From:             Vger <Vger@colint.com>
Subject:          Mythology Story
Date sent:        Fri, 20 Mar 1998 14:21:59 -0600



From:     Vger
Date:     3/19/98
Subject:  MSR/Mythology Story

Title:    Birth Right 
Author:   Vger
Reply to: Vger@colint.com
Rated:    NC-17 
Spoilers: Season 5 through the Red and the Black, and loosely                                                                                               
          on movie rumors                                         
Summary:  A mythology story involving romance between Mulder                                  
          and Scully in the midst of season five enigmas.
Archive:  MSR & mythology sites anywhere.

DISCLAIMER:  See part one


Southern Canada / Day Four
8:00 AM

The man in the lab coat peered into the microscope barely 
breathing as he examined the petri dish contents.  Cell division was 
evident, causing the man to expel a sigh as he allowed himself to 
relax.  He had not doubted his skill in performing this task, of 
course, it was all very basic. There was more tension residing in 
him from the pressure his employer was placing on him, which 
naturally trickled down from the powers above.  This particular 
assignment strayed from his usual routine, though, and its long-
range affects were unclear.  He thought of the woman he had 
probed for the biologicals, recognizing her from before.  He had 
tried not to think of her tiny, vulnerable appearance lying there 
unaware on the examining table, and coaxed himself into thinking 
that this act he would perform might undo his former damage.  
Twice in a lifetime she had unwittingly crossed his path - two 
times more than he imagined she would have chosen.  He sighed 
suddenly saddened.  Five years ago he would not have believed in 
this secret government that seemed to have been birthed around the 
second world war.  Some of the players and their particular covers 
had no doubt changed throughout recent history, but their function 
had insidiously remained intact.  Whatever the date or the game 
one could be assured that these individuals would be deciding the 
fate for the nation as innocent people slept unaware in their beds, 
imagining safety for their children.  The scientist sighed again 
somewhat sadly.  Not even he could conceive of what his superiors 
had done, nor was he sure he wanted to understand it completely.  
He always had a sickening feeling in his stomach that threatened to 
overtake him if he allowed too much thought about the deviance he 
had been a part of.

"Is it ready?" came the unexpected question from the doorway.  
Dr. Manning stepped away from the microscope anxiously as if the 
other man had read his thoughts.  The older gentleman just stood 
there eyeing him, inhaling deeply on his smoke.  He held it for a 
speculative moment before slowly breathing it out again.

"Yes, yes I have it just now," replied the scientist hurriedly.  "Is 
the woman ready?"

"Everything is set, Dr.," he nodded slightly.  "Time is of the 
essence and there must be no mistakes."  Dr. Manning glanced 
involuntarily at the small dish, shaking his head.

"All right," he agreed.  "We can proceed."  

"Very good, Dr.," smiled the smoking man as he gestured the way 
through the doorway.  Cautiously covering the dish, Dr. Manning 
exited the room as his companion had instructed.  He hoped to God 
that there were no complications as the other man followed behind 
him like a predator.  It had come down to a question of survival for 
him really.  He would survive and she would serve an involuntary 
purpose.  He knew secretly, however, that should his work succeed 
this purpose might help others to survive as well.  He was careful 
not to smile as he arrived at his destination.  So much depended on 
his ability to remain serene.

D.C. Area Hospital / Day Five
12:00 PM 

Mulder opened his eyes slowly, wincing at the bright florescent 
light that invaded them sharply.  His mouth felt numb and pasty 
causing him to swallow hard, while he rolled his head slowly from 
side to side heavily.  It was a struggle to make sense of the 
sensations and sights beginning to filter into his mind.  Where was 
he?

"Agent Mulder!" Boomed Skinner at his bedside.  "Glad to see 
you're still among the living!"  Mulder turned his eyes to focus on 
his supervisor's slight smile, licking his lips with effort before 
replying.

"Where am I, sir?" he asked in a scratchy whisper that sounded 
odd to his own ears.

"You're under medical care for your stint in the cold, Mulder, 
although I don't know what in the hell you and Scully thought you 
were doing up there!"  Skinner tried to appear angry, but the 
younger man could read the assistant director's relief to see him.  
The reference to Scully, however, nagged at him.  There was 
something...

"Where is Scully?"  He asked anxiously.  If only he could 
remember.

"She's fine.  She's right next door still asleep," he answered.  "You 
both were recovered from the Northwest Territory early this 
morning, and flown in for emergency treatment.  You're lucky the 
two of you didn't freeze to death!"  Mulder considered this 
carefully as pieces of memories eluded him.  He did remember that 
he and Scully had been fleeing someone, and that there had been a 
snowstorm.

"What were you looking for, Agent Mulder?"  Queried Skinner 
now more business-like as his initial concern faded.  Mulder shook 
his head frowning.

"I received an anonymous tip about a potential alien craft that was 
uncovered at that location.  We had suspicions that it might be a 
set-up, but by whom I have no idea."  Mulder sighed, rubbing his 
hand over his forehead.  "Our pilot was apparently blown up, and 
we had to escape.  Everything is pretty fuzzy after that. How did 
you say you found us?"  Skinner raised his eyebrows and tilted his 
head to one side.

"I had sent a couple of operatives out to find you, and we were 
able to trace you to Canada," he replied then shrugged.  "Before 
we could get an exact fix on your location you were picked up by a 
local rescue team that was working the area for snow emergency 
services.  Apparently there are some naturalists who homestead in 
that area, occasionally needing evacuation during avalanche 
threats."  Mulder's frown deepened while he rolled this 
information around in his cloudy mind.  He was about to comment 
when the nurse appeared to beckon Skinner.

"The young woman appears to be coming around," she informed 
him, causing Skinner to rise to his feet.

"I need to check on Scully," he told Mulder briefly.  "We'll talk 
more when you're up to it."  Mulder watched Skinner's retreating 
back, biting his lower lip between his teeth absently.  He wanted to 
go to Scully himself, feeling suddenly more protective than ever, 
but the sight of the IVs attached to his arm deterred him.  There 
was something else, also - something he couldn't quite name that 
was holding him back.  It didn't seem to ring true to him as he 
thought about Skinner's explanation of their rescue, but then he 
felt drugged by whatever treatment he was receiving.  Even the act 
of holding his eyelids seemed taxing to him, so he allowed them to 
slide shut.  He felt himself begin to drift off again involuntarily, his 
thoughts growing more jumbled.  The last conscious thought he 
had was a vision of Scully appearing at his bedside with the 
moonlight gleaming on her beautiful bare skin. 




Day Six
5:00 PM

Scully sighed sadly as she pulled off her coat and flung it over the 
chair near her desk.  She gazed around her apartment wistfully 
thinking that it usually held a sense of peaceful refuge for her.  
Tonight, however, it seemed cold and empty.  She and Mulder had 
left the hospital nearly an hour ago, after they had completed the 
routine tests to show their fitness for release.  She still felt lethargic 
as if she had been drugged, but her chart had not indicated the 
introduction of narcotics for her treatment.  To her medical mind 
the whole thing seemed odd, considering the fact that they had 
supposedly been discovered poorly sheltered from the cold on 
some hillside, hardly conscious.  She would have expected more 
damage from the cold, and felt irritated by her lack of memories 
regarding the last events prior to their rescue.  The ride home had 
been oddly quiet, as a bureau designee in an unmarked sedan 
escorted them to their homes. They had agreed that their 
circumstance was due to the actions of some unknown party, but 
had not continued to debate the details since neither of them felt 
they had command over what had eventually happened.  Although 
having already expressed his concern for her earlier, she had 
caught Mulder looking at her thoughtfully more than once during 
the ride.  She had had an unusual desire to lean against his chest 
and weep at one point, which left her feeling uneasy.  Then, when 
they had pulled up in front of her apartment, she had slipped out of 
the car hurriedly, offering a clipped goodbye.  She felt relieved to 
be parting with him and yet strangely saddened at the same time.  

Unaware that she had released another long sigh, Scully made her 
way to the bathroom.  When in doubt take a long bath she thought.  
She only hoped that she would not become too drowsy and fall 
asleep in the tub, as she began to run the steamy water, now 
scented with her favorite bath oil.  She stripped off the offending 
clothing and settled into water carefully, its heat prickling her skin 
at first.  She thought about her return from her snowy trip 
contemplating the warmth she had so craved a day before as she let 
her back sink against the shockingly cold surface of the tub behind 
her.  What was it that had happened she pondered intently.  She 
had been beyond caring about the cold, and she did remember 
trudging beside Mulder in the snow for ages.  Then the picture 
became unclear.  They were reported to have found some shelter in 
the rocks of the cliffs and huddled together staying warm until they 
had been discovered shortly afterwards.  This made no logical 
sense to her, but she also could not retrieve her own memories to 
offer a better explanation.

