Principals III
Archive: Yes, please! Anywhere! If you could just let me know... I'd like to visit.
Spoilers: Oh, Lord, where to begin? Better beware of absolutely everything that's ever aired. I'm still working.
Rating: Ah, maybe a *slight* R for language.
Classification: MSR. Duh.
Summary: Just read it, *please*? I promise it gets pretty good, IMHO.
Disclaimer: They're not mine.
Feedback: Do my fish swim back and forth and torment my Siamese? That's a yes, in case you're wondering. Flames will be used to burn my Spanish textbook after this semester.
Note: I just wanted to thank everyone who reviewed this series so far. I honestly didn't think it would be well-received, especially since it's the first I've ever posted. Thanks for the encouragement, and I hope I live up to your expectations.
Principals III
Apartment of Dana Scully
November 11, 2000
6:00 PM
Events had conspired to keep Mulder and Scully apart over the past week. (Mulder was on lend to VCS and Scully had autopsy lectures at Quantico.) But now it was Saturday, and the agents had congregated to have their long-overdue 'rules talk'.
Mulder came bearing Chinese food, and as he set it on the table, Scully got their drinks. She set the bottle in front of him and sat down. Mulder stared at the label.
"Must be love." He whispered.
"It is." She was smiling at him. A few minutes later, they sighed together, then laughed nervously at their nervousness.
"So…" Mulder began. "Areas that are off-limits."
"The office." Scully said immediately. "Actually, anywhere in the building, crime scenes, hotels, and most public areas.
"Maybe I should ask what areas are on-limits."
"Our apartments." Obviously she'd been thinking about this. "Or if we went someplace we knew no one from the Bureau ever went, hotels…"
"Hotels again. Clarify."
"Hotels are off when we're on assignment. But if we're in a hotel after we close a case, before we leave…" her voice trailed off. Mulder grinned.
"I could go for that."
"But I think—maybe when we are on a case we should just…"
"Hit pause."
"Exactly." She Smiled at him and Mulder's lungs contracted painfully. How did she do that?
After they were done, they relocated to the living room to watch tv. Nothing was on.
"Mulder… I'm kind of tired anyway."
"You want me to go?" 'Say no, say no, say no…'
"No."
'Yes!' Mulder sighed, relieved.
"Um—you know we're not ready to… you know, that—"
"Yeah." Mulder assured her. "There's no rush. I kinda like where we are now, anyway."
"Me too. But… do you want to stay here tonight?"
"I don't know, Scully." He tried to reel her in. "Your couch is a lot shorter than mine."
"Then we'd better use the bed." She said smoothly. Game, set match. He was beaten. It was a shutout. He was pointless. He was without point.
Scully rose and went into her bedroom. Mulder heard drawers open and close, then heard the bathroom door shut. It wasn't until then that he deemed it safe to follow. The last time he'd been in here there was glass everywhere from Scully's battle with Donnie Pfaster. The mirror was replaced, and now the room was immaculate. He sat on the bed.
Suddenly he remembered when Scully had gone with the Smoking Man. That incident had made it easier for him to leave her on that Dirty Dames stakeout. He still didn't understand why she hadn't told him.
Something banged against her front door. Mulder sighed heavily and got up to retrieve it.
No one was in the hallway, but a box was sitting there.
"Her name is Janie, please take good care of our darling little box." He muttered.
"Mulder?" Scully came out. "Was someone here?"
"I guess," he said, picking up the parcel.
"Please don't explode my apartment, Mulder, it's been through enough already."
Mulder opened the box cautiously and pulled out a small cassette tape.
"Ten to one you can't dance to it." They said together. Scully took it and put it in the stereo. A crackling sound came through, then Scully's voice.
"Oh my God! It's the tape I mailed you."
"Why'd you send it here?"
"I didn't. And—and the tape I sent was a micro-cassette. Someone's copied this, probably listened to it." She fast-forwarded a few minutes.
"You'd die for Mulder. But you won't allow yourself to love him." Mulder stared at Scully. Had they really been that transparent? Then he heard the reply.
"…You're not just a cold-blooded killer, you're a pop psychologist as well."
"Go, girl." He squeezed her arm and sat back as the tape played on.
Two hours later, Mulder shut the tape off. He'd heard enough.
"I'm sorry, Scully. I understand. You didn't have a choice." But she was barely awake.
"I loved you, Mulder, and you know I trusted you. Did you really think I would keep this a secret?" She asked, mumbling into her pillow as she lay at the other end of the couch. Mulder hit stop on the stereo and took her hand.
"I'll never learn, Scully, you know that?"
"Whatever." She hauled herself to her feet. "I need rest." She followed him into the bedroom, where Mulder looked around uneasily.
"I can't sleep in my suit." He said doubtfully. Scully pulled a sweatshirt from her dresser and handed it to him.
"Your sweats are in the bathroom."
"Why do you have my…"
"You left them here one night when you came and had to change."
"Oh, yeah." He gave her a crooked grin and disappeared into the bathroom.
When he returned, Scully was in bed with her back to him, the lights out. Mulder hesitated. How were they going to do this? He sat down on his side of the mattress cautiously, then lay on his back. She didn't speak. Was she dead to the world already? Probably.
Mulder was almost asleep when she rolled over.
"Took you long enough." She mumbled.
"I've been here. You fell asleep."
"Oh." She didn't argue. "Ok."
Scully wriggled closer until her head rested on his chest like a pillow. He couldn't resist.
"You're gonna wake up with a crick in your neck."
"Shut up." She put a hand on his rib cage and felt his heart beat while the other arm pulled the blanket closer.
"Mulder, your heart is racing."
"That's your fault." He said huskily, stroking her hair slowly.
Sleep was not long in coming.
***
Apartment of Dana Scully
November 12, 2000
6:06 AM
Scully woke slowly and stretched, thereby waking her partner as well. Her head had moved in the night so it was no longer on his chest but tucked between his head and his shoulder. And Mulder's hand had been removed from her head and was draped around her upper body in a loose embrace.
"Mm… what time is it?"
"At the tone?" He looked at his watch, which was sitting on the nightstand by the bed. "About ten after six."
"You could've said it was three in the morning and let me sleep."
"Oh…" he leaned over slightly and kissed her forehead. She groaned faintly as he moved away, then sat up a little and kissed his mouth gently before laying on him again.
"So this is what you're like in the morning." He said, chuckling.
"What'd you expect?" She asked; knowing him, the answer would be interesting.
"Well, you always seem so tense at the office when you first walk in, I guess I just never thought you were much of a morning person."
"I was tense because every morning I stepped out of that elevator and realized that I still loved you." She murmured. "And if I was too afraid to say anything about it, then it must be unrequited. " She looked at him. "And I've always thought that was pathetic."
"It was never unrequited." Mulder gazed into her eyes.
"I know that now." She whispered, her eyes glassy. Mulder tightened his grip on her shoulders and rolled her onto his body, so their faces were only an inch apart.
"Good morning, Scully." He said huskily, and threaded his fingers through her hair, pulling her mouth down to his. A minute later, they separated reluctantly.
"I need a shower."
"I need a run." They voiced their morning rituals. "And a shower."
Scully slowly untangled herself from him and stared at her partner as they stood next to the bed.
"I should go. I like to get going before too many people are on the streets."
"Ok." Her voice was strained. "Then you'd better get started."
"Is it bad that I don't want to?"
Scully sighed as he wrapped his arms around her, then returned the gesture. They stood there together for awhile, bathed in the filtered sunlight. Finally, Mulder broke away and kissed her softly.
"I'll be back soon."
While Scully was in the shower, Mulder retrieved his gym bag from the car and changed into his running outfit. After stretching a little, he set off toward a park near her apartment. He ran a long loop around the swings and slides and baseball diamonds, then started back.
As he proceeded toward Scully's apartment, he passed an alley lit by numerous streetlights. There he heard a shout, followed by some decidedly painful scuffling. He looked to his left and saw a man reach into coat pocket for what was obviously a weapon.
"FBI!" He yelled, pulling his T-126. He was emphatically glad he'd taken it with him on his run. "Don't move."
