Date: 9 Jul 1999 21:01:43 -0700 From: CSMsWife@aol.com Subject: xfc NEW: Deathly Ill 1/1 From: CSMsWife@aol.com Title: Deathly Ill 1/1 Disclaimer: Nope, they're not mine, unfortunately. The characters of Mulder and Scully, and even Skinner belong to Chris Carter and Company. Author's Notes: Bear with me, I don't think this is one of my better ones. Flame me all you want, I don't care. Well, enjoy the Mulder angst! : ) Spoilers: Slight Host one, very very slight! Category: Mulder Angst GRATER COUNTY COLORADO The building was nothing more than a cave in the ground. There were no windows to the outside world, just a door. A door that remained locked form the inside. Clay Barcly had started his religion when his father became ill with pneumonia and died. Barcly was convinced that his father had been reincarnated. He had some sort of dream, some sort of Revelation, that to be reincarnated as his father was, one had to become ill with pneumonia. Barcly wanted to help everyone who wanted to be reincarnated. He called a friend of his who worked for the Centers for Disease Control, Greg Oberley. Barcly told Oberley what he believed and soon Oberley believed in it as well. He quit working at the CDC making certain he stole several strains of pneumonia before he left. Oberley is now the doctor for Barcly's followers, he infects them with the pneumonia. There are 40-50 people in this cult and once they were all ill and the Chosen One came, Oberley would infect himself. "Dr. Oberley! How many more people to infect?" Oberley looked up from his patient. "About 20 or so, Clay." "Wonderful. We should be to about 10 when the Chosen One arrives." Oberley remembered what Clay said about the Chosen One. He will arrive in one week and will already be ill. They will grab him at some point then infect him with the pneumonia. By the time all his followers were infected, he'll be dead. This will pave the way for Clay and Oberley especially. Everyone will be able to reincarnate but Clay and Oberley will be able to do it continuously. Oberley smiled, he couldn't wait for the Chose One. AMERICAN AIRLINES FLIGHT #102 1 WEEK LATER "ACHOO!" Special Agent Dana Scully looked at her partner, Fox Mulder. He had been sick for the past four days now. She took in his appearance. He looked as though he hadn't slept in a month and she could see him sweating a little. Scully reached over to feel his forehead. "Scully..." Mulder said, his voice raspy. "What are you doing?" "Mulder, I'm checking to see how bad your fever is." "How do you know I have one?" "Because I'm a doctor." "For dead people," he muttered. Scully rolled her eyes. "Why did you even consider taking this case, Mulder? You should be at home resting." "You know why, Scully. We have to, they're thinking about shutting us down again and I don't want to give them an excuse." "Come on, Mulder, you don't expect them to shut us down just because you were sick once!" "You never know with them." He said. She knew her partner was right but going to Colorado in the middle of winter isn't such a great idea especially if you were sick. "ACHOO!" She just hoped it didn't get any worse. BORN AGAIN CAVE "Fellow Reborns-To-Be, our Chose One has arrived in Colorado!" Clay Barcly shouted. Everyone cheered. Soon, the Chose One would die for them and they could all be reincarnated. "When it's been cleared for me, I shall go into town and get him, with the help of Dr. Oberley and John Stamper." Oberley stood next to Stamper, who was a rather large man. He was to be infected just after the task was completed. "We shall all be in our next life within a few days!" MOUNTAIN INN "Scully, it might be better if I go with you." Mulder protested. She wanted him to rest. "I'm only going to see Sheriff, Mulder, I'm not confronting any bad guys. Besides, it's cold out and any unnecessary travel for you could be a bad idea. I'll go to that restaurant we saw on my way back and get you some soup." "Yes, Mother." Mulder reluctantly laid on the bed, he started coughing. "Better add cough medicine to the list. REST, Mulder!" He nodded as he watched her leave. Mulder couldn't sleep. Not that was anything new. He decided to check out the case file so he went to the table where Scully left it. The people of Grater County were concerned for the well-being of their 20-30 year olds. Most of them have joined a cult called the Rebirth. This cult would inject its members with pneumonia. The families of the victims, as they are called, want to sue Clay Barcly and Greg Oberley for the pain they're causing. These Followers are made to stay in Born Again Cave. "Man and I thought I was weird!" he said to himself. Mulder closed his eyes as a wave of dizziness passed over him. "I should really get some sleep." As he