Even through the haze, she could see that he was near, so near that it unnerved her. She recognized him instantly even dazed and drugged as she was. The professor moved away from her and slumped down against the wall. This was her last memory before the sleep reclaimed her once again. Mulder parked the car near the garage of Professor Kirtis' ranch house and ran quickly towards the white 3 story house that sat picturesque in front some 35 or 40 elm trees. The trees varied in sizes, some were very small while others were huge. They covered the area in back of the house from every angle. The house itself was white and it had black shutters around every window, and there seemed to be lots of windows. The front of the house contained a cement porch that ran the entire length of the house. The porch was steep, about 2 feet from the ground and was easily accessed with the steps that went from the ground to the porch. There were about 6 columns along the porch that reached up to the roof. If Mulder hadn't been so preoccupied with the search for Scully, he'd enjoyed touring this beautiful house slowly. The first room he came to was the living room and even with the beautiful pictures of Greek gods and goddess that adorned the walls, it was pretty insignificant. The furniture, itself, was modest and was scattered sparsely around the large room. The most impressive article in the living room was the fireplace, it was huge and solidly built with a fine mahogany mantle that surrounded the hearth. To the left side, a couple of small pieces of wood were piled in the wood box. Mulder knelt down and placed his hand inside where the fire would routinely be burning. To his relief the embers were cold and nothing else gave him an indication that the place was occupied recently. He rose and exited the room, intent on searching the next one. All the rooms on the first and third floors were pretty much the same. He found nothing to indicate the Professor or anyone else had recently occupied any of the room. However, the room he found the most interesting was on the second floor towards the back of the house. It was the professor's library. This was the room of rooms, and ironically for the normalcy of the other rooms, this one was equally impressive. The first noticeable thing was its size; it was easily the largest room in the house. In addition to the beautiful old antique desk that stood majestically in the center, there were at least 50 bookcases lined together all around the exterior of the room. To the far side of the room, sat a small wooden round table with 2 matching chairs pushed territorially under it. Atop the table sat a ceramic cup filled about half way with what Mulder quickly surmised was coffee. Although the paintings in the other rooms were at best, mediocre, the paintings in this room were exquisite. He examined the first few he came to, immediately realizing that every god or goddess on exhibit was one portrayed by the victims of the Viking. He looked solemnly at the painting of Forseti, he god of justice and shook his head. His profiling instinct told him he was right. The Professor had to be the Viking and obviously this library was his sanctuary. Mulder's heart rate climaxed as the realization hit him that he didn't know where else to look for her. He looked quickly to the empty sofa and reclining chair off towards the right of the desk and his heart raced. Where else could the professor have taken her? He was about to leave when he noticed that there was one part of the wall about 3 feet in length where no book case stood. He walked towards the empty space observing it curiously and noticed a faint indention in the wall, similar to fade marks on the wall as if a bookcase had once stood but now removed. As he neared the wall, however, he realized it was not fade marks from exposure to the sunlight. His heart raced as he put his hands against the area and pushed. To his delight the wall began to move backwards revealing a hidden entrance. The first thing he noticed was the smell, it was musty and old and it felt heavy. However, as he stepped inside, the other oddity that registered was the humidity. It made him feel like he was in a laundromat instead of a hidden room. He pulled his small flashlight from his pocket and exited the library cautiously. His first action was to descend a set of rickety old wooden stairs. Each step protested his weight loudly, but he continued with no hesitation. He walked nearly 20 minutes before he came to a series of caverns and tunnels. Mulder proposed that he was probably somewhere behind the house now, somewhere under the woods. He looked around awkwardly, stooped to about 3/4th his usual height and continued with his free hand following along the rock wall for support. He had traveled another 15 or 20 minutes when the roof level of the tunnel suddenly dropped about 3 inches and Mulder's head was thrashed backwards by the impact. He fell quickly to his knees, and stroke the area of his forehead that was throbbing. He wasn't surprised when he came away with blood on his hand. He pulled the handkerchief from his pocket and dabbed lightly at the area, but otherwise gave it no more notice. He rose and stumbled forward, slumping down even more so that the tunnel cold accommodate his tall frame. To his frustration, only a few minutes later he came upon 3 very distinct tunnels each offering no indication of the Professor or Scully. He leaned against the wall and wiped again at the blood that ran down into his left eye. His breath was coming in great gasps now, with fatigue and dehydration also giving him hardship. He closed his eyes for a second, burying his face against his outstretch arm against the wall and fought to keep his eyes focused and his head cognitive. It was however, a desperate plea that came from one of the passages that brought him back to full alert. He tensed his posture as straight as the tunnel would allow and listened closely. He heard another sound from the 3 tunnel, only this time it was a scream, not a plea. He forged ahead into the tunnel he believed the scream to be projected from, forgoing the support of the wall for the gun gripped tightly in his hand. He followed the noises for another eighth of a mile of so, noticing that they were growing louder. At one point he was sure he could distinguish the cries of Scully and as a result his pace quickened to where he was nearly running. A few minutes later he thought he could see a light up ahead in the distance, the pounding of his heart echoed loudly in his head. As he neared the light he flipped the safety off his gun and made himself ready. When he burst through the tunnel into the cave, he was instantly surprised at how big it was. He wasn't even aware that he was standing at full height and had plenty of room spare overhead. The cave was mostly dark, lit only by the 4 or 5 torches that were mounted on the walls. Nearly all of the torches were positioned on the walls near where a large flat gray rock formation that bared incredible resemblance to a pedestal was positioned. Mulder knew there had to be a waterfall somewhere because he could hear it splashing as it fell. His first impression as his eyes adjusted to the torchlights filled with him rage. He saw the Professor struggling with her, holding her against the rocks to which she was bound, and pushing some metal apparatus against the inside of her leg. Mulder knew from her movements that she was drugged, but was still managing to put up a good struggle. He