Title: Nova
Author: Angel
Email: JumperChick@aol.com
Feedback: Please! I love every but of it!
Archive: Please! If you need txt copies let me know. 
Or link to 
http://www.geocities.com/HotSprings/Bath/7266/nov
apage.html 
Classification: MSR, Colonization fic. (If I say 
anymore I'd give it all away!)
Spoilers: All the way up to 7th season finale but NOT 
including even though nothing much is really 
mentioned. 
Rating: NC-17 (for some parts-very mild consensual 
sex- but to be safe!) Others are probably PG-13 or so 
for naughty words and implied naughty stuff =).
Summery: The inevitable happens. Mulder has 
planned ahead and now does everything in his power 
to keep Scully safe. 
You MUST read all parts to understand! Available at 
Ephemeral and my home page.
Disclaimer: You know the drill. Characters are 
property of Fox, 1013, ect. No money is being made. 
No infringement is intended. A few poems and songs 
are used without permission, names of authors are 
given. Prayers which I did not write, and I don't 
know who wrote are included in some areas. 
Homepage: (to find missing parts and sooner or later 
the completed version, also posted at Ephemeral)
http://www.geocities.com/HotSprings/Bath/7266/ang
elsfanfic.html

A HUGE thanks to Evie my beta reader! Nova would 
never be doing this well, or going as fast, without her 
help! Thank you thank you thank you thank you! 
Umm. one more! Thank you!

 "Baby don't look up, the sky is falling." Tori Amos

Part 1 of 48
Day 1
A late spring morning like any other...

Mulder braced himself against the wall as another 
quake caused the building to quiver; a picture rattled 
off the wall. It's crash went unnoticed as Mulder 
shoved all his spare clips for his gun into his hiking 
bag. Hauling the already heavy pack over his 
shoulder he made his way into the kitchen, stumbling 
as the building shook again. Emergency sirens blared 
through the broken windows as he packed what 
canned and dried food he had, matches, batteries, and 
the few bottles of water from the refrigerator whose 
door was left swung open letting chilled but unlit air 
into the brown hazed room. Mulder made his way to 
the door, full pack over his shoulders. He cursed 
himself and went back into his bedroom and 
rummaged through the closet until he came upon a 
fireproof safe. Quickly entering the combination he 
pulled out the items contained; now useless cash, a 
folded piece of paper and two silver chains. Shoving 
the contents into his front jean pocket he left his 
apartment without a second glance, without shutting 
the door. 

Stepping outside the sirens wailed loudly as Mulder 
made his way to his car. The street was flooded with 
panicked drivers, heading no where and anywhere. 
He guided his car, as best he could, out onto the side 
streets and floored the gas pedal ignoring the earth as 
it shook, ignoring the sky that had turned dull and 
thick, but most of all ignoring his thoughts. 
 
"Scully!" Mulder called as he pounded on the door. 
After no answer he pulled out his keys letting himself 
in. He stepped into the apartment and looked around. 
"Scully?" He made his way to her bedroom stepping 
over broken lamps, nick-knacks, and other debris. 
Walking into her room he saw her, laying on her bed, 
which had collapsed, a small trickle of blood fell 
from her forehead that was resting against the leg of 
her night table. "Scully?" He kneeled beside her and 
touched her cheek. 

She gasped as her eyes flew open.

"It's ok. It's me."

Scully cringed and pressed the heel of her hand to her 
forehead.

"You ok?" Mulder asked as he helped her sit up. 

"Yeah I think so." She looked around in awe. All she 
remembered was waking up to a loud bang then the 
ground seeming to fall from under her. "What 
happened?" 

Mulder was silent for a moment. "The inevitable." 

Scully's jaw went slack as she took in the sirens, the 
shaking ground, the haze in the air, and the 
indescribable expression on Mulder's face. She 
slowly shook her head. "No." It came out more of a 
sob then a word. "No. I'm dreaming. This isn't 
happening." 

Mulder took her face in his hands and met her eyes. 
"It's happening. I need you to listen to me, Scully. 
Ok?" She nodded quickly not knowing what else to 
do. "Ok you need to get dressed, we have to leave 
now. Where's your hiking bag?" Her jaw worked for 
a moment as she tried to speak. "Scully, focus, where 
is it?"

She cleared her throat. "Hall closet." 

He nodded and helped her stand. "You need to get 
dressed." He left without another word. After pulling 
the bag from the closet he tore open her cabinets 
dropping in anything useful. More cans of food, bags 
of rice and pasta, bread mixes, bottled water, any 
food he could find that wouldn't spoil quickly, a 
small pot, some utensils. 

He turned to Scully as she walked out, still in a daze. 
He took her arm and brought her back into the 
bedroom dropping the bag onto the slanted bed and 
picking up her gun to pack. "Clothes, Scully." She 
nodded and walked to her closet handing him pairs of 
jeans, shirts, an extra pair of shoes; dependable multi 
use clothes like the ones they both wore and Mulder 
had packed for himself. 

"I have some blankets." She mumbled pulling a few 
fleece blankets from the shelf in her closet. Just as 
Mulder shoved them into the overflowing bag the 
room shook. They braced themselves in the doorway. 

"The siren stopped." Scully whispered after a 
moment. 

Mulder nodded and pulled her out of the room. 
"Flashlights? Batteries?" He was about to go on but 
Scully held up a hand for him to stop and pulled open 
a drawer. She dropped the items in question along 
with a lighter and a small army knife. She walked 
into the bathroom with some medicine bottles, soap 
and a few other things. She pulled the bag on as they 
walked towards the door. 

Scully turned before she stepped out of the door. 
"Wait, Mulder." She called as he was leaving. She 
ran to her desk and pulled a photo from a drawer and 
placed that in the bag also before they left the 
apartment. 

"Is your gas tank full?" 

"Yeah." They made their way to the car oblivious to 
the screaming people in the streets. 

"Ok let's drain it and we'll take my car." Scully 
nodded and unlocked the trunk for Mulder. He pulled 
out the gas can and sieved the gas into it as Scully 
opened her glove compartment. She pulled out 
another flashlight and her first aid kit. "Scully?" 
Mulder called as he capped the can.

"I'm ready." She called back and pulled the pack 
back on. Mulder lead her around to the back of the 
building to where he had left his car, thankfully no 
one had broken into it. Stowing the gathered items 
into the back seat they climbed in. Mulder made his 
way back out onto the road, which was cluttered with 
cars. 

"We aren't getting anywhere too soon." Scully 
whispered. She reached forward and flipped on the 
radio. Nothing came back but dead air. "Towers must 
be down." She mumbled as she continued to scan 
through the stations. All the way at the end of the dial 
a soft beep, beep-beep, bee-eep, beep came through. 
"Morse code." Scully flipped off the radio and sat 
back in her seat. 

Mulder glanced her way before turning onto a side 
street in an attempt to get away from the traffic. After 
some time they were on the highway. It was littered 
with cars, but they were able to do the speed limit. 

Finally taking a moment to look around they did. The 
sky looked foggy and dirty, like it was covered in 
damp dust. No clouds were visible. In the distance 
there were several red glowing areas from fires and 
explosions. Buildings were crumbling for the 
constant shaking of the ground. The pavement had 
even started to crack in some places. Everything was 
dark, no lights from the windows. The power went 
out hours ago. The sun had vanished behind the thick 
haze. Cars were pulled off the road. Hoards of people 
walked the roads. Once tall old trees lay on their 
sides. There was no wind. The air was heavy and 
still. Waiting.

Scully couldn't look anymore. She turned onto her 
side and curled herself up in the seat facing Mulder. 
She took in his expression. His jaw was clenched, his 
eyes alert, hands strong on the wheel. Determined. 
She closed her eyes and thought. For the first time 
since Mulder woke her she thought. Her mother, she 
was in San Diego visiting Charlie. She would worry. 
Bill. Where was he at sea right now? She couldn't 
think about that anymore. Her heart couldn't take it. 
She looked back at Mulder. "Where are we going?" 
She asked the dead silence of the car.

He glanced over at her and swallowed roughly. 
"Some where safe." He turned away from her. 
Scully didn't ask anymore questions. She didn't want 
to. She wanted to wake up in her bed, this being all a 
bad dream. The worse dream possible.

Mulder unconsciously slowly the car as he starred out 
the top of the windshield. Scully sat straight up and 
looked up as a large ship passed silently and slowly 
over them. Mulder clenched his jaw and pressed 
down hard on the gas petal. 

***
Scully woke as the car slowed to a stop. She sat up 
and looked around them. Mulder had pulled into a 
rest station on the highway. The soda machine had 
already been forced open but there was no one is 
sight. 

"I'm going to put the rest of the gas in the tank. Take 
a minute to walk around but be careful." He warned 
as he tucked his gun into the front of his jeans and 
stepped out of the car. 

Scully nodded even though he couldn't see her and 
stood on stiff legs. The air was cold from the lack of 
direct sun all day. She looked across at the rest 
station and spotted the area map. Pennsylvania, they 
were somewhere is Pennsylvania. Probably not very 
far on less then one tank of gas. Mulder touched her 
shoulder lightly as he walked by her and into the 
men's room, gun drawn. With a sigh Scully pulled 
her own gun out and walked into the bathroom. The 
room was almost pitch black save for the slight 
grayish light from the one window. Glancing around 
and under doors she put her gun away knowing she 
was alone. Emptying her bladder she almost laughed 
bitterly after noticing someone had taken all the toilet 
paper. She walked to the sink and stared at her dim 
reflection in the mirror. She looked tired, alone and 
scared. She was all of those things and more. 
Reaching down she flipped on the faucet already 
knowing nothing would come out. She caught the 
few drops that fell. 

"Scully?" His voice was full of concern.

"I'll be right out, Mulder." She called back. 
Pointlessly turning the faucet off she walked back out 
into the night. Mulder was leaning up against the car 
scanning the surrounding area when she walked out. 
"It's quiet." She stated as she got back into the car. 

Mulder nodded and looked around. "Too quiet." He 
started the car and pulled back onto the road only 
slightly dotted with other cars.

"What do you think They are doing?" 

He glanced at her and let out a breath before facing 
the road again. "Taking who they need and killing 
who they don't." 

Scully didn't ask for details. They both had their own 
ideas about who They would want, and why. And 
whom They didn't want and what they were doing to 
them. Realizing for the first time that she was hungry 
Scully reached for her bag. After passing Mulder a 
bottle of water and getting her own she pulled out a 
jar of peanut butter and bread, squished from being in 
the bag, but bread nonetheless. She made Mulder a 
sandwich and passed it over to him.

"You never told me you were a gourmet cook." 
Mulder commented with mock surprise.
Scully laughed softly appreciating his efforts to 
lighten the situation. When they had finished eating 
Scully looked over at Mulder. He was just as tired as 
she. "You want me to drive for a while?"

"No I'm ok."

"Maybe we should stop for the night and get some 
sleep." She tried again. 

"No I want to get as close as we can as soon as 
possible."

"Where are we going, Mulder?" She asked in a tone 
that meant she wanted the full answer. He shot her a 
quick glance and reached into his pocket. He handed 
her two silver charms each on their own lengthy 
chain. She held the chains up so that the charms 
dangled in the low light of the car. Two identical 
small stars swung in front of her eyes. "I don't 
understand. what are these?" 

"Our passports to the Nova Project. Put one on."

Still not understanding she pulled the long chain over 
her head, the charm hung low under her shirt, the 
cool metal tickling the sensitive skin between her 
breasts. He took the other from her hand and pulled it 
over his head and tucking it under his tee shirt. "Nova 
Project?"

He nodded and passes her the folded paper from his 
pocket. "About four years ago the gunmen found out 
about it, I don't know how. But they brought it to my 
attention. The project has been set up for years, 
preparing for when They came. While there were 
people working to help Them, there were people 
working to help us. I had to buy my way in of course. 
It's set up in Canada; They don't like the cool 
weather apparently. A system of tunnels have been 
built underground. Rooms are built, a water source, 
and a system of gardens and barns for farm animals 
on the surface. The growing season isn't long. but 
it's all planned out. Last I heard over a thousand 
people were expected when this happens, but who 
knows how long it will take for everyone to get 
there."

Scully stared at him in shock. "Mulder. how do you 
know that isn't all a load of crap?"

He looked at her soberly. "I don't. But it's better then 
nothing." 

Scully didn't say anything for a moment. "How do I 
work into this?" She asked softly.

Clearing his throat he looked at her for a long 
moment. "Scully. I wouldn't go with out you, I 
don't want to go without you."

She was silent for sometime. "Why didn't you tell me 
about all this?"

Mulder let out a laugh. "Scully you would have told 
me I was crazy. You probably still think that. But it 
doesn't matter, this is better then sitting in our ruined 
apartments waiting for Them to come and kill us isn't 
it?"

She nodded quickly then leaned back in her seat 
pulling the charm out examining it. "It's actually very 
pretty." 

He smiled over at her. "Well it's a good thing 
because you can't take that off. If anyone sees you 
with it, if they are also a member of Nova they have 
to help you, and vise versa."
She stared at it another moment before placing it 
back under her shirt. 

Day 2
Mulder pressed his lips together with an annoyed 
smile as Scully bit her lip waiting. 

"Come on Bessie, just a little more!" Mulder cheered 
to the car as it slowly rolled down the road. 

"You've named your car Bessie?" Scully asked with 
astonishment.

He nodded. "Yeah about four seconds ago." The car 
finally stopped. Mulder sighed. "Well that was over 
four hundred miles we don't have to walk." He 
looked around the deserted street. "Slide over here 
Scully, I'm going to push us down into the trees 
some. We'll stay here and get some sleep. I think we 
should be ok." He stepped out of the car and into the 
cool hazy air. 

Scully slid over and steered the car until is was 
covered in brush. 

Mulder struggled to get back in, cursing at a branch. 
Once he sat down Scully passed him a blanket as she 
reclined her chair and settled on her side facing him. 
He copied her actions and reached out, tucking a 
strand of hair behind her ear. "You doing ok?"

She let out a humorless laugh. "Oh yeah wonderful." 

He smiled sadly and pulled his hand away. "Get some 
sleep."

She closed her eyes and nodded. "You too."

"Mmm Hmm." He mumbled already half way there.
 

Mulder woke quickly to a tapping sound on his 
window. He opened his eyes quickly and glanced at 
Scully, she was sleeping soundly. He jumped when 
he looked towards his window. "Sir." He said 
surprised to see Skinner standing in the brush beside 
the car. "How did you find us?" Skinner didn't 
answer. Mulder jumped again when a tapping came 
at Scully's window. He turned to see Maggie Scully 
looking down at him. He turned to the front to see the 
Lone Gunmen standing at the hood of the car. 
"Scully." He said softly trying to wake her. Glancing 
in the rearview mirror he saw four of the guys he 
played basketball with on Saturdays. They all began 
tapping on the windows. 

 
Mulder jerked upright. His hard breathing the only 
sound other then the wind pushing the brush 
surrounding the car with soft taps. 

"Shh. Mulder it's ok. Just a dream." Scully soothed 
placing a hand on the back of his neck.

Mulder let out a long breath and leaned forward 
placing his face in his hands. 

"What was it about?" She passed him a bottle of 
water.

After taking a long drink he looked up at her with 
pained eyes. "Everyone we left behind." He leaned 
back against the door and shook his head. "I'm so 
sorry Scully. I didn't even ask if you wanted to 
come with me." 

Scully squeezed his knee lightly. "Mulder of course I 
would have come with you. I had no place else to 
go." She finished in a sad whisper. Mulder placed his 
hand over hers and leaned back with his eyes closed. 

"You want to get moving?"

Opening his eyes he sat up and nodded. "Yeah, we've 
got a hell of a lot of walking to do. Rest of 
Pennsylvania, all of New York and some of Canada." 

They both got out of the car and pulled on their bags. 
"How long do you think it will take?" 

"Maybe two months, depending." He said as they 
walked up to the road. "Come on, it'll be easier on 
the pavement."

Scully was silent lost in her thoughts for some time. 
"Is it safe up here?"

He looked around. "I think so. Let's just keep our 
eyes out. We need to stay with the roads so I can use 
the map."
 

They walked for hours, side by side, in the dark haze, 
in the silence, listening for anything until Mulder 
stopped and steered Scully to the side of the road. 
"Let's take a break, I'm staving."

Scully fell gratefully to the ground. Running three 
miles four times a week for the past two years did not 
have her prepared for this. She stretched her legs out 
into front of her and lay back against her pack. 
Mulder sat beside her and pulled open his pack, 
tossing an orange at her. She peeled away the skin 
and rolled on her side to look at Mulder. He was 
watching down the road suspiciously. Scully 
followed his line of vision and saw a family of four 
walking up the road towards them. Scully looked 
back down at her orange. 

Whenever they would come across other people they 
would never make eye contact. After glancing for a 
Nova pendent they would act like they weren't there. 
Scully bit into a piece of orange and fiddled with her 
necklace. Just a few days ago she would be fingering 
her gold cross, but that now that lay against her 
collarbone all but forgotten. They both finished 
eating before the family walked by. Scully struggled 
to look away from the small boy holding his father's 
hand. She kept her eyes down cast until they were 
just little dots on the horizon. 

Mulder cleared his throat and held a hand for her 
after standing. Giving him a weak smile she let him 
pull her to her feet. "Better get moving."

***
Mulder and Scully sat back staring at the fire of their 
makeshift camp after a dinner of bread and a can of 
green beans. Scully tucked the bread back into her 
bag and looked up at Mulder. "We aren't going to 
have enough food."

"I know." 

Scully watched him for a moment before sighing and 
pulling the pot of warm water out of the fire. "I'm 
going to clean up." He nodded absentmindedly. She 
turned, but stayed close to the fire and started to strip 
off her clothes, only leaving the bare minimum on. 
Dipping a small towel into the warmed water she 
washed away the sweat of walking all day carrying a 
heavy bag with the knowledge of Mulder's eyes on 
her back. She slowly dressed in clean clothes and 
turned back to Mulder who adverted his eyes. 
"There's still half left." She held back a smile as she 
passed him the pot and towel.

"Thanks." He mumbled. Not bothering to turn away 
he stripped down to his boxers. Scully tried not to 
watch as he washed himself but she was fascinated 
by the way the fire played off of his skin. Mulder 
looked up at her and refrained from smirking as she 
quickly looked away. Silently cursing herself Scully 
laid down two of the blankets as a cushion and pulled 
out the other three. Mulder redressed and added more 
wood to the fire. 

Scully looked up at him sheepishly. "We should 
share, it'll be warmer."

He grinned. "Finally! It's rained sleeping bags." With 
a sigh he settled down next to her and bunched up 
two shirts for them to use as pillows. 

Scully smiled and shook her head as she lay back 
between the fire and Mulder's body. Immediately she 
was warmed and felt sleep beckoning. Everything 
was quiet; the only sounds were their breathing, the 
crackling fire and the calls of small animals. Scully 
drifted close to sleep when an explosion and a burst 
of light lit the sky. They both sat upright. "What are 
They doing?" Scully asked softly.

Mulder shook his head and looked around the sky. "I 
don't know. Doesn't sound too close though." He 
reached over and placed a hand on Scully's stomach 
pushing her back down against the blankets, he left 
his hand there and rolled onto his side. Two more 
explosions followed quickly, sounding further away. 
After a few long moments of silence Mulder gently 
rubbed Scully's stomach. "Get some sleep." They lay 
awake for a few hours more in silence before finally 
drifting off.

Day 3
Mulder woke feeling the sun on his face. Opening his 
eyes he could actually see the blue sky instead on a 
brown haze for the first time in days. He rolled on his 
side to tell Scully. He couldn't help but smile. She 
was curled up on her side, blankets wrapped around 
her and looking utterly innocent. Deciding not to 
wake her yet he climbed out of `bed' and looked 
around for a fairly flat rock. Cleaning one side with 
water he dropped into in the hot embers from last 
night's fire to let it heat. He then dug through their 
bags and pulled out the four left over pieces of bread 
and a can of pineapple chunks which he opened with 
his army knife. 

Sensing movement Scully woke up. "Mulder?" She 
called softly as she rolled over to look towards the 
fire.

"I'm here. Just making breakfast." He placed the 
bread on the hot rock. "The sky cleared." He nodded 
upward. 

She sat up and rubbed her eyes. "Yeah it did." She 
started to fold up the blankets and passed Mulder a 
bottle of water. "We're almost out."

He nodded and flipped the bread over with a fork as 
he passed her the can of fruit. "According to the map 
we should intersect with a stream late today, it's set 
up so we walk along water most of the time." He 
passed her two hot pieces of bread. "Toast my lady."

She smiled around a piece of pineapple. "Now look 
who is the gourmet chef." 

***
Scully poked at the fire with a long stick when 
Mulder draped a blanket over her shoulders and sat 
beside her. "It's cold by the water." He said 
absentmindedly. Looking over at her he rubbed her 
back lightly. "You ok Scully?"

She looked at him with a small smile. "Yeah." She 
pulled her knees to her chest and rested her head on 
them, still looking at him. 

Mulder tipped his head to the side, copying her 
stature, and tucked her hair behind her ear. Scully's 
eyes closed at the contact. Placing his palm around 
her jaw he stroked her cheekbone with his thumb. 
She leaned into his touch. After a moment Mulder 
laid back against the already spread blankets pulling 
Scully with him. He tucked her securely against his 
chest with her back to the fire. Pulling the other 
blankets over both of them he stroked her back 
lightly. With a contented sigh Scully fell asleep 
wrapped in his arms. Sensing she had fallen asleep 
Mulder rolled her away from him slightly so he could 
see her face. With the back of his fingers he stroked 
her cheek. Then traced her lips with the tip if his 
finger. She stirred slightly and opened her eyes 
sleepily. Mulder leaned down and kissed her 
forehead for a long heartbeat then tucked her head 
under his chin before she could see the thoughts in 
his eyes. The fear. The fear that maybe the Nova 
Project was in fact a hoax. Then what? Where would 
they go? How would he make it up to her? Dragging 
her a thousand miles through dangerous land. Who 
knew what would happen? Who knew where They 
were waiting? Maybe They wouldn't even bother 
them. Maybe They didn't need them, didn't care 
about them. But even if They didn't bother them 
there were people out there, desperate people who 
would do anything to find food for their loved ones. 
Would do anything to ensure their safety, their future. 
Mulder knew. He was one of those desperate people. 

Day 5
Scully rubbed her face with her hands as she sat 
down and watched Mulder gather things to make a 
fire before it became too dark. Usually she would 
help, but today they stopped walking early and went 
slow the whole day. Scully silently cursed herself. 
She had gotten her period. It didn't surprise her; it 
was actually a few days late. She felt woozy and 
heavy limbed. Her body couldn't handle the constant 
walking, the decrease in food and blood loss. It 
wasn't even bad this month, but too many factors 
were against her. All she wanted to do was curl up 
next to the fire and sleep for a few days.

Mulder got the fire going well and added some large 
pieces of wood before sitting behind Scully slightly. 

He placed his hands on her shoulders and gently 
massaged away the tension of carrying the heavy 
pack all day. 

"You gonna tell me what's going on?" 

Scully leaned back into his hands. "It's nothing 
really."

"Nothing has you pale and tired?" He pressed gently.

She let out a long breath. "Woman problems." 

"Ahh. I understand now." He continued to relax her 
muscles. 

"I'm sorry I'm slowing us down." She mumbled after 
a few moments.

Mulder's hands stopped and he took her chin in one 
hand and turned her to look at him. "You are not 
slowing us down." He turned her whole body around 
so her back was against the fire. "We'll take it easy 
for another few days and then make up that time. 
Summer is almost here so the days will be longer; 
we'll walk more then. Ok?" 

She nodded and tucked herself against his chest. 

"Oh, Scully." He whispered in a heartbroken tone as 
he wrapped himself around her small body. He 
pressed his lips to her temple and ran his hand 
through her hair as she relaxed into his safe embrace. 
The fact that she let him hold her like this said a lot 
about the situation. They were both tired, aching, and 
most of all scared. 

"Mulder?" She mumbled against his neck.

"Mmm?" He nuzzled the hair at her temple just 
wanting to bury himself in her warmth and comfort. 

"You think They will come for me? They can track 
me with the chip." 

He pulled her head from his neck, cradling her face 
with his hands. "No. They wont. They already took 
everything They want from you, it won't happen 
again." 

She gave him a strained smile. "We don't know 
anything for sure." She dropped her weight back into 
his arms and closed her eyes. 

Day 7
"You know what I want?" Scully asked 
conversationally as they walked the road, sun beating 
down strongly. 

"A half pound cheese burger, fries, potato salad and a 
beer." He supplied quickly, his mind obviously on the 
same track.

She nodded thoughtfully. "Actually I wanted some 
sea food Alfredo and a glass of white wine, but I 
could settle for that instead." 

Mulder stopped walking and squinted into the 
horizon. "Hey Scully, is that a gas station."

"Well. maybe once." She said when she saw a small 
building all but collapsed. 

Mulder reached over and tugged her arm. "Let's go 
check it out, maybe it hasn't been completely cleaned 
out yet."

Scully quickly nodded, glad for a change of plan. 
"Watch out for the glass Mulder." She called once 
they came to the building. But Mulder was already 
occupied with searching the remains for anything 
useful. She couldn't help but smile at him. He looked 
like a little boy on an Easter egg hunt. Looking down 
she toed through the crumbled wall and shelving 
debris that covered a small area of land, only one 
wall was still standing. 

"I found some canned food." Mulder called over as 
he shoved three cans of tuna and a can of beans into 
his bag. "There's still some stuff here, it's just 
buried."

Scully nodded and picked up a crushed box of 
crackers, a large box of raisins and a few other items. 
They poked around for at least an hour collecting 
odds and ends. Including two cartoons of cigarettes 
Mulder said they could probably trade something for 
at some point.

"Man its hot today." Mulder looked up at the sky; it 
was just turning mid afternoon. "I think we should 
call it quits early."

Scully shrugged. "If you want. We can take 
advantage of the warm weather and wash some 
clothes, that way they'll be dry before we pack up in 
the morning."

He nodded and they walked away from the station in 
case anyone else walked by and went looking 
through. They stopped at a lightly treed area in front 
of a wide shallow part of a stream. Scully kneeled by 
the edge with the pile of dirty clothes next to her and 
a bar of soap in one hand as Mulder leaned a few 
long branches up against a tree. As Scully washed 
each article of clothing he hung it up in the sun to 
dry, everything very close by incase anyone came by 
and decided to try to go shopping at their makeshift 
clothesline. After a moment's thought Scully stripped 
down to her black panties and dark gray tank so wore 
as a bra -she quickly realized that anything with a 
wire was not comfortable in this new lifestyle- and 
washed the clothing she wore that day. Mulder 
stripped to his boxers and as she finished washing the 
clothes he walked out into the water, barely reaching 
his waist and fell straight back into the cool water. 

Sully laughed at him when he reemerged and tossed 
him the bar of soap as she hung the wet clothes up. 

Cringing she stepped into water. 

"Oh it's not that bad." Mulder teased and handed her 
the soap as he stepped out clean and freshly shaven. 

"It's freezing!" She whined. 

He laughed at her and sat back on a blanket after 
changing out of his wet boxers and into dry ones, 
which were the only thing that wasn't wet. 

Scully focused on washing herself, trying to erase the 
image of Mulder's bare backside that was now 
burned into her mind. She worked slowly enjoying 
the opportunity to really get clean. She sat down and 
dipped her head in, lathering her hair and washing it 
for the first time in days. After rinsing off she sat 
back for a moment and relaxed, pretending she was 
in her bath with scented bubbles and a glass of wine 
in her hand. After her third shiver and stood and 
walked over to where Mulder was sitting next to the 
small fire. 
He tossed one of his tee shirts at her. "I left that for 
you to change into."

"Thanks." She said walking over to hang up the 
clothes she pulled off. She could practically feel 
Mulder's eyes on her skin as she shed her wet tank 
and panties. She pulled his shirt over her head and 
almost laughed when it fell to her knees. Walking 
back over to the fire she placed a few cleaned flat 
rocks in the fire and then a few on the sides, building 
small walls. She found a large rock to fit over the top 
then dug through her bag for a box of corn bread mix. 
She stirred a small amount with water then dropped 
two globs on to the warmed rocks and placed the 
large one on top creating a makeshift oven. 

Mulder clapped his hands together. "A job worthy of 
Indian guide status."

Scully smiled proudly and laid back on the blanket 
next to Mulder letting the sun warm her cooled skin. 
Mulder looked down at her from where he sat and 
reached over tugging the shirt down her thighs 
slightly. 

"Showing some skin there, Scully."

She looked over at him with raised brows. Reaching 
over she took his hand in hers, interlocking their 
fingers. With a small tug she pulled him over so he 
lay on his side, holding himself up on either side of 
her on his elbows. He looked down at her with a 
confused/intrigued expression. With a small sigh 
Scully reached up and flicked the Nova charm and 
watched it swing. One moment with would shine in 
the sunlight, the next it would go dark from Mulder's 
shadow. It looked like a real star twinkling in the sky. 
"Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. How I wonder what 
you are. Up above the world so high. Like a diamond 
in the sky. Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. How I 
wonder what you are." She murmured still watching 
the necklace. "First star of the night."

Mulder smiled down at her and pulled her own 
necklace out from under her shirt. "Go ahead and 
wish." He whispered. 

She bit her lower lip in thought for a moment before 
meeting his eyes. "Can I take a rain check?"

He gave her half a smile and nodded. "Of course."

"What about you? Any wishes?" She asked swinging 
the charm once again.

Nodding slowly he said, "A few."

"Care to share?"

He gave a shy smile. "Not just yet." They were quiet 
for a moment, Scully swinging his charm, him 
stroking the front of her neck with his thumb. "A star 
is the perfect charm for you." He said out of the blue. 

She tipped her head quizzically. "That's what you 
are. A star, beautiful, bright, strong and out of reach."

"I'm not out of reach Mulder." She whispered. They 
locked eyes for a moment, just watching each other. 

Scully wrapped her hand around the chain of his 
necklace and pulled gently bringing his lips down to 
hers. 

The touch was soft, warm, gentle. Mulder pulled 
back slightly and changed angles, pressing again in 
the same way. After a long moment he pulled away 
ever so slightly, his lips still resting against hers but 
without pressure. Together they met for another kiss, 
this one open, tongues taking soft tastes of each 
other. 

The kiss lasted a moment before Mulder pulled away 
and pressed his face into her neck, Scully's hand still 
clutching the chain. 

Day 10
Mulder paused where they were on the road and 
pulled out the map. "We have to take this next exit 
coming up. We'll be off the water for at least a day 
and a half so we better go fill up our water bottles." 

Scully yawned and stretched as she nodded and 
followed him down to the water. 

"You want to camp here for the night?" He asked 
over his shoulder after her yawn.

"No, we've cut too many days short. Might as well 
keeping going." 

Mulder shrugged noncommittally and flipped his bag 
off his shoulders to pull out the empty water bottles. 

Scully sighed and sat at the edge of the water, tucking 
her legs under herself. Mulder passed her the bottles. 

A slight cracking sound, nothing more then a twig 
breaking in the trees behind them, and Mulder spun 
with his gun drawn. Scully turned, still crouched on 
the ground, pulling her gun from her side. "Drop it." 
Mulder said calmly to the middle aged man standing 
partly behind a tree with a knife. It was nothing more 
then the kind used to cut vegetables, and it was 
nothing compared to two guns. The man just starred 
at both of them. 

Mulder scanned the thin trees for anyone else but he 
appeared to be alone. "I said drop it. Now." With a 
glare the stranger dropped his knife. "Now kick it 
over to me." Mulder bent to pick up the knife without 
breaking eye contact with the man and tossed it into 
the stream. "Now get the fuck out of here before I 
shoot you." The man turned, the sound of branches 
breaking echoed back. Mulder holstered his gun and 
turned to Scully, placing a hand on the back of her 
sunburned neck. "Almost ready?" 

She nodded and splashed some cool water on her 
face. She was getting worried, this wasn't the first 
run in they had with someone trying to rob them. So 
far their guns had gotten them out of it, and keeping a 
fire burning all night kept people away. It had 
worked, so far.
 
Part 2
Day 13
Scully arched her neck to the side as Mulder nibbled 
the corner of her jaw, his hands running up and down 
her sides slowly. This had become a nightly ritual; 
they would kiss softly by the fire, lips always staying 
above their collars, hands caressing gently over 
clothes. Mulder pressed his palm over her breast. 
Scully tilted her head to the side to meet him for a 
kiss as he rubbed his thumb over her nipple. She 
murmured slightly against his lips. Mulder moved his 
mouth to her ear and suckled her lobe. With great 
courage he slipped his hand under her shirt and 
caressed her bare belly. After a few moments his 
hand traveled upward and stroked the smooth 
underside of her breast. Scully's breathing hitched. 
Mulder pulled his face away from her neck and 
looked at her face, her eyes were closed and lips 
parted invitingly. After pressing a long kiss to her he 
slipped his hand over her breast, his fingers brushing 
her pebbled nipple and kneaded softly. 
Scully caught a moan in her throat. 

"Don't hold back, Scully." Mulder whispered as he 
kneaded harder. "Let me know what you like."

She bit her lower lip but let out another moan. 
Satisfied with her response Mulder suckled her neck 
softly as he ran his thumb over her nipple. After 
another moment Scully began to tense. 

"Mulder." She whispered signaling she was 
uncomfortable just by the tone. 

Mulder shifted and nuzzled her temple as he slid his 
hand away from her. He pulled the blankets over 
them and let her get comfortable before his placed his 
hand under her shirt again, only against her stomach. 

"Thank you." She whispered against his neck.

"For what?"

"For not rushing anything."

Mulder smiled against her hair. "I've loved you for 
seven years, I can wait for this as long as necessary."

She nuzzled his neck. "I love you too."

Day 14
Scully kicked at a stone as they walked. Mulder was 
a step behind her and watched as she walked side to 
side on the street to fallow the stone. She was acting 
like a little girl who's mother dragged her to the 
museum, finding anything else to hold her attention. 

"Scully. you keep that up you'll be tired before 
noon." He called with a smile to where Scully had 
stopped at the corner of the road. 

"Hey Mulder. Is that a baby?" She asked pointing 
to a small object sitting on the edge of the grass thirty 
feet away. 

They walked slowly up to the bundle. 

"Oh my God!" Scully took a step to pick up the 
sleeping baby when Mulder grabbed her arm to stop 
her. 

She took a step away from him expecting him to let 
her arm go. "Mulder, let me go."

He shook his head as he scanned the surrounding tree 
line. "No. Come on, Scully." He tugged firmly to 
bring her back onto the road.

"Mulder. We can't just leave the baby here." She 
tugged her arm.

Mulder tugged back, only harder, sending Scully to 
step closer to his chest. "Scully, leave it. Walk away."
She looked up at him with angry tears swimming in 
her eyes. "What the fuck is wrong with you? It's a 
BABY Mulder."

He let his hand slide down until it circled her wrist, 
still tightly. "Scully. Please. Just come with me." 
He whispered softly as his eyes screamed for her to 
trust him. 

Scully gave the baby a long look as Mulder tugged 
her away. They walked in a tense silence for some 
time before the baby began to cry. Scully turned 
quickly. "Mulder. I can't." Scully trailed off as 
she saw a man and woman come out from behind the 
trees to retrieve the `bait' they left out. Scully 
swallowed roughly as the mother picked the child up 
and cooed softly. Letting out a long breath she placed 
her hand over her eyes. "I'm so stupid." She 
whispered. 

Mulder pulled her back in the direction they were 
headed before speaking. "You aren't stupid." He 
wrapped his arm over her shoulders. "You are a 
naturally caring and giving person. I would have 
done the same thing, but I saw something move in the 
trees and put two and two together." He paused for a 
moment trying to organize his thoughts. He stopped 
and turned her toward him. "I wouldn't leave a baby, 
Scully." 

"I know." She said quickly. Scully didn't say 
anything else, just hung her head slightly as she 
silently cursed herself. Excepting that the world had 
changed so much was close to impossible. Not being 
able to even think about trusting anyone but Mulder 
was hard. Not speaking to anyone other then Mulder 
was starting to make her feel alienated. She could 
feel herself fighting a bought of depression. 

Day 16
Scully lay on her back, head turned as she looked 
unseeing into the flames. With a sigh Mulder lay on 
his side beside her and pulled the blankets over them 
to keep out the damp chill of night. Running the back 
of his fingers down her cheek he asked her; "What's 
wrong?"

She gave a little shrug, honestly not knowing. 

Wrapping an arm around her waist he tugged her 
closer to him and burrowed his face into her neck as 
he stroked her side softly. Pulling herself from her 
thoughts Scully turned her head and kissed Mulder 
deeply, cupping his cheek with her palm. She pulled 
away after a moment and ran her thumb over his 
bottom lip. 

Her eyes closed in contentment as Mulder pushed his 
hand under her sweatshirt, then slowly under the 
band of her sweat pants. He paused, just gently 
combing his fingers through her course hair. She 
began to swallow convulsively as his fingers moved 
to brush lower. Mulder lowered his head and suckled 
the curve of her throat for a moment before 
whispering in her ear. "I want to touch you." She let 
out a breathy gasp and licked her dry lips. "Can I 
touch you Scully?" He asked licking at her ear lobe.

"Yes." She whispered. Mulder smiled against her 
neck and slipped his hand lower cupping her sex 
possessively. Scully let her eyes close and focused on 
enjoying Mulder's touch. His fingers gently found 
her bundle of nerves and massaged with a gentle 
pressure, that for some reason didn't surprise Scully, 
was perfect. "Just like that." She encouraged softly. 
"Don't change." Mulder kissed her neck to show he 
understood and that's when Scully began to imagine. 
Pretending that they weren't in the middle of no 
where Pennsylvania. That it wasn't a chilly forty 
degrees. But that they were lying in her warm bed 
with soft cotton sheets. That Mulder was touching her 
in the most intimate way after a romantic candle lit 
dinner at a fine restaurant, not after a dinner of plain 
rice. That she was dressed in her light blue silk 
camisole, and Mulder in a pair of black silk boxers, 
not dirty sweats to keep the chill out. Stuck in her 
fantasy Scully felt a steady release building in her 
body. With as much focus as she could muster she 
shoved her hand into Mulder's sweatpants and 
grasped his erection. His guttural cry didn't disturb 
her imaginary world as she continued to stroke him 
firmly, edging on painfully. The orgasm that flooded 
Scully's senses did not distract her from her search 
for Mulder's release. In the moments following her, 
Mulder moaned as his body released. Both fighting 
for a good breath they lay close together, Scully still 
lost in her own world. Where she and Mulder were 
going to fall asleep warm and safe in her apartment 
and wake in the morning to a satisfying breakfast and 
a life that, even with it's difficulties, she desperately 
wished she could return to. 

Day 17
Mulder turned to Scully with his arms wide open, 
displaying the land surrounding the road, a proud grin 
on his face. "Welcome to New York, Scully." He 
called exuberantly. 

Scully shook her head with a smile and walked 
towards him, plucking the map from his fingers. 
Unfolding it Mulder placed a hand on her back to 
guide her while she frowned at the wearing paper. 
"We sill have a hell of a way to go."

Unfazed, Mulder paid little attention to her.

Still frowning Scully glanced behind her. "Have you 
noticed that everyone we have passed the last few 
days as been going in the opposite direction of us?"

"Yeah. They are probably moving to a milder 
climate for when winter comes."

Scully was silent for a moment. "What are we going 
to do if Nova is a fake?"

Not meeting her eyes, "We'll turn around." 

Although the idea was having to back track was 
unappealing Scully wasn't going to pass up the 
chance to see Nova. She knew if she told Mulder she 
didn't want to continue, if she said she thought they 
should turn around and settle someplace else he 
would. But that would mean crushing all the hopes he 
had for them. A life when life was meant to be 
destroyed. A way to live when everything was meant 
to die. 

Day 19
Slack jawed Scully looked at the land in front of 
them. As far as they could see the land looked turned 
inside out. Debris of buildings, trees, cars, even 
people lay mixed with the earth. The road they 
needed to follow was lost amongst the chaos. 
"Mulder." 

Cursing under his breath Mulder turned away and 
rubbed his face with his hands. 

"Mulder?" She asked softly and took a step toward 
him. She could almost feel the tension and anger 
radiate from him. "Hey." Reaching out she placed a 
hand on his arm trying to bring him back to her. 

"Fuck!" Mulder hissed and spun around. Scully 
jumped away from him on reflex. He looked at her 
heartbroken that she pulled away. "I'm sorry Scully." 
He took two steps toward her and lightly took her 
hand in his. "I didn't mean to startle you."

"It's ok." She closed the space between them and 
leaned her forehead against his shoulder for a 
moment. 

"Now what?" She asked lifting her head to find him 
scanning the horizon.

Pulling the hand he still held in his grasp. "We go 
around."

"Go around? Mulder we don't know how far off we 
are going to have to go."

He turned to her with a frown. "What do you suggest 
we do Scully?" He held his arm out toward the 
disaster they were walking by. "We certainly can't 
walk through this." The anger was evident in his 
voice. 

"You want to turn around? Go someplace else? So 
that one night we'll be sitting by the fire and then 
poof! You'll be gone or dead and then what? Huh? 
What do I do then?!" He dropped her hand a turned 
away from her once again, breathing heavily and 
choking on tears. 

Scully placed her hand on his shoulder. "I'm not 
leaving you Mulder."

"You said it yourself Scully; we don't know anything 
for sure." He still would not look at her. 

Letting out a long breath she leaned forward and 
nuzzled his upper arm. "I know, for sure, that I want 
to do anything possible to ensure that I won't be 
leaving you. And if that means we have to walk 
around this, whether it's a mile or five hundred miles, 
I will do it." Picking her head up from him she turned 
him toward her and held his face in her hands so that 
he looked at her. "I don't want to fight with you. We 
are both getting frustrated and we're tired. Let's just 
keep going. As much as I hate to admit it we don't 
have a choice."

Looking both ways around their obstacle Mulder 
asked; "Which way?"

She shrugged. "Right?"

He nodded. "Sounds good." Taking her hand once 
again he pulled her to the right. 

Day 21
Scully idly watched Mulder's back as they walked 
along the rough ground. The bright sun reflected off 
his skin making it a challenge to continue. With 
aching eyes she turned to the disaster they paralleled. 
She paused her walking and studied the land.

Not hearing her footsteps Mulder stopped and turned. 
"Scully? You taking a break or just like the view?" 

He gestured toward the turned up earth and the 
remnants of houses.

Squinting, she pointed to the horizon. "Can you see 
where the ground is normal? Or I am hallucinating?" 

Mulder stepped behind her and crouched to her eye 
line. "I think you are right. Wanna try to cross here?"
Stretching her arms over her head she nodded. 
"Might as well give it a try."
	

They walked in a silent concentration. Carefully 
testing even ground and steering away from debris as 
well as possible. Although they had more time to 
think then either thought possible they barely did. It 
was odd how quickly they forgot everything about 
the past. They would see things that should have 
reminded them of the past but it wouldn't even cross 
their minds. It was useless, that was a different time, 
a different life, and a different world. Nothing existed 
but the present. 

"Oh gross." Mulder said with disgust after walking 
for at least fifteen minutes. 

Scully looked up from the ground for a spilt second 
to glance at him at her side. "Problem?"

"No. I just stepped in something."

"What?"

"I don't know and I have no desire to."

Scully laughed softly before they stopped at a drop 
off seven feet. "Well. this is unfortunate." She said 
grimly.

Chuckling, Mulder carefully hopped down, wavering 
on the landing. After graining his balance he held his 
arms up to Scully. "Come on jump, I'll catch you."

She snorted. "Yeah right." Reaching down she took 
his hands in hers and slide down. 

Mulder steadied her with his hands on her waist. 
"Told you." Smiling smugly he turned and walked 
on.

"That was barely a jump, Mulder." 

He glanced over his shoulder at her. "I'm sorry I 
couldn't hear what you said." Before she had a 
chance to repeat what she knew he heard he began to 
whistle. 

With a smile she shook her head and took a few large 
steps to be at his side. "Why I put up with you I'll 
never know."

Throwing his arm over her shoulders he spoke matter 
of factly. "Because you love me." Beaming he leaned 
over and kissed her cheek then continued to pull her 
along. 

Day 24
Mulder frowned down at the map, looked up at the 
road they had met with, back down at the map, again 
at the road, and for good measure back at the map 
once again.

Rolling her eyes Scully plucked the map from his 
hand. "There's no way to tell if this is the right road 
is there?" 

"Well we should follow it about five miles and if we 
come to a stream we have the right road. If we 
don't. well we don't." 

Scully passed the map back to him with distaste. 
"Sounds fun." 

"That's the spirit!" Mulder exclaimed throwing an 
arm over her shoulders to pull her down the road with 
him. 

 
Mulder tossed a few large pieces of wood into the 
fire and sat down by Scully. She turned to him with a 
thoughtful expression and ran her fingertips over his 
four-day beard. "Will you shave for me?" She asked 
softly. 

Mulder couldn't keep the smile from crossing his 
lips. Nodding he grabbed his bag and pulled out the 
soap and a razor as Scully brought over the pot of 
water.

"Can I do it?" She asked after a moment's hesitation. 
He grinned fully this time and handed over the items 
then sat back on his hands with his legs out in front 
of him. Scully sat down on his thighs. "I'll be 
careful." She said as she worked up a thick lather in 
her hands. 

"I'm not worried." He said truthfully. 

She gave him a small smile and spread the lather over 
his face. He turned and angled his head helpfully as 
she moved about his face. Wiping her hands on a 
towel she picked up the razor and bit her lip in 
thought. Tipping his chin with her thumb her first 
shaved his neck. He lowered his head after she 
finished. Scully smiled at him. "This is fun." He 
laughed as she turned his face to one side. "Hold 
still." 

"Sorry." He mumbled as he started to caress her thigh 
with one of her hands, the other still supporting him. 
"But this is fun." 

Once done Scully wiped his face with a damp towel. 
"Viola." She sat back proudly.

Mulder rubbed a hand over his face, testing the 
closeness of the shave. "Good job Scully. You can 
shave me anytime." 

Smiling, Scully leaned forward and kissed him softly. 
He leaned back on both his hands as she wrapped her 
arms around his neck. "Want to go to bed?" He 
shrugged as best he could in his position. "Tired?" 
Glancing at her mouth he shook his head. 

He smiled smugly. "You can stop playing stupid 
Scully. I know why you wanted me to shave."
She silently thanked the night so Mulder couldn't see 
the extent of her blushing. Looking down she 
mumbled; "You don't have to."

He laughed then shook his head with a smile. Sitting 
upright he took her face in his hands. "Oh, Scully." 
He kissed her deeply for a moment before shifting, 
bringing them both down onto the spread blankets 
with her beneath him. His fingers quickly found the 
hem of her shirt and pushed under. He teased her ribs 
for a moment before caressing the undersides of her 
breasts. Becoming impatient Scully wiggled and 
pulled her shirt over her head then tugged Mulder's 
off, quickly pulling his lips back to hers. Mulder 
chuckled against her mouth as he pulled at the 
waistband of her pants. "Anxious, Scully?" He pulled 
away enough to fully pull off her pants. When she 
didn't answer he lay back against her and turned her 
face so she looked at him. 

"Don't be shy. I told you I want to know what you 
like."

She smiled weakly and nodded. 

He kissed her gently in reassurance once then moved 
slowly down her body. Spending long moments on 
each breast, tasting every inch of her body he could 
reach. When he came to her belly button he darted his 
tongue in and out massaging her thighs with his 
hands, slowly lifting them apart. Mustering her 
courage Scully buried her fingers in his hair. 
Encouraged, Mulder placed openmouthed kisses on 
the inside of her thighs feeling a slight quiver run 
through her body. Slowly and gently he worked his 
way to her center. With gentle kisses and strokes then 
with the help of his fingers she came moaning his 
name. He made his way back up her body and 
stroked back her hair as she reclaimed her breathing. 
Before she even opened her eyes Scully pushed down 
at Mulder's pants.

"Scully...?" 

Finally opening her eyes and smiled and pushed him 
onto his back. Mulder let out a laugh until she took 
him into her mouth. Working him with a strange 
familiarity it didn't take long before he moaned out 
her name. They both lay silent until the chill of the 
night caused them to shiver. Scully pulled on all her 
clothes while Mulder only mustered enough strength 
to pull up his sweat pants. Cuddling up against his 
chest Scully tucked the blankets around them to lock 
out the cold reality of the world around them. 

Day 28
Scully rolled away from Mulder after he gave her a 
little push. She quickly wrapped the blanket around 
herself to fight the chill as Mulder slowly eased off of 
the blankets and into the dark. Thinking nothing of it-
he often woke to add more wood to the fire-Scully 
settled herself to sleep again when she heard 
scuffling, grunts and a few cries of pain. She sat 
upright and looked out in the night with eyes 
struggling to focus with the dim orange light of the 
fire and the pale gray haze of the half moon. She 
picked Mulder out amongst the trees struggling with 
a man slightly larger then himself. Shoving the 
blankets aside Scully grabbed her gun and flicked off 
the safety. She looked up just in time to see another 
man barreling towards her. Without a second thought 
she raised her gun and shot him in the chest. The man 
fell with a dull thud. 

"Scully!" Mulder called while he struggled.

Lifting her eyes from the body a few feet in front of 
her she aimed her gun at the attacker. Crouching on 
her knees she followed the two trying to get a clear 
shot. Knowing this, Mulder ducked down and 
grabbed the man by the waist, trying to push him 
away from Scully. Focusing on the blonde haired 
man the best she could in the dark. The second 
gunfire echoed in the night and both men fell to the 
ground in a tangled heap. Scully jumped up from her 
spot on the ground. "Mulder?!"

He groaned and pushed at the body laying over him. 

"Are you ok?" She fell to her knees beside him. 

"No." He said softly. "He stabbed me."

"Oh God. Let me see." She leaned over to check 
him but he shifted away as he pressed his palm to his 
upper left arm. 

"Wait. Get rid of the bodies before animals catch the 
scent." He leaned his back against a tree trunk feeling 
woozy.

Frowning, Scully nodded and dragged both the 
bodies over to the stream. The water level was still 
high from spring and the current slowly but surely 
dragged the men down stream after she dragged them 
as close to the center as she was able. Ignoring the 
cold coming through her soaked sweatpants she knelt 
by Mulder again. He was leaning silently against a 
tree with his eyes closed and his hand still clamped to 
his arm. "Mulder? I need to you come over to the fire 
so I can look at you."

He opened his eyes slowly and Scully helped him 
stand on weak legs and sit again. 

"Is this blood all from you?" She asked quickly 
wiping away as much as she could with a towel from 
his bare chest.

"I don't think so." 

Scully pulled out her first aid kit. "I need to clean the 
cut." She motioned for him to move his hand. She 
quickly clamped hers over to replace it as the blood 
flowed out. "Damn it. Mulder, that's deep." He just 
nodded and leaned back against a hiking bag to 
support his weight. One handed Scully pulled out a 
strip of rubber truncate, tying it with the help of her 
teeth. The bitter metallic taste of blood on her tongue 
brought another wave of adrenaline. She keep her 
hand pressed against him until she felt the hot thick 
flow diminish. "You with me?" She asked softly as 
she shinned a flashlight on the wound to get a better 
look.

"Always." He whispered. 

She glanced up at him. "Do you think the knife hit 
the bone?" 

"No."

"Good." She looked back down at his arm tight 
lipped. "I'm going to have to stitch that up. It's 
going to hurt more, I don't have anything to give you 
other then some aspirin." Fumbling to open the bottle 
with bloody fingers she placed three in his mouth and 
held a water bottle to his lips. "Drink it all." After 
half the bottle Mulder tried to turn away but she 
caught his face and forced the rest down his throat. 
Squeezing his hand in reassurance, Scully left to fill 
the pot with water. She placed it on the fire to boil so 
she was sure it 
was pure. "This is going to hurt." She warned as she 
readied herself to clean out the wound. 

"It already does." Mulder informed quietly. 

She glanced at his face only to see his eyes tightly 
closed and featured twisted in pain. Holding back her 
growing fears she flushed the wound. "I'm sorry. I'm 
sorry." She whispered as Mulder pointlessly fidgeted 
to get away from the pain. He made a strangled 
pained sound as response. After cleaning the best she 
was able to, Scully threaded the special needle with 
stitch thread and sat beside him. "Ok I'm going to 
sew it up now."

"Just do it." He mumbled bracing himself.

Nodding, even though his eyes were still closed, 
Scully inserted the needle in his swollen flesh. 
Mulder hissed out curses and tried to hold still as she 
quickly sewed the gash. Wordlessly she cleaned the 
surface with alcohol and wrapped a thick layer of 
gaze over it. Finished she scooted up to his head and 
took the hiking bag away, pulling his head down to 
her lap. "All done." She whispered as she stroked his 
hair.

Mulder nodded, breathing heavy from pain. 

Scully began to rock his body gently, stroking his 
bare chest, hair, neck, anywhere she could reach. 
"Talk to me, Mulder." She whispered wanting him to 
stay awake for a while longer.

"About what?"

"I don't know, anything.. Tell me about Nova."

He smiled softly. "Again? Scully I've told you all I 
know more times then I can count."

"I don't care. I want to hear it again."

He nodded, needing a distraction from the pain. 
"Ok. It's set up underground. A network of tunnels 
almost. We'll have our own room. I don't really 
know what it will look like. But each room has a 
small fireplace, a bed, a few hurricane lamps, and a 
drainage system. There's center area where a larger 
fire is built. It's set up so the smoke filters up and 
out, but not all in one big chimney. It separates and 
diminishes out into the open. In this center area there 
is a food room, every morning we have to get our 
rations, everyone gets the same amount. There is a 
running water system also. As much fresh water as 
we need, the drainage system empties out down 
stream from where the water comes in. There's also a 
medical room where you will probably be spending 
most of your time. Like I said everyone has to work 
everyday. Whether it's out in the gardens, hunting, 
keeping watch, in the food room, canning and drying 
food, collecting wood, I could go on and on, it all 
changes." Mulder stopped and moved his face into 
Scully's touch where she rubbed his jaw with her 
palm. "It's all a system." His voice slowly trailed off 
to a whisper. "I can't stay awake anymore, Scully."

Scully ran her hand over his damp forehead. "Go 
ahead and rest." 

He gave a weak nod and turned his face into her thigh 
and swiftly fell into a needed sleep. 
Scully sat with him for a long time. Just rocking and 
stroking him like a mother would with a sick child. 
Her adrenaline wore off soon enough. With careful 
movements she lay behind Mulder, curled 
protectively around his head. With him nestled 
against her abdomen, she fell into an anxious sleep. 

Day 29
Scully woke after the sun had risen fully. She 
wiggled away from Mulder after gaining her 
bearings. Before even laying a hand on Mulder she 
knew he had a fever. His skin was flushed and damp 
to the touch. 

Carefully she unwrapped his arm and cleaned it. He 
murmured uncomfortably in his sleep. After 
bandaging him again she went through her bag 
looking for the bottle of vitamins she knew were 
there. She had planed on saving them until their food 
was extremely low but Mulder needed them now. 
"Mulder?" She gently stroked his cheek trying to 
rouse him. "Mulder, wake up."

"Mmm?" He went to turn towards her but stopped 
short and cringed. With a pained expression he 
opened his eyes and struggled to focus on her. 

"Hey." She said softly. Moving to his head she 
carefully lifted him onto her thighs. "I need you to 
take some medicine." She placed the pills into his 
mouth and held water to his lips. "Slow down." She 
eased the bottle away slightly. Slowly he finished the 
water. "Want more?"

"No." He said in a dry voice. "Lay with me." He 
requested softly, letting his eyes slide shut.

Wordlessly, Scully lay on her side and pulled his 
head to rest on her arm, curling herself around him 
copying his protective stature in the way he often 
held her at night. He let out a long breath as she 
nuzzled the sweaty hair at his temple. 

Scully watched him sleep throughout the day. His 
fever breaking and coming back many times causing 
him to stir uncomfortably. She changed the bandage 
often and only woke him for a moment to drink 
water. 

Soon enough night caught up with Scully, bringing 
with it her exhaustion and mounting frustrations. 

Day 31
Mulder woke to a thick tickle in the back of his 
throat. He held back the painful cough as long as he 
could. But eventually he body racked with harsh 
coughs leading to dry heaves. His body wouldn't give 
up contracting his stomach until he rid himself of the 
bitter and thick bile. After many minutes he lay 
breathless and gasping and first became aware of 
Scully's hand smoothing his back. He shivered 
violently as she placed a damp cloth on his forehead 
and rolled him onto his back, cradling his head. 
Wordlessly she pressed a water bottle to his lips. He 
sipped carefully, his throat dry and his mouth full of 
cotton, but dreadfully afraid of another heaving 
session. Finally catching his breath, Mulder opened 
his eyes. 

The sky was dim, hazy, dead. Knowing his voice 
wouldn't cooperate he glanced questionably at 
Scully.

"You've been out for a couple days now, if you were 
trying to scare the shit out of me it worked." He gave 
her a short apologetic smile. "There were more 
bombings last night." She whispered following his 
gaze to the sky. "Pretty close." She added in a softer 
tone. Mulder wanted to speak. Wanted to tell her 
things. But his voice box ignored his brain. "I know 
what you are going to tell me." She said without 
looking at him but with a slightly humorous smile. 
"You are going to say for me to take the map and go 
ahead without you. I bet you had the map memorized 
four seconds after you got it. You're gonna say that 
you will be ok. You'll rest for a few more days then 
slowly make your way to Nova. But I should go 
ahead without you. After all they must need a doctor 
and that's what I am. You will be along. You 
promise. You love me and you are doing this for me." 
Finally she looked down at him, still with a smile. 
"Well save it pal. It ain't gonna happen." 

With a soft dry chuckle, Mulder nodded. That's what 
he was going to say. 

Scully leaned down a placed a light kiss on his lips. 
"Can you talk?"

"No." He said with a shit-eating grin in a very hoarse 
voice. 

"Good." She copied his smile as she rubbed his arms 
with her palms. "You talk too much anyway."

Mulder pouted out his lower lip. "I haven't said 
anything for two days." He pointed out, his voice 
cracking dryly every few syllables.

Scully cringed and placed her hand over his mouth as 
she cleared her throat because it wouldn't help him. 

"As much as I did miss your company you need to 
stop talking now before I go hoarse from listening to 
you." 

He placed a kiss on the palm over his mouth. 

With a smile she gently lifted his head off of her and 
placed it on a rolled up blanket. "I want you to eat." 
Mulder interrupted her with a groan. "I know you 
must feel terrible but you need to. I want to give you 
some pills to but I don't think they will stay down on 
a empty stomach." She routed through the bags for a 
moment looking for soft bland foods. Furrowing her 
brow she examined the inner plastic bags of foods, 
the outer cardboard disposed off long ago to save 
space. "How about some Bisquick?" She asked 
brightly. Mulder groaned again. "I knew you would 
like it!" She prepared the dough then sat by Mulder's 
side as it baked and slowly unwrapped his arm. 

"How am I, doc?" He whispered.

She set to cleaning the wound. "Um. You have an 
infection, not too bad. I. I did what I could but you 
came down with a fever. That's why you were asleep 
for a few days. I think you will be ok but we need to 
stay here for a few more days so don't try to jump up 
tomorrow and get going." She glared sternly at him 
while he just smiled innocently. 
 
Part 3
Day 32

"Scully?" Mulder whispered as he squinted against 
the harsh glare of the hazy sky. Finding it too painful 
he closed his eyes and called for Scully again, louder. 
Still no answer. He knew she was here, she just 
couldn't leave him. Swallowing back the pained tears 
in his throat he crooked out her name as loud as he 
could. 

Scully rushed from where she was getting water from 
the stream after hearing the desperate tone in his 
voice. "I'm here, Mulder." She smoothed his hair 
way from his face, feeling his hot forehead. "What's 
wrong?"

Swallowing roughly, Mulder tried to move his arm. 
"It hurts." He forced his eyes open and gave her a 
look pleading for relief.

"Ok. Ok. Don't move." She gently unwrapped the 
wound to see the red swollen flesh. "How does it 
hurt?"

"I don't know." He said frustrated. "It aches." 

"Alright. It's going to be ok. You're infection is 
getting much better, you slept through the worst of 
it." She cleaned and rewrapped trying to work 
thoroughly and ignore his wordless cries of pain the 
best she could. 

"Squeeze my hand as hard as you can." Scully placed 
her hand in his. 

Holding back to scream of pain he did as she asked.

"That's good. You can let go." She flexed her now 
aching fingers. "Did that make it hurt more?"

"No." He turned his head to face her, looking tired 
and flushed. 

"Is the pain localized? Do you have feeling in your 
fingers, any tingling?" Her was attention split 
between her interrogation and pouring out aspirin and 
vitamins. 

