PRINCIPALS V
Archive: Yes, please! Just let me know where...
Spoiler: Oh, absolutely everything. Requiem hasn't happened, though.
Rating: R for language
Classification: MSR
Disclaimer: (As the Mad Hatter in Disney's Alice in Wonderland) Not mine, not mine, not mine! Although I can't help but think they're in better hands with me than CC... g.
Feedback: Please!
Notes: Ok, here we go again. This is the fifth installment of a story that decided to become a series without consulting me. Rather rude of it, wouldn't you say? I'm trying my best to continue giving you, the readers, what you want, and I hope I haven't disappointed. I like this part much, much more than the last one. I guess you guys really didn't like the last one either, seeing as I only got one comment thingy from the bottom. (Now you know where it is, you have no excuses g.) Anyway, I worked hard on this, so here it goes. Enjoy...
Silver Beauty
Principals V
December 1, 2000
FBI Headquarters
1:31 PM
Walter Skinner was not a happy person.
"Agent Mulder, what the hell were you thinking? Not only did you put Agent Scully and yourself in danger, you almost cost us the arrest!"
"You busted the wrong guy!"
"Agent Mulder..."
"Sir, Robert Whittaker is innocent." Scully broke in quietly. "There *is* a lot of evidence against him, but I think you'll find that all of it is circumstancial. There's nothing concrete against him. 48 hours, he's going to walk--and he should."
"Two witnesses placed him at the scene of the crime..."
"It wasn't him," Mulder said.
"Excuse me?"
"He wasn't there. He was at home watching tv alone, just like he said."
"Agent Scully, am I the only one who thinks that sounds wrong?"
"Do you trust Agent Mulder, sir?" Scully questioned him.
Skinner looked hard at her. "Again, am I the only one who thinks that sounds wrong?"
Mulder glanced at Scully sideways.
"Yeah, actually." he said slowly. "I think that was a valid question. *Do* you trust us?"
*Us*. Scully bit her tongue. She wasn't sure if the slip was intentional or not. Skinner sighed.
"Mulder, you're asking me to refute the work of all the other agents on this case based on--what? A hunch?" Mulder nodded. "That's a hell of a lot of trust."
"Haven't we earned it yet?"
"Sir." Scully spoke quickly before egos went flying. "Mulder is a good criminal profiler. The best. If he's so sure... there must be something."
"How do you know?" Skinner accentuated every word. "Explain it to me. Make me understand."
"Hospital records. There's something wrong with the hospital records." Mulder ground out.
"Why were you going through his hospital records?"
"You told me to profile Robert Whittaker. And I did. But I didn't."
"*What*?"
"Look, that's all you need to know. That's all I know. But Scully and I'll get to the bottom of it."
Skinner focussed his breathing. "Go. I want a report when you're done." The agents rose and went for the door. "Agent Scully, you stay."
Mulder stared back at him, then at Scully, then left quietly. Scully walked back to the desk slowly.
"Sir?"
"Agent Scully, you and Agent Mulder are close."
Scully's stomach clenched. Did he know?
"I'm sure you know that even though you found his sister and exposed the conspiracy, there are individuals who want the x-files closed and you and Mulder dead. For revenge, if nothing else. Tell him to be careful. Watch his back. You know he has a talent for making the wrong people mad. He'll listen to you."
Scully nodded, relieved. "Is that all, sir?"
Skinner hesitated.
"Sir?"
"Yes. Yes, Agent Scully. That's all."
***
4:48 PM
Pulling her coat tighter to her body, Scully hurried to the bench. The Potomac was frozen and the temperature was freezing; no one was around. Perfect.
Mulder was there. She'd found a note on her desk when she came back from Skinner's office before an autopsy she'd had scheduled. He wanted to meet her. He was wondering what Skinner had wanted. As she approached, she noticed his coat was hanging open and her subconscious berated him, wondering if he *wanted* to catch pneumonia.
"Anyone around?" he asked, hearing her come up behind him.
"No." she sighed and sank down, leaning back against his arm, which was draped over the back of the bench.
"Good." he craned his head until his face was in her hair and he breathed deeply. Scully closed her eyes. Such moments were so few and far between...
A car drove by in the distance. Immediately, though reluctantly, they seperated.
"What did Skinner want?"
"'Agent Scully, you and Agent Mulder are close.' His exact words."
Mulder stared at her, the indistinguishable panic look on his face.
"I know. I almost had a coronary. But it turns out he just wanted to warn me."
"About?"
"You. He's worried about you, Mulder. Seems he thinks you've been making the wrong people mad."
"About what?"
"About the x-files."
"Huh?" he looked confused. "About what, getting us reassigned? Getting them closed?"
"Closed. And getting us killed for good measure."
"What'd we do now?"
Scully didn't answer.
"Scully?"
She sighed and wet her lips. "I don't know. Someone wants revenge. It could be any one of our old cases. Anyone can hold a grudge."
"Why now?" No answer. When Mulder looked over at her, Scully looked at the ground, the slowly shook her head.
"Let's go home, Mulder."
"It's just barely five. Isn't there some kind of papework due for tomorrow? And the case..."
"We can take it to my place. Mulder..." when she looked up at him, her eyes were troubled. "Please. The office doesn't feel safe now." Scully couldn't explain the twisty feeling in her gut, but something told her something was wrong. Mulder took her hand and gently kissed the back of it, feeling her shiver under his touch. She was trembling, and it wasn't from the cold. Scully was scared to death.
"Come on," he said quietly. "Let's get out of here."
***
FBI Headquarters
December 1, 2000
4:30 PM
Skinner was not happy with this sudden visitation. The man who came in had made his entrance unannounced. What a time for Kim to not be at her desk. And what a day for the most distracted of tour guides to be on duty. And what a day for Mulder and Scully to be missing. And what a day for him to have such a pounding headache.
This kid couldn't be a day over 17 years old. He was still standing in the door.
"You Mr. Skinner?"
"Young man, shouldn't you be with your tour group?"
"Yeah, whatever, so listen. Weird dude gives me this note, pays me 200 dollars an' says get it to Walter Skinner or it's my ass." the kid sauntered on in like he owned the place, looking around before dropping the paper on Skinner's desk. "Man, you got some weird friends."
"Do you know your way out?"
"Hey, man. You better read that. I don't need this guy coming after me." the boy backed out. Skinner glared at the door, then looked at the paper.
MR. SKINNER. THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT MATTER. IT IS IN REGARDS TO AN AGENT UNDER YOUR COMMAND WHO HAD CANCER SOME YEARS AGO. A CHIP WAS IMPLANTED INTO THE BACK OF HER NECK WHICH CAUSED HER SICKNESS TO GO INTO REMISSION. YOU WILL DELIVER THIS CHIP TO US AT THE OLD MERMON THEATRE. BENEATH THE EXIT SIGN THERE WILL BE A RED LIGHT. IF THE LIGHT'S COLOUR IS NOT RED, DO NOT DEPOSIT THE CHIP UNTIL WE CONTACT YOU. THIS IS A MATTER OF UPMOST IMPORTANCE. TELL NO ONE OF THIS SITUATION. IF THESE ORDERS ARE NOT FOLLOWED, THERE WILL BE DIRE CONSEQUENCES.
Skinner stared at the note in disbelief. They wanted him to deliver the chip? Scully's cancer would come back. Was that why they wanted it? Was there another reason?
The phone rang.
"Skinner."
"Did you get the message?"
"Yes. Who is this?" the man chuckled.
"It's not that easy, I'm afraid. I am not the man you want to speak with. Do you understand the directions?"
"I'm not doing it."
"Dire consequences, Mr. Skinner. Refusal is not an option."
"You are essentially asking me to sign Agent Scully's death certificate."
"That's not our problem. Get us the chip."
"Go to hell."
The man sighed. "You're going to regret this. You have forced our hand now." he hung up.
***
December 1, 2000
5:02 PM
Mulder's cell phone rang as they reached his car. Scully had left hers by the Hoover Building and walked. He sighed and pulled it out.
"Mulder."
