Subject: NEW: 'Look Happy, It's The End Of The World' (1/1) Reply To: TheCatwoman@toosexyforyou.com Classification: V, A, Mulder/Scully UST Keywords: Skinner Rating: PG Look Happy, It's The End Of The World By Catwoman Disclaimer: Skinner, Mulder, and Scully are not mine. They belong to Chris Carter, 1013, and Fox Television. In other words: look happy; it may very soon be the end of our wonderful world of fanfiction. The song 'Look Happy, It's The End Of The World', as quoted at the beginning and the end of this story, belongs to the Matthew Good Band. Distribute: Please post to XF Fanfic, ATXC, and Gossamer. IF YOU ARE READING THIS ON A NEWSGROUP OR MAILING LIST, UNLESS YOU SEND FEEDBACK TO THE FOLLOWING ADDRESS, CHANCES ARE I WON'T RECEIVE IT: TheCatwoman@toosexyforyou.com THANX Spoilers: 'The End', and anything and everything before then. WARNING: Heavy angst here, people. Just thought I'd warn you. No MSR though---aren't you proud of me? Can't deny that UST though... Note: This is a kind of sort of not really companion to 'Release' and 'Doll Parts', this time from Skinner's point of view. It was Darkstryder's idea, and therefore if it bombs totally, I take no credit. Just kidding. Seriously, Darkstryder requested that I take a look at how Skinner's gotta be looking at all this ('The End' and stuff before that etc.), and I said to myself: "Hey, that is a *really* good idea." So, here it is. Dedication: This one's for you, Darkstryder. Thanx: Thanx go out to Marlie, who continues to read my stuff faithfully (God knows why) and be the friend to end all friends. Summary: We've heard Mulder and Scully's views of recent circumstances ('Release', 'Doll Parts', 'Violet', 'Pretty Noose' ), and we've even heard Cancerman's thoughts on the events of 'The End' ('The End Is The Beginning Is The End')...but how about Skinner? ***** Wiz bang, I've got a big machine It's black and blue Where will you be this afternoon Meet me and I'll spill my guts 'cause I'm open to anything I'm open for the first time And you can count the years ***** Well, well, well. Now you've gone and done it, Mulder. I tell you, you must've pissed Them off *pretty bad* to make them do something like this. Burning the X-Files is something even I'd never considered, and I worked with that cigarette-smoking bastard for over two years. I never thought they'd do something so drastic; never thought they'd actually try and stop you. I thought you were handy as a pawn in their game, but obviously they've tired of your use. But the office isn't important, not even relatively. No, what you've lost is something much more important, much more essential, and much, much harder to regain. You don't notice me standing in the doorway of your former office, arms crossed defiantly over my chest as I gaze sadly into the charred remains of five years of your life. But I'm here. I'm watching. Many of us are watching, Mulder. It's not the black that surrounds the room that worries me. It's the blue that surrounds you. A moment ago my heart stopped in my chest as my eyes took in the sight of a truly mortified and terrified Scully, her face riddled with pain as she turned away from the charred ruins of the office and stared at you, her eyes begging you to grieve with her. When you didn't respond, she dropped her head, and with considerable bravery, of the kind only Scully can muster, she took a step forward and touched you, tentatively at first, then gripping your arms as though you were the only thing holding her on her feet. You didn't respond to that either, so she stepped into you a little further and laid her head against your shoulder. You remained frozen, staring at your burned dreams. You were dead in her arms. Even I felt sorry for her when you didn't return her touch, when you completely ignored her. Through your own foolish actions, or lack thereof, you have successfully lost Scully, Mulder. Oh, she may still be by your side; she may never leave you physically, so strong is her loyalty and devotion to you. But emotionally, you've come close to destroying her faith. And emotionally, you yourself have lost sight of her, so that it doesn't matter to you anymore that she's right beside you all the time; you can't see her. And don't think I'm not aware of Scully's sin. Though she would never admit t o it to me of all people, of course, after Scully's little daughter died she shut down, much the same way that you've shut down now. She couldn't see you. I suppose at some point you selfishly decided to return the favor. It really pains me to see you two like this, Mulder. You used to be so close, so together. You used to be partners. Now you're two lost souls who've become so intricately entangled you can't even touch each other anymore. Through finding each other, you've lost yourselves, and each other, and the world around you. It bothers me most that so many of the rest of us, on the outside, can see it so clearly when both of you have no idea what's going on. But I can't tell you. If you can't figure it out for yourselves, there's no point in you knowing in the first place. I will and have told you that you've royally screwed up. You probably don't see the double meaning, but at least I've done my part in telling you. It truly saddens me to think that my two favorite truth-seekers can't see their own truths when those truths are sitting right in front of their noses; when those truths are in themselves, in each other. But beyond the customary condolences I will give you when you finally leave this office, the only advice I can give you is, simply: Look happy, Mulder and Scully; it's the end of the world. ***** Where will you be this afternoon I cut off all my fingers No fame I spill my guts and orphaned desert isle Like orphaned big bang Blink If you can hear me Box my ears, daddy Box my ears ***** Hoping is out of style So look happy, it's the end of the world ***** THE END-Boy, I'm REALLY gonna stick to MSR. (Yeah, I know---that's what I said last time. ) 'I'm afraid to look any further beyond that experience. You? You are not.' ***Feedback is always very appreciated***Flames will be used to decorate the Catacomb*** "And now, to present the 'rookie of the year' award, the winners of 'best assassination' ten years running: our good friends, Murphy and Camier!" - Dobrinsky, 'Kangeroo Court', Once A Thief