Title - Opportunity or Fate (3/?)
Author - donnah
Email address - donnah@donnas-stories.com
URL - http://www.donnas-stories.com/
Rating - PG-13
Category - AU, MSR
Spoilers - None
Keywords - AU, MSR 
Summary - They need to meet . . . 
Feedback - Please
Archive - Anywhere, just let me know so that I can visit

Disclaimer - Mulder, Scully, the Lone Gunmen and Skinner 
all belong to Chris Carter, 10-13 and Fox.  No infringement 
intended.


Opportunity or Fate - 3


He hesitated a moment, then dialed.  "Yeah?"

"Uh, hello.  This is Fox Mulder, I was - "

"G-man!  Didn't expect to hear from you, big guy."

"Yeah, well, uh, I need some help."

"Help?  From us?"  The cackle of laughter caused Mulder to 
wince and nearly hang up before he heard the phone being 
handed over.

"Hello?  This is John Byers, may I help you?"

"Byers, yes.  This is Fox Mulder." Mulder breathed a short 
sigh of relief.  Byers was the normal looking one.

"Agent Mulder, what can we do for you?"

"This is going to sound strange, but I have an investigation 
I'm involved in and I'd rather not go through the Bureau."

"Of course.  Would you like to come over?  We don't like to 
talk about our work over an open line."

Mulder grinned, but made no comment on that.  "Yeah, that 
would be fine.  What's the address?"

*****

Mulder smiled as he heard the locks being disengaged.  
He'd thought he was paranoid.  Maybe this wasn't the best 
idea, but at least he knew they'd be cautious.

The little one, Frohike, was at the door giving him the once 
over.  "Is this a set-up?"

"May I come inside?" Mulder asked quietly.

Again it was Byers that smoothed things over.  "Agent 
Mulder, please, come in."  He glared down at Frohike, then 
led Mulder over to the living area of the large room.  One 
side was filled with electronic equipment.  The blonde with 
the long hair glanced up, then returned to his keyboard.

"How can we help you, Agent Mulder?" Byers spoke up to 
cover for the other two men's lack of manners.

"Yeah, about that, maybe I - "

"Backin' out?" Langly sneered.  "Afraid we'd show up the 
Bureau?"

Mulder squared his shoulders and looked the man straight 
in the eye.  "Not at all.  I hope you would be able to show up 
the Bureau in this case.  They've already dropped the ball 
and apparently don't care.  I do."

Langly leaned back, but didn't challenge him.

"So what's the case?  I'd love to shove it up their asses over 
there," Frohike returned to the room holding four beers.  
Mulder took the one offered and nodded his thanks.

"What we say here, it's just between us?" Mulder asked.

"Yes, it is.  I swear it," Byers held out his hand.  Langly 
looked like he was going to protest, but Frohike shook his 
head and then all four of the men settled around the living 
area.

"I have an abduction victim who was returned.  She had no 
memory of her abduction or of herself.  Apparently she was 
rescued by a Paul Forrester of Atlanta, who told her he'd 
had her examined by doctors and that she would very likely 
never recover her memories.  He kept her and married her."

Byers frowned. "Was he the kidnapper?"

"No, but I wonder if there was some connection.  What I 
need is an extensive background check on the man, but I 
don't want to go to interviews yet.   I'd like it to be an 
electronic trace, at least at first."

"Well, you've come to the right place for that.  Paul F-o-r-r-e-
s-t-e-r?" Byers was taking notes now.

"Yes, husband of Dana Scully and father of Randy 
Forrester.  Don't have an address or workplace, other than 
Atlanta.  I don't want to tip my hand.  Dana and Paul have 
been married less than a year; I could probably get that date 
for you.  Randy is from a previous marriage."

"You want to tell us what you hope to find?"

"I'd rather not."

Langly nodded at that and grinned, cracking his knuckles.  
"Sit back, Agent Mulder, and watch me work."

"You?" Frohike sputtered, and moved toward another of the 
keyboards.  Both began typing rapidly.

Byers met Mulder's eyes and motioned for him to follow him 
to the other room.  When they took seats in the mismatched 
easy chairs Byers took a drink from his bottle.  Mulder 
followed suit.          

"I have to say I'm really surprised to see you, Agent Mulder."

Mulder took another swig from his bottle.  "I'm a little 
surprised myself."

"This is a personal investigation."

"Yes, it is."

They were silent for a moment.  "You know, it might help us 
if we knew a little more about - "

"It might, but I can't," Mulder interrupted.

Byers nodded.  "Fair enough.  What else have you been up 
to, that you can talk about?"

They visited for nearly an hour before Langly's whoop 
startled them.  "My guess is Langly found something before 
Frohike," Byers said dryly.

"Yeah, that's what it sounded like to me."  They both rose 
and returned to the machine room. 

Frohike was plainly pissed, but had moved to stand behind 
Langly, reading over his shoulder.

