From: Donna Honeycutt Date: Tue, 29 May 2001 10:14:08 -0400 Subject: After the Future - part 8 Source: direct Title - After the Future VIII 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 8th in what has become 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 - VIII Most of the people had already headed home. It was getting colder by the hour and they needed to make sure their families were okay. Mulder knew that Maggie was at his house, so he stayed late, sending the others on, to make sure everything was secured. There was definitely the feel of a storm coming, Kelly had also stayed behind to help him. The wind was picking up and they had to struggle the last few feet to the shelter to store the tools for the night. It took both of them to force the door open and it slammed behind them with enough force to shake the building. Almost immediately they heard what sounded like an explosion. Mulder had time to realize that the tree just outside had let go. He glanced over at Kelly; her eyes were like saucers. He dropped the equipment he was carrying and knocked her to the floor, throwing himself on top of her. The debris seemed to fall for ages, but to Mulder's amazement the roof held. He looked down at the woman beneath him, his eyes rapidly adjusting to the gloom. He was startled by the expression on her face, an expression that he couldn't quite place. "All you had to do was ask, Mulder." What? Then he became aware of their positions, he was sprawled atop her and she seemed very okay with it. "Uh, sorry." "Don't apologize." Her arms went around his waist to hold him in place. Later he was to recognize his immediate reaction as panic, at the time he just wanted to get away. The stabbing pain in his leg forestalled that. "Mulder? Are you hurt?" She squirmed out from beneath him then, using a lot more body language that strictly necessary. She was kneeling over his leg now. "You've cut it pretty badly, can you sit up?" She had her arms around him again, and he moved to a sitting position. "You better take off your pants, let me get a look at you." She wasn't facing him as she said that, and after a beat or two he decided she was talking about his wound. "I don't think that will be necessary." He reached down and ripped the leg of his pants open and away from the cut. It was deep, definitely needed stitches, but not life threatening. In the cold, the blood was already clotting. "I'll live. We better get out of here." She helped him to his feet though he tried to avoid it. After he was propped against the wall she moved to the door and tried to open it. When it didn't move, she leaned more firmly into it. "Mulder, it won't open." "What?" He hopped over to her and added his weight to the process. The door barely moved. "I think the tree has us trapped in here. It must have barely grazed the roof and landed right here. Damn!" He glanced around the structure, no windows. It was supposed to be just a tool shed. It's a wonder the thing hadn't blown away already. "They'll come looking for us soon, won't they?" For the first time she seemed a little uneasy about the situation. Mulder was listening to the weather outside that was definitely sleet he was hearing. The storm was here. He almost hoped no one did come out to try to save them, he didn't want any of his people hurt and he knew Scully and Katy would be looked after regardless tonight. But would she stay awake worrying about him? "Well we're not getting out without some help, so you might as well get comfortable." He hopped back away from the door and slid down the wall to a seated position. She pulled her jacket closer around her and joined him against the wall. "You cold?" She nodded. What was he supposed to do about that. She'd already come on to him, he thought it had been a long time but he couldn't let her freeze. He pulled her closer to him and put his arm around her. She snuggled in, getting comfortable. She didn't fit right she was taller than Scully by three or four inches and quite healthy. Scully had lost too much weight. She was finally gaining again but slowly. He felt Kelly's hand on his chest. ***** "Mulder!" Scully woke with a cry and Maggie hurried into the room. "Dana? Are you okay?" "Mulder's in danger. Where's Walter?" She threw the covers back and started to rise when Maggie's hands on her shoulders stopped her. "Dana, calm down. You were dreaming. Mulder's working on the greenhouse well he was. The weather's getting worse. I'm sure he's on the way in now." "Mom, he needs help. Something's wrong " She stopped as they heard the front door open. "Maggie? You here?" "In here Walter." He came on in the bedroom still removing his coat and unwinding his scarf. "Is Fox with you?" "No. He stayed behind to put the tools away and