All In a Mother’s Job Description By Xenith xenitha@yahoo.com Disclaimer: The X-files belong to Chris Carter and 1013 Productions, not me. I’m only borrowing the characters for now. I’ll put them back when I’m done. Rating: G Category: V MSR Spoilers: None Archive: Sure! Just tell me! Feedback: Love it! Love it! E-Mail address: xenitha@yahoo.com Website: Go here to read more of my stuff! http://members.xoom.com/merlin717/index.html Discussion List: Yes!!! Yes!!! Summary: Follow up to “Just a Cold”, “Chicken Soup” and “Misery Loves Company”. After some meditation (and begging e-mails from readers) I’ve decided that this series takes place in the Abattoir universe, post Mustang. If you haven’t read the series, you should! But it isn’t necessary to understand these little vignettes. ALL IN A MOTHER’S JOB DESCRIPTION My husband and I both worried when Dana decided to give up medicine for a dangerous and lower-paying position as an FBI agent. Bill kept saying “She can do better than this! She’s too smart to waste her talents there!” But I knew that he worried about his little girl, that she was out there somewhere maybe being menaced by evil people. I have to thank God that Bill passed away before he knew the whole story of Dana’s adventures. Even I don’t know about all of them. I just show up at the hospital when Dana ends up there; sign the necessary medical forms and pray that she’ll survive this time. I know that she won’t change her life style, and my nagging at her to find a safer line of work will only make her hang on more tightly to the FBI. Fox Mulder. An unusual young man; I’m sad that Bill never got to meet him. Of course I know that Bill Jr. and he don’t get along. That was predictable; Billy has hated every boyfriend Dana has brought home, and Fox is by far the most serious. Okay, Dana doesn’t call him a boyfriend, at least she hasn’t to me. I love my daughter dearly, but she’s always been obtuse where her own feelings are involved. And, over all, I consider Fox to be a good choice. He’s bright, educated, has a steady job, and would willingly take a bullet for my daughter. I could see that he cared for her deeply when she was abducted, and later when she was so ill. I wanted her to quit the FBI then, you know. She wouldn’t. She said that the work was the only thing keeping her alive. And then she went right back again after her recovery. And the two of them have saved each others’ lives since then. I don’t know many of the details, but I do know how many times I’ve visited Dana in the hospital, and Fox as well. Of course, I know why she stays. Her reason for being in the FBI is sitting here in front of me, all six feet of him, trying to argue me out of my taking him home with me. “Mrs. Scully, I appreciate you wanting to help me out, but Dana needs your attention much more than I do. I’m getting better, the doctor says I can go home today. I’m over the nausea, mostly, and I can take care of myself....” Fox lets his voice trail off in the face of my pleasant but determined smile. Bill always stepped carefully around me when my face took on this expression. Fox hasn’t learned that yet. If he’s going to be my son-in-law (and I privately think it’s just a matter of time), he’ll learn. “No. Dana sent me here particularly to pick you up. She says, and I quote ‘Tell Mulder that he is incapable of caring for himself and that if he doesn’t take you up on your nice offer I’ll personally kick his ass.’” He grins thoughtfully and absently scratches at a scab. Then he stops when he sees my frown. “She said that? Well, I guess I have no choice if she’s threatening violence.” “Oh, it’s worse than that Fox.” I lower my voice confidentially. “She’s terribly bored and she’s driving me crazy. I’d take it as a personal favor if you’d come along and keep her entertained. You can’t return to work for a while yet, anyway, so if you could see your way clear to joining us I would appreciate it.” ‘Come on, little fishie...Take the nice bait mama has left you...’ I mentally chant to myself. Dana needs this man like lifeblood, and I can’t stand seeing her worrying about him at a distance. He decides. “Thank you, Mrs. Scully, if you’re sure it won’t be an imposition...” “Of course not,” I say firmly. “I’ve already got the car waiting and Mr. Skinner was kind enough to pack some of your things. The suitcase is in the car.” I could see him jerk. “*Skinner* packed a bag?” “I explained the problem and he was quite amused that you both were down with chicken pox. He agreed that you might not feel comfortable if I packed a suitcase for you, so he did it. I think he also put some files in as well; he said you might be interested in some of them.” Fox looked a bit bemused, but just shook his head and wandered into the bathroom to change into street clothes. Fifteen minutes later we had signed him out and were on our way. I wasn’t exaggerating when I said that Dana had cabin fever. She’s always hated being cooped up, but at least when she had the chicken pox at age ten, her sister and both her brothers