"What'd you find?" Mulder joined him.

"Your 'hero'," Langly said sarcastically.

"What?" Mulder tensed, moving closer.

"He's on the payroll of Rouche."

Mulder looked blank at that.

"Rouche?  Didn't you read the issue before last?"

"Sorry," Mulder muttered.

Frohike shook his head.  "We try to keep you informed, big 
guy."

"I'll try to do better.  Could you explain?"

"Roche is a pharmaceutical company; not the most ethical 
one."

"Pharmaceutical?"

The two men nodded.

"I don't get it."

"They do testing, Mulder.  Not necessarily legal testing.  
Probably on humans."

Mulder's eyes widened.   

"The government knows about it," Langly stated flatly.  
"They're in cahoots."

"Langly," Byers said slightly exasperated, "we don't - "

"Sure we do," Frohike interrupted.  "They've been doing it for 
decades.  How else could such a small company stay in 
business against the giants of the pharmaceutical 
industry?"

"I don't know any of their products," Mulder said watching 
them.

"Good point, but they manage to stay in business," Frohike 
mused.

"So, Paul works for these guys.  And he 'found' Dana 
wandering in the desert?  Could you guys keep looking into 
this?"

"Sure; we'd be happy to.  Exposing this kind of shit is what 
we live for," Langly gave Mulder a slow smile.  "Then will 
you tell us what you know?"

"I hope so."

*****

He had his key in the lock when he heard the phone ring.  
He quickly made his way inside and grabbed up the 
receiver before the machine could pick up.  "Hello?"

"Uh, Mulder?"

"Dana? Is everything okay?"

"Yes, I, I know it's late notice, but we, my parents and I, were 
wondering if you could join us for dinner tonight."

"That sounds wonderful.  Are you sure?"

"Very sure," she sounded more relaxed now.  She gave him 
the address and some directions.

*****

He had no trouble finding the place.  The house was in a 
nice neighborhood of medium size homes. It looked like a 
home, not at all what he was used to.   He reached for the 
doorbell, but the door opened before he could press it.  She 
was standing there smiling up at him.

For just an instant he was speechless.  "You're up," he said 
smiling.

"Yes, but slow.  I don't think I'll be running any marathons in 
the near future."

"They're overrated, a nice swim gives you a great workout 
without killing your knees," he responded as he joined her 
in the entry.  "You really do look good."

"Thank you."  Her cheeks tinted slightly at the compliment 
and she turned away, motioning toward the living room.  His 
hand came up to the small of her back without thinking.

Her father was on his feet as he heard them coming.  "Mr. 
Mulder, I'm glad you could join us tonight."  They shook 
hands.

"It's my pleasure, really.  The cold pizza - "

"Uh oh, I better tell Maggie to heat it up."

"Ahab," Dana shook her head, smiling.  "I'm pretty sure Mom 
has never served cold pizza in her life."

"Cold what?" Maggie's voice came from the doorway.  "Mr. 
Mulder, you're here."  She joined them and to his surprise 
gave him a quick hug.  "I haven't done anything fancy for 
dinner, pot roast."

She looked puzzled at the chuckles that brought.  "Ignore 
them, Mom," Dana said, laughing herself.  "Ahab just 
offered him cold pizza."

Maggie looked askance at her husband, then her eyebrow 
went up.  "You obviously need to be more help in the 
kitchen.  Come on."

Winking at Mulder, he meekly followed his wife back toward 
the kitchen.  Dana took a seat on the couch and motioned 
for him to join her.  "Are they always like that?"

"Like what?"

"I don't know, friends."

She blinked, watching him.  "Yes, I guess they are.  They're 
each other's best friend."

"That's really nice." He looked around the room spotting the 
photographs.  "Are all these family?"

"Pretty much."  She started to rise but he forestalled her, 
rising himself and picking up the group picture.  "That's Bill 
and Tara, this is Charlie and Mary with their boys, Will and 
Sam.  Melissa is my sister and that's me."

"Big family."

She nodded.  "I guess it is these days, but Dad was gone a 
lot, Navy, so . . . "

He grinned at the inference and nodded.  They talked of her 
health and visiting with her family until Maggie came to call 
them to dinner.  He assisted her to her feet, and again, his 
hand was on her back as they moved to the dining room.

He goggled at the food laid out before them but it seemed to 
be the norm for them.  Maggie was pushing thirds on him 
before he realized it.  "I, I can't.  I'm going to have trouble 
getting dressed tomorrow," he protested.  Then watched her 
bring in the apple pie for dessert.  "You can't eat like this."

Dana laughed, "No.  I wouldn't fit in anything I own either, 
but this is a special occasion."

"Special?"

"Thanking the man who saved my life."

"I didn't - "

"Yes, you did," William interrupted.  "If not at the bank, then 
at the hospital."

