London Times

By donnah
donnah@donnas-stories.com


URL - www.donnas-stories.com
Rating - R
Category - Pre-X, AU, MSR
Spoilers - None
Keywords - Pre-X, AU, MSR
Summary - When did they meet?
Feedback - Please
Archive - Anywhere, just let me know

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


London Times - Part 1


"Bet you're sorry you didn't head back to the colonies for the
summer," Ernie said as he entered the room, glancing over
at Mulder.

"The colonies?" Mulder looked up from his coffee.

Ernie grinned and poured himself a cup of tea, grimacing at
Mulder's black coffee.  "Yeah.  Seems like the tourists aren't
making out too well here this season.

"Another attack?" Mulder was interested now.

Ernie nodded, taking a sip.  "At the Knight's Crossing Pub
last night."

"What?" Mulder looked up quickly from his cup.  "I was
supposed to be there last night."

"Supposed to be?" Ernie asked.

"He was supposed to meet the dark queen there last night,"
Sean tossed out, looking up from the paper.

Ernie chuckled.  "Please tell me you stood her up."

Mulder shot a dark look at Sean.  "No, well, I called her.  I
am here for research and Professor Smythe needed me."

Both young men made rude noises.  "She'll make you pay
for that."

Mulder decided to change the subject.  "Was it the same, the
attack?"

"Yep.  Everyone in the pub passes out and when they wake
up, three or four people are missing.  They still haven't
figured out what kind of gas they're using.  No one's been
able to find a trace."

"That they've told the press about," Sean interjected.  Ernie
shrugged.

"I wonder if Phoebe went over there anyway, without me?" 
Mulder mused out loud and immediately regretted it.

"No one would take the dark queen, my lad.  Or at least
they'd have already returned her with apologies."  They both
laughed and Mulder jerked the paper from Sean's hands,
reading the article himself.

It was weird.  Three attacks so far, all on university or tourist
friendly pubs he'd visited.  There was no damage to the
facility, just everyone passed out on the floor and then in the
sorting out they'd realize someone was missing, both men
and women, all young.  It was a bit creepy that he might
have been there last night when this happened.  It was a
place he'd been to several times, usually with Phoebe.  He
hadn't noticed a lot of really high end people there, but then
there had been no ransom demands for any of the missing
so far.  If he were
to guess, just from the names, everyone taken last night
were Americans. 

*****

Phoebe wasn't here yet.  He glanced around the pub again. 
She liked to make an entrance; he was aware of that and
that it bothered him, but he didn't feel secure enough in their
relationship to call her on it.  He headed for the bar and
ordered a beer.  She wouldn't be too late, just enough so
that everyone would notice.  He sighed and took a sip of his
beer.  He'd prefer it cold, but he'd given up on that fight.

The door opened and he looked in that direction.  Not her,
some tourists, probably a group tour taking in the sights. 
Looked like college age, maybe a little younger; more girls
than guys.  He leaned against the bar and looked the crop
over.

He spotted the red head over to one side, not quite joining in
with the crowd.  She seemed uncomfortable, maybe even
embarrassed at the enthusiasm of the group.  Hell, Phoebe
wasn't here yet; he moved toward the red head. 

He bent slightly to whisper to her.  "Hi."

She jumped but as he watched she stiffened her spine and
looked up at him.  He smiled down at her and saw her eyes
lighten.  "Hello."

"Not from around here, are you?" he asked laughing.

She shook her head.  "American."

"Me too."

She appraised him.  "You've been here a while."

"Do I have an accent?" She nodded and he chuckled.  "You
can't help it if you're around here long.  I'm studying up the
road a bit."

"Oxford?" she looked impressed despite herself.

"Yeah.  You?"

"Graduation present before I head off to higher education."

He blinked, "You're in high school?"

"Not anymore." There was just a touch of iciness in her tone.

"Sorry, you seem more mature than . . . " he glanced around
the room at the partiers.  He looked back when she huffed at
him.  "Hey, I didn't mean - "

"Actually I appreciate the compliment.  It's getting a bit
wearing, but when you have one bus, you go with the
crowd."

He gave her a look of sympathy.  "Would you like a beer?"

She looked around, hell why not; at least as long as she
stayed in sight of the group.  "Can't.  Do they have Coke?"

He grinned.  "Sure.  Come on."  He led her to the bar, aware
that they were being scrutinized now by several of the girls
and at least two of the guys in her group.  He bought the
Coke and leaned over into her space.  She found she wasn't
even drawing back away from him.  "Am I stepping on toes
here?"  He glanced at the crowd that was so aware of them.

"No," she said firmly and took a sip of the drink.

"Good, I'm Fox Mulder."

She blinked, Fox?  Was he teasing her?  "Dana Scully."

"Nice to meet you.  How long will you be in London?"

"Just two days.  We're going to the theater tonight,
sightseeing tomorrow."

"You won't get much seen in just a day."

She had to smile, "Europe in two weeks.  I can claim I saw it
all."

"You'll have to come back."

"I plan to, at my own pace."  She saw him glance at his
watch.  "Am I stepping on any toes?"

He gave her a grin.  "I'm supposed to meet someone, but
she's late, as usual."

She felt an unexpected disappointment, but she shoved that
aside.  A man that looked like him, a student at Oxford, this
was just a fantasy but would make a good memory when
she got home.

She blinked then, suddenly lightheaded.  Her hand came up
to her face.  "Hey, you okay?" he asked quickly.

"I, I don't . . . " She swayed and he reached for her as the
lightheadedness hit him as well.  What the hell was
happening?  His grip on her tightened as she slumped into
him, then they were both falling to the floor.

*****

He opened his eyes and immediately shut them again as his
stomach lurched.  The room was spinning and even flat of
his back, he was pretty sure he'd fall off.   He could feel the
presence of others around him, but no one stirred.  Slowly
he tried again and squinted at the room.  It seemed large;
there was a slight hollowness to the sounds of breathing
around him. 

He was still lightheaded, but he thought his stomach would
stay down if he was careful.  He slowly sat up and realized
he was in a large room with concrete floors and bare walls. 
The windows were at least twenty feet up on the walls.  A
warehouse?  What the hell had happened?  He had been at
the Kingsley and - Shit!  He'd been the victim of one of the
attacks!  The woman he'd been talking to - he glanced
around and realized the little red head was on the floor
beside him, still unconscious.

Damn, what was her name? Dina? No Dana.  He touched
her shoulder gently.  "Dana?  Can you hear me?"

She stirred and opened her eyes.  They instantly slammed
shut, as his had.  "Take it easy.  I think we're okay,
physically."

"Is that what you call this?  Okay?" she muttered and he
grinned at her spunk.

"Yeah, well, I mean we're not bleeding or anything."  She
tried opening her eyes again and focused on him.  He met
her blue eyes with his and nodded.  "Take it slow," he
advised as she started to sit up.

"Where are we?"

"I don't know," he answered honestly and carefully got to his
feet.  He stood, testing himself for just a moment, then
reached out his hand to her.  She took it and got to her feet. 
They looked around at the rest of the people scattered
around on the floor.  Most of them were still completely out
but no one looked to be in pain. 

He caught the apprehension in her eyes as she looked up at
him again.  "Do you have any idea what's going on?"

"Nothing helpful."  He guided her to the side of the room and
took her hand again to help seat her, leaning her carefully
against the wall.  He sat beside her.  "Apparently this," his
hand encompassed the large room, "has been happening
around London the last few weeks, mostly to tourists.  A pub
or nightclub is targeted, everyone is knocked out and when
they wake, some people are missing."

"That wasn't in the tour guide," she commented quietly.

"I haven't been on this side of it before, so I don't know much
more."

"Has anyone been returned?"

"Uh, no.  Not yet."

"So we've been kidnapped."  It was a statement, not a
question, but he responded.

"Well, uh, yeah.  You don't seem to be panicking," he
commented.

"Neither are you," she cut her eyes at him and for a wonder
he grinned.  "I suspect we're still drugged, just more mobile."

"You're probably right.  I don't imagine they want a riot on
their hands when we all wake up."

"Who's 'they'?" she asked, looking around.  No guards were
in evidence.

"Good question.  I haven't read about any ransom
demands."

"Good, because my parents couldn't pay one."

They sat quietly beside one another then, looking around. 
Though she wasn't going to admit it, she was glad he was
there.  Okay, he was a stranger, but slightly less so than
anyone else she could spot.

He pointed as one of the men over to the left of the room
started to stir.  They both jerked as the door to the far right
opened and a large man entered the room.  Mulder looked
him over while he scanned the room.  Mulder's first
impression was of Frankenstein's monster.  He was a large,
muscular man with a square face and prominent brow.  He
walked flatfooted toward the man that was trying to sit up.

Dana gasped as she watched the door and a second man
entered, identical to the first, then a  third.  "What the hell -
" Mulder started but the second one turned to look at him. 
The guard, or whatever he was, immediately changed
directions and headed toward him.

Dana cringed back and Mulder's arm automatically went
around her.

"It is you," the large man said in a flat voice.  The other two
turned and joined him making a semi-circle around the pair.

"What do you want?" Mulder asked, grateful that his voice
was steady.

They didn't speak, but the one in the center, the one that had
noticed them first, pulled something from his pocket.  A light
flashed in their eyes and then nothing.

*****

He woke, forcing eyes open that seemed glued shut.  He
tried to bring a hand up to his face to wipe them but found he
couldn't move.  He couldn't move anything, except his eyes. 
Adrenaline surged through his body but it didn't help, he was
completely immobile.  He could feel no restraints, but that
didn't matter.

He could only see directly above him but there was little to
see.  A metallic ceiling with an odd pattern, no light fixture
that he could see no matter how far he tried to cut his eyes;
what was going on?

