TITLE: The Misery of One
AUTHOR: Erin M. Blair
E-MAIL: eblair@sonic.net
CLASSIFICATION/CATEGORY: SRA--Story, Romance, Angst.
CONTENT: Mulder/Scully Romance. Scully/Other (don't worry)
Romance. Mulder/Other Romance. Scully 
Torture (emotional). Mulder Torture (emotional). Alternate 
Universe.
RATING: PG to slight R.
DISTRIBUTION/ARCHIVE STATEMENT: OK to Gossamer, 
Xemplary, Ephemeral, Spookys. All others - ask me.  
SPOILERS:   Redux II. Small spoilers from: Pilot, 
Deep Throat, Erlenmeyer Flask, One Breath.
SETTING: Season 5 to the middle of Season 6. 
DATE:  August 16, 2003 - first draft. Written and edited
during the months from August to November. Final draft:
November 12, 2003.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS: Thanks to Jen for beta reading
this story and to provided much needed support for 
me. I do want to thank those of you who looked at this 
story in its earlier stages. I want to thank the Haven MSR
gang for their support as well. 
DISCLAIMER: Mulder and Scully belong to Chris 
Carter. David Miller and Tonya Reynolds belong to me. 
SUMMARY: After Mulder's betrayal, Scully ends up with a dieting
disease - anorexia nervosa. Can someone save Scully before it's
too late? Is Mulder really Mulder? 


------------------------------------
THE MISERY OF ONE
Written by: Erin M. Blair
------------------------------------

X-Files Basement Office
December 1997

Fox Mulder was in a good mood -- something 
which was rare for him -- as it was 
the two-month anniversary of his partner, Dana 
Scully, being cured from her cancer. The doctors didn't 
know what cured her, but Mulder knew it was the chip 
that he had found at the Department of Defense. 

Mulder saw the door open and he smiled as Scully
walked in. "Happy remission day," he said as he 
handed her a present. "Open it."

Scully smiled tenderly as she took the package from 
him.  "Mulder, it's only been two months. I have to wait 
six years before I'm pronounced cancer-free." She paused.
"How did you know it was today?"

"I have it circled on my calendar and I remember
the entry in my journal," said Mulder. "Besides,
I remember being so happy when you told me that
your cancer went into remission." He paused. "Open it."

Scully tore off the paper and the ribbon to reveal a
long box. She opened the lid to reveal two nameplates.
In gold lettering, they said: SPECIAL AGENT DANA 
SCULLY, M.D. She was so overwhelmed with 
unshed tears that she couldn't speak. Mulder 
finally appreciated her. "I don't know what to 
say. Thank you, Mulder."

"Do you want to put them up now?"

"Can we do that later?"

Mulder nodded. "I'm glad you like them. I'm going to
order you a desk, too -- that way we  can play Battleship."
He grinned and then paused. "You're very important to 
me, Scully. I hope you always know that, regardless of 
what happens." He paused. "I was so scared of losing 
you, Scully. I never want to lose you. When you 
had cancer, I prayed to God for a miracle."

"I thought you didn't believe in God, Mulder."

"For your sake, I wanted to believe in anything that could
save you. Scully, do you want go out to dinner with me?"

Scully nodded. "Is this a date, Mulder?"

"In more ways than one."

***

Mulder took Scully to a pizzeria for dinner. "I
thought we should go to someplace casual." 
He looked into Scully's eyes - her eyes were 
as blue as the Pacific Ocean. He felt as though 
he could look inside her soul. "I will always remember 
you, Scully."

"Mulder, is there something wrong?"

"No, there isn't. It's just...that I'd never realized
how beautiful your eyes were until now," said
Mulder as his voice tumbled the words out in a
rush. 

"That's amazing, Mulder. Are you sure it's just
that?"

"I'm in love with you."

"Mulder, I had no idea."

"I would go to the ends of the Earth to be 
with you," said Mulder. He leaned into her,
his tie almost landing in the food, to kiss 
her. 

"Mulder," she murmured. "I...would do
the same for you." She paused. "You 
know that, don't you?"

Mulder nodded. "Yes, I do. You mean
the world to me. I hope you will always
remember that."

"I will always remember, Mulder."

***

Mulder took her back to her apartment 
in Georgetown. "Here we are," he said
as he smiled at her. 

Scully took her keys out of her trenchcoat
to unlock her door. She led Mulder into
her apartment and she smiled at him. "If
someone had told me how you would reveal
your love to me, I don't know what I would
have done. It sounds like a dream."

"I can assure you, Scully, it's not a dream,"
said Mulder. He watched Scully as she took
off her trenchcoat to reveal her navy blue blouse
with matching skirt. "I do love you." He
wrapped his arms around her waist and his
lips touched hers. "It's not a dream."

"I'm glad," she murmured. She felt his warm
lips on hers to formulate a kiss. The passion
felt between them was intensified when she 
felt his warm hand caressing her skin. "Bedroom."

They were both powerless to stop what they had 
started. Mulder let her blouse drop as he finished
unbuttoning it. Then he watched her take
off her bra and skirt. Soon she was only
wearing her panties but those came off, too. 

Scully watched Mulder getting undressed. His
shirt, then his undershirt, then his pants, and then
his silk boxers - all came off. Soon, they were both
naked, their skin touched with ecstasy, and they
both couldn't believe the unspoken passion which
seem to embrace them. 

She was blissfully awakened through Mulder's 
caresses and kisses. Finally, she couldn't take
it any longer. The urgent desire overtook her, she
wanted him to enter her.  "I want you in me. Now." 

Mulder nodded. "Are you sure?" He asked again.
"Scully, are you sure this is something you want? I
don't want to hurt you." He wanted to explore 
the softness of her skin, to bathe in her 
beauty, and to touch her red-gold hair. His 
kisses were soft and gentle as a breeze. He never
felt this way about a woman before and he wanted 
to make sure this moment lasted. 

"I'm sure," said Scully. She could feel his hands touching
the outline of her breasts and then he kissed her on the
breasts, then her neck, and then her hair. 

Mulder nestled against her body, skin to skin, they were
united. "You're so beautiful, Scully," he whispered to her. "I
love you so much. This won't be a one night stand. This will
be a start of a new beginning for us." 

"I know," said Scully. 

When Mulder entered her, they were both exhilarated
with the passion overflowing them both. The heat between
them erupted with the fire of love. 


***

FBI Garage
Washington DC 
March 1998

A few months later, Mulder was walking to
his car in the FBI garage. He had a happy smile
on his face. He was looking forward to a 
date with Scully. They had been very intimate with
each other. He was thinking of her as he got his 
keys out. He was attacked from behind by a 
man who looked just like him. Mulder tried to fight
back, but he was knocked unconscious. 