sent everyone home. It's nasty out there. The wind cuts right through you and it's starting to sleet. I'm sure he's hurrying and will be here in a couple of minutes." Scully shook her head. "Something's wrong. I can feel it." "Dana, stay in bed. You could have been dreaming. Let's give him a little time." Scully shook her head and the worry didn't leave her face. Walter watched her for a moment he could see her concern growing. "Listen, I'm still dressed for outside, why don't I head back over that way and see if I can give him a hand." "Would you?" She hated to beg, but she wasn't able to look for him herself and something was wrong, she knew it. Walter smiled reassuringly at her. "I'll probably meet him at the end of the driveway. Not much keeps him from you." He headed on out and turned immediately toward the construction. It was really bad outside now. The sleet was mixed with snow and freezing rain. Back in DC in their former life, this would have brought the city to a complete halt. Out here it wouldn't be much better. He was making very little progress moving forward, Scully wouldn't have been able to move at all. In fact, he was going to suggest that he and Maggie stay at their house tonight, he didn't want Maggie out in this. Something looked different, what . . . the tree, that tree they had built the shed under, it wasn't there. He tried to pick up his pace; Mulder should have been here. He wouldn't go anywhere else in this weather except straight home to check on her. Well, he was close enough to see the tree now. It was down, he hadn't realized so much of it was dead. He'd obviously lived in the city too long. At least the shed was still standing. Well, Mulder wasn't here; maybe he'd headed for the nearest house to borrow more clothes. Walter tried to visualize what he'd been wearing earlier while they were working. He needed to get back inside himself. It was brutal out here. But what could he tell Scully? She thought Mulder was in danger, if he was out here she could be right. Maybe he should get some people out here to help him. He moved closer to the tree, Mulder wasn't trapped under it was he? No. He moved around the shed to get out of the wind. He leaned against it to catch his breath. "Damn it Mulder, where are you?" The last thing he wanted to do was stay out in this if Mulder was in front of a fire somewhere. What the hell was that? He realized he was hearing banging on the wall of the shed. "Is someone in there!" He had to yell to try to be heard above the wind. "Walter! . . . that you?" "Mulder?" "Yeah . . . trapped . . . tree!" Tree? The tree was in front of the door. He moved around to see what he could do. Nothing, not alone. He returned to the side of the shed. "Mulder, I need to get some help. We'll have to cut the tree away." " . . . morning. Too bad out here . . . Scully and Katy! . . . be okay until . . . ing." It sounded like he wanted him to make sure his family was safe and get him out in the morning. "Are you sure you'll be okay until morning?" He was out of the wind, but there was no heat in the building. Walter tried to remember what else was in the building. There were some drop cloths and those work gloves. Mulder was resourceful, he could hold out until daylight. Then Walter could get out here with some men and get this tree out of the way. "Look after Scully! Tell her I'm okay!" Well he heard that clearly enough. A strong gust of wind nearly knocked Walter off of his feet. "Okay Mulder! I'll be back at first light. Don't worry about Scully or the baby!" Mulder had been talking while he was and he missed whatever he said. "What?" "Go! You'll freeze . . . morning!" Well Mulder was right about that. He was going to freeze out in this. "Keep warm! I'll be back in a few hours!" He turned and began making his way back to Maggie. "You didn't tell him about your leg." Kelly noted after they had settled back against the wall. "I didn't want him to slip and mention it to Scully. It's not that bad." "You spend a lot of time protecting her." "She's my life." He stated it simply, a fact. "But she hasn't been a wife lately, has she? I mean first the baby and then the virus." She moved closer to him. "A man like you Fox, healthy, virile I know you have needs. It has to have been a long time for you." Needs? He looked over at her, uncertain what to say. "You want to have sex with me?" Smooth, Mulder. "Well, I probably wouldn't have said it quite so succinctly but, yes." He just sat there looking at her for a long moment. "I . . . I'm flattered, really, but I'm married. In fact I'm probably the most married man you've ever met." "I know you're married. But we're alone here, no one would ever have to know." "I would know." He removed her hand from his thigh. "Why don't we