Title: Reflection Of Souls Part 1
Author: Mana
Category: Story
Rating: PG
Keywords: MSR
Archive: yes just tell me where.
Spoilers: I don't think so. If you see any email me and tell me
Feedback: Yes please! celine1013@hotmail.com
Authors Notes: This started out as a round robin with my friends Ashler
and Carlily but we couldn't get it off the ground. They graciously
handed it off to me. I just want to thank them for doing so. I'm having
a blast writing it. Thanks guys for helping me out when Im stuck and
all. You are the best Philes anywhere! :)
Disclaimer: Aren't mine. Can't afford them


Reflection of Souls
By Mana
------------------------------------------------------------------------


'I can't believe it is actually going to happen' Scully thought as she
looked up at Mulder's face hovering over hers a mere four inches. She
watched his eyes close as he moved in closer. Her pulse quickened as she
felt his breath upon her skin. She inhaled deeply, getting the full
scent of him.
RING RING RING
Why hadn't she turned off her damn cell phone?
RING RING RING
Wait, that wasn't her cell phone, that was...
Scully's eyes snapped open at the sound of the phone ringing. Snatching
up the phone she drowsily answered, "Scully".
"Hey, it's me."
"Mulder? Uh...ummm..." rubbing her eyes, she tried to shake the
sleepiness off. The dream was still fresh in her mind and even though he
wasn't there to see it, she couldn't help blushing.
"I was expecting to get the machine. I figured that you'd be gone by now."
Looking at her watch, she realized that her intentions for a little nap
turned out to be a three-hour slumber. She had exactly forty-five
minutes to bathe, dress, and to be at the restaurant to meet her mother.
"Oh crap! Mulder, I don't have time to talk. I over slept. So make it
quick."
"It's nothing important. I just wanted to ask if you had any luck
deciphering that incantation on the mirror."
"Oh ummm, a little. The first part says something about "Awaken and show
me..." Thats all I’ve gotten so far. I’ll keep working on it this
weekend." She was already up on her feet and had made her way to the
bathroom. Turning the shower on, she began to undress.
"Oh OK. Scully what are you doing?" She could hear the leer in his voice
and suddenly couldn’t get the image from her dream out of her mind.
"Why do you want to know?" Scully asked playfully, then thought better
of it. "You know what? Never mind. I don't have time."
"Oh Scully just burst my little bubble."
Scully sighed, "Mulder I have to go. Otherwise I’m going to be late. If
you hadn’t had me out most of this week chasing a mirror then I wouldn’t
have been so tired." Mulder's latest escapade had led them on a hunt for
a rare mirror, which supposedly possessed supernatural powers. She was
still trying to figure out how to explain the expenses. "Sorry Scully.
I’ll try and be more... Is that water I hear? You're not just getting in
the shower, are you?"
'Why? You want to join me?' She thought. Smiling, she looked at her
naked form in the mirror. She sucked in her breath a little and ran her
hand over her bare abdomen.
Releasing the air, she replied, "Yes Mulder. I told you I was running
late and you are making me even later. I'll see you Monday." Scully hit
the "end" button on her phone. The warmth from the running shower began
to fill the room with a foggy mist that made it difficult to see and
breathe. The heat became impossibly unbearable and she could feel
herself begin to sweat. Scully went to the sink and ran some cool water,
took a sip, and splashed some on her face. While wiping the condensation
that had collected on the mirror, she reminded herself to call the
landlord later to have him check the water heater. Heading to the
shower, Scully noticed a flicker of movement out of the corner of her
eye. Turning back toward the mirror, she saw it's source in the
reflection. Flames of fire seemed to engulf the room. Alarmed, Scully
abruptly turned from the image in mirror and looked around the bathroom.
There was no fire. Confused, she turned back to the mirror but it had
clouded over again. She could've sworn that she had smelt the smoke.
Wrapping her robe around her, she did an extensive check of her
apartment. No signs of smoke anywhere. Scully dismissed the spectacle as
a hallucination brought on from lack of sleep. By the time she made it
back to the shower, the water had already began to run cold. Stepping
into it's iciness, she let herself drift back to the memory of her dream.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Scully sat down at the table across from her mother.
"Hi mom." She leaned across the table to give her a kiss. "Sorry I'm late."
"That's okay sweetie. I was a little late myself. I haven't been waiting
long."
"Have you ordered yet?" Scully picked up her menu and began scanning the
salad section.
"Only an order of the spinach dip appetizer. That's the only reason I
like coming here. They have the best spinach dip." Maggie paused to pick
up her own menu. "I assume your partner had you out late last night
chasing monsters. How is Fox anyway?"
"Oh he's fine." Scully cringed at the use of Mulder's first name. She
had stopped correcting her mother long ago. It was no use. She looked
around at the crowded restaurant and sighed.
"Are you okay? You seem nervous about something."
Scully lowered her menu and looked at her mother. Ever since the shower
incident, she'd had an unsettling feeling that just wouldn't go away.
"Huh...Oh. I'm sorry mom. What did you say?"
"I asked if you were okay." Maggie said with concern on her face.
"Yea, I'm fine. I'm just a little tired. Mulder and I have been working
on a case and I haven't gotten much sleep lately."
"You do look tired. Your eyes look kind of puffy."
"Oh they do?" Scully grabbed her purse and took out her compact to touch
up her makeup.
Scully watched as the waitress approached in the mirror.
'Well, well, well, it's about time you got here. Jeez, you'd think
people would have the courtesy nowadays.'
"Good evening. May I get you something to drink?"
Scully snapped the compact shut and looked up at the waitress.
"Excuse me? What did you say?" she asked, clearly annoyed.
"I was just wondering if you like a beverage," the waitress asked confused.
"I believe you said something just before that." Scully couldn't believe
the audacity this girl had.
"You must be mistaken ma'am." The poor girl was beginning to look
frightened.
"I can't believe that you would deny it." Scully was getting more angry
by the second. Her mother reached across the table and put her hand over
Scully's.
"Honey, she didn't say anything." Maggie looked at the waitress
apologetically and then back at Scully with a look of alarm.
"I'll just give you a little more time and I'll be back." The waitress
hurried away.
"What's going on Dana? You're worrying me."
"Oh...just the usual..."

