I Like it Here by brucewg Rating: PG-13 / borderline G Category: Scully POV / V Spoiler Alert: Post Requiem - Season 7 Finale (big time spoiler country) Archive: I'm almost certain to say yes, but please ask first. Web Site: Visit oasisearth.com to read my post Requiem casefile, 'Second Generation'. Summary: Scully finds comfort with friends at Mulder's apartment. Guest Appearances By: The Lone Gunmen and Skinner. The characters and situations of the television program, "The X- Files" are the creation and property of Ten-Thirteen Productions and Fox Broadcasting, and have been used without permission. No copyright infringement is intended. Yabba Dabba Doos: Thanks to my beta readers for your input, time and patience. ".we made our way ashore to touch the same stone." How many times have I walked this hallway? How many times have I stood in front of this door, eagerly waiting for it to open so I could see his face again? I open the door myself now. Still stopping just inside to listen carefully for him. I know he's not here, but I feel better after the effort. I remember too well how he showed up when everyone but me thought he was killed in New Mexico. I have hope. I have a lot of hope. He will come back to me. My work done for the day, I plop myself down on Mulder's couch, a glass of orange juice in one hand, and my newest `How to Care for Baby' book in the other. I've more or less moved in. I didn't think I would do this. I didn't realize this dark little apartment would draw me here without him. I find myself coming here every night now. I'm trying not to disturb much. I want him to find it as he left it. I could only stay one night at my apartment after being released from the hospital. I'd never felt alone in my apartment before. That night I did. I found myself the next night at Mulder's. At first, it felt strange being there without him, but I got such comfort lying down on his couch reading from the last book he had been reading. I fell asleep on the couch and awoke once during the night to the same comfortable and warm sensation I got when he had his arms around me. I've slept on the couch every night since. That was a first time for me, sleeping an entire night on Mulder's couch. The last time I had fallen asleep there I had awoken to find of all things, Mulder sitting across from me, looking at me with the sweetest smile. I think the life growing inside me was created that night. I've stopped trying to find a scientific reason for my pregnancy. It just is and I'm so grateful. Maybe a cosmic we owe you one event for everything Mulder and I have lost. Cosmic we owe you one event! How my adventure with this man has changed me. I've now embraced this rebel's passion and made them my own, as I've made him my own as well. The truths we've sought together challenged my faith and his hope to sometimes almost unbearable depths. Though our paths to each other were sometimes as different as two waves, we made our way ashore to touch the same stone. I like it here. The newspaper being dropped at the door wakes you up. A streetlight and the dawn produce a faint letter X on the wall opposite the window near his desk, created by adhesive remnants on the window that summoned so many rendezvous', now several years ago. I had even placed some tape on that window. Again I felt comforted by all of the familiarity this place held for me. How many times he must have seen the same sight. How many times was he mesmerized by his sister's picture hanging on the wall immediately next to where the emblem for her search appeared? How many times did this add fuel and anguish to continue his long quest? I've also found comfort here with his friends, with our friends. He will get such a kick from listening to the tape recording from the other night. I can just hear him laughing. I didn't know Frohike had a key to his apartment. I never stopped to consider who fed his fish when we were on extended cases. I don't know who was startled more. Frohike was.definitely Frohike. I never expected that him seeing me in a towel would lead the man to run, literally run into the hallway. Seeing him looking down at his feet as I came to find him made me chuckle. He felt uncomfortable seeing me like that. Five years ago he probably would have asked if I needed some help drying my back. But tonight I'm reminded of Bashful in Snow White. It's so endearing. I've always liked Frohike. The gentle way he told me about my sister being shot, hat in hand. The fact that he pulled me out of the Las Vegas casino when I wasn't myself. The way he hugged Mulder when he returned from New Mexico. We're alike in that we would do anything for Mulder. Frohike at first seemed uncomfortable, drinking his beer quickly and declining another. "Frohike I'm fine and little Cosmos is fine too." I'd taken to calling Mulder's and my child Cosmos. It got a chuckle from Frohike. It was Frohike that first uttered the name after I told Byers, Langly, and him about my pregnancy. They were speechless at first, like everyone I've told. Mulder had clearly spoken with them about my previous circumstances. I was expecting to hear rapid-fire theories of how a barren woman became pregnant. It was very quiet. Not exactly their area of expertise, I'm guessing. Then from the almost uncomfortable silence came "Way