North I-95
Virginia
9:03pm
* * * * * *
Show me a hero, and I'll show you a tragedy. --F. Scott Fitgerald
* * * * * *
Diana could feel Scully studying her profile as she drove. She stole a
look and briefly met Scully's eyes. How much did she know? How much
could she pick up? Diana suspected quite a bit if she wanted to. After
all, that was one of the main criteria of why she was chosen, because of
her latent psychic abilities.
Even though she suspected Scully knew her thoughts, Diana still felt an
obligation of sorts to explain. "You're good for him, you know." She
said, breaking the silence.
"What do you mean?" Scully half stammered.
A sideways glance. Her voice softened; took on an almost wistful tone.
"Mulder. You're good for him. You keep him grounded, balanced. He truly
is a better person because of you. Anyone could see that it was never
like that with us. I envy you that."
Scully seemed to ignore the comment, and instead asked, "Where are we
going Diana?"
She smiled and looked away from Scully and back to the road. "We are
going to get him."
"And we weren't before." It was not a question, Scully already knew.
What a wonderful gift telepathy was.
"No, we weren't. It wasn't part of the plan. But I can't..." Her voice
wavered briefly. " I can't... Look, there will likely be some
repercussions following all of this," she indicated their current
situation with her hand, "and I would hate for him to have to deal with
them on his own."
"But this wasn't part of the original plan. You are putting us at risk
by doing this." These were statements of fact. There was no hint of
accusation or anger. Scully's tone was carefully neutral. "Why are you
risking yourself like this? There is a very real danger by doing this,
am I right?"
Diana smiled to herself, then looked to Scully. "Agent Scully, why do
you do what you do for him? Why have you stayed with him all of this
time? Why do you continually risk your life for him?" These were
rhetorical questions. They both knew why, it was obvious.
A long pause and silence reigned. It didn't need to be said, but Diana
spoke anyway. "Fox is certainly not an easy man to love," Another
sideways glance. "Is he?"
Scully looked up to Diana's eyes, "No, he isn't." Diana held her gaze
for a moment. Then she slowly nodded.
* * * * * *
George Washington Parkway
10:05pm
Another glance at his watch. "Shit!" Krycek said, and exerted an
increasing amount of downward force on the accelerator.
* * * * *
Outside Scully's Apartment Building
10:19pm
Scully looked up in surprise as the familiar brick building came into
view. "He's here?"
"Yes. There was an incident at his apartment. I don't think he wanted to
go back there." Diana placed the car in park, but left the engine
running and turned expectantly to Scully. "He's up there. You need to
get him as quickly as you can."
"What about--" Scully began before Diana interrupted. "I'm not the one
he wants to see now. I'll be waiting here for both of you. Hurry."
* * * * * *
East I-66, Washington DC
"Damn it Krycek! Tell me what the hell is going on. Who are you
muttering about?" Dagen asked, his hand gripping the dashboard in front
of him, trying to support himself as the car took another sharp corner.
Krycek didn't even bother to look in his direction. He practically
growled his words. "Mulder. The bitch has gone to get him and in the
process royally fucked everything up."
"Mulder." Dagen knew that name. Hell, everyone knew that name. He
was a legend. A legend for screwing things up. "Why is she doing this?
Doesn't she know what his influence will be?"
"Oh she knows, she knows him rather well from what I understand. But
she doesn't seem to care. Damn women! Always thinking with their soft
ass hearts!" He punctuated his comment by hitting his balled up fist
against the steering wheel.
* * * * * *
Outside Scully's Apartment Building
9:20pm
A bounty hunter watched as the car pulled up with the two women. He knew
who each was; he had been waiting for their arrival. Ever since they had
discovered that Scully had disappeared he had been sent to watch Mulder.
This was the obvious choice for her to show up. He watched as Scully
stepped out of the car and disappeared through the lobby door.
Strange, the figure's face wrinkled in mild confusion, he couldn't read
her thoughts and he had always been able to before...He dismissed the
idea quickly and moved to the other woman. He would have enough time
later to figure it out
The other woman was Diana Fowley. He recognized her mind and was
surprised to find her here. The last time he had 'contact' with her,
there'd been no indication of this plan. It must have been a recent
development. He paused as he carefully searched her thoughts. Yes, yes
this had been quite recent. And she had been such a good worker. It
really was almost a shame.