After her bath, Scully found her flannel gown and donned it 
happily, before seeking the warmth of her bed.  Some part of her 
seemed to retain the memory of the cold, and she longed for more 
warmth.  Her bed felt strange and cold tonight - more than usual.  
To her surprise she actually dropped off to sleep very quickly, but 
soon began to have restless dreams of her partner.  Mulder was 
kissing her and stroking her, and she was weeping as she called out 
his name over and over.  She awoke with a gasp, setting up in her 
bed startled.  Her mind was suddenly full of thoughts of Mulder, 
tending to her and making love to her in a quaint cabin in the 
mountains.  It seemed so vivid and yet how could this be?  Scully 
sat blinking away tears for the longest time as she sorted through 
these odd memories.  This must be a response to the trauma.  She 
was unable to remember the last 24 hours, and her mind must 
therefore be construing its own web of reality to fill the void.  But 
why Mulder?  Why this sexual fantasy?  She felt pricked by the 
guilt of knowing she entertained an attraction for him despite their 
friendship, and also felt worried that it appeared more active in her 
unconscious mind than she would've desired.  Lying back on her 
pillows and she rubbed her head wearily.  The clock said 12:15 am.  
It looked like the mandatory day off that Skinner had insisted on 
tomorrow would be a blessing after all.  Unexpectedly, the phone 
rang shrilly in the darkness, causing Dana to jump before reaching 
to answer it.

"Hello," she mumbled into the receiver, knowing it would be him.  

"It's me, Scully," breathed Mulder in a tired voice.  "Did I wake 
you?"  Scully sighed, staring into the darkness.

"No.I was awake again," she answered honestly.  "I keep having 
strange dreams."  Mulder was quiet for a moment as if weighing 
the meaning of her answer.

"Me, too," he offered finally.  "I still feel very confused about 
what happened to us.  I've been out for a drive trying to sort it 
out."

"I know, Mulder.  It just doesn't make sense to me," she said with 
frustration.  "What's going on here?" 

"I don't know, but I think it has to do with what we may or may 
not remember from our trip."  Neither of them spoke for a moment, 
each searching for something meaningful to add to this.  Mulder 
was the first to break the silence.

"Scully," he began tentatively.  "How tired are you?"  Dana 
crinkled her brow skeptically.

"Why, Mulder?" she demanded dryly.

"Well, I don't really want to get you up," he said slowly as she 
heard a suspicious noise in her living room, "and I hope you don't 
sleep naked.. well, let me just say that if you're naked it's fine 
with me, but I really don't want you to shoot me or anything."

"Mulder!?" she threatened as she sat up in bed to see a dark form 
moving to the bedroom doorway.

"Did I ever tell you how sexy you look in flannel?" he added into 
the cell phone as he came to stand at the foot of her bed.   Scully 
let the phone droop from her hand as she stared at him with her 
famous Scully glare.  Through the darkness he could sense her 
expression watching him as he pocketed his phone in his jacket, 
then slipped it off onto her bed.

"You're supposed to call first, Mulder, not as you're walking in 
the door," she instructed.  "What are you doing?"   She made a 
move to get up but he moved quickly to stop her from pulling the 
covers back.

"Don't," he whispered, his hand still clasping hers as he settled the 
blankets back against her.  She looked at him wordlessly with 
sudden confusion, his face now clear to her in the dim light from 
the street outside the bedroom window.  His expression was 
unusual, as if pleading with her in some way.

"We've known each other for a long time, Scully, and I think by 
now you know you can trust me."

"Mulder, why do I get the feeling I'm about to hear a cheap pick 
up line?" She asked sarcastically, trying to relieve the tension she 
was feeling.  What she expected was a typically witty come back 
from her partner, but what she got was an uncharacteristically 
deep, searching look, as he continued to stroke his thumb across 
her hand.

"I can't sleep and I can't turn off my brain tonight.  I don't want 
my misery to be yours, but I was beginning to feel like the only 
comfort I could get tonight was to be with you.  It's crazy I know 
but I haven't been able to shake it since I came around today in the 
hospital."  He spoke softly but emphatically, as Scully watched 
him intently.  Slowly she began shaking her head.

"I don't know what to say," she shrugged helplessly.  "I feel 
relieved that you're here, too, but in a confusing way," She 
gestured as she finished speaking allowing her hand to fall lightly 
against his chest.  He sat with his head bowed studying it art first 
without replying, then slowly kicked off his shoes.

"Scoot over," he said lifting the blankets and crawling in beside 
her.  He pulled her into his arms and sighed as he allowed himself 
to relax into the pillows.  So familiar he thought as he stroked her 
hair absently.  He wondered what she thought of his unusual 
behavior.  "I have been having flashes of a cabin in the mountains, 
Scully.  I keep thinking I have crossed some line with you in our 
relationship and now I don't know how to go back again."  He felt 
rather than heard her catch her breath.  Scully lay cradled against 
him warmly, realizing that her bed was no longer so cold or 
foreign.  She felt vulnerable and afraid while wanting to bury 
herself deeper.  When had she gone so soft for him she wondered?  
But then his words were shocking her.  How could he know her 
dreams?  Was it possible that they had actually violated that 
unspoken boundary?

"What do you mean?" she asked cautiously.  He drew in a deep 
breath then expelled it heavily.

"I don't know," he answered tiredly.  "I can't really remember 
everything but it's like I somehow left with you as my partner and 
came back feeling like, like some kind of a lover."  He sighed 
heavily rubbing his forehead with his free hand.  "I'm sorry, 
Scully.  I don't mean to scare you.  I didn't come here to..."

"No, Mulder, don't explain," she interrupted.  "I'm confused but 
not afraid... well, at least not exactly."  She rolled onto her back 
beside him and stared at the ceiling.  "I have been having dreams 
about a cabin, too."  She paused and swallowed hard feeling 
Mulder's stare fasten onto her now as she spoke.

"Mulder, I, I'm having dreams about us.. sexual dreams that are 
very realistic."  She stopped and held her breath, not daring to look 
at him.  He did not move or speak either, frightening her more.

"Somehow if I told you I had fantasized about this moment, 
Scully, I doubt if you'd be inclined to believe me," he said finally 
with a fraction of his usual humor.  She tried to smile but failed.

"I would've hoped it to be more memorable," she tried to offer.  
Mulder lay in silence again, his arm still under her head, his hand 
toying with her sleeve.

"Well, either we have violated bureau policy, potentially 
jeopardizing our work together on the x-files, or we have been 
deceived in some way for an undisclosed purpose that may yet 
unfold," he concluded.  Scully immediately frowned.  

"Mulder, surely you can't believe that anyone would go to the 
trouble of planting memories in our minds about sex!  For what 
possible reason would anyone benefit from such a crazy thing?" 
she spat.  "It's just as possible that in response to our recent trauma 
we could be manufacturing some shared delusion based on 
primitive survival needs, not to mention our close friendship."  
Mulder's eyes softened as he looked at the woman beside him. He 
moved to lay on his side facing her, softly touching her face with 
his hand.

"Methinks the lady doth protest too much," he whispered.  Then he 
leaned over and covered her mouth tenderly with his own, savoring 
the sweet contact before reluctantly pulling away from her.  She 
had not protested, as if curious to know what truth his kiss might 
reveal about this situation.  She had not expected to be shaken by 
it, however.  

"I think I should go," he said softly.  He felt overcome by emotion 
and desire, and was deciding that he could not afford to stay so 
near to her - not yet.  "I think we need some time to sort this out.  
I'll try to do some checking into what we may have stumbled 
across."  Scully wanted to scream at him to stay but allowed her 
rational side to speak for her instead.

"Right.  Maybe I can retrace our rescue and turn up some leads in 
the morning," she replied solemnly.  She was sitting up in bed 
now, watching as he put on his shoes.   When he was done he 
reached for his jacket and turned back to face her.  For a brief 
moment he searched her eyes, then he tangled one hand through 
the back of her hair, pulling her towards him to kiss her one last 
time.  It was a hard and brief kiss, and he was suddenly out of the 
room before she could think of another thing to say.  She stared 
after him sadly, and realized her night was definitely shaping up to 
be sleepless. 

One Week Later

The tall, elegant man paced impatiently, shooting furtive looks at 
the entrance of bungalow.  He was cold, despite the fire that 
burned brightly in hearth, and he found himself rubbing his hands 
together in annoyance.  He was unaccustomed to be kept waiting, 
particularly by his intended companion.  There was a time when 
that smoking snake would not have dreamed to be so bold.  Now it 
was all changed, and while he tried to deny it his blood ran cold 
from the fear that was taking root as the colonists were being 
challenged.  The others were so complacent - so willing to be led, 
leaving him no alternative but to turn to Krychek as an uneasy ally.  
They were all fools, every one of them.  Perhaps too late he was 
realizing his need of Mulder, and, grudgingly, he had to admit that 
the smoking man had possibly been right. It had once seemed that 
the man's interest in Mulder had lost objectivity - that perhaps he 
gained some vicarious sense of pride in Mulder's persistent 
uncovering of the truth.  Now he could see that Mulder was one of 
the very few potential hopes left for maintaining the world as he 
knew it.  The man's thoughts were suddenly interrupted by a soft 
knock on the door before it was opened.

"Hello again," greeted the new arrival, pulling his Morley from his 
lips.  

"You're late," sneered the older man.  The smoking man smiled 
and tilted his head.

"I'm here now, as you asked," he answered calmly.

