Savitri
by Aloysia Virgata

Email: aloysia.virgata@yahoo.com

Spoilers: My Struggle II/Season 10

Summary:  They find him in a bathtub, huddled behind the
shower curtain.

Note:  I was asked to write a fluffy piece featuring William and
Daggoo. This is what happened instead.


They find him in a bathtub, huddled behind the shower curtain.
He is pale and shocky, teeth chattering.Scully assumes he
found the bodies in the kitchen.

This is her son, then. This lanky young man with the haunted
eyes and the long fingers clasped about his knees. She aches to
cup his face in her hands, to kiss the tears from his cheeks and
to tell him she never meant for any of this. She'd thought her
sacrifice would prevent it all.

But she can't do that now, not with his father dying in the car.

Daggoo wriggles from her arms, leaps into the tub with
William. He licks the boy's sticky face.

William takes the dog in his arms, cuddling Daggoo close to
his chest. He buries his nose in the soft fur.

Scully recalls holding him the same way, tucked against his
peachy head, drawing all the strength she could from that tiny
form.

"Hi," she breathes. "I'm here to help. I'm...I'm a doctor."

William looks up, still clutching her dog. "You're too late to
help." His voice is raw.

*Oh, baby,* she thinks. *I'm fifteen years too late. But I'm sure
as hell going to try.*

"You're good with animals," she says, fighting the urge to drag
him to the car. "My dog, he's really scared. But you have him
so calm. That's amazing."

William regards Daggoo, who nuzzles his face. "I guess, yeah.
Hey, boy."

Scully smiles, fighting panic. "I have a car downstairs. My
friend is in it; he's very sick. We're going to the hospital so I
can get him some medicine. Maybe I could give you a ride and
you could keep him calm for me?"

William's expression closes. "My parents, I can't leave their
bo- I can't leave them like that."

It's hard not to scream. "We'll come back," she lies. "I
promise."

William looks unsure.

Scully holds her hand out encouragingly. "It's not safe for you
here, kiddo. Let's go."

Minutes drag by, but finally the boy stands, Daggoo under his
arm. The three of them head downstairs, Scully hurrying him
past the kitchen where the Van de Kamps are just exiting rigor.

Outside, William flinches in the sunlight, in the cold. He walks
over to the SUV, whose engine is still running. From the back
seat comes a low groan. William sets Daggoo on the ground,
then peers in at Mulder's semi-conscious form.

"Holy shit!" he gasps.

Scully says a quick prayer before striking the base of her son's
skull with the blackjack. "I'm sorry," she whispers. "But
you've got something I need."