Again, thank you to the four people who managed to leave a review for the previous chapter. It's wonderful to hear your thoughts. I'm trying my little best to figure out what the hell I'm doing. (I too have noticed that not all of my page breaks have shown up, which is disconcerting. I'll go back and fix those.)

Every review, comment, like, reblog, reply, favourite, follow, and kudos really helps.

A special shoutout to those over at .co They've saved me a lot of time in transcribing an episode myself. The real MVPs here.


Burning Snowflakes

… Part 7 …

It was with hesitation that he let his heels clip across the tiled floor. Danica was left in the able hands of a nanny whose background had been checked more times than he had fingers. The girl was silent, watching him go from the door of a strange woman's house - because his apartment was too small for the woman's satisfaction.

He understood her in that moment like he understood her in most; silently. She harboured fear on her shoulders while he charged at it, wishing he could cower like the little girl. Scully had called, and with duty he beckoned himself to her. It was urgent, important, as soon as possible. He felt the worry bubble in his gut, swallowing fear like an child a tablet. He wanted to spit it out, to turn around in the hallway and disappear, but it was not an option when Scully was concerned.

He knew something was wrong the second she uttered the word oncology. Something drastically traumatic, that she urged him - whispered for his quick arrival. The word - that word - rolled past him on the door as he approached the nurses station and asked for his partner.

Mulder's heart was pounding. He could feel it in his ears like a time bomb threatening to go off. She was in front of him before he could grasp his reality. Her back to him, dressed in a hospital gown she poured over a scan in her hand.

She turned slowly, as though sensing his presence. Her lips twitched in a half lived smile. Coyly Mulder held up a small bouquet of flowers, 'I uh, stole these from some guy with a broken leg down the hall. He uh, won't be able to catch me.' He went for a joke, the seriousness that choked the air was suffocating him. He couldn't admit to her that he was scared about his being there, about her being there. He also couldn't admit that he had spent far too long in the hospital gift shop trying to find the right flowers. What conveyed, 'you're scaring the crap out of me?' over 'get better soon' and 'it's a boy!'. There was nothing there for this situation, this unknown, this fear that something was horribly wrong with his partner.

'You okay, Scully?'

'I guess that's the question. Actually, I feel fine.' She paused, waiting, watching the clock tick inside her head. He could tell she had something to say, of course she did - they were standing in the oncology ward of the Holy Cross Memorial Hospital. He tapped at the scan in her hand like an inquisitive handsy child, asking about it as he did so. 'It's what's called nasopharengeal mass. It's a small growth between the superior conchea and the sinoidal sinus.' He stared at her for a second, scared by the doctor tone she had taken with him, horrified by her words.

'A growth?' He asked, voice shaking. He wanted so much to take her by the hand and run out of that room, never go back and never face what she was telling him.

'A tumour,' Scully corrected, nodding her head slightly. 'You're the only one I've called.' She added as a side note, looking directly into his eyes. This was it, his stomach dropped, she already knew how bad this was.

'Is it operable?'

Scully's face drew downwards. 'No.'

'But it's treatable.' He was so sure of himself, seeking the truth within his partner, the optimism. Nothing could beat Scully, nothing could or would take her down. She was the strongest woman he had ever met, he was the one who was supposed to disappear into the darkness, leaving her behind to protect her, not medicine. Medicine, science, hard pure fact was what she based her opinions through so heavily. They could not be the things that let her down, medicine providing fact that she might not make it through this.

'The truth is that the type and placement of the tumour make it difficult, to the extreme.' She let him down slowly, enunciating herself clearly. He was the patient she couldn't be, the person she had to explain the illness too. She had consulted the head of oncology that morning, but it wasn't the same. She needed to explain it herself; cool and calm, certain in finality.

'I refuse to believe that, I …' She cut him off before he could say anymore. Scully was tempted to roll her eyes at his desperation.

'For all the times I have said that to you I am as certain of this as you have ever been. I have cancer. It is a mass on the wall between my sinus and cerebrum. If it pushes into my brain statistically there is about zero chance of survival.'

'I don't accept that. Th … there must be some people who have received treatment for this, we … can …' Mulder was barely holding himself together, a rage was bubbling inside of him. This wasn't fair. He wouldn't have wished this on his worst enemy, but Scully, Scully didn't deserve this at all.