"Yes, but of what benefit?  I wish to know about Mulder."  The 
well-enunciated man narrowed his eyes as he stared at his guest.  
He was disappointed to read little reaction.

"Mulder is well, and no doubt frustrated by now.  He will not find 
relief easily, as our plan has been well-concealed." 

"Will you go to him?"

"Soon," replied the smoking man pausing to inhale.  "It must be 
handled carefully so that there is little doubt."

"He is not ready to have the full implications of this event 
disclosed to him," stated the gray-headed man. "Are you certain 
that this experiment will succeed?"

"Dr. Manning is quite capable.  The organization should be pleased 
with the results."  The two men eyed one another for a silent 
moment, the one man smoking thoughtfully.  Finally the gray-
headed man broke the stony silence.

"I want to know what your intention is."  The smoking man 
chuckled, flicking the cigarette butt into the fire.

"My intention?" he asked.  "Perhaps the same as yours, and then 
again perhaps not.  I daresay that our route may be different 
although we share the same goal.  I have an investment in a future 
that protect us from extinction."  The well-enunciated man nodded with a grim 
smile.

"As do I.  Perhaps it is time that we find common ground."
The smoking man watched him thoughtfully, fairly sure he would 
never divulge his true plan for the sake of all involved.  It would be 
bad enough to have the risk of this alien rebellion becoming 
interested in his project, without the colonist becoming suspicious 
as well.  Thank God Mulder could persevere.  He pulled out 
another smoke and lit up.

"Perhaps."

The Bureau Basement / Week Seven
8:00 AM 

Scully sat leaning on the desk miserably, wishing she could right 
herself and go on with work this morning.  Almost seven weeks 
had passed already with no significant leads on the incident in 
Canada.  To top that off was the uneasy tension that had been 
growing between Mulder and herself as this mystery seemed to 
hang over head like a ominous storm cloud that might erupt at any 
time.  It was as if they were out of step and unable to return to the 
exact rhythm of their partnership, while also unable to move ahead 
to something less defined.

She had been in the middle of hitting yet another dead end in her 
computer search this morning when the queasiness began.  It was 
so strange to start her day out normally and then slowly become 
more and more ill.  She sighed loudly, trying to expel her fears 
with the breath.  Okay, this shouldn't be the cancer, right?  This is 
nausea, probably the flu, she told herself firmly.  Of course the 
medical doctor inside responded with diagnostic uncertainty.  If the 
tumor had begun to grow again there could be some dizziness with 
related nausea.  Oh God!  Another wave of sickness gripped her, 
and she buried her head in her hands.

"Morning, Scully!"  Boomed Mulder as he burst into the doorway 
in his usual rush.  "I have some new information that might help 
us." Mulder stopped abruptly in the middle of shedding his coat, 
growing instantly silent.  His eyes were locked on his partner's 
slumped form - an unfamiliar sight in the morning, which alarmed 
him.  Immediately he came to her side and knelt down.

"What is it, Scully?" he whispered with concern.  "What 
happened?"  Scully shook her head and tried to gently push him 
back from her.

"Nothing happened," she croaked unhappily.  "I'm just feeling 
sick!  Oh!"  Another strong wave of nausea assailed her and she 
grabbed the wastebasket by her feet.  To her dismay she heaved 
ungraciously into the can, unable to stop herself.  Mulder sat back 
on his heals with wide eyes, contemplating her more alarm.  He 
shook himself and reached for the tissues on her desk, handing 
them to her for her face as she quieted.  He rubbed her shoulder, 
watching her as she self-consciously used the tissues.

"Scully?"  He asked softly.

"I'm, I'm okay," She said finally, slowly shaking her head.  
"How embarrassing!"  Mulder sighed and smiled slightly.  

"What?  Tossing your cookies, or is there a party in the recent past 
you'd like to forget?"  Scully tried to laugh a little, breaking the 
tension.

"No, no party," she smiled weakly.  "Maybe the flu, huh?"  She 
glanced quickly at him, then averted her eyes.  Mulder's eyes 
narrowed in response to this and he found himself reaching to 
grasp her chin, turning her face back to look at him.  Deja vu.  
Scully's eyes filled slightly with tears not unlike they had after he 
had rescued her from Pfaster.

"What is it?" he probed gently.

"What if it's the cancer, Mulder?"  She murmured sadly.  "I know 
it's not rational, but what if it is?"  Mulder made a sympathetic 
sound and gathered her into his arms.

"Oh, Scully," he sighed sadly.  "Surely that's not it."  He rubbed 
her back and then added,  "I'm sorry you have to have that in the 
back of your mind now."  He felt her tremble.

"I know I'm just being emotional!  I'm sorry!"  She sobbed.  He 
chuckled affectionately, tightening his embrace slightly.

"I know!" he teased, although thinking this was a little more 
emotional than she tended to be with him.  "You're starting to 
sound like some girl!"  She laughed at that.  "Maybe you'd feel 
better if you gave the doctor a call and just clarified things.  You 
probably need to just go home and rest today."  She pulled away 
from him and nodded.

"You're right.  I'll give him a call to put my fears to rest, and see 
what he says."  She wiped her eyes with another tissue and blew 
her nose nosily.  There weren't too many people in her life she felt 
she could be sick around, and it comforted her that Mulder seemed 
to be one of them.

"Okay," he replied patting her knee.  "I'll get out of your way."  
He stood up and moved over to his desk, keeping a covert eye on 
her.  She seemed to be temporarily righted as she reached for her 
phone, flipping through her Rolodex with her free hand.  It was 
early still so Dana had to leave a message with the answering 
service, and await a return call.  Both of them busied themselves, 
he with work and she with tying up the offending bag in the waste 
can.  She was relieved and surprised that the nausea was gone for 
the moment, as she returned to her desk.  After what seemed an 
eternity, the phone finally rang.  

Mulder heard her accept the call from the operator, catching 
enough from her words to ascertain it was the physician's call.  He 
tried to concentrate on his computer monitor while she spoke to the 
doctor in the background, but found himself distracted as she 
arranged for an appointment.  If he were honest he would admit 
that any illness Scully might have these days brought up the 
memories of her recent cancer.  He was trying to repress that for 
her sake, but he wanted reassurance for himself.

"Well, Mulder, he told me to come in for precaution but agreed 
that it's probably something that's going around during the cold 
weather."  Scully had walked over to his desk, while he attempted 
to appear surprised by her approach.  He's a bad actor, she thought 
with amusement, aware that he probably listened to every word.

"Okay, good," he replied nodding.  "Do you want me to go with 
you?"

"No, no," she quickly answered.  "I'm fine.  I'm sure I'll have no 
problem getting there.  I'm already feeling better."

"Good," he clipped slightly disappointed that she declined his 
offer.  Oh well.  He knew he would be reluctant to have her join 
him for a trip to his doctor for a routine illness.  "Are you leaving 
now?"

"Yes, he's going to squeeze me in early," she answered as she got 
her coat from the tree.  "I'll be back soon I hope."

"You don't need to come back in, Scully," admonished Mulder.  
"Go home and rest for God's sake.  I promise to call if anything 
exciting happens."  She flashed him a warning look as she walked 
over to the door.

"I don't think I'm feeling that bad," she cautioned him, now fully 
composed and cool.  "I'll call you if I change my mind."  She 
smiled and slipped out of the door, leaving him to stare mindlessly 
at the computer.  How the hell was he supposed to concentrate 
now?  A small part of him was beginning to worry about the 
dreaded disease, and he realized how much he had been deluding 
himself into thinking it was gone now for good.  He angrily 
wadded a nearby memo on office safety and flung it across the 
room.

Rural Indiana / Week Eight
1:00 PM

Dr. Manning walked across the campus of the naval weapons 
depot considering the sun over head.  The cold weather was 
beginning to break, and the first signs of spring were emerging.  It 
was nearly warm enough to go without a coat today, and he felt 
enlivened as he surveyed the rural hillsides around the base.  What 
a contrast he thought, considering the immense destructive 
capabilities of the storage lying within this sleepy forest area.  No 
one knew just what the military still authorized and produced there 
really.  In this part of the country people were just happy to still 
work as civilian employees in the factory portion, although 
government cutbacks and proposed elimination of stockpiled 
weaponry were constant threats to job security.  It was a known 
fact among the locals, however, that this part of the state was 
subject to strange sights in the skies at night, and low flying fighter 
squads by day.  Residents of this sleepy area were either apt to 
dismiss unusual sights as military functions, or to believe in some 
sort of UFO mythology.  Of course there were just as many who 
believed their solace would be found in the pews of a fire and 
brimstone church house, safely tucked away from the unexplained, 
and possibly evil visitors in the deeply quiet nights.

Dr. Manning was greeted curtly by a semi-casually dressed man at 
the entrance of one of the grassy bunkers.  The building was 
undetectable by air laying burrowed into the hillside like the 
hundreds of other naturally formed knolls.  Dr. Manning wondered 
idly how long the Soviets had known about such locations given 
the intense spy networking over the last 30 years.  He was quite 
sure that these details were better known to foreign spectators than 
to the American people, although he highly doubted that anyone 
would guess the contents of this particular locale.

