Maturity
Chapter - 10: Retribution

Category: MSM, Alternate Universe

Keywords: S,MSM, Alternate Universe

Rating: PG

Spoilers: off and on, everything up to and including the Movie, Season 6 never happened.

Summary: Mulder and Scully are critically injured in a consortium attack. Mulder seeks retribution with a plan he had in place causing the consortium considerable panic

Disclaimer: Standard Disclaimer. Fox Mulder, Dana Scully, Walter Skinner, Maggie Scully, and the other regulars belong to Chris Carter and 1013. I am just borrowing them for a short adventure. The others however are mine.

Maturity
Chapter - 10: Retribution

Retribution \Ret`ri*bu"tion\, n. [L. retributio: cf. F. r['e]tribution.] That which is given in repayment or compensation; return suitable to the merits or deserts of, as an action; commonly, condign punishment for evil or wrong.

The J. Edgar Hoover Building
Washington DC
Monday June 5 2000, 11:03 p.m.

The sun was beaming down with its normal summer intensity as Mulder and Scully headed to lunch with two of their co-workers,
Jana Timmons and Jim Weinberg. They stopped halfway down the stairs to discuss where they wanted to go, and to wait for Hawk and Skinner to catch up.

Jana pulled her sunglasses out of her purse and started to put them on. She noticed the window washers across the street were pointing at them. Quickly she put the sunglasses on to give her better vision in the glaring sun.

When she got a better look she was shocked, one was leveling a rifle in their direction. She gave a shout of alarm and jumped at Dana. Skinner and Hawk up higher on the stairs turned just in time to see Jana jump in front of Dana and take the first bullet in the back of the shoulder.

Jana felt the impact on the rear of her shoulder, and was looking at Dana when the bullet hit her in the left side of her forehead. She saw the look of shock on Dana's face, then mercifully she passed out.

Bullet number two hit Mulder just below the collarbone as he was turning to look at Dana. It hit the T2 vertebrate causing it to halfway shear the spinal cord. He dropped like a stone.

Shots were also fired at Skinner and Hawk, but did not hit anyone. Several shots were fired at the two window washers, but they ducked into an open window and made their escape.

Skinner rushed down to his two friends and was almost ill when he saw them. Mulder was lying there calling for Scully, unable to move. Scully had a good-sized chunk of her skull missing. Her eyes were wide open, and she was making gurgling sounds, but nothing else.

"Walt, how is Scully? Talk to me Walter! Tell me she is okay!" begged Mulder.

"It's bad Mulder, real bad." He answered. And then proceeded to hold Mulders head still until the paramedics arrived.

Jana rolled over looking at Scully and burst into tears, moaning. "I'm sorry Dana, I tried, I'm so sorry."

George Washington University Hospital
Washington DC
Monday June 5 2000, 5:36 p.m.

Margaret Scully was facing the worst day of her life, her youngest daughter and the man that she had come to love as a son had been gunned down in the street. Dana had been shot in the head and was barely alive. Mulder had been shot in the neck, and was likely paralyzed from the chest down. She lit candles for them in the Hospital Chapel and knelt in prayer.

Behind her, her two bodyguards watched carefully, one crossed herself and knelt briefly in prayer and the other stepped outside to watch the hall.

She sat quietly in prayer, tears dripping on the carpet.

"Maggie." Called a soft voice. "Maggie. Charlie and Bill are here." And she looked up into the sad face of Assistant Director Walter Skinner. "The doctor will be out in a few minutes as well."

The two walked down the hallway heading for the waiting room, guards trailing behind.

"I was informed a short time ago that the FBI director was killed about the same time as Mulder and Scully were attacked. He was assassinated on the steps of the Justice Department building. The White House has been in touch with me, I will be the Acting Director until the next candidate is nominated. I have as many people working on this as possible. We will get them Maggie, we will get them."

"Does it matter?" she asked weakly.

