As they were going back into the motel, the desk clerk called to him. "Mr.
Luder, a courier delivered a message for you." The man said as he passed a
white envelope across the counter to him.
Mulder thanked the man and caught up with Scully, who was carrying a sleeping William back to their room. "I got this," he waved the envelope, "from the desk clerk. I think it might be the results of the DNA test." His voice trembled slightly. That a simple white envelope could contain the answers he'd so desperately sought for a year overwhelmed him. He stared at it dumbly.
"Well, I think you ought to open it." Scully told him as they walked through the door of their room. She laid William in his borrowed crib, then turned to look at him. "Would you rather I left the room while you read it?" She asked, desperately hoping the answer would be no.
"No of course not." He told her, sinking into a chair. His fingers didn't seem to be working properly, but he was finally able to extract the letter from the envelope. "Dear Fox Mulder, the results of the test report an over 99% certainty that William S. Mulder is your biological son. See enclosed report for further details. " He read aloud, then sighed in relief.
Scully felt like dancing around the room in joy, but held on to her dignity. "Thank God. That's one hurtle we've gotten over." Her mind continued to race, because knowing at last that Mulder was her son's natural father left a lot of questions unanswered, particularly about William's 'differences'. Had Mulder told her what he'd seen in the doctor's office, her questions would have multiplied even more. Those questions can be answered later, she told herself, forcing them out of her mind.
Mulder didn't bother trying to retain his dignity, and couldn't stop smiling broadly. "I say this is a cause for celebration. Let's order a feast from room service to celebrate."
"Let's. Don't forget to order wine." Scully told him, snaking her arms around his neck as he picked up the phone to dial.
**
Mulder glanced over his shoulder, looking first at Skinner, then at the social worker who had his son beside her in a baby carrier. He wished that it was Scully siting there with William, but they discussed it and decided in the end that it was for the best if she wasn't there. Also conspicuously absent was Kersh, which is why Skinner was there, hoping that he could make it sound like he had anything to do with Mulder's leaving. He looked at his son once more, and thought about how heartbreakingly innocent he looked while wearing a baby blue shirt and pants covered in teddy bears. William noticed his father's glance, and broke out into a sunny smile.
A noise from the side of the courtroom drew Mulder's attention, and he watched as the Judge walked into the courtroom. It seemed to him that he'd been waiting hours for her entrance, but a more reliable witness, the clock on the wall, said it had only been a matter of minutes. Mulder studied her features as she walked towards the bench. He took her to be in her mid- fifties, tall and thin. Her hair was pulled back into a severe bun, and though still mostly dark brown, though it was shot through with silver in places. He took her reluctance to color her hair as much of a testimony to her no-nonsense style as the expression on her face as she surveyed the courtroom. He wasn't sure that he wouldn't have preferred a fuzzy-minded and grandmotherly type as overseer of his case.
"All rise, the honorable Vanessa Winters presiding."
From the time he scrambled to his feet until he was about to be questioned about his nearly year long absence, Mulder felt as ease. Ted was doing a fabulous job of presenting Mulder as a victim of circumstance, without doing much sullying of Scully's good name in the process, and the judge seemed warmer than he first guessed she would. She even had a ghost of a smile on her face when William interrupted the proceedings by calling out "Dada!" until Mulder looked at him.
Skinner apologized profusely when he explained that he and the other agents had failed to convince Kersh to testify on Mulder's behalf. Mulder had sighed, but told Skinner the truth: he didn't really expect Kersh to help him. Skinner explained that after the last trial, Kersh was given a six months' leave of absence for his part in the "jail break," even though the FBI trial was later declared by all to be absurd once the remains of the deceased were looked into by the local police; to save face, the tribunal overturned their guilty verdict for Mulder. Kersh, Skinner said, was still seething over the face that he had faced sanctions for helping a fugitive who turned out not to be one after all.
Mulder tried not to tremble when he approached the bench to answer the judge's questions.
"Mr. Mulder, could you please explain to me what you were doing between May of 2001 and May of 2002?"
Mulder squirmed a bit. "I'm afraid I can only answer in general terms, your honor. Most of what I was doing is highly classified."
"Very well, in general terms then." She agreed with a sharp nod of her head.
"I was assigned to care for a teenage boy who was the subject of one of our investigations. There was concern that he might be adducted again, as he had once four years before. It was deemed to be safest for him, and myself, if I maintained no contact with anyone while protecting him." Mulder said in a steady voice. He had rehearsed it in his head a score of times, so it came out perfectly.
"And this boy is no longer in danger?" The judge asked, looking interested.
"No, your honor. The man who kidnapped the boy previously has recently died, and the boy is now living with an aunt."
"And what about you, Mr. Mulder? The FBI is a dangerous line of work."
"I'm no longer employed by the FBI." Mulder answered quietly, not bothering to add that it wasn't by his choice, or that he hoped to be in its employ again one day. Mulder looked up and wondered why she was accepting his story with nods, as if she'd heard it all before, instead of seeming the least surprised by what he had to say.
