Part 36
"I didn't know you had a credit card", says Byers to Frohike as he attempts to get into Mulder's apartment using a credit card.
"Its not", he turns and holds it up to show it to Byers and Langly.
"I can't believe you like that tv show so much to belong to their club. Aren't you a little obsessed?", asks Langly..
Frohike shrugs and turns back to work on the door again. "Don't knock my club. Theres a lot of cool members.....especially on-line."
Langly rolls his eyes at Byers just as Frohike gets the door open. They cautiously glance around and then dart in the door. Byers shuts the door and turns to his friends. He puts a finger over his lips and pulls out a pad of paper and pen from his suit jacket pocket. He scribbles the words, 'first we need to check for bugs' on it. Frohike nods and heads to the bedroom and Langly gives a thumbs up as he goes into the kitchen. Byers starts to comb the living-room starting with the fish tank. He notices a pile of mail on the desk next to a note. He picks up the note.
Mr. Mulder,
I left this mail here for you and have been feeding your fish like you said. However I wonder if the white and black one is sick. I found a couple of sunflower shells in the tank and I wondered if it accidentally ate one. I hope its okay and you had a nice trip.
Mrs. Baker
Byers goes back over to the fish tank. He makes a face when he sees the black and white fish floating on top of the water. Grabbing a net he scoops it up and heads to the bathroom. After flushing Mulder's pet he exits the bathroom to find Frohike lying on the floor looking under the bed.
"Find anything interesting?", asks Byers standing there.
"I think I found Jimmy Hoffa", says Frohike getting up. "I haven't found any bugs. Mulder probably searches this place daily." He walks over to Mulder's bureau and starts feeling around the edge of the mirror.
"There's no use in taking chances", says Byers. "Hey, I don't think we should be going through his stuff." Frohike now has one of Mulder's drawers open and is shuffling through it.
"I am just watching out for my best bud", says Frohike.
"No you're not. You are just being nosy", says Byers. "And I am not going to be a witness to this", he starts to walk away.
"Whats going on in here?", asks Langly walking in with a peanut butter and jelly sandwich in his hand.
"What are you doing....raiding his refrigerator?", asks Byers.
"Well he isn't here to eat it, so I just thought", says Langly.
"Just thought you would help yourself. I don't believe you guys." He turns to walk back out into the living room.
"Wait! Look at this", says Frohike as Byers turns to find a centerfold opened in his face.
"We have better things to do than go through Mulder's stuff. Will you please help me search the living room and then we will address the computer?", says Byers walking away. Langly shrugs and takes a bite of his sandwich following him into the living room. Frohike looks at the magazine a moment and then stuffs it into his back pocket. He shuts the drawer and follows the guys.
"Okay, I'll search near the entrance of the apartment and around the dining area. Langly search over near the tv, coffee table and couch area. Pay special attention to behind the couch and the ceiling. Frohike search around the desk and window area. Be sure to look for anything that could be a bug. It could be even small enough to fit in a pen. Look under the desk too." Byers walks away.
"Why is he suddenly in charge?", asks Frohike sitting down in the chair at Mulder's desk. Langly just shrugs as he stuffs the rest of the sandwich in his mouth and starts pulling cushions off the couch. Frohike turns to the desk and runs his hands under it and along the sides. He checks behind the desk and examines the lamp, pencil cup and everything else on it. He looks over his shoulder and sees Byers running his hands over the door frame of the front door. Frohike turns back and opens the top drawer of the desk and shuffles though it finding nothing particularly interesting. The second proves even less interesting with mostly FBI case work and a couple of half eaten packages of sunflower seeds. Lastly he opens the bottom drawer. "Hmm photo album", says Frohike aloud.
"What did you find?", asks Langly walking over.
"A photo album. Hey look how geeky Mulder looked as a kid", says Frohike flipping through the pages.
"And I thought I looked bad in high school", replies Langly looking over his shoulder.
