It was getting dark outside. Mulder and Scully had been sitting in Dr.Bushnell's office, waiting for her to return, since Emily had been brought to the hospital. The door opened and the therapist entered.
Scully looked anxiously at her. "How is she?"
"Sleeping."
Mulder shook his head. "I can't believe she hates me this much."
Dr.Bushnell sat in one of the armchairs facing the couch. "She doesn't hate you,
Mr.Mulder, she loves you. That's why you're still alive.
"The reason I've just spent so much time examining Emily is that the way she was acting
couldn't simply have been caused by someone telling her you had given her away. I even put her under hypnosis to confirm my suspicion, and I found evidence of post-hypnotic suggestion."
"You mean they programmed her to kill me?" He stood up. "How low will these people get?"
"I don't think they did," Dr.Bushnell said, "I don't know what their original intention was - Emily is very confused - but they didn't mean for her to kill you.
"It would seem that whoever hypnotized her forgot they were dealing with a five-year-old. The wrong words can significantly alter the outcome of an hypnotic state. Children don't perceive language the same way adults do, especially when they're as young as Emily; there are words they don't understand, metaphors that are commonplace for adults but that they will take at face value.
"I can't tell you exactly what happened, but somehow she got the notion that by removing you she could get her foster mother back. Fortunately, she got very attached to you - to both of you. I don't think she would've been able to go through with it. Even if we hadn't arrived when we did."
"What happens now?" Scully asked.
"I want to keep her here for some time."
"Will she be allowed any visitors?"
"Maybe I should stay away from Emily for a while," Mulder said.
"That's exactly what you mustn't don't do," Dr.Bushnell said, "She'll think you're angry at her for what happened."
"It's not her fault. They did this."
"Then let her know it."
"Will she be well after treatment?" Scully asked.
"She'll be well enough to leave here. The rest is up to her, but it'll take time and patience. And your help."
"We'll be here."
Scully looked anxiously at her. "How is she?"
"Sleeping."
Mulder shook his head. "I can't believe she hates me this much."
Dr.Bushnell sat in one of the armchairs facing the couch. "She doesn't hate you,
Mr.Mulder, she loves you. That's why you're still alive.
"The reason I've just spent so much time examining Emily is that the way she was acting
couldn't simply have been caused by someone telling her you had given her away. I even put her under hypnosis to confirm my suspicion, and I found evidence of post-hypnotic suggestion."
"You mean they programmed her to kill me?" He stood up. "How low will these people get?"
"I don't think they did," Dr.Bushnell said, "I don't know what their original intention was - Emily is very confused - but they didn't mean for her to kill you.
"It would seem that whoever hypnotized her forgot they were dealing with a five-year-old. The wrong words can significantly alter the outcome of an hypnotic state. Children don't perceive language the same way adults do, especially when they're as young as Emily; there are words they don't understand, metaphors that are commonplace for adults but that they will take at face value.
"I can't tell you exactly what happened, but somehow she got the notion that by removing you she could get her foster mother back. Fortunately, she got very attached to you - to both of you. I don't think she would've been able to go through with it. Even if we hadn't arrived when we did."
"What happens now?" Scully asked.
"I want to keep her here for some time."
"Will she be allowed any visitors?"
"Maybe I should stay away from Emily for a while," Mulder said.
"That's exactly what you mustn't don't do," Dr.Bushnell said, "She'll think you're angry at her for what happened."
"It's not her fault. They did this."
"Then let her know it."
"Will she be well after treatment?" Scully asked.
"She'll be well enough to leave here. The rest is up to her, but it'll take time and patience. And your help."
"We'll be here."