From: taffyxf@yahoo.com
Title: Forgive Us Our Trespasses
Author: Taffy Northwood
E-Mail: taffyxf@yahoo.com
Rating: NC17 (now and then)
Category: AU, MSR
Archives: Just ask.
Feedback: Never in bad taste
Disclaimer: Mulder, Scully, Skinner and any
other XF characters are on loan only.
Summary: In 1910 New York City, there were two
distinct and separate worlds: that of the very wealthy
and that of the very poor. Could love bridge the
great divide between those worlds for two star-crossed
lovers?
Author Notes: Like a huge part of the fandom, I've
become absolutely dotty over AU fic. This is my
modest attempt to put Mulder and Scully into another
time and place. Please be aware, this is a
work-in-progress.
Forgive Us Our Trespasses - Katherine Mulder's story. Part 19
"Katie, you have a patient who needs your
attention," Shayna said at the doorway to
the examination room where Katie was checking
the supply inventory.
"A patient?" Katie asked. The clinic had just
closed for the lunch hour and Shayna was
notoriously strict with patients on that
account. "I thought we were on lunch hour."
"He's a poor schlemiel who needs help, Katie.
I couldn't say no."
She stepped aside, and the "poor schlemiel" entered,
working manfully to fulfill Shayna's description.
"Please, Nurse Katie. I need help," he pleaded.
Katie laughed at Mulder's hangdog expression.
"All right. I'll make an exception this
one time. Open wide."
Mulder complied, taking a seat on the exam table
and opening his mouth for her.
Katie continued the charade, using a flat wooden
stick to compress the back of his tongue.
"However were you able to get away?" she asked.
Mulder answered something like "ayuk ayuk."
"Well then. Ayuk Ayuk must be a very good thing.
Now I'll check your ears."
"A very good thing," Mulder said, holding stock-still
as she brought the otoscope to his ear. "He's shaping
up so well that I'm thinking of taking you to Italy
next month."
"I can't leave the clinic until we have more staff,"
she said.
"Gondolas, Katie. Remember?"
Indeed she did remember the honeymoon they'd dreamed
about when it seemed like an impossible dream. But
the winter months would bring pneumonia and whooping
cough and the clinic was still too new to function
without her.
"Another time. Maybe in the spring," she said.
Acting out of habit, she brought the otoscope to
Mulder's other ear.
"I'll book some staterooms on the Olympic for the
crossing, but my crew can bring over the Gallant.
Visiting the continent will be more convenient on our
own yacht."
Mulder's words shook her, an unneeded reminder of the
gulf between her old world and the world she had
married.
"I think I see what the problem is," she said,
peering through the otoscope into Mulder's ear.
"Your ears have a strange syndrome whereby they
hear what they want to hear."
"Very well. In the spring," he said. Disappointment
showed in his face and then lifted. "And what do you
prescribe for my sad affliction?" he asked, solemnly.
"It's a difficult case, but..." Arms around his
neck, Katie pulled Mulder down for a kiss. "This
treatment must be repeated often to be effective."
"As often as possible," he said, his arms tight
around her. "So Nurse Katie, where is my rival for
your attentions?"
"Rival?" she asked. "Which one?"
"Very funny. The young one who hangs on your every
breath. The one that belongs to that scarf over there,"
he said, pointing to the striped fabric hanging on a
peg by the door.
"Ah, Kevin," she said. "He left that behind the last
time he was here. I hope the poor child isn't too cold
without it. I haven't seen him all day."
And that was unusual. After his initial resistance, Kevin
Kryder had become a frequent patient, displaying bruises
and scratches, though most of his complaints were vague.
His stomach hurt, his throat was sore, he ached all over.
The boy hung around so often, Katie had finally put him
to work, unpacking supplies and minding young children
while Vincent examined their parents.
"I don't think he likes me very much," Mulder said.
On one of his visits to the clinic, Mulder had chatted
with the boy, asking him if he played stick ball, liked
to go to the moving pictures, had ever ridden in an
automobile--topics that were sure-fire hits with young boys.
Kevin had offered no more than one word answers and
flinched when Mulder patted his shoulder.
"He's rather protective of me, Mulder. I think he's a
bit jealous when you come to the clinic."
"Probably. Since I to have a clear field, have
you had lunch yet?"
"Not yet. Vincent is out on a housecall, so
I was just going to fix myself a sandwich."
"Well, then, this is your lucky day. I just
happen to have a tasty picnic lunch with me."
"My goodness, Mulder," Katie laughed as he retrieved
a large basket from beyond the door. "How on
earth did you manage to get away from the office
and do all of this?"
She led him to her small office and they spread
the checkered tablecloth he'd brought over her desk.
Inside the basket was cold chicken, a bowl of
potato salad, Cook's homemade bread and butter
pickles and a flask of cold tea.
"My new protege is a godsend," he said. "With
Krycek's help, I think that trip to Italy could
really happen."
Images of canals and cathedrals drifted through
Katie's mind. "That would be lovely," she said.
"But who is Krycek?"
"I told you. Alex Krycek. My assistant."
"You never mentioned his last name before."
"Does it matter?" Mulder asked.
As they began their lunch, Katie wondered how to
answer his question. She remembered a conversation
at her mother's boarding house. She remembered the
rambling warnings by Mr. Fenig.
"One of my mother's boarders talked about a man who
always seemed to be at the center of any agitation.
The man's name was Alex Krycek," she told him at last.
"Which one said that, the professor?" Mulder asked.
"No, not Mr. Burke. It was Max Fenig."
"Fenig? Oh, the crazy one," Mulder said.
"He reads a great deal," Katie defended him. "You
know, Mulder, people said Thomas Edison was crazy
too."
"Well then, if you think there are real grounds, I'll
look into it," Mulder said.
"As long as you don't leave this to your assistant,"
Katie said, leaning forward to offer Mulder a bite
of pickle.
"There are certain tasks one must do for himself,"
Mulder replied, pulling Katie close and kissing her
soundly. Her heart was racing by the time he
released her.
The next day, Mulder accompanied Katie and Mairead
on their weekly visit to the Scully house. Katie
knew her mother was not comfortable visiting them
at the Mulder house. So every Thursday, Katie
brought Mairead to the boarding house, where they
spent the afternoon and had supper. Katie hoped
this would give her daughter an understanding of
how life was for all but the fortunate rich.
"Ack, what a beauty," Maggie said, taking Mairead
out of Katie's arms and removing the baby's little
[continued in next message]
--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)
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