Date: 2 Jul 1997

Title: Together As One
Author: Myshi
Classification: XRA
Rating: PG. A few words that probably wouldn't be allowed on network TV...
Keywords: Mulder/Scully romance

Spoilers: DO NOT read this if you haven't seen Momento Mori. Tiny, tiny
spoilers for Zero Sum and Never Again.

Time line: After Zero Sum...before Demons. We're pretending that Elegy and
the (ick) season finale didn't happen.

Feedback: Comments, criticism, and flames (yep, those too) will be gladly
hoarded at Dawn3793@aol.com

Disclaimer: Mulder, Scully, and Skinner are MINE!!! I bought them for 99
cents at Dollar General! Amazing what deals you can find in those places.
No, really, Mulder, Scully, and Skinner, along with the Emmy-worthy
supporting cast of Kurt Crawford, Betsy Hagopian, and Penny Northern all
belong to Chris Carter, Fox, and 1013 Productions.
Benjamin Wellsby, Nathaniel Greyson, Katherine and her twin are
entirely mine. So are the (very small) characters of Donna, Jenny, and
Courtney, who are named after a bunch of my friends, but I don't think
they'll sue me. The same principal goes for the character of James Miller
(all hail the drum major!). Also, I want to thank my friend Austin
Henderson, who lended his name to Henderson Technologies and Austin
Memorial Hospital.
Finally, the characters of Lauren Alexander and Beth Hobbs are named
after my two best friends, recent Phile converts. Lauren--sorry for your
fate, but HA! That's what you get for teasing me about my addiction for 2
years before getting hooked yourself! And once again, I reserve all rights
to them, simply because it makes me feel better about not having Mulder.

Summary: On a case with personal ties, miscommunication, anger and a
desperate search for the truth lead Mulder and Scully to some startling
realizations about the importance of their relationship.

======================================

"Morning, Mulder," Dana Scully said cheerfully as she walked in the
door on Monday morning. She was feeling refreshed and enthused after a
particularly resting and peaceful weekend, and as she glanced over and saw
her partner's nose buried in a case file, she promised herself that she
would not have her mood spoiled by whatever weird case or wild theories he
decided to present to her this week.
Scully set her briefcase down on her desk and poured herself some of
the coffee that Mulder had thoughtfully left for her. Wait, she thought.
He only leaves me coffee when he's trying to get on my good side...oh no.
"Mulder?" she questioned, slightly anxious, but curious at the same
time. When he didn't answer her, she leaned over his desk to get as near
to his ear as possible. "Mulder!"
"Huh?" Mulder said, jumping slightly in suprise. Scully leaned back
and perched on the edge of the desk, amused. He met her gaze, removing his
glasses and placing them in front of him. "Very cute, Scully," he said in
annoyance.
"So what had you so wrapped up?" Scully asked, once again serious. "A
new case?"
"Yeah," Mulder said vaguely. I was just reading it and seeing if it
was worth our time. I...I don't think it is."
Scully went to take the folder. "What is it?"
Mulder removed it from her reach. "Nothing, really. Just your
standard UFO sighting reports, Scully. I know how much you hate those.
Don't worry about it." He got up to put the case in one of the many file
cabinets that adorned his office, but Scully jumped off the desk and
intercepted him.
"Let me see the file, Mulder," she said, holding out her hand
expectantly.
"Why? Really, Scully, don't worry about it." He went to move around
her, and she snatched the file from his hand. "Scully, don't."
She walked to her desk and looked up at him. "Why not? Are you hiding
things from me?" she asked, slightly annoyed. She sat down and opened the
file. A few minutes later she raised her head and to look at her partner,
her expression part amazement and part fear. "Mulder...."
"That's why not, Scully," Mulder said softly, in resignation, as he
took the folder from her and went back to his desk. "I didn't want you to
see this."
"Were you planning on hiding it from me forever? Running off to
investgate on your own?" questioned Scully, anger starting to show.
"Scully...I don't know, Scully. I'm sorry." She looked in his eyes
and saw such raw emotion there that she decided that anger was not the way
to deal with this. She reined her emotions in, and when she spoke again it
was in a calm, detached manner.
"When do we leave?"
Mulder looked at his short, petite, powerhouse partner. She had that
look on her face, the one that told him that no amount of arguing, logic
or reason was going to stop her from getting what she wanted. He sighed.
"As soon as I get clearance from Skinner."

====================================

Later that day, Mulder and Scully sat in front of Assisstant Director
Walter S. Skinner, who held the case file in his hands. He looked up at
his two agents.
"Another group?" he asked in suprise.
"Yes, sir," Mulder answered. "This time in Southern California. They
are not related to MUFON in any way, but the circumstances are the same. I
feel that this is too similar to be just a coincidence."
Skinner nodded. "Agent Scully," he said, turning toward her, "are you
sure you want to be involved in this investigation? I could always
assign--"
Scully cut him off before he could get any further. "Yes, sir. This
is important to me, personally as well as professionally."
Skinner knew that it was useless to try and convince Scully
otherwise. Sighing, he turned his gaze toward the case open on his desk. A
group of women, all claiming to be UFO abductees. All had contracted brain
cancers like Agent Scully's. Half of the group was already dead. He didn't
like this. He didn't like this at all.
"I'm going to approve you to investigate," Skinner said, still
looking at the file.
"Thank you, sir," Scully said. She and Mulder got up and were almost
to the door when Skinner spoke again.
"Mulder, I would like a word with you." Scully looked at Mulder, her
eyebrow raised in the silent question, "What did you do now.?" Mulder
shook his head, innocent for once.
Skinner watched the silent communication between his best team of
agents. Those bastards. The deal said Agent Scully would be cured and the
experiments of this nature would cease. But medical tests of these women
showed they were acting otherwise.
"Agent Mulder," he said, turning away from his internal explosion of
rage. He stood and walked over to where Mulder was quietly waiting,
remaining silent a moment before asking, "How is she?"
Mulder was suprised by this question. He knew of the deal, but he had
never seen his superior worry so blatantly about Scully. In a soft, yet
strong voice, he replied, "She's....well, she says she's fine, sir,
but..."
Skinner understood. Scully was never one to let anything she
perceived as a weakness show. And this was certainly counted. "I see." He
took a deep breath. "Watch out for her, Mulder. Especially on this case."
After Mulder nodded his assent, Skinner waved his hand in a dismissal and
went back to his desk. It was not until Mulder was standing in the doorway
that Skinner said, "Be careful, Agent Mulder. They're still as strong as
ever, and they're not giving up."
Mulder turned his head to look at the A.D., clenched his jaw, then,
without a word, walked out of the office.

Title: Together As One (2/7)
Author: Myshi
Disclaimer, etc: See part 1

I would just like to REALLY THANK my mom for picking up the phone and
disconnecting my modem in the middle of typing this so I had to start
over...I'll make sure to put you in a nursing home featured on 20/20. One
that features bad service. =)

=================================

The next morning they were on the 8 a.m. flight for San Diego. Mulder
sat near the window, and Scully had the aisle. The seat in between them
was empty, mercifully providing some much needed leg room for Mulder. The
trip had been uneventful so far. Mulder looked over at Scully, her glasses
on, her auburn hair falling across her face as she studied the file. This
is all my fault, he thought. She shouldn't be here. This is only going to
hurt her more.
His mind flashed back to the Kurt Crawford case, to what seeing Penny
Northern had done to her. God, it had torn him apart to see her, to know
that Scully would most likely follow within months. He could only imagine
what it had done to her.
"Scully," he said anxiously. He had to know she'd be okay. Really
okay.
She looked up at him, hearing the slight note of discord in his
voice. There were hints of concern in her eyes. "What, Mulder?"
God, he thought. After all I've done, she can still sit there and
worry about ME. "Scully..." he began again, quieter this time. "This
case...are you going to be all right with it?"
"I'll be fine, Mulder," she told him, the usual conviction that
accompanied that statement evident in her voice. Mulder nodded slightly,
turning away to look out the window.
"Okay," he mumbled. Maybe I should just make a recording of that to
save her the trouble, he mused.
They were silent for the rest of the trip.

