Title:

Title: Gabriel's Feather (Part 4 of?)

Rating: G

Category: MSR, CHILDFIC, MYTHARCH

Spoilers: Everything but DeadAlive

Summary: Mulder has been missing for 4 years and somebody is pissed.

Disclaimer: Thanks to CC, FOX, 1013, GA, DD, RP, and all those others who actually own the show and produce the wonderful characterizations. The people out here who actually support the show would have more fun if some of the fanfic authors were allowed to write some scripts. (IMOPO!)

Archive: I would be honored, but not counting on it. Just let me know where.and leave my name and

address attached.

(See author's notes at the end)

Gabriel's Feather

Agent Mulder was forgotten until exactly eight hours and twelve minutes after his discovery. Mary Alice looked up from the nurse's station and glanced through the one-way glass window to the administrative area of the ER. It looked as if the Calvary had swept into town.

A petite redhead dressed in a chic black suit, and a long black coat strode up to the admitting desk and flashed what appeared to be an identification badge of some sort. Her bearing was regal. She looked like a queen and in her wake strode five unlikely companions. Three were in suits. There was a tall good-looking though balding man in glasses that instantly interested Mary Alice. He seemed to be next in command. The other two suits were attractive enough, but nothing like the hunk in glasses. The other two men were dressed almost as if in costumes and irreverently reminded Mary Alice of a hippy and a miniature biker dude. As the conversation escalated, she decided the entire situation needed her personal attention. She felt slightly embarrassed to realize it was a ploy to meet the Big Guy in glasses. She mentally shrugged; she didn't care. Mary Alice was intrigued.

She picked up a chart and pushed through the connecting door eyes on the chart, approaching the desk and eavesdropping unobtrusively.

Her eyes were drawn to the redhead when she heard the intimidated and irritated clerk respond.

"Ms. Scully…"

"Dr. Scully." The redhead interrupted.

"Doctor Scully, I don't have an admitting entry for a Fox Mulder any time in the past 24 hours. You'll just have to go to admitting or wait until the administrative offices are open and check with them."

"Ms. Brill, isn't it? I have waited for almost 4 years for this man to turn up. I feel I need to warn you that I am armed and at the end of my patience. Find the damn information right now, or there will be consequences to face."

"What Dr. Scully means, Ms. Brill," the Big Guy (as Mary Alice thought of him) said, "is that you may have had a drop in here. A John Doe perhaps?"

"Excuse me, Tami?" Mary Alice interjected as she saw Tami begin to shake her head.

"Yes, Nurse Hanks?" Tami Brill seemed eager for the assistance.

"I believe that the individual these people are looking for was treated in the ER and transported moments ago up to ICU. You don't have the information, Tami, because he didn't come in through the regular channels."

Her words drew everyone's attention. She blushed slightly as the Big Guy directed his gaze to her. She knew he was all business but was pleased to notice the look he gave her included a quick inspection of her as a woman as well as a possible source of information.

"Ms. Hanks? Did you see Agent Mulder in the ER?" He asked her.

"Yes, I was the one who found him. He's been stabilized and transported upstairs." She didn't take her eyes off him until the redhead spoke.

"Nurse Hanks, is he…is he going to be alright?" All the bluster seemed to have left this woman as she asked the only question she cared about. "Is he going to live?"

"I think I can assure you that he is not in danger of physical collapse at this moment. Dr. Berger was the trauma doc that treated him. Would you like to speak to him before you go upstairs?" There was something about this woman that made you want to help her.

"Yes. No. I don't know. I want to get to him as soon as possible but I need to know how he is." She seemed to wilt in front of their eyes.

"Dr. Scully," she said, "I think you will have time to check with Dr. Berger now. I don't think they will let you in to see him until he is settled. "I know he'll want to see you. You're the one he called for during the brief moment he was conscious. Just step down that hall and I will let you in the ER."

"Thank you, Nurse Hanks. I would like to speak to you as well later, if you will." She flashed a small smile towards me and I knew why all these men were in her wake. She was beautiful, inside and out.

