Title: Closure Author: TCS 1121 Email: TCS1121@hotmail.com Classification: Post Ep for IMTP Justice Interrupted 1 & 2 Rating: R Keywords: MSR Spoilers: IMTP VS9, Justice Interrupted 1, IMTP VS10 Justice Interrupted 2—Written by Dawn Zemke and Sally Bahnsen Disclaimer: 1013, not I, own these characters, Dawn Zemke and Sally Bahnsen own the original storyline Special thanks to dtg, for being a kind and thoughtful beta. Summary: When justice was interrupted for Sal DeAngelo, Mulder provided closure. But, can Scully and Mulder, achieve closure themselves? Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxX The makings for a slow, romantic weekend were dwindling by the minute. Last night, Scully carefully packed her bags, looking forward to a long weekend of bad movies, soft candlelight, and warm, loving arms. Now she paced between the kitchen and living room, checking her watch every five minutes, and cringing every time the phone rang. "Hey Scully, it's me. I'm running late. I have to pick up my suits from the dry cleaner before we go. I've forgotten them twice already, and I'm afraid they're gonna start charging me rent. I'll come and get you right after, okay?" "Oh, Scully, I was on my way when I remembered that some evidence in our basement freezer needed to be shuttled over to the lab. I know how you hate it when green stuff grows in there . I'm on my way over now. See you soon." His phone calls began at nine in the morning, and ended at three in the afternoon, when they finally departed on their one-hour drive to Hagerstown. Because of all the talking on the phone, Scully thought bitterly, Mulder had no conversation left once entering Washington County. They pulled up at The Atlantis, and Mulder shifted the Taurus into park. "Well, here we are," he said into the windshield. "Look, Mulder. I'll understand if you don't want to do this." Scully blushed, and tried again. "I mean, if you don't want to do this here, I'll understand." That wasn't much better. He smiled softly. "I think the owner wants to do this for us, and I think we ought to let him. Besides," he turned to her, "it'll give me the chance to slay another one of my demons. Trade a bad memory," he touched her hair, "for a good one." Mulder turned back toward the windshield, and drummed his fingers against the steering wheel, staring steadily at the trident logo of The Atlantis. Scully sighed, and ran her hand gently over the bruises on his face. His injuries hadn't healed. Not on the outside, and not on the inside. "It's okay, Scully. I really want to do this here, with you." He said the right things, but his heart wasn't the one speaking at the moment. "You know, Mulder, The Atlantis is using a sea- inspired name for their motel." She gestured toward the Atlantis's Trident logo. "And that really bothers me because Hagerstown is a land-locked city. I don't think *I* want to stay here." He blinked twice, then shook his head. "You are so full of shit." "I'd prefer it if you said that I was 'transparent'. Trade places with me." "What?" "Move out of the way, and let me drive." She nudged him with her left knee, and held out her hand. "Keys." He started to say something, but she tapped the palm of her hand, showing him that she meant business. "Aww hell, I wanted Skinner to use these coupons for himself, anyway." Mulder dropped the car keys into her hand, and opened his door. Scully walked around the front of the car, while Mulder walked around the rear. They got in, and slammed the doors. She adjusted the seat, gunned the engine, turned the car around, and headed out to route 40. After a few minutes, Mulder laid his head on the back of the seat, and closed his eyes. "Where are we going?" he asked. "Plan B," she replied, making a sharp left. The fall leaves peak early in Western Maryland. While the trees in DC and Baltimore were still green, the hardwood trees of Washington County were a mixture of yellow, red, and orange. The sign at the graveled drive read: Wingrove Manor Inn Bed and Breakfast. http://www.wingrovemanor.com/ "It's beautiful," Mulder said, gazing at the Victorian mansion through the passenger side window. "It almost doesn't look real." "It is lovely, isn't it?" Scully smiled, watching him take in the scenery. "I called for reservations yesterday. Usually the Wingrove is booked in advance, but the couple who reserved the Hunt Suite, on the second floor, came down with chicken pox." "No kidding?" He laughed. "The Bed and Breakfast gods smiled down upon you while smiting your foes with the Pox?" The chuckle wasn't forced this time as he got out of the car. The air was crisp, and smelled faintly of chimney smoke. Scully stepped out of the car, and tied her sweater around her shoulders. Mulder stood with his hands on his hips, staring up at the pillared entrance. The breeze ruffled his hair; he turned and grinned broadly. "Wow. Is this cool, or what?" he asked, as he walked up the brick steps to the entrance walkway. "We can stay here tonight, right?" He stood under the portico, shaded from the setting sun, looking so