She thought she heard Mulder's voice.

Her eyelids flew open, but all she could see was the stone ceiling above her. There was a lump on the back of her head the size of a pet rock, but she couldn't lift her hand to feel it. Her arms were wrapped around her body and restrained.

It didn't take Scully long to realize she was in a straight jacket.

She had no idea where she was, and she couldn't turn her head to see. There was a strap across her forehead that secured her head to the table, making it impossible to move her head. She tried to move her legs, but realized that they too were strapped to the table.

She was trapped.

Unable to move, Scully relied on her senses to provide clues. Her nostrils picked up the dank, damp smell of mildew, and what skin that had been exposed to the elements was cold. Was it a basement? Some kind of storage locker? She could hear the rain outside in the distance, but that didn't worry her as much as the other sound she heard.

Running water. Running water that sounded like it was cascading from a waterfall.

Scully tried to piece together as much of the day as she could remember. She remembered seeing the news about the death of Mulder's college friend, thus ending any chances they could use his lab to create the antidote necessary to restore Mina's memory. She remembered racing to Notting Hill in the hopes of stumbling into Mina and the baby there, and instead found her with Krycek, the man who had wanted her child dead before she was even born. She and Mina had tried to escape - that was it! - and she was waiting for her daughter to take her to safety when she called Mulder.

Mulder. The last words she said to him were, "I love you."

"Mulder," she said aloud.

Suddenly, Scully realized she wasn't alone.

"He can't hear you Scully; nobody can," replied Krycek. "Nobody can hear us, or see us, or knows where we are. We have Spender to thank for that."

"My father?! What are you talking about?! What is this?!"

Scully didn't recognize the voice, but she realized it must belong to Drew, the father of her grandchild and Krycek's son. By the tone of his voice, however, Scully realized he didn't know his real father was in the room with them.

"What do you mean we have Spender to thank for this?!"

**********************************************************************

"I really wouldn't smoke in here, sir," the doctor replied.

In absolute defiance of his suggestion, the man with the curly, salt-and-pepper black hair took a long drag, and blew smoke in the doctor's face.

"Are you aware," he said slowly, "that the last doctor who tried to tell me what to do suddenly and quite inexplicably stopped breathing - permanently? I suppose it is true that smoking can be hazardous to your health after all."

The doctor's eyes turned red as he resisted the overwhelming urge to cough. "I'm thinking in the best interests of the patient," he replied.

"So am I," replied his tormentor. "It isn't in this patient's best interests for you to stop breathing."

Spender looked down at the young woman, his niece. Or was it his half-niece? He was, after all, her father's half-brother. The half she never knew about, and if things went according to plan, never would and wouldn't know who to ask to find out. Once she received the double dose of the analytic histamine, it would effectively wipe out any and all memories of Mulder, of Scully, of her life, and of her baby.

Which, he suddenly realized, is what he had planned all along.

It occurred to him as he smuggled Meena right out from under the noses of Scotland Yard's best investigators that he really didn't need her to raise the brat. He would do it himself - or, rather, someone else would. Someone he'd hire to deal with the squealing and whiney neediness of a child. He was not the paternal type; a trait he inherited from his own father. And, as it became necessary, the brat would grow up to know his place in, and become a useful part of the alien colonization. The man with the curly, salt-and-pepper laughed to himself for a minute. It was absolutely inconceivable to him that Mulder, his half-witted half-brother, actually thought that the threat of alien colonization had been eradicated! The movement was merely dormant; the movement had merely gone further underground until the right moment. And that moment happened with the pairing of two offspring that were resistant to the alien virus - Meena, the perfect alien/human hybrid and Drew, a direct descendant of two people who'd been exposed to the black oil. Their offspring continued the line of alien/human hybridization.

And to think that Krycek had tried to prevent this moment by trying to kill Mulder and Scully's child so long ago.

Ah, yes; Krycek. And Scully and Drew, Krycek's bastard son. He needed to do something with them. He had something special planned for them, but first things first.

He had to effectively take care of Mulder and Scully's daughter first.

"But the patient is catatonic, sir. I really don't think it's wise to administer such a high dose of the analytic histamine," the doctor began.

"I don't pay you to think; I pay you to do as you're told!" Spender snapped.

"But the treatment could drive her so far into a catatonic state that she might never recover. The toxicity of the treatment in addition to residual amounts of the treatment in her bloodstream could also very well kill her!"

Mulder's half-brother and Meena's half-uncle looked hard at the doctor.

"You say that as though it were a problem, doctor."

***************************************************************************

The Scotland Yard Hydrocopter touched down in a field not far from Brittlegate Manor. It had been a rough flight, even with the aircraft's advanced technology. The rain that had pelted Great Britain had turned into a full-fledged summer storm with high winds and mighty lightning bolts. The hydrocopter almost didn't make its destination, and came close to being struck by lightening twice.