approached them and pointed the gun at the professor, "Freeze, FBI." The professor's body became rigid as he raised up and away from her. Mulder thought he heard her say something like, "Mulder, thank god." But he wasn't sure, his entire attention was focused on the professor. He pushed him back towards the wall further away from her with his gun stilled aimed at the professor's head, "Get up against that wall. Don't move or so help me, I'll shoot you." The professor took a step forward and dropped his hands as if to speak. In reaction, Mulder pushed him backwards so hard, the professor slammed into the wall, striking his head on the limestone. He slumped unconscious to the floor of the cave with a massive bleeding wound erupting from the back of his head. He could hear her crying even before, he got back to her side. She was soaking wet, probably from the humidity in the cave as well. He helped her to sit up, but she slumped instantly into his arms and against his chest. He swallowed loudly, "It's okay," and stroke her hair in a soothing caress. He slit the ropes that bound her feet and wrists and helped her off the rock to stand on the floor of the cave. He was quick to note she was wearing only the shirt from the suit she'd worn earlier. He could barely see the image of the coffee stain from the morning. The shirt hung loosely around her knees and was spotted with small specks of dried blood. He balanced her against the wall in an attempt to examine her for injuries, but she held on to him to tight for him to get a good look at her. "Scully," he soothed, "Are you hurt?" She fought to stay on her feet, her knees seeming uncharacteristically weak, "My stomach," she clutched at her abdomen as she answered his question. He tried again to inspect her, but she protested and pulled the shirt tighter around her chest, "No." He nodded that he understood and grasped her firmly around the waist, making sure the gun in his other hand also had a firm grasp. He pulled her along with him towards the exit. They had gotten about half way to the opening when their path was blocked by the ailing form of the professor. Mulder reaction was simple. His gun hand made a straight upward motion so that it was level with the professor head, "Back off, Professor. I don't want to shoot you but I will." Mulder could feel Scully's embrace around him grow even tighter. He didn't think he'd ever seen her this afraid before and it was that thought that terrified him the most. He could feel her crying into his chest and his jaw tightened, "Professor Kirtis, my friend is hurt. I'm taking her out of her. Now take 2 steps back and drop to your knees." The professor's eyes were glazed as he listened to Mulder's warning, but his attention never falter from Scully. The professor's hand went out as if to offer a handshake, "Don't you recognize me, Eira?" Scully crying became more severe and Mulder held her closer, "It's okay, Scully." He looked to the professor, "One more time, 2 steps back and down on you knees." The professor took a single step forward, "I knew it was you the first time I saw you. I know I can make you remember me, Eira." With no warning he took 3 steps towards them in succession and Mulder shout him with no further warnings. The professor's body slumped to the floor in finality. Mulder kissed Scully on top of the head, "You're safe, Scully. I promise you, he's not going to hurt you." Mulder led her out of the cave and into the tunnel, having at some points to literally carry her. But carry her he did, emerging exhausted from the tunnels with a battered but alive Dana Scully in his arms. The Emergency department at Vanderbuilt Hospital was bustling with activity. No one paid much attention to the tall dark haired young man that sat off to the side with his hands buried in his face. "Mr Mulder?" the young nurse asked as she handed him a white styrofoam cup of coffee. Mulder stood as soon as he'd heard his name, "Is she okay?" The nurse smiled and led to a more private are of the room, "Dr. Jordan is examining her now. She'll be out to talk to you after she's done." Mulder shrugged his shoulder and slumped back into his seat, sipping appreciatively on the coffee. Dr Sherry Jordan walked slowly back to towards examining room 15, reading the chart as she made her way. She looked at her watch and blew a sigh of exhaustion. She was 12 hours into a 16 hour shift and in all honesty she was tired already. She pulled reluctantly at the gold locket she wore around her neck and finally opened it up to smile at the picture it contained. The picture was of an older woman and a little boy who looked to be about 3. Both the woman and the boy had facial characteristics similar to her own. The woman's hair was peppered with strands of gray and her face was more aged. While the boy's hair was the same color as he women's, it was more vibrant as if the sun had kissed its strands often. Both of the people in the picture had Dr Jordan's eyes. All 3 had eyes the color of crystallized blue and they were deeply penetrating. She smiled at the picture and thought to herself, Thank God her Mother had been there for her after her husband's death. She looked around the hospital room realizing that her career in medicine would have been but a dream if she hadn't gotten some help in raising her son, Johnny. She looked at her watch again and bathed in the knowledge that in less than 1 week her residency would be completed and she could move into her own private practice. This time next year, she'd be able to give her Mom and Johnny the life they deserved. That thought alone should get her through the next 6 hours of the shift. She had nearly reached he room when she heard someone call her name and turned to see a young handsome man dressed in a dark Armani suit. She smiled to him and stopped, "Yes, What can I do for you?" He smiled and offered his hand, "I need to speak with you." She indicated towards the room, "I'm just on my way to see a patient." He smiled and took out a photograph, "Yes, I know. That's what I need to talk to you about." Her pleasant memories of minutes prior were wiped away by those of he present as she took the photograph from the man and recognized her mother and son. They appeared to be getting out of her mother's car and Dr Jordan recognized the surrounding as that of the grocery store where her mother shopped. She recognized the clothes her son was wearing as those he left for day care in that very morning. Her chin snapped to attention, "Who are you and what do you want?" "Who I am is unimportant? What I want from you is a favor." "What kind of favor?" "The FBI agent that just came in. I want you to switch the specimen vial from her rape kit for this one." He handed her a sealed vial that looked exactly like the ones used in the hospital rape kits. "But, why?" His smile deteriorated, "Because right now, my associate is watching your mother and that darling boy of yours. They've left the grocery store. Grandma took the kid for ice cream. If you don't cooperate as I asked, I will have them both killed." Her blue eyes grew terrified, "I'll do whatever you want." He smiled and pulled her by the elbow, "You do everything as you would normally." Mulder rose as soon as he saw her approaching, he knew she had to be the doctor taking care of Scully. She had that attitude about her, the same persona Scully seemed to carry on a day to day basis. She smiled and offered her hand as she approached him, "Mr Mulder, I'm Dr Jordan. I'll be examining your partner