He finally quit trying to move and listened.  There was a hum,
a mechanical sound, in the air that was making him damn
uncomfortable, though he couldn't say why.  The light
brightened and every nerve in his body seemed to catch fire. 
He tried to scream - in his mind at least, he was screaming. 
Then nothing.

*****

He woke feeling as though he'd been beaten half to death. 
His entire body ached but at least he was able to move.  All
of the other times he'd been immobilized.  How many times
did this make?  He groaned as he lifted his arm to his face.  
What the . . . he was naked.  How long had he been here . . .
where was he anyway?  His mind raced back over his last
memories.  He had been in the warehouse, sitting with Dana. 
The triplets had come over to them.  Which one of them had
they been talking about?  "It is you."  You? What did that
mean?  Had he been looking at him or Dana?  Mulder froze,
no, no it couldn't be.  There was no way . . .

Dana!  What had happened to her?  Was she here?  Where
was here?  Whatever he was lying on was padded and
against a metal wall.  He rose to a sitting position, groaning
at the pain in his body.  The room wasn't furnished, just this
bench, but - Dana!  She was there as well, at the other end
of the padded bench that ran the length of the room.  He
stood and took a shaky step toward her, then realized she
was nude as well.  He looked around one more time for
something to cover her, but there was nothing.  Mentally he
shrugged and approached her.  She had a nice body,
inappropriate thought, but he was still breathing.  Nice firm
high breasts, not too large but full and natural, a flat stomach
with some muscle definition, and she was a natural redhead. 
Okay, enough -

"Dana?  Dana, can you hear me?"  Nothing, so he moved
closer and took a seat beside her.  He lightly touched her
face.  "Dana?"

She stirred slightly then groaned.  Shit, she was in pain as
well.  What had been done to them?  "Dana, open your
eyes."

She struggled for just a moment, then pulled herself up
beside him.  The sight of his bare chest over her caused her
to pull back, then she realized her own state of nudity.  One
arm came up to cover her breasts, the other down to cover
her sex.  She was trembling, her fear evident.

"I'm sorry, Dana.  I don't have anything to cover you.  I'm
sorry."

She nodded, trying to get it under control. 

"Take your time."

She started to move but pain blossomed in her abdomen. 
She curled into a fetal position instead, moaning.

Shit, what had they done to her?  "Just lie still.  Don't try to
move," he said in a worried voice. 

"What, what happened?" she gasped through her pain.

"I don't know.  Try to relax."

She looked up, "Where are we?  What are we going to do?"

"I haven't taken the time to check out the whole room.  Let
me see if I can find you anything."  He wasn't sure what he
was looking for other than a doctor and a way home, but she
was obviously in a different kind of pain than him.

She nodded, not making any attempt at further movement. 
Her breathing was shallow and rapid.  He caressed her
shoulder, then rose again and tried to stretch.  He was a little
less stiff though just as sore, but at least not like her.  He
started where he stood, his hands on the walls of their prison. 
There were no cracks, no door, no bars.  Letting his fingers
explore the cool wall he continued around the room.  He
knew she didn't take her eyes off of him.

When he was directly opposite the midpoint of the padded
shelf he had lain on, the wall abruptly and silently split,
opening into another room.  He didn't quite muffle his cry of
surprise and Dana looked up quickly, then gasped in pain. 
"Just, just lie still."

"Don't leave me," she whispered.

"I won't," he answered solemnly and looked into the room. 
"Dana, it's not an exit, it's a toilet, I think."  There was no
door on the other side of this small room, but he stepped
inside.  The light brightened.  He turned toward the sink and
held his hand out.  Cool water splashed into his hand.  As
soon as he removed it, the water stopped.  He took a
tentative sip; tasted like water.  There were no cups or
towels. 

He returned to her side.  "Can you walk?"

"I don't know."

"There's water in there if you think you can make it."

She nodded and with his help, managed to stand up.  "You
didn't answer, where are we?  What did they do to us?"

He shook his head.  "I don't know.  Where, uh, where do you
hurt?"

She looked up at him and then away.  Okay, that was
enough information for now.  Instead of letting her continue
to stand, he scooped her into his arms and carried her the
few steps to the other room, which had closed behind him. 
As soon as he stepped close, it opened again.  He seated
her on what he presumed to be the toilet and got a handful
of water.  She murmured her thanks and sipped it from the
palm of his hand.  "Thanks."

He rose and she drew back, her eyes riveted on his
manhood.  Hell, he couldn't cover himself and look after her. 
"Look, I'm - "

"It's okay.  I have brothers, I just haven't seen them, uh,
grownup."

Mulder chuckled at that, which brought a shy answering
smile to her face.  The reality was they were nude, move on. 
She straightened up then, cautiously.

"Are you feeling any better?"

"A little.  What do you remember?"

"Not much.  The pub, the warehouse, not being able to
move."  He saw her face go even more pale.  "Put your head
down."

She did, taking slightly deeper breaths now.  "Sorry."

"Hey, we've been through . . . "

"But you're not passing out," she muttered.

"I think we were subjected to different things." She squeezed
her eyes shut at that.  They both froze at a metallic sound
from the larger room.  "Stay here," he said taking a step in
that direction.

"You too!" she grabbed his arm before he could go out to
check on things.

After seeing her expression, he complied.  When the noise
ended they exchanged glances and at her nod they silently
agreed to move.  He kept his hand on her, but she seemed
steadier now.  Still he stepped in front of her as they looked
out.  A tray was on the floor at what he had considered the
foot of his 'bed'.  There was no door, no crack in the wall of
any kind.

"Where did that come from?"  It was a rhetorical question so
she didn't bother to answer.  He started to move toward the
tray, but her hand stopped him.

"Is it safe?"

"I don't see a choice, like the water."

She looked conflicted, but she didn't argue.  He was right.

He picked up the tray and placed it between them on the
shelf.  There were two stacks of what looked like wafers and
two small containers of a thick paste.  "Ah, chips and dip," he
said.  She shot him a look of disdain, but watched as he
picked up one of the wafers.

"Here goes," her look of fear almost stopped him, but after
seeing the food his stomach had started growling.  He took
her hand and squeezed it, then scraped some of the paste
onto the wafer and took a tentative bite.  She watched as he
chewed carefully, then swallowed.

"Well?"

"Needs salt."  She very nearly slapped him.  "Sorry.  It's
bland, but . . . " he shrugged. 

After a moment she picked up a wafer as well and swiped it
in the other container.  Rather than looking down at the food,
she looked at him. He nodded and she took it into her mouth. 
She chewed and her assessment matched his.  Filling
probably, but it did need salt.

"You probably got the good one," he complained and she
gave a shaking chuckle. 

"Trade you."

They ate it all, then Mulder took his finger and cleaned out
the small container nearest him that had held the paste.

"You thought it was that good?" she asked, watching him.

He held up the container.  "A cup."

"Ah, good idea."  She cleaned out her own.  He filled them
both with water and brought it back.

"Feeling any better?"

"I'm not hurting like I was.  I'd like some clothes."

His eyes involuntarily scanned her again and she turned
away, blushing.  "Sorry, I . . . " He stopped when he realized
she was trembling again.  "Dana, look, I - "

"No, it's not that.  I'm cold."

"Oh, well maybe I can do something about that."  He took
her hand and led her back to her end of the bench and lay
down.  "Come here."  He patted the bench in front of him. 
"I'm perfectly willing to share some body heat."

Her blush was adorable, though he had sense enough not to
say that out loud.

"I'm not trying to make a move on you, honestly.  I can be a
gentleman, even under the circumstances."

Without quite looking at him, she nodded and lay down
beside him, her body stiff.

"Relax," he whispered in her ear, causing her to jump and
stiffen even more.  "This won't work unless you let me hold
you."  She finally took a breath and forced herself to lean
back against him. 

It was a new sensation, skin to skin.  The feel of his warm
muscular body against hers brought even more blood to her
face and a few other areas.  "I, I'm sorry."

"What about?" he asked

"I don't . . . I don't have a lot of experience. "

"I didn't either for a long time.  Don't think about it, not now. 
We're just giving and receiving comfort and warmth right
now.  Why don't you tell me what you remember?"

She stiffened up again, then forced her muscles to relax. 
"I'm not sure.  Nothing makes sense."

"I agree with that," he said soothingly.  "You remember not
being able to move?"

She nodded and pressed back against him for an instant
before realizing it and pulling slightly away.  He pulled her
back, letting his hand rest on her abdomen.  "I don't know
what was holding me.  I couldn't turn my head but I couldn't
feel any straps."

He nodded, then realized she couldn't see him.  "Me too."

The thought he'd had earlier returned but he shoved it aside. 
For now there was nothing he could do.  Keeping her warm
and relaxed was enough for now.

*****

He startled awake when she cried out.  They were on that
padded shelf, and had apparently fallen asleep again.  She
flailed her arms, trying to protect herself from whatever was
attacking her in her dreams.

"Dana, Dana come on, wake up.  It's just a dream.  Uff," he
breathed as she connected her elbow with his ribs.  He really
didn't want her to get any lower, especially since he was
nude.   "Dana, come on."  As she continued to struggle, he
finally sprawled atop her, keeping her legs from doing him
damage.

That woke her, terrified.  "Stop!  Get off of me!"

He quickly scrambled to his feet.  "Are you awake?"

Her eyes were riveted low and she pulled back from him,
curling into a ball and trying to cover herself.

"Dana, I'm not going to hurt you.  You were having a
nightmare.  I - "

"Really?" she looked down at his erection and he wanted to
throw something.

Instead he turned his back on her, but continued to speak.  "I
was trying to wake you.  I wasn't going to rape you.  That's
not my style.  The fact that you have a hot body and were
squirming around underneath me is not exactly my fault." 
He glanced over his shoulder to see her flaming face.  At
that he turned partially back toward her.  "Look, I didn't mean
to embarrass you, but I really wasn't trying . . . "

"I know," she said faintly.

