From: Donna Honeycutt <donnah@pop.uky.edu>
Date: Mon, 15 May 2000 13:10:58 -0400
Subject: New Story - After the Future -VI
Source: direct

Title - After the Future VI
Author - Donna
Email address - donnah@pop.uky.edu
URL - www.geocities.com/Area51/Quadrant/4571/
Rating - PG
Category - MSR
Spoilers - None
Keywords - post-colonization
Summary - 6th in what seems to be a growing story about after the colonization
Feedback - Please
Archive - Anywhere, just please keep my name

Disclaimer - Mulder, Scully, the Lone Gunman and Skinner all belong to
Chris, 10-13 and Fox - Bless them for it!!  No infringement intended.


After the Future - VI


Walter looked up surprised when Mulder walked in the office the next
morning.  "I sure didn't expect to see you here today."

"She threw me out."  He grinned, "But she did agree to take a little more
time herself."

"I'm glad.  Sometimes she does push too hard.  Is Katy okay?"

"She's great."  Walter couldn't remember ever seeing a bigger smile on his
face.  He couldn't help but match it with one of his own.

"Listen, I hate to change the subject, but there's something I need to
ask."  Mulder nodded and leaned back in his chair.

"It's Maggie."  That pulled Mulder forward again immediately.  "I don't
know if you're aware of it, but . . . well Maggie moved in with me while
Katy was gone." Mulder's eyes widened.  "I didn't want her to be alone, but
now . . . well, I fully expected her to move back out.  I was thrilled that
she didn't but that's not Maggie.  I don't want to put her in a position of
ever being embarrassed by our relationship."

Mulder sat just looking at his former boss.  He was sleeping with his
mother-in-law.  Oh god, did Scully know?  He realized Walter had quit
speaking.

"Uh, yeah, it . . . you wouldn't want her to be embarrassed.  I agree.
What, uh, what . . . "

"I want to go ahead and marry her, now.  But what about a priest?"

"Priest?  Yeah."  Mulder was thinking frantically, how far would they have
to go to find a priest?  Were there any still alive for that matter?  "What
about just a minister?  Think Maggie would go for that?"

"I don't know.  But we don't have one of them either."

"Well, Frohike."

"Frohike?"  Walter's look said it all.

"Well, he's ordained."  Well, kind of, Mulder defended to himself.  Okay it
was a $5 mail order thing, but it was all they had.

"I think I'd have to cover that with Maggie."  Walter said dryly.  "My
question was, do you think Dana would have a problem with us going ahead so
soon?"

"Oh.  I don't think so.  No, I'm sure she wants her mother to be happy.
She's mentioned many times how good you are for Maggie."

Walter relaxed a little at those words.  "Yeah, well, we should get some
work done.  We've been kind of slack around here for a while."  Mulder
nodded and the subject was changed.

*****

He couldn't stay away that long.  His need to see Katy, to touch Scully,
was more powerful than any inventory or work assignment.  Scully was
nursing the baby when he got there and he stood and admired the sight.
Scully looked up and smiled and motioned for him to join them on the bed.
He did eagerly, laying a hand on Katy's leg.  She turned to him and he was
willing to swear she smiled at him, then resumed her task.

"Have a good day?"

"Better now that I'm here."  He leaned back after kissing her, relaxing
beside her.

"Any news?"  That brought back the conversation with Walter full force.  He
straightened up, sitting less comfortably.

"Well, a little.  Did your mother come over today?"

"Yes.  She made sure I took a nap while Katy was sleeping."

Mulder grinned, "You know I really like your mother."  She swatted at him,
but smiled too.  "Did, uh, did you talk about anything?"

"We talked about a lot of things.  Mostly Katy and how well she endured the
separation.  She did better than either of us.  Why?"

"Did you talk about Walter?"

"In passing."  She sat up then, disturbing Katy, "Is he okay?  Nothing's
wrong is it?"  She was watching him closely and knew him so well there was
no way he could hide his discomfort.  "Mulder, is Walter ill?"

"No!  No, nothing like that."

"Then what?"  Now she was becoming impatient with him, but it wasn't his
place to tell her this.  How could he tell Scully about this?  "Mulder."

