16.

His shoulder hurt; raw and angry pain that ached and thumped and made him want to curl up in a ball and cry until it went away. But he'd be damned if he let Kersh see that.

"Agent Mulder," Kersh said slowly, his words clearly and carefully dictated as always, "I'm going to assume you have a very good explanation for being accused of committing the murder of a well respected scientist."

"Yes, sir," Mulder said confidently, smiling at Kersh. "A very good reason."

Kersh raised his eyebrows, the sincerity as believable as a fairy tale. "Would you care to enlighten us as to your reasons, Agent Mulder?" Kersh asked politely. "We're all very curious to understand why you'd not only be with a murder, but also what your involvement with the burning of victims in the Potomac Yards is."

"I was nowhere near the man who got murdered – I don't even know who it is that was murdered," Mulder informed him. "I've spent the last few days trying to find out why a child who was the result of an IVF procedure was stolen from Agent Scully. Unfortunately, all the evidence I could offer you was destroyed in a fire that decimated our motel room."

"How unfortunate," Kersh murmured, raising his eyebrows.

"Fortunately," Mulder continued blithely, "Assistant Director Skinner is getting my back up files as we speak."

"Oh," Kersh said, evidently surprised. "You actually have proof of these accusations, Agent Mulder?"

"Yes, Sir, I do," Mulder confirmed. "Several documents that are also related to the abduction of women by our government to conduct experiments on them and to steal their ova."

"I assume, Agent Mulder, that you are aware of Cassandra Spender's death," a thin woman questioned from behind Kersh, stepping around him so that Mulder could see her. "If you have evidence of these experiments, it could well tie her murder to this. If you can shed any light on these circumstances, Agent Mulder, I would greatly value your insight into my investigation."

Mulder nodded mutely.

"And when will Assistant Director Skinner have this proof for us?" Kersh questioned.

"Right now," Skinner announced as he pushed into the room. "I've looked through them, Sir," he added, "and it confirms everything Mulder told me this morning."

"The results of the investigation?" Kersh demanded.

Mulder shifted uncomfortably. "Actually, Sir, we didn't find any hard evidence on why Adam was stolen. Those documents offer proof that 'stolen' children created by IVF do exist, and they tie the Parenti Medical Center to them, but there's nothing specific yet."

"What about proof of experiments on women?" the thin woman demanded.

"Proof that Agent Scully's ova were used to create children for experimentation," Mulder said softly. "Genetic proof that can't be denied. We just haven't had sufficient time to gather the final hard evidence, unfortunately."

"Why didn't you come into the open with this the minute you found this information, Agent Mulder?" Kersh demanded.

"Because, with all due respect, sir, you would never have assigned Agent Scully and myself the case, and we are the only two people who understand exactly what it is that these experiments mean. Why it's so important to uncover them."

"Whether you are assigned cases or not is not your decision, Agent Mulder," Kersh said stiffly.

Mulder didn't respond.

"Well, other than the evidence indicating a corruption in the IVF programs of several clinics, and the ethical considerations this has, I don't really see anything else here that helps you, Agent Mulder," the woman said. "Agent Mulder is still facing charges of murder."

"No, he's under suspicion, and the investigative team can in no way prove that he is responsible for Derek Smithton's death," Skinner pointed out. "The evidence found at the crime scene could easily have been planted by someone who wants Mulder out of the way. There isn't any reason to keep him, or Agent Scully for that matter, under house arrest."

"He hasn't been cleared yet," Kersh snapped.

"Nor has he been convicted," the woman reminded him calmly. "I suggest, Deputy Director, that you are a little too quick to condemn Agent Mulder."

"There is still the question of Mulder and Scully wilfully disregarding my orders, even on suspension, and continuing to investigate when they were expressly forbidden to do so."

"Scully and I didn't continue to investigate anything, sir," Mulder inserted. "Adam was found by another party, and given to Scully and myself on the grounds that we were his parents."

"Then what remains are merely minor charges," the woman said airily, "which will be dismissed as soon as these facts come to light in the review panel, Deputy Director. I agree with Assistant Director Skinner; there's no need to keep Agent Mulder or Agent Scully under guard. And you cannot arrest Agent Mulder for murder when he hasn't been found guilty."