"What was the dream?"

She shuddered then, violently and he started to move toward
her.  At least he was under control now, but he'd react again. 
"Dana?"

"It, it's okay.  I don't want to talk about the dream."

"Fair enough.  Can I get you some water?"

She nodded and he turned toward the toilet.  The two cups
were still there by the sink; that made him look back out the
door. 

"What?" she asked quickly.

"The tray's gone."

"We must have slept through it." She looked toward the far
end of the shelf and saw that he was right.

He filled her cup then and brought it to her.  She avoided
looking directly at him, but took the cup with a faint thanks.

"I don't know how long we're going to be here, but we need
to figure out a way to live together."

She nodded.  Before she could speak there was a sound at
the far end of the room and another tray shimmered into
view.  They both watched speechless, finally he glanced
over at her.  Her eyes were wide and frightened.  "I, I see it
too," he said causing her to jump.

She shook her head.  "That can't - "

"No, but it did.  It was the same noise we heard earlier."

"But it can't happen!" her voice was higher pitched but still
not much more than a whisper.

"I'll check it out."  He started to move toward the tray but her
hand shot out and grabbed his.

"Don't!"

"We'll have to eat, Dana." 
 
He pulled her to him and held her.  She didn't even protest
and he realized in her fear he was probably the least scary
thing going on.  She was just a kid, seventeen or eighteen. 
She was holding up well under the circumstances.  Not that
he was that much older, but he'd been on his own for a very
long time.

"It's okay, Dana."  He seated her again.  "Let me check it
out."  He squeezed her hand then moved over to the new
tray.  It was identical to the previous one, with the same
wafers and paste.  This was going to get boring quickly if this
was the entire menu.  He lifted the tray and spotted the
gauzy material underneath it.  "I think we've got clothes."

She looked up surprised.  "What?"

"Don't know how much cover it is, but we've got a, a
something."  He carried the tray and fabric over to her.  She
held it up.  It wouldn't hide anything but it was surprisingly
warm to the touch.  "Can you help me tear it?  You can have
half."

He actually smiled.  "Sure, we can try that."  He took it from
her, handing her the tray.  She ignored it, waiting.  After
several minutes of fruitless effort he turned back to her.  "I'm
not even sure a knife would cut this, Dana.  You use it.  I'll,
uh, be okay."

She glanced at him once more, her eyes involuntarily
tracking down, but said nothing.  She just took back the cloth
and wrapped it around her.  He watched the process and
when she was through shook his head a little mournfully.

"What?"

"I think you're even sexier like that.  I can remember what
you look like under it."

 She rolled her eyes, then turned to the tray.  After looking at
him she dipped a wafer in the paste.  She blinked at the
different taste. 

"What?"

"It's a different flavor."

"Better?"

"I didn't say that."

He took a seat and picked up a wafer from his side of the
tray.  He grinned at the difference.  "I think I like this one
better. They added salt."

She looked at him but the thought that flitted across her mind
wouldn't stay, he only grinned at her.

Once again eating didn't take that much time.  They kept the
cups back again, just in case, but placed the empty tray back
where they had found it.  Then Mulder once again explored
their cell. 

"What do you expect to find?" she finally asked as he made
a second circuit of the room.

"I don't know.  I guess I just want something to do.  Eating
and sleeping isn't going to take up 24-hours a day and the
library here sucks."

"So what do we do?" she asked curling up on the shelf.

"That's what I'm trying to figure out.  No doors and no
windows makes this a very secure room.  If they can beam
the food into us - "

"Beam?"

"What would you call what we saw?"

"If Star Fleet is behind this, I'm suing Gene Roddenberry,"
she said adamantly.

He grinned.  "We'll make it class action." He looked around
the room one more time, seeing nothing new, and flopped
down beside her.  "I don't know; tell me a story."

"Excuse me?" she looked at him, one eyebrow high.

It only made him grin.  "Come on, we're stuck here, we
should get to know each other.  Are you an only child or are
there a gaggle of redheads somewhere?"

She tucked her hair behind her ear.  "Not a whole gaggle,
only four."

"Four?  Girls, boys?  Come on."

"A brother and sister older, a brother younger."

"Redheads?"

She nodded, "like Dad."

"Are you close to them?"

She shrugged, "Missy and I are pretty close and Charlie, the
baby, is everyone's favorite.  He's fun to be around, makes
friends easily."

"What about big brother?"

"He's okay, a little . . . I don't know, he thinks because he's
the oldest he should have some authority when Dad's at
sea."

"At sea?"

"Navy.  So is Bill now, so I guess it's to be expected, but Dad
just . . . he doesn't," she shrugged.

"Maybe Bill will grow into it."

She smiled and nodded.  "Probably, or get it beaten out of
him."

"Um, that sounded sibling-like."

She chuckled then, "What about you?"

"A sister, my parents are divorced."

"I'm sorry."

He shook his head.  "It was a long time ago.  Tell me more
about this mini-gaggle of redheads."

*****

Title - London Times 2/2
Author - donnah
Email address - donnah@donnas-stories.com
URL - www.donnas-stories.com
Rating - NC-17
Category - Pre-X, AU, MSR
Spoilers - None
Keywords - Pre-X, AU, MSR
Summary - When did they meet?
Feedback - Please
Archive - Anywhere, just let me know

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


London Times - Part 2


He stretched out on his end of the bench, feeling vulnerable
if not cold.  Dana was at the other end cuddled under her
fabric.  Where the hell were they? What was happening to
them?  Why them!  Maybe he should try to tear that fabric
again.  Maybe he could sleep if he felt less vulnerable. 
Having his 'nads hanging out full time was not nearly as
much fun as it would've been under normal circumstances. 
The thought of checking out a nude beach was receding
rapidly.

"Uh, Mulder?"

She remembered he didn't like Fox; that felt good.  "Yeah."

"I can't sleep.  Could, could you come down here again?" 
She sounded so young.

"Sure."  He hoped he sounded confident, actually he was
grateful.  He didn't want to be alone either.

He took his place behind her, closer to the wall and spooned
around her.  She relaxed slightly.  "Thank you," he
whispered into her ear and she jumped slightly.

"You-you're welcome."

He smiled, she couldn't see but this was better, and they
were together if anyone, if anything, happened.

*****

He woke to find that she had turned during the 'night'.  Her
breasts were pressed into his chest, her arm was around
him as well and one of her legs was hiked up and between
his legs, pressing gently against his balls.  This realization
brought a whole new meaning to his morning hard on.

"Uh, Dana?"  She sighed and cuddled in closer, then her
eyes went wide and she pulled back.  He grabbed her to
keep her from falling off.  "It's okay.  Why don't I use the
facilities first?"

She blushed a deep red as he crawled over her, his cock
brushing against her thigh as he left her.  She couldn't help
herself, she checked out his ass as he disappeared into the
bath.  She was never going to admit she did that, but he was
attractive.

When he exited she hurried past him and took over the bath. 
When she emerged another tray had appeared.  The wafers
and paste had been joined by a cake this time.  She looked
at it then at him.  "Have you tried it?"

"Thought I'd wait for you."

"Gee, thanks."  She took a seat across the tray from him and
watched. 

"Ladies first?"

"No way.  Together or not at all."  He grinned and nodded. 
They each took a small bite of the cake and looked at each
other. 

He shrugged, "Not bad.  They're just got to learn the art of
seasoning."

*****

Damn, he wasn't kidding about that toga she was wearing
now being sexier than being nude.  The gauze didn't really
hide anything.  When she moved he could see the deeper
rose of her nipple or the red of the curls at her core.  Damn,
he wasn't trying to be a pervert; it wasn't like there was
anything else to look at in this room.  Someone as young as
her shouldn't have such a hot body.  God, what was he, her
grandfather?  He growled as she turned toward him and let
his head fall back to the wall, closing his eyes.

"What's wrong?" she asked quickly.

"Nothing," he said through gritted teeth.

"Oh really?  Then why are you mad at me?"

"I'm not mad!" he growled at her, then realized how that
sounded and seemed to deflate.  "I'm sorry.  This is driving
me crazy.  I swim, I run, hell, I read!  Now I'm stuck in this
one room with a, a high school virgin and I'm - "

"I am not a virgin!"

After a second or two that sentence penetrated.  "You're
not?"

She turned her back on him then, her spine straight and stiff.

"Look, I'm sorry.  You have a boyfriend you're missing and -
"

"We're not together any more."  She hadn't felt him approach
and jumped when he touched her arm.

"Why not?"

She shrugged him off and took another step away.

"The sex, wasn't it good?"

She looked up at him incredulously.  "Why do you want to
know?"

"I, I don't know.  You're just a kid; I don't want anyone to hurt
you."

"I'm not a kid!" she heard how that sounded as soon as he
did and fortunately saw the humor in it.  She gave a sad
chuckle, shaking her head.  "No, it wasn't good."

"He did it wrong," Mulder offered.

Her eyebrow went up though she didn't speak.

"Trust me."

"Why?"

"Good question.  Especially since this whole thing is my
fault."  Shit, he hadn't meant to say that.

"What's your fault?"

He hesitated, but finally said, "Being here.  Do you
remember what the guy said just before we blacked out the
second time?"  She looked confused.  "'It is you'.  He was
looking right at me."

"He was also looking at me as I recall."

He shook his head.  "Those men weren't . . . they were after
me."

"Why?  What did you do?"  Instead of answering, he turned
from her.  She reached out and grabbed his arm.  "Trust
me."  The grin he gave her was highly ironic.  "Come on,
Mulder.  Tell me a story."

