TITLE: "Ditch Me Not" (1/1)
BY: Ten
E-MAIL ADDRESS: kristena@ocean.com.au

CATEGORY: V, MSR
RATING: G
SUMMARY: Scully catches Mulder about to sneak off again
and a fight ensues.
TIMESPAN/SPOILER WARNING: After "Tunguska", mentions the
"Abduction Arc" of stories, "End Game"

DISCLAIMER: The X-Files and the characters of Mulder and
Scully belong to Chris Carter, Ten Thirteen Productions
and Fox Broadcasting, and are used without permission. No
copyright infringement is intended, no profit will be
gained.


The X-Files: "Ditch Me Not" (1/1)
by Ten, August 1997


Scully arrived at Mulder's apartment just in time to
catch him in the act.

He was coming out the door, carrying his overnight bag,
face intense. One look at her and he halted, face
screaming his guilt before retreating to a bland
expression.

"Didn't expect to see you here."

"Weren't hoping to, obviously."

"Scully, I just repacked my overnight bag and am putting
it back in the car to ensure it's ready for our next
short-notice trip."

Her anger was building. "Don't lie to me."

His expression changed to defiance. "Ask no questions and
you'll get no lies."

"I'm fed up with this!" she exploded. "If you ditch me,
if you walk out of here now, then that's it. We are
through."

"I have to go, Scully..." he pleaded, alarmed.

"Then I'm coming too."

"NO!" His turn to explode with fury.

"What? A hot-info session with that Special Rep I gave
you the home address for? More chasing shadowy lights
until the nearest hospital has a free bed?"

He pulled the door shut and began moving off down the
hallway, head down. Stung, she stood there, realising he
was going to follow through, regardless. She raced to
catch up.

"That's it! I'm giving Skinner my resignation! Today! You
can have your stupid X-Files and find another nursemaid!"

They reached the elevator before she saw his face again.
He was struggling not to cry.

His tone was upset and angry, almost a snarl. "Did it
ever occur to you that I don't want you to get hurt? You
can't remember the three months you were abducted. That's
both a blessing and a curse for you. Well I CAN remember
- day by day... It is not a blessing. And also when you
were dying in the hospital. With my memory I relive it
again and again in perfect replay. *And I never want to
see the woman I love like that EVER again!*"




The elevator doors opened. Mulder closed his eyes,
realising he'd said too much. He reopened them to find
Scully just gaping at him in shock. At the hurt and pain
that was still raw after two years.

He forced himself to step into the empty car. "That's why
I do what I do. You do what you have to do, and I won't
lay any blame."

She remained staring at him in astonishment as the doors
closed.

Mulder exited the elevator and headed for the residents
parking lot, struggling to bring himself under control.
/Stupid! Why did you say that to her?/

Because it was the truth.

/But now I've ruined everything. How will she stay with
me now that she knows I.../ Well, after what she just
said, everything was ruined anyway. She was not going to
stay with him. This was the final ditch.

His sister or his partner? He'd had to choose once. It
nearly killed him.

Still he kept going.

He just entered the lot and was heading for his car when
the pounding of heeled feet became louder and louder.
Scully burst through the exit, out of breath. She looked
furious.

She stormed up to him, getting right in his personal
space. Lack of breath did not prevent her words pouring
out on a wave of emotion. "And can *you* remember what
happens after each time you ditch me? No - you can't
because you're unconscious in a hospital bed! Seriously
injured. But *I* remember. And I don't need to keep
replaying it in my memory because it keeps happening time
and time again! I'm the one sitting there waiting and
praying that while your body has come back to me that the
rest of you will decide to as well. Surely all the time
you've racked up like that has surpassed my three months.
Surely all my suffering over seeing you like that - the
man *I love* - is just as strong! It matters just as
much!"

"Oh, Scully..." He couldn't believe it.

"I'm coming with you."

He burst out laughing, overjoyed. The bag dropped from
his hand.

"What?"

"Well after that...the last thing I want to do is go off
UFO chasing! Perhaps you have found the cure for me
ditching you..."


THE END.