Walt was stunned, he had never seen Maggie so depressed. He was suddenly very concerned.
In the waiting room Bill, Charlie, Angel, Tara, and the lone gunmen stood waiting. They joined them and tried to exchange pleasantries, but not much was said.

Two Doctors came down the hall and started to address the group.

"I am Dr. Stefanowski, this is Dr. Jacobi. I will try to let you know what we have found. Dr. Scully suffered a single penetrating trauma to the left side of her forehead. The bullet exited the left side of the skull, but not before damaging a significant part of the left frontal lobe of her brain. We have stabilized her, but not started surgery."

"Did Dr. Scully leave a living will?" asked Dr. Jacobi.

"Yes, yes she did. It should be on file here doctor." Replied Maggie.

"I will be honest. If she survives, she will be a vegetable. Unable to communicate, unable to perform even simple functions herself. She will have to have constant care." Said Dr. Stefano.

"What about Mulder?" Asked one of the gunmen.

Maggie turned to Bill and hugged him tightly, sobbing uncontrollably.

"He suffered a PT, um. Penetrating trauma to the left upper chest, just below the collarbone. It passed though the body exiting the right center of his back. However it hit the T2 vertebrate shattering it, and partially severed the spinal cord. He will live, but will be most likely paralyzed from the chest down. Right now we are stabilizing the spine, and will operate, but not for several days, we need to wait till the swelling goes down."

"Ummm, Mr. Skinner." Said Dr. Jacobi.

"Yes." Replied Walter.

"Mr. Mulder insisted that I give you a message to deliver to the three stooges."

Ears perked up at that, and the gunmen moved a little closer.

"What was it?" He asked.

"He said to tell them that it was time to play his favorite Mel Gibson movie for everyone. Does, that make sense to you?"

"Yes it does doctor, yes it does."

The lone gunmen made their apologies and left quickly. Charlie turned to Skinner and asked him.

"What was his favorite Mel Gibson Movie?"

"Payback."

A Private club room in New York City
Friday June 9 2000, 7:50 a.m.

The smoking man stood at the head of the table and faced the Elders and other members of the consortium.

"It has begun. I told you it was a mistake, but you didn't listen. I only hope we are able to control the damage."

"How bad is it?"

"Boxes of video tapes, magazines, and computer CD ROM's were discovered in one of Strugholds warehouses. Records and other computer graphics were discovered on his personal computer. It is on the news that he has been arrested and touted as one of the biggest child pornographers in the country. He is being held without bail."

"But we know that it is not true." Stated one of the Elders.

"That is correct.; however the evidence says otherwise. The case against him is very strong. Mulders associates did an extremely thorough job."

"Mulder, I thought we had taken care of him."

"No, he survived, but you did take Scully away from him. Now he is angry, very angry. What is happening is only the beginning."

"What else is going on?" Asked another man.

"Our friend from Italy is having some issues with his art collection." He said nodding at a man seated at the end of the table.
"A list of paintings, missing since World War II suddenly reached the Italian Art Authorities, and a list of his paintings.
They have confiscated his art collection and frozen his bank accounts until the investigation's complete."

He paused to light another cigarette.

"Our Mexican associate is in hiding. His drug dealing contacts have been exposed, as well as his dealings with the presidents opposition."

He took another drag on the cigarette.

"In Europe, South America, Asia, and Africa our members are running into legal and financial troubles. Governments everywhere are getting factual information as to the true dealings that they are involved in. We are being hurt badly."

"What should we do?"

"We should fight back, go after Mulder and his friends. Eliminate them!" exclaimed the Italian Elder.

"If we eliminate Mulder now, we would create a martyr. He is injured and in a hospital. Unless the person is very good and can make it look like an accident we'll only be in more trouble."

"We're already in trouble. Never mind. I will take care of it myself. This time it will be done right." The Italian stood and exited the room with his men.

The smoker turned and watched him go and shook his head.

"I fear that things will now start getting worse. Taking the FBI director out was a mistake as well. Skinner has the inside track with the White House, he will not be controlled."

