From: "L. Weir" Date: Sat, 08 May 1999 23:31:51 -0500 Subject: Resurrection Resurrection It was 7:30 P.M. on a Friday night at the FBI Offices. Agent Dana Scully was pacing back and forth slowly in her and Mulder's office reading an X-file while nibbling on a pretzel. "So, do we have anything?" Scully asked Mulder, who was at his desk sharpening pencils, "Nooo?" he replied still sharpening, "but we might after tonight." "Why? What's going on tonight?" Scully asked while still pacing, reading, and eating. "Tonight, we go drinking?" Mulder said nonchalantly and smiled. Scully stopped, "Mulder?" she said in an exasperated voice, "Why the hell-" "Meeting a source, Scully, just meeting a woman for info at some bar. "Mulder cut her off as he could tell she didn't like his little "joke", "You coming?" Now, it was a Friday night. Scully liked Mulder to believe that she had a life outside of him, but the truth was, she didn't; not at all. She shook her head and shrugged her shoulders in a compromising gesture, "Alright," She sighed. "Good then," Mulder slammed his hands on the desk startling Agent Scully and got up to grab his jacket. Then he went to the door, "Shall we?" he said gesturing for Scully to go before him. Scully smiled and shook her head while exiting. Sometimes Mulder could be the sweetest thing. At 9:25, Mulder and Scully were still waiting in the bar which Mulder's source told Mulder to be. They'd arrived an hour earlier and had sat in an inconspicuous booth without ordering anything. "Now, Mulder, let's just go over it one more time," Scully said with her elbows on the table. Mulder groaned and put his hands over his face as Scully continued, "What time was she supposed to be here?" "8:30, Scully," Mulder replied scratching his thick brown scruffy hair. "And?what time is it now?" Scully's smile spread, and, of course, she tried to hide it. "Uh, it's 9:30, Scully." "So that would be??" "It's one hour, Scully. One hour. That's not bad." "When you're in the ghetto, it's pretty bad, Mulder," Scully said still smirking. "Ah, to hell with this, I'm gonna go get a drink, you want one?" Mulder started to get up. "Mulder, there has to be a designated driver" Mulder paused momentarily, "You're a real downer, Scully, you know that?" he said playfully while walking to the bar. Scully laughed. She loved Mulder's sense of humor. She didn't like to show it, but she really did. Mulder is really her only friend, she just doesn't have time for anything else but her work and when she's working, she's just relaxing. "Yep. That's life," she muttered to herself in her daydream. Suddenly, a martini glass was shoved in front of her, "Scully, the bartender and I decided that you need a drink. Fuck driving, we walk, hey?" Scully was a bit confused. She looked over at the bartender who waved at her and weakly waved back. She wondered what Mulder would be like drunk if he were this crazy now. He slid into the seat, "Toast, Scully?" he asked as he raised his glass. "To what?" Scully raised her glass as well. "Ummm?to the pursuit of truth and happiness." "Cheers!" she said and they clicked glasses. Mulder gulped his drink down and screamed, "Bar guy! I need another one of these!" "You know Scully, that Skinner can just kiss my sweet ass?Whothehell does he think he is?" Mulder mumbled pointing to the table as if mapping out an attack plan. "Yes, Mulder?" Scully said smiling constantly. It was now 10:45 and Mulder was completely wasted. Scully, on the other hand, was still sober because she only had her one martini. "Scully, did I ever tell you that yyyoooouuuu are one sexy lady?" Mulder said almost unintelligibly while pointing at her and drawing his face closer. Scully rolled her eyes saying, "Why, no, Mulder," and secretly, she was a little flattered by his comment?even though he was drunk. "Well, Ihadagreatnight," Mulder said with slurred speech, "but unfortunately, I gotta go and take a shower and?stuff?and?" Mulder's head dropped back. At this point, Scully didn't know what to do so she nodded his head to wake him up. Mulder gave a startled grunt and Scully said, "Come on, let's go," and she started to gently push him out of their booth. Mulder muttered some, but got up and started to stumble. Scully had to jump out of the booth to keep him in balance and led him out the door. "I'll walk you home, ok?" Scully said with his arm on her shoulder and her arm around his waist. "Ooh, why Scully," Mulder cooed flirtatiously, "you badd girl?" " Oh please," she sighed and continued to walk to Mulder's apartment building. "Here we are. Home sweet home," Scully said as she unlocked Mulder's door. She staggered in with Mulder still hanging on her. As she got to Mulder's waterbed, she turned around and flopped onto it, at the same time getting Mulder on the bed because she was holding onto him. He would occasionally make some noise or incomprehensible talk about how they're all out to get him, but now on the bed, he perked up a bit. She turned onto him and said, "It's late, Mulder, get some sleep." He raised his arms and shouted, "The night is still young, girl!" Scully