"You're just changing the subject so you don't have to tell me
about this sexual escapade of yours."

"Tit for tat.  You go first."

"It's not . . . you wouldn't believe me."

"Try me.  At least you won't be moping around here."

"Moping!" he said, stung.

"No, you're not moping.  I apologize.  But I'm being held
prisoner just like you are.  I'm bored, I'd like to go swimming
or for a run too.  All we have right now is each other.  Talk to
me.  If you don't want to tell me why you think you're
responsible, tell me something else.  Tell me about the girl
you were waiting for or the classes you're taking or . . . "

He held up his hand.  "You're right.  You do need to . . . to
know."

Now she looked concerned as well as curious.  "Mulder,
what do you know about all of this."

"I'm not sure, but . . .  remember I mentioned my sister?"  His
expression was unreadable to her.

She nodded, "Is, is something wrong with her?"

"You could say that.  I haven't seen her in almost ten years."

"Ten?  You said your parents were divorced.  Did they keep -
"

She stopped when she saw the pain on his face.

*****

Now she just stared at him.  He had the impression she
wanted to check him for fever but restrained herself.  "You
don't believe me."

"I . . . I'm a little confused."

He huffed out what might have been a laugh.  "Confused. 
Nice one."

"No, really.  You think whoever or whatever took your sister
has something to do with this?  Why?"

It was a legitimate question.  He wasn't sure he had a
legitimate answer, it was a feeling and it had grown a lot
stronger when he'd seen how the food was delivered around
here.  "We, humans I mean, can't do what's happening
around here.  We were kidding about Star Trek, but the food
is getting in here somehow and I haven't seen a door open. 
It just appears, we watched it.  And that thing you're
wrapped in, it's gauze but I can't tear it; it's soft and pliable,
but it can't be ripped.  Dana, we were completely
immobilized before we showed up in this room, only our
eyes could move but there were no straps, we've got no
bruises even though I know I was struggling.  I assume you
were too."

She nodded, her look of fear growing.  "The, the men, the
triplets, had you seen them before?"

"No, but that's another thing.  I don't think they were human,
I, I think they were clones."

"Clones?"

"They were too identical."  He ran his hand through his hair.
"I'm not crazy, Dana.  Something happened to my sister, she
was never found.  What I saw that night was buried deep
and maybe my memories now aren't that clear, but I saw her
floating, weightless, I saw that light, the gun wouldn't fire,
though it did later, when the police tested it.  Shit," he
muttered, leaning back against the wall again.

"I'm sorry about your sister, Mulder."  She moved closer to
him, not ready to admit she believed him, but something
beyond their understanding certainly was going on.

"Thanks."  He was surprised when she cuddled into his side
but it felt good and his arm went around her, anchoring her
to him.  Knowing he shouldn't, he leaned down toward her. 
She looked up and their lips met.  When she didn't pull
away, he deepened the kiss and she responded.

When they broke apart he just looked at her for a long
moment.  "Thank you."

They both jumped as another tray appeared at the far end of
the bench.  It hadn't been that long since they had eaten. 
This time she moved to get it.  "I don't think this is food." She
brought the one cake, heavier than what they had eaten to
her face and sniffed it.  "Is it, is it soap?"  She handed it to
him and he smelled of it as well.

"Might be."

"Hey, I think you've finally got clothes too."  She held up two
small pieces of the gauze.  "That should cover you."

His eyes narrowed.  "If you think that will cover me, you
haven't been paying attention."

She gave him an evil grin then.  "Ego much?"

She was teasing him.  He relaxed.  Considering the
circumstances, he was pretty lucky to have someone with
him as level headed as she'd been.  "It appears we're
becoming offensive to whoever has us.  You first?"

"Gee thanks."  But she took the cake of soap and one of the
small cloths and headed into the bath.  Actually she did feel
better after washing up.  When she returned to the main
room he stood.  "Remember in the warehouse, how we
weren't as scared as we should have been.  I think the same
thing is going on here."

He nodded.  "I think you're right.  The food?"

"A mild sedative, just to take the edge off?"  She shrugged. 
"Bathroom's yours."

He took the other small piece of fabric, glared at her for an
instant, then disappeared into the bath.

"Nice and fresh?" he asked when he emerged.  He took a
seat beside her and lifted his arm to offer her a sniff.

"Oh, much better," she laughed turning away.

"You owe me a story."

"What?"

"The guy.  Remember?"

"You don't want to hear about that."

"Sure I do."

"Why?"

"You promised."

"I don't remember actually promising."  He gave her the most
exaggerated puppy dog look then and she couldn't help the
laugh.  "You're incorrigible."

"So I've been told.  Come on, give.  Who was this guy?"

"Marcus.  We dated my junior and senior year."

"Did you love him?"

She hesitated then met his eyes.  "No, but I thought I wanted
to."

"That's pretty insightful."

"I've had some time to think about it . . . and regret it."

"I'm sorry.  You know you really don't have to talk about it."

"You told me yours," she said with a feeble smile.  "I'm
embarrassed that I wasn't strong enough to stand up to peer
pressure.  It's a cliche that I had sex for the first time in the
back seat of a car."

"Dana, I'm sorry."

"Hey, it's not your fault."

"No, but I think this Marcus is an ass.  He made the choice of
taking advantage of you.  Probably did his ego pretty good."

"Probably."

"Why don't you tell me about being a Navy brat?"
 
She smiled her gratitude.

*****

They sat over their next meal, swiping the small containers
empty with their last wafer.  "I think I've got this figured out. 
We're not getting three squares a day; we're getting six, so
we're not sleeping eight hours either."

"So you think they're feeding us every four hours?" Dana
looked up and licked her fingers.

The sight drove other thoughts from his head and he had to
take a moment to get back to it.  For just an instant he
wondered if something to 'take the edge off' was the only
thing added to their food, but that thought didn't stay either. 
When they were finished, they again took up their seats at
the far end of the room from what they now considered the
door and she shared her wrap as they sat and talked. 
 
The most comfortable position, with no backrests, was
leaning against one another, talking softly, sharing
information about their lives.  Dana had had a great many
questions about his sister, some of them taking him aback at
her insight, others causing him to revisit different parts of
that long ago evening.  His memory was increasing with her
soft, non-judgmental questions.  And she fit so well against
him.

She became aware that the feel of him against her, his
strong arm around her, felt safe.  The fact that his body was
available for her perusal was becoming an added plus. 
Okay, she'd had 'sex' with Marcus but she had never had
the opportunity to look at his body in the dark backseat of
that stupid car.  This man's body was beautiful, the way his
muscles moved under his skin, the strength that was
contained within the tenderness of his touch moved her.

She looked up to find him watching her.  She moved toward
him, her lips lightly touching his.  He didn't need a second
invitation, pressing his lips to hers and delighting when she
opened her mouth to him.
 
They explored each other, hands tentative at first, exploring
soft, silky flesh and warm moist places.  He grew bolder as
did she when both were obviously enjoying the sensations. 
Still he was startled to find himself reclining mostly on top of
her and pulled back.

"What are we doing?" he whispered, though he hadn't
released her.

She blinked, "I, I don't . . . "

He started to move from atop her but her arms tightened,
holding him in place.  "We shouldn't . . . I don't have any
protection for you."

"I don't have - "

"No, I'm sure you're fine and I should be.  That's not, I don't
want to get you pregnant."

She flashed a smile then.  "You don't get to be a good
Catholic teenage girl without learning about rhythm, Mulder. 
You don't have to worry about that."

She delighted at the grin growing on his face.

"Are you really sure, Dana?" he forced himself to ask the
question.

She looked him directly in the eyes then.  "Yes," she said it
clearly, firmly and her right hand made it even more plain. 
He closed his eyes to appreciate the sensation, then took
her hand and moved it away.  "Muld - "

"I'm not Marcus.  This is for you."  She looked up at him not
entirely sure what he meant.  "Relax."

His hand caressed her side, causing her to shiver though not
from cold.  He kissed her gently then his lips moved down
her jaw and to her throat.  His hand was caressing her
breast.  "You feel so good."

She wanted to respond but the only sound she could make
was a purr.  He had to smile, but didn't stop in his
exploration of her.  His tongue laved her nipple and she
arched toward him.  Then he was moving down her body, his
tongue exploring and tasting her.  When he reached her
curls she pulled back.  "You, you don't have to - "

"Shh," he said, his hand caressing her gently.  "I want to." 
She looked nervous now.  "I want you to enjoy, Dana.  Just
relax."

She didn't say anything but let her hand brush through his
hair.

He smiled and returned his attentions to pleasuring her.  She
moaned slightly at the feelings, the sensations he was
generating.  She had never experienced this, never realized
it was possible.  He was making love to her, not like . . . she
moaned again as his tongue found that spot.  His eyes
smiled, his lips were too busy.

Then she was vibrating, writhing beneath him.  He held her
as she returned to herself.  She looked over at him, "Wha-
what did you do?"

He grinned, "First time?  It was an orgasm.  You seemed to
enjoy it."  She cut her eyes at him and he chuckled.  "Take
that Marcus."

She laughed out loud then and he held her close, laughing
with her.

"There's more as I remember," she finally looked up at him
and kissed him lightly.

"Yeah," he agreed.

"That, uh, that's a little intimidating," she glanced down at
him.

"Marcus wasn't . . . "

She shook her head.

"We don't have to - " her finger pressed against his lips. 

He smiled again, "We can take it slow."

She nodded and her hand moved down to his abdomen,
tickling-caressing him.  He met her eyes and moved over
her.  He was careful, giving her time.  She was ready, and
she wanted him.

He pressed against her, then entered her slowly allowing her
to set the pace.  When he was fully sheathed within her he
paused, watching her.  The fear had left her face, now
anticipation showed and he smiled then leaned down to kiss
her softly.