*3 days earlier*

"Hey Scully...you ready for an adventure?"
Scully set her purse down and hung her coat on the rack.
"What do you mean Mulder?"
"Well....you see I was doing some research at home last night and I came
across an article in a SCIENCE journal..."
Scully looked his desk that was covered with files and magazines,
several of which had pictures of scantily dressed women on the cover.
"A science journal? Are you sure it was a science journal? What happened
to the tapes that aren't yours? Your VCR eating tapes again?"
"Nah, Frohike borrowed the one I wanted to watch...Here Comes the Redhead."
He grinned as she looked down trying to hide the light blush that was
creeping up her cheeks. She knew that he got satisfaction from
embarrassing her.
"Back to what I was saying… In the late 1600's, during the time of the
Salem Witch Trials, everyone was in fear of being accused of witchcraft.
During this time, there lived a woman named Rebecca Andrews who was a
mirror maker and it was rumored that she dabbled in the occult. Mirrors
were still a mystery back then. Some thought that a mirror held the
reflection of one's soul.
Which leads us to The Reflection of Souls." Mulder picked up one of the
magazines on his desk and flipped through it until he found the page he
was looking for. He handed the magazine to Scully, pointing at a picture
of a very beautiful and intricately detailed mirror. Scully took a
moment to admire it's beauty.
"That is what is known as The Reflection of Souls, a mirror that is
supposed to possess the power to look into someone's soul. The legend
states that Rebecca created this mirror in order to save herself from
persecution. She was afraid that her friends or family members where
actually witch hunters, but couldn't be sure. So she created the mirror
so she would have the time to sort out the true friends from the false.
What she didn't know, was that she was too late. In the midst of casting
a spell on it, one of her own sons happened upon her and accused her of
witchery. She was immediately burned at the stake. No one knew what
happened to the telltale mirror.....until now. Just last week, this
little relic appeared on an auctioneer's block in, guess where?"
"Salem, Massachusetts." They both stated at the same time.
Scully pondered Mulder's little story for a moment. She figured that
this case would be better than paperwork, which is what she had been
planning on doing. She wouldn't mind visiting the Salem Witch Museum.
She had always been intrigued on the subject.
"Okay...." Scully held set down the magazine which looked strikingly
familiar to a National Inquirer.
"Mulder is this the Science journal you've been talking about?"
Mulder just shrugged "You say Po-tate-oh, I say Po-tat-o!" "But
seriously, it's credible. I did research on it. Rebecca Andrews did
exist and she did create a mirror to look into people's soul. Everything
in that... that... Science Journal," he grinned sheepishly at Scully "is
all true."
Scully grinned "When do we leave?"