get those drop cloths over here and . . . " "Fox? Your leg?" "Yeah." He sank back against the wall. "Stay still." She rose and took something from her pocket. "Here, take a swig." "What is it?" He didn't reach for it, even with his eyes adjusted it was getting too dark to see. "Jerry's flask. He had me slip it in my pocket when he climbed up on the roof. Go ahead." "It's too cold, it would be dangerous. But . . . " He took it from her and poured some on his leg. He hissed at the pain but continued. He didn't need an infection; he had too much to do right now. "You okay?" She was dragging the drop cloths over to him now. "Yeah." He knew he sounded breathless, but damn that had hurt. "Just relax." She pulled the heavy canvas up over him, then crawled in with him and took him in her arms. She felt him stiffen, "I said relax. I'm not going to rape you Fox. Just know I'm available if you change your mind." He decided against comment. He'd made his position as plain as he could. There was no woman he wanted except Scully, no matter how long he had to wait. ***** Skinner stumbled into the house and the waiting arms of his wife. "It's bad out there." He managed to say as she helped him off with his coat and steered him toward the fire. "Fox hasn't come home yet." He nodded, trying to bring his shivering under control. "Let me tell this once." He turned to the bedroom, Maggie holding his hands to warm them. "Scully? I found Mulder, he's okay but . . . he's trapped in the tool shed. A tree came down, I can't get him out tonight but I've talked with him. He's fine and he can stay warm enough with what he's wearing and what's in the shed for tonight. I'll get the guys out at first light and cut away the tree. Scully, he kept telling me to reassure you that he was fine." "You talked with him." "Yes. He's lucky he was inside of the shed when the tree went down, otherwise he might have been injured. You need to get some rest, he was more worried about you than you are about him." "He's right, Dana. Just lie down. You know Fox can look after himself for one night. Walter and I will sleep here. Would you like me to stay with you?" The worry lines didn't leave Scully's face. Something was wrong. But Walter wouldn't lie to her about speaking to him. What was it? "Come on, Fox will be very upset if you don't look after yourself. He's okay or Walter wouldn't have left him." Her mother was tucking her in and her body was betraying her yet again. Her strength was used up and her eyes were closing. Mulder, what was really wrong? The storm broke during the night and dawn did actually bring light, as well as the discovery of four inches of snow. Walter had kept his word and had a crew rousted and out at the shed as soon as there was enough light to see. The surprise at finding Kelly there as well went unremarked, but not unnoticed. It was immediately shoved aside when Mulder's leg was uncovered. The wound was red and angry and there was the possibility of frostbite as well. Mulder absolutely refused to be taken to the clinic, insisting that he had to see Scully and his leg wasn't that bad. He was so insistent that Walter gave in, sending Frohike to bring Beth to the house to stitch up the leg. Kelly had no injuries and Mulder had obviously kept her warm, so Walter agreed with her returning to her own home. He would do some investigating as soon as possible as to why no one has reported her missing in last night's weather. The 'oversight' if that's what it was, would not be tolerated in the future. Mulder was carried, over his protests, to the house and Scully was awake and waiting for him when they brought him in. She was on her knees in the bed examining him practically before they laid him down. "Your leg! Why didn't you tell Walter, this should have been treated." "Don't I even get a kiss?" He pouted as she hovered over him. "Oh god, Mulder!" She was in his arms, unable to stop the tear that escaped. "Hey, I'm okay. Beth is on the way over to sew up my leg. Don't worry. We were fine." "We?" She drew back slightly, "Who was with you?" The others in the room seemed to melt away, leaving them alone. Mulder glanced at the door, why was everyone leaving now? Thanks a lot. "Uh, Kelly. She was trapped in the shed with me. We had been putting away the tools when the tree . . . " He kind of ran down, somehow it didn't sound as plausible in the light of day. "Kelly?" The attractive brunette came quickly to her mind and the feeling of danger nearly overwhelmed her. This was the danger? It wasn't to Mulder; it was to her. He'd stayed with Kelly all night, protecting another woman like he always had her. Well of course he had, they had been in danger, that didn't mean anything. The vision of Detective White atop Mulder when she'd walked