"Courage is being scared to death - and saddling up anyway." John Wayne
Chapter 10:
Your Friends and Enemies
Mulder lay amid the glistening shards. He felt disconnected form the world. He felt exhausted. He wanted- needed rest. But then he remembered Her. *Oh, God.*
He rolled over.
His voice was frantic, "Scully? Scully are you okay? Scully!?!"
The room was dark. The lamps had been shot to pieces. Papers were scattered across the floor. He couldn't see her.
"Scully!?!"
Mulder stood up. His head was reeling. He started to run toward the main desk. *Oh God, no.*
"Scully!!!"
Mulder felt his leg snag some debris. He reached to free his pants. He felt a hand and almost soiled his pants.
"Mulder, its okay. Its me."
Mulder saw the small frame of Scully. She peeked out from under a desk. Mulder offered her his hand. Scully took it and got to her feet. Her face was flushed. Her heart pounded to escape from her chest. She felt like electricity. Getting shot at will do that to you.
"Are you okay, Scully?"
"I'm fine. But what-"
A voice unseen cut her off. It came form beyond the shattered glass.
"Our quarrel's not with you, mates! We know Deger's man is in there! We just want the rock! We get the rock, and you get to walk away! You've got 20 minutes, then everyone dies!"
Scully got an angry look on her face. She pulled out her pistol. Then she turned towards the driving rain.
"We are federal agents! We are armed! Put down your weapons now!"
The beating rain was the only reply.
Mulder put his hand on her shoulder. Scully turned back to him. Her face was still flush. But there was anger there too now. Her face had a fuming look. A who-the-hell-do-these-punks-think-they-are look. It was the kind of look that had cowed Deputy Sims and the technician. Mulder liked it. But she didn't know the people she was dealing with.
"Scully, I don't think they care. We're dealing with professional killers here."
He told her what he'd learned from Caviare.
"Mulder, that man is a criminal. He's just telling you what you want to here. For all we know those people outside work for Deger too. If you-"
*Ever the skeptic. Even with the wolves at the door.*
He cut her off, "Scully, just call 911 again. See if you can get the police here."
Mulder started towards the cadaver room.
"Where are you going?"
"To get some more answers."
-----------------------
Blake was worried. Scully had left him minutes ago. Then he'd heard the shots. *Christ!* His semi-delirious mind rambled. It rambled through some bleak thoughts. Awful thoughts. *God, what if-*. Blake had to get up. He had to do something.
Blake slowly sat up. Instantly he felt woozy. He slouched forwards and fell. But he caught himself on an equipment table. *Whoa! Easy, Blake. Just take it easy.* He took a couple breaths. Deep, long, breaths. His leg screamed at his brain. *What're you doing!?! Lie back down! I'm in no shape to support you! You'll just collapse on me and we'll both go down!* Blake ignored his leg. He limped towards the door. With each step he felt his senses return. *Sight? Check. Smell? Check. Balance? Uh, check back later.* The sharp pain wasn't going away. Blake made it through the doorway.
The hallway was dim. Blake could see the office had gone to hell. But then he saw Scully. She was crouching behind a desk. She had a cellphone, and was yelling out some instructions. Blake let out a long breath. He felt relieved. But where the hell was Mulder?
Blake saw a door slightly swinging. It was just across the hall. He started towards it.
"Blake? What're you doing up? You should be lying down."
Blake whirled around. It was Scully. She had a look of genuine concern. Blake wondered just how bad he looked.
"I heard the shots, Miss Scully. I was just checking up on you and Agent Mulder. Are you hurt?"
Blake had concern too. Scully felt a little touched.
"Mulder and I are fine Blake. But the situation has gotten complicated."
She filled in Blake. His face had an odd look. Like he was on the edge of an abyss.
"How did you find all this out?"
"I didn't. Mulder did. He's been"- she looked at the floor- "interrogating a suspect."
With that the door swung open. Mulder came out. Blake and Scully saw Caviare sprawled on the floor. The door continued to swing.
"He fell," was Mulder's simple response to a glance from Scully.
He continued past toward the office. Blake stared past the swinging door. Caviare. Door. Caviare. Door. Caviare. Then the door was shut. Scully started after Mulder. But she turned to tell Blake something. She saw his face. His mouth was slightly open. His blue eyes were distant. He looked like he'd seen something bad. Very bad. And now his conscience couldn't be clean. Scully didn't know what to say.
"Blake, go lie down. I'll be right with you."
