Act V - Is it in you?
Mulder walked aimlessly around the Hoover Bldg. and tried to leave several times. Each attempt to the outside resulted in his immediate return the basement X-files office. It was maddening. If this was hell, he understood why no one wanted to go. Emptiness, loneness, void. Finally, he sat at his desk and stayed. There were no cases, no slide shows, no Scully. He couldn't believe that his mind couldn't conjure up a facsimile of Scully. Even that would be better than silence.
"You love her." A voice said. It seemed to be coming from the walls, the air and deep inside himself.
"Who are you?" Mulder asked curious at this new development.
"Weren't you looking for me, Fox William Mulder?"
"I'm not up for the 'Man-Behind-the-Curtain" crap. Who are you?" Mulder was annoyed.
"What you came looking for."
"My 'Guiding Force'?"
"I guess you could call me that. I set things in motion and establish a few guardrails. However, I can't stop you from doing things like this."
"Why am I stuck here? Why am I alone?"
"That's the way you wanted it. This world is of your own making."
"Will I be alone forever?"
"As usual, that's always been up to you—and her. She is coming for you—even now."
He stilled. "Scully is here? Don't hurt her."
"I don't need to. You've done a good job of that—yourself. Don't you have any questions for me?"
Mulder took the deserved insult. "Who are you and what is my destiny?"
"Good questions—and unanswerable. Anything else?"
"Wait a minute…" Mulder stood. "I came on this journey to find my purpose… and you are telling I'm not going to get that answer?"
The voice was patient. "Who I am doesn't matter and while I can affect things in your world, I'm not omnipotent. I couldn't stop you from taking that pill. All humans are free to make their own choices. As for your purpose, technically, you are dead and no longer have one. Not much to tell in that area. If you wanted to know what it used to be before you tried seeking me out, that—I might be able to answer."
"Fine—what was it?"
"To love her." There was a pause. "If it makes you feel any better, hers was to love you."
"That doesn't seem like it would change the world." Mulder said feeling cold, despite being dead.
"Every human has that potential." The entity replied. "Together, you would have been a very powerful team. Your enemies figured that out too late. They made a mistake putting you together and that's why they worked so hard to tear you apart. When that didn't work, they decided it was best to keep you both where they could watch you."
"I want to go back to her."
"You can't. However, she is coming to you."
Mulder stood up. "No! She must live!"
"She has a better guide than you did and again—it's her choice. For better or worse—she is very tenacious and predictable."
"You don't seem to care either way." Mulder was disgusted. The 'Guiding Force' was apathetic.
"I'm not worried, if that is what you mean. Don't you find it odd in a universe of infinite dimensions that she can locate you so easily? I know finding me wasn't very satisfying—it wasn't meant to be. Don't waste any more time looking for unproductive answers, Fox Mulder. Fulfill your purpose and see what develops." The voice faded and Mulder watched the love of his life walk through the basement door…
"Scully!" Mulder said and approached her. Afraid to touch, he tried to read her, and found that he couldn't smell her honey and almond shampoo anymore. Was she real?
"Mulder?" Scully walked in. "What is this place?"
"My hell, Scully." Mulder was plain. "I'm sure you know, I trusted the wrong person. Azure drugged me with something that stopped my heart. As I've been told—I'm dead. I hope you aren't too."
"No. Leaf is walking me through this. I've come to take you back."
"I'm dead, Scully. I can't go back."
"We performed CPR until they could stabilize you. Your body is alive. I came to get your soul to return to it."
"Scully…"
"Take my hand, Mulder." Scully said holding her arm out. "I love you too. I always have. Come home with me."
"I can't go back to the way things were. You can't ignore what's between us."
"I won't—I promise. First things first. Come back with me." Scully took his hand. "I need you, Mulder."
That sealed it. They walked holding hands down the empty hall of the Hoover Bldg. and through a strange orange light only to find it melted into the flickering florescent lights of a hospital room. Mulder blinked his eyes open and saw Leaf sitting by his bed with Scully. His partner's brilliant blue eyes were focused on him.
"Welcome back." Scully said, smiling with tears in her eyes. "I thought I had lost you."
Mulder squeezed her hand. They were still holding hands. "You made me an offer I couldn't refuse. Thanks, Scully."
She smiled and Leaf clapped happily. "I love happy endings!"
