Part 15
The main door of Scully's apartment building was open. There was a pair of police officers standing outside. Skinner stood against the wall and looked out to the street solemnly. He had been waiting for Mulder for a while now and he hadn't turned up. He sighed heavily with sorrow. The past month had been hell for him and just when he thought it was getting better it had got a lot worse.
He looked towards the door again and watched as the police officers talked to each other casually and laughed quietly over a joke. He looked to see a woman agent of the FBI come towards him. Skinner nodded a hello and walked to meet her.
'Have you found Agent Mulder?' She asked. Skinner shook his head.
'I've been waiting for a while, he'll be here soon I'm sure.' He said.
'I'd like to ask him a few questions.' The woman said. Skinner nodded. 'I think that the charges against him have been cleared by the way Sir.'
'Really?' Skinner said hopefully. The woman nodded. 'Good.' He said. The woman sighed.
'Well, we'll keep looking for clues. I hope Agent Mulder will be a help.' She said with a small smile. Skinner nodded and she walked away back into the building. As she went in a group of reporters came out. Skinner felt the need to tell them to go away; it had been annoying him that the public had even known about the abduction of an FBI agent. He walked towards them fast and watched them light their cigarettes.
'Excuse me, I'm going to have to ask you to leave and whatever you have recorded here today I don't want you to publish.' He said simply and ushered them away. They looked to him in protest but knew that they couldn't say no to the FBI. Skinner watched them walk away and when he was sure that they had gone he took a step into the building and passed some agents he knew. They gave him a reassuring, confident, hardworking smile. He tried to return one. Camera lights flashed from the landing upstairs.
'Sir?' Skinner heard from behind him. He turned and faced a red faced Mulder. Skinner could see the distress on his face.
'Mulder.' He said. Mulder looked at him and sighed.
'Why the hell is this on the news?' Mulder said angrily.
'Don't worry I've told them to go away. They'll be no more of that.'
'Good.' Mulder said. He started to walk up the stairs. Skinner sighed as he disappeared from his sight.
Mulder made his way up the stairs and turned to his left towards Scully's apartment. He felt fear as he prepared himself for what he was about to see and he couldn't bear it. People stood in his way and he pushed past them in frustration. He saw a photographer taking a photo. Mulder stormed towards him with rage.
'WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?' He shouted grabbing the man's arm and swinging him round. The man looked at him with fear.
'Mulder!' The woman agent shouted. Mulder turned towards her.
'Who the hell are you?' He said.
'Calm down, he's not for the papers he's for forensics.' She said taking hold of Mulder's arm. She looked at the man apologetically. Mulder froze angrily for a moment and kept hold of the man.
'Why doesn't he have an official pass?'
'I.. I don't know.' The woman said.
'I was told that it was only us guys left anyway so I didn't put it on!' The photographer exclaimed with fear. Mulder turned towards him again and sighed. He let go of him violently.
'Well put it on next time.' He said, fuming. The woman took Mulder away to a corner. Mulder frowned with anger and looked at her. She was small with short blond hair.
'Let me introduce myself. I'm Agent Karrington and I'm here to help you. I know Skinner.' She said and held out her hand for Mulder to shake. But he didn't.
'I'm fine on my own thanks.' He said. Karrington sighed.
'Look I know that this must be awful for you, but I'd like to ask you a few questions?' She said sympathetically. Mulder sighed and shook his head.
'Can I have a look around the place first?' He said quietly with a frown. Karrington saw his sadness and gave in.
'Of course.' She said courteously and gave him a small smile. Mulder turned away from her and made his way to the door of Scully's apartment. He flashed his badge to people and stepped into the place which he knew so well.
He looked around and saw Scully's bed was unmade, her curtains partly opened and the remains of the broken glass bowl. Mulder frowned with despair. He needed to help her. Suddenly he realised that she was probably where he had been, but he couldn't remember where it was. His heart filled with sorrow as he felt so helpless.
Turning away from the apartment he made his way out briskly and past Karrington in the hallway. She said something to him, but he didn't hear. He was out of the building fast and past Skinner. He heard him say something also, but he didn't want to answer. Mulder ran for his car and started the engine and drove away from there as fast as he could. He needed to think.
Scully felt a hand take hold of her torn pyjamas roughly and pick her up. She tried to struggle away but the pain in her foot stopped her.
She looked down at it and saw that the blood had stopped going out in such a large amount but that it was turning a different colour and she realised that it was getting infected. Scully panicked. She was going to need to have her foot removed if she didn't get any help. She knew it.
'Great.' She said sarcastically under her breath. 'It's so nice to be a doctor..'
'GET UP!' A man shouted gruffly. Scully winced in pain as she was lifted to her feet and was forced to stand. She tried to balance on one foot but she was so dizzy that she fell to the hard floor again. The man grabbed her again. She cried out in anger and pain.
'Please leave me alone!' She shouted desperately.
The man stopped and to her relief he let her back down on the floor. Scully took a deep breath and grimaced in pain. She attempted to look up at her aggressor. She blinked and tried to focus on the man standing above her and saw that he was looking down at her also.