"It's Skinner. Where are you?"
"Around."
"Agent Mulder, normally I'd reprimand you for that, but we've got more important things to worry about. Do you know where Agent Scully is?"
"She's with me, sir. We were doing some research on Robert Whittaker and were about to leave."
"Well, get back here, both of you. Now." he hung up.
"I don't know, Scully, he just sounded in a hurry."
"Agents!" Skinner ran up to them as they got out of the car. "We need to go somewhere we can talk safely. My office is being surveiled."
"Ours isn't."
Skinner nodded and led the way. Scully raised an eyebrow at her partner, who waggled his back at her. Gunmen. Great.
Mulder held the door open for his boss. Scully stood next to his chair, waiting for her partner to take his seat. Skinner sat in front of the desk. Mulder stared at Scully for a second, then moved to her desk, wheeling her chair behind his next to the one that was already there. With his back to his boss, he winked at her, pleased he'd thought of it. Scully smiled back and they sat.
"Well." Mulder leaned back and enjoyed the view. "This is fun."
"Cut it out, Mulder." Skinner started to reach into his jacket. "You're sure this place is clean?"
"It's fine. Why all the secrecy?"
Skinner gave them the paper and they held it between themselves, reading it. Finally it sunk in. Scully paled and Mulder looked up, his eyes murderous.
"No."
"Agent Mulder..."
"You're not doing this to her again!"
"Mulder." Scully spoke softly. He didn't listen.
"She almost *died*!" He felt her hand on his arm. "No. Scully..."
"Who are they threatening?"
"I'm not letting you do this, Scully!"
Skinner sat back to watch the show.
"I think it's my decision, Mulder."
"No."
"It's not my decision? Whose is it, yours?"
"I--come--sir, will you excuse us? Thank you..." Scully sighed and followed him out. As soon as the door closed behind them, Mulder snapped.
"I am not letting you do this, Scully."
"It is not your decision."
"Damn it, Scully..."
"Shouldn't we at least ask what's at stake?"
"It doesn't matter." she started to turn away from him, but he grabbed her arm. His eyes were feral when she looked back at him. "It shouldn't matter."
"But it does, Mulder. What if *you're* in danger? I'm not going to let anything happen to you."
"It's suicide."
"It's my choice."
"I just *found* you, Scully. I can't lose you now."
"Mulder, I don't *want* to die. But I'm a federal agent, and I have a responsibility..."
"This goes a bit above and beyond the call of duty, don't you think?"
"Mulder, look." Scully took his hand from her arm and held it. "I'm not going to make any rash decisions here. Let's at least get the whole story, ok?"
Her partner sighed and hugged her tight.
"You do realize I'm never letting go of you."
"Good. That'll make it hard for you to ditch me." Scully smiled at him and led the way back into the office.
"So?" Skinner looked impatient.
"Sir, did he say *anything* about what they were going to do?"
"No, nothing. They gave me directions to where I was supposed to go and used the words 'dire consequences'. That could mean anything."
"Yeah." she bit her lip. Mulder was silent. "Sir, I don't have a death wish. I'm not giving them my life 'til I know what I'm up against."
"Did you really think I was going to let you?" Skinner laughed slightly. "I think that's wise. Agent Mulder? Your take on her decision?"
"Oh, I absolutely agree."
"All right. I'm going to put two agents at your door and two at the main entrance to your apartment."
"Sir, I don't--"
"Scully, listen to him."
Agent and Assistant Directer alike stared at him.
"I'm sorry, what?" Scully stammered.
"Don't you even say it's not necessary. We're not risking your life. And I also think, sir, that I should stay with Agent Scully until the situation is resolved."
Skinner hesitated at that.
"Agent Mulder, Bureau policy on two agents of opposite sexes consorting in the same room..."
"Sir, I'm not leaving Agent Scully alone, not with someone after her life."
"Excuse me! Hi. Remember me?" the men managed to look ashamed. "Sir, I think if it'll make Agent Mulder feel better, it's easier to just let it go."
Their boss heaved a sigh. "Agent Scully, do *not* make me regret this."
***
Apartment of Dana Scully
December 1, 2000
11:21 PM
"So how much says Spooky and the missus are gettin' it on in there?"
Mulder groaned and rolled over on the couch, burying his face in his pillow. This exact same conversation had taken place each shift change. He was willing to bet pretty much everything that at least one of the agents had their ear to the door, listening.
Scully, he thought, was definitely not asleep. She hadn't wanted him sleeping in her room tonight--wait, scratch that. In actuality, he'd seen the conflict of desire and what she knew was right.
"Mulder," she'd said, putting her hand on his arm lightly. "Suppose this person *does* come after me. They have to break in here, they find us together. We can't risk it."
Oh, no, of course not. Damn it, he hated when Scully was right.
"What've you got?"
"Christmas. They'll let it out at the Bureau ball under a big hunk of mistletoe."
"You sure?"
"Hey, it's a gamble, a guess."
That was it. Mulder leapt to his feet and swung the door open. The two unfortunate agents on the other side jumped guiltily.
"Oh, I'm sorry. I thought I heard someone loitering out here--but of course that's ridiulous, seeing as we've got such fine agents as you out here. Well." Mulder grinned. "Sorry to disturb you. Excuse me, gentlemen."
After he closed the door, Scully came out of her bedroom.
"I heard the door," she said as an explanation.
Mulder looked her over. She looked exhausted.
"Scully, have you gotten *any* sleep?"
"Have you?"
Damn.
"Look, Mulder, I'm fine." She winced as he visibly clenched his jaw. "It's highly unlikely anyone is going to come after me at home--or anywhere else, for that matter. How long am I going to have to put up with this before you and Skinner figure that out?" She started back to her room, but Mulder followed.
"If you're so sure, then why'd you kick me out? If this guy isn't going to come, they won't need to either." He said, extending an arm backward toward the front door.
"Yes, but Mulder, I don't trust them. Maybe they make kicking down doors a hobby, I don't know." She lay down on her stomach. "Good night."
But he didn't leave. Instead he sat on the bed next to her, putting a gentle hand on her back.
"Mulder..."
"I am going to sit with you until you fall asleep. Then if you tell me to leave, I will. Ok?"
"'K." she mumbled into the pillow. Mulder grinned. This was too easy. He slowly rubbed her back until he felt the knots near her shoulders.
"Geez, Scully, have you started sleeping on the floor recently?"
"Damn, my secret's out." she muttered half-heartedly. Mulder chuckled and got more comfortable on the bed, putting both hands to work kneading her tense muscles. "Mmm..." she groaned slightly in response to his attention. Mulder laughed softly and bent to kiss the back of her neck.
"Oh, Scully... I wish you would let me take care of you more often."
"I wish you would shut up while you're ahead."
"I'm ahead?" he craned his head to see her face better.
"You're pushing it, Mulder. Come on." Without looking up, she lightly tapped the pillow next to her once, then put her arms together under her pillow to support her head. "Get some sleep."
*Now* he was unsure. "You sure, Scully?"
"Mulder. *I'm* not to get any sleep until *you* get some sleep. Ok?"
Mulder sighed and slipped his shoes off, his tie, and unbuttoned a few of the top buttons on his shirt. As an afterthought, he locked the bedroom door, thinking if someone burst in, they'd at least have a chance to recover before they got to that door.
Scully had rolled over and had her back to him when he finally lay down. Mulder pulled her onto her back and kissed her heatedly. Her arms rose to circle his neck and pull him closer. Suddenly she came to her senses as she took his upper lip in her mouth while he gently bit her bottom one.
"Mm... Mulder, if they come in here..."
"They won't."
"They might."
"Oh..." he groaned, pulling away and rolling onto his back. Scully smiled and went back to her previous position, not facing him. Her eyes slipped closed as his arms wrapped around her. Her entire body shuddered with the force with a long sigh and Mulder's arms tightened. His breath was hot against her neck as he whispered a heartfelt promise.
"There will never come a day that I would give up on you, Scully. Ever. You are stronger than anything that can happen to you." He kissed her neck. "And just in case you have any doubts, I'll do my best to keep anything from happening anyway. I promise."
