Title - Her Son (5/?)
Author - Donna
Email address - donnah@donnas-stories.com
URL -  http://www.donnas-stories.com/
Rating - PG-13
Category - MSR, Angst, AU 
Spoilers - None  
Keywords - MSR, Angst, AU
Summary - What if that first time had been just a little 
different
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


Her Son - Part 5

"Come on, Will.  We're on a deadline."  He buckled the boy 
back into the backseat of the SUV and turned left out of the 
parking lot.  

He followed the signs to the Wal-Mart and hurried inside.  
After he put the boy in the cart, he began his shopping.  
First came the car seat, the same one she'd had in her car, 
then diapers and other supplies for Will.  He grabbed up a 
package of boxers and t-shirts and one pair of jeans for 
himself.  Then he headed for the women's area and picked 
up a six-pack of panties for her.  He was guessing at size, 
but knew he was close.  He grabbed a couple of t-shirts and 
a pair of jeans for her as well.  A large gym bag joined the 
supplies. 

Since it was a super store, he headed for the grocery side 
and picked up a box of Cheerios, those milk cartons that 
didn't need refrigeration and some toddler food that he 
hoped Will liked.  He got some food for adults too and a 
small cooler. 

He hesitated at the women's aisle.  Hell, did she need 
'supplies'?  Looking helplessly at Will, he picked up a box of 
medium tampons.  He'd taken the woman away without 
even her purse.  He'd never be able to get her forgiveness 
now, but he might as well make things as easy on her as 
possible.  Other supplies, toothbrushes, deodorant, made 
his mental list as well. 

After one more aisle, he checked out, using cash, then 
hurried out to the car.  With Will's 'help' he installed the car 
seat and strapped the boy in.  Then he loaded the rest of the 
supplies, except for the bag of diapers, into the gym bag.  He 
topped off the gas tank, then hurried back to motel. 

He lifted Will out of the car seat, then hefted the gym bag 
onto his shoulder.  The diapers could stay in the car.  They 
had the ones he had snatched from the diaper bag.  Damn, 
he'd forgotten a diaper bag.  Well, they would need more 
supplies soon and he didn't want to draw any more attention 
than he could help. 

He took a deep breath and unlocked the door to their room. 
Her head came up instantly and with a sinking heart, he 
could see the track of tears on her face.  

"Dana - " 

She wouldn't look at him, her eyes locked on the baby.  He 
realized she was checking for injuries on the boy, and his 
mood sank further.  He set the boy on his feet and dropped 
the bag on the bed.  He held Will's hand as they walked to 
Dana.  He removed the gag and then hurried to free her 
hands. 

She shot out of the chair, grabbing up the baby and 
retreating from him.  She saw the pain on his face, but didn't 
care.  She was hugging Will, crooning in his ear. 

"He's okay." 

She glared at him, staying at the far side of the room. 

He couldn't blame her.  He began unpacking the gym bag, 
putting the food on the table. 
She watched from the distance she could manage, and 
blinked when she spotted the tampons he carried along 
with the other supplies into the bathroom.  While he was in 
there she chanced looking into the bag.   

She looked up to see him standing in the door of the bath, 
watching her, not approaching the bed since she was 
there.  She reached into the bag and pulled out the book, In 
the Night Kitchen.  She held it up.  "Why?" 

"You said it was his favorite." 

Tears spilled out of her eyes again.  "What's going on?"  
She heard the pleading note in her voice, but she had to 
know. 

Now he looked away, but he had to tell her.  They were in 
for the night, even though it was early. It was time.  He 
nodded and made his way to the table.  He offered her a 
bottle of water but she shook her head.  He opened it and 
took a swig. 

She sat on the bed farthest from him, Will in her lap. 

"I told you about my sister."  She nodded.  "I told you I 
thought that the government was working with . . . them."  
Again she nodded.  "I pointed out the similarities to your 
abduction and we discussed the tests they ran on you that 
made no sense." 

"I don't - " 

"I ran some more tests." 

She stiffened then. 

