Escape (1/1) - Prequel to "LeChuck : The Deep Darkness" 
by Nic (stardestiny@bigfoot.com).
Rating : MSR (sort of)

Summary : Margaret Scully, having not seen her daughter for two
        years, receives a surprise...


Disclaimer : The characters contained within are the property of
Chris Carter, Fox Broadcasting and Ten-Thirteen Productions.  No
copyright infringement is intended.  
 

Author's Note:
        This was inspired by Nicole Perry, whose wonderful stories 
have given me hours of enjoyment.  She has graciously allowed me to
borrow the situations created in her fascinating Road Drama, but this
is NOT a sequel to her work.  More of a possibility...
     But if you're interested in the history of this story, read :
"Goin' Nowhere"
"Passing Through"
"At the Blue Hotel"
"Down the Tracks"   all by Nicole Perry. (you can find them at new 
 replacements for the Gossamer Archives)

Even if you're not interested, read them anyway!  They're
definitely worth it!


Now, on to the story...

                   ===========================
     
                            ESCAPE.     
                        
     Margaret Scully sat wistfully in the rocking chair on her
veranda.  It had been 2 years since she lost her second daughter,
and she still had no idea if Dana was alright.  Margaret was a very
strong woman, having lost both her husband and her 2 daughters
within an 18 month time span.  Her sons lived far from home, and if
it wasn't for Walter Skinner, Margaret would have been all alone. 

     Walter had been a lifeline to her, ever since that terrible
phone call announcing that Dana and her partner, Fox Mulder, were
in trouble, on the run, and, quite possibly, dead.  Since then,
there had been a few clues that they were alive, but Margaret knew
that their only hope for survival was to completely cut off contact
with everything and everyone they ever knew.  

     Margaret's friendship with Walter had deepened.  He seemed to
be the only one interested in finding the rogue agents, alive being
the operative word.  The fragile clues that turned up every so
often had brought hope to them both.  

     But there had been nothing for at least 10 months.  Margaret
didn't want to consider the awful possibility that the hitmen had
finally caught up with them.   She preferred to entertain the
possibility that the pair had finally escaped the country, and gone
somewhere safe.  Perhaps England, or Australia...

     She was glad that Dana and Fox had each other.  A very special
friendship had existed between the couple when she had known them,
one that could have developed into love if only the two of them
hadn't been so stubborn as to not open their eyes.  Margaret knew
of the bond that existed between them, and believed that Fox would
take care of her Dana.  Especially if the rumours were true, and
Dana was blind.  

     A car pulled up outside of the house, and Margaret glanced up
in surprise.  She wasn't expecting anyone right now, least of all
a friendly-looking, large man carrying - a baby capsule?
"Mrs Margaret Scully?"  he called.
She nodded in confirmation.  
"I have something for you.  "

     A look of apprehension crossed the woman's face, and she stood
up slowly.  The man strode across the lawn, and deposited the
capsule into her arms.  
"What's this?"  Margaret asked in confusion.  

     "I can't tell you much.  I was at the airport in Texas,
heading for this city, and I came across this," he gestured to the
capsule," next to my luggage.  The baby has a note attached to her,
with your name and address on it.   I could've handed her over to
the airport officials, but the letter has a note of desperation to
it.  Beats me where it came from, but I've never been able to
resist hard luck cases.  Besides, I love a mystery, and I was
hoping you could shed some light on it.  "     

     With trembling hands, Margaret placed the capsule on the
ground and drew back the cover.  A gorgeous baby, perhaps 8 months
old, stared back at her with big, blue eyes.  Eyes that reminded
her so much of Dana's...

     "The letter's tucked in the side," the man said helpfully.  
Margaret drew it out, and began to read.

" To whoever finds this,
     We most humbly ask your help.  Circumstances beyond our
control prevent us from delivering this child ourselves, and we beg
you to help us.  

     The baby's name is Jenni Samantha Melissa M.  She was born on
June 6, 1998, and her parents love her very much.  But she must
visit her grandmother for a while.  We hope you can help us, and
ensure that she gets to her rightful place.  Please don't give her
to an adoption agency, for we will return for her.   
     Thank you so much. "
Margaret Scully's name and address was listed on the bottom.  
     "There's another letter too, addressed to the baby.  I didn't
open that one."  said the man.  
Margaret couldn't believe what she'd just read.  Shaking all over,
she suddenly recalled the immense danger she could be in, just by
having contact with her daughter.  And now granddaughter.  

     "Why don't you come inside with me for a moment.  Would you
like a drink?  Coffee?  Tea?"  Margaret knew she was babbling, but
she wanted to get inside, away from the unseen yet prying eyes of
the government.  Silently, she thanked God for sending her
granddaughter with this man who had the heart of an angel.  

     "Well sure, why not?  By the way, I'm Henry Calrissian," he
said, finally introducing himself.  He picked up the now-open baby
capsule, and followed Margaret inside.  