Lieutenant Quick was there to meet Phoebe when she got out of the aircraft. They ran across the field a short distance to an SUVA that had been sent by the lieutenant to meet them. Phoebe had originally asked for a squad car to meet her at the North Post Road, but changed her mind as the weather grew increasingly rough. She requested that an SUV be sent as close as possible to the landing site to meet her, with the intention that she and the investigating officer or officers drive on from there.

"Apprise me of the situation, Lieutenant," she yelled over the wind as they ran.

"It's been a rough go of it with the weather, 'mam," Lieutenant Quick yelled back, "but I can finally say that we've set up surveillance around Sternwood Castle."

"Any news on the whereabouts of Agent Mulder?" Phoebe yelled in reply. The lieutenant shook his head. "I'm sorry, Chief Inspector, but I'm afraid I've nothing to report."

Lieutenant Quick and Chief Inspector Phoebe Green Montague got in the SUV; he in the passenger's seat, she in the driver's. "Well, let's hope that will change soon. I think we'd better make our way there."

"I've taken the liberty to set up a command station not far from Sternwood Castle," the Lieutenant replied. "I can give you the directions."

"Lead on, then," Phoebe said as she put the vehicle in gear.

Phoebe and the Lieutenant didn't know it, but they were soon traveling the same path Mulder had taken to rescue Scully. They drove down the winding road, their visibility hampered by the rain. The wind ripped the leaves from their branches and sent them flying across the windshield, further compromising their sight. They drove on until all of a sudden, they saw an obstacle in the road.

"Can you see what's ahead, lieutenant?" Phoebe asked as she drove.

"I think it's a tree, Chief Inspector, but it I'm not sure," he replied. Phoebe slowed down and stopped as soon as they approached. Both she and the lieutenant got out of the vehicle to see if there was any way around the tree in the road.

"It looks like we're stuck here, Inspector...." Lieutenant Quick began, but Phoebe cut him off.

"Look over here!" Phoebe cried over the wind. "It looks as if a vehicle left the road."

"I'll go and get the torches," the lieutenant replied. He ran over to the SUV, retrieved two flashlights, and gave one to Chief Inspector Montague. Phoebe directed the beam of light directly in front of her, and that's when she saw it.

Her BMW.

"Lieutenant, radio for back-up immediately," Phoebe ordered as she ran ahead. She noticed that, despite the impact of the crash, the car remarkably sustained minor damage.

But she wasn't worried about the car.

"Mulder!" Phoebe called out as she reached the vehicle. The light from her flashlight bounced off the white of the deployed airbags as she approached. "Mulder! Are you alright?" she yelled. She noticed the door was open as she approached the car.

When she reached it, and looked inside, she discovered Mulder was gone.

***********************************************************************

Mulder's body had been sending messages to his brain that it was in pain. A broken rib; a sprain, a hairline fracture - there was no telling. Mulder's brain ignored the messages his body sent because it was preoccupied with other things. He had to get to Scully; he had to save her.

After that, after they were both safe, the body could do whatever the hell it wanted.

He was drenched to the skin; the rain felt like needles against it as the wind drove the rain into his body like spikes. He made his way through the woods, running and searching, always searching. Scully was his compass, and due North was wherever she was.

He thought of all the things they had been through, of the times death hounded them and tried to take them and keep them from one another. Each time, they thought their luck had run out. But as they realized, time and time again, luck has a funny way of changing, of turning.

Mulder prayed this was one of those times.

He stopped for the first time in what seemed to be a long time. He bent down, his hands on his upper thighs, and tried to catch his breath. Where? Where should he go?

Suddenly, lightening streaked through the sky, and gave him the direction he needed. With the next flash of light he saw the great, stone walls of Sternwood Castle.

It was just ahead.

***************************************************************************

"Perhaps you didn't hear me." Drew repeated his question again. "Just exactly what did you mean by that last remark? Just exactly where do you get off making an accusation like that?! Quite frankly, I'm beginning to wonder if you really know my father just as well as you claim to know him."

Although Scully couldn't see his face, she could hear the hurt and indignation in the young man's voice, and her heart went out to him. She realized she knew nothing about this young man; the man for whom it could be said was part of the cause of her daughter's situation, yet she still felt sorry for him. He had been sold a bill of goods; told a tale full of lies and deceit passed off as the truth, and to hear the actual truth must be very difficult for him. She thought of Meena, and how hard it must have been for her when Mulder told her who she really was. Meena didn't know; she had no reason to believe him.

Scully thought again about what it would do to her when she found out.

"Are you sure you know everything about this man who claims to be your father?" Scully asked carefully.