"Nothing other then a constant ache. Every time my 
heart beats its worse."

Scully moved back to his head, lifting him gently into 
her lap then placing the pills in his mouth and water 
to his lips. "You'll be ok." She cooed softly. "Here, 
let's get your arm up. Let me lift it." She instructed, 
carefully lifting and placing his injured arm to lie 
against his chest. 

Mulder cringed sharply. "Can't you just hit me over 
the head with a rock so I can sleep through all this?"
With a small smile, Scully leaned down and kissed 
his damp forehead. "But then I will have to listen to 
you complain about a head ache when you wake up."

He immediately looked hurt. He didn't want Scully to 
think he was whining this. He had been turning to her 
for comfort for years, not just on the medical side but 
also personal. It was never an easy thing for him to 
do. The common comforts of a loving person were all 
but common in his family. 

Cursing herself under breath Scully leaned over, 
covering his upper body with hers as she caressed his 
chest lightly. "I didn't mean it like that, Mulder. I 
know it hurts a lot." 

Swallowing his pride in favor of her care he turned 
his head into her embrace to nuzzle the crook of her 
neck.

Day 34
"How's this for an Indian summer?" Mulder 
commented as he pulled a blanket up one handed 
before settling back again.

"In youth, it was a way I had
To do my best to please,
And change, with every passing lad,
To suit his theories.
But now I know the things I know,
And do the things I do;
And if you do not like me so,
To hell, my love, with you!" She carefully tucked the 
blankets around Mulder's arm then lay down next to 
him with a smile.

"Thank you Miss Parker." Mulder chuckled softly as 
he waited for Scully to settle. Turning his head he 
gave her a soft smile. "I do like you so."

"Well you better, cause you're stuck with me.. I've 
always like that poem." She rolled onto her side and 
regarded him seriously. "What about you? Any 
favorites?"

Nodding, Mulder struggled to remember all the 
words;
"How do they do it, the ones who make love,
without love? Beautiful as dancers,
gilding over each other like ice-skaters
over the ice, fingers hooked 
inside each other's bodies, faces
red as steak, wine, wet as the 
children at birth whose mothers are going to 
give them away. How do they come to the
come to the come to the God come to the
still waters, and not love
the one who came there with them, light
rising slowly as steam off their joined
skin? These are the true religious,
the purists, the pros, the ones who will not
accept a false Messiah, love the
priest instead of the God. They do not
mistake the lover for their own pleasure,
they are like great runners: they know they are alone
with the road surface, the cold, the wind,
this fit of their shoes, their over-all cardio-
vascular health- just factors, like the partner 
in the bed, and not the truth, which is the 
single body alone in the universe 
against its own best time."

After a moment Scully swallowed around her closed 
throat. "Mmm. Sharon Olds?"

"Very good." Mulder was truly impressed. "`Sex 
without Love'. I'm surprised I remember the words." 

"Well. They are pretty memorable." She said with a 
slight blush.

Mulder laughed softly. "You look so cute when you 
blush."

This caused her to blush even more. "Shut up 
Mulder." She mumbled and moved closer to him. She 
rested her head on the shoulder of his uninjured arm 
and wrapped one of hers over his waist. 

"Night Scully." He said still laughing as he placed a 
kiss on her forehead. 

Day 37
There were no two ways about it; Mulder was going 
stir crazy.

And Scully was ready to kill him. "Mulder stop that." 

He looked away from where he was poking at her 
freshly made fire with a long stick. "Why?"

"Because you are going to knock over the wood and 
then I'll have to start it again." She turned back to the 
clothes she had just washed and began to wring them 
out to dry. 

"Don't worry Scully, I won't mess up your pretty 
fire." He turned to stick from the fire and poked 
Scully in the butt with it, leaving a soot mark on her 
right cheek.

"Mulder!" She batted it away and turned to him with 
her hands on her hips. "Are you trying to drive me 
crazy?"

"No not at all, it is just a added benefit." Reaching 
out he poked her belly lightly. Scully grabbed the 
stick strongly so he couldn't jab her anymore. "Ooo, 
Scully." He said slyly. "Your grip is so firm." 

"Oh brother." Scully released her hold and walked far 
enough away that he couldn't touch her with it. 

"Hey! Where're you going?" Mulder called with a 
dramatically hurt tone. "Are you going to leave poor 
injured me all alone?"

Raising her eyebrows she turned toward him. "I 
thought you were all better? I believe your words 
were; `Scully, I don't want to sit around here wasting 
time. I'm fine, I don't need my arm to walk.' Then I 
said; `Yes but you need your arm to carry your bag 
even if I put the heavy things in mine.' Then you 
gave me that damn puppy dog look and I said ok."

Mulder grinned smugly. "That look always works on 
you." 

Scully quickly walked back over to him and knelt by 
his side, suddenly serious. "Mulder I really want to 
you take it easy. You've got nothing to prove to me. I 
know you want to get going, I do to. But if you push 
yourself and get hurt we will just end up waiting 
longer. Ok?"

He cupped her chin in his good hand, his other laying 
gently against his chest in a makeshift sling. "I 
promise. Stop worrying Scully, you're gonna go gray 
at this rate."

She frowned. "I'm surprised I haven't after seven 
years with you." 

Mulder couldn't help but smile. "I'm not that bad." 
Scully gave him her `yeah right' look, raised brows 
and all. "Ok so I am that bad." 

Scully moved away and added large pieces of wood 
to the now steady fire. "Damn right." 

Day 39
"Is it something blue?" 

"Mulder, why are you stuck on asking color? And no, 
that's question number 18. Two to go." 

Mulder frowned in deep thought. He was horrible at 
the game Twenty Questions. "Is it something you are 
wearing?"

"Yes! Finally you got one right." 

"Ok. So it's something small, important and you 
are wearing it." He walked backwards and examined 
her. "Well it's not your bra because that isn't small." 

"Mulder!" 

He laughed, proud of himself. "I just wanted to see 
you blush. Ok. I've got one question left." He 
focused all his investigative skills on her five foot 
something frame. Suddenly he smiled smugly. "Your 
necklace?"

Scully sucked in an unsure breath through her teeth. 
"Which one?"

His smile quickly faded. After a moment he shook 
his head. "I don't know." 

Reaching under her shirt Scully pulled out the Nova 
charm. "I figure this one is more important at the 
moment."

Mulder turned back around, much to Scully's relief. 
Regarding her form his position beside her, "I don't 
know if that's true Scully, your religion has always 
been important to you. If you didn't have faith you 
wouldn't be able to carry on."

She thought in silence for few moments. "In all the 
time we have been walking I haven't prayed once. 
The last time I did it was when we were still in the 
car."

"What did you pray for if you don't mind my 
asking?" 

Scully watched her feet with great focus. She 
remembered what she prayed for; her mother, her 
brothers, the world in general, that her and Mulder 
would be safe, that Nova would be real, that They 
wouldn't find them, that They wouldn't even look for 
them. Her worst fear has been that They would start 
to look for them, tracking her with the chip. She 
would take in out in a heartbeat to save Mulder, 
knowing he wouldn't leave her willingly. But if she 
did take the chip out she would die. Probably within a 
few months. She didn't want to die. She prayed that 
she wouldn't die. Even with her life being turned 
upside down she did not want to die. 

"That everything would turn out ok." She whispered 
after many minutes in silence. 

Smiling, Mulder bumped her shoulder lightly with 
his. "It will be. Eventually. I think as long as you 
have faith we can get through this."

"But the thing is.. I don't have faith in God." 
Mulder looked at her sharply. "I don't. Not at this 
time."

"But you have faith?" Mulder was quickly becoming 
confused.

"Yes." She answered immediately. "But my faith is in 
you now. I've always had faith in you Mulder. But 
now. now that you've done all this for me. Now my 
faith is in your hands."

Day 41
"Mulder." Scully looked up at the darkening sky. 
"It's going to rain." 

"It's ok, our bags are water proof. We need to keep 
walking, we are really far behind." It was simple: 
Mulder was pissed at himself. They had to walk 
slowly, stop often, and poor Scully was carrying 
much more then half her weight on her back. Every 
time he tried to speed up his arm would begin to ache 
and Scully would make him stop. He had never been 
able to keep anything from her. And she had been 
watching him carefully, noticing every cringe and 
missed step. Probably filing them in her mind in 
order of degree of pain and length of time between 
such events.

Scully frowned up at the big clouds. "I know, but 
after all the bombings I doubt the rain will be clean. 
Can we please just stop and find somewhere to wait 
out the storm? I really don't like the idea of what ever 
nuclear waste and acid falling on our heads."

Mulder ran a hand down her arm, she sounded so 
worried. "Ok. Lets keep walking and we'll look for 
something for the night. We don't want to stay too 
close to the trees."

"Thank you." She said visibly relieved. 

They walked for fifteen more minutes before they 
came to remains of a building that would provide 
some shelter; two of the walls were completely 
destroyed but the roof was partly intact. They 
normally didn't stay in old buildings, too many 
people could run into them. 

Scully slowly eased Mulder's bag from his shoulders. 
"Sorry." She murmured as he cringed when she 
carefully placed his arm back in the sling. "I'll get 
some wood, why don't you get out the blankets."
Within ten minutes they were sitting by a small fire 
as Scully mixed water with a can of chicken soup. 
The rain started to fall with a heavy patter, a cold 
breeze came into their little home.

"Of course we have to be facing the wind." Mulder 
mumbled as Scully settled next to him handing him 
his soup. 

"Well at least we won't get too wet." 

They ate in silence and watched as the lightening 
started off in the distance. The increasing wind kept 
the fire to a minimum, the damp air was not helping 
the chill. 

Setting their dishes aside, Scully moved closer to 
Mulder. 

"Cold?" Without waiting for her answering nod he 
pulled her back against his chest and looped his good 
arm around her belly. "The sky looks so different." 
He whispered in her ear.

"I know. I think the bombs have effected the ozone. 
The sun is so much stronger. And sometimes the 
wind changes, like now, doesn't it feel different."

Mulder nodded in her hair. "Yeah. I don't know what 
it is but you are right." With a small sigh he pulled 
her closer and kissed her neck. 

A tingle of excitement ran down Scully's spine. She 
arched her neck, encouraging him. Mulder quickly 
pushed the stray hairs away with his nose and placed 
soft opened mouthed kisses on the curve of her neck. 

A happy murmur left her throat as she reached back 
and buried a hand in his hair. With an awkward hand 
Mulder turned her cheek so he could kiss her lips. 

She smiled against mouth and twisted to face him, 
without breaking contact. Being careful of his arm 
she pushed him down onto his back. 

One handed Mulder unbuttoned her jeans and slipped 
his hand into her heated folds as she pulled at his 
waistband and gripped his sex at the same time. "Still 
cold?" He asked softly as he pressed a finger up into 
her body.

Biting her lip she shook her head and smiled. 
Because he couldn't with only one hand she pulled 
down both of their pants only to the needed amount. 
Awkwardly she settled by his side struggling to find 
an angle so he could keep his hand on her but not 
lean on his injured arm. 

Not that it mattered. Mulder couldn't feel anything 
but Scully's hand around him. Determined to bring 
Scully over the edge with him he sped his pace up on 
her body. With a small whimper Scully buried her 
face in his neck and clenched around his fingers. 
Mulder quickly followed in a choked gasp. 

After a few moments Scully helped him redress then 
pulled the blankets around them both. Mulder quickly 
fell into a deep sleep. But not Scully. She laid awake 
for a long time, watching the lightening, listening to 
the thunder around them and Mulder's heart under 
her ear.

Day 42
Scully ran her brush through her damp hair noticing 
she needed to trim it. She only had a small mirror that 
she happened to grab when packing, which was 
probably for better so she didn't notice the extent of 
the changes in her body. She knew she had lost 
weight, but she had also added muscle. And it 
seemed every time she did look in the mirror she was 
dirty, even though she washed at least twice a day. 
She just felt different. Like she did while fighting her 
cancer. She felt like herself, only altered. 

They both had changed. Mulder had become so much 
more open with her. Not hiding his feelings behind 
jokes. She felt more comfortable with him then ever 
before. But she had forced herself to open up to him, 
it wasn't as hard as she thought it would be.

She looked over at him. Mulder needed a trim also 
she noticed as he dozed beside her. Reaching over 
she ran her hand front and back of his head, the damp 
strands standing on end. He stirred slightly from her 
caress but did not wake. 

She didn't bother to wake him this morning. It was 
still raining and he needed his rest. It bothered her 
that he pushed himself so hard after being injured. 
He's chased bad guys with bumps, bruises and 
sprains more times then she could count. Willingly 
letting scientists drill holes into his head, other 
numerous head injures-not all by his choosing. The 
one that always came to mind was brain surgery by a 
certain smoking friend of theirs. He seemed to have a 
tendency to be near bombs as they ticked closer and 
closer to zero. He managed to drive recklessly and 
barely miss head collisions, people, buildings, even 
an airplane or two. She wasn't sure how many times 
he'd been shot. His list went on and on.

Her list wasn't much better. Cancer, numerous 
kidnappings, the target of mutants and madmen 
alike. She stopped thinking about that. It didn't 
matter. It just really didn't matter now.

With a sad sigh she placed her hand back into his 
hair, caressing his scalp with her fingertips. A slight 
hum came from his throat.

Scully smiled softly at his sleeping form. She worried 
about him more then he could ever realize. He was 
constantly thinking of her safety before his own. She 
loved him for that. No one had ever put her first as 
much as he did. It still amazed her, after almost seven 
years of knowing he cared, that he could care that 
much. But sometimes he just didn't think before he 
acted. As much as she loved him, she could hate him 
at the same time. Always leaving her behind for `her 
own good'. She whole heartily believed he thought 
that was what he was doing. But it didn't make it any 
easier. Strangely enough, every time he did 
something crazy thinking it was right, she loved him 
a little more. Maybe it was because it made the fact 
that she could loose him any moment clearer. Or 
maybe it was just that she loved him and he gave her 
a reason to think about the fact. Three years ago she 
started to think about it constantly. So it took the 
destruction of the world for her to realize it. Maybe it 
was a small price to pay for this important insight: 
time was up, live life now or die regretting what she 
didn't have the guts or opportunity to do. 

Mulder opened his eyes and smiled up at her sleepily. 
"Hey." 

She returned his smile and caressed his hair more. 
His eyes closed at the contact and he leaned into her 
touch. "It's still raining." She informed looking out 
into their dark surroundings. 

"Mmm." He mumbled, too content with her attention 
to care.

She let out a soft ironic laugh. At the moment he was 
fine with it, but when he was fully awake and in a 
few hours restless he would think differently. But for 
the moment she didn't care either. She was happy to 
sit by his side, in the cold damp air, in the bitter wind, 
in a destroyed building, in the chaos this world had 
turned into and just be alive. 

Part 4
Day 45
Scully sat straight up with a gasp. Her head spinning, 
turning her stomach violently. Scanning the 
surrounding trees she was only met with orange 
tinted darkness. 
"Scully?" Mulder, awoken by her sudden movement, 
touched her arm lightly. 
She couldn't speak. The visions in her head where 
still too fresh. Her head pounded, her eyes were still 
teary and her heartbeats echoed insanely loud in the 
silence of the night. 
"You're trembling." Gently he pulled against him. He 
held her silently for a few moments, letting her catch 
her breath, catch her mind. "A dream." 
Scully nodded against his chest even though it was a 
statement, not a question. 
"Want to talk about it?"
She pinched her eyes closed. The dream replayed in 
her mind. The trees bursting into flames around them. 
The eyeless men coming straight to them, ready to 
kill them. Maybe if they had eyes they would see. 
Would see that she and Mulder where people, with 
hopes, who felt love, people who didn't want to die 
just yet. Or maybe their eyes wouldn't be like normal 
eyes. Maybe that would be black and hollow. Like 
the eyes of a shark. No feelings. Just a job nature, or 
whoever, gave them. Scully felt her body shake more 
at the remembrance of watching Mulder burn beside 
her. Reaching his hand out in a desperate plea for 
help. But she couldn't move to him. Her body was 
frozen, wishing to wrap her arms around his body 
and burn with him. His last words a choked 
confession of undying love.
Mulder hugged her closer to him, feeling a shudder 
run through her. 
"No." Her answer was delayed and barely audible.
Mulder didn't ask again. Slowly he lowered her back 
down onto the blankets. He held her for a long time 
before he felt her finally relax and fall back into 
sleep. He lay awake a while longer. Watching over 
her, just in case the dream returned once her 
consciousness relaxed. Nightmares are tricky like 
that, he learned. They can sneak up on you when you 
least expect it and when you least need it. Why have 
a nightmare when you are living one in slow motion? 
 
Day 47
"You ok, Mulder?"

He glanced at her from her side. "Yeah, why?"

"You've just been so quiet today."

With a shrug he leaned down and picked up a small 
gray stone off the road. He tossed it in the air a few 
times. "Just thinking." 

"What about?" Scully reached over and took the 
stone Mulder was offering her. 

He gave another shrug and watched Scully finger to 
smooth rock. "It's amazing how everything in our 
lives, how important or unimportant led to this." He 
paused and shook his head. "It's just odd. That no 
matter what we did, I'm not saying what we did was 
pointless mind you, but everything we did. didn't 
change a thing."

Scully thought for a moment. "I suppose its possible. 
But if that's true then its also possible that everything 
we did do, no matter how small, did make a 
difference. Maybe if lets say we didn't go on a 
certain case or speak with a certain contact that this 
would have happened sooner. Or later, anything is 
possible. "

"Gosh Scully, I wasn't talking about that kind of 
stuff, I was just thinking that I wouldn't have paid 
taxes this year if I knew." 

"Taxes aren't important?" She asked playing along 
with his sudden change in mood. They barely stayed 
on depressing topics for too long. That seemed 
pointless, there was nothing they could do about it so 
there was no reason to dwell. 

Mulder paused a step to kick at a break in the 
pavement. "Well our government is doing a shitty job 
of taking care of the roads."

"I'll write a letter to our council man immediately." 
She said deadpan. 

Day 48
Scully cradled Mulder's head on her chest as he 
dozed lightly. There was something soothing about 
his breath between her breasts, his arm around her 
waist and his weight grounding her. Perhaps it was 
her unused reserve of maternal instinct that enjoyed, 
even needed this. Keeping him safe and comfortable 
made her feel that same way. Her body was relaxed 
and felt light, his hair tickled her chin, his heartbeat 
pressed up against hers. 

Scully fought sleep. 

She really didn't know why. Maybe she was too 
content with this quiet moment. The sun had set not 
long ago, leaving the sky a hazy red. The air was still 
warm from the afternoons rays. Everything was quiet. 
Scully's motion stopped on Mulder's body, causing 
him to drift away from his slumber slightly, as she 
listened. 

"Mulder?" She questioned softly as she slid the hand 
from his hair down to cup his jaw, turning his head 
up to her. "Why is it so quiet?"

"It's night time Scully." He mumbled before buring 
his face back in the front of her shirt. 

She wiggled out from under him, ignoring his groan 
of disappointment. "I'm serious Mulder, I don't hear 
anything. No wind, no birds, nothing."

Mulder rubbed his eyes to rid himself of the last 
reminisce of sleep. "Ok I'll admit it. It is early calm 
but that doesn't mean anything."

Starring up at the sky she drew her knees up to her 
chest. "No, it does mean something. Last time there 
were bombings, when you were unconscious, it was 
like this before."

Mulder took a deep breath, he had nothing to say to 
that. There was nothing they could do but wait it out. 

He was about to reach for Scully when an 
indescribable noise filled the air, the ground shook, 
the sky turned black with upturned earth and the air 
turned heavy and thick with dust. 

The noise ended just as soon as it came. 

The fire was snuffed out by the useless air. They both 
choked on that same air. A ringing filled their ears, 
their eyes stung, their throats burned. 

For a long time all they could do was sputter and wait 
for the air to clear enough to see. 

Finally the thick brown settled into a dim haze.

"Are you ok?" Mulder asked hoarsely as he slid 
closer to Scully.

Still coughing dryly she nodded. "That was really 
close."

Mulder pulled the front of his t-shirt up and wiped 
away the dirt from his face. He quickly added wood 
to the fire, catching on the burning embers. He then 
collected their bags which had tumbled away slightly 
from the shaking. He brushed the dirt from the 
blankets and pulled Scully back down with him. 

"What were they bombing?" She asked after many 
moments of tense silence.

"I don't know." He whispered placing a kiss on her 
forehead. "It's ok, just get some sleep." 

She tried to let the day's exhaustion take her over as 
she burrowed into Mulder's warmth. But they both 
lay awake ready for another explosion. Ready for it 
all to be over in a moment. 

The Big Bang theory started the world, a whole other 
bang could take them out.

Day 49
Mulder absentmindedly glanced up at the sky as they 
walked. It had barely cleared enough for the sun to be 
more then a brighter area in the haze. With a sigh he 
looked over at Scully beside him. His stomach 
immediately twisted sickly, his throat closed up. 
"Scully!" 

She quickly spun to look at him. "What?" 

"You. you're bleeding." 

Without breaking from his panicked eyes she placed 
a hand over her top lip, under her nose. A thin line of 
crimson marred her index finger when she pulled her 
hand away. "Oh." She wiped at her face a few more 
times and shook her head. "It's just from the dry air. 
It-it's not anything other then that." 

"Scully." He said softly, taking a step toward her.

"No!" She stepped back and held up her bloody hand. 
Causing them both to cringe. She quickly wiped 
away the blood onto her dirty jeans. "It's nothing 
Mulder. I'm fine." She wiped her face a few more 
times and walked ahead of him not daring to look 
into his eyes. She didn't want to see the same fear she 
was feeling. 
 
Part 5
Day 49
Words had been sparse that day.

The fear that clutched Mulder's stomach was eating 
him alive. He watched Scully carefully all day. It was 
making her angry but he couldn't help himself. He 
was reliving the worst moments of their lives all over 
again. 

Mulder sat down heavily by the fire. He shivered 
from the cold water he had just washed the day's dirt 
off with despite the warm flames. 

Wordlessly Scully sat beside him with her back to the 
fire drying her hair. 

After watching her struggle with keeping the blanket 
wrapped around her nude body and fluffing her hair 
with one of her hands for a minute before Mulder slid 
closer to her. "I don't like it when we aren't talking." 
He said bluntly as he pushed her hand away and ran 
his finger through her damp hair, slowly heating with 
from the fire. "I especially dislike it when I don't 
know why we aren't talking."

"We aren't talking because we don't have anything to 
say that won't upset each other." Her voice was soft, 
apologetic and forgiving at the same time. 

Mulder nodded then remained silent for a moment 
while he chose his next words carefully. "Do you 
really believe it isn't the cancer coming back?"

"There is no reason to think that it would be back. I 
have been in perfect health ever since the chip. 
Unless that is malfunctioning." With a sigh she 
leaned her head against Mulder's shoulder. That 
simple gesture spoke volumes. The day of silence 
was over. "It was the dry air Mulder. My throat and 
eyes still burn, yours too. That's what is was. It has to 
be." 

Mulder moved away now that her hair was dry and 
faced her. "You better dress before you catch a cold." 
He said softly, as he ran his hand down her shoulder 
over the blanket. 

Scully watched him for a moment before shaking her 
head slowly. Upon Mulder's quizzical look she 
dropped the blanket so it pooled around her waist and 
leaned forward running her hands over his still bare 
chest, letting her hands rest on the waistband of his 
boxers. "I want to be with you."

A fist of arousal wrapped its self around Mulder's 
body. He opened his mouth to speak but his nothing 
came out for a moment. "I thought you wanted to 
wait."

Scully let out a curt laugh. "Wait for what?" Without 
letting him answer she slid forward and took his face 
in her hands. "It's just you and me now Mulder. 
We've got nothing to do but keep walking. There is 
nothing we can do to fix the world, we don't even 
know how much longer the world with be here." She 
quickly swallowed back tears. "I want to live the 
moment." 

Mulder nodded as he cupped her jaw in a gentle hand 
and pulled her lips against his. 

Day 52
Mulder woke slowly. The sun was beating down on 
his face, warming one side while the other was being 
warmed by the soft warm cotton covering Scully's 
belly. Lazily he rolled onto his back and looked up at 
the finally cleared sky. After a few moments of 
watching the clouds drift by he sat up and looked 
down at Scully. 

She looked breathtaking. Her hair spread out beside 
her, her lips open slightly, her cheeks flushed with 
sleep. Painfully innocent.

Silently Mulder cursed himself. He knew this would 
happen. He knew the moment they made love his 
urge to protect her would intensify. He had kept 
himself in check so far, but with this past week's 
cancer scare he was ready to burst inside. But if he let 
it out Scully would be angry. He knew she could take 
care of herself, there was no question in his mind. 
But there was something about being inside her that 
made him was to wrap her in his arms and carry her 
to Nova. God he hoped Nova would be there. 
Something about making love with her that made him 
want to take her away from every bit of pain. He 
knew they weren't making life in the traditional 
sense. He accepted that. It broke his heart but he 
accepted it. But they were making their life together 
by being together. Scully was right, it's all they have 
now.

Scully shifted slightly and opened her eyes. "Good 
morning." She said softly while smiling up at Mulder.
He nodded with a small smile and brushed her hair 
away from her face. 

Day 55
Scully stomach rumbled loudly. She pressed her palm 
against her belly and continued walking. 

They were down to one meal a day. One small meal.

Scully was thankful though. Mulder shot a rabbit the 
other day. It was just plain luck. He happened to be 
sitting by the water washing clothes when the animal 
hopped close by. Scully never thought she would eat 
rabbit. She couldn't eat veal, for some reason it 
seemed wrong to her. But she had never tasted 
anything as good as that fresh meat, at least nothing 
that good lately. 

But that had only been one large meal for them, it 
would have been more but they had no way to keep 
the meat. Now they were down to a few cans of food, 
some pasta and a little bread mix. 

Swallowing a gulp of water Scully rubbed her 
stomach again while she looked aimlessly around the 
road. 
"Hey Mulder. Look." Scully reached down and 
picked a few dandelions from the grass. She handed 
half to Mulder. "You know you can eat every part of 
a dandelion? Even the root." 

"I think I did hear that." He said as he chewed the 
bitter plant. 

They didn't taste very good. And there wasn't much 
to the pant. But it gave them something to do as they 
walked along the mostly quiet road. 

Day 57
Scully rubbed her tired eyes as Mulder looked at the 
map for a moment. She honestly didn't know why he 
looked at it. He had a perfect picture of it in his mind. 

"Hey Scully."

"Mmm?" She asked around a yawn. 

"We're in Canada." Mulder smiled happily at her.

She looked at him for a moment in shock. "Already?"

He nodded. "We've been walking eighteen hours a 
day lately. It paid off." Ever since Mulder's arm 
healed enough they walked. They walked as long as 
they could. Only stopping when it was too dark and 
became unsafe, and starting at sunrise when they 
woke. Walking helped keep their minds off the 
hunger and fear. 

She looked around in amazement. Most of the road 
signs had fallen with the last bombing making it 
difficult to follow the roads without looking at the 
map often. "How much longer until we reach Nova?"

He stared uncertainly at the map for a moment. 
"Hopefully ten days or so." Carefully he folded the 
map and put it back into his pocket. 

Scully took his hand in hers and pulled him along. 
"Well lets keep walking then." 
For the first time in a many weeks she felt some 
hope.
 
Part 6
Day 57
"Who knew Canada could be so hot." Mulder 
mumbled.

Scully nodded in agreement as she pushed tree limbs 
out of her way. 

Once in Canada there wasn't any main roads to take. 
Everything was poorly marked and overgrown with 
brush. It was difficult walking with rocks and uneven 
ground in some places. They had to move around 
newly fallen trees from the bombings. 

It was hot.

And humid. 

Mulder wanted nothing more then to sit down with a 
cold beer and forget about all this for ten minutes. 
But that wouldn't get him away from the heat, and he 
didn't have a beer, much less a cold one. 

If Mulder had to choose between that cold beer and 
real food, the food would win out in a second. They 
only had two days of food left. A couple weeks of 
vitamins, but those only did so much. 

But it was better not to think about it, so they didn't. 
They just walked.

"I'm taking a break." Scully announced then 
immediately sat down in the shade. 

"I'm not going to complain." With a yawn and a 
stretch Mulder sat beside her and leaned against a 
large tree. They sipped water in silence for a few 
moments before Mulder looked over at Scully in 
thought. She looked tired, stressed and bored. He 
continued to watch her silently as she recapped her 
water and tipped her head side to side, cracking and 
popping away tension. He tried not to smile as she 
stretched her arms over her head with a groan. 
Suddenly Mulder reached out and grabbed her waist. 
Ignoring her shriek of surprise he pulled her into his 
lap and tickled her through her damp t-shirt. 

"Mulder! Stop!" She forced out around laughter, 
trying to push herself off of him. 

Mulder danced his fingers along her sides 
relentlessly. It was wonderful to see her laugh. He 
was never able to often. Their lives have always been 
busy and hard. It was the still the same, but he 
wanted happiness added to that equation. 

Scully finally managed to tear herself from his grasp, 
causing her to tumble off his lap and onto the dirt. 
With a smug grin Mulder stood and pulled his bag 
on. "Well. we better get moving." 

Scully squinted up at him from where she still sat on 
the ground pulling her bag on. "You gonna help me 
up?" She held out a hand expectantly. 

"Well I guess so." Nonchalantly Mulder leaned down 
and took her hand. With a sharp tug he pulled her up 
and over his shoulder.

"Mulder!" Scully's yell was muffled by his hiking 
bag. Desperately she kicked her feet.

"Hold still young lady." Mulder scolded easily 
holding her legs down with his forearm. 

"Mulder! I'm serious! Put me down."

Mulder walked along the tiny path. "If you are so 
serious why are you laughing?" 

Realizing Mulder wasn't going to give up, Scully did. 
She dropped all her weight against him making him 
work to carry her. "Fine, if you won't put me down I 
might as well enjoy the ride." Folding her arms she 
rested them on the top of his bag, then lay her head 
on them and closed her eyes. The up down motion of 
Mulder's stride was relaxing.

Day 59
Scully wiped the sweat from her brow as she walked 
silently behind Mulder down the narrow path. It was 
hot, she was hungry, and it was barely noon. The day 
didn't look promising. 

A painful ache settled in her belly. Scully suddenly 
felt cold despite the heat in the air. She paused her 
stride and pressed the heels of her hands to her 
temples as a high pitched ringing sounded in her ears. 
Her vision became spotty and darkened. 

She watched silently as Mulder took a step away 
from her. Two steps. Three.

She wanted to say something to him, tell him she 
needed to rest. But her head spun and her mind 
wouldn't focus long enough for the sound to travel 
from her throat out her mouth. The last of her focus 
was spent on putting a hand to her nose, she pulled it 
away. She saw only sweat covered fingers, no blood. 
That relief only lasted a moment before she wavered 
helplessly on her feet.

Four strides away. Five. Six.

Mulder, not hearing Scully's answering footsteps, 
turned around. "Scully?" She was pale and shaking 
slightly. His six easy strides of distance was 
recovered in two long steps to her. "Scully!" He 
caught her around the waist just as her knees gave 
out. "I've got you, it's ok." He said softly as he 
lowered her to the ground. 

He gently pulled her bag from her shoulders then laid 
her on the ground. After wrapping her in a blanket he 
sat her up with her back to his chest. Running his 
fingers through her hair he spoke softly to her. 
"Come on, Scully. Come on back to me." He pleaded 
gently. 

Slowly Scully was able to focus on his voice and not 
the ringing in her head. Lolling her head back she 
kissed his neck lazily in a silent reply that she was 
ok. 

Letting out a long breath Mulder squeezed her tightly 
and let her relax a while longer before speaking. 

"What happened?"

Scully shrugged the blanket off and turned to him. "I 
don't know." Shaking her head she ran her hand over 
her face. "I think the heat is getting to me." 

Mulder frowned. He didn't know what to say or do 
that wouldn't upset her. "Let's stay for a while 
longer." 

He said tentatively as he handed her water.

She nodded. "A few more minutes. I'll be ok. I feel 
better now." 

A knot of anger settled in Mulder gut. "No. I want 
you to rest." 

"I will, for a few more minutes." She repeated 
meeting his angry gaze with her own. 

He rubbed his face with his hands in an attempt to 
erase some of the frustration he felt. "Scully please." 
He got up onto his knees in front of her. Begging, out 
right begging. "Please. I'm worried, can you lay 
down for a little longer?" 

Scully's first reaction was be yell at him. Tell him 
she was fine, even though she knew she should rest 
for a bit longer. She hadn't fainted in a years. She 
wanted to be mad at him, part of her was. It was 
always so much easier to be angry with him instead 
of herself. But seeing the way he put the anger and 
frustration away for straight out concern made her 
think twice. 

"We don't have the luxury of sitting, Mulder." 

He nodded and took her hand, pulling her down with 
her head pillowed on his thigh. "Close your eyes and 
take it easy for a little while, then we will start 
walking again. Just a little while."

"I'm not tired." She mumbled at him. She wasn't, she 
was hungry and hot, but not tired. 

"You don't have to sleep, you just have to rest." 

Scully jumped at the sensation of something cool and 
moist on her neck. Mulder shushed her and continued 
to run the damp cloth over her exposed arms, her 
neck, her forehead.

Despite not being tired Scully was easily lulled into a 
calm half sleep state.

Day 62
"Mulder, get off of me it's too hot." Scully mumbled 
and pushed him off of her shoulder where he had 
placed his hand

The sun had gone down a few hours ago but the air 
was still heavy and the fire, lit only for safety, was 
not helping. 

He batted her hands away when she tried to push him 
away. "I'm trying to help you." He informed helping 
her pull her shirt over her head. 

"Thank you, but I think I can handle washing 
myself." She stripped off the rest of her clothes 
perfectly aware of him starring at her. 

Mulder grabbed the towel and water from her hands. 
"Yes, I know you can. But won't it be more fun if I 
do it?" 

Scully bit the inside of her cheek in an attempt not to 
smile, it didn't work. 

Returning her smile, Mulder moved behind her and 
washed the sweat and dust from her pale skin. Once 
finished her laid her down onto the blankets and 
washed her chest and arms.

"I think you are favoring certain body parts over 
others, Mulder." Scully accused good naturedly since 
the focus was on her breasts. 

Mulder only smiled knowingly, her voice was light 
and airy as he traveled down her body. He bypassed 
her midsection, going straight to her feet. 

Scully let released a low groan of approval as he 
massaged the soles of her feet with him thumbs. 
Mulder continued until he felt she had relaxed 
completely into his hands before moving to her 
calves. He cleaned and massaged the tight muscles all 
along her legs until he reached her inner thigh. 

Scully slowly became aware, within her relaxed haze 
of arousal, that Mulder's hands were gone. "Are you 
stopping?" She whispered without opening her eyes. 

"Just for a minute."

Cracking her eyes open the bare minimum she saw 
Mulder. His back was to her as he washed the day's 
grime off of himself. With a soft sigh of anticipation 
Scully closed her eyes again and waited for him.

A few moments later Mulder settled himself on his 
side next to Scully, pressing the length of his body 
against hers. Leaning down he kissed the underside 
of her chin and stroked a hand down her body. With 
his fingers buried in her heat he settled himself on 
claiming her mouth with deep thorough kisses. 

Scully returned his attentions on her as well as she 
was able, but his strong skilled fingers continued to 
distract her. Finally, she gave up trying to keep up 
with him and relaxed into the sensations. Closer and 
closer she came to release. Mulder brought her right 
to the edge then eased up, avoiding stroking her 
sensitive nub or working his fingers into her body. 
He stroked her gently, bringing her down but not far 
from where she wanted to be. 

Opening her eyes sleepily, Scully looked up at 
Mulder. He smiled down at her look of annoyance 
and kissed her softly. 

In a wordless invitation Scully opened her legs. 
Without breaking eye contact Mulder settled down 
against her. She happily wrapped her arms around his 
neck, holding his familiar and comfortable weight to 
her body. 

They closed their eyes in unionism as Mulder sank 
into her body. Warmth radiated through Scully's 
body as she kept her eyes closed and Mulder began to 
move in relaxed strokes. Welcoming his body into 
hers Scully bent her legs around him. 

The warmth that built in Scully increased, along with 
her heart rate and breathing. Times like this she 
found it easy to accept the world as it was now. She 
could pretend it had always been like this. She never 
had a job, or a house, or a family outside of Mulder. 
That the ones who were destroying the world around 
them for only God knows why never took her away, 
never took her life force, never destroyed part of her. 
Scully let the heated ripples of pleasure take her away 
from the memories of what life was once. 

Mulder nuzzled the side of her face until she opened 
her eyes and focused on him in the firelight. Half his 
body glowed with orange warmth, the other half lost 
in the shadows of the night. He was a living eclipse 
over her, the Nova charm swinging gently in the 
firelight with his motion. 

Scully struggled to keep her eyes focused on his as 
the fire inside her consumed them both. With breathy 
calls of the others names they relaxed spent against 
each other. 

When the focus returned to Scully she dropped her 
legs from his waist, wove one hand into his hair and 
soothed his back with her other. Mulder rested his 
head on her collarbone, his arms around her waist, 
still inside her body. 

After many moments of silence he shifted, rolling 
onto his back and pulling Scully onto his chest as he 
struggled to pull a light blanket over them. 

"We should get there any day now." Scully 
whispered as she toyed with the charm low on 
Mulder's neck. 
His only response was to bury a hand in her hair and 
place a kiss on her forehead, leaving his lips to rest 
there. 

"What do we do once we get there?" Scully asked 
after long moments of silence. She carefully wrapped 
the chain around her index finger, watching the silver 
catch the orange light of the fire. 

"Doesn't say."

Scully glanced up at him with worry. They had 
nothing more to go on other then what Mulder had 
been told about Nova which wasn't much at all. But 
without the idea of Nova they had nothing. 

"We just have to walk until Nova finds us."

Letting out a long breath Scully looked back at he 
small charm now settled into the palm of her hand. 
Turning her hand over she trapped the star between 
her hand and Mulder's heart.

Day 63
Scully was her usual two steps behind Mulder on the 
small dirt road. Their order of walking wasn't about 
sexual rank. Mulder would walk slowly wanting to 
set the pace so Scully wouldn't push herself too hard, 
she knew this, but humored him into thinking she 
didn't. He would push the heavy branches away with 
his longer arms. Scully preferred to stay behind him 
anyway, otherwise he would try to help her too often. 
Guiding her up embankments, around ditches, and 
through trees. She didn't mind much, it was the 
chivalrous part of him coming through. She actually 
enjoyed his help, but not when it was this hot. She 
just didn't want to be touched until it was dark and 
cooler. That and she liked the view.

Their usual comfortable silence was ruined by 
Mulder cursing then falling to the ground.

Scully walked up next to him, looked down with her 
hands on her hips. Her expression was a mixture of 
question, concern, but most of all humor. Mulder 
could be so damn clumsily sometimes. 

"I stepped in a hole." He looked up at her with his 
lost puppy eyes.

With a smile Scully shook her head and kneeled 
down by him. "Which foot?"

"My left."

Sitting in the soft dirt she carefully pulled off his 
shoe to inspect for injuries. "Did you sprain it?"

"I don't think so. It doesn't even hurt anymore. I 
think I just lost my balance."

"I saw." Scully stated trying not to laugh. 

"You're just lucky I was walking in front. I found the 
hole for you." 

Deciding there was no damage she put his shoe back 
on. "If your feet weren't so big you wouldn't have 
had any trouble." She teased, after all there were a 
few perks of being petite. One of them being you 
didn't often trip in holes, just fell in them. Ok so 
maybe it wasn't a perk, but she had to tease him 
when she could.

"Well you know what they say about guys with big 
feet." Mulder grinned, proud of his comeback.

Shaking her head in good humor once again Scully 
stood and started walking down the path away from 
him. 

"Hey!" Mulder jumped to his feet to follow her. "Just 
gonna leave me all alone?"

"No," She glanced over her shoulder at him. "I just 
thought I should take over the hole searching for a 
while, you don't seem to be doing so well."

Mulder mumbled a wordless reply but didn't push the 
fact that he usually led. He liked the view he had now 
anyway.

Day 64
Scully actually wasn't hungry anymore. It was 
strange, she woke up and for the first time in a long 
time her stomach didn't cause her pain. It was still 
empty, she knew that, but it didn't bother her. 

And that frightened her. She wasn't starving to death. 
That took months. They had water, so that wasn't a 
problem. But she didn't like the fact that she wasn't 
in pain. It had become a comfort to her in a way. 
Something that was always there no matter what they 
did. But that seemed ridiculous. She didn't like that 
though. She wanted food. Wanted something to 
chew, to fill her stomach, something to use their pot 
for besides heating water. 

"Hey Scully.." Scully followed Mulder's line of 
vision to a group of five people walking in the sparse 
trees by them. "Stay here for a minute and keep an 
eye out for me."

"Mulder?" Her voice was filled with warning and 
concern. 

"I'm going to go see if they want to trade anything." 
He started to walk towards them in a calm non-
threatening stance.

"Be careful."

He smiled over his shoulder. "I always am. and 
when I'm not you are there to save my ass."

Scully watched, unamused, as he walked up to them. 
They group was suspicious towards Mulder at first, 
but Scully could pinpoint the moment he said he had 
cigarettes to trade. 

Standing alone was something that didn't happen to 
Scully anymore. She and Mulder were never far from 
each other. It made her feel vulnerable and protective 
at the same time. So she watched Mulder carefully. 
The group didn't look armed, but then again neither 
did Mulder. When in fact he had two guns and a 
knife hidden on his body. They talked and bargained 
for quite a few moments before Mulder walked back 
over. 

"Well?" 

Mulder put his arm over her shoulders and guided her 
back down the path they were on. "Well. we'll be 
eating a nice dinner tonight. I traded pretty well, still 
have a whole carton of cigarettes if we run into 
anyone else. It's amazing what people will trade for 
an addiction." 

Day 67
Mulder paused his walking beside Scully. 

"What?" 

Not looking at her he placed a finger to his lips as a 
signal for her to stay quiet. They both drew their guns 
slowly, scanning the surrounding area. 

Scully cursed herself silently, she was so lost in 
thought she wasn't paying attention to everything 
around them. She had been doing that often. Thank 
goodness Mulder didn't have that problem. Multi 
tasking was simple for him. He could be in deep 
thought, walking, listening and watching all at the 
same time. 

A few feet in front of them a middle-aged man, 
armed with a rifle, stepped out into the road. They all 
watched each other silently, with respective firearms 
lowered but posed at their sides. 
Scully waited for some sign of what Mulder wanted 
to do. Walk on? Speak to him? See if he had any food 
to trade? 

Slowly Mulder reached under his shirt, pulling out 
his chain. The Nova charm was displayed to the man 
on the pad of Mulder's thumb. 

Part 7
Day 67
The man looked at Mulder a moment with a blank 
expression. Then he gestured toward Scully; "She 
have one too?"

Scully frantically dug under her shirt pulling out first 
the cross them with more fumbling the star. 

All in one motion the man lowered the gun 
completely to his side, smiled and took a step 
forward extending his hand. "I'm Jared, nice to meet 
you."

"Fox Mulder." Mulder supplied as he shook his hand 
looking very shell shocked.

"I'm Dana Scully." 

"Nice to meet both of you." He turned, nodding his 
head in the direction from which he came. "Come on 
I'll take you to Nova so you can settle in."

"So Nova is real?" Scully knew it was, she knew it 
now. But she still needed to hear the words. 

Jared glanced over his shoulder nodding. "Of course 
it is. It's going to be about two miles walking. We're 
coming up on some of the gardens and barns now." A 
few feet later they all stepped out of thick trees and 
into small fields. "Hey Bill!" He called to an other 
middle aged man who was wondering around the 
field. "I'm taking these two to Nova, watch my area 
for a bit." The man waved in a friendly response over 
at them. Jared walked along the dirt path pointing out 
different fields, kept small so that the canopy of tree 
provided some cover. And barns containing cattle, 
pigs, chickens, and work animals. Mulder and Scully 
followed along in silence, taking in all the 
information and filing away the names of the people 
they met. Everyone was working, everyone seemed 
relaxed; it was strange. After months of being alone 
together it was difficult to remember how to 
communicate with other people.

"Ah there he is." Jared said to no one in particular. 
"Benjamin! We have some new arrivals." 

Jared waved his goodbye as a tall man with silver 
gray hair came up to them smiling. "Hello, I'm 
Benjamin Walters."

"You're the man who started all this." Mulder said as 
he shook his hand. 

"That's right." He said as he moved on to Scully. 

"I'm Dana Scully and this is Fox Mulder." Scully 
immediately liked Benjamin. He was kind, and quiet 
with an honest smile. 

"Doctor Dana Scully?" 

"Well. Yes and Agent Scully." She said with a 
small laugh.

"Oh yes. I remember now. You are both FBI agents. 
Dana has a medical background and Fox you have a 
psychology degree."

"Yes that's right." Mulder was truly impressed. With 
all the people in Nova it was shocking that he could 
remember the two of them. 

"Well this is wonderful. Dana you are the first doctor 
to make it here since this all started. We have a few 
nurses but that's it. Come on, I'll show you around."

They slowly walked towards a rocky area, almost 
small mountains. 

"How is that you remember the two of us?"

"Well Fox-"

"Mulder, it's just Mulder."

Scully rolled her eyes. But she was actually surprised 
it took him so long to mention that. 

"Ok, Mulder. Your story about your sister, your 
work, Dana's medical training, I suppose it just stuck 
in my mind." They had approached a rocky cliff. 
"Watch your step here, the ceiling is low in some 
spots." The three slowly made their way through a 
dark maze of rocks before stepping into a lit hallway. 

Scully shivered slightly. The air was much cooler 
with the rock cover. Large oil lamps lining the 
hallway threw out some heat, but mostly just light. 

"This is the main entrance. There many others, but 
smaller and not as easy to get in and out of." 
Benjamin began as they walked. "There is a map in 
your room, that will help you learn your way 
around." The hall became brighter and warmer as 
they walked into an open area at least two hundred 
feet in diameter. A large fireplace was in the center 
and what looked to be brick ovens with the smell of 
fresh bread filling the air. "This is the Main Room." 
He directed them to the right of the doorway and 
pointed down a long hallway. "There are many rooms 
down there, four hallways in all. The north, south, 
east and west, named for obvious reasons. Here's the 
food station, every Monday morning you pick up 
your rations, every morning you pick up fresh milk, 
bread and eggs; you also pick up your work 
assignment then. Usually once a week we have fresh 
meat. I'll bring your food to you once you have 
settled in." Benjamin waved at different rooms as he 
spoke. Showing them where to collect the ice cold 
water that flowed in from the river higher in the hills. 
Where to dump waste and milk bottles to be refilled. 
Pointing down the hallways of rooms they passed, 
introducing them to anyone that they met along the 
way. He showed them the `churches' the `library' the 
storage rooms filled with canned and dried food, 
other rooms with stacks and stacks of spare clothing 
and bedding, everyone would be given replacement 
clothing every few months. When they walked into 
the Medical Room Scully looked around in wonder. 
The walls were lined with shelves and cots lay in the 
back near a small wood stove. There were bandages 
and herbal medicines-some which she recognized, 
surgical supplies and medical books. She didn't say a 
word as she walked around. Finally, after being 
shown and told more things then they could possibly 
remember, Benjamin showed them to a room. Saying 
`it is one of the largest ones left' since not many 
people had arrived yet, only a few hundred so far. 
Benjamin closed the heavy wooden door behind him 
after lighting a few of the many oil lamps in the 
room. 
Leaning back against the door Mulder looked around 
what was now their home. The room was rectangle, 
about thirty feet by twenty. The door was on the short 
side, the floor was rock, just like the hallways. The 
walls were of thick wood planks, stained a natural 
dark color. In the right corner of the opposite short 
side was a small wood stove with a pipe leading up 
into the carved out rock ceiling. Next to the stove was 
a queen sized bed on an old oak frame pressed up in 
the corner. In the corner, to the left of the doorway 
was a large dresser, above were two long shelves. 
The only other furniture was a small wooded table 
pressed up against the wall opposite the bed and three 
mismatched chairs. 

The stove had a flat top. A small pot, pan, a few 
plates, glasses, mugs, and bowls along with silver 
ware in a low cabinet. It was made for both heat and 
cooking. 

The bed looked inviting, with a thick down blanket 
and four pillows. 

Silently Scully dropped her hiking bag near the table 
and walked over to the bed. Tentatively, as if it might 
dissolve at any moment, she sat on the firm mattress. 
With a soft laugh she laid back against the soft 
sheets. "I missed having a bed."

Mulder slowly made his way over to her, running his 
fingers along the wall. "I missed having walls." He 
sat on the edge of the bed savoring the cushion that 
absorbed his weight. 

Reaching up Scully pulled him flat on the bed. She 
curled up against his chest with her hands tucked up 
against her. "I feel comfortable here." 

Mulder only nodded. He felt the same way. It was a 
strange feeling, he never felt like he was home 
anywhere. Not his old apartment, not even his house 
as a child. It didn't seem to have anything sacred. 
"Who thought our first home together would be a 
single room in a cave." 

Scully picked her head up enough to rest her chin on 
her hands. She smiled for a moment trying to decide 
whether or not to talk about the fact that he presumed 
that they would be living together at some point. Not 
that she thought any different. Years ago she realized 
Fox Mulder was the only man for her. He loved her, 
and she loved him, it was that simple. They would 
easily give their lives for each other without a second 
thought. What more could she look for in a man? 

A knock sounded on the door. 

Mulder kissed her forehead quickly before standing. 
He opened the door to Benjamin. 

"Here you are Mulder." He handed him a canvas bag 
with dried rice, cans of vegetables, fruit, soup and 
many other things; more food then Mulder had seen 
in weeks. "This is both of your rations for the rest of 
the week. I brought the only bottle of milk left from 
this morning. Now don't forget to pick up your 
assignments in the morning, but Dana, you will be 
working in the Medical Room. Mulder since you are 
good shape you'll probably be doing hard labor." 
Mulder nodded solemnly. "But it's still early, so take 
the day off. Get settled in and take a look around. Be 
sure to read the rule-book. You can pick up wood in 
the Main Room where I showed you. There should be 
a change of sheets for the bed in dresser. If you hear 
something, it's just the clock chiming the hour. 
You'll get used to it quickly, except the wake up call 
at six am, you won't miss that." Benjamin laughed 
softly. "Oh, and before I forget, we don't work on 
Sundays. Except Dana. People will have to find you 
if they have any problems."

She nodded in understanding. "Benjamin, what day is 
it?"

He smiled softly, feeling sorry that they had to make 
the journey to Nova. And judging by their tired, worn 
expressions it wasn't an easy trip. "It's Wednesday. If 
you need anything, anything at all, don't hesitate to 
find me." With a smile he left them. 

Mulder turned back around to find Scully, who had 
kicked off her hiking boots, putting clothing away. 
"We can do that later, Scully. Why don't you come 
over here and eat something." 

Scully walked over and sat in one of the chairs taking 
the cold bottle of milk in her hands. "I would just like 
some milk."

Mulder passed her two glasses which she separated 
the milk into equal parts. She sipped slowly, savoring 
the rich thick taste of raw milk, as Mulder stowed the 
food in the cabinet by the stove. She watched 
wordlessly as he walked around drinking his milk 
just as slowly. He unzipped his hiking bag, placing 
the clothes in the dresser, then with care, he took out 
his framed picture of Samantha and placed it on a 
shelf. Scully set her empty glass down, after digging 
through her bag she pulled out two pictures. One of 
her and her mother, father, Bill, Charles, and Melissa 
when they were young. And one of Emily. Smiling 
she leaned back against the foot of the bed. "This is 
perfect."

"Perfect?" Mulder's voice was full of amusement. 

"Well." Scully tipped her head from side to side in 
thought. "Just about, yeah." She placed a hand over 
her stomach. "I haven't felt this full in a long time." 
The fresh milk felt heavy in her shrunken stomach. It 
was a wonderful feeling.

Mulder nodded his agreement then picked up a 
bucket. "I'm going to go get some water, then I'll get 
some wood." 

Scully dragged the hiking bags back out. "I'll finish 
unpacking. Then I think we should take a nice long 
nap on this new bed."

"I agree whole-heartedly." Mulder called as he shut 
the door.

A few minutes later Mulder was making his second 
trip back to the Main Room to get wood. He was 
placing the small pieces of wood in the carrier he 
found in the room when he heard a questioning voice 
call his name.

Mulder looked up from his crouched position. 

"Mulder!" Langly bounded over to him. 

After recovering from an unbalancing hug Mulder 
laughed in disbelief. "How long have you been 
here?"
"All three of us got here over a month ago, we had 
enough gas saved up so we drove all the way to 
Canada, but we left about a week after They came. 
The guys are back in their rooms for lunch." Mulder 
nodded, the clock just struck twelve. "When did you 
get here? Is Scully with you?" 

"Yes, we got here today. No more then an hour ago." 
Mulder pulled the heavy bag onto his shoulder. "Why 
don't you guys stop by. We are in the fourth room on 
the left in the west hall." 

Langly nodded enthusiastically and started jogging 
off to the east hallway. "Yeah! We'll be right there." 
Mulder walked back to their room with a stupid grin 
on his face. "Hey Scully. Guess who I just saw?"

She looked up in question from where she was 
stowing items they wouldn't need under the bed. 
"Langly. Him, Byers and Frohike are on their way 
over here right now." 

A few minutes later the Gunmen arrived, they stayed 
throughout the hour and a half lunch break. They 
talked about their relatively easy ride up to Nova. 
Then Mulder and Scully shared their story. The short 
version. It was easier that way. For all of them.

 
Scully lay on her side on the bed, watching Mulder 
start a small fire. It was only mid afternoon, but they 
were both ready to turn in for the night. Mulder 
walked around, putting out the lamps so that the 
room was lit in a faint orange glow from the fire. He 
then climbed up on the bed, his back against the wall 
and pulled Scully to him.

She rolled over, buring her face in his chest. 

Then she started to cry. She finally let herself cry. 

"Shh. It's ok sweetheart." Mulder cooed softly. 
"Everything is ok now." He didn't press her to stop. 
He couldn't. He had started to cry softly. But it was 
of relief. He felt safe now, he felt he could keep 
Scully safe here. At least he hoped he could, for a 
little awhile if nothing more. 

Scully hadn't let herself cry about Them coming. 
Through the whole thing she only cried once. And 
that was for Mulder. When she went to wake him to 
drink water after being stabbed, and he wouldn't 
wake. She started to cry. For him. That she might 
lose him, it was a big possibility. So she cried from 
the moment he wouldn't wake up to the moment he 
finally did. For over forty-eight hours she cried. Only 
sleeping when pure exhaustion overcame her, the 
moment she would wake up she would cry again. 

Mulder soothed his hand through her hair, the other 
wrapped around her waist, holding her to him. 
"Everything is ok." He whispered again. 

Slowly Scully stopped crying. She just lay in his 
arms, horribly tired from physical and mental 
exertion. But she wasn't hungry. And she wasn't hot. 
She wasn't cold. She wasn't sleeping on rocks or 
even dirt. And she wasn't as scared. Slowly she let 
Mulder's heartbeat pressed against her ear lull her 
into a restful sleep. 

 
Scully was awoken slowly by the feeling of Mulder's 
lips pressing feather light kisses to the back of her 
neck. It took her a moment to remember where she 
was. It always amazed her that she never got over 
that, even after all the years of spending most of 
nights in hotels and the last few months waking up in 
the middle of no where. "Is it time to get up?" She 
asked sleepily, rolling over to face him.

Mulder placed a long deep kiss on her lips. "Not at 
all. I just heard the clock, it's only two in the 
morning." 

"Then why are you bothering me?" She teased. 

"It's bad luck not to make love in a new house." 

Scully laughed softly. "Is that a fact?"

"Mmm hmm." He mumbled against his neck as his 
hands slipped under her shirt. "Brings good luck." 

Wiggling against him she managed to pull off her 
shirt. "I don't want to tempt luck." She tugged at 
Mulder's shirt.

Reaching behind him, Mulder pulled his shirt off the 
rest of the way with one hand. "I wonder how thick 
these walls are." He said with a smile against Scully's 
lips as he struggled to unbutton her pants without 
looking down.

Scully just laughed and shimmied out of the rest of 
her clothes. Mulder moved to cover her body with his 
but she stopped him with a hand on his chest. "You 
have too many clothes on." She said matter of factly.

"Aren't you in a hurry. Not that I am complaining." 

Scully pulled him, finally naked, down onto her 
body. "I wouldn't want any misfortune to strike while 
we wait."

He chuckled against her as he suckled her breast. 
"That would be a shame." 

She pulled his face back up level with hers, pulling 
his hips between her legs at the same time. "We 
better hurry then." Putting her hands on either side of 
his face she kissed him deeply. She fingers slowly 
traveled down his arms where he held his weight on 
either side of her face. Then she skimmed them down 
his back until she cupped a cheek of his ass in each 
hand. With a firm pushed she took him into her body. 

Mulder broke off their kiss as the sensation of her 
warmth sheathing him overwhelmed him. Nothing 
else in the world mattered but his body moving inside 
of hers. All his focus was concentrating on bringing 
pleasure to Scully. It served as a way from him to 
take away all the pain and harshness that surrounded 
them.

Angling himself, Mulder put his weight on to one 
arm while sliding the other down to Scully's 
slickened folds. Finding her swollen nub he rubbed in 
time with his strokes. Almost immediately Scully 
began to quiver around his hardness. 

In the closing moments Mulder fell to her side, 
placing his face in the crook of her neck. Rolling onto 
his side he pulled Scully against him. Taking her 
thick hair into his hands he pressed his lips to her 
forehead for long moments. 

"We may have to do that again." Scully whispered 
sleepily with a smile.

Mulder pulled away enough to look at her face in the 
faint glow of the fire. "Why?"

Stretching up she kissed him quickly. "Just to keep 
our luck up."

He chuckled softly and pulled her against him again. 
"Sounds like a good plan." He murmured into her 
hair. Slowly they both drifted off again in the 
peaceful silence of their room. 

Part 8
Day 68
Scully awoke with a gasp at a loud chiming, the 
blood rushing from her head at the sudden upright 
movement made her feel dizzy. 

Mulder chuckled softly from the other side of the 
room. "Benjamin said we wouldn't miss that." He 
moved from the table where he was reading the rule-
book to sit on the side of the bed. 

Scully rubbed the sleep from her eyes in order to 
focus on Mulder. He had obviously been awake for a 
while, the lamps were lit dimly, the fire was going 
well, and he was clean and dressed. "Did you sleep 
alright?" Scully asked with concern, cupping his jaw 
in her palm and rubbing his cheekbone with her 
thumb. 

He turned and placed a long kiss on her sleep-warm 
hand. "Yeah, just fine." He stood and motioned 
towards the table. "I already got our breakfast. I'll 
even cook for you." He grinned over at her as he 
picked up the pan from the cabinet in one hand and 
the two morning eggs in his other. With a little wink 
that melted Scully's heart he turned to start frying the 
eggs. 

Scully climbed out of bed, wearing only Mulder's tee 
shirt from the night before. She wrapped her arms 
around his waist and kissed him between his should 
blades through his shirt. "I love you." She said softly. 
Even though they had confessed their love they 
didn't get carried away with it. They knew how the 
other felt, but didn't see the need to say it all the 
time.

He smiled over his shoulder. "I love you too. And I 
don't want you to catch a cold. Get dressed before 
these are cooked."

After another quick kiss she did as requested. 
Dressed, Scully sat down in one of the chairs and 
took a long drink of the still very cold milk. She 
quickly became accustomed to the rich taste of the 
fresh milk, wondering how she ever drank fat free. 
She took a large bit of eggs and an equally large bite 
of bread. Chewing happily she looked up at Mulder. 
His fork was poised over his plate, but he was just 
staring at her with an astonished expression. "What?" 
She mumbled out around a mouthful. 

Shaking his head he laughed lightly. "Nothing. 
Nothing at all." He hadn't seen her eat with such 
relish in a long time. Good food after so long without 
it will do that to a person. 

With a shrug Scully focused back on her food. "What 
are you doing today?"

"Chopping firewood." Scully looked up at him in 
slight question. "I have to meet the group at seven, 
we won't be back until five tonight."

Scully looked back down at her almost empty plate. 
She didn't know what to think. Working a day away 
from Mulder was not typical. Even when they 
worked in the FBI. It hadn't happened in years. 

"Hey." Mulder reached over and tilted her chin up to 
meet his eyes. "I know, it will be weird. Not seeing 
you for ten hours." He smiled in humor. "No cell 
phones, so I can't call you every hour with some 
stupid reason to hear your voice." Mulder blushed 
slightly realizing he said that out loud, but Scully 
wasn't surprised, she did the same thing. "But don't 
worry. We'll both be busy, the time will fly by." 
Scully raised her brows at him. "Yeah, I know, that's 
a load of crap." He picked up both their empty plates. 
"But we've got to get used to it." 