But the crook had other ideas. He spun around and fired a quick shot; Mulder had barely enough time to spin out of the way and duck out. The bullet had grazed his arm, much like when he'd found Henry Weems, and it stung painfully. But he heard running footsteps and another shot that came ridiculously close. This man was insane—and there's no such thing as a safe arrest when the culprit is insane. Mulder slipped into a corner store and saw the man had missed seeing him.
Mulder watched him slide around the corner and he crouched behind a counter as the guy ran by and out of sight. Looking up just barely in time, he saw the tattoo of a cat's paw on the back of his hand.
***
Apartment of Dana Scully
11:21 AM
Mulder had waited about 45 minutes before running the last two blocks to Scully's apartment. He had spent the time talking quietly with the store owner's wife in a back room while she tried to clean the wound on his arm. From the previous time this happened to him, he thought she'd done a good job. But his elation at being all fixed up evaporated when he entered the living room. Scully was pacing the floor, one hand on her hip, one hand at the back of her head. When she heard him walk in he'd seen an anguished look in her eyes.
"Mulder, what happened?"
"What?" He glanced at his arm. The bandage wasn't visible through his sweatshirt.
"I seem to developed a sense for when you're in trouble. I've learned not to ignore it." She walked up to him. "Are you ok?" Mulder sighed.
"Sit down, Scully." They relocated to the couch. As he told his story, her shoulders sagged.
"The cat's paw? You're sure?"
"Positive."
Scully took a deep breath. "Then we're going to have to put you into protective custody."
"But Scully…"
"Mulder, this man saw you. It was a well-lit alley, right? So he knows you know who he is. We need to treat you as a witness, and as a witness, we can't take the chance of you getting killed. They will undoubtedly come after you."
Mulder groaned. "Well, what about the other guy? The guy I'm assuming got away when Mr. Paw chased me."
"Hopefully, he went to the authorities. I'll call and check." As Scully leaned over for the phone and dialed the police station, Mulder sagged against the back of the couch, watching her. Her barely-dried hair had a golden sheen to it that glimmered in the sunlight. Suddenly he was overcome with love for her and slid over to stroke her hair gently. Scully leaned back against the furniture as he continued, hoping her voice wouldn't break when she spoke to the officer.
"Hello? Yes, this is Special Agent…" Mulder stopped listening. This speech was so familiar they could do it in their sleep. As she questioned the desk sergeant about this mystery man of theirs, Mulder pulled her closer carefully and ran the outside of his index finger up and down her neck slowly. Scully closed her eyes and concentrated on the conversation. "About 5"4', stocky build, black hair oiled back?" Mulder's gaze was unrelenting as he nodded slowly. His voice was almost a croak.
"Yeah."
"We can—we can verify it. Keep him safe. Thank you." Scully hung up the phone and took Mulder's hand from her neck, kissing the palm sorrowfully.
"Is a car coming?" he asked softly.
"Yeah. It's going to your apartment, so we should get going. You need to pack."
"They say how long I'm gonna be there?"
"No. It'll probably be a while."
"How much should I take?"
"What you think. If you end up needing more, I'll get it to you."
"Ok." They stood to leave. Scully put a restraining hand on Mulder's arm.
"Mulder… they don't record sound in the safehouse rooms, but they do keep video records…"
Mulder took Scully's head in his hands and brought his lips to hers. He kissed her slowly, languidly, bringing that warm feeling in her stomach to a boil.
"Then," he said huskily as he eased away, "that's going to have to hold us until I'm back."
***
FBI Safehouse
Annandale, VA
November 15, 2000
9:00 PM
Scully walked the empty halls quickly, eager to get to Mulder's room. She hadn't seen him since Sunday; Skinner had kept her working day and night trying to find this suspect. He wanted his star profiler back, it seemed, and back now. So she'd searched high and low and now, finally, she thought she'd found his location. Only now could she see Mulder.
She walked into his space slowly, not wanting to startle him. It was small, but livable; he had a bathroom, a living room, and a bedroom she wasn't exactly sure he used. His food was brought to him. Nowhere to go… so where was he?
She turned and closed the door behind her.
"Hey, gorgeous."
"Sh—" she spun around to see him in the bedroom doorway. "Mulder."
"One and the same." He sauntered to an armchair near her and sat. "What's up?" 'Why haven't you been here? Is something wrong? What's going on?'
"Everything's ok, Mulder, don't worry. I found Adams."
"We're sure that's the guy that chased me?"
"Yeah. We got a report from the owner of the store you hid in."
"Good."
"So we're doing a bust later tonight, might even get the entire group if we're lucky." Mulder nodded.
"I don't want you to go."
"What?"
"I've got my own instincts, Scully. And mine are screaming at you to stay here and be with me all night. But I know I can't stop you. I know you can take care of yourself—hell, you could beat the crap out of me if you wanted to."
"Well, that's not saying much, but…"
He smirked at her as she sat on the couch, each knowing if they didn't keep a good amount of space between them the guards watching the cameras were gonna get an eyeful.
"Good to know you hold me in such high regard."
She smiled at him gently, then it faded.
"I miss you, Mulder." Scully said, barely audible. "I woke up last night reaching for you, and you weren't there. I—I had no idea I was so dependant on you." She saw the look in his eyes. "Or you on me."
"Oh, Scully…" he started to get up, then sagged back down. "Damn cameras. I just want to hold you…"
Scully bit her lip.
"Tomorrow." She promised. "This will be over tomorrow."
***
Abandoned Warehouse
Arlington, VA
November 16, 2000
1:21 AM
"What's going on? Anything?" Scully spoke into her headpiece.
"There's only three people in there. Shouldn't be too hard."
"Just jinx it, why don't you?" She muttered. Long-time friend and SWAT team leader Jerry Rico smiled in the other van. "We do not shoot unless absolutely necessary. If we want to find the rest, we need leverage of some sort."
"Yes ma'am."
"Don't try me, Rico." She grabbed her weapon. "Set?"
"Let's do it."
The raid was quick and efficient; these were the Bureau's best. They took the first two men without incident, but couldn't find Adams. Scully noticed a side door and went in.
"Mr. Adams? Federal agents!" Then she noticed something.
A bomb was on the table. The timer read fifty seconds and ticking downward.
"Abort! Abort now! Bomb!" Thundering footsteps sounded as the other agents evacuated.
"Agent Scully!" Jerry called her. She ran, but was grabbed forcefully from behind by her target. Rico skidded around the corner, but Adams had Scully's gun.
"Go." He whispered harshly. 20 seconds.
"Wait—"
"Damn it, go!" She screamed at him. Her friend seemed to hesitate only a second before obeying. Five seconds later, the vans squealed off. Adams hauled Scully out to the car and dropped her in the back seat. Ten seconds. Scully yanked at her necklace, biting back a cry as the chain sliced her skin, and hauled it out the broken window. Five seconds after that, the building exploded, sending a shock wave through the back windshield and shattering all the glass in the car. Scully shrunk into a ball on the floor, protecting her head and neck from the flying shards.
'Mulder…' she thought despairingly. 'Where are you?'
***
FBI Safehouse
Annandale, VA
November 16, 2000
5:00 AM
Mulder awoke with a start. Something was wrong. From his bed on the couch he saw the hallway light turn on and a few people running, the footsteps slowing as they grew louder. He had barely gotten up before Skinner and two guards burst in.
"Where is she?" He asked immediately. If Skinner was surprised that Mulder knew his partner was in danger, he didn't show it.
"Agent Scully was in a raid to—"
"What… happened?" Skinner sighed.
"Scully was taken by force. Adams has her. We have every reason to believe he'll want to trade her for his cat paw buddies."
Mulder's face went even blanker. The guards saw a monster with no feelings. Skinner saw a panic.
"You have to let me help."
"Mulder, you are too close."
"I have to find her."
"The only reason we told you in the first place was so you wouldn't kill us when you found out anyway. You are a protected witness. I cannot allow you to leave this room. Hans and Frank will be posted outside your door." Skinner started to leave, then stopped. "We'll find her, Mulder. Don't do anything stupid." The door closed. He was alone.
"Scully." It was a half-gasp, half-sob that escaped him. He pulled out the cell phone he was allowed to keep and called the Lone Gunmen. "Frohike, it's me. Turn off the tape."
"Mulder. What is it?"
"I need a favor. It's Scully."
"What happened?"
