AUTHOR: ElleThom
TITLE: Multiplicity
EMAIL:
too_spooky_4u@yahoo.c
om
SPOILERS: Only the
series, no IWTB
spoilers here
SUMMARY: How Mulder
Spent his 2001 summer
vacation
DISCLAIMER: Not mine
I wish but wish in
one hand.....
AUTHOR'S NOTES: Well
here I am again, I
have not done this in
years so I am hoping
that I have not
gotten too rusty at
it. I started this
little fic before the
second movie so I
guess this this is
REALLY AU. It's
another challenge
fic, I seem to like
to do those for NeoX,
she has some great
challenges and this
one I think fulfills
more than one
Anyway enough
mindless rambling
thanks for reading
hope it is enjoyable!
I'm a doctor, right?
I should know how to
handle this, I should
know that the
leaking, oozing and
bleeding should all
be par for the
course, I should be
reveling in the magic
of motherhood and
thanking whatever
fates that I have
this chance. I look
at my son sleeping
peacefully in his
bassinet, curled on
his side, and
periodically makes an
odd noise in his
sleep, he is lost in
the oblivion that
only the truly young
and innocent can
know.
I am reveling.
Really.
I am.
But as I sit on my
once pristine living
room floor folding
what seems like
dozens of sheets,
sleepers and onesies
recently laundered, I
can't help but wonder
how much more
enjoyable this would
all be without all
the bodily fluids.
And endless laundry.
And endless doubts.
And endless
questions.
And let's not forget
that endless global
conspiracy thing.
Which is exactly why
I am sitting here
folding all of my
son's laundry, alone,
along with the
midnight feeding
raids, the
rollercoaster of
emotions and the
endless endlessness.
Motherhood is
beautiful, but it
also should be
shared. I found
myself asking the
question for about
the millionth time,
Where Are You Now?
It would be easier if
our relationship had
ended, there would
have been a sense of
closure to that.
There would have been
a sense of something.
Now we are simply
relegated to emails
and too short late
night phone calls.
I miss him. Not just
for the benefit of an
extra pair of hands,
or the fact that in
the ten months that
he has been gone he
has missed so many
milestones that he
will never be able to
regain no matter how
many trips I make to
the one hour photo a
week.
No, I am missing him
as any woman would
miss a man, in her
heart, in her mind,
in her bed,
It was the phone that
shook me out of my
pity party. Ten
seconds of wavering
between cursing
having awakened Will,
and praying that its
him, I managed to eek
out a breathy Hello.
"Agent Scully?" It
was a voice I knew
well, but not the one
I wanted to be on the
other end.
"Agent Reyes." Which
came out more of an
accusation than a
greeting. So you're
the one who dare
awaken The Baby.
"I hope I didn't
catch you at a bad
time..."
"Oh. No." I may have
said it too quickly
or even too curtly,
but fuck it, the baby
is crying and Bessie
has returned to the
barn. The one good
thing about being a
single new mother,
bitchy behavior is
not only understood
and anticipated, but
often encouraged.
"Well I have
something here that
may be a good thing."
Oh crap, if she tries
to pawn off one more
of those whale songs
cd's as a means to
get William to sleep,
I am pretty sure I am
going to shoot her.
"Really?" I answer in
my best yeah I am
REALLY interested
tones.
"I need to come over
and hand it to you
personally, but
before I get there I
want you to keep an
open mind..." Oh God,
it is another Whale
Song CD. I need to
head this one off at
the pass.
"I appreciate it
Monica, but I am
right in the middle
of--" Breastfeeding?
Folding Clothes?
Wallowing in self
pity and doubt? "--
Working on some
paperwork." Better.
"Dana," She stammers.
"Please." Maybe it
was the quiver in her
voice, or the fact
that I was desperate
for grown up
conversation, but I
found myself agreeing
to her visit before I
had the chance to
stop myself. Great,
now I have to make
nice-nice and do girl
talk on a Saturday
night when I could be
watching some
mindless Must See TV.
Not too late to shoot
her.
XxX
She got to my
apartment faster than
I thought, faster
than I had hoped. I
had not even gotten
the chance to top
off. William, who
was one for taking
his time to eat, he
kind of hovered over
feeding time as if he
was never going to
see the nipple again.
I managed to shove my
half engorged breast
back into my bra
before I answered the
door, which is a good
thing because Monica
had not come alone.
It is true, FBI
agents really do
travel in packs.
"I hope you don't
mind, John and I were
just on our way out
of town, so he wanted
to drop by and say
hi." She grinned at
me a fool's smile as
they filtered into my
living room. I smile
but I don't think it
is really fooling
anyone, at least I
hope not. Ever since
Mulder...left, the
people in my life
have lodged a
campaign of
assistance. Now
don't get me wrong, a
single mother needs
at least three people
she can rely on, and
I am not too
ungracious to realize
that I have that in
spades.
Whether I wanted it
or not.
"No not at all, so
what is it today?: I
was trying to move
this along, I still
had three hours
before I could have a
bath, and another
five hours of work
yet to be done,
"Have you been in
contact with any old
friends?" John
finally spoke, he had
begun looking around
the apartment as if
expecting Mulder to
pop out at any
moment.
"No..." I hedged, I
hadn't but I was
reluctant to voice
this to anyone,
partially out of
paranoia, but mostly
out of shame. Yes
ladies and gentlemen,
you read right.
Shame. How ungodly
is it for a nice
Catholic girl to fall
for someone, get
knocked up, left, and
still not have a
ring...."Why?"
An odd look passed
between the two of
them, as if they were
trying to come up
with the right words
that would not get
them into trouble. I
knew that look,
Mulder and I were
guilty of exchanging
tons of them mostly
in Skinner's office.
"He has gone off the
radar." John said
quietly.
"What does THAT mean,
he has gone off the
radar; he has BEEN
off the radar. I
don't understand."
Ok, where did I leave
my sig?
Reyes came closer to
me, oh God now I know
I am going to kill
her. "Dana, relax.
Breathe." Oh I am
gonna breathe all
right, but you may
not. "What John is
trying to say is that
he has moved from
where he was."
