From: ephemeral@ephemeralfic.org
Date: 29 Mar 2006 19:42:08 -0000
Subject: Alphabet Soup: S is for Strategy by YappiChick
Source: direct

Reply To: yappichick@yahoo.com


Title: Alphabet Soup: S is for Strategy
Author: YappiChick
email: yappichick@yahoo.com
Summary: strat-e-gy n. An adaptation that serves or appears to 
serve an important function in acheiving evolutionary success
Website: http://www.geocities.com/yappichick
Feedback: It's more comforting than a teddy bear.
Rating: PG
Archive: Surely! It would be great to let me know!
Spoilers: FTF, The End
Category: MSR, A
Disclaimer: Nope, not mine.
Author's note: Wow, after a six week break, I finally got this one
off the ground! Thanks to those of you who pushed for the next part!


S is for Strategy

Scully waited on her couch with a sense of anticipation.  Or 
perhaps it was dread.  Twenty minutes ago, Mulder called her, 
asking if he could stop by for a few minutes.  Although they made 
casual visits to each other more frequently, there was something 
in his tone of voice that put her on edge.

Over the past two weeks, Gibson had been steadily improving his 
ability to separate molecular components from each other.  It was 
amazing for Scully to see the process.  Though it took him a while 
to master, Gibson was now able to pick specific components from 
whatever samples Scully provided.  She knew it wouldn't be long 
until Gibson was successful in retrieving the antidote from her 
and Mulder's blood samples.

Scully, for her part, used the information the Gunmen hacked for 
her to find potential blood donors who had the vaccine in their 
blood.  Unfortunately for her, most of the names on the list were 
people in the government or their wealthy contributors, not 
exactly the kind of people who would be willing to give Scully a 
pint of their blood so they could produce the vaccine for the 
general public.

She and Mulder had made some progress in their relationship.  
While they hadn't moved much further in the physical aspect, she 
had learned how to rely on Mulder emotionally, a huge step for 
her.  Regularly, she found herself tearing down the walls she had 
constructed for herself during the course of her life and allowing 
Mulder within.  Never had she trusted any man to take care of her 
like the way she did with Mulder.  

At times, her independence would encourage her to flee, not to 
give Mulder that much power over her.  But, she knew that as much 
influence he had with her, it was an equal relationship.  She had 
as much sway over his life.  It was that balance that made their 
partnership work so well and made her believe a personal 
relationship would be just as successful.

She heard Mulder put his key in the lock.  He opened the door and 
saw her on the couch.  "I was hoping to catch you in the shower," 
he leered.

"You'll have to stop by before three in the afternoon, Mulder," 
she responded dryly.

Despite his playfulness, there was a sense of seriousness about 
him.  His smile didn't reach his eyes, which were staring at her, 
trying to read her thoughts.  After a few seconds, he blew his 
lips in frustration.  Scully was right; something was going on.

"A penny for your thoughts," she said.

"Come on, Scully, with the way inflation is my thoughts are at 
least worth twenty bucks."

She didn't respond as he crossed her living room to sit on her 
couch.  Instinctively, she reached over and grabbed Mulder's hand, 
offering him support.

"I just got a call for them Gunmen before I came over here.  Last 
night, Gibson was able to separate the antidote from your blood 
sample," he blurted out.

Her eyes widened.  Despite her excitement for his achievement, she 
felt out of the loop.  "Why didn't they call me then?" she asked.  
She knew she was acting petty, but it was she, not Mulder who 
spent hours in the lab with Gibson.

He avoided her question.  "According to Gibson, the pint of blood 
you provided resulted in 1.5 mg of the artificial virus."

She let her question go unanswered for now.  Obviously there was 
something bigger that was going on.  "That's great.  That much of 
the vaccine can make one and a half doses," she said.  Throughout 
their research, Gibson had provided Scully with the dosage that 
the Consortium had used.  Between she and Mulder, they could 
vaccinate all three of the Lone Gunmen.  

"I understand your enthusiasm, but Gibson is a bit concerned with 
the lack of reserves we have.  After all, you and I can only give 
so much blood."

"But, if we give the vaccine to the three of them, within a week 
we could have..." she slowed as she did the math.  "Four and a 
half doses."  Gibson informed her that the incubation period for a 
person to produce enough of the artificial virus to make it potent 
enough for others to use was between seven to ten days.

