Date: Fri, 21 Jan 2000 23:04:14 GMT Subject: NEW: "Escape Plan" by K. McKib (1/4) Title: Escape Plan Date: January 16, 2000. Revised. Author: K. Mckib Category: T, MulderAngst, Action/Suspense Rating: R Violence, Some Profanity E-Mail: BigMckib@aol.com Key words: Minor character death This was written after "SR819. Diana makes a brief appearance. Sorry. Summary: What's left of the Consortium is tying up loose ends. Senator Matheson wants to make sure that valuable information makes it into the right hands. A call is made and Agent Fox Mulder finds himself caught in the middle of a cleanup operation gone bad. Archive: Yes, anywhere. Let me know please. Disclaimer: Chris Carter owns them. I've just invited them over toplay. No one is getting paid anything for this. Agents Dana Scullyand Fox Mulder will be returned none the worse for wear. Well...Mulder might need a bandaid. Feedback: Would be appreciated. Dedication: To my daughter Eleanor. Thank you for napping so mommy could amuse herself. Author's Notes: This is my first attempt at FanFic. I did do a little research, so I'd like to thank Pelinor for her wonderful Website, Dawson Rambo (sorry if I used those guns incorrectly- ) and Suzanne Bickerstaffe (takes a lickin' and keeps on tickin'). Thanks Lenore, for the help with this latest revision. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "I didn't think anyone was paying attention." - Fox Mulder "Someones always paying attention Mr. Mulder." - Max Fenig Escape Plan Prologue In a large and dimly lit room a solitary figure coughed and moved to the nearest window. He pushed aside the heavy drapes and lifted the window a bit to let in a little fresh air. Taking in a lung full, the man withdrew his head and turned his attention again to the others in the room. He listened for a moment to the arguments and his eyes scanned the room picking out the new faces of men he could not yet name. He doubted he would ever bother to learn the names of these men. They thought themselves important, but in the grand scheme of things, they were nothing but pawns, playing pieces to be manipulated and sacrificed if necessary. One voice rose above the cacophony of noise and the man turned his head in that direction. He looked at the older man who had risen from his chair in the back, and cocked his head to listen. He knew that whatever this man said, the others would agree with and thenthe meeting would be over. Standing in the corner, the younger man opened his mouth in surprise upon hearing the words being uttered by the speaker. So, it is to be a new game, and the rules have changed. Well, he thought, it was no surprise considering recent circumstances and the addition of new players. There were a few quiet mumbles from some of the men in the room. It lasted only seconds when they found themselves being looked over by their self appointed leader. The grey haired man stubbed out his cigarette into the ashtray on the table and spoke again. "Well, I guess everythings settled then. You gentlemen have a nice evening." He tapped out another cigarette from his pack and watched as all of his new "colleagues" left the room. The smoking man turned to the only person still in the room and narrowed his eyes at him, daring him to speak. "You disapprove?" The young man emerged from the shadows of the room and turned up the collar of his leather jacket. "Why take such chances, now, after all the careful moves you've made. You have all your pieces where you want them. I think doing this is too risky." The smoking man stifled a chuckle and his face contorted in the effort. "To be a true player, you need to know when to sacrifice your pawns. Sometimes it's to gain access to the king, and sometimes it's just good to clear the board a little." "Is that what you're doing, clearing the board?" The young man swallowed a lump and thought about how crazy this new plan was. So many things could go wrong. In an operation this large, something most assuredly would. "I would not concern myself with that Alex. Now, I can count on you to oversee this project, correct?" The old man attempted to smile but it appeared malformed, muscles slack from disuse refused to hold. Alex Krycek zipped up his leather jacket with his good hand and nodded at the old man. "Of course." He opened the door to leave, then paused to look once more at the man who believed he held the fate of the world in his hands. "Absolute power corrupts absolutely," Krycek muttered under his breath and he closed the door behind him. C.G.B Spender heard the door close, then he glanced up when he heard another one open. He nodded at the tall, dark haired woman who entered and he gestured for her to sit in a vacant chair. "I don't have to tell you how important this operation is Diana. Are you sure you have everything under control?" Spender sucked in on the cigarette and sent smoke swirling to the ceiling. He coughed once and cleared his throat. Diana Fowley crossed her legs and leaned back a little in the large chair. She ran her long fingers across the fabric of the chair and picked at a small hole on the arm. "When have you known me to not be prepared?" Spender nodded his head and reached for some papers on the table. "This is the final list. Check it over again before sending it. I want no mistakes." He handed her a piece of paper and his eyes met hers when she took it from him. She did not even blink. The smoking man stared at the only person he felt that he could truly trust. He knew that she had her own secret agenda concerning a certain individual, but he was satisfied that it wouldn't interfere with any of his future plans. He felt confident that everything would go smoothly with this woman keeping an eye on things. He motioned for her to leave using the same door that she had entered from. Diana got to her feet and headed to the door. She looked back over her shoulder and caught C.G.B Spender staring at her legs. His eyes met hers again, and for a brief moment she thought she saw embarrassment in them. It was gone in a flash and Diana recoiled when he trailed his eyes up and down the rest of her body. Diana Fowley stepped out of the room and clenched her fists in silent rage. She could feel the heat in her face and she focused on slowing her breathing as she walked out of the building and towards her car. Spender had looked like a man who had everything under control, but Diana could sense his uneasiness. This new plan of his was a bold one and it was not without its' complications. She had carried out his instructions and all that was left was the phone call. Diana Fowley decided that after carrying out the final task, she would disappear for awhile. She wasn't sure why, but she felt that it would be a prudent move. Diana was very efficient at her job but staying alive was what she did best. That sometimes required getting out of the game early. She would pass on this round. It would be her turn again soon enough. She could afford to wait. * * * * * Unknown Location 7 am Colonel Emmet H. Cragg received the call at dawn. He swung into action immediately, going over plans that he had formulated years ago. He'd felt all along that too many people knew too much. Now he was being given the go ahead to take care of this problem. A problem that he had voiced his opinion about many times, but had fallen on deaf ears until now. Recent events made it clear, at least to him, that certain actions had to be taken to ensure that what was left of the Consortium would regain control of the Project. People had begun to panic. He knew that there were loose operatives out there who were making their own decisions and who were simply trying to save themselves. He'd find them. He'd find them all. He would only need a short time to get his men together. It was a small unit that he commanded but he was satisfied it was enough to get the job done. He thought about the ragtag team he had assembled and trained himself. They were all military dropouts of some kind. Some had been dishonorably discharged, some had left for their own reasons but they all had the right stuff for what Cragg had needed in an outfit. All of the men knew that they were being trained for a mission, that if it succeeded, meant that they would have to leave the country, possibly forever. They would, of course, be well compensated. For Colonel Cragg, this was to be his last assignment. He'd had a long and undistinguished career. He'd been forced to stay in the shadows while other less qualified men made names for themselves. He knew his affiliations with certain people had kept his career in check, but in the end he would be rewarded for all the sacrifices he'd made. Well, the time