She went after Mulder. Blake stood there alone. All of a sudden his mind was crystal clear. His jaw was set hard. And his eyes were an inferno.
-----------------------
Scully was trying to keep her voice low. But it came out sharp. She sounded like a scolding mother.
"Mulder, what did you do in there? Do you realize what could happen?"
"Scully, the rock is out there. Caviare had it in his car."
"So tell them, Mulder. Tell them the rock is right out there."
Mulder shook his head, "And then what, Scully? We just go on our merry way? No, they'll cover up their tracks and kill everyone here."
Scully opened her mouth for a rebuttal. But she saw Blake walk by. He stared coldly ahead. He stopped just before the empty doorframe. Blake held his pistol. Mulder had left it on a chair.
Scully looked worried again, "Blake? What're you doing Blake?"
He just stood there. Staring out into the hammering rain.
Mulder had seen that look before. When he'd been ready to kill the men who took Scully. Mulder knew bad things were about to go down. He took the gun Scully had left on a table.
"Get to the back of the office, Scully."
"Mulder, what-"
"Now!"
Mulder left Scully behind. He slowly walked over to Blake. He didn't seem like a 'simple sheriff' anymore. Far from it. Mulder stopped just behind Blake. Blake's hand was out, and he leaned on the doorframe. He looked to the floor. Rain splashed through the empty frame.
"Blake, you don't have to do this."
Blake looked up to Mulder. He didn't seem cold anymore. Blake's blue eyes looked sad. His whole face looked tired. Tired of life. Tired of a world filled with bad men. The fatalistic look worried Mulder.
"We can still wait for the police, Blake," Mulder said.
Blake's reply was low and distant.
"You stay here with Miss Scully. She shouldn't lose a guy like you."
Blake paused. He looked longingly out to the rain. Then back to Mulder.
"Nobody lives forever, Agent Mulder."
Blake limped through the frame. The rain pelted his body. He could just make out two new cars. Two men stood by each car.
The man closest to Blake called out.
"You got the rock, mate?"
Blake raised his gun.
"What're you, crazy? You wanna die? Give us the rock!"
The talker and his companion stepped closer. The wind shook their dark trench coats. The second man whispered to the talker. He nodded. Blake didn't see this. They were blurs through the rain.
"Fine, mate. If you don't have the rock-"
They raised their pistols. With a bang, the talker fell to the pavement. Blake was a good shot. Then the rest of the men opened fire. Blake managed to get off another shot. The second man fell to his knees. He flailed wildly. But Blake never had a chance. Two shots hit his left arm and shoulder. He toppled to the ground. He lay oddly on his side. His gun fell just out of reach. He struggled for it. Closer. Closer. The fusillade stopped. Out of the corner of his eye he saw the two men. They were cautiously approaching. God, if only he could get the gun! He stretched further.
The two men stopped by their flailing comrade. One of them kneeled down. He whispered to the wounded man. Then he blew out his brains. The two walked on. They were 30 feet away. 25. 20. 15. Then their chests exploded in a hail of lead. They fell limply to the ground. Blake stopped struggling. He heard steps pounding the pavement.
Blake turned. Mulder stood there holding his gun. His face was pained. There was a bullet's trail along his neck. But he was focused on Blake.
"Scully! Get out here! Quick!"
Blake heard more steps. His mind started to fade. He made out Scully kneeling before him. She tried to stop his pouring blood. It mixed with the rain and streamed across puddles. Mulder stood in a daze. Scully tore off the bottom part of her shirt. She tied a tourniquet. Blood kept on flowing.
"Jesus, Blake. Come on, stay with me!"
Blake looked sleepily at Scully. He feebly got out some words.
"Gee, Miss Scully, you didn't need to tear up your shirt on my account."
Then he was out. In the distance, a fleet of sirens wailed. The rain kept on falling.
-----------------------
Vero Beach, Indian River County Hospital. Several days later.
The sun shone brightly. The sultry Florida weather was back to normal. Heat filled up the entire room. But then so did the get-well gifts. The teddy bears, balloons, and flowers left little room for standing. Mulder stood next to a large bouquet of roses.
He scratched his neck. The bandage over the wound itched. He wanted to scratch it.
"You shouldn't do that, Agent Mulder."
Mulder turned to Blake. *A man resurrected* Mulder thought. He'd seen Blake on the brink of death. But now he lay comfortably in a hospital bed. Well, comfortable do to the painkillers.
"The doctors already yelled at me when I did that."