"Try and minimize the damage if you can." Said the well-manicured man. "If our friend fails make sure he takes all of the responsibility."

"I will see what I can do."

George Washington University Hospital
Washington DC
Monday June 12, 2000, 8:00 a.m.

Walter Skinner entered Mulders hospital room with three coffees and a Newspaper. Maggie was waiting as usual. He handed on of the coffees to her and set the other to cool, she would give it to Mulder later.

He opened the paper and laid it on Mulders special tray so he could see the headlines.
"Left Wing terrorists attack against local right wing news magazine thwarted by private protection service. Hmmmm. I am surprised that they would try something that open and obvious." Said Mulder.

"They didn't." Answered Skinner. "According to our friend the smoker, this was all the responsibility of one member of the consortium. He also warned me that they are going to come after you."

Mulder mulled over that for a second.

"So Walt, what does the White House have to say?"

"Not much, but I have to be there for a noon meeting today. I think they are going to offer me the directors position."

"That's great."

"Yea, maybe. How are you doing Mulder?"

"'Bout the same Walt. I still wish that bullet would have killed me. I mean, look at me Walt. I have this rack bolted to my head to keep the spinal cord from getting severed completely. I wish that they would just make a mistake in my medication and finish me off. God I miss Scully so much." And his voice trailed of to nothing.

"Take it easy Mulder. I could try to pretend to understand, but I couldn't pull it off, so just try to take it one day at a time. I have to go to a meeting, but I will stop by tonight."

"I'll be back later Maggie, sorry I can't stay longer."

"I understand Walt."

With that Skinner left the room. He checked to make sure the guards, the FBI ones that he assigned, and the ones that Mulder had hired were all in place and alert.

Then he stopped in a room farther along the hall, knocking, then entering when the voice acknowledged him.

Inside Jana Timmons lay watching the news coverage about last night's firefight at the lone gunmen's.

"Morning Agent Timmons, are you feeling any better today?"

"I guess a little Director Skinner. I talked to one of the counselors last night, and do feel a little better than I did."

"That's good Jana, you did what you could, you are not responsible."

"That is what you say, but I can't forget the look on Dana's face when the bullet hit her, it's burned into my brain." And she lay back her eyes closed, tears running down her face.

"Look, I have to get to a meeting. Talk with the counselor again. I will be back tonight."

Skinner again left a hospital room feeling like crap, but this time he didn't pause but strode directly for the entrance. As he walked out to the curb a car pulled up for him. He got in and rode to FBI headquarters in silence.

Several meetings later it was time to go to the White House. He scanned the notes in his briefcase, and put the papers in order. As the gray buildings passed the windows his thoughts returned to Mulder. His depression was getting worse. It was almost as if Mulder was trying to will himself to die. Things were not looking good.

As he sorted through the papers again he noticed that one was a different color than the rest. He pulled it out and read it.

Possible solution to situation with M and S. Bring D's big brother with you to
Winthrup House Hotel, 234 Adams Ave. Rm. 236. Tonight 5:00 p.m.
No one else!
-K

Skinner tucked the note away as soon as possible, folding and putting it in his breast pocket. He passed quickly into the White House and was seated in the Oval Office within a short time.

"Walt, we've gone over the list of people who are qualified to head the FBI, and you are the stand out best choice. We will be sending your appointment up to the hill tomorrow." Said John Farr, the presidents Chief of Staff.

"There may be some issues with that Mr. President." Said Skinner.

"And what would those be Walt?" asked President Ryan.

"My ties with Agent Fox Mulder and the X-Files Division."

"And?" asked the President.

"There may be some reluctance to approve someone associated with him and his division."

"Let me worry about that Walt. In my years in the CIA, I ran across too many UFO reports to not wonder myself. I think that there is something out there, and I do believe that there is something going on with our country. Not many people know it, but when Kennedy was killed there was a lot of stuff that died with him. Projects, secret groups, and who knows what else. We spent a good chunk of time last year tracing down fifty billion dollars. It went through seven or eight different budgets, then vanished.