And why had she done it? His mind struggled as he tried to grasp the
concepts in her mind. Redemption? Hope?... Love?
He shrugged the words away. He would never understand humans. They would
do the most ridiculous and irrational things because of simple words.
He pulled the gun from the holster, tightened his coat tightly around
him, and walked across the street, heading directly for the parked car.
* * * * * *
9:21pm
Diana watched Scully enter the building via the rearview mirror. She
prayed that Krycek's information had been correct, that Mulder was in
fact here. The thought of Krycek, reminded her of something. She reached
into her coat pocket for the transmitter/receiver and pushed the button.
She knew that she was late and that he would be pissed, but at least he
would know that they were ok.
"Come on Scully... No time for dawdling." She nervously adjusted the
mirror, trying to get a better view of the front door. She had just
taken her eyes off the mirror when a motion in it caught her attention.
She turned her head rapidly to look behind her to see what was there.
There was nothing.
She turned back around.
And she saw it again. Just within her line of vision he stood. He was
inches away, only the glass on the driver's side window separated them.
"I've made a horrible mistake."
And her world collapsed.
* * * * * *
Scully's Apartment
Scully entered the apartment through her unlocked door. She found him
asleep on her sofa, curled tightly into a ball at one end, is eyes shut
tight, face stiff with tension. She walked around the couch and moved
aside a bottle of prescription pills that was on the coffee table and
sat down on the hard wood next to him.
His forehead was furrowed, the lines reaching deep into his otherwise
smooth skin. She reached her hand out to grab his shoulder, to stir him
awake but couldn't help but bring her fingertip to try to smooth out the
lines. As her fingertips found his brow and she lightly ran her index
finger across his skin, all of the tension dissolved from his face and
he sighed contently. His worry lines, some new she noticed, were almost
completely smoothed out.
Scully kept her hand on Mulder's temple lightly running her fingers
through his hair and with the other picked up the bottle she had moved.
Dalmane, a powerful sleep aid. Left over from his horrid experience a
few years ago when he had let a doctor drill into his head. He hadn't
slept well after that, and she had insisted that he go and get something
so he could sleep.
Mulder tried it for only one night. He had complained to her that he
didn't like the feeling of missing time, of the utter disconnection it
gave him from the rest of the world. He said that he would rather be
awake for days and feel tired instead of being rested, but feeling
nothing.
What had made him start taking them now?
Panic flared through Scully. He wouldn't have... Her hand left Mulder
and went to unscrew the lid. How many were left? The white pills gleamed
menacingly in her hand. There were eight. The prescription was for ten.
She sighed, relived. It was fine. How could she have even thought that
he would just take them all?
"Scully!" The terror filled cry was deafening in her ears. She looked
back to Mulder. His face was no longer smooth. It was instead the
tortured features that fit one who had journeyed through the outer
reaches of hell, but not back. He brought his legs up to his chest and
wrapped his arms tightly around them, curled into the smallest ball
possible. His hands clutched each other so tightly that his hands were
beginning blanch white. He was sleeping still, but also talking.
"...No...please...Scully stay... leave her alone!...stay... don't
go...Scully"
Instinct took over and she dropped to her knees in front of him and
bought her arms up to encircle his shoulders. Her touch had an immediate
calming effect, almost as pronounced as if a powerful sedative had been
administered directly into his veins. "It's ok Mulder, I'm here. You'll
be fine. I can help you..." She didn't know exactly what she was saying
but she continued murmuring in his ear.
"Scully..." No longer a cry, but still painful to hear, her name was
strangled in his throat. Her name...he was calling out for her... Scully
brought her hand and cupped his cheek. A mild vertigo overcame her and
the room seemed to turn like a carousel. "Muld--" she began.
That was all she was able to get out.
* * * * * *
Krycek hit the brakes hard and the tires squealed in protest. Another
damn light. They were only blocks away yet it may have well been a
hundred. Just a few more minutes...
Green light. Krycek pressed the accelerator hard and the car bucked
forward like a bronco charging out of the chute. Just a few more minutes
and they would be there...
