A BRIGHT LIGHT IN A DARK WORLD

By LaurieBDS

When the sunshine hit me in the face, it made me wince. Quite

frankly, it also took me by surprise. How could the sun be shining

after all that happened in that bank over the last 36 hours? Like

vampire lore, evil should be confined to the dark, transformed to

dust if hit by sunshine; but no, he was still there. Fisher was on

the stretcher currently being loaded into an ambulance.

As I left the building, I was flanked by Skinner and McGavin, the

bank manager. Skinner had finally insisted he be allowed to take

me out to the paramedics to have my shoulder looked at. As we

descended the steps, I looked down and to the left, and smiled

when I saw the other survivors greeted by their loved ones.

There was little Casey, safe in her father's arms at last. She

looked over her father's shoulder as the police guided them through

the assorted pack of press members. I caught her eye and smiled.

I was rewarded with a smile and tentative wave. Thank God she was

okay!!

I turned to look at Skinner. I wanted him to see her, safe. He

deserved it. He noticed Casey and smiled a little in greeting.

I actually thought in that moment, "we won this one." Maybe it was

just a battle and not the war, but damn it, the good guys took the

day!

When I turned back to Casey again, she had a brave smile on her

face as she looked at Skinner, but her eyes were large and fearful.

She was ten, things were still pretty black and white to

her. She had a hard time reconciling the fact that the man who saved her

life was the man she saw brutally attack Fisher. I couldn't blame

her for that reaction, but I mourned it none the less.

I closed my eyes to the look on Casey's face. To tell you the

truth, I was pretty hazy. People say "flesh wound" like no big

deal. Well let me tell you, it hurts like a son of a bitch, and

at that moment, I didn't know how seriously I was injured.

But I digress,...Skinner lost it, there was no question. When he

saw Fisher unleash his erection to rape 10-year-old Casey, he forgot

everything the FBI had drilled into him. I don't know how he

managed it, but while still handcuffed, he charged Fisher. In point

of fact, Skinner should be dead right now. After all, Fisher' had

his gun in his hand for just such a contingency. Charging Fisher

could have meant not only Skinner's death, but Casey's or another

hostage, and four had died already. Skinner's action was stupid,..

but it worked, and who am I to question success.

I think Fisher was just so surprised he forgot to react. Before

anyone knew it, Skinner's bulk was on top of him. Skinner's arms

were handcuffed in front of him and he just got a hold of Fisher

and wouldn't let go. He head-butted him over and over again, the

gun in Fisher' hand flailing as the blows fell.

I don't remember getting up, but suddenly I was in the middle of

the fray, trying to get Casey out of their way. I think I was more

concerned the two men would roll right over her, than that a stray

shot would hit her, but it was the stray shot that I ended up

taking in the shoulder. I don't think I knew I was hit at first,

not until I got Casey in the corner of the room, away from the men.

I had to admit Skinner was scarier in that moment than Fisher. I

was sure Skinner was going to kill him. Maybe Fisher will still die,

I don't know. I'm sure he must have a concussion. Hell, Skinner

should have a concussion, but all he ended up with was a gash over

his eyebrow and a bruise on his forehead.

All of a sudden, Skinner stopped, several moments actually after

Fisher had last moved. He rolled off of him and lay there in the

middle of the floor gazing at the ceiling.

I'll tell you, everybody in that bank knows that they owe their

life to Skinner, but what he did to win our lives sure doesn't

inspire the warm fuzzies.

I never got the chance to see Skinner's reaction to Casey because

a couple of people scrambled up the steps toward us. The first few

people raced past me to McGavin, apparently his family. Suddenly,

Scully was in front of me standing with her hands on her hips and

her lips pursed. God love her, I'd have it no other way.

"Mulder, this is getting old," she complained, aware I was injured

again. When she saw the blood seeping through my fingers,

concern replaced exasperation. "Has anyone looked at it?" she

asked as she walked up the two remaining steps to me and peeled my

hand away from my shoulder so she could look at it.

I have never told her this, but I don't think she has the best bed-

side manner in the world. When she pokes and prods at an injury,

it hurts like hell! It's a good thing her patients are generally

beyond feeling.

By this point, McGavin's family had spirited him away down the

steps. To Scully's credit, after she assured herself I'd live in

spite of the bullet, she started to look around for Skinner. She

was greeted with his back several steps below her. She turned just

in time to see him shrug off paramedics and sic them on me.

Scully gave me the "look," wanting an answer to her unspoken

question concerning Skinner's condition.

"He's okay, Scully. He'll probably have quite a headache," I

joked.

We both looked back to him. He was already at the bottom of the

steps, issuing orders to the other FBI in attendance. The man was

a rock.

Scully kind of shrugged and returned her attention to me. "Come

on, let's get that looked at." I was just relieved she was going

to hand me over to someone else for the deed.

