Title: Enter Mulder
Author: Cinnamon Scully
Written: March 2001
Classification: MSR, Doggett/other, Conspiracy, Angst Doggett/Mulder/Scully friendship
Rating: PG-13
Spoilers: Any Myth-arc episode, stand alones of Season 8 Disclaimer: These characters are not mine.
Archive: Yes, but notify me first
Feedback: Please feed the author, she is starving.

Summary: Agent Mulder arrives to find the changes in the office and life. Aliens are still abducting. Mulder tries to avoid being abducted again himself.

Author Notes: I must say that through writing this fic I learned to appreciate Robert Patrick/John Doggett. His character is just developing, and though when the season started I was very against the 'new guy', his character has become a wonderful addition to the show. Though this story might be long, I enjoyed watching the story take over for me, writing itself it seems. I hope you enjoy it, and if you don't like Doggett, I hope this story might help to change your mind.

I have also combined two of my favorite things, X-Files and the Rolling Stones. Music moves throughout our lives, and so it should throughout the story. Don't worry, I don't overemphasize the Stones. Sit back and enjoy how they get involved. Besides, it might be fun anyways.

My last notes, I promise, this story is the first of however many parts that I have not decided as of yet. The second part is called "Resist or Die," the third will be title "Shattered Halcyon," I don't know how long this whole mess will be, so bear with me and enjoy.

Part One: The Return

Mulder lay in a hospital bed, oblivious to the world around him. Scully hadn't left his bedside since two days ago, when she had found him in the forest, naked, and nearly dead. Scully and Doggett had been investigating a different case in Oregon when they had stumbled across Mulder. Scully had immediately taken over the situation. Now she refused to leave his side.

Doggett watched the scene, seeing a different woman than the one he had been working with. She looked at Mulder with such tenderness and barked at anyone who told her she shouldn't be right there, even if it was to get some rest, including, if not above all else him.

She had finally fallen asleep in the chair placed next to Mulder's bed, and she looked at peace for the first time since Doggett had known her, even in the cramped position she was in. He felt as if he was intruding upon the scene, exiting to go to the waiting room.

A few weeks later Mulder was a howling, angry man. He wanted out of the hospital and he wanted it now. He couldn't believe he was still in that place. On top of it, he kept having nightmares about what had happened, mainly because the hospital was so similar, with its harsh lighting and poking and prodding by doctors.

God, he just wanted to go home to his apartment. He wanted to live a normal life, the life he had before the abduction. This is how Scully must have felt after her abduction nearly six years ago.

Doggett never went in to meet him while he was there.

Scully refused to let him do so. She didn't want Doggett to see Mulder in one of his worst lights for the first impression.

It would only be a few more days for Mulder before they would let him out. Those few days seemed like an eternity.

He couldn't stop thinking that it was a miracle that Scully was pregnant. Scully didn't know who the father was, or it even had a father, though she sort of did reveal to him that night they had of passion might very well be the perpetrator. Mulder wasn't sure how to feel about it. Scully and he had been a bit drunk that night. They would have to have a paternity test and soon.

When Mulder was finally released, he went home to his apartment. Upon arrival, Mulder saw what Scully had done to it. She admitted that she had spent at least one night in his home a week. It was neat and organized. He smiled a bit to himself. Leave it to Scully to tidy up for him.

He went straight for the couch. He sat down on his beloved couch, sighing. "You know Scully, this is one of the things I missed the most. This couch has been there through so much with me, like you." He cracked an eye open, noticing Scully's face blush.

He smiled. "Why don't you come and sit down."

He patted the couch. She obeyed, sitting next to him.

She had to tell herself that he was there, really there.

He asked, "So, what has been going on in my absence?"

He wondered what things had changed, knowing that they very well must. Scully hadn't responded yet. "Well?"

"Mulder, we have a new partner. He was assigned to help find you and I think he might be stuck on the X-Files. He might not respect you as I do, Mulder. I should know."

"Why's that, Scully? How do you know?" he asked softly.

"I tried to think like you, Mulder. Any time I suggested something like you had, he shot it down, but not like I had. He shot it down telling me we shouldn't waste our time on any thing out of this world. He isn't going to like you, Mulder."

"You did, Scully? I'm touched. You really missed me, didn't you?" Mulder looked into Scully's face.

Her eyes had filled with tears. Mulder hugged her.

"Things are going to be okay. We'll be just fine, new partner or no new partner. Besides, you are my one true partner. You know that, right?"

Scully nodded. "Are you going to work tomorrow?"

Mulder nodded yes. He would meet Doggett for the first time tomorrow. Barring any alien ships or a hurricane, of course.

Mulder woke up the next morning, on his couch for the first time in how long any one could guess. He stretched, sighing. It had been the first night without nightmares that he could remember in a long time. He wondered what the new partner was going to be like.

He got dressed, looking in the mirror with a smile on his face. He whistled a tune, exiting to go to his car,to drive to work. Work, what changes besides this new partner would await him? He couldn't help but wonder.

"Who are you?" he asked. At least his poster was still there.

Doggett stood up. "John Doggett. You must be Agent Mulduh."

"I'm he. How long have you been here?" Mulder asked, squinting his eyes a bit. He was thinking about the man before him.

"Since you disappeared," Doggett said. "I saw you jump off a cliff. You should technically be dead. Dead men don't talk, ya know."

"I was not that man. That man was an Alien Bounty Hunter."

"Scully wasn't kidding when she said you accept things with a complete open mind. Dollars to Doughnuts, that man couldn't have survived that accident."

"He did, didn't he?" Scully had told him about the case.

Doggett found himself at a loss of words. Scully hadn't come close to what Mulder was like. Mulder asked a question as if he was a child, yet not as a child. The question made you think otherwise, made you waver about your convictions.

"Since he had that means the man Scully shot was the ABH that impersonated me. I'll have to look at the X-File. Oh, and visit Gibson. He'll be able to help me better."

Doggett just stared for a moment. Watching Mulder think out loud was amazing. He said, "I'll give you the file. Do you really consort with the Lone Gunmen?"

"You met the boys? How they doing?" Mulder asked.

Just then Scully and the Gunmen walked in the door. "Scully, hey! Frohike, Langly, Byers!" Mulder was so overjoyed to see them all that he forgot that Doggett was there for a moment. "What funky poaching you three been doing lately?"

Frohike said, "It's good to have you back, Mulder. Scully told us about your return and said that we should come down to the office today. You haven't changed a bit, I hope."

"Unfortunately I have, Frohike. I'll still turn my face up to the sky and I'll still wonder what's out there, even if know already."

Frohike was amazed. "You saw Them?"

"Yes. They are evil. They threw me back, knowing that I couldn't be infected, but They still had to do tests on me. God, it was hell. Let's be happy. I don't want to think of that now."

Doggett coughed. "What do you mean, Agent Mulduh?"

"I was abducted. I have the same thing Scully has in her neck and it's staying there. No my friend, I did not make any of this up. I see your skeptical face. Has he met any of the bad guys, other than some paranormal beings? God, I wish I could have been there for those cases."

"Not that I know of, Mulder," Scully said.

"Oh that's too bad. I was sure Krycek would have introduced himself by now." Mulder chuckled. "It's not like him to not let his opponent know he's there and that he can kill you. He just doesn't tell you when."

Doggett didn't believe what he was hearing and was about to speak up when Skinner's voice cut through the air. "Mulder, it's good to see you in that desk. I see you invited us to a party for your homecoming."

"No, that was me, Sir," Scully said.

Skinner laughed. He slapped Mulder on the back. "Why don't you come up to my office and tell me what those green men - or are they gray? Tom Colton could never figure it out - did to you." Skinner wasn't acting as himself, mainly because he felt it as a reunion and work didn't have to be done right away. Besides why should he let Mulder feel disbelieved? He knew that Mulder was lucky to tell about his experience.

Doggett was surprised to see the change in his superior. Where was the serious Skinner? The Skinner that would stop for nothing?

"Mind if I borrow him for a bit, Scully?" Skinner asked.

"No, by all means, borrow him. He needs it," Scully said with a smile.

Mulder laughed. "Will you quit talking as if I wasn't here?"

Mulder nodded yes. He would meet Doggett for the first time tomorrow. Barring any alien ships or a hurricane, of course.

Mulder went up to Skinner's office. When they arrived, Skinner's secretary was amazed to see Mulder walk into Skinner's office. Skinner said, "Hold all my calls."

When the door had shut, Skinner said, "I'd like to apologize to you, Mulder. I should have never let this happen to you, or to Scully. She's been to hell and back. It's not good for her condition. I know she told you already."

"You know, Sir?" Mulder asked.

"Yes, when I came back to tell her what had happened to you, she told me that she was pregnant. Is the baby yours?" Skinner asked, with fatherly tones in his voice.

"We don't know... yet. Sir, we were very drunk that night. I know that you have every..." Mulder had started.

"Stop right there, Mulder. It never interfered with the work you two did. Now, tell me what happened to you."

"I can't. Oh God. It was hell. I can't talk about it," Mulder said, his eyes down cast. He wasn't sure if he could face it just yet. When he looked up, he saw guilt written all over Skinner's face.

Skinner said, "I'm so sorry, Mulder. I didn't know. It's all my fault that ever happened to you."

Mulder looked into his eyes. "No. It's not. Is Scully in any danger from being pregnant? Does that new partner know anything?"

"No, Agent Doggett doesn't know anything about who the father could be, as far as I know. I know Scully, she's hidden it very well. Mulder, it's good to see you stand here before me." He gave Mulder a hug.

Mulder asked, "Mind if I go back down to the office before Frohike kills Doggett?"

When he arrived in the office, he saw Doggett looking lost. He knew that this reunion had to be difficult for the new guy. He came back in, clapping Frohike on the back.

"You Punk, who do you think you are!" Frohike said, laughing.

"I think I'm Fox Mulder, that's who. Frohike, you couldn't hurt me if you wanted to."

"Oh really?"

"Give it up, Frohike," Langly said.

"Yeah, uh huh, Punk-ass." Frohike was ready to start a major fight.

"Boys, boys! Mulder doesn't really need this mess. Why don't you just chill out," Scully said.

"Ah, Agent Mulduh, mind we could talk, just us agents?" Doggett asked.

Mulder looked at the sad faces of the Gunmen. "Boys, I think its time you get going, don't worry I promise to visit you soon. We should really get the new guy into what the real X-Files is, don't you think?"

Frohike said, "Good luck, Mulder. I don't know about you, but I don't see him getting real far." They left.

After they were gone, Doggett said, "Tell me something, Agent Mulduh, do you really think you were in some alien ship for months on end?"

Mulder was a little angry about this. He didn't want to explode on this guy just yet, so he decided to show him a scar that even Scully really didn't get to see.

He lifted up his shirt, pointing to the scar that went across his belly. It was so precise that no human tool could have done it.

Scully exclaimed, "Oh my God, Mulder, what did they do to you?"

"Would you like to hear the story that goes with this scar, Agent?" Mulder asked in a tight voice, partly from anger the other from fear.

"No, no, I believe you, Agent Mulduh," Doggett said, casting his eyes down. "You're one tough man."

Mulder looked away, as he tucked his shirt back in. He said, "I think I'll go home for the day, Scully. I don't feel so well."

Scully nodded. "I'll take you home, Mulder. That's if you want me to."

Mulder only nodded silently. Scully and Mulder left the office, after Scully told Doggett to inform Skinner of Mulder taking the day off.

Scully said, "I apologize for that man. He didn't know. He should have been more considerate."

"You don't have to apologize for him. He didn't know, like you said. He probably doesn't get half of what we deal with."

Scully drove him home to his apartment as quickly as she could. When the entered his apartment, and the door was closed, Mulder finally let the tears that had been building up in him out. He couldn't contain them anymore.

"They, They were horrible. They tortured me, They used such evil tools on me, oh God Scully. They didn't even really need me in the end. They knew the whole time I was immune, and yet They still..."

"Sh, Mulder. It's over now. It's okay. I'm here. I'm not leaving you," Scully said. She was so angry now.

If he would have let her go... it hadn't wanted her. It had wanted him. He didn't need to go through that, no one should ever go through that.

Mulder finally fell asleep, while they sat on the couch, and Scully turned him to put his head on her lap, holding his head like a child's. She wouldn't let anything like that hurt him ever again.

Meanwhile, Doggett told Skinner about the incident.

Skinner was not very pleased.

"Agent Doggett. I know you are not ready to believe what has befallen Agent Mulder. He has gone through something so few survive. He needs to be understood. If you are to work on this assignment, you must understand this. Don't ever tell Mulder I told you this, but when Mulder was a little boy, he lost his sister to those beings. At least that's what he believes. I wouldn't put it past it for it to be true now. Mulder has searched for years for his sister. He has never given up, and what you saw in Scully, shines brighter in him. He refuses to quit the search for the truth. Scully refuses to let him go."

Doggett nodded. "I didn't know, sir. I was just trying to rationalize what was going on, what had happened to him, ya know?"

"Agent, this is where the true fight begins. The fine line of what is and what is not real becomes blurred until you can't tell the difference anymore, unless you open yourself up to extreme possibilities. Now that Mulder is back, you're going to have to learn to use an open mind, and not fight the two of them.

Scully will probably go back to her scientific skeptical role, but once you go against a theory, expect her to switch to his immediately."

Doggett sighed. "Yes, Sir."

Skinner left. Shortly after, Doggett received another visitor.

"So, I see Mulder is back." The voice was unfamiliar.

Doggett couldn't see his face.

"Who are you?" Doggett asked. He didn't want to deal with any mysterious people at the moment.

"Does it really matter? You failed, Agent Doggett. You were only put on this assignment to keep Scully from finding Mulder. Bet you didn't know that." The voice from the shadows said, a soft laugh escaping.

"That's not true," Doggett said, getting angry.

"Oh but it is." A puff of smoke emitted from the shadowy figure. "You see, Agent Doggett, I saw the potential to keep Scully away from Mulder. You messed up." A raucous cough followed. Then the shadow was gone.

The next day, Mulder and Scully went to work. When they arrived, they found an anxious Doggett waiting for them. They wondered what had made him so distraught.

"Agents, a man talked to me here last night. Said I was sent here to prevent you from finding Mulduh. Now I don't know about you, but I'm beginning to think there is something wrong here."

Mulder demanded to know what the man looked like. "This is the most important thing you will ever tell me."

"I didn't see his face. The only thing I knew was that he was smoking. He coughed and was gone."

Mulder kicked his garbage can. Upon his arrival his office was once his again. He said, "Damn. That piece of trash, smoking, cancerous, lunged man can shove it where the sun don't shine."

"Mulder, calm down," Scully pleaded.

"He got to Doggett, Scully! You know what that means. He's stuck now, so if he wanted to get out of this assignment, Cancer Man will find a way to shove a knife in his back."

"Mulder, Cancer Man is usually full of empty threats. He hasn't met Krycek yet. Think about that," Scully replied.

Doggett enjoyed watching these two work. No wonder they were the elite team of the F.B.I. They fit each other's thought process perfectly. He finally spoke up, "It's nice you two are looking out for me, but I think I can handle myself," Mulder said, "Krycek killed my father. I was in the house, and I didn't stop him. I didn't know until it was too late. He may be one armed now, but he's still just as deadly."

Doggett wasn't sure how to deal with all this new information. Mulder had lived a very hard life, and he was now sorry that he had told Scully that she didn't know this man through and through.

"Listen to me, and listen carefully, Agent Doggett, you're on the X-Files, and it may be a laughing stock to you, and it may be a kick to go upstairs and say what Spooky is up to now, but it's as serious if not more so than any other division. Do you read me?"

Doggett nodded his response. "Yes, I do, Agent Mulder."

Mulder spent the day behind his desk, sifting through the cases Scully and Doggett had put away in his absence. He kept asking questions to Scully, and Scully kept answering them as best she could.

"Scully, hey, did you ever find out why that Indian guy was gutting people? I mean it's not a usual practice for your no legged man."

"No, Mulder. We never did. I shot him, and that was it." Scully sighed. She had answered at least 50 questions like that already. She put her head down, "Are you almost finished interrogating me, Mulder?"

Doggett was amazed at the sense of humor and wit Mulder had. He didn't think any one could do that about such cases, but Mulder was so new to him, it was difficult for him to get used to Mulder. He was totally different from what he was expecting, as if he knew what to expect in the first place.

"Scully, have you talked to Gibson lately?" Mulder needed to know, originally meaning to ask this question instead of all the others.

Scully shook her head. "No, I haven't. He's a ward of the state now, Mulder."

Mulder pursed his lips. "Do you think I might be able to talk to him soon? I have things I need to ask him," Scully said, "You'll have to talk to Skinner, Mulder."

"Fine, why don't I go do that, while you two pick up lunch for the three of us. A big greasy burger for me, please Scully?" He put on his best puppy dog face.

Scully gave in. "We'll see you in just a bit, Mulder. Let's go, Doggett."

Mulder grabbed the file on his case, exiting to meet Skinner. He needed to talk to Gibson, Gibson knew what had happened to him. He had talked to Gibson in his mind while he had been tortured.

When he arrived, the secretary buzzed him in. Mulder said, "Sir, I am seeking to request something."

Skinner sighed. "What can I do for you, Mulder?"

"You can get a hold of Gibson Praise for me. I need to talk to him," Mulder said, deadly serious overtones in his voice.

"Mulder, I don't know if I can. I'll try, but my hands might be tied in this matter. I'll give it my best shot."

"Thank you, Sir. I knew you would try. It's very important that I talk to the boy. We share something."

Skinner wondered what was shared between the boy and Mulder. He hoped it wasn't too dangerous. Knowing Mulder it would be deadly. He just hoped that it would be okay.

That night, Mulder slept fitfully. He dreamed about all kinds of things.

It all started out when he and Sam were little kids.

Then it grew worse. He saw her abduction again,instead of it being her, it was him. He was strapped in the chair again, as They forced his mouth open to drink the Black Oil. As that was going on, They took a laser ripping a line across his belly. He screamed in terror and immense pain. He couldn't see it, but he could feel it, the Black Oil dripping down his throat, and into the cut made in his body. It mixed its cold ice grip with his warm thick blood. He screamed in fear, trying to get away. It was impossible.> Scully had come to see if Mulder was okay. She still was wary of what could happen to him. She heard his scream of terror, running into his apartment, gun drawn. She saw Mulder sprawled on the floor, still asleep, letting scream after scream leave his lips.

She went to wake him, hoping to prevent someone from calling the cops.

"Mulder, it's Scully. It's okay, They aren't here anymore." Scully tried to sound as soothing as she could. She knew that he would be in a bit of shock, and unaware of his surroundings for a bit after his nightmare. She didn't want to agitate him further.

He opened his eyes, and they were clouded with pain and fear. He didn't recognize Scully at first, and he writhed back, curling up into a fetal position to keep away from his torturer.

"Mulder, sh, it's Scully. I'm here."

Mulder lifted his head from his arms. "Sscully, is that you?"

"Yes, it's me. It's okay. You're fine now." She took him into her arms rocking him. God he had been to hell and back.

The next morning, Scully answered the door. Skinner stood on the other side. He asked, "Scully, did something happen?"

Scully said, "He's had some horrendous nightmares, I came to check up on him last night. He was screaming when I got here."

Skinner whispered, so not to wake him, "Do you think he'll be up to speaking with Gibson? I got a hold of him for Mulder. Gibson said he had to talk to Mulder," Scully said, "I hope so. It might help Mulder."

"Yeah, because with his arrival, so has the cases on alien abductions," Skinner said.

"No! He will not investigate those. It's too soon. I don't want him to go back. Did you know that they sliced his stomach open?" Scully hissed.

Skinner sighed. "Scully, he might have to take some leave off. I should have thought so. I was just so excited to have my other top agent back, I wasn't thinking," Scully said, "Sir, it's not your fault. You know Mulder, he won't leave it alone, even if you tell him too. When and where does Gibson want to meet?"

"Mulder's apartment. He thinks it would be for the best. He says Mulder is going to face frightening and harmful things, not from the sky, but from himself."

"Oh God. They messed with his head, didn't They?"

Scully thought of hurting what ever it was that had done this to Mulder, Alien or Human. "Get Gibson here then. He'll talk. I'll make sure that Mulder does. He probably needs it right now."

Skinner nodded, "I'll have him here in an hour.

Doggett must not see Mulder like this. I'm not sure how he feels about Mulder, and if we can trust him just yet. Scully, tell him that Mulder just wants to relax for a while, woke up sore. Physical not mental.

On top of it, Doggett wouldn't know how to deal with an unstable Mulder, and would only get in your way."

Scully simply nodded. "Yes sir. I will most certainly keep him out of my hair. Mulder doesn't need that man upsetting him. If he would only believe Mulder..."

"I'll be back with the boy in an hour."

Just as soon as Skinner left, Mulder's phone rang.

Mulder jumped letting out a howl of terror. Scully wanted to curse who ever it was calling. She answered it before it rang again, scaring Mulder all over, obviously he hadn't come out of his shock completely yet. She hissed into the phone, "Who is it?"

"Agent Scully, Agent Doggett here. I thought you might be at Agent Mulduh's place. We got a case in, I think that Mulduh's going to want to see it," Doggett said into the phone.

"Not right now, Agent Doggett. Mulder's taking the day off, he woke up sore, and as his doctor, I say he doesn't do anything today." Scully saw Mulder rocking himself, she wondered how many mornings he would spend like this. She hoped he would keep silent until she could get rid of Doggett.

"Oh, is it serious?" Doggett asked. He knew nothing about Mulder's condition, except for the scar, and the horrible experience, alien or not, that Mulder had gone through hell.

Scully said, "Enough to keep him for the day, if not a couple."

Before she could get him off the phone, Mulder lapsed back into time even further. He let out a howl of pain, screaming, "NO, DON'T DO THIS TO ME!"

Scully sighed. Now how was she going to get rid of Doggett? He'd surely would want to know what was going on now.

"What was that, Agent? He sounded like he was in distress. You sure you don't need any help with him?" Doggett asked out of pure concern. He knew how much Mulder meant to Scully, maybe not completely, but he could see it in her eyes.

"I'll handle it. Don't worry." With that she hung up before Doggett could keep her on the line. She wanted to comfort Mulder now, each howl and shout a dagger shoved into her heart.

Doggett sat in the office, at a new chair and small desk placed in the office. Mulder's return meant his desk was now his again. He threw the file on to Mulder's desk, and sighed. What was Scully hiding now?

Mulder had sounded as if he was in immense pain. What was he shouting, "Don't do this to me!" was that it?

He hoped that Mulder would be fine. He grabbed his car keys, and decided to pay a visit, wanting to make sure that Mulder was doing alright. He didn't want to find Mulder and then have something go terribly wrong.

He locked the office, exiting to his car. A man in the shadows went into the office, unlocking and entering after he left. The man in the shadows looked around, leaving the file on Mulder's desk alone. He wanted to install a bug system in to the phones. It would be better than stealing the file. They would be able to see how unstable Mulder was through it.

When Doggett arrived at Mulder's building, he locked his car, entering the building to go to Mulder's apartment. He knocked softly, hearing a scream of terror on the inside.

Scully moved to the door, "Is that you, Skinner?"

"No, it's Agent Doggett. He's sounds like he's not too happy, Agent Scully."

Scully groaned. "I can't get rid of you, can I?"

"'fraid not, Agent Scully. Finding him was my case, I want to see it through to its end."

"How do I know I can trust you?" Scully stepped into the hall, closing the door behind her. "You wouldn't believe me when I said things, you won't believe Mulder either. I was abducted too once, and I don't remember it, but he, he remembers everything."

"You can trust me, Agent Scully. I only want to help," Doggett said, truthfully.

"You'd help the most by being away from here!" Scully hissed. "You'll only make him worse."

"Scully, now you and I both know that two people are better than one. I can help," Doggett said.

"Skinner's on his way. I can handle him until then."

"Please, just let me help. I won't question anything that Mulduh might say or do, I promise." Doggett meant every word he said.

"Fine, come in. But I'll tell you this, and this only once: Mulder is in a state that is terrifying, and watching it is just as terrifying for you as it is for him. Keep your cool, and if you panic and upset him, I will remove you, understood?"

"Yes."

Upon entering, Mulder let out an anguished scream.

Doggett winced momentarily. He whispered, so not to disturb Mulder, "You comfort him, I'm going to make something to drink to soothe our nerves."

Scully agreed. She sat down next to Mulder, taking him into her arms, cradling him against her swelling belly. She rocked him back and forth, trying to calm him down, if only the visions in the night mares would fade.

Doggett came out with two glasses of ice tea. He set one down next to Scully, "Good thing you stocked up Mulduh's cupboards before he came back."

Scully smiled only for a moment. Doggett asked, "How long has he been like that?"

Scully whispered, "Since last night. He's had bad nightmares for the past couple of days, from the look of it. God, he's been through so much." She let a silent tear fall down her cheek.

"He'll pull through, he's made it this far," Doggett reassured her.

A knock on the door disturbed the room. Mulder was quiet, but he curled up as small as he could.

"Scully, it's Skinner, I got Gibson." Skinner's voice boomed out in the hall.

Doggett said, "I'll get it, you keep him calm."

Doggett walked over to the door, allowing the A.D. and the boy to enter. Skinner looked at Doggett, and then to Scully.

"Agent, I thought I told you to keep him away."

"Sir, he came over, and Mulder had already given himself away at that point. Why make him leave and spread the news."

Doggett jumped in, "Excuse me, Agents, I'm glad to see you discuss me, but I want you to know that you can trust me. I don't know what's all going on, but..."

Gibson stopped him, "You, you were the one who saved me from the Alien Bounty Hunter. You still don't believe. You're thinking that none of this is true. You want to help, but you don't know how though."

Doggett stared at the boy. "How did you know that was what I was thinking?"

Gibson replied, "It dominates your thoughts, you think it so often. Let me see Mulder."

Skinner and Doggett moved out of the way of the boy.

When he got to Mulder, he said, "I want this room to be silent. He's going to have a lot of distress right now. Please, all of you keep your thoughts quiet if you can."

Mulder's eyes were still clouded. Gibson silently sat down next to Mulder, and held Mulder's hand. He didn't appear to be doing anything, and at some point Mulder screamed.

Doggett said, "He's not..."

Scully hissed. "Stop it. He's trying to calm Mulder."

Gibson said in his mind to Mulder, [Mulder, it's Gibson. Gibson Praise. It's okay now.]

Mulder visibly calmed, and he replied, [They are still here, in my head.]

[You had a nightmare. They made you like me. They changed your DNA, and since you are immune to the Black Oil, they thought they would infuse your blood and the black oil. That switch of DNA was turned on in you. Remember last year when you fell ill? They knew you could be changed then.]

[Why? I don't want to know others thoughts. I don't want to be sought after as a subject, and killed by CSM more than I already am.] Mulder replied, his voice becoming stronger, the cloud of fear lifting.

To Doggett, Skinner, and Scully, it was as if they had witnessed a miracle. Mulder sat up, looking at Gibson, right in the eyes as if he was speaking to him.

Scully whispered to Skinner, "You think they are talking to one another?"

"It would appear so," Skinner whispered back.

Doggett wasn't too sure what to think. He knew something had to be happening, just what was happening was the question. His eyes squinted, and he crossed his arms, as if he was watching someone interrogate a criminal.

Gibson spoke up vocally to Mulder for the first time, "You'll have to be careful. They'll want you again," Mulder replied, "I know. Will you be in contact?"

Gibson touched his temple, "Simply think of my name, and I'll be there for you. You have the gift, use it."

Mulder nodded. "Thanks. I needed this more than anything since I've returned, just so I can go on living."

Gibson smiled. He turned to the three adults. First to Skinner, "You know what has happened. You know it's true. Protect him from the F.B.I. hounds."

Then to Doggett, "You don't believe. You don't want to, but you know something happened. You also don't know if Mulder was with aliens for months on end."

Mulder spoke up before Gibson got to Scully, "You believe Gibson totally. You know that I came back a changed man into what Gibson is." A smile flickered across his lips. "I think I'll get used to reading minds. This time beats last time all to hell. This is going to be fun."

Scully's eyes widened. "Hhow did you know what I was thinking?"

Mulder tapped his temples, "Thank the gray men in the sky, Scully."

Doggett spoke up, "Dollars to Doughnuts, you didn't just read Scully's mind and you certainly didn't read mine."

"What is with that phrase? Dollars to Doughnuts? It's your favorite, I swear," Mulder said. He winked at Scully, "You know, Scully, I'll have to tell you something later, but I think I'll have to wait on something."

Scully wondered what it was. Before she could ask, Mulder jumped in before Doggett could respond. "Say this is true, would it be so bad? Would it be so out of this world, what I say it is. Okay, would it be so fantastic that I could, if I heard your thoughts if I wanted to? They did things to me that no man should ever go through and survive. Have you ever wondered what is up there, out in the sky?"

Doggett was so amazed at how quickly Mulder took over the situation. Scully didn't think this way naturally, so she ended at a loss of words usually. "But Agent, why would anyone ever need to know another's thought, like you claim to be able to do? It would never hold up in the law."

"Would it? It's all so new to you. You're used to violent crimes, and you're used to hard evidence. The X-Files is full of hunches, untouchable evidence, you have it in your hand one day and then it's gone the next." Mulder's eyes gleamed at Scully for a moment.

He kept hearing one thought, but didn't want to voice it right at the moment, not until he had talked to Skinner.

Doggett didn't know how to respond for a moment. "So, you're saying this gift was given to you, if it really is given to you for what purpose?"

"The aliens want to learn about humans, they want to learn how we work, what makes us tick. With people like Gibson and me out there, They can track what happens. I'm going to prevent them from tracking me.

I'll accomplish it somehow," Mulder replied.

Gibson said, "My work is done for the time being. Mulder, remember what I told you. I'll keep in touch with you." Gibson turned to Skinner, "Take me back to where you had me."

Mulder said, "Sir, before you go, do you think you and I could talk?"