in a minute. I was hoping I could get some information from you before I started." Mulder noticed instantly how nervous the doctor seemed. He hoped this wasn't the first time she faced this particular type of incident. He seemed relieved that that was all she needed to say, "What do you need to know?" "First, what happened?" Mulder moved his weight from foot to foot, "Didn't Scully tell you?" "No Dana, hasn't been able to tell us very much. She keeps slipping in and out of consciousness. And what she is awake, she's not making much sense." "What is she saying," "She's made several references to a Viking. She's seems to be terrified of it." "Dr. Jordan, I'll tell you what I can. But most of it I won't be able to talk about until the investigation is completed. The Viking isn't an it. It's a he. A serial killer we've been tracking for a month or so. He killed 5 people, 2 of which were women. He raped these women before he killed them. And early this morning I believe he kidnapped Dana with the same intention." "How long has Dana been missing?" He looked at his watch that read a little after 3 AM. "She was taken around 7:30 AM, so nearly 20 hours." The doctor continued writing on the chart and looked to him wearily, "Do you know if Dana has any allergies" Mulder breathed relief. These were questions he could answer, almost as well as he could answer them for himself, "No, she doesn't" "Does she take any medications?" "Not that I am aware of, except for maybe birth control when she needs to." "Any past medical conditions, I need to be aware of?" "I don't understand?" "Does Dana have Diabetes or hypertension, anything like that?" "No, she's very healthy." "Do you know when her last menstruation was?" Mulder shifted uncomfortably, "She's not pregnant, if that's what you're asking." "Okay, but for the chart do you have an idea when?" Mulder shrugged, "Two weeks ago." Dr Jordan finished writing and began to walk away, but Mulder asked, "Dr was my partner raped or not?" She folded the chart closed and tucked it under her arm, "I won't know for sure until I do the pelvic. But my first impression from the preliminary exam is yes. I'd say Agent Scully has had relations within the last 48 hours." She looked to him quizzically, "Husband or boyfriend?" Mulder shook his head, "No she's not married. She hasn't been involved with anyone for a few months, he died recently." He slumped back into the chair, "If you're saying there's evidence of intercourse, it would have to have been forceful." Dr Jordan nodded and headed away again, "I'll be back when I'm finished Agent Mulder." She stopped a foot or so away, "Is your first name Chris?" Mulder shook his head, "No, why?" "She's been calling that name for awhile now when she's out . I thought maybe she was calling for you." She nodded to him and left with no other explanation. Dr Jordan pushed her stool away from the foot of the examining table and tossed the latex gloves in the trash. As per protocol she handed the specimen to the young man braced up against the wall in the examining room. He was a handsome man in a yuppie kind of way, she supposed. His dark hair was combed slick against the sides and he had a slight widow's peak that fell to the left. She bit her lip and went to stand closer to where Scully lay. Dr Jordan pulled the paper cloth closer against Dana's body and asked, "If you'll step outside now, Detective. I can finish Miss Scully's examination." The young detective nodded and smiled to her, stepping out of the room at the same time. Her vision settled quickly on the other man who'd decided to observe the examination as well. She glared, "If you don't need anything else, I'd like to finish with her and get her settled." The man nodded and offered his hand, "Thanks for taking such good care of Agent Scully, doc." She hesitantly took his hand and then without any of the other attendants in the room noticing she passed the actual specimen vial to him." He cupped it under his sleeve and turn to left, "Say hi to that kid of yours for me, doc." Alex Krychek smiled to her once again, and then exited the examining room. She wasn't sure how long she stood there until the sound of movement from the area of the examining table brought her back from her thoughts. She looked quickly to where the nurses were preparing to bathe Scully. Dr Jordan went quickly towards the nurses and instructed, "Wait one second, Okay?' The nurses were surprised at first, but did as instructed. Dr Jordan returned a few minutes later with a new specimen vial. "I want one more sample, before we clean her up." Without offering any more reply she repositioned herself between the stirrups and collected another sample. Neither nurse said anything as Dr Jordan slipped the vial in her lab coat and pulled off the gloves one final time. "Mr Mulder," she called as she neared to where he sat, almost exactly as she'd left him earlier, "We're just finishing up with Agent Scully." She took his arm and led him over to a less congested area of the waiting room, "I had to sedate her to do the examination. It is just as we discussed earlier. We sent samples to the Nashville PD. The FBI can collect the results from them whenever they are available." "Can I see her?" "No, not yet. Once she's cleaned and dressed will bring her out and you can take her home. She may want to see her regular doctor once she gets back to DC. She may want to seek counseling, the choice will be entirely up to her." "So how is she?" "Physically she's fine, Agent Mulder. There is hardly any trauma to that area. It's not what I am accustomed to seeing with most of these cases. She has some bruises on her ankles and wrists, nothing severe." She followed his eyes and went on, "It looks like something hot was placed on the inside of her right leg, near her thigh. The imprint isn't clear, but I'm sure it hurts like hell." She handed him a prescription, "That's for silvadene cream. She should put in on that burn at least 3 times a day." He took the prescription from her as she went on, "Her buttocks are black & blue from I believe to be the result of numerous injections. My staff lost count of how many needle marks there were. I took some blood from her so we can get an idea of what he gave her." Mulder nodded that he understood, "Anything else?" The look in the young doctor's eyes unnerved Mulder so, he wasn't sure what else to say. It was almost as if she wanted something from him. "I going to write for a couple of sleeping pills for her. One for tonight and one for tomorrow, but that's all I feel comfortable with. I don't want her to trade one problem for another." She handed him another prescription, "Make sure she doesn't drink or drive when she's taking the sedative." Mulder nodded, "Okay." He offered his hand, "Thanks Dr Jordan, I appreciate your help?" She shook his hand and walked away quickly towards her office, her hand toying anxiously with the vial in her pocket. 