In a moment she enlightened him and the rest of the courtroom. "I received a letter from one Alvin Kersh this morning, that collaborates with your position. Given that is the case, and you were not allowed to be cognizance of Ms. Scully's plans to place William up for adoption, I think that there is only one ruling I can make in this case."
Mulder held his breath, surprised that the moment of truth was so quickly upon him.
"It is my ruling that you did not, in fact, give up parental rights to your son, so therefore he will be remanded to your custody immediately." She said with a smile.
"Thank you, your honor!" is all Mulder could blurt out before he rushed to claim his son from the social worker. Mulder held the baby tightly and grinned with sheer happiness, even as Ted and Skinner offered their congratulations.
**
Scully paced back and forth in the hotel suite, checking the clock on the wall constantly. Mulder had promised to call her as soon as the judge gave the ruling. The waiting was agony. What if, she thought, Mulder didn't get custody of William? For four months she was able to make an uneasy peace with the idea of her son growing up in the care of strangers, but she knew that could never be the case again. Yet again Mulder's seemingly misplaced paranoia proved to be justified, and William had been put in far more danger than she could imagine that he would ever face if he lived with her and Mulder. She had very nearly lost yet another child while it was away from her. She didn't know if she would survive if she found out that William would yet again be taken from her. There were always appeals, and while she thought that Mulder was strong enough to fight indefinitely, she wasn't sure that she was.
She was about to wear a track into the carpet with her pacing when she heard the doorknob rattle. Mulder walked into the room, alone, with unreadable look on his face.
"I thought you were going to call me." Scully said, her voice thin with anxiety.
Mulder sighed. "I was going to, but I decided that it wasn't the sort of thing I could tell you over the phone."
"Oh, Mulder." Scully said, her hand going to her mouth.
"I talked to Skinner and he agreed that it'd be best to tell you in person." Mulder poked his head out the door. "Skinner, could you come in here please?"
Scully nearly screamed at him for inviting Skinner in on what she thought should be a private conversation. Skinner walked into the room, holding the hand of a very small boy who was talking unsteady steps towards her. Scully rushed forward and crouched down. William's face lit up. "Mama, mama, mama!" She scooped him up and held him close.
"I'm going to get you for this, Mulder." She threatened over the top of William's head.
Mulder turned towards Skinner. "What do you think, Sir? Should I try to get into the witness protection program?"
"No, Mulder, I think you should just face her wrath and get it over with. Even with her temper I'm sure you'll survive." Skinner said with a completely straight face.
Scully listened without retorting, too thrilled to have her son in her arms to come up with any witty rejoinders.
Mulder thanked the man and caught up with Scully, who was carrying a sleeping William back to their room. "I got this," he waved the envelope, "from the desk clerk. I think it might be the results of the DNA test." His voice trembled slightly. That a simple white envelope could contain the answers he'd so desperately sought for a year overwhelmed him. He stared at it dumbly.
"Well, I think you ought to open it." Scully told him as they walked through the door of their room. She laid William in his borrowed crib, then turned to look at him. "Would you rather I left the room while you read it?" She asked, desperately hoping the answer would be no.
"No of course not." He told her, sinking into a chair. His fingers didn't seem to be working properly, but he was finally able to extract the letter from the envelope. "Dear Fox Mulder, the results of the test report an over 99% certainty that William S. Mulder is your biological son. See enclosed report for further details. " He read aloud, then sighed in relief.
Scully felt like dancing around the room in joy, but held on to her dignity. "Thank God. That's one hurtle we've gotten over." Her mind continued to race, because knowing at last that Mulder was her son's natural father left a lot of questions unanswered, particularly about William's 'differences'. Had Mulder told her what he'd seen in the doctor's office, her questions would have multiplied even more. Those questions can be answered later, she told herself, forcing them out of her mind.
Mulder didn't bother trying to retain his dignity, and couldn't stop smiling broadly. "I say this is a cause for celebration. Let's order a feast from room service to celebrate."
"Let's. Don't forget to order wine." Scully told him, snaking her arms around his neck as he picked up the phone to dial.
**
Mulder glanced over his shoulder, looking first at Skinner, then at the social worker who had his son beside her in a baby carrier. He wished that it was Scully siting there with William, but they discussed it and decided in the end that it was for the best if she wasn't there. Also conspicuously absent was Kersh, which is why Skinner was there, hoping that he could make it sound like he had anything to do with Mulder's leaving. He looked at his son once more, and thought about how heartbreakingly innocent he looked while wearing a baby blue shirt and pants covered in teddy bears. William noticed his father's glance, and broke out into a sunny smile.
A noise from the side of the courtroom drew Mulder's attention, and he watched as the Judge walked into the courtroom. It seemed to him that he'd been waiting hours for her entrance, but a more reliable witness, the clock on the wall, said it had only been a matter of minutes. Mulder studied her features as she walked towards the bench. He took her to be in her mid- fifties, tall and thin. Her hair was pulled back into a severe bun, and though still mostly dark brown, though it was shot through with silver in places. He took her reluctance to color her hair as much of a testimony to her no-nonsense style as the expression on her face as she surveyed the courtroom. He wasn't sure that he wouldn't have preferred a fuzzy-minded and grandmotherly type as overseer of his case.