Scully leaned back in her chair, stretching her arms 
over her head with a slight groan. "I hate to say it but 
you're right." 

"Oh, thank you Scully." He said with mock hurt. 

She began to page through the rule-book Mulder had 
been reading. 

"That is a pile of shit if I have ever read one." He said 
turning around after cleaning the dishes in one of the 
buckets of water. 

"Why do you say that?"

"They are just unrealistic. `Anyone who steals will be 
banned from Nova.' Like they are just going to walk 
away. I don't think so. Another one was `Sexual 
harassment and other such offences are not 
permitted.' Like having that written will stop it from 
happening." Mulder shook his head in annoyance as 
he started to tie his hiking boots. 

"Well. we can hope right?" Scully sounded less 
hopeful then she meant to.

Mulder sighed when the clock chimed seven. "I better 
go. Not allowed to miss a day unless you file a note 
from the doctor, which is you by the way, with the 
work station." Mulder rolled his eyes then stood. 
After kissing Scully quickly. "I'll see you later." 

"Bye." She called as he closed the door. 

 
Scully was sitting in the silence of the Medical Room 
reading when the creaking of the door caught her 
attention. She looked over her shoulder to see 
Mulder, he was sweaty and covered in dirt. Smiling 
he walked over and leaned down to kiss Scully's 
cheek. 

"No way!" She ducked down and out of the chair. 
"You are not laying a hand on me until you clean up."

Mulder held his arms out to display himself. "What? 
You don't like the rustic lumberjack look?"
She shook her head. "Not really."

"Oh all right. I was just trying to kiss my woman 
hello when I get home from work." His voice was 
coated with humor. 

"Tell you what, you go to our room, clean up. I'm 
going finish up in here and I'll kiss you hello."

Nodding, Mulder walked out the door. "As long as I 
get a kiss I have no complaints."

Smiling to herself, Scully put away her medical book, 
turned off the lamps, leaving only the faint fire to 
light the empty room. Closing the door behind her 
she flipped over the wooden sign saying the doctor 
was no longer in. She walked towards the west hall 
smiling at the people she met during the day. 

Scully smiled openly the moment she opened to door 
to their room. Mulder was lying on his side, facing 
the fire, he was cleaned and changed and looked 
completely exhausted. She toed off her shoes and sat 
next to him. 

Mulder opened his eyes for a moment to look at her, 
then let them slip closed. "Do I get my kiss now? I'm 
all clean." 

As her answer she leaned down and kissed his 
exposed neck. She stayed down, leaning her weight 
against his side. 

Mulder rolled onto his back, causing Scully to land 
on his chest. "How'd it go today?" He asked taking 
her hair into his hands. He let the soft strands slip 
through his fingers, only to pick them up again.

Scully lifted her head, resting her chin on the back of 
her hands in the center of his chest. "There are two 
pregnant women here, I saw them both today."

"Yeah? Are they doing well?"

She nodded, looking at the wall behind him in 
thought. "Yeah, they are fine as far as I can tell." She 
paused for a moment. "I'm going to have to deliver 
the babies, Mulder." Her voice was just above a 
nervous whisper. 

Mulder rubbed his palms over her back. "You've 
done it before."

"Once, Mulder. Only once."

Mulder turned her face with his hand to meet her 
eyes. "You'll do ok Scully, don't worry."

Frowning Scully laid her head back down on his 
chest and looked into the fire. 

Day 69
Scully was sure of it, they had barely been at Nova 
for three days and Mulder had already gotten himself 
in trouble. 

She had gotten back from the Medical Room over an 
hour ago, Mulder was supposed to be back an hour 
before her. His job today was to patrol. Mostly 
because of his experience with firearms. He had to 
walk to border of Nova all day, watching for anyone. 

Scully paced the length of the room for the 
umpteenth time. She wanted to go looking for him, it 
was her first reaction. But he could be anywhere in 
the hundred square miles that Nova had `claimed'. 
There was no way for her to find him. But she wasn't 
allowing herself to panic, yet. 

With a frustrated sigh Scully walked out the room 
and down to the main room. She all but jogged down 
the east hall to the three rooms the Lone Gunmen 
had, all in a row. She rapped her knuckles on the first 
door, Frohike's. 

"Well Scully, what do I owe this pleasure?" Frohike 
greeted with his trademark leer. 

"Have you seen Mulder today?"

His face straightened. "Not since I woke up, why?"

Scully frowned and leaned against the wall next to 
the door as Langly and Byers walked in from the 
Main Room. "He went on patrol today and hasn't 
gotten back yet. He's two hours late."

"We'll go looking for him if he doesn't get back by 
dark." Byers promised. "But give him time."

"Yeah, don't worry yet Scully. All he had to do was 
walk a little farther then he planned and lose track of 
time." 

Scully looked at Langly and tried to absorb the truth 
of his words into her reeling mind. Nodding slowly, 

"Ok. Thanks guys. I'll come back over if Mulder 
doesn't show up in a couple hours." She started 
walking back towards the Main Room. 

"Don't worry Scully, I'm sure he'll show up." Byers 
called. 

Scully studied the floor her entire walk back to the 
room, she wouldn't be able to force a smile for 
anyone she ran into in the hallway so she didn't want 
to make any eye contact. 

Refusing to let herself pace anymore before she wore 
a tread into the rock floor she laid down on the bed, 
starring up at the rock ceiling. Studying the natural 
contours of how the stone broke away from the 
carved out sections was much like looking up at the 
clouds. At a quick glance they looked like nothing 
more then hills and valleys. But with the imagination 
of her stressed mind Scully saw many things. 

In the far corner above the table there was a spiral, 
uneven and irregular, but it was there. Native 
Americans believed that symbol meant the 
continuation of life. It went on forever, no matter 
what. 

Scully couldn't imagine her life without Mulder, she 
hadn't been able to for years. 

The area above the stove had already turned slightly 
dark from the soot when the glass door was opened to 
add wood. The way the smoke spiraled up and 
around left a swirling mark. It looked like a large 
black spider. 

Scully hated spiders. She smiled in memory at the 
time one had found it's way onto her desk in their old 
office. She had screamed like a little girl, jumped out 
of her chair and told Mulder to kill it. But he 
wouldn't, instead he picked it up in a scrap of paper 
and let it out one of the tiny ground level windows. 
Scully hated this spider. Climbing off the bed she 
pulled a chair over to the spot. Standing up on it she 
was tall enough to wipe away the mark with her 
hand. Once it was nothing more then a blur of soot 
she climbed down and got back on the bed. 

For many silent moments she stared at the area above 
the head of the bed. She knew her unconscious had a 
part in what she saw, but she didn't care. To her the 
stone was cut in an `X'. She smiled at the 
appropriateness of it all. 

Her eyes grew heavy at as she stared at that X. She 
didn't want to sleep, but it was so much more inviting 
then waiting. She had always hated waiting as a 
child. She grew out of it as an adult, until she started 
working with Mulder. Then the waiting wasn't just 
waiting, it was fear, annoyance, concern, and 
nervousness. 

But she had no choice but to wait. 

Part 9
Day 69 (continued)
Scully woke with a start from a dip in the bed. Her 
eyes flew open and did not meet the X above the bed, 
but Mulder's face. 

"Oh thank God." Scully sat up and wrapped her arms 
around the surprised Mulder's neck.

He kissed her neck softly. "Sorry I'm late, I lost track 
of time. I got to walking around. It's really pretty out 
around here Scully, I'll have to show you some spots 
I found-What?" He asked worriedly after she pulled 
away from him and shot daggers out of her eyes. 

"You scared the shit out of me Mulder!" She wiggled 
out from between him and the wall to stand, hands on 
her hips, lips pressed tightly, a angry flush in her 
cheeks, still glaring at him. 

Mulder opened his mouth to say something but didn't 
know what to say for a moment. "I'm. I'm sorry, 
Scully. I don't exactly have a way to keep track of 
time out there. And once I realized it was getting late 
I had an hour and half's walk back." 

"I don't want to hear your excuses Mulder!" 

He held up a hand. "Ok, just relax Scully."

"Relax?! Oh sure, no problem. I've just been laying 
here for the past few hours worried to death that 
something happened to you and I wouldn't be able to 
find you!" Scully had two choices in situations like 
this; either start to cry, or be madder the hell. She 
almost always chose the latter. 

Mulder clenched his jaw trying to keep the words 
from coming out of his mouth, but they did anyway. 
"So you usually sleep when you are worried about 
my well being? That's good to know." His voice was 
bitter and hurt. Hurtful. 

Scully jaw dropped open. "Mulder." Scully stopped 
and pressed the heels of her hands into her eyes, 
trying to keep the angry, yet relieved, tears from 
falling. 

Mulder shook his head. "This is useless. I'll be back 
later." Mulder stood and walked towards the door, 
but Scully blocked his way with her small body. 

"No way. You aren't walking out until we are 
finished." 

"Scully! This is pointless. Whenever I do something 
that scares you -even when I had no way to stop it- 
like this time, you get pissed off. There's nothing else 
for me to tell you!" He leaned in close to her, 
speaking slowly and firmly. "I lost track of time and 
location. I am sorry I worried you. I didn't do it on 
purpose." He stood upright again. "Now if you insist 
on still being mad at me I would like to go 
somewhere else." 

Scully refused to give in this time. Call it pride, call it 
stubbornness, call it whatever you like, she just 
wasn't going to let him off the hook. Crossing her 
arms she leaned back against the doorway. If Mulder 
wanted to leave he was going to have to move her 
first, and she was planning on making that very 
difficult if he tried. 

"Oh I don't believe this!" Mulder turned around and 
took a deep breath, running his hands through his hair 
before turning around again. He spoke softly, trying 
to let the level of tension in the small room ease up at 
least a little. "What do you want me to say Scully? 
What can I do to make you feel better about all this? 
I've said I am sorry, and I mean it. I really am. I 
don't like to worry you, I really don't."

"Say you won't let it happen again." Scully ordered. 

Mulder's eyes closed, this was just getting worse and 
worse. "Scully, sweetheart, I love you." He took a 
step toward her, pinning her against the door with his 
height. "I really do. I respect you and I don't want to 
hurt you ever." His next words were careful, he knew 
he was on thin ice. "But you aren't thinking this one 
through." He quickly held up his hand when she tried 
to speak. "There is no way for me to promise 
something like this won't happen again. I can't 
promise something I don't have control over."

"Mulder you have control over when you come 
home." She said bitterly. He was trying to sweet talk 
her and it wouldn't work. 

"Not when I don't have a way to keep track of time. 
Some places are very heavily treed, I can't see the 
sun. And even that isn't very helpful. I refuse to 
promise something that I might not be able to keep. I 
won't do that to you."

Scully bit the inside of her cheek. She had 
overreacted. She knew that. But she couldn't help it, 
and she wasn't sorry in the least. She was tired of 
this. Seven years of being scared shitless that she 
might not see Mulder again would do that to a 
person. She let her eyes fall from his and looked at 
her feet, her arms loosening the tight determined 
pose. "You scared me." She repeated because she had 
nothing else to say. She couldn't stop the few tears of 
pain that rolled down her cheeks.

Mulder stepped forward even more. Taking her arms 
in his hands he loosed the cross completely. "I 
know." Tilting her head up with one hand on her chin 
he kissed the tears away from her cheeks. "I'm sorry. 
I am so sorry, Scully."

She sniffled and nodded, unable to meet his eyes. 

"Come here." He said softly pulling her into his arms. 

She buried her face in his neck and wrapped her arms 
around his shoulders. 

"I don't want you to be mad at me. You're all I've 
got." He whispered in her ear. "You're all I want and 
you're all I need." He squeezed her against him. 
"You're my everything."

"I know." She whispered back. "You're mine too." 
She kissed his neck where the skin became hot and 
moist from her breath.

They stayed like that for a long time, lips pressed 
against each other's necks, exchanging feather light 
kisses of apology and forgiveness. Mulder finally 
pulled his head away from her slightly and kissed her 
lips. She opened her mouth to his gentle request of 
his tongue against her lower lip. His kiss was gentle 
and controlled. Scully slipped her hands from his 
upper arms to into his hair. She wove her fingers into 
the soft stands and pulled him closer to her. With her 
back still against the door Scully had some leverage 
over his height. Arching her back away from the 
wood her was able to push Mulder back. She kept 
walking, forcing him to either stop kissing her or 
move with her. When the back of his knees hit the 
end of the bed he sat down, bring Scully with him. 

Straddling his lap she tugged his shirt from his pants, 
breaking off the kiss only long enough to pull both 
his and hers off. Mulder danced his fingers over the 
newly exposed skin of Scully's back, tickling lightly. 
Wiggling in his lap slightly Scully smiled against his 
lips as he continued to tease her flesh. 

"That tickles." She informed in a soft voice as she 
moved to kiss his jaw. 

"I know." Mulder answered and ran his fingers over 
her skin again, this time on her sensitive sides. 
Scully bit his neck in rebuttal. 

"Hey!" He said laughing. "Play nice."

Smiling again, Scully kissed him thoroughly as she 
pushed him onto his back. They carefully worked the 
buttons of each other's pants open. As Mulder kicked 
his jeans off he pulled himself and Scully further up 
on the bed so his legs weren't hanging off the end. 

Scully kissed around his face, his eyes, his nose, 
spending great time on his ears before moving further 
down his neck. Working her tongue in circles she 
traveled the length of his collarbone. Scully paused 
suddenly. Mulder turned his head and opened his 
eyes to look at her. Without looking up at him, Scully 
placed a long kiss over the pink scar on his arm. 

Mulder watched silently as she laved the tender flesh 
with care. As if she was hoping to wash away the 
scar like a mother cat. With a gentle sigh, barely 
audible in the silence of the room, save for the soft 
crackling fire, Scully worked her way back to his 
mouth.

Slowly Mulder worked his hands in a continuous 
caress from her shoulders to her lower back. He 
slipped his hands down the back of her panties, 
Scully rose enough to allow him to slip them as far 
down her legs as he could. With a little squirming she 
kicked them off the end of the bed. Mulder quickly 
raised his hips enough for Scully to pull down his 
boxers, he pushed them off, finishing off the pile of 
clothes on the floor. 
Scully returned to her perch of straddling his thighs 
and kissed him the heat of anticipation became 
unbearable. Mulder supported her weight in his 
strong hands as she guided him into her waiting 
body. Sitting up straight, Scully tilted her head back 
and let a rhythm take over her movements without 
much thought. When she was with Mulder it seemed 
natural. She didn't need to question her movements, 
or her actions. She let her eyes slip closed from the 
vision of the X on the ceiling as she felt Mulder's 
thumb probe knowingly at her folds. 

She let the rhythm change with Mulder's new 
movement. She let him take some of the control, let 
him take her to the wonderful place that he was so 
good at taking her. Scully bit her lip to remain quiet, 
but a small whimper escaped. Her body pulsed its 
pleasure, it rejoiced at the feeling of Mulder releasing 
into her body. He gave her life, even if they couldn't 
make a new life they were build their life together 
stronger and stronger. 

Scully let herself fall relaxed onto Mulder's chest, 
frantic with trying to breathe properly. His hands 
slowly began to stroke and soothe her back after he 
pulled the bunched blankets over them both. 
 

Mulder tried to ignore the sound that was disturbing 
his sleep, but the sound wouldn't go away. He slowly 
figured, after listening closely, someone was 
knocking on the their door. Carefully extracting 
himself from Scully's grasp he pulled on his 
discarded jeans. He covered Scully's body with the 
blankets securely before opening the door. 

"Hey, you're alive." Langly greeted.

Mulder let out an only partly amused snort and 
stepped out into the cool hallway, closing the door so 
Scully wouldn't wake. "Yeah, I just lost track of time 
out there."

"Unbelievable." Byers said shaking his head after 
looking Mulder up and down.
"Huh?" 

Frohike nodding in agreement with Byers. "You are 
one lucky son of a bitch Mulder."

"What are you talking about?" Mulder, still half 
asleep was quickly becoming annoyed with them. 

"I have never seen Scully as scared as she was when 
you hadn't shown up after a couple hours." Byers 
said, looking just as pissed as the other two. "And 
I've seen Scully pretty scared before."

"Yeah," Frohike interrupted. "You scare her to death 
then come back and have make up sex." 

Mulder leaned back against the door with a sigh. 
"Look, guys, I'll say is again for the millionth time 
today; I am sorry. Ok? Can everyone just lay off?"

Langly held up his hands in innocence. "Hey we 
aren't here because we are mad. We were just 
checking up on Scully to make sure you showed up."

"I appreciate that. Thank you."

"No problem. See you tomorrow." They turned and 
walked away still muttering how unbelievable it was 
that he always ended up getting away with stunts like 
that. 

Feeling worse then before about the whole thing 
Mulder went back into the room. He sat down at the 
table and watched Scully sleep peacefully wrapped 
up, safe and warm. She didn't look that way when he 
first walked in and found her sleeping. Her brow had 
been furrowed, she shifted restlessly in the few 
seconds that he had been there before she woke, she 
looked just plain shaken. 

Mulder let out yet another sigh, this one annoyance 
with himself-even though there was nothing he could 
have done about it- and continued to watch over 
Scully as she slept. 

Day 70
Scully was reorganizing the supplies in the Medical 
Room when the door opened and a bleeding Mulder 
walked in. 

"A rock bit me." He said sitting down on one of the 
cots.

Scully rolled her eyes. She spent most of her day 
taking care of simple wounds like this. She didn't 
mind though, things could be much worse. "It bit 
you?" She asked as she placed a pan of water of the 
cot beside him. 

"Yeah. Came out of no where. Them rocks can be 
pretty tricky." He cringed as she placed his bleeding 
hand in the water and cleaned off the dried blood. 

"So I've heard." She pulled his hand out and toweled 
it off. The cut wasn't deep. "Tell me if this hurts." 
She gently pressed the bones surrounding the cut. 

"A little."

She nodded. "Ok, nothing is broken. I'll just wrap it 
up, try not to use it too much." She pressed a towel 
over the cut, then placed his hand over it. "Hold that 
till the bleeding stops." 

"It's quiet in here today."

Scully sorted through the cabinet looking for size 
bandage she wanted. "Now it is. People are always in 
and out of here for something. I feel like Dr. Quinn 
Medicine Woman." She mumbled as she sat down 
next to him again. 

He chuckled. 

"Let me see." She examined his hand for another 
moment before spreading a green paste over the 
wound.

"What's that?"

"Astragalus. It will help some with infection. After a 
few days you can just put aloe on it." 

"Oh. You have turned into Dr. Quinn Medicine 
Woman."

She glared at him before wrapping a strip of cloth 
around his hand, tying it securely. "I'll take some 
more bandages back to the room so we can change 
that. Don't throw the fabric out, I need to reuse it." 
While he nodded she leaned over and kissed his 
cheek. "Watch out for those rocks. I'll you see later." 
She stood up and went over to check on the bandages 
that where boiling to sterilize. Mulder just sat where 
she left him. 

"Are you going back to work?" She asked glancing 
over her shoulder. 

"Yeah. I will in a minute." Mulder swung his legs and 
relaxed on the cot, resting his hands behind his head. 

"Please get your feet off that." 

He wiggled down the cot slightly so his shoes hung 
over the edge. "Hey Scully?"

"Hmm?" She paid little attention to him as she wrung 
out the washed bandages. 

"Does that door have a lock?"

"No it doesn't Mulder." She was glad she wasn't 
facing him, he would have seen her smiling even 
though she kept her voice stern. 

"Oh. Well you want to push the table up to it or 
something?" 

Scully turned around with her hands on her hips. "Go 
back to work Mulder." She let a small smile play on 
her lips.

He sighed dramatically and stood. "Fine, but I'll get 
you later." He leaned down to kiss her but she 
playfully turned her face so he kissed just the corner 
of her mouth. Mulder smiled and grabbed her around 
the waist. He pressed his lips against hers. 

"Oh! Sorry!" A young woman said as she opened the 
door to the Medical Room and was met by the 
kissing couple.

Scully tried to jump away from Mulder but he held 
fast. "No. It's ok. He was just leaving." Scully 
blushed a dark pink as she stepped out of Mulder's 
grasp. "Goodbye." She gave him a small but firm 
push to the door. "Easy on the hand and be careful."

"Yes doctor." He said as he walked away. 
 
Part 10
Day 72 (Sunday)
"Where are you going?" Mulder asked sleepily, 
holding tightly to Scully when she tried to rise out of 
bed.

Scully struggled in his grasp to get up on her elbows. 

"It's Sunday, stay in bed with me." He mumbled 
trying to pull her back down. 

"I know it's Sunday. I want to go to mass this 
morning." 

Mulder's arms dropped from around her. He wasn't 
going to push for her to stay with him. Going to 
church just wasn't something he understood, he 
didn't even try to. All he knew was it is important to 
Scully. 

"You don't want to go do you?" She asked as she 
placed water on the stove to heat so she could wash 
up. 

Mulder rolled onto his side to look at her. "Sorry, not 
my thing."

She smiled softly. "I didn't think so, but I thought I 
would ask." 
 

Scully smiled politely at the people who had already 
arrived at the church but sat in a row all by herself. 
She looked around the small room, it was nice. The 
walls were decorated tactfully with paintings of saints 
and biblical scenes, most she recognized. Tall natural 
colored candles, obviously hand made, lined the front 
of the room. A small altar stood in the center of the 
line of candles.

The smell of incense, surrounded her. She inhaled 
deeply, feeling a deep sense of contentment.

Scully leaned back in her chair. She was comfortable. 
It was quiet and small. Perfect. She didn't feel forced 
to relax, it already felt like the church she had often 
gone to with her mother.

Scully studied the far right hand corner of the room. 
Two small doors were side by side. Confessionals. 
It had been a while since she had been, but for the 
first time in a long time, there was no guilt clouding 
her heart. She had made her peace with the 
tumultuous events of the last couple of months, 
realizing that there was no shame in being glad that 
she and Mulder were alive, while as far as she knew 
everyone else she had known and loved had died. 

The mass was simple but beautiful. Though she had 
been going regularly Before, she had not felt the 
sense of wonder and hope that she felt in this little 
room. So many people had gathered to share her 
same thoughts and prayers. How odd it was that the 
smallest mass she had ever been to was more 
important, more moving then any other. The prayer 
for the day was short. Spoken softly and slowly. 
Everyone listened with polite and eager minds. 

"Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace. Where 
there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, 
pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is 
despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where 
there is sadness, joy. O, Divine Master, grant that I 
may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; 
to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to 
love; For it is in giving that we receive; it is in 
pardoning that we are pardoned; it is in dying that we 
are born again to eternal life." 

The final words of the priest remained with her long 
after the mass had ended. "Go in peace." He had 
instructed them.

Scully marveled how those three words could hold 
such power. All her life she had longed for a sense of 
inner peace. And only now, after the sky had almost 
literally fallen, had she found it within herself, and 
with Mulder.

 
Mulder looked up from the book he borrowed from 
the library when Scully walked in. "Hey."

Wordlessly she walked over, took his face in her 
hands and kissed him. "I love you." She said barely 
pulling away, just to press another longer kiss against 
his lips. 

He smiled as she sat down next to him, not releasing 
his lips completely. When she finally pulled away 
Mulder spoke. "Enjoy your time?"

She smiled and nodded. "It was wonderful. I loved 
it."

Mulder patted her thigh. "I'm glad. So what do you 
want to do today?"

She just shrugged and flipped the pages of his book 
unseeing. 

"When I was out on patrol with the group they 
showed me where a small lake is. It's not a hot 
spring, but it is warmer then the river. We could hike 
up there if you want."

Scully nodded quickly. "I would LOVE to really get 
cleaned up. Just soak up the water, turn into a raisin, 
it sounds wonderful." 

Mulder chuckled and stood up, turning off the lamps. 
"Let's go then." 

 
"Wow." Scully whispered looking at the large lake. It 
was so shallow the rocks were easily seen through the 
sun reflecting water. To one side the water flowed 
very gently down a natural hill of rocks. All long the 
edge wildflowers grew, the bright yellows and rich 
blues mirrored off the gently rippling water. 

The lake wasn't empty by far. Many people swam, 
played with their children, or just soaked up the sun 
and cool water. 

Wordlessly Mulder took her elbow in his hand and 
lead her around to part of the water where no one 
was. He stripped down just to his boxers and looked 
at her pointedly, but she was still starring off at the 
scenery. 

"Scully? You going in?"

"Oh. Sorry." She smiled shyly and pulled off her 
clothes, leaving only her black tank top and panties 
on. 
They both walked out into the almost too-cold-for 
comfort-water, it only came up to Mulder's waist, 
and Scully chest. The sun beating down quickly 
warmed their cool skin making the water a pleasant 
contrast. 
Scully was silently cupping the water and running it 
over her body as she watched a few of the children 
laugh and splash around. She couldn't help but smile. 
They were happy and carefree. Maybe it was best 
they were so young when They came, they wouldn't 
remember what life was like before. How easy some 
things could be taken for granted, like being warm 
and having a full stomach. To be na‹ve. How she 
wished to be na‹ve like when she was young. 
Thinking the only problems were getting her brothers 
to leave her alone, the fight she had with a friend 
over who took who's Barbie doll, when she would 
finally grow out of her training bra, and where her 
family would be moving to next. The fact that those 
were her worst of her worries shocked her. 

As she grew older her worries changed of course. 
Would she pass medical school? Was she making a 
mistake joining the FBI? They became more 
important of course. 

The last few years before They came her worries 
seemed to revolve around one man. The man that had 
saved her life more times then she cared to count. 
The man who she threw away many of her morals for 
and who changed her life tremendously. If she was a 
petty woman she could easily blame all her problems, 
three months of her life missing, the death of her 
sister, a daughter she only knew for a short time, on 
him. Maybe if she didn't love him more then life it's 
self she would be able to give him some of that 
responsibility. But as amazing as it was, she believed 
if all the sacrifices she made the last several years 
had brought him to her, it was worth it. It was all 
worth finally having some one who understood her 
and loved her for who she is. 

Mulder touched her shoulder lightly. "You ok?" 

She blushed lightly realizing how spaced out she 
must have looked. "Yeah, I was just thinking. I think 
I am going to get dress, but let's stay for a while 
longer."

Nodding Mulder walked with Scully to the shore. 
They dressed and sat on the rocks by the water in a 
comfortable silence. It was nice to just sit and relax. 
For the first time since they started to walk Mulder 
didn't feel the need to look over his shoulder and 
watch over Scully every second. It was calm and 
peaceful. No threats appeared to be near them. They 
were in the company of new friends and honest 
people. 

Mulder glanced over at Scully. "Hey?" He said softly 
placing his hand on her back. 

Scully rubbed her temples trying to ease the headache 
she could feel starting. "I must be allergic to some of 
the flowers." Mulder stood and moved to help her up 
but she held up a hand. "I'm ok Mulder. My head just 
hurts a little, sinuses I think."

Frowning Mulder looked at her closely. "Let's head 
back?"

She nodded and started to walk in front of Mulder, 
staying just out of arms reach so he couldn't help her 
every step like she knew he wanted to. 

Mulder stared at Scully's back as she made her way 
slowly down the trail. He had to bite the inside of his 
cheek to keep from saying anything. Not that he had 
anything helpful to say, but he wanted to share what 
was on his mind. He was worried, it was very simple. 
She hadn't had any more nosebleeds, at least none 
that he knew of. She didn't seem to be feeling ill, but 
he didn't spend the day with her anymore. This 
headache could very easily just be from pollen. But 
this wouldn't be the first time she had hidden how 
she was feeling from him. 

He took a few large steps to stand at her side. He 
gave her a soft smile, one of apology for his 
uncontrollable worry and understanding that she 
didn't want to speak about it, he has learned how she 
worked. He didn't like it, but he accepted it. Mulder 
took her hand lightly in his, interlocking their fingers 
he brought their hands to his mouth and kissed each 
knuckle softly. 

They walked hand in hand all the way back to Nova, 
not uttering a single word. Mulder didn't say 
anything to her when they reached their room. He 
just laid her down on the bed next to him and read 
aloud from the poetry book by Anrienne Rich he had 
been reading while she was at church. 
 
"The glass has been falling all the afternoon,
And knowing better then the instrument 
What winds are walking overhead, what zone
Of gray unrest in moving across the land,
I leave the book upon a pillowed chair
And walk from window to closed window, watching
Boughs strain against the sky
And think again, as often when the air
Moves inward toward a silent core of waiting,
How with a single purpose time has traveled
By secret currents of the undiscerned
Into this polar realm. Weather abroad
And weather in the heart alike come on
Regardless of prediction.
Between foreseeing and averting change
Lies all the mastery of elements
Which clocks and weatherglasses cannot alter. 
Time in the hand is not control of time,
Nor shattered fragments of an instrument
A proof against the wind; the wind will rise,
We can only close the shutters.
I draw the curtains as the sky goes black
And set a match to candles sheathed in glass
Against the keyhole draught, the insistent whine
Of weather through the unsealed aperture.
This is our sole defense against the season;
These are the things that we have learned to do
Who live in troubled regions." 

Mulder finished reading and looked down at Scully 
where she had fallen asleep with her head resting on 
his shoulder. He couldn't help but smile at the 
peaceful look on her face. Tucking her hair behind 
her ear with one hand he placed the book on the floor 
with the other. Carefully he turned, Scully's head 
shifting to rest in the crook of his arm. He studied her 
face while she slept. 

He wished there were a way for him to tell her what 
he would do for her. The words that he would give 
his life for her just didn't cover it. He would give his 
soul if needed. He would do whatever it took to 
protect her from what was happening around them. 
The world had crashed down, now they had to deal 
with the after shocks. 

Day 74
Mulder woke with a start to loud banging on the 
door. 

"Dana! Dana we need you!"

Scully sleepily stumbled off the bed pulling on 
enough clothes to be presentable. Swinging the door 
open she shielded her eyes from the dim hallway 
light and focused on a panicked looking Greg Wells. 
Mulder had patrolled with him many times, saying 
that he was a nice man but always very jumpy. "What 
happened?"

"I-I shot a man! I didn't know he was a member. Oh 
god, oh god what have I done?!" Greg shook 
frantically. 

"Ok." Scully held up a hand. "It's ok, I'll be right 
there, let me just put warmer clothes on."

Greg nodded and ran off toward the Medical Room. 

Scully turned around and took the sweatshirt Mulder 
was handing her. "I might need your help Mulder, not 
many people can handle the sight of blood."

"Oh and I just love it." He mumbled as he pulled his 
shoes on. 

"Come on." Scully rubbed her face quickly, feeling 
the rush of adrenaline flow through her body. They 
quickly jogged down to the Main Room and into the 
open door of the Medical Room. Scully stopped short 
when she saw the man who was shot. 

"Oh my god." Mulder whispered at the sight. 
...

Part 11
Day 74
They stood in astonished silence for what felt like an 
eternity, when in fact it was only a few seconds. 

"Mulder," Scully touched his arm. "Go put pressure 
on the wound."

Mulder nodded numbly and kneeled by the end of the 
cot, he placed both hands, one on top of the other, 
over the bullet wound. 

"Don't press too hard in case the bullet cracked a 
rib." Scully called as she pulled out the items she 
would need to take the bullet out of the ribcage. "Flip 
him over, very gently, and see if there is an exit 
wound." 

Mulder did so, struggling to keep one hand over the 
flow of blood. "No exit."

Scully ordered the bystanders out of the room, after 
telling one of them to get Benjamin. She knelt next to 
Mulder, placing the items at her knees. "How is he?" 
She asked softly. 

"The bleeding's slowed a little." Mulder's voice was 
like her own. He glanced over at the doorway when 
he heard Benjamin question Greg about how this 
happened. "I can't believe they have people walking 
around in the middle of the night with guns."

Scully gave a tight-lipped nod as her answer. 
"Skinner? Sir, can you hear me?" She asked taking 
Skinner's jaw into her hand. She frowned after no 
response. She frowned even more at the amount of 
blood now also covering Mulder also. "Ok, keep your 
hand there. I'll take over in a moment." She sorted 
through the items on the floor. "I think I'm going to 
have to take the bullet out."

Mulder immediately noted the hesitant tone in her 
voice. "Scully. You do whatever you think needs to 
be done."

She nodded and dipped a scalpel into boiling water to 
sterilize it. "Stay here Mulder." She requested softly.

"You know I will." He moved his hand away from 
Skinner's chest. 

"Cut the shirt off for me." Scully focused on wiping 
away as much blood as she could while Mulder 
cleared the shirt away. "There's a bottle of 
chloroform on the shelf. Put a small amount on a 
piece of cloth and hold it over his mouth every once 
in a while for only a few seconds."

Mulder did as asked. 

Scully slowly made a small incision in the center of 
the wound. "Mulder, grab that lamp over there."
With one hand Mulder held the chloroform ready 
over Skinner's mouth and the lamp near Scully with 
the other. 

Scully pulled the flesh open, causing Mulder to look 
away. "A rib is cracked. I think-" Scully looked 
closely. "Yes. I can see the bullet. I just need to get it 
out." With sticky, bloody fingers she picked up a pair 
of forceps. She poised had her hands poised over the 
wound but paused. 

"You can do this Scully." 

Scully looked up at him and gave a curt nod before 
gingerly reaching into Skinner's chest. 

A low groan was wrenched from the large man. 

Mulder immediately pressed the chloroform over his 
mouth of a few moments as Scully grasped the 
slippery bullet on the fifth try. Pulling the forceps out 
of his body the bullet slipped out and bounced across 
the room. Scully breathed a sigh of relief and looked 
back at the wound trying to wipe away some of the 
blood.

"How does it look?" 

Scully squinted slightly, trying to get a good look 
with the shadowy light. "Amazingly enough I don't 
think it hit any organs. Looks like it bounced off his 
ribs. I need to clean and close this." Scully worked 
slowly and carefully. Mulder stayed in silence, trying 
to help but stay out of the way. 

 
"Here, let me take this off." Mulder said softly as he 
walked up behind Scully and griped the bottom of her 
bloody shirt in his hands. Scully raised her arms 
limply and let him help her wash the dried blood 
from her skin before he pulled a clean shirt over her 
head. He gently turned her toward him and cupped 
her face in his hands. "You should get some sleep, we 
both should."

She nodded numbly and looked over at Skinner. "We 
should stay in here, in case he wakes."

Mulder lead her to a vacant cot where they would 
have a good view of Skinner. Laying down her pulled 
her back against his chest, it was a tight fit. But 
neither minded. Scully felt her eyes grow heavy 
against her will. Burying her face in the crook of 
Mulder's arm she whispered her questions. "How do 
you think he found out about Nova?" 

Mulder kissed the exposed curve of her neck. 
"Probably the same way the Lone Gunmen did, he 
looked around. He knew this was going to happen at 
some point."

Scully was silent for some time. "I don't know about 
this Mulder."

"What do you mean?"

Scully took a deep breath and studied the 
unconscious man on the other side of the room. He 
looked worn and malnourished. Skinner still 
possessed his intimidating size, but he had lost a lot 
of weight. Scully was concerned his body couldn't 
handle the blood loss. But there was nothing she 
could do about it. He looked innocent enough. 
Skinner had done many things to help them, even 
saved their lives in the past few years. But before 
that, before he was their ally, he was an enemy. Just 
like the Cancerman, just like Them. 
Unconsciously Scully leaned back into Mulder. "I 
don't know if I trust him." She whispered truthfully. 

"Scully." Mulder's voice was surprised and 
disappointed. "This is Skinner." 

"I know." She said softly. 

Mulder let out a long breath against her neck and 
squeezed her slightly. "Get some sleep." 
Scully didn't want to sleep, she wanted to watch 
Skinner. Her mind was struggling between being a 
doctor; wanting to watch her patient carefully during 
the night, being a lover; wanting to keep Mulder safe, 
and basically a human; who's body needed to sleep, 
whether her mind was ready or not.

With Mulder holding her securely to him Scully feel 
into a nervous sleep. 

Day 75
Before Mulder was even fully awake he knew Scully 
was no longer next to him. Lazily he opened his eyes. 
Scully was kneeling beside Skinner, changing his 
bandage. Mulder hoisted himself up onto one elbow. 

"How is he?"

Scully glanced his way for a moment before focusing 
on Skinner once again. "Hasn't woken up yet." Was 
her simple explanation. 

Mulder studied her for a moment from his reclined 
position before swinging his legs over the side of the 
cot and pulling on his shoes. 

"Where are you going?" Scully questioned as she 
washed her hands.

"I want to have a talk with Benjamin." Mulder and 
started to walk towards the door.

"Wait. Mulder. are you sure that is a good idea?"

Mulder thought for a moment. "No, it probably isn't a 
good idea. But I can just sit around here and wait for 
something else like this to happen." He took a step to 
close the gap between them and kissed her cheek 
softly. "I'll meet you back here soon." 

  
Mulder tapped the back of his knuckles against 
Benjamin's door. 

"Come in." 

Mulder pushed the door open and stepped into the 
room. It was larger then the rest, obviously built for 
Benjamin. There were two fireplaces, a large table, 
king sized bed, decorations which would have been 
found in a home Before. Mulder couldn't help but 
notice the abundance of canned food stacked next to 
one of the stoves.

Mulder fought off the inferior feeling that surrounded 
him. 

"Mulder, how is that friend of yours doing?" 
Benjamin gestured to the chair next to him.

Mulder sat. "I think it's too early to tell."

"That was a very unfortunate accident." The older 
man said solemnly. 

Mulder leaned his elbows on his thighs, resting his 
chin on his clasped hands. "That's what I came here 
to talk to you about. It is just plain stupid to have 
people walking alone in the woods with weapons at 
night." Mulder wanted to skip the pointless small 
talk. 

Benjamin's expression and posture immediately 
turned defensive. "Well, Mr. Mulder, I appreciate 
your concern but I think you may a bit biased after 
last night."

Mulder forced his voice to stay calm and level. 
"No. I think this is unsafe for more then a few 
reasons. I am speaking from experience. I don't think 
you realize how dangerous this could become. People 
are going to start to panic when something like this 
happens again." 

Benjamin held up a hand. "Now Mulder, I know this 
is probably your career training, I'm sure you lead a 
very different life from what you do now. I 
understand you want to know why this happened. 
And I'll tell you what Greg told me; he heard a noise. 
He listened and watched. Suddenly the man stepped 
out and startled him. Greg fired, it was a mistake, he 
knows it. He panicked. And once he saw the Nova 
charm he panicked even more."

Mulder shook his head slowly, absorbing the 
information. "This is ridiculous." He spat out.

"Mulder just calm down."

"Calm down?" Mulder was doing the complete 
opposite. "An innocent man was shot, a fellow 
member. He may die. And you aren't worried in the 
least."

"Well I have complete confidence that Dana is doing 
everything she can." Benjamin's tone was annoyed. 
"She's an amazing woman, in more ways then one. 
You are a very lucky man Mulder, you shouldn't take 
a vibrant woman like Dana for granted, especially 
here in Nova, you never know when someone who 
deserves her will come along." 

Mulder's face went blank with shock. He couldn't 
believe what he was hearing. He didn't know whether 
to laugh at the man or hit him. "I think you better 
watch what you say, Benjamin." 

The man let out a long sigh. "And what do you mean 
by that?"

Mulder looked at him soberly. He didn't want to play 
this game. "You know what I mean." The men 
watched each other for a moment before Mulder 
waved a hand around the room. "You obviously have 
issues with sharing authority. Look at this room. You 
set everyone else below you, everyone will do what 
you say and want. That rule-book of yours," Mulder 
snorted in disgust. "That is insane. Just because you 
want to drop last night's situation you think everyone 
should go along with you. Don't you think we should 
do something about this?"

Benjamin frowned. "Are you blaming Greg for this?" 

Mulder opened his mouth to speak but paused. His 
anger was rising. Beating some sense into Benjamin 
was beginning to look easier and more appealing by 
the passing moment. "No I am not. I blame you." 
Mulder sat back in the chair, arms crossed over his 
chest. 

Benjamin looked shocked if nothing else. "Excuse 
me?"

"I blame you." Mulder said simply. "You are sending 
untrained people out into the dark, alone, with loaded 
weapons. If you think this is the only time something 
like this will happen you are terribly wrong. And now 
you don't want to do anything about it, you just want 
to sit around and let it all blow over." Mulder's voice 
raised on it's own accord. 

Benjamin stood, walked to the door and opened it 
wide for Mulder. "I think you are upset. I know you 
and Dana didn't get much sleep. Why don't you go 
and rest. You are not expected to work today so enjoy 
your time off."

Mulder stood stiffly. He knew he was stepping one 
Benjamin's toes. The testosterone was almost visible 
in the air. The man obviously didn't understand how 
Mulder worked. There were lines that could not be 
crossed with him, most of those line revolved around 
Scully. Those were the ones being crossed.

Mulder turned when he was just outside of the 
doorway to speak, but the door was firmly closed in 
his face. 
 
 
The Medical Room was quiet, tense. Mulder and 
Scully sat on opposite sides of the room. 

Scully watched Skinner carefully, for a few reasons. 
He has stirred a few times during the day, she thought 
he would wake. But he hadn't, yet. And she watched 
him in suspicion. A strange sense of possessiveness 
had filled Scully's soul. Her jaw was clenched so 
hard it ached, her neck was tense, she was prepared 
to strike. To save herself, to save Mulder. She felt 
like a wild animal protecting her mate. But this is 
Skinner. She didn't want that thought to imbed itself 
into her mind. But maybe it had. She was 
remembering the times she had met with him and the 
Smoking Man had been there, every time they 
worked together. Closely. She was remembering the 
time she and Skinner had held respective guns 
pointed at the other's head. But she remembers the 
time when she saved his life when he was infected 
with a strange disease. She remembered the times 
when Skinner did everything in his power to help her 
and Mulder. Help them get the X-files back, help 
them find each other. But the rational part of her 
mind was being shut out by the panicked overtired 
part. She wanted anything, anyone who could be a 
threat to her and Mulder away. Far, far away. They 
had worked too hard, suffered too much to be stupid 
now. 

Mulder stood from his seat and walked the room 
restlessly. It was getting late but Scully wouldn't 
leave the Medical Room to sleep in their room 
tonight. He was exhausted. But he wouldn't go 
without Scully. Even if he did leave he wouldn't 
sleep. After months of being with Scully so closely 
anytime apart seemed wrong. He wouldn't be able to 
sleep. He would just lay awake listening for the door 
to open and for Scully to come in and lay next to him 
in bed. Mulder wanted to say something, anything to 
Scully. But he was on very thin ice with her. When 
he returned from talking with Benjamin he had told 
Scully that things had gotten heated. But he refused 
to tell her the specifics. She was angry, it was that 
simple. And Mulder, like usual, had nothing to say 
that would make it better. So he didn't try. He just 
remained quiet and stayed with her. No matter how 
uncomfortable they were at the moment neither 
wanted to be alone. 

But Mulder couldn't handle the silence any longer. 
He turned to face Scully, to tell her he wanted to talk, 
he wanted to tell her what Benjamin had said. But he 
was interrupted by a low hoarse groan from the back 
of the room. 

Mulder looked past Scully as she turned around to 
meet the unfocused yet shocked eyes of Skinner.

Part 12
(Day 75 continued)
Scully immediately walked to Skinner's side and 
pressed a hand to his chest as he instinctively tried to 
sit up. "Lie still." 

Skinner fell back against the mattress with a grimace. 
"Where am I?" His voice was strained and low.

Of all the things Mulder thought Skinner would ask, 
that wasn't one of them. "Nova." He answered 
walking over to stand sit by the cot next to Scully. 

Carefully Skinner reached up in search for his charm. 
He frowned as he fingered the small object. "Who 
shot me?"

"Another member. it's a long story." 

Skinner closed his eyes and nodded at Mulder's 
explanation. "For some reason I'm not surprised to 
see you two here."

"Frankly I am surprised to see you here, Sir." Scully 
said smoothly. 

He glanced at her with half opened eyes, obviously 
struggling to keep them open. "I found out about this 
place only a year ago. When I finally accepted the 
fact that it was going to happen I figured I better save 
my ass." 

"Well," Mulder started before Scully could say 
anything. "You almost got your ass shot to death. 
Why were you walking around at night?"

Skinner shifted uncomfortably. He didn't want to 
answer these questions. Not now, not when he eyes 
felt heavy and his body throbbed with pain. "I knew I 
was close and I didn't want to spend another night 
sleeping on dirt if I didn't have to."

Frowning Scully stood up, taking Mulder's hand and 
bringing him with her. "We are going to get some 
sleep. It's been a long day. A woman, she's a nurse, 
named Judy will be in a moment. If you need me for 
anything she will come and get me. Rest and try to 
drink and eat something when you feel up to it." 
Scully said in a decidedly cool bedside manner. 

Mulder told Skinner he'd see him the next day as he 
shot him a `I don't know what's with her' look and 
followed Scully out. They walked in silence, Mulder 
trailing behind Scully, to their room. 

Scully walked in, still not uttering a word, examining 
hot ember remains of the fire she threw in a few logs. 
Once they caught she stood, stripped her clothes off 
and pulled on some sweats. Without looking up at 
Mulder, who was leaning against the closed door, she 
climbed into bed and closed her eyes. 

He watched her settle on her stomach, fumbling with 
the sheets and pillows for a moment before he pushed 
himself off the door and changed. He was tired, not 
only physically, but mentally also. His racing mind 
had worn him down.

Laying down next to Scully he ran his palm under her 
shirt and over the tense muscles of her back. With a 
soft sigh Scully turned her head to face him. He 
leaned toward her and placed a light kiss on her lips, 
then her closed eyes, and finally her forehead. 
"What's bothering you?" He whispered near her ear. 

Scully forced her eyes open enough to look into his. 
"Skinner." She said simply.

Mulder ran his fingers through her hair. "I figured 
that much, but you said he will be ok. That's true 
isn't it?"

She nodded slightly, focusing on the base of his 
throat in distant thought. "I think he will be, 
especially now that he has woken up." 

"So. what is it then?" Mulder asked after a moment 
of silence. 

Scully met his eyes again with a frown. "Do you 
think he can be trusted?"

Mulder's brow furrowed in thoughtful confusion. 
Skinner's innocence was the least of his worries at 
the moment. "I don't see why not Scully. I know 
we haven't always been able to, but things are 
different now."

"But that's the point. How do we know that he hasn't 
been working with Them again to guarantee his 
future?" 

Mulder leaned back from her slightly, taking it all in. 
After some moments of thought he responded. "He 
doesn't look like he has been helping Them, Scully. 
He looks worse then we did when we got here."

Scully rolled away, with her back to Mulder now. "I 
knew you wouldn't believe me."

Mulder sighed and wrapped his arm around her waist 
trying to pull her to him. "I didn't say that. I just 
don't think. maybe I don't want to believe you 
could be right." He kissed her neck softly. "But you 
know there isn't anything we can do about it. He was 
barely conscious. We can talk to him more tomorrow. 
He isn't going to go anywhere or do anything how he 
is now." He gently rolled her over so she was facing 
him. "So let's not worry at the moment, let's just get 
some sleep." 

Scully settled her head against his shoulder and let 
her eyes close. She was tired. She had been ever 
since Greg had woken her up, and hadn't slept well 
the night before. But sleep was calling now and she 
wasn't going to turn down the invitation.

Day 76
Mulder leaned back against the wall as he watched 
Skinner slip away into sleep once again. They had 
spent the morning talking when Skinner had enough 
energy for it. Actually it was more of an 
interrogation, Mulder being the interrogator. He had 
to admit he enjoyed it to an extent. After so many 
years of having to answer to Skinner, it is was a nice 
change. 

But now his problem was talking to Scully. Mulder 
was certain Skinner had nothing but good intentions 
and now he had to try to convince Scully. He knew 
she hated to admit when she was wrong, but he 
wouldn't ask her to. It was insane to expect her not to 
worry, he worried himself. He had gotten over the 
idea that Skinner could have been helping Them, but 
he had a feeling Scully wasn't going to drop it as 
easily. Lately she had been overly protective of him 
and herself. But Mulder was not in the position to 
complain, for the first time he could remember their 
roles were switched. 

Mulder's thoughts were interrupted by a soft knock at 
the Medical Room door. He swung the down open to 
Greg nervously running his hand through his short 
blonde hair. Mulder nodded a curt greeting but shut 
the door to the Medical Room as he stepped out into 
the hallway. 

Greg pointed in question at the closed door. "I just 
wanted to apologize to Walter about what happened."
Mulder nodded. "He'll appreciate that, but he just fell 
asleep again."

"Oh. Well I'll just come back later then, thank you 
Mulder." Greg turned to walk away but Mulder 
caught his elbow.

"Actually, Greg, I was hoping to have a word with 
you. Do you have a few minutes?" 

"Um. Sure, but if this about what happened-"

"No. It's not, don't worry about that." Mulder 
interrupted as he gestured for Greg to follow him out 
a side opening and out into the bright sun. "I 
understand you made a mistake, you aren't to blame."

"I'm not?" Greg asked surprised as he shielded his 
eyes against the sun to focus on Mulder.

Mulder shook his head and scanned around the area, 
they were alone. "Not at all. I blame Benjamin."
Greg looked like someone punched him in the gut for 
a moment. When he recovered he quickly shook his 
head. "I don't think we should talk about this."

Mulder crossed his arms and leaned against the rocks 
next to the opening into Nova. If Greg wanted to 
leave he was going to have to walk a quarter mile 
around to the next doorway. "Why not?"

Greg let out a sigh. "Listen, Mulder, I know you 
mean well about this. But you just don't go around 
putting blame on Benjamin."

"Why? I think it's his fault. The way he runs things 
around here just isn't logical. These rules he has set 
up-

" Mulder paused searching for the right words. "They 
aren't realistic."

Greg glanced around them nervously. "This is 
Benjamin's place, we just let him do what he wants 
even if it is idiotic."

"So you agree with me?" Mulder waited but Greg 
said nothing. "Greg, you've got a family. Three kids 
and wife, correct?" Greg nodded so Mulder 
continued. "I only had to pay for Scully and I and that 
was a hell of a lot. In my opinion we should all have 
a say in what goes on here. Benjamin couldn't have 
done this all alone."

Greg held up a hand and started to walk backwards 
slowly, obviously preferring to walk a bit instead of 
continuing the conversation. "You do or say whatever 
you want Mulder, I'd prefer not to get kicked out. So 
just leave me and my family out of it." Greg regarded 
Mulder with respect for a moment. "If you care about 
Dana the way I think you do you will leave her out of 
it too. Don't ruin her life because you can't except 
how things are here." He turned his back to Mulder 
and walked on.

Mulder watched Greg walk away even after he was 
out of sight. His words were slowly sinking into 
Mulder. A knot of guilt settled in the pit of his 
stomach. But he didn't think what he felt was wrong. 
Mulder wanted Nova to be safe for Scully, and he 
didn't feel Nova was incredibly safe at the moment. 
He made his way back to find Scully. He found her 
first try in the Medical Room. Quietly he opened the 
door and sat next to her. 

Scully looked up from her book. "You going back to 
work?"

Mulder silently reached over and hand his hand down 
the back of her head, just to feel her. Remind himself 
that she is real and he has to be careful. Mulder 
pulled away nodding and glanced at Skinner, it didn't 
look like he had woken. "Yeah, I my lunch break is 
over."

"Did you even eat?" She asked with a frown already 
knowing the answer.

Mulder leaned over and kissed her cheek as he stood. 
"I'll grab something, I've got a fifteen minute walk to 
the field. I'll see you later."

"Bye." She said softly as he shut the door. She hated 
to see him go. Before They came she sometimes felt 
like she and Mulder were together too often, now he 
seemed to be away too often. She only spent time 
with him at night, and often they were both too tired 
from the day to do anything other then sleep. 

Scully pulled her knees up to her chest, balancing her 
small body on the set of the chair carefully, and went 
back to watching over Skinner. 
 

"Oh!" Scully jumped in surprise as she walked face 
first into Benjamin as he rounded the corned into the 
Medical Room and her out.

"Dana, I'm sorry." He placed a hand on her upper 
arm to steady her. 

Scully smiled up at the tall man. "It's all right, did 
you need something?"

Benjamin smiled softly. "Not really. I just wanted to 
come and see how you were doing. Not many 
beautiful, intelligent, AND eligible women around 
here."

Scully blushed slightly and held up her bucket and 
gestured for him to follow her to the Main Room to 
get water. "Well thank you for the compliment. But 
I'm not exactly eligible."

"I have to admit I am a little curious about your 
relationship with Mulder. I know you worked 
together but I was not under the impression that the 
two of you were romantically involved."

Scully bit her lip as she dipped the bucket into the 
flow of water, trying to find the best way to answer 
him. She never felt comfortable talking to people 
about her relationship, and she didn't quite know how 
to describe her and Mulder. "Well we worked closely 
together for over seven years, we have been through 
a lot and really depend on each other. We've only 
recently taken that next step but I think I have always 
known Mulder is the only man for me." She smiled 
shyly at that admission as they walked back toward 
the Medical Room. 

Benjamin held the door open for her but waited at the 
entrance. "Well, Dana you never know when a 
relationship might change."

Scully nodded, that was a truthful statement. You 
never did know what would happen. "I guess, but I 
believe Mulder and I will be spending the rest of our 
lives together. We can't survive without one 
another." She gave a small smile, looking at the blank 
wall, lost in thought, instead of Benjamin. "That's 
just how it is."

Benjamin shook his head. "I don't know about that. 
You are a very strong woman, I can tell. I think you 
would make it just fine without Mulder."

Scully looked back up at him, almost forgetting he 
was there at all. "I suppose I could make it on my 
own-"

"I didn't say on your own, I just said without 
Mulder."

Scully smiled at his statement but continued as she 
had planned. "I wouldn't want to without Mulder. 
Wouldn't be worth it."

Benjamin frowned for a moment. "Well I'll let you 
get back to work. Have a nice day." He gave a short 
polite nod and shut the door behind him. 

 
Mulder slowly shut the door, trying to stay quiet 
when he saw Scully asleep on the bed. He changed 
into clean boxers and washed swiftly, anxious to be 
close to Scully after a hard day. He slipped onto the 
bed and stoked the exposed skin of her arm, warming 
the cool air away from her body. "Hi." He whispered 
against her ear before placing a light kiss on the lobe.

Scully smiled sleepily and rolled onto her back, 
cupping Mulder's jaw in her hand she pulled him 
down to kiss her. He moved to pull away but Scully 
slipped her hand into his hair and held him for a 
deeper more passionate kiss. "I missed to you today." 
She whispered after he pulled away and settled his 
weight on his forearms on either side of her head.

"Mmm." He kissed her neck softly, noticing for the 
first time she was only wearing her panties and a 
tank. "I wasn't far away."

"I know." She mumbled, not happy with that answer. 
She gently pulled on his shoulders so he rested his 
weight against her body. "But I still don't like it." 
Scully skimmed her fingers over his bare back, 
slipping her hands under the waistband of his boxers, 
pulling him even more firmly against her. "It just got 
to me today."

Mulder struggled to move away from her enough to 
pull her top over her head. He kissed the newly 
exposed skin of her breasts slowly but thoroughly. 
"Why?"

Scully sighed softly as her sleepiness segued into 
arousal. "Why what?"

Mulder smiled and picked his head up to look at her. 
"Why did you miss me more today then usual?"

Shrugging slightly she traced a finger up and down 
his upper arm smiling shyly. "I was talking to 
Benjamin-"

"What did he say?" Mulder asked quickly, pulling 
himself up off of her slightly so he could look at her 
better.

Scully's brow furrowed. "Nothing really. He just got 
me to thinking about how much I need you. Why?"

Mulder let out a breath and lowered himself back 
down. "No reason, sorry." He traced his fingers over 
her belly to distract her, it worked. "You look 
beautiful." He said more to himself then her as he 
noticed the weight she had began to put back on. Her 
skin glowed naturally and her hair had regained its 
shine. She looked healthy and well. 

With a slight frown Mulder traced his fingers against 
her hairline. "How have you been feeling, Scully?"

She smiled at his concern, some things never 
changed. Running her fingers over his cheek she gave 
him a serious look. "Fine, Mulder. No headaches, no 
nose bleeds, I feel fine. Actually really good 
lately." 

Mulder dipped his head back down to her breasts as 
Scully struggled to get his boxers down. Once 
removed Mulder slid down her body, kissing and 
caressing along the way, taking her panties with him. 
On his return trip up he rested his head on her belly 
and gazed up at her. "You'll tell me if anything is 
wrong, won't you Scully?"

She nodded and ran a hand through his hair. "Of 
course I will, Mulder." She laughed softly. "Want to 
focus on the activities on hand please?" She tugged 
him back up her body and into the cradle of her 
thighs. 

He smiled and nodded. "I'd love to." He whispered as 
he pushed into her body. 

Day 78
Scully shifted tiredly in the wooden chair she spent 
most of her days in while at the Medical Room. After 
rubbing the heels of her hands into her eyes she 
looked over at Skinner just as he shifted painfully. 
With a barely restrained groan she rose from her 
chair and walked across the room. 

"How are you feeling?" She asked looking down at 
Skinner.

"Like I've been shot." He groaned out.

His attempt at humor didn't go unnoticed by Scully, 
just unacknowledged. 

She kneeled down by the cot and removed his 
bandage. "It's healing nicely." Scully informed 
deadpan. 

"Scully. What can I do to convince you I'm not 
here to ruin Nova? I've told you, I'm here for the 
same reason you are, to live. I don't have any 
knowledge that anyone who is not a member 
knowing about it."

Scully ignored what he was saying as she cleaned the 
wound carefully. 

"Scully?"

She looked up, brows raised, lips pressed together. 
"Sir. I really don't want to talk about this. Ok?"

"No, Scully it isn't ok. I'm going to be here whether 
you like it or not-"

"Well I don't." She said simply. "I doubt that will 
change. And I am sorry, I truly am, but I don't trust 
you. I honestly don't feel comfortable with you 
around me and Mulder."

Skinner looked blankly at her. "I'm not asking you to 
trust me. I know that is too much to ask of you or 
Mulder. You only trust each other. I accepted that 
many years ago. What I am asking is that you accept 
the fact that I will be here. That just because you 
don't want me here, that you are cold to me, doesn't 
mean that I am just going to disappear." 

Finished with the new bandage Scully stood over him 
once again. "Consider it accepted."

"Scully?" Skinner called as she walked towards the 
door. "Scully wait a minute please." The door shut 
firmly behind her. "Jesus." Skinner muttered to the 
empty room.

 
"Mulder!" Scully scolded as he stepped into their 
room, soaking wet from the rain. She sighed 
dramatically. 
"Get those wet clothes off." She started to tug on his 
shirt. 

"Are you trying to seduce me?" He waggled his 
eyebrows at her.

Scully gave him a serious look. "Mulder. I'm not 
joking around. I don't want you to get sick."

"It's ok, Scully. The rain was warm, I didn't get cold 
until I walked inside." He pulled on a pair of dry 
sweatpants as Scully started to towel dry his hair after 
sitting him down by the fire. Just as she stepped away 
to hang up the dripping towel Mulder sneezed. 
Twice. 

"Oh Mulder." Scully sighed softly as she sat down 
next to him. She ran her fingers under his jaw looking 
for swollen glands. 

He smiled innocently. "Don't worry, I feel fine."

Scully sat back and looked at him with a frown. 
"What I am really worried about is the fact that any 
cold or flue is going to go crazy down here. Not 
much ventilation." She explained to Mulder's 
questioning look. 

Mulder patted her thigh. "Don't worry, Doc. We'll 
manage." 
 
Part 13
Day 81
Mulder knocked on Byers' door. It was swung open 
by Langly. "Don't you guys ever stay in your own 
rooms?" Mulder mumbled in a voice rough from a 
slight cold.

Frohike stuck his head out the doorway, looking 
down the hallway in both directions. "Where's 
Scully?"
Mulder rolled his eyes and pushed the smaller man 
back into the room and shut the door. "I need to ask 
you guys a favor."

"What?" Byers asked. 

Mulder shoved his hands in his pockets and leaned 
back against the wall. He felt like shit for doing this, 
but he didn't feel he had a choice. "Keep an eye on 
Scully."

"We already do that man." Langly said with a laugh.

Mulder nodded. "Yeah. But I need you to start 
keeping an eye out for Benjamin."

"Benjamin?" Byers asked in shock.

"Yes. He seems to have a little crush of Scully."

"Really? Wow." Frohike sat back in his chair in 
thought. 

"Yeah." Mulder rubbed his face with his hand. "I 
don't know, this is driving me crazy."

"Does Scully know about this?" 

