The Price Of Truth - by EThe Price Of Truth By E. Livingstone This was my first attempt to write, well, anything so please be kind. There is a little language and a little violence, but nothing too bad. Big on character, short on science. Based on something Mulder says in the pilot about finding the truth is all that matters to him. This story examines if that still holds true. Spoilers: Pilot Rating: PG Classification: X, UST Summary: Scully puts her life and believes on the line to get Mulder his truth. The characters belong to Fox, Chris Carter, etc..... not me. As the night air chilled her Dana pulled her coat around her and patted her gun for reassurance. She looked at her watch and wondered for the tenth time since she got the note, an hour ago, what the hell she had gotten herself into. The note had said to meet at this park at this particular bench, alone. She knew Mulder had gotten these cryptic notes and hoped they were from the same source. As much as it scare her to meet with him the alternative was that someone wanted to lure her here and she would have walked right into it.She didn't relish the idea of being that stupid. She looked at her watch again and heard footsteps, looking up she saw him. He was tall and dark with no emotion on his bearded face, she felt a chill run down her spine and spoke. "I got your message, why am I here?" she asked trying to sound as emotionless as he looked. He through a package on the seat next to her. "I have an assignment for you Agent Scully. It's up to you of course, but once you read what's in that package I think you will see things my way." "What about Mulder?" She asked, confused. "Why aren't you giving this to him?" "You can't tell him anything about this." "I can't keep this from him, I wont keep this from him!" She was starting to be less scared and more angry. His voice was even and cold, "You can't tell him." "Why, because of this? " She picked up the package sitting next to her, holding it out to him,"what's in it?" His eyes burrowed into her and he said simply, "The Truth." ``````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````` 11:30pm Mon. Dana didn't know what to say, so she just asked, " Why me ? It means everything to him, so why give this to me?" "Because it does mean everything to him. Simply put, if he chases this he will be caught and he will be killed. I can't let that happen, I still need him." "But I am expendable." There was a long silence between them and then he asked "Tell me Agent Scully, what price would Agent Mulder pay for the truth?" She looked at the package in her hand. She didn't give him an answer, she didn't have to, they both knew the answer to his question. She looked up not sure what she would say and realized she didn't have to say anything, he was gone. Looking down at the package again she sighed, "Shit." She could hear the rain outside her apartment as she dumped the contends of the package on the coffee table in her living room, examining each item. She fingered an I.D. badge, it had a clearance code and the picture of her on it. Better than my drivers license photo she thought. The rain was really starting to come down now and her thoughts drifted to her first case working on X-Files, that little town in Oregon, the constant downpour of rain and her new partner, who was clearly insane, trying to convince her there prime suspects were aliens. She remembered the night she had found marks on her back, like all the victims had . She was a rational woman, always had been, but this town, this man and now these marks. She was seriously freaked out. It seamed funny now, the look on his face when he opened his motel door, finding her standing there in her robe."I need you to look at something ." He seemed confused at her words, and more so when she dropped the robe, but not entirely displeased. Dana remembered how his strong hands felt as he ran his fingers down to the small of her back examining the marks and her relief to hear him say they were only mosquito bites. The whole case had her scared, the relief of his words made her forget herself for a moment and she pressed herself into his chest feeling his strength, needing a little for herself. She realized that night that this man could in time become more than her partner. He may even be someone she might be able to let herself depend on, even need. Later that night he had told her of the loss of his sister, she saw the pain in his eyes, heard the anguish in his voice and realized that perhaps he might need her to. She tried to convince this man who trusted no one that he could trust her. With that he told her something she would never be able to forget ,"The truth is out there Scully, I have to find it. Nothing else matters to me." His words echoed in her head bringing her back to the present and the contents of the package spread out before her. Dana knew that the man in the park was right, she couldn't tell Mulder, he would chase this and get himself killed in the name of Truth, his truth. His truth was based on anything that defied explanation, his truth quite frankly scared the hell out of her. She was afraid to believe and this case could bring proof, proof she wouldn't be able to find a reasonable, scientific explanation for. The thought terrified her, but not nearly as much as the thought of loosing her partner, her best friend. He had become a part of her and she would protect him with her life. She could get in the facility, she would have a chance, she could get him his proof, she could save his life. Dana gathered up the information given to her that night and started to make a plan. 8:00 a.m. Friday Fox Mulder looked up from his cluttered desk to see Scully walk in, looking tired. "Rough night ?" He asked. "Why would you say that?" She asked trying not to sound as concerned as she was by his question. Did he know something? "I tried to call you, couldn't find you anywhere. You didn't have a date or anything like that did you Scully? You wouldn't run off and try to get a life, would you?" "Well, one of us had to do it. Hell Mulder, it had been so long even you were starting to look good to me." She watched as he pretended to pull a knife out of his heart and she smiled despite herself. Dana hated lying to him, but she couldn't tell him the truth and was secretly pleased to see the glint of jealousy in his eyes. He was bothered by her answer, not that he would ever let on, he didn't like the thought of her and another man. Not that he had any rational excuse to feel that way, but no one ever accused Fox Mulder of being a rational man. "Well if your not to tired, perhaps you could give me a hand on finding Jake Moffit's killer." He said with a little more sarcasm than he meant to. "Any new leads?" "Nope." "God Mulder, we have been on this case for three weeks and are no farther now than when they pulled his body from the river. You know I hate this. You get yourself in trouble, Skinner finds the worst case possible to punish YOU with, and puts US on it. How is this fair to me?" She was pointing at herself and waiting for an answer. She wasn't really mad but she had found an opportunity to set her plan in action. All Mulder could do was say he was sorry. He didn't ask for this case, but they wouldn't be on it if he could stay out of trouble for five minuets. He gave her his best puppy dog look and said simply. "Sorry." "Not good enough, not this time. I'm going to request the rest of the week off, take a little vacation." "Scully...."he said, startled at the turn this conversation had taken." You can't..we...we're in the middle of a case." He grasped for the only reason he had. Perhaps she'd finally taken all she could off Fox Mulder. She read his expression "Mulder, this case is going nowhere with me on it. I have faith it will go nowhere with me off it." she moved to sit on the edge of his desk and touched his hand lightly. "Don't worry I'm not mad. I just need a brake, a little time to go to the beach, lie in the sun." "What's his name?" "Who?" "This mystery man that wants to take you on a romantic getaway." "Romantic getaway?" she laughed at his assumption but did not deny it. "That is what people with lives call it, isn't it? Saw it on T.V. once." He was smiling at her, but inside he was pissed. Not only was she leaving him alone, but she was trying to make him feel guilty so she could run off with some guy and he would let her go thinking it's the least he could do. "So go.... I won't stand in your way. You have my blessing." He lied. "Well, if I have your blessing.... I guess it's o.k." She said sarcastically. "What do you want from me?" "Nothing..... I..I don't want anything from you." She was startled by the anger in his voice. "Well hell Dana, why didn't you say so? That's one thing I can give you." He turned and walked out of the office before she had a chance to say anything. Dana winced as the door slammed behind him. She hated this, but what choice did she have. 7:30pm Friday Dana Scully opened her apartment door. Mulder was standing in her doorway wearing Levis and a pail gray T-shirt under his leather jacket and looked like he was about to make a run for it. He was shifting back and forth on his feet and peering over her head, into the room behind her. "Hi, I ah.... felt bad about how we left things earlier.......and well...I just thought..." he stopped and took a breath before making a complete fool of himself. "Is he here?" "Who?" "Him. Mr.Romance." Dana laughed, " Oh him. No Mulder, its just you and me, would you like to come in?" He brushed past her and went into her living room. "I was going to make some dinner. Want some?" She asked as he sat down on her couch. "Geeze Scully, I said I was sorry, you don't have to punish me." "Actually you didn't say you were sorry, but I think you should now." She said smiling down at him. "I thought it was implied." he said looking at her innocently. Dana picked up the phone and threw it into his lap. "Press speed dial 5 for Tony's Pizza." "Am I buying?" He asked "I thought that was implied" She said sweetly. Cary Grant closed his eyes and leaned