got up, he was so disoriented that he didn't see the rather large men behind him until it was too late. Scully knocked on the adjoining door. "Mulder open the door, this soup is hot!" Where am I at? He's probably asleep, she thought. Scully put the soup down and open the door. She gasped at what she saw. The file was ripped to shreds, a chair was on its side, and the two lamps were broken. "Mulder?" She knocked on the bathroom door, gun raised. When there was no answer, she carefully opened it. He wasn't there. Scully knew he hadn't left of his own free will, the condition of the room told her that much. She took her cell phone out and dialed Sheriff Loni Brandis. Scully went over the conversation she had with Brandis. "These cultists are the most unagressive people to ever live! I'm not condoning what they do but they don't bother anyone outside there circle and no one bothers them unless they want to join." For Mulder's sake, I hope you're right! "Brandis." "Hi, this is Agent Scully. I have a problem." "What's wrong?" Brandis asked hearing the worry in Scully's voice. "My partner is missing." "Missing? Are you sure he didn't go off to follow leads?" She asked. "Yes I'm sure! I told you my partner was sick, he was taking a nap. The room is a mess, our files have been torn up, and he's missing. Can you get some officers over here or do I have to call the local Field Office?" "Of course, Agent Scully. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to upset you. I'll send some officers over right away." "Thank you," Scully said and hung up. I'm going to find you, Mulder! BORN AGAIN CAVE Mulder woke up in a state of semi-consciousness. He had no clue where he was, but he could tell he was on a stretcher. As he tried to get his bearings straight, Mulder realized he had restraints on. He felt too weak to even try to pry them loose. Where the hell am I? He was freezing, they had taken his shirt off and there were no blankets. "Talk about friendly people," he muttered sarcastically. Mulder felt as though there was a carpenter in his head hammering away. He turned to the door when he heard the door open. "WHO THE HELL ARE YOU? AND WHERE AM I?" He shouted hoarsely, coughing. The man, who looked to be about 35, was short and had black hair graying at the temples. He remembered the man from the photograph. "Welcome, Mr. Mulder," he said kindly. "I'm your doctor, the last doctor you'll ever need." "Dr. Oberley?" Mulder asked. "Ah, I see my reputation proceeds me. Sorry about the way we took you from your room but it was really the only way. We found out you're an FBI. I'll bet you think that's the reason why we took you. Well, it's not, you are the Chosen One, Mr. Mulder." Mulder watched as Oberley put something into a syringe. "I'm flattered, but I don't want to be." Mulder said. "You have no choice, you have to die before us so we can all be reincarnated. Barcly and I will have Eternal reincarnation once you die." Mulder tried to twist out of the binds but they were way to strong. "What if I don't want to die at this time or anytime soon?" "It doesn't matter, you're the Chosen One." Oberley repeated. Poised above Mulder, he injected him. "What is that?" he asked, although he had a pretty good idea it was. "Just a really bad strain of bacterial pnuemonia." Mulder couldn't believe it. He remembered Scully telling him that with bacterial pneumonia, there is always an abrupt onset! MOUNTAIN INN "Agent Scully," the Forensic Team leader called. "We found matching fingerprints. They belong to Clay Barcly." Scully had made sure they received a copy of Barcly and Oberly's fingerprints. They had been on file because the two had be arrested for soliciting a year ago. Unfortunately, that didn't tell them where Mulder was. "Thank you Agent Saxs," she said. Scully dialed Assistant Director Walter Skinner's number. He told her he wanted hourly reports on their progress. "Agent Scully, how is everything going?" the AD asked. "We have a fingerprint match so we know Barcly and Oberly took him. The question is: where?" Scully thought for a minute and remembered something from the now torn file. "Sir, do you have a copy of that X-File by any chance?" "Yes, I do, hold on a second." She heard papers rustling and then Skinner's voice. "Found it. What are you thinking?" "Is the FBI the only ones who know the location and name of the Reborn's holy place?" "Yes, it's in here. Of course! Where else would they take Agent Mulder! Born Again Cave, that's 20 miles west of your location." "Great!" "Agent, be careful, we don't know what these men are capable of." "Yes, sir." She hit the end button as Brandis walked up to her. "Of course no one heard or saw a tall man being dragged out of here." She saw the look on Scully's