Mulder looked over at Byers and shrugged 
noncommittally. "I don't think so. She has mentioned 
anything to me and I haven't to her. I'd just like to be 
really sure before I say too much."

"In other words, you don't want to piss her off." 
Langly supplied. 

"Pretty much." Mulder answered nodding. 

Day 82
"What is this? Prison labor?"

Mulder looked up at Scully with a humorless snort 
and tossed another rock into a wagon. "Pretty much." 

He mumbled. "What are you doing out here?" 

Scully leaned against a tree by Mulder. "I wanted to 
see how you were feeling." 

Mulder smiled affectionately. "I told you this 
morning I feel fine. No headache, no sore throat, 
nothing."

"All right. just take it easy." She looked Mulder up 
and down, still not convinced that he was well. He 
looked fine though, his skin glowed from a thin 
covering of sweat, the only things he worn were a 
pair of jeans, his t-shirt shoved in his back pocket and 
a pair of gloves to protect his hands. The only thing 
that kept her from tackling him to the ground right 
there was the fact that a other people were around. 
"Why are you doing that anyway?" She asked with a 
slight nod towards the piles of rocks. 

"Clearing this field out so we can plant here next 
season." He answered over the crack of rock against 
rock as he tossed them into the wagon. He glanced 
over at her trying to hide a smirk. "Why are you 
looking at me like that?" 

"Like what?"

Mulder stretched his arms over his head, pulled off 
his gloves and took a long drink of water. "Like I'm a 
tasty piece of meat that you are about to pounce on. 
You look a little flushed too." He added she as 
blushed. 

Scully glared at him. "It's warm out here and I was 
watching you because I am worried about your back 
with all the lifting." She lied. 

Mulder walked over to her with raised brows. "Likely 
story." 

Scully couldn't hide her smile. She shook her head 
good-naturedly as she reached up to wipe a smear of 
dirt off Mulder's cheek. 

"Thanks Mom." 

"Mulder, maybe you should get back to work. I don't 
see anyone else standing around." Benjamin called as 
he walked over to him. 

Mulder turned, stepping away from Scully so that 
Benjamin saw her for the first time. "I was just taking 
a short break, Benjamin. Don't worry, I'll start up in 
a minute." 

Benjamin smiled quickly. "Oh I was just joking. Take 
your time." He turned toward Scully. "How are you, 
Dana?"

Smiling politely she nodded. "Good, thanks for 
asking." 

Mulder, unconsciously, took a half step closer to 
Scully, keeping his eyes on Benjamin. 

Scully touched Mulder's upper arm lightly. "I better 
get back. I'll see you later."

"I'll walk you back." Benjamin said quickly. 

Mulder kept his anger in check as Scully got up on 
her toes and kissed him lightly. "Hurry back." She 
smiled shyly then turned to Benjamin and nodded off 
in the direction they needed to walk. 

Mulder watched as they walked side by side out of 
view.
 
 
Shoving the Medical Room door open with more 
force then needed, Mulder walked in and scanned the 
small area for Scully. 

"Hello, Mulder." Skinner greeted from his reclined 
position on the cot. 

Mulder frowned. "Hi. Has Scully been in here?"

Skinner looked at with a half amused and half hurt 
expression. "Scully doesn't stay here when I'm 
awake if she can help it." 

"I'm really sorry about that, Sir."

Skinner held up a hand and shoed away the thought. 
"Not your fault, she means well. You know. You 
don't have to call me `Sir' anymore."

Mulder smiled shyly. "Habit I think." He regarded 
Skinner in thought for a moment. "Has Benjamin 
been into see Scully at all?"

Skinner nodded with a shrug. "Yeah, I see him at 
least once a day. Doesn't he work in here?"

"The Medical Room?" Skinner nodded. "No, not at 
all. That bastard doesn't do a damn thing but order 
everyone around."

Skinner raised his eyebrows in his patented `Mulder 
take it easy' look. "Spill it Mulder, what's going on 
with this guy?"

Mulder let out a tired sigh and sat in a chair. "As you 
know he's the man how started Nova. He seemed like 
a great guy when we first got here. But now. I don't 
know.He doesn't lift a finger. His rules are 
ridiculous..." 

Skinner waited for more but nothing came. "Why are 
you worried about Scully and him."

Mulder thought for a moment, he really didn't want 
to tell Skinner about this. But he made the decision to 
trust Skinner, and he knew how he felt about Scully. 
He had always favored her. Treated her with care and 
compassion. Even when he should have been tough 
on her. "He seems to have a little thing for Scully if 
you know what I mean."

Skinner nodded quickly. "I could tell."

"Why? What has he done?"

Skinner held up a hand. "Calm down Mulder. He 
hasn't done anything. Its just his. body language. 
He fusses over her." Skinner took in Mulder's sagged 
shoulders and sad expression. "The affection isn't 
returned Mulder, don't worry. She is kind to him, but 
nothing more."

Mulder nodded slowly, taking in the information. He 
pushed himself up from the chair. "Thanks, I need to 
go talk to Scully."

"Mulder." Skinner called as he was about to shut the 
door. "I'll keep my eye out. I know I'm not going to 
be that helpful in my condition, but I'll do my best." 

"Thank you, Skinner." Mulder said softly before 
leaving to find Scully. He walked purposefully down 
the hall, oblivious to anyone or anything. He opened 
the door to their room with as much unnecessary 
force as he did in the Medical Room. 

With a gasp Scully sat up on the bed at the noise of 
the door. She shivered as a cold sweat cooled her 
skin. 
Mulder completely forgot about Benjamin when he 
saw Scully shake slightly, pulling her knees up to her 
chest and wrapping her arms around herself. "Scully? 
What's wrong?" He sat by the bed and took her face 
in his hands, frightened by the look of terror in her 
eyes. "What happened?"

Scully shook her head slightly to focus herself. "It 
was a dream, I'm ok."

Mulder nodded and pulled her against him, kissing 
the top of her head. "Tell me about it."

Scully stretched her legs out in front of her, but kept 
her arms, and Mulder's wrapped about her upper 
body. With him beside her she didn't feel the need to 
completely protect herself, he was comforting and 
safe. She thought in silence for a moment. The whole 
thing was a blur. "I was being robbed." She thought 
out loud in a barely audible whisper. "Not of material 
items, but of part of me. Like I was being taken and 
left behind all at once."

"Maybe a flash back of your abduction." Mulder 
supplied softly. 

Scully nodded lazily. "Maybe." For some reason she 
didn't think that was it. This dream was different. "A 
person took it from me. Not an alien. I'm sure it was 
a person. I don't know why but I know it was." 
Mulder made a soft affirmative noise. "Well." He 
said pulling away enough to push her hair back from 
her face. "It was just a dream and it's over now."

Giving a weak smile Scully nodded and laid back 
down on the bed, ready to sleep again. "I'm really 
tired tonight."

Mulder tucked the blankets around her, their talk 
could wait. She was shaken by her dream, he didn't 
want to upset her anymore. "Go back to sleep."

She nodded again, already halfway there. "Wake me 
if I start to dream again." She mumbled rolling onto 
her side. 

"Of course." He whispered even though she was 
already asleep. 
 
Part 14
Day 84
Scully squinted as she stepped out into the sun. The 
brightness didn't help the sick feeling she was 
fighting since morning. With a deep breath of the 
fresh air Scully walked a few feet in to the shade of 
the trees. 
Leaning back against a tree she let the wave of 
nausea pass. 

Finally feeling like herself, Scully looked up into the 
trees around her. "Hello?" She said softly to a young 
woman sitting a short distance away. Surprised she 
hadn't seen her when she first walked out she slowly 
made her way over. 

The woman looked up and smiled weakly. "Hi."

Scully took in the sight. She had been crying; her 
bright blue eyes were still red rimmed and damp. Her 
long brown hair was pulled loosely back, she was 
trim and tall. Scully thought she was beautiful with a 
sprinkling of light freckles over her nose and 
basically an innocent expression. "I'm Dana Scully." 
She said sitting down in the dirt near her. 

The woman nodded, uninterested. "Yeah, you're the 
doctor. My father has been talking about you."

"Your father?"

"Benjamin. I'm Amanda Walters."

Scully starred at her slightly for a moment. Benjamin 
must have had her when he was young, she had to be 
in her early thirties and he was fifty. "I didn't know 
Benjamin had a daughter."

Amanda let out a humorless snort. "He doesn't talk 
about me much."

Scully didn't need to think back to her psych rotation 
in medical school to know she was depressed and 
ended to talk to someone. "Why's that?"

Amanda looked her up and down for a moment. "My 
father is in love with you." She said nastily, dropping 
that particular bombshell to throw Scully. Since she 
had come to Nova, Dana Scully was all her father 
talked of, when they actually spoke to one another. 
Frankly she was just plain sick of hearing it. 

Slack jawed, Scully only starred at Amanda for a few 
heartbeats. "Excuse me?"

Amanda barely held back a smirk. "He talks about 
you all the time, Dana. I've seen it before. You are an 
attractive, younger, powerful and smart woman. 
That's what he wants." She couldn't keep the smirk 
away any longer. "And my father always gets what 
he wants."

Scully felt a heavy knot in her stomach, different 
from the one she'd just gotten over. This one was 
bred from seven years of being abducted, kidnapped, 
attacked, and being around psychotic monsters in the 
form of men and women. "I. I don't believe that, 
Amanda."

She shrugged and looked away. 

Scully stood shakily, her thoughts an unorganized 
jumble. "Well, Amanda, I need to get back to the 
Medical Room. I'm sure I'll be seeing you." 

Amanda shielded her eyes from the sun and nodded. 
"Bye, Dana." She called in a slightly ashamed tone as 
Scully walked away looking confused but even more 
then that, frightened. 

 
Leg bouncing impatiently, arms crossed and a grim 
expression on her face, Scully waited for Mulder. He 
wasn't late in the least, Scully was just anxious. 

The door open a half hour later, Scully still in the 
same position as before, and a hot sweaty Mulder 
walked in. "Hey." He said not wasting anytime in 
pulling off his dirty clothes. 

"I have to talk to you." Scully said jumping up from 
her chair. 

"Talk away." He said as he heated water to wash 
with. 

"Mulder this is serious."

He turned to her, regarding her calmly, which he 
learned was always the best way to handle a nervous 
Scully. "I'm listening, go ahead." 

Scully paced back and forth. "I met Benjamin's 
daughter today-"
"I didn't know he had a daughter."

Scully shot a threatening look at him for interrupting. 
"I didn't either. Her name is Amanda, she says he 
doesn't talk about her much. I didn't get a chance to 
get into it at all. She said something. I. I don't 
know what to think about it." Scully stared at the 
floor in thought. She still didn't know if she wanted 
to believe Amanda or not. It made sense, the way he 
followed her around, spoke softly, almost intimately. 
But he seemed so honest to her. He knew how she 
felt about Mulder. 

Mulder stepped in front up her, taking her upper arms 
in his hands so that she looked up at him. "Was it 
about Benjamin's feeling for you?"

She looked up at him in shock. "How did you know?" 
Her voice a strained whisper. 

With a sigh he sat down on the bed. "He's. He 
hasn't been hiding it from me. It's obvious he doesn't 
think I am good enough for you." Mulder shut is 
eyes, the way he used to when picturing the profile of 
a murder in his head. "He sees you are the only 
woman suitable for him. He's God here. It's his 
place, no one questions him. You are the only other 
person that people won't question. As the only doctor 
here no one has the knowledge to question what you 
do or say. It's. logical in its own way."

Scully wrapped her arms around her waist 
protectively. Suddenly feeling vulnerable and used. 
"So what should I do now?" 

Mulder sucked in a breath. "Well. don't encourage 
him-"

"I wasn't leading him on!" She interrupted 
defensively. 

Mulder held up a hand in a gentle manner. "I'm not 
saying that, not at all. I know you weren't. I guess. 
just be careful. Try not to be alone with him or talk to 
long. Ok?"

Nodding Scully leaned her head against his shoulder. 

"You ok?" He asked softly. 

Scully wanted to say she was fine, but she promised 
she would tell him anything that was wrong. Not that 
she could hide much even if she wanted to. They 
were in close quarters. Amazingly enough, to Scully, 
she didn't feel smothered. She felt loved. "I'm ok. 
Just really tired today."

He kissed her forehead softly. "Well, Dr. Mulder has 
a cure of that."

Scully tried to hold back her smile, it didn't work. 
"Yeah?"

"Mmm hmm." He said moving away from her. 
"Sleep." He laid her down gently and pulled a blanket 
over her body. "Good night." He kissed her softly as 
she closed her eyes with a lazy, sleepy and happy 
smile. 

 
Scully shivered. She was cold. And alone. No. she 
wasn't alone. But Mulder wasn't with her, half of her 
was missing. She needed that half. Something was 
wrong, she could tell. 

She opened her eyes, forcing them to stay up. It was 
dark. The only light from the fire in the corner of the 
room. It's faint red glow cast more shadows then 
what seemed normal. Turning the room in a bubble 
of darkness, furniture not visible, the walls 
claustrophobically close. 

"Mulder?" 

Scully's voice echoed against the stone wall. Her 
breathing was forced and thick. A lump filled her 
throat. Tears welled in her eyes.

She was panicking and she knew it.

She just knew she needed to find Mulder. 

Scully tried to slip off the bed. But she couldn't. A 
heavy weight settled over her midsection. Scully 
struggled against what seemed her own body. Once 
too breathless to continue she laid still and called for 
Mulder. Over and over. But no answer came. 

Suddenly she stopped her yelling, her crying, almost 
stopped breathing and listened. She wasn't alone. But 
who ever it was wasn't Mulder. 

She jumped as the bed dipped with the weight. She 
froze. Waiting. Waiting for anything to happen. 

Something did. 

A hand, a human hand, reached out and touched her 
cheek. 

And Scully screamed. Loud and long. For Mulder, 
for anyone. 

Her screaming continued as the hand slid down her 
body. Over her neck, cupping her breast, and settling 
on the weight holding her body down. The whole 
time she fought back, flailing her arms, kicking her 
legs. 
Finally, after what seemed like hours of fighting, she 
hit the mysterious person. 

 
"Scully!! Wake up!" Mulder yelled as he had to back 
away to avoid her blows. He had been calling her 
softly for ten minutes, avoiding touching her for free 
it would only make her dream worse, but he couldn't 
wake her easily. 

Her eyes flew open with a gasp as she was able to sit 
up. Her eyes struggled to adjust to the glow from the 
fire, her breathing frantic, sweat dripped from her 
brow and ran down her spine. 

Mulder reached out and placed his arm around her 
shoulders, pulling her to him. He murmured soft 
wordless words and stroked her hair back until she 
calmed slightly. "It's all right." He said into her ear. 
"It was just a dream, sweetheart."

Scully shook her head against his chest. "No. It 
wasn't a dream." She whispered. It was real. It 
seemed so real. 
 
Part 15
Day 86
Scully was determined to find Amanda. She had 
spent practically every spare moment yesterday 
looking. But it wasn't as easy as she thought it 
would. After asking around it turned out that Amanda 
didn't work. When Mulder had heard that he 
mumbled something about not being surprised since 
Benjamin didn't work either. Many people didn't 
even know Amanda existed. 

Scully had no place else to look but outside of 
Nova's busy areas. With a discouraged sigh she 
stepped out into the sunlight. It didn't work yesterday 
but she headed straight for the spot she met Amanda 
a few days ago. "Amanda?" Scully called as she 
walked about the thickly treed area. "Amanda, are 
you here?"

Amanda stepped out from behind a tree, book in 
hand. "Yeah?"

Scully smiled politely. "Hi. I've been looking for 
you."

Amanda leaned against a tree, arms crossing 
protectively. "What for?" 

"I ah." Scully tucked her hair behind her ears and 
tentatively made her way over. "I was hoping we 
could talk about your father."

Amanda looked away with a soft sigh. "What do you 
want to know?"

Scully wasn't really sure what she wanted to ask. All 
she wanted was to understand. Scully knew it 
wouldn't be easy to get information out of Amanda 
so she'd best start slowly. "I never heard why he 
started Nova."

Amanda answered, monotone, looking at the ground. 
"When I was six my mother was abducted, she was 
gone for a over a week. When she came back. she 
just wasn't the same." Amanda shook her head lost in 
thought. "I don't remember her too well. But I knew 
something was wrong. A month later she killed 
herself. My dad immediately started building Nova. 
It's been his life even since." She finally looked back 
over at Scully. "Except the random affair."

Scully shifted uncomfortably. For a few reasons. The 
topic of abduction was touchy, she and Mulder 
decided they wouldn't tell anyone. And Scully just 
didn't know how to handle Benjamin's feelings. 

"Amanda. Your father knows I'm involved with 
someone." 

Amanda laughed softly. "That never stopped him 
before."

"What are you reading?" Scully asked to change the 
subject. 

She held up the book, displaying the title. "Sylvia 
Plath. Ever read her?"

Scully nodded. "Yeah, a long time ago. Great work." 
Scully thought back, Plath was known for her poems 
about her father. They certainty weren't poems about 
love. They were about remorse, hatred, and anger. 

"Dana?"

Scully looked over at a young man she recognized 
but didn't know the name of. "Yes?"

"I've been looking all over for you! There was an 
accident and Jack broke his arm."

Scully glanced at Amanda as she started to walk 
quickly away. "Amanda, I'll talk to you soon." Scully 
cursed under her breath, she felt she was getting 
some where with Amanda and now she had to leave. 

 
 In the heavy daze of half sleep Scully heard Mulder 
come in the door. She didn't move, only mumbled a 
hello. 

"In bed again." Mulder noted pulling off his dirty 
clothes. 

"I had a long day." She said finally rolling over. 

"Yeah I heard. The idiot fell out of a tree." Mulder 
said laughing. "Is Jack ok?"

Scully watched him with interest as he scrubbed the 
dirt from his body. She had always found the way a 
man regarded his body fascinating. Mulder always 
spent a good amount of time washing his neck and 
shoulders, just skimming his legs and arms. He left 
his hot skin damp to evaporate in the cool air of their 
room, his bare chest glowing in the firelight. "Yeah, 
he'll be fine." She answered distracted. "I talked to 
Amanda today." Scully sat up and leaned against the 
headboard as Mulder sat near her hip. 

"What about?"

Scully quickly told him the story of Benjamin's wife. 
Mulder listened silently as she told him about 
Amanda's choice of reading. "I want to talk to her 
more Mulder. She seemed like she wanted to open up 
about Benjamin." Scully whispered for no reason. 

Mulder nodded and laid back on the bed, his head in 
Scully's lap. "Just be careful. Scully?" 
She tipped her head to the side quizzically she 
stroked her hands through his hair.

Mulder leaned his head side to side, following her 
caresses. "Don't tread on Benjamin's toes."

Scully lifted his head so that she could slide down the 
bed. With his head pillowed on her breasts she kissed 
his forehead. "Good point."

"I have them occasionally." He said flipping over to 
lie on his side beside Scully. "Sometimes I even have 
good ideas." Placing a hand on her hip he rolled her 
over onto her side to face him.

"Mmmm. This is a good idea." She murmured as he 
kissed and sucked her neck. She returned the favor on 
his freshly washed skin. 

Mulder slipped his hands under her tee shirt, 
immediately cupping her breasts. 

"Very good idea." She laughed softly as she tenderly 
rubbed her nose against his before placing an open 
mouthed kiss on his waiting lips. Skimming her 
fingers down his sides, causing him to squirm 
slightly, she pushed away his boxers. 

Mulder struggled with the buttons of her jeans, 
desperate not to break contact with her lips. 

Scully laughed softly when he cursed under his 
breath, pulling away to tear her shirt off and tug her 
jeans and panties down. 

"Don't laugh at me." He said with a smile.

Scully cried out softly in surprise as he pressed to 
fingers into her body. "I. I wouldn't dream of it."
Mulder suckled her ear lobe as his hand worked her 
body steadily.

Scully took a deep breath and gently pushed his hand 
away. "Enough of that." She breathed out. "I want 
you."

Mulder kissed her, long and deep as he pulled her leg 
up over his hip. "This ok?"

"Mmm. fine by me."

"Good." He said, slowly pressing into her. 

Letting her eyes shut she pressed her forehead against 
his shoulder, meeting his thrusts with the help of one 
of his hands under her body, his palm pressed against 
the small of her back. 

Mulder nudged her cheek with his nose. "Look at 
me." 

With a few deep breaths she was able to force her 
face up to his. She pried her eyes open and looked 
into his. The passion and adoration that she saw 
almost scared her. His dark eyes looked into hers 
unwavering, as he hips moved faster and deeper. 
With an awkward hand Mulder reached between their 
sweaty bodies and into her slick folds. 

Scully's eyes snapped closed as continuous waves of 
pleasure pulled her under. She relaxed completely 
against the bed, barely aware of Mulder's last few 
desperate stabs into her body as she struggled to 
catch her breath. 

Mulder rested his head on her shoulder, feeling 
Scully's rapid pulse beneath his lips. 

 
Mulder woke with a start, not knowing how long he 
was asleep. It took him a moment to realize it was a 
knock at the door that woke him. Disentangling 
himself from Scully he pulled on his discarded 
boxers and stumbled on legs, weak with sex and 
sleep, to the door. He opened it just a small amount, 
rubbing his eyes with the heels of his hands. 
Benjamin was on the other side. Mulder didn't know 
whether to laugh or be annoyed, it was obvious what 
he just woke up from. "Benjamin, what can I do for 
you?"

Benjamin frowned and tried to look around Mulder 
and into the room. 

Mulder glanced over his should to check to see if 
Scully was covered, she wasn't. He quickly stepped 
out of the room and closed the door behind him with 
raise brows, waiting for Benjamin to speak. 

"I need to talk with Dana for a moment."

Mulder nodded his head toward the room. "She's 
sleeping."

"Well, could you tell her to come to my room. I have 
something I need to speak with her about."
Mulder shook his head with a barely restrained smirk. 
"I think she's out for the night." He slipped that in for 
no reason other than male pride. "I'd be happy to give 
her a message."

Benjamin's eyes narrowed slightly. "Ok. Tell her my 
daughter, Amanda, wants to work in the Medical 
Room with her tomorrow."

Mulder couldn't keep the look of shock off his face. 
"Oh."

"I'll be sure to check up on them through out the day. 
Just let her know that Amanda will be there, at some 
point during the day."

Mulder nodded. "I'll do that. Good night, Benjamin." 
He placed his hand on the door knob and opened it a 
crack. Mulder watched with equal amounts of horror 
and amazement as Benjamin craned his neck trying 
to look into the darkened room. Mulder stepped to 
the side so that he couldn't see Scully. "Good night." 
He repeated firmly. 

Benjamin didn't say a word as he took a step back 
from the door and walked down the hallway.

"Bastard." Mulder mumbled as he walked back into 
their room. 

Part 16
Day 87
"Are you sure something isn't wrong?" Skinner asked 
for the- hell he lost track hours ago. 

Scully glared over at him. She knew she looked 
horrible. She felt horrible. Mulder had woken her up 
in the early morning, she had had that dream again. It 
played out the same way as the first time. It still 
seemed so real. Neither of them had been able to get 
back to sleep. Then an hour before she needed to get 
out of bed she started to feel ill. She still felt ill and it 
was after noon. All Scully wanted to do was go back 
to bed, but even that wasn't perfect. The fear of 
having that dream without Mulder there to wake her 
scared her enough to ignore the fatigue she felt. "I'm 
fine, just tired." She explained monotone. 

Skinner just sighed and shifted restlessly on the bed. 
He didn't want to sit around anymore. He had always 
hated being waited on, the military taught a person to 
fend for himself. He never would have been able to 
make it to Nova without that knowledge. The only 
thing that was saving him from insanity today was 
Jack. He would be in for a few days, but he was 
asleep. So Skinner was stuck with watching Scully do 
random things or read. He was sick of reading. "I'll 
get it." He called after a knock at the door. 

"No you won't." Scully held up hand to stop 
Skinner's struggle to sit up. "Oh, Amanda." Scully 
said surprised as she opened the door for Amanda to 
walk in. "I didn't think you were going to show up."

Amanda shrugged as she stepped into the room. "I 
woke up late."

"I'd say so." Scully muttered. "This is Walter Skinner 
and you know Jack." She said pointing the back of 
the room where Jack's bed was curtained in as he 
slept. 

"You're Benjamin's daughter?" Skinner asked 
extending his hand.

Amanda shook it half heartedly. "Yeah. I prefer 
Amanda though."

Skinner cracked a smile. "Sure." 

Hands on hips Amanda looked around the Medical 
Room, picking up jars and books only to drop them 
sloppily back down. 

Scully ignored what she was doing, but cleared her 
throat to capture Amanda's attention. "Well, 
Amanda, if you want to help out around here you'll 
need to show up on time. Seven, like everyone else. I 
don't know 
how much you'll be able to do, but we'll work on it-" 
Scully was interrupted by Mulder walking in the 
door. She couldn't help a small smile just at the sight 
of him. "I was wondering if you were going to show 
up."

Mulder laughed softly. "Yeah, running a little late 
today. I can't really stay either. I just wanted to see 
how you were feeling."

She shrugged. "Better. Fox Mulder this is Amanda 
Walters."

Mulder smiled politely and shook her hand. "Nice to 
meet you. I'm glad to here where will be someone 
around to give Scully a hand." Mulder looked past 
Amanda to Skinner. "And to give Skinner someone 
else to annoy all day."

Skinner glared, with humor, at Mulder. "If you had 
been sitting here as long as I have, Mulder, you'd be 
going crazy too." 

Mulder nodded. "Probably." He turned back to Scully 
and kissed her quickly. "I better get going. I'll see 
you later." 

"Mulder! Don't forget to eat some lunch!" She yelled 
as he started down the hallway. Shaking her head 
with a frown Scully turned back to Amanda. "Come 
on, you can help me bring in the clean sheets from 
outside." 

Amanda shrugged, indifferent to the idea and walked 
out behind Scully. "I know everyone calls Fox 
Mulder, Mulder. But why does he call you Scully 
instead of Dana?"

"We met while working for the FBI, old habit I 
guess." 

"How long have you known him?"

Scully wasn't sure if she felt comfortable with this 
game of twenty questions. "Over seven years."

"You've been involved with him for seven years?" 
Amanda asked in shock. 

"Well," Scully pulled sheets down from a line where 
she hung them to dry, folding as she spoke. "not is so 
many words. He's been my best friend for that long. 
Only recently we decided to go further then that, so 
to speak." 

"You seem very close." Amanda noted softly as she 
took a pile of sheets into her arms.

Scully nodded fondly as they stepped through the 
doorway and back into the confines of the cool rocks. 
"I've never been closer to anyone."

They were silent the rest of the walk to the Medical 
Room.

Scully smiled when she saw Langly waiting outside. 
"I just can't get rid of you guys lately. Every time I 
turn around I see one of you. Langly this is Amanda."

Without giving Langly a chance to say anything 
Amanda made something of a greeting type noise and 
walked into the Medical Room.

"Bitch." Langly muttered.

Scully looked into the Medical Room. "I'd like to 
disagree with you. but I don't think I can." With a 
sigh she turned back to him. "What can I do for you?"

"Oh. Nothing. I just was wondering how you are 
feeling."

Scully smiled knowingly at him. "Mulder has you 
watching me doesn't he?"

"Uh." Langly shifted on his feet. "I don't know 
what you mean. He mentioned to me that you haven't 
been well lately so I was just. checking."

With that same smile Scully patted his arm. "You 
never could lie to me, Langly. Tell Mulder I'm fine." 
Shaking her head she walked in to the Medical Room 
where Skinner and Amanda were making small talk. 

"So you've been living here since you were twelve." 
Skinner asked in shock.

"Yeah, I went to school fifty miles from here. But 
I've always stayed close by."

Scully listened in as she put away the sheets the 
Amanda had left in the center of the room. 

"Why did you want to work in here with Scully?"

Scully's head shot up as she waited for an answer, 
she was pretty curious about that herself. 

Amanda smirked. "Well. I wanted to see what made 
the woman my father is so obsessed with tick."

A wave of nausea washed over her. Without saying a 
word she walked out of the room, slamming the door 
behind her.

"That was low." Skinner said to Amanda. "It's 
obvious she isn't feeling well and you say something 
to upset her."

Amanda shrugged. "I didn't know she'd be react that 
way."

"Bullshit!" Skinner yelled, pushing himself to sitting 
position. "You did that on purpose."

With her hands on her hips Amanda glared at him. 
"What the hell does that mean?"

"You've got this wonderful little daddy's girl act all 
worked out." Skinner spat out, rather loudly. "You 
can come and go as you please. You don't have to 
work. You came here, so you must be lonely. Anyone 
can see that. Not that I blame you, your father 
obviously doesn't pay much attention to you. You 
said that to Scully because you were you're hurting, 
what's easier then dealing with your own pain? 
Making other's feel like shit. Well that act has to go. 
I don't want to listen to it, and Scully doesn't need it, 
and you need to grow up and move on. Stop being a 
little brat. No one wants to be friends with a brat!"

Scully smiled softly as she leaned against the wall 
outside of the Medical Room. That was so Skinner. 
Not much gets by him and he doesn't deal with 
people's shit. And he was always trying to protect 
her, whether she wanted him to or not. She felt guilty 
for treating him so badly earlier, but until now she 
just hadn't been sure who he was looking out for. 
Himself, Krycek, God knows. She should have 
known better, as always, Skinner, in his own way, 
was still looking out for them. 

Day 89
With her hand clamped over her mouth Scully rolled 
onto her side on the bed. She was going to throw up. 
She knew it. Fighting it for the last few hours had 
finally caught up with her. Clenching her jaw she lay 
still, hoping it would pass like the other times. But it 
didn't.

Falling to her knees beside the bed she emptied her 
stomach into a bucket that from that moment on 
would be used for only that. 

"Jesus Scully." Mulder said softly, rubbing her back 
with one hand, passing her a glass of water with the 
other. "Better?" He asked as she sat back against the 
bed.

Scully nodded as she sipped her water. 

"What's going on? You've been feeling ill for a week 
now."

She shook her head. "I don't know. I really don't."

Mulder frowned as he watched her carefully drink 
water. "Alright, let's get you in bed." Basically 
picking her up Mulder tucked her under the covers. "I 
want you to stay home today. Catch up on your 
sleep."

"I don't want to sleep if you aren't here." She 
admitted softly. 

He stroked her cheek lightly with his fingertips. "I 
know. But you haven't been sleeping much at all. I 
know it's because you are scared. But it isn't going to 
help when you are sick."

Nodding, Scully turned her head to the side and 
stared blankly at the far wall. 

"Hey." Mulder turned her face back to him. "I'll 
check on you, I'll have the Gunmen come too. Ok?"

"I'll just go to the Medical Room." Scully knew she 
shouldn't. She was lightheaded and too tired to even 
think about getting up.

Mulder shook his head firmly. "Don't even try it. 
You're staying here. I'll talk to Judy and take care of 
everything." He kissed her forehead for a long 
heartbeat before standing to clean up from Scully's 
morning activity. "I'll check on you as often as I 
can."

She nodded lazily. 

"I'm going to be late." He muttered to himself. "Bye, 
sweetheart."

"Bye." She said as he closed the door. "Hurry back." 
She whispered to the empty room. 

 
She knew she was having that dream again. She 
could tell by the strange feeling of being weighed too 
the bed. 

Immediately she chanted for herself to wake up. It 
didn't work. It never worked. 

Opening her eyes she was meet with the usual dark 
room. She could see the shadowy figure who was the 
mysterious visitor. The large hand grazed over her 
face lightly, despite her pleas and whimpering. The 
hand, heavy and un-dreamlike warm, traveled its 
usual course down her body. Over her breasts, down 
her abdomen, into the junction of her thighs, finally 
skimming over her legs. 

Scully twisted and fought as much as possible. 

Suddenly she stilled. The hand moved away from her 
body, hovering over her face. She focused in the low 
light on the hand, now glistening with blood.

 
Scully sat up quickly, trying to control her churning 
stomach, with a gasp. After a few deep breaths she 
laid back into the bed, staring at the rocks above her 
head. Shivering, not with chilliness, she wrapped the 
blankets tightly around her and waited for Mulder to 
come back.

Day 91
Mulder stood stiffly from the chair he had been 
sitting in for the past few hours watching Scully sleep 
at a knock on the door. 

She flat out refused to go to sleep if he wasn't there 
to wake her, no matter how tired she was. 

In turn Mulder refused to let her go to the Medical 
Room until she was feeling better. 

With an audible sigh Mulder stepped out into the 
hallway with Benjamin. 

"I was hoping to talk to Dana."

"Sorry." Mulder said, not meaning it. "She's asleep, I 
don't want to wake her."

Benjamin nodded, understanding. "How is she?"

"Not too well. She's very tired and sick to her 
stomach." 

Benjamin made a small thoughtful `hmph' sound. 
"Maybe she's pregnant."

A tight knot of pain settled in Mulder's gut. "We 
can't have children." He said as smoothly as possible, 
determined not to show emotion in front of 
Benjamin.

"Maybe you're not the father." 

Mulder stared at the older man, completely 
dumbfounded. "Scully is infertile." He spoke without 
thinking. Immediately he cursed himself silently. 
That was not his information to give out. Scully 
herself barely told anyone. It was primal male pride 
that made him say that. 

To Mulder's joy Benjamin looked disappointed. 
Mulder could only hope that fact might discourage 
Benjamin's infatuation with Scully. "Well. give her 
my best." He turned on his heels and walked down 
the hall. 

"I'll be sure to do that." Mulder mumbled using every 
last bit of his restraint not to smash Benjamin's head 
into the rock wall. But if he did that he knew 
Benjamin would kick him out of Nova. Mulder knew 
the only reason that he hadn't been already was 
because Benjamin knew that Scully would leave with 
him. Mulder wasn't sure if that was a blessing or not.

Part 17
Day 93
"Is that rain?" Scully asked sleepily at the soft 
pounding echoing off the rocks. 

"Think so." Mulder mumbled as he rubbed his nose 
under Scully's ear, inhaling the musk of spent 
arousal. 

Scully had finally begun to feel better, and there was 
only one thing she wanted to do. Mulder wasn't 
complaining.

Scully turned in his arms, so that she faced his chest. 
She traced her fingers over the muscles of his upper 
body which had become thick and firm with hard 
labor. He was healthy. She suddenly felt incredibly 
small next to him. She pushed her herself away 
slightly, taking in the sight of his heavy body partly 
covered by sheets. 

"What?" Mulder asked pulled her back against him. 

Scully pressed her smiling face into the junction of 
his neck. "Nothing." 

Shifting lethargically Mulder settled into the bed. "I 
don't believe you." He mumbled pouting. 

She let out a breathy laugh as sleep started to 
overtake her. The heat of Mulder's body, the distance 
sounds of rain, and Mulder's heartbeat beneath her 
ear lulled her into a restful sleep.

Mulder felt Scully's breathing slow and even out. Her 
grip around his waist loosened slightly and Mulder 
gently laid her from her side onto her back. Scully 
leaned into his hand unconsciously as he brushed hair 
from her face. He watched as she slipped deeper and 
deeper into to sleep. She looked relaxed and peaceful. 

Mulder knew it was only a matter of time before the 
dream came, it always did. 

With a soft sigh Mulder settled deeper into the bed, 
wrapping his arms around her. Pushing his thoughts 
from his mind he forced himself to sleep, knowing 
that at any moment he would have to wake Scully 
and stay up with her the rest of the night. 

Day 94
"Hey, Scully." Mulder greeted as he stepped into the 
room. The door shut and Mulder stood frozen by 
Scully's angry gaze. "What'd I do?" 

Scully stood up, arms crossed over her chest with 
tears in her eyes. "You know what you did."

Mulder thought for a moment in silence. Trying to 
find a way to fix this. "I. I'm sorry, I don't know 
what you're talking about." 

She took a step towards him, a small tentative step. 
"You told Benjamin I can't have children." Her 
words were nothing more then a whisper, trying to 
hide the secret from the fictitious ears of their room. 

"Shit!" Mulder hissed out clenching his eyes shut. 
With a deep breath, preparing for the battle this 
would cause he turned fully to Scully. "I'm so sorry 
Scully. I didn't mean to tell him that. He pissed me 
off and it just slipped out." 

Scully looked down at the ground, unable-unwilling 
to look at him. It hurt too much. "What's going to 
slip out next?" Her whisper did not hide the anger. 
"That I was abducted-"

"We said we wouldn't tell anyone that."

Scully's eyes- filled with tears- shot up to his. "I 
thought you understood that my infertility is just as 
personal as my abduction, guess I was wrong." She 
made a move to go to the door but Mulder grabbed 
her arm firmly. 

"Scully, please listen to me." He said desperately. 

Scully look at where he was holding her arm tightly. 
"Mulder, let go of me."

Mulder immediately loosed his grip letting his hand 
slide down so he held her wrist loosely. "I want to 
talk about this."

"There's nothing to talk about. Your ego got in the 
way of you being respectful of me. That's it." She 
tugged her hand away from him. 

"Please don't walk away from me." He begged softly 
as she opened that door.

Scully paused in the doorway, but didn't turn around. 
"I just need time to think. I won't leave Nova." With 
that she shut the door firmly behind her. 

"Fuck." Mulder spat at the empty room as he sat on 
the edge of the bed and buried his face in his hands. 
 

Scully stepped in the empty church room, dimly lit 
by two lanterns. She didn't bother to light anymore; 
she wanted to hide in the darkness. Sitting on a heavy 
wooden bench she let out a long sad sigh. She was 
tired, physically and mentally. The tears resting in 
her eyes wouldn't fall. That would take too much 
energy. Pillowing her head on a folded arm she laid 
on her side on the bench, pulling her legs up close to 
her body. 
 

"Scully?"

Scully jolted awake, taking a moment to figure out 
where she was. She let out a soft sigh when she 
recognized the church and sat up to face Skinner. 

"Are you all right?" 

She nodded and cleared the sleep from her throat. 
"Yes. How are you feeling?" She asked to change the 
subject. Skinner left the Medical Room two days ago, 
even though he wasn't allowed to work for another 
few weeks. 

Nodding he sat gingerly beside her. "Not bad. Sore 
and stiff but better then lying still all day long. Is 
everything ok?"

She fought as hard as she could, but the tears still 
came. Softly and silently other then her humorless 
laugh, but they came none the least. "Not really, no." 

Skinner tentatively placed his hand on her back. 
"What happened?"

She shook her head quickly.

He pulled his hand away and sat back on the bench. 
"You have that look you get when Mulder does 
something to piss you off and you're trying your 
damnedest to hate him for it because you know you 
should. But you love him too much to stay mad as 
long as you think you should."

Scully smiled despite herself. "That obvious?"

Skinner returned her smile. "Only to me, I've seen it 
enough to pick it out now." He paused and looked at 
her carefully. "What did he do? Do I need to go kick 
his ass for it?"

Again Scully smiled. "No. Well. maybe. Can I 
think about it?"

Skinner chuckled and nodded. Then watched her 
expectantly.

Knowing she wasn't going to get away with not 
telling Skinner easily she gave him a short response. 
"He said some things to another person that he 
shouldn't have. Basic Mulder mistakes I guess."

Skinner was silent for a moment. "Did this have 
anything to do with Benjamin?" When she didn't 
answer, didn't even look at him, he went on. "There's 
something you need to try and understand about 
Mulder. He'll do anything for you, you know that. He 
wants to protect you, and I know you don't 
necessarily like that. But it's instinctive. Neither of us 
wants anything bad to happen to you. And we both 
see Benjamin as a threat, so.. He is angry and 
defensive around him. I know that isn't an excuse, 
but it's a reason." 

Scully slowly took in all this information. She wasn't 
sure what to say, about Mulder or about Skinner. 
Against her best instincts Scully had begun to look 
toward Skinner for guidance, protection, and plain 
old friendship-something new for the two of them. 
And Mulder. She loved Mulder more then she ever 
thought possible. And like Skinner had said, she 
couldn't stay mad at him. It's hard.impossible to 
stay mad at your other half. 

So she sat on the church bench with Skinner for a bit, 
in silence, looking forward at the paintings in the 
front of the room. Suddenly Scully quickly looked 
over at Skinner. "What are you doing here anyway?"

Skinner blushed. To Scully's amazement Skinner 
blushed. "Almost dying. a few times over the 
course of a few months really makes a person rethink 
life I guess." 

"I didn't know you were religious."

Skinner shrugged slightly. "I haven't gone to church 
in years. But... I think I will start again." 

Scully smiled softly. "I'd love for you to come with 
me on Sundays if you'd like?"

Skinner looked over at her and nodded 
appreciatively. "I'd live that." He smiled then 
gestured with his head towards the door. "Get out of 
here. Go let Mulder know he isn't a dead man."

With a slight laughed Scully left, but not after a 
lingering look into the church and one of the men that 
never stopped amazing her. 

Day 96
"Can I help you?" Benjamin asked coolly to the three 
men that walked up to him as he left the Medical 
Room. 

"We are friends of Scully." Langly said.

Benjamin nodding giving them a look that said `so 
what?'

"I take it you were just visiting her. How is she 
feeling today?" Byers said trying to make up for 
Langly's bluntness.

"Good." Benjamin made a move to step around them, 
but all five foot three inches of Frohike stepped in his 
way.

"It's good to know we have one more person to 
watch over her." He said with a face that passed off 
as wanting to punch Benjamin in the gut. "We 
worry." He gestured to the other two men. "Skinner 
does also, he is very close to her. And of course 
Mulder. But you already know that." Frohike soberly 
scowled at him.

Benjamin nodded. "She's a wonderful woman, 
doesn't surprise me that people care." 

"People-we really care." Langly said. 

Benjamin looked at them all in turn. "Is there a point 
to this?"

"Yeah. The point is that we don't like you hanging 
around her-" Byers cut Frohike off with a look. 
Benjamin smiled slyly. "Well. this is my place. You 
don't like it you are welcome to leave." 

The Gunmen were all silent, sending none too happy 
messages with their eyes. 

Frohike spoke slowly, and with the knowledge of 
knowing Mulder for many years. "You just might 
want to be careful. Mulder is a protective man, and 
he tends to have a short fuse when it comes to 
Scully."

Benjamin raised his eyebrows, not losing his smile. 
"For some reason I'm not frightened."

All the men turned as Scully opened the door. She 
smiled at the Gunmen. "I thought I heard people 
talking out here. What are you going here, guys?"

Langly shrugged. "We are on a break and came to say 
hello."

Scully continued to smile and opened the door wide 
for them. "Come on in then, I'm all alone at the 
moment." They filed in and Scully looked over at 
Benjamin who had a strange look in his eyes. One 
she couldn't quite put her finger on. But one she felt 
she had seen before. Many times. She gave him a 
slight, uncomfortable smile and a curt nod as a 
goodbye then stepped into the privacy of the Medical 
Room. 

Part 18
Day 99
Skinner looked back and forth between the book he 
was reading at his table and the door which was just 
knocked on. He really didn't feel like spending the 
energy needed to stand up. "Come in." He called.

Amanda slowly opened the door. "Hi Walter."

Skinner put the book down. "Amanda, how are you?" 
He asked surprised to see her.

"I'm fine. Dana asked me to stop by and see how you 
were feeling." 

"Oh. I'm feeling better." Skinner looked at her in 
silence for a moment. Amanda looked uneasy, like an 
animal ready to flee. "Why don't you sit down, we 
can talk for a while."

Amanda chewed her lip for a moment before 
nodding. "Ok." Amanda sat with Skinner. She smiled 
shyly. She liked Skinner. Even after he had bawled 
her out that one day for being rude to Scully he didn't 
seem to hold it against her. 

"Are you enjoying working with Scully?" Skinner 
asked leaning back in his chair relaxing, trying to put 
her at ease. 

"Yes, I really am. I haven't had the opportunity to do 
much of anything around here." Amanda laughed 
softly, shyly.

Skinner smiled at her timidity. "I'm not allowed to do 
anything. I know how you feel. Well at least about 
the work, but not about your father."

Amanda's head shot up. "What do you mean?"

Skinner was flustered for a moment by her panicked 
look. "Just, I can't imagine how it must be. He seems 
to be a very controlling person."

Amanda looked down at the tabletop, draw tiny 
obscure patterns with her fingertips. "It is. Made it 
hard to grow up I guess."

Skinner nodded slightly. "Yeah. It must be hard for 
people to look at you as anyone other then 
Benjamin's daughter."

"Yeah." She nodded lost in thought. "I'm little 
Amanda who has lived in Nova all her life because 
her mother was crazy. People don't really take me 
seriously. Like you, that's what you thought when we 
first met. I was being a bitch because, you were right, 
I didn't really know what else to do. So I was a 
spoiled brat."

Skinner looked at her squarely. "I don't see you like 
that anymore. There's a lot more to you Amanda. 
You just need to let it out." 

Day 103
"Scully, wake up." Mulder said in a soothing voice. 
But she continued to whimper and struggle in her 
dream world. "Come on, Scully, wake up." He 
firmly. She began to fight, her arms pushing away 
invisible threats, her feet kicking for purchase, her 
body pushing off the bed trying to break away from 
the mysterious restraint she had told Mulder about. 
"Scully, wake up." Mulder ducked as her hand came 
towards him, but not fast enough. The back of her 
knuckles hit his cheek bone with a loud sound 
somewhere in between a smack and a crack. 
Wincing, Mulder rolled away slightly as Scully jolted 
awake from the painful contact. 

"Mulder!"

"I'm here." He unconsciously groaned out with his 
hand over his eye. 

Scully turned towards him in the dim light breathing 
heavily and trembling. Shaking herself from the last 
of her dream she pulled his hand away from his eye. 
"Oh Mulder. I'm so sorry." She dabbed at the smear 
of blood with her thumb.

"I'm ok. Are you?" 

She nodded only half listening to him. "I want to get 
that cleaned up. You stay here, I'll go to the Medical 
Room." She slid off the bed and pulled on enough 
clothes to be warm enough for her short trip.

"Scully. Don't worry about it. Come back to bed."

She turned to him as she stepped into her shoes. "It'll 
make me feel better, ok? I'll only be gone a minute."
Mulder sighed and sat back against the cold wall. 
There was no was stopping Scully when she had her 
mind set on doing something. 

 
The nighttime silence of Nova was cut through by a 
blood curdling scream. 

Mulder jumped out of bed in his boxers, his legs 
tangling in the sheets before he was able to free 
himself and get out the door. He ran, a full force run, 
down the hall until he came to a stretching halt were 
Scully stood, shaking, and Benjamin stood shocked 
and confused from her reaction to meeting him in the 
hall. Mulder quickly stepped between the two, taking 
Scully's face in his hands he looked her up and down 
for injuries. She looked ok other then being pale and 
shivering. "What happened?" Mulder looked around 
as other people started to file into the hallway, 
Benjamin told them to go back to bed. Without 
waiting for Scully to answer he scooped her up in his 
arms and quickly took her down the hall and back to 
their room. "What happened?" He asked again, 
firmer, after he set her on the bed.

Scully shook her head. "I don't know. He scared me. 
I didn't think anyone would be awake. I don't know 
why I reacted that way." 

Mulder nodded as Skinner walked in the room. 
"What the hell happened?"
Amanda walked in a few seconds later. "Dana? Was 
that you?"

Neither Scully or Mulder said anything to explain. 
Pulling on clothes Mulder looked up at Skinner and 
Amanda. "Stay with her. I'll be back in a few 
minutes." 

Scully watched as Mulder pulled on his shoes and 
jogged back down the hall. It took a second for her 
still racing mind to focus. "Skinner, stop him." She 
said finally realizing where Mulder was mostly likely 
going.

"Amanda, stay with her." Skinner left the room 
quickly in search of Mulder.

Amanda sat on the bed next to Scully. "Did you 
scream because you saw my father?"

Scully nodded numbly. 

"I'm scared of him too." Amanda whispered.

Scully looked over at her, for some reason she wasn't 
surprised.

"What the fuck did you do to her?!" Mulder screamed 
at Benjamin as he ran down the hall, Skinner close 
behind him. 

"Calm down Mulder." Frohike said as he walked up 
into the dwindling crowd. 

Mulder paid no attention to him as he continued to 
glare at Benjamin. 

"I didn't do anything Mulder. I was just walking my 
hallways." 

Skinner caught Mulder with one arm around his chest 
as he tried to lunge towards him. "Stop it Mulder. 
This won't help anything." 

Benjamin stood with a smug grin on his face 
watching Mulder struggle against Skinner's hold. 

Scully walked up in front of Mulder, noticing the 
pained expression on Skinner's face as he tried to 
hold him with still weak muscles. She placed a hand 
on either of his upper arms and looked up at him. 
"Mulder."

He relaxed slightly at her soothing tone and glanced 
down at her for a moment, not wanting to take his 
eyes off of Benjamin. "I want him to stay away from 
you." He snarled.

Scully couldn't remember the last time she saw 
Mulder this angry. She ran her palms up and down 
his arms. Caressing him in almost a sensual way in 
front of the few people that Benjamin hadn't been 
able to shoo away. "It's ok Mulder. My dream set me 
on edge. It's ok, really." He eased back slightly as she 
ran her hands up around his shoulders. "Mulder look 
at me." She waved Skinner away discreetly. Skinner 
slowly let go and stepped back as Mulder looked 
down at Scully.

He leaned over, his lips close to her ear. "I'm worried 
about you." He said softly, his hot breath tickling her 
skin. 

"I know." She whispered back. Using the position to 
her advantage her pressed her lips to his neck feeling 
him slowly relax. "It's ok. Let's go and try to get 
some sleep." She slid her hands from his shoulders to 
his hands, clutching them she pulled him away and 
back down the hallway. But not before he shot one 
last deadly look toward Benjamin. 

"Come on Amanda." Benjamin said after he watched 
Scully take Mulder down the hall. 

Amanda looked at Skinner for a moment, then down 
at the ground, but didn't move. 

"Amanda. I said let's go. I'll walk you back to your 
room."

Skinner placed his hand on the center of her back. 
"I'll see you tomorrow Amanda." He told her with his 
eyes to go with him and not fight it now. Everyone 
was too on edge.

Amanda nodded and gave him a small smile as she 
walked away with her father.

Day 105
Mulder heaved the axe over his head with a grunt. He 
had been chopping wood for the last few days, orders 
of Benjamin. Not only was he chopping wood all 
day, in the heat, but he was also an hour and half 
walk back to Nova. It did nothing more then make 
Mulder even madder at Benjamin. He had too much 
time to think. Lately he had been spending most of it 
imagining different ways to us his axe to end the 
problem with Benjamin for good.

A particularly graphic one involving the said axe and 
the contents of a pack of Morley's in a certain bodily 
opening -he choose to ignore the fact that he couldn't 
get a pack of Morley's for entertainment's sake- 
when he was interrupted when Frohike walked out of 
the path to where Mulder was throwing wood onto a 
cart. "Hey."

Cracking his knuckles Frohike leaned against a tree. 
"He's got you busting your ass."

"No shit." Mulder grumbled. 

"You know you have really pissed him off, don't 
you?" Frohike asked slightly annoyed, but 
understanding his actions.

"No shit." He repeated.

Frohike sighed softly. "So what are you going to do 
about it?"

Mulder dropped the axe to the ground, wiping sweat 
from his brow with his forearm he turned to him, 
arms outstretched in question. "What can I do? The 
guy hates me because Scully loves me. Nothing I can 
do, nothing I want to do."

"But how long before he kicks you out of here?!"

Rubbing his face with his hands Mulder groaned. "I 
don't know. I'm trying to stay calm with this. It's got 
to blow over sooner or later. Maybe after a while 
he'll realize that Scully doesn't have any feelings for 
him and give up."

Frohike gave him a `yeah right' look.

Mulder sighed and picked up his axe again. "Useless. 
It truly is useless. The guy is insane."

Frohike nodded. "I'm just waiting for you to crack, 
Mulder. Watch yourself."

He nodded soberly. "I am, trust me."

"Fuck!" Frohike yelled suddenly as a large ship 
passed over them.

Mulder frowned, unfazed. "Been happening all day." 
He said once it was out of site.

"Great. Just what we need."
 
Part 19
Day 109
"Mulder?" Scully whispered softly, partly hoping he 
was asleep. She felt nervous, almost afraid. But the 
unanswerable question was eating her up inside.

Lazily Mulder rolled from have his back to her onto 
his side, his hand falling idly onto her belly, his eyes 
still closed. 

"I didn't know if you were still awake." She said just 
as softly, turning her head to look at him. 

"Barely." He mumbled. He actually had been, but the 
insecurity in her voice had woken him. 

Scully placed her hand on top of his, her fingers 
lightly stroking the length of his. She could feel his 
hand rising and falling with her rapid breathing.

"Something wrong?" He kept is tone light, trying to 
calm the tenseness he felt radiating off of her.

Scully looked up at his face, his eyes were still 
closed. "No. Everything is fine." She looked back 
down at their hands. 

Mulder frowned. "Well now that you said that I know 
something is wrong." He rubbed her stomach lightly, 
her hand now resting atop his. "Talk to me."

Sucking in a long breath Scully was silent for a 
moment as she organized her thoughts. She turned 
her head to look at his face once again. Gathering all 
the mental strength she could muster she whispered 
out the secret she had been keeping for a month now. 
"I think I am pregnant." She pressed his hand, under 
hers, against her belly.

Scully watched as his face hardened, his brow 
furrowed, the muscle in his jaw tensed, his eyes shut 
tightly. She watched as his throat worked to swallow 
thickly. "Scully." He said softly, painfully, as his 
eyes slowly opened to look into hers. They shone 
with unshed tears. 

She quickly looked away, back to their hands. "I. I 
know I shouldn't be- shouldn't be able to. But I think 
I am."

"Why do you think that?" He asked softly, trying to 
find the best way to handle this. Those few words had 
awakened his guilt about her infertility, the guilt of 
telling Benjamin, the fear that they will not have to 
deal with the pain when they find out she isn't 
carrying a child, countless-nameless feelings that tore 
his heart apart.

Scully's rehearsed reasoning poured out of her mouth 
quickly. "I haven't gotten my period in months. 
When I was sick- that easily could have been 
morning sickness. I was so tired. Now I'm putting on 
weight without eating more then usual." Finally 
hearing the words spoken aloud made her question 
each and every one. Not being completely convinced 
herself made it difficult to persuade Mulder. She 
forced her body not to tremble with fear of rejection. 

Mulder stayed silent for a moment. "Scully.. There 
is nothing more I want then for that to be true but-"

"Damn it Mulder! I'm a doctor for God's sake." She 
spoke defensively, squeezing his fingers in hers. 

"I know that." He said his voice thick with emotion. 
"But, it's not possible. You know that, you told me 
that. I. I just don't want you- I don't want me to get 
attached to this thought when it's impossible." 

Scully closed her eyes, the silent tears falling down 
her cheeks mirrored his. She knew what he said 
should be true, but she didn't believe it. She refused 
to believe it. With a deep empowering breath she 
pushed his hand off her body. "Feel this." She said 
desperately, but firmly. "Tell me there isn't a life in 
here." She pulled up her shirt to expose her stomach, 
then took his hand and pressed it against her warm 
skin, his fingers sinking slightly into the softness. "I 
feel it. Can't you?" 

Pressing his hand into her body more he buried his 
face in her neck, the pain taking his strength away. 

Day 110
"You look like hell." Skinner observed as he stepped 
up in line for morning rations behind Mulder.

Mulder glanced over his shoulder. "Yeah. Long 
night."

"Judging by the tone I take it the long night wasn't 
the enjoyable kind of long night."

He rubbed the heels of his hands into his eyes. "Not 
at all." Mulder paused for a moment before 
explaining. "Scully thinks she's pregnant." He said 
softly in case of listening ears.

Skinner was shocked. "Is she?" At Mulder's shrug he 
went on. "There's really no way to tell yet."

Mulder shook his head. "Not really. She's sure of it 
though."

"I take it you're not."

"I don't know. I'd love for it to be true, trust me. But 
it shouldn't be. She can't be." 

Their conversation was interrupted by Amanda 
walking by. "Hi, Walter." She said with a slightly shy 
smile.

"Good morning, Amanda."

Mulder looked on in an amused silence as Skinner 
watched her walk down the hall until she was out of 
sight. 

Skinner looked back over at Mulder as they took a 
few steps forward in the line. His smile quickly faded 
when he saw Mulder's face. "Don't say a word, 
Mulder."

Of course Mulder didn't listen. "This is a surprise."

"Shut up." 

Mulder chuckled. "What?" He smiled as innocently 
as he could manage. "She's a very pretty woman.. I 
don't have much to say about her personality 
though." 

Skinner nodded. "She's. coming around." 

Mulder took his bag from the rations counter and 
stepped away. "Well you have more patience then 
me. I'll talk to you later."

"Good luck yourself." Skinner called as Mulder 
walked away.

A few minutes later Mulder walked back into his 
room where Scully was sitting quietly at the table. 
They had barely spoken since the night before. "I ran 
into Skinner." He said softly as he poured her a glass 
of milk.

"How is he?" She asked absentmindedly, rolling the 
cold glass around in here palms. 

"Good." He set the pan on the stove. "I think he and 
Amanda have something brewing."

Scully's head shot up, a strange smile on her face. 
"Really? That's.. odd."

Mulder shrugged, returning smile glad for something 
to lighten the mood between them. "I don't know. I 
think it will be good for both of them."

"Yeah. maybe." Scully agreed lost in thought.

Mulder looked over at her as he leaned against the 
back wall waiting for the eggs to cook. "Having 
someone you care about, who cares about you makes 
a big difference. I honestly don't know what I would 
do if I didn't have you. I wouldn't have even 
bothered trying to save myself after They came."

Scully looked back over at him, a deadly serious 
expression on her face. "Don't say that Mulder."

He moved the pan off the fireplace and kneeled in 
front of her. "I'm serious. When I came to get you 
when this all happened. And I saw you, laying there, 
bleeding." His fingers traced over the healed skin of 
her forehead. "I knew that if you were dead I 
wouldn't have gone on. No reason to."

"Stop." She whispered painfully. 

He took her face in his hands. "I love you Scully. I 
always have, you know that. And you know that my 
life is nothing without you."

Scully sniffled softly, trying to keep the tears from 
coming. She pressed her face into his neck. "I love 
you too." 

Part 20
Day 113
Scully placed jars on a shelf with one hand, the other 
resting lightly on her belly. "Where have you been?" 
She asked over her shoulder as Amanda walked in.

"Oh. I went to see Walter, today is his first day 
working." She stepped up next to Scully to help with 
the jars.

Scully nodded. "How is he managing?"

Placing the last jar on the self, Amanda sat in a chair 
with a slight smile. "Just fine."

Scully joined her at the table, stretching her arms 
over her head. "You were gone for a while." 

Amanda shrugged, answering slightly defensively but 
mostly in teasing. "You visit Mulder all the time."

"Yes I do." She said with a slightly embarrassed 
smile. She should have been ashamed of the way she 
missed him, even if they were only a part for a few 
hours, but she was too happy to care what others 
thought. "Is that the same situation?" Scully had been 
trying, for a few days, to work the question in 
nonchalantly. It was a lot harder then she expected.

She smiled a little. "I wouldn't say that. yet."

Scully nodded. "At the risk of sounding parental," 
Amanda immediately cringed. "Isn't Skinner a little 
old for you?"

"He's only ten years older."

Only. That was a shock to Scully. She wouldn't have 
used the word only in this context. "I guess." Scully 
looked down at her hands for a moment, slightly 
embarrassed. "I guess I just see you as younger then 
you really are. You don't really behave like a thirty 
five year old woman"

Amanda bit the inside of her cheek to stop the harsh 
comments that wanted to come out. She leaned 
forward towards Scully with her elbows on the table. 
"For the first time in my life," Amanda spoke softly, 
slowly, honestly. "I am with people who are listening 
to me. I have always been a child. To my father, to 
his girlfriends, to the few people who came to Nova. 
I am just now getting past that. Forgive me, I have 
twenty years to catch up on." 

Scully sat back in her chair, trying to regain her 
personal space. Some of her control. She nodded in 
as much understanding as she could for Amanda's 
life.

"I haven't really had a life. Look at you." Scully's 
head shot up. "Moving all over with your family 
when you were young, medical school, an FBI agent, 
you have this amazing relationship." Amanda 
trailed off with a jealous frown.

With a short sad laugh Scully shook her head. "My 
life hasn't been perfect. Trust me."

Amanda met her eyes and shrugged. "I guess no one 
has a perfect life." She glanced over her shoulder as 
Benjamin walked in the open door. "Speaking of 
which." She mumbled.

"Hello, Dana." He greeted with a smile. "Amanda." 
He said as an after thought, not looking at her.

"Can I do something for you Benjamin?" Scully 
asked with her professional politeness intact. 

He sighed softly then glanced at Amanda. "Could you 
leave us for a moment, I need to speak with Dana 
alone."