his head back, then turned and went to the side of the woman he loved. Dana smiled. It was the best part of the movie. As the credits started to role she picked up the remote and clicked off the T.V. She looked over at Mulder who was sound asleep and wondered how long its been since he slept in a bed. Crawling out from under the leg that he had somehow managed sprawl across her lap, she stood, covered him with an afghan and picked up the pizza box. Taking it to the kitchen, she looked back at Mulder. He looked so peaceful. She had things she wanted to tell him, did he know how much he meant to her, how much he had become a part of her? In the morning she would be leaving. She thought of the danger that lay ahead for her and then tried to put it out of her mind but couldn't. Turning on her computer she wrote a letter explaining why she had lied to him, why she had to do the things she did and how much he meant to her. It felt good to write it down, even if she hadn't said it to his face, it was here if she never got the chance. She didn't want to think about that, not now. She walked over to him, crouched down and looked at Mulder's face then ran her fingers through his hair. Quietly she said, "I'll find you your answers Mulder, I promise." **************************** A noise from the other room woke him and he sat up with a start. As realization started to sink in, he relaxed. Figuring out where he was, he stood up and padded down the hall to the bathroom. Dana stood brushing her hair and turned as Mulder stepped into the doorway. Suppressing the urge to laugh she looked him over. Almost every hair on his head was standing strait up, his square jaw needed a shave, his T-shirt was twisted and half untucked and he must have lost a sock during the night because he only had one on. The missing sock pushed her over the edge and she started to laugh. "Very G.Q., Mulder." she laughed. "Thank you" he said evenly. "You looked so peaceful last night I didn't have the heart to wake you. But you can't stay long, I've got to be going soon." "Yeah, o.k. You going to introduce me to him?" "You....." She said, as she walked over and tried in vain to flatten his hair back down, "will be long gone by the time he gets here." Deciding his hair was beyond her help, she went back to her own. "Scully?" He said, still standing in the door way staring at her and looking like he had something important to say. "What is it?" "I gota pee." "Oh." she replied in a laugh. Then brushed past him and closed the door behind her. Talking through the door she said, "Put the seat down when you're done" "Bitch, bitch, bitch." As she walked passed the couch, Dana pulled one blue sock from between the cushions. There was a knock on the door and she turned and said under her breath, " Oh god, he's early." To make matters worse Mulder was returning from the bathroom, looking at her and wondering why she wasn't answering the door. "Well I'm guessing it's not for me." He said. Turning to the door and trying not to panic she opened it to a an extremely attractive young man. He had dark wavy hair, beautiful big blue eyes and a muscular build. His perfect mouth was starting to form a sentence that would destroy the charade she had been putting together. Thinking quickly, she covered his mouth with her own, kissing him full on the lips. She got the result she was looking for, the kiss confused him long enough to whisper in his ear, "Work with me, he thinks you're my boyfriend." It only took him a second to get into character. Looking up at Mulder, who had mixture of anger and embarrassment on his face, the younger man's eyes flashed with anger, "What's going on here D?" he asked, looking down at her. Dana didn't reply, thinking he hadn't got what she had tried to tell him. And wondering why he was calling her D. "I know how this looks, but...." Mulder said, from behind her and she realized that he had understood and was pretending to be jealous. "No don't tell me, you just came over to borrow a sock, right?" He cut off Mulder angrily glancing down to Mulder's one bare foot. Dana jumping into the act, "Look ...." pausing, she realized she had no idea what this guys name was. Covering she said, "Honey....this is my partner. Fox Mulder." "Sorry ...I thought... well you can see how it looks." "It's o.k." Mulder said wishing he was anywhere but there at that moment. And feeling very old next to this young man. There was a tension in the air that was making Dana very nervous and she decided it would be a good idea to get out of there as soon as possible. Turning to the young man at her side she said, "I'll go get my bag. Play nice, o.k." As she walked passed Mulder, she stopped and handed him his sock. Looking into his eyes she said "That goes for you too." In the other room she could hear Mulder interrogating the younger man. It reminded her of her father and all of the dates he managed to scare the hell out of for daring to try to take out his baby girl. Grabbing her stuff and heading back to the living room she heard Mulder, "So tell me Ty, what is it you do? Obviously he had told him his name. Dana made a mental note, Ty. "I'm a pilot." "Not a profession that leaves a lot of room for stability." "Well not like ..say.. an F.B.I Agent." Ty replied sarcastically. Things were starting to get ugly. Dana walked into the living room and looked at the two of them. She wondered to herself how come this sort of thing never happened with men she was actually dating. "Look if you two are going to have a pissing contest why don't you take it outside." They both smiled at her words and Ty went over and grabbed her bag telling her, "I'll wait for you in the car, D." With a quick glare toward Mulder he left the apartment. Dana turned and looked at Mulder. "Kind of young, isn't he?.........D ." He said trying to cut the tension and hoping she wasn't about to kill him. "I don't know were to even start with you. So I wont even try." She smiled, and shook her head. He was surprised at her reply. As she started to leave he called out, " Scully." She turned and was looking at him questionably. "Where can I reach you ?" "You can't, that's the point of a vacation. You're really are bad at this, aren't you?." "What if.... what if I need you?" He had that puppy dog look on his face again, she couldn't fight that look, so she walked over to the coffee table and picked up her beeper then held it out to show him. Then she walked over and kissed him lightly on the cheek and said quietly, "Happy? Lock up when you leave, o.k.?" "What's in it for me?" He joked, trying not to show her how startled he was by her touch. "I'll bring you a present." She said, as she headed for the door. "Aren't you going to ask me what I want?" "I know what you want Mulder." She replied as the door closed behind her. At the street, Ty stood waiting by a dark gray sedan. Holding the door open for her he asked, "Did he buy it?" "With that acting, how could he not." She replied. "You should see my Hamlet." He grinned widely and walked over to the drivers side. After settling in Dana looked over to him and with a puzzled look said, " D ? " He handed her his orders and pointed at the name of the person he was to pick up. The name read: DR. D. Scully. He smiled again, "Had to call you something." "It's Dana." "I don't know I kinda like D. So tell me Dr. D. Scully, do you believe?" He had a look on his face like Mulder would if he had been asking the question, as a matter of fact Mulder had asked that question. "No." Her answer was simple, but not completely true considering all the things she had seen working on the x-files, but she didn't feel like a deep discussion about it right then. "Do you?" "I didn't, I had complete faith in logic, but after some time at St. Michael's I lost my faith." *************************** 6:15 Wed. Dana rubbed her eyes and put the paper she had been reading on the cot next to her. The tiny room felt like tomb. The walls were made of stone, god knows how long before. The monks that used to live in these tiny rooms weren't much for frills. In the light of a bare bulb she hugged her knees to her chest and wished she was home, wished she was anywhere except this old monastery that had been converted into a lab. Not that her trip had been in vain, just the opposite. She had gotten in without any difficulty, managed to gain the trust of the people working there and got the answers she had come for. The answers she thought she had been prepared for. She closed her eyes, hugged her knees tighter and wondered if she would ever be the same. 9:30 Wed. There was a knock on her door. She just looked at it and said nothing hoping they would go away, think she was sleeping, anything. They knocked again, but this time a voice said, " D...you awake, it's Ty....D..... ah common, I know your in there." "Its open." The door swung open and he stepped in, looking at her with concern. "You o.k.? I didn't see you at dinner." "I wasn't hungry." Her voice was quite and unemotional. They had spent a lot of time together since they had arrived, Ty could see that this place was taking a toll on her. He didn't know how to help her and he didn't understand why it bothered him so much to see her like this. He sat on the bunk next to her and smiled at her ,"I brought you a present" He had got her attention and she looked into his big eyes,"What kind of present?" Putting his hand inside his coat he pulled out a bag of Oreos, with his other hand he pulled out a carton of milk. He was smiling like a little kid at her. And she couldn't help but smile back. "I love oreos" she said looking at his face. "Thought you might. Look... D, I'll be leaving in the morning ....and..well I just wanted to make sure you were alright. " His eyes held the concern he was feeling. "You could come with me." He blurted it out before he could stop himself. "Ty, what are you talking about? You know why I'm here, what I came to do. I haven't done it yet." "You could still walk away. Damit, why put yourself in danger? They wont just let you walk out with there precious little secret." "I