Guardian

Author: PhileyX 
E-Mail: phileyxback@yahoo.com 
Web-site: https://www.angelfire.com/id/phileyx 
Rating: PG 
Category: MSR, WJR
Spoilers: Requiem
Prequels: Man Without A Face, The Matchbox, The Dinner Guest, A Nobody is Hard to Find, Time Out, Redhead, A Father is Hard to Find, Visions, Second Time Round, Keeper, One of Us, Revelations, Persuasion, Rubbing Off, Bird's Landing USA, Absolution.
Disclaimer: All the characters here do not belong to me. 
Author's note: My version of John Doggett was created before the premiere of Season 8. Please disregard any dissimilarity in character. 
The prequels to this story can be found at:
https://www.angelfire.com/id/phileyx/Face.html
https://www.angelfire.com/id/phileyx/Matchbox.html
https://www.angelfire.com/id/phileyx/Dinner.html
https://www.angelfire.com/id/phileyx/Nobody.html
https://www.angelfire.com/id/phileyx/Timeout.html
https://www.angelfire.com/id/phileyx/Redhead.html
https://www.angelfire.com/id/phileyx/Father.html
https://www.angelfire.com/id/phileyx/Visions.html
https://www.angelfire.com/id/phileyx/Secondtime.html
https://www.angelfire.com/id/phileyx/Keeper.html
https://www.angelfire.com/id/phileyx/Oneofus.html
https://www.angelfire.com/id/phileyx/Revelations.html
https://www.angelfire.com/id/phileyx/Persuasion.html
https://www.angelfire.com/id/phileyx/Rubbing.html
https://www.angelfire.com/id/phileyx/Landing.html
https://www.angelfire.com/id/phileyx/Absolution.html
Intro: This story takes place after the Requiem. Two years after his disappearance, a man appears claiming to be Mulder, with a catch; he just didn't have his face. Scully soon finds out he really is her ex-partner and makes the ultimate sacrifice; she gives both Mulder and her son up. Although intent on keeping herself away from her son, she is unable to stop herself from seeing Mulder. Meanwhile, Will grows up without her and soon without his father too. As the years go by, the truth begins to reveal itself, bringing them all together, challenging them to finally be a family.

XXXXXXXXXXX
Guardian

      Excerpts from the song 'Question Everything' by 8 Stops 7.

                               No infringement of copyright intended.

<Everything's exist b'tween black and white
You can twist and distort the most blatant of lies
Or just offer up solutions
Practiced only in your mind>

She rushed out of the elevator and spotted Doggett leaning against the hospital wall. As he caught sight of her, his face brightened. "Dana."

"How is he?"

He hesitated, taking her arm and leading her away from the rather crowded waiting room. "It's not good. The doctor said he doesn't have much time." She looked away, to regain composure. When Doggett saw her gaze rest upon the people in the waiting area, he told her. "His family and friends."

"I see."

"He wants to see you. He's been asking for you since yesterday but I knew you were... busy." Being Jason's superior, he was invited to the wedding too.

The fact that Skinner was frantic to see her made Dana's heart grow cold. Something told her that he had more secrets to reveal and she wasn't sure if she could take any more. But it wasn't her nature to run away from the truth or deny a dying man his last request, so she followed Doggett to Skinner's room.

His daughter was next to him, watching him sleep. As Dana quietly walked in, the former looked up. The sadness in her eyes made Dana wince but she quickly recovered and gave her a small comforting nod. 

At that moment, Skinner stirred. "Scully?"

Dana took his hand and squeezed it gently. "Yes, I'm here."

He smiled, looking thoroughly relieved. "I was afraid you wouldn't be able to make it in time."

His daughter flinched at his words, leaning closer. Realizing this, Skinner gazed at her lovingly. "I'll be all right, honey. I just need to talk to Scully for a while." Melissa stiffened. It was obvious that she was afraid to leave her father. The latter patted her hand. "Please?"

His daughter gave in reluctantly. And as she left, she shot Dana a pleading look, requesting for their private meeting to be short.

When Dana turned back to Skinner, she found him still looking at the closed door. "She is the most important thing that ever happened to me."

His former subordinate nodded, understanding completely. "I know the feeling."

Smiling, he looked at her. "Scully, I want you to be her guardian." 

Stunned, Dana swallowed hard and sputtered. "What?"

"I want you to take care of Melissa."

It took her a couple seconds to be coherent. "Walter, this is an extraordinary request."

"Well she's an extraordinary girl."

"I'm sure she is, but I'm sorry I can't do this." 

From his face, she could see he was bitterly disappointed. "But you have to."

"You know I have commitments elsewhere. Melissa's a teenager. She needs some sort of stability in her life and that's something I'm far from qualified to provide. Look, I'm sure you have relatives who are willing to take her in."

He shook his head. "No. I want you."

"Walter..."

"And you're wrong about her, Scully. She's different. Normality will be wasted on her because her whole existence is nothing short of a miracle."

