Raleigh (1/1) by banlu

Title:  Raleigh
Author:  banlu
Email: banlutoo@yahoo.com

Archive:  *DO NOT ARCHIVE* to ephemeral, Gossamer; 
Already there. Anyone else, please ask.  
I like to know it's gone to a nice home.

Rating:  G

Category:  A/V

Spoilers:  References to: "Beyond the Sea", "Fresh 
Bones", "Field Trip", "Brand X", "Sein Und Zeit", 
"Within" and "DeadAlive".

Timeline:  After Existence

Keywords: Mulder/Scully

Summary:  A visit to Raleigh, NC

Comments:  I wrote this last summer (after Season 8) 
when we knew Mulder would be leaving, but we weren't 
expecting him to be gone THAT FAST!
 
Disclaimer: I own the TV, but not what's shown on it.

Thanks:  To mimic117 for liking my stuff enough to 
put up with me.

Date written:  July 2001, revised Jun 2002
Author's notes:  At end.


Raleigh
by banlu

July 2001

Down I-95 through Fredericksburg ("Freddieburg") and 
Richmond, on to 85 at Petersburg, then south to North 
Carolina.

North Carolina.  

Home to Haitian refugees, giant fungi, and tobacco 
beetles.

On to US 1 South.  Heading to Raleigh.

Raleigh.  

Where you almost lost him so soon after your father.  
Where you thought you had left him forever.

Closing your eyes to the memories, the rhythm of the 
road lulling you to sleep. Opening them to the sun 
low in the sky, him pulling up to the motel ("we're 
here").

Checking in, setting up the crib, bathing and feeding 
your son, putting him down for the night.  Out into 
the suite, last half-hour of "Millionaire" for you, 
then channel surfing for him while you fall asleep 
hoping for a dreamless night.

The baby waking you.  Him stumbling to the crib and 
bringing the boy back ("there, there") then slipping 
back beside you, back into sleep.  You following soon 
after.

Waking to running water, giggling baby.  Showering, 
packing, checking out.

Driving down Capital Boulevard, over I-440 ("the 
beltline"), past the sign to St. Augustine's College 
("where the delaney sisters started having their 
say"), bearing left at the sign to Blount ("blunt") 
Street, riding between the magenta -flowered crape 
myrtles lining the road, down the off-ramp to Peace 
Street.  

Under the railroad tracks, on up to St. Mary's 
Street.  Waiting in the car at Fallon's Florist, back 
down Peace, past Peace College ("guess that's why 
it's called Peace Street") and then a right onto 
Blount. Going one-way past the Governor's Mansion and 
Moore Square, then around the corner into City 
Market, finding a space next to Big Ed's ("real 
southern food").  

Coffee and juice and biscuits for both. Egg and toast 
and blackstrap molasses for you, eggs and bacon and 
grits swimming in butter for him (grinning, "spent 
three months here").

Back to the car.  Turning left onto Person Street, 
passing Moore Square again but in the other 
direction.  Right onto Oakwood Avenue, left into 
Oakwood Cemetery, following the too-familiar paths. 

Big shady trees, fresh mown grass, warm summer 
breeze. So different from the gray, bare day you said 
good-bye.

Standing back from the headstone.  Watching him place 
the flowers in the vase. Saying a prayer, memories 
flashing by of the first time you and he came here.

For his mother.

His big hand guiding the tiny one, touching the names 
("grandma", "grandpa", "aunt samantha").  

Hand to your mouth, choking back a sob as you 
remember picturing yourself doing the same thing one 
day, only adding the name 'daddy'.

Him looking up and seeing it's time to go. 

Into the office, approving the new stone.  His name 
no longer on it because he wants to be by your side 
forever.

Back into the car, back out to Person, right towards 
Peace Street and the ancient Krispy Kreme on the 
corner.  Stopping for a box, then on the road again, 
merging back onto Blount, past historic Mordicai 
("mordikee"), and on to Capital (laughing, 
"capitaaal"), heading out of town.

Passing the miles of strip malls and fast food places 
you slept through the night before, watching what 
seems like five miles worth of car dealerships go by 
("chevy and honda and toyota, oh my!") before finally 
passing into the countryside. 

Leaving death behind.

In Raleigh.

North on US 1, back onto 85, across the Virginia 
line.

Heading towards home.

And life.


end


Author's Notes: Hope y'all liked the virtual tour of 
my hometown.  I buried the Mulders in Oakwood 
Cemetery in downtown Raleigh because of the 
headstone. The cemetery on the way in from the 
airport doesn't allow headstones (can't mow over 
them!).  I have noooo idea why CC buried Mulder here, 
but it's nice to get your city mentioned on the show.

I wrote this last summer when we knew Mulder would be 
leaving but we weren't expecting him to be going THAT 
FAST!

Krispy Kreme seems to be all the rage these days, but 
there's been one in Raleigh for close to 50 years, so 
they're just another donut to me.

Crape myrtles are southern trees that bloom most of 
the summer.  They're all over the older parts of 
town.