A Passed Torch by Stonewar

Disclaimer: Yeah, right like anybody reads my stuff, let alone Fox's lawyers..

Category: SA

Classification: Future, Mulder/Scully married

Rating: PG (language)

Spoilers: none

Archive: I'll do Gossamer . Others ask me.

Feedback: I am too proud to beg, but I will pitiful looks in your direction

Summary: Prequel to Golden Days. (can be found on my sight. link at the bottom)

author's note: This is turning into a series and I'm writing it

in reverse chronological order. And because I'm doing it that way I ain't

resolving nothin' so there. ppppfffsst!

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Dana Scully pulled into her driveway and shifted her car into park with a sigh.

It had been a long day even though she had left early to do some grocery

shopping. She tucked a lock of her pumpkin yellow hair behind her ear and

glanced at herself in the mirror. 'Redheads don't go gray, they just fade away,'

was one of Grandma Scully's favorite laments. She didn't mind growing older,

though sometimes she wouldn't mind having a dignified head of silver hair

rather than slowly going blonde.

She sighed again, climbed out and walked to the trunk to retrieve her purchases.

As she bent to grasp a bag, a heavy hand landed on her shoulder making her

jump.

"Need help, Mom?" A voice chuckled behind her obviously enjoying the fact

she nearly caused her mother to have a coronary event.

"Kat, what are you doing here in the middle of the week?" She asked.

"What? I need an a appointment to see my mommy?" Kat pouted proving once

again that the 'whipped puppy look' is just as effective in sapphire blue as it is in hazel.

Scully looked up at her tall daughter, still dressed in her work clothes sans jacket and

weapon. Shaking her head, "Grab a bag, brat." she ordered with a small smile.

Upon entering the kitchen, they noticed Fox Mulder frowning at the wall phone.

"Has the phone somehow offended you, Mulder?" Scully quipped as she set her

burden on the table. When he turned toward her voice she noted it was a

confused frown not an angry one.

"Samma just called to wish me a Happy Birthday," He said tonelessly.

Kat hopped up on the counter and started to dig in the bag she brought

in with her. "Wait. Its September 9th." She pointed out.

"I'm sure its somebody's birthday, but unfortunately they won't get their

gift until October 13th." Scully observed as set a carton of juice in the

refrigerator. "You realize she gets this from you." She accused glancing

playfully from under her eyelashes.

"Oh no, Gazing at the stars and staring off into space are two different

things."

"Yes and you do both." Their daughter inserted to to put an end to their

flirting. They would volley comments back and forth for hours if she let

them and she simply have the stomach for it today. Mulder wrinkled his

nose at his daughter for spoiling his fun and returned to his den.

"What's Dad working on now?" Kat asked watching her father retreat

the hall.

"He's still working on his X-files novel."

"Well, At least its keeping him busy."

"Its evolved from hard science fiction to a trashy dime novel in six months

I'm just praying he never publishes it." Scully huffed, rolling her eyes.

***

"You have news" Mulder announced gravely from the shadowy archway of the

kitchen.

Kat looked up from the carrots she was chopping "I do," She agreed just as

soberly and returned to her chore. "Your sources sure know how to steal one's

thunder."

"What's going on?" Scully ask quietly eyes darting back and forth between father

and daughter.

"Kat's reopened the X-files"

A heavy silence hung in the air as Kat laid down her knife and slowly turned

toward her father. "No-" She drawled as if she were about to explain something

very technical to a layman. "They were assigned to me."

"I can't believe you didn't come to me about this. I could've-" He rail until she

interrupted him.

"You are not listening to me. They were assigned to me just this morning. They

don't even officially open for a few weeks yet." She insisted, her voice rising.

He leaned in glowering "You're acting like you had nothing to do with it. Surely you-"

"I don't give a shit about the X-files!! Why would I reopen them?!" She exploded.

"Bullshit, I know better."

"Kat." Scully called in soft voice trying to diffuse the situation, but Kat continued

her rant.

"They only assigned them to me because of my name. Maybe I would've been better

off if I chose Scully like Samantha."

Mulder's jaw tightened and he quickly withdrew to his den once again.

"Oh Daddy, I'm sorry." Kat gasped tears springing to her eyes. "Tell him I didn't

mean it. Please Mom." She begged then ran out of the house to her car.

Scully followed her daughter out the door. Mulder's misery would keep. She

needed to nip Kat's blossoming guilt trip in the bud.

"I take it that's not how you planned to break the news." Scully placed a hand

on her daughter's back. She was leaning against her car, face buried in her arms.

"No, I intended to insult my parents and their life's work." She sais sacastically

turning to look at Scully. "I'm sorry, I really am. But why was he so

confrontational? I was planning-oh I don't know what I was planning. I had a

hundred scenarios in my head, but not that one."

Scully reached up and smoothed Kat's dark hair. "Your Father's always had a

problem with authority and now that you're an authority figure he's having

trouble reconciling that, I think.'

"And which one of you is the psychologist?" Kat smiled as she wiped the tears

from her cheeks. "Will he be OK?" She asked looking toward the house

biting her bottom lip.

"Don't worry, I can handle him."

Kat nervously cleared her throat. "They really did assign them to me because of

my --um, parentage, But they also gave me an out for that same reason."

"So you're saying it was your choice."

She nodded. "On one condition...Any attempt to contact you or Dad about anything

relating to the X-files without going through me first results in immediate reassignment."

"And they accepted that?" She asked, eyes wide.

"Sure. There's a waiting list. The paranormal have gotten popular lately."

"I'm not sure I like you screening my business like that."

"It's not so much you as him." Kat nodded toward the house. "If he gets

his foot in the door they may never be rid of him. I hope with me working

as a buffer I can temper his involvement."

"Oh lord. I can just see him showing up in the field unannounced bugging your

poor agents." Scully groaned pinching the bridge of her nose. "Well I don't

think I'll be mentioning that bit of information."

"Are you sure you can explain it all to him. I really didn't mean to blow up

like that"

"I know, Sweetie. You have your father's temper. I'll talk to him. Don't

worry." She ushered her daughter into her car. "Come over Sunday.

Grandma's coming for dinner. Everything should be alright then, but be

prepared to talk shop."

"I'll create a multimedia presentation," she deadpanned.

Scully leaned in the window as Kat turned the key in the ignition and pressed

a kiss to her forehead.

"Why don't you call your sister tonight and see what's going on in her head."

"That's scary, Mom." Kat chuckled.

"Scary things will be crossing your desk on a regular basis, Katherine. Get used

to it."

The End

Next....hhmmm Kate's promotion and transfer to DC?

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"Consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds"

--"self-reliance" Ralph Waldo Emerson (misquoted)

Stoneware's Reality

http://www.geocites.com/Area51/Nebula/5512

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