face. "What? Did you figure something out?" "We have to get a team together and head for Born Again Cave." "Where's that?" "About 20 miles west of here!" "I'll get right on it, Agent Scully. We'll find him!" Brandis said reassuringly. BORN AGAIN CAVE "I feel like shit!" Mulder said to no one in particular. There was no one to talk to. Mulder coughed violently. Damn it's cold in here! He had the chills and he could barely breath. He swore his temperature was 104. Mulder couged again, sending a searing pain through his chest. To make matters worse, the carpenter was back and he brought some of his buddies. The door to cold, damp room slammed opened. "Good evening, Chosen One. Welcome, welcome, we're so glad you could come and die for us. My name is Clay Barcly, I'm going to take you to meet my followers now. I understand you're quite weak so I have a wheel chair for you. Come along, let's unstrap you." Mulder watched as Barcly undid the straps. As soon as they were off, Mulder lunged for him. Barcly stepped out of the way and Mulder fell onto the floor. "Now, now, Mr. Mulder, we musn't have any of that!" Mulder let Barcly drag him to the wheelchair and they head down the to meet his people. He didn't know how much more he could take. He was shivering horribly, he could barely breath, and he felt like he was going to pass out. He did. OUTSIDE BORN AGAIN CAVE "Agent Scully, everyone's in position." An agent informed her. "Excuse me, are the FBI agent that issued this warrant?" Scully turned to face an older man. "Yes, I am, and you are?" "I'm the Mayor of this town and I don't appreciate the Federal Government turning it into a war zone which will cost the lives of innocent people! Besides, what happened to freedom of religion? If they want to kill themselves, let them." "Sir, this isn't about freedom of religion anymore. Clay Barcly and Greg Oberley have kidnapped a federal agent. They plan on killing him!" The Mayor's face changed from anger to shock. Scully yelled out to the agents who were waiting for Scully's signal. When she signaled to them, two of the agents knocked heaved to knock down the door. Luckily they got it on the first try. Scully entered with her gun raised followed by Brandis. Neither of them could believe what they saw! About 30 or so people sat in chairs coughing and sneezing, some were passed out and others were most likely dead. Scully looked on the stage and saw Barcly and Oberly. The were both ill as well but her main concern was the unconscious form in the wheelchair. It was Mulder. She told the two agents to get some ambulances as soon as possible. Brandis followed Scully who ran up to Mulder. "Is he alive Agent Scully?" She let out a sigh of relief as she felt for his pulse. "Yes. Take care of those two and get some men to find out where Oberley keeps all of his equipment." Brandis nodded and head for the two men. Scully took her coat off and wrapped it around Mulder. She brushed his hair from his face feeling his clammy skin. "Mulder," she said quietly, "Mulder, it's me, it's Scully. You're going to be fine." Mulder slowly opened his eyes and was about to say something. "Shh, don't talk right now, Mulder." He nodded but realized that was a mistake too, his head was still pounding. Mulder felt a cough bellow up and tried to will himself to stop but he couldn't. Out the coughing fit came and the pain in his chest was greater than before. Scully held onto his hand and rubbed his chest which seemed to calm the coughing a little. After what seemed like eternity, the ambulance came. "Scully." Mulder said as the paramedics loading him into the ambulance. "Yeah, Mulder?" "Do you think I'll be able to take some time off and get away with it? You don't think they'll shut us down do you?" "Mulder, that's the stupidest thing to do. Besides, you've still got a few friends in high places, don't you?" she replied. "Possibly, although, if you're thinking about Clinton, you're off your rocker!" "Me? Just close your eyes and rest, Mulder, you're delrious!" So he closed his eyes and sleep came him very quickly. FBI HEADQUARTERS X-FILES OFFICE 3 WEEKS LATER Scully walked in to see Mulder fiddling with the slide projector. She rolled her eyes. "Great, here we go again! I see you're feeling better." "Good morning, Scully! What's wrong with slide shows?" He asked dropping a bunch of slides. Scully laughed. "Shit! Laugh it up, Scully, laugh it up!" "Sorry Mulder. What kind of case is it this time? Hopefully no Flukeman or cultists," she said, sitting down. "No, even better." He finally got the first slide up. It was supposed to be a UFO with lights on it. "Unidentified Flying Objects, Scully and, as Gizmo would say: "BRIGHT LIGHT!"" "Oh, Mulder!" He was definately feeling better!