The doctor's eyes adjusted slowly to the dimmer light as he 
followed his host down the corridor.  Finally he arrived at another 
doorway, and was shown in without preamble.  The small grayish 
creature looked at him with large almond shaped eyes as he 
approached.  As was common, Dr. Manning felt the surge of 
warmth and love flood over him from the creature.  He would 
never quite be prepared for this sensation, although he longed for 
in their absences from one another, and laughed with pleasure as 
he began to sense its thoughts.   He was also happy to come 
prepared with a new plan that had been taking root since the recent 
implantation he had performed in Canada.  He was eager to share 
his ideas with this companion, and trembled as the shiver of 
electrical stimulation flowed through him.  How wonderful to be 
connected once again, he thought happily

Scully's Apartment
6:20 AM

Scully slammed her hand down on the snooze button and slowly 
opened her eyes.  She was so tired this morning, having hit the 
snooze twice already. She groaned to herself wondering why she 
hated to get up today, finally managing to sit up and survey her 
room apathetically.  She flipped the alarm off grumpily and hauled 
herself out of bed and towards the shower.  It wasn't so bad when 
the hot water began running over her calling her to life, until she 
reached for the shampoo bottle and caught a nose full of citrus 
scent.  Her eyes flew open in surprise as her stomach knotted, and 
she let out a gasp of repulsion.  What was wrong with that stuff 
today?  Before she could shove it back into the shower caddy 
another bout of queasiness came over her.  Shit!  She was going to 
vomit again!  Stumbling out of the tub, she throw open the toilet 
and heaved, uncaring that she dripped water everywhere.  When 
she was done, she wiped her face and wearily shut off the shower.  
Her face felt flushed as she viewed herself in the mirror, wrapping 
her towel around herself with trembling hands.  This was not good.  
More than a 24-hour bug, she thought unhappily.  The lab results 
would not be any too soon in coming.  It would be a relief to know 
what was going on.  Sufficiently dried, Scully fastened the towel 
around herself and headed for her phone.  The nausea had abated 
but this time it was not gone entirely.  She quickly dialed Mulder's 
number.

"Yeah?"  came his breathless answer.  He must've been out for a 
run already.

"Hi, it's me."  She said.

"What's up?"  He asked, as he searched his empty refrigerator in 
vain for some juice.

"Well,' she breathed.  "I'm feeling sick again this morning and I'm 
thinking I'll just stay home until this passes."

"Again?"  He asked furrowing his brow as he slammed the fridge 
closed.  "I thought you said you were better."

"Yeah, I thought I was, but I'm having a repeat of last week here."      

"When is the doctor calling about the rest of those tests?" he asked 
feeling a growing concern.

"Later today," she answered, then added, "I'm sure it's nothing."

"Well call me when you hear from them, okay?"  

"Sure," she agreed.  "I'm going to call the bureau and let them 
know I'll be home.  I'll talk to you later."  She replaced the 
receiver and quickly pulled on clean sweats from her drawer before 
calling in.  Maybe some hot tea would settle her stomach.  

Mulder's Apartment
12:10 PM


Mulder stood in the middle of his living room stretching his arms 
above his head. With Scully gone he had become distracted, and 
since it was Friday he had finally taken the afternoon off.  He 
hadn't done that in ages, and felt a little guilty since he could not 
think of one useful thing to do.  More and more he was beginning 
to hate being here alone in this quiet.  Too damn quiet, he thought.  
He literally jumped when the knock came on his door at the next 
instance.  Peering out the peephole, Mulder blinked as an array of 
emotions swept over his face, finally settling on disgust.  He threw 
the door open.  Part of him was shocked to hell to see the smoking 
bastard standing there in front of him, while another part of him 
sneered at the predictability of good fortune for the evil.

"Whatever you're selling, I don't want any," he smirked and 
moved to close the door.  The Cigarette Smoking Man laughed 
lowly, as he stopped the door with his foot.

"Of course you do, Agent Mulder!  Why else did you bother to 
open the door?"  he mocked.  Mulder paused feeling irritated.

"So you've come back from the dead to deceive me with some 
more lies, I presume," sneered Mulder.  His visitor continued to 
smile.

"You seem unappreciative of my help with your pretty partner, 
although I see she is well.  Now I've come to offer some important 
information to you," he cooed proudly as he pulled out his package 
of smokes.  "Walk with me."  Mulder frowned and pulled his door 
closed behind him as he reluctantly followed his foe.  They entered 
the elevator in silence, the older man lighting up, attentive to his 
Morley.

"So enough cloak and dagger," asserted Mulder impatiently.  
"What's this about?"  The smoking man nodded as he took a drag, 
reaching into his suit coat he produced a legal sized envelope, and 
handed it to Mulder.   Fox opened it curiously as the elevator hit 
ground floor, and unfolded the contents while he followed his 
smoking companion out.  His steps slowed and his brow furrowed 
as he hurriedly scanned the document.   He looked up at the other 
man with a puzzled face as his lips moved wordlessly at first.

"I don't understand what I'm supposed to be looking at here," he 
shook his head extending the papers out in front himself.  "This 
looks like a DNA report of some sort, but..." Cancerman's smile 
deepened in a mocking manner, seeming somewhat pleased.

"Yes, it is," he confirmed.  "Yours, is it not?"  Mulder nodded 
slowly, examining the remainder of the document more closely.  
They had come to a stop just outside the apartment building in the 
hot midday sun.

"Mine..and Scully's." he murmured then froze.  "You bastard!"  
Mulder gritted his teeth and glared at the other man with hate.  
"What is this about?"  The smoking man tilted his head slightly 
with a gleam in his eyes as he regarded Mulder.  It was a pity that 
Mulder did not comprehend his affection for him, he thought.  In 
fact, Mulder had no idea of the extent his favor had gone.

"You tell me, Mulder," he quipped.  "Two very dedicated partners, 
one of which is now very pregnant.  I suspect you can fill in the 
blanks."   Mulder was wild-eyed and furious, but his voice 
remained low and menacing.

"I should have killed you when I had the chance," he hissed.  "We 
both know Scully can't have children.  You took that from her a 
long time ago!  What possible gain could you find in spreading this 
lie, and attempt to involve me?"

"You are the one who is deceived, my friend," said the Cigarette 
Smoking Man as he stamped out his butt on the ground.  "I am 
informing you of a fact that is of great importance to you.  How 
you handle that is up to you."  

"And I suppose you had hoped to generously share this with me for 
my own benefit," replied Mulder with narrowing eyes.

"Of course.  And also to ascertain your interest in this matter.  If 
this were to become public knowledge it would no doubt create 
certain...problems for you and your lovely partner," her smiled, 
thrusting his hands into his pockets.  "Of course there are ways to 
prevent that from happening, if you so desire." 

"What?  To eliminate a pregnancy that doesn't exist to save my 
good name, I suppose," sneered Mulder.  "What kind of fool do 
you think I am?"

"A fool in love perhaps," sighed the older man, suddenly solemn.  
"There is time for decisions later on, Agent Mulder.  Go find your 
truth out, and then I will see you again."  He drew out another 
smoke and lit it up as Mulder watched dismally.  What Fox knew 
in his heart was that this man would not go to this trouble without 
some card to play.  The brief scenarios he was just reviewing in his 
head did not comfort him in this moment given that fact.  
Cancerman nodded and turned away from him as he walked away, 
leaving Mulder with the reports in his hand looking after him.


4:00 PM

Scully had settled into the sofa with a neglected novel, feeling 
much better as well as somewhat guilty for being at home.  When 
the phone finally rang, the book had fallen onto her chest and she 
was dozing lightly.  She found herself shaking the daze and 
stumbling to the nearby cordless, sinking back onto the couch 
heavily.  Why hadn't she remembered to move that thing closer to 
the couch?

"Hello?"  She responded.

"Hello, Miss Scully please."

"This is her speaking."

"Hello, Miss Scully.  This is Dr. Roman's office calling.  Just a 
moment and we'll put him on."  Dana held her breath 
unconsciously as she awaited his voice.

"Hello, Dana?" came his voice shortly.

"Yes, Dr. Roman."

"Well I have good news.  Your tests indicate that the cancer is still 
in remission and in fact the tumor is gone, which is incredible."  
Scully breathed a sigh of thankful relief.  

"That's a relief!" she admitted.  "But doctor, I am still ill.  
The vomiting never returned after the first episode in the 
morning last week, but then this morning I was having it again.  The nausea 
stayed with me a bit longer although I'm feeling better now."  

"Well, I'm not surprised." he said empathetically.  "I ran a full 
battery of tests as you know and the one obvious thing we were of 
course overlooking was a normal case of pregnancy."

"What?" she spat.  "Doctor surely you remember my records.  I 
have been infertile for quite some time!"

"I'm sorry, Dana.  I don't intend to be upsetting, but as a doctor 
yourself, you know that the test is always ran for women your age 
as a precaution before administering other treatments.  Yours 
happened to unexpectedly turn up positive."  There was a silence 
on the phone line as Scully pondered his words with irritation.  
Finally her doctor broke the silence.

