Disclaimer: X-files is not mine. I wish it was because... I wanna meet Gillian Anderson. and... David... Chirs... and Frank. But mostly Gillian.
Summary:
William is haunted by terrible dreams that reveal too much about the truth. (Super Soldiers/Black Oil/Alien Invasion). But what happens when after a class project on imagination this goes to the FBI? William gets taken away from his abusive adoptive parents, and Mulder and Scully are on a mission to get, keep, and protect their son from the danger that is sure to come.
Dedicated to... David Duchovny. I neglected to dedicate something to him for his birthday... (August 7th).
Hi! Thanks for the reviews, guys! You rock! BRITTNEY IS THE BEST EVER! love my beta. my xfbff!
There's gonna be a bit of Mulder Scully Relationship Drama... but don't worry that'll end soon.
Anna is sure going to piss you off in this chapter... you've been warned. It's a long one. I've heard you guys like long ones (:
Chapter4: Distant
"Mommy! Daddy!" William screamed from his bedroom. HE continued his screaming for his parents until they came in his bedroom. William sat up in his bed clutching spooky in a death grip. His dinosaur pajamas were soaked on the back. They were drenched in William's sweat. Mulder and Scully both ran in, Scully flicked on the light to see William running up to them both, tears streaming down his cheeks. His hair was wet, and some of it was matted to his forehead.
"William, William," Scully was so worried about her son. She bent down on one knee and held his soaked body in her arms. "Baby, you're burning up! What on earth happened? Did you have a bad dream?" Mulder glanced at the clock, 3:45. He knelt down on one knee like Scully had. He saw the terror in his son's eyes, and it radiated off of William to Mulder's whole body. He could've sworn the same thing happened to Scully. William nodded slightly before using the back of his hands to wipe his eyes.
"Will, let's get you changed before you do anything," Mulder pulled his son up into his arms and brought him over to the oak dresser. He pulled out a pair of sleep shorts and a t-shirt. As Mulder helped his son get dressed quickly, Scully arrived back into the room with a thermometer.
"William, sweetheart, we have to take your temperature," William opened his mouth and allowed the thermometer to slide under his tongue. The tears continued to flow down William's cheeks as the thermometer climbed high and higher. Mulder pulled him into his arms, and rocked him slowly. The beep sounded and when Scully took the thermometer out, she was gaping at his fever, 104.2. "Mulder, we have to get him to a hospital now. His temperature's 104.2. " The fear and panic was rising in her voice.
"Get him some clothes while I get the car ready," Mulder told Scully as he ran downstairs.
Scully pulled out sweat pants and a long sleeved shirt out of William's drawers.
"Mommy, what's the matter?" William looked all together out of it. To him, the room was spinning.
"Willie, how's your head, baby? How about your tummy?" William's eyes closed and he collapsed back onto the bed, adding to Scully's frantic mood. "William? William? Mulder!" Scully called down to the floor below.
"Yeah?" Mulder answered, unaware of what just happened. "Call 911. William just fainted!" She checked his breathing and everything as she waited for the ambulance. He was breathing, but he was still unconscious. She changed his clothes and Mulder gently carried him downstairs. Scully got a cold wash cloth and placed it on his head, an remedy used to knock down fevers.
Scully and Mulder both sat in the recliner next to William's bed. What happened to William was nothing serious. It was due to his high fever, but what was his high fever due to? Mulder held Scully in his arms as she silently cried into his chest. Tears occasionally flowed from his eyes as well.
"You know as well as any Doctor here... better than any doctor here... that William is going to be fine. He'll be waking up in a few minutes. We'll be right there for him when he does." He laid a firm kiss on her lips. "He won't want to see you crying, Scully." He wiped a tear away from her eyes. She gave him a half smiled and cupped his cheek.
"M-mommy? Daddy?" William asked in a weak voice. His head was turned towards his parents.
"William, we're here." Scully got up and stood beside his bed. She leaned down to kiss his forehead. "You're going to be just fine, so don't you worry."
"What happened?"
"You were sick, baby." Scully whispered, as she stroked his cheek.
