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Title: China Roses Summary: Post-Requiem fic spanning several months. Mulder is returned but there are problems. This story defies summary despite the authors' best attempts! *Laughs* You'll just have to read it and see. *Grins* Notes: All comments to Knex@ibelieve.co.uk Please feedback as I value all comments and opinions. Even Flames (Just don't be too mean, Please. :- ) I must warn you that this is Shipper-fic. *Smiles sweetly and bats eyelashes* Thanx to: My mates: Emily, Amy, and Katherine, their positive attitude and support towards my writing efforts has inspired me. My first fic (The disintegration of the persistence of memory) was proof read by the aforementioned goddesses and critically acclaimed. *laughs*. Also Thanx to the St Anne's 6th form College, IT department for the use (or should that be AB-use ;-p ) of the ample facilities supplied to us unworthy students. Place: Unknown Slowly he became aware that he was lying face down in what appeared to be Mud. Taking stock of his situation and assessing his condition. Man my head aches. he decided to risk looking up. Raising his head he found himself staring at a bush. Where the hell am I? He sat confused for some moments trying to remember where he was. Slowly he began to recall: - He had been setting a web of lasers with Skinner... The abductions, the UFO report...SCULLY! Opening his mouth he tried to shout, finding his voice to be reluctant to work he struggled to his feet. Feeling a bit shaky he leaned against a tree. What had happened to him? Had he been hit by a falling branch? Had he been knocked out? "Ski...nner!" he called. Receiving no reply he looked around. The place seemed vaguely familiar but he couldn't place it. He was in Bellefleur. Wasn't he? Investigating the abductions of local people! Hearing the sound of traffic he turned towards it. "Skin...ner? Where...?" Still receiving no reply he headed towards the sound of Traffic hoping he would reach someone that could help him. Using trees for support he made his way across the clearing. He reached a line of trees that separated him from the road. Staggering the last few meters he was jolted into awareness by the fact that the road he had expected to see (a nice little country road with an Orange X) had been replaced by a main trunk-route. He peered at the road signs: George Town? I was supposed to be in Bellefleur!! Georgetown sounds familiar....Who lives in Georgetown? - Scully He started to walk down the pavement, It was cold, real cold he shivered, looking down he was shocked to discover that all he had on was a T-shirt and a pair of Jeans. While trying to comprehend his situation he realized he saw snow - SNOW! It wasn't snowing in Bellefleur. His confusion and disorientation growing by the second he plodded on, not consciously directing his feet. Some time later He stopped outside of an apartment block. In the parking lot stood a removal van while men were to-ing and fro-ing carrying boxes and packages. Making his way into the building he headed for Scully's apartment. The door stood ajar and as he reached it he realized that the removals lorry was for Scully! Pushing the door open he saw her standing in front of the couch. Without turning around she motioned with her hand at one of the boxes: "You can take this one next but please be careful because it has all my China and...." Her voice took on a sadder tone, "some memories of a close friend." "Scu....lly?" She froze, No, it can't be, it's just one of the removal men, you're hearing things again. Can't risk not knowing Turning her head slowly she realized that she couldn't see properly in the half-light, putting down the ornament she had been wrapping in Tissue-paper she turned to face the origin if the voice. As she saw and comprehended her hand flew to her mouth. "No," she gasped, "This isn't real, this can't be happening." She felt the room start to spin, the darkness was closing in on her. "Mulder..." She fell backwards, crumpling onto the couch in a disorganised heap. As she turned towards him, her burnished red hair glowing in the lamplight he was paralysed with shock at what he saw. She looked exhausted, his gaze travelled downwards, his expression of surprise at the obvious mound of her belly was quickly masked. He heard her mutter something to herself then there was a strangled gasp "Mulder..." and she collapsed onto the couch. Confusion swamped him, what was going on, is it some kind of dream Oh God, Scully. His brain went on auto pilot, moving towards the couch he cradled her head in his arms. Taking this opportunity to look at her he noticed that her hair was longer, her beautiful eyes had bags under them, her previously soft sensuous lips were pale and dry, the mound of her stomach more prominent now that her baggy clothing rested on it. He guessed she must be 5 or 6 months pregnant. This has gotta be some kind of dream or hallucination or something. This can't be real. She stirred, her eyes flickering open. She saw him leaning over her and her pupils constricted. Leaping off the couch she backed away from him fumbling for her gun. With her gun pointed at him she said, "Is this some kind of sick joke? Has he put you up to this?" She felt sick, her head was spinning but she couldn't trust this man. What if it is Mulder? *Mulder's Dead!!!