Author's Note: Hello, all. I would just like to say that this is the longest piece I have ever written, so far, and that I'm still working on it. I believe it is about 70 pages long at the moment. If you take the time to read it, I just want to say thank you so much! I've been breaking it up into smaller parts so it's easier to read and keep your place. I haven't submitted to Gossamer as yet because I can't think of a title, so if you have any ideas, please e-mail me at theagents1013@yahoo.com with any suggestions.
I would also like to take the time to point out that this fic has a little bit of everything in it. That includes:
MSR
Mulder/Scully married
Character death
Alternate Universe
possible Scully/other
Now, with all that aside, I don't think I'm so eloquent a person as to move a person to tears with my writing, but keep tissues handy if you're a sensitive person. Thanks again for reading.
Disclaimer: Mulder, Scully, and the X-Files, among other various characters, belong to 1013 Productions and Chris Carter. I don't own them. I wish I did.
UNTITLED PART I
The man stood in the corner of a darkened room, facing a window. A cloud of grey smoke streamed from his mouth before he slowly turned around and spoke.
“Is he dead?”
The other man, much younger, nodded his head.
“Everything was done according to the plan? What did you get out of him?”
“Nothing, except that she is alive and well. His last words were to her.”
“What about the child? What did he say about him?”
He hesitated. “He was delirious...it sounded like he thought he was talking to them both.”
The cigarette-smoking man contemplated this for a minute. “That doesn’t do much for us at all...you’ve failed me, Alex.” He looked up, crushed his cigarette out on the carpet, and lit another.
“That’s NOT true!” The younger man slammed his fist down on the desk. “You can find her and stop all this before it starts!”
“We don’t know where she is...she went into hiding long ago, and we’ve never seen her since...”
“Oh, bullshit. You know exactly where she is, or you at least have the means to find her...even if you didn't, maybe she’ll show up at the funeral. I doubt she’d miss it...” A hopeful note came into his voice.
“No...they’d never risk that...but I want you there, just in case...perhaps you can redeem yourself yet.” He stubbed out his newly lit cigarette and walked out of the room, leaving a bewildered Alex Krycek behind.
*****************************************************
She was incredibly quiet. He didn’t know what to do, and it made him afraid. She had begun to withdraw from everything and everyone since the funeral. She was the strong one - the one who knew what to do in every situation. He relied on that strength. Of course, he didn’t how know to put these things into words. He only sensed it. Now he felt alone and scared. He sat beside her, on the floor next to her chair, since that was the closest he could get to her. She didn’t even glance down.
Drawing his knees up to his chest, he watched the shadow of the petite, red-haired woman sitting next to him. When she started to cry, something she always tried not to do in front of him, he grew agitated, as small children tend to do.
“Mommy? Are you okay?”
“Yes, honey...I’m trying to be okay. How about you?” She tried to compose herself, and shakily succeeded.
“I miss Daddy.”
“So do I, Hon...so do I...” She reached down and ruffled his hair. “I’m sorry...I’m so sorry...” And with that, her fragile composure crumbled and she began to weep again.
William stood up and climbed into his mother’s lap. “Mommy, why did he leave us like that?”
“He had too...the bad men were after us and he wanted us to be safe,” she whispered, touching her lips to his hair. He buried his face in her neck.
“Who are the bad men? Did they hurt him?”
“Honey, you’re too little to understand everything. When you’re older, and when I can, I’ll tell you all about it.” She sighed. William was only 4 and a half years old, but he was an intelligent, inquisitive child. It wouldn’t be long before he started to learn things for himself. In the past two years, since Mulder had sent them into hiding, he had rarely seen the boy. Or her. He called as often as he could, always making sure of a secured line, and many times cutting the calls short when he grew suspicious. The visits were a little better, though he could sometimes only stay for a few hours, no more. They had only come out once, to attend his funeral, and to say their last good-byes. Now they were back in the safety of their hidden home, courtesy of Frohike, who made sure they arrived without being followed, and returned the same way.
Even though Scully had never allowed herself to consider the possibility of Mulder’s death, he had made sure there was a plan if he himself was not able to complete their silent war. Now she found herself putting her son to bed, awaiting the call that she knew would come.
***************************************************
It was 2 AM before the only phone in the house, her cell-phone, rang. She tensed when she heard the shrill sound, hoping that William hadn’t woken up from it. He had hardly slept during the past four days, and often woke up crying. She managed to pick up in the middle of the second ring.
“Hello, Skinner.”
“Scully. I’m sure you knew that I’d be contacting you within 24 hours of your return.”
