the theatre.
* * * * * * *
Epilogue
* * * * * * *
"Two days left, Mulder. And you still owe me
dinner."
Mulder looked up from his newspaper. His smug grim
implied he had it all in hand.
"It's 7:30. care to join me, Ms Scully?"
"Certainly."
"Taxi's waiting downstairs."
Mulder gazed appreciatively at his partner as she
gathered up her bag and coat. She had chosen the red
dress on purpose, he was sure. She had the sole
intention of making him dribble his food, the evil woman.
Little did he know how difficult coherent speech was when
presented with the sight of him in a dinner suit.
On the way to the restaurant, they discussed the 'case'
they had wrapped up. Mulder seemed glad about the
brownie points it would earn them back home. And to make
matters worse, expenses were minmal, all 'taken care of'
with worrying the Bureau. They had helped, that was what
counted. Although a week of sleeping on the sofa was
beginning to tell on his back. His own couch at home was
far more comfortable. As usual Scully followed his
smugness with her usual factual analysis, only this time
with a slight smile on her lips.
"I'm glad Marion pulled through. It was touch-and-go
on the way to the hospital. Tom's been ordered to take a
holiday apparently. But he's waiting to take her with
him."
Mulder's eyebrows arched at this.
"A reconciliation? I guess we did more than lock up a
wacko then."
Scully paused, apparently lost in thought. After a
moment, she continued.
"Yeah. It was sort of touching, the way they all
realised how much they meant to each other. It's hardly
an ideal situation, but it gave them a sharp reminder how
sad it would be to lose..."
Mulder stopped her short by brushing his hand across her
perfectly made-up cheek.
"They weren't the only ones who learned something,
Scully."
"But Mulder...I, what do you mean?"
"I won't bore you with confessions of undying love.
We're too old, and hopefully too sensible to gush like
lovestruck teens. But I want you to consider tonight our
first official date."
Dumbstruck, Scully could do little more than gape as they
pulled up at the Mirabelle. It felt as though she might
be floating as Mulder guided her inside, to an intimate
little corner. Other diners gave them no more than a
disinterested glance, and carried on in their own
personal parties. As soon, as the waiter managed to
squeeze a drink order out of them both, Mulder reached
across the table to take Scully's daintier hands in his.
"Dana Scully, you are the single most delightful woman
I have ever known. You make me happier than I deserve.
And what's more, you don't even expect to be thanked for
it.
"Well, this is thank you. I love you, plain and
simple. I'm tired of hiding behind protocol and fear of
rejection. I just want a chance to make you happy."
"Mulder, this is so unexpected...How could you think
I would reject you? Did you assume I tagged along with
you all these years just to pick up my paycheck? Yes, it
was friendship, but it became so much more. I'm only
worried, that well, it might go wrong. Everything else
in my life seems to."
"It won't if I can help it, I promise you. Now, do
you want to be my girlfriend? Pretty please?" The
boyish joviality in his voice was beyond merely
endearing.
Scully's eyes shone as she looked at him again. But for
The first time in a long time, it was due to happiness
and hope; not tears anymore.
"How can I resist you when you're so damn cute?"
And together, they began the rest of their lives. Step
by step, but most importantly, very much together.
Author: Dana E. Vassy
Rating: PG 13, although some scenes are more harrowing
than others.
Category: Story, MSR, non-episodic.
Spoilers: Slight Pusher and Duane Barry, nothing much
else.
Disclaimer: Mulder, Scully and Skinner are the property
of CC, 1013 and Fox. No profit being made. Sunset
Boulevard, the musical is copyright of the Really Useful
Group, based on an idea by Billy Wilder. I won't do any
damage, and although I never actually paid for my
tickets, please let me play... Mary, I now own your
family, just try to sue me.. Marion, Annabelle, Joel and
other incidentals you don't recognise are my own
creation.
Feedback: Send me it, or I'll hurt you like that beast
woman, Mulder. You get the point.
scullys_no_slut@viceprez.fsnet.co.uk
Distribution: Anywhere and everywhere, just drop me a
line at the above addy first...
Thanks to: Mary and her mad ideas on Yahoo. And
Nickerless the human air timetable.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Mulder and Scully, in transit
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Having alerted the police, Mulder had dragged Scully and
Myra to the car. He wasn't insured for it, but drove
anyway, ignoring Myra's protestations. His theory was
that Joel had gone to the warehouse his family owned,
since their wealth had been so central to his life. It
was what caused him grief from his peers, but also his
source of power and money. There was still no sign of
either the daughter or the ex-husband.
Mulder halted his train of thought about Brightman's
mental faculties. He had a more important problem to
address.
"Scully, I want to apologise."
She turned to face him with a more than sceptical gaze.
"What for Mulder? They needed your help. Our help."
"For everything. Being an ass in general. For ruining
your holiday, for snapping at you about the King and I,
and for breaking my promise to take you to dinner. That,
and all the other stuff I still deserve to feel guilty
about."
"Well, I forgive you. I hope you know I always will,
we can't change the past. And everything is as much to
do with me as you – we're a team. You can unbreak that
promise later."
He smiled contentedly, causing Scully's heart to miss a
beat. She loved making him happy, even though it was
slightly against her feminist principles to be concerned
with that. As Myra squirmed in the back seat, they were
painfully reminded that it wasn't over yet.
* * * * * * * * * *
Maru's warehouse
* * * * * * * * * *
If Marion had been shocked before, she was almost
destroyed by the sight of her daughter before her. The
daughter she had left behind to pursue her acting career.
