Mulder looked around the room almost as if he were looking for a way out. A big glowing red 'exit' sign. But there was nothing, and there was no easy way out. He was ready for whatever it took. Scully was beside him. There was a distance between them that Gibson's words had created, but it was something that they both understood didn't need addressing right now.

Skinner felt uncomfortable being in the same room as these people. He fought his compelling hate for Gibson because it felt wrong to hate the boy, but then he looked at Scully and saw her pain, the trauma she had been through with William, and with Mulder, and now her second child. She needed closure. And then he looked at Mulder. A man he had grown to admire rather than object to. So much had happened to all of them. This was the icing on the cake; of all the people in the world Skinner thought they might come up against Gibson was never one of them. Never in a million years.

Gibson looked at the three adults in front of him. He was reading all of their thoughts and all he wanted to do was laugh. They were still preoccupied by the smaller and insignificant things in life, like love and children, and friendship. None of that mattered now. How could it? He could see the end, he may not be able to tell the future but being able to read people's minds was a definite bonus on being able to plan for world domination.

"Are you all just going to stare at me forever? You can't just leave me here."

"Sure we can. No one knows you even exist outside the world of conspiracies and aliens that you're so akin to. Who's missing you?" Mulder was leaning in close as he spoke.

"I don't care about that, you just can't keep me here, and I know you wont."

"How?"

"Because she's telling me so in her head. Not directly. But she's afraid of me; she doesn't want me to be near William or the baby. It's sweet actually. You tried to mother be until you had a baby of your own. Then I was kicked aside." Scully looked at him and walked close to him. She stared at him as she spoke.

"Yeah and look at all the thanks we've got for helping you in the past."

"Helping me?"

"Yes! If it weren't for us you'd be long dead!"

"Maybe that's my point!"

"Well if that's your biggest problem it's easily resolved!" Scully felt a hand on her shoulder and turned to see Mulder pulling her back. She never lost her temper. But she was ready to snap and if she had to listen to anymore crap from this boy she'd finish him herself.

"One way or another I will win. I've said it a thousand times already and I'll keep saying it until you accept it." Skinner took over the reigns as Mulder calmed down Scully.

"Well then I suggest you get comfy. You won't gain anything from any of us."

"Really? How about your gun?" They all turned around to watch as Gibson rose from his chair and grabbed Skinner's gun from his holster. No one was quick enough to try and stop him; it was easy for him because he knew what they were all thinking.

Gibson held the gun up and pointed it at Scully, she froze on the spot, her mouth agape and her hands finding her stomach in a motherly instinct to protect her unborn. But the bullets were ready to fly. Tried to fight for the gun back but it was no use; it was easy for Gibson to outwit them all. He held the gun at her and grinned. And the bang from the gunshot that followed silenced the room for all of them.

The bang echoed for what felt like a lifetime. But as Mulder put down the gun in his hand Skinner checked Gibson for a pulse and shook his head. He was dead. Scully looked at Mulder and she saw something in him that was different from any pain she had seen before. Something in him made her feel to blame and she couldn't help but cry. Cry with relief that this was over. Finally it was really over. As Mulder turned and saw her crying he rushed over to her and pulled her into an embrace that cemented everything they had together.

"It's ok... it's over now. It's over." He whispered into her hair as she shook in his arms. He hoped to God that it was all over. He loved this woman more than anything in the whole world; he'd committed murder for his family's safety. It had to be over.

Skinner pulled his cell phone out and started doing the 'I'll take care of this' business, for which Mulder and Scully were entirely grateful. The sad fact was this would be the easiest murder in the world to cover up and make disappear. Nobody knew Gibson, he had no family or friends, he wouldn't be missed by anybody, not even those that had once been his closest allies. Skinner made a lot of calls as Mulder stood still shocked by what had happened.

Gibson was prepared to shoot Scully; he would have, if Mulder hadn't shot him first. It was his only option. Scully was shook up too, seeing the man she loved kill a young boy isn't exactly something that will help a relationship along. But there was nothing they couldn't get through. It was only now that they both truly believed this. After this they could fight the whole world if they had to.

Each in a different area of the apartment the three of them grew cold, almost as if they could feel Gibson's spirit leaving them, moving on. Scully remained silent but still cried, Skinner was on and off his phone and checked his watch every ten seconds. Mulder stood staring at the body. They hadn't covered him up, he just lay there. He looked so young and fragile. It infuriated Mulder to make him think he had had to resort to this. Murder. Well he knew that in an instant he'd have done the same thing given the chance again.

A knock on the door startled them all and they all looked at the door before edging towards it. Skinner stood forward to answer it thinking it was someone coming for the body, the less Mulder and Scully had to do with the aftermath the better. But upon opening the door a smile greeted him and Doggett was ushered into the room.

He looked at them all and then at the body. His breath caught in his chest and then he took a deep breath.

"This over now?" He directed the question at Mulder.

"Yeah. It's over." Scully walked over to Doggett and he pulled her into a hug. She was glad to see him.

"John, when did you get back?"

"I flew back with Mulder, didn't he tell you?" Scully pulled back and looked at Mulder.

"Well we got a little distracted as you can see." John nodded his head.

"So what's gonna happen now?" Mulder shrugged and Scully excused herself and made a phone call. Skinner took the front again.

"I've made some calls, someone is coming to collect the body."

"You mean to just get rid of it right?"

"Yeah. We have no choice."

"I know. It's exactly how this should have ended. I'd have killed the bastard myself given the chance."

Mulder heard this and the two men shared an understanding nod of the head. It felt good to know that Mulder wasn't just a cold-blooded killer.

Another twenty minutes passed before the next knock on the door. This time Scully answered it. She knew who it was. Her son was home. She opened the door and her son was returned to her arms in an instant. Doggett watched the reunion and smiled.

"Where was he?" In answer to Doggett's question Krycek walked into the room.

"Agent Doggett."

"Him? You sent your son away with him? To what? To keep him safe?"

"We had no choice John. It was either that or let Gibson... we couldn't let Gibson find him." Doggett looked at Scully's tearful eyes as she spoke and nodded his head again. She in return nodded thanks to Krycek before disappearing into William's bedroom.

Mulder walked over to Krycek and Krycek nodded his head also.

"I know, you don't have to say it, I'm gone."

"Good. I don't want to see you anywhere near me or my family again, are we clear on that?"

"Yeah." Krycek turned to leave and Mulder held him back.

"Hey. Thanks." Krycek left the apartment and bumped into someone at the door.

It was the social worker from the other day. He handed Mulder a letter telling him they were his recommendations and then he left. Mulder closed the door and turned to find Scully behind him. The look on his face must have said a thousand words.

"Mulder? It's William isn't it? Open it."