“Yes.”
“I’m so sorry about Mulder. He was one of my best friends, a wonderful person, and a good father.”
“Yes. He was.” And all three of those reasons are why he’s lying in the cold ground right now.
“Scully, I’m going to get right to the point. Mulder has prepared everyone for this, and everyone has a part to play. Do you have any idea what your part is?”
“No. You know I never considered that plan of action,” she replied dully.
“That’s understandable, Scully. But you must understand that your role is crucial. You are to take over where Mulder himself left off.”
Her stomach dropped. “Skinner, no...I can’t do that...what about my son...? I can’t leave him...he is all I have left, and I am all he has left. Am I required to take this assignment?”
“Scully, you are beyond my control as far as assignments go. But you have to know that Mulder knew what he was doing up until the last minute of his life. You are the best choice, the most logical one, and we need you...Mulder needs you, as does your son. If you don’t take this assignment, Scully, we will lose, and the entire plan will be jeopardized. We have no one else to take over.”
She hesitated. Mulder needed her to continue his quest. But what would happen to William? “Skinner, if I take this on, what happens to William?”
“It’s all taken care of. All you have to do is accept, and Frohike will be there with the details. William will be safe. Mulder thought of everything, and it’s my duty to make sure it all happens the way he wanted it to.”
“Give me a few minutes to think this over.”
“Of course.”
She put the phone down momentarily and thought about everything that had happened. From the time she had discovered her pregnancy, and told him, up until he had sent them into hiding, Mulder had grown increasingly suspicious as his courses of action became more and more dangerous and involved. Leaning with her head cupped in her hand, she realized that, indeed, Mulder knew what he was doing, and that she would have to trust him even now. She picked the phone up again.
“Alright, then...I accept. I trust Mulder’s judgment. When will Frohike be here?”
“Any minute. He’s been waiting around for the message.”
Faithful Frohike...“Okay. Good-bye, Skinner.”
“Good-bye, Scully. Welcome back to the team.”
Shakily, trying to breathe, she hung up her phone and sat down to think. When she looked up again, William was standing in the doorway.
“Mommy. Who was that on the phone?”
Scully’s heart sank as she went and lifted her son into her arms, wondering how she was supposed to tell him that she had to leave him for a little while. “That was Walter. Now, Frohike is coming over for a little while, and he and I have to talk about some things, so I need you to go back to bed. Come on, I’ll tuck you in, okay?” She set him back on the floor.
The child nodded and took his mother’s hand. He allowed himself to be tucked in, but he didn’t think he’d sleep. “Mommy, will you wake me up before you go anywhere?”
Startled, she stared down into his small face, trying to figure out what he might have overheard. “Honey, I won’t be going anywhere tonight, but if I do, I promise I’ll wake you up. Now go to sleep, okay?”
"Okay." The child closed his eyes, and Scully gently kissed his forehead, stood up and walked quietly out of his room, shutting the door behind her. She stood, leaning against the wall, and closed her eyes briefly. Then she began to wait.
Frohike arrived 15 minutes later. She heard the sharp rap at the door, and stood up to answer it. She glanced at the small TV screen that was connected to a camera poised at the front entrance, hit the intercom button, and waited for him to say the right word. She had always laughed at the idea of a password, but now she realized its total importance in her life. Mulder really had thought of everything when it came to the safety of his family.
She walked up the stairs, opened the door after slowly undoing all the locks that were on it, typed the code into the alarm, and Frohike briskly walked in. The night was cold, much colder than it had been a few weeks before.
He gave her a brief, awkward hug. “Scully. How are you doing?” He had been the one to give her the horrible news of Mulder, and she was glad that of all people, it had been him.
“Hello, Frohike. I guess I’m doing alright.”
“I’m sure this was expected, wasn’t it?”
She took a deep breath. “No, it wasn’t, actually. I never looked over or listened to any plans that involved Mulder’s...death. I guess I should have.”
“Well, it doesn’t matter now. It only matters that you’ve accepted. We need you.” He patted her arm and smiled gently.
She offered him a small smile in return. “Skinner told me that it was crucial.”
He handed her a thick manila envelope, and they both sat down on the couch. “He wasn't exaggerating. Here is your assignment. It explains everything, and there is also a letter from Mulder in there, to you, in the event of this.”
She shut her eyes briefly. “A...A letter? Was he that prepared?”
“Yes, he was. Nothing has been overlooked. Go on, look everything over.”