"How the hell do you
know where he was?" I
screamed loud enough
to elicit a What The
Fuck cry out of my
son. Quieting him
down was the last
thing on my list of
things to do, but I
faked it some how.
`
I placed the now
quiet baby into the
arms of John, who had
been holding his out
in the universal
gesture. "I'm gonna
go into the bedroom
and see if he needs a
change." He offered
magnanimously. I do
forget that he has
done this all before.
"You two talk." He
flashed a look
towards Monica who
nodded her assertion
back. Were Mulder
and I ever this
annoying?
Monica made herself
comfortable on my
couch, well as soon
as she had cleared a
spot. I sat in the
chair across form her
not knowing what to
expect but knowing my
gun was nearby. "We,
that is to say, John
and I knew of
Mulder's whereabouts,
we had discovered him
quite by accident
Dana." Her smug
expression was going
to get her a
headlock, but I'd at
least let her finish
first.
"Well its goof to see
that those years at
Quantico have paid
off, but I don't
understand why all of
this has warranted a
late afternoon
meeting?" I quirked.
"We actually had
hoped he was here.
See, we were keeping
tabs on him through
Gibson..."
"He's with Gibson?" I
asked, like I didn't
know. He had never
told me where he was,
but it was the only
logical place for him
to be.
Monica nodded and
briefly looked out
the window. "When
Gibson called to warn
us that Mulder may be
on his way, we
were....concerned."
"I appreciate your
concern Monica, but
if Mulder has decided
its safe enough to
come home then I am
sure its fine." I was
talking to her like I
would a five year
old, she was annoying
me to no end.
"The point is we
don't know where he
is Dana, no one
does." She asserted.
"And I am sure he is
fine Monica, I
appreciate your
concern, but this has
gone far enough.
Mulder has been in
situations that would
have had you pissing
in you Victoria
Secrets." Ok, I was
really agitated at
this point.
"And there are things
you don't know-"
"Will's asleep, and
we have a plane to
catch." John smiled
rubbing his hands
together. "Who else
is gonna keep the
world safe from
things that go bump
in the night?"
I glared at Monica, a
warning of a
conversation to come.
"If you here from him
Dana, you'll let us
know?" she added
before following
Doggett out of the
door.
XxX
I want to say that
things got easier
once Monica and John
left, with Will
sleeping and the
housework to do
before I could reward
myself, I want to
say that my mind was
eased after they left
and I could easily
blow them off as
typical nutty Reyes
behavior.
I Really wanted to
But the truth was
nine years with
Mulder had taught me
to listen to that gut
instinct, to hear
that small inner
voice when it starts
its incessant
niggling.
God, I am starting to
sound like Monica,
where's my gun again?
The Gunman were gone,
no not dead as
everyone believed, I
went right along with
that little play, I
knew what they were
doing, and I knew
that soon I would
have to do it too.
Point is, they were
beyond my reach right
now, they had no
contact with me or
Mulder, save the
occasional
clandestine personal
ad in the Washington
post, usually under
the guise of a lost
dog returned.
There was only one
person I could
contact, and he had
better have answers
or I was not gonna be
responsible for my
actions, mind-reader
or not, you still
can't out think a
bullet.
"Gibson," I bark into
the phone. I had
better sense than to
call him from home,
it had been a long
night's wait, but I
managed to survive
until the next day
when I could call
from a distant pay
phone using a calling
card.
He didn't sound
happy, nor surprised
to hear from me.
"He's not here," His
voice had gotten
deeper since the last
time I talked to him,
but I could still
tell it was him.
"When did he leave
Gibson?" I demanded.
"About three weeks
ago. I don't think
he is on his way
there."
"But I just talked
to-"
"Agent Scully,
they're being
watched, I know where
he went, and he'll be
back here soon."
"Where, is he in any
danger?"
"Agent Scully, maybe
you should come out
here, I think we need
to do this one face
to face."
More double agent
bullshit that I did
not need in my life.
But I knew I would
go, I needed to see
him, it had been
almost a year and I
needed my Mulder fix,
badly. "All right
Gibson, I'll be there
tomorrow."
Next call I made was
to Mom, there was no
way I was going to
sit on an airplane
with a ten month old.
XxX
It was a long drive
through the desert
from the airport,
another rental car
ride to nowhere.
These drives were so
much more fun when I
was younger and had a
driving companion
with an oral
fixation. The heat
was starting to get
to me, and rolling
down the window was
no longer an option,
and the air
conditioner, as usual
in rental cars, was
non existent. So I
had begun to sweat-
profusely, my white
tank top rapidly
turning grey, and my
patience wearing
thin. Not to mention
the fact that my
breasts were swollen
to a size that could
now accommodate a
small African village
quite nicely for a
year.
This secret squirrel
shit was so much
easier five years
ago...and I really am
getting too old for
this shit.
The landscape changed
to less civilized and
more John Carpenter.
I started to look for
the exit that would
lead me to the small
bank of mobile park
homes situated in the
middle of the desert.
Apparently, Gibson
had married the deaf
girl of his dreams,
and in prime teen
aged trailer trash
livin', they were
expecting their first
drain onto society.
Thea greeted me with
a smile and a wave as
I pulled in front of
the trailer. Her
stomach was about as
big as you were gonna
get before reaching
critical mass.
Been There, Done
That.
"Agent Scully."
Gibson still short
but walking with a
much greater swagger,
as if the mere
presence of Thea's
distended abdomen was
proof being a virile
and studly male.
I am man, see her
belly.
I plaster on a smile
and hug them both,
then we all crawl
into the relative
coolness of the metal
tin can that they
called home.
Thea's touch was
there, and by that I
could tell that there
had not been just a
bachelor crash pad.
She had even set up a
makeshift nursery in
the far corner of
their living room.
"Twins?" I had
noticed a second crib
in the back where
their bedroom was.
The two teens
exchanged a look and
I started to wonder
if Thea wasn't able
to read minds along
with lips. "I think
we need to talk
Dana." Gibson sighed
heaving himself onto
the couch.
Thea had begun to
pace, which was no
small feat in the
trailer. It was
obvious that there
was a heavy
conversation that was
to be had by the
three of us, and I
for one was done with
all the mystery. "So-
oo, you wanna tell me
what exactly is going
on here Gibson?" I
tensed. "You told me
on the phone that
Mulder was fine."
