From: "Mike C." Date: Fri, 19 Jan 2001 20:34:42 -0600 Subject: Welcome Back (1/1) by Doctor. C Source: direct Reply To: mcivello@imagin.net Title: Welcome Back Author: Doctor C. Summary: Mulder comes back and Scully has her baby. Key Words: M/S romance, S/D Friendship, Sk/Sc Friendship Spoilers: Season 8, Requiem, XF- FTF, tiny bit for the unnatural & Sixth Extinction II: Amor Fati Rating: PG Disclaimer: I don't own any of the X Files characters. (if I did then season 8 wouldn't have gone downhill) Archives: Gossamer, anywhere else, email me. Feedback: What did you think of this, drop me a note at laura_c@imagin.net Note: This fanfic is dedicated to one of my best friends, Didi, who got me into watching the X Files and got me to love Mulder, Scully, and now, Doggett. Didi, it's Doc, thanks for the encouragement, and the dedication to the X Files, one of my favorite TV shows. He hurt, he hurt all over. He couldn't think of anything but the pain. He was stark naked, but he didn't care. He was free of them. And the tests, the tests he hated most of all. They poked and prodded him, determined not to kill him, but torture him. He wondered and hoped he was on the planet he called home. He looked around and saw a small pond of water. He wouldn't even remember it, except for the memories. He remembered some things, but others weren't very clear. The clearest memory he remembered couldn't be taken away. It was of a small, petite woman with red hair. Scully, He could never forget Scully. He loved her and hoped that she was okay. The last thing he remembered about her was that she was sick. He hoped the cancer hadn't returned. Then he was overcome with fatigue. It consumed his whole body and his head felt like a sack of potatoes. His cheeks were still caked with blood from one of the tests, the most painful. He tried to make a sound, but all that came out was a faint squeak. He tried to fight it, but then gave up, like he did so many times. And the sleep overcame him. She woke up to her cell phone, the only people to call her these days was Skinner, Doggett, or occasionally the Lone Gunman. She worked from home these last few months, and her OB sentenced her to bed rest. "Agent Scully." She said "It's Agent Doggett, you really need to get over here. It's an emergency." He said, rapidly "What's wrong?" She asked, voice in concern. "We have a John Doe at a county hospital in Washington. He fits the description of Mulder." He heard a click at the other end of the line. "Agent Scully?" He asked, to nothing. She had hung up the phone and was already out the door. He had come home. Her and Doggett were silent the whole trip. After taking a cab to the hospital, she rushed in, with a panicked face. A husky woman with curly blonde hair told her to wait in chairs, but she wouldn't have it. "Where is he?" She screamed. Just then a handsome, yet balding doctor came over to her. "I've got it, Margaret." He said as he made his way to the agents. "Are you looking for the John Doe that was brought in earlier?" She nodded. "And you are?" "Agent Dr. Dana Scully, and this is my partner, John Doggett." They showed him their badges as he nodded in agreement. "He is in ICU now, I'll walk you up if you like?" She agreed as they walked down the hallway and to the elevator. "Well, he came in with a pneumothorax on both sides, and there was fluid around the sack in his heart, and it caused it to go into ventricular fibrillation But, now he is doing fine and we just excavated him." He said as her eyes widened. "He is just coming out of anesthesia now." He said as they got to the ICU floor. He opened the door as Scully gasped. It was he all right. "Is this your man?" He asked. "Yes." She finally whispered. "Is there anyone I can call for you?" He asked, as he was about to leave the room. "Assistant Director Wal..." She was cut short by Doggett. "He is on his way, he is taking a later flight." He said. "In that case, can you call my mom, tell her that Mulder was found." He nodded and left the room. Doggett felt unwelcome at this time and place. "Agent Scully, I'll be in the waiting room. Call me if you need me." He said as he left. "Thanks agent Doggett." She smiled and pulled up a chair beside him. She stroked his hair. "Oh, Mulder, so much has changed." She whispered as she kissed his forehead. "I've got a new partner now. He isn't as good as you were, are, but he takes care