by Avalon (avalon99@telusplanet.net)
http://members.dencity.com/avalon_online
Skinner, Scully, R, 4/12
ODYSSEY IV
TUESDAY, EARLY EVENING
THE ODYSSEY, DINING ROOM
Josef releases Scully and she rubs her throat, staring at him warily. His men return with several stretchers and they begin to load the injured onto them. Josef watches them for a moment through hooded eyes, then returns to Skinner's side.
SKINNER:
(Angrily) What exactly do you want?
JOSEF:
To begin with, I want to know what the FBI is doing on
this ship.
SKINNER:
I told you. I'm on vacation.
JOSEF:
I don't believe you.
SKINNER:
I don't care.
JOSEF:
You should.
Josef draws back his foot and kicks Skinner in the leg where he has been shot. Skinner falls to his side, clutching his thigh and clenching his teeth.
JOSEF:
Now. Shall we start again? Why are you here...(looks
at Skinner's ID) Assistant Director Walter S. Skinner?
SKINNER:
(through gritted teeth) I'm...on...vacation.
Josef kicks at him again. This time, Skinner manages to grab the terrorist's ankle and twists, throwing Josef off balance. Josef falls backward, but before Skinner can follow up his attack, he finds himself staring into several gun barrels. He freezes and Josef picks himself up, fury written on his face. Once more, he draws Skinner's gun from his belt.
Scully, kneeling over Dietrich, sees the second kick and its aftermath. Evading her guard, she bolts across the room to place herself between Skinner's gun and its owner.
SCULLY:
(Shouting, ignoring the guns aimed at her) Stop it!
JOSEF:
Get out of my way.
SCULLY:
No.
SKINNER:
(Through the pain) Do as he says.
JOSEF:
Move or I'll kill you too.
SCULLY:
Then you'll have to kill me too.
There is a long tense moment. Finally, he lowers the gun and puts it in his belt.
JOSEF:
All right, Doctor. Secret Agent Man gets to live a
little longer. How is Dietrich?
SCULLY:
He's been shot in the chest. He may have a
punctured lung and he's lost a lot of blood. But he's
alive.
JOSEF:
Good. See that he stays that way.
SCULLY:
What about the passengers?
JOSEF:
Do not concern yourself about them.
Two men lift Skinner onto a stretcher. Skinner pales a little as they move him, but makes no sound. Josef turns to go, then pauses, as if remembering something.
JOSEF:
Oh, and Doctor...
She turns toward him and he hits her hard across the jaw. She stumbles backward.
SKINNER:
Leave her alone!
JOSEF:
(Ignores him. In chillingly polite tones) I may need
you alive, my dear doctor, but if you ever cross me
again, you will wish that I had killed you. Is that
clear? (She slowly nods.) Good. Then get up.
And
remember what I said earlier.
Scully climbs to her feet, wiping blood away from her cut lip, her body tense. Josef gazes at them both coldly.
SCULLY:
(Trying to ignore him) Let's go.
The group, consisting of Scully, Skinner, the unconscious Captain, the First Officer, Dietrich, and several guards, exits the dining room. Josef watches Skinner's departure through hooded eyes. The Assistant Director's eyes clash with Josef's in a look of pure hatred.
* * *
TUESDAY EVENING
CROOKED ISLAND
Camera zooms toward a man in a bed with a bandage over one eye and around his forehead. A nurse arrives and takes his pulse. Camera slowly pans around her and focuses on his face. It is Mulder.
* * *
TUESDAY EVENING
THE ODYSSEY. SICKBAY.
The group reaches sickbay. The terrorists search the room for weapons, pausing over a medical kit containing surgical scissors, scalpels, and other equipment.
SCULLY:
(From Skinner's side where she is tightening the
makeshift bandage around his leg.) I'll need those.
The terrorists glance at each other, then shrug and leave. Scully waits a moment then hurries to the door and opens it. Outside, one of the men is standing guard. He turns and gives her a cold look. Hastily she closes it again and returns to her patients.
SKINNER:
Guarded?
SCULLY:
Yes.
She bends over Dietrich and begins to cut away his shirt, while glancing across at Skinner.
SCULLY:
How do you feel?
SKINNER:
Like I've been shot. (A pause.) I'm fine. See to
the
others.
SCULLY:
Keep pressure on that bullet wound.
SKINNER:
It's not serious.
SCULLY:
I'll be the judge of that. You just lie there and do
what I tell you.
SKINNER:
(Mildly) Yes, Doctor.
She shoots him a glance then focuses on Dietrich. She does what she can for him then checks the Captain and the First Officer, whose leg is coated with blood.
SCULLY:
(While cutting open his pants leg) What's your name?
OFFICER:
Henderson, ma'am.