"I can't talk right now, look, I need you to do me a favor. I'm at the safehouse in Annandale. I want you guys to hack into the security computer mainframe. Then you need to give the cameras a virus—black 'em out for about two hours. I'll take care of the rest."
"Might take a few minutes."
"Then get moving. Call me when it's done." He hung up.
***
Unknown location
Scully was still in the car, but they were pulling over along the road. It hadn't been long since the building exploded and she was afraid to move from her position for fear of getting but badly. Adams had her gun. Blood was semi-dried and sticky on her neck. She was not in a good mood. The car stopped and Scully saw her captor get out and yank the back door open.
"Get out." When she hesitated, he grabbed her arm and pulled. A long gash appeared on her lower arm and blood flowed freely. "Come on, let's go." She was pulled to her feet. "You're going to get us another car."
"How?" She asked evenly.
"Flag someone down. Use your badge. Tell them it's an emergency and thank them for saving their country. I don't care how, just do it.
Scully glared at him and stepped to the side of the street. A dark green Ford Taurus appeared and she stepped into the road, holding her badge up.
"FBI!"
The car stopped and a woman in her mid-30's stepped out, accidentally losing hold of her keys and putting a scratch in the paint.
"Oh—damn—is something wrong?"
"We need your car."
"But how am I supposed to get home?" She asked suspiciously.
"I'll call a car to come get you." She lied. "It's an emergency, ma'am."
"Oh—sure—of course." She took the key to the ignition off the ring and examined it. "Ooh, there's some paint there. House key. Damn it, I just got that car painted! You're not going to go and get it wrecked?"
"That's not really up to me, ma'am. Thank you for your cooperation." Scully reached for the key, exposing the cut on her arm.
"Oh! Are you ok?"
Scully looked the woman directly in the eye. "I'm fine."
***
FBI Safehouse
Annandale, VA
5:30 AM
Mulder's phone rang.
"Frohike?"
"Two hours."
"Thanks." He hung up. Looking towards the door one last time, he slid the window open and jumped out. It was still dusky out, and Mulder ran bent-over behind the bushes. None of the guards were particularly interested in the building so much as its surroundings. Keeping people in wasn't really a part of their job description; it was keeping people out.
Mulder reached the fence, complete with electric wire at the top. Studying it carefully, he decided he could jump over the dangerous part after climbing up the first part, but only if it were off. He pulled out his phone.
"Lone Gunmen."
"Langly. Tell Frohike to turn off the fences." He ordered. Ten seconds.
"Done. Go."
The agent hung up, looked for passing witnesses, and jumped over with agility. He hit the ground running and was soon in a cab headed to his office.
***
Unknown location
Scully's gun was trained on her the whole time she drove away from the woman. When she was well out of sight, Adams spoke.
"Pull over." She did. "Keep moving… get out. Don't try anything stupid." He came around the car. "Open the trunk."
Inside was a gym bag with a pair of shoes and a basketball, a small first aid kit, and a spare tire. Adams kept the gun on her while dropping pocketknife on the ground.
"Cut the shoulder strap. I need it nice and long."
'Bastard.' Scully thought as she obeyed. With one hand, he picked up the material and motioned for her to close the trunk.
"Now open the back door." He ordered. "Cut one of the seatbelts as long as you can. Then cut it in half, length-wise."
Scully's body grew hot with anger. What was he going to do to her? She was relieved of the knife and shoved into the passenger seat. Adams set the gun on top of the car and grabbed her hands, twisting her arms behind her back. She gasped sharply at the rough handling, then felt the strap of the bag being wrapped around her wrists securely, then tied. He pushed back so she was against the seat, then buckled her seatbelt. As if she weren't immobile enough already, he proceeded to bind her feet with the severed belt from the back seat. Adams stood, grinning.
"Ok. Let's go."
***
FBI Headquarters
6:45 AM
Mulder ran in the side entrance, glad that the only person in sight was his friend Rob, a security guard.
"Mulder—hey!" Rob stopped him.
"I'm not here."
"I thought you were in a safehouse."
"I am."
"Oh…" he nodded. Mulder grinned at him, then sprinted to the basement.
***
FBI Safehouse
Annandale, VA
7:30 AM
Skinner stood in Mulder's empty space.
"Mulder doesn't appreciate being locked up, does he, Mr. Skinner?" the Smoking Man asked. "You know he's probably at the FBI building right now, trying to find his partner."
Skinner glared at him.
"Good."
***
FBI Headquarters
Switchboard
7:40 AM
"FBI Headquarters, how may I help you?"
"Um—something kind of weird happened—"
"One moment, please."
***
FBI Headquarters
X-Files Department
7:41 AM
Mulder's phone rang on his desk. He let the machine get it, still searching Scully's desk. It beeped, and a woman's voice came through.
"Ok—ok, um, I was stopped in my car by an FBI agent and told another car would come and take me home… she said it was an emergency and her arm was cut…" Mulder straightened and listened. "And there was—there might have been blood on her neck too, but I can't be sure 'cause it might've just been her hair, I mean, 'cause it was red, and—"
"Hello?" Mulder grabbed the phone.
"Hello."
"This—this FBI agent. Was she about 5'3, blue eyes, red hair cut kind of short?" Was she my life? Was she the woman I'm in love with?
"Yeah. How did you—"
"Well, she—she—was she ok? Did you ask?"
"Yeah, when I saw her arm."
"Is she all right?"
"She said she was fine."
"Hold one minute, please." Mulder put her on hold, counted to ten as fast as he could, and slammed his fist into the wall. "Damn it!" He picked the phone back up and re-connected. "Where are you? I'll be right there." She gave an address, and he ran back upstairs to where he'd come in.
"Rob, I'm leaving."
"And you were never here."
"Owe you."
Mulder took a cab to Scully's apartment and got his car, all the while clutching the address he'd been given. He was going to find his partner.
***
FBI Headquarters
Side Entrance
8:00 AM
Skinner walked in briskly.
"Rob, how're you doing?" He asked. "You haven't seen Agent Mulder this morning, have you?"
"Agent Mulder? I thought he was in a safehouse in Annandale."
"Not anymore." He growled. "If you see him, you might want to mention that he's in a unique situation, and that I don't know how to help him. Or if I want to."
But that was a lie. He wanted to, very badly. He wanted Scully back. Skinner turned on his heel and, in his best marine style, marched off.
***
Pay phone near the bomb site
Arlington, VA
8:10 AM
Mulder drove slowly around the area until he saw a lady who fit the description he'd been given. When he flashed his badge, she seemed to wilt in relief.
"I swear, I've been on my feet for God only knows how long trying to get through to your headquarters. You're a really popular organization, you know?"
"Not my branch."
"Yeah, well, then there was all that stuff about a bomb, and a bunch of black vans went by, they stopped by this old warehouse—only it was all burned down! I liked that building, too. I guess terrorists or something…"
Mulder stopped the car.
"Where's this warehouse?"
"Right down there." He followed her finger until he saw the remains. "Oh, God, Scully." He gasped. She looked at him.
"You didn't have anyone—in there, did you?"
"I hope not." He parked and jumped out, looking around. If there were any remains, they would've been confiscated as evidence. He cursed the Bureau's efficiency. Then a glimmer caught his eye, and he knelt on the ground. Scully's necklace.
"This is getting old, gorgeous." He groaned. Mulder returned to the car and accepted the sympathetic look he received with silence. "Where did you get stopped?"
"Right down there."
"Let's take a ride, shall we?"
***
Unknown location
Scully was carried into the building and roughly dropped into a small room. Her captors severed her bonds and left her. The space was small, with only a small bed and a tiny window in the top corner covered with wire and bars.
"Nice digs." she mumbled, sitting on the bed. They'd taken her badge, they'd taken her phone, they had her gun… and to top it all off, she had to face the fact that Mulder had been right. Now she was in danger yet again, and where was he?
"Damn it!" Suddenly she jumped up. Did Skinner tell him? Was he out looking for her? He could be killed! "Mulder…" she gasped, sinking back down onto the bed. "Please be ok. Don't worry about me. Stay alive. Please."
***
Along the road
8:45 AM
Mulder saw the abandoned car and pulled over. Broken glass crunched under their feet as they pulled open the door. There was a streak of blood on the back seat. It was Scully's. He knew it. But the 'Scully-module' in his mind told him it would have to be proven. He couldn't do this on his own. Eventually he'd have to get the Bureau's resources involved. He called Skinner.
