| � Don�t move and don�t make a sound. Damn FBI,� one man spat. � They just won�t leave me alone.� The second grunted his agreement. Both agents prayed that Sundance would continue to search the area of the woods she was at until this was done. It was too late for her to involve herself and now she could only get hurt. But behind them there was a near-silent flap of wings as something lifted into the air. A shadow passed over them and the men cried out in fear as the dark form screamed. Two loud shots rang out--one from each man�s gun--but Sundance never wavered, preferring to shriek and attack; mauling them with her extended fangs. By now, Mulder and Scully had drawn their guns. � Back off, Sundance!� It is too late. I killed them. � Are they the ones we�re looking for?� Yes. Sundance turned toward them, but fell heavily to the ground and rolled onto her back, letting out a pained hiss. She pedalled at the air briefly, but then stopped and laid still. � Sundance!� Mulder cradled Sundance�s head while Scully called for an ambulance and a veterinarian as she frantically worked to stop the bleeding. � Hang on, Sundance,� he told the bird in a shaky voice. � You�re going to be okay.� I am . . . scared? Sundance whispered, surprised. She trembled in fear, searching for reassurance that couldn�t be provided. � It�s okay. We�re going to get you help and you�ll be better and you can help us again.� It hurts. � I know. Just don�t think about it. It won�t hurt so much if you don�t think about it.� � Mulder . . .� When he looked at her, Scully shook her head. � That�s it?!� he demanded angrily. � I . . .� Sundance read the silent communication and a strange calmness settled over her. Mulder--- � Fox.� Sundance blinked. Fox, it is all right. I am not afraid anymore. � I am!� Do not be. It will do no good. They will never get here in time. � They will! They have to!� They will try, but they will fail. She weakly extended her wings to touch his knees, then hers. Father. Mother. I appreciate all that you have done for me and I thank you from the bottom of my heart. I am sure that I would never have learned what I did without you. � You wouldn�t be lying here, either.� But it was worth it. This would have happened eventually, Fox. And if I were not shot I would just die of old age. No matter what path I had taken, I would still be dead in the end. She sighed heavily. You two will have to go on without me. I do not believe it will be a huge adjustment, since you worked together before I came around, but now you will have to be even more sensitive to hidden clues. You must combine all your strengths and cancel each other�s weaknesses. You could do it if you wanted, if you tried; you know each other so well. � Don�t say that! You aren�t going to die!� Sundance stretched her neck to gently nibble his cheek, then hers. I am. Stop denying it, Fox. It does not hurt less if you deny it--it just hurts more. And you two need to quit arguing like you do. It breaks the relationships you have built while you worked together. With a wheezing indrawn breath, she whispered, I love you both. Fox. Dana. And then the silence became deafening. It only took a moment for Mulder to collapse in tears once the truth made itself so obvious. Scully leaned over Sundance and held him, her own tears joining his on the bird�s soft neck feathers. Name: Sundance Wingspan: 24� Age: Six Months Color: Rainbow Sex: Female Date of Birth: Saturday, Height: 6� 0� March 3, 2001; 12:00 A.M. Weight: 55 lbs. Date of Death: Saturday, Length: 12� August 3, 2001; 12:00 A.M. *** Author's Note: I also made up a second ending for this fic. Sundance is still dead, but the air is happier. Click the link below to read it!***----------------------------------------- | \/ <--Division 7 Division 9-Second Ending--> |