From: Angel Date: Tue, 7 Jan 2003 16:04:02 -0800 (PST) Subject: Priorities Source: direct Title: Priorities Author: Angel LeeAnn Rating: 'PG-13'-borderline-'R' Category: MSR/Angst Keyword(s): Present and Pre-XF Spoiler(s): Bits and Pieces Summary: A woman from Mulder's past brings with her painful memories, along with strain to Mulder and Scully's marriage. Then when William is an accident, Mulder must make a difficult decision: learn the truth or go to his injured son. Disclaimer: Nope, none of the characters you recognize belong to me. I know: it's heartbreaking. However, they are the creation of Chris Carter and his crew. I am not making money off of this or any other story. *** TIMELINE: Seasons 8 and 9 are scratched out of my world. Also, Requiem occurred, but our darling agent was NOT abducted. AND EMILY NEVER EXISTED! (Personally, I thought Christmas Carol/Emily was a bit too much.) You can email me at turmoil04@yahoo.com PRESENT 31 October Mulder Residence Richmond, Virginia 6:13PM "Oh come on. He's eighteen months. I don't think we should destroy his life this early." Dana Scully-Mulder bent down and scooped up the toys that had mysteriously gotten from the nursery to the kitchen floor. "He's to young to Trick-or-Treat. He'll be scared to death by the ghosts, goblins, and witches wandering around." Fox Mulder gave his son a conspiratorial glance before focusing once more on his wife. "I think we should leave it up to him. Besides, we should teach him that he gains privileges when he is well behaved. And today he was a real charmer." Dana snorted. One of the toys slipped out of her grasp and crashed to the hardwood floor. "Yeah, I'll say. He already has the cashier melting over him -- which benefits you in the long run. I saw how she slid her number into your hand with your change. It was as though she didn't even see me standing there with the twenty-pound diaper bag dangling at my side." "How about we compromise? I'll take him out once around the neighborhood - " at her start of a protest, he quickly recanted " -- once around the block. Then we'll call it a night. Come on, partner, humor me." She sighed, kicking the dropped toy out of the kitchen into the living room. "He can't even eat half the stuff they'll hand out." "I *know* that, Dana." He heaved the baby out of his highchair. "That's the point. *I* get to have whatever *he* can't!" He nuzzled William's stomach with his nose. "Doesn't that sound like a deal, bud? You, me, and a bag of candy to share; we can label it as bonding." "I think you can find a more suitable way to bond with your son." Dana left the kitchen, calling over her shoulder. "Besides, since it's Friday night, wouldn't you rather be 'bonding' with me until the wee hours of the morning? I promise to make it worthwhile, G-man." Mulder stared down at William. "I got to say, bud, your mom's preposition sounds enticing. What do you say you go to your grandma's tonight? We'll buy a bag of assorted candy when we pick you up tomorrow." "Gamma!" "Yeah! How exciting, uh?" Mulder tickled the baby's side. "You know you want to wreck havoc in her kitchen. You have so much fun with pots and pans." William squirmed to escape his father's fingers, his laughter ringing through the house. Dana heard it from the upstairs nursery as she rearranged the stuffed animals. She smiled as she placed the blue alien onto the top shelf next too the gray UFO. At times she still found herself looking in at her life from the outside. It was surreal thinking about how she was now a wife to her partner and the mother of his child. When she strolled into his office ten years ago as green as any new agent and as naïve as a five-year-old, she never imagined this was how she would end up. With these thoughts, she slowly sank to the floor, hugging herself. In small ways she wanted her old self back. This quest had stolen her identity. She no longer was the woman she used to be and in the process of her change she had grown colder, more bitter, and closed off. Of course having William brought back some of her younger self, but it just wasn't the same. This was how Mulder found her after mounting the stairs with William on his shoulders giggling with delight. He draped the baby down his arm, twisting him so he was now cradled in Mulder's left arm. "Dana?" He inched his way closer, glancing at his now subdued child. William in turn stared mystified back at him before gazing wide-eyed with puzzled amazement at Dana. "Mamma?" Dana lifted her head from her hands and peered up at her two men. Her boys stared back at her with their identical hazel eyes. The only difference between them was that the father's eyes were shielded; and the son's eyes were as clear as an innocent baby's could be. She combed her fingers through her hair, shakily rising to her feet. "Hey, William. I'm fine." She glanced at Mulder, quickly looking away when she saw the worry crease his brow. 'I'm fine' was a phrase that Mulder had learned to despise over the years of their partnership. "Why don't I get him packed while you give him a bath," Mulder offered. They both looked forward to bath time, but this time he'll let her go it alone -- allow her time with her son so, for awhile at least, she could brush aside whatever it was that was gnawing at her. "Packed?" "Yep." He gently placed William on his feet on the carpeted floor. The baby staggered over to his mother, arms wide open for her. "This little tyke is slumber partying with Grandma while we have our own private slumber party." He wiggled his eyebrows at her. She snatched her son in an embrace, smothering him with kisses. "Sounds like a marvelous plan." She stood and carried him off towards the bathroom. Mulder caught her murmuring: "It's ok, baby boy. Mommy is here." PAST 12 December 1973 Launder Memorial Hospital Martha's Vineyard 8:35PM He sat blurry eyed in the hospital's cafeteria, rubbing his exhausted eyes. It had been a couple weeks since They came to take his daughter. 'Though not really my daughter,' he thought bitterly. 'She doesn't think I know, but I am aware of everything in her life.' However, despite the biological separation, he still considered Samantha his. Bill was the one who went out in blistering snowstorms at three in the morning to satisfy Teena's cravings. He was the one who stood by her side as she worked for seven hours to get the baby out (which was rare at the time. Not to many fathers were even allowed in the delivery room until the 1980s). He was witness to Sam's first laugh, steps, words, etc. He raised her as though he wasn't conscious of the fact that his wife had been unfaithful. 