"I'm sorry, but who are you?" Drew shot back, hurt and angry. "Who are the both of you to assassinate my father's name?"

"Now there's a good choice of words," replied Krycek. "`Assassinate' has been a large part of your alleged father's history, and especially his father's past..."

"Shut UP, Krycek!" Scully shouted out. The young man instantly picked up that something was different. "Krycek? What's this `Krycek' business?! That's not your name!" There was anger in his voice now as he spoke. "I demand to know exactly what is going on here! I demand an explanation, and I want it right now!"

Scully smelled the acrid scent of burning tobacco long before she heard his voice, and her blood ran cold. She recognized the scent - Morley's. "But that's impossible!" she thought "It can't be.."

When she heard the voice, she realized it wasn't who she expected at all.

"It's very simple," replied the man with the curly black salt-and-pepper hair. "I lied."

Scully had to admit that although she knew better, she hadn't entirely believed Mulder when she told her that Spender was alive, and played a major role in their daughter's disappearance. Spender was dead; shot by his father, CGB Spender. Everybody knew that - there was a report, and there was an autopsy. It was impossible. But as Mulder had said to her once, "if you didn't do the autopsy, Scully, I wouldn't believe it."

In the next few minutes, Scully discovered that her husband was right.

The loud creaking noise of a large wooden wheel assaulted her ears as she felt the table she was on move to an upright position. The wheel moved the three of them, and as soon as they were all upright, she realized that the tables were arranged in a deep crescent. Through her peripheral vision, she was finally able to get a glimpse of the other people on either side of her.

By looking straight ahead, she could see that Jeffrey Spender was indeed very much alive.

"I'm certain that fact and my appearance might come as a shock to some of you in this room; I know at least that my existence might come at a shock to you, Agent Scully."

Spender made his way down the stone steps, and walked to within inches of Scully's face. "And how is my dear sister-in-law," he asked.

"Pardon me for not spitting in your face," Scully replied, "But my mother raised me to be a lady."

"Why, Scully," Spender replied, "And just when I was going to do this..."

Before she realized what was happening, Spender undid the leather strap that was biting into

her forehead. He did the same for Krycek and Drew, then stood back and looked as pleased with his handiwork as if he had just painted the Sistine Chapel. "I guess such a small man doesn't get too many chances to feel this big," Krycek replied. Spender held up the palm pilot of doom he'd used so many times to torture Krycek. "Shall we show Scully and Drew how well this little device works, Krycek?" asked Spender. He raised the stylus in the air and was about to bring it down when he was stopped by Drew's question.

"Dad? I don't understand....."

Spender stopped what he was doing as though he really was his father, and he was highly irritated that he had been interrupted yet again by his spoiled little boy. "Alright, I really don't have time to do this, but since you INSIST on being a pain in the ass, I'll explain it - but I'm only going to say this ONCE." Spender jabbed a finger in his own chest for emphasis. "Me; not the father." Spender then stabbed the air in Krycek's direction. "Him; the father. He is your father and she," Spender said as he pointed at Scully, "is your Mother-in-Law. Oh yes, that's right - she can't be your Mother-in-Law because you and the woman you think is your wife aren't married. It's all a hoax - your marriage, my so-called paternity as it relates to this 'situation' ... The only thing that's real is the baby. It is yours, it is that stupid little airhead Meena's... But I'm keeping it." Spender turned to Scully. "This may come as a shock to you, but I really don't give a shit."

Scully put on a brave front, even though the news that Spender wouldn't give up his hold on her grandson cut her to the quick. "The wrong person's in this straight jacket, Spender," she said. "Really?" Spender replied. "I think not. Crazy people don't come up with brilliant plans, Agent Scully. I had it all planned. Call my 'son' into the office for an emergency meeting, spike his coffee, bring him here.... Have my people tail Krycek and your daughter - what a stroke of luck that you happened to be in the right place at the right time - for me.... While the three of you were unconscious and otherwise out for the count, I was able to get DNA from each of you to create Sternwood clones - even the baby. You do remember the Sternwood Experiment, don't you, Scully? I should think that, as a scientist, it would be of particular interest to you."

"It doesn't surprise me that you'd use a so-called scientific method deemed illegal and immoral by the world court," she replied.

"It suited my needs at the time," Spender replied. "Those other issues were of course no interest to me."

Spender walked the room as though he were a professor giving a lecture on applied physics. "The attention to detail had to be perfect, of course. Right down to the placement of your wedding band, my dear sister-in-law. Tucked in behind your FBI badge and photo. I knew that would tear Mulder up - that's especially why I did it. Imagine what he must have felt, staring down at the last trace of his wife on this earth. Of course, there is the possibility that it didn't survive the crash at all, but if it did... Well, I certainly would enjoy the thought of Mulder in extreme anguish.