"Dana, I didn't expect - " his phone ringing cut him off and 
he pulled it from his pocket.   He answered but didn't speak.  
 

"Email two."  The call disconnected. 

"What?" She could tell the call had ended.  Had it been a 
wrong number? 

He looked up at her.  "Email two," he responded. 

"Okay, email too, what does that mean?" 

"Not also, two."  He raised two fingers.  "I'll be right back."  
He stepped outside and returned quickly with a laptop 
computer that had apparently been hidden in the back of 
the SUV.  He opened it, grateful that, cheap as this place 
was, there was wireless access, probably due in part to the 
restaurant next door. 

While it was booting up, he looked back over at her. 

"Is that what you were messing with at the car wash?"  She 
asked. 

"No, I was changing license tags.  I didn't know if the 
original one was caught on camera, but I had to assume it 
had been.  Now we have Pennsylvania plates." 

Her eyes widened but she didn't ask any more questions.   

He opened the account that led to email two and was quiet, 
watching what looked like pictures load.  He closed his eyes 
after a moment and shook his head. 

"What?" she asked again. 

"They know we're together." 

"Who does?" 

He just looked at her then. 

She blushed, at his look of pity.  He wasn't right; the 
government didn't conspire with aliens from other planets.  
The more she thought about that, the more absurd . . . 

"Come look." 

She rose then, Will tight in her arms, and approached the 
table.  Mulder moved back to give her room, knowing his 
presence wasn't welcome.  "Oh my god."  Photos of her 
apartment, completely ransacked, were on the screen.  
Whatever they had been looking for didn't seem to have 
been found.  She scanned through and came to another 
apartment.  "Is this - " 

"Mine, yeah." 

"Who did this?" 

"Whoever doesn't want us together." 

"But why!" 

"That other test I ran . . . " 

She stood up and took the baby back to the bed, putting 
distance between them.  "Tell me." 

He resumed his seat at the table and studied his hands for a 
long moment.  "Because of the circumstances of your 
disappearance, I, I decided to make sure that Will was your 
biological child." 

"What?  I wasn't pregnant when I - " 

"Yes, you were.  They didn't tell you, but it was part of the 
tests they ran at Walter Reed." 

"That wasn't in what you gave me." 

"I know.  I wasn't sure you were ready for that."  He watched 
her kiss the boy's head.  
"He is your son.  The DNA tests proved that." 

"How did you get our DNA?"  Her voice was nearly steady. 

"You're missing the lid of a sippy cup.  The cup was in your 
dishwasher . . . " He saw that she knew what he was talking 
about.  "There was also a cup with a straw on the counter.  I 
took the straw as well." 

"He's mine.  I could have told you that," she said defiantly. 

"He doesn't look much like you.  He really more resembles 
his father." 

"How would you know that?  You've never met Allen - " she 
stopped when she realized the implications.  Allen wasn't 
the boy's father, not if she had already been pregnant.  She 
met his eyes then.  "Who?" 

"Me." 

He watched her mouth fall open in shock. 

"That, that's not possible," she stuttered. 

"I know, but it doesn't change the facts.  That's not what I 
was looking for.  It never crossed my mind that I . . . I can see 
it now, when I look, but I wasn't looking and certainly not for 
that.  I don't know why, and I'm not sure how, but, but you 
were impregnated during your abduction and you - " 

"No!  I've listened to your theories, I sympathize with you 
losing your sister to whatever happened to her, but - " 

"We can do the test again.  You can pick the place.  But for 
now, we have to stay hidden." 

She looked over at the laptop, at the pictures that were still 
showing.  "Because of that?" 

He nodded.  "I'm positive that we were never supposed to 
meet, much less become involved.  I don't know why either 
of us were chosen for an experiment like this.  Hell, I don't 
know how many kids I might have out there right now 
because of . . . " He shook his head and shut up, then 
turned to shut down the laptop. 

Now she was watching him closely.  Was he acting?  It 
didn't seem like it.  She hadn't known him long, and 
certainly not that well, but this . . . He seemed to be truly 
devastated by what was happening. 