have my reasons." "Don't you mean reason?" "I don't want to fight about this." She started to turn away from him . "Does he know what your risking for him?" He asked as he reached for her arm turning her back to face him. "He's put his life on the line for me more times than care to remember." She replied pulling her arm out of his grip. "I'm not just talking about your life D. I'm talking about your foundation, your beliefs, your faith." She was startled by his insight. "You put it all on the line for him, I'm just wondering if he knows?" Dana reached over and grabbed an oreo and bit in to it. She didn't answer his question and he knew she wasn't going to, so he settled back into her bunk and said out of nowhere ,"So... how do you like our romantic vacation so far?" She looked at him , then around her small room and laughed lightly, " Next time, take me to Hawaii." He smiled broadly, "I promise." Thursday 1:30 am. Scully sat in front of a computer screen in a deserted lab calling up a file. As it appeared on the screen she felt a shiver run down her spine and looked away for a minute. This was not the first time she had looked at it, far from it, but every time she saw it seamed to take a little more of her foundation away from her, a little more of her basic beliefs. What had Ty said, loose your faith. That's what it felt like. She thought about Mulder wondered what he was doing. "Nothing else matters to me." she remembered his words and looked back at the computer. "There it is Mulder" she said quietly to her self, "you're truth." She pulled out two blank disks and started to download the file checking every so often to make sure she was alone. As the downloading finished she put the disks in two separate envelops . She addressed one and put a stamp on it. The other she left blank. Then gathered them up and went back to her room. Thursday 6:00 Ty was standing checking his flight plan when Dana entered. He smiled at her."You've changed your mind and your coming with me?" He asked hopefully. "Just seeing you off. And putting this in the mail bag." "Nice, not only do you break my heart but you make me deliver your love notes for another man to the post office." He replied, acting wounded. "What, you thought you were the only man in my life?" She joked. The banter lightened the moment a little, but Ty wouldn't leave it alone. He moved in to her, lightly grabbing her arm. "D, it's you last chance here, please walk away now, before its to late." His voice was low, his eyes pleading with her. "I can't Ty, you know I can't.... it's everything to him." "Than he's a fool." He looked at her sadly then leaned in and kissed her. It was meant to be a friendly good bye kiss, but as his mouth met hers it became more. His hands moved into her hair and pulled her closer to him. Dana was surprised to have his mouth on hers but was even more surprised at her response, kissing him deeply, her mouth opening to his. As there lips parted they looked at each other knowing there were no words to say and that they would probably never see each other again. Ty touched her face lightly, picked up the mail bag and headed for his helicopter. `````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````` Thursday 4:30 There was a crash coming from the other room. Mulder sighed and looked up as Agent Mike Johnson walked in wiping coffee off his shirt and looking embarrassed. Mulder wondered to himself if there was a new form of affirmative action, in which a certain amount of really clumsy people had to be hired for government jobs. Mike had been helping him on this case for two days and had been through four shirts. "Have a seat Mike, before you hurt yourself." He sat and started looking through the files on Scully's desk. Mulder watched him and wished for the millionth time that she were here. She was right, the case was going nowhere with or with out her, but he missed her and wanted her here with him. He thought of her with Ty, his mind flashed on an image of the two of them in a romantic embrace and he quickly pushed it away not wanting to think of her with him. Get a grip Mulder, he told him self, you've got work to do. About an hour later Mulder walked down a crowded hallway. At the end of the hall he saw man that looked like Ty. He figured he was seeing things and kept walking but then he saw the man being ushered into a conference room, although he could not see the man he was talking to he could see the smoke coming from the mans cigarette. Mulder froze and prayed that what he was thinking was wrong. The conference room door closed and Mulder walked slowly towards it. He nonchalantly dropped to tie his shoe just outside the door, trying to hear what was being said inside. There words were muffled, but he heard one of the men call another Ty. What the hell is going on, Mulder thought to himself and started tying the other shoe to give himself more time. "You don't have a voice here ......You work for me..." The voice was muffled but clear enough and he new this was bad, really bad. Mulder heard the voices coming for the door and quickly lost himself in the crowd as they exited the room, Ty remained in the room as another man in a suit entered. Mulder ducked into a stair well and pulled out his cellular phone, calling Scully's apartment. No answer. "Shit!" He exclaimed, louder than he meant to. He dialed her beeper and waited. He stared at the phone, but it did not ring. Ty felt like hell. He wanted to do his job, it was his duty, so why did he feel so bad. He walked through the parking garage to his car, head down wishing she had listened to him and walked away. Suddenly he felt a gun on the back of his head and then a hand take his gun from its holster. The hand then spun him around until he was face to face with Fox Mulder. His face was impassive, his gun pointed at Ty's heart. "Who are you working for? Where is Scully?" His voice was harsh, Ty could see the anger in his eyes, but said nothing. "Damit, I want some answers?" Mulder yelled. Ty still did not answer. Mulder's fist came up hard against Ty's face jolting it sideways, slowly he turned his head back to face Mulder. Blood ran out of the side of his mouth but he still said nothing. "You son of a bitch, you are gong to answer my questions." Ty wiped the blood from his mouth and feeling the anger building inside him spoke, "You want to ask me questions, maybe you should start by asking yourself a few. Like, why she would have to lie to you? Why would this woman, after being your partner all this time, feel like all this alien shit means more to you than she does?" His word caught Mulder off guard " Wha.." just then a car alarm went off, Mulder turned, in an instant Ty grabbed the gun from Mulder's hand and smashed into the side of his face. Mulder dropped to the pavement. "She should have never gone up there in the first place!" Ty yelled in a rage as Mulder tried to stand. The younger man kicked Mulder across the ribs dropping him back to the ground. Mulder tried to get up again but couldn't, then everything went black. A bright light blazed against his eye lids, and slowly he opened them. He was lying on his back on a blanket surrounded by a field of flowers. He felt the sun warming his body and smelled the scent of wild flowers being carried on the gentle breeze that blew through them. Someone was walking through the field towards him. She stood above him looking down and smiling. It was Scully, she wore a white cotton dress that moved with the wind, as did her auburn hair. She held a bouquet of wild flowers in her hand. Her bare feet stepped closer to him and the shadow from her body passed over him giving his eyes some relief from the sun. The sun's rays surrounded her giving her an aura of light. "Scully, Where are we, how did I get here?" "How should I know? It's your fantasy." She replied with a smile. " I should be asking you, why am I here?" she asked looking down at her self , "And why aren't I wearing a bra?" He smiled and laughed slightly embarrassed. He was relaxed for the first time in days, he knew it was a dream but at least she was here with him, real or not. "So," she asked, "what kind of trouble have you gotten yourself into now?" "If this is my dream than why aren't you being nicer to me?" "O.k." She sighed and dropped down next to him, placing one hand on his chest to steady herself. She held out the flowers to him, "for you." He placed one hand over the hand she had rested on his chest, with the other he took the flowers she had offered, a smile spreading across his face, "Thank you." "Now can I chastise you for getting yourself beat up, again?" she asked with gleam in her eye as she started to stand back up, her hand sliding out from under his. As she stood her shadow, which had been covering him, moved to the side and Mulder closed his eyes against the bright sun that took its place. When he opened them his heart skipped a beat as he saw Ty standing above him, holding out his hand to Dana. She was slowly reaching for it. "No!" Mulder cried out, Trying to jump up but his body didn't move. Neither Ty nor Dana reacted to his plea. "Dana..he's not who you think he is...don't do this, please!" His cries were ignored as she slid her hand into Ty's. Ty started to walk into the field taking Dana with him. Mulder was at full panic, struggling to move, but nothing would, except his arms, which he had outstretched to her. "God... Dana don't do this, don't go... stay here with me." Any thought this was just a dream had vanished. Just as she was vanishing into the field of flowers before him. "Dana...." he choked in a defeated sob. Tears were burning his eyes and he blinked hard against them. But when he opened his eyes again there was no field, flowers or sunlight just Mike Johnson hovering over him, "Are you o.k., should I get an ambulance." "No... no I'm o.k." He replied, trying to sit up, he felt like he had been hit by a truck.. Mike reached down to help him up and poked Mulder in the eye. "Ouch!" Mulder covered his eye and realized the tears in his dream had been real and that he had a lot of swelling