It hadn't been easy, but they were on their way to
reconciliation after fifteen years. And as fifteen years
of guilt came cascading down on her, and Marion felt the
stinging tears despite her certainty that no fluid
remained in her body. Annabelle was a striking contrast
to Marion in appearance, but had her nose, and the same
determined set in her jaw. Apparently not dazed, she was
horrified at her mother being held like this.
Looking around, she could see no one to explain what was
happening. Annabelle could not remember how she came to
be in this dingy building, only that she was stiff and
bruised. Someone was watching her, she could feel an
invasive presence around her. Setting her gaze once more
on her mother, she was met by a look of weary panic. Her
instinct was to rush up and free the older woman from her
restraints, but something was holding her back. As
though her mother were warding her away. But was that
just paranoia, borne of countless years of rejection?
Marion hated to be vulnerable, especially in front of the
daughter who idolised and hated her in turn. Annabelle
was vaguely aware of a commotion outside, as she felt her
feet moving her unwittingly closer to her mother.
Annabelle felt her mind become foggy, like a damp night
on the Thames she loved to stare out of her mother's
window at. A dark, almost liquid quality consumed the
air she was breathing, and before her eyes the room was
moving slightly. Fighting back nausea, all she could see
were the swimming grey eyes of Marion. Filled with
dread, anxiety and about another thousand emotions she
couldn't identify. But there was love, unmistakeable
amongst the urgency and compassion. For the first time,
Annabelle accepted that her mum did love her, no matter
what the past said to the contrary. And she stopped.
Overcome with the emotion of her discovery, she stopped.
As she did, the door to the warehouse burst open. Two
strangers lead the charge, followed by a horde of police
officers and 'Aunt' Myra. Chaos reined, and Annabelle
had little sense of what happened as she saw Marion slump
to the floor.
Scully rushed to the motionless form of Tom, sprawled on
the floor about two feet in front of Marion. As she did,
Mulder freed the restraints on Marion's wrist, trying to
motivate her circulation. Joel was led away by the swarm
of police officers, his skin a sickly pallor and his hair
soaked with sweat. His revenge had taken its toll.
Unfortunately, it had been a much worse strain on Marion
and Tom.
"He's alive, just unconscious. Mulder?"
"Her breathing is weak. Heartbeat erratic. Get over
here, Scully."
Behind them, Annabelle burst into tears. Surely now,
after all they had endured – happiness wasn't going to be
snatched away? It seemed that happy endings really only
did happen in the theatre.
* * * * * * *
Epilogue
* * * * * * *
"Two days left, Mulder. And you still owe me
dinner."
Mulder looked up from his newspaper. His smug grim
implied he had it all in hand.
"It's 7:30. care to join me, Ms Scully?"
"Certainly."
"Taxi's waiting downstairs."
Mulder gazed appreciatively at his partner as she
gathered up her bag and coat. She had chosen the red
dress on purpose, he was sure. She had the sole
intention of making him dribble his food, the evil woman.
Little did he know how difficult coherent speech was when
presented with the sight of him in a dinner suit.
On the way to the restaurant, they discussed the 'case'
they had wrapped up. Mulder seemed glad about the
brownie points it would earn them back home. And to make
matters worse, expenses were minmal, all 'taken care of'
with worrying the Bureau. They had helped, that was what
counted. Although a week of sleeping on the sofa was
beginning to tell on his back. His own couch at home was
far more comfortable. As usual Scully followed his
smugness with her usual factual analysis, only this time
with a slight smile on her lips.
"I'm glad Marion pulled through. It was touch-and-go
on the way to the hospital. Tom's been ordered to take a
holiday apparently. But he's waiting to take her with
him."
Mulder's eyebrows arched at this.
"A reconciliation? I guess we did more than lock up a
wacko then."
Scully paused, apparently lost in thought. After a
moment, she continued.
"Yeah. It was sort of touching, the way they all
realised how much they meant to each other. It's hardly
an ideal situation, but it gave them a sharp reminder how
sad it would be to lose..."
Mulder stopped her short by brushing his hand across her
perfectly made-up cheek.
"They weren't the only ones who learned something,
Scully."
"But Mulder...I, what do you mean?"
"I won't bore you with confessions of undying love.
We're too old, and hopefully too sensible to gush like
lovestruck teens. But I want you to consider tonight our
first official date."
Dumbstruck, Scully could do little more than gape as they
pulled up at the Mirabelle. It felt as though she might
be floating as Mulder guided her inside, to an intimate
little corner. Other diners gave them no more than a
disinterested glance, and carried on in their own
personal parties. As soon, as the waiter managed to
squeeze a drink order out of them both, Mulder reached
across the table to take Scully's daintier hands in his.
"Dana Scully, you are the single most delightful woman
I have ever known. You make me happier than I deserve.
And what's more, you don't even expect to be thanked for
it.
"Well, this is thank you. I love you, plain and
simple. I'm tired of hiding behind protocol and fear of
rejection. I just want a chance to make you happy."
"Mulder, this is so unexpected...How could you think
I would reject you? Did you assume I tagged along with
you all these years just to pick up my paycheck? Yes, it
was friendship, but it became so much more. I'm only
worried, that well, it might go wrong. Everything else
in my life seems to."
"It won't if I can help it, I promise you. Now, do
you want to be my girlfriend? Pretty please?" The
boyish joviality in his voice was beyond merely
endearing.
Scully's eyes shone as she looked at him again. But for
The first time in a long time, it was due to happiness
and hope; not tears anymore.
"How can I resist you when you're so damn cute?"
And together, they began the rest of their lives. Step
by step, but most importantly, very much together.