She looked down at her son, who smiled up at her.  She'd 
never made the connection, there had been no reason, but 
the hair was like Mulder's, even the cowlick and, and his 
eyes.  Her head came up to find him watching her, wary of 
what she might be thinking. 

"I never told you this, Dana, but that day, in the grocery . . . I 
had no reason to be there.  I had driven by it and turned 
around.  I didn't know why, it just felt . . . " 

"Maybe you saw the men with the guns," she whispered. 

He shook his head.  "They came in after I did.  I didn't see 
anyone there until after the shooting started and I crawled 
around the end of the aisle and saw you." 

"You drove past . . . " 

He shrugged. "I've learned to go with my instincts.  
Sometimes I feel like there are things I should do.  I don't 
fight it any more.  It's been that way since Samantha . . . " 

Will made his presence known then, demanding to be let 
down.  The glance she sent him pierced Mulder's heart, but 
he said nothing.  Will, free again, toddled over to him and 
held up his arms to be picked up.  Mulder looked up at 
Dana, as though for permission, then lifted him into his lap. 

Will's took a fistful of Mulder's t-shirt into his hand and lay 
his head on Mulder's chest.  "Dadadada." 

Mulder looked down, his mouth open in shock.  He 
managed to look up at Dana, and her expression mirrored 
his own.  "Has, has he ever . . . " 

She shook her head.  "He's never said that before.  He said 
Mama early.  Dada is, is easier to say and usually comes 
first, but . . . "  Her voice trailed off or ran down.  She sat 
staring at the two of them.  She hadn't seen it before, hadn't 
looked for it, but she couldn't deny it now.  Mulder was Will's 
father. 

After a long moment in which no one spoke, Dana met 
Mulder's eyes.  "I guess I better give back the condo." 

Startled, because that was not where his mind had gone, 
Mulder laughed and the atmosphere lightened. 

"Yeah, I guess you could consider it.  Dana, I - " 

"Just wait.  We need to talk, but not now." 

Mulder nodded.  "Do you want to eat?  It's fast food, but - " 

She shook her head.  "Not right now.  Let me feed Will, 
maybe later." 

"Sure, we can heat it up or . . . " He shrugged and when she 
approached him, relinquished the boy to her.   

He again retreated to the far side of the room and finished 
emptying out the bag while she fed Will.  They studiously 
avoided looking at each other.  When she took Will in for his 
bath, Mulder couldn't stop himself.  He followed them into 
the bathroom.   

"May I?" 

"Uh, yeah, okay." Dana said, again not looking at him while 
she ran the water.  She let Will stay in the water extra long, 
since he'd spent so much time in the car.  He had a 
wonderful time splashing, even without his big bird, and got 
in some exercise finally. 
"It's early for bed," Dana remarked. 

"Yeah, normally, but I'd rather travel at night right now.  I'm 
sorry he's going to be strapped in for so long." 

"Where are we going?"  She was wrestling the boy into the 
new pajamas that Mulder had purchased, but she stopped 
to look at him.  "Mulder?" 

"I have an idea, but . . . " 

"Do you think I'll call someone and tell them?" 

The color rose on his face.  "No, I know you want to protect 
Will as much, more than I do, but I need to make sure about 
some things now." 

"What things?" 

"If I can get hold of some money, if I can make sure that 
we're not being tracked." 

"How, how bad is it that, that we know." 

"I'm not sure, but - " He looked over at the laptop.  "I don't 
want to be on-line again tonight.  I'll check in when I get 
up." 

"You're going to bed now?" 

"A nap, when I wake up, we can leave."  He took the gym 
bag off of the bed closest to the door.  "Are you planning to 
run off?"  He tried to smile, but failed. 

"No.  I'm not.  There's a lot I need to know." 

"Me too," he admitted.  "Is he ready to go down?" 

"I'm going to go with routine and read to him." 

He stretched out on his bed, pulling out the pillow.  "May I 
listen?" 

