A/N: Hey guys! I am trying to make my chapters longer, so here we are, 4,000 odd words. Win. I like writing action-y things, but I'm not sure how well this has turned out...
Also, thanks to Mini Reyes, my Saddo Sister (:P), for the DRR help. YOUR IDEAS ROCK MY SOCKS DUDE!
Chapter 29 - Fight the Fight
Despite the fact they were desperately anticipating the call; they all jumped when the phone rang. Mulder flipped it open before it even got to the second 'bring'.
"Mulder. I understand. Good luck." He shut it again and looked around the room, "We leave now."
Mulder, Scully and Skinner flew down the stairs. Scully jumped over the railing, ignoring half a flight of steps. As she tore into the driveway, the Gunmen pulled up in front of her and Langley pulled the door across, allowing her to jump inside, closely followed by her husband and Skinner. Frohike waved quickly before turning back to the wheel, Byers mumbled something while staring at a small screen connected to the GPS tracker Alex had taken with him.
"How close guys?" Mulder asked, searching for Scully's hand. Once he found it, he threaded their fingers together.
"Twenty five minutes, you might wanna get ready." "Thanks," Mulder squeezed her hand then released it and dragged the black rucksack that was sliding around the back of the van. He pulled out a black Sauer identical to the one Scully had had to return to the FBI during her maternity leave.
"Brilliant," She forced a smile, before catching the clips he threw to her.
Skinner moved his gun from the more discrete holster to the shoulder one tossed his way by Mulder.
"We're almost there," Byers warned.
Mulder nodded and passed out Kevlar vests. Langley stepped forward and took one too.
"Langley?" Scully asked gently.
"We love the little guy, Byers is coming too, Frohike is gonna hack and drive."
"Thank you," She reached across and squeezed his arm.
"We're here." Frohike announced "Be careful you guys,"
"We will." They promised gravely.
Scully took a deep breath and adjusted her ear piece, before pulling Mulder down for a quick kiss. This elected wolf whistles from their friends, an attempt at normalcy. They knew them better than to check if they were still up for it.
"I love you." He promised.
"Love you too." She replied, then pulled the door open and jumped out of the van which was slowly driving past the entrance, taking a deep breath she sashayed up to the guard booth. She leant across the desk, a flirtatious smile plastered across her face. While she giggled the guys ran past the desk, and Frohike wiped the security cameras from the van.
"You see my boyfriend really does work up there," She looked up at him through her eyelashes.
"Well miss, I really don't think I can let you up there."
"He does though! I swear!"
"I don't doubt that you're telling the truth."
'Idiot.' She thought.
"But I can't just let you in!"
"Why ever not? I mean you are the chief guard, that sounds ever so important."
"Believe me it is," He informed her puffing out his chest.
"It does look incredibly important."
"The boss trusts me more than anyone else,"
She widened her eyes as if in awe.
"That's how come I got this job."
"Wow. Does that mean you can choose who gets to go in?"
"Well yes, I guess it does."
Scully tilted her head to one side "He is ever so mean for leaving me alone out here," She bit her lip "I might have to break up with him... But then I'd need new boyfriend..."
"You would?" He flushed slightly.
She nodded.
"I might as well let you in..."
"Thank you!" She gushed, leaning further over "What's your name?" Her tongue darted out and wet her lips.
"G-greg." He appeared to be struggling with his trousers, while trying not to notice.
She raised her eyebrow and grinned "Thanks Greg, I might come find you later, shift ends at3am right?"
"Y-yeah..."
"Fantastic." She winked, then walked away, swaying her hips for his benefit.
"Wait miss!" Greg called after her "I need your name!" He waved the clipboard around to illustrate his point.
"Diana. Diana Fowley."
Byers was waiting for her in the shadows "Dana!" He whispered.
She slipped into to the darkness caused by the trees next to him.
"They've already gone in, they've gone to rescue Samantha and the kids, we're going to scout ahead and locate CGB."
"Gottit."
They snuck through the door, avoiding the cameras at Frohike's command, as they went around the corner Scully leant forward and whispered "John, have you ever fired a gun before?"
