Time Is Running Out Part Two
By Katie Phillips
Disclaimer Info located in Part One
Monday September 4th 10:00 AM Assistant Director Skinner's Office
"I don't believe it George." Walter Skinner said getting up from his desk and walking around to face his boss. "Are you trying to tell me that Agent Mulder, Fox Mulder, is dead?"
"That is exactly what I am trying to tell you Walter. Now if you would just have a seat and calm down a minute I will tell you everything. Or at least everything I know."
Skinner took a seat while Williams did the same. Williams licked his lips a few times trying to delay the inevitable.
He took a deep breath and began with the meeting in the President's office and ending with the phone call he had received from General Elliott's assistant that morning informing him of Mulder's death.
Skinner just looked at him when he was done. He was speechless for a minute then tried to speak calmly. "George, you have no right to send off one of my agents to such a dangerous mission without consulting with me first. Not only that, you could have at least given him a chance to say goodbye to . . ."
Skinner stopped mid sentence realizing the task that lay ahead of him. "Christ, how am I ever going to tell Dana about this?" He asked. More to himself than to the Director.
"You won't have to Walter; I have every intention of doing it myself. Although," he said with a weak smile "I am hoping to have you around when I do. If what I have heard about the relationship between Agents Mulder and Scully is true, she is going to need some support."
XXX
Dana Scully looked at the clock on the wall trying very hard to suppress the feeling of dread that was slowly but surely creeping over her. She tried to tell herself that she was overacting. That just because she hadn't heard from Mulder since Friday morning, it didn't mean that something had happened to him.
She leaned back in her chair and willed herself not to look at the clock again. Logically speaking, it wasn't that unusual for her not to be in contact with Mulder over a weekend. For years, they had barely spoken between Friday evening and Monday morning unless it directly involved a case.
But over the past month or so things were beginning to change between them. It had almost become a habit for Mulder to magically appear with a pizza in one hand and an incredibly bad movie in the other on Saturday night. They would eat, laugh at his movie selection and just enjoy each other's company.
Scully reminded herself again not to worry. If something had happened to Mulder she would hear about it.
The sound of the telephone made her jump out of her chair. She tried not to sound too desperate as she picked it up. "Scully." She said a bit too loudly.
It wasn't Mulder as she had hoped but Skinner asking her to come up to his office as soon as possible.
Scully hung up the phone, stood up and straightened out her suit jacket while trying to not let the fear overcome her.
XXX
Scully walked through the door and at the sight of the Director sitting in front of Skinner's desk she began to feel a bit faint.
George Williams only spoke to lowly agents like herself at the annual Christmas party or when something horrible had happened.
"Sir." She said quietly when he rose to shake her hand.
"Have a seat Agent Scully." Williams said trying hard to keep his eyes on her face.
"Thank you Sir." Scully said sitting down and giving Skinner a look of pure panic. "Can you tell me what this is about Sir?" She began. "Has something happened to Mulder?"
Williams was slightly shocked at her direct question. Perhaps there was more to the rumors about the relationship between her and Mulder than he had thought. She did seem to have a sixth sense when it came to her partner.
Williams nodded and began. "Last Friday, Mulder was hand selected by the President to break into a research facility being run by the Syndicate. He left immediately after the meeting." Williams tried not to sound too guilty. "Because of the Top Secret nature of his mission, he was not allowed to tell anyone that he was leaving."
Scully broke in at this point obviously quite annoyed. "With all due respect Sir, why wasn't I sent out to this facility with Mulder? I am his partner, after all, and my security clearance is actually higher than his."
"I appreciate your desire to be with your partner Agent Scully, but this was a very risky mission. Your mother has already lost one child to the actions of the Syndicate. We had no desire to let her loose another one."
Scully just glared at him and then turned to Skinner. "And you knew about this?" She asked barely able to keep from yelling at him.
It wasn't Skinner who answered her but Williams. "AD Skinner learned about this mission just this morning. If I may continue?"
Scully nodded still fuming.
"Agent Mulder and two members of Special Services arrived at the facility early Sunday morning. From what we can tell, they managed to enter the building but were then caught in some sort of trap."
"Trap?" Scully said barely able to get the word out.
"The building was rigged with explosives. They went off while the men were inside the building. Two died at the scene and one man was airlifted out of there this morning. It seems doubtful that he will survive either."
Williams stopped then hoping that Scully would understand what had happened without him having to spell it out for her any more than he already had.
Scully's face grew pale. So pale that she looked like a fine porcelain doll that would break at the slightest amount of contact.
"Are you telling me that Agent Mulder is dead Sir?" Scully said just above a whisper.
Williams nodded. "General Elliott himself identified the body and is making arrangements to have it shipped here."
