Thanks for the review, you guys. We're finally back into the cases instead of fluffy, inserted scenes!
Laura: Enjoy your commute to work! Also, I want them together just as much as you do, but the end of season 5 and a lot of season 6 kind of hurts those chapters (i.e. Diana).
Ellie Sculder: Here's the official chapter.
Other reviewers: Prepare yourselves.
Slight spoilers for "Post Modern Prometheus" and major spoilers for "Christmas Carol" and "Emily".
Enjoy!
The next couple weeks, Mulder tries to take notice of his partner's emotions. Every now and then, he asks her if she is okay, or will give her hand a squeeze when talking with William and Katherine while they wait for their children once the school year starts.
A week before their Christmas vacations, the agents take one last case for the year. After their case with The Great Mutato, Mulder looks down at the red head enjoying the smile that adorns her face. Standing in her partner's embrace as they listen to the last few lines of "Walking in Memphis", Scully nods to the door. Following her, Mulder asks, "Are you okay?"
"Yeah, I was just thinking we should get back. I have packing left to do, and I know you wanted to spend at least up until Christmas with your mother," The red head replies eager to simply leave the odd world they find themselves in. Nodding, Mulder replies, "I'll just make sure The Great Mutato has a ride home."
Nodding, Scully takes her partner's keys before walking to the car. As she sits in the driver's seat, the woman closes her eyes unsure how she feels dancing with her partner. For some reason she feels close to the man. More than in the past, but is afraid to do anything to jepordize their relationship. Shaking her head, the woman sighs realizing how absurd her notions are considering she is basically Chloe's mother and most people consider her and Mulder to be in a relationship now anyway. Watching her partner come to the passenger side, Scully puts they keys in the ignition.
"You sure you feel up to driving?" Mulder asks noticing the tired look on his partner's face. Nodding, Scully answers, "Fine."
Knowing not to question her anymore, the man simply lets her drive out of the parking lot.
A few days later, Scully and her mother head out to see Bill and Tara. However, the agent soon finds herself part of a crusade to save a sick three year old. Spending most of her vacation with Emily, Scully feels guilty continuing to distance herself from her family. Even when her brother tells her that the three year old is not their sister's daughter, the woman still cannot help feeling connected to the child.
Christmas Eve, the woman finally sets out to spend time with her family when there is a knock on her brother's door.
Bill opens his front door to find a woman standing in front of him.
"'Hi. I'm here to see Dana Scully'," The woman replies. Confused, Bill begins, "'Ah, may I ask...'"
'"I'm Susan Chambliss from the county. It's about the adoption'," The case worker says just as Scully comes down the stairs. Greeting her, the red head takes over the conversation by saying, "'Thanks for coming in on Christmas Eve.'"
"'Oh, not at all.'"
However, talking with Susan Chambliss that night about not being able to adopt the little girl due to her job, Scully is left heartbroken. Seeing the woman's expression, Chambliss explains, "'I know you are a trained physician and are aware of Emily's medical condition. I want to stress to you, Dana. Emily is a special-needs child. According to her doctors, her condition is incurable. She requires constant care, both medical and emotional. The good news is, you have first hand experience of grave illness. The bad news is, you'd have to relive it through the eyes of a child.'"
"'I realize that. And I feel like I'm ready'," The red head replies. Nodding, the case worker replies, "'We'll review your final application and make our recommendations. I wish you luck. Merry Christmas.'"
"'Merry Christmas'," Scully says to the woman. Shaking hands with the FBI agent, Chambliss says, "'I'll show myself out.'"
Alone, Scully sits on the couch thinking over the discussion.
Waking up the next morning hearing Tara's voice and her mother wake her up, the woman watches as her family opens presents before she is called to sign for a package. Signing the clipboard and opening the envelope, the red head is stunned at the results she finds. Telling her family she is the mother of the child she is rather invested in, the woman waits until the end of the day to make an important, long distance phone call.
"Mulder," Scully whispers into the receiver once there is an answer on the other end. She hears a groggy reply as her partner answers.
"I have something I need to tell you," The red head says hesitantly. Noticing the pause, Mulder asks, "What's wrong, Scully?"
Scully fiddles with the phone cord before saying words she still tries to believe herself, "I have a daughter."
"You have a what?" Mulder questions thinking he mishears the woman. Nodding, the red head repeats, "I have a daughter, and I wanted to adopt her."