* How do you know *he was abducted* so were you but you came back He started in surprise when she leaped off the couch. He couldn't understand why she was reacting this way. Turning to face her he found himself staring at her gun. She looked scared, confused, vulnerable, Pregnant. PREGNANT! "Scully?" "GET AWAY FROM ME!" He backed away. Palms up in a gesture of submission. His chest tightened. Gasping for air he clawed at his throat. "Can't.... brea....the .... Scu....lly.... help." His vision clouded white and pink interspersed with blue flashes. He could feel himself falling backwards. The room started to spin. Georgetown Memorial Hospital His eyes flicked for a moment then opened. This was not familiar. The ceiling. It should have been concrete. That was what it was last time. The memory faded as he woke further. A small sigh and a shuffle of fabric. He turned his head. His neck was stiff, as if he hadn't used it in a while. He saw Scully asleep in the chair. It was the Scully he knew. Her black trouser suit, crumpled from sleep, fitted her frame perfectly. She wasn't pregnant. He relaxed. He had no idea of how he came to be in hospital but Scully was there and that was all that mattered. He sank into sleep. *They were coming for him again. He held tight to the chair. The metal cuffs holding him down had sharp edges. Biting into the flesh. They approached him. As always, he could not see their faces. One held a hypodermic. He squirmed. Several of their number came to restrain him. Not that they need have bothered. The sharp sting, Now familiar, announced the introduction of the sleep drug into his system. His sight faded to black. He opened his eyes. Oh God no. Not the pin room. Please god not the pin room. He released a strangled moan. Fighting to get free he found his bonds dissolved and the scenery around him changed. He stopped struggling and found a worried looking Scully standing over his bed. "Scu...lly?" "It's ok Mulder I'm here." Her soothing voice calmed him. "Wha... What happened why am I here?" An odd emotion flickered over her face and he saw it for only an instant and it was gone. She struggled with the words. How could she tell him? She fought back the tears that were threatening to fall. How could she tell him the truth? Bracing herself she took a deep breath. "Mulder you've... You've been in a coma for the last 5 months. You have regained consciousness several times but were not lucid enough for the doctors to determine if there was any brain damage after...." "After what?" "....after what they did to you," she finished in a small voice. "What?....Who?" His confusion and disorientation turned to dizzying panic. He fought to breathe. An alarm on one of the machines issued a loud high-pitched scream. Several Nurses and a Doctor rushed into the room. One of them prepared a Hypodermic needle. Out of the corner of his eye he saw a glint of steel. A thin strangled human scream permeated the room. He struggled to disentangle himself from the blankets. His IV lines pulled. He ripped them out. Backing into a corner he was still screaming. Blood seeped from his torn skin and veins forming a slippery red puddle on the linoleum. Scully rushed over to him to try to calm him. His flailing arms caught the side of her head and sent her flying against the nightstand. Her head made contact with the corner and she crumpled, unconscious, onto the floor. The sight of her lying prone and injured shocked him back to reality. One of the Nurses attended to her while an orderly fetched a gurney. He allowed the nurse with the needle to help him back into bed. There was a sharp sting on his upper right arm and he sank back into demon-plagued sleep. When he awoke again weak daylight filtered in through the thin curtains. He felt stiff and sore. He looked at his hand. It had been freshly bandaged and his drips reattached to the other hand. Scully was nowhere to be seen. Pulling back the blankets he gingerly eased himself out of bed. Looking down at his feet he saw the irregular, jagged scars that encircled both his ankles. How did I get those? A draught from under the door alerted him to the fact that the nightgown he was wearing gaped at the back. Opening the door of the nightstand he found some of his own clothes, specifically underwear. He selected a pair of loose black cotton boxers and pulled them on. "At least people won't have an eyeful of what they shouldn't," he mumbled to himself. Dragging his drip frame behind him he made his way over to the door. He opened it to find a busy corridor with a nurse's station at one end and an open ward at the other. Walking in the direction of the nurse's station he couldn't help feeling that people were staring at him. "Yeah what is it?" he challenged. "So you can see my ass, big deal!" One of the Nurses detached herself from a conference with some of her colleagues and made her way towards him. Her rubber soles squeaking on the floor. "Mr Mulder you should really be in bed." "I don't care, I gotta find Scully." "Ms. Scully is in no fit state for visitors." "WHERE IS SHE?" the strength and volume of his voice startled the nurse. "She's on the next floor up, room 2207." He made his way towards the elevator. Thankfully it arrived empty. Pushing the button for the next floor he waited for the doors to shut and for the lift to carry him closer to Scully. Exiting the lift he paused to orientate himself with the layout of the wards. Walking slowly along the corridor, the soles of his bare feet slapping against the linoleum, he looked at the door numbers. 2199, 2200, 2201, 2202, 2203, 2204, 2205, 2206... 