The Truth is Out There--Scene 30 from XF3
by Lolabeegood

E-mail: lolabeegood@gmail.com
Distribution: Archive freely with my name attached.

Rating: R
Categories: S, R
Keywords: Mulder/Scully romance, Post-IWTB
Spoilers: IWTB
Summary:  The truth is something Mulder & Scully may have to 
pay a steep price for.

Author's Notes: 

Ever since I watched IWTB I have thought of the ideal way to start 
and storyline a third movie.  So, after much thought and 
deliberation I have a series of scenes that I have written for the 
third XF movie.  The scenes will not necessarily run right after 
each other but they are in sequence.  They are more like scenes I 
would like to see in the XF3 that develop character, tie loose 
ends, and add plot interest.  

I do not own the characters and I don't make any money from this.

Enjoy!

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Scully was navigating the traffic through Columbus at 9:30 pm when 
she heard a familiar snore come from the backseat.  She checked her 
rearview mirror to see Patrick attempting to squirm away from 
Mulder who was starting to lean across the backseat.

"I take it he didn't like the movie?" Scully said from the front 
seat.

"I keep trying to lean him against the window but he keeps toppling 
over onto my side" Patrick said as he again propped up Mulder.

"How long has he been out for?" Scully asked.

"About half way through the movie he started to doze.  But he's just 
started to snore."

"I guess Spy Kids is not his thing?" 

"Judging by his snore, I'd say no."

"Do you want me to wake him and get him to come into the front?" she 
asked.

"Can we stop soon?  I have to use the bathroom?"

"Sure Patrick" she smiled "I'll look for an exit."

"Thanks" he smiled back and then paused to look at her "you think 
he's trying too hard."

"What?" she asked as she changed lanes.

"Mulder, you think that he should just be himself instead of trying 
to impress me."

"I guess I do think that" Scully sighed, a little perturbed her 
thoughts are readable.

"It's because of John, isn't it?"

She didn't answer him immediately.  Choosing to keep her focus on 
the road and the exit she was taking.  She maneuvered the car 
through a set of lights and  pulled into a McDonald's parking 
lot.  She parked right in front and killed the engine.  Scully 
undid her seatbelt and turned to face Patrick more fully.

"You...you just seemed so much more...relaxed with him." 

"I am" Patrick said honestly "I knew him from before.  I don't know 
Mulder."

"I know" she murmured "but I do.  And, he's desperate." 

"For what?" Patrick asked, eyeing the man across the seat.

"For your love, Patrick." She smiled at him "Look, I know that you 
just met him and it wasn't an ideal..."

"You're right about that" he interrupted.

Scully grimaced at the ache in his voice.  The pain of an eight year 
old boy who has been disappointed.  

"But...he made you, just as much as I did.  He sacrificed for you, 
just as I did.  He mourned your loss, just like me.  Patrick, you 
couldn't possibly..." her words trailed off and she turned to look 
out the window with wet eyes.

Then he got a picture in his head.  His mom, walking down some 
stairs in her bathrobe. It's late at night, and there is a light 
from a TV casting shadows onto a couch.  He sees Mulder laying 
on the couch as she saw him.  His face is red and it looks like 
he's been crying.  He's holding a photo to his chest.  She 
doesn't turn it over, because she knows what picture it'll be.  
The picture of Mulder holding William, looking down at his 
sweet face as he grabs at a foot.  A smile plastered on his 
face from ear to ear.  The only moment caught on film to prove 
he was once a father, once held his son, once was that happy.  
She bends down beside him and runs her hand along his wet cheek, 
wiping away the tears.  His eyes open, they are glazed and he 
is lost for a moment.  He looks at her, and realizes the scene 
she has found.  He, embarrassed, rises quickly, pockets the 
picture and looks beyond her, out the window.  She turns to 
switch off the TV and, in the dark of that room, kisses him 
deeply.  She wraps her arms around him and tries to inhale his 
sorrow, make it her own, take it away from him, so she never 
has to find him like this again.  She knows, in her heart, 
there will be other days.  

"He did miss me" Patrick says matter-of-factly.

She turns to look at him.  Knowing he has just seen into her 
memory, happy he shared that with her.  She smiles tight-lipped 
at him and nods her head.  

He waits a moment and takes in the information.  Patrick turns 
to look at the man sleeping nearby, pressed up against the window.  
His face soft and relaxed in the parking lot lights.  A small 
smile crosses over Patrick's features.  

"I'll be right back" he says as he opens the door.  

She watches as he walks into the well-lit restaurant and ducks 
into the washroom.

"Mulder" she says nicely, not taking her eyes off the interior 
of the fast food restaurant "wake up."

He stirs but does not revive.  He merely shifts position.

"Mulder" she says louder. 

"Huh? What?" he shakes himself quickly from sleep "Where's 
William?" 

"Patrick" she reminds him of the proper name "is inside, using 
the washroom."

"Where are we?" he asks squinting against the bright lights.

"Columbus" she said stretching her arms to the ceiling.

"Want me to drive for a bit?" he asks leaning forward to be 
closer to her.

"No, I'm good" she says as she wraps her hand around the side 
of his head.

"I guess I nodded off near the end of the movie" he said rubbing 
his eyes.

"More like the middle" she smiled at him.

He grinned back "How long has he been in there?"

"2 minutes" she answered quickly.

"I wanted to watch the movie with him, and have something more to 
talk about.  But I guess I fucked up."

"Mulder, you have to just relax" she said patting the side of 
his head "it's only been..."

"I'm trying too hard?" he interrupted her with the pointed 
question.

She nodded her head in agreement.

"He's just so good with you, and with John Doggett, I guess..." 
he drifted off.

"He will be good with you too.  Not because you play baseball 
with him or watch movies on a portable DVD player, but because 
you're...you."

"Thanks for the vote of confidence, but it's just hard..."

"I know." She agrees "I know how much you want this" she said 
looking at the car clock.

"I'll go in and see if he's okay" Mulder said planting a peck 
on her cheek.

"Thanks" she said releasing him from her grasp.

She watched as Mulder walked in the McDonalds and held the door 
for a young woman.  Just as he was about the push open the 
washroom door Patrick emerged and was startled by him.  He 
relaxed, when he saw it was Mulder, and smiled up at him.  
Scully didn't have to see Mulder's face to know that he was 
smiling back.

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The end Scene 30