Falling Chapter 31 Disclosures in previous chapters, but I own none of the obvious characters and am making no money from this. Author's Note: I apologize about the weird posting of chapter 29 and 30. For some reason, it wouldn't let me post them all together... damn iPad. Also, I realized, as I re-read chapters, that I need a Beta read, but since I am farily new at this, I don't have one! If you feel like volunteering and helping me mold the story, email me! Thanks:D ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Chapter 31 Scully stretched, pointing her toes under the heavy duvet and felt a satisfying crack in her lower back as she arched against the sheets. She loved these new sheets. They were the first purchase that she and Mulder had gotten together, a Friday night Target trip that ended up in indulging in 900 thread count Egyptian cotton. They had hurried home and changed the linens together, both sliding in with a shared "ahhh". Mulder had pounced her then, alternating between tickling her sides and biting her ears. It had been a good night. Scully cracked an eye, glancing at her clock that stood guard on the side table. 7:05 am. Her alarm hadn't gone off. She stretched again and threw the covers back. She felt so rested and relaxed, scratching her side underneath her blue pajama top. She padded to the bathroom, smoothing her hair down in the process. She must have been asleep for a long time because there was possibly a living, furry creature that had taken up residence in her mouth. While brushing her teeth, mouth frothing and toothbrush hanging from her lips, it hit her. She wasn't supposed to be home. The last time she was awake, she was in Prague, about to break into a hospital with Mulder and Brian. She was sleeping on a pull-out bed, wrapped in Mulder's arms, topless. Scully braced herself against the counter of the sink, the toothbrush clattering into the bowl. She spit the paste into the running water, fighting the wave of dizziness that assaulted her brain. She looked up into the mirror, her short, fading brown hair sticking up in random directions and her eyes were clear and blue. But, it was the ruddy redness gracing her cheeks and the chapness of her lips that struck her. She fared well, considering the amount of time she spent riding on the back of a motorbike in subzero temperatures. Mulder. Where in the hell was Mulder? If he was here, he'd be HERE. She scooped water into her mouth and pivoted into her room, grabbing for her house phone. She hit "1" on speed dial and waited for the rings to run their course. "Please pick up..." she murmured into the phone. " "You know what to do." BEEP Mulder's voice filtered through the ear piece, his cocky, graveling alto only elevating Scully's panic. She hung up and dialed his cell only meeting the same end, although his work voicemail was a bit more formal. "This is Fox Mulder. You know what to do." Scully threw the phone on the bed and stared frantically, running through the last thing she could remember. The full sleep. The lack of remembering. The animal in her mouth. No Mulder. She had been drugged. Scully darted to her tall dresser, reaching for her cell phone to check the date. February 3? Fucking Feburary 3? She entered into the hospital with Paloma on February 1! She'd been asleep for two days! She slumped against the dresser, her chest heaving and her eyes wide in shock. She began to slip into agent mode, willing herself to calm down and take stock of what she knew and what she needed to know. She had to find out what in the hell happened and where Mulder was. She straightened her shoulders and stepped over a pile of discarded black clothes, going to pull a pair of jeans out of the closet. Suddenly a sinking feeling hit her stomach, almost as if someone had physically punched her in the gut. She had to lean against the wall, trying desperately to catch her breath and fight the anxiety that was causing her heart to thud in her ears. Realization was slowly sinking in. Had she been ditched? She fought the prickle of tears that sprang to her eyes. "Do not jump to conclusions, Dana." she scolded herself, swiping at her eyes furiously. She continued to busy herself in her closet, trying to transfer some energy to getting dressed so she can try to figure out what to do next. "Dana?" Scully spun around quickly, her jaw slack and eyes wide. "Mom?" "Hi Honey." Maggie Scully said with a gentle smile, her arms outstretched for a welcoming hug. Scully crossed the room and wrapped her arms around her mother's waist, relaxing slightly at the familiarity of the gesture. "What are you doing here?" Scully asked as she pulled away and continued to get change clothes. "I have been keeping an eye on you since you got back. I made coffee." Maggie offered, though she was not completely meeting Scully's eyes. Scully had gotten her self-assuredness and confidence from her mother, so when Maggie avoided eye contact, she was hiding something. Scully did the same thing. "Mom? What in the hell is going on? Why am I here?" Scully asked as she stepped past Maggie, reaching for her tennis shoes as they sat at the end of her bed. "You live here, Dana." Maggie replied simply, her eyes still focused on the lamp in the room. Scully froze, her eyes narrowing. "You know what I mean. I was on an assignment overseas, Mom. When did I get here?" Maggie turned towards her and answered her truthfully. "You got here yesterday morning." Scully busied herself with her tennis shoes while the gears in her mind turned quickly. "How did I get here? I dont remember anything. Something is VERY wrong." Scully said, standing and boring into Maggie's eyes, searching for the truth and some understanding. Her mom was obviously troubled, something warring behind her eyes. "Mom, you need to tell me. Do you know where Mulder is?" Scully asked, reaching for Maggie's hand. "Honey, I think you need some coffee." Maggie said, turning towards the door and heading to the kitchen. Scully held tight to her hand and gently pulled Maggie back to her original position. "Mom? How did I get home? Please." Maggie finally fully met Scully's eyes, fear and concern swirling around in her brown depths. She remained quiet. "Mom, Mulder may need my help. I need to know something." Maggie took a deep breath and squared her shoulders. "Dana. Fox is not here. I do know that. Walter Skinner brought you here and called me to meet him here yesterday morning. Walter has called to check on you twice, Fox called once... yesterday. I haven't heard from him today." Maggie said, her cheeks flushing. All of the pieces began to click into place. "Skinner told you not to tell me, didn't he?" Scully asked slowly, releasing her mother's hands. Maggie just continued to look into her daughter's eyes. "No, Honey. Fox did." Scully widened her eyes slightly and turned back towards her closet, biting back a sob at the dagger that had just been hurled towards her chest. She pulled the blue sweater she had just put on back over her head and laid a black Donna Karen suit on her bed. "Dana? What are you doing?" Maggie asked as Scully breezed passed her towards the bathroom, the shower sliding on instantly. "Going to see Skinner."