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Title: When The Bough Breaks Disclaimer: The characters of Fox Mulder, Dana Scully, The Lone Gunmen, Margaret Scully, AD Walter Skinner are all the property of Chris Carter and 1013 Productions. I did borrow them without permission, he wouldn't have given it if I had asked. There is no way Chris Carter would have authorized such a story. Summary: A dying friend exposes Scully and Mulder to a top secret government experiment and the truth could change their lives forever. WARNING: I walk the line between wanting a relationship between Mulder and Scully and that is obvious throughout this story. I am neither a full-blown relationshionshipper nor a Noromo. But I guess you could say the very nature of this story is relationshippy.
July 8, 1996 Paramedics rush a gurney through the emergency room door. As one EMT shouts out the girls vitals, doctors and nurses dash alongside the gurney "Hit and run accident. It happened on a deserted road. She was lucky someone took a wrong turn and saw her twisted car." "Doctor, she's coming to." The patient struggles to speak. "You have to.........." "Don't strain.." a nurse warns. "No," the injured woman whispers, "I............. don't......... have......... much...... time. I have to speak........to Dana Scully. Please............... get her....... here. Her number...... is in............. my pocket........... Please." With the last word, the young woman loses her struggle to stay concious. Fairfax County Hospital Dana Scully flashed her badge to the desk nurse. "I received a call a patient was asking for me." The nurse nodded,"That must be the hit and run accident. Amanda Walters." Scully gasped. "She was a classmate," is all she offered to answer the questioning eyes of the nurse. Amanda Walters, Scully reflected, had been part of her graduating class at Quantico. She had been working for the past three years out of the FBI headquarters in San Jose, California. They were never close friends, but had occasionally studied together and had gone out in the same groups for drinks on the weekends. She hadn't heard from her since graduation. As Scully opened the door the room she was led to by the nurse, she kept her next gasp inside. This was not the Amanda Walters she remembered. Amanda Walters had easily been the beauty of Quantico at the time: Average height, but great figure, cheekbones and almost-long ash hair. Lying before Scully was a bloody, broken body. Amanda's eyes fluttered. "Dana," she crackeled. Scully shot the nurse a look to leave the two of them alone. The nurse quietly closed the door behind her. "Amanda, my God what happened? Do you know who did this to you?" Amanda sighed, impatient because she knew she didn't have much time. Sights and sounds were slipping further away. She wanted to rest. As soon as you tell her the truth, she reasoned, you can go. "Dana...........glad.........you.........came......I.............something to...........tell you..... On... my way..........to............. see.......you..........when.........they.........ran........ me......... off ............the........road." "Amanda. Stop. You need to save your strength." "T-t-t-o--o late......My........pocket.......letter.......you........must.....find.... ............" So tired, Amanda thought. Dana would find the letter. It would explain everything. She couldn't fight anymore. Amanda Waters drew her last breath. The monitor began to wail. The hospital echoed with scurrying doctors trying to get to the room. Scully reached into Amanda's tattered pants pocket and pulled out an envelope. It had withstood the impact of the accident. She walked into the waiting room and slowly opened the letter. Dana, If you're reading this, then I didn't make it. I'm sorry I couldn't explain in person. I'm working on borrowed time as it is. Being exposed to this information has signed my death warrant. Dana I was dating an army med student. He got drunk one night and told me about a project he had been recruited for. I listened with horror as he told me about a covert operation run outside of San Jose. The U.S. Government had entered into a partnership with that medical unit of the Army about 3 years ago. Their purpose was to raise "perfect soldiers." They stole the eggs and sperm from unsuspecting donors to "create" these children. They arranged kidnappings to get these "donations." They would then hypnotize these people into believing they had been abducted by aliens. Those in charge of the program had been very selective, only choosing the "best and brightest" of society. And they became greedy. There were some errant people out there who the government wanted a little insurance to keep them in line. He said he had almost flipped out when he first saw a picture of our class. He recognized you. He said the "men in suits" -this is how he referred to whoever was in charge--had become angry at you and your partner's work. They kidnapped you and had planned to kill you. But one of their members bargained with them to include you in their project. He said one of the doctors, an Emily Brown, objected to the morality of the project. She bolted, taking with her copies of some of the most sentive files. He was going to take over her position. The next morning, he had no idea that he had told me so much. I focused my energy into finding this Dr. Brown and discovering the truth. Her address is enclosed in this letter. She can confirm all of this. Dana you must believe me, you have a child out there somewhere. It is not fair what they did to you, but you can not let these monsters raise your baby. The piece of paper with the address on in wafted to Scully's feet. Numbly she picked it up. This couldn't be true. It wasn't possible. Dulles International Airport Flight 3126 for Pheonix will be boarding in 10 minutes the loudspeaker boomed. Scully glanced at her watch. "Damn it, Mulder." she muttered. If I miss this plane because of you........... A hand tapped her shoulder. "Excuse me, Miss. I'm