had come, and Cragg was ready to get his and retire to a small tropical island somewhere. His fax machine beeped and he reached for the list. He took a deep breath, trying to quell his excitement. Jesus, he thought, he felt like a kid again. ************ Home of Senator Matheson Late evening Senator Matheson sat in his leather chair at his desk. He slowly opened the strongbox that he had been staring at for the past hour. So many secrets. So many lies. The documents contained in the box were but a small sampling of the information that he'd been able to gather through the years. Information that he hoped would help bring those responsible for certain atrocities to justice. He had other information stored in other places, not feeling comfortable keeping it all under one lock and key. Senator Matheson was not a fool. He knew that the chances of those responsible ever being held accountable were slim to none. He knew that at the present time, the Consortium was in chaos. He no longer was sure of who was running the show. He'd decided the time had come to pass on the documents to someone else. Someone he trusted. A person that would do the right thing with it, not sit on their hands and remain quiet like he had done for so many years. Senator Matheson also knew that time for him was running out. They would be coming for him soon. He'd heard of the deaths of several people that had been involved in the Project. Other associates of his had simply disappeared. They were cleaning house. Tying up loose ends. He was sure of it. Matheson had already made arrangements for leaving the country. He had a few things to do first. A few more hours. That's all he needed, just a few more hours. ************* Apartment 42 Late evening Fox Mulder leaned back in his chair and stared at the computer. He lifted his glasses off of his face and rubbed at tired and strained eyes. The headache that had been slowly building behind his right eye had finally crested and he rode the wave of pain. He closed his eyes and moaned out loud. If he'd been at work, a few whimpers like that would have gotten him a shoulder rub from Scully. Or at least a sympathetic look. Mulder looked around at his empty apartment. The fish tank gurgled in the corner and he considered for a moment getting a pet that actually greeted him at the door and maybe returned some affection. Then he thought about the fish he had so recently flushed down the toilet. No, different pets would require a lifestyle change and he didn't see that happening any time in the near future. Mulder considered calling it a night. He'd already logged in a 14 hour day, no sense loosing his eyesight on this case. It wasn't worth it. He thought about going to bed but the thought of laying there staring at the ceiling like he had the previous two nights was not at all appealing. He stared at the couch and then glanced at the TV. Maybe there was a good game on tonight. He could always watch the news, that always put him to sleep. Mulder rolled his head around and then back, trying to release some of the tension from his shoulders. He thought of getting up to get some aspirin for the headache but he couldn't seem to make himself move from the chair. He continued to sit at his desk, alternately staring at the computer and then at the couch. He sighed deeply and let his eyes drift shut. He was so tired. "Get up Fox. Move your sorry ass," he said out loud, hoping that it would make his body follow his command. Nothin' doin'. He groaned again, stretched his legs out before him, and let his head drop back against the chair. Sitting there with his arms folded across his chest, he started thinking about what it was that might be causing his latest bout of insomnia. Things had been going pretty well he'd thought. He had his office back. He had the X-Files back, and he'd even gotten Scully to laugh at one of his jokes. It had been a real laugh this time. Not a smirk or a half smile, but a real laugh. Yes , all was good in the world of Fox Mulder. So what the hell was keeping him awake at night? He knew the answer of course. Things were going too well. Things didn't go smoothly for Mulder for very long. Change was in the air and Mulder thought he'd be relieved when it happened. He couldn't sleep because he was anticipating the next crisis. Which direction would it come from though? That was the puzzle. He knew if he could just get a sense of what part of his life was about to get slam dunked he could at least prepare himself for it. Mulder listened tothe hum of the filter in the fish tank. Thoughts of swimming and the sound of waves lapping against the rocks at the lake floated through his mind. The sound of the telephone jarred Mulder awake and he overturned the chair trying to reach the phone on the next ring. The resonating sound of the phone and the bang of the chair as it hit the floor, caused his headache to reach a new level of pain. Mulder seized the phone with one hand and grabbed his head with the other. "Mulder." His voice came out almost in a whisper and he cleared histhroat. "Fox, this is Senator Matheson. I need to see you." "Senator Matheson, I don't think that we have anything to say to each other." Mulder ran his hand over his face a couple of times and he glanced at the clock. "Fox, I know that I've given you reason to doubt me, but I have something that I need to give you. This is important Fox, and I assure you that after you receive this information you will no longer doubt my loyalties." "Look, Senator, I'm working on another case right now. I'm not going to just drop it and come running. I'm not your errand boy or your personal agent in the F.B.I. " "Agent Mulder, I'm not going to waste precious time arguing with you over the phone. You are the only one who can put this information to good use. After I give it to you, you will never hear from me again. I promise you that." "O.K. Senator, I'll try to stop by sometime tomorrow to pick it up." Despite what he was saying, Mulder could feel himself getting excited. He'd be on the hook soon and he tried desperately to still his growing interest. `Swim away,' a voice whispered to his brain and Mulder thought it good advice. "That's not good enough Fox. You need to come by tonight. As soon as possible. I will be leaving the country in the morning and I need you to have this before I go. Follow the driveway to the back of the house. Park in front of the open garage door and come in the back entrance. I'll have one of the guards let you in. Do this Fox, it's the last thing I'll ever ask of you." Mulder heard the click of the phone being disconnected and put his own phone down. He rubbed his temples and then put both hands over his eyes and blew out the air that he hadn't realized he had been holding. Shit. Why can't I have meetings with informants during daylight hours he thought. He reached for the black V-neck sweater that he had thrown onto the back of the couch. Mulder pulled the sweater over his white T-shirt and bent over to lace up his boots. He checked his gun, then grabbed a couple of clips. Bending over to strap on his ankle holster, he wondered only for a moment why he'd decided to arm himself to the teeth before going to see Senator Matheson. Something in the Senators' voice had warned him that maybe he should come well prepared this time. Mulder had gotten good at expecting the unexpected. He grabbed his keys and headed for the door. Mulder almost tripped over his briefcase that was lying in the hall. As he moved it out of his way, he grinned triumphantly. Expense reports. He'd promised Scully that they would be done by the end of the week. He hadn't even begun them yet. Well, he'd have time to avert this crisis when he got back and he walked out the door. ******************** Home of Senator Matheson Late evening Senator Matheson drummed his fingers on his desk and sighed with relief. It would all be over in just a few hours . He knew Fox would come. He always came. His curiosity would forever make him throw caution to the wind. He had admired this about Fox even though he knew that it was what would probably get him killed someday. He realized that someone had probably been listening in on the conversation , but he thought that he would have just enough time to give Fox the documents then get him out before everything went to hell. Senator Matheson went over his preparations in his head. He had hired extra guards the day before and had given the staff the weekend off. The mansion had a good security system but he knew that it would not keep out those who needed to see him dead. Senator Matheson leaned back in his chair and went over his escape plan. He thought about his life and