She gave a small smile then and gathered Will up into her 
arms.  The two of them sat at the head of the bed with Will in 
her lap.  After only a page, the thumb had gone into the 
mouth and his eyes began to droop.  She looked up and 
smiled at Mulder without thinking.  He watched as her smile 
faded, and he looked away.   

He fell asleep fairly easy for him; he hadn't slept much the 
night before.  She moved over to the little table and watched 
these two males sleep.  They were in the same damn 
position.  Mulder didn't have a 'Mudder Air', but his head 
rested on the pillow at the same angle.   

How had all of this happened?  All she had done was go 
into the market for milk and eggs.  No, it had started long 
before that, she might as well admit it.  Why had she been 
chosen of all of the people at that stupid picnic, taken for a 
month, and now . . . impregnated.  She shuddered. 

She looked at the tiny boy in the large bed.  Her son.  She 
had carried him, loved him from the beginning.  It hadn't 
mattered that Allen hadn't wanted to be involved, to be a 
father.  She'd wanted the baby.  The disappointment of her 
parents, the delay of her education - none of it had 
mattered.  Now it looked like she was 'on the lam' in order to 
keep him safe.  She looked over at Mulder again.  He'd done 
the same, even before he had known of any involvement, 
he had become involved.  The birthday party, the bear 
where her son's head now rested . . . Would it have been 
better not to have met the man?  She and Will wouldn't be in 
hiding.  But if he was being honest - and despite everything 
she did find herself believing him - they would have met 
somehow.  Had he really turned around and come back to 
the grocery store that day? 

This was maddening.  She got ready for bed, leaving her 
clothes on as well.  At the last minute, she moved one of the 
chairs to fit under to doorknob.  She wasn't sure whether 
she was more afraid of what was outside the room than 
what was inside, but in any case, the sound would give 
Mulder more time to pull that damn gun he had under his 
pillow.  He would defend them; she had no doubt of that. 

He was certainly the most complicated man she'd ever met. 

Mulder woke slightly disoriented and took a second to 
recognize his surroundings.  What was the dream?  He'd 
been in some sort of suburban neighborhood; all the 
houses were basically the same, located on postage stamp 
size yards, a lot of young kids.  One of the places he'd 
bought was in Lexington, Kentucky, yeah, that felt right.  He 
hadn't seen the place, though he knew the address.  But 
why had he dreamed of it?  Was his subconscious telling 
him that was a safe place?  It looked like they would fit in 
pretty well.  She had been standing at his side while he 
held Will.  She'd been blonde in the dream.  Would she 
consider that?  It was probably a good idea. 

He took a quick shower and dressed, then booted up the 
computer as the coffee brewed.  He watched her stir at the 
smell. 

He had no new messages, so he sent a one word message 
to the guys.  They'd know where to send the package, and 
logged off again. 

"Is it morning?" 

"No, it's night, almost eleven.  I thought some coffee would 
help me get going since I'll be driving most of the night."  
She nodded. "Want some?" 

"No, thank you.  I guess we should pack the car." 

"I can get it, there's not that much to pack." 

"Oh no." 

"What?" 

"We still need a car seat.  I don't - " 

"It was the first thing I bought.  I got the same one you had, 
since I've never investigated the things." 

She was watching him with wonder.  "Really?" 

"Yeah, I want him safe.  I want you both safe.  Dana, I 
wouldn't be doing this . . . " 

She nodded and rose, pushing her hair back.  She slipped 
on her shoes.  He fell silent, just watching her.  For some 
reason the kiss they had shared came back to him.  That 
was probably never going to happen again, not after this.  
The sharp pain of regret surprised him though he wasn't 
sure why.  He'd already admitted to himself he was attracted 
to her - hell, they had a child together.  A very small part of 
him wanted to laugh.

He loaded the car with their meager possessions and 
helped her fit the still sleeping boy into the car seat.   

"You should try to go back to sleep.  One of us needs to be 
awake for him tomorrow." 