sat up on the bed, "Goodnight, honey," she giggled uncontrollably walking out the door. "Hey! Wait! I'm not tired, dammit!" he screamed after her, but he heard no response. Mulder groaned and looked up at himself in the mirror above the bed. He looked like shit. "Uhhh?" he moaned as he sat up on the bed. Mulder decided he would go up to the roof. He'd never been there before and it seemed like a fun idea to him at the time. "Up on the rooftop, click click click. Here comes good old Santa Nick," Mulder sang as he wandered around the rooftop. Mulder had a great view from up there. Of what? Nothing really, just buildings and such. All of a sudden, Mulder heard movement from behind the condenser. He stopped cold?and turned toward the sound, "Hello?" he called. A white hand appeared from behind the condenser. Then a white face with curly black hair. "Spender??" Mulder whispered as he drew closer to the man. Mulder was walking around his apartment occasionally sneaking a glimpse at the thin pale man sitting on his couch with a blanket wrapped around him. Spender? No, impossible. Spender is dead and although Mulder himself had not attended the funeral, he was sure there had been one?or?had there? He actually hadn't thought about it too much. He looked back at the figure on his couch?Then approached a chair across from the couch and sat down with his elbows on his knees. "Now, tell me your name," he said softly. He was no longer drunk, but now in a rather pensive mood. The man coughed and cleared his throat, "Jeffery. Jeffery Spender, Mulder, you know who I am," he said weakly looking at Mulder with sad puppy eyes which stood out from his thin face. Mulder sat back in his chair and crossed his arms, "Yes?but?Jeffery Spender is dead. He was shot-" "And killed. I'm quite aware of that now" interrupted this alleged Spender. "They found his body. It was Spender?" "No, Agent Mulder, they found a body," Mulder leaned forward, "but?how?" He had to admit, the resemblance was uncanny. Even though this man is much paler, dirtier, and thinner than Spender was- Mulder had to believe him?at least for now. Spender sighed, "Alright, I found out my father- CGB's- business. Very cold, violent and so why would I go near him without protection?" Even though it was an obvious hypothetical question, Mulder answered, "You're his son." "He let his wife be abducted. Is his son any closer?" Spender said and continued on, "I wore a bulletproof vest. I'm just surprised that he didn't shoot me in the head, make sure the job was done. Anyway, I was knocked unconscious-" "Oh come on," Mulder interrupted, "He made a mistake?? Men like CGB don't make mistakes!" Spender shrugged his shoulders, "I don't know, but I'm here now so?listen, do you have anything to eat? I?I just haven't eaten for a while." "Yeah, sure," Mulder mumbled getting up. He wasn't sure he actually did have anything to eat at all, but as luck would have it, he had some leftover Chinese food that he heated and gave to Spender. "Go on," Mulder said. "Alright, so I was thinking they're out to get me, once they find I'm not there, they'll hunt me down, but this time, I wouldn't get up again. So I went underground. You know, underground tunnels, sewers, whatever, so that they would think I, I don't know, disappeared or something. Man, I had to eat rats for Christ sake!" Spender glared at Mulder as if it was his fault, "?but that's why I look like I do I guess." Spender leaned forward, "Mulder, I had to get out of there. I'd spent maybe six weeks down there. So I came up and tried to look inconspicuous, but the moment I got to the ground, I looked for you in the phone book, I was actually surprised you were listed. I called, but you weren't there so I just went to your building. And there it is," he leaned back again. "There it is? It's too simple, Spender, They found a body, they no doubt have people working underground, how could no one have found you out?" Mulder was being more skeptical than usual. Spender looked tired, "I-I don't know, Mulder, I just don't know. Can I stay here? I can't go back to my place and I have no where to go. I need you," Spender had that pleading puppy dog face again. "Of course, Spender. You can use that bed. It's in the next room, you can use the shower too," Mulder directed him to his room. "Thank you, Mulder. I knew you'd be the only one I could trust," Spender said as he collapsed on the bed and then fell asleep within a few minutes. As Mulder laid down on his couch for the night, he hoped that this really was Spender. It was 2:30 A.M. and Mulder opened his eyes to see a dark figure looming about him. All he was able to get out was "Whoa!" and jumped to a sitting position. Then he realized the figure was Spender. His dark brown eyes were wide open. He whispered, " I heard things, you know?" Mulder was rather confused, "What are you talking about, Spender? It's 2:30 in the morning. Go back to sleep." Spender laughed in a cynical manner, "Mulder, Mulder, I know you'll want to hear this. " Mulder stared at him. With intensity in his eyes, Spender continued, "I heard