"All rise, the honorable Vanessa Winters presiding."
From the time he scrambled to his feet until he was about to be questioned about his nearly year long absence, Mulder felt as ease. Ted was doing a fabulous job of presenting Mulder as a victim of circumstance, without doing much sullying of Scully's good name in the process, and the judge seemed warmer than he first guessed she would. She even had a ghost of a smile on her face when William interrupted the proceedings by calling out "Dada!" until Mulder looked at him.
Skinner apologized profusely when he explained that he and the other agents had failed to convince Kersh to testify on Mulder's behalf. Mulder had sighed, but told Skinner the truth: he didn't really expect Kersh to help him. Skinner explained that after the last trial, Kersh was given a six months' leave of absence for his part in the "jail break," even though the FBI trial was later declared by all to be absurd once the remains of the deceased were looked into by the local police; to save face, the tribunal overturned their guilty verdict for Mulder. Kersh, Skinner said, was still seething over the face that he had faced sanctions for helping a fugitive who turned out not to be one after all.
Mulder tried not to tremble when he approached the bench to answer the judge's questions.
"Mr. Mulder, could you please explain to me what you were doing between May of 2001 and May of 2002?"
Mulder squirmed a bit. "I'm afraid I can only answer in general terms, your honor. Most of what I was doing is highly classified."
"Very well, in general terms then." She agreed with a sharp nod of her head.
"I was assigned to care for a teenage boy who was the subject of one of our investigations. There was concern that he might be adducted again, as he had once four years before. It was deemed to be safest for him, and myself, if I maintained no contact with anyone while protecting him." Mulder said in a steady voice. He had rehearsed it in his head a score of times, so it came out perfectly.
"And this boy is no longer in danger?" The judge asked, looking interested.
"No, your honor. The man who kidnapped the boy previously has recently died, and the boy is now living with an aunt."
"And what about you, Mr. Mulder? The FBI is a dangerous line of work."
"I'm no longer employed by the FBI." Mulder answered quietly, not bothering to add that it wasn't by his choice, or that he hoped to be in its employ again one day. Mulder looked up and wondered why she was accepting his story with nods, as if she'd heard it all before, instead of seeming the least surprised by what he had to say.
In a moment she enlightened him and the rest of the courtroom. "I received a letter from one Alvin Kersh this morning, that collaborates with your position. Given that is the case, and you were not allowed to be cognizance of Ms. Scully's plans to place William up for adoption, I think that there is only one ruling I can make in this case."
Mulder held his breath, surprised that the moment of truth was so quickly upon him.
"It is my ruling that you did not, in fact, give up parental rights to your son, so therefore he will be remanded to your custody immediately." She said with a smile.
"Thank you, your honor!" is all Mulder could blurt out before he rushed to claim his son from the social worker. Mulder held the baby tightly and grinned with sheer happiness, even as Ted and Skinner offered their congratulations.
**
Scully paced back and forth in the hotel suite, checking the clock on the wall constantly. Mulder had promised to call her as soon as the judge gave the ruling. The waiting was agony. What if, she thought, Mulder didn't get custody of William? For four months she was able to make an uneasy peace with the idea of her son growing up in the care of strangers, but she knew that could never be the case again. Yet again Mulder's seemingly misplaced paranoia proved to be justified, and William had been put in far more danger than she could imagine that he would ever face if he lived with her and Mulder. She had very nearly lost yet another child while it was away from her. She didn't know if she would survive if she found out that William would yet again be taken from her. There were always appeals, and while she thought that Mulder was strong enough to fight indefinitely, she wasn't sure that she was.
She was about to wear a track into the carpet with her pacing when she heard the doorknob rattle. Mulder walked into the room, alone, with unreadable look on his face.
"I thought you were going to call me." Scully said, her voice thin with anxiety.
Mulder sighed. "I was going to, but I decided that it wasn't the sort of thing I could tell you over the phone."
"Oh, Mulder." Scully said, her hand going to her mouth.
"I talked to Skinner and he agreed that it'd be best to tell you in person." Mulder poked his head out the door. "Skinner, could you come in here please?"
Scully nearly screamed at him for inviting Skinner in on what she thought should be a private conversation. Skinner walked into the room, holding the hand of a very small boy who was talking unsteady steps towards her. Scully rushed forward and crouched down. William's face lit up. "Mama, mama, mama!" She scooped him up and held him close.
"I'm going to get you for this, Mulder." She threatened over the top of William's head.
Mulder turned towards Skinner. "What do you think, Sir? Should I try to get into the witness protection program?"
"No, Mulder, I think you should just face her wrath and get it over with. Even with her temper I'm sure you'll survive." Skinner said with a completely straight face.
Scully listened without retorting, too thrilled to have her son in her arms to come up with any witty rejoinders.