"What is it, Mulder?" Skinner asked when they stepped out into the hall alone.

"Sir, Scully, her thoughts, they reveal to me that she loves me. When she got pregnant, we were both very drunk that night. I know that the..."

"Stop right there. You both love each other and you both know it. You both might have been drunk, but I'm telling you it wasn't alcohol. Besides, the Bureau has a pool going that you two have been a couple for a very long time. Don't disappoint them. The Bureau doesn't care as long as you two don't mess around on the job."

Mulder wondered if this was true. "Really, Sir? Scully and I can have a relationship other than partnership?

As long as we continue to work?"

"Yes. Now, I'll take Agent Doggett with me, why don't you talk to Scully? Don't worry and will you two stop hiding from each other?" Skinner said, as if he was a father speaking to a son.

"Yes, Sir," Mulder replied, a smile on his face.

When they went into the room, Skinner said, "I think we should be going, Agent Doggett. I think Mulder and Scully have some reunion things to discuss." Skinner winked at Scully.

Doggett shook Mulder's hand, "I don't know what to say. If you really have this ability, I wish you luck with it. Oh, and congratulations on the little one."

Scully looked down at Gibson, then up at Mulder, who had his eye brows raised. "Gibson, you told him, didn't you?"

Gibson smiled sheepishly. "Yes I did."

Mulder ruffled the boy's hair. "What's done is done. You go on now."

Skinner, Gibson, and Doggett left the apartment, leaving Mulder and Scully alone.

Part Two: Discoveries

Mulder asked, "What should we do?" He sat down on his sofa, patting the seat next to him. Scully complied, sitting down next to him.

She said, "So Mulder, you can read my mind. Then you know already, don't you?" She wasn't too sure on this, but he had told her what she was thinking before she had said it anyway.

Mulder nodded. He looked down for a moment. "I know that when you got pregnant, we were drunk. I know that we might have put our careers in jeopardy..." Scully said, "I know, Mulder. I know. If you want, I'll leave..."

Mulder didn't want this talk to go this way. "Besides, you probably don't feel the same way that I do."

"Scully, have you asked me that? What would you do, if I told you I feel the same way?" Mulder asked, wanting to let her know how he felt.

"I, I don't know, Mulder," Scully replied.

"What I was trying to say is I do feel the same way.

That I do love you. Skinner said it would be fine, as long as we don't goof off on the job, and keep working. Looks like I won't be working full time for a while, anyway. That's if you have something to say about it."

Scully looked up, looking into Mulder's eyes. She saw his dark, moody eyes fill with love.

She said, "Mulder, I, I know that it's dangerous for us to be like this. I've been waiting for this day for so long. I dreamt about it when I spent many sleepless nights here, on this couch. I would lay there and my mind would torture me..."

"Sh, the tortures over now. It's over. I'm here, and you know what, I don't know if I'm capable of staying in my apartment by myself just yet. Would you mind staying here, or should we go to your place?" Mulder asked.

"Here. Let's stay here. It was more of my home than my apartment in your absence. You scare Doggett, you know?" Scully giggled.

"Yeah, I scare Fox Mulder sometimes, too," Mulder said.

The next morning, Mulder demanded to go to work.

Scully finally gave in, when she saw how antsy he was.

Besides, he might be on leave against his choice soon anyway. He wanted to see what Doggett was made of more, and document the meeting with Gibson onto his private files. He was glad he could shut other people's thoughts out. It helped a little then.

When he got to work, he and Scully went to his office.

He sat down, putting his feet up on his desk. He smiled at Scully, as he pulled out a sharpened pencil.

He threw it into the ceiling, causing it to stick. He smiled impishly at Scully.

Doggett walked into the office, to see Mulder sitting in his rightful place. Mulder waved from his chair, never tipping. Doggett knew he couldn't do that in 100 years even with practice.

Mulder balled up a piece of paper, shooting it to the garbage can, past Doggett. He missed, "Oo, out of touch. Give me a week of boredom, and I'll have it."

Doggett couldn't help but smile. Mulder was so different. He was so sarcastic too. Doggett asked, "Mulduh, did you look at the file on your desk?"

Mulder shook his head. He picked it up and began reading. "I see a classic abduction story here. Young woman, mid 20's, disappeared in Texas, with no trace. Hmm, what do you think Scully?"

"Other than it probably wasn't aliens? How about her crazy boy friend, Mulder?"

"Are you jabbing at me, Agent Scully?"

"No, I'd never do that. I'm just saying that it's very likely that this young woman might have been abducted by a psycho control freak."

Doggett was surprised to see Scully counter Mulder's story with rationalizations. Usually she was telling him it was some creature, or some person with an ability.

"I'd have to go with Agent Scully, here, Mulduh. I just don't think some woman would be abducted in the middle of Texas."

"Oh, let me show you the map of where the ship I stayed on picked up more victims. Gibson kept tallies on where the ship went." Mulder pulled out a map Gibson had given to Skinner to give to him.

"Here is where they took her. I was still on board then."

"She screamed when she entered the ship. I remember her fear. They strapped her down into a similar chair that I was strapped into, a few chairs down. She was so young, so innocent. When she was strapped down firmly, They let the Black Oil fall on us. I had been through it for a while, so I was used to it by then."

His eyes were clouded with the memory. "She screamed again, as it hit her. When it hit me, I grunted. It was like ice. I wanted to soothe her, but I couldn't. Human compassion was not Their forte. I lay limp, knowing that a struggle made the Black Oil grip on more tightly and become more and more like liquid ice. She struggled, screaming herself hoarse. I wished things would just stop."

Mulder pulled himself out of his stupor. "I'm sorry for telling you all of this. I shouldn't have. This woman is out of our reach. She died on the ship. Couldn't sustain herself and the Black Oil."

Doggett spoke up first. "Wow, that's an impressive tale. So, this case is closed?"

Mulder looked into Doggett's eyes. "I know you don't believe me. You're thinking where ever the psycho kept me, made me crazy. Maybe he did. I'm telling you, I know what happened to this woman. Right here on the map."

He pointed to the spot where the ship picked him up in Oregon, then to New Mexico, then to Texas. The map made a circle going from Oregon and back. It went through Oklahoma and Kansas. Minnesota, Montana, and finally in Oregon where it spit Mulder back out.

"You know, you will never get that to fly," Doggett said.

"Try me. I guarantee I can talk to Skinner about this.

With Gibson's help, and that of the boys, I can prove all of this. I am not going to go after this ship.

It'll only suck me up again," Mulder said.

Scully was silent, shuddering with thoughts of the woman who had died on the ship. That could have been Mulder.

She said, "You should tell this to Skinner right away. I'll go with you. Doggett, you stay here. We want to make sure no one comes in to the office and steals anything, call the Gunmen, have them debug the place. Should have done it earlier."

While Mulder and Scully went up to see Skinner, Doggett gave The Lone Gunmen a call. Frohike answered the phone. "Yeah."

"It's Agent Doggett. Mulduh told me to give you guys a call. You're supposed to come to his office. He won't be here right away, he and Scully are seeing Skinner. They want you to de bug the place and bring some map that tracks the ships," Frohike said, "We're on our way. You going to be there when we get there?"

"Yeah, I will be," Doggett replied.

"See you in about 20 then." Frohike hung up.

Right after Doggett replaced the phone to the cradle, a voice laughed in the room. "Hello, Agent."

"Who are you?"

"Let's just say I'm a friend of Mulder's." The man walked out into the light where he could be seen.

"Mulder might not think so but without me, he might not be here."

"What are you talking about? Who are you?" Doggett demanded.

"Let's just say that I can help you three accomplish great things against that Cigarette Smoking S.O.B. I would hope that he would have made your acquaintance."

Doggett took his gun out, having it ready, pointing it at the man. The man grabbed Doggett's firing arm, twisting it swiftly to make him drop the firearm. It clattered on to the floor.

"Don't be foolish. I'm quite able to defend myself."

Doggett stared. He had only used one arm!

"Are you Krycek?" Doggett asked warily.

"Yes." Then Krycek punched him out cold and left.

When the Lone Gunmen got there, they found Doggett out cold on the floor. Frohike said to Langly, "He didn't tell us he was going to have a visitor. Do you see that black eye? Man that must have been some punch."

Byers kneeled down, patting Doggett on the face, trying to revive him. Langly found his weapon. "He tried to use this. I have a funny feeling who ever it was just twisted his arm off to make him drop it."

Doggett groaned. "Agent Doggett? It's Byers, John Byers. You were hit. Do you know where you are?"

Doggett's voice was hoarse, "Yeah, the basement. Where did he go?"

"Who's he?" Frohike asked.

"Krycek. He hit me. Then I don't know what happened next. I guess this is it," Doggett croaked out.

"Frohike, get a hold of Skinner's office. Tell them what happened here. We better de bug this place first though," Langly said.

"Yeah, good plan." Frohike set to de bugging the phones. "Found one! This one's clean now. I'm going to make that call. You get the rest and keep an eye on Doggett here."

"Skinner's office. Can I ask who is calling?"

"Melvin Frohike. I need to speak with the A.D."

"I'm sorry, I must take a message. He is busy speaking with Agents Mulder and Scully right now."

"Put me through lady, or I'll override your system, understood? The A.D. and the Agents he's meeting with need to know what I have to tell them. Now."

"I'm sorry, sir."

"Overridden," Frohike said.

The next voice he heard was Skinner's. "I thought I ordered all my calls on hold."

"You did but I don't think Krycek considered that as an option."

"Frohike? What do you mean? Why are you calling here?

Where are you calling from?"

"Whoa, whoa Skin Man. I'm in Mulder's office with the other boys and Doggett. Krycek attacked before we got here. I think you guys should come down."

"We're on our way. And don't call me Skin Man." Doggett asked, "How did you override the system?"

Frohike said, "Back a while ago, Mulder asked me to make his phone override the phone in the secretary's office. You just have to push this button and you get through to Skinner. She doesn't know that it's there."

"Isn't the F.B.I. going to find out?" Doggett asked, putting ice on his eye.

"Find out what?" Skinner asked.

"Oh, how I overrode your phone service," Frohike said nonchalantly.

Skinner looked at Frohike, rolling his eyes. "We'll deal with that later. Now, Doggett, let me see that eye."

Doggett moved the ice and let Skinner and Scully look at the eye.

Mulder said, "That case on my desk, she's a victim that was on that ship with me. Did you bring that map with you?"

"Yeah," Langly said. He saw the pain in Mulder's eyes.

"You going to be okay?"

Mulder nodded. "Yeah. Looks like Krycek got you good, Doggett."

"Yeah, who knew a one armed man could pop you one so good."

"I warned you, remember? Byers, will you check the hall to check if anyone is still there? I'll check myself in a way he won't even expect and then we'll all have a talk."

Frohike crossed his arms. "What do you mean, Mulder?"

Mulder didn't respond. Byers came back and said that no one was there. Mulder nodded confirmation. "You guys finish de bugging the place and we'll talk."

They set out to do that. When they finished, Mulder was behind his desk, feet up. He was chewing his bottom lip again, deep in thought to decide how to approach this.

"Well, Mulder, what is it?" Langly asked.

"You know Gibson?" Mulder started.

"Yeah. What about him?" Frohike asked.

"What would you do if I said I can do what he does?" Mulder asked.

"I'd say those aliens sloshed your brains just a bit," Frohike said.

"Exactly. I know how to do what Gibson does. If I wanted to right now, I could tell you all what you are thinking. I think I prefer not to though. Frohike, especially you."

Frohike began to blush. "Sorry Mulder. She's just..."

Scully hit Frohike on the arm. "Stop what ever perverted thought you are thinking right now."

"See why I didn't want to do that?" Mulder smiled.

Mulder told them all about the ship and the woman again. He said, "I can't help it. Ok, I can control it. Frohike, do you know where that ship is expected to land next? I'd hate for it to break its circle path. I don't want it coming back for me any time soon."

Langly stretched the map out on Mulder's desk. Frohike pointed out the site where Mulder had been taken.

"Here was where I was taken. Then, you say you were in New Mexico you were there searching for me."

"Yeah. We found Gibson there," Scully said. "That's when he became a ward of the state."

"Yeah. He knew I was on the ship there in New Mexico."

Mulder pointed to Texas. "This is where the woman in the file was taken. She was disposed of on the ship, never to be seen again."

"Wow, that's pretty tough, Mulder," Langly said.

"Yeah. I'll never forget her last words. They were the Our Father prayer. I wished at that moment I could touch the cross around my neck. By the way, Scully, if you want it back..."

"No, Mulder. You keep it. Who knows when you'll be needing it again," Scully said.

Doggett asked, "So, you're telling me that this woman was taken where you were?" Mulder nodded.

"Give me something to stick my finger with. The Black Oil is laced into my blood. I want you to stay away from it though." Mulder stuck his finger, and a black film covered his blood. He quickly put it on a slide Scully provided for him. "This is deadly to those who are infected with it. I was immune. Instead of killing me, it made me what I am now. Any one in the Bureau wants to stop me can't deny this."

Doggett looked over at the slide. He said, "Dollars to Doughnuts, They put that in your system? What is their objective?" Doggett didn't know if he should believe or disbelieve at this point.

"To make a race that will be dominating over the rest of the population until they can take us over too. I've seen their plans. They mean the end of human civilization as we know it."

Skinner said, "You guys should get some rest. I'll want to be posted. I don't want you to go chasing lights in the sky, Mulder. You're too valuable to us now. I'll put an APB on Krycek, though it won't do much good."

Mulder nodded. "I should get home and get some rest. It looks as if we are going to have a hard next few months. I don't know about you, but I don't want to see the aliens so much anymore. I bet They killed my sister a long time ago that is if she was taken by them."

"Get some rest, Mulder. We'll see you in the morning," Frohike said.

Skinner said, "Let's all meet here again. We have a lot to do."

"I'll go home with you, Mulder. I don't see any reason to be apart especially if you have another nightmare," Scully said.

Doggett said, "I think it'd be best for us to all reflect and relax. Boy, this is a lot to swallow all at once. I hope this gets easier."

"This is the beginning of the rabbit hole," Mulder said.

When Doggett got home, he thought back on what had happened that day. It was confusing having Mulder around. Now that he knew what and who was involved, he knew he was stuck on the X-Files. Why not see it through? It had intrigued him, though he didn't believe it at all. Who knows, maybe Mulder was what he really said he was.

Mulder had such a dominating personality. It blew his mind away listening to Mulder describe the poor woman on the ship. If it was true, that meant the government he worked for was lying to him and was letting many of its citizens be disposed of willingly. He didn't know if he could stomach that.

He had taken a few files from the office. Mainly the files that had anything to do with alien abductions, and Mulder or Scully at some point. Antarctica intrigued him. Bees that infected people with the virus. Scully had lived through it. Her cancer. So many files where they had been subject to torture.

He wondered why he had ever made a statement that Scully didn't know Mulder. She had saved his life as he had saved hers so many times. She stuck through with him when no one else would. She was his partner in all senses. Her child, the child that she would refuse to name the father to for so long when she could no longer hide her condition from him was Mulder's.

Doggett read the file, knowing that he was just a third wheel now. Scully would focus on Mulder and his theories no matter how far out they were. He would disappear.

He came across Samantha's file. The little girl that had led Mulder down this path in the first place. What had become of the little girl? Here in the file, in Mulder's hand it read that she was taken by a Walk In.

In a personal note, Mulder wrote 'still searching for Sam'. It was tacked on the file though the file officially shut the case down. His sister was his guide, his reason for stumbling across the X-Files.

Doggett wondered what it was like to chase after an apparition for so long. He saw the file on Emily.

God, the losses for the cause had been high. He hoped that he wouldn't suffer too many such things that they had. He knew he might. The history was too much to handle. He put the files down, then went to bed. It would be a long day tomorrow and the rabbit hole would grow bigger then.

The next morning, Doggett got up, looking over the files again. He wondered about Emily. Scully never mentioned the child, ever. Then again, why should she, and to him of all people? He wondered what Mulder would say to him, if he told him about his son. His son had disappeared while he was on a case, mysteriously and never been found. He never thought like Mulder about it, it was just another psycho after an F.B.I. agent's family. Shortly after, his wife had left him.

Doggett knew he didn't have much to lose. He just wished that Mulder and Scully, even Skinner would just trust him a little bit. Mulder's return had turned his world upside down and had made him obsolete. He knew Scully didn't trust him before, but now, now she wouldn't even think of going to him about anything.

He got into his car, driving to work, to see what things would lie in store for him there. He wondered how much he'd be in the shadows today. He wanted a part of the case and he wanted desperately to be of some help. He hoped they would let him, and not because they didn't want him spreading rumors and facts about the X-Files Division.

When he got there, Mulder was sitting at his desk. He didn't even look up, "Hello, Agent Doggett. Scully went to get coffee if you were going to ask that."

Doggett reeled back. How did he know it was him? "I was going to ask that, Agent Mulduh."

"Take a seat. We have to dig deep into this file. Oh, Frohike will be the only Gunmen here today. He has some information about the map and another stop. They nabbed another one, late last night."

"Oh? Where?" Doggett asked.

"When Scully and Frohike get here. I hope she doesn't run into him in the hall. She'd be crabby the rest of the day," Mulder said.

Doggett didn't question. Obviously another one of those inside jokes he wasn't in on. It was tough being the outside agent.

"You taking me being around pretty tough, I can see.

Don't know what will become of you? Don't worry, you'll fit in after awhile. We'll get going and we'll wonder what we did without you," Mulder said.

"Here comes the coffee, and the little troll to go with it," Scully said.

"Hey, Pretty Lady, I'm no troll," Frohike protested.

"I know, but it makes you all embarrassed when someone calls you that," Scully quipped.

"One for Scully." Mulder laughed.

Frohike said, "You're not helping, Mulder."

"Oh? I thought I was polishing your image in front of the Lovely Agent Scully, you let her win, didn't you?" Mulder replied.

"Mulder... I see what you mean. Yeah, I let you get that one on purpose," Frohike said.

"Uh-huh. So, where's the latest abduction?" Scully asked.

"I'm glad you asked that. Right here in Maryland, whew close huh, a man disappeared. He was in the yard at his house then was gone. His wife said that there was a bright light and a flash. When it disappeared, her husband went with it."

"So, you think it's Them?" Frohike asked.

"What, They wouldn't announce themselves with Their one time only in this area laser show? Are you kidding, that's how They make their publicity. The crowd is so tough these days, I hear. That's what They told me anyway," Mulder said.

Scully smiled. "I don't think that was Their intention, Mulder. You're just saying that. You know, I hope this man will survive. Frohike, where is the expected next landing of this ship of lights?"

"Hmm, if the circle follows right, it should head north, They did a bigger circle this time, which means, They could stop in D.C. for you again, Mulder," Frohike said.

Doggett was still laughing internally from Mulder's joke. He was all serious on the outside. He asked, "Is there a way to make sure you don't get abducted again, Mulduh?"

"Hmm. Yeah, I just don't go out side and play that's all. That and keep that damn Alien Bounty Hunter away from me. He got me last time, I'm not going back.

Besides when ever They approached you on the ship they all looked like this guy." Mulder shuddered.

"Got a stiletto, Mulder?" Scully asked.

"Yeah, always carry one in my ankle holster these days." Mulder fumbled through his pants leg to grab it. He pulled it out, popping the needle.

Doggett wasn't sure what to think of the object. He asked, "What on Earth do you do with that?"

"It doesn't have much to do with Earth, I suppose. You stick this thing in the back of his neck. He spurts green stuff that's poisonous to men, and hopefully dies. It must be executed with precision or he won't die. I hate that," Mulder said, examining the tool.

Frohike laughed. "I bet you do hate that, Mulder."

"Why not? They never seem to die right, and before you know it there is another one. I still think Scully and I should stay together, paired up just in case.

Doggett, you should be safe but always be ready to give me a call if you think it necessary."

Doggett nodded. "So, you use that to kill what you call the Alien Bounty Hunter? How do you know it's him?"

"That's the tricky part, you don't a lot of the time. He morphs into anyone. Scully had a run in with one once that looked just like me. She figured it out but too late that's all. I couldn't throw her into a table if I wanted to. Bad back I guess. Guess someone will never be carried over the thresh hold."

"Mulder, be quiet. That's not called for," Scully said, her face turning a bright pink.

"One for Mulder," Frohike quipped.

"You, you little troll," Scully snapped back.

"I think she likes you, Frohike," Mulder said.

"Fox Mulder, you stop this right now," Scully said, her face turning a deeper red.

Doggett enjoyed this side of the partners. They had so much fun on the job, okay, so it was more of Mulder than Scully having the fun. It was still fun to watch.

He asked, "So, are we just going to track this ship by the Gunmen, here?"

"Yeah, that's the plan. I don't see any other way. The Bureau will never support a chase of a ship. They probably think I was captured by a cult, and came back unsound. Maybe I did. You never know," Mulder said the last part with a rise in his voice. "Do you think I'm Spooky?"

"I have for years, Mulder. You know that," Scully said, trying to gain ground for the loss she had.

Mulder's face fell ashen. "Oh, now I'm deeply wounded, Scully. You cut like a knife with your words."

Scully rolled her eyes. "Can we be serious? I'd like to get something accomplished."

"Okay, okay. Gosh darn it, you just want to have your fun and then someone has to come by and ruin it.

Sheesh, I just can't win anywhere," Mulder said.

Later that night, Mulder and Scully sat in his apartment. "So, Scully, you think Doggett got a real taste of we're really like today?" Mulder's eye brows went up and down provocatively.

"Mulder, don't be silly. He is still trying to get used to you. You know that as well as I do. But, as for that bad back of yours, that's just too bad," Scully nailed him for the earlier comment.

"Hey, hey no fair. You can't stab at an earlier stab after the fact." Mulder put his pouty face on.

"Oh yes I can. Now seriously, do you think that the alien ship will be coming back for you? I don't want an army of ABH's coming to your door. I just got you back." Scully smiled.

Mulder, who was unsure of what to do with a sober Scully, and a sober him, looked at Scully with heavy lidded eyes. "You know, I think I could get used to this type of life again. But it's different in so many ways now."

Scully was at least seven months along now. She carried her weight well and didn't appear to be dragging herself around as other pregnant women often did. Instead, she looked graceful, as always.

"So, what do you plan on doing tonight while we hide out from our friendly aliens?" Scully asked.

Mulder said, "I don't know. What would you like to do?"

"So romantic, never mind. Why don't I cook or you can order something. I think I need a nap too," Scully said.

"Oh? What would you like to eat?" Mulder asked.

"Hmm, maybe before the food gets here some ice cream. I stocked your fridge, don't worry. Then I'll take a burger with some Chinese, I guess."

Mulder made a face. "Disgusting. I'm not watching you eat that. You don't eat it all at the same time, do you?"

"Yeah, you should try it."

"I'll pass, I think."

Mulder called the take out numbers, and Scully laid herself down on the couch, eating some ice cream, and then napping. He watched T.V. for a while. He glanced at her sleeping form from time to time.

A knock came to the door and Mulder got up answer it.

When he opened the door he was surprised by who was standing on the other side.

"YOU! I don't want to know what you are doing here.

Unfortunately, I might not have much of a choice," Mulder growled.

"I come here in peace. Chill out," Krycek said.

"No. Unless you can prove otherwise to me," Mulder said. He was prodding in Krycek's mind. As usual Krycek wasn't very truthful. Mulder wanted to reel out at him. He kept the fact that he knew that an ABH hid behind Krycek, to himself.

"Yeah, I'm sure. Krycek, forget it," Mulder said.

"Mulder, you don't understand," Krycek snarled.

"Oh? I think I understand enough. Go, now before your other friend gets frustrated. Take him with you," Mulder said.

Krycek's eyes widened. He kept his composure though. "I'll be back later. You won't be so lucky next time."

Mulder knew he had shaken the former F.B.I. agent. He didn't care. Krycek was none of his concern. He just knew that staying here was not an option. Leaving might be tricky with a passed out Scully.

He decided to wake her. "Scully. It's Mulder. We can't stay here. The ABH is after me. I'm going to keep my mind focused on locating him so we can leave. I want you to be silent. I'm new to this." Mulder smiled to reassure her. "Don't worry, we'll get out of here safely."

Scully got up, groaning. "But I never got to eat my burger and Chinese."

"I promise when we get where we're going we'll eat and you can have your fill of what ever exotic food you might desire. I just think it'd be a better plan for you to come with and for us to leave. We'll go some place they won't even suspect. Why didn't I think of it before?" Mulder sighed.

They made their way slowly to the door, Mulder scanning, Scully silent. They got to his car.

Scully finally let out a burp she had been hiding. She said, "Excuse me. That just snuck up on me. Ice cream always does that."

Scully had always been a marvel to Mulder. Pregnant Scully surprised him more. "Did I hear you think that or say that?" Mulder joked.

"Mulder, I excused myself didn't I?" Scully smiled.

"So where are we going?"

"You'll see when we get there. I know I should notify the person or persons we're going to stay the night with, maybe more, but it's best that they don't know until later."

Scully raised her eyebrows. "Fine, as long as I get a burger and some Chinese I don't care."

Mulder rolled his eyes. He then drove on.

When they arrived where they were going, Mulder had to wake Scully. She was bleary eyed and crabby, as well as hungry. He walked up to the door, pounding on it.

He hoped that Scully wouldn't rip anyone's head off.

Doggett answered the door. He jumped back a moment.

"What can I do for you two?"

"Mind if we shack up here? I had some unexpected visitors, and I'd not like to be around when they return," Mulder said.

He led Scully into the house, to a sofa. He sat her down, asking her if she was still hungry for that burger and Chinese. Scully only gave him a look as if he should dare to even ask.

"Tough being around her when she's in this mood. Mind you call for some take-in burgers and Chinese?" Mulder asked. "I'll even pay for it."

"Oh, so she's on one of her weird diets again?" Doggett held back the laughter.

"Yeah. Laugh, on second thought don't laugh. She looks ready to eat one of us." Mulder smiled.

"So, who were these unexpected visitors of yours?" Doggett asked.

"Oh same old, same old. I'm here to kill you and my name is Alex Krycek. Oh, and his buddy ABH for short. I showed them the door, and they took the invitation to leave with the same threats. I hope the delivery boy expected at my door didn't suffer anything because of this," Mulder said.

"So what made you think coming here would be smart?" Doggett asked.

"Full of questions. It is the last thing they'd expect. Yeah, we work together, but do we openly trust each other according to them? No. Therefore, this would be the last place expected to be a hideout.

Scully better get that food and then some sleep, she's already meaner than a mule," Mulder said the last line like a hick. "Hey Scully, he had buck teeth, right?"

Scully threw a pillow at him. "You just might not have any teeth if you don't stop it!"

"Oo, we'd better go call the delivery boy and I'll notify the boys. They'll want to know if someone will come after them tonight. Langly hates to be woke at night for unexpected I'm going to kill you visitors," Mulder said.

Doggett called the delivery out. He listened to Mulder talk to the Gunmen. "Hey, boys. If someone comes asking to kill me and Scully, tell them that they must have the wrong place. We went up to visit them and they missed us."

Doggett wondered how many little lines Mulder harbored in that mind of his. Probably millions. He saw Scully asleep on his sofa and sighed. Of all the times he had wished that Scully would have quit acting as if nothing was happening to her body, this had to be the time. A soft snore came from the sofa. He smiled.

"Yeah, Frohike. Krycek is on the war path. It's not my idea. I did as I was told, I didn't go out and play.

What? You say there have been UFO sightings in D.C.?

10 of them? Damn, I wish I could go out there and not get abducted. You know what this could mean. Yeah, I'll tell Scully. Yeah, we got her that weird food.

It's gross, I know. I'll keep in touch." Mulder hung up.

"Now what?" Doggett asked.

"Now we sit and hopefully don't see any of the bad guys. I don't think it's best for Scully to sleep on a couch for the entire night, though. I say we get her fed, and if you have a spare bed, we put her in it.

She'd wake more rested and be less grumpy that way," Mulder said.

"She'll have to take my bed for the night, I'll just sleep somewhere else. Mulduh, I wish I had a separate bed for all of us," Doggett said.

"I'll take the couch," Mulder said.

"No, no, I couldn't do that to you. You'd wake with a stiff neck," Doggett said, trying to be hospitable and trying to make friends.

"Nah, I always sleep on sofas. Goes back to when my sister was abducted. Unless..." Mulder's mind was racing again. "How big is that bed of yours? I'm sure Scully wouldn't mind me sharing with her, and you could take the sofa, that's if you would want to."

Doggett sighed. "Yeah, I don't see why not. If you would have slept on the couch, I would have ended up on the floor somewhere anyway. Besides, Scully probably should have someone with her just in case she needs to find her way about the house."

A knock on the door came. Doggett answered it, taking the take in food into the house. He paid them and they left. Doggett handed the bag to Mulder. "Here, you wake her. I'm going to look over some files if you don't mind."

Mulder nodded. He went over and woke up Scully.

"Food's here," Mulder whispered.

Scully smiled. She took the bag and began to devour the entire meal. She talked with her mouth full. "So, what happens tonight?"

Mulder gave the signal that she had stuff on her chin, she brushed it away and Mulder said, "We go upstairs and take Doggett's bed. He'll take his couch. We just thought that it would be best for you, since you're pregnant, it wouldn't be good for the baby and all."

Scully nodded, taking another bite.

"You know, I've missed at least 10 UFO sightings tonight. Stupid aliens. Oh well, I know they are out there and that's all that matters," Mulder said.

"Oh, I'm so sorry, Mulder. I know you would be out there chasing them down if you could." Scully tried to stifle a yawn. "I'm tired," Mulder said, "I can see that, if you're done we should get to bed."

When they got upstairs, Mulder climbed into the bed next to her. He laid down and put his hands behind his head.

