"Mulder, we can't put these boys in anymore danger. This is crazy, they're kids."

Nick interrupts before Mulder can answer. "It's too late Dr. Scully, we're already involved. You need our help." He says earnestly.

"Yeah Doc, you know he's right. You two can be the brains and we can be the muscle. Come on now, you know it's true." Jamal's tone is cocky.

Mulder looks at Scully and at the two recruits. "Listen up, you have to agree to do what we say. No improvising, that stunt with the goon in the woods, you could have ended up dead." Mulder stifles his smile.

"We promise, right Jamal?"

"Oh yeah, mos def."

Scully sighs. "This isn't a game, you three Musketeers better be on your game. Our friends, your friends are in there. Don't screw up. I'll shoot you myself if you step out of line."

Mulder looks at the boys with an expression that says, "She's not kidding."

The three men turn back to Scully and nod their heads in agreement.

As they start toward the loading dock door, Mulder hears Jamal ask Nick "What's a mouseketeer?"

"This would never have gone down on my watch. We had a right to know what you're little game was. God Damn it Alvin, you used us." Skinner rants from the front passenger seat of the car. He, Monica, Gibson and his former superior are driving en route to the warehouse.

"You have every right to be angry," Kersh says with an apologetic voice. "I had no choice, I took my orders from the Director and National Security Advisor. If you think I enjoy lying, you're wrong." The aging Deputy Director, with his white hair and mottled complexion looks tired.

"There are other forces at work here. As is often the cases, it's not what it seems. I only found out about this myself." Gibson adds.

Monica can't betray her bitterness "Orchestrating this ruse to bring one very old, sick and mentally ill traitor to justice better be worth it, and it won't, if anyone gets hurt."

"We've been after him for years, his network hid him well, and the clone's betrayal was the first really good lead we've had. Look, the President isn't vindictive, but when the opportunity to infiltrate his organization arose, they were all over it." Kersh admits. "Shooting at your car, the missile launched at your cottage, it had to be convincing."

"What about Paulson? You really didn't anticipate her turning, did you?" Gibson asks.

"No we didn't and if Agent Nelson hadn't come forward, we may not have known." Kersh says.

"If anyone so much as gets a scrape, you won't hear the end of this." Skinner threatens. "Monica, step on it."

"What about Mulder and Scully?" Monica asks. "Do they know what's going on?"

"Their cell phone and computer panels have been jammed. We believe the clone may have done this to keep them at a distance."

Gibson looks at Kersh and raises his eyebrows. "Deputy Director, it's pretty obvious the clone doesn't know Mulder and Scully very well."

The Man in Black entered the warehouse quietly behind Paulson. He had purposely lagged behind, he doesn't have much of a stomach for killing, and although he has no qualms about her eliminating the others, he'd rather not be there to witness it. The stacks of crates, boxes and heavy equipment piled throughout the warehouse offer too many places to hide and knowing he's dealing with a government traitor adds to his uneasiness. He contemplates leaving when he hears a distinct thump.

He looks around, and chastises himself for being so jumpy. He slowly steps out behind a pallet holding a tall wooden crate and his eyes are inexplicably drawn over his shoulder and upward. Standing on the crate above him is Jamal, and with a wicked snicker, the young man drops down on the man's back and flattens him with his weight. They struggle, but the youth uses both arms to pin him down and he knocks his gun away. "Man, just give me an excuse to break your arm" Jamal whispers in his ear as he twists it behind him.

Nick steps around the other side of the crate and picks up the wayward weapon. He crouches down with the barrel of the gun pointed at the man's head and says in a hushed tone "Jamal, hey, it's my turn! You got to tie up the last one."

When Doggett's pupils finally opened up enough for him to see his surroundings, the first thing he saw was Miya backing up towards the door they had just come through.

"God Damn it! Miya, what the hell are you doing? Come back!" Doggett's words fell on deaf ears as the door closes behind her.

"John! Over here."

Doggett hesitates, but turns his attention toward the voice, only to find Marita, Will and Petie. He pauses for just a moment and says, "Stay low and stay together. I'm going back for Miya."

The three of them watch as he retreats behind the double doors. Doggett rushes down the hallway and toward the stairwell. He doesn't know why she has gone back, but he fears for her safety as he takes the stairs two at a time.

