Act III – The Bronson Rock

Mary Hardcastle was safe, but she was shaken. "I can't believe you fought with those bikers!" There was a touch of admiration and it warmed him. "They are coming back. I think we should leave."

Scully and I agree. She is checked in at the hotel, but I would like her to stay nearby tonight. Can I bring her back to your place?"

"Of course! She's your partner." Mary suddenly looked horrified. "You wouldn't believe the things that man said to her in here. Dana directed his attention onto herself on purpose! I'm just glad Brian didn't hear any of it. It was disgusting."

"Come on." He guided Mary out, and into the clinic. Mary ran to Knight. But he was still unconscious. Scully was hooking up a blood bag.

"He's been stabbed!" Mary was shocked.

Scully nodded. "The wound was serious, but not fatal. However, the loss of blood might be. We don't have his type and I'll have to use this."

"What type is he?"

"B negative."

"That's my type. I want to donate." Mary said. "Please, I want to help."

Hardcore looked up. "I would take it, Doc. Most of the rest of us can't because of hepatitis or other problems. That's why we didn't' offer. Mary's blood would be clean."

Scully got her started. Halfway through, Mary looked up—shocked. "Brian!" I have to pick him up from school!"

Mulder calmed her. "I'll get him."

"You look like hell, Mulder." Scully reminded him.

"He'll understand."

"You really fought The Butcher?" Brian shouted in the car.

"Don't be this enthusiastic around your mother." Mulder warned. "Knight fought Crossbow, he was stabbed and is unconscious." Brian looked sad at that.

"Is he going to be okay?'

"Hopefully." Mulder replied. "Your mother is donating blood to him."

"That's cool."

"This isn't fun and games, Brian."

"I know." The boy said. "Mom will want to leave for sure now. I think I'm ready. I don't want to look over my shoulder the rest of my life like Dad. I want a normal life where I can play outside again." Mulder pulled into the curb and Brian leapt out running through the damaged door of the clinic. "Mom?"

Mary was there and Brian ran and hugged her. "Is Knight going to be okay?"

"Yes." Scully said. "Your mother's blood was just what he needed. His blood pressure is getting back to normal and his heartbeat is regular."

Brian turned to the redheaded woman leaning over Knight. "Who are you?"

Mary answered. "She is Mr. Mulder's partner. Her name is Dr. Dana Scully."

Brian looked at her carefully. "I didn't know they allowed women in the FBI." Scully's mouth twisted into a wry smile. "I mean, you are pretty. Shouldn't you be getting married or something?"

Scully looked over at Mary. "I know, Dana. I'll work on it."

Knight was starting to come around. "Hardcore?" The lieutenant came closer. "Did you call the others to church?"

"Yeah, Knight. They are on their way."

Knight tried to sit up, but Scully pushed him back down. "Rest for a few more moments. I'm giving you a blood transfusion from Mary seeing as you lost so much of yours."

"That ass, Crossbow stuck me. I got him back though—good too. I wonder if he has a beautiful Doctor stitching him up." Knight tried to smile, but it turned into a grimace.

Hardcore spoke. "We've got a plan and we'll try to intercept them outside of town. It's open area, but we're going to destroy the place if they get this far again."

Knight nodded. "Help me up." Both Hardcore and Scully raised him to a sitting position and propped him up with pillows. He focused on Mulder. "You started this, Fibbie. You and your partner."

"It would have happened anyway, boss." Hardcore offered. "We're ready for them."

Knight licked his cracked lips and Scully went to get him some water. "You stood up to The Butcher. Can't say you're a wuss. I see why you and Screech hung out together as you are both reckless as hell." Scully returned with the water and he drank. He admired Scully's handiwork on his chest and arm. "Did a good job, Doc. I'll even be able to fight."

"Not unless you want to tear out my stitches. I'm afraid you should sit this one out. The blade came close to piercing the sac around your heart. If that had happened, we may not have gotten you to a hospital in time."

"But that didn't happen and I'm not letting my men go in without me." Knight kept staring at her. "You sure are pretty, Doc, and you can kick some serious ass for being so small. I can see why your man here would fight for you, stupid as that was. No one 'fights' The Butcher. You had better come packing a gun, because not even a knife could phase him." Knight looked at Mulder. "While I'm sitting here mending, why don't you tell me what your lady friend found?" Mulder told him about the FBI investigations on The Butcher. "Damn. Not even the Feds can stop this guy. Guess we will have to."

"What about Crossbow?" Brian said unexpectedly. "Are you going to let him get away with killing my dad?"

Knight waved the boy over. "Nope, but the Outcasts aren't stupid enough to walk into Demon headquarters, kill Crossbow and expect to make it out alive. He knifed me and I'm still kicking, but I stabbed him in the chest—just like he did to your dad. It don't know if Crossbow is still alive, but I guarantee he is at least hurting. Screech…" Knight softened. "Josh, was one of us—even when he went his own way. He helped out the club when we needed it and we owe it to him and you to make Crossbow pay."

Mary walked up to Knight. "We've decided to leave for a while. I have Brian to consider."

"Good choice." Knight struggled to get comfortable on the flat metal surface. "I'll find you when the coast is clear. As for you two," He indicated Mulder and Scully. "I'd go with her. Comprende?"

Mulder nodded.