Amanda looked shocked for a moment. Then shook 
her head and walked, almost stomped, from the room. 
Scully noticed, the moment Benjamin walked into the 
room, Amanda turned from an intelligent women to a 
obnoxious child. She watched in an interested silence 
as Benjamin shut the door after Amanda and sat in 
her vacant chair. After smiling at her for a moment 
her spoke; "I was wondering how were are feeling?"

"Just fine." She watched him, waiting for the reason 
he needed to speak with her alone. He didn't say 
anything, just continued to stare at her. "What was it 
you wanted to talk about?"

A displeased frown crossed his face. "It's about 
Mulder."

The only thing that stopped Scully from shifting 
comfortably in her chair was her years of practice 
with higher ups in the bureau. "What about him?" 
She asked coolly. 

Benjamin sat back in his chair, arms crossed over his 
chest. "He seems to be acting strangely, I'm worried 
he will take it out on you."

Scully was confused, it was that simple. "I don't 
know what you are talking about?"

With a frown he leaned forward, too close. Scully 
hadn't let a man, other then Mulder, come so close to 
her in years without stiffening. She shifted back in 
her chair as much as possible. "He seems. agitated. 
And I think that there are things maybe going on with 
you two that you are hiding. That night we were I 
met you in the hall. You were so upset and I noticed 
Mulder had a cut on his cheek."

Scully's detective mind unsolved his puzzle of words 
and it was all she could do not to laugh. Settling on a 
smile and shook her head. "Mulder wouldn't hit me if 
that's what you are trying to get at. He never would, 
he couldn't."

Benjamin nodded, leaning back in his chair. Scully's 
smile had thrown him off. She wasn't the least but 
upset by the conversation, she was amused. "You'd 
be amazed what a man will do to a woman if he is 
encouraged the proper way." 

Her smile slowly faded as she pondered his words. 
She shook her head again. "Mulder would never hurt 
me. You don't understand him-or me."

Benjamin stood quickly. "Well. I just wanted to 
voice my concerns."

"I appreciate that." She said still seated.

He nodded. "I'll see you soon, Dana." Benjamin 
exited the room, pulling the door closed behind him 
and was met by an angry looking Amanda. "You can 
go back in now." He said trying to side step her.

"Your hold is slipping." She said in an eerily calm 
voice as she blocked his path.

He let out a breath. "What?" His tone was tired and 
impatient. 

"Don't you see the way people are looking at you? 
They don't fear you. They don't respect you. Those 
are to two things you thrive on, you don't have either 
anymore."

Benjamin glared at her. "Where do you get off with 
this attitude? Ever since you started running around 
with Walter you act like your some big hot shot."

She pointed a finger at him. "You leave Walter out of 
this. He doesn't have anything to do with it."

"Oh yes he does." Benjamin shook his head. "Don't 
you see he is using you?" He looked her up and 
down. 

"What would a man want to with you? You're losing 
your hold on reality."

Amanda shook her head, amazed. "Me? Now way, 
Dad. I'm finally figuring out what is real and what is 
not. You are the one that has lost touch with reality. 
You don't realize how slack of a hold you have on 
Nova. One little thing." She held up a finger for 
emphasis. "One thing that you can't control and you 
are going lose it all."

He crossed his arms over his chest. "What the hell are 
you talking about?"

Amanda shook her head in amazement. "You think 
we are done here? We aren't safe. No one is safe." 
Her voice was nearing a yell. "You are lost in this 
happy little world were everything is going to be ok. 
Well it's not." Suddenly she dropped down to a 
whisper. "Something is going to happen, sooner or 
later, and it will be all over for you." A sick smile 
came over her face. "I can't wait for that day." 
Taking a large step around him she went back into 
the Medical Room, leaving Benjamin to notice for 
the first time the few on lookers to their discussion. 
The worried looks, shocked expressions, and tense 
murmurs were duly noted. 

Day 116
Mulder rubbed his chin against the top of Scully's 
head, his stubble catching on the soft strands. 

"There was so much blood." She whispered. Her 
trembling hands ran over his arms wrapped from 
behind her. His only response was a sleepy kiss on 
her ear. "Why do I keep having this dream?" She 
asked desperately. 

He shook his head against her hair. "I don't know." 
He spoke softly with his lips against her ear again. 

"There's an unconscious reason, or cause. I hate to 
say it but I think we will just have to wait it out." He 
paused in thought for a moment. "Was there anything 
different about it this time?"

"I don't know." She said shaking her head.

Mulder rubbed his palm up and down her arm. "Talk 
it out."

With a soft breath Scully closed her eyes and for the 
first time she relived her dream by choice. "It started 
off the same. I was alone in bed, on my back. I was 
weighed down and I knew someone was in the room. 
I struggled and called for you. But it didn't matter. I 
couldn't move and you weren't there. Suddenly the 
man was touching me, only for a moment. Then there 
was the blood. Everywhere. So much. And it was 
over, I woke up. Everything was in slow motion it 
seemed." She shook her head, frustrated with herself. 
"I don't know anything more. I'm probably forgetting 
some details."

"That's ok." He said soothingly. 

Scully rubbed a hand over her belly. "Maybe it is just 
one of those dreams pregnant women have." Mulder 
tensed at the topic, but quickly recovered to try to 
keep Scully calm. "Doesn't that happen often? 
Women have nightmares about losing their child. It's 
common right? Didn't you learn about that at 
Oxford?"

"Yes it is." He whispered. Mulder didn't have the 
heart to bring up the fact that she most likely wasn't 
pregnant. The thought, the rationalization had calmed 
her. "Try and sleep." He ordered gently. The dream 
had become so common-every few nights-that they 
had both learned to put it out of their minds as well as 
they could and go back to sleep.

 Scully nodded slightly and pulled his hand from 
where it rested on her hip, intertwining their fingers 
she pressed their joined hands to her belly and sighed 
contentedly. 
 
 Part 21
Day 119
Scully stretched her arms over head, arching her 
spine, letting out soft pops of tension and ache. With 
a soft sigh she cracked her neck side to side. Better. 
She lazily made her way over the to the door of her 
room. 

Swinging it open she smiled. "Good morning Byers. 
You can tell Mulder I'm fine."

He smiled shyly. "He asked me to stop by since I was 
working close by." 

Scully stepped aside. "Come on in. I need to get up 
now anyway. What time is it?"

Byers sat himself in a chair. "Almost nine. are you 
feeling better?"

She nodded. "I felt fine this morning. I was just really 
tired; long night."

"Another dream?"

Scully looked at him, only a little surprised he knew. 
"Yeah." She said softly, nodding. 

"I'm sorry." Byers said shyly. "I shouldn't have 
mentioned that." 

"No, its ok. I'm really not surprised Mulder told you 
about that. It doesn't bother me." She glanced over at 
him from where she was making the bed. "What else 
did he tell you?"

Byers looked at for a moment. He felt like a deer 
stuck in the headlights of a eighteen wheeler. 
Trapped. 
"He told me you think you are pregnant."

Scully nodded firmly, trying to bring the air of 
confidence to the conversation. "That is right."

Byers took a low breath in. "Dana-"

"Don't!" She said, pointing a finger at him. "Don't 
start the patronizing `Dana, you are infertile' shit. I 
hear enough of it from my own brain, I don't need it 
from you, Frohike, Langly and especially not 
Mulder." She spat out bitterly, holding his eyes 
steadily. She was tired of her given name being used 
in such a manner. Just because this was an emotional 
topic, did not mean she needed to be spoken to like a 
child.

Byers nodded. "We're are just worried about you, 
Scully." He quickly picked up on the fact that she 
was just as wary as everyone else. Her thoughts of 
pregnancy went against everything she knew as a 
doctor, but matched entirely with being a woman. 
She was torn. 

Scully rolled her eyes. "I don't need your concern. I 
just need someone to believe me for God's sake!"

"I understand that, I really do. But you have to know, 
and I'm sure you do, that this is a little. 
unexpected."

She took a breath, letting it out slowly to calm 
herself. "I do know that. But I am." She nodded, to 
herself not Byers. "I am. I must be."

Nodding Byers stood slowly. "Well I'll let you get 
ready for work." He opened the door to step out and 
came face to face with Benjamin. "Excuse me 
Benjamin, Scully was just about to get ready for the 
Medical Room." He said with a threatening voice, as 
threatening as Byers could be.

"I need to speak with her." He said bluntly and 
stepped around Byers and into the room.

Scully nodded to Byers so he would leave. She could 
tell that he wanted to stay and watch over her. There 
was no doubt in her mind that he would be reporting 
to Mulder about Benjamin's visit as soon as possible. 
With a frown Byers left closing the door behind him. 
"Good morning, Benjamin." Scully said as calmly as 
she could, the anger was still fresh. 

"You're pregnant?" He asked right away.

Scully starred at him, open mouthed for a moment. 
"You were listening to my conversation?" She asked 
in a soft shocked voice.

Benjamin looked startled for a moment then shook 
his head. "I was going to knock. but I heard you 
talking and you didn't sound too happy so I wanted 
to wait."

"But you were listening." It wasn't a question this 
time. Scully had spent years speaking to the lowest 
life forms in the world, listening to them try to 
waggle their way out of a question they didn't want 
to answer. Dana Scully was not easily lied to. 

He paused for a moment, still looking her square in 
the eye as his voice wavered slightly. "I was afraid 
that you and Mulder were fighting."

Scully pinched the bridge of her nose between her 
thumb and forefinger. She had been out of bed for 
only a short time and already wanted to forget about 
the whole day and go back to sleep. 

"Dana. are you pregnant?" Benjamin asked again. 

Scully looked up at him. "I. I might be. We really 
don't know."

"What do you mean `we?" 

Scully shook her head confused. "Huh?"

"Nothing. It's just you are a woman, it's your body. 
What is there not to be sure about?"

Bracing her hands on the edge of the table she leaned 
her weight back. "As you know, I shouldn't be able 
to become pregnant. So. we aren't completely 
convinced."

Benjamin used what he knew in his favor. "You 
mean Mulder doesn't believe you."

Scully's head shot up to look at him. "Neither of us 
want to get our hopes up, that's all."

"He doesn't believe you." He repeated. "What an 
asshole." He cursed out sharply. 

Scully felt her face flush with anger. Mulder might be 
an asshole at times, but he was her asshole. 
"Benjamin." She kept her jaw tight in an attempt to 
speak calmly. "I think you need to leave before I get 
angry."

He looked up at her with a shocked expression. 
"Excuse me?"

Scully nodded and stepped forward to open the door 
for him. "I don't appreciate you saying things like 
that about Mulder and I am very late." 

Benjamin narrowed his eyes, not moving from where 
he stood. "I am trying to help you, Dana. You don't 
need the added stress of Mulder not believing you are 
pregnant."

Scully shut her eyes fighting against her emotions. 
That was the first time anyone had spoken of her 
being pregnant, with no questions or conditions. 
"Please, Benjamin, I need to get going with my day."

"All right. I'll speak to you soon." He walked out 
the door with a tense posture. 

The door shut with a dull thud, another followed as 
Scully leaned her weight against it, rubbing her face 
in her hands.

Day 122
"Why the hell didn't you tell me sooner?!"

"Mulder, calm down man." Langly said quickly 
stepping out of his path as Mulder paced a path in his 
room. Langly glanced over at Frohike in a silent plea 
for help.

"We wanted to be sure." 

Mulder glared at Frohike as he stepped up to him, 
closely. "When someone is stalking Scully you tell 
me." He hissed out before rejoining his invisible path 
along on floor.

"He's not stalking he's." Langly searched for the 
right words.

"Watching, following, lusting after." Mulder looked 
up at the ceiling as in if deep thought, then nodded. 
"Yeah I think that qualifies as stalking." They 
watched Mulder pace for a moment in silence. He 
was a caged animal. His mind fought between 
wanting to protect Scully, and their possible child, 
and wanting to flee. The thought of such a 
responsibly frightened him. But, oh, he wanted a 
child. More then his mind was even ready to grasp. 
Not that he gave it a chance. Whenever that thought 
of a baby crossed his mind-which was often-he 
pushed it away. The idea of thinking, planning, and 
loving this baby that might be, then having that 
dream stripped away, would kill him. And he knew 
it. His mind raced so fast he wasn't able to pinpoint 
one logical thought. 

Frohike leaned in close to Langly, keeping his eyes 
on Mulder's frantic pacing. "Where the hell is 
Byers?"

"He was smart enough to avoid the wrath of Mulder." 

"What did you just say?" Mulder asked sharply.

"Nothing." Frohike said quickly. Too quickly judging 
by the glare Mulder gave him. 

"Whatever." He mumbled. "I'm going to go talk to 
Scully."

"Wait, Mulder." He looked over at Langly 
expectantly. "Just take is easy. What I mean is don't 
get Scully all worked up." He added quickly.

Mulder nodded slowly. "Keep an eye out. And 
thanks." He added as an afterthought.

Moments later Mulder threw open the door to his 
room intent on talking to Scully, he had had enough. 
The tension between them was thick over her 
questionable pregnancy. He couldn't handle this 
anymore. He felt on edge and ready to explode. 
Enough was enough, but he stopped short when he 
saw her. She was curled up on her side asleep, shoes 
still on. Looking innocent and sweet. The vision 
made his heart ache. He had been about to walk in 
and fight with her without giving her a chance. He 
had let him anger get the best of him. The sick 
realization that that was just like his father made him 
shudder, another shudder followed at the thought of 
him ever treating a child that way. Yelling without 
listening. Shutting the door softly he knelt by the side 
of the bed and carefully pulled her shoes off. 

"Mulder?" She slurred sleepily. 

"Go back to sleep." He soothed as he spread a blanket 
over her.

"Where were you?" She asked rolling onto her back 
slightly to look at him as he sat at her hips. 

"Langly and Frohike wanted to talk to me." He 
explained pushing her hair from her face.

Scully sighed at the small contact and settled back 
into the bed. "What about?"

"Benjamin." He answered rubbing his hand up and 
down her side.

Scully frowned. "Oh. what did they have to say?"

Mulder thought through his wording for a moment. 
"He's been following you around Scully." He decided 
blunter was better in this case: less of a chance of his 
anger and frustration getting the better of him.

Scully stared at him for a moment. "He is always 
walking around Nova, Mulder. So am I. We run into 
each other." 

He just looked away and nodded. With a soft sigh he 
shifted and laid down next to her, his face level with 
hers but staring straight up. "I don't trust him."

Scully reached out and placed her hand over his 
heart. "I didn't trust Skinner when he first got here, 
but I do now."

Mulder nodded, but it didn't change his thoughts 
about Benjamin. Furrowing his brow Mulder tipped 
his head as he looked up at the ceiling. "Scully. 
have you ever noticed there's an `x' over our bed."

"Yeah, I did notice that." She rolled closer to him, 
settling her body neatly against his. As strained as her 
relationship with Mulder was at the moment she felt 
the need to be close to him. She was not about to let 
that fact that he didn't trust her instincts ruin them. 
Yes it hurt, hurt more then anything he had ever done 
to her. But she couldn't let it destroy them. He was 
all she had-all she wanted. 

Day 125
Movement to the side of where Mulder was working 
caught his attention. He looked up, shocked to see 
Scully. Her face was blank, and leaned back against a 
tree, her arms crossed protectively over her chest. 

"Hi." He said softly, wiping his hands on his jeans he 
slowly walked up to her. He craned his head down 
slightly to meet her eyes. "Scully?"

The moment her eyes locked onto his the blank 
expression crumbled away. With a choked sob she 
crumpled against him, letting out the tears she had 
been building. There was too much pain inside of her. 
Without Mulder to talk opening with everything little 
added up until this heavy weight settle on her heart. 
Mulder wrapped an arm around her waist to support 
her weak frame, the other cradling the back of her 
head. "Scully?" He asked desperately. She didn't 
answer in anything but wracking tears. "Jesus." He 
pulled her away from his slightly, taking his face in 
her hands. "What's wrong?" 

"I-" She choked on her words. "I love you so much it 
hurts."

Mulder shook his head slowly. He didn't understand 
what brought this on.

"And-" Mulder leaned in closer trying to dissever her 
whisper over the gentle breeze. "it scares me that you 
don't believe me, because you are all I have."

Mulder closed his eyes in pain. "I want to, Scully, I 
do. But if I do and you aren't it will kill me."

She swallowed forcefully. "It's killing me that you 
don't believe me." Mulder bowed his head slightly, 
still holding her face in his hands. "It's my body, 
Mulder. I know I am pregnant. Please-please believe 
me. 
Every doubt I have myself I have put away these past 
few days. I've put my faith in you countless times. 
I've trusted you even when my rational side 
screamed for me not to. I'm as sure of this as I have 
been about anything before. What will it take for me 
to convince you?" 

He pulled her back against him, pressing his lips to 
her temple. Just breathing softly into her hair. He was 
silent, they both were silent for what seemed like 
hours. Tilting his head lower, Mulder pressed his lips 
against her ear. "I believe you." And the weight 
lifted. 
 
Part 22
Day 128
Scully was having that dream again. At least it 
seemed like it. She couldn't move due to a weight on 
her belly, but she was awake. Prying her eyes open 
she looked around in the dim light and smiled; 
Mulder's head was pillowed on her stomach, his face 
turned up towards her. Reaching down she buried her 
hand in his hair, scraping her nails along his scalp 
lightly. 

Mulder opened his eyes sleepily. As his eyes focused 
on her he hummed from the back of his throat as his 
morning greeting.

She took it as such. "What are you doing way down 
there?" Scully asked with a smile.

He smiled shyly and rubbed his palm over her 
stomach. "Bonding?"

Scully laughed softly and ruffled his hair. "Knock 
yourself out."

Mulder shifted, pushing her shirt up and pressing his 
lips to her skin. He groaned at a knock on the door, 
sending soft vibrations through Scully's body. "How 
does that always manage to happen to us?" He asked 
climbing out of bed after pulling Scully's shirt down. 

"Luck." She mumbled sitting upright and running her 
fingers through her tousled hair. 

Mulder swung the door open. "What?" He asked 
harshly when he saw Langly. 

Scully shook her head and laughed softly at his 
greeting. 

"Sorry, I take it I woke you guys up. But you might 
want to know what water has stopped."

"What?!" 

Scully slid out of bed and walked over. "Last night 
the flow was a little slow, I didn't think anything of 
it."

"Does Benjamin know?" Mulder asked as he started 
pulling clothes out of the dresser.

"I think someone went to get him." Langly said 
sounding very uncertain. 

"We're going to get dressed. See if you can track him 
down." Langly obediently turned and shut the door. 
Mulder immediately started to pull on clothes. 

"Why do you think that is happening?" Scully asked 
as she followed his lead and began to dress.

"I don't know." Mulder sat to pull his shoes on. "But 
if it stays like this we are screwed." Mulder stood and 
opened the door for Scully, with his hand 
comfortably at the small of her back he led her down 
to the Main Room. 

They walked up just in time for Benjamin to speak. 
"Don't worry everyone. Let's just wait a while and 
see if it solves itself. The river that feeds into here-"

Mulder cursed under his breath and ignored the rest 
of what Benjamin was saying. 

"What the hell is he talking about?" Skinner's gruff 
voice said from behind them. 

Mulder shook his head, not bothering to answer. "I'm 
going to walk along the river, see if I can find the 
problem."

"Mulder, you aren't going alone." Scully said 
quickly. As much as she loved working in the 
Medical Room she cursed it for grounding her to stay 
near Nova at all times. 

"I'll go." Skinner said. "I'm sure we can dig up a few 
others to go along."

Mulder nodded. "Let's get moving then. Hopefully 
we won't have to go too far up the river and will be 
back soon."

"I'll see who else I can get to go along." 

"Great way to spend a Sunday." Scully mumbled.

"Sorry." Mulder whispered by her ear. 

"No it's not your fault. I'm just. sulking." She gave 
him a shy smile.

Mulder nodded over at Skinner who had gave waved 
for him that him and four others were ready. Then he 
leaned down and kissed Scully quickly. "I'll try to be 
back soon." He walked away, calling over his 
shoulder; "And yes I will be careful."

 
Amanda and Scully sat in silence, rolling clean 
bandages in the Medical Room. 

"This is truly boring." Amanda said dropping a half 
rolled bandage on the table. 

Scully nodded. "Yes, yes it is. I look forward to 
Sundays."

"Yeah." Amanda said in a far away voice. "Walter 
and I were going to go for a picnic."

Scully stared at Amanda for a moment. Trying her 
damnedest to picture Skinner on a picnic. It was 
impossible. She laughed softly under her breath. 

"What?"

"I... Nothing." She blushed slightly under Amanda's 
searching look. "I just have a difficult time picturing 
Skinner being so. domestic."

Amanda shrugged. "I have a hard time picturing 
Mulder not domestic."

Scully looked at her with a furrowed brow. Then 
copied her shrug. 

"What was Walter like before he got here?"

Scully leaned back in chair, oblivious to the fact that 
one of her hands was rubbing her belly. "The same I 
guess. A lot like Mulder I suppose. I've just never 
seen him `with' someone before. Do you know what 
I mean?"

Amanda nodded and picked up her bandage again. 
"My father doesn't like him." She said out of the 
blue.

"I don't think fathers like any man their daughter's 
are involved with." Scully supplied rationally. 
Amanda just nodded without making eye contact. 
Remembering what she had said about being afraid 
of her father Scully took a chance. "Do you think he 
will try to stop you from seeing him?"

Amanda wouldn't look up. "No, he'll just take his 
anger out on other people, like always."

 
Mulder kicked his muddy shoes off with a soft thud. 

"I'm awake." Scully said sitting up on her elbows. 

Mulder torn off his damp clothes and crawled straight 
into bed. "I'm exhausted." He mumbled.

Scully leaned over and kissed the center of his chest. 
"Did you find the problem?"

He nodded with his eyes closed. "Beavers."

"Beavers?"

He nodded again. "Fucking beavers built a dam."

Scully tried, but she couldn't help it. She laughed. 
"You know you are just going to have to go back and 
take it down again in a week."

"Thank you, Miss Obvious." 

Scully laughing softly, rested her chin on her hands 
in the center of his chest and looked up at him. 

"I'll tell you what, next time Benjamin can drag his 
ass out there and do it himself."

Scully just made a soft agreeable noise. 

Mulder sucked in a long breath, causing Scully to rise 
on his chest, then fall as he let it out slowly. "I can't 
believe he just wanted to leave it. What an ass."

"Mulder." Scully interrupted. "Let it go." 

He let out a sigh. "Sorry." Mulder rubbed his palms 
up and down her back. "How are you feeling?"

Scully slipped her arms around his waist and turned 
her head to the side. "Good." She answered in a long 
breath letting herself slip into sleep against his warm 
body. 

Day 130
"How far along do you think you are?" Mulder asked 
in a whisper as he traced his fingers over her 
stomach. Clothes had been shed and Mulder was 
examining her body with great detail. Noting each 
and every subtle change. 

Scully's eyes were closed under his gentle caress. 
"Three months or so." She answered lost in the fog of 
arousal.

Mulder nodded against her skin. He pressed his lips 
just above the patch of red curls between her thighs. 
Scully bit her lip to remain quiet, not wanting to ruin 
the silent atmosphere of their room. Mulder watched 
her, closed eyes and head tilted back slightly as he 
ran his tongue from the spot he just kissed all the way 
up to junction of her ribs. Scully arched up under him 
slightly. Mulder slipped both his hands under her 
waist before she set her body down and held her up to 
him as he spread open-mouthed kisses over her 
abdomen. Darting his tongue in and out of her navel 
summoned a breathy call of his name from the 
woman beneath him. He placed her back down on the 
bed and slid up to be level with her face, his erection 
bumping insistently against her hip. "What, Scully?" 
He asked pulling her ear lobe into his mouth. 

"You're teasing me." She said with a smile. 

"No I'm not." He answered kissing a trail down to the 
base of her neck. 

She encouraged him to move lower with a hand on 
the nape of his neck. "Certainly seems like it to me." 
She said softly, not minding his teasing. 

Ignoring her gentle push he moved to her lips and 
kissed her deeply, their tongues tangling languidly. 
"I'm just savoring you." He whispered with his lips 
still against hers. Brushing her nose gently with his 
he moved to kiss her shoulder. 

Scully followed him with her hands stroking and 
kneading whatever flesh she could reach, leaning 
towards his lips, his hands, any part of him that 
would touch her. 

Mulder pulled the soft skin of her clavicle into his 
mouth and suckled gently. He didn't stop until he left 
a small mark claiming her. Sliding one of his hands 
from her waist he danced his fingers along the tender 
flesh of her inner thigh. Struggling to keep her 
breathing even, Scully raised her leg and bent it up 
resting on her foot at his waist. She was desperate for 
more contact now. Mulder slid down her body a little 
more to pull a swollen nipple in his warm mouth as 
his fingers stroked her opening with a frustratingly 
light touch. 

Finally surrendering, Scully let the sensations take 
over her control and she thrust her hips up toward his 
hand. His fingers slid slightly into her body. Scully 
whispered his name in a plea for release of the 
growing tension in her body.

Mulder pressed two of fingers deep into her warmth, 
then out. In a slow paced rhythm. Another breathy 
cry escaped Scully's throat as he switch to lave 
attention onto her other breast. He waited until she 
was thrust her hips in the rhythm with his hand, 
before he lowered his mouth from her chest. He spent 
long moments nuzzling and kissing her tummy as he 
increased the contact with his fingers on the special 
spot inside of her body. Feeling her reach that last 
moment before her release he moved down lower and 
pulled her swollen bud of nerves between his lips. In 
the midst of her release Scully called Mulder's name. 

The next thing Scully felt was Mulder tender hand 
stroking the side of her neck and his erection, hot and 
hard, pressed against her thigh. She opened her eyes 
as she felt him nuzzle her neck. Bringing a leaden 
feeling hand up she touched his cheek lightly.

Mulder picked up his head and kissed her gently. 
With the urging of Scully's push he rolled them so he 
lay on his back with his head resting on the pillows.

Leaning down Scully kissed him again, deeper yet 
calm and relaxed. She shifted to kneel over him and 
took Mulder into her body with a practiced thrust. 

He pulled his lips away with a pleasant shudder as 
Scully straightened up and took him fully into her 
heat. Without a pause Scully moved in a steady 
rhythm. 

Mulder lay still beneath Scully; letting her take 
control for as long as he could bare. He forced his 
eyes open as he began to lift his hips to meet her 
body. Keeping eye contact he pressed his palm 
against the warm skin of her belly. His hand just 
resting against her.

Mulder's eyes snapped closed as Scully pressed 
down on him one final time. 

Scully shut her eyes as she felt the warmth of 
Mulder's release in already occupied-but waiting 
womb. The blissful heat flowed through her veins as 
she relaxed and lay her head down on Mulder's 
shoulder, savoring the quiet moment and rush of 
endorphins. 

After a few moments Mulder raised his hand to the 
small of Scully's back, all four fingers rubbing in a 
small soothing circle. 

Scully shifted, letting Mulder slip from her body so 
she could lay closer his chest, her head under his 
chin. 
Mulder tugged the crumpled blankets over them. "I 
love you." He whispered pressing his lips to the 
sweaty hair at her forehead. 

Scully echoed the words in her half sleep state, his 
fingers still rubbing the base of her spine. 

Day 133
Mulder walked in the open door of the Medical 
Room rubbing his hands together. "Cold out there 
today." Was his greeting to Scully.

She looked up from the research she was doing. 
"Season's are changing." Standing up she took his 
hands in her smaller ones, rubbing them for warmth. 
Leaning forward she breathed a hot puff of air into 
the compartment their fingers made. "Better?" She 
asked looked up through her lashes at him.

Giving her a half smile he nodded. "A little." He 
leaned down and pressed his cold nose into her neck. 
Letting out an embarrassingly girly shriek she 
jumped away but Mulder caught her waist in his 
hands. "No you don't." He said with a laugh, his 
fingers sliding under her shirt to tickle her sides. 

Scully immediately doubled over with laughter, 
batting him away the best she could. "Cut it out!" She 
cried twisting and turning in his grasp. But with his 
hands trapped in her shirt there was no way for her to 
get away. "Mulder!" She giggled. Changing her plan 
of fighting away from him she threw her weight onto 
his body, making him stagger back a step, his hands 
losing contact for only a second. 

"You think you're so tough." He teased pushing part 
of his weight back against her so she stumbled. When 
she lost her balance during a fit of giggles Mulder 
caught her around the waist. 

"That's enough. Stop!" She said in a wheeze from 
laughter. 

"What the hell are you doing to her?" Benjamin 
fumed from the open doorway. 

Mulder looked up, hands still under Scully's shirt, his 
smile fading. 

"He's being a jerk, that's what he's doing." Scully 
said, still grinning. 

Mulder looked back at her and couldn't help but 
smile at the flush of laughter in her cheeks. "And you 
love me for it." He said finally pulling his hands out 
from under her shirt. 

"Yes I do." She said softly getting up onto her toes to 
kiss his cheek. Standing on her feet again she looked 
over at Benjamin. "What can I do for you today?"

Benjamin was looking at Mulder sternly. "I heard 
screaming."

"Oh. I was laughing." Scully said wiping tears from 
her eyes. "Someone was tickling me." She poked 
Mulder in the side, a look of pure amusement spread 
over her face as he bent slightly with a smirk. "Oh. 
look who's ticklish." She went to poke him again but 
he caught her hands in his. 

"Oh no you don't." He said shaking his head. 

She giggled softly, practically forgetting Benjamin 
was in the room. "Come on. Let go."

Mulder rotated their hands so that their fingers 
interlocked. "Are you going to be good?"

"Mulder, I'm always good." She said with a sly 
smile.

"Ohh. You are wicked today." Mulder said shaking 
his head. "Too bad I have to go back to work." He let 
go of her hands and she pouted like a little girl. He 
leaned down and kissed her quickly. "Benjamin." He 
said with a curt nod and reluctantly left the two 
knowing Benjamin would point out his break was 
over if he didn't go then. 

The moment Mulder stepped out the door Benjamin 
stepped toward Scully taking her arm in his hand. 
"Are you ok?"

She looked up at him with an amused expression and 
gently stepped out of his grasp. "Of course I am. We 
were just having fun, fooling around."

Benjamin stood frozen in tension. "I don't believe 
you." He said bluntly. 

Scully turned to him with eyebrows raised. "Excuse 
me?" 

He took a step towards her, causing her to step back 
and into the table. "Don't make excuses for Mulder. I 
saw the way he grabbed your wrists." 

She shook her head slowly. "Mulder wasn't hurting 
me." She said softly. "He never has and never will." 

Benjamin shook his head, his anger toward Scully 
building. "Don't you see? He controls you. He held 
you so you couldn't move. He is much larger then 
you and uses it against you all the time. Just covering 
up his aggression with a game." 

Scully unintentionally flinched as a glob of spit flew 
from Benjamin's mouth and landed on her cheek. 
"Could you please stop yelling at me Benjamin." She 
requested with an eerily calm voice wiping at her 
cheek. 

Benjamin took another step forward causing Scully to 
lean back over the table slightly. "You aren't 
listening to me, Dana. Mulder is dangerous." 

"That's enough, Dad." Amanda said from the 
doorway.

Benjamin glanced over at her. "Dana and I are 
talking, Amanda, please leave."

"No." Scully said quickly. "I want you to leave, 
Benjamin." Scully pressed her hands against his 
chest, pushing him away. The moment he stepped 
back Scully took a deep breath, not realizing she 
wasn't letting herself breathe with him so close. 

"I'll speak to you again about this, Dana. I want you 
to think about it." Benjamin spoke as he walked 
backwards out of the room. 

Scully leaned against the table-by choice. 

"He didn't hurt you did he?" Amanda asked slowly. 

She forced out a laugh, trying to be reassuring when 
her inside where shaking with fear. "No, I'm fine 
Amanda." She sat heavily in a chair. "I'm fine." 

Part 23
Day 133 (continued)
Mulder walked into his room, colder then the last 
time he walked into Nova. He stopped short when he 
saw Scully. "Scully? What is it? What's wrong?" He 
sat beside her on the bed where she had her knees 
pull up to her chest, her arms wrapped around her. 
"Are you hurting?" He asked pulling her arms and 
legs away from her body to look at her. 

She shook her head. "I'm ok." She whispered. 

Mulder took her face in his hands. "You're not ok. 
Did you have another dream?"

Scully leaned forward and pressed her lips against his 
neck, but didn't relax into his arms. "No. I didn't 
have a dream." 

He rubbed his hands up and down her back trying to 
be patient. "So you're not in pain and you didn't have 
a dream. I can keep guessing if you'd like?" Mulder 
teased gently trying to get her to relax. 

Scully pulled away with a faint smile. "After you left 
the Medical Room today I spoke with Benjamin."

Mulder groaned. "Shit. what did he say?"

Fiddling with the sheets, Scully wouldn't look back 
up at Mulder. "He was trying to convince me, I guess 
I could say, that you were hurting to today."

"In the Medical Room?" He asked in confused shock.

Scully nodded. "Saying you just did things like that 
to show dominance over me. He just wasn't listening 
to me at all."

Mulder rubbed his forehead for a moment. "Did he 
hurt you?" 

"No." She said softly.

"Ok." Mulder reached over and rubbed the back of 
her neck with his hand. "Get your shoes on." He said 
getting out of bed. 

"Why?" Scully finally looked up at him. 

Mulder knelt at the side of the bed and pulled out 
their bags that hadn't been touched since they got to 
Nova. "We are leaving."

Scully swung her legs over the side of the bed so she 
was in front of Mulder. "No. Mulder we can't just 
walk away from here."

"Scully, I'm not about to sit around and wait for 
Benjamin lose it. I don't trust this guy and I don't 
think you do either. There is no reason for us to stay." 
He went to stand up, bags in hand, but Scully placed 
her hands on his shoulder.

"Mulder, just let this go. It will be ok."

He tossed the bags down violently. "Fine, if you 
don't want to leave I'm going to go punch some 
sense into that son of a bitch."

Scully grabbed his face in her hands and forced him 
to look at her. "No. We can not leave here and we 
can't afford to be kicked out."

The realization hit Mulder suddenly. He closed his 
eyes with a defeated sigh, leaning down he pressed 
the top of his head into Scully's belly.

"It will be ok." She repeated with her lips pressed 
against the nape of his neck, her hands skimming 
over his back. "We've been through worse. I don't 
like it anymore then you do, but we have to stay here 
right now."
He nodded against her body.

Day 137
Skinner had the horrible the feeling, the one when 
you know someone is watching you. He turned his 
head discreetly over his shoulder, making it look at if 
he was only stretching after digging potatoes from 
the ground. 

"You have a fan." Mulder said deadpan as he walked 
up along side Skinner, kneeling down in the dirt to 
start work for the day.

"That guy gives me the creeps." Skinner mumbled. 

Mulder smirked. "I wonder if he is related to the 
Smoking Man."

Skinner let out a snort of laughter. "Wouldn't surprise 
me one bit." He trailed off looking at the sky as a 
ship drifted over top of them. The trees were slowly 
losing their leaves; Nova's sparse protection would 
be 
lost along with them.

Neither man said a word about the ship. No one said 
anything. It was all too common now. Less then a 
year ago Mulder searched, with all his strength, to 
prove such things existed. His whole life spent on 
one purpose. But back then he didn't know what life 
was really about. He lost that focus the night he lost 
his sister. But now, with Scully and what could be the 
biggest surprise of their lives on the way, he wanted 
to go back. To change what he did. Everyone makes 
mistakes. It's part of human nature. Mulder made too 
many. He wished he could go back and change his 
life, Scully's life. But wishing never did any good. 
And if the wish came true, would anything be any 
different?

Day 140
Scully circled her middle fingers over Mulder's 
temples as his head lay in her lap. A soft sigh of 
contentment breathed from his lips. Scully smiled 
down at him, sliding her hands from his forehead she 
brushed his hair back. He was close to sleep, she 
could tell by his even breathing and the way his body 
relaxed completely under her hands. The lines of 
worry gone from his forehead, from his eyes. At the 
moment he was at peace in the silent room. She hated 
to leave when he was like this, even for a moment. 
She knew the moment she slipped his head from her 
lap, and her hands ceased their gentle roaming he 
would remember where they were, what was 
happening, what could happen. But she had to go, 
even for that short moment. So she lifted his head 
gently, feeling the way he tensed ever so slightly. 
Without a word she leaned over and placed a soft 
lingering kiss on his lips and slipped quietly from the 
room and down to the Main Room. It was quiet this 
time of night. Most were in bed already, safely and 
happily tucked in with their loved ones. Forgetting 
about the hard labor that waited for them the 
following day, forgetting about Them, forgetting 
anything that wasn't that exact calm moment. Few 
were out, like Scully, collecting wood to keep them 
warm during the night. But words never seemed to be 
spoken at this time. It was as if everyone was 
invisible to each other. The only sounds Scully heard 
where the crackling fire and the dull thud of the wood 
she pilled into the carrier. Supplies over one shoulder 
Scully walked languidly back to her room, her body 
in no rush but her mind racing her. Without a thought 
Scully rubbed the base of her neck with her hand as 
the other opened the door as quietly as the thick 
wood would allow. As she knew he would Mulder 
lay as she left him, the subtle changes of tension and 
worry visible to only her. She added the wood, 
stripped some of her clothes away and climbed into 
bed again faster, and quieter, then one would have 
thought possible. With Mulder's even beating heart 
under her ear Scully lulled to sleep with no worries in 
her heart, she would keep those buried in her mind 
until morning.

Day 145
A new tradition had been started. Poker. 

Mulder calmly, with shameless pride, laid his hand 
out for the others to see. 

Frohike groaned. "Bastard." He mumbled and shoved 
the pile of rocks towards Mulder- that was all they 
played for. Money was a thing of the past. 

Langly and Byers cheered; they had folded a while 
ago.

"I think I should quit while I'm ahead." Mulder said 
leaning back smugly in his chair.

"I'll get you tomorrow." Skinner said aimlessly 
shuffling the already worn deck of cards. 

Without bothering to knock Scully walked in stifling 
a yawn with on hand. She planted herself on the 
Mulder's lap, one arm over his neck, still yawning.

"Tired, Scully?" Mulder asked with a smirk.

She nodded when she finally finished her yawn and 
placed the now free hand over the gentle swell of her 
belly. "I'm going to go to bed I think, you coming 
soon?"

Mulder nodded, proudly gesturing to his winnings. 
Scully just rolled her eyes.

"Hey Scully, you and Amanda should play with us 
some time." Byers said.

"Yeah." Langly said quickly. "We can turn it into 
strip poker." He rubbed his hands together as he 
waggled his eyes brows. His expression quickly 
sobered at Skinner and Mulder's glare.

Scully paid no attention to him, just climbed off 
Mulder's lap. "Good night everyone." She said 
leaving. 

"Man, I think that was your cue that you are expected 
elsewhere." Frohike said with a slightly jealous tone.
Mulder stretched his arms over his head. "Yeah I 
think so." He suddenly straightened up, remembering 
something that he wanted-needed to know. "I wanted 
to ask you guys if you've seen Benjamin around 
Scully."

"No more then usual." Byers said. 

Skinner leaned forward, bracing his arms on the 
tabletop. "People have been talking." At the 
questioning gazes he continued. "I've heard a lot of 
hushed talk about Benjamin. Doesn't sound like 
many people like him, much less trust him."

Mulder shook his head in amazement. "This place is 
not going to make it with him."

"What the hell are we going to do about it? He still 
has too many people behind him." Skinner said with 
a disgusted snort.

"Idiots." Langly muttered. 

"No. they are just na‹ve." Byers defended for some 
unknown reason.

Mulder stood to leave. "Oh to be na‹ve." He said in a 
dramatically wistful tone. "How wonderful it must 
be." The door shut behind him in a slam. 

Day 146
"Scully, stop. It's me." Mulder said firmly as she 
pushed at him. He had been sleeping comfortably, 
one arm draped over Scully's waist when he woke to 
her frantically shoving him away in her sleep. Mulder 
immediately moved, but that wasn't good enough for 
her dream world. It didn't look like she was going to 
let up until she pushed him right off the bed. "Scully, 
wake up. Come on."

Those words weren't any different then the ones he 
had been uttering for the last five minutes but for 
some reason they did the trick. With a soft gasp 
Scully sat up and pressed a hand to her mouth.

Mulder moved back towards her, rubbing her back 
lightly. "You ok?"

"It was Benjamin." She whispered. "The man in my 
dream has been Benjamin. I saw him this time." 
Mulder nodded carefully. He wasn't sure what she 
wanted him to say about this. 

"Why am I having this dream about him?" She 
looked up at him with eyes pleading for any logic.

"You fear him. You're dream is your way of 
dealing with it."

Scully shook her head. "I was having this dream 
before he did anything odd."

Mulder gently pulled her back down to the bed. "The 
unconscious mind is a lot smarter than the conscious. 
You may have just been hiding how you felt towards 
him from yourself."

They lay in a thoughtful silence for long moments 
before Scully spoke again, in a soft whisper. "How do 
I make them stop?"

Mulder pressed his lips to her temple. "I don't know." 
 
Part 24
Day 155
Scully sat up with a jolt, knocking Mulder's body 
from his position around her. "Scully?" He rasped in 
a sleep thick with voice.

Scully shuddered slightly. "Mulder. They're here."

"What?" Mulder asked softly.

Scully placed a trembling hand over the back of her 
neck. "They're here." She turned to him, suddenly, 
with panic in her eyes. "Mulder, no one can go out of 
here! Don't let them." 

"Scully.. Are you sure?" He asked carefully. 

Scully nodded frantically. "I feel it Mulder." She 
tightened her grip on the back of her neck. "Please 
Mulder. don't let anyone leave Nova."

Mulder watched her for a moment. 

"Mulder, please!" 

"Ok." He got out of bed and pulled on a pair of jeans 
and his shoes. "I'll get Skinner." 

Scully just sat in silence with her hand pressed 
against the nape of her neck, as if moving her hand 
would allow the multitude of siren voices calling her 
to take control. 

Mulder pulled a shirt over his shoulders, just as he 
began to button it the walls of Nova, the floors, the 
ceiling, the world around them shook. 

"Mulder go." Scully said in a soft desperate voice. 

Without another word Mulder stumbled from the 
room as the sound of explosions echoed in the rocks, 
leaving his ears ringing. He involuntarily stopped and 
pressed his hands to his head as pounding began. It 
was too loud, too intense. He slouched against the 
wall, bracing himself with his arm as the tremors past 
through his whole body. He let himself rest for a few 
moments before taking a deep breath and pushing 
himself from the wall. 

People scattered in every direction. Mulder yelled his 
warnings not to leave but nothing could be heard over 
the explosions. 

"Mulder!" 

Mulder turned around, picking his name out amongst 
the horrible noise in that odd way people are able to. 
Skinner grabbed his shoulder and turned him towards 
him. "What the hell is going on?!" Skinner yelled 
even though he was inches from Mulder's face. 

Mulder opened his mouth to answer, although he 
didn't have much of one, when the shaking stopped. 
The roar from the outside stopped. Slowly people 
quieted. Waiting. 

The all too short wave of silence was destroyed by a 
new noise. One so loud and shattering it was almost 
beyond Earthy comprehension. The earth shook 
around them. Everyone tumbled to the floor. 

Mulder covered his face as he felt shards of glass rain 
down on him as some of the lamps exploded. Small 
avalanches filled the exits of Nova with rocks and 
boulders. Dust filled the chimneys; all the fires were 
snuffed out quickly. The once fresh clear water, 
immediately ran dark with debris. 

Then it stopped. Just as quickly as it started, it 
stopped. 

Mulder lay flat on his back, the cool rocks calming 
his adrenaline rushed body. An even louder ringing 
sounded in his eyes, his head felt like it was on fire, 
his ears burning. It hurt too much to move for quite a 
few minutes. 

With a deep painful breath Mulder forced himself to 
sit up. He couldn't hear the people around him due to 
the ringing but he could see them. Many lay as he 
just had, clutching their heads in pain. Some trying to 
stand in the very dim light. 

Skinner struggled to sit by Mulder, flashing him a 
look filled with pain and fear. 

Closing his eyes, Mulder leaned his head back 
against the wall to let the ringing and pounding 
diminish enough so he could stand. 

After what seemed like ages Mulder hoisted himself 
to his feet. His hearing had cleared somewhat. "Is 
everyone ok?" He asked looking around from where 
he stood at the opening of the Main Room. He 
nodded at the muffled replies. No one seemed 
seriously hurt. 

"We need to get out of here!" Someone yelled. 

"Relax." Mulder said sipping into his professional 
tone to calm. "We'll be safer down here."

"We are going to run out of air.We are trapped.. 
Where's Benjamin?. Why is it so dark?.. Oh God, 
look at the water." 

"Just relax." Skinner called out. "We'll be fine down 
here for the time being."

Mulder leaned closer to Skinner. "I couldn't stop 
people from running out of here."

Skinner nodded gravely. "I think it's safe to say they 
didn't make it." 

People started to gather around Mulder and Skinner, 
asking them questions. "Should we try to dig out of 
here?"

"We should wait a few hours. Let the air clear some." 
Mulder said rubbing his temples lightly. 

"What about the fires?"

"I'll try to rebuild the main fire is a while, if it stays 
lit then the air should be clear enough for us to 
breathe." Skinner said as Mulder nodded his 
agreement. 

The two men stood and answered question after 
question. People trusted their leadership instinctively. 

"Well there goes the rest of this year's crops." 
Someone mumbled bitterly. 

"We'll be fine." Mulder said seriously. "We have 
more then enough canned food to get to next season."

"That's right." Benjamin said walking over to them. 
"I've planned ahead of course."

Everyone reluctantly turned away from Mulder and 
Skinner to Benjamin as he rambled on about how he 
would take care of everything. "Let's start to get 
these doorways cleared." He instructed. 

"Mulder said that we should wait for the air to clear." 
Someone called.

"Oh he did, did he." Benjamin said with a glare 
towards Mulder.

"The fires are out, Benjamin." He called. "Look at the 
water. The air won't be any help at all. I remember 
the sky from bombing not nearly this close. Unless 
you want the clean air in here to be ruined and all of 
us suffocate I'd suggest you leave the rocks where 
they are." 

Benjamin's jaw clenched in anger. "Everyone please 
check on your friends and family. Make sure 
everyone is ok." He said without breaking the harsh 
gaze he held with Mulder.

"Amanda." Skinner breathed in relief as she walked 
up. "Are you ok?"

Letting out a shaky breath she gave him an even 
shakier smile, touching his arm lightly. "Yeah. 
Everyone who comes to the Medical Room seems to 
be ok. Nothing I can't handle on my own."

"On your own?" Mulder asked softly. "Scully isn't in 
there with you?"

Amanda shook her head slowly. "No. I thought she 
was with you."

Mulder's eyes clamped shut in terror. "Oh Jesus." 
 
Part 25
Day 155 (continued)
Mulder's eyes clamped in terror. "Oh Jesus." 

"Mulder?" Skinner asked softly. 

Mulder opened his eyes. "The chip. She knew They 
were coming because of the chip." 

"Chip?" Amanda asked dumbfounded. 

Skinner waved the question away for the time being. 
"You go check your room, we'll look around here."

"God I hope she didn't go outside." Mulder mumbled 
as he took off jogging towards their room. He felt his 
heart stop when he stepped into their dark but 
definitely vacant room. Forcing down his terror 
Mulder raced down the hallway, away from the Main 
Room to the nearest doorway. 

Even in the dim light Mulder could pick out Scully's 
form huddled on the floor into front of the caved in 
entrance. 

"Scully." Mulder breathed in relief. He strode over to 
her in determined strides and knelt beside her. 
"Scully?"

She didn't answer, didn't even knowledge him. "I 
have to go. I have to go. I have to go." She murmured 
as she clawed at the rocks. 

Mulder carefully reached for her hands. "Scully 
stop." He clasped her hands in his and pulled them, 
bloody and scraped, away the rocks. She fought 
against him tiredly still murmuring. 

"You found her." Langly said, relieved, as he hurried 
towards him.

Mulder looked at him. "We have to get her back to 
the room. Is that hallway crowded?"

Langly glanced. "Not too bad."

Mulder nodded. "Come here and hold her hands for 
me."

Langly walked over, obviously confused. "What the 
hell did she do?"

"She's being called." Mulder answered softly as he 
scooped Scully up in his arms, pinning her hands 
down to her chest with the arm wrapped around her 
shoulders. "Are you guys ok?" Mulder asked 
realizing this was the first time he had seen Langly 
since whole ordeal began. 

Langly nodded, not taking his eyes off Scully. "Yeah, 
we came to check on you , and Skinner told us Scully 
was missing."

"Good." Mulder shifted Scully in his arms, tucking 
her head under his chin. "Ok Scully, let's go." He 
whispered.

Her only response was mild struggling and her 
continued whimpers. 

Mulder pushed his way through the hallway and to 
their room. "Langly, can you find Skinner?"

He nodded and left after he opened and shut the door 
for Mulder. 

Mulder set Scully down on the bed gently. She 
immediately sat up again. "No." He said gently, 
pushing her back down. 

"I have to go." She said in a distant voice fighting 
against his grasp on her hands. 

"You aren't going any where." Mulder pinned both 
her hands in one of his and pressed them against her 
chest to hold her down. 

Without knocking Skinner walked into the room. "Is 
she ok?" 

Amanda walked in behind him. "Oh God. Dana, 
what did you do to your hands?" 

"Amanda." Mulder interrupted. "Can you go get 
some bandages so we can clean her up. If anyone 
asks about her say she hit her head but will be there 
to help the nurses whenever she can. No one needs to 
check on her."

She nodded but didn't take her eyes off Scully. 
"What's going on? Why is she acting like that?"

Skinner turned her toward the door. "Please, 
Amanda, go get the bandages. I'll explain everything 
when you get back. Don't tell anyone about this."

"Ok." She said weakly and left the room. 

Skinner turned back to Mulder who was struggling to 
hold Scully down without hurting her. "How is she?"

"Completely out of it." Mulder tilted Scully face 
towards him with his free hand. Her glazed eyes 
stared back unseeing, she was pale and sweating. 
"Can you check who that is?" Mulder asked at a 
knock the door.
Skinner opened the door for the Gunmen to walk in. 
"Is she ok?" Frohike asked. 

Mulder didn't answer, he just focused on trying to 
hold her down as gentle as he could. But she fought 
constantly, pushing and twisting. Mulder had to use 
both hands to hold her now as he began to tire.

Amanda came back in quickly sitting by the bed. 
"Byers, can you get me some water? Mulder I need 
you to move your hands." 

"If I let go of her she is going to hit you." Mulder said 
matter of factly as he took a wrist in each of his 
hands. 

Amanda looked at him in confusion and fear but set 
about cleaning Scully's restlessly moving hands. "I 
can't wrap then while she is moving." She said 
frustrated. 

"Just do what you can, hurry. I don't think I can hold 
her like this for long." 

Skinner moved to the side of the bed. "I'll take one of 
her arms."

Mulder reluctantly let go and held one of her hands in 
both of his. 

"Damn it. Amanda hurry up. She's a lot stronger 
then she looks."

"Ok, done." Amanda said after another minute. 

"Mulder.. We can't hold her like this forever." 
Skinner said obviously struggling.

"She wasn't fighting like this at first." He mumbled. 

They were silent for some time. Everyone was 
thinking the same thing but it was Byers that worked 
up the courage to say it. "I think you are going to 
have to tie her."

Mulder looked over at him sharply. "I'm not going to 
tie her."

"Mulder, we don't have a choice." Skinner said.

Amanda walked over, with the spare bandages in her 
hands. "We can use these. They will be softer then 
anything else."

Mulder looked down at Scully. 

"Mulder.. We won't do this if you don't want us 
to." Skinner said softly. "But I think we should before 
one of us gets hurt." When Mulder still didn't say 
anything Skinner went on. "You aren't doing this to 
Scully. She isn't herself right now."

"God damn it." He hissed out, tears in his eyes. "Do 
it." Mulder couldn't bear to look at Scully as Amanda 
carefully tied her hands above her head to the 
headboard. When it was done he sat back against the 
wall with his eyes closed. But he could still hear 
Scully's heavy breathing and her ever present 
murmur. The bed moved slightly with her still 
struggling. 

"Walter. please tell me what is going on." Amanda 
said as she sat heavily in a chair. 

Skinner sat next to her, speaking softly. "Scully is an 
abductee." Amanda's eyes widened. "About six years 
ago she went missing for three months. When she 
returned she didn't remember anything." Skinner 
shook his head trying to find the simplest 
explanations. "She found out later that she had a 
small metal chip implanted in the back of her neck. 
She had it removed and almost immediately came 
down with an inoperable tumor. The cancer spread 
and become worse. It was cured when Mulder found 
another chip and replaced the one she removed. 
That's why this is happening. They are calling to 
her." Amanda slowly shook her head in confusion. "I 
know it's hard to understand. But leave it at that for 
now." Skinner didn't mention her infertility, that 
wasn't of question at the moment. "They didn't want 
to tell anyone. We need to keep it to ourselves."

She nodded quickly. "Of course." 

 
Mulder opened is his eyes slowly over an hour later, 
the Gunman had already left and Skinner and 
Amanda still sat quietly in the corner. "She's quieting 
down." He said softly. Glancing up at her wrists he 
felt a wave of nausea wash over him. "God. She's 
bleeding." 

All three jumped at loud pounding on the door. 
"Dana! Are you in there?!"

"Fuck." Mulder mumbled. 

"I'll take care of it." Skinner said. 

"No. I'll get it." Mulder pushed himself off of the bed 
and opened the door a small amount. "Scully is 
resting." 

"I want to see her. What did you so to her?" 
Benjamin ranted. 

Mulder braced the door as Benjamin pushed. "You 
aren't coming in, Benjamin."

Benjamin shoved his weight into the door, throwing 
it open an other inch or two before Mulder regained 
his balance. "I can see her! She's bleeding." 

Mulder felt his anger, mostly towards himself, boil. 
"You can't come in." Mulder pushed all his weight 
against the door to shut it. 

"Mulder." 

His head shot over to the bed at the soft whisper. Her 
struggling was gone and now just a confused and 
painful tug pulled the bindings. 

"I've got the door." Skinner said. "Why these damn 
things don't have locks in beyond me." He mumbled.

"Scully? Can you hear me?" 

She nodded slightly. 

"I'll untie you." 

"No." She whispered stopping Mulder. "Don't."

Mulder stooped close to her, having a hard time 
hearing her soft voice over the pounding and yelling 
at the door. "But. you are hurting yourself."

She shook her head, her eyes rolling back in her head 
slightly. "I have to stay like this. I don't know if it is 
over yet."

Mulder took his hands from her wrists and cupped 
her face. "Are you sure?"

She nodded dully. "I don't want the baby to get hurt. 
Leave me tied."

"Scully?" He said firmly as her eyes slipped closed. 
"Scully, stay with me." 

"I'm here." She whispered.

Mulder pressed his cheek against her belly. He 
drowned out Benjamin's noise and focused on the 
labored rise and fall of her breathing. 

Part 26
Day 156
Scully struggled to consciousness. Her head pounded, 
her ears rang painfully, her whole body was sore, and 
her arms were tingling from being tied for so long. 
"Mulder?" She whispered hoarsely. 

"Yeah, sweetheart?" He walked from his post by the 
door and sat by the bed. Benjamin had given up his 
pounding hours ago. Skinner and Amanda had left a 
few hours after that. And since then Mulder sat by the 
door, which was barricaded by a chair. 

"Can I have some water?"

Mulder nodded and brought a glass to her lips with 
one hand while the other tilted her head slightly. "Not 
too much. I don't know how much water we have 
stored."

She nodded to tell him she was done. "The water 
hasn't cleared?"

Mulder shrugged. "I don't know. Skinner said he 
would tell me as soon as he knew. I think everyone is 
resting now." With a furrowed brow he looked her up 
and down. "Are you cold?"

"A little."

He carefully spread a blanket over her. "Scully, do 
you think I can untie you now?"

She thought about it for a moment. She felt like 
herself, just tired. "Ok." She nodded slowly.

Mulder let out a long breath of relief and carefully 
untied her bruised and swollen wrists. Scully cradled 
them, numb, in her lap as Mulder took turns cleaning 
and bandaging them. "I'm so sorry." He whispered 
brokenly.

"Don't be. I. I don't even want to think about what 
could have happened if you hadn't done this." She 
tugged his arm to pull him down next to her. Using 
all the energy she could muster she rolled onto her 
side and tucked herself against his body. "If you 
hadn't I might have hurt you trying to leave. or hurt 
the baby." Scully forcefully swallowed the lump in 
her throat. "You had to do it. I'm thankful you did."
Mulder said nothing. Just ran his hands lightly up and 
down her back. 

"I'm so tired." Scully whispered after long moments 
of silence. 

Pressing his lips to her temple Mulder whispered to 
her; "Go to sleep. You need to rest." 

"So do you." She said as she drifted. 

"I'm fine." His breath tickled her hair.

Despite how tired she was Scully smiled. "That's my 
line."

Mulder gave her a sleepy smile against her skin. "I 
love you, Scully."

"Mmm." She mumbled close to sleep. "Love you 
too." 

Day 161
Mulder woke with a start to a knock at the door. He 
carefully shifted Scully, still asleep, out of his arms. 
Tucking his gun to his side he leaned against the 
door. "Who is it?"

"Skinner." 

Mulder placed his gun back on the dresser top and 
moved the chair away from the door then stepped out 
into the hallway rubbing his face. 

"I woke you, sorry." Skinner said.

"No, no. Don't worry about it. What's up?" 

Skinner nodded his head in the direction of the Main 
Room. "Air just cleared enough for a fire, not a very 
strong fire, but it's a start. The water. I don't even 
want to mention the water. Looks like we are stuck 
down here another day."

Mulder sighed and leaned back against the wall after 
a quick glance at Scully. "I dread getting out there 
and seeing if anything is left."

Skinner nodded. "Hopefully some livestock made it. 
Animals are smarter then they look, maybe they 
found someplace to go. But the fields are going to be 
ruined. I don't know how much we will be able to fix 
before the ground freezes."

Nodding, Mulder glanced again at Scully, not 
wanting to let her out of his sight for long. "It's going 
to be hell."

"How is she?" Mulder's continuous glances didn't go 
unnoticed by Skinner. 

"She's... resting. I think that is the most I can hope 
for-" Mulder broke off sharply as he watched Scully 
roll over in bed. She immediately settled again so he 
turned some of his attention back to Skinner. 
"Anything with Benjamin?"

Skinner shook his head. "Nothing I know of. He is 
pretty busy with people's questions. I haven't seen 
Amanda yet this morning."

Mulder wasn't able to suppress a yawn. He smiled a 
little ashamedly. "Sorry."

Skinner smirked and gestured to Mulder's room. "Get 
some more sleep. I'll check in with you guys as soon 
as anything happens. And I brought some water." He 
handed over a reserve jug.

"Thanks. I'll talk to you later." Mulder nodded 
appreciatively before stepping back into the cold 
room. He struggled to build a small fire before 
slipping back into bed.

Scully murmured wordlessly at his familiar presents 
and cuddled close to his warmth. 

Mulder wrapped an arm around her small body and 
burrowed his face in her hair. "It's going to be ok." 
He whispered to her sleeping body. "Please, God, let 
everything be ok." 

Day 161
Scully nudged Mulder with her elbow to rouse him. 
He gave a sleepy grunt as question. "Someone is at 
the door." She whispered out, her head still ached and 
it took more energy then she had to move her arms. 

"I'll get it, you stay right there." Mulder answered 
immediately hoisting himself up. 

"I wasn't planning on moving." Scully mumbled 
while trying to find a comfortable position for her 
aching body. It was impossible. 

Mulder moved the chair securing the door and 
opened it a crack expecting to see the Gunmen or 
Skinner. He frowned when coming face to face with 
Benjamin. "What can I do for you?" He glanced over 
his shoulder, partly to check on Scully and partly to 
make sure his gun was still on the dresser. 

"I want to speak with Dana." Benjamin said with a 
strident voice.

Scully gently pushed her way under Mulder's arm 
that was braced against the wall between the open 
door. "Yes, Benjamin?" She tried to keep the 
irritation from her voice, but she was tired of this. 
She and Mulder were finally together and the only 
one causing a problem was Benjamin. 

"Scully." Mulder said gently. "You need to rest." He 
slipped his arm down from the wall to around her 
waist.

She glanced up to him with a small smile. "I will. I 
just want to see what Benjamin needs so I can do just 
that." She turned back to Benjamin expectantly. 

"Can you step out? I'd like to talk to you alone."

Scully shook her head and leaned more against 
Mulder for support "I'm very tired. What is it that 
you want?"