"Not exactly. I know the theory though..."
"Okay, would you like me to go in front?"
"I think that might be for the best."
She overtook him, nearly colliding with an armed guard. Before he could alert any others she cover his mouth and stamped on his foot, then hit him in the windpipe with the side of her hand. Rendered speechless, she kicked behind his knee, knocking him to the ground, and punched him firmly across the face - knocking him out. Byers stared at her with a mix of appreciation and shock "...I see why Mulder tried not piss you off too much."
"I had brothers," Was her response. She removed his gun, a SCAR-H, and tore a strip of fabric from his shirt and proceeded to gag him, then shoved him in an alcove Byers had cleared of boxes. They stacked them back up to keep him there, before running ahead, continuing their search for the elusive CGB Spender.
They tried door after door after door, with no avail. They didn't even spot another guard. Frohike was keeping them up to date with the other team's progress; apparently, Langley had had a few false alarms in which he had almost shot both Skinner and Mulder. It had subsequently been decided he should lead.
It was Byers who spotted the guards. There was a small group of them, 4 or 5, partially hidden behind a wall. They were huddled in a corner, silent, so much so that they had nearly walked out straight in front of them. Holding a finger to her lips, she gestured for him to be quiet, before inching closer. She brandished the gun that she had taken from the earlier guard, took a deep breath and fired. Just one short burst, but she knew it would rouse any other guards nearby; they would have to act fast. She grabbed Byers arm and pulled him along with her. She pushed through the door the guards had been stood nearest. Her hunch had paid off, the guards had been significant, CGB was sat at the head of a large and expensive looking oak table. Alex was sat about halfway along on the left, she realised the relieved glance he gave her had not gone un-noticed.
"They've found them, Langley's taking them, Mulder and Skinner are doubling back to help."
She nodded and stepped forward.
"Dana," He stood to greet her, cigarette dangling from his lips.
"You bastard!" She knew what was supposed to be happening "What have you done with my son?"
"Dana, Dana, Dana, can we not talk about this like adults?" The smile he was sporting made her feel physically sick.
"What the fuck have you done with my son!" She screamed
"Please, take a seat." He gestured.
"NO!" She ran at him and pressed her Sig to his head.
"Calm down Dana, I know you will not shoot me, I have your son remember?"
"You see, that's where you're wrong." Her finger closed around the trigger, firing the small piece of metal speeding into his brain. It was surprisingly easy; after years of trying to kill him, it had taken one shot, the hard part would come next.
"Alex," she tossed him a gun from one of the guards "Byers, keep an eye out,"
"I understand." He moved closer to the door and looked around it "Still clear."
"Thanks." She rummaged around in her pockets and pulled out a bottle of mentholated spirits and a box of matches. She doused his corpse with the purple liquid, and struck a match, after taking a couple of steps backwards she tossed the flame onto the body, shielding her face from the large flames. She wasn't taking any chances of him being brought back to life or clones appearing (unless they'd already collected his DNA).
"Scully!" Mulder ran into the room and hugged her.
"You ready?" She asked, squeezing his hand quickly.
"Yeah. Let's get it on Honey."
She smiled slightly and tightened her grip on her gun, noticing that Mulder had acquired a machine gun of his own.
They didn't have to wait long. As they prepared to surge forward, guards began to surge into the room. Langley opened fire, wiping out at least 20 guards, Byers logically realised they were not getting out of the door and began rattling the windows, trying to find one that was unlocked. As the guards started to push through and moved further into the room the others began shooting, but there was far too many.
"Cover me!" Scully yelled, killing another couple of guards. She grabbed a chair and ran towards the window. She shot repeatedly at the glass to weaken it, then hit it with the chair, throwing it with her weight behind it. She was regaining her balance before launching it for the sixth time when the burning started in her arm. She looked down at it to see it had been grazed by a bullet, then the burning increased to include her leg and left ribs. She looked down to see blood leaking from many points all over her body. Her knees gave way and the chair fell from her hands. She could see one guard move, as if in slow motion, to aim his gun at her.