"But don't worry, Buddy. Your doctors have your temperature down."
"I remember getting real dizzy. And I remember..." He struggled to remember. It was like he was fighting back his own memories.
"What do you remember, sweetie?" Scully took his hand into hers.
"I remember... my dream."
"Your dream wasn't real, William. Nothing's going to hurt you in your dream." He nodded at daddy's words.
"But Daddy... they came in the house! They crawled out from under my bed... out of the closet... and out of the mirror! They were surrounding me! They kept saying that they were gonna kill whoever got in their way to me. You both came in my dream, but then I woke up!" He began sobbing just like before.
"Shh," Scully caressed his cheek. "Remember what Daddy said? Nothing's gonna hurt you in your dream."
"Mommy, I was so scared," William reached up for her face, and caressed it just as she did his.
"I know you were, Willie. I know you were."
The door to the room flew open and in the threshold stood a very angry, Anna and Tom. Neither of them looked concerned at all. However, Tom did glance at his son for a moment. But, once that moment was up he glared at Mulder while Anna glared at Scully.
"Ms. Scully," Anna stood at the door, fuming.
"Mrs. Mulder," Mulder corrected, squeezing Scully's hand, reassuringly.
"Ms. Scully may I speak to you for a moment outside please?"
"I'll be right back, baby." Scully told her son and gave him a reassuring smile as she followed Anna out the door and into the hallway.
"I don't know who the hell you think you are." Her arms were crossed and if you squinted hard enough you could see the smoke coming from her ears.
"Excuse me?" Scully calmly answered.
"You heard me. I don't know who the hell you think you are, taking my son away from me, only so he could end up in the hospital a few days later."
"If I understand correctly, Anna." Scully tried keeping her calm, although she was completely infuriated with this lady after what she did to young William. "William was taken away from you because you and Tom both were unfit parents."
"Unfit parents? We are good parents to our boy. I don't know what you were doing showing up in his dreams and convincing him that you are actually his parents!"
"You say it as if I had a choice to be in his dreams."
"Well I sure as hell don't think it was a coincidence. And let me assure you, Scully, I will be getting my son back. I will have him back home with me."
"If you think I'm going to let you be alone with my William again, you are most certainly wrong." She was on the verge of yelling.
"Your William. I don't think so hunny. I will rip you and Mulder apart trying to get him back."
"But you won't. I assure you that you won't. My son will never be hurt by you ever again. My baby will never have to endure such unkindness."
"Were you actually his birth mother?" Scully nodded.
"Yes I was."
"Well, you gave him up. You gave him up to complete strangers. Why? Because you didn't care. You didn't care for him anymore. You couldn't love him. You-"
"Don't you dare put words in my mouth!" Scully's anger boiled over with what words were just spat in her direction. "I loved William more than anything! Mulder and I both did! We still do!"
" From what I understood you were a single mother."
"I was. But Mulder was the father. And we loved him. So don't you ever draw conclusions when you don't know the half of the story. I gave him up because I loved him! I wanted to protect him!"
"You just gave up on your son, and protect him from what?"
"Don't you tell me I gave up on my son. And to protect him from this very thing that is happening to him right now," Scully's eyes were welling up with tears. Anna had no response. She only scowled. "I'm done talking to you." Scully turned around and walked right back in the hospital room to be with Mulder and William. Tom was in the door way. Anna grabbed his arm, and they left.
"What's wrong," Mulder asked as Scully came in wiping her tears. He stood up and took her into his arms.
"Mommy?"
"I'm fine William," she stroked his cheek and looked back up at Mulder. She couldn't take it, looking into his eyes and seeing so much concern he held for her, she pressed her face hard into his chest so her sobs were muffled by his shirt.
"Daddy? What's wrong with Mommy?" Scully pulled away from Mulder's embrace and walked quickly out the door, wiping her tears the whole way.
"Willie... I'm going to find out what's wrong with Mommy. Okay? I'll be right back."
"Okay Daddy... tell Mommy I don't like when she cries. It makes me sad."
"I'll tell her, son." Mulder walked out the door to see Skinner walking up to him. "Have you seen," but before Mulder could finish asking if Skinner had seen Scully. Skinner answered.
