From: Erinstone1@aol.com

Shrink - Chapter 11
ErinStone1@AOL.com
Rated: R
Spoilers: none
Category: Scully/Slash
Archive: Yes-please make me aware of any final posts to a site.
Feedback: Any/all is welcome
Disclaimer: Scully and Mulder are not mine. I make no profit from this story.

Summary:  Scully decides she needs to take responsibility for her unhappiness.





They sat in the back of the police car together, not speaking. As they pulled 
into Marlene's driveway Scully tapped Dr. Aris on the leg and pointed to her 
car. She then addressed the driver, "We'll take my car from here officer, 
thank you."

It was nearly 2 a.m. and they'd spent the majority of the evening at the 
police station, each of them relaying their experience to the detective. Gail 
told her complete story, from the day she first met Mr. Pickett until the 
last phone call she'd received from him.

Scully listened quietly. She could see the anguish in the doctor's eyes and 
knew that she must be holding herself responsible for the assault. Dr. Aris 
seemed to be feeling tremendous guilt over the incident. Scully understood 
why she'd feel that way but also knew it was unwarranted. It was not the 
fault of Dr. Aris that Pickett went after Marlene. 

The doctor, however, didn't see it that way at all.

Scully told her side also, about Marlene's concern over the calls and about 
hearing the recorded messages. Gail sat in silence as Scully told the 
detective about her dinner meeting with Marlene. Dr. Aris had no idea they 
were starting to become friends and it surprised her. What surprised her more 
was that Marlene went to Ms. Scully with her concerns and not to her 
directly. She felt terrible about it, wishing that'd she'd been more open to 
Marlene's worries. Or at least better able to see the real danger involved in 
trying to cope with Pickett herself.

Dr. Aris let Scully lead her to the passenger seat of her car. She sat down 
heavily and Scully got into the driver's seat. It was the first time they'd 
been alone since Dr. Aris had arrived at the hospital early that evening.

Scully turned to her, "Are you all right Dr. Aris?"

"Call me Gail, please."

Scully felt mildly uncomfortable doing so but did it nonetheless for the 
doctor's sake. "Gail. Are you ok?"

Gail turned and met her eye, "I don't believe I am."

Scully instinctively reached for her hand and Gail let her hold it. "It's not 
your fault." Scully whispered softly. "There's no way you could have known."

Gail looked down at their clasped hands. "I wish more than anything that I 
bought that Ms. Scully."

"Just 'Scully'." She squeezed the blonde's hand lightly.

"I should have been more aware of his condition. I should have known it was 
beyond my ability to help him. Now it's too late. Marlene's in the 
hospital..." Gail shut her eyes and let her head fall back onto the headrest. 
She turned her head toward Scully once more, "What have I done?" A tear made 
it's way down her cheek. She repeated in a soft whisper, "What have I done 
Scully?"

Scully held her hand firmly as more tears rolled down her cheeks. She started 
to whisper back, wanting to comfort her somehow. She could see that Gail was 
shouldering all the responsibility for the assault. "It's ok Gail, it'll be 
ok. We'll find him. Marlene will pull through this. It's ok."

Scully reached into her glove box and pulled out a small plastic package of 
Kleenex. She handed it to Gail. "We've got to get you home."

Gail held up the package and shook her head slightly, "Ironic isn't it? How 
things can change in just a few short hours."

Scully was backing out of the driveway. "Yes it is." 

"Thank you Scully."

Scully drove slowly out of Marlene's neighborhood. "For what?"

"For helping. For calling me first about Marlene." Gail wiped her eyes, "For 
sending a car to pick me up. For going with me to the police station..."

Scully turned and looked at her. Gail smiled slightly.

"For being my body guard and keeping me out of harms way." 

Scully looked back to the road, feeling a blush rise in her cheeks. Quickly 
she said, "Marlene would kill me if I let anything happen to you."

"Is that why you're doing this? For Marlene?" 

Scully could feel the doctor's gaze on her. "Well, yes. I think she'd want it 
this way." 

She felt more than saw Gail's attention turn to the windshield, "I imagine 
she would."

Scully thought briefly that she'd said something wrong. She wondered if she'd 
misconstrued Gail's question; if she'd hurt her somehow. She felt an 
overwhelming need to fix what she'd just done, undue her statement.

Her heart raced suddenly. "I wouldn't want anything to happen to you Gail." 
She said softly, wanting to say more but not sure what else she could say; 
not even entirely sure she =knew= what she was trying to say.

Gail seemed stunned, or maybe that was just how Scully felt. She couldn't 
tell. After a short but uncomfortable silence Gail spoke, "I can't be your 
therapist anymore."

"I assumed that." Scully was off balance and surprised by the statement.

"I wish I could, but it would be highly inappropriate considering the 
circumstances."

"I understand." Scully kept her eyes on the road.

Another silence followed. 

"Will you stay the rest of the night?" Gail asked. 

Scully arched a brow and looked over at her. She was looking out the 
windshield. "Yes. I'll be there all night. And every night until Pickett is 
in custody."

Gail sighed. 

"Does that bother you?"

"No. It comforts me actually."

Scully smiled and turned her full attention to the road.

-end-