He follows the path they took, but instead of returning to the same hallway where they were kept prisoner, he turns down another corridor, praying his instincts are right. As he rushes by a door, he stops abruptly and takes a step back. Doggett stands in the doorway and watches Miya as she sits on the floor with Alexi's head cradled in her lap.

Up until a moment ago Alexi's hand gripped hers, now it lays slack in her palm. He doesn't know why, but he understands there is a connection between the woman and Alex Krycek's clone. In time he will learn what it is, but at the moment he only sees Miya's painful expression as she looks at him sadly.

Miya sits on the cold concrete floor and feels the weight of sorrow on her. She thinks about her own life as an alien human hybrid and wishes she could have helped Alexi more. His parting words echo in her ears and will haunt her forever.

"I didn't know, but now I understand. You were right about this human side, this all makes sense now. "

SAC Aimee Paulson walks softly across the floor of the warehouse holding her gun steadily in both hands in front of her. The weight of her weapon, her cold clammy hands, the fluorescent lights humming just a frequency below annoying and her crepe soled shoes squishing under her all add to her discomfort. She steps carefully between the crates, her eyes darting around. As she ventures further into the warehouse, she realizes the man in black she appointed to back her up is nowhere to be seen. She curses to herself knowing that she's got no one but herself to count on.

She has memorized the warehouse floor plan from the data on her flash drive and heads toward the back wall, but freezes when she hears the tussle behind her. Knowing she can't retrace her steps she continues on. A cold bead of sweat drips down the side of her face as she steps out between two towers of cardboard boxes and comes face to face with Will, Petie and Marita.

Will steps in front of the two women shielding them as they cower behind him.

"Who are you? Can you help us get out of here?" He says, his voice quivering with fear. His eyes widen when he sees Paulson raise her gun and point it directly at him.

"No! He's just a boy!" Marita cries out. Her voice carries throughout the building.

Paulson looks startled and falters for just a moment, when suddenly a shot rings out and reverberates throughout the building. It throws the FBI agent back and she lies sprawled on the concrete floor, holding her shoulder and moaning in pain. Scully walks over to her and kicks her gun aside.

Will continues to stand like a frozen ice sculpture in front of Petie and Marita as the two women emerge from behind him. As Scully stares at him dumbfounded, the cloud of doubt in her mind dissipates and her thoughts become clear.

"Dana, thank God!" Marita says exhaling.

"Is everyone all right?" Scully says trying to keep her voice under control.

"Sculleeeey!" Mulder yells "Scully are you all right?" He comes around the edge of the crates and stops suddenly as Jamal and Nick rush up behind him.

Both Mulder and Scully can't take their eyes off of Will and he stares back them uneasily.

An astonishing scene on the storage facility's loading dock greets Skinner, Monica, Gibson and Kersh. Lined up like three toy soldiers are the Men in Black, bound, gagged and tethered with their own clothing. At first glance they appear to be propped up against the loading dock, but in reality the back of their coats are nailed to the wall with spikes.

SAC Aimee Paulson, her shoulder bandaged with the sleeve of her blouse and her arm in a sling, she has her good hand zip tied to the crate she sits on. Her look of pain comes more from defeat than the gunshot wound.

Nick and Jamal are sitting with Petie and Will on the edge of the platform, their legs dangling over the side, looking surprisingly cheerful as Mulder, Scully and Marita stand behind them grinning through their shell shocked expressions.

As they come forward, multiple conversations begin and voices can be heard on top of each other.

"Dr Scully, is everyone all right?" Kersh asks.

Scully raises her eyebrows at him. "We are, thank you. It appears you've made a miraculous recovery yourself."

Kersh brushes off the comment and turns to Mulder. "Jesus Christ All Mighty, I should have known I'd find you here."

Mulder answers with a smug expression. "It's your lucky day."

Marita climbs down the stairs and goes to her husband. "Walter, I'm fine… really." She says taking his hand. "I want you to meet these remarkable children, um, young people. Jamal, Nick and Will." She nods to the boys and they nod back at Skinner.

"And this is Petie Reynolds." The two women look at each other and exchange a smile that only close friends could understand.

Skinner's shoulders relax with relief. As he pulls Marita into his arms, he mumbles "When this is over, we're going to Bermuda for a month."

Special Agent Nelson pulls up to the scene in his car with another agent. They survey the group and exchange looks that can only reflect disbelief. Nelson gets on his cell phone "You'll have to see it with your own eyes." He says.