from where Ty's gun had hit him. Mike was apologizing profusely. "It's alright...just back up before you poke out the other one." As Mulder sat up he saw the paper lying across his stomach. It was a map with a note attached to it. There was an address and a time on it. At the bottom it said: I can't protect her more than this. Mulder jumped to his feet ignoring the pain in his head. "Mike I have to go away for awhile, take care of things here, o.k.?" As he spoke he was already leaving. "Wha....wait...what about Jake Moffit?" Mike stammered, completely confused. "I have complete faith in you to find his killer." He lied as he ran out of the parking garage and home to pack a bag. **************************** 7:42pm Friday Mulder was trying to stay one the path as he made his way from the highway towards St. Michaels. Darkness fell like a blanket, encompassing everything around him, threatening to engulf him too. With his flashlight leading the way he pushed on. He had to find her, had to know she was alright. That's when he heard the shots. Three gun shot in quick succession. He ducked out of reflex although he knew they had originated far away, too far to hit him. But someone was in trouble and despite the darkness and the danger he ran towards the sound of the gun fire. Dana Scully was running faster than she had ever ran before, zig zaging through the dense forest trying desperately to stay on the path. Her fears had been realized by the gun shots and the sound of footsteps chasing her through the forest that surrounded her. She had a pain in her side but the rush of adrenaline raced through her, propelling her forward. If she could just get to the main road she would have a chance. Out of the blackness a dark figure hurled himself at her catching her square across the body. He landed on top of her but the momentum of his dive rolled them several times into the thick underbrush that ran along side of the path. They came to a stop and Scully found herself on top of her assailant. Insensitively her fist came down hard against his face. Pain exploded in her hand but she pushed it aside taking advantage of his momentary confusion to stand and take a step back. He was regaining his senses and grabbed for her. With all her strength Dana brought her hiking boot down against his groin. He screamed and went into the fetal position moaning loudly. She grabbed for her gun, but just as she got it half way out of the holster she felt cold steel pressing into the side of her jaw just below her left ear. Her breath caught in her throat and she felt his hand taking the gun out of hers. "You left with out saying good-by Doctor" His voice was deep."I believe you have something that does not belong to you" She didn't answer him .She couldn't speak. Then out of the darkness came a voice and another tall figure with a gun in his hand. "Move away from her!" Yelled an angry, slightly out of breath voice from the darkness. She knew the voice instantly and tears sprung to her eyes. The man at Scully's side leaned in so his mouth was almost touching her ear and whispered, "You could give me what I want and I could let you live or I could kill you both and just take it from your lifeless body, it makes no difference to me." Mulder stood in front of the two of them gun aimed at the man holding on to Scully. Between the darkness and the fact she was in the line of fire he had no shot and he knew it, worst of all the other man knew it too. He could feel the sweat on his forehead and tried to ignore the panic that was moving through him. "Let her go!" Dana didn't have to think about her next move she hadn't gone through this to die out here, to let Mulder die here. She reached into her jacket and immediately felt his hand grab hers following it to it's destination, a thick envelope. His mouth was touching her ear now and she could feel it widen into a smile. Her stomach turned and she felt sick. He tucked the envelope into his own jacket in one fluid movement and whispered "Good choice." And pushed her towards Mulder. "Sorry man we just thought we would have a little fun with the lady didn't know she was taken." He held up two empty hands and said," No harm done, o.k.?" By that time Dana had reached Mulder. Looking tenderly down at her, he silently asking if she was o.k. He touched her lightly on the cheek his other hand still aimed his gun at the man in front of him. She said in a shaky voice, "Lets get out of here." Mulder didn't like letting this man just walk away but at the same time he knew he gave up a little to easy. He didn't know what he was up against, but Scully did and he could see the fear in her eyes. He grabbed her hand in his and started to back away, disappearing in to the forest and letting the darkness engulf them both. Neither of them spoke until they reached his car parked along the main road. Dana remembered her overwhelming feeling that if she reached the road she would be o.k. Did part of her know he was there? Your loosing it Dana, she told herself. She really was loosing it, the pain in her side was worsening as her Adrenaline level decreased. She could feel her self weakening and groaned quietly as she sat in the passenger seat of Mulder's car. The silence between them was overpowering, he had so many things to say so many questions, but the anger in him was building and he couldn't understand how she could lie to him to put him through this. And all of his questions came out in one angry shout. "What the hell do you think you were doing up there, Scully!" His anger caught her off guard and she turned to look at him, he was staring at the road as he sped down the road. Her mouth opened to speak and closed again without saying anything. She turned back towards the window, the pain was traveling down her side and she felt herself fading. Slowly reaching inside her long coat her hand slid toward the pain in her side and felt the wet, stickiness of her shirt she grabbed a handful of material and pushed down, pressing her hand into the pain. Her mind screamed in agony but she bit her lower lip and said nothing. Scully's silence made Mulder angrier and all of it came out in a stream of questions and accusations. "Danmit we're partners or maybe you've forgotten that? How could you lie to me ,what was so damn important ?...." She could here him, his voice loud and enraged. But his words ran together in her mind. She had so many things she had to say to him and she knew she was running out time. She didn't know how to make him understand. All she knew is she didn't want to fight with him, not now. She tried to concentrate, to understand what he was saying and immediately wished she hadn't. "....just because we believe different things I expected you to at the very least to believe in me. I trusted you......" His words cut through her like a knife. She had risked every thing for him, her life, her beliefs. A rush of anger filled her, giving her a boost of energy. Tears filled her eyes as she started to loose the composure she had been clinging to desperately. She turned to face him staring at him angrily.Her voice was low and more intense than he had ever heard it. "You don't know what I do and do not believe in. Maybe the truth is all that matters to you, but I happen to hold a few things more sacred." She slowly turned back to the window and said simply, "I did what I had to do." She had used the last of her strength and was saddened to think it had been used up in anger. Reaching into the glove box she pulled out a piece of paper and a pen and wrote a name and address on it. Then handing it to Mulder she said in a voice just above a whisper, "Take me here." "Where ?" She didn't answer. "Scully, where are we going?" Still no answer. He turned on the dome light and looked at the paper in his hand and saw the blood under his thumb staining the paper and filling him with panic. He turned and looked at her for the first time since the had gotten into the car. She was white as a sheet, her eyes were closed and her head was lying back against the head rest of the seat. "Dana!.....Dana!!" He was shouting and she still wasn't answering him. Mulder cranked the steering wheel pulling the car to the side of the road and skidded to a halt. When the car had stopped he reached for her and saw that one of her hands was inside her jacket. Pulling her coat back he saw her white shirt had turned bright red and the side of her jeans had turned a deep shade of purple."Shit...oh no, oh god, Dana!" Pulling her hand aside he ripped the blood soaked T-shirt upward from to the bottom exposing her skin and the raged bullet hole. He recognized it as an exit wound. Reaching over the seat he grabbed his travel bag and pulled out a shirt and ripped it in half. His blood was racing making feel as if his heart would explode. Taking half the shirt in his hand, he slid his other hand across her slick skin reaching around her side to her back, trying to find the entry hole. Feeling the smaller hole he took the shirt in from his other hand and pressed it against the entry wound. The other half of the shirt he pressed into the exit wound. The pressure of his hand against her brought her back to conciseness. He felt her stir and heard her quite cry, then he saw her open her eyes, looking directly into his own. "Don't worry Dana.....I'll get you to a hospital. Your gonna be fine." "No." Hear voice was weak."Take me to see Danny" Danny, who the hell was Danny. Then he realized that was the name on the paper she gave him. "This is no time to visit old boyfriends, Scully. You've been shot, I have to get you to an emergency room!" His voice was near panic. "No!" she cried. "Damit Scully, this is not the time to be stubborn." If you told Fox Mulder that anything in this world could stop him from getting her to a hospital, he would not have believed you. If you had told that three words could make him change his mind, he would have thought you were crazy. But when Dana Scully reached up to his face, touching him lightly along the side of his strong jaw. He felt her hand shaking and saw the tears making there