John stepped off the plane and the heat hit him hard. This was a lot warmer than the days he was used to in DC, Mexico had a humidity about it that he knew if he had to live with all year round he would actually miss the rain and the snow. For now the weather was not important. He was here to reunited with Monica. She may still be comatose but she was alive. And that was all that mattered. He wasn't expecting anything from his time in Mexico other than a waiting game. He didn't care what happened in DC behind his back; his soul purpose was to be here until the day she woke up.

As he collected his luggage, which consisted of one large bag he'd stuffed as much and as little as he thought he'd need, he moved outside to hail a taxi and was surprised when a hand appeared on his shoulder.

"John?"

"Mr Reyes?"

"I thought you might like a ride to the hospital?"

"That was the general idea, but you didn't have to drive all the way out here. Besides I was gonna check into a motel first."

"You can stay in Monica's room."

"Excuse me sir?"

"My wife is taking this all very badly, when you came to take Monica home in the New Year, she liked you very much, and we could see how happy you made her, we knew it wouldn't be long before you were a part of our family." John didn't know what to say, he continued to listen to Mr Reyes attentively not wanting to change the man's opinion of him.

"But when you told us about this business with your co-worker and her search for her birth mother, well, it shook my wife and her faith in the kind of daughter we had. We raised her to be honest with us John, and my wife thinks that you have something to do with why Monica wasn't honest with us."

"She blames me?"

"Let's just say, it was her decision not to inform you we were bringing Monica home. I wanted to call you before we left, but I didn't, and then I saw the news and I knew I had to tell you."

"Well I appreciate that sir. I love your daughter very much, I want you to know that I would never willingly let anything happen to her."

"I know that, I can see it in your eyes. Just as my wife's parents disapproved of me, I will not do the same to you. I know what it feels like to be in love and not have the approval of your love's parents." John was speechless, of all the things he had expected to hear this was not one of them. It made him even more certain of his love for Monica to know that her father was on their side.

"There's just one question I have to ask of you John, without my wife knowing."

"Anything."

"All this, everything that's happened, the shooting, the search for her birth parents, this Mulder character, is it all linked? Is my girl in some kind of trouble?" John thought for a second, he didn't want to lie to this man, but on the other hand he had caused trouble in the Reyes family by being so honest about things in the past. How was he supposed to play this one out and not offend or upset anyone? There was no question really, no going back, he had to be honest.

"Yes sir. I think she is, but you have my word that I wont let anyone else hurt her. I'll do everything in my power and whatever it takes to protect her."

"I know John. Come on."

Mulder sat Scully down with Skinner beside him as they prepared to tell her what they hadn't been able to on the morning the hospital had been bombed. After hearing about Monica's safe removal before the incident there had been a lot of smiling faces and newfound faith in everything turning out for the better. It went without saying that no one tried to talk Doggett out of flying to Mexico, and as much as Mulder longed to see that Monica really was still alive, he knew that his place was in DC.

"Any news from John yet?" Skinner hadn't had much contact with any of them since the bombing, he'd been working day and night to try and piece things together, this was the first time he had had the opportunity to check in with everyone.

"He called from the hospital when he got there, he says there's no change in Monica's condition. But under the circumstances it was a blessing to hear that." Mulder felt a warm fuzziness in his stomach as Scully spoke about their relief at Monica's condition.

"Good, I'm glad. Its just such a shame that this ever had to happen at all."

"Well it goes without saying sir."

"You can drop the sir now Scully, it's just plain old Walter or Skinner for you now." Scully smiled, and then Mulder sat slightly forward. It was time for the serious stuff.

"Scully, when Skinner and me went chasing that lead the other night, the one about Gibson, we found out where he is. And we found out what he wants."

"And?"

"He's in DC. He's never left. He's making his final arrangements and the only thing missing from his plans is William."

"What?" Mulder paused for a long time and stared into Scully's tired eyes. Tired though they were they still looked as beautiful to him as they ever had, but he couldn't continue with this easily. Skinner noticed and took over.

"William is the only person so far as we can tell who's mind Gibson can't read."

"What are you talking about?"

"The reason that Gibson is threatened by William is because he holds a power over him that he can't change or control, to stop William from putting an end to his plans he had to be removed."

"He's three years old, what can he possibly do to stop this?"

"We have to ask him that." Scully looked at Mulder and couldn't believe the last sentence had just left his lips. Was he crazy? Had all of this stress finally pushed him over the edge enough to make him lose it completely?

"Mulder no..."

"You have to listen to what we're saying Scully."

"This is crazy!"

"Gibson can read minds but not William's, William doesn't read minds, but he knows exactly what Gibson is thinking and planning. It's the only way we can come through this better off."

"He's my son! I will not let him be dragged into this anymore than he is already!"

"He's my son too Scully, do I get a say in what happens?"

"You are not asking our baby if he knows how to stop Gibson from succeeding with whatever it is he has planned. I don't care whether we have any other options. I won't let you."

"Well then there's no world for any of us. It's over. We may as well just sit back and enjoy the ride."

Scully wanted to yell, she wanted to scream, and for the first time in a long while she wanted to physically hurt Mulder for saying these things to her. How could he? In two days a social worker was coming to see them, to talk about William, how would they turn around and say 'we're currently hoping our three year old will help us stop the end of the world'? It was insane. And she wouldn't hear anymore.

"I have to get out of here." Mulder didn't try to stop her; he sat back and watched her with a heavy heart. But Skinner stood up and addressed them both.

"There's something you both need to know. Something I've found out during my investigation into the bombing. Scully, I think you should sit back down."

"All due respect sir you're not my boss anymore."

"No. But I still care about you Scully, please hear what I have to say. It's important."