Title: Chapter 3- The Office of the Assistant Director
Author: Gillian Leigh
Disclaimer: They're not mine. I'm not making any money. Please don't sue me.
-X-
At 8:59 exactly, the pair strolled through the doors and metal detector just like they always had. No one else in the building knew they were in the presence of a hero. Someone their children, and their children's children would owe their lives to. As Mulder walked beside her, he couldn't help staring at her. He loved the way Scully looked when she was pregnant. She glowed. As much as she hated all of it, he loved to watch her waddle when she walked, and he loved the fact that all these fascinating changes in her came because she was having his children. Skinner saw them coming down the hallway and immediately pulled them into his office.
"Mulder, Scully, sit down, please." Mulder looked at him.
"I'm fine to stand, Sir."
"I am as well," Scully said, ever-so-slightly shifting her weight. Even though he had been home for less than twenty-four hours, he could tell that even being on her feet for the shortest amount of time was uncomfortable for Scully. He didn't argue with her, however. He'd told her she shouldn't be on her feet countless times when she was pregnant with Will, and all it did was start an argument between them, which Scully always managed to win. Skinner was just looking at them, and Mulder interjected.
"Sir, what was it you needed to see us about?" Skinner looked slightly dazed.
"You really did it? You really saved the world?" he asked. Scully smiled at Mulder, content to sink into one of Skinner's chairs, knowing this would be a rather lengthy story.
With that, Skinner checked to make sure his door was locked, and Mulder launched into the tale of how he saved the world. Scully, having heard the story before, fell asleep. She awoke to hear Mulder concluding,
"...and that's exactly what happened." Skinner's jaw was hanging open.
"Wow. I don't know how to thank you, Mulder."
"You don't have to, Sir. I understand. What I did had to be done. I did it for Scully, and for our children. I did it so Will can live to see his twelfth birthday, and so the twins can see theirs as well." Skinner looked awed, but his expression became more serious and he cleared his throat.
"I'm glad to have the two of you here. Word came down to me that Agents Doggett and Reyes will no longer be assigned to the X-Files. After the fiasco of a case that they investigated last month, they've both been remediated and reassigned. Agent Reyes is being transferred to Salt Lake City, and Agent Doggett will remain here, and work in Domestic Terrorism." Scully was deeply affected by this. With Mulder out of the Bureau, and her impending maternity leave, there would be no one for the X-Files, and Kersh could, and would, indeed lock that door forever.
"Sir, I can stay as long as possible, while you work to find replacement Agents. If necessary I can do paperwork from home. I'd be just a phone call away if I was ever needed," Scully began. Skinner shook his head.
"No, Scully, you're not going to stay any longer than your doctor deems is healthy. I will not have you put yourself at risk for work. Unless we can find you an adequate new partner for you, and a temporary replacement for you inside of two months... it's not looking good, Agent."
"This is the end, isn't it? The end of the X-Files?" Scully asked quietly. Skinner didn't respond.
"Scully, I don't want you to worry about rushing back to work." She looked at Mulder.
"Sir, actually, Mulder and I were talking, last night, and I'm not sure I'll be returning to the FBI after the babies are born."
"Well, I can't say that I'm surprised. You should do whatever is best for you," he replied. Scully nodded, surprised to feel tears forming in her eyes. Mulder put his arm around her and kissed her forehead.
"It's really the end, isn't it?" Mulder asked.
"I'm afraid it is," Skinner replied.
"If you don't mind, I'd like to visit it one last time," he said. Skinner nodded.
"Of course. You can pack up anything there that's still yours, Mulder." Both the former agent, and the soon-to-be-former agent rose from the couch, and shook hands with the Assistant Director before heading down to the office, for what would be the last time for both.
Scully faxed Skinner her letter of resignation the next day.
