Note: Written for The X-Files DarkficFanfic exchange 2022.
Cheer Up
I don't want to let her go and drive. Not in her state. Even for a short errand or for one single minute. But this is Scully facing me, my fierce rational Scully.
She smiles at me as I'm showing concern, a slightly amused sight on me; as if I'm showing concern for no reason at all – which I might, sure.
"You better have to take care of Walter rather than me, Mulder. He's the one craving attention," she says to me as if I'm overreacting – which I might, fine. "See you later at home. In a little more than one hour?"
"Scully… please," I only manage to plead.
She's not moved by my words or body language at all, and I can only watch her kissing goodbye to Skinner, then in no time she's not in the room anymore.
I'm taking the seat near Skinner's bed, and all I can do is babbling, keeping the worries at bay. Sitting in a hospital room – as I've done too many times in my damn life – whereas I should be with my stubborn Scully and our soon-to-be-born daughter.
"Walter, I really don't understand her. She prefers me taking a cab to get back home, instead of me driving her to the med lab so we could, just after, get back home all together. Don't worry, Walter, it's just a routine test, she indeed can be on her own. Yet… She always wants to drive, she drives me crazy. She perfectly knows how I feel about it, but she keeps saying she's fine. And she is, really. This is amazing how the pregnancy suits her. At her age, it's crazy. Sorry if I keep complaining, Walter, but it has to be spilled out… Ah, look, here's your dinner. That's why she wanted me to stay. So that you would have company and help during your dreary meal. Always caring for all of us, first. That's my Scully… Cheer up, Walter, tomorrow she'll be there and I won't be babbling and spoiling your dinner time."
God Knows
At first, I wished the two of them had ditched me early in the afternoon and left me alone in this dreary hospital room. I'm sometimes sick of their syrupy relationship.
Back in the days they were much more discreet, all bottled-up even if unavoidably speaking out loud with their body language. Nowadays… Each of their visits is an unbridled display of their love that had become as huge as Dana's belly.
I admit it distracts me. But it always gives me the blue for the night, and I'm spending long dark hours trying to not think about my current condition.
Alive, yes. A fucking miracle, yes. But as alone as ever, plus irretrievably damaged. Soon godfather of their miracle child, yes; but in no condition to assume the role, yet.
Then, all of a sudden, I wished I had done everything to make both of them stay any longer in my room. I even could have given part, or most, of my lucky feeble recovery to them, in order to conjure the curse that always seems to stick to their fate.
I was finishing my dessert when Mulder became really upset. Dana hadn't texted him in time – and she should have, obviously; surely one of their tacit agreements. Mulder remained as restrained as he could, checking fast the usuals to get some news using his phone, from my room.
Alas, no sign of Scully, no sign of her at the med lab, no sign of her car. Nada.
Then, in a blink, Mulder vanished. Panicked.
Leaving me not with blue, but with pitch-black.
Yet, I can be pinned on a hospital mattress, I'm still a man of resources with relations and people who owe me. I can be overly limited in my gestures, I still can text and speak, even if barely. And I especially have a friendly and caring nurse in my ward, miraculously available and efficient, and eager to help me no matter what.
So, here I am, spending my caustic digestion doing all I can to help my two friends from my bed. Setting up a team and trying to gather information and evidence about Scully whereabouts, as quickly as possible and as useful as needed.
Because it can be a matter of life or death.
For Scully. For the baby.
Because, as silent tears are sliding on my cheeks, God knows how much I wanna grow into a spoiling godfather; Mulder and Scully's daughter's freaking godfather.
I Have To
Darkness. Sourness. Oppression. Fast-paced drum beat.
Panic in my blood.
Feeble snippets of a familiar sound. A voice? A whisper?
The drum-beat lessens its frantic rhythm and volume. Is that a voice singing?
Then, despite the sparse clues, I figure it out. Something must have triggered a hidden memory of mine, and my brain makes the connection on its own.
My birth mother, Dana Scully. She's in danger. So is my not yet born sibling.
And, if I focus on the raw sensations I'm perceiving, I'm deciphering a message. Delivered in its most basic form.
Danger. Help.
Coming from the baby? Is that possible? Well, why would I be surprised, after all. If I'm sharing DNA with it, I can't imagine what powers this little being already possesses.
Anyway, I guess it's time for me to reach my birth parents, earlier than initially planned.
I wanted them to properly welcome their new child in their life, to settle down in their nice house, then, in a few months, I would have come and knocked at their door one evening, and said: "Hi, it's me, Jackson. I really want to get to know my little brother/sister. If you're willing to."
Forget it.
Funnily enough, I've run away because I was afraid to put them in danger if I got close to them. Right now, there's no question, no hesitation, no other plans.
I have to save the baby.
If not, what am I?
Sing
I've wept and wept for God knows how long, and for what? What's the point?
You have to be strong, Dana. For your baby girl.
Our situation might seem desperate, you know there's always hope. How many times have you been stuck in a similar worst scenario? Countless times.
Mulder is out there, he will find you. He always finds you when it's a question of life or death.
Right now, there's nothing you can do. You have to rely on him and on every opportunity that could occur and that you would have to seize.
Have faith. Narrow the positive.
Minor injuries. Bruises. My baby? Seems completely fine.
Check the facts. The carjack in itself was brutal and a true nightmare, yet the abductor didn't beat me, didn't put me, us, in real danger. I've been laid down in an uncomfortable position, been restrained and tied in a dark place, but I have water. It's all I need to remain safe, to keep the baby safe.
For a while.
I just have to wait. The baby just has to wait, too. Wait, patiently, quietly…
For how long?
God, please… I cannot give birth to my child in this place, in those conditions. First time, when delivering William, was too awful. God, I cannot relive…
Oh! What's happening, my love? What are you doing? It's so unusual.
No, no, no…
Stay quiet, honey. I don't want to… No, no, no…
Stop, Dana.
You must keep positive thoughts. For the baby. She feels you and your worries.
Relax. Breathe in. Breathe out. Sing.
Jeremiah was a bullfrog
Was a good friend of mine
I never understood a single word he said
But I helped him drink his wine
Joy to the world
All the boys and girls
Joy to the fishes in the deep blue sea
Joy to you and me…