'Why did you listen to me?' She said weakly. The man was tall and had dark features.
'I've been told to make sure you don't get too hurt.' He said slowly in a low voice. Scully frowned in suspicion.
'How the hell does that make sense?' She snapped.
'Look, don't question it Agent Scully.' He said roughly. Scully sighed and felt his anger.
'I'm sorry, I just don't understand.'
'I'VE GOT TOLD TO DO IT THIS WAY AND I AM GOING TO OBEY! IS THAT SO DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTAND?.' He shouted and was suddenly angry. Scully frowned and looked up at him again. She winced as her foot throbbed.
'I.. why wouldn't cancerman want to hurt me?' She said in disbelief. The man shook his head and walked away from her. Scully followed him with her eyes.
'YOU DID ENOUGH TO MULDER DIDN'T YOU!' She shouted after him with rage, but he was gone.
The metal door slammed shut and Scully flinched at the noise. Suddenly she was plunged into complete darkness. She sighed and tried to sit up forcing her legs to move. She was getting weak.
'Come on Dana..' She said under her breath.
With a moment of excruitating pain she managed to pull her leg up and sit up against the wall. Her foot rubbed against the floor of the cell and left a pool of blood behind.
'AGHH!' She cried out as she moved. Scully felt a tear roll down her face. She squeezed her hands together and grimaced in pain. She let the moment pass, it felt like hours.
When the pain had finally died down she lay her head against the wall and closed her eyes. She needed some rest before someone came back, or she really would be in trouble.
Part 16
Mulder sat at his desk and held his head in his hands. He felt sick and tired with worry and it was starting to take its toll on his emotions. He remembered how Scully had been worried about him going to get the files and nearly kicked himself for leaving her that day. He sighed and ran a hand through his hair. Thoughts filled his mind and he felt as if it would explode. He knew it was cancerman; it was too obvious. He scanned his mind trying to think of where he was taken but he just couldn't remember. It killed him that he couldn't.
He jumped suddenly at the sound of the phone ringing. He slowly reached over to pick it up.
'Mulder?' A familiar voice said. Mulder scanned his mind then realised it was Langley. He breathed a sigh of relief.
'Hi.?'
'Sorry we took so long to call, we had to wait about an hour to find a clear line.' Langley said bitterly. Mulder nodded.
'That's all right.'
'Mulder, man.. we're really sorry.' Langley said slowly. Mulder sighed.
'I know.'
'We've been looking around trying to find her, trying to access all our cameras and secret passwords.'
'You have?' Mulder said hopefully. He was pleased with their concern. The first time they had met Scully she'd been so sceptical of them.
'Where do you think she is?'
'She's with the smoking man somewhere. I was there too but I can't remember where it was.' Mulder said in frustration. There was a noise on the line while Langley swapped the phone over to Frohike.
'Hey Mulder.' Frohike said sadly. Mulder managed a small smile.
'Got anything worth hearing about?' Mulder asked.
'Well, we want to help you we just don't know where to start looking.'
'I know. Well its got something to do with the smoking man, I'll tell you that.' Mulder said. 'But that's just about all I can tell you.' He said with frustration.
'Do you think she's.. you know..'
Mulder felt dizzy just talking about it. 'No, I don't. He didn't kill me.'
'That's all right then. But Mulder, you have to think about it and try not to be too hopeful.' Frohike said sympathetically. Mulder sighed.
'No, I'm going to find her. I have to.' He said sadly. Frohike sighed.
'So do I.'
The phone crackled again and Mulder was passed over to Byers.
'We're saying our prayers Mulder.' He said. Mulder nodded.
'Thanks.' He said blankly and put down the phone. He sat and stared at it sadly.
Mulder sighed and held his head in his hands. Suddenly the phone rang again. He jumped and stared at it. Mulder reached over and picked it up.
'Fox Mulder?' He said.
'Fox? I'm so sorry I called you at home I just can't get through to anyone because it's the weekend!' A woman said in a terrified voice. Mulder frowned with concern, it was Scully's mother.
'Mrs Scully, are you all right?'
'I saw it on the news.. I saw Dana's house..' She said sadly then she started to cry.
'It's all right! We're going to find her!' He said forcefully. 'Please don't cry, I know it's awful.'
'Please.. please just find her for me.. she's all I have left. She's my only daughter.' She said between sobs. Mulder nodded.
'I will. I promise.' Mulder said strongly. 'I have to find her; I don't think I can go on without her.'
Scully sighed and felt her head throb with pain. She tried to open her eyes.. the light blinked above her. She thought. But it could have been her head. She was sure that she was going to faint.
'Scully?'
She turned slowly towards the sound of the voice. She recognised it instantly.
'Go away.' She said gravely and attempted to sit up. She couldn't, a fell down to the floor in distress.
'Don't worry Dana, you're in safe hands now.' The smoking man said. Scully frowned with confusion.
'What the hell is that supposed to mean?' She said, trying to shout.
'Well, I wanted to take you away to catch Mulder so that I could have you both.' He said and lit a cigarette.