Blinking twice, she asked softly. "What do you mean?"

Skinner took his time to answer the question. He had been rehearsing this moment for years and yet words still threatened to fail him. "When Melissa was five, she asked me who her parents are. I told her I didn't know."

Dana frowned, noticing that he use the word 'are' instead of 'were'. "But you did know." It was more of a statement than a question.

He nodded. "Yes, I did know."

Unexpectedly, a feeling of dread began to slowly creep upon her. She whispered. "So who are they?"

His eyes closed for a moment before they turning them directly into hers. "I think you know."

And Dana stopped breathing completely because for one bizarre instant, she did know. Although it wasn't long before common sense demanded her rationale, the intensity of Skinner's gaze left her no doubt of what he was trying to tell her. Melissa was her daughter!

Despite her shock, Skinner knew her mind was busy putting the pieces together; how Melissa was created after he passed Krycek her ovums, how she was tested like a laboratory rat and how she was eventually dismissed because she was an experiment that didn't work. He only had one gap to fill. "When Krycek found that Melissa wasn't like Will, he wanted to... terminate her. I couldn't bear the thought, so I gave away Mulder's location in exchange for her life. Part of the deal was I could never tell you. And when Krycek died, I didn't want to tell you."

His confirmation made Dana feel as though she was in a dream. And she wasn't sure if she wanted to wake up or remain in it. On one hand, her life had once again fallen under the manipulation of a selfish bastard who only wanted to save himself. On another, this violation of humanity had provided her with a daughter. Her second daughter. 

Suddenly words from her past flew to mind. 'Everything happens for a reason.' Closing her eyes, she meditated on them. Fr. McCue was right. During her time away from Mulder and Will, her biggest question was why did God allow Krycek's evil existence. And now she knew the reason; He allowed him for Melissa.

All of a sudden Skinner gasped, grabbing her hand. "Scully...." She tore herself from her thoughts and saw that he was in intense pain.

"I'll get the doctor." She moved to go but he stopped her.

"No, get Melissa." He pleaded. "I promised her."

Confused as a million different emotions clash within her, all she could do was nod her head. She slowly pulled her hand out of his and hastily walked to the door, knowing that it would be over for him soon. Outside, the first person her gaze fell on was Melissa. The latter was standing near the entranceway, waiting to be with her father again. 

Dana froze for a moment. It was like discovering that Jason Alexander was her son all over again. And it took Dana every bit of willpower she had to not act as a mother should but instead mumble that her father wanted her. Melissa didn't wait a second longer and rushed into the room. When she found that she could move again, Dana slowly made her way to the far end of the waiting room. The sun's warmth coming through a window helped to subside the shock, the wall provided support. And she unconsciously proceeded to study the world seven stories below her. They seemed oblivious that her world had just changed. 

'Mulder...' It suddenly occurred to her that he still didn't know. Consequently, she pulled out her cell phone but found herself only capable of staring at it. Then a shuffle of feet in a distance distracted her. She looked towards Skinner's room. His doctor and a couple of nurses had just gone in. From experience, Dana knew that it was finally the end for him. Closing her eyes, she replaced the phone in her pocket. 'Later.' She decided. It just wasn't the right time.

XXXXXXXXXXX

They talked as if she was not even present, deciding everything without consulting her. Dana supposed they meant well but it still felt wrong. Nevertheless she watched quietly from her distant corner. Melissa's uncles and aunts systematically went through every aspect of the funeral preparations before finally arriving to topic that mattered to Dana the most, Melissa. 

For the first time in over an hour, they acknowledged her. "Melissa, I think you should stay with us for a few days." Her aunt kindly offered.

The heartbroken child was silent for a while, staring at a particular spot on the hospital floor. Doggett who had his arm around her, leaned closer to whisper in her ear. "Melissa?"

She finally lifted her head, looking surprisingly calm. "No, I want to go home."

Uncles and aunts exchanged worried looks. And then one of them tried persuading her. "I don't think that's a good idea. You shouldn't be alone tonight." And one by one, each warmly agreed. 

Melissa looked down again as if considering their words. Then to everyone's surprise, she turned her gaze directly to Dana and held it. 

The latter nearly choked on her breath. And not really aware of what she was doing, Dana found herself walking towards the astonished group. As she drew nearer, she began to realize that Jason wasn't the only one that inherited her eyes. Melissa's were just as passionate and intense. They gave her the courage to speak out. "Melissa if you really want to go home, I could keep you company."

The uncomfortable silence only lasted for a moment before the fourteen year old whispered back. "Yeah, I'd like that."

Meanwhile about them, Melissa's family and Godfather were rather taken aback at her shocking decision that didn't include them. Before anyone could ask, Doggett wisely informed. "This is Dana Scully, a friend of Walter's."

Dana politely nodded despite the suspicious looks she was getting. In a diplomatic voice, she told them. "I think Melissa needs some time on her own. She wants to go home, I think we should let her." She then shot Doggett a look for help. 