Mulder smiled. He looked at all the gifts.
"You're a popular guy, Blake."
Blake smiled that goofy smile of his.
"Well I try to make friends, Agent Mulder."
Mulder smiled too, "I know. You're pretty good at it."
Blake leaned himself on an elbow.
"So what news do you have?"
"Of course, the governments of Australia, South Africa, and New Zealand, have all denied any involvement. But Caviare has agreed to testify against Deger. He goes before a grand jury in a week and a half. We can get him up on conspiracy to murder. And Caviare will lay out Deger's whole operation."
Mulder didn't seem as happy as Blake thought he'd be.
"Is there something wrong?"
"I was just wondering whether you can ever have justice for men like Deger," Mulder said wearily, "He already has an army of the best lawyers around to shield him. They're trying to cast doubt on some of Caviare's testimony."
Blake looked concerned, "Are there charges against you?"
"Yeah, I'm being investigated by the Bureau."
A silence fell over the room. Then Mulder perked up. He pulled out a newspaper from under his arm. He handed it to Blake. Mulder smiled.
"Your heroics made front pages across the country."
"Must've been a slow news day."
Mulder shook his head and smiled, "Some guys get the glory."
Blake smiled back, "And some guys get the girl."
Mulder turned as he heard Scully walk in. She had a big smile on her face. And a card in her hand.
"Feeling better?"
"I certainly am, Miss Scully. What's that you've got there?"
Scully glanced at Mulder. Then she walked up to Blake. Her heels clicked loudly on the floor. She handed the card to Blake.
"Oh, its something I just picked up for you."
A sun setting over a desert was drawn on the cover. On the bottom, the words: 'To a true cowboy-'. Inside a stick figure cowboy, wearing a tilted ten-gallon hat, leaned on a corral fence. A straw of wheat stuck out from his mouth. Underneath were the words: 'Hope to see you in the saddle again soon.'
----------------------- -----------------------
And there you have it. My little story. And for anyone interested-
Recipe for an Epilogue:
Ingredients: 10 tablespoons of reviews, 5 tablespoons of my ego, 25 tablespoons of inspiration
Instructions: Mix together on a computer. Add electricity. Let sit for 1-3 days.
Serves: anybody who can read and has a computer
- this recipe created by Your Pal Writer
Chapter 10:
Your Friends and Enemies
Mulder lay amid the glistening shards. He felt disconnected form the world. He felt exhausted. He wanted- needed rest. But then he remembered Her. *Oh, God.*
He rolled over.
His voice was frantic, "Scully? Scully are you okay? Scully!?!"
The room was dark. The lamps had been shot to pieces. Papers were scattered across the floor. He couldn't see her.
"Scully!?!"
Mulder stood up. His head was reeling. He started to run toward the main desk. *Oh God, no.*
"Scully!!!"
Mulder felt his leg snag some debris. He reached to free his pants. He felt a hand and almost soiled his pants.
"Mulder, its okay. Its me."
Mulder saw the small frame of Scully. She peeked out from under a desk. Mulder offered her his hand. Scully took it and got to her feet. Her face was flushed. Her heart pounded to escape from her chest. She felt like electricity. Getting shot at will do that to you.
"Are you okay, Scully?"
"I'm fine. But what-"
A voice unseen cut her off. It came form beyond the shattered glass.
"Our quarrel's not with you, mates! We know Deger's man is in there! We just want the rock! We get the rock, and you get to walk away! You've got 20 minutes, then everyone dies!"
Scully got an angry look on her face. She pulled out her pistol. Then she turned towards the driving rain.
"We are federal agents! We are armed! Put down your weapons now!"
The beating rain was the only reply.
Mulder put his hand on her shoulder. Scully turned back to him. Her face was still flush. But there was anger there too now. Her face had a fuming look. A who-the-hell-do-these-punks-think-they-are look. It was the kind of look that had cowed Deputy Sims and the technician. Mulder liked it. But she didn't know the people she was dealing with.
"Scully, I don't think they care. We're dealing with professional killers here."
He told her what he'd learned from Caviare.
"Mulder, that man is a criminal. He's just telling you what you want to here. For all we know those people outside work for Deger too. If you-"
*Ever the skeptic. Even with the wolves at the door.*
He cut her off, "Scully, just call 911 again. See if you can get the police here."
Mulder started towards the cadaver room.
"Where are you going?"
"To get some more answers."