------------------------------------------------------------------------

The outskirts of Salem
Later that afternoon.

The newly rented Ford Taurus pulled up to the old antique-looking house.
Scully stepped out of the car and turned towards Mulder as he came
around to her side of the car. They walked up to the door, him leading
her with his hand on the small of her back. They knocked on the door,
just as a little old lady opened it.
"Hello?"
"Hi," Mulder said and pulled out his badge. "I'm Agent Mulder and this
is my partner Agent Scully."
Scully flashed her badge and smiled at the old woman standing in front
of her.
"I've been expecting you, do come in." The lady opened the door wider
and motioned for them to enter the old house.
"My name is Mildred Seymour. But everyone calls me Millie," she said
ushering them into the Victorian decorated living room.
"Would you care for anything to drink? Hot Apple Cider, coffee, tea,
water...." she asked trailing off.
"No thank you." Mulder said.
The lady, Millie, sat down in an armchair and motioned for Scully and
Mulder to sit on the couch.
"We are here inquiring about a mirror you recently purchased." Scully
started.
"You're referring to the Reflection of Souls?" the lady asked.
"Yes ma'am." Scully nodded.
"I am an antique collector you know. It's one of my hobbies. As soon as
I saw that mirror on the auction block, I just had to have it. You see,
I have always been in intrigued about the history of Salem and the story
of Rebecca."
"Would you mind if we took a look at it?" Mulder asked. "I'd like to
examine it if possible."
"Oh sure, follow me into the parlor, that's where I keep most of my
collectibles. " Millie said as she made her way up the beautiful winding
staircase in the center of the hallway.
"I suppose that you already know the legends that surround the mirror?"
Millie asked.
"We know some of it, but could you fill us in?" Scully asked
"Why of course dearie. There was a mirror maker named Rebecca Andrews.
She was thought to have been a witch. Rebecca began fearing for her and
her family's safety. She didn't know who she could trust so she created
a mirror that was supposed to possess the power to look into people's
souls."
They stepped into a room filled with beautiful antiques. Millie walked
over to a glass case and gently lifted the mirror out of its display.
"Exactly how does it work?" Scully asked.
"I'm not quite sure. I know that the user has to recite a spell before
the mirror's powers are activated. Then when someone is reflected in it,
it supposedly casts their image as their true soul, whether they are
good or evil, nice or mean, or if they are lying."
"If she had this in her power, then how did she get caught?" Scully asked.
"That's the darker part of the story. Her son Matthew had come home
early after school one day and happened upon her in the midst of casting
the spell and he accused her of being a witch. The townspeople gathered
around her house and set fire to it, with her still inside."
"So what happened to the mirror?" Mulder looked intrigued.
Millie passed the mirror to Scully. "That's the odd thing. Until now,
everyone assumed that it had burned in the fire."
"Do you think that this mirror actually possesses these powers Millie?"
Mulder asked joining Scully who was staring at the mirror with curiosity.
"I don't really know. It could be true. No one has ever been able to
summon it's powers. The tale says that only a descendent of Rebecca's
would be able to call upon it's magic." Millie replied.
"Would you like to see a picture of her?" She asked Scully. "You know,
you actually look a lot like her. Red hair, blue eyes, same nose." She
crossed the room to a desk against the far wall. Opening the drawer, she
pulled out a picture.
Looking down at it, she said, "Why, you two could be sisters!" She held
the picture for both of them to see.
"Wow, quite a resemblance." Mulder said as held it up next to Scully.
Even she had to admit that the likeness was uncanny. It was almost as if
she was looking at a picture of herself.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