There are a number of other black projects going on as well, and we are doing our best to locate where the money is going."

"Just take the job, and let me worry about congress. Now I have to get to another briefing. We will keep in touch."
With that Walter was escorted back to his car by John Farr.

"Don't sweat it Walt, Jack is not in anyone's pocket. If he says it will go through, it will."

"You know John, all my career I worked toward someday being the director, but today I just wonder if it is worth it. Mulder and Scully have had all their evidence disappear in every case where a government conspiracy is suspected."

"But they continued, and look where it got them, one is a vegetable, and the other a cripple who wants to die."

"I know Walt, but Jack Ryan is trying to do his part to end this mess. With your help we can maybe do something. Jack has to be the most honest man I have ever known, for him to win the election with as big a margin as he did with no big supporters. He ran his bid on his record, and that alone. If you need support he will give it to you."

"Well we will see what happens."

Skinner sat in the back seat thinking about what the President and John Farr had told him. And what Krycek had planned for tonight. He had called Maggie and got her to agree to have Bill meet him at his office at 4:30, so now it was up to Krycek.
When he got back to his office he cut orders to have Special Agent Jackson 'Doc' Holliday, known to some as the "Witch Doctor", reassigned to domestic terrorism here in DC. He had worked with Mulder on a couple cases before and had the same kind of "blinding flashes of insight" that Mulder displayed. He needed to have someone here to try to fill Mulders shoes, and to help out.

A Private club room in New York City
Monday June 12, 2000, 3:40 p.m.

The smoker sat at the head of the table and glared at the elders.

"I told you that he was being too arrogant. Skinner's men picked him up a short time ago, with enough evidence to put him away for the rest of his life. , He can't be allowed to even think about talking. He will die suddenly in jail. An accident has been arranged."

He paused for effect and then continued.

"Word from the hill is that Skinner will be confirmed as FBI Director within a few days. Our people there do not have enough clout to block this one, there is some other pressure being applied, likely from Ryan and the White House. I have closed down everything possible that is at risk, and put out the word to stay away from everyone."

"But how do we stop this?" asked the Japanese Elder.

"I don't know if we can. I will talk to Skinner tomorrow and suggest a cease-fire, that is about all we can do."

"Who knew that Mulder had all these resources to use against us?" Asked the French Elder.

The smoker stood fuming angrily.

"I have warned you all numerous times that he had gotten too dangerous to mess with. Ever since the MJ tapes gave him names he has been dangerous. Everyone was told to use phony names, but everybody thought that we were too secure to touch."

"Mulder has had his computer friends hacking into everything and planting evidence so real that it could easily be used against us.

Now that someone took it upon himself to attack Mulder, and failed, we are feeling his wrath. Now all we can do is hope that they are either running out of things that they can hurt us with, or that they agree to back off."

"Go ahead and try to make a deal, but I think the rest of us should keep a low profile for now." Said an Elder.

"Yes, I agree." Said another.

The J. Edgar Hoover Building
Washington DC
Monday June 12, 2000, 4:35 p.m.

Bill Scully stood impatiently in the lobby of the Hoover building waiting for Walter Skinner. He was wondering what the hell Skinner needed him for, he was not involved at all with what had happened, hell he was in another state when it happened. It was bad enough a couple of months ago when he was involved in a shoot out at Mulders place, but to come home and find out that your sister was a vegetable. Hell he didn't want to be here, but his own mother threatened him. So here he stood waiting for his sisters boss, the damned acting director of the FBI.

Skinner exited the elevator with a headache that had only gotten worse from a woman passengers perfume, and he was not sure he was in the right mood to have to deal with William Scully Jr.

"Bill." He said shaking hands.

"Mr. Skinner." Replied Bill. "Can you tell me what this is about?"

"Not really sure Bill, I was told that we could meet someone who could help Dana and Mulder, so I called your mom and asked for you."

"Yea, right." Snorted Bill. "Like anything could help her, half her damn brain was blown out on the sidewalk. Damn waste of time." And he turned to walk away.

