Monica turned into the hospital's parking lot shortly after two o'clock in the afternoon. For the thousandth time that day, Scully wondered what they would find inside.
They made their way to the main reception area in the entrance. The lobby of the building was nearly filled to capacity. Scully was relieved to note that those waiting didn't appear to be ill or otherwise suffering from the virus. More likely than not, they were waiting on news of a loved one. Within a few minutes of their arrival, the line in front of the information desk had dissipated and a young man looked up as they approached the desk.
Monica moved from her position beside Scully and approached the receptionist. She spoke in a low voice.
"I'm Monica Reyes and this is Dr. Dana Scully. We're here on behalf of the FBI and the CDC. We're looking for a Mr. Pete Van De Kamp. If you could provide us his room number, we'd appreciate it."
Scully pulled her badge from her pocket and held it out for the young man to see. His eyes widened at her credentials.
"That's V-A-N-D-E-K-A-M-P," Monica clarified.
Scully could tell her friend was already getting impatient. The man quickly refocused his attention on the computer and typed a series of commands.
"Pete Van De Kamp. I can give you his room number but for anything else I'll need to get my supervisor."
Scully gave him a sharp nod. "Just his room number will be sufficient."
"Looks like he's in 8011. That's in the East Wing, so you'll want to use the bank of elevators on the left when you leave reception."
Armed with the next piece of information, Monica and Scully quickly thanked him and left to go find the room of Mr. Pete Van De Kamp.
—
Stepping off the elevator, Scully immediately located the nurse's desk and asked to be pointed to Mr. Van De Kamp's room.
"You're here for Mr. Van De Kamp?" The young nurse tucked some loose hair behind her ear as her eyes scanned the charts in front of her.
Scully had felt more comfortable in the hospital than she had all day. Being in a hospital allowed her to forget. She could lose herself in the comfortable rhythm of talking with patients, nurses, and her follow physicians. It didn't matter if she was in DC or Virginia or Minnesota or California. The faces and the interior decorating changed, but the medicine and the science were constant.
"That's right, Pete Van De Kamp. Admitted six days ago with pneumonia." Scully confirmed to the nurse.
The nurse had reached for a file. As she opened what Scully assumed to be Mr. Van De Kamp's chart, the corners of the nurse's mouth began to tighten.
Scully didn't need her degree in medicine to be able read the look on the nurse's face. He was dead.
"Excuse me, but did you say you were looking for Pete Van De Kamp?" A woman stepped toward Scully and Monica with a puzzled expression on her face.
"Yes ma'am, we did." Monica's voice was strong and clear.
"Pete Van De Kamp is… was my brother. He… he passed away a few hours ago. I had to pick up my husband and then drive in from Rock River. They took him away just a few minutes ago. What did you want with him?" The woman's eyes were narrowed as she fixed her stare at Monica and Scully.
"Ms. Van De Kamp, I'm Dana Scully and I'm with the FBI. I'm here on some personal business. I was wondering if we could we talk privately?"
The woman nodded, clearly at a loss for what kind of personal business this strange redheaded woman might have with her brother.
"And it's Jones, actually. But you can call me Kathy. I haven't been a Van De Kamp in quite some time. No one kept their name back in the 70s. At least not here," Kathy said with a small smile on her lips.
Scully returned the older woman's smile and looked around for somewhere she could speak to Kathy alone.
Monica hung back, lightly squeezing Scully's upper arm to show her silent support.
Kathy approached the nurse at the desk and got her attention. "Excuse me, but when my husband and nephew come back from the cafeteria can you let them know I'll be right back?
The nurse nodded.
Scully found an empty corner and motioned for Kathy to sit down.
"Ms. Scully? Is everything alright? What's going on?" The woman was exhausted, and looked like she wanted to sink even further down into the chair.
"Mrs. Jones… Kathy, I'm a part of the group of people who has been working on the vaccine and treatment for the recent pandemic responsible for your brother's death."
"But what does my brother have to do with this? And besides he's dead now. His doctors said your treatment gave him an extra day, but his lungs were already so weak…" Kathy's voice trailed off.
Scully nodded. "I'm sorry Kathy, I'm so sorry about your brother. We're still working on a vaccine. This virus was so fast-acting, and Pete's lung function was likely already compromised by the pneumonia in his system. We're still researching this virus, but once it has reached its advanced stage the patient typically will become comatose."
