Coming Home 7: Return to Sea
By Melissa Lee a.k.a "Kennedy" 
cominghome@writeme.com 

CLASSIFICATION: MSR/AU

RATING: PG-13.

AUTHORS NOTES: I got a couple of emails the other day 
about my series Coming Home. When I first started the series, 
some three years ago, I had the first 10 stories written and then 
life got in the way. After some prodding by someone who had 
read the series, I decided to post the remaining three stories.
Nothing really major happens in this story. That means no sex, 
just filler to advance the story. Remember, this series assumes 
Mulder and Scully had a life outside the F.B.I. Mulder and 
Scully are married in this series. They were a couple as 
teenagers. Scully became pregnant and, well go read it.

ARCHIVE: Gossamer OK. Other please ask. Series can be 
found at Gossamer and Xemplary.

SUMMARY: Deals with the events from the episode "Beyond 
the Sea."

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%


"Mulder, I want you to stay. This is our home, and you have 
the right to be here!" Sighing, he took her hand.

"Scully, your brother is only in town for another week. Spend 
some time with him. I don't like him, but he does *love* you. I 
just think dinner will go better if I'm not here." Defeated she 
agreed,

"Where are you going?" Pulling on his trench coat he 
answered, "I've got some files at my apartment to look over. 
I'll try not to be too late." Kissing his cheek she whispered, 
"the last time you said that you fell asleep at the computer." 
Smiling he headed out the door.


Scully House
Annapolis, MD

"If that S.O.B. is going to be there, I'm not going! How the two 
of you can approve of this...this...sham of a marriage is 
beyond me! He didn't even have the decency to marry her in 
the Church! They're living in sin!"

Maggie Scully stepped between her husband and her son. 
"William! That will be enough! What is done is done and you 
will go to your sisters house. Understand?" He started to 
protest, but his mother's look ended any thought of arguing. 
Grudgingly he agreed to go.


%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

Scully-Mulder Apartment


"Starbuck I'm sorry for the way your brother acted tonight."

"It's ok dad. I hate to say this but I'm glad he left early; I just 
wish Mulder hadn't felt the need to leave also." Walking her 
parents to the door she reached up to give her father a hug.

"How's work Starbuck?"

"Mmm. Good."

"How's married life?" 

Blushing slightly she answered, "really good."

"Oh? Any chance I'll have a grandchild soon?" Forcing a smile 
she shrugged her shoulders.

"Tell Fox we'll see him soon."

Shutting the door she slumped against it, letting the words run 
through her mind.
*Grandchildren. Sarah. Heart defect. Mulder. Bill. Scalpel.* 
Getting to her feet she walked to the phone.

"Hello?"

"Mulder, it's me. They're gone. You can come home now."

"Oh. Uhm, Scully, I've found something in an old case file I 
want to look at closer. I may end up staying here tonight. OK?"

"OK. Don't fall asleep at the computer." Chuckling he said 
good-bye. Not wanting to go to bed alone, she curled up on the 
sofa and drifted off to sleep.

Sometime later  her phone rang. Waking up she saw her father 
sitting across from her.

"Dad?" Glancing at the phone, she answered.

"Hello?" No answer. "Hello?"

"Dana, we lost him. We lost your father."

Stunned, she got all the information from her mother. Rushing 
out the door she headed for her parents house.


%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

Scully Residence


Bill Scully Jr. answered the door to find his sister standing 
before him.

"What happened to him Bill?"

"He had a heart-attack. Massive." Looking at her pointedly he 
added, "probably stress related."

Catching his look she paused. Shaking her head she proceeded 
to find her mother. "Mom?"
Maggie Scully enveloped her in a hug. "Dana, he went 
peacefully. I've already made the arrangements."

Surprised, Scully pulled back and looked at her mother. "So 
soon?"

"Your father and I discussed our arrangements after...Sarah." 

Scully's stomach lurched. "Ok...I need to call Mulder."

"What!? It's his fault Dad's dead!" Turning on her heel she met 
Bill with barely controlled fury.

"How dare you say that! How can you say that?"

"He drug you off and married you outside of the Church. 
*After* talking to Dad and knowing he wanted you married 
inside the Church. As it is now, you're legally shacking. 
Besides that, let's remember him knocking you up in the first 
place! And you can't tell me you didn't join the F.B.I. to be 
with that, that damn Atheist! This sham of a marriage was the 
last straw! I told Dad as much tonight!"