4 days later Dana Scully's Apartment "Are you sure you don't want me to stay, Scully?" He asked as he made waving motions toward the couch, "I haven't minded sleeping here. In fact I've grown kinda used to it." She shook her head and pulled him closer towards her so that she could bury her face in his chest, "I'm okay, Mulder. I don't remember hardly any of it." She rubbed her hand along the fabric of her jeans where her burn was healing nicely. "I don't even remember getting this." He made rubbed small circles with his hand into her back as she leaned closer into his embrace, "What do you remember?" She pulled away and walked hesitantly towards the couch. He noticed the faint redness that crept up her face as she was pulling away. She bit her lip and motioned for him to sit down beside her; he complied almost immediately. "I remember fighting with Professor Kirtis at the motel. And I remember you carrying me out of the dark place. I have some vague recollection to the examination at the hospital." She paused as if the words wouldn't come out of her lips, "Mulder, my most vivid memory is of Chris." His head snapped up as soon as she said it, "What do you mean?" Her face reddened and she moved so that her feet were tucked up under her rear end, "I had the most wonderful dream. He was alive and we were together, just like before." "Scully, you had so many drugs pumped into your system, I surprised you didn't think you could fly." She nodded, "I know Mulder and I realize that sometime victims collect from pleasant memories and project them into unpleasant circumstances as a protective measure. But, Mulder I swear I could smell him even in the hospital when I was waiting for the doctor. His scent was everywhere I breathed." He leaned in to say something to her but as he did she started crying and pushed herself into his arms, "Oh Mulder, I miss him so much." He wasn't sure how long he embraced her until her sobs subsided and he could tell from the steady rhythm of her breathing that she'd drifted off to sleep. He eased them both back against the sofa and stretched out alongside her, never breaking his embrace around her. It wasn' t long before he joined her in a much needed peaceful rest. Maybe he needed to stay just one more night on her couch. Skinner walked determinedly through the darkened corridor that led from his office. His path seem to be one he had taken before as he rounded turn after turn until arriving at the door he sought. He knocked solidly against the door and entered without waiting for an invitation. His expression turned darker when as he came face to face with the CSM and Krychek seated at a small conference table. The CSM smiled and indicated for Skinner to join them Skinner remained standing, "What is you wanted? I don't have a lot of time" The CSM lit a cigarette and tossed the match into the ashtray that sat on the nearby table, "I heard that Agent Scully has yet to return to work since her experience?" Skinner sunk down reluctantly into the chair but his posture remained ramrod straight, "It's only been a few days. I gave them both some time off to recuperate." The CSM flicked ashes into the tray and asked innocently, "What does she remember?" Skinner's jaw tightened, "I have no idea. She doesn't normally confide in me." The CSM exchanged a glance with Krychek, "Has she said anything about what happened?" Skinner's eyes narrowed, "I still can't believe that you let that sick bastard touch her." Skinner yanked off his glasses and rub the bridge of his nose and continued, "And for the life of me, I can't figure out why!" He rose to tower over them both, "What purpose could that possibly serve?" His tirade was interrupted by the opening of the door as someone else entered the room. His anger turned to surprise as former Agent Chris Gates took the seat next to Krychek Skinner sat back down in his chair his posture less defined and looked to Gates, "I can't believe you're part of this." He rubbed his eyes again and looked to Gates, "Do you have idea how she has mourned for you?" Gates exchanged a smile with Krychek and leaned back in his chair, "You have no idea, Mr Skinner." Gates looked quickly to the CSM and the back to Skinner and added, "And may I remind you that you are a part of this, too." Skinner's glare changed to remorseful, "It's not something I'm proud of." He looked back to the CSM and asked, "Why am I here?" As if in reply the CSM pushed a button on the and the lights dimmed in the already darkened room so that it was nearly pitch dark. However, it was given some light by the film that began to play on the screen directly in front of the agents and former agents. Skinner's jaw tightened again to where it might actually break as he witnessed a video tape of Krychek attempting to couple with Scully. Skinner looked quickly to where Gates sat and for a moment Skinner thought he saw a twinge of anger in the younger man's eyes. However, as if Gates realized he was under scrutiny he reigned in his emotions and returned Skinner's questioning look with a touch of arrogance. Skinner remained emotionless for the next few minutes, until the part of the tape played where Gates and Scully actually made love. Skinner wasn't sure if it was the scene unfolding in front of him or the smug look on Gates face as it played, but the never the less, Skinner found himself leaping across the table to grasp Gates by the collar of his shirt. He pulled Gates out of the chair and across the top of the table before Krychek and the CSM had intervened. Skinner pushed him by the collar away towards the wall, "Sick little bastard." Gates continued taunting him, "Which makes you angrier that fact that she did with me or that she won't do it with you." He leaned in closer and went on, "You're too old for her. You wouldn't be able to keep up with her. She's something. I don't know who gave her that nick name but it isn't true." Skinner squinted, "What are you taking about?" Gates sat back down in the chair, `You know at the academy, they used to call her the ice maiden." Skinner moved toward him again and threatened, "I'm gonna kill you, eventually." The CSM pushed himself between the two battling men, "Christopher, stop irritating Assistant Director Skinner." Gates straightened his shirt and pulled his leather jacket tighter around his body. And Skinner retreated back to the other side of the room, "Please don't tell me the reason you went to all this trouble is so junior there could get one final roll in the hay." "No," the CSM answered, "But we need them both back to work as soon as possible. And we may need her removed from the field for awhile depending on her health status." "The doctors tell me that medically Agent Scully is fine. I know she's having trouble sleeping, but other than that there's no reason to have her removed from the field." The CSM lit another cigarette, "Not yet there isn't, but there may be something on the horizon." Skinner turned as if to protest, but the CSM interrupted him, "That's all for now Mr. Skinner." Skinner made his way reluctantly back to his office just in time to make it to the men's room and anxiously throw up the turkey sandwich he'd eaten earlier for lunch. The ringing of the telephone woke Mulder from his nap. He looked quickly at his watch before answering it and discovered he'd fallen asleep only about 20 minutes ago. He barked into the phone, "Mulder." The voice hesitated as if unsure but Mulder could hear the breathing so he knew someone was still connected, "Hello, is anybody there?" A female voice answered reluctantly, "Agent Mulder, its Sherry Jordan." Mulder yawned and replied, "I'm sorry, do I know you?" The woman responded, "Dr Sherry Jordan. I examined your partner after her attack." Mulder's expression changed to one of remberance, "Yes, Dr Jordan what can I do for you?" "It's about your partner." "Scully's fine, Dr Jordan. She seems to be doing really well." "I'm glad to hear that Agent Mulder. This is about something that happened in the hospital, after she was brought in." "I'm listening." "I was approached by a man who threatened to kill