Kimberly Cook, AD Skinner's secretary, watched
as the scene played in front of her. She called 
for an ambulance.  "There's an agent
down. He is unconscious..."

She looked at Mulder. "Agent Mulder? I'm 
getting help for you." 

The ambulance got there and took Mulder
to the hospital. He was in a coma but the
doctors didn't know who he was. He was
labeled as a John Doe. Mulder's identification
and his FBI badge were missing due to the
lookalike pocketing them.

Trinity Hospital
March 16, 1998

Mulder woke up. He looked around his surroundings, 
deducing that he was in a hospital room. He tried
to rack his memory as to why he was in a hospital,
but he was at a loss for answers. The worst of
all: he didn't remember who he was. He racked his
brain for other memories. He did remember a petite
redhead named Dana Scully. He knew he was 
partnered with her in the FBI. 

Mulder raked his mind for more memories, but his
thoughts were interrupted by a man who looked just
like him. *Could I have a twin?* he wondered. His mirror 
image appeared before him. He was wearing a grey t-shirt 
and jeans. 

"Who are you?" asked Mulder. 

"I'm the one to replace you on the X-Files and
with Scully," said the man. "I'm Fox Mulder
now."

Mulder had a feeling that this man -- this 
identical looking man --- was going to take the
things that mattered to him. Whoever this
Scully was, Mulder knew he had to find her.
She was the key, he knew, to his heart and the
answers to his identity. 

However, Mulder knew he was the real Fox 
Mulder. The question he had: how to prove 
he was the real Mulder?

***
Mulder felt confused at what was happening to
him. He wanted to find Scully and convince her
that it was really him, but he knew it would take some
time. He would watch her from afar, to protect her
from the imposter. 

When Mulder left the hospital, he was wearing
the clothes that he had arrived in. He needed to give
himself a new identity until he found out who he was. 
He needed to find some expert help. 

Computers For Less
Washington DC 
March 19, 1998

He found the Lone Gunmen in the computer 
store. 

"Mulder, where's Scully?" asked Frohike.

Mulder frowned. In a dull voice, he asked, "Who's 
Mulder?"

"Oh, man. You have amnesia, don't you?"
asked Byers. 

Mulder nodded. "I know who I am, Byers. It's
just that I have partial amnesia. I remember 
some things, like all of you. It's just...that...
someone stole my identity and left me with
partial memories. I do have memories of Scully.
I can't prove who I am - the imposter stole my
FBI wallet, my FBI ID badge, and my driver's 
license."

"Let's go to our headquarters," said Frohike.
"We need to come up with a plan."

Mulder sighed. "I need serious help."

Lone Gunmen Headquarters
March 19, 1998

At the Lone Gunmen headquarters, Mulder
watched Frohike, Langly, and Byers come
up with his new identity. 

"We're going to give you new identification
and an entrance pass to get you into the 
FBI," said Byers. "We know you're an FBI
agent."

"I can't just walk in..."

"We have our sources there. Don't worry
about that," said Frohike.  

The Lone Gunmen knew the man standing
in front of them was the real Fox Mulder. Still,
they were willing to supply him with a new 
identity in the meantime because of the identical
man who stole Mulder's identity. 

It was Mulder who thought of a name. "I know
my real last name starts with an M. How about
David William Miller?" He waited and then watched 
as they handed over the identification. 

"Miller, we know who you really are," said Frohike.
"We're going to try to get to the bottom of this.
It will be hard to get the guy pretending to be
you..."

Thus Fox Mulder, the real Fox Mulder, became
Special Agent David Miller.

***
FBI
J. Edgar Hoover FBI Building
Washington DC
March 21, 1998

Kimberly noticed David walking through the 
front entrance. She knew he was the real 
Fox Mulder. She saw what went down but
she knew David would have to prove who he
really was. She knew she had to help him 
because he seemed dazed, confused,
and it looked like he was taking it all in. She 
approached him, looking at his Agent Miller
identification card. "Agent Miller? Do you need
any help?"

David nodded. "Someone stole my badge and my
gun."

She took him to adminstrative support services
to get him a new badge and a gun. It took a few
hours. She looked up his assignment. "I take it
you're at Behavioral Science Unit, profiling serial
killers and the like at Quantico, VA."

David leaned over to see his profile on the computer.
The Lone Gunmen did a fabulous job of matching his
qualifications to what he really did as Fox Mulder. "Thanks,
Kimberly, for your help. I really appreciate it."

However, he knew he wanted to be with Scully. As luck
would have it, he got his new apartment near his old
one. He lived in apartment #49 in Alexandria, VA instead
of apartment #42 on the second floor. That way, he could 
see what the fake Mulder was up to.

It wasn't anything good.

***

X-Files Basment Office
March 21, 1998

The fake Mulder thought Scully was just a nuisance. He
wanted to destroy her feelings for the real Mulder by
undermining everything that they had worked for during
the past five years. His plan was to destroy Scully's 
self worth by throwing every insult he could think of. He 
hated to be Mulder and he couldn't wait until Scully 
left for the day.

All he wanted was revenge on the real Fox Mulder. Using
Scully was a way to get back at him. 

Mulder was afraid that she would find him out to be an 
imposter. He knew the real Mulder couldn't remember
his own identity, but was using a new one: David Miller.

He remembered seeing him at Casey's Bar. He looked
exactly like him but his hazel eyes were on Scully the
whole time. He knew David was really Fox Mulder, but he
didn't care. 

He looked up to see Scully walk in. "Hello."

"Hi." 

"Look, Agent Scully, I have to go on a case. Alone." 

***

Dana Scully thought everything was going great in
her life. Her health was now back to normal after 
beating her cancer a few months earlier. She was appreciated
in her career, and her future with Fox Mulder was
very hopeful. She had been his partner for almost six
years now. "Are you going to order me the desk?"

Mulder frowned. "What desk?"

"Well, you've given me the nameplates, but you
haven't given me the desk yet."

"I did?"

"I guess you have a lot on your mind, Mulder. Forget I 
even asked," said Scully. "I just don't know what's gotten into
you. You promised me you would order me a desk. You 
even took me out to dinner. You revealed your love to
me....  I'm so confused, Mulder."

Mulder watched her leave the office. After a few minutes,
he left for the day. He was running in the park when 
a tall, leggy brunette woman walked by. "Hello."

"I'm Tonya Reynolds."

"It's nice to meet you. My name is Fox Mulder,"
said Mulder. "I would like to jog with you."