They drove to the witch museum in silence; both of their minds were hard
at work. Mulder stopped the car and they both got out. The museum was
small, unlike any other museum either of them had visited before. Mulder
opened one of the glass doors for Scully and she stepped in. There were
so many exhibits and they all looked so interesting. Scully made a
mental note to come back one day and check out all the exhibits. Mulder
walked towards the first information desk he saw. There were so many
exhibits and although he wanted to look at them all, he knew he was here
for a reason. He asked the clerk for the "Reflection of Souls" exhibit.
"Go straight ahead and it's right past the bathrooms, to the right. You
shouldn't miss it." Mulder thanked her and walked a little faster to
catch up with Scully who had already started to make her way there. The
exhibit was a partially big one, probably made big because of nuts like
Mulder who came to check out bizarre things from the tabloids, thought
Scully. Scully was reading another article on the mirror, when Mulder
started to laugh.
"What?," asked Scully, who then lifted her left eyebrow. "Come here and
look at this, Scully. This must be some sort of joke." Scully walked
over to him. "This is a picture of Rebecca," Mulder pointed to a
picture. "When Millie said she looked like you, that was definitely an
understatement."
Scully looked at the picture. It did resemble her a little. Okay, it
resembled her a lot.
"Scully, did you ever have any twin sisters that you knew of?"
"Mulder, okay, it resembles me a little, what does that matter," said
Scully a little deadpan. She knew she was letting her scientific side
get the best of her. They both remained silent for the rest of the time
they spent at the museum, reading about a mirror that seemed to have
everyone stumped.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Oh sweetie, that's so weird," said Margaret Scully.
"Yeah," Scully replied. "Mulder and I still haven't figured much of
anything about the case. We got the mirror from Millie and there appears
to be some sort of incantation around the edges. It's a beautiful
mirror, I must admit and it's sure giving us a hard time."
"You know what? This story seems so familiar. I just can't place it...I
know I've heard it before..'The Reflection of Souls'," she said as she
took a sip of wine.
"Maybe you read it somewhere?"
"Maybe," replied a puzzled-looking Margaret. "But it's getting late and
I know that you have to work tomorrow. We should go."
"You're right. I'll get the bill."
They said their 'good-byes' and Margaret was off. Scully stood at the
end of the curb-side and hailed a cab.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Scully unlocked her apartment and stepped inside. Everything was neat,
as always, and she couldn't help but smile as her apartment seemed to
welcome her home. Although she was exhausted and tired, she thought that
she should get some work done on the case. The mirror was delicately
placed on the top of her dresser, just as she had left it. She sat on
her bed and looked at it. As she held the mirror, she had a feeling of
familiarity wash over her. She looked at the mirror closely. The details
of it seemed so intimate, but the words engraved on the sides were so
distant.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Scully walked down the hall leading to their basement office. She nearly
fell when she opened the door. She hadn't gotten much sleep the night
before. She kept having this weird feeling that someone was in her room
with her. The feeling hadn't worn off yet and she was beginning to get
scared. All she wanted was a nice slow day in the office with Mulder.
Something to take her mind off of the sensation of dread.
"Hey Scully!" Mulder greeted.
Scully looked up at him and put on a fake smile. "Good morning Mulder."
She replied. Mulder looked at her curiously and stood up. She wondered
what was the matter. He walked over to her and looked straight in her
eyes. Her eyebrow involuntarily raised.
"Mulder.....?"
He cut her off before she could say anymore. "Scully are you feeling OK?"
"Yes Mulder I'm fine." She lied. She didn't feel like getting into it
with her partner right now.
"Are you sure? Scully you look like hell." He stated.
"Well thank you Mulder. That's always what a girl wants to hear first
thing in the morning." She pushed passed him and looked at her
reflection in the glass to her right. He was right. She did look like
hell. There were bags under her eyes and the shimmer was gone from her
blue eyes. Her pupils were dilated and, well, she looked like she had
been hit by a truck.
She turned back around to Mulder. He had been staring at her since she
had walked past him. He looked her up and down and then back into her
eyes. "You want to talk about it?" he asked moving towards her. She sat
down on the edge of his desk as he sat down in his chair. She looked
down at him and shrugged.
"I don't know what's wrong with me Mulder. I just can't seem to relax.
Everywhere I look, I feel like there is someone watching me. Its weird.
Last night, while I was laying in bed, I could have sworn that there was
someone in my room with me. It scared me. I didn't know what to do. Even
now, the feeling's still here. I'm scared, Mulder."
She looked down at her hands. He slipped a hand in between hers and
squeezed them reassuringly. He took the other and tilted her chin up so
her face met his. He stood up and looked her straight in the eyes.
"Everything will be OK. I'm here and no one will get to you. I won't let
them." Then he took her in his arms and kissed her forehead. She leaned
into him and sighed. For the first time in 2 days she felt safe.