He caught it and although not really sure if it was the best for his Goddaughter, settled to take her side. "Maybe Dana's right."

The relatives began to collectively protest. "But John..." 

Doggett interrupted them abruptly, gently pulling Melissa to face him instead. "Go to my car and wait there. I'll be right out." She nodded and started walking towards the exit. 

Unsure of what she should, Dana looked at Doggett. He gave her a look that told her he would take care of all the objections and then with a slight motion of his head, signaled her to follow his Goddaughter. Dana was only too happy to escape the disgruntled mob.

The walk out of the hospital was hardly an easy one for Dana though. She knew when she reached the car she would be alone with her newly discovered daughter for the first time. And she had absolutely no clue how she should act. Then there was the lengthened look between them a couple of minutes ago. What did it mean? Did she know? Did Skinner eventually tell her before he drew his last breath? With all these reflections, by the time she reached Doggett's blue Lancer, her heart was racing furiously. 

Melissa looked up as she approached. For a moment, they stared at each other without saying a word. Then, the younger redhead broke the silence, softly. "Dad said you're my mother."

Dana replied in a whisper. "He told me that too."

Her gaze intensified. "Is it true?"

"I..." Suddenly feeling emotionally drained, Dana muttered impulsively. "I don't know." It evidently wasn't the answer Melissa expected, for she flinched slightly. And immediately, Dana felt sick. She hastily retracted her words. "Oh God, I'm sorry... I didn't mean that. I do know." Pausing, her voice firmly stated again. "I do know, Melissa. And yes, it is true."

Once again their gazes locked in silence, broken only with the arrival of Doggett. The latter noticed the tension in the air but did not dare ask. Instead he unlocked the car doors and gently told them to get in. 

XXXXXXXXXXX

They were seated in Skinner's house, in the living room. Melissa had just excused herself, wanting to take a bath and go to bed. So the two ex-partners were left looking at each other across the coffee table.

"What's going on, Dana?" Doggett asked after his patience had worn thin.

Her initial reaction was to deny that anything was the matter. But the glare he gave her discouraged her cowardly intent. She glanced at the landing where she had last saw Melissa, and said. "Walter wants me to be her guardian."

He was genuinely taken aback. After the shock passed, he pressed for more. "Why you?" The question caused her to close her eyes briefly. For some reason, the innocent gesture disconcerted Doggett and he quickly said. "No don't, don't tell me."

She looked up in surprise, wondering if he had guessed. Unfortunately, she could not tell from his perplexed countenance. "John..."

He hastily cut her off. "Does she know?"

Dana realized that he was serious about his previous claim, and so she nodded in response to the question that he did want to know.

"And do you want to do this?"

"Only if she wants it too."

He seemed satisfied with her answer. "Her family is not going to like this. After all, she barely knows you and they don't know you at all."

Dana rubbed her forehead and groaned. "John, this is hardly helping."

"I'm just trying to prepare you for what to expect in the future."

"Well don't!" She suddenly snapped. "God damn it John, I'm having trouble as it is taking in what has already happened!" Stunned at her sudden outburst, he remained quiet. Meanwhile knowing that she had overreacted, she apologized softly. "I'm sorry."

"It's all right." Doggett mumbled. 

Thankfully Dana's cell phone rang, breaking the awkward moment. She pulled it out of her pocket and answered it. "Scully."

"Mom, it's me." Jason's voice surprised her completely. 

A little uncomfortable talking to her son in front of with Doggett, Dana got to her feet and headed out of the room. "Yeah."

"Is everything all right?"

Dana frowned, wondering why he was asking her this. Nevertheless, she replied honestly. "I'm not sure."

"Something happen?"

"Did you get a vision?"

"No." He seemed reluctant to elaborate but gave in a moment later. "It's just that Dad's fine and Joyce is fine. And yet, I'm feeling... weird."

"What do you mean by weird?"

"Grief. I'm feeling grief and I can't explain it." He sighed and added. "And I better figure it out fast because Joyce is thinking of divorcing me. She figures it can't be normal to be feeling this much sorrow only after two days as husband and wife."

'Grief?' Dana thought and she unconsciously looked upwards, where Melissa could be. As the idea became more and more plausible, she told her son hastily. "Jason, I'll have to call you back."

"But..."

"I promise I'll call you later. Bye." She snapped her phone shut and hurried back into the living room. 

John looked up. "Everything all right?"

"I'm going upstairs to check on her." She told him firmly. 

He knew better than to argue when she used that tone. So he just nodded and watched her move towards the steps. Dana took two at a time and walked quickly to the room labeled 'Melissa's'. She was about to knock but heard the shower on. So she turned the doorknob and entered the room. Just as she expected, Melissa was not in sight. She headed to the adjoined bathroom and knocked softly. "Melissa?" She waited for a while, not wanting to pester the child. The sounds of water soon stopped and then the door opened. 

