From: shawntaw@hotmail.com   
      
   Title: Proxy VI   
   Author: shawntaw   
   Rating: PG-13   
   Category: AU, MSR implied, major SA and some S/Sk UST (this story ends   
   in MSR eventually don't worry)   
   Disclaimer: They're not mine, although I think I might've done a   
   better job exploring the depths of some of the secondary characters...   
   Spoilers: Um, Season 8, I guess.   
   Summary: Closure. Possible career changes. Home.  That's all I will say.   
      
   feed the author at shawntaw@hotmail.com  :)   
      
      
   ****************************************************************   
   **********************************   
      
   It was only after she arrived at the basement that she remembered she   
   didn't work there anymore.  It was so quiet as she stepped off the   
   elevator.  It felt sacred - like church - as she walked down the   
   short hallway to the basement office.   
      
   The nameplate was still there; she had wondered if it would be.  She   
   had been able to hold on to the x-files for a very small time after   
   Mulder's disappearance...until word came from above that it was being   
   shut down.  Noone could tell her exactly why.   
      
   Her fingers traced Mulder's name on the door as she thought. *And now   
   I work for that idiot Kersh, Mulder.  Can you believe that?*   
      
   Scully pushed the door open and only the click..clack..click..clack of   
   her heels reverberated in the small room. She flipped on the light.   
      
   It was empty.  Scully closed her eyes and pressed her lips together.   
   She knew it would be and this was precisely why she hadn't visited the   
   x-files office until now.  Until she felt led here by circumstance and   
   fate.   
      
   When she opened her eyes again and realized she was staring at   
   Mulder's "I want to Believe" poster, she could not hold back the   
   grateful sob that burst forth from her lips. Scully shakily walked   
   forward and gently ran her fingertips over each corner where she knew   
   he must have touched when hanging it on the wall.   
      
   "Mulder..," she muttered, sorrowfully.   
      
   Scully pried the poster gently from the wall and rolled it up.   
   Clenching it under one arm, she took one last look at her second home.   
    A place filled with many memories.  Laughter. Debate. Joking. Sorrow.   
   Anger. Curiousity. Fear.  But always he was here.  And always he   
   challenged her mind..her heart.  And so she came back. And back.  And   
   back again.   
      
   Scully turned and -as was her nature - walked decisively, turned off   
   the light and shut the door firmly behind her.   
      
   Her tip-tapping footsteps receded down the hallway.   
      
   She would not return this time. Without him this place was truly empty.   
      
   ****************************************************************   
   **********************************   
      
   Daniel Wisson took off his battered cap and scratched his head.   
      
   In the middle of his cornfield - like some cotton-picking Hollywood   
   movie - his corn bowed down in the same direction formed a loose   
   circle.  Inside the circle lay five rumpled, bloodied bodies.   
      
   His wife was calling 9-1-1 that very moment.   
      
   *Damn,* he thought *Crop circles. Dead bodies?!*   
      
   A bass moan sounded suddenly in the dewy morning.   
      
   A pained feminine cry echoed after it, followed by another different one.   
      
   All the blood ran from Dan's face and he felt sick.   
      
   Not all the bodies were dead.   
      
   ****************************************************************   
   *********************************   
      
   Kim looked up as Skinner came flying through the reception area on the   
   way to his office.  She quickly stood up and barely got "Good morning,   
   s-" out before he was already in his office and shutting the door.   
      
   She stood perplexed for a moment, greeting the empty room.   
      
   "Alriiiight," she commented aloud wonderingly and started for   
   Skinner's door.   
      
   He was at his desk, head in hands, mumbling.   
      
   "Stupid, stupid, stupid."   
      
   "Sir?" Kim approached him, unsure.   
      
   Without lifting his head, he spoke to her.   
      
   "Shut the door, please Kim."   
      
   She shut it and strode to his desk, seating herself in a chair.   
      
   "What's going on?"   
      
   He cleared his throat, but kept his head bowed.   
      
   "Sometime today, the Director is going to call for me or ask if he can   
   come here to speak to me.  It may very well lead to an OPR meeting and   
   then my dismissal.  This may very well lead to the loss of your job as   
   well, a fact which I regret deeply, Kim," he sighed.   
      
   "WHAT happened, sir?!" Kim was beyond shocked.   
      
   He lifted his head and looked at her.  He looked weary. "Scully and I   
   rode up on the elevator together today.  Before she went to the   
   bullpen, she wanted to stop by and see you since she said she hadn't   
   spoken to you in awhile.  We got into an argument," he paused and   
   sighed again.   
      
   "An argument? About what?" She sat on the edge of her chair.   
      
   He sadly chuckled, "High heels, of all things.  I made a comment about   
   how dangerous those heels she wears will surely become as she gets   
   bigger," he laughed, "She HATED that. She's been   
   getting..hormonal..lately."   
      
   Kim was smiling as she pictured Scully ripping into the A.D.  She'd   
   seen her do it before.  It was only Skinner's affection for Scully   
   that ever made him put up with it.   
      
   "Anyway..the elevator opened while we were arguing and - lo! and   
   behold - the damn Director is standing there with a few lackeys to   
   hear the whole thing," he reconsidered, "Well, he heard enough."   
      
   "Are you sure?"   
      
   Skinner nodded and stared sadly off in the distance over the tops of   
   his steepled hands, thinking.   
      
   Kim considered her reaction for a moment.  She wanted to reassure her   
   boss. To show her loyalty.   
      
   "Think Scully will need a nanny? I know someone that may be available   
   soon...cheap."   
      
   Skinner jolted up straight and looked at her.   
      
   His laughter could be heard in the hallway.   
      
   ****************************************************************   
   *********************************   
      
   Ambulances surrounded the scene.  Cop cars blocked up his driveway.   
      
   And now a small line of black cars with tinted windows were driving   
   through his corn toward the scene.   
      
   Daniel had stood by long enough.  His wife and children peered   
   fearfully from the farmhouse window.   
      
   "HEY!! Hey, you cain't jus' drive though my damn corn!!!" He blocked   
   the cars physically and waved his arms.  They stopped.  Daniel lowered   
   his arms and stood his ground, defiantly.   
      
   A man in a black suit wearing reflective sunglasses stepped from the   
   back door of the car.   
      
   "This is your farm?" he had a calm, deep voice.   
      
   "Yes, it is. And you are killing my crop," Daniel made sure to show no   
   fear, but he just knew these guys were government.  He could   
   practically smell it on them.   
      
   "You will be reimbursed for your inconvenience," he pulled a pen and   
   pad suddenly from an inside suit jacket pocket and Daniel jumped.  He   
   couldn't help it.  He and the family had rented "Men in Black" once.   
      
   He pointedly did NOT look at the fancy, silver pen as he heard it   
   click.  Daniel did not see the man raise his eyebrow in haughty amusement.   
      
   "May I ask you some questions?"   
      
   "Yeah," Daniel said, not sure where to look now since he couldn't see   
   the other man's eyes and wanted to avoid looking at the pen.  He   
   settled for the man's forehead.   
      
      
   [continued in next message]   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)