================================

4 hours after it left Washington, the plane that Special Agents
Mulder and Scully were riding in touched down in San Diego, California.
Shortly thereafter, the two agents were situated in a rental car, an
emerald green Ford Taurus, trying to navigate the way to San Marcos, a
suburb about an hour away.
After reaching the city limits of San Marcos, Mulder pulled over so
they could plot thier way on the map that the rental agency had so
generously given them.
"We're looking for Barham Drive, Scully."
"Okay...turn left at the next light, then a right on Valley, and that
should put us there." The car pulled out onto the road.
They were looking for the home of Lauren Alexander. She was the
leader of the group, called ASA, or Abductees Supporting Abductees. But,
like Betsy Hagopian, they had been unable to contact her. This fact did
not bode well with Mulder.
Minutes later they pulled up into the driveway of a two story brick
home located on a quiet residential street. Mulder reached the oak paneled
door first and knocked.
A brown haired woman answered the door. "Hello," Mulder said,
reaching into his jacket pocket for his I.D. "I'm Special Agent Fox Mulder
from the F.B.I. and this is Agent Dana Scully." He waited as the woman
inspected their badges and then said, "We're looking for Lauren
Alexander."
The woman's expression transformed from one of indifference to one of
sadness. "Oh, I'm sorry. Lauren...she passed away a few weeks ago."
Mulder heard Scully suck in a breath and glanced at her. Her face was
unreadable, but he knew what was going through her mind. It was going
through his too.
"Can I help you with something?" the woman continued, her voice
somber. Her eyes looked at Scully, then Mulder, then moved back to Scully.
"She was head of a group called--" Scully began, but she was
interrupted.
"ASA. Yes. What about it?"
Mulder picked up. "The F.B.I. got a report of a large incidence of
cancer among it's members, along with a large percentage of death." The
last word tore at his heart, but he kept going without letting it show.
"We came to investigate, due to it's similarity to other cases."
The woman's eyes conveyed intrest. "Come in. I'll explain what I
can." She held the door open for the duo, the closed it and led them to a
nicely furnished living room.
"Can I get you anything to drink?" The agents politely declined, and
the woman sat in an oak rocking chair. "My name is Beth Hobbs. I was close
friends with Lauren. I helped lead the group." She took a deep breath
before continuing. "Our group--we've all been taken. That's why we meet,
to try and help each other through the memories and the fears." She got up
and went to her purse which was lying on a table a few feet away.
"This is what started it all," she said, handing Mulder an orange
prescription bottle. He opened it, knowing what lie within. Tipping the
bottle, a metallic rod fell out. Scully gasped when it came into her view.
Beth, however, seemed oblivious, and she continued her narrative.
"I was in a car accident a year ago. I had a cut on my head, so they
insisted on taking some head and neck x-rays and scans to check for
injuries. That's when they found this. I had it removed immediately. None
of us knows what it is."
"From the back of your neck," Scully said softly.
"Yes," Beth said, slightly suprised. "Lauren...she had one removed
about the same time. I met her over the internet, and we lived near each
other. We got together to talk, and gradually we got more members, over
the internet and through word of mouth."
"And all of them had this implant in the base of their necks?" Scully
asked. She knew the answer but she couldn't believe it.
"Yes. We've taken them to scientists, computer experts...no one can
tell us what it is."
"I may be able to help you," Scully said. Mulder glanced at her in
suprise. "I...I had one of these taken from my neck about two years ago. I
had it analyzed. It's a circuit. It's function is unknown, but it may be
able to record brain waves, electrical impulses...."
The woman's expression was one of amazement. "Do...do you have the
cancer?" she asked quietly.
Scully closed her eyes briefly before replying, "Yes."
There was a moment of silence within the room, until Mulder asked,
"Do you have cancer, Ms. Hobbs?"
Her eyes watered as she said, "Yes. All of us do. Lauren, Jenny,
Courtney and Donna have already died from it." She cast her vision
downward. "A few are in the hospital right now. I'm okay for the time
being, but..."
Mulder looked at the distraught woman across from him, and his gaze
shifted to the woman next to him. We have to get out of here, he thought.
On the surface, Scully looked unperturbed. But Mulder knew from years of
experience that she was badly shaken.
"Thank you, Ms. Hobbs," he said, standing. Scully followed his lead,
and the trio walked toward the door as Mulder pulled a business card out
of his pocket and handed it to the lady they had been interviewing. "If
you think of anything, call us." She nodded and closed the door behind
Mulder and Scully.
They had climbed in the car, Mulder driving, before Mulder spoke. Or
opened his mouth, anyway. Scully quieted him with a wave of her hand.
"I know what you're going to say, Mulder. Don't. I'm still not any
more convinced that these women have been abducted by aliens than I was in
Washington." She looked at him, daring him to say something.
"Scully..." he said, feeling incredibly helpless. She was shutting
him out. And he wanted her to do anything but. "I"m just asking you not to
deny the obvious. You can't tell me that this is just some wacky
coincidence!"
"I'm not, any more than I'm saying those implants were generated from
too much cholesterol!! But, Mulder..." she sighed angrily and turned away
from him toward the window. "Mulder, let's go."
Mulder stared at the back of her head, then started the ignition. She
didn't talk to him the entire way to the hotel.

======================================

Scully laid on her bed, staring at the TV, but not really seeing
anything. All she could do was think about Beth Hobbs and the ASA group.
What was going on? It wasn't just limited to one city, one state, or
even one coast. This was a nationwide occurence. The thought both enraged
and terrified her.
She still didn't believe the alien story. But she knew that the
government had some part in this. As much as she wanted to deny it, after
all she had seen....
It's that black-lunged son of a bitch, she thought. He's doing this.
Or his associates. Her thoughts turned toward the Well-Manicured Man, as
she called him, the one who had warned her about the attempt on her life.
There had to be more like him. And agents, like Krychek. And doctors, like
Scanlon.
Does this ever end? she wondered. Maybe I can just wake up and this
will be a bad dream. A bad, bad dream.
Beth Hobbs and her story had affected her more than she let on. It
was just like Penny Northern and Betsy Hagopian. Seeing these people live
the nightmare that was most likely going to be her life in a few months
scared her. Saddened her. Made her want to find whoever was in charge of
this sick program and strangle them with her bare hands.
The worst part was, she thought, was that Mulder had to go through
this too. She hated this, how it made her feel, but Mulder has his guilt.
Which has to be ripping him up. Which is exactly why I can't tell him how
I feel.
At that moment, all the events and emotions of the past few days and
the past few years hit her at full force adn caused her to do something
she rarely did. Dana Scully turned over and cried into her pillow, careful
even in her grief not to let her partner next door overhear her.

========================================

Mulder was lying on his bed, watching some weirdo on Letterman squirt
M&Ms out his nose. Every five minutes or so, his thoughts would drift
right where he didn't want them to be...on Scully.
He knew she was dying. He lived with that fact every minute of every
damned day. Hell, even his nightmares had changed. They weren't about Sam
anymore. He almost wished they were. When he woke up in the middle of the
night sweating and panting, he wasn't dreaming that his sister was being
abducted, that she was being abused, nothing of the sort. When he woke up,
it's because he dreamed that Scully had died and he hadn't told her how he
felt. That she was his best friend. The only one he trusted. That he was
sorry. That he loved her.
The only dream that was worse was the one where she left the X-Files
and then died, resentful of him.

Just thinking about it made him shudder.

And today was horrible. He knew that she was upset, hurting. But he
could do nothing. Partially because she wouldn't let him. And partially
because he wouldn't let himself. Because comforting her would be like
giving up. And there was no way, no way in hell, that he would give up on
her. I would rather die, he vowed.
A little voice began to mock him from a dark corner of his brain. If
she were to die, it said, would it really take you that long to follow?
Mulder pushed it down immediately.
The scary part was, he didn't know the answer.

======================================

The next morning, Mulder knocked on the door that connected his room
to hers. "Scully?" he called. A feeling of panic began to well in his
stomach when she didn't reply. He tried the knob. It turned.
"Scully?" He cried, bursting into the room. He looked to his left as
his partner came out of the bathroom.
"What, Mulder?" Her face was red and flushed, and the front of her
nightshirt had drops of water on it, he guessed from washing her face.
"Mulder?" she asked again, annoyed this time.
"Scully," he said, relief rising in his chest, "not to rush you or
anything, but..." he glanced at his watch. "It's 9:30. We really have to
get going if we want to talk to most of the women today."
Scully sat down on the nearer of the two beds and fixed her gaze on
him. "I'm not going."
"What?" Mulder asked, astonished. He had sudden flashbacks to the Ed
Jense fiasco. That was the only other time she had refused to go along
with him like this. Oh, god. He didn't want to have to deal with *that*
again.
"Mulder, the answers aren't here. These women don't know anyting more
than the women in Allentown did. If the answers are anywhere, they'll be
in Washington."
Mulder was at a loss for words. Anger creeped up on him. She was just
sitting there! She wasn't trying to find the cure. She wasn't even seeking
standard treatment! Suddenly, he wanted to be anyplace but in her company.
"Fine, Scully. But I'm not so quick to give up," he told her, acid
seeping into his voice. "Stay here if you want. I'm going." With that, he
stormed back into his room and grabbed the keys to their car. A door slam
and a squeal of tires later, Scully was alone. She sighed and got into the
shower.