all that he had tried to do. Had it been worth it? Had he done the right thing? He was not sure. Had never been sure, but decisions had to be made and he had made them. It was too late to do anything about the past now. He had to look to the future. Senator Matheson pulled open his desk drawer and laid his hand on the cold steel of the gun. He had always hated guns, but having the pistol within reach gave him comfort. And peace of mind. He sat down in the chair and waited. *********************** Outside the Senator's Mansion Sometime Later Fox Mulder pulled up to the gate and identified himself to the speaker. The iron gates swung in and Mulder drove up the long driveway. He was happy that he had been able to remember the way here. He had only been out to the estate a couple of times. Mulder pulled around back like the Senator had asked him to. Things seemed unusual to him. He looked up and noticed the security cameras. Those are new, he thought , and he approached the back door. A very large man in an ill-fitting suit let him in. Mulder was a little over six feet tall but he found himself having to tilt his head way back just to look the guy in the eye. The man said nothing to him but motioned for him to follow. Mulder was about to ask the walking stone pillar in front of him where he shopped for his clothes, but thought better of it. Somehow Mulder knew that this guy had heard all of the jokes before and that any guy his size who did this job for a living, probably didn't have a sense of humor. Mulder fought the urge anyway and followed tall, dark and stony down the hall. The first time Mulder had been to the Senator's house, it had been for a New Years Eve party. Mulder had admired all of the fine furniture and the oriental rugs that were laid over polished hardwood floors. Crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling in each room and there were paintings everywhere. Mulder knew that the Senator collected. He had spent a little bit of time at the party, wondering around, looking at the paintings. He'd also tried to figure out how such paintings had been purchased on a Senators salary. Mulder figured that the Senator must have come from money, because the mansion he was now in, also sat on quite a sizable estate. Mulder soon found himself outside the Senator's office . The security guard again said nothing, but gestured to Mulder to enter. Mulder nodded his head thanks and fought the urge to take a parting shot. Instead, he just watched the guard walk away and grasping the door knob, he paused momentarily before opening the door. End Part 1 Escape Plan Part 2/4 Outside the Mansion Same Time Alex Krycek threw his cell phone down and let forth with a string of profanities. The bastard wasn't carrying his cell phone. There would be no way to reach him. He couldn't call the house because if people were doing their jobs, the phones wouldn't be working by now. Krycek picked up the phone again and punched in some new numbers. This is it, he thought. After this he is on his own and be damned with the consequences. He'd done all he was going to. A groggy voice answered on the third ring and Krycek grinned. He imagined what the luscious Ms. Scully was wearing. Silk. Had to be. "Scully. Mulder.... this had better be good." "Good and Fox Mulder don't go together." Scully sat up quickly at the sound of the strange voice on her phone. Goose pimples erupted on her skin. She shivered once and held the phone tighter to her ear. "Who is this?" "I'm Mulder's fucking fairy godmother, now shut up and listen. Your partner is heading into the lion's den. You need to get his ass out of there, now! Time to play the hero Agent Scully." "You say that like it's the first time. Where is he?" Dana Scully could feel the blood rushing through her veins. She was completely awake and wondering what kind of mess her partner had gotten himself into this time. Please, God, let it be he was just caught in some message parlor raid. "He's at Senator Matheson's mansion in Bethesda. Don't take the time to mobilize the troops Ms. Scully. You don't have it." Scully heard the line disconnect. She hung up the phone and reached for the clothes she'd had on earlier. Scully knew that the mysterious phone call could be a prank, or even worse a trap. she had the feeling that it had been a legitimate call for help. Scully thanked God that even though her partner did a lot of skulking around in the middle of the night, someone always seemed to be watching and knew where he was. This was not always a bad thing. She finished dressing and strapped on her weapon. A million horrible thoughts were racing through her mind . This could be it. This could be the night that she finally lost her reckless partner to one of his insane quests. Scully dialed his number on her cell phone and got no answer. It was possible that he wasn't carrying it, but highly unlikely. Mulder always had his cell with him. Scully then remembered that he'd lost it on their last case. Maybe he hadn't had a chance to replace it yet. She couldn't believe that she'd forgotten that. Mulder had exhibited withdrawal symptoms for two days after their return. He'd whined enough about it that Scully had been forced to throw an empty pencil holder at him. The shock on his face had made Scully's day. It was hard to take Mulder by surprise. She continued to punch in numbers on her cell as she headed for her car. Within minutes, she had directions to the Senator's house. No one answered the phone at the estate and she hadn't considered that a good sign. Scully thought about calling the Bethesda police then decided against it. She needed to see what was going on first before calling in the cavalry. No, calling the police may not be the right thing to do, but there was someone else who could be contacted. She needed some kind of backup and anyway, he owed her. * * * * * Senator Matheson's Mansion Same Time Mulder whirled around at the sound of the gunshot such a short distance away. Hazel eyes opened wide and he could only gape at the grisly sight that met his eyes. Brain matter and blood were splattered on the wall behind the Senator's desk. Mulder sucked in his breath and stared at the body on the floor. His mind temporarily forgetting what was going on outside the office door, he stumbled over to the body and shook his head in disbelief. My God, he thought, what the Hell is going on here? Another gunshot brought Mulder back to his senses and he fought to get his breathing under control. He looked around the room and ran toward the door that he thought led to one of the dining rooms. Mulder assumed that he was outgunned and his next course of action was to find a way out. He wasn't sure he'd have time to get to a phone and anyway, he thought all the action would be over by the time the police showed up. Mulder made it to the dining room and was relieved to see another door. He wasn't quite sure what was on the other side but at least it was another way out. Mulder stopped to listen. He thought he heard a muffled shout and then the sound of running feet. It was impossible to tell how many were out there. Mulder felt sweat roll down his back and his mouth was bone dry. He took in several deep breaths and tried to take stock of his situation. It was possible that whoever was out there had come for the Senator and didn't know he was here. If this were the case, then all Mulder had to do was sit tight and wait for them to leave. Mulder thought about the documents. If that was what they had come for then they probably did know that the Senator was trying to unload them, and that he had arranged a meeting with Mulder. It would explain why Senator Matheson had been so nervous and had insisted on Mulder coming right away. He must have known something was going to happen. Mulder crouched down and leaned against the door. He held the Sig Sauer in front of his face and closed his eyes. He listened hard for any approaching footsteps then glanced around the room again, trying to decide what to do next. *************************************** Colonel Cragg strode down the hall and barked a command into his headset. So far so good he thought, as he listened to his men confirm that the house was secure. The guards had been taken out and the security system had been dismantled. Col. Cragg had four men securing the grounds and there were four more men going through the house. No one had been seen trying to exit the mansion so he assumed the Senator would be found momentarily. The Colonel glanced at his watch and grunted. The clock was ticking but everything should be taken care of in the next minute or so. His men were under orders to move quickly. Even though