"And you don't want me to see where we're going." 

"No, no that's not true.  In fact I've decided where we are 
going." 

"You don't have to - " 

"I want to.  I really didn't know until I woke up.  Please, 
believe that.  We're going to Kentucky.  There's a house in a 
neighborhood, it's a starter home and all the houses look 
nearly the same - " 

"On little green lawns and lots of kids . . . " She stopped as 
his mouth fell open. 

"Where did you - " 

"I dreamed about it.  Is it a real place?" 

"I, I'm not sure.  The house wasn't built when I bought . . .   
You dreamed the same thing I did?" 

"You . . . " 

He took a deep breath.  "We need to get moving." 

She thought about stopping him, asking again what was 
going on, but from the look on his face, decided against it.  
She climbed into the front seat and buckled in.  The 
tenseness didn't abate, so she finally closed her eyes just to 
escape a little.  She did fall asleep, her even breathing let 
him know that.  He looked over at her then.  She was 
holding up pretty well, considering.  He had thrown her back 
into her nightmare, she had been kidnapped, again, and 
this time her son had been taken as well.  He wasn't going 
to hurt her, but she had no reason to believe that. 

The thought he kept suppressing came up then.  She'd had 
the same dream as him.  She had dreamed about the house 
in Lexington.  Hell, he'd never seen it, but she had 
described what he had seen.   

What the hell was going on?  Yes, he was glad he'd turned 
around and gone into that grocery.  The guys in there could 
easily have . . . hurt them.  They were safe, and on the run, 
because of him.  No, he needed to concentrate on getting 
them to Kentucky and make sure they weren't followed.  No 
one should know where they were. 

He shoved it all out of his mind and drove, listening to his . . 
. his family, sleep. 

He was bleary eyed when she woke. 

"Let me drive for a little while." 

"I'm okay." 

"No, you're not and you're a danger to Will driving this tired.  
I've told you, I'm not going to do anything that will put him in 
danger." 

For just an instant she thought he was going to argue, but 
instead he nodded.  
"Thanks.  If I could get an hour or so.  Just stay on the 
highway.  We're only a couple of hours from Lexington." 

"Are we going directly to the house?" 

"No.  We have to pick up some things first." 

"Things?"' 

"Supplies."  That was all he said, then he took the next exit.  
At the top he pulled over and got out.  They passed each 
other in front of the car, then he buckled himself in.   
She could see this was making him uneasy.  "Mulder, I'm 
not going to put Will in danger.  Get some sleep." 

He looked at her for a long moment, then nodded and 
reclined his seat.  He really did fall asleep.  It was nearly fifty 
minutes later when he jerked awake.  "What the - " 

"It's okay, Mulder.  It's okay.  It was just a dream." 

"Did I say anything?" 

"No, you just got really restless.  You didn't sleep the whole 
hour.  Just relax." 

He looked back at Will, sound asleep against Mudder Air.  
"He's a good kid." 

"Yes.  He doesn't give me any trouble.  He's slept through 
the night since he was just a few weeks old.  He's 
everyone's darling at day care." 

"At the hospital?" 

She nodded.  "Mulder, they're going to be looking for me, for 
us when I don't show up for work on Monday.  They may 
already be looking for us, if the police contacted work after 
the break in." 

"They won't be able to find you.  Think of this as a safe 
house, or a witness protection program.  I've taken care of 
them looking for me temporarily at least." 

"You have a lot of experience with this?" 

He smiled at her then.  "I'm motivated." 

She huffed, but didn't protest.  "You said we had to pick up 
some supplies.  Where?" 

"There's a Fed Ex on Harrodsburg Road.  There should be a 
package there for us after ten.  In the meantime we can get 
some breakfast and some clothes for you and Will.  From 
what I hear, there's everything anyone would need on either 
Harrodsburg or Nicholasville Roads." 

"Then we go to the house?" 

"No, then we check into another motel.  Before anyone in 
the neighborhood sees us, I want you to dye your hair." 

"My hair?" 

"In the dream, do you remember?" 