"Sir, before you get started…"
"I'm not going to, Agent Mulder. What have you found?"
"Adams' car. There's blood in here, sir."
Skinner exhaled. "Mulder…"
"No—I'm fine, I just think you should send a few people out here. I need someone to take the blood back to the lab, and someone has to give a ride to the woman whose car Adams and Scully hijacked."
"Did you get the information on the car?"
"I'm about to."
"Where are you?"
Mulder gave the location and Skinner promised to get someone out there right away.
***
Unknown location
Scully had done thirty push-ups, thirty sit-ups, and twenty-five laps around the room. She didn't care if they were watching; it was helping her think. Finally, she dropped exhausted onto the bed.
Suddenly, the door opened and she jumped up. Adams, flanked by two large guards, came in.
"Your partner is not cooperating." He said. "He is about to find us. In fact, he's probably on his way." He sat on the bed where she had just been. "We've been watching him, you see, and have decided that we should give you back." He grabbed her arm and the guars cuffed her hands behind her back.
"Where are we going?"
"Elsewhere."
"It won't work. Mulder will still testify against you."
"By the time he goes to trial? I'll be gone. I won't exist anymore. And you? You'll starve eventually."
"What are you talking about?"
"I'm not giving you back. I'm giving her back." He pulled her down the hall. "Agent Scully… meet Agent Scully."
A woman stood there in front of them. And she looked exactly like Scully—right down to the clothes and cut on her arm. The imposter pulled out Scully's badge.
"FBI."
"Delilah's been gracious enough to become you for us. I'll see that Mulder doesn't encounter the real you as well."
"I—how?" She gasped.
"We have the best plastic surgeons in the country, agent." She was flung to the ground, her hands still bound. The guards unlocked the cuffs, then forced her to sit on her knees with her back to a steel pole that reached from floor to ceiling. Her wrists were tied again with strong rope behind it. "Enjoy."
"As the door slammed, leaving her alone, Scully jumped after him, straining the rope. It had been tied well. She was stuck.
"Mulder…" she gasped softly, finally giving in. "Sh—" her head hung, a single tear dropped into the dust.
***
Unknown location
Mulder followed the road until he found a one-story office complex that had been condemned. This was it.
He parked the car. Pulling his gun, he looked around cautiously. Seeing no one, he started around the back.
"Scully!" she was standing right there.
"He's gone. They're all gone, I just barely got away."
"Are you ok?"
"Oh… I'm a little shook up…"
Mulder eyed her. "If it's iced tea…"
"Fox, what are you talking about? We have to get out of here."
He stared at her, then aimed the gun at her head. "Could they be so stupid?"
"Fox, what are you doing?" she asked shakily.
"Where's Scully? What are you?"
"I'm an FBI agent, thank you very much—" Mulder clicked the safety off. "Oh."
"I'll give you one last chance."
The woman gulped. "In—in there. But there's no one else!"
Before Mulder could react, Adams sneaked up behind him and struck the back of his head with a blow that sent him to the ground. Delilah took the plane ticket he extended her. They'd be gone long before Mulder awoke.
Mulder came to groggily. It was dark out. His watch glowed at him. 7:00 at night. How long had he been out?
Then he remembered. He *had* to stop getting his ass kicked! His cell phone rang.
"Mulder." He groaned, holding his head.
"It's Skinner, where are you? We've been trying to reach you all day."
"I'm down the road from Adams' car."
"Office complex?"
"Yeah."
"We're coming up on it. Just stay put."
"Yeah—shit!"
"What? What?"
But Mulder had hung up. He jumped to his feet and ran at breakneck speed.
"Scully?" he ran through the hallways. A vague impression of footsteps following him sounded in his ears; Skinner had brought the calvary. Mulder stopped in his tracks.
Through one door's window he could see his partner bound to a pole, head hanging.
"Damn it." He breathed, stepping back and kicking the door open. Skinner and his agents watched from the door.
"Mulder." Scully whispered as he ran to her. He touched her arm briefly while reaching around with his knife to cut the rope. "Are you ok?"
"What?" he knelt down next to her. "Shouldn't I be the one asking that?"
"I can't believe Skinner told you." She said, glancing at her boss. "You could've been killed."
"Shh, don't worry about that." he helped her to her feet, barely catching her when she staggered.
"Sorry. I've been here awhile."
"What did they do to you?" They spoke in hushed tones so no one could hear.
"It doesn't matter. They're long gone by now."
"Agent Scully?" Skinner finally spoke. "Are you ok?"
"Fine, sir." She answered. Mulder looked at her pleadingly. She put a hand on his arm.
"Scully?"
"I'm fine, Mulder."
Her touch stood to enflame him, and his eyes darkened considerably. It had been too long. But Skinner had other ideas.
"Agent Scully, can you go give you statement now, then?"
"I'll take her."
"Agent Mulder, you're coming with me."
"What?"
"You have to fill out the required paperwork in order to be released from protective custody. Unless you'd rather go back to the safehouse…"
"No, sir." He muttered. Scully smiled weakly at him and started to walk away. "Hey." She turned. "I'll ride with Skinner. You take my car."
Scully stared at the keys he'd handed her like she had no idea how they got there. Then slowly she reached into her pocket and pulled out the keys they hadn't taken from her. The Apollo 11 keychain glistened in the dusty air.
"Houston?" she whispered, her eyes now dark as Mulder's had been. It had been so long, so freakin' long…
"This problem, at least will be solved very easily." He murmured. Skinner saw his agents trying to hear the exchange, and sent them reeling back with a stern look. Scully and Mulder stood there for a moment before they broke the connection. Within minutes, all had gone their separate ways.
***
Annandale Police Department
November 16, 2000
9:00 PM
Scully heaved a sigh as she left the station. It had taken far too long to give her statement, and all she wanted to do was get some sleep. But as she pulled into her parking space, all she could think of was Mulder. She'd tried to call him on her way home, but he didn't answer his cell phone. Much as she wanted him—needed him—there was no way in hell she was going out looking for her wayward partner on the verge of exhaustion.
Verge. What verge? She was there already. She was bone-tired, and she wanted sleep. Now.
But then she saw Mulder's shadow in her window. All weariness gone, she walked as quickly as she could without running to the elevator.
Mulder tensed when he heard a key in the lock. Scully walked in and without looking at him, locked and chained the door. She took out her cell hone and set it on the end table with her gun and keys. Mulder straightened up as she finally made contact. She held out her hand.
"Mulder…"
Two steps later, he was in her arms, cradling her head gently as he brushed her lips with his. Scully wrapped her arms around his neck and growled against his mouth.
"Damn it, Mulder, I am not going to break!"
He hesitated. God, he wanted this, but she'd just been chained, probably beaten, locked up for who knows how long. Scully backed away and looked him in the eyes, still with his neck gripped tightly. Her hands squeezed just enough to get his attention.
"Mulder, look." She whispered. "I know you want to protect me. And I'm grateful for it. But I want this. Need this. And if you want it too, but you're too afraid to do anything… we've got big problems."
"We already have big problems."
Scully smiled slightly.
"That's true. But I think we can work past them. So can you kiss me now?"
Mulder stared at her, almost unable to believe what he'd just heard. Almost unable to believe what he'd just done. What was he afraid of?
Scully saw him thinking and craned her neck to see his eyes better. Her voice was worried and unsure.
"Mulder?"
"Scully…" he gasped and the ghosts vanished as he pulled her back to him roughly, melding his mouth against hers. Scully's hands slipped their grip from the back of his neck as she wrapped her arms back around more securely. This act forced them even closer together, and each enjoyed the sensation of having their body lined with the other. Mulder's body trembled as Scully closed on his lower lip, gently biting down on it. His hands massaged her back seductively, finding delight in feeling her shiver. Scully pulled at his lower lip slightly as she slid away.
"God, I'm so glad you're back." He whispered, hugging her close.
"I'm sorry, Mulder. I wish I could promise it would never happen again, but—well, you know I can't."
"But… could you do me a favor?" She did not like the look in his eyes. "About me saying you shouldn't go? Could you say I was right?"
"Never."
Mulder stared at her, then let out a slight laugh.
"You're back."
End Part III/??