them-" "Who's 'them', Spender?" Spender paused, "I don't know, I couldn't see them. They were blocked?or?something," the intense look started to fade. "So?what exactly was it?" Mulder asked. Spender sat down on the couch, "Some screeching?sometimes, I'm not sure. Movement, pounding, some sounds were unmistakably human and some?I don't know what the hell some were. They scared me and I was all alone so I ran away from there." "Spender," Mulder leaned in by him, "Could you take me there?" Spender shook his head, "I could try," and he got up and started walking away. "Spender?" Mulder called after him and Spender stopped and looked at him, "What are you suspecting that you heard? I mean, there's people down there all the time, you heard them for God's sake. That's one hell of a cover up" Spender paused, "Really," he said with no real emotion and walked though the bedroom door. Mulder lied back on the bed and stared at the ceiling thinking "what if??". Mulder didn't get to sleep until two hours later. "Spender? Jeffery Spender?" Scully said cocking her eyebrow, "Jeffery Spender of the FBI, who is dead, by the way, is at your apartment?" Mulder recognized her sarcasm and took it lightly as always, "Can you believe it, Scully?!" They were in the office and, of course, the door was shut and locked. "Mulder, Spender was cremated. Now, this man whom you let into your apartment is obviously lying and I'd suggest you go back and see what he's stolen while you were out." "Alright, Scully, "he nodded and then grabbed her hand, "Let's go." "Mulder, no, " she dragged her feet, "We're working." He smiled, "Yes, we certainly are." Scully walked slowly around Mulder's bed examining the sleeping figure in it, "Hmmm?" she said, "Well, it can't be him," she looked at Mulder. "Could be," he responded "No," "Why not??" "Because, Mulder," she sighed, "because people just don't come back from the dead like you always seem to think. People die." Mulder nodded, "Yes, but some people aren't so easy to kill. You know that." Scully crossed her arms," So what's so special about Spender?" Mulder raised his eyebrows and shrugged his shoulders saying," Bulletproof vest?" Scully thought for a minute, "But," she said," Spender's bullet wound was in his head, Mulder" "Uh uh, Scully" he waved a finger at her," a bullet wound was in the person's they founds head," he had a satisfied look on his face. "So, you're saying that someone wanted Spender to be alive, who? CGB obviously wanted him dead." "Well, Scully," he said, "I don't have an answer for that one yet, but listen to this, he's been underground all this time and he's heard some wild things I guess-" "Hallucinations?" Scully said with a disapproving look. "Well, we'll find out. He's taking me there?tonight, I think." "Oh Mulder, no," Scully pleaded, "What if this is some kind of madman? You're going underground with him now? Bad idea." Mulder coughed, "ahem, well, you'll be there." Her eyes widened, "What? What was that? Oh no, I'm staying out of this." "Scully, come on, I need you. Please." Mulder touched her shoulders and looked into her eyes. Scully couldn't resist it, "Uh, " she said a bit annoyed, "alright." "Good! We'll go tonight. Now, let's get back to the office before Skinner gets too pissed." It was now the end of the day. Mulder and Scully were walking out of the building and into the parking garage. Mulder went to Scully's car first. As she unlocked the door, he said,"So come by my apartment in about an hour." "Will do," she said sarcastically, but playfully. She sat in the seat and said,"I'll bring the gun." And closed the door. "Ha ha ha, that's funny, Scully!" he shouted after her car. He sighed as he walked to his car. "Hello Agent Mulder," a familiar voice called out. Mulder swung around to see the cigarette man in a black trenchcoat standing about seven yards from him. "Well, well," Mulder said with sarcasm,"CGB, how nice to see you." CGB began to walk toward Mulder, "I understand you have something of great importance, Mr. Mulder." "Really? Like what?" Mulder stared directly at him and crossed his arms. CGB took a drag and exhaled,"Oh, Agent Spender perhaps?" He was now three yards from Mulder. Mulder shrugged and frowned in a "maybe, maybe not" manner and said" Wouldn't you know? Or wouldn't you like to know?" Cigarette man laughed, "You don't seem to understand, Agent Mulder, you see, if I wanted Agent Spender dead, he would be dead." "You missed the shot, Ciggy?" Mulder asked. CGB made a disapproving face, "Mr. Mulder, I was quite aware of the vest," he smiled," I even got a bit of a decoy for when trouble arose." Mulder squinted at him," you covered for Spender??" Cigarette man said, "Essentially." "Why?" agent Mulder questioned, "Why not just kill him? Hell of a lot less trouble. Spender's a problem. He didn't like your little games. Why not just wipe him out?" CGB took a long pause, "Because?" he said and shook his head, "he's my son." Then CGB started to walk away. Mulder was going to then question him about his wife and her planned abduction, but sensed that this conversation was over. Mulder