------------------------------------------------------------------------


She was burning. The fire licked at her skin and she tried to scream. No
sound came. The smoke rising from the flames caught in her throat and
she began to cough. She was in so much pain, yet she couldn't do
anything about it. She was helpless. She looked around and saw the
mirror. The fire wasn't touching it. she tried to run to it but she
fell. She raised her hand and yelled out the words to the mirror. She
looked around but could no longer see. The smoke had made a wall between
her and life. She was dying, she knew it. She laid her head down and
gave in to the overwhelming feeling of weakness.
Scully awoke in a sweat-soaked bed. The nightmare had been to vivid. Now
the feeling of terror was even more real. She couldn't' deal with it
alone and she knew it. She reached over to her bed side table and picked
up the phone. 'No' she thought. 'I'll just go over there.' She jumped
out of bed and grabbed her coat, keys and purse and ran out the door.
She opened the door and walked in quietly. She noticed the TV was on,
but no one was watching it. She turned to his bedroom door and pushed it
open. He was snoring softly and was laying on one side of the bed. 'He
won't mind' she thought. She took her coat off and draped it over a
chair. Slowly, she laid down next to her sleeping partner. Just as she
settled in, she felt an arm go around her waist and heard his slow
breathing right in her ear. These things settled her uneasiness and
before she knew it, sleep had found her once again.
Mulder yawned and opened his eyes. He was warmer than usual. When he
looked to his left he found the source of his warmth. Scully slept
silently, her head on his shoulder and her arm draped across his chest.
He smiled at his beautiful partner. Of course he was a little surprised
to find her here, but it was a good surprise. Scully took a deep breath
in and her eyes fluttered open. The first thing she saw was Mulder's
smiling face.
"Good morning, sleeping beauty." His smile got bigger. She sat up
quickly. She had intended to wake up before him and leave before he
found out that she had been there.
"I'm sorry Mulder. I didn't mean anything by this...."She trailed off.
"Scully, its OK. I don't mind, not at all. What happened though? Why are
you here?" He sat up next to her.
She looked down and said "I had a nightmare."
"What was it about?" He questioned.
"I was in a fire. I was burning and I couldn't scream because the smoke
was choking me. I saw the mirror in it too. The fire wasn't going
anywhere near it. Its like, the flames were afraid to touch it. I woke
up and the feeling that someone was watching me was even more apparent.
I didn't know what to do, so I just came here. You were sleeping so I
just laid down beside you. I guess, I fell asleep. I'm sorry. I
shouldn't have come, I just didn't know where else to go." She cried.
Mulder realized then that this was truly frightening her. He pulled her
to him and took her face in his hands. She looked at him.
"Scully, I'm glad you came here. I'm not mad at you. I could never be.
I'm just happy that you trusted me enough to come here and sleep."
"Of course I trusted you Mulder. I don't trust anyone but you."
Then something neither of them could have expected. It was like an
unseen hand was pushing them together until their lips met. It was a
slow, sweet kiss. When they broke it, Scully looked at Mulder. His eyes
were still closed and he was smiling. He slowly opened his eyes and she
grinned at him.
"I love you Scully." He declared.
She smiled as a tear slid down her cheek. "I love you too." He pulled
her closer and rested his head on top of hers.
"You know, Scully, a man could get used to this."
She smiled, the feeling of fear gone, for now at least.

------------------------------------------------------------------------


They walked to the office together, his hand in its usual place on her
back. As soon as they closed the door, Scully fell to the floor.
"Scully!" Mulder cried as he fell to his knees next to her. "Scully,
what’s wrong? Are you OK?"
Scully looked up at him. "I’m fine Mulder. Its just that feeling is
back. Its stronger now, like there’s something here that’s making it."
She took his hands and he helped her up and into a chair.
"There’s nothing new in here Scully. Just some of the case files on
Rebecca Andrews, oh and the mirror." He held up the object and Scully's
eyes went wide with fear. She looked in the reflection and saw the same
thing that she saw the other day before getting in the shower. She saw
herself, surrounded by fire. This time though, her skin was melting off,
exposing her skull. She screamed and jumped out of the chair.
"Scully?" Mulder asked alarmed.
"That mirror Mulder. That mirror, what’s wrong with me? I just saw
myself burning in that mirror. Its just like in my nightmare. Oh my God
Mulder what’s happening to me?" Scully started to cry and dropped down
to the floor.
Mulder turned the mirror around and saw his reflection. Nothing out of
the ordinary. He looked over at Scully and noticed she was sitting on
the floor crying. He set the mirror down and ran over to her. He hugged
her and tried to soothe her.
"Its OK Scully. We'll find out what’s going on. I promise."
She just nodded and cried.

