From: "Lindsay Carpenter" Date: Mon, 04 Sep 2000 01:19:53 GMT Subject: *New* Naming the Reason Source: direct Title: Naming the Reason Author: Lindsay Carpenter E-Mail: Linz1013@hotmail.com Rating: PG Category: MSR, post-episode Spoilers: Requiem Keywords: Mulder/Scully Romance Summary: After Scully has her's and Mulder's baby, she finds that naming the baby is yet another reason for her to find Mulder. Disclaimer: Mulder, Scully, Skinner, the Gunmen, and Maggie are not mine, they are Chris Carter's, 1013 Productions and Fox Productions. The baby, and the new agents are mine; if you wish to use them, please inform me. Archive: yes please, just tell me where. Author's note: OK, so I'm like the 999,999 person to write a "baby" story, but I had to have a crack at it. So many people have told such wonderful stories about this baby, but there was something I thought needed to be said, so I said it. Thank you to Susan Proto who has put up with my "baby" crap for a long time now. I know how old this can get. This is for Emily who is still sticking with it for me... yes we do close at 9:00 pm. And Dana, my FBI partner in crime... we HAVE to go back to the tower with flashlights this time. Feedback: yes, please :) Naming the Reason by, Lindsay Carpenter FBI Headquarters X-Files Department; basement Agent Dana Scully sat at her desk filling out the latest X-Files report. There was a knock at the basement door. "Come on in," she called out. The door opened to reveal Agents Michael Davis and Julia Christopher. "We got it!" Agent Davis announced, holding up a file. "Are you serious?" Scully asked. Both agents nodded and smiled. Davis slapped the file onto Scully's desk proudly. "We took the profile we got from Behavioral Sciences," Christopher explained, "and we nailed his sorry, blood-sucking ass." Scully smiled, "Congratulations, agents. I'm very impressed. Skinner's having a meeting at 2:00 today. Be sure to be there." They left the office and Scully glanced around. When Mulder disappeared, the X-Files had been expanded. Scully was in charge of the department, with ten agents under her and Assistant Director Skinner supervising. Each pair of agents usually investigated a different case. Six months ago, Scully made a deal with Skinner to stay out of the field. She stood and stretched. Her rounded and swollen belly stood out on her small frame. She walked (more like waddling, she always said) over to the filing cabinet and put away her two latest files. Smiling, she laid a gentle a gentle hand on her stomach. She felt her still growing baby kick at her hand. "It won't be long now, baby. I only wish your daddy could be here to meet you too." "We all do, Dana," she turned around to see Skinner standing in the doorway. He walked over and stood next to Scully. "How much longer?" "I'm actually due in sixteen days, but you never know. I think this little one is gonna kick it's way out," they both laughed. "David and Christopher closed the case. It's all filled out and filed away." "Good for them. Well, we have a meeting to run. We better head up there," Skinner headed for the door, but stopped and turned back to her, "I'm still trying, Dana. I can't... I won't give up." "I know," she crossed the room. "Let's get to that meeting." X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X AD Walter Skinner's Office "My congratulations go out to Agents Davis and Christopher on a case well solved," Skinner announced. He and the other agents applauded. "Also Agents Morgan and Preston are in Salt Lake City so they obviously won't be attending." He gestured for Scully to speak. Scully stood and took her files to the front of the room. "Since the expansion of the X-Files almost six months ago, we have had an 80% solve rate. The recent close of the Idaho-Vampire case has made that close to 83%. Congratulations." "And when will you be leaving us, Agent Scully?" Agent Dara Lawson asked. Scully smiled, "Soon, I hope. This little one has been kicking up a storm." "Well you know what they say," Davis said, "when the cat's away--" "The agents don't play." Skinner finished for him. They all laughed and began going through various case folders. "Now onto Agent Mulder," Skinner announced. All fell silent and looked at Scully. "I wish I had better news for you all. As of last night there was nothing new. Byers, Frohike, and Langly are now in Oregon. We are in constant contact and we're sending Lawson, Davis, Christopher, and Anderson in tomorrow night to assist them." Agent