Thanks for viewing and writing in. Sorry, my computer has been missing a lot of my writing errors lately. I apologize if you get lost. Oh, by the way, I have made a cover for my story. My good buddy, Sammy and I have creating a 'Can't Fight The Moonlight' cover. Sadly, I can not show it in my chapters. However, I can show it in my pen name biography. So, if you click on my name 'The Zodiac Princess', you will see it. I have to clear some things up about the picture first. There is a reason why Mulder and Scully are in blue and Fiona is in regular color.
If you notice, Fiona's picture has some sort of a white outline. To clarify, the outline is called an 'Aura'. (For those who don't know that) It's a force field that surrounds us, and protects us. If we pray to it and to God, asking it to protect us for the day, it most likely will. Problem is, you need to see the aura. And only psychics can see it. (Oddly, I was told that I'm psychic. I'm still convinced I'm not)
Anyway, Fiona's aura plays a great part in this story. Her aura is making Mulder and Scully do all those crazy things and say all those crazy things. And at times, it may not make sense.
Yes, Mulder and Scully will be out of character at times. But that's the whole point. Fiona is helping Mulder and Scully with their UST (Unresolved Sexual Tension) without actually touching, or even talking to them. Also, this is my first story. So, I have to get use to writing about them. Please forgive me if they get a little too out of character, even when they're honest.
Anyway, thank you Sammy for helping it with me! You're a true friend. So, since this chapter is about friendship and new starts, I'll dedicate this chapter to you, Sammy. Thanks a bundle! ;)
Disclaimer: I don't own Mulder and Scully. However, I do own Fiona. Just thought I'd put that in. ;)
Chapter 4
St. Rosa's Hospital
Tuesday, 10:44 a.m
Time had ticked and life had passed. The young grew old, and the old grew old. As the world turned it's normal ways, two people were not turning with it.
Confusion broke out between Mulder and Scully. Someone or something was forcing the truth out of them. And they couldn't see it...yet.
But when can anyone really see it? Fiona's gift lies in her mind, heart, aura and soul. She has no intention of pain, but to only avoid it. And when you're a girl who is constantly told the truth to, sometimes it can hurt.
The remaining hour was left in silence. And no one can blame them. If they spoke again, who knows that they could've said! So, for the time remaining, Mulder and Scully sat on the edge of the bed in silence. And as for the nurse, she kept herself busy by glancing up and down her clipboard in silence.
Fiona, however, was drawing peacefully in her new notebook. Mulder watched her with a smile. It reminded him a lot of Emily and how sweet she was.
Fiona looked up and made eye contact with Mulder. She said nothing but only smiled. Her eyes drifted back to the drawing her pretty picture.
Scully's eyes wandered from place to place, waiting for her fellow collogue to arrive. A fellow doctor in the field of medicine.
It took Mulder long enough, but finally he spoke with much enthusiasm.
"What's that you're drawing there?" He asked.
Fiona looked up with a smile. "You."
"Me?" He asked, somewhat shocked. Scully snapped out of her dreamy world and focused on her partner.
Fiona nodded. "Yes, I love to draw humans. It is another part of my drawing passion."
Mulder swayed around to see the picture of him. Every angle was not a very good one. Sadly, he had to go with the only option left. Asking.
"Can I see?" He asked sweetly.
Fiona giggled at his sweet face. She then nodded in approval. She slowly flipped the picture around, in fear of failure.
Mulder's eyes took notice of the picture. His eyes widened and his mouth dropped. Scully looked at it took. Her eyes blinked in shock, and her mouth dropped slightly.
It looked exactly like him. His dark hair colored in gray lead. The picture Mulder smiled as if he were the Mona Lisa. His eyes lightly colored. His arms were crossed, and his F.B.I tag hung from the left side of his suit. It was a work of art!
"Wow," Scully said, gently taking the notebook in her hand. Mulder leaned in from behind Scully's right shoulder. Fiona smiled proudly. They approved.
"Fiona," Scully looked up at her. "This is...this is amazing. I can't believe you drew this."
"Thank you," She blushed. "I have had a lot of time practicing my artistic ability."
"How long have you been drawing?" Asked Mulder.
"I have been drawing since I was one, walking since I was two, speaking since I was three, writing since I was four and swimming since I was five. I have done a lot in those great ages of my youth."
Mulder and Scully nodded, but had nothing to say. They had been beaten by a child. By learning, that is. Better not risk it and find out some other things you wish not to know.