'At least the boy is mine,' he tried to pacify himself. The thought of his son tugged at his heart. He was transported through time to that awful night when he found his son frozen in a kneeling position. Fox's eyes had been lifeless as he stared without blinking at the large bay window. The box that held the pistol was beside the boy, broken open with its objects strewn about. The gun lay close to the child's hand. Teena had come sprinting in through the front door behind Bill and, at the sight, let out a blood-curling scream. Afraid that by touching Fox she would cause his fragileness to shatter, she had tentatively smoothed the boy's hair back, whispering, "Fox, baby, mommy is here. I'm here, baby boy." Bill was torn from his reverie by a clipped voice over the intercom, "Mr. Bill Mulder, report to your son's room immediately. Mr. Mulder, to your son's room." For a split moment, Bill was thankful that his high position gave him the ability to be paged over the intercom. Yet, he instantly realized that he wouldn't have needed to be paged to his comatose son's room in the first place if it wasn't for his job. Bill leapt out of his seat and out of the cafeteria. He raced down the corridor, the coffee splashing his gray T-shirt. He collided into an orderly, the Styrofoam cup crashing to the floor. Tossing back an apology, he continued his dash without pause. Heart thudding, he skidded to a halt in front of an ICU room and gazed through the window at the boy hooked to countless machines. Beside the child was a weary woman with her head bowed in prayer. Her wrenching sobs violently trembling through her body. Bill's original burst of adrenaline fled his body and he found it a struggle to enter the room, cross over to his wife, and look down at his still son. However, summoning up his courage, he managed to do just that. He peered down at the boy, tears pooling at the corners of his eyes. First he lost his baby girl to Them and now he was faced with loosing his son. He wasn't the type to cry, but what kind of father wouldn't feel the choking of loosing his only two children? "Oh, Bill," Teena Mulder mumbled through her tears. "It was amazing. Fox woke up, looked straight at me, and recognized me." The breath was knocked out of him. William Mulder gazed up at his wife blankly. "He woke up?" He staggered backward into the chair. "I thought...I thought...they paged me, but didn't tell me anything. I thought...god...I saw you crying and I thought..." Teena wiped at her eyes, but the downpour persisted. "No. This one you didn't manage to get rid of," she sneered, her eyes as cold as a blank tombstone. She turned away from him and placed her cool hand on her son's arm. "It's ok, baby boy," she soothed. "Mommy is here." PRESENT 4 November J. Edgar Hoover Building Washington, D.C. 7:02AM Jostling William, his briefcase, and coffee, Mulder winded in and out of the stream of people who had entered before him. He glanced at his watch and cursed. "Damn," William mimicked. Mulder clamped William's mouth shut, glancing around to make sure no one else had heard. "Hush, bud, don't swear." He could imagine Dana's reprimand, 'hypocrite.' He rounded the corner, stepping into the already full elevator. A few gave curious glances, but most ignored Spooky and Junior. One particularly interested female behind Mulder leaned over. "Is he yours or did you just bring your suspect in for questioning?" Mulder chuckled in return, peering back over his shoulder. "Oh, he's the most notorious criminal I've apprehended yet. I caught him red handed scrawling with the permanent marker on the white walls." She gave a throaty laugh, then extended her hand over his shoulder. "I'm Agent Carla DeLong from the Wichita Field Office." He shook her hand with his fingers from the hand holding the coffee. "Well, you aren't in Kansas anymore. I can guarantee that. Sometimes I wish I worked out of a field office." The elevator doors slid open and everyone walked off into the bullpen except for Mulder and DeLong. She moved to stand beside him. "You know how many times I've heard that 'Kansas' remark? And I've never even been there. I work out of a small town in Massachusetts named Wichita. It's five miles south of Plymouth, near the coast. And, by the way, my town had the name first." "Why didn't you say so to begin with?" "I like to tally up the 'Kansas' and 'Dorothy' comments." Once again the elevator doors split. Mulder said goodbye and strolled off. When William grabbed at his coffee cup, Mulder swung his arm back. He heard a gasp from behind him and when he pivoted around he saw DeLong gaping at the coffee on her white blouse. "Agent Delong! I am so sorry. I didn't know you were there." Mulder set the Styrofoam cup on a pile of boxes and withdrew a tissue from his pocket. "Here. I promise it's unused." DeLong took the offering and began soaking up the spill. "It's quite alright. I just hope I can find I way to cover it up before I meet Agent Mulder. I'm here on an urgent request from my SAC to bring Agent Mulder and Doctor Mulder back with me. I would hate to make a lousy impression." Mulder burst into laughter. "You here that, bud?" He poked Will in the belly. "Someone is looking for your mommy and I." Mortified, she ceased wiping at the stain. Staring up at him through thick lashes, she groaned, "You're Agent Mulder?" His boyish grin sent familiar butterflies loose in her stomach. "Well, it's not like *you* did anything stupid. It's my suspect's innocent fault," he joked, bouncing William for emphasize. The young toddler clapped his hands with glee, tossing his head back. A door opened and a slender redhead stepped out into the hall looking none too pleased. "Mulder, why didn't you drop him off at mom's?" Mulder twirled around on his heels, exciting William into a fit of laughter. "Dana, I went over there, but your mom has a terrible cold. So, I told her not to worry about babysitting -- I'll just bring him along with me." "And mom agreed to this?" she asked incredulously. "Well...no," he replied sheepishly. "I kind of had to make a mad dash for the car, gun blazing, yelling at her not to come near my son. I don't want him to catch a cold. You know how this little charmer is when he gets sick." Dana rolled