Scully swallowed once then twice and looked up at Skinner. "I would like to do the . . ."
"NO!" Skinner said much louder than he had planned. "For security reasons the casket is to remain closed and even if it wasn't do you really think I would let you perform an autopsy on Mulder?"
"I need to know what happened to him." Scully said trying hard not to let the tears fall.
"From what General Elliott told me, all three men were near the site of the explosion and very badly burned."
"Then how can we know for sure that it is him?" Scully said looking for a small bit of hope on which to hang.
"Elliott recognized his black hiking boots and what remained of his black leather jacket. It is him Agent Scully." Williams reached over and covered her small hand with his. "I am so sorry."
He gave her hand a gentle pat and rose to leave. "Take whatever time you need Agent Scully." Williams glanced over to Skinner, who was already rising from his chair, and left.
Skinner walked over to Scully and stood directly in front of her watching as her tears began to fall more freely.
She looked up at him. "I don't suppose he faked it this time." She said trying her best to smile but failing horribly.
"No, I am afraid this time it is real Dana." Skinner said softly.
Scully got up then and was about the leave the room when suddenly she found herself in Skinner's arms sobbing into his chest.
Wentworth Hospital Wentworth, Idaho Monday September 4th 1 PM
General Elliott paced the hall waiting to speak to the doctor in charge. Elliott was not very good at waiting and was especially not good about it when one of his men's lives hung in the balance. He was about to send Jenkins, who was shadowing him as usual, in to see what was happening when the doors opened and the doctor finally came out.
"General Elliott?" the doctor asked extending his hand. "I am Doctor Fleming. I have been working on the man you brought in."
"And?" Elliott asked impatiently.
"Looks like he is one lucky fellow. He suffered some pretty serious injuries to his abdomen, chest and head but there appears to be no internal bleeding. He has been stitched up and his broken ribs wrapped but with the right care, he should be as right as rain in a month or so."
"Excellent." Elliott said smiling. "I would like to remove him to our own facility as soon as possible Doctor."
The doctor frowned at this. "General, he should stay here for a few days for observation" he began but when he saw the look of determination on the General's face he relented. "That shouldn't be a problem General as long as you can guarantee him the proper care."
"That I will do." Elliott said extending his hand out to let the doctor know that their conversation was over.
The doctor shook Elliott's hand and was halfway through the door when he stopped. He paused for a second and turned and walked back to Elliott while fishing something out of his pocket.
Elliott tried to hide his shocked expression as he accepted the small vial the doctor handed him. "This was in his hand. I can't believe with all that happened that he didn't drop it." The doctor shrugged when Elliott made no comment and quickly went through the doors back to his patients.
Elliott turned the vial over several times while muttering "Well, I'll be damned." to himself. He motioned for Jenkins to join him and promptly handed him the vial.
"Make sure this vaccine gets put into proper storage immediately Jenkins." He turned to leave when the look of puzzlement on Jenkin's face stopped him. "Is there a problem Jenkins?"
Jenkins looked a bit sheepish but answered. "If this is the vaccine, then isn't it safe to assume that is it Agent Mulder back there, not McKenzie or Hopkins?"
"Oh it is definitely Agent Mulder. I recognized him even though his face was pretty banged up. He was the only one of the three wearing civilian boots."
Jenkins nodded and paused before asking the question he knew would annoy his boss. "Should I get on the horn and notify the FBI that their man is still alive?"
Elliott smiled and put his arm around Jenkins. "I think we will let them think Agent Mulder is dead a bit longer Jenkins. You see, his partner has a habit of trying to locate him whenever he wanders off and we don't want her out here poking her nose into our business. When the time is right and the vaccine problem solved, we will return Mulder to DC."
Jenkins paled a bit at this but knew better than to say anything.
Thursday September 7th Noon Maggie Scully's House
The house was overflowing with members of the FBI. Scully looked at all the faces, many of whom had mocked Mulder during his lifetime and knew that the only reason they had attended the funeral before coming here was because Director Williams had mandated that every agent possible be in attendance.
William's order was pretty much standard procedure for any agent's funeral, but Scully couldn't help but smile at the irony of the situation.
Maggie Scully and Walter Skinner had stood by Scully both literally and figuratively since she had heard the horrible news. Skinner had contacted Maggie immediately after his meeting with Scully and had insisted on driving her himself to her mother's house.
Maggie had quickly and efficiently taken care of all the funeral arrangements. The ceremony was held at the funeral home and had been brief but touching. The eulogy by Frohike had brought tears to even the toughest agent.
Scully now sat in her Mother's living room accepting condolences like she was Mulder's widow not partner. Maggie sat next to her only leaving her on occasion to make sure everything was running smoothly.