way down her pale cheeks. She just looked at him for a moment and then whispered, "Fox...Please..........Please." His chest tightened and his heart ached and he knew he could deny her nothing. Even this. After Mulder fixed the seat so it reclined and adjusted the seat belt to apply pressure to her wound he drove as fast as he could without killing both of them to the address she had given him. Dana was unconscious again he had placed her hand on his leg so he could easily reach down to hold it to give her reinsurance that he was there, to give himself reassurance that her pulse has still strong. His words that he had spoken echoed in his brain and tore at his heart. How could he have said those things, how could he have been caught up in his own anger not to realized she has hurt, how could he be so blind. The last few days all he could think of was how much he needed her, how he had to tell her all the things that he had been needing to tell her. And now it may be to late and the last words he had spoke to her had been in anger. Stop it Mulder, she will be fine, she has to be o.k., he told himself. His hand squeezed her delicate hand in his and he whispered, "Hang on Dana.........please don't leave me." Sat. 6:00 He had no idea how long he had been driving until he saw the sun start to light the sky in front of him. He had passed three towns now each time wishing he could go find the nearest hospital but her words filled his mind, "Fox....Please.....Please", and he pushed on. And now finally they had reached the town on the paper she had given him. Mulder's relief was short lived as the address took him farther and farther into the country, away from the medical attention she needed. He saw their destination before him and his relief came flooding back. The sign in the driveway said: DR. DANIEL MORRIS,MD. Skidding into the drive he started honking his car horn. The noise drew out of the house a tall ruggedly hansom man still wearing his robe and holding a bowl of cereal in his hand, he watched as the man before him ran to the passenger side of the car and scooped into his arms a woman. Realization crossed his face as he looked at the unconscious woman with auburn hair being carried towards him. The bowl fell out of his hand as he called, "Dana!!" Fox Mulder didn't acknowledge the mans cry. As he headed for the porch steps, he looked at this man with eyes showing all the fear he felt and said in a desperate voice, "Help her." Laying her down on the examining table in one of the converted rooms in the house Mulder backed away letting the doctor get to her. He closed his eyes and let out a long breath. The doctor brought him back by asking, " How long has she been like this?" "Since last night. Is she going to be alright?" "Last night, why are you just getting her to me now!" "It happened in another state. Is she gong to be o.k.?" "So you brought her here? What in the hell would possess you to do that, instead of taking her to the nearest hospital" "She asked me." He didn't know how to explain to this man, how he could put her life in even more jeopardy. Looking into his eyes he saw understanding and realized he didn't have to explain. This man knew her, knew her as well as he did, and understood his actions. "Wait in the other room." The doctor told Mulder firmly but his eyes still held that understanding. Mulder looked at Dana's pale face and went out to the waiting room. Mulder moved like a caged animal around the small room that had been transformed from something else, he guessed a family room, to waiting area. When he couldn't take it anymore he went to the rest room to splash some cold water on his face. As he ran the faucet to get the water good and cold he wondered how long it had been since he slept and if he lost her, would he ever be able to sleep again."You lied to me!......I trusted you!..." the words he had spoken in anger swirled together with hers."Maybe the truth is all that, matters to you...I did what I had to....." He felt like he was going to explode. Cupping his hands and filling them with cold water he brought his hands towards his face and stopped short. Looking into the mirror, he stared at the man he saw. His hair was messed and he had several days worth of facial hair growth, one of his eyes had a purplish bruise along side it, there were bags under both his eyes, blood all over his close and one small red hand print on his jawline. The water long gone from his hands, he reached up and lightly touched the bloody hand print that Dana had left behind in her desperate request for him to bring her here. All of his composer left him at this moment, like a dam braking, his pain, remorse and fear poured out and he watched as tears fell from the eyes of the man in the mirror. It had seemed like forever before Danny came back from taking care of Scully. Mulder was slumped on the couch, not having the energy to pace any more. Danny came in and sat down next to him. Mulder's swollen red eyes pleaded with him to give him the news he desperately needed to hear. "She lost a lot of blood but the shot was clean. It missed her major organs." "Than she's going to be alright." Mulder said hopefully. "I've done every thing I can. She did loose a lot of blood" Mulder stood his fist clenched, "I should of taken her to a hospital.... I shouldn't have let her talk me out of it..." "What is this about, what happened to her?" "I honestly don't know .... she said she was going on vacation, next thing I know I find out it was a lie... I'm searching through the woods for her, hell, she didn't even tell me she had been shot, I had to discover that on my own too." Mulder stopped, then looking down to Danny with fear in his voice, "If anything happens to her.... " "Dana's the strongest woman I've ever known, with the possible exception of her mother. She would never let a little thing like a bullet beat her. She'll be o.k., Agent Mulder." He relaxed a little at his words knowing he was right. She had fought her way back from worse.Then something else that Danny had said struck him. "How did you know my name?" "Agent Fox Mulder, but I'm not suppose to call you Fox. I got letters in last years Christmas cards that told me all about you." "Letters?" "Ya, one from Dana who talked about you, a lot. And one from her mother who described you in great detail. Between the two of them I feel like I already know you." "Well I'm nothing like they said, unless it was good stuff, in which case its all true." He said smiling slightly."Can I see her?" "Yes, as a matter of fact I could use your help to move her from the exam room. We'll put her in my room, she'll be more comfortable there." Between the two of them they managed to move her with out doing any damage.They laid her out in Danny's big bed. After Danny had checked her stitches, Mulder covered her with the down comforter. "She's going to be asleep for awhile, it looks like you could use some sleep as well'" Danny said concerned at how bad the other man looked. " I will. I'd just like to sit with her for a minute first." Mulder spoke without taking his eyes off Scully. "O.k, oh by the way, you know that its the law that a doctors suppose to report gun shot wounds to the authorities. But I guess being as your with the F.B.I. and all, and since you know about the whole incident I wont have to tell the local sheriff." He said knowingly as he started to leave the room. "Thank you." Mulder replied appreciatively. And felt a little less guilty for bringing her all this way. No one would find her here, no one would hurt her again. He sat on the bed next to her, holding her hand . "I'm here Scully, I'm right here with you." The lack of sleep overwhelmed him and he leaned back in to the pillows listening to her steady breathing. Almost immediately he fell asleep, his steady breathing joining hers. Sat. 11:30p.m. Mulder woke. Looking over to see Dana's head nestled in to the side of his chest he reached over and gently brushed a stray piece of hair away from her face. He laid there for along time watching her sleep and wondering what had brought this whole situation on. He still had so many unanswered questions. Ty, St. Micheals, that man in the woods that shot Scully and Scully herself. She lied to him, why would she do that? He slowly slid out of bed trying not to disturb her, walking over to doors that lead to the balcony he opened them and stepped out into the cool night air. The moon was full and bright. The moonlight illuminate the grounds around the house. He had been to preoccupied to notice before but all along side the house ran a huge field of wildflowers, they were exactly like in his dream. He heard a noise and thinking Dana had woken he turned to look through the open doors, what he saw was there was Ty standing over Scully holding her hand. Mulder snapped. Rage filled him as he rushed towards Ty, grabbing him around the neck and throwing him back through the open doors of the balcony. Mulder was on him in seconds, punching him repeatedly in the face. When Ty had stopped struggling Mulder stopped and stood up, looking down on the younger man. The bluish light from the moon showing that his face was bloody and already starting to swell. Ty rolled to one side and spit out the blood that filled his mouth. Mulder stood above him, "Lets try this again, Who are you working for?" Ty just laughed a painful laugh as he tried to sit up. "That's a good question, my superiors seem to be wondering the same thing " he looked at Dana, "I never wanted this.... this...she, wasn't part of the plan." "You almost sound like you care" Mulder said sarcastically. "I do care about her, mabey more than you." He replied angrily as he finally managed to stand. Mulder pushed him hard into the balcony railing knocking him off his feet. "If you ever say that again, I will tear you in half." Mulder's face was red with rage. "Alright ..alright", Ty held his hands up in defeat. "Just tell me if she is going to alright." "If you tell me just what the hell this is all about." "Fair enough.." Ty pulled himself to a sitting position and spoke." Two weeks