Title: Halo of Fire
Author: SSCW46 <sscw46@xfilesfan.com>
Rated: G
Category: V
Spoilers: Christmas Carol/Emily
Keywords: 
Disclaimer: All characters belong to Chris Carter,
the FOX Network, and 1013.
Summary: How did Scully's necklace end up in 
Emily's casket?

AUTHOR'S NOTE: Thanks to everybody who read and 
reviewed this story at the OS Message Board. And a 
special thanks to RavishinglyRood for naming my fic.
I love you guys! :)


Halo of Fire by SSCW46

The ash stung my eyes but I didn't turn away. 
Instead, I was fixated on the red, leaping flames. 
Well, actually, I was staring at the small body being 
eaten by the flames. Her ashes flowed upwards, 
swirling around me and towards the sky. Parts of her, 
going to Heaven. The gentle breeze coaxing them to 
the place where I would never even get a glimpse of.

I rubbed the gold necklace with my thumb and traced 
the cross with my fingers. It was so beautiful, just 
like Emily. Just like Scully. I didn't notice it yet 
when I went to retrieve Emily's body. It was when I 
laid her body down on the pyre, did I see it. I 
wasn't supposed to do it, but I did it anyway. 
"Destroy all of the evidence," he had said. His 
cigarette jutted out from his thin lips as he eyed me 
suspiciously. "I *am* able to trust you, aren't I? 
Alex." Yeah, yeah. Whatever. To hell with the old 
man. It's just a necklace. I pocketed it and took out 
my cell phone. 

"It's me."

"So, it's done?"

Pause. "Yeah, it's done."

"Very good, Alex. See how easy it is when 
you're cooperative? Your working environment would be 
much more enjoyable if you do as you're told." Click. 
The dial tone rang loudly in my ears before I shut 
the phone off.  Stupid old man. I knew he set this up 
for me. He always liked to watch me writhe in his 
grip and send me on assignments that he knew I didn't 
like. This assignment, in particular, hit me hard.

It was Emily for God's sake. A child. A product of 
hideous experiments that needed to be disposed of. I 
didn't want anything to do with it, but as he always 
sees pleasure in other people's pain, he ordered me 
to burn Emily's body. What could I do? My objections 
would be useless, if they were heard at all. It 
doesn't matter now, I thought, I already did what the 
old man wanted me to do, and no matter how much I 
regret it, I can't change it.

I sighed and called someone to clean up the site. 
After the brief conversation, I hung up and looked 
around. There was still time before the clean up crew 
arrived. The necklace dangled loosely from my fingers 
as I raised it up. It was Scully's. She probably gave 
it to Emily after they met. Now, why did I take the 
necklace in the first place? I could've left it 
around her neck and let it burn. Destroy the 
"evidence." But why didn't I? Well, I can't keep it, 
that's for sure. So, I made a decision to give it 
back to Scully. 

After all, I do owe her, *a lot.* Killing a person is 
easy because their life ends, right there. My 
remorse, if any, lasts for a short while. But Scully, 
I ruined her life. I didn't end it, I *ruined* it. 
And it wasn't with a gun, either. It was those three 
words: "Scully's a problem." Honestly, at the time, I 
didn't know the extent of the damage my words would 
cause. And when I asked the old man in the car about 
Scully, he brushed me off and said that I had no 
right to know. Now, Scully's barren with a chip in 
her neck. Oh yeah, and the cancer. 

I never hated Scully, you have to understand that. 
When I said that she was a problem, I wanted her out 
of the picture, not destroy her life. Scully has been 
the only person who has never laid a finger on me, 
even though she is the person that I've hurt the 
most.

The approaching van in the distance caught my 
attention. White, unmarked, very discreet. The trail 
of dust dissipated as it drew nearer.

Yes, I think I'll go return Scully's necklace.


-End-