Scully immediately curled up onto his chest. Mulder smiled. Scully had done so in her sleep. She was terribly tired. Too bad the moment was sort of ruined by her soft snores. They grew increasingly loud after a while. Maybe it wasn't so bad that she was snoring, it was rather fun to see Scully not being able to guard herself.

Skinner went over to Mulder's apartment later that night. He wanted to tell Mulder about a discovery he had made. While he was talking with the Gunmen earlier that night, before Mulder had called, he learned that C.G.B. Spender, a.k.a. Cancer Man was spotted. He knew Mulder would be enraged when he heard the news.

He didn't know that Doggett had been visited by him, but the fact that Cancer Man was seen alive and well did not forebode well for the X-Files Division. It never had. He knocked on the door, expecting an answer at any point.

"Mulder, It's Skinner," Skinner called out. He touched the door, finding it locked. [He's probably locked anyone that might do anything to him out.] He knocked again.

"Come on, answer," Skinner whispered. Still no answer.

He drew his gun, preparing to break the door open.

When he went to shove his shoulder through the door, it slid quietly open. That aroused Skinner's alertness right away. He scooted out of the door way, peeking around the door, gun ready to fire.

He entered the apartment, to only found a note lying on the floor. It was short and simple. It appeared to be lyrics to a song.

It's so very lonely,
You're two thousand
Light years from home.

Skinner pondered what the message meant. It might mean that Mulder would or had been abducted again. He recognized the lyrics but could hot put a finger on where he had heard them. It was a puzzle indeed for him and he hoped that what ever it meant wasn't that Mulder had been taken.

He picked up the piece of paper, putting it in a jacket pocket. He would locate the song's writers, the meaning, and who had left it laying in Mulder's apartment, along with the purpose for placing it there. It would be difficult.

He called the Gunmen.

"Yeah. Frohike here." Frohike's gruff voice came over the phone.

"Where is Mulder?" Skinner demanded.

"Doggett's. They thought it would be best."

"Can you let me go to your place? I have something I hope you can help me with. It's very important," Skinner said.

"Sure. We'll do all we can," Frohike said before he hung up.

When Skinner got to the Gunmen's, he asked, "So, they went off to Doggett's?"

Langly nodded. "Yeah. I guess they had some fun visitors at Mulder's tonight. What's the thing you have to show us?"

"Oh, it's right here in my pocket. I think it might be a song of some sort. I don't recognize it," Skinner said, handing it to Frohike.

Frohike smiled. "I know exactly what song this is.

It's 2000 Light Years from Home by the Rolling Stones."

"Yeah, it came off of Their Satanic Majestic Requests, 1967, the flip side to She's A Rainbow, another song on the album," Langly said. "It's ultra cool, the Stones were cited for being Satan worshipers."

"Oh, shut up Langly. I was with them at Altamont and you know it."

"Yeah right. Anyway, who ever got this and put it in Mulder's place is sending a signal. I'd say they want to send him 2000 light years from home again," Langly said.

"Boys, let's not argue who partied with the Stones or not. Do you know who might plant this note?" Skinner demanded.

Byers said, "We could check the handwriting and check it against a database. Then we could narrow it down.

Or, perhaps we could think of who might be aware of Mulder's previous abduction and maybe know that he might be needed. I'd have to guess it might be Krycek."

"Or Cancer Man," Skinner said.

"What do you mean?" Frohike asked.

"He's been spotted just recently. I just don't see him planting a note like this though. I'd say I'd have to agree with Byers here. Cancer Man doesn't use rock and roll to send a message, he uses more devious methods.

Think it's safe for me to get a hold of Mulder and Scully?" Skinner asked.

"Maybe. You could try. It might be worth a shot but then they might locate him too. Hmm, we'll have to wait with that one, perhaps," Byers said.

Doggett sat in his office at his house. Tonight's turn of events were disturbing. Who knew that Mulder and Scully would be staying at his house and in his bed no doubt. He sat staring off into space for a few minutes.

What would Skinner say when he heard about this? He knew that the A.D. wasn't too fond of him being involved in the case any ways. He wished that opinion would change. The bonds that Mulder had made with both Scully and Skinner were tremendous.

What was it that Krycek was after anyway and Mulder said that Krycek had an Alien Bounty Hunter with him?

What was with that? He hoped it wasn't dangerous. He hoped that he wouldn't be sent back to looking for Mulder, that would devastate Scully. He could tell that one by looking at her.

Scully had slipped back easily into a lifestyle that had been made eight years ago. Only parts of two years of those were they ever apart. He remembered the rumors that Mulder had confided in other women that first day. What a mistake it was to believe that lie.

Mulder only needed Scully and Scully only needed Mulder.

Doggett thought of the comment Mulder had made earlier that day. [We won't know what we did without you after awhile.] Was that true? He wanted to help so badly, even though he didn't really believe in a lot of what he heard. Should he anyway? It didn't make any sense to him why aliens from another planet would want to take over Earth. But he couldn't deny a lot of the evidence, including the change in Mulder's blood.

He took out the files of all alien related cases, thumbing through them. He wondered how the demise of the Syndicate came, what their objective was, and why there was only one member left, Cancer Man.

He had only met the man once and that was in shadows, and Doggett had never seen his face in the light. He wondered what the old man wanted with him anyway. He had said that he had been assigned to keep Mulder and Scully apart. Wasn't he assigned to help? It was all so confusing. He hoped things would get better and soon.

The next morning, Mulder and Scully snuck downstairs.

They found Doggett asleep at his desk in the dining room. He had never made it to the sofa. Mulder smiled at Scully. They went to the living room and Mulder asked, "Do you think we should wake him?"

"Mulder, I think we will probably have major explaining to do. Skinner will probably be on the war path," Scully said.

Mulder smiled. "Aw come on, Scully. If we're all going to get fried, let's at least do so together. I'd hate to do this alone. Imagine the fun he'd be missing out on. We can't deny him that pleasure."

"Mulder, let him sleep just a bit more. I'm going to see what he has in his fridge. Some one is hungry. You better give Skinner a ring. He'll want to know where we are."

Mulder nodded. He called Skinner's office. The secretary buzzed him right through. "Hey, Skin Man! I just thought I'd call and tell you that we are still alive and well."

"Mulder, don't call me that. Frohike told me where you are staying. I don't think this is a secure enough line so we'll just be quiet about it. You three might want to come to the office A.S.A.P. We received a threat at your apartment. It's an oddity but Krycek keeps us on our toes at least."

"Oh? Is it some hoodoo voodoo thing? I've always enjoyed voodoo curses," Mulder quipped.

"No, no, it's just something you wouldn't expect that's all. You were right, They want you back," Skinner said.

"Yeah. I got that impression when he showed up at my door with his friend. He tried to lie as usual but it didn't work. Let's just say that like Samantha in Bewitched, I wiggled my nose and found out what he was really there for. We'll be in as soon as Scully's fed and we wake Doggett."

"Fine," Skinner said. "I expect you in at least an hour."

Mulder went up to Doggett's office. He tapped Doggett on the shoulder. "Wake up, man. Skin Man says he wants us in the office in an hour."

Doggett groaned for a moment. He lifted his head.

"Wwhat?"

"Wake up, sleeping beauty. We have work to do. Let's get a move on," Mulder said.

"Oh. Let's go. I should probably change clothes and we'll leave. How's that?" Doggett said, still groggy.

"Perfectly fine. I better go and check up before Miss I can eat the strangest things cleans out your kitchen. I shouldn't have left that scavenger alone in your kitchen. I'm sorry."

"It's alright." Doggett smiled.

"You know, you're catching on." Mulder slapped his shoulder in a friendly gesture and went to check on Scully. As he made his way down to the kitchen he thought of what Skinner had to tell them. He hoped it wasn't too bad.

When he got the kitchen, Scully was eating left over chicken from the fridge, with a side dish of rice.

"You should eat something. It'd be good for you, you know."

Mulder took a drumstick. He started eating it, "Skin Man has stuff to tell us. I wonder what it is. We're expected in an hour. We're not to speak of where we are staying to anyone at the office. If we do, they might catch on all that sooner."

"Yeah. I thought that too," Scully said, wiping her chin clean.

"I'm going to get dressed in my clothes from yesterday. What choice do we have? It's not a big deal. I'll meet you down here again, unless you decide to get dressed too." Mulder raised his eyebrows up and down.

"Mulder, that's just gross. This is Doggett's house.

Eww. Imagine what he would have thought." Scully smiled.

Mulder laughed. "Yeah. I'll get dressed then you get dressed. We'll have to arrange something like this later and not in some one's house." Mulder again suggestively raised his eyebrows.

Scully laughed, slapping his arm. "Go, go and get dressed."

When they arrived at the office, they went straight to Skinner's office. The secretary waved them all in and Skinner stood to greet them.

"I trust you all slept well." Skinner winked.

"Yeah, all but Doggett here," Mulder said. "So what is the big thing I have to worry about now?"

"Well, when I went over to your place last night, to check up, I found a note on your floor. It's not your normal note, though. We think it was used because it would be so unlike Krycek in particular."

Mulder took the note from Skinner. He read it. "It's so very lonely, you're 2000 light years from home? Why on earth would Krycek leave this type of note except for the obvious overtones of 'We're going to abduct you.' I wonder why he chose this song too."

Scully shook her head. "Who knows why Krycek does anything. That's if it is Krycek in the first place."

"Cancer Man wouldn't use a rock song, a psychedelic one for that matter for a measure. He'd sit and wait for you for as long as needed so he could deliver the threat in person. Who ever did this, they have either altered their style or they are a new one, using their own style all together," Mulder said.

"So, what if it's neither?" Doggett asked.

"Then we learn who the new threat maker is, if they are involved in getting me a R.S.V.P. with our friendly aliens or if they should be committed for insanity. I haven't seen a real new conspirator in years. It might be fun."

Skinner chuckled a bit. "Frohike ran the writing. Who ever wrote this was either for Krycek, or like you said, some one who we must learn about and acquaint ourselves with. It's a possibility."

"Did the boys have anything else?" Mulder asked.

"Nope, except that Langly and Frohike fought constantly and eventually were very very crabby. You know them," Skinner said.

"Could this person be wishing to possibly warn Mulduh, like a friend?" Doggett was trying to take a stab at this.

"I never thought of that. It could be another like Deep Throat or X. Too bad about Deep Throat. They'd be working inside the group too, and underneath Cancer Man's nose. That's tricky," Mulder said, thoughtfully.

"Maybe you should place a note in your apartment and I'll check to see if we get a reply. If they are trying to help, they are sure protecting themselves," Skinner said.

"Yeah. See Doggett, now what would we have ever done with out you? Without you here we would have never thought this person to be a friend," Mulder said with a smile.

Doggett, for the first time felt as if he belonged on the X-Files Team. It felt reassuring to belong to the good guys again after leaving his last section and partner.

Mulder took the note and attempted to write a reply.

"The Stones, why the Stones? Why not just put it out in the open?" He grumbled about its strangeness. He wrote on a piece of paper, "Identify yourself. Friend or Foe."

Scully sighed. "It should work. I wonder what response we will get. I hope it's not any more rock and roll lyrics. That would be annoying."

Mulder smiled. "What's wrong with a bit of rock and roll? I happen to enjoy it. It's got good beat and all."

Doggett read the note. He asked, "So, you going to stage the look that you're going to your apartment and then you'll be going back to my place?"

"That would be the plan. Of course I could get extremely lucky and run into some old buddies at my place," Mulder said with a smile.

"What's your plan for the rest of the day?" Scully asked.

"I thought I would write a letter to Gibson, one that would open up correspondence, even if I don't need to write and can just think. It might be dangerous either way, but I feel safer doing things this way."

"Alright, Mulder. I hope the person visiting your place is there with good intentions. It would be a shame that they turned out to be another enemy like we don't have enough problems."

"It's noon. We should get some lunch, and then we'll settle down for a fun afternoon of my favorite activity. Paperwork!! Kill me now." Mulder sighed.

"It won't be so bad. Think of it this way, you'll find out about the cases that Doggett and I did together.

It might be fun," Scully said, trying to reassure Mulder about the boredom lying ahead for him.

"I've already read the files, it's not the same any way. It is more fun to investigate them in person, rather than sit in an old, hot, stuffy office. I prefer it to Antarctica any day, though," Mulder said.

"Thought so. Let's get our lunch and then we'll hit those books. I'm famished."

"Scully, you're always hungry lately, I've noticed. If you're not careful, that girlish figure might disappear," Mulder quipped at her.

"It already did, can't you tell?" Scully said with a laugh. "Let's go."

When they arrived at the cafe of choice, Scully ordered a lot more food than Doggett or Mulder had.

Mulder was surprised by how much Scully could eat in her condition.

She had ordered a side dish of potatoes, a steak meal, and a dessert. At least lunch was normal. Mulder and Doggett really didn't feel like loosing their appetites.

The lunch table conversation was about absolutely nothing. It didn't have anything to do with work, it didn't have anything to do with the latest threats, or aliens or anything. It was refreshing, especially when the source of conversation emanated from John Doggett.

"Yeah, when I was 12, my brother was annoying me. I just got fed up one day and I punched his lights out.

My ma didn't take to that too well. She grounded me and told me that if I ever hit my little brother ever again, she'd skin my hide," Doggett said, with a laugh.

Mulder smiled, "My mom just told me to leave Sam alone." It was the first time Mulder had ever talked about Samantha, with out sadness or pain. "I teased her relentlessly."

"My little brother tended to follow me around everywhere I always went. My friends would be over from school and there Jimmy would be. When I told him I would make him leave us alone, he'd always beller at me, I'm going to tell Ma, and she'll skin your hide!"

Scully had tears rolling down her face. "My brother always tried to tell me I couldn't be around when he was doing things with his friends. I was a girl and girls weren't allowed. It infuriated me. Melissa was allowed but not me," Mulder said, "Now, he won't leave you alone, funny, isn't it?"

"Yeah," Scully replied. "Tell us more, John." It was the first time since Mulder returned that anyone addressed him as 'John'.

"By the time I was 16 and driving my brother was always begging me to give him rides. Of course I didn't want him around, girls were a frequent in my car. Most of them left because Jimmy got his way from Ma. If it wasn't that it was because they liked the star of the football team. I'll never forget the time Jimmy drove away the head cheerleader."

Mulder laughed. "I'm almost glad but not quite, that Sam wasn't around when I was an awkward teenager. What did Jimmy do?"

"He came into the kitchen one time when I was in there with the girl. He grabbed a glass of milk and turned around. he tripped on his own feet and it poured all over the girl. She screamed, and declared 'John Doggett, if you ever come near me ever again, ooo, I'll kill you!' That was the last time I saw her and I came close to throttling Jimmy in that instant."

"I bet. I remember Bill chasing one of my boyfriends out when he caught us kissing. He threatened to pound the boy's nose in." Scully laughed.

Mulder asked, "So, what does Jimmy do now?"

"Oh, now? He's on the West Coast doing some construction work. At least as far as I know," Doggett told him.

This was a whole new light to see Doggett in, Scully had rarely seen the man show any visible emotion. He couldn't figure out what Mulder did to make him tell his life story like this, but he had.

"Should we get back to work?" Mulder suggested. "I hate to do it but we must act like the responsible adults we are."

"Mulder, may I remind you, that you are not very grown up," Scully said.

"What? Me not an adult? I scoff at you. You cut me with your knife of words. I wish I had a sword to use against your unholy assault," Mulder said.

Doggett simply laughed.

When they returned to the office, Mulder sat down, his laptop open on his desk and his fingers moving quickly over the keys. He was writing that letter to Gibson.

Dear Gibson, I am writing you though it may seem foolish to do so.

I feel a bit more comfortable doing things this way at this moment, simply because I can plan out my thoughts and decide what I wish to tell you or not. I'm glad that we grew close during my abduction. Without you and the knowledge that I could return someday, (sooner than later, thank God), consoled me more than you could ever know. Who knew that I'd be able to be spending my day in an office actually writing a letter to you? I would like to thank you here and I can never thank you enough. With out you, I might not be here and without you, I wouldn't been able to know that Scully loved me. My child and you telling me about it, also pulled me through. I now understand why you never wanted to become a lab rat. I commend you for helping me through the time I've known you.

Sincerely, Fox W. Mulder

Mulder closed his laptop. He looked up seeing Scully, head down on her desk. Doggett made eye contact with him. They smiled, deciding it was best to leave her alone. Who knew what type of bear she would be if they woke her. It would just be a bad plan all around. They were sure of it.

Doggett mouthed, 'she looks happy. I can't bear to wake her. Besides, do you see that book on her desk?' Mulder mouthed back, 'Yeah. Ouch.' Mulder mimicked it hitting him in the chest and pretended to fall on the floor from the weight of the book, combined with throwing force.

Doggett stifled a laugh. They had been working on paper work for nearly 4 hours. They both were growing restless, both men enjoyed the work in the field and not the work of pen and ink, filling out dull forms.

Scully murmured in her sleep and Mulder had to put his head on his desk covering it with his arm to keep from laughing out loud. He didn't want her to really throw that book at him.

A half an hour later, Scully woke up. She said, "I'm hungry. Can we get out of this miserable office?"

Both men nodded. "Yeah. Let's go," Mulder said.

As they left the office, Doggett and Mulder both tried not to laugh. Scully hadn't known how they were laughing at her while she slept earlier that afternoon. She looked at them, demanding, "What's so funny?"

Mulder shook his head, "Nothing, Scully, nothing.

Let's go drop this note off at my apartment. It wouldn't be a bad idea to stop and get something to eat afterwards either."

"Okay." Her demeanor changed from suspicious to happy.

"I'm as hungry as a horse. I really want something to eat," Doggett said, "Agent Scully, you are always as hungry as a horse these days," he said it in his serious drawl that sometimes had infuriated Scully.

"At least I'm not so hungry as you are that you have to always repeat a phrase that always includes food in some way. Dollars to Doughnuts! What is with that anyway?" Scully shot back.

Mulder winced. "Ouch. She got you on that one."

Doggett nodded, "Yeah, mood swing in full force."

"Hey, don't forget I have a gun, too!" Scully shouted.

"Calm down. Let's go to my apartment. We'll see you later Doggett," Mulder said.

Doggett nodded. "See ya round, Mulduh."

He unlocked the door, entering in, gun drawn. He didn't want any surprises awaiting his entrance.

Scully covered him, smiling. It had been a long time since she had done so.

They both breathed a sigh of relief when upon entering no one had done anything to make Mulder or Scully fire. The place was empty. Mulder went to the coffee table, brushing a box onto the floor. Scully sighed, picking it up and placing it down underneath the table neatly.

Mulder placed his note on the table. He whispered into Scully's ear, "We should stay here for at least 10 minutes. Like we're just getting ready to unwind for the day. Then we'll swing by some place to pick something up to eat."

"Okay. We'll do that," Scully said.

Mulder hoped this note would reveal anything about the new person or who it was at all. He wanted to know if this person was an unfriendly presence, or a friendly one that he could go to. If it was friendly, it would be an immense help to him. If foe, it would simply be another person he wished he had never to deal with.

"Shall we go?" Mulder asked.

"Yeah," Scully said.

That night, while Mulder and Scully were at Doggett's, a woman let herself in, using a key that was minted for her. She had long black hair and sharp blue eyes.

She looked around the empty apartment, hoping that she could leave another note and leave.

She found the note Mulder had left for her. She smiled. Mulder, ever paranoid, fascinated her. She read the piece of paper asking what side she was for, and wrote down her answer.

She left the place, relocking the door. She wouldn't have to use such drastic measures to get her note noticed. Now that they knew she existed, they would be looking for her reply. She hoped the lyrics she had used in her first note weren't too drastic.

At Doggett's, Scully wolfed down a box of chicken and Mulder had some of his own. He knew that sharing with Scully was impossible. Doggett had already eaten before they had gotten there.

"So, what do ya think the person's reply will be?" Doggett asked.

Mulder wiped his mouth. He said, "What ever it may be, the more I speculate about it the more I find myself annoyed by it. I think I want to leave work at work for tonight. You got any good movies?"

"Yeah, that's if you're into Star Trek," Doggett said.

"John Doggett! I'm touched that you would collect my favorite show as a child. Which movies do you have?"

Mulder begged. Doggett now was his friend for life.

Scully gaped for a moment. "I didn't think that would be you, John." She had started to call him John out of the work place. "I mean, you don't seem the type to be into Sci-Fi. I do think you made a life long friend out of Mulder there. Look out, he'll be begging to watch Star Trek all the time now."

Doggett answered Mulder's question. "All of 'em."

Always to the point and simple.

"Ooo, I want to see Wrath of Khan and Search for Spock. My fave movies, then there is that whale movie. If I would have known you were a Trekkie..."

"I think you're right, Agent, ah Dana, I have made a life long friend." Doggett smiled.

Ever since Mulder's return and over the months of getting used to each other, Scully felt as if she could be more than civil and allow Doggett to be her friend. He had saved her butt numerous times over the last few months, and he had been there in some type of sense while she worried about Mulder.

"Wrath of Khan it is." Doggett got up, sticking the tape in to the VCR. Mulder sat back, sighing. He had eaten his fill of chicken, though Scully kept going.

Good thing she had her ice cream stash moved to Doggett's for the time being, both men knew that she would want some ice cream soon.

It felt strange to the trio that they would be simply hanging out together. Doggett never envisioned Mulder's return to be like this. Mulder was more human than he ever thought, at least he had hoped he would be. His profile just named him. So he was a little Spooky but he wasn't that bad. Not a bad guy at all.

Mulder was thinking along the similar lines. When he heard Scully tell him that they had a new partner, he could only cringe. Would Doggett remain rigid to the end? He did like the way Doggett did need to dot all the i's and cross all of the t's in finding answers, instead of just following the rules.

As the movie moved on, Scully said, "Mulder, you should have asked me to watch this movie a long time ago. It's much better than the 50th time of Caddy Shack."

Mulder blushed a bit. "Hey, leave that alone."

Doggett's interest was piqued. "Oh?"

"It's a long story. It makes me calm so I can sleep."

Mulder explained.

"Yeah, I suppose you have to use what you've got," Doggett said, dismissing anything about it and promptly dropping the subject.

After the second movie, Mulder stretched. Scully was sleeping on his chest and he mouthed to Doggett, 'I'm in trouble.' Doggett smiled. He knew that their relationship was more than just partnership. If Skinner didn't have a problem with it, neither did he. It was sort of romantic. Why should these two not be allowed to love each other?

Mulder brushed Scully's cheek. "We should get to bed, Scully."

Scully moaned. "Uh huh. In a minute."

"Now, Scully. We need our rest. All three of us. Now get those little legs moving."

Scully got up, grumbling. She stood bleary eyed.

"Fine, let's go," Mulder said, "Thanks Doggett. It was fun. I can't thank you enough for letting us stay here. I know it's been dangerous and an inconvenience."

"Not at all. I was happy to do it. Get some rest."

"You too this time. Sleep, don't stay up all night, and fall asleep at a desk," Mulder said.

"I won't. Now get going."

That next morning, Mulder and Scully woke early.

Mulder sighed. "You do realize that it is 5 in the morning, Scully."

"Yeah, I know. I'm glad it's not because of labor. I'm not ready for the baby to be out yet. I still don't know what sex it is. I want to be surprised."

Mulder smiled. "Maybe the baby will be just like its beautiful mother."

Scully smiled. "Are you going to go and check your apartment for the reply before we go to the office?"

"But of course. You know my curiosity is worse than a cats," Mulder said.

"Well, before you go discovering strange answers I am dying for a cup of hot coffee," Scully said.

"Let's go, but let's be quiet, we don't want to wake Doggett," Mulder said.

"Who knows if he even went to bed. He probably is at his desk working right now."

"Probably. Let's go make some coffee quietly anyway.

I'd rather listen to silence right now anyway."

"Oh? Why is that?" Scully asked, her eyebrow raised.

"Then I can listen to the thoughts in your heart. Like I really need to," Mulder said.

"Why not let me just say what I'm thinking? It might be more fun," Scully said.

"Oh, I'm shocked at your blunt statement. What on earth would be more fun? Or dare I ask?" Mulder rebutted.

"Ah, you'll have to wait to see what I mean about fun when we are safe and don't have to depend on John," Scully teased

They were quiet as they walked past the sofa where Doggett's snoring form was. Scully giggled a little into her hand. When they arrived in the kitchen, Mulder put the coffee pot on. He grabbed two mugs, setting them down.

"So, what do you think we'll find at my place? I hope it's not an armed guard," Mulder said.

"I know, I know. I don't either," Scully said quietly.

"So, getting back on the subject of the baby, what names have you thought of? Please don't say Fox," Mulder pleaded.

"I thought if it was a girl I would name her Melissa Samantha, and a boy William Fox, after my Ahab and his father," Scully said.

"At least it's not his first name. I wouldn't mind having the names. I like them," Mulder said.

The pot was nearly finished, when a gruff voice startled them both. "What you two doing up so early?" Doggett asked.

"Couldn't sleep. I wanted some coffee. I'm sorry we woke you, John."

"Don't worry about it, Dana. Wasn't getting much shut eye anyway."

"Why's that?" Mulder asked.

"I can't sleep on couches very well. Body doesn't agree with it."

"Oh. Guess not all of us are accustomed to it," Mulder said.

"So, what's your agenda for the day, Agents?" Doggett asked.

"I thought Scully and I could go over to my place see if our mysterious person left a note and make our way to the office. How about you?"

"I thought I'd stay here for awhile and make my way to the office," Doggett said.

"Good plan," Mulder said. He finished his cup. "Shall we go, Scully?"

"Yeah. Let's go."

Mulder and Scully arrived at his apartment about 6:30 in the morning. Scully yawned, but didn't mind being up this early. It was sort of peaceful. They walked their way up to his door, checking things thoroughly to make sure they were safe.

"Well, let's see what Santa left us, should we Mommy?" Mulder asked, like a child.

"Yeah, let's go and check it out. Told you you weren't very grown-up," Scully said with a laugh.

Mulder walked up to the note and as he read it, the color drained from his face. It read:

Fox, Meet me at the reflecting pool around 10 PM. I'm friend. More than a friend. You'll know who I am upon reaching the meeting point. I have very important things to tell you.

Love, Your new informant

Scully asked, "What is it?"

Mulder thrust the note into her hand. She read it, asking, "Who is this, Mulder? Why are you so shaken up by it?"

"It might be someone I've been looking for far too many years," Mulder said.

"Mulder, you're not suggesting this could be your sister? Oh my God, you are. Mulder, you'll only inflict wounds that go deeper than they already do if you do that." Scully tried to reason with him.

Either way, I have to meet this person. I don't know, I'm going on a huge hunch. Good at it, I guess, huh?"

Mulder pushed his hair away from his forehead.

Scully hugged him. The new informant never said anything about going alone. I want to go with, if you'll let me."

"Of course, of course. Scully you know everything how I could leave you behind now," Mulder said. He looked tired. He looked older and he looked as if he was reaching his end of the road. "I couldn't do what I do without you. You are my guide, you know that don't you?"

"Of course I do. We better get to the office. We should tell Skinner and Doggett about this. Let's go," Scully said.

"Yeah, let's go. It'd be best to go," Mulder said. He clutched the note in his hand. He went out the door after Scully had. Today was going to be a long day at the office.

That night, after Mulder and Scully had left Doggett's place around 9:30, they went to the reflecting pool, sitting on the bench there. If they weren't there to meet someone Scully felt it was almost a romantic thing they were sharing. Right at 10:00, she showed up. Her raven hair, long to her middle of her back and her crystalline blue eyes regarded the couple with patience. She said, "Fox, is that you?"

Mulder looked up, he had begun to get antsy. He looked into a younger woman's face, that held more wisdom than she should for her age. "Yeah, I'm Fox Mulder."

[Fox, it's me. Samantha.] Samantha told her brother's mind.

Mulder's eyes widened and he spoke aloud, "Is it really you? Is it you, Sam?"

"Yeah, it's me. Who is this lovely lady sitting next to you?" Samantha asked. Her wisdom filled eyes took in her condition.

"My partner, Dana Scully," Mulder said.

"I believe she is more than just a partner, Fox," Samantha said with a rich laugh to follow. "Come, I'll tell you why I have reached out to you now."

Mulder and Scully followed her. She led them to the place in D.C. that was her favorite. The FDR Memorial. Here she could hide and be transfixed by the beauty around her. When they were in the most inner place, she said, "Fox, I've wanted this day for so long. I knew I couldn't contact you, They had to make you more like me before that. Now they have." Mulder asked, "They did those tests on you?" He was angry now. "Why? What is their objective?"

"You know it. You have seen it. I have more skills than you do. I have learned them and I can teach you them. I sense the pain you bear. Please, let it go. Tell me of your pain, your most inner pain."

Mulder shook his head. "I can't. I can't!" He burrowed his head under his arm.

Scully hoped that this woman wasn't a fraud. Mulder had too many instances like that in his life.

Samantha said, "You doubt me, Dana. I know why you doubt me. You think I might harm him. With out cleansing from what They did to him, he may never heal. Not just with him, but with all of us. You were taken too. I can tell, though you don't remember."

Scully's eyes widened. "Y-yes, I was taken. No, I don't remember. Why didn't you end up like Penny?"

"I was special. I was to become the first Alien Human Hybrid. By fusing my blood with Theirs, I could spy for them. Fortunately They didn't calculate what humans do for other humans. I might be part alien but I will never turn my back on the human race."

Scully nodded. Samantha had proven herself more than she needed. With another one like Mulder, especially his sister, he would be able to learn more, and be able to begin the fight more intensely.

"Fox, when you are ready, I will free your mind of your pain. Then you will be able to function at your best. We have been waiting for you for a very long time. I must warn you, though you have no chance of turning back, never did, that the costs to come soon will be high. Things will work themselves out in the end though. Be well, my brother. I will meet you again soon. Meet me here, two days from now. Same time. I must run before I am seen."

Mulder pleaded, "Don't go, Sam."

"Fox, I'm right here." She touched his heart and his temples. "You can always reach me."