2207. He pushed down the door handle and opened the door. She was sat in a high back chair facing the window. "John? Is that you? Mom?" She heard the door open. Without turning her head she asked "John? Is that you?" Getting no reply she asked, "Mom?" "Who's John?" "Mulder?" Startled she leaned around the chair to see Mulder standing in front of the door. "Mulder what are you doing here? You should be in bed." "I came to apologise for yesterday." "Actually it was two days ago but...." she trailed off. He started to walk towards her. The door opened behind him and a man in a smart suit stepped in. "Who are you?" Mulder asked. "Special Agent John Doggett," he answered within a heartbeat, "Agent Scully's new partner. I was assigned by Deputy Director Kersh to assist Agent Scully in her search for you." The man perched himself on the edge of the impeccably made bed. After a moments hesitation Mulder continued to move towards Scully. A hand on his arm stopped him. It was Doggett. "She doesn't like to be disturbed. Wait until she's finished." "Finished what?" "It's ok John. I don't mind." The man shrugged his shoulders and retracted his hand. Reaching the chair he paused for a moment. The chair was in front of the window. Warm sunlight bathed the figure sat motionless. Shuffling around so he could face her without blocking the sunlight he looked down. The sight that met his eyes stopped his heart. The side of her face had a short line of stitches surrounded by livid purple bruising. The sight, however, that had shocked him deeply was one of the most beautiful and natural things he had ever seen. Nestled protectively in Scully's arms was a baby. She was breast-feeding and held the infant close to her chest. The sunlight bathed them both in a surreal light. Her hair glowed like fire. The child's head, covered in fine dark fuzz was cradled in one of her hands. She looked up at him. He backed away. "I.... I'm sorry." "Don't be," she said gently. "I... I don't understand." Her face took on a worried expression. "Don't you remember?" "All I remember was searching for the ship in Bellefleur then this bright light and I found the missing people then.... I woke up in the park near your apartment." So it wasn't a dream "You were taken Mulder," she said gently, "Skinner saw the ship leave with his own eyes." "Taken," he repeated "What do you mean?" "You were ABDUCTED, Mulder." Her voice wavered a little and the child in her arms made tiny mewling noises. Shifting her arms a little she resettled the baby. "Abducted? By.... them?" "Yes. You were gone for 6 months then you turned up on my doorstep." "You were moving." "I needed a bigger place for the baby." "I... I don't remember anything." "Maybe that's a good thing." That looked flashed across her face again. His hackles rose. "Why? Why is that a good thing?" She took a deep breath, He's gotta find out sometime and it would be better coming from me. "When you collapsed in my apartment and we brought you to hospital, the doctors did some tests and the results were... Abnormal?" "Abnormal?" God I'm sounding like a parrot "There was some kind of...." She struggled for the right words to explain it, "Parasitic solution, in your blood that no-one could identify. There was also extensive soft tissue damage particularly in your chest and soft palette. Not to mention the scars on your ankles." Involuntarily his eyes travelled downward to the jagged slash marks. He hesitated. He didn't know whether to ask or not. The presence of the baby bothered him. If she had been proven to be infertile then why was there a baby. The baby was hers - That much was irrefutable, but.... He broke his reverie. Looking down at the baby he could see that it had finished feeding. Scully had re-buttoned her blouse and was patting the baby gently on its back. "Her name's Elizabeth." "What?" "The baby. Her name is Elizabeth." "I don't feel so good. I think.... I think I'll head back to bed. I only came to apologise for hurting you." "It's Ok Mulder. I understand." He turned around and shuffled towards the door. On reaching the bed he put a hand out the man sat there in confusion, unsure of what he was supposed to do. Mulder withdrew his hand and shuffled self-consciously. "Congratulations. She's beautiful." The other mans' look of confusion was lost on him as he turned and headed out of the door. "Mulder?" she called after him but he didn't hear her. "I had better go after him John. Can you take the baby." The man gently took the now-sleeping child from Scully's arms. Watching silently as she headed out of the door. When she had gone, he said quietly, addressing the baby, "Wasn't that strange." And, tucking the blanket around the child he headed toward the elevator and up to Mulder's room. She chose the stairs in preference to the lift in the hopes that they would be quicker and that she would be able to meet him as he exited the lift. She failed. Exiting the Stairwell she turned to see his stooped form shuffling along the corridor, His IV pole dragging dejectedly behind him. He looked like a man that had had his last shred of dignity and self-worth stripped from him as a disgraced soldier is stripped of his medals. "Mulder!" she called after him. He turned around, seeing Scully following him his shoulders heaved a sigh of defeat. He continued to shuffle back to his bed. She hurried after him. Entering the room she shut the door behind her. Turning to face him a jumble of emotions rose from within her. Suppressing them she cleared her