CHAPTER 2: AND HE STILL CRIES OUT FOR HER, "DON'T LEAVE ME NOW".

Gate D24 at LaGuardia airport breathed like the inside of a tomb. There was movement back and forth, but no one seemed to want to leave their post. It had been an hour since they had lost connection to flight 1013 from DC. Families huddled around each other, others were on cell phones in a state of mania. Who says that hell hath no fury. No answers were given, not a question was left to be asked. No one knew what had happened to flight 1013. A distinguished man in a black suit seemed the most nervous of all the others. He had sworn off smoking long ago, but was eyeing the Morley's in the gift shop. He brushed the side of his face and then his hair back, sweat beginning to pour out. She should have been here by now, and if they had lost connection, he feared for the worst. He also picked up his cell phone and called his ex-supervisor and friend. He reached the switchboard.

"Where may I direct your call?" The operator sounded like one would imagine, all nose and no depth. He expected to hear her say "one ringy dingy" a la Lily Tomlin after he gave her his direction.

"Extension 1138." He fumbled with a lighter he kept in his pocket for good luck. He could smoke an entire pack of cigarettes right now. The line rang a few times. Finally, a voice picked up on the other line. "Skinner."

"Hey."

"Have you found anything out yet?"

"I was calling to ask you that." Skinner was beginning to sound a bit frantic himself. He wiped sweat from from his forehead.

"I'll call you if I hear anything, but all I have learned is exactly what they told you at the airport, that they lost connection right over Red Bank, New Jersey. I'm about to suggest that they send out the coast guard seeing as how no one has reported an aircraft coming down there."

"Anything would help. I'm losing my cool here sir." His lip quivered a bit. "I will not cry," he told himself.

"Everything will be alright, I'm sure. Scully has faced a lot of situations, and I seriously doubt this will be the last."

"I'm sure you're right. I'll talk to you later, sir."

"Mulder, it will be alright." Skinner hung up the phone. Mulder sat for a moment and listened to the silence and hung up.

All of a sudden, the counter attendant made an announcement. "We have some news, but I need all of you to follow me." Even her face was completely ashen in colour. Gasps were heard over the silence and the beginnings of sobs had filled the air. A line, in ant-like quality, began to form following the attendent. They were led to a large conference room where one of the airline executives stood at the head of the table. When everything had quieted down, the man spoke.

"I have brought all of you in here, to tell you that I am very sorry, but flight 1013 has been found. However, at about 2:23, when we lost connection, it entered the Atlantic and sank." He paused and looked at the wide-eyed faces. "There could not have been any survivors. We are going to send scuba teams down there, but I just did not anyone to have their hopes up. I am terribly sorry." Mulder collapsed.

CHAPTER 3: COMING SOON!