Part IX: Escape Again
"Sir, are you sure?"
Mulder's tone said what I was feeling as we both stared, aghast, at Walter Skinner.
"I'm positive." He turned to me. "Agent Scully, the information I have assures me that both you and your child are in grave danger from more than one source. The only thing I can recommend is for you both to leave the country immediately. I'd recommend the Witness Protection Program but I know you don't trust it."
"I agree, Scully," Mulder said, turning to me. We were sitting on Skinner's couch with me holding sleeping William in my lap and sitting sideways against the arm. Reyes and Doggett had been by earlier to see the baby but left to keep an eye out for any possible invaders while we were here. Billy Miles was still out there somewhere and we didn't know how or if CSM and/or Krycek were involved as well. "We can keep you safe better if you're as far from here as possible."
I knew he was saying something else but I wasn't sure what it was. Still, I trusted him. "Okay, then, what do you suggest?"
"I'm going to call the Gunmen for new ID for you both," he said. "If you're leaving the country it shouldn't be that much of a problem for them; it doesn't have to be perfect."
I turned to Skinner. "Can I contact my mother?" I asked almost desperately. "I'd like her to at least see her grandson before I go."
"We should be able to arrange something but we can't wait too long," he said. "Call her now and have her get over here ASAP."
I wanted to cry but forced the feeling back with the steely reserve that had served me well over the years. I passed William over to Mulder while I made the call and couldn't help but notice Skinner's raised eyebrows at how easily he handled the baby. Skinner himself hasn't seemed too comfortable around a newborn, quickly declining to hold him and peering at him from some distance away. His jaw had hit the floor when we'd told him the story of William's birth and he'd laughed out loud when Mulder had explained how he'd kidnapped the nurse-midwife out of her house. He had also remarked, somewhat gingerly, at how much William looked like Mulder and then looked baffled when we'd both laughed.
While Mulder was on the phone with the Gunman he cupped the receiver and asked me, "How's Montreal? Or Nova Scotia?"
"I speak rusty German and a spattering of archaic Greek, Mulder, not French-Canadian," I said. "If we're looking at Canada how about the Pacific Northwest? Vancouver? Or maybe Toronto?"
"Toronto is doable—and a lot closer," he said, then went back to his call.
I sighed as I looked down at our sleeping son, then up at Skinner who hovered nearby. "Do you think we'll ever be able to come back here?" I asked.
"Depends on what Reyes and Doggett can turn up," he said, taking off his glasses and rubbing the bridge of his nose with one hand. "And Mulder, of course, even if it's not official I'm sure he'll be able to help."
I froze. Mulder was staying here? Not coming with us? I had assumed… but that did make more sense, I thought with a sinking heart. Even having just given birth I was a trained federal agent and well able to take care of us; we didn't need another person along, especially one as high-profile as my partner/lover/whatever he was now.
Mulder snapped his phone closed and came back over to the couch, sitting down heavily next to me. "It's all set. They'll be here in forty-five minutes to an hour with your papers, which should be fine to get you into Canada. How we get you there is another story entirely." His cell rang and he got up, moving away to talk.
"I've got a friend who has a light plane and can fly you direct to Toronto, I believe," Skinner said, snapping his fingers. His glasses were back on his face and he turned to pick up his desk phone. "He's an ex-agent and eminently trustworthy. Let me find out, I think that would be a lot better than any other way."
William stirred and I gently bounced him until he dozed off again; he'd eaten shortly after we'd gotten here and, I hoped, was good for another couple hours. Mulder was still sitting at the conference table on his cell but looking at us as he talked. I could only hope my mom got here fast; I had the feeling that the sooner we left, the better.
Just then there was a stir in the outer office and I saw Mulder reaching for the pocket of his jacket but then my mom burst through the door and arrowed straight to me. I was so glad to see her that I unexpectedly burst into tears as we hugged each other desperately, William still sleeping between us even as our tears fell on his face.