young smiling at her like that. "Tonight and tomorrow night. If you want," she said. "Yeah." He tipped his chin down, looking at her through his lashes. "I think I want." The goose bumps prickling her arms and neck didn't come from the cool autumn air. He held out his hand. She climbed the steps, and joined him behind the pillars. ~~~ "What--ungh--a beautiful room." Mulder panted as sweat trailed down his face. "It was," she gasped. "Before you decorated it with our clothes." "You're... what makes the room... so breathtaking." Mulder reared up, and threw his head back. Breathing hard and fast, he slowly brought his head down, never closing his eyes. Scully knew he liked to look at her, and over time, she, too, had learned not to blink. It was beautiful watching him like this. The moment of truth was always preceded by a hiss. It was his valiant attempt to say her name. Once he managed to growl out, "Ssscu...Ssscull..." before falling in a heavy heap on her chest. Scully dropped her head back and gasped for air, as in the distance, she heard a gentle hissing sound. Several minutes later Mulder's lips glided over her cheek, kissing her. Kissing her eyes, her hair, her lips. Mulder smiled quietly, the corners of his eyes crinkling as he looked down on her. "There's nothing as beautiful as watching you, loving me." She smiled and nodded; she understood. He eased away from her, and held her close. His embrace tightened, and she rubbed her cheek into the course hair stippling his chest. He said softly, "I thought I'd never see you again. That this..." He tipped his head down, and kissed her tenderly. "Would never happen again." He swallowed. "In my heart, I believed that McNally would kill me." "Shh, Mulder..." "Please, Scully, I want you to know." After pressing kisses onto her hair, he tucked her head under his chin. "When I was cuffed to that bed," he whispered, "...waiting for McNally to return, and do God knows what to me, I prayed for another chance. A chance to do better, and a chance to take away the hurt I'd caused you." As he spoke, his breath puffed against her ear, "Every time I closed my eyes, you were there. I needed to see you, hear your voice, and feel your arms around me again. You gave me the strength I needed to fight him." He looked at her, and paused. "I felt an inner spirit fighting for justice, but I also felt his pain. It was awful, Scully. Sal was torn from the woman he loved, and he wasn't ready… he wasn't ready." Scully had to strain to hear him. "I didn't want that, Scully, not for me, and not for you." "I know." She swallowed. "You fought for all of us. For you and me, for Sal and Vickie. And you won." She brushed her fingertips across his cheek. "You won." She curled up, and Mulder wrapped his arms around her. The window was open, and the lace curtains billowed. He hugged her tighter. She yawned, closed her eyes, and snuggled against him. In the haze of his body warmth, and in the afterglow of lovemaking, Scully heard him ask, "...a bedtime story?" "M'kay," she said, hoping that was the right answer. He nuzzled the top of her head, and cleared his throat. "Once upon a time, there was a very powerful ruler. He was the most powerful man in the world, and one day, he decided to build a secret retreat. The perfect place for his sanctuary would be in the Catoctin Mountains, not too far from here." "G'night, Mulder," she said sleepily. "No, wait Scully, you'll want to hear this. This is about tomorrow's adventure." "What adventure?" One eye opened a crack. "Just listen. Let's see, where was I?" He tucked a few strands behind her ear. "Oh yes. So this powerful ruler ordered his armies to build him a strong, safe haven, away from other powerful men who would harm him. And so they did. When it was completed, he called it Shangri-La." "Shangri-La, Mulder?" She tried to open her eyes. "We're going to search for Shangri- La in the Catoctin Mountains, between Hagerstown and Fredrick?" "Well, Thurmont actually, but yep." He nodded against her hair. "Right off Route 77. And I know it's there, too. I've looked before, but have never found it." Suddenly, something about this story sounded familiar, and Scully wished she were awake enough to think straight. "Anyway..." Mulder yawned. "Shangri-La became a very important place, and leaders from all around the world came to discuss world matters and world peace." He whispered, "Tomorrow, Scully, I know we'll find it, and most likely get arrested. Good night." "Arrested?" She was confused. Mulder yawned again, and gently rubbed her back. "I hope so. Roosevelt named it Shangri-La, but Eisenhower re-named it Camp David after his grandson. It's off limits, but I've *always* wanted to find it. And if we do, we'll get arrested." He closed his eyes. "I can't wait." Soon he was snoring softly. Scully snuggled back down into his arms, and whispered to her sleeping partner, "In what other life could I meet a man who finds Atlantis, and then goes out searching for Shangri-La?" No other life, she decided. END http://home.rose.net/~dingdong/CDHistory/