***DISCLAIMER***: All "X-Files" elements and references
in this story belong to Fox Broadcasting, Chris Carter,
and 1013 Productions, and I am making no money from it.

ARCHIVING: Link only, please!

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Haze
by shannono
shannono@iname.com

Vignette, Angst, Skinner first person

Rated PG

Spoilers for "The End"

Summary: Skinner waits in the hallway.

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Haze
by shannono


I can't tell them now. Not after this.

But I know I must.

I'm still in the hall outside the office, where I've been since
following her down the stairs, just moments behind his blind
rush to the scene of the crime. I couldn't go in. This is their
time, their moment. They had to see it.

I couldn't stand to intrude.

I've done a lot for them, for their quest, and I'm still doing
what I can. But I hope they can understand that this has gone
way beyond me.

I spent most of a day in meetings with Freeh and Reno, and
all their assorted representatives, trying desperately to, if
not save the X-files division, then at least give them decent
reassignments. Preferably together, or at least as close as
possible.

I was only partially successful.

The X-files were history, figuratively, even before they quite
literally went up in smoke. But I did manage to keep Mulder
and Scully in Washington this time, although not as partners.
He's back in Violent Crimes; she'll be in forensics. They'll be
able to work together, even if only sometimes.

They're getting mid-level positions, at least. I think the events
of Mulder's last reassignment, four years ago, were proof
enough that it's not a good idea to put that man in a boring job.

Besides, it would be an incredible waste of talent to hide these
two in surveillance or at Quantico, where they were before.

Unfortunately, I don't know if they'll even take the new positions.
They certainly don't have to; I'm sure either or both of them
could easily find good jobs elsewhere.

There remains one all-important variable in this whole equation:
Exactly how much damage did this fire do?

I'm not speaking of the physical damage, the destruction of the
files. I am referring to the two of them.

This could be the final push that will send Mulder over the edge.
He has been on or near that edge for as long as I've known him,
and he is less than two weeks removed from a psychiatric ward
as it is.

I can see him from here, standing stock-still in the ruins of his
office. I can't see his face, but I did have a look at Scully's
through the lingering smoky haze when she turned back toward
him. Utter shock, pain, devastation, sorrow, loss -- I don't know
that I have ever seen so many emotions so easily read on her
face. Much of it, I'm sure, was in empathy for her partner.

Her partner. So much in meaning behind those words. What
these two have goes far beyond the textbook definition of
"partner." No, I don't believe they are in a romantic relationship,
at least, not in the usual sense. But I do believe they love
each other to the exclusion of all others, so if a romance
does not develop, they will in all likelihood remain alone.

Side by side, but alone.

I can see her leaning against him now, her hands clutching at
his arms as if he is the only thing holding her upright. And
perhaps he is.

I will allow them a few moments more before interrupting their
grief. We will continue our investigation of the fire, of course,
and I will provide them with as much assistance as I can in
salvaging what they can from the office. It remains my hope
that, at some time in the future, it will be safe to reopen the X-
files, and they will be able to return here.

Until then, I can only hope they can hold themselves together.
For now, they truly are all they have left.

==========END==========