terribly afraid of flying and I was wondering if you'd be kind enough to sit by me and hold my hand." Scully put aside her anxiety for a moment to manage a half-hearted smile. "Cutting it close, aren't you Mulder?" "Sorry. I had to pack on such short notice..............." "Mulder I need your help on this." "I gathered that from our brief conversation. I want to read the letter." July 9 Scully is propped up in bed, listlessly changing the channels on the fuzzy TV. She gets up to answer the sudden knock on her door. "I can't sleep either. Scully, would Amanda have any reason to lie to you?" "No--she was on her deathbed. She was fighting so hard to give me this information as it was. People who are dying tend to tell the truth, clear their conscious. "I don't understand how you could have had a child without knowing....." "We'll be able to put more of the pieces together after talking to this Doctor Brown." Scully stiffled a yawn. This was not lost on Mulder. "We both need to try and get some rest." "I couldn't possibly sleep Mulder." Mulder picked up the remote control from the nightstand and clicked off the television set. Before Scully fully realized his intent, he grabbed a blanket and spare pillow from the closet and plopped down on the floor beside her. He then turned out the light. "Mulder.........." "Good NIGHT Scully," he said forcibly. 1013 Armadillo Avenue Scully knocked on the door of the small, ranch style house. A dark haired woman who appeared to be in her mid-fourties cracked open the door. "May I help you." "I hope so," Scully replied, "Are you Dr. Emily Brown?" The woman opened the door wider, her eyes full of recognition. "Hurry. Come in. I've been expecting you." Mulder casted a quizzicle glance as he motioned for Scully to lead the way. She shrugged. "Please have a seat. Can I get either of you a drink?" Scully sunk into one of the cushions of the soft beige couch in front of a large picture window. She took in the Santa Fe atmosphere: clay pots, Indian paintings, wolf statues, Aztec designs..." Mulder walked to the pictures of a dozen or so babies displayed in photos over the fireplace. "Those children............... I can be proud of having participated in their births. They were taken when I worked at a fertility clinic in Nevada. Your child isn't in those pictures." "You mean Scully's child." The doctor looked confused for a second, then regained her composure. "Amanda Walters?" Scully shook her head. "She didn't make it. She was barely able to give me this in time." She handed Dr. Brown the letter. There was an uncomfortable silence as Dr. Brown read the letter. She looked up at Mulder. You'd better sit down. There's so much more to tell you. She probably had to write this in a hurry." Mulder sat on the couch beside Scully, his shoulder slightly leaning against hers. Somehow, he hoped, this would give her his unspoken support. "I'm so sorry," the doctor began, as she paced in front of them. "I was one of the few who actually knew who the babies' parents were. I despised my job. I was taking and creating children unsuspecting parents. I cringe thinking of all the damage they caused." "They?" Scully questioned. "The directors. I never knew them by name. They probably do not exist in any records anyways. My job was to create life, if that's what you want to call it, for them. They would give me the cryogenically frozen sperm and eggs and I would thaw and mix them. Then the fertillized embryos would be implanted in donor mothers--Illegal immigrants usually, they do it in exchange for money, a green card. Then they are raised under guarded conditions at a commune. They are not encouraged to exhibit normal emotions such as sadness, fear, or joy. These children are raised to be "perfect soldiers" devoid of feeling. I only knew who a few of the parents were, if they were high profile. Your baby," she nods to Scully, "was special to them. I would tell they had more sinister intentions for your child than the making it a double agent or spy. " "They told me that I had to be extra-careful with this creation. They had been planning this for some time." She stopped directly in front of Mulder. "You were detained several years ago while tresspassing on a military base." Mulder's eyes opened wide with astonishment. "How did you..." "That's when they decided to include you two in this experiment. A little insurance if the two of you ever got "out of line." Mulder leapt from his spot on the couch. "It was crazy enough for you to expect me to believe Scully has a baby out there somewhere. Now, you're trying to tell me I'm the father of this child. Of Scully's child." Dr. Brown hung her head in shame coming face to face for the first time with how much pain her participation in the project had caused. She mumbled, "Yes. You are the father of her child." Mulder grabbed her by the shoulders. "You're lying. Who are you working for?" She gasped. Scully intercepted him with a firm hand on his upper arm. Mulder spun around and paced towards the window. "I....I have proof " she stammered, still shaken. Dr. Brown opened a safe located behind one of the large indian paintings. "Here." Mulder grunted as he looks at it. It's just a bunch of medical jargon. This doesn't mean jack..." "Mulder," Scully reprimanded. "Let me see if I can make anything of it." "It's true" she hoarsly whispered. "Mulder these files are legit. They contain medical information that only someone who had examined us would know." "How do you know they are correct?" "Damnit Mulder, with all the times we've been in the hospital.....I think I've looked at our charts and medical files dozens of times!!" Scully has begun to become impatient with his skepticism. Is this how he feels when she refuseds to believe, she wondered. "Scully...." "You're wasting precious time. The children are in a heavily guarded commune outside of San Jose. You're son is there." "Son?" Scully turned her head so they could not see the unshed tears welling up in her crystal blue eyes. "Yes," Dr. Brown