* * * * * *
Scully's Apartment
9:22pm
-Flash-
Dark crowded behind Scully's eyelids as it came into her. The dark was
insidious; it came up her nose and into her eyes, damp fingers of dark
forcing its way inside her.
Her fingers raked over her face as she tried to tear it off but it hung
on tenaciously. She couldn't breathe, she couldn't see, and panic was
beginning to take control.
And she felt strong hands grab her own and her vision cleared. She
looked up into Mulder's beaming face. "I found you." The glee in his
voice was infectious and she couldn't help but return the smile.
"They tried to take you from me, to hide you under this." He held up
a black sheet. Was that what was smothering her earlier?
"But they couldn't hide you from me. Your light was too much for them
to hide and I could find you." Scully glanced down at herself. She was
glowing. The rest of the room was utter blackness. She was the only
brightness in the room.
"Mulder, what is this? Where are we? Can you tell me that?" He
didn't acknowledge her questions. Instead, he simply smiled at her and
lightly tugged on her hand. "Come on Scully, follow me."
She took a step and she was at a beach, the waves crashing rhythmically
against the sand as the tide came in. "You like the beach right? You
mentioned once that you like the ocean." He smiled even wider. "I
remember everything you say." He pulled her gently on her hand until
they were walking side by side, hand in hand amongst the crashing waves.
"It is so nice here, why did you leave before? You won't leave me
again, will you?" He pleaded, his most winsome smile on his lips.
"We were having such a nice time before."
"I'm sure we were..." said slowly and carefully. "But first I need
to figure out what is going on. Where are we Mulder? How did we get to
the beach?"
Confusion flashed over his eyes. "I don't know. Did you bring me
here?"
"No." And then it hit her. "Mulder, I think that this is your
dream."
He considered her comment thoughtfully. He nodded sadly. "I remember
now." His voice cracked and he turned away from her. "I just wanted
to forget for a little bit... but I guess that's not possible."
"Mulder, I'm back. I am back and I'm with you in my living room."
"No, I don't believe that. You can't be in both places at once. If you
were the real Scully and not just a wonderful figment of my imagination
you would know this."
This was not working. "Mulder, I have to go now."
He spun around to face her. "No! Please don't leave. You can't leave
me alone here." The beach was gone and the blackness back. "It's so
dark without you...please, please Scully." He desperately clung to her
hand as he pleaded with her.
"I'm sorry. But you'll understand." Scully broke away from him,
gasping slightly, her mind reeling and her thoughts in complete turmoil.
She was beginning to feel as if she was never going to get solid ground
beneath her feet.
She was in her apartment again. "I just witnessed Mulder's dream. No.
No, it can't be possible." She closed her mind to that possibility,
shut him out. Her thoughts were interrupted by Mulder's cries.
"Scully...why? Come back... so dark without you..." She pulled Mulder to
her and began to speak softly. "Mulder, Mulder, wake up. I'm here with
you, I'm ok. You're ok. It's ok, everything will be ok..." She
continued administering to him, speaking softly, gently wiping the tears
from his face. "This is real. This is really happening to us. How is
this possible? What strange parallel universe have we fallen into?"
* * * * * *
The bounty hunter moved away from the car and sheathed his gun. He
turned and began to make his way up the front steps.
* * * * * *
Mulder didn't open his eyes for several moments after he had regained
consciousness. He thought at first it was merely a twisted continuation
of his dream but slowly he realized the blessed truth.
Scully was back, alive, and he was in her arms. He sat up quickly, his
dreams forgotten. Scully was not prepared for this sudden movement and
would have been unceremoniously dumped on the floor if Mulder hadn't
held her at her waist as he rose. Standing there at that moment, holding
her close, Mulder felt a wave of affection and love wash over him that
nearly dropped him to his knees. Mulder pulled her into his arms and
nearly crushed her with the force of his hug and the relief behind it.
Scully held on just as tight. "How? How can this be? This can't be
real, but it feels so damn good." Fresh tears began to form.
She was pulling away, why was she pulling away? "Scully?"
She pulled away just enough to meet his eyes. "We have to get out of
here Mulder. We're in serious danger."
