Chapter 1
A new life
Hospital Washington Memorial
3:45 am
Sound of a rhythmic heartbeat. Lighting is very dim, fading in and out of black. We see glimpses of a figure moving slowly in a viscous greenish-yellow fluid. The heartbeat speeds up slightly as the light brightens. Either the fluid drains or the figure rises. It is Mulder. His eyes fly open and he gasps as an organic cord is pulled from his throat.
Scully gasps as she wakes up abruptly in the hospital. She catches her breath and lies back down on the bed, her hand resting protectively on her abdomen.
She has been having nightmares every time she closes her eyes, she can only think about Mulder and her unborn child, besides she hates hospitals and even more when Mulder isn't around, this is a terrible situation for her, she sits in the bed trying to calm her nerves, she wants to go home and to work, she need to work, she needs to find Mulder.
The doctor come into the room after seeing her through the room window.
DR GREEN: How are you feeling Agent Scully?
SCULLY: I'm fine, I just can't sleep
DR GREEN: I have the new results of the tests
SCULLY: It's everything ok?
DR GREEN: The baby seems fine, we are just a little worry about your health
SCULLY: In what way?
She starts breathing faster and her expression is full of fear.
DR GREEN: Oh no, please don't worry, as a doctor you should be aware that due to your age you can have complications in pregnancy, since it is your first child, therefore you should perform prenatal checkups more frequently, and I hope you don't have to face stressful or dangerous situations that put your life or the baby's in danger, we know that the FBI can be a dangerous place for you at the moment.
She nods with her head and sighs
SCULLY: I know what you mean but I really need to find my partner as soon as possible
DR GREEN: I heard about it, I'm sorry, you can go to work normally just slow down a little
SCULLY: Ok, thank you Doctor.
DR GREEN: Now please try to rest, I will check you again before you leave.
She lies down again and thinks about her possibilities, of course she wants to take care of her baby, after all it is a miracle, but she must look for Mulder, she must do everything in her power so that both of them are safe, she feels that all her energy is being drained by worry and fatigue, her heavy eyes begin to close and finally no nightmare comes to hunt her.
FBI Headquarters
Next Day
10:45 am
Scully and Skinner enter the Bullpen. Agent Crane, comes over to them.
Crane: Assistant Director, you can come on back with me. Agent Scully the Agent Doggett is waiting for you
She turns around and see the man, he must be forty something, and is looking straight to her, she walks towards him, he offers her a hand to shake it and introduce himself.
DOGGETT: Agent Scully, my name is John Doggett
SCULLY: I know who you are, Kersh's task force leader, let me just tell you this is not the way to look for Mulder.
DOGGETT: Nice to meet you too Agent Scully, and if this is not the way, then tell me how
She remain silent looking at him with a raised eyebrow ad pursed lips
DOGGETT: What's your theory?
SCULLY: What do you want to get on me, Agent Doggett? What is it you hope to find?
DOGGETT: I'm just trying to find Mulder.
SCULLY: You wouldn't know where to look.
DOGGETT: I know the answer, Agent Scully.
SCULLY: I don't even know the question.
DOGGETT: What happened to Mulder? I know what you're gonna say or not because you think I'm the big bad wolf. Do you really believe it?
SCULLY: You think by talking in circles, I'm just going to get dizzy and..and blurt it out.. this so-called answer?
DOGGETT: That he was abducted by aliens?
SCULLY: (defiant) You said it. I didn't.
DOGGETT: I guess I just find it hard to swallow that a scientist, a serious person, could buy that. Ever see an alien, Agent Scully?
SCULLY: You want me to go on record? I will go on record to say this; that I have seen things that I cannot explain. I have observed phenomena that I cannot deny. And that as a scientist and a serious person it is a badge of honor not to dismiss these things because someone thinks they're B.S.
DOGGETT: So you think he was abducted?
She looks aways getting nervous, she is doing exactly what she told Skinner not to do, she swallows trying to calm down and not feel dizzy, the only way to help Mulder is staying inside the FBI
DOGGETT: I'm just trying to find him.
SCULLY: And what are you doing? Have you found anything?