smiled. " Just a little over a year old now. And such an intelligent child,such intelligent parents, the perfect combination. The children", she explains, " are assigned letters of the alphabet until they are over 3 and there is never more than 26 at any time. This impersonalizes them. The directors thought it funny that your child's turn fell on the letter X. BABY X." "Why didn't you find us sooner," Scully accusingly asked, "If you objected to what they were doing?" "I was afraid. When Amanda found me I decided enough time had passesed for them to be monitoring me. Luckily I had some health problems to use as a legitamite excuse to leave..." The doctor's monologue is cut short by a sudden, jolting -BANG. Mulder reflexively threws Scully to the ground and lay on top of her. A car peeled off in the distance. They eased up, guns drawn. Mulder slowly pushed the curtain aside. "Mulder, Dr. Brown's been hit." Mulder turned to see Scully trying to cover the doctor with a blanket. Too much of blood, he thought to himself. She's not gonna make it. "Please forgive me," she softly begged the agents, a single tear treading down her cheek. " I did the best I could." Not yet, she silently tells herself. You have to help them. You owe it to them. "Address in the safe." She drew one last breath, then once again, "Sorry." Scully numbly walked to the safe. Mulder craned unsuccessfully to see what was in her hands as she approached him. Her eyes held a trance-like state. "Scully, what is it?" She handed Mulder a tiny ID bracelet. "It's his." She looked up at him with sad, mournful eyes. Scully and Mulder numbly as they drive away. Mulder broke the stale silence "What are we going to do? We can't possibly raise him." "My God, Mulder, we have to find him." Scully choked out. "They've taken so much from us, Samantha, your father, Missy........They can't have him........They can't"
Boughby Commune A small, burly man with thinning sandy hair hangs up a telephone. He is waring a white lab coat. "They may be coming," he says to an older man whom is only seen from the back. "You must take all necessary precautions to move that baby." He coldly ordered. Hopefully we will have this place cleared out by then. But, under no conditions are they to find any evidence of Baby X." The burly mad added, "Damnit. We should have never trusted Dr. Brown. We should have had her watched after she quit. I had no idea she would be such a problem." "The problem has been eliminated. Now clear this place out, before you too become a 'problem'." Workers are furiously destroying files and breaking lab equipment. Then, the baby room. There are rows of cribs, all drab grey. The walls area shade lighter than the cribs. There is no window. The cribs all have a single letter etched in the side. Crib A. Crib B.............. Crib X The baby has wide blue eyes and dark hair. Very quiet. Not a smile on his face. Suddenly hands reach into the crib and snatch the baby. The alarm screams throughout the compound. The burly man, out of breath, explains to the man in the shadows that Baby X is missing. They have no clue of who might have taken him.
Scully and Mulder pulled up in their rental (a blue Ford Taurus, of course). They are taken aback at the barbed wire fence and check point area, security measures that usually mark top military operations. But the place appeared desolate. There was no guard yet haphazardly placed locks were on the gate. Mulder picked the lock and they drove through. They approached the first building. Once they were inside this room appeared to be a clinic-laboratory. They found overturned tables, scraps of paper, and broken equipment. "We must have the same decorator," Mulder quipped. Scully shut him up with a raised eyebrow. The look on her face said it all---she did not find their present situation amusing. They ventured to the quarters where the babies had been kept. Scully gasped at the sight of overturned cribs and the general ominous feel of the room. As Mulder searched the room, she traced her fingers over the letters BABY X. Tears welled up in her eyes. Mulder, when he didn't reveive an answer to a question, noticed that his partner was on the verge of breaking down. He tried to put his arms around her, but she pulled out of the embrace. "I can't lose control." She managed to whisper. "You can't keep it all inside. I'm in this too. Now is not the time to alienate each other." Mulder pouted. "I have to keep it inside. It's not you. Now is not the time to deal with all of my feelings. I didn't know the human psyche was able to handle so many conflicting emotions all at once. I'm so damn angry at whoever is responsible for this. What gives them the right to play God with our lives? And I'm frustrated because we keep running into these dead ends. I'm overwhelmed with this sadness--mother instinct I guess- at not being able to be with my child, whom, I might add, I didn't even know existed 24 hours ago." Scully's voice took on an almost hysterical tone at this point. Her voice wavered, "And I'm afraid. So afraid of what will happen if we do find him. What next? I can't possibly raise a child right now......" "We" Mulder interjected. "WE can't possibly raise a child right now. We have so much work left to do. There's no place in my life for a baby right now. I'd make a terrible mother. Think of all the things he'd be exposed to," she finished. "So you see Mulder, what I have to do for now is concentrate on finding him and the truth about what they did to me and you." Mulder nodded in agreement. She squeezed his hand. "Since we now we have a bond we can't erase, alienating you would be darn near impossible anyways. You're too persistant. And charming. " She allowed a small smile to escape her trembling lips. The piercing ring of a telephone broke the moment. Mulder searched for the phone, found it under some blankets, and picked it up. "Agent Mulder?" "Who is this?" "I have your son.........." Mulder edged the car along the muddy alley. Hemade sure he was