"He is." The young
man offered quickly.
"But there have been
some..." he trailed
off and began to
fumble around the
chipped coffee table
in front of him.
Seconds later he had
a cigarette lit and
an irate pregnant
woman.
"Pud id ou!" she
screamed centimeters
away from his face.
She then signed
something that had
Gibson trailing for
the back door with me
hot on his heels.
"She don't want the
smoke around the
baby." He smiled.
"I don't blame her."
I sniffed trying to
also maintain my
distance. Not just
for my continued
health, but over the
years I had developed
a real distaste for
the smell of
cigarettes.
Occupational hazard I
suppose.
Gibson looked around
as if to make sure
that we were alone,
his eyes darted back
and forth and it was
in these moments that
I noticed there was
more of a change in
him than the arrogant
swagger. His eyes
were different. Aside
from the nervous
darting there was
something new in the
blue pools, something
that I could not
quite lay a name to.
"Dana, there was a
problem soon after
Mulder first got
here." Gibson huffed
as he blew out a long
lungful of blue smoke
out into the Arizona
night.
"You know Gibson,
Mulder was always the
one that liked the
games and puzzles,
me,. I always turned
to the back page to
go straight to the
answers..."
"He was abducted
briefly..." Gibson
sputtered, and dare I
say I witnessed a-
cringe as he
delivered the news.
For ten seconds I
debated the pros and
cons of rectal
disembowelment versus
going through the
abdomen. At some
point I remembered
Will and got a hold
of myself...just
barely. "What
happened?"
Gibson did that odd
eye thing again as if
to make sure we were
completely alone. "He
was only gone for a
couple of days Dana.
At first I thought he
had gotten homesick
and went home, but
then after the call
from the guys, I knew
something was up." He
lit another cigarette
before he went on.
"Anyway its not like
I wasn't going to
call you, as soon as
I heard from the guys
I had gone to find
your number, but then
he was back."
"Just like that?" I
asked in disbelief.
"Yeah," he sneered.
"Just like that. He
didn't even believe
he had been gone, til
we were sitting
around watching the
news and a report
came on about some
lights in the sky
over Parrump. He
freaked. I was all I
could do to keep him
from leaving for
parts unknown right
then."
My mind was racing a
mile a minute, it was
obvious that Mulder
didn't want me to
know about the recent
abduction, but what
got to me was the
notion behind
Gibson's eyes that
there was so much
more to this.
"There is." He
shrugged looking away
from me, "there is so
much more Dana that I
can't even begin to
wheedle through what
you ought to know and
what will only give
you nightmares."
XxX
It had started to get
cold, and I guess we
would not have known
that if Thea had not
come outside gabbing
madly and gesturing
wildly as to coming
in before we both
ended up in the
hospital. It was not
hard to see who wore
the pants in this
relationship. I had
to smile secretly
imaging Mulder having
lived under her roof
for the last nine
months or so. And he
though I was a neat
freak. She bustled
around the small
trailer in an odd
sort of silence, and
that was when it
struck me, their
relationship made
sense. Thea was born
deaf, and had
difficulty being
understood when she
spoke, but Gibson
always heard her, no
matter how it came
out sounding when she
railed at him about
the toilet seat, or
the ashtray she found
under the couch. He
always understood
her.
Yeah, I guess in an
odd sort of way I
think I could wrap my
brain around that
particular concept.
Gibson continued his
constant twitch as
Thea made us some
sandwiches and beer.
Yeah, expectant
sixteen year olds
living in a trailer
with beer, where is
Jerry Springer when
you need him?
"Its not like that
Agent Scully." Gibson
sniffed out of no
where. "It's not as
if we were walking
around fucking like
rabbits." A long pull
off of the bottle of
beer and he went on.
"Thea got pregnant
last year by
accident."
"I'm not here to
judge you Gibson..."
but he waved me off
in such a way that
made me stop in the
middle of the
thought.
"Thea and I
never...." he looked
over to Thea who
nodded for him to
tell." What do you
know about the
breeding programs
Agent Scully?" he had
begun to search
around for a
cigarette, then
seemed to remember
the angry redhead
next to him. "They're
at it again Dana, and
though their numbers
are no where what
they used to be, they
are driven by an ever
decreasing
timeframe."
"To what end?" I
asked.
Gibson threw his head
back and guffawed so
loud that even Thea
jumped at the
unexpected
vibrations. "To what
end? Since when do
they need an end
Agent Scully, you of
all people should
know that." He turned
serious again and
glances at his wife.
"Their purpose from
what Mulder believes
is to create a race
of servants, so they
use people that fit a
certain criteria,
they breed us Agent
Scully, whether we
want to be bred or
not."
Now it is to be noted
here that after my
illustrious nine year
career on the X
Files, I still have a
hard time turning
down a good yarn,
especially one that I
have heard before but
maybe a new twist.
Yes I needed to know
where my absentee
former partner had
disappeared to, but
my gut was burning to
hear the rest of this
story. "So that is
what happened to you
two, " I gestured
towards the young
couple. "
The young man nodded
as he spoke. "They
have perfected their
methods Agent Scully,
but they were
surprised at your
pregnancy and
successful birth, so
much so that they
wanted...more."
I was stunned; not
only had this new
organization
perfected the plans
of the old
Consortium, but they
seemed to have an all
new and improved
insidious plot.
"More, more what
Gibson?"
"Genetic diversity
Agent Scully, the
more they could do
now the more they
would have after the
colonization." He
played with something
on the table and made
a face, he wanted a
cigarette, but
obviously too scared
to go have one. "They
want to get as many
of us as they can.
They are actively
seeking out those
that fit the criteria
or creating new
criteria, and
breeding us until we
cannot possibly stand
it...or until
colonization
whichever one happens
first."
The trailer had grown
silent again as I
allowed his words to
sink in. "How do you
know all this?" I
railed. "I mean this
all sounds a bit out
there even for what I
have seen..."
