Title:  The Promise
Author: Romantique
Classification: VA - Vignette, Angst.
Rating: PG.
Distribution: Archive anywhere, but e-mail me, 
please.
Spoiler(s): Brand X
Summary: Mulder wrestles with a promise.
Feedback: Yes, please: dolph1n@internetcds.com


This is the result of an exercise given to me by my 
beta reader, Triton.  The exercise: take a topic and 
write 500 words.  The topic was "rubber band."


Mulder's Office

The thick red elastic band stretched taut around 
Mulder's left wrist.  With his right hand, he pulled 
it back away from his wrist as if he was drawing a 
bow.  Taking aim at himself, he quickly released.  
The wide band popped against the back of his hand 
with enough force to leave an angry red welt at the 
point of contact.

In reaction to this self-inflicted wound, an 
involuntary "Owwww" escaped his lips.  His hand stung 
with a vengeance.  Leaning back in his chair, Mulder 
closed his eyes and offered himself up to the pain.  
He embraced the pain as it was a preferable, albeit 
temporary, alternative to the unrelenting pangs of 
his addiction.

Mulder was strong enough to take on more pain and 
suffering than most.  After all, he had been through 
enough physical injuries and personal tragedy to last 
any one soul for multiple lifetimes.  But the one 
thing Mulder knew he could never endure was the look 
of disappointment Scully would give him if he were to 
cave into this weakness. Only hours before, he 
promised Scully he would not give into his cravings 
for a cigarette.  He was determined he would never go 
back on his word.

Since his infestation with tobacco beetles, Mulder 
had been fighting against a constant craving for 
nicotine.  Scully saved his life by administering 
near lethal doses of the legal drug, but Mulder 
couldn't help but wonder if the side effect of 
addiction was almost as bad as the infestation 
itself.  His stomach gnawed, beads of sweat broke out 
on his forehead, and his breathing became erratic.

"Snap," he gave his hand another forceful pop with 
the rubber band, attempting another temporary 
diversion.

His body and mind screamed for the chemical, telling 
him it was more necessary to his survival than air, 
food, water, or sleep.  These irrational thoughts 
crowded his head and urged him to reach into the 
wastepaper basket and retrieve the crumpled package 
of cigarettes he had previously thrown away.  Perhaps 
just the smell of the package would offer him some 
measure of relief.  Succumbing to his thoughts, he 
pulled the pack of Morley's out of the trash and took 
in a deep whiff of the fragrant tobacco.

"More necessary than air, food, water, or sleep," his 
mind reeled, as he peeled away the cellophane.  Then, 
something from deep inside him suddenly took control, 
and he snapped his hand again with the rubber band.  
His hand was swollen; the rubber band was now cutting 
off his circulation.

"But not more necessary than Scully's respect," he 
cried.  He picked up the telephone and quickly dialed 
Scully's number.

"Scully," he sobbed into the telephone.  "Please help 
me.  Tonight, I almost did something I don't want to 
do.  I'm afraid I won't make it through the night 
without you."

"Hold on, Mulder.  I'm on my way," Scully replied, 
her voice calming him through the receiver.

Mulder took a deep breath and sighed, "Not more 
important than Scully."

~fin~