careful to avoid abandoned boxes and overturned barrels. Although it was almost dusk, it was light enough though, that Mulder still needed sunglasses. "Do you think this is a set-up?" Scully cast a worried glance at her partner. "We're about to find out," Mulder answered as he pulled up alongside a dark sedan with tinted windows." The driver's side window of the sedan rolled down revealing the head doctor from the clinic! "No one followed you?" his eyes darted around. "Who would want to?" Mulder snapped back. "Let's just say they've probably figured out what I've done by now and are anxious to shut me up like they did Dr. Brown." He answered. "What the hell's going on here," Mulder bellowed, starting to become irritated. "Tell Agent Scully to get out of the car." "No. I'm getting really tired of the runaround here. Where's the child?" The doctor leaned forward. The baby was visable sitting in a child restraint behind the passenger seat. "What's the catch?" Mulder questioned. "I'm ruined either way. I just thought I'd get back at them. You see I don't even know who they are. They approached me about 10 years ago when they started this project. I was a military doctor. They paid me well. I don't really care about them, or you or this child. I know they plan to eliminate all who knew about this project. That's just how they operate. Never leave a trail. Once I heard about what Dr. Brown had done in contacting you, I planned to steal the child for a little insurance." "You want our protection?" Mulder shook his head. "No. I want the peace of my from knowing they will suffer by knowing they were not successful in keeping this child from you." The doctor snorted. "I'm glad we could help you clear your concious Doc," the distaste obvious in Mulder's tone. "We haven't the time to argue about ethics here. Do you want to come get your child or not Agent Scully?" Scully drew her gun and moved toward the car. Mulder drew his and pointed it at the doctor. Scully, never taking her eyes off the doctor, opened the car door and unfastened the seat belt restraining the car seat. "Take the whole seat. I don't want anymore to do with that child, you, your partner, or my former employees." Scully grabbed the seat and placed it on the trunk of the rental. The doctor added, "Good luck. I don't know how much damage our program has done to his mental state in only a year." "What are you talking about? What have you done to him, you bastard."Scully took a step towards the doctor's car. "Part of the program called for us to make sure the children received no emotional connection. No touching, hugging, playing. Vital elements in early childhood development. We weren't running a day care center. Just a laboratory." Sirens rang out in the distance. The doctor whipped the sedan in reverse and peeled off.
Mulder and Scully are left alone with (their??) child for the first time. With trembling hands Scully began to unstrap the car seat. Mulder placed a hand over hers. "Mulder what are you doing?" "We need to get out of here. Whoever this doctor was afraid of...we can't waste any time." Scully nodded her understanding as she gingerly picked up the seat and placed it in the back, behind the driver's side. "I just wanted to hold him."she whisped. She climbs in beside the child. "What do I look like your personal chauffer?" "We can't waste any time." Scully mocked. Scully and Mulder munch their burgers and fries in the front seat. "Did you see the look the sales clerk gave us? I think she suspected something was funny." Mulder eyes betrayed concern. "Well I'd think something was funny too if I asked a customer if he was interested in crib lining to match the spread and he asked 'You mean they don't come with lining. Won't the baby fall out.' " Scully quipped. "Well I think the portable crib will do for now. Until we figure something out we'll have to keep moving around. Oh I almost forgot........While you were choosing between strained carrots and strawberries and bannanas baby foods, I got these out of the bubble gum machine." Mulder pulled out two gold wire fake rings. "What are these for?" Scully examined one of the rings. "I we should wear them for appearances." Mulder took the ring back from her, and slid it on her left ring finger. "Dum dum de dum...." he teased. She turned to watch the sleeping figure in back. "He's so quiet." She frowned. "He doesn't make a sound or cry or laugh...." "Scully I didn't want to bring this up, but what if this isn't our child?" "Mulder........" "Listen Scully. They lied to us before...." "Fine. I'll administer DNA testing." "Scully. I believe it's possible. But who knows. Maybe this has all been a lie to set us up with some bogus kidnapping charge. Or maybe we do have a child out there and this one isn't it...." "MULDER." Her tone stopped him. "I SAID I would do the DNA tests." "Scully." He sighed gently. "I think we've had a difficult day. We could both use a little rest. I'll stop at the next motel." Scully ripped some the baby's new things out of the packages. Her still lingering anger at Mulder was obvious with the ferocity she used in tearing open the plastic and the sideward glances she shot at Mulder as he stood near the window watching her. "Scully. About those DNA tests. I think you're taking this too personally. I don't trust ANYONE except you. I just want to be sure. I'm not trying to shake off responsibility." "You say you trust me. Well Mulder, I truly believe that this is our son. I don't know how or why, but I have this gut feeling....probably mother's instinct. " He nodded his head to pacify her, although she knews he was still uncertain. "Damn." "What is it Scully? "I forgot to get a bottle. I was so worried about getting the right diapers, food, and formula, I didn't even think about a bottle. And I didn't get a baby dish or utencils...." Mulder, seizing the opportunity to make peace, offered, "There was an all night grocery store about a mile up the road. I'll go get them." Scully managed a half-smile. " Thanks."
