The pounding in his head was overwhelming as he began to regain consciousness. He was disorientated beyond belief and there were people stepping over him, moving lab equipment around the room and barricading the doors.

"Urghh" He groaned, bringing his hands to his face.

"Mulder" Was the all too familiar response as she came to his aid, "…You okay?"

"What the hell happened?" He peeled his fingers away from his face and looked up at the beautiful woman before him.

She was crouched over him, feeling for his pulse and tucking the unruly strand of hair out of his eyes in that way she did. It must have been a recognised medical technique because it made him feel significantly better every damn time.

Behind her, Skinner realised his awakened state and marched over to one of the shelves without a word. Scully ignored him, carefully helping her partner to sit up.

"Easy" She warned, but Mulder's focus was on Skinner, "…I think you nipped a stitch on the way down. There's blood all over your shirt"

"Or could have been all the running around alien-busting" Mulder remarked, "Is the vaccine safe?"

"Don't answer him" The tall bald man handed a syringe to Scully.

"What is this?" She asked, without taking the injection.

"Benzodiazepine" Skinner replied, placing the drug in her hand, "You're going to sedate him."

"What? No. He's just had a massive concussion. Besides, he's fine now, whatever happened it's stopped"

"What's to say it won't happen again?" Skinner argued.

The memory suddenly flashed back to him in a wave of realisation. He remembered the gun, and Skinner's deadpan expression as he held the barrel to his head.

"You asshole, you were going to shoot me!" Mulder made to get up and winced as his side and head protested simultaneously.

"You asked me to kill you, Mulder. Remember. I did the next best thing"

"I asked you to kill me?!" Mulder was totally lost; there was a bizarre gap in his memory.

"You don't recall begging me to put you out of your misery?"

Mulder shook his head, feeling growing concern on his part.

Scully's expression was even harder to read. She scrunched her face, and Mulder sensed the doctor within her running though all the possible explanations.

"You were…" She paused, searching for the right word, "…Invaded by something, the greys. They were using you as some kind of outlet"

"We're wasting time, Scully. They could realise he's awake and use him again any second. Put him out, or I will." Skinner warned.

There was a pause as Scully considered the tranquilisers in her grasp. Against her better judgement she couldn't bring herself to load it. Skinner looked ready to take it and do it himself.

"Scully" Mulder touched her hand softly, "Do it."

He didn't fully understand what had gone on, but clearly his lack of recollection was a bad sign. He hated the thought of being out cold whilst the others were left fighting and protecting alone. What if the creatures broke through, what if a bullet fired from his weapon could have been the dice roll of the vaccine making it to the mainland or not? Ultimately, the decision was out of his hands. He was in no fit state to fight back against Skinner.

He sighed, rolling up his sleeve in defeat.

Skinner seemed to appreciate the co-operation from his former agent and dropped his attention to finish help secure the lab.

"That's everything, Sir" One of the woman announced, and they all stood back to admire their handiwork.

This was what would keep them alive. This was what was left to protect mankind's last hope.

He watched her as she tapped a vein and sunk the needle in with the precision of twenty-five years in medicine. He surveyed the clear liquid plunge into his arm. It felt cold entering his bloodstream and he let his head roll back awaiting the familiar sensation of ecstasy before his consciousness would let slip once more.

"Help me move him over here" Scully gestured, and Skinner grabbed under his other arm, lifting him to his feet.

"Clear that gurney" She ordered, and someone produced a bed of which he was promptly laid onto, "…Sleep it off, Mulder. Don't worry, it's safe. Those bastards aren't getting their filthy hands on it…"

Her voice grew ever distant until it faded completely along with all other senses. Numbed to existence, he drifted off, withdrawing back into his mind where it was safe and secure, for now, at least.

...

"I guess maybe we should have a rota for who keeps watch whist the others sleep?" Morgan suggested.

"Sounds a good idea. I'll go first" Skinner agreed.

They'd been hiding away for hours and all seemed eerily quiet outside. It was as if the creatures had totally withdrawn as soon as the lab hatch was locked.

"Anything?" One of the men radioed to the line outside.

"Nothing, all quiet out here, it's as if they just disappeared leaving their dead behind" The radio crackled in response.

Skinner rubbed his beard in frustration, wondering what the hell they were playing at. It made no sense.

"Alright, everyone, get some rest"

There was a chorus of shuffling as the individuals within the small lab laid down their weapons and found a comfortable spot to curl up for some brief shuteye.

The last few lights were turned out until all that remained was the iPad monitor showing the only standing security camera link, and the single humming bulb of which Scully used to suture up her partner's wounds.

Skinner moved over to the red headed agent. She scratched her brow with her elbow, careful not to contaminate anything. She looked exhausted.

"Hey" Skinner began, moving to stand over the gurney, "You need some sleep too, you know. Probably more than any of us"

Scully smiled and she snipped the end of thread on her partner's abdomen, admiring her handy work.

"You spend most of your time fixing him. Nothings changed there"

"I'm a doctor, it's what I do. How's the shoulder?" She asked, motioning to his healing bullet wound.

"Fine"

Scully rubbed some iodine into the stitches before rolling down Mulder's shirt and turning her attention to Skinner.

"I know you'd rather him awake, but you did the right thing."

"I hesitated for selfish reasons." She finally confessed.

"What do you mean?"

"I thought if he could communicate with them, he could find William. I just needed to know he was safe"

"You mean, you think the greys have him?"

"Of course. He was looking for his brother. He wanted to be caught"

"You think?"

"It's what Mulder would have done, and he's so much like his damn father" She gestured to the man before them, unsure if she was annoyed at his recklessness, or admiring his unique thought outlook.

"I've know William since he was little. He's a lot more like you then you realise. He's got a level head on him, that boy. I'm not saying don't worry, I'm just saying trust him. Have faith in his judgement"

The radio crackled in Skinner's hand, "Sir, we've got movement out here. A whole lot of movement".

The voice was panicked. Sounds of gunfire transmitted through the radio, echoed in the walls outside as everyone in the room jumped immediately to attention clutching their weapons.

Scully snapped off her latex gloves and grabbed for her shotgun, clenching the weapon tight in her hands.

The radio went dead and the gunfire ceased. Everyone stood in an eery silence as Skinner approached the steel doors, placing his palm flat on it's surface. They were certain that everyone outside was now dead.

"This is it" He whispered to himself.

A rumbling grew deep from the foundations as the full force of seismic proportion flung itself against the barricades causing the room to shake.

Skinner retreated slowly until all five of them were stood side by side, weapons in hand and pointed towards the doors, ready and waiting for what was to surely come.

END

Thank you for persevering with me for the second half of this story, it's been fantastic reading all your reviews and words of encouragement. It's truly kept me going when I've been stuck for direction. I'll be working on Part 3 very shortly so keep your eyes out. The truth is out there!