A/n: I wasn't really sure whether to continue since I didn't get any reviews on Chapter Two. For some reason one of my emails aren't coming through either, so I don't know... Just review and let me know what you think. Love it? (ha!) Hate it?
Chapter 3: Juggling
Scully found that it was hard to juggle work, and caring for Carrie at the child-services centre. She managed, just. Mulder didn't know what she was doing, she couldn't even begin to imagine what is reaction would be. He just assumed she had a boyfriend. He seemed a little moody about it actually, but she figured it was just because she wasn't focusing on him or the x-files as much as usual.
It was almost six in the evening, and about five days since Anna and Andrew Fife had been murdered. Scully was sitting in a chair in Carrie's room holding her, and wishing for all the world she was her own daughter. Amber-rose came in, and Scully recognised her sheepish smile straight away.
"What have you done Amber?" She asked cautiously.
"I uh, well... You have to see a child-services counselor, other than me tomorrow. They want to see if you would be a fit enough foster-mother for Carrie." Scully's eyes almost popped out.
"Amber!" She tried not to shout, not wanting to frighten Carrie. But she seemed to feel the tension, and she stiffened, eyes popping out like Scully's. "I work at the FBI. It's dangerous, and I'm not home half the time!" Scully mumbled and stuttered a bit about the importance of my work until Carrie started crying. She bounced her on her knee and looked at Carrie instead of at Amber-rose. "I would do almost anything for her, Amber. But I'm afraid. I'm going to let Mulder down and..." She wondered how to put this.
"You love him don't you?"
"No! I was going to say he means a lot to me. He's been my best friend for five years."
"Then he'll understand." Scully looked at her in surprise, she looked confident now. "You love her Dana. You need her as much as she needs you now." She looked down at Carrie who gave a big grin, her four teeth made her smile comical. Scully smiled back and touched her little button nose.
"Carrie, Carrie, Carrie." She whispered, and Carrie giggled. "I need to talk to him." She said finally, her voice calmer. She felt more in control now, surely she and Mulder could work something out. She could hire a Nanny... Then if she had to go away she could call her in. She just wouldn't be able to go unless it was very important. Maybe he could get another partner to go out in the field with him? Millions of possibilities ran through her mind.
"I'll call him to come down..." Amber-rose said. Scully felt panicked again, but forced out a 'Yes,' and Amber-rose left. She sat on the floor with Carrie's toys and handed her a few. She chewed on them, and Scully put a little pink bib with rabbits on it around her neck so that she didn't drool all over her pajamas.
It felt like half the night to her, but it was actually only an hour and a half before Mulder arrived. Amber-rose walked him to the door, and then winked at Scully before leaving.
"Is this Carrie Fife?" His eyes widened.
"What did Amber-rose tell you?" She asked, and gathered a worried looking Carrie into her arms and bounced her on her knee again. Carrie stared at Mulder, who sat down on the floor across from them, and handed Carrie a toy.
"Just to come down, to see you about something important." There was a pause. "You want to adopt her?" He guessed.
"Foster, then maybe adopt." Scully said quickly. It was better to get it over with she decided, instead of making a whole speech about it.
"Dana," her head whipped up at the use of her first name. He tucked a piece of her hair behind her ear. "I want you to do this. I want you to leave and-"
"No, no I'm not leaving you. Maybe you can just get a new field partner?" She asked optimistically.
"I don't think they'd let me do that." There was a tense silence. "Will you let me help you with Carrie?" She thought she had misheard him, but when he looked up, her heart skipped a beat.
"We can both cut down our hours. I can help you with her." Scully felt a huge smile creep onto her face. "Scully, why would I even bother continuing the x-files with a new partner? You and me, we are the x-files. We're a team, and I don't want to work with anyone new."
"Mulder," She said slowly.
"Yeah,"
"That sounded really sappy." He laughed.
"I know, I know."
TBC
