* DOCTOR / AGENT

“i didn’t need another reason to not go to church, but thanks anyway.” the image of dead souls filling a room like the ballroom in the damn haunted mansion was enough to make shawn pull her coat in tighter.

               ❝ I’ve never heard anyone call themselves a hero before. ❞

In the midst of great triumph, there was always a sacrifice for that victory. For every champion with a brandished weapon, at their feet, there lay the defeated, a sheared second set of skin in the name of promised truth. 

Such was the case in understanding Heaven. He wanted to take part in Heaven’s exploits and circumstances, but he didn’t want to be stationed there, not when the Earth was the place he loved the most. In that example, the woman’s words have true merit, and he finds himself nodding, his hand weighed down by books. 

“Faith, if tested, can become stronger. The same can be said for people I believe,” earth-angel begins, placing the books in their proper space on an ever-clean shelf. “No one learns something by having it handed to them, the lesson only sticks if it’s a trial by fire.”

       scully knows this all too well. after all, the cross still hangs around her neck, doesn’t it ? despite all she’s been through ? mulder’s often questioned her faith, wondered how the same woman who always QUESTIONS HIS BELIEFS can be such a devoted member of the catholic church of all things. but scully knows it’s more complicated than that. yes, she considers herself catholic, but her relationship with god isn’t what the vatican or SOME MAN says it should be. it’s much more personal.

       but she’s certainly QUESTIONED IT at times, remembers sobbing in her mother’s arms, nearly ripping the cross from her neck. ‘why do i wear this, mom?!’ but she’s come through it all, and she’s grateful for her faith. it’s gotten her through a lot of things she might not have otherwise.

       ❝ alright, you got me. i just didn’t want to waltz into town with a big fbi stamped across my forehead. i figured this required a bit more of A DELICATE TOUCH. ❞

        ❝ you know… mulder would say that you’re only saying that to throw me off the scent of you being some kind of…GREAT SUPERNATURAL BEING. ❞

He didn’t want to say ‘uhhh’ because that, Hop reckoned, wouldn’t be a very professional way to greet an FBI agent. And he wasn’t sure where the hell he stood with the feds right now, let alone an … emotional fed. Instead, the chief offered Scully (he thought that was her name, anyhow) a nod and tipped his beer bottle at her. A sort of salute. 

“ Don’t let me interrupt you, ma’am. I came here tonight to drink and watch the game. ”

       IT SUCKED, being here now of all times. there wasn’t a day that went by where she didn’t think of william, but now, so close to his birthday, that wound cut extra deep. she couldn’t open up to mulder, afraid that the combination of their current case and the time of year might push him BACK INTO DEPRESSION. so...alcohol. she was a bit surprised by the sheriff’s reaction, but smiled a little despite herself. she raised her own beer bottle in response. ❝ TELL ME, is all law enforcement in hawkins so...lax ? ❞