Mulder frowns at the mountain of merchandise on the baby aisle of the store. A young woman, obviously taking in his handsome appearance, asks if he needs help. "Yes, I'm supposed to get a bottle, dish, and utencils for a one-year-old." She picked up the correct materials he needed. "A one-year-old? You looked so lost, I wouldda pegged you for a new father." Scully finished unpacking the baby's things. She looked at him and he yawned. She returned a yawns. "We've had a busy day, haven't we." She whisped as she laid down on the bed beside him. She stroked the top of his hair until they both drifted off to sleep. Mulder turned the key to the room, somewhat alarmed he didn't hear any movement inside. "Scu..." He stopped realizing she is asleep. He tiptoed to the bed to wake her but stopped: The milky blue reflection from the moon coming in the window has cast an illumination over her's and the baby's faces. Mulder, apparently taken aback at the scene, kneeled beside the bed and gently caressed both Scully's and the baby's faces. Scully stirred awake. "I'm sorry," he whispered, somewhat embarrassed, "I didn't mean to wake you." "What were you doing," she asked, still somewhat groggy. "I don't think there will be any need for a DNA test. God he has your nose and cheeks. The shape of his eyes matches yours and I believe they are the same smoky color of blue." He softly touched each of the features he was referring to on her face. She smiled and whispered, "He has your hair, it's the same shade. And when he winced when the car door light awakened him earlier, I could swear he had the same dimples. And the mole. (She also softly ran her fingers across the areas of his face ) And...he has your lips. The right side curls up a little, the exact replica of yours...." In return, Mulder ran his thumb along her bottom lip, "But his are fuller, like yours." Then he cupped the side of her face in his hand. They both stared, fully aware of what might happen next. As Mulder leaned closer, he barely brushed his lips against Scully's. The baby stirred. The moment broken, Scully moved away, " This poor kid is probably starving." July 10 Scully stirred awake, partially from the effects of the small rays of sun peeking through the drawn blinds. For a second, she wondered where she was, that is until she noticed the mussed sheets thrown to her side and the indention from the pillow beside her. "Mulder," she called. Her call was met with perplexing silence until she heard the water beating the tiles in the shower. Remembering their "close call" the night before, she silently thanked the baby for breaking up what could have happened. Not that she had never entertained thoughts of Mulder kissing her. It simply was not the right time for anything to develop between them, she rationalized. "Things are confusing enough as it is," she muttered. Besides, she added, there was a third life to consider now. Becoming distracted could put their son in danger. She checked on the baby in the portable crib. His eyes were wide open. She picked him up and carried him back to the bed. "How am I supposed to know if you're hungry, or wet, or if something's wrong," she sighed and clicked on the television set. The water stopped. Mulder appeared at the door, towel wrapped loosely around his waste, hair slick. "The kid awake," he asked bringing up a hand with a smaller towel to dry his hair. "Yeah. Was he awake earlier?" "I didn't hear him." "You didn't check up on him?" Before he can answer she added, obviously irritated, "Damnit Mulder, he doesn't cry, you should have known better." "Well I guess someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed." Scully sheepishly realized she shouldn't have snapped at Mulder. It wasn't his fault--what those monsters had done to their child. And Mulder wouldn't know what to do with a normal child to begin with. Her eyes full of apology, she whispered, "Maybe we ought to take him to a doctor." "What are we supposed to say? We want our kid to have a checkup pronto because he doesn't cry?" Mulder sat on the bed beside her, the towel still around his waist. Scully suddenly felt awkward and puposefully averted her gaze to the television set. "I guess so. I'm a doctor, Mulder, but not a pediatrician. He seems okay, but what about the experiments Dr. Brown and the man who gave him over mentioned?" Mulder sensing Scully's uneasiness with his near nakedness, stood. "I think we should worry about getting this child back to Washington before we do anything else. There's no telling what they'll do to recover this child and to keep the truth from coming out.............Scully what is it?" Scully grabbed the remote and turned the volume up. "Mulder look---It's the man who gave us the baby........" The morning news anchor's voice boomed into the silent room. "Dr. Emmett Yates, a retired military doctor was found dead in near his home this morning. A San Jose police spokesman said that this appeared to have been the result of a botched robbery. They have no witnesses or suspects at this time. In other news..........." The two exchanged worried glances. "Get decent Mulder, we have to get out of here." Scully orders. 12:30 PM Scully, while spoon feeding the baby at a booth with cracked vinyl seats near the back of the restaurant, absently picked at her cold fries. "What I would give for a good steak dinner," she muttered. "Just how far are you willing to go for one?" Mulder slid into the opposite booth. "Any luck Mulder?" "Let's just say that if everything goes as planned, I'll cook you that steak dinner myself when we get home tonight." "Tonight?" "Yeah, as we speak the Gunmen are hacking into the American Airlines reservations database. Two tickets will be waiting for us in Sacremento. The flight leaves at 1:30. Are you almost finished with him?" "Mulder, how do we know *they* won't be waiting for us at the airport?" "Well, Mrs. Grant why would anyone want to question a normal, happy family with a small child heading to D.C. to visit relatives?" "Mrs. Grant? How on earth will be ever produce ID?" "Tsk. Tsk. Scully, I'm offended. Don't you have faith in me? You know I have shady contacts in all 50 states..........Oh and in Puerto Rico as well." "Seriously, Scully. Our fake ID's are being printed as we speak. We need to hurry." "Fine. Let me run change him while you pay the bill." As agitated as he was becoming about the necessity of hurrying, Mulder was learning not to challenge her about anything that concerned the child. 