Title: Surviving Life's Tragedies 1/1
Rating: PG
Spoilers: Duane Barry, Irresistible (minor)
Content: Mulder/Scully Married
Summary: A very tragic event takes place in Mulder and Scully's lives, and they discover that the only way to survive is together.
Disclaimer: Fox Mulder, Dana Scully, Alex Krycek, Duane Barry, and Donnie Phaster belong to CC, The Fox network, David, Gillian, and the other actors who play the characters. I used them without permission, but meant no harm. (honest!!)
"Surviving Life's Tragedies" 1/1
Dana stood up, brushing the dirt off of her knees. She loved working in the garden; it was so peaceful, until Missy got home that is. "Mom!" a small red head called, rushing through the house. "Mom!"
"I'm coming!" Dana called, rushing through the house. When she got inside, she went to the fridge to get milk and cookies, Missy's favorite after-school snack. "What is it Missy?" she asked her only child.
"Look mom! I got an A+ on my spelling test today!" Missy pranced around, waving her test.
"That's wonderful sweetie, I'll put it up on the fridge so that your dad can see it when he gets home from work." Dana sat back and watched Missy. The 7 year old was thoughtfully picking out all the chocolate chips from her cookies, mashing them together, then eating the lump of chocolate.
As Missy rambled on about her day, Dana couldn't help but think of how special her little girl is. She wasn't supposed to be able to conceive a child, but somehow Missy was born, and now she was a happy, healthy child.
"Hey Mom!" Missy shouted, waving her had around. "Mom! Earth to Mom!" she laughed.
"Oh, uh, yeah Missy?"
"I'm going out to play mom, okay?"
"Sure Missy, just remember, don't go off this block, and look before crossing the street."
"Yeah, yeah, I know mom," Missy called as she ran out the door. Dana watched her climb up a tree, joining her best friend, Katie.
The phone ringing brought her out of her trance. "Hello?" she answered.
"Hey baby," a man answered back. "Whatcha up to?"
"Hi Fox, I'm just watching Missy play. I should be starting dinner, or cleaning the house."
Fox laughed and spoke up proudly, "We solved our case. Daniel Vance was caught in Baltimore today. I have no doubt that he'll be convicted of all four counts of first degree murder. And, as a celebration, I'm taking us out for dinner."
"That's great! Where will we be eating?"
"How about that Italian place downtown? Missy loves their spaghetti and meat balls."
"That sounds great. When do you think you'll be home?"
"Uh, I should be home around five. Be ready when I get home, okay?" he paused. "I've gotta go Dana. I love you."
She could picture his smile, "Love you too Fox," she smiled, then hung up. She still missed working for the FBI sometimes, but she didn't regret quitting. About four years ago, when Missy was three, Dana was shot during a case, and almost died. After that, she couldn't risk not being there for Missy as she grew up. She resigned from the FBI, and a month later, when the X-Files were closed, Fox accepted a position in the Violent Crimes section. Since then, they've lived a fairly normal life; Dana, Fox, Missy, and a kitten named Zipper.
Around 4:30, Dana went outside to get Missy, since she had to change before they went out for dinner. After looking for about five minutes, she found her in Katie's backyard. "Hi Katie. Sorry, but Missy, you have to come home now. We're going out to dinner tonight."
"But Mom," Missy whined.
"No buts, now Missy," Dana told her. She smiled softly, "Your dad will be home in a half-hour, and we have to be ready." Missy reluctantly got up and told Katie bye.
"See ya later Katie," she called while skipping after her mom. Dana had gotten to the door, and waited for Missy to catch up. Right as Missy was crossing the street, a car came out of nowhere. Hearing tires screeching, and a crash, Dana turned around quickly....to see Missy lying on the ground, and a car wrapped around a tree.
"Missy!!" she screamed. "Oh God! Missy!" Running to her daughter, she could find no pulse. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw her neighbor on a cell phone in the yard. Starting CPR, she had tears streaming down her face. "Missy, come on baby, breathe!" Her neighbor went to check on the driver of the car, but it was obvious that he was already dead.
The sirens of the ambulance could be heard screaming, and a few seconds later it pulled up. One of the EMT's ran over. "Missy," Dana cried, "She-she was hit, by the car. She's not breathing."
"Ma'am, I need you to step away," the EMT pulled her aside. After the neighbor came to stand by Dana, he went to check on the driver while another EMT pulled Missy onto the stretcher, continuing CPR. Dana was hysterical by now, unsure of what to do.
"Dana!" her neighbor called. "Go with the Ambulance. I'll call your husband." She waved toward where Missy was being loaded. Dana looked at her, then ran to get in the ambulance. Seconds later, it took off, leaving police and another ambulance to deal with the driver.
When Fox arrived at the hospital, he ran inside, concern and fear written all over his face. Seeing his wife in a chair, her face in her hands, he swiftly went over to her. He called out to her, "Dana!" and hearing her name, she looked up. "How is she?" Fox asked, pulling her into his arms.
"I-I don't know. They haven't said anything. She-she wasn't breathing, she was hit by a car," burying her face in his shoulder, she let out a quiet sob, and he just stood there, holding her. "Fox, we need to call Mom." he looked at her then nodded. However, before either of them could do anything, a doctor came out into the waiting room.
