Untitled Five Minute Fic
JET
jetpaine@yahoo.com

If context helps, this scene is somewhere in the
quasi-"Small Lives Awake"-sequel I've been bouncing around
for a while.

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All Standard Schmoop Warnings Apply.

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9:37a - 9:42a (JET stops, counts slowly -- that is five
minutes, right?)

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Scully stopped at the door from the kitchen into the living
room.  Mulder noticed too late and bumped into her.  A
small sack of cocoa, a present for Peter balanced atop a
stack of shiny boxes, fell off and hit her in the head.  He
meant to apologize but Scully's posture told him to keep
his mouth shut.

On the other side of the door, Michelle was apparently
lining up a few people for execution.

"...I know you think the world revolves around your opinion
of it, Bill, but frankly I married into this family ten
years ago and for at least ten years you've been full of
shit."

Mulder raised his eyebrows in surprise.  He knew Michelle
didn't suffer fools but the conversation he and Scully were
eavesdropping on still did not sound like the sort of thing
he wanted to wade into.

"Look, Michelle," Bill was saying, "we all know what you
think, but this isn't about you--"

"Well, it needs to be about someone, doesn't it?" Michelle
sneered.  An unnamed person coughed, and Mulder thought he
heard Margaret say, "Kids, it's Christmas."

Scully helped Mulder place the presents on the bench by the
kitchen hearth.  Their eyes met over Michelle's next
furious words, barely muffled by the door and the soft
cracklings of the fire.

"This is about Dana and the fact that she's an intelligent,
compassionate woman.  She's smarter than you and your
brother put together, William Scully Junior, and I say that
even loving your brother more than a good box of
chocolate," Michelle ranted.  "I love your sister too; I
think she's kind and wise and strong, and I think she's
held her own against some pretty tough circumstances.  But
mostly I think she's not at all the sort of person who's
weak-willed, or easily manipulated, or anyone's victim."

Scully sat down on the bench, and tugged at Mulder's hand. 
He sat beside her and brushed a pine needle off her hair. 
She smiled at him, a little sadly, and drew an arm around
his waist.

"So my question to you," Michelle continued, "is why you
find your sister such an idiot, such an empty vessel, such
a simple-minded drone that you don't trust her judgement,
that you believe she isn't capable of making the right
decision?  Why is so difficult to accept that if Dana -- of
all people, Dana -- chooses to love someone, then that
person is worthy of her love?"

Mulder held his breath against the weight in his lungs.

"You don't know him," Bill roared.

"Stop it, both of you," Charlie pleaded.

Scully pressed a little closer to Mulder, took his right
hand in hers.  She raised her head to whisper, "You are
worthy of love, you know."  She kissed his temple.  "And
I'm really glad I chose you."

He kissed her mouth and took a very deep breath of relief.

"And anyway," Scully said, grinning, "Michelle is always
victorious in these battles.  The best thing to do is just
hang out in the kitchen until the smoke clears."  She stood
up, scanning the room.  Her sharp gaze landed on the cookie
jar and her face lit up.  "Want one of Mom's famous
Christmas brownies?"