Title: Back to the forest
Series: INTO THE TWILIGHT
Author: Cher A.
Feedback: Puts a smiley on my face! Ximina@juno.com
WebHome: http://members.theglobe.com/ximina/default.html
Category: Vignette, tiny bits of angst for everybody, MSR
Spoilers: Requiem]
Rating: PG
Summary: Missing Scene
Archive: Go right ahead! Just leave my name and addy on it. I'll send it to Gossamer myself.
Author's note: at the end
Disclaimer: Mulder and Scully and Skinner don't belong to me. They all belong to CC & 1013. No money changed hands. ....and if it did, I sure didn't get any of it.

Big thanks to Michelle Kiefer and Laura Sadavow who are my constants in beta.

Title: Back to the forest
By: Cher A.

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She opened the door to the apartment wearing the purple terry cloth robe. The robe was large enough to fit two of her; its length almost reached her naked ankles and feet. The sleeves were meticulously rolled four or five times up her bare arms. She stood at the entrance cloaked in inscrutability, her expression gave nothing away. She belonged in that space. Her fierce eyes captured and held his gaze, dared him to question her presence.

He was uncomfortable under her scrutiny; even more so when the oversized robe slipped and revealed a glimpse of creamy white cleavage. His mouth opened, he wanted to speak but wondered if the lump of air in his throat would shove the words back into his gullet. Maybe it would disappear if he swallowed hard enough. Before he spoke she turned away and called to her partner.

"He's here."

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Skinner leaned heavily against his car as he waited in the cool night under a sputtering streetlamp. All he needed was a lit cigarette, he thought sourly. He felt like a bad imitation of a PI from one of those poorly scripted black and white films. He left them upstairs to say their goodbyes. The least he could do was give them some privacy before Mulder departed.

He looked at the building, he knew SHE would be staring down at him, them soon. He watched the darkened windows silently, not realizing the length of time he waited. The opening of the car door jarred him back to the present. Mulder shoved his duffel into the backseat then slumped into the front before he slammed the car door shut. The hairs on Skinner's neck prickled, someone was watching them, he already knew who it was. He crossed to the driver side of the vehicle and got in. A glint of blue around Mulder's neck caught his eye.

"Our flight leaves in ninety minutes." Skinner stated. Mulder's hand fidgeted with the turtleneck he wore, his fingers hiding the flashing object.

Mulder grunted in answer. His profile was shadowed, his face set like granite. Skinner had never seen this expression before. He was afraid for Mulder. He was afraid for Scully. He was afraid for himself. He gripped the steering wheel tightly, the knuckles of his hand whitened. Holding onto a solid object gave him an illusion of control and the sensation made him feel better.

In his peripheral vision the blue had reappeared. He turned his head turned slightly, just enough to see what was around Mulder's neck. In his sight, blue floated, static between Mulder's thumb and index finger.

He knew it was his imagination. In Vietnam, optical illusions caused by his worries performed where only he could see it.

Skinner blinked, slowly opening his eyes, as if the slowness of the motion would make the course of their actions a dream. He realized what Mulder held delicately, was gold and belonged around Scully's neck. A piece of Scully.

Skinner became aware that the blue glow was from the neon sign he parked near. It bathed the car in its soft illumination. Through the windshield the blue seeped in, disappearing into the darkened interior as a fog would diffuse into a warmed spring night. The last evidence of its silent invasion is caught by the golden cross as a pinpoint of blue light.

He mused to himself. Or maybe the different shades of blue he had seen were pieces of her soul leaving with the isolated man seated next to him. Skinner's heavy sigh penetrated his companions consciousness. They were seated in the car, an unbroken quiet between them, each lost in their own thoughts.

"Is something wrong sir?" He was asked. The question was simple, but he couldn't explain his misgivings even to himself. How could he answer Mulder?

"Yes." Skinner spoke, he couldn't elaborate.

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Author's Notes

- This is part of "Into the Twilight" series; but is considered a stand alone.

- Blue is representative of coolness, balance, tranquility, it imparts a sense of lightness and hope. I've always pictured Scully's soul as blue; going from the deep murky blue to pale floating heights.

- Mulder and Maggie Scully knows what the cross means to Scully, no other XF character does. I wanted Skinner aware of the sacrifice Scully made in agreeing to Mulder's departure: a piece of her soul leaving with Mulder. I believe the cross will herald Mulder's return, that may be wrong, but that's my opinion.