into his motel room was back in her head. Nothing had happened there. The woman had thrown herself at Mulder and he had been able to withstand that. Surely now, now that they were a family . . . "Scully? Are you okay?" "I'm fine Mulder." She answered absentmindedly and missed the wince the words elicited from him. "Scully, you know nothing happened, don't you? I mean, you trust me that much." He looked anxiously into her eyes. "She's a very attractive, healthy woman Mulder. I wouldn't blame . . . I haven't been a wife in a long time, just a burden." "Burden! Where do you get that?" "Mulder, you were in danger, less than a mile from here and I couldn't even get out of bed to come help you." He pulled her against him; "It was thoughts of you that kept me warm Scully. You always pull at me, keep me grounded. There is no other woman, there couldn't be. If you and I could never have physical love again it wouldn't keep me from loving you every night. Scully, please." He hadn't realized how deeply she felt about this, that she'd been brooding about it. Did she honestly think that he could love anyone else? The tap on the door brought them both back to the present. Beth stuck her head in, "Can I work on the patient now?" "Oh yeah. Come on in." Mulder regained his composure first. "Beth, he's going to need novocaine and penicillin." Scully's doctor persona had taken over, giving her breathing room. She was on her knees again, examining his wound. "Wait, wait a minute. Just go ahead and sew it up, save the novocaine." "Mulder," she looked up from his leg. "I think you're going to want it." "You're probably right, but I'd just as soon save it in case you or Katy need it later." That brought immediate tears to her eyes. She needed to get her emotions under some sort of control, he was here, he was safe, and she knew he had not betrayed her not this man. "Beth, why don't you get Walter in here." She touched his face, the stubble felt good she wanted to be alone with him again but this had to be done. "Walter, why?" Mulder questioned but Beth had already turned toward the door. "Because you're going to need to hold on to something and you'd be afraid you'd hurt me. Right?" He grinned at that, "Right. Let's get this over with." She had to turn herself off to get through this with him. It did hurt, but he didn't make a sound. She saw his grip on Walter's hand tighten occasionally but made no comment herself. It wouldn't have done any good. When Beth was finished Scully gently wiped the sweat from his brow. "Thank you." "For what?" His eyes were closing in relief. "For being Fox Mulder." He gave a faint chuckle at that and took her hand. "No problem." Walter straightened up and flexed his hand. "They have some food for you. I'll make sure it's ready." He gathered up the instruments Beth had used and carried them out for her. "Did you tell him Beth was pregnant?" Mulder shook his head; "Maybe he just assumes everyone is now. It's safer." "Idiot. Stay awake, Mulder. You need to eat." He nodded wearily but didn't open his eyes. Maggie brought in the soup and Mulder roused himself enough to eat a little and to ensure that she ate, then was out like a light. "You should sleep too Dana. Walter's got Katy, there's not a lot that can be done outside right now anyway." Scully nodded and curled in to Mulder's side. His arm automatically drew her closer though he didn't wake. ***** Where was she? And why was she in such pain? Oh god, she had to be dying. The pain receded slightly and she was able to get a breath. She was lying on dirt, but there were walls around her. The pain gripped her again and she realized her body was pushing she was giving birth and she was completely alone. "Mulder!" It was barely a moan. The baby was being born; she couldn't give in to the pain. There was no one else. She screamed. "Scully! Scully wake up!" Mulder? He was here; she was in his arms. What the . . . she had done it again. It was like with Mary and Beth. It was the future. Her future. "It's just a dream, Scully. Everything's okay." She was getting her breath back. The other visions hadn't been about her. She'd just been a witness. But it was going to happen, which meant her strength would return. She and Mulder would have another child together. That thought stopped her. However the child was born, for whatever reason she was alone, she was healthy enough to get pregnant, to carry the child to term. That's what she needed to concentrate on. "Scully, you okay?" She was still shaking but seemed to be calming down. He felt thick, like he couldn't wake up. What was wrong with her? In all the years they had been together, he'd never heard her scream like that. "Mulder, you're running a fever." She was feeling of his forehead and the back