"OK," said Tonya. "I thought you were only 
interested in Dana Scully."

"What makes you think that?"

"A few months ago, you were all over her. I
noticed the way you gaze at her."

"Um, Tonya, I'm not really Fox Mulder."

"You're not?" She put her hands on her
hips. "I could get you arrested for 
impersonating an FBI agent, *Mulder.*"

"My name is Steven Connell. I want
revenge on him. I'm trying to use his 
precious Scully to turn her against him.
I need your help, though."

"What is in it for me?"

"You will get the satisfaction of Dana
Scully thinking it's all over."

"I'll do it," said Tonya. "I'll help you."

***

Tonya was like his other conquests --- tall, 
brunette, dark eyed, and her legs were 
shapely. She worked in the FBI's Computer 
Records Department.  Tonya was nasty to 
Scully when Mulder wasn't in earshot. One 
day, she announced that she was going to 
get married to Mulder. "Well, look, it's 
fat Scully," said Tonya. She was enjoying the 
engagement ring on her finger. "Look what I 
got."

"It's a ring. I know...Mulder told me," said Scully.
She was withholding her emotions. Her face was
a blank. She wanted to hide her pain from Mulder.
*How dare he?* she inwardly screamed. Many
thoughts reeled in her mind.  *How dare
he date this woman? I thought he loved me!* 

"Mulder would never be interested in a woman
like you, Dana. You're too fat," said Tonya. 

Mulder walked up. "Hello ladies. Dana and I have
a case, Tonya." He kissed Tonya hard on the lips
in front of Scully. 

Scully frowned at the use of 'Dana' - she was hurt by the 
lack of respect from Mulder. She decided to throw the
disrespect back at him with full force. "Am I no longer 'Scully' 
to you, *Fox?*" Her face was full of anger at the 
lack of respect from her partner. 

***

Baltimore, MD
May 3, 1998

On a case, things got unbearable for Scully. She
almost wanted to quit, to leave the Bureau completely.
She was crying so much that Mulder ridiculed her.
"Stop being a baby, Dana."

"I'm not a baby. You hate me, don't you?"

Mulder nodded. "Yes, I can't stand to be around
fat women."

"Why don't you just go off to be with Tonya if you 
can't stand to be around me, Fox? I really don't 
care what happens to you. I'm not going to put 
up with your distrust of me."

Mulder treated Scully like dirt. He even started to call Scully
'fat' when he was with Tonya. He ditched her and the worst
of all, he played with Scully's life on one too many occasions.
Mulder left her with the perp. She got beaten so badly that 
she ended up in the hospital in DC.

Trinity Hospital
May 4, 1998

Scully's eyes were filled with unshed tears as she looked
down at her injured arm. She wondered why everything 
had turned ugly between her and Mulder. "I hate myself," she
cried. "I absolutely hate myself. I am fat. I couldn't even
handle myself on a case. Maybe if I stop eating, things
will go back to normal? I hope so."

Scully stopped for a moment and then watched the knob
turn on the door. 

It was Skinner. He was alarmed at what had happened 
to Scully on the case in Nevada. She looked very 
ill with her pale skin. Her blue eyes looked dead 
as there was no spark and her usual lush red hair 
looked stringy and brittle. She had lost so much 
weight that Skinner was afraid that her cancer
was back. 

"Scully, I came as soon as I heard. Will you please
tell me what happened?" asked Skinner. "I need to know 
so I can help you." 

"I deserve everything that happened to me. It was my
fault for being so fat," said Scully. 

"You look so ill, Scully. You're not fat at all," said 
Skinner. "You're my top agent and I do care what 
happens to you."

"My partner hates me," said Scully. "I want to leave
the Bureau."

"Mulder doesn't hate you, Scully. He cares for you.
I don't know what's going on with you two, but I'm 
going to solve this."`

"Well, maybe three months ago, he did care about
me. Not anymore. Mulder completely stopped 
caring about me. He was going to order me a desk
to go along with the new nameplates he gave me...but
he totally forgot. I remember him telling me that I
mattered a great deal to him...but he played with my
life way too many times. On cases, he deserts me.
He treats me like...a piece of trash. He thinks I'm fat.
If I lose the weight, maybe he'll start treating me better."

"Maybe Mulder doesn't care about the X-Files cases
and you anymore, but I will get someone to partner
you. Scully, please don't leave the Bureau. I will
make sure this doesn't happen again."

"I hope it doesn't."

***
Quantico 
May 10, 1998

When the news about Scully's hospitalization
reached Quantico, all hell broke loose. The
first to find out about it was Scully's assistant, Carrie
Watters. She told her friend, Special Agent 
Chris Williams about it when she saw him at noon.

"I thought you would want to know, Chris.
I know how much you enjoyed taking classes
from her," said Carrie. She was a small, petite
woman, about Scully's size except she was a 
blonde with brown eyes. 

Chris frowned. *He did what?* he thought.  Chris 
was a good looking man with curly brown hair and deep
brown eyes. He frowned as he looked at his 
partner. His deep brown eyes looked downcast
as he reflected about Agent Scully. He had always
adored her when she was his forensics teacher at
Quantico when she worked at Quantico back 
when she was separated from Mulder in 1994. "Thank
you for telling me, Carrie. I appreciate it." 

Chris was walking down the hallway towards 
his office that he shared with his relatively 
new partner, David Miller. He was reeling from 
the news - it pained him to have knowledge that
a fellow agent faced brutality from both the perp
and the fact that her partner didn't protect her back.
He clenched his fists in anger. *What a jerk!* he 
thought as he entered the office. 

"What's wrong, Chris?" asked David. He noticed
his partner looked downcast. He was working on a 
case at Quantico with Chris when he heard news about 
Scully's hospitalization.  *Something is terribly 
wrong,* David thought, feeling it within his 
soul. He closed his eyes, hoping that the news 
would be good, but he knew something bad 
had happened to her. 

"Have you heard about Agent Scully? I just heard from
my friend who helps her in the morgue here at Quantico. 
She said and I quote, 'Agent Scully's hospitalized due to 
injuries she received from a perp.' I wonder why Agent Mulder
wasn't protecting her?" wondered Chris. 

David's lips turned down in a frown. His heart almost
stopped, literally, at the news. He wasn't sure why he 
was feeling this way. News about Scully made him feel
utterly sick to his stomach.  "Why did her partner didn't
protect her?"

"I don't know. Carrie said she was confused. According
to her, it sounds like the trust wasn't there anymore. It's
like they don't connect anymore. Agent Scully was the 
best forensics teacher here at Quantico and it bothers
me deeply," said Chris. "You know what I mean?"