-----------------------
Blake was worried. Scully had left him minutes ago. Then he'd heard the shots. *Christ!* His semi-delirious mind rambled. It rambled through some bleak thoughts. Awful thoughts. *God, what if-*. Blake had to get up. He had to do something.
Blake slowly sat up. Instantly he felt woozy. He slouched forwards and fell. But he caught himself on an equipment table. *Whoa! Easy, Blake. Just take it easy.* He took a couple breaths. Deep, long, breaths. His leg screamed at his brain. *What're you doing!?! Lie back down! I'm in no shape to support you! You'll just collapse on me and we'll both go down!* Blake ignored his leg. He limped towards the door. With each step he felt his senses return. *Sight? Check. Smell? Check. Balance? Uh, check back later.* The sharp pain wasn't going away. Blake made it through the doorway.
The hallway was dim. Blake could see the office had gone to hell. But then he saw Scully. She was crouching behind a desk. She had a cellphone, and was yelling out some instructions. Blake let out a long breath. He felt relieved. But where the hell was Mulder?
Blake saw a door slightly swinging. It was just across the hall. He started towards it.
"Blake? What're you doing up? You should be lying down."
Blake whirled around. It was Scully. She had a look of genuine concern. Blake wondered just how bad he looked.
"I heard the shots, Miss Scully. I was just checking up on you and Agent Mulder. Are you hurt?"
Blake had concern too. Scully felt a little touched.
"Mulder and I are fine Blake. But the situation has gotten complicated."
She filled in Blake. His face had an odd look. Like he was on the edge of an abyss.
"How did you find all this out?"
"I didn't. Mulder did. He's been"- she looked at the floor- "interrogating a suspect."
With that the door swung open. Mulder came out. Blake and Scully saw Caviare sprawled on the floor. The door continued to swing.
"He fell," was Mulder's simple response to a glance from Scully.
He continued past toward the office. Blake stared past the swinging door. Caviare. Door. Caviare. Door. Caviare. Then the door was shut. Scully started after Mulder. But she turned to tell Blake something. She saw his face. His mouth was slightly open. His blue eyes were distant. He looked like he'd seen something bad. Very bad. And now his conscience couldn't be clean. Scully didn't know what to say.
"Blake, go lie down. I'll be right with you."
She went after Mulder. Blake stood there alone. All of a sudden his mind was crystal clear. His jaw was set hard. And his eyes were an inferno.
-----------------------
Scully was trying to keep her voice low. But it came out sharp. She sounded like a scolding mother.
"Mulder, what did you do in there? Do you realize what could happen?"
"Scully, the rock is out there. Caviare had it in his car."
"So tell them, Mulder. Tell them the rock is right out there."
Mulder shook his head, "And then what, Scully? We just go on our merry way? No, they'll cover up their tracks and kill everyone here."
Scully opened her mouth for a rebuttal. But she saw Blake walk by. He stared coldly ahead. He stopped just before the empty doorframe. Blake held his pistol. Mulder had left it on a chair.
Scully looked worried again, "Blake? What're you doing Blake?"
He just stood there. Staring out into the hammering rain.
Mulder had seen that look before. When he'd been ready to kill the men who took Scully. Mulder knew bad things were about to go down. He took the gun Scully had left on a table.
"Get to the back of the office, Scully."
"Mulder, what-"
"Now!"
Mulder left Scully behind. He slowly walked over to Blake. He didn't seem like a 'simple sheriff' anymore. Far from it. Mulder stopped just behind Blake. Blake's hand was out, and he leaned on the doorframe. He looked to the floor. Rain splashed through the empty frame.
"Blake, you don't have to do this."
Blake looked up to Mulder. He didn't seem cold anymore. Blake's blue eyes looked sad. His whole face looked tired. Tired of life. Tired of a world filled with bad men. The fatalistic look worried Mulder.
"We can still wait for the police, Blake," Mulder said.
Blake's reply was low and distant.
"You stay here with Miss Scully. She shouldn't lose a guy like you."
Blake paused. He looked longingly out to the rain. Then back to Mulder.
"Nobody lives forever, Agent Mulder."
Blake limped through the frame. The rain pelted his body. He could just make out two new cars. Two men stood by each car.
The man closest to Blake called out.
"You got the rock, mate?"
Blake raised his gun.
"What're you, crazy? You wanna die? Give us the rock!"
The talker and his companion stepped closer. The wind shook their dark trench coats. The second man whispered to the talker. He nodded. Blake didn't see this. They were blurs through the rain.
