Disclaimer: Fox Mulder, Dana Scully, the X-Files, and associated characters are property of David Duchovny, Gillian Anderson, Chris Carter, Ten-Thirteen Productions and Fox Broadcasting Corporation. They are used without permission and no copyright infringement is meant. Any elements not recognized as being taken from the show copyright Christina Shuy. Comments and other things sent to cshuy@netcom.com are much appreciated. Rating: G, MovieFic, MulderAngst Spoilers: The Movie!, Die Hand Die Verlitzt(barely) Summary: A sharing of strength. Strength of Beliefs by Christina Shuy cshuy@netcom.com Mulder sat at the bench in front of the Reflecting Pool in the morning sunlight, thinking. Scully's cross dangled from his fingers, glinting softly in the sunlight. 'I almost lost you this time, Scully...' he thought. 'All due to my insane crusade for a truth which may itself be a lie.' he thought, flashing back over their five year partnership and all the incidents which had placed her in danger... L'ively, Tooms, Duane Barry, Pfaster, and on and on and on. And now, Antactica and that damned bee which had infected her with some alien bacteria even *he* found difficult to believe. They had only just escaped Antarctica with a mild case of frostbite. They'd been rescused by a combination of things... not the least of which was Victoria letting Skinner know exactly where they'd be... and, yet again, the question of how she had known was irrelevant. Victoria, as always, had *just known*... and gotten the information to the people who needed to know in time. As Mulder pooled the chain and cross into his palm before slipping his hand into his jacket pocket, he heard footsteps, soft soled, approach the bench. "Is this seat taken?" the person asked, a smile in the voice causing a similar smile on Mulder's own face as he looked up. "No... but I have to warn you... I'm experiencing violent and self-pitying tendancies." he answered. "I consider myself warned, and I'll take my chances." Dana Scully grinned, setting a rolled poster tube onto the bench before she sat down next to her partner. "How are you doing, Scully?" he asked. His partner and friend had a scarf wrapped around her hair and looked to be heavily sunscreened as well. It was relatively warm in Washington DC, but both of them were dressed in jackets, tshirts and jeans, an aftereffect of their misadventure in Antarctica. Neither of them could quite get warm enough yet. "Better. Glad for the sunlight, though... and the warmth." she smiled, looking into his eyes. "And you..." she added softly. Mulder looked away, embarassed. They had only gotten back from Antarctica two days earlier by military aircraft, and both had spent one day in Georgetown Medical Hospital under observation before each spent the following day sleeping. Mulder had apparently gone the previous 96 hours with very little sleep and Scully needed to begin the healing process, so both had sorely needed it. "Thanks for calling me this morning, Mulder. I had been wondering if perhaps you were feeling overly guilty for what happened to me. I wanted to see you and let you know not to be. After all, I *am* your partner." "Touche, Scully... you know me too well, but as for being my partner..." "Add friend to that, Mulder. And besides, what I do is my choice. Even if it *does* get me into dangerous situations. Remember that." Scully reached for his hands which were still in his pockets. It was then Mulder realised what was still in the palm of one of his hands. He stood up and Scully gave him a strange look as he walked directly behind her. Scully tried to get up but he put a steady hand on her shoulder. "Stay sitting, please." "Mulder, what are you doing?" He didn't answer... at least not verbally. His hands went around her neck and he quickly fastened the chain around her neck, feeling relieved at being able to do so on a very-much-alive Dana Katherine Scully. "What the...?" Scully reached for the necklace and was surprised when she realised what it was. "My cross! Mulder! You found it!" Mulder nodded, sitting down beside her on the bench. "It was in the cryolitter I found your other clothes in when I went to find you. Unfortunately, I kinda forgot to bring those along too." "That's okay, Mulder. I'm just glad you found *me*." "Yeah, well... it was the least I could do... after all the crap I've put you through. You've always held on to your own beliefs..." "Mulder, I've always had the strength of your beliefs." "Yeah, well, my beliefs aren't as strong as they used to be. I've seen the consequences for my actions...." Scully picked up the postertube and handed it to Mulder. "Maybe this will help?" Mulder took it and began to remove the plastic wrapping. "What is it?" She smiled at him again. "See for yourself, Mulder." He carefully unrolled the poster to find it was a near identical copy of the "I Want To Believe" poster which had been charred when their office burned... identical save for one new feature. The poster was laminated. "Scully... Dana... I..." he looked over to her even as he absently rolled the poster back up into the plastic sleeve it had come in. "I just wanted you to know that *I* still believe in you..." she said, leaning in and giving him a kiss on the cheek. "I don't know what to say." "How about 'thank you'?" "Thank you." Mulder's smile touched his lips. Suddenly, an idea dawned on him. He stood up, offering Scully his hand. "So... lunch?" A mischevious twinkle in his eyes. Scully grinned and moved her hand from toying with her cross again into his hand. "Sure! Just make sure toads don't fall from the sky this time." she grinned at him. "Deal." he laughed as they started walking off. "Even though it *was* just that one time..." They walked off arm in arm, laughing. -End- "The Truth is Out There. Trust No One."- from "The X-Files" Pursuing a BS (Electrical Engineering)-Summer Quarter 1998 (on hiatus) Looking for work and a place to live... somewhere in the SanFran Bay Area. "If his hand moves from the small of my back, shoot him." Anne Rooney(C-16)