Arlington's Heroes
Scully looked at all the white tombstones as Skinner drove her through Arlington Cemetery. He had been kind enough to offer her a ride home. He was worried about her; worried about the effect this latest grief would take on her.
They drove in silence until Scully broke it. "I wanted to thank you for getting them buried here. I know...I know you called in a lot of favors for this one. I know they would have appreciated it as much as I do."
"It was the least I could do." Skinner, although grateful for Scully words, did not need her praise. He had done what he had felt needed to be done. It was his way to honor them.
"I wish they would have told me they were having trouble making ends meet," said Scully sorrowfully. They were her friends as much as Mulder's and yet she knew that she had always kept them at a distance as she did with so many people in her life. Her heart ached that she never told them in life how much they meant to her. They probably felt they couldn't have come to her. That thought made her even more upset.
"Probably didn't want to worry you with Mulder gone and you having to take care of William," explained Skinner trying to ease her sorrow if he could. He too missed the Lone Gunmen and was fond of them in his own way.
Scully, for her part, felt a flush of anger. "I wish everyone would stop worrying about me for a change and let me worry about them." She regretted her words immediately, and turning to Skinner, she apologized for her outburst.
Skinner shook his head. No apology was needed. It had been a hard day for them all.
"So many times they've been there to help me and to help Mulder," continued Scully. They risked their lives for us and now they've given their lives to save us all. The Bible says that there is no greater sacrifice than to give up one's life for one's friends and yet I think that it must be an even greater sacrifice to give up one's life for complete strangers, people they never even met. And those people will never know to whom they owe their continued existence."
Clearing his voice, Skinner said. "They are the unsung heroes."
Scully nodded her agreement. "I only...I only wish Mulder could be here. Of all of us, he was their oldest friend. I know he would have wanted to be here, to say good-bye...." Her voice trailed off for a moment. "The three of them remind me so much of Mulder-they were all so driven on this quest for the truth no matter what the personal cost. Only a lot of times their quests were more comical than ours."
Both Skinner and Scully shared a chuckle as some of the Lone Gunmen's more comedic moments passed through their thoughts.
As the light laughter died down, Skinner said seriously, "It'll be strange not having them around to uncover every conspiracy."
"Them, yes," Scully agreed, "but I wouldn't say that conspirators should feel safe by any means."
Skinner understood what Scully meant. Langly, Byers, and Frohike had passed the torch to Yves and Jimmy. Both smiled. Their hearts felt lighter than they had for days. Some things would never die. The Lone Gunmen would live on.
Scully looked at all the white tombstones as Skinner drove her through Arlington Cemetery. He had been kind enough to offer her a ride home. He was worried about her; worried about the effect this latest grief would take on her.
They drove in silence until Scully broke it. "I wanted to thank you for getting them buried here. I know...I know you called in a lot of favors for this one. I know they would have appreciated it as much as I do."
"It was the least I could do." Skinner, although grateful for Scully words, did not need her praise. He had done what he had felt needed to be done. It was his way to honor them.
"I wish they would have told me they were having trouble making ends meet," said Scully sorrowfully. They were her friends as much as Mulder's and yet she knew that she had always kept them at a distance as she did with so many people in her life. Her heart ached that she never told them in life how much they meant to her. They probably felt they couldn't have come to her. That thought made her even more upset.
"Probably didn't want to worry you with Mulder gone and you having to take care of William," explained Skinner trying to ease her sorrow if he could. He too missed the Lone Gunmen and was fond of them in his own way.
Scully, for her part, felt a flush of anger. "I wish everyone would stop worrying about me for a change and let me worry about them." She regretted her words immediately, and turning to Skinner, she apologized for her outburst.
Skinner shook his head. No apology was needed. It had been a hard day for them all.
"So many times they've been there to help me and to help Mulder," continued Scully. They risked their lives for us and now they've given their lives to save us all. The Bible says that there is no greater sacrifice than to give up one's life for one's friends and yet I think that it must be an even greater sacrifice to give up one's life for complete strangers, people they never even met. And those people will never know to whom they owe their continued existence."
Clearing his voice, Skinner said. "They are the unsung heroes."
Scully nodded her agreement. "I only...I only wish Mulder could be here. Of all of us, he was their oldest friend. I know he would have wanted to be here, to say good-bye...." Her voice trailed off for a moment. "The three of them remind me so much of Mulder-they were all so driven on this quest for the truth no matter what the personal cost. Only a lot of times their quests were more comical than ours."
Both Skinner and Scully shared a chuckle as some of the Lone Gunmen's more comedic moments passed through their thoughts.
As the light laughter died down, Skinner said seriously, "It'll be strange not having them around to uncover every conspiracy."
"Them, yes," Scully agreed, "but I wouldn't say that conspirators should feel safe by any means."
Skinner understood what Scully meant. Langly, Byers, and Frohike had passed the torch to Yves and Jimmy. Both smiled. Their hearts felt lighter than they had for days. Some things would never die. The Lone Gunmen would live on.