"Look, we can rerun the test, but we both know that there are cases 
of apparently infertile women who become pregnant for whatever 
reason.  You do not have damage to your ovaries despite the 
absence of ovulation.  At least consider this possibility to be safe, 
no matter how extreme it may seem."  Scully nearly laughed at the 
absurdity of this statement.  If he had any idea about extreme 
possibilities.

"Okay, I do want to rerun the test," She stated firmly.  "I can do 
that myself, though, tomorrow morning.  I'm afraid this is a false 
positive, and that we're going to miss the real culprit."

"All right then,' he agreed.  "But keep me informed.  We need to 
start good prenatal care as soon as possible, and watch for the 
presence of the cancer.  And, we need to keep checking this if it 
doesn't bear out to be the pregnancy as I'm suspecting."

When Dana hung up the phone her mind flew in a thousand 
directions.  This was crazy!  Her medical mind acknowledged the 
symptom checklist, and leaped to diseases mimicking pregnancy.  
Simultaneously she thought of her missing time in the mountains 
and the recurring sexual dreams.  Could it be that they had slept 
together?  But even so, it was impossible for her to be pregnant.  
That would require that she be ovulating or at least implanted with 
a fertile egg.  Unbidden, the memories of Emily flooded over her 
painfully.  Emily had been hers without the benefit of her body as 
the host.  Surely it couldn't be as twisted as that..Surely she 
would not be allowed to be impregnated with her consciously 
becoming aware she that was having such a baby... 

She sat very still on the sofa as she was flooded with the 
implications of this new consideration.  What would she tell 
Mulder?  Worse yet, what if she allowed herself to believe in this 
only to find it was a cruel mistake, leaving her once again with the 
reality of childlessness?  What if it would be another abnormal 
child that would soon be taken from her?  How would she work?  
Suddenly the idea of chasing vampires or a ruthless artificial 
intelligence was appalling.  When was enough going to be enough?  
In that moment Scully began to weep mournfully, not hearing the 
soft knock on the door or Mulder's entrance into the room.  Her 
heart jumped when his arms were suddenly around her, cradling 
her against his chest.

Outside FBI Headquarters / Week Nine

"Agent Spender!" called the elegant older man from his limousine 
window.  The young FBI agent stopped abruptly on the sidewalk 
and stared at the man without recognition.

"I'm sorry, do I know you?" he responded furrowing his brow. 

"I doubt that, but what matters is that I know you."  The well-
enunciated man's eyes gleamed as he stared provocatively at 
Spender.  The younger man was drawn to the car still appearing 
puzzled.

"What's this about?" he asked cautiously.

"It's about the truth about your mother's whereabouts," answered 
the gentleman.  "And, I'm afraid this concerns your father as 
well." He could see the muscles in Spender's face begin to work 
but admired him for not giving in so easily.

"I'm afraid I still don't know what you mean," replied Agent 
Spender.  This brought a smile to the old man's face and he 
gestured towards the car door.

"Get in and I will be pleased to fill you in," he invited.  Spender 
paused a moment, eyeing him suspiciously before finally deciding 
to comply.  Once he had entered the car it pulled away from the 
curb smoothly, but not without being observed from a short 
distance away by Assistant Director Skinner.

Skinner pondered the scene he had inadvertently witnessed, while 
remembering the unusual and powerful support being exercised 
from above on Spender's behalf.  He had felt suspicious of it then, 
and now felt reinforced for his uneasiness.  Maybe it was time to 
do some checking on this young agent himself.


FBI Headquarters / Week Ten
12:00 PM

Skinner stood up as Mulder entered the room, extending his hand 
to indicate that Mulder should sit down.  Fox nodded curtly, and 
seated himself before making eye contact with his superior.  For a 
moment both men eyed one another as if they might be two 
challengers about to spar.  Skinner was the first to break the 
silence.

"So, Mulder," he began classically.  "What's this about?"

"It's about Agent Scully, sir..and myself," he replied tersely.

"Go on," he said without blinking.

"As you know, we were recovered from Canada over nearly two 
months ago, and have been unable to find a satisfactory 
explanation for parts of this trip that neither she nor I can clearly 
recall," summarized Mulder.  "What I feel certain of is that it was 
no accident that we were teased out on this mission with no 
apparent validity regarding the alleged craft."

"What are you saying, Mulder?" questioned Skinner quietly as he 
toyed with his pen.

"I'm saying that I believe that Scully and I were set up to go to this 
location for another reason that has been conveniently wiped out of 
our memories.  I believe something happened to us while we were 
there." Mulder grew quiet and appeared more troubled.

"What do you mean?" demanded Skinner as he leaned into his 
desk further.  "Why would anyone lure you to Canada and find it 
necessary to block your memory of what took place?"  Skinner's 
eyes bore into Mulder's, and the younger man shook his head 
slowly.

"I don't know yet, sir," he breathed wearily.  "What I do know is 
that the smoking man has paid me a visit recently, and dropped off 
something of interest."  Skinner's jaw dropped open.

"It can't be!" he exclaimed incredulously.  "He's dead!"

"Oh no!  He is alive and very well, I assure you," smirked Mulder 
as he tossed the reports onto Skinner's desk.  "He also apparently 
knew that Agent Scully is pregnant before she knew this herself."  
Now Skinner sat frozen in his chair, studying Mulder's face as if in 
shock.

"Scully is pregnant?"  He gasped out finally.  "How can that be?  I 
understood her to say that she has been barren after her 
disappearance with Duane Barry."

"Exactly," agreed Mulder shifting in his chair.  "So how is it that 
she is suddenly in a family way with that bastard acting as if he 
had knowledge prior to the fact?"  Skinner slowly rubbed his head 
and furrowed his brow.  Then, remembering the papers, he picked 
them up.

"So what's this?"  He asked as he started to skim them.

"A gift from the smoking man to me," he replied dryly.  "It would 
seem that I am the father of this miracle child."  Skinner shot him a 
searching look before hurriedly skimming the documents over to 
confirm what had just been said to him.  This report indicated that 
a zygote comprised of the DNA of two of his best agents was now 
incubating in Scully's uterus.  He didn't know whether to chastise 
Mulder for an unbelievable story designed to explain an unplanned 
pregnancy, or to be boggled by this science fiction.  How the hell 
would the Cigarette Smoking Man have access to Scully's medical 
information before she herself had gathered such a result?

"We're positive that she's pregnant?"

"I'm afraid the proverbial rabbit has died, sir," shrugged Mulder 
with a hint of a sarcastic smile.  Skinner stared him down a 
moment then sighed loudly, tipping his head to the side with raised 
eyebrows.

"And there is no chance that you have fathered this baby?" he 
asked abruptly.  Mulder hung his head.

"I can neither confirm nor deny that, sir," he answered honestly.  "I 
know that prior to my trip to Canada I had not crossed boundaries 
with Dana sexually.  As you know, I can't remember all the events 
after that.  I sometimes think that perhaps I have, but then I can't 
even be sure that someone else hasn't created even those doubts in 
my head.

"Mulder, do you realize what you're asking me to believe?"  
Sighed Skinned as he leaned back into his chair.

"I know it sounds impossible, sir, but I'm telling you this because I 
need your help.  You yourself know the lengths our own 
government has gone to in dabbling in this alien material, which is 
quite unbelievable in itself.  I can't see too many people for she and 
I to turn about this, much less seek help in understanding what's 
truly happening here."  Skinner sat quietly contemplating this for a 
moment then nodded.  It occurred to him that he might share his 
thoughts with Mulder regarding Agent Spender and his mother, but 
thought better of it.  He would wait until he knew more.

"Okay," he said.  "What have you turned up about this trip so far?"  
Mulder nodded gratefully, the proceeded to fill the A.D. in.

The Bureau Canteen
12:30 PM

Scully had sought the restroom after irritably surveying the staring 
faces in the cafeteria.  If she was feeling better these days she 
might feel more thick-skinned about the apparent idle gossips.  
Why did any educated person have to think in such a narrow scope 
anyway?   She took a dampened paper towel with cold water and 
patted her flushed face.  Tossing it aside she entered one of the 
stalls.  When the restroom door opened she could her the laughing 
female voices before the women came in.

"Yeah, they call her the ice princess!" laughed one loudly.

"No shit?" came another voice.  A third woman laughed lowly.

"Doesn't look like the label fits, does it girls?"  She smirked.  "Of 
course I'm guessing Agent Mulder could charm the pants off of 
any woman!"  A trio of giggles ensued.  Dana remained quiet in 
the stall.  She marveled at how high school this all seemed.  Who 
were these women anyway?

"Sounds like Mrs. Spooky was a more fitting name, given the 
circumstances, doesn't it?"  Dana heard the click of the lighter, 
followed by the acrid smell of cigarettes.  Naturally.  The building 
had gone to non-smoking so it was back to smoking in the 
bathrooms on the sly.

"How do you know he got her knocked up?" asked the girl with the 
softer voice.  

"Oh, God, girl!  Where have you been?  For five years people have 
been talking about those two!  It was just a matter of time!"