ago an unidentified object went down near an old deserted monastery, St. Micheals. A lab was set up at the monastery to examine what was left of the craft. It's the real thing man... all the denial in this world can't explain this one away. And our government wont let this new bit of information out there for the public to get a hold of. They will prevent it at all cost." They both looked over at Dana. "Why was Scully involved in this.This is something that I should have been investigating." "I don't know all of it, except that you wouldn't have made it within a hundred yard of that place. You would have been killed, and she wasn't about to let that happen. She wanted to get you your answers, your truth she called it, she said that's all that mattered to you." Mulder's stomach tightened and he was filed with more guilt than he could handle. He slowly sat on one of the deck chairs and ran his fingers through his hair. "I tried to get her to forget it, to walk away. She's one stubborn lady. I hoped you could get to her before they did, but when I got back to the monestary they showed me the envelope with the disk in it she tried to sneak out, it had blood all over it." "They let her walk away." "Without evidence she's no threat." "Than she's not in any more danger?" "She mailed an envelope before she left, that's how I new to look here. I think she made a second copy. It's only a matter of time before they come looking for her." "You keep saying they, aren't you one of them?" "Believe me this would have much easier if I didn't care one way or the other about her, but I do, and I couldn't just walk away, any more than she could. The disk will arrive any day. Getting this for you cost her a lot more than a bullet wound. You are a fool, Mulder. I hope your almighty truth really is all that matters to you, because you lost her the moment she saw those computer files. Unlike you, she was never a threat before, she didn't believe, now she's like you and she'll never be completely safe again." Ty pulled himself to his feet and slowly walked toward Dana. "Your turn." "Mulder was trying to digest Ty's word and was momentarily confused by his final statement , then realizing that he wanted to know if she was going to be alright replied. "The doctor thinks she'll be fine" "What did you risk Ty, to come here?" Mulder asked with out looking towards him. Ty smiled slightly," I had to know she was o.k." Ty walked to the door to leave not quite sure if Mulder was going to just let him walk away. But Mulder didn't try to stop him he didn't even move from his chair. He just sat staring out at the field of wild flowers blanketed in moonlight below. ******************** Mulder sat in an almost empty bar, drinking another beer. He had been there for over two hours, occasionally a woman would try to join him but one real good look into his eyes and they new this was one guy they couldn't save from himself, and they would move on. He wanted to get drunk to dull the emotions that consumed him but it wasn't working. He was drunk but all he could feel was guilt. She had gone out there because of him, she had been hurt because of him, he had spent so much of his time angry with her over the last few days. Because she was with Ty, because she wasn't with Ty, because she lied to him, because she put herself at risk. He still felt the anger over that, it was his risk to take, not hers, she was protecting him like he was a child, she shouldn't have made the choice alone. "Mabey the truth is all that matters to you but I happen to hold a few things more sacred.....I did what I had to do." He remembered her words as he finished his beer and asked for another. He would of done the same thing for her, no question. Mulder couldn't help but wonder if Ty had been right when he said he'd lost her because of this, that she would never be safe again. He thought of her alone in that room unprotected, "What the hell am I doing here?" he said mostly to him self as he stood. The bartender heard him and asked, " You ready to go pal? Mabey somebody should give you a lift, where you headed?" Mulders first instinct was to say he was alright but since he could see two bartenders in front of him and knew there was only one he thought better of it and said "Dr. Morris's place." The bartender yelled across the bar, "Jake give this guy a ride out to Doc Morris's." A young blond boy who looked like he should have been in bed long ago put down his pool cue and said, "Sure dad." He walked over to Mulder and gestured for him to follow. Sun. 6:30a.m. By the time Mulder returned to Danny's clinic, it was sunrise or it would have been if the clouds hadn't filled the sky. Rain came down hard as he left Jake's pick-up, thanked the kid for the ride and headed to the house. The front door was locked and he didn't want to wake Danny. Remembering that he didn't lock the balcony door he went around to the side of the house and started to climb the trellis. After along while and cursing himself every few feet for drinking so much he reached the balcony and climbed over it. He was drenched from head to toe and making a wet trial as he entered the bedroom where Scully lay sleeping. Shivering he searched for some dry clothes he could put on. He found some sweats, Danny wore a couple sizes bigger than he did but they where dry and that's all that mattered. He striped of his wet clothes, struggling with the wet cloth and his bruise body until he was free of the cold wet clothing. He felt eyes on him and he turned slowly to see Scully had been watching him undress in the dim light of the room. She was smiling appreciatively at the show. "You're awake." He said surprised. "And your naked" she said in a quite voice . Mulder grabbed a blanket of the end of the bed wrapping it loosely around his waist, relief filled his heart as he looked at her. Sitting next to her he touched her hand lightly, but he couldn't bring himself to look in her eyes. "You scared the hell out of me Scully, I thought.... I....I thought that......"He choked on his words and he felt her squeeze his hand . " Look at me Mulder" He started to but looked away again. Her hand reached for his face it was hot against his skin, she moved his head until he was looking right at her. Her cheeks were pink and her eyes were slightly glazed over. "You don't have to hide from me." She said her voice still soft but full of emotion. Tears filled his eyes, the alcohol in him making it impossible to keep up the walls he had built. He leaned down to hold her, making sure not to hurt her injures. She held him tight running her fingers into his wet hair. He could feel her fear in the way she clung to him. She seemed to need to feel him next to her as much as he needed her. Heat was radiating of her body. Reluctantly he lifted himself so he has hovering above her. Putting his hand on her forehead he said, "Dana, your hot." "Ya, I've been told" She replied, smiling at her own joke, her voice was starting to sound drunker than he was. "I'm not kidding around, you've got a fever. What should I do?" "I don't feel like being a doctor right now..." She closed her eyes. "Scully." He put his hand on the side of her face. She opened her eyes at his touch. His face only inches away. He held her in his gaze for a long moment. Her hand tenderly wiped a stay tear from his bruise cheek bone then moved down to the edge of the blanket wrapped around his waist, lightly running her hand over the bruising on his ribs. "I can't leave you alone for a minute with out you getting your self beaten up."Her finger tips were like fire against his abdomen and as much as he would have liked to reply with a snappy comeback all the blood had left his brain headed for another part of his body. A voice at the door brought him back to his senses and he jumped up so fast he almost lost the blanket that was wrapped around his waist. "Geeze Mulder, you could at least wait till she gets the stitches out." Danny said as he entered. Mulder was about to explain that it wasn't what it seemed but he saw the glint in Danny's eyes and realized he was messing with him. "I don't remember that ever stopping you stopping you." Dana said softly looking at Danny with a smile. Danny returned the smile, "Hey darlin' about time you woke up, we have a lot of catching up to do." "She's got a fever." Mulder informed him. Danny went to her, they spoke quietly to each other as he checked her wounds. Mulder watched from a distance letting him work and them catch up. There was an easy kind of intimacy between them, a closeness that Mulder found himself feeling jealous of. After he checked her and given her some medication. He turned his attention to Mulder, who was starting to look a little green. "I got a call from my neighbor saying he saw someone climbing up my trellis. Wouldn't have any thing to do with the fact you smell like a brewery and look like your gona puke, would it?" They both remained silent until Dana's medication had taken hold and she'd fallen asleep then Danny turned to Mulder. "God man, you look like crap, you sure don't seem like the same man Dana described as, very attractive." Danny said shaking his head. "Put some pants on and I'll get something for that hand." he threw the sweat pants that Mulder had found to him and started to leave the room. "She thinks I'm attractive?" Mulder asked standing a little straighter. "Ya...or....mabey that was her mom that said that...oh well one of them thinks your cute, but they might think differently right now." He laughed as he exited. Mulder looked at his hand as he put the pants on, it was purple and swollen. Danny returned with a bag of ice and a basin of water with a wash rag in it. He checked Mulders hand to make sure it wasn't broken. When he has satisfied it was in one piece he gave him the ice to put on it. "Get some sleep, Mulder. You can crash in one of the exam rooms." Mulder didn't have the physical or emotional strength left to argue with one last look at his partner he headed down stairs to bed. *********************** Mon. 3:30p.m. "Hey Mulder wake up ! " Mulder sat