my family if I didn't switch the specimen vials for Agent Scully." "What are you talking about?" "I'm saying that the results that you received from the Nashville PD about Agent Scully's attacker are not correct. Those results are of a vial that was given to me before I examined Agent Scully. He gave me a vial and I gave him the actual sample I took from Agent Scully." "So Professor Kirtis isn't Agent Scully's attacker?' "I'm saying that the sample I took from her and the results I saw from his medical records are not a match, Agent Mulder. I don't know who had sex with your partner, but it wasn't Professor Kirtis." "Can you prove these claims?" "After the man left I took another sample from Agent Scully. My husband used to be a policeman before his death 2 years ago. I asked one of his friends at the lab to analyze the sample. I have placed all this evidence in a safe deposit box, you will receive the key and its location in a day or 2 at the most ." "Dr Jordan, where can I reach you?" She hesitated so that he repeated the question, "You can't. I have sent my mother and son away. I am on my way to join them as soon as I hang up this phone. My husband's friends have created new lives for me and my family. I just wanted you to know the truth before I go." "But Dr Jordan, please." She interrupted him, "No, Agent Mulder I have to go know. Good luck" Mulder hung up the phone and quickly made another call, "Frohike, I need Gates blood type and any other kind of medical information you can get on him." Frohike must have questioned why because Mulder answered anxiously, "I want to see if a semen sample could possibly be his." Frohike must have freaked at the implications of his sainted Dana Scully. Mulder smiled and quickly added into the phone, "Sorry, guy I forgot how sensitive you are." Without hesitation he headed to her apartment, his mind working quickly to make up an excuse to be dropping by again. Scully carried the laundry basket of clothes into the living room and dumped them out onto the sofa. She sat down quickly and dug into folding and stacking the articles atop the cushions of the sofa. She finished the towels first, they were always her favorite to fold, maybe because they were bigger and took less time to fold and stack. She looked intently at 2 of her favorite dishtowels and noticed that both were looking rather worn. She tossed them to the side to put with the rags she kept under the sink in he kitchen. Once all the laundry was put away she carried the towels into the kitchen and pulled the container out from under the counter. She tossed the towels atop the pile and bent down to return it to its proper place. His ragged blue denim shirt peeping out from under the other discarded garments caught her attention. She paused for a moment holding the container in her hands, then sat it to the floor, and retrieved the item that held her trance like. She knew the tears were coming, she knew by the way her eyes felt tight With feather like caresses she traced the faded spaghetti stains that were the reason it had been discarded in the first place and smiled in spite of the tears that fell down her cheeks. She remembered it only too well, in this very kitchen. She turned to face the refrigerator and recalled how he had stood right there and threw meatballs at her. The food fight that followed had resulted in his favorite shirt being sacrificed in the battle. She'd never been able to get all the stain out so he'd finally succumbed and tossed it in her rag pile. She held his shirt up to he face and inhaled deeply surprised at how much like him the shirt still smelled. She breathed into it again and smiled with the thought of how the food fight had ended. Her eyes fell to the floor as she imagined how ridiculous they must have looked, necking on the floor like a couple of teenagers and covered in tomato sauce. She held onto the shirt and returned the rest of the rags to their place under the counter. She folded the shirt neatly and took it quickly into her bedroom. She tossed the shirt on the bed and pulled a chair towards the closet. With the aid of the chair she retrieved a brown packing box stashed away high in the closet. She placed the box on the bed and removed the top to reveal a number of men's items, including a pair of jeans, some socks, 2 blue t shirts, and a couple pairs of those thigh high athletic underwear. She picked up the blue pair of underwear and smiled, these were her favorite. She folded the shirt and refolded the underwear in preparation to go back into the box for re storage. As she clutched the folded items, her mind flashed back to the last thing he'd said to her the night he died, "I can't be gone long. I don't have on any underwear." The next flashback she encountered was the next day in the morgue when she was requested to identify his remains. She vividly remembered the large clear plastic bag the medical examiner had brought out to her to review. She remembered cataloging every item in the plastic bag. There was the remains of a charred and burnt brown polo shirt, remnants of blue jeans with most of the legs burnt away, one melted leather Nike, and lastly what was left of a pair of black silk boxer shorts. Scully's analytical mind was in overdrive, she mechanically put the items away back where she had retrieved them and walked trance like into the living room. She replayed the nights events in her mind over and over again. She kept hearing his voice repeating, "I don't have any underwear on." Over and over again she listened, so entranced that she didn't hear the knocking at the door until the knocker had given up and was pushing the key into the lock. By the time she got halfway to the door, Mulder was already inside, his eyes wide and weary with concern. She spoke before he even got a chance to ask, "I'm fine, Mulder. Everything is fine." "Why didn't you answer the door?" "I didn't hear it, until a second ago." He looked curiously around and she offered, "I was in the bathroom. Sorry if I worried you." He led her to the couch and took her hand, "Scully, I know this is hard, but I need you to tell me what you remember about the night Professor Kirtis raped you." She jerked away, "Mulder.." He turned her to face him, "You said you had a dream about Chris?" She nodded. He asked, "Tell me about it." She pulled away more forcefully this time and walked to the other side of the room rubbing her upper arms as if she were cold, "I can't" He joined her near the wall and leaned in close, "Please, it's important. You must know I wouldn't put you through this if it weren't." She hesitated and then answered, "I dreamed we made love again. It was wonderful." Mulder seemed disappointed, "That's it." She went into the kitchen, "Did you want specific details Mulder?" His face flushed, `No, not exactly." "Then what else do you want to know?" He followed her into the kitchen, "You said it seemed so real. And in the hospital you were calling for him. Did you know that?" Her face stated that she didn't, but she replied anyway, "No, I didn't." Her ability to accommodate him was eating on her last nerve, "What is this all about, Mulder?" "I was recently given some evidence that indicates the man." He faltered, "I mean the person.." She put her hand on her hip, "What are trying to say?" He put his hand on her shoulder, "Scully, the samples may not match. The real sample taken from you may not match Professor Kirtis'." She paused, "What do you mean the real specimen?" Quickly he related the story as it had