From: stephie_8@hotmail.com Date: Fri, 13 Oct 2000 00:32:02 GMT Subject: NEW: Reditus Title: Reditus Author: Stephie8 a.k.a Philerchic8 E-mail: stephie_8@hotmail.com Rating: PG-13 Spoilers: Requiem Classification: Angst and MSR Disclaimer: The X-Files and all related characters belong to Chris Carter, 1013 Productions, and Fox Productions. I am just borrowing them for a little while so please don't sue! Besides I barely get an allowance as it is, so its not like you'll strike it rich. Archiving: Anywhere!! Please let me know so I can tell all my friends!! Feedback: Please!! Send any constructive criticism to stephie_8@hotmail.com. Send any flames to whocares@notme.com Summary: Let's pretend Mulder returns! Author's Notes: This was written before season 8 aired in the US. Actually, I was just so bored from lack of X-Files I needed to occupy my time with something. The title Reditus is Latin for "journey back". I hope everyone enjoys it!!! Dedication: I would like to graciously thank the person who invented spell check! I couldn't have written this without you!! Also, to my bestest friend and editor Eme! I still miss you but cheer up Cali can't be that bad!! Unknown Location Unknown Time The white light was blinding. It felt warm and inviting to the average onlooker, but Special Agent Dana Scully knew the true horrors it contained. As Scully continued to look toward the starless sky and the source of the bright light, she saw the faint silhouette of a man walking to the celestial light. A closer look confirmed the identity of this mysterious man. It was Special Agent Fox Mulder, Scully's best friend and partner of eight years. "No! Mulder stay back!" Scully yells fear coursing through her veins. However, her screams barely faze the trance like path Mulder is on. Quickly, she runs toward him. She slowly began to close in when a loud crash erupts from the distance and Mulder's body is effortlessly lifted up from the ground. His lifeless form continues to float upward into the starless sky. Scully is left frozen in place to watch this horror unfold. XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx Apartment of Dana Scully 3:02 am Ring, Ring "Help!" Scully quickly jerks up to find herself surrounded in her own bed by familiar items. She slowly processes the last few moments and realizes they were all just a terrifying nightmare formed by her mind. Ring, Ring Dazed and still slightly confused Scully reaches for the phone on her night stand. The almond plastic is cold and hard in her hot sweaty hands. "Hello?" she asks quizzically. "Scully," "Yes, sir," she answers immediately recognizing the voice of her boss Assistant Director Walter Skinner. "I need you here at D.C. Memorial, right away," his voice is stained. It was almost if something had cracked his usual cool demeanor. Something was up. There was something he was holding back or keeping from her. However, she couldn't really tell. "Sir, what's wrong? Is it a new case?" "Well, I think it would be wise for me to wait and tell you in person when you get here," he answered. "Please sir, don't keep this from me," Scully pleaded. She knew something bad had happen now. She was positive of that. "It's about Mulder," he replied hesitantly. "Did they find him?" she asked sounding hopeful. "We think we have. I'll explain all the details when you arrive. Please be careful!" "I will," Scully quickly put down the phone and headed to the bathroom. XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx DC Memorial Hospital 30 minutes later The first thing that hit her as Scully walked through the hospital doors was antiseptic smell that all hospitals have. Scully hated this smell to her very core. As an FBI agent she was intimately acquainted with hospitals and the sad stories that each room down the plain white corridors contained. Her soft, baby blue eyes quickly scanned the waiting room for any sign of Skinner. Satisfied he was not there she walked up to the charge nurse at the front desk. "Hi, I'm Special Agent Dana Scully with the FBI," she casually replied holding out her badge and tucking an errant strand of red hair behind her ear. " I need to see a patient who was brought in here, a male with the name, Fox Mulder." The nurse a fairly large woman, with thick glasses and curly brown hair appeared unfazed by Scully's showing of command. "I'm sorry agent, but that area is restricted to any unauthorized personnel," she calmly replied. Suddenly, Scully's body went rigid with anger. It was three o'clock in the morning and she had just received word that her missing friend was found. This nurse had no right to restrict her. Tired and frustrated, Scully tried again. "Mam, I'm a federal agent working on a case about a fellow agent who went missing. I've just gotten word from my direct superior that he could be at this hospital. Now unless you want to be arrested for obstructing a federal officer I suggest you give me that room number." "I can't give," "Nurse," a gruff voice interrupted. " You may grant her access. I can verify her identity." Scully was shocked to see Skinner standing directly behind her. She was suddenly filled with relief. "Scully, follow me," Skinner replied. Together the pair walked down the long corridor. "Where did they find him?" Scully asked as they reached the outside of Mulder's room. Her voice was hesitant. She knew her mind needed to know the details, but she wasn't sure her heart could handle the truth. Mulder had been her source of strength and joy for many years. However, four months ago Skinner and Mulder left for Oregon to investigate a supposed UFO crash. Scully would have gone, but Mulder felt it was an unsafe decision at the time. The next day she was told by Skinner that Mulder had vanished. According to his report Mulder was taken by the UFO they went to find. To this day no one has ever been certain about what happened. "According to the DC Police officer that found him, he just appeared," Skinner replied calmly. Scully slowly lifted her eyes from the ground and positioned their aim on Skinner's. "He just appeared," she repeated. "A grown man can't just appear," her voice was bitter and sharp. "I know. I have agents investigating that." Scully accepted this answer with a nod and together they walked into the dimly lighted hospital room to face her worst fear. Mulder's tall, lanky frame was carefully positioned on the small bed. His face had a few cuts which carefully bandaged. He