He began moving slowly, watching her.  Her eyes were
bright and her arms held her to him, her hands catching up
and joining in driving him toward the edge.

Wait, hold on, she needed to be with him.  He grasped for
control and his fingers caused another gasp of delight from
her.  Then she was coming again.   He couldn't hold back
any longer, joining her as she came in his arms.

Spent he rolled, pulling her atop him and they both slept,
holding each other.

He woke to find her still sprawled on him, relaxed and
peaceful.  He smiled, cuddling her closer.  Before she could
do more than stir, the light in the room brightened to a
painful level.  "Dana - " That was all he got out before he lost
consciousness.

*****

He opened his eyes slowly.  Where the hell?  This was a
hospital.  Had he been in a wreck?  He wasn't in pain. 
"Son?  Can you hear me?"

He turned toward the sound and an older man leaned over
him.  "Do you know your name?"

"Fox, Fox Mulder," his voice was coarse, unused sounding. 
"What - "

"Just relax.  You're doing fine.  Are you in any pain?"

Mulder thought about that for a moment.  No, just groggy. 
"I'm okay."

"Good," the older man, Mulder now realized he was wearing
a white lab coat, nodded.

"Doctor?"

"Yes, but you frankly don't need one I'm happy to say." 
Mulder started to sit up and the man's arm came out to
support him.  "Careful."

"What happened; where am I?"

"A quarantine facility outside of London."

"Quarantine?"

"What do you remember?"  The doctor raised the head of the
bed and handed him a glass of water with a straw.  Mulder
took a sip then lay back against the pillow, closing his eyes.

"I went to the Kingsley to meet a friend."  He sat up
suddenly, "the kidnappings.  Was I . . . ?"

"Yes, but you're okay now."

"How long was I gone?"

"Five days.  I guess you're pretty lucky.  You were in the last
batch to be taken.  Some people were missing over two
weeks."

"Is everyone back?"

The doctor nodded.  "The authorities would like to talk to
you.  Do you feel up to it?"

"I, sure, but I don't remember anything."

"No one seems to.  Just a minute and someone will be in to
talk to you.  If you get tired, just throw them out."

Mulder grinned then and nodded.  In moments two men in
suits joined him.

"How are you feeling?"

Mulder shrugged.  "Okay, I guess for missing five days."

They both nodded and the older one took a handful of
pictures from his pocket.  "Do you know any of these
people?"

Mulder obediently took the stack and started looking through
them.  When he had finished he looked up at the men,
"Sorry."  He handed the pictures back.

"Thanks for your help.  If you do remember anything, please
let someone here, one of the doctors, know and we'll come
back."

"How long am I going to be kept here?  I have a job and
classes, if I've already been gone five days . . . "

"We hadn't heard a schedule for letting people leave, but it
shouldn't be long.  Do you know if your family has been
contacted?"

"I don't know anything," Mulder replied, shaking his head.

"We'll send the nurse in.  Thank you for looking at the
pictures."  They turned to leave and though they were
speaking in low voices Mulder overhead them.  "It's bizarre,
no one saw anything.  How could they have been kept
unconscious for all that time and be as healthy as they are?" 
The other one shrugged and they left the room.


He exited the elevator, not sure what to expect and spotted
Ernie and Sean in the crowd.  Ernie was flirting with a nurse
which didn't surprise him at all.  Sean saw him and a smile
appeared on his face.  Sean forced his way over through the
people assembled and clapped him lightly on the back. 
"How are you feeling?"

"Fine.  What's going on?"

"Press.  Apparently they got word that the lot of you were
being released today and they wanted pictures and a story."

"Don't have one," Mulder said, looking around.

"Come on; let's get you out of here.  You have some phone
calls to make."

Mulder nodded and followed him toward the door.  A
movement caught his eye and he saw a young redheaded
woman being swept into the arms of a large older man in
uniform.  Mulder smiled at the sight; someone else who was
glad to be home.





******************************************


London Times Revisited

By donnah
donnah@donnas-stories.com


URL - www.donnas-stories.com
Rating - R
Category - Pre-X, AU, MSR
Spoilers - Sixth Extinction, London Times
Keywords - AU, MSR
Summary - When did they meet?
Feedback - Please
Archive - Anywhere, just let me know

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



London Times Revisited (1/2)


He smiled as he heard the door open.  "It's me, Mulder," she
called as though it could be anyone else.  He dried his hands
and moved out into the bedroom and on to the main room. 
She was in the kitchen emptying a bag.

"You're spoiling me," he commented as he watched her put
groceries away.

"I'm actually spoiling me," she responded.  "I've been eating
here more than at home lately."

"And I appreciate it, but I really am okay."

"You're okay, but not ready for the fat and grease diet."  She
pinned him with a look and he only grinned.  "Have you had
a headache today?"  She glanced at his medications on the
counter.  He could see her hand twitch to check.

"No, no headache, but if you don't take the bandage off
today, I'm going to do it myself.  I think I'm getting lice."

"How charming," she commented as she looked him over
with a clinical eye.

"Come on, Scully.  I've got to wash my hair, at least what
they left me."

She sighed, but she believed him.  "They left you plenty of
hair.  What if I wash it for you, Mulder?  I can keep the
incision protected - "
 
"I've always wanted to shower with you, Scully," he
interrupted, waggling his eyebrows.

She didn't bother to respond.  The eyebrow said it all. 
Shaking her head she left him in the kitchen, returning
shortly with a towel and some shampoo.

She pointed to a chair and he meekly took the seat.  She
carefully removed the gauze.  The incision was healing well
but brain surgery, especially the way he had experienced it,
was nothing to play around with.

"Okay, come on over to the sink."  She turned on the water,
adjusting the temperature.

"You weren't kidding?  You're going to wash my hair?"  He
sounded a little uncertain now.

"Yes.  I can check for fleas while I'm at it.  I did it for
Queequeg all the time."

His eyes narrowed but he couldn't sustain it.  There was
something . . . sexy about the thought.  She obviously
caught the gleam in his eyes because he saw the color rise
slightly in her checks.

"Come on, you're wasting water."  He obediently leaned over
the sink and she wet his hair, then poured shampoo into her
palm.  They hadn't shaved his head, so parts were long and
thick and . . . damn it.

"Scully?"

He drew her back to the task.  "Almost finished," she said
shortly.  She should not be enjoying this.  Regardless of her
feelings for him, she had to maintain some distance, they did
still work together, or they would when he was cleared to
return to work.

"Okay," she blotted his hair dry, being especially careful
around the incision.  "Once it's dry enough I'll rebandage - "

"Do you have to?  Couldn't we let it air out a little?" he asked
immediately.

"We'll see.  I got your t-shirt a little wet.  Why don't you
change while I fix dinner?"

"You are spoiling me.  Thank you."

His serious voice caught her off guard and she found herself
blushing again though he had turned away.

When he returned she had dinner on the table.  "I cheated
tonight.  It's not home cooked, but - "

"But it is home served and the company's the best."  He
startled her by holding her chair, one of the things she
instituted when she'd commandeered his kitchen was that
they sit at the table, and they ate while she filled him in on
her day and the news around the Bureau.

He was impatient to return to work and she knew it, but she
held his health in higher regard than he did and would not
back down.

After cleaning up, they moved into the living room.  "Were
you on the computer all day?" she asked as he sprawled on
the leather, his sock feet on the coffee table.

"Well, I took time out to check on Jill and Katherine.  I like a
good cat fight."

At her look of confusion he grinned, "The Young and the
Restless."  She rolled her eyes.  "Hey, I may not be one, but
I'm definitely the other."

"Oh you're young enough.  Did you find out anything?"

"About Genoa City?" he teased, "Actually there's not much
out there on the phenomena.  Mind reading hasn't been
documented nearly as well as you'd think."

"Mulder - "

"I was reading minds, Scully.  It nearly killed me, but I was
doing it."  He took hold of her hand which had clinched when
he'd spoken of his affliction.  "Even yours."  She stiffened
and started to rise.  His grip on her hand tightened.  "I know
you don't want to talk about it - "

"Mulder, please - "

"I know you don't want to talk about it," he repeated, "but you
need to know.  You were there for me.  I could feel you, feel
your fear for me, your caring.  I could always feel you.  I
knew sometimes you were far away physically, but always
with me."

"There, there were others worried about you."

He nodded.  "Skinner, I could feel him when he was at the
hospital, nearby.  Diana . . ." he shook his head and dropped
that line.  "I remember Frohike at least once."  He put his
arm around her pulling her close.  "Stay away from him,
Scully."

She chuckled and leaned against him.

"And there was one other person.  A boy or maybe a young
man.  At first I thought it was Gibson.  He was obviously
used to what was happening, but it wasn't him."

"Someone at the hospital?"

He thought for a moment.  "No.  I don't know where he was,
but he made me think of Oxford."

"Oxford?"

He nodded, "I can't explain why.  Maybe since he felt
younger I thought about when I was a kid."

"I'd like to have seen that."

"I was a stud, Scully.  You missed it."

She huffed.  "You were with Phoebe then."

He winced and she felt it.  "I wish you'd have come to
England.  Maybe we could go there sometimes.  I could
show you the sights."

"I've been to England, thanks.  It was not my favorite
country."

"When were you in England?  You've never mentioned that."
He looked down at her.

She shrugged.  "It was a long time ago; the summer after
high school.  I went with a school group.  It was one of those
'if it's Tuesday this must be Belgium' kind of tours."

"The crown jewels weren't impressive?"

"Wouldn't know, I never got to see them."

"You're kidding.  That's always where they take the tourists."