The car jerked slightly.  "I was blonde, with, with curls." 

He nodded.  "Do you want me to drive?" 

"No.  I, I need the . . . " 

"Control?" 

"Yeah." 

"I understand that." 

She wanted to drive, so he kept quiet.  After they reached 
Lexington, she drove around a little, around New Circle until 
she reached Harrodsburg Road.  She drove down it for a 
few miles, then moved over to Nicholasville and did the 
same.  When she spotted a pancake house, she pulled in 
and parked. 

Mulder looked back to see Will smiling at him.  "Dadada." 

"You got it, Big Guy."  He couldn't help but smile back at 
him. 

They had a leisurely breakfast, though she moaned at the 
calories in the pancakes.  He and Will just laughed at her 
and continued eating.  When they were through, they found 
a Target and did some shopping. 

When it was finally after ten, he drove them over to the Fed 
Ex store he'd mentioned.  While she waited in the car, he 
went inside.  It took a few minutes, but they found the 
package that had been delivered to a Richard Morris that 
morning and he signed for it. 
She watched him return to the car with a rectangular box, 
three by twelve or there about.  She admired the man during 
this crisis, at ease in his body, but alert.  He was watching 
his surroundings even now, just returning to the car. 

He got in and handed her the box.  "Will's been in the car 
for days now.  Why don't we find a park or something?" 

"That would be nice." 

It didn't take long, since there was a good size park behind 
the Fayette Mall, and parked near the swings.  He opened 
the back door and started unbuckling Will.  "Why don't you 
bring the box?  We need to check it out." 

She nodded and reached back in to get it. 

"Wanna swing, Big Guy?" 

"Ing!"  Will bounced in his arms and Mulder laughed.  Dana, 
following them couldn't help but smile.  Will certainly liked 
the man, and felt safe with him. That was a good thing, 
didn't little kids have instincts about things like this?

Mulder placed Will securely in the swing and push him 
lightly.  Will chortled at Dana who took a seat in a nearby 
swing, the box in her lap. 

After a little while, Will wanted to get down, so they let him 
'run' around a while, doing better at walking with each step. 

"He's growing so fast," Dana mused, watching him as 
Mulder followed/chased him around the area.  When she 
pulled a sippy cup out of her bag, Will made a beeline to 
her.  Mulder took a seat at the picnic table and put Will into 
his lap.  Dana joined them and handed the cup to Will. 

"Why don't you go ahead and open the box," Mulder said 
watching Will. 

"Me?" 

"Sure.  We're in this together for right now, right?" 

She didn't comment on that, but after a moment she pulled 
the string to open the box.  There were several envelopes 
inside.  She pulled out the biggest. 

"Be careful opening that one," he said as he looked down at 
Will. 

Curious now, she carefully opened the flap and gasped, 
then looked around to see if anyone else could have heard 
her.  "What in the - " 

"Probably $20,000, in small bills.  That's what I told them 
we'd need to get started.  Put that back, and open the 
others." 

"Whose money is this?" she hissed. 

"Mine.  I had a, a disappearance fund." 

She stared at him for a moment, then at the nod of his head, 
pulled open the next envelope.  It held ID, drivers' licenses, 
passports, social security cards, insurance cards, credit 
cards, even library cards.  "I don't believe . . . " 

"There's another one," he commented. 

After looking at him, she pulled the third envelope out.  It 
held the lease, keys to the house, and a background story 
for them.   

After staring at the papers in her hand for several moments, 
she looked up.  "How, how did you get this?" 

"Those friends that ran the tests for me?  I called them, they 
got this together.  Well, mine was already set up; they had to 
fix the stuff for you, which is why there are no pictures.  We 
have to get some passport pictures made for you and I'll fit 
them in." 
She stared at him. 

"Yeah, uh . . . " 

"They were able to do this in a day?" 

Mulder shrugged. 

"Damn it!  What am I into here?"  She looked down at the 
baby, but didn't apologize. 