"Fine, mate. If you don't have the rock-"
They raised their pistols. With a bang, the talker fell to the pavement. Blake was a good shot. Then the rest of the men opened fire. Blake managed to get off another shot. The second man fell to his knees. He flailed wildly. But Blake never had a chance. Two shots hit his left arm and shoulder. He toppled to the ground. He lay oddly on his side. His gun fell just out of reach. He struggled for it. Closer. Closer. The fusillade stopped. Out of the corner of his eye he saw the two men. They were cautiously approaching. God, if only he could get the gun! He stretched further.
The two men stopped by their flailing comrade. One of them kneeled down. He whispered to the wounded man. Then he blew out his brains. The two walked on. They were 30 feet away. 25. 20. 15. Then their chests exploded in a hail of lead. They fell limply to the ground. Blake stopped struggling. He heard steps pounding the pavement.
Blake turned. Mulder stood there holding his gun. His face was pained. There was a bullet's trail along his neck. But he was focused on Blake.
"Scully! Get out here! Quick!"
Blake heard more steps. His mind started to fade. He made out Scully kneeling before him. She tried to stop his pouring blood. It mixed with the rain and streamed across puddles. Mulder stood in a daze. Scully tore off the bottom part of her shirt. She tied a tourniquet. Blood kept on flowing.
"Jesus, Blake. Come on, stay with me!"
Blake looked sleepily at Scully. He feebly got out some words.
"Gee, Miss Scully, you didn't need to tear up your shirt on my account."
Then he was out. In the distance, a fleet of sirens wailed. The rain kept on falling.
-----------------------
Vero Beach, Indian River County Hospital. Several days later.
The sun shone brightly. The sultry Florida weather was back to normal. Heat filled up the entire room. But then so did the get-well gifts. The teddy bears, balloons, and flowers left little room for standing. Mulder stood next to a large bouquet of roses.
He scratched his neck. The bandage over the wound itched. He wanted to scratch it.
"You shouldn't do that, Agent Mulder."
Mulder turned to Blake. *A man resurrected* Mulder thought. He'd seen Blake on the brink of death. But now he lay comfortably in a hospital bed. Well, comfortable do to the painkillers.
"The doctors already yelled at me when I did that."
Mulder smiled. He looked at all the gifts.
"You're a popular guy, Blake."
Blake smiled that goofy smile of his.
"Well I try to make friends, Agent Mulder."
Mulder smiled too, "I know. You're pretty good at it."
Blake leaned himself on an elbow.
"So what news do you have?"
"Of course, the governments of Australia, South Africa, and New Zealand, have all denied any involvement. But Caviare has agreed to testify against Deger. He goes before a grand jury in a week and a half. We can get him up on conspiracy to murder. And Caviare will lay out Deger's whole operation."
Mulder didn't seem as happy as Blake thought he'd be.
"Is there something wrong?"
"I was just wondering whether you can ever have justice for men like Deger," Mulder said wearily, "He already has an army of the best lawyers around to shield him. They're trying to cast doubt on some of Caviare's testimony."
Blake looked concerned, "Are there charges against you?"
"Yeah, I'm being investigated by the Bureau."
A silence fell over the room. Then Mulder perked up. He pulled out a newspaper from under his arm. He handed it to Blake. Mulder smiled.
"Your heroics made front pages across the country."
"Must've been a slow news day."
Mulder shook his head and smiled, "Some guys get the glory."
Blake smiled back, "And some guys get the girl."
Mulder turned as he heard Scully walk in. She had a big smile on her face. And a card in her hand.
"Feeling better?"
"I certainly am, Miss Scully. What's that you've got there?"
Scully glanced at Mulder. Then she walked up to Blake. Her heels clicked loudly on the floor. She handed the card to Blake.
"Oh, its something I just picked up for you."
A sun setting over a desert was drawn on the cover. On the bottom, the words: 'To a true cowboy-'. Inside a stick figure cowboy, wearing a tilted ten-gallon hat, leaned on a corral fence. A straw of wheat stuck out from his mouth. Underneath were the words: 'Hope to see you in the saddle again soon.'
----------------------- -----------------------
And there you have it. My little story. And for anyone interested-
Recipe for an Epilogue:
Ingredients: 10 tablespoons of reviews, 5 tablespoons of my ego, 25 tablespoons of inspiration
Instructions: Mix together on a computer. Add electricity. Let sit for 1-3 days.
Serves: anybody who can read and has a computer
- this recipe created by Your Pal Writer