throat. "What was that all about?" she demanded. "What?" She crossed the room and sat in the chair by his bed. "Scully I'm scared, I don't know what happened to me and it frightens me." She took one of his hands in her own. "Mulder, The Months you were gone we, Agent Doggett and I, never stopped searching for you. I was so scared." "Scully...." "What?" "I.... I don't understand. The... Your baby? How...?" "Maybe the specialist was wrong, maybe she was just a miracle." "I didn't think you believed in miracles." There was a hint of amusement in his voice. "Mulder, I came to believe and understand a lot of things that I thought I would never live to see and it was all down to you." He was silent for a moment before he asked: "What kind of parasite?" "We don't know, It cannot be identified in any of our medical records. It seems to be dormant or dead. We can't tell." She looked down at him. The frail shell of a once strong man. A tight band around her heart squeezed. The door opened. A head peered around the frame. She looked over her shoulder. "Can I come in?" She looked at Mulder. "Sure, the more the merrier!" he said. Pushing the door open with his foot he entered the room. "Thanks for bringing her up, John," she said as she took the baby from his arms. "Mulder I'm going to have to go, I promised I would visit Mom but I'll be back tomorrow evening." "Okay see ya later Scully," he raised a hand and gave her a wan smile. "I'll give you a lift back to your place." "Sure Thanks I'd appreciate it. I've gotta pack some things for the baby." She squeezed Mulder's hand then stood up. Giving him one last glance she exited the room. As the door shut behind her the man in the bed sniffed and brought a hand up to his face. He had never felt so alone. Hospital Laboratory The lab assistant had had a long day, he had 3 more samples to test. Two from Cancer patients, and one from a coma patient. The two cancer samples were straightforward so he put those aside. As he slid the Coma Sample into the microscope and adjusted the view he thought he saw movement. Switching to a higher magnification he rubbed his temples before focusing in on the blood red circle of light. What he saw there sent a cold tendril down his spine. Pushing his chair backwards he got up and headed towards the office of the Chief Forensic Pathologist. Reaching the corridor he was relieved to see the light still on. Knocking on the door he waited for a reply. "Come in" He opened the door, The CFP was sat at his desk filling in a report. As the door opened the man looked up. "What is it James?" "Sir I think you'd better take a look at this." "Why?" "I....I can't explain just... You'll have to see it for yourself." With a heavy sigh Mark Benjamin stood up and followed his Lab assistant to where he had been working. "The... the sample!" Focusing the eyepiece he squinted at the shapes he saw. Swallowing hard he stood up. "Jesus Christ!" Chief Forensic Pathologist Mark Benjamin was not easily shocked but what he saw on that microscope slide would haunt him for many nights. The Slide had been a blood sample from a coma patient brought in with suspect wounds. The first blood sample from this patient had shown some kind of dormant parasite unrecognizable to his highly trained eye. But it was dormant. What he saw now sickened him the organism had become active again. But it wasn't that in itself that shocked him, In the few seconds he had been looking though the eyepiece the number of organisms had doubled. They were attaching themselves to the blood cells. They did not seem to be damaging them, more likely they were using them as a vehicle. That meant... "The liver." The lab technician looked at him confused. Explaining he said, "The organisms are using the blood cells as a vehicle instead of damaging them that means they must have been designed for another purpose. The fact that they are attached indicates that the function of the parasite is not to infect cells otherwise they would have floated in the plasma so that means that they must have a function that is blood-related. Since they are not damaging the blood cell itself I imagine that they are destined for the liver where the blood cells are destroyed. I can only hope that they do have a parasitic function and not a more serious one. At this rate of Multiplication that Patient - Who is it?" The technician consulted the notes: "Mulder, Fox William, An agent with the FBI." "Mr Mulder may be dead inside a week." Give or take a couple of days. Picking up the phone he dialled the ward supervisor. Briefly informing him of the situation he ended the call and immediately made another, this time to the consultant in charge of this particular patient. He arranged for the consultant to come to the lab and view the sample, he also arranged for a haematologist to be present. They had to do something, and fast. If this was contagious full contamination protection would be needed. The patient would have to go into isolation. Her eyes moved rapidly under their lids. Snapping open she took a deep breath. Looking out of the window she saw that night had fallen. "How long have I been asleep?" she asked the taxi driver. "'bout an hour Ma'am." Looking over at the baby she made sure she was asleep the rooted around in her bag for a soda. Slumping back into the seat she sipped the lukewarm liquid. She felt her eyes droop. Boy I sure am tired. Finishing the last of the drink she placed the empty can back in her bag. Allowing herself to surrender