David nodded. "I have heard great things about her
by reputation. It's just I can't believe Agent Mulder
would do that to his partner...  I hope their boss
gets Agent Mulder for negligence."

"From what Carrie said, their boss, AD Skinner, already
went to see her at the hospital."

"I want to see her, Chris."

"Why?" asked Chris. 

"I want Scully to have the best partner: me."

"Are you sure?"

David nodded. "It's important for her life. From
everything you told me about Scully, Mulder has
been acting like a jerk." 

***
Trinity Hospital 
May 13, 1998

After David heard about Scully's hospitalization due
to Mulder's betrayal, he decided that were two issues for him
at stake. He wanted to see Scully at the hospital and to
become her new partner. 

Scully meant the world to him and he wanted to protect
her from Mulder. When he saw her, memories of her filled his
head. The memories were only of him with her and it
felt natural being with her. He didn't know why, but he knew she 
was the key to his identity and to his heart. 

"Scully, I'm here," said David. He noticed how she looked
and it hurt him tremendously to see her like that. "Please 
don't die."

"Mulder..."

"Scully," said David as he squeezed her hand using a gentle
amount of pressure. He wanted her to fight her injuries and to
live. Although he didn't know who he was, people were telling
him that he was the true Fox Mulder. David had a feeling that
he was. The question was: how come someone was pretending
to be him and causing heartwrenching pain in Scully? "You have 
to get well because you're needed. Believe me, Scully."

Scully was half-asleep, drowsy from the medication that was
being pumped into her. "I wanted to believe you, Mulder, but 
you've been acting so strangely. I don't know why you ditched 
me...to end up like this. I'm dying, Mulder.  You have hurt me 
so much..."

David gasped. This wasn't what he wanted. Silently, he 
prayed for God to save her from death. "Scully, you
can't die. I'm not letting you. You mean the world to me,
Scully."

Scully's blue eyes were filled with tears. "Why do you
hate me, Mulder?" She paused. "You told me you
loved me."

David gasped again. This fake Mulder really did a number
on Scully. "I don't hate you, Scully. You mean the world
to me. I love you, Scully." 

Before Scully's reaction, David had known that he was 
the real Fox Mulder. Now, after sitting by her side in Scully's
hospital room, David was certain that he was Mulder. 
Unfortunately, there wasn't any proof. He knew he 
had to find the proof to take his life back from the imposter. 

And to save Scully.

***

After leaving Trinity Hospital in DC,  he went to his 
apartment in Alexandria to write out a request for
transfer. As much as he enjoyed the company of his
partner, Chris Williams, he knew that he had to be
Scully's new partner. 

David decided to write a request for transfer from his 
position as a profiler at Quantico to partner with Dana 
Scully on the X-Files in Washington DC. He gave it to 
AD Skinner the next day. "I want to be Dana Scully's 
partner. Did you hear what Fox Mulder did to her?" 

Skinner nodded. He looked up at David and was 
startled to see the resemblance to Agent Mulder. He 
was a tall man with a slender build with hazel 
colored eyes and brown hair. He looked as though 
he could pass for Mulder's identical twin. "I heard 
about it from Scully. He didn't even visit her 
when she was in the hospital. I found it to be quite odd."

"Why?" asked David. "Sir, is there anything you 
can do?"

"I think it's time to think about getting rid of 
Mulder."

***

David was still at the J. Edgar Hoover FBI Building 
after his meeting with Skinner.  He watched 
Scully at the cafeteria. She didn't touch her food 
and didn't even drink her glass of water. *What's 
going on with Scully?*

He walked up with his tray. "Scully?"

"Go away. I am not going to talk to you."

"I know I look like Mulder but I can assure you...
I'm not him. My name is David Miller. Special
Agent David Miller."

"Hello. How did you know me?"

"I have seen you before. My partner was one of
your former students. He told me so much about
you that I felt like I already know you," said David
as he smiled at her.  He paused. The smile replaced
into a frown. "Why aren't you eating?"

"Because I am fat. Mulder and Tonya are laying it on
rather thick. Do you think I'm fat?"

"No, Scully. Do your friends think you're fat?" 

"No," said Scully. "I want to leave the Bureau so
much."

"I heard from a source that you will be getting a new
partner."

"That's nice, but I don't believe it."

"I think you should start thinking about a new partner.
Mulder doesn't deserve you. There are plenty of people
who would love to become your partner. I'm one of them."

"I don't deserve a new partner. No one would want
a partner who's fat."

"You're not fat, Scully. I can assure you."

***
Las Vegas 
May 20, 1998

Mulder and Tonya went to Las Vegas to get married. "Now
my life can start with you, Tonya."

"I'm glad you're quitting the Bureau," said Tonya. "I'm
so glad you don't have to partner that pig."

"Me, too. I couldn't stand her." He gave her an open
mouth kiss. 

His existence in Scully's life ended the very day he married
Tonya. He even ended his association with the X-Files and
dropped the search on Samantha.  

***

Scully's Apartment
May 20, 1998

Scully went to the scale and she smiled. She was now
98 pounds. "That's a bit better. I just to need to lose more.
I know I can never get Mulder back. I still look fat," said 
Scully as she got off the scale. She went to the mirror. All
she could see was a fat woman staring back at herself. 
"I'm so fat."

She heard a phone ring and she answered it. "Scully."

"Hello, this is David Miller. Special Agent David Miller. We
met that day in the cafeteria and I was just wondering how
you are," said David. 

"I'm...fine, David," said Scully. She wasn't sure why he
was calling her. "How did you know my phone 
number?" 

"It was in the FBI directory," said David. "I sent my
transfer request to Skinner."

"Oh," said Scully. *Why should I care?* "Where 
are you going to be transferred?"

"X-Files office. Down to the basement with
you," said David. "In fact, I asked for it myself."

"You're going to be my partner?"

"As long as Skinner approves the transfer
request, I will be your new partner. I'm looking
forward to it, Scully."

J. Edgar Hoover FBI Building
Washington DC
May 21, 1998

David Miller wasn't too happy with the way Fox Mulder
acted towards Dana Scully. *Wasn't he her partner?*  

He stood there, waiting, at Skinner's office. "Agent Miller,"
said Kimberly, "AD Skinner wants to see you now."

"Thanks."

David walked into Skinner's office. "You wanted to see 
me, Sir?"

"I approved your transfer request, Agent Miller,
since Agent Mulder decided to leave the X-Files. He 
recently got married."

"Thank you," said David. 

"Do you need directions to the basement office?"

"No, I don't need directions."

