Disclaimers in part one. Finding The Way Home (3/3) Part Three (B): The Truth Will Save Us Both by Jennifer (DanaLvsFox@aol.com) Two weeks later... FBI Headquarters Washington, DC Office of Assistant Director Walter S. Skinner "And you don't remember anything that happened after that?" AD Skinner asked the two agents, closing the file folder on his desk. He stared at them from across, what appeared to them to be a mile stretch of desk top. "That is correct, sir," Mulder said, sitting in his usual spot in Skinner's office. "After the bright flash of light, we both woke up in the hospital, along with Ms. Jane Quinlin," Scully added, sitting in the chair next to Mulder, also as usual. The truth of the matter was that none of the three could remember what happened after the MiB's left. They did wake up in the hospital a few hours later, Mulder alive, Scully cured, and Jane normal. "And what is Ms. Quinlin's connection to this case?" he grilled. "She is a friend of mine," Mulder added. Skinner gave him that look that told him that he didn't quite believe him, but had nothing to disprove him with. "Both of you are on a mandatory one week leave of absence. You are not to come back of work until then.," he said, sternly. "Sir, we've already been out for over three weeks," Scully objected. "Agent Scully, people don't extraordinarily recover from self-inflicted gun shot wounds to the head, and cancer does not miraculously disappear for no reason. The one week leave stands. Good day, agents." This ended the meeting and the pair left the office. Just outside, Scully looked over at Mulder. He was looking at her strangely. "What" she finally questioned. Then, for no particular reason, they both broke into spontaneous laughter. It was abruptly broken off when Skinner immerged from his office. He looked at the two of them briefly before speaking. "I'd like to see the both of you next Monday when you come back in." "Yes, sir," they answered in unison. They giggled all the way down to the basement. "So, what are you gonna do with your vacation, Scully?" Mulder asked her as they went through some items in the office. "I don't know. I'll probably get to sleep-in for a change," she said, with a smile. Even Mulder smiled. "Organize somethings, catch up with people. What are you planning to do?" she asked in return. "I was thinking of trying to hack into the Pentagon," he dryly joked. She smiled and internally laughed at the joke. "Probably go through a few back files, catch-up on current events some more." They went to leave, both carrying a few file folders with them. He turned off the lights and shut the door behind them. "I'm going out to lunch with Jane. Care to join us?" he asked her as they headed for the elevator. "No thanks. I'll think I'll just go home, reassure my mom some more that I am OK," she declined. They walked in silence the rest of the way to their respective cars. "I'll see you in a week, Scully," Mulder called. "See you in a week, Mulder," she called back, before getting in her car and driving off. Apartment of Fox Mulder Alexandria, VA 9 p.m. Mulder took off his reading glasses and flung them disgustedly across the file on his desk. He was becoming frustrated with not being able to work. Looking over case files was just making him that much more so. He leaned back in his chair and sighed. Lunch with Jane had been nice. "Good to see you're getting back to normal," she said. He chuckled. "Well, normal for you, I guess," she amended. But, now he was alone, again. Jane, like most people, had a social life. "Maybe you should try and get out more," she told him. "Yeah, but what's the point? No woman out there wants to date a guy like me, with a life like mine." "There's someone for everyone, Mulder. You just have to know where to look," Jane told him. He smiled. "You sounded just like Scully." "How's Dana doing?" "Fine. Her cancer has completely disappeared, as you know. How or why, we still don't know." She looked up at him, a serious look in her eyes. "*Things* happen for a reason. You can't always explain why, but you lean to live with that. You have to, or you'll go crazy." "I've already learned that lesson, the hard way." "Give me a call next week to let me know how work is going for you," she said as they parted. "And Dana." He came back to the current hour. He wondered what Scully was doing right now. Apartment of Dana Scully Annapolis, MD 10:13 p.m. Dana poured herself a glass of wine and settled back on her couch, TV remote in hand. She was prepared for a stress-free evening, with no interruptions. It took her an hour with her mother to convince her, once again, that she was alright, that all traces of cancer were gone from her body. "We don't know why, mom. Maybe we should just be happy with what we have," she told her. She flipped through the TV channels, finding nothing worth watching. A knock came upon her door. she thought as she set her wine glass on the coffee table. She got up to answer the door, checking through the peephole first. She saw Mulder, standing in her hallway. She opened the door. "Hi," she greeted. "Hi. I just came by to, I dunno, see what you were doing," he shrugged. She noticed one hand was behind his back. "What did you bring?" she asked. "Not iced tea," he said with a smile. He pulled out a video box. She stepped aside to let him in. "I hope it's not one of *your* videos," she kidded. "No, no. I wouldn't put you through that torture." He handed her the box. "Grosse Pointe Blank," she read off the box. "This is that movie about the professional killer, isn't it?" "Yeah, I thought you might like to watch it with me. I know it's kind of late, but it's not like we have anywhere to be tomorrow." "Why not," she said. "Have a seat. Can I get you something to drink?" She headed for the kitchen. "How about iced tea?" he playfully asked, taking a seat on her couch. "How about root beer?" she countered. "Alright." They sat on the couch and watched the movie, drinking root beer. They laughed at the jokes, and judged the shooting styles of John Cusack, Dan Ackroyd, and the other actors. Dana even rewound the tape for Mulder as they talked. "Well, thank you for the movie. I actually enjoyed it," she said as she walked Mulder the short distance to the door. He stepped out as she opened it. "Thank you for having me. Um, do you want to have lunch sometime this week?" he asked. "Give me a call Wednesday," she said. "I promised my mom I'd be back over tomorrow." "She's still worried about you?' he asked. "Yeah, a little. After my dad, and then Melissa, I was scared she was gonna lose me, too." "I'll give you a call Wednesday, then. Bye." She went to close the door. "Scully?" he said at the last moment. "Yeah?" She reopened the door from what she closed. "Thanks...for being my friend." He smiled sheepishly. "Your welcome." She was a little confused from his sudden confession. "Thank you for being my friend, too." He smiled and walked away. She shut her door. It wasn't love, which wasn't what he wanted, not from Scully, but it was good. For once in a long time, he was happy. Life wasn't so bad after all. He stepped out of the front door of the building onto the street, and looked up at the sky. "Maybe I'll stay a little while longer, this time." THE END "I don't know why she even hangs around/After all the hell I've put her through, and the times I've let her down/She has more faith in me that anyone has ever found/Heaven knows how much I need her/Thank God for believers." Mark Chestnut, "Thank God For Believers" Same ending on both, so you only need to read one! Kewl! This story was written over a three month period (Yeah, shuddap!) on an idea I had (and, boy, did it hurt!) after watching an episode of `Xena: Warrior Princess'. So, if you recognize the story line, that's where I stole it from. After getting over the shock and trauma of the season finale, I, like many of you, I'm sure, kept wondering, "Well, what now?". This is what my warped mind concocted. (As if Mulder's really dead! "'The X-Files Movie' starring...uh, no one really.") All the characters are fair game for reuse (like you really want to). And, feel free to archive this, whoever is in charge of that. Just leave my name on it. Hope you had as much fun reading this as I did writing it! Jennifer, teller of tiny riddles and keeper of my own lost soul. BELIEVE THE LIE.