Archive: Yes, please! Anywhere! If you could just let me know... I'd like to visit.
Spoilers: Oh, Lord, where to begin? Better beware of absolutely everything that's ever aired. I'm still working.
Rating: Ah, maybe a *slight* R for language.
Classification: MSR. Duh.
Summary: Just read it, *please*? I promise it gets pretty good, IMHO.
Disclaimer: They're not mine.
Feedback: Do my fish swim back and forth and torment my Siamese? That's a yes, in case you're wondering. Flames will be used to burn my Spanish textbook after this semester.
Note: I just wanted to thank everyone who reviewed this series so far. I honestly didn't think it would be well-received, especially since it's the first I've ever posted. Thanks for the encouragement, and I hope I live up to your expectations.
Principals III
Apartment of Dana Scully
November 11, 2000
6:00 PM
Events had conspired to keep Mulder and Scully apart over the past week. (Mulder was on lend to VCS and Scully had autopsy lectures at Quantico.) But now it was Saturday, and the agents had congregated to have their long-overdue 'rules talk'.
Mulder came bearing Chinese food, and as he set it on the table, Scully got their drinks. She set the bottle in front of him and sat down. Mulder stared at the label.
"Must be love." He whispered.
"It is." She was smiling at him. A few minutes later, they sighed together, then laughed nervously at their nervousness.
"So…" Mulder began. "Areas that are off-limits."
"The office." Scully said immediately. "Actually, anywhere in the building, crime scenes, hotels, and most public areas.
"Maybe I should ask what areas are on-limits."
"Our apartments." Obviously she'd been thinking about this. "Or if we went someplace we knew no one from the Bureau ever went, hotels…"
"Hotels again. Clarify."
"Hotels are off when we're on assignment. But if we're in a hotel after we close a case, before we leave…" her voice trailed off. Mulder grinned.
"I could go for that."
"But I think—maybe when we are on a case we should just…"
"Hit pause."
"Exactly." She Smiled at him and Mulder's lungs contracted painfully. How did she do that?
After they were done, they relocated to the living room to watch tv. Nothing was on.
"Mulder… I'm kind of tired anyway."
"You want me to go?" 'Say no, say no, say no…'
"No."
'Yes!' Mulder sighed, relieved.
"Um—you know we're not ready to… you know, that—"
"Yeah." Mulder assured her. "There's no rush. I kinda like where we are now, anyway."
"Me too. But… do you want to stay here tonight?"
"I don't know, Scully." He tried to reel her in. "Your couch is a lot shorter than mine."
"Then we'd better use the bed." She said smoothly. Game, set match. He was beaten. It was a shutout. He was pointless. He was without point.
Scully rose and went into her bedroom. Mulder heard drawers open and close, then heard the bathroom door shut. It wasn't until then that he deemed it safe to follow. The last time he'd been in here there was glass everywhere from Scully's battle with Donnie Pfaster. The mirror was replaced, and now the room was immaculate. He sat on the bed.
Suddenly he remembered when Scully had gone with the Smoking Man. That incident had made it easier for him to leave her on that Dirty Dames stakeout. He still didn't understand why she hadn't told him.
Something banged against her front door. Mulder sighed heavily and got up to retrieve it.
No one was in the hallway, but a box was sitting there.
"Her name is Janie, please take good care of our darling little box." He muttered.
"Mulder?" Scully came out. "Was someone here?"
"I guess," he said, picking up the parcel.
"Please don't explode my apartment, Mulder, it's been through enough already."
Mulder opened the box cautiously and pulled out a small cassette tape.
"Ten to one you can't dance to it." They said together. Scully took it and put it in the stereo. A crackling sound came through, then Scully's voice.
"Oh my God! It's the tape I mailed you."
"Why'd you send it here?"
"I didn't. And—and the tape I sent was a micro-cassette. Someone's copied this, probably listened to it." She fast-forwarded a few minutes.
"You'd die for Mulder. But you won't allow yourself to love him." Mulder stared at Scully. Had they really been that transparent? Then he heard the reply.
"…You're not just a cold-blooded killer, you're a pop psychologist as well."
"Go, girl." He squeezed her arm and sat back as the tape played on.
Two hours later, Mulder shut the tape off. He'd heard enough.
"I'm sorry, Scully. I understand. You didn't have a choice." But she was barely awake.
"I loved you, Mulder, and you know I trusted you. Did you really think I would keep this a secret?" She asked, mumbling into her pillow as she lay at the other end of the couch. Mulder hit stop on the stereo and took her hand.
"I'll never learn, Scully, you know that?"
"Whatever." She hauled herself to her feet. "I need rest." She followed him into the bedroom, where Mulder looked around uneasily.
"I can't sleep in my suit." He said doubtfully. Scully pulled a sweatshirt from her dresser and handed it to him.
"Your sweats are in the bathroom."
"Why do you have my…"
"You left them here one night when you came and had to change."
"Oh, yeah." He gave her a crooked grin and disappeared into the bathroom.
When he returned, Scully was in bed with her back to him, the lights out. Mulder hesitated. How were they going to do this? He sat down on his side of the mattress cautiously, then lay on his back. She didn't speak. Was she dead to the world already? Probably.
Mulder was almost asleep when she rolled over.
"Took you long enough." She mumbled.
"I've been here. You fell asleep."
"Oh." She didn't argue. "Ok."
Scully wriggled closer until her head rested on his chest like a pillow. He couldn't resist.
"You're gonna wake up with a crick in your neck."
"Shut up." She put a hand on his rib cage and felt his heart beat while the other arm pulled the blanket closer.
"Mulder, your heart is racing."
"That's your fault." He said huskily, stroking her hair slowly.
Sleep was not long in coming.
***
Apartment of Dana Scully
November 12, 2000
6:06 AM
Scully woke slowly and stretched, thereby waking her partner as well. Her head had moved in the night so it was no longer on his chest but tucked between his head and his shoulder. And Mulder's hand had been removed from her head and was draped around her upper body in a loose embrace.
"Mm… what time is it?"
"At the tone?" He looked at his watch, which was sitting on the nightstand by the bed. "About ten after six."
"You could've said it was three in the morning and let me sleep."
"Oh…" he leaned over slightly and kissed her forehead. She groaned faintly as he moved away, then sat up a little and kissed his mouth gently before laying on him again.
"So this is what you're like in the morning." He said, chuckling.
"What'd you expect?" She asked; knowing him, the answer would be interesting.
"Well, you always seem so tense at the office when you first walk in, I guess I just never thought you were much of a morning person."
"I was tense because every morning I stepped out of that elevator and realized that I still loved you." She murmured. "And if I was too afraid to say anything about it, then it must be unrequited. " She looked at him. "And I've always thought that was pathetic."
"It was never unrequited." Mulder gazed into her eyes.
"I know that now." She whispered, her eyes glassy. Mulder tightened his grip on her shoulders and rolled her onto his body, so their faces were only an inch apart.
"Good morning, Scully." He said huskily, and threaded his fingers through her hair, pulling her mouth down to his. A minute later, they separated reluctantly.
"I need a shower."
"I need a run." They voiced their morning rituals. "And a shower."
Scully slowly untangled herself from him and stared at her partner as they stood next to the bed.
"I should go. I like to get going before too many people are on the streets."
"Ok." Her voice was strained. "Then you'd better get started."
"Is it bad that I don't want to?"
Scully sighed as he wrapped his arms around her, then returned the gesture. They stood there together for awhile, bathed in the filtered sunlight. Finally, Mulder broke away and kissed her softly.
"I'll be back soon."
While Scully was in the shower, Mulder retrieved his gym bag from the car and changed into his running outfit. After stretching a little, he set off toward a park near her apartment. He ran a long loop around the swings and slides and baseball diamonds, then started back.
As he proceeded toward Scully's apartment, he passed an alley lit by numerous streetlights. There he heard a shout, followed by some decidedly painful scuffling. He looked to his left and saw a man reach into coat pocket for what was obviously a weapon.
"FBI!" He yelled, pulling his T-126. He was emphatically glad he'd taken it with him on his run. "Don't move."
