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Title: A Great Risk Summary: The inevitable truth hits the new couple square in the face, too bad Doggett and Reyes had to deliver the news themselves. Author's notes: I needed closure on how they will work things out without Mulder next year, so it's my take on what should happen. The phone rang before William had time to wake up his mother and father with his plea for milk. Scully picked up the receptor that she had left on her bedside table to answer the call. Mulder groaned his disappointment because it was one of the first nights, in a long while, during which he was actually able to sleep. Unfortunately, the call was of a urgent matter and they both had to get out of bed. A few minutes after, the door bell rang and Scully went to open the door. She welcomed Agents Doggett and Reyes in before she turned around to go finish cooking breakfast for Mulder and herself. Mulder silently saluted Scully's colleagues as he helped William drink his milk. Doggett and Reyes sat down at the table with them and waited a while before they decided to break the silence. "We came to give you the news," Doggett began slowly. "We thought it'd be best if we told you in person," Reyes added. "This must be serious." Mulder yawned. "Want some coffee?" Scully demanded from her kitchen counter before coming to sit herself down at the table too. "No, thank you!" Reyes answered and paused for a few seconds. "It is serious!" "And, we wish things were different because we didn't want to tell you this." Doggett confessed. "But, your lives are in danger!" Reyes and Doggett both said at the same time. "Haven't they ever been?" Mulder and Scully replied in harmony. "We found out the reason why they didn't take your child when you gave birth to him," Doggett admitted. "It would've been too obvious..." Reyes told the new couple. "That's why they are planning to come back to take him from you." "They are waiting to hit you at the perfect moment," Doggett confirmed. "They want to surprise you in your weakest time, must it be while you're asleep or whatever." Reyes suddenly stood up. "We know of the danger of raising William up in public," Mulder reacted. "Mulder was actually planning on staying at home with William after I went back to work." Scully looked over at him. "It might not be enough." Doggett stood up in his turn. "We think it would be best if Mulder went into hiding with your son." Reyes felt tears fill up her eyes. Doggett walked up to her and took her in his arms. It was obviously a rough time for her. It was a rough time for them all. Scully had just given birth to a miracle and everybody wanted to take him away from her, aside from Mulder. But, Mulder was the only one who really should. He was the only one she trusted enough for this task. She looked at William and thought about it hard for a few minutes. "Wait!" she shouted out of the blue as she got up and headed for her gun in the kitchen counter. "Turn around!" she ordered Doggett and Reyes as she pointed the gun at them. "Scully?!?" Mulder wondered, still half asleep. "Turn around and show me the back of your necks!" she ignored Mulder. "What?!" Mulder mumbled. Doggett and Reyes did as asked. They slowly turned around and immediately showed Scully the back of their necks. To her great happiness, there was nothing there. Doggett and Reyes were still normal people and not alien replicas of their human selves. She nodded her regret and put the gun back in the counter. Then, they all sat back at the table and stayed silent for a long while, except for William. "We understand the fact that you are on your guard..." Doggett started. "But, you have to trust us," Reyes ended. "Why?" Scully burst out into tears. "Why don't they ever leave us alone?" "Because...." Mulder wanted to reassure her. "They want me to take care of William because they can't trace me. But, you... You have the implant in your neck that serves as a signal transmitter." "Then, I'll have it remove," she blurted out without thought. "And, risk becoming ill with cancer again?!" Mulder raised his tone of voice. "I can't let you do that. I refuse to lose you," he told her. "And, I refuse to lose the both of you at the same time." she replied. "Won't you be able to keep in touch through different channels?" Reyes wondered. "Perhaps your friends, The Lone Gunmen, could help you out," Doggett suggested. "Very nice of you to try and help out, but we were doing fine before you came in this morning," Scully mumbled. "Scully..." Mulder whispered for her to calm down. "Once again, we understand how you must feel, having lost a daughter to them before." Doggett tried to show compassion. "And, Skinner has been advised about this. He is ready to let you come back to work when you'll be," Reyes confirmed. "Why would I want to go back to work in the X-Files when they ruined my life so many times?" Scully finally let her despair show through her words. "Because that's what you've always done before!" Mulder answered. "You needed something to pull your back up against and your work was it." "It was different then." She dried her tears as she looked up at Mulder. "Yes, it was! Your father and sister died." He paused to think about how to say what he wanted next. "But, William and I are very much alive." "It's not like you won't ever be able to see them again." Doggett faked a smile of comfort. "Once they realize that we can fight back as hard as they plan to hit, they'll probably stop looking for him. Then, you'll be able to see them again," Reyes added. "Don't you know how long that could take?" Scully murmured, out of breath. "Yes!" Mulder said. "It could be long before we are a whole family again, but I can't see any other option," he finished. "Leave us!" Scully ordered Doggett and Reyes. "I'll keep you posted." "Thanks for seeing us so early in the morning." Reyes smiled. "Whatever decision you take, I'm sure it'll be the right one." Doggett grinned. "Scully?!" Mulder met her gaze when he turned to look over at her. "I won't do it if you don't let me," he told her. "But, you have too." she tried to sound confident. "As long as you keep in touch with me, in every possible way, it's not like I have a choice." "With the help of the guys, I'll send you pictures, videos and sounds of our little man here." he comforted her, pointing out to William. "It'll be as if we were all together." "I wish we would be." she sighed. "Mulder?" "Yes?" he responded. "You do know that I love you, don't you?" she wondered aloud. "And, I love you too. But, you don't have to tell me to make sure I come back with William when the time is right." he took her hand in his. "I know. But, I wanted to make sure you knew in case anything would happen to any of us." Scully let a tear roll down her cheek. "Nothing bad will happen to us." Mulder grinned. "They'll think they finally split us up, but we'll only be stronger because we are more together than ever." "Kiss me, Mulder," she ordered him. "Kiss me back, Scully," he demanded of her. And, Mulder did. He got up and placed William down in his chair. He walked over to Scully and knelt down to be at her level. Then, he bent down and she moved up to meet him halfway and their lips made contact. They both knew this was their last kiss before long, so they tried to make it count by savoring every second of it. A few seconds after, their lips parted and Scully looked up at Mulder. "I will close my eyes and I will count to a hundred. When I'm done, I want you and our son to be gone. There's an overnight bag prepared for him in his closet. In it, you'll find everything you need for a good week and a half. After that, you'll have to play the responsible father by yourself. I don't want to hear another word from you until you're in a safe place. I hate goodbyes, especially this one," she said. And, with that, she closed her eyes and started counting to one hundred. Mulder stood beside her a while before getting the courage to actually leave her alone in her apartment. He gathered both his things and his son's. He heard Scully say "forty-two" as he closed the door behind himself. He knew he had one last thing to do, so he went to his own apartment to leave her a message there. Scully stopped counting when she heard the door close shut. She tried not to burst into tears as she opened her eyes to an empty apartment, aside from herself. She called her mother, but had to deal with the answering machine. Then, she dressed up and headed for Mulder's apartment. When she got there, he was already gone. But, on his living room table, he had left a message for her. "You are the bravest, most intelligent and beautiful person I have ever met. It hurts me to have to leave you behind, but we both have to stay strong. There is always hope that some day, we'll all be back together again. I love you, Dana Scully."
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