had to check his car over thoroughly before unlocking it and again checked over everything before starting it. Then drove home. When Mulder stepped into his apartment, Spender was up and dressed in Mulder's clothes, "Jeffery," said Mulder, "I just had a talk with our good friend, CGB." Spender looked fearful, "What did he say?" Mulder sat opposite of the couch," He covered for you, Spender. Consider yourself lucky. He probably still is." Spender looked down, he had shock and disbelief spread across his face, "I can't believe it?" "Yes, well, that's what he said." Mulder got up again," Anyway, ready to go?" Spender sighed, "Sure." There was a knock at the door. "That's Scully," Mulder said as he walked to the door. "Scully?!" Spender's voice was filled with surprise as if he'd forgotten all about her. Mulder opened the door to Scully who said," Shall we go?" not even stepping into the apartment. Mulder said," Alright," and motioned for Spender to come. Spender came through the doorway, extended his hand to Scully and said, "Agent Scully?" Scully took it and replied, "Agent Spender?" smiling. With that, Mulder could tell that Scully wouldn't bother questioning Spender about his identity even though she hadn't even heard what CGB had told Mulder. She wants to believe. It was dark outside. Spender led Scully and Mulder to the sewer from which he came. Both Mulder and Scully made a quiet, but disgusted sound as he opened the top and started to climb down. Scully whispered to Mulder, "He lived in sewers?!" "We've been down there before, Scully, just plug your nose," he whispered back. The sewer was pitch black, but it wasn't a problem because Mulder and Scully both had their handy flashlights. "Here, I'll show you the way," Spender said, "You don't have to go through the water if you're willing to walk a little." He began walking. "Spender, " Scully said," How did you see in here?" Spender replied, "It's not bad in daytime, there's some holes at the top sometimes, but at night, you have to feel your way around. Your eyes get used to it though, in time. We don't have to go that far, by the way." Scully could see the arched walls of the sewer dripping with algae and heard the light scuttering of the rats. It felt very heavy in there and the air was stale. Scully tried not to breathe in through her nose, but it was so hard not to that she would occasionally get the smell or taste of the sewer. It was disgusting, but she was, after all, a doctor and could stand the smell of dead bodies so she stood the stench fairly well. Mulder, on the other hand, did not fare so well, he vomited twice which made Scully's stomach turn a little, but now, he looked like he was doing all right. Spender suddenly stopped. "What is it?" Mulder asked. "Shhhh?" Spender whispered as he put a finger to his mouth, "Listen." Mulder and Scully listened very closely?then they heard a sound, a raspy sound like sandpaper scraping against wood. "Do you hear it?" Spender whispered without moving. "It's breathing," Mulder replied quietly. He had a small tone of fear in his voice. "What's breathing?" Scully asked. Mulder turned slowly to Spender," Where's it coming from?" he whispered, ignoring Scully. "I think from behind a wall or something, I'm not sure," said Spender. "Help," Scully hissed. Mulder turned to Scully, "What?" Her eyes were wide open, she shook her head, "That wasn't me, Mulder," "Oh my god?" Spender whispered. Mulder turned to face what he was looking at. About five hundred feet ahead of them were two bright red circles moving toward them. Mulder shined his light on them to see what exactly it was. What they saw resembled a human girl?only her legs were dragging behind, her hands were very wide and flat, and her tongue was almost 6 inches long. She grotesquely crawled a few feet toward them, "Help me," she pleaded. Yet there was no desperateness about her eyes, only a feverish giddiness highlighted by the smile on her face. "Oh God," Mulder whispered as he slowly began backing up," Scully?go, run!" And with that, they all three began to dash in the opposite direction of the hideous thing. Spender turned back to see the girl-like creature running like a seal after them with a sick smile on her face and her tongue hanging out of her mouth. She was extremely fast and she began to scream," Help me!!" Scully finally reached the latter and began climbing it to the surface. "Come on, Scully! MOVE!" Mulder screamed after her. Spender was still standing at the bottom of the latter watching her advance and at the same time yelling at Scully to open the damn lid. "Wait!" it screamed now waging her tongue from side to side. Agent Scully finally had gotten the sewer cap off and was scrambling out. Mulder and Spender quickly followed and just as they were closing the cap, they heard the girlish thing cry, "NOO! Don't leave me here alone!!" Breathless, Agents Scully, Spender, and Mulder sat on the street looking around to see if anyone had seen them. After a while, Spender looked at Mulder, "So, they've found a way out," he sighed By Laura Weir spoiler- Where's Spender?