Melissa stood before her in a robe. Her eyes and her nose were red; obviously she had broken down in the shower. As Dana struggled to absorb all the sadness and grief on her face, Melissa began to physically shake. Unable to bear it any longer, Dana stepped forward, catching her daughter within her arms as she sobbed uncontrollably for the only father she knew.

XXXXXXXXXXX

<Just consider what you're asking
And give me a little time
I'm still having trouble breathing
Cuz up to now I've never seen you cry>

Dana was sipping her hot coffee when Melissa staggered into the kitchen. She looked timidly at her. "Good morning."

"Good morning." Dana replied, smiling but careful not to overdo it. After half a night of weeping her heart out, she knew that the teenager was feeling a little self-conscious. "How are you feeling?"

"Better." She hesitated. "Slightly better."

"Are you hungry?"

"Yeah."

Dana motioned for her to sit and reached for the frying pan. Melissa however not used to being served, picked the bowl of batter on the countertop and began mixing. When the fire was hot enough, the younger tipped bowl while Dana moved the nonstick utensil for the batter to spread out evenly. They worked quietly until four mouth-watering pancakes were ready. Then they sat down together to eat.

"Do I have a father?" Melissa suddenly asked.

At that time, Dana had just taken a mouthful of her breakfast and was almost choking on it. After the coughing subsided, she muttered. "Of course you do."

The teenager looked thoughtful for a moment and Dana decided to wait for her next question before attempting another bite. It didn't take long. "He isn't Uncle John, is he?"

Thoroughly glad that she waited, Dana shook her head. "No."

Melissa reflected again, this time a little longer. "Fox Mulder?"

Dana's head lifted slightly and she nodded. "It's a long complicated story." Rather disconcerted at her daughter's inexplicable insight, Dana gave up on breakfast entirely, placing her fork and knife on the table.

The younger took the hint and changed topics. "I was created in a petrie dish."

Blinking, Dana's voice fell. "Your Dad told you that?"

"Uh huh. He even told me the name of my surrogate mother."

'What the hell was Walter thinking?' Dana wondered, more stunned than annoyed. "What else did he tell you?"

"That I was tested on." Melissa hesitated for a moment. "I can't really remember but sometimes I do have nightmares about needles."

Dana's heart contracted as a surge of maternal protectiveness overwhelmed her. But she struggled to remain calm. "Do you know why they tested you?"

"Dad told me that is wasn't important. What mattered was, it would never happen again." And Melissa turned her attention to her pancakes again. 

For some reason, Dana was having trouble keeping up with the conversation so far. It was totally beyond her how Melissa was taking everything so naturally when there was nothing natural about anything they were talking about at all.

"So are you going to tell me this long complicated story?"

"Before we go into that, I think we need to talk about you and me." Dana cautiously kept her gaze in lock.

"Okay."

"Melissa, your uncles and aunts will probably want to take care of you."

"I know." Her brow creased slightly. "But what do you want?"

Dana raised an eyebrow, surprised at her question. Taking a deep breath, she decided to not place too much pressure in her answer. "I want to know you better of course."

A flicker of guardedness flashed across the teenager's face. "You can visit."

Slightly disappointment, Dana asked softly. "Is that what you want?"

"No." Melissa told her seriously. "It's what you want."

Astonished that a fourteen year old was this good at guiding the dialogue to prevent possible rejection, Dana decided to play her at her own game. "How about you? What do you want, Melissa?"

She hesitated for a moment and then smiled. "I want to know you too."

'She's using my own words against me!' Dana realized, getting more incredulous by the minute. "In that case, I don't think visits are enough."

Without missing a beat, Melissa nodded gravely. "You're right. I'll probably have to live with you." 

Dana blinked for a moment, unsure if she had heard right. Then catching the twinkle in Melissa's eye, she suddenly understood that her daughter had led her exactly where she wanted, to get her to show her hand first in a game of poker.

Skinner was right, she is extraordinary!

XXXXXXXXXXX

As Dana stepped through the door, she felt the floor shake beneath her. And it shook according to a rhythmic beat that seemed to mysteriously come from underneath the house. Frowning, she walked through the house, looking for Melissa for an explanation. She didn't seem to be anywhere downstairs but Dana found a door that she had never noticed before. 

The moment she opened it, she concluded that she had found the source of the musical earthquake. A noisy pop beat blared from the darkness beyond the entrance. It seemed to lead to a basement of some sort. Dana cautiously walked down the steps and the music became louder and louder. 'What is it with teenagers and their need to ruin their eardrums?' She wondered before calling out. "Melissa!" 

"Yeah, down here!" Dana somehow made out.

By the time, the teenager came into view; she had thankfully lowered the volume of her radio. A bright spotlight in the middle of the room allowed Dana to study the rest of the rather cozy basement space. It was filled with boxes on one side and a collection of frames on the other. A large easel stood in the middle and Melissa in front of it.