Scully slapped her brother as hard as her 5'2 frame would 
allow. "Stay away from me and my husband. I suggest you 
show our Mother and Father more respect than this." Dana 
turned to find her mother watching her.

"Dana, maybe you should leave. Everything's under control 
here." As her mother walked her to the door she pulled her 
close and whispered, "Dana, please don't bring Fox to the 
service. I'm afraid it will upset Bill more." At Scully's outraged 
expression she quickly added, "I like Fox honey, and I'm glad 
you have him, but Bill is my son."

Absently Scully walked back to her car. She contemplated 
calling Mulder, but ended up driving to the Potomac instead. 
As she sat looking at the river, memories of her childhood 
played through her mind. As dawn broke, she went home to 
get ready for work.


%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

F.B.I.
X-Files Office


Mulder came rushing into the office. He stopped when he saw 
Scully.

"Dana? What are you doing here? I was just about to come and 
find you. Why didn't you call me?"
At her lost expression he pulled her into an embrace. "We just 
got a new case, but I'll postpone it."

Drawing back she shook her head. "No. I need this. The 
funeral is at noon."

"If you're sure? I'll come with you." He felt her stiffen.

"Mulder, Bill's going to be here and Mom, well, she doesn't 
want a scene." He saw a flash of pleading in her eyes.

"Oh. I see. We leave at 2:00PM. I'll pick you up." Nodding she 
turned and left.


%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

Capt. Scully's Funeral


Scully tried to keep her anger in check as she watched the 
simple ceremony unfold. "As a Captain in the Navy, Dad was 
entitled to a full burial in Arlington."

"This is what he wanted."

"Mom, was Dad proud of me?"

"He was your father."

Scully endured the ride back to her mothers house. As she was 
about to leave for her apartment, Bill stopped her.

"Where are you going?"

"I have a plane to catch."

"What? You're working? Our Father just died ! You're going to 
leave our Mother alone?"

Slipping on her coat she replied, "Mom has you. Her *son.* 
She doesn't need me." Brushing past him, she left.

Mulder glanced at Scully as she slept on the plane. He'd tried 
to engage her in conversation about the funeral to no avail. 
Giving up he allowed her to doze on his shoulder.

As they rode to the prison, Mulder filled Scully in on the case. 
Peering through the one way glass, Scully asked, "so that's 
Boggs?" Mulder nodded. Mulder and Scully entered the room 
to question Boggs.

"Boggs I know you orchestrated the kidnapping to save your 
ass. Now where are they?"

"I can tell you, but not because I had anything to do with it. I 
got psychic abilities." Mulder sneered, "Don't get me wrong 
Luther, I want to believe." Mulder turned to leave with Scully 
following behind. As Scully made it to the door, Boggs started 
humming "Beyond the Sea." Aghast, Scully turned to face 
Boggs.

"Starbuck." Scully hurried out of the room. Sensing her 
distress Mulder asked, "did he do something to you? Did he?" 
Mulder turned to re-enter the room but Scully stopped him. 
"It's nothing Mulder." Not toally convinced, he followed her 
out of the conference area. "Scully, why don't you go back to 
the hotel. I'm going to stay here with Boggs." Scully nodded 
and left. In the car Scully caught sight of the "waterfall and 
stone angel" Boggs had spoken of. Playing a hunch she 
investigated the area. Finding the silver bracelet, she called the 
police.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

Hotel


"Scully, it's Mulder. Open up." She was barely aware of 
Mulder's ramblings as she let him in. "I lied about how I found 
the bracelet. I didn't notice any suspicious activity." At 
Mulder's look she continued, "I used the landmark's Boggs 
gave us." Mulder became furious.

"That's exactly what he wants! You could be dead right now!" 
Scully turned away from him briefly. With anguished eyes she 
responded, "I thought you'd be pleased that I opened myself to 
extreme possibilities." Mulder sighed. "Does this have 
anything to do with your father?"

Trembling she lied, "no."

"Dana, if your father's death is clouding your ability to do your 
job, then I think you should step back." Shocked she raised her 
head. "I love this job."

"You love your father."

Touching his face she replied, "I love you." Giving her a 
comforting kiss he outlined their plan.


%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

The next day they supplied Boggs with a bogus newspaper 
proclaiming the kidnapped victims were safe. They waited for 
Boggs to call the kidnapper, but he surprised them by calling 
Mulder.