"Dana, Mulder, where's John and Miya?" Monica can't hide the concern in her voice as she helps Gibson out of the car.

"They're inside and they're okay. Will you help me with my chair?" Gibson says.

Nick hops down from the loading dock and helps Monica extract the wheel chair from the trunk of the car and Gibson maneuvers his way into it.

"Gibson, Miya's been through a lot." Scully says.

He acknowledges her with a look.

"This way. We'll need to take the elevator down to the next level." Gibson says looking at the others. "We'll be fine. There is no danger."

She wheels him up the ramp, into the warehouse and toward a bank of elevators, where they descend one floor, and she pushes him out of the elevator and down the hall, they can hear Miya talking to Doggett.

"My DNA came from a Japanese Doctor named Zama. He had worked on Cassandra Spender, one of the first alien human hybrid clones. Dr. Zama had been involved with a splinter project before his death, one that was personal for him, the cloning of his deceased daughter. I was the only one to have survived and he named me Miya. I was sent back to Japan when I was five and Dr. Zama was eventually killed in an exploding railcar in West Virginia."

"Like Alex Krycek's clone, I too was raised in isolation. I lived at a private facility on the island of Kyushu. Unlike Alexi, those entrusted to protect me, did so with kindness and care. Because of them, I survived the Alien Colonization, and their sacrifice taught me a lot about humanity. Through a twist of circumstances I found my way back to the U.S. but instead of turning myself over to the survivors of the project that created me, I took on an identity of my own making. I eventually enrolled at American University where I became a research intern. My existence took an extreme turn when I met and eventually married Gibson Praise."

Doggett looks up to see Monica with tears in her eyes and Gibson wheeling himself toward his wife.

"Gib, that could have been me." Miya says looking toward Alexi's still body. "I tried to help him." She says sadly.

"You did, Miya, you did help him."

As the fall out of the past twenty-four hours begins to make more sense, the current and former FBI agents finally have time to collect their thoughts.

John Doggett, dressed in blue jeans and a t-shirt is settled on Monica Reyes' sofa. His feet up on her coffee table and his head back against a cushion.

"I gotta tell you, it must be interesting to try and surprise each other if you're Gibson and Miya."

Monica laughs. "I guess! You think they'll ever come out, about Miya's origins?"

"Yeah I do, but for right now, I guess it's the don't ask don't tell strategy."

Monica hands him a shot glass and a beer. "Bottoms up, this'll make you feel… maybe not better, but I guarantee it will help you feel less."

He throws the shot back and chases it with a gulp of beer.

"Jesus, Monica. This could have had a really bad ending. It's not right, using us, putting those kids in danger. I don't know. You think we stepped over the line here?"

"No, I don't." She looks at her former partner and long time friend. "This was about reuniting a family. How could that be wrong? If we had known that Alex Krycek's clone had contacted Kersh and he had told us the ultimate goal was to infiltrate the former Vice President's organization, then maybe we would have proceeded differently, but we did what we set out to."

"I wish I could be as sure as you are."

"John, look at me." The intensity in her eyes is as penetrating as ever. "Your life changed forever when Luke was murdered. I know you'll never be at peace with it, but you have to believe this, you saved Mulder and Scully from never knowing their son and you helped rescue Will, not so much from Alex Krycek's clone, but from being alone. They may never be the kind of family we both wished we had, but they are a family."

Doggett's face, lined with years of hard work, disappointment and strife breaks into a smile. As they have done in the past and will do in the future, they reach out to hold each other, feeling comfort and understanding in each others touch.

"So Mulder, Doc, I gotta say this has been the most ass kicking experience. I'm going to finish school and apply to the FBI Academy." Jamal's face is filled with excitement. "It's so fucking great to feel like I know what I want." He steps over and opens his arms toward Scully, looking for permission to get a hug.

Scully accepts the gesture and laughs when Jamal lifts her off her feet.

"What about you?" Mulder asks Nick. "This experience change you up some too?"

Nick grins back at him. "How could it not? I was ready to head to Southern California, had an apprenticeship as a journeyman electrician lined up and planned on spending my spare time learning to surf, but those decisions were made by someone else."

"So, what do you think you'll do?" Mulder looks at the young man envying his youth.