[...]

Betsy Higopian was an open ended question for Dana Scully. She had met the woman, spoken with her, knew that she and several others shared a story of the unknown that was slowly killing them. She had no doubt that her abduction and now sudden cancer were connected. She didn't want to believe, but all signs pointed to reason. When the phone calls went unanswered and the messages not received Scully and Mulder travelled to Allentown, Pennsylvania in hope of catching the woman who was seemingly evading them.

With Danica in tow, Mulder's trust in his new sitter not confident enough for interstate travel, they found Betsy Higopian's hope empty. The realtor who conveniently was present at the time of their arrival had informed the agents and sleeping child that Betsy had not lived to beat her cancer.

She was pointed in the direction of Penny Northern, another woman a part of the MUFON group who had met with Scully after her abduction. She took Danica with her, aware of the severity, but the shy child was clinging to her arm, unwilling to let go. She couldn't break that connection, not when she too felt a desperate need to cling to something safe.

Danica walked easily beside her, stumbling over her feet occasionally as they wandered through the halls of the Allentown Bethlehem Medical Centre. Locating Penny's room, Scully pushed the door open softly, allowing the little girl to step in ahead of her.

Penny's room was bare, white walls, white curtains all paired off with white sheets. A few feet from the door lay Penny Northern, the burgundy of her robe drawing Scully's eye in the absolute blandness of the room. She looked like death, as the saying went, her face was drawn and pale. She was sleeping as Scully helped Danica into a chair by the wall.

'Dana,' A tired voice called out, causing the woman in question to turn. Penny's eyes were open, a small, tired small pressed across her cheeks. 'Hello,' She rasped, not commenting on Scully's sudden misplacement.

'I'm … I'm,' She blinked, shaking her head softly. 'Sorry, did someone tell you I was coming?' Scully let go of Danica as she moved towards Penny.

'No.'

'Then how did you know it was me?' Scully was cautious and compelled.

'I recognised you,' Penny told her with a fond smile, her voice almost lilting with laughter. 'I told you when we met last year, I held you and comforted you in the place, after the tests.' She was patient with Scully, her voice soft as her eyes wandered towards the little girl sitting in the spare chair against the wall, teddy bear clutched to her chest fondly. Scully dropped her head, fascinated with her shoes suddenly as she tried to avoid the horror that was flickering in the corner of her memory.

'I'm sorry. I didn't mean to be insensitive, but uh,' She didn't look at Penny ashamed that she didn't know this woman nor remember her. She was someone who comforted her and cared for her in a great time of need, and all she had to say was, 'I don't share those memories'. Penny smiled, mumbling a soft reassurance that it was all okay.

Scully pulled a chair away from the wall, and sat beside Penny's bed. She flinched when Danica's hand unexpectedly found her knee. Scully lifted the girl, under her arms, and helped her onto her lap. Danica sat, chest turned into Scully as she watched the unfamiliar woman in the hospital bed from the corner of her eye. Scully only hugged the girl, holding her tightly. 'You have a beautiful little girl.' Scully couldn't find the heart to argue with the woman who had turned her attention to the dark haired child in her lap. 'Her father must have been most distressed with your abduction.' Scully nodded, there was no lie in Penny's statement.

She nodded slowly, hands picking at the girl's jumper. 'He was. But, I'm here now and that's what matters.' Scully smiled softly, her eyes dropped to her lap where Danica was playing with her fingers. She watched for a second, listening to Penny compliment her on a child that was not hers, and would never be. She squeezed Danica a second time, dropping a gentle kiss to the top of her small head.

'And now you're sick,' Penny spoke, breaking the silence that had transcended upon them. 'Did you come here to ask about Dr. Scanlon?' Scully shook her head. 'He's treating the cancer,' Penny supplied, 'He treated Betsy too. He thinks he might have isolated the cause, and if he'd caught it earlier he might have been able to do more for her, and for me.' The universe was screaming at her through Penny Northern's words. Her hands were restless under the little girl's fingers as the mystery of her cancer chased itself around in her head.

