Title: A Man Who…: Explanations

Author: DC Luder

Disclaimer: FM, DS, MS, WS belong to them crazy CC and Co. out in LA.

Summary: Dear lil Will…

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Dad seemed very upset when he walked into my room. I thought it was because Mom had given me a Popsicle or that I was still up when I was supposed to be sleeping. But he didn't say anything except, "Will, you doing okay up here?"

I nodded and finished my treat.

"Okay, let's get you back in bed."

I rolled over under my covers and allowed him to pull them up to my chin. After I put the stick on my night table, he kissed my forehead, "G'night Will."

"Goodnight, Dad."

As he shut the lights off and was about to shut my door I called out, "Dad?"

"Yeah, Will?"

"Where was the person going to?"

He seemed confused, so I continued, "The person at the door. Mom said he needed directions."

I watched his face wrinkle with anger, "Directions."

Without explaining, he shut the door quickly. I listened to his footsteps and waited until I was sure he was downstairs. Then I flipped back my covers and fell to the floor next to my door. Staring into the hall through the crack between carpet and door, I saw the varnished wood of the hall, the door to the bathroom and the legs to a small credenza. No people feet.

I opened my door and army-crawled down the hall to the stairs that lead to the kitchen. One by one, I slowly made my way to the kitchen. Hiding behind the small Dutch door, I peered into the room. It would have been normal view of my parents kissing, which is gross by the way, if Mom had been kissing Dad. I laid there, not even breathing and watched my mother kissing some tall guy the way they do on those nighttime shows.

Dad suddenly called out from the hall, "Dana?"

Mom and the guy shot apart from each other and gasped. I hid further behind the door as Dad entered the kitchen from the side entrance off of the hall. He stared at them coolly and then asked, "Mr. Mulder, I hate to do this, but I wish you would leave my house."

Mom jumped, "Dave, what is that for?"

He said in the voice he used on my to get me to clean my hamster' cage, "Dana, he doesn't need to be here."

"I just wanted to drop by, I wasn't going to stay, Mr. Baker…."

Dad suddenly jerked when he looked at Mr. Mulder. He then swore, "You sonfabitch!" as he punched the tall guy right in the mouth. I clenched my fists and silently cheered my dad on, wanting to see him kick this guy's butt for kissing Mom.

Mom screamed at Dad and grabbed his arm as Mr. Mulder flew backwards and started to fall. On the way down he hit his forehead on a drawer handle and blood splattered. Instead of fighting with Dad, she knelt next to the man and asked, "Mulder, you all right?"

He nodded and stood, his hand pressed to the cut on his face.

Dad then ordered, "Get out of my house. Now."

Scully grabbed a washcloth off of the counter, "Follow me, Mulder, let's get that taken care of."

"Dana…"

She swung around and yelled, "Don't you 'Dana' me. What is the matter with you!"

Before he could answer her question they started walking towards me, "The upstairs bathroom has a first aid kit..."

Uh oh.

I rose and flew up the stairs as quietly as possible and then ran into my room. After burying myself under my covers, I listened over my puffing breaths as they climbed the stairs.

"Can't believe he did that… Not a violent person at all… What was he even angry about, oh. Jesus, Mulder, why did you have to come here."

He mumbled, "Sorry."

"Don't apologize."

"Okay."

"The lip stick. The one day I wear lipstick… And you get it all over your face."

"Well, you were the one who…"

"Mulder, shut up. This is going to sting."

I felt his pain as he yelped. Alcohol. Ouch. I scraped my elbows up learning how to roller blade. Spent all of last summer with open wounds doused with that evil, evil liquid.

I continued to eavesdrop after I crawled over to my door. Through the crack, I saw the bathroom open and saw them in the bathroom. He looked to be sitting on the bathtub rim while she walked around him.

"Wipe your face," my mother ordered. She sure seemed to be treating this guy like she treats me.

"Yes, sir!" he laughed and then moaned. Not too good of an idea to laugh after getting punched. I even knew that.

When I was waiting to hear her yell at him some more, I was surprised when I heard her crying. Mulder talked to her softly. A cracked open my door and saw her in his arms as she sobbed into this chest. Mom never cries. Except at silly girl movies or sometimes when she laughs really hard.

But never like this. It made me want to cry just seeing her so sad.

I listened as he said, "Scully, it's okay. I'll come back some other time and we can talk…"

She sat up, "Mulder, I don't want you to go."

I hoped they weren't going to kiss again.

"Mulder, you have now idea how much I have missed you…"

"You have Dave. And Will."

He knew about me? Oh great.

"I know, but… You left and now you're back. And alive."

"But I left you. It was right for you to… move on."

She sighed, "Not by choice."

He smiled slightly, "Well, my goal tonight was to find out if you were happy with your new life. And since you are crying all over my new shirt, I take that as a no. Either that or I ruined it."

"You didn't ruin anything, Mulder. Seeing you is just… Emotional."

"Thanks, I'm emotional."

She smiled at him as she stood and reached for the bandages, "Yes you are. You made me sad and happy, and you made Dave jealous and angry."

"Just think of what I can do to that mind of your son."

Oh, I don't think so. Just as I moved to shut my door, Mom said, "Well, he's sleeping now, so you'll have to emotionalize him some other time."

"Which room?"

I jerked and slammed the door shut much harder than I had intended. I then hid in my closet after my mom laughed, "In that one."

This was a dream, Will, I told myself. There were so many reasons why it was a dream that it must, in fact, have been a dream.

A. Mom doesn't kiss strangers.

B. Dad doesn't hit people.

C. Mom doesn't cry.

All simple reasons why this is a dream. As I wrapped myself up in a huge sweater Mom gave me a two years ago, I slowed my breathing and calmed myself. To focus I read the front of it: Oxford Academy Men's Cross Country. A funny picture of guys racing each other in a forest. Interesting.

I then read the sleeve's embroidery and choked: F. Mulder '82.

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"I made this!"

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