Mary Alice nodded and stepped back through the door to the ER. She moved to the hall entry and opened it as Dr. Scully and the Big Guy stepped up. He was surreptitiously supporting her with a hand at her elbow. The rest of the troupe waited in the ER chairs.

The two FBI Agents entered the ER area and stopped. Mary Alice had motioned for them to wait as she moved away to find Dr. Berger. Fortunately he was available and anxious to speak to the two agents. Mary Alice stayed with the trio at the request of Dr. Scully. She found out the Big Guy's name was Walter Skinner. She shivered a little each time he turned to look at her—which was frequently if she did say so herself.

As the conversation came to an end, she watched as Walter Skinner handed Dr. Berger his card, requesting he be contacted if any further information became known. She was surprised when he hesitated then turned back to address her personally. Writing something on the second card he turned directly to her.

"If you think of anything, Ms. Hanks, please feel free to contact me directly. I have put my home number on the back. Don't hesitate to use it." His hand extended toward her holding out his card. She lowered her eyes from his and looked at the card in his hand. She reached for the card and was slightly surprised when he held on to it for a moment as her fingers closed over it.

Her eyes flashed back to his and a small smile slid onto her face. "Ali, please. All my friends call me Ali, Mr. Skinner."

"Walter," was all he said and he smiled.

She definitely was going to use that number. She watched as the duo quickly walked back through the door to the admitting area to gather the rest of their troupe. She wasn't sure what had just happened, but she was sure she liked it. She couldn't wait until the rest of her shift was over. She was going to stop by the ICU before she left, just to check up on her patient, of course.

The six individuals that stopped at the ICU Nurse's Station drew every eye in the room. Three of the group flashed FBI badges requesting to see Fox Mulder aka the John Doe that had just arrived. Marcia Snow, the Nursing Supervisor was not going to allow them access to their newest patient until the small redhead said:

"Please. He's been missing for almost five years. He's…he's my husband."

All the male heads in the group did a joint swivel to gape at her then to exchange shocked looks.

"Please." It was almost a whisper.

"Very well, Dr. Scully, but only you for now." Marcia said. She had her doubts that the marriage claim was true, but she could tell the emotional attachment was there.

They disappeared down the hall to the last door on the left.

Dana Scully stopped at the glass wall and gave a small smile to Nurse Snow. "Thank you. Could I, could we have a few minutes alone?"

"Of course." Came the reply. Dana slowly walked toward the sheet-covered figure of Fox Mulder. If this were truly Mulder—she would only be sure after the tests returned.

As she stepped closer she sucked her breath in at the sight before her. He had suffered. He had multiple wounds and bruises. Large scars of poorly healed incisions marked his chest and arms. His face displayed multiple healed wounds. There were abrasions on his forehead where he had been recently restrained. The bandages on his wrists showed he had been injured, probably restrained, there.

She looked beyond the injured body and saw only the man that she loved. She knew in her heart he was the real Fox Mulder. She could feel his presence in her heart.

"Oh, Mulder. What did they do to you?" She groaned and stifled a sob.

She extended a trembling hand to his face and using her fingers like a blind person, read the contours and features of the man she loved. She bowed her head in a prayer of thanks and quietly sniffed her amen. She softly leaned over and pressed her lips to his as she reached for his hand and gently squeezed it.

She was shocked when she felt the small gesture returned. She quickly looked down and saw his fingers close around hers slightly.

"Hey you. Love you Scully…" snapped her eyes back to his face.

"Mulder" she breathed. She lowered her lips to his again and kissed him with all the love and gentleness in her heart.

He looked toward the nightstand and she instantly realized he was thirsty.

"I cannot give you a drink, Mulder, but I can get them in here to give you a swab with something to wet your mouth and lips." She turned to leave and was stopped by his cry of pain.

"Don't leave, never leave." was all he was able to get out.

She smiled. "Of course. Of course." She reached over him to grab the call button. Nurse Snow instantly answered it and arrangements were made for some relief for their patient.

She gently settled on the side of the bed still holding his hand. Soft words of comfort slipped from her lips, healing him better and faster than any 21^st century medicine was able. Before too long, Mulder was sleeping peacefully.