===============================

Title: Together As One (3/7)
Author: Myshi
Disclamier: See part 1
Feedback: I live for feedback! Send to Dawn3793@aol.com.

==========================================

Mulder drove away in a state of anger, but no later than 5 minutes
after
he had left his partner, he regretted it.
I shouldn't have been so harsh, he thought. This has to be hard for
her.
He decided it would be a moot point to go back and apologize, since she
didn't
want to come anyway. He would just make it a point to respect her feelings
a
little more.
He looked at the name that Beth Hobbs had given him when she had
called
earlier that morning. James Miller. He was the computer analyst that had
looked at the chips found in all the women in the ASA group. Mulder hoped
that
this guy could give him more information than Ms. Hobbs.
Half an hour later, Mulder pulled into the parking lot of Henderson
Technologies, Inc. It was a modern, three story office building. Upon
walking
in the door he was met almost immediately with a guard desk, manned by a
fit,
young, bulky, blond haired guy. The word "steroids" coursed through
Mulder's
mind as he showed his badge to the man responsible for security.
"I'm Special Agent Mulder, from the FBI," he said, giving his
standard
introduction. "I'm here to see James Miller."
The guard inspected the I.D., then turned toward a binder full of
laminated pages and started flipping. "Second floor, office 803." He
handed
Mulder a pass that read VISTIOR. "Keep this visible at all times while
inside
the building, and turn it in before you leave." Mulder nodded and walked
toward the elevators, using the time spent waiting for the car to clip his
badge to his jacket.

Office 803 was actually a computer lab. He recognized diagnostic and
repair equipment, along with microscopes, lasers, and such. The left wall
had
two doors, which Mulder presumed led to an office and a storage room.
"Hello?" he asked, stepping into the lab through the door that had
been
left ajar. "Anyone here?"
The right door on the wall opened and a young, dark haired man came
out.
He held out his hand to Mulder. "Can I help you?"
Mulder shook the man's hand. "My name is Fox Mulder, I'm a special
agent
with the Federal Bureau of Investigation." The young man's eyebrows went
up at
this statement, but he said nothing. "I'm here investigating a case
involving
a group called ASA, and they told me that you analyzed some metal rods
that
had been found in their necks."
"James Miller. Yes, I did. They were quite amazing actually," he
said,
walking over to one of the workstations in his lab. "I don't have the
actual
specimens, the women took those with them, but I kept all the data." He
flipped the computer on, and spoke to Mulder while waiting for it to boot
up.
"From what I can tell it's a circuit of some kind. It's circuitry was
amazing.
I wasn't aware that kind of technology even existed yet." He began to type
furiously. "I ran every test I knew of on that chip, but I couldn't figure
out
what it's function was. A-ha!" The young man pointed at the screen.
Mulder studied magnified photographs of the mysterious implant. He
could
see the indents and canals on the metal, but not much else. The man beside
him
typed again. A large data table complete with charts and graphs came up on
the
screen. "I'm curious to what those chips were doing there. All the women
proclaimed ignorance," James told Mulder.
Mulder just shook his head. "We don't know, either. That's what we're
trying to figure out."
His companion seemed to accept this as he said, "Well, given the
location of the chip, I *THINK* that it was used to record either brain or
nerve activity. I'm not sure which or for what purpose. It has the
capability,
I can tell you that. I was unable to retrieve any data from the chip, I'm
sorry."
"No, that's okay. Can you tell me anything else? Who made it, when,
what
it's made out of?"
"I wish I could tell you what it was made out of. The metal was
unidentifiable. No one has ever seen it before. Nor can I tell you when it
was
made." The man looked deep in thought then nodded his head slightly. "But
maybe I can tell you who made it." He typed commands into the computer and
clicked his mouse several times. "There." A different photograph was on
the
screen this time. He circled an area with his finger. "Do you see those
lines?"
Mulder nodded. "Yeah. What about them?"
The young man was already eagerly enlarging the area. "I'd never
thought
much about them before, but there seemed to be a pattern...THERE!!"
Mulder studied the screen. "Can I get a printout of this?"
"Sure." As they waited for the printer to finish, Mulder gave the
young
man one of his business cards. "I would appreciate it if you would analyze
this again, look it over, see if you can find anything else." James
nodded,
then took the piece of paper the printer had just spit out and gave it to
the
FBI agent. "Call me as soon as you find anything."
"No problem. Of course." Mulder nodded goodbye and walked down the
hall
and reentered the elevator. The whole way down his eyes were riveted to
the
printout of the metal chip with "Techron Inc." emblazoned on it's side.

=============================================

The first thing Mulder did when he got back to the hotel was knock on
the connecting door. Like earlier that day, there was no answer. "Scully,
open
the door, I need to talk to you!" he called, but the room beyond the door
remained quiet. He fought down the wave of panic that accompanied his
failure
to find her every time, and tried the door, surprised to find it ajar. He
walked in and quickly surveyed the room. No one.
Oh, god, he thought. Not again. He envisioned the man who had held
Scully captive in exchange for the clone of his sister. He ran back into
his
room and picked up his cellular, hitting the 1 button to speed dial her
number. He let it ring 10 times, then threw the phone down in fury.
Entering
her room again, he started searching for anything that might tell him
where
she had gone, whether willingly or not. His eyes landed on a piece of
paper on
the left side of the TV, where it had been obstructed from his vision
earlier.
He picked it up and began to read.

Mulder--
I figured that as long as we were here I might as well make use of
the
time. I called a cab to take me to the rental agency, where I'm going to
pick
up another car. I have some old med school friends in Escondido, about
half an
hour away. I'll be back tonight.
--Scully

Mulder breathed a sigh of relief upon finding that his partner was
safe,
the relief overshadowing the traces of anger he had about her ditching him
without telling him where she was going first. Well, he thought, at least
she
left you a note. I'm surprised she even did that, considering how many
times
I've left without telling her where I was going.
He put the paper in his pocket and went into his room. It was time
to
start researching the chip. He opened the phone book to find numbers for
computer stores that he may inquire to about the company. Imagine his
surprise
when he found a listing for Techron, Inc., right there in San Marcos. He
wanted to go immediately, but there was something he had to do first.
He picked up his cellphone and dialed the number that he knew ten
times
better than his own. If he let it ring long enough he'd get her voice
mail,
and at least he could leave her a message.
"Scully," came the voice on the other side of the connection.
"Scully, it's me." Mulder heard Scully's muffled voice give an
apology
of sorts to someone in the room with her, then waited as she apparently
moved
into another room.
"What is it, Mulder?" She sounded rather annoyed. In fact, she *was*
rather annoyed. She had been having a great time until Mulder decided to
interrupt.
"Scully, where were you? I just called you and you didn't answer,"
Mulder inquired.
"I barely turned my phone on," Scully told him. "Now what did you
want?"
"Scully, I found something," he began earnestly. "I met with the
computer analyst who examined the chip, and he found a brand name on the
side.
Techron Incorporated."
Scully sighed audibly on the other end. Mulder could almost picture
the
Mulder-you're-being-ridiculous look that she undoubtedly had on her face.
"Mulder, it's most likely false. Why would--" Her routine questioning of
his
theories was interrupted.
"Scully, I found a listing here in San Marcos! It has to be ligit!"
Mulder waited for her reply. When none seemed to be forthcoming, he
questioned, "Scully?"
Scully sat silent on the other end of the line. She DID NOT want to
get
involved. This was just a trap the government had set out for them. She
took a
deep breath and exhaled slowly, trying to keep her emotions in check.
"Mulder...it can't be that easy."
"Scully, who says? Who says that they're not hiding in plain sight??"
Scully didn't like that tone. It was his
I'm-doing-this-and-you're-not-going-
to-stop-me tone. "Fine, Mulder. Whatever."
Mulder paused. He had expected her to come down to investigate with
him.
Apparently she had other plans. "Fine." He went to break the connection,
but
Scully beat him to it.
Mulder stood in the middle of the room, uncertain for a moment as of
what to do. Then he decisively marched out to his car, and went in search
of
Techron headquarters.

45 miles away, Scully stared at her cellular. Something was wrong
with
this. She didn't know what, but something...
After a few minutes, Scully shrugged, trying to get rid of the weight
of
the things Mulder had told her and return her relatively light mood from
before. Mulder would be fine. He wouldn't find anything.
Scully went to join her friends.

