Date: Wed. Nov. 25, 1998

Title: SPIRIT WALK

Author: Ms. AM

Rating: PG-13 perhaps R or NC-17 as the story progresses.

Category:???

Keywords: Angst, UST, MSR, and Mythology

Summery: This is an ongoing story-my idea of things that could happen on the show.

Starts at end of season 5 and will continue weekly (hopefully).

Spoilers: Definitely

Posting: Everywhere as long as my name and e-mail are attached.

Disclaimer: The characters used here are used completely without permission.

They are the property of Chris Carter, Fox and 1013 productions.

And also to the entire cast especially the god and goddess DD and GA.

I use these characters purely with good intentions.

Notes: These are my first attempts since high school at writing and I couldn’t be more

inspired than by the characters of Mulder and Scully brought to life by DD and GA.

All feedback will be graciously read and accepted. Thank you.

SPIRIT WALK (1/4)

Prologue:

The room seemed thick with unspoken thoughts as the Well-Manicured Man entered the room followed by Dr. Scanlon. The First Elder was the one who broached the calm silence of the men gathered together;

"Why have you brought him here? You risk exposure of us all...."

"There is a problem...." The Well-Manicured Man began.

"What kind of problem?" Began a man as he stepped to the front of the pack.

"During the incident involving the mass abductions...there was a theft...at the lab in Oregon...." The Well-Manicured Man seemed tense as another of the syndicate stepped forward.

"What kind of theft are we talking about and why has it taken so long to come out?"

Raising his hand in a placating gesture the Well-Manicured Man continues;

"Here is where I will allow the good Dr. Scanlon to try and explain the situation." Dr. Scanlon steps to center stage within the room of men.

"Gentlemen-the thefts involved some of the merchandise that we had transferred from the clinic in Allentown. After the breach of that facility, we thought we should move everything to a more secure area...However, when we went to distribute some of the acquisitions.... It became apparent that someone or something had been in the vault. All of the drawers were pulled out and some of the contents were smashed on the floor. My staff had to sort through all the inventory to determine what –if anything was missing."

"And what did you determine...Dr.?" Queried Alex Krycek as he stepped out into the limelight.

"We determined that only about 10 percent of the materials were damaged..." Scanlon pauses before continuing. "And also that two of the subject were completely missing..."

"Which two?" The First Elder anxiously and very suddenly asked.

Taking a breath Dr. Scanlon continued, albeit somewhat nervously;

"Well concerning the X factor it was an older sample an S. Mulder and one very recent sample...."

"D. Scully." Krycek finished for him. Scanlon looked at Krycek in amazement before continuing;

"Yes-that is correct.... But there also was a theft concerning the Y factor...from our original control group.... The only reference we have to that particular...How should I phrase this? Product is FWM...."

A brief flash of flame is seen coming from the far corner of the room. Illuminating if only momentarily the face of Cigarette-Smoking man as he hangs up the phone.... Rising from his position he steps into the center of the group of men, takes a long drag off the cigarette and speaks;

"I’ve just checked in with all our other storage facilities and ALL of the samples from those three subjects are completely missing-including the combined products...and what do you find so amusing-Alex?"

Everyone turned to see Krycek grinning widely;

"Ask yourselves why? Why only those two X subjects? We all know who D. Scully is.... The question is why she was one of the very few women to survive the recent abductions? She was taken.... It would be very wise to keep an eye on her medically in the future...Don’t you all agree?"

"Mr. Krycek could you please escort Dr. Scanlon to his facility.... Now..." the First Elder ordered. After the door closes he turns angrily towards the Cigarette-Smoking Man. "Do YOU realize what this could mean?"

"Yes-of course I do...and I’ll handle it just like I always have," he replied as he took another slow drag.

"Well see that you do take care of it.... Or we will form an alternate plan..."

End Prologue

Part One:

Scully sat in the dim-light of room 1013, Mulders hospital room, the medical staff had long since stopped trying to get her to leave his bedside. She moved her chair closer to the bed, reaching out to grasp his hand, the electronic equipment that had been used to check his condition-now no longer there. Physically he was fine, but psychologically, now, that was another matter. She closed her eyes-remembering...remembering what brought them here...to this moment...