"She went out the door. What's going on? Why was she..."
"That's what I'm trying to figure out. I have an idea though." Mulder ran out of the hospital doors after Scully and found her getting in the car.
"I couldn't be like that in front of Will, Mulder. I had to leave." Her breathing was uneven and it was heavy too.
"Come here," Mulder outstretched his arms to Scully and helped her climb into his lap. "What happened? What did she say?"
"She said that she was going to rip us apart to get William back. I told her that wasn't going to happen, and then she started...s-saying I didn't love William. She said that I gave up on him. That I just gave him away because I didn't care. A...and I know it's stupid of me to listen to her words. But those are the same things I've been thinking in my mind for the past six years, Mulder."
"I still don't know why you think them," he murmured against her hair. "You're the most amazing mother. I saw it when I first saw you hold William, the way you cradled him in your arms... the way you looked at him. I see it in you now. You have so much love and compassion for our son. More compassion than people only hope to have, and more love than some people can ever hope to express. William sees that you're the most amazing mother too." She looked up at him, his green eyes smoldering. "The most beautiful one too." She buried her head into his chest.
"I didn't want William seeing me like that Mulder."
"He told me to tell you not to cry. He doesn't like it... I guess he takes after me, Scully. I don't like when you cry either," He pulled her face away from his chest and began wiping the tears with his thumbs.
"Ready to go back in?" Scully gave a slight nod, and Mulder shot her an encouraging smile.
--
"Mr. and Mrs. Mulder," Doctor Carter greeted them. He was at the foot of William's bed. "You're welcome to take William home now. I see no need for him to be here any longer. His temperature has been at a stable 98.6 for the past few hours. All you really need to do now is keep a close eye on him. Oh, and playing outside would not be a good idea at all. But, you know all of this Dr. Mulder." Scully smiled at the doctor as he left the room. She sat down at William's side.
"Feeling completely better?" She let her hand rest on William's forehead.
"Yes, but Mommy why were you sad before?" Scully looked at Mulder before answering. A tiny white lie won't hurt. Of course, it wasn't completely a lie.
"Well, Willie... Mommy was nervous about you. I was sad that you were sick."
"I'm all better now, Mommy. You don't have to be sad anymore! Right Daddy?"
"That's exactly right Will." Mulder kissed Scully cheek before picking William up under his arms and setting him flat on the ground. "Time to home, William."
"Am I going to school today with Ashlynn?"
"No baby, it's already 9 in the morning. Ashlynn's already in school."
"That's not fair. I won't have anyone to play with."
"Do you like Ashlynn, William?" Scully sounded hopeful. She raised an eyebrow as William slid on one of his shoes.
"No! She's a girl!" Scully and Mulder both laughed.
"Come on, Will." Mulder picked him up, hoisted him on his hip, and carried him to the car.
"When's mommy coming home, Daddy?"
"Mommy's at work, bud. She doesn't go home til 6 on Mondays. That's in about...20 minutes." Mulder answered from the couch, as William stared out the bay window in the kitchen, watching Ashlynn play on her swings.
"Why can't I go outside?" William almost whined, and Mulder turned around to see the object of William's fixation.
"You got sick last night Will. You know why you have to stay inside." William made a noise of irritation. "You wanna play with Ashlynn, huh?"
"But, I'm not even sick anymore, Daddy!"
"Why don't I just call Ashlynn to come over?"
"Okay..." William grumbled.
"What's wrong?" Mulder said as he pulled his blackberry from his pocket. "I thought you wanted to play with Ashlynn? You've been staring at her for almost ten minutes." Mulder teased, even though he knew it hadn't been that long. William got bored with the TV only minutes ago.
"Was not. And it's because I wanna go outside."
"Do you not want me to call Mrs. White?" William looked back outside at Ashlynn. He half smiled. "I'll call her."
"Hey, Ashlynn, sweetie. Let me take your coat." Mulder said as the six year old, blonde in long braided pigtails came inside.
"Thank you, Mr. Mulder." She smiled back.
"Wanna go play in my room?" William said, while taking off up the steps, Ashlynn began following.