2:55 Scully sighed as she unfastened her seatbelt. They were pretty sure they had not been followed. Boy the Gunmen had really come through. They had seats together, something she and Mulder were rarely able to do on cases in such short notice. The baby was securely fastened in a carry on beside the window. She took the middle seat so she could talk to Mulder without disturbing the child. Mulder kept an ever watchful eye on the other passengers from the aisle seat. A flight attendent stopped to offer them refreshments. She cooed over the baby. "Wow. You're baby is adorable. What's his name?" "The poor kid probably thinks his name is baby. 'What a cute baby.' 'Oh, look at the baby.'" Mulder laughed as if his joke was funny. The attendent smiled. Luckily an elderly woman wanting a blanket diverted her attention. Scully was grateful. That had been a close call. If she had detected anything suspicious they would be hauled in for kidnapping or something. Not having a name for a child as old as theirs would seem strange. "Mulder he needs a name." Scully stated the obvious. "Anything is fine but Fox." He smiled. "I wouldn't dream of it. Seriously Mulder, I think we should do this together." "Scully I didn't mean to suggest I not take part in naming my own son. I've never thought of names I would like for a child. I never dreamed I'd even be a father." "I think you'll like what I'm going to suggest. I think we should name him after someone who was very special to you. After your sister." "My child is not going to be teased on the playground for having a girly name." "No. I think we should name him Samuel. Samuel William--whatever--Mulder, I guess." "William?" "It IS your middle name. And my father's name. And your father's." "I like it." He whispered, touched. He squeezed her hand. The baby suddenly began to whimper. Very quietly. "My God Mulder." Scully smiles at the irony as she wept tears of joy for such a small showing of emotion. She stroked Sam's hair. Mulder, also overcome with emotion, draped one arm around Scully's shoulders and stroked his son's hair with his free thumb. Instinctively he planted a small kiss in her hair as she leaned back. "Although we didn't bargain for this," he whispered, "I'm glad out of all the women in the world they could have picked to be the mother of my son, they picked you." At her raised eyebrow he apologized. "OK. So that sounded way cornier than it did in my head." "I know what you meant Mulder." She noticed the baby has fallen back asleep so she gently pushed Mulder's hand away, placing her hand in his instead. They sat content, happy to rest for the moment. Both contemplating what lay ahead in D.C. "I wonder what Mom's reaction will be when I tell her she has a new grandson. How am I going to explain his heritage? I should tell her as much of the truth as she can handle. She'll never understand how you and I would have a son without ever having......." Scully's voice trailed off suddenly embarrassed when she realized she has been thinking aloud. "Yeah." Mulder retorted. "I never even got to participate in any of the joys of conceiving a child with you." "Mulder. I've figured it out." "You mean your parents never had that talk about the birds and bees....." The raised eyebrow stopped him from further teasing. "I've figured out how we can keep this child and continue our work." Baltimore, Maryland The peeling of the telephone startled Margaret Scully out of the state of contentment she had settled in while reading a novel. The ring of a telephone was a more frightful sound to her than any she could imagine. As a Navy sea captain's wife, she often sat alert on sleepless nights after not having heard from Bill for weeks--praying that she wouldn't get one of those calls. One that her own mother had received on one dark stormy night. In a matter of minutes she no longer had a father and her children never knew their grandfather. But she had never received one of *those* calls. Bill had always safely returned to her. But she never dreamed that she would worry about her daughter the same way. The phone, to her, equalled the melody of funeral bells. Margaret took a deep breath, and released it in a sea of relief when she heard her youngest daughter's voice. "Dana, is everything OK?" "Mom--are you sitting down. I have some news........" Dulles Airport Dana closed her eyes after gently placing the payphone on the receiver. "Well......" Mulder's eyes were full of questions as he struggled to balance a squirming Sam. "She's shocked--I figured she'd be. Since I didn't have time to give her any details--she asked when you were going to marry me." Mulder's jaw dropped open. "I told her that I had A LOT of explaining to do. But it really doesn't matter what she does or doesn't believe. She practically insisted on helping me raise him. Her other grandchildren live so far away. And she said she has felt so empty since Missy....." Scully's voice catches as it drifts off. "I feel like I'm going to be dumping Sam on her, but we have no choice. We can't raise him right now and she's more than willing--I don't know why I didn't think of that sooner. And he's not going to be far away." She rescued Sam from the obviously struggling Mulder. He looked harried with a diaper bag slung over a shoulder--half of the contents coming dangerously close to spilling out, a blanket thrown haphazardly over his other shoulder and a very hungry baby sucking on his thumb. "YOU are definitely not ready." "Someday." Mulder whispered. He noticed Scully's eyes flashing alarm signals. "That man over there, in the tweed coat and khakis, he has been standing there the entire time. I think I noticed him when we came out from the gate." As if in response, the man suddenly swooped a young woman up in a bear hug greeting. "Paranoid Scully?" "I wish he would hurry up and get here so we could leave. We're wasting time. Are you sure they knew what time our flight got in?" "Scully they arranged the flight. Maybe traffic is bad." He grinned as he noticed someone behind Scully. "Or maybe they had a difficult time coming up with an elaborate disguise." She turned, gasping as her eyes caught sight of a groomed Frohike with a chauffer's cap and sign with the name Grant etched on it. "What ever happened to subtlety?" "Let's just go. We can't waste another moment of time. I'm sure they've figured out we're here by now."
