Last Wish

Part 16

By

Trycee

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

Disclaimer: This is written for fun, not profit.

Mulder walked out to the hallway. Skinner stared stone faced at the Van DeKamp's making them nervous. "Walk with me."

Mulder followed Skinner out down the hall far away from other people. "I'm glad you came," Mulder stated.

"I can feel the tension from here, " Skinner sighed, glancing down the hall where the Van DeKamps stood watching from the doorway. "What do you need me to do?"

"They went to a lawyer," Mulder said, his lips thinned and his chin squared. "They're threatening us."

"I could remove William," Skinner sighed. "Place him in protective custody like the FBI did with Gibson Praise."

"What's going on?," Scully's voice rang out.

Mulder whipped around to face Scully. She was standing with lab results in her hands. Mulder glanced up at the ceiling before looking into her eyes. "The Van DeKamp's consulted a lawyer."

Scully's eyes widened. "You have parental rights, Mulder. We can fight them!"

"We could file for custody here in D.C. I know a few judges," Skinner added. "But, I can't guarantee anything will be done before he's released."

"He's being released in the morning," Scully croaked. "The procedure worked, Mulder. William is healing. He's not sick or dying any more. He just needs a few infusions which his family doctor in Wyoming is capable of giving him. I have to discharge him tomorrow morning."

"So we have no time," Skinner sighed.

Mulder noticed that Scully was ghostly white in coloring and swaying on her feet, clutching William's lab results in her hands. Mulder stepped up to her as Scully began to teeter on her feet. He caught her before she fell. Mulder picked Scully up, tossing her over his shoulder and sprinted down the hall with Skinner hot on his tail. Mulder stopped in front of Scully's office door and then reached into her pocket, pulling out her keys. Mulder kicked open her door and then laid Scully down on the cushioned sofa she occasionally napped on. Mulder placed a pillow behind her head as Skinner opened up her office bathroom and grabbed a clean hand cloth. He wet it and then handed it off to Mulder. Mulder swabbed Scully's face and neck until her eyes popped back open. "What happened?"

"You fainted," Mulder said, kneeling beside her.

She looked around focusing on where she was, her office. "I can't lose him again..."

"I know," Mulder sighed.

"Go get William, Mulder," she said, as her face re-moistened with tears. "Bring him in here to me."

"Okay," Mulder said, rising up.

"I'll get him," Skinner's booming voice added. I don't think the Van DeKamps will object to me bringing him here."

Skinner glanced one last time at Scully laying on the couch, as she cried silently, embarrassed by her weakness in front of her boss. Skinner swung open her office door and disappeared.

"We aren't giving up, Scully.", Mulder said as he pressed hard kisses on her cheek and forehead.

Scully covered her face, hiding it under the blanket until it was tossed off away from her. Scully pressed her head into her mother's shoulder sobbing. "It's going to be alright," Maggie reassured her. "It's going to be alright. You're strong, Dana. You are strong and we'll get through this. I promise. We'll fight this."

Scully gulped down her tears and then pulled back, sitting up, noticing that the room was suddenly crowded. Mulder was kneeling down next to her as Maggie stood up above her. William had entered the room with Skinner trailing behind him. William went immediately to his mother's side and crouched down next to her, smoothing his hand over her cheek. "Mom. It's not over. I promise, I'll come back to you. This is not over."

"I know," Scully said, in a small voice. "But my heart is breaking all over again," she cried. "There's nothing I wouldn't give to keep you with us forever. To never let you go again."

"You made me healthy again," William smiled. "It'll just be a short while before I come back to you. I know this, mom."

Scully looked to Mulder kneeling next to her. He reached out and pulled her up into his arms. Scully clutched at Mulder as she cried into his shoulder. With her free hand, Scully reached out and gripped Williams arm. He closed his eyes, trying to hold in his own tears. Maggie placed her hand on to Williams back as Skinner stood back watching the small family. He turned away, embarrassed and angry at himself that he could do nothing to help.

The Next Morning, Our Lady of Sorrows:

Scully was numb, the pain was too great. There was only one thought on Scully's mind this morning, she couldn't lose her son again. It was almost too much for her to bare knowing that she could do nothing but let him go, again. Scully knew the Van DeKamp's were waiting in Williams room, waiting for her to do her job and discharge William. But Scully was woefully procrastinating as long as she could. Finally, she knew she couldn't stall any longer.