The door opened softly. All four of them directed their attention to the door. A man, around the age of 45 slowly opened the door. His white coat barely touched the tip of his black shoes. His eyes were chocolate colored brown and his hair the same color. He shut the door behind him and walked over to Fiona's bed. A clipboard lied sideways between the doctor's left arm and his side.
"Hello, I'm doctor Roscoe," The man greeted.
Doctor Roscoe turned to the nurse and gave her a nod. The nurse nodded back and made her way out of the room. Out of sight and out of mind.
"Doctor Roscoe," Scully started, flipping out her badge. "I'm special agent Dana Scully. This is my partner, Fox Mulder."
"Ah, I've heard of you two," Dr. Roscoe said, taking his clipboard out. "You are F.B.I agents, right?"
"Yes," Scully replied.
"May I ask, what brings you here? This isn't a federal case."
"Don't worry, doctor," Fiona told him, looking up at him. "Agent Mulder and Scully have every right to be here. They rescued me last night."
Dr. Roscoe nodded, and then looked up at the agents. "I'm impressed. My only wonder is, how did you find out about the fire?"
"We were just in the neighborhood at the time," Mulder replied. Scully handed Fiona her notebook.
"Well, talk about your average luck," Dr. Roscoe smiled down at Fiona. "You owe your life to them."
"Yeah," Fiona smiled at them. "I do."
"Fiona?" Dr. Roscoe asked, causing Fiona to look up. He knelt down for better eye to eye contact. "I need to check your burn marks. Would you mind if I checked?"
"No," She shook her head. "I do not mind at all. It is in your profession to check and heal me. So, why would I mind?"
Dr. Roscoe smiled. "You just lost me, Fiona. But I'll just nod and go along."
Scully smiled. "We'll give you two a few minutes."
Fiona waved slowly. Scully and Mulder returned the wave and walked out. Scully walked out and to the room window. Mulder shut the door behind him and approached her.
"Wow," Scully sighed, a bit confused of the world that lied in her pathway.
"What?" Mulder asked with his usual sweet smile.
"It's just amazing," Scully looked into the window and watched Fiona and Dr. Roscoe. Dr. Roscoe was checking inside her ears. Fiona's eyes were shut. "That a girl can be that brave."
"You don't have faith in her?"
"Mulder, this girl walked through a two-story fire with a minimal amount of burns," She said, matter-of-factly. "And yet...she smiles and acts like nothing happened last night."
"You can tell she stays optimistic," He told her.
"Yeah," She sighed again. "I'm not sure why. Why would she be smiling today, instead of yelling in anger at the fire department for not saving her?"
"Maybe she's just happy to be alive," He suggested.
Scully met eye contact with him. Her heart knew he was right. Fiona had all the more reason to smile today. Because she can actually see the sun instead of seeing the inside of her casket.
"I guess," Scully smiled. "Coming from the graveyard, why wouldn't you act happy?"
"Speaking of acting happy, what was going on with you in there?" He asked.
"Me?" Scully seemed a bit offended. Yet, she smiled. "And I suppose you were acting like your normal self?"
"What was going on in there? We were acting...childish."
"I don't know," She said sadly.
The door opened again. Dr. Roscoe came out, stuffing a pen in his breast pocket. He looked up and made eye contact with both agents.
"Well, I checked her legs and ears," He explained. "Her ears are perfect. A little red from the fire, but completely fine. And her legs have a few burns, but overall, nothing that won't heal in a couple days."
"So, she can walk?" Mulder asked, concerned.
"Yes, Agent Mulder," Dr. Roscoe nodded. "She is fully capable of walking."
Scully breathed a sigh of relief. "Oh, thank God."
Dr. Roscoe looked down, hanging his head in shame. "I wouldn't be celebrating yet, Agent Scully."
Scully's eyes widened with fear. "Why? What's wrong?"
"Well," Dr. Roscoe sighed, looking up. "Since Fiona's parents didn't survive the fire, we're going to put her in an orphanage."
"Doesn't she have any outside family?" Mulder asked.
"We checked out her family and dental records," He explained. "Everyone in her family is either deceased or missing."
"Missing?" Scully asked.
"Runaways," He told her. "Her grandfather. Her mother's father. He disappeared when Fiona's mother was 19. He was never found. Since he is the only family member that could possibly take care of her, we have no choice but to put her in the orphanage."
"So, that's the problem?" Mulder crossed his arms.
"No," Dr. Roscoe said. "Have you heard of The Harrison Case? It's been in the papers for a few weeks."
"I've read something about it," Mulder spoke up. "Why? What does that case have to do with Fiona?"