Finally the last of the agents left and the only ones remaining were the three Lone Gunmen and Skinner. Skinner hung around awkwardly for awhile before telling Scully, again, to take all the time she needs before returning to work.
Scully smiled briefly and watched Skinner leave. It was only after he had shut the front door that she started to relax.
"Thanks Mom." Scully said getting up and walking over to her mother and giving her kiss on the cheek. "Everything was beautiful."
Maggie just gave Scully a quick smile before heading off to the kitchen to confront the large stack of dishes waiting for her attention.
"Dana" Frohike said walking over to her and taking her hands into his own. "Is there anything we can do for you?"
Scully smiled at looked at Mulder's friends. Their faces were etched with grief as well. "No, just don't be strangers, okay?"
Scully smiled at them and accepted their embraces before escorting them to the front door. "Thanks a lot guys. For everything. I don't think I could get through all of this without you."
They all hugged again. Scully found herself totally drained when she had shut the front door. She needed sleep, badly.
She looked briefly towards the kitchen, but couldn't really face making conversation about Mulder's funeral with her mother. Scully walked up to her room, changed into a pair of sweatpants and one of Mulder's old t- shirts and climbed into bed.
Outside Alex Krycek sat in his car watching the last of the guests leave.
Baltic Labs Wentworth, Idaho Friday September 15th 2AM
"Scully, help me!" Mulder screamed as he began to thrash around in his bed. The pain resulting from his movements only made him yell for help louder. "Scully!"
Alicia Duran sat up in bed and rubbed her eyes before looking at the clock. "Not again." She mumbled as she dragged her tired body out of bed and down the hall to check on her patient wondering how one man could have so many nightmares.
Mulder was still screaming and thrashing when she entered the room. She paused a second admiring his body as he tossed and turned. Even hurt and wrapped in bandages, this man was extraordinary.
She sat on the corner of his bed and gathered him into his arms much the way a mother would comfort a child. She held him close and rocked him slowly whispering softly to him until the tension left his body.
"Scully?" He asked as she helped him lay back down again. "Scully, is that you?"
"Hush now." Alicia said gently arranging his covers around him and stroking his head. "Don't worry, I won't let anything happen to you."
"Scully." Mulder whispered as the sleep overtook him again.
9 AM
General Elliott walked into the small lounge at Baltic Labs with Jenkins following behind him as usual.
"Ms. Duran?" he said as he approached a very tired looking woman who was sitting at the table going over the morning paper.
"Yes, I am Alicia Duran." She said standing up and extending her hand "And you are?"
"General Elliott." he replied shaking his hand while admiring the woman standing in front of him.
She was of average height with wavy blonde hair that cascaded over her shoulders and green eyes that spoke of her Irish heritage. Her hair and her eyes were nothing in comparison to her body. Alicia worked out often and the tight shirt she was wearing showed off the fruit of her labors nicely.
"I have come to see how our patient is doing?" Elliott finished after he managed to pull his eyes off of her.
"Agent Mulder, do you mean?" Alicia said making note of Elliott's interest in her for future reference. "He seems to be making good progress but I would have a better idea of how he was doing if you let me take him off the sedatives."
"Not until his injuries are fully healed." Elliott said following Alicia down the hall towards Mulder's room.
"That could take another month or even more." Alicia protested as she paused to open Mulder's door. "When you figure in any physical therapy that may be needed, he may not be up and around until Christmas."
"Perfect." Elliott said looking down at Mulder as he slept. The longer he could keep Mulder sedated, the longer he wouldn't have to worry about him slipping away and heading back to DC.
Elliott saw the noticeably improved Mulder and complimented Alicia on it. "Ms. Duran, have you made any progress on the vaccine Agent Mulder was kind enough to provide you?"
"I am getting there Sir, but then again, with only me out here taking care of him" Alicia pointed to Mulder "and all the research it is taking longer than I would like."
"I am sure you and Mulder, when he is able to help you, will be able to get us some answers." Elliott said heading back for the main doors. "I will be in touch Ms. Duran."
Outside in car, Elliott motioned for Jenkins to start driving while he pulled out his cell phone. Within minutes he was speaking with the President's Chief of Staff.
"Harry, things are going quite well here. Mulder is progressing nicely and I am sure that when he is fully recovered physically that he and Ms. Duran will become very close."
He laughed out loud at the off color remark the Chief of Staff made regarding Alicia and Mulder. "You are right Harry. If I wasn't so scared of my wife killing me, I would do her myself."
Elliott didn't even notice Jenkins shaking his head at the actions of his employer.
Baltic Labs December 18th 9:00 AM
Alicia Duran looked back towards General Elliott waiting for his signal. At the small nod of his head she slowly pulled out the IV needle that had been in Mulder's arm since his arrival almost three months ago.