"Dana!" She heard someone shout and Byers flew into her view. He raised his gun and fired a single shot at the guard, who flew backwards, his own gun flying from his hands, eyes wide with pain and surprise. John grabbed her arm and pulled her back up to her feet "I'm sorry," He apologised, but still bypassed her wincing "Window, now. Let's go."
"Mulder." She croaked
"Following. He's taking the rear."
"Good," She lopped her arm around his neck to stabilise herself, then walked - bracing herself against the pain – towards the window. She was half out when she heard the moan of pain. She turned to catch sight of Langley drop to the floor like a broken branch.
"No!" Byers gasped
"Go get him," She shouted
"But you're-"
"Get. Him. I will fine."
"Dana-"
"Go."
He nodded and ran over to his friend. Skinner was already scooping him up, whilst Mulder doubled his efforts at stopping the guards, along with Alex, as they surged forward again. She slid out the window and landed with a thud onto the ground, rolling to stop as much damage as possible. Byers was next, his face pale and anxious. Skinner threw Langley down to them his shouts concealed by the sound of bullet spray. They managed to catch the gunman, whose face was grey and clammy. She examined the wound by tearing down the seam of his left trouser leg. It was about the diameter of golf ball, without a visible exit point, leading her to believe that the bullet had not left his body. The bleeding was steady, fast, but not fatally so. Her shaking hands closed over the top, steaming the flow with an air of much practise. Skinner was soon by her side, lifting him again, but still keeping her hands in place. Mulder placed his hand on her shoulder, alerting her to his presence and keeping his own guard up as they ran.
Frohike pulled the van around, with Samantha hanging out the back. They piled in, with Langley's quiet moans seeming to reverberate around the metal box. As the van pulled away Scully began to clear a space on the floor.
"But him here," She instructed Skinner. He placed him carefully on the floor in front of her. She pressed down on his leg, and struggled to tear a strip of fabric from his trousers to make a tourniquet. Byers gentle hand slid under hers.
"Thanks." She murmured, then concentrated on tying the fabric tightly above Byers' hands "I need to extract the bullet."
Skinner started rummaging around in the assorted boxes, looking for anything resembling forceps. While he was doing this she removed a knife from a subtle strap around her upper leg. She was just about to open up the wound when a shout echoed out around them.
"No!" Natalie screamed "Don't hurt him!"
"I have to; it'll help him get better,"
"But how!"
"Uh-"
"It just will honey," Samantha tried to silence her daughter.
"But Mom!" She pleaded
"No. Shh."
She scowled and a tear leaked from her eye.
Scully wished she had time to explain to and console this to her niece, but the sooner the bullet was out the better – it would be dangerous to enter a hospital after their attack on CGB Spender. With a deep breath she began widening the wound, allowing for easy removal of the bullet. Skinner passed over a pair of tweezers used for handling micro chips. With the surgical precision she had mastered over the years she grabbed the mangled slug and with a steady hand removed it from Langley's body. He moaned loudly, shaking his head as if trying to stop something getting to him.
Scully nodded to Byers who was ready with a large square of anti-static cloth and a 4cm wide strip of cotton off his shirt – a makeshift bandage. As he wound this tightly over his friend's leg, Scully dropped the slug into a small vial Skinner had discovered in the box of treasures that was the van of The Lone Gunmen.
It was almost 7am when they pulled up outside the Mulder house, nearly 6 hours after they left, Mulder and Skinner carried Langley from the back of the van, and Samantha had Natalie in a piggy back, whilst Jesse walked next to his father. Scully lead the group, and inserted her key into the lock. In all his 18 days, she had never once left her son. The furthest away she'd been was the bathroom; she hadn't even left him alone with Mulder while she went grocery shopping! It wasn't that she didn't trust people – she did, not many, but a few – it was that she couldn't bear to be away from him, the child she wasn't supposed to be able to have. Even just in another room she missed him and worried about him, it was unhealthy – she knew – but her anxiety was so hard to vanquish. She had to concentrate fully on not running through the door to her son and allow Langley through first. She followed behind intending to help them move Langley into a spare room. She opened doors and turned down the bed, then stood in the corner of the room looking around and fidgeting.
"Go on," Mulder murmured "Go check on him."