But the crook had other ideas. He spun around and fired a quick shot; Mulder had barely enough time to spin out of the way and duck out. The bullet had grazed his arm, much like when he'd found Henry Weems, and it stung painfully. But he heard running footsteps and another shot that came ridiculously close. This man was insane—and there's no such thing as a safe arrest when the culprit is insane. Mulder slipped into a corner store and saw the man had missed seeing him.
Mulder watched him slide around the corner and he crouched behind a counter as the guy ran by and out of sight. Looking up just barely in time, he saw the tattoo of a cat's paw on the back of his hand.
***
Apartment of Dana Scully
11:21 AM
Mulder had waited about 45 minutes before running the last two blocks to Scully's apartment. He had spent the time talking quietly with the store owner's wife in a back room while she tried to clean the wound on his arm. From the previous time this happened to him, he thought she'd done a good job. But his elation at being all fixed up evaporated when he entered the living room. Scully was pacing the floor, one hand on her hip, one hand at the back of her head. When she heard him walk in he'd seen an anguished look in her eyes.
"Mulder, what happened?"
"What?" He glanced at his arm. The bandage wasn't visible through his sweatshirt.
"I seem to developed a sense for when you're in trouble. I've learned not to ignore it." She walked up to him. "Are you ok?" Mulder sighed.
"Sit down, Scully." They relocated to the couch. As he told his story, her shoulders sagged.
"The cat's paw? You're sure?"
"Positive."
Scully took a deep breath. "Then we're going to have to put you into protective custody."
"But Scully…"
"Mulder, this man saw you. It was a well-lit alley, right? So he knows you know who he is. We need to treat you as a witness, and as a witness, we can't take the chance of you getting killed. They will undoubtedly come after you."
Mulder groaned. "Well, what about the other guy? The guy I'm assuming got away when Mr. Paw chased me."
"Hopefully, he went to the authorities. I'll call and check." As Scully leaned over for the phone and dialed the police station, Mulder sagged against the back of the couch, watching her. Her barely-dried hair had a golden sheen to it that glimmered in the sunlight. Suddenly he was overcome with love for her and slid over to stroke her hair gently. Scully leaned back against the furniture as he continued, hoping her voice wouldn't break when she spoke to the officer.
"Hello? Yes, this is Special Agent…" Mulder stopped listening. This speech was so familiar they could do it in their sleep. As she questioned the desk sergeant about this mystery man of theirs, Mulder pulled her closer carefully and ran the outside of his index finger up and down her neck slowly. Scully closed her eyes and concentrated on the conversation. "About 5"4', stocky build, black hair oiled back?" Mulder's gaze was unrelenting as he nodded slowly. His voice was almost a croak.
"Yeah."
"We can—we can verify it. Keep him safe. Thank you." Scully hung up the phone and took Mulder's hand from her neck, kissing the palm sorrowfully.
"Is a car coming?" he asked softly.
"Yeah. It's going to your apartment, so we should get going. You need to pack."
"They say how long I'm gonna be there?"
"No. It'll probably be a while."
"How much should I take?"
"What you think. If you end up needing more, I'll get it to you."
"Ok." They stood to leave. Scully put a restraining hand on Mulder's arm.
"Mulder… they don't record sound in the safehouse rooms, but they do keep video records…"
Mulder took Scully's head in his hands and brought his lips to hers. He kissed her slowly, languidly, bringing that warm feeling in her stomach to a boil.
"Then," he said huskily as he eased away, "that's going to have to hold us until I'm back."
***
FBI Safehouse
Annandale, VA
November 15, 2000
9:00 PM
Scully walked the empty halls quickly, eager to get to Mulder's room. She hadn't seen him since Sunday; Skinner had kept her working day and night trying to find this suspect. He wanted his star profiler back, it seemed, and back now. So she'd searched high and low and now, finally, she thought she'd found his location. Only now could she see Mulder.
She walked into his space slowly, not wanting to startle him. It was small, but livable; he had a bathroom, a living room, and a bedroom she wasn't exactly sure he used. His food was brought to him. Nowhere to go… so where was he?
She turned and closed the door behind her.
"Hey, gorgeous."
"Sh—" she spun around to see him in the bedroom doorway. "Mulder."
"One and the same." He sauntered to an armchair near her and sat. "What's up?" 'Why haven't you been here? Is something wrong? What's going on?'
"Everything's ok, Mulder, don't worry. I found Adams."
"We're sure that's the guy that chased me?"
"Yeah. We got a report from the owner of the store you hid in."
"Good."
"So we're doing a bust later tonight, might even get the entire group if we're lucky." Mulder nodded.
"I don't want you to go."
"What?"
"I've got my own instincts, Scully. And mine are screaming at you to stay here and be with me all night. But I know I can't stop you. I know you can take care of yourself—hell, you could beat the crap out of me if you wanted to."
"Well, that's not saying much, but…"
He smirked at her as she sat on the couch, each knowing if they didn't keep a good amount of space between them the guards watching the cameras were gonna get an eyeful.
"Good to know you hold me in such high regard."
She smiled at him gently, then it faded.
"I miss you, Mulder." Scully said, barely audible. "I woke up last night reaching for you, and you weren't there. I—I had no idea I was so dependant on you." She saw the look in his eyes. "Or you on me."
"Oh, Scully…" he started to get up, then sagged back down. "Damn cameras. I just want to hold you…"
Scully bit her lip.
"Tomorrow." She promised. "This will be over tomorrow."
***
Abandoned Warehouse
Arlington, VA
November 16, 2000
1:21 AM
"What's going on? Anything?" Scully spoke into her headpiece.
"There's only three people in there. Shouldn't be too hard."
"Just jinx it, why don't you?" She muttered. Long-time friend and SWAT team leader Jerry Rico smiled in the other van. "We do not shoot unless absolutely necessary. If we want to find the rest, we need leverage of some sort."
"Yes ma'am."
"Don't try me, Rico." She grabbed her weapon. "Set?"
"Let's do it."
The raid was quick and efficient; these were the Bureau's best. They took the first two men without incident, but couldn't find Adams. Scully noticed a side door and went in.
"Mr. Adams? Federal agents!" Then she noticed something.
A bomb was on the table. The timer read fifty seconds and ticking downward.
"Abort! Abort now! Bomb!" Thundering footsteps sounded as the other agents evacuated.
"Agent Scully!" Jerry called her. She ran, but was grabbed forcefully from behind by her target. Rico skidded around the corner, but Adams had Scully's gun.
"Go." He whispered harshly. 20 seconds.
"Wait—"
"Damn it, go!" She screamed at him. Her friend seemed to hesitate only a second before obeying. Five seconds later, the vans squealed off. Adams hauled Scully out to the car and dropped her in the back seat. Ten seconds. Scully yanked at her necklace, biting back a cry as the chain sliced her skin, and hauled it out the broken window. Five seconds after that, the building exploded, sending a shock wave through the back windshield and shattering all the glass in the car. Scully shrunk into a ball on the floor, protecting her head and neck from the flying shards.
'Mulder…' she thought despairingly. 'Where are you?'
***
FBI Safehouse
Annandale, VA
November 16, 2000
5:00 AM
Mulder awoke with a start. Something was wrong. From his bed on the couch he saw the hallway light turn on and a few people running, the footsteps slowing as they grew louder. He had barely gotten up before Skinner and two guards burst in.
"Where is she?" He asked immediately. If Skinner was surprised that Mulder knew his partner was in danger, he didn't show it.
"Agent Scully was in a raid to—"
"What… happened?" Skinner sighed.
"Scully was taken by force. Adams has her. We have every reason to believe he'll want to trade her for his cat paw buddies."
Mulder's face went even blanker. The guards saw a monster with no feelings. Skinner saw a panic.
"You have to let me help."
"Mulder, you are too close."
"I have to find her."
"The only reason we told you in the first place was so you wouldn't kill us when you found out anyway. You are a protected witness. I cannot allow you to leave this room. Hans and Frank will be posted outside your door." Skinner started to leave, then stopped. "We'll find her, Mulder. Don't do anything stupid." The door closed. He was alone.
"Scully." It was a half-gasp, half-sob that escaped him. He pulled out the cell phone he was allowed to keep and called the Lone Gunmen. "Frohike, it's me. Turn off the tape."
"Mulder. What is it?"
"I need a favor. It's Scully."
"What happened?"