Scully blinked back tears at his hoarse words. She silently held his hands folded near her chest and craned her head back to kiss his mouth softly. No more words were spoken. None were needed.
***
Apartment of Dana Scully
December 2, 2000
2:42 AM
Two figures slowly made their way up the trellis on the wall of the building. It had just been put up. Each apartment unit in the building would ultimately assume another had requested it. No agnets were posted near it. Finally the men reached the closed bedroom window and peered in.
"Holy shit!" The first figure looked in while the other kept an eye out for witnesses.
"What?"
"Look." He moved over to let his companion see.
"Damn!" He hissed through his teeth. "Can we take both of them with us?"
The other man shook his head. "Nope. Just the chick. Only one. I don't think we could handle two anyway."
"But couldn't we mess with their heads some?" The second man's eyes shone in the dim streetlights' glow. It was the look of a man scorned, a man who could carry a hell of a grudge. "Couldn't we take the guy, hold him in exchange for the chip. Get the chip, don't return him 'til she's dead, he'll kill himself. Kill two birds."
"If this doesn't work we'll be dead."
"And humiliated. But I heard Spooky say it out in the hallway one time..." Tom Colton grinned into the darkness inside the room. "Sometimes the need to mess with their heads outweighs the millstone of humiliation."
The window slid open and a cold wind blew in. Mulder groaned and pulled Scully closer.
"Isn't this nice." A voice came from the darkness. Scully jerked away and went for the gun on her night-table. She was awarded a blow to the back of her head with the weapon of the second man's weapon for her efforts. As she slipped into unconsciousness, the light turned on and Mulder was face with the dead weight of his partner in his arms and an angry Tom Colton training a gun on the both of them.
"Don't say one word." He said. "I'll shoot her, don't think I won't. It's just as easy to get the chip when she's dead."
Never taking his eyes off the turncoat agent, Mulder gently lay his partner back on the pillows.
"Why do you want the chip, Colton? What's it worth to you?"
"Nothing. Just the chance to mess with your heads. Get up."
"Ok." Mulder raised his arms. "Just stay cool."
"Over by the window. Move. Quietly." Colton's partner was on the ground already. When Mulder looked over the sill, he clicked the safety off his weapon. Mulder looked back at his partner one last time. He took a deep breath and climbed down, then jumped the last few feet so he landed almost on top of his abductor.
"Oops." he jerked his arm back into the man's face. A short skirmish ensued, then a telling *click* sounded from above them, followed immediately by a second one. Colton had two guns?
"You know, Mulder, with only one gun and six rounds, there's a tiny chance that if you ran I'd miss you and run out of bullets." Suddenly a weed next to his foot was no longer there. "But I have Agent Scully's gun as well as mine. And I don't miss."
"Damn you." he hissed, not moving. Now he had *Scully's* gun? What next? The man he had knocked to the ground got up and found his weapon, pointed it at Mulder. Colton climbed down and stood behind Mulder, cuffing his hands behind his back.
"You're coming with us, Spooky. Dana has something we need."
What the hell? Mulder thought frantically as he was shoved in the back of a van. Why were they taking him? Sure beat the alternative, but... if not Scully, what did they want from him? Colton was a prick, but when it came to sneaking up on a suspect he was one of the best. Of course, he wasn't surprised the jokers on surveilance didn't notice anything.
What did they want?
***
Apartment of Dana Scully
December 2, 2000
4:33 AM
Scully came to slowly and looked around. She was freezing. Why had Mulder opened the window? It's December, for crying out loud.
"Mulder-proof latches. My Christmas present to myself." she muttered, getting up and closing the window. She missed her partner's warmth. Where had he gone? All of a sudden, a headache appeared that sent her reeling. This felt suspiciously like an old hang-over. Scully leaned against the sill and tried to remember. Something had gone bump in the night and woke her up. Maybe Mulder would remember. She looked around. The bathroom light was off. In the kitchen getting a drink?
"Mulder?" No answer. He's not in the kitchen getting a drink. He's not here. "Geez--" Her gun was gone. *He* was gone. She sprinted to the door, but stopped short.
"Oh, *damn*." How the *hell* was she going to explain this? Yeah, uh, Agent Mulder was in my bed last night and now he's not... sure, and she could flash some cleavage while she was at it.
Scully sat heavily on the couch. Good Lord. This wasn't supposed to happen.
***
Apartment of Walter Skinner
December 2, 2000
4:00 AM
"Get up, Skinner." Krycek's voice floated through the darkness.
"Do I want to know how the hell you got in here?"
"Mulder's gone."
"He's on a surveilence team helping to protect one of our agents."
"He's helping to protect Agent Scully. He isn't there."
"What are you talking about?"
"You know what's good for you? Get there. Now."
***
Apartment of Dana Scully
December 2, 2000
4:40 AM
Scully jerked as someone knocked on the door. Skinner came in.
"Where's Agent Mulder?"
Scully stared at him.
"Is he here?"
"Do--do you have internal surveilance on my apartment, sir?"
"No. Is he gone?"
"How--" she sighed. "Last night--this morning, actually, I heard a noise that sounded suspicously like a predator entering the premises. However, due to the late hour and darkness, I was unable to reach my weapon in time. The intruder struck me on the head, rendering me unconscious. I can only assume they came in through the bedroom window, since the agents outside don't seem to know of this."
"They?"
"I seem to remember two individuals, though I'm not certain."
"And then?"
"I assume they made their way into this room and took Agent Mulder with them."
"Armed?"
"At least one. They took my weapon."
"Ransom note? Anything missing?"
"Just Agent Mulder."
"Agent Scully, why didn't you report this to the agents outside?"
"I'm sorry, sir, I was just trying to figure out what happened."
"Ah." Skinner waved his hand dismissively and headed for the door to tell the others. He wasn't upset at Scully so much as he was aggravated that Krycek had been right. How much did this man know?
***
Unknown location
Mulder banged his head against the wall of the van again. Over and over. Thud. Thud. Thud.
Scully.
Scully.
Scully.
The van had driven for a time that could've been hours or days. Mulder had fallen asleep despite his hard fought battle to remain conscious. They couldn't possibly still be in DC.
Finally they stopped and Mulder rolled onto his back, testing the cuffs. No give. He was stuck good.
So now he was on his back on a cold metal floor. He slammed his head back again, causing a hollow bang to reverberate through the space at the back of the extended van. Suddenly one of the back doors opened. Colton jumped in angrily, three armed men covering him.
"For God's sake, Mulder, what's going on?"
"I could ask you the same question." Mulder struggled to a sitting positiong. "What the hell is going on, Colton?"
Coton made a warning noise in his throat, shaking his head, and grabbed Mulder by the collar, pulling him to his feet and dragging him out. The guards glared at him threateningly.
"He said to leave him in the white room." the sentry reported when they neared the building. "Then the boss wants to see you."
"I'm in trouble already?" Colton groaned, shoving Mulder into a featureless room. "Great. Just--watch him, wil you?"
"Yeah. Whatever."
***
Apartment of Dana Scully
December 2, 2000
5:03 AM
Skinner had told the agents outside to get some crime scene technicians to the apartment and was in the corner coordinating efforts on his cell phone. Scully was being questioned by an agent so green it wasn't even funny.
"Do you have any idea of who would want to harm Agnet Mulder?"
"I've got tons of ideas."
"You're not exactly being helpful."
"Agnet Greene, do you have any idea how many cases Agent Mulder and I have prosecuted together over the past seven years?"
"I--se--seven? Really? Wow. Ok, um... so no ideas?"
"No."
"Ideas on the object he struck you with? Could he have left it behind?"
"Nothing is out of place."
Skinner blinked.
"Do you know where Agent Mulder was when he was taken?"
"I would assume the room we're in now. I wasn't awake, so I didn't see anything."
"About what time?"
"I'm not sure. Early morning."
Greene sighed, frustrated.
"Ransom note? Anything?"
"We expect something."
"And where were you when this happened?"
