TITLE: After The Storm

AUTHOR: Annette Gisby

EMAIL: annette.gisby@which.net

CLASS: Vignette

SPOILERS: Emily

ARCHIVE: ephemeral, spooky, gossamer.

AFTER THE STORM

I had always loved storms until then. There was something soothing

in hearing the wind, feeling like the rain was washing everything

away, things would be renewed, freshened.

I kept waiting for the storm of her tears, but it never came. Without

it, there could be no renewal, no starting over. I'd placed a hand

on her arm to stop her from looking into the coffin, but she ignored

my touch and lifted the lid anyway.

I turned away, unable to face what might be in there, what might not be

there. But in the end I too had to see.

There was nothing but sand and a small gold cross. Scully's cross.

She held it up to the light, as though not quite believing what she

held in her hands was real. She looked at me, as though I could offer

some explanation, some relief from her pain. But I had nothing to

offer except deceit.

Her family came and hugged her, with Tara holding the newest member

of the Scully clan. I cursed her inwardly for being so insensitive

as to bring a baby to Scully's child's funeral, but then realised

it had probably been Bill's idea. He didn't even believe that Emily

had been Scully's child.

But I knew. And Scully knew.

After they'd left the chapel, Scully turned to me with a look of such

raw pain that I almost felt myself double over with the hurt of it.

She didn't need to tell me how she felt, I knew.

Grief, anger, betrayal, were like arrows launched from her eyes,

and I knew who she wanted to pierce. Me.

I reached out a hand to comfort her, but she shrugged me off, turning

her back on me as she walked away. I tried to call after her, to say

something which would make it better, but my throat was dry and achey.

No words could compensate for what she'd been through. No words from

me would ever be enough.

I should have told her the truth all along. But it's too late now.

She'll never trust me again.

And the storm will never break.

END

feedback: annette.gisby@which.net

check out my x-files fanfic

http://homepages.which.net/~annette.gisby/index.htm