==========================================

Title: Togther As One (4/7)
Author: Myshi
Disclaimer, etc: See part 1
Feedback: PLEEAAASSSEEE??? Dawn3793@aol.com!

And now, without further delay...part 4

====================================

Mulder spent the next 20 minutes searching for the elusive Techron
headquarters that were supposedly only 5 miles from his motel. When he
finally pulled into the parking lot, he grabbed the printout James Miller
had
given him, checked to see that he had his identification, and started
toward
the building. Mulder wasn't too optimistic about getting any real answers.
After all, he mused, if this company is involved in a massive interstellar
conspiracy, it's not likely they're going to come right out and admit it.
Still, he hoped to find a piece of information that might point him in the
right direction in his search.
As he entered the building, he was greeted by the sight of a metal
detector. Great, he thought. I *hate* explaining why I have to keep my
weapon.
Sighing, he walked up to the guard manning the checkpoint.
"Can I help you," the middle-aged man asked coolly.
"My name is Special Agent Fox Mulder, FBI," he said, displaying his
badge and ID. "I'm armed," Mulder continued, pulling aside his jacket to
reveal his holster.
"Oh. Well. Hold on a second." The guard retreated to his desk and
picked
up the phone, chatting into it a few moments before returning. "Yeah, you
have
to go see the director of security. Down that hall, third door on your
left,"
he said, pointing.
"Thanks." Mulder walked in the direction he had been instructed,
rolling
his eyes. He hoped that this guy in charge of security wouldn't give him
the
third degree. He came to the door and found it open.
It led into a small outer office, where a young woman was stationed,
presumably as a secretary. She glanced up at him from the latest issue of
Cosmo. "Can I help you?" she asked tiredly.
"Fox Mulder, FBI. I'm here to see the director of security."
The girl picked up the phone and announced his arrival. "Okay, he's
expecting you. Go right back." Mulder thanked the girl and did so.
The director of security for Techron, Inc, was a tall, lean, muscular
fellow. He sat behind a large desk littered with forms, calendars, and
mementos.
"Ah, the grace of the federal government," the man said, giving
Mulder a
sardonic smile. He held out his hand. "I'm Benjamin Wellsby. Have a seat."
Mulder took the man's hand and complied. The man continued, "So,
what's
the problem?"
"I'm a special agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation," he
said,
displaying his badge for the second time in ten minutes. "I carry a
firearm,
and I figured that this would probably be a slight problem with the metal
detector."
"Uh-huh," the man said. "Is there any reason why you have to carry it
around during your visit to Techron? Some of our research is of valuable
nature, and we wouldn't want any security breaches or robberies--you
understand."
Mulder took a deep breath. He *HATED* doing this. Airport security
was
never a problem, nor government institutions. Just closed minded private
corporations who thought that an FBI agent was involved in industrial
espionage. "Sir, as a FBI agent, I need my weapon at all times."
"Well, normally, I'm sure, but we have wonderful security here. You
needn't worry."
Mulder was in no mood for haggling with this man who had delusions of
grand power. "Sir," he said, his voice hard. "I am an *FBI agent*. Do you
understand this? This badge," he said, waving it in the air, "allows me to
carry a firearm. I am trained in handgun safety, and I am certified to
carry
this weapon. I assure you, I am not a spy for a rival company and I am not
a
spy for the government." He smiled inwardly. The irony of that last
statement
was not lost on him. "I realize your fears, but I am here on an
investigation.
I am not leaving my gun. If you try and make me, you will be charged with
obstructing a federal investigation. A felony. One which I'm sure will
hinder
your promotion here at lovely Techron Incorporated."
The man looked at Mulder, slight anger and annoyance in his eyes. He
was
not used to being challenged, and he did not like it. He sighed heavily to
express his unhappiness at this situation. "Fine. Since there does not
seem to
be anything I can do about it, I will inform the security staff of your
situation. *However*, and I cannot stress this enough, if I find that you
acted, in any way, inappropriately the staff I will not hesitate to report
your behavior."
Mulder turned and breezed out of the office. He stopped short at the
door way and said over his shoulder: "Assistant Director Walter Skinner.
He's
heard of me before." At this he left the office, leaving Director of
Security
Benjamin Wellsby staring after him, an expression of something in between
annoyance and hatred playing on his features.

Mulder walked by the guard without a look. It was not until he was
standing in front of the elevators that he realized he had no clue where
he
needed to be. Glancing around, he noticed a girl sitting at a desk marked
"Visitors and Information". Finally, he thought. Someone who might
actually
have muscles not the direct result of drugs.
He walked to the desk, rapping on it to get the girl's attention. He
flashed a smile, hoping that would encourage her to help him. "Hi," he
said
easily. "I'm Special Agent Fox Mulder with the FBI." He showed her his ID.
"Hi," she said kindly. Mulder let loose with another killer smile.
"Can
I help you?"
"Well, actually...I'm not exactly sure where I need to be."
"What do you need?"
"Well, I have this chip that your company made, and I'm curious to
it's
makeup and function. Who would I see for that?"
"Don't you guys have labs for stuff like that?" she asked.
"Well, yeah, but I would rather hear it from the company itself, you
know?" The girl looked at him for a long moment. She was supposed to refer
all
questions to the Department of Public Relations, but....
"Um, a computer chip?" she began. "They're on the third floor, west
wing. We don't make the chips here--our factory is about a mile away, but
maybe they could help? The head of design and development--they would know
*everything* that went through there--is..." she turned toward a printout.
"Is
Nathaniel Greyson. His office should be clearly marked." She returned her
gaze
to the FBI agent who, she thought, was one of the most gorgeous men to be
produced this century. "I hope that helps."
"More than you know. Thanks." He flashed her one more smile before
leaving to board an elevator. The girl immediately picked up the phone and
called her best friend to gossip about the handsome man.

That was too easy, Mulder thought on his way to the third floor.
Scully
always told me that I had an effect on women, but... He smiled. I'll have
to
use that more often.
*Ding*! Mulder stepped off the elevator into a large foyer-type area.
It
had plush couches and chairs. There were three hallways, one to his left,
another to his right, and a final one which led straight ahead. He looked
around, having no clue as to which way to go. Trying to find the
nonexistent
sign that "clearly marked" Nathaniel Greyson's office, Mulder shrugged his
shoulders and turned right.
Mulder walked until the hallway turned right, going toward the back
of
the building. Then he paused, briefly considered asking for directions,
declined that idea, and started walking again. Not 5 more doors down did a
large sign on a wooden door proclaim "Nathaniel Greyson. Department of
Design
and Development." Knocking on the door, Mulder stepped in.
Once again, he stood in a small outer office, manned by another
female
secretary. She looked up from her typing to regard the unfamiliar man.
"Can I help you?"
"Special Agent Fox Mulder, FBI. I'm here to see Nathaniel Greyson."
"Oh, I'm sorry," the woman said, turning her attention back to her
word
processing. "Mr. Greyson is not accepting visitors."
"You don't understand," Mulder said, his voice carrying a hard edge.
"I
am an FBI agent involved in a federal investigation. Mr. Greyson doesn't
really have a choice in the matter." The woman looked up at Mulder,
confusion
in her eyes. She reached for the phone to announce his arrival, but Mulder
stopped her.
"No, that's okay, I'll do it myself," he told her, already walking
into
the office beyond.
The interior office was much larger than the one before it. There was
a
modest wooden desk that 2 plush armchairs sat in front of. Behind it,
there
was a high backed leather chair. It was turned to face the wall, so Mulder
only had a view of the chair, which completely obscured it's occupant, and
a
phone cord stretching around to the other side.
Mulder cleared his throat. "Mr. Greyson."
The man paused, then said to his invisible companion on the other
side
of the phone, "I'll have to get back to you on that, Glenn. Yeah. Okay,
bye."
The next thing Mulder knew, he was staring at none other than Kurt
Crawford.
"Agent Mulder," he began, a slight smile gracing his features. "I
knew
you'd find me."
Mulder was at a loss for words. "Crawford...you're in on this?"
"Agent Mulder, please have a seat." He waited until the agent had
complied and continued. "Don't be getting any images of me as a double
agent
who misled you in Allentown. My objective is the same as those that you
met in
the Lombard research facility."
"How?" Mulder asked. "Do you have--" he was cut off by the ringing of
his cell phone. "Hello?" he asked, agitated by this interruption.
"Mulder!" Scully said. "What's wrong?" She could sense the annoyance
in
his voice.
"Nothing, Scully," he replied, glancing at his watch. Damn it! He had
totally forgotten when she said she'd be back. "Are you at the hotel,
Scully?"
"Yeah. Where are you?"
"Um, just following up on some leads that the women gave me, Scully."
"When will you be back?" she asked. She knew *something* was going
on.
He just wouldn't tell her.
"Soon, Scully...look, I can't talk right now. I'll call you later."
He
hung up. He returned his gaze to the hybrid in front of him.
"So now what?"
"Now, Agent Mulder, we meet with someone sent with more answers than
I
possess." He rose and left the office wordlessly, and Mulder followed
without
comment.