Scully fixed a gaze on the agent so intense he nearly ran from the room.
"Are you implying, Agent Greene, that I had something to do with this?"
Skinner ignored the protests on the other end of the line and hung up. can we say tension? Someone get me a knife.
"That's enough, Agent Greene."
"I'm not done yet."
"Yes, you are."
"Sir, is he serious?" Scully demanded of her boss' back as he escorted the errant agent out. Skinner sent the man on his way with his best military stare.
'Thank you so much,' it said. 'Now I'm in trouble.' He turned. Scully's eyes were boring into him with pain, fear, and anger... Skinner now seemed to really see his agent for the first time. She was pale and visibly tired and seemed to need to hold onto the fireplace mantel in order to keep from falling.
"Agent Scully, you should try and rest."
"Sir..."
"Look, Greene is new. He doesn't know."
"Then what is he doing on this case?"
"Connections."
"Do I need to mention Krycek?"
"No, Agent Scully, you most certainly do not." he almost went to her, but realized that she would not appreciate it. "Why don't you get some sleep?"
"You can't be serious." Scully ran a hand through her hair. "Is this some kind of joke?"
"We are combing the area. I'm going to put our best agents on this case."
"Like Agent Greene?" she asked sarcastically. "Sir, it would make me feel better knowing I was included in the investigation."
"No."
"Sir..."
"Agent Scully, I let Agent Mulder stay with you against my better judgement, and look where it's gotten us. And I don't want you on this--especially not after lying to Agent Greene."
"What?"
"Why didn't you tell him your weapon was missing?"
"Because." she reached up the chimney of the fireplace and produced a metal box. She took a new Sig from inside and checked the clip, saw it was full, snapped it back in. "I didn't want to explain this."
***
Unknown location
"Mr. Colton. Do come in." Tom Colton uneasily slid into the room. A dark man sat with his back to the door where the nervous man stood.
"Yes, sir."
"Mr. Colton, do you know the difference between men and women?"
"Ah... yeah."
"Oh. I thought, then, that I should inform you that if you can't tell the difference, you might want to study up on it a little more."
Colton chuckled uncertainly. "I can explain, sir."
"You decided that because Mulder proved you wrong how many years ago, you would jeopardize the project for some petty revenge."
"I--"
"Luckily for you, the situation is panning out wonderfully. The project is ending. We need the chip to erase any trace of it. And Mulder is no longer needed."
"Uh..."
"Your literacy never fails to amaze me." the man said drily. "You see the vial on my desk."
"Yes, sir."
"You are going to take the vial. In it is a solution from our nanotechnology tests. It is the last one. It does not work on the aliens. It will work on a human.
"You will inject the drug into Mulder and keep him here for 24 hours. By that time, he will be as good as dead. Then you will drop him in a hospital; I don't want a dead body on my hands. 36 hours after that, he will have died. That is the time to approach Agent Scully. Shoot her and remove the chip or simply take it and leave her to a slow, painful death. I don't care. But get me that chip. Do you understand, Mr. Colton?"
He nodded, swallowed, and cleared his throat. "Yeah."
"Good. Take it. Get a syringe from the supply room."
Behind the desk, Alvin Kersh tore open a pack of Morleys.
***
Apartment of Dana Scully
December 2, 2000
11:43 PM
Scully woke and found herself in her room. When had she fallen asleep? How'd she get in here? Then she remembered. Skinner. He'd threatened to place her on suspension from the FBI, leaving her with little means with which to find Mulder. Now he sat in a chair in the corner, looking over maps of DC. As she got up and walked to the living room, he followed.
The room was empty. All the agents and evidence technicians were gone. Scully stood in front of her computer and brought up her main directory. Skinner stood behind her and whistled lowly.
"That's a lot of files."
"That's a lot, a lot, a lot." she answered quietly. "Sir, what you're looking at is every report I have ever written--at least one for every case Mulder and I have worked on. Usually more. And seven years of cases." she closed her eyes and sighed. "And nowhere to start."
"I'll make the coffee."
Scully's heavy sigh was the only answer.
"We'll find him, Agent." Skinner said before going. "I promise."
***
Unknown location
Colton flicked the syringe and looked at the clock. It was getting late.
"You guys ready?" he asked the guards. They nodded and opened the door. Mulder lay awake, tied down on a cot.
"What's going on here?" he asked.
"Oh. Sorry, Spooky, but you've just been declared expendable."
"What?" Mulder jumped against the restraints before the guards could hold him down. He felt a long needle sink into his flesh before all went dark.
Colton threw out the syringe and left quietly.
The clock struck twelve.
***
Apartment of Dana Scully
December 3, 2000
2:44 AM
"Nothing." Skinner closed the last file of their 3rd year of cases. "You?"
"Everyone's either dead or in jail." she sighed. "Or it doesn't match the MO. Like that priest in Tennessee. We don't know where he is, but if he were involved, there'd be snakes."
"What about politics?"
"What do you mean?"
"People he pissed off. Law enforecment, local flavor... another agent?"
"A search for people who do like him would be easier. And as for law enforcement... God. If only you'd seen."
"So that's a wash."
"Well no, I mean, there's always possibilities. The problem is knowing where to start." she managed a wry smile. "What I wouldn't give for a Deep Throat right now."
"Hmm." Skinner stretched. "Agent, why don't you go for a drive? Get some fresh air, maybe you'll think of something. I'll keep looking."
"Sir..."
"Scully, you need a break. Go. A half-hour. I'll call you if anything happens." he pushed her towards the door and she left reluctantly.
When all else fails, turn to your faith. Scully wans't sure she had that faith anymore, but she was willing to try. The dusty old church down the street was always open; more times that she could count she'd seen people walking in and out in search of divine intervention. She had almost done so herself once, when she'd had her cancer. Science and a bit of her partner's extraterrestrial technology had fixed that. She sighed. Now she had no partner to bail her out. She pushed through the door.
The sudden silence hurt her ears.
"Somebody say something." she muttered.
"Howdy!" a priest's head popped up from behind the altar.
"Geez!" she jumped back.
"Ah, don't worry about it, kid, you're too young to have a heart attack." he jumped up to sit cross-legged on the table. "Hop on."
"I can't. I have to get back."
"What you're looking for will turn up." he said, laying on his back and closing his eyes. "You don't need to worry. Everything's gonna be fine. Don't waste that pretty face on wrinkles." he spoke to the ceiling. Scully slowly turned around.
"What are you talking about?"
"You're looking for someone. You will find him. It won't look good, and you will be very sad. But you will find him. It'll work out. It usually does when you have an angel watching over you."
Scully, now thoroughly confused, watched him raise his arms and begin to conduct an imaginary band. Slow strains of music began to play from nowhere, and the light from the window intensified. She spun around. It was three o'clock in the morning. Street light? No, not that high.
And then there was a group of people in white robes standing in the light. Scully watched, amazed, as they began to sing 'Silent Night' in perfect harmony. One of the angels turned and smiled shyly, then walked slowly to her as the rest continued to sing. Her hair was longer and her features were more pronounced--and she was a little taller than Scully. But she was--
"Emily." she gasped, and sat hard in a pew. "How--"
"Even an angel must grow--to fit her wings." the girl answered, sitting next to her. "You'll find him, mom. I promise. You two have a lot to do."
Emily smiled and got up. "I have to go."
"No--"
"I'll be back. You're going to need me. You'll see me again soon."
And she was gone. The church was dark and silent. And the priest was nowhere in sight.
***
Bethesda National
December 4
12:00 AM
The body lay still. A monitor beeped. No one would remember who put him there. And the only personal effect besides his clothes was a note addressed to Dana Scully...
End Part 5/??
***There are some children who will never see their first birthday. Some will not witness the birth of their baby brother, or ride a bike. Some won't graduate into high school or tease a friend about who they like. These are the angels that guide us the best, for they mature in heaven and they learn in heaven and they know no evil, for they have never experienced it. And whn a mother sees her child grown, of mature height and age, she needn't be afraid. Because even if they'd been only two feet tall at the time of their deaths, even angels need to grow to fit their wings.***
Archive: Yes, please! Just let me know where...
