33.
Washington DC – Criminal Courthouse holding area 5219
12.25pm
Mulder stared at the wall. He couldn't face reading another page of Scully's journal. It made the situation too harsh to consider. The whole case was resting upon the judge's decision to let him care for Samantha, in Scully's absence, and it worried him. He freely admitted there had been rough days followed swiftly by those excellent days. He adored being a Father and it showed. He just hoped that the judge also saw this.
He was as guilty as charged but for his little girl's sake he hoped the punishment was not too stiff.
She had been deliberating for hours now and Mulder was getting restless. He knew he'd heard Scully's voice. He may have imagined it but it was too clear not fuzzed out like memories often were. Her journal was sat on the table in the centre of the room. He couldn't take his eyes from it. His readings had been compulsive. He knew Scully's thoughts inside out. The guilt had been replaced by intrigue. Everyday, despite her venomous words, she still wrote to him. It was as if venting her anger through those pages it released it from her soul. Scully had 'exploded' at him that first night he was back then WHAM, she loved him all over again. Had it been her therapy to write to him? It must have been. He'd written a journal himself detailing where he was and his thoughts but never on the grand scale of Scully's. The words touched the deepest reaches of his heart and much as he hated to feel the pain he secretly enjoyed the punishment. He deserved it.
2pm
Mulder was startled away from his deep thoughts to be taken back into the courtroom. Feared gripped his soul. He could lose everything in a heartbeat and that scared him more than a brush with fire or plunging head first into an ice-covered lake. He'd been through so much since his return. He was being the Father he had wanted to be to William but to his daughter. Silently he prayed for forgiveness and a second chance. He just hoped that someone up there was listening!
Standing behind the desk his palms began to slowly perspire. Butterflies fluttered within his belly. Samantha gently pulled on his jacket asking for his attention. He looked down at her tear stained face. She held up her hand for him to hold. He was grateful for her strength. She was just like her Mother, strong right to the centre of her being, where it mattered the most. He may be tough on the outside but he could break into pieces without the strength of Scully. Sure, he had coped without her, but everyday was a struggle. Six years of pure hell and hallucinations. More like daydreams but they had kept him going even through his darkest days and even now he thought of what she would say to him.
"It'll be okay, Mulder. I'm sure you'll be fine." Scully said
Australia.
8am
Scully spoke her words softly, willing them to travel through time and space to Mulder so he knew she supported him even if she wasn't there. Scully watched as Mulder's face paled when the judge stepped from her chambers. Samantha was gripping his hand tighter than before. Scully could see her daughter's knuckles turn white with fear and her eyes… the blue had faded! The poor child looked terrified and there was nothing she could do about it but watch in horror as the judge made her speech.
Washington DC - Courtroom B.
"All rise, this court is now in session." Mulder swallowed hard and waited for the cue for everyone to be seated.
"Mr Mulder, please stand." Judge Reynolds spoke even toned not conveying any hint of her decision. It hadn't taken too long to decide. The problem was always making the punishment fit the crime. He had committed a crime and had to pay for it. That was the law and she had to provide an example with him. Her hands were relatively tied by the bindings of the law. There was one thing she could do for the man though. Something he would want even if he didn't realise it.
"I have listened to both sides of this argument. Both sides have equal levy. The fact of the matter is, Mr Mulder, that you have committed a crime and the penalty for that must be a fair and just one. Absconding from custody is a serious offence to start with. Killing a man and trespassing are also very serious offences. Self-defence or not I cannot ignore the evidence before me. Before I begin your sentencing I would like it to be made possible for Mr Mulder's name to be added to his child's birth certificate. Under US law it is now possible for this to occur when provided with DNA evidence." She took a deep breath, as did the whole room and Scully who was sat at the edge of her bed in anticipation chewing the corner of her lip.
Reyes held onto Doggett's hand hoping for a good result but fearing the worst. She could sense Mulder's strength weakening. It was all too much to cope with. The fear of prison was running through his mind as it was in the judges.
"You have been found Guilty of Manslaughter for which I sentence you to…"
(Australia)
"For Godssake!!!! WHAT?" Scully screamed at the knock sounding at her door.
"#1 wants to see you." 2356 said softly opening the door.
"Tell him later. I'm busy!" Scully turned the sound up on the TV to hear the judge's words. "I've bloody missed it. For F*CKSSAKE!!"
(Washington DC)
"In the count of absconding from custody I sentence you to pay a one thousand dollar fine. For the trespassing I sentence you to one weeks community service. On the count of manslaughter I sentence you to…" she paused trying to word it so that no body misunderstood. "Three years in prison."
(Australia)
"NNNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!"
Scully screamed so loud her voice cracked and broke "No, no, no, no, no. This is all my fault! I should be there." Tears ran down her face
(Washington DC)
"Silence, SILENCE in the court room. Mr Mulder, however, I understand your recent family commitments and your partner's disappearance do place a cause for leniency in this case. I also wish to make note that you have spent six years in several poverty -ridden countries helping in the hospitals. For these reasons I grant you a suspended sentence. Should you EVER step out of line your sentence will be doubled. Do you understand?"
"Yes Ma'am." Mulder said relief washing over his face like a storm coming to a close leaving the world a lighter and fresher place.
(Australia)
"Thank you So much, thank you thank you thank you!" Scully called to the TV before kissing the TV screen. "You did it Mulder, you did it baby. I love you so much."
At that moment she saw him look into a camera and smile. He HAD heard her she knew it for sure but didn't want to believe.