to go Mulder!" from Langly. A heartfelt congratulations from Byers and a hug from Frohike, after he first asked if he could. You could tell they appreciated me making the effort of coming to their place to share the happy news. They of course knew of Mulder's disappearance before I did. Intercepted cellular communications from Skinner to the local Oregon authorities. It was left up to Frohike again to deliver the bad news to me at the hospital. I knew the moment he came inside my room that something had happened to Mulder. But the other night at Mulder's apartment Frohike had bigger suggestions to make. "Just don't be calling her Cosmos months from now when she has developed sufficiently. They hear things and that might scare her. I envision Rachel or Pamela Lee for names," Frohike remarked. My raised eyebrows evidently were sufficient to get Frohike to try again. "Or.how about Melissa. I've always liked that name." Yes.I like Frohike. "I would have liked to have met her, your sister," Frohike volunteered. "You would have liked her and the two of you would have gotten on fine. She was open to extreme possibilities." "Mulder said she was hot and into dangerous short men." I let out a laugh that seemed to startle Frohike into laughing as well. As I stopped I realized that was the first time I had laughed since Mulder disappeared. I liked it here. It felt right. Frohike went outside. He said he had something for me. He returned with a book about Lamaze. "It's from me, Byers, and Langly. Its very interesting reading. We're also studying up on early baby development." "Thank you, Frohike. I didn't have one yet," I said. He then got up from beside me and sat across from me, removed his hat. "Scully, I know he will find his way back. Back to you. But if he doesn't, I mean if it takes longer than we want. It uh. It would be my honor if you allowed me to substitute for Mulder. With the Lamaze I mean. I'll help in any way you want. Any pre- birth or during birth procedure you choose. Just name it." I looked at the floor and tried not to cry. I won't allow thoughts of Mulder not being with me when our baby is born to enter my brain. I won't. "I need to warn you though, I have a problem with blood. And I might have a problem hearing you yelling out in pain during delivery. I don't like hospitals or doctors really for that matter, but I'll be fine. I've already practiced in a way. I tied up Langly and made him listen to ten consecutive hours of Perry Como. I figured if I could withstand the extended yelling and crying from that, I could do this for you, for Mulder. It wasn't a pretty sight, but I handled it and I can handle this blessed event." Frohike was now looking down at his hat in his hands and spinning it around and around. I raised my head and grinned at him. "I know he means a lot to you. A kindred spirit," I said. "A redwood among mere sprouts. A friend, Scully." He said it with such longing. I hated to tell him that my mom had already offered. So I didn't. Could be quite an experience having her and Frohike both coaching me on deep cleansing breathing. "Thank you. You're on my team if he isn't here." He smiled broadly, returned his hat to his head, and a look came across his face of, today I've found a way I can help my friend. Bashful had become Doc. Frohike and I heard a key in Mulder's apartment door. We turned to see the door open and A.D. Skinner appear. Carrying a box of Moby Dick fish food no less. "How many people feed these fish?" I said. "Excuse me, Agent Scully?" Skinner asked. "I'm sorry, Sir. You're the second one here tonight to feed Mulder's fish." "Frohike," Skinner said, nodding at him. "G-man." "I thought I would just stop by and see if the fish needed--" "How did you get a key, Sir?" "Mulder gave it to me in Oregon." "Are you okay, Agent Scully, you look." "I'm fine, Sir. We were just talking about the baby. You want to join us? Can I get you something? Frohike hasn't been here long so there is plenty of beer left." "Sure whatever you have." I could see that Skinner felt out of place being here without Mulder. He didn't sit down until I returned from the kitchen. "I'm sure he appreciates your doing this, Sir, but I've decided to stay here." "I understand. Are you really okay, Scully? Can I do something for you?" "Back off G-man, I already got Lamaze," Frohike quickly interjected. Skinner looked at Frohike with confusion and then back at me. "Team Cosmos, Sir." I realized I must have a big smile on my face, which is further throwing off Skinner. He isn't too familiar with that appearance when it comes to me. "What?" Skinner inquired. "Frohike has volunteered to assist me with Lamaze training and during the actual delivery if Mulder isn't back yet. "I see. Cosmos?" Skinner asked. "Frohike's nickname for this new little life inside me." "So, Frohike, any new conspiracies to investigate this week?" "Nothing beyond discovering the real motives behind the person who gave you that tie." Skinner was not amused. He quickly began drinking his beer. Skinner had been very supportive since his return from Oregon. I knew I took quite a risk by telling him about my pregnancy. It just felt right at the time. I saw another side of Walter Skinner at the hospital. He had been different since Oregon. He felt responsible for coming back