SCULLY:
Well, Henderson, this isn't pretty.
HENDERSON:
I know. I'm not going to walk again, am I?
SCULLY:
If we get you to a hospital soon, it may...
HENDERSON:
Doctor.
SCULLY:
(meets his gaze) No. You'll never walk properly
again. I'm sorry.
HENDERSON:
(nods) Don't be. (looks away from her)
SCULLY:
I'm going to give you something for the pain.
HENDERSON:
Thank you, ma'am.
She gives him an injection and he slowly loses consciousness. Scully picks up her medical equipment and hurries back to Skinner, carefully undoing his bandage.
SKINNER:
How are they?
SCULLY:
Not good. The Captain took two bullets in the chest.
He's stable enough for the moment, but he needs to get
to a hospital quickly. Henderson will survive, but
he'll be a cripple for life.
SKINNER:
And the terrorist?
SCULLY:
(brushing her hair off her face with her wrist) I
don't know. His vitals aren't too bad, considering.
SKINNER:
Will he survive?
SCULLY:
(shakes her head) I can't say. The bullet lodged in
his chest and I won't risk trying to remove it. Not
here. Not now. We'll just have to wait and see.
SKINNER:
I don't think that's what Josef will want to hear.
What about you?
SCULLY:
I'm fine.
SKINNER:
You don't look fine.
SCULLY:
(Glances up at him, then away). Let's look at this
leg.
She picks up the surgical scissors, preparing to slit his trouser leg. He puts his hand over hers, stopping her. She looks up.
SKINNER:
(very quietly) I may need these again. (She looks at
him blankly.) They're a nice dark colour. Ideal for
taking a quick stroll around the deck.
SCULLY:
You're kidding. (She see's that he is not.) Well...
they still have to come off.
SKINNER:
Feel free, Agent Scully. (She stares at him for a
moment then sighs, removes his shoes and undoes his
belt. With only a moment's hesitation, she removes his
pants. He flinches as she peels them away from his
wound).
SCULLY:
(Looking up at him) It's not every employee that gets
to do this to her boss.
SKINNER:
(Gritting his teeth) I should hope not. It wouldn't
be very good for morale.
SCULLY:
(Getting the pants off completely) I don't know.
Morale might soar.
He gives her a "very funny, ha ha" look". Scully examines the wound, trying to ignore the fact that her boss is lying in front of her in a state of undress.
SKINNER:
Well? Will I live?
SCULLY:
You'll live. The bullet didn't hit anything vital.
SKINNER:
(drily) I'm glad.
She blushes slightly, realizing how that remark could be taken.
SCULLY:
It's still in there, though. (About to give him a
local anaesthetic.) Brace yourself.
She gives him the painkiller and begins to probe for the bullet. He winces, his fists clenching on the bedclothes, then stares up at the ceiling, trying to ignore what she is doing.
SKINNER:
(Through gritted teeth) So can I assume that you
believe me now?
SCULLY:
About...?
SKINNER:
Not sending that transmission.
SCULLY:
What makes you think that?
SKINNER:
You stood up to Josef to save my life.
SCULLY:
(Continues stitching) Seeing that you took a bullet
for me, it seemed the least I could do. (She fishes
out the bullet and holds it up) This should have been
mine.
She drops the bullet into a metal tray and, picking up a surgical needle and thread, begins to stitch him up.
SKINNER:
I need you to trust me.
SCULLY:
Why?
SKINNER:
Because we're in this together. As of now, we're
partners. Or at least until we get out of this.
Scully stares long and penetratingly at him. He meets her gaze unflinchingly.
SCULLY:
(Finally) Then yes. I trust you.
Skinner just nods, and lies back, while she returns her attention to his leg.
SKINNER:
Thank you, Scu...I mean Doctor Kimble.
He emphasizes the "Kimble", raising a questioning eyebrow.
SCULLY:
My mind went blank.
SKINNER:
Why Kimble?
SCULLY:
I rented "The Fugitive" last week.
SKINNER:
You're a Harrison Ford fan?
SCULLY:
Tommy Lee Jones, actually.
Scully finishes stitching, and bandages his leg then sighs and puts down the equipment.
SKINNER:
You need to get some rest.
SCULLY:
Later. (lowers her voice) Right now we need to decide
what to do.
SKINNER:
(Runs a hand over his eyes) I'm fairly low on ideas,
at the moment.
SCULLY:
(Begins to pack up the surgical equipment) Well, you
do have a good excuse. You have just been shot, after
all.
SKINNER:
I know. But I'm getting used to it. (She shoots him a
look.)
Scully rises and puts a hand on his shoulder.
SCULLY:
Get some rest...Sir. It's going to be a long night.
TO BE CONTINUED