"You aint heard the
half of it yet
sister." Gibson
mumbled almost low
enough where I did
not hear. Sighing he
rose off the couch
and began to pace the
floor. "Mulder was
the first to tell me
about most of this,
but the rest I have
seen with my own
eyes. He has seen
first hand what their
plans are.."
"I still don't
understand..."
"Its not for you to
understand Agent
Scully, it is not for
any of us to
understand. Don't
you get it? We have
no choice, if they
want us, they just
zap us onto their
playground and do
whatever they want!
Mulder didn't want to
be some sort of
freaky lab rat... He
damn sure never
wanted you to know.."
"Know what?" I
implored, nearly half
out of my mind with
the need to know
where all of this was
going to.
"Thea and I have
always been really
close, ever since I
came here to live.
She was the only one
that I trusted with
my secret." Gibson
eyed his wife across
from him, and smiled.
"She was taken last
summer shortly after
the incident with you
in the desert. I was
laid up all that
month with my broken
leg and I could not
do a damn thing to
help find her."
I found myself
nodding in sympathy,
I had gone through
hell trying to find
Mulder when he went
missing, only to have
found him dead in the
middle of a
field...but this line
of thought and memory
only lead to kicking
my already over
active hormones into
overdrive. Before I
realized what was
happening, the front
of my white tank top
was drenched.
"Here/" Gibson spoke,
but it was Thea
thrusting a breast
pump at me and
motioning me to the
small bath room. God
Bless her she may not
be too young for all
of this after all.
By the time I came
out feeling more
relieved and less
full, Thea and Gibson
were in the midst of
a heated hand
argument. I could
tell only by the wild
hand gesturing that
Thea was doing,
otherwise the room
was deathly silent.
Once they noticed my
reemergence, thea
whirled past me long
enough to grab the
bottles of milk from
me and slam them into
the fridge.
Gibson's 'whipped
dog' look was hard
not to notice. "She
wants me to tell you
where Mulder is but I
promised...he doesn't
want to be found
yet."
"Gibson regardless of
what he wants or not
I have to find him,
he has been missing
for nearly a month,
there could be
something wrong with
him..."
"There's nothing
wrong with him that a
few more weeks won't
cure." He laughed,
though there was
little humor in it,
in fact there was a
note of brimming
insanity to it, as if
just below the
surface he was near
hysterics.
The hard slap of
Thea's hand against
Gibson's cheek made
me jump, the fact
that Gibson did not
know it was coming
made me cringe.
OOOhh she is good.
"Dell her Gibs'n"
Thea screamed into
his face as he slid
into the ratty
cushions. "Dell her
now or I will."
XxX
I figured the whole
thing was a
disgusting joke, that
Gibson had told the
joke that got the
whole world laughing.
I had maintained this
theory the entire
drive through the
dark desert. They
had begged me to wait
until morning to
start my sojourn out,
but armed with the
mere wisp of truths
that had been
whispered to me in
the hushed tones of
Formica hell, I knew
I would not be able
to rest until I had
the proof myself,
until I knew just
what was waiting for
me at the end of this
particular yellow
brick road.
It was a small
bungalow that had
been rented illegally
under some assumed
name that was
supposedly safe. You
had to drive up steep
hills and twisting
paths to come upon
the small two story
house. There were no
outside frivolities,
not even a basketball
hoop to warn me that
there was a live
Mulder here.
But I knew he was
here, as sure as I
knew anything, I
could feel his
presence like a tv
left on in a distant
room. He crawled
over my skin like
freshly wet sand-hard
as hell to finally
get rid of, and
sometimes grating
irritating.
The small porch held
one lone rocking
chair, bereft of
anyone seated in it;
I proceeded to the
front door hesitantly
yet firmly knocking.
A soft rustling
greeted me along with
the face of the man I
had come for. Seeing
him peer at my
through the window
made my heart leap
into my throat. He
looked as if he had
gained some weight,
darting his head from
the curtains, I
waited for the front
door to be thrown
open and to play out
every reunion fantasy
I had toyed with over
the past ten months.
The door opened
slowly, even creaked
as it swung on the
ancient brass hinges.
"Mulder?" I called
inside before heading
into the house.
To say it was dark
would be an
understatement;
Mulder had taken
great pains to make
sure no sunlight
would eek through
into his makeshift
cave.
What I could make of
the inside of the
small house seemed to
be pleasant enough,
but I was not here to
decorate, and after
searching the
downstairs I finally
made my way up to the
second floor.
I found him in the
first bedroom I came
to; he was seated in
a huge recliner in
what must have been
the master bedroom.
His back faced me yet
he spoke from his
perch. "Why are you
here Scully?"
"And it's nice to see
you too Mulder.' It
came out angrier than
I had originally
thought, but I let it
fly regardless. "So
Mulder, I didn't know
you were in the
market for a new
house, you should
have told me, I would
have helped you pick
something out." I
smirked
"Don't be glib
Scully," Mulder
hurled back at me at
nearly the same speed
and ire. "Where is
Will?"
"Safe." I was not
going to hand him the
satisfaction of a
complete answer until
I had a few of my
own, and he could at
least have had the
decency to turn and
face me.
"What do you want
Scully? You come to
stare at me, to gawk
at what is sure to
become a medical
feeding frenzy?"
Ok, so now not only
was I completely
confused, I was also
rapidly beginning to
freak. "What are you
talking about
Mulder?" I asked
pointedly, slowly
inching upon his
reclining form.
He chuckled in a
morose tone, not even
bothering to get up
from his seat. "Don't
come in here Scully."
He nearly moaned. "Go
home to Will, go do
something that is
going to make a
difference."
I was incensed. "What
the hell is your
problem?" I fumed.
"At the very least
you could pretend to
be happy to see me.
I have been through
hell to get out here
then find out where
you were..."
"You don't know what
hell really is
Scully. " his voice
was scaring me more
than a little, and I
decided to end the
charade, quickly and
without giving Mulder
enough time to react
or run, I advanced
upon him like a
hungry lioness.
"Mulder," I accused
as I spun him around.
Once I had I
instantly wished I
hadn't, but that is
the problem with
knowing, once you
know you truly cannot
go back.