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Mulder had just stood there-his face expressionless, but his eyes...his eyes-so haunted-so tired... He had looked around the room-seeing everything, yet seeing nothing. Scully saw what she felt was the last little spark of life...of hope...of belief...flicker in Mulders eyes then just as quickly as a candle flame is blown out... It was gone...extinguished and smothered from sight...

She wanted to run to him as fast as she could. To shake him-to bring him back from the seemingly black hole he had fallen into. To tell him this wasn’t the end-that he...that THEY...As always...TOGETHER they could go on...That the fire wasn’t going to stop them from finding...the Truth...

But she didn’t...she slowly stepped in front of him, grasping his upper arms, squeezing gently, only to lay her head on his chest...near his heart. He didn’t move...Mulder didn’t put his arms around her as he always had when they were confronted with adversity...He was defeated...Mulder was lost....

Mulder let Scully guide him out of the office after what seemed like hours but in reality were only minutes, into the hallway. Skinner opened his mouth to speak, but was silenced by Scullys silent look. Skinner shook his head slowly, watching the small form of Agent Scully gently leading Mulder out of the building. Doubts began to creep into Skinner mind of Scullys strength and in her ability to bring Mulder out of the pit he had fallen into...

Mulder was so unresponsive...so zombie-like, so silent-during the drive back to his apartment...He just let Scully lead him by the arm and where she went he followed...Once they were inside his apartment, she was at a loss, she didn’t know just what to do or say...

Mulder sat on the couch...She had to get his attention-somehow... Scully knelt before him and took his hands in her own before she spoke;

"Mulder...Mulder? Please-look at me..?"

For just a brief moment their eyes locked, but Scully knew he wasn’t seeing her. He stood, bringing her with him. Taking her hands, bringing them together between his own, he gently kissed them before speaking;

"Scully...I want you...to leave..." He said it so calm, so emotionless that for one of the first times she was frightened-not of Mulder, but for him.

"But...Mulder? I really..."

He silenced her, putting his finger on her lips, his other hand moving around to the small of her back. Before hugging her tightly, fiercely, against him. Her hands were spread open on his chest; she felt his breath, warm against her hair. She thought for a moment he was coming back, but just as quickly he stiffened and released her...

"Please...just go Scully..."

Scully was so unsure, so scared she truly didn’t have a clue as to what to do. Mulder had already turned his back on her and sat back down-looking away from her. Sighing she turned...a single tear left Mulders eye, but Scully didn’t see as she walked out the door.

Scully couldn’t know how far Mulder was falling or how fast...she wouldn’t know in a few short hours he would be gone...

END PART ONE

SPIRIT WALK (2/4)

Part Two:

Scully awoke, suddenly, violently shaking-jumping out of bed and grabbed the phone. Dialing 911 in one smooth motion. She sent them-there, to Mulders, lying, telling them she had received a call for help. Before racing to his apartment herself... Somehow knowing...sensing, that she’d made the wrong decision... she should have stayed. She should have ignored his words. She should have heard his hidden call for help...

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

After Scully left, Mulder had walked to the window. Watching, until he was sure that Scully got into her car and did in fact drive away. He walked into the bathroom, opened the medicine cabinet and took out the prescription... One he hadn't used since Scullys cancer had gone into remission. He had a lot of trouble sleeping before that. Guilt and fear gnawing at his mind constantly, however, he had used it only once. Mulder hated the lethargic feeling it had given him...Yet knowing NOW it was his only way of escape...

Grasping the bottle firmly, he made his way back into the living room. On his way to the desk he flipped on the stereo-the haunting melody filling the room. He proceeded to remove the bottle of whiskey from the desk drawer...pausing for just a moment. Listening to the song, before sitting down on his couch...

‘There’s no time for us

Opening both bottles he takes half the tablets into his hand...

‘Who wants to live forever?

Places the tablets into his mouth...with only one thought, before raising the whiskey bottle to his lips and swallowing...

‘She’ll be better off and safer once I’m gone...’

‘Who dares to love forever?’

Mulder stretches out, closing his eyes, welcoming the darkness about to envelop him-to accept him...

‘When love must die...’

Images, thoughts and feelings flood through him. In Mulders minds eye, as the song plays along with the fleeting glimpses...he greets them all... His sister...His father... His mother... He caressed each memory, knowing it was the last time he would be seeing them...