her eyes. "What really happened?" "What? You don't believe me?" DeLong stepped forward with her hand outstretched. "Hi. You must be Doctor Mulder." She shook Dana's hand. "I'm Agent Carla DeLong from the Wichita Field Office in Massachusetts. I'm here about a case I am currently working on. Actually, it involves Fox." Both agents stared at her in silent shock, before Mulder finally took the initiative. "Let's go into the office and discuss this." He guided the two women into the cluttered room. "I'm not quite sure how to approach this." DeLong reached into her trench coat, withdrawing a photo. "I guess I can start by saying I know you Fox. Before I married my name was Carla Rice." She handed him the photo. Mulder delicately took the offered picture. His expression turned sorrowful as he gazed at the photo of two young girls in their bathing suits, arms around each other's shoulders, smiling. "You were Samantha's best friend. I remember I hated when you spent the night because you guys would ransack the house building your Barbie mansions." DeLong smiled to the floor. "I remember that even though you got annoyed with us, you would still let us tag along when you went down to the beach." Mulder chuckled, flipping the photo over and back again and again. William reached for it, and Mulder lifted his arm in the air so that the baby couldn't grab it. "Yeah. I was so upset when my friends asked me if I was dating the little ten-year old that ran around with my baby sister. Apparently *someone* let a little white lie circulate about the Vineyard." "That was all Samantha. She thought it would be funny to hook up her friend with her brother. I was so embarrassed when people started to ask me if I was with you." She turned a shade of pink at the memory. "However, five years later I was proud to say that I was seeing the cutest boy on the island." "You two dated?" Dana glanced back and forth between her handsome husband and the gorgeous brunette. She could see how they would have been attracted to one another and that rose a bit of jealousy. Mulder nodded slowly. "Yeah, for two years, but then I went off to Oxford so we broke it off. I was overseas and she was still only a sophomore. We mutually decided that it would be impossible to remain together." DeLong glanced away and Dana instantly realized that the lovely woman still carried heartache from loosing her first love. Dana began to wonder if the break up was really all that mutual. "So," Mulder's swap in tone noted that he was changing the topic. "How's it been going? Obviously you're married. What else have you been up to?" "I'm only kind of married." DeLong unconsciously twisted her set of wedding bands. "My husband past away two years ago on duty. He left me raising three kids on my own. They're real sweethearts, though. My oldest, Danny, is ten. Then there's James who is six. My youngest is three." She bit her lip nervously. "Her name's Samantha." "S-Samantha?" he stuttered. He slowly made his way to his chair, lowering himself onto it. William snatched the first thing his little hand came too -- a folder. The contents were strewn onto the floor as the child waved the manila folder in the air. "Why'd you name her Samantha?" Mulder bent down, picking up the fallen papers. "In your sister's memory. Samantha was my best friend for eight years." DeLong made her way over to him, placing her hand on his shoulder. "When I was two she was born and our parents were close acquaintances. Samantha and I practically grew up together." She glanced at the floor, tears welling in her sea-green eyes. "I loved her like the sister I never had." Mulder's small smile was tinted with sadness. "You two were inseparable. Where you found one the other was sure to be close." He squeezed her hand resting on his shoulder, gazing up at her with gratitude. "Thank you, Carla. Thank you for allowing Samantha to live on in your life -- for not brushing her aside. I know she would be ecstatic that you named your daughter after her." Dana, her heart reaching out for her husband, was, however, silently uncomfortable -- like the third wheel. She shifted her feet, scanning the office. She wished she wasn't witnessing such a private moment between the two ex-high-school-sweethearts. Then she felt angry with herself. If anyone should be feeling awkward it was DeLong. She was the one getting intimate with a married man whose wife and son were in the room. DeLong swallowed, glanced over at Dana, and then stared at the 'I Want to Believe' poster behind the desk. "I'm actually here because of Samantha. We...I...there was a body found in Hillside Field which is part of the town Menemsha on Martha's Vineyard. Mr. James Rollin was digging a well and reached about twenty feet when he cracked through a skeleton." "Wait a minute. What exactly are you saying? I know what happened to my sister. That is a shut case." Mulder looked over at his partner for support. "We never uncovered all the details, but we are pretty clear on what happened." "Did you find a body?" "Well...no, but that doesn't mean that the one you found in Hillside is her." William began to squirm, bored with the adults. Mulder hoisted him up further and handed the toddler his set of keys. "I'm not saying it's a perfect match -- not yet. We only discovered the body two days ago. However, it was a young girl with a broken collarbone who's been in the ground for at least twenty years. She was also buried with a sealed box containing photographs of you and your parents. The only reason I'm finding it hard to believe it is she is because the pelvis and skull indicate that the child was fourteen. Everyone knows Samantha was taken at eight. And it's not common for a predator to keep his victim alive for six years." "F-fourteen?" "Yes. Why?" He proceeded to tell her about the LaPierre case. PAST 13 December 1973 Launder Memorial Hospital Martha's Vineyard 8:30PM "I don't remember!" Fox screeched. He hissed at the pain that exploded in his head. "How many times must we go through this! I don't remember! I DON'T REMEMBER!" He sat back against the pillows exhausted. The man in front of his bed kept sneaking his hand into his jacket, begin to pull something out, but then shove it back in it's place. He glanced at Fox's father then behind him at the door. Turning his malicious eyes back on Fox, he calmly inquired, "What happened the night your sister disappeared?" as though he hadn't already