Mulder leaned forward and covered his face with his hands. He hated being in a very public place, such as the airport they were now in. After all, wasn't he a convicted murderer on the run from the FBI? No doubt someone might recognize him. Then everything would be for naught. Will would die, and he and Scully would both go to jail, with a syringe waiting to end his quest.

After they had been running from the FBI and the Syndicate for a long time, both organization's efforts seemed to slack, allowing Mulder and Scully to settle down in a small Kansas town. The 'Johnson's', as they were known, had been readily accepted into the quiet community. Scully, with more than a little help from AD Skinner, had gotten a job in the local hospital, using fake degrees that she had actually earned as 'Scully'. Mulder opted to stay home, not wanting to risk any exposure.

Will had come back to them soon after that. This miracle came with the aid of Doggett and Reyes. They'd never said how they managed to bring Will home, and neither Mulder nor Scully asked. They were just relieved to have their family together and complete.

Mulder's thoughts came to an abrupt halt when he saw a pair of shoes stop in front of him. The mere size and style told him that it was not Scully. Fearing the worst, be it a badge or a gun shoved in his face, he slowly looked up.

The man smiled. "What's the time?"

Mulder stared at him for a moment. "Oh!" he finally said, digesting what he had said. "Sorry. I...uh...don't carry a watch anymore. Mine got stuck in the dryer a few weeks ago, and I haven't gotten around to getting another yet." He smiled, feebly hoping the man would buy his fib.

The man smiled back. "Sorry to bother you then. I've just got this awful feeling that I'm late, but I can't seem to find a clock anywhere."

Mulder nodded. "Yeah, that happens."

"Where're you headed?" the man asked.

Mulder frowned. Could this be a friendly conversation, or a set-up to gather information on them? "Oh, just a business trip up to Washington," he said, trying to sound friendly. He deliberately skipped the 'DC' part, hoping the man would think of the state.

The man grinned. "Washington, eh? Supposed to be pretty cold about this time. Especially around Seattle."

Mulder silently congratulated himself, but kept in mind that this man could be working for whoever took Will.

The man leaned to the side, peering at something on a bar wall. "Well, look at that. A clock. Well, I'm sorry Mr...?"

"Johnson," Mulder supplied.

"Yes. I'm sorry Mr. Johnson, but it seems as though I have five minutes to get to the other side of the building. It was nice talking with you." The man nodded to Mulder, then took off in a run towards another part of the airport. Just then, Scully approached Mulder, watching the man's retreating back.

"Who was that, Mulder?"

"Just a guy, I think."

"You think?"

Mulder smiled. "Yes, I do think. Occasionally."

Scully sat next to him, pushing a pair of tickets into his hand. "I managed to get us tickets for a noon flight."

"Good. Then we get more to eat than a bag of peanuts."

"Or sunflower seeds, in your case," she replied, noting the bag sticking out of his pocket.

He grinned and opened up the tickets. "Oh, not our usual first class."

"No, Mulder. I'm sorry, but we no longer get to use our FBI status to get bigger seats."

"Hmm...too bad." He peered at the tickets again for a moment, then looked up at her. "So, we'll be in DC at about three?"

"Right."

He sighed. "And then we march right into the hornet's nest."

Scully shook her head. "I'm going to see if I can contact Skinner first. He may be able to get what we need."

"What if he was sacked?"

"Then I can try Doggett or Reyes."

"None of them know what this guy wants." He sighed in frustration. "This is crazy. If all my old stuff is still in that office, there's no way we can find one disc out of many. I've got boxes full in there. Or, I had boxes. They probably destroyed all of that stuff after I was tried for that murder."

Scully shook her head. "I know. That man has asked us to do the near impossible." She grasped his hand. "But then again, it's not the first time we've tried to do something that seems impossible."

Mulder looked into her eyes for a moment. Then he smiled, seeing hope in them. This lifted his own heart and gave him the will to do whatever it would take to get his son back. Their son. He gave Scully's hand a squeeze. "Right. Now let's go. We have a plane to catch."