of me." He opened his eyes and they darted around the room. But these weren't the soft, deep hazel eyes she knew. These eyes were full of fear and pain. They darted around the room for now and the pain and fear disappeared. He smiled and touched her hair. "I knew you'd come back." She said as she kissed him. "The cancer didn't come back, did it? What was wrong?" He asked, voice with concern. "Mulder, the cancer didn't come back, I'm not sick. I'm just fine. I'm going to have a baby." She said as his eyes widened. His hand extended to touch the bump that grew where her stomach used to be. "Is it mine?" He asked. She smiled and nodded. "So, this new partner of yours, tell me about him." He said, changing the subject. "He treats me well, and he keeps me out of trouble. He's really sweet. But of course, you're sweeter. She said as she kissed him. He pulled her into a tight embrace. Then the tears came. Light at first, but then, uncontrollably. "I thought I would never see you again. Oh, Mulder, these last few months I have lost half of my life. I dedicated everything to finding you." She sobbed as he rocked her back and forth, singing her a song. Then she pulled away abruptly and fell to the floor, clutching her stomach. "Oh, GOD!" she screamed. "Scully?!" Mulder yelled. From the scream, a nurse with curly brown hair, rushed in. "What happened?" she asked as she ran over to where Scully lay. She had one hand on her stomach and one hand on Mulder's hand. A clear puddle was on the floor near her legs. "My water just broke." She said, in a calm, easy way. "I need a gurney in here!" The nurse yelled as two nurses brought it in. No matter what, she wouldn't let go of Mulder's hand. Then Agent Doggett was there. With a little coaxing from him, she let go of Mulder's hand. He was about to leave when a voice called out, "Wait!" he turned around to face Mulder. "Agent Doggett, I don't know you, but Scully does. She trusts you, and whomever she trusts I trust. See her through this since I can't. Tell her that I love her and that she will be okay. Go, Doggett, protect her like you did when I was gone. Take care of her for me, she's all I have." He said as Doggett smiled. "I will, I promise." PART II "Who wants to play cards?" Doggett asks as he walks into Scully's room. She rolls her eyes at him as he sits on the bed. "Perfect night huh?" she says sarcastically. "How's Mulder?" "He's doing just fine. He told me to take care of you for him. And he says that he loves you. And I can tell in his eyes that he does. Tell me about him, it will pass the time." He says. "Do you have anyplace better to go agent Doggett?" She asks warily. He shrugged, but stayed put. "Well, where should I start." She asked. "At the beginning." He said She told him just about everything. What she liked about him (how he always is looking at her with affection), what she couldn't stand about him (like all the times he ditched her while out on a case). She told him about Antarctica, and their "near kiss" in the hallway. She said that when he was abducted that she denied it and still thought there would be sunflower seeds on the floor in the office. "And then he... Oh God!" she screamed. "Where's Skinner, he's my Lamaze coach?" "Breath, Scully." "Oh cut the crap, Doggett, today and only today, you can call me Dana." She yelled, as he grabbed her hand. "Breathe, Dana, breathe." He said as she gripped his hand with all of her might. He was in more pain than she was. Probably a grip hard enough to break bones. This went on for an hour or so, the contractions and such. Then Dana was asleep and so was Doggett. They had given her an epideral to ease the pain. Then the nurse came in, and checked. "You are 7 centimeters, let's go to the delivery room." She said as they pushed the gurney down the hall. "John, go check on Mulder for me, please." She said before they wheeled her in. "I'll be back!" he said as he went to Mulder's room. "Doggett, how is she?" "She's going to the delivery room. Your gonna have yourself a baby soon." He left the room and to the OB floor. They were prepping for delivery. He had to put on a little hat, though. He was ready. "How you doing?" Doggett asks Scully. "Doggett, something is wrong, I can feel it, something is wrong with the baby." Scully said in a panicked tone. "I'm Doctor Linch, I will be delivering your baby, Dana." She checked how far along and her face