The Question of Blood

by

Trycee

Time-Line: ALTERNATE UNIVERSE, 3 yrs after IWTB

Disclaimer: I do not own the X-Files, this is written for fun not profit.

Scully glanced down at her watch and sighed. It was another hour before her exhaustive shift was over working in the E.R just as she did every third weekend. It was six o'clock at night and her brain was screaming for a cup of coffee and a hot shower, but she was on her feet, going from one patient to the next, trying to remember each round of meds each patient needed. She hated working the E.R but it was her duty and she took it seriously. What she wanted was to crawl into bed with Mulder and wake to him sliding inside of her as he often did. She smiled to herself as she walked past the rooms she hadn't gotten to yet. When she reached the first room, she grabbed the chart and quickly glanced at the list of complaints and was struck by the condition listed by the patient. She knocked on the door and opened it to find a handsome young man with dark hair and hazel eyes laying on the hospital bed. A concerned woman stood beside him.

"Hello, I'm Dr. Scully," she said. She walked up to the hospital bed and shook the patients hand and then turned towards the dark haired woman that sat at his side.

"You are...", Scully glanced back down at her laptop that contained his intake information. "Isak Coplan. You're 28 years old...,"she smiled.

The young man rolled his eyes. "Look I'm in pain..", he huffed.

Scully's eyebrows raised. She glanced at the woman. "Are you his wife?"

The woman blushed. "No...we get that a lot..."

"She's my mother...", he answered, agitated.

Scully eyes brightened for a moment. "Sorry, you just look so young..."

The woman smiled. "I'm Julie Coplan..."

"Nice to meet you...", Scully said, shaking her hand.

Scully was perplexed as stared at the screen. She was curious, but baffled. "I'm sorry...I've never heard of Gaucher Disease." she said concerned.

Mrs. Coplan who looked concerned as she eyed her son who was shaking his head and staring at the ceiling. "Its a very serious condition but fortunately we're blessed that Isak's is mild..."

"I told you we should've just kept going.", he said puffing out air from his lungs."You'd think there would be a Jewish Hospital in Washington, D.C., but no!", he complained.

Scully could see that he was highly irritated.

Isak looked at Scully. "No offense...but we're in a Catholic hospital and what in the hell do you know about us?"

Scully's eyebrows peeked. She sat down in the stool facing both the patient and his mother. "Okay, while I'm looking it up, how about you explain to me what the condition is..."

Mrs. Coplan smiled warmly. "We're Jewish...and this is a genetic Jewish condition...We wouldn't expect you to know anything about it...", she said, dismissively.

Scully nodded her head slightly. "Well, what exactly does the disease do? And pardon my ignorance...", she said, shooting a look at Isak.

Isak rolled his eyes and threw up his hands. "This is what we get for not continuing until we reached the Cape."

"Isak, don't be rude...", his mother gasped.

"Mother, I am a grown man!", he said sitting up and turning from his mother back to Scully.

"We just came from Florida and were on our way back home," he said, explaining to Scully. "I'm sure you think you can help me...and maybe you can, you look like a sweet woman an all...but I don't think some Catholic hospital can help me...you know nothing of my condition...you never heard of it..."

"No, I never heard of it," Scully said, her eyes narrowing slightly and her jaw tightening. "This may be a Catholic hospital, Mr. Coplan, but I assure you we have world class doctors here just as I'm sure your used too."

"I'm sure," he huffed. "Look, I'm a lawyer and my fiance is a lawyer and if you even think..."

"Look Mr. Coplan," Scully said, her eyes turning a deep blue. "I still know anything about the condition and I'm not here to sell you on Our Lady, I'm here to treat you the best I can. But, if you'd prefer to leave, Ill bring the forms and you can sign yourself out, against doctor's advice."

The dark haired man glared at her and Scully matched his glare.

"Fine," he said, rolling his eyes. "I need a liver transplant but I am on the waiting list...that's not why we're here...my anemia is the issue and I'm in pain from my arthritis."

Scully nodded. "Now we are getting somewhere. Okay," she sighed. "Let me go do a little digging and I'll be right back..."

Scully stepped out into the hallway and closed the door quickly behind her. She could hear a screaming match between mother and son as carried her laptop in her hand heading for the nurses station. Scully jumped at the tap of her shoulder. She swung around to see a smiling Mulder. He kissed her on the lips.

She looked surprised. "What are you doing here?"

"Thought you'd like some dinner and maybe a lift home," he said, with a quirky smile.

She crossed her arms in front of her and glanced down and then up into his bright beautiful smile. "I know that look Mulder..."

He shrugged his shoulders."What...look?", he said with a sly smile.

"The one that says...you're horny...", she whispered, glancing around to see if anyone were in passing distance.

"I'm always that," he said, whispering in her ear. "The moment I see or think of you..."

Scully blushed and Mulder stepped even closer. "You know...the last time no one caught us in that room..."