Kersh frowned, but nodded his reluctant agreement.

When they filed from the room and left him lying alone on his bed, Mulder closed his eyes and collapsed back against the pillows.

They were right back where they started, he thought dejectedly. Right back with only the faintest hint of proof as it slithered away between their fingers. But the emotional agony… the loss of Adam. Scully's cancer. His fall out with Scully, the possible reconciliation that had been interrupted by the damn aliens…


They said she hadn't woken since she'd been brought in the morning before, and lying so still and pale before him, he didn't find it hard to believe. Maggie Scully was sleeping on a small cot they'd rolled in for her. He'd entered the room quietly; surprised to see Maggie there, but then realising it was stupid. Of course she'd be there.

Scully's skin was cold beneath his touch; she didn't move. He let his fingers brush through her hair, the red strands falling lightly across her forehead and spilling onto her pillow in a soft dark pool. He let his fingers trail across her brow and linger on the centre of her forehead, as though he was trying to feel the cancer growing there. The cancer killing her.

"You have to ask yourself," someone said, "whether you made the right choice."

Mulder jerked his head up, ignoring the pain that spasmed down his arm and stared disbelievingly at the man standing before him. "You're supposed to be dead," he said bluntly.

The cigarette smoking man chuckled dryly. "Funny how rumours start," he mused.

"Krycek said-" Mulder started.

"Yes, Krycek said a lot, didn't he?"

Mulder snapped his mouth shut.

"Let's take a walk, Mulder," the man invited, stepping out of the doorway.

"What makes you think I want to take a walk with you?" Mulder spat.

"Unless you want to wake Mrs. Scully, I would suggest we continue this conversation somewhere else."

He glanced down at Scully one more time, his fingers brushing the palm of one small hand before he left her side and followed the smoking man down the hall.

"Do you think you made the right choice?"

Mulder frowned. "Which choice is that?"

The man shrugged. "Pick a choice and decide. Running away with Scully and thinking we wouldn't find you, or choosing Scully over your son when you had to trust Krycek."

The words stung, and Mulder swallowed.

"Do you know where he is?" Mulder asked.

"You won't ever find him, Mulder," the man said, and Mulder was wary of the sincerity in his tone. "He's gone now."

"What about the others?"

"The program is in ruins, Mulder. Your children will never be found."

Anger was hot and red and futile, but it engulfed him. He wanted to scream and stamp his foot and yell at the heavens and demand his children back.

"I can offer you something though," the man said slowly.

"What?"

"Scully."

Mulder frowned, stamping on his anger. "You lied," he said. "You said the chip was what we needed, but the cancer's back."

"Not my doing," was the denial. "The incident with the rebels last year was more than just a demonstration of power against us. Those who survived the run-in had their chips damaged by the technology. Scully's chip was malfunctioning; that's why the cancer came back."

"Why damage the chip?" Mulder demanded.

"Part of their strike against us. I have another chip, Mulder. You can still save her." Out of his pocket he pulled a familiar little tube, rolling it slowly between his fingers.

"What do you want in return?" Mulder asked slowly, staring at the small tube.

"You abandon your search."

"For what?"

"Everything. You resign your post at the FBI if they don't discharge you. You abandon your search for your sister, your children, the truth you're trying so hard to find. That last stunt of yours – stealing the child – you've cost us dearly, Mulder, and now it's time for you to pay your share."

Mulder stared at the vial, his mouth dry. "You want me to give up everything," he whispered.

The man smiled. "If you don't, that chip won't work. I promise you that."

"How do I know it will work?"

"If it doesn't, what reason would you have to stay away? You'd have nothing to lose."

The chips were out – literally, Mulder thought with a touch of bitter humour – and the stakes had been raised. Was he willing to meet them? Was he willing to give everything up, to just walk away? He stared at the small tube in the man's fingers, mesmerised by the soft glow of the metal.

When the man spoke, his words were quiet and measured. "Is she worth it, Mulder?"