"How was the will reading?" The latter asked.

"It was all right. You should have come."

Melissa mock shuddered. "No thanks. The last thing I needed was to witness the fight over me."

"You can't blame them. They're concerned about you. I mean I could be a psycho for all they know."

"I know they care." She sighed and asked what mattered the most. "But I'm still under your custody, right?"

"Yes you are." Dana smiled. "Your Dad made sure of that. And if need be, he also left behind enough evidence that will hold up in any court."

"Cool." Her eyes widened excitedly. "Just a DNA report or were there samples of frozen ovums and sperms?"

The elder redhead rolled her eyes and changed the subject. "This is a nice studio you have here."

"Thanks."

Walking to Melissa's side, Dana looked at the sketch that she was working on. It was of Skinner and astonishingly alike him too. "Wow, you're good."

"Thanks." The teenager blushed slightly and then muttered. "I usually don't do portraits but I wanted to get him down before... I forget anything."

Dana glanced at her daughter and seeing the controlled tears in her eyes, touched her arm comfortingly. The younger feeling awkward, quickly proceeded to clean her hand from the charcoal piece she was holding. 

Trying to put her at ease, Dana asked. "Do you paint? It would great if you could paint him too."

"I don't know. I..." She hesitated. "My last painted portrait didn't come out so good."

"It can't be that bad. Let me take a look." Melissa looked at her for a moment as if deciding if she should. Dana whined. "Oh come one. Don't worry, I don't have a single artistic bone in me so I think everything looks great."

"Okay." Melissa laughed as she walked to rows of frame nearby. "I take it I didn't get it from you then?"

"No, you didn't." Grinning, Dana added. "Thank God you look like me or I'll be questioning your father's DNA proof."

Pulling one frame out of the lot, Melissa set it down to lean against the rest. Then she stepped out to shift the lights to focus on the selected portrait. "Here it is. My mystery man."

Dana stared at the painted picture and gaped.

Oblivious to her shock, Melissa explained further. "I call him my mystery man because I have no idea who he is. I just drew him. He probably doesn't exist."

"Did you..." Licking her lips for a moment, Dana croaked. "Did you dream of him or something?"

"No, that's the weird thing. I just... felt him. Can't explain it."

The hunch in Dana's gut was growing. She turned to her and earnestly asked. "Melissa, have you drawn any other portraits you can't explain?"

The younger redhead raised an eyebrow at the formers sudden interest in her art. "No. I told you, I don't usually draw people."

"Oh." Disappointed, Dana looked down, thoughtful.

Still a bit confused, Melissa told her. "I used to sketch people a lot when I was young though."

Dana's head snapped up. "You did?"

"Yeah, it's a trunk over there." Pointing to across the room, she proceeded to make her way over. Clearing a couple of boxes out of her way, she removed the lid to an old suitcase. "Here. But keep in mind, I was really young. So I hadn't got the strokes right yet."

Dana knelt down next to her daughter and took the stack of drawing sheets from her. The yellowed sketches in front of her proved Dana's theory right, revealing familiar faces that in an alternate universe, would be familiar to Melissa. "Oh my God..."

It was only then did Melissa realize Dana's awed face. "What?"

"How old were you when you drew these?"

"I'm not sure."

Dana turned over a portrait of Mulder's mother, Tina and read the recognizable scrawl at the back. "You were six when you drew this one." She lifted an eyebrow when her words sank in. 'Incredible!' It was an remarkable accurate drawing for a six year old.

Wondering how she could tell, Melissa looked at where she was looking. "That's Dad's handwriting." Then peering behind the rest of the pictures, she declared in an amazed tone. "He labeled every one of them."

"He was documenting evidence." Dana whispered.

"Evidence of what?"

Dana looked at her seriously. "Of what you are."

The teenager cocked her head and narrowed her eyes suspiciously. "What do you mean?"

"Melissa, there are portraits of your real family." Dana pointed to Tina. "This is your grandmother. And the painted portrait you showed me just now was of your brother, Jason. Although you had no idea, you still drew them."

"You mean, I'm like Jason?" By that time, Dana had already told her everything about her brother. "You're saying that I'm alien?"

"Nooo." Dana refuted with a laugh. "I'm saying you're a Mulder." Then lifting a picture of Bill and Tara, she added. "And a Scully."

XXXXXXXXXXX

<As I ask a simple question
Cuts me off with his reply
He's been practicing for decades
But I am listening this time>

"I still think this is a bad idea." Jason told his mother for the fourth time for that call. 

Dana rolled her eyes, shifting her cell phone to her other ear. "I'm sorry Jason, but I refuse to tell your father that he has a daughter through the phone." 

Jason knew there was so much more to it than she claimed. It had been a week since she found about and his father was still remained uninformed. "What exactly are you afraid of?"

Hesitating, Dana glared at the airport Departing screen before her and wished her flight showed 'BOARDING'. "I'm afraid it will be the last time I see him for a long time."