"Exactly."

She understood the boy's worries.  With that kind of time table, 
the apocalypse would come and go.  "What does Gibson want to do?"

His grip on her hand tightened.  Whatever was upsetting him had to 
do with Gibson's proposal.  "Apparently, the guys and he came up 
with a plan to retrieve more blood samples.  Gibson convinced 
Frohike to leave an anonymous tip with the FBI about the location 
of the Nature's Best Corn Oil facilities.  According to our little 
psychic friend, Colton and I are going to be assigned to 
investigate the lead tomorrow."

Her gut tightened.  The idea of Mulder going back to Texas, 
without her, did not play well in her mind.  "How does sending you 
out there help put Gibson's mind at ease?" she asked.

He put up his hand.  "Wait, it gets better.  Over the past few 
days, he and Langley have been working together on providing 
access to the building for experimenting on the test subjects.  
Gibson said there is a room used for storing genetic material of 
those people known to be immune to the virus, including blood 
samples.  He wants you to retrieve as many samples as you can?"

"Me?" she asked with disbelief.

Jaw clenched, he nodded.  Ever since Byers had told him of their 
plan, his stomach felt like it was on a roller coaster.  There was 
no way he was comfortable dragging Scully across country with no 
weapon and no backup to a facility that was crawling with Them.  
"It seems as though Gibson would like to take advantage of your 
three days off and give you an all-paid vacation to the wonderful 
town of Cobb, Texas."

His sarcasm was becoming more bitter the more he spoke.  She 
squeezed his hand, trying to calm him down.  "And where does Tom 
fit into all of this?" she asked, hoping to shift his focus.  "I 
mean, there's a chance he may see me if we at the facility at the 
same time."

He rolled his eyes.  "Byers assured me that Gibson has confidence 
that Agent Colton will be an ally to you and me once he exposed to 
certain elements of the project," he answered.

Scully could tell Mulder was beginning to get tired of Gibson and 
his "confidence".  Because of his seemingly countless connections 
to knowledge, he made plans without trying to include the people 
involved.  

She understood his frustration. Over the years, they had been 
played by the evil powers that be; now they felt betrayed by those 
people they supposedly trusted. Logically she knew they were 
trying to make things work out, but there was something 
disconcerting about being blindsided by the people who are on the 
same side as they were.

"So the plan is for you and Tom to 'investigate' the facilities 
while I'm breaking into another building, stealing blood samples 
so Gibson can produce more of the vaccine?" she asked.

"It sounds even worse when you say it out loud, doesn't it?"  He 
pulled away from her, standing up.  "I mean, come on.  Sending you 
inside that building with no backup?  One wrong move and they'll 
have you strapped to a table, drawing your blood."

She winced at his bluntness.  Standing next to him, she caressed 
his cheek.  "Don't worry.  I know how to take care of myself, 
Mulder," she reminded him.

Suddenly, Mulder's lips were covering her own.  Unlike their other 
kisses, this one was frantic.  It was as if he was trying to crawl 
inside Scully through her mouth.  His tongue caressed her lips, 
encouraging her to let him inside.

To his surprise, Scully pulled away.  "Nothing is going to happen 
to me, I promise.  We don't have to act rashly," she said softly.

He opened his mouth to object, but realized what she was saying.  
His kiss stemmed from desperation.  It was as though he feared he 
would never see her again.  

"Hey," she said softly, seeing his discomfort.  "Don't think I'm 
not interested.  I just want the circumstances to be good ones, 
not because you think you have no other options."

Despite his lingering embarrassment, he felt a small smile on his 
lips.  She was right.  So many of their advances in their 
relationship had come from negative events: her abduction, the 
murder of his father and Melissa, her cancer, the loss of Emily.  
It would be a welcome change to not allow another potential 
catastrophe be a catalyst for a change in their relationship.

"You're right, Scully."

"I've been waiting years to hear you say that," she said 
playfully.  She surprised him by planting a firm kiss on his lips.  

He moved his hands into her hair, keeping her lips on his.  Her 
hands creped up his chest circled around him.  She pulled away 
from him with a slight "pop!" and leaned on his chest.

"Oh yeah, there's one more thing, Scully," he said.  "You have to 
dress up in your disguise again.  We don't want you getting 
caught."

Her head whipped up and saw the big smile on his face.  

"I had you big time, Scully."