"Mulder.  I did what you asked, under the assumption you were going 
to keep me in the loop.  I kept them off of Scully's ass and 
bought you 48 hours and you swore to me, you would keep me up to 
speed on the hunch I was risking my entire fucking career on."

Mulder turned to face him, silent.

"Where. Is. She." Skinner asked him again.  

Mulder remained silent.  

"I am going to try to break this down for you.  They are trying to 
court marshall her, Mulder.  She took top secret, national
security information overseas and then disappeared.  Off of 
the map. I was able to hold them off as her main contact, but 
they wanted proof, Mulder.  Goddamned proof that I couldn't
come up with.  So, they want to get their hands on her
and to turn her into a spy.  They want her for treason and 
espionage."

"That's fucking ridiculous, Sir.  She just did what I asked
her too.  She is no spy.  We both know that." Mulder said 
calmly."

"Well, what we know and what we think are two different
things.  Right now, the government will make examples of anyone
who crosses them, and she has committed the ultimate crime, in 
their eyes."

Mulder felt his pulse quicken and his temperature skyrocket.  

"That is Absurd!  They led her around with completely false
information!  They had her walking into a bloodbath in Berlin.
All to keep my nose out of the fire?  Fuck this." Mulder
spat, his eyes avoiding Skinner's.  "She's not here."

"I know she is here, Mulder.  You wouldn't go half way around
the world to protect her and then let her waltz out of your
radar."  Skinner leaned back against the counter, his fingers
pinching the skin underneath his glasses.  "I need to get her
home.  I cannot protect her here."  

"You aren't taking her anywhere.  She is staying with me.  There
is no discussion or room for negotiation.  We do not split up."
 Mulder said, dismissing Skinner as he 
walked around the counter towards the office. "Sorry you wasted 
a trip." 

"Mulder." Skinner said, in a low warning tone, his large hand
gripping Mulder's forearm as he walked past.  "You are in 
over your heads here.  And you will get her killed.  You both
need to come home."

Chapter 30, pt. 2


Mulder stopped at the touch of Skinner's hand and waited briefly
before taking  deep breath.  

"She doesn't deserve this, Mulder."

Mulder hung his head and ratched his arm from Skinner's grip.

"She won't go willingly.  You know that.  And neither of us
can tell her no." Mulder said, head still bowed.  

"I brought something to keep her asleep well until we get
home.  It's just souped up Ambien.  Give it to her with
water."  Skinner said, solemly turning to grab a cleaned 
glass in the strainer and filled it with water.  

Mulder took the envelope that Skinner produced from his pocket and
the glass of water for Scully and proceeded down the hallway.

He slid inside the door, holding his breath as he maneveured in
the dark room, setting the offending pill and water on the side 
table near her head.  

He slid his tshirt back off and pulled back his side of the 
covers, the warmth escaping their bed in a 'huff'.  He 
wrapped his newly cool skin around Scully tightly, causing 
her to shift in his arms and nuzzle down.  

"You're cold." she mummbled against his skin.  

"Mmmm hmmm." he said, threading his fingers through her satin hair
and running his knuckles down her jawline.  He swallowed and closed
his eyes, praying to God that she would forgive him for this.  
Drugging her and abandoning her.  But, if Skinner was right,
he couldn't risk her being a government parriah for some stupid
reason, be a martyr for the cause.  

She had already given so much.

"Hey Scully?  Take this for your headache." Mulder whispered as
he handed a mostly asleep Scully the pill and held the water 
with his free hand.

"Thank you." She mewed as she tossed the pill back and Mulder
held the water to her lips.  

Mulder settled back down, propping his head up on the back of the
couch and pulled Scully tightly too him.  He placed a long 
kiss to her hairline as she slept and didn't stop the tears
that slipped from his lashes.  

As long as she was safe...