Story 226: "we are the half-destroyed instruments that once held to a course" by Aphrodite_mine

[lyryk.livejournal.com]

Thanks to infinitlight for nominating this one!

Written for rarewomen 2013, we are the half-destroyed instruments that once held to a course, 2450 words, is an AU in which Fox was abducted as a child and Samantha joined the FBI. It's gen-fic with some implied femslash.

Author's summary: A call from Agent Reyes brings partners Mulder and Scully down South where they chase monsters, and other things.

An extract:

“Agent Scully, I’m sure you’re familiar by now with Sam’s complete inability to keep up communication unrelated to the Great Quest.” The words are sarcastic, but Agent Reyes speaks with a note of admiration. “Hell, I thought I’d have to be abducted in order to see you again, Sam,” she adds, murmuring under her breath, then looks up, knowing -- she has to know -- that she’s broken the single, inflexible rule of Mulder’s existence.

Instead of exploding, or walking out, Mulder just laughs. “That probably would have helped,” she says, tipping back in her chair, crossing her legs at the ankles. She has to be thinking about Fox, but for the first time since they were thrown together seven years ago, Scully can’t see a trace of it in Mulder’s eyes.

As infinitlight says, this is a story about small moments. The story's premise is very well-orchestrated, using our knowledge of the characters to shape our awareness of them in different yet familiar roles. The fic lives up to the implications of the title, progressing at a slow, poetic gait and taking time and care to establish the characters.

Read "we are the half-destroyed instruments that once held to a course". If you like the story, do remember to let the author know. And don't forget to nominate your favourite fics!