unfolded to him, "Mulder, how do you know this doctor is for real? It could be them stringing us along again." "Scully, this doctor is leaving the country with a new identity that's how scared she is." She poured him a cup of tea, "Just because some mysterious voice on the phone tells you something, that doesn't make it the truth." He took a deep breath and informed her, "I asked Frohike to check the results to...." She interrupted him before he could finish his sentence, "He isn't dead. Is he?" Mulder moved restlessly on the couch. He knotted the pillows into a tighter ball and tucked them under his head. His rearranging was interrupted as he strained his head towards her room listening for any indication that she was not sleeping. It had taken him hours to get her to fall asleep. They had sat here on her couch embraced for the last four hours, the realization that she had been duped by him again was more than she could bare. Mulder could count all the times since he'd known her that he'd seen Scully cry on one hand. Since Gates had come into her life, he'd lost count. It seemed like all she did was cry. That fact alone made Mulder hate him all the more. After a few more futile attempts at sleep, he rose from the couch and wandered into the kitchen. Maybe a snack would help him to sleep. He quietly pulled out the bread and some turkey and made himself a sandwich, sipping milk from the carton as he stood at the refrigerator. Her voice from the living startled him causing milk to spill onto he floor, "Mulder?" He looked sheepishly down at the floor and smiled to her, with a milk mustache across his upper lip, "Did I wake you?" She made her way into the kitchen, "No I had a dreamed that my kitchen was being demolished by a tall man in his underwear drinking from the carton." She handed him a glass. "Sorry," he replied. She took his hand and led him to the sofa, "Mulder, I need some time to sort this all out by myself." He was already nodding his head in a negative fashion, "Scully.." "Mulder, I have to go someplace for a while. And I need you to promise me that you'll give me this time, alone. I need to think and I can't do that here." Mulder shook his head and released a huge sigh, "Scully, I want what's best for you, you know that." She pulled him close to her and leaned his head against hers, "I know Mulder and you know that I love you for it." He pulled her closer, "I know." Next morning Interstate 95 Scully directed her maxima at a leisurely pace towards Alexandria. Ironically enough, the answer of where he would go came to her in a dream. She remembered one time, in the early morning hours after a tremendous night of love making, he'd told her about this aunt's place in Alexandria. She remembered lying in his arms and listening to him recount to her the stories of his growing up. This place she was headed was special to him and she knew it might offer her some insight into where he had gone. She pulled the car close to the stable and walked the rest of the way following the path that was clearly visible. She looked anxiously around in search of maybe a caretaker, anyone who could give her some information about the owners. She followed the trail nearly a half mile until she came to he house. It was just as he had described, a huge 3 story red stone house with white shutters and huge white columns that connected the stone porch to the roof. Apparently the house itself had stood since the civil war, Chris had told her humorous stories about the games he and his cousins had played in the cellar. The cellar had previously been the quarters for the slaves and it consisted of many small rooms all connected together by one big central room. She recalled how disappointed he had sounded when he explained how his aunt and uncle had had the bars removed because they thought they might frighten the children. She approached the house and went inside calling out, "Hello? Is anybody here?" After a quick search of the house she headed towards the closest building and searched them one by one. After a few hours had passed she decided to search the grounds farther from the house, maybe there were structure on the other side of the row of trees she could barely distinguish from where she stood. Once she cleared the trees and found nothing she wandered towards the east side where she thought she could hear the running water. After approximately another half mile she came upon another cluster of woods and proceeded through with much enthusiasm. Just as she emerged from the woods she saw the most beautiful rock formation up ahead and approached it with much curiosity. She walked as close the edge as she dared and looked down, it was beautiful. The rocks dropped down some 100 feet or so and then collided with the ocean. She smiled and took in a huge breath, smelling the salt carried by the wind. She pushed her hands into her pocket and turned to head back the direction she had come. When she turned around she barely caught sight of the lone figure standing of in the distance looking out towards the ocean. Her heart skipped a beat as she made her way to him. She was still a good ways away and couldn't positively identify him. However, in her heart, she knew it was him. She could feel it. She had nearly gotten to him when he replied, "I knew you'd find me." She bit her lip and answered, "Then why'd you come here." He hadn't turned around to face her yet. He stood still, his back to her, as if watching the ocean for some sign. His hair was longer than she'd ever seen it, it was nearly touching his shoulder. He was wearing a heavy leather jacket and had it zipped nearly to his neck as if he were cold. It was now that he turned to face her and for a minute, she thought she saw sorrow in his beautiful eyes. She pulled her gun and pointed it as soon as he turned to face her, "I want to know why?" "Why?" He asked as if unsure of the question, "Why to which part?" The tears collected in her eyes, she bit her lip, "Why to all of it?" He pushed his hands in his pockets, "It was my assignment. To get close to you." He smiled and paced a little, but it was obvious that he did not fear her, even with the gun she held on him, "I was given so much information, Dana. You wouldn't believe the things they know about people. It was incredible." She wiped at the tear that had fallen down her cheek, "What are you talking about?" "I knew everything about you, Dana. What you liked and what you didn't like. I knew how old you were when you got your first kiss, I knew who you went to the senior prom with. I even know what guys you had sex with and which ones you didn't." She shook her head, "But why?" "To get close to you since you were close to Mulder." He unzipped the jacket a little and added, "Don't get me wrong Dana, I'm not complaining. This was the perfect assignment, especially with all the fringe benefits." She walked close enough to him to slap him across the face. Once she finished she began to back away but his plan had proved distracting and he rushed her quickly, knocking her to the ground. They struggled momentarily, Scully managed to knee him in the groin twice, the last time she contacted so hard, she managed to get to her feet and run. He caught her around the ankles and she fell hard onto the ground. His anger at being kneed seem to climax as he struck her a number of times most across the face, but a few of the punches caught her in the stomach. He pulled a gun from his jacket pocket and pointed it at her. "Hold it Gates, Back away." Both Scully