"Are you guys looking through Mulder's stuff again", says Byers walking up. "Thats it." He leans down and turns the computer on. "We're going to work on what we came here for." Frohike and Langly ignore him and continue flipping. He shakes his head as the Windows menu comes up followed by a sign on command. "Hmm......what would Mulder have as his password.....how about Samantha?" He types it in and it gets rejected. "Are you going to help me or what?", he asks.
"Yeah, okay", says Langly. "What about FBI?"
"Nope", says Byers. They proceed to try 'Spooky, Mulder, alien, ufo, trustno1, extraterrestrial, Elvis, X-Files'. Finally Byers shakes his hands. "I don't believe this. I just went into the harddrive and it says the password has been recently changed. That it used to be Trustno1. The only information I can get is that it is ten characters and thats all it will give me.
"How about sunflower", says Frohike closing the album and looking down into the drawer again. He starts to pushing stuff around and pulls out a framed photo. Wow, I never saw this picture of Dana before."
"It looks like a portfolio shot. Didn't Scully say she did some modeling in college once", says Langly.
"Yeah I guess so", says Frohike. "But why does Mulder have this photo and shoved in a drawer? I want an autographed copy for my fireplace."
Byers scratches his head. "What in the world could be Mulder's password. I've tried everything in the world that he has a passion for......." Suddenly he gets an idea. "I think I've got it", he says as he types something in.
"What is it?", asks Frohike and Langly at once.
'ILUVSCULLY', types in Byers. Immediately a menu comes up.
"NOOOOOOOOOO!", screams Frohike. "Thats my password!"
Part 37
"How are feeling this morning?", asks Mulder as the two agents sit leaning against the rock wall forming the outside of the cave. He grabs her bare foot to examine it.
"Its nothing Mulder. Only a couple of scratches. Although I do think there is still a splinter in there", she sighs and leans back to look at the sky.
"Hey I know a way to get it out", says Mulder dropping her foot. He pulls out his flashlight and heads into the cave returning with his evidence kit. He sits down beside her and flips it open. He scrutinizes the tools until he finds what he wants. A fine pair of tweezers and a small magnifying glass.
"Now we can't tell Skinner anymore that the bureau issues us useless tools", jokes Mulder as he puts the tweezers in his teeth and pulls her foot back into his lap. He examines the cut a moment with the magnifying glass before he starts to gently probe it with the tweezers. Scully bites her lip as Mulder searches for the splinter.
"Am I hurting you", he asks softly.
"Mulder this may sound ridiculous but it hurts like hell", replies Scully. "This is so embarrassing. I've survived a gunshot to the stomach and here I am suffering from a splinter. Owwwww."
"I think I've almost got it....yup here it is", says Mulder triumphantly holding up the tweezers with the small piece of wood.
"Thanks Mulder", says Scully. "I just thought of something. Why didn't you use the first-aid kit in my bag?"
"Um....it wouldn't have been as exciting?", asks Mulder replacing his tools in their pouch. "Or....actually I forgot we had it and I'm now going back in to get you a bandage and some alcohol for it. Tell me why do they call it rubbing alcohol Scully?"
"Mulder, just go get the damn bandaid", says Scully pushing him over onto his side and take this with you. She tosses his evidence kit to him as he gets up and walks into the cave.
Part 38
Scully glances up and notices that there are clouds on the horizon and a slight breeze. 'It looks like it could pour any second', she thinks to herself. Mulder comes back and sits down and starts to apply alcohol to her wound with a cotton ball. "I could get used to this", she says to him as he puts on a bandaid.
"Yeah this is pretty unusual. You've needed more tending than I have this trip. There hasn't been any flying cows, mob guys breaking my fingers or moss men on this trip." Scully smiles.
"You do get hurt too often Mulder. I think you've beat out the feline race a long time ago. Remember when you got hit by that car? Now that was bad. You were lucky to only to come out of that with a broken leg."
"Yeah, Blevins actually thought it would slow me down", says Mulder grinning. He glances over at Scully to see her sadly staring at him.
"What?". he asks.
"I just think how lucky we've been during the time of our partnership. I've lost count how many times one of us has been kidnapped or landed in a hospital. Although in that area I think you've got me beat", she says looking away.