of his neck. "You've gotten an infection. Where did Beth put that penicillin?" She was up and halfway to the bathroom before she realized she was walking. She gave a half smile and continued on. She picked up the antibiotic from the counter and returned. He was watching her, mouth open. "Maybe I just needed to be needed." "You don't listen very good Scully. I always need you." His eyes were closing again. She shook him awake and had him take the medication and some aspirin Beth had left beside the bed, then watched him as he drifted off. ***** She was awake when Anne tapped on the door late that afternoon. She stuck her head in and Scully motioned for her to stay quiet, then threw off the covers to rise. Anne's eyes widened and she rushed to Scully's side to offer her a hand. Scully smiled her thanks and let Anne help her out to the living room. Anne still kept her voice low, but as soon as she had closed the bedroom door, she turned back to Scully. "Are you supposed to be up? Mulder won't kill me, will he?" "Right now you can outrun him. No really, I've been up several times. My strength is coming back and I need to help it along. Don't worry about me. There is something I need to talk to you about." "Of course." But Scully could tell the young woman was nervous. She had gained a lot of self-confidence since living in their community, but being alone with one of the leaders was still unnerving to her. "I just wanted to ask about your living arrangements. You and Brittany share a house, don't you?" "Oh yes. She had plenty of room and when Maggie married Walter . . . " Scully smiled, "Do you get along okay?" Anne nodded, "We don't spend a lot of time together, though we probably will spend more now that the gardens are played out. She's incredible at growing things. Of course, there is Todd." She smiled shyly and Scully watched the color pink up her cheeks. "He seems like a very nice man." "He is. I can't believe . . . He's very good to me." "You deserve it Anne. Don't forget that. I was wondering though, do you think there might be room for another person in your house?" "Well, I'd have to check with Brittany, but I think the house is big enough. Who needs a place? Or did someone new come in?" "Actually, Kelly might need a . . . " Scully looked at the young woman in front of her and watched her obvious discomfort grow. "Anne?" "Will, uh, will Kelly be staying here?" So the rumor mill had gotten this far already. "Why wouldn't she stay?" "Everyone knows . . . I mean . . . " "Anne, Kelly and Mulder were trapped overnight in the tool shed. Nothing happened, I trust Mulder. She helped keep him alive with a severe leg injury. She helped keep him from going into shock and together they survived possible hypothermia. I'm grateful to her." "Maybe you shouldn't be. She . . . " Anne looked away, wishing desperately someone else was here to have this conversation. "Go ahead, Anne." Scully touched the nervous woman's hand. "She's made 'comments' before. She's attracted to Mulder, she's more than willing to offer herself to him, just like she has all the others since she came here." Scully felt the ice forming around her spine. Her fears that night were accurate. But Mulder hadn't betrayed her she was confident of that. Still, knowing that Kelly desired Mulder, had even discussed it, made her incredibly uncomfortable. "Scully!" The sound of Mulder's voice jerked her back to the present. "I need to get back to him." Before she could rise, Katy's cries rang out. "Great." She chuckled. "Why don't you calm your husband, and I'll try to calm your baby." Anne helped her to her feet. "I'm right here, Mulder." He was watching her closely and she saw the relief on his face when he spotted her. No, this man could be trusted. His shoulders eased and she realized he had tried to get out of the bed. "Oh Mulder, did you pull your stitches?" "No. Where were you?" He sounded petulant. He probably still had a fever. "Just in the next room." She sat beside him on the bed as Anne slipped out with Katy. They both watched her leave. "You need some more penicillin Mulder. Don't try to get up again." "That's my line." But his eyes were closing. He grasped the hand she held against his cheek and pulled her down into his arms again. Well, she was tired. Hearing Anne's hesitant words had been wearing. They would have been to any woman, but it had been so long since . . . No, she was his wife and he loved her. She let her eyes closed. She'd deal with Kelly later. ***** Scully was dressed and seated in the living room when Walter opened the door and let Kelly proceed him inside. The defiant look on her face didn't quite cover her fear. She hadn't expected Scully to be up and it flustered her a little. "Kelly, won't you sit down? Would you