"Oh, it was on the itinerary, I just never made it.  The first
night there . . . I was just unlucky.  Someone was targeting
tourists or something.  We went to a bar, sorry, a pub, and it
was attacked.  I don't remember what happened, but I was
released, unharmed a few days . . . Mulder?"

"What pub?  When?"  She could feel the tension in his body.

"I don't remember.  What's wrong?"

"How many days were you missing?"

"What?  Uh, five I think.  Mulder, are you okay?"  She turned,
sitting up to face him.

"It was the Kingsley pub.  Summer of '82."

"How would you know that?  Mulder, what's - "

"I was there."

She stared at him.  "What?"

His eyes were unfocused now, looking back in time.  "The
little red head . . ."
Her mouth fell open and he focused on her.  "What do you
remember?"

She swallowed, her brow furrowed.  "Noth-nothing really.  I
hadn't even thought about it in years."

"Me either.  Scully, did we meet then?  Do you remember me
at all?"

"I don't, and now, Mulder, it's getting late.  I need to get
home."  She started to rise, but his arm went around her,
anchoring her to him.

"Please don't run away."

She looked down at her hands; that's exactly what she had
wanted to do.  Run and run fast as memories began to swirl
around her.  How the hell could she have completely
forgotten that time?  Did she want to remember now?  She
would if she stayed around him and for some reason that
scared her.

"Scully, please."

She forced herself to lean back.  "An X-File?"

"Sounds like it.  It would explain a lot."

She looked up at him then, "Explain what?"

He shook his head, not answering.  "You came into the pub
with a crowd."  Reluctantly she nodded.  "What happened
after that?  Why is it so damn fuzzy?"

"We had to have been drugged, probably the whole time. 
That's why we didn't remember when we woke up . . . or
now," she offered.

"You're upset," he took her hands to keep her from wringing
them.

"Did I forget you?  Why did I forget that week?  What else - "

"Scully," he pulled her against him, "don't."

"I need to get home."

"Stay here," he said softly.

"What?  No, I - "

"You can have the bed.  I'll sleep out here.  You're upset.  I
don't want you driving."  His hand caressed her shoulder.

"I can't take your bed.  I'm okay."

"Scully."  She finally looked up at him.

"I won't take your bed.  You're recovering from major
surgery."

"Okay, you take the couch.  Just stay here.  I'll make sure
you're up in time to head home first."

"I . . . "

"Please."  His eyes held her.  She bowed her head, she
might as well admit it, she wanted to stay. 

*****

He lay in bed unable to sleep.  He wondered if she was
having the same problem.  How the hell had he 'forgotten'
about a five day gap in his life?  How had he forgotten
meeting her, no matter how briefly?  She said she had never
remembered what happened during her first abduction, well -
maybe second now.  He'd never really believed that but
knew better than to press.  It was a little surprising she had
agreed to stay here.  Just showed how shaken she was by
what she did remember.

They'd have to talk about this eventually.  He heard
something in the other room.  If she couldn't sleep either
there was no reason to stay apart.  Mulder rose and pulled
the door open.  She was on the couch, asleep, but restless. 
Of course she was having bad dreams.  He moved to her,
taking a seat on the coffee table.

As though sensing him, her hand came out.  With the
shadow of a smile he took it and the tension eased from her
face.

Whatever she remembered, or didn't, they were together. 
He'd loved her for a long time.  Whether she could admit it
out loud or not, she loved him.  He knew that now.  Oh hell,
he rose and lifted her gently, taking a seat on the couch and
letting her sleep against him.  Fuck regulations and
fraternization and whatever else the Bureau frowned on. 
This was his woman and she needed him, maybe as much
as he needed her.  He got comfortable on the couch and
shortly drifted off with her in his arms.

Her restless movements woke him, or maybe it was his own
dream.  She looked up at him and started to draw back. 
"Mulder?"

"Sorry.  I was lonely in there."

She just looked at him and he shrugged but didn't release
her.

"What were you dreaming?" he asked gently.  She shook her
head and he cuddled her closer.  "Come on, let me help."

She sighed.  "A metal room."

He blinked at that, then nodded.  "Yeah, with a shelf on the
wall . . . " His eyes widened.  "Scully."

She had closed her eyes now. 

"You had sex with Marcus in the back seat of his car."

She jerked, pulling away but he didn't let go.  "I, I never told
anyone - "

"You told me, in that room."

Her eyes were wide and he saw her swallow hard.

"Do you remember?"

"You were . . . you were nude," she managed to say.  Her
color was high now and it was him that closed his eyes as
new memories flooded his mind.

"You wore that gauze-y thing once we got it."   He looked at
her now.  "How could I forget . . . " he growled.

"Mulder?"

"They made me forget this, forget loving you."

"I remember it now," she said softly.

He caressed her face watching her, but he didn't speak.

"It explains a lot of things, Mulder."  He looked confused. 
"We've always been . . . close, even when we were just
learning each other.  I, I was always drawn to you, even
when I didn't want to be."

"Didn't want - "

"We do work together."

"But it's more."

"Of course it's more, Mulder."  There was the hint of a smile
on her face.  "You did give me my first orgasm."

His eyes lightened then.  "I did, didn't I?"

"Why?  Why do that to us?"

Mulder didn't answer immediately, thinking, remembering. 
"The triplets - "

She gasped.  "The bounty hunter!"

Mulder nodded.  "We've been on the X-Files for a long time." 
She closed her eyes then and he knew fear.  "I'm sorry."

"It's not your fault.  Why did they do this?  Why us and what
was the purpose?  It makes no sense.  If it was for the two of
us to meet . . . "

"They took other people.  I don't remember all the details,
but there has to be a record.  I'll research it today.  All of the
pubs hit were ones I knew, ones I'd been to."

"With Phoebe?"

He looked down at her.  "Uh, yeah.  What are you thinking?"

She shook her head.  "I don't know; just thinking out loud."

"Don't think, not right now.  It's still the middle of the night. 
Let's try to get a little more sleep.  Do you want me to go
back to the other room?"
 
She shook her head.  She wouldn't sleep, but lying here with
him felt safer.

"Close your eyes, Scully.  I've got you."

It couldn't have been long before she felt his lips on her
forehead and his hands moving slowly over her back.  She
moved against him and her eyes looked down involuntarily
and widened.  Good lord, she was pretty sure you could see
that from space.

"Scully?"

"We shouldn't."

"Why not?"

"I, I don't remember."  She felt his chuckle as his arms
tightened around her and his lips found hers.  Clothes were
discarded along with inhibitions as they explored and
remembered.

When he sank into her body their eyes met and widened.  A
circuit completed, they were one entity.  The small part of
her that could still think realized now why no other man had
ever been right for her.

*****

He was already awake when she stirred.  "Morning." He
smiled down at her.

"Mmm."

"I know, coffee.  Just a minute, I need you to call in.  Tell
them you need to take the day."

"Mulder, as much as I'd enjoy it, we can't spend the whole
day - "

"Sure we could, but that's not what I'm talking about."

"Okay, fill me in."

"We need to be some place." 

"Some place?  I need a little more than that."  She couldn't
help her hand coming up and caressing his stubbled face.

"I, I don't have a lot more.  Do you have anything really hot
on your desk?"

"Uh, no," she said with a small laugh.  "Like Kersh would
give us something 'hot'."

"Call in, I'll make coffee then I'll explain."  He kissed her
again, then climbed over her to leave the couch.  She
admired his body for a moment, then stretched and rose
herself.  "Use your cell; you don't want them to know you're
over here this early."

She cut her eyes at him in a 'duh' manner and he grinned. 
Nothing was going to hurt his mood today.  After all these
years, he had made love with Scully again.  Part of him
wanted to laugh out loud.

"Okay?" he asked when she joined him in the kitchen.

"I left a message.  I don't take a lot of sick days, so I'm not
too worried.  Now, what's up with you?"  Again she found her
glance moving down his body and he did laugh then. 

"Who couldn't spend the whole day . . . "

"Shut up, Mulder.  What's going on with you?" she rephrased
her question.

"We need to take a trip south."  She waited for the punch
line; it didn't come.

"Okay," she said slowly.   "South.  Where south?"

"I'm not entirely sure.  I'm thinking North Carolina."  He saw
the expression on her face.  "Hey, I'm not ditching you. 
Come on, field trip."

"Not Brown Mountain."  Her face lost a little color at the
thought.

"No, not Brown Mountain."  He assured her quickly and
poured two cups of coffee.  He watched her savor hers.  "I'm
thinking Durham.  Come on, we need to shower and pack a
bag."

"We need to shower?" She watched him nod rapidly and
chuckled.

He got his way, so it was a long shower, but finally he was
tossing a couple of days clothing into a bag.  "We'll stop by
your place and get your things then head out."

"Mulder, you have to tell me where we're going and why,"
she balked at the idea again.

"I, hell I'm not sure.  After last night, after we were together, I
don't know if it was a dream, but I know we need to go to
Durham."

"Just like that?"

"Yes, Scully, just like that.  Trust me?"

She was shaking her head as she took his hand and they
headed for her car.  Packing took little time and they were on
the road.  She insisted on driving and after a while he shut
up about it.  Instead they talked about their memories,
bringing details back for one another.  "I cannot believe how
calm we were - "

"Or how horny," Mulder interjected.

Scully shook her head again.  "What kind of drugs were they
using on us?"

"We'll probably never know.  Was anyone else from your
tour group taken?"

"Uh, yes, they were.  A couple of the guys, at least three of
the girls."

"Would you know how to get in touch with them?"

"I'll look into it.  I didn't stay in touch with any of them."

"As I recall you didn't look too happy to be in their company
even then."

"I wasn't.  The pub was their idea.  I was tired from the flight
and wanted a - "

"Bubble bath.  You haven't changed that much, Scully."