Jack Anderson signaled Scully, "Are we meeting with the Gunmen in the field?" Scully turned and pulled down a map, "this highlighted area," she pointed out, "is the area where AD Skinner was when Mulder was taken. From there we have a hundred mile radius search area." Skinner stood and handed a file to each of the four agents. "This is the fourth time we are sending agents into this area. Now, you four agents are going out there for the first time and--" Scully watched Skinner talk, but the room got very quiet. She began to feel a dull sensation in her lower abdomen. She closed her eyes, trying to feel it. The sensation was not the baby kicking, it was something else, something more. It happened again, but this time it was longer, and more intense. "Sir." Skinner looked up from the table at her. "Scully are you all right?" "Do you remember how I said you never know when?" Skinner smiled at her question. Scully was beaming. "Davis!" Skinner boomed. "Get Scully's overnight bag from her car," Scully tossed him her keys. "Anderson, get a hold of her mother and have her meet us at GUMC." Scully headed out the door, and Skinner laid a gentle hand on her shoulder. "You OK?" "Yeah, I'm great. I only wish..." Skinner nodded knowingly and led her out to his car in the garage. X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X 26 hours later Georgetown University Medical Center Dana's eyes fluttered open at the sound of someone opening the door. It was the nurse who had been caring for her since she and Skinner arrived. "Someone is crying for her mommy." Smiling, Scully pushed herself into a sitting position, happily accepting the fussing pink bundle. "Ms. Scully, there are three... well curious looking gentlemen outside who wish to see you. You boss is out there too. Shall I let them in?" Dana nodded and the nurse went out to send the men in. Slowly the door opened again. Dana turned her head, "Come on in, she's awake." The door opened all the way and Frohike came in behind what looked like three dozen pink, yellow, white and peach roses. Byers followed with a huge white teddy bear with a pink bow around it's neck. Langly came in next with a pale green diaper bag that had tiny pink butterflies on it. Each of them came over and kissed her gently on the cheek and admired the small baby. "She's beautiful, Dana," Byers told her. The others agreed. Just then Skinner walked in with her mom and another dozen pink roses. Skinner also had giant mylar balloons with 'It's a girl!' all over them. He came over and kissed her cheek and softly touched the baby's hand. "Thank God she got your nose." Everyone laughed. Maggie Scully came over and sat on the bed. She had been there with Dana through the whole ordeal. Dana had been in labor for almost 20 hours before the baby was born. Six hours later, Dana was tired but happy to have the company. "How are you feeling, honey?" "I'm so tired. But when I hold her, it all seems to melt away," Dana looked down at her daughter. She had big blue eyes and was alert, looking at Scully. "Have you chosen a name?" Frohike asked. "Yes, actually I have. I chose a first name, and when Mulder does come back," she emphasized on the 'does', "he will give her a middle name." The nurse came in again. "Mom and baby need their rest. As long as all goes well, you can go home on Monday, Dana. Have you picked a name for this beautiful child?" Scully smiled, "I'm going to name her Serena." There was a pause, then everyone in the room nodded and smiled. "Yes, little one, I'm going to call you Serena." X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X Six weeks later Lone Gunmen's apartment Frohike was sitting at the computer downloading a new tracking device a source had given him insight to. He looked into the other room and saw Scully running on their new treadmill. "What do you think of it, Scully?" he asked. "I love it! I'm bringing it home with me so I can shed these extra pounds! I can't go back in the field looking like a cow." She continued running. Frohike smiled. Dana Scully was anything but a cow. "Hey Langly, you got that jack hooked up yet?" Langly popped his head up from behind the computer table. "Almost, I can't remember if it's the blue or red wire. It's been awhile since we needed a new line in here." He disappeared once again. "It's the red wire," Byers said as he walked into the room, holding baby Serena. She was content looking around the apartment on Byers' shoulder, and listening to the new sounds. This