"Yeah, Elaine up in Skinners office was just telling us about how 
she was fussing over his tie like some wife a few months ago.  She 
said Dana was all over him.  And don't forget what Ellen said 
about the morning sickness.  She said Scully has been bad with it 
for a couple of weeks now!"

"Geesh!" spat another.  "I don't get it!  She's supposed to have all 
these brains.  Doesn't she know how to use a rubber?"  The three 
women burst out in laughter.  Dana Scully was furious.  She 
flushed the toilet and felt more than heard the deadly hush fall over 
the room.  With her head high, she exited the stall, and walked 
among the women to the sink.  They stood there flustered at the 
sight of her, unable to move or speak.

"You know I never cared for those things, did you?" she offered 
coolly.  "Too uncomfortable.  And, after all, when you have a real 
man instead of just dreaming about it, you want to enjoy every 
inch of him.  Don't you agree?"  She turned to face them down and 
noted with pleasure that they all dropped their eyes in silence.  
Smiling, she walked out of the room and headed straight to her 
desk.  Once in the office, however, she slumped her shoulders and 
allowed the shame and rage to consume her.  Thank God Mulder 
was out.  Impulsively she flung open her desk drawer and searched 
through the file folders rapidly.  Finally she found what she was 
looking for, and stuffed the form into the typewriter with force.  
When she was done she sealed it in the manila enveloped and 
hastily headed for Skinner's office.  It was time that she handled 
this mess in a sensible way.  When she arrived at the A.D.'s outer 
office she encountered the infamous Elaine who smiled sweetly at 
her approaching form.

"Elaine, will you see that Assistant Director Skinner gets this 
please?"  Clipped Scully impatiently.

"Of course, Dana.  He should be out of his meeting soon.  He's 
with Mulder, as I'm sure you know."  Elaine continued to smile 
sweetly.  Dana sighed irritably.

"No, as a matter of fact I didn't know, but thank you for alerting 
me.  And Elaine."

"Yes?"

"Just for the record all I did was fix his tie.  I was not all over him.  
I would appreciate that you report fact not fiction in the future."  
Elaine's smile evaporated as her eyes widened.  Scully, however, 
did not remain to observe her further, as she walked decisively out 
of the room.

Mulder's Apartment
6:00 PM

"You did what?" clipped Mulder irritably pacing the floor in front 
of his sofa where Scully now sat quietly.

"I've resigned from the X-files effective immediately.  I am asking 
to return to Quantico to teach," she repeated without looking at 
him.  Mulder felt his anger building.

"You're transferring just like that?  No discussion, just up and go?"  
He ran his hand through his hair with exasperation.  What was she 
doing?

"Mulder, I am making a logical choice given 
these circumstances.  You cannot afford to have a partner you 
can't rely on or with whom the agency questions the propriety of 
your relationship!"  Mulder continued to pace, throwing his arms 
around in the air.

"Don't you think I should be the judge of that?" he argued.  "Are 
there other decisions you may be considering for me that I'm not 
aware of?"  Scully dropped her head and did not answer.  Part of 
her was hurt by his tone, and still another part of her felt convicted.  
Mulder noticed her response immediately, halting in front of her 
now. 

"Dana?" he asked angrily.  "What else is there?"

"Mulder, it's about this baby.  I..." She swallowed without relief 
feeling the walls of her throat go dry.  "I'm thinking of running 
some tests to check for anomalies.  I'm not sure I'm going to carry 
it to term if there are abnormalities."  There, she had said it, feeling 
sick as the words left her mouth.  Mulder's face fell flat and he 
turned away from her.  Silence fell over the room and she could 
almost imagine she could physically feel him withdrawing from 
her.

Fox Mulder slowly came to stand by the window, staring out with 
unseeing eyes.  What did he feel he wondered, as if he were 
somehow detached from his own body?  How could he reconcile 
the fear, the pain, the desolation he felt at the idea of her parting 
from him after so long, not mention the complication of this child.  
Did he imagine he wanted to father it, or was it merely macabre 
curiosity that drove him to want to see the end product of a 
potentially quasi-human-alien being?  He could not blame Scully 
for her choices and yet he did.  How dare she choose this for him 
without talking about it first?

"Mulder, I'm sorry if this upsets you," she began tentatively.  
"When we discussed the pregnancy at first neither of us knew how 
to feel about it.  While I'm eager to be a mother I refuse to be 
someone's lab rat, only to fear that my offspring will be snatched 
away or die or be killed if it survives birth!  And you can't honestly 
say you are ready yourself for this to happen!"  Scully had come 
over to stand beside him, starting to reach her hand out to touch his 
arm, then dropped it away as she sensed his remote coldness.

"I don't know what to say to you, Scully," he said lowly.  "You're 
right, it's your body, and you have in many ways been down this 
road before with Emily.  The longer you carry this baby the harder 
it will be for you if something is not right with it.  Your 
impulsivity is unacceptable, however.  What drives you to fly away 
so quickly before you even have all of the facts?"

"What other facts do I need, Mulder?" she cried in frustration.  
"Somebody implanted my body with a fertilized egg with an 
unknown agenda, and given the things we have witnessed in the 
recent past I don't feel too damned confident about this!"  She felt 
her temper rising and an unaccustomed amount of emotion begin 
to grip her.  "And quite honestly I can't say that I know exactly 
what I'm flying away from right now.  Did you suppose you might 
make me an honorable woman?"  She spat out the final words and 
they hung in the air ominously.  For over five years they had 
struggled and often disagreed, but rarely ever wounded one another 
with intent.  Mulder stood stone still without looking at her.

"You're right, Scully," he said with a low angry menace.  "I don't 
have anything to offer you."  Stiffly he turned away from her and 
strode out of the apartment, leaving her to stare after him 
miserably.

FBI Headquarters / Two Weeks Later

The tension in the basement had become thick between Mulder and 
Scully, causing Dana to seek leads outside of his company when 
possible.  Skinner had called her right away to acknowledge her 
resignation, but also to inform her that it would be delayed until he 
felt clear he had given it proper consideration.  While he had 
indicated that she was free to disagree with this choice, it was 
implied in his tone that she would be up for a fight if she did 
question this action.  Part of her thought to assert her right to a 
speedy transfer, but another part of her fought the idea of actually 
leaving her work with Mulder.  The ambivalence was quite painful.  
In the end she decided to allow Skinner his time with this, wishing 
to think her actions through rather than being impulsive as Mulder 
had accused her of being.  She was lost in this dilemma as she 
strolled through the agency hallway with a file in her hand.  She 
was scarcely aware that Agent Spender had joined her until he 
began to speak.

"Hello, Agent Scully," he greeted softly with a smile that did not 
appear heart felt.  Dana's eyes flew to his face in surprise.

"Oh," she said mustering a smile in return.  "I'm sorry.  I didn't see 
you.  How are you?"

"As good as can be expected," he offered falling into step with her.  
" I was actually on my way to pay you a visit."

"Oh really?" she questioned throwing him a side-glance.  "On what 
occasion?"  Spender sent her an admiring look before continuing.

"I had hoped you would agree to have lunch with me today," he 
answered simply.  "Oh, and I was thinking of something outside of 
the bureau where we could talk more...freely."  Scully's steps 
slowed as she considered him for a moment.

"Well, I'm not sure what to say," she groped awkwardly before he 
interrupted.

"Then say yes," he urged her.  "I think you'll appreciate hearing 
what's on my mind."  He applied his most charming smile, and she 
attempted to respond likewise, though feeling unease.  Her 
curiosity was aroused by this approach.

"All right," she answered more brightly than she felt.  "Let me 
leave this on my desk and grab my things.  I'll meet you back at the 
entrance in five minutes.  

Dana did not pause to explain her plans as she breezed into the 
office and retrieved her jacket and purse.  Mulder looked up at her 
and thought to ask then bit back the question miserably.  She did 
not look at him at all fearing it might deter her from her plan, 
feeling some guilty need to fill him in on Spender's unusual 
request.

When she rejoined the younger agent, they walked to a nearby pub 
that offered a tasteful refuge for government employees.  Once 
seated they quickly ordered and Spender was allowed to get down 
to business.

"I know you are curious about why I've asked you to join me," he 
began with an innocent face.  Scully smiled and nodded slowly.

"Yes, I'll have to admit that I am," she answered directly.  Spender 
smiled calmly, in an almost familiar way, although Scully could 
not quite place it.

"You were involved with my mother prior to her disappearance, 
and I will admit that I may have came off in an accusing way.  I 
first of all want to apologize for that and would like to get off on a 
better footing with you."  He paused and looked at her imploringly.  
She smiled pleasantly and nodded, still holding back her trust of 
him.

"I can understand how difficult it must be to lose your mother 
given the circumstances," she offered kindly.

"Yes, well, it has been a number of difficult years, Agent Scully, 
and making my way into the agency has been an uphill climb in 
light of my strange family history."  He paused a moment and 
studied her reaction.  "I'll be frank, Agent Scully, and tell you that I 
do not like your partner.  In my mind he is partly responsible for 
my mother and others like her chasing headlong into delusional 
material that conveniently had taken them from the very painful 
realities.  I did not mean to offend you or to imply that you were a 
party to his views.  I recently learned you have not been assigned 
to work with him by choice."  Scully listened to him with her most 
analytical gaze, pondering his words carefully.  While she would 
not care to share the truth with this man, she could easily refute 
that much of her work with Mulder had ended up to be a choice 
forced upon her.