'Mulder? What do you mean you've already had Mulder!' She shouted, furious at the mention of her partner's name.
'I know, but that didn't work did it.' The smoking man said simply.
'Why did you give him back if you wanted him?' She said fuming.
'Because I knew that I'd never get you that way.' He said. Scully shivered. It was cold in the room.
'What do you mean? What are you planning to do!' She said, panic rising in her throat.
'I'm planning to use you as bait.' He said with a laugh. Scully was furious.
'BAIT?'
'Yes, I'm going to take you to Mulder's apartment and he's going to see you and then I will be able to catch him.' The smoking man said. Scully shook her head.
'It won't work.' She said. She smelt the smoke from him and coughed. 'I thought I told you to stop smoking.'
'When was that?' He asked.
'When you stole our files you son of a bitch.' She said angrily. The smoking man laughed.
'Now, now.' He said. Scully felt him walk near and loom over her.
'Get away from me.' She said in pain. Her foot was starting to ache again. 'You say that you want to keep me from harm.. but I've been shot in the foot.'
'I'm so sorry about that. Don't worry. He's been disposed of.' The smoking man said. Scully looked in his direction, confused.
'What the hell are you talking about?' She rasped. Her eyes were partly closed and she lay on her front with her arms tied. The smoking man looking down at her as if she was a rat from behind her. He saw her back and her hair which was messy and dirty.
'He's dead.' The smoking man said, and to Scully's surprise she felt him rest his foot on her side.
'Hey!' She shouted. The smoking man didn't move.
'I'm not doing anything.' He said jokingly. Scully frowned.
'Get off me!' She shouted. The smoking man laughed. Scully cried out in fright as he pushed his foot into her side harder, making her turn over onto her side, then kicked her. She grimaced in pain. 'Please!' She begged. The smoking man laughed again and kept his foot digging into her back. She squeezed her eyes shut and tried to imagine she was somewhere else. 'You have to stop. Someone is going to come and find me you know that!'
'Not here Scully. No one will find you here.' He said angrily then took his foot off her. Scully gasped in relief as her body was let back down naturally on the floor. Scully shook with fear and tried to stay as still as possible. Her foot was soaring with pain.
'I need… some.. help.' She rasped weakly. The smoking man's disappearing footsteps came to a halt. Scully opened her eyes to listen.
'What with?'
'I've been shot in the foot, its getting infected. Please, I'm going to be in a very bad condition if I don't get help.' She said weakly. The smoking man took a deep breath.
'What do you want me to do?' He said after a long silence. Scully's heart started to get faster.
'I.. I need some medicine.' She flinched as she felt him come closer towards her.
'Fine.' He said simply, then walked away. Scully tried to get up.
'No! Wait! What are you going to get?' She shouted as he left the room. 'HEY!' She said, but the door slammed and stopped her. She groaned in frustration. 'Dammit!'
Slowly and painfully she attempted to get up again, but she failed. She frowned with concentration as she tried to move her arms so that she could free her hands by pulling them round her feet to her front but she failed as she reached her feet. Scully cried out in agony as her hands hit her foot. Tears stung her eyes. She cried out in frustration and found herself with her hands tied tight behind her back again.
She lay on her front and took a deep breath. She felt awful, tired and dizzy. Her foot throbbed even more now. She thought back and nearly hit herself for opening the door for Mr Parenski after what she had heard at the window. She wondered where Mulder was and what he was doing. She wondered if he even knew what had happened to her. Panic filled her blood and tears ran down her cheeks. 'Please..' She begged. 'Mulder, you have to know I'm missing.' Scully said desperately. She shook her head and gave up. To her despair she sobbed heavily into the floor.
An hour later, Scully was lying on her front with a blank expression on her face. She felt dead. There was nothing she could do, nothing to think about, nothing to do.
She took a deep breath through her nose and stared at the wall. Slowly, she tried to push herself up onto her knees but cried out in pain as her foot hit the floor. She closed her eyes as she toppled to the floor on her front again. She was getting used to the pain now when her body hit the floor, she had experienced it enough times now. She sighed and lay there for a few minutes, her breathing heavy and low. She heard footsteps. She opened her eyes quickly and prepared for someone to enter. The door opened and she heard someone step in. She didn't speak.
'Here's your medicine.' A man said. Not the smoking man, Scully noticed. She opened her eyes wide in desperation and struggled to get up.
'What.. what medicine is it?' She asked desperately, but to her despair the man was walking away again. She cried out in fear and pain. 'HEY!' She sobbed. Scully groaned and fell to the floor again. The footsteps were walking away, but she wasn't going to have this.
She felt determination build up inside of her and took a deep breath. 'Come on..' She said deeply to herself and with a large movement she forced herself up and onto her knees. Her feet hit the floor again and with an enormous cry of pain she forced herself up so that she was kneeling. Scully sobbed as her foot refused and sent pain all along her body. She blinked in the light and trying to ignore the pain she turned and saw the man walking away towards the door.