"Are you sure?" He asks not wanting to dissuade his partner, but also knowing how hard she will have to fight. Sighing, Scully replies, "Yes, but they're denying my application. Could you testify on my behalf?"
"Yeah, I'll fly out tomorrow. Make room for two extra people."
"Two?" The woman begins just as she hears a click on the other end. Yawning, the woman curls up on the couch and falls asleep.
A day later, Chloe watches her father interact with the red headed three year old who sits on the floor coloring. She is unsure how to approach the little girl. The only interaction she has with young children is through Anna's brother and even then she spends the least amount of time possible with him. Seeing Scully smile at her, the thirteen year old walks toward the woman and sits on the floor beside her. Emily looks up at the newest figure silently assessing the teen, much like Scully does Mulder when the woman questions the man's sanity on a weekly basis. Chloe smiles at the child asking if she can color with her. A small nod confirms the answer leading the young teenager to take a crayon and color on the opposite page.
As the girls color, Scully and Mulder leave the group to discuss the youngest Scully. Starting the conversation, Mulder states, "'I found Emily's surrogate mother. I had Frohike hack into the California Social Services Adoption database.'"
"'You got a name?'" Scully asks. Nodding, Mulder replies, "'Yeah, her mother of record is one Anna Fugazzi.'"
"'Fugazzi?'" The woman questions.
"'Yeah, as in slang term for fake'," Mulder replies wishing to protect his partner from what she is about to learn.
"'I don't understand. Why create a false record?'" Scully asks. Knowing he has to tell her, the head of the X-files explains, "'Because there are no true records. Emily didn't come into this world through any system that keeps them.'"
"'How did she come into this world?'" The woman challenges.
"'Have you asked yourself that?'" Her partner queries. Scientifically, the red head replies, "'Well, she was born to someone, she... she has to belong to someone.'"
"'Someone, who's proven that they'll do anything to protect her or their interest in her'," Mulder explains. Defensively, Scully replies, "'I can protect her too.'"
Officially feeling protective of his partner, the man asks, "'Yeah, but who's going to protect you? Emily's adoptive parents are both dead, by no accident.'"
"'I know... I've considered that, but I've also considered that there's only one right thing to do.'" The red head answers carefully not wanting to say the wrong thing.
"'Why didn't you call me sooner?'" Mulder asks worried. Unsure herself, Scully finally answers, "'Because I couldn't believe it. But I need you now to be a witness on my behalf in this hearing.'"
Feeling guilty for his next comment, the man states vaguely yet truthfully, "'And I should have declined... if I never want to see you hurt or harmed in any way.'"
"'Then why are you here?'" Scully asks.
"'Because I know something that I haven't said... Something that they'll use against you to jeopardize your custody of Emily. No matter how much you love this little girl, she's a miracle that was never meant to be, Scully'," Mulder replies hoping his partner can forgive him. After the man's words, the agents watch the young brunette and red head color together.
"Emily really likes her," Mulder notes. Aware of his partner's shift in stance, the man looks at her trying to gauge her reaction.
"Do you wish I hadn't brought her?" The father questions with a small nod toward his daughter. Scully shakes her head.
"I'm glad you did. I just worry about her getting attached. Emily's really sick, Mulder," Scully answers with a hint of fear in her voice. Mulder simply gives his partner a reassuring smile and her arm a squeeze before asking, "Do you want me to talk to her?"
A small nod from his partner sends Mulder to retrieve his daughter and lead her back to the adults.
"Chloe," Scully softly starts, "What has your dad told you about Emily?"
"Just that she's your daughter from when you were abducted. He also says she's sick. Do you know what she has?"
Scully nods trying to remain calm. A reassuring touch from Mulder leads the woman to say slowly, "Emily has an incurable disease."
"Like your cancer was?" Chloe questions giving a quick glance to the three year old before looking back at Scully who explains before faltering, "Not exactly. Emily has an immune disease that-"
"What Scully is trying to say, Chlo, is Emily's probably not going to get better," Mulder supplies a minute later much to his partner's relief.
"So, why are we here?" The teen asks bluntly.
"I needed your dad's help."
Looking at her father suspiciously, Chloe turns back to Scully dead panning, "Emily's an X- File."
Uneasy by the teen's response, Scully draws in a breath wishing she can let the thirteen year old see things from her perspective. Instead, Chloe questions, "But, how can she be a case if she's your daughter? Don't you need another person?"
"Yes, but Scully was abducted, and aliens don't exactly do what we do," Mulder explains uncomfortably.