"You've never gone underground before, which is good . . . 
for you . . . Dana, I'm trying to keep you - " 

"Safe, I know."  She sighed.  "What do we do now?" 

"We find a motel room and get everything together." 

"Why don't we go to the house, since we have the key?" 

"We don't look like we're ready to move in.  We need to put 
the things we have in boxes, not Target bags, and you need 
to fix your hair." 

"Is the place furnished?" 

"No, I've never been inside.  We'll do that after we see the 
place.  If he's had enough exercise, maybe we should find a 
room." 

She closed her eyes and shook her head.  Mulder looked 
down at Will and shrugged.  Will laughed and grabbed a 
handful of t-shirt.  Mulder rose with the boy in his arms.  "At 
least you're on my side," he whispered. 

They found a room and Dana put the baby down for a nap.  
Mulder went out to the dumpster and brought back a few 
boxes, which he then loaded up with the things they had 
purchased.  He packed those into the back of the SUV. 

When he returned he took a seat near the window and sat 
watching the traffic.  She watched him for several minutes, 
then came over and took a seat across from him. 

"How long?" 

He shrugged.  "You saw your place, my apartment.  They're 
looking for any clue to find us." 

"Why?" 

"I don't know.  But then I don't know why they created Will."  
She winced at that and he looked apologetic. "I'm sorry." 

"I carried him, he's my son." 

"I know that.  He's mine too." 

Her eyes flared for an instant, then she seemed to deflate.  
"I . . . What does that mean?" 

"I don't know.  I care about him already.  I want to be part of 
his life, if you'll allow it.  I know he's yours, but something 
has caused me to be part of this.  I didn't ask for this, hell it 
never crossed my mind.  But I'm the reason you're in danger 
now.  If I'd stayed away, 'they' wouldn't have come after 
you." 

"Ever?" 

He looked down at his shoes.  "No.  Since they orchestrated 
his birth, they would have done something eventually.  
Probably taken him." 

Her eyes were wide and scared now.  "Why!"  She glanced 
over at Will, but she hadn't woken him. 

"Do you believe in the existence of extra terrestrials?" he 
asked softly. 

Instead of answering, she let her face drop into her hands.  
He kept quiet.  This was too much, too soon, especially for a 
woman who had never considered what she was facing 
now. 

When she finally sat up again, she asked, "Why a house in 
the suburbs?  I mean if you're hiding - " 

"Yeah, this is the only one of these I got.  Usually I figured 
I'd get an apartment in a big city, but this felt right." 

"You've never seen it, you said." 

"No, I bought the lot a . . . " 

"What?"  She looked up concerned. 

"I bought it a year ago, on Will's birthday." 

"On Will's . . . that's a coincidence." 

"Is it?  Like it's a coincidence I went back to the store?"  
Mulder looked over at the sleeping boy. 

"What?  What are you thinking?" 

"I'm not sure.  Look, tomorrow we can move into the house.  
We'll buy some furniture, fit in and just keep a low profile. 
Let my friends and I do some research, please." 

"I don't have much of a choice, do I?" 

"I, I'm sorry." 

She rose then and moved to the bed where Will lay, and 
curled up beside him. 
Mulder watched her silently.  What was he supposed to do?  
He couldn't let them be taken like Samantha.  He wouldn't 
allow that. 

When Will woke, Mulder played with him and they ate at the 
diner next to the motel.  When they were in for the evening, 
Mulder pulled out the hair dye and handed it to her.  She 
looked over at Will who was clapping, and carried the box 
into the bathroom.  

When she came out, the towel around her head, they were 
waiting. 

"I feel ridiculous.  I didn't get a hair straightener." 

"Good.  You're going for a disguise, let it go natural." 

She grimaced but didn't say anything.  Finally, she removed 
the towel.  She was blonde and soft damp curls outlined her 
face.  "When it dries it'll be worse." 

"I like it.  I liked the red, but I like this too." 

She sighed and picked up Will.  "What do you think?" 

He took a handful of the curls and babbled, clearly showing 
his approval. 

*****