to the darkness that was slowly engulfing her. *Panic and dizziness overwhelmed her senses. She heard low whispering voices. She tried to move her head to locate the source. She couldn't move there was something restraining her. She struggled against it. Her movements producing grunting echoes. She tried to raise her arms only to shriek in pain as the sharp edges bit into her skin. She tried to move her legs only to find that more pain resulted due to jagged clamps. She tried to look, Pain in her cheeks told her that something was attached. Looking out of the corner of her eyes she fought to breathe as she saw glinting steel tubes. A cold breeze caressing her body brought a brief respite from the hot wave of panic that engulfed her. Her momentary lapse in judgment has caused her to fail to notice that she was naked. A whining noise jolted back into reality with a sickening lurch. A dark figure stood next to her. A glint of Steel flashed in his hands. A sharp sting on her left arm, Blackness closed in. Before she became fully unconscious she became aware of a pressure on her chest and a splattering cracking sound. She screamed as the darkness grabbed her and pulled her into its infinite abyss.* She was still screaming as she opened her eyes to see a concerned Taxi driver staring at her from the front seat. Breathing erratically she struggled to compose herself. Looking around she saw that they had stopped in a service station off the highway. Grey Dawn light filtered through the trees that surrounded the car park. The sound of her baby crying diverted her attention. "Are you okay Ma'am?" "I... I'm fine." "Don't sound like from where I'm sitting." "I'm... Sorry." "Well I just stopped to get gas and a snack. Did you want to stretch your legs?" "Yeah. I'd better change Elizabeth as well." "Ok I'll see you in a bit," he lopped off towards the restrooms. Unclipping the strap that held the baby in her baby carrier she lifted her out. Placing her against her shoulder she soothed her gently until she stopped crying. Sliding the child into the crook of her arm she obliged as a small head turned in her mother's direction begging a meal. When the child had finished she grabbed the changing bag and her purse and clambered out of the car. Making her way to the Mother-and-baby room she saw the driver in the café having a conversation with a trucker. Continuing on past the window she did not see the Trucker and Taxi Driver follow her with their eyes. "I'm tellin' ya man she was screaming like she was about to die. She was thrashing around, I thought she was gonna hurt herself, or her kid, so I had to pull in." "Yeah!" She finished cleaning the baby's bottom and had just secured the nappy when her vision started to blur. Stumbling, she grabbed the edge of the changing stall for support. As her legs buckled under her she sat hard on the floor. Still struggling to see she gave in and shut her eyes. Images assaulted her surrounded by jagged blue flashing light. She saw whirring blades, 5inch needles, Circular spinning arrays of lights. Sobbing she squeezed her eyes to try to obliterate the images she felt a falling sensation and saw a roughly rectangular grid of lights coming towards her surrounded by a halo of white brightness. As she was about to hit them they disappeared to be replaced by a pair of legs. She looked up through tear blurred eyes to see a woman of about 30 looking down at her in concern. "Are you okay love?" Struggling to breathe she took great gulps of air. When she had sufficiently recovered she answered; "I..."I'm fine...I...just came over dizzy. The woman offered her her hand. Accepting she hauled herself to her feet. Thanking the woman for her concern she retrieved the changing bag and her baby and headed back to the cab. The next couple of hours passed slowly. She daren't fall asleep for fear of experiencing whatever it was that had affected her before. After an exhausting journey they finally arrived at her mothers' new house. Paying the taxi driver and thanking him she wearily climbed the steps to the front door. Before she could insert the key the door swung open and she saw Bill standing in the doorway. Not wanting a confrontation she pushed past him into the hall. He didn't approve of her baby and blamed Mulder. He didn't understand and she had no intention of explaining! Setting the baby carrier on the floor in the Living room and avoiding Bills' eyes as he came in behind her, she made her way to the kitchen where she found her mother baking. On seeing her daughter Maggie Scully dusted her hands on her apron and rushed over to embrace her. Looking in concern at the vivid bruises and stitches down one side of her face she reached up. Flinching away from her mothers' touch she said "Mom, Don't!" "What happened?" "An accident!" Sensing that something was remiss she decided to let it drop. Changing the subject she asked "Where is she?" Smiling warmly at her mothers' excitement she answered "In the Living room." Exiting the kitchen she called out "Oh my precious baby Granny's coming!" Following her mother out of the kitchen Dana Scully smiled to herself. He felt desperate and alone. In his darkened room, his will to live crushed in one savage blow, a once-proud man began to sob. Desperately and chokingly sobbing, the muttered names of his loved ones lost in the indistinct stuttering. Calling one name loudly and clearly, he began to writhe and moan. Desperately trying to escape the injustice of his situation. The