'HEY!' She screamed. The man didn't stop. Scully turned and looked at the floor and saw a small plastic container with some pills inside. She rushed towards them, falling and struggling along the way and then fell onto her front again when she was in front of it. She groaned looked at the container and read the label. Scully frowned with concentration as her vision was swaying. She read the label slowly and then frowned with confusion.
'No..' She said slowly, then read it again. She couldn't believe it.
The pills that she looked at, that they expected her to put into her body would kill her if she took too many and put her into deep unconsciousness if she took the desired dose. Scully shook her head in anger. 'I'M NOT TAKING THEM YOU BASTARDS!' She screamed.
There was a silence, as her voice echoed around the room. Scully breathed heavily, and felt dizzy. She couldn't feel anything anymore apart from the pain from her foot which, to her great despair was bleeding heavily again. Scully started to sob again. She must have broken the wound while moving. She tried to catch her breath desperately. Suddenly she heard heavy footsteps come towards the door. She looked up weakly with fright. The door swung open loudly and a pool of light filled the room. Scully winced at it and as if she was a spider and scrambled desperately away from it. The smoking man was coming towards her, his steps forceful and determined. Scully started to shake again.
'I'm not taking it!' She shouted. The smoking man reached down, dangerously near to her and picked up the container.
'Yes you are Dana.' He said from above her. Two other men had now entered the room and were standing behind him. Scully looked at them, terrified.
'Oh god.. no I'm not.' She said weakly. Her vision started to sway again. The smoking man looked down at her and then looked to the two men. He pointed to her. The men nodded.
Scully tried to catch her breath, but it was too much effort. She started to sob again and knew that something terrible was about to happen. She could feel it. She tried to look up again and saw the two men look at each other. She shook with fear. 'What are you going to do?' She said desperately. The smoking man turned and left the room. Scully's lip trembled. 'Hey!' She shouted weakly. The two men loomed over her. 'PLEASE!' She begged, but it was no use. They were coming towards her. Scully's eyes opened wide with fear and she tried to get away and move towards the wall again, she felt safer there. The men advanced and walked over to her. She felt them lean over her and she cried out and tried to roll herself up to protect herself.
'NO!' She screamed. The men grabbed her. She screamed again and tried to struggle out of their grip. They turned her over with ease as her attempt to struggle was extremely weak. Scully begged them to stop, and begged them to leave her alone, but they held her down facing the ceiling. One of them reached towards her face, Scully cried out and tossed her head around but he grabbed her face roughly.
'Stop it!' He shouted. Scully tried to fight back but she couldn't and to her horror he forced her mouth apart. Scully chocked and felt sick. The man laughed and looked to the other man who was holding her down. The man looked back at her slowly and looked into Scully's wide, terrified eyes. He stared into them menacingly and then to Scully's horror, he forced the first few pills down her throat.
It was dark and cold. The trees swayed in the wind which blew down on the apartment building. Cars sped past, oblivious to what had happened. Up in his apartment Mulder was glued to his computer screen and was desperately trying to find some information about where the smoking man was. He'd been trying to remember where he'd been the whole day but it hadn't worked. He just couldn't remember. Mulder sighed as he failed again to find any information. He felt anger rage inside of him and with a frustrated shout he hit the computer.
He stopped, and took deep breaths. Running a hand through his hair he sat back in his chair and turned his head to the ceiling, desperately trying to remember. Mulder felt his stomach growl. With a sigh he got up and walked over to his kitchen. It was then that he realised that he hadn't put the lights on. He walked over to the wall and turned them on.
The room exploded into light and Mulder blinked in shock. He put a hand to his eyes and took a deep breath. He had been getting so engrossed with his work that he hadn't realised that he had been in the dark. Getting back into reality he made his way towards the fridge and got out some food. Mulder started chopping up some tomatoes. Suddenly there was a loud bang from outside in the hall. Mulder shouted out in shock and the knife slipped and cut into his flesh.
'Ow!' He exclaimed. Mulder looked down at his hand and saw a small cut. The blood was spilling onto the cutting board. He sighed with anger and while holding it with his other hand, he made his way into the bathroom. He switched on the light and went to the medicine cabinet. Mulder saw himself in the mirror and saw that he looked tired and worn.
He opened the medicine cabinet and got out roll of bandage. Mulder wrapped a small piece around his hand then cut the roll. When he'd finished dressing the cut he closed the cabinet, replaced the roll and left his bathroom.
Mulder went into the main room of his apartment again. He looked around, curious. What had that noise been? He heard a small rustle and some footsteps from outside his door. Mulder reacted quickly. He went over to his table and grabbed his gun then went over to his sofa and sat down, prepared for anything that would come through his door.
Quarter of an hour later the noises had stopped. Mulder sat on his sofa and waited for anything else to happen. He heard footsteps. He turned towards the door and watched as he saw the shadow of someone in the hall in the gap under the door. Mulder felt the adrenaline pump in his body as he waited. The shadow moved and then something was put under his door. Mulder waited, fascinated then slowly got up and moved towards the door when the shadow and footsteps had disappeared. He gazed down at a small piece of paper. Mulder bent over and picked it up.