------------------------------------------------------------------------


Millie answered the door and Mulder greeted her. She told them to come
in and she went to get them some refreshments. After she had passed out
the cookies and tea she sat down in her chair and regarded the two
agents sitting on the couch opposite her.
"Now, can you tell me what is happening? Why did you come back here? Not
that I don't love the company, don't get much around here." Millie pondered.
Scully looked over at Mulder then back at Millie and she started to tell
her story.
"Millie, over the last week I’ve been having these, how can I put this,
these feelings. Horrible feelings. Feelings of terror and dread. Then I
started having these nightmares, which have gotten more bearable," she
smiled at Mulder then resumed her story. "In these nightmares, I am
burning in a room. Its an old looking room. I look around and see the
mirror. The fire isn't going near the mirror, like the fire itself is
scared of it. Then I raise my hand to the mirror and say something. I
can't understand what I say. Then I just die. Everytime I wake up after
this nightmare, I have that feeling of dread, only its more powerful.
Then, yesterday, I saw myself burning in the reflection of the mirror.
Mulder couldn’t see it. Only I could. Its scaring me Millie and Mulder
and I thought that maybe you could help me."
Scully looked at the feeble woman in front of her. Millie said nothing
as she stood and walked into the parlor. Mulder and Scully followed her.
Millie walked to a cabinet and took out a book. She walked over and
handed it to Scully.
"I think this will help you." She said
Scully looked down at the book. It was a book of spells and legends. She
looked back to Millie
"Try page 113."
Scully flipped to the said page and noticed a picture. It was very dusty
so she wiped it off. It was a picture of Rebecca Andrews with what
appeared to be a story underneath it.

/Rebecca Andrews, a mirror-maker, died in the times of the Salem witch
trials. She regularly practiced witchcraft and was quickly becoming
suspicious of the people around her. She wasn't sure who she could
exactly trust. She even thought that her own sons would betray her. So
in a fit of paronoia she made a silver mirror with a spell etched into
the outer ring surrounding the mirror itself. The mirror was supposed to
be able to see into the souls of people and tell Rebecca exactly what
they were thinking. While she was casting the spell, her son, Matthew,
came in and saw what she was doing. He quickly ran down the stairs and
out to the street. He accused his own mother of witchcraft and the
townspeople immediately burned down the house, with Rebecca inside. She
was only 37 at the time.
Legend has it that only a descendent posessesses the power to resurrect
the powers of the mirror and put Rebeccas soul at rest, for her soul is
still burning in an eternal flame and will continue until the spell is
completed./

Mulder skimmed the story over Scully’s shoulder as she read it. When she
was finished she looked up at Mulder. What exactly did this story mean?

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Mulder watched as she paced around the room, unable to sit still for a
moment. They had driven back to the hotel in silence. He didn’t want to
push her into talking about the mirror or her visions. She had gone into
her room and changed into her pajamas. A few minutes later she had
knocked on his door. She had come to talk.
"So you’re saying that I’m related to Rebecca Andrews and that is why I
keep seeing stuff in the mirror." Scully said.
"Yes." Mulder nodded. "It makes sense Scully. I mean you look identical
to her, you keep having these feelings of dread like you’re dying, you
see fire everywhere. Why is it so hard to believe that you could be
related to her and that’s why you are sensitive to it?"
Scully sighed and walked around the room. She stopped by the bed and
fell back on it putting her arm over her eyes.
"OK fine. I’ll entertain the thought. How do we stop it?" She asked not
looking up at Mulder.
"I don’t know." He walked to the bed and sat down beside her. "I guess
we should start by decoding the rest of that phrase on the mirror. Maybe
that will tell us something."
She sighed and sat up and looked at him in the eyes. He could sense her
reluctance to finish the incantation but he knew it could help them.
"Everything will be OK Scully. I won’t let anything happen to you. I
love you too much."
She fell into his arms. She was shaking. He knew how scared she must
feel. He kissed the top of her head and rocked her until she fell asleep.