She cut her eyes at him, but he was right.  This man knew
her and, if she was honest with herself, she knew he had
read her mind.  He knew she loved him.  It was a little scary
that he knew things she had kept hidden, or tried to, for so
long, but honesty should count for something.  This man was
in her life and she was better for it.  She hoped he had
picked that up as well.

*****

He checked them into a hotel using the Hale identity, then
they took the car to campus.  After walking aimlessly for a
short while, he spotted an ice cream shop and steered her
toward it.

He watched her eat her ice cream, chocolate chocolate chip
and grinned as she shut her eyes to savor it.  She scraped
the last mouthful out and returned his smile.  His finger took
an imaginary spot off her face and sucked it.  Her blush was
adorable.  Before he could speak he felt someone move to
stand beside his chair.  She looked up first and the smile
faded from her face.

He immediately looked up at the young man at his side.  He
looked familiar but not really dangerous, not enough to
cause Scully's reaction.  In fact he looked kind of cocky.  
"Can I help you?"  He finally spoke to the man when he
didn't move off.

Instead of answering, the young man met Scully's eyes.  
That caused the hairs to rise on Mulder's neck.  "Do I know
you?" Mulder tried to get his attention back and started to
rise.

"Mulder, look at him," Scully said softly.

Mulder turned back and really looked at the man.  Six feet,
chestnut hair, blue eyes . . . Mulder blinked.  Him?  Years
ago, but . . .

The man finally looked back at him.  "I have my mother's
eyes."

Mulder jerked at that but Scully's gasp drew his attention.  
He looked at her and her pallor frightened him.   He was
moving around the table afraid she would faint.  He
squatted beside her and his arm went around her.  "Scully,
stay with me."

"I, I'm sorry, I didn't think - " the young man stammered.

"Leave," Mulder said harshly.

"No."  It was Scully's voice, faint but adamant.

"We're getting out of here," he said helping her to her feet,
his arm tight around her.

"I thought this would be easier in a public - "

"What would be easier?"  Mulder's eyes were hard, but
Scully tugged on his sleeve.

"The gardens are close.  We could talk there," the young
man said, his demeanor more tentative now, his cockiness
gone.  He followed them to their car silently and started to
open the back door.

"Hold it. I don't know who the hell you are.  Why should I let
you in the car?"

"We have to talk."

Mulder opened his mouth but before he could speak
Scully's hand on his arm stopped him.  Rather than argue
with her, he opened her door and seated her.  The young
stranger let himself in behind her.  "Other side, buddy,"
Mulder growled.

"I would never hurt her."

Scully closed her eyes.  Mulder buckled her in and after a
last glance in the back seat, rounded the car.

They drove in silence to Duke Gardens.  Mulder parked but
before he could round the car she was out.  He hurried to
her side in full protective mode and she didn't call him on it.

The young stranger led the way to a private bench in the
gardens.  He motioned for Scully to take a seat.  Instead she
looked up at him.  "What's your name?"

"My friends call me Dave.  I chose Williams as a last name.  
It seemed to fit."  

She nodded as Mulder looked more confused.  "You can
read our minds."  She hadn't phrased it as a question but
Dave nodded.

"What the hell - "

"Mulder," her voice was low and pained.  "This is our son."

Had anyone else said it, Mulder would have laughed or
made some comment.  From Scully, he was rendered silent.

Dave turned to him and Mulder examined him closely.  She
was right.  If her reaction hadn't been so extreme he would
have accepted it earlier.  The man in front of him looked too
familiar and yes, the eyes were hers.

"You made me in that metal room."

Scully sank onto the bench as Mulder grabbed her arm.  He
couldn't think of anything to say so he sat beside her, his
arm protectively around her.

"I've handled this totally wrong, and I'm sorry, but I've
wanted to meet you for so long.  When I saw you were
together again, I couldn't resist."

"Together again?" Mulder asked.

"Well, uh . . . " he blushed then as Scully's face drained of
color.  Dave swallowed hard and the resemblance to his
father grew in her mind.

"Oh my god," Scully whispered.

"Start at the beginning," Mulder barked at Dave.  The young
man took the remaining space on the bench.

"It's not the beginning but it makes the most sense to start
with the artifact."  Mulder blinked but kept quiet.  Scully
leaned against him.  "When the artifact woke up that part of
your brain, I sensed it immediately.  I've . . . monitored you,
both of you, since I was a baby."

The sound Scully made could only be called a moan, but
neither spoke.

"I knew you were in trouble immediately.  You don't have a
shield, well you didn't.  The one you have now is weak.  
There wasn't time to develop one.  You were hit too fast.  
You've always been able to read minds, you didn't realize
you were doing it, but it made you the legendary profiler you
are."

"Legendary," Mulder huffed the word.

"You are.  But you needed help, more than Mo-Scully could
give you.  She kept you sane, gave you something to hold
on to.  You needed more, so I stepped in."

"You were the boy?"

Dave nodded.  "I made you think of Oxford."

Mulder closed his eyes.  Oxford, England, five missing,
forgotten days . . . Scully.

"I didn't think you were aware of me.  But you thought of me
last night, mentioned feeling me.  Then you and Mo . . . you
were together and I thought finally it was time."

"What do you want from us?" Mulder's voice was harsh, as
much from fear as emotion.

"Mulder."  Scully's hand rested on his arm.  He looked at her
as though begging for stability.

"You call me Mom?" Scully asked Dave quietly.

"I'm sorry.  I, I think of you that way.  I've never called
anyone that."

"Who raised you?"

Dave shrugged.  "No one much.  All of the children created
during those abductions were together.  I suppose it was an
orphanage of a kind."

"Could you all read . . . "

Dave shook his head.  "Only me.  I guess I was three or so
when I realized it.  They tested me, a lot."

Mulder winced at that, and asked, "Are you still with them?"

Dave shook his head.  "I made them think I lost the ability.  
When I hit puberty I pretended it went away.  Since I could
read them, I knew what they wanted.  I'd found you, so I
knew how different things could be.  I clung to that."

"You, you'd found us?"  Scully managed to say.  Mulder
seemed incapable.

"It was easier finding him.  He felt so familiar when I was in
his head.  I understood him, no family, smarter than the
others, his humor."  There was a pause, then he faced
Scully again.  "I'm sorry about Emily."

Scully's pain was visible.  "Why?  Why was she sick when
you're obviously healthy?"

"The wrong father," he said quietly.

"That's enough."  Mulder rose abruptly.

Dave looked down and Scully saw the defeat on his face.  
"You're my son."  Mulder's head came up at her words and
he stared at Scully.

The young man, hardly more than a boy looked up quickly
and nodded.

"I don't know how to feel about that."  She saw and felt the
sorrow he emanated.  "I wish I had known - "

"You just believe him?  All of these years you've fought
everything you see and now - "

"I'm human.  I'm not a shape shifter."  Without warning
Dave smashed his hand against the bench.  Scully gasped,
but he only held out his hand, showing Mulder the bright
red blood.  "See?"

Scully took his injured hand in hers and a look of awe came
over his face.  Mulder felt a jolt of red hot jealousy at the
gesture.

"Stop this, please."  She looked between the two men.  

"You want some time with Mulder," Dave said quietly.

"I don't hear you stumbling over the word 'Dad'," Mulder
tossed out.

"'Mulder, I even made my parents call me Mulder'," Dave
quoted.

"Mulder and I need to talk - "

"Why bother?  He'd be in there listening to everything,"
Mulder spat.

"Have I been in your heads, yes.  I was alone, I was lonely.  
When I had questions I looked to the two of you for
answers.  Isn't that what every child does, turn to his parents
for help?"  Blue eyes met hazel in a defiant stare.

Scully sinking back down on the bench caught both of their
eyes and they saw the tear that trailed down her cheek.  
Mulder glared at Dave, but before he could speak Dave did.  
"She belongs to me too."

For an instant Scully thought they would actually butt heads
like rams.  She rose and stood between them.  "We can't do
this.  And yes, we need time, but we need it together."

"Together?" Mulder turned to look at her.

"I have an apartment near here," Dave said quietly.  "We
could order in some food."

"No, it could be under surveillance," Mulder said
immediately.

Scully nodded.  "But I want to be inside somewhere."

Feeling defeated somehow, Mulder took her arm and led
her back to their car.  He didn't look back to see if Dave
followed them.  His turmoil over this whole thing was giving
him a killer headache.  He thought he was hiding that, at
least from her, until they reached the car.  She slipped the
keys from his hand and just looked at him when he started
to protest.  It didn't help when he saw Dave's lips quirk in a
near grin.

She drove to the hotel and they headed to the room.

*****

Eventually room service was ordered and delivered.
Conversation was awkward and stiff.  Mulder kept quiet for
the most part, just observing while Scully asked questions
and drew the young man out.  It was a technique they had
used many times, but never to learn information about their
own son.

"What are you studying?"

Dave watched her.  "Uh, I'm pre-med.  I want to go into
psychiatry.  I seem to have a feel for it.  I have a good
memory," he grinned at her, ignoring Mulder, "and I seem to
be able to get into people's minds.  Spooky, huh?"

Mulder turned away and Scully watched him.  He was
reeling from this, even more than her she finally realized.

More than once Mulder wanted to suggest he leave and
meet again the next day, but Scully seemed to know what
he was going to say and forestalled him every time with a
new question.

It was only when she rose from the table and swayed that
Mulder tried to put his foot down.  "You're exhausted.  We
can do this - "

"No!" she turned on him.  "We can't ask him to leave!  I've
been gone his whole life!"

Completely at a loss for words, he led her to the couch in
the sitting area of the small suite.  "Okay, okay but you need
to close your eyes for a little while.  Take a twenty-minute
power nap, something.  You have to step away, even if it's
just in your head."