"Well, uh, it seems that - just during Katy's absence - well . . . "

"Mulder!"

"Maggie moved in with Walter.  Now he doesn't want her to leave and he
wanted to know how we, well you, felt about them getting married right
away." It came out in a rush, but still her eyes grew wider.

"Mom's living with . . . " Mulder nodded.  "Oh."

"Well, you knew they were engaged, Scully."

"I know.  It's just . . . living together?"  He nodded, not exactly sure
what his next words should be.  She looked away from him, obviously trying
to gather her thoughts.

"Are you okay with them getting married?"

"Yes.   I mean, well yes, of course.  I want them to be happy.  It's just a
surprise, I mean that she would . . . "

"Yeah, well since we don't have a priest, I suggested Frohike to perform
the ceremony."

"Frohike?"  That caused her to look at him again.

"Well, he's ordained, sort of and - "

"That was as a joke."

"Well research is what he called it.  But it's the best we have.  Hell,
Scully, if I'm the 'law' in town, they can jump over a broom and I'll
declare it legal.  He just wants to make an honest woman out of her and as
soon as possible."

Scully nodded.  "I need to think about it.  I didn't 
realize it would hit me like this."

"You're not jealous, are you?"  She looked up quickly to see if he was
kidding.  Well, he was trying to, but there was a little fear underneath,
fear that probably only she could see.

"No, of course not.  I'm stunned that my mother would live with a man, any
man, but one that I know as well as I do Walter . . . I don't know, it
feels strange.  She was married to Ahab for so long."

Mulder nodded.  He'd never had to go through this, his own mother had
pretty much turned off to the thought of all men after her divorce, himself
included.

*****

The next morning he took his time leaving, waiting instead for her mother
to arrive.  She'd been up twice with Katy during the night and he wanted to
make sure Maggie was aware.  Scully finally cornered him, her eyebrow at
new heights.  "Go to work."

"Scully, are you trying to get rid of me?"

"Yes.  Go on."

"You have a man coming over?"  He loomed over her.

"Maybe, but Mom can chaperone.  Beside, Mom and I have things to talk about."

He placed his forehead against hers.  "You take it easy today.  Get some
rest, or tomorrow I talk to her - about you."

"You threatening me, Mister?"

"Yeah, and I'm bigger than you."  She grinned at him then and he eased up.
"I'll see you at lunch."  He kissed her again, waved at Maggie and headed out.

"What did he want to talk to me about?"  Maggie poured herself a cup of tea.

Scully shook her head and joined her mother at the table.  "Katy was up
twice last night so he's all concerned about me."

"Dana, he does have the right."

"Don't start, Mom.  We need to talk about you today."

"Me?"  She looked up startled.

Well, she looked innocent enough.  "Mom, are you living with Walter?"
Okay, a little blunt, but she'd never been exactly coy.

"Yes.  Walter asked me to move in with him after Katy disappeared.  I'm a
grown woman Dana, and it was the right thing to do.  We both needed the
support, and the comfort."  She was looking Dana in the eye, not in the
least embarrassed.  "Are you upset by this?"

"Not upset, but surprised.  I never expected you to . . . "

"Well to be honest, neither did I.  Things have changed a great deal over
the last couple of years.  Your father would understand Dana.  And we do
plan to marry."

"Walter's concerned about finding a priest."

Maggie smiled softly.  "Is he?  That's just like him, to worry over
something like that.  That's not important to me, not this time.  Like I
said, everything's different now.  Walter and I are older - this should be
more of a community celebration than a solemn occasion."

Dana felt herself relax slightly.  She knew Walter cared for her mother,
but now she knew that her mother also cared for him and that she hadn't
forgotten their father.  "Frohike is 'ordained' kind of, if you're
interested."

Maggie smiled.  "I don't think that will be necessary.  Walter and I need
to discuss this.  I would like to do something soon.  While Katy was gone
we had, I guess, an excuse, but I'm old fashioned enough to still want a
formal arrangement - a commitment."

"You don't have to worry about that with Walter."

"I know."  They both looked up as Katy began crying.  Maggie started to
rise but Scully put her hand on her mother's arm.