"Oh no. You're not doing the 'protecting our child' thing again, are you?" He groaned. "Hasn't my childhood thought you anything?"

"We might not have a choice." And Dana rambled on frustratingly. "Melissa's school is in DC. Her friends are in DC. Her family is in DC. We can't take her away from all of that."

"Mom, what she needs is a father and a mother."

"You turned out okay." She pointed.

"Far from it." He argued. "Besides, I had someone like you next door to periodically keep my ass in line. She might not be so lucky, paranoid basketball players are hard to find."

Dana grinned but brought him back to the fundamental issue. "Jason, we're still in the middle of distribution. The future is still uncertain. I'm not willing to take the chance."

"Don't worry about the future. It will take care of itself." He sighed. "Think about Melissa, Mom. Think about me. Give her the choice I didn't have."

"But she's just fourteen."

"From I hear, she's fully capable of having the option."

"Yeah." Dana shook her head in amusement, thinking about her extraordinary daughter. "I've ever met anyone so... enlightened about life. She's like a self-help guru. Sort of an emotional genius. She takes everything in her stride so easily."

"Another genius? Hmm... runs in the blood."

Laughing, she teased. "Well the scientific genius slot in our family was taken so...." 

Jason returned the laugher but soon sobered. "So you'll think about what I said?"

"I will." She promised. Suddenly her flight number on the screen in front of her began to blink. "Jason, I've gotta go. My flights up."

"Okay. Love to Dad."

XXXXXXXXXXX

She had just told him about Melissa and he took it just as she expected. "Mulder, are you all right?

"Yeah. I'm just... stunned." Biting his inner lip where he sat opposite her, he stared hard at the ground. Then he suddenly laughed. "You know this is the first time since after the abduction that I feel physically violated."

Dana smiled, knowing he was thinking about how Krycek obtained his sperms. "Do you think like me, they took everything?"

He shook his head without looking up. "I don't know. The doctors who checked me out after the supposed accident were probably the same bastards who made it up in the first place, I'd forget about their professional judgment."

Not wanting to talk about it anymore, she pulled out a few photos of Melissa. "I brought Polaroids."

Mulder turned to her outstretched hand and took the shots from her. His eyes widened as he saw his daughter for the first time. "She looks..." Looking up, his eyes sparkled with unshed tears.

"Like me?" Dana finished for him.

"Exactly."

"She does."

He looked at the pictures again, sieving through them quickly and stopping at a close up. "Actually she got nothing from me."

"I wouldn't say that." He gave her a questioning look and she smiled. "She's five feet eleven and still growing." Mulder laughed as she added. "And she can talk legs off a millipede."

"That's nothing like me." He argued, gently touching Melissa's cheek on the photo.

Dana rolled her eyes and insisted. "You'll have to hear her to believe."

Her words struck him deeply, she noticed. She knew that he had come to the same conclusion she had, the one that Jason did not approved of. He proved her right when he said softly. "Tell you what, I'll take your word for it."

The sadness in his voice made her impulsive. "I don't want to do this alone, Mulder."

He smiled, surprising her. "That sounds familiar. Remember? I told you that too. And you told me, that I had to do it for Will. Well you have to do the same Scully."

Dana shook her head. "No, Jason's right. She's deserves the choice."

"Jason?"

"I talked to him before coming here."

"Does everyone else know before me?" His jaw tightened a notch. "Tell me, why is it that I'm always the last to know even though I'm the one who contributes to the conception of our children?"

She resisted the urge to smile, instead getting off her seat, crouching to face him. "Mulder, spit it out. What the hell is bothering you?"

"Melissa has a life in DC. How are we going to uproot her from all of that?"

"I don't know. But perhaps before we decide anything, we should ask her what she wants. It is after all her life too."

"She's just a kid."

"No, she's so much more. Maybe not like Jason but just as remarkable."

"Scully..."

She cut him off quickly. "The thing is Mulder, we have a second chance here. I don't know about you but I want to take it. I deserve it."

Mulder looked at her for a while and muttered. "You're right, you do. But I already had my chance." 

There was more he wasn't saying, she could feel it. Touching his hand, Dana glared into his eyes and growled. "Mulder once again, I'm asking you. What exactly is it that's bothering you?"

Hesitating, he finally mumbled. "Skinner's gonna be a tough act to follow."

'So he was just scared.' Dana thought, closing her eyes briefly, torn between smiling and groaning. "Oh Mulder..."

"Maybe she doesn't want another father? Have you ever thought of that?" 

Frowning, she realized that he was right. She hadn't asked Melissa how she felt about having Mulder take care of her too. For good reason too, for she didn't want to bring her hopes high until she was sure Mulder was up for it. "Maybe. But like I said, give her the choice."

"That's easy for you to say, she's never had a mother."

"You give her far less credit, Mulder. She's different from most girls. Hell, she's different from most people."

