Title: Chapter 12- Searching All Avenues

Author: Gillian Leigh

Disclaimer: I'm just borrowing them for the duration....(Did I mention that I'm not making any money from this?)

Scully stood in the lab, her sleeping daughter held to her chest in the baby-carrier, as she made full use of the hospitals laboratory facilities. Dr. Beecher stuck her head in the door.

"Dana, aren't you on maternity leave?"

"Maternity leave? What maternity leave? I've been here since two days after they released Will, and I don't intend on leaving until I find a way to cure the twins without having to get pregnant again," she said, peering through a microscope.

"Where are your husband and the kids?" Dr. Beecher questioned, stepping into the lab, which was vacant except for Scully, and closing the door behind her.

"Fox sent Will, Wes and Charlie with my mom, but they're such a handful that I offered to take Ava. She doesn't need a newborn to worry about while she's keeping track of those three. They're hell on wheels," Scully said, gently stroking the baby's cheek.

"Are you glad you've finally got a girl?"

"Considering that a few years ago I believed I could never *have* children, I've taken what I can get," she grinned. "But yes, I love her to death, and her father fully intends to spoil her rotten."

"It's unbelievable just how much she looks like you," Dr. Beecher -Anita, as she'd begun insisting the entire Mulder family call her- said, grinning.

"Oh, Anita," Scully said, placing a hand on her hip. "I'd know that expression *anywhere*." Dr. Beecher looked a little taken back.

"What expression? What are you talking about, Dana?"

"I saw the way you looked at Ava. That was the way I looked at my nephew when *I* first found out I was pregnant too." Dr. Beecher blushed a deep shade of red.

"Am I that obvious?" Scully smiled.

"Only to someone who's been through it numerous times," she replied, her smile growing wider. "How far along are you?"

"Almost four months." Dr. Mulder embraced Dr. Beecher in a one armed hug.

"I'm so excited for you," Scully said, echoing a sentiment Monica Reyes had expressed to her upon finding out about the pregnancy which had given them Ava.

"Thank you. Well, I'll leave you to your work, and if you need a break, my shift ends in a half an hour, and I'll gladly help in any way that I can," Dr. Beecher offered. Scully smiled at her.

"We'll be fine. You should get off your feet for a while. As an obstetrician, you should know enough to be getting the right amount of rest." Dr. Beecher smiled another sheepish grin before exiting the lab. Scully turned back to her microscope, and began working with a renewed energy. She *would* find a cure.

Author's Notes: Sorry it's so short... there's more to come!