30.

Washington DC

June 28th 2008 (2.59pm)

It had been a nerve wracking few weeks during the course of the trial. The case seemed never ending. Not to mention a televised nightmare. Every evening, Mulder would inevitably sit down to watch the TV, after fighting reporters to get into the house, only to find himself or someone connected to his trial being transmitted to the box in Scully's living room. He'd turn it off and read some more of the journals, tonight he didn't because he wanted background noise. He was nearly finished reading the journals and in part it saddened him. His own journals were a stark comparison to Scully's words. He wondered how she was. He thought as to whether she knew about the trial. He wished he'd told her that he loved her more than life itself… he just wished.

The DNA results had been announced by a Doctor, at the trial. He'd never heard a courtroom so quiet. It was one of those shock-horror moments you'd see on Jenny Jones' chat show… 'Is he the Daddy?' scenario's kept playing throughout Mulder's mind. Samantha had been in court today, with him, because school was a nightmare. The kids bullied her in the playground saying she didn't really have a Daddy and Mulder was a scapegoat. She couldn't face going in and as it was 'result day' he'd let her accompany him. What had happened to the rush job on the results? Two weeks of torture for all concerned. He felt certain about his parentage. Scully wouldn't lie about that… would she???

*Earlier that day *

The doctor had been so boring in his analysis of the DNA but Mulder had focused all his attention upon the 'expert', his heart hammered in his chest so loudly; the Doctor's words were subdued. He had one of those voices that sounded like his nose had been pinched at the bridge.

"From the DNA comparison between Mr Mulder and Miss Scully I can say that Miss Scully is 100% Mr Mulder's daughter."

Those words were etched upon Mulder's mind and always would be. He didn't realise but he'd let out the hugest sigh of relief. Samantha had leapt into his arms for a hug. Her blue eyes focused in upon his and with all sincerity she said

"I told YOU!" her lip pouted and Mulder kissed her nose making her smile.

Hours later he was watching the scene on the TV. It seemed surreal. His own reaction was being televised across the TV networks. That tender kiss to his daughter's nose had been shown at least eight times in the hour he had put the TV on. 'I am a Dad' Mulder thought 'Finally!'

Australia.

(9am – 29th June)

Scully sat in her hospital bed a jotter pad in hand. She was busy planning her next batch of clones. She wanted to go home as fast as possible. She had been right about having an ulcer… at least that's what her doctor had told her. Something didn't feel right. The pain was too low for it to be an ulcer. That was unless it was right at the base of her stomach. Shaking her head Scully returned to the plans.  She was constructing a DNA pattern for the 'Aliens' one which would hopefully lengthen gestation periods. One week was no way near long enough. The first clone was near perfect but it had been too small to be born when it was meant to be. Scully was glad that later that day they were releasing her. Two weeks in a hospital bed was never part of her agenda. She suspected there was something being hidden from her but the doctor's notes at the end of her bed said nothing of the sort. Every indication led to the ulcer treatment. Apart from the mildly excessive 'bed-rest' in hospital every test result was normal… Every test result! It amused Scully that the doctor had performed a hormonal test and it read 'normal' when she had been feeling considerably below par in that respect. She knew she wasn't going through the change, at least, not yet. Sighing to herself Scully set down the pad and lay on her side to get some more rest.

Scully lay in her bed her mind was awake. She couldn't help thinking about Mulder. He'd have endured that DNA test and found out the truth they both already knew. He was Samantha's Father. She wondered how he was coping. Scully thought as to whether the trial was over yet because she didn't have cable, here, in the hospital. She hoped so. Her own had taken three weeks. The jury had taken two days to deliberate. She'd not mentioned that she was pregnant at the trial… What if Mulder had seen it? He'd have come racing back for her and she didn't want that. In those days she resented and hated him but deep inside she loved him with a passion that ignited her soul. It still did. Whenever she thought about him Scully's heart sang to the heavens and she couldn't help but smile that goofy grin a girl has when she thinks about her love. She looked down at her hand that she had cut. The scar was still there and reminded her of the vow she had made. She would love no one else but Mulder. The thought made her shudder. She couldn't ever love anyone as she did Mulder. No man could compare to him. She'd never had such an explosive time with a man as she did Mulder. As she thought about their *wild* times Scully cried. How could she be here and not with him!