Mulder nodded. Samantha walked away, her posture revealing how sure of herself she was. Mulder said, "I'm tired. Let's go and get some rest."

"You okay, Mulder?" Scully asked, knowing this meeting had been hard.

"Yeah. Let's just go."

Part Three: The Gathering

Mulder looked somber and a little surprised. He didn't say much, but when his eyes met Doggett's that became Doggett's signal to back off for the time being.

Scully said, "It's too difficult to get into right now. He's had a rough night."

"I can see that, Dana. He must be pretty shaken up."

"Mind if I sit in the living room? I need to think. By myself," Mulder whispered.

Doggett nodded. "Yeah, take all the time you need.

Dana and I will go fix something to eat. I think we might all need it in a bit any ways."

"It's going to be okay, Mulder. If you need me just come and get me, okay?" Scully asked.

"Yeah." Mulder went to sit down on the couch. He was lost in thought right away.

As Scully and Doggett went into the kitchen, Mulder let his inner pain consume him. For all these years he searched for her and she had been there all this time.

He knew he should feel overjoyed. He was happy deep down, but he was angry. What he had gone through was horrible. [God, she had gone through it for a longer period than me, and at a younger age.] This was impossible for him to grasp. A tear fell down his cheek as he stared out to no where in particular.

Soon, he began to cry, his sobs racking his body. He was revisiting years of searching, the beauty of letting her go, and finding it to be a lie, then finally the pain of the aliens on the ship. He was in so much pain. She had seen right through to his pain, knowing that he harbored more pain than he should ever had to in his life.

Scully came out with a plate of food. When she saw Mulder, she dropped the plate, running to him. She took him in her arms. "Oh, Mulder. Why didn't you tell me that you hurt?"

"I, I can't believe that this has happened. She was here all this time! They could kill her." Mulder cried into her shoulder, like he had when his mother died. "She didn't even know about Mom or Dad."

Doggett set his two plates down on the coffee table.

He didn't know how to handle Mulder's emotional collapse. Most of the time in his line of work you left work at work. Not so with Fox Mulder.

Scully said, "She might know. You could be wrong. Oh, Mulder. I want your pain to go away. She's alive and you found her. It's difficult to believe, but we have to take the joy with finding her."

"She was here all this time! I spent years looking for her in all of these places, in all of these different ways. I always found her, a little girl replica, a girl that had to grow up at some point. I always had to lose her over and over again. God, Scully, I can't lose her again! Never!"

Doggett finally spoke up, "I lost someone once."

Mulder's face of immense pain turned to Doggett. "Who?"

"A son. My ex wife quickly followed. My boy was kidnapped one night. I always figured that it was people out to get an F.B.I. agent through his family. He was never found. I tried, but at some point the search was called off. They figured he would never be found. I just wanted to say that I know what it is like to lose someone."

Mulder nodded his acknowledgment. Scully said, "I never knew."

"Yeah, it's not like it's common knowledge, ya know," Doggett said, in his way of justifying things. "I really feel for your pain. But if you've found your long lost sister, if I were you, I'd take that as a gift of some sorts."

Mulder had a few tears fall down his cheeks. "Thanks.

I know that Sam wouldn't want me to be in pain. I just don't seem to be ready to accept that she's alive and real again. It's been so many years."

A knock came to the door suddenly. It disturbed the house. Doggett made Mulder and Scully hide out in the kitchen while he answered the door, so he could get rid of the person.

"Let me in, Agent Doggett," Skinner said.

"Guys, it's Skinner!" Doggett shouted in the direction of the kitchen.

Mulder and Scully came out. Mulder asked, "Sir, what are you doing here?"

"I just came to ask you how the meeting went. Do you know the identity of the person?" Skinner asked.

"Yes. She's Samantha," Mulder said.

"Good, Gibson told me that he informed Samantha that you had become ready. For what, I don't get and I don't think you can really explain that to me, Mulder."

"Yeah. I can't either-yet. I'll get it in time. So, you crashing the party here? You could have been nice and invited the Gunmen. Though, I'm sure Langly would be crabby right now, so on second thought I'm glad you didn't."

"Shut up, Mulder," Skinner teased. "I thought I'd come and see how you took it. Once Gibson told me I thought it would really upset you," Skinner said.

"It did, but I'm going to be fine. You missed us having a film festival the other day, Skin Man," Mulder said, getting back at Skinner for telling him to shut up.

Skinner let it slide. "So, Mulder, what's your next step?"

"My next step? I'm going to go to bed and sleep for at least 100 years. When I wake, well, we'll have to see if the F.B.I. is even the same. If one thing that Cancer S.O.B. won't be alive for sure, but then again," Mulder said.

"So, basically you're going to get some rest. Then what? When is the next meeting between you and Samantha?" Skinner asked.

"2 days from now. I don't know who I'll all bring along. I hope Sam has good news for me. I can't handle too much more bad news," Mulder said.

"I can understand that," Skinner said. "All of you, get some sleep. If you want, you can have the day off and have some fun tomorrow."

Mulder nodded. "Thanks. I might need it."

"With due respect, Sir, what is it you would like me to do?" Doggett asked.

"You, you make sure they are safe. Oh, and keep those two from getting into trouble." Skinner winked. "Good night, Agents."

"See ya, Skin Man!" Mulder said.

"Shut up, Mulder," Skinner replied as he left.

Mulder stretched and yawned. He said, "Thanks for going the extra mile, Doggett. It's been a long day and I need to just pass out for awhile. If Krycek shows up, take a message, tell him Fox Mulder isn't available right now. If he refuses, beat the hell out of him for me. I'm sleeping."

Scully sighed. "Mulder, you never change." She yawned.

"Yeah, I need to sleep too. Tired. Very, very tired.

Good night, John. You should get some sleep, too," Doggett said, "Yeah, sounds good to me. I might do a check over the house before I hit the sack. Never can be too careful."

"No you can't," Mulder said. He made his way up the stairs. He saw Scully following behind him. She said, "Move it! I gotta pee and if you don't get out of the way..."

Mulder increased in speed immediately. Scully ran into the bathroom while Mulder went to the bed, pulling back the covers. He pulled them over himself and yawned. He was fast asleep when Scully came in.

She smiled. Mulder looked so cute when he was asleep, especially when it was peaceful. He looked innocent, like a little boy. Especially since he was tucked into his chin. She climbed into the bed next to him, sighing. It was a burden being pregnant. She wouldn't have it any other way. She wondered what they would do on their day off tomorrow.

A little while later, Mulder rolled over. He wrapped his arms around her, as if she was his personal teddy bear. His nose nuzzled into her cheek, and she stifled a laugh. She fell asleep, with Mulder cuddling next to her.

n the morning they both woke to a cough. Doggett had gone upstairs to tell them that breakfast was ready.

He had left them alone for a couple of hours, deciding to cook breakfast during that time.

Mulder opened one eye. "What is it? Krycek here? I thought I told you to take a message."

"Mulder, no, he's not here. I made breakfast. Thought you guys would like something to eat."

Scully woke to the word breakfast. She said, "Mulder, move. I'm hungry."

Doggett smiled at the shocked look on Mulder's face after she had disentangled herself from him. "Scully, that's harsh. Food is more important than me?"

"Mulder, may I remind you of something?" Scully had daggers in her eyes. "You see this belly? It's not all my fault that it's like this now."

"She's got you on that one, Mulduh," Doggett said.

"Damn. I know. We'd better get her fed."

They all made their way down the stairs. When they got downstairs, Mulder said, "To tell you the truth, I'm hungry, too. Smells good."

Scully sat down at the kitchen table. She was ready to eat and wanted to be sitting right. Mulder took the plate Doggett handed him, placing it in front of Scully.

Mulder sat down and began to devour his breakfast almost as quickly as Scully was. Doggett wondered where the appetites of these two came from while he watched them eat.

"So, what do you plan to do on your day off?" Doggett asked.

"Hmm, vegetate, haven't done that in ages," Mulder said, with a mouthful. "Though I'd like to settle who's all coming along with me tomorrow night."

"Oh?" Scully asked.

"Yeah. I wouldn't mind having both of you there. Besides, we're all in this together. If she is passing information on to me it's for all of us," Scully said, "Yeah, I'm honored that you would treat it all like this."

Doggett was speechless for a moment. Mulder said, "You look lost, Doggett."

"I, I just don't know what to say. I wasn't here with you on the journey looking for your sister. I was sent here to look for you," Doggett said, the first time he was completely unsure in front of Mulder.

"It's a big deal, yeah. But why shouldn't we all know who she is, and that way if any of us get hurt, at least one of us can get a hold of her anyway. Besides, we are a team now," Mulder said.

Scully said, "He's right you know." She poured syrup over her third waffle. "Why not? You'd meet the one person that explains why the X-Files even exists as an active division. I'm sure she wouldn't mind. She's not as secretive as Deep Throat was. He was a good man but he kept so many secrets. We never did learn his name."

Doggett smiled. "I'm glad you are allowing me to do this. I didn't really think I'd be well received like this. It's really nice, especially after the way you threw water in my face that first day, Dana."

Mulder started to laugh. "You threw water in his face the first day? I tried to get rid of you that first day by showing you dead cattle. It didn't work. Obviously neither did water."

Scully put on a fake hurt face. "You wanted to get rid of me?"

"Oh come on, Scully. Remember how paranoid I was. I could have sworn you were sent to spy on me that first few months. You know that."

"I know, I know," Scully said.

Doggett said, "I'm glad it was water and not dead cattle pictures. I don't think I'd be much appreciative of those," Mulder said, "I have them all if you ever want to see them. It's from the case that eventually got me abducted in the first place. Billy Miles needed my help and I gave it to him. At a high cost, I see."

"So, the rest of the day is ours. We shouldn't get caught in the city playing hooky. Let's do something that's safe. We wouldn't want something bad to happen at all," Scully said.

"Come on, Scully. We could pretend to be tourists," Mulder joked at her.

Scully rolled her eyes. "Mulder, you never cease to amaze me. No, we can't go touring the city like that, no matter how fun it would be."

"Seriously, though Scully, there is one thing I do want to do, now that I do think about it. I never really got to say a proper good bye to my mother. I would really like to do that today." Mulder's face had become very serious.

"Mulder, do you think it's safe to do that?" Scully asked. She knew he wanted to do this very badly, never having a chance to say goodbye last year.

"Yeah. I mean, only if I go with someone. They don't abduct in the day time. Besides, I think I need this," Mulder said.

"Alright. If it will help you. Though I don't know what happened to vegetate," Scully said.

Doggett asked, "Who do you want to come along?"

"Don't know yet. I just want to say goodbye. The right way. Last year I was so upset, and the case, and looking for Sam in all the wrong places... Mom never got to see Sam again. I want to tell her about her," Scully said, "I'm sure your mother would like to know about Samantha. Mulder, we'll go, but promise me one thing, we'll be extra careful and we'll spend some time just relaxing for a part of the day, okay?"

"Deal," Mulder said, getting up to put his plate in the sink. He went upstairs where his overnight bag was. Frohike had grabbed his night bag for him. He changed clothes, but before he put his shirt on, he looked at the scar on his stomach. He wished it would disappear. It was hideous and besides, what did Scully see when she saw this horrible thing?

Scully saw him looking at it. She said, "Mulder, it's not a big deal. I love you no matter what you look like. Of course I'd have a problem if you had like three heads and stuff like that. You don't have to worry."

Mulder turned around. His scar was blatant across his stomach. He said, "I bet Sam looks worse for wear."

"Mulder, don't go comparing yourself to her. You couldn't stop what they did to her and you couldn't stop what they did to you. You have to let it go. It's going to be alright. Besides, it'll match the scar I gave you in your shoulder."

Mulder smiled. "Yeah. Why didn't you let me shoot the S.O.B. when I had the chance? I wouldn't be having these problems now if you had."

"Mulder, you know that you would be. We better get going, though. Are you taking John along?"

"Do you think he'd be comfortable?" Mulder asked, tucking his shirt in.

"Be comfortable with what?" Doggett asked.

"Going to see my mom's grave. Would you be comfortable doing that?" Mulder asked.

"Why not. I'd be there for some back up anyway. But I hope I'm not intruding upon a private moment like that," Doggett said.

"No, not at all. I won't be long anyway when I go to see her. I should have done so awhile ago. Once I'm done there, we can come back here and do what ever we want."

"Let's go, then," Scully said. She had gotten dressed shortly after Mulder and Doggett had decided to talk.

The wind swept across the silent grave yard. Mulder's hair blew like the grass that was being brutalized by the wind. When he found his mother's grave, he bent down. He touched the gravestone sorrowfully. Doggett and Scully stood off to the side, respecting his space.

Mulder ran his finger over his mother's name and dates, feeling the cold stone beneath his hands. He felt a tear run down his cheek. He had purchased some red roses to place on her grave. He sat them down slowly, and began speaking to her.

"Mom, I've done it. I finally found Sam. You should have seen her. I wish I would have talked to you in the last few days of your life. I never did get to say good bye to you. I am not angry with you for what you did. If you would have only held on a little longer... God, did you know what they've done to Sam? Did you know that the Cancer Man sent her to that ship? It's horrible up there. They do terrible tests on you, they, oh Mom, I shouldn't bother you with the gruesome details. After all these years and I finally accomplish the goal. After Dad died, I promised myself I'd find Sam for at least you, Mom, while you were still alive. But you died before I could do it."

Mulder felt the tears run freely down his cheeks. He took something out of his pocket. "I know I was never very religious, but I thought you'd like this." It was a rosary. He placed it in the flowers. "I'll miss you, Mom. Good bye. I love you."

Mulder stood up. He walked towards Scully and Doggett.

He said, "Let's go and vegetate. I need to just not think."

Scully nodded. "Yeah, let's go. What would you like to do during our vegetate time? Would you like to watch a movie?"

"Yeah." Mulder's voice sounded unemotional and dead. "I'd like that very much. "

Doggett didn't want to say anything, it wasn't his place to speak as far as he was concerned. It wasn't his business what Mulder wanted to say to his deceased mother. If he wanted to say goodbye, he should be able to. Why not, didn't the man deserve that decency?

They set off for Doggett's, to watch any movie. Mulder sat in the backseat, staring out the window, tears blurring his vision. If he would have just found Samantha that much sooner, his mother would have seen her alive again. Why did his mother have to go and kill herself? It still hurt. It ripped into his heart, much as the machine the aliens had used on his belly had. He could feel himself leaving a part of his being behind at the grave his mother lay in. It was a cold blinding feeling, and he only wanted it to go away.

The next night, Mulder, Scully, and Doggett all went to the FDR Memorial at 10PM. Doggett didn't know what to expect and he certainly felt a little strange even being allowed to be present at this meeting in the first place.

Mulder sat down in the middle of the marble that sat in front of the fountain. He motioned Scully to sit down. His left hand moved through the water, and he looked a little nervous.

Scully only hoped that this meeting would go well. She didn't want Mulder to be hurt by seeing his sister like this. She also had a hand in the water. Her right hand was gliding in the water, until it bumped Mulder's. Immediately, their fingers interlocked.

Doggett stood on one side. He was anxious to get back to his house and keep these two safe. It was dangerous to be out here. He looked up, noticing a confident young woman walking towards them. Her dark hair was piled up onto her head in a very professional manner, but her smile gave her heart away.

"You made it, Fox! I'm glad you could come. Who is this?" She indicated by moving her head in Doggett's direction.

"That's Agent Doggett," Mulder said.

Doggett stood up. He shook Samantha's hand. "John Doggett. I was assigned to the X-Files to find your brother."

"Strong shake," Samantha said with a warm smile.

"Sam, what happens next. What is it you have to tell me?" Mulder asked.

"I want to tell you more about the Project. You're marked, Fox. They will come back for you, in time.

Unfortunately for them, they won't be counting on you being trained with out terrible tests. I removed my own tracking device. It's difficult to remove, but once it's gone, I seek out people like you, to prevent them from going back up. We are building a Resistance."

"I don't want to go back. I don't think I could handle it," Mulder said.

"If it should happen, Fox, you'll have the courage to survive. It's a difficult thing we were chosen to do.

Your blood marks you, you are no longer able to walk away. You, you Agent Doggett, you are free to walk at any time. You don't have to be in this at all and can live a normal life, or you can commit to this cause, taking what ever is thrown into your path."

Doggett didn't know what to think of this obviously powerful woman telling him that he could walk. "Sorry, ma'am. I don't think I could walk out on these two.

I'm in too deep now. Besides, they might need me to cover them in the near future. "

"Wise choice, though you should work on those beliefs just a bit," Samantha said. "Fox, I know you went to visit Mom. I know about them both. I never got to tell Mom or Dad, but I knew when they both died. I visit their graves when ever I have the chance. You have to let it go."

"She's right, ya know. You just need to let it go," Doggett said.

Scully asked, "Am I marked for another abduction?" She was worried that if she was, her child would suffer.

"No, they won't be needing you as far as we know.

Though that could change at any time. It's a matter of time before we know anything," Samantha said. "Fox, I want to meet you alone, a couple of days from now.

It's not that I don't trust them, and I know you trust them with your life, but it's about healing you, and making you ready in your own way. When we next meet, we'll deal with it, okay?"

"Yes, Sam. I have a lot to learn, don't I?" Mulder smiled sheepishly.

"Yeah, but not as much as he does," Samantha said.

"Hey, hey don't go attacking a man's character like that," Doggett said, understanding the joke.

"Good bye, Fox. Take care of yourself. We need you.

Scully, watch over him, and Agent Doggett, keep them both safe. The whole world rests upon this Resistance's shoulders." She walked away as mysteriously as she had appeared. Doggett watched her leave, wondering what secrets and dangers he had gotten himself into now.

When they got back to Doggett's, Doggett asked, "So, what was that all about?"

"That, the Resistance? It's been a thing going on almost as long as the Syndicate has. I guess that's how they originally started. I guess things work themselves around in the end," Mulder said.

"So, who is all in the Resistance? I mean, I know you and Agent Scully are, and now I am, I guess. Your sister is too. That doesn't seem to be a big enough number to take down the aliens."

"One man can not fight the future alone. True, but what if he has friends? Then they can make more friends. We're a small faction of this Resistance.

It's world wide, just like the conspiracy itself. The wool has been pulled over everyone's eyes for so long.

Roswell is almost never questioned anymore. Think about it in this manner, say that you were told about Joseph McCarthy and his Red Scare. Now say everyone stopped believing it, and went after the truth of it, many would be *disappeared* or be shot. Much is the same with this. We grew disillusioned with their lies, but once we began to seek the truth behind them, we found ourselves the center of extermination. We resisted the Red Scare, it was further exposed for what it was, such as it is with this," Mulder said.

"But Joe McCarthy was a man, how is an alien race war the same?" Doggett asked.

"Not by the aliens, but by the men who sold themselves to hide the existence of Them from the public. By resisting them, we resist the aliens. We learn how to beat them, we learn how to resist them to the point that we win."

"I see. So, your sister, Samantha, she knows what they are all about?" Doggett asked.

"So full of questions. Yeah, my sister went under the tests I had during my abduction at the age of eight. She's probably the strongest member of the Resistance," Mulder said.

"Mulder, when you go to see her by yourself, let us at least make sure you are safe. Let us take you there, and then we'll let you go to her alone. We wouldn't want you to be hurt," Scully said.

"Yeah, I agree with that," Mulder said. "I just wish we weren't probably so far behind. They must be making a strong virus as we speak, all because I was immune."

"Oh come on, Mulder. You can't possibly expect to take blame for the fact that they used you. It's not your fault and now we just need to build a strong Resistance. We know how to make a weak vaccine, and now we can make it stronger. Just think about what we can do now," Scully said.

"Yeah. I may not know much about it and I won't claim to, but if we can make whatever she said, we can always make that thing better. It can always be improved."

"Yeah. Hmm, now it's only a matter of time. Scully, you think that with what I learn from Sam we will be able to build a strong Resistance here? I know that I could right now recruit at least four more people, like they need it," Mulder said with a smile.

"Oh absolutely. I know who you are talking about," Scully said. "Let's get something to eat, I'm famished."

"Is that all you ever think about, Agent Scully?"

Mulder mocked her in his voice. He got up with her and Doggett to go to the kitchen. They scourged through the fridge and the cupboards to find anything decent to eat.

Once Scully was sat down with her ice cream, Mulder asked, "So, Agent Doggett, are you sure you want to stay in this? I mean you could be on the up and up to some directorship."

"Nah, what would I do in some directorship? I'd spend my whole time spending it like Kersh, with a pole shoved where the sun don't shine."

"Hey, I agree totally there. A.D. Skinner only acts like that when he can't do anything, and he finds his hands tied, and that's only in the office most of the time," Mulder said.

"Yeah, Mulder. He totally does change out of the office," Scully said, between bites of ice cream.

"I remember the time I showed up with Krycek in tow. I deposited him there. Skinner I guess didn't take any crap from him either. I had to do something else. It was convenient to get rid of him," Mulder said.

Doggett laughed. "What did Skinner do to him?"

"Skin Man? He handcuffed him to his balcony in his apartment. Too bad he did get away," Mulder said.

"So, Mulder, when are you planning on telling the Gunmen and Skinner they are a part of the Resistance? They should know," Scully asked.

"What time is it?" Mulder asked. "It's not too late in the evening you think?"

"I wouldn't know, they're your cooky friends, Mulder," Scully said.

"Oh why not. They should know all the sooner." Mulder took out his cell phone, dialing the Gunmen's number.

A very groggy Langly answered the phone. "Hello?"

"Langly, it's Mulder. I have something to tell you guys that can't wait."

"Haven't you ever heard of morning?" Langly yawned.

"Yeah. But I think you guys should be prepared to agree or disagree to this proposal now."

"In the morning. I need my beauty sleep," Langly said.

In the background could be heard Frohike say, "Beauty, yeah, I'm sure."

"Come on you guys. This is very important," Mulder said.

"Alright, do you think it's safe for us to come to Doggbert's?"

"Yeah, yeah it is," Mulder said with a smile.

"We're on our way then."

Mulder hung up. "They're on their way. Oh, and I guess Langly has decided your name is now Doggbert, Doggett."

Doggett rolled his eyes. "Thanks for the warnin'."

Scully yawned. "I think I agree with Langly. I need to sleep," Mulder said, "It won't take long. Besides, they need to know, the sooner the better"

When the Gunmen arrived, Langly said, "This better be good. Not a bad place, Doggbert."

Doggett rolled his eyes. "Thanks for the compliment.

I'd be careful, Scully is a bit crabby."

"I am too," Langly said. "I don't like being dragged out of bed to hear about something that can wait."

"Boys, you are going to want to hear what I have to say, and you wouldn't want me to wait."

"Yeah, you didn't just get woken up."

"Langly, you know that mysterious informer. I'll give you one guess to who it is. All three of you," Mulder said.

"Let me guess, some guy from the Syndicate," Frohike said.

"Wrong. You are not going to believe this. The new informer is Samantha." Mulder let it sink in for a minute or two.

"You have to be kidding me. Are you sure it's her?" Byers asked.

"It's her. She's been changed like I have. That's what they did to her when they took her up to the ship.

They made her like me, or I should say they made me like her," Mulder said.

"So, what did she have to say?" Frohike asked.

"She said that I had to become like her before she could contact me. She was here all this time. It's infuriating that this had to happen this way," Mulder said. "Now she's asked Scully, Doggett, and I to be a part of The Resistance."

"Are you sure Doggbert here can handle it?" Langly asked, his grumpy overtones showing through.

Scully said, "John isn't incompetent, Langly. I'm beginning to think you might be. Besides, we need all the help we can get. He may not believe everything, but then I didn't either. You didn't trust me for a long time, remember? God, you guys are so paranoid."

All three of them looked ashamed. Langly said, "Sorry, force of habit. New G-man gets involved, and we got to make sure he or she is able to stick it through." He outstretched his hand to Doggett, and shook it.

"No use in apologizin'. I'm used to the icy welcome.

Besides, it is sort of new for all of us," Doggett said with a smile.

"So, Mulder, is the Resistance set up through MUFON?" Frohike asked.

"Don't know. A couple days from now I talk to Sam again. She wants to teach me some things that the aliens did to alter my mind and how to use them. Maybe MUFON is involved. I'll have to check into it."

"So, who is all in The Resistance here, in D.C.?" Byers asked.

"You three, Doggett here, Scully and me, and I'm going to ask Skinner to join, which shouldn't be hard. As long as we can out smart Kersh I don't care," Mulder said.

"That's a total of 8 people so far in this area alone.

We'll have to search out other groups of The Resistance, either online, or through Samantha. What do you think will come of this?" Langly asked.

"Hmm, depends. We have a new problem, the vaccine isn't strong enough now, I'm sure. We have that weak version. We could figure out what is in it and then we could develop our own. Mind you, I probably would die being injected with that," Mulder said.

"What ever for, Mulder?" Frohike asked. "They changed your mind, not your physiology. Unless..."

Scully slapped him. Mulder pricked his finger. Yeah, I'm no longer me anymore. Not normal good old fashioned red blooded human. Remember, were you guys here for that last time?" Mulder asked.

"I might have. I wasn't paying too close attention to it then. I didn't even think, sorry. I'm so over tired, I guess," Frohike said.

"Now, I think in the morning we should get a hold of Skinner, and all meet again. Thanks so much for coming out, boys," Mulder said.

"No problem," Langly said. "Even though I did complain a lot."

"Hey, you're tired, we're all tired. As soon as you guys get out of here, I'm going to hit the sack," Mulder said.

"See you guys in the morning," Frohike said.

The next morning, Mulder got up bright and early to call Skinner. Scully hadn't woken up just yet and he didn't want to wake her. He decided to leave her sleep for the time being. When he got down stairs, he wasn't surprised to see Doggett up. He said, "Hey Dogg man!"

Doggett looked over at Mulder. "Not you too," Mulder said, "I thought you might like a nick name.

Mine's Spooky, Scully's is Mrs. Spooky, Skinner's is Skin Man, why not your's be Dogg Man?"

Doggett did smile at it. "I don't think that the Gunmen would agree with ya there."

"So? That's them. I'm going to call Skinner and tell him he should meet us," Mulder said. He got through to Skinner, "Hey, Skin Man! We need to have a meeting.

Scully, Doggett, the Gunmen, and I want to tell you something.

No, Samantha won't be there. I meet her tomorrow, though. Where would you like to meet? The Jefferson Memorial? It should be safe there, not many people visit old Tom. We'll see you there."

Mulder hung up. "I'll have to call the boys and tell them where Skin Man wants to meet." He dialed the number. "Boys, Skin Man wants to meet at the Jefferson Memorial. From there, who knows. Alright, we'll see you guys there."

Doggett watched him hang up the phone. "So? When do we go there?"

"As soon as we're all ready to go. I suppose I should wake the sleeping princess," Mulder said with a smile.

"Yeah. I'm going to get ready, and we'll all go together. I should probably drive us , unless you plan on taking your car."

"Hmm, haven't decided yet. I'll be right back down with her." Mulder went to wake Scully. When he got up stairs, she asked, "Mulder, what's going on today?"

"We're going to meet the boys and Skinner at the Jefferson Memorial, then where to, I don't know yet. I suppose we'll have to contact some MUFON groups in the area. We should cover all the bases"

"Ok. I'll get dressed, and we'll get going," Scully said.

When they got there, Skinner said, "So, what is this all about? I think you're up to something."

"Of course we are. Samantha recruited Scully, Dogg Man, and I. We recruited the boys."

"For what exactly, and did you actually just call Agent Doggett, Dogg Man?" Skinner asked with a smile on his face.

"Yeah, so? We called you out here to ask if you would join the Resistance," Mulder said.

"The Resistance? You mean you want me to do that? I don't know if I can. My position might bar me."

"Oh come on Skin Man. You know you can. We really need you. Even if you aren't the largest part of the group. I think you can help from inside the Bureau."

"Hmm. I know that without the success of this Resistance we won't be here much longer. Oh what the hell. I don't do enough and I owe you one, Mulder. You wouldn't be in the position you are in now if I had been watching."

"Skin Man, it was going to happen either way. I'm glad you'll be helping. I think the next thing is to contact the local MUFON group. They might be a help."

"Alright. I can protect you better if I know what you are up to any ways. I'll cover you butts from Kersh.

It's all I can offer you for right now."

Mulder nodded. "Now, boys, you going to contact some of your buddies? Try to send some feelers out and tell me what you come up with. The three of us are going to investigate some things with MUFON while you guys do that, and we might do some other things."

"Sounds good. We'll contact you tonight, Mulder," Frohike said.

"Me too. I'll try and get a hold of you tonight," Skinner said.

"Thanks. We better get out of here before the tourists show up. Nothing like becoming your own personal D.C.

attraction," Mulder said.

Part Four: Dangerous Initiations

That night, the group regrouped at Chaucer's, near Dupont Circle. Of course the Gunmen felt odd eating out at a fancy restaurant, but they settled down once the reports of the day started to come in.

"The MUFON group says that they have heard of the Resistance, but haven't decided upon joining it as of yet. I told them that as an abductee I would be willing to speak to them about my experiences. They are all abductees themselves, but haven't remembered in as great detail. None of them have removed the chip, though. That's a good thing. A couple of them knew the group Penny Northern belonged to. They made the same connections we did to the metal chip in the back of their necks that we had," Mulder said.

"I basically kept Kersh away. He wanted to know what cases you were investigating. As soon as we can get this Resistance off the ground, he demands you three go out on a case. He thinks it's time that Mulder get off of his leave," Skinner said.

"That sort of crunches up our time, but then we do have the Gunmen here for that," Mulder said. "Frohike, you guys willing to keep getting feelers in place if we should go on an investigation any time soon?"

"Yeah. We found a MUFON group out in Oregon. Near Bellafleur too. Most of them make up of people like Billy Miles. It might not be wise for you, Mulder, to go out there."

"Yeah, Mulder. Besides, we could keep in contact with them without sending one of you there." Langly commented.