the estate was in a remote area and there were no neighbors to worry about, Colonel Cragg was acting with extreme caution. He was operating under the assumption that one of the guards or the Senator had been able to get a call in to the police using a cell phone. This meant that he and his men had to be out in under twenty minutes. Colonel Cragg continued down the hall but stopped abruptly when he heard the sound of a single gunshot. He headed in the direction of where the shot had come from and spoke quietly into his headset. "Dawson! Report! Who the Hell fired that shot, it wasn't one of ours." Cragg picked up his pace, black boots thumping on the wood floors as he strode down the long hall. "Not sure yet Colonel, I'm headed to the Senator's office. It's the only place he can be." Cragg ran a hand through his short gray hair and motioned for one of his men to go ahead of him and cover the office door. He signaled to Dawson who immediately raised his CAR-15 assault rifle and let loose with a spray of gunfire. Splintered wood littered the floor and Colonel Cragg entered the room after his men had secured it. It was an unexpected sight that met the Colonel's eyes and he grimaced. He stared at the wall, then at the body on the floor. He strode over to the desk, grabbed the briefcase, and exited the room. ************** Mulder had just barely escaped being seen by the darkly clothed men conducting a room to room search of the house. He'd ducked into a doorway just as one of the men had stuck his head in the room. They were not searching carefully which told Mulder that they didn't really expect to find anyone. At least anyone that they considered armed and dangerous. Mulder knew that if they decided to conduct a more thorough search of the house, he would be a dead man. He'd heard the roar of gunfire coming from the direction of the office and he'd flinched from the violent sound of it. He was pretty sure that these men hadn't just come for the files. Mulder realized that the Senator must have somehow known that an attempt was going to be made on his life. He couldn't believe that Senator Matheson hadn't made more of an effort to protect himself. Mulder thought about the man who had probably ordered the hit. Was escape from them really futile? Was that why Matheson had been prepared to take his own life? Mulder thought about going through a window and taking his chances on the outside. He wasn't sure that it would be a wise move. Undoubtedly there would be men searching the grounds. His best bet probably, was to remain where he was. This did not appeal to Mulder at all. As a kid, he had been the best in his neighborhood at playing Hide-and-Seek. He never hid in one spot but remained on the move, always keeping the Seeker in sight. He would often double back, hiding in a place that had already been searched. Eventually, the kids he'd been playing with would get bored of looking for him and they would head home, shaking their heads in exasperation. Mulder knew that whoever these guys were, they wouldn't give up that easily. He couldn't just sit this one out. A Senator was dead and his home was being invaded by... well, that was one thing he had to find out. Mulder would not be able to stop these guys but he had to find out who they were, and if possible who they were working for. Maybe he would just sneak a peek. He would have to have something to tell the police when they arrived. Mulder listened at the door that led to the next room. He eased the door open and slowly poked his head out. He saw no one and relaxed a little. Muffled sounds could be heard coming from down the hall. He wasn't sure how he was going to get a look at any of these guys without being seen himself. Glancing to the left he noticed a staircase that he remembered led to the servants quarters. If he made it upstairs, he could cross over from the left wing of the house and with any luck, he might see something from the balcony that separated the two wings. The balcony overlooked the main staircase and the front entrance of the mansion. Mulder bit down on his lower lip and made his move. He almost made it. *********************************** The soldier caught the movement out of the corner of his eye and brought up his assault rifle. He yammered out a burst and the bullets hit the wall where the man had just been. He ran to the stairs and looked up. How had they missed this guy? "MOLE IN THE HOLE, MOLE IN THE HOLE." The soldier screamed into his mic and waved to another man to cover him as he ascended the stairs. The second soldier waited for the first to go around the corner, then he followed . It was a narrow space and there wasn't much room to swing a rifle. He ducked when he heard gunfire erupt. Before he could move out of the way he was sent sprawling backwards, carried down by the weight of the first soldier. Dead eyes greeted him when he rolled the man off . ************************************* Colonel Cragg checked his watch again as he listened to the sound of gunshots and men shouting. Fuck! Fuck! How did anyone get past his man on the outside? No one else was supposed to be here. "Dawson! Cut the lights and use your goggles. We've only got ten minutes to get this asshole." Cragg shook his head in disbelief. Whoever this guy was he'd be sorry he'd chosen this evening to pay a social call on the Senator. "MAN DOWN, MAN DOWN." Colonel Cragg spun around when he heard the frantic shout over his headset. So, the guy was armed. Time to get serious. He called in two more men from outside and directed them to each take a wing of the house. He instructed his men to keep in contact with each other so they wouldn't take out one of their own. The situation was getting a little tense. For some of these men, it was their first taste of action. The other operations had gone so smoothly that Cragg had to admit to himself that he might have gotten a little careless this time. Colonel Cragg pulled out his MP5 and looked up the staircase. Shit. This was a big place. The fucker could be anywhere. He figured the man would probably go in to hiding again. It was the logical thing for the guy to do. He was wrong. ****************************************** Mulder had fired once at the soldier, before topping the staircase and taking off at a run down the hall. He glanced over his shoulder and when he saw no one following, he stopped to orient himself. There was a hallway to his left and he was pretty sure that it led to the bedrooms on the backside of the house. Most of those rooms had connecting doors. This was fortunate for Mulder because he didn't want to get caught in a place that had only one way out. Now that they were aware of his presence, he would have to stay on the move. Mulder had no way of knowing how many men he was up against. He would have to be very conservative with his bullets, firing only when he had a good shot. His plan was to let them come to him and pick off as many as he could. Mulder was beginning to think that he had no real chance of getting out of this alive. The only option open to him at the moment was to try an even the odds. ****************************************** The lights overhead winked out and the soldier smiled. He switched to his night vision goggles and advanced down the hall. The mole was probably back in hiding but he'd find him and flush him out. He thought for a second about his dead friend at the bottom of the stairs. He'd make the bastard pay for that, and he pictured himself putting a bullet between the eyes of the unknown subject. The soldier stalked forward, his confidence growing as he imagined receiving a thumbs up from the Colonel after he'd killed their unexpected guest. The soldier came to a hallway that led off to the left and he announced his location to the rest of the unit. He hesitated, waiting for a reply from his team leader. After receiving it, he headed down the hall, listening for any sounds as he moved slowly and cautiously. Another member of his unit was advancing from the other direction and he knew there was no way the mole was going to get past either of them. He kicked open doors as he went, glancing in quickly then retreating, looking for the slightest movement. He opened the door of the third bedroom and saw a figure dart through the connecting door into the next room. He fired off a volley at the retreating shadow and went back out into the hall to kick open the door to the next room. He fired into the room and entered, crouching low, while sweeping his rifle from left to right. He saw no one, got to his feet and backed out into the hall. He turned left to go back into the third bedroom but was dropped where he stood, a bullet