***

Scully knew she was going to get a new partner
after Mulder left the partnership. She was putting
Agent Mulder's nameplate in the desk drawer and put
hers out on the desk: SPECIAL AGENT DANA 
SCULLY, MD. It was the same one that Mulder
gave her after two months into her remission from
cancer.

She even took  Mulder's nameplate off the door
and replaced it with her own. It was her office now,
not Mulder's. She thought she would feel some emotion
for him leaving her. 

Scully didn't feel anything for him. She was still in 
shock after the way Mulder treated her. She stared
at his picture and then looked at her nameplate. She 
remembered his sweet words when he gave it
to her: "You're very important to me, Scully. I hope
you always know that, regardless of what happens."

She heard a knock on the door and knew it was her 
new partner. "Nobody's here except the most
unwanted person on Earth!"

David Miller walked into the basement office and looked
at Scully with interest. "Agent Scully?"

Scully looked up from looking at Mulder's photograph to watch
her new partner walk in. She noticed that he looked similiar to
Mulder with his brown hair, hazel eyes and a tall, slim build.
"Hi. You must be Agent Miller. I remember you from the 
cafeteria." 

David nodded. "Agent David Miller. I have always been interested
in the paranormal. I requested to work in the X-Files unit and my
request to work with you has obviously been approved by AD Skinner."

"You wanted to work with me?" inquired Scully. "Why?"

"I heard great many things about you. I read your senior thesis
on 'Einstein's Twin Paradox: A New Approach' by Dana
Scully. I liked it and memorized it."

"Unfortunately, there wouldn't be too many occasions for
my expertise in physics," said Scully. "Unless I work for
NASA or as a college professor."

"And I heard that you're a talented pathologist," said 
David. "When I heard about the opening, I knew I wanted
to work with you."

"Oh, I thought nobody would want to work with me," said
Scully with a sigh. "People can't stand to be around me."

David did hear about a falling out with her and Agent Mulder,
but he always admired Scully from afar. He thought Mulder
treated her like dirt. "That's not true, Agent Scully. I don't
believe that."

***
June 10, 1998

Scully knew David Miller cared for her immensely 
and he even started to call her Scully. He wanted 
to call her Dana, but she didn't really want to be 
called that because Mulder and Tonya had used 
that name to belittle her. David then settled for 
calling her Scully. However, she could call him 
David. He didn't mind in the least. 

When they were on a case in Oregon, she noticed 
how David's hazel colored eyes were alarmed when 
he put his hand on her back. "Scully, have you 
been dieting?"

"No," said Scully. "I haven't been dieting."

"Your weight has been dropping off your body. What's
wrong?" asked David. 

"OK - I have been dieting. I do have a weight problem.I
have lost -- " 

"Whenever we go out to eat, you never touch it. You
don't even eat anymore, Scully. Do you?"

Scully didn't answer him. The depth of her despair 
hindered her. It threatened to engulf her. Her body 
was now unrecognisable. She wanted to die, wanted 
to flee, but she couldn't. Her new partner, David, watched 
out for her like a hawk. She could tell David was truly 
in love with her and how he wanted to be the one to 
end her despair. Or did he, really? She had 
been wrong about people before. Especially Mulder. 

She ruefully sighed. "I'm so fat, David."

"You're not fat, Scully. I wish you could believe
me. I want to help you."

"I don't need any help. Look, it's not that I don't
want your help...its just that Mulder treated so 
badly after we...."

"After what?"

"You can tell me."

"I'm not sure if I can trust you," said Scully. Tears
were starting to form in her eyes, which threatened
to break. She didn't know who to trust anymore. She
didn't know who her true friends were. Mulder was not
only her partner, he was her friend and lover. She trusted
him. She loved Mulder but he betrayed her. 

"You can trust me, Scully. You can trust me with 
my life. No one should have betrayed you like the 
shabby way Mulder treated you. You didn't deserve
that. No one deserves that," said David. He wanted
to touch her, to let her know that everything was
going to be all right. He wasn't sure how she was 
going to react to him touching her. 

"Mulder and I made love," said Scully. "That's
why I'm at a loss for why...he...and Tonya. He 
used me, David."

David gasped. "That's awful, Scully. What a 
jerk!"

"Now do you see why I can't love anyone 
anymore or trust anyone?" 

***
X-Files Basement Office
June 14, 1998

David had always been in love with Scully.  There 
was something familiar about her. When he came 
back to DC, he had no idea who he was. He 
found some computer hackers named the Lone 
Gunmen when he was searching for his identity. They
helped him establish a new identity named David 
Miller. When he was told that he was an FBI 
Agent, he knew that was familiar to him. David 
remembered something about the X-Files unit when
Scully's partner left, he jumped at the chance. He 
submitted his request for transfer and was happy 
when it was approved. 

Now he was more concerned for Scully than finding 
out about his identity. "Scully?"

"Yes?"

"You're drifting away from me. I need to know 
why you're like this. I want to help you, 
Scully," said David.

"Agent Miller, I'm going to give you some 
ground rules. No caring. No touching. No 
holding the door for me. I don't want your 
concern," said Scully. 

"Why?"

"I was betrayed by someone who did these things to
me. I thought he cared for me. We made love, David.
I found out differently about his feelings for me: he 
never cared about me. He left me for a woman who 
hated me with a passion. This woman called me
a fat pig and told me how I didn't deserve anyone. Worst of
all, he treated me rotten. He ditched me. He even didn't
care when I was in the hospital. Then he started to call
me fat, too."

David gasped. "You're not fat, Scully! Have you looked
in the mirror lately? You're losing too much weight. 
This is serious, Scully." 

***

Skinner was sitting in front of his desk when Agent
Miller came rushing in. 

"I'm sorry to bother you, but I need to talk to you."

"I think I know - Scully."

David nodded. "I'm so worried about her."

"I know. I'm glad someone is concerned.  She 
didn't used to be like this, Agent Miller."

"I know," said David. "Something tells me I
have to wring someone's neck. I know that 
Mulder hurt her tremendously."

Skinner nodded. "I know, Agent Miller. I'll 
talk to her. If I can't get through to her, then
I'm going to call her mother to reach her."

"I wish I could reach her, Skinner. I have
tried. It's hard. She keeps pushing me 
away. It's just that I can't lose her."

"She means the world to you. Doesn't
she?"

David nodded. "We're soulmates."

***
"Mom, there's nothing wrong with me," said
Scully. 

"Dana, you're skin and bones."

"Mom, I'm fat!" exclaimed Scully with sorrow.
"Mulder even told me that."