cold feeling in the pit of his stomach clawed its way up his throat escaping in an animal howl of misery. Alarms on the machines emitted high-pitched shrieking adding another level to the cacophony of sound, as his movement loosened and displaced sensors. Nurses rushed in to attend to him, struggling to hold him down and sedate him. Succeeding at last, his muscles relaxed and he became a dead weight in their arms. Before he surrendered completely a single word escaped his lips. "Scully." Awakening suddenly she sat bolt upright in bed. Ears straining to hear a something that was not a sound. Sweat beading on her forehead, ran down her face. Swallowing heavily she lay back against the pillows. Surrendering to the overpowering call of sleep, she sunk back into blackness. The clattering of plates and cutlery, and the smell of frying bacon greeted her upon her return to consciousness. Her stomach growled at her, informing her that it was, indeed, time to eat. Plucking her child from the crib she put her to the breast. The child suckled eagerly. When she had finished she dressed her and changed her. Carrying her downstairs to join the rest of the Scully Clan. She seated herself at the breakfast table and a laden plate was placed in front of her. "Thanks Mom" Amid the chaos of breakfast a thin, high trilling brought silence to the table. Picking up the telephone she answered "Margaret Scully residence" "Hi, this is Assistant Director Skinner, May I speak to Dana?" "I'll just fetch her for you." "Thank you." Pointing the phone receiver in her daughters' direction she said; "Dana Honey it's for you!" Reaching over the table she took the cordless handset from her mothers' outstretched arm. "Dana Scully speaking!" "Agent Scully," A cold tendril of fear snaked its way up her spine. "Yes sir?" "It's Agent Mulder, I think you'd better get back here!" "What? What is it?" "I can't really explain over the phone, you need to be here!" "I'll be there as soon as I can!" Hitting the end button she looked around the table. Silent eyes stared at her. "It's..." Choking back tears she took a deep breath, "It's Mulder!" "As if it would be anyone else!" That comment could only come from Bill. Turning on him, Anger burning in her eyes. "Mulder's my best friend! He's been there for me more times than I can count. How DARE you!" Turing to face her mother she looked her in the eye. "I'm sorry Mom but..." "I know, I understand." "Do you want me to drive?" She turned to face Charlie, her youngest brother. "Thanks Charlie." Getting up from the table she make for the stairs. "You haven't finished your breakfast!" "Suddenly I'm not very hungry!" Shoving her clothes in a suitcase she packed quickly. Preparing the baby for another journey she packed a changing bag and rushed downstairs. Meeting her brother by the door she hugged her family and apologised for running out like this. When she reached Bill he hugged her goodbye and whispered in her ear "Sorry 'lil Sis." "It's Okay" Turning to her mother she wiped the brimming tears from her eyes. Promising to visit again soon she exited the house and made her way towards Charlie's car. Dumping her case in the trunk and settling herself and her baby in the back seat she turned to wave goodbye to her family. As the car pulled out of the road a sense of foreboding overcame her and she stared out of the windows in silence. The drive passed quickly. For the most part she and her brother sat in silence, sometimes they made small talk but both avoided the real issue. She reached her apartment building. Changing quickly she made her way to the hospital. She was forced to take the baby since her babysitter was out of state for the weekend. Skinner met her at the hospital entrance. Promising to park the car and meet her in the hospital Charlie pulled away. Heading for Mulders' floor she was completely unprepared for the sight that met her eyes as she opened the door to the room. Doctors and Specialists gathered around his bed. When they saw her they parted to give her access. As they parted she stopped in shock. Passing the baby carrier to Skinner she rushed forward to his bedside. Walter Skinner stood uncomfortably for a few moments until he was saved by the arrival of Scullys' brother who took one look at the scene before him and took the baby out to the waiting area. He lay, sedated and restrained. His eyes barely open, his lips dry and cracked. As she advanced to his bedside he struggled to turn his head. His throat moved but no sound emerged. He tried to swallow and failed. The yellow hue of his skin was unnatural. Swallowing heavily she sat in the chair that had been placed adjacent to his bed. Reaching over she took one of his hands in hers. Pressing her lips together she fought back the tears that were threatening to fall. She failed. A rivulet of silent tears spilled from her eyes to run parallel down her face and drip onto their clasped hands. His eyes met hers. A silent communication passed between them. A single tear of sorrow seeped from the corner of his eye and ran down his cheek toward the pillow. Reaching up with her other hand she brushed it away. Someone tapped her on the shoulder. In slow motion she turned her head. Not wanting to tear her eyes away from him for a moment. She turned to face a man in a white coat. A doctor. He started to speak. He was saying something about parasites and vehicles. Then he mentioned liver and suddenly everything was crystal clear. "...I'm sorry Miss Scully but your