Scully pushed opened the door and her eyes caught sight of Mulder, standing next to William who was seated on the edge of the hospital bed, his feet planted firmly on the floor. Her teenage son, her baby boy, was in front of her, healthy, his face matching the color of his hair as he whimpered and gasped for air. Scully's heart ached knowing she would no longer see him everyday. Scully gazed at William, trying to memorize every detail about him. William was crying as he clutched Mulder's arm. William's cries resonated deep within her, causing her to react. Scully shoved William's discharge papers into Mrs. Van DeKamp's hands and stepped up to her son. Scully lifted William's chin so he was staring into her eyes. "Don't cry," she said, choking up herself. "We found each other again and I'm not giving up on you now. We'll come see you. You'll come see us. We'll work things out, I promise."

Mulder placed a hand on her shoulder, lending his strength. Scully sighed heavily as she used her thumb to wipe away the tears from Williams eyes. "It's just for a little while..."

William wrapped his arms around her as she cradled him. "Your dad and I will be out to Wyoming, first thing, I promise."

William sobbed as Scully sobbed. Maggie stood off in the corner, watching them as they held on to their child. Finally, William released her as Scully fussed with his hair and used tissues to clean his face. William frowned as she fussed over him but then he chuckled, his eyes swollen from crying and his face reddened. "Thanks mom," he sniffled.

Scully stopped and looked at him, her heart breaking in two. It was so natural for her to go into full 'mommy mode' without thinking. It was as if she had mothered him his entire life but she recognized that she may not get to mother him again for a long, long time. "You know us now," Scully continued. We know you. This doesn't end here."

William shook his head. "I love you mom."

"I love you too," she said, holding his face in her hands. "I love you. Remember that. No matter what. Your dad and I love you so much," she said, planting a kiss on his cheek.

"And me too," Maggie added.

William smiled. "I'll be calling you every day."

"I'd like that," Scully said, as she swiped at invisible dust-balls on his shoulders, trying to find a reason to hold on to him as much as she could.

Mulder wrapped his arms around his son, as his emotions overwhelmed him. "Call us, okay? If anything is wrong or if nothing is wrong. Just call us alright? We'll be there immediately if you need us."

The Van DeKamps watched as Mulder held his son for as long as he could. He stepped back so Maggie could hug her grandson. "I baked these last night," she said, sitting a plastic container of cookies down beside him. "I'll send you gifts on your birthday and on Christmas and just because I love you, okay?"

"Okay," he said, hugging her tightly.

Mrs. Van DeKamp nervously spoke. "We have to go, William. We have to get to the airport."

William straightened his shoulders and then stood up, gripping his grandmothers hand, then his fathers, grabbing him for one last hug. William turned then to hold his mother, looking down into her eyes. "It's just for a moment, mom. But, I'm your son forever. That will never change."

"No, it won't," Scully sighed. "You're right here," she choked up, patting her heart. "I love you."

"I love you too," he said, turning to his father and grandmother. "All of you."

William stepped back from them, trying to gather the courage to step away from them. He was sporting a new outfit Scully had purchased for his trip home. It was the first time she had bought her son anything since he had been a baby. The clothes he'd arrived with at the hospital in were in a plastic hospital bag. He took the bag and tossed it into the trash.

William sighed heavily and then took another step towards his adoptive parents. Mr. Van DeKamp nodded in Mulder and Scully's direction but said nothing. Mr. Van DeKamp placed his hand on Williams back. The Van DeKamp's opened the door and stepped out, leaving them in the hospital room all alone. Mulder and Scully watched as their son looked back at them, separated by glass as his adoptive parents guided him down the hall out of sight.

Maggie Scully, was heartbroken, as she wiped her eyes with a scrunched up tissue. She walked up and hugged both her daughter and Mulder. "I'll be at home if you need to talk," she said, solemnly. "Or if I need to talk to you!," she said, swallowing down her tears.

Scully held her tightly until Maggie reluctantly pulled away.

"I'll call you mom," Scully added. "Okay."

Margaret kissed her daughters cheek and squeezed Mulder's hand. They watched as she left and soon found themselves alone again. Mulder reached out and placed his hands on Scully's back. She turned into his arms and shook her head. "You already know, Mulder. I can't handle it. I can't."

"Scully," he said, already anticipating what she was about to say. "This time Scully, don't go back to work. Just come home with me."

"I can't. I have to work," she said, pulling away.