"We came close...", she said, shaking her head no. .

"Scully..."

"Mulder...someone will see...", she said, placing a hand on his chest. "I can't. I told you that the last time. I could get in serious trouble."

She could see that he was disappointed.

"Mulder, I've got patients...I'm on the clock for another half hour..."

"Okay, Scully," he sighed. "I'll ust go wait in your office...", he said. "No one goes in there but you, right? You have a key, right?"

"Mulder," she said, shaking her head. "Just because you're my husband...doesn't make it okay..."

"Says who?", he said, kissing her on cheek. "I thought it came with the ring..."

The door to her right opened and they both straightened up quickly as Julie Coplan walked out into the hall. "Oh, Dr. Scully...I'm sorry...", she said, glancing from Scully to Mulder.

But when her eyes landed on Mulder they didn't move. Scully glanced from the woman to Mulder. "Mrs. Coplan this is my husband..."

"Fox Mulder," she said.

Scully turned to look at Mulder who was staring at the woman, his mouth gaped open. "Julie Coplan...what are you doing here?", he said, finally.

"I can't believe I'm running into you...", she said, the color draining from her face. She shook her heads as if she couldn't believe what she was seeing. "What are the odds?"

Mulder walked up to her and wrapped his arms around her. Scully's eyes enlarged as she watched Mulder hug the tall petite woman. He quickly released her and glanced over to Scully whose eyes had narrowed and one eyebrow was raised as she crossed her arms in front of her, begging for an explanation.

"Scully, Julie Caplan was my high school sweetheart..."

"Longer than that," Julie laughed. "We almost got married..."

Scully just stared at them both. Mulder slid his arm around Scully's shoulder and stood next to her. He could feel the tension building within her despite her calm exterior, he knew she was seething inside. "Really?", she said, shooting a look up at Mulder who grinned nervously down at Scully and then back to Julie.

"Oh yes...", Julie smiled. "He was the love of my life..."

Scully's back grew even more rigid as she stood straighter. "OH?"

Julie's smile began to lessen as she noticed the tenseness in Scully's posture. Mulder smiled over to her, trying to break the awkwardness. "Julie, Scully and I are married."

"OH," she said, glancing from Mulder to Scully. She looked at them nervously.

Scully was immediately alarmed as she noticed Julie's odd behavior. Julie kept staring at Mulder and then looking back at her as if she had something to say but wasn't quite sure what to say.

"So, what are you doing here?", Mulder asked.

"I'm here with my son. We were visiting my parents in Florida..."

"You're parents are still alive?", he said, surprised.

"Yours aren't?", she asked. "I'm so sorry..."

Mulder shrugged and glanced at Scully. She loosened her stance slightly against him.

"Your...", Julie said, licking her lip nervously. "Your sister, did you ever find her?"

Mulder glanced down at the ground and then back up to Julie. "She's dead..."

"I'm so sorry...", Julie said, shaking her head. "I remember what you went through..."

"What we went through...", he added.

Scully swallowed hard and glanced up at Mulder. She wanted to know what he meant by that but she wouldn't ask. Scully knew that just the mention of Samantha's name would have consequences. She knew she would be dealing with the after-effects of this little reunion for the next few days.

"You have to meet him...", Julie smiled, opening the door of the hospital room where her son lie.

Mulder glanced at Scully. She was confused but he saw no reservations in her eyes. "Sure," he said, following behind Julie and then Scully as they walked back into the room.

"What the hell?", Isak said, sitting up. "Who the hell is this?"

"Isak!", Julie said, standing alongside her son.

"This is your son?", Mulder said, looking at the 28 yr old man. "I thought you meant a teenager or something," he said. "Hi, I'm Fox Mulder...," he said, with his hand outstretched.

Isak stared at Mulder's hand a moment before slapping his hand away. "Get out! Get the fuck out of here!"

Mulder was stunned. "Excuse me?"

"Did you call him?", Isak said, turning to his mother. "Did you? How did he find out I'm here? Did you know where he was all these years?"

Mulder glanced from Julie back to Isak. "I'm sorry?"

"Yeah you are...you're a sorry son of a bitch...", Isak answered.

Mulder cocked his head to the side. "You're mom...she wanted us to meet...I grew up with her..."

Isak looked over to his mother. "You never told him, did you?"

Julie looked from her son to Mulder and cast her head down.

Scully stepped back and shook her head. "Mulder?"

"Wha...Tell me what?", Mulder said, turning to Scully but her face was pale and her eyes were dead set on Isak. She looked weak as if her knees would give out.

"That you're my father, you stupid son-of-a-bitch!"

Mulder turned to Julie. "His father?"

"Yes...", she said, shooting a look at Scully. "I'm sorry..."

Scully continued to stare numbingly at the young man. Mulder was confused. "Scully and I have a son. His name is William but that's the only son I have. "

Scully shook her head frantically. "Mulder?", she said as a question.

