The New Girl

            By Caitlin "Jinx" Wasson

Chapter Fourteen

Desperate Times, Desperate measures

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            "Rianna, the chemo is not working," Dr. Readen told her. "I'm sorry."

            Rianna had undergone four months of radiation and chemotherapy. However, with the new drugs, she wasn't throwing up and instead was gaining weight.

            She nodded. "I kind of figured," she said. "So tell me, what's next?"

            "I want to try a bone marrow transplant," he said. "I know you've already had one unsuccessfully but this is our last shot."

            Rianna nodded. "Do you have a match?"

            He shook his head. "You're blood type is O-negative and it'll be hard to find a donor," he told her. "But chances are, someone in your line of work ha it. I'd suggest looking there first."

            "Okay Dr. Readen. Thank you," she told him, getting up to go.

            "Rianna?" he said.

            "Yeah?" she replied.

            "I truly am sorry,
 he said. "I share your blood type and I wish I could help but I'm not eligible to donate."

            "Thank you," she said. "I'll get through this, no matter what."

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            "Did you hear?" Mulder asked Skinner that afternoon.

            "About what?" he asked.

            "Rianna needs a bone marrow transplant," Scully told him. "But she has a rare blood type so finding a match won't be easy."

            "What's her type?" he asked.

            "O neg," Scully said.

            "O neg?" Skinner repeated.

            Mulder nodded. "She also has some minor antigens that have to be checked against potential donors."

            "We're going to get tested to see if we're a match but we want everyone to do it," Scully said.

            Skinner nodded. "I'll send out a memo. Judging by the number of flower arrangements she received, I'd guess there will be quite a few of her admirers getting tested."

            Mulder nodded. "That's what we're hoping for sir."

            "Very well Agents," he said. "You're dismissed."

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            Rianna sat at her desk, flipping through stacks of old X-files. Despite David's insistence that she needed to stay home and rest, she had come to work. Every so often, one of the male agents would drop in and give her a vase of flowers, wishing her a speedy recovery. Rianna merely nodded and thanked each of them politely, placing each arrangement with the other fifty that covered her desk.

            As interesting as she found the old case files, Rianna quickly grew restless. She had her first appointment to go look for a wedding dress that afternoon. She was hoping Scully would come along as well to give advice and help select the bridesmaids' dressed.

            "Rianna?" Mulder said as he and Scully walked in. "What are you doing here? You should be at home resting."

            Rianna rolled her eyes. "It's not like it will make any difference. Besides, I'm going dress shopping after lunch. I was hoping Dana would join me. Of course, you're welcome to come along too Fox and give us a man's opinion."

            They had been on the first-names basis for the past few months. Rianna was relishing in the kisses and handholding between Fox and Dana. After all, she had been the one to spark the relationship.

            Fox grinned. "Hmmmm… Paperwork or dress shopping, paperwork or dress shopping. It's hard to decide which I'd hate more. Although, it'll be a pretty lonely office this afternoon so I think I'll brave the dresses."

            Scully smiled fondly and squeezed his hand. "You bet you will," she said. "Come on, lets go grab a burger and get going."

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            Mulder was getting bored. He'd watched Rianna try on dress after dress until they all started to look the same. Rianna was stressing over every last detail of the dress and Scully was just as bad.

            "I don't know Dana," Rianna said, scrutinizing over the image in the mirror of the latest silk and lace gown. "It makes me look even skinnier."

            "Yeah," Dana agreed. "What do you think Mulder?"

            "Too skinny is bad," he said absently.

            Rianna sighed. "Fat lot of help he is," she said. "There are two more dresses left. If neither of those look right, I suggest we try another store."

            "Yeah," Dana agreed. "We're just not having the best of luck here."

            Rianna climbed off her little pedestal and walked into the dressing room. He heard the rustling of much fabric and then an excited gasp. "I think this is the one!"

            He heard her tiny footsteps and the unlatching of the door. The way she looked was enough to make even him sit up straighter and take notice.

            It was like something out of a fairy tale, the long, full, white satin skirt trailing slightly behind her. Her waist was tapered to a narrow point and the short sleeves were of the shoulder, showing of her collarbone. Pearls were embroidered richly around the waist, hem, and neckline of the dress. If only she had had a tiara, Rianna would look like a real princess.

            "W-wow," Mulder stuttered. "Y-you look--."

            "That good?" Rianna said wryly. She stepped up and looked in the mirror. "Yeah, definitely the one."

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            David had just come back from house shopping. He had seen one he liked a lot. All he needed to do was Show Rianna.

            He smiled just thinking of her. Yeah, it was unlikely that Rianna would live to see another birthday but he intended to marry her before that time came.

            She had been dress shopping that afternoon for their wedding. He knew Rianna wanted a huge wedding back at her Texas home and he would give it to her. Her adoptive mother was constantly flying back and forth between D.C. and Texas to discuss the wedding. Rianna was remaining strong through her illness although not quite her normal, driven self.

            He sighed. He could only hope against hope that she would recover and he could have the beautiful, energetic, happy woman he loved back.

            Suddenly, his cell phone rang.

            "Hello?"

            "Dr. Roger? We found a possible match."

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I'm on a roll!