like some coffee or hot tea?" "No thanks." She unzipped her jacket but didn't remove it. "Is Katy asleep?" Walter glanced toward the bedroom. "Yes, she just went down." Scully smiled up at him. "Then I'll be back in a little while." Walter didn't look back at Kelly, instead heading back outside. "Kelly, I wanted to see you," the woman tensed up immediately. She'd been a fool, surely the man hadn't told her everything s he'd said to him. No man cared that much about a single woman. "To thank you for helping keep my husband safe last night. With his injury and the temperature, he could easily have gone into shock." Scully paused then, to see if Kelly had any comment. Kelly was too dumbfounded to respond. This woman was thanking her? Scully realized what was happening and continued smoothly, taking up the slack in the conversation. "What concerns me the most about last night, is that no one reported you missing in that weather. This is a small place, not really even a town yet your roommates should have alerted us that you hadn't come home." Kelly finally found her voice, "They don't have to look after me." "But they do, Kelly. Here, we all have to look after each other. We don't want something like this happening again. If you would me to help you find another place to stay " "Are you throwing me out?" Scully paused again, "No Kelly. But I want you to be comfortable and safe with your surroundings. Brittany and Anne have room in their house if you're interested. You don't have to make a decision right now." "Yeah, okay. I'll, uh, I'll think about that." She glanced around the room, maybe she was less uncomfortable than she had been, but not much. "Well, I guess I should be heading home." She rose from the couch. Scully looked up at her, "Thank you again, Kelly." The woman nodded and walked to the door, bundling up as she went. She glanced back once more at the serene woman on the couch and let herself out. The 'serene' woman closed her eyes in relief and felt exhaustion take over as the adrenaline dissipated from her bloodstream. After a moment she forced herself to rise and return to the bedroom. Both of her beloveds were asleep, so she removed her clothes and slipped into bed beside Mulder. ***** Walter had stopped by to report his new information to Scully. She was sitting on the bed beside Mulder. Walter relaxed in the easy chair they'd brought in for nursing when Katy was born. "I checked with her 'roommates'. None of them knew her before they came this way. Two of the men are from the same Mufon group; the third joined them on their way here. They had all heard about your work and came to help out in anyway that they could. None of them remember asking her to accompany them, but when I asked, none refused her favors either. Apparently she just tagged along. She didn't come here looking for anything but a place to be. She's cut quite a swart through the male population since getting here too. That's why no one reported her gone last night. The men she lives with are used to her not coming home. Guys, there's no one here who seems to care about this woman." He sighed, "personally I feel guilty as hell. It's not easy to get here, I guess I thought the one who worked so hard for it, felt drawn here, that we all Mulder in common." Mulder started to speak but Scully's hand on his arm stopped him. She knew he hadn't completely accepted his role, though he had talked to most everyone about coming here by now. "She came because the three men she picked up were headed this way." Scully sighed. "Makes me real glad Beth checks each newcomer for disease." Mulder and Walter both flinched slightly at that but she didn't seem to notice. "Should we pressure her to move in with Anne and Brittany?" "Those guys feel terrible about what happened. They'll probably keep a closer eye on her now." "But like you said, no one here cares about her. I don't know what to do." Scully sighed again. "Can we do anything? I mean, yeah, we kind of run this place, but we've never tried to dictate morals." Mulder looked at both of them. "We can't turn her out, especially this time of year and if we force someone to keep tabs on her, that seems like I don't know, parole or something." "Mulder, we can't let something happen to her." Mulder didn't respond, just watching her. She finally looked away. He had a point, damn him. "Okay, let's sleep on this." Walter stretched and stood. "I need to get home anyway. Put this aside tonight and maybe when we're fresh . . ." He shrugged and leaned over to kiss Scully. "I'll send Kevin over in the morning if there's anything you need to see." Walter let himself out and Scully stood to get ready for bed. "This doesn't look right." She stopped and looked back at him. "What?" "You up and me stuck