"Don't.  I'm okay."  She rose and headed into the bedroom.  She was leaning
over the crib when a feeling of weakness washed over her.  It was gone
immediately and she shook her head.  Had she imagined it?  Maybe she was
more tired than she realized.  She tested herself; yes she was okay to pick
up the baby.

A couple of hours later she was willing to believe she had imagined the
whole thing.  She felt fine and did take a short nap after lunch while Katy
slept.  She was up and fixing dinner when Mulder came home.

Later in the evening after nursing Katy once more, she allowed Mulder to
put her down.  She watched them leave the room and decided to finish up in
the kitchen.  This wave of weakness was much stronger than the first and
she realized she was physically unable to lift herself from the couch.  It
passed nearly as quickly, but she couldn't dismiss this one.  She began a
quick inventory of her physical symptoms.  There were none - just this wave
that came and went.

She was startled back to the present when Mulder stood before her.  "She's
down."

"Oh.  We're going to have trouble with her when she's a teenager Mulder.
She likes men too much."

He grinned at her, not really worried - yet.  "Where were you?"

"Oh, just thinking about tomorrow.  We're going to go through the available
wardrobe and see what Mom can wear for her wedding."

"Really?  Did they set a date?"

"Day after tomorrow in the afternoon.  We'll have a community gathering and
potluck.  It is the first wedding we've had."

"Walter's going to be a basket case.  Where will this fashion show take
place?"

"Here.  Mom says there's no reason to take Katy out.  It is a little cool
and we have the most room."  He nodded, his mind not really on women's
clothing.  He held out his hand and pulled her to her feet.

"Listen, since you were up so much last night, it should be my turn
tonight.  Do you have a bottle I could give her?"

"Mulder."  But it was only a token protest.  Maybe an uninterrupted night's
sleep was all she needed.

"We both know I need less sleep than you do.  In fact, why don't you go on
and get ready for bed now?  If I'm invited I'll keep you company until you
fall asleep."

She let her finger glide over his cheek.  "What if my husband finds out?"

"Don't you think I can take him?"  And he swung her up in his arms.

"Um, you can take me anytime."  He leered down at her as he carried her
into their bedroom.  Even though she did protest slightly, he only held
her.  He could see her fatigue even if she refused to admit it herself.

She fell asleep almost instantly and when he was sure he wouldn't disturb
her he rose and went into the other room, where he cleaned up the rest of
dinner and folded a little laundry.  He was thoroughly domesticated and
loved it.

*****

He had started coffee before he went to wake her the next morning.  "Honey,
wake up.  You've got all those women coming over.  You'd better go ahead
and shower."

What?  It couldn't be morning.  She had just closed her eyes.  When she
finally cracked them open to see if he was serious she could see that the
sun was high in the sky.  She wasn't rested; it was as though the night had
passed in an instant.  But he was right; people were coming so she forced
herself out of bed.

"Was Katy up last night?"

"Yes.  You slept right through it like you were supposed to.  I gave her a
morning bottle too."

She'd slept through all of that?  She must have been more tired than she
realized.  Another wave of weakness caught her in the shower, but not has
badly as the previous evening though she did have to grab hold of the wall
to remain upright.  She should mention this to Beth, have her check her
vitals.  She didn't need to be coming down with something that she could
pass on to Katy.

However, when the women started arriving, she pushed it aside and plunged
into wedding preparations along with everyone else.  

They settled on a beautiful blue dress that belonged to the woman that Anne
now roomed with and was nearly a perfect fit.  Mary promised all
alterations would be completed before dinnertime.  No one seemed in a hurry
to leave, enjoying the "girl time", playing with the baby and just
visiting.  Some of these women were people that Scully did not know as
well.  The community was growing and though she was the doctor, Mary, Anne,
and even Maggie had spent more personal time with these women.

They had a wide variety of backgrounds and their quest to get here was
fascinating.  So were their tales of how they had heard about Mulder and
the rumors they had followed to find him.  She felt more than a twinge of
jealousy as the stories continued.  This was a new sensation for her - oh
she'd had momentary twinges of jealous - Bambi, Detective White, even
Phoebe, and of course Diana.  But this was different.  These women had
hunted down her husband from different parts of the country and come to
live near him.  She knew he loved her and adored Katy.  They'd created Katy
with that love, but these women - they almost revered him.  Divine right -
would Mulder be tempted?