asked four times before. This time Bill leapt out of his chair enraged. "He said he doesn't remember! What the hell is all of this? My god, the boy just woke up yesterday after being in a damn coma for weeks! Even if he has the ability to recall anything he sure couldn't now!" At this moment, Teena walked in, saw the seen before her, and flew into the mysterious man's face. "What the hell are *you* doing here? GET OUT! GET OUT! GET OUT!" She began pushing the man away from Fox's bed. "Get the hell out of here you son-of-a-bitch! Leave my son alone! What more can you do to a mother you heartless bastard!" "You are still full of fire, Teena. I hope that trait follows you through life." He once again reached inside his jacket, but, this time, he withdrew a pack of cigarettes. "Don't worry, Teena." Spender lit his Morley. "I will protect your son." "Your word isn't worth shit!" roared Bill. "You better hope it is worth at least that much. Your son's life could be in jeopardy." "It's not! I know it's not." Bill wasn't sure whom he was trying to convince. "Yes, but tactics change. Loyalists become enemies." He paused to take a puff. "The future isn't as set in stone as the Syndicate likes to imagine they are. Just don't cross the wrong people, Bill." Spender glanced at the terrified twelve-year-old. "I fear we've said to much in front of our audience. I'll be back tomorrow to finish conducting the investigation and tying up loose ends." As soon as he left, Bill ran out after him and Teena shook her head. She knew Bill was going to try and deal with the devil. She pressed her lips to her son's forehead. "Don't follow your father's footsteps, Fox. When you smell smoke: run. I want you to run, Fox." PRESENT 6 November Police Station Chilmark, Massachusetts 8:35AM Dana leaned in towards her husband, her hand straying to settle on his upper arm. "I thought she said they found the body in Menemsha." "Since Chilmark is from where she disappeared, they already had the case." "Does this mean we'll be staying in Chilmark?" "Most likely. I never sold any property. I still have the house here. We can still there. Or, we can go to West Tisbury." "Distance wise, it would be better to stay in Chilmark, but if you would rather go to West Tisbury..." She let her sentence trail off. She, personally, would prefer staying in Chilmark, but she was aware that it was that house that Samantha had been abducted from. She would understand if Mulder wanted to avoid the place. "No. We should be here. We'll be closer to the investigation." DeLong rushed up to them out of breath. She waved a file in front of them in triumph. "It took some digging around, but I managed to find the original. I know there are copies floating all over the place, but this way you can be sure that everything you read is straight." "Hey!" a gruff voice barked from off to the side. A tall, burly man pushed his way towards the federal trio. His clothes reeked of smoke. "Aren't you Fox Mulder?" Mulder glanced at his wife. "Yes. May I help you? Do I know you?" A sneer captured the large man's face. He glowered down at the shorter man with open disgust. "You brave bastard. Returning to the scene of the crime, uh, Fox? Half this town still thinks you whacked her off -- and I'm one of them." Mulder's fist slammed sharply into the man's face. The sting was satisfying; it was proof that he had injured the guy. "Fuck you, Mike! You know I didn't harm her! You're still just bitter over the fact that I got accepted into Oxford while you couldn't even get into a community college!" Mike Taylor lunged on top of Mulder, tackling him to the ground. "Did you fuck her first, Fox? Did you jam your dinky dick up her ass before you killed her!" Mulder's knuckles smashed into Mike's nose with a loud crack. Blood splattered onto Mulder's face and white dress shirt. His adrenaline pumping, Mulder was able to flip them over, so that he was on top. "YOU FUCKING BASTARD!" He pelted his fists into his enemy's face with fury. Hands came from everywhere, pulling him off. Mulder fought to get away, twisting and turning while screaming, "I'LL KILL YOU! I'LL FUCKING KILL YOU!" He began kicking the men who restrained him. "HOW DARE YOU SAY THAT! I LOVED MY SISTER YOU FUCKING BASTARD! I SWEAR TO GOD I'LL KILL!" Dana was suddenly peering up at him, her hands soothingly caressing his enraged face. "Mulder...Fox, sweetheart, calm down. This isn't going to get us anywhere. No one really thinks that you hurt her. He's just being an ass." Mike was now standing, gently patting his broken nose. "What's this Fox? You married to her? Hey lady, I'd watch it if I were you. I wouldn't let him alone with the daughters." Dana whipped around, her eyes blazing with hatred. "What the hell did you just say?" She strolled over to him, her glare radiating off heat. "You've just physically and verbally insulted a federal officer. One call is all it takes and you will find yourself behind bars for a long, long time. I suggest you back the hell off. Just because you molest little girls doesn't mean everyone else does." "Why you little..." "TAYLOR! GET YOUR FUCKING ASS IN MY OFFICE NOW!" screamed a pissed off Captain Dean Glenn. "I will NOT tolerate your fucking behavior! You're lucky I'm not firing you right here and now!" Taylor shuffled off towards his superior, grumbling obscenities under his breath. He flashed a scornful glower behind his shoulders at Mulder before stalking off into his boss's office. The station was at a dead silence. All that could be heard was Glenn's bellowing followed by an eerie stillness. Dana was at her husband's side, stroking up his arms, down his chest, and back again. DeLong was biting her lip either from nervousness or her attempts to keep from crying. When a phone rang, everyone jumped back into action. "Mulder," Dana murmured. "Why don't we go get settled in at the house and have some dinner. We can come back tomorrow morning with a fresh start." He only nodded his head in agreement. PAST 2 January 1974 Chilmark High Martha's Vineyard 7:15AM Walking down the hallway, head towards the floor, Fox scurried -- more like slunk -- past the other kids. He could feel their eyes boring into him; some were sympathetic; others were curious, apprehensive, or suspicious. Once the star of his class, he was now the outcast -- students and teachers alike didn't want to talk to him. They didn't know what to say to the boy who was present while