His face and
composure crumpled
under my scrutiny. I
don't even think he
realized what he was
doing as he clutched
his arms around his
middle.
His Middle.
"Mulder...?"
"Don't fucking stare
at me Scully, I'm not
a freak!" he yelled.
Mulder rose to his
feet, only to swagger
under his own
seemingly crushing
weight.
"Whoa...take it easy
there big fella..." I
soothed as I eased a
very rotund Mulder
back onto the bed. I
had so many
questions, but the
last thing he needed
right now was an
angry shrew in his
face, and the last
thing I wanted were
answers to mostly
impossible questions.
He lay on the bed
breathing heavily
from the head rush,
eyes closed he seemed
to be sleeping but I
knew him better. "So
now you know..."
"How did this
happen?" It was the
safest way I could
find to phrase the
question.
"Oh come on Scully,'
a small smile spread
across his puffy
face. "Birds do it,
bees do it even
educated MD's..."
"Mulder!" I
admonished trying
hard not to cry.
"How?"
He sighed, and then
the tears came, in
big wet drops that
his hand could not
wipe away fast
enough. "I was
abducted again
Scully." Sniffle. "I
was taken again and
held against my
will." Sniffle. "I
was only gone for two
days, and I had no
idea what was done to
me, or even that I
had gone missing.
Gibson had to tell
me."
I chose silence as a
supportive means, I
knew he was going to
spill his proverbial
guts, talking during
his confession would
only serve to delay
the inevitable. "And
this was not an
important enough
occurrence to let me
know what the hell
was going on?"
He recoiled
noticeably from my
words, but fuck it; I
want him to know how
scared I was, and how
utterly panicked I am
right now.
"I came here to die
Scully." The words
hit me like a wall of
ice cold water. "I
didn't want you to
know that I was
dying...for the
second time. What
did you think would
happen at the end of
all of this?" he
spoke the last words
as he gestured at his
expound middle.
Oh yeah, did I
mention that the
father of my son was
either pregnant or
had some serious
weight issues. "We
need to get you out
of here Mulder..." I
stammered, not really
wanting to make an
already volatile
situation completely
untenable.
"And go where?" he
raged. "Where do you
suggest we go Scully?
Oh I know, let's go
to the local
hospital, or better
yet, let's cut to the
chase, let's get the
major media in on the
fun." His words had
come in a hoarse
torrent, followed
swiftly by another
round of coughing and
wheezing.
"You shouldn't lay on
your back like that
Mulder; it'll
compromise your
breathing." My
attempts to nurture
were rewarded with a
scowl, though I
noticed he did make
an effort to lay onto
his side, in a manner
reminiscent of a five
year old who had just
learned why not to
touch the stove. I
wasn't sure how to
approach him, but I
felt a driving need
to give him a quick
once over. "You need
to talk?" I asked,
but what I really
meant was 'how did
all of this happen?'
Mulder, always the
show off, decided now
was as good a time as
any to come out with
the truth. "I was
abducted." He said so
simply as if to
explain the whole
thing.
Nodding, I took the
opportunity to
advance upon his
lanky prone frame.
His middle was so
distended as to be
comical in any other
form, but the
situation would not
broker any humor from
me, and I needed to
know more details.
"If you want to know
the high tech medical
term for all this
Scully, then you are
barking up the wrong
tree..." eyes met
mine as I did my
rudimentary
examination,
surprised at how
pliable he had become
to my ministrations
in such a short
amount of time. "I
woke up in the front
yard of the trailer,
Gibson had to
convince me that I
had been missing. "
He moaned as I tried
to check his abdomen.
"That doesn't come
off you know." He
sneered.
"Mulder, we have to
get you out of here.
I am not comfortable
with the progression
of your...condition
and if I have to do
something
particularly radical
I would feel safer
doing so in a more
sterile situation."
"No."
I was prepared for a
fight, I knew Mulder
could be a difficult
patient, having been
his personal
physician for so many
years had toughened
my resolve against
his tantrums. "Mulder
we have to get you
into a better
environment, at the
very least a sonogram
so we know what we
are dealing with
here."
"I know what I am
dealing with Scully,
and I am not equipped
with the plumbing
necessary to see this
through. "a small
sigh escaped his lips
as he shifted
positions on the
large bed. "This is
going to kill me."
He seemed so sure of
it, so damn positive
that this was going
to be the end of his
life, I wanted to
reassure him, I
wanted to tell him
that things were
going to be fine, but
I had to start to
believe that myself.
"Mulder, there are
options, let me make
a few phone calls, I
promise that no one
has to know what is
going on here, I
promise you that you
will not be poked and
prodded by anyone you
do not want to."
A slight nod of his
head was all I
received before he
drifted off into
sweet bliss.
XxXxX
I had a hard time
getting him into the
car, my friend from
medical school
offered her vacant
offices no questions
asked, of course I
had to use my creds
to access privacy,
but Kersh could crawl
into my ass later, I
had bigger and
mouthier fish to fry.
Said fish was passed
out in the back seat
of my rental car, and
snoring loudly. He
wore the only things
that would now fit
his girth, sweats.
They gave him the
look of a man who had
too many visits from
the clown and too
many dances with Sara
Lee. Driving through
the desert at
midnight was hardly
my idea of a great
time, but the wind
was blowing well
enough to encourage
the open window, and
the late night talk
show on the radio
kept me annoyed and
awake with its
preponderance of end
of the world doom and
gloom. Who the hell
was Major Ed Dames
and where was he
getting his info
from, cause from my
vantage point he was
way the fuck off.
"I'm going to die
from this you know."
He mused plaintively
from under the arm
slung across his
face. I am used to
him as a downtrodden
man, I have been
witness to him deal
with the loss of both
his parents and the
final resolution of
his sister's death.
But seeing him deal
with his own
mortality in the face
of such humiliation
was nearly too much
for me to deal with.
My hands wanted to
pull the car over and
cry, but it was
everything else that
kept me pointed
towards Flagstaff and
the only possible
salvation that Mulder
may have.
"I don't see this
killing you off
Mulder," though my
voice may or may not
have cracked on one
or more of the words.
He responded with
another faint
chuckle, a half
hearted one that
seemed to have gotten
stuck in his throat.
