Title: For Samantha
Author: Angel LeeAnn
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Mulder is pulled into a serial case right after Samantha's body is found. Scully is forced to make some crucial decisions concerning her partner's welfare and his confession.
Disclaimer: The X-files clan belogs to Chris Carter and all the wonderful people at 1013. I hold no claim over any familiar characters. I'm NOT making money off this (though I wish I could). So, please do not sue. I don't have anything anyway.
WARNING: If violence in any degree toward children upset you then, please, don't read any further. Or, at least skip the prologue.
PROLOGUE
Shadows chased each other across the walls as cars passed by. The clear night was bitter, bringing with it a mask of fog and frost. Shannon Greene pulled her Barbie comforter more snuggly around her tiny frame as she curled into a tight ball. She watched the circus display on her white walls until fatigue swept through.
Her eyes fluttered closed and she could sense herself slipping into the wonderful world of imagination. Then, she felt a pressure on her mouth and was torn away from the dreamland to discover a hand clasping her mouth. The owner of the hand bent down, whispering gruffly: "Squirm or scream and I'll slit your throat."
After securing her mouth with duct tape, he tossed her over his shoulder and strolled out of her room. He hauled her out into the freezing cold where the wind clawed at her flesh till she was numb.
The intruder carried the trembling girl deep into the woods. He staggered through the dense weeds, vines, and bushes that shielded a cave entrance. From a first, second – and most likely third – glance, it didn't appear to be anything but a thick layer of underbrush: but behind that laid a chamber of terror.
The kidnapper slid Shannon onto the arctic, hard stone. She quivered violently, her teeth chattering from the endless chill. She was too frigid to process what was happening. All she was conscious of was the horribly turbulent fear raging in the pit of her stomach. Shannon's eyes grew heavy, but her frightened mind restricted them to close.
Somewhere in the dark distance, warmth reached her body. As awareness crept back, she was caught off guard by a fist slamming into her jaw. Another blow to the gut caused her to whimper in pain. If it weren't for her restraint, she would've cried out like a wounded animal. A knock to the head brought a wave of dizziness followed by darkness.
CHAPTER ONE
The air was thick with unseen fear as the smell of urine and vomit assaulted Scully's nose. Her first instinctive motion was to cover her mouth and nose with the palm of her hand as she crept further into the darkened room. Her feet moved steadily threw the piles of strewn items as she inched her way down the hall to the bedroom. The door stood barely ajar and creaked softly as she pushed it aside.
Sprawled on the mattress, a man lay tangled in a sheet, his eyes staring blankly at the mirrors above him. He appeared to be oblivious to the stench and wetness that surrounded him. His skin was pale and clammy to the touch as she reached out and placed the back of her hand to his forehead.
"Mulder?" She slid down onto the bed and the action bobbed the water underneath, making his body turn slightly towards her. "Mulder…what happened?"
His eyes slowly began to focus on her as he swallowed. He shook his head in silent denial. When he spoke, his voice was void of all emotion. "She used to always tell me that life was meant to be lived. Then she would smile and take my hand and announce enthusiastically that I should go with her to the beach. The real reason was she wasn't allowed to go alone. Mom would've had my hide if she wandered off towards the cliff." At this moment tears sprung into his eyes and trickled down his tormented face unnoticed. "She was never supposed to be left alone. And one of her well-known secrets was that was scared of the dark. She always came into my room and crawled into bed with me because she didn't want to be alone in the dark. It must be very lonely and dark in that coffin."
Scully sighed daintily. She wiped the wetness from the corner of her eye before taking his hand. She ran circles with her thumb over his palm. "Shh…Mulder…it's going to be all right. I need to get you to a doctor. You're sick."
Mulder continued on as if he hadn't heard her. As though he were talking to himself. "She had already decided what she was going to do with her life. She told me one day during a walk through the woods that she wasn't going to college. She was going to travel the world and meet a foreigner. She was going to marry and have lots of children and name one after me. She asked me what I wanted and I told her 'I life without a pestering sister'."
Mulder's body trembled, most likely from shock. "I didn't mean it. I would give anything to have a pestering sister back. But…I realized something today that I should've realized long ago. She's not coming back. Everything I've done as been in vain. Samantha Anne Mulder was kidnapped, raped, murdered then buried in the middle of the Arizona desert. She was eight years old. She was only a baby."
THREE DAYS LATER…
The funeral home wasn't crowded with loved ones for many of them had lost contact or past on themselves. Twenty-six years is a long time to have gone by. But, the Gunmen had been able to track down enough people to make it seem like somebody cared.
Mulder sat sullenly in the front pew reserved for immediate family: he was alone. Seeing his frail, lonely frame tugged at Scully's heart. She wanted to reach out to him and soothe away all the agony.
Margaret Scully nudged her daughter in the arm and whispered: "Dana, you have to go to him."
Within moments, Scully was seated tentatively at his side. She brushed her fingers along his face and murmured: "Mulder…tell me how you're feeling."
"Numb. Lost. Alone." He stared at the tip of his shoe like a man who had just lost all hope and life. "Dead."
The last remark struck Scully in the chest. She guided his head down onto her shoulder and ran her fingers through his chestnut hair. "No, Mulder, don't say that. Don't…please, don't give up. I love you. And we'll get through this. You're not alone. You still have me."
Mulder squeezed his eyes shut. "But what happens when you leave? We're not going to stay partners forever. We'll get old and move apart. You'll get married to some rich doctor."
"I love you…" she began to protest, but he interrupted her.
"So what? I love you, too. I loved my sister. I loved my father. I loved my mother. Tell me how you can be any different, especially since I have almost lost you many times before…once by your own free will! Remember Salt Lake City, Utah? Who is to say one of these times you won't return or won't pass up a better opportunity?"
"Because," she whispered, "you told me I complete you, which means you, in turn, complete me. I need you, Mulder."
He was silent, motionless for a while before suddenly, violently he shoving her away. "No more lies! I'm sick and tired of lies! My whole life has been full of lies! Damn it, Scully, don't lie to me anymore!"
"Mulder, I know you're in pain and upset. But please believe me…"
"I…I…just can't handle any of this…right now." He turned away as tears threatened to overflow. Grief embraced his shattered heart and dizziness swept over him in tidal waves. He began to sway.
Scully placed a calming arm around his shaky body and guided him down to her lap. He buried his face into her belly. She could feel the wetness seeping through her suit jacket. She lowered her voice to a soothing tone and whispered words of comfort.
End Chapter One
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