Disclaimer: The X Files are not mine
Note: LONG chapter. Give reviews cause I love them but try not to be too nitpicky about details. I am a bit of a perfectionist and I tried to get all the deets perfect but I am sure there are holes. I hope you enjoy this because things are going to get crazy after this and I am going to be veering away from Chris Carter's mythology (lets be honest though, is there really any strait forward mythology anymore) and into my own. If you have any comments, suggestions, notes for me on anything let me know! Hope you enjoy!
His Struggle
The plan was formed quickly after William and Leah were taken to their assigned quarantined zone. William grabbed some paper from the backpack he had with him and scrawled instructions and a small map. They would follow the map but he would need to stay on the phone with the Gunmen for updates so he plugged in his headphones so he would not have to hold his phone.
"Alright kid you got that all down?" One of the mysterious men asked.
"Yeah I am ready whenever you give the signal. Mom?" William turned to his mother to see if she was ready for what was to come. She gave a small smile and a nod and leaned forward to kiss his head.
"I'm ready." She said.
"Alright guys say when." William said into the phone.
The Gunmen were on their end watching video feeds from the security footage (feeds that were very hard to hack into thank you) and had their eyes on William and his mom. They were waiting for a moment with the person guarding them was not paying attention. As soon as the security officer turned her back William was given the signal.
"Go." The voice told him.
He grabbed his mom's hand and they moved quickly around the guards who were still distracted. According to their guides the quarantine areas were spread out which would leave them room to take back ways through the large airport. They moved quickly as if they belonged. It was eerie walking through the airport, which was now empty in most areas. The shops were all still open but without staff and the quiet made it so William could hear his own heartbeat loud in his ears.
'I am the son of brave people who are fighting to save us. I can do this. I can do this. I need to protect my mom. I can do this.' William repeated these words to himself to stay brave but it was only working slightly.
They knew based on the map and their own ears that they were headed near another quarantined area. The sound of people talking quietly found them as they neared another gate staying close to the walls.
This group was different than the one they had just left. The sounds of coughing and moaning could be heard and William's hair stood on end. He looked down at his hand that was still holding his mother's and he wondered again if he had made the right choice. The sound of the voice in his ear brought him out of it and reminded him they were to far in at this point for second-guessing.
"Looks like the people here are pretty sick already. This will make it easier to make your way around them without being found you'll need to pretend to be part of the group to get around so you need to tell your mom to cover her mouth and nose as best as she can and to not touch anything." He could tell that the person on the other end was not convinced that would actually do anything to prevent sickness but that it was mainly to comfort them into thinking they had control.
"Ok William, right past these next few gates there will be a door marked 'personnel only' there will be a key card lock but since you got the best hackers etc. on your side it will open for you when you give the word. I'll let you know when it is safe to run for it.
The signal was given and they quickly made their way in and tried to blend into the group. It was not hard to do as many were sick and the rest were distracted. William tried to keep his eyes strait ahead and avoid looking at the sickness around him. His mom on the other hand was having a harder time disassociating. She looked with pity around her as she covered her mouth and nose with the top of her shirt. William could feel her slowing and he gave her hand a small squeeze and tug to let her know they needed to keep going.
They passed the group with ease and as soon as they were out of dodge he saw the door they needed to enter.
"We are at the door." He said into the microphone on his headphone cord. Without a word from the other end the card slot's light turned green and the door unlocked. William opened the door quickly and went in as his mother followed.
"Good work kid. Now you need to follow the signs that lead you to the stairwell which you will walk down to get to the ground floor."
"Is there anyone back here?"
"Not as far as we have seen but to be safe try to keep quiet."
They made their way through a maze of offices and different rooms to the stairwell.
"We are at the stairs." William said.
"Alright head down and when you get to the ground level turn right. After that go into a room marked 'conference room B' the window in there is unlocked. Open it and you guys climb out. There should be a taxi waiting around there for you guys but the driver might be sick. Have you ever driven?"
"A couple times just around the farm and on some dirt roads. Not in a city."
"Well depending on how your mom is feeling you might have to learn quick."
William and Leah made their way quickly down the stairs and William explained what was going on to her. The thought of her son driving in a city filled with people who were falling ill scared her and she said a silent prayer for God to keep her healthy at least until they reached the hospital.
They found the room with ease and the window seemed big enough for both of them to slide out comfortably. William went first and then helped his mother through.
"We are outside." He informed his guardian angels.
"Look around for the Taxi."
William told his mother to look as well and they scanned the area which was filled with cars. Finally a yellow taxi cap pulled up right in front of them.
"You William and Leah?" The driver said followed by a cough.
"Yeah. Are you feeling well enough to drive us to Our Lady of Sorrows?" William asked concerned with the man's condition.
"Yeah I can make it. I should probably be there anyways right? Considering how bad this thing is getting. Get in." He motioned to the back seat.