"What do you mean? Tell me what is happening Scully. How did you even
get here?"
"I'll tell you everything on the way." She fully disengaged her body
from him but held onto his hand. She began to lead him to the door. "You
have to trust me on this... I don't have time to explain it all right
now."
Mulder was still hesitant. This was happen far to quickly. Not less that
2 minutes ago he was convinced he would never see her again and now...
An evil idea came into his head, so unpleasant that he was reluctant to
even put it into words. "Is this really Scully? Could it be someone
else, something else?"
His doubt loomed almost tangibly. Scully felt his hesitation and turned
to face him. "Mulder, it's me." She looked up to meet his eyes. There
was an iridescence to the blue irises, a silver glow. It was as if
instead of just merely reflecting light, it was an actual source. Mulder
blinked slowly, and the impression disappeared.
She was speaking again. "You said once that I've saved you, let me save
you now. Mulder, you have to trust me now. Do you trust me, don't you?"
Mulder felt shame. Shame and guilt for his doubt and hesitation. "Of
course Scully. I'll always--"
Mulder never got to finish.
* * * * * *
Outside Scully's Apartment Building
9:23pm
Dagen had barely unhooked his seat belt before Krycek had leaped out of
the car. Dagen hurried to catch up.
Krycek ran past a car that sat immediately in front of the building and
pulled himself up short. "Shit!" He only paused for a moment before
continuing, running even faster this time.
A second later Dagen passed the car, and he too paused. Blood and tissue
and bone fragments were splattered on the inside of glass, so thick that
he could barely see inside. But he saw enough. Through the round hole
the bullet made as it passed through the glass before it passed through
Diana's head, he could see her dark hair, now stained a deep maroon.
By the time he looked up from the car, Krycek had already entered the
building. Dagen hurried to catch up again.
* * * * * *
When the bounty hunter burst through the Scully's door, it was as if a
glass ball had shattered to let air and the world in. They'd just began
to head for the door, Scully leading Mulder by his hand, when the sudden
noise tore them apart.
Scully saw what happened next as if she were merely an observer looking
in. The figure stood in the doorway. Without a word he raised his gun
and pointed it at Mulder.
Mulder had had his back to the door and he didn't see what she did. It
took him a half-second before he could turn around. A half-second that
he didn't have. Scully saw the situation before he did, and without
hesitation she pushed him to the floor just as the bounty hunter fired
his weapon.
Scully looked down at Mulder lying on the floor. "God, is he hurt?
Please, please God, not like this. Be ok, be ok Mulder."
She approached him, unthinking. There was no blood and he had sat up. He
was ok. "He was ok. Thank God."
But her momentary relief was brief as she looked into Mulder's horror
stricken eyes. It was then that she discovered that she had been the one
to get shot. She realized then that while she had felt the bullet hit
her, she felt no other sensation. "Something is terribly wrong here.
This is not like last time." She slowly dropped her eyes, reluctantly
moving them down. She had to know; yet feared that knowledge. As her
eyes finally met the wound, she saw that instead of seeing the expected
red of blood, she saw a noxious green fluid.
Scully's look of terror matched Mulder's as she looked to him, the
intruder forgotten. "My god Mulder, what does this mean?" But she knew,
as did Mulder. "I've been changed."
Mulder tried to rise to his feet, but before he could, the toxic fumes
began to have their affect. He stumbled to his knees as he brought his
hands to his face. The doctor in Scully began to approach him. She
realized her mistake as his symptoms began to worsen. "It is me. I am
doing this to him. I'm killing him!" She moved to the opposite side of
the room. "Mulder! Mulder, can you answer me?" Panic colored her voice.
Scully met his tortured eyes once more, and then he was lost to
unconsciousness.
The intruder had not moved since the single shot had been fired. He
looked to Mulder, saw that he was no longer a threat, and calmly put his
gun away.
Scully turned her attention to the intruder. Her wound now healed, she
asked, "What do you want from us?" Anger and fear were equally
represented in her voice.
"You need to come with me." That was all he said. He reached his hand
into his pocket and slowly pulled out his weapon. He hit the switch, and
with a "phitt" the stiletto extended.
Scully could feel the cold fear as it flooded her. He began to advance.
