Disclaimer: Don't own XF or SH.


Charlie was feeling drained. What a roller coaster. This Mulder was sure challenging his abilities. He couldn't believe he was thinking about it, but the thought of not having to deal with the turmoil of not only the living but also of the dead or those who were on the verge of death, sounded enticing after the day he had had.

He was sitting in the waiting area of the hospital lobby, waiting for Alex to come in for her shift. They still had a few hours to pass together before his shift was over. He looked forward to seeing her. He needed his sounding board so desperately.

Aside from Alex and Kristine, he kept his ability a secret. He was truly regretting revealing himself to Mulder's partner. What if this Agent Scully talked and he would be disqualified as a result? What was he thinking? How did Mulder manage to convince him to talk to her? He had stuck by the warning The Great Randel had left him and so far that had worked fine for him. Maybe some people thought he was a bit odd, but as long as he didn't delve too deeply into the cause of his weirdness, he was able to get away with it. Especially, since he had such a good rep.

He thought he could help Mulder. That's why he ventured out of his comfortable hiding and spoke with Scully, but once the words had left his mouth he knew he had made a mistake. He was hoping that now that Mulder was awake, he would be transported back to the States and that will be the last he'd have to deal with him and his partner.

He leaned back and let out a deep sigh.

"You think you're having a bad day? Imagine mine."

What the—

Charlie did a double turn. This couldn't be happening! Mulder's ghost was sitting beside him. What now? Why wouldn't this guy leave him alone?

He wasn't in the mood. He didn't want to help anymore. "Go away," he said quietly, hoping nobody had noticed. He was not going anywhere. No. He was waiting for Alex. He'd done everything he could for Mulder, and it might have possibly cost him his career. In a week he was going to have his surgery and he might not be able to help ghosts any longer. He might as well start getting used to it.

He could feel Mulder's presence next to him. When a ghost was really close to him physically, that's when he could actually feel it. When he first saw Mulder there was some distance between them and he didn't realize, but now Mulder was sitting right beside him and the air felt prickly. He refused to look at him. He stared at his hands. He wanted Alex to be there already but she was running a bit late today, apparently.

Unfortunately, despite wanting very much to be left alone, his thoughts began to trail and to wonder: why Mulder was back in the ghost realm? NO, Charlie! He ordered himself. Don't go there. You've done enough.

As he was forcing himself to ignore Mulder and the circumstances he was in, he heard rushing heels approaching. He knew this wasn't a good sign. He had a strong notion those heels were meant for him.

"Dr. Harris," he heard a panting Dana Scully behind him.

He turned to look at her. "I know."


"I'm sorry for not believing you," Dana Scully was telling him in the supply closet they were hiding in.

Charlie leaned on the shelves behind him. There were no chairs in the closet and he was exhausted, both physically and emotionally. "What changed your mind?" he asked her.

"Mulder changed it."

Charlie looked at Mulder's ghostly form.

Scully caught his glance. "Is he here with us right now?"

Charlie nodded.

Scully smiled sadly. "Mulder's condition could be fatal if we don't find a way to help him."

Charlie looked upwards and heaved a deep breath.


Alex Reid was late. Trust it to Luke to throw the motherload of all tantrums just as she was getting ready to leave for her shift. The distraught look on both her child's face and the sitter's face was such that she couldn't help herself. She was a problem solver by nature and she had to solve this one, even though she knew it meant being late for her shift. Of course her tardiness was punished. Dawn called her as she was driving in and reprimanded her. Excuses didn't work with Dawn so Alex just shut up and listened until the tirade was over.

The second end result of the events was that there was no Charlie waiting for her in the lobby. She would have to call him and apologize. Luckily he didn't throw tantrums like Luke did. She smiled at that silly thought.

She was heading in the direction of the locker room, when she caught the sight of a boy, a teenager, standing in the middle of the lobby with a very lost look to his face.

Once again, instead of heading straight for work, her nature got ahead of herself. Another problem presented before her, and she had to solve it, i.e., help the supposedly, lost young guy.

"Hi," she said to the confused teen as she approached him.

He looked around. "Hi."

"Can I help you?"

He was a very serious young man, but she could see a faint grateful smile on his lips. "Yes. Thanks. I'm look for Charlie."

She was a bit surprised, but possibly this boy was related to a case Charlie was handling. "Dr. Charlie Harris?" she was making sure.

The boy nodded.

"Are you patient or a relative?"

"I guess I'm a relative. My father told me to find Charlie."

"OK," Alex smiled at the boy, "What's your dad's name?"

"His name's Fox Mulder."

Weird name, Alex thought. "OK, do you know where your father is?"

"Not really."

Strange, but not unheard of. Possibly he'd called his son in and asked him to talk with his doctor. She smiled at the boy again. "OK, let's find out where your dad's been stayin', then."

The boy nodded but didn't smile. So young and yet so serious, Alex thought as she began walking towards the information center.

Once there Alex quickly got Mulder's details. "Your dad's in the Emergency Room. Let's go talk to him first and hopefully Charlie will be there as well."


As Alex entered the emergency room she caught sight of Zach heading in the direction of the doctors' lounge. "Zach," she called out to him.

The lanky doctor turned around. "Alex Reid," Zach feigned surprise, "what brings you to this corner of the Earth?"

"Why, it is you, Dr. Miller. I am so drawn to you," she said, mockingly.

"As you should be, my dear," he returned in same.

"Zach," Alex changed to a more serious tone, "Do you have a patient named Fox Mulder? His son is here. He said that his dad told him to speak with Charlie."

Zach raised an eyebrow at Alex's last sentence. "I don't think so."

Alex was surprised by Zach's response. "What do you mean?"

"I mean that Fox Mulder has been in a coma for the majority of his stay in our magnificent hotel. I think he was aware for possibly two or three minutes during which he spoke with the woman who came in with him and I'm certain he didn't call anybody."

Once again Charlie attracts weirdness. What the hell was going on? "Maybe his friend called him. What's her name?"

"Dana Scully. She's his partner. They're FBI agents."

"FBI?"

"Yes. On vacation."

Alex turned around to speak with the boy whose name she still didn't know. "Maybe Dana Scully called you?"

"My mother? No. Not this time. It's my father. He needs help. I need to find Charlie."

Alex sighed. "OK, let's go find him then."