"She's still your daughter, though?" The teen queries. Scully nods in affirmation causing the brunette to head back to Emily who now stares at the trio near the entrance of the room.
Shocked, the adults watch as Chloe continues to play with the three year old. A small smile graces the woman's face as she takes in the conversation she has engaged in. Finally looking at her partner, Scully says softly, "Thank- you, Mulder."
Looking down at the woman, the man asks, "For what?" He watches as the adult red head's gaze goes back to their respective daughters. Watching Chloe play with Emily, the father no longer needs to be told what his partner is thankful for.
"Emily, sweetie, we need to go," Scully states reluctantly as she sees a small ray of happiness leave the child's blue eyes. Having a hearing in an hour, Scully knows she cannot stay all day. Heartbroken, Chloe jumps in adding, "We'll see you later though, right?"
The end of the statement Chloe directs at the adult near her who merely nods.
Coming down the stairs of her brother's house later that night, Scully sits beside her partner on the couch.
"'It takes two of us just to get my sister-in-law into bed these days'," The red head remarks causing her partner to ask when the woman is due.
"'Two weeks ago'," Scully replies. The pair is quiet until the red head asks, "'Why didn't you tell me, Mulder?'"
Feeling awful the man answers, "'I never expected this. I thought I was protecting you.'"
Accepting his answer, the red head asks, "'Why would they do this to me?'"
"'I only know that genetic experiments were being done, that children were being created'," Mulder answers causing his partner to question who engineers children like Emily.
"'For who? For what? I don't know'," The man answers just as the phone rings. Scully stands up and answers the phone asking, "'Hello? Hello? Hello, is anybody there?'"
As she asks who is calling, the red head looks at her partner. He immediately takes out his cell phone to trace the call. About to give up, Scully replies, "'Mulder, it's ...'"
Interrupting the woman, Mulder replies, "'Don't hang up. Okay, thanks. I got a trace. County Children's Center.'"
Eager to get to the Children's Center, Scully dashes upstairs to put on her shoes and grab a jacket.
"Where are you going?" Chloe asks groggily as she watches Scully grab her keys.
"Your dad and I found something else on Emily's condition."
"I'm coming too," Chloe states trying to scramble out of the bed. Scully shakes her head at her ward.
"This is a case, Chlo. Go back to sleep. We'll be back as soon as we can."
Her stubborn streak showing, Chloe walks past Scully and down the stairs.
"Dad, please let me go with you!" The teen begs once she finds her father putting on his jacket.
"Not this time. We don't know what we're dealing with," Mulder answers kissing his daughter's forehead. Chloe looks back at Scully who stands at the foot of the stairs and tries to gain access into the adults' work.
"You'll be safer here, Chloe," Scully reasons with the thirteen year old. Chloe sighs harshly whispering, "I'm old enough to know what you do for work! Please let me see Emily? Please?"
Her last words end in choking defeat as the teen watches her father and his work partner stare at her. The girl's hazel eyes are filled with tears she is unwilling to spill. Watching as Scully looks above her and nods, Chloe casts a puzzled look before a pair of arms wrap around her upper arms. Looking behind her the young teenager finds Maggie holding onto her. As she hears the door close softly, Chloe lets her tears fall as Maggie leads the thirteen year old to the couch.
"It's not fair. I want to see Emily, but Dad and Scully have to work and I'm stuck here to worry about them."
"We'll just worry about them together then," Maggie explains asking if the teen will help her make tea. Nodding, Chloe walks into the kitchen with the matriarch of the Scully family.
"You know, Dana did something similar to this when she was your age, only it involved her sister."
"Melissa," Chloe answers mindlessly as she watches Maggie put water in a kettle. A small smile graces the older woman's lips as she answers, "You see, Melissa was seventeen at the time and was going to a concert Dana swore she would get tickets to. Having bought another for a friend, Melissa didn't say anything. When Dana found out, she was livid and begged for the ticket up until Melissa walked out the door. She also acted like you did when her father would go for training. She was always a Daddy's girl."
Only a small smile alights the teen's face as she says, "I just wish I could see Emily. Scully says she may not live very long and I just want to make sure she's okay."
"You'd make a wonderful sister," Maggie states with a small smile. Chloe knits her brow trying to decode the woman's veiled message, but dismisses the thought when Maggie takes a sip of her tea. Seeing a yawn escape the teen, the older woman leads Chloe back to bed.
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