"I'm still not sure why you needed to speak with my brother… He's a… well, was an English teacher. He wouldn't know anything about this sort of thing." Kathy looked Scully up and down, clearly confused. "And you look like you've been traveling for some time…"
Out with it already, Dana.
"I…I'm actually here about your nephew. I was hoping to speak to your brother about this, but I only learned en route that Pete was in the hospital-"
"Will? He's just a kid! I don't understand… What would the FBI want with a fourteen year old boy? He's not showing any symptoms or anything, at least that's what Pete's doctor told me earlier."
Scully took a deep breath. "Kathy, I'm with the FBI, but that's not why I'm here. My husband was one of those who fell ill. He's in the hospital back in DC."
"I'm so sorry, dear. I don't know what I'd do if anything happened to Sam." The woman paused before continuing. "But I don't think I understand. Why are you here instead of in DC with him?"
The part of Scully that had been asking herself the same question on repeat for the past day made her stomach churn with guilt.
"There's a small percentage of the population that has a natural immunity to this virus. The vaccine will eventually ensure everyone has this immunity, but that's at least a few weeks away. Immunities can also be shared through stem cell donations. However, due to the rarity of the immunity in the first place and the trouble of quickly finding compatible HLA matches, such a solution is a practical impossibility. Early on in my research, I discovered I was one of those very few with the natural immunity to the virus."
Kathy seemed to be following her explanation, so Scully continued and didn't dare to stop for fear she'd lose her nerve.
"Your nephew, he was adopted, right?"
Although she still looked perplexed, Kathy slowly nodded. "Yes… Liv couldn't have kids. Will was such a blessing to Liv until the accident took her from us."
"Kathy… I don't want to bring you or your family anymore pain, but I'm here because I have no other option and I can't lose my husband." Scully blinked back the tears that rapidly began to form in the corners of her eyes. "My stem cells with my immunity won't work for my husband - we don't even have the same blood type, we'd never be a compatible HLA match for the donation procedure."
Scully let out another shaky breath. "My husband and I were in an impossible predicament nearly fourteen years ago. We had both been with the FBI for some time and had garnered some powerful enemies. We had each lost family members as a result, threats were made against our lives …and the life of our infant son."
Kathy's head had snapped to Scully's face, suddenly understanding exactly what Scully was saying.
"…Oh." The woman reached out and grabbed Scully's hand.
Scully looked down; Kathy's grip was tight and warm around her own hand. "I-… We didn't have a choice. Our son deserved a happy life, away from any fear or the forces that plagued us relentlessly through those years. And then later, we didn't want to complicate his life or the life of his family."
"But now you think Will can help your husband - his biological father - I presume? With his stem cells?"
"If you'll allow it and he's willing, it's a simple procedure. I wouldn't have bothered your family if it wasn't my husband's only chance at survival." Scully knew she was pleading but was past caring at this point.
Kathy rubbed her thumb on the back of Scully's hand which she was still grasping. Scully looked up and met the woman's eyes. They both had tear tracks running down their cheeks. Kathy's mouth turned into a sad smile.
"You know, Ms. Scully-"
"Call me Dana. Please."
"Dana then, I can't begin to imagine what kind of courage and strength it took for you and your husband back then to give your baby away to strangers. I've had five babies - all long and grown now. And even just the thought of being separated from them, especially as little as Will was when he came to us, makes me ache in a way I don't want to think about. I don't imagine it was easy to come here now either."
Scully shook her head, just grateful Kathy seemed to understand how terrible she felt for asking so much from people who owed her nothing. Kathy reached out with her other hand and clasped Scully's shoulder, forcing the younger woman to look her in the eye as she continued to speak.
"But I think we need to let Will make his own decision about this. He's had a rough few days with Pete… You'll have to explain that medical stuff again to him though, I'm afraid I didn't catch much of it, dear."
Scully sniffed and nodded her agreement.
Kathy searched Scully's face. "You know, I see it now. I had never seen such wide blue eyes before I met Will, but there they are. I'd love to see a picture of your husband if you have one with you."
"Of cou-"
Two people, one old and one young, had stepped off the elevator and were speaking to the nurse from earlier who pointed in the direction of Scully and Kathy.
She stopped. For a second, she swore she was unable to breathe.
William.