"Mr. and Mrs. Mulder," he asked. When they nodded, he looked at them sympathetically, then started to speak, "Your child came in with massive trauma to her head and body. I'm sorry, but there wasn't much we could do..." Neither of them heard a single thing the doctor said after that. Tears streaming down both of their faces, they slumped into the chairs. Fox just held Dana while her body shook with grief. He could hear her mumbling over and over again "Missy, Missy." They probably would've stayed like that for awhile, except that someone came in, calling Dana and Fox's names. Fox looked up, "Mom," was the only word he could get out.
"Your neighbor called me. She said something had happened to Missy, is she okay, what happened?" Margaret Scully rushed over, questioning them.
"Mom," Dana cried, her voice broken with tears. "Missy-Missy's gone." After that she broke down again, burying herself in her husband's arms.
Immediately Margaret's face scrunched up, and she sat down. "Oh God, Dana." Soon, she too was crying, embracing her only daughter. All three people there had a piece of their hearts ripped out that night, all because of a drunk driver.
Dana and Fox stayed at Margaret's house until the funeral. Dana, in shock, needed her mom, and Fox needed Dana. She walked around the house, usually silent, in a haze. When asked what she was doing, she said she was remembering. Fox wasn't as visibly shaken as his wife, but at night he cried himself to sleep, holding Dana in his arms.
The funeral was well attended by Fox's coworkers, their neighbors, some of Dana's friends, and some of Missy's friends. Katie, who had locked herself in her room after being told, layed a small bouquet of flowers beside Missy's coffin, tears streaming down her face. When the funeral was over, Dana knelt by her daughter's coffin, laying flowers down, and saying a prayer. Then she reached around to the back of her neck, and unclapsed the necklace that she had worn since she was 15. Missy's coffin was open during the funeral, the only evidence of her accident was a bruise on her face. Dana took the necklace and placed it around Missy's neck, saying her final goodbye.
Weeks passed, and still nothing had returned to normal. Fox went back to work after 2 weeks, but only because he couldn't stand the emptiness of the house anymore. He continued to watch his wife, whom he got more and more concerned about. Dana was losing weight, wasn't sleeping, and was in obvious depression. One day after coming home from work, Fox looked at Dana, who was sitting on the couch, clutching Missy's favorite blanket. He couldn't help thinking to himself, 'If I don't do something about Dana, she's going to waste away to nothing.' It was then that he decided to do something about it. Walking over towards the couch, he cautiously sat down beside Dana, and took her hands in his.
"Dana, we need to talk." she looked up at him, her eyes filled with unshed tears. "I-I feel like I'm losing you, I need you back." Dana looked at him, a mixture of sadness and guilt on her face.
Then, barely audible, she whispered, "I didn't know if you would still want me."
"What?! Dana, what do you mean? Why wouldn't I want you? I love you." Fox was gripping her hands tightly.
"It was my fault," Dana whispered as tears started to slip down her face. "If I had-had waited for her, watched her better, she would still be here." A look of surprise and horror crossed Fox's face, and he pulled Dana into his arms. "Don't you ever think that! It's not your fault! It was a Drunk Driver! If you'd been with her, then maybe, if you'd been hit too," he stopped, unable to continue. "I couldn't survive with both of you gone. I *need* you Dana." They sat there for a good part of an hour, just holding each other. When they finally did get up, Dana spoke first.
"Thank you, I needed that. I think-I think I'm going to be okay now." She paused for a moment. "It's just hard to accept. Missy, our baby, she's gone." Fox nodded, then reached for Dana, giving her a hug. Then he pulled her close and kissed her forehead, breathing in her sweet scent. "I'm going to make dinner, you should go change out of your work clothes." Fox just smiled, then walked back into the bedroom.
A week later, Fox came home with a huge smile plastered across his face. He could already sense a difference in his wife. She actually ate now, and she smiled more. When Dana walked out, dressed in jeans and a tight shirt, he sauntered over to her. After placing a soft kiss on her lips, he waved around a little folder. Handing it to her, he grinned. "I have something for you. Open the Folder."
She did, and immediately, her face lit up. "Florida?!"
Fox shrugged, and explained. "We need a vacation, to clear our heads the rest of the way. I've already made reservations at a hotel for all next week. What we do is up to you."
Dana smiled, and flung her arms around him, then brushed his mouth with hers. "I take it you took some leave time for this?" He nodded, then made a suggestion. "How about you and I go out to eat tonight." However, he saw the look on her face and changed his mind. "Or," he smiled suggestively, "We can stay in tonight."
"I think I like choice number two," she raised her eyebrow. "Any ideas of what you want to do at home?"
"Oh yeah, I have plenty. If you'll just follow me, then I will show you some." He grinned, then started pulling her into the bedroom.
That night, their healing had been completed. Although they'd always be missing a little piece of their hearts that was once held by a little girl, they survived. Just like they'd survived Duane Barry, Donnie Phaster, and Alex Krycek. Lying in bed that night, Fox decided that no matter what happened in the future, as long as they were together, they could survive Life's tragedies.
*The End*
I know that some people don't think Scully would be a stay at home mom, and that she might be a little out of character in this story, but I wanted to explore that "side" of her.
-Tiffany :-)