Spoiler: Oh, absolutely everything. Requiem hasn't happened, though.
Rating: R for language
Classification: MSR
Disclaimer: (As the Mad Hatter in Disney's Alice in Wonderland) Not mine, not mine, not mine! Although I can't help but think they're in better hands with me than CC... g.
Feedback: Please!
Notes: Ok, here we go again. This is the fifth installment of a story that decided to become a series without consulting me. Rather rude of it, wouldn't you say? I'm trying my best to continue giving you, the readers, what you want, and I hope I haven't disappointed. I like this part much, much more than the last one. I guess you guys really didn't like the last one either, seeing as I only got one comment thingy from the bottom. (Now you know where it is, you have no excuses g.) Anyway, I worked hard on this, so here it goes. Enjoy...
Silver Beauty
Principals V
December 1, 2000
FBI Headquarters
1:31 PM
Walter Skinner was not a happy person.
"Agent Mulder, what the hell were you thinking? Not only did you put Agent Scully and yourself in danger, you almost cost us the arrest!"
"You busted the wrong guy!"
"Agent Mulder..."
"Sir, Robert Whittaker is innocent." Scully broke in quietly. "There *is* a lot of evidence against him, but I think you'll find that all of it is circumstancial. There's nothing concrete against him. 48 hours, he's going to walk--and he should."
"Two witnesses placed him at the scene of the crime..."
"It wasn't him," Mulder said.
"Excuse me?"
"He wasn't there. He was at home watching tv alone, just like he said."
"Agent Scully, am I the only one who thinks that sounds wrong?"
"Do you trust Agent Mulder, sir?" Scully questioned him.
Skinner looked hard at her. "Again, am I the only one who thinks that sounds wrong?"
Mulder glanced at Scully sideways.
"Yeah, actually." he said slowly. "I think that was a valid question. *Do* you trust us?"
*Us*. Scully bit her tongue. She wasn't sure if the slip was intentional or not. Skinner sighed.
"Mulder, you're asking me to refute the work of all the other agents on this case based on--what? A hunch?" Mulder nodded. "That's a hell of a lot of trust."
"Haven't we earned it yet?"
"Sir." Scully spoke quickly before egos went flying. "Mulder is a good criminal profiler. The best. If he's so sure... there must be something."
"How do you know?" Skinner accentuated every word. "Explain it to me. Make me understand."
"Hospital records. There's something wrong with the hospital records." Mulder ground out.
"Why were you going through his hospital records?"
"You told me to profile Robert Whittaker. And I did. But I didn't."
"*What*?"
"Look, that's all you need to know. That's all I know. But Scully and I'll get to the bottom of it."
Skinner focussed his breathing. "Go. I want a report when you're done." The agents rose and went for the door. "Agent Scully, you stay."
Mulder stared back at him, then at Scully, then left quietly. Scully walked back to the desk slowly.
"Sir?"
"Agent Scully, you and Agent Mulder are close."
Scully's stomach clenched. Did he know?
"I'm sure you know that even though you found his sister and exposed the conspiracy, there are individuals who want the x-files closed and you and Mulder dead. For revenge, if nothing else. Tell him to be careful. Watch his back. You know he has a talent for making the wrong people mad. He'll listen to you."
Scully nodded, relieved. "Is that all, sir?"
Skinner hesitated.
"Sir?"
"Yes. Yes, Agent Scully. That's all."
***
4:48 PM
Pulling her coat tighter to her body, Scully hurried to the bench. The Potomac was frozen and the temperature was freezing; no one was around. Perfect.
Mulder was there. She'd found a note on her desk when she came back from Skinner's office before an autopsy she'd had scheduled. He wanted to meet her. He was wondering what Skinner had wanted. As she approached, she noticed his coat was hanging open and her subconscious berated him, wondering if he *wanted* to catch pneumonia.
"Anyone around?" he asked, hearing her come up behind him.
"No." she sighed and sank down, leaning back against his arm, which was draped over the back of the bench.
"Good." he craned his head until his face was in her hair and he breathed deeply. Scully closed her eyes. Such moments were so few and far between...
A car drove by in the distance. Immediately, though reluctantly, they seperated.
"What did Skinner want?"
"'Agent Scully, you and Agent Mulder are close.' His exact words."
Mulder stared at her, the indistinguishable panic look on his face.
"I know. I almost had a coronary. But it turns out he just wanted to warn me."
"About?"
"You. He's worried about you, Mulder. Seems he thinks you've been making the wrong people mad."
"About what?"
"About the x-files."
"Huh?" he looked confused. "About what, getting us reassigned? Getting them closed?"
"Closed. And getting us killed for good measure."
"What'd we do now?"
Scully didn't answer.
"Scully?"
She sighed and wet her lips. "I don't know. Someone wants revenge. It could be any one of our old cases. Anyone can hold a grudge."
"Why now?" No answer. When Mulder looked over at her, Scully looked at the ground, the slowly shook her head.
"Let's go home, Mulder."
"It's just barely five. Isn't there some kind of papework due for tomorrow? And the case..."
"We can take it to my place. Mulder..." when she looked up at him, her eyes were troubled. "Please. The office doesn't feel safe now." Scully couldn't explain the twisty feeling in her gut, but something told her something was wrong. Mulder took her hand and gently kissed the back of it, feeling her shiver under his touch. She was trembling, and it wasn't from the cold. Scully was scared to death.
"Come on," he said quietly. "Let's get out of here."
***
FBI Headquarters
December 1, 2000
4:30 PM
Skinner was not happy with this sudden visitation. The man who came in had made his entrance unannounced. What a time for Kim to not be at her desk. And what a day for the most distracted of tour guides to be on duty. And what a day for Mulder and Scully to be missing. And what a day for him to have such a pounding headache.
This kid couldn't be a day over 17 years old. He was still standing in the door.
"You Mr. Skinner?"
"Young man, shouldn't you be with your tour group?"
"Yeah, whatever, so listen. Weird dude gives me this note, pays me 200 dollars an' says get it to Walter Skinner or it's my ass." the kid sauntered on in like he owned the place, looking around before dropping the paper on Skinner's desk. "Man, you got some weird friends."
"Do you know your way out?"
"Hey, man. You better read that. I don't need this guy coming after me." the boy backed out. Skinner glared at the door, then looked at the paper.
MR. SKINNER. THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT MATTER. IT IS IN REGARDS TO AN AGENT UNDER YOUR COMMAND WHO HAD CANCER SOME YEARS AGO. A CHIP WAS IMPLANTED INTO THE BACK OF HER NECK WHICH CAUSED HER SICKNESS TO GO INTO REMISSION. YOU WILL DELIVER THIS CHIP TO US AT THE OLD MERMON THEATRE. BENEATH THE EXIT SIGN THERE WILL BE A RED LIGHT. IF THE LIGHT'S COLOUR IS NOT RED, DO NOT DEPOSIT THE CHIP UNTIL WE CONTACT YOU. THIS IS A MATTER OF UPMOST IMPORTANCE. TELL NO ONE OF THIS SITUATION. IF THESE ORDERS ARE NOT FOLLOWED, THERE WILL BE DIRE CONSEQUENCES.
Skinner stared at the note in disbelief. They wanted him to deliver the chip? Scully's cancer would come back. Was that why they wanted it? Was there another reason?
The phone rang.
"Skinner."
"Did you get the message?"
"Yes. Who is this?" the man chuckled.
"It's not that easy, I'm afraid. I am not the man you want to speak with. Do you understand the directions?"
"I'm not doing it."
"Dire consequences, Mr. Skinner. Refusal is not an option."
"You are essentially asking me to sign Agent Scully's death certificate."
"That's not our problem. Get us the chip."
"Go to hell."
The man sighed. "You're going to regret this. You have forced our hand now." he hung up.
***
December 1, 2000
5:02 PM
Mulder's cell phone rang as they reached his car. Scully had left hers by the Hoover Building and walked. He sighed and pulled it out.
"Mulder."
"It's Skinner. Where are you?"