in this bed." She smiled at him then. "I don't know, I kind of like it. Having you in bed all the time, at my mercy." "Why, Mrs. Mulder what are you implying?" She let her robe fall to the floor then and he realized she had been sitting there the whole time Walter was here, nude under that robe. His eyes widened and a slow grin grew on his face. A few days later Kelly did move in with Brittany and Anne. It wasn't a perfect solution and there was some tension, reported by Anne to Maggie, but both women were willing to accept her for now if it would help things. Mulder's leg was well enough that Scully agreed to his returning to work, at the office at least. Construction work had slowed to a crawl until the weather improved. Repairs only were the priority. He emerged from the bathroom to find Scully dressing for outside. "Hold it, where do you think you're going?" "The clinic. I thought I'd start going over for a couple of hours each morning." "I don't think that's a good idea." She just looked at him, she knew these arguments. "Scully, really. You're doing a lot better, but " "But?" Her eyebrow was arched, as he'd come to expect when she thought he was being unreasonable. "Well, what about Katy?" "I thought I'd leave her here alone for a couple of hours. Let her fend for herself, don't you think she's old enough?" He couldn't even sputter before he realized she was pissed at him. "Mulder, of course she's going to the clinic with me. I can bundle her up; you can even walk us over to make sure everything is fine. How's that?" "Why can't Beth handle it for a little longer?" "She can. She's just going to come in a little later. Mulder, it would help her if she could, maybe, sleep through the nausea in the mornings. It shouldn't last that much longer." "Morning sick? I hadn't . . . what did you do?" "I slept late, like I'm advising her to do. Mulder, there weren't that many of us here then. Just you, me, Kevin, Todd. Then Walter and the guys showed up. As I remember you threw a fit every time I went in because you thought I was doing too much. But I was all we had. Beth came in with one of the groups that showed up while Walter was looking for Mom. She was a huge help to us. I promise not to overdo, but I want to give her the same support she gave me. I was past the morning sickness when she arrived, but I remember how glad you were she here for the birth." He nodded, "You're right. I hadn't thought about . . . I'm immensely grateful to Beth for a lot of things, but you're always my top priority." She smiled at that. "Good answer. I'll be fine. Katy and I will probably just nap together. Not many people are out and about now anyway." He sighed, why did he never win one with this woman? "Okay, I'll walk you over." "Not this time. I don't want you on that leg more than just the walk to the office. When you're better you can walk us." His eyes narrowed. "I know you're my doctor, and my wife, and the mother of my daughter, but I am walking you to the clinic. I am carrying Katy and I will pick you up at lunch time to bring you back." She opened her mouth to respond, but stopped herself. As always his own well-being came after hers and the baby. It was part of the reason she adored him and was usually exasperated by him. Give in, this time. The routine was established and even when Beth's morning sickness passed, they continued the split shift, with Mulder helping her open the clinic if no one had stayed over. Frohike and Mulder had banded together and stood firm on overnights. If a patient had to stay, Langly slept there. The two husbands would not budge on that. Mulder had already left w hen one of the older boys burst into the front of the clinic, startling Scully. She had to search for his name, "Phil?" "Dr. Scully, they found a man, a stranger out in the snow. He may be frozen to death. They're bringing him here." Before she made it to the door, they were there. She recognized Todd leading the group, but they were all so bundled up she wasn't sure who the rest were. "In here. Phil t here's blankets next to the heater, grab them and replace them with new ones. Todd, can you get this stuff off of him?" Todd had shed his own coat by then and was working on him. The ice was already thawing in his beard and hair, so Scully turned to get a towel. "Scully . . . " His tone brought her head up immediately. "What?" "He's got an artificial arm." He said it with no inflection, but t heir eyes locked. Then she was toweling the hair out of the man's face. Shit! Todd leaned in closer so the others wouldn't hear. "Want us to put him back?" She gave him a tight smile. "Don't tempt me. Maybe you better get Mulder and Walter over here." "I'll send someone. You shouldn't be alone with him even now." With the messenger