"Well, he was a jerk to you. You're not fat,
Dana. You've got to come through this. Wasting
away isn't the answer. AD Skinner and your
partner, David, want you to get better. You have
to come back to yourself, Dana. I met your new
partner and I could tell he's in love with you."

"Like Mulder was? He's not in love with me,
Mom. He wouldn't have left me to be....with
that Tonya. I decided then that I won't ever
love anyone anymore."

"You have to, Dana. It's the only thing that 
would save you."

Scully finally gave in to her misery and cried.
Her mother embraced her and rocked her as
she cried. "I can't love anyone, Mom."

"I love you, Dana."

***
Trinity Hospital
August 2, 1998

Scullly was now at the hospital. She spent months
on getting her weight back to where it was 
originally. She would need to be rehabilitated
and learn how to eat again. She would need therapy
to help her adjust to eat normally and to help cope 
with why she stopped eating. 

She knew why she stopped -- because of Mulder and 
Tonya. Their constant belittlement almost cost her
life. She would never forgive them. Never. 

She was grateful to the people who had actually been 
there for her: David, Skinner, and especially her
family. She was on the road to recovery with their 
help. It was going to be a long road but she knew she
had support, love, and affection from the people who
truly mattered to her. 

David walked in to see Scully. "Hey, Scully. You look
so much better. The color is back in your cheeks."

"I'm sorry for the way I treated you. I was so rough 
on you."

"I understand, Scully."

"David, I was going through a rough time. I have a
hard time trusting people after...."

"You can always trust me, Scully. Always. I will never
hurt you," said David. 

"I learned never say never," said Scully. "Never say
never to love and to open myself again to the wonderous
feelings of my heart."

"I'm glad, Scully, because I care deeply for you. If I 
lost you to this...I don't know what I'd do."

"David, I had no idea that I'd made such a huge 
impression."

"You certainly have. When I first met you, I just knew
you were the one for me. You don't have to prove anything
to me, Scully."

There were tears in Scully's clear blue eyes, which
threatened to break, at what David said. She could 
fall in love with him -- her heart wanted to try again. He
definately wanted to be the one for her. However, after
Mulder's betrayal, could Scully go on? She wasn't sure.
However, David's love for her was unconditional. There 
were no strings. Nothing she needed to do. He reminded
her so much of when she first met Mulder. "Unlike Mulder."

"Scully, please forget him. You will never have to deal
with him  again. I hate the way he broke your trust," said 
David with fierce determination. "I'm not going to let Mulder 
ruin your progress, Scully."

"How are you going to do that?"

"I'm territorial, Scully. When I deeply fall in 
love with someone -- that's you, Scully -- I don't
want to see the woman I love get hurt by anything
or anyone."

"The woman I love," repeated Scully. "David, you
hardly know me."

"Actually, I have always known you," said David.

***

David walked out of Scully's room and he noticed
Mrs. Scully waiting for him. "Mrs. Scully?"

"I would like to thank you, David, for helping Dana.
I haven't seen her happy in a long time. I don't
know what you did, David, but I'm very thankful. The
doctors told me that she'll be seen in an outpatient 
program and she could return to field duty in a
couple of months."

"That's wonderful news, Mrs. Scully. Your family
must be thrilled," said David. He looked at another
family member who threw him a sneer. "Who's
that?"

"My son, Bill. He never got along with Mulder." 

David walked up to Bill. "Hello. Your mother told
me your name's Bill Scully."

"Mulder, you know who I am."

"Actually, I'm not Fox Mulder. I don't like him 
either. Not after what he did to Dana."

Bill gasped. "I thought you were Mulder. I'm sorry - you
look just like him. What's your name?"

"David Miller - I'm Dana's partner. I'm the one who 
wants to help her to get better."

"I had no idea. Mulder certainly didn't deserve her."

"You get no argument from me, Bill." David smiled
at him, feeling the same way about Mulder.


***

David Miller's Apartment
42, Hegal Place
Alexandria, VA
August 2, 1998

David was at his apartment which he got when Mulder
left the area to get married to Tonya. He was exhausted 
from driving to see Scully at the hospital. Scully had improved 
tremendously with his help.  There was talk that she'd 
even return to field duty in a couple of months. He was 
so happy for her. 

Memories, not recent ones, overtook him as he looked
at a photo album he found in the X-Files office. He found
the album in Fox Mulder's old desk, which Scully now
uses as senior partner. *I wonder why he didn't take it
with him,* David thought, *I think I know why. He married
Tonya. Scully was just thrown away like a dirty dishrag.*
He flipped through the pages and he saw pictures of 
Scully looking happy with Mulder from their first case
together to the time she returned from the abduction. 
After that, there were pictures of when they were on
the run together and when Scully's cancer went into
remission. That was where the one photo album ended. 
Nothing after 1997. "That's so odd." David found a leather
journal with the stack of stuff he brought over. 

November 2, 1994 
Fox Mulder's Apartment

Mulder missed Scully desparately.  She was still
missing and her family was holding out little hope
of finding her alive. 

Mulder wanted to do something to be close to her. He
wore her cross necklace but he wanted to write his
feelings for her in a journal. Maybe she would read it 
someday? 

He started to write:

//  Dear Scully,
//  I know you're not here, but I have this feeling you'll
// return to me. Your beliefs have always given me the
// strength to keep me going. I don't care what your family
// say: I will keep looking for you. I hope you know how
// much I care for you. I want you back so much. If you
// do, I will make sure nothing will ever happen to us.
//
// Mulder 

David Miller's Apartment
Present Day

David looked at the handwriting and it was exactly like
his own. He didn't want it to be true - that he was really
Fox Mulder. He was overwhemed as the floodgates 
of his memory burst open, memories spilling like a river:

He was rushing to Scully's hospital and she was in a 
coma following her abduction. When he heard Scully
was awake, his hazel eyes lit up like a Christmas tree.
He remember handing her the cross necklace and how
she told him that she had the strength of his beliefs.

David closed his eyes and he remembered when
he first met Scully in the basement office.  He remembered
the case in Oregon and when Scully came into his
room and asked him to check her back. That night in
the hotel room, he remembered telling her about his
lost sister, Samantha. It was then he knew that they
shared a closeness that went deeper as the years went
by. 

He remembered when Scully told him that she 
had cancer and how his heart broke that day. He tried
everything he could to save her life. Finally, he infiltrated
the Department of Defense to find her the cure - another
chip to replace the one that was taken out of her neck.

He remembered the night he made passionate love
to Scully. He knew the night of lovemaking ended 
up taking Scully to the path of despair. 

