Mass
by JET

Spoilers: through S8
Skinner in 150 for Kim (with apologies), a bit late (with more apologies)

December 2001

- - -
The explosion was a heartbeat.  His hand closed around slush.  His leg was
hot as a good sunburn, was gone.

"Sir," they said in unison.

Once he had felt the weight of them each: when catching her, when holding
him back from her.

_He killed Krycek -- faster than running, easier than breathing.  It was
fair metal, bullets in the brain and machines in the blood.  He could die,
Krycek could die; but they couldn't.  Soliders were coming through the
forests._

He opened his eyes.

Mulder was strapping the baby against his chest.  Scully's hands were
dripping red.  The trees shook and snow trembled off in lumps.  She was
pressing down, panting, and Mulder's eyes were dark and wild as he
watched.

Sir, she said, sir.  He had done what he could.  

The heavy sky was white.  Their fierce, fragile hands were holding his,
lifting him up, letting him go.

- - -