DOGGETT: I found these in his desk. Car rental receipts on Agent Mulder's Visa. Four consecutive weekends in May. Same mileage each trip - 370 miles, 375 miles... where was he going?
SCULLY: I don't know.
DOGGETT: Maybe you really didn't know your partner.
SCULLY: You have no right to say anything about me or Mulder.
She feels a dizziness invading her so she doesn't say more and leaves the office trying to breath, Skinner comes out behind her and sees her going to the bathroom.
She walks out of there after a couple of minutes all pale, he looks at her with concerne and holds her arm.
SKINNER: Dana, are you alright?
SCULLY: I just need to relax a little
SKINNER: I told you to take the day off, I will take you home right now
SCULLY: I'm pregnant, not sick, this will happen very often now, I just need to get use to it.
He helps her to sit in a chair nearby still concerned, she looks at him and smiles a little.
SCULLY: I'm fine Walter, really...
He sits next to her, some people in the corridor look at them in a weird way, he just ignore them and speaks.
SKINNER: What did he say?
SCULLY: He is just like Kersh, they don't know Mulder, they know nothing about the X files, this is so wrong.
SKINNER: Did he find anything?
She looks at the floor and leans forward supporting herself with the hands on both sides of the chair, he waits for her to talk, he knows what she's feeling and he knows her, she isn't good with her feelings.
SCULLY: He show me some car rental receipts, but I wasn't paying attention. He dared to say I didn't know Mulder.
She said the last line with a trembling voice.
SKINNER: You have to calm down, as you said we will find him, and if we have to do it alone, then we will.
She looks at him frowning and nods.
SCULLY: I wanna go home, I need to rest, you were right, I should have listened to you.
SKINNER: Do you need a ride?
SCULLY: No, I will be fine
She stands up and walks towards the elevator, he gaze her till she's gone, Doggett is at the door looking at Skinner with a suspicion expression and get inside before he can see him.
Scully's apartment
7:12 pm
Scully is sitting at her computer. She is running a check on Doggett's FBI file. While reading, she suddenly feels uncomfortable. She takes off her glasses and runs to the bathroom. As she throws up in the toilet, she starts to cry again, that infuriates her, she is not used to not knowing how to deal with her emotions, but she can't help it. when it ends she goes to the sink, wets the washcloth and wipes her face and lips. She looks at herself in the mirror, she looks terrible, she needs some rest, she needs someone to talk, she walks to the living room and dial a phone number. An answering machine picks up.
MRS SCULLY (voice on machine) Hi, this is Margaret Scully. Please leave a message.
SCULLY: (on phone) Mom, it's Dana. I, uh... I'm sorry I haven't called you in a while. I've been busy with work and, um, with something ... else that I should probably tell you about in person. I mean, I don't even know if you're in town or if you're checking your messages. (her voice cracks, she is about to cry) But, um... but I really need to see you and talk to you. There's a lot of stuff that's going on with me right now and, um... and I just really need to talk.
She is about to say more, but hears a click on the line.
SCULLY: Mom?
Another click. Scully hangs up almost crying, her mom has the right to be upset, but she is feeling lonely and in need of her mother.
Mulder's Apartment
8:42 pm
Scully enters Mulder's apartment. As she passes the bedroom door, she notices one of Mulder's blue dress shirts lying on the unmade bed. She picks it up and lies down on the bed, cradling the shirt in her arms. Her eyes drift closed, she can't control her tears, his scent is still on it, she feels hopeless, completely lost and alone, she needs him, now more than ever, she needs to feel his strong arms holding her, his full lips kissing hers, she misses him, she is used to him now, she really loves him, more tears wet his shirt.
What can she do to find him? He must be alive, he has to, he needs to know, he will be happy indeed, she puts her hand over her abdomen, she can't feel anything yet, but there's life inside her, how? She doesn't know, but is there, and is hers and Mulder's, she smiles, a sad smile full of tears, a sob bursts on her lips, she feels tired, drained, empty, her body shakes and new dizziness invades her, but she breathes deeply to control it, she manage to relax a little and slowly fall asleep.