Last Wish

Part 15

By

Trycee

Time-Line: Alternative Universe. Season 10 After Home Again and before My Struggle II.

Disclaimer: This is written for fun, not profit.

*Two Weeks Later, Third Floor, William's New Hospital Room:

William stood at the window of the room he was occupying overlooking the parking lot. He was people-watching. It had been a month since he had set foot outside of the hospital himself. Scully walked into his room and stood in the doorway, observing him.

Without turning around, William spoke, "Mom, I knew you were coming to my room before you even walked down here."

"Well, then you know why I'm here. Come on over here. I have something for you!"

"It's not a Liberty Burger, but it'll do"

William turned to face her. Scully held out a paper bag, a smile on her lips. "It's not a Liberty Burger, but there's two burgers and two fries and a Milkshake in there."

William grabbed the bag and then plopped down in the hospital recliner, tearing open the bag. Scully handed him the large milkshake. William sipped on the straw and smiled. "Strawberry, my favorite."

"Strawberries one of my favorites too. And see I said that when you got better I'd bring you a cheesebuger "

William looked up at his mother. "You did keep your promise."

She pulled up a rolling tray and emptied her pockets, with several needles and vials. "You ready?"

"Yeah," he said, drinking his shake.

"Save room for your burger."

William pushed the shake aside and then braced himself as Scully swabbed his arm and withdrew his blood. She gasped as she stared at the vial. Instead of green blood, William's blood was red. She smiled as she showed the vile to William. "I'm gonna check it, okay?", she said, kissing the top of his head and then wrapping his arm and cleaning up her mess. "Eat it before it gets cold."

"Alright," he said, standing up suddenly and hugging his mother, his long arms embracing her for the first time ever.

Scully was overwhelmed as she wrapped her arms tightly around her taller teenage son, gripping him as tightly as she could. He placed a soft kiss on her forehead. "I love you, mom."

"I love you too," she said, wiping her tears with her gloved hand. "More than you could ever know."

"But, I do know," he added. "I feel it, mom. I've always known."

Scully smiled and touched his cheek, her cold gloves separating her from his skin. She ruffled his growing hair. "You'll need a hair cut soon," she smiled.

"It's been so short for so long, maybe I could grow it long and have a mullet," he chuckled sitting back down.

"Oh," Scully giggled. "Okay. I can see that."

William plopped back down in the chair, quickly devouring his fries before pushing the empty containers away from him. He scarfed down the first cheeseburger quickly before unwrapping the other one.

"Slow down," Scully smiled. "It's not going anywhere."

William patted his belly. "I lost a lot of weight. I need to gain some, right? I'm a growing boy. Almost a man."

Scully's eyes lit up as she looked at her handsome son, with Mulder's smile and height and her complexion, eye color and hair. "You're right. You are almost a man. But, just chew slowly so you can actually reach adulthood, okay. Listen to your mother and your doctor."

William chewed slowly at first but then quickly inhaled the second burger. Scully rolled her eyes and smiled.

"Did Dad call? He went back to work today, right?"

"He did and yes," Scully said, tossing his garbage into the trash. "He's anxious to see you."

"I'm anxious to see him. "

Scully sighed. "I wish we didn't have to go back to work, but with you improving, our bosses didn't see a reason why we would be here 24 hrs a day any more."

"I know. But, you know what that means mom?"

"What?", she said, placing the vials of his blood into her doctors coat-pocket. She glanced up, noticing the seriousness on Williams face. He looked nervous and then sighed loudly, tapping on the arm of the chair. "I'm...I'm going back to Wyoming soon."

Scully looked stunned. "What?"

"My adoptive parents, " he said. "They are taking me back home soon. They haven't told me yet, but I know it."

The door flew open and William's grandmother, Maggie came in, a wide smile on her lips, holding a plastic container. Maggie touched her daughters arm and moved past her to place it on the table in front of William. Without hesitation, he ripped open the container and peered in. "You made this for me?"

Margaret Scully nodded. "I hope you like them."

William grabbed an oatmeal raisin cookie and bit into it, his eyes lighting up as he chewed each bite. "These are really good. Thank You, Grandma."

Maggie sat down next to him. "Any time you want them, I'll make them for you, okay?"

"Will you send them to me?", William asked.