I ended up sitting in the door of the ambulance while a paramedic

worked me over. As he worked, Scully's expression returned to one

of annoyance. She was probably pissed I wasn't more injured given

the worry I put her through.

As I gazed out over the parking lot, I noticed Skinner again,

talking to McDaniel. As I watched, McDaniel nodded and took off

into the bank, leaving Skinner standing alone near the edge of the

lot. He was looking around him again, taking in the press and

police. But it was the hostages and their families that garnered

his attention for the longest time, his stoic mask in place all

the while.

After a while, he looked down at the ground, and then turned

around. Where was he going? He seemed to be heading for the wood

slat fence at the edge of the parking lot. The fence was just

beyond the a curb of grass that bordered the lot. As he stepped

up on the curb, he stumbled slightly before making it to the fence.

He leaned on the fence heavily for a moment, but just a moment.

He just stopped there, clutching the fence, staring into the

parking lot of the Piggly Wiggly next door.

"Scully?" I called, finally finding her to my right. She was

talking with my paramedic.

She looked at me expectantly. I motioned to Skinner with my chin.

She turned to look in the direction I indicated. When Scully

looked back to me, I nodded, and she took off in Skinner's

direction.

I watched her approach him. She came up short several feet behind

him. She must have said something to him because he suddenly

straightened, regaining that unconscious military bearing. His

head turned over his shoulder, but he wasn't really looking at her

as he responded.

I'm not a mind reader, or a lip reader for that matter, but I will

remind you that I am a gifted profiler. That's why I was in that

bank in the first place. I could almost hear his voice: "I'm fine,

Scully."

"Come on, Scully," I thought. "You of all people should see

through that one."

She hesitated a moment before taking another step toward him. When

she said something this time, he turned, a little exasperated that

she wasn't taking his word for it. I cursed him for slipping into

his surly routine, but was gratified that Scully didn't seem

intimidated by it. "He's full of shit, and you know it," I thought

at her.

She was right before him now, hands on her hips, not at all pleased

with him. He must have turned the conversation to me, because I

saw him scan the crowd as if searching for someone. She turned

and looked at me, probably giving him some heavy duty medical

jargon. When his eyes found me, he sighed heavily, probably

releasing another dose of guilt into his system over my shoulder

wound.

He nodded to Scully as she spoke, and closed his eyes for a second

as he listened to her. He opened his eyes and cocked his head in

my direction as he responded, and then glanced at the bank

building. He was probably directing her to take me home or to the

hospital while he wrapped things up. He started to turn back away

from her, but she caught his arm. He seemed surprised as he looked

back down at her. Before he could react, she took several steps

forward, wrapping her arms around his waist within his trench coat.

He looked absolutely stunned, and you won't believe this from

Walter Skinner, but down right bashful. I couldn't help but smile

at his discomfort. Yep, Skinner, you have people that care about

you, too. He finally placed his hands delicately on her shoulders,

kind of patting her as if to say: "Okay, Scully, this was nice,

you can let go of me now."

She didn't budge, but seemed to hug him all the fiercer. His eyes

darted around, almost for help. He tried looking up, too, before

closing his eyes in confusion and exhaustion. After a few moments,

when it became apparent she wasn't going anywhere, he took a deep

breath. It seemed to get caught in his throat.

He finally gave in and wrapped a shaky arm around her, too. His

other hand reached up to cradle her head. He finally leaned down

and rested his chin on her head. They stayed in that position for

a long time, just holding each other.

When they finally started to pull away from each other, they both

looked a little embarrassed. Hey! Give them a break, public

displays of affection are not their thing. Hell, some would argue private

displays of affection are not their thing. Scully looked up at

him with a small smile of acceptance that everybody needed a hug

sometimes.

I figured they'd be heading my way soon, so I hopped down from the

ambulance, ready to get moving. I turned around to thank the

paramedic. When I turned back again to gage their progress, they

were still standing there looking at each other, Scully's smile

having faded.

As I watched, Scully got up on tiptoe and planted a kiss right on

Skinner's mouth. She pulled back slightly, as if *gauging* his

reaction. This time, they both moved to meet each other. The kiss

wasn't one of raging passion, but of the slow and tender variety.

My first thought was: "It's just a friendly kiss. Sure, friendly."

But it wasn't a friendship kiss, and I knew it.

When I look back to my reaction, I'll try to think of that part of

me that felt relief, and maybe gladness that the two people in the

world I trust and care about most could maybe find a little

happiness. After all, I know how profoundly lonely they both are,

I just choose not to dwell on it.

The other part of my reaction came as a complete surprise to

me: I felt betrayed, and scared to death I was losing something.

Anger bubbled up from somewhere within me as I turned away from

them to pace the parking lot. Jesus! I sent her over to him. I

was being a friend, concerned how he was doing....