partner may only have a matter of days to live. Possibly, even hours. We have put him on the emergency transplant list but we cannot guarantee getting a donor in time." Turning as a group they exited the room quietly. She never heard them go. the hollow thud of the door was lost in the roaring that filled her brain. They sat in silence for a few moments. She tried to speak but she lost control and a choking sound broke the blanket of silence, It's inaudible echoes filled the tiny room. "I...want...to...go....home." She turned towards him. His once-strong voice wavered. "I...want...to...spend...my...my... last...days...with...you...." Her resolve broke and she sobbed openly. Leaning her arms on the bed she lowered her head onto them and cried into the rough blankets. "I'm.... I'm so sor... sorry... Mul... Mulder." He lifted his hand and rested it on her head. They sat that way, not saying a word until the nurse came to announce that Scully's child needed feeding. The doctors at the hospital agreed that there was nothing more they could do, issuing him with a pager and briefing him on emergency transplant procedures they discharged him into her care. They spent the next couple of days catching up. She told him about everything that had happened while he had been away. She comforted him when he awoke screaming in the night, plagued by the demons that haunted his dreams. He became steadily sicker. Each day he faded more. She could feel him slipping away from her, it was hurt her, twisting her heart into unfathomable shapes. She could do no more for him than the doctors could. On confiding this to him he had told that just being here with her made his pain more bearable. For brief moments the hopelessness of the situation overtook her and she sobbed to herself, wrapped in a comforter in the baby's room. Three days after he came home from hospital she was preparing lunch when she heard him come up behind her. Wrapping his arms around her he but his chin on her shoulder. Without turning around she said, "Mulder, You should be in bed." "Are you propositioning me Agent Scully?" "Would I?" He fell silent for a moment. When he spoke again his tone was quieter and more reflective. "Can I hold her?" "Hold who?" "The baby." "Oh God Mulder I'm sorry, with everything that's been going on..." she trailed off. Turning in his arms she embraced him warmly. Disentangling herself from him she grabbed his arm and led him towards the sofa. The Drugs the doctors had given him had improved his skin-tone considerably but as she laid the baby in his arms for the first time she was reminded again of how little time they had left. He sat there rigidly for a few moments. "She's not made of China. Relax." "She's..." he choked back the wave of emotion threatening to engulf him. "She's so... beautiful," he swallowed heavily, "Just like her mother," he added shyly. Blushing she sat down next to him. They sat in silence for a few moments; the only sounds pervading the air were gurgling baby noises and his rasping breaths. She stole a side-ways glance. The look of rapture on his face caused the tight band in her chest to squeeze. Her stomach fluttered. A Thin, high shrilling interrupted the atmosphere. Scrabbling for the pager on the coffee table her heart rate soared. He turned his head to look at her. The expression on his face expectant. At that moment the phone rang. Leaning forward carefully he picked up the phone. "Hi Can I speak to Mr Mulder?" "Speaking." "Mr Mulder, It's the hospital, We have a donor. Can you come in right away?" "Uh...Sure....Of course. I'll be right there." He hung up the phone. Turning to her with tears in his eyes he said, "They have a donor!!!" She put a hand to her mouth. "Oh god, Mulder!" Lifting the baby from his arms she shooed him towards the bathroom. "Go shower! I'll pack your things." She headed towards the bedroom. Excitement filled her mind with a frenzied buzzing. Packing some overnight things into a bag, and calling her babysitter she grabbed her coat and went into the Living room. He came out of the shower wrapped in one of her fluffy white towels. On seeing how ill he looked her elation faded. He headed into the room and came out a few moments later in a pair of jeans and a shirt. She could see by the fit of the jeans, how gaunt he was and it pulled at her heart. "All set?" "Sure, I wanna get there A.S.A.P." She paused for a moment and put her arms around him. Surprised, he embraced her back. Sniffing, she released him. "Hey, What was that all about?" "It's...It's nothing." Sniffing again she wiped her eyes. The doorbell rang. Opening it she let the babysitter in. "Hi Kathy, She's settled now and there's a feed in the fridge for her for later." Looking around for Mulder she found that he had disappeared. "Mulder?" Going back into her apartment she peered in all the doors. Living room; No, Bedroom; No, Bathroom; No, Baby's room; Yes. She stood at the door for a moment watching him. He was stood over the crib talking softly. Leaning into the crib he kissed her on the head. Turning to leave he was startled to see Scully standing in the doorway. "What was that all about?" He grinned at her. "Just imparting some worldly wisdom." "C'mon lets go." She paced the corridor. He'd been in there for 3 hours and she knew that he would be there for a few more, but she couldn't leave him. She had to wait. She was torn between her child and Mulder. An impossible situation. He wouldn't want you to worry about him. He'll be in