"Wait... Ashlynn, no shoes," Mulder shrugged, "Mrs. Mulder's idea, not mine."
"Why weren't you in school today?" Ashlynn politely asked William, while sitting on his bed, unraveling one of her long pigtails. "It was your first day."
"I was sick last night. I woke up from a bad dream, and then had to go to the hospital."
"Because of your bad dream?" Her eyes were wide. William was on the floor below her playing with his lego set.
"No. I was sick."
"What did you dream?"
"It was too scary."
"Come on tell me," she begged.
"No, you're a girl. Girl's get scared easily."
"I do not!"
"I bet you any money you do!"
--
"Mulder, I'm home." Scully called from the threshold once she sat her keys down and hung her jacket up,
"Yo Scullayyyyy!"
'Yo Scullayyyyy?' She asked herself as she walked into the living room.
Just as she suspected, Scully found Mulder sitting on the couch, eyes practically glued onto the TV watching football. She smiled a half smile at the site, knowing she had already guessed it. Still, she was disappointed not to have gotten a greeting from him like she usually did.
She wrapped her arms around him and pressed a soft kiss onto his neck. He made a small noise of enjoyment as she continued. He couldn't resist, and the Pittsburgh Steelers and New Orleans Saints could wait. Mulder turned his head so his lips could find hers. He gave her a soft kiss and smiled.
"Hello," he still didn't pull away; his lips were still on hers, both smiling. "Come here," Mulder turned a bit to place his hands on Scully's hips and pull her over the back of the couch.
"Where's Will?" She whispered, concern for her little boy, concern and worry clear in both words. She was straddling his hips, hands firm on his shoulders.
"He's upstairs with Ashlynn." He still saw the worry in her stare as it moved to the steps. "He's fine don't worry."
"Are you sure? Maybe I should-" She began to pull away but Mulder caught her by the hips
"He's fine Scully." She sighed. "I'm sure. He was fine all day." She pressed her forehead to his. Immediately, he knew that she was exhausted from worrying all day. "Were you worrying all day?" She nodded.
"Mulder I just don't know how his fever could have been brought on so quickly. When we said goodnight to him he was fine. It couldn't have been his dream."
"I think it was." She pulled her head away; she had a disbelieving look.
"What? Let me guess... it was an X-file. An X-file where the person who is having that dream Is actually dreaming the truth?" Mulder had nothing to say. She pressed her forehead to his again. "I'm sorry," her voice was sincere.
"Don't be," Mulder held her face so she couldn't pull away again. He kissed her lips, soft but fervent at the same time. Scully sniffed after pulling away. "You okay?" She nodded again, keeping her head in place. He opened his mouth and allowed her tongue to explore his while he did the same to her. The sensation was nice, and for a while, that's what Scully thought she needed. Mulder was on top of her, once her back hit the couch.
"Wait," She pushed him away gently, placing her hands on his chest.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing... I'm going to," She continued pushing on him until he was completely off of her. She got up, "check on William."
"Scully, he's fine," Mulder called out after her, but her tiny legs moved so quickly that she was already on the steps.
She let out a deep breath and smoothed her hair before opening the door to her son's room. William was facing Ashlynn on the floor playing pick-up sticks.
"Mommy!" William stood up quickly; Scully knelt down as he came charging at her.
"Willie, sweetie," Scully smiled against William's neck. "How are you feeling?" She had her arms on his shoulders and forced him back a little to get a good look at him. "You don't have a temperature," She said with a wide smile, after removing her hand from his forehead.
"I feel fine, Mommy. I don't know why Daddy won't let me go outside!"
"Yes you do, William." Scully said firmly. "You heard what the doctor said. You were right there. You know Mommy's a doctor too. I feel the same way." Her hand slid against his cheek. "I'm glad you're okay, baby," Scully kissed his cheek before standing back up. "Well, hello Ashlynn."
"Hi, Mrs. Mulder." Ashlynn said with a sweet smile.
"How are you sweet heart?"
"I'm good. How are," but before she could finish William interrupted.
"You better not have cheated."