I looked at them again. They were pulling away from each other.

This time, however, they couldn't look at each other. A few words

were spoken back and forth before they turned to make their way

back to me. They looked up separately as they crossed the parking

lot, both sets of eyes darting away from mine almost immediately.

Scully was decidedly red as she walked up to me.

"Ready to go?" she asked, never really looking at me.

I didn't answer, but looked to Skinner. He didn't fail to meet my

eyes, that wouldn't have been his way. Instead, his eyes were

filled with remorse, for he spun this the same way I did, he

believed he betrayed me.

I knew right then and there their thoughts were on me, right along

with my thoughts actually. Yep. All three of us were very

concerned about Fox Mulder. And I knew I wouldn't have to do a

thing, this would never happen again. (You'll have to trust me on

this last - profiler thing again).

God damn, but I'm a selfish son of a bitch! I was still coming

off my righteous indignation, however, and you'll forgive me if I

took awhile to do the right thing.

Scully rallied like the trooper she is. She got stubborn and

decided she would drive us both home. Skinner and I can both be

stubborn and scary in turn, but it's Scully that gets the most

respect in this situation. We gave a few half-hearted arguments

in response, but ended up in the back seat of her car just the

same.

When we got to Skinner's condo, she inquired whether he had a guest

bedroom. When he said yes, she declared that we were all going in

as I could stay in the guest bedroom. It was 7 a.m., she'd work

from Skinner's computer while we slept. That way she would be

around if either of us needed anything.

It kind of made sense actually. After all, it was just recently

that I acquired a bedroom, let alone a guest bedroom. Scully had

a one bedroom apartment as well.

All went according to Scully's plan. Skinner had some extra sweats

for me. Scully checked the dressing on my shoulder, dressed the

cuts on Skinner's head and gave us some Tylenol. She finally made

us some grilled cheese and soup and sent us to bed.

Frankly, I thought Skinner was being very sheepish about this whole

situation. Wasn't this just about the time he told us in no

uncertain terms to go home? I guess I shouldn't have been

surprised after all that happened over the last two days. I think

he just didn't want to be alone, and he could allow himself the

luxury of company if it was forced upon him.

I didn't wake up until that evening. It had to be after 8 p.m. The

condo was dark, which I found odd. Where was Scully? I walked

down the stairs to get some orange juice, and saw Scully standing

in the door of the balcony. I startled her when I walked up

to her. Apparently, she was lost in thought. She hastily wiped

her eyes.

"Scully?" I asked her.

She smiled at me and shrugged. "How are you doing?" she inquired

back.

I shrugged back at her. The shoulder was killing me, shrugging

didn't help, but I was nothing if not stoic.

I looked at her standing there, a tear still in the corner of her

eye. She's been through a lot, and yet, I've barely ever seen her

cry; not that she was making a very good show of it now, mind you,

but it was crying for Scully.

She looked so confused, and lonely, and...tired. I think we all

were confused by what happened in the parking lot that day, but I

knew I had the least right to be surprised. I have known for a

couple of years now that Skinner is in love with Scully, I just

didn't admit it to myself.

There have even been times when I've thought of telling her about

the deal he made for her. I told myself I shouldn't out of loyalty

to Skinner, even when she suspected he was one of the men who gave

her her cancer. That's how I'm going to leave it, though. I don't

want to explore that side of myself too closely.

But, hey, he betrayed me in the parking lot of that bank, didn't

he? He'd admit it and willingly suffer penance, wouldn't he? So,

how can I be expected to find obligation on his behalf? What

loyalty to him should still bind me after his betrayal? I decided

to betray his confidence right then and there - that would show

him!

Half an hour later, I told Scully the guestroom was hers. I'd be

more comfortable on the couch. She patted my knee, stood up from

the couch where she had been sitting next to me and began to make

her way upstairs. There was still no light on in the condo, but

I could make her out as she went up. She hesitated at the top of

the stairs, standing just outside the door of the master bedroom.

It was open a crack, I knew, from walking by it earlier. It took

her several moments, but she pushed the door open and stepped

inside. She didn't close the door again behind her, but left it

open.

In my mind's eye, I could see her walk up to his bed. She'd stare

down for a while, her mind still whirling away. But finally, she'd

pick up the bed clothes and slip in beside him. He was pretty

exhausted, I don't see him waking up, but I think he's dreamt this

moment enough times to pull her close and whisper her name. That

would do it for her. She'd know she was where she belonged, and

the smile that has been missing for far too long would steal across

her face. And maybe in time, her tears would fall as she nestled

in the safety of his arms.

I thought I'd feel a loss, like someone stole an integral part of

me, seeing her walk through that door. Instead, I felt whole for

the first time in a long time....Go figure.

THE END