"Don't be envious Scully. You hold one over me", replies Mulder.
"Whats that?", she asks as she turns to look at him.
"I've never been abducted.......by aliens. Now that is something to tell the grandkids about", jokes Mulder.
"Thats nothing to joke about Mulder. You know what they did to me and its not something I would ever want to see you go through", replies Scully angrily.
"Okay, I was saying that this quest is not all about me okay? Besides the aliens wouldn't ever be able to deal with me. They wouldn't be able to take my jokes and I would definitely ask if I could drive their ship. Just imagine it.....now that would be a *cool* experience."
"Mulder.....you just don't get it do you?", says Scully.
"I understand what you're saying Scully and despite my joking I know how you feel and I feel the same way. If I was ever taken.......and I highly doubt that would ever happen I would always......*always* find a way to come back to you. Do you understand that?", he looks at her intensely.
"Yes, but things are not always under our control Mulder. Otherwise your father and my sister would still be here. Your sister would never have been taken and Deep Throat wouldn't have been killed for helping us", says Scully looking back. "We just have to be more careful is all I am saying."
"We have to play the cards we are dealt in life Scully and I can't help but take chances. Thats what my life has been all about for the last ten years or so. If it makes you feel better by me saying that I'll be more careful, then *yes* I'll try. But you're an agent too and you know what they tell us in the academy when we graduate......"
"I know there are risks and we have one of the most dangerous jobs in America today", says Scully. "But thats based on crime Mulder, drug dealers, mobsters and serial killers. I'm talking about our government and this project that only us alone is working against. You've got no backup......no one to protect you and every time you go off on your own....I'm paranoid that I'll never see you I again. For arguments sake......if you were taken by a spaceship what could I do. Hope and pray that you would come back to me?"
"I want to believe that I could Scully", says Mulder softly.
"But what if you couldn't? I'm just asking you that. What if there was no way possible that you could? You were alive but powerless. Would you give up on coming back?", asks Scully.
"No, I still wouldn't give up", replies Mulder.
"And why not?", asks Scully.
"Because I would know that there would be one little redhead on earth that would fight against the entire US Government tooth and nail to keep the case open. My one in five billion that would care enough to find me and if she couldn't then I wouldn't't blame her because I would know in here," he points to his heart. "that she tried and that would be the most important thing that I would hope from her." He wipes a tear away from her eye. "Now stop talking about something that is *never* going to happen. Like I said before, I would drive the aliens crazy with my requests. Why can't I get the Knicks game on this tv? I thought you had long range satellite. What do you mean you've never heard of a sunflower seed? Thats it.....I want to go home...Fox phone home."
Scully finally smiles.
"Lets go for a quick hike before it starts to rain", says Mulder getting up. I'll grab a pair of socks and shoes for you and we'll try to make the best of the rest of this trip. He walks into the cave and brings out Scully's things. She puts them on and he extends his hand to her helping her up.
"Going to be okay?", he asks her.
"Yeah, it feels better already", says Scully following him along the path.
"Maybe I should have gone into medicine rather than profiling", says Mulder.
"I don't think you could have handled it Mulder", replies Scully.
"Why not?", asks Mulder turning around.
"You don't run into too many aliens in operating rooms Mulder", says Scully passing him on the path.
"How do you know Scully? There is no absolute proof that all aliens have green blood. You've seen the bounty hunter, what if they can duplicate our bodies exactly. I wonder if alien babies are green when they are first born....or do they turn green once they're exposed to light?"
"Oh Mulder", says Scully shaking her head.
Part 39
"Are you absolutely sure you weren't followed?", Byers asks Skinner as he opens Mulder's door.
"I already told you......*yes*. I took the most backway here I could think of and then I still didn't come directly here. No one followed me. I even parked four blocks away. Now let me the hell in", says Skinner looking down the hall and the closed elevator.
Byers stands aside and lets Skinner in. He shuts the door and the two walk up to Langly sitting at the computer on Mulder's desk. Skinner glances over at Frohike who is sitting scrunched into the corner of the couch with one of Mulder's indian pillows clutched to his stomach. "Whats wrong with him?"