was her first time out, besides going to Dana's mom's place, and she was being very pleasant. Scully came into the room, sweating but smiling. "Byers, this is a very good look on you." Serena was dressed in a pink sleeper and had her head resting on a diaper rag that was draped over his shoulder. He looked as content as Serena. "She's so wonderful, Dana, you are very blessed." Byers handed the baby over to Dana, who took her into the back room so she could have some privacy while she breastfed Serena. Frohike and Langly shouted in triumph when they got the system working. "Let's see what this hunk of junk can do," Langly announced as he set out to find Mulder. As Dana walked back into the room, burping the well fed Serena, she said a silent prayer. 'Please bring him home to me and his daughter, please God.' "This thing is so fast. I can hardly keep up with it!" Frohike commented. "Is that a good thing?" Scully inquired. "All depends," Byers explained, "if it's working fast because it's found something, then yes, this is a good thing. But if it's overloading because of too much information, then it could shut down everything." Serena sighed and listened as the men worked. Scully took Serena off her shoulder and smiled. Serena's eyes brightened. "You daddy had better come home soon, we've got to get you a middle name, missy." She began drooling. Scully reached over and grabbed the rag off Byers' shoulder. "Now you're just being silly, trying to get attention." Just then there was a loud knock at the door. Frohike looked through the peep-hole then proceeded to unlock the dozen different locks on the door. When he finally opened the door, he revealed Walter Skinner, who was soaked through his over coat to his suit. "When did it start raining?" Langly inquired. "Just as I was getting out of the car, the Heavens opening up and I got soaked. Almost as if they didn't want me to get these to you." He held up a print out and a CD. "No one knows about this... I wanted to have you look at it first." If she wasn't holding Serena, Scully might have fallen over. "You found him-- didn't you?" Skinner nodded. "I think so. I got an anonymous tip this morning about Mulder being seen outside Portland. So I printed out the information he gave me, made a backup and headed over here," he turned to Frohike who was bringing up the images. "This is the satellite image you printed. And the disk has codes to hook up to the tracking satellite." The three gunmen were amazed. Scully walked over to see the monitor, "I thought that satellite tracking was all a myth." "And you thought all myths were false," Langly pointed to the image that was enlarging on the screen. Scully's eyes widened and she held the baby closer to her chest, "Mulder," she breathed. As the image sharpened they could all see a lanky man walking down the street, heading out of Portland, and toward Bellefelur. He was heading back to the abduction site. "Book four flights to Portland," Skinner said to Byers. He turned up Scully. "Dana, I really don't think this is something you need to be bringing your newborn baby into right now," he said laying a gentle hand on her shoulder. "She can stay with my mother, I'm coming!" Scully protested. "Scully! First of all, you're breast feeding Serena, and you can't change that fact now. Second, if something were to happen... if God forbid you and or Mulder were taken again, then where would Serena be?" "He needs me though!" "Dana, your baby needs you too. You can't go out there and die, leaving Serena to not know who you or her father were," Skinner told her gently. "Dana, I swear I'll bring him home to you. I won't let you down again." Scully let a silent tear fall as she nodded. "All of you be careful, please. I need all five of you to come home safely." They nodded then headed out the door, Scully with Serena at their heals. As they climbed into the Gunmen's van, Scully got Serena settled into her Bureau issue sedan. She climbed into the front seat and watched them drive off. Slowly she lowered her head and softly cried and prayed for Mulder to be brought back to her. She and their baby needed him. X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X Bellefelur, Oregon 12 hours later Skinner ran down the road, Frohike, Byers and Langly in close pursuit. Mulder was close, they could almost feel it. "I think we should split up, maybe he beat us here." Skinner announced as they came to a stop in the road. "You think he may have already headed back into the