"Don't tell me you
are now claiming to
see the future..." I
could see him
smirking even though
both eyes were firmly
fixed on the road.
"Someone get
Yappi..."
"Mulder I am serious,
we will get through
this."
"Why this Scully? I
mean of all things
they have done to me
or tried to do to me,
why this?"
A smile played at my
lips. "Well, killing
you didn't seem to
work."
"Not funny Scully."
He sat up and leaned
back into the faux
leather of the back
seat. "I don't know
if I can live through
this Scully. I don't
know if you know this
but I am not exactly
properly wired for
this kind of thing."
What could I say? 'Oh
yes Mulder it will
all work out. Yes
Mulder things are
going to be fine this
is the kind of thing
that happens all the
time, Yes Mulder
this is going to all
end perfectly
naturally.' What
could I say and what
I should say were on
two separate planets.
In the end I opted
for what we knew,
what we were. "Well
Mulder, you could
always go back on
jerry Springer..." At
some point I will
learn bedside
manners, more than
likely whenever I
start treating live
patients.
Mulder did not answer
the quip, did not
even snicker. It was
the silence that
scared me most.
"Mulder I am sorry I
was kidding..."
No answer, pulling
over the car I made a
mad dash for the back
seat, imagining the
worst but hoping,
hoping.
I checked his vitals,
his breathing was far
more labored than
when we first set
off. I had debated
transporting him
across the state, but
given the options I
knew the only answer
was to get him to my
friend's office.
"Mulder?" I asked
desperation had taken
over my voice and I
could hear myself
squeak. "Mulder!' I
tugged at his arm
which seemed the only
safe place to touch.
He seemed completely
lax to my touch. Any
other time I would
have grabbed for my
cell and frantically
dialed for help. But
this was not the time
for outside help. I
didn't want Mulder to
become a spectacle,
nor drag out into the
light the horrid life
that we had been
forced to lead. I
touched his forehead
gingerly and
whispered his name
once again.
"See, nothing to
laugh at Scully."
XxX
"Char, I told you
this was a bureau
matter and that I
would need complete
privacy, no one was
to be here including
you." I was sticky
and hot, still
dressed in the same
clothed that I had
flown in. Charlene
Carson was standing
at the front door of
her clinic, the only
car parked in the lot
was her Lexus. She
was a pretty blonde
but had a real yen
for drama.
"Someone had to let
you in Dee.' She
loved using that nick
name from college; I
was in turn glad that
Mulder was in the
back seat and could
not hear it. She
dangled a set of keys
from her elegant
hand, jingling them
as she spoke.
"Besides, you would
not want me to miss
out on such an
exciting event as a
real life FBI case."
Did I mention she
watched way too much
TV? It was almost
her downfall in med
school. If it
weren't for a rich
father and a mid term
shift in priorities,
I would be sitting
here discussing what
color I wanted my
hair dyed.
The same cold hard
stare I gave her
during finals when
she wanted to throw a
party backed her off.
"OK." She surrendered
along with the keys.
"But at least let me
in on the details
afterwards/" I
granted a non
committal smile as
she hauled herself
back into the car. I
watched her drive off
before securing my
package from the back
seat. He was none to
happy at the jostling
and warned of
urinating on me in
protest. Definitely
a side of Mulder I
can do without.
Remind me never to
knock him up.
By the time I got him
settled onto a bed in
the back, his color
had begun to fade.
Mulder's face was
becoming a mask of
grey glannel and his
heart rate began to
fluctuate. I knew I
didn't have long to
get whatever it was
out of him, worst
fears consisted of a
hybrid that would
ultimately was a
hybrid that would
eventually eat its
way to freedom.
These were fears that
I wisely kept to
myself in the memory
of my own thoughts
and fears during
labor and delivery.
Oh God,
Labor and Delivery.
It dawned on me then
as I dragged the
portable ultrasound
through the empty
back rooms that I
would have to perform
a C Section on
Mulder, there was
simply no other way.
The operation was
dangerous even under
the most ideal
circumstances; this
was what my father
would have called a
goat fuck.
He trusted me to get
him through this, he
held out the hope
that I had dangled in
front of him. What
the hell was I
thinking? I am a
doctor that operates
on the dead, and
while I knew the
basics of the
procedure, there was
so much that could go
wrong that I could
not begin to list. I
held not only
Mulder's life in my
hands, but that of
William's too. One
wrong move on my part
and my son is forever
without a father.
And that is when the
anger hit. How dare
they? After all that
he had been through,
we had been through
How dare they use him
in this manner? What
right did They have
to turn this man into
Frankenstein's
monster? Just
because they have the
ability to do it does
not make it right. I
wanted to stamp my
foot in some way,
scream thousand angry
curses, break
something.
Instead I solemnly
prepared the small
operating room and
breathed a prayer
with each instrument
laid out.
XXxXX
It is funny to note
here that for a man
of Mulder's penchant
for trouble, he
harbors a lot of
fears. Bugs, fire,
needles and yes
surgery. To say he
was less than happy
at being strapped
down was less than
accurate.
"Victor," he
murmured. "Have I not
a soul?"
"Shut up Mulder, you
passed English Lit a
long time ago, we are
now in the Final
Exams of Anatomy." I
glared at him. "I
have to put you out
Mulder, and here is
the thing, I am not
sure how this will
affect the ba-
situation. "I
stammered over the
baby word I had done
a cursory ultrasound
with the portable
monitor while Mulder
was tapped out. Thee
was nothing there
more than what seemed
to be a full term
infant. Mulder had
never acknowledged
this as anything more
than a health issue,
and I could not help
but feel that in a
lot of ways I was
performing an
abortion.
His blood pressure
was starting to rise
to a level that
concerned me,
"Mulder?" I asked
again not knowing if
he were unconscious,
or just trying to
consider if he wanted
to do this or not.
"What I am saying
Mulder that even in
the best of
circumstances, a C-
Section is
dangerous."
"You have terrible
bedside manners
Scully" Mulder
muttered."Are you
trying to talk me out
of this? What are my
options, maybe I
should get a second
opinion."
"Mulder..."