"He just had a revelation and he isn't taking it well", replies Langly glancing over his shoulder.
"Well whatever it is I don't want to know about it", says Skinner looking back to the computer. "What have we got here? Did you find Mulder?"
"Technically.....no. We ran an airline search, but somehow they managed to sneak through using aliases. Theres no Fox Mulder or Dana Scully listed as passengers. Do they have any regular undercover names that they use?", asks Byers.
"They haven't done a lot of undercover work in the past. Um....you can try Rob and Laura Petrie, that was for that Arcadia case, but I doubt they would use that", says Skinner shaking his head.
Langly types it in. "Nope Rob and Laura are nowhere to be found."
"This is frustrating", says Skinner. "How can two people just disappear? Are there any clues where they may have gone by checking Mulder's internet searches?"
"He is pretty smart. He hasn't left a lot of clues", says Langly. "We did though find that he is a frequent visitor to the Holiday Inn site. When I pulled it up there were about ten locations that he requested information for over the last five months. Do any of these locations sound familiar? Ohio, Florida, New Mexico, North Dakota....Hawaii", continues Langly.
"Those are all states that he and Scully visited on cases", says Skinner. "But hold it...Hawaii? They haven't turned in any reports on a case in Hawaii."
Part 40
"What was that?", asks Mulder as he pauses to listen.
"I didn't hear anything", replies Scully studying a striped lizard on a rock.
"No, I'm sure I heard something", says Mulder pulling his gun. Realizing that her partner is serious Scully too pulls her gun.
The two stand back to back. "What did it sound like", she whispers as they survey their respective areas.
"It sounded only like a twig breaking, but seeing as we haven't run into any large wild animals out here I'm not counting on it being an alligator this time", replies Mulder. "Owwwwww!" All of a sudden he feels something sharp pierce his skin on the side of his neck. He pulls a small dart out of his neck. "Scully? Scully I don't feel so good", he mumbles as Scully turns to catch him under the arms as he slips to the ground.
"Mulder, what happened?", she asks.
"This", he holds up the dart. "I can't feel my legs and I'm think I'm going to lose my breakfast any second." Scully kneels next to him. "Actually things are looking pretty dark right now."
"Mulder. Mulder, don't go to sleep. Do you understand me?", asks Scully lightly slapping his face.
"I like it when you get aggressive Scully", jokes Mulder weakly.
"Mulder, this thing you just hit with could be poisonous", says Scully deeply concerned. "Stay with me. How do you feel now?"
"I don't think I can move my hands now. Nope I'm paralyzed", replies Mulder. "Watch your back Scully. It must be those natives out to get us." Scully looks around and doesn't see anything.
"You must have been their main target Mulder. I've got to get you out of here", says Scully. "Too bad I don't have a blanket or tarp with me. I could drag you back."
"We're too far away for you to go back and get my Indian blanket. It would drive me crazy the entire time you're gone", replies Mulder softly as he closes his eyes.
"Mulder, don't go to sleep!", she slaps him harder.
"Oww! Don't get violent on me Scully", says Mulder as he quickly opens his eyes. "Scully! Behind you!" She whirls around with her gun drawn to see a native standing there with a bamboo rod. She aims her gun, but too late as a dart hits her in the neck as well. She fires, missing the native by a good two feet. He flees as she pulls out the dart out of her own neck. She stares at it a moment before she looks back at Mulder. His eyes are closed, but he is still breathing.
"Mulder, I just got hit", says Scully. She pokes him in the shoulder, but its useless as he is now unconscious. She sighs and pushes a piece of hair out of her eyes. She starts to feel whoozy but fights to remain in control. Her own motor functions have now started to slow and her feet feel numb. 'What the hell do I do now?', she thinks to herself. Finally she can't fight the heaviness of her eyelids as they close and she starts to teeter over. She forces her eyes open to look at Mulder again. "He's in LaLa Land", she says sarcastically as her eyes shut again. She falls across Mulder in a deep sleep.