catching him just over the left eye. As the man in front of him slid to the ground, Mulder found himself facing a rifle being held by another soldier who had entered the hallway from the other direction. Both men fired simultaneously and Mulder saw the soldier go down. He stumbled backward andretreated down the hall. He felt a burning sensation above his right ear and with his left hand he moved tentative fingers to the side of his head. When he brought his hand back down it was covered in blood. "That's one," he whispered out loud and then he wiped his hand on his jeans. He'd gotten lucky, the bullet had only grazed him. Mulder was breathing very hard now and he willed himself not to panic. He could feel the warm blood trickle down his neck and he shook his head when spots started to appear in front of his eyes. There was a ringing in his ears and he fought the distraction as he tried to decide where he should go next. The decision was made for him as another soldier appeared in front of him and took aim. Mulder ducked into an open room and dove behind a large bed. Gunfire sprayed the room and Mulder winced as a painting fell off the wall and hit him in the back. He heard the soldier say something and he assumed he was announcing to the others that Mulder had been found. Mulder did not have night vision goggles, but the moon was out that night, and enough light was coming through the windows to enable Mulder to get around in the dark. He kept his head down and wondered why the soldier hadn't entered the room. Mulder knew he'd have to make a move before reinforcements showed up. He glanced at the connecting door which was a good twenty feet away and then got into a sprinters crouch. Mulder bounced on his heels a couple of times and then he shot out from behind the bed and ran for the door. He felt the sting of the bullet as it hit his leg. He went down on one knee for only a second then he was up and running again, going from room to room through the connecting doors until he entered a room that appeared to have only one way out. Mulder squinted in the almost complete blackness of the room and made for the only door. The door was already half open, so Mulder got down on his knees and then leaned out over the threshold. He threw his body out through the doorway and lying mostly on his side on the floor, he fired his weapon at the one or more soldiers that he assumed would be in the hallway. His bullets found their mark and a soldier went down. Mulder rolled onto his other side but saw no one coming in the opposite direction. Well, this kind of luck is not going to last much longer, he thought. He got to his feet and limped off down the hall towards the right wing of the mansion. End Part 2 Escape Plan Part 3/4 Colonel Cragg ordered his men to report after the shooting stopped. He listened carefully to each name then slapped his cap against his leg when he didn't hear from Martinez, Wilson, and Stokes. He glanced at his watch, nervously this time, then signaled to Dawson. He ordered him to take another man and head for the staircase located on the right side of the mansion. It was a guess, but Colonel Cragg had a feeling that it would be there where his guest would make his next appearance. Cragg wanted very badly to know who this guy was. At first he'd taken him for another security guard, one that had been hired on at the last minute. Minutes into the cat and mouse game, he'd changed his mind. This guy was a professional, but for who? CIA, FBI, or maybe NSA. It didn't really matter to Cragg as long as he was dead before they had to evacuate. He checked his watch again, then aimed his gun at the balcony above him, silently wishing the asshole who had screwed up his last mission, would chance coming his way. ***************** Mulder advanced sideways, his back close to the wall. He had to stop several times to take deep breaths, trying to steady his nerves and quell the nausea and dizziness. He glanced down at his left leg and frowned. He'd been shot in the leg before and almost died. The wound had almost bled out before he'd reached the hospital. This one didn't look so bad Mulder thought, but he refused to look very closely at it. He tried to flex the leg at the knee and then gritted his teeth at the pain that went radiating up his thigh. OK Mulder, don't do that again he admonished himself, before gingerly placing his foot back on the floor. He didn't think his leg was going to hold him up much longer. Time to find a place to hide or come up with an alternative plan. The best alternative plan involved Scully coming to pull his ass out of the fire. Not a realistic thought. Not this time. He couldn't believe he'd survived mutants and monsters, mothmen and alien viruses only to be killed because he was in the wrong place at the wrong time. The irony was not lost on him and he grimaced. Life! Just when you think you've got it figured out.... It had been over a minute since the last encounter with the soldiers. Not a long time, but everything had been happening so quickly that it seemed like an eternity to Mulder. He didn't think for a second thatthey'd given up but he didn't mind the extra time to think. They were probably planning a final assault and would be coming all at once. At least he could pick the location if he could get there in time. Mulder limped around the corner and spotted his destination. He thought it would be the best place to make his last stand. He approached the room slowly, listening for any sound (like a gun being cocked) but he paused before crossing in front of the open doorway. The room was located at the head of the stairs and it was a corner room. Mulder would be able to see anyone coming up the stairs or coming down the hallway from the left wing of the house. He knew he'd never survive the automatic gunfire from the rifles. His only wish was to take out a couple before he went down. He still didn't know the odds. He could be facing only two more soldiers or twenty more. Why so many anyway? Just to retrieve some files or take out one Senator? He'd probably never get any answers. He wouldn't live long enough. Just as Mulder made for the open doorway, a bullet hit the bannister that was on his right. Mulder spun around to face the stairs as he backed into the room. It was too dark to see anything and Mulder realized maybe he'd made a big mistake. Another bullet hit the paneling of the door and Mulder fired back in the direction he'd seen the flash of the gunfire. He heard a grunt and then the sound of another shot being fired. Mulder felt, the by now familiar, sting of a bullet on his left side, just under his armpit. He held his left arm tightly to his side and retreated into the room. OK, new plan, new plan, he thought as he fell to his knees. *********************************** Dawson stepped over the dead man on the stairs. He pried the pistol from his fingers and stuck it in his belt. Five dead. Why were they still here? They should have aborted the mission as soon as they'd found the Senator. It didn't matter if this guy had seen something. Any investigation would turn up nothing. He and his men did not exist and would never be found, at least in this country. Dawson suspected that the Colonel just couldn't handle some security guard messing up his game plan. They were still here because of revenge. Plain and simple. Dawson called for backup and had to wait for someone to come in from outside. He knew their time was almost up, but he also was pretty sure Col. Cragg would go over that time just to get another crack at this guy. He motioned to the man who had just appeared behind him, and they headed up the stairs. At least the guy was trapped in one place now. He wouldn't survive the next assault. He adjusted the rifle and told the man behind him what he was going to do. He used hand signals to explain and the soldier nodded in agreement. Dawson flinched at the sound of breaking glass and he halted his ascent. What the hell was the guy doing now? Was he going to jump? They were on the top floor of the mansion and the man might survive the fall but he'd break every bone in his body. Well, it would save me a few bullets thought Dawson, and he continued up the stairs. Dawson and his backup stood on either side of the door to the bedroom and waited. He heard nothing so he sprayed the room with bullets and then jumped back. Again he heard nothing, so he and the other soldier entered the room. Dawson headed to the window, his feet crunching broken glass. He leaned out the open window but could see no one on the ground below. OK, the guy didn't jump. Now where was he? Dawson wondered why the guy had even bothered to break the window. Why