dispatched, they finished undressing the comatose man and covered him with the heated blankets. It had been a while since they had seen Krycek not long enough, but . . . He was thinner. She wondered if he'd been on the road for some time before getting caught in this. Maybe, he did look malnourished to her. Why had he been coming here? And where had he been coming from? He had some frostbite on his toes and fingers, but his internal temperature wasn't dangerously low. He must have just collapsed when they found him. She heard the commotion as the others arrived and looked up to see Mulder, Walter and Kevin come in the door. "Kevin, you can take Katy home, but no farther." His face colored slightly but he grinned at her. "He's still out. Looks like he's been on the road longer than usual." "Why here?" Mulder asked, expecting no answer and he got none. I'll stay here to guard him. Todd, could you show Walter where you found him?" "Sure." Walter nodded and followed Todd out. "You want me to stay Mulder?" Kevin returned to the room with a delighted Katy in his arms. He shook his head, "Take Katy on to the house." "Kevin, I don't know how long I'll be." Scully warned him. "No problem, we're buds now. Right Katy?" She grabbed his nose and laughed as he pretended to eat up her fingers. Scully smiled, Mulder's mind was elsewhere. Mulder settled in beside the bed. "Maybe you should go home too." "No way. Besides you don't know how to treat him." "I'm still trying to decide if we should." She didn't comment, exchanging the blanket for a newly warmed one. "I'm going to heat some broth for him. Want anything?" Mulder shook his head, he only look away from Krycek to see her slip out of the room. How could he justify her using her strength to look after this bastard? When she returned with the soup she had Mulder help her elevate the man's head. "Alex? Can you hear me? I want you to drink some of this." She held the cup to his lips and though his eyes didn't open he managed to swallow some, and then a little more. Finally he laid back and opened his eyes. "I didn't think I'd make it here." "You almost didn't.' Scully responded. "Dana, you always pull at me." Mulder growled then, drawing his attention. "I don't think we're alone." "You want to be alone? I can get you back to where you were." "Mulder, you'll make me feel unwelcome." Mulder was in no mood to play. "Why are you here?" "Don't I even get a chance to rest?" "No. I want you out of here as soon as possible." Krycek's face became serious then. "Mulder, I . . . I need a place to stay." Mulder's eyes widened, he couldn't seem to find his voice. Scully looked at Mulder, then back at Krycek. "You want to live here?" "No! Absolutely not!" Mulder's voice returned with a vengeance. He turned to Scully; "I won't have him here." "Mulder " "He murdered my father and Melissa, he's been behind some of the . . . Scully, he helped with your abduction!" She didn't speak, just moving to be inside of his embrace. Krycek watched, his own aloneness uppermost in his mind. "Why here Alex?" She asked it quietly. "I . . . I want to belong somewhere." Scully stared at him, her turn to be speechless. He was telling the truth. "Well, it's not going to be here." Mulder's voice was hard, cold. "My family lives here, the people you've hurt the most are here." "I know that. You're also the only humans I . . . I'm close to. If you'll excuse the expression." "They've sent you here to spy on us." Mulder's arms tightened around Scully, he knew they were both thinking of Katy. "Not this time. This wasn't where I was instructed to go. I'm AWOL and I'm not going back." "And I should believe you because . . . " "Because it's the truth. I know I'll have to prove it to you, but I need that chance. I don't expect to be set free here, and I know there's no reason to trust me. Give me the scut work, put a guard on me, but let me stay. I could come in handy." Mulder snorted at t hat, but said nothing as Scully placed her hand on his chest. "What?" He looked down at her. "We need to talk." His look turned incredulous. She nodded and stepped away from him toward the door. "I wouldn't attempt to get up Alex." "Yes ma'am." He said it without irony. Mulder didn't even look at him, following Scully from the room. Once they had privacy he turned to her, "No Scully. Don't ask me to accept him here." "He fits the criteria, a past with you." "Scully - " "He belongs here. When I saw him, I knew it, like I've known the other things. I'm sorry, but he's here for a reason." "What reason?" Mulder almost snarled at her. "What possible reason could he have for being here?" "I don't know Mulder, but we have to do it." She wrapped her arms around his waist. "I'm sorry." He pressed his lips to her hair and closed his eyes.