"I trust you Scully,'
was all he said
before closing his
eyes. As I
administered the
anesthesia, I found
myself again praying
for his safety.
Maybe we were just
all out of miracles.
VvV
As I began to cut
into my partner I had
to shake the feeling
that I was working on
a corps, I had to
remind myself that he
was not dead. It's
not as if this was a
high tech sort of
surgery I had working
here, Char had almost
no monitoring
equipment, save for a
sonogram machine and
the very basics.
I knew that once I
made the first
incision, there was a
ten minute window of
opportunity to remove
the fetus from
whatever setup inside
of Mulder.
What I found inside
of him made no sense
whatsoever. Once
past the abdominal
musculature, I
encountered a web of
fibrous tissues. Not
quite a womb, more
like a net. Slicing
inside revealed a
thick pearlescent,
gelatinous material.
There was enough of
the material to make
me question the
existence of a fetus
at all.
Well whaddaya know?
The baby was tucked
tightly into itself,
curled around its own
body. The gelatin
made it difficult to
get a hold of the
infant. Clock
ticking away, I knew
I only had a few
minutes before
Mulder's pressure
dropped to dangerous
levels.
But in the end,
whether God heard my
prayers, or I was
still at home asleep
in my messy apartment
with a ton of laundry
covering my head
having the trippiest
dream I ever had
without the aid of
self medication;
either way this had
been too damn easy.
Mulder's vitals never
slipped, the fetus
slid right into my
grip at the last
minute. Not that I
would ever want to do
this again, but if
you are going to
perform a Caesarian
in a tight spot, this
was nearly textbook.
XxX
Mulder didn't begin
to wake up until
three hours later.
It was nearly two in
the morning and I had
successfully cleaned
the evidence from
Char's observation
area. She would love
to see this one and
knowing her
predilection for
anything on a
television, I made
enough time to make
sure all of the
security tapes had
been erased. Didn't
need more of us on
television thank you
very much.
"Wow that was a
helluva party Scully,
but next time I get
to be the one with
the scalpel, ok"
I smiled, just
grateful to hear his
voice, grateful that
he would live through
it, grateful I didn't
have to explain to
William that his
father was dead. "Hey
Mulder, or should I
say, Mom?" I had
waited three hours
for that one damn it.
He didn't smile,
merely groaned and
tried to sit up. "oh
no you don't, we have
to leave soon, but I
still need you to lie
still for another
hour or so."
He snorted, but lay
back down again. "So
what is it?" he asked
making a gesture at
the infant happily
relieving my swollen
breasts.
"It's a boy Mulder,
you have a son.
Another one."
"I didn't cheat on
you Scully," I guess
he picked up on the
slight exasperation
in my voice. Leave
it to Mulder to be
perceptive, even
while healing from
what can be called
major surgery.
I was angry, but on
about twelve
different levels. "I
know that Mulder,
what I am feeling I
can barely wrap into
so few words as we
have time for right
now. I need to get
us back to your
little hideaway in
the desert, then
after you have
healed, we can figure
out where to go from
there."
XxX
In the end, I left
Char a thank you note
and contact
information in case
there was anything
she needed in return.
I had to use the old
wheelchair to get him
and the baby into the
car. As unsafe as it
was, I had to rely on
Mulder to hold the
baby as we made the
six hour trip back
through the desert.
XxX
We ended up staying
at the house for a
week. We had stopped
along the ride to max
out my emergency
credit cards on baby
shit. Seemed almost
pointless considering
I had so mucho f this
shit at home.
Home, that was
another world away.
I was having a hard
time reconciling the
two worlds into one;
the one I left three
days ago, and this
new odd existence
that consisted of a
child that I could
not account for, a
life that included
more of the weirdness
that I thought would
have left us alone by
now.
I knew Mulder and I
were in serious need
of a discussion, but
I wasn't sure how to
go about insisting
that he come home
with me. How would
we explain another
baby that looked too
much like Mulder to
not be from him?
Which begged a whole
new line of issues.
If Mulder is the
father of this baby,
then who is the
mother?
Whose eggs
contributed to this
new miracle squishing
his face readying for
an ardent insistence
upon an early
breakfast.
"Mulder, we need to
talk." I began as I
helped him into the
house being as
careful as possible
not to break open his
stitches. I had not
slept in two days,
and I knew this was
going to catch up to
me sooner or later.
"Can we get a little
sleep first before
you decide what we
should do.' He smiled
in earnest then.
"Well, you need to
make some decisions
about-"
"I know that Scully,
I want, I think I
want to keep him
Scully. I know ts
not the best thing in
the world, but, I
know he's mine
Scully, I can't leave
him out there."
"Mulder, you're
right. We should
sleep on this, and
decide when you are
not so hormonal"
"You know that is not
a very nice thing to
say to the man who-"
He stopped in mid
sentence. Following
his gaze, I realized
what made him stop
talking. "Gibson?
What are you doing
here? Is everything
ok with Thea?"
Gibson seemed
different somehow, I
could not put my
finger on it, but it
was something I had
not felt in a while.
Gibson smiled as he
sat in a nearly perch
like stance in the
modest living room.
"Nice to see you up
and about Mulder, and
noticeably, smaller."
He grinned a little
nervously.
"Gibson, how did you
get here?" I told
you, seven years with
Mulder has made me
question things. We
had not seen another
car when we pulled
in, and I doubted hw
would have walked
here.
"I see that the
surgery was a
success, is that," he
looked pointedly at
the infant in my
arms. "Him?"
Mulder gave a small
shift in weight, I
was suddenly
conscious of his need
to lie flat. "Gibson,
can you please help
me get him settled
down on the couch."
Once I had a blanket
over him, I sat in
the chair next to him
cradling Mulder's
baby in my arms. I
was hesitant to feed
him in front of
Gibson, but I knew he
was ready to eat
again.
"Go ahead Agent
Scully, it won't
bother me."
I keep forgetting
about that 'can read
minds thing' he
should have to wear a
sign on his head or
something.
"Now that would just
give too much away
don't you think Agent
Scully?" His voice,
not the timbre, it
was the cadence of
speech that made the
hairs on the back of
my neck stand at
attention.