Benjamin narrowed his eyes at her stubbornness. She 
wasn't making this any easier for him and he felt his 
anger build more and more each time he tried to help 
her, and she refused his help. She just didn't seem to 
realize that she would be better off without Mulder. 
He needed to show her, somehow, that her place was 
with him. "I think you should come with me." He 
held out a hand expectantly. 

"What?!" Mulder asked in disbelief. "Who the hell do 
you think you are?" Scully placed a hand over his 
chest when he went to take a step forward. The gentle 
pressure reminded him that they had to be careful. 

"You aren't good for Dana, Mulder. I'm afraid for 
her safety when she is with you."

"Benjamin." Scully said quickly, in a tone that left no 
room for argument. "I appreciate your concern, but 
you have everything backwards." She leaned heavily 
back against Mulder, trying to convey that this was 
where she wanted to be. "Please, I want to go back to 
sleep." 

"I want to know what happened the other night, 
Dana. People say-"

"I don't care what people are saying." Scully 
interrupted quickly. "I hit my head and I was 
unconscious. I am still recovering. Good bye." She 
pressed back against Mulder, he took the hint and 
shut the door, securing it quickly as Scully crawled 
back in bed.

Mulder sat at her hip on the edge of the bed, 
smoothing the blankets up around her. 

With a sudden gasp she sat upright.

"What? Scully, what?" Mulder panicked, ready for 
her to start fighting to leave Nova again. 

A slow smile spread across her face, then a soft 
laugh. "The baby." She placed her hand over her 
steadily rising belly. "I felt it." She laughed again, in 
amazement.

"You did?" Mulder tentatively placed his hand over 
tummy.

Nodding she moved his hand to where she felt the 
slight sensation. "I doubt you can feel it. It was just a 
small. flutter almost." Scully said sadly, she wanted 
Mulder to share this. 

Mulder just smiled, rubbing her soft skin lightly.

Scully giggled. "There it is again." 

Mulder leaned forward, pressing his forehead against 
hers. He couldn't feel the movement, but he knew it 
was there. The look of complete wonder of Scully's 
face was enough evidence for him. 
 
Part 27
Day 163
"Scully." Mulder rubbed Scully's thigh lightly to 
rouse her. 

"I'm awake." She said sleepily, rolling on to her back 
to look up at him. 

Mulder tenderly tucked a strand of hair behind her 
ear. "I've got to go. We're going to try clearing a 
doorway."

Scully sat up with a yawn. "Ok, I'll come give you 
guys a hand."

Mulder laughed and pushed her shoulders until she 
was lying down again. "That's pretty funny Scully."

"I'm feeling much better, Mulder." She said sternly, 
sitting up again.

"Then go to the Medical Room." He replied as he tied 
his shoes. 

Scully just glared at him. She knew she shouldn't be 
doing anything else, but it didn't mean she was happy 
about it.

"Don't give me that look." He leaned over and kissed 
her cheek. "I'll talk to you later."

"Bye." She grumbled. 

 
Mulder wiped the sweat off his forehead with the 
back of his arm. 

"Hey! I see light." Mike called from his spot, 
crouched on the ground. 

Mulder kneeled down beside him and peered out the 
small opening. "Looks hazy but clear enough to 
breathe." Squinting he looked around in the low light. 
"Let's start up there." He pointed to the high right 
corner of the opening. 

"We can't reach that high." Mark pointed out.

"You noticed that too." Skinner mumbled. "Well we 
really don't have a choice. If we start any lower the 
whole thing might tumble in on us." He glanced over 
his shoulder, pausing to smile as Scully and Amanda 
walked up perfectly aware of their situation.

Scully touched Mulder's arm lightly. "Boost me up 
on your shoulder, Mulder. I'll do it."

"No." Mulder said plainly, shaking his head.

"I can do it." Amanda said before Scully continued. 
"Walter, you can hold me up there."

Skinner nodded, avoiding Scully's bitter gaze. "Ok, 
Mandy." He said lifting her up to sit on his right 
shoulder, his hands securing her legs.

Mulder leaned close to Scully's ear, trying not to 
laugh. "Mandy?"

"Shh." She said swatting at his arm. 

Mulder stood up right with a soft chuckle. 

Benjamin walked up wordlessly, no one 
acknowledged him either. They all stood in silence as 
they watched rock by rock tumble away to expose 
dusty dry air. 

Still without a word they all walked out into the open. 

Swallowing thickly, Scully placed a hand over her 
mouth as she looked around. "Oh God. Mulder."

He just nodded absently. 

The Earth was turned upside down in front of them. 
Trees lay half buried, the once organized fields were 
no longer visible, the barns in the distance were only 
partially standing, the destruction was endless. 

"Ok." Mulder said softly after some time, breaking 
the silence. "Let's.start looking around. There 
should be twelve people." He used the word people 
carefully, they were looking for bodies. It was that 
dreadfully simple. 

"Hopefully some livestock made it through this. We 
should check the water too. See how that is looking." 
Skinner added. 

Benjamin had looked on in an angry silence. "Now 
wait a moment." He said through clenched teeth. 

Everyone turned to him expectantly. 

Benjamin struggled to find something to tell them all. 
But the truth was; he had no idea what to do. 

"Everyone stay in groups of two." He said quickly. 

People nodded and paired off. 

"Dana, you come with me." Benjamin stepped 
forward to take her arm. 

Mulder immediately stepped in front of him. "No. 
She's not going anywhere with you." Scully touched 
Mulder's arm lightly, trying to bring his focus back 
to her. It didn't work. "This has gone far enough."

"Mulder." Skinner said in a warning voice.

"You just leave her alone. Is that clear?" Mulder took 
a step forward, anger blazing in his eyes. 

"Mulder." Scully said sternly. 

"I think you are the one that should leave her alone, 
Mulder." Benjamin said as he took a step to close 
more the space between him and Mulder. "She 
belongs with me."

"You are fucking insane!" Mulder yelled. Everyone 
had left but Skinner, Amanda, and Scully. Their pleas 
for the men to calm down went unheard. 

"You are dangerous! You hurt her. I've seen you. I 
can see the bruises on her wrists. Do you beat her at 
night? When you are angry? When you want sex with 
her? You force her into it, don't you? You don't even 
want that baby."

"Bastard." Mulder lurched forward at him. 

"Mulder, stop!" Scully stepped between the two men 
and took a hold of Mulder's wrists. 

He froze. "Scully, let go." He pulled his hands away 
but she held fast.

Benjamin moved forward, seeing Mulder fight 
against her hold. But Skinner stepped in front of him. 
His solid weight effectively making Benjamin 
reconsider his thoughts of pulling Scully away from 
Mulder. But he didn't want to stand there and watch 
him brainwash her into thinking she was good for 
him any longer. It made him sick, to watch the way 
Mulder controlled her every thought. How an 
intelligent woman could fall under the spell of such a 
man was unimaginable to Benjamin. 

"No." She said shaking her head. The only way 
Mulder was going to get to Benjamin was to push her 
out of the way. "I want you to walk away from this 
Mulder. You have nothing to prove. Mulder, look at 
me."
He tore his furious gaze away from Benjamin and 
looked down at Scully's pleaded eyes. "Scully, let 
go." He said softly even as he fought to control his 
breathing. He shifted slightly under her hold, hoping 
she would let up.

"No, dad." Amanda said as Benjamin went to move 
out of Skinner's hold. "You leave them alone. This 
has nothing to do with you." Angry tears ran silently 
down her cheeks. "Why can't you leave them alone?"

Benjamin glared at his daughter. "So you are with 
them now?" He gestured to Skinner with a nod of his 
head. "This one has your mind messed up. You don't 
know who you are anymore."

"No." She said shaking her head. "I finally do know 
who I am, dad. For the first time." 

Scully ignored everyone else, just focusing on getting 
Mulder to listen to her. "Please Mulder. Listen to 
me." When she had his eyes locked with hers she 
continued. "You don't have anything to prove. 
Everyone here knows you would never hurt me." She 
spoke softly, just to him. But the three on lookers 
heard her. "You've saved my life more times then I 
even want to count. You take care of me, you don't 
hurt me. You would never hurt me."

Mulder looked away, his emotions were too high. His 
mind was torn between forcing Scully away so he 
could end the problem with Benjamin. But if he did 
that he would have to do just that; force. It was a 
word he just didn't know when it came to Scully. He 
couldn't do it. Scully was right. It was impossible for 
him to hurt her. 

"Look at me, love." She said softly.

Mulder looked back, swallowing back emotions as 
tears swam in his eyes.

Scully slid her hands from his wrists to his face, 
cupping his stubbled cheeks in her warm palms. 
"Walk away from this. He isn't worth it. Ok?"

Mulder nodded in her grasp.

Scully smiled a soft gratified smile. "Ok. Let's go 
back to our room for a little while. I think I need to 
lie down and rest."

Mulder nodded again. 

She tipped his head down, pressing his forehead to 
hers. "Thank you." After a moment, they walked, in 
silence back down to their room. 
 
 Part 28
Day 165
Amanda watched Skinner carefully. "Walter?" He 
didn't reply to her soft voice. "Walter?" She asked, 
slightly louder. Certain he was sound asleep she 
slipped out of bed. She dressed quickly, keeping her 
eyes on him. As silently as possible she crossed the 
room and crouched by the dresser. She carefully 
opened the bottom drawer, mindful of the squeak she 
knew would come. Taking quick glances at the bed 
she pushed her hand under the piles of clothes until 
she felt the cool metal of a gun. Slowly, quietly she 
tucked it in the front of her jeans before standing. 
With one last look at the sleeping man she stepped 
out the door and into the silent halls of Nova.

Day 168
Mulder rubbed his hands together for warmth. "We 
found Henry." He said simply to Scully as he stepped 
into the Medical Room.

Her hand wavered slightly as she put away towels at 
the news. Henry was the last body missing. "Where?" 
Scully asked, only because she had nothing else to 
say. 

Mulder didn't answer. Stepping up behind her he 
wrapped his arms around her waist and set his 
forehead on her shoulder. 

"Are you ok?" She asked softly after some time. 

"Yeah." He breathed against her neck. "I'm just worn 
out. We started rebuilding the barn today." He stood 
straight so that Scully could turn in his arms. 
"Enough animals made it so that we should be able to 
rebreed the stock." He added rubbing his face. 

"Still clearing the trees from the fields?" 

He nodded. "I think we will be doing that until next 
season, but at least we can use those trees for fire 
wood." He shook his head, obviously wanting the 
topic to be over with. "Are you done here?"

Scully looked around to make sure she has cleaned 
up after the day. "Yeah, I'm ready."

"Good. I need to get cleaned up then I'm going to 
pass out in bed." Mulder placed a hand on the small 
of her back and guided Scully from the room. 

Scully immediately set about filling the fireplace with 
wood as Mulder stripped down to his boxers. "Lay 
down." She instructed him, pointing to the bed.

He gave her a quizzical look but gladly complied. 

Taking a seat by his legs, Scully rung out a cloth and 
washed away the day's sweat with the damp towel. 

Mulder watched her through heavy lids as she 
finished with legs, after lifting them to wash 
underneath also. She sat down on his thighs and 
bathed his chest in long smooth strokes. 

With each pass of the cloth Mulder felt a little more 
of the stress and tension ease from his body. 

Scully watched as his eyes slowly closed, his breath 
deepening, his body relaxing under her fingers. 
Picking up his hand she studied it as she washed 
away the dirt. His skin had toughened from the hard 
conditions. But underneath the wear and tear it was 
still that same hand. Loving and tender, but strong 
and lethal. 

"Turn over." Scully whispered, getting up on to her 
knees so he could do as asked.

In his half sleep state, Mulder rolled. Without 
bothering to shift his body from his initial position he 
settled heavily into the bed. 

Scully sat softly on his lower back, not wanting to 
interrupt his calmness. Calm was a luxury Mulder 
didn't allow himself these days. He was constantly 
glancing over his shoulder, speaking in hushed tones 
with Skinner, he watched Benjamin without anymore 
pretense. 

Scully ran the cloth over his back and shoulders, 
savoring the way his muscles yielded to her 
ministrations. Rubbing the cloth against the back of 
his neck she tilted her head to look at his face. He 
was asleep. Peaceful and as unguarded as he would 
let himself become at this time. Scully tossed the 
damp cloth to the side and lay facing him. She ran 
her fingertips down the side of his face before letting 
her palm rest over his cheek, his breathing puffing 
warmly against the tender skin of her wrist. Shifting 
slightly she moved closer to him, wrapping her arm 
around his neck. Blanketing his body with hers. 
Offering what minimal protection she could from the 
things that threatened him. 

Say 170
"Mulder."

Mulder poked his head out from under where he was 
trying to repair a collapsed chimney. "Yeah, 
Benjamin?" He kept his voice as even and free of 
hatred as possible. 

"I need you to do a job."

"I'm doing one right now." He stated, moving back 
under the stones. 

Benjamin narrowed his eyes at the man. "Well you 
can finish it tomorrow."

With an audible sigh Mulder pushed himself out from 
under the walls of Nova and stood, brushing the dust 
from himself. 

Benjamin met Mulder's eyes steadily. "Walk to the 
river, make sure there aren't any trees down. We 
don't need to have bark and dead leaves in our 
drinking water." With his orders delivered, Benjamin 
turned and started to walk away. 

"Excuse me?" Mulder asked dumbfounded. 

"I'm sure you can handle the job on your own. If any 
trees are down you and your friend Skinner can go 
back tomorrow and drag them out." He called over 
his shoulder. 

Glaring at the older man's back Mulder sucked in a 
deep breath, with it his pride. Kicking a rock from the 
pile he was using to repair the chimney he set out 
towards the river.
 

"There you are." Scully said relieved. Without giving 
Mulder a chance to shut the door she wrapped her 
arms around his neck.

He placed his hands gently on her waist. He was still 
too angry about the day's events to fully appreciate 
Scully being in his arms. 

"You all right?" Scully asked releasing his from her 
hold.

He nodded. "Yeah." His voice was coated with 
annoyance.

"Good." She said with a satisfied nod. "Now get out 
of here."

Mulder looked at her with a confused expression. 

"The guys stopped by and told me to send you over 
for some poker as soon as you got back." She 
explained.

Mulder shook his head slowly. "No. I'll stay here. I 
haven't seen you all day." 

"I know." She said as she turned him toward the still 
open door. "But I will still be here in a few hours. Go 
relax. Take some of your anger out on them when 
they try to cheat." Scully teased lightly. 

Mulder glanced over his shoulder at her. As much as 
he missed her, he didn't want to sit still. He needed to 
be doing something to control the emotions bottled 
up inside him. "Ok." He complied softly. "I won't be 
too long."

Getting up on her toes Scully placed a lingering kiss 
on his cheek. "You take as long as you need."

Mulder smiled, for the first time that day. "Thanks, 
Scully."

She just smiled in response and pushed him in the 
direction of the Main Room.

Day 174
"Shh." Mulder soothed softly in Scully's ear. The 
dreams had become worse. Twice a night. Never 
changing, never giving more information.

With a shaky breath Scully sunk back into Mulder's 
chest as his hand stroked her hair lightly, her head 
resting on the other. 

"Ok now?" He asked softly, placing a light kiss on 
the side on her neck. 

Scully nodded numbly as she stared unseeing at the 
wall in front of her. 

They lay in silence for a long time, each lost in their 
own thoughts. A slow smile crossed Scully face as 
she took Mulder's hand in hers. "Feel this." She 
whispered, pressing his palm against her belly.

He let out a soft quick breath against her neck as he 
felt the gentle kick from inside her womb. 

Scully ran her hand from his wrist to elbow over and 
over as he felt the movement of his child for the first 
time. 

It was many minutes before Mulder slid his hand 
from her stomach to her cheek, turning her head to 
press his lips against hers. His tongue parted her lips 
gently but insistently. She gladly accepted as she 
turned fully onto her back. Mulder wasted no time 
covering her body with his. Scully felt the warmth, of 
his body, and anticipation, spread through her like a 
fire. 

Eager to feel her skin against his, Mulder pulled 
away the few clothes they were wearing to bed. He 
pressed open mouthed kisses to her belly, her breasts, 
her neck, and finally to her mouth again. "I love 
you." He breathed. Kissing her again before she got a 
chance to reply with words. So she answered in 
actions. She pulled his body into the cradle of her 
thighs, welcoming him into her. 

The invitation did not go unanswered. 

Scully broke their kiss with a soft whimper. His 
movements were slow, deliberate, and almost 
dreamlike in their languorous quality. But wonderful. 
Tilting her head, Scully watched his face. Their eyes 
met, and locked. Wavering only as each reached their 
peak. 

Mulder settled, with a long breath, against her body. 
Scully held him against her, in her, not ready for any 
connection-spell to be broken. Weaving a hand into 
his hair she pulled his ear to her lips. "I love you." 
She finally responded, in words. 

Part 29
Day 176
"No, dad."

"Amanda you don't have a choice." Benjamin 
slammed his fist down on his table, Amanda startled. 
"I am telling you this is what you have to do, and you 
will do it."

She couldn't look at him. As much as she wanted to, 
as much as she knew it would help her stand up 
against him she couldn't. She was too afraid. 

"You will respect me, Amanda." He said firmly. 
"You will do as I ask." 

Day 179
"Dana, how are you feeling?"

Scully smiled politely at Mary as she waited to pick 
up the morning rations. "Fine, thank you."

The elderly woman glanced from Scully's face to her 
belly. "Bigger everyday." Scully nodded in 
agreement. "How far along are you now?"

"About five months." 

"I barely showed with my first child, but my second-
my poor husband had to roll me everywhere after 
seven months. I have a feeling you are going to have 
the same problem, being as petite as you are." Scully 
laughed softly as Mary reminisced. "Are you and 
Mulder planning on having any more children?" 

Scully froze, the question being a complete surprise. 
After a moment of thought she spoke. "I hope so." 
She picked up her bag. "Have a good day, Mary."

"You too, Dana." Mary called after her.

The moment Scully stepped into her room she 
handed the bag of food over to Mulder and sat at the 
table. He insisted on making breakfast for her every 
morning. 

"What are you thinking about?" Mulder asked after 
long moments in silence.

Scully glanced at him, his back to her as he cooked. 
Fiddling with the edge of a book sitting on the table 
she spoke softly. "The baby-do you want this baby?" 
She blurted out, her voice fun of fear and worry.

He turned to her slowly, looking her straight in the 
eye. "Yes, of course I do."

Scully began to speak again-looking at the floor-
before he even finished. "We weren't planning on 
this. I know you didn't think it would happen. And its 
not like I asked you if it is something you wanted."

Mulder stooped down in front of Scully's lap, taking 
her face in his hands. "I want this baby more then 
anything right now."

She still wouldn't focus on his eyes. "I know you 
aren't going to walk away from me. I know you will, 
you already are taking responsibility-"

Scully was cut off by Mulder's soft laugh. "Oh, 
Scully." He looked up at her with an amused smile. 
"You are the most intelligent woman I have ever met, 
but sometimes you are pretty dense." He stopped 
smiling, though, when he saw her desperate need for 
reassurance. Moving close to her, he turned her face, 
looking directly into her eyes. "I want this baby. 
There's no simpler way to say it. You and this child 
are the only reasons I am still at Nova. You know me, 
this place isn't working for me. But you are making it 
bearable. You are keeping me sane. like you always 
do. And I want this baby. I'll say it over and over for 
the rest of my life if you need me to." He was silent 
for a moment. "I'll be honest with you, since you can 
always see through me when I try to bullshit. I am 
scared. Scared shitless actually. The idea of being 
responsible for the upbringing of a person is. I 
don't even know how to describe it. But I swear to 
you Scully, and to our baby, that I will do a better job 
then my father did."

Leaning forward Scully kissed a tear that ran down 
Mulder's cheek. "I know." She whispered, her 
forehead against his. "I know that. You are a good 
man-the best I have even known. Better then my 
father." She admitted softly. "And those aren't easy 
footsteps to follow. I know you'll be a wonderful 
father because he was."

Mulder let out a sigh and burrowed his face into the 
crook of her neck. 

Day 181
"All right, spill it." 

Amanda looked up at Skinner from where she was 
aimlessly stirring a bowl of rice. "What?"

Skinner sat beside her giving his best interrogation 
expression. "These past few days you have been 
acting strange."

"Strange?" She leaned back in her chair, crossing her 
arms over her chest. 

He nodded, not changing his train of questions 
despite her defensive posture. "Yes, strange." Skinner 
counted the mannerisms on his fingers. "You've been 
quiet, jumpy, preoccupied, I can go on if you'd like?"

Amanda stood from the table, pushing the chair 
violently. "I don't need this."

Skinner stood and took her arm in his hand quickly. 
"Mandy, wait." 

"What?" She asked not looking at him. "So you can 
act like my father some more, no thank you." 

"I wasn't acting like your father."

"Yes you were." Pulling her arm out of his grasp she 
spun around. "Telling me how I am acting and what I 
am doing wrong."

"Amanda, I was not telling you what you were doing 
wrong." Skinner spoke softly, calmly. "I was just 
trying to figure out what is wrong." 

"No." She said sharply. "You are trying to tell me 
what to do."

Skinner watched her for a moment. She was close to 
tears and trembling. He lowered his voice even more. 
"That's not true. I just want to know if something is 
bothering you."

"Nothing is bothering me, nothing is wrong. All is 
right with the world." Amanda's voice was still sharp 
and defensive. "I'm going now."

"Mandy?" He called after her.

"No, Walter. Leave me alone." The slamming door 
emphasized the end of their conversation. 

Day 184
Scully rubbed her eyes with her fingers. "I'm tired." 
She stated simply.

"Then you should go to bed." Mulder said just as 
simply.

She looked over at the bed with distaste, one hand 
over her protruding belly. "It's not easy getting into 
bed, I hope you realize this."

Mulder smiled as he nodded. "I know. I've seen you 
try to get in and out of bed." He couldn't help but 
chuckle at the visual.

Scully sat on the edge of the bed with a pout. "Not 
funny."

"I know. I know." Mulder said walking over to her 
feet. Taking her legs in his hands he swung them up 
and onto the bed. 

Scully relaxed back against the pillows. "I hope you 
come back before I need to get up again."

"Would you rather I stay?" 

She waved him away lightly. "No, go play with your 
little friends."

Mulder sat on the side of the bed. After placing a 
light kiss on her lips he pressed his forehead against 
hers. "You sure?" 

"Yeah." She placed her hand on his cheek. "I'll be 
fine. I'm just going to go to sleep."

"Ok." Mulder pressed his lips to her forehead. "I'll 
try not to wake you when I come back."
Scully nodded as she closed her eyes. 

"'Night, Scully." He whispered before standing to 
leave the room, turning off the lamps to leave the 
room in almost complete darkness. 

***
Amanda sat in the silence of her room. The book she 
held in her hands had been on the same page for over 
an hour. 

For over a week Amanda had been waiting in a stage 
of readiness. Waiting for the sign that time had run 
out. That time had caught up with her and she 
couldn't pretend any longer. 

The creak of the door opening next door to her 
snapped her wandering mind back to the task at hand. 
With a deep steadying breath Amanda stood from her 
chair.

***
Scully jerked awake. The only sound in the room 
were the quick puffs of her breath, the only light the 
hot timbers left in the fireplace. 

She gave herself a moment to recover from her all 
too familiar nightmare. 

It was cold in her room. But getting out of bed to put 
more wood in the fire just to get back in bed a 
moment later did not seem logical. She pulled the 
blankets up under her chin and settled back into the 
bed, putting the dream out of her mind. Mulder 
would be back soon she knew. He could get the fire 
going again, hopefully she wouldn't have the dream 
again before he returned. 

***
"Hands above the table, Frohike." Langly said with a 
suspicious glare. 

Frohike returned the look. "Why? What do you think 
I am doing under here?"

"Frohike. the possibilities are frightening." Mulder 
supplied with a smirk. 

"Very funny." He mumbled.

"I've got nothing." Skinner's cards slid across the 
table before colliding with pile of small rocks.

Byers looked up from his cards with raised brows. 
Langly leaned over. "What's up his ass?" Byers just 
shrugged. 

"I don't even want to talk about it." Skinner said 
sternly, hearing them despite their pathetic attempts 
to whisper. "I'm not going to think about it either."

"Trouble in paradise?" Mulder asked ignoring 
Skinner's request not to talk about it.
Skinner groaned. 

Mulder nodded to Skinner's wordless response. "I 
know how you feel. Just when you think everything 
is going well, something happens."

***
Benjamin leaned his head against the wall. The 
sounds of muffled men's voices came through the 
thick wood. 

With a self satisfied nod he turned and made his way 
down the hallway. 

***
Scully was roused, only slightly, by the near silent 
sounds of movement in the room. She shifted a little. 
As soon as she met the resistance of the still 
unaccustomed weight of her belly she stilled. It was 
just easier. And the scenario was always the same. 
She had just woken up from one dream it seemed and 
yet she was having another. 

The feelings where there. Someone was in the room, 
but not Mulder. She couldn't move easily, because of 
the baby. And it was dark, without even opening her 
eyes she knew it was.

Scully stiffened suddenly. Briefly a small part of her 
mind fought the rest, this was not her dream. But it 
was. She forced her eyes open to see the shadowy 
figure of Benjamin standing over her. Just like usual. 
But something was different this time. As he reached 
his hand out to touch her she could hear his low raspy 
breathing. That had never happened before.

Before she could move, or even yell out, before she 
had time to think a gunshot echoed off the stone 
walls of Nova. A thick moist warmth spread over 
Scully's body as crushing weight pinned her down. 

Part 30
Day 184 (continued)
***
His heart stopped. The gunshot echoing off the walls 
of Nova stopped everything, just for a missed 
heartbeat. 

"What the fuck?" Skinner muttered.

Mulder didn't hear him. He had only one thought in 
his mind. Scully. 

His chair fell to the side with a dull thud, the door 
smacked against the wall as he threw it open. And 
Mulder ran. He ran with his heart in his throat down 
the hallway. His shoe clad feet thumped along the 
stone floor in an unearthly speed. He saw the door to 
his room, wide open, what seemed miles away. His 
breath came out in harsh, uneven pants in the cool 
dark air. 

Finally, after what seems like hours but was only a 
few moments, Mulder stepped into his room. And 
stopped dead in his tracks. 

The metallic smell of blood was thick in the air, 
making his stomach turn sharply. The still air was 
bitter on his tongue with the smoke from the gun still 
settling around him. His heart pounding in his ears 
drowned out all the other slight noises in the room. 
The soft crackle of the diminishing fire. The panicked 
breathing of Amanda. And the strangled sounds of 
struggle from Scully's bed. 

All at once Mulder began to breathe again, to think 
again. He pushed his way past a trembling Amanda 
and to the bed. 

"Mulder." A panicked rasp came from Scully as she 
tried to move out from under the weight of Benjamin. 
With a disgusted tug Mulder pulled Benjamin's limp 
body from Scully. The hot blood was a shock to his 
clammy hands. The thick liquid soaked through his 
shirt. 

Benjamin's body landed with a heavy thud at his feet. 
"Scully?" Mulder asked looking her up and down. All 
he could see was blood. Glistening and fresh over her 
clothes, over her skin, splattered on the bed, pooling 
on the floor. "Are you hurt?" Mulder ran his hands 
over her body, feeling for anything. "Scully." 

She only trembled under his questioning touch. 

Mulder took her face in his hands, shuddering at his 
blood-coated fingers slipped on her damp skin. "Are 
you hurt?"

She still didn't answer. 

"What the hell?" Skinner said in a daze from the 
doorway. "Amanda?" Skinner kneeled beside the 
chair she sat in, ignoring the rest of the room. 

"I had to." She whispered.

"What?" Skinner glanced over at Mulder. Skinner 
saw Benjamin's body. He saw Scully covered in 
blood. 
He saw Mulder desperately trying to get her to 
respond to him. 

"I had to." She repeated. "He was going to take her."

"What?" Was all Skinner was capable of repeating, as 
he looked closely at her pale drawn face. 

Amanda continued in a barely audible whisper. "I 
knew he was going to do it. I've known for a long 
time. I've seen it before. This isn't the first time he 
has tried to do this." Streams streamed down her face. 
"I-I couldn't let him do it to Dana. I couldn't." She 
began to sob opening. 

"Shh. Shh. It's ok." Skinner pulled her head down to 
his shoulder. 

"Scully?" Mulder asked with desperation. "Fuck." He 
cursed softly. Leaning down her carefully pulled her 
shaking body up into his arms. She was cold and 
slippery from the blood. Her drying cheek stuck to 
Mulder's now bloodied shirt. He secured her body 
against his, whispering his love into her ear. Pushing 
his way through the gathered people in the hall, he 
managed to order the Gunmen to follow him. With 
determined strides, unhindered by Scully's weight, he 
made his way to the vacant Medical Room. The thick 
scent of blood followed them like a cloud through 
Nova. 

The short walk seemed to last for hours as Scully 
shivered in his hold. But finally he set her down on 
an empty cot. "Byers, can you make a fire." Mulder 
didn't bother to listen for a reply. "Langly, Frohike, 
don't let anyone in." Mulder turned back to Scully, 
immediately pulling off her soaked clothing. He 
waited until Byers closed the door behind him, a 
fresh fire in the corner of the room, before he 
removed the last of Scully's clothing. He lay her 
down and quickly covered her with a blanket as she 
starred up at the ceiling with glazed eyes. Mulder 
pulled his wet shirt over his head quickly. He picked 
Scully back up in his arms and brought her over to 
the fire. He sat, cradling her body in his arms rocking 
gently. "Scully. Come on, come back to me." He 
whispered brokenly. 

After what seemed like hours passed Scully finally 
came back to her body again. She finally felt the cold 
her body was reacting to violently. The fleeting 
thought that she was in shock went through her mind. 
All she did was burrow herself more into the warmth 
of Mulder's body. In response his arms tightened 
around her, holding her closer to him. His breath 
tickled her neck comfortingly as he pressed his 
temple to hers. No words were spoken. None were 
needed at the time. Mulder continued to rock her 
slowly letting Scully's mind come back to itself. 

***
"Amanda, I need you to tell me what happened?" 
Skinner said softly. He had brought her back to her 
room, where it was quiet. 

"I killed my father." She said simply. "He was going 
to hurt Dana."

Skinner nodded and leaned back in his chair. 
According to the Rule Book anyone who committed 
murder was banned from Nova and to be shot if seen 
within Nova's area. 

Those were Benjamin's rules. 

But Benjamin was dead. With a perfect shot to the 
back of his head. At the moment his body was being 
taken away from Nova, not to be buried in the newly 
constructed cemetery where the bodies of the ones 
who died during the attack rested. In the two hours 
time that had passed no one objected to his burial 
away from Nova. No one mourned his death. No one 
demanded punishment to Amanda. They only asked 
one question; were Dana and the baby ok. 

***
"Mulder." Scully murmured against his neck.

Mulder pulled away slightly, one arm cradling her 
back the other stroked her dried blood streaked hair 
from her face. "Yes?"

Scully let her eyes slip closed as his warm hand 
settled on her cheek. "Just Mulder." She said softly. 

He pushed his lips to her forehead with a slight nod. 
"I'm here." 

A shiver ran through Scully's body. She tucked 
herself impossibly closer to him, as if trying to crawl 
under his very skin. 

As far as he could, Mulder inched closer to the fire. 
His hand skimmed her belly. But he didn't voice his 
concerns. Scully knew them. 

"I think I'm ok." She said softly. "I feel ok. Cold and 
shaky, but ok."

Mulder rubbed his free hand up and down her arm. 
"I'll warm you up."

"It's ok." She slurred slightly. 

"No it's not." He whispered into the near silence of 
the room. "You are in shock." 

She said nothing. Letting her fingers flex against his 
bare chest. His skin was warm and firm next to her 
chilled fingers. Scully focused on the slight dip the 
pressure of her touch made on his muscles, instead of 
the replay of her living nightmare when she closed 
her eyes. A slight shudder shot through her body as 
her skin remembered the feel of hot blood spilling 
over her, the dead weight of his body on top of hers, 
the fear that had settled itself in her heart. 

Day 185
Scully woke slowly. She tensed for a moment when 
she realized she was nude, but the familiar warmth of 
Mulder's body against hers relaxed her. She opened 
her eyes, Mulder spooned up closely behind her. 
They were laying a cot pulled up close to the 
dwindling fire. Scully felt warm and safe in Mulder's 
tight hold. Carefully, even though she knew he would 
wake, she shifted in his arms and turned to face him. 

Mulder's eyes fluttered opened just as Scully pressed 
her face into the warmth of his shoulder. He gave a 
wordless greeting by skimming his hand along her 
shoulder blade to the bend in her knee, then back up 
again. He repeated this until his hand felt hot from 
the gentle friction of skin on skin. 

With a soft sigh Scully bent her leg over his waist, 
her arm around his rib cage, effectively holding him 
to her. The heat between their skin encased in heavy 
blankets was almost unbearable. Scully shifted until 
she poked a foot out into the cooler air surrounding 
them. After a moment she was still too warm. 

Sensing this, feeling the same himself, Mulder 
shrugged the blanket from their upper bodies. 
Scully's back glowed from the fire. Her hair was hot 
from the heat of the flames as Mulder buried his hand 
in it. He gently tilted her head up and pressed his lips 
her hers. Scully released a breath into his mouth, 
taking in his. Wanting more contact with him Scully 
shifted closer to his mouth. A deep moan became lost 
in their kiss as the bottom swell of Scully's stomach 
brushed Mulder's erection. Neither knew who the 
moan came from. 

Scully could feel the questions and concerned words 
forming in Mulder's chest. But she wouldn't allow 
them to surface. She didn't want any words. She just 
wanted to feel. 

With a steady push she rolled Mulder onto his back. 
He made a soft questioning sound in his throat, but 
Scully wouldn't release his mouth from hers to let 
him voice it. 

The blankets pooled around Scully's waist as she 
straddled his thighs, the only thing separating them 
was the thin cloth of Mulder's boxers. 

Mulder shifted, pulling them up until his back was 
against the wall, their faces level. His breath came 
out in heavy waves through his nose as his hands slid 
up her back, over her arms wrapped around his neck, 
back down her back then up to cradle her breasts. 

A soft gasp escaped her mouth, threatening to break 
the kiss. But Scully wouldn't allow it. The ache low 
in her belly was becoming urgent. She had to feel 
him. She had to have the pleasant sensation of his 
body stretching and filling her. With each touch, she 
felt him erase the horrible feeling of blood on her 
body. She wanted shared sweat and tears to wash it 
away. With a shaking hand she pushed Mulder's 
boxers down enough to release him. She took his 
hardness into her hand, feeling the mutual need 
between them.

With a groan Mulder pulled his head away, but 
Scully followed him. She pressed her tongue against 
his in a silent cry as she sank down on to him. All the 
breath left Mulder's lungs, brushing across her sweat 
dampened face. Mulder took control of the never 
ending kiss as Scully began to rock above him in 
short determined strokes. With every touch of his 
engorged skin against her swollen flesh a little more 
the nightmare eased from her mind. She knew she 
would never forget it. But with Mulder touching her 
it was easy to push the fear into the back of her mind. 

The kiss stilled as their need for air became more 
urgent, but their lips didn't part. Pressing closer 
together with each down stroke of Scully, separating 
marginally as she moved away, only to return at a 
faster pace. With a sudden firm press against 
Mulder's mouth Scully's body clutched and pulled at 
his. Their soft sounds lost within each other. Scully 
wouldn't still, or slow. Sweat dripped down her 
spine, cooling her heated skin for only a moment. 
Mulder's hands clenched rhythmically on her waist. 
Until with a strong pull against him he shuddered and 
released into her body. 

The kiss finally broke as they struggled to regain 
their breathing, foreheads pressed together. They 
were silent for many moments, just listening to their 
slowly evening breathing and the crackle of the fire. 

When Scully finally spoke they were the words that 
Mulder needed to hear. "I'm ok now. We are both 
ok." The only words he needed.
 
Part 31
Day 185 (continued)
***
The cool air hit the heated skin of Mulder's chest as 
soon as he opened the door out into the hallway. He 
shivered, but that was better then walking around in a 
blood coated shirt. 

"Mulder, is everything ok?" Byers said jumping up 
from his spot on the ground with Langly. No one had 
seen Mulder or Scully since last night. 

"Yeah, we're all right." He rubbed the back of his 
neck with his hand as he looked out into the Main 
Room. 
"What about everything out here?"

Langly shrugged. "Everyone is pretty much going 
about their business. There are a lot of questions as 
what to do now though." 

Mulder snorted with a slight laugh. "Like I know."

Byers looked at Langly for a moment before 
speaking. "Everyone wants you to take over."

In response Mulder let out a sharp laugh then rubbed 
his face. "Oh God." He groaned. 

"They trust you. You have done a lot since the attack 
so everyone looks up to you now. We need someone 
to-"

"Why me?" He interrupted. Then quickly held up a 
hand. "Right now I just want to go get some clean 
clothes for Scully and I." 

Langly gestured for Mulder to follow him while 
Byers stayed behind. "We moved all your things into 
a new room."

Mulder followed in a daze. Too many thought were 
swimming around his mind for him to focus on 
anything but walking behind Langly. He barely 
registered the friendly yet sympathetic smiles of the 
people he passed. He murmured indifferent responses 
to those who greeted him. 

Langly opened the door to his new room in the East 
Hallway and left him to change. 

Mulder wandered in with interest. The room wasn't 
any larger the one before, though it was long in 
shape. Immediately in front of him was the fireplace, 
with the table in front of that. To the left the bed was 
pushed in the corner with the dresser across from it at 
the foot of the bed. Atop the dresser were the pictures 
of Scully's family and Samantha. He walked to the 
dresser, unbuttoning his jeans and toeing off his 
shoes as he went. After pulling on his fresh clothes he 
gathered the same for Scully. He turned, to the leave 
the room, but stopped with a soft smile. In the corner 
opposite the bed a crib was pushed up against the 
wall. Placing the armful of clothes on the table next 
to their rations he walked over to the crib. It was dark 
oak, obviously old, but sturdy, and strong. Mulder 
ran his hand along the smooth edges. He finally felt 
like things were falling into place for them. 

Day 186
It was silent. Uncomfortable, tense, waiting silence. 

"Just ask, Walter." Amanda spat out.

Skinner glanced up at her from his set at the table, 
she starred stony faced back at him as she leaned 
against the far wall. "I just would like to know how 
you knew this was going to happen?"

Amanda shrugged slightly, she was stalling, she had 
been stalling for the last few days. "I told you. I've 
seen it before. He lusts after a woman, she doesn't 
respond how he thinks he should, so he takes her."

"And he had done this before?"

She dragged the toe of her shoe on the stone floor, 
avoiding his eyes. "A few times."

"No one else knew about this?" Skinner urged her on 
gently. 

"They knew. But ever since he started Nova no one 
had bothered to stand up to him, they didn't think 
they could without being kicked out."

"What exactly did he do with the women he took?"

Amanda looked up at him sharply, then away again. 
"I don't know." She murmured. "But no one would 
see them for a few days and then. they just weren't 
the same."

Skinner nodded slowly. "You didn't want it to 
happen to Scully?"

"Of course not!" She began to pace the long wall of 
the room. "She's always been so nice to me, to 
everyone. She is so happy with Mulder. I couldn't 
bear to watch my father take that away from her.. I 
was afraid he would hurt her baby. He didn't want 
her to have it. He didn't want her to have anything 
with Mulder." She trailed off.

Skinner remained silent for many minutes. "So you 
took my gun."

She nodded. "I had to." 

Slowly Skinner stood from the table, leaning his 
weight on the edge as he watched her continue to 
pace. "You stole it from me."

Amanda stopped and looked at him in awe. "This 
isn't about you, Walter." She said firmly before 
shaking her head in disgust, continuing to pace. 

"It is when MY gun is used to kill someone." Skinner 
immediately regretted his harsh tone. 

"You think I don't feel badly?" She asked facing him 
with an icy stare. "I know you have killed before, 
Walter. You know the feeling of killing a stranger, or 
even someone you had spoken to before. But you 
have never killed a parent-your only parent. Do you 
think I don't regret stealing from you? That I don't 
think about the fact that I shot my father in the back 
of his head without him knowing I was there? I think 
about it every second of the day." She finished in a 
barely audible hiss. 

Skinner met her hard gaze with a softer one. An 
understanding one. "Believe it or not Amanda, but I 
can imagine how you feel." 

Slumping against the wall in defeat, Amanda didn't 
look at Skinner. "I don't think that's possible." She 
whispered.

Day 188
Scully fiddled and shifted the contents of the dresser 
around. The shirts, once in the top drawer, she moved 
to the middle drawer. It wasn't right. She moved 
them back to the top. But she didn't like having the 
pants on the bottom, she moved those higher. She had 
no clue were to put the spare sheets for the bed, they 
took up too much room. With a defeated sigh as sat 
on the end of the bed with an arm load of clothes, 
looking with question at the offending furniture. 

Mulder, who had been watching Scully for the last 
hour at the table, walked over and took the 
unorganized clothes from her and shoved them into a 
random drawer, holding up a hand to stop her from 
getting up to move them. He sat down next to her. 

Scully was sitting, her hands turning restlessly in her 
lap. The moment Mulder sat by her she 
unconsciously leaned into him.

"What's going on?" He asked gently, placing an arm 
around her waist.

"Nothing." With a soft smile she looked up at 
Mulder. He leaned down and met her for a gentle 
kiss. Scully broke away with a slight laugh, placing 
her hands over her belly. 

Mulder smiled, placing a hand next to hers. Leaning 
over he kissed her temple, then leaned over more and 
kissed her belly before standing. 

"Where are you going?" Scully asked quickly. 

"I told you yesterday, some people want to meet me 
in the Main Room. Do you want to come? It's 
basically going to be about me running Nova." 
Mulder shook his head is astonishment. 

Scully thought for a moment before shaking her head 
and sliding up further on the bed. "No, I'll wait for 
you here." 

Mulder pulled another shirt over his head before 
stepping out into the cool hallways of Nova. "Are 
you sure?"

"Yeah. Will you be back soon?" 

With a few long strides Mulder kissed her again. "I'll 
do my best."

Scully caught his face in her hands, pressing another 
kiss on his lips before letting him go. "Hurry."

Mulder gave her a small smile and a nod before 
leaving the room. 
 

"Hey." Mulder greeted discreetly to Skinner as he 
walked up to his side. It was no secret that Mulder 
wasn't comfortable with the responsibility that 
people wanted to place on him. 

"We were beginning to wonder if you were going to 
show." Alex called, with a pleased smile, from across 
the room.

Mulder let out an uncomfortable laugh. The meeting 
was small, only a dozen people. Mulder knew them 
all, they were the ones who were always working. 
Always looking out for others. 

"Well let's get right to the point so you can get back 
to Dana." Alex continued. "You already know, we 
want you-and Walter to take over Nova." He held up 
a hand to stop Mulder's immediate protests. "I know, 
and we all understand it's a lot of work and 
responsibility and we know you have a lot to deal 
with having a baby on the way. But someone has to 
do it, and everyone feels that you and Walter are the 
best bet. And Walter has already agreed."

With a slow nod Mulder leaned back against the wall, 
hands deep in his pockets. 

"We need people, more then one so we won't have 
the problems we did with Benjamin." Matt started up 
after Mulder said nothing for many tense minutes. 
"You and Walter have experience working together." 
Mulder let out a soft private laugh as he remembered 
the many times he and Skinner locked horns in the 
old days. Matt ignored his strange response. "We 
need you two to take care of any problems, you have 
before. As well as possible with Benjamin around." 

"I understand what you are saying." Mulder finally 
spoke up. "I am flattered that you thought of me, but I 
don't know if it's necessarily a good idea."

"Why not?" Alex asked quickly. 

Laughing at himself, Mulder shook his head. "I don't 
know. I would just hate for it not to work out. 
Maybe we should just hang in there for a while. 
Finish the clean up and just see what happens."

"I saw three ships yesterday." Linda said from the 
back of the group. She was a small frail woman, but 
she wasn't afraid to voice her opinions or thoughts at 
any time.

Mumbling a curse Mulder rubbed his face.

"You handled it well last time, Mulder. If something 
like that happens again it would make us all feel 
better to have you in charge." 

Mulder looked up at Linda nodding. "I'll think about 
it." He said after a few moments. "That's all I can 
promise." He turned to Skinner. "I'll get in touch 
with you, Skinner, we can talk about this."

"Whenever you have the time." Skinner said with a 
nod.

Mulder said curt good byes and left to go back to his 
room. 
 
Part 32
Day 190
"Maybe you should just do it, Mulder." Scully said 
stroking her fingers through his hair.

"Do what?" He asked not moving his head from its 
spot pillowed on her breasts as his hand rubbed her 
protruding belly lightly. 

Scully smiled at the back of his head. For the past 
few days Mulder has been in his own little world; 
deep in thought. "Agree to run Nova."

He let out a deep sigh, half his focus on Nova and 
half on the gentle motions against Scully's flesh 
under his palm. "I don't know." He mumbled after 
some time. "I'll admit, I'm flattered they want me. 
But it's a lot of work. What if people change their 
minds suddenly? Then what? Am I supposed to walk 
away and let someone else take over?"

"You wont be doing it alone. Skinner already said he 
would do it. People are more likely to trust two 
people's joint decisions, rather then one. You can 
back each other up if it comes to that."

"Skinner and I only get along so well." Mulder 
grumbled. He frowned slightly; the baby had stopped 
kicking a few moments ago. As gently as he could, 
Mulder rolled over onto his other side so he could 
look up at Scully's face. 

"It will be fine." She said cupping his jaw in her 
hand. "I think you should do it."

With a thoughtful sigh Mulder nodded. 

Day 192
Amanda wouldn't turn around. She knew Skinner 
was standing behind her in the doorway of the 
Medical Room. 

"Mandy?" He called to her after a few tense 
moments.

"Yes?" Was her curt response. 

Skinner walked into the room, shutting the door 
softly behind him. "Can we talk?"

"About what, Walter?" Amanda pointlessly moved 
the contents of a shelf around, anything not to face 
Skinner. 

"You certainly aren't making this easy." 

"I don't know what you are talking about."

Skinner slammed his palm down on the tabletop. 
Amanda jumped. "Fine, Amanda." He said standing. 
"Act like a spoiled brat-"

She spun around with a look of anger that stopped 
Skinner's sentence dead. "Don't you dare say that, 
Walter!" 

"Well its true" He struggled to keep his voice in 
check. "Amanda, you won't even talk to me, or 
anyone for that matter."

"That's because the only thing people want to talk 
about is how I killed my father." Amanda swallowed 
back a sob.

"That's not true. We don't have to talk about that. We 
can talk about anything at all. Hell, we don't even 
have to talk." He took a tentative step towards her, 
with his hand out stretched. But stopped when she 
took two steps away. "Let's take a walk, it's fairly 
warm outside."

"No." She said firmly. 

Skinner let out a frustrated breath. "Amanda. 
please, don't shut me out."

"I'll do whatever I want." Amanda turned away from 
him as she silently cursed herself for sounding so 
childish. 

"I give up. When you want to speak to me again I'll 
be waiting for you." With that Skinner slammed the 
door behind him. 

***
"Mind if I sit down?" Scully asked shyly as she 
walked up to Skinner, he sat near the front of the 
church room, they were the only two there at a fairly 
late hour. 

Skinner looked up, surprised, but pleased. "Please 
do."

Scully carefully lowered herself into the chair. 

"Mulder just announced his acceptance, I'm sure you 
had a part in that." 

She laughed softly. "It did take a little 
encouragement. I think he is feeling a little 
overwhelmed at the moment."

Skinner nodded. "That's understandable." He glanced 
over his shoulder towards the door for the church. It 
seemed, for the first time since Scully was attacked 
she came along. Skinner hadn't seen her anywhere, 
outside of her room, without Mulder. "Where is he?"

"Getting a few books." 

He nodded again as the silence took on a tense 
undertone. "I'm worried about Amanda." Skinner 
said after a few long moments. "I'm.. I'm trying to 
help her but she just won't let me." 

"She might just need some time." 

"No. Everyday I think she is getting worse. It's like 
I'm losing her piece by piece. It's like she doesn't 
even want anything to do with me anymore." 

Scully was silent for a few moments. "Skinner. she 
just lost the only man in her life, by her own hand. 
She is probably feeling a wary towards you now."

Leaning back in his chair, Skinner rubbed his face. 
"But if I let her slip away I might not get her back."
Sensing Mulder's presence, Scully glanced over he 
shoulder to see him standing in the doorway. Placing 
a comforting hand on Skinner's arm she rose. "If I 
see Amanda I'll try to talk with her. Give her time, 
these changes aren't easy on anyone." 

"I know. Take care, Scully." He said as she walked 
down the aisle. 

Day 194
"Hey, Scully?"

"Hmm?" She didn't look up from her partly reclined 
position on the bed reading at Mulder, who sat at the 
table. 

Mulder paused for a moment. For days he had been 
working up the courage, figuring out the wording, to 
ask this. "Scully. How did you know Benjamin was 
going to come after you?" He spoke in one long 
breath. 

Slowly she looked up from her book and met his 
curious and nervous eyes. "I.. I don't really know. 
Maternal instinct maybe." She said with a slightly 
uncomfortable laugh.

At her response Mulder stood from his chair, gaining 
some confidence that she actually answered the 
question. "Maternal instincts caused dreams seeing 
into the future?"

Scully let out a long breath. "Mulder. I really don't 
know."

As if he didn't hear her, he went on. "I just don't 
understand how you knew. I'm not questioning that 
you did by all means. I was there. I saw the way you 
reacted to the dreams." He sat on the edge of the bed, 
starring at her intently. "I wish there was a way to 
research and study it."

"You're sounding like me." Scully muttered with a 
slight smile. 

Mulder laughed, with a nervous edge. He didn't 
know why this conversation was so touchy for them. 
Maybe it was because he had too many things on his 
mind, too many questions that Scully could react 
oddly too. "I just want answers."

Scully dismissed him with a wave of her hand. "I just 
want to forget about it."

He nodded slowly. "I don't think you have forgotten 
about it, Scully."

She swallowed thickly. "I. think I am over it." 
Scully was never able to lie outright to Mulder, 
unless she was lying to herself at the same time. 

"Scully." Mulder placed his hand on her knee to bring 
her eyes up to his, they had strayed to the closed 
book in her hands. "We both know you are far from 
over it."

"What do you mean by that?" She said, suddenly 
feeling defensive.

"Scully. You don't- it's impossible to get over 
something so quickly."

"Don't analyze me, Mulder." Scully said sternly. 

He held up a hand. "I'm not. I've just noticed you are 
acting differently."

"How so?" She asked tentatively, not really sure if 
she wanted the answer or not. 

Mulder paused for a moment, he hadn't planned the 
wording for this, he was hoping he would have to talk 
about it. "You barely leave the room. And when you 
do, its only when I go with you. That's not like you, 
Scully." 

"I don't want to talk about this right now, Mulder."

"Scully-" He started before she interrupted. 

"I'm not up to it right now, I'm tired." She said 
quickly, knowing he would not push the subject after 
he saying that. 

"It's.. just going to take time, Scully." Mulder 
spoke calmly, as if softening the tone of his voice 
would take the edge out of hers. "And I'm here for 
you."

Scully nodded, swallowing her pride. Hearing her 
own words used toward her made her realize just how 
far from being healed she was. And how lucky she 
was to have Mulder to help her. 

Part 33
Day 197
"There she is." Scully said gesturing discretely 
towards Amanda as she walked into the Medical 
Room.

Mulder let out a long breath. "I really think you 
should let Skinner and Amanda work it out for 
themselves. It's really none of our business."

"Mulder." She said in a decisive tone. "I told Skinner 
I would talk with Amanda when I saw her. She must 
have realized it because she has been avoiding me for 
days. Now before she manages to get out of sight 
again, I'm going to see her. Will you wait here for 
me?"

With a defeated sigh Mulder leaned against the wall 
by their pile of firewood. "Yeah."

"I'll try not to take too long." She called as she 
walked across the Main Room. 

Hearing Scully enter the room Amanda looked up 
from where she was putting a book away. "I was just 
leaving." Amanda said quickly. 

Scully stayed in the doorway. "Amanda, I wanted to 
talk with you for a moment."

"I really have things I need to do." She said trying to 
side step Scully, not being rude enough to push her 
aside, but she wouldn't let her pass. 

"It will just take a moment." At Amanda's reluctant 
nod Scully shut the door and gestured towards the 
table for Amanda to sit with her. 

"I suppose this is about what happened." Amanda 
began, not making eye contact with Scully. "About 
what my father was trying to do. I'm sorry, I really 
am." She began to speak quickly. "I should have 
warned you about him. About what he would try to 
do if you didn't return his affection." 

"Amanda." Scully said firmly to stop her rambling. 
"It's not about that. I don't want to talk about that any 
more then you do. This is about Skinner."

Amanda visibly cringed. "I. I don't really want to-"

"I understand that." Scully interrupted. "But you need 
to think about what this is doing to Skinner. I have 
known him for a long time, and this is the first time I 
have ever seen him happy. He loves you, I know you 
know that. You need to think about him."

"I do, trust me. I think about him often, even when I 
try not to."

"Well tell him that." Scully said with a slight laugh. 
"He feels like he is going to lose you."

"I'm scared I'm going to lose him." Amanda 
whispered as she studied the grain on the tabletop. 

"Don't let it happen then." Scully gave Amanda a 
reassuring smile when she finally looked up. "Talk to 
him. Do whatever you have to do so that you don't 
lose each other."

Day 200
Scully quickly looked up from her book and froze 
Mulder with an accusing stare. "Why do you keep 
looking at me?"

Mulder opened his mouth to say something, but 
nothing came out. He just shook his head stupidly. 

"Well stop it." Scully grumbled looking back down to 
her book. "You are starting to freak me out."

"Sorry." He mumbled, looking down only to glance 
up at her again under his lashes. 

"Mulder." Scully warned.

"I'm going for a walk before bed." He said jumping 
up suddenly.

Scully looked up at him quickly. "I'll go too."

The thought of telling her that he needed some time 
alone entered his mind, but left just as quickly. "All 
right." Mulder handed her a heavy sweater to add to 
her clothing. "We'll stay in Nova. It's too cold for 
you to be walking outside at this time of the night."

"I'm not going to freeze, Mulder." Scully was 
ceaselessly amused by Mulder's over-protective 
streak. She hadn't found it funny when they were 
partners, but now, away from the censorious eyes of 
OPR and their other detractors, she allowed his 
pampering, without any protest. Well, not much 
anyway. 

"I know that but." He trailed off, with no plan to 
elaborate on his thoughts. "Ready?"

Scully reached up and turned down the last of the 
lamps to a very dull glow. "Yes."

"Let me know when you get tired." 

Scully smiled at him as he shut their door. "I will. 
Walking might help my back." She added aimlessly. 

"You didn't tell me your back was bothering you." 
Mulder looked her up and down as if that would 
explain her aliment. 

Scully shrugged. "Nothing much. Just a little achy." 
They walked in a comfortable silence for a while, 
only giving brief greetings to the few people making 
their nightly trips to the woodpile or the water source. 
"Mulder?"

"Hmm?" He glanced at her for a moment. He was 
enjoying the silence. It gave him time to think. About 
nothing in particular, just to let his mind wander and 
decompress.

Scully's speech faltered for a moment. "Do you want 
a boy or a girl?"

Mulder let out a nervous laugh. "I. I don't know, 
Scully."

She looked at him in disbelief. "Yes you do."

"Scully, no matter what I say it won't be the right 
answer. This is a trick question."

"There is no right answer." Scully insisted. 

Mulder let out a tense breath. "Ok, I'll tell you. But 
don't ask me to explain why or anything, ok?"

"Deal." She said excitedly. 

He looked at her with an unidentifiable smile. "Girl."

"Really?" At his nod she made a soft intrigued sound. 
"I figured you would want a boy."

"Why's that?" 

Scully shrugged. "I don't know. The father's usually 
want a boy. You know, to play football with-"

"We don't have a football." Mulder interrupted with a 
grin. 

Rolling her eyes, she continued. "And the mother's 
want girls to dress up and play with their hair."

"Are you saying you want a girl?" He asked quickly. 

Scully thought about it for a moment. "Not 
necessarily. I really don't know what I want."

"Yes you do." Mulder used her words against with a 
mischievous smile. 

"No, really. I don't." 

Mulder shrugged. "Fine. Don't tell me, it's ok." He 
looked at her with his kicked puppy face.

Scully laughed softly, taking his hand and 
sandwiching it between both of hers. "Seriously. I 
don't know. That's why I asked you. To see if it 
would motivate direct thinking in one particular 
way." Scully studied the differences in their hands for 
a few moments. "It didn't though." She smiled up at 
him. "I still don't know. I guess it doesn't matter."

"I know it doesn't. I would like a baby girl. But a 
boy. Well, as you said, male pride in a male 
offspring. 
But the thought of a little girl, as beautiful as you... 
That's a wonderful thing too."

Scully blushed slightly as he directed her back into 
their room. She has no idea how long they were 
walking for, she barely remembered passing the main 
fire quite a few times. Her feet now ached slightly, 
but the rest of her body felt refreshed. They both 
stripped away most of their clothes, without turning 
up the lamps and settled into bed. Mulder gently 
rolled Scully on to her side, facing away from him. 
Scully smiled sleepily as Mulder pressed the heel of 
his hand against the base of her spine applying 
pressure. 

"This good?"

"Mmm." She sighed softly. "A little higher. Perfect." 
Scully said as he found the right spot. She fell asleep 
before his hand left her body. 

Day 203
Mulder jolted awake to the pounding at his door. 

"Mulder! Mulder there's a fire!"

He stumbled from the bed, the sheets tangled around 
his waist slowing him down. "I'm coming!" Mulder 
yelled as he pulled on his jeans and shoes. 

"Mulder?"

"Go to the Medical Room." He told Scully as he 
pulled open the door to the hallway, the acid smell of 
smoke was still light in the air, but strong enough to 
send another rush of adrenaline through his body. Out 
of the corner of his eye Mulder saw Scully nod. 
"Where is it?" He asked a panicked Eric once he 
stepped out the door.

"Jane's room, right next to mine." 

Mulder nodded and they made their way down the 
hall at a gallop. "Is she still in there?" 

"No, but her son is." Eric said softly between huffs of 
the thickening air.

Mulder's stomach dropped. Jane had a five year old 
son, James. Her husband was killed during the first 
attacks when most of their house collapsed on them. 
She had made the hike to Nova alone with her young 
boy. 

"She left him to get firewood, she started talking with 
someone. Jane says he was asleep." Eric continued. 
Rounding the slight curve in the hallway, Mulder 
struggled not to completely double over as the smoke 
filled his lungs. Squinting in the gray haze he saw 
Skinner and a few other people struggling to control 
the flames with buckets of water. "Is he still in 
there?" Mulder called to Skinner as he crouched by 
his side at the doorway, trying to look in amongst the 
flames and smoke. 

Skinner nodded grimly as he coughed. 

"Should we start moving people out?" Kevin asked as 
he threw another bucket of water into the room. 

"No." Mulder said with a quick look down the 
hallway, people had started to gather, forming an 
assembly line to pass water quickly. "It shouldn't 
spread beyond this room. It's too cold to have people 
standing outside if it's not necessary." Water was 
continually poured into the room, it began to be 
difficult to hear anyone over the sizzles and pops of 
the fire. "I'm going to go in there." Mulder said 
suddenly.

Skinner grabbed his arm forcefully. "No you aren't"

"I have to." Mulder pulled his shirt up over his mouth 
after wetting all his clothes down until he was 
soaked. "The fire is over in that corner." He pointed 
to the direct right where Jane said the dresser and 
lamps were. "I'll check the bed which is over there." 
The far left side of the room. 

"I can't let you do it." Skinner said. 

"Scully would go in herself if she was able." Mulder 
said with firm contact with Skinner's eyes. He knew 
Skinner was thinking about Scully, so was he. "I'll be 
in and out. Just like that." Mulder snapped his fingers 
before ducking his head and crawling into the heat. 
The moment the flames surrounded him Mulder felt a 
panic, starting deep in his chest and spreading every 
where. His fingers to his toes. And he froze. 

For how long he didn't know. Time stood still as he 
felt his clothes heat and begin to singe on the edges. 
A hot ember sparked and landed on the back of his 
hand. Mulder jumper and flicked it from his hand. 
With a deep burning breath he forced his body 
forward. Ignoring the fear and focusing on finding 
the young boy somewhere in the small but smoke 
filled room. 

