Disclaimer: Nope, these characters aren't mine.

Category: MSR
Classification: SRA
Rating: R
Spoilers: Redux, Redux II, Millennium.
Archive: Gossamer, Spookys. Others ask me.
Feedback: Knock yourself out.
Summary: Mulder must make the ultimate choice.
Thanks to: Shannon for getting snarky. <g> 

"The Ultimate Choice"
by Lisa  
(haven599@msn.com) 


February 24, 2000

    If he had ever given it some thought, Mulder would have known
it would all come down to this choice sooner or later.  But when
the time came, he made it.   


February 22, 2000
2 days earlier

    The call came in on Mulder's cell phone.  Smoking Man.  C.G.B.
Spender.  Whatever the hell his name was. Mulder was in no mood to
play his games today or ever again for that matter.  The Smoking Man
wanted to arrange a meeting with him, saying Mulder would be
interested in some information he had in his possession.  Giving
no more than that vague description, he told Mulder to meet him 
the next day at a location just outside D.C.   
    Mulder tried the rest of the day to get through to Scully. She 
had told him she had a doctor's appointment and might take the rest 
of the day off, depending on how late it was when she finished.
    He had a horrible feeling that Scully might not be at home at 
all, nothing do to with her earlier appointment.  *She* might be 
the "information" that bastard was talking about.  
    Mulder's suspicions were confirmed when he drove over to her
apartment, finding it empty.  The only clue as to her whereabouts 
was a note reading: "You decide her fate."  
    Those four words filled him with a sense of fear he didn't know 
existed.  Whatever he did - or didn't do - could hurt Scully.  
How could he make choices when he was unaware of the rules of the
game? 
    His relationship with Scully had changed ever since that New 
Year's Eve kiss.  They were swiftly moving towards becoming lovers. 
    It all started with short good-night kisses when they were 
out-of-town, but quickly progressed to passion, neither wanting
to leave each other and retire to a separate room.  
    Mulder had promised her that the time would come soon.  He didn't
want their first time to be in some motel room in the middle of 
nowhere, even though there were many times he wanted to break the
"rules" he so foolishly set and knock on the door of her room.  
    Besides, he always imagined making love to Scully in her bed for
their first time.  Her birthday was two days away and that was 
the day he had surprises in store for her.  He had planned a 
wonderful evening for the two of them. 
    Now he might not get that chance.  She had been taken again.  
Mulder had just taken for granted that there would be a later time. 
If anything happened to her now that they were getting closer . . . 
Now that they were just beginning to get it right . . .