"You seem almost sympathetic for me, Agent Spender," she 
remarked dryly.

"I suppose I am, Scully.  You are known to be one of the brightest 
minds in the bureau, yet your career has been shipwrecked with the 
x-files!" he exclaimed, pausing to allow the waitress to serve them 
drinks and salads.  He leaned forward eagerly once the server was 
gone.  "I suppose I feel we are kindred spirits in a way, both 
fighting against this stigma of paranormal bullshit to establish a 
credible career.  I believe we both have been dealt bad hands by 
the same men in our own government."  He finished as he eyed 
her with anticipation.  Scully did not appear affected.  Criticisms of 
Mulder or the x-files were hardly ways to endear her to anyone.

"And what do you know of my so-called 'bad hand'?"  She asked 
with a false smile.  Spender sat back and adapted a cool smile.  She 
was going to be tougher than he imagined.

"I know you have been forced to work on cases that offer you little 
positive recognition, that have caused you great danger, and have 
left you to chase after a man who seems unable to return your 
affection."  He replied smoothly, taking a bite of his food.  Scully 
grew pale with anger.

"Agent Spender, I believe you have presumed too much!" she 
breathed to him lowly.  He smiled without disruption.

"Have I?" he asked coldly.  "I hear rumors that indicate that 
Mulder has taken advantage of you at last in the ultimate way.  I 
know you are thinking of quitting the x-files, and with just cause.  
What I am proposing is that you reconsider your options.  Work 
with me.  Don't go hide in Quantico, for God's sake - you'll be 
wasted there!"  Spender reached out his hand and covered hers but 
the action just made her blood run colder.  She snatched hers away 
with revulsion.

"You are out of line, Spender!" she spat with cold anger.  "You 
have no idea what you're talking about, and I can't imagine what 
work you could possibly be involved in that you might think I 
would want to join you!"  Scully shoved out her chair and stood to 
her feet.  Spender jumped to his feet as well.

"The same search you're involved in!" he exclaimed.  "Search with 
me for my mother, and we will also find the answers to what has 
happened to you.  I've read your file.  I know why you visited my 
mother before she disappeared!  Mulder will only lead you into 
more destruction if you try to do it his way.  He's already more 
than proved that to you!"  By now Spender's eyes were blazing, 
and while Scully wondered at the hate he seemed to possess for 
Mulder, she was not inclined to keep his company any longer.

"I'm afraid this conversation and lunch are over!"  She hissed, and 
walked away from her irritating companion with haste.  He stood 
staring after her with anger, before returning to his lunch sullenly.

As Scully returned to the bureau she was met by Assistant Director 
Skinner in the hallway.  He seemed relieved to see her.

"Agent Scully, can I have a word with you please?"  He inquired in 
a professional tone as he motioned her aside.

"Certainly, sir," she replied, wondering if her cheeks were still 
burning from her contact with Spender.

"I wanted to speak to you about Agent Spender."

"Sir?" she responded in surprise as he studied her carefully.

"I saw you leave with him earlier and I'm glad I have a chance to 
speak to you about it now, because I am concerned about his 
alliances."  Skinner furrowed his brow looking into her questioning 
eyes.  "I have reason to believe that he has contacts with the 
associates of our old friend, Cancerman.  I haven't sorted out his 
full relationship, but I would caution you to be careful how far you 
might trust him."  Skinner seemed relieved to have shared this and 
searched her for a response.  Scully sighed audibly.

"Well, sir, that may explain his energy in dissuading me from 
continuing with the x-files, not to mention the animosity he seems 
to harbor for Mulder," she explained thoughtfully.  

"He dislikes Mulder?"  Queried Skinner curiously.

"Apparently so," replied Scully with raised eyebrows.  They stood 
in silence a moment before her supervisor spoke first.

"About your resignation, Scully." he began.

"Yes, well I may be having second thoughts about that sir,' she 
interrupted quickly.

"Good," he clipped.  "I am scheduling a meeting for the two of you 
in my office next week to discuss this further.  I will see you then."
She nodded as he walked away, trying to sort through his 
confusing interaction.  


Assistant Director Skinner's Office / Week Thirteen

"I've called the two of you in to discuss this resignation as I am 
sure you both have guessed," began Skinner.  Scully and Mulder 
shifted uncomfortably in their seats before his desk.  "Frankly I 
have to say I am surprised given the investment the two of you 
have had in searching out the truth about the unexplained.  Now 
that you seem closer than ever to that truth you are ready to back 
away!"

"Sir, I'm sure you must be able to appreciate the reason why Agent 
Scully wishes to pursue work elsewhere," defended Mulder 
without looking at his partner.  Scully looked at him with mild 
surprise.  Skinner gazed at her compassionately as he nodded.

"Of course, Agent Mulder, I can't fault either of you for struggling 
with this," he replied softening his tone a bit.  "But this pregnancy 
is an X-file in itself, and despite its inherent painfulness, I have 
never known the two of you to back away the most frightening of 
cases."  Mulder and Scully digested this statement as their C.E.O. 
paused to study them.  He was damnably right and they both knew 
it.

"I could insist that you remain together on the X-files because I 
believe you about what has happened.  But, because I also respect 
you both, I won't make the choice for you.  I know that you are 
unsure of how you want to handle this with eachother as well, but I 
think you are aware that the bureau does make allowances for 
couples to be employed together within the agency.  At this point 
no special provisions are needed for the pregnancy.  While no one 
would ask you to perform functions of your position that might 
risk your child, Agent Scully, you are well aware that 
accomodations can be made to allow you to continue your 
investigations.  Agent Mulder also has full access to any back up 
he might require while in the field."  Skinner paused to gauge his 
impact on the two noting their pensive silence.  "As a supervisor I 
would like to say to you that very few agents stand out with the 
character and achievement that you both display.  I find no fault in 
your conduct and will continue to support you in your work.  As a 
friend I want you to know that very few people are lucky enough 
to find what you do in eachother.  While I sympathize with the 
pressures you both must feel, I would urge you to keep fighting for 
what matters to you.  I hope you will decide to stay, Agent Scully.  
I believe Agent Mulder needs you, and I  know I need you both.  
With the recent events related to UFO phenomenon I'm not so sure 
we don't all need you more than ever."  Skinner sat back idly 
rolling his pen in his hands, noting the downcast eyes of his two 
subordinates.  Mulder swallowed hard before raising his eyes to 
met Skinner's own.

"Thank you, sir, for your support," he began softly.  "I can't answer 
for Agent Scully but for myself I would like to think over what 
you've said."  Scully nodded after a moment, avoiding Mulder's 
eyes.

"I'm not sure what to say," she began tentatively with a sigh.  
"Your confidence is certainly unexpected but appreciated.  I will 
consider this carefully."  She held his eyes for a moment and he 
nodded as if satisfied.

"Good," he said standing.  "That's all then.  I would like to hear 
from you both by the end of the week.  Until then I am holding up 
the transfer papers."  Mulder and Scully stood as well and shook 
their heads in agreement.  Skinner opened the office door and 
waved them out, watching them walk out silently past Elaine's 
curious eyes.  When she realized that the A.D. was watching her 
she quickly averted her eyes to her computer monitor.

Once in the hallway Mulder and Scully walked slowly side by side 
without looking at one another, painfully aware of the glances they 
drew from passing co-workers.  Scully imagined that by now most 
of the bureau suspected them to be sleeping together, and probably 
expected that they had just been reprimanded by Skinner.  Nothing 
like believing that your personal life had just been thrust into a 
glass fishbowl at work. She sighed loudly, drawing Mulder's brief glance.

"Mulder, I need some time by myself to think," she said breaking 
their silence.  "I think you need to do that, too."  By now their steps 
had lead them to the entrance of the building, and they stopped to 
look at eachother.  Mulder shook his head with a sad expression.

"I have some things to do in the office," he replied.  "I may go for a 
walk later so I'm not sure when I'll see you." 

"Okay," she answered bluntly feeling some mounting fear that they 
might be losing one another for good.  She turned away from him 
and walked out into the sunshine, never noticing its warmth.  
Mulder lingered a moment then headed back to the office.  His 
heart was heavy with confusion and pain.

The Washington Monument
9:00 PM

Mulder looked up suspiciously as the smoking man took a seat on 
the bench beside him. Fox had been sitting here for hours trying to 
sort out his dilemma when his antagonist suddenly appeared.  For a 
moment neither of the spoke as they gazed at the water in the 
distance.  Mulder could not bring himself to face his enemy as the 
conflicting emotions roiled within him.  Why him?  Why did 
Cancerman keep dogging him?  Why the baby?

"I don't know how to feel about you," he offered sadly.  "I want to 
hate you - I thought I hated you.  But now all I can feel is 
confusion."  The smoking man nodded slowly.