woods where he was taken?" Byers asked. "It's possible," Frohike offered, "that he may have been picked up and dropped off again." "OK, Langly and Frohike keep heading down this path. It'll take you into Bellefelur. Ask some of the locals if they've seen anything, then head back here if you find nothing. Byers, you and I are heading to the abduction site. Lawson, Davis, Christopher, and Anderson should be there to meet up with us. If we are all unsuccessful, we meet at the "X" at 11:00 tonight. Understood?" All the men nodded and headed in their designated directions. Once in town, Frohike and Langly set out for anything they could find. They went into the sheriff's office, for the sixth time since Mulder had disappeared. Detective Billy Miles was sitting at the reception desk typing a report. "Hey guys, I didn't know you were back in town. What can I do for you?" "We're just wondering if you or anyone has seen anything in the last five weeks," Langly explained. "Unfortunately, no. Things have been really quiet around here for quite some time. I'm sorry that I don't have more news for you. Hey, aren't there usually three of you?" Miles asked. "Yeah, our third buddy is out in the woods with AD Skinner checking out the place. We're meeting up with them later tonight. How's you're dad?" Frohike asked. "He's doing OK. I think he's still in denial about the whole thing. I can't seem to get him to talk about it, let alone help in the investigation. Can I be of any help right now?" The two men exchanged looks and shook their heads. "I don't think so, Detective. If we turn up anything," Frohike said, "we'll let you all know. Thanks anyway though." "Of course. Everyone in town wants to see him returned safely. How is Agent Scully?" Miles inquired. "She just had herself a baby girl." Langly announced happily. "Scully named her Serena..." "And she's as beautiful as her mother," Frohike added, beaming. "Well tell her I send my congratulations," Miles said smiling. "We're gonna head out," Langly said looking at his watch. "Come on, it's almost nine and we have to check out a few more things. Thanks for everything Detective Miles." They turned and left the building. X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X "Watch out for that," it was too late, "branch." Byers warned as Skinner walked right into a low branch. "Dammit!" Skinner cursed as he rubbed his head and continued into the woods. "There's got to be something we're missing. We've done the perimeter of this place and forked the woods three times in the last two hours. Where the hell is he?" Skinner said out loud. Just then he stepping on something soft, and got his foot caught. Byers reached out to help him from falling. "You all right? What did you step on?" "I don't know, I think it was some kind of cloth." Reaching down, Skinner picked up a black leather jacket. Both men stared in awe at the coat. "He is here. Come on, he can't be far." Continuing deeper into the forest, Byers and Skinner began shouting for Mulder. Suddenly they crashed into someone. It was Frohike. "What are you doing?!" Skinner boomed. "When you didn't show up at the "X" at eleven, we came looking," Frohike explained. "We found this about a quarter mile back," Byers said holding up the jacket. "He's been here, but we don't know how long ago. We can only guess as to where he has gotten to by now." "Should we split up again?" Langly inquired. He and the other two Gunmen sat on the ground, taking a rest. "I don't know," Skinner admitted. He leaned against a tree and thought about everything for a moment. Then it hit him, "I know this is going to sound crazy, and really far fetched, but I think Mulder had his cell phone when he came out here." As Skinner took out his cell phone the Lone Gunmen stared at him in wonder. "Come on," Byers pointed out, "What are the odds of Mulder's cell phone still working after all this time? It's been over nine months." "It can't hurt," Skinner explained. He put the phone to his ear and prayed. "It's ringing!" Seven rings later someone answered. "Help me--" "Mulder?! It's Walter Skinner! Can you hear me?" "Yes, I can hear you, loud and clear. I need your help!" The Gunmen leapt to their feet and stood beside Skinner. "He needs our help," Skinner explained. "Where are you?" "I'm at the abduction site. Please, help me before they come back for me!" The line went dead. "Come on, he's at the abduction site." Skinner told them. "We're about a mile from the West road. That means that