From: sabo727@tampabay.rr.com   
      
   Title: 		She Hides Behind Her Face   
   Author: 	Sara B.   
   E-Mail: 	sabo727@tampabay.rr.com   
   Feedback: 	Greatly appreciated including constructive   
   criticisms   
   Disclaimer: 	The characters in this story belong to C. Carter and   
   Co., Fox and the wonderful actors who breathed life into written   
   words, most notably G. Anderson and D. Duchovny who where able make   
   us believe in the improbable.  The story belongs to me.   
   Spoilers:	One Son   
   Category:	Angst, A Little Alternate Reality   
   Rating:	        PG 13 - naughty words   
   Summary:	Frohike tells Mulder what he needs to hear.   
   Archive: 	I would be honored. Keep my name attached and let me   
   know.   
   Gratitude:  	To Kim Knight, for all she does and her unending   
   support.  To Dennis for who and what he is.  To you, the readers.   
      
   She Hides Behind Her Face   
      
   Tuesday 7:20 pm Percy's Pub:   
      
   Mulder and Frohike sat at the booth in the back of the bar.  Neither   
   was anywhere near drunk, in fact, they'd both had burgers and sat   
   nursing the same pitcher of beer for over two hours.  If the place   
   had been busy they'd have been kicked out ages ago. Percy's was not   
   on Washington's beaten path and only got busy during the weekends   
   and Monday night Football.   
      
   This was the first time they'd been together since Scully and the   
   guys had pulled up the `evidence' on Diana Fowley.  Frohike wasn't   
   quite sure why he was here except that Mulder had been his friend   
   for a long time and he felt he had to give him a chance.  If he'd   
   known the topic of conversation was going to be what a bitch Scully   
   was being he didn't think he'd have bothered showing up.   
      
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   Five Hour Earlier:   
      
   The phone rang and Frohike picked up "Lone Gunmen."   
      
   "It's me, turn off the tape."   
      
   Frohike shut off the machine and spoke "go ahead Mulder."   
      
   "I wondered if you would meet me at Percy's later."  Mulder sounded   
   chagrined.  It had been several weeks since the confrontation as   
   Mulder thought of it.  He needed to talk to someone about his   
   problems with Scully.  He first thought of Diana but if Scully ever   
   found out that he'd spoken to Diana about them he'd be toast.  That   
   left the only other one he ever confided in, Frohike.  They'd been   
   close right from the start and he was the one who got him through   
   his divorce.  He only hoped the man would come.  "I have a problem   
   and I need to talk about it."   
      
      
   Mulder's heart skipped a beat when he heard the little man say "what   
   time?"   
      
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   Percy's 7:25 pm:   
      
   Mulder was having a tirade about Scully.  Complaining that they'd   
   been fighting a lot lately and that no matter what he said she took   
   the other side.  The subject didn't matter, she just opposed   
   everything.  Frohike for his part sat silently and let the younger   
   man go on, his turn would come   
   later and when it did Fox Mulder was going to listen.  Not only was   
   he going to listen, Frohike was going to ensure he heard and   
   comprehended too.   
      
   "I just don't get it and I'm not the only one who'd noticed, Diana   
   was commenting on it earlier." So Mulder was still seeing Diana,   
   he'd have to make sure that none of them divulged any real   
   information to Mulder.  "Yeah,  Diana came in to ask my opinion on   
   some case and Scully walked in.  She didn't say anything just went   
   to her table grabbed something and left.  She never came back and   
   she didn't answer her phone.  What do you make of that?"   
      
   Mulder looked at Frohike waiting for an answer.  Could Mulder really   
   be that obtuse?  Frohike let out a breath.  "Mulder what did Scully   
   really see when she entered the office?"   
      
   "Well, Diana and I were talking," he paused as in thought then   
   added "Diana was brushing hair from my forehead.  Do you think it   
   was that, Scully's jealous?"  Mulder's eyes lit up with mischief and   
   delight.   
      
   Frohike chuckled "reign in the ego boy, this is so much more than   
   jealousy.  Dana walked in on you talking to a person she doesn't   
   trust.  A fact that she confronted you with not too long ago and   
   presented you with evidence to back up her suspicions.  Evidence   
   that you scoffed at."  He could see Mulder's attitude   
   changing.  "Don't you dare pull your shit on me Mulder.  If you   
   don't want to hear what I am going to tell you I will walk out of   
   this bar right now and before you can hit speed dial I'll have our   
   phone number changed and we, not one of us, will speak or help you   
   again.  Unlike Dana Scully, I don't have her, seemingly, unlimited   
   patience for you or your crap.  Now, what do you say?"   
      
   Mulder was visibly shaken and just nodded.  Frohike took that as an   
   indication to continue.  "Dana saw you talking with Diana after you   
   knew that she didn't trust her.  She saw the person she most   
   respects and admires disrespecting her and dismissing her claims.   
   You gave no credence to her instincts or her talents as an   
   investigator to stay away from Diana or even look into our   
   findings.  You were flaunting that woman in her face and in her   
   territory.  You asked if Dana was jealous, hell yes she is.  She had   
   to earn the trust you placed in her time after time. But simply by   
   her presence Diana Fowley is deserving of your trust?  You give no   
   reasons beyond that you `know her' and expect that to be enough.   
   Not once have you ever given Dana the benefit of just taking her   
   word because it was her word.  Earlier you said something about you   
   having earned the benefit of a doubt, well hasn't she?  How many   
   times does she have to pass your tests and how many times do you   
   think you can pull your trust back before she gives up?  If the   
   information we showed you had been about anyone else how would you   
   have reacted?  What if it had been Scully?"  Mulder blanched. "If it   
   was Skinner keeping you from seeing Cassandra Spender what would you   
   have done?  That night," he paused for a breath and continued only   
   when he was sure that Mulder understood what night he referred   
   to.  "That night you told her she was making this personal and I   
   have to tell you that was probably the most arrogant and insulting   
   thing I've ever heard anyone say.  You of all people know that it is   
   personal.  You lost your sister yes, but Scully lost hers too and   
   she knows that this side of death she won't ever see her again.  She   
   also lost a daughter and months of her life were stolen from her   
   during which she endured unknown horrors that she still suffers   
   nightmares about.  Her health has been compromised beyond a point   
   that conventional science can understand, beyond what SHE can   
   understand even with all her training.  But probably the worst is   
   that her future was stolen from her when they took away her ability   
   to have children.  Do you even begin to understand how all that has   
   to affect her?  But does she go around moping or complaining do you   
   see her giving up or," he watched Mulder's face closely to see his   
   reaction to his next words "giving in?"  Frohike knew Mulder had   
   almost done exactly that and waited for his reaction.  Frohike was   
      
   [continued in next message]   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)