The next image came to him... In a haze of smoke...Cancer Man, smiling, mocking him...

‘I told you. Agent Mulder, I always win...one way or another...and never believe that anyone is safe...’

Cancer Man fades in the same puff of smoke that he appeared. Making way for his final vision...

Her image, ethereal...red hair blowing by an unseen wind... He could see her mouth moving...see the tears on her cheeks...

‘And we can have forever

Realization struck Mulder suddenly, he was drowning... Yet Scully-his partner, his friend, his life preserver on so many occasions...She alone had faced kidnapping. Having her right to bear children ripped from her...faced and defeated the cancer that had threatened to take her life. While he had stood by helplessly, knowing, it was all because of him and his pursuit of the truth...he so desperately sought...

He was a man. He was supposed to be the stronger sex. The strong one in their partnership, but he was wrong...Scully was the strong one...Scully gave him the strength to go on...She forced him to be truly alive again...She had taken his quest and made it hers too...

Hitting him like a tidal wave, he knew...Scully...she was the water of his life. Calming him, soothing him...quenching him with the raw power of ocean-like waves of her being...Her smile...Her openness...

OH GOD...he was terrified...he thought he could feel her arms around him...thought he heard her calling, pleading for him not to go...not to leave her...

He flailed, desperately trying to reach out...to...her...to Scully...To witness her outrage, to hear her laughter...to see her smile. To take her into his arms and feel her silky hair against his cheek...to hold her small body tightly to him...

Each time he had her in his arms he had felt her power, her strength...flow into him, even though those moments were few. The fine line he always walked with Scully out of respect, out of the need to protect their jobs...he wished he hadn’t been so careful, so cautious. It didn’t matter now. It was to little, to late to tell her...to see her...and he was so tired of fighting...

He finally stopped struggling and became one with the blackness...

‘Who lives forever, anyway...’

Scully had never known she could drive so fast...race so quickly into Mulders apartment. Opening the door only to see Mulder collapsed on the floor...reaching out with the phone in his hand...

Seeming to have forgotten everything about medical procedure...screaming, she ran to him...

"Mulder...no...Mulder why?"

Pulling him into her lap, she cried out over and over. Cradling his head in her arms, stroking his hair like a mother comforts her child...She was only dimly away of the paramedics taking him from her arms...The last strains of the song playing,

Echoing in her head...’Who lives forever, anyway...’

"Miss... miss...you have to let go...you must let us help him..." one of the paramedics gently yet firmly told her.

Then he was gone...gone from her arms, how empty the felt...Scully barely heard which hospital...Seeing Mulder on the stretcher before being whisked out to the awaiting ambulance...She knew at that very second while she sat on the floor of his apartment...without a doubt...she was lost without him...

Drawing her knees up and wrapping her arms around them she buried her head and began to rock back and forth. Building a self-imposed dam, against the tears threatening to continue spilling from her eyes...

END PART TWO

Authors Note: I realize that the song by Queen is used in the Highlander series, but it just seemed to fit perfectly what I was trying to do in this section of the story. I have more songs coming in later sections and all song lyrics are used without permission of any of the artists. There is absolutely no money being made off of any of this so I hope they will think of it as a great complement that their songs have moved me to include them in these special areas of the story.

SPIRIT WALK (3/4)

Part Three:

The images slowly fade as Scully glances over at Mulder, his eyes closed, his face expressionless. Standing she leans over to gently brush the lock of hair from his forehead. Straightening and turning only when she hears the door open.

"Agent Scully? They’re ready to take him now..." the nurse casually informs her.

Scully begins to step away, but looks down at her hand, puzzled. She didn’t even remember grasping Mulders hand. Yet there it was, her small fingers interwoven with his long ones...

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Thinking back she is assaulted by the memory of Mulders grim diagnosis...

"Doctor Scully. I’m sure you realize the situation. We have given Agent Mulder every test available...and you have seen the results yourself. I’m sure you are aware of the statistics involving the comatose state..."

"Yes...I am aware. And I don’t want or need you telling me." She spat out at him.

"I’m sorry...I know this is difficult. You need to understand though, he could come out of this tomorrow, next week, next month or as in most cases..."