"Well, as you may know," He sighed. "Ms. Harrison was arrested a few weeks ago. Apparently, she has been raising her kids on her own, which is very normal. However, she hasn't been working."
"Where is Mr. Harrison?" Scully asked.
"He died three years ago from Liver Cancer. And since then, Ms. Harrison has been raising her child by herself. Since she was wasn't working, her children have been forced to starve. Several nights. The children's teacher had called the police and arrested Ms. Harrison. It wasn't until a few weeks ago that the police had found that Ms. Harrison was forging checks. Checks that were set from August of 2001. She's been ripping off her husband's family and strangers. I spoke to the police and they've told me that she'll probably get 5 to 10 in jail for it. As for the kids, they were sent to the same orphanage that Fiona is destined to go to."
"So, what's the problem?" Mulder asked the doctor.
Dr. Roscoe sighed. "Ms. Harrison had 16 children."
"Oh my God," Scully gasped.
"I know," Dr. Roscoe nodded sadly. "The orphanage was not set for all of her 16 children. And because of these kids, the orphanage is completely full. In fact, it's overfilled. From what I've heard, two of the Harrison children had to share beds because it was so crowded."
"What about Fiona?"
"Well," The doctor sighed. "I have gotten word about a family that is going to adopt a couple orphans on Friday. However, the orphanage can't take in anymore kids. So...either Fiona sleeps on the street for a few days-"
"-You can't do that to her!" Scully protested.
"OR..." Dr. Roscoe cut in. He looked up at Mulder & Scully with hoping eyes. As if this was Fiona's only chance. And sadly, it was. "Or...One of you take her in."
That threw Mulder and Scully in a loop. Raise a child? Were they up for it?
"You-You-You mean us?" Mulder asked, amazed.
"Well, yes," Dr. Roscoe told him. "Don't worry, it would only be 'till Friday. And besides, I'm sure you two could handle it."
"I...I don't know," Scully said sadly.
"I understand," Dr. Roscoe nodded. "I'll give you two a couple minutes to decide. Remember, Fiona's future is in your hands."
Dr. Roscoe excused himself. He turned his back to them and walked down the white colored hallway, leaving Mulder and Scully speechless. Could they handle it? Could Fiona handle it? Scully's stomach twisted knots inside, while Mulder's flew with butterflies. Could Fiona be their last chance for parenting? And if she was, should they take the chance and help raise her until Friday?
Scully sighed, but still looked off into the distance.
"Their future is in our hands," She sighed. "God, am I tired of hearing that."
"I know how you feel," Mulder agreed.
"Oh, Mulder, what are we going to do?" Scully looked up at him with sad eyes.
Mulder shook his head. "I don't know, Scully."
Scully turned her head away and faced the window that looked into Fiona's room. Fiona drew in silence, unaware of the agents who stared at her. Mulder looked into the window, feeling his partner's pain.
"I know, I know," He assured her. "I don't want her to be on the streets either. But Scully, we can't raise her. She might get in danger. There's a lot of people after us. The last thing I want is Fiona to go through more pain."
Scully wasn't listening to her partner. Her sea blue eyes watched Fiona draw with a smile. Scully couldn't help but wonder. What if? She let go of Emily and William. Maybe this was her last chance. But would her partner understand?
Mulder went on, completely unaware that Scully wasn't listening. "You know, maybe there's someone else who could take her. You know, someone in the bureau-"
"-I'm going to do it," She cut in, still staring at Fiona's smile.
Mulder seemed confused. "What?"
"I'm going to do it."
"Do what?"
"I'm going to take Fiona in."
Mulder looked at her in confusion. Was she not listening to him? Well, duh!
"What?" Scully turned her head back, making eye contact with him. "Scully, you can't take Fiona in."
"Why not, Mulder?" She asked. "It's only until Friday. I'm sure I could handle Fiona. She's very sweet. I'm sure she'd help me."
"May I remind you that we can't have a child," He pointed out, rather rudely. "I mean, you had to give up William. What makes you think they won't come after Fiona?"
"No one will know that I have her," She assured him.
"Do you know the first thing about raising a teenager?" He asked. "I mean, when I was a teenager, I was a terror."
"Well, this isn't you I'm raising, Mulder," She smiled. "Fiona has to be a lot easier."
"All teenagers are the same."
Scully mouth dropped, but still kept her smile. "The same? The same, Mulder? You tell me a teenager that has survived a two story fire and smiles about it? Fiona is so bright. I'm sure I could learn twice as much from her, as she could from me."
"I just don't want to see you get hurt," Sweetly, he laid a gentle hand on her shoulder, protecting her from evil.