* * * * * *
Virginia
9:03pm
* * * * * *
Show me a hero, and I'll show you a tragedy. --F. Scott Fitgerald
* * * * * *
Diana could feel Scully studying her profile as she drove. She stole a
look and briefly met Scully's eyes. How much did she know? How much
could she pick up? Diana suspected quite a bit if she wanted to. After
all, that was one of the main criteria of why she was chosen, because of
her latent psychic abilities.
Even though she suspected Scully knew her thoughts, Diana still felt an
obligation of sorts to explain. "You're good for him, you know." She
said, breaking the silence.
"What do you mean?" Scully half stammered.
A sideways glance. Her voice softened; took on an almost wistful tone.
"Mulder. You're good for him. You keep him grounded, balanced. He truly
is a better person because of you. Anyone could see that it was never
like that with us. I envy you that."
Scully seemed to ignore the comment, and instead asked, "Where are we
going Diana?"
She smiled and looked away from Scully and back to the road. "We are
going to get him."
"And we weren't before." It was not a question, Scully already knew.
What a wonderful gift telepathy was.
"No, we weren't. It wasn't part of the plan. But I can't..." Her voice
wavered briefly. " I can't... Look, there will likely be some
repercussions following all of this," she indicated their current
situation with her hand, "and I would hate for him to have to deal with
them on his own."
"But this wasn't part of the original plan. You are putting us at risk
by doing this." These were statements of fact. There was no hint of
accusation or anger. Scully's tone was carefully neutral. "Why are you
risking yourself like this? There is a very real danger by doing this,
am I right?"
Diana smiled to herself, then looked to Scully. "Agent Scully, why do
you do what you do for him? Why have you stayed with him all of this
time? Why do you continually risk your life for him?" These were
rhetorical questions. They both knew why, it was obvious.
A long pause and silence reigned. It didn't need to be said, but Diana
spoke anyway. "Fox is certainly not an easy man to love," Another
sideways glance. "Is he?"
Scully looked up to Diana's eyes, "No, he isn't." Diana held her gaze
for a moment. Then she slowly nodded.
* * * * * *
George Washington Parkway
10:05pm
Another glance at his watch. "Shit!" Krycek said, and exerted an
increasing amount of downward force on the accelerator.
* * * * *
Outside Scully's Apartment Building
10:19pm
Scully looked up in surprise as the familiar brick building came into
view. "He's here?"
"Yes. There was an incident at his apartment. I don't think he wanted to
go back there." Diana placed the car in park, but left the engine
running and turned expectantly to Scully. "He's up there. You need to
get him as quickly as you can."
"What about--" Scully began before Diana interrupted. "I'm not the one
he wants to see now. I'll be waiting here for both of you. Hurry."
* * * * * *
East I-66, Washington DC
"Damn it Krycek! Tell me what the hell is going on. Who are you
muttering about?" Dagen asked, his hand gripping the dashboard in front
of him, trying to support himself as the car took another sharp corner.
Krycek didn't even bother to look in his direction. He practically
growled his words. "Mulder. The bitch has gone to get him and in the
process royally fucked everything up."
"Mulder." Dagen knew that name. Hell, everyone knew that name. He
was a legend. A legend for screwing things up. "Why is she doing this?
Doesn't she know what his influence will be?"
"Oh she knows, she knows him rather well from what I understand. But
she doesn't seem to care. Damn women! Always thinking with their soft
ass hearts!" He punctuated his comment by hitting his balled up fist
against the steering wheel.
* * * * * *
Outside Scully's Apartment Building
9:20pm
A bounty hunter watched as the car pulled up with the two women. He knew
who each was; he had been waiting for their arrival. Ever since they had
discovered that Scully had disappeared he had been sent to watch Mulder.
This was the obvious choice for her to show up. He watched as Scully
stepped out of the car and disappeared through the lobby door.
Strange, the figure's face wrinkled in mild confusion, he couldn't read
her thoughts and he had always been able to before...He dismissed the
idea quickly and moved to the other woman. He would have enough time
later to figure it out
The other woman was Diana Fowley. He recognized her mind and was
surprised to find her here. The last time he had 'contact' with her,
there'd been no indication of this plan. It must have been a recent
development. He paused as he carefully searched her thoughts. Yes, yes
this had been quite recent. And she had been such a good worker. It
really was almost a shame.