"But-" She gestured to Langley
"I'm fine;" He whispered, looking anything but "Go see your kid Red,"
"Don't call me Red," She smiled slightly
"C'mon Scully, go." Mulder shoved her gently to the door.
"If you need anything..." She trailed off
"I'll shout," Langley replied
"Now GO!" Mulder grinned and shooed her from the room.
She didn't need telling again, she practically ran up the stairs and into her son's room. Monica was asleep on the armchair with the slumbering baby on her lap. John was in the doorway, head resting on his knees, not sleeping but not really awake either. She picked him up and he moulded himself to her side - even in sleep he recognised her, which made her heart swell with love and pride. Scully allowed her cheek to rest gently on her son's head - his soft, fine, fluffy hair tickling her cheek, his sweet, clean, baby smell filling her nose. She was completely unaware of the grin that broke across her face, or of the fact that Monica had woken up – possibly missing the weight of baby in her lap.
"...D...Dana..?" She murmured sleepily
"Monica. Hi." She breathed
"How did it g-g-go?" She yawned
"Success. He's dead, thank god."
"Indeed," Monica rubbed at her eyes "What the heck is the time?"
Scully checked her watch "Ten past seven,"
"Really? Wow."
She smiled at her friends surprise; her hand idly rubbing the green cotton babygro clad back of Jamie "How was he?" She asked
"Fantastic," Monica grinned "We had a small dinner mishap... But we were completely fine."
Scully arched an eyebrow "Mishap?" Her tone was quizzical.
"I was wearing your jumper and we had a misunderstanding about the differences between my food producing methods and yours."
"Oh," She tried hard to conceal her laughter.
"You should have seen John's face - he went so red!" Monica used her hand to try and repress the giggles threatening to break free.
They made eye contact and had to clutch at their stomachs and bit down on their knuckles to hold in their mirth.
"Come on," Scully hissed, grabbing Monica's hand with the one not carrying her son and dragged her spluttering from the room.
They collapsed onto the couch, then dissolved into fits of the giggles.
"So," Dana finally regained control of herself "How long have you loved him?"
"What?" Monica spluttered, waking up the baby which had miraculously stayed asleep throughout their laughter.
"It's pretty obvious, you're about as subtle as a bomb," She replied frankly, bouncing the crying infant and whispering soothing things to him.
"We're not even together..."
"Nor were Mulder and I."
"But that was you guys, you're made for each other, and you were best friends, and, and, and," She faltered "It just was with you two, there was no messy baggage on either part."
Scully raised her eyebrows "Is that what you think?"
"Well, yeah."
"That's not the case at all. Mulder has had a couple of extremely destructive, serious relationships, as have I, way, way, WAY older men and stuff. Add in complex conspiracies, murders and death and you get one really difficult relationship. And that's ignoring family disagreements and general frustration."
"I just always assumed you guys hit it off, dated, got married and had William."
She snorted "Nothing of the sort. We never dated for one, and you know I was already pregnant when we got married."
"Not so much of a fairy tale then."
"I wouldn't say that. It's a fairy tale alright. Just our fairy tale, it wouldn't work for anybody else."
"That sounds incredibly romantic."
"I know, corny right?"
"A little, but probably true - who says real life can't be cheesy?"
"Not I." Scully grinned and pressed a kiss to Jamie's head.
John emerged a few minutes later, his movements were sluggish but his eyes were alert and anxious "Thank God," He murmured.
"What? What's wrong John." Monica asked him.
"I woke up to find you and the baby gone, I got, uh, worried."
"I could have sworn you were awake when we got back."
"I was, I just wasn't sure if I was dreaming."
"So you dream about the two of us often then do you?" Scully teased.
"Wha-no." His gaze flitted from Scully and rested a second too long on Monica. He yawned and walked into the kitchen.
"God John, lighten up." Monica grinned.
"You two need help," He muttered.
Monica nudged Scully and giggled.
"Psychiatric help." He added, shaking his head then leaving the room.
It was much later that evening when Byers finally caught Scully on her own.
"Are you alright?"
"Yes,"
"Dana, you got shot several times."