He turned it over. It was a worn piece of paper and had scribbled, black writing on it. Mulder strained his eyes to read it.
If you'd never started the X-Files none of this would have happened. You have no one else to blame but yourself. Scully is with me.
Mulder frowned. He read the letter again and guessed that it was from the smoking man. But he wasn't sure. It could have been anyone. He felt furious. The words, 'Scully is with me' ran through his mind over and over. Mulder put the letter to his nose and sniffed it.
Smoke.
Cigarette smoke.
Mulder was furious. He tore the letter apart and threw it on the floor. He took his gun up again and clicked it into place. With one huge movement he grabbed the door handle and threw the door open, not bothering to close it and ran out into the corridor.
He looked around. There was no one.
Mulder shouted in frustration and was mad that he hadn't done anything when he had been right there.. outside his own door. He felt guilt run through his blood. This was all his fault, may be the smoking man was right… no. Mulder pushed that thought away.
'Son of a bitch!' He shouted out. 'SCULLY!'
Mulder looked around desperately. He sighed. There was nothing he could do now. He went back into his flat in despair.
Slamming the door shut behind him he went back to his sofa, lay down, buried his head in his hands and did something that he hardly ever did. He cried.
The smoking man sat in the back of the car and smoked his cigarette. The man in the front looked back to him in the mirror.
'How much longer are we going to wait?'
'It's nearly time. I'm sure that he's completely devastated by now.' The smoking man said, looking up at Mulder's apartment building and the light coming from his window.
'What about the girl?' The man asked, turning and looking into the back seat where Scully sat forced upright. The smoking man looked across at her.
'She'll be coming too. Don't worry she won't be waking up soon.' He said. The man nodded and stared at Scully's body. Her skin was pale and she looked lifeless. Her hair dark with dirt and sweat and her once white silk pyjamas were now grey and torn. Blood stained her trousers. The man couldn't help feeling guilty. The smoking man suddenly looked across as him.
'Why are you looking at her like that?' He snapped. The man jumped and turned his gaze to the smoking man nervously.
'She looks dead.' He said. The smoking man managed a little smile.
'I knew you weren't ready for this job.'
'No!' The man said desperately. 'No Sir I am!' He pleaded. The smoking man laughed.
'Don't worry, I'm not going to kill you.' He said, teasing him. The man's heart skipped a beat and couldn't help wondering if he was telling the truth or not.
'I need to get back somehow don't I, and I can't get anywhere without a driver.'
The man swallowed nervously.
Mulder sat on the sofa and stared at the coffee table mindlessly. He couldn't stop thinking about Scully and terrible images were filling his mind and making him more and more sorrowful. He took a deep breath and tried to gather himself. He rose from the sofa and went towards the kitchen again. He saw the blood on the chopping board and decided to leave food for the night. Mulder went back to the sofa and lifted the television control. He had to get his mind off Scully for a second. Just when he was about to switch it on there was a bang from outside. Mulder froze. He dropped the control and turned towards the door, anger burning in his blood. He rose and took his gun off the table, determined to shoot whoever was there. But what if it was Scully? What would he do? Mulder calmed himself mentally and went over to the door. There was another thump and footsteps. He held himself back, he was so tempted to open the door and shoot whoever was there. He didn't care anymore.
Suddenly he heard a faint murmur of male voices. Mulder clicked his gun into place and aimed it at the door. Then there was a silence. He waited.
The door crashed open and the light from the hall came in. Mulder raised his gun.
'I'M READY FOR YOU, YOU SON OF A.. .' He was stopped.
Mulder stared at the doorway in shock. There she was. She was there in front of him. At first he didn't recognise her. She stood as if she was propped up. Her eyes were closed.
'Scully?' Mulder gasped and shook his head in disbelief. He felt emotion pump through him and then ran towards her desperately, holding his arms out to catch her or take her in. But as he neared her she started to fall forward as if she was a piece of wood. He stared in shock and ran towards her faster. She fell into his arms.
'Scully? Scully?' He asked in fear. She lay limp in his arms. Mulder felt fury run through his blood. He looked up into the corridor and saw that it was empty. Mulder turned back towards her and reached over to her face. He stroked her cheek.
'You're freezing!' He exclaimed with concern. Mulder sighed and pulled her into his apartment and closed the door. He felt so much better now she was there with him. He looked down at her and lay her on the floor. Mulder searched her face trying to see if she was moving, but she wasn't. He reached to her neck and tried to listen for her pulse. He was terrified. He couldn't find it.
'Oh my god..' He said, panicking and felt for her pulse again. He lifted her up slightly so that she was resting on his knee. Mulder froze and waited for the pulse. Just when he had given up hope he felt a tiny pressure on his fingers. He felt her pulse, then waited for the next heart beat. It was deathly slow. Dangerously slow. Mulder shook his head in shock.
'Scully?' He asked desperately. 'Scully? Can you hear me?'
He felt angry tears sting his eyes and he saw that she was pale. He touched her hair and felt its heavy weight and saw that it was extremely dirty. He frowned with concern and looked at her worn pyjamas. Slowly he moved his eyes down her legs and saw blood at the bottom of the trousers. Mulder panicked. He was now looking at her foot, which was covered in blood and was swelling. Mulder froze in fear. He looked closer.