And why had she done it? His mind struggled as he tried to grasp the
concepts in her mind. Redemption? Hope?... Love?
He shrugged the words away. He would never understand humans. They would
do the most ridiculous and irrational things because of simple words.
He pulled the gun from the holster, tightened his coat tightly around
him, and walked across the street, heading directly for the parked car.
* * * * * *
9:21pm
Diana watched Scully enter the building via the rearview mirror. She
prayed that Krycek's information had been correct, that Mulder was in
fact here. The thought of Krycek, reminded her of something. She reached
into her coat pocket for the transmitter/receiver and pushed the button.
She knew that she was late and that he would be pissed, but at least he
would know that they were ok.
"Come on Scully... No time for dawdling." She nervously adjusted the
mirror, trying to get a better view of the front door. She had just
taken her eyes off the mirror when a motion in it caught her attention.
She turned her head rapidly to look behind her to see what was there.
There was nothing.
She turned back around.
And she saw it again. Just within her line of vision he stood. He was
inches away, only the glass on the driver's side window separated them.
"I've made a horrible mistake."
And her world collapsed.
* * * * * *
Scully's Apartment
Scully entered the apartment through her unlocked door. She found him
asleep on her sofa, curled tightly into a ball at one end, is eyes shut
tight, face stiff with tension. She walked around the couch and moved
aside a bottle of prescription pills that was on the coffee table and
sat down on the hard wood next to him.
His forehead was furrowed, the lines reaching deep into his otherwise
smooth skin. She reached her hand out to grab his shoulder, to stir him
awake but couldn't help but bring her fingertip to try to smooth out the
lines. As her fingertips found his brow and she lightly ran her index
finger across his skin, all of the tension dissolved from his face and
he sighed contently. His worry lines, some new she noticed, were almost
completely smoothed out.
Scully kept her hand on Mulder's temple lightly running her fingers
through his hair and with the other picked up the bottle she had moved.
Dalmane, a powerful sleep aid. Left over from his horrid experience a
few years ago when he had let a doctor drill into his head. He hadn't
slept well after that, and she had insisted that he go and get something
so he could sleep.
Mulder tried it for only one night. He had complained to her that he
didn't like the feeling of missing time, of the utter disconnection it
gave him from the rest of the world. He said that he would rather be
awake for days and feel tired instead of being rested, but feeling
nothing.
What had made him start taking them now?
Panic flared through Scully. He wouldn't have... Her hand left Mulder
and went to unscrew the lid. How many were left? The white pills gleamed
menacingly in her hand. There were eight. The prescription was for ten.
She sighed, relived. It was fine. How could she have even thought that
he would just take them all?
"Scully!" The terror filled cry was deafening in her ears. She looked
back to Mulder. His face was no longer smooth. It was instead the
tortured features that fit one who had journeyed through the outer
reaches of hell, but not back. He brought his legs up to his chest and
wrapped his arms tightly around them, curled into the smallest ball
possible. His hands clutched each other so tightly that his hands were
beginning blanch white. He was sleeping still, but also talking.
"...No...please...Scully stay... leave her alone!...stay... don't
go...Scully"
Instinct took over and she dropped to her knees in front of him and
bought her arms up to encircle his shoulders. Her touch had an immediate
calming effect, almost as pronounced as if a powerful sedative had been
administered directly into his veins. "It's ok Mulder, I'm here. You'll
be fine. I can help you..." She didn't know exactly what she was saying
but she continued murmuring in his ear.
"Scully..." No longer a cry, but still painful to hear, her name was
strangled in his throat. Her name...he was calling out for her... Scully
brought her hand and cupped his cheek. A mild vertigo overcame her and
the room seemed to turn like a carousel. "Muld--" she began.
That was all she was able to get out.
* * * * * *
Krycek hit the brakes hard and the tires squealed in protest. Another
damn light. They were only blocks away yet it may have well been a
hundred. Just a few more minutes...
Green light. Krycek pressed the accelerator hard and the car bucked
forward like a bronco charging out of the chute. Just a few more minutes
and they would be there...