                 ******************************

     "Real cute kid, this is."  Jenni gurgled happily.  Margaret
marvelled over the health she appeared to be in.  After all that
she'd probably been through...

     Reaching out to gently brush the baby's thick, dark hair,
Margaret could see that Jenni had features from both of her
parents.  There was no question that she was Dana Scully's
daughter.  Or Fox Mulder's. 

     A huge smile erupted on Margaret's face as she realised what
this child meant.  Dana had always vowed that if she ever had a
child, it would have a father as well.  She and Fox must have
finally realised their feelings for each other.  And been married. 


     "What's so funny?" asked Henry in a kind voice.  
"I just realised that I have a new son.  Well, son-in-law," she
amended.  "But he's always been like a son to me, someone I could
trust to take care of my daughter..."

     Henry sat back and smiled.  In a world so full of cynicism, it
was rare to see sudden joy envelop someone.  
"So I take it you're happy to have this baby unexpectedly thrust
upon you?"  

     Margaret hadn't considered that yet.  "At the moment, I'm just
so happy to know that they're alright, and to know that they found
each other in love, well, it's every mother's wish to see her
children happily married.  And I know that those two could never
leave each other.  I'm a grandmother!"  she said again, awe
breaking out over her face.  

     Henry grinned again at Margaret's enthusiasm.  "Well,
congratulations!  But I really would love to know what this is all
about.  That is, if ya don't mind tellin' me.  "

     Margaret picked up Jenni and held her close.  Instinctively,
she believed she could trust this man, but she still didn't dare
reveal the truth.

     "My daughter is... a spy.  I shouldn't even be telling you
this, but about a two years ago, she and her partner were sent on
a top secret mission.  We knew then that she couldn't have any
contact with her family, but it's still hard...  

     "Anyway, in her line of work," she leaned forward
significantly, "children, babies are definitely not allowed.  I
suppose when she discovered she was pregnant, she tried to hide it
for as long as possible.  And then looked after Jenni while she
could.  But I know my daughter gets in very tough, dangerous
situations sometimes, and so she had to send Jenni to me."

     Henry nodded in agreement.  "But why the secrecy?  Surely your
daughter could have trusted her bosses to deliver the child to
you?"

     "Uh, I think the last I heard, they weren't allowed contact
with even their superiors.  I really shouldn't be telling you any
of this, but I trust you."  She laughed nervously.

     "Hey, don't worry about me.  I can keep a secret for as long
as you want. "
"Thank-you," whispered Margaret.  "Thank-you so much, for all of
your help."


                 **************************************

     "Do you think we did the right thing?"
"Dana, we've been over this a million times.  There was just no
other choice.  Better to send our child away for a while than risk
losing her for a lifetime."

     Scully sighed.  She missed her baby so much that the feelings
were almost impossible to bear.  "I just can't help but think that
I'm being a terrible mother.  Abandoning my, our, own child..."
She shuddered, and drew a deep breath.  No time for crying now. 
She'd already shed a million tears, and she knew that more were to
follow.  But for now, she had to be calm and strong.  Now was the
time for escape.

     "Ready?" Mulder asked softly.  They were crouched beneath the
loading docks at a private airport.  In front of them stood a
small, private plane, a plane that could be their salvation.  

     "All set," replied Scully.  She clutched the bag that held her
meagre possessions, and looked at Mulder.  With his eyes, he
silently communicated that now was the moment to go.

     Furtively, the couple ran from the shelter to the plane. 
Mulder was bent over double as he raced, knowing just how much
depended on them making this sprint undetected.  He'd paid a lot of
money, almost the last of his savings, to gain passage on this
plane, and if the plan failed he knew that they were destined to be
stuck in America always.  Or at least until they were hunted down. 
No one could hide forever, even a pair of agents who had so much
luck in the past.  

     Scully scurried up the stairs, pausing only to check that her
husband was right behind her.  "Go!" he whispered.  She scrambled
to the back of the plane, and buried herself under a pile of
blankets.  Mulder was soon to follow, only he hid in a luggage
compartment with his bag on top.  

     Presently, the couple heard the voices of the pilot and his
"lone" passenger.  Scully stifled a groan as a suitcase was roughly
thrown on the pile under which she hid.  She knew she would have
black and blue bruised ribs the next day, but it was a small price
to pay for freedom.

     Freedom.  It seemed like an unreal dream.  They had been
running for so long now that they had almost forgotten what it was
like to not have to watch their backs every five seconds.  What it
was like to be able to walk even outside without fear.  What it was
like to feel safe.  

     The engines roared to life, and Mulder almost breathed a sigh
of relief.  Not long now, as long as they had been undetected in
getting to the airport, there couldn't be anyone tracking them down
and delaying the plane.  The noise intensified, and Mulder felt the
plane lift off.  As it did so, a tear of joy trickled down Scully's
face.  They were getting away.  Finally.  And even though it was
without their daughter, they would be safe, and could be happy.  
Together.

END Prequel.  



        Comments?  Did you love/hate it?  I would LOVE some
feedback!
(Even if to say you read it!)