Setting the Record Straight

By Sara B.
sabo727@tampabay.rr.com


URL: http://sabo727.tripod.com/
Rating: Early Teens - few bad words
Category: MSF leaning toward MSR
Spoilers: No real spoilers but references to events from various episodes.
Summary:  This story is all about Mulder even though he only makes a cameo
appearance.  While visiting her family Scully decides to set the record
straight with Bill.
Feedback:  Release your guilt for all the stories you've read in the past
and never sent the author any feedback send me some now.  You know you will
feel so much better, and so will I.
Archive: I would be honored, just let me know.
Disclaimer:  The recognized characters are used Without Prejudice and are
the property of C. Carter, Fox and the wonderful actors who breathed life
into written words, most notably G. Anderson and D. Duchovny who were able
to make us believe in the improbable.  No Infringements of these copyrights
are intended, and are used here without permission.  The story and before
unknown characters belongs to me.
Gratitude: To Kim Knight, you are the best, thank you.  To my Dennis, enough
said.  To CC and Company, who created the X-Files.  Lastly, but my no means
least, to the readers, you make this hobby of mine have meaning.
Author's Notes:  I've been going through some emotional times lately (thanks
to everyone who consoled me).  I just needed to do something to focus my
thoughts and this is the result.  I guess I should dedicate this to my dad
even when I know he'd never read such drivel and wouldn't know Mulder or
Scully or even the X-Files.  
Dedication: This is dedicated to a woman with the strongest spirit I've ever
come across.  She is compassionate and brave and I admire and respect her.
Nancy Bratt, this ones for you my friend!

Setting the Record Straight
Sara B. 05/06

Scully sat on the back porch steps with her cell phone in her hand.  She'd
just hung up with Mulder and she realized just how much she missed him.  The
screened door slammed shut and she heard herself admonish the offender just
as her mom had done all those years ago.  "No slamming!"
Bill Scully chuckled, "yes, Mom.  You know you sounded just like her."  He
sat next to her on the step and noticed her phone.  "He can't leave you
alone for one lousy weekend."  It was more accusation than question.
"I called him, Bill."  Scully turned and leaned back against the railing and
looked at her brother.  "Bill, why do you dislike Mulder?  I mean what has
he ever done to you, Tara or Matty?"
"It isn't what he's done to us; it's what he puts you through.  It's Missy's
murder; it's that damned useless chip in your neck."  Bill's voice was
resolute, sure his position was true and correct.
Scully closed her eyes and thought about what her brother had said.  She
questioned herself on how to respond, knowing she needed to say things just
so to ensure he'd hear her out.  "Bill, I understand your concerns and
issues; but they are not right."  She put up her hand to stop his impending
protestations.  "Hear me out, please?"  Bill just stared past her.
She needed to get his attention before she could tackle his objections.
"Bill, do you respect me?"
"How can you ask me that?  Of course I respect you."  He was indignant that
she would even think such a thing, let alone give voice to it.
"Good.  Respect me enough to listen to my side of things and lay your biases
aside for a while."  He gave her a small embarrassed smile.  "If there
wasn't a Fox Mulder there wouldn't be a Dana Scully.  My decision to be a
field agent had nothing to do with him; it was my choice.  Just as it is my
choice to stay a field agent.  I love my job and if Mulder was not around I
would still be doing what I do.  Please understand, this is my choice,"
Scully said emphatically.  
"But, Dana, can't you see what it does to the family?"  He pleaded.
"Bill, do you think it's any different when you are deployed?  Or when
Charles is sent to any number of unfriendly nations by the State Department?
What about when Dad was sent to Vietnam?"  She placed her hand on his arm.
"Bill, we all have risky jobs.  Our jobs challenge our lives yet not one of
us will give up willingly."
She watched him to gage his reaction; he was thinking about what she'd just
told him.  "What about what happened to Missy?"  He tried another tactic.
"If you can't just blame the people who murdered her, blame me."  Scully's
voice was low and he'd had a hard time hearing her.
"Dana!"
"No, Bill, if anyone is to blame it's me.  I was warned that someone was out
to kill me.  I never should have left my apartment or at least I should have
followed through on my plan to intercept her.  If you're going to blame
anyone blame me.  I might have been able to save her."  Scully's head fell
forward.  Her hair hid her face but Bill was sure she was on the brink of
tears.
Bill was thoughtful for a moment.  "If you had stayed you might have been
the one killed, or maybe they would have killed both of you.  Dana, I'm
thrilled that you weren't."  Bill looked skyward.  "God, that sounds
terrible."
"I understand; Missy would too.  Thanks for not blaming me."  She moved
closer to her bother and nudged him with her shoulder.
"Bill, I know you've heard stories about Mulder and I will admit a lot of
the rumors and innuendoes have a lot of facts in them.  But it's the stories
you don't hear that really tell the truth.  Mulder is ridiculed by nearly
every up and comer who wants to make a name for himself.  But, when they hit
the brick wall, when they have run out of options, every single one of those
bastards come to him for help.  The same guys who taunt him with Spooky
Mulder jokes seek him out to solve the bad ones.  The really amazing thing
is that he never turns them down.  Mulder sees beyond the pettiness and
realizes that it is the victims that suffer if he doesn't help out.  To me
that selflessness is greatness.  I'm not sure I could set my feelings aside
like that.  Could you?"  It was Bill's turn to hang his head.  
"Underneath the bravado, indifference and jokes lies a man who truly cares
what happens to people.  Those are affectations he's adopted to cope with
his pain.  The Mulder I know is kind, generous and a really nice man.  That
isn't to say that he can't be overbearing, obnoxious, selfish and a general
pain in the ass but I'm used to that, you see I have this brother. . ."
"Hey!"  Bill admonished jokingly.  "I guess I haven't really given him a
chance, have I?"
Dana placed her cell phone on the step and stood up.  "Speed dial number
one."  

~
Mulder was channel surfing when his phone rang.  He looked at the caller ID
and smiled.  "If you miss me this much why not just come home and see me in
the flesh, Scully?"
"Wrong Scully."
Mulder choked, "Bill?"

End