"Don’t say it. Don’t even think it...I will find a way to bring him back." Scully interrupted with a hard edge to her voice.

The doctor was left standing with his mouth hanging open, as Scully turned on her heels, nodded to Skinner and Mrs. Mulder and blew out of the room. Regaining his composure the doctor held the door as Skinner escorted Mulders mother out into the hallway.

That was the day Scully heard the lines that would help to change her outlook. That she would take to heart the lyrics of a group she didn’t even own a single tape or CD of.

She had gotten into her car, just to drive, trying to relieve some tension and think.

As she got further away from the city many of the radio stations began to fade out.

Frustrated she kept turning the dial until she found a clear one;

‘Every night I say a prayer, in the hopes that there’s a Heaven.

Without realizing it Scully had pulled her car into a small church parking lot and was exiting the car as the chorus began.

‘Show me the way...Show me the way...

She stood beside the car fingering the small gold cross around her neck yet making no move to go nearer to the church... Sighing she finally got back into the car and clicked off the radio.

It was almost two weeks later after hours upon hours of searching through dozens of the latest in medical breakthroughs. That Scully wearily rubbed her eyes and headed to bed. Upon emerging from the bathroom wearing a pair of dark green silk pajamas she flicked on the radio...crawling into bed she leaned back into the pillows. Faintly she heard the song again...

‘And as I slowly drift to sleep. For a moment, dreams are sacred.

In the morning Scully began her research, rested and refreshed. She had a new positive energy that seemed to come from deep within her...

Three weeks later that energy had been drained and Scully knew only thing to turn to...and that is where she had been for the past month. She had gone back to her faith, back to God and the church. Yet still her prayers had not been answered.

So she found herself going to the one person she could talk to...her mother. Margaret Scully answered the door on the first knock;

"Dana...what’s wrong?"

"Mom, I need to talk," Scully said as her mother embraced her.

"Well...come on in. Do you want some tea or coffee?"

"No thank you..." Both women sat down on the couch and Scully began talking.

Some time later...

"Dana...you have to know that God hears all your prayers...I realize it is hard when he doesn’t answer them overtime you ask...but, that’s what faith is. You have to believe that Fox will recover. You have to believe that you will find a way to cure him, I know you have confidence in your abilities... I don’t want to see you lose that. I don’t want you to lose you faith now that you have found it again."

"But mom, we prayed for Melissa and . . ."

"Stop it! Dana, just stop it. Let’s not go into that." Margaret snapped. Taking Scullys hands into her own she continued, "Dana...I know that you don’t want to hear this, but...maybe it is for the best"

"MOM, how can you say that!" Scully wrenched her hands away from her mother and stood up pacing the room.

"Dana, I like Fox. I know he would never willingly allow you to be hurt but the fact remains that in your profession you run the risk everyday of becoming just another statistic. If Fox doesn’t recover you could go into medical practice...you could be safe again."

Scully had stopped pacing looking blankly at her mother. Then just like a bomb she exploded;

" I CAN’T believe you just said that. I come here for support. And what do I get? You telling me it’s better to let Mulder just slowly wither away and die..."

"Now Dana..." Margaret Scully followed Dana as she walked to the door. "Dana you know that is not what...I said...I didn’t use those words..."

Scully turned around facing her mother. For just an instant Margaret thought her daughter was just angry enough to strike her. But Scully only spoke with venom in her voice...

"FORGET IT MOTHER! I’m leaving...and don’t expect a visit anytime soon." Margaret was left staring at the inside of her door when Scully slammed it behind her. Rather shakily she walked into the kitchen, sat down at the table and began to cry...

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Scully knew she shouldn’t be out jogging at night, but she just couldn’t help it. She needed to run to clear her head, before she knew it she was far from her apartment. However she was very close to Mulders. Exhausted she went into his apartment and lay down on his black leather couch. Raising her head slightly she thought she heard.... yes, there it was again...she must have forgotten to turn off the radio that night... Laying her head back down she was just to tired to get back up and shut it off...

‘Show me the way, show me the way

Scullys dreams were filled with pages of words blurring in front of her eyes. They were filled with machines beeping and measuring. They were filled with angel wings and soft caresses. They were even filled with lights and mysterious things in the darkened sky...