Scully gently moved from his side and out the door to update her friends.

"He's Mulder." She said with a deep sigh.

"Of course it is, we didn't think you'd stay for 10 seconds if it weren't." Frohike interjected. The rest of the men frowned him into silence.

"He's hurt, but according to his chart he doesn't have any serious injuries other than dehydration and shock. The wounds on his body are serious, but not terminal. Of course, there's an entire battery of tests we need to perform in order to make sure he's okay. I'm going to call my mother and Brenna and then head back in. I'm going to stay here tonight. I'll have my Mother bring in some clothes for me tomorrow." She turned back toward his room, stopping a few feet away and turning back to the group.

"Thank you all for…everything. I don't seem to be able to concentrate on anything but getting back to him. Please forgive me." A beautiful smile transformed her face even as tear began to flow. "Damn! I'm just so happy!"

"Well, I never thought I'd see the day." Agent John Doggett said.

All the other men glared at him in askance.

"I never thought I'd see the day Agent Scully was happy enough to cry, but I'm damn glad I lived long enough to see it!" He said with a smile.

All the other men slowly joined his smile as they quietly moved from the hushed atmosphere of the ICU.

A quick huddle in the waiting room produced action on all parts.

"Agent Doggett, you need to get a team in here to interview everyone in the ER that treated him this morning. You guys need to get home and start looking for information…" his cell phone ringing interrupted him.

"Skinner." His face became a mask. "I understand sir. Yes, Agent Doggett and I are on our way. No. Agent Scully just requested an emergency personal leave of absence and I granted it just a few minutes ago. It's personal, sir, I didn't get the details. I took her word for it. Perhaps, sir, I do know her son was just at the ER for an unexplained fever. I'll contact agent Reyes instead. Yes, sir. Immediately." He hit the end button and looked at his companions.

"That was the Director of the FBI. There's been a crash of a 'large unidentified object' in BFE Nebraska. Agent Doggett and I are to take a military transport that is waiting for us right now to the site. This changes everything. Doggett, you and I will hit the transport. I'll call in SAC Edwards to cover the ER and Reyes to meet us at the plane. Byers, Langley and Frohike, it's up to you to get everything you can together from all your sources. This could mean that Colonization has just started."

They quickly disbursed, each with their own thoughts.

'Damn! I'll have to wait to talk to the Lovely Nurse Hanks until this is all over.' From Walter Skinner, and then guilt for letting personal thought interfere with duty.

'Scully was right!' From Agent Doggett and Byers.

'Mulder's back. Cool.' From Langley and Frohike.

Maggie, Brenna, and Gabriel arrived at the hospital at nine the next morning. Maggie and Brenna had had little sleep after the surprise call from Dana. They weren't as surprised as they should have been to hear the news of the crash in Nebraska. They assumed correctly that Fox Mulder had been brought back to the Earth on an alien ship of some sort and that it was probably the very same ship that had crashed.

They were surprised at the number of large men with guns guarding all the entrances to the ICU. Only after producing multiple ID's was Maggie allowed to turn over the overnight bag of clothing she had assembled for Dana. It was still almost a half hour before Dana rushed out to walk them through the security to Mulder's room.

She picked up Gabriel and held him close to her heart for a moment before speaking.

"Honey, do you know why you're here this morning?" She asked him.

"Cuz I had a fever last night?" He concluded.

"No, Sweetie, it seems like your fever is gone. You're here because a very good thing happened last night."

"You came home, that was good." He said with a smile that was all Mulder.

"Yes, I came home." She said at a loss as to how to tell him about the return of his father.

"Daddy came home last night too!" Gabriel said watching his mother's face for the truth of his statement.

There was a collective gasp from all three women. How did he know?

"What makes you think that Daddy came home last night, Gabe?" Dana was finally able to ask.

"I don't know," he said at first, then after reflection he continued. "I think I dreamed it when I was asleep."

"Gabe, however you knew about Daddy, you are right! He's here and he's going to be okay. Right now he's sleeping so I can't take you in to meet him, but I will soon. I have arranged for all of us to have a room next to Mulder's for a while. I have some new books for you, sweetie. Do you want to go with Agent Haskins and look at them while Gramma, Brenna, and I talk for a few minutes?"

