"Now I'm assuming you all know why we're here." Deputy Director Kersh was stood in front of a large group of agents, some of who had been present on the operation the previous day. Margaret Scully, Scully's mother, was also present. She was seated between A.D. Skinner and a very worn out, disheveled looking Mulder. The Deputy Director continued.
"An agent of the Bureau, Special Agent Dana Scully is missing, having disappeared while on an operation yesterday lunchtime. For those of you who don't know Agent Scully, a photograph is being handed out." By the time he had said this, the pile of photos had reached Mulder. It was the picture from her agent file. She smiled at the camera, looking fresh faced and beautiful. A knife like pain stabbed him in the gut. If only he'd told someone about the photographs and notes sooner. Maybe all this could've been avoided.
He glanced at Mrs. Scully. She was staring at the picture in his lap, an unreadable expression masking her features. He had always wondered where Scully got that from, now he knew.
Meanwhile, Kirsh had continued speaking. "Assistant Director Skinner will now brief you properly on the details of this case." Skinner stood and walked slowly to the front of the room, taking Kirsh's place there.
"We're pretty sure we know who has Agent Scully. The man we were targeting with the operation yesterday, one Evan Michael Chandler." Skinner switched on a projector that propelled Chandler's image onto a screen behind him. He kept the control in his hand as he began speaking again. "He is in his early to mid forties, average height and build, also he is a known alcoholic, prone to violence." At this, Mrs. Scully gave a small gasp. Mulder leant over to her and spoke quietly.
"You don't have to stay in here. You can wait outside until we're done." The older woman smiled slightly and shook her head.
"Thank you for your concern Fox, but I'd much rather stay and be informed on what's going on. And I've told you before, please call me Maggie" He gently took her hand in his and gave it a reassuring squeeze. She returned it gratefully. They both turned their attention back to Skinner.
"He has previous for kidnapping, and no known family left alive. He had a brother, one Ira Cain Chandler. He was convicted and executed for murder in 1986." Skinner pressed a button and a picture of Ira Chandler appeared in place of Evan's. A flash of familiarity swept over Mulder. He was certain he'd seen that man before, but where?
"Now, over the past week or so, Agent Scully's partner Agent Mulder has received a number of notes and photographs of Agent Scully. The notes are all the same format." Skinner clicked the button again and the four notes Mulder had got appeared blown up on the screen. He felt Maggie tense beside him as she read them. "Along with these notes, Agent Mulder received a number of photographs." Skinner clicked the button over and over. Every click brought a different image of Scully onto the screen. The last one, the vision of Scully asleep in her apartment was too much for Maggie Scully to take. She stood rapidly and rushed out of the room. Mulder glanced quickly at Skinner before standing and following her out of the room, closing the door behind him.
He found Maggie in the corridor leaning against the wall. He touched her shoulder lightly and she turned round to face him. Tears brimmed her eyes, overflowing and slowly gliding down her cheeks.
"I can't believe this is happening. Why Dana? What did she do to that man?"
"Nothing," Mulder replied, a little more honestly than Maggie realized.
"I know this has happened before, and I suppose I should be used to it by now, but not knowing where she is, if she's ok or even if she's alive…" Her voice broke and fresh tears fell from her eyes. Softly Mulder pulled her into an embrace and she sank into it, grateful for his support. He held her as she sobbed, all the time feeling unbearable guilt wracking his conscience.
"You shouldn't do this to yourself, preparing yourself for a situation that may not arise. Nothing's to say that we're not going to find her and she'll be fine." He wasn't entirely sure whom he was trying to convince, Maggie or himself. She gently pulled away from his hold and looked at him with watery eyes.
"And there's also nothing to say that we'll find her and she won't be fine. I've already out lived one child Fox, I don't know if I could bear losing another." Mulder was about to say something in return but a voice from behind him cut in before he could.
"Agent Mulder?" He turned round to see Kimberly, Skinner's secretary. "I'm terribly sorry to interrupt, but this was left at reception for you." She held out a white envelope. It had his name on it. He took it from her.
"Thanks Kimberly." She smiled and them turned to Maggie. She smiled at her gently before turning and walking away.
Mulder meanwhile had opened the envelope. Sure enough, he pulled out a photo inside a piece of paper. The photo again was of Scully. She was bound to a chair and had been gagged with masking tape. Unconscious, she had a gash on her head that was still bleeding. He tore his eyes away from the image to read the note. It simply read, "She is mine now." Frantically Mulder ran back into the meeting room and over to Skinner.
"Agent Mulder?"
"I just received this." He handed the picture and note to his boss. He regarded them before turning back to Mulder.
"When did you get this?"
"Just now. Kimberly found me in the corridor and said it had been left at reception for me."
"Get down to reception; see if they've got any security footage. Let them know that if the guy comes back not to let him leave." Mulder nodded and left the room. He hoped that Scully was just knocked out and not dead.