Mulder stuck his head in at lunchtime.  He greeted the women, checked on
Katy and pulled Scully into the bedroom for a couple of minutes alone.

"I don't want to keep you from your company, but I had to have some time."
He was nipping at her lips, his hands molding her to him.

Her jealousy vanished.  He hadn't noticed there were women in the next
room.  He only saw her.  She was the luckiest woman in the world.  She
pressed herself against him.

"Um, Scully, I agree, but there are all of those people in the next room.
Think you can wait until this evening?"

"Only if I have to."  His eyes widened.  This woman could never bore him.
If this were the outcome, he'd be the only one handling the 2 a.m. feeding
until Katy didn't need them anymore.

He pulled her close to him again.  "Ditch the company and I'll come home
early."  He kissed her again after she nodded.

*****

The next morning Mulder finished getting Katy ready so that Scully could
leave to help her mother dress, then joined them along with the rest of the
community to witness the ceremony.  Walter had asked Mulder to stand up
with him and Scully performed those duties for her mother.

The entire assembly burst into applause when Walter and Maggie kissed.
Scully glanced over at the bassinet to see if Katy was going to wake up.
No problem, she was sleeping through it.  Scully felt another wave of
weakness wash over her, the worst one yet.  She put her hand on the chair
to steady herself and looked up to see if anyone had noticed.  No, everyone
was focused on Mom and Walter, good.

People were moving forward to congratulate the new couple.  Mulder turned
to her to take her arm and was startled when she clutched his.  "Scully?"

"Take me home Mulder."

"Sure.  Are you - " His arms tightened around her as she went limp against
him.

"Beth!"  He lifted her and carried her to the sofa that had been pushed
against the wall to make room for the ceremony.  Walter herded everyone
away from them to give them room.  Beth knelt beside her, taking her pulse.

"Mulder, let's get her over to the clinic."  He tried to hide the panic on
his face.  He nodded mutely and scooped her back into his arms.  Beth
tucked a blanket around her.

He turned to look at Walter.  "Katy."

"She'll be okay.  Go on, we'll be there shortly."

He hurried to the clinic and laid her carefully on the examining table.
"Mulder let me check her out."

"I'm not leaving."  She nodded resignedly.

"Then help me.  Let's get this dress off of her."  She turned to the drawer
to get what she needed while he undressed her.  He tried to stay out of
Beth's way, but never let go of Scully's hand.  "I know she's not recovered
from everything that's happened, but shouldn't she be coming to?"  He
finally looked away from Scully to see Beth.  Her expression caused ice to
form around his heart.  "Beth?"  His voice had dropped to a whisper, he
didn't have enough breath for more.

Beth couldn't disguise the stricken look on her face, her eyes locked on
Scully.  "Mulder, it's the virus."

"The vi . . . there's no bees this time of year."  An inane comment even to
his own ears.  "What do we do?"

She finally looked up at him, "Mulder, we never saved anyone.  I don't know
what to do."

His mouth moved but no sound emerged.  He tightened his grip on Scully's
hand and his emotions.  "She was . . . she was working on the hypothermia."

"It never worked Mulder."

"Would it hurt?"  She shook her head hopelessly.  "Then we're going to try
it.  It might buy us some time."

"Time to do what Mulder?  She's the doctor.  I know enough to assist her,
but I can't do her research.  Mulder, I can't do anything for her."

"No."  The look on his face caused Beth to step back from him.  Had he
snapped?  He'd been through enough.

Walter and Maggie walked in at that point.  Walter instinctively moved in
front of Beth to protect her.  "Mulder, calm down.  Tell me what's going on."

"Beth says it's the virus."

Walter turned, startled to look at Beth as Maggie gasped.  Beth nodded,
tears forming in her eyes.

"We've got to cool her off!"  Mulder turned to Walter, his eyes begging for
help, reassurance.

Walter asked Beth the question with his eyes, but she only shrugged
helplessly.