"I didn't know you had a credit card", says Byers to Frohike as he attempts to get into Mulder's apartment using a credit card.
"Its not", he turns and holds it up to show it to Byers and Langly.
"I can't believe you like that tv show so much to belong to their club. Aren't you a little obsessed?", asks Langly..
Frohike shrugs and turns back to work on the door again. "Don't knock my club. Theres a lot of cool members.....especially on-line."
Langly rolls his eyes at Byers just as Frohike gets the door open. They cautiously glance around and then dart in the door. Byers shuts the door and turns to his friends. He puts a finger over his lips and pulls out a pad of paper and pen from his suit jacket pocket. He scribbles the words, 'first we need to check for bugs' on it. Frohike nods and heads to the bedroom and Langly gives a thumbs up as he goes into the kitchen. Byers starts to comb the living-room starting with the fish tank. He notices a pile of mail on the desk next to a note. He picks up the note.
Mr. Mulder,
I left this mail here for you and have been feeding your fish like you said. However I wonder if the white and black one is sick. I found a couple of sunflower shells in the tank and I wondered if it accidentally ate one. I hope its okay and you had a nice trip.
Mrs. Baker
Byers goes back over to the fish tank. He makes a face when he sees the black and white fish floating on top of the water. Grabbing a net he scoops it up and heads to the bathroom. After flushing Mulder's pet he exits the bathroom to find Frohike lying on the floor looking under the bed.
"Find anything interesting?", asks Byers standing there.
"I think I found Jimmy Hoffa", says Frohike getting up. "I haven't found any bugs. Mulder probably searches this place daily." He walks over to Mulder's bureau and starts feeling around the edge of the mirror.
"There's no use in taking chances", says Byers. "Hey, I don't think we should be going through his stuff." Frohike now has one of Mulder's drawers open and is shuffling through it.
"I am just watching out for my best bud", says Frohike.
"No you're not. You are just being nosy", says Byers. "And I am not going to be a witness to this", he starts to walk away.
"Whats going on in here?", asks Langly walking in with a peanut butter and jelly sandwich in his hand.
"What are you doing....raiding his refrigerator?", asks Byers.
"Well he isn't here to eat it, so I just thought", says Langly.
"Just thought you would help yourself. I don't believe you guys." He turns to walk back out into the living room.
"Wait! Look at this", says Frohike as Byers turns to find a centerfold opened in his face.
"We have better things to do than go through Mulder's stuff. Will you please help me search the living room and then we will address the computer?", says Byers walking away. Langly shrugs and takes a bite of his sandwich following him into the living room. Frohike looks at the magazine a moment and then stuffs it into his back pocket. He shuts the drawer and follows the guys.
"Okay, I'll search near the entrance of the apartment and around the dining area. Langly search over near the tv, coffee table and couch area. Pay special attention to behind the couch and the ceiling. Frohike search around the desk and window area. Be sure to look for anything that could be a bug. It could be even small enough to fit in a pen. Look under the desk too." Byers walks away.
"Why is he suddenly in charge?", asks Frohike sitting down in the chair at Mulder's desk. Langly just shrugs as he stuffs the rest of the sandwich in his mouth and starts pulling cushions off the couch. Frohike turns to the desk and runs his hands under it and along the sides. He checks behind the desk and examines the lamp, pencil cup and everything else on it. He looks over his shoulder and sees Byers running his hands over the door frame of the front door. Frohike turns back and opens the top drawer of the desk and shuffles though it finding nothing particularly interesting. The second proves even less interesting with mostly FBI case work and a couple of half eaten packages of sunflower seeds. Lastly he opens the bottom drawer. "Hmm photo album", says Frohike aloud.
"What did you find?", asks Langly walking over.
"A photo album. Hey look how geeky Mulder looked as a kid", says Frohike flipping through the pages.
"And I thought I looked bad in high school", replies Langly looking over his shoulder.