"Willie, that wasn't nice." Scully raised an eyebrow.
"Sorry, Ashlynn."
"That's okay Will, and no I didn't cheat."
After Scully had left the two kids, they were playing their game once again.
"You and your mom look like you have a really nice relationship," Ashlynn commented, while removing a bubblegum pink stick with ease. She was winning.
"Yep," William struggled with his orange one.
"I wish my mommy was like that." William's head shot up.
"What do you mean?" Ashlynn shrugged her shoulders.
--
Later on, Ashlynn left, and Scully began cooking dinner. William sat in one of the bar stools at the island drawing on computer paper with markers. There was an aroma of oregano, basil, and tomato sauce that filled the room. Scully had been acting distant towards Mulder the whole time she was home. It was like there was some kind of wall in between them.
"Will," Mulder whispered into William's ear. Scully, who was at the stove, couldn't hear them. "Go give mommy a hug and tell her you love her." William hopped down from the stool and away from his drawing to hug his mommy's waist. Scully let out a gasp; she was surprised. She spun around and picked her son up into her arms.
"I love you, Mommy." Scully cupped his cheek with one hand and smiled.
"Did daddy tell you to say that?" They both looked at Mulder who had put on a serious face and shook his head. Scully was raising an eyebrow. Mulder couldn't hold his serious face any longer; he walked right to his wife and son smirking. He put his arm around them both and kissed both of their heads.
"Mommy, are you and Daddy fighting?" William asked once Scully set him on the counter so she could stir her noodles. Mulder was reading the paper at the kitchen table, but looked up as soon as he heard that. Scully instantly stopped stirring and looked at William.
"No, baby, why would you ask that?"
"I didn't see you kiss today when you got home from work. And you two always kiss." Mulder came up behind Scully and wrapped his arms around her waist. He kissed her cheek. "No... No. I mean on the mouth, Daddy!" Mulder spun her around in his arms and pressed his lips to hers. William giggled.
"Come here, Will." Mulder picked him up and Scully and Mulder both pressed kisses to their son's face.
"Wait!" Will struggled to get out of his daddy's arms. He ran to where he was drawing before and got out his red marker and scribbled a bit. "Look!" William held up a picture of their small family in front of the house. Mulder was very tall, and Scully was about one and a half heads smaller. William was in between them; obviously, he was the smallest. Above the picture he drew a rainbow, and in the rainbow it said, "I love Mommy and Daddy."
"That is the best picture I ever saw, Will!" Scully picked William up and gave him a huge kiss on the cheek. "You are quite the artist."
"Here, Will," Mulder took the paper from his son's hands. "Let's put that on the fridge."
--
Hampton Inn
"I am getting the best damn lawyer available, Tom!" Anna said, throwing her jacket down onto the bed and pulling her phone out of her pocket. She searched through the phonebook on the nightstand. Tom gave her a questionable look. She rolled her eyes. "Tom, we are getting our son back! Those Mulder's can kiss my ass!"
"Anna, just calm down." He placed his hands on her shoulders. She shrugged him off.
"Just... just get me a beer from the fridge, Tom." She said while dialing. "Please."
After dinner Mulder and Scully put William down to bed, and then got to sleep themselves. Scully was curled up on the bed far away from Mulder.
"Scully?" Mulder asked in the darkness.
"Hmm?"
"Why did William ask you if we were fighting?"
"Oh... I don't know Mulder. He's just a boy."
"Do you think he had a point though?" She turned towards him in the bed.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean... look how far you are away from me." He showed the distance with his hand. She moved closer.
"I'm sorry, Mulder." She apologized and found his hand underneath the covers. She gave it a squeeze. "I guess... I'm just worried... about everything." Mulder pulled her closer so that her head was resting on his chest.
"Don't worry. I love you, and I don't want you to worry." She kissed every part of her that his lips could reach without moving her from his chest. She let out a heavy breath.
"Thank you, Mulder," she snuggled into him, closing her eyes. "And I love you too."
--
Please Review! Yes, the relationship drama will continue throughout the next chapters... but there will be a big make up between them... which will be very enjoyable (:
-A.