"Hmm, sounds like common sense to me," Doggett said.

"I've never really dealt with MUFON before, but I do know that most of them weren't making anything up."

"Tomorrow I meet Sam. I'm supposed to be taught some stuff. I'll inform her of our Resistance building, and ask her who is already involved," Mulder said.

Scully said, "Alright, so while you talk with your sister we'll look up more on MUFON, and talk to the Gunmen. Sounds like a good game plan," Skinner said, "Alright. We'll do all we can tomorrow.

Good luck talking with your sister, Mulder."

Thanks, Sir," Mulder said.

The next night as Mulder was being left off at the FDR Memorial, he walked over to the meeting spot, waiting for Samantha to show up. As Doggett sat in the car with Scully, preparing to pull away, he saw her approach Mulder, yet she wasn't alone.

Doggett startled Scully by jumping out of the car, gun drawn, running towards Samantha. A gun shot rang out, both Mulder and Scully thought that Doggett had fired it. Instead, they saw Doggett fall to the ground, in front of Samantha. She had been the intended target.

Just as the shooter had fired to kill her, Doggett jumped in the way. It had gone through his shoulder, inches from his heart.

Mulder and Scully ran to where Doggett lay. Samantha said, "It's him, Fox! It's Alex Krycek!"

"This is Agent Dana Scully of the F.B.I. We have an Agent down! We're at the FDR Memorial. We need paramedics right away!" Scully screamed into her cell phone.

She knelt down, taking Doggett's hand. "Come on, John. You can make it."

"Hey, Dogg Man, I'm going to get him. Hang on, they're coming for you."

Doggett was now in shock. His shoulder was bleeding profusely, and Scully knew that it had just missed his heart. Sweat began to break out on his face. He said, "Agent Scully, I saw him. He was going to shoot her. I had to stop it."

"Don't talk now. Save your strength," Scully said.

Mulder had run off to find Krycek. He searched with his mind, locating him. When he reached where Krycek was, he pulled him out of his hiding place. "You lousy hunk of flesh. I should get you a one way ticket to the stars."

"Hhow did you find me?" Krycek demanded, now afraid.

Mulder shouldn't have been able to locate him.

"None of your business. I know that if I turn you over to the authorities you'll get out in no time. I'd much rather let you become an alien lab rat. I won't get that, either. Fess up, Krycek. Not only did you kill my father, you just tried to kill my sister. You'd make an excellent lab rat. They should have gotten you in their last circle," Mulder said, before he decked Krycek. Don't ever come near my sister ever again."

Krycek yelled after him, "It's begun. You can't stop it! They'll get you again, Fox Mulder!"

Mulder grew angry. He turned around, thinking instead of saying, [Oh no, Alex Krycek, they'll get you, and when they do, you'll become their lab rat boy.] Krycek heard what Mulder had thought, but hadn't seen his lips move. His eyes widened. "You, you didn't speak, but I could hear you!"

[Run. Run before I kill you.] Krycek ran, as fast as he could. He didn't know what had happened to Mulder and he wasn't going to stick around to find out what would happen to him.

Mulder came back, to find the scene swarming with Agents. Doggett had already been loaded into the ambulance. Scully stood talking to agents with Samantha.

"Fox! You're back. They want to talk to you," Samantha said.

"What about? These two all ready told you everything you need to know," Mulder said.

"Sir, do you know who shot this agent?" An agent asked him.

"It was a man, but it was so dark I couldn't identify him. I'm sorry."

"That's what these two said. Thanks, we'll keep our eyes out for a mysterious shooter. Thank you for your time, agents and you, Miss Mulder." The way he said Samantha's name signified he was afraid of her. He also gave away that he knew she had power.

Samantha said, "Go, go to your partner. It's no longer safe to meet here any longer. I'll contact you for our next meeting." Then she disappeared amongst the agents, walking away.

"Let's go, Scully. I'm sure Dogg Man would like to see us. Besides, there's nothing more to do here."

"Yeah." She pulled out her cell, "I'm going to call Skinner and tell him to bring the Gunmen with. John just earned his way permanently on the X-Files."

"That he did," Mulder said, starting up the car. He drove to the hospital, both of them flashing their badges to get clearance to see him. Doggett had just gotten out of surgery, and they could go and sit with him, if they liked.

When they reached his room, he was still unconscious.

He looked pale, not the strong stone faced agent he usually was. Scully's lip began to tremble. Mulder hugged her, "He'll be fine Scully."

A commotion outside announced that Skinner and the Gunmen were here. "Mulder, what happened?" Skinner demanded.

"I went to meet Samantha. Right before Doggett was going to pull away, he saw Krycek draw a gun to shoot Samantha. He jumped in front of Samantha, and couldn't get a shot off first. It barely missed his heart."

"Dude, that's a rough initiation," Langly said.

"No kidding," Frohike said. "Is he going to be okay?"

A nurse came in, "He should be okay, but we'll have to watch him over the next 12 to 24 hours. He's in critical condition. The slug was hard to remove. He's lucky that it didn't hit his heart."

Scully checked his chart. "She's right, he's not out of the woods though."

"Yeah, it's going to be touch and go. We don't even know yet if he's in a coma or not. He just might be.

We gave him pain killers, but they haven't wore off.

Once they do, we can truly determine the condition he's in now." A nurse said.

Skinner said, "So, in about a few hours you'll be able to determine something?"

"Yes sir, not much, but at least a little of what is going on," the nurse said. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I think you should let him rest. Is there any family that should be contacted?"

"Not that I know of. Basically we're his co workers, and he lists us as his emergency contacts."

"Okay. We'll give you a call whenever there is a change in his condition, okay?"

"Call me, I'm his boss. I'll get a hold of the rest of them."

Before they left, Frohike and Langly said, "You aren't so bad. Get better soon."

When Doggett woke up, he saw the most beautiful face looking down at him. Samantha Mulder smiled into his face. She said, "Good morning, John."

He could only smile. She had sat with him all night.

After they had left, she had shown up. The hospital never checked her clearance. They didn't know she was even there. She had cloaked herself from them. Now she showed herself to John Doggett.

"It's going to be fine, John. I can never thank you enough for what you've done for me. Though I'm sure I could have prevented it, all by myself."

"Nothin' wrong with helping a lady." Doggett grumbled out.

"No, but it was dangerous." She smiled. I think you proved yourself to all of the D.C. Resistance Fighters. At least this small group, there will be more."

"I know. I figured as much."

"You rest. I'm sure they'll want to see you," Samantha said. She kissed his fore head. "Again, thanks for saving my life." With that she walked out of the room.

When she walked to the car she had parked in the lot, Cancer Man approached her.

"We know what you are up to."

"Do you really, William? Funny, you've never approached me before," Samantha said, relishing in his surprise.

"How did you know my name."

"Oh don't be silly. Your Project created me. Just like it created Fox. So, what am I up to?"

"Your groups. We know what they are there for."

"Oh? And that is?"

"You're planning on out doing us, you're planning on making a better project."

Oh you silly man, you can keep tabs on my brother, but you don't realize what power I have. You think you're the be and end all sometimes. I can see that. You'd be a fool to get involved."

"Why's that. Are you waving an empty threat in my face?"

"No. I'd never do that. I'd much rather tell you what will happen. You might consider yourself strong for now, but you will grow weak." Samantha cloaked herself, leaving a mesmerized Cancer Man.

"I must know her secrets." He muttered to himself, flicking ashes to the ground. "I must know what she knows and learn how to reproduce it."

He had only found her by luck, because she wanted him to find her. She knew what type of game she was playing. With his identity extracted, she could possibly get him abducted, if it ever became necessary.

Later on that day, The D.C. Resistance Team showed up.

Doggett was awake. Mulder came up, "Dogg Man, when they busting you out of here?"

"Don't know yet," Doggett replied.

"How you feeling?" Scully asked.

"Been better." Doggett elected to not tell them about Samantha's visit. It might make some ripples in the group. He didn't realize that he had become in many ways their hero.

"Dude, what you did, that is one of the most amazing things you could have ever done," Langly said.

"Even for a Doggbert?" Doggett said, his eye brows raising a bit.

"Yeah, man. I mean, what you did was save Samantha Mulder's life. You should get a medal for that," Mulder said, "He's right you know. What you did is one of the most honorable things you could have ever done.

You stepped in front of my sister, preparing to fire, and took the bullet. It barely missed your heart."

Doggett didn't expect nor did he know what to do with all this praise. He had, up until that point been the outsider. He had been the man who watched from the sidelines, trying not to get in the way. He was the new one, the one who didn't have any experience in this field. Now they were treating him like he was one of their own, and a prized member of the group. He smiled.

"I know. Doctor told me so this mornin'. Believe me, I know all about that," Doggett said.

"Has Samantha came to visit you yet?" Mulder asked.

He decided he shouldn't keep secrets, it would only make things weaker, and now that they appeared to be better, he did not want to jeopardize that. He now felt comfortable.

"Yeah. This mornin'."

"Good. I would hope she'd stop in for a bit to thank you," Mulder said.

Skinner said, "Agent Doggett, I filed the report myself that you were protecting citizens when you found a man armed and dangerous. I didn't think that Samantha Mulder's involvement should be included.

Kersh has this thing about her. He doesn't want her discussed, or sought after. This betters our purpose so much more. Good work, Agent."

Doggett's smile went from ear to ear. He couldn't believe the praise he was receiving. "Thank you, Sir," Skinner said, "Get back on your feet as soon as possible. We need you out there, not lying in a bed in here."

"I will, I already miss being out there," Doggett replied.

"I know that feeling all too well," Mulder said.

"One difference, Mulder. You never stay as long as your supposed to," Scully said.

"Well, what do doctors know about my body. If I feel fine, I should be able to leave. It's incredibly dull in a hospital bed." Mulder whined.

"My point exactly," Scully said with satisfaction.

"We'll be back later, Dogg Man. Get some rest, and for Christ's sake, don't let them make you eat horrible green Jell-O." He made a disgusted face. "It'll get you every time."

"I'll remember that," Doggett said with a smile.

The group left, and Doggett settled in to take a nap.

He would enjoy being back out so much. Now he was accepted and respected. Not just by his fellow agents, but by the Gunmen, and though they might not mean as much to him as they do to Mulder, their opinion was always highly regarded, at least in some cases. Today had been a good day over all.

Two days later, Doggett was released from the hospital. The doctors and nurses concluded that he was healed, but would have to rest a bit and take it easy.

He would accept that. No major cases had come up, and it gave them time and a reason to not go out in to the field.

When he was being driven home by Mulder, Mulder told him that they would rest tonight and tomorrow, get him back on his feet. He was fine with that. He was sick of hospital food, and knew that they would have more fun and better food for him at home.

When they arrived to his place, he walked with Mulder up to the door. Mulder opened the door for him, and he walked in. Doggett was surprised when the room was decorated with 'Welcome Back Doggett' over his living room entryway. He hadn't expected this warm welcome.

"Now, you didn't have to go doin' that. You're gonna go and embarrass me, now," Doggett said.

"Oh come on, Doggbert. It's the best we could do for you," Langly said with a laugh.

"Some things never change," Mulder said. "When are you not going to call him something derogatory?"

"I was only kidding." Langly pleaded.

Doggett had simply rolled his eyes, making his way to the seat that had been designated for him. Scully asked him what he would like to eat for his first meal out of the drab hospital.

"Steak, a big one. I hate hospital food," Doggett said, a smile on his face.

"Steak he says. I agree with that," Scully said.

"Scully, you'd agree with almost anything he said he wanted to eat. If he had said squid you'd say yes," Mulder said, teasing her.

"I would not!" Scully protested.

"Alright, alright you wouldn't, but you'd at least think about it," Mulder said.

Skinner said, "Not all of this is just about fun.

We're going to get something to eat, and then Samantha said she wants to talk to all of us. She has some more people joining the group. She calls all of the groups by city. We're the D.C. Resistance Team. The only way we can get any word out to each other without being caught is if we want to refer to it as D.C.R.T."

"Yeah, sounds good. Now let's go and get that steak.

I'm famished," Doggett said. "Can't believe I had to eat mush for the past two days."

"I know. Sometimes I wonder what that stuff is, and then I think no I don't want to know," Mulder said.

"Let's go, then."

When they arrived at the restaurant, they all ordered.

It was supposed to be more of a social thing, rather than talking about work.

Mulder was lost a bit in his thoughts, trying to think of a good story about the Gunmen. He wanted to embarrass the trio. "I've got one. One time I went to talk to the Gunmen. I needed to tell them something about a case, and I wanted to see what they knew."

"Oh no you don't, Mulder." Frohike protested.

"It was via satellite, and all but Langly was there.

Scully, you called, and when my phone rang, Frohike said, 'If that's the lovely Agent Scully, tell her I've been working out, I'm buff!' It is one of my favorite quotes of our beloved Melvin Frohike."

Scully looked at Frohike, starting to laugh. Doggett was surprised by the blush that had come up on Frohike's face, then he too started laughing.

Frohike said, "That's not fair. But I am buff."

Everyone started laughing harder.

Scully said, "Of course you are, Frohike. We all know you are."

Frohike looked pleased. "Yes. We all do know, don't we?" He even started laughing. "That was pretty bad, wasn't it?"

A week later, Samantha Mulder was sitting in her old spot. Nothing had happened that was going to drive her out of her spot. She was relishing in the beauty of the monument, and the night air. Her eyes were closed, as she sat listening to the peaceful fountains.

A man approached her. She knew instantly that she wasn't alone, but refused to open her eyes. She knew who it was without opening them. He would have to get her attention, she didn't want to say anything to him.

He'd have to initiate any conversation they might have.

"Samantha Mulder." The man spoke her name, almost fearing what would happen to him for even trying to meet her. She hadn't planned on meeting anyone here this night. Last week she had told the D.C. Resistance Team what the shooting of Doggett meant. She also told them that they had to keep contacting other groups.

Tonight was to relax, until he had shown up.

"What is it, Alex Krycek? Are you here to put a stop to what I am doing? Finish off what you were sent to do by that man?" Samantha never opened her eyes.

"How did you know it was me?" Krycek was more curious than afraid.

"Don't be silly. You and I both know that I'm no ordinary person." She cracked an eye open. "I know why you are here. You want to know why I resurfaced like I did. As well as what I do in D.C. and why I cannot tell you those things."

Yes. Just how did you know that?" Krycek asked.

"I just know a lot of things. I know more than you could ever know. I have answers to questions that haven't been asked just yet. You see, I have all the keys, the keys that I must never concilidate to anyone else. You won't find any answers here, just more questions for yourself, and for the man you work for so foolishly," Samantha said.

Krycek looked at her perfect complexion. Her straight back, eyes closed, and loose hair, falling over her shoulders. This woman was very powerful, but looked so feminine at the same time. He felt guilty only for a moment for almost ending this beauty.

"You couldn't have killed me that night. You do realize that, don't you?" Samantha said.

"I had you in my shots." Krycek growled out.

"Maybe so, but it wouldn't have mattered. She opened her eyes, turning her crystal blue eyes on him. "You do realize what you are dealing with?"

"Simple, if I were you, I'd leave before some one gets angry, and wants to put a bullet in your back. I know that someone might find it convenient. This conversation might have just gotten you killed."

Krycek left, not wanting to have Mulder come after him. It was a ruse, she simply wanted to be alone right then anyway. She didn't want to think, didn't want to cloak herself, just wanted to enjoy the beauty of the D.C. night.

Doggett had snuck out of his house, by making an excuse. He wanted to enjoy the night, and have some silence. He also wanted to see if Samantha was in her old spot. He wanted to talk to her alone, when he would be able to ask her about her visit to him in the hospital. He just wanted to talk to her.

He knew what he was doing could be dangerous. He knew it could anger others. He knew he could be risking so many things, but he didn't care. He had to speak to her.

He saw her, sitting on the bench in front of the largest fountain, where they had met her that one night. She was sitting, her hand in the water, the moonlight making her raven's wing hair shine. He didn't know if she knew he was there, but he didn't want to startle her either.

"Samantha, can I talk to you?" Doggett asked, shyly.

His voice was not the strong tool it usually was.

"Yes. What is it, John?" Samantha asked, her eyes remaining closed. She didn't even flinch at the sound of his voice. He knew that she had to know he was there before he announced himself.

"When you came to the hospital, what was that about?"

He was nervous, hadn't been this nervous since high school.

"I wanted to thank you, John. You did something that most wouldn't do." She opened her eyes, regarding him with her wise blue eyes. She looked so much wiser with her eyes open, so much more innocent with them closed.

"I just was surprised that's all. Most of the time, I never get thanked like that. Never see the person I prevented from getting shot again," Doggett said, looking down at his hands, wondering why he had come all of the sudden.

"You came, because you know there is no such thing as a private moment when the whole group is together. You came because you wanted to thank me for something," she said, staring at him.

"Yeah, I guess I did. I just don't know if it was such a good idea, that's all." Doggett never raised his face from his hands.

"You're scared that Fox will get angry about this.

That's normal. He is a bit overprotective," she said.

Doggett said, "I don't know which one he is more overprotective of sometimes, you or Agent Scully."

She made him look up, "You shouldn't worry so about what Fox will think of your actions. He trusts you now. I can tell that. He is ever grateful to you for what you did for me. He wouldn't think of getting angry with you."

"Did he tell you that?" Doggett asked, tentatively trying to look down, then kept his ice blue eyes fixed on her deep blue.

"Yeah, not with so many words, but with the way he acts," Samantha said.

"I'm glad he respects me. Lord knows I have tons of respect for him."

She smiled. "I know you do. You're a good man. Better than most." She surprised him when she gave him a chaste kiss on his lips. He looked at her with wonder.

"You better get going. If something should happen, I wouldn't want you to get hurt," Samantha said.

"Thanks for everything, Samantha," Doggett said walking away. He could still feel her soft lips on his own. He smiled.

Krycek reported to the Cancer Man. "She's not going to bend either way."

"You didn't get anything out of her?" Cancer Man demanded with a drag of his cigarette. "What is she hiding?"

"She has special abilities. She spoke to me with thought. I don't know what we can do against her."

"So, she spoke to you with her mind. That's incredible." He was surprised by this revelation.

"She's the first one then."

"Do you want me to kill her?" Krycek asked. "I could catch her off guard."

"No. Don't kill her just yet. I need to know what she is first. I need to understand her. I need to know her secrets."

"What about Colonization? With one Alien Human Hybrid.

. ."

"They would have moved by now if that was the truth.

We destroyed Cassandra out of irrational fear."

"But if she succeeds in what ever she is planning, we could be destroyed. We could finally be wiped out, and then what would happen?"

"She wouldn't do that. She's hiding something, something that is much bigger than we think. We must find out what this is. We must learn everything. With her, we can finally get what we seek."

Krycek was angered for a minute. "You can't expect to use her. She knows what you think before you speak it."

"I know. But if we can somehow subdue her, she'll never expect it. We must find her weakness, and use it against her. Maybe like she is Mulder's weakness, he is her's."

"Maybe. How would you use him against her? Would you have him abducted again?" Krycek demanded.

"Too easy. Maybe something more drastic. It's a desperate time we live in. We must be careful about how we execute this. The Project hangs by this."

Cancer Man said, lighting a new cigarette.

"So, we just sit and wait."

"Patience, Alex. We'll get what we want in time.

Things will move as they should," Cancer Man said, his cigarette illuminating his face. "I'd speak to her, but she'll know what I seek. She does have all the keys. I must reclaim them now."

Doggett sat down on his couch, the house was silent, Mulder and Scully already asleep. He was thinking over his meeting with Samantha Mulder. It was strange, and he felt different around her. He didn't know what to think just yet.

He turned on his television, mainly for any background noise, continuing to think about Samantha. He wondered why she had kissed him like she had. What was her purpose of that? He still wondered if it had been a good idea to meet her. It had been worth it, but at what cost?

He wondered how she always knew what he was thinking, answered questions he hadn't asked, and reassured him about things he hadn't begun to voice to himself. He was transfixed by her, he didn't understand the reasons why she could do these things, but he didn't disbelieve anymore. He wasn't sure of anything anymore. He went from getting the facts, on to the X-Files where questions and answers bordered on even terms.

He wondered what the future had for him. He was sure it was going to be exciting. He was sure that whatever happened next, he would have to face it head on.

He wondered what she thought when she talked to him.

What did she wonder about? What did she think about him when he saw her. She was so mysterious to him, and not like anyone he had ever met. The Mulder family was full of strange people. People he couldn't figure out.

Samantha filled his thoughts from that first meeting.

She was so poised, so confident. What was she like inside? He wanted to know so desperately. Wanted to see her heart and soul. He wouldn't admit this to Mulder or any other on the Team.

She was so young. So young, yet so much older at the same time. She was so different from anyone he had ever met, so full of contradictions, but so consistent. She always made him feel insecure when she looked at him, as if she could read his own heart and soul. It frightened him, but he didn't want to leave it alone. It was like a scab that would be picked over and over again, just for the curiosity of picking it, the obsession to pick it, to see the blood run.

He eventually fell asleep, TV remaining on. He dreamt about her. Even his subconscious would think of nothing but her. [He saw her, waiting at the fountain.

She sat, her face so young looking, her eyes closed, the sun basking over her. He walked over to her, and she opened her eyes. He saw that she was happy to see him. It made him smile. He didn't know what to say to her, words had become inessential.]

Part Five: Unusual Pairings

In the morning, Mulder came down, seeing Doggett sitting up. He thought he was awake, asking, "Dogg Man! What's up for today!"

Doggett jumped awake. "What, what?"

"You slept sitting up all night?" Mulder laughed.

"Yeah, now I got a major crick in the neck. I hate that." Doggett grumbled.

"Scully and I were going to go and pick some breakfast up. What would you like?"

"Nothin'. I'll make my own breakfast," Doggett said.

"Okay. Scully just said something to me about we shouldn't eat you out of house and home," Mulder said with a smile. "Enjoy your breakfast."

"I will." Doggett walked to the kitchen, his hand on the back of his neck, trying to crack it. "You two enjoy yours, too."

"We will," Mulder said.

While Mulder and Scully were in the car, ready to go and pick up their breakfast, Mulder asked, "Do you think Doggett been acting strange lately?"

"What do you mean?" Scully asked.

"I mean, ever since he met Sam, he's been acting different. I woke him up this morning. He slept sitting up on his couch. It's just odd, that's all."

"Maybe he's just trying to get used to being in the X-Files, and doesn't know what to think about your sister. He read all the files that dealt with us personally. You do know that, don't you?"

"Yeah. Maybe he's just trying to adjust, like you said. He just was acting a little funny, that's all," Mulder said.

"I'm sure there is a reason. But I don't think you should pry it out of him. What ever it is, let him decide to tell us or not."

"I will. I'll leave him alone on this. I'm just so curious. You know how I get when I'm curious," Mulder said at Scully with a smile.

"Yes. Yes I do. Sometimes it's a good thing," she said, smiling back.

"Yes I suppose it is," Mulder said.

"Why don't we stop at my apartment, for just a bit? I want to get something," Scully said, with an all knowing smile. "But first, let's get our food. Food always comes first."

"But of course," Mulder said.

After they got their breakfasts to go, Mulder drove the familiar route to Scully's apartment. He parked in his old parking space. They walked up to the building, holding hands. Mulder smiled. This is what felt right.

When they got up to Scully's door, Scully unlocked it.

Mulder followed her inside, and she shut the door. He sat the food down on her coffee table, smiling sheepishly at her.

Scully said, "I'm hungry," Mulder said, "Alright, let's eat. I'm hungry too."

"Good." She sat down and began eating her sandwich.

Mulder watched her eat a bit, before starting on his own. God how he had missed being with her for all that time. She was only a couple of months away from due date.

When they finished eating, Scully scooted closer to Mulder. She didn't say anything, words weren't needed.

She looked into his eyes. He saw the love that burned there and the pain behind the love. He bent down, kissing her softly.

Scully responded to him, her hands going to the back of his head. She had waited for months for him to kiss her. He ran his hands through her hair, feeling how soft pregnancy had made it.

She had missed him so much, as he had missed her. He broke off the kiss, "God I've missed you. I missed how you taste."

"I missed you too." She kissed him again, running her hands down his arms. He held her, kissing her more fully. Mulder didn't ever want this moment to end, he could feel the electricity flowing between them.

She pulled away. "Mulder, welcome home." She kissed his nose, then his lips. He broke it off, smiling. She nuzzled her head into his chest. "I suppose we have to go back now. If we don't we could get into big trouble."

"Yeah. I don't want to go," Mulder said.

"I know. I don't either, but duty calls." Scully sighed. "Let's get going."

While Scully and Mulder were enjoying their breakfast, Doggett had an unexpected visitor. He was making his breakfast in the kitchen when he heard the door open.

He yelled out to Mulder and Scully, thinking it was them, "In here!"

His visitor followed his voice and he didn't turn around to see who it was. He had his radio on a classic hit station. He was singing along, "Come on people now, smile on your brother, everybody get together, try to love one another right now." He sung quite a bit more gravely than the singer on the radio.

His unexpected visitor simply smiled as he sang the chorus. Doggett still hadn't turned around. She decided to join in, knowing the song. Doggett jumped, dropping his spatulata. He turned around, seeing Samantha.

She smiled. "I'm sorry if I startled you."

"It's not a problem, just thought you were Mulduh and Scully. So, what brings you here?" Doggett asked, trying to regain his composure.

"I just wanted to come and talk to you, I guess."

Samantha for the first time seemed insecure. He didn't know what to think about her insecurity.

"Any particular reason?" Doggett asked, his eyebrows raised.

She shook her head. "Guess just wanted to drop in, that's all." She looked down at the floor.

"You knew Mulduh and Scully weren't going to be here."

He said, as he put his breakfast on his plate. "You want me to make you some breakfast?"

"That would be good. I'd like that," Samantha said, sitting down.

He took some eggs, asking, "How do you take your eggs?"

"Over hard."

He started to make them for her, asking, "So, you just wanted to drop in. I believe this is the first time I've seen you not in control."

"It's been a long time, I must admit. I can't just have fun spooking out the nice guys. If I did that, I wouldn't know any," Samantha said, some of her composure creeping back.

"Yeah, that's true," he replied.

"You are such a man with few words, did you know that?"

"Just don't have much to say," Doggett said.

"I rather think that's sometimes better than people who talk a lot. Those people are harder to listen to sometimes," Samantha said.

"Yeah. Know what you mean. So, tell me, what did you do after I left? You go to where ever you live?" Doggett asked, setting her plate in front of her.

"Yeah, I did actually. I'm sure you came back here, and slept. I'd hate it if you didn't," she said, smiling. She took a bite. "These are good."

"Thanks. So, basically when you decided to come here, you were in the neighborhood, and thought, 'Hey, I'll go and stop in for a visit'?" Doggett asked. He really wanted to know why she had shown up.

"Yeah. That, and if I showed up when Fox was still here, I'd end up dealing with some conspiracy. He is a bit obsessive about work, but then who isn't."

"So, you wanted to see me specifically." Doggett asked, eating his eggs.

"What is this, 20 questions?" Samantha said with a laugh.

"Maybe it is. You raise so many yourself, ya know," Doggett said.

"Maybe I do. I know I try to," she said. "I'm sure Fox would have many if he were to show up right now."

Doggett's eyebrows raised. "Like?"

"Why I was here, why I didn't contact him, why I didn't go to his office instead," she said.

"Yeah, your probably right," Doggett said. "So why aren't you answerin' my questions before I raise them, or is that only a night thin'?"

She had been dancing around the true answer. She knew he was fishing for the right answer, knowing she hadn't told him yet. She didn't know what she could say to him. She had never been in this situation. She looked down at her plate. She looked up, to see him staring at her.

"Well?" He raised his eyebrows.

"I came to see you," she said, quietly.

"Me? What ever for?" Doggett was caught off guard. He thought when she had said she wanted to talk, he thought she meant it was something about The Resistance.

"Just wanted to." She had become shy all of the sudden. She didn't know what was happening, but she had felt an urge to drop by. She didn't know where he lived, until last night when she took the information from his mind.

"I'm not really that interestin', ya know," he said.

He was completely confused about her showing up. "You just wanted to come and talk to me, for no particular reason, nothin' about the Resistance."

"No one has ever saved my life before. Even if I didn't need it, no one has ever stepped in front of a bullet for me." She was looking down at her empty plate.

Doggett didn't know what to do. He hadn't expected this. He took the bullet meant for her because he didn't want to see her gunned down. It would have made him very angry and upset. No account to what it would have done to Mulder.

"So, you've never had anyone protect you?" Doggett asked, trying to soften his voice.

"Never. When I was little, I was sold into slavery basically. I was abducted at 8. Fox thinks it was random, but Dad sold me. He had to pick between either one of us. I was the one to go. No one could save me there. Fox was only 13 at the time. He didn't know about it either."

Doggett felt a bit of anger rise in him. He took her hand. It had to be painful to be the one taken, knowing it could have been prevented at some point.

"I went up there, and they preformed those tests. I was a little girl, and they didn't care what they did to hurt me. I had to be what they wanted me to be. I screamed all the time. Until I became numb to it. I wondered after that happened if I'd ever feel anything again."

"Good God. " Doggett got up, walking over to where she sat. She had started to cry, feeling weak about spilling her experiences. She just felt that he would protect her, so she let it out.

He held her as she cried. She felt small in his arms.

She had looked so strong the night before. She looked like a little girl today. He rocked her back and forth, telling her it would be okay now. "They won't ever do that to you again. I promise."

She lifted her head off his shoulder, looking into his eyes. Her red rimmed eyes saw that he wasn't lying.

"No one has ever told me that before. I was always the one taken, and tested on," she started to cry again.

Doggett felt overwhelmed. He hadn't expected this. How could a father do this to a child of his own flesh and blood? He was suddenly glad that Krycek had killed William Mulder. The man had sold his daughter in to a life full of pain. If Mulder knew this he would be angry.