"Send them?", Maggie asked, looking alarmed. She turned to look at her daughter and Scully locked eyes with her, her color completely drained. "Dana, have you spoken to the Van DeKamps about William? Perhaps sharing custody or Vacation times?"

"We haven't...," Scully's voice trailed off.

Margaret stood up and touched her daughter's face. "Dana?"

Scully turned on her heels and rushed out of the door leaving William and Maggie alone.

Maggie sat back down next to William. He reached out and touched his grandmother's hand. "I'm going home soon," William said.

"Maybe you won't," she said sweetly, placing her hand on top of his. "Maybe your parents can work things out with the Van DeKamps."

He shook his head no. "Pastor Dennison and our church back in Wyoming are already planning a surprise party for me," he said.

Mrs. Scully covered her mouth with her hand as the information sunk in. She was losing her grandson again.

Scully stood frozen at the stairwell as patients moved past her, traversing the stairs of the third floor. The sun shone through the Stained Glass Window cascading around her. Scully was pale, statuesque as concerned patients glanced in her direction but continued on past her. A hand reached out and touched her shoulder. She looked up to find a concerned Mulder. "What is it? Is everything okay, Scully?", searching her eyes.

Mulder nodded his head. It was written all over her face. His shoulders slouched as he pulled her to him, rubbing her back. "I'm not ready to believe that it's over, Scully."

"What are we going to do, Mulder? William had his follow-up Stem Cells therapy yesterday morning. I'm about to check his blood, " She said, pulling out the vile's tucked into her doctors coat. "It's red. His blood is red now."

Mulder smiled but then it faded quickly. "Maybe we can do something."

"As his doctor, I have to release him. They''ll take him back to Wyoming. And then what?

Mulder looked up at the ceiling and then glanced down, his hands on his hips. "Where are they, the Van DeKamps?"

"Honestly, I don't know. They haven't been here all morning."

"You heading to the lab now?"

"Yeah," she said, her head hung low. "My mom is in there with William. He was asking about you. I didn't expect you to cut out of work so soon."

Mulder smirked. "I made it until lunch. Skinner wasn't too thrilled about it but he said he understood."

She shook her head. "It's hard for me to focus on any of these other patients when William's down there. I actually could care less about how anyone feels or what there condition is. Is that wrong?"

"Not in this case," Mulder added. "Its understandable."

"I hope so," she sighed.

Mulder kissed the top of her head. "I'll be with William, if you need me, Scully. Skinner said he'll stop by later. Go on and go to the lab."

"Okay," she sighed.

Mulder bent down and kissed her lips and then gazed into her eyes. He watched as Scully composed herself. She placed a soft hand on top of his and then turned walking off down the hall towards the lab.

Mulder stopped in front of William's room and then glanced towards the nurses station. He caught the eye of one of the nurse who chuckled as she approached him."If you don't have something to eat, he probably won't want to see ya'," she joked. "He's eating everything in sight."

"Making up for lost times," Mulder smiled.

She smiled and looked into William's room. "I suggest, Dad, that you have a cheeseburger in those pockets!"

Mulder smiled. "I'll give him whatever he needs," he said as she walked away. Mulder smiled and he entered the room. He kissed the top of Maggie's head. She was seated in a soft chair, asleep next to William's recliner. William greeted Mulder with a crooked smile that matched his own. "Hi dad."

"Hi," Mulder answered, stepping up to William and pulling him into a hug.

William grinned back. "Want a cookie?"

"Yeah," Mulder answered.

Teasingly, William handed a cookie to Mulder before snatching it back and devouring it down.

"Cruel," Mulder grinned.

"He's eaten three cookies already," Maggie added as she opened her eyes. "Want one?"

"Hurry, because I have a bottomless pit," William joked. "Because I'm growing into a man," William smirked. "I'll be shaving in a few months."

Mulder gripped his sons chin and then chuckled. "I see one hair and that's about it."

William looked disappointed until Mulder ruffled his growing red hair. "Don't worry about it. It's coming in."

William handed him the container of cookies. Mulder pulled out a large sweet smelling cookie and bit into it. "Wow. It's been awhile since I had any of your cookies, Mrs. Scully."

"I'll make you some, Fox."'

"Grandma said she'll send me mine," William said, as he grew sullen.

Mulder turned away from them and paced around the room before turning back to his William. "Where are your adoptive parents?"