"Bill, if you walk away from me I'll knock you on your ass. I don't care what you think, if there is a chance at all to help them, I will. Now come with me." Ordered Skinner.
The drive to the hotel was quiet, with the two big men just glaring at each other., The driver of Skinner's car uncomfortable with the hostility he felt between the two men in the back seat.

Winthrup House Hotel
Washington DC
Monday June 12, 2000, 5:00 p.m.

Walter stood next to Bill Scully and knocked on the door. It opened enough for someone to peer out, then opened all the way.
Alex Krychek waved them in. Skinner thought of reaching for his gun when the bounty hunter turned toward him.

"It's okay Skinner, he is with me." Said Krychek. "You know about their healing power don't you?"

"Not from my own knowledge, Mulder told me about it though."

"One of the healers was close to them last week when they were shot. They got to him first, and stuck an ice pick in the back of his neck. You know what that does."

"Yes, but can they do anything?"

"Should be able to, unless the Doctors have messed something up really bad. Problem is getting him in there. That is why I asked you to bring Billy boy here."

Bill Scully bristled and took a step toward Krychek. Skinner stopped him with a brusque command.

"I thought the bounty hunters were on the Smoker's side?"

"Some are, most are not. They were one of the first races colonized, and the first to become rebels. We don't have much time, our friend will go with you as Bill Scully."

"I'll wait here with the real thing till you call me. Here's the number, let me know when he is done, and has left the hospital. I will let this Billy boy go then."

"What the hell are you talking about, how can he go as me?"

"Like this." Said the bounty hunter as he walked over to Bill and grabbed his hand.

Bill stood transfixed while watching the bounty hunter's face start blurring, changing, becoming his. Right down to the nick he got shaving that morning. Then his clothes started to morph into a duplicate of Bills uniform.

Skinner watched in stunned silence, Mulder had told him of this, but until he had seen it with his own eyes, it wasn't real. Now it was real. He wondered how many other things Mulder had told him were real as well. It was rather.... disconcerting.

Bill Scully on the other hand was in near panic. He had just witnessed something that was not possible. Yet it happened right in front of his face, in fact it became his face. He looked at Walter Skinner with questions in his eyes and near panic on his face.

"I told you once Bill, they have seen things that we would probably not believe, and you scoffed at them. Hell, even I didn't believe a lot of what they told me, but I knew that there was some weird shit that they were not telling me about. Bill, you better get used to this, I have a feeling that there is going to be more stuff coming out soon."

Bill just sat down in an easy chair that was handy, and stared as Skinner left with him, but without him.

"Well Billy, it sure sucks don't it?"

"What?" asked Bill turning to look at Krychek.

"To find out that the 'sorry bastard' is right."

Bill sat up straighter and scowled.

"Show me the proof, other than some parlor trick, and I'll believe it then."

"When you leave here, go to the hospital and ask Dana, she will tell you."

"Dana is never going to talk to anyone, she had her brains splattered across the stairs at the fucking FBI headquarters. She's a vegetable, and will never be right again."

"Wanna bet?" asked Krychek.

"Fuck you, what do you know, damn ratboy spy."

Krychek was on his feet and had a gun in Bill's face in a flash. He ground the muzzle in his cheek enough to be painful and leave a light mark.

"Shows what you know, boy. Mulder is right over 95 percent of the time. If he were not doing this, Earth would have been colonized last year. Do you like the idea of your wife's body being used to incubate an alien. Your son would be used for food. He is to small for anything else."

Bill looked at him like he was crazy.

"I don't know why you are looking at me like that, you just shook hands with an alien Bill."

Bill again looked at him like he was crazy.

"I'm not taking this shit from you. I'm outta here."

Krychek jumped up, again, with his weapon at the ready.

"Billy boy, until I get a phone call you are staying here. If I have to shoot you, I will. But you are not leaving here till I say it is okay!"

Bill Scully glared, but did sit back down.