grew concerned. "Connie, prep OR 2 please, tell them to hold a breech possibly with the chord around its neck." Dana was freaked out. "Dana breech is when..." she said "I know what that is, I'm a doctor. I don't want a c-section, but if my baby's life is in danger than I suppose it will be okay. "OB is ready." The nurse said as they wheeled Scully down there. "Doggett, tell Mulder that I love him and that I always will." She said as they led her away. "He went into Mulder's room and saw a balding man with him. It was Skinner. "Doggett, how is she?" Mulder asked. "There were some complications, she has to have a C-Section. She is in the OR, prepping. Mulder, she says that she loves you, and that she always will. There was never enough truth in her eyes than when she said that." He smiled. Just then an OB nurse walked in. "Agent Doggett? They are ready to start, and Dana won't let them without you." She said as she left the room. "Sir, please go too. Both of you she trusts and I trust. Take care of her for me. Take care of my girl. And give Scully a kiss for me." He says as Doggett's eyebrows raise in surprise. "On the forehead, Doggett." He said as he laughed and they left. He was consumed with his thoughts. They had to prep also, they got special hats, and blue aprons. They felt like doctors. They had gloves, too, and surgical masks. "Dana, look who I bumped into." "Sir, oh I thought you'd never come." She sighed in relief. Doggett kissed her forehead and she looked at him strangely. "That's from Mulder." He said sheepishly. "Let's get started." Dr. Linch said as Doggett squeezed Scully's hands and skinner looked down. "Sir, you look a little pale." Scully noticed. "I'm just fine." He said as his eyes closed and he hit the tile flooring. "Oh god? Sir, are you all right?" Scully yelled, questioning. "He'll be fine, but he'll have a headache." One of the nurses said as he started to come around. "Congratulations, Dana, you have a baby girl." They Scully smiled, but grew stern. "Why isn't she crying?" "Oh please tell them to do everything they can." She said as she sobbed "She was deprived of oxygen quite a bit, but, she is pinking up, see?" Dr. Lynch said as she showed him her face was peach instead of purple he had witnessed a few minutes earlier. Finally she let out a squeal. "Dana, she is just fine." "Doggett, please, tell Mulder." "Hello? Anyone here?" Doggett asked as he peeked inside of Mulder's room. He was playing solitaire. "Lost again. How's Scully?" "She is just fine. You have yourself a baby girl." He said as Mulder put on the biggest grin. Then he closed his eyes and concentrated. Something is wrong, I can feel it. I can sense that something is wrong with Scully. I don't' know why, but please, prove to me that I am wrong." He begged as Doggett left the room. The aliens must have taken his mind also. Mulder sat there, in his room, when an excruciating pain came over his chest. He grabbed it in pain, the only thing he could manage to say was "Scully!!!" and then the nurses came in and tried to force life back into him. Meanwhile, Doggett rushed up to the surgical floor, and he ran past the nurses who yelled at him. He burst into the room. The monitors were crazy. He was at her side at once. "Doggett, look," she pointed to the box with blood and water in it. It was all the way full with blood. "I'm bleeding out!" She whispered. "If I die, tell Mulder that I will always be there. And that I want you to be my daughter's uncle." She said as she went into V-Tach. "Dana, hold on. For Mulder, for your daughter, for me." He begged. She was in a light room. White room. Very bright and very warm. Quiet too. "What are you doing here?" A voice asked. "Mulder, I could ask you the same thing." "Are we dead?" "I don't think so, but look." He said as he pointed to her right. There was a very bright light with beautiful gold. To her left was A sign, SURGERY. "We are almost dead. We need to make a choice." "I'll make you a deal, I'll go if you go." "Deal." They walked toward the door, hand in hand. They walked into the door, but was pushed back. "We need to go separately." He said, sighing He hugged her and she kissed his forehead and then his lips. "I will always love you." She said as she waved and disappeared. He looked back at the light and saw someone that made him gasp. Doggett was asleep, holding her hand. And Skinner was in the chair by