his sister disappeared; who was in a coma for weeks; and who had missed the last month and a half of school. Fox slipped inside his first period class, History with Mr. Goldstein. The school day not officially starting until 7:25, Fox sat alone in the classroom with Mr. Goldstein. The teacher was scrolling notes on the board, unaware of the passive student. Two minutes later, he replaced the chalk and turned away. His kind old eyes settling on the boy who only last year was named "The Gentleman Goof" in the Junior High Yearbook. "Good morning, Fox." "Morning, sir" was the whispered reply. "Are you feeling better, Fox?" "Yes, sir." "I see that you were able to catch up on all your missed assignments. I'm quite impressed." "Thank you, sir." Mr. Goldstein sighed, glanced at the clock, and lowered himself into his chair. "I know you must hear this all the time, but I am deeply sorry about your sister." "Thank you, sir." The five-minute warning bell shrilled. "You know, Fox, I'm surprised you aren't out there catching up with your friends." Throughout their entire conversation, Fox had not moved from his hunched over position. However, at this last comment, he snapped to attention. "And what is there to catch up on? Once you loose your sister when you were supposed to be responsible of her, everything else kind of becomes menial -- wouldn't you say, sir?" He sharply looked away, glowering at the wastebasket by the door. "It all ends up as just a bunch of pointless shit." Normally Goldstein would have sent a cussing student to the office, but -- understanding what a difficult time it was for Fox -- he ignored it. In fact, he ignored the boy for the rest of the day. When the bell rung, Fox was the first out of the door, rushing to his English class. He entered the room quietly, taking a seat in the far-left corner. His English teacher strolled over, kneeling down so that they were face to face. "Fox," she nearly whispered. "I noticed you had your mother bring all your work in and that's fine. However, you could have taken your time. I would have understood." "I know, Mrs. Rice. It's just...it's just that immersing myself in my schoolwork kept my thoughts from wandering into...other things." Mrs. Rice smiled warmly. "'Immersing' was one of your vocabulary words. I bet you threw that one in on purpose." The other students piled in as the bell went off, marking the beginning of the class. Mrs. Rice excused herself to the bathroom as Mike Taylor took his seat next to Fox. "Hey, *Fox*, is it true your father killed your sister?" Fox's eyes flew wide open. "What?" "Yeah, my dad says your old man whacked her off. He told me that when he got to the house there were all these men dressed in black acting all stone-like. He said your father was arguing with them about Samantha. He said..." "I don't give a fuck what he said!" Fox screamed, leaping from his seat. "My father didn't kill my sister! He wasn't even home when she disappeared!" "You were." "What the hell is that supposed to mean?" "Well, something happened to your sister. Yet, you don't remember a damn thing. I don't believe that for a second. If your father didn't kill her then it must've been you!" Their classmates gasped, but some even screamed as Fox lunged himself into Mike. "Take it back, asshole!" He struggled for a moment before he had the bigger kid pinned to the floor, his face pressing roughly into the tiles. "Or what? You'll kill me, too! Just because you're the richest asses around here doesn't mean I'm going to follow your orders!" Fox yanked Mike's head up by his hair. "What the hell are you talking about?" "My dad won't take shit from your rich-ass daddy anymore than I'll take shit from you!" Mrs. Rice came bursting into the room. "Stop it! Fox, get off of him!" She ran over, wrapping her arms around Fox's waist to try and tug him off. "What is going on here?" "Fox attacked Mike!" yelled a voice. "Fox slammed his head into the floor!" "Mike was asking about Samantha and Fox flipped!" Fox's eyes weld up with salty, burning tears. He glanced around at all the students who had once been his friends. The betrayal ran deep. Why weren't any of them explaining what Mike had? Not able to face the turmoil of his emotions, he sprinted from the room. From behind he heard one more proclamation: "Fox has gone crazy!" PRESENT 4 November Chilmark Residence Martha's Vineyard 9:45PM "Carla, do you need a place to stay?" Mulder inquired over his last piece of chicken. "You know you are more than welcome to stay here with Dana and I." DeLong glanced briefly at Dana who would not meet her eyes. "No, I'm going to shack up with my mom. She still lives down the street. You know, she would love to see you." Mulder's smile spread easily across his face. "Ah, Mrs. Rice was always so...mother-like. She fussed over me like a mother hen after my mom and dad split up." "Yeah. I remember the first time I brought you over as my date. She was so ecstatic she let you keep me out until eleven." Mulder chuckled at the memory. "She said, 'I can trust this young man more so than I could the pope.' She even gave her blessing for our marriage that night." He shook his head. "It was our third date and she was already writing up the wedding list." DeLong suddenly grew real silent, peering down at the set of rings on her left hand. "You know, it was probably silly on my part, but I wore your high school ring up until the night I became engaged to James." "Why?" DeLong softly snorted. "Isn't it obvious? I was..." she suddenly shook herself, stealing a peek at Dana before shrugging. "Oh, what does it matter? You got it back, right? I got your address from your mother and mailed it to you." "Yeah. I got it back." Dana was surprised to see the hurt flash across his eyes. Had he felt rejected when he opened that envelope to find his ring? Had DeLong sent a letter with it explaining that she was getting married and no longer holding out hope for when he may finally return for her? "Mulder, we should probably..." "Excuse me, but why do you always call him Mulder?" Dana gritted her teeth. "I tried to call him Fox a long time ago and he told me that he hated his name -- that he even made his parents call him Mulder. I've found over the years that that is apparently not the case. So why don't you ask him?" She glared down at her husband. "Why do I always call you Mulder, Mulder?" Mulder glanced between the two women looking as though he had