‘Show me the way, show me the way

In Scullys final dream a vision of Melissa came to her...speaking softly...

"Dana...maybe it is time for you to believe in other things...there is more than one kind of faith..."

In her sleep Scully nodded...

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

It was now four months later and now Scully was taking Mulder. She was opening herself up to a different kind of faith. Science and medicine had no avenues left to explore and her faith in God was stretched to its limits...her prayers unanswered.

The morning she awoke in Mulders apartment she had showered quickly and was drying her hair with a towel when she noticed something. Hanging on the back of Mulders bathroom door was a small pouch...on a rawhide-like string. Gingerly she touched it with her hand and then she thought...maybe...just maybe...

Scully had contacted Albert Holstein, the Navajo who had helped them before. Mulder had told her of the ritual that had brought his back from deaths door... She had to hold on to the hope that somehow, he might be able to bring Mulder back from his waking death...

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Arriving at the reservation Albert’s son informs Scully that Albert is dying. But his aunt is willing to help. She knows of a little known and rarely used healing ritual

that she is confident will help. Several Indians help take Mulder in the house as Albert’s son motions Scully to follow...

" This is my aunt, Grey Eyes, and her daughter Sarah. Sarah will help you translate since my aunt is of the very old ways and speaks only our native tongue. I will go back and prepare your partner."

Grey Eyes stands from her rocking chair and takes Scullys hands in her own. Turning them up and rubbing Scullys palms with her thumbs. Looking deeply into Scullys eyes she then turns to Sarah. She speaks excitedly almost giddily, as Sarah nods back at her. Scully looks to Sarah questioningly...

"My mother say you are a very powerful healer, yet have a warriors spirit. You will have to find you spirit guide in the sacred animal protector ritual. Only then can we help your friend...It will be very dangerous...you could lose your own life as well. Are you sure?"

"I’m willing to do whatever it takes." Scully replies.

The three women go to a tent nearby. Grey Eyes motioning and chanting, then reaching into the numerous clay bowls and deerskin bags around her, she starts to prepare a mixture. Scully follows Sarah out to a hidden stream.

"Mother says you must purify yourself in the river of our ancestors." Sarah gently touches Scullys arm, sensing her shyness. "Do not worry, no one will bother you. All the people here respect this as a holy place."

Sarah hands Scully a simple suede dress.

"When you are finished, put this on and return to the tent. The preparations will be finished for the ritual."

Draping the dress over a bush Scully begins to disrobe...

Coming back to the tent Scully kneels beside the fire across from Grey Eyes. Grey Eyes again speaks to Sarah just as excitedly;

"Mother is very pleased that you are almost halfway through your moon cycle. Since that is when a women is her most powerful..."

"Moon cycle? What do you mean?" The question leaves her mouth almost as soon as it registers in her brain.

"Why when you are able to give life...of course."

Scully blanches, tears pool in the corners of her eyes yet don’t spill out...

"I, I can’t have children...I’m not able to..."

Sarah brushes Scullys forearm;

"Mother says she knows, but during your journey with the spirits they do know when that time should be...and is..."

Scully realizes they couldn’t understand the complexities of her unique situation. However if they believed in the ritual, it must have some basis...

Handing Scully a bowl, Grey Eyes motions for her to drink. She takes Scullys hand and raises a dagger, drawing a thin trickle of blood from Scullys palm.

Grey Eyes sprinkles a red powder on Scullys hand before allowing Sarah to wrap

a piece of animal skin around the wound. Into the bowl where she caught Scullys blood Grey Eyes sprinkles several powders into it before using a stick to stir the mixture together.

Scully feels warm and tingly, a little dizzy. She stares into the fire as Grey Eyes begins to chant. The flames sore each time Grey Eyes throws the mixture into the fire...Scully blinks trying to focus...

"You must find your guardian spirit...become one with it...feel it flow through you...accept its wisdom and strength..."

Scully knows she is hallucinating, she is sweating profusely her breath coming in little pants...She sees animals, small ones, large ones...Eagles, owls, rabbits and deer. Every woodland creature floats before her eyes...

They all disappear as the final animal comes into focus...a mountain lion. Yet Scully is unafraid when the beast walks over to her, melts into her body, sharing, one space...becoming one mind. In the distance she could hear a lonely mournful sounding wailing. A long suffering howling...Scully begins to move toward the sound, but is drawn back by a voice...