not just open it? It was an old house, maybe the window hadn't been opened for a long time and was stuck. Dawson looked a little closer at the windowsill and saw the blood there. He looked at the top of the window and saw what he thought was another bloody hand print. The roof! The fucker must have escaped to the roof. He looked out again and saw how the guy had probably done it. Yep, he saw a couple of possibilities and he swore as he withdrew his head. Col. Cragg was going to go ballistic, but maybe he'd finally order his men out. Dawson spoke his findings into the headset and waited for instructions. The order came to evacuate and he shook his head with relief. Maybe they'd get a shot at the guy from the outside. ************** Colonel Cragg stomped in a circle and waited for his remaining men to gather. He cursed himself for being so stupid. He'd let this get personal and he'd lost some good men. This was supposed to be his last mission. What a way to end his rather interesting career. He thought about torching the place. It was the smart thing to do he knew. It would kill the mole if he were still somewhere in the house or on the roof and it would take care of evidence left behind. Not that that really mattered. Not anymore. No, he couldn't burn the place to the ground because he was going to find out who this guy was and come back for him. He owed it to his men to kill this son of a bitch himself. **************** Mulder let out a breath when he heard the two soldiers leave the room. He was sitting on the floor of the closet. Both hands were gripping his gun trying to keep it steady and facing the slightly open door. When he was pretty sure they were gone, he let his arms come down and rest on his knees. His legs were shaking as was the rest of his body and he realized he was going into shock. Been there, done that, thought Mulder and he shivered. Maybe there's a blanket in here somewhere. He attempted to stand but he couldn't get his left leg under him and he fell back. A wave of dizziness washed over him and he placed a sticky hand on his forehead and closed his eyes hoping that it would stop the room from spinning. Mulder didn't think his ruse would work. He figured they'd search the room before heading for the roof. They must have run out of time. Maybe the police really were on the way. He didn't really care why they left just that they were gone, whoever they were. Mulder felt himself starting to tilt sideways and he put his left hand down to steady himself. The quick movement caused him to grit his teeth in pain. The wound in his side screamed for attention and Mulder drew his arms in and hugged himself. Weariness was beginning to overcome him and he struggled to keep himself awake. He had to lay low for a little while longer, just to make sure no one was going to come back looking for him. As soon as he heard the sirens he would come out of hiding. If he passed out in the closet they might not find him for awhile and ...Scully. She would be really pissed if he died now before finishing those expense reports. It was his turn to do them and of course, he'd left them until the last minute. He was supposed to be home doing them right now, but he'd run across this interesting case that he just had to check into. Mulder listened for the sirens but heard nothing. He shivered again and hugged himself harder trying to draw his knees up to his chest. This caused more pain of course, but it also woke him up a little. His thoughts turned to Scully again and he tried to think of what his last words to her had been. He hoped it hadn't been some wiseass remark or a complaint about how she filed her last report. Thinking about Scully was making him feel better. She wouldn't stay mad at him for too long he knew. He was pretty sure she cared about him. Not in the way he wanted, but he'd come to accept that they would be partners and friends only. Still, maybe he should have tried a little harder. Sometimes he thought the possibility existed that they would someday become more than just friends, but he was unwilling to risk messing around with a partnership that worked very well on most levels. If it ain't broke don't fix it. Mulder was struggling to stay awake and he was really cold. He thought he might have heard a noise but when he rolled onto his knees in an attempt to gain his feet, his head stayed on the floor. Panting, Mulder raised his head just a little but then his body decided it liked being on the floor so it collapsed altogether. Mulder lay in a fetal position and thought he'd wait a minute or two before trying again. ****************** Scully drove up to the gate that was the entrance to the estate of Senator Matheson. It was not the shiver that went up her back that told her something was wrong, although she wouldn't have been too quick to dismiss it as an omen. Not on this night. No, Scully immediately suspected something was amiss when she drove through a gate that was wide open and when she could see no lights coming from the house. The house was completely dark, not even an outside light over the doorway was lit. Not a single lamp lit the driveway. If there was any type of security system, lights should come on as she approached the house. Scully did not see any cars parked at the front of the mansion, so she continued driving, following the road to the back of the house. Mulder's car was parked in front of the three car garage. Scully parked her car and got out. The house remained cloaked in darkness. She took out her gun and checked the safety, then she walked up to the rear entrance. Scully heard the sound of an approaching car so she ducked into the garage and out of sight. She was relieved to see A.D. Skinner get out of the car and look around. He walked over to Mulder's car and peered in the windows. "Sir, over here." Scully came out of the shadows and pointed to the back entrance. "I alerted the Bethesda police to a possible situation. They're standing by. I have some other agents on the way also, but I want to see for myself what's going on here if anything. Any sign of Agent Mulder?" Skinner gave her a look that read "is this for real or is Mulder yanking your chain again?" Scully pursed her lips and stared at the moonlight shining on top of Skinner's head. She knew what the A.D. was thinking, but she was pretty sure something serious had just gone down at this place. Whatever happened though, it appeared that it was all over. She was anxious to get inside so she just shook her head no in answer to his question and then she approached the door. Skinner pulled out his weapon and motioned for her to enter. Scully stepped inside and looked around at what appeared to be a laundry room. The room was dark and Scully reached for her flashlight. She saw a beam light up the room and she turned to see that Skinner already had his out. Not a sound could be heard in the house as they moved from room to room. They made their way to the front entrance and stood at the bottom of the main staircase. Skinner pointed to the right, then he headed off to the left. Scully understood his meaning and headed down the hall. Scully had checked out every room and was about to turn around when her flashlight beam lit on something on the floor. She approached the lump cautiously, holding her gun in her right hand and the flashlight underneath in her left. She turned the body over and felt for a pulse. She saw that the bullet had gone through the man's throat so she was not surprised to feel nothing under her fingertips. Scully shined her light up the staircase and listened again for any noise. Having found a dead body, Scully was ready to call in the troops. She pointed her light down the hall and saw AD Skinner approaching. He had a scowl on his face so Scully suspected he'd maybe found something also. Skinner looked down at the body at Scully's feet and grunted. "I found Senator Matheson in his office. He's dead. Gunshot wound to the head. His office is shot up but it looks like he did himself in. I found another guy dressed like this one on some stairs at the other end of the house. There are two other bodies in the kitchen. Security I think. I've called for backup and an ambulance. We better check out the rest of the house but I have a feeling we're a little late for this party." Scully could practically see the veins popping out on Skinner's head. He was agitated but showing a very cool exterior. Scully opened her mouth to ask the obvious question but Skinner cut her off with a quick shake of his head. No, he'd seen no sign of Mulder. Skinner had looked the dead men over and concluded that what had gone down had been some kind of professional hit. He