"Are you guys looking through Mulder's stuff again", says Byers walking up. "Thats it." He leans down and turns the computer on. "We're going to work on what we came here for." Frohike and Langly ignore him and continue flipping. He shakes his head as the Windows menu comes up followed by a sign on command. "Hmm......what would Mulder have as his password.....how about Samantha?" He types it in and it gets rejected. "Are you going to help me or what?", he asks.
"Yeah, okay", says Langly. "What about FBI?"
"Nope", says Byers. They proceed to try 'Spooky, Mulder, alien, ufo, trustno1, extraterrestrial, Elvis, X-Files'. Finally Byers shakes his hands. "I don't believe this. I just went into the harddrive and it says the password has been recently changed. That it used to be Trustno1. The only information I can get is that it is ten characters and thats all it will give me.
"How about sunflower", says Frohike closing the album and looking down into the drawer again. He starts to pushing stuff around and pulls out a framed photo. Wow, I never saw this picture of Dana before."
"It looks like a portfolio shot. Didn't Scully say she did some modeling in college once", says Langly.
"Yeah I guess so", says Frohike. "But why does Mulder have this photo and shoved in a drawer? I want an autographed copy for my fireplace."
Byers scratches his head. "What in the world could be Mulder's password. I've tried everything in the world that he has a passion for......." Suddenly he gets an idea. "I think I've got it", he says as he types something in.
"What is it?", asks Frohike and Langly at once.
'ILUVSCULLY', types in Byers. Immediately a menu comes up.
"NOOOOOOOOOO!", screams Frohike. "Thats my password!"
Part 37
"How are feeling this morning?", asks Mulder as the two agents sit leaning against the rock wall forming the outside of the cave. He grabs her bare foot to examine it.
"Its nothing Mulder. Only a couple of scratches. Although I do think there is still a splinter in there", she sighs and leans back to look at the sky.
"Hey I know a way to get it out", says Mulder dropping her foot. He pulls out his flashlight and heads into the cave returning with his evidence kit. He sits down beside her and flips it open. He scrutinizes the tools until he finds what he wants. A fine pair of tweezers and a small magnifying glass.
"Now we can't tell Skinner anymore that the bureau issues us useless tools", jokes Mulder as he puts the tweezers in his teeth and pulls her foot back into his lap. He examines the cut a moment with the magnifying glass before he starts to gently probe it with the tweezers. Scully bites her lip as Mulder searches for the splinter.
"Am I hurting you", he asks softly.
"Mulder this may sound ridiculous but it hurts like hell", replies Scully. "This is so embarrassing. I've survived a gunshot to the stomach and here I am suffering from a splinter. Owwwww."
"I think I've almost got it....yup here it is", says Mulder triumphantly holding up the tweezers with the small piece of wood.
"Thanks Mulder", says Scully. "I just thought of something. Why didn't you use the first-aid kit in my bag?"
"Um....it wouldn't have been as exciting?", asks Mulder replacing his tools in their pouch. "Or....actually I forgot we had it and I'm now going back in to get you a bandage and some alcohol for it. Tell me why do they call it rubbing alcohol Scully?"
"Mulder, just go get the damn bandaid", says Scully pushing him over onto his side and take this with you. She tosses his evidence kit to him as he gets up and walks into the cave.
Part 38
Scully glances up and notices that there are clouds on the horizon and a slight breeze. 'It looks like it could pour any second', she thinks to herself. Mulder comes back and sits down and starts to apply alcohol to her wound with a cotton ball. "I could get used to this", she says to him as he puts on a bandaid.
"Yeah this is pretty unusual. You've needed more tending than I have this trip. There hasn't been any flying cows, mob guys breaking my fingers or moss men on this trip." Scully smiles.
"You do get hurt too often Mulder. I think you've beat out the feline race a long time ago. Remember when you got hit by that car? Now that was bad. You were lucky to only to come out of that with a broken leg."
"Yeah, Blevins actually thought it would slow me down", says Mulder grinning. He glances over at Scully to see her sadly staring at him.
"What?". he asks.
"I just think how lucky we've been during the time of our partnership. I've lost count how many times one of us has been kidnapped or landed in a hospital. Although in that area I think you've got me beat", she says looking away.