David knew he was really Fox Mulder. He should have 
been relieved about knowing who he really was. He then 
remembered what the fake Mulder did to him and to
Scully. He would never forgive him as the fake Mulder
almost cost Scully's life. *I can't be Fox Mulder. I 
just can't be.*

David didn't think it mattered. *He*  wasn't the one who
terrorized and badmouthed Scully.  *He* wasn't the one
who married Tonya Reynolds. *He* certainly didn't
drive Scully into becoming an anorexic. Most of all, *he* 
certainly wouldn't treat Scully like yesterday's news. 

If David really was Mulder, than he needed to know why
this fake Mulder wanted to replace him. He needed to
find proof that he was really Mulder. David realized he couldn't
tell Scully - not yet. Even if he was truly Mulder, the name
gave him a bitter taste in his mouth, knowing what the fake
Mulder did to Scully.

Still, David knew he had to be honest with her. The truth would 
come out eventually. 

***

X-Files Basement Office
October 18, 1998

Two months later, Scully returned to work. She was now
weighing 105 pounds.  Her clothes looked good on her
petite frame. The pounds she put on helped her to look
like she had before her ordeal began. 

"You look wonderful, Scully," said David. "You look
absolutely gorgeous. Your blue dress brings out your 
eyes. Your eyes are so beautiful, Scully."

"Thanks, David."

"Anytime," he said. 

"I want to thank you for spending a lot of time 
with me," said Scully. She paused, smiling 
slightly. "You kind of remind me of what it was like 
between Mulder and me before..."

"I'm sorry."

"Don't be. I like what you did for me. I haven't felt this
happy for a long time." Scully watched him finger the
gold lettering on her nameplate. 

"Did Mulder give this to you, Scully?"

Scully nodded slowly. "Yes, he did. However,
he totally forgot that he did."

"I think I know why. Scully, do you have any
of Mulder's possessions?"

Scully looked startled. "Why?"

"I would like to see if you have any to run a 
DNA sample. I have every reason to suspect
that the Mulder who treated you so shabbily 
isn't really Mulder."

"The only things that I have are in his desk. I haven't
had the heart to go through them. I think you know why.
I know he's got a comb that still has a few hairs on it,  
and I know he had a PCR done."

"From what year?"

"1993."

"That's perfect, Scully."

"What do you hope to find?"

"A match. I have every reason to suspect that
the Mulder who hurt you so badly isn't the real 
Mulder. I just need some proof, though."

"What's your theory, David?"

"That the Mulder who did these thing to you was really
a clone or a replacement."

"A clone?"

David nodded. "Have you ever thought that the
Mulder ....who did horrible things to you...wasn't
him?"

"I was too confused to even think about it. I wondered
why Mulder called me those names...and why he didn't
watch my back. He always gazed into my eyes but then 
he completely stopped. He stopped caring for me. It was
a living hell." She paused. "I wondered why he stopped
loving me. He called me fat so many times that I truly 
believed that I was fat. I was confused at the change in
him and I didn't know what to think. Who do you want me to 
compare the DNA to?"

David pulled Scully into an embrace. "Me." He paused.
"That's because he wasn't Mulder, Scully. If we run the 
tests comparing me with him using the 1993 PCR...it would
make sense."

"I hope so. If he wasn't Mulder, then why did he replace the
Mulder I knew?" asked Scully. 

"I don't know. I think it was to destroy your relationship with
Mulder," said David. 

Scully nodded. "We used to have a high crime solve rate.
I'll run the tests, David."

"I'll be waiting, Scully."

***

David waited for three hours to await Scully's return to the
basement office. She handed him the results and David
looked at it. 

"I compared your PCR with Mulder's and it was a complete
match," said Scully. "The DNA results revealed you to be
the real Fox Mulder."

David, now back to being Fox Mulder, was relieved. "I had
my own suspicions, Scully, and I have my memory back."

"Do you think it's going to be a problem if we get married 
since the fake Mulder married Tonya?"

"I did some checking on my own. It's not going to be
a problem for us because Tonya married the fake Mulder
using his real name. They were in league together trying
to discredit us and they were out for revenge. I don't know 
why, but that's good news if we do marry."

"Yes, it's very good news. Who was he?"

"His name was Steven Connell. He was put away,
with my profiling ability - for defrauding several women
out of money. He pretended to be their boyfriend and then 
he raped them. He got out several months ago and wanted 
revenge on me. It was my second case at the Bureau." Mulder's
voice cracked. "I'm so sorry, Scully."

"But you saved me, Mulder. Deep down, you knew who you
were. You always had your suspicion at what was going
on. You helped me back to the land of the living."

"I always knew, Scully." Mulder paused. "I always remembered
you." He fingered the gold lettering on her nameplate. "I bought 
this for you. I remembered that I was going to order you a desk."

"I can have yours. It doesn't matter now."

"Scully, it does matter to me. I want you to have a desk. I
want you to be an equal on the X-Files," said Mulder. "Besides,
I want us to play Battleship because that would be fun."

"Don't you think we should get your identity back? You need
the FBI wallet, FBI ID badge, and a gun. The fake Mulder took 
those things from you."

"Actually, I found those yesterday in his -- my -- apartment,  so
he didn't take everything, Scully. I think he knew he was going
to be found out sooner or later." Mulder paused. "Scully, I'm 
back. I'll never leave you."

"Skinner told me that you witnessed everything and how
you wanted to be my partner," said Scully.

"I was worried I'd lose you, Scully, before --"

"You get your identity back."

"Scully, you were my top priority. I wanted to save you
from his abuse. It took precedence over everything. Finding
out who I was took last place. I wanted to make sure that you
didn't believe those things he and Tonya said."

"But I did."

"I know."

"It's very important to me that you're on the road to recovery."

"I feel much better. It was hard, Mulder, but I'm glad that you
were there for me as David Miller."

"I'm back, Scully. I'll never leave you on purpose. You 
have always had my heart and soul, especially on the night
we made love. I'm still that man you made love to. If
you'll have me, I'm yours."

"I'll have you, Mulder. I'll have you," said Scully as 
she looked up at him with a huge smile which 
brightened up her features. She was happy at 
last. She knew she was on the road to the recovery,
and she knew there was nothing but light ahead of her. She 
could feel the strength rushing into her veins and 
the passion which flowed between them like a river. It 
was almost like the time when they made love, but 
now she was in his arms. She could feel his warm 
lips on hers and all of a sudden, the pressure 
formulated into the sweetest kiss she had ever
known.  

They broke off the kiss and looked at each other. There 
was a comfortable silence until Mulder finally voiced 
his feelings. "You have just made me the happiest 
man alive, Scully."

"And you have made me the happiest woman 
alive. I want to thank you again for saving my life," said Scully. 