George Washington University Hospital
Washington DC
Monday June 12, 2000, 5:25 p.m.

Dana Scully-Mulder was trapped, with nowhere to run, nowhere to hide. Trapped entirely inside her mind. She had been able to hear the diagnosis, hear how severe the damage was to her brain, but could do nothing about it. All she could do was think.
She even knew all about Mulder's injuries and his depression. Unless something changed soon she would go insane.

She heard Doctor Winters come with Skinner and someone else. They argued over what was going to happen. The Doctor not wanting to believe or take responsibility for what they were going to do.
The arguing continued but Dana felt something enter her mind. It was cool, precise, and it was calming her.

" I am one of what you know as the Jeremiah Johnson's, or Bounty Hunters. I am with the rebels. I am here to heal you, just relax and let me work. "

She felt his presence moving around in her mind, she also heard the doctor say that what he was seeing was not possible.
Gradually other sensations came into focus, her vision came back and she could feel a tingling in her hands and feet. The doctor approached a couple of times and removed screws and pins from the skull fracture. He also pulled a couple of tubes out.
Finally the Bounty Hunter's work was done.

"There, I have done everything that I can do, you are fully healed except for your hair. I am not as experienced as some of the others. I will have to ask them if I missed something"

"Hair, what is wrong with my hair?" she asked, shocked at hearing her own voice.

Walt held up a mirror for her, a strange look on his face.

She examined herself carefully.

All signs of the wound were gone, except for the fact that her hair was pure white. Not blonde, or the dirty white that old women get, but a crisp, clean, pure white. Her eyebrows matched. She was wondering about other hair, but decided that this was not the time to check.

She turned to ask about Mulder but stopped dead when her mom walked in the room.

Maggie looked at the bed, then at Dana and rushed to her; enveloping her in a hug.

"Oh my god Dana, it's a miracle." She said crying in happiness.

Dana hugged her mom back, glad for the opportunity to communicate with everyone.

The doctor got her to slow down enough to do a complete examination. He found that she was completely recovered. Everything was normal, like it had never happened, except for the hair, and he could explain none of what had just happened before his eyes.

Skinner was trying to explain to Maggie what had happened, what was going on, but she was so excited, so happy she seemed to not know what was going on.

"Maggie have you heard anything I have said?" Asked Walter.

"What Walter?" She asked, irritated.

"Maggie, your daughter was just healed by an alien being. Why are you talking about a miracle?"

"Because Walter, she shouldn't have been able to be healed, but she was, so it is a miracle. No matter what the instrument. We are all gods creatures."

Skinner mulled over that while the doctor went over Dana yet again. Then he wondered how he was going to explain this to everyone. Having them come back suddenly unhurt would cause too many problems. They were going to have to get out of this hospital somehow.

"Walter, how are we going to explain this?" Asked Dana.

"I don't know Scully, trying to figure it out right now."

"How is Mulder holding up Walt?"

"You know how badly he was hurt?"

"Yea, I could hear everything, just couldn't respond."

"Well, he wants to die Scully, without you he doesn't want to live."

She turned away, eyes filling with tears.

"When this is over." He said pausing for a second. "You guys need to take some time off. Get away from here."

His eyes opened wide, and she could almost see the lightbulb flash on above his head.

"That's it. Doctor, can you arrange for a patient transfer right away?"

The doctor stood stunned, as if he was seeing Scully for the first time. It was to be expected though, to see something done that was not possible, but yet he witnessed it with his own eyes. Finally he responded weakly.

"Well, I guess so. Why?"

"We have to keep this secret, I think you can understand why doctor, so we have to get them out without anyone seeing them like this. A quick transfer to a private sanitarium would be great. Then we just have them go on vacation for a month or so, and come back to work after some new experimental treatments."

"That might work Walt." Agreed Dana.

"Just a matter of finding some place to go to."

"That we can figure out once we get out of here." Said Dana.

"Yea, look doctor, can you get some scrubs to put on Scully so we can get to Mulder. Once he has been healed we will get the transfer started."