"Let's do it."  Walter took over.  "Maggie, you and Beth get all the ice
you can find.  Mulder, get her shoulders."  Walter had her legs.  They
moved her into the bathroom and lowered her into the tub.  Mulder turned on
the cold tap.

"What do we do now?"  Walter turned to look at Mulder.

Mulder forced his eyes away from her.  "She's had the vaccine."  He spat at
Walter.  "She should be immune."

"Maybe we've bought her some time Mulder.  Let's get Byers over here to
look over her notes."  Mulder nodded mutely.  "Will you be okay while I get
him?"

Mulder gave a short nod, not taking his eyes from her.  Walter put his hand
on Mulder's shoulder and squeezed it, then let himself out.

"Walter?"  Maggie met him at the door.

"Take the ice in.  I'm going to get Byers."

*****

"She didn't find anything.  She kept good notes, but there's nothing here."
 Byers turned to Walter.  "Frohike's gone over the data too."

They all turned as the door opened and a distraught Mulder walked in.
"What have you found?"  Byers glanced at the other two men in the room.

"Mulder . . . "

"Don't tell me nothing!  Don't!"  He advanced on Byers and Walter stepped
between them.  "He's got to find something." Mulder turned to Walter.

No one had noticed Maggie enter with Beth.  "She injected me with her blood
when the virus first broke out.  What if I gave her my blood now?"

"Maggie, I can't take enough of your blood to make a difference.  Maybe if
we transfused her whole body, but you can't give that much."  Beth responded.

"I can!  Take what you need - "

"Maggie!"  Walter had his hands gripping her arms.

"Maggie, no.  You can't."  Mulder's shoulders were slumped, his voice was
low, defeated.

"She's my daughter, I have to.  Just as she would for Katy."

"Katy!"  Everyone turned to look at Byers as he spoke.  "Katy might be the
answer.  We saved her stem blood, remember?  Just in case she ever needed
it in the future.  If we used that and a pint from Maggie . . . "

"Charlie and Mary have the same type as well."  Maggie offered.

"Okay.  Get them over here.  Mulder, I don't know, but I don't have any
other suggestions."

"Do it."

Byers sent Langly over to begin thawing the stem blood, after taking him
aside and warning him to only thaw half.  Might as well hedge their bets.
Beth began sterilizing the instruments necessary for the transfusions.
Mulder had retreated into himself, staying where he could touch her, speak
only to her.

They took Maggie's blood first, with Walter standing over them ensuring
that they didn't take more than a pint.  Charlie and Mary brought Katy with
them when they came to offer their blood.  Byers decided to hold them in
reserve.  He wanted to try Katy's blood first.  Then . . . then they'd go
to plan B.  Maggie slipped the baby into Mulder's arms, which closed around
her as though drawing strength from her.

Finally he looked up from his daughter.  "Where's Langly?'

"It takes a while to thaw the stuff under controlled conditions Mulder.
But her temperature isn't rising anymore.  I think we've bought her some
time."

"Is it enough?"  Byers and Walter exchanged glances.  "Nevermind, I don't
want to hear."  Mulder collapsed into a chair and took the cup Beth handed
him.  He couldn't stay away more than a few minutes and was at her side
again.  The others settled in to wait.

Walter brought Maggie a cup of tea where she waited with her feet up at his
insistence, "Drink this, Maggie.  Will you eat anything?"

She shook her head.  "Not exactly the wedding night you imagined."  He
squeezed her hand.  "I'm sorry, Walter - "

"Shh.  Don't give it another thought.  I married into the whole family
Maggie; I'm as worried about Dana as you are.  And Mulder.  I don't know
how much more his mind can take.  If anything happens to her . . . "

"We can't let it Walter.  If she needs more of my blood, I'm going to give
it to her.  Don't Walter."  She took his hand as he started to protest;
"There's no way I can live with myself if I don't do everything . . ."

"Let's give Katy's blood a try Maggie.  She should have a double immunity.
It's the best hope."  He folded her into his arms and they held each other,
no other words to say.

After a few moments she pulled away.  "Try to talk to Fox.  See if you can
get him to eat or rest."