"No! Stop do not look for the Wolf... it is not yet time..."

Slowly Scully opens her eyes. She is still kneeling, Grey Eyes is watching intently...As Scully blinks a few times Grey Eyes expels a long sigh...then

seems somewhat happy again...

"Mother was worried...you are indeed blessed to have the spirit of the lioness to guide you...you must accept the power of nature when it comes time for the Spirit Walk. Tomorrow." Sarah takes a breath before continuing

"We were worried that you would confront the Great Wolf before you were ready. It was good that you are open to thoughts for us to call you back. During the Spirit Walk you will finally seek out the Wolf and try to defeat him...Only then will your Agent Mulder return to you..."

"My mother also has tried to see into the future and she believes that your emptiness will be gone soon..."

Scully felt like her head was ready to explode, trying to absorb all this information. How she wished she had Mulders near perfect memory and his willingness to believe in extreme possibilities unconditionally...

Scully hoped she had enough strength to suspend her disbelief and her need for facts. Her need for scientific proof and hard evidence was her basis, now she needed to change.... for Mulder.

End Part Three

SPIRIT WALK (4/4)

Part Four:

Morning comes quickly the sun hovering just at the edge of the seemingly unending desert landscape. The deep orange-red of the glowing sun seems to turn the area into one great pool of volcanic lava.

In a large Teepee Mulder is lying, a Navajo blanket draped across him at the waist, ancient and once powerful symbols drawn on his arms and chest. Scully is lying beside him, her hand holding his. She is wearing what Grey Eyes referred to as a power dress, a soft white suede indian garment falling to her knees.

Herbs were thrown into the flames, a strange smell began to permeate the air around them. The newly formed smoke began to circle the teepee like a snake, Scully opened her mouth to speak. That when it happened, the smoke entered her, quickly, completely, fluidly, she closed her eyes and felt it. It called to her...beckoning...pleading...and she followed...

Somewhere she could still hear a vague sort of lyrical chanting, faint but ever present...

"Do not underestimate the power of the Great Wolf...Remember, strength and power do not always win...use you heart..."

Soon a crystal clear vision came into being. Scully stood at the edge of a cliff, she could hear the crying of the Great Wolf...

"Come to me...help me..." it pleaded

Scully took a few steps back from the edge, then ran and launched herself out into the awaiting space, free falling. She embraced the guiding spirits, taking them into herself. Soaring upon the air currents as eagle eyes searched for the form of the wolf...

Coming upon a clearing...there...he was...looking up at the moon and sky. She circled once before landing just out of sight. She took a few steps and then jumped into the clearing...roaring...Scully had become...the lioness...

The great wolf turned and snarled, he was almost twice the size of her. However, that didn’t matter to Scully, she would defeat him...or die trying.

Suddenly, they both sprang at each other, growling, biting and clawing. This continued for what seemed like hours, but only minutes had passed. The wolf backed off...waiting...for the right moment...Then lunged at the lioness, pinning her down with his front legs...she stopped struggling...turned her head in submission...offering her throat up to him as a sacrifice...

Slowly she transformed into her human self, the wolf hadn’t moved, she turned her head back accepting the bared teeth, poised to strike...Looking deeply into the beasts eyes she spoke...

"Please...please release him...let Mulder come back to me...I, I need him..."

The wolves eyes began to soften, then change...gone were the sharp teeth. Scully reached up to stroke the fur upon the beasts’ back...and she felt the change...She could actually feel the transformation of shape into human form...It was Mulder, gazing back into her eyes...

They embraced as a wind lifted them up. Held them aloft. Scully felt what seemed like a unending bolt of gauzy cloth or something begin to wrap itself around her legs...Up, it kept twisting, stopping just under her arms, in effect tying her and Mulder together...In the back of her somewhat dazed mind she realized her clothes where gone beneath the substance. Her head and both hands pressed against Mulders equally bare chest...His strong arms around her, resting on her lower back as always...

"Scully..." he whispered. "I knew you’d come...I knew you were the only one...who could save me...I’m sorry...so sorry..."

