Title: Safe Harbor - Skinner's Epilogue 
Author: shawntaw 
Category: MSR, Mulder/Scully/Skinner friendship, ProfilingMulder 
Rating: G 
Disclaimer: I don't own the x-files characters. I think we may have 
established that by now, don't you? The fact that I don't have any 
money and am making no money from this has, unfortunately, been 
established as well. *L* 
Summary: Skinner's thoughts during the "Epilogue" originally written 
for the "Safe Harbor" series. 
Feedback makes me very happy at shawntaw@hotmail.com :) 
DEDICATION: To whomever it was (I can't remember!) who e-mailed me 
that they enjoyed the story, but felt that Skinner was left hanging. 
Thank you for your honesty!:) 
AND, OF COURSE, TO DANI WHO HAS MADE A WEBSITE OF MY STORIES: 
www.geocities.com/corran_14776/shawntaw.html 
Thank you.:) 
NOTE: 
UM, I KNOW. I SAID IT WAS OVER. I MEANT IT, I SWEAR! BUT IT WAS 
POINTED OUT TO ME THAT I LEFT SKINNER AND HIS MID-LIFE CRISIS 
HANGING. AT FIRST I DISMISSED THIS. "OH WELL," I THOUGHT, "THE STORY 
ENDED UP GOING IN A DIFFERENT DIRECTION." SEE, THE ORIGINAL SAFE 
HARBOR WAS A STAND-ALONE ABOUT SKINNER'S MIDLIFE CRISIS AND HIS 
NEWFOUND PERSPECTIVE ON THE MSR. THEN IT BECAME A WIP. ANYWAY, I 
COULDN'T STOP THINKING ABOUT THE FACT I LEFT SKINNER WITHOUT ANY 
RESOLUTION, SO HERE I AM. I WOULDN'T WANT TO DO THAT TO SKINNER. 
FORGIVE ME. THIS IS REALLY THE END THIS TIME; I PROMISE! :) 
*************************************** 
Skinner paced outside Mulder's hospital room. 
He was giving them some time alone. 
He paused beside the small rectangular window in the door to Mulder's 
room to glance in. 
Scully was staring intently at her unconscious partner, deep in 
thought, her brow creased with a frown. 
*What is she worried about? He's safe...* 
Thinking back on the case, suddenly Skinner knew. 
He wondered if what had happened that night had been a one-time thing 
with Mulder. 
How often did Mulder drink to escape the darkness? 
*Maybe I should keep a closer eye on him...maybe it is none of my 
business...* 
He abruptly decided to poke his head in to Mulder's room and check on 
him himself. 
Skinner opened the door, began to speak - and was interrupted by his 
cellphone ringing. 
He could have sworn Scully looked slightly amused as he once again 
withdrew into the hallway to answer the call. 
"Hello?" 
No one was there. Static. He hung up. 
Skinner resumed pacing, reaching up to push up his glasses and pinch 
the bridge of his nose. 
*Well, at least I'm not obsessing about my birthday anymore* 
A chuff of laughter escaped him and a nurse walking by raised an 
eyebrow at him. 
"Just thinking..." he started to excuse himself lamely, but realized 
that the nurse in question had flashed him a very friendly smile 
before walking away. 
He watched her as she strode to the nurse's station. 
*Early 40's, no ring, very attractive...* 
Skinner realized he was casing her out and, shaking his head, turned 
away. 
He looked in at his agents again. 
Scully was standing over Mulder smiling a small, wistful smile and 
reaching up to stroke his forehead. 
Skinner allowed himself to once again be immersed in the electricity 
he could feel flowing from Scully to Mulder and back again. Even 
from this distance, any fool could see it. 
Even this 50 year old fool. 
He made a decision. 
*50 isn't old. I'll never have a chance at that if I don't give it a 
fair shot* 
Skinner watched Scully's devotion to Mulder with a familiar touch of 
envy. 
*I deserve to have that too* 
He stood straighter, pulled on the knot of his crooked tye and turned 
to the nurse's station. 
The target of his stare was reviewing charts, blissfully unaware. 
Walter Skinner cleared his throat and took a few determined steps in 
her direction. 
He was going to do something he couldn't remember doing purposefully 
in a great many years.... 
Flirt. 
*50 isn't old..* 
The object of his consideration looked up as he approached... 
and flashed him a warm smile. 
******************************************************* 
Is that better? I feel better already!:) I have a soft spot for 
Skinner; I didn't mean to leave him without resolution to his mid- 
life crisis. *L* 
Feedback at shawntaw@hotmail.com....and I promise more "Happiness" is 
on the way...RL is busy right now:)