Walter sighed.  "I'll try."  He had no hope that any words would move him
from her side, but Maggie was right.  He needed to at least lie down a few
minutes.  Mulder didn't even acknowledge his presence, continuing to caress
Scully's face murmuring to her in too low a voice for Walter to hear.
After a couple of attempts he retreated back to Maggie shaking his head.

Langly arrived shortly after and Byers hurried to him to take the precious
blood he brought.

"Mulder?  We've got it, why don't you leave?  We'll call you."  The look on
Mulder's face froze any further comments.  He looked over at Langly and
inserted the container of blood into the shunt Beth had placed in her arm.
         

It took an agonizingly long time watching the blood make its way into her
system.  Beth kept a close watch on her vitals and Mulder tried to keep
from asking for details every two minutes.

Finally Beth looked up, "Her temperature's down half a degree."  Walter and
Byers exchanged glances, that could be from the icy water in which she was
still submerged, but they could hope.

After thirty minutes her temperature had dropped nearly three degrees.
"Mulder, she's doing better.  You need to lie down for a while, before you
fall down."

"I'm fine, and I'm not leaving."  He didn't bother to look over at Walter.

"What if we bring a cot in here.  You'll be right here, I'm not asking you
to sleep, just rest a little.  Beth and Byers will watch her."  When Mulder
didn't protest, Walter motioned for Kevin to bring in the cot.  They wedged
it in at the side of the tub so that Scully could be accessed, and like an
automaton he lay down.  Maggie placed a blanket over him.

He did fall asleep clutching her hand.  When Scully's temperature had
dropped another degree Byers approached Walter and Maggie who were dozing
on the couch.

"I want to remove her from the tub.  We need to know what's bringing down
her fever - the tub or the transfusion."

"But what if her fever goes back up?"

"I just want to lift her out of the tub.  We don't have to move her away.
We just need to monitor her vitals out of the ice."

"Walter?"

"We need to do it Maggie."

"Should we wake Fox?"

"No.  It won't help either one of them.  Let's run the test, try not to
disturb him."

They were careful.  She was lifted from the tub and wrapped in another dry
sheet.  Langly and Kevin held her as Beth began monitoring her temperature
and pulse constantly.

Finally she looked up and smiled, "It's continuing to drop.  Let's move her
to a bed.  Make sure Mulder doesn't wake up and discover her gone.  He'll
lose it for sure then."

No one tried to dispute that.  The men carried her to a bed in the
infirmary while Walter bent over Mulder.  "Mulder, she's better."  Not even
bothering with niceties.  He needed the essential information to wake up
to.  "Mulder, did you hear me?  Scully's improving.  We've moved her to a
bed.  Wake up."

The word Scully penetrated wherever he was and he jerked awake.  Walter's
hand was on his shoulder.  "She's improving Mulder.  We moved her to a bed
so that Beth could look after her easier.  Do you understand?"  Mulder's
eyes were still glassy.

"She's not dead."

"No, Mulder.  She's better.  Come on, I'll show you."  Walter helped him to
his feet and walked him to other room.  Mulder's grip didn't loosen until
he saw her in the bed, an IV in one arm and breathing.

"Mulder, come over here."  Beth beckoned him to the bed they had pushed up
to her bed and he lay back down, Mulder's fingers intertwined with hers and
he was asleep again.

"Beth?"  She looked up at Walter.  "Did you slip him something?"

She blushed but her head came up.  "Yes.  He needed to slip away for
awhile; especially if she died and that's what I thought was going to
happen.  It won't last long and if you don't say anything, he won't ever
know."

"You're probably right, but let's discuss it next time.  Okay?"  She
nodded, abashed until he smiled at her.  "It was a good idea."

No one knew what to expect in the way of a recovery.  As far as they knew
she was the only person ever to recover from the virus.  If Mulder was
suspicious that he had been taken out of the game it was never mentioned.

Scully opened her eyes finally several hours after being moved to the bed.
Beth noted the time and realized that Mulder was probably the only one that
had slept in nearly 36 hours.  She commandeered Mary and Anne at that point
to watch over her patient and sent everyone else, including herself off to
sleep.  They'd learned so much, but for now they needed to rest

*****