"I wasn't the only one who helped..."

"I know that, Mulder. I have you to thank because you
were the one who noticed what's wrong. You saved my
life. You told Skinner and my mother. You were the one
who told me that you care for me, that you love me. I 
was so confused over from dealing with the fake Mulder
and Tonya that I didn't know what to think. If only had I 
known what he'd done to you..."

"Let's not thnk 'what could have beens' - let's just think
of the now, Scully. I want us to move on. We have to
survive this and I know we will. You taught me about 
faith, Scully. We need that more than ever," said Mulder
as he fingered her lustrous red-gold hair. "I love you 
so much and I will make certain you will never get 
hurt ever again."

"Mulder..."

"Scully, you are the moon, the stars, and the planets.
You mean everything to me."

"And you're my everything." She paused. "What are you
going to do now since you're back to being yourself?"

"I know I have to let everyone know that Fox Mulder 
is back being his spooky self," said Mulder with a 
smile. "I think I need to let Skinner know about this."

"I think you should tell him, too."

***
Skinner's Office
October 19, 1998

The next day, Mulder went to see Skinner
to let him know the news about what 
transpired in the last forty-eight hours. 
He was waiting for his appointment when 
Kimberly announced him to Skinner. She
noticed that he was wearing his Fox Mulder
FBI ID badge instead of David's. "Mulder?"
she inquired.

"Yes, Kimberly?"

"I thought you were David," said Kimberly.

"You were there that night I was attacked," said
Mulder as he remembered seeing her in the 
garage. 

Kimberly nodded. "I saw what happened to you,
Agent Mulder. I called 911. I saw what that man
did to you, but there was nothing that I could have 
done. I wished I had contacted Agent Scully...  If
I had, then she wouldn't have suffered
from the hands of that imposter."

Mulder was going to say something until Skinner
peered from the doorway of his office. "Agent
Miller? You can come in now."

"I'll be right there," he said to Skinner. Focusing 
his attention on Kimberly, he said, "I saved Scully 
anyway."

She nodded.

Mulder walked into Skinner's office. He knew 
that Skinner was taking in his appearance. He 
was back to being Mulder. "I'm really Fox Mulder,
Sir."

"Welcome back, Mulder," said Skinner. "I
think we should make the case to find who
stole your identity from you as a top priority."

"Sir, I don't think it would be wise. The damage was
done. I owe everything to Scully --"

"I know, Mulder. You feel it's necessary to help
her overcome her anorexia."

"I don't want anything to jeopardize her recovery,"
said Mulder with a sigh. "I know she made long
strides in her recovery...but I still worry."

"She knows you helped her," said Skinner. "If 
it wasn't for you, no one would have noticed 
the damage. Does she know you're Mulder?"

Mulder nodded. "My name still leaves a bitter
taste in my mouth." 

"I'm sure the bitter taste will leave you, Mulder.
How's Scully doing?"

"She's doing OK. I think she'll be able to work
on cases soon," said Mulder.

***
Dana Scully's Apartment
Washington DC
October 19, 1998

"Mom, why are you here?"

Mrs. Scully visited her daughter at her apartment. Scully
was looking wonderful. She looked far from the skin and 
bones she had been towards the end, and now looked like 
she had before the ordeal began. Her weight gain filled 
out her petite frame and was now wearing the clothes 
that she fit before Mulder was knocked unconscious. "I'm 
so proud of you, Dana."

"Thanks, Mom. If it wasn't for David, I don't know what I'd 
do. There's something that I need to tell you about David."

"What is it?"

"David is really Mulder. He wasn't the Mulder who did all those
things to me. That was a person posing as Mulder."

Mrs. Scully drew a sigh. She nodded. "I had a feeling it was
Fox, Dana. He looked like the Fox I knew..."

"I don't think Mulder is liking himself right now, Mom."

"I can imagine, Dana. Both of you need each other now."

***
X-Files Basement Office
October 22, 1998

Mulder was setting up Scully's desk. He put her nameplate
and a vase of violets on her desk. He knew she would be
delighted to see her desk.

"Mulder, you got me a desk," said Scully as she
walked in the basement office. It was sitting on the
opposite side of Mulder's desk. "You remembered."

"Of course I did, Scully. I knew that was one of the first
things I did when I got my identity back. Skinner wants
to find the person who did this to us. I told him to drop
it."

"Why?"

"I want us to move on. If they did catch the guy and Tonya,
it will cause..."

"I know what you're thinking, Mulder. You have got to put this
behind you. You didn't cause my anorexia, Mulder. It was
them."

"I know. I would like to find them and kick their asses as
much as anyone, but the personal costs are too high. Especially
for you, Scully."  Mulder took Scully in his arms for an 
embrace and he decided to change the subject. "Hey, Scully, where 
did you put my nameplates?" 

They both laughed. 

Scully gave Mulder a smile. "They're in your desk drawer, Mulder."

Mulder then broke off the embrace and went to his desk to 
get the nameplates. "Let's put them back up, shall we?"

They went to the front door of the basement office and put his
FOX MULDER, SPECIAL AGENT nameplate above SPECIAL
AGENT DANA SCULLY, M.D. Then Mulder put his nameplate
on his desk. He gave her a hug. "We're equals, Scully."

And they would always be equals in more ways than one.

-- the end of Book One -- 

Feedback: Yes! Please send it to: eblair@sonic.net 


Author's Notes:

This story was started back in August because I 
was inspired by Olivia Snow's unfinished story, 
'King of Sorrow.'  Another inspiration was this 
wonderful story by Victor Hugo called 'Les Miserables'
which spawned off a wonderful musical with the same
name. These two stories gave me a brilliant idea of taking
Scully into a downward spiral into the pain of anorexia
nervosa. 

One of my favorite singers, Karen Carpenter, died 
from this disease and I wanted to show the pain of
someone -- Scully --  struggling from this 
illness. I wanted to see how it would affect those 
around her. 

Originally, I was going to do a Mulder/Other in this
story by giving him a nasty girlfriend named Tonya.
The more I thought about it, the more I thought I would
portray the Mulder imposter having the girlfriend. I thought 
having the real Mulder finding his way back to Scully
after losing some of his memory would be a great subplot.

The reason why I sent the real Mulder/David Miller to
Quantico so he could be close to Scully but yet still
apart so he could find out what happened to her.  Quantico
is in Virginia and the X-Files basement office is in 
Washington DC. There's still quite a distance from the
two places. 

I hope you enjoyed this ride with Mulder and Scully as 
much as I had writing it. 

- Erin M. Blair
November 10, 2003