Disclaimer: Yeah, right like these characters are mine. Category: VA Classification: Mulder/Scully Angst Rating: PG Spoilers: Colony/End Game, 731/Nisei, Memento Mori Archive: Gossamer. Others ask me. Feedback: Knock yourself out. Summary: A question finally receives its long overdue answer. Appreciation and gratitude go out to Brandon. "Soul Sadness" (1/1) by Lisa (danil001@bama.ua.edu) or (haven599@msn.com) The sound of tears abruptly awoke Scully from a deep, dreamless sleep. Once her initial grogginess passed and she became more alert, her mind recognized the person was upset. And nearby. Scully knew it wasn't an intruder. There was no chaos, no threat to her life. This person was trying not to wake her, even though they needed to talk with someone. There was only one person she trusted enough to give a key to her apartment. "Mulder?" she whispered. "Are you hurt?" "It's over Scully." he said. "She's gone." Scully reached over and clicked the lamp on. She noticed it was a little after two o'clock in the morning. Mulder was sitting on the floor, leaning against her bed. "Who's gone, Mulder? What's over?" He turned to look at her with tear-stained eyes, before uttering just one word. "Samantha." Pain and panic tore through her heart at the condition he was in. She could only wonder what information he had found out now that would bring him to her apartment in the middle of the night and in this emotional state. "Samantha. Samantha." he repeated. Scully pushed aside the covers and moved closer to him. "Tell me what happened." "Did you get the message I left on your machine?" he asked. "Yes. You didn't say much about where you were going. I was worried." "I was in San Francisco. Samantha . . . my sister's husband found me." Mulder admitted. "Found you?" "He hired a private investigator to track me down. It was her last . . . last wish." He wiped at the tears as if they were an annoyance to him and to what he was saying. "Last wish? You mean she's . . ." Scully's lips couldn't form the word. "Yes. Yesterday. I was too late." he answered tearfully. "Too late. Again." "Mulder are you sure she was . . . I mean, you've told me this before and it turned out to be false." "I know, but Brian, her husband, told me everything. Filled in all the blanks. He loved her so much, Scully." Regret and longing filled her partner's voice. Scully touched his arm. "Go ahead. Tell me everything." she said. "She was adopted by a family shortly after her abduction. This family was desperate for a child and willing to go to any lengths for one. They were told not to acknowledge the fact that she ever had a brother. Samantha was told it wasn't true when she asked, but she never quite believed the lie." he explained. "Then how did -" Scully asked. "She knew I existed and was determined to find me before it was too late. Brian contacted me on Wednesday, but Samantha died the day before of cancer - a brain tumor." Mulder started to become upset again retelling the story of his sister's final days. "Just like mine, right?" Scully asked for confirmation. Mulder nodded. "It was diagnosed about a year and a half ago. Seemed very similar to the women in Allentown. I didn't tell him about all that. He doesn't need to know, especially not now." "Brian took care of her all through her illness. They were married for six years and from what he said, they were very happy." Mulder took a deep breath before continuing. "Apparently, she was very sick at the end." "I . . . I had to see her body. I know Brian probably thought it was an unusual request, but with all I've been through. I also saw pictures of her before the cancer. She didn't look like what I expected, except through the eyes. I could see the young girl I used to have so much fun with." "Oh, Mulder," Scully said, stroking his hair softly as he spoke. "I'm sorry." She was grieving not only for her partner, but a woman she never met. "I can't believe it, Scully. She's gone." "At least you were able to get to know your brother-in-law. It sounds like he cared for her very much." she commented. "I came to ask you something." Mulder said, turning to face her. "What?" she whispered. "The funeral's the day after tomorrow. I asked Brian if he could delay it a couple days until I could tell you about Samantha. I . . . will . . ." Mulder paused for a moment. "Will you come with me? I don't think I can get through it without you, Scully." Scully's eyes filled with tears. "Of course, Mulder. I'll be there with you." "You've always been the strong one. Not me." he sobbed. "Mulder, come here." He looked surprised by her request, but complied and sat down on the edge of her bed. "No, *come* here." Scully reached out, linking her hands with his. She moved back against the pillows, taking him along with her. Cradling him in her arms, she whispered how sorry she was about Samantha again. This brought on a fresh round of tears. Scully was glad he finally received the closure he so desperately needed. After all this time. Now he could begin to let go. The only sound in the bedroom was the grieving of a tormented soul. **** END (1/1)