"Don't be envious Scully. You hold one over me", replies Mulder.
"Whats that?", she asks as she turns to look at him.
"I've never been abducted.......by aliens. Now that is something to tell the grandkids about", jokes Mulder.
"Thats nothing to joke about Mulder. You know what they did to me and its not something I would ever want to see you go through", replies Scully angrily.
"Okay, I was saying that this quest is not all about me okay? Besides the aliens wouldn't ever be able to deal with me. They wouldn't be able to take my jokes and I would definitely ask if I could drive their ship. Just imagine it.....now that would be a *cool* experience."
"Mulder.....you just don't get it do you?", says Scully.
"I understand what you're saying Scully and despite my joking I know how you feel and I feel the same way. If I was ever taken.......and I highly doubt that would ever happen I would always......*always* find a way to come back to you. Do you understand that?", he looks at her intensely.
"Yes, but things are not always under our control Mulder. Otherwise your father and my sister would still be here. Your sister would never have been taken and Deep Throat wouldn't have been killed for helping us", says Scully looking back. "We just have to be more careful is all I am saying."
"We have to play the cards we are dealt in life Scully and I can't help but take chances. Thats what my life has been all about for the last ten years or so. If it makes you feel better by me saying that I'll be more careful, then *yes* I'll try. But you're an agent too and you know what they tell us in the academy when we graduate......"
"I know there are risks and we have one of the most dangerous jobs in America today", says Scully. "But thats based on crime Mulder, drug dealers, mobsters and serial killers. I'm talking about our government and this project that only us alone is working against. You've got no backup......no one to protect you and every time you go off on your own....I'm paranoid that I'll never see you I again. For arguments sake......if you were taken by a spaceship what could I do. Hope and pray that you would come back to me?"
"I want to believe that I could Scully", says Mulder softly.
"But what if you couldn't? I'm just asking you that. What if there was no way possible that you could? You were alive but powerless. Would you give up on coming back?", asks Scully.
"No, I still wouldn't give up", replies Mulder.
"And why not?", asks Scully.
"Because I would know that there would be one little redhead on earth that would fight against the entire US Government tooth and nail to keep the case open. My one in five billion that would care enough to find me and if she couldn't then I wouldn't't blame her because I would know in here," he points to his heart. "that she tried and that would be the most important thing that I would hope from her." He wipes a tear away from her eye. "Now stop talking about something that is *never* going to happen. Like I said before, I would drive the aliens crazy with my requests. Why can't I get the Knicks game on this tv? I thought you had long range satellite. What do you mean you've never heard of a sunflower seed? Thats it.....I want to go home...Fox phone home."
Scully finally smiles.
"Lets go for a quick hike before it starts to rain", says Mulder getting up. I'll grab a pair of socks and shoes for you and we'll try to make the best of the rest of this trip. He walks into the cave and brings out Scully's things. She puts them on and he extends his hand to her helping her up.
"Going to be okay?", he asks her.
"Yeah, it feels better already", says Scully following him along the path.
"Maybe I should have gone into medicine rather than profiling", says Mulder.
"I don't think you could have handled it Mulder", replies Scully.
"Why not?", asks Mulder turning around.
"You don't run into too many aliens in operating rooms Mulder", says Scully passing him on the path.
"How do you know Scully? There is no absolute proof that all aliens have green blood. You've seen the bounty hunter, what if they can duplicate our bodies exactly. I wonder if alien babies are green when they are first born....or do they turn green once they're exposed to light?"
"Oh Mulder", says Scully shaking her head.
Part 39
"Are you absolutely sure you weren't followed?", Byers asks Skinner as he opens Mulder's door.
"I already told you......*yes*. I took the most backway here I could think of and then I still didn't come directly here. No one followed me. I even parked four blocks away. Now let me the hell in", says Skinner looking down the hall and the closed elevator.
Byers stands aside and lets Skinner in. He shuts the door and the two walk up to Langly sitting at the computer on Mulder's desk. Skinner glances over at Frohike who is sitting scrunched into the corner of the couch with one of Mulder's indian pillows clutched to his stomach. "Whats wrong with him?"
