From: Erinstone1@aol.com

Shrink - Chapter 20
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.








"That's him."

Scully looked at Bob Pelt through the one way mirror as Gail identified him. 
She let out a sigh of relief and ushered her from the small room. They spent 
the next three hours documenting each phone call and going over every detail 
to file the paperwork necessary to press charges. 



Later at the hospital Gail was allowed to sit in Marlene's room for a short 
time. Scully watched for several minutes through the glass as Gail talked to 
Marlene softly. She held Marlene's hand with reverence as she spoke to her. 
Scully felt her eyes tear as Gail stood and kissed Marlene softly on the 
forehead. She watched Gail walk out of Marlene's room and heard the door open 
softly behind her a second later. Gail walked up to the glass and looked at 
Marlene. 

"I'm going to stay here. They'll be waking her in the next couple of hours."

Scully turned to smile at her. "The prognosis is good."

Gail nodded. "I can't wait to talk to her Scully. I can't wait to hear her 
voice again."

"What will you do about your clients?"

"I've got my planner with me. I'm going to cancel appointments this week, all 
of them. I'd like to be available for Marlene when she wakes up." Gail 
reached down slowly and held Scully's hand, "You don't have to stay. You must 
be exhausted."

Scully nodded slightly. "It's not that, it's that I'll be expected in my 
office tomorrow."

"I can call you... to let you know how Marlene is doing."

"That'd be good." 

An awkward silence fell over them. They ended up speaking at the same time; 
"I..."

Gail squeezed Scully's hand, "Go ahead."

"I'm not sure what to say." She looked into Gail's eyes. "How do you feel?"

"How do I feel?"

Scully looked at the floor then back to Gail's eyes, "About all that's 
happened? Are you all right?"

"I'm relieved that it's over."

Scully smiled then asked, shakily, "And..." she swallowed,  "...how do you 
feel... about me?"

A slow smile spread across Gail's face. She reached for Scully's other hand 
and took a step closer to her. "What business is it of yours?"

Scully heard a roaring in her ears... she concentrated on keeping her knees 
locked in an effort not to sway. 

There was a tap on the door and they released hands instinctively, each 
taking a step back from the other.

"Dr. Aris, we'd like to update you on Marlene's condition and the process 
we'll be going through to wake her." The man looked to Scully. "I'm sorry, 
did I interrupt something?"

Gail looked to Scully quickly, her eyes questioning. 

Scully patted her shoulder, "Call me when she wakes up okay?"

Gail smiled, "I will."

"See you later." Scully skittered past Gail and the other doctor.





Scully had been at work for two hours. She couldn't seem to concentrate. 
'Lack of sleep.' She thought to herself. She'd only had a couple hours.

"Scully, just go home." She was startled to look up and find Mulder staring 
at her over his glasses. "Seriously... get out of here and get some sleep. 
It's wearing me out just looking at you."

"I'm fine."

"Yeah. You're fine." He mumbled sarcastically, but to no one in particular.

She sat staring at him for a moment then started the shut down process on her 
lap top. "You're right Mulder, what am I doing?"

He was shocked. "You're actually leaving?"

"Yeah, I'm really tired, you're right."

He sat back in his chair, a smile on his face. "I am?"

She smiled back, "For once, yeah. See you tomorrow." She picked up her bag 
and left.





The ringing of the phone woke Scully up and she answered, "Scully."

"I woke you didn't I?"  Scully perked up at the sound of Gail's voice.

"No... yes... I'm glad you called." She sat up.

"Marlene is awake and she's doing well. There was some hearing loss but it's 
minimal."

Scully shut her eyes, "That's great."

"She'd like to say 'hi', hold on."

Scully was slightly confused until she realized that Gail must be calling 
from Marlene's bedside.

"Dr. Scully?" The voice was weak and scratchy from lack of use.

"Marlene. How are you?"

"I'm good. You did it huh?"

"Did what?" 

"Kept Dr. Aris out of trouble."

Scully laughed lightly, "She helped a little."

"Thank you Dr. Scully."

"You are very welcome Marlene. Now get some sleep and get out of there."

"That's the plan. Talk to you soon."

A second later Gail was back on the line. "I think she's already fallen 
asleep."

"Any idea when she gets out?"

"Could be as soon as Friday."

"Have you slept any Gail?"

"Not yet. I'm heading home now to do just that."

"Good." Scully scooted back down into the bed.

"I'll call you later, ok?"

"Yeah."





Gail woke at five o'clock and called the hospital to talk to Marlene. She was 
heavily sedated and was sleeping now, for the most part. Gail knew it wore 
her out to talk for long periods so she just checked in briefly and promised 
to visit in the morning.

She got some kibble out for Sailboat and poured it into his water bowl. She 
then swore and dumped it out, refilled the dry side and set it on the floor. 
She then walked to the bathroom to shower. A few minutes later she was in her 
kitchen, wrapped in a robe. She was completely confused. 'Why did I come in 
here?' she thought. 'I'm facing the coffee machine. Was I going to make 
coffee?'  

She heard a ringing and walked to the phone. There was only dial tone when 
she picked it up and confusion furrowed her brow. Then she realized that it 
was the doorbell she was hearing. It was used so seldom that the noise wasn't 
familiar to her at all. She walked to the door as it rang again.

Scully stood in the entry between the elevator and the warehouse door. "Hi."

Gail smiled broadly, "Well hello."

"Busy?"

"Nope· I don't think so·" She laughed and her brow furrowed some. "I don't 
know." She shook her head. "Scully, now that I know Marlene is really okay 
and Pelt is gone·" she sighed and looked into Scully's eyes,  "I can't think 
about anything other than this here." She touched the tip of her finger to 
the mole over Scully's top lip. "I think I was going to make coffee just now 
but there's no way to be certain." She threw her hands up.  "And although I'm 
wrapped in a robe I don't really recall showering. But my hair's wet so I 
think·"

Scully took three steps forward and kissed her softly on the mouth.


-end-