====================================

Scully stared at the phone in her hands. Mulder had just ditched her.
Again.
Well, it's not as if you can blame him this time, she told herself.
You
ditched him first! But still...
Her trip to see her medical school friends had been enjoyable. Her
roommate and best friend from med school had married one of her male
friends.
They had done well for themselves, and she enjoyed catching up with them
after
nearly five years with no contact. But the entire time, she felt guilty,
and
it had kind of overshadowed the whole reunion.
The thing that was eating away at her the most were Mulder's last
words
to her before storming out of the hotel that morning. About giving up. It
was
bugging her because she thought that maybe she saw some thread of truth to
it.
She wasn't resigned to her fate as of yet. Oh no. And she certainly
had
no intention of just sitting back and accepting this cancer, without one
hell
of a fight to find who did this and the cure. She didn't think she was
giving
up; however, after thinking about it the entire ride home, she decided
that
maybe she was...
I don't know what to call it! she thought in frustration. I just...I
just don't want to see those other women. It's almost as if I do, it'll
make
it...
"Real?" she questioned out loud. She sighed. She didn't know what to
think. Sitting down on the bed, she had an epiphany of sorts.

She missed Mulder.

God, Dana, haven't *we* become co-dependent? She shook her head, a
self-
depreciating smile playing on her lips. Co-dependency or not, it was true.
She
missed him. Gone for one day, and she missed him. Lately, it seemed, when
she
was without him, she was...empty.
No, not *just* lately, she corrected herself. How long, then? A
month? A
year?
Since the beginning, a little voice her. You've needed him since the
beginning.
And she had. The cancer had just acted like a catalyst to make her
realize it. She had always tried to minimize their time apart. As had
Mulder.
Phone calls. Staying at the office late. Getting dinner together. She
needed
Mulder, and she was pretty sure that Mulder needed her. Which was another
reason she didn't want to meet any more of those dying women.
Because if she did, she would have to face the fact that *she* was
dying. And what effect her death would have on Mulder.
Suddenly, she had a very bad feeling in the pit of her stomach. It
was
the same feeling she had had after Mulder's phone call, but a thousand
times
worse. Something *WAS* wrong. She had to find him.
She opened her phone book and ripped out the page containing the
listing
for Techron, Inc. Then she ran to her car and went to find Mulder.

==================================

Continued in part 5.....

Title: Together As One (5/7)
Author: Myshi
Disclaimer, etc: See part one
Feedback: At Dawn3793@aol.com

======================================

Mulder followed Kurt into the Techron factory. "This is where we're
going to find our answers?" Kurt opened his mouth to reply.
"Yes," a voice said. But it wasn't Kurt's voice. It was familiar to
Mulder. He spun around.
"Scully!" He was incredibly surprised to see her there. "Scully--what
are you doing here?"
"It's not Scully, Mulder," Kurt said quietly.
"What do you mean it's not Scully?" Mulder asked incredulously. "I
think
I know my own partner. That is most definitely Scully!"
"She's a clone, Mulder."
Mulder gaped at Kurt, open-mouthed. He couldn't be serious. Mulder
told
him so. "You can't be serious," he whispered.
Kurt nodded. "I am. When they took her, they not only took her eggs.
They took several tissue and blood samples. Out of these they extracted
DNA,
and, thus, made clones."
Mulder was overwhelmed. "How many?" was the only thing he could say.
"They didn't create clones of the others. There was never any need.
They
just began on Scully. There are only 2 so far...they held off on making
any
more until it proved necessary."
"What--what do they need them for??" Mulder, in all his believing
glory,
was having a extremely hard time dealing with this.
"Mulder, you and Scully are getting close to the truth. Incredibly
close. They figured that if you ever get close enough where you risk
exposing
them, they could take Scully and replace her with one of the clones. The
clone
would then use your trust and loyalty to steer you away from that truth."
Those last few sentences cut through the haze of thought that had
descended on Mulder's mind and made his blood boil. Use her to mislead
him. Oh
god. Hundreds of thoughts raced through Mulder's mind: Where were the
clones?
Where was the DNA? How could he safeguard against them replacing her?
First
and foremost, *How was he going to tell Scully?* Was he going to tell
her?? He
opened his mouth to fire some of these questions at Kurt Crawford, but
Crawford beat him to it.
"The DNA is--was--at the Lombard Research Facility. The clones that
you
met there took care of it when they found out about this project. The
material
no longer exists. There should be no more clones. As for the two that
already
do exist...they are both here. They know more about this project than I
do. I
think you should talk to them."
Mulder nodded mutely, then turned to Scully--the *clone* of Scully--
that had been standing patiently to the side as Kurt had explained all
this.
"What...what do I call you?" he asked weakly.
The clone flashed him one of the megawatt smiles that Scully so
rarely
bestowed on him. Oh, god. His stomach was turning at that thought, because
he
would have never have known the difference if they had replaced Scully
with a
clone. At least not by outer appearances. "You can call me Katherine."
Mulder
just stared at her.
"Follow me," she said, and turned and began to briskly walk in the
other
direction. Mulder, still dazed by this recent turn of events, simply
watched
her go until Kurt nudged him.
The men's longer legs allowed them to catch up with the shorter
female
almost instantly. The trio walked through a maze of machinery for awhile,
every so often proceeding up or down a metal staircase.
"This is where Techron produces all of it's electronics. Including
the
metal chips being found in the women."
"What are the chips supposed to do?" Mulder asked, suddenly aware
that
this clone may hold some very important answers.
"I'll tell you in a few minutes. My counterpart knows more of the
technical information. I'm more knowledgeable about the project overview.
It
doesn't really make sense unless we tell you together." Mulder nodded his
understanding, and a few minutes later they came to a door. Katherine
opened
it, and the men followed her inside.
Beyond the door lay a lab much like the ones he had seen in the
headquarters. Several computer workstations, two desks, equipment for
which
Mulder had no idea about it's intended purpose. And in the far corner of
the
room, a short red-haired woman stood. She turned as they entered.
"Agent Mulder," she said by way of greeting. She nodded to Katherine
and
Kurt, both of which joined her on the other side of the room. Mulder
waited
for someone to speak.

==================================

Scully ran into the Techron building. Looking around, she tried to
find
anything or anyone who might be able to give her a lead on Mulder's
whereabouts. Her eyes lit up when they landed on the security guard. She
glanced at her watch--15 till 6. Mulder had called her from here three
hours
ago. So it should be the same guard.
She walked up to him and flashed her ID before he knew what was going
on. "I"m Special Agent Dana Scully. I'm looking for my partner. He was
here
about three hours ago. I was--" Her oratory abruptly ended as the guard
cut
in.
"Yeah, I remember him. Tall guy, dark hair?" At Scully's affirmative
nod, he continued, "Yeah, he had a gun, so he went back to see the
Security
Director. He left about an hour ago with the Director of Design. They were
going to the factory."
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah. I gave them the key myself."
"Thanks," Scully called, already halfway out the door. She jumped in
her
car and sped away.