been caught in the highlights. "Well, Dana, in the beginning I was trying to maintain a professional relationship." "And what about now?" "Well...I...you do call me Fox sometimes." "The only times I can safely get away with it is when you're dying or I'm in the throws of an orgasm!" DeLong's face flushed, her eyes gazing off far into the distance. It was at this moment that Dana came to an earth shattering realization. She aimed her question at Mulder. "Did you two have a sexual relationship?" Mulder swallowed deeply, unable to look her in the eye. He shifted his weight onto his other foot, his mouth opening and then closing again. He glanced over at DeLong, who was refusing to meet his gaze, then back at Dana. "We lost our virginity to each other a month before I left for Oxford." "I see." "Come on, Dana, its not like I'm the first man you've had sex with! As I can recall off the top of my head, there was Ethan, Jack Willis, Daniel, Ed Jerse, and I'm sure there were others!" "First of all, I never had sex with Ed Jerse! And the other three are the only other ones! Now let's see who you've laid: Phoebe, Diana, Kirsten, Dr. Bambi, Detective White, the woman on your answering machine who called you a pig for not showing up at lunch, Carla, and I'm sure there were others!" "I never slept with Angela White!" "You would have if I hadn't showed up!" DeLong, feeling as though she were the cause of their argument, politely cleared her throat. "I'm sorry, but I don't see how your pasts have anything to do with your lives now. You're married with a beautiful little boy. And I would like to think you two are madly in love." "It's just different knowing he was robbing the cradle." "Excuse me," DeLong was now offended. She crossed her arms firmly over her chest. "He didn't 'rob the cradle'. I was sixteen and he was eighteen. I don't see that has much of a leap in age." "It's not the age difference that is the problem. It is the age in of it self. You were sixteen! And he was a month from leaving. I think you could have kept your pants on for the next guy who came along!" Mulder grasped her arm, whipping her around to face him. "What's gotten into you, Dana? I will not let you talk to her like that! Carla was the only one there for me after Samantha was abducted. She even partially understood my pain. I don't see that us finding comfort in each other as a crime: regardless that I was about to leave. That was probably the time we needed one another the most." The shrill of a phone caused Mulder to release her arm. He withdrew his cell phone from his pant pocket, shoving it against his ear. "Mulder." Dana kept her arms folded stiffly over her chest, her eyes never meeting either her husband's or Carla's. She did, however, glance abruptly over as Mulder's gasp echoed throughout the house. His face ghastly white, he swallowed hard. "Oh my god... oh ... holy shit..." He fumbled with the phone, trying to keep it steady even as his hands shook violently. "How can you be sure? ... My god ... Ok, thanks for calling." He snapped the phone off, then clung onto it as though it was his lifeline. Dana softened, her feet cautiously carrying her over to her husband. "Is it...is it Samantha?" She gently stroked his forearm, her fingers tracing along his muscles. "Mulder? Fox, is it Samantha?" His features hardened, his jaw clenching so tightly it hurt. "It was my sister." He glared over at the mantel where a picture of his family once sat. "But it wasn't Samantha." PAST June 4, 1978 Mulder Residence Martha's Vineyard 2:30PM The day was hot, insomuch that Fox was cleaning out the garage with his shirt off. Carla was propped up on the hood of the black mustang watching him as he rearranged a few boxes. "You know," she teased, "it may be even cooler if you took your pants off." Fox leered at her with a devilish smile. "Only if you take your pants off." He went back to removing a three-by-five crate from the top shelve. "You know, Carla, I know about those 'devil panties' you have on." Carla giggled, rolling her sea-green eyes with amusement. "God, Fox, do I want to know how you know about my red, silk panties? Let alone that you know I'm wearing them today?" "I saw them when you bent over to pick up that screw I 'accidentally' dropped." He placed the wooden crate on the floor and bent down to blow off all the cobwebs that had accumulated over the years of it being shoved in the back corner. "I just wish you would model them for me." She shook her. "God, is sex all you ever think about?" "Did I say anything about sex you dirty-minded fifteen year old? God, youngsters these days." He furrowed his eyebrows at the inscription on the lid: 'The Other's'. "Oh, like seventeen year old boys are so mature," she shot back with a laugh. "Please, Fox, spare me the torture of a lecture." He lifted up the lock he had not noticed before and asked more to himself than anyone else, "Why would he have a locked crate in the garage?" He hunted around for the hammers, which he found with the screwdrivers. "Fox? What are you doing? You aren't going to seriously break into your father's things are you?" He just shrugged and began smashing the lock with the hammer. It took a few swings, but the lock finally gave way, a piece flying off -- hitting Carla in the leg. He glanced over, "Sorry." She hopped off the roof of the car. "Let's just hope this vandalism is worth it. Everyone knows how private your father is." Fox got onto his knees, prying the lid off. Inside were folders. He tentatively opened one, shocked by the photo that was bore to him. It was of a teenaged girl with curly brown hair, hazel eyes, and Jewish features. She remarkably resembled a mixture of him and Samantha. "Fox! Fox, are you done in the garage, yet?" Bill's deep voice carried out from the back porch. "Your mom is on her way. And Carla, your mom called. She's on her way to pick you up. She said she was taking you to get your swimsuit." Fox slammed the lid back on the crate, situated the lock to make it appear not so damaged, and then placed it back where he found it. "Carla, you better get a bikini." He winked at her. Carla grinned, "Only in your wet dreams, Fox." She peered down at his hand. "Damn it, you forgot to put the picture back." He shook his head. "No. I want to keep it." "Why?" "I don't know. I just...do. She looks so familiar, but I could swear I've never seen her. Maybe I'll ask my mom about her." A car horn honked. His