Scully awoke the next morning. She had fallen asleep in Mulder’s arms.
She felt cold and opened her eyes. Mulder wasn’t there beside her. She
sat up and looked around the room for him. That’s when she heard the
water running in the bathroom.
‘He must be taking a shower’ she thought. ‘I wonder what he’d do if I
got in there with him’ This thought made her laugh. She could just see
the look of bewilderment on his face.
"Hey what’s so funny?"
Scully, startled, looked up to see Mulder smiling at her. She smiled
back and replied "Nothing, Mulder. I was just thinking."
"About?" He asked as he plopped down on the bed next to her. It was then
that she noticed he was still wet and only wearing a towel, and a very
small towel at that. It barely covered his....
"Hello? Earth to Scully!" Mulder teased. He knew what she was thinking.
He also knew that he should probably put on some clothes but what the
heck. He didn’t mind her looking.
Scully blushed and pushed a loose piece of hair behind her ear.
"Sorry Mulder." She looked him in the eyes and she could see the glimmer
of mirth in them. He knew what she had been thinking.
"That's ok Scully. You’re not the first woman to ever oogle my
goodies!"He laughed and jumped off the bed. He looked over his shoulder
at her to see her mouth open and her eyes wide.
"Oogle your goodies? Mulder I would never." She blushed and looked away
trying to hide it but not doing so well.
"It’s ok, really. I didn’t mind. Just remember that now I get to oogle
yours!" He teased and opened his suitcase.
"What?" She asked.
"It’s only fair Scully. Didn’t you ever see that episode of 'Friends'
where one of the guys saw one of the girls breasts so she got to see his
stuff? Well its like that. You saw me in a towel so I get to see you in
one." He grinned.
"Mulder you are incorrigible!" She smiled and walked into her room to
get changed.

He pulled the car up to her apartment and looked over at her. She had
fallen asleep about an hour ago. He hated to wake her up knowing that
she hadn’t gotten much sleep the past couple of days, but he knew there
was absolutely no way he could carry her and her stuff up to her
apartment. So he resigned and leaned over and brushed his hand against
her soft cheek. Her eyes opened and closed and she moaned.
"Scully...wake up were here." He cupped her cheek.
She just pushed her head further into his hand and sighed.
"Scully..." Then he leaned over and brushed his lips lightly on hers.
Her eyes opened and looked at him. He smiled and said.
"We’re home."
He helped her out of the car and went and got her stuff from the trunk.
When he appeared by her side, she looked down to see him carrying only
her bag.
"Where’s your bag Mulder?" She asked.
"It’s in the trunk."
"Well, get it and come on up." She started walking away.
He stared at her as she walked away. Why should he take his bag up to
her apartment?
"You’re staying here tonight Mulder and I don’t want to hear another
word about it." She answered his unvoiced question.

After dinner had been eaten and the dishes had been cleaned, Scully sat
down at her table with the mirror. She swallowed hard and closed her
eyes. She didn’t want to finish the inscription nor this case.
‘I wish we had never taken this case’ She thought although she must have
said it out loud.
"Me too. I’m sorry I brought you into this." Mulder said as he came up
behind her carrying the book that she was using to decode the phrase. He
set it down beside the mirror and bent down next to her.
"You know we don’t have to do this tonight." He said gently.
"I know. I just want to get this over with. The quicker the better."
She smiled and put her hand on his cheek. He turned his head and his
lips met her hand in a soft kiss. What had happened between them? Why
were they suddenly so affectionate? Was it this case? Was it just time?
He wasn’t sure, but he wasn’t too upset about the whole thing.
Scully sighed and closed her eyes. She opened them and looked down at
the mirror.
"Let’s get down to business." She said and opened the book.