"They were just grazes, I'll be fine."
"Have you fixed yourself up?"
"Yeah."
"Really?"
"Pretty much, they'll be fine for now; I'll get Mulder to help me later."
"Promise me Dana. Your wounds may not be as fatal as Langley's, but infections and stuff..." He trailed off.
"I promise."
He pulled her in for a brief hug "Thank you for helping Langley."
"He's my friend too. I love you guys."
"We love you too. Don't tell the guys I told you, they do, they'd just be all awkward about it."
She grinned and chuckled softly "Thanks John."
He patted her back a couple of times before drawing back. She allowed her hand to run down his sleeve, then squeezed his forearm.
She collapsed into bed just after 1am. Mulder rolled over and tugged her into his embrace. A second later he withdrew his hands and let out a yelp of surprise, for there were lines of blood across both.
"Oh Jesus," He whispered, whipping her shirt off before she had a chance to protest.
"Mulder, it's nothing, I-"
"Shhh, Scully, you're bleeding, that's not nothing."
"I forgot to ask for your help with some bandages."
"Oh Scully," He murmured, running his fingers over the shallow lacerations.
"Mulder, calm down." She kissed his jaw "They're just grazes."
"Why didn't you say anything earlier?"
"I was worried about Langley; I was so busy trying to fix him that I forgot about these." She stood up and began to move toward the bathroom.
"Wait." His hand was on her arm "Let me." He pushed her gently back down onto the mattress.
The sounds of bottles being moved – glass on glass – reached her ears. She allowed a small smile to grace her features; it was nice to know that he cared. She knew it, the showing still made her grin though. He soon returned with some bandages and surgical spirit. He carefully wiped away the crusty blood and then kissed the wounds. He then wrapped bandages tightly around each of the 7 new imperfections on her skin. He kissed her hard on the lips, having missed their closeness all day. Her mind span. His hands were everywhere, massaging her sides and chest, his lips all over her face and neck. Her brain was just beginning to function enough to begin removing his clothes when the door opened. Frohike stood in the doorway, eyes wide with surprise. No matter what jokes he made about wanting to see Scully in various form of undress, he was actually a decent guy. He'd never bugged her bedroom or shower. If he saw her naked, he wanted it to be with her consent.
"Shit!" Mulder cussed and threw himself on top of Scully – hiding her semi-naked chest.
"O-oh god-d," He stuttered "I'm s-so sor-ry."
"Dude, would you mind leaving?"
"Oh yeah, sorry." He practically ran from the room.
They stared at each other for almost 20 seconds before Scully dissolved into giggles "His f-f-face!" She snorted, which caused Mulder to join her fit of mirth.
"After all these years of the 'Scrumptious Agent Scully' and then he balks at his only opportunity!"
She pulled his face down to meet hers in a kiss, their shaking bodies knocking against each other. Before they could get any further, William began emitting small cries.
"Shh baby," Scully murmured, collection him and carrying him back to their bed, Mulder was laying on his side, propping up his head with his elbow, his face resting in the palm of his hand. He watched her feed their son, his smile widening by the second "That is incredibly sexy, you know." He informed her.
She flushed, but couldn't suppress a grin "Shut up Mulder."
"Really. If you weren't feeding our offspring I would totally take you right here right now."
"Oh really?" She raised an eyebrow
"Oh yeah." He replied "But I'm actually pretty tired,"
She smirked "Well I'm glad you said that rather than me. I didn't want to have to break it to you."
She chuckled softly and flopped gown onto the bed, bouncing her so she squealed. Jamie began to whimper again and she shot a glare at Mulder.
"I'm sorry buddy," Mulder rubbed his head.
"You should be ashamed." She stuck out her tongue whilst burping her son.
"DUDE! " Mulder laughed "That was impressive!"
"Shh, don't lead him astray from such a young age!" She chided him, trying not to laugh.
"Don't pretend you're not proud right now."
She elbowed him, then returned the now sleeping baby to his crib. She slid in beside him and turned out the light.
"Frohike's face." He whispered, sending them both into fits of giggles, which they tried to contain for the sake of their child's sake.