Barely making the bed out amongst the thick air, 
Mulder made his way towards it, all the while 
struggling to get enough air into his lungs. Behind 
him he could hear the sizzle and sputtering of the fire 
as it was doused with water. Boiling drops of 
condensation fell from the ceiling onto his skin. He 
could feel where blisters were beginning to form on 
his partially exposed arms. But he was finally at the 
bed. Feeling his way around he hoisted himself up 
onto the edge. It was impossible to see through the 
steamy haze. Mulder felt around the bed. His 
stomach started to knot more with each inch he 
reached and did not encounter James. Finally, 
reaching the furthest corner he found the warm 
bundle of flesh curled into the sheets. He tried to call 
out to him, but only choked on the smoke. Mulder 
tucked the boy under one of his arms and dropped 
back down to the floor. Judging by the suddenly 
decreasing brightness of the room the fire was almost 
out, but the smoke still made it impossible to see. 
Dragging James as best he could, Mulder made his 
way toward where the door should be. He could hear 
Skinner calling his name, but could only cough and 
wheeze in response. Mulder inched his way along the 
floor, cringing as the tender skin on his palm came in 
contact with the remaining embers and hot water. 

Suddenly James was pulled from under his arm and 
someone grabbed Mulder by the collar, hauling him 
out of the room and down the hall into cleaner air. 
Mulder lay coughing and gagging for a few long 
moments as James was carried off to the Medical 
Room. Finally, being able to breathe, Mulder lay on 
his back, eyes closed, and let the cool air burn his 
lungs.

"Mulder? Are you all right?" Skinner asked, kneeling 
by his side.

He just nodded numbly. 

"Ok. Scully is with James now. He was breathing 
when you pulled him out, burned pretty bad in some 
places. Can you get up? Scully is going to want to 
take a look at you."

Mulder just nodded again. After another moment's 
rest he rolled over onto all fours, letting himself catch 
his breath again before Skinner helped to his feet. 

"Oh she is going to kick your ass." Skinner said with 
amusement as he dragged Mulder down the hallway. 
After a long slow walk Skinner opened the door of 
the Medical Room and deposited Mulder on the 
nearest cot.

Scully glanced up from where she was tending James 
with an obvious look of relief to Skinner as he gave a 
slight nod and left to start cleaning up the damaged 
area. With a final check on James, Scully walked to 
Mulder and pulled a chair in front of him. "Are you 
ok?" She asked cupping his jaw in her palms. Mulder 
nodded tiredly. "Do you think you can talk?"

Mulder thought for a moment. Judging by the pain 
that just breathing caused he wasn't in a hurry to try 
speaking. So he shook his head slightly. 

Scully nodded and tugged on his tee shirt until he 
raised his arms so she could pull it off. Next she 
unbuttoned his jeans and motioned for him to lie 
down so she could pull his shoes and pants off. Once 
left in only his boxers she bought a tub of water over 
and a soft cloth. Mulder let his eyes slip shut as 
Scully washed the soot from his face. Scully frowned 
at the frequency of his cringes when she hit a tender 
or blistered area. "You have a lot of burns." She said 
softly. "None look to bad, nothing a little aloe and 
bandaging won't take care of." 

Mulder made a soft agreeable noise in the back on his 
throat. A moment later he let out a hiss as Scully 
began to carefully clean the large burns on his hands 
and arms. 

"This will only take a minute, then you can get some 
rest." She said softly. After wrapping what spots 
could be, Scully ran her hand through his hair. 
"You're hair is pretty singed too." She said with an 
amused smile. 

Mulder just murmured wordlessly. 

"Get some sleep." She pulled a few blankets over 
him. "I want to stay here with James tonight, so you 
might as well to."

Opening his eyes slightly Mulder tugged on Scully's 
hand, trying to pull her down in bed with him. She 
shook her head slightly and leaned down to kiss his 
forehead. "I want to clean James' burns again in a 
little while. Then I will go to sleep. I promise." She 
rubbed his cheek until his eyes closed again and his 
breathing evened out. 

Day 204
At Mulder's painful groan Scully walked over and sat 
on the edge of the bed. "Good morning." He groaned 
louder. "You look like hell." She said good naturally, 
rubbing her hand over the center of his chest. 

"I feel like hell." He whispered hoarsely as he 
struggled to sit up. "How's he doing?" Mulder 
gestured to James asleep on the other side of the 
room. 

"Good." Scully tilted his face each way to look at the 
burns. "His mother will be back in a few minutes, 
then, since you are awake we can go back to our 
room. I want you to rest for another few days." With 
a sigh she let go of his face and leaned in close. "I 
hope you realize what you did was really stupid."

"But very necessary."

"I know." She mumbled.

"How are you?" Mulder asked softly, placing his 
hand on her belly. 

Scully put her hand over his. "Good. I'm tired 
though. I didn't get too much sleep last night." The 
door opened and Scully smiled over her shoulder at 
Jane. 

"Oh, Mulder." Jane ran and wrapped her arms around 
his neck, oblivious to his wince of pain. "Thank you 
so much. I. There aren't any words to express.."

"It was my pleasure." Mulder said slightly 
uncomfortably when Jane stepped back. 

Scully stood, sensing Mulder's uncertainty on how to 
handle this. "Well Jane, if you need anything I'll be 
in my room."

"Yes, of course. You both get some rest."

Scully helped Mulder to his feet, the best she could 
and they slowly, but determinedly left the room. 

Mulder glanced at Scully nervously out of the corner 
of his eye as they walked down the hallway. Opening 
his mouth to speak every few seconds, but changing 
his mind and clamping it closed again. 

When they reached the doorway of their room Scully 
stood in front of it, hands braced on the frame to 
block it. 

"Scully. What are you doing?" Mulder wasn't sure 
if he should be concerned that this was some reaction 
to the hormones raging in her body or if she had 
finally had enough of his stupid stunts and was 
kicking him out. 

"We aren't going in until you tell me why you keep 
looking at me like that, and what it is that you want to 
say but can't seem to work the guts up to." She 
smiled at him as he turned his head away from her in 
embarrassment. "Come on Mulder, you know you 
can't pull one over on me." Scully laughed softly.

"I.. It's nothing. It can wait."

"No it can't." She said, still smiling at him. She knew 
she had him now. "I want to know what has you so 
preoccupied lately."

Taking a deep breath Mulder met her eyes. "Ok..I 
um." He trailed off.

Raising her eyebrows Scully waited, with a small 
smile. "Spit it out." She said after he struggled for a 
moment.

Flashing her a nervous smile, Mulder focused. 
"Ok.. Will you marry me, Scully?" 

Scully laughed, Mulder wasn't sure what to think 
about that. "Sure, Mulder. I'll marry you." Scully 
continued laughing as she turned to open the door, 
Mulder caught her around the waist and turned her 
back to him. 

"Scully. I'm serious." 

Leaning her weight back against the door she smile 
up at him. "Mulder, there is no marriage in Nova. We 
both know that. I'm not going anywhere so you don't 
need to give a meaningless title to us."

Mulder let out a long breath, turning his eyes away 
from her.

"What?" She asked losing her smile. "Mulder, why 
are you acting like that?"

He suddenly laughed, an embarrassed and nervous 
laugh. "The other day I. I talked to Father Ryan.."
"Mulder?" 

"He um. He said he will marry us. Of course there 
won't be any papers or anything. but I know a 
religious wedding would have something you 
wanted." Mulder trailed off, shaking his head at his 
stupidity. 

"You would do that for me?" Scully asked softly in 
disbelief.

He nodded. "You know I would do anything for 
you." He paused, gauging her reaction. "So. how 
about it?" Biting his lip he leaned down slightly to 
her level. "Will you marry me?" 

Scully smiled as she wrapped her arms around his 
neck. "Yes, I'll marry you." 
 
Part 34
Day 204 (continued)
Mulder pressed his smiling lips to Scully's. "Thank 
you." He breathed, resting his forehead against hers. 

"Thank you?" She asked with amusement. 

"Yes, thank you." Was all he said before kissing her 
again. Without letting go he reached behind her and 
opened their door, backing her slowly in. 

Scully giggled a soft uncharacteristically giddy 
giggle against his lips. She couldn't explain this 
feeling if she had to. It was impossible. She was 
happy, beyond belief, and nervous for some reason. 
As a child Scully dreamed of the day she would 
marry. In college she went through the phase of 
thinking she didn't want to. Then in medical school, 
learning about the development of children and how 
amazing it all was, to put it simply, she wondered 
how she would be able to juggle a family and the 
career as a doctor. When she joined the FBI she 
became married to her work-to Mulder is an abstract 
way. She stopped believing that the typical family 
life was possible for her. Now what she was going to 
have would be anything other then typical. A miracle 
baby and married to the only man she could ever 
love. "I deserve this." She whispered against 
Mulder's lips, without realizing it, as the back of her 
knees hit the bed. 

Mulder pulled back slightly, helping to lower her on 
to the bed. "I don't." He said humbly as he settled on 
his side next to her. 

"You don't what?" 

He pulled his shirt over his head to stop Scully's 
insistent tugging. "I don't deserve you." 

"Don't start with that." Her voice slightly muffled as 
she pulled her own shirt off. "You do too deserve 
this." Scully took his face in her hands, forcing him 
to look at her. "We both do. We have fought for this, 
cried and mourned for this, and quite literally shed 
blood for this." 

Mulder fell motionless, his hands locked in their 
cradle around Scully's face, his body leaning gently 
against hers. "So much has been taken from you-from 
both of us. We've changed so much." He paused for a 
moment, taking her body in with his eyes, letting 
them linger on her belly.

An uncontrollable smile spread across Scully's face. 
She let her hands wonder over the thick muscles of 
his arms and back as a response.

"We've come a long way. And we do deserve this." 
Mulder said on a sudden whim of self-approval. 
Scully nodded slowly. For everything they had done, 
for everything they were doing and everything they 
would do, they were entitled to the pleasures of the 
other's body, mind and spirit. "We do." She agreed 
softly. "For the rest of our lives." His lips crushed 
hers before the words completely left her mouth. 

Day 205
Mulder stepped out of the Church with a determined 
stride, trying his damnedest not to grin like a fool. He 
wasn't doing well.

"Mulder?" 

He spun around, a little too quickly, and almost 
knocked Marsha off her feet. "Oh, sorry." Mulder 
said quickly, trying to shake his thoughts away. 
"What can I do for you, Marsha?"

"My chimney is a little clogged, could you help my 
husband clean it out?"

Mulder sucked in a long breath. "Can't Skinner do 
it?"

She shook her head. "He just left to help fix the 
wagon of firewood that broke down. He won't be 
back for hours."

"That's right, its over ten miles away." Mulder said 
offhandedly under his breath. "Ok. Let's go do 
this." Mulder said directing Marsha toward her 
family's room.

****
"Have you seen Mulder?"

Randy shook his head at Scully. "Sorry, no."

Scully wrinkled her nose in frustration. Mumbling 
her thanks she continued down the hallway towards 
the Main Room. She had been looking for what 
seemed like hours, it only seemed that way because 
she couldn't move fast enough for her convenience. 
Scully rounded the corner into the Main Room and 
smacked right into someone. "Oof!"

She was righted before she fully lost her balance by 
two hands on her elbows. "Whoa. There you are." 

Mulder said with a chuckle. "I've been looking for 
you."

Scully smiled up at him. "I think we have been 
chasing each other around Nova most of the day."

Mulder made an agreeable noise as he steered her 
through the room. "I talked to Father Ryan today, 
he's waiting for us." 

"Wait." Scully stopped and turned to look up at him. 
"Today? We are going to get married TODAY?"

Mulder's jaw worked for a moment before words 
came out. "But. I thought, I'm sorry, Scully. I just 
thought when I asked you, right away was ok.. Is it 
ok?"

"Yes!" She said quickly. "I just didn't realize." 
Scully took his hand, squeezing it once she tugged 
him toward the Church again. "Come on. Let's do 
this." 

With a smile Mulder wrapped his arm around 
Scully's waist as they entered the empty room. 
"Father Ryan?" Mulder called towards the closed 
door of the confessional knowing Father Ryan spent 
much of the day in the small room waiting. 

The older man stepped out with a smile. "Dana, I see 
Mulder finally tracked you down."
Scully nodded, biting her lip nervously. 

The priest directed them over to the front of the room 
as he sorted through books. "Mulder told me that you 
both decided for the ceremony to just be the two of 
you." 

"Yes." Scully took Mulder's hand and gave it a firm 
excited squeeze. "It seems right that way."

"I understand." Father Ryan stood up with a thick old 
book in his hands. "Shall we begin?" 

Mulder and Scully exchanged glances before 
nodding. 

"All right." Father Ryan started. "I'll begin with a 
prayer: Loving God, I thank you for the gift of life 
you gave and continue to give to me and to all of us. 
Merciful God, I ask your pardon and forgiveness for 
my own failure and the failure of all people to respect 
and foster all forms of life in our universe. Gracious 
God, I pray that with your grace, I and all people will 
reverence, protect, and promote all life and that we 
will be especially sensitive to the life of the unborn, 
the abused, neglected, disabled, and the elderly. I 
pray, too, that all who make decisions about life in 
any form will do so with wisdom, love, and courage. 
Living God, I praise and glorify you as Father, 
Source of all life, as Son, Savior of our lives, and as 
Spirit, Sanctifier of our lives. Amen." Father Ryan 
paused for a moment as they echoed his last word. 
"Dana, Mulder, you are both strong people. With 
wonderful souls, you have given me hope for Nova 
with the hope you have shown other people in their 
errors. Together you will only be stronger. Although 
marriage is not a legal title in the Nova community it 
is more important to be bonded in this way for your 
hearts. I believe you both already have this bond, 
therefore I would like to give you both a moment to 
express your feelings to each other before you are 
joined in God's eyes." He turned to Scully. "Dana."

Scully turned to Mulder and met his moist eyes, 
interlocking their fingers. "Mulder. There are no 
words to describe how I feel about you, but I think- I 
know you understand it. You have given me so much, 
you have finally learned that everything I have given 
up and lost, everything we both have lost, has lead up 
to this moment. It has been worth the pain for 
everything we have now. We deserve this." Scully 
ended with the statement she realized they should 
have learned to say many years ago.

"Mulder, anything you want to add?"

Mulder didn't break eye contact with Scully, he let 
his heart speak. "You are everything to me, Scully. I 
have said it before and I will say it a million times 
more until the day I die." He shook his head in self 
amusement. "The only other thing I have to say it that 
I love you."

"I love you too." Scully added softly. Father Ryan 
passed the open book to Scully, signaling her to read 
the passage. "I Dana Scully, take you to be no other 
than yourself, loving what I know of you, trusting 
what I do not yet know. I will be true to you in all 
things, I will share what I have and who I am, I will 
love enough to risk being hurt, trust in joy, and 
receive you as my equal, through all our years, and in 
all that life may bring us."

Mulder took the offered book from Scully's hands. "I 
Fox Mulder, take you to be no other than yourself, 
loving what I know of you, trusting what I do not yet 
know. I will be true to you in all things, I will share 
what I have and who I am, I will love enough to risk 
being hurt, trust in joy, and receive you as my equal, 
through all our years, and in all that life may bring 
us."

"Be appeased," Father Ryan began. "What greater 
thing is there for two human souls than to feel that 
they are joined for life - to strengthen each other in 
all labor, to rest on each other in all sorrow, to 
minister to each other in all pain, to be one with each 
other in silent, unspeakable memories at the moment 
of the last parting." He smiled at them both. "For sake 
of tradition. You may kiss the bride." 

Mulder slowly took Scully's face in his hands, 
leaning in just as slowly his pressed his lips against 
hers for an endless moment. 
 
 Part 35
Day 206
"Ok, what is this all about?" Frohike asked Skinner 
when he walked into their room.

Skinner shrugged. "All I know is Mulder wanted to 
met us." He trailed off as Amanda entered the 
room. She immediately turned her face away from 
him and stood at the far side of Byers' room. Skinner 
let out a long breath, rolling his shoulders and trying 
to relax. He was desperate. Every time he tried to talk 
to 
Amanda she would blow up at him and refuse to 
speak. Skinner tried to tell himself it was time to 
move on, but it didn't seem possible, he wasn't ready 
to give up. He turned his focus towards the doorway 
as Mulder ushered Scully in, her cheeks were slightly 
flushed and they were both smiling. 

"What has gotten into you two?" Langly looked at 
them suspiciously. 

Mulder and Scully exchanged glances. "We got 
married yesterday." Mulder blurted out happily.

"Huh?" Frohike spoke up from the back of the room. 

Scully quickly explained the small ceremony, 
apologized for not inviting anyone, and was 
immediately bombarded with words of 
congratulations and `it's about time's. After many 
moments of excited talking everyone took turns 
exiting the room to get started on the day's work. 

Skinner saw Amanda walking slowly down the 
hallway a few feet in front of him. He watched her 
walk ahead of him longingly. For years Skinner has 
been envious of Mulder and Scully's relationship, but 
this topped it off. With a determined intake of breath 
he strode up to Amanda's side. 

Amanda looked up at him with a frown. "What do 
you want Walter?"

"I was just hoping we could talk for a minute."

"There's nothing to talk about." 

"Amanda-"

"No, Walter." She interrupted, turning around to face 
him with a hand held up. "It's over. Accept it and 
move on." Amanda turned to and started to walk 
away.

"You can honestly say that Amanda?" He called after 
her, becoming louder as she moved farther away. 
"Turn around, look me in the eye and tell me it's 
over." Skinner ignored the questioning murmurs of 
the bystanders. "Amanda, ignoring me won't make 
me go away." She still hadn't responded as she 
rounded the corner and went out of sight. "I knew 
you couldn't." Skinner whispered to himself.

Day 209
"My back hurts." Scully mumbled as she shifted in 
her chair at the medical room. 

Amanda looked over with a soft smile. "But you are 
having a baby." She said in an envious tone.

Scully groaned. "Not soon enough. These next few 
months are going to kill me, I know it." She looked 
down at her stomach with a curious expression. "I 
don't think I can get any bigger, I'll be so off balance 
I'll be falling on my face all the time."

Amanda laughed as she sat down next to Scully. "But 
after these last few months you will have a little baby 
to take care of and raise."

Scully held up a hand to cut her off. "Please. I'm 
anxious enough about this whole thing, don't remind 
me."

"What are you talking about?" She asked with a 
laugh. "You and Mulder are going to be wonderful 
parents."

Scully sighed and ran her hands over her belly. 

"What are you worried about?" Amanda asked with 
serious interest. 

"So many things could go wrong. So many little 
things." Scully said softly, still looking at her 
midsection. "It's hard to explain." She looked up with 
a slightly embarrassed smile. "I hate to say it, but 
when you are pregnant yourself I think you will 
understand."

Amanda shook her head. "I don't think I will ever 
have a family."

Scully was silent for a moment. "Not even with 
Skinner?"

Amanda shifted uncomfortably. 

"You know he loves you. It's obvious."

"Dana." Amanda said firmly as she stood up. "With 
all due respect this is none of your business. But 
Walter and I are finished-"

"Why?" Scully asked quickly. "Why are you over? 
Where did things go wrong? He was there for you 
and you shut him out suddenly. I don't understand it 
and I don't think you do either. I used to do the same 
thing with Mulder, a long time ago. I didn't know 
why, I just did. Defense mechanism maybe. But I 
missed out on the chance to have a few more great 
years with him. I don't want you to make the same 
mistake."

"Thanks, but I'll live my own life." Amanda walked 
to the door and swung in open. "I'll be in my room if 
you need me for anything." The door slammed closed 
behind her. 

Day 218
"Mulder. what happened to you?" 

Mulder looked at her through strands of wet hair 
hanging over his forehead. "It's raining. sleeting. 
doing something cold and wet outside." 

Frowning Scully stood up and helped him pull his 
shirt off. "You are soaked. Take these wet clothes off 
and get by the fire before you come down with a 
cold."

"Yes, mom." He teased. 

Scully glared at him as he stooped to pull his jeans 
off. Once up right she dragged him by his arm to sit 
on the edge of the bed near the fire. Mulder rubbed 
his hands together trying to warm himself. "Why 
were you out there in this weather anyway?"

"Just to piss you off." He answered nonchalantly. 
"Ow!" He yelped while laughing, rubbing the back of 
his head where Scully smacked him. "We finished 
repairing the north barn. Almost finished in time, 
but.. obviously not completely."

Scully sat with her legs folded under her behind him 
and ran a dry towel over his damp shoulders and 
back. With a deep sigh he leaned back into Scully's 
warm touch. 

"Mulder. I need to talk to you about something." 
Scully said softly.

He groaned. "I hate when you start sentences off like 
that." Mulder turned to face her, spreading his legs so 
she was sitting, facing him, between them and leaned 
back on his hands. "Ok, shoot." 

Pressing her lips together she eyed him carefully for a 
silent moment. "I want you to deliver the baby."

Mulder tilted his head back and let out a loud laugh. 
"That's funny, Scully. Thanks, I needed a laugh." He 
shook his head at her, still chuckling. 

"Mulder, I'm serious." She said straight-faced. 

His face slowly went slack. Mulder swallowed 
thickly. "You're kidding." It wasn't a question, it was 
a hopeful statement. 

She shook her head slowly. "I'm serious. I want you 
to do this."

Mulder shook his head firmly. "No way, Scully. No 
way, no how. Not going to happen." He carefully slid 
off the bad and paced the room. 

"Mulder-"

"I can't believe you would ask me something like 
that." He mumbled in shock. 
Scully shifted to hang her legs over the side of the 
bed. "There's no one else to do it."

"That's not true." 

"Yes it is!" Scully struggled not to become defensive. 
"*I* delivered the two babies born earlier-"

"Judy helped you." He interrupted. 

Scully rolled her eyes. "Barely."

"Amanda can do it. She's been working with you for 
a while now."

"Mulder!" She said in an agitated tone. "She just 
learned how to stitch! She can't deliver the baby." 

"I don't even know how to do that!"

Scully crossed her arms and scowled at him. 
"Mulder.. I want you to do this for me. You'll do 
fine. You can handle blood. sort of. And I trust you, 
I need that. I can't have just anyone delivering the 
baby."

Mulder sighed. "Scully.. I can't do that. What if 
something goes wrong?"

She motioned for him to come out of the corner he 
was currently cowering in. When he stood in front of 
her she took his hands and pulled him down onto his 
knees in front of her. "If something goes wrong I will 
talk you through it." Scully massages his bare 
shoulders with her hands, he was tense and had the 
look of a frightened animal in his eyes. 

"But what if you can't? Then what?"

She laughed softly. "Mulder you have read every 
single page about pregnancy in every single book in 
Nova, I'm sure you have read about anything that 
could possibly happen."

"That's what scares me!" He exclaimed. "I wouldn't 
know what to do."

"No one else here would either. I want you to do this 
for me Mulder. Please." She leaded in closer to him, 
looking him directly I the eyes.

"Scully. I can't."

She slid her hands up from his shoulders to cup his 
face. "Yes you can. I need you to do this." She 
whispered. 

"Why? Why is it so important that I deliver our 
baby."

Scully smiled softly. "You just answered your own 
question. Our baby."

Mulder shook his head in confusion. 

Scully spoke very slowly and deliberately. "I want 
you to be the first person to lay hands on our child." 
Mulder smiled involuntarily at the thought. "And I 
want the baby to go directly from your arms to my 
own. No one else's. Do you understand what I 
mean?"

He nodded after a moment. "I do."

"Will you do it? Please, for me and for our baby?" 
Scully pleaded him with her voice and with her eyes. 

With a smile he nodded. "Yes, I'll do it." 
 
Part 36
Day 225
Rolling over, still half asleep, Mulder swung his arm 
out expecting to find Scully on the other side of the 
bed. He opened his eyes, just to quickly close them 
again, Scully already had all the lamps on in their 
room but she wasn't in there. For a moment, a very 
short moment, he debated in getting out of bed to find 
her. But he was too comfortable and his body felt like 
jelly. Promising himself to get up in a few minutes, 
Mulder settled deeper into the pillows. It was Sunday 
and he was in no hurry, if someone needed him they 
would come get him. 
 
Mulder jerked away from his almost-sleep at the 
sound of the door opening. 

"Morning, Sunshine." Scully greeted with mock 
enthusiasm as she sat on the edge of the bed. 

Groaning in response Mulder hoisted himself up on 
his elbow and watched as Scully took peanuts, one by 
one, out of a jar in her hand and popped them into her 
mouth. "Who's cabinet did you raid this time?" 

"Byers'." She answered without taking her eyes off 
of the bounty in her hands. "He doesn't mind."

"Of course he doesn't." Mulder mumbled as he 
flopped back down onto the bed. 

"What do you mean by that?" Scully asked around a 
peanut. 

He smiled. "Nothing."

Scully glared at him before returning her focus to the 
food with a "Whatever" muttered under her breath. 

Bending his leg, Mulder nudged her back with his 
foot to try to get her attention. 

"Knock it off." She swatted his foot with one hand 
behind her back. 

Mulder pushed himself up to a sitting position and 
leaned forward to kiss Scully's neck. She smiled and 
arched her neck to give him move room, but 
continued eating her peanuts. He suckled her ear lobe 
into her mouth, while watching her reaction out of 
the corner of his eye. After a moment he pulled away 
and rested his chin on her shoulder. "Are you paying 
any attention to me at all?"

"I'm hungry." She answered simply. 

"So am I." He responded biting her earlobe.

Scully barked out laughter and turned to look at him. 
"You've got to be kidding me!"

Mulder looked offended for a moment before 
shrugging and moving to sit behind her, pulling her 
back against his chest as he leaned against the wall. "I 
tried." He muttered as he wrapped his arms around 
her waist and settled he cheek on against hers, feeling 
the slight movements as she chewed and swallowed. 
She ate in silence for another few moments before 
she eyes lost focus and she became motionless except 
for breathing. "Scully?" Mulder watched her for a 
response. "Scully are you with me?" He sat up, barely 
catching her upper body as it fell slack without his 
support. 

Scully jerked with a sharp breath as she blinked for 
the first time in a few minutes. 

"Hey? What was that about?" Mulder asked angling 
himself to see her face better. 

Scully shook her head to orientate herself. "Sorry." 
She mumbled. "I guess I zoned out for a minute." 

Day 230
"How long do you think it will take before we are 
bored with this?" Mulder asked conversationally as 
he threw his ante rock into the center of the table. 

Frohike looked up from seriously contemplating his 
cards. "We could always play Go Fish."

"When I was a kid I used to think it was Gold Fish, 
not Go Fish." 

Everyone looked at Langly. "Thanks for sharing." 
Skinner said with mock seriousness. 

"What's wrong with sharing?" This time everyone 
stared at Byers in confusion. "We never talk about 
anything serious. We just sit here, play poker, and 
talk about random things.. Never anything 
substantial." 

"Oh forget it." Byers said after spending a few 
moment with everyone just staring at him. 

"No." Skinner said slowly. "He's right."

"I don't want to talk seriously." Mulder spoke up. 
"Don't we deal with enough stressful issues during 
the day, Skinner? I just want to sit here and not 
think." 

Skinner nodded as he considered Mulder's words. 
"Yeah. but still. Come on, Mulder, you're the 
psychologist. Talking is good, right?"

He grumbled a positive response. 

"So what serious business should be talk about?" 
Byers asked with interest. 

Skinner focused on his cards as he shuffled with great 
concentration. 

"Still having problems with Amanda I take it." 

Skinner shot a hard look at Frohike. "Forget I said 
anything."

"No way!" Langly said with a laugh. "You stressed 
that we need to really talk, so talk."

"I said never mind." Skinner hissed out. 

"Touchy subject?" Frohike asked as he leaned his 
elbows on the table to get closer to Skinner in 
interest. 

Mulder cleared his throat to get their attention. "I 
don't think this is any of our business, if he wants to 
share he can."

Langly sat back in his chair with a sulky frown. "Just 
when it was getting good you decide to take his side."

"You guys are just jealous cause you haven't gotten 
any since we got here. and who knows how long 
before that. I'll raise you." Mulder added quickly as 
he tossed a rock onto the small pile in the center of 
the table, ignoring the aggravated glares of the three 
men while Skinner tried to smoother is laughter. 

Day 234
"I'm tired." Scully grumbled as she crawled into bed. 

Mulder made an agreeable noise as he settled next to 
Scully, trapping her between his body and the wall. 

He opened his arm for her as she moved to set her 
head on his bisep. "Goodnight, Scully."

"Mmm." Was her soft response as sleep quickly took 
her over. 
 
***
Mulder grunted awake from a heavy weight on his 
stomach. He opened his eyes and struggled to focus 
in the dim light of the room. "Scully?" He asked her 
as she determinedly tried to climb her way out of bed, 
moving faster then was possible for her current 
condition. "Sweetheart, what's wrong?" He pushed 
himself to a sitting position, reaching out to take her 
arm. 

Scully quickly pulled herself from his grasp, almost 
causing herself to tumble off the bed. 

"Whoa." Mulder said securing her body with his 
hands on her shoulders. "Scully, what are you 
doing?" 

She struggled away from his hold, but Mulder moved 
out from under the blankets to follow her movements. 
With a frustrated noise deep in her throat she 
violently retched her body from him. 

"Scully!" Mulder struggled to stand up in time to 
block her obvious path to the door. "What has gotten 
into you?" 

"I have to go."
 
Part 37
Day 234 (continued)
"I have to go." Scully began to repeat softly under her 
breath as she struggled against Mulder's hold on her 
arms even as his heart shattered and his gut twisted in 
terror. Mulder needed to keep her here, he knew that 
much. He also knew last time this happened they 
were attacked, people needed to be warned, he 
needed to talk to Skinner. He couldn't do both. 

"Not again." Mulder prayer softly as he began to drag 
her back towards the bed. Scully fought against his 
arms, throwing Mulder off balance. "Scully, stop. 
Please." He begged in her ear as she pushed herself 
forward. Holding Scully only by her upper arms 
Mulder fell forward with her. To avoid falling on top 
of her he let go of one of her arms to brace them 
against the wall, but he didn't move in time and 
Scully's forehead hit with a sickening thud. Mulder 
jumped back from her. 

Scully wasted no time in staggering towards the door, 
unfazed by her injury, not noticing the trail of blood 
that was dripping into her eyes. 

For a short moment Mulder watched in shock. But as 
Scully pulled the door open he pushed himself from 
the wall, with a few strides he had caught her around 
the shoulders. 

Scully's muttering continued, rising in volume as she 
pulled and pushed and twisted against Mulder's hold. 

The hallway was empty in the early morning hours, 
but if Mulder didn't get her back into their room soon 
that could easily change. 

"Scully, please stop this." Mulder pleaded through 
clenched teeth as he tried to keep a grip on her small 
body. With a quick, regretful movement he shifted 
one arm around her waist, the other across her chest. 
Leaning his weight back he dragged Scully back into 
their room, kicking the door shut with a slam that 
made him jump, his grip loosening momentarily.

Scully's out of control mind used that short moment 
to twist in his arms, now facing Mulder. 

Though he tried, he couldn't pin her arms between 
them. Mulder barely caught the cry of pain in his 
throat as Scully dug her nails into his cheeks. He 
fought to shake her off while maintaining his hold. 
With an arm across her lower back he pulled her to 
him, belly to belly, then reached up with his other 
hand and grabbed both her wrists and hauled them 
away from his face. "Scully stop it" Mulder said 
firmly and loudly, hoping to break the spell slightly. 

She continued her utterances; "I have to go." And 
stared up at him with a glassy eyed blank stare. 
Mulder froze as watched her. She didn't look like 
herself, her eyes wide and dilated. Blinking in sync 
with the beginning of each sentence. Completely 
unchanged as she struggled and pulled from him. 

"Scully?" Mulder asked softly, studying her eyes for 
any response. "Scully, can you hear-" Mulder's 
sentence was cut off as Scully's hands, still encased 
in his, struck his cheekbone. He cried out in pain as 
he struggled to pull her hands low against his chest. 
Eyes stinging, Mulder looked down into Scully's 
unchanged eyes just as she pulled her hands up 
quickly, knocking Mulder under his chin. 

Mulder's head snapped back and blood filled his 
mouth. Involuntarily he released Scully, bringing a 
hand to his mouth to wipe away the blood. He 
watched, dazed, as Scully turned calmly and went 
towards the door. Quickly Mulder took a long step to 
catch up with her, grabbing her upper arms in his and 
pulling her back against his chest forcefully. Instantly 
she began to struggle. Mulder wrapped his arms 
securely around her body, pinning her arms down by 
her sides. 

She struggled for a moment.

"Stop it, Scully." Mulder hissed in her ear as he 
struggled to hold her carefully. He couldn't let 
himself slip and hurt her, but she was going to hurt 
herself the way she threw them around the room. The 
table toppled over with a clatter as she swung her 
legs out to kick at Mulder. He let out grunts of pain 
as her heels hit his knees, his shins, he cringed as her 
flailing legs hit the walls and furniture. 

Some how she managed to brace her feet securely on 
the floor. She pushed with all her strength back into 
Mulder. They both fell. Mulder's back landed hard 
against oak crib. The loud crunch of wood did 
nothing to drown out Mulder's curse as his back 
began to tingle and stars flew in front of his eyes. 

Scully stood, calmly and determinedly and made her 
way in even strides towards the doorway once again. 
Mulder watched, unable to move as his spine burned 
for a moment. Summoning the last of his strength he 
pushed himself from the splintered wood. He caught 
up with Scully just as she opened the door. Grabbing 
her quickly, and more roughly then he meant to, they 
both staggered back into the room. 

Scully threw her weight, left and right, back and 
forth. Until finally Mulder lost his balance again. As 
hard as he tried Mulder tumbled sideways, taking 
Scully with him. Both of their sides collided with the 
dresser, knocking it and them to the floor with a crash 
that could have been heard down the hall. 

Scully rolled out from under the clothes, other 
belongings and crushed wood trying to stand.

Mulder, willing himself to stand despite the pain 
radiating through his body, watched in horror as she 
went to stand. But collapsed back into the pile of 
rubble. His stomach twisted sickly as she tried again 
and again, but could not remain on her feet. 

"Scully." He choked out, crawling towards her. 
"Scully, come on back to me. Please."

"What the hell is going on?" Skinner bellowed from 
the open door as he looked around the room, settling 
his gaze on Mulder who knelt next to the doorway. 

"She's being called." 

Skinner looked to the center of the room where 
Scully struggled amongst the debris. 

"Help me up. We need to restrain her before she hurts 
herself anymore."

Skinner held out a hand and helped Mulder to his 
feet. He cringed and held his aching ribs before 
looking over to Scully. Both men froze. 

Slowly and carefully Scully stood, keeping most of 
her weight on one foot, her gun pulled from the pile 
on the floor raised. 

"Scully." Mulder whispered. "Don't do this."

Her blank eyes stared back at him, a slight sweat 
across her face mingling with blood. 

The gunshot echoed off the walls of Nova with 
deafening volume.

Part 38
Day 234 (continued) 
Mulder threw himself to ground as Skinner crumpled 
with a cry of pain beside him. He looked up to watch 
Scully mechanically turn to the aim the gun at him. 
At that moment Mulder forgot it was Scully who was 
holding the gun, she was a threat. A threat to his life 
and to others. Pushing himself from the ground he 
tackled Scully around the legs, pulling her to the 
floor beneath him. The gun skittered across the floor, 
bouncing off the walls until it was safely on the other 
side of the room.

"Oh my God. Walter!" Amanda shrieked as she 
pushed her way through the growing crowd in the 
hallway. She crouched by his groaning form, his 
hand instinctively pressed to his bleeding shoulder. 
"What the hell is going on?" She asked looking over 
her shoulder at Mulder who was wrestling with 
Scully on the ground, trying to pin her hands above 
her head. 

The Gunmen shoved aside the onlookers and stepped 
into the room with shocked expressions. 

"Someone, I need some help here." Mulder called 
over his shoulder as Scully twisted under him. 
Byers quickly made his way across the room, holding 
Scully's ankles with a look of bewilderment. 

"She's being called again." Mulder muttered under 
his breath, moving forward to straddle Scully's body 
trying not to put any weight on her as he battled with 
her hands. 

Amanda pushed Skinner's hands away and pressed 
hers the entry and exit wounds. "I have to get him to 
the Medical Room." 

"We'll help." Langly slapped Frohike's arm to get his 
attention as he watched Scully struggle on the floor. 
Quickly, but gently, they helped Skinner to stand and 
walk out into the hallway, shutting the door firmly 
behind them. 

"Let's get her on the bed." Mulder said in the 
strangely quite room, Scully's mutterings now a faint 
whisper. Byers picked Scully's legs up by under her 
knees while Mulder hoisted her upper body up. 
Stepping through the wreckage of the room the men 
quickly deposited Scully on the bed. Wordlessly, 
Byers found pieces of fabric to tie her hands with. 

Scully kicked and shifted against the bindings 
restlessly. Mulder tied her legs down. Still she 
fought, bucking up of the mattress and twisting. 

Mulder stepped back from the bed, tripping over a 
drawer, and placed his face in his hands. His body 
ached with fresh bruises, his muscles burned from 
holding Scully down, his head pounded and throbbed, 
and his heart was broken. 

"Are you ok, Mulder?" Byers prodded gently. 

With a nod he ran his hands down his face. 

Byers looked uncertainly between Scully and Mulder 
for a moment. "Now what?"

"Now we wait for the calling to end." Mulder 
answered matter of factly. "Can you go see how 
Skinner is doing?"

Nodding quickly Byers left Mulder alone. 

For a few long minutes Mulder did nothing but stare 
at Scully. Her voice had become hoarse and dry 
sounding with the nonstop murmuring. Streaks of 
blood stood out starkly all over her pale skin. Cuts 
and bruised marred her flesh. Her distant eyes 
watched him back calmly as the rest of her thrashed 
around continuously. 

***
"Don't move." Amanda told Skinner, for the third 
time, as she carefully looked at his wound. 

"Well if you would stop poking me I would stop 
moving." He grumbled. 

Amanda rolled her eyes as she examined the back of 
his shoulder. She knew his attitude was only because 
he was in pain. He never could admit when he was 
hurt. "Ok, I'm going to put you out so I can stitch this 
up. I don't think you are going to have any problems. 
All the books," She motioned to the pile on the table 
she had just finished looking through, "say this type 
of wound will heal just fine. Lay back." She helped 
him recline. Amanda smiled softly down at his 
worried and pained expression. "Don't worry, Walter. 
I'll talk to you soon." With that she placed the towel 
with chloroform over his mouth, slowly his eyes 
closed and his breathing relaxed. 

Day 235
Skinner groaned deeply as he tried to shift on his bed. 

"Lay still." Amanda said sitting next to him and 
placing a hand on his chest. 

He gave a weak nod and relaxed back into the sheets. 

"How do you feel?" She asked placing her hand on 
his forehead.

"I'm experiencing deja vu." 

For the first time in a long time Amanda shared a 
laugh with Skinner, it was a soft short lived laugh, 
but it was something. 

"Thank you, Amanda." Skinner said as she pulled 
away the bandages to look at his wound. 

She smiled shyly. "'I'm just doing my job Walter, 
nothing special."

"I've missed you, Mandy."

She looked away quickly. 

Skinner continued, encouraged that she hadn't 
brushed him off. "I think you have missed me too. 
We are good for each other."

"Walter. I." Amanda shook her head, not sure of 
what to say. 

He began to sit up, even as Amanda tried to push him 
back down, after a moment she ended up helping him 
upright to stop his struggle. "Give me one reason we 
shouldn't be together Amanda. One good reason and 
I'll leave it alone, I'll forget about it and move on." 
He watched her in silence for a moment, waiting for a 
response. "One reason, just one."

Slowly Amanda shook her head. "I don't have any 
reasons."

Skinner smiled at her as he nodded. 

***
Mulder's head lolled back in his chair, jerking him 
awake. Immediately he looked over at Scully. She 
had quieted hours ago, Amanda had come to clean 
and dress both of their wounds, the Gunmen had left 
him alone for the night, since then he had sat in 
silence with his eyes on Scully. Mulder dreaded the 
time when he would have to face everyone. People 
were talking and questioning, but no one was 
answering. The Gunmen had told everyone, at 
Mulder's request, that Mulder would explain 
everything soon.

He stretched his sore arms over his head with a 
groan. Even sitting at a distance Mulder could see the 
bruises on Scully's body, a slight trail of blood 
flowed from the bindings, various areas were covered 
with bandages. But she was quiet and breathing 
evenly. Approaching slowly, Mulder sat by her hip, 
placing his hand on her belly. 

He waited, holding his breath. 

Mulder waited until he had to take a breath or pass 
out. 

Part 39
Day 236
A small noise, only a slight movement really, woke 
Mulder. He lifted his head from his arms resting on 
the table and looked over at the bed. With a long 
breath of relief he saw Scully shifting, attempting to 
pull her hands down from the headboard. Quickly he 
rose, ignoring his stiff body, and sat on the edge of 
the bed. 

"Muld-" Scully broke off her hoarse whisper with a 
cringe as her body objected to her slight movement.

"Shh. I'll untie you." He said softly, hastily moving 
to untie her hands. Scully let out a small whimper as 
Mulder lowered her hands, swollen and bruised, to 
her lap. Soon her legs where freed. 

Slowly Scully managed to focus on Mulder's face 
with a gasp. "What happened to you? What happened 
to me?" 

He gave her what he hoped was a reassuring smile 
and brushed hair from her forehead. "I'm ok. You 
were being called, you've been out for a few days 
now."

Scully just starred up at him confused. "I. did that 
to you?" Despite herself her chin trembled in horror.

"It's ok." He soothed quickly then gave her an 
ashamed and pained look. "I did a lot to you too."

Trying to absorb all this information into her hazy 
mind was impossible. She shook her head even 
though it hurt to do so. "I don't understand."

Mulder rubbed his face with his hands. He didn't 
know where to start. He didn't want to tell her 
everything that happened. "How are you feeling?"

Scully brought a hand up to her face, rubbing the heel 
into her forehead. "I don't know." She moved to sit 
up then grimaced and took a quick breath. 

"Take it easy." Mulder placed a hand under the back 
of her neck to help support her as she lowered her 
body back down. "Do you hurt anywhere?"

"Everywhere." She groaned. With a frown she ran her 
hands down her body, rubbing her stomach. Mulder's 
hands covered hers gently. After a moment she 
sighed and opened her eyes and looked up at him. 

"What exactly happened?"

He looked away, trying to find a way out of this 
conversation. 

"Mulder." She spoke in her warning voice. 

"I think you need to rest." He said quickly. 

Exhaustion was slowly taking her over. "I want to 
know, Mulder."

"I know." He said softly, running a hand gently down 
her face. "And I will tell you. But right now I need to 
go talk to everyone."

Scully nodded, even though she didn't understand the 
reasons for anything at the moment. 

Mulder leaned over and kissed her bruised forehead. 
"I'll be back in a few minutes."

"Hurry." She whispered, half asleep, as he rose from 
the bed. 
 

As Mulder walked down the halls of Nova he tried to 
ignore the whispers, the looks, and the pointing. 

Without a word he walked into the Main Room and 
stood by the fire. People gathered, waiting 
expectantly. Without making direct eye contact with 
anyone Mulder began to speak. "I know people have 
been talking about what happened. I'm asking you to 
forget all the rumors. What I'm gong to tell you is the 
truth, you'll have to trust my word that everything I 
am saying is true."

He paused, collecting his thoughts before telling the 
story of Scully's abduction, her cancer, the chip, and 
the callings. People listened intently, only responding 
with slight murmurs. ".She just woke before I came 
to speak with you. I'm sorry I couldn't explain this 
all sooner but I didn't want to leave her, she doesn't 
remember anything that happened. So I haven't 
explained it to her yet, I want her to rest. So I would 
appreciate it if everyone would let her do just that. I 
know you are all worried and I will tell her so, but I 
want her to take this slowly." 

Finally, for the first time since he began to speak he 
looked up at everyone. "I'm sure you have some 
questions about all this."

"Why didn't you tell us before?" Someone called 
bitterly.

Before Mulder could answer someone spoke up. 
"Before this happened I don't think there was any 
reason for them to tell us. That's Dana's business."

"But she has become a danger. She shot someone for 
God's sake!"

"She wasn't herself, like Mulder said. She didn't 
know what she was doing. You can't blame someone 
for their actions when they are not in control."

"That's like saying someone under the influence of a 
drug is not responsible for the people they may hurt 
or the things they may do."

"This is completely different! People who take drugs 
have that choice, this is not a choice."

"What about next time this happens?"

"That's right, what if she is operating on someone? 
What will happen to that person?"

"Where will that person be without Dana? Hopeless, 
no one else has her education."

"That's right, Nova needs her. And we need Mulder." 

In silence Mulder listened to the arguments. He 
didn't know what to do. His instinct told him to 
defend 
Scully and himself, but if he spoke too strongly he 
might lose the trust of everyone.

"Please." He interrupted politely, feeling it was the 
best time to stop the growing conflict. "We will work 
this out in time. Right now I would like everyone to 
go on with the rest of the day." He searched the air 
for a moment. "I'll speak with you all again soon." 
Hanging his head slightly, Mulder walked away, 
going straight into the Medical Room. 

"Long time no see." Skinner greeted from his bed, his 
arm resting against his chest in a sling. "How is she?"

Mulder shook his head nondescriptly. "She doesn't 
remember anything. I just wanted to see how you are 
doing before I go explain everything that happened."

"I'm perfectly fine. Amanda says I am healing well 
and I should be back to my old self against soon. 
Please tell her that."

Rubbing his eyes with his fingers he nodded. "I will. 
I'll talk to you soon."

"Good luck." Skinner called as Mulder stepped out of 
the door. 

Part 40
Day 236 (continued)
As Mulder opened the door slowly. Scully let her 
head loll in his direction. 

"I thought you would be sleeping." 

"I did for a little while." She said as Mulder sat 
beside her, tucking her blanket under her chin. "Is 
everything all right?"

He nodded dully. "I'm tired though."

With a little turn of her head she invited Mulder in 
next to her. Immediately he settled close with a sigh. 
Biting back a groan as he leaned on his sore body, 
Mulder lay on his side next to her, his hand resting on 
her belly unconsciously. Scully ran her fingers lightly 
over the back of his hand. "Mulder?"

"Hmm?" He hummed against her hair as he began to 
drift into sleep. 

"I need you to tell me what happened. I don't think I 
can sleep soundly until I know."

He let out a long breath into her hair. "Short version 
or long?"

"Just tell me everything."

"Everything." He repeated softly. "Ok.. Well, you 
woke up and got out of bed. I asked what was wrong 
and idiot me, it took a while to realize what was 
going on. I tried to keep you in the room, but the 
more I restrained you the harder you fought me. I was 
so afraid I would hurt you." Mulder's voice began to 
break on his words. "But I couldn't stop you. You 
were kicking and hitting. Things got out of hand and 
furniture was knocked over and broken."

"What did I break?" Scully interrupted, her voice a 
mix of concern and disbelief. 

Mulder hesitated for a moment. "The dresser a little, 
but the crib is ruined."

As if not believing what he said Scully's head 
quickly turned to look across the room. The corner 
was now empty other then a small pile of linens and 
the small mattress once in the crib, now leaning 
against the wall. "Oh my God." She whispered in 
shame. 

Mulder pressed his lips to her temple. "Don't worry, 
we'll get another one."

Scully nodded as she struggled to hold back tears. 
"What else happened?" She asked after a few 
moments of silence. 

"Umm.. After the dresser was knocked over things 
slowed down a little. We were both hurt pretty bad. 
You couldn't even stand for a few minutes." Mulder 
shuddered at the memory of her body crumpling to 
the ground repeatedly. "Somehow. somehow you 
got a hold of one of our guns." Scully twisted around 
to turn her face up to him. Her eyes wide with shock. 
"Everything from the drawers was on the ground and 
spread everywhere. It must have landed right by you. 
Skinner had heard all the commotion, people were 
gathering around outside when he came in. He helped 
me up so we could try to get control of you." Mulder 
shook his head slowly as he remembered. His mind 
had analyzed that night many times as he watched 
Scully sleep the last few days. "You must have felt 
threatened that we both were blocking the doorway. 
You pointed the gun at as." Mulder trailed off, not 
sure if he could get the rest of the words out. 

"Mulder. what happened?" Scully whispered. 

"Skinner was shot." 

Scully let out a petrified shock and tried to sit up, 
only to take a sharp breath and cringe to a stop.

"Easy." Mulder said gently helping her recline again. 
"He's all right. Amanda took care of him and he will 
be fine. I just went to see him."

"Where did I hit him?" 

"Shoulder. Went straight through. Must be your 
favorite spot to hit someone." His feeble attempt at a 
joke died in the air. 

Scully shut her eyes with a hand over her mouth. "I 
can't believe I did that."

"You didn't." Mulder said sharply, turning her face to 
look at his. "That wasn't you Scully. Trust me. I 
looked in your eyes and you weren't there." 

"That's the point Mulder. When this chip takes 
control I have no way to stop anything. What if I hurt 
you next time? What if I shoot you?" She paused 
with a look of horror. "My God, Mulder, what if I 
hurt the baby?" She paused again, running her hands 
over her stomach. "I haven't even felt it kick since I 
woke." Scully whispered. 

Mulder turned her face back to his. "I won't let you 
hurt the baby. I swear to you."

 "You couldn't stop me from hurting Skinner, and 
you couldn't stop me from hurting myself or you. I 
don't think anyone can. What will be different next 
time?"

"Maybe there won't be a next time." Mulder 
murmured hopefully. 

"That's right." Scully said firmly. "There won't be 
because I am taking the chip out." She forced herself 
in a sitting position, ignoring her body's protests of 
pain. "Right now." 

 Part 41
Day 236 (still continued)
Mulder reached out and grabbed Scully's arm. "What 
are you talking about?"

Scully looked at him soberly. "I'm taking it out 
Mulder, I have to."

"No." He said firmly. 

"Yes." She matched his tone when as betraying tears 
fell silently down her cheeks. 

"Scully you take the chip out and your cancer will 
come back." Mulder hissed at her. 

Scully's eyes wavered, focusing on the hollow of this 
throat to avoid his eyes. The thought of dealing with 
her cancer again terrified her. But the things that 
could, most likely would happen if she left the chip in 
were too horrifying to think about. 

"I've thought about it Mulder, while you were gone. 
And what you just told me. confirms the fact that I 
have to do this. I can't risk what could happen." 

His hands came up to frame her face, forcing her eyes 
on his. "Scully if you take the chip out-You. Will. 
Die." 

Nodding in his strong grasp she swallowed thickly. 
"I'll live long enough to deliver the baby." 

Her soft word sent a surge of nausea through his 
body, causing him to double over and break his hold 
on her. "No." He said in a soft whisper. "This isn't 
happening. You aren't saying this."

"Mulder listen to me." Scully placed her hand on the 
back of his neck, causing a shiver to run through him. 
How could he live without her touch? It was what 
kept him alive during their walk to Nova. 
She was his reason for being alive. Without Scully he 
would have had no desire to go on. He finally had 
her, really had her. As his wife. The thought was still 
almost unthinkable. It didn't seem real. But the fact 
that she was with him at the moment, in their room, 
in their bed, with her carrying his child made him 
remember. He refused to be a widower already. He 
would die with her. "Mulder, please." She whispered.

"What?" His broken voice answered. 

She was almost glad he wouldn't raise his head from 
the cradle of his hands to look at her. It would hurt 
more then it already did. Taking out the chip seemed 
just as terrifying as the moment she found it in there. 
She was signing her own death warrant. She didn't 
want to die. Not now. Not when she was finally with 
Mulder. With child. Her hand rubbed her belly, 
praying silently for the movement that she hadn't felt 
in hours. "It will be ok." She breathed out, although 
she didn't know what exactly would be ok. "Mulder, 
I will live for the rest the pregnancy. I can almost 
guarantee it." 

"Almost." He said with a bitter laugh. 

"Mulder, listen. This will work. I will take the chip 
out now, and I will be strong enough for at least a 
month to carry the baby." 

With each word from her mouth a part of Mulder's 
heart shut down within him.

"If things start to get bad we can induce labor with 
herbs and deliver the baby early. A month early will 
be ok. The baby will be ok." She added another silent 
prayer for her child with a rub of her stomach. How? 

`How could she be doing this to herself?' She found 
herself wondering.

She didn't even know. But she was. She was saying, 
out loud that it would ok if she would not live to see 
this child living inside her these past several months. 
To never look at the face of her baby and see whether 
it had Mulder's eyes and her mouth. To never tickle 
the little feet that have been kicking her tender 
womb. To never tell her child how much she loved it, 
tell how much a miracle its actual life is, to never be 
able to teach or love the child as it grew. To never see 
her grandchildren. She choked on a sob at the 
thought. Quickly she tried to swallow her fears and 
regrets to convince Mulder this was right. This had to 
be done. 
"You can't do this, Scully." Mulder finally looked up 
at her. Emotion was raw on his face. His eyes wide 
and red with tears. Fear. That was the message he 
sent to her. He was afraid. So was she. 

"I have to. Listen to me Mulder. Really listen to what 
I am saying." She paused to take a deep breath before 
signing her fate. "If the cancer takes the same course 
it did last time I will make through the rest of the 
pregnancy. I should even be able to nurse the baby as 
a newborn." Her voice broke clearly at the thought of 
not being able to do such an amazing, yet simple 
thing. She always felt, especially while in medical 
school, that nursing her child was her responsibility 
as a woman. Her God given right. 

"What if you can't?" Mulder hissed at her. "What if 
you die and can't nurse the baby?" He took her face 
back in his hands, locking her eyes on his with a 
deathly serious stare. "What if you die and the baby 
can't make it because you are here to nourish it?"

Sobs over took her body at the thought. "No." She 
said shaking her head firmly. "No, that won't happen. 
The baby will be fine without me."

"God damn it!" Mulder yelled pushing himself off the 
bed. 

The pain his body shot through him at the movement 
was easily ignored. The pain in his heart wasn't. It 
was unbearable. 

Standing at the side of the bed he pointed an 
accusatory finger at her. "Don't say that just so that 
you can feel right about what you are doing." He 
paused, staring at her icily. "Do you even realize 
what you are doing? You are killing yourself. You 
are." He dropped his knees in front of her, dropping 
his head to her lap where she sat on the edge of the 
bed. "You're killing me." He whispered through sobs, 
his arms coming to wrap around her body. He shook 
and trembled in her arms as he raised his head to kiss 
her stomach. "I am begging you Scully. Don't do 
this. Don't leave me." Resting his chin on her belly 
he looked up at her. "Don't do this to our baby."

Violently Scully pushed him off of her. "Don't YOU 
do this to me Mulder! I am doing this for you and for 
our child." Mulder looked up at her from his 
crouched position on the floor shaking his head 
slowly. 

"You are going to die!" He screamed at her. Getting 
up onto his knees he moved close to her, almost face 
level. In a soft whisper he spoke words that torn at 
his heart. "You will never here the words `I love you 
Mommy.'"

Scully gasp a shocked sob as the palm of her hand 
slapped Mulder's cheek, hard. "You bastard!" She 
slapped him again, Mulder made no move to stop 
her-the pain reminding him just for horribly true this 
moment was. Only when she balled her hand into a 
fist did he reached up and caught it in mid-strike. He 
stood, dropping her hand, and walked to the opposite 
side of the room and leaned his forehead against the 
cool stone. 

Rolling onto her side, Scully curled around herself 
and cried until she fell asleep, hours later. Mulder 
never moved. 

Day 237
Her eyes burned before she even opened them. 
Pressing the heels of her hands into the sockets she 
rubbed for a moment. As she rolled onto her back she 
opened her eyes. The room was dark, only the dim 
fire lighting the area close to the bed. Scully didn't 
even have to look over to know that Mulder was 
asleep with his head on the table, she just knew. An 
unstoppable sob grew in her throat. But she cast it 
aside as she slowly sat up, her body fighting her the 
whole time. Standing slowly, and a little unsteadily, 
Scully walked silently over to Mulder's side. A small 
smile spread across her face. He always looked to 
innocent when he slept. Bringing the back on her 
hand to her mouth she bit down to conceal the sobs 
that came out without her control. After a few deep 
breaths to regain herself she whispered softly to 
Mulder "I do love you. More then I can even say." 
Her hands settled on her tummy. "And I love our 
baby with everything I am. I know you do also." She 
kissed her first two fingers before running her hand 
through his hair. Mulder only stirred slightly, his 
sleep brought on by such exhaustion that he did not 
respond any more then that. "But I have to do this." 
Scully, as silently as possible, left the room. 

Part 42
Day 237(continued)
"May
all I do today
begin with you, O Lord.
Plant dreams and hopes
within my soul,
revive my tired spirit:
be with me today. 
May
all I do today
continue with your help, O Lord.
Be at my side
and walk with me:
Be my support today. 
May
all I do today
reach far and wide, O Lord.
My thoughts, my work, my life:
make them blessings
for your kingdom;
let them go beyond today,
O God." Scully whispered softly in the vacant 
Church. 

She tried calming her pounding heart with deep 
breaths but it hadn't helped. Scully was panicking. 
She had to do this. She had to take the chip out before 
she hurt someone seriously. She couldn't let that 
happen. The thought of harming Mulder again made 
her stomach twist. The concept that she could hurt 
her child made her almost physically ill, her mind 
couldn't even fathom the pain she would go through. 
She wouldn't be able to live with herself if either 
happened.

But what she was doing? This went against 
everything she was taught as a child. Everything 
Mulder had said to her back in their room she already 
knew. She knew she was killing herself by taking out 
the chip. She was risking the health of her child. But 
it seemed the only option with hope. 

Ever since Scully thought she was pregnant her mind 
toyed with the idea that somehow she was healed. 
Her pregnancy was a mystery to her. Maybe 
something had happened to the altar the chip when 
the aliens had colonized. The chip obviously still 
worked, it had more effect over her now then ever 
before. But for some reason she had been able to 
conceive a child. Maybe somehow her cancer was 
healed too. 

Scully laughed softly at herself. She felt so pathetic. 
Sitting in the Church, a scalpel in her hand ready to 
cut out the only thing that had been keeping her alive 
for years. Yet her mind was still desperately trying to 
convince her that she would live. 

At the moment her life almost seemed like a fairytale, 
at least the closest thing to a fairytale that she would 
ever have. She was married to Mulder, something she 
never even allowed herself to dream of. And she was 
pregnant. That alone made her head spin. Every time 
she had thought of Emily over the past few years the 
wound in her heart would open. That beautiful child 
that she was only allowed to have in her life for such 
a short time had effected her more then anything else. 
This seemed to be her second chance. A miracle. 
Scully ran her hand over her tummy. She hadn't felt 
this little miracle move inside her womb in so long. 
She continued to tell herself that she had just missed 
the movement. When she was asleep the baby must 
have shifted, but she was too tired to notice. 

Choking on a panicked sob she sent a silent prayer 
for her baby. 

She was terrified that something had already 
happened. That her uncontrollable violence had hurt 
her baby. The very chip that was supposably keeping 
her alive had killed her child. Or worse, that Mulder's 
struggle to keep her safe had done it. How would he 
live with himself? Scully knew he couldn't. He 
would let his guilt tear him apart until nothing was 
left. Scully wouldn't be able to watch that happen. 
She would rather take the blame. The guilt of what 
she was doing to herself was enough to break her 
heart, a little more wouldn't matter. 

Part of her still couldn't believe she was doing this. 
Killing herself. Might as well be suicide. She was 
deathly afraid that is what her God would see it as. 
This was something she was taught never to even 
think about. Life was too precious to do such a thing. 

But she was saving a life by doing this. The life of 
her child. Wasn't she? 

Scully pressed the heels of her hands into her eyes. 

Her mind was racing around itself so fast she could 
barely think straight. 

Shaking her head to focus, Scully held the scalpel up, 
the metal gleaming the candle lit room. Her heart 
pounded in her ears at the sight. 

She was putting this off. She needed to stop that, she 
needed to hurry. Scully knew that Mulder would 
wake soon when he sensed she wasn't in the room. It 
wouldn't take him very long to find her. And he 
would stop her. She knew that. Maybe part of her 
wanted him to came barging in here to save her from 
herself. But then a vicious cycle would start. She 
would just sneak off the next chance she worked up 
the courage to take out the chip. 

Scully nodded to herself. This needed to be done, and 
it needed to be done tonight. Before Mulder woke 
and found her, before he would make someone stay 
with her at all times to keep her from doing this. She 
knew he would do all these things. To save her and to 
save his child. 

Taking a deep breath, Scully reached a hand around 
to find her chip in her neck. It was barely noticeable. 
She doubted anyone other then herself and Mulder 
would even know it was there through touch. But it 
was there, just above the clasps of the two chains she 
wore around her neck. Grasping the oldest of the 
chains she followed it down the front of her neck, 
closing the small cross in her hand. "I'm sorry." She 
whispered to God. "I'm so sorry." Tears fell unbidden 
down her cheeks at the thought of her mother. How 
disappointed she would be. Maybe she would 
understand, Scully hoped, being a mother herself. 
She couldn't even get the words out as she thought of 
Mulder. How would he go on? She knew he would, 
for their child. But she knew that he would rather die 
along side her when the time came. Part of her 
wished he would too. Being without him, even in the 
after life, seemed unbearable. "I'm doing this for 
you." She whispered to her silent child. 