William looked off as he focused on the whereabouts of the Van DeKamp's. He glanced down avoiding Mulder's eyes. "They're meeting with a lawyer."

Mulder stopped dead in his tracks. "That's what I was afraid of. "

"You need a lawyer?", Maggie offered, her anger rising.

"No, I've got it," he answered, as his fist clenched and unclenched.

"Don't get upset," William urged.

Mulder looked at William and then softened. "Your mom and I...and your grandma don't want to lose you again."

William stood up and rounded the chair, hugging him tightly. Mulder was overwhelmed, feeling his sons arms, strong and healthy, wrapped around his waist for the very first time. Tears started trailing his cheeks as he sobbed. "I'm not giving up on you," he whispered, against Williams cheek.

"I know, dad. But my parents...my adoptive parents...will end up taking me back to Wyoming. That is going to happen," he said, looking up into his father's eyes. "But it's not over," William added.

Mulder gripped the back of his sons head and stared down into his blue eyes as William too cried. "No, it's never over, son. Never."

The door opened and a cheerful Mrs. Van DeKamp entered, followed by her husband. They were dressed up in a suit and tie and a dress that was obviously recently acquired. Mr. Van DeKamp noticed their sullen faces. "What's wrong?"

Mulder whipped around to stare at them. William sat back in the recliner, switching back on the basketball game, ignoring her. "You both met with a lawyer?", Mulder demanded.

Mrs. Van DeKamp looked shocked and then turned to her husband. Nervously, she tried to speak but quickly grew silent. The Van DeKamps both noticed the angry glare from Maggie Scully directed at them. "Look, we needed to see what our rights are."

"Your rights?", Mulder growled. "I have rights as his father."

"Had William not gotten sick, Mr. Mulder," Mr. Van DeKamp interrupted, stepping in front of his wife. "We would've continued raising him until he was 18. In our state, a closed-adoption state, he would then have the right to contact you once he was 18 but he's fifteen."

"I know how old he is!", Mulder snarled. "Every waking hour I know! Every birthday, every holiday, I know EXACTLY how old My Son is!"

"We understand your pain, Mr. Mulder," Mrs. Van DeKamp sighed. "But according to the law, even if you took us to court, it may be upwards of one to three years before a court date is even scheduled. William would be eighteen then. Be reasonable, Mr. Mulder. A judge is less likely to remove this boy we raised his entire life from our care!"

Mulder flexed his fist as he stood in front of them. Mr. Van DeKamp shook his head. "Mr. Mulder, you can take us to court, but that won't affect what's happening right now!"

"We'll see about that!", Mulder sneered.

"Are you threatening us, Mr. Mulder?", Mr. Van DeKamp asked. "Because our Lawyer warned us that..."

"STOP!", Maggie Scully said, standing up. "This isn't helping anyone," she warned them with a strong steady voice. She turned to the Van DeKamps."You do what you need to do," she added. "And we'll do what we need too. But, we are NOT losing him again. Over my dead body will we give up on my grandson."

Mulder placed a hand on her back, helping her sit back down in her seat. William suddenly reached out his hand, placing it right above her heart. He sent a jolt through her body causing her to shake until he released his hand. "What? What was that?", she gasped.

"Your heart is strong now," William said, turning back to his game.

Maggie shook her head, not understanding what William had done. Mulder though padded his son on the shoulder and then looked back at Mrs. Scully. "William helped heal your heart."

She smiled. "Of course he has. My grandson has returned to me and I'm not letting him go."

Maggie touched her grandsons hand, still feeling the tingling effect of the jolt in her body.

Mulder winked at William. He then turned his attention back to the Van DeKamps, his eyes darkening and his tone deepening. "If you think that you will block Scully and I from seeing our son, that won't happen!"

Mrs. Van DeKamp looked surprised. " We want you to see him. Just...on our terms", Mrs. Van DeKamp.

"Unless we have to go to court to block you!," Mr. Van DeKamp added. "Like I was saying, Mr. Mulder. The law is on our side."

"Wrong!", Mulder hissed as he stepped up to the smaller man. "It's on my side."

Skinner tapped on the wooden door, glancing in. "What's going on here?"

Mulder looked to his son and Mrs. Scully. "I'll be right back."

*** I try to respond to each and every review but Fan Fiction right now won't allow me respond. I don't know why. But, please leave reviews anyway. I can still read them. ***

Please Leave Feedback: Thanks.