She closed her eyes, nodding weakly.  Dave slipped into
the bedroom and returned quickly with a pillow and blanket
from the bed.  "Here, just rest for a few minutes."

She smiled and accepted the things.  Mulder adjust the
blanket, watching over her until she seemed to slip into
sleep.

Dave excused himself and disappeared into the bathroom,
leaving them alone for a moment.

Mulder was still watching her, asleep on the small couch
when Dave returned.  "She is beautiful," he said softly.

Mulder glanced up.  "You hadn't seen her before?"

"Only through your eyes and that wasn't exactly
unprejudiced.  Even from the beginning, the second
beginning for you, you loved her.  We have to get along, at
least for her sake."

"How do we do that?" Mulder spoke quietly in deference to
her, but his question fell loud between them.

Dave took a seat at the small table, on the other side of the
room from where Scully slept.  Reluctantly Mulder joined
him.  "I am your son.  I'm more than willing to have a DNA
test, but who would you trust to do it?  You don't even want
your friends to know about this.  I guess she could do it." He
looked over at Scully.

Mulder closed his eyes.  "It's not necessary."

Dave looked up at him startled.

"I know who you are.  I, when I felt you with me . . . I know
now I recognized you."  The hungry look on his son's face
stunned him.  "How, how did you find us?"

"I don't really know.  I was a baby, under five.  You joined
the FBI, you thought about Oxford and finding Samantha."

It jolted Mulder to hear him speak of Samantha, but she was
his aunt.  

"You didn't remember being gone for those five days, but it
was in your head."

"But how did you recognize me?"

"I didn't, not at first.  We weren't taught the concept of
parents but you were there, all the time.  I looked for you at
first, sure you had to be there, with us.  Finally I realized you
were . . . some sort of guardian."

Mulder wasn't sure whether to laugh or cry at that comment.  
"Guardian?  You really were hard up."

Dave smiled.  "It worked.  It made more sense when Mom
took over as number one in your head."

"What?"

"At first you were only about Samantha when you got to the
Bureau.  There were some women but no one important
until Diana."

Mulder winced and glanced over to make sure Scully was
still asleep.  "Now that's when I needed to be able to read
minds."

Dave nodded.  "You were definitely thinking with your little
head then," he agreed.

Mulder glared at him, "Children have no respect."
 
Dave didn't try to hide his grin, but it quickly faded.  "She did
a number on you.  If you hadn't been so good at your job,
you would never have been able to pull it off.  She bailed
just in time to keep her hands clean.  That's when they
assigned Mom."

Both of them looked over at her then.  "She's really great
you know," Dave offered.

"I've known that a long time."

They were silent for a moment.

"Will I see you again?" Dave finally asked.

Mulder looked startled.  "Of course, you're my, you're our
son."

Even though they'd spent some time together now, Mulder
could feel Dave relax further.  "Want another beer?"

Mulder glanced over at Scully, then nodded.  When Dave
handed him the bottle, Mulder faced him.  "You need to
watch the alcohol. Your grandfather - "

"My grandfather was more a smoker than a drinker."

After a moment Mulder nodded.

"I could help you," Dave said quietly.

"No," Mulder spoke immediately sitting up a little, fully
understanding the offer.  "I've already ruined your mother's
life.  You need to stay away - "

"She doesn't think her life's been ruined.  She thinks she's
with her soul mate."

Mulder couldn't face him then, instead watching Scully
sleep on the couch.

"I'm not just saying that.  It's true, she loves you."

"I know," Mulder said softly.  "I saw it in her mind.  I just don't
understand why."

Dave was silent then, unsure what words would help.  This
was another thing he had always known about this man,
even before he understood he was his father.  This man
was a hero, he had saved countless lives, yet he lived with
the belief that he didn't measure up; he wasn't worth loving.  
Too bad Dave had never had the opportunity to meet his
grandparents and find out why they had treated him as they
had.  On the other hand, this attitude had helped Dave
through many low periods in his own life.

After a long moment Mulder turned back to him.  "Can I still
read minds?  You said . . . "

"Yes, but you don't realize it.  It's not like what bombarded
you earlier.  That part of your brain works, weakly, but it
works."  Mulder glared at the description and Dave grinned.  
"It's been that way since the night Samantha was taken."

"What?" Mulder said, louder than he meant to.  They both
glanced at Scully but she didn't stir.

"That night, they took her but you were . . . you've used the
term frozen.  It's as good as any.  They held you immobile.  
One of them entered the house and touched your face."

"I don't remember that."

"I know.  They suppressed all of the memories.  You
retrieved a lot of them with the regression, but the fact that
they actually touched you was buried very deep."

"What did they do to me?"

"They enhanced you, gave you abilities beyond what you
would normally have had.  The memory, the extraordinary
intellect - "

"Will you write my press releases?" Mulder said dryly.

"You don't really need any.  You don't care about the credit
as much as getting the work done.  Right?"

Mulder looked away, back at Scully and didn't answer.  
"Why her?"

"They saw you were attracted to her in the pub.  They chose
her for you."

"The pub, all three pubs, I was familiar with them.  Was I
targeted?"

Dave nodded.  "Phoebe lured you to them.  One thing or
another upset the plans the first two times."

"It just keeps getting better and better," Mulder observed with
growing anger.  "I want them gone, I want my sister back, I
want to quit hurting the woman I love . . . I want your
childhood back."

Dave watched him, drinking in the passion of this man he
had only dreamed of meeting someday.  His parents loved
each other, and they both were already growing a
relationship, a caring for him.  Mulder looked over at him
and realized he was overwhelmed.  He placed a hand on
his son's shoulder.  "I'm sorry."

"Thank you," Dave managed to say.  "I, I know you never
thought about children, I mean having any of your own."

"No, I didn't until - "

"Emily," they said it together.  Mulder nodded.  "When I saw
her, held her in my arms when we rushed her to the
hospital and knew that she was Scully's, she felt like mine."

"I was a little jealous of her," Dave admitted.  "Not what she
was going through, but that she knew you, even for a little
while."

"You had no family?"

"The other kids, but since none of us had parents, we
weren't really good at it.  I tried, since I could at least know
what others had.  It's another way you and I connected."  He
looked up quickly.  "Not that I'm glad you had that kind of
family life."

Mulder chuckled quietly.  "I got it.  Scully's childhood was a
lot different in ways, but her father was gone a lot as well."

Dave nodded and they both glanced over at her again,
drawn to her.  "I need to help you."

Mulder looked back at him quickly.  "No.  I said - "

"I heard you.  Think of it as my belated teenage rebellion.  If
it can help protect her, I have to do it."

They stared at each other for a long moment.  "I don't want
you hurt."

Dave's smile grew at that.  "Thank you.  Think about it, I'm
the safest of the three of us.  I can see what's coming, and I
can warn you.  No, I'm not overwhelmed by it," he continued
at his father's thought.  "I've always had it.  I developed a
shield probably in utero.  You know that's something you
should probably work on, in case it ever happens to you
again."

"Right, maybe I can download the instructions while I'm still
on leave."

"Ah, see?  Now that's someplace I can help you.  I can work
with you."  Mulder hesitated and his eyes were drawn again
to Scully.  "It could help you both."

"Does she read minds?"

"No, at least not in the way you do.  I think she reads your
mind, but not the rest of us."

"She can read my mind?"

"Not exactly, but she knows what you're thinking.  You
know that's true.  Since I've been with you you've had two
or three conversations without saying a word."
 
Mulder grinned, "Okay, that I agree with.  We've always . . . "

"See?" Dave asked grinning as well.  "You bonded when
you were in that metal room, in more ways than one."  Dave
cleared his throat then, becoming serious once more.  "I
think she's down for the night.  I should get out of here."

"Do you have to?"

"What?"

Mulder nodded toward the couch where she was sleeping.  
"That's a fold out.  You could stay here."

"Are you serious?"

"I think she'd like it.  Let me carry her into the bedroom - "

"No.  You had brain surgery; you're not going to lift her.  
She'll wake up enough to walk or I'll carry her.  Then you
can undress her."

Mulder opened his mouth to protest, but Scully's eyes in
their son's face stopped him.  "Yeah, okay," he groused.  
"I'm fine."

"And that's the way she, we want you to stay."  

Mulder nodded, acknowledging the change.  He moved
over to her and crouched down beside her.  "Scully?" he
said softly.

"Mpf," she shifted but didn't wake.

Dave grinned and Mulder rolled his eyes.  "I don't think she
slept too well last night," Mulder offered.

"I think she slept very well . . . eventually."

Mulder's eyes narrowed.  "That's private."

"Yes, Dad," Dave said, trying to maintain a straight face.

Mulder growled, but Dave ignored him, picking Scully up
into his arms and following Mulder into the bedroom.  
Mulder hastily pulled back the covers and Dave gently lay
her on the bed.

"Why don't you undress her?" He looked up at Mulder
innocently.

"Keep pushing it, 'son'."  The feral look on Mulder's face
caused a momentary faltering of the grin on Dave's face,
but it reestablished itself immediately.

"Yes sir."

Mulder undressed her and then himself, crawling in beside
her.  Even asleep she curled into his body and slept on.

He could hear Dave, his son, get ready for bed and just lay
there overwhelmed.  He and Scully had a child.  They had
been together for years and just didn't realize how deep
their connection really was.  It wasn't the way he would
have dreamed of having a baby, a son with her, but that
didn't change any facts.

The scientist in her would probably ask for DNA and she
would run the test.  He wouldn't protest though it wasn't
necessary.  

Help them.  Their son wanted to help them in their quest.  
Another thing he would have protested in other
circumstances, but now . . . Scully's arm went around him.  
"Mulder?"

"Right here," he whispered.

"It's true."

"Yes, it is."  They had a lot to figure out, to discuss, but for
now it was enough just to hold each other.