William had never been in a cab and under normal circumstances this chance would have excited him but now he felt a sense of despair as they drove through the mess of parked cars and sick people. There were times when the cabby did things that were obviously illegal in order to get through a crowded area. William wondered how much the Gunmen had told him.
He glanced at his mother who had her head against the window and her eyes shut. He could see a thin layer of sweat forming on her face and her face had grown slightly pale. He fought back the feeling of panic and instead just looked ahead imagining what could happen when they arrived.
The scene at the hospital was one filled with chaos. On the ride his cell finally lost signal due to heavy phone traffic in the area. He knew this might happen but he figured it was ok now because they were almost where they needed to be.
People were everywhere and all of them seemed to be in need of medical attention. When they entered they noticed that even the staff was getting sick and worn down. There were some in the lobby waiting who were not moving and William tried not to think about the possibility that they were not just sleeping.
They finally found a nurse who was helping a very sick child.
"Excuse me, I need to find Dr. Scully it is an emergency." Even as the words came out of his mouth William realized how stupid that sounded in the face of all of this.
The nurse did not take her face away from the child but replied, "Oh well if it is an emergency… Can you not see that every person in here is having an emergency?!"
"I am her son. I need to see her." This caused the nurse to pause and look at him for a moment. It seemed she couldn't decide if he was telling the truth but in the end exhaustion won out.
"Down the hall that way in the lab." She pointed to a hall to her left.
Will slipped his arm under his ever-worsening mother and they weakly made their way to the lab.
When they entered the lab Dr. Scully was nowhere in sight. Instead another redhead was standing at a counter with an IV in her arm working on something that looked important. There were other doctors that were sitting on tables across from her that had IVs in them as well. William stopped and looked around.
The woman looked at him, "You're not supposed to be in here. You need to go outside and wait with everyone else. Everything will be alright soon." She began to move them out the door.
"Wait! I am looking for Dr. Scully. It is a long story but all you need to know is that I am her son. I need to find her." He pleaded with the agent trying to convey the desperation of the circumstance.
She looked at him seriously, "Her son? She did not say she had a son."
"I was given up for adoption. The important thing is that we share DNA and I can help."
"Ok well I don't have many options I guess." She looked up at Leah, "Is this your mom?"
Will looked up at his mom who looked like she would fall over at any minute he nodded and the woman helped him to take hold of her and bring her to lay down on a metal table dragging her IV with her the whole time.
"Agent Scully left to go and find her partner I have an idea where she went. I tried to contact my partner, who is with hers, but my cell would not work."
"How do you know then?"
"She mentioned it vaguely before she left but that is really all I have for you."
"I don't even know if I could get there anyways. My mom is too sick to drive."
The agent looked around and saw that one of the doctors appeared to be doing better. She went to him and spoke softly for a moment before turning to call William over.
"This is Dr. Sharp he will try to get you where you are going."
The man just nodded at William. The red haired agent grabbed some paper and scribbled out what he assumed were directions and handed Dr. Sharp the paper.
"Take him there. If you find Dr. Scully tell her the treatment is working but we need more DNA."
The man just nodded still seeming slightly out of it. Despite his state of health the doctor gently took William by the arm and led him out of the room. On his way out he cried to the Agent desperately, "Take care of my mom please! I need her."
The agent just nodded in response and went to care for the now unconscious Leah Van De Kamp.
Dr. Sharp thought seemingly quiet and reserved drove like a mad man in traffic. He drove fast down alleyways and sidewalks honking his horn almost constantly. People jumped out of his way but he appeared not to notice.
William studied the man curiously, "Why are you helping me?" He asked genuinely.
Without looking away from the road the doctor answered, "Because there is a lot at stake here and I trust Dr. Scully. Her treatment seems to be working but we need more. You may be the key to that."
"Aren't you needed at the hospital?"
"I will not be of much use until we have more of the cure." He finally stopped the car after going as far as he could.
William looked down a long bridge filled with cars and panicking people. He would never find her here.
But then he felt it, a pull on him. It was as if an invisible force had grabbed his hand and was leading him to where he needed to go. Dr. Sharp followed behind as William ran with this invisible guide.
He ran for a long time dodging people as he went until he saw her. She was bent down next to a car and appeared to be talking to someone. There was a man next to her who looked sick and anxious. She stood up and pulled the young man aside and talked to him. She seemed very disturbed by something and William felt the silent tug once again. He started to get nearer to her when a loud noise came from overhead and a bright light shined down from the sky right on to his mother.
Will looked up into the sky to see a giant triangle shaped spacecraft hovering over the bridge. He found that he was not afraid. He was not sure why but a sense of calm came over him and he stopped to see what would happen. Everyone on the bridge seemed to be holding their breath and then everything went still.