July 11 The ragged ducktaped X illuminated an erie green while Mulder sats in the shadows of his apartment. He never wanted to contact him again, but they had no choice. In just 48 hours his life had changed so dramatically. A son. Although he had been extremely apprehensive about having any part of this child's life, that was beginning to change. His concious waged an inner battle. How could he contaminate a helpless baby, his own flesh and blood, to the truths he knew? To the lies? And deceit? And danger? But somehow he felt a ray of hope, however small when he looked at that soft face. Thank god for Margaret Scully. As attached as Scully was to the child she understood that raising Sam herself was out of the question. And wasn't he becoming just as attached? He could still smell the slight aroma of powder on his hands. An echoeing knock at the door snaps Mulder out of his thoughts. Gun drawn, he peers through the peephole. He slowly opens the door. "You haven't been followed?" He questioned the tall black man who had neither proven himself to be a true friend or foe. "Mr. Mulder, you dare to question..." "Let's cut this small talk. I want you to call off the dogs." "Mr. Mulder, I'm afraid that isn't possible." "Look, you bastard. *They* had no right to use us in their experiments. All I want is for the guaranteed safety of my son. And for Scully and I to be free to make the decisions about how he will be raised. I'm sure there's *something* you can do." "Mr. Mulder, you underestimate my authority...." "NO. You see, if you can't stop them, then Scully and I will have no choice but to keep running to keep him safe. If I'm on the run, I'll no longer be able to aid you as I have in the past...." "I was under the impression that not helping me wouldn't be so undesirable." "I don't have a choice, do I?" "I'll see what I can arrange." He turned toward the door. "Don't forget your end of the bargain." "Why do I feel like I just made a deal with the devil?" J. Edgar Hoover Bldg Assistant Director Walter Skinner turned the page of his newspaper and took a small sip of his steaming coffee. His face twinged in disgust--he had made it himself -too early for McDonalds and Kimberly wasn't due for another 3 hours. As he opened a packet of artificial sweetner-anything to abate the especially bitter taste-he mused as to why on earth he was at work so early. No early morning meeting. No emergency. No backlog of paperwork. No. Sad to say, he couldn't think of anyplace else to go after battling insomnia, something that was beginning to happen more often than not. His wife still lived--not with him. And he still had to walk that line between upholding the orders of his superiors and fighting to protect his agents. At that thought, two especially came to mind. Somehow, although he'd never dream to admit it, aiding those two gave him a momentary peace of conscience. A rustling sound in the corredor startled him out of his reflectory state. Not loud enough to be a janitor he observed, opening his desk drawer to reveal his gun. "No need for that," a voice cautioned. Skinner squinted as a shadow emerged from the corner of his doorway. The shadow was barely visible even in the shaft of desk light. Skinner released the safety upon recognition of the figure. Their only meeting had not been pleasurable--in the elevator of Agent Mulder's building a year or so before. "Assistant Director Skinner--I assure you there is no cause for alarm. If there had been you would not have been able to react in the first place. Your brains would have been added an avant garde touch to that portrait of Janet Reno." Glare matched against glare. The man known to Agent Mulder as X tossed a folder to the A.D. "This meeting never took place." He turned on his heels and dissapeared as quickly, silently and mysteriously as he had appeared. Skinner drugs the folder from the outer edge of his desk and slowly began to inspect its contents, somewhat apprehensively. Margaret Scully's residence "Dana, why don't you get some rest honey?" "Rest, Mom? My entire life has been turned upside down and you think what I need is rest?" As soon as the words left her lips, she was instantly repentive. "Dana. I know this must be hard. It was hard each time I learned I was pregnant with each of my children. Don't misunderstand me--I was thankful the Lord put each one of you into my life. I knew, being a Navy Captain's wife, this would be mostly a job that only one of us could fulfill full time. I knew I would be on my own a lot. Dana I never fully enjoyed your, or your brothers and sister's childhoods. I was too worried about being the best mother and father I could, to make up for his absense. With this precious boy--I can take care of him without any worries. Your brother's wives are nearby and wonderful. And you aren't very far away. I understand it's your only choice and I assure you I won't let you down......" "Let me down Mom? I come in here with a child and dump him on you and you are worried about letting *ME* down?" A disheveled figure joined them at the breakfast table, pausing to rumple his son's hair. "Fox--would you help me assure Dana here that she is making the right choice." "Dana--If you are any indication, Mrs. Scully is one Hell of a mother, and I will personally feel very confident in the decision to allow her to raise Sam for the time being." "Fox," the older Scully gently reprimanded, "I appreciate your vote of confidence but don't swear in front of your son." "See Dana--she's the best care provider we could have ever have dreamed of." Scully rolled her eyes a bit and allowed only a tiny smile--her guilt on hold. Mulder's cellular rangs the end of the conversation. J. Edgar Hoover Bldg. "Agent's Mulder and Scully--please come in." Mulder allowed Scully to enter first, a hand somewhat protectively placed in the small of her back. They had driven as quickly as traffic allowed upon receiving Kimberly's message that the two meet with the A.D. as soon as possible. "Sir, I'm not sure what this is about. Agent Mulder and I requested a few day's leave. He was aiding me in a...........a personal situation. If this is about any reprimands--let the records show that I insist on any official reprimand being solely directed at me....." Mulder turned to face her, shaking his head slightly as if that would make any difference in her stance. But he knew better--he would go to *any* length necessary to protect her as well. He didn't have to say anything, the A.D. took care of that for him. "Agent Scully," the deep voice cautioned, "What is to be discussed in this meeting is far from anything I'd like to