* * * * * *
Scully's Apartment
9:22pm
-Flash-
Dark crowded behind Scully's eyelids as it came into her. The dark was
insidious; it came up her nose and into her eyes, damp fingers of dark
forcing its way inside her.
Her fingers raked over her face as she tried to tear it off but it hung
on tenaciously. She couldn't breathe, she couldn't see, and panic was
beginning to take control.
And she felt strong hands grab her own and her vision cleared. She
looked up into Mulder's beaming face. "I found you." The glee in his
voice was infectious and she couldn't help but return the smile.
"They tried to take you from me, to hide you under this." He held up
a black sheet. Was that what was smothering her earlier?
"But they couldn't hide you from me. Your light was too much for them
to hide and I could find you." Scully glanced down at herself. She was
glowing. The rest of the room was utter blackness. She was the only
brightness in the room.
"Mulder, what is this? Where are we? Can you tell me that?" He
didn't acknowledge her questions. Instead, he simply smiled at her and
lightly tugged on her hand. "Come on Scully, follow me."
She took a step and she was at a beach, the waves crashing rhythmically
against the sand as the tide came in. "You like the beach right? You
mentioned once that you like the ocean." He smiled even wider. "I
remember everything you say." He pulled her gently on her hand until
they were walking side by side, hand in hand amongst the crashing waves.
"It is so nice here, why did you leave before? You won't leave me
again, will you?" He pleaded, his most winsome smile on his lips.
"We were having such a nice time before."
"I'm sure we were..." said slowly and carefully. "But first I need
to figure out what is going on. Where are we Mulder? How did we get to
the beach?"
Confusion flashed over his eyes. "I don't know. Did you bring me
here?"
"No." And then it hit her. "Mulder, I think that this is your
dream."
He considered her comment thoughtfully. He nodded sadly. "I remember
now." His voice cracked and he turned away from her. "I just wanted
to forget for a little bit... but I guess that's not possible."
"Mulder, I'm back. I am back and I'm with you in my living room."
"No, I don't believe that. You can't be in both places at once. If you
were the real Scully and not just a wonderful figment of my imagination
you would know this."
This was not working. "Mulder, I have to go now."
He spun around to face her. "No! Please don't leave. You can't leave
me alone here." The beach was gone and the blackness back. "It's so
dark without you...please, please Scully." He desperately clung to her
hand as he pleaded with her.
"I'm sorry. But you'll understand." Scully broke away from him,
gasping slightly, her mind reeling and her thoughts in complete turmoil.
She was beginning to feel as if she was never going to get solid ground
beneath her feet.
She was in her apartment again. "I just witnessed Mulder's dream. No.
No, it can't be possible." She closed her mind to that possibility,
shut him out. Her thoughts were interrupted by Mulder's cries.
"Scully...why? Come back... so dark without you..." She pulled Mulder to
her and began to speak softly. "Mulder, Mulder, wake up. I'm here with
you, I'm ok. You're ok. It's ok, everything will be ok..." She
continued administering to him, speaking softly, gently wiping the tears
from his face. "This is real. This is really happening to us. How is
this possible? What strange parallel universe have we fallen into?"
* * * * * *
The bounty hunter moved away from the car and sheathed his gun. He
turned and began to make his way up the front steps.
* * * * * *
Mulder didn't open his eyes for several moments after he had regained
consciousness. He thought at first it was merely a twisted continuation
of his dream but slowly he realized the blessed truth.
Scully was back, alive, and he was in her arms. He sat up quickly, his
dreams forgotten. Scully was not prepared for this sudden movement and
would have been unceremoniously dumped on the floor if Mulder hadn't
held her at her waist as he rose. Standing there at that moment, holding
her close, Mulder felt a wave of affection and love wash over him that
nearly dropped him to his knees. Mulder pulled her into his arms and
nearly crushed her with the force of his hug and the relief behind it.
Scully held on just as tight. "How? How can this be? This can't be
real, but it feels so damn good." Fresh tears began to form.
She was pulling away, why was she pulling away? "Scully?"
She pulled away just enough to meet his eyes. "We have to get out of
here Mulder. We're in serious danger."