"How long do you think it will take him to come around Ms. Duran?" the General asked as he slowly walked around Mulder's bed.
"I am not sure Sir." Alicia replied "I have never been involved with a situation quite like this one before." She glanced at the General quickly before continuing. "I imagine it should not take long."
"Excellent." Elliott said looking Alicia over closely again. "And you are clear on your orders of what to do with Agent Mulder when he does wake up?"
"Yes Sir I am. I will not only bring him up to speed on his condition and the need to help me analyze the information on the upcoming colonization but I am to also befriend him." She looked down at the floor at this statement.
"He is a good looking man Ms. Duran and you are a good looking woman. Surely since you are both stuck here for a while it won't be too much of a hardship on you to try and make him fall in love with you?"
"No Sir." Alicia said still looking at the floor wishing that Elliott didn't have such power over her. But with her brother locked up in a military prison, she had little choice but to do what he wanted.
Elliott walked over to her and gently stroked her face. "Perhaps soon, I will find time in my busy schedule to stay here more than a few minutes. Would you like that Alicia?"
Alicia looked up at him and smiled weakly. "Yes Sir, I would."
Elliott raised an eyebrow at her and left her with her patient.
It took Mulder close to four hours to start to come around. It began with him mumbling the word 'Scully' over and over again making Alicia wonder, again, just who this 'Scully' person was.
Alicia sat by his bed with his hand in hers looking at him as he struggled to open his eyes. The General was right, he was very easy to look at and since she had been bathing him for the past few months she had seen every inch of him. As much as she hated to admit it, thoughts of him naked making love to her had appeared often in her dreams.
Finally he opened his eyes and looked at her trying with all his might to focus.
"Scully?" he whispered through parched lips. "Scully, is that you?"
Alicia squeezed his hand gently. "No, I am Alicia Duran. I have been taking care of you since the incident at the research facility."
Mulder face showed immediate disappointment as he closed his eyes and tried to gather his thoughts and remember what had happened that night.
He had been standing in the stairwell of the facility with Hopkins waiting for McKenzie when the explosion hit. Frankly, he found it hard to believe that he had survived.
"Do you remember who you are?" Alicia said holding his head so he could sip some water.
Mulder smiled at this. "Special Agent Fox Mulder." he responded without much feeling. "I am afraid I am not at liberty to discuss my mission though."
Alicia smiled at this. "Not to worry Fox, I am assigned to the same mission as you. To work on simulating the alien vaccine and to come up with a plan for disbursement."
Mulder frowned at this. The woman sitting on his bed did not look like any of the research scientists he had ever seen. She wore a skin tight shirt that left very little to the imagination and jeans shorts that appeared to have been painted on.
"How long have I been out?" Mulder asked struggling to get to a sitting position.
"About three months." Alicia said not meeting his eyes.
"Three months! What was wrong with me?" Mulder said feeling the anger begin to rise within him.
"Cracked ribs; some major bruising; quite a few cuts . . ." Alicia began before Mulder cut her off.
"I am no Doctor Alicia, but I don't think those injuries would cause me to be out of it for THREE MONTHS!"
Alicia swallowed hard and looked at the ground again. "The medical staff advising me thought it was best to keep you sedated until your injuries healed completely."
"I see." Mulder said leaning back against the pillows. It was obvious that General Elliott had been once again worried about him escaping back to DC.
"Where exactly are we?" he asked.
"Wentworth, Idaho." Alicia replied. "We are located just outside of town. Basically hiding in plain view of everyone. It is requested that we only leave under supervision though."
Mulder nodded. "So that explains this little bracelet on my ankle. Let's them know exactly where I am at all times."
"Yes." Alicia said looking up at him. Her plan for befriending Mulder seemed to be going very badly. He seemed to hate her.
"And the reason you don't have one is why?" Mulder asked glancing down at the bare ankle.
"General Elliott and I have an agreement." she said barely above a whisper.
This comment made Mulder feel some pity for her. "Does he have something on you?" he asked taking her hand.
"Not me, my brother." Alicia answered still looking at the floor.
"Then I guess we both have no choice but to cooperate, at least for now." Mulder said forcing himself to sound more cheerful.
"I don't suppose you have anything to eat out there in the kitchen?" he asked. "I am starving."
"I think I can whip something up for you." Alicia said standing up thankful to have something to do. "Your clothes are in the dresser there. Let me know if you need any help."
Mulder watched her walk out of the room. He couldn't help but notice just how short her shorts really were. "Damn, this assignment may be harder than I thought." He thought to himself as he swung his legs out over the side of the bed.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++ End of chapter two - comments anyone?