if we head North, we should be about a quarter mile from where Mulder says he is." Running through the thick trees, Skinner led the men northward toward the site where Mulder was taken six months ago. About a half mile later, the trees cleared and there was silence. They quietly walked around, searching for any trace of Mulder. Calling out for him, no one got any response. "Do you get the feeling that we've been led here for something?" Byers quietly asked. "I think we're being led around by our noses." Frohike admitted. Skinner scowled and once again pulled out his cell phone, dialing the familiar number. After three rings, someone picked up. "Where is Mulder?!" "Sir?" It was Mulder. "Mulder, we're at the site, where are you?" "I can see you, why can't you see me?!" He sounded like he was panicking. "Mulder, are you standing?" "Yes, I'm looking right at you dammit!" His voice was shaky. "Listen to me," Skinner said, turning around. "I want you to take very slow steps toward me." "OK, I can still see you, can you see me?" "Not yet Mulder, just keep doing it." Skinner kept talking to him, and kept praying that this would work. "What are you doing?" Byers asked. Before Skinner could answer, Mulder was standing in front of them, as if he had appeared out of nowhere. Both men dropped their phones and stared at one another. "Sir?" "Mulder?" Both nodded and reached out, shaking hands, tentatively, each afraid the other would disappear. Then Mulder pulled Skinner into a friendly hug, patting each other on the backs. Mulder turned and embraced each of the Gunmen. "Boy, it's a good thing I found you this time," Skinner commented. "I don't know what Scully would have done to me if you hadn't brought you home this time." "I didn't think I was ever going to see her again. I've had a strange journey. How long have I been gone?" They all began walking as Skinner gave him a quick overview of what had happened. "Six months?! Oh God-- Scully didn't leave the X-Files, did she?" "No, in fact she's the head of the department. She has ten agents under her. She's been keeping things tidy for you till you came back." "How is she?" Mulder asked as they climbed into the car. Langly was on the phone with the airline, trying to get him a ticket back to Washington on their flight. "She's good, Mulder," Skinner explained cryptically. "She's changed a little, but nothing that you can't get used to, and nothing you won't like." X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X Maggie Scully's residence 10:00 am While Dana was asleep on the couch, Maggie had warmed up and fed a bottle of milk that her daughter had expressed and put in fridge earlier that evening. She loved having a new grandchild, but she just wished she had a son-in-law to complete the package. Just then, Scully woke up, smiling at her mom with the baby. "I'm so glad she's a pleasant baby. Was I ever that pleasant, Mom?" Dana asked as she sat up. "Yes, when you were sleeping, which was rare in itself." Rolling her eyes, Dana leaned over to pick up the ringing phone. "Hello? Yes, hello sir. Where are you?" Scully began shaking and almost dropped the phone. "I'll be right there." She hung up the phone and began sobbing. "Oh my God, Dana what is it? Is it Fox?" Scully looked up and nodded, "He's alive." Both women smiled as they looked down at the small child. Serena began smiling and drooling over her bottle. "You always do that when you get excited," Scully said through her tears as she wiped the baby's mouth. "Get her dressed, she has to meet her daddy." X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X Georgetown University Medical Center one hour later Scully raced through the doors and up to the receptionist. Maggie was out in the car getting Serena out. "I need to know where Fox Mulder is. Four men brought him in about an hour ago." "Are you Dana Scully?" The receptionist asked. Scully whipped out her badge. "Yes! Please, I need to see him!" "Third floor room 425," she barely had the words out of her mouth and Scully was dashing for the elevator. Once on the third floor Scully ran around and came crashing into Byers. "Whoa, Scully. Slow down, he's all right. The doctors are just running few tests to make sure it was him and that they didn't do anything horrible to him." Scully began crying and gesturing at the room Mulder was in. "Is he OK. I mean, does he remember everything. Has he--?" She pointed to herself. "He can't stop asking about you. He's dying to see you. Skinner's in