appeared to be peacefully sleeping. Scully, however was a trained medical doctor and knew that this wasn't just the case. She slowly walked around to the opposite side of Mulder's bed. Carefully, she smoothed back his dark chestnut hair and allowed her finger to briefly trace over the small cuts which desecrated his smooth olive skin. Somewhere in the distance the loud shattering of Scully's heart could be heard. Suddenly, stored tears began to freely fall down the smooth porcelain skin of Scully's face. Holding Mulder's hand she collapsed to her knees and continued to sob hard into the clean, white mattress. Skinner, knowing how much this whole incident has affected her, quietly walked behind Scully and placed his large hand on her petite frame. His gesture quickly comforted the distraught woman. Scully slowly lifted her head in response. "I want to speak to his doctor." "Certainly," he replies. He gently gave her shoulder a comforting squeeze and walked out of the room in search of Mulder's physician. Scully steadily rose from the cool, linoleum floor and grabbed a near by chair. The hard stiff plastic gives her body the chance to be awakened from the numbness caused by four months of brutal heartache. She relinquished her hold on David's hand, needing, wanting, to feel him once more. "Please be okay. Don't make me have to go through this alone," she whispered silently, with tears still falling from her eyes. Her hand absently rubbed her now slightly round stomach. "I don't know if I can." She heard the door slowly creak open to reveal Skinner and another man with ash blond hair and a white lab coat. "Dana Scully, I'm Dr. Robert Cartin," the man walked over to Scully and extended his hand. Scully got up and firmly shook the doctor's hand. "I've already been informed that you are a medical doctor," Scully nodded in confirmation, noticeably impressed by the doctor's direct sincereness. "Good, I believe you will understand our current diagnosis." "He appears fine. Is it something internally?" she asked. "Mr. Mulder has no major external injuries and as far as we can tell he is not suffering from any internal injuries, either," he answered. "Then why is he like this?" She looked back toward Mulder's still form. "The only thing I can think of is a stress-induced coma. From what I've been told Mr. Mulder was abducted under mysterious circumstances. This could account for his current state." "Is there anything you can do?" Skinner asked. "Unfortunately, no. The ball is in his court now. It is all up to him." Scully walked back over to the hard plastic chair and placed her head in her hands. Silent sobs escaped her lips. Skinner and the doctor quietly crept outside the room sensing her need to be left alone. Soon after Scully's sobs began to subside. She found herself alone with Mulder, who was in a quiet, peaceful state. Suddenly, she remembered a class from medical school on coma patients. She began to talk to Mulder. "Hey," she began, "Are you happy now? Once again you have managed to wake me up at three o'clock in the morning." She was trying really hard to sound lighthearted, but she knew she had failed. "Really Mulder, please wake up. I know that you can see that white tranquil place. It looks so perfect and peaceful. I know what it feels like Mulder. I've been there. It's hard to leave, but Mulder you have to." She squeezed his hand to accent her words, "Too many people, especially me, need you here. You have to fight because if you quit now they win." A sharp knock causes Scully to change her focus. A thin, young nurse appears in the doorway. "Yes?" Scully asked, becoming self-conscious. "I need to check the patient's vitals," the nurse explained. Scully pushes her chair back to allow the nurse room. Her eyes intently study the young woman as she routinely checked the monitors and machines. The nurse, satisfied that her job was done, rushed out of the room leaving Scully alone with Mulder once more. Scully resumed her position and her grip continued to remain firm on Mulder's hand. Protectively, she ran her finger through his hair. Her mind had been focusing on a million things during the last few hours. Her thoughts began to quickly slow down and Scully elt herself being consumed by the peaceful darkness as she drifted to sleep once more. She never noticed the tall, shadowy figure watching her from the doorway. A few hours later Scully's nap was abruptly cut short. However, this time it was not a terrifying nightmare to blame. Instead it was a single twitch from a particular arm that was at fault. Her thoughts now in focus, Scully lifted her head to see bright hazel eyes and a small smile greeting her. "Mulder?" she asked. Realizing the situation she quickly transferred into "doctor-mode" and began scanning Mulder's monitors and checking his pulse, much to the delight of Mulder. He suppresses a slight chuckle and for a moment the two friends' eyes remained locked together. This moment was quickly ceased, however, by the arrival of Dr.Cartin. Just as shocked as Scully, he repeats Scully's earlier actions. "How are you feeling?" he asked, still amazed. "Fine, I think," Mulder replies. "Scully," he turns toward her, "How . . . what?" "Shh," she quiets him, "Later Mulder, later." The doctor soon leaves promising to notify Skinner. Once he is gone Scully turns to Mulder. "You really have no idea?" she asked. "None. Scully do you know?" he asked her with a questioning look. Knowing she could never lie to him. Scully began to explain what happened, the moment she heard of his disappearance, her pregnacy, and her early morning phone call, she explained the events in full detail. Thirty minutes later they were both in tears clinging to one another for some type of strength. It was as if both were afraid of what would happen if the other let go. Awhile later, Mulder slowly lifted from the embrace. "I can't remember anything. Scully it's all blank," tears freely fell down his face. "I just remember this voice. It kept saying, If you quit now, they win'" Scully smiled remembering her conversation to a then comatose Mulder. They hugged once more and Scully placed a tender kiss on Mulder's forehead. "It feels so great to hold you again," he whispered into her ear. "I didn't think you would ever come back," she replied. Scully's tears slowly began to subside. "I always do. We'll get through this together. I've always have had the strength of your beliefs, Scully, always."