"Around."
"Agent Mulder, normally I'd reprimand you for that, but we've got more important things to worry about. Do you know where Agent Scully is?"
"She's with me, sir. We were doing some research on Robert Whittaker and were about to leave."
"Well, get back here, both of you. Now." he hung up.
"I don't know, Scully, he just sounded in a hurry."
"Agents!" Skinner ran up to them as they got out of the car. "We need to go somewhere we can talk safely. My office is being surveiled."
"Ours isn't."
Skinner nodded and led the way. Scully raised an eyebrow at her partner, who waggled his back at her. Gunmen. Great.
Mulder held the door open for his boss. Scully stood next to his chair, waiting for her partner to take his seat. Skinner sat in front of the desk. Mulder stared at Scully for a second, then moved to her desk, wheeling her chair behind his next to the one that was already there. With his back to his boss, he winked at her, pleased he'd thought of it. Scully smiled back and they sat.
"Well." Mulder leaned back and enjoyed the view. "This is fun."
"Cut it out, Mulder." Skinner started to reach into his jacket. "You're sure this place is clean?"
"It's fine. Why all the secrecy?"
Skinner gave them the paper and they held it between themselves, reading it. Finally it sunk in. Scully paled and Mulder looked up, his eyes murderous.
"No."
"Agent Mulder..."
"You're not doing this to her again!"
"Mulder." Scully spoke softly. He didn't listen.
"She almost *died*!" He felt her hand on his arm. "No. Scully..."
"Who are they threatening?"
"I'm not letting you do this, Scully!"
Skinner sat back to watch the show.
"I think it's my decision, Mulder."
"No."
"It's not my decision? Whose is it, yours?"
"I--come--sir, will you excuse us? Thank you..." Scully sighed and followed him out. As soon as the door closed behind them, Mulder snapped.
"I am not letting you do this, Scully."
"It is not your decision."
"Damn it, Scully..."
"Shouldn't we at least ask what's at stake?"
"It doesn't matter." she started to turn away from him, but he grabbed her arm. His eyes were feral when she looked back at him. "It shouldn't matter."
"But it does, Mulder. What if *you're* in danger? I'm not going to let anything happen to you."
"It's suicide."
"It's my choice."
"I just *found* you, Scully. I can't lose you now."
"Mulder, I don't *want* to die. But I'm a federal agent, and I have a responsibility..."
"This goes a bit above and beyond the call of duty, don't you think?"
"Mulder, look." Scully took his hand from her arm and held it. "I'm not going to make any rash decisions here. Let's at least get the whole story, ok?"
Her partner sighed and hugged her tight.
"You do realize I'm never letting go of you."
"Good. That'll make it hard for you to ditch me." Scully smiled at him and led the way back into the office.
"So?" Skinner looked impatient.
"Sir, did he say *anything* about what they were going to do?"
"No, nothing. They gave me directions to where I was supposed to go and used the words 'dire consequences'. That could mean anything."
"Yeah." she bit her lip. Mulder was silent. "Sir, I don't have a death wish. I'm not giving them my life 'til I know what I'm up against."
"Did you really think I was going to let you?" Skinner laughed slightly. "I think that's wise. Agent Mulder? Your take on her decision?"
"Oh, I absolutely agree."
"All right. I'm going to put two agents at your door and two at the main entrance to your apartment."
"Sir, I don't--"
"Scully, listen to him."
Agent and Assistant Directer alike stared at him.
"I'm sorry, what?" Scully stammered.
"Don't you even say it's not necessary. We're not risking your life. And I also think, sir, that I should stay with Agent Scully until the situation is resolved."
Skinner hesitated at that.
"Agent Mulder, Bureau policy on two agents of opposite sexes consorting in the same room..."
"Sir, I'm not leaving Agent Scully alone, not with someone after her life."
"Excuse me! Hi. Remember me?" the men managed to look ashamed. "Sir, I think if it'll make Agent Mulder feel better, it's easier to just let it go."
Their boss heaved a sigh. "Agent Scully, do *not* make me regret this."
***
Apartment of Dana Scully
December 1, 2000
11:21 PM
"So how much says Spooky and the missus are gettin' it on in there?"
Mulder groaned and rolled over on the couch, burying his face in his pillow. This exact same conversation had taken place each shift change. He was willing to bet pretty much everything that at least one of the agents had their ear to the door, listening.
Scully, he thought, was definitely not asleep. She hadn't wanted him sleeping in her room tonight--wait, scratch that. In actuality, he'd seen the conflict of desire and what she knew was right.
"Mulder," she'd said, putting her hand on his arm lightly. "Suppose this person *does* come after me. They have to break in here, they find us together. We can't risk it."
Oh, no, of course not. Damn it, he hated when Scully was right.
"What've you got?"
"Christmas. They'll let it out at the Bureau ball under a big hunk of mistletoe."
"You sure?"
"Hey, it's a gamble, a guess."
That was it. Mulder leapt to his feet and swung the door open. The two unfortunate agents on the other side jumped guiltily.
"Oh, I'm sorry. I thought I heard someone loitering out here--but of course that's ridiulous, seeing as we've got such fine agents as you out here. Well." Mulder grinned. "Sorry to disturb you. Excuse me, gentlemen."
After he closed the door, Scully came out of her bedroom.
"I heard the door," she said as an explanation.
Mulder looked her over. She looked exhausted.
"Scully, have you gotten *any* sleep?"
"Have you?"
Damn.
"Look, Mulder, I'm fine." She winced as he visibly clenched his jaw. "It's highly unlikely anyone is going to come after me at home--or anywhere else, for that matter. How long am I going to have to put up with this before you and Skinner figure that out?" She started back to her room, but Mulder followed.
"If you're so sure, then why'd you kick me out? If this guy isn't going to come, they won't need to either." He said, extending an arm backward toward the front door.
"Yes, but Mulder, I don't trust them. Maybe they make kicking down doors a hobby, I don't know." She lay down on her stomach. "Good night."
But he didn't leave. Instead he sat on the bed next to her, putting a gentle hand on her back.
"Mulder..."
"I am going to sit with you until you fall asleep. Then if you tell me to leave, I will. Ok?"
"'K." she mumbled into the pillow. Mulder grinned. This was too easy. He slowly rubbed her back until he felt the knots near her shoulders.
"Geez, Scully, have you started sleeping on the floor recently?"
"Damn, my secret's out." she muttered half-heartedly. Mulder chuckled and got more comfortable on the bed, putting both hands to work kneading her tense muscles. "Mmm..." she groaned slightly in response to his attention. Mulder laughed softly and bent to kiss the back of her neck.
"Oh, Scully... I wish you would let me take care of you more often."
"I wish you would shut up while you're ahead."
"I'm ahead?" he craned his head to see her face better.
"You're pushing it, Mulder. Come on." Without looking up, she lightly tapped the pillow next to her once, then put her arms together under her pillow to support her head. "Get some sleep."
*Now* he was unsure. "You sure, Scully?"
"Mulder. *I'm* not to get any sleep until *you* get some sleep. Ok?"
Mulder sighed and slipped his shoes off, his tie, and unbuttoned a few of the top buttons on his shirt. As an afterthought, he locked the bedroom door, thinking if someone burst in, they'd at least have a chance to recover before they got to that door.
Scully had rolled over and had her back to him when he finally lay down. Mulder pulled her onto her back and kissed her heatedly. Her arms rose to circle his neck and pull him closer. Suddenly she came to her senses as she took his upper lip in her mouth while he gently bit her bottom one.
"Mm... Mulder, if they come in here..."
"They won't."
"They might."
"Oh..." he groaned, pulling away and rolling onto his back. Scully smiled and went back to her previous position, not facing him. Her eyes slipped closed as his arms wrapped around her. Her entire body shuddered with the force with a long sigh and Mulder's arms tightened. His breath was hot against her neck as he whispered a heartfelt promise.
"There will never come a day that I would give up on you, Scully. Ever. You are stronger than anything that can happen to you." He kissed her neck. "And just in case you have any doubts, I'll do my best to keep anything from happening anyway. I promise."