He stroked her hair, holding her close to him, hoping it would be enough to shield her from the world. Or other worlds for that matter. She was so fragile. No wonder he had seen her contradictions. No wonder he knew that she was strong, but she had to break at some point.

She whispered into his shoulder, "Thank you."

"Don't mention it," Doggett said. He really felt sorry for her, but knew that pity wouldn't help her. It would be strength to help her. "Anythin' to help a lady."

She smiled into his shoulder. "Yeah."

"I better get going. Fox and Dana will be back soon. I don't want them to see me like this. Meet me at the spot tonight, okay?" she asked, a tiny smile creeping over her face.

"Will do. You take care of yourself," Doggett said.

She smiled even bigger. She bent down, giving him a quick kiss, and left. She didn't want to be caught.

She left a confused Doggett behind.

What would he tell Mulder and Scully tonight? It wouldn't matter, she needed to see him. He picked up the dishes, and did them. He would be late if he didn't start moving. He got dressed, coming down stairs just as Mulder and Scully arrived.

"Hey Dogg Man. We gonna get to the office on time today?" Mulder asked.

"Yeah, let's get goin'," Doggett replied. They all went out to their cars to drive to the office. They arrived, going to the basement.

When they entered, Skinner was waiting for them.

"Good morning, Agents," Skinner said with a smile.

"Agent Doggett, you've been made a hero. Shortly after I submitted that report, you were commended for bravery. They suggested reassigning you, but I knew you would turn that down."

"Thanks, Sir. I already know I'm a hero, though. I wouldn't even think of leaving the X-Files now," Doggett said, with his own secretive smile.

"I just thought I'd come down and tell you that in person."

"What division were they thinking of moving me to, Sir?" Doggett was curious.

"VCS. Thought you'd be better there. I told them we needed you here," Skinner said.

Mulder said, "So, what is our next case?"

"You do have a case. I kept all your case load in D.C.

for right now. Didn't think you'd be ready just yet to leave home, Mulder."

"What's it about?" Scully asked.

"A mysterious homicide. The man died of unknown causes. Some claim it was some type of exorcism," Skinner said. "The file is on your desk, Mulder."

"Alright, sir. We'll get right on it." Mulder sat down behind his desk. He picked up the file, reading it closely. "I hope this case isn't like the Calusari."

"Yeah, me too," Scully replied.

Doggett only wondered how he'd meet Samantha. He wanted to solve this one as quickly as possible. "What does the file say, Mulduh?"

"Says a man was killed while someone preformed an exorcism on him. He is reported to have had cardiac arrest. The other participants in the exorcism stated that he convulsed. That's not uncommon in an exorcism."

"Ever see one, Agent Mulder?" Doggett had put on his skeptic role, along with Scully.

"Now that's not fair! There's two of you and only one of me! Yes, actually I have seen one. It was during that Calusari case. A young boy was being possessed by his dead twin brother."

"Fair is fair, Mulder. I've had to deal with you ditching me for years. What makes you so sure that they were performing an actual exorcism? I know that it is a Catholic thing, but it's almost been forbidden, Mulder. The only place you ever see an exorcism preformed is in the movies," Scully said.

"I have to agree with her, Agent Mulduh. Why don't we just go and take a peek at that body and see what happened," Doggett said.

"Sounds good to me. Let's go," Mulder said. "On second thought, Scully, why don't you look at the body, and Doggett and I will go and question our witnesses."

"Alright, Mulder." Scully sighed. "I'm not going to enjoy this though. Why did we have to come into the office today, anyway?"

"Duty called, remember?" Mulder said, an eye brow raised.

"I wish it hadn't all of the sudden," Scully said.

"Yeah, well let's get a move on." They all left the office, to do what they were supposed to do. Scully took Mulder's car to the autopsy bay, while Doggett and Mulder took Doggett's car.

Mulder said, "When we get there, we might find some overly religious people. They get very very defensive about investigations. They'll resent our presence."

"I expected as much," Doggett replied.

When they got there, they found the group waiting for them. Mulder knocked on the door. "We're from the F.B.I. We're here about a man that died last night."

"We know." A man said. "Come on in."

"Was this man possessed?" Mulder asked.

"The people in this home are very religious, Agent..," the man said.

"Mulder."

"Agent Mulder. I was called in to do an exorcism. I found the man to be ill, and not possessed. He was an epileptic and their religion is against hospitals."

"What ever for?" Doggett asked.

"They think doctors are evil, destroy what God meant to be. They go to the religious to heal their family.

This one died. God spoke as far as they're concerned."

"So, this man died of a controllable disease. Thanks for your time," Mulder said. "Let's go see what Scully has to say. This X-File isn't over yet. Unless the body confirms what this man said, we still have an X-File. Other than that, they sent this in, not realizing what had happened."

"Alright," Doggett said. He drove them down to the hospital, where Scully was performing the autopsy.

When they got there, Scully was waiting.

"Mulder, this man, he died of a seizure brought on by epilepsy. Nothing more."

"We know. The man who preformed the exorcism was called in by a family who doesn't believe in hospitals. Basically this homicide is out of religious practices that shouldn't be. Let's do the boring paper work, and call it a day," Mulder said.

"Sounds good to me. I need a break anyway. I've been on my feet far too long, and my ankles have swollen," Scully said.

"Well, let's get going."

They left for the office, filing the report away. It had been an eventful day, but not the most exciting X-File. Mulder didn't really mind that this time. It gave him time to relax with Scully. Besides, he had just returned from the longest X-File of his life. He was glad to take a bit of a break.

Doggett was very glad. He was very unhappy with the family for letting the man die, but he was happy that the case was so quickly solved. A hospital would have saved that man's life, and given him a chance to control his disease. The case was an open shut one, and he relished in it. It had been a while since he had seen one of those.

Scully was tired. She knew she was nearing her maternity leave. She knew she couldn't keep going at the pace she was going, and that eventually she would end up resting, unable to work. It didn't bother her as much now. Mulder was back, so she didn't have to push herself to the brink.

That night, Doggett said he wanted to take a walk.

Mulder and Scully were fine with it. They thought he just wanted to stretch his legs. Why not, after that sorry case who wouldn't.

Doggett didn't like lying to them, but he knew that Mulder would want to come along and he would want to know what was going on with her.

When he reached the spot, she sat waiting for him.

When she saw him, her face lit up. He smiled. Samantha said, "I didn't know if you'd come."

"What made you think that?" Doggett asked.

"You had a case. I didn't know it was going to wrap up really fast," she said. "I'm glad it did."

"Me too. It wasn't much of a case though." He sat down, next to her. She smiled. He asked, "So, how was your day?"

"Good. I had a great day. Though I must admit it didn't start out the best."

Doggett replied, "Yeah, I'll agree with that."

"So, does Fox have a clue yet, that you're meeting me, I mean?" Samantha asked.

"No. He didn't indicate that to me when I left tonight," Doggett said.

"That's fine. I'm glad you decided to come and meet me."

"I'm glad to do it," Doggett said.

She startled him by hugging him. He responded, hugging her back. "Now, what was that for?"

"Everything you've done," she replied, her head lying on his shoulder.

"It wasn't a problem. Want to go for a walk, or would you like to stay here?" Doggett asked.

"Why not go for a walk. Tonight's beautiful," she said, standing up. When Doggett stood up, she took his hand. They walked out, past the monument to Eleanor Roosevelt. They reached the path that went past the Cherry trees and the Tidal Basin.

They walked slowly along, enjoying the night, and each other. Samantha enjoyed the feeling of his rough hand in hers. It was so new to her. She smiled, her head leaning on his shoulder as they walked. Doggett began to feel as if he was in high school again. This time it was different.

They walked towards the Lincoln Memorial. The city at night was very beautiful. As they walked towards it, they saw Lincoln illuminated by the lights at his monument. Doggett smiled, taking his hand out of hers, to put his arm around her shoulder.

As they were walking, they came up to a bench, preparing to sit down at it. One slight problem was that it was already occupied. It was Mulder and Scully. When Mulder and Scully noticed them, Doggett grimaced.

"I thought you were going for a walk, Doggett." Mulder asked. "You never said with who." His eye brows had raised. Doggett still had his arm around Samantha.

Doggett looked down at the ground for a moment. He didn't know what to say to Mulder. Here he was caught red handed, walking with Fox Mulder's little sister.

The one person that he probably shouldn't have, next to Scully. He sputtered, "I met her while I was walking." The lie didn't get very far.

"You went to meet her, didn't you?" Mulder said, trying to sound angry, coming off amused by the whole situation. If Samantha wanted Doggett to meet her, he couldn't stop her, or Doggett for that matter.

Samantha caught Mulder's amused demeanor right away.

"I asked him to meet me tonight, Fox. If I would have let you know, you would have come along too."

"You know me too well. Yeah, I would have wanted to come along," Mulder said.

Doggett wondered what was going to happen next. He felt like the little boy with the hand in the cookie jar and his mother had just caught him. He wondered if Mulder was hiding his anger, or if he was really angry at all.

Mulder proved to him that he wasn't angry at all. But he did threaten him. "You better make her happy and keep her safe, or I'll have to kill you. I know what it's like to have an older brother staring down at you. Bill Scully, anyone?"

Scully punched Mulder's arm. "Mulder, be nice."

"Why should I be nice to him? He tries to run your life, all the time," Mulder said.

Doggett and Samantha watched them argue. It seemed as if they had disappeared to Mulder and Scully. Doggett finally coughed to get their attention.

"Oh, sorry about that," Mulder said, sheepishly. "Well he does." He had to get the last word in.

Scully simply rolled her eyes. "Sure, fine, whatever, Mulder." She had to stick that line back at him, knowing it infuriated him.

Samantha started laughing. She couldn't help it. They fought just like a married couple. Her rich laughter filled the night air, and the fight stopped. "Are you two by any chance secretly married?"

Mulder stared at Samantha. "No. Why do you ask that?"

"You two fight like an old married couple," she started to laugh again. Scully looked at Mulder, smiling. They had both been had. Doggett thought it was funny himself, and he wondered if they'd fight like that the rest of the night.

"Now Doggett, I may not get angry about you and Samantha," Mulder said, "But Frohike will just be crushed. He will be upset with you, Dogg Man. It seems that once Scully went on the unavailable list, Sam went on his list of 'must get this woman'. You might have a problem there."

"Won't be too bad, will it?" Doggett asked. He knew that Frohike would grumble and he knew that Frohike would threaten him, but he knew that it wouldn't be much more than that.

"Nah. He'll glare at you a lot though," Mulder said with a smile.

"Thought so." Doggett wondered if he should ask them if they should leave. Mulder answered the question for him.

"We're going to head back. Scully needs to elevate her ankles. Besides it's late. Don't stay out too late, but have fun," Mulder said.

"We will, Fox," Samantha said.

Mulder and Scully drove to Doggett's in silence. When they got there, Mulder said, "I never saw it coming. I didn't even think that was what was going on. He was acting strange these last few days. I didn't want to pry in his head, so I didn't."

Scully smiled. "I think it's cute."

"Cute? Scully, you have been pregnant for far too long," Mulder said with a smile, giving her a quick kiss. "I'll get you something to eat after I help elevate your ankles, how about that?"

"Alright. Tell me about being pregnant for far too long," Scully said.

While he was in the kitchen dishing up her favorite ice cream, he shouted out to the living room, "Did you even think that would happen? They're two totally different people. They don't even believe in the same things, not by a long shot." He licked the ice cream scooper.

Scully said in reply, "Funny, Mulder. We're a lot like that, wouldn't you say? I mean, think about it Mulder.

We didn't believe in the same things either, and in some cases we still don't."

"Yeah, I guess you're right. I'm just surprised that's all. If some one would have told me that Samantha and Doggett would like each other, I would have laughed."

Mulder came out, handing her ice cream to her.

"I think I see what you mean. But I think when he took that bullet for her, she felt very close to him. I don't know if anyone has ever done that for her before."

"Yeah. That's when this all seemed to start. Frohike is going to be crushed," Mulder said with a laugh.

"Mulder, you know that Frohike wouldn't touch your sister. She's like a sacred thing to him. You're quest was her, and he won't touch her because of that," Scully said.

"I guess I never thought of it that way. He would feel that way, wouldn't he?" Mulder said.

"Doggett was obviously afraid of how you would take this. He didn't look too happy when they ran across us," Scully said.

"Yeah, I noticed that too. He didn't want to be in trouble, I'd guess. I don't think he wants me to get angry."

"No. He respects you, I think more than you know. He doesn't want to lose the respect he's gained from all of us so easily, I think," Scully said, snuggling into Mulder.

Mulder put his arm around her, holding her close. He kissed the top of her head. "You're probably right.

It's just a little amusing, I guess," Scully said, "At least you didn't act like Bill. I don't Samantha would have taken that well," Scully said.

"Yeah, I agree with you there." He took her finished ice cream bowl from her. He turned her towards him.

"Now, let's shush about that." He kissed her. She kissed him back right away. Mulder put his hand on her belly. He was still amazed by the life that grew inside her. The life he had helped create.

She smiled, as the baby kicked. She broke the kiss off. "I think some one knows her daddy."

Mulder nodded his agreement. "Yeah. I think some one does." He kissed her again, his hand going to her neck. He ran his hand through her hair, kissing her as he moved his hand from her neck, down her arm.

Doggett said to Samantha shortly after Mulder and Scully left, "He took that well."

Samantha nodded. She said, "I had hoped he would. I know that he could have gotten very very angry. Though I think we did surprise him."

Doggett laughed. "Yeah, we did just that. Scully didn't seem to mind. She looked more amused than he did."

"I noticed that too. I think she might have known sooner. A woman can pick up on those things," Samantha said.

They walked to the steps of the Reflecting Pool. She sat down on the bottom step. She looked over to the Washington Monument, smiling. Doggett sat down next to her, watching her instead of the monument. Her face looked young in the light that reflected off the pool before them.

Ducks quacked in the night, and Samantha laughed at them. He didn't look at the ducks. He couldn't stop staring at the beauty before him. When did he get so lucky? If someone would have told him, John Doggett, that he would be sitting with Fox Mulder's long lost sister, enjoying a nice D.C. night, he would have laughed in their face.

Samantha turned to him, already knowing he was staring. She didn't expect the way his eyes would look though. The ice blue had deepened to a darker shade.

She let out a small gasp. She had never met anyone like John Doggett.

He took her hand into his, holding it. She accepted the offer. Her hand was small and soft. He had never felt anyone's hand like her's. He took his other hand, placing it on her cheek. She looked down for a moment, then back into his face.

He leaned in, his eyes asking if he could kiss her.

She gave him an indication that he could. He kissed her, ever so softly. He moved his hand to the back of her neck. She deepened the kiss. She knew that this was right. In all her years of loneliness, for once another human being cared for her. Not because she was different to them, not because she could provide something they wanted, but because she was a person; a woman on top of that. She felt tears well up in her eyes.

He broke the kiss off, asking, "What's the matter?"

"No one has ever appreciated me before. They've always wanted me for something I could provide them. You don't look at me like I'm just a tool." She felt ashamed for getting upset.

"It's alright." He hugged her. She wrapped her arms around his back, placing her head down on his shoulder. He put his hand on her hair, holding her close to him.

"I'm sorry," she whispered.

"For what?" he asked.

"For getting upset like that. It's just so new to me."

"Don't worry about it," Doggett said. "We all sometimes have to just let it out, ya know?"

"Yeah. It's getting awfully late. I'm sure if I stay out here much too longer, some idiot will show up, and you'll end up in the hospital again."

"Why do you say that?" he asked, moving her off of his shoulder. He looked into her face.

"The night you came to see me, remember, you wanted to see me that night? Before you came, Alex Krycek showed up. He demanded to know things. Threatened me. I can handle Alex Krycek. He's tough, but he's not an Alien Human Hybrid, and he's not a trained one..."

"You shouldn't have to handle anyone on your own."

Doggett growled. "What else did he do?"

"Told me I should be dead. I just got rid of him, telling him some one would show up who wanted to kill him. I didn't think you would show up, and I only wanted him to leave me alone."

"If I would have seen him, I don't think anything in this world or whatever other world would have stopped me from shooting him. If I didn't have a gun, I would have strangled him with my bare hands," Doggett said.

"See what I mean, some stupid idiot will show up?"

Samantha said, smiling.

"If he tries anything stupid..." Doggett started.

"Shh. Don't worry about it." She put a finger to his lips silencing him. "I'm a big girl. Besides, I wouldn't want to see you hurt."

Doggett gave in to what she said. "I suppose so, but you shouldn't have to face that sort of thing on your own in the first place."

"I don't have to face anything alone," she said.

"How's that exactly?"

"You are here, remember?" She gave him a kiss on the cheek.

Doggett looked surprised again. This woman would never cease to amaze him. He'd never figure her out.

"Hey, stop trying to figure me out all the time!" She said, picking on him.

"See, I told you it was a night thin'," Doggett said, laughing with her.

"Yeah, I suppose it is. We better get going, we both need sleep. Though I don't really want to go." She put on a pouty face.

"I suppose so. Could I walk you home?" Doggett asked.

"Yeah, I would like that very much," Samantha said.

She didn't live far from the Lincoln Memorial. She lived only a couple of blocks away, on C street. Her apartment was on the second floor. Doggett followed her into the building, walking her to her door.

She said, "Apartment 57, I've been here for only 3 months, had to move out of my last apartment.

Actually, I was abducted from my last apartment. I lost it due to being a missing person. I never buy much for furniture, but I do have some one always available to keep my stuff just incase I do get abducted again."

Doggett looked into the bare apartment. It must be hard not having any furniture to come home to at the end of the day. He thought not having anyone at home was bad enough. She didn't even have a television. She saw him look around.

"Yeah, it is bare, but what choice do I have? If I buy lots of furniture, they'll eventually have to get rid of it, and I'd always be buying furniture. I only have a small cot. That way the person who takes my stuff can take that," she said.

"It shouldn't have to be this way," he said. "For anyone. Ever."

She hugged him. "That's why I like you, John."

He smiled. "So what does your friend tell the authorities?"

"That I was robbed and abducted. The cops shortly close the case as unsolvable. My friend is good at keeping them from looking further," she said.

He shook his head. "You live a strange life, did you know that?"

"Yeah, but I wouldn't change any of it," Samantha said.

"Why's that?" he asked, wanting to know why anyone wouldn't want to change their life to one without all that pain.

"Because I wouldn't be able to help the world, and I wouldn't have met you," she said, trying to keep him on his toes. "You better get going, before someone finds out where I live, or you don't get any sleep."

She kissed him goodnight. The kiss was sweet, and when she broke off the kiss, he smiled at her. "I'll be seeing you soon. Maybe I'll even stop by tomorrow."

"I would like that." Doggett smiled. He turned, and left out the door. He walked his way back to his car.

He walked past the Reflecting Pool, looking at it's beauty. He walked through the FDR Memorial, where his car sat parked.

Just as he was going to open his car up, Krycek put a gun to the back of his head. He stiffened. His gun was only inches from his hand. All he had to do was swiftly draw it, and knock Krycek's away.

"You made me fail, now I'm going to make sure you're permanantly out of my way." Krycek hissed into his ear.

Doggett said, "You don't want to do this."

"Who's going to stop me?" Krycek laughed softly in his ear. "Anyone comes to save you, all I have to do is pull this trigger. All I have to do is fire, and you're a dead man. And I'll get away with it."

"Would you really? Think about it, you'd be damned for all time," Doggett replied through gritted teeth.

"I already am. Why do I care if I have guilt. I don't believe in guilt." Krycek growled.

Doggett tried to grab at his gun, but Krycek had shoved him up against his car, pinning his arms to his thighs. Doggett wished that he would just get it over with if he was going to kill him, or that someone would stop Krycek.

He felt the gun disappear from his neck, hearing Krycek swear in Russian, "What the hell?"

Some one had knocked Krycek on to the ground. Doggett turned around, seeing no one. He wondered what was going on. Krycek got up, demanding, "Where's Mulder? I know it's him."

Krycek's face was hit by an invisible assailant. His eyes got wide. He said, "Don't, don't, I'll leave, I will!" Krycek was kicked backwards. He hit the ground, groaning.

Doggett just stood and stared. It appeared as if Krycek was being moved by just air, but he was bleeding where he was hit. Doggett didn't want to be the next target.

Krycek didn't move. As he lay on the ground, a woman appeared all of the sudden. It was Samantha. She turned her head towards Doggett, "You okay, John?"

"Yeah." Doggett wasn't sure what to think of what Samantha had just done.

She turned back to Krycek, "I told you I have more answers to questions you've never even begun to ask.

Believe me, even if Agent Doggett hadn't been there, you wouldn't have killed me. Don't be a fool." She kicked him in the side one more time. "Now get going, before your boss decides you're obsolete and kills you."

Krycek nodded his head vehemently. He got up slowly, walking as fast as his battered body would allow him.

"How did you do that?"

"I used tricks I learned from my training. I cloaked myself from both of you. I can disappear in crowds.

It's a neat trick. The fool, he's good but not as good as he thinks. Obviously he hasn't been trained well enough." She looked different. Strong again. She looked as if she dared the world to take her on.

"Thank you, now we're even," Doggett said.

"Yeah, I suppose we are," she said, a smile crossing her lips. "You get going on home. I'll take myself home. Don't worry about me. I won't be seen by anyone." She walked up to him, kissing him. "I think Krycek met his match."

"That he has. If I would have my gun before he could have..." Doggett started.

"Shh. Just get going, before someone else shows up," Samantha said, giving him one more kiss. "Tell Fox and Dana about it. Tell them that Krycek tried something foolish. I'll be calling a meeting of the D.C. Team for tomorrow. We'll discuss it more there. I will have to teach my brother, too."

"Alright. I'll tell them. Again, thanks."

"We're even," she said, she turned and began to walk away, when she became invisible to him. She disappeared as if in to a mist. He shook his head, getting into his car. He drove home, thinking about the eventful day.

Part Six: Mission Completed

"Alright, Pretty Lady," Frohike said.

She shook her head. "Let's just get going."

"Yeah, Dohike, you just pissed her off," Langly said.

The Gunmen walked to their van. Samantha got in, sitting down between Byers and Langly.

She sighed, wondering what she was thinking in getting a ride with these three. She knew that she had to get them to the meeting spot, and it would just be good to meet at Doggett's.

When they got there, she let herself in. She told them to be quiet. The house was still asleep. She saw Doggett sleeping on the couch, his arm hanging to the floor, and his face turned outwards. He sniffed in his sleep, yawning.

Samantha smiled to herself. Frohike caught it, but didn't think much of it. She walked up to him, thinking, [Wake up, John. It's morning.] Doggett woke up, looking at her, with a smile on his face. She smiled back and this time Frohike caught it.

"Aww man, not you too." Frohike whined.

"What? What's the matter, Frohike?" Samantha asked.

"Nothing," Frohike grumbled.

"Fox and Dana awake yet?"

"Nope. Not that I know of," Doggett said, sitting up, rubbing his neck. "Tell your brother that a sofa ain't no place for a man to sleep."

Samantha laughed. She said, "I'll go and scare them, why don't you call Skinner and make some breakfast.

I'm sure that these guys will want something to eat."

"Alright." He got up, walking to the kitchen, yawning.

The Gunmen followed him. He got all the things he would need to make breakfast with out, when he heard a cough behind him.

"So, when did that happen?" Frohike demanded.

"What?" Doggett asked, knowing what he meant.

"You and Samantha, you dolt," Frohike said.

"Now, I didn't see you exactly puttin' your name on her," Doggett shot back.

Frohike wasn't used to his straight forwardness just yet. It perplexed him.

"I started to see her after I took that bullet, is that a problem?" Doggett asked.

"No, not at all." Frohike retreated. He knew that Doggett had a right to be in the position he was in now.

"Will one of ya give Skinner a call for me?" Doggett asked.

"I will," Byers said.

"Thanks." Doggett started making breakfast, now that his run in with Frohike was past. He turned to the Gunmen, asking them how they liked their breakfast.

"I'll take two eggs over hard," Langly said.

"Me, Scrambled," Frohike said dejectedly.

Doggett smiled. That was how he liked his.

They heard Mulder, Scully, and Samantha come down the stairs. They were talking all at once. "So, sis, you beat the crap out of Krycek?"

"Yep. He asked for it," Samantha said, acting like a little sister.

"Wow. Who would have thought that Krycek would be beat up by a girl. That has to be a blow to his ego."

Mulder laughed.

"I would think so, but he made me angry."

"I would have paid to see that," Scully said.

Frohike saw them enter the room. He saw Samantha's face light up as she saw Doggett stand at the stove.

She shared something with him. Frohike saw someone happier than she probably ever had been. He would have to concede another loss. After all, John Doggett had saved Samantha Mulder's life.

Meanwhile, Krycek had to explain to Cancer Man exactly how he couldn't dispose of 2 people. In a row.

"So, you didn't kill him. Why couldn't you have just pulled the trigger and been done with it?" Cancer Man demanded, in his nonchalant way.

"I don't know, Sir. I was about to pull the trigger, when, when she hit me," Krycek said.

"Who hit you." Cancer Man demanded.

"Samantha Mulder," Krycek said.

"You didn't see her coming?" Cancer Man demanded, getting impatient.

"No. She jumped me, and when I looked to see who had attacked me, there was no one there. She hit me from thin air. When I was on the ground, she just appeared to me," Krycek said the last part softly.

"How did she just appear out of thin air?" Cancer Man flicked ashes down on the ground.

"I don't know. She's not normal. She's different."

Krycek said.

"She was tested on by Aliens. You do know that, don't you?" Cancer Man said passively.

"What's that got to do with it?" Krycek demanded, getting angry. "I should just kill you, it would save so many problems."

"Don't throw empty threats that you can't back up. You might stick a gun in my face, you might squeeze the trigger, but not enough to fire it. You even might hit me. But you won't kill me, and that's why you'll continue to do as I say," Cancer Man said, taking a drag from his cigarette.

Krycek knew he was right. He knew that without Cancer Man's knowledge, he was nothing. He had to get that knowledge from him, before he could kill him. At least he thought he did.

"I must meet with Samantha again. I must find out what she knows," Cancer Man said, thinking to himself.

"Good luck, you black lunged bastard. You'll never know what she knows. She's better than you," Krycek said, spitting into the ground. He turned, walking away.

An amused Cancer Man smiled. He took another drag on his cigarette, walking the other way. "Wrong, I will know what she knows. All I have to do is get rid of Agent John Doggett. He's threatened the project.

Remove him, and she'll crumple like a ton of bricks.

Remove her piece and she'll have to retaliate, and that's how I'll learn her secrets."

He knew her weakness. He should have guessed it, as soon as he saw her leave the hospital he was lying in.

Mulder wasn't her weakness, as she and Scully are Mulder's. John Doggett had saved her life, of course she would grow close to him. Why didn't he notice it before. It was perfect. Alex Krycek had done exactly what he had wanted him to do without even knowing it.

As long as Krycek believed he had failed, he would slowly gather information on Samantha Mulder, without even knowing it. The fact that she could disappear in front of another human being, while attacking them, and then reappear was perplexing. He would find out how she did it, and now he had his key. And in a way, in the end, John Doggett hadn't failed his duty that he was sent to do, even if he didn't know what he was sent to do. He had given the Project something amazing. He was now their key to get their hands on an even larger key. Samantha Mulder. The pure genius made Cancer Man smile.

Skinner arrived at Doggett's house, somewhat wondering what was going on. Byers had told him that it was very very important, but wouldn't explain why, phone line not being secure and all.

When he arrived, he heard a heated argument going on between Doggett and The Lone Gunmen. "You have got to be kidding me. My phone line is perfectly safe."

"Doggbert, that line could be traced, and that conversation recorded. It's a call to the F.B.I. and it is logged," Langly said.

"Hog wash. You three are just too paranoid," Doggett said.

Skinner asked in a loud voice. "What is the purpose of my coming here."

Mulder just announced loudly, "My little sister beat up Krycek!"

Skinner looked over to Mulder, and then to Samantha.

She was smaller than Mulder, and only an inch taller than Scully. That little woman couldn't have, but then again... He laughed. "Good job. He probably needed it."

The argument had ceased upon his arrival. Doggett said, "Samantha saved my life, we're even now." He was sitting next to Samantha.

Skinner's eye brows raised, now why would John Doggett be saved from Alex Krycek by Samantha Mulder. He didn't know and he shouldn't pry. "Why is that exactly, Agent Doggett?"

"I was getting into my car after meeting with her, and well, Krycek decided to stop by. Very unfriendly, too," Doggett said.

Skinner picked up that the meeting wasn't about the Resistance. He looked at Mulder and Scully, his eyes questioning what he thought he already saw. Mulder nodded in response. Skinner mouthed 'Oh'.

"So, now that we're all here, let's get going on something. We should talk about your instruction, Fox.

Without it, you'll still get your butt kicked all the time," Samantha said, trying to get a stab at her brother.

Mulder stuck his tongue out at her. "Oh alright. I do not get my butt kicked all the time. I win sometimes."

The room started laughing.

Samantha said, "Now, later on this month, some people I work with on the Resistance are going to talk with us too. They are also abductees. Some have had training like me, and others were left behind to die.

We've been doing all we can for them," she said.

Skinner asked, "Are they MUFON?"

"Some are. Some aren't. Some were abducted with me, and we were tested together. Others were tested at different times. We're the survivors." Samantha replied. "You might recognize some of them, Fox."

Mulder shuddered. He remembered being in the space ship. The tests were horrible. "Were some of them tested with you?"

"Only one. A woman. I believe she didn't survive last time," Samantha said, her voice vowing not to break down. She gripped Doggett's hand next to her own. It gave her the strength to keep her own.

Mulder nodded. "I know the woman you speak of."

Skinner asked, "When these other survivors show up, where will we be meeting?"

We'll gather at the Constitutional gardens, and go to the MUFON headquarters near Arlington around there," she said.

