Story 138: "God's Breath" by Jintian
Jan. 6th, 2011 05:03 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
wendelah1 posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
xf_book_clubNow that we've had a break, I thought it might be time to change things up a bit. There is going to be a theme evolving over the next few recommendations. Maybe I can call it "the exception that proves the rule."
To my mind, "God's Breath" is one of the best, most memorable mid-length novels in the fandom. I was heart-broken when it disappeared from the internet. Thanks to one of our fandom's fanfic savers, Jintian was able to post most of her X-Files stories, to Dreamwidth last year, including this one.
The mood is somber in this season six story, as it begins with the death of a close childhood friend and childhood sweetheart of Scully's, a death that occurred under mysterious circumstances. Since the events of "Tithonus," she and Mulder have been negotiating two profound change in their relationship: they are still partners at work, where they have the X-Files back, and they are also now lovers, with all of the attendant complications. Scully goes out to California to attend the funeral of her friend with her family, and gets involved in the case. Eventually, Mulder comes out to support her, and naturally, since he is convinced the case is an X-file, he gets involved, too.
It is told in first-person, Scully voice, which I rarely like or read, but which is quite well-done in "God's Breath."
Six on a Saturday morning, and the phone ringing woke me up naked between cool sheets. Mulder stirred from his side of the bed, chuffed air and turned onto his stomach before resuming the rhythmic breathing of sleep. We rarely woke with arms around each other. One of us would inevitably roll away during the night, perhaps still used to having that option.
I clutched the phone with a nerveless hand and let my eyes settle on Mulder. His body was a long shadow in the dimness, face turned away.
She explained while I tried to make sounds, to tell her I'd heard and understood what she said. Stan had been found drowned on the floor of his own home yesterday. The police had declared it a murder.
"Dana...? Dana, are you all right?" she asked, tearful hiccups dissipating when she realized I wasn't speaking.
"Okay, I'll arrange for the plane tickets," I said with a numb throat.
When I came out of the shower, Mulder was awake. He'd opened the blinds -- sunrise striped his chest as he lay staring at the ceiling. "What's wrong?" He watched me pulling a suitcase open, towels wrapped around my hair and body.
"My mother just called. A friend of the family died. I have to go to San Diego. The flight's in four hours." I kept my back to him, knowing already the instant sympathy that would bloom on his face.
The bed rustled as he got up. His footsteps padded towards me, and I felt his warm touch on my shoulder. "I'm sorry."
I shrugged lightly, careful not to dislodge his hand. "It's okay."
"Should I go home and pack?"
I shook my head. The towel unwrapped with the movement. "I'm just going to go with Mom, Mulder. You don't have to come." Shampoo scent filled my closet as I flipped through clothes.
"But I want to."
I moved away from him and dropped some suits on the bed, solid colors I couldn't discern from one another in the dimness. Black. I remembered one would have to be black. I flipped on the light switch.
He stood there, hand now just above the waistband of his boxers, still watching me. I untied my robe and turned back to my dresser. "Mulder, really, you don't need to," I said. "I'll be back in a week. Besides, they'd wonder why you care so much."
His mouth opened, then closed as he decided not to push it. I fished out sensible underwear and travel clothes and dressed. He watched in silence.
I went into the bathroom and shut the door on him, letting the whine of the hair dryer swell in my ears.
Read "God's Breath" at Dreamwidth, where you can comment if you have validated your livejournal open id. Or, if you prefer, send her feedback at her email address, which is posted on her Profile page. The nomination post is always open.
And please, let us know what you think. Happy New Year!
To my mind, "God's Breath" is one of the best, most memorable mid-length novels in the fandom. I was heart-broken when it disappeared from the internet. Thanks to one of our fandom's fanfic savers, Jintian was able to post most of her X-Files stories, to Dreamwidth last year, including this one.
The mood is somber in this season six story, as it begins with the death of a close childhood friend and childhood sweetheart of Scully's, a death that occurred under mysterious circumstances. Since the events of "Tithonus," she and Mulder have been negotiating two profound change in their relationship: they are still partners at work, where they have the X-Files back, and they are also now lovers, with all of the attendant complications. Scully goes out to California to attend the funeral of her friend with her family, and gets involved in the case. Eventually, Mulder comes out to support her, and naturally, since he is convinced the case is an X-file, he gets involved, too.
It is told in first-person, Scully voice, which I rarely like or read, but which is quite well-done in "God's Breath."
Six on a Saturday morning, and the phone ringing woke me up naked between cool sheets. Mulder stirred from his side of the bed, chuffed air and turned onto his stomach before resuming the rhythmic breathing of sleep. We rarely woke with arms around each other. One of us would inevitably roll away during the night, perhaps still used to having that option.
I clutched the phone with a nerveless hand and let my eyes settle on Mulder. His body was a long shadow in the dimness, face turned away.
She explained while I tried to make sounds, to tell her I'd heard and understood what she said. Stan had been found drowned on the floor of his own home yesterday. The police had declared it a murder.
"Dana...? Dana, are you all right?" she asked, tearful hiccups dissipating when she realized I wasn't speaking.
"Okay, I'll arrange for the plane tickets," I said with a numb throat.
When I came out of the shower, Mulder was awake. He'd opened the blinds -- sunrise striped his chest as he lay staring at the ceiling. "What's wrong?" He watched me pulling a suitcase open, towels wrapped around my hair and body.
"My mother just called. A friend of the family died. I have to go to San Diego. The flight's in four hours." I kept my back to him, knowing already the instant sympathy that would bloom on his face.
The bed rustled as he got up. His footsteps padded towards me, and I felt his warm touch on my shoulder. "I'm sorry."
I shrugged lightly, careful not to dislodge his hand. "It's okay."
"Should I go home and pack?"
I shook my head. The towel unwrapped with the movement. "I'm just going to go with Mom, Mulder. You don't have to come." Shampoo scent filled my closet as I flipped through clothes.
"But I want to."
I moved away from him and dropped some suits on the bed, solid colors I couldn't discern from one another in the dimness. Black. I remembered one would have to be black. I flipped on the light switch.
He stood there, hand now just above the waistband of his boxers, still watching me. I untied my robe and turned back to my dresser. "Mulder, really, you don't need to," I said. "I'll be back in a week. Besides, they'd wonder why you care so much."
His mouth opened, then closed as he decided not to push it. I fished out sensible underwear and travel clothes and dressed. He watched in silence.
I went into the bathroom and shut the door on him, letting the whine of the hair dryer swell in my ears.
Read "God's Breath" at Dreamwidth, where you can comment if you have validated your livejournal open id. Or, if you prefer, send her feedback at her email address, which is posted on her Profile page. The nomination post is always open.
And please, let us know what you think. Happy New Year!
no subject
Date: 2011-01-08 07:49 pm (UTC)