Scully blinked back tears at his hoarse words. She silently held his hands folded near her chest and craned her head back to kiss his mouth softly. No more words were spoken. None were needed.
***
Apartment of Dana Scully
December 2, 2000
2:42 AM
Two figures slowly made their way up the trellis on the wall of the building. It had just been put up. Each apartment unit in the building would ultimately assume another had requested it. No agnets were posted near it. Finally the men reached the closed bedroom window and peered in.
"Holy shit!" The first figure looked in while the other kept an eye out for witnesses.
"What?"
"Look." He moved over to let his companion see.
"Damn!" He hissed through his teeth. "Can we take both of them with us?"
The other man shook his head. "Nope. Just the chick. Only one. I don't think we could handle two anyway."
"But couldn't we mess with their heads some?" The second man's eyes shone in the dim streetlights' glow. It was the look of a man scorned, a man who could carry a hell of a grudge. "Couldn't we take the guy, hold him in exchange for the chip. Get the chip, don't return him 'til she's dead, he'll kill himself. Kill two birds."
"If this doesn't work we'll be dead."
"And humiliated. But I heard Spooky say it out in the hallway one time..." Tom Colton grinned into the darkness inside the room. "Sometimes the need to mess with their heads outweighs the millstone of humiliation."
The window slid open and a cold wind blew in. Mulder groaned and pulled Scully closer.
"Isn't this nice." A voice came from the darkness. Scully jerked away and went for the gun on her night-table. She was awarded a blow to the back of her head with the weapon of the second man's weapon for her efforts. As she slipped into unconsciousness, the light turned on and Mulder was face with the dead weight of his partner in his arms and an angry Tom Colton training a gun on the both of them.
"Don't say one word." He said. "I'll shoot her, don't think I won't. It's just as easy to get the chip when she's dead."
Never taking his eyes off the turncoat agent, Mulder gently lay his partner back on the pillows.
"Why do you want the chip, Colton? What's it worth to you?"
"Nothing. Just the chance to mess with your heads. Get up."
"Ok." Mulder raised his arms. "Just stay cool."
"Over by the window. Move. Quietly." Colton's partner was on the ground already. When Mulder looked over the sill, he clicked the safety off his weapon. Mulder looked back at his partner one last time. He took a deep breath and climbed down, then jumped the last few feet so he landed almost on top of his abductor.
"Oops." he jerked his arm back into the man's face. A short skirmish ensued, then a telling *click* sounded from above them, followed immediately by a second one. Colton had two guns?
"You know, Mulder, with only one gun and six rounds, there's a tiny chance that if you ran I'd miss you and run out of bullets." Suddenly a weed next to his foot was no longer there. "But I have Agent Scully's gun as well as mine. And I don't miss."
"Damn you." he hissed, not moving. Now he had *Scully's* gun? What next? The man he had knocked to the ground got up and found his weapon, pointed it at Mulder. Colton climbed down and stood behind Mulder, cuffing his hands behind his back.
"You're coming with us, Spooky. Dana has something we need."
What the hell? Mulder thought frantically as he was shoved in the back of a van. Why were they taking him? Sure beat the alternative, but... if not Scully, what did they want from him? Colton was a prick, but when it came to sneaking up on a suspect he was one of the best. Of course, he wasn't surprised the jokers on surveilance didn't notice anything.
What did they want?
***
Apartment of Dana Scully
December 2, 2000
4:33 AM
Scully came to slowly and looked around. She was freezing. Why had Mulder opened the window? It's December, for crying out loud.
"Mulder-proof latches. My Christmas present to myself." she muttered, getting up and closing the window. She missed her partner's warmth. Where had he gone? All of a sudden, a headache appeared that sent her reeling. This felt suspiciously like an old hang-over. Scully leaned against the sill and tried to remember. Something had gone bump in the night and woke her up. Maybe Mulder would remember. She looked around. The bathroom light was off. In the kitchen getting a drink?
"Mulder?" No answer. He's not in the kitchen getting a drink. He's not here. "Geez--" Her gun was gone. *He* was gone. She sprinted to the door, but stopped short.
"Oh, *damn*." How the *hell* was she going to explain this? Yeah, uh, Agent Mulder was in my bed last night and now he's not... sure, and she could flash some cleavage while she was at it.
Scully sat heavily on the couch. Good Lord. This wasn't supposed to happen.
***
Apartment of Walter Skinner
December 2, 2000
4:00 AM
"Get up, Skinner." Krycek's voice floated through the darkness.
"Do I want to know how the hell you got in here?"
"Mulder's gone."
"He's on a surveilence team helping to protect one of our agents."
"He's helping to protect Agent Scully. He isn't there."
"What are you talking about?"
"You know what's good for you? Get there. Now."
***
Apartment of Dana Scully
December 2, 2000
4:40 AM
Scully jerked as someone knocked on the door. Skinner came in.
"Where's Agent Mulder?"
Scully stared at him.
"Is he here?"
"Do--do you have internal surveilance on my apartment, sir?"
"No. Is he gone?"
"How--" she sighed. "Last night--this morning, actually, I heard a noise that sounded suspicously like a predator entering the premises. However, due to the late hour and darkness, I was unable to reach my weapon in time. The intruder struck me on the head, rendering me unconscious. I can only assume they came in through the bedroom window, since the agents outside don't seem to know of this."
"They?"
"I seem to remember two individuals, though I'm not certain."
"And then?"
"I assume they made their way into this room and took Agent Mulder with them."
"Armed?"
"At least one. They took my weapon."
"Ransom note? Anything missing?"
"Just Agent Mulder."
"Agent Scully, why didn't you report this to the agents outside?"
"I'm sorry, sir, I was just trying to figure out what happened."
"Ah." Skinner waved his hand dismissively and headed for the door to tell the others. He wasn't upset at Scully so much as he was aggravated that Krycek had been right. How much did this man know?
***
Unknown location
Mulder banged his head against the wall of the van again. Over and over. Thud. Thud. Thud.
Scully.
Scully.
Scully.
The van had driven for a time that could've been hours or days. Mulder had fallen asleep despite his hard fought battle to remain conscious. They couldn't possibly still be in DC.
Finally they stopped and Mulder rolled onto his back, testing the cuffs. No give. He was stuck good.
So now he was on his back on a cold metal floor. He slammed his head back again, causing a hollow bang to reverberate through the space at the back of the extended van. Suddenly one of the back doors opened. Colton jumped in angrily, three armed men covering him.
"For God's sake, Mulder, what's going on?"
"I could ask you the same question." Mulder struggled to a sitting positiong. "What the hell is going on, Colton?"
Coton made a warning noise in his throat, shaking his head, and grabbed Mulder by the collar, pulling him to his feet and dragging him out. The guards glared at him threateningly.
"He said to leave him in the white room." the sentry reported when they neared the building. "Then the boss wants to see you."
"I'm in trouble already?" Colton groaned, shoving Mulder into a featureless room. "Great. Just--watch him, wil you?"
"Yeah. Whatever."
***
Apartment of Dana Scully
December 2, 2000
5:03 AM
Skinner had told the agents outside to get some crime scene technicians to the apartment and was in the corner coordinating efforts on his cell phone. Scully was being questioned by an agent so green it wasn't even funny.
"Do you have any idea of who would want to harm Agnet Mulder?"
"I've got tons of ideas."
"You're not exactly being helpful."
"Agnet Greene, do you have any idea how many cases Agent Mulder and I have prosecuted together over the past seven years?"
"I--se--seven? Really? Wow. Ok, um... so no ideas?"
"No."
"Ideas on the object he struck you with? Could he have left it behind?"
"Nothing is out of place."
Skinner blinked.
"Do you know where Agent Mulder was when he was taken?"
"I would assume the room we're in now. I wasn't awake, so I didn't see anything."
"About what time?"
"I'm not sure. Early morning."
Greene sighed, frustrated.
"Ransom note? Anything?"
"We expect something."
"And where were you when this happened?"
Scully fixed a gaze on the agent so intense he nearly ran from the room.