Scully wiped the tear streaks from her cheeks with 
her fingers before placing the small tweezers she 
would use to pull out the small chip on her thigh. 
With a deep breath she brought the scalpel up her 
flesh. 

Part 43
Day 237 (continued)

The sharp nudge in Scully's womb caused her to 
gasp. Another followed as the scalpel slipped and cut 
into her neck. The scalpel dropped with the ground 
with a clatter as her hands flew to her stomach, 
feeling the motions of her child inside and out. 

"Oh thank God." She whispered through tears of 
relief and joy. 

"Scully." She heard Mulder's frantic voice as he 
entered the room. 

All in the moment reality flooded her mind. 

"What's wrong?" Mulder tilted her gaze from the 
floor to him. Scully cried a little harder at the look in 
his eyes. So full of worry and love. 

Wordlessly Scully pulled his hands from her face and 
pressed them against her stomach. 

The relief that washed over him was visible. 
Mulder's eyes closed as Scully pulled his head to her 
chest, wrapping her arms around his shoulders and 
holding him to her. 

Scully could feel Mulder's tears seeping through her 
shirt and landing hot on her skin, yet he was silent. 
She wove her fingers into his hair and pressed her 
lips to his head, letting her tears fall into his hair. 
After a moment he smiled up at her, it quickly faded 
to pure fear. Scully watched in confusion as he 
reached a hand up to her neck. His fingertips 
skimmed over her skin, sliding slightly. Pulled his 
hand between them Scully saw her blood glistening. 
"You-?" 

"No." She said quickly. "I didn't- I was going to.. 
But the baby kicked. I only cut myself." 

His eyes closed in relief as he lowered his head down 
to nuzzle the space between her breasts and her 
swollen belly. "Thank God." He whispered brokenly. 

"I'm sorry." She whispered after a few long 
moments. 

Mulder slowly raised his wet eyes to her, unable to 
take his hands from the movement inside her body. 

"I'm so sorry." Scully repeated. "I. I don't know 
what I was thinking."

"You were just trying to do what you thought would 
be the best for our baby." Mulder defended her from 
herself. 

Scully looked away from him. "It would be better. 
But I don't think I can do it."

Mulder raised himself up on his knees more. "Then 
don't."

She looked at him with a sad smile. He sounded so 
hopeful. "I don't know if I can live like this." Her 
voice was a distant whisper. At his confused shake of 
his head she went on. "Never trusting myself. I don't 
know when I won't have control. What if one time I 
have a calling and you aren't there to stop me?" 
Scully didn't wait for him to answer, she was only 
thinking out loud. Mulder had no answers for her 
questions, she didn't expect him too. "What would 
happen if next time I go into labor?" Her eyes closed 
at the horrible thought of such a thing happening. 

"Hey." Mulder said softly to get her attention. Sliding 
one hand from her waist he cupped her jaw lightly. 
"You could ask what ifs until you are blue in the face, 
we both could. But that isn't going to help or answer 
any questions or make us feel any better about the 
callings." He broke their gaze for a moment to look 
off in thought. "I think- I know what would be best 
for you, and me and most importantly our child, is if 
you leave that chip in as long as you can." He 
returned his eyes to hers steadily. "But if the callings 
get worse, if they happened more often," his voice 
broke at just the thought of what he was saying, 
"Then the only thing to do would be to take out the 
chip." 

Scully nodded quickly then was distracted by a 
particularly hard kick and laughed softly as she 
guided his hand to the area under attack. 

Mulder rubbed his palm over the spot for a moment 
before looking up at her. "Let's go back to bed. 
We've both had a few long days."

Nodding in agreement she touched his cheek to bring 
his mouth up to hers for a languid kiss. Pulling away 
she rested his forehead against his. "Can you wait for 
me outside. I need to do something." 

He nodded before pressed his lips to hers again. Then 
down onto the top of her stomach. As he stood 
Mulder ran his hand down her arm, not wanting to 
break contact with her just yet. 

Scully waited until she heard the door click shut 
gently before she began to cry silently again. It felt 
wonderful to be crying for hope and joy, instead of 
guilt and fear. But she was still afraid, very afraid. 
Her mind, no matter how hard she tried, still raced 
with questions and worries. Part of which she knew 
was a normal part of pregnancy. But she was so 
afraid of herself, which was such unusual feeling. 
Never before did she have to fear herself. Never 
before was she unable to control her own mind. 

She shook her head forcefully. "Enough of that." She 
told herself out loud. Worrying will only make you 
age faster, as her grandmother always said. And 
Scully planned on living a long time. 

In the silence of the Church at this hour was easy to 
focus her mind on reality. On being logical. 

Scully ran a hand down her belly. "Let's go see 
Daddy, baby." She whispered as she stood and 
walked down the short aisle to the door. 

Mulder was leaning against the wall, he pushed 
himself to standing as Scully walked out. "Ready?"

Tucking her hair behind her ears Scully leaned into 
his side. "Yes."

With his hand on the small of Scully's back he 
walked her to their room. 

Part 44
Day 238
"He's not mad at you." Mulder breathed in Scully's 
ear as he leaned over, bracing a hand on either side of 
the doorframe, trapping Scully between the door to 
the Medical Room and himself. 

Scully hung her head slightly, leaning back against 
Mulder's chest. "But I'm mad at me."

His released breath stirred Scully's hair. "I know. 
And I know there is nothing I can say to make you 
feel better. I've tried." Mulder laughed softly, trying 
to keep the lingering stress of the situation at bay. 
"But I think you will feel better after you talk with 
him."

Rubbing her hands over her arms, Scully nodded. 
"You're probably right."

"Are you cold?"

"A little." She said with a shrug. 

Without another word Mulder unbuttoned his shirt 
and pulled it off, revealing another long sleeved shirt 
underneath. 

"Now you'll be cold." Scully argued weakly as he 
turned her around to face him and gestured for her to 
put the shirt on. 

Mulder pulled her arm through the sleeve as if he was 
dressing a toddler. "I'll be fine."

Scully just raised her eyebrows letting him finish 
buttoning the shirt. Just to procrastinate from talking 
to Skinner. "Look at this." Scully said with a frown as 
she poked at the way the shirt tented over her belly.
With a soft laugh Mulder leaned over and kissed 
Scully's cheek before reaching behind her to open the 
Medical Room door, forcing her in. Scully turned to 
see Amanda sitting on the edge of Skinner's bed, 
talking softly to him. They both looked over as 
Mulder clicked the door shut behind her. 

"Hi." She said weakly.

"Dana." Amanda said in surprise, raising from the 
bed to walk over and hug her gently. "How are you 
feeling?" She asked as she pulled away, trying to 
look discreetly at Scully's bruises. 

Scully turned her head away slightly, ashamed. "I'm 
better, thank you." 

"It's good to see you on your feet again, Scully." 
Skinner said with an honest smile.

"I've got some things to do." Amanda said quickly. 
"I'll see you both later." With a smile towards 
Skinner she left the room. 

Scully turned tensely towards Skinner. 

"Come sit down." He said, gesturing a hand to the 
chair beside his bed. 

She did as asked. Immediately bursting into tears. 
"I'm so sorry." She whispered around a hand over her 
mouth. 

"It's ok." Skinner said gently. Hesitantly he placed a 
hand on her arm, squeezing. "Amanda fixed me right 
up. Don't worry about it." He said lamely. 

"Don't worry about it?! I could have killed you." 
Scully couldn't bare to look at him so she plucked at 
the buttons of Mulder's shirt. 

"But you didn't" He ran his hand down her arm and 
pulled her fidgeting fingers into his. Moments passed 
where neither said a word until Skinner broke the 
thick silence. "I believe everything happens for a 
reason. Don't you?"

After a moment's thought Scully nodded. The more 
she thought about it, and the more that happened in 
her life, it only seemed logical. Life was too 
complicated, too many choices and options for one 
thing not to lead to another, for them all not to be 
connected in a certain way. Fate maybe. 

"Well I was shot and that lead to Amanda and I. 
Amanda and I being together again. It set that right." 

Scully looked up at him uncertainly. After a moment 
she looked down to their embraced hands. "It doesn't 
make me feel any better." 

Skinner chuckled. "Honestly I'm not surprised. If I 
was in your situation I. I actually have no idea what 
I would be thinking."

For some reason that made Scully feel better. 
Looking up she held his eyes for the first time with a 
smile.
 

Somehow people were able to sense that Mulder was 
there to talk. Without uttering one word he stood in 
the Main Room and people joined him. Gathering 
around they all spoke at once in a soft concerned 
tones. 
"Is Dana all right?" "We haven't seen her in days, is 
everything ok?" 

Mulder smiled appreciatively at them. It still amazed 
him that this many people, all strangers only a few 
months ago, cared so much. These simple charms 
that adorned each and every neck in this complex 
system of catacombs immediately made a person an 
ally. Every week new people would arrive, weak, thin 
and freezing from their journey. They would be 
brought into the warm walls of Nova, given a room, 
small and drab but compared to the snowy ailments 
they come from very inviting. Supplied with more 
food then they had seen in months. With fresh milk, 
and meat when available. The comforts of a constant 
fire, a soft bed, and new clothes. And most 
importantly instant friends. Of course the initial 
judgements were passed, it was basic human nature. 
This person came from a pampered life, that person 
isn't a Christian, that person isn't Jewish, this one has 
such a large family-they will expect more then their 
fair share. But words were always kind, rumors 
where rumors. And they never lasted long. Walking 
the halls late in the evening Mulder would catch bits 
and pieces of conversations with the newcomers. All 
of which were intellectual and friendly. 

Mulder had never experienced something like this. 
People consistently being good natured. He had to 
wonder if it was the surroundings or the situation. 
But it didn't really matter, as long as it stayed like 
this. He believed that as long as people were arriving 
and there was work to be done and good people to do 
it, nothing would change. 

"She is going to be ok." Mulder said with an 
involuntary smile. 

Relieved murmurs and bright smiles were his replies. 

Mulder cleared his throat after a moment. "I'm sure 
you are all wondering where we stand on the chip 
subject, so I will tell you. Scully is leaving it in." 
Ignoring the mumbling Mulder continued. "After a 
long discussion Scully and I both feel it is for the best 
at the moment. There is too much at stake if she was 
to remove the chip at this time. Besides, she was able 
to warn Nova once about an attack, I think this is a 
precious gift that we need to hang on to as long as 
everything stays under control." Mulder paused and 
looked out at everyone. "I'm very sorry if anyone has 
a problem with how we are dealing with this. I ask 
you to put yourself in our position. As far as we 
know this is the only thing keeping Scully alive at the 
moment. The only thing enabling her to keep this 
baby alive." Immediately the scattered grim faces 
softened. "It may be our only hope for knowing what 
the aliens are planning. In my opinion I don't think 
there is much room for debate." Mulder's hopes were 
too weak, too unsteady, to stand and wait for 
someone to argue them. Quickly he nodded to the 
crown, bowed his head slightly and walked away 
leaving the rumors to begin as he knew they would. 

Day 240
Mulder glanced over at Scully from his seat at the 
table. She lay, like she had for the past hour, staring 
into the fire. Rising slowly, Mulder walked over and 
sat by her, rubbing his hand up and down the side of 
her thigh. 

Scully looked away from to fire to his eyes with a 
soft smile. 

"What you thinking about?" 

She blushed a little and ran a hand over her stomach.

With a knowing smile Mulder moved to lay down 
behind her, covering her roaming hand with his own. 
Scully rolled over with a grin. "So are you ready?"

He gave her a confused look. 

"To deliver the baby?" 

With a groan he lowered his head to bury it between 
her breasts. "Why do you like teasing me with this? 
You do realize I'm scared to death, don't you?"

She kissed the top of his head. "I'm sharing my fear."

Mulder quickly looked up at her. "If you would 
rather-"

"No." She said quickly. "I'm just scared of the actual 
labor process, pain has never been my strong suit." 
She touched his cheek tenderly. "But having you 
there will make it much better."

"I would be there even if I wasn't going to deliver the 
baby, Scully, you know that." 

She nodded and ruffled his hair playfully. "I know. 
But for some reason having you being the only other 
person with me helps."

Mulder pulled back slightly. "You don't want anyone 
else in the room? What if I need help? Scully.." He 
said uneasily. 

"It will be ok." She said gently with a shrug. "I just 
don't want anyone else there. Don't ask me to 
explain it because I can't." She laughed softly at 
herself. "I'll blame it on hormones." 

Frowning, Mulder set his head on the pillow next to 
Scully, staring at her uncertainly. 

She pouted slightly. "Please, just trust me on this. It 
feels right."

"I don't understand you one bit." He said in a tone 
that made Scully know he had agreed with her.

With a brilliant smile she leaned forward and kissed 
his nose. 

"You know I can't say no you to." He grumbled with 
a smile. 

Scully hummed happily and settled herself close to 
Mulder, with her head under his chin. "Good night, 
Mulder." She said sweetly. The moment the words 
were out of her mouth a loud knock sounded at the 
door. 
"Ignore it." She quickly told Mulder, wrapping an 
arm around his waist and borrowing her face in his 
neck. 

"You know I can't do that." He groaned shifting his 
way out of bed. Mulder swung the door open the be 
greeted by Langly, Frohike, and Byers all grinning 
madly. "What the-?"

"Coming through." Langly announced at they pushed 
their way into the room. 

Scully sat up on the bed with a look of shock. "Where 
in the world did you get that?" She asked as they 
lugged a freshly painted wooden crib into the far 
corner. 

"We made it." Byers proclaimed. 

Mulder's jaw dropped open. "You're kidding?"

"Oh my God. Thank you." Scully said hugging 
each man in turn, trying to hold back the grateful 
tears. 
"Consider it our baby present to the both of you." 
Langly said patting the railing proudly. 

"How did you build that so fast?" Mulder asked 
suspiciously. 

Frohike frowned at his disbelieving tone. "We work 
well together." 

Byers tactfully grabbed the other men by their elbows 
and dragged them to the door. "We can tell you two 
were just getting off to bed. We just wanted to bring 
it over as soon as we finished it."

"Bye!" Mulder and Scully heard called as the door 
was shut. 

For a moment they just stood, staring that the new 
piece of furniture. 

Scully walked up and ran her hand over the semi 
rough wood. "I hate to ask. but is it safe?" She 
laughed softly.

Mulder bit his lip and shrugged. Leaning down he 
picked up the small mattress and placed it in the crib. 
"It's a tight fit." He muttered trying to press the 
mattress down. Scully walked up next to him and 
helped push. 

There was a slight crack, then a clatter as the far side 
of the crib near the wall fell off and landed on the 
ground. 

Scully slapped a hand over her mouth trying to hold 
in the laughter. 

"Whoops." Mulder said as he took Scully by the 
shoulders and lead her back to bed. "I think that is a 
bad omen." Laughing he tucked the blankets around 
Scully. "We'll fix it in the morning." Turning off the 
lamps he crawled back in bed next to a still giggling 
Scully.

"We won't tell them that happened. The poor guy's 
hearts will be broken." With one last laugh she rested 
her head on Mulder's shoulder. "That was sweet of 
them though."

Nodding in agreement Mulder turned his head and 
kissed her forehead with a fond smile. "Night, 
Scully."
 
Part 45
 Day 243
"Scully.. What are you doing?"

She stood back from the dresser, hands on her hips, 
with a frown. "I don't like how this is set up." 

Mulder rolled his eyes as he read on the bed. "You've 
reorganized that drawer three times tonight."

"I know." She mumbled, glaring at the drawer in 
question. 

Tossing his book to the side, Mulder crawled on all 
fours to the end of the bed. He reached out and 
grabbed Scully's hand, tugging her towards the bed. 
"Come on. It's getting late."

She gently slipped her hand from his, really not 
listening to what he was saying. "I just want to fix 
this."

With an over exaggerated groan Mulder threw 
himself back onto the bed. "You're impossible."

Scully looked over her shoulder for a split moment. 
"Huh?"

"Scully." He said loudly with a smile. "Come to bed. 
Please."

"Sorry." She said sheepishly. "It was just. bothering 
me for some reason." Scully muttered as she pulled 
the blankets up from the foot of the bed and laid 
back. 

Mulder laughed under his breath as he settled in next 
to her, his hand rubbing her round belly. "I think you 
are nesting."

Scully glared at him. "I loathed that term." 

"Why?" Mulder asked with a disbelieving laugh. 

"I don't need to feather my nest." She muttered with 
distaste. "I'm just. straightening. and 
organizing."

"Scully." She looked up at him. "Quit while you are 
ahead." 

"Shut up, Mulder." Scully muttered.

His response was a yawn. 

Scully smiled as wiggled into the sheets. "About time 
you started listening to me." 

"I worked hard today." Mulder defended himself 
halfheartedly as he nuzzled his face into the crook of 
Scully's neck. 

She ran her hand over the arm that was slung lazily 
over her body with a frown. "I don't like the idea of 
you working outside in the snow all day, Mulder. 
You're going to come down with something."

"We've got to finish the new barns for next year so 
we can work on the fields as soon as the weather 
changes. Otherwise we will be trying to do too many 
things at once and we won't have the crops we 
should be able to or homes for the animals that are 
born in spring." Mulder rationalized in a monotone 
voice, this wasn't the first time he had to tell Scully 
the reason for doing what he was. 

"Isn't there something you can do inside?" 

Mulder pulled his face away from her body, hoisting 
himself up with an arm on either side of her head. 
"Everyone who can't work outside is working 
inside." He kissed her quickly, then moved down and 
settled his head on her breasts and his hand on her 
stomach. "Enough talk. More sleep."

Scully sifted her head through his hair, watching the 
firelight bounce off. "Why don't you just say `shut 
up, Scully?'"

"Shut up, Scully." 

She slapped his head lightly. 

"Hey." He muttered. "You told me to."

Scully ran her nails lightly over the back of his neck, 
causing him to shiver. "Well since you seem to be 
doing what I tell you to tonight, tell your child to stop 
kicking me so I can sleep."

Mulder's hand roamed her belly until he found the 
motions. "Stop kicking your Mom, baby, she needs 
her rest." His voice was just a whisper, barely audible 
to Scully. 

"Thank you." Scully whispered with a smile, laying 
her hand against his cheek. "Good night."

"Night, Scully." His next words were so soft, Scully 
wasn't sure if she actually heard them or if it was her 
imagination. "Good night, little one. Hope to see you 
soon."

Day 245
Skinner leaned back in his chair, resting his good arm 
over his bad. "You're full of shit." He accused 
Amanda with a grin. 

"I am not." She said through a laugh. 

"Then why are you laughing?"

Amanda chose to ignore that question. "I'm serious. I 
saw it with my own eyes."

Skinner rubbed the back of his neck looking at her 
suspiciously. "Langly. building a chair..." He 
repeated is amazement. 

"Not just one chair, the last of four." 

He shook his head slowly. "I was wondering what 
those guys would do without their computers." 

Laughing, Amanda shifted in her chair, watching 
Skinner intently. After a moment she broke eye 
contact, fiddling with an imaginary piece of lint of 
her pant leg. "I've missed this. Just talking, just being 
here. with you." 

Skinner nodded. "Yeah, I did too."

"I'm sorry." Amanda said quickly with a sudden 
burst of bravery. "I pushed you away when I really 
wanted you with me. I was alone, I was scared-"

"Stop." Skinner interrupted softly as he slid his chair 
closer to her. "I understand why you did what you 
did. Hey." He reached his hand out to tilt her face up 
to his. "Look at me. I understand. I wish you hadn't. 
We both need each other, Mandy. And we are 
together now. So let's not dwell on the past. You are 
sorry and I accept that. I am sorry for the way I tried 
to push you into talking with me. I should have let 
you be. But I was scared." His voice dropped low. "I 
didn't-I don't want to lose what we have. I've never 
had anything like this and I have a feeling its just 
going to get better from here."

He was interrupted by the Medical Room door 
opening and Mulder walking in. He immediately 
looked embarrassed for walking in on their obviously 
private conversation. "Scully's not here." He noted. 
Amanda shook her head with a friendly smile. "She 
kept yawning so we forced her to go lay down for a 
little while."

Mulder smiled appreciatively. "I can always use a 
few more people on my side." He trailed off, 
looking back and forth between the two. "I'll leave 
you guys alone, thanks." Shutting the door Mulder 
muttered an "Whoops" under his breath as he started 
down the hallway towards his room. 

"Hey, Mulder!" 

He turned at the sound of his name, looking for who 
it came from. Seeing Bobby walking towards him he 
met him half way. "Hey, Bobby."

"Do you have a minute." The older man asked. 

Mulder nodded and gestured for him to walk over to 
the side of the hallway. "What's on your mind?"
Bobby let out a long breath, looking down the 
hallway to see if anyone was listening. "I saw a few 
ships today."

"That's not unusual." Mulder said with a nod. "I see 
at least one or two fly overhead every day."

"I know. but this was different."

Mulder involuntarily leaned forward, waiting the rest 
of the story. "Go on." He said after a moment of 
tensing silence.

"They were moving very slow." Bobby said 
uncomfortably. "They usually move fairly fast. But it 
was like they lingered over Nova. They flew in like 
usual, then. hesitated for a few minutes before 
moving on." 
Mulder rubbed his jaw. "I see." 

"Listen." Bobby said quickly. "I know it might be 
nothing, but it just didn't sit right with me." 

After another moment of silence Mulder slapped 
Bobby's shoulder lightly. "Thanks for telling me. Let 
me know if anything else odd happens."

"I will." The older man said with a nod. "I'll see you 
around."

". Yeah." Mulder said distracted. A minute or two 
later he shook himself from his thoughts and made 
his way down the rest of the hallway, opening the 
door to his room slowly, in case Scully was sleeping. 
He saw her, curled slightly on her side, with a 
peaceful expression. Moving silently he sat at her 
hip, pushing hair from her face.

Scully woke slightly from her light sleep. "Hi." She 
whispered. 

"Hey. How are you feeling?"

She smiled. "Good. I'm just resting for a bit."

Mulder nodded, relieved. 

Rolling onto her back slightly she looked up at him. 
"Is everything ok?" 

Trying to give a convincing smile he rubbed her 
belly. "Of course it is."

Day 248
"Don't start that again." Mulder called from his 
reclined position on the bed as he watched Scully 
walk up to the dresser and open the top drawer. 

She looked up with a sheepish laugh. "I won't."

"You're awfully antsy tonight.. You ok?" 

"Yeah." She said quickly. "I think I am just starting 
to go stir crazy."

Mulder nodded in understanding. The past two days 
it had snowed heavily, trapping everyone inside 
unless they wanted to start shivering after a few 
moments in the cold. 

Scully stretched her arms over her head with a groan. 

"You ok?" 

"You already asked that and I said yes, I'm am." 
Scully smiled over at him, finding his over 
protectiveness amusing at the moment. 

Mulder frowned. "Sorry."

"It's ok." She said lightly, fiddling with the stacks of 
dishes on the cabinet. "Oh!" She said in surprise, 
pressing a hand to her stomach as she let out a long 
breath. 

"Scully?" Mulder was on his feet and to her side in a 
moment. 

She waved him off as he tried to help her sit. Her 
eyes were closed tightly as she let out long slow 
breaths. 

"Scully, what's wrong?" He asked once she opened 
her eyes and stood up right again. 

"I. I think I just had a contraction." 

Mulder took a surprised step back. "But-"

"False labor." She said quickly. "It happens towards 
the end of pregnancy. and we really don't know 
how far along I am so it makes sense."

"Will you please lay down?" He gently took her 
elbow and guided her towards the bed. 

She sat stiffly on the edge. "I don't want to lay down. 
I'll sit though." She looked up at his troubled face. 
"It's ok, Mulder." Scully smiled up at him, taking his 
hand gently in hers. "Don't worry. I feel perfectly 
ok."

He nodded before letting his hand slip from hers and 
began to pace the room. 

Scully rolled her eyes thinking that the only thing 
Mulder needed was a cigar and he would look like 
the typical father in the waiting room. If it was labor 
that is. "Oh God!" Scully said in disbelief.

"What?" Mulder asked quickly turning around to 
look at her. 

She stared up at him with wide eyes. "My water just 
broke." 
 
Part 46
Day 248 (continued)
Mulder blinked at her for a moment. "Are you sure?"

Scully gave a short nervous laugh. "Yes. Mulder, I'm 
sure." She gestured to her now wet pants. 

The moment the panic set in was visible on Mulder's 
face. "Lay down." He ordered, walking over and 
moving her feet up on the bed. His mind quickly 
going through the many pages of labor instruction he 
had read. 

"Mulder, relax." She said, trying to do just that 
herself. "I've had one contraction-" 

"The labor process speeds up the moment water 
breaks." He recited, as he gently pulled off her pants. 
Keeping his voice calm and even was by far one of 
the hardest things he had ever had to do. Scully was 
in labor. Actual labor. His mind was still struggling 
to catch up with its surroundings. 

Scully took a deep breath, trying to ease the 
nervousness in her stomach as she shifted to rest 
herself comfortably on the bed. She watched for a 
moment as Mulder moved to get her a clean pair of 
pants. "What you doing?"

He glanced over his shoulder quickly. "You just need 
to put them on for a minute while I get you to the 
Medical Room." For months he had the plan of how 
this event would go worked out in his head. Part of 
him believed that if it went how he had pictured, 
nothing could possible go wrong. 

"We can't go there." Scully said quickly. "Skinner is 
still there." 

Mulder paused as he kneeled down to help her into 
the pants. "He can go back to him room, Amanda can 
take care of him in there."

"No." Mulder looked up at her, shocked to see she 
looked like a frightened animal. "I want to stay here." 

Scully crossed her arms protectively over her belly. 
The thought of walking into that room, anywhere, 
and meeting up with someone made her heart pound 
even harder in her chest. Not many people had seen 
Scully when she was scared, truly scared. Mulder 
was the only person out of those few that was still 
alive that she knew of. Scully had no plans to add to 
that list. 

"Scully-"

"No. I want to stay in the room, Mulder. I don't want 
to leave. I'm staying." 

He didn't know how to respond to her defensive and 
determined tone. "Ok." Mulder said slowly, looking 
around the room. Cautiously he brought his gaze 
back to her. "Are you sure I can't take you to the 
Medical Room?" Mulder immediately held up his 
hand to ward off her protests after the angry look she 
shot him. "I have to go get a few things then." 
Suddenly his plans were turned upside down, but he 
was determined to shift through the rubble and get 
through this. 

Nervously Scully ran her hands over her belly. "Ok." 
Her throat went painfully dry at the thought of 
spending even a minute alone. 

Mulder moved to her upper body and began to pull 
off her shirt. "Let's get you a little more comfortable, 
ok?"

She nodded and raised her arms she he pulled the 
first layer of her shirts over her head. She lowered her 
arms with a sharp gasp, immediately turning it into 
deep practiced breaths. It shocked her how quickly 
her instinct took over and made her breathe evenly, 
even though she wanted to double over in pain. But 
just after the first cleansing breath her body relaxed 
some, the pain leaving with the air. 

Gently, as to not distract Scully too much, Mulder 
pushed her hair away from her face as it started to 
stick to the thin sheen of sweat. "That's it." He said 
gently as she breathed through her second 
contraction. 
Scully let out one last long breath. "These are coming 
fast." She said weakly. Suddenly she wished the 
wives tale of a woman's first labor taking hours upon 
hours was true. Scully didn't feel ready for this. Her 
body: yes, her mind: no.

Mulder just nodded as he pulled off the rest of her 
clothing quickly. "Here, lets put this on." He pulled a 
large short sleeved shirt over her head. "Are you 
warm enough?"

Scully nodded quickly. 

Giving her a reassuring smile, Mulder picked up her 
hands and kissed them lightly. "I'm going to go, I'll 
be right back. Ok?" A little part of him wished she 
would say no, that he couldn't leave her. Even for a 
minute. Because he didn't want to. Mulder wanted to 
climb into bed with her, wrap his arms around her 
body and take away some of her pain. 

She nodded and tugged his hands close to her. 
Mulder met her half way and gave her a gentle kiss. 
"Hurry, please." Scully whispered. 

Mulder quickly stood. "Trust me, I will." Without 
another look, for fear he wouldn't be able to tear 
himself away from her, he left the room. It was all he 
could do not to run down the hallway, but there was 
nothing he could do to stop his jog. Throwing open 
the door to Medical Room he stumbled upon Skinner 
and Amanda talking quietly. 

"You ok, Mulder?" Skinner asked as he looked 
Mulder up and down. His face was flushed, from his 
run to the room and an intense mixture of 
nervousness and excitement. 

"Scully's in labor." He said in a breath.

Amanda jumped up from the bed. "Do you need 
help?" The truth was she had no idea what to do, she 
had barely read anything about childbirth. But she 
was willing to try. 

Mulder was busy gathering together the items he had 
organized for this moment last month. "No, thanks."

"Wait a second." Skinner said, sitting upright more 
on the bed. "Who's delivering the baby then?" He 
had been so wrapped up in his life with Amanda, or 
lack there of, for the past few months he missed 
details like this. 

Straightening up, bounty in hand, Mulder smiled 
nervously. "You're looking at him."

Amanda let out a surprised laugh. She figured she 
would have better luck then Mulder. Then again, the 
man never ceased to amaze her. 

"Listen." Mulder said lightly making his way towards 
the door. "I would love to stand here and talk about 
how unqualified and scared to death I am about doing 
this. And how much I wish I could hand this 
responsibility over to someone else so I can start 
pacing and wait for the baby to be born. But the 
pregnant lady said I'm doing it, so I'm doing it." 

"If you need any help come and get me." Amanda 
said as she opened the door for Mulder so he 
wouldn't have to jungle his armload. 

Mulder nodded gratefully. "I will, Thanks." Though 
he prayed he would have no need to. 

"Good luck." Skinner called as Mulder hurried down 
the hallway, stopping only to add a bucket of water to 
his already heavy load. 

Somehow he managed to open the door to his room 
without dropping anything. "Everything alright?" He 
asked Scully the moment he stepped inside. 

Scully nodded, looking worried. The few minutes she 
was alone ticked by like years. 

Depositing his items on the table he sat beside her 
with a damp cloth in his hands. "Lean back a little." 
Mulder whispered, placing the cloth over her 
forehead as she did. "Did you have another 
contraction while I was gone?" 

"No." She said softly. Her heart pounded in her ears 
so loudly she could barely hear herself speak. Before 
she went into labor and thought about the whole 
process she was frightened. She knew it would be 
painful, hopefully not too long, and probably the 
most emotional experience of her life. The moment 
she went to into labor she could think of nothing else 
other then the fact that after some very severe pain 
she was going to be responsible for a new life. The 
care, the nurturing, the education, the love, the list 
went on and on. 
Mulder smiled brightly at her, stroking her flushed 
cheek the back on his fingers. "Relax."

"This is coming from the man who began to fidget 
nervously every time you thought of this moment. 
What's with the sudden air of nonchalant?"

He shook his head clueless. "Adrenaline maybe. Or 
the fact that it is actually happening so I better just 
deal with it." 

Scully opened her mouth to say something but 
quickly closed it as a strong contraction went through 
her body. Shutting her eyes tightly she squeezed 
Mulder's hand to the point of pain. 

But he did not utter a word as she breathed through 
her own, more pressing pain. He watched as the 
tension melted from her body in one last breath. 
"Ok?" 

She nodded, a tear slipping from the corner of her 
closed eye. 

Mulder leaned forward to kiss it away. "You are 
doing great." She nodded, finally opening her eyes. 
"You can do this." He said softly. "We both can."

"Yes, we can." She agreed with a smile. They had no 
choice, it came down to that.

"Ok." Mulder said looking around. "Let's get you set 
up, this is happening a little faster then either of 
anticipated and I won't want to be rushed later on." 

"Where do you want me?" Scully asked, letting him 
take control of the situation, her mind wasn't nearly 
as together at his seemed to be.

"Slide closer to the foot of the bed, so that I can kneel 
at the bottom. Here, I'll help you." Gently he helped 
her wiggle down a few feet, pilling pillows up for her 
to lean back on. "Do you want to sit up?"

Scully was quiet for a moment. She hadn't thought 
about these slight details beforehand, which surprised 
her. She had felt fairly prepared, now she was 
flustered and nervous. "I think so."

Mulder nodded and set more pillows up for her. 
"Lean back and tell me if that is ok."

"Perfect." She said softly. 

With a nod he slowly moved down to her feet, trying 
not breaking physical contact with her if not 
necessary. Mulder moved everything to the foot of 
the bed, so that he wouldn't have to move far away 
from Scully and the baby. "How do you want your 
legs?"

"I don't know." Scully said suddenly feeling tired. 
Mulder had everything under control, she saw that 
and her body responded how it wanted it, with 
lethargy. Maybe it was human nature, suddenly 
slowing down to store energy for the actual birth, or 
maybe her adrenaline wore off. 

Mulder ran his hands up and down her calves after he 
bent them so her feet were flat on the mattress. "This 
ok?"

She nodded dully. 

With one last look around, Mulder felt everything 
was ready, he just had to wait on the baby now. He 
was becoming anxious, while Scully was the 
complete opposite. He moved from the foot of the 
bed and sat slightly behind Scully, running his hands 
over her shoulders and arms. "Comfortable?"

"I think as much as I can be, yes." Scully leaned her 
head back onto his shoulder. "I'm feeling tired."

Mulder kissed her temple lightly. "Go ahead and rest. 
Just let me know when you feel like you want to push 
as the contractions get closer."

"I know." She said with a smile. "I am the doctor 
after all." 

"Not tonight you aren't. Dr. Mulder is here to take 
care of you." He said with a snicker. 

Scully made a small whimpering noise as another 
contraction started. Mulder quickly moved to take her 
hand, letting her breath through it. Instinctively he 
wanted to help her breath, to coach her through it. 
But they had decided beforehand that he wouldn't do 
that. Not when he would have to be focusing on the 
baby. 
"They are getting stronger." She said breathlessly 
after a few moments rest.

"That's good." Mulder hugged her gently from 
behind. "Fast labor means less pain I would assume." 

Scully nodded enthusiastically. "Less pain in a very 
good thing." She sucked in another quick breath.

"Another one?" Mulder asked in shock. 

She nodded as she released a long breath. 

Reluctantly Mulder slid away from her and down to 
the foot of the bed, making a quick stop to retrieve 
one of the pans of hot water he had on the stove. 
Washing his hands quickly but thoroughly he gently 
lifted the sheet tenting Scully's lower body, just as 
she relaxed back into the pillows. 

"I'm not ready to push yet." She informed Mulder in 
a slightly panicked tone.

"Ok." He said gently. "Don't try to rush anything, 
Sweetheart." Mulder expected to feel a little odd 
examining Scully in the way he was, but he didn't. It 
felt completely natural for him to be checking the 
progress of the birth of his child. "Everything looks 
text book so far." He said in relief, covering her 
again. 
With a tired hand Scully wiped sweat from her brow. 

"Here, let me get that." Mulder said moving to 
dampen the cloth. Placing it gently on her forehead 
he tucked her damp hair behind her ears. "You're 
doing great." He whispered honestly in her ear. The 
pain was obvious, but Scully had kept her usual brave 
face. 

"This is happening too fast." She whispered. 

"That's good." Mulder reassured, tenderly rubbing 
her belly. "I'm going to miss this." He said with a 
soft laugh. He loved her pregnant body. So full and 
healthy. She was so alive. His thoughts were 
interrupted by another contraction hitting Scully. He 
waited it out with her. Wiping away the damp 
streams on her cheeks and kissing her face lightly. "I 
think it's time you start to push. Maybe another 
contraction or two, but these are coming fast and 
strong."

"Oh God." Scully whispered, panic settling deep in 
her chest. 

Mulder moved down the bed once again. "It's going 
to be ok, Scully. Do you think you are ready to 
push?"
With a clenched jaw she nodded, feeling another 
contraction coming around the corner. 

"This one?"

Scully quickly shook her head. She wasn't ready. She 
needed another moment to collect her mind. This was 
actually happening. She was about to give birth to her 
child. 

Mulder squeezed her knee as she breathed through 
the pain with one hand, and lifted away the sheet with 
the other. "The baby is crowning." He said with a 
twist of nervousness in his stomach. 

Scully nodded. "I'm ready."

"All right." An intense wave of adrenaline passed 
over Mulder. With a long released breath from 
Scully, Mulder watched as her face twisted with 
concentration and pain. "You're going great, Scully." 
He said softly as he guided the baby's head out her 
body. "Keep pushing, Sweetheart." 

She stopped as the contraction ended, panting and 
struggling to wipe the sweat from her eyes with a 
tired hand. "Are the shoulders out?" Scully asked 
breathlessly. 

"Just about." 

"Everything ok?" Scully barely got the words out 
before she had to push again. 

"Perfect, Scully. Just keep pushing." He answered, 
half his attention on her and half on the new life he 
held partly in his hands. 

Scully collapsed back into the pillows. "Mulder." 
Said softly, not in question, just as a statement. 
Mulder pressed his lips to the inside of Scully's knee. 
"You're going great. One more push, ok?"
Her nod quickly segued into her last push. 

In a moment the silent room filled with the cries of 
their baby. With a sob, of relief and joy, Scully fell 
back against the pillows. "Mulder?" Her exhausted 
voice called. 

"She's beautiful, Scully." He said is awe as he 
quickly cut the umbilical cord and cleaned the crying 
baby slightly. Never before had Mulder held 
something so precious, so amazing in his hands. He 
was looking at a true miracle.

"She?" Scully said, forcing her limbs to cooperate 
enough to sit up. 

Cradling the wet baby against his chest, Mulder made 
his way over to Scully. At the moment he finally 
understood why Scully wanted him to deliver their 
baby. Knowing that he was the first person to touch 
their child, and that Scully would be the second. it 
just seemed right. It was how nature intended. 
Mulder eased the child, still wet from birth, onto 
Scully's chest. "She is beautiful." Scully whispered 
as the baby quieted slightly due to Scully's 
comforting stroking. She ran her hands over her 
whole, small body. Counting fingers and toes, tracing 
her plump cheeks, tiny hands, and rosebud mouth. 

Mulder watched Scully hold the baby for a moment, 
his arms wrapped around her and his forehead against 
the side of her head. "I need to clean her up so she 
doesn't get cold." He said after a few more moments.
"Ok." Scully said softly, reluctantly letting Mulder 
lift the child from her arms. She turned onto her side 
to watch him carefully carry the baby to the table to 
set her down a pile of blankets, gently washing her 
tender skin. Once cleaned he dressed her quickly in a 
cloth diaper and a simple cotton one piece to ward off 
chills. 
"Mulder, I want to hold her." Scully called as he 
moved to set her in the crib. 

"So do I." He said with a smile as he made his way 
back over to the bed. "But I need to clean you up 
too."
As he gently washed her, Scully looked longingly 
over to the other side of the room. 

"Arms up." Mulder said, breaking her out of her daze. 
He quickly pulled a clean shirt over her head and 
helped move her to the top of the bed. "I'll go get 
her." He pressed a long kiss to her forehead and 
moved to get the baby just as she began to cry. "Shh." 
He cooed softly as he wrapped a blanket around the 
small bundle and sat beside Scully. 

Scully held out her arms expectantly. 

"What should we name her?" She asked after a few 
moments of silence. 

Mulder lifted his head slightly from where he was 
leaning back against the wall, Scully's head resting 
on his shoulder. He ran his hand up and down the 
baby's leg. "Any ideas?"

Scully's eyes slowly began to close without her 
control as she leaned into Mulder's warmth. "You 
wanted a girl so you must have something thought 
up." She smiled up knowingly. "Please share."

Mulder blushed a little. "I've always loved the name 
Aeryn."

Looking down at the baby, Scully smiled. "That is 
beautiful, Mulder. And it fits her for some reason. 
Aeryn it is."

Mulder felt a surge of pride at being able to name 
their daughter. "You pick a middle name." 

Scully bit her lip. "I think." She said slowly. "It 
would be fitting if we named her Hope."

Pressing his lips to Scully's temple he let out a 
whispered. "Yes." Pulling way he looked down at the 
baby in Scully's arms, Aeryn's fingers had wrapped 
around his index finger without his even knowing it. 
"That is prefect." 

"Aeryn Hope." Scully whispered softly. "Welcome to 
the world." 

Part 47

Day 249
Scully woke slowly, her body drained and sore. But 
her heart was light and eager for her to open her eyes. 
Her mind however, was content to rest longer so her 
eyes didn't open. Instead she leaned back into 
Mulder's warmth as he held her behind. His face 
rested against her neck, his breath moist and warm 
just below the base of her skull. Under the pillow 
they shared Scully could feel Mulder's arm folded, 
lifting her head even more. His other arm, purely out 
of habit rested over her body, his hand over her now 
vacant womb. 

With a deep sigh Scully finally opened her eyes. 
Immediately she focused across the dim room to the 
crib. She could see slight movements through the 
bars and smiled. Scully watched her baby from a 
distance as Mulder slowly woke beside her. It had 
been a long night for the both of them. Late night 
feedings, new parent jitters, long moments spent just 
staring at the miracle in their arms. She felt as rested 
as she expected to. 

"Morning." Mulder whispered in her ear and pressed 
a long kiss to her neck. "She's awake." He noted as 
he followed Scully's eye line to the wondrous 
movement in the crib. 

"Yeah." Scully said softly, trying, unsuccessfully, to 
hold in a groan as Mulder moved from behind her. 

Mulder placed his hand over the pouch of her belly. 
"Sorry." He said, gently rubbing his hand over the 
soft flesh. 

"It's ok." She whispered. 

He brushed the hair away from her face before 
pressing his lips to her forehead. "Can I get you 
anything?"

"Yeah." Scully smiled brightly. "The baby."

Returning her smile, Mulder leaned down and kissed 
slowly and deeply. He finally pulled away and slide 
out of bed, shivering as the cool air of the room hit 
his bare chest and legs. He stooped by the fireplace to 
add more wood, while Scully slowly stacked pillows 
up on the headboard so she could sit with some 
comfort. Mulder washed his hand before stepping 
across the room and leaning over the edge of the crib. 
"Morning, Sunshine." He said softly, staring down at 
Aeryn's big blue eyes. Carefully he scooped her up in 
his arms. Instinctively the baby cuddled up to the 
bare skin of Mulder's chest. 

"Can I have her?" Scully asked as Mulder sat beside 
her in bed.

As Mulder eased Aeryn away from his chest she 
began to cry from lose of contact. Scully immediately 
cooed to try to quiet her. In a moment she was silent 
as she nursed. Pressing a kiss to Scully's shoulder, 
Mulder set his head down and closed his eyes. "I 
should go get breakfast." He muttered. "You feel like 
eating?"

Scully nodded but didn't take her eyes off the baby in 
her arms. "I think I could eat a little."

Mulder eased a pillow beneath Scully's arm to take 
off some of the weight from the baby. Leaning over 
he kissed Aeryn's head, the slight dusting of pale hair 
tickling his nose. Sitting up he kissed Scully's bright 
hair before once again getting out of bed. He glanced 
up at Scully as he dressed, and couldn't help but 
smile at the way she stared at the baby in complete 
amazement. "Do you want me to tell everyone?" 

Finally she looked up him with a smile. "Yeah. They 
should know."

Mulder's heart was full with pride at being able to 
announce the arrival of their baby. With one last 
smile he left the room. 

Day 251
"You look beat." Skinner said glancing at Mulder 
then back to Amanda and Scully where were talking 
next to the crib, now decorated in handmade 
blankets. Wooden toys and plush animals where piled 
in the corner, all gifts from the people of Nova. 

Mulder shrugged as well as he could from his 
slouched position against the wall. It had been a long 
few days. It seemed every time Aeryn would be 
sleeping and they finally found some quiet time 
someone would stop by to visit. The random people 
would only stay for a moment, but some for an hour. 
The Gunmen came by and it was nearly impossible to 
get them away from the baby. 

Mulder had always been used to functioning on little 
sleep, but usually it was by his choice. Now all he 
wanted to do was sleep for a few uninterrupted hours. 

"Scully looks good." Skinner commented. 

Mulder's head spun around to look at him sharply. 

"I mean she looks like she is doing well after the 
birth. Jesus Mulder, relax." Skinner said with a 
chuckle.

"Sorry." He muttered under his breath, looking over 
at Scully. She did look well. Her body was still full 
from pregnancy, but he could see her naturally 
slender figure hidden beneath the light cushion. 
Mulder preferred her with a little more weight then 
she normally kept on anyway. He smiled as he 
watched Scully pass Aeryn into Amanda's arms. 

Skinner looked over at Mulder with raised brows at 
his yawn. "Maybe we should get going." Not waiting 
for him to answer he stepped up towards Amanda. 
"We should go." 

Amanda looked up at Skinner then down at Aeryn, 
disappointed, but knew he was right. 

"Come by tomorrow." Scully said quickly. "I'll be 
glad for the company."

Mulder stepped up and took Aeryn from Amanda just 
as the baby yawned. "I think it's everyone's 
bedtime." He slowly eased the baby into her crib as 
everyone bid their good byes and left the room. 

"Beautiful baby." Amanda said softly as they walked 
down the hallway. 

Skinner made an agreeable sound in the back of his 
throat. 

Reaching over she squeezed his forearm. "Don't 
worry Walter, I'm in no rush to have kids."

There was a moment of silent. "Who said I'm not?" 
He said without looking at her.

Amanda looked sharply over at him until, finally he 
turned his head and met her eyes. He looked nervous 
and uncertain, and even a little scared. She held his 
gaze for a moment, then smiled. "Come on." Amanda 
said softly, taking his hand in hers and tugging him 
down the hall to her room. 

Day 253
Mulder ignored, for the first time at Nova, whoever 
was knocking at his door. He flat out refused to open 
his eyes even as the knocking got louder and more 
often. He ignored it as Scully buried her head against 
his arm to block out the noise as she too chose to pay 
no attention to it. He ignored it through the calls of 
his name. He ignored it up until the point when 
Aeryn woke up and began to cry. 

"Damn it." He mumbled, finally dragging himself out 
as Scully muttered out something along the same 
lines and went to the baby. "Yeah?" He said as he 
swung open the door, not hiding the fact that he was 
not happy to have been woken up. 

"I'm really sorry to wake you." Alex said before 
Mulder had even finished stepping out the door. "But 
Collin never came back for watch last night."

Mulder stared at him for a moment as his sleep 
clogged mind focused on the situation. "Collin 
should have been back at midnight."

"I know." Alex said softly. 

Running his hand through his hair, Mulder pondered 
his options. "Ok, I'm going to get dressed and we'll 
get a few people together and go looking. Have you 
told Skinner?"

Alex nodded quickly. "I'll get him."

"No. He hasn't recovered enough to do this. Just tell 
him we are going and will check back by midnight 
tonight or assume there is a problem. I'll meet you in 
the Main Room in about ten minutes." Mulder 
stepped back into his room and Scully looked up 
expectantly as she rocked Aeryn in her arms. "I have 
to go." 

"What? Outside?" Scully said nervously. It just 
seemed to get colder and colder lately. Watchers 
were only out for two hours before shifting off 
because it was too brutal out. 

"Yeah." Mulder pulled off his sweatpants and 
stepped into a pair of jeans. "Collin never came back 
from watch."

Scully frowned as she walked over to the dresser, 
balancing the baby on one arm she pulled clothes for 
Mulder out with her free hand. "It's too cold out there 
if anything happened to him. He wouldn't make it." 
She handed him his shirts. 

"We'll find him." He said simply before pulling a 
sweater on over his head. 

"This one too." Scully said, forcefully placing 
another sweater in his hands. 

Even though Mulder was already feeling suffocated 
in his layers of clothes he put the offered sweater on 
to ease her mind. After tying his boots Mulder stood 
upright and looked at Scully were she stood with 
Aeryn held tightly to her, her lips pressed to the 
baby's forehead, and a distant look in her eyes. 
Mulder walked over and pressed his lips to her 
temple, his arms enfolding the two carefully. "I'll be 
ok."

Scully nodded. "Just be careful, Mulder."

Mulder raised her chin gently with his hand and 
pressed his lips to hers. Leaning down he kissed 
Aeryn, once again sleeping. He left the room quickly, 
unable to look Scully in the eye. Walking out the 
door was by far the hardest thing he had ever had to 
do. Part of him, in the back of his mind, screamed 
that this was nature. Being the first time he was going 
to leave his wife and new baby and go outside of 
Nova. But the rest of him, the majority of him just 
didn't want to leave. It didn't matter why, he just 
wanted to stay there with his family like he felt he 
should. To take care of them, to love them, to live. 

***
Mulder could only remember being this cold one 
other time in his life, laying in the Antarctic, wrapped 
in Scully's arms, only able to think of the ship he had 
just seen fly over head, and how close he had come to 
losing her again. Now all he could think about was 
getting back to Scully, preferably wrapped in her 
arms, in bed, warm and comfortable with his child 
sleeping safely across the room. 

But he couldn't. At least not yet, he had to remind 
himself. Him and three other men had been walking 
for hours until they finally split up to cover more 
ground. It wasn't looking good. As Scully said; if 
something had happened to Collin to keep him from 
returning to Nova, he wouldn't have been able to 
spend the night in this cold and live. But Mulder was 
unable to except that and not be able to bring home 
the body for his family. They deserved to bury him in 
the graveyard, with a head stone, with closure. Such a 
seemingly simple thing made the biggest difference. 
It filled that hole in a person's heart. 

Mulder cursed under his breath as it started to snow 
big fat flakes. This wasn't going to help. He could 
barely see through the heavy fall. 

Leaning back against a tree, Mulder stretched his 
arms over his head. He leaned his head back, then 
side to side. Easing the tension of his tired and cold 
muscles. His opened his eyes, head his facing the 
sky. And his heart stopped. 

Three ships hovered over head. Motionless. 

Mulder dropped his arms and stepped out from under 
the tree, moving around to get a better look. 

A roar filled his eyes, one he had heard before. The 
earth shook beneath him. The sky lit with the bright 
colors of an explosion as Mulder tumbled to the 
ground.

Part 48 of 48
Day 253 (continued)
Mulder could feel the cold of the snow burning the 
exposed skin of his face. He knew he should move, 
but his head pounded so hard that it was impossible 
to think about anything else. 

Slowly, as the ringing in his ears died down, the 
popping and sizzling sounds of fires were audible. He 
couldn't hold in a groan as he rolled himself on his 
back, gasping for air as his throbbing body dealt with 
the movement. The large flakes of snow that fell on 
his face were soothing. 

"Scully." He muttered out loud without even 
realizing. With a deep cringing breath Mulder forced 
himself into a sitting position. He pressed the heel of 
his hand to his spinning head. Ignoring the nausea 
Mulder struggled to stand. 

He had to go back to Nova. He must get back as fast 
as he could. It ran through his head in a continuous 
loop.

Bracing himself with a hand on tree whenever 
possible, Mulder started trenching through the thick 
layer of snow on unsteady legs. 

He focused on nothing else other then getting to 
Nova. It three hours away though, three hours before 
the latest two inch snow fall, before a nauseating 
headache. But the motivation he had now was 
completely different then his walk away from Nova. 
That was about finding a body, this was about finding 
his love.

***
The explosion must have been a few hundred miles 
west of Nova, Mulder decided. As he walked east, 
towards his home, the destruction lessened slightly. 
Trees were down everywhere, he hand walked past a 
few of the newly constructed barns, which now lay in 
mostly rumble amongst the snow. 

Even when he was at a distance he could tell Nova 
had crumbled once again. A large cloud of dust 
rested in the sky above Nova, brought on by the 
tumbling of rocks and boulders. The snow now 
falling from the sky was black with soot. The heat of 
the fires had turned the ground into slush, Mulder 
was soaked through and shivering horribly. But, 
thank God, the air was breathable, the sky though 
gray was visible, and he could see Nova. 

Finally Mulder reached a side entrance, only slightly 
caved in. He picked his way through not being as 
careful as he should, but he didn't slow down. He 
couldn't. The heat of the interior of Nova reminded 
him of the lives inside. He hadn't seen anyone since 
he split up with the search group, but not once had 
that crossed his mind. 

Nova was eerily quiet. 

Mulder walked as quickly as his bruised body and 
aching head would allow down a small hallway that 
would intersect with the North Hallway. 

The North Hallway was vacant. Mulder's stomach 
twisted. Ignoring the pain in his body he broke out 
into a run, taking a small pathway that would cut 
across to the East Hallway. 

With one light push his door swung open. 

"Scully?" He called desperately. 

His echo was the only answer. 

Mulder walked over the crib, looking down with a 
mixture of hope and dread, not sure of what he 
wanted to see. 

He saw nothing. 

"Ok." He whispered to himself. "Think logically." 
Mulder left the room and made his way down the 
silent hallways of Nova. 

With a deep breath Mulder turned the knob of the 
Medical Room door and stepped into the lit room. 

"Oh Mulder, thank God you are ok." Judy said 
holding a fussing Aeryn in her arms. 

Without a word Mulder walked up and took the baby 
into his arms holding her close to him, his lips 
pressed to her forehead, breathing in the comforting 
clean baby scent. Aeryn quieted in his familiar 
presence.

After a moment he raised his head and looked around 
the Medical Room, fully expecting to see Scully 
kneeling by one of the many cots. Mulder's eyes 
closed in fear. "Where's Scully?" He asked softly. 

"I don't know." Judy said nervously. "I was in here 
tending to people, no one was hurt badly, just scrapes 
and bruises, so I hadn't sent for her. Then she came 
in, handed Aeryn to me and left. Skinner told 
everyone to stay in their rooms, I figured that's why 
she hadn't came back, but that doesn't make much 
sense."

Mulder looked at her question. Why would Scully 
have left? People were injured, despite severity she 
would have stayed to help. Why would she leave the 
baby? It was all so unlike her.

Realization passed through Mulder, like an ice cold 
fist gripping his stomach. She went looking outside 
of Nova for him. That's what he would have done if 
she had been out there. Left the baby is capable hands 
then started to search. 

"Did she say anything?" He asked in hope. He just 
needed a clue as to what direction she started in and 
then he could find her-he would find her. 

Judy shook her head slowly. "She just said she had to 
go." 

"Oh God." Mulder breathed out, pressing Aeryn 
closer to him. "Can you watch her for me?"

Immediately Judy nodded and reached out to take the 
baby. 

"I'll be back." Mulder said with a lingering look at 
Aeryn before leaving the room. 

"Not again." He prayed softly as he began to jog 
towards the Main opening of Nova. 

He skidded to a stop halfway through the Main 
Room, at the Church door. With a shaking hand he 
opened the door. He wasn't sure why he had stopped 
here, it was just instinctive. But Mulder had learned a 
long time ago, to never ignore his instincts. They had 
saved his, and Scully's neck too often.

Disappointment filled his heart as he scanned the 
chairs, all vacant. As he went to close the door a 
small movement in the far corner caught his eye. 
"Scully." He breathed in relief, even though fear still 
occupied most of his heart. He slowly, cautiously, 
made his way over to her as she crouched in the 
corner; her knees pulled to her chest. "Scully?"

Her head flew up in surprise. 

Mulder dropped to his knees beside her, pulling her 
against him. "Are you ok?" 

Scully nodded, her tears beginning to soak through 
Mulder's shirt. "I was so scared I would be called."

"You weren't?" Mulder asked in surprise as he pulled 
away from just enough to see her face. 

"No. But I was scared I would be. I had to get away 
for Aeryn."

Mulder nodded, pulling her back against him. It made 
sense to him now. She left Aeryn in fear that she 
would hurt her. Scully's worst fear. His too. But it 
didn't happen. Nothing happened. Scully was ok, 
They had left her alone this time. 

"It's ok." Mulder whispered as he rocked her gently. 

"Aeryn." Scully said simply, attempting to move out 
of his embrace.

But he pulled her back to him, not wanting to let go 
of the warmth and comfort her body gave him. 
"She's ok." He breathed into her hair. "I just saw her. 
Everything is ok."

Scully settled her head back on his shoulder. His 
strong arms encircling her, locking out any bad 
thoughts. He was ok. He hadn't been killed in the 
explosion like she feared. Their family, though new 
and small was intact and safe in the walls of Nova. 


Day 400 (About 5 months later)
Scully spread the blanket out on a fairly flat area of 
land, immediately laying on her back. The air was 
still cool from a long winter, but the sun was strong 
and bright, chasing away any chills from the wind. 

Lowing Aeryn to the middle of the blanket, Mulder 
settled on his side looking over at Scully. Her eyes 
were closed, her head tilting back, doing her best to 
enjoy her Sunday off. 

"Hey, where do you think you're going?" He asked 
Aeryn as she rolled onto her stomach and pushed 
herself up as much as she could on her arms. 
Pinching the fabric of her shirt between his fingers, 
Mulder stopped any potential movement. 

Scully lolled her head to the side, partly to see what 
the baby was doing and partly because a ship passing 
over head had blocked the sun's warming rays for a 
moment. "She has your attention span."

Mulder just grinned. With an annoyed look at Aeryn 
he scooped her up from where she was slowly 
inching her way off the blanket and sat her up, 
leaning against his stomach as he lifted himself up on 
one elbow. 

Sliding a little closer to them, Scully reached out and 
gently brushed her fingers through Aeryn's soft red 
hair. 

"What are you thinking about?" Mulder asked 
noticing her far off expression. 

She looked up at him with a shrug. "Nothing and 
everything." 

He nodded, knowing exactly what she meant.

Mulder caught Aeryn with a chuckle as she lost her 
balance and toppled to the side. He rested her head on 
his outstretched arm as he lowered himself 
completely to the blanket. She stared up at him, 
grabbing and reached for anything she could possibly 
get her curious little hands on. Scully watched with 
an amused smile as Aeryn wrapped her small fingers 
around the chain of Mulder's Nova charm. He 
grumbled and carefully untangling her fingers, 
shoving the charm under his shirt. 

After a few moments of silence, Aeryn now content 
with pulling at the collar of Mulder's shirt, Scully 
gently tapped Mulder's shin with her toe to get his 
attention. "What are you thinking about?"

"Same as you." He responded, running his fingers 
over Aeryn's belly lightly, smiling as she giggled and 
cooed. 

Scully laughed softly at the two. "What's the 
`everything' you are thinking about today?" She 
asked to make idle conversation.

"Same as it is every day." 

She raised her eyebrows in question. 

With a slight tilt of his chin, Mulder gestured to 
Aeryn and Scully. "You're `everything'." 

Scully smiled, inching even closer. "And what's the 
`nothing'?"

Mulder jerked his head up the sky, signaling to the 
ships that passed over head all day long. They were 
all but forgotten, but never completely out of one's 
conscious, even during the quiet times like this. "But 
the `nothing' doesn't matter." He said smiling into 
her eyes. "The `everything' does."

"Yeah, it does." Scully said softly, settling her head 
on his forearm, and her hand on Aeryn's belly.



Notes: It's actually over.. 

First and foremost, thank you to Evie for all her 
timely beta work and suggestions and help. Evie 
supported me throughout this ordeal, yelled at me 
when I toyed with the idea of saying to hell with it 
and not finishing Nova, and gave me many virtual 
kicks when I wouldn't be writing when I should. 
Sitting here now, after finishing Nova, I can't think 
of word to describe how grateful I am for everything 
Evie has done. Thank you just doesn't cut it.

Thanks to Evie (again) and Shell who had to listen to 
me whine about Nova for months now =). Just think, 
you are finally free! 

And a HUGE thanks to everyone who read Nova. 
And a bigger thanks to those of you who sent me 
email about it. It always made me smile, especially 
the ones who wrote frequently (you know who you 
are). Without you all I never would have done as 
much as I did. 

Nova, by far, has been the most interesting writing 
experience of my life. 5 months, 182 Word Doc 
pages later I have a fic that I can't believe came from 
my muse. For a long time, as I was writing Nova, I 
thought this was going to be the last fic I would 
write. That's a joke =). So don't worry all who yelled 
at me for saying such a thing, I just don't think its 
possible.

My goal with Nova was invoke emotion. Laughter, 
fear, joy, tears, and hopefully even some sense of 
closure with this story. The only way for Nova to end 
without any possibility of a sequel would be to kill 
everyone, but I can't do that. Never will be able to 
without a huge amount of guilt. I felt Nova was 
becoming stale. I could have kept it going forever, 
but felt it was time to end it. Hopefully you feel the 
same. Please don't flame me if you don't agree, that 
only makes me sad =(. But I would love to hear your 
end thoughts on this fic.

So, once again, thank you for reading. The only point 
for this to be written is for it to be read. If you 
enjoyed this please archive, recommend, send me one 
last praise, whatever you would like to do. Nova is up 
for anything it deserves. 

Thank you.