there for hours! You have to go home. A figure walking towards her attracted her attention, Assistant Director Skinner strode along the corridor towards her. "Sir?" "Agent Scully!" he said acknowledging her. "How's Agent Mulder?" "He's in surgery at the moment -- They found a donor!" The excitement in her voice could not be masked. "You look tired. You should go home and catch some rest." "I...Can't leave him. What if something happens?" "I'm here, I'll call you the second anything happens." "Thank you sir." She took a last look at the theatre doors and headed down the hall to the elevator. A dull ringing filled her ears. Comfortable, she turned over and settled back into sleep. Jolting awake suddenly, a cold feeling in her stomach she grabbed the phone. "Scully!" "Agent Scully!" A spear of dread shot through her. "Sir?" "Agent Mulder is out of the operation. There were one or two Complications..." "What kind of complications?" "I'm not sure exactly, I'll get the surgeon to fill you in when you get here. I assume you are coming!" "Uh, Yeah sure. Let me freshen up and I'll be along when the babysitter arrives." She rushed along the hall to his room. Opening the door she saw him surrounded by machines. "Is this one of the complications?" The doctor attending to him turned and extended his hand, "Dr Le-Basque, I was one of the surgeons that performed the operation on your husband." "Partner!" she answered curtly. "Sorry, yes. Partner. As you have been told there were complications. The Anaesthetic must have been affected by the parasite in his blood and he has slipped into a coma. This is not in itself concerning however he really should have come out of it by now. We are also concerned about the anti-rejection drugs. If the Anaesthetic was affected we are not sure if these will be affected also. We've done everything we possibly can and it's down to him now." She took a seat next him. Taking his hand in her own she fought back tears. "I'm so scared Mulder, please come back to me." In the dark place he strained to hear the sound that was drifting, like leaves on a pond, through his consciousness. He started to run in the direction of the sound. The voice had stopped talking. He stopped for a moment to try to hear any noise at all. He hurt all over. He had a dull, deep-seated ache in his abdomen. Suddenly the ground dropped away from underneath him and he was hurtling toward a small point source of light. The shrill sound of alarms filled the small room. Panic gripped her and she ran into the hall screaming for a nurse. Several people came running towards her. Events seemed to go in slow motion. She could hear someone repeatedly screaming his name. Struggling against the nurses she entered his room. She saw them shock him. Again, and again. She could still hear the screaming. She saw the doctor shake his head and stand back. "NO, NO, NO, NO, NO, NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO. YOU CAN'T STOP, HE CAN'T BE DEAD, PLEASE KEEP TRYING, PLEASE, TRY AGAIN, PLEASE." She heard them call time. The screaming, she realized, was coming from her. Everything stopped. The numb feeling in the pit of her stomach was slowly spreading outwards until it engulfed her completely. All the people around her disappeared. The women that had hold of her stood back and the medical staff around the bed parted. All the machines had been disconnected and the drips and wires removed. He looked asleep. Her world moved in slow motion. Roaring filled her ears. Kneeling on the floor she clasped his hand to her forehead. Her heart thudded in her temples. Hysteria gripped her and rose from her chest to lodge in her throat. Coughing and spluttering she began to sob. Great wracking sobs erupted from her small frame, filling the room with the sound of sorrow, misery and grief. Part of her imploded. Ceased to exist. Part of her became an empty chasm of nothingness. Devoid of the lively exuberance that was he, she crumpled. Her emotional barricades came crashing down, torn asunder by irrepressible forces that consumed and obliterated all that they touched. At that moment she became untouchable. The last week had been an endless tirade of tea and sympathy. She couldn't take any more. The soft baby noises jolted her from a grief-stricken reverie. She gazed down into the infant's eyes. Such innocence. So much of her father in her. I wish... She stifled a sob. The funeral service had been poorly attended and it hurt her. A wooden box was presented in front of her. Numbly, she grasped a handful of the dry earth. In the hand supporting the baby she held a single, white orchid lily, beautifully wrapped in white tissue with silver ribbon. This she dropped into the gaping ground in front of her. It thudded dully onto the varnished wood surface. The metal plaque flashed sharply in the bright sunlight. Silently she cursed the sun for being so beautiful. Her world had been plunged into eternal darkness. The only ray of light to guide her was the child she now held. The instant the first dirt crushed the delicate petal of the exquisite flower, she felt her heart crumble, like China Roses trodden underfoot. *END* Well? Did you like it? I hope so. If you did (or didn't) please e-mail and tell me. I appreciate all feedback. My E-mail addy is Knex@ibelieve.co.uk . I also have a board on the ezboard community: http://pub8.ezboard.com/bthexphiles.html If you visit it please feel free to contact me via a post.
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