"Let me call the Gunmen Walter, I know they will have a way to get this working."

While Scully was talking to the Gunmen, the doctor returned with a set of scrubs and a hair cover. She dressed in the restroom while working out the details. When they had the plan set up she returned to her room.

"The guys have it set up, they have a friend who runs a 'Celebrity Hospital'. He will get the three of us admitted."

"Three of you?" asked Walter.

"Yes, I want to include Jana in this. I know what this is doing to her Walt, I want to help her out."

"Okay, we can do that."

"Put the hair cover and the mask on Scully, so no one recognizes you while we go to Mulders room."

The four walked quietly to Mulders room. Scully was the first one in, and she had to hold herself from running to him and holding him.

"Who's there?" he asked.

"Skinner, with a couple of other people and the doctor. How are you doing Mulder.?"

"Same as before. I still wish that doctor would make a mistake and kill me."

Scully let out a half choking sob.

"Who was that Skinner?"

"Mulder, I have some news."

"Well out with it."

"I have one of the Bounty Hunters here Mulder, one working with the rebels."

"Don't just stand there Skinner take him down to Scully's room! He can help her can't he?"

"Yes he did Fox." Spoke Scully as she knelt down by her husband. "I'm fine, really fine. Now it's your turn."

She silently brushed his cheek and caressed his face as tears dripped onto the mirror below his face.

The Bounty Hunter stepped up to his other side and put his hands on his head. Mulder felt the bounty hunter enter his mind.

He also felt Scully's presence as well, whether it was because she was touching him, or something else he couldn't say.

He felt the calming presence of her as well and the emotions that she was feeling. Love. Fear. Anger. But most of all he felt the love that she had for him. He relaxed and swam in the emotions.

It took longer for the Bounty Hunter to heal Mulder, due to the pins holding the spine together, but finally it was done.
Mulder got up out of the bed and grabbed Scully and held on for dear life.

For the longest time no one said anything or moved a muscle, The Bounty Hunter, Doctor, Skinner and Mrs. Scully stood and watched the two. After a few minutes they pulled Skinner and Mrs. Scully into the hug.

After a few more minutes Mulder broke out of the group and offered his hand to the Bounty Hunter.

"I must thank you, for saving my wife, and myself."

"You're needed to continue your quest Mulder." He said, not taking Mulders hand.

Mulder pulled his hand back, looking at the bounty hunter.

"Well, thanks anyway."

"We now must prepare for leaving this place." He stated abruptly.

The bounty hunter then walked over to Mulder's bed and lay down on it like Mulder was. In seconds he had morphed into a duplicate of Mulder, including the rack that was on his neck.

The group consulted for little while and finally came up with what they thought would be a workable plan. Scully and the doctor headed back to her room with Mrs. Scully and put Dana back in bed. They were waiting for the Lone Gunmen to show up with some kind of disguise for Mulder and the papers to transfer them.

While they were waiting, Dana spoke to her mother.

"Are you all right with this mom? I mean, I know it is a lot to expect of you to believe, hell it is a lot for me to believe."

"It is sometimes sweetie, but I have always had my faith, and the fact that I am a little more open minded that you give me credit for. I have always thought it arrogant of the church to believe that we are the only people in the universe. Dana your father saw many things in his career, and told me most of it, although never any details. He believed that there was life on other planets, I do too."

Dana put her arms around her mother and hugged her tightly.

"It was always hard watching you struggle with your beliefs Dana, you always seemed so certain about things. When did you change how you felt?"

"I don't know if I ever did mom, for a long time it was hard to go day after day, dealing with Mulders beliefs. Then after he rescued me in Antarctica I quit worrying about believing in what he did, and worried about believing in him. That made it easier."

Margaret Scully hugged her daughter back and smiled.

They came down the hall in a group, Byers in the white smock of a doctor or other hospital employee, Langly and Frohike in the uniform of ambulance drivers/attendants.

Byers stopped at the desk, and spoke to the nurse.