and Gates looked up to see Mulder standing not 10 feet away from them with his revolver fixated on Gates. Gates laughed and shook his head, "I should have known you'd bring him." Mulder walked closer his eyes never leaving Gates, "I said back away from her." Gates looked quickly to where Scully was curled up in a ball clutching her stomach and fighting for breath, "I don't think so Mulder. You drop the gun or so help me I'll shoot her right here and now." Mulder's eyes went back and forth from Scully to Gates and the finally he dropped his gun to the ground and held his hands up in the air. Mulder moved quickly forward, but Gates yelled, "Stay where you are." Mulder pointed to Scully, "I just want to see if she's okay." Gates approached her and jerked her up by her arm, "She's okay, aren't you Dana." Mulder was very aware of her stance and the way she was guarding her abdomen. He knew she was hurt simply by the look on her face. Gates pushed her backwards so that she fell onto her rear and towered over her, "This was supposed to be easy. Now I'm gonna have to kill you both." "So then tell us what all this about, Gates." Mulder taunted, "Tell us how smart you've been" He cocked the gun and pointed it at Scully, "All I needed to do was convince you I was in love with you. We share some wonderful encounters between the sheets, trade secrets. It was supposed to be simple. But then they decided that a baby would make her easier to control. And if they controlled her, they controlled you." He pointed to Mulder. His thoughts were distracted by the sound of her crying. Roughly he pulled her up again, "Don't cry baby. I showed you a good time." He pulled her closer and pushed the gun into her face while wrapping his arms around her waist. He kissed her hard and pulled his face, away. "We were good together, Uh? Baby?" She struggled to pull away and he pushed her down to her knees and indicated she should stay there. He looked back to Mulder, "I know you think that this is the part where I tell you that I fell in love with her for real and proclaim my undying love for her, but that's not the way this one's gonna end." His attention was pulled from Mulder as she asked, "All this just to get me laid? There has to be more." He knelt down and grasp her chin in between in fingers and shook her head, "No all this to get you pregnant. That's what this is all about." She knew she should say something but she was so shocked, the words just wouldn't come. Mulder, however, was not as speechless, "You aren't making any sense." Gates stood back up t face him, "2 years ago during her abduction, the procedure she underwent for supraovulation. In addition to causing the cancer, it renders the women sterile. The men that I work for realize that there progress of re engineering the future is blackened by the fact that the human race will not continue. So they found a way to correct the condition." He looked back to Scully, "When you were shot, your cancer was cured. But you still couldn't conceive a child. So earlier today you underwent a procedure to correct the sterility. And later you were injected with a new fertility drug that can regenerate damaged tissue. All that was required was fertilization." Mulder smiled, "So you heroically volunteered again" Gates went to reply but the utter look of surprise on Scully's face overwhelmed his desire to taunt Mulder. Gates smiled and exclaimed, "You don't even know that you're pregnant do you?" "You're lying." She stated flatly. Gates looked to Mulder, "Tell her Mulder. Tell her it's the truth." Mulder swallowed slowly, "You go to Hell, Gates." Gates approached her in 2 big steps and wrapped his arms around her neck using her as a shield, "My God, Mulder, I can't believe you never told her about the Kurt Crawfords." "Shut up, Gates." Gates voice took on a laughter like quality, "For God sake, Dana he's got a test tube of your ova in his desk. He got it from Kurt Crawford." Scully looked to Mulder for him to deny, but his eyes told her the truth and she shook her head, "Please Mulder. Say something." Mulder put his head down and answered, "I'm sorry, Scully." She took this opportunity to elbow Gates in the gut. But the ex Navy SEAL was prepared and tossed her quickly back onto the ground. As Mulder made to help her, the bullet from Gates gun caught him neatly I the head. He went down quickly, blood streaming from his wound. She was on her feet in a second and thrashing about as he fought with her. The slap that caught her across the face this time was so loud, it echoed through the woods. Since that blow wasn't opened handed like the others had been, she stayed down on the ground attempting to re focus her vision. Her next recollection was his weight straddling her and pinning her arms above her head. He nuzzled his face against her neck and said through clenched teeth, "What do you say, Dana? One more time for old time sake?" He pulled roughly on her jacket, causing it to rip away in his hands. Dana heard and felt zippers being unzipped and then felt him pushing close against her. What happened next was kind of a blur for everyone? One minute Gates was above her, the next minute Mulder had charged him and they both went over the cliff and into the water. It seemed to Mulder like they fell forever before hitting the water. When the cold rush hit them they were still struggling for ownership of the gun that Gates held in his hand. Mulder should have known that a victory over Gates in the water was improbable, but still he fought with all his might. They continued to sink deeper towards the bottom as they struggled, the descent affecting Gates very little. However Mulder had panicked almost as soon as they went over the cliff and Gates played on this fear. He could see it in Mulder's eyes, the fear in drowning. But for Gates, there was no fear, he had spent the first few months of SEAL training submerged underwater with his ankles and hands tied together. They had taught him to contain his panic deep in his stomach and when the need arose, react appropriately. As soon as they hit the water, Gates stopped fighting, instead opting to embrace Mulder and follow the downward pull of the water. Mulder finally loss consciousness after about 18 feet and Gates arrogantly released him and began swimming upward toward the air. He broke through on top just in time to see Scully climb down the rocks and dive in head first from about 15 feet off the cliff. Leisurely he made his way to the shore and pulled his water logged body heavily onto the sand He rested for only a moment or two, before he pulled himself to his feet and made a run for his car parked behind the woods. Scully was surprised how thick the water was as she swam deeper towards the bottom. Even searching frantically she almost frantically, she almost missed his form slumped against the bottom of the sea. She reached out for his collar and turned her body upward pulling him along behind her. Her arms and legs protested loudly resulting in throbbing pains that shot all the way through to her stomach. She tried not to think about the pain of how badly she needed some air as she drug her partner the last few feet and exploded onto the surface. She flipped him over unto his back, still treading water and gave him a few quick breaths of air before hooking him by the neck and swimming for shore. The pain continued to remind her just how small she was and how large he was, but she held unto him tightly and finally managed to get them both back to the beach. Her