Gabriel gave his mother a look that he had given her for years, and agreed. He and Agent Haskins moved to the safe room and out of sight.

"What was that all about?" Maggie asked laughing.

"The look? It's something he's done for a while now. I call it the "I know you want to discuss something you think is too grown up for me to understand so I'll cooperate now and find out later' look. He started it at Christmas time a couple years ago." Dana smiled as she shook her head. "He's so smart and intuitive. He's so…so…Mulder." This was all she could say to describe this wonderful child.

Dana brought herself back to the present situation. She motioned them to follow and returned to Mulder's room. After a few minutes of checking Mulder, they moved to the corner to confer quietly.

"I have some bad news. I received a call from AD Skinner. He feels it would be best if you two were taken to a safe house until Mulder is out of danger. The 'satellite crash' in Nebraska that's been on the news may be a cover-up for the beginning of Colonization—or not. We don't know anything right now, except we need to take precautions to protect Gabriel and you two. Anyone close to Mulder and I could be in jeopardy."

Dana watched their faces for their reactions. Brenna's eyes were shinning at the thoughts of an adventure. She was very much like Melissa—such a free spirit. Maggie just closed her eyes and gave a sigh.

"Mom, I'm sorry. I know you feel this is all too paranoid, but this came from AD Skinner. I think we should trust his judgment."

"Dana, I accept that this is a necessary though irritating action. I was just thinking of Billy and Charlie and their families. What about them?"

"Mom, I didn't want to tell you because I know that this will make it more real and frightening. Both Bill and Charlie and their entire families have been moved into a protective situation at AD Skinner's behest. They are safe. We just cannot contact them until this is settled. I'm sorry." Dana hugged her mother as she started to cry.

"It's alright, honey," Maggie said sniffing. "I wish I could have them here, but I'm just glad they're safe."

"There's more. We cannot tell Mulder anything about the crash until he regains some strength. Skinner, Doggett, and Reyes are handling it. It's imperative that Mulder gains his strength. Do you both understand how important this is? He may be the key to winning this war, if a war has really started."

The other two women nodded. A silence fell over the group as they all hugged each other for comfort.

"Skully?" Mulder was stirring.

Dana moved quickly to his bed and slid her hand into his. "Hi! You're awake." She leaned over to press her lips to his forehead.

"Do I have a fever?" He gently chuffed.

"You always did know me too well, Mulder." She smiled. "No, you don't have a fever right now." Doctor Scully was twinkling through. "Mulder, Mom's here." Dana turned to hold her hand out for her mother. "And my cousin Brenna from Ireland."

"All the lovely Scully women, just for me." Mulder said frowning as Maggie stepped forward and kissed him. "Am I dying then?"

A bark of laughter, the first honest laughter Dana had felt in many days, burst from her lips. "No, Mulder. You're going to be fine. At least we think so. We'll know if there's anything hidden after we do a series of tests when you're a little stronger. Do you feel like you're dying?"

"No, I feel…thirsty. Hungry. Happy. What day is it? How long have I been gone?"

"First things, first, Mulder. We need to get you something to drink a little more nourishment than the IV drip can get into you. And we need to get you cleaned up." She smiled at him. Turning to the other women she said. "If you wouldn't mind joining Agent Haskins, I'll see you in a little while."

Scully turned to look at Mulder again. She stood there in uncharacteristic indecision. Where to begin?

"Scully, are you gazing at me, or trying to think whether to slap me for disappearing or kiss me for returning?" Mulder said with his best sweet little boy look on his face. He was shocked when she burst into tears.

"Scully?" He said gently.

She shook her head and turned away, walking toward the door. "I'll get you some water."

"Scully!" The panic voice was back. "Don't leave me. Don't go!"

Dana rushed back to his side, quickly wiping the tears from her face. "I'm here Mulder. I won't leave. I just forgot for a second. I'll use the call button. It's okay." She said as she gently soothed his distress.

"Sorry. I can't seem to let you out of my sight right now. Sorry." He said, shame and regret washing over his face.