Disclaimer Info located in Part One
Monday September 4th 10:00 AM Assistant Director Skinner's Office
"I don't believe it George." Walter Skinner said getting up from his desk and walking around to face his boss. "Are you trying to tell me that Agent Mulder, Fox Mulder, is dead?"
"That is exactly what I am trying to tell you Walter. Now if you would just have a seat and calm down a minute I will tell you everything. Or at least everything I know."
Skinner took a seat while Williams did the same. Williams licked his lips a few times trying to delay the inevitable.
He took a deep breath and began with the meeting in the President's office and ending with the phone call he had received from General Elliott's assistant that morning informing him of Mulder's death.
Skinner just looked at him when he was done. He was speechless for a minute then tried to speak calmly. "George, you have no right to send off one of my agents to such a dangerous mission without consulting with me first. Not only that, you could have at least given him a chance to say goodbye to . . ."
Skinner stopped mid sentence realizing the task that lay ahead of him. "Christ, how am I ever going to tell Dana about this?" He asked. More to himself than to the Director.
"You won't have to Walter; I have every intention of doing it myself. Although," he said with a weak smile "I am hoping to have you around when I do. If what I have heard about the relationship between Agents Mulder and Scully is true, she is going to need some support."
XXX
Dana Scully looked at the clock on the wall trying very hard to suppress the feeling of dread that was slowly but surely creeping over her. She tried to tell herself that she was overacting. That just because she hadn't heard from Mulder since Friday morning, it didn't mean that something had happened to him.
She leaned back in her chair and willed herself not to look at the clock again. Logically speaking, it wasn't that unusual for her not to be in contact with Mulder over a weekend. For years, they had barely spoken between Friday evening and Monday morning unless it directly involved a case.
But over the past month or so things were beginning to change between them. It had almost become a habit for Mulder to magically appear with a pizza in one hand and an incredibly bad movie in the other on Saturday night. They would eat, laugh at his movie selection and just enjoy each other's company.
Scully reminded herself again not to worry. If something had happened to Mulder she would hear about it.
The sound of the telephone made her jump out of her chair. She tried not to sound too desperate as she picked it up. "Scully." She said a bit too loudly.
It wasn't Mulder as she had hoped but Skinner asking her to come up to his office as soon as possible.
Scully hung up the phone, stood up and straightened out her suit jacket while trying to not let the fear overcome her.
XXX
Scully walked through the door and at the sight of the Director sitting in front of Skinner's desk she began to feel a bit faint.
George Williams only spoke to lowly agents like herself at the annual Christmas party or when something horrible had happened.
"Sir." She said quietly when he rose to shake her hand.
"Have a seat Agent Scully." Williams said trying hard to keep his eyes on her face.
"Thank you Sir." Scully said sitting down and giving Skinner a look of pure panic. "Can you tell me what this is about Sir?" She began. "Has something happened to Mulder?"
Williams was slightly shocked at her direct question. Perhaps there was more to the rumors about the relationship between her and Mulder than he had thought. She did seem to have a sixth sense when it came to her partner.
Williams nodded and began. "Last Friday, Mulder was hand selected by the President to break into a research facility being run by the Syndicate. He left immediately after the meeting." Williams tried not to sound too guilty. "Because of the Top Secret nature of his mission, he was not allowed to tell anyone that he was leaving."
Scully broke in at this point obviously quite annoyed. "With all due respect Sir, why wasn't I sent out to this facility with Mulder? I am his partner, after all, and my security clearance is actually higher than his."
"I appreciate your desire to be with your partner Agent Scully, but this was a very risky mission. Your mother has already lost one child to the actions of the Syndicate. We had no desire to let her loose another one."
Scully just glared at him and then turned to Skinner. "And you knew about this?" She asked barely able to keep from yelling at him.
It wasn't Skinner who answered her but Williams. "AD Skinner learned about this mission just this morning. If I may continue?"
Scully nodded still fuming.
"Agent Mulder and two members of Special Services arrived at the facility early Sunday morning. From what we can tell, they managed to enter the building but were then caught in some sort of trap."
"Trap?" Scully said barely able to get the word out.
"The building was rigged with explosives. They went off while the men were inside the building. Two died at the scene and one man was airlifted out of there this morning. It seems doubtful that he will survive either."
Williams stopped then hoping that Scully would understand what had happened without him having to spell it out for her any more than he already had.
Scully's face grew pale. So pale that she looked like a fine porcelain doll that would break at the slightest amount of contact.
"Are you telling me that Agent Mulder is dead Sir?" Scully said just above a whisper.
Williams nodded. "General Elliott himself identified the body and is making arrangements to have it shipped here."