=================================

Mulder sat silent as the clones before him told him a story.
Actually,
Katherine and Kurt told him a story. The other clone of Scully, who hadn't
identified herself, simply sat there, nodding at appropriate times to
affirm
what the others were saying.
The confrontation had taken a slow start. It had taken Mulder several
minutes to regain his composure at seeing the two Scully clones side by
side.
After he had finally let them know he could absorb information, Kurt had
started a long winded lecture, most of it detailing things Mulder already
knew--the human ova, the many, many Kurt Crawford hybrids. Then Kurt began
detailing the kinds of tests that abductees had to endure, including
Scully.
Mulder had refused to listen to it after he began discussing something
called
"Pain Enduration Index."
Then Katherine had stepped in, telling him what the aliens hoped to
accomplish. Colonization. It had already begun. Again, this was nothing
new.
His sister--the *clone* of his sister, Mulder had ferverently reminded
himself--had described all this to him. This review had taken almost an
hour,
and these were things he already understood. He began to fear what exactly
the
new stuff entailed.
As Katherine finished, silenced reigned over the room. Kurt and
Katherine looked to their counterpart expectantly. Mulder's gaze wandered
between all three, not knowing what was going on. Finally, the clone
picked up
a metal object and silently turned toward Mulder, who drew a sharp breath
when
he realized what it was.
"Before we tell you all that's happening," the Scully clone said, in
a
tone of voice that made Mulder's mind flash back to that first case in
Oregon,
when he was telling Scully about his sister. It was that compassionate
voice,
the calming one. The one that made him want to believe everything would be
fine. "We want to show you this. We think that it will help you not feel
so
helpless."
Mulder spoke for the first time in an hour. "I know what that is.
Hell,
I've HANDLED one of those before. It's how you kill them."
"And hybrids," Kurt piped up.
"Clones?" Mulder asked his gaze directed towards Kurt. A loud gasp
made
him divert it a few feet to Kurt's left. He saw one of his worst
nightmare's
being played out in his real life.
Scully was lying on the floor, blood pouring out of a wound in her
chest. It's not her it's not her IT'S NOT HER!!! Mulder repeated this
mantra
over and over again in his head, trying desperately to calm the panic and
fear
rising in his heart. IT'S NOT HER DAMN IT!!! IT'S A CLONE!!! Everything in
his
body screamed for him to get up and go to her, but he couldn't.
Katherine. KATHERINE was lying on the floor, in a pool of her own
blood-
--green, Mulder noted--that was flowing out of a hole that seemed to be
directly over her heart. The presence of the discolored blood cleared
Mulder's
mind, and he looked up to see what was going on.
He shifted his gaze just in time to see the other Scully clone reach
behind Kurt, who was still staring at her dumbfounded, and pierce the base
of
his skull. He immediately dropped to the floor, lifeless. Seconds later
his
face turned green and began to warp and collapse into itself. Mulder
turned
his head and saw Katherine's face mimicking Kurt's. He also saw the
Scully-
clone withdraw the metal rod from the base of Katherine's skull.
FBI training finally kicked in, and Mulder pulled his Sig Sauer out
of
his holster and trained it on the clone. She put a small, wicked smile on
her
face that made Mulder shudder. It was so out of place on Scully's
features.
"Agent Mulder." She waved the metal pick around as she began walking
at
a languid pace, staying on the other side of the room. She sighed. "If
only
they had lived by your motto. Trust no one, isn't it?" Mulder stared at
her,
shocked.
"Oh, Mulder, c'mon," she said, crossing her arms over her chest and
assuming her Mulder-that-theory-is-ridiculous-you-can't-be-serious pose.
SCULLY's pose. "You didn't think it would be that easy, did you? That the
rebels would just be able to give you the answers and all would be right?"
She
smirked. "Yeah, right."
She began to advance on him. "This was too easy. They didn't really
want
me to have to kill them." She gestured to the two puddles of green ooze.
"But
they were expendable. They're sick of you. They want you gone." She was
about
15 feet away at this point.
Mulder's mind was whirring. Shoot her! one voice commanded. She's
going
to kill you! It's Scully! another called. It's not either! Do it!! And so
on
raged the battle between what his brain said and what his heart told him.
10
feet.
How do you know it'll do anything? he heard. Doesn't matter! It'll
distract her! Do it! I can't! Do it!

1 pound on the 4 pound trigger.

She was going slowly, as if enjoying his state. 8 feet.

2 pounds on the four pound trigger.

3 feet. 3 pounds. Sweat beaded along Mulder's forehead.
Ohmigodohmigodohimgodicantshootscullyyouhavetoitsnothericantyouhavetoicant
....

She was directly in front of him. The barrel of his gun rested upon
her
chest. She raised her arm calmly, running the metal tip against the skin
of
his arm, teasing him.

3 and a half pounds. He clenched his eyes shut. Call it.
*BANG*
Some force knocked Fox Mulder against the wall, sending him into
unconsciousness and thankfully silencing the voices in his head.

===================================

Title: Together As One (6/7)
Author: Myshi
Disclaimer, etc: See part 1
Feedback: Dawn3793@aol.com