see on any official records. Relax. Please-sit down." Mulder and Scully shared a worried glance as they took the two leather chairs in front of Skinner's desk. "Think there's a chance he found my personal video collection?" Mulder whispered to break the tension. Scully managed a half-smile. Any more stress, Mulder pondered, and she'd certainly crack. He silently thanked her for being the rock that was getting them through this. He'd have gone off the deep end looking for vengeance against whoever had done this to them. And with the intensity he reserved for his work, for his search for his sister, he would never have been able to raise a child. Yet he had been at odds about what to do with Sam. Mrs. Scully was a God-send. He knew he could have an active part in his son's life along with Scully and keep up his work. One day things might be different. No, he corrected, one day things would be different. Scully didn't deserve this for the rest of her life. But a small part of him knew that she would be there alongside him as long as he continued. "This morning, from unofficial channels, I was given this bit of information. When I went to confirm, or rather disprove the validity of these records, I found that the two of you had taken personal leave. Is it true that the two of you share a son and you have recently recovered him from a secret facility in California?" Both Mulder and Scully's jaws dropped open in lightning intense surprise. "Sir," Scully began, "How did you receive this information?" "Judging from your reactions....Well that's all the proof I need to know the truth. How I got these documents is not important. How they can help you is." Mulder, trying quickly to recover from the bombshell that had been hurtled at them, rose from his chair, holding out a hand to retrieve the documents from the A.D. "I would like to see these so-called documents." Skinner handed Mulder the documents that detailed the actions that had forever changed the course of both his and Scully's lives. Mulder accepted the papers and walked back to Scully's chair, sitting on the armrest of her right side so she could read them simultaneously. "With your permission, I'd like to proceed with revealing some of this information to--unofficial channels--to ensure your son's safety." Skinner knew there was no turning back. Actually he knew that the moment he read the shocking information. How someone could purposefully screw around with peoples lives in such a manner angered him. Remembering how probably the same people tried to frame him for murder-even involving his wife-aided in his decision to seek justice for what had happened to these two. "Sir, I don't know how we can thank you?" Scully tried to unsuccessfully maintain an unemotional reaction. But her voice quivered at the last two words. Mulder instantly put a hand on her shoulder, massaging it to steady her. "Consider us even. I'll never forget how you two were the only ones who dared to stand behind me in my time of need. Releasing this information to the right source will insure that custody of your son will never be questioned and that making sure nothing happens to your son will be in their best interests. You see if this information was ever released through official channels--that would be too much of a risk for whoever did this to you. They will ensure this infomation never gets there, even if that means making sure not one lock of hair on your son is ever harmed." Mulder nodded his head in appreciation. Skinner added, "You two are dismissed. And I'm adding another week of personal time for you to spend with your son." As they headed for the doorway, Scully stole a glance at the A.D. her face beaming with full gratefulness. "Sir," she began. "I said you are dismissed Agent Scully." Skinner's face as he met her gaze wasn't as stern as his usual posture. Scully detected a hint of something else. Of relief? Of pleasure? One week later "What time does the plane leave for Pittsbergh, Mulder?" Sensing her wistful tone, he assured her that they still had another hour before they needed to leave. Dana couldn't believe that it was time to go back to work already. The past week had been a whirlwind of activity. Mulder had spoiled the child with umpteen trips to the toy stores and outings to the zoo, an amusement park, and, many times, the playground in her mother's neighborhood. Sam's demeanor had begun to lighten. She could swear he was even beginning to smile. Mulder had arranged for them to work with a psychiatrist he knew they could trust. They knew that it would take time, but gradually he would begin to have some semblance of a normal life. He was playing with his new firetruck in the middle of the den, Mulder crawling around on the floor with him. Mulder. She had to admit the feelings playing family had stirred in her. She had always been drawn to Mulder's passion for his work and now her emotions were growing stronger. In fact, they were becoming a family, not necessarily playing one anymore. She knew neither she nor the baby could ever replace the void losing his sister had left. But they could offer him a brighter future. Mulder glanced from his position on the floor catching Dana's eyes. He caught the warmth in them before she turned away blushing. He left the Sam to join her on the couch placing a hand over hers. She turned to smile at him. "This week has been nice, huh?" Mulder stammered? "Too nice," she sighed. "I promise--between cases, this is where I want to be. I may not have had any say in the decision to bring this little guy into this world, but I'm sure glad he's here. I'm rambling....sorry." "No-don't be. I feel the same." They watched their push around the truck and were unable to move when he looked up at them and crawled in their direction. As he got to the base of the sofa, Sam reached an arm up--indicating he wanted to be picked up, to join them. Tears spilled down Scully's cheeks as she picked up her son. Mulder wiped them away with one hand and patted his son's back with the other. All hesitation left and he softly kissed her. She lightly responded, caught up the the pure joy of the moment. She nestled back into Mulder's arms, the two of them holding Sam together, wondering what the future held. Despite their temporary victory due to Skinner, she knew that this moment would not last forever. Whatever lay ahead--they would battle together. THE END I started this in April '96 and finished it Oct. 29, 1996. Thanks to all of you in the X-files forum who read this originally posted as an episode idea and encouraged me to finish.
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