breath came in great gasps as she flipped him unto his back, she bent over to force some more air to his mouth but before she could he began coughing and choking, ceasing only after he turned onto his side and began to spit up most of the ocean he had managed to swallow. She braced her arms against her knees and continued to pull in huge amounts of air; still aware of the throbbing in her abdomen. He sat up and took a number of long heavy breaths, "Thanks, Scully. I owe you one." She noticed the looked of discomfort on her face, "You okay?" She nodded that she was, but she couldn't hide her expression as another wave of pain followed by an extreme sense of nausea. She tuned way from him quickly and threw up. He walked up behind her and put his hand on her shoulder, "I thought I was the one that swallowed most of the ocean." Before she could reply, the sound of a gunshot caused them both to run towards the direction from which the sound had originated. Quickly they ran through the underbush darting between the numerous trees that littered their pathway until they emerged breathless into the clearing. They both stood frozen at the sight of Assistant Director Skinner hovering over the still figure of Gates. As they drew closer towards the scene, Scully could see the dark crimson seeping through Chris shirt and spilling unto the ground where he lay. She made her way cautiously towards him and knelt down carefully to avoid the blood that was collecting nearby. With a trembling hand she searched his neck for a pulse underneath of the collar of his polo shirt. She bit her lip and observed his unmoving body while she forced her emotions deep down. Mulder looked to Skinner, "What happened?" Skinner reholstered his gun and pulled the wire rimmed glasses off his face so that he could rub away the perspiration that was dripping off his forehead and cheek. He pointed the Gates, "I came upon him running this way. I asked him to stop and relinquish his weapon." Skinner's hand went to his hips and he turned half around to look behind him, "Gates went for his gun. I was forced to bring him down." Mulder knelt next to Scully who had not said anything since they'd emerged form the clearing. He looked back up to Skinner and replied, "Well, you brought him down all right." Mulder unzipped Gates jacket to inspect the wound, "It caught him right in the chest, dead center." "He's dead. Mulder." Her face contorted as if she were in pain. She clutched her abdomen again and stood to join Mulder. Just as she straightened to barely her full height, she doubled over in agony. She dropped to one knee, "Something's wrong, Mulder." Mulder took her by the elbow and led her back to her feet, "What's wrong?" She shook her head and doubled over again just as another wave of pain hit. Mulder only slightly acknowledged the blood he saw as it seep through the tan colored docker trousers she was wearing. He collected her in his arms and made his way back to where his car was parked. Skinner was just disconnecting his 911 call when he caught up to Mulder, "What is it?" Mulder shot him a worried expression, "I think she's miscarrying." Skinner stopped in his tracks until the realization of Mulder's statement hit him, then quickly caught up again, "Ambulance is on its way." Mulder nodded this thanks between heavy breaths, grateful that the car wasn't that far away. Dana Scully's Apartment 1 month later She tossed the car keys atop the wooden table that stood by the door as she made her way inside the apartment. She headed for the kitchen first, actually it was the refrigerator she sought. After taking long sips of water from the jug, she recapped it and made her way into the living room. Perhaps tonight for a change, she'd erase Mulder's telephone calls from the answering machine before she showered. She wiped at the wetness that saturated her brow and fell into the comfort of the sofa, pressing the play button at the same time. As she removed her running shoes and tossed them alongside the sofa, his voice began, "Scully, it's me. I just wanted to see if you were okay.." The recording hesitated as if he were giving her a chance to pick up the telephone. Finally after a series of breaths, he hung up. There were 2 more calls that were nearly identical to his first. She snatched the remote control off the back of the couch and activated the television. Only a few minutes had passed when she heard his knocking, "Scully, I tried to give you some time, but I need to see you. I just want to say hello, that's all." She remained calmly, on the couch as he continued talking into the door. She wasn't surprised to hear his key in the lock, but wished she could have seen his face when the security chain prohibited him from getting it open very far. He pushed his face close to the opening, "Scully, I'm not going away tonight. I didn't come here to break in, but I will if I have to." She replied from the sofa calmly, "Mulder, I didn't invite you over. Go home and well talk later." He shook his head, "No, Not tonight. I want to talk to you. I have to tell you that I'm sorry." She rose slowly and made her way closer to the door, but did not put herself in his view, "Mulder, I'm not mad at you. I just needed some time, alone." He leaned back away form the door and replied, "I've given you all the time alone that I can give you. I need to see you. I have to know that you're okay." She pushed the door towards he wall and slid the chain off; allowing him to open the door as she leaned against the wall. As soon as he was in, he started, "I know I should have told you about the ova and what I found at the fertility clinic, but Scully that night in Allentown, you were so devastated." He pushed in closer to her, "You'd just found out about your cancer, Penny Northern had just died." He caressed her shoulder, "You were dealing with so much. I just wanted to protect you, that's all." She smiled, "I know, its just that so much as happened. The cancer, Chris, being pregnant, & the losing it." She leaned in to his embrace, "I don't blame you, Mulder. None of this was your fault. It was him, the cancer man. He is responsible for this, for all of it." Mulder rested his chin on the top of her head and held her closer than he thought possible, "I think so too." She closed her eyes, "He used me, he used you, he even used Chris. He used us all Mulder." Mulder nodded, "I know." He pulled away to look at her face, "We'll get through this partner. You just got to give yourself some time to heal." He touched her head with his fingers, "Here," and then laid his hand against his chest, And here." She smiled to him and looked away, but he caught her chin in his hand, "I'm sorry, I never meant for you to find out like that." She took his arm and pulled in towards the living room and down onto the sofa, "I'm not angry at you, Mulder. I was at first, but after I got over the initial hurt, I knew that you would never betray me, at least not intentionally." He smiled, "You know, Scully, that you are the only one I trust." She nodded, "I know." They leaned back against the sofa and he put his arm around her pulling her closer, "Looks like its just you and me, again. Scully. As usual our world has been turned upside down, only to fall back into place when all is said and done." She kissed him on the cheek and nodded, "Looks that way." He pulled the cellular phone from his pocket and looked to her questionably, Chinese or Pizza?" She settled into his embrace and replied, "You decide. I trust you." The end.