Gently pulling her head from his chest, he smoothed the hair on each side of her face before cupping her cheeks and brushing his lips across her in the most feather-like of touches...Was this happening? Scully couldn’t be sure, she deepened the kiss, finally running her hands up, pulling his head down firmly...seeking...something...wanting...Their bodies began to spin...higher and higher they rose toward a light...the great light hovering above them...

Up and up they climbed...until their bodies became one light, one person, one hope and one spirit...

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ** * * * * * * * * * * *

Scully became aware of a great heaviness in her limbs. Slowly she opened her eyes and looked right into Mulders face. The Navajo blanket now covering them both, she noticed their bodies were entwined like...lovers. But how had Mulder moved? They were both lying on their sides; she was still wearing the power dress. Perhaps Grey eyes or Sarah had covered them up, maybe she had, and on her own had pulled Mulder into her arms, perhaps...

Scully sat up, disentangling herself from Mulders embrace-none too gently. She felt odd, a little dizzy...she began to cry. Turning her back to Mulders still unconscious body, she buried her head in her hands, trying to control the trembling in her body...She hated to lose control...she hated to cry...How could she have been so foolish, to believe...that this would actually work...

Behind her Mulder opened his eyes and sat up. Seeing Scully sobbing he moved to take her in his arms...Scully sensed movement, she felt hands pulling her, drawing her. She lifted her head, her eyes red with tears pooling in their depths; to see Mulders hazel eyes boring into her own...

"Scully...?"

"Mulder? I..."

They each muttered breathlessly as they wrapped their arms around each other. He stroked her hair before burying his nose in it...smelling, Scully, her fragrance, her beauty...

"Scully...I’m sorry...I hurt you..." he paused, taking in his surroundings. "Wait, where are we? How...did..."

"Shhh..." she placed a finger upon his lips, "It doesn’t matter right now...we have time to talk...later. All that matters now is you’re back..." She pulled away a little, looking very serious behind the relief in her eyes, "But if YOU EVER do anything like this again...I’ll kill you myself.... GOT IT!"

He nodded, smiling, before kissing her forehead and bringing her head back against his chest...In his head he could swear he’d kissed her lips, so sweet...and then so demanding...yet soft...But he knew that had never happened, so he tried to block it from his mind....

Scully and Mulder stayed on at the reservation for almost three weeks; she wanted him to regain his strength, fully. And three weeks was pushing it, Mulder had definitely gotten his zest for work back. Scully also thought of it as a rest for herself away from the everyday pressures of life in general...

On the day they were to return to Washington, Scully said her good-byes to Grey Eyes and Sarah. Gray Eyes hugged her warmly and placed two small pouches in her hand, chattering and smiling at Sarah;

"Mother says to tell you that the dark brown pouch is a sort of protection against evil as she senses you and Agent Mulder are in great danger sometime in the future...And the other...well...it is to help with your moon cycle...just sprinkle some of the root into your bath...no more than twice though..."

Scully accepted gratefully...she knew they couldn’t understand her condition...and she really didn’t want to try and explain...Nodding she tucked the pouches into her jacket pocket before heading out the door....

"Wait...wait Dana..." Sarah ran to catch her, handing her the white power dress. "I almost forgot this is yours now...no one else can use it...it is part of you and your spirit-always."

Scully hugged her quickly before walking to the car, waving, Mulder opened the passenger door for her before going around and getting in himself.

"Mulder? Are you sure you feel up to driving?"

"I feel fine, Scully. You’re the one who looks tired...and pale...but then again I guess this sun wouldn’t have been good for that fair skin of yours."

He grinned at her before starting the car and pulling away. Leaning her head back she fell asleep after thinking she really was tired. Just a few miles down the road, Mulder turned to look at Scullys profile. She had her hand under her cheek; her head had come to rest against the window. Her rosy lips parted slightly...

Mulder had the sudden urge to lean over and press his lips to hers, tasting her essence... Shaking his head, to clear his thoughts...why, why did he have that sudden feeling, feeling of deja vu? Of actually having her soft mouth pressed to his...but no, this was Scully, his partner, his friend...nothing more...and yet nothing less...But what if?

End of Spirit Walk

Authors Notes: Look for the next section in about a month. Its most liking going to be called Ebony Rose and it will bring back one of the most eerie characters from the show, yes a REAL honest X-File type story.... Later...