couldn't tell at a glance if the mercenaries were foreign or American but he suspected they were homegrown. Skinner did not think they would find Mulder alive. He knew Scully probably realized this also so he did not bring up the subject. Skinner wondered what kind of a mess his agent had gotten into. Had Mulder known about the attempt on Matheson's life or had he simply gotten caught in the middle of the operation? Scully started climbing the narrow staircase and Skinner followed. When they reached the top, Scully flashed her light down the hall and saw nothing. She walked a short ways then shined her light down a hallway that was off to her left. It went around a corner so she walked that way to see where it went. She almost stumbled over the body in front of her. As she tried to regain her balance, Skinner bumped into her from behind and she toppled forward. The AD grabbed her arm, stopping her fall, and mumbled an apology. Scully knelt down next to the body but did not bother to check for a pulse. His eyes were wide open and unresponsive. It appeared he'd died from a single gunshot to the head. She looked up at Skinner and saw him shake his head. Scully got to her feet and faced AD Skinner. She glanced down at the dead man on the floor and shuddered involuntarily. Her partner had killed this man and most likely any others they would find. She knew he was capable. Skinner and Scully continued moving slowly and cautiously down the hall. They remained on alert, but it was evident to them both, that the show was over. They found two more bodies and checked them over. Scully held her breath each time she shined her light at the face of a dead man on the floor. Each time the light revealed the face of a stranger, she expelled that breath slowly. She was beginning to feel anxious and had to fight the urge to run through the rest of the house looking for Mulder. Skinner started walking again and Scully followed. They reached the end of the hallway and came to some more stairs. Skinner waved his flashlight around and pointed out the bullet hole in the bannister. Scully motioned him over and they looked at the hole in the door. Scully also noticed the blood drops on the floor and there was a bloody smudge on the door frame. She had to shine her light directly to see the spots of blood and she followed the trail into the room. Her heart was pounding in her chest as she looked around the small room. Bullet holes had torn up the walls and there was glass everywhere. She walked over to the window that Skinner was leaning out over. He pulled his head in and shrugged his shoulders . Scully looked out the window anyway and shined her light down. She could see nothing but a few shrubs. The moon was bright and she gazed out over the gardens. Everything was still and quiet. Scully looked at the bloody hand prints on the window frame and then leaned out the window again. She looked up to see if there was any way someone could have climbed up to the roof from the window. Yes, it looked possible. She turned to tell Skinner but he was on his cell phone. He was informing the police what he had found. Skinner stuck the cell phone back in his pocket and walked over to where Scully was pointing out the window. "The police will be here any minute, what did you find?" "A way out I think. At least it looks like someone may have tried to get to the roof from this window. He could be up there sir. We need to get up there. He's most likely injured and he might not realize it's safe to come out. He might be unable to get back down." Skinner looked at his agent. Her face was bathed in the moonlight. Scully looked eerily calm. He could tell by her eyes that she was anything but. She needed to take action. He put his hand on her shoulder. He too, wanted to find Mulder quickly. He had a feeling they were running out of time, but he still wasn't sure it was safe to just wander around the house. "We'll find him Agent Scully, but we need to wait for backup, then we can look for access to the roof. " Just then they both heard a noise and turned around to see a dark figure emerge from the closet. Scully and Skinner froze in place as they stared at the gun being pointed at them. The man staggered a little and the gun he held in both hands lowered until it was almost pointing at the floor. Skinner flinched and made a move for his gun but the man recovered his balance and now had the gun pointed at the AD's head. Scully resisted the urge to use her flashlight. If she was going to be shot, she wanted to see who was pulling the trigger. She could make out nothing of the man's features, but she could hear him breathing. It sounded like he was having some difficulty. Scully took one step forward, then stopped when the shadowy figure moved into the moonlight. End part 3 Escape Plan Part 4/4 Mulder came to slowly. At first he was confused as to why he was in pain, why it was so dark in his bedroom (no red glow from his clock radio), and most importantly, why couldn't he move? The answers to his questions came to him in a rush. His breathing quickened when he realized he was still in the closet and the bad guys *big guns they had big guns * could still be looking for him. Mulder moved his head and groaned. His body was in rebellion. Every part he attempted to move refused and spoke angrily back to him. He felt many sensations at once, but the pins and needles were the worst. Mulder gave up on trying to move for the moment and concentrated on listening for the noise of boots on hardwood floors . He heard nothing and was thinking seriously about another nap, when the sound of footsteps and murmured voices caused him to raise his head. His body reacted immediately and he winced when tingling fingers tightened around his gun. `Get up, get up' a little voice screamed in his head, and Mulder rolled onto his good side in an attempt to gain his feet. He used the wall and a couple of hooks to help himself up. As soon as he was standing straight, the dizziness in his head almost sent him to the bottom of the closet again. Mulder leaned back against the wall. He could barely feel the coat hooks digging into his shoulders. He felt a little sick, but fear overrode queasiness when he heard voices just outside the door. They were in the room. Time to make a move before he was discovered and had no place to go. Mulder gripped his gun firmly and pushed the door open just a little in order to get a better look. His leg was threatening to collapse under him. The shivers came back with a vengeance as he started to move forward. He could barely make out two figures over by the window. Mulder's eyes had adjusted quite well to the darkness, but he found himself shaking his head when the figures in front of him began to meld together. He pushed the door the rest of the way open and stepped out. His leg buckled and he stumbled a little. He managed to keep his gun pointed at the blurry shape on his left. Mulder tried hard to focus but he could feel his strength leaving him. The shadow on the right moved and Mulder thought he heard a familiar voice. He looked in the direction of the smaller figure as it moved in the moonlight. While his eyes were attempting to identify the face, his ears sent a message to his brain and recognition dawned on him. Mulder started to lower his weapon, but he was startled by a noise off to his right He brought his gun up and then there was shouting, a blinding light and then pain. When he next came to, he was lying on his back, staring up into the face of his partner, Dana Scully. ************************************* Scully stared in horror at the man in front of her. Blood covered most of his face. Wild, unfocused eyes looked in her direction but kept darting to the left and right. He was leaning a little to one side, favoring his left leg. Scully glanced at the trembling hands holding the gun on her, then back at the face she knew so well but hardly recognized at the moment. She spoke his name and moved further into the light. "Mulder?" Her partner tilted his head when he heard her voice and Scully breathed out. She knew as soon as she'd spoken that he would know her and everything would be OK. She watched him start to lower his gun and then she heard a commotion by the door. A uniformed policeman came into the room and trained his gun on Mulder. He yelled at him to drop his weapon and as he was shouting, the lights in the house came on. A startled and very confused looking Mulder turned towards the policeman with his gun partially raised. "NOOO!" "Hold your fire!" Scully's and Skinners shouts of warning to both men were drowned out by the sound of the policeman's gun going off. Scully saw Mulder drop his