"I'm going to study some of these new security based computer programs, maybe find my way into the Justice Department or NSA."

"You'll be an asset to your country." Skinner chimes in as he and Marita walk toward them.

"We're leaving this afternoon." Marita says. "But I'll be back for Petie. She's going to intern with my consulting firm this summer."

"She and Will are talking a few things over. He's in the courtyard, if you want to speak to him." Skinner says gently looking at Mulder and Scully.

Mulder and Scully walk toward the dorm and see Petie giving Will a hug. She waves at them as she walks away. Will turns toward them, feeling shy and slightly awkward.

Scully looks at her son, and sees a handsome young man with a brave spirit and loving heart. Her own heart swells with emotion as Mulder extends his hand to shake Will's.

"We brought you a little something." Mulder says handing him a dark blue box tied up with a red ribbon.

Will looks embarrassed but takes the gift. "Go on, open it." Scully says trying hard to keep her feelings in check.

Will pulls the red tie and lifts the lid off the box. His eyes light up with joy as he lifts out a vintage New York Yankees ball cap that's in mint condition.

"Wow! How'd you know I lost my hat?" Will says.

"We didn't." Scully says smiling. "It's Mulder's, but we thought it would suite you better."

Will adjusts the brim of the cap and places it on his head. "So John told me you knew me when I was a baby. That's so weird, meeting up like this, don't you think?"

"Yes, I suppose it is. You got time to hear the whole story?" Mulder asks nervously.

Will looks at the couple and sees something in them that has been missing from his life for many years. It's an uncanny pull, and one that tugs at his heart. It speaks of friendship, love and family.

"Yeah, I do." He says, his eyes welling up with tears. "I'd like to hear it."

Epilogue

The President of the United States has had his morning coffee, oatmeal with raisins, brown sugar and whole milk. A small bowl of mixed fruit sits on the table and he pokes at the grapes as they roll around in the bowl.

"The truth is, he's been a bigger thorn in my side than Bin Laden ever was. How are your agents doing?" The President asks his Director of the FBI.

"Their fine, Sir. Thankfully, there were no casualties with the exception of the Clone. However, his death was expected as his DNA structure was deteriorating. Much like organ transplant failure."

The President looks thoughtful. "It's a God Damn shame, if he hadn't contacted Deputy Director Kersh, who knows how long that son of bitch would have kept going."

The FBI Director nods in agreement. "Technology is a wonderful thing, however in this case it was working for the wrong side. I understand the former Vice President would not have survived without these new experimental procedures. A man with his health concerns, it's truly amazing how long he went under our radar." He clears his throat. "Well, I guess you could say alls well that ends well."

"And the others? How are they?" The President asks, he takes a bite of melon and chews it vigorously.

"Very good. It was never my intention to put the group in any jeopardy or mislead them, however, they seem to be magnets for difficult situations."

The President suppresses a chuckle. He presses his intercom button. The voice on the other end answers crisply. "Yes, Mr. President."

"I'd like to have a small private event, informal, a barbeque, beer, and let's use the bowling alley. Invitations to Fox Mulder, Dr. Dana Scully, Walter Skinner and his wife Marita Covarrubius, John Doggett, Monica Reyes, Gibson & Miya Praise. Oh and you can ask Deputy Director Kersh and what was his name?" The President looks at the FBI Director quizzically.

"Nelson, Special Agent Allen Nelson."

"Yes, and ask them invite a date or a friend. You can get their contact info from the Director."

"Yes Sir." The intercom replies. "Anything else?"

"Why don't we invite those teenagers. They're an especially bright group of kids." The President looks at his FBI Director. "Our future, you know."

He takes a minute, as if going through an inventory in his head.

"Make sure the First Lady knows, she doesn't like to be blindsided. Let her know I've had a hankering for ribs, corn on the cob, that fruit salad with the coconut in it. Domestic beer and Newman's Lemonade."

"Thank you Mr. President, what about dessert?" The voice asks.

"Oh, yes, good idea. I'd like a cake, a sheet cake, make sure it's chocolate with raspberry filling and white butter cream frosting." He breaks out into a smile. "Let's make sure it's decorated, put a big X on it with a circle around it. I think that will do it." The President sits back in his chair and he and the FBI Director share a satisfied smile.

For all of you who have stuck with this story and offered words of encouragement - Thank you!