Dr. Winters came out, signed the papers and went into Scully's room with them. He had Dana lie down on the bed while he bandaged her head heavily, only one eye was left uncovered. Skinner reminded the doctor the importance of keeping quiet about this, and warned him about the consequences of revealing anything.

They wheeled her out to the ambulance and loaded her up. Frohike stayed with her as Langly took the second gurney back in to pick up the rebel alien posing as Mulder. Mulder put on the uniform that was on the gurney, and stuck on the fake mustache that Byers handed him.

On the trip to the private hospital they were all silent, remaining in their positions, lost in their own thoughts. Scully kept seeing Mulder looking at her, almost like he was afraid she would vanish if he looked away.

The check in was fast, efficient and private, and they were in their assigned rooms before long. The administrator came in, met with them and worked out the details of their stay.

Dana had a set of phony doctors credentials that the Gunmen had made up for her a few years ago, they were fake, but that could not be proven, records being scattered everywhere showing them to be genuine. She would check in once a week, and make the required record entries, and update the chart with the new treatment information. In return the hospital would keep the doors to the rooms locked, and tell no one about the patients. They would be paid standard rates, plus a large bonus.

The deal made, the contact arrangements set up, the group prepared to leave the hospital. Scully was dressed as an aging movie star, Jana became her loving nurse, and Mulder with a beard and mustache was to be their chauffeur.

While the two changed, the Gunmen left. Skinner called Mulder's house telling them that they would be home soon.
Down in front of the hospital, a Limo drove up; the driver with a beard and mustache. He went into the hospital empty-handed.
He left with two suitcases and was followed by a nurse pushing a wheelchair.

They all entered the Limo and it drove off.

A Private club room in New York City
Monday June 12, 2000, 11:30 p.m.

The smoker stood up and told the assembled group.

"Mulder had himself and Scully transferred to a private sanitarium, a celebrity hospital. We are unable to get anything from anyone working there yet, and I don't think we will be able to at all. He has called for a Dr. Rangoon to be their physician, a man with unusual ideas, but some success. It has been rumored that he is a survivor of the Japanese military medical staff who did experiments in China. He is very secretive, so I don't know if we would dare approach him at this time."

"So, what are your plans right now?"

"We will have someone watch the hospital and monitor the FBI reports. That is all we can do without stirring things up worse."

"Very well." Dismissed the Well-manicured Man.

The Mulder/Scully Home
McLean, Virginia
Tuesday June 13, 2000, 2:00 a.m.

Maggie was just about to go crazy; she had made a fresh pot of coffee and was taking it into the family room. She was dying to tell everyone that Dana and Fox were okay, but she had promised.

Angel had just excused herself to go to the ladies room when a car pulled in. Charlie dozed while Bill glared at everything. Maggie got up and opened the door when she heard them coming up the steps. She stepped back with a flourish when Dana and Fox entered.

Bill jumped up and turned white as a sheet.

"Da, Da, Dana?" He shakily asked.

"Yes Bill, it's me." She replied.

"Charlie was faster, he just leapt over the coffee table and grabbed both Dana and Mulder in a hug.

Bill and Maggie joined in a second later. Jana followed them in with the bodyguard, Brick, from outside. They joined in the celebration as well and all was well until Angel came in the room.

She and Fox locked eyes for a moment, and a process that was done years ago started to come undone. Memories flooded her mind, some bad, but most good. Including the ones that included a big brother named Fox. She stepped closer and held out a trembling hand.

"Fox, is it you?" She asked.

"Samantha." He said cautiously. "Is it really you?"

She nodded and rushed at him, they met in the middle of the room and dropped to their knees holding each other crying. The rest of the household just stared at them.

"Geez, how could I have missed it?" Asked Scully.

"Missed what?" Asked Skinner who just arrived.

"Angel is Samantha, look at her, you can see the resemblance. I just never noticed."
Mulder called her over and introduced her to his sister. Charlie was also included in the family get together. Finally after 28 years Mulder had his sister back.

TBC