Scully swallowed once then twice and looked up at Skinner. "I would like to do the . . ."
"NO!" Skinner said much louder than he had planned. "For security reasons the casket is to remain closed and even if it wasn't do you really think I would let you perform an autopsy on Mulder?"
"I need to know what happened to him." Scully said trying hard not to let the tears fall.
"From what General Elliott told me, all three men were near the site of the explosion and very badly burned."
"Then how can we know for sure that it is him?" Scully said looking for a small bit of hope on which to hang.
"Elliott recognized his black hiking boots and what remained of his black leather jacket. It is him Agent Scully." Williams reached over and covered her small hand with his. "I am so sorry."
He gave her hand a gentle pat and rose to leave. "Take whatever time you need Agent Scully." Williams glanced over to Skinner, who was already rising from his chair, and left.
Skinner walked over to Scully and stood directly in front of her watching as her tears began to fall more freely.
She looked up at him. "I don't suppose he faked it this time." She said trying her best to smile but failing horribly.
"No, I am afraid this time it is real Dana." Skinner said softly.
Scully got up then and was about the leave the room when suddenly she found herself in Skinner's arms sobbing into his chest.
Wentworth Hospital Wentworth, Idaho Monday September 4th 1 PM
General Elliott paced the hall waiting to speak to the doctor in charge. Elliott was not very good at waiting and was especially not good about it when one of his men's lives hung in the balance. He was about to send Jenkins, who was shadowing him as usual, in to see what was happening when the doors opened and the doctor finally came out.
"General Elliott?" the doctor asked extending his hand. "I am Doctor Fleming. I have been working on the man you brought in."
"And?" Elliott asked impatiently.
"Looks like he is one lucky fellow. He suffered some pretty serious injuries to his abdomen, chest and head but there appears to be no internal bleeding. He has been stitched up and his broken ribs wrapped but with the right care, he should be as right as rain in a month or so."
"Excellent." Elliott said smiling. "I would like to remove him to our own facility as soon as possible Doctor."
The doctor frowned at this. "General, he should stay here for a few days for observation" he began but when he saw the look of determination on the General's face he relented. "That shouldn't be a problem General as long as you can guarantee him the proper care."
"That I will do." Elliott said extending his hand out to let the doctor know that their conversation was over.
The doctor shook Elliott's hand and was halfway through the door when he stopped. He paused for a second and turned and walked back to Elliott while fishing something out of his pocket.
Elliott tried to hide his shocked expression as he accepted the small vial the doctor handed him. "This was in his hand. I can't believe with all that happened that he didn't drop it." The doctor shrugged when Elliott made no comment and quickly went through the doors back to his patients.
Elliott turned the vial over several times while muttering "Well, I'll be damned." to himself. He motioned for Jenkins to join him and promptly handed him the vial.
"Make sure this vaccine gets put into proper storage immediately Jenkins." He turned to leave when the look of puzzlement on Jenkin's face stopped him. "Is there a problem Jenkins?"
Jenkins looked a bit sheepish but answered. "If this is the vaccine, then isn't it safe to assume that is it Agent Mulder back there, not McKenzie or Hopkins?"
"Oh it is definitely Agent Mulder. I recognized him even though his face was pretty banged up. He was the only one of the three wearing civilian boots."
Jenkins nodded and paused before asking the question he knew would annoy his boss. "Should I get on the horn and notify the FBI that their man is still alive?"
Elliott smiled and put his arm around Jenkins. "I think we will let them think Agent Mulder is dead a bit longer Jenkins. You see, his partner has a habit of trying to locate him whenever he wanders off and we don't want her out here poking her nose into our business. When the time is right and the vaccine problem solved, we will return Mulder to DC."
Jenkins paled a bit at this but knew better than to say anything.
Thursday September 7th Noon Maggie Scully's House
The house was overflowing with members of the FBI. Scully looked at all the faces, many of whom had mocked Mulder during his lifetime and knew that the only reason they had attended the funeral before coming here was because Director Williams had mandated that every agent possible be in attendance.
William's order was pretty much standard procedure for any agent's funeral, but Scully couldn't help but smile at the irony of the situation.
Maggie Scully and Walter Skinner had stood by Scully both literally and figuratively since she had heard the horrible news. Skinner had contacted Maggie immediately after his meeting with Scully and had insisted on driving her himself to her mother's house.
Maggie had quickly and efficiently taken care of all the funeral arrangements. The ceremony was held at the funeral home and had been brief but touching. The eulogy by Frohike had brought tears to even the toughest agent.
Scully now sat in her Mother's living room accepting condolences like she was Mulder's widow not partner. Maggie sat next to her only leaving her on occasion to make sure everything was running smoothly.