------------------------------------------------------------------------


They sat in silence, each focusing on their work alone. The air around
them quiet and peaceful. Not a word had been uttered in over an hour.
Scully huffed and closed the book. She had finally finished decoding the
inscription from the mirror. As she looked over the words she had
written on the piece of paper she shivered. Were these the words that
would stop all of her torture? Or would these words only make it worse.
She still wasn’t quite sure what was going on, but she knew she was
afraid to find out.
"Done?" Mulder looked up at her.
"Yea, I think so. I figured out what this meant but I’m not sure how it
will help us." She hung her head and closed her eyes, using her hand to
massage her shoulders.
"So what do you have? What did it say?" He questioned.
She cleared her throat and picked up the piece of paper and read aloud:
"Awaken and show me all I need to see, For it is in you that all shall be."
He looked at her.
"That’s all?"
"Yup. That’s it. The inscription was written in the ancient Gaelic
language. What the Druids used."
"Druids? Well that’s something we’ve never encountered before."
He stopped suddenly. What was that noise? He looked at Scully and knew
that she was hearing it also. They stood up and looked down at the table
where the mirror was laying. It started to shine brightly, like someone
was shining a light onto the mirror itself.
"Mulder?" Scully said hesitantly.
"Yea?" He answered not looking up from the sight in front of him.
"What the hell is going on?"
"I think the inscription awoke the mirror." He stated matter-of-factly.
"What should we do?"
"Pick it up, I guess. See if it responds to you."
"WHAT?" She yelled.
"Try it. I don’t think you’re in any danger."
"Oh you don’t think. Well that’s good to know." She said as she moved to
the mirror. Suddenly the mirror turned around and started moving
slightly towards her. She reached out for it and it jumped into her hands.
"OK now what?" She looked at Mulder.
"Ask it something. I’m thinking it’s somewhat of a very old Magic Eight
ball or something." He shrugged.
"A magic eight ball, sure, OK." She mumbled and looked at the mirror and
asked "What do I do with you?"
She stared at the mirror but nothing happened.
"OK, Einstein got any other good ideas?" She raised her eyebrow.
"I think, um, ask it about someone? Like how someone feels?"
"Uh...OK." She cleared her throat and asked the first thing that popped
into her head. "How does Mulder really feel about me?"
Before she could even look at him the mirror started glowing brighter
and she could see something in the mirror, not a reflection, something
else. Like a movie. She couldn’t see it very well. It was blurry.
Then the images got clearer and she noticed that the images were of her
and Mulder. Her eyes widened. What she saw in the mirror was something
they had definitely NEVER done. She was sure of that. Their images were
wrapped in a loving embrace in her bed. He was kissing her neck and
traveling downwards. The look in his eyes said it all. It was love.
Pure, complete love. She blushed and looked away as the images faded.
"Well...what did it show?" Mulder asked seeing her flushed face.
She looked up at him and took a breath out, that she had obviously been
holding in.
"Umm...well...you see..." How could she tell him what she had just seen?
"Come on Scully spit it out."
Scully looked up at him and burst out laughing. Spit it out? Oh that was
too much. She had never heard Mulder say that. And her mind was reeling
over what she might be spitting out if the images she had seen in the
mirror were a foretelling of the future.
"What? What are you laughing at" He questioned obviously confused.
"Nothing Mulder. It’s just well, the images I saw in the mirror. Well it
kinda consisted of you and me and umm...what’s the term you used once
before...the naked pretzel. And then you said "Spit it out." At this she
doubled over laughing. "I’m sorry, it was just too much."
"Oh. Well, how was I doing?" He asked.
"What?"
"In the mirror...how was I doing?" He asked and moved towards her.
She stopped laughing and looked at him. He bent down to capture her
lips. He picked her up and carried her into her bedroom.
"I love you." He whispered against her lips.


The next morning......


She snuggled closer to the warmth on her right side. She didn’t even
have to open her eyes to know what it was. It was her partner, best
friend and now lover. She remembered last night and smiled. His arm went
around her waist and she looked up at him.
"Hey Beautiful."
"Mulder..." She blushed and pushed a piece of tangled hair behind her
ear. He leaned down and kissed her softly on her lips. She moaned as he
leaned back and away from her all to eager lips.
He picked the mirror off of her night stand where it had been carelessly
forgotten. He looked at his reflection in it.
"You know I wonder what would have happened if we had never encountered
this mirror." He spoke the words quietly.
"I don’t know. I don’t even want to think about how much longer we would
have been denying our feelings." She replied.
She took the mirror from his hands and sat up leaning her head on the
headboard.
"Ask it something else." He prompted.
"How is Mulder feeling now?" She leered. She trained her eyes on the
mirror but nothing happened.
Puzzled, she said "It isn’t doing anything."
"Maybe it’s a kinda good for one time thing." He helped.
"Hmmm...maybe. I hope you’re not though."
"Oh, I’m definitely not." He grinned and pulled her face down to his.
"That’s a good thing to know." She sighed and dropped the mirror.
The lovers, unaware of anything but each other, didn’t notice as a
red-headed woman, dressed in old American clothing, looked out from the
mirror and smiled as the flames that had plagued her for so long, died away.


The End