'Scully..' He gushed with emotion as he saw that she had been shot. Mulder took her gently by the arms and pulled her close to him holding her tight. He couldn't believe it.
'It's ok Scully..' He said softly.
Mulder looked at her face again and stroked it gently. Slowly he let her down on the floor and hurried towards the phone.
'Hello? This is Fox Mulder with the FBI I need an ambulance right now!' He shouted in panic. He felt tears threaten to fall and anger boil in his blood. He gave his address.
When he had called the ambulance he went back to Scully quickly and held her hand. To his relief he saw that she was breathing lightly.
'Scully.. come on..' He pleaded. 'An ambulance is coming.'
There was a sound of footsteps again. Mulder turned sharply and grabbed his gun. He stood up slowly and made his way towards the closed door and put his hand to the door handle … he took a deep breath.
'Take this you bastard..' Mulder said under his breath.
He shouted out and pulled the door open.
But with great force the man rammed into it and it came crashing down off the hinges onto him.
Mulder cried out in pain and felt as if he was drifting away until he couldn't see anything anymore. Then he felt his body go.. and then, with one last attempt to fight back.. he fell unconscious.
Part 17
The door had been put against the wall in a sympathetic manner. The light on the desk was still on although the morning sunlight was now spilling into the room. It seemed too bright and welcoming for the occasion.
Photographers snapped pictures while they stepped carefully over the wreckage. Assistant Director Skinner stood in the kitchen of Mulder's apartment and sighed heavily. He leant over the worktop and held his head deep in his hands. A young agent came over to him and put a friendly hand on his shoulder.
'Sir, I'm sorry.' He said sympathetically. Skinner shook his head and almost shook with rage.
'I don't want to hang around here when two of my agents have gone!'
'I.. I'm sorry Sir. We'll start looking straight away.' The agent said, taken back by Skinner's fury. He walked away nervously and over to a police officer. Skinner looked at him angrily and took a deep breath trying to calm himself. He couldn't believe it. He was so shocked that something so awful had happened. He was furious.
'Get out of here!' Skinner said, advancing on a photographer. He glared at the police officer.
'I thought I told you last time that reporters weren't allowed here! This is an FBI case!' He shouted. The officer nodded and moved the photographers out of the apartment. Skinner looked around at the stunned Agents and officers. 'What are you looking at! Get a move on!' He shouted, and they dispersed nervously into a hurry of work.
Mulder tried to open his eyes but they were heavy and painful to move. He blinked slowly and saw glimpses of light. He heard a cry from near him and wondered who it was. It sounded desperate and as if the person was in pain. Mulder tried to raise himself up from the floor but pain soared through his temples and blinded him. Slowly he turned his head to the side and as he blinked to his horror he saw Scully lying down on the floor and her body moved severely with every cry that came from her. He couldn't see anyone hitting her, and he realised slowly that they were alone in the room. Mulder tried desperately to get up and go over to her, but he couldn't. He shouted out weakly in despair as Scully's body moved violently again and she winced in pain. He stared at her with shock and felt his heart drum loudly in his chest. Suddenly the door opened and someone walked in. Mulder blinked and tried to focus on what he was seeing and he saw a tall man walk towards him. He recognised him instantly. Mr Parkenski. Mulder cried out in anger and tried to move across the room to attack him. Mr Parenski stopped and walked over to him.
'Hello Agent Mulder.' He said over Scully's cries. Mulder grunted angrily. 'Recognise me?' He said with a smile then kicked Mulder in the side. Mulder grunted and closed his eyes in pain. 'My name's Bruce by the way.' He said with a laugh.
Bruce walked over to Scully and stood over her. Her body moved violently and she started to shake as if she was having a fit. Bruce started to laugh.
'Does that hurt?' He asked. Scully's body jolted in reply and she let out a weak cry. 'Those are the side affects of the drug Dana, don't worry they won't last much longer. We won't be needing you much longer anyway.' He said looking across as the weak body of Mulder. Bruce smiled a little then put a hand on Scully's hair. 'We'll let you free soon.' He said quietly to her then got up. Scully jolted again and let out a sob. He frowned and looked down into her face and lifted up her eyelid. Her eyes had rolled back into her head and were white. Bruce sighed and walked away from them. 'Nasty drug that, I tried to tell them not to give it to you but they wouldn't listen. It won't be much longer now until it wears off though.' He said with a smile. Bruce looked across at Mulder and glared at him. 'I'll be coming back for you.'
That afternoon Skinner walked to his office sadly keeping his head low. He felt anger flow in his veins. The secretary smiled at him but he didn't return it. He sighed and opened his door quickly and stormed inside slamming it behind him. With one long deep sigh he sat down on his chair and leant back holding his head in his hands in desperation. He shook his head then rested on his desk. He lay there for a while, but then he hit the desk violently with his fist.
'Sir?' The secretary came in nervously and spoke in a timid voice. Skinner shook off his rage and shakily put in his glasses.