Mulder looked puzzled and Dana looked away from her 
father for a moment.  There was an awkward silence for a 
moment.

"Well, I certainly do appreciate this.  I haven't had such an 
enjoyable evening in a very long time," Mulder said looking 
at Maggie.

How was he supposed to have saved her life at the 
hospital?  Rather than ask that, he brought up a subject that 
had been studiously avoided all evening.  "How long has 
Paul worked for Rouche?"

"Rouche?  I'm sorry, I don't . . . "

"Rouche Pharmaceuticals," Mulder said by way of 
explanation.

"Paul doesn't work there.  He's an investment banker.  
Where did you hear that he worked for a pharmacy 
company?"

"I thought he said, guess I was mistaken.  Sorry, I'm sure 
you know where his paycheck comes from.  Have you heard 
from him?"

"Oh yes, he calls every night to check in."

Neither Maggie nor William made any comment to this and 
Mulder regretted bringing up the man's name.

"Why don't we have our pie and coffee in the living room," 
Maggie changed the subject and rose from the table.  Dana 
led the way with William carrying the tray.  They took seats 
and Maggie served the dessert.

Mulder and Maggie noticed Dana's stifled yawn at the same 
time.  "I think I should be heading home.  You need to get 
some rest."

"It's early, Mulder."

"But he's right, Dana.  You've been up a long time today."

"I'm trying to get my stamina back, Mom."

"Starbuck, you know she's right," William said gently.

"I feel like a child, being sent to bed."

Mulder grinned.  "I need to head home anyway.  I want you 
to look after yourself."

"Mulder, could you wait just a moment," William asked.

"Of course."  He helped Dana to her feet again and watched 
as Maggie and she ascended the stairs after a last 
goodnight.

After they had disappeared upstairs, William looked over at 
Mulder who resumed his seat.  "Paul didn't mention where 
he worked to you, did he?"

Mulder met his eyes.  "No, sir."

William sat back, sighing.  "You investigated him."

"I'm sorry.  I had no - "

"Please, don't apologize.  I'm grateful.  Could you tell me 
what you found?"

Mulder blinked, but slowly nodded.  "He's listed as an 
employee for Rouche and not as a banker.  I take it you 
don't know him very well."

"I don't know him at all, what I do know is that Starbuck is 
not the same person she was before she was taken."

"In what way?"

"The Dana I know would never let a man dominate her the 
way Paul does.  He's isolating her from her family, friends, 
and her personality has changed, she's more subdued, less 
independent.  I'm worried about her."

"Is she still on the sleeping pills?"

"What sleeping pills?"

"Paul has her on them, to keep away the nightmares she 
started to have when her memories started returning."

William stared at him for a long moment.  "He's drugging 
her."

"I don't - "

"I'm very glad you came over tonight, Mulder."

They sat in silence for a few minutes, each clearly 
contemplating what the next question should be.  William 
looked up to ask Mulder something and saw the younger 
man tense, stiffen, then before he could open his mouth 
they both heard the screams from upstairs. 

Mulder was on his feet racing up the stairs before Maggie, 
who was half down could turn.  William was only a couple 
of steps behind him.

Mulder burst into the room Dana was using, and saw her in 
the throes of a night terror.  He didn't hesitate, taking her 
into his arms.  "Dana, it's a dream.  You're not alone.  It's 
Mulder, I'm right here with you."  He murmured these words 
over and over, holding her, rocking her.

It took a while but she finally began to calm down though 
she was still clinging to him.  That's when he realized that 
her parents were standing there watching them.  "Uh, sorry, 
I - "

He started to release her but her grip on him tightened and 
William shook his head.  Mulder nodded and pulled her 
back against him.  She looked up at him then.  "Th-thank 
you."

"It's okay.  Do you remember the nightmare?"

She shivered but shook her head.  "I, I can't remember 
anything but the terror."

"You didn't take your sleeping pills?"

"No, not tonight or last night.  It was a mistake."

"I don't think so. But I'm sure it feels that way right now.  
Think you could sleep again?"

"I don't even know if I want to."

"You need your rest," Maggie had moved closer.

Dana turned fearful eyes toward her, but didn't argue.  
Mulder helped her recline again and tucked her hair behind 
her ear.  "Your mother's right.  Try to get some rest."

He retreated from the room along with her father, while 
Maggie tucked her back in.  They headed downstairs slowly.  
At the foot of the stairs, Mulder turned to William.  "May I take 
a couple of her pills, the sleeping pills, to have them 
analyzed?"

"I'd appreciate it."  William looked back upstairs.  "She 
responded to you."

Mulder looked up startled.  "I - "

"Sorry, just an observation.  Let me get those pills."

*****

He made a quick stop at the guys' apartment before heading 
home.  He left them with the pills and information about 
Paul's employment.  They promised to get right on it.  Byers 
was already crushing up one of the pills for analysis before 
Mulder left them.

*****