were there with her. They kept each other occupied. Now, she’s gotten tired of television and reading and has spent the past several days pacing and looking out the window. And worrying about Fox. She was overjoyed to see him, although she hid it behind her usual cool expression. “Hey, Mulder. Welcome to the Scully Convalescent Home for Wayward FBI agents.” Dana looked up from the old embroidery project that I’d unearthed for her to work some of her frustrations out on. Mulder craned his neck to look more closely at the cross-stitch border of daisies she was creating. “Pillow case. I started it before Med School and never finished...How are you feelin’?” As she stood up, the light caught her full in the face. I could see Fox flinch a bit when he saw her. I hadn’t warned him that the rash had struck my poor Dana very hard. He recovered fast, though. “Oh, much better. I was even eating the hospital food by the time they let me out. I’m looking forward to your mom’s cooking, though.” I took that as my cue to escape to the kitchen. I left it to Dana to show him to the guest room. I saw them next when I brought a pitcher of iced tea (Fox’s favorite, Dana had explained earnestly) into the family room. They had set up the Scrabble board and were in the middle of a game. Fox had just won a triple letter score with the word ‘sexy’ and must have made some comment, because I could see Dana blush before she looked my way and shushed him. A very good sign, I must say. Fortunately, this time Dana doesn’t have as bad a case of chicken pox as she did at age 10. She was very upset at getting it a second time, until I told her that her great-aunt Olive had it three times. I think she just got unlucky and inherited the gene. Dana looks worse than she feels. While I was getting dinner, I noticed that they had finished the Scrabble game. Fox was clearing up and Dana had wandered over to a mirror and was studying herself closely. Fox came up behind her quietly. “What’s the matter, G-Woman?” “Oh...nothing Mulder. Just checking the damage.” She sighed and ran a hand down her cheek. “They say it can leave scars....” “Just adds character...” Mulder made a face into the mirror and Dana smiled a little. “Scully, your complexion will always be peaches and cream to me,” I could hear Fox tell her very softly. “Even when you’re 85 and in your rocking chair at the old FBI agents’ home.” Dana giggled then. “And you’ll be the old codger in the neighboring rocker?” “Of course. And I’ll have my binoculars to watch for UFOs.” She turned around, but he hadn’t moved. When I went to the stove to check on the gravy I think he was moving to kiss her. But I wouldn’t want to be a nosy mom. She deserves her privacy. Dinner was quiet. It was good to see Fox eating a full meal. He’s much thinner than he was the last time I saw him. I know that some terrible things happened to him as well as to Dana before these latest set of illnesses hit them both. They’ve both had such a difficult time of it, these last months. But they’ve both been looking happier lately. Something must have happened since August, something to do with a new car of Fox’s. Even Dana is eating well tonight; she spends so much of her attention watching Fox that she absently shovels food into her mouth. Good. She’s lost weight, too. After dinner, they both sit outside on the front porch on the swing. Even though it’s September, the nights can get cool, so I make them take sweaters with them. I can hear them talking as the swing creaks. “Did you see the care package of files Skinner packed for us?” Fox’s voice drifts back through the open windows. “No. What did he put in there? More mummies from San Jose?” “Nope. A pickle-maker drowned in his own brine. The workers say a ghost did him in.” A snort of laughter. “Mulder, they don’t say...it can’t be..that he was *pickled* to death?” “Well, let’s just say they’ve saved the cost of embalming. It’s in Fresno and they’re holding the body for us. But no rush, the body is wrinkled and smells strongly of dill, but it’s well preserved..ow! Why’d you do that? I’m telling the truth! Mrphmmmph...” Maybe it’s time for me to say good night to the kids. Billy and Tara bought me a color television set for my bedroom last Christmas. I’ll watch a little t.v., then go to bed. I’m an early riser these days. After Charlie moved out, I bought a new queen size bed with a nice firm mattress, and turned his old room into the guest room . When I found out that Fox was staying, of course I put some clean sheets on the guest room bed, along with a down comforter. And two pillows. It’s next door to Dana’s old room, where she’s been sleeping in her old twin bed. I think they’ll be more comfortable on the new mattress. Of course I’m supposing. Dana respects my moral sensibilities, just as I taught her to long ago. I sleep downstairs, of course. I wouldn’t know what goes on upstairs after I’ve gone to bed. It’s better that way. I think both Fox and Dana’s bout with chicken pox is safely on the mend. I wonder if he’d agree to a Catholic wedding?