'Yes.. yes Shelly I'm sorry.' He said weakly. She nodded.
'Sir there's something going on outside, by the door of the headquarters. Downstairs called up and asked me to tell you to come down straight away.' She said quietly. Skinner looked at her.
'What is it?' He asked with curiosity. The secretary shifted on her feet and blushed a little.
'They think that Agent Scully is down there.'
Scully heard distant noise and voices. She closed her eyes shut to try and block them away and started to shake nervously. The pain she was feeling was unbearable, like her body had been completely taken apart then put together again. She felt weak and distant, like she was somewhere else. Her mind was starting to waver and she had visions of different people in her life like her mother, her brother and Mulder, her friends, her days at university and FBI training college. She tried to curl herself up into a protective ball to hide everything around her.
Skinner ran out of the office and down the stairs quickly. He was desperate to see what had happened and he prayed that it was Scully downstairs and that she was all right. Agents looked at him in an understanding way and some glared at him as he rushed past them.
When he reached the ground floor he ran across the large entrance hall and suddenly was met by a paramedic and almost crashed into him.
'Assistant Director!' The paramedic said trying to stop him. Skinner looked at him with a desperate expression.
'Where is she?' He asked trying to sound authoritive.
The paramedic took him by the arm and led him over to a small room on the ground floor. 'Where are we going?'
'She was outside on the steps.' The paramedic said. 'The people on the street saw her, it isn't good.'
'What do you mean?'
'She's in here.' The paramedic said sympathetically to Skinner and opened the door of the room.
Skinner stepped inside and looked around with worry. There were a few paramedics there and some agents who were helping. Scully lay on a sofa and the paramedics were helping her and she wore an oxygen mask. Skinner looked at her closely and felt his stomach turn when he saw how pale she was, as if she hadn't eaten for weeks and as if she was a drug addict with large black rings around her eyes. She moved a little and her eyes fluttered. The paramedic came to his side.
'What.. what's wrong with her?' Skinner said in shock.
'We think that she must have been drugged because she had extremely high blood pressure and her body is worn and tired. Her sugar levels are exceedingly low. We have to take her to the hospital to sort out her foot also. There's severe infection that we need to treat straight away.'
'What? What's wrong with her foot..' But Skinner stopped as he saw Scully's foot, deeply mangled and covered in dried blood. He put a hand to his mouth to stop himself from being sick. 'Oh my god..'
'We have to get her to the hospital now. The shot is deep and the infection is making her very ill.' The paramedic said seriously putting a hand on Skinner's shoulder. Scully's head turned a little and their eyes met. She lifted an arm and reached out to him.
'Yes.. yes take her.' He said weakly and wiping a tear away from his eye and burying his face in his hands, he turned away from the sight of her and faced the wall.
Scully lay on her hospital bed silently sleeping under the anaesthetic. Her mother looked at her through the glass window with sad tired eyes. She'd been with her all night and she'd seen her go into the operating theatre, taken her hand tenderly when she had reached out for her, and cried with her.
Mrs Scully lowered her head and closed her eyes, wavering a little on her exhausted feet. She shook her head to try and shake the tiredness off then looked back to her daughter.
'Mrs Scully?' A voice said from behind her. Mrs Scully turned quickly in surprise.
'Hello.' She said quietly. Skinner looked at her sympathetically.
'Is she all right?' He asked.
'She's sleeping, but she should be all right when she comes out of it. They've tried to get most of the drug out of her blood and they've operated on her leg. Thank god she didn't have to lose it.' Mrs Scully said with a weak smile. Skinner nodded and smiled a little.
'That's good news.' He said trying to be as happy as he could, but he faltered and looked away for a moment.
'Sir, I know how you must be feeling, but I am sure that you will find Mulder. May be Dana can remember where they took him.'
'Well let's hope that she remembers.' Skinner said quietly. Mrs Scully nodded.
'I'm worried about him too. I just hope that Dana is going to be all right when she wakes up. She has a tendency to get a little angry and upset about Fox.' She said. Skinner sighed and nodded.
They both stared through the glass and Scully and after a while, slowly, she started to open her eyes.
'Dana!' Her mother cried and ran into the room. Skinner stayed put but stared with happiness and concern.
Scully's eyes flickered open and she slowly moved her head from side to side. Her mother came to her side and took her hand. Scully felt so dizzy, and the lights were hurting her eyes. She moved her eyes over to where her mother was and felt huge tears of relief flow out of them at the sight of her. She felt her mother tighten her grip on her hand. Scully shook with tears and her head swayed heavily with her sight as if all the blood had been drained from it. She heard her mother whisper to her and her heart thumped loudly in her chest. Scully stared up at her with sad, tired eyes. She opened her mouth to speak.
'Mom?.. Mom?' She managed weakly. Scully saw her mother start to cry. 'Mom.. no.. it's ok.' She said weakly. Her mother nodded and stroked Scully's forehead softly.