"Perhaps you should hate me," he replied seriously.  "I have lived a 
hateful life." He sighed and eyed the cigarette thoughtfully.  "I 
once thought I was to do the right thing, but that thing never felt 
rewarding.  But that's of no consequence now."  Mulder pondered 
this silently, still looking down at the ground.  Why was he saying 
this?

"What do you want from me?" he asked wearily.

"On the contrary, Mulder, the question is what do I want for you," 
he replied with a tinge of sadness.  He pulled out a photo of 
Mulder and his sister, not unlike the one Skinner had given to 
Mulder after the smoking man had been shot.  "You don't know 
how many times I have looked at photos like this one and thought 
of all the might-have-beens."  This drew an angry glance from 
Mulder as he searched the older man's face.  The remorse he read, 
however, shocked him.

"What do you mean?" Fox demanded lowly.

"I mean that I look at this and know what I have sacrificed in my 
life for a cause," answered Cancerman.  "Perhaps I left behind the 
opportunity to have a good woman, or to raise a son of my own, 
and then again perhaps those things were never meant for me.  I 
can't lie and say I would have nobly chosen a different road if I 
could live it again, but I would not invite you to choose that same 
path."

"Why talk in circles to me?  It's ludicrous to suggest that I would 
even consider your choice!" sneered Mulder, but the smoking man 
was not ruffled.  He continued to eye Mulder evenly.

"Is that so, Agent Mulder?"  He grinned.  "Are we so different 
really?  Have you not sacrificed life and limb on your own crusade 
for the past 5 five years?  Has it not cost you nearly everything you 
have held dear?"

"You bastard!" snorted Mulder painfully as he stood to his feet.  
"Is this your idea of a campaign to deter me?  Don't you realize 
that I am well aware of my deluded pursuits and the expense my 
foolishness has caused?"

"Mulder, I am not here to wound you," sighed the man as he 
stamped out his cigarette on the ground.  "On the contrary.  You 
are the brightest star among them, and so unaware of how very 
close you have always been.  They are afraid of you, but I have 
always known you would prevail, despite the detours I have had to 
send you along in order to spare you."

"Spare me?" he gasped.  "In what way have you spared me?  You 
have taunted me with my sister, had part in the murder of my 
father or whoever he was, and participated in harming Scully 
because of me!  How have I been spared?"  

"You are still alive, Mulder, and so is Scully," the smoking man 
pointed out.  "Who do you think had part in your protection as you 
meddled in things so far beyond your imagination?  Other men 
have disappeared from the face of the earth, and yet you are still 
here."  Mulder paced as the smoking man watched him from the 
bench, lighting up again.

"You would have me believe that you are somehow my benefactor 
in all of this?" spat Mulder incredulously.  He stopped to glare 
down at his companion.  "You are the devil, sir!  You sit here 
distorting reality as if you can tempt me to see some meaning in 
your cruel life.  What do you want from me?"

"Perhaps you are right.  Perhaps I am the devil," chuckled the man 
as he expelled the blue smoke thoughtfully.  "Your mistrust is 
well-placed.  Still, you must see that there are some things that 
prove me credible.  Take your lovely partner, for instance."  The 
man's face had grown very serious and Mulder found himself 
unable to break his gaze away him.  Fox felt the anger burning 
inside while still another part of him had a strange sort of longing.  
Could this demon be his father?

"What is it that you want to say to me?" questioned Mulder with an 
angry sigh.  "Enough games."

"Fair enough," nodded Cancerman.  "I have come to remind you 
that your son is a gift."  He watched Mulder's eyes widen in 
surprise before continuing.  "Oh yes, it's true.  How I know is not 
important, nor is the fact that you have had little choice in this 
matter.  You were born into this heritage and because of that you 
will not have the luxury of living the life of a common man.  Your 
ancestors have had little choice as well, and you have no power to 
prevent this fate really.  As you are learning there are forces 
greater at work here than mere man can comprehend.  More than 
you can presently know you have been handed a new hope for the 
future."  Mulder made as if to interrupt, but the smoking man held 
up his hand to stop him.  "Mulder, a son is a gift that can be 
embraced or squandered.  The choice starts now.  It will not be an 
easy one to undo thirty or more years from now."  Mulder 
remained silent as the man stood to go.

"You say you won't choose my way," he added with a mirthless 
smile.  "Time will tell."  He turned to walk away but Mulder 
placed a restraining hand on his shoulder.

"Who are you?" he demanded lowly through clenched teeth.  The 
man hesitated, but did not turn around.

"I am the man who squandered his privileges, Mulder.  I am more 
interested in knowing who you are."  They stood in silence a 
moment before Mulder dropped his hand away.  The smoking man 
stamped out his Morley and leisurely walked away.  

Mulder watched him wondering if he should pull his gun and shoot 
him in the back, or to run after him and beg for the truth.  In the 
end he did neither, sinking down on the park bench with his head 
in his hands.  He sat like this unaware of the passing time, until he 
felt a gentle hand on his head.  He jerked his face up to view the 
concerned gaze of his partner.

"Hey," she greeted softly.  "Is this seat taken?"  The unexpected 
relief that washed over him brought tears to his eyes, and he found 
himself wrapping his arms around her midsection in order to bury 
his face into her body.  One hand slid back over her abdomen 
protectively, lingering over the small spot where he imagined the 
growing child to be.  Instinctively she placed her own hand over 
his, quietly standing still in his embrace.  When she realized he 
was crying she rubbed her hands over the back of his head 
tenderly.  Mulder responded by pulling her gently into his lap, and 
kissing her tenderly through his tears.  When he pulled away he 
allowed her to wipe his face.

"I thought you might be here," she said softly looking into his eyes 
as her own tears began to fall.  He smiled slightly and kissed her 
once again softly.

"I'm worried that I may have been visited by the ghost of 
Christmas yet to come.  It makes me believe that it's time to choose 
a direction, Scully," he whispered.  "I think we should take 
Skinner's offer and see this through."  Scully eyed him silently 
with questions in her eyes.

"What are you saying, Mulder?" she finally asked.

"I'm saying that I want you to agree to stick it out with me," he 
answered as he touched her face.  "I don't know what's in store for 
us if we try to parent this child, but I am beginning to understand 
it's just one more in this series of questions you and I are being 
lead into by fate.  We have made this journey together to come this 
far, and I can't think of any reason we shouldn't see it all of the 
way through now." 

"You realize how difficult this will become, Mulder?  I don't mean 
the gossip or bureau politics, either," she sighed with a small smile.  
"I can't imagine what this infant may actually be about, but I am 
fairly sure that someone has not generously done this just to 
remedy my infertility."

"I know, Scully.  I think you're right.  Those reports told us that the 
child genetically belongs to us, but who or what else is involved?"  
They looked at eachother for a serious moment.  "Scully, I am not 
a man who has lived a normal life, and I was reminded tonight that 
I won't likely have one in the future."

"Mulder..."

"No, hear me out," he insisted.  "Maybe once upon a time you 
thought you were to live out a normal one, too, and God knows I 
have beaten myself up with blame that you haven't had one since 
knowing me.  But Scully, I'm beginning to believe that this has 
been your destiny, too.  This is no mere coincidence that we have 
come from opposite sides of the world to bond together in this 
search.  Call it karma or whatever you will, but Scully, I believe 
we are meant to stay together and make our contribution to 
whatever is on the horizon.  This child is a part of that destiny 
somehow."  Scully studied him with a searching look as she 
weighed his words carefully.

"Mulder, I'm not sure if I can go through another loss if this baby 
isn't normal," she replied softly with a slight tremble of her lips.  
He nodded slowly never taking his eyes from hers.

"I understand," he answered solemnly.  

"But the truth is that I can't stop it either," she sighed raising her 
brows slightly.  "I refuse to allow the opportunity to give life to a 
baby..to our baby to slip away forever.  And even though I try 
to kid myself about running away to do it alone out of some crazy 
female pride, I really don't want to do it without you.  
Emily...Emily was mine alone, and I knew that pain alone.  But 
this child, this child is a part of you and me.  I realize that we 
don't have to either of us bear this alone when we can be there for 
one another."  She sighed and looked into his eyes with longing.  
"Mulder, I do love you."

"I know," he smiled gently.  "We have loved eachother for a long 
time, haven't we?"  She smiled as she dropped her head, nodding in 
agreement.  He pulled her coat around her chin to tuck it a little 
tighter, suddenly noticing the chilly night air.

"Well, Mrs. Spooky, how would you like to accompany your old 
man home, and finally put the old rumors to bed?" he smiled 
warmly.

"I can't think of anywhere else that I'd rather be than with the FBI's 
most unwanted," she replied with pleasure knowing that she truly 
meant it.  Their lips met in a gentle kiss sealing a sacred trust. 
Dana stood and offered him her hand, which he took without 
hesitation.  Slowly they walked away from the bench and into a 
new future.

In the nearby shadows a dark figure stood watching, noticeable 
only by the glowing tip of his smoke.  Silently he viewed the 
couple until they disappeared from sight as he drew in another drag 
deeply.  For the first time in a very long time he felt the faintest 
flicker of hope in what he had supposed to be his very empty heart.  
Perhaps he might give up smoking after all, who could tell?  With 
a sigh he turned and slipped away into the black night.

The End