Raising an eyebrow, Mulder looked up. "What do you mean?"

"I told you that Melissa wasn't what Krycek expected and she isn't. She has her own special ability."

He gave her a look. "What? She can fly?"

His wife rolled her eyes. "Noo. She knows people."

"Like the Mafia?"

A fierce scowl warned him to drop it. "I mean Mulder, she knows about life and all it's mysteries. I'm not saying, literary. But she has this capacity to see beyond what we see, a deeper understanding of the human heart itself." She hesitated. "I can't fully explain it. But considering the person Jason is, imagine Melissa on a more spiritual level."

"So you're saying that she'll accept me for who I am?"

"I'm saying that I think she already knows who you are. Now give yourself a chance to know her."

He studied her steady gaze, slowly reaching to touch her face. Then leaning closer, he kissed her forehead and whispered. "Okay. But don't blame me if I suck."

XXXXXXXXXXX

"Lisa! Are you still on the phone?" 

"Five more minutes, I promise!" Dana heard her daughter yell from upstairs. Rolling her eyes, she picked up one of the bags and hauled it out the door. 

It was another lovely day in Arcadia Falls and it was good to be back. After waiting for Melissa's school term to end, Dana arranged for her transfer, much to the horror her relatives. Thankfully the teenager's evident happiness convinced them she wanted to go with her new guardian too. But they had no idea that in Arcadia, Melissa Scully was now Lisa Alexander.

Dana's favourite pastime was to see Mulder and their daughter bond as the summer holidays went by. Not to mention the arguments that they sometimes got into. Both as stubborn as hell and both with an encyclopedia of totally useless facts in their heads made their disagreements long and in her opinion, pointless. But no matter what, Mulder always lost although he would never admit it.

"She's not still on the phone, is she?" The latter suddenly popped his head out of the car hood. "And is it long distance?"

"Duh, she's new here. She gets that from you, you know." Dana said while throwing the heavy bag into the trunk. 

"I don't hog the phone."

"No, but you can't live without it. As I remember, you could never get by a weekend without called me at least once."

He knew she was talking about when they were FBI partners. "That was years ago, I'm a changed man."

"Sure you are." She muttered under her breath. Then remembering something, she turned to face him, leaning against the car. "Oh, she wants an electric guitar."

Mulder groaned. "At her age, all Jason wanted was a ten grand microscope."

Dana smiled. "Anyway, you know what to do."

"The ask-your-father-ask-your-mother routine? Come on, don't you think that's getting a bit old."

"At least it works or rather postpones the issue until another comes up."

Mulder shook his head. "No. This time when she asks me, I'll just say no."

Dana groaned. "Mulder, that's not gonna work and you know it."

"Are you saying I can't handle my own daughter?"

"Yes, that's exactly what I'm saying." She confirmed in frustration. "And I can't handle her either. Nobody can. Do you know what her guidance counselor told me? That she'll either be a hostage negotiator or a UN representative for the peace talks in the Middle East!"

"What, no FBI?" Mulder deadpanned, getting a look from her.

"Face it, Mulder. You can't say no to her." Dana sighed. "Thank God she has lots sense in her head to or we'd both majorly suck as parents."

He still wasn't convinced. "Why does she want an electric guitar for?"

"Something about extra credits and if I were you, I wouldn't ask."

"Hmm..."

She frowned, looking at his dangerously thoughtful face. "Mulder I'm serious. If she gets the guitar, you're not getting the new Basketball Pro thing."

"Good." He grinned. "Now I know I'll be able to say no because I really want that thing."

"Fine, it's your loss." His wife advised him for the last time and headed for the house for more luggages.

Somehow the duo had managed to drag Lisa off the phone and they were on their way. Their first destination was school where a bus was waiting for take their daughter to summer camp. Lisa figured it would give her chance to make friends before the term started. And after she was gone, the couple was due to take a road trip across the country.

"Dad, could I get an electric guitar?"

Mulder smiled, preparing himself for his greatest victory yet, saying no to his daughter. "What for?" Dana groaned in her co-drivers seat and Mulder shot her a look. "What? I think that's a perfectly valid question."

His wife glared at him and then changed her reaction to a sweet smile, mouthing. "Goodbye new basketball ring."

Meanwhile Lisa pulled herself in between their headrests, to face the side of Mulder's head. "I need it, Dad. You see I'm joining a band when school starts. And one of the criteria is that I have my own instrument. I know what you're going to say, you're not spending that much money on an instrument I can't even play but you see, I can play the guitar. I have been practicing on Mike's. You know Mike, right?"

"Yeah, the Seven Eleven boy. But..."

"Yeah him." She cut him off. "So anyways, the reason why I need to play in this band is because my long term goal is to get into California University of Pennsylvania's combined arts program. So I really need start working on extra credits that are more artsy based. I mean the debating team can only do so much for me."

"What about your art classes? Aren't you getting credits for that?"