Finally the last of the agents left and the only ones remaining were the three Lone Gunmen and Skinner. Skinner hung around awkwardly for awhile before telling Scully, again, to take all the time she needs before returning to work.
Scully smiled briefly and watched Skinner leave. It was only after he had shut the front door that she started to relax.
"Thanks Mom." Scully said getting up and walking over to her mother and giving her kiss on the cheek. "Everything was beautiful."
Maggie just gave Scully a quick smile before heading off to the kitchen to confront the large stack of dishes waiting for her attention.
"Dana" Frohike said walking over to her and taking her hands into his own. "Is there anything we can do for you?"
Scully smiled at looked at Mulder's friends. Their faces were etched with grief as well. "No, just don't be strangers, okay?"
Scully smiled at them and accepted their embraces before escorting them to the front door. "Thanks a lot guys. For everything. I don't think I could get through all of this without you."
They all hugged again. Scully found herself totally drained when she had shut the front door. She needed sleep, badly.
She looked briefly towards the kitchen, but couldn't really face making conversation about Mulder's funeral with her mother. Scully walked up to her room, changed into a pair of sweatpants and one of Mulder's old t- shirts and climbed into bed.
Outside Alex Krycek sat in his car watching the last of the guests leave.
Baltic Labs Wentworth, Idaho Friday September 15th 2AM
"Scully, help me!" Mulder screamed as he began to thrash around in his bed. The pain resulting from his movements only made him yell for help louder. "Scully!"
Alicia Duran sat up in bed and rubbed her eyes before looking at the clock. "Not again." She mumbled as she dragged her tired body out of bed and down the hall to check on her patient wondering how one man could have so many nightmares.
Mulder was still screaming and thrashing when she entered the room. She paused a second admiring his body as he tossed and turned. Even hurt and wrapped in bandages, this man was extraordinary.
She sat on the corner of his bed and gathered him into his arms much the way a mother would comfort a child. She held him close and rocked him slowly whispering softly to him until the tension left his body.
"Scully?" He asked as she helped him lay back down again. "Scully, is that you?"
"Hush now." Alicia said gently arranging his covers around him and stroking his head. "Don't worry, I won't let anything happen to you."
"Scully." Mulder whispered as the sleep overtook him again.
9 AM
General Elliott walked into the small lounge at Baltic Labs with Jenkins following behind him as usual.
"Ms. Duran?" he said as he approached a very tired looking woman who was sitting at the table going over the morning paper.
"Yes, I am Alicia Duran." She said standing up and extending her hand "And you are?"
"General Elliott." he replied shaking his hand while admiring the woman standing in front of him.
She was of average height with wavy blonde hair that cascaded over her shoulders and green eyes that spoke of her Irish heritage. Her hair and her eyes were nothing in comparison to her body. Alicia worked out often and the tight shirt she was wearing showed off the fruit of her labors nicely.
"I have come to see how our patient is doing?" Elliott finished after he managed to pull his eyes off of her.
"Agent Mulder, do you mean?" Alicia said making note of Elliott's interest in her for future reference. "He seems to be making good progress but I would have a better idea of how he was doing if you let me take him off the sedatives."
"Not until his injuries are fully healed." Elliott said following Alicia down the hall towards Mulder's room.
"That could take another month or even more." Alicia protested as she paused to open Mulder's door. "When you figure in any physical therapy that may be needed, he may not be up and around until Christmas."
"Perfect." Elliott said looking down at Mulder as he slept. The longer he could keep Mulder sedated, the longer he wouldn't have to worry about him slipping away and heading back to DC.
Elliott saw the noticeably improved Mulder and complimented Alicia on it. "Ms. Duran, have you made any progress on the vaccine Agent Mulder was kind enough to provide you?"
"I am getting there Sir, but then again, with only me out here taking care of him" Alicia pointed to Mulder "and all the research it is taking longer than I would like."
"I am sure you and Mulder, when he is able to help you, will be able to get us some answers." Elliott said heading back for the main doors. "I will be in touch Ms. Duran."
Outside in car, Elliott motioned for Jenkins to start driving while he pulled out his cell phone. Within minutes he was speaking with the President's Chief of Staff.
"Harry, things are going quite well here. Mulder is progressing nicely and I am sure that when he is fully recovered physically that he and Ms. Duran will become very close."
He laughed out loud at the off color remark the Chief of Staff made regarding Alicia and Mulder. "You are right Harry. If I wasn't so scared of my wife killing me, I would do her myself."
Elliott didn't even notice Jenkins shaking his head at the actions of his employer.
Baltic Labs December 18th 9:00 AM
Alicia Duran looked back towards General Elliott waiting for his signal. At the small nod of his head she slowly pulled out the IV needle that had been in Mulder's arm since his arrival almost three months ago.