gun, then stagger back a few steps. He bent over at the waist, holding his right arm to his stomach, then crumpled to the floor. "OFFICER DOWN!" Skinner was at the door, yelling at the police on their way up the stairs. "Where the hell is that ambulance?" His authoritative voice sent officers scrambling, leaving only one man on the stairs to face the angry Assistant Director of the F.B.I. The policeman reholstered his weapon and decided he wouldn't be the one to ask any questions. He'd wait for his superiors. Scully kneeled down on the floor next to Mulder and looked at his arm. The bullet had hit him midway between his wrist and his elbow. She grabbed a shirt from the closet and attempted to bind the wound. Scully draped her jacket over her partner then looked for something to put under his head. As she was placing a folded towel under his head, Scully saw Mulder's eyes flutter, then open. She smiled down at him and was amazed to see him smile back. "H...Hey!" "Hey yourself. Don't say anything more Mulder, save your strength." Scully started checking him over for other injuries and scowled every time she came across one. She looked up at her boss and he read her expression and pointed to the door. She was relieved to finally see the EMT's come in with their equipment. Scully told them what she knew of his condition. She watched carefully as the EMT's went to work on her partner. She looked over at Skinner who was deep into conversation with the young officer who had shot Mulder. She almost felt sorry for the man. How was he to have known that the guy clothed all in black with a gun aimed at two agents was also FBI? Mulder had looked pretty scary, even to her. The ambulance crew shouted for people to clear the doorway. The room was filled with agents and policeman by now and the EMT's were looking annoyed. Skinner yelled for everyone to get out of the way. He was angry and his blood was still pumping from all the excitement. It made him feel better to order people around. Skinner turned back to the officer to finish his "talk", but the man was nowhere in sight. Scully followed the EMT's down the stairs, then walked next to the gurney as they made their way out to the waiting ambulance. She l ooked down at Mulder. He was staring back up at her. He looked like he was still having trouble focusing. He opened his mouth to speak, and she shook her head at him. "I thought I was going to die here. So sure this was it." His left arm reached out to her, struggling to make contact. Scully tightened her grip on his hand. She could hear him mumbling something, but she couldn't make out what he was saying. Scully looked down at her side. Mulder was tugging at her blouse, trying to get her to lean down so she could hear him. "I...I prayed you'd find me Scully. I really did. Pretty sure no one was listening." Scully heard most of what he'd said, but he faded away on her at the end. She thought the last words she heard were, "extreme possibilities." Scully stopped walking and watched as the gurney was loaded into the ambulance. She had so many questions, but she knew she couldn't ask them now. She really needed to know if he had gone to the Senator's knowing that something was about to go down. Had he risked his life again for just a little bit of information? She'd accused her partner before of having a death wish. It was something about him that she just didn't understand. Why did he take such insane risks? Didn't he feel he had anything to live for? Scully hopped into the back of the ambulance and gave the EMT's a stare, daring them to say something. Scully looked down at her partner and shook her head. "What was it for this time Mulder?" Mulder could see that her mouth was moving but he couldn't hear any of the words. He looked down at his hand. Scully was holding it and she was stroking the back of it with her thumb. He watched her thumb go back and forth, back and forth and he felt himself being lulled to sleep. Scully moved aside a little to let the EMT's work on Mulder. He seemed oblivious to them and what they were doing. He didn't protest as they poked and prodded and took his vitals. Mulder was staring at her and his forehead was wrinkled. He looked like he was thinking very hard about something. She wasn't expecting an answer to her question. She didn't think he'd even heard her. Scully could see Mulder's eyes beginning to close. She made an attempt to smooth his unruly hair and smiled when he responded to her touch. There would be time for answers later. **************** Georgetown Memorial Hospital Two days later Mulder opened his eyes slowly. He immediately looked over to his left where he was sure he would see the face of his partner. He was right. She had been there each time he had awakened. They hadn't really had much of a conversation yet. He'd been unable to stay awake for long. Whenever he was, various nurses and doctors strode in and out of the room. They gave him medications and took his vitals. They asked an endless number of questions. By the time they'd all left, he'd been too tired to stay awake. Mulder looked around the room and saw that they were alone this time. Scully was reading a magazine and hadn't noticed yet that he was awake. He stared at her for several minutes. She finally noticed he was awake and greeted him with a smile. "Hi. How are you feeling Mulder?" "I feel like never answering that question again." Mulder winced when he realized he'd left an opening for the perfect comeback. Scully opened her mouth in reply, saw his face scrunch up, and took pity on him. Maybe he was finally getting it. "You look much better. The doctor says you're doing well and that there shouldn't be any complications. After he told me that, I told him he should go back and read your file." Mulder decided he'd let her have that one. He remained silent for a few moments. He was feeling tired again already but there was something he needed clarified. He willed himself to stay awake for a few more minutes. "Scully. How did you know? I mean, how did you know that I was at Senator Mathesons?" "Your guardian angel told me." Scully watched his face carefully for his reaction. Would this mean anything to him? Mulder had secrets and he guarded them well. She was a little relieved to see his blank stare. "Was she pretty?" "It was a HE actually. I received a phone call warning me that you were in danger." Mulder thought this all over for a few minutes. He thought about what it meant and about who might be watching him so closely. "Scully, you put yourself in real danger. You didn't know what you were getting into." "I meant what I said before Mulder. I wouldn't put myself on the line for anyone but you." Mulder closed his eyes for a moment. He struggled to focus his thoughts. When he opened his eyes again, he looked at Scully's face, trying to read her expression. Mulder coughed once, then cleared his throat. " They're uh.... they're giving me some really good painkillers here. If I said the "L" word again, can I get away with it?" Scully smiled a little smile, then leaned closer over the bed. "I don't know Mulder. You seem pretty coherent to me. I might be forced to take you seriously." "That's a risk I'm willing to take Scully." EPILOGUE Krycek walked into the dark and smoky room and wrinkled his nose. He wondered what kind of game the old man was playing now. He'd given up trying to learn all the plays and players and had chosen instead to keep his options open. Alex didn't mind switching teams as long as he was on the side of the one winning. The smoking man stubbed out his cigarette and immediately reached for another one. He lit it up and took a long drag. The smoke swirled around his head and he stared at Krycek for a moment before speaking. He enjoyed keeping that rat bastard waiting. "Well?" "He's alive. I'm not sure why. He has more lives than a cat, but then you'd know something about that wouldn't you? What's his importance to you anyway? What could you possibly gain by keeping him alive?" The smoking man got up from his chair and walked to the window. "That's just not something you need to know Alex. Mulder has always been important to the equation. I'm the only one that sees that, but someday it will become all too clear to everyone. Even to Fox Mulder." Alex Krycek shook his head in disgust and left the room. He'd find out what the black lunged bastard was up to. His life may depend on it. Once the dust settled after the next cataclysmic world event, Krycek was determined to come out on top. Then it would be payback time. * * * * * THE END Thanks for reading. Any and all feedback would be greatly appreciated. Kris Mckib. E-mail me at: BigMckib@aol.com