****

D.C.
The next day
February 23, 2000

    Mulder had followed the directions exactly and his destination
looked to be an old, deserted warehouse.  He was instructed to wait
in his car until someone came out to get him.  His imagination had
run overtime the past twenty-four hours thinking of all the things 
that could be happening to her.  He didn't stop thinking about her.
Her safety was on his mind every second of the day.  
    A man wearing a dark-colored suit was headed towards the car.
    More waiting.  Mulder was ushered into a large room with a 
rectangular conference table surrounded by six chairs. The whole 
place seemed too quiet.  Perhaps they were soundproof rooms.  
    Where were they hiding Scully? 
    He sat down in one of the chairs, resting his head on his hands.
About twenty minutes later, The Smoking Man showed up carrying a
manila folder full of papers.  He sat down opposite Mulder and lit
a cigarette.  
    "Where's Scully?" Mulder asked, his impatience growing. 
    "First things first," he stated.  "Remember that note in Agent 
Scully's apartment?" 
    Mulder nodded, fearing the worst. 
    "You have a choice to make, Agent Mulder."
    "I just want Scully safe and back home," Mulder insisted. He
wondered what price he'd have to pay for her freedom this time 
around. 
    "You may change your mind when you know the contents of this
folder."  He tapped his finger on the top.  
    "What is it this time?"  Mulder asked.  "You have nothing to 
offer me." 
    "How about your sister?" 
    Not this same song and dance again. "We've been through this
before.  You're wasting your time." Mulder replied.  "Where's Scully?" 
    "This file contains everything you've wanted to know about 
your sister, Fox," The Smoking Man said.  "You can have it.  All
your questions will be answered." 
    "I don't believe you."  
    He took out a sheet of paper and pushed it across the table to 
Mulder.  
    It was a bill from a doctor's office.  Columns of tests and 
ailments were listed on its surface.  One had been checked: Well
child check-up.  Mulder looked down at the bottom right hand 
corner.  Samantha's name was printed in black ink.  Mulder looked
up at him.  
    "Look at the date," Smoking Man suggested.  
    It read August 10, 1976.  Three years after she was taken.  
"This is just a receipt.  It doesn't prove anything," Mulder stated.
    "Who do you think has taken care of her all these years, Fox?" 
    Perhaps he was telling the truth, but the thought of this man
as the only father figure Samantha had while growing up scared 
him more than anything.  He just didn't want to believe it. What
if this folder confirm his worst fears? "And you're just going to
give me this folder?"
    "Yes," he replied. "Provided you give me something in return."
    It was becoming all too clear.  "No, not her.  Not Scully." 
    "I'm afraid so, Agent Mulder," he said.  
    Why can't he just leave Scully alone? Why can't he just 
leave us alone? Mulder thought. "Where's Scully?  We're leaving.
Now." He pushed away from the chair.  
    "Then are you saying you don't want to know what's happened 
to your sister?  This file doesn't interest you at all?"
    After a few moments, Mulder spoke.  "Yes, it does." he said
softly, as if embarrassed to admit that he was considering the
man's offer. "But not if Scully's life is threatened." he added.
    "Who said anything about that?" Smoking Man asked.
    "Stop the games.  We're way past that stage." Mulder replied.  
    "Yes, we are, aren't we?" he agreed, a sly smile on his face.               
    "Look, you sonofabitch . . ." 
    "Careful, Agent Mulder," he warned.  "I'll take this file and
destroy its contents."
    "Do what you want.  I don't care." he snapped.  "Just give me
Scully."  
    "You can walk away.  Just like that.  Never knowing what happened
all those years ago."  He lit another cigarette before continuing,  
"Never knowing the answers to the questions that kept you awake 
night after night since you were a boy." 
    Mulder looked down at the thick file.  All his fears could 
be put to rest.  All he had to do was betray his partner. But they
were much more than partners.  Stuck somewhere in the middle between
friends and lovers.  And there was so much yet to come.  He could see 
it in her eyes when he kissed her.  The hope.  The anticipation. 
Did he want to go back or move forward? 
    "No."  It was barely a whisper.  The Smoking Man stared at him
through a cloud of smoke for a few moments before he rose and opened
the door on the other side of the room.  
    Scully walked through it hesitantly, until she saw her partner
then hurried over to him.  
    "C'mon, let's get out of here," Mulder said, holding her hand
tightly in his. 
    He could feel the older man's eyes on them as they made their
way out the door.  

****

    Mulder took her back to her apartment.  The only conversation
in the car was when Mulder as her if they had hurt her.  Perhaps
he should have said something more, but she looked tired and spent
the whole time looking out the window, never glancing his way. 
    "Scully, you need to get some rest," he told her, making his
way into her bedroom.  
    "I'm not tired," she replied, following behind him. 
    "Well, you should at least try and rest."  He turned on the 
light in her bedroom, looking around as if he expected someone to
be there.  
    "I'm sorry, Mulder," she said.  "I'm sorry." 
    "You didn't do anything," he replied.  "I'm going to go and
let you get settled."
    "Aren't you listening to me?" she asked.  "I'm sorry they 
made you choose between . . . us."  
    That finally got his attention.  "They told you?" he said,
surprised.  
    Scully nodded.  
    Mulder sighed heavily, his shoulders slumping. "It may have
been a trick." he murmured.  "How am I supposed to believe him?"
    Scully reached out to lay a hand on his arm.  "I know he's
misled us in the past," she said.  "I also know how much you want
to find the truth about your sister."  
    Mulder shook his head. "It's too late now," he said. "It 
doesn't matter."
    She followed him, moving to stand in front of him, but he
refused to look at her. "How can you say that, Mulder?" she demanded.
"How can you stand there and lie to me?" 
    He turned to her finally. "Was I supposed to take the file and
leave you there?" he asked, pain etched on his features.  "So they
could do what they wanted with you? They weren't going to just let
you go."   
    Scully glanced down at the floor.  "I did hear something about
surgery and a vaccine." The words were soft, as if she wasn't sure
she wanted him to hear.   
    "That bastard!" Mulder slammed his hand against the wall. "He
thinks he can get away with anything. He probably was certain I'd
choose the information.  That I would do anything for that file."
    A few minutes passed before anyone spoke. 
    "Are you having second thoughts?" Scully asked, almost afraid 
of the answer. 
    He turned to face her.  "And leave you there to be some sort
of guinea pig?  Haven't you been exposed to enough of that? Look
what happened to Emily." 
    Scully sat down on the bed.  "You're right. That would have
been my fate." she sighed.   
    Shit.  Why did he say that? "Scully, I'm sorry. I shouldn't
have mentioned her."  He sat down next her, pulling her close. 
    "It's alright." she replied. "I should be the one apologizing.
Part of me thought you might choose your sister over me. I'm sorry.
That was all I thought about - who you would choose.  I shouldn't
have doubted you, especially since we've become so much closer.
I should've believed in us, Mulder.  I should have . . ."
    "It's Ok," he whispered, rocking her in his arms. "There was
a split-second where I thought about taking the file." he confessed.
"You're not the only one having trouble believing, Scully.  You're
not the only one." 
    Mulder felt Scully hug him tighter, telling him she understood.