'I love you so much Dana.' She said sadly. Scully frowned a little with frustration. She tried to lift herself up. 'No Dana not yet. Come on, not yet.' Her mother said trying to keep her down. Scully sighed.
'What.. what happened to my leg..' Scully said suddenly as a huge pang of pain ran down her leg.
'They operated sweety, it's all right its going to be fine.'
'I didn't lose it?'
'No you didn't.' Her mother said with happy tears. Scully took a sigh of relief and nodded slowly. She felt so weak and tired, but she felt the need to do something.
'Mom, please can I have a drink of water?' She said with a raspy tone. Mrs Scully nodded and helped her drink from the glass.
'Thanks.' Scully said weakly and took a long deep breath. She closed her eyes and drifted back into a daze, and suddenly she saw Mulder on the floor of the room, and the men shoving drugs into her, and her body was aching and she was screaming..
'OH GOD!' Scully shouted and jolted up in her bed. Tears streamed down her face.
'Dana! Dana what's wrong!' Her mother said sounding terrified. She moved from a chair by the wall over to Scully's bed. Scully was shaking and she looked at her mother with confusion.
'You.. you were by my bed a minute ago..' She said shakily. Her mother took her hand.
'You fell asleep again Dana, you've been asleep for about four days.' She said. Scully stared at her for a moment with surprise and saw the dark night outside the window.
'Four..' Scully said in a surprised whisper. Rain fell onto the window heavily.
Her mother stroked her hair and frowned with concern. She picked up a tissue and wiped away Scully's tears. 'What's wrong?'
'I.. I had a dream..' Scully said, tears catching in her throat. She slowly made herself sit up a little in bed with help from her mother. 'I.. I saw Mulder..' She said weakly. 'Mom, where's Mulder.' She said urgently. Mrs Scully shook her head sadly and tried to look as hopeful as she could. Scully frowned with anger and looked around the room madly. 'Where's Mulder!' She said loudly.
'Honey, he's not here. They can't find him.' Mrs Scully said softly trying to calm her daughter down. Scully shook her head.
'He's still with them. Mom.. I know where he is!' She said loudly.
'You do? Dana that's great.. but don't try and force your memories sweety..' She said but was cut off with surprise as Skinner entered the room. Scully stared at him and he met her gaze. They stared for a moment in silence then he came towards Scully.
'Sir.' Scully said quietly acknowledging him. Skinner nodded.
'Hello Scully.' He said quietly and gave her a small smile. 'How are you feeling?'
'I'm all right, just a little tired.'
'Good, that's good news.' He said quietly. 'You know what I'm here for Scully.'
'Yes Sir. I know where he is.' She said forcefully. Skinner looked at her with surprise.
'Where?' Skinner said hopefully. Scully sighed and frowned with thought.
'He's in a sort of warehouse, near Edge Street.. I remember coming out of the place when they dumped me on the steps of the headquarters.' She said, trying hard to remember. Her mother looked at her with concern.
'That's great, that's all we need to know. We'll find him.' Skinner said. He took hold of Scully's hand. 'Thank you Scully. I'm really glad you're ok, I need to find Mulder now.'
'Wait! Wait I want to come with you! I know the way.' She said loudly.
'That's completely out of the question.' Her mother said. Scully looked at her.
'Mom, my leg is ok. I know that it's ok, I can walk. I'm sure of it.' Scully said quickly and tried to get out of bed. Skinner looked at her with worry.
'Agent Scully.. I don't think that you should do this..' He said with slight anger. Scully ignored him and put her feet on the ground. She winced a little with pain but slowly and surely she got up and managed to stand on her feet. Skinner tried to help her but she pushed him away and she walked across the room with ease. She looked at both of them.
'Scully, what does you doctor say?' Skinner said with a frown.
'I'm a doctor and I know that I'm ready to go.' She said quietly. Her mother looked at her with worry.
'Dana.. please don't risk it all again..' She said, tears started to run down her face. Scully looked at her with guilt and went over to her mother carefully.
'Mom, please don't cry.. I'll be fine. I have to go and get Mulder.' She said taking her mother into an embrace. 'He would do the same for me.' Scully said softly. Her mother nodded and held her close.
Skinner turned from the room and went down the hall to Scully's doctor. He stood by the reception desk and was ticking something off on a clipboard.
'Sir?' Skinner asked. The doctor turned round and faced him.
'Hello Mr Skinner.' He said with a small smile.
'I have to ask you something. Agent Scully wants to leave now to help with our investigation and I think it is very important to her that you let her go, or we will be forced to do it ourselves.' Skinner said sternly. The doctor stared at him with surprise.
'Well.. she.. she's making good progress and I suppose.. I suppose she will be all right.. I mean if she really has to go.. she will need some medication.. She is a doctor herself yes?'
'Yes Sir.'
'Well, I suppose I am going to have to let her go.' The doctor said. Skinner nodded.
'Thank you very much. You have been so helpful and Mrs Scully, Scully and I are very grateful.' He said kindly. The doctor nodded. 'I'm sorry, but we're the FBI so we do this sort of thing.'
'I'm sure.' The doctor said kindly. 'I hope you find who did this to her.'