'His name is Scanlon?' Scully asked, some semblance of hope tickling the back of her neck. She could be the exception, the one with cancer in an early enough stage that could be cured. This could be her chance, the saving grace that would rid her of this incurable disease. Making up her mind, Scully stood, Danica on her hip, as she bid a quick goodbye and a promise of a return to Penny. Danica waved softly over Scully's shoulder as they both disappeared out of the room and broke into the hallway.

[...]

When Scully woke the next morning in a hospital bed she had checked herself into the evening before, Dr Scanlon was looking over her charts. Her eyes fluttered in the bright light for a second, her head turning to the left. Mulder was there, Danica in his lap, a book held in his hands as he whispered the story to her.

'Dana?' Dr. Scanlon was the first to notice that she was awake. Her name on his lips caused Mulder to look up, smiling softly in the direction of his partner. He put Danica on her feet, so he could gather their things and leave Scully and her doctor to talk. Hearing Scully respond to the doctor, Danica's head turned up to the woman on the bed. Without nudging from either adult Danica clambered onto the hospital bed, and buried her head against Scully's hip.

'She can stay,' Scully smiled at Mulder, her fingers running through Danica's hair, as he stepped forward to move the child. Scully liked the little girl, she was quiet and easily adaptable, although shy Danica had a confidence that took ahold of the girl when need be. Mulder nodded, easily allowing his partner her wishes as he leant in, his hand on Danica's back, to kiss the girl on the forehead and Scully, gently, on the cheek.

Once Mulder had left the room Dr. Scanlon turned to his patient, 'Your MRI's and your charts aren't here yet but I have an idea of what to expect. You probably do too from your medical training.' Scully gave a soft nod.

'I know that the chemotherapy is going to make me sick.' Danica shifted against her side.

'And the radiation. They're both part of a high dose approach to knock your system down so we can attempt the gene therapy on P53.' He paused, took in a slow breath and offered a small smile to the little girl who was peeping at him from behind Scully's hip. 'You're going to feel like dying.' Scully swallowed visibly, squeezing the child beside her she hoped to gather Danica's strength. Her heart skipped a beat and suddenly the door was opening.

Margaret Scully stood in the open doorway, Mulder behind her. Scully didn't flinch. She was quick to introduce her mother to her doctor, the man she hoped would could cure her. Dr. Scanlon made his excuses and left the room after hellos were exchanged. Mulder called out for the girl, beckoning her from his place in the doorway as Maggie Scully slipped further into the room.

Kissing the girl's crown, Scully muttered, 'Be good, 'Nica,' Before she let the child go. Maggie watched the little girl climb off the bed and toddle towards Mulder reluctantly. 'I, ah, I drove. I was going to take the shuttle but it's only an hour more by car. Can you imagine?' Her mother stuttered after Mulder closed the door behind him. Her hands twitched in front of her, clasped together and fidgeting. Scared energy was rushing off of her in waves.

'Mom, I know what you're gonna say, but I don't have any experience being sick. I promise you, I feel fine, I feel …' She sighed, her words empty. She assured her mother that she was fine, that she was only in the hospital for treatment but it felt hollow.

'I don't know why you didn't tell me.' Maggie's voice snapped, forceful and angry.

Growing up as a child, her siblings had always feared their father. Not Dana, she knew better than to think that dad was the final authority in the house. It was her mother Dana had always been fearful of. She may have been short and quiet and ultimately sweet, but she had to raise four children mostly alone and knew how to lay down the law because of it. 'I don't know why you didn't tell me immediately!' Maggie threw her coat onto the chair Mulder and Danica had occupied only minutes ago.

She knew how pathetic her excuse was even before it came out of her mouth, 'I wanted to get all the answers first.' Maggie only watched her child, asking softly if she had found the answers. 'I have found some clarity, and maybe a way to fight back.' Scully's eyes flashed, that's what she wanted, a way to fight back. Medicine could not let her down, she refused.

'I don't want to be kept in the dark.' Maggie's voice was weak, 'And I don't want you to have Fox calling me to come out here. You call me yourself.' Maggie sat on the edge of her daughter's hospital bed. She took a deep breath, taking in her daughter's face, before engulfing her in a protective hug. 'You have always been the strong one, but you are my only daughter now.'