"I wouldn't lie about this," Julie said finally. "It happened the night before you went off to Oxford. You were 22 and I was 21, don't you remember? We dated since high school and then we slept together one last time..."

"He didn't know I existed?," Isak huffed.

Ignoring her son, Julie continued. "And when you were gone, I found out I was pregnant...", she said as tears streamed down her face.

"No," Mulder said, shooting a look at Scully. "My sons name is William..."

"William," Scully choked out.

"That's the only son I have...", Mulder said, backing up.

"I know all about you, " Isak spat out. "You joined the FBI and chased after little green men. I never tried to find out any more about you. With a reputation like that, who would...", he said, staring at Mulder. "Obviously you're in shock..."

"Shock isn't the world for it...", Mulder said, reaching for Scully but she moved away from him quickly.

"I think I need to step out...", Scully said and was out the door.

"How long have you two been married?", Julie questioned.

"Three years...but we've been together for several years."

"How old is your son?"

"Almost eleven...", he said, in disbelief, as he stared at Isak.

"You always did things backwards.", Julie smirked.

Mulder frowned. "Julie, he cannot be my son. We never had sex without a condom..."

"It broke, Fox...", she said and Mulder cringed.

Isak was staring coldly at Mulder shaking his head and mumbling. "I knew he would deny me..."

"Look...Scully can straighten this out in no time...We'll do a little DNA testing...we'll get this straightened out..."

"What are you saying?", she said, shocked. "You can't accept my son? Our son?"

Mulder glanced over at Isak. Mulder could see both sorrow and hatred in his eyes. Isak lowered his eyes, listening to every word they said. "That's not it...I was always so careful...I was never one to..."

"Bed hop?", Julie chuckled. "No you were a one woman kind of man, Mulder. And, we were high school sweethearts. I loved you with all my heart and I knew you didn't want to get burdened down. You had a bright future ahead and you were off to Oxford. I never even tell your parents, I just moved away..."

Mulder stared at Isak trying to find some resemblance to himself but he couldn't find any. "What are you sick from? What are you here for?"

Isak looked into Mulder's eyes. "A hereditary disease..."

"My son...William, he has no disease. I've had every test known to man run on me in the last few years..."

"You are a carrier for Gaucher Disease," Julie stated matter-of-factually.

Mulder glanced from Julie to Isak."What's that?"

"Gaucher Disease..."

Mulder searched his brain but couldn't find a reference. Both Julie and Isak watched him carefully. "Okay, what is it?"

"I have a condition that affects my liver and spleen...they're enlarged...I am prone to anemia, fractures and arthritis...Its a genetic abnormality..."

"Amongst Jews mainly," Julie added.

"But my son William...", he began.

"You're wife isn't a Jew," Julie said, looking into Mulder's eyes. "But you and I are. We're Danish Jews, Fox. You're father was..."

Mulder shook his head. "He wasn't my father..."

Julie looked shocked. "Bill Mulder wasn't your father?"

Mulder shook his head. "No. I do know who my father was.:

"Was Bill Mulder Samantha's father?"

Mulder shook his head no. She walked over and touched her son's arm but Isak wouldn't look at her. She turned back to Mulder. "Your mother is Danish and obviously you're real father was Jewish."

Mulder thought about CGB and his mouth grew tense. "I wouldn't know..."

Isak closed his eyes. "I've been sick my entire life and I will continue to be sick unless my liver is removed...and then if I get a transplant, I may have the chance to live life normally...maybe."

Scully returned with another doctor in tow. "This is Dr. Hubert. I'm afraid my shift has ended and he'll be here to help with your needs...", she said, in a strained voice. "He'll take good care of you..."

Mulder noted that she hadn't looked at him nor the Coplans as she explained. She touched Dr. Huberts hand and turned to walk out the door. Mulder raced after her and grabbed her arm, spinning her around. "Scully..."

"Mulder, let go...", she said, as tears began to stream down her cheek.

Mulder's face contorted. "First of all, we don't know if he's my kid..."

"He looks like he could be yours, Mulder..."

"How?", he said, shocked. "What, cause he has dark hair and hazel eyes?"

"He's the same height that you are..."

"But that's it...Scully. That is not my son laying in there..."

"And what if it is?", she said, locking eyes with him. "Would you deny William like that?"

Mulder's jaw tightened. "Scully...of all people who should understand about finding out about a kid...it should be you."

Scully turned her head slowly, her eyes were ice cold. "You bastard...you're comparing Emily to you knocking up your high school sweetheart? The one you were going to marry and never told me about!"

"That was an exaggeration...", Mulder sighed. "I was never going to marry her Scully .I was a kid. I just said that to get laid back then..."

"Well it obviously worked...", she said, walking past him.

"Where are you going, I'm driving you home..."

"I have my own car...", she said, turning to look at him. "But don't you think you need to see about your son..."

Mulder glanced at the door and then turned back to Scully but she was gone.

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