"I can't talk right now, look, I need you to do me a favor. I'm at the safehouse in Annandale. I want you guys to hack into the security computer mainframe. Then you need to give the cameras a virus—black 'em out for about two hours. I'll take care of the rest."
"Might take a few minutes."
"Then get moving. Call me when it's done." He hung up.
***
Unknown location
Scully was still in the car, but they were pulling over along the road. It hadn't been long since the building exploded and she was afraid to move from her position for fear of getting but badly. Adams had her gun. Blood was semi-dried and sticky on her neck. She was not in a good mood. The car stopped and Scully saw her captor get out and yank the back door open.
"Get out." When she hesitated, he grabbed her arm and pulled. A long gash appeared on her lower arm and blood flowed freely. "Come on, let's go." She was pulled to her feet. "You're going to get us another car."
"How?" She asked evenly.
"Flag someone down. Use your badge. Tell them it's an emergency and thank them for saving their country. I don't care how, just do it.
Scully glared at him and stepped to the side of the street. A dark green Ford Taurus appeared and she stepped into the road, holding her badge up.
"FBI!"
The car stopped and a woman in her mid-30's stepped out, accidentally losing hold of her keys and putting a scratch in the paint.
"Oh—damn—is something wrong?"
"We need your car."
"But how am I supposed to get home?" She asked suspiciously.
"I'll call a car to come get you." She lied. "It's an emergency, ma'am."
"Oh—sure—of course." She took the key to the ignition off the ring and examined it. "Ooh, there's some paint there. House key. Damn it, I just got that car painted! You're not going to go and get it wrecked?"
"That's not really up to me, ma'am. Thank you for your cooperation." Scully reached for the key, exposing the cut on her arm.
"Oh! Are you ok?"
Scully looked the woman directly in the eye. "I'm fine."
***
FBI Safehouse
Annandale, VA
5:30 AM
Mulder's phone rang.
"Frohike?"
"Two hours."
"Thanks." He hung up. Looking towards the door one last time, he slid the window open and jumped out. It was still dusky out, and Mulder ran bent-over behind the bushes. None of the guards were particularly interested in the building so much as its surroundings. Keeping people in wasn't really a part of their job description; it was keeping people out.
Mulder reached the fence, complete with electric wire at the top. Studying it carefully, he decided he could jump over the dangerous part after climbing up the first part, but only if it were off. He pulled out his phone.
"Lone Gunmen."
"Langly. Tell Frohike to turn off the fences." He ordered. Ten seconds.
"Done. Go."
The agent hung up, looked for passing witnesses, and jumped over with agility. He hit the ground running and was soon in a cab headed to his office.
***
Unknown location
Scully's gun was trained on her the whole time she drove away from the woman. When she was well out of sight, Adams spoke.
"Pull over." She did. "Keep moving… get out. Don't try anything stupid." He came around the car. "Open the trunk."
Inside was a gym bag with a pair of shoes and a basketball, a small first aid kit, and a spare tire. Adams kept the gun on her while dropping pocketknife on the ground.
"Cut the shoulder strap. I need it nice and long."
'Bastard.' Scully thought as she obeyed. With one hand, he picked up the material and motioned for her to close the trunk.
"Now open the back door." He ordered. "Cut one of the seatbelts as long as you can. Then cut it in half, length-wise."
Scully's body grew hot with anger. What was he going to do to her? She was relieved of the knife and shoved into the passenger seat. Adams set the gun on top of the car and grabbed her hands, twisting her arms behind her back. She gasped sharply at the rough handling, then felt the strap of the bag being wrapped around her wrists securely, then tied. He pushed back so she was against the seat, then buckled her seatbelt. As if she weren't immobile enough already, he proceeded to bind her feet with the severed belt from the back seat. Adams stood, grinning.
"Ok. Let's go."
***
FBI Headquarters
6:45 AM
Mulder ran in the side entrance, glad that the only person in sight was his friend Rob, a security guard.
"Mulder—hey!" Rob stopped him.
"I'm not here."
"I thought you were in a safehouse."
"I am."
"Oh…" he nodded. Mulder grinned at him, then sprinted to the basement.
***
FBI Safehouse
Annandale, VA
7:30 AM
Skinner stood in Mulder's empty space.
"Mulder doesn't appreciate being locked up, does he, Mr. Skinner?" the Smoking Man asked. "You know he's probably at the FBI building right now, trying to find his partner."
Skinner glared at him.
"Good."
***
FBI Headquarters
Switchboard
7:40 AM
"FBI Headquarters, how may I help you?"
"Um—something kind of weird happened—"
"One moment, please."
***
FBI Headquarters
X-Files Department
7:41 AM
Mulder's phone rang on his desk. He let the machine get it, still searching Scully's desk. It beeped, and a woman's voice came through.
"Ok—ok, um, I was stopped in my car by an FBI agent and told another car would come and take me home… she said it was an emergency and her arm was cut…" Mulder straightened and listened. "And there was—there might have been blood on her neck too, but I can't be sure 'cause it might've just been her hair, I mean, 'cause it was red, and—"
"Hello?" Mulder grabbed the phone.
"Hello."
"This—this FBI agent. Was she about 5'3, blue eyes, red hair cut kind of short?" Was she my life? Was she the woman I'm in love with?
"Yeah. How did you—"
"Well, she—she—was she ok? Did you ask?"
"Yeah, when I saw her arm."
"Is she all right?"
"She said she was fine."
"Hold one minute, please." Mulder put her on hold, counted to ten as fast as he could, and slammed his fist into the wall. "Damn it!" He picked the phone back up and re-connected. "Where are you? I'll be right there." She gave an address, and he ran back upstairs to where he'd come in.
"Rob, I'm leaving."
"And you were never here."
"Owe you."
Mulder took a cab to Scully's apartment and got his car, all the while clutching the address he'd been given. He was going to find his partner.
***
FBI Headquarters
Side Entrance
8:00 AM
Skinner walked in briskly.
"Rob, how're you doing?" He asked. "You haven't seen Agent Mulder this morning, have you?"
"Agent Mulder? I thought he was in a safehouse in Annandale."
"Not anymore." He growled. "If you see him, you might want to mention that he's in a unique situation, and that I don't know how to help him. Or if I want to."
But that was a lie. He wanted to, very badly. He wanted Scully back. Skinner turned on his heel and, in his best marine style, marched off.
***
Pay phone near the bomb site
Arlington, VA
8:10 AM
Mulder drove slowly around the area until he saw a lady who fit the description he'd been given. When he flashed his badge, she seemed to wilt in relief.
"I swear, I've been on my feet for God only knows how long trying to get through to your headquarters. You're a really popular organization, you know?"
"Not my branch."
"Yeah, well, then there was all that stuff about a bomb, and a bunch of black vans went by, they stopped by this old warehouse—only it was all burned down! I liked that building, too. I guess terrorists or something…"
Mulder stopped the car.
"Where's this warehouse?"
"Right down there." He followed her finger until he saw the remains. "Oh, God, Scully." He gasped. She looked at him.
"You didn't have anyone—in there, did you?"
"I hope not." He parked and jumped out, looking around. If there were any remains, they would've been confiscated as evidence. He cursed the Bureau's efficiency. Then a glimmer caught his eye, and he knelt on the ground. Scully's necklace.
"This is getting old, gorgeous." He groaned. Mulder returned to the car and accepted the sympathetic look he received with silence. "Where did you get stopped?"
"Right down there."
"Let's take a ride, shall we?"
***
Unknown location
Scully was carried into the building and roughly dropped into a small room. Her captors severed her bonds and left her. The space was small, with only a small bed and a tiny window in the top corner covered with wire and bars.
"Nice digs." she mumbled, sitting on the bed. They'd taken her badge, they'd taken her phone, they had her gun… and to top it all off, she had to face the fact that Mulder had been right. Now she was in danger yet again, and where was he?
"Damn it!" Suddenly she jumped up. Did Skinner tell him? Was he out looking for her? He could be killed! "Mulder…" she gasped, sinking back down onto the bed. "Please be ok. Don't worry about me. Stay alive. Please."
***
Along the road
8:45 AM
Mulder saw the abandoned car and pulled over. Broken glass crunched under their feet as they pulled open the door. There was a streak of blood on the back seat. It was Scully's. He knew it. But the 'Scully-module' in his mind told him it would have to be proven. He couldn't do this on his own. Eventually he'd have to get the Bureau's resources involved. He called Skinner.