Scully's heart jumped again, her stomach turning at the reminder of the hole Melissa's death left in them, and the space she had to fill as last daughter left alive. 'I know, Mom.' Scully held back her tears as she hugged her mother tight.

Pulling back slowly, Maggie asked, 'Who is she, the little girl with Fox?'

Scully smiled, her eyes almost rolling at the sheer thought of now having to follow through with her partner's mad plan. She wanted to protect Danica too, so she told the lie. 'His daughter.' A bemused smile tickled the corners of her mouth, splitting her cheeks slightly as her mother's face contorted in shock.

'I wasn't aware …'

Scully chuckled, 'Trust me,' She cut her mother off, 'I was as surprised as you are'. She paused, listening to her mother's soft laugh. 'Her name is Danica and she's almost three. I was, uh, I was worried when he told me about her, but she brings out the honesty in Mulder. She's very quiet, she's seen far too many horrors for a little girl. She deserves the world.' Scully hummed, eyes closing momentarily.

'You like her,' Maggie smiled, watching as her daughter became animated in discussion about the young girl.

Scully sighed, 'I've tried to keep my distance, but, Mulder can't do this on his own. He needs help, specifically mine - I don't mind that much. Nica is addictive, and well behaved. She's no hassle.'

'She seems lovely.' Scully nodded in agreement. 'You're smitten,' Maggie observed, 'But are you sure it's a good idea - having this girl so close to you. Dana, you're sick. Do you want to expose a young child to that suffering?' She had already explained that her building love for Danica was unintentional. Though connection to Mulder she is exposed to the girl. There is no way to avoid her. Danica had enough loss, enough injury, she did not need to witness Scully's battle with cancer. But, it was Mulder who brought her with him, who sat with the girl in Scully's hospital room, who allowed the child to climb onto her bed and stay there.

Although Scully understood what her mother was saying, she didn't quite think she could push the little girl away so easily. Danica was almost a sense of normalcy in their lives, a small child who had to be fed and put to bed at the same time, who would eventually need to go to school. She needed a routine, in instilling that in Mulder, their lives were starting to find a succinct rhythm. Scully didn't want to release the opportunity to watch that happen, especially if she didn't have long left to witness it.

[...]

He saved her in a sense, just like he had saved Danica. Uncovering the truth of a plot far bigger than the two of them, and exposing a deeper evil. Dr. Scanlon was not caught or punished for his crimes, but the bigger picture towards his use of the MUFON women and Scully was revealed to them before it became something uncovered too late. Penny Northern died believing Dr. Scanlon was dedicated to helping her, it had not been the case, but it was perhaps for the best letting her final hours be in contentment instead of anguish.

Mulder choose to reserve some truths for a later date, deciding to not tell Scully about the ova of hers he found at the Lumbard Research Facility along side the clone Kurt Crawford's. He didn't know how to broach the subject with her, but it was not the time now. Scully had to come to terms with her cancer before he added infertility to a list of problems likely caused by Mulder and his quest.

He drove her back to D.C. sombrely before the night was over. They collected Danica from the sitter in mutual agreement that neither adult quite wanted to be alone just yet. Mulder ordered Chinese as Scully sat, reading to Danica on her living room sofa, the both of them tucked under blankets.

When the food arrived they ate humorously, Danica offered a small bowl of rice and lemon chicken ordered especially for her young tastes. She picked at the sticky food, causing the adults on either side of her to laugh.

'She's a good kid, Mulder,' Scully offered quietly between mouthfuls of her own meal. Mulder raised a brow, 'Mom tried to warn me away from her, which was fair - she deserves more.' Scully stopped to wipe at a cluster of rice stuck to Danica's cheek. 'But, by now, you and I - we're a package deal. I think she's stuck with the both of us.' Mulder grinned, the smile spreading across his cheeks as he watched Scully fuss with the little girl and her dinner.

'We need you, Scully. I didn't want to admit it, but, I really need your help.' She nodded slowly, already accepting her place by his side at work, and now with Danica. She returned a napkin to the girl's cheek, rubbing softly at a sticky spot with a crinkle in her forehead.

'I'm here, for as long as I can be. I will fight this, Mulder. For me, for her, for our work — for the Truth.'