Dana quickly used the call button and waited for the nurse to respond. After a quiet discussion with her at the door, she returned to Mulder's side.

His face was turned away from her. A single tear slid down his cheek to roll down his jaw to his chin. As she watched it, something inside of her broke. Her own tears began to fall again in earnest. She clicked the lever on the side rail of the bed and lifted the sheet.

"Move over." She managed to say. He weakly managed to slide over enough for her to slip into the bed next to him. She scooted up in the bed so that she could lift his head and put her arm under it. She turned onto her side and after pulling the sheet up over them, wrapped her other arm across his chest protectively. Together they cried.

His tears were for all the unhappiness he thought he saw in her eyes and the time they had lost—no matter how long or short a period that it was.

Her tears were a mixed bag of regret and happiness. They had lost so many years to responsibilities and obligations to others. When he had flashed his sweet little boy look he had reminded her how much Gabriel looked like him. The happiest part of this whole reunion—and if she were truthful the saddest—would be telling him about Gabriel.

She reached over and got tissues for them. They both began to laugh sheepishly as they wiped and blew their noses.

"It always looks so much more romantic when people cry in movies. Somehow the actors never have a runny nose." She gently laughed.

His smile was like sunshine on a dark day.

"Mulder, we need to talk after your broth and your sponge bath," she said as the nurse bustled in with a tray and a pile of linens. She slid off the bed and got busy. She was amazed at how his strength seemed to grow by the hour. He alternately sipped the broth and some ice water as she gave him his sponge bath.

"Hopefully you'll be able to get out of bed and take a shower in a day or so. You seem to be improving at a remarkable rate." She continued to talk as she tried to impersonally run the washcloth up and down his body. She rinsed him and went to change the water. She lathered the cloth and handed it to him.

"You seem to be strong enough to take care of your…um…personal area yourself." She said with a blush.

"I don't think I can, Scully. I seem to be getting tired suddenly." Mulder said as he let his head fall back and closed his eyes.

She stared at his face, but could see no clue as to his true state of health.

"Very well," was all she said as she proceeded. The only sound in the room was her quick intake of breath as she exposed his pelvic area. She quickly finished his sponge bath and moved to the bathroom to clear the supplies. As she ran the water she began to cry again. She turned the water up harder, trying to disguise her sobbing. In all their years together she had been more aware than Mulder would ever know of his physical response to her. On more than one occasion she had gone as far as to start an argument in order to evade acknowledgment of the depth of his attraction to her.

When they had become lovers she had reveled in his ability to give her a sexual bliss that she had never achieved with a lover before and from the looks of the abuse that had been inflicted on him, it was possible that she never would again. She cried not for herself, but for the pain and suffering the scars testified he must have gone through. She clamped down on her despair and made a mental decision to avoid thinking of this until she was alone and her tears would not damage him further.

When she exited the bathroom she was surprised to see that Mulder had managed to roll onto his side and appeared to be asleep. She walked to his side and stood watching him breath. It became clear that he was not asleep, though he wanted her to believe he was.

She moved to the other side of the bed and slipped in beside him again. She slid her arm under his and smoothed her hand across his stomach. The muscles that had once been hard and ridged were not as atrophied as she had feared before his bath. She felt his breathing change and knew he was ready to talk again.

"Feel better now?" She tried to be cheerful.

He just grunted.

"Mulder, I know you need your rest, but we have to talk."

He slowly turned back toward her so that his profile was at least visible.

"Mulder, do you know what today is? I mean do you know the date?" She gently asked.

"No. What is it?"

"Mulder it's June 21, 2004." The silence was deafening.

His silence scared her.

"Four years? Damn!"

Author's notes: This is the fourth of a story of the future that was only supposed to have three parts. It has grown and seemingly taken on a life of it's own. Maybe I just like to read myself talking—if you write you'll understand what that means. I am aware that there are many X Files fanfic fans that are not Christian—but Scully is and so am I. I figure that I have as much right to write what my heart would like to read as anyone else who chooses to write Slash or Suicide stories. If you did not enjoy it, please don't read the following stories. If you did, I hope you let me know.