The Outcasts took Knight to wherever their roost is while Mulder, Scully and the Hardcastles swung by the motel and Scully grabbed her things. Back at the farmhouse, Mary walked in and Brian immediately ran for his room. It was probably a lot for the kid to handle in one day. Mary apologized. "I'm sorry for dragging both of you into this. I had no idea…"

Mulder let that slide. If she knew her husband's past and the Outcasts well enough to be considered family, then Mary knew what was possible when an outsider got involved—especially an FBI outsider. However, he understood. After being forced to accept the verdict of 'heart attack' instead of murder for her husband due to gang intimidation, she wasn't ready to let it go either. At least she was seeing reason and leaving the area to protect her son.

"Are you going to have the funeral for Josh elsewhere?" Mulder asked as Mary headed for the kitchen. She said earlier that the body was cremated and she had the remains.

"Maybe. Westmarin was his home. I might wait and see if we can come back soon." She started dinner. "I hope spaghetti is okay. It's Brian's favorite and he's had a rough day today."

Scully was compassionate. "It's been a rough day for all of us. I appreciate you putting me up like this. Can I help?"

Mary emphatically shook her head. "No. It relaxes me to cook and clean and I could use some relaxation right now."

"I'll leave you alone then." Scully said and motioned Mulder out into the yard. When they were a little ways from the house, Scully turned to Mulder. "What are we going to do?"

Mulder was edgy. "There is nothing to do, Scully. You were right, we shouldn't have gotten involved with this in the first place. If Skinner or some other FBI bureaucrat finds out that we were complicit in a biker war, used bureau resources to research a prosecutor's murder and covered up potential evidence, we will be censured at the least—and that's if no one dies, which is unlikely. I'm sorry I dragged you into this."

Scully put a hand on his arm. "I'm glad you didn't totally ditch me and thanks for letting me see this part of your life. However, I can't ignore that you could have been killed today, Mulder. You started that brawl. It could have gotten deadly—really quickly. Knight was stabbed!"

"That's why I don't take you with me on some of these—investigations." He turned toward her, his emotions raw. "I couldn't bear it if you got hurt because I decided to run off on a misadventure. I care about you too much." Mulder's voice got softer. "I need you too much."

"I need you too." Scully replied. "How do you think I would feel if you didn't come back from this? Mulder, you know by now that I could leave anytime I wanted." Mulder looked up with panic in his eyes, but Scully smiled. "However, I choose to stay. *Choose*, Mulder. Just let me in."

Mulder sighed. "You are 'in', Scully. I can't stop thinking about you and when Ruckett threatened to…" He trailed off, but was rewarded with a warm hug. Mulder wrapped his arms around her and drew her to him. "Oh, Scully…" He buried his head in her neck and never wanted to let go. "I can't hide this anymore." He captured her soft lips in his. *oh god* He was tasting her and he couldn't stop.

Dimly, he realized that she wasn't resisting him. In fact, she was participating. He deepened the kiss until he was almost pulling her inside himself. Nothing else existed except this woman. Soon, they came up for air. "Wow, Scully." Mulder huffed. He hoped what he felt wasn't written on his face or she would be afraid of him. He wanted her and, god help him, he was going to have her.

'Mulder…" Scully began, but she was quickly cut off by another kiss. She pushed away after a few moments this time. "Mulder, you know we can't do this."

"Why not?" He had already made his decision.

"The Bureau…." Scully started.

"Fuck the Bureau." Mulder said emphatically. He enjoyed Scully's shocked expression. He rarely swore.

"Then think of 'us'. What if one day one of us doesn't come back?"

Mulder didn't want to play the 'what if' game. "I can't live in the 'ifs", Scully, but I will say that *if* I lost you, I guarantee that we would be together soon. I know that you could survive without me—your strength is one of the things I love about you—yes 'love'. I love you and I have for a long time. Do you love me, Scully?" He focused on her eyes, begging her to say it and acknowledge what was between them. *Please, Scully…*

"Yes I love you, Mulder, but…" He was kissing her again. She pushed him off, but was smiling. "I was going to say…" She trailed off.

"But what? What were you going to say?" Mulder's eyes were twinkling.

"I was going to say that sometimes you can be a complete jerk."

"It's part of my charm, Scully." He knew he had her by the half smile that played about her lips. *Oooo, those lips…*

"I can't handle you, Mulder."

"I think you can. Let's try it. I'll start." Mulder kissed her again and Scully let him. By the end, they were both breathing heavily. "Maybe you are right." Mulder panted. "We should stop." Scully smacked him in the arm and he chuckled spinning her around and pulling her back against him. He kissed her neck. "Do you have any idea how long I've wanted you?"

"No, tell me."

"Since Duane Barry. That's when I knew."

"That was a long time ago, Mulder."

"Uh Huh and a lot of cold showers. I don't want to wait anymore. I want you to be mine in every way." His voice was low and moist in her ear. "Surrender to me."

"Mulder, we are guests here and there is a child in residence."

Mulder sniffed. "That child knows more about what goes on in this town than some of the adults. It will be educational for him."

"Very funny."

"Ok, the second we get back or we could stop at a B&B along the way. I have most of two weeks left. How long did you take off?"

"The same." Scully said slowly. "Skinner was suspicious."

"Let him be. As long as he doesn't get a phone call from some agency snitching on us, we are fine."

"A B&B, Mulder? A regular one, not one that is haunted or anything…?"

He laughed. "I can be normal, sometimes, Scully. Do I make reservations?"

"We have to get Mary and Brian settled first."

"And escape the impending gang war—I know." Mulder was indulgent. "Leave it to me."