"Not this time, Scully!", he said, firmly. "We need to grieve together."

Scully hesitated, her head lowered. "Go to work Mulder."

He sighed and threw up his hands. "Scully!"

She wiped away a stray tear. "I'll," she gulped. "I'll see you at the house tonight."

Mulder continued to stare at her, searching her eyes. "Scully..."

"I won't run away, I promise," she said, answering his unspoken thoughts. "We'll grieve together. I promise. But right now...I just need to work," she said, pushing open the door and walking swiftly off down the hall.

Reagan Airport, Washington, D.C:

William placed his headphones on his head, blasting his music in his ears as he ignored his adoptive parents. They were frustrated with him as they sat in the Reagan boarding area, waiting for their flight to Chicago, a way-stop on thei way to Jackson, Wyoming. He sat away from them, trying to to calm the anger that was growing inside of him. He did not want to leave. He did not want to pretend that things had now changed. He wanted to stay. William contemplated running away but he knew it would create a huge problem for his parents as well as the Van DeKamp's. He was sure that if he ran away, it would enrage his adoptive parents and he might not get to see his biological parents for another three years.

William closed his eyes and focused on them. He could see his mother, Scully, pushing down her pain as she threw herself into work. She was back into the surgery bay, assisting in the re-attachments of ears on young children. She was always good at burying her feelings and though outwardly, she was as strong as steel, William could feel the overwhelming pain and guilt that was boiling within her. William knew that one image was replaying in her mind continuously, like a broken record. The memory of her handing him over to an older dark haired woman, an adoption specialist. He could see her, younger with redder hair, surrounded by Walter Skinner and a taller dark haired woman he didn't know. He knew that her biggest regret was that moment. He wanted to comfort her but he was stuck in the busy airport and she was splattered with blood, stitching up an eight year old girl in the hospital bay, just a few miles away. It made him sick to his stomach and angry that he was being forced to return with the Van DeKamp's, who felt threatened by his biological parents.

William turned his attention to his father. Mulder was seated in a dark basement office, the light turned off, staring at a recent family photo with William seated in the hospital recliner with Mulder and Scully on either side of him kissing his cheek. Mulder placed the photo on his desk as he wiped at his eyes as his heart shattered in the quiet of the dark, his whimpering cries unheard. William pulled out his phone and messaged him. "Don't cry, dad. It's just a little while, I promise. I'm still at Reagan."

He placed his phone back into his pocket until his phone buzzed in return. William looked at the message on his screen and smiled. "I DO believe," Mulder had wrote.

William returned his phone to his pocket and sat back, turning his attention to a girl about his age seated in front of him. She was alone and had kept turning back and flirting in his direction. William, who was nearly six foot tall, stood up and sat down next to her, much to the dismay of the Van DeKamp's. The dark haired girl was glued to her laptop, watching a movie on Netflix. She smiled at him. "I'm Emily."

"I'm William," he answered.

She leaned in closer to him giving him a better view of her large screen. William switched off his headphones and grinned. "Thanks," he said shyly.

"Not a problem," she answered.

At boarding time, William followed the girl on to the plane and sat next to her, taking the seat of the original passenger who relocated next to the Van DeKamp's, They were quietly enraged and kept glancing back at him, urging him to sit next to them. William ignored them and focused on the nineteen year old girl who chatted with him and seemed to enjoy his company. She told William he was cute but when he told her he was fifteen, she became embarrassed. She rustled his short cropped hair, joking, swapping songs and giggling at silly cat videos with him. When the plane landed in Chicago, Emily hugged him and kissed William on the cheek. "I'm glad your not sick anymore," she said, before racing off to meet her college roommates. William sighed, he knew that he had no choice now but to rejoin The Van DeKamp's for the trip back to Jackson.

The Van DeKamp's followed William to the next airport gate and were grateful that there were no girls even close to his age he could dodge them with. William continued his silent treatment, sitting in empty seats on the plane far away from them until they touched down back in Jackson. Mr. Van DeKamp loaded up their truck with their luggage, eager to grab a bite to eat and get back to the Farm. They had left over a month ago, not knowing it would take them so long before they returned back home.

William though was growing frustrated by the minute. The dullness of his former life was not where he wanted to be. He knew where his home was and it was somewhere in Virginia. He also knew he was capable of so many things except doing the one thing that would make him the happiest and that was to be with his real parents, Mulder and Scully.

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