"Don't worry, Mulder," She assured him with her smile. "Like I said, no one will hurt Fiona because they won't know that I have her."
"I don't mean her, Scully. I mean you."
"Me?" Scully's eyes narrowed gently. "Why would you fear me getting hurt?"
Mulder smiled as he rolled his eyes. He knew everything about her. All the fears and failures and so much more.
"Well," He started, looking down at her again. "Scully, you have gotten attached to every child you either raise, take care of or love."
"What?"
"It's true," He nodded. "It was Emily at first, remember? And then William...Scully, you're going to have to let this girl go. And I have a feeling that when the time comes, you may not be ready. So, save yourself the trouble of that pain while you can."
Scully turned her face away. He had her pinned in the past. She hid away her tears by not letting them show. She wanted to be a mother so bad. And Fiona was her last chance.
"I really want this, Mulder," She said sadly, closing her eyes. "This is my last chance for parenting. I let go of Emily. I gave William away. This is just my last chance. I really want it."
Mulder was not a cold hearted. Scully knew that. He only wanted her to be happy. But perhaps, raising Fiona for a couple days is just another way for her heart to break. Mulder gently touched her chin, raising her eyes to meet his. He could tell that she really wanted this. More than he could understand.
"I can't stop you," He sighed. "Go ahead. If you want to take Fiona in, then go ahead. I can't force you not to."
Scully wanted to break down and cry right in front of him. (And if Fiona was in the same room, she would have) Although they would disagree, he would always stand by her decision. Even when she wanted it most.
"Thanks, Mulder," She smiled. "But...I hate to say this, but...I may need a hand or two."
Mulder smiled. "You know my number. You just call and I'll come running."
"Winter, Spring, Summer or Fall?" She giggled.
Mulder nodded. "All you got to do is call. You've got a friend." (Lyrics from James Taylor's 'You've Got a Friend)
There was a short pause. Both were thinking of each other and how much they need each other in life. Like the famous phrase, Can't live with them, can't live without them. (For boys or girls)
"Well," Mulder broke the pause. "We better get in there and tell Fiona."
Scully nodded. "I just hope she won't mind."
Scully led the two of them in. Before Scully opened the door, Mulder whispered in her ear.
"I'm sure she'll love it."
The sound of his voice made her tingle and stir. Especially when it was so soft and sweet. Scully opened the door and Mulder followed her, closing it behind him. Fiona looked up from her drawing.
Scully smiled at her. "Hey, Fiona."
"Hi," Fiona smiled.
Scully sat down on her side of the bed. Her usual seat. Mulder stood above her, watching every finger shake with worry.
"Uh...Fiona?" Scully asked. "I would like to ask you a question. And, I'm sort of afraid that you'll say no."
"Me?" Fiona asked, shocked but with a smile. "Now, I've been known to not refuse a pretty face. So, why would I refuse you?"
Scully blushed. Fiona turned her head to Mulder. "I bet you have a hard time refusing her."
"Oh, God, yeah," Mulder grinned down at Scully. Scully rolled her eyes.
Fiona giggled. "How sweet...But anyway, what was it that you wanted to ask me, Scully?"
"Well," Scully took a deep breath to calm all fears. Like magic, her tension disappeared into the gloomy air. "Since both your parents died last night, and we just found out that you have no relatives alive that can raise you, the hospital has decided to place you into an orphanage."
Fiona nodded sadly. "I see."
"However," Scully told her. Fiona looked up with the sense of hope in her dark eyes. "Mulder and I have gotten word that the orphanage is currently filled up."
The young teenager seemed quite lost. "So...where does that put me?"
Scully sighed. "What the thinking here, is that until Friday, you would..."
Scully glanced up at Mulder who gave her a nod in approval. Scully turned back, looking Fiona in her eyes.
"That you stay with me until then."
Whew! She said it. Now all that remained was Fiona's answer. And that seemed more nerve wrecking.
"I mean, if you want," Scully's voice began to panic. "I mean, you can stay here or you can go find another place. You don't have to stay with me-"
"-Scully," Fiona held up her hand. A cool breeze of relaxation hovered over her, causing her to stop talking and only listen.
Fiona looked deeply into Scully's eyes. It was true. Scully really wanted her to stay with her. And that was an offer that the great Fiona couldn't pass up.
"Scully," Fiona smiled. "I would love to stay with you. That is, if you'll accept me."
"I would never turn you down," With that, Scully was happy. She had a great partner and a new girl to watch over. Even though he would only be for a few days, it would be the days that she would never forget.