alone, even though he shouldn't. I told him I didn't blame him, and that I'm sure he tried his best to help Mulder. "Scully if you need any assistance moving anything over here, just say the word. I'd be glad to do anything and I suspect Frohike and the rest of the dream team would help too." "Thank you, Sir, but I pretty much have everything I need already here." I now had it scored Frohike two and Skinner one. Though I could understand where that could be open to debate. I excused myself from the room and when I returned, it was to quite a sight. Skinner with revolver pulled and in official bureau shooting position ready to blow away whoever was trying to pick the apartment door lock, and Frohike grasping Mulder's baseball bat with his two half-fingered gloves ready to take a mighty whack at the uninvited. I know Mulder is going to say, did you get a picture. Please tell me you have a picture. I started to chuckle at the thought and the sight, then Skinner turned and looked at me so seriously. "Aren't you the least bit concerned that someone is trying to break into Mulder's apartment?" Skinner asked. My first thought was its happened so many times before, what's the big deal. But then I thought better of it. "Probably just a burglar coming to feed the fish, Sir." Then I took a seat for a better view. Moments later the door opened to show Byers and Langly. "Whoa, be cool guys, be cool," Langly said. "Langly.Byers, what the hell are you doing here?" Skinner said agitated. "Hello to you to, Skinman." "Don't call me that, Langly." "That's cool. That's cool." "We apparently should have tried knocking first. I apologize. We apologize, Agent Scully." Byers as always the first to make amends. "Man, what are you doing here?" Frohike was apparently out of the loop on this particular extracurricular activity. Langly had already made his way across the room and was about to feed the fish. "Langly don't. No. They're fine." I said. "You're not actually here to feed the fish are you?" Skinner inquired. "No, Mr. Skinner. We intermittently debug the place for Mulder. You know.scan for unauthorized listening devices," Byers said. "We did that two weeks ago, Byers, and Mulder isn't here anymore," Frohike noted. "But apparently, Agent Scully, is. Am I right?" Byers asked, already knowing the answer. "What if she is? Do you make a habit of picking locks for all your customers?" Skinner grumbled. "Mulder isn't a customer, and Frohike had the key." Byers said in the strongest tone I'd ever heard from him. I'd been sitting on the coffee table for awhile with my hands clasped together resting under my chin, my elbows resting on top of my legs, listening to the banter. I noticed a beer next to me. I picked it up and moved it toward my mouth. Then as though all of them simultaneously experienced a roller coaster turn, they whipped their heads in my direction. Byers contribution came first. "You're not going to drink that are you? Alcohol, even in low concentration and moderation has proven to have some adverse effects for a baby's development." I knew this, just wanted to hear how their research was progressing. "Yeah, Scully, and the AMA released a study last year that strongly recommended no alcohol consumption even during first trimester development." Langly's done his homework. "Frohike?" I asked. "Lay off the bottle for the next eight months G-woman," Frohike said sternly. "Actually eight months isn't sufficient if she chooses to breast feed," Byers said. "Un huh, thanks guys," I said as I stood up. I figured I would capitulate before they started talking about breast-feeding. No way I was keeping a straight face during that. I'll let Mulder take part in that conversation. I put the beer down. "So where is the bug, Byers?" I asked. "What?" "The bug. The bug you put in Mulder's apartment after you knew he was missing in hopes of overhearing conspiratorial conversations." Byers stared at me for a moment, exhaled and pointed toward the desk. Mulder's friends felt left out of the impromptu gathering and raced over here after hearing that Frohike found me here. I walked over and inspected the desk lamp and found an interesting looking light bulb. "Factory direct and produced only for CIA use by their top secret facility next to the Eiffel Tower." Langly says these things with such joy in his voice. Skinner of course couldn't leave it alone. "The Eiffel Tower. The CIA has a production facility next to the Eiffel Tower in Paris and you got this device how?" Skinner asked. "Connections my man," Langly said joyfully. "Still some beer left guys. Help yourself. I'll put on some music. I think Mulder has some Perry Como somewhere." That stopped Langly in his tracks. "Just kidding, Langly." Frohike and Byers smiled. We spent the next few hours sharing Fox Mulder stories. I found myself rubbing my stomach at times. I was hoping that little Cosmos was hearing these stories about her dad. I knew she couldn't though, too early for that. Fortunately some friends made a tape recording of the evening. "Are you okay, Agent Scully?" Byers asked. "I'm fine. No.actually I'm good." I like it here and I'll love it here when he returns. The End All feedback is much requested. E-mail me: fanfic@oasisearth.com Visit oasisearth.com to read my post Requiem casefile, 'Second Generation'.