==================================

"Mulder," a voice called. "Mulder!" And with this, Fox Mulder was
pulled
from his warm, safe haven of sleep and wrenched into the world of the
living.
He cracked his eyes open.
The first thing he noticed was the light, directly over his head. He
clenched his eyes shut again. "Too bright," he mumbled. Immediately, the
light
dimmed. "Better?" the voice spoke again.
Mulder opened his eyes cautiously, and when he was greeted by no
offensive light he opened them fully. The first thing he saw was Scully.
"Scully?" he asked, slowly sitting up against the headboard. He was
in
his hotel room, he noticed. Okay... His head hurt like hell. Suddenly the
events just prior to his nap came rushing back to him, and he moved
quickly to
other side of the bed, looking around for his gun.
"Mulder, relax! It's me." When Mulder looked at her for confirmation,
she nodded. Bringing his hazel eyes to meet the cerulean that she
possessed,
he bore deeply into them for a few moments and found what he desperately
had
needed to see there. Slumping against the headboard, he sighed. While you
may
be able to copy physical characteristics, no one could imitate the
feelings
that Scully's eyes displayed for him--only for him.
"What--what happened?" He winced as he turned his head to look at
her.
"Don't you remember, Mulder?" Scully was concerned. After he had been
knocked out at the factory, she had had him taken to the hospital to be
checked out. He was unconscious or semi-conscious the whole time. The
doctors
had given him a clean bill of health, save for a few cuts and a nasty bump
on
his head, but memory loss was a sign of concussion. Maybe they missed
something....
Mulder closed his eyes. "I remember. I think."
"Tell me what happened, Mulder. From the time you got to Techron,
Incorporated."
"I went to Techron right after I called you. I went to see the head
of
design and development. They said if anyone knew about the chip it would
be
him." He took a deep breath, opened his eyes and looked straight into
hers.
"It was Crawford, Scully. He...he took me to the factory, said that his
counterparts would offer more answers than he. So we went. And...." He
paused.
After about a minute, Scully prompted him. "And?"
"And...you were there, Scully. They..." Mulder suddenly found himself
trying to combat the obstacle of a giant lump in his throat. "They had
made
clones of you, Scully. Two. Kurt said that the clones at Lombard destroyed
your samples so no more could be made."
Scully breathed a sigh of relief. She hadn't had much time to worry
about that, with watching over Mulder, but it had been ringing at the back
of
her mind since they had left the factory in an ambulance. "They were going
to
use them against me, Scully. They were going to use YOU against me!"
Scully's
feeling of relief inexplicably disappeared.
"What?" she whispered, horrified. To use his trust in her to betray
him...the thought made her sick.
"They...they were worried about us, Scully. They thought...they
thought
that if we ever got too close...to the truth....they could just...take
you....again....and replace you...and the clone was supposed to lead me
away...." He stopped, trying to get his voice under control. It didn't
seem to
want to work anymore.
Scully stared at her partner, dumbfounded. "Ohmigod," was all she
said.
Mulder continued, "I met one...she met us at the front. We went to
the
back room, where I met the other one."
"Kurt told me everything that I already knew from him, and
Katherine...she was the first clone," he explained at Scully's look of
surprise. "Katherine told me everything the clones of Samantha told me."
"Then it was the other clone's turn. She took out the ice pick,
explained it was how you killed hybrids and aliens...next thing I knew,
Katherine and Kurt were dead. She told me that it could never be that
easy."
His voice broke, remembering how Scully had told him the same thing that
morning.
"She was coming toward me, and I knew she was going to kill me,"
Mulder
said, his eidetic memory playing the scene like a film. Scully simply
listened, amazement written all over her face. "I drew my gun...I couldn't
shoot her. She was right there..." he closed his eyes. "Point blank. And
she
was going to kill me...and I couldn't decide...I knew it wasn't you, but I
couldn't shoot...it was you, for godsakes, and I couldn't do it...there
was a
shot, and then..." Mulder opened his eyes and gestured helplessly. "And
then
this. I don't know how I shot her..."
"You didn't. I did," Scully stated matter-of-factly. At Mulder's
confused and amazed gaze, she said, somewhat sheepishly, "I followed up on
you, Mulder. I got back, and you were gone, and something...was wrong. I
went
to Techron and they told me where you were." Now it was Scully's turn to
close
her eyes as the scene that she would likely never forget unfolded for yet
another time.
"I got in there, and found the office...the door was open. I saw the
gun, I saw the pick...I saw you. I...shot her. I didn't see WHO I shot
till I
went to you. Her face--her entire head, actually-had been obscured by some
equipment."
"The force knocked her into you. You hit your head on a table and
were
knocked out." Mulder was stunned as Scully went from quiet to enraged,
rising
from the bed. "It was a stupid shot! Stupid, stupid, STUPID!!!"
"What??"
"When she fell...she almost stabbed you with the pick." Scully sighed
in
frustration. "I could have killed you, Mulder! A shot a few more inches to
the
left on my part would have sent that pick into your heart!!!! I should
have
BEEN there, Mulder." She sat heavily on the other bed in the room. "You
would
think that after what happened with Ed Jense I would've learned my lesson,
right?"
Mulder flinched just *hearing* that name, but he kept his emotions in
check. He mumbled something unintelligible to Scully. "What?"
"I said," he said, meeting her eyes, "that you didn't. You didn't
kill
me. You *saved* my life, Scully." She opened her mouth to reply, but he
silenced her with a wave of his hand. Rising from the bed and banishing
his
headache to the tiny part of him that wasn't occupied with Dana Scully
right
then, he sat by her. "And I don't want to hear about not being there. It
was
one time, Scully. A perfectly justifiable time." He lowered his head. "I'm
the
one who should be apologizing."
Scully was taken aback. "For what?" she asked incredulously.
Mulder looked at her, an amazed expression on his face that she
didn't
already see it. "Scully--I dragged you in here. I *knew* it would be hard
for
you, but then I ran off!" Mentally he kicked himself for his stupid
behavior.
His hindsight was always perfect--but *only* his hindsight, it seemed.
Scully returned his amazed gaze with one of disbelief. "Mulder. I
made
the decision to come out here. I knew what it was going to entail. And I
*let*
you run off--almost getting you killed in the process."
"But Scully..." Mulder raked his fingers through his hair. How could
he
tell her this without making her angry? "I know how...umm....I mean, I
know
that you don't...."
"Spit it out, Mulder."
"When you said you were fine...on the plane...I kind of took it at
face
value. When I knew that I shouldn't. And then this morning....I shouldn't
have
just ran off. I should have known...what was going on...that you don't
like to
show your feelings to me..." Mulder waited for her upset outburst.
"Mulder, you're right." Mulder slowly raised his eyes to meet hers.
"Wow, Scully, didn't think I'd live to see the day where you
confessed
that to me," he smirked, a small smile on his face.
"No, really. I don't like to show you what I'm feeling." She broke
eye
contact and became interested in the pattern in the carpeting as she said,
in
a very low voice, "I'm afraid that if I do, you'll feel like you can't
rely on
me. And...that's the last thing I want."
It was silent for a long moment as Mulder regarded Scully in
disbelief.
"What???" he finally managed to stutter out. His heart wrenched. Scully
didn't
want to betray *his* trust in *her*. He made her feel that much more pain.
To
the point she couldn't even share the pain she was already feeling.
"Scully,
look at me." When she didn't reply, he gently placed a finger under her
chin
and made her comply.
"Scully," he said in a quiet, serious voice. "That is the most
ridiculous thing I have ever heard. Not trust you? Rely on you? Scully, I
trust you more than I have trusted *anyone*. I will *always* rely on you.
No
display of pain or sadness is going to change that." He got up and walked
away
from her to look out the window. "Especially when I made you feel it."
Scully froze as she heard those words. "Mulder..." she slowly rose,
going to join him. "What are you talking about?"
Mulder looked down at her, his pain evident in his eyes. "Scully,
come
on. You can't honestly say that you don't blame me for this. Your
abduction. I
should have been home for that! I should've..." he punctuated his words
with
frustrated sigh, all the while keeping his voice low and even. "And
Pfaster..God, Scully, two seconds, TWO *measly* seconds later and I would
have
been too late! Same thing with Schauz." He paused a moment, and his voice
dropped to a whisper. "Scully...Melissa...your cancer...it's all my
fault."
Guilt, Scully realized. That was what had been in his eyes since her
abduction. God, Dana, what took you so long, she chasited herself.
"No, Mulder, I don't." Mulder whipped his head to look at her. "I
don't
blame you for any of it--I never have. And I didn't know that you did, or
I
would have told you that a lot sooner." Scully felt her heart twist as
Mulder
looked at her incredulously. He was used to people telling him things
*were*
his fault. Since his sister's abduction. Scully didn't know what Mulder
needed
her to do right now, so she opted not to do anything at all.
"Scully..." Mulder was at a loss for words. Instead he let his eyes
speak for him. Scully nodded.
"I know." She held his gaze a few moments more, then returned her
bed,
where she proceeded to lie down. She flipped on the TV. Neither she nor
Mulder
were good at things like this, and she sensed they could both use a
distraction.
Mulder closed his eyes thankfully as she flipped on the television.
She
had to have been reading his mind. He stood there, watching her intently
try
to decide between a rerun of "The Simpsons" or David Letterman, until she
abruptly stopped flipping at looked at him.
"What?" he asked, confused.
"Are you going to stand there all night or come lie down?"
Mulder stared at her for a moment before going to her and lying down
on
the other side of the bed, putting his hands behind his head. Scully chose
"The Simpsons" --much to Mulder's surprise--and they were quiet as they
watched Bart get in trouble again with Principal Skinner.
This is nice, Mulder thought. If someone had asked him what he
expected
to be doing on this case, lying on a bed with Scully watching "The
Simpsons"
would have been the last thing he would have said. But, here, tonight, it
felt--right. Lately--ever since the Leonard Betts case--he had felt like
there
was a rift in their relationship. Something had happened. He couldn't
place
it, but something was there, keeping them apart. But, now, that seemed to
have
disappeared. They were a team again. Totally. Even closer than they had
been
before. And Mulder was infinitely glad.
Scully lay on her bed, content with life for the time being. She and
Mulder were back to normal. Her reassurance that nothing was his fault
seemed
to heal him, more or less, and his assurances to her had certainly helped
her.
She felt like they were closer than they ever had been. Because they had a
deeper knowledge of each other. And right then, she wanted to be no where
else
in the world than laying beside her partner.
Scully shivered. "Cold?" Mulder asked.
"I'm f--" Scully cut her normal reply short. If this was to work, if
they wanted their relationship to stay like this, they had to be more
open,
she reminded herself sternly. "Yeah, a little," she told him instead.
Mulder smiled a little at that answer and pulled her to him, bringing
his arms around her shoulders. He felt her stiffen, then slowly relax.
"Better?"
"Yeah." Scully was surprised. She forced herself to relax. After all,
they were partners, best friends. They weren't doing anything. She was
surprised to find how good this felt.
"The Simpsons" ended, but was followed by a message to stay tuned for
another episode. The duo sat through the commercials in silence. The
tension
from earlier seemed to have dissipated. The silence was companionable, and
each slowly got lost in their thoughts. Both jumped slightly when Mulder's
cell phone rang.
"Sorry," he apologized, reluctantly leaving her side. He picked up
the
phone. "Mulder."
"Agent Mulder," barked Skinner's voice. "I'm sorry to call so late,
but
I have news." Skinner's voice carried an implication that made Mulder
nervous.
He glanced at Scully. "I'll be right back," he mouthed, then went into his
room and shut the door.
"Yes, sir?"
"Agent Mulder, is Scully with you?"
"In the other room. What's going on?" Mulder wanted to know *now*.
"Agent Mulder...you're aware of the...agreement...I made?"
Mulder swallowed a wave of fury that inexplicably followed the
implication of the Cancer Man. "Yes, sir, I am."
"I received some news this evening. I want you to take Agent Scully
directly to the nearest hospital and have her checked with an MRI."
Mulder fought the urge to run to Scully. "Sir?" he said, his voice
laced
with panic. It must have been perceptible even to Skinner, for he spoke
gently.
"Mulder, calm down. Take her to the hospital. It's not an emergency.
Don't kill yourself trying to get there. Get the MRI. Call me as soon as
you
get the results. I'll be at my office."
"Sir? MRI results normally take awhile--"
"I don't care. Pull rank, use your badge, whatever. Get those results
ASAP. Understood?"
"Yes, sir," Mulder said. She was fine, his inner voice screamed at
him.
Calm down! Yet he could not get rid of the knot quickly forming in his
stomach. He broke the connection and rushed into Scully's room.
"Mulder?" she asked, aware that something was wrong.
"Scully, that was Skinner. We have to get to the hospital."
"Why? A development in the case?" She was confused as to why Mulder
was
so rushed.
"No, Scully. Skinner wants you do get a MRI immediately." He saw fear
well up in her newly unguarded eyes, and tried to strike it down. "He said
it
would be fine...I don't know, Scully, come on!"
She silently nodded, and they climbed in their rental, driving into
the
dark night.

