She couldn't ever remember exactly how what happened next happened, but she
chalked it up to the insidious manner of small children and cats. All she
knew is that she suddenly realized that Owen was curled up against her, and
had wormed his way under one of her arms. It felt odd to be cuddling a
child wasn't a blood relative, but it wasn't too bad.
William had been nervous during Benji's outburst, since he didn't know what the consequences might be. He still didn't when Mulder calmly got up and followed the grim-faced man spoken to them, but when Scully waved to him, he decided there couldn't be anything bad going on. His parents might not be good friends, but she genuinely seemed to like his little brothers, so he knew she'd really do her best to protect them the same way she would him.
Relaxing a little, he turned his attention back to the strange sermon. He didn't like what he heard any more than Scully did.
"...to this child, blessith of their gifts, shall serve as our envoy. He shall be our Beacon of welcome. He is the key, the light, the harbinger of humanity's destiny..."
The man continued on for at least another half-hour. By the time William was allowed to re-joined Scully Owen was fast asleep. She stood and was about to pick him up but William beat her to it. Though his brother was half his age, he was more than half of his height, so even held against William's shoulder the sleeping child's legs dangled past William's knees. Carrying Owen out, he looked so much the part of a doting big brother that she felt a deep pang of regret; he should've grown up a big brother. She saw that now.
After they ate they were allowed to spend the rest of the night in the quarters without being bothered by any of the cult members. This didn't, mean that they relaxed. The kids seemed as stressed as Mulder and Scully felt, and Owen seemed near tears when he realized that he'd forgotten his teddy bear. Nothing Mulder said consoled him.
Scully pulled Mulder aside and whispered to him." We can't share a bed, so why don't you take the large bed and have Owen sleep with you? It'll probably make him feel better."
"If you don't mind bunk beds..."
"It'll be fine."
One crisis was averted, but another seemed to spring up immediately. She threw her stuff on the bottom of one bunk but to her dismay William ended up with the other bottom bunk, and Benji claimed the top. She wouldn't have let an eight-year-old sleep on the top bunk if it was up to her, but he was Mulder's son, so she had no say. She did however, offer to give up the other bottom bunk, but Benji had been aghast at the idea. Soon, everyone was sleeping. Except her.
William had been nervous during Benji's outburst, since he didn't know what the consequences might be. He still didn't when Mulder calmly got up and followed the grim-faced man spoken to them, but when Scully waved to him, he decided there couldn't be anything bad going on. His parents might not be good friends, but she genuinely seemed to like his little brothers, so he knew she'd really do her best to protect them the same way she would him.
Relaxing a little, he turned his attention back to the strange sermon. He didn't like what he heard any more than Scully did.
"...to this child, blessith of their gifts, shall serve as our envoy. He shall be our Beacon of welcome. He is the key, the light, the harbinger of humanity's destiny..."
The man continued on for at least another half-hour. By the time William was allowed to re-joined Scully Owen was fast asleep. She stood and was about to pick him up but William beat her to it. Though his brother was half his age, he was more than half of his height, so even held against William's shoulder the sleeping child's legs dangled past William's knees. Carrying Owen out, he looked so much the part of a doting big brother that she felt a deep pang of regret; he should've grown up a big brother. She saw that now.
After they ate they were allowed to spend the rest of the night in the quarters without being bothered by any of the cult members. This didn't, mean that they relaxed. The kids seemed as stressed as Mulder and Scully felt, and Owen seemed near tears when he realized that he'd forgotten his teddy bear. Nothing Mulder said consoled him.
Scully pulled Mulder aside and whispered to him." We can't share a bed, so why don't you take the large bed and have Owen sleep with you? It'll probably make him feel better."
"If you don't mind bunk beds..."
"It'll be fine."
One crisis was averted, but another seemed to spring up immediately. She threw her stuff on the bottom of one bunk but to her dismay William ended up with the other bottom bunk, and Benji claimed the top. She wouldn't have let an eight-year-old sleep on the top bunk if it was up to her, but he was Mulder's son, so she had no say. She did however, offer to give up the other bottom bunk, but Benji had been aghast at the idea. Soon, everyone was sleeping. Except her.