"Sir, before you get started…"
"I'm not going to, Agent Mulder. What have you found?"
"Adams' car. There's blood in here, sir."
Skinner exhaled. "Mulder…"
"No—I'm fine, I just think you should send a few people out here. I need someone to take the blood back to the lab, and someone has to give a ride to the woman whose car Adams and Scully hijacked."
"Did you get the information on the car?"
"I'm about to."
"Where are you?"
Mulder gave the location and Skinner promised to get someone out there right away.
***
Unknown location
Scully had done thirty push-ups, thirty sit-ups, and twenty-five laps around the room. She didn't care if they were watching; it was helping her think. Finally, she dropped exhausted onto the bed.
Suddenly, the door opened and she jumped up. Adams, flanked by two large guards, came in.
"Your partner is not cooperating." He said. "He is about to find us. In fact, he's probably on his way." He sat on the bed where she had just been. "We've been watching him, you see, and have decided that we should give you back." He grabbed her arm and the guars cuffed her hands behind her back.
"Where are we going?"
"Elsewhere."
"It won't work. Mulder will still testify against you."
"By the time he goes to trial? I'll be gone. I won't exist anymore. And you? You'll starve eventually."
"What are you talking about?"
"I'm not giving you back. I'm giving her back." He pulled her down the hall. "Agent Scully… meet Agent Scully."
A woman stood there in front of them. And she looked exactly like Scully—right down to the clothes and cut on her arm. The imposter pulled out Scully's badge.
"FBI."
"Delilah's been gracious enough to become you for us. I'll see that Mulder doesn't encounter the real you as well."
"I—how?" She gasped.
"We have the best plastic surgeons in the country, agent." She was flung to the ground, her hands still bound. The guards unlocked the cuffs, then forced her to sit on her knees with her back to a steel pole that reached from floor to ceiling. Her wrists were tied again with strong rope behind it. "Enjoy."
"As the door slammed, leaving her alone, Scully jumped after him, straining the rope. It had been tied well. She was stuck.
"Mulder…" she gasped softly, finally giving in. "Sh—" her head hung, a single tear dropped into the dust.
***
Unknown location
Mulder followed the road until he found a one-story office complex that had been condemned. This was it.
He parked the car. Pulling his gun, he looked around cautiously. Seeing no one, he started around the back.
"Scully!" she was standing right there.
"He's gone. They're all gone, I just barely got away."
"Are you ok?"
"Oh… I'm a little shook up…"
Mulder eyed her. "If it's iced tea…"
"Fox, what are you talking about? We have to get out of here."
He stared at her, then aimed the gun at her head. "Could they be so stupid?"
"Fox, what are you doing?" she asked shakily.
"Where's Scully? What are you?"
"I'm an FBI agent, thank you very much—" Mulder clicked the safety off. "Oh."
"I'll give you one last chance."
The woman gulped. "In—in there. But there's no one else!"
Before Mulder could react, Adams sneaked up behind him and struck the back of his head with a blow that sent him to the ground. Delilah took the plane ticket he extended her. They'd be gone long before Mulder awoke.
Mulder came to groggily. It was dark out. His watch glowed at him. 7:00 at night. How long had he been out?
Then he remembered. He *had* to stop getting his ass kicked! His cell phone rang.
"Mulder." He groaned, holding his head.
"It's Skinner, where are you? We've been trying to reach you all day."
"I'm down the road from Adams' car."
"Office complex?"
"Yeah."
"We're coming up on it. Just stay put."
"Yeah—shit!"
"What? What?"
But Mulder had hung up. He jumped to his feet and ran at breakneck speed.
"Scully?" he ran through the hallways. A vague impression of footsteps following him sounded in his ears; Skinner had brought the calvary. Mulder stopped in his tracks.
Through one door's window he could see his partner bound to a pole, head hanging.
"Damn it." He breathed, stepping back and kicking the door open. Skinner and his agents watched from the door.
"Mulder." Scully whispered as he ran to her. He touched her arm briefly while reaching around with his knife to cut the rope. "Are you ok?"
"What?" he knelt down next to her. "Shouldn't I be the one asking that?"
"I can't believe Skinner told you." She said, glancing at her boss. "You could've been killed."
"Shh, don't worry about that." he helped her to her feet, barely catching her when she staggered.
"Sorry. I've been here awhile."
"What did they do to you?" They spoke in hushed tones so no one could hear.
"It doesn't matter. They're long gone by now."
"Agent Scully?" Skinner finally spoke. "Are you ok?"
"Fine, sir." She answered. Mulder looked at her pleadingly. She put a hand on his arm.
"Scully?"
"I'm fine, Mulder."
Her touch stood to enflame him, and his eyes darkened considerably. It had been too long. But Skinner had other ideas.
"Agent Scully, can you go give you statement now, then?"
"I'll take her."
"Agent Mulder, you're coming with me."
"What?"
"You have to fill out the required paperwork in order to be released from protective custody. Unless you'd rather go back to the safehouse…"
"No, sir." He muttered. Scully smiled weakly at him and started to walk away. "Hey." She turned. "I'll ride with Skinner. You take my car."
Scully stared at the keys he'd handed her like she had no idea how they got there. Then slowly she reached into her pocket and pulled out the keys they hadn't taken from her. The Apollo 11 keychain glistened in the dusty air.
"Houston?" she whispered, her eyes now dark as Mulder's had been. It had been so long, so freakin' long…
"This problem, at least will be solved very easily." He murmured. Skinner saw his agents trying to hear the exchange, and sent them reeling back with a stern look. Scully and Mulder stood there for a moment before they broke the connection. Within minutes, all had gone their separate ways.
***
Annandale Police Department
November 16, 2000
9:00 PM
Scully heaved a sigh as she left the station. It had taken far too long to give her statement, and all she wanted to do was get some sleep. But as she pulled into her parking space, all she could think of was Mulder. She'd tried to call him on her way home, but he didn't answer his cell phone. Much as she wanted him—needed him—there was no way in hell she was going out looking for her wayward partner on the verge of exhaustion.
Verge. What verge? She was there already. She was bone-tired, and she wanted sleep. Now.
But then she saw Mulder's shadow in her window. All weariness gone, she walked as quickly as she could without running to the elevator.
Mulder tensed when he heard a key in the lock. Scully walked in and without looking at him, locked and chained the door. She took out her cell hone and set it on the end table with her gun and keys. Mulder straightened up as she finally made contact. She held out her hand.
"Mulder…"
Two steps later, he was in her arms, cradling her head gently as he brushed her lips with his. Scully wrapped her arms around his neck and growled against his mouth.
"Damn it, Mulder, I am not going to break!"
He hesitated. God, he wanted this, but she'd just been chained, probably beaten, locked up for who knows how long. Scully backed away and looked him in the eyes, still with his neck gripped tightly. Her hands squeezed just enough to get his attention.
"Mulder, look." She whispered. "I know you want to protect me. And I'm grateful for it. But I want this. Need this. And if you want it too, but you're too afraid to do anything… we've got big problems."
"We already have big problems."
Scully smiled slightly.
"That's true. But I think we can work past them. So can you kiss me now?"
Mulder stared at her, almost unable to believe what he'd just heard. Almost unable to believe what he'd just done. What was he afraid of?
Scully saw him thinking and craned her neck to see his eyes better. Her voice was worried and unsure.
"Mulder?"
"Scully…" he gasped and the ghosts vanished as he pulled her back to him roughly, melding his mouth against hers. Scully's hands slipped their grip from the back of his neck as she wrapped her arms back around more securely. This act forced them even closer together, and each enjoyed the sensation of having their body lined with the other. Mulder's body trembled as Scully closed on his lower lip, gently biting down on it. His hands massaged her back seductively, finding delight in feeling her shiver. Scully pulled at his lower lip slightly as she slid away.
"God, I'm so glad you're back." He whispered, hugging her close.
"I'm sorry, Mulder. I wish I could promise it would never happen again, but—well, you know I can't."
"But… could you do me a favor?" She did not like the look in his eyes. "About me saying you shouldn't go? Could you say I was right?"
"Never."
Mulder stared at her, then let out a slight laugh.
"You're back."
End Part III/??