the wall, asleep too. She struggled to sit up, and instantly woke Skinner and Doggett in unison. "Doggett, what happened?" "You gave us a scare there agent Scully." Then, Doggett got a call on his cell phone. "This is agent Doggett? Yes, oh god!" He said as he clicked off the phone. "Mulder isn't doing too well. His heart is beating frantically." "Doggett wait. Give him a message from me. Please, she said as she scribbled it onto a piece of paper, rather quickly. She handed him the slip of paper and he rushed out the door. The elevator was too slow, so he took the stairs, two at a time. He got there, the nurses were shocking him and he had a tube in his mouth to help him breathe. "Agent Mulder, this is Agent Doggett. I have a note, from agent Scully to you. I am not sure if you can hear me, but here it goes." Mulder saw his sister, and his father and mother. Scully's sister and her father. He even saw Quequag. And then he heard Agent Doggett's voice and turned to listen. " 'Mulder, as you lie in the hospital. I remember the pact you made and you had to keep that. Both you and I know that. You have to keep your promise. Remember all the times we have shared. Baseball, for one was great. I have never had so much fun in my life. You are my touchstone, my constant. And if you quit now, they win.' Agent Mulder, I haven't known you as much as I know agent Scully, but I do know that when she talks about you she glows. She loves you, she really loves you." He said as he started to walk out. "GO, Fox, we all are safe. Go have a life. I love you bro." Sam said as he walked toward the past. He was going to live "We have a rhythm." The nurse said to the doc that was taking care of him. "Wow, that's a strong heartbeat from a person who just encountered death!" he said as Doggett stared at him blankly, mouth open. Mulder was even coming around. "Tell Scully that I had her, I had her good." He said with a weak smile. Doggett walked into the room with a smile on his face. "He is doing just fine. He told me to tell you that he had you." He smiled as he saw Scully holding her daughter for the first time. She looked up at him and smiled. "Agent Doggett? Would you like to hold her?" She asked as he smiled. "I would love to." He said as he scooped her up. "She is beautiful, agent Scully. She's got your flaming red hair." The baby started to wiggle and squirm and then she started to cry. "Your attitude too." He said as Scully laughed. Skinner was behind Doggett, he was fine, other than a large bump on his head. Doggett handed the baby to him. "Hush little baby don't say a word, Uncle Skinner's going to buy you a mockingbird." "How about Uncle Walter instead." Scully said as Skinner gave the sleeping baby to Scully. She turned to Doggett. "You have been like a brother to me, these last few months, would you be her uncle also?" "I would be honored. Now, let me see if your surprise is ready?" He said as he winked at her and left the room. "Okay, close your eyes, we are going for a little ride." He said as he put his hand over her eyes, and Skinner and another nurse pushed the gurney. "No peeking." Doggett warned. "Okay, open them." He said as she did and she gasped. It was Mulder, they had taken her to the ICU. He was grinning a boyish grin. He had recovered more rapidly than most, and he had the breathing tube out, but the heart monitor had to stay on. Scully put a hand on his. Doggett and Skinner smiled. "We'll be outside." As they left. "Do you want to hold her?" she asked Mulder. "Sure." He said happily. "How's my girl, how's my baby girl." He cooed as she giggled. "She's got your eyes Scully. What's her name?" he asked. "She doesn't have one yet." She replied "How about Samantha?" "Samantha Anne Mulder. It has a ring to it." "Welcome to the world Sam!" Mulder whispers to the sleeping child. "Welcome back, Mulder." Scully says with a smile on her face. "I love you." Mulder says as he nuzzles her nose with his. "I love you more." She says, as she kisses him passionately. "I love stories with happy endings." Skinner says. "Sir, I will have my resignation papers on your desk by Monday." Doggett says sadly as Skinner looks at him strangely. "Tell Agent Scully goodbye. I will keep in touch with them, but not in the bureau. She's happy now, she can get on with her life. She doesn't need me in the way." He said as he walked out of the hospital a new and changed man.