Here it is, the final chapter!

Chapter Ten

Embers

Sunrise cast the shadow of a helicopter over the desert. AD Skinner had ordered a search for his two agents. He had not heard from them for almost four days and was unable to reach either of their cell phones.

"There's a light down there Sir." The pilot pointed down into the desert. "And two people."

Skinner peered down through the window.

"That's them! Take us down." Through his binoculars Skinner zoomed in on the agents and saw the last burning embers of the fire glinting in the morning light. "They both look in pretty bad shape." He added to the co-pilot, "Radio out for an EMS."

Mulder opened his eyes as a strong breeze ruffled his hair. A helicopter descended from the bright blue sky and landed on the sand. Its landing disturbed the heat haze and the horizon seemed to ripple before Mulder's eyes. On his lap, in his arms, Scully slept on as the familiar figure walked towards them, bent against the gusts of the rotor blades.

"Mulder!" Skinner called, "Let's get you both in the chopper! Come on!"

The next day dawned windy and wet in Washington DC. Mulder and Scully had been rescued the previous morning. In his hospital bed, Mulder lay awake, staring at the ceiling. He reached down to his abdomen and scratched an itch under the bandage around his chest. The wound in his side had become infected. The doctors and nurses had patched him up very well and he was now recovering on a strong, steady course of antibiotics. There was a knock on the door and Mulder looked up to see Scully enter the room very slowly, still getting used to her crutches. Her leg had been plastered and bandaged and would be good as knew in a few months.

"Morning Mulder." She said as she hobbled over to his bedside and lowered herself into the chair. "How are you feeling?"

"Good." Mulder answered reaching out and taking her hand. "How about you Scully?"

"Not too bad, I guess. I just won't be chasing after any monsters for a while." She smiled at him. "Thank you, Mulder." She squeezed his hand. "Thanks for rescuing me. I know it sounds cliché, but I owe you my life." She looked down at her leg, embarrassed now. Mulder smiled at her.

"You're welcome, Scully." He squeezed her hand this time and she looked up at him, into his smiling face. "I'd do it again in a heartbeat." His eyes were filled with warmth as Scully smiled back at him, neither of them wanting to look away. Then… the door opened again and in walked AD Skinner. Mulder and Scully both released the other's hand quickly, but reluctantly.

"I'm glad to see you're looking better!" Skinner said, coming over. "How you both feeling?"

Mulder and Scully mumbled their replies.

"Good. I'm sorry about this. I know you've both been through a lot, but I have to remind you that your report needs writing ASAP."

The agents nodded slowly. Skinner looked around the room, then back at Mulder.

"I spoke to the doctor and he says you can be back at work in two weeks, Agent Mulder."

Mulder sighed and then nodded. "Yes, sir. You can count on me." He glanced at Scully and rolled his eyes. The corners of her mouth turned up in a slight smirk. Either Skinner didn't notice, or he was ignoring them but he carried on speaking.

"Well, I'll leave you to your rest. I'll see you soon." He turned and crossed to the door. "Oh and in your report please be sure to explain everything. Don't just write unexplained, Mulder." He smiled at them, and was gone.

Scully looked at Mulder. "Explain that? I don't even know what happened! It was completely unexplained, Mulder. What are we gonna write?"

"I dunno. The usual?" he smiled at her in his usual nonchalant way, and couldn't resist taking her hand in his again. She sighed contentedly and ran a hand through her hair.

"Dr Scully, can you pass me my meds?" Mulder asked, indicating a little paper cup of pills on the nightstand. Scully grabbed the cup and handed it to him, all the while with her left hand clasped tightly in his. Mulder swallowed the pills with a gulp and drank the water Scully then handed to him. She sighed again, clearly preoccupied, worry showing through her eyes.

"You…we could have died…What was that thing, Mulder? Why did it attack us?"

Mulder wiped a trickle of water from his chin, looked at her gently, flecks of gold in his hazel eyes, and took her other hand. The worry in her eyes faltered and seemed to dissipate at his touch.

"It doesn't matter now Scully. All that matters is that we are safe together and on the mend. We may never know; it's an X-file after all. And now there's nothing left of it; just dust and embers."

Extra-special author's note!

Hi guys! Thanks for reading! All reviews, as usual, are more than welcome!

Also, I need to ask you all a favour! Pretty please?

Which of these stories would you like me to begin uploading in instalments like I did with 'Dust and Embers'?
Let me know in a review or message!

Your help is much appreciated and I would love to know which story you most like the sound of and would want to read next!
They will all be written eventually! Here are the choices and their blurbs! Enjoy!

"Trust Some1"
- What if Mulder had made it back to Scully and William in Trust No1? What if he got off the train and met Scully on the platform like he was supposed to?

"When the East wind arrives…"
-While taking a well earned holiday in China, Mulder and Scully find themselves in the middle of a series of strange events as an ancient secret is uncovered.

"Out of the Mist"
-Whatever it was, there was no easy way to stop it. All they knew was that it came out of the mist.
(A story inspired by all those episodes where Mulder and Scully venture into the woods, but with my own special twist; nothing happens in the correct order!)

"One bright clear morning"
- Mulder and Doggett wake up to find themselves with swapped bodies! Uh oh!

"Flight Into Terror"
- Mulder and Scully encounter danger on a ten-hour flight.
(Set in real time!)

"Where Angels Fear to Tread"
-How many risks was Mulder prepared to take for me and my family?
(Scully's POV)