up with a start, and really wished he hadn't. It felt like every drop of blood in his body rushed into his brain. He grabbed the sides of his head and looked at Danny, who was smiling. He seemed to think Mulder's hang over was very funny. "Any particular reason you're yelling at me." Mulder said weekly. " Yes and no, I do need to talk to you, but I just scared you to amuse myself. But to show you how nice a guy I am I have brought you my world famous hang over cure" as he spoke he held up a glass of thick gray liquid. "Oh my god," Mulder's stomach did a flip, "I am not drinking that." "O.k, I admit it isn't pretty. But It works, you can ask Dana. It's the only reason she made it through college." Mulder gave him a intrigued, tell me more, look. But Danny just smiled. " Oh no, I'm sworn to secrecy. She'll have to tell you herself, as soon as she's coherent. Although you may have a better chance getting the juicy info while she's still out of it. " Mulder who struggling to drink the gray liquid looked up and with concern asked, "Shouldn't she be getting better by know? " "That's what I wanted to talk about, she still has a fever and I have to leave so I'll need you to.." "What," Mulder cut him off, " what do you mean you have to leave? you can't leave her." "There is a woman in labor who says otherwise." Danny left the small exam room with Mulder hot on his heals, " Don't worry, Dana is going to be fine, I just need you to look after her for awhile. Apply cold compresses, keep her still, that sort of thing." Danny disappeared into the kitchen and Mulder slumped into one of the couches as he entered the living room. And suddenly realized his headache was gone. "I cant believe it, that gray shit worked." "Told ya." Danny said with a smile as he handed Mulder a cup of coffee. "Now that your head is clear, what the hell is going on? And don't tell me you don't know, you look way to guilty not to know what this is about" "You're right I do know now and I do feel guilty. She got hurt trying to protect me. I can't tell you the details, for your own good. I lead her to believe that my work means more to me than she does. None of this should have ever happened. I think.....I think I've really lost her this time." Mulder was looking at his feet , not wanting to look into the other mans eyes. Danny sat down holding his coffee in both hands. " When I was seven years old I was very short, wore glasses and my best friend was the tom boy next door. You can imagine what that will do to a guys popularity. Needless to say, I was not cool. But one day Tommy Morgan, who was by far the coolest guy in elementary school, came up to me on the play ground and asked if I wanted to play kick ball. I became one of Tommy's friends that day, trouble was he didn't want any girl hanging out with him or his friends. So in my quest for popularity I ignored my best friend and I hurt her. Two weeks later Tommy decidedly he didn't want to be my friend anymore. He called me names took my glasses and pushed me into the dirt, but before he could finish me off a little red headed tom boy punched him right in the nose and he ran off crying. Then she gave me my glasses back and helped me up." "Dana?" Mulder asked with a smile. Danny just nodded. " And she forgave you?" "She beat the crap out of me. " He said, straight faced. Mulder busted out laughing, choking on his coffee. "Is there a moral in there?" He laughed. "She was my best friend and even though I didn't deserve it, she defended me. That's who she is. By the time my bruises healed she had forgiven me. Of course that incident gave her the upper hand and she has made life a living hell since then." He said smiling at unspoken memories."My advise....... grovel, beg, move heaven and earth if you have to, just don't lose her." "Well it all ends one way or another with a envelope she sent to the house. " Danny stood and walked over to a table by the front door, pushing aside some magazines and junkmail, he picked up a envelope and held it out to Mulder. "This envelope? " He asked. He still hadn't opened it. It sat on the night stand beside the bed Dana slept in. He sat beside her holding a cold rag on her forehead. She moved beneath his hand, caught up in a dream. He finally reached out to open the envelope. He took a deep breath and rippled it open. Inside he found two smaller envelops, one to him and one to her mother, and a small note to Danny asking him to give the letters to the respective parties if she didn't arrive there to do so herself . The envelope with his name on it he could feel a computer disk inside. He opened it and pulled out the letter inside and began to read: Mulder, If your reading this than I have been kill... He closed the letter quickly. And swallowed hard. Her letter was a goodbye, an explanation and a good bye and he couldn't bring himself to read it. He put the letter back into the envelope and pulled out the computer disk. Turning over in his hands, he wondered what was on it. "No....no....please..." Her voice caught him by surprise, looking up at her he could see her head turning one way and then the other, on the sweat soaked pillow, caught up in a dream. There were tears running down her cheeks. He put a cold cloth on her forehead and ran in down the side of her face. She moved into the cloth and slowly opened her eyes. She was looking at him, her face cupped into his hand, but her eyes were unfocused. " Dana.... can you here me...? " Mulder? ....Mulder... your here.. It's not safe... you can't stay here..if they find you ......" She tried to get up and he held her down with his other hand. "Scully it's o.k., your safe, we're at your friend Danny's. No one will find us." "I found it Mulder" Her gaze became intense and she grabbed the front of his T-shirt pulling him towards her. " It's out there. ...I was wrong Mulder... all this time...everything I believed in.. .I was so wrong..." She relaxed her grip and choked back the sobs that were welling up. She turned away from him, he didn't know what to say, he wanted so much to help her but he didn't know how to comfort her. He wasn't sure she even new he was here. Her hospital gown didn't tie up in the back and he could see her partly exposed back. He ran the cold cloth down her neck and down to her shoulder blades to the small of her back. Her skin was still hot with fever and the coolness of the wet cloth seemed to relax her. "Go back to sleep Scully....we can talk about it later." She closed her eyes as he ran the cloth up to the back of her neck. As she drifted back into sleep Mulder thought back to an earlier case he and Scully had been on. He had needed to understand why she fought so hard against believing in the things he did. " After all you've seen, why cant you believe" he had asked her. " I'm afraid, I'm afraid to believe." She had offered no other explanation, he could see the fear in her eyes. He new she had faced that fear, to protect him, to find him his proof. He moved to the other side of the room to a wing chair dropped his head into his hands ran his fingers through his hair and tried to figure out what he was suppose to do now. The Price Of Truth (part4) Dana woke to darkness. Looking around blindly she tried to figure out where she was, how she got there. She was at the mission, no she left the mission, she was in the woods that was it, that explains the darkness and the reason she was soaking wet, it must have been raining. But was she alone? No someone was there, Mulder was there, but where was he now? "Mulder. Mulder!" She cried into to the darkness. No Mulder wasn't there, it was someone else, some one dangerous. A figure loomed towards her in the darkness hovering closer...and closer, his hand reaching out and grabbing her. Dana fist came up hard at the figure and she lunged toward him. Bolting upright in bed Dana looked down at her clenched fist and then over at the foot that was still on the bed beside her although the rest of his body was sprawled on the floor below and moaning. Her head peered over the edge of the bed to see Mulder flat on his back his hand spread across his face holding his nose. " Are you hurt?" " Well of course I'm hurt, you just broke my nose" His voice nasal from the pressure against his nose. "Are you crazy, your not suppose to wake a person that's having a nightmare like that." She said defensivly. He was surprised at her response, expecting a little remorse or at the very least a, sorry I broke you nose. "Oh gee, my mistake, next time your calling out my name in your sleep I'll just take it as a complement." He started to stand but sat back down on the floor feeling light headed he leaned one shoulder into the side of the bed so he was facing her. Trying to wipe the blood off his nose he said lightly, "Nice right hook" "Thank you" She replied feeling guilty." Sorry about your nose." "Don't be. I've been trying to find a way to alleviate some of this guilt I've been carrying around, getting drunk, taking about my feelings, betting the crap out of somebody, but nothing worked. You punch me in the nose and oddly enough I 'm feeling a little better I wish you'd hit me harder." "Maybe when my strength returns" She said with a slight smile. He looked at her and saw her sweat soaked hair and face and realized her fever had finally broke. He touched her forehead lightly. "Your not hot anymore" "Well we all get older Mulder, Besides your hardly one to talk with that swollen nose." She was smiling to herself as she tried to find a comfortable position. It wasn't working and she winced at the stabbing pain in her side and decided to stay put. She reached over and ran her finger along the bridge of his nose. Mulder started to move away from her touch. "Stop moving, I cant tell if its broken if don't stop moving ." "It hurts." "Don't be such a baby ...There I'm done and I didn't break your nose. I just bruise it a bit." "Feels broken." He mumbled. "Where's Danny?" "Off birthin' some baby" "Oh." There was a long silence. The questions hung between them, neither wanting to bring up the subject of what had brought them here. Scully