"How come you don't believe? Agent Scully does." Mulder 
glanced at Scully who had paled slightly. They were 
interrupted by a report that the kidnapper had been found.

Mulder led the raid on the wharehouse. As he approached, the 
kidnapper fired, hitting Mulder in the thigh. Scully draped her 
jacket over Mulder and yelled for an ambulance.

At the hospital she discovered that the kidnapper was believed 
to be an accomplice to Boggs. Storming into Boggs' cell she 
shouted, "you set us up! If Mulder....dies, nothing will stop me 
from being the one to throw the switch that gases you out of 
this life you S.O.B.!"

Boggs, startled by her outburst, channels a 14 year old Dana 
Scully. Unconvinced by what she hears, Scully turns to leave. 
Boggs begins to channel another one of Scully's memories.

"Th-th-that's awfully big." 

"We don't have to do this."

"I want to. It's just...I'm scared." "It burns, but please don't 
stop." "Faster Fox, please!"

Boggs let out a low moan and lolled his head about. Horrified, 
Scully watched his hips thrust as the word "Fox" escaped from 
his lips. Coming back to himself he smiled malevolently at her. 
"Do you want to know how Fox feels when he's inside you?" 
Smiling he said, "Nobody talks until I get a deal." Distracted, 
Scully fled the cell.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

Hospital Room of Fox Mulder


After trying to get a stay of execution for Boggs, Scully 
checked in on Mulder. Mulder was sound asleep as Scully sat 
at his bedside.

* Oh Mulder, what if Boggs can do the things he says? He 
knew about our...NO! That could have been any virgin's 
thoughts. Ughhh. * 

Scully brushed  a lock of hair off his forehead and he stirred. 

"Scully," he rasped, "what are you doing here?"

Smiling she replied, "hey sleepy-head. Just thought I'd check 
in on you. I-I just saw Boggs." Hesitating she continued, 
"Mulder, he seemed to know things. Things about us." Scully 
quickly exited his hospital room.


%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

Scully strode into Boggs cell looking self-assured.

"OK Boggs, you got your deal. Talk."

Boggs looked at her for a long moment. "O.K."

After Boggs finished his "channeling," Scully prepared to 
leave. "Luther, if you really were psychic..." Boggs finished 
for her, "I'd have known there never was a deal." At Scully's 
surprised look, he continued, "but you tried. I know you did. 
Thank-you." With a slight nod she turned to leave.

"Scully, don't follow him into the devil. Leave that to me."


%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

Warehouse


Leading the raid on the warehouse, Scully quickly located 
Lucas. Scully was in pursuit of Lucas as he crossed a cat walk. 
Scully began to follow until she saw a mural of the blue devil. 
Stopping short, she watched as Lucas went crashing through to 
the floor below.


%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

Scully approached Boggs cell with trepidation. "You've come 
for some unfinished business." Scully averted her eyes as she 
said, "I don't believe you were in cahoots with Lucas. If you 
were, he'd have known about the catwalk. So not only did you 
save the boys life, you also saved mine." She looked at Boggs 
with understanding.

"Tonight. Come be my witness tonight, and you'll get your 
message." Without commenting she turned and left.


%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

Mulder's Hospital Room


"How are you feeling Mulder?" With a groan he muttered, 
"O.K. Physical therapy is going to be a bitch though. Not to 
mention the effect this will have on our sex life! Scully 
chuckled.

"I think we can manage something in a week or two." 

Turning serious Mulder continued, "why didn't you go get 
your father's message?"

"I already know. He was my father."

Caressing her face he said, "after everything we've seen, 
everything Boggs said, why don't you believe?"

"Beyond the Sea was playing at my parents wedding. If Boggs 
knew we were partners, he could have found out that 
information."

"What about the stuff about us? What about the stuff about our 
first...." He trailed off at seeing her blush.

"Any girl would have had that reaction her first time." 
Laughing she added, "besides, you do have a big nose! And 
you know what they say..."

"But how did he know about..." Mulder let the subject drop as 
Scully said, "I'm afraid to believe."

As she crawled into the hospital bed besides Mulder, she 
finished, "I believe in you. That's all I need."

Kissing her Mulder replied, "and I believe in you."


Up next:

Coming Home 8: The Lazarus of Mulder and Scully