Chapter 13: Ruin

Abigail didn't stir until William unlocked the handcuffs that held her captive. Her eyes fluttered open and she tried to rise but the pains in the side of her head cause sever vertigo and she fell limp into William's arms.

"What happened?" Abigail whispered.

"Don't move," William stated as he checker the area of her head that had been hit.

"Where did they go?" she asked.

"They left," William stated and moved out of the vehicle again.

"Where are you going?" Abigail stated as she tried to follow him.

"Stay in the car!" he yelled warningly as he edged his way into the ditch where his gun had landed and fished it out.

"What about my files?" Abigail yelled.

"Just leave them!" he said angrily as he walked to the other side of the road and down into the other ditch.

William emerged soaking wet but he had retrieved both of their FBI issued weapons. He threw them both on the passenger seat and put the car into gear and floored it.

"William! My files!" Abigail yelled as she watched the wind blow the papers into the fields. "Stop the car this instant!" she demanded.

"No!"

"That my life's work!" She creamed and began to claw her way into the front seat.

"Is it really worth your life?" William asked as he shoved her back into the back seat and continued to speed down the highway. "If you didn't already guess, Mulder was right. I don't know who those guys were but they had more authority than we did cause they didn't give a shit that we were FBI agents."

Abigail was silent as her anger and frustration boiled within her.

"We've also been threatened, so I hope you don't ever want to go back to see Mulder and Scully," he added seething with anger.

"They can't do this!" Abigail screamed, "We have to go back! Take me back right now! I need those files!"

"No!" William yelled, "I'm soaking wet, my weapon isn't usable, my gut huts like hell, I had to climb over my car with my hands behind my back to get at the cuff keys, I was held at gun point and we are being followed again. Don't think for a second that you are going to convince me to go back and risk my life again for those goddamn files!"

"So that's it? You're done?" She asked tears burning down her face.

"Yes, I'm done! I've had enough of this bullshit!" William stated.

"At the first sign of adversity you're just going to give up?" Abigail asked her voice rising with emotion, "I expected so much more from you. I expected you would go to any lengths to find the truth."

"We found the truth!" William yelled back. "And it lead us into being threatened by the same men that Ruined Mulder's career. Are you willing to risk that for the proof of alien life?"

"It's not about proof anymore it's about saving the world!" Abigail yelled.

"It's about you!" William stated, "it's not about the world, it's about you making a name for yourself and being hailed as a savior of the human race. No! I am not doing this anymore. I am not going to stand by and watch you ruin your life, my life and anyone who holds you near to their hearts. You are going to kill your father if you keep this up because if you want to keep going this was just the beginning."

"I'm not going to give up just because I have been threatened once!" Abigail stated. "I have to fight!"

"I don't!" William stated his anger at its breaking point, "I'm done and so help me God so are you!"

"You can't stop me!" Abigail stated as she fell back into the ruined back seat.

"Oh yes I can," William stated and continued on his way.