mom waved them both over. "Carla, do you need a ride home?" "No, my mom is on her way to get me. You two go ahead. I'll just go inside and hang around with Bill." Fox jumped into the car. Once they were on the road, he waited till they hit a red light before showing his mom the photo. "Mom, who is this?" Her eyes instantly filled with tears, she snapped her head to face him. "Where the hell did you get that?" "I...I found it at dad's today. Who is she?" Her eyes held a deep sadness, her bottom lip trembling. But her voice was harsh. "No one. Just give me the picture." She held out her hand. "Mom," he withdrew the photo. "Why won't you tell me? You don't cry for a no one." "I'm not crying! Now give me the damn picture!" She tore it from his grasp. The light had turned green and the vehicles behind her honked at her repeatedly. "I never want to hear of this again! She doesn't exist!" "Well, if she doesn't exist then why is there a box full of stuff on her! Damn it, mom, just tell me! Who is she?" By now, the cars were just going around them. A few people were flicking them off. Teena reached over and slapped Fox. "That's for swearing at me!" She harshly pushed the car into gear, stepping on the clutch and gas. "Now let her go like the rest of us!" "Rest of us?" "Fox, she's dead! For the love of God, just let her rest in peace! Now drop it...forever!" PRESENT 4 November Martha's Vineyard Chilmark Residence 9:46PM "What?" Dana exclaimed. "You mean to tell me that you had a sister that you didn't know about? How is that possible? Your parents wouldn't have been old enough to have had a child fourteen years of age before your birth." "Maybe it wasn't all before my birth. Maybe I was just to young to remember her. Besides, it explains the picture I found." Mulder faced Carla. "Remember that summer day when I was cleaning out the garage? I found that wooden crate with the lock on it?" Carla nodded enthusiastically. "Yes! And once you finally got it open, there were all those folders inside. You found that picture of the teenaged girl who looked so much like you and Sam. Your mother refused to tell you who she was." "Wait a minute," Dana interrupted, "you think that the photo was of an older sister?" Carla whirled around, her face beaming with the excitement of a discovery. "It's the only thing that makes any sense. You should have seen that picture. And why else was it guarded and never discussed?" "I wonder where the crate is now -- if they hadn't destroyed it. Knowing my parents, they would have gotten extremely paranoid and burned the whole damn thing." Carla raced out of the room, shoving her arms through her coat that she had snatched up on her out. "Let's check the garage," she yelled over her shoulder. "It's a long shot, but we may get lucky." The couple glanced at each other, then dashed off after her. Dana skidded to a halt in front of the freshly painted garage. Even in the excitement of things, she was still aware that a house not lived in for years shouldn't have a newly painted garage. Mulder and Carla had managed to open the locked door and were stepping into the dark building. Dana could make out their conversation. "You know, it's not really the photo that sticks out most in my memory," Carla bantered. "As I recall, you were enthralled with my 'devil panties.'" Mulder chuckled, "Do you still have those?" "Of course." Carla flipped on the light switch. "They are a part of my collection of memorabilia of our first night together." Dana heaved angrily, pushing her way into the room between her husband and his ex-lover. "Where's the damn box?" She marched over to the shelves and began rummaging through the contents. "I doubt it's even here. There's no reason for your father to have kept it here especially since you knew about it." She knocked over a can of nails, the tiny tools scattering over the cement floor. Mulder watched one of the nails as it rolled off to the darkest corner of the room. "Dana, you're looking in the wrong spot. Why don't you let Carla and I conduct the search. We're familiar with the place and you're not." Dana glared at him. "And what do you expect of me? To just waltz off and leave you two lovebirds alone? Over my dead body, Fox Mulder. I'm not going to give you the situation to rekindle the flames." "What the hell, Dana! There won't be no rekindling of flames especially since there isn't even a candle to light anymore!" Carla peered down at her hands nervously. Dana glanced her way and suddenly felt a bit sorry of the other woman. Too loose a man like Fox Mulder was to loose a junk of what was perfect in the world. Dana experienced what it was like to be separated from Mulder and she pitied those who had lost him completely. Yet, that didn't mean Dana was going to just step aside so that Carla could pretend she was able to win back his heart. "Ok, you two can look for the crate." Dana headed towards the door. "I'll go inside and call mom to see how our son is doing." Mulder understood this was her way of apologizing and that he wouldn't get anywhere closer to an 'I'm sorry.' So, he just nodded his agreement and began his search for the crate. -*-*-*- Mulder came bounding into the kitchen, Carla at his heels. "We found it!" He dropped the rotting crate onto the table in front of Dana. "He had it hidden under a few floor boards." "Mulder," Dana gripped his hand. Her voice was strained. "Something's happened back home. Mom was in a car accident." He collapsed onto his knees beside her chair. "Oh god. What about William? Is Will ok? Was he in the car with her? Is she going to be alright?" "She's in a coma with a broken wrist and leg. William was with her," her lips began to tremble. "He sustained a cut on his hand, two broken fingers, and a concussion." Tears were falling freely down her ashen cheeks. "Fox, we have to go to our son. He needs us. He's in a hospital alone with strangers." "Oh god, is any of his injuries life threatening?" "No, they managed to stop the bleeding. The accident happened late last night. Mom was driving home from a church party when a truck veered off his lane and crashed into them." "But they're both going to be fine?" "Yes, mom was starting to have some brain activity. So, she's more in a deep sleep than a coma. But, we better get up there as soon as possible." She leapt from her chair. "I'll pack while you call the airlines." "What about the case?" Dana froze. "The case?" She spun around