"Gibson?" Apparently
I wasn't the only one
mildly put off by our
late night visitor.
Mulder began to sit
up a little, despite
the apparent pain it
caused him.
"I know you wonder
if this child is safe
Agent Scully, I
assure you he is
quite healthy."
Gibson began to
search his pockets
for something. "I
know your other
questions too. It
is so wonderful to
know.'
His face contorted
into a sort of placid
horror. I knew that
look, how could I
have missed it all
these years. How
could we both have
been played for fools
for so long? How?" I
asked clutching the
baby closer as if to
save him from the
evil being next to
me.
"My dear, the same
way you hold that
child now. We have
had the ability to
clone humans for
nearly eighteen
years, thanks to our
friends. I was the
first batch that made
it. It was a good
idea your father had,
Fox. He thought it
would be good to
clone one of us as a
means of continuing
the Project." He
found what he was
looking for, no
surprise it was a
pack of Morely's.
Gibson placed one
long tube into his
mouth before going
on, "I wanted to come
and ensure your
safety. The two of
you have served us
well in the past, but
it is time for a new
generation." He
looked pointedly at
the baby, a cold
chill ran down my
spine. "I am not the
only one cloned in
this room."
Mulder and I
exchanged dumb stares
as we tried to
understand what was
going on here.
"We knew the project
would out live us, we
knew that
Colonization may or
may not happen in our
lifetimes. We needed
a little insurance
that our fight will
continue."
"What the hell does
that have to do with
us?" Mulder stormed
as loudly as the pain
would allow him.
Gibson's smile made
me shudder as he went
on. "Very little now,
but I am hoping that
your next
'incarnations' will
be able to pick up
the fight. I have
changed the rules
just a little bit
though." Gibson
rubbed the unlit
cigarette back and
forth in his fingers.
Old Smokey would have
lit it baby or not,
but I could not help
but think that Thea's
presence may have
changed a little of
his nature.
"Changed indeed Agent
Scully, and that is
not the only thing
changed. This time it
is I who has the
advantage now."
My gut wrenched
inside of me, I could
not imagine how to
begin to fight
someone who knew a
move before you made
it. I have no idea
where this leaves us
as far as hope; maybe
there is none left at
this point. Looking
at him there were
some similarities
that I should have
sen all along, aside
form the small facial
similarities, the
child had always
fostered within a
realm of shadows and
secrecies that I
originally chalked up
to his unique skill.
"What do you mean
another clone?"
Mulder asked. He
looked at me holding
his son as if I could
morph into an alien
bounty hunter at any
time and wolf down
the infant in one
gulp. I had never
felt that level of
distrust from Mulder
aimed my way, for the
ten nanoseconds it
lasted, I felt
completely alone in
the universe.
"You are making Agent
Scully nervous Fox.
I will put both of
you out of you
misery. The child is
you Agent Scully." He
smiled
"That is impossible,
this child is male,"
I ranted.
Mulder was oddly
quiet as he mused
over the
possibilities. "Its
possible Scully, it's
only the manipulation
of one chromosome.
But aren't you
worried that would
alter the outcome of
things?"
Gibson made to light
the cigarette hanging
from his mouth, a
slight nod from me in
the direction of the
baby made him change
his mind. "I wouldn't
worry too much about
that Fox, there is a
version of you that
will soon know the
joys of womanhood.
We figured you may be
quite a bit more
docile as a woman."
"You don't get out
much do you Smoky?"
he muttered.
"Be that as it may
Fox, you will be
quite a bit more
reserved."
"Where am i?"
I guess this is the
part of the story
where all of the lies
are explained, all of
the ends are neatly
tied into a perfect
bow and you the
reader can leave
feeling satisfied
that you have read a
great piece of
fiction.
Would that it were
fiction that is.
The fact is that
after Gibson finished
explaining the whole
thing to us, I felt
helplessness that I
had not felt in
years.
There was no hope.
We were destined to
play out these roles
in one form or
another ad infinitum.
I didn't like the
sound of that, nor
did Mulder like the
idea of his other,
more curvier self
being raised by Thea
and Gibson.
Gibson left in a hail
of conspiracy and
cigarette smoke and
all I could think was
that I truly was too
old for this shit.
I guess that's the
whole point isn't it?
XxX
In the end I
convinced Mulder to
come home. Gibson
had pretty much
guaranteed our
safety, they were
done with us.
Mulder seemed
completely different.
It was almost as if
the fight had gone
out of him. We had
been home for a month
before I got up the
nerve to ask him
about it.
"What's the point
Scully?" he asked
after having tucked
the kids into bed.
Mulder decided to
name the baby Joshua,
a name as far from
anything resembling
my name as possible.
I can understand
Mulder's reasoning;
wanting to give this
kid his own chance in
the world, maybe
steer him away from
the medical and
criminal justice
field too. What this
family needs is a
nice, greedy CEO.
I tucked into the
couch beside my other
half, keenly aware of
his feelings of
hopelessness. "I
don't think we are
looking at this in
the right light
Mulder. " I offered
"Who is to say that
these children will
grow up to be us
anyway? We are not
merely a product of
our genetic code, we
are a series of
decisions made by us
and others as well."
He looked at me but
I could tell that
this was far from
over. "there is one
other thing Mulder,'
I offered trying to
give him one last bit
of hope to cling to,
to keep fighting the
good fight wherever
and whoever it may
be. "There is still
an unknown variable."
"Scully, you know I
love it when you go
all Algebraic on me."
I could see the small
glint of hope cross
his face as the humor
came back to him. He
was beginning to see
the light at the end
of the tunnel, and I
had turned it on for
him. "Our little
unknown variant, he
was never part of
this before, they can
breed us, and clone
us, but Will is all
natural, no additives
or preservatives."
"Yeah,' he nodded as
if it were all making
sense to him. "Yeah,
we can affect the
future from right
here Scully. We can
stop this, in our own
way." Raising himself
off of the couch,
Mulder ambled toward
the computer.
"Mulder, what are you
doing?" I asked
shocked at his sudden
surge of positive
energy.
"I am affecting the
future. " he smiled
"Hey Scully, how do
you feel about
England?"
The End