Frohike asked, "Approximately, how many of these abductees are there?"

"There's 40 of us. Some of us might not make it, barring death or recurrent abduction. We've gathered since before I was returned to Earth the first time. I joined the group shortly after," Mulder said, "Alright, sounds like a plan. I'll contact the MUFON group there a little bit later. I just want to let them know about it. Unless they already know."

"Nope, not yet. You can tell them, Fox," Samantha said.

"Sounds good to me," Doggett said. He didn't know what to think about this, but if these people shared some of Samantha's experiences, and had helped her, he'd be glad to meet them. His hand still gripped hers.

"Let's get to work, people," Skinner said.

Samantha Mulder said, "Fox, we should go somewhere where I can teach you some stuff, after that you can go to the office, alright?"

Mulder nodded. "Sounds good."

"Sir, mind if I get ready for work before I go to the office?" Doggett asked.

"No problem. Agent Scully and I will meet you there," Skinner said.

Scully and Mulder had gotten dressed before coming downstairs, especially when they had heard that the Gunmen were there, and that Skinner was on his way.

Mulder and Samantha left in Mulder's car to his apartment. They arrived there shortly after. "Are you sure it's safe to be here?" Mulder asked his sister when they got to his door.

"Don't worry, no one knows we're here." She tried to reassure him. They walked in to his dusty apartment.

She wrinkled her nose.

"Sorry, we haven't been here since Krycek showed up that one night. Speaking of that night, why did you choose those specific lyrics?" Mulder asked, giving her a sideways glance.

"Because that music is the only music I remember. I wasn't around for all the other music, and none of it is rememberable to me," she said.

"Oh. So what you gonna teach me?" Mulder asked, his eyebrows raised.

"First, I think you should understand how we got here without being seen. You already understand how to block voices, hear voices, and communicate with another person's mind, so we'll move on," she started to disappear in front of him, until only her eyes and smile remained. "Sort of like a Cheshire Cat, huh?"

She finished her disappearance. Her voice came out of thin air, "It's called cloaking." When she reappeared, she was across the room.

Mulder stared at his sister. "Teach me how to do that."

"It's really simple. You just pull the wool over the mind of the other person. Then their mind plays the trick on themselves, and you don't waste so much energy actually trying to make yourself invisible, and they can only touch you if you want them to. Otherwise they don't know that you are there."

"I see. That's useful," Mulder said. "May I try?"

"Alright, but you might look like a hologram to me. If you do, you've learned. Other Alien Human Hybrids can see you when you cloak."

"Ok." Mulder started to try and see if he could make himself disappear. He focused on *pulling the wool over his sister's mind* and felt himself exert some type of energy.

"Good job, Fox." She smiled. Mulder let go of the concentration.

"That is a lot of hard work," Mulder said.

"Yeah, but as your mind's endurance increases the easier it will be. It works better on humans any way."

"I hope so. What's next?" Mulder asked.

"Hmm, you can speed yourself up, with thoughts inward to yourself. If you think you can, you will be faster."

"You mean like the Matrix?" Mulder had an amused look on his face

"Yeah, I guess, I've never seen it," Samantha said, looking down for a moment.

"Oh, that's okay," Mulder said, confused about what was bothering her.

She said, "If I were you, I would just practice cloaking for now. You'll need to master that first, because the other things can come off that."

"Alright," Mulder said.

Doggett sighed after everyone had left. He went to get dressed, and then he'd be off to work. He did have to clean up that mess in the kitchen, too. He got dressed, and went downstairs to the kitchen.

While he was in the kitchen, cleaning up the dishes, the front door opened. He didn't hear anything, the radio was on, killing the silence he hated now even more having people live with him. He was singing again, though not very well.

The visitor walked in to the kitchen, on silent feet.

They had a weapon drawn in their hand. They smiled at how at ease their target was. This was going to be easy.

Doggett continued to wash the dishes, unknowing someone stood behind him. He didn't even turn around, until it was too late. By then his attacker had struck.

Alex Krycek hit him with the butt of his gun, to the side of his head. John Doggett fell to the floor, unconscious. Krycek smiled. This abduction had been too easy. Why did they ever leave him alone? Were they just that foolish?

He smiled as he dragged Doggett out his back door. He had shut the front door, and left no sign that this was a hostile exit. They would think that this was an Alien Abduction, he was sure.

He got to his car, shoving Doggett into the back seat, laying him down so no one would see a man when he drove by them. His back windows were tinted too.

Alex Krycek wanted to dare Cancer Man to say he was a failure. He wanted to save himself, by getting something for Cancer Man's knowledge. John Doggett might just get him what he wanted.

Krycek went back in to leave a note in the living room, deciding let them know who had gotten even with them was a better plan. He wrote on a piece of paper: Now we're even. You want to see him alive, you're going to have to give me something I want. I think you know who I want.

AK

He smiled as he left, locking the kitchen back door.

He drove off, towards where Cancer Man would be, his surprise with him in tow. This had certainly been easy. Besides, he wanted a rematch with that witch, Samantha Mulder.

When Alex Krycek arrived with his cargo in tow to Cancer Man, he shouted, "Hey, old man! I got something for you!"

"What would that be?" Cancer Man asked, passively taking a drag on his cigarette.

"He goes by the name of John Doggett. I believe you wanted this sorry hunk of meat," Krycek said, a smile escaping his lips.

"Now, that is exactly what I wanted. Bring him to me.

I think I can make good use of him. You've done good."

Cancer Man coughed.

"Now you'll give me something in return, or I'll kill you." Krycek growled. He threw Doggett to the ground.

His gun was drawn. "I will pull this trigger this time."

"Tsk, tsk, you never learn. No, you won't. You still haven't gotten everything you wanted," Cancer Man said, amused.

Krycek's gun arm fell to his side. "Fine, but one day I will shoot you, and you won't stop me."

"Maybe, we'll have to see. Take him to the Purity testing. If anything, I can utilize him, make him more sought after in return," Cancer Man said.

Krycek did as he was told. He dragged Doggett behind him, to where other test subjects were. He made Doggett ready for the tests, strapping him under the wire that had once trapped Fox Mulder. But that was in Russia, this was America. He smiled, as Doggett finally woke up.

"Welcome to hell, Agent Doggett." He left the room, knowing that soon the Black Oil would rain on the test subjects. This revenge was better than just firing a bullet into the back of his head.

Cancer Man knew that once Samantha Mulder learned of this, he could learn of her secrets, she would sell herself over to the tests, she would do something to make sure John Doggett didn't suffer this. He smiled.

Now he had the upper hand.

Alex Krycek watched the old man smile. He wondered what he had up his sleeve this time. He just wanted to know what this man knew, and then he could kill him.

He wouldn't need to run his pathetic little errands for him anymore. He'd be a free man, and could do whatever he pleased.

Cancer Man turned to another man of his. He said to the man, "Turn on the Purity. It's time to run the tests on our subjects." He took a drag of his cigarette and turned, to walk away. "Oh, and make sure the newest test subject gets enough."

Krycek watched Cancer Man walk away. He wanted to know what he was up to. Why was it a good thing Doggett was here. Doggett didn't mean anything, he was just assigned to the X-Files, and he had no clue what was going on. What did he matter?

Now, why didn't he demand that he'd get Samantha Mulder? It would be a huge blow to Fox Mulder, and it would ensure that at least someone would get killed.

He shook his head, as he heard the pitiful screams of the test subjects. One scream made him smile as he walked away.

John Doggett had no idea where he was. One moment he was getting ready for work, the next he was in some strange place, naked under wire and unable to move.

Suddenly it dawned on him, he was still on Earth, but he had been abducted none the less.

The sprays were turned on, and he heard others in the room. He felt a bit as if he was in a Concentration Camp Shower, ready to be gassed. He felt the cold as ice liquid move on his body. Mulder was right, it was like liquid ice, and it moved and grew colder as you struggled. He couldn't help but struggle.

The last face he had seen was Alex Krycek's, so he knew he hadn't been abducted by Aliens. This was the government side. Who else had gone through this? Had Samantha? At the though of her name, he tried to fight. He wouldn't let this win.

The Black Oil entered his body, and the world became oblivious to him. Now he thought nothing except for how much pain he was in. The Black Oil traveling on the outside of your body was bad enough, but once it entered you, forget it, you were doomed. He fought against the cage he was in, unknowing that he was screaming, unknowning that others around him were screaming. He writhed under the wire, instincts kicking in.

It continued to move all over his body, inside and out. He wondered if he would just die, and prayed that he could, with what humanity he had left. He prayed God would be merciful and just end this. But he continued to fight, to no avail. The Black Oil rain stopped, and Cancer Man and his associates walked through. Cancer man stared at John Doggett.

Doggett's eyes had turned black with the moving film.

He had ceased his outward struggle, and was laying stiff, covered in Purity. Cancer Man smiled. He had Samanntha Mulder in Check Mate. He had won the game, once she learned of what had happened, she would surely come after him.

Cancer Man walked up to Doggett, he said, "Now you've succeeded, Agent Doggett. You have fulfilled your mission, and you didn't even realize it." He took a long puff on his cigarette. He walked on, checking other subjects.

Inside, Doggett had heard every word that Cancer Man had spoken. It registered deep down, though the only thing he could think was pain, and a wish to die. Why didn't he just die?

He felt the filth on the outside of his body, but it felt like everything that was him was someone else, he was watching this happen to someone else. He didn't believe in this Alien stuff any way. He didn't believe in any of this paranormal crap. It wasn't real, was it? He was just in a terrible nightmare, and any minute he would wake up, having read a file, that spoke of Mulder's experiences. His mind wanted to believe so badly that he was making all of this up, but another part of him knew that it was so horribly real, and he couldn't escape it.

Doggett had one tear slide down his cheek, he knew he had lost something, and finally the blissful peace of darkness over took his mind. He didn't feel anymore, didn't think anymore, didn't know that as he lay here, Samantha Mulder learned of his terrible abduction.

While Samantha and Mulder were at Mulder's, Skinner and Scully checked back to see if Doggett was on his way. He hadn't answered his phone, and hadn't showed up ten minutes later. Skinner and Scully were now getting worried, this was not like Doggett at all.

Now Skinner had arrived, finding the note lying in the living room, waiting for him. He swore under his breath. He knew that Alex Krycek had done this.

He dialed Mulder's. "Mulder, you and Samantha better get over here, to Doggett's, NOW!" He hung up before Mulder could ask any questions. He saw Scully stand next to him, looking surprised.

"We should have waited for him, and this wouldn't have happened," Scully said.

"We can't blame ourselves, we just have to get him back, and now," Skinner said.

When Mulder and Samantha showed up, Samantha saw the looks on their faces. She asked in an authority filled voice, "Where is John?"

Skinner handed her the note. She read it quickly, exploding. Samantha Mulder had more training and power than Mulder had. She demonstrated to them all what she could do. She threw things around the room with her mind, she even exploded a couple of things. Then she started to cry. "Not him too!"

Mulder took his sister into his arms. "We'll find him.

We will."

"He was taken." She sobbed.

"Alex Krycek took him, it wasn't Them," Mulder said, softly. She had stopped her mental assault on Doggett's living room. She was exhausted. Scully and Skinner looked amazed at what she did. Scully knew she had to be in great pain.

She walked over to Mulder, "Let me take her. You call the Gunmen, tell them what happened."

Mulder nodded, and gave Samantha to Scully. Scully held her, "He'll be okay. We'll get John back. I promise you that."

Samantha stopped crying. "We will, because Alex Krycek and I are not even. He picked the wrong person to go after this time. He shouldn't have messed with me."

She straightened her shoulders, her eyes on fire, and she was frowning in thought. To anyone on the outside, they would have thought she was steeled to the pain, but inside her emotions were a whirlwind.

Mulder said, "The boys are on their way. They said they might be able to set something to locate him, my guess is Krycek never left the city with him. He's probably still in the D.C. area."

Scully nodded. "Let's hope they can locate anything that Krycek might have used as a hide out."

"Not necessarily Krycek, Scully. Cancer Man. He probably has Doggett now. My guess is that Krycek's last assignment was to get rid of Doggett's threat to the Project."

"You mean that man took him," Samantha said through gritted teeth. "I'll make him pay," Mulder said, "I'm afraid so, sis. He does have this thing about eliminating threats to his Project."

"He's the one to be eliminated next. The man doesn't know who he is up against. Fool!" Samantha said. She looked like she was ready to create another windstorm.

"I'm going in, and no one is stopping me. I'll locate him myself. You guys do what you do out here, while I try to find him in my own way. I have to do this," Samantha said.

"No, Sam. That's what they want," Mulder said.

"I will, and if you have a problem with it..." She glared at her brother. "I'm doing this with or without your help. You and the Gunmen look, and I'll look. Two plans are better than one."

Skinner looked over at the bewildered Mulder. "I think she has you there, Mulder."

"Fine, but be careful, Sam. I can't lose you again, not ever," Mulder said.

"You won't. I'll keep in touch with you. Just let me do this," Samantha said, steel in her voice.

"Alright, I'll tell the boys what's going on. Good luck, little sister," Mulder said, giving her a hug.

Samantha returned it, and went out the door.

"I'll get him back, and I think someone will discover they've finally met their match."

Part Seven: Rescue Mission

Samantha Mulder cloaked herself, searching with her mind for John Doggett's. She finally located it, just outside of Pentagon City, not a likely place, but in actuality a perfect place to hide someone. Especially for Cancer Man. She smiled, the fool didn't know that she could do things without him knowing of it.

She ran her way from George town to the west of Pentagon City, to a facility that was just as gloomy looking as Pentagon City itself. She entered, wanting to gleam information off of her prey. She knew where Doggett was, she just wanted to learn what they had done to him.

She heard Cancer Man say, "He's responded well to Purity. I didn't know if his body had the stamina. Now that he's infected, he may become one of two things, a host that will produce an Alien, or he'll become our own Alien Human Hybrid."

Samantha grew angry, but knew it wasn't time to pounce. She knew that all she had to do was sneak down to where they kept Doggett and the others, and she could free them all, if she so chose to do. She listened a bit more.

This was his thoughts not his comments to the men who conducted the tests for him. [When Samantha Mulder learns of this test, she'll surrender herself over to them, in exchange for John Doggett. She won't possibly be able to sneak the man out of here.]

She sent her own thought out to his, [Are you sure?] She whispered it. Cancer Man looked around, trying to pinpoint the voice.

"Who said that?" Cancer Man demanded his doctors. They shook their heads. "You are dismissed for now." All of his doctors left the area.

[William Mills, you know very well who said that.

Don't be foolish.] She whispered in his mind. She was enjoying the fact that she knew his name, and that he didn't know who she was.

"I said, who's there!" Cancer Man was getting a little edgy, never having had anyone sneak up on him that he couldn't see. "How do you know my name?"

"I know more than you could ever know, William," Samantha said, stepping from the shadows, decloaking herself. "You fool, you think I'm afraid of your Purity tests?"

Cancer Man smiled. "I have who you want, and you are who I want. Without me, you can't get him back."

"What makes you say that?" Samantha said, her smile equaling his. "You know nothing about me. What gives you the idea that I couldn't do something about it?"

"Oh,and that is?" Cancer Man looked amused.

[Why are you so amused? Is it because you think you have me cornered? Do you really believe that?] Cancer Man looked at her in wonder. "How did you do that?"

"My secrets are my own," Samantha said, Cheshire Catting in front of him. She smiled at him, just like that cat, when he looked shocked. "Bet you've never wore that face before."

She walked away, leaving him bemused.

Meanwhile, the Gunmen showed up. Mulder told them what his sister was planning on doing, and Frohike burst out, "She's going to get them both killed!"

"I don't think so, actually, Frohike." Mulder looked from face to face. "She knows something we don't. She just might be able to pull something off none of us would have thought of."

Langly said, "So, she left. What do you want us to do?"

"Look up all the places Krycek would be seen at. If she hasn't found him, or a way to breach security, we might be able to do that for her. It's something, anyway."

Skinner nodded. "She made this mess when she found out. It's like nothing I've ever seen."

Frohike looked around at the mess. "For a little lady, she sure has a big temper, doesn't she?" He walked through the disaster that had befallen to Doggett's living room.

Byers read the note. "Does this mean anything to you?"

"It just means that Krycek is playing games. He just might lose this time. Why?" Mulder asked.

"Well, Doggett said this morning that him and Samantha were even now. This note says the same thing. I just wonder what Krycek meant by it, that's all."

Mulder took the note. "Yeah, I sorta remember something like that myself. Didn't think about it then. I'm sure it means nothing. Unless he heard her talking to Doggett. But that would be impossible, she'd know he was there."

"We should check about it anyway. It could be some type of lead," Frohike said. "I wouldn't want to piss her off. Bad route to go."

"No kidding. When's she supposed to get back to you, Mulder?" Skinner asked.

"Don't know. She didn't tell me, but I would expect something soon. I wonder if she told Cancer Man off yet. It'd be something to see, don't you think, Scully?"

"Only if it didn't get someone killed. Imagine what his death would to your sister. Cancer Man might just have Doggett killed to get what he wants from her."

Mulder knew that Samantha had gotten very close to Doggett in the past few weeks. He had saved her life, and he thought to himself that he really didn't know anything about his sister's life, except that she was a repeated abductee. He hoped Scully would be wrong about Cancer Man killing Doggett.

Samantha followed Doggett's thoughts. She still had herself cloaked. She came up to the door to where the subjects were. She walked in, after breaking the lock.

She saw him right away, and tears came to her eyes. He had been tested on, and he might not make it, unless she could save him now.

She saw all the other test subjects, in his condition.

Fury gripped her heart. She had to save Doggett first, then she would tell Fox about the rest. She would save these others.

She came up to Doggett and whispered into his mind, [John, it's me. It's Samantha. I'm here, it's safe.

I'm going to get you out of here.] She broke the wire encasing his body, her mind severing the wire. She had to get out of here fast.

The wire now free, made him cough. It had been pushing in on his chest. She gasped. He coughed up Black Oil.

She cloaked him along with herself, and mentally carried him. She knew what she had to do next.

She left the facility quietly, carrying her heavy load behind her. She moved quickly, knowing that time was running out for Doggett. She had to get him to his house, so she could contact her friend. Her friend, who wasn't like her, but had been tested on had been left behind to die. He had learned how to extract safely the Black Oil from those who hadn't had their blood laced with it successfully. Unfortunately, the process failed on himself.

Samantha rushed to Doggett's place first, wanting to get him clothes, and to tell Mulder, Scully, and the Gunmen of her plan. They should meet her friend anyway. He would know what to do. She looked back at Doggett for a moment, averting her eyes from his lower half, and stared at his face. His eyes still had the film over them, and she knew she was running out of time.

She increased speed, running as fast as she could to George Town, to Doggett's house. It was going to be okay, but she had to move it, and now.

When she arrived, she shouted out to her brother, [Fox! I've got him, open the door!]

[Alright.] Mulder answered. He opened the door.

Samantha and a half cloaked Doggett were brought in.

He was floating behind her, until she carefully set him down. She said, "Some one get him dressed. They've infected him with the Black Oil. We have to take him to a friend of mine, and now."

The Gunmen saw her distraught face. They knew she was upset, and didn't know that this was their only chance to save Doggett's life. Mulder set to getting him dressed, asking, "Can't you...?"

"No, I can't. It's a weakness that Alien Human Hybrids have. With the abilities we have, any Black Oil to come in contact with us from another human being could destroy us. I had to protect myself from it. I'm protecting you now, too, Fox."

The Lone Gunmen stared. "What does this mean? That if Mulder or you get infected from the Black Oil that Doggett has, it would kill you? How is it different?"

"It's not pure. It's been laced with some human blood, and if that human blood is strong enough, in the first test, it can overpower the blood of an Alien Human Hybrid. It shuts our systems down. It renders us helpless. Without protection of our own powers, we would die from it's contact," Samantha said. "Even without that in place, I don't know how to extract Black Oil from a body. My friend does, and I only pray that he's still alive. He'll only know me by my fake name I use. I use it so that he won't be found out that he helps me. I go by Ruby Tuesday to him. You must address me as such around him."

Mulder nodded. "Let's go, before that ice grips his heart and kills him. It could cause him to cardiac if we don't move."

"I'll only take a few of you. Scully, I don't think this trip would be safe for you. Your baby could be in danger with the extraction taking place. Boys, you stay with Skinner, crack the safety codes to this building. They have more test subjects. It must be stopped. Fox, you and I will go and save John. We are running out of time," Samantha said. "Fox, remember what I said about cloaking. You must cloak for all three of us, do you think you can do that? I have to carry his weight."

"Yes." Mulder hoped he was right. He connected his mind to Samantha's, and to Doggett's, cloaking them all. Samantha lifted Doggett up, and they disappeared.

She increased their speed. They needed to save him, quickly.

When they arrived, Mulder asked, "Where are we, Samantha? We had to travel at least 40 miles in..."

He looked at his watch, "In 5 minutes. How did we get from Doggett's on Dent Street, to 40 miles away to Dumbarton?"

Samantha gave a smile. "I told you that you could increase your speed. Let's go and pay a visit to Steve before it's too late." Her smile faded, and her seriousness of the matter closed in again.

She got up to his door, knocking. Mulder was amused that this was the first part of this situation that was normal. A man opened the door. He was in a wheel chair, and he didn't look well.

"Ruby Tuesday? Long time, no see. Did they abduct you again?"

"No, no, they took him instead," she said, pointing to Mulder.

Steve eyed Mulder. "I can tell. Come in, come in."

Samantha hadn't decloaked Doggett yet, letting Mulder shut the door on her direction. After the door was closed, Samantha decloaked Doggett.

"This is John Doggett. He's been infected with the Black Oil, and I know you know how to extract it.

Neither of us can have contact with that Black Oil, we're both Hybrids."

"I see. Let me take a look at him. I'll stick him with some oxygen, once that is done, he should cough it up.

Why this man, Ruby?" Steve asked, eying Samantha.

"Because he's necessary to the Resistance, Steve. If he dies, something terrible will happen. Hurry," Samantha said. Distress filled her voice.

Mulder asked, connecting his mind to Samantha's, [Is he an abductee?]

Samantha replied, [Yes. He's one who will die, they left him to die with terrible cancer, and he's too weak to walk. He never had any chip, or any chance to survive. We're lucky he's still here.]

[You think you can take what he knows from his mind, and give it to Scully?]

[Might be worth a try. It certainly would make things better for us in the end. I don't know how much longer Steve has. He was taken 4 times before he was infected.]

Steve called them out of their conversation. "He should start to react, any minute now."

He had injected him with some pain killers, and then had put an oxygen mask on. Doggett's body started to react. With the increased oxygen, the Black Oil couldn't combat the human blood. It extracted itself from Doggett, until he started to cough, and the mask was removed.

Mulder watched in fascination as it left Doggett's body. He wished he could step closer, but Samantha wouldn't hear of it. He heard Doggett scream once, before the pain killers took full effect, and he fell into a peaceful sleep.

Samantha walked up to Steve. She said, "You don't know what you've done. Thank you so much. I couldn't have done it with out you."

Steve said, "No problem. Come back any time. It was nice seeing you, though the circumstances could have been better."

"No kidding."

"Hey, you, I think I've seen you before." Steve said, eying Mulder

"Me?" Mulder asked.

"Yeah. You Fox Mulder?" Steve asked.

"Yes, I am," Mulder replied.

"I hope you find your sister. I heard that she was abducted by Them. It has to be hard to be left behind, especially when you know what happened. You were taken by Them too."

"Yeah, it is," Mulder said.

Samantha said, "I must tell you my real identity, Steve. I am Samantha Mulder."

"You, you're the Samantha Mulder, the one who heads the whole Resistance? Why didn't you tell me?" Steve said.

"If I did,you could end up dead. Now that Fox knows where I am, you won't die for knowing that. They couldn't hide me from him anymore."

"Wow. Just think, and all these last months, I thought I'd never meet Samantha Mulder or Fox Mulder. You two are legends." Steve said.

"I've never been called that before," Mulder said.

"I've been called lots of things, but not that." He had a smile on his face.

"Fox, we got to get John home. Thanks Steve, for everything," Samantha said.

"Alright," Mulder said.

John Doggett opened his eyes. He looked around for a moment, blinking, when he saw Samantha's face above him. "Where am I?"

"You're at home, John," Samantha said.

"Dude, Krycek tried to play a dangerous game with you," Langly said.

Doggett sat up, blood flowing to his head. He shook it, looking back at Samantha. "What did he do to me?"

"You don't remember?" Samantha asked.

"I remember getting ready for work, then ..."

Doggett stopped, remembering for a moment what had happened next. "They put that stuff in me. I'm not still infected, am I?"

"No, no you're not," Samantha said.

"You okay?" Doggett asked her, putting a hand up to her face.

"I'm fine. I always was fine," Samantha said to reassure him.

Mulder said, "If it wasn't for Krycek leaving a note behind, we'd be still looking for you, either that, Samantha would have found you. She could have found you with Them, instead."

Doggett looked over at Mulder. "Yeah."

"Come on Scully, let's go upstairs. I think they should talk. Boys, get on home, why don't you start cracking that buildings code. Thanks for coming up, Skinner."

"Don't mention it, Mulder."

"So, Scully, you ever flirt with a legend before?" Mulder asked, his eyebrow raised.

"Shut up, Mulder," Scully said.

"Alright, alright." Mulder followed her upstairs.

The house was silent shortly after everyone left.

Samantha sat next to Doggett. "John, that was a frightening thing that happened today. I never want to go through that ever again."

"I didn't exactly like it myself," Doggett said, wondering if she was angry with him.

"I risked a lot for the Resistance today. I might lose my position for it, but then again, I might have been raised to a higher one. They gave me an insight today.

Humans test humans, I learned that. It was terrible. I can't believe they did that to you."

Doggett hugged her. "It's fine for me now. We'll get those people out of there. I promise you that."

"How many human rat labs do they have, in America, in the world? It was bad enough that They tested on people, but, but people testing on people, God." She couldn't believe what she had seen.

"Hey, we'll stop it. We'll stop them all," Doggett said, trying to understand.

"I heard his thoughts, that evil man, the man that Fox refers to as Cancer Man, he wanted to test you, to get me to be put under those tests. He wants to know what I know. If I hadn't the advantages I have, I might have taken your place," she said softly.

"Hey now, what would ever make you think you should sacrifice yourself for me?" Doggett asked.

"You are one of the best men I have ever met. My own father couldn't light a match to you. You don't think what can be given to you in return for something. You just do what's right."

Doggett didn't know how to respond. He didn't know that other men had made her feel useless, when she had been returned, that they would make fun of her Resistance, even though she had shown them what she was. She never should have told them what she was about, but she felt obligated to tell them. After all, they had put themselves in danger.

"I can't help it I guess. I just do what's right. It's what I've been trained to do."

"No, no. You weren't trained to do that. You, by being you, just do that."

"Listen, it's been a long day for the both of us. You take the couch, and I'll take the floor. I insist," Doggett said.

"Deal. I do need some sleep. Thanks for everything."

"No problem. Besides, it was you who saved my butt today," Doggett said.

"Yeah. I hope Fox and Dana are getting some sleep.

Legend my butt. That went straight to his head."

Samantha laughed. "Good night, John."

It was the last sound her heard before sleep took him.

Part Eight: Moving Out, Moving In

Samantha had curled herself up next to Doggett, on the floor. She looked happy, and had a smile. She had him pinned like a teddy bear. Mulder whispered, "Let's make breakfast. It's about time we give something back to Doggett."

"I agree. We should talk about something too, Mulder," Scully said.

"Like?" Mulder asked, his eyebrow raised.

"The baby. Where we will live," Scully replied.

"What about the baby?" Mulder asked, concerned that something was wrong with the baby at first.

"The baby is almost here. We can't deny that I will be giving birth to him or her very very soon. I don't think that it's a good thing for us to just stay at John's. We need a place of our own," Scully said.

"Maybe you're right. We can't go back to our old places. It would be too dangerous," Mulder replied to her.

"I just know that at the rate things are going, John is going to ask Samantha something very important, and we'll only be in the way. I sort of like the idea of having a house myself. It's more roomy than any cramped up stuffy apartment."

"A house? You want a house?" Mulder asked.

"Yeah. It would be better for the baby, too. More room, and who knows, we might have more babies. I can't tell you how much this one miracle means to me, but the possibility is there," Scully said.

"Where would you want your house? I think it would be imperative that we stay close to everyone," Mulder said.

"Not far from John, if we can help it. I think you're absolutely right about that whole staying close thing.

The farther we get apart from each other, the more dangerous it becomes," Scully said.

Mulder started cooking some bacon. He turned to Scully, asking, "So, basically, you're saying we should get married. I mean, it would make sense," Scully said, "Do you think they'd let us do that?"

"We don't have to tell them exactly, do we?" Mulder had a mischievous look on his face.

"Mulder, if we don't tell them about our marriage, if it happens, due to the possibility of being split up, we could end up in more trouble, if and when they find out," Scully said, trying to be practical, but knowing that marriage was what she wanted.

"I know, but maybe we could talk to Skinner. Besides, he told me that the pool that goes around the Bureau is that we've been sleeping with each other for years, why disappoint them now?"

"Mulder, that's vulgar. It's a fact we have to face.

Kersh won't be too nice about it though, and you know that as well as I do," Scully said.

He finished the bacon. He turned around, giving her a quick kiss. "We'll be fine. Things will work themselves out in time. We just have to work it out."

"Yeah, I suppose so. I just know that a house would be so nice. For the baby and for us. Imagine how relieved John would be if we were to move out, so he could live any way he chooses?"

"Yeah. I'd go for a house myself. It's going to be expensive, but we'll do just fine. Scramble up some eggs, Woman! We all gots to eat you know," Mulder said, trying to get a smile from her. She slapped his arm, starting to laugh.

That of course woke the sleeping couple on the floor.

Doggett woke up, "Who is doing all that talking? Wait a minute here, didn't I tell you to take the couch?"