there now, why don't I--" "Dana," Skinner came out of the room and nodded, resting an encouraging hand on her shoulder. She walked over to the door and slowly opened it. Once in the room, Scully saw Mulder in the bed, facing the window. She began crying, which drew his attention to her. His eyes filled with tears and they both smiled. "I was beginning to think that I would never get to see you again," Mulder whispered. "I never thought that for a minute," she told him. He held his arms out and she ran to him, leaping onto the bed. She didn't care who saw them right now, she just needed to feel that this was real. Scully buried her face in the crook of his neck and he held her as tight as he could, without hurting her. "I missed you so much, Mulder," she whispered. "I have so much to tell you. About where I was, and what I saw." They were both quiet as they held each other. After a few minutes, Scully pulled away and wiped the tear off her face, then leaned over and gently wiped Mulder's face of tears. "I have something to tell you too," Scully explained. Mulder's face went pale, "Oh God, those dizzy spells back in May, please tell me that your cancer isn't back." Mulder began to panic again. "No, no! This is a good thing, Mulder. It does have to do with my dizzy spells, but it was something else. Something we both did." She got off of the bed and went to the door. Coming back in, Mulder saw that she was holding a small pink bundle in her arms. She sat on the bed and showed Mulder what was in the bundle. Mulder was speechless. "Is that--? Is she--?" She nodded and smiled brightly. "Mulder, meet Serena." She held the baby out to him. "She's our daughter." Mulder took the baby in his arms and looked down at her. "My daughter?" Scully nodded. "But how?" "Mulder, do I really have to explain that one?" They both laughed, remembering. "I mean, I thought you couldn't have children, Scully." He looked up at her with tears of joy in his eyes. "I guess one of those eggs put up a fight when I was abducted. And here she is." Scully smoothed her hair and watched Mulder look her over. "Hello, Serena. I'm your daddy." Almost as if she knew what it meant when he said 'Daddy' she began to smile and drool. "She does that when she wants attention or loves something," Scully told him. "My God Dana, she's beautiful," Mulder felt a tear run down his cheek as he looked up at Scully. "She looks like her mommy." Scully leaned over and kissed Mulder on the lips. As they kissed, the door opened. It was the nurse who had taken care of Dana when she delivered Serena. "Sorry to interrupt. Dana, your mother said that when Serena's father came back, you'd want the birth certificate, so I brought it down for you." She handed Scully the document and quietly left the room. Mulder looked at the paper. "How come it only has her first name on it?" "I didn't want to name her all by myself. I wanted you to give her a middle name. And I didn't know what her last name should be." Mulder sat with the small baby in his arms and thought about it for a moment, then smiled. "How about Serena Abigail. Gail was my grandmother's name." "I love it," Scully told him as she filled out the name on the certificate. "Now what about her last name?" "Mulder, like her mother and father." Scully's eyes widened as he said that. "Come on Scully, marry me. You know I love you, I always have." "I love you too, Mulder." She leaned to him again and kissed him. "Of course I'll marry you. But on one condition." "What's that?" Mulder shifted and pulled his knees up, with Serena reclining comfortably in his lap. Scully moved up and sat next to him, watching Serena stare at them. "You promise me that you'll like what I've done with the X-Files." "Sure, Scully. I trust you." Mulder turned back to the baby. Scully went to the door to let everyone in. "What did you do to them?" "I got new agents to help out," she told him innocently. "That's not so bad." He admitted as he played with Serena. "Oh, and I cleaned the office; you won't be able to find ANYTHING!" "Scully! You didn't!" He moaned. Serena began to drool and smile at Mulder. Scully ran back over to him and kissed him lightly on the mouth. "You know me, of course I did." Both smiled and decided to leave the others out of their reunion for a little longer. They had forever to share Serena and they rest of their lives to share each other. The End Thanks for reading, I hope you enjoyed it. "Life is not a problem to solve, it is a mystery to discover" ~D.H.