in a daze. "Our son has been in an accident and you're worried about a damn case?" "This 'damn case' involves a sister I never knew about! Her teenaged body was found buried twenty feet below the surface! I want to know what the hell happened!" "I'm sure Agent DeLong and the locals are well equipped to handle the case. We have a baby who needs his parents. What is more important to you: the past or your child?" "Of course my child! But you said so yourself, he'll be fine. And you'll be with him. I'm not saying you have to stay -- you shouldn't. I want you to go to Will, but I...I have to know who my sister was and what happened to her." Carla slipped off to the corner of the room, examining the wallpaper above the counter. Dana glanced her way, then glared up at her husband. "That's all that ever matters to you, isn't it? You would sacrifice it all just to know the *truth*. Well, let me give you some *truth*. If you turn your back on us now, then you mains well never look at us again because we won't be there." Dana calmly ambled out of the kitchen. Mulder ran after her, his fury reaching a dangerous peak. "You can't tell me that if you discovered a dead sister you never knew about that you wouldn't go to the ends of the earth to find out the hell was going on! You're calling me selfish, but look at you! The real reason you want me to leave is because you're jealous!" He grabbed her shoulders, spinning her around to face him. "Knock it off! Yes, Carla is a past lover, but there's a word you seem to keep forgetting: PAST! I mean for Christ's sake, Dana, this was over twenty years ago!" "That's the thing with you, though, isn't Mulder? You're stuck in the past. Samantha, your parents, your unknown sister, Diana, Phoebe; you're always looking back and never forward. Who's to say that Carla isn't another piece of your past that you aren't willing to truly let go?" Mulder began to protest, but Dana held a finger to his lips. "Does it really matter, Mulder? You know your father was mixed in with some perilous, horrible people. He'd given up one daughter for the cause -- why not two of them? And what will knowing accomplish? It'll cause more unwanted, unneeded, and confused pain. What should take precedent over this? The pain of your child." Carla tiptoed into the room, clearing her throat softly. "Fox, I think she's right. Besides, I'll still be conducting an investigation. Just because you're not here doesn't mean this'll go to a standstill. I'll handle it until you can return." Mulder shook his head with a weary smile. "Now you're ganging up on me." The grin disappeared. "But I...I need to *know*." "I'll handle it, Fox. Don't you trust me to take care of it? I didn't become an agent yesterday you know." "Carla...I just..." "Go home with your wife to your scared son. I know that if one of my children were in the hospital an army of sharp shooters couldn't keep me away. I would have hoped that you felt the same." A moment's pause before, "I do." 6 November St. Greg's Hospital Lexington, Virginia 7:34AM "Hey bud, you're finally awake." Mulder smoothed his hand over his son's soft cheek. "You've been asleep the entire time your mommy and I have been here." "Dadda?" "Yes, bud, what is it?" "Mamma?" "Mamma went to get some coffee. She'll be back soon. She'll be so thrilled to see you." Just then Dana walked through the door juggling two cups of coffee and a bag of pastries from the cafeteria. She dumped the food onto the table next to the bed, beaming. "Hey, baby boy." She leaned over the railing to kiss his forehead. "How's my little one?" Mulder excused himself, claiming he had to use the restroom. It was the truth, but after doing his business, he went outside, withdrawing his cell phone. He turned it on and listened to his voicemail. "Fox? It's Carla. I've got some bad news. Really bad news. God...I don't know...strange shit is happening. Your sister's name according to the files is Samantha Fox Mulder. However, that's the not the reason why I called. You see...shit...her remains have been stolen and so has the crate. Call me ASAP." Mulder slammed his phone to the cement, it shattering into pieces. "Fuck!" He kicked at the trashcan beside him. "FUCK! FUCK! FUCK! GOD DAMN IT!" He scooped down to pick up the broken phone, then marched back into the hospital and up to his son's room. "Damn it, Dana! I knew I shouldn't I have left!" His yelling caused William to burst into tears. "Mulder, calm down and tell me what happened." "They did what they always do: TAKE THE GOD DAMN EVIDENCE! Damn it, Dana, they stole her body and the fucking crate! Now we have nothing but her fucking name! But it's not like she would be on file anywhere! No, my father and his fucking friends would have covered that!" "Mulder, stop screaming! You're scaring William." She was beside him now, whispering. "What are you going to do?" "What can I do? There's no body. No crate. No nothing. If only I'd been there. I may not have stopped them from taking the body, but I could have guarded the crate." "Wait a minute, didn't they already perform the autopsy? We would still have..." "No. You were supposed to autopsy today. All they did was run a DNA test." (Note: I don't know if you can run DNA tests on persons with no blood or organs. However, they did.) "Well, there must be *something* you can do. Fox Mulder never backs down, especially due to lack of evidence." "Well, I did back down. Look where it got me." Mulder peered over at his now quiet son. He loved his son terribly, but for the first time Mulder really felt what a burden having a child was. He cost him the truth about Samantha Fox -- an unknown and dead sister. "What was her name?" "Samantha Fox Mulder. How fucked up is that? My parents sacrificed her, but the guilt was so strong that they named their other two children after her. I guess I should just be thankful that they choose Fox for me and not the name Samantha." Dana followed his almost angry-like gaze to their son. "One day we may find out more, Mulder. But for now, we need to focus on priorities. William is ours to look after, protect, teach, and love. He should rank over everything else. Don't you think?" There was no response save for a reluctant sigh. -*-*- If YOU wish to make a sequel -- go ahead. I think this story should continue. However, I'm not up to doing one (at least not anytime soon). Just email me a copy BEFORE posting it, though, so I can approve it. Thanks!