****

    "Did I fall asleep?" Scully asked.  
    "Only about ten minutes or so," Mulder told her.  He had 
moved back onto the pillows while she slept in his arms. "You've 
earned it." he said, smoothing her slept-on hair away from her cheek. 
    "I think I was just way too comfortable," she replied. "It's
only been a couple days, but you feel so good." 
    Mulder's only reply was a quick kiss, but Scully had other 
ideas and let the second kiss linger much longer.  
    She straddled his body, making up for lost time of their 
forced separation from each other, stopping only to breathe when
necessary.  
    "We're getting carried away here, aren't we?" Mulder said.
    "I know, sorry," she answered.  "I slipped a little and forgot
about our promise to wait for the right time."
    "I think we need to revise that," he stated. 
    "You do?" 
    "Yes, but only if you agree," Mulder insisted. 
    "Run it by me and I'll consider it," Scully said.
    "Something a bit more proactive," Mulder said. "Three words:
Seize the moment." 
    "Much better," Scully said softly. "Much better."
    They began to undress each other slowly, savoring this moment,
wanting to make it last as long as possible.  It seemed as if they
had been waiting longer than just a few weeks. Truthfully, this
moment had been seven years in the making. 
    The phone rang, startling their attention away from each other. 
    "Ignore it," Scully whispered against Mulder's skin. "They'll
go away."  
    It stopped after the second ring, as if sensing what was 
happening and the urgency of their need to be with each other. 
    Mulder's hands glided over her body with a combination of 
skill and possessiveness. Her encouraging sighs and moans spurred
him on, and he drove her to the brink of ecstasy before slowly 
sinking into her warmth, making them one. 
 
****

    The following morning, Mulder awakened before Scully.  He 
kissed her softly on the forehead before heading out to the 
kitchen to make some breakfast for the two of them. If only he
knew what that would be.  Toast was about all he was capable of
fixing and perhaps a semi-decent cup of coffee.  Today should be
a day of celebrating, since he missed her birthday yesterday. 
Stay in bed all day, no work.  The only thing on his agenda should
be making love to Scully. 
    A soft knock on the door surprised him and he quickly rushed 
to answer it, not wanting to awaken Scully. 
    It was the flowers he had ordered for her birthday earlier in 
the week. A dozen red roses. Well, better late than never. Mulder
relieved the delivery man of them quickly and quietly. 
    He found a large glass and placed them in water before returning
to the task of trying to prepare a morning meal of some sort. 
    Grabbing a rose out of the makeshift vase, Mulder had another 
idea.  
    He crept back into the bedroom where she was still fast asleep.
Scully had shifted onto her side, exposing her back.  That's when 
he saw it. 
    Her tattoo.  Mulder had forgotten about it. An Oroborous. 
An interesting choice for her, since it was a mystical symbol, one
of infinite renewal.    
    Did she have any idea about its meaning when she had it done? 
    Mulder sat on the edge of the bed, forgetting about the rose he 
held for a moment and lightly traced the snake with his index 
finger. 
    Scully stirred a little.  And a little more when he pressed 
his lips against the spot of decorated skin.  
    Mulder slid the rose slowly down her back, from the nape of 
her neck to the small of her back.  A small sigh escaped her 
lips.  She turned to face her lover. 
    "Good morning, beautiful," he murmured, handing her the rose. 
    "'Morning."  She smiled, accepting the gift. "Thank you." 
    "There's eleven more in the kitchen," he said. "Happy Birthday."
It seemed strange to watch her awaken, to see her wearing only a
sheet.  Watch her smile at him first thing in the morning.
    "It's actually the day after," she corrected. "Still having
trouble remembering?" 
    "I thought I'd be forgiven after last night." 
    "Aren't we confident?" she said.  
    "I have more gifts," Mulder told her. "This is only the 
beginning." 
    Scully surprised him with a passionate kiss. "I know," she
whispered.  
    It was only the beginning, in more ways than one. Before Mulder
had a chance to reflect on that, Scully pulled him on top of her. 
    "I'm seizing the moment," she murmured.

****
END (1/1)

Like what you read?
Come to Lisa's Haven: http://shannono.simplenet.com/haven/