"What do you mean? Tell me what is happening Scully. How did you even
get here?"
"I'll tell you everything on the way." She fully disengaged her body
from him but held onto his hand. She began to lead him to the door. "You
have to trust me on this... I don't have time to explain it all right
now."
Mulder was still hesitant. This was happen far to quickly. Not less that
2 minutes ago he was convinced he would never see her again and now...
An evil idea came into his head, so unpleasant that he was reluctant to
even put it into words. "Is this really Scully? Could it be someone
else, something else?"
His doubt loomed almost tangibly. Scully felt his hesitation and turned
to face him. "Mulder, it's me." She looked up to meet his eyes. There
was an iridescence to the blue irises, a silver glow. It was as if
instead of just merely reflecting light, it was an actual source. Mulder
blinked slowly, and the impression disappeared.
She was speaking again. "You said once that I've saved you, let me save
you now. Mulder, you have to trust me now. Do you trust me, don't you?"
Mulder felt shame. Shame and guilt for his doubt and hesitation. "Of
course Scully. I'll always--"
Mulder never got to finish.
* * * * * *
Outside Scully's Apartment Building
9:23pm
Dagen had barely unhooked his seat belt before Krycek had leaped out of
the car. Dagen hurried to catch up.
Krycek ran past a car that sat immediately in front of the building and
pulled himself up short. "Shit!" He only paused for a moment before
continuing, running even faster this time.
A second later Dagen passed the car, and he too paused. Blood and tissue
and bone fragments were splattered on the inside of glass, so thick that
he could barely see inside. But he saw enough. Through the round hole
the bullet made as it passed through the glass before it passed through
Diana's head, he could see her dark hair, now stained a deep maroon.
By the time he looked up from the car, Krycek had already entered the
building. Dagen hurried to catch up again.
* * * * * *
When the bounty hunter burst through the Scully's door, it was as if a
glass ball had shattered to let air and the world in. They'd just began
to head for the door, Scully leading Mulder by his hand, when the sudden
noise tore them apart.
Scully saw what happened next as if she were merely an observer looking
in. The figure stood in the doorway. Without a word he raised his gun
and pointed it at Mulder.
Mulder had had his back to the door and he didn't see what she did. It
took him a half-second before he could turn around. A half-second that
he didn't have. Scully saw the situation before he did, and without
hesitation she pushed him to the floor just as the bounty hunter fired
his weapon.
Scully looked down at Mulder lying on the floor. "God, is he hurt?
Please, please God, not like this. Be ok, be ok Mulder."
She approached him, unthinking. There was no blood and he had sat up. He
was ok. "He was ok. Thank God."
But her momentary relief was brief as she looked into Mulder's horror
stricken eyes. It was then that she discovered that she had been the one
to get shot. She realized then that while she had felt the bullet hit
her, she felt no other sensation. "Something is terribly wrong here.
This is not like last time." She slowly dropped her eyes, reluctantly
moving them down. She had to know; yet feared that knowledge. As her
eyes finally met the wound, she saw that instead of seeing the expected
red of blood, she saw a noxious green fluid.
Scully's look of terror matched Mulder's as she looked to him, the
intruder forgotten. "My god Mulder, what does this mean?" But she knew,
as did Mulder. "I've been changed."
Mulder tried to rise to his feet, but before he could, the toxic fumes
began to have their affect. He stumbled to his knees as he brought his
hands to his face. The doctor in Scully began to approach him. She
realized her mistake as his symptoms began to worsen. "It is me. I am
doing this to him. I'm killing him!" She moved to the opposite side of
the room. "Mulder! Mulder, can you answer me?" Panic colored her voice.
Scully met his tortured eyes once more, and then he was lost to
unconsciousness.
The intruder had not moved since the single shot had been fired. He
looked to Mulder, saw that he was no longer a threat, and calmly put his
gun away.
Scully turned her attention to the intruder. Her wound now healed, she
asked, "What do you want from us?" Anger and fear were equally
represented in her voice.
"You need to come with me." That was all he said. He reached his hand
into his pocket and slowly pulled out his weapon. He hit the switch, and
with a "phitt" the stiletto extended.
Scully could feel the cold fear as it flooded her. He began to advance.
* * * * * *