She opened the envelope and removed the top item, another envelope, this one white, and legal-sized. It was addressed to her, in Mulder’s strong, clear handwriting. She opened up the envelope and began to read:
Dear Scully,
By now, you must know that I can’t be with you any longer, at least, not in this life. But remember that even though I’m not with you in body, I am with you always in spirit. I know you don’t believe in those things, but I promise you, I am watching you every moment. I need you to take on this assignment and finish my work. You are the only one who can do it. You know everything about me, what I wanted, how I wanted things done. You need to be strong for William and for my memory, and you must go on. I love you, Scully. I want you to know that everything I have done, I have done for you and for our son, a miracle in of himself. Never let him forget that, and make sure he knows how much I love him. Instructions are included with this letter. Follow them completely, and William will be provided for. You are going to be in a dangerous situation, Scully. I won’t lie to you. It is deadly, as you already must know, and you must be careful. I can’t impress upon you enough the importance of that. I know you will do all these things and keep our son safe from harm. Exercise caution in everything you do, and trust no one.
I love you,
Mulder
It took her a few minutes to realize that the small drops of water pelting the paper were her own tears. She looked up through damp lashes to see Frohike looking down at his hands. Stop this, Dana. Finish going through the package and have yourself a good cry later. She took a deep breath, set down the letter, and read the next thing in the envelope-a typed pack of instructions. She skimmed the beginning and found the paragraph that told her what to do with William. She breathed a sigh of relief when she saw what it said:
‘William: Pack adequate clothing, toiletries, etc. for several days. He may only bring what will fit into a small suitcase. He will be taken by a round-a-bout route by the Gunmen to the home of Margaret Scully and cared for there until you can return for him.’
So her mother would care for him. That fact alone made everything a little bit easier. She had not been able to speak to her mother in person for the entire time she’d been hiding, but Mulder had made sure letters were taken to and from mother and daughter the whole time. They had only seen each other briefly at the funeral, and had not been able to talk for long. Her mother had hugged her tight and whispered “Be strong” in her ear, even as her own tears began to stream down her cheeks...
She read over the rest of the instructions carefully. She didn’t want to miss a single detail. There were many different things to be remembered, such as how she was to leave the hidden place that had been her home for two years, and how she would get to Walter Skinner’s office without being seen. Of course, eventually, they would know where she was because she would be re-entering the FBI, but she needed to buy some time. It would be a difficult journey, but Frohike was there to help her and William escape to safety. Even if she chose not to continue the work, their lives were still in danger. People would come looking for them, and this time, there was no Mulder to keep them safe and hidden away. She sighed deeply.
*************************************************
While the former Agent Scully was reading Mulder’s last instructions for her, Walter Skinner stood pacing his office. No one but a select few knew that the Assistant Director by day was now a key element in the plan to overthrow the secret government that corrupted the United States, as well as the rest of the world. His burden weighed heavily on his shoulders, aging him more than his years. These past few days he had been feeling that burden even more heavily. This whole thing had once rested entirely on Mulder; he had been the sole executor to the plan. He had taken Skinner into his confidence when Scully had extended her maternity leave to something a little more permanent. After she had resigned, Mulder told Skinner that she was worried for the child’s safety, and that it was because he, Mulder, had begun something that could put the whole world at risk. On the other hand, he felt that if he did nothing, the world would be destroyed anyway. Skinner could recall that conversation in vivid detail...
“Sir...?”
“Yes, Agent Mulder, what is it?” Skinner looked up from the file opened on his desk, not at all surprised to see Fox Mulder standing in his office. It was a familiar scene.
”Sir, I was wondering if I could talk to you about something. Strictly off the record.”
“Shut the door, Agent, and have a seat.” He waited as Mulder did so, then closed the file and looked the other man squarely in the face. “Now, what’s going on? Agent Scully is well, I presume?”
“Yes sir, she’s fine.”
“The new baby? How is he?”
“He’s just fine, too. However, because of the nature of the work that Agent Scully and I have been a part of, we are worried for his safety. That’s why she resigned.”
“Agent Mulder, correct me if I’m wrong, but could this have anything to do with your ‘work' beyond the Bureau?”
Mulder smiled slowly. “I figured you knew all about that, sir. That’s sort of what I wanted to talk to you about. Scully and I know we can trust you with anything, and we know that we can always rely on your help. And we need you now.”
“I have always done my best for you two. Please know that you will always be able to rely on me. Now, what’s on your mind?”