"It's cold up there. Besides, you looked lonely."

Samantha replied, yawning. "Sounds like Fox and Dana are awake. They're making breakfast from the sounds of it."

Doggett smiled. "Guess it is a bit chilly up there.

When did ya move?"

"I made it almost a whole 20 minutes, are you proud of me? Let's go scare them, okay?" Samantha said.

"Nah. I kinda like it right here. It's nice," Doggett replied. "Besides, I wouldn't want to have your brother getting all protective over you. They might have some heavy duty discussin' to do, besides."

"Yeah, you're right. It's more fun here anyway. Fox would just start picking on me, I'm sure. He never grew up," she said, giving him a kiss.

"I think Dana noticed that right away, too. Me, I grew up long time ago," Doggett said, trying to sound big and tough.

"You did not! Just listen to yourself."

"Alright, alright, so I got some more to do, but hey, that's part of being a man. You get to act like a kid a lot. 'least so I'm told," Doggett said.

"Okay, you win. Fox is a bit more childish than you, but if someone wasn't like that, we wouldn't have much fun, now would we?" Samantha said.

"You jabbing at me?" Doggett asked playfully.

"I would never do that," Samantha said.

"Oh really, and who has to grow up now?" He gave her a noogie. "Now, let's go scare those two. It'll be fun."

"Yeah." Samantha got up, helping Doggett up. "Sh, be real quiet."

They tip toed to the kitchen door way. Mulder and Scully weren't talking anymore, they had become engrossed in preparing breakfast. Doggett counted to three silently to her.

"BOO!!!!" They both jumped out, scaring both Mulder and Scully.

"Don't do that!" Scully shouted. She had dropped her spatula. She bent down, picking it up. "Now look what you made me do, you made me, the giant pregnant woman behind over to pick this spatula up." She was kidding around.

Mulder jumped, turning around. He said, "I'll get you for this, Samantha Mulder! You have my word on it!"

Mulder glared at the both of them for a minute. He started to laugh. "Samantha doesn't get any breakfast now!"

"Hey, Fox! I didn't do that all by myself!" She cried out.

"Yeah, but it's Dogg Man's house. I can't deny him his own food, now can I?" Mulder said, winking at her.

"Well, no, but he decides who eats, doesn't he?" Samantha asked.

"I'm the one cooking, ain't I? The cook always decides who eats," Mulder said, seeing if he could fool his sister.

"You're lying. You're just trying to fool me, Fox William Mulder! If Mom and Dad were here, I'd tell on you!" She stuck her tongue out at him.

"Oo, such a threat. Of course you get to eat. Don't be silly," Mulder said. "Little sisters always fall for the stupidest things."

"Hey, I resent that!" Scully said.

"Okay, except in Scully's place, because her older brother is just too stupid to be able to fool his little sister," Mulder said.

"That's better. Let's eat. I'm hungry," Scully said.

After breakfast, Samantha said, "John, I got to get going for a bit. I need to get changed, and besides, I sense someone has to talk to you about something, anyways. I'll be back in a bit. Don't you go worrying about me, now." She gave him a kiss. "I won't be long."

"Alright. Just be careful. Wouldn't want something bad happenin' to ya, cause I wasn't there to protect ya," Doggett said, winking at her.

"Hey, who saved your butt yesterday?" Samantha said.

"I know, I know. Get goin'," he said. Samantha left the house, and Scully went upstairs to get dressed herself.

She told Mulder before she left, "You will tell him what he needs to know, right?" Mulder nodded his response.

"Now that the women are gone, what is it?" Doggett asked.

"Scully wants her own house. She thinks we've over stayed our visit, and I agree with her. We're thinking of getting married. We'll have to ask Skinner, FBI regulations, you know," Mulder said.

"I see. She wants a house, where would you be buyin' you think?" Doggett asked, hoping it was close by, now that things were more dangerous.

"Close by, as close as we can get, without living with you. I'd assume as soon as we can get one close by, and that Skinner okays our marriage," Mulder said.

"Good. I don't think you'll have a problem with Skinner. It's Kersh you'll be running into problems with. The man is so by the book, but he isn't, hypocritical bastard," Doggett said.

"Now, that's my kind of talk. I hope Skinner can pull something over Kersh. I think as long as we don't mess around on the job, the ones we're assigned to, we'll be fine. You know what I mean? Keep up the good work as field agents, that type of stuff."

"Yeah. I see what you mean. I think you'll be able to pull it off. You'll have to be extra careful, that's all. If I were you, I'd buy that house under an assumed name. Ask them cooky Gunmen to give you a fake name to use to buy the house. It'll at least save you some time in keeping things relatively safe," Doggett said.

"Good plan. I'm sure Scully wouldn't mind that bit. It would keep the baby safe. She's most afraid for the baby," Mulder said.

"I know, I don't blame her," Doggett said.

"Blame me for what?" Scully asked.

"For wanting to keep the little one safe," Doggett told her. "He told me you two will be lookin' for a house soon."

"Yeah. John, we just think it would be the best for all of us. Soon a baby will be a real part of our lives, more than it is now, and when that time comes, we should have a place of our own," Scully said.

"I hear ya, until you find a place, you stay here. I can't stand the silence of the big place anymore. When it's just me, it's too morbid, sounds like someone died, or somethin'," Doggett told her.

"We'll probably visit a lot anyway. Besides the baby should see Uncle John from time to time, don't you think?" Scully asked.

"Yeah. It'll keep the baby pure from Uncle Frohike, and Uncle Langly," Mulder said.

"And Daddy Mulder. You forgot that one, Mulder," Scully said.

"Hey, hey, no fair!"

"Who said life was fair?" Scully asked, eyebrow arched at Mulder. "Now scoot upstairs and get dressed, we should go and talk to Skinner."

Mulder disappeared up the stairs, "Alright Mommy!" he shouted at her.

"I heard that, Mulder! Just do it!" Scully yelled up at him. "You think he'll ever grow up?"

"The real question is, Dana, would you want him to?" Doggett asked, his eye brows raised.

"I guess not. He's just infuriating sometimes," Scully said.

"That he is," Doggett said, "That he is. Good luck with Skinner."

"We might not be the only one needing luck," Scully said.

"What do you mean?"

"I think you know." Scully disappeared up the stairs, to make sure Mulder was getting dressed.

Shortly after Mulder and Scully left, Doggett kept his wits about him. Knowing that anyone could come at any minute to abduct him, made him just a bit paranoid, more than he was before. Maybe the Gunmen were having an effect on him. He smiled, no one was a paranoid as the three of them.

The kitchen door opened, Samantha stepping through.

"Whatcha thinking about?"

"Nothing, just how paranoid the Gunmen are."

"Is it really paranoia when they are out to get you?" Samantha asked, sitting across from him. She had changed into a pair of jeans and a sweatshirt.

"Guess not, but they do take it a bit to extremes sometimes. They are funny though," Doggett said.

"I'll give you that. So, what did Fox want to talk to you about, anyways?" Samantha asked.

"They want to get married. They want a house of their own. I'm guessing they're going to first ask Skinner if the marriage part is possible, and they'll go and see the Gunmen to get a fake identity to buy a house," Doggett told her.

"Oh? Seven years is an awful long time, or is it eight now?" Samantha asked.

"Eight." Doggett was now thinking of asking her if she would move in with him. He was grappling with the question.

"That is an awfully long time. I hope that nothing in my life will take me that long to reach happiness," Samantha said.

"Would you like to move in here, with me?" Doggett just asked, before he lost his nerve.

"John, do you think that's safe? I, I want to, so bad. I hate going to my apartment of emptiness, when you're here..." Samantha was surprised.

"Well, either you do, or you don't. Which is it?"

Doggett wanted an answer.

"I want to. Yes. I'll live with you. It's got to be better than living like I have been. Besides, you got an awfully large house, it's got to sound like a museum with no one here. Why did you ever buy such a large house in the first place?" Samantha asked.

"For my ex wife and my boy. They're both gone. Some one took my son. She left me shortly after. Said I was an unfit father." Doggett was looking down in shame.

"It's not your fault. Was it Them?" Samantha asked.

"Just some freak who wanted to get back at an FBI agent for taking his life away. We never found him, but the man I was investigating told me that he killed him, and burned him up for firewood." Doggett couldn't believe the pain it still made him feel.

"I'm sorry. That is horrible. Did he go to jail?" Samantha asked.

"Yeah. I put him away for life. He won't ever hurt any one ever again," Doggett said.

"Good. Why don't you and I go and get my stuff? We could both use some fresh air. It might lighten up the mood a bit," Samantha said.

"Let me change first, then we'll take off, alright?"

"Okay. I'll wait down here." She gave him a hug, and a kiss. "Things will be fine now."

Doggett smiled. "I hope so."

"Is the A.D. in?" Mulder asked Skinner's secretary.

"Yes, go on in, Agents," she told them.

Mulder asked, "Sir, you busy?"

"Not at all. What is it?" Skinner said, looking up from some papers on his desk. "Have a seat."

Mulder and Scully took their accustomed seats. "So, what trouble you in this time?"

"We're asking you something. I don't know what you can do for us, but we want to get married. Can we do that, without being transfered?" Mulder asked.

"Hmm, Kersh wouldn't hear of it, but if you keep it hush hush, I think I could black mail him. If he wants to risk being exposed, I don't think I'll have a problem. He doesn't know that I know he's been trying to undermine any investigation in this division. With that waved in his face, I could get him in to lots of trouble," Skinner said with a wink. "Oh, and you two, finally, I thought I'd never see you thinking of marriage at the rate you were going."

"Sir!" Scully said.

"I'm not a fool, Agent Scully. Congratulations, is in order, anyway," Skinner said, laughing. "So, he proposed to you, did he?"

"Not really," Scully said.

"I didn't have the chance to prepare anything. She was talking about a house, and I just asked her if she thought we should get married," Mulder said, looking sheepishly.

"You better kiss some butt, Mulder. If you don't, she might decide to not forgive you," Skinner said.

"Yeah, Mulder," Scully said.

"What is this? Everyone keeps acting like they've got me in some strange game, and that I don't know what's going on. It's just not fair," Mulder said, making a pouty face.

"Alright, Mulder. I'll forgive you, but you should still make it up to me," Scully said."Besides, for all you know, it might be fun."

"Scully! Not in front of the Skin Man, especially at work."

Skinner just started to laugh. Scully and Mulder looked at each other, and they both started to laugh.

Skinner wasn't a stranger to them, they shouldn't act like he was one in front of him, at work or any where else.

"Why don't you two do what ever it is you have to do.

I hear your case load isn't very stressful right now, and besides, you probably have things to do," Skinner said.

"Yeah. We got to get to the Gunmen. We have to tell them to get us a fake name so we can buy a house," Mulder said.

"Good luck. I hope it's close to some others. We wouldn't want things to get worse off than they already are."

"No, we don't. Thanks for everything, Skin Man."

"I give up, you'll never stop calling me that. Can I at least call you Spooky then? I'm kidding, I'm kidding. It's not a problem, now get going," Skinner said. Mulder had glared at him for a moment, before smiling.

The Gunmen looked at Mulder and Scully with amazement written all over their faces. "How did you manage that one, you two?" Frohike asked.

"Manage what? It's not like we invented a new machine that does everything, you know. Skinner just has some dirt on Kersh that could get him removed," Mulder said.

"I see. What do you want from us?" Langly asked.

"We want a fake identity. We want to buy ourselves a house," Mulder said.

"A house?" Byers asked.

"Yeah, a house. We're not safe at our own apartments, and we would like a house of our own," Scully said.

"Alright, if you insist." Frohike sighed. "Here you go, how about this one, Mr. and Mrs. Steve Marshall.

You both work for the Justice Department, and it's a confidential area, so you're landlord will never ask."

"We'll take it, thanks, you guys. We're going to go and buy our house, and Uncle Sam won't even suspect it's him paying for it. When we find our place, come visit us often. We'll be living in George Town," Mulder said. "Not too far from Dogg Man if we can help it."

"Sounds like a good plan. Good luck in your house searching," Byers said.

They left. They went to a real estate agent, asking if any houses were available in the George Town area. One had been just vacated and if they liked it, and moved fast, they could move in within the week. It was a lucky grab, and it appeared that some higher being was somehow smiling on them. It was a block away, and across the street from Doggett's. The perfect place.

Mulder and Scully took the look over the house partly for formalities, and to see where they would be living. It was a spacious house, and Scully smiled.

The house was two stories and had three upstairs bedrooms. The master bedroom was spacious and had it's own fireplace. The house had been built in the post Revolution period, and the beauty pleased Scully. She knew she would love living here, with Mulder and the baby.

Mulder liked the spacious study that was in the room adjoining the living room. Here he would put all his books that had been strewn all over his apartment. He hoped Scully wouldn't mind, since bookshelves had been built into the walls. Scully saw him look at the room with happiness all over his face, he was glad that they were going to live here.

When they got back to the real estate building, Mulder paid a down payment on the house, signing the mortgage papers. The house was now theirs, within the end of the week. Some how they would have to move all of their stuff here, without anyone seeing what they were up to.

Mulder sighed contently when he saw Scully smile at him. He said, "This was a good idea, Scully. I'm glad we did this. A house, a house of our own, and no longer will my neighbors be hearing any strange men in the night, I'll have more room, and so will you. This is perfect for a family."

"Yes, yes it is," Scully agreed. She was very pleased with the house. She couldn't wait until she showed John and Samantha where they would be living. A short walk across and down the street was all they had to do to visit each other.

Doggett and Samantha went to her place to grab the few things she had. They went into her bedroom, where her cot lay, and her few precious belongs sat. She put them in a bag that her friend usually used when she was abducted for testing. One was a picture of Mulder, the most recent picture given to her by a source that had kept her up to date on her brother. The other, a diary she was keeping. She had it since she had left the compound for the abduction that had been the longest. She no longer remembered Spender.

Doggett looked at her empty room, whistling. "This ain't no way to live."

"That's why I'm moving in with you, isn't it? I hope my stuff won't take up too much room. I'm kidding, don't look at me like that," Samantha said.

"Hey, there's plenty of room. That's not the problem.

The problem is you had to live like this for far too long," he said.

She hugged him, "Let's go, that part of my life is over now. I no longer have to live alone, and I no longer have to own only 2 things in the world. Let's go, and never look back."

They walked out of the apartment, and she closed it.

She would send the key to her friend, with instructions on how to close the lease she had.

Doggett smiled as she carried what little she had with her. There was of course plenty of room for what she had with her. Now that she was going to live with him, he was sure that more stuff would become hers, and he'd make sure of it.

He put his arm around her as they walked to the car.

They got into the car, driving back to his place. This was what was right, why he still had that house, besides the fact that he was obligated by contract to live there for 10 years. His first family had been there only for 2 years, and he was going to leave, but now he didn't have to.

When they arrived, they found the place quiet. This was the first time he welcomed the silence. He wasn't alone, and Samantha made him happy just by being there.

"Where do you want me to put this stuff, John?" Samantha asked.

"Here, I'll show you where you can put this stuff."

Doggett lead her upstairs, to his bedroom. He had a desk that sat in the corner of the room, where he kept all of his private things.

Samantha smiled. "Thanks." She set the things down, looking around his bedroom. Scully had made the bed up that morning. The room had a nice window that streamed in sunlight. It fell on the bed. She questioned with her eyes if she could lay down on it, and bask in the sun.

He nodded his acceptance. He wasn't going to stop her.

She laid down, closing her eyes as if she were a cat.

Doggett wondered what he should do next. Should he sit down next to her? It wasn't the first time he was unsure of what to do around her, and he was sure it wouldn't be the last.

Samantha caught what was bothering him. "John, sit."

He did as told. He hoped that this time with her wouldn't be interrupted by Mulder or Scully bringing news of anything for awhile. She opened an eye, looking at him with a smile.

She said, "You're bed is comfy. Lucky Fox and Dana, I hope their house hunting was fruitful." She laid back down, eyes closed. Doggett wondered how he could resist her obvious temptation.

She laughed suddenly. "What are you doing?"

"What do you mean?" he chocked out.

"You're fighting yourself. Why?" she asked.

"But, if we..." Doggett caught himself.

"You mean Fox and Dana will sleep here later? Do they really need to know?" She propped herself up, opening her eyes. She looked at him, smiling. "Don't be silly, who knows, maybe they got their house. Besides, they won't know. It's not a big deal." She kissed him.

Part Nine: Old Constant, New Constant

Samantha headed the meeting, and for the first time, she had a smile on her face, greeting the people she had been working with all these years. Mulder and Scully were amazed at how many of the abductees there were. From the ones who had been left to die with terminal cancer, to the ones chosen for Alien Human Hybrid, both of them were surprised that they knew which one each had been.

Doggett was even more surprised that there had been this many people involved in the first place. He knew there had to be more, this was only the MUFON group out of D.C.

Samantha stood up, "Now, we have to introduce some of our newest members to the Resistance. For once we have amongst us a few non-abductees. Our number is increasing outside of ourselves."

The group looked at Doggett, they all already knew he was one of them. They gave him a look, turning back to Samantha. "He wasn't abducted by Them, but by fellow humans, who mimic their tests. He has been exposed to the Black Oil, and if it wasn't for Steve, he might not be here with us today. The four others have never been abducted by either aliens or humans, and have been fighting along side my brother against the Governments of the world that are trying to hide this horrible monstrosity. They have been a great help to us, since my brother's return from his own abduction."

The members all looked at Mulder. He only raised his hand in recognition. "Now, if we don't stop the abductions of humans on Earth, we can never hope to end them in space. We must all try to find a way to destroy these testing facilities through out the world. They treat you like animals, and much like the Oil is rained on us, it is rained so on them, but without the safety measures that They have, knowing more about this than us humans do. Of course us repeatedly abducted could write a book..." The room greeted her with laughter. "Moving on, If we could just let some of you introduce yourselves to what we call the first Resistance Team, comprised of not just abductees, but all humans. The D.C. Resistance Team."

Mulder and Scully sat, wondering who would be coming to talk to them. One woman walked up to Scully, tears in her eyes. "You don't remember me, but I was taken with you, Dana."

"But didn't all of you die?" Scully asked.

"I was the only one chosen to be Alien Human Hybrid. You survived, because you figured out what saves us.

You're lucky that they didn't negate that fact, they do shut down some chips effectiveness in others, all the time. The ones they don't want to survive, they send back chip less. My name is Patricia Tremonti."

Scully's eyes filled with tears. "I do remember you. Ever since Mulder was taken, I started to remember, his tests mingling with my memories."

"Yes. I tried to soothe you, along with Penny. It's a shame that she was marked to die. We all miss our dead." Patricia said. She had dark hair and her blue eyes tried to assess how Scully was handling this.

Scully couldn't believe that she saw someone from her own abduction with her.

A man walked up to Mulder. Mulder looked away from Scully and Patricia. He saw the man. The man spoke.

"My name is Andy Novoselic. I was on your left when you were abducted, but released earlier. I came to the D.C. MUFON group because I had to tell your sister what they were doing to you, along with the help of Gibson. I'm not Hybrid."

Mulder looked into the blond haired man's face. He said, "I think I remember you."

That night, Mulder and Scully were talking to each other, in their own house. Mulder had bullied Scully into letting him take his couch into the house. He told her that leaving it behind would be like leaving a good friend behind. She caved, as long as she got her chair to go into the living room, with her coffee table.

They sat on the couch together, and Scully asked, "So, what do you think will happen next? Do you think that Andy and Patrica will be abducted again?" Scully's eyes were looking at Mulder, who looked very tired.

"I don't know. The real question may lie in the fact that we could be abducted. What happens if we are, to the baby?" Mulder asked.

"God, Mulder. I don't want that to happen to anyone of us ever again," Scully whispered.

"I don't either, but say it does, say you or I get abducted. Do we still continue to live in this house, alone? What do we do then?" Mulder looked at her.

"We've got John, we've got Samantha. We could very well go to one of them. Or we could go to Skinner, and the Gunmen. Oh Mulder, say that neither of us will ever get abducted ever again. I couldn't deal with that." She snuggled into his chest, trying to hold him closer to herself, to keep him from ever leaving her again.

"Scully, we'll have to be strong. Something could happen to us, something could happen, and we just have to be prepared. If we aren't, and somehow someone does get hurt, killed, abducted, we'll have a plan. I don't want to lose you either, but I do know this, if we don't think ahead, we are just lying around waiting to die." Mulder turned her face towards him. He gave her a kiss. "We just have to be strong, we just have to be capable. We'll pull through this. We will."

Scully's hormones were taking more effect than her fears. They had been magnified by the closeness of her pregnancy. Her due date was so soon now, and anything made her cry. It made her angry too. She felt the tears start now, and she said, "Damn hormones. Why can't I just be normal?"

Mulder laughed. "Tell him or her to stop making their mother unhappy. We don't like an unhappy Scully."

She smiled, cuddling up to him. "Mulder, if the way things are going for us are any indication, let's hope that what happens in John and Samantha's relationship will be just as promising. I've never been so happy, even though the world hangs on our shoulders." She got up, giving him a kiss.

Mulder smiled. "Me too. So, are you feeling better, now?" He held her close to himself, smiling into her hair.

"Yeah, you? I can't wait until the baby is here, and we'll be three. That, and I'll not be so fat anymore.

I'll be glad to stop carrying so much weight around," she said, smiling into his chest.

"I think I can agree with all the weight thing, no jab intended. It hurts your back, I've seen your ankles.

It's got to hurt," Mulder said.

"That's sweet of you to care, Mulder. At least my morning sickness hadn't lasted too long. I'm really glad about that."

"I think I am too. I wouldn't want you running off to puke all the time," Mulder said, a chuckle coming from his throat.

"Mulder, that's just gross."

"Hey, I'm consistent," Mulder said, raising his eyebrows at her.

She punched his arm. "Let's go to bed, I'm so tired."

Samantha sat with Doggett, doing something she hadn't done since a child. She was watching T.V. with extreme fascination. After they got home, they felt that there was not much to say about the whole affair, besides, for once they wanted to forget any thing about some conspiracy.

Doggett had found a show that he thought would appeal to her. He enjoyed seeing her act as if she was a little girl, and her innocence as she watched was just intriguing to him. He had turned the channel to NBC, for Friends.

Though he didn't watch the show, he thought she might enjoy it. It worked. She really enjoyed the comedy, and her laughter filled the air as she sat watching.

She said, "I really like Chandler. He's funny."

Doggett smiled. He had figured out why she liked Chandler so much, and so quickly. "Why's that?"

"He makes so many wisecracks like Fox does all the time. Sh, the show's back on." She leaned back into him, watching the show. He didn't really care much for the show, but it pleased him that she was enjoying it.

If she enjoyed it, let her, she never had a chance to enjoy many things in the first place.

During the next commercial break, he asked her, "You want anything to drink?"

"Yeah, get me a glass of water."

Doggett went into the kitchen, grabbing himself a can of pop. He filled a glass with ice and water. He went back out into the living room, handing the water to her. He opened his pop, and was about to say something, when she hushed him again. The show was back on. Good thing it was only a half an hour.

After the show, the T.V. went off. She said, "I'm glad that T.V. improved in the years I was gone. I remember growing up with shows that were not very high tech, though Fox did love Star Trek."

Doggett laughed. "We share something in common. I have all the movies. Right over there."

She smiled. "Has Fox made you watch all of them yet?"

"He's sure tried to." He put his pop down, grabbing her, pulling her into him.

She squealed with surprise. "John, what is that for!"

"That's for making me sit through that God awful show!" He said, laughing.

"Come on, admit it, you liked it."

"Alright, only a little. It wasn't too bad."

"Knew it! I knew you liked it."

"I can't lie to ya, and you know it. You like to use that against me all the time," Doggett said.

"I know I do. I'm so glad I decided to move in with you. It's ten times better than living alone."

That earned her a kiss. "It certainly does beat living alone."

He kissed her again, and she whispered, "I think I like no T.V. time better than T.V. time." He laughed.

Neither one of them knew that happiness was soon going to fade. They didn't know of the pain for both of them lying ahead. It was going to be the true test.

A week later, while Samantha and Doggett slept, a visitor showed up. Samantha woke. "NO, this is not happening again!"

Doggett woke up next to her. "What is it? What's happening?"

"Someone is here. They want me back," Samantha said.

"I can't hide, They'll kill you if I try to hide."

"What are you saying, you're talking crazy talk."

Doggett sat up.

"No, he's here. He's come to take me back to the ship," Samantha said, getting dressed quickly. "I don't want to go."

"There has to be a way to get you out of that."

Doggett got up, walking over to her. "There has to be some way." He looked at the clock. It was three in the morning. "Sam, it's three in the morning, you probably had a night mare. Come back and go to sleep."

"He's here. Please." She kissed him, trying to silence him, before he could get upset, and get himself killed.

The Alien Bounty Hunter came up the stairs, "It's time."

"One more moment, please?" Samantha begged.

"Only one," The ABH said, unemotional.

Samantha turned back to Doggett. "John, I can't stop this. I won't be gone long, They don't keep me for very long. I promise." She kissed him.

"I love you. You shouldn't have to do this!" Doggett said, anger taking his body over.

She said, "I love you too, but this is something I have to do. If I don't, everyone I care about will die, and I can't do that. I can't lose you. I won't be gone for very long. I promise. I won't be gone for long." She kissed him as long as she could. In her mind, she said, [Tell Fox that he must head the Resistance while I'm gone. Tell him that nothing could have been done. Tell him I love him.] When she broke off, she noticed the tears in his eyes.

"I'll be thinking of you while I'm in the tests.

You'll keep me sane, and safe."

"I'm not letting you go. I can't let you go." Doggett cried. He hugged her, nearly crushing her to his body.

"You must."

The ABH said, "Now, Samantha. They wait for you."

"I'll be back soon. John, don't get yourself killed."

She gave him one last kiss, and the ABH took her with him. She only looked back once, walking out of the house. Doggett wondered if he would ever see her again.

When Samantha got to where the ABH had other abductees, she looked into the sky. She knew her fate, but wished she didn't have to face it again. She touched her belly. She had meant to tell him in the next few days, but it was too late now, and she wondered if the baby would survive. She was pregnant, and now this had to happen.

She was sucked up into the ship with the other abductees. Some were crying, others screaming in terror. She looked at them with pity in her eyes. Her calm figure was the only one among them. She knew what was in store for them.

When the abductees arrived to the ship, she was put in the chair that they always put her in, since she had grown up. The children's chair was used so long ago, and she shuddered for only a moment. She almost welcomed the tests, one of the few consistent things about her life.

She looked over to the other test subjects that had been abducted with her. One was terrified, and only wished to die. She was speaking fast, but Samantha understood what she was saying. Samantha said quietly trying to soothe the woman, "It's going to be alright.

If you don't struggle, the tests aren't so bad."

The woman stopped for a moment. She looked over to Samantha Mulder. She asked, "What are they going to do to us?" Samantha felt pity for the woman, who was going to be suffering, due to the fact she was going to struggle.

"It's going to be fine, just don't fight it. The more you fight, the more They test, and the more aggressive They become."

"How do you know so much?" The woman asked.

"I've been abducted repeatedly since I was eight years old. I don't even feel it anymore. I hope you're marked for Alien Human Hybrid, and not marked to be left to die."

"A what?"

"An Alien Human Hybrid. I am one. They fused what they use to test us, called the Black Oil with my blood. If They don't do that to you, you will be terminated when you return to Earth. Be still. Here comes the test.

It's going to be alright."

The Black Oil fell over all of the abductees. Samantha shut the world out and prayed that the laser would not cut her belly. Her wish was granted. She felt the Oil move on her body, and her mind closed off all physical feelings. She instead pictured John's face before her.

It would keep her sane, more than ever now.

Doggett walked out on to the porch. He stared out to the street. He knew that Samantha had to do what she did, but he hated it. He hated Them for doing this, but he forgave her for leaving him behind. It was not her idea. She didn't want anyone to die.

He sat down in his chair that was on the porch, though it was chilly, he didn't feel anything about what was going on around him. He was in shock. It was nearly 3:30 in the morning. He sat back, thinking about everything that had happened.

He remembered being assigned to Scully. How she had been so distant from him. How she wouldn't talk to him, at least not about things that were important. He remembered how she had been so diligent about finding Fox Mulder.

He remembered finding Fox Mulder. How he, John Doggett, was the outsider at first. He remembered how the night mares had taken Mulder, how he had changed from who he was before.

He remembered meeting Samantha Mulder, how she was so different from anyone he had ever met. His ex wife was nothing like her, and that was what had in many ways made Samantha Mulder so attractive. He remembered how his ex wife would get angry because work would get in the way. Sometimes he had agreed, other times he had a difference of opinion.

His ex had grown up with everything she had ever asked for. Doggett had led a simple life as a child. He hadn't really asked for much, found work a better option. Now he hadn't the least idea what to do now.

What would Fox Mulder do to him, when he found out that his sister was missing with Them again, what would he do?

Tears coursed down his cheeks as he hung his head. He had failed her, he had told her that he would protect her, and he had failed. Sobs began to over take his body. He didn't know if he could live in this house now, after she had left, too many memories, in such a short time had been made in the house.

Doggett lifted his head, looking to the stars, he asked, "WHY? Why not me instead of her?" It dawned on him, this is how exactly Mulder must have felt when his sister had been abducted the first time. He wondered what would happen next.

As he looked to the stars, he noticed something for the first time. The stars numbered more than the population of the planet Earth alone. He had never thought much of the stars, they were just there, like water, and air. They would always be there, even after his death. A constant. But now that he looked at them, he saw for the first time what truly drove Fox Mulder.

Maybe some type of life did exist out there, maybe some type of life we don't understand just yet is doing all of this. Ever since Fox Mulder had entered his life, things had been turned upside down, and he felt as if he could truly believe that little green, or was it gray, Tom Colton could never get it right, were out there, and he would Resist or Die, for her if not for human kind.

The End

Next: Resist or Die