"Are you implying, Agent Greene, that I had something to do with this?"
Skinner ignored the protests on the other end of the line and hung up. can we say tension? Someone get me a knife.
"That's enough, Agent Greene."
"I'm not done yet."
"Yes, you are."
"Sir, is he serious?" Scully demanded of her boss' back as he escorted the errant agent out. Skinner sent the man on his way with his best military stare.
'Thank you so much,' it said. 'Now I'm in trouble.' He turned. Scully's eyes were boring into him with pain, fear, and anger... Skinner now seemed to really see his agent for the first time. She was pale and visibly tired and seemed to need to hold onto the fireplace mantel in order to keep from falling.
"Agent Scully, you should try and rest."
"Sir..."
"Look, Greene is new. He doesn't know."
"Then what is he doing on this case?"
"Connections."
"Do I need to mention Krycek?"
"No, Agent Scully, you most certainly do not." he almost went to her, but realized that she would not appreciate it. "Why don't you get some sleep?"
"You can't be serious." Scully ran a hand through her hair. "Is this some kind of joke?"
"We are combing the area. I'm going to put our best agents on this case."
"Like Agent Greene?" she asked sarcastically. "Sir, it would make me feel better knowing I was included in the investigation."
"No."
"Sir..."
"Agent Scully, I let Agent Mulder stay with you against my better judgement, and look where it's gotten us. And I don't want you on this--especially not after lying to Agent Greene."
"What?"
"Why didn't you tell him your weapon was missing?"
"Because." she reached up the chimney of the fireplace and produced a metal box. She took a new Sig from inside and checked the clip, saw it was full, snapped it back in. "I didn't want to explain this."
***
Unknown location
"Mr. Colton. Do come in." Tom Colton uneasily slid into the room. A dark man sat with his back to the door where the nervous man stood.
"Yes, sir."
"Mr. Colton, do you know the difference between men and women?"
"Ah... yeah."
"Oh. I thought, then, that I should inform you that if you can't tell the difference, you might want to study up on it a little more."
Colton chuckled uncertainly. "I can explain, sir."
"You decided that because Mulder proved you wrong how many years ago, you would jeopardize the project for some petty revenge."
"I--"
"Luckily for you, the situation is panning out wonderfully. The project is ending. We need the chip to erase any trace of it. And Mulder is no longer needed."
"Uh..."
"Your literacy never fails to amaze me." the man said drily. "You see the vial on my desk."
"Yes, sir."
"You are going to take the vial. In it is a solution from our nanotechnology tests. It is the last one. It does not work on the aliens. It will work on a human.
"You will inject the drug into Mulder and keep him here for 24 hours. By that time, he will be as good as dead. Then you will drop him in a hospital; I don't want a dead body on my hands. 36 hours after that, he will have died. That is the time to approach Agent Scully. Shoot her and remove the chip or simply take it and leave her to a slow, painful death. I don't care. But get me that chip. Do you understand, Mr. Colton?"
He nodded, swallowed, and cleared his throat. "Yeah."
"Good. Take it. Get a syringe from the supply room."
Behind the desk, Alvin Kersh tore open a pack of Morleys.
***
Apartment of Dana Scully
December 2, 2000
11:43 PM
Scully woke and found herself in her room. When had she fallen asleep? How'd she get in here? Then she remembered. Skinner. He'd threatened to place her on suspension from the FBI, leaving her with little means with which to find Mulder. Now he sat in a chair in the corner, looking over maps of DC. As she got up and walked to the living room, he followed.
The room was empty. All the agents and evidence technicians were gone. Scully stood in front of her computer and brought up her main directory. Skinner stood behind her and whistled lowly.
"That's a lot of files."
"That's a lot, a lot, a lot." she answered quietly. "Sir, what you're looking at is every report I have ever written--at least one for every case Mulder and I have worked on. Usually more. And seven years of cases." she closed her eyes and sighed. "And nowhere to start."
"I'll make the coffee."
Scully's heavy sigh was the only answer.
"We'll find him, Agent." Skinner said before going. "I promise."
***
Unknown location
Colton flicked the syringe and looked at the clock. It was getting late.
"You guys ready?" he asked the guards. They nodded and opened the door. Mulder lay awake, tied down on a cot.
"What's going on here?" he asked.
"Oh. Sorry, Spooky, but you've just been declared expendable."
"What?" Mulder jumped against the restraints before the guards could hold him down. He felt a long needle sink into his flesh before all went dark.
Colton threw out the syringe and left quietly.
The clock struck twelve.
***
Apartment of Dana Scully
December 3, 2000
2:44 AM
"Nothing." Skinner closed the last file of their 3rd year of cases. "You?"
"Everyone's either dead or in jail." she sighed. "Or it doesn't match the MO. Like that priest in Tennessee. We don't know where he is, but if he were involved, there'd be snakes."
"What about politics?"
"What do you mean?"
"People he pissed off. Law enforecment, local flavor... another agent?"
"A search for people who do like him would be easier. And as for law enforcement... God. If only you'd seen."
"So that's a wash."
"Well no, I mean, there's always possibilities. The problem is knowing where to start." she managed a wry smile. "What I wouldn't give for a Deep Throat right now."
"Hmm." Skinner stretched. "Agent, why don't you go for a drive? Get some fresh air, maybe you'll think of something. I'll keep looking."
"Sir..."
"Scully, you need a break. Go. A half-hour. I'll call you if anything happens." he pushed her towards the door and she left reluctantly.
When all else fails, turn to your faith. Scully wans't sure she had that faith anymore, but she was willing to try. The dusty old church down the street was always open; more times that she could count she'd seen people walking in and out in search of divine intervention. She had almost done so herself once, when she'd had her cancer. Science and a bit of her partner's extraterrestrial technology had fixed that. She sighed. Now she had no partner to bail her out. She pushed through the door.
The sudden silence hurt her ears.
"Somebody say something." she muttered.
"Howdy!" a priest's head popped up from behind the altar.
"Geez!" she jumped back.
"Ah, don't worry about it, kid, you're too young to have a heart attack." he jumped up to sit cross-legged on the table. "Hop on."
"I can't. I have to get back."
"What you're looking for will turn up." he said, laying on his back and closing his eyes. "You don't need to worry. Everything's gonna be fine. Don't waste that pretty face on wrinkles." he spoke to the ceiling. Scully slowly turned around.
"What are you talking about?"
"You're looking for someone. You will find him. It won't look good, and you will be very sad. But you will find him. It'll work out. It usually does when you have an angel watching over you."
Scully, now thoroughly confused, watched him raise his arms and begin to conduct an imaginary band. Slow strains of music began to play from nowhere, and the light from the window intensified. She spun around. It was three o'clock in the morning. Street light? No, not that high.
And then there was a group of people in white robes standing in the light. Scully watched, amazed, as they began to sing 'Silent Night' in perfect harmony. One of the angels turned and smiled shyly, then walked slowly to her as the rest continued to sing. Her hair was longer and her features were more pronounced--and she was a little taller than Scully. But she was--
"Emily." she gasped, and sat hard in a pew. "How--"
"Even an angel must grow--to fit her wings." the girl answered, sitting next to her. "You'll find him, mom. I promise. You two have a lot to do."
Emily smiled and got up. "I have to go."
"No--"
"I'll be back. You're going to need me. You'll see me again soon."
And she was gone. The church was dark and silent. And the priest was nowhere in sight.
***
Bethesda National
December 4
12:00 AM
The body lay still. A monitor beeped. No one would remember who put him there. And the only personal effect besides his clothes was a note addressed to Dana Scully...
End Part 5/??
***There are some children who will never see their first birthday. Some will not witness the birth of their baby brother, or ride a bike. Some won't graduate into high school or tease a friend about who they like. These are the angels that guide us the best, for they mature in heaven and they learn in heaven and they know no evil, for they have never experienced it. And whn a mother sees her child grown, of mature height and age, she needn't be afraid. Because even if they'd been only two feet tall at the time of their deaths, even angels need to grow to fit their wings.***