Breakdown
by cofax

(a "Life During Wartime" story; the rest of the series can be found at:
http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/Derby/5520/Wartime.html)


***

The truck isn’t going to start again.  The noise it made was the sound
Mulder heard in his dreams, back when he dreamed about invasion, death,
fire.  Before the end came silently, slipping in through the back while he
worried about shapeshifting dogs and the connection between graffiti and
alchemy.  While he should have been paying attention.

He looks sideways at his partner, still asleep against the passenger door,
despite the noise.  They will have to walk, and it’s bitterly cold
outside.  His patchy beard will have icicles on it within an hour.

He exits the truck silently, leaving Scully to a few more minutes of
sleep.  He will prepare the packs for the hike ahead.  It’s all he can do
for her, in this world flayed by wind, chased by death.

They will find their haven today; it’s only ten more miles.  And then he
can rest.  Or sleep in the snow until spring.


***
END