“Well, sir...this is a huge secret that could cost many lives if it is found out at the wrong time...my family’s lives and my own, as well. As you know, I took on the X-Files mainly to locate my sister, to try and bring her home. Along the way, I have encountered many strange things which never made sense until the day I pieced it all together. Since then, Scully and I have been trying to uncover enough proof of a global conspiracy. We are both sure that there has been a huge cover-up to prevent the world from knowing about extraterrestrial life. Not only of it’s existence, but also of the fact that we have been at risk of an invasion several times, and will continue to be.”
Mulder had then launched into detailed explanations and stories of his and Scully’s encounters. Everything from her abduction to his actual viewing of these life forms to the extent of their knowledge about a secret government had Skinner’s mind reeling. He had known about Mulder’s “wild theories” and how the whole FBI referred to him as “Spooky”, and he had also been painfully aware that Scully had been missing for several months. However, even after reading the reports that the two agents had presented for each case, there were some things that were just too hard to believe. Mulder continued, throwing in some details that had not been reported in case files, as well as things he and Scully had seen and done outside of the FBI’s jurisdiction.
“Sir...?”
Skinner closed his mouth with an audible snap. He then drew a deep breath and attempted to organize everything he had heard into rational thoughts. “Mulder...that’s quite a bit of information. I’m assuming you have some physical evidence?”
“Yes, I do. But sir, what I need from you right now is your understanding and cooperation. I need access to every bit of technology we have here, and I need you to make me a promise. I want to do this thing on my own with as much help from Scully as possible, but if I should be unable to continue my work, I need you to take over. I need you to keep my family safe until the truth is revealed.”
“Mulder...I will grant you access within the limits of reason...you must know that we could both lose our jobs if anything was to be found out. As for your family, you know that I will always be of any assistance I can be, no matter what the circumstances or situation.”
“Thank you, sir. You don’t know how much that means to me...”
Skinner sighed again. In the years that had followed, Mulder’s situation had grown precarious, and he had sent his family into hiding. He had also prepared a full-scale operation to finish his work, if he was unable to do it himself. Everyone Mulder had trusted now had a part to play. Skinner’s long-ago promise had been fulfilled, and Scully was on her way. He felt terrible, knowing that her grief was deeper than his own, and still having her start this so soon. But it needed to be done. There was no choice now.
**************************************************
The phone in the booth rang sharply, resounding through the silent darkness of the night. Krycek immediately picked it up. He had been waiting for this call.
The man on the other line breathed in deeply as if inhaling cigarette smoke. “Well?”
“Well what? I went to the funeral.”
“And?”
“And it was a lovely service. Really. You should have been there.”
“Dammit Krycek, this is no time for your childish jokes. Was she there?”
“Of course. I told you she wouldn’t miss it. And, as an added bonus, she brought the kid.”
“Were you able to follow them?”
“No, that damned little troll had them covered the whole time. He can spot surveillance from miles away. I wasn’t taking any chances. But they headed west...I was able to follow them for a little while, but they lost me after a few miles.”
“That really doesn’t help me at all. I’m beginning to wonder just how much help you are to me, after all, Alex.”
“Now, listen...” The younger man’s voice had an edge of panic to it.
“No, I think you’d better listen. If you don’t get me something solid within a week, there’s going to be another funeral. Although the turnout to this one is questionable.”
Alex winced. “Alright, alright. I’ll find them.”
“You’d better.”
*************************************************
It was time. A week and a half had passed since Scully had accepted her new duties. William’s single suitcase was packed with his clothing and a few of his favorite belongings. She would be provided for when she arrived at Skinner’s office.
“William, honey?”
“Yes, Mommy?” The child looked up at her, his father’s eyes staring out at her.
“It’s time, now. Frohike is here with the car to take you to Grandma’s.”
“Mommy...do I have to go?”
“Yes, Hon...please don’t make this hard for either of us...please. Be brave. You’ll have fun at Grandma’s. I promise I will come back for you. And if I can, I’ll even visit sometimes, like Daddy did, okay? Now, be good. I love you.”
“Okay. I love you too.” The child looked up at his mother and decided it was safe to believe her. Scully bent down, hugged and kissed him, and Frohike took his hand. He was led out to a car and buckled into the backseat. She saw that Byers and Langley were in the front, with Byers driving. She smiled briefly and waved. They waved back. Her son turned and waved, too. She waved back to him, blew him a kiss, and the car started away.
Frohike turned to her. “Are you ready, Scully? We should get going now.”
“Yeah. I guess we should.” She stood with her arms crossed over her chest, looking like a lost little kid. She stared after the car carrying her son, and then shook herself as if from a dream. “Come on, let’s go.”
End, Part I.