"How long do you think it will take him to come around Ms. Duran?" the General asked as he slowly walked around Mulder's bed.
"I am not sure Sir." Alicia replied "I have never been involved with a situation quite like this one before." She glanced at the General quickly before continuing. "I imagine it should not take long."
"Excellent." Elliott said looking Alicia over closely again. "And you are clear on your orders of what to do with Agent Mulder when he does wake up?"
"Yes Sir I am. I will not only bring him up to speed on his condition and the need to help me analyze the information on the upcoming colonization but I am to also befriend him." She looked down at the floor at this statement.
"He is a good looking man Ms. Duran and you are a good looking woman. Surely since you are both stuck here for a while it won't be too much of a hardship on you to try and make him fall in love with you?"
"No Sir." Alicia said still looking at the floor wishing that Elliott didn't have such power over her. But with her brother locked up in a military prison, she had little choice but to do what he wanted.
Elliott walked over to her and gently stroked her face. "Perhaps soon, I will find time in my busy schedule to stay here more than a few minutes. Would you like that Alicia?"
Alicia looked up at him and smiled weakly. "Yes Sir, I would."
Elliott raised an eyebrow at her and left her with her patient.
It took Mulder close to four hours to start to come around. It began with him mumbling the word 'Scully' over and over again making Alicia wonder, again, just who this 'Scully' person was.
Alicia sat by his bed with his hand in hers looking at him as he struggled to open his eyes. The General was right, he was very easy to look at and since she had been bathing him for the past few months she had seen every inch of him. As much as she hated to admit it, thoughts of him naked making love to her had appeared often in her dreams.
Finally he opened his eyes and looked at her trying with all his might to focus.
"Scully?" he whispered through parched lips. "Scully, is that you?"
Alicia squeezed his hand gently. "No, I am Alicia Duran. I have been taking care of you since the incident at the research facility."
Mulder face showed immediate disappointment as he closed his eyes and tried to gather his thoughts and remember what had happened that night.
He had been standing in the stairwell of the facility with Hopkins waiting for McKenzie when the explosion hit. Frankly, he found it hard to believe that he had survived.
"Do you remember who you are?" Alicia said holding his head so he could sip some water.
Mulder smiled at this. "Special Agent Fox Mulder." he responded without much feeling. "I am afraid I am not at liberty to discuss my mission though."
Alicia smiled at this. "Not to worry Fox, I am assigned to the same mission as you. To work on simulating the alien vaccine and to come up with a plan for disbursement."
Mulder frowned at this. The woman sitting on his bed did not look like any of the research scientists he had ever seen. She wore a skin tight shirt that left very little to the imagination and jeans shorts that appeared to have been painted on.
"How long have I been out?" Mulder asked struggling to get to a sitting position.
"About three months." Alicia said not meeting his eyes.
"Three months! What was wrong with me?" Mulder said feeling the anger begin to rise within him.
"Cracked ribs; some major bruising; quite a few cuts . . ." Alicia began before Mulder cut her off.
"I am no Doctor Alicia, but I don't think those injuries would cause me to be out of it for THREE MONTHS!"
Alicia swallowed hard and looked at the ground again. "The medical staff advising me thought it was best to keep you sedated until your injuries healed completely."
"I see." Mulder said leaning back against the pillows. It was obvious that General Elliott had been once again worried about him escaping back to DC.
"Where exactly are we?" he asked.
"Wentworth, Idaho." Alicia replied. "We are located just outside of town. Basically hiding in plain view of everyone. It is requested that we only leave under supervision though."
Mulder nodded. "So that explains this little bracelet on my ankle. Let's them know exactly where I am at all times."
"Yes." Alicia said looking up at him. Her plan for befriending Mulder seemed to be going very badly. He seemed to hate her.
"And the reason you don't have one is why?" Mulder asked glancing down at the bare ankle.
"General Elliott and I have an agreement." she said barely above a whisper.
This comment made Mulder feel some pity for her. "Does he have something on you?" he asked taking her hand.
"Not me, my brother." Alicia answered still looking at the floor.
"Then I guess we both have no choice but to cooperate, at least for now." Mulder said forcing himself to sound more cheerful.
"I don't suppose you have anything to eat out there in the kitchen?" he asked. "I am starving."
"I think I can whip something up for you." Alicia said standing up thankful to have something to do. "Your clothes are in the dresser there. Let me know if you need any help."
Mulder watched her walk out of the room. He couldn't help but notice just how short her shorts really were. "Damn, this assignment may be harder than I thought." He thought to himself as he swung his legs out over the side of the bed.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++ End of chapter two - comments anyone?