"He just had a revelation and he isn't taking it well", replies Langly glancing over his shoulder.
"Well whatever it is I don't want to know about it", says Skinner looking back to the computer. "What have we got here? Did you find Mulder?"
"Technically.....no. We ran an airline search, but somehow they managed to sneak through using aliases. Theres no Fox Mulder or Dana Scully listed as passengers. Do they have any regular undercover names that they use?", asks Byers.
"They haven't done a lot of undercover work in the past. Um....you can try Rob and Laura Petrie, that was for that Arcadia case, but I doubt they would use that", says Skinner shaking his head.
Langly types it in. "Nope Rob and Laura are nowhere to be found."
"This is frustrating", says Skinner. "How can two people just disappear? Are there any clues where they may have gone by checking Mulder's internet searches?"
"He is pretty smart. He hasn't left a lot of clues", says Langly. "We did though find that he is a frequent visitor to the Holiday Inn site. When I pulled it up there were about ten locations that he requested information for over the last five months. Do any of these locations sound familiar? Ohio, Florida, New Mexico, North Dakota....Hawaii", continues Langly.
"Those are all states that he and Scully visited on cases", says Skinner. "But hold it...Hawaii? They haven't turned in any reports on a case in Hawaii."
Part 40
"What was that?", asks Mulder as he pauses to listen.
"I didn't hear anything", replies Scully studying a striped lizard on a rock.
"No, I'm sure I heard something", says Mulder pulling his gun. Realizing that her partner is serious Scully too pulls her gun.
The two stand back to back. "What did it sound like", she whispers as they survey their respective areas.
"It sounded only like a twig breaking, but seeing as we haven't run into any large wild animals out here I'm not counting on it being an alligator this time", replies Mulder. "Owwwwww!" All of a sudden he feels something sharp pierce his skin on the side of his neck. He pulls a small dart out of his neck. "Scully? Scully I don't feel so good", he mumbles as Scully turns to catch him under the arms as he slips to the ground.
"Mulder, what happened?", she asks.
"This", he holds up the dart. "I can't feel my legs and I'm think I'm going to lose my breakfast any second." Scully kneels next to him. "Actually things are looking pretty dark right now."
"Mulder. Mulder, don't go to sleep. Do you understand me?", asks Scully lightly slapping his face.
"I like it when you get aggressive Scully", jokes Mulder weakly.
"Mulder, this thing you just hit with could be poisonous", says Scully deeply concerned. "Stay with me. How do you feel now?"
"I don't think I can move my hands now. Nope I'm paralyzed", replies Mulder. "Watch your back Scully. It must be those natives out to get us." Scully looks around and doesn't see anything.
"You must have been their main target Mulder. I've got to get you out of here", says Scully. "Too bad I don't have a blanket or tarp with me. I could drag you back."
"We're too far away for you to go back and get my Indian blanket. It would drive me crazy the entire time you're gone", replies Mulder softly as he closes his eyes.
"Mulder, don't go to sleep!", she slaps him harder.
"Oww! Don't get violent on me Scully", says Mulder as he quickly opens his eyes. "Scully! Behind you!" She whirls around with her gun drawn to see a native standing there with a bamboo rod. She aims her gun, but too late as a dart hits her in the neck as well. She fires, missing the native by a good two feet. He flees as she pulls out the dart out of her own neck. She stares at it a moment before she looks back at Mulder. His eyes are closed, but he is still breathing.
"Mulder, I just got hit", says Scully. She pokes him in the shoulder, but its useless as he is now unconscious. She sighs and pushes a piece of hair out of her eyes. She starts to feel whoozy but fights to remain in control. Her own motor functions have now started to slow and her feet feel numb. 'What the hell do I do now?', she thinks to herself. Finally she can't fight the heaviness of her eyelids as they close and she starts to teeter over. She forces her eyes open to look at Mulder again. "He's in LaLa Land", she says sarcastically as her eyes shut again. She falls across Mulder in a deep sleep.