"I am and I'll still be working on it next term. But I can't get into the program with only watercolours and canvas, I need experience in other fields too. Of course, the band isn't the only option. Next term, they're offering drama and sculpture courses too. At first, I thought drama. A production of one of Shakespeare's masterpieces or even lighthearted modern comedy would really be exciting. But then, they changed the teacher in charge of it."

"So what's wrong with this teacher?"

"Oh nothing's wrong with him." Lisa eyes became dreamy. "In fact, he's perfect. Absolutely perfect. And I know if I get into his course, I'd fall in love with him straightway. And then there'll be this teacher-student controversy, he'll lose his job, I'll fail my exams..."

"Really Lisa, you're exaggerating." Dana gave her an incredulous look.

"I'm not. You've seen him, Mom. Mr. Andrew Seeker?"

Lifting an eyebrow, her mother thought of the gorgeous blond that thankfully hadn't taught her daughter yet and gave in graciously. "Oh him. You're right, he is perfect. I especially like his..."

"Thank you, Scully." Mulder growled. "You're... helping."

Grimacing, Dana instantly shut up. But their daughter was far from finished. "So then I thought sculpture. But I found out that we have to take turns posing in bathing suits in front of the class. No way I'm gonna so that. I mean, my breasts are hardly developed for such a presentation. And I'm sure you wouldn't want me to parade myself like that, do you?"

While Dana rolled her eyes, Mulder blinked and muttered. "No, of course not."

"So you see Dad, there's only the band left. And I need that guitar. Unless..." She trailed off thoughtfully. "I could continue using Mike's guitar."

"Yeah, why not?" Mulder agreed, slightly relieved because it was evident his wife had already dismissed him a lost cause judging from the amused look on her face.

"Yeah I guess I could. It would be a much cheaper alternative, wouldn't it?" 

"Very much cheaper." 

"And you do want me to get into that combined arts program, don't you?"

"Of course, if that's what you want."

"I've already got the paints covered. You know I spend hours and hours in my loft, working on my landscapes."

"Yes, many deafening hours." Mulder muttered, thinking about the ungodly music that came with her art in the loft.

Lisa sighed. "I really want to do this Dad."

"Sure, do it then."

"Thanks."

"You're welcome." Mulder smiled and jubilantly looked at Dana. The latter didn't seem to be impressed at all. 

As Mulder wondered why, he realized that they had reached the school. He parked at the first available place and they got out from the car. All around them parents and teenagers were busy with their luggage and saying their goodbyes. 

As they headed to the rear for Lisa's bag, Dana caught a flash fear on her daughter's face. She gently put her arm on her shoulder and whispered in her ear. "You'll be fine." Lisa turned and smiled. 

Mulder pulled her bag out of the mess in the trunk and handed it to her. "Can you handle it?"

"Yup. And thanks again Dad, for all your support. Don't worry about Mike. He adores me so I'm pretty sure I'll be able to use his guitar although... I probably will have to sell him my soul or give him whatever he wants... But if it's for my dream, hey I'll do it."

While Mulder gaped, Dana struggled to keep a straight face. But Lisa pretended not to notice his father's amazement. Instead, she gave her mother a hug. "Bye Mom."

"Bye, honey. If there's anything you need, call your brother. We might not be able to be contacted, okay?"

"I know, you told me like a zillion times already."

She then gave Mulder a big hug. "Bye Dad."

"Fine. You can have a guitar." He growled in her ear and in utter delight, she squeezed him harder. Although pleased that she was happy, Mulder was determined to get the upper hand. When she released him, he looked seriously in her eyes. "One thing though, it's either a classical guitar or nothing. It'll just have to be a different kind of band."

Surprisingly, Lisa didn't seem to be disappointed. "Cool. Because the band I wanted to join is kind of a modern string Quartet anyway. Thanks Dad." And with that, she hurried away to the loading bus.

As he stood there staring after her, Mulder began to realize that a classical guitar was what her daughter wanted in the first place. Evidently, she thought it better to ask for the best so that she'd be sure of getting at least what she really wanted. 

Meanwhile, Dana stood beside him, shaking her head. "You do know she wanted the clas..."

"I know. I know." He groaned, his tone warning her not to gloat.

"Just checking." And Dana bit her lip to keep from smiling.

They waited until the bus moved before turning back to the car. "She really should become that UN representative, we'll finally achieve peace in the Middle East."

"Not if you keep supporting her in her art school dreams." Dana teased.

Rolling his eyes, Mulder put her arm around her. "Okay, I'll admit it. I can't handle her. Next time she asks me anything, I'll just say 'Ask your mother'. Happy?"

"That's all I ask."

XXXXXXXXXXX
End of Absolution

Author: PhileyX 
E-Mail: phileyxback@yahoo.com 
Web-site: https://www.angelfire.com/id/phileyx 
Okay, the **final** installment coming soon. I mean it, really. Drop me an email, it's a great motivator. Thanks!