July 17th, Present Day, Mulder Residence...

Anna climbed out of the car and walked slowly up the garden path. She knocked softly on the front door and waited patiently whilst she listened to someone fumbling around with locks from the inside. Dana opened the door and was surprised to see such miserable faces before her. Anna crept into the living room and Monica followed Dana through to the kitchen where Mulder was fighting with Jack's breakfast.

"What's going on?"

"We had a bad night."

"John?"

"Yeah. She has questions that I can't answer, and I hate it because I have those questions too but there's no one I can ask for answers, it's just so hard being alone with her..."

Monica fought back the tears that had been sneaking by all morning and couldn't cope with how hard this was becoming. Mulder looked at Dana and she knew that he didn't know what to say or to do, so he tried to carry on un-noticed.

"Monica, I don't know what to say, maybe you should stay at home with her today, take a few more days off..."

"I can't. If I don't go back to work today then I don't know that I ever will. I just, I hate

that she wont talk to me. She won't even look at me. I hate John for doing this to me. I feel like she blames me. I may as well have killed him myself."

Mulder tried so hard to fight against Jack's pawing arms to get Dana or Monica's attention before they said something like that, Anna was standing behind them. Monica saw Mulder's struggling composure and the look of devastation on his face. She turned to the door and saw her daughter's tearful eyes staring at her.

"Anna..."

Anna ran from the room and up the stairs, Monica ran after her but was held back by

Mulder's powerful hand.

"Let me talk to her. If you're gonna do this, you need to go."

Monica looked at Mulder and could barely make out his face through her tears and then Dana's hand softly took her shoulder.

"Monica... Are you sure about work?"

She looked at Dana and nodded her head. She wiped her tears away and took a deep breath.

"Let's go." Monica went out to the car and Dana held back to talk to Mulder.

"I can't do this. I can't watch her go to work, she's not ready!"

"Hey, hey, it's ok."

Mulder pulled Dana into a hug as she took a deep breath and faced the prospect of their car journey together.

"Mulder... I'm so worried about her... and Anna..."

"I know. I'll talk to Anna. I'm good with kids remember, leave it to me."

Dana smiled and Mulder kissed her, she gave him another soft hug before finally walking out of the front door and heading to the car. This was going to be the longest day of Monica's life.

June 27th, Silver Spring Maryland, Waterfalls Patient Care Facility...

Monica and John waited patiently to speak with Katha Dukes' doctor; he had agreed to see them that morning but was in no hurry to be on time for their appointment. When he finally showed up it wasn't with an apology for his lateness or a smile, he simply sat down as if it was the most challenging thing in the world and stared at the two agents.

"Now who are you exactly?"

"I'm Agent Doggett, this is Agent Reyes, you were givin' me the run around yesterday."

"Oh that was you?"

"Yeah."

"I'm a busy man Agent Doggett, I don't have time to help the FBI with their inquiries, that's what the local PD are for."

"Well we need to talk to you about a patient, Katha Dukes."

"I'm afraid I cannot divulge any information about my patients, I'm sure you know that that would violate the patient-doctor confidentiality. Now were there any other questions?"

The doctor had stood up clearly indicating he wanted them to leave but as John was prepared to do so Monica stood up and spoke for the first time.

"I'm sorry I didn't catch you name?"

"Dr. Robert Toolan."

"Dr. Toolan, may I ask what Ms Dukes' condition is at present?"

"She's prone to violent fits of behaviour, she has to be fed, bathed, and dressed by our staff, she hardly talks, and the only time she's ever calm is when her daughter comes to visit every month or so."

"Do you think we could see her?"

"Well I'm afraid that just isn't possible?"

"Why exactly?"

"She doesn't agree with visitors..."

Monica could sense John's desire to leave and let this go, but she wasn't going to give in that easily, she didn't like this doctor and she wasn't going to let him tell her what to do.

"Dr Toolan unless you wanna get a tray full of paperwork demanding to know why you refused to cooperate with a federal investigation, and why you allowed the easy theft of insulin from your premises that was involved in a murder four days ago, you'll allow us to see Ms Dukes and see for ourselves whether she agrees with visitors or not."

Dr Toolan swallowed hard and then forced a smile through his tight lips. He held out his hand and indicated that they had his full understanding. He took them out of his office and John held Monica back slightly as they followed him to the other side of the hospital.

"Do you know how hot you are when you talk FBI?" Monica laughed.

"My God John, I'm away for one night and you can't stop thinking with your pants."

"I'm doin' just fine thinkin', but what I'm thinkin' is I wanna get you home."

"We're working. And unless you prove to me that you can be professional for the rest of the day then I'm afraid I'll have to send you home Agent Doggett."

"You're a tough woman."

"Only when you ask nicely..."

They reached a room at the end of the corridor and John was struggling to concentrate on anything at all but his wife standing so close beside him that he could feel her without touching her.

"This is Katha Dukes' room. She's restrained so she can't hurt you, but if she does get

agitated I will have to ask you to leave."

Monica nodded her head and John just stayed out of the way. The door was opened and Monica slowly walked inside. It was dark as the curtains hadn't been opened and there was a musty smell in the room that attacked your nose as soon as you walked inside. Monica held back slightly and John walked further forwards so that Katha Dukes could see him. But he saw her first. He couldn't believe it.

This woman wasn't much older than forty, but she looked like an old woman, shrivelled up and ready to die. If he had to describe what a person looked like who had given up on life then she was it. He looked at

Monica and could see that she was experiencing guilt again. Guilt that she had been the cause for this woman to be lying here this way.

Katha was awake but so far had refused to acknowledge anybody's presence in the room. Dr Toolan walked over to her and stood directly in her view smiling.

"Good morning Katha, there are some people here who would like to talk to you. They're from the FBI."

As soon as those three letters were uttered 'F-B-I' Katha turned to look frantically around the room, and upon seeing first John, and then Monica she began to scream, it startled

Monica and she ran out of the room urgently, ignoring John's calls for her to go back. All she could hear was Katha Dukes screaming at her, calling her a bitch, a murderer. Monica couldn't cope with the thought that it might be true.