couldn't take it any more and spoke. "How much do you know?" "All of it, except what in the hell you were thinking, do you now how close you came to being......" His voice faded not wanting to finish what he was going to say, not even wanting to think about it. He had spent to much time thinking about it. He knew what it was like to be without her and he couldn't bare the thought of going through that again. "I did what I had to ...I never wanted to lie to you, I'd never intentionally hurt you, you know that, but I couldn't let you do this, I knew you would disregard your own safety to chase it. To find the truth." "You shouldn't have gone" He struggled to his feet, looking out the bedroom window as he spoke. "I did it for you." her voice was a mix of anger and confusion. "You don't think I know that!", Raising his voice as he turned to face her." Is that suppose to make it better! God Scully, if I'd lost you......" his voice trailed off and he turned back to the widow so she couldn't see his face. Mulder's voice was quite, as he started to speak again, "Can't you see that I need you? That you're all I have? It wasn't worth the risk. Nothing is worth that risk." She was startled at his words and glad he couldn't see the shock on her face. "I found the truth Mulder, Your truth. You said nothing else mattered to you." He turned to face her walking over to the bed and sitting on the edge. He looked at her, took her hand and said simply, "I was wrong. There was a time when it was true, but it seems like a lifetime ago. Never forget this Dana, you are my best friend. You're a part of me...a part that I've forgotten how to live without. That, is the Truth. My Truth." Dana's eyes filled with tears at his words. And she wished she could hold him, but she had to settle for squeezing his hand. "You are worth the risk, any risk and I can't promise I wont take it again to protect you." "Next time lock me in a closet, tie me to a chair if you have to, just stay." ********************************** After waiting till she fell back asleep Mulder went down to the living room and made a fire. He just sat staring into it, holding the disk in his hand. He wanted so much to see what was on it. But the price was so high. He had always been able to risk anything because it only him that had to pay, but now he had another life to consider. A sound behind him made him realize that his time was up. The deep emotionless voice spoke, "You have something for me Agent Mulder?" "Why her, you're my contact?" Mulder spoke with out taking his eyes off the fire. "You know why. It doesn't matter now, just give me the disk and we can all go on with our lives." "Can we? Can Scully, now that you've pulled her in to your little game? Will she be safe?" "You brought her into this game Mulder, no one forced her to take this assignment, she was willing to put her self in danger because of her devotion to you." Mulder didn't answer. The other mans words held him and he knew he was right, as much he wanted to blame every one around him, he was as much to blame. He went from one case to the next, chasing ghosts and shadows and expected her to follow. What had he sacrificed? The man behind him spoke, " You have your truth Mulder, what more do you want?" "I want to know that our lives are our own, I don't want to be like you." Mulder turned to look at the man behind him and as he did he flung the disk in to the fire. As the disk melted into the logs it landed on. Mulder smiled slightly and turned back to the fire," I want to know she'll be safe." "Your a fool, Mulder. She still knows the truth." "I'll take care of that, you just make sure that she is not part of this." "I still say your a fool." He said as he turned to leave. "So everyone keeps telling me." Mulder said quietly. He heard the foot steps fade away as the other man left the house, and as he sat there in front of the blazing fire wasn't sure weather to be disappointed at the loss of the proof he had waited so long to get or relived that this whole thing was over. He had made the only choice he could and for the moment they were free. He slumped into the couch, closed his eyes and started to drift into sleep. "What the hell are you burning ?" Danny asked as he entered the house. Mulder jumped up startled by his voice. "It stinks in here. What is it ?" "The smell of truth." Mulder said with an odd laugh. "O.k., whatever the hell that means. How's our patient?" "She is sleeping, her fever broke a couple of hours ago. And how was your night, Danny?" "Great. The Haileys have a brand new baby son and they named him after me." Danny beamed, as he pointed to himself. "You know what the best thing about being a country doctor is Mulder? Well, I'll tell you. When the people are happy about your work they give you stuff. This can also be bad, I have 20 pounds of brussel sprouts in my freezer from when I took out a local farmers appendix, you like brussel sprouts?" Mulders response was wincing at the thought. "Ya, I feel the same way. However, gifts of appreciation are good when you deliver the first child to the owner of one of the best vineyards in the state." As he spoke he put a box on the table and pulled out a bottle of wine. "Thirsty?" Later that evening Mulder went up to see Scully, not knowing what to say. He couldn't stop thinking of what Ty had said. Had he really lost her because she new the truth, would she be a target. As he opened the door she turned to look at him. "Hi, the doctor gave me a clean bill of health." "I'm glad, I have some news that I don't know if you will be happy to hear." "What is it?" "The information on the disk. It was a lie, all of it, an elaborate hoax." He lied. "But...." Shock covering her face. "I'm telling you Scully, none of it was real." "But the data.....It all seemed so.....my god." As surprised as she was, part of her felt like a weight had been lifted. A part of her had been restored. Mulder could see it in her face, as much as he hated lying to her. He hated seeing her afraid even more and was glad to bring her a little peace.Some day she would have to face her fears but there was no reason it had to be today. She had risked every thing for him and this was the least he could do. He sat on the edge of the bed and spoke softly, "I'm sorry you went through all of this for nothing." Scully just smiled up at him, "It wasn't for nothing, Mulder. I still did what I felt I had to, my goal wasn't really to prove we are not alone. It was to make sure I wasn't going to be left alone.Your still here. Mission accomplished." It had been a week since Mulder had told her about the situation at St.Micheals being a hoax. Time enough to start to recover, emotionally and physically. As mad as she was about being duped. She was more relieved to still have her believes in tact. Dana had wanted to tell Ty what she had found out give him some piece of mind too, but every time she tried to bring it up to Mulder he abruptly changed the subject or told her she needed to rest. Resting was all she had been doing and she was happy that Danny had given her the go ahead to head home tomorrow. Dana was sitting on the bed reading, a light knock on the door caused her to look up just as Mulder poked his head through the open door. "You descent ? " "Why what have you heard?." She replied, with a grin. Mulder returned the grin with one of his own, happy to see her up and around. He entered the room holding a big flat box with a bow on it. "Where have you been , Mulder? " "I had to make some calls, Skinner sends his regards. And you'll never guess who solved the Moffit murder case. Mike Johnson, the guy can't pour coffee without spilling it on himself , but he solves a case that had us clueless. He'll probably get promoted." Mulder reflexively reached up and touched his eye, remembering Mikes attempt to help him. Scully watched him, his bruising had mostly healed.Mulder had never told her exactly how he got so battered and she didn't want to press him on it, hoping he would tell her when he was ready. Her eyes turned to the box in his arms and gave him her best, is that for me, look. Reading her expression he handed her the box, " I also have been shopping, I thought you might be kind of tired of that hospital gown that doesn't tie up in the back. Although I kind of like it, personally." Dana opened the box to find a white cotton sun dress. "It lovely. " "Just wait till you see it on." He said then immediately wished he hadn't, although she seemed oblivious to what he meant or the fact he was blushing. It had taken most of the morning to try to find that dress. Some how he knew he could find the dress he had seen her wear in his dream or delirium, what ever it was. But seeing her holding the dress up to her with the smell of the wild flowers wafting through the window from the field below, Mulder thought maybe what he had was a premonition and as long as Ty didn't show up it could be a great day. "I packed a picnic lunch for us, if you up for it." "That sounds terrific.'' She said, eager to get out of bed. "O.k., do you want me to wait in the hall to help you walk outside?" "If you can paint, than I can walk, anything is possible ..." She replied dramatically. Mulder just stared at her blankly. Scully laughed at her own joke and said to her confused partner " If you would ever stay awake to the end of the movie you would get that." Mulder was standing waist high in wild flowers, a blanket spread out at his feet with a basket of food and a bottle of wine sitting on it. The sun was bright and warm. He saw Scully step off the porch and watched as she walked to him. She picked flowers as she walked, her hair glowed in the afternoon sun and moved with the gentle breeze as did her cotton dress. Mulder smiled appreciatively at her as she approached him, he reached out to take her hand but she placed her bouquet in his waiting hand and wrapped his fingers around it. "For you." She took his other hand and he helped her down to the blanket and opened the wine. The End I would love some feed back. Please send to Exduck@llano.net Back to the Fan-Fic