21.
2.20am
Everything was quiet in Margaret Scully's home that was until Samantha began to whimper with the effects of a psychic episode. Her body shuddered rapidly against the bed, as if having a mild epileptic fit. It made a dull thumping noise where the headboard bumped against the wall to the spare room. Flashes of bright light burnt her mind's eye. Sweat spotted her forehead as if she had been sprayed with a fine mist. All Samantha could see was her Mom.
Scully was asleep in a white room that bore resemblance to a student's halls of residence. The most basic of amenities were supplied: a bed, a sink, mirror, desk, lamp, wardrobe, chair and a heater. The wardrobe was full with clothes pre-selected for Scully to wear. Underneath the mirror above the sink was a small shelf that held the perfume, deodorant and toothpaste Scully used.
#1 was standing in the room observing the sleeping form of Scully. He pondered his next move as he watched her turn over in her sleep. She was beautiful. Even he had to admit that. It wasn't the kind of beauty that could ever make her a famous actress but it was the everyday beauty one sees in Mother's who love to Mother and those who have a genuine love and appreciation for their lives. 'Inner beauty' he thought 'It shines from her like a beacon.'
He approached the bed and ran his fingertips down her cheek.
'So pretty' he mused 'What I wouldn't give to have you…'
Samantha's eyes snapped open, her body frozen to the bed. Her breathing stopped. Even with her eyes held open she could still see her Mother only now she was there… in the room. Was she with her Mom or was her Mother there? Baffled she tried to frown but couldn't. In horror she watched #1 touch her Mother's face. Samantha could see his thoughts as clear as daylight on a summer's day. The image faded and her body relaxed.
Breathing heavily Samantha sat up in the bed and pulled her teddy bear to her chest. She was scared. Her Nanna hadn't come to her, which meant the dream hadn't been so bad on the outside. Inside her head Samantha's thoughts swirled violently. She had to tell someone. Mom wasn't there, Nanna never understood. There was only one person who believed her… Daddy.
Quietly Samantha opened her bedroom door slightly lifting it in order to even the hinges that always squeaked if she didn't attempt to create equilibrium. Tiptoeing across the landing, teddy in hand, she listened to her grandmother's breathing through the bedroom door. Samantha scurried down the stairs and snuck into the lounge. The moonlight shone through the gap in the dark curtains creating an eerie light down the length of the room.
Samantha turned on the lamp by the armchair and quickly shut the door avoiding as much noise as possible. She couldn't wake her grandmother. The one person she knew would understand was at the end of the telephone line.
Samantha took the cordless phone from its cradle and held it in her tiny hands. Sitting down in the armchair, with her bear, so she had someone to help her. Samantha's face screwed up in a frown as she thought hard about what to do. She had seen her Grandmother use the telephone often enough but didn't know what her home number was. She wanted to cry but she couldn't. She was Mommy's brave little girl and she didn't cry unless she really had cause to. Samantha stared at the numbers and spoke them quietly to her bear.
"One, two… three… four… five? Or is it six? No that one is six." She pointed to each number in turn as she said their names. Turning the phone over she saw writing next to numbers. She wasn't sure what they said but it was her grandmother's writing.
Samantha tried to remember what her grandmother had said about the phone.
"Dial 911 in an emergency." Samantha tried thinking about what her grandmother had said next. It was something to do with number two.
"That's it!" she whispered to the bear. "I press this funny button and two! We did it bear!" suddenly fear gripped her heart. 'What if Daddy gets angry? Would he be? She had to tell him anyway because Mommy wasn't coming home.'
Pressing the button marked 'memory' Samantha then pushed the two and held the phone to her ear. It rang twice before it was answered.
"Dana??"
"No. Daddy. It's me." She said gripping her bear by its 'hand' for support.
"Samantha… What are you doing awake at this hour? Does your Grandmother know you are phoning me?"
"I had a dream. I dreamed of Mommy. She isn't at home is she?"
"No she isn't princess. Tell me about your dream?" He wasn't angry, if anything he was pleased. Knowing her psychic ability, Mulder figured she'd had a premonition of some kind.
"She's asleep. Well not really asleep. She was made to go to sleep."
"How do you mean?"
"She doesn't want to sleep she wants to come home. She isn't pretending. Someone is making her sleep."
"Do you know who?"
"Yes." She nodded her head as she held the phone to her ear.
"Who Baby? Who has your Mom?"
"The man who was watching the house." She sighed having finally told her Daddy what she had kept from everyone.
"What man? The FBI men?"
"No Daddy. The man who isn't like us. He's not from here."
"Where is he from? Do you know why he has your Mommy?"
"I don't know. He wants Mommy's help. Daddy… My dream was different tonight."
"Different, how?"
"It started the same but got different… Mommy was in my room or I was in her room."
"That is different. I'll tell you what… you go back to bed and I'll see you later. Thank you for telling me. We may get Mommy home faster."
"Ok. Night Daddy."
"Night Princess." He smiled as she hung up the phone.
Samantha put the phone back and switched off the lamp as she made her way back to her room. At the top of the stairs was her Grandmother who had her arms crossed over her chest. Samantha swallowed hard and continued to ascend the stairs.
"Who were you speaking to Little Lady?" Maggie directed her granddaughter into her room and helped her back into bed.
"Daddy. I had a special dream and had to tell Daddy. Mommy isn't home. Daddy said my dream would help find her." Covering herself with the blanket Samantha snuggled down and was asleep before Maggie had the chance to reprimand her for using the telephone without permission.
Worry set in about her daughter but she knew if Fox was working on finding Dana then hell would be breaking loose over at her daughter's home. He would do everything to find her as he had before when she was abducted and knowing the strength of his feelings he would do so, and more, again. Settling down into her own bed Maggie's concern for her only living daughter began to worsen… what if they didn't find her!
Mulder paced the room again his thoughts turned to his child… how strange that felt after this amount of time. His daughter had just been through a premonition of sorts but somehow the scene she had witness was brought into her world, her room. It sounded bizarre. It sounded just like astral projection. This was the ability to be able to move yourself from one place to another without moving a muscle. Only, who had moved? Why had this started to happen now that her Mom had disappeared! This was just what the girl needed! Her Mom goes missing and her powers leap into the stratosphere!
Kicking the armchair he awoke the sleeping form of Skinner.
"Wh-What?"
"Samantha had a vision of Dana!"