================================

Title: Together As One (7/7)
Author: Myshi
Disclaimer, etc: See part 1
Feedback: Dawn3793@aol.com

And now, the finale....

================================

Half an hour later, Scully and Mulder pulled up in front of Austin
Memorial Hospital. Mulder took a deep breath, and looked to Scully, whose
gaze
was diverted out the window. He took her hand, and she looked at him,
startled.
"Hey," he said softly. "It's going to be okay. I'm going to be with
you,
okay?" Scully nodded. Mulder squeezed her hand, then released it and got
out
of the car.
The duo walked in the front entrance. "Agents Scully and Mulder?"
They
turned their heads simultaneously as a young doctor came up to them.
"Yes?" Mulder asked, suspicious.
"I'm Doctor Quinn Vilhamey. Assistant Director Skinner called me
about
15 minutes ago and asked me to set up an MRI. He said to tell you," he
said,
pointing at Mulder, "that he said not to kill yourself, not to go 2 miles
an
hour." He shrugged. "Anyway, the MRI suite is ready, so if you'll follow
me..."
As Mulder and Scully trailed behind Dr. Vilhamey, Mulder glanced at
his
watch, and wondered what it was costing the Bureau to get someone out to
the
hospital at 11:30 at night. As the Doctor turned left, Mulder placed his
hand
in the small of Scully's back. She flashed him a grateful look.
As they came in front of a room, Dr. Vilhamey turned to Scully and
said,
"We're going to skip the paperwork and the changing right now. I
understood
this to be of the utmost importance?" Mulder gave him a nod in the
affirmative, and Quinn continued, "Since we're only scanning your head,
Dr.
Scully, it's not necessary for you to change." He led the pair into a
small
outer room, with a glass divider separating it from the scanning chamber.
"Wait here, please."
Scully looked back at Mulder apprehensively as the Doctor led her to
the
bulky machine; Mulder gave her a small smile of support. Then she climbed
on
to the table, had her head immobilized, and was loaded into the MRI
machine.
The Doctor came back through the door and immediately started speaking to
Mulder.
"Normally scan results are printed and sent to a lab for diagnosis
and
double checking, but I'm going to give you a diagnosis right now. Okay?"
Mulder nodded and gestured for the doctor to get on with it. He hit an
intercom and said, "Ready, Dr. Scully?"
"Yeah."
"Okay, here we go." He hit a button and sat back, apparently waiting
for
the machine to do it's thing. Mulder, for his part, paced, as diagrams
that
made no sense to him came up on a TV monitor in front of the doctor.
40 minutes later, Quinn got up and released Scully, who then joined
the
men in the waiting room. Mulder placed a supportive hand on her back as
Scully
demanded, "Well??"
"Agent Scully," Dr. Vilhamey began hesitantly, "you've been diagnosed
with cancer for approximately 4 months?"
"Yes..."
"This is very odd..." he looked over some printouts again. Mulder
gritted his teeth. "Agent Scully...the cancer has disappeared."
Mulder felt his mouth drop. Scully just said, "Excuse me?"
"The tumor is gone. Completely."
Mulder felt Scully go limp and grasped her arm to keep her upright.
"Are
you sure?" he demanded.
"Positive. Agent Scully--you're healed."
Scully turned to Mulder, amazement all over her features. Suddenly, a
full fledged grin appeared and she hugged him. He wrapped his arms around
her
and held her, savoring this moment.
"It's done, Mulder. I don't know how, but...." she whispered into his
chest.
"I know, Scully," he said, stroking her hair. "I know."
"Well," Dr. Vilhamey said, clearing his throat, "I'll be outside." He
exited the room quickly.
Scully pulled back. "Mulder," she said abruptly, "how did Skinner
know?"
"I don't know...I have to call him." He reached for his cell phone
and
dialed Skinner's office.
"Skinner."
"Sir, it's Mulder."
"Agent Mulder! Took your damn sweet time getting there. So?" he
sounded
eager and reluctant all at the same time.
"It's gone sir," Mulder told him, grinning like an idiot at Scully.
"Excuse ME?"
"Gone. Completely. She's cured."
Skinner sat there, gaping at the receiver. Finally he brought it back
to
his ear and said, "The bastards honored the deal."
"Sir, if you don't mind me--" Mulder was cut off as Scully grabbed
the
phone from him.
"Sir."
"Agent Scully. Hello. I'm glad to hear the news."
"Thank you sir." She flashed Mulder a smile before returning to her
superior. "Sir, I wanted to know how you knew."
"Pardon?"
"How you knew to send us here."
"Agent Scully, that's not important..."
"The hell it isn't!" Scully was getting upset. "What the hell
happened?"
"Agent Scully...I made a deal," Skinner whispered resignedly. "For
your
recovery, I became their...gofer, I suppose."
Scully sat silent for a moment before asking, "Why?"
"Because you and Mulder are the only hope to blow this thing out of
the
water. And Mulder can't do anything without you. It was necessary."
Scully felt tears sting the backs of her eyes. "Sir...thank you. I
can't
thank you enough...."
"You're welcome, Agent Scully. Now may I please talk to Mulder?"
Scully
nodded and handed the phone back to her partner.
"Sir?" he asked.
"Go back to the hotel, get some sleep, and come home tomorrow. I want
to
see you in my office first thing when you return. Goodbye." Skinner hung
up,
and Mulder slowly returned his cell phone to his pocket.
"Come on, Scully," he said, and led her out to the hallway. They bid
farewell to Dr. Vilhamey, and returned to the car.
This time, when Mulder took Scully's hand, she didn't jump in
surprise.
She only smiled at him.

==================================

Mulder opened Scully's door for her and watched as she threw herself
on
her bed, a small smile in place on his face.
"I can't believe it, Mulder. I should call my mother...but I'm too
tired." She collapsed against the pillows.
"Don't worry about it, Scully," he said. "I'll let you sleep.
Goodnight." He got no further than two steps toward his door when Scully
spoke.
"Mulder?" she asked tentatively. "Do you think that...maybe you could
stay here?"
He turned and smiled reassuringly at her. "Of course." He laid down
beside her, his head propped up by his hand, looking at his partner. She
shivered.
"Cold?" he asked for the second time that night. She shook her head.
"Overwhelmed."
He drew her into his arms again, and they quickly resumed their
positions from earlier. Mulder reached up and turned off the lamp, and the
two
lay in the dark, Mulder's head resting upon hers.
"Mulder?"
"Hmmmm?"
"Why do you think Skinner made that deal?" she knew Skinner's end,
but
she wanted a view from the person she trusted most.
"Because I wanted to make one."
Scully couldn't believe her ears. "What??"
"I was going to make that deal, Scully. I was completely ready.
Skinner
wouldn't let me."
"But, Mulder....why?"
Mulder's voice was very tiny as he spoke. "Some of it was guilt. Some
of
it was obligation. But I...I couldn't let you go. I need you. I was afraid
of
what would happen if you died...." Mulder trailed off, unable to trust his
voice any longer.
Scully's eyes filled with tears. "Thank you," she whispered.
"For what?"
"For doing that. Being ready to give up your life for me." She took
one
of his hands and held it to her cheek.
"Scully--you've already done that for me." He leaned over and kissed
her
cheek. "Thank you."
Scully smiled and allowed herself to relax, content in Mulder's arms.
Mulder watched her doze off and, once she was asleep, whispered in her
ear, "I
love you, Scully." He placed a hand on her cheek.
Scully turned her head and kissed his palm. "I love you too, Mulder."

Mulder smiled. "I thought you were asleep."
"Sorry," she told him.
"So...." he began.
"So what?" she asked.
"Um...where do we go from here?" Mulder swallowed. Even if she loved
him, he may have just ruined the best thing in his life. He tried not to
panic."I mean, Bureau rules..."
Scully scoffed goodnaturedly. "Come on, Mulder. Skinner...look what
he
did. Do you honestly think he's going to split us up?"
Mulder nodded. "You're right, Scully."
Scully feigned shock. "I never thought I'd hear you say that," she
said,
echoing his sentiment from earlier.
"Yeah, well, enjoy it while it lasts." His smile faded. "Really,
Scully...what are we doing?"
Scully sighed. "Mulder--I think this will work," she said seriously.
"I
do. We will *make* it work. But right now...let's not worry about it,
okay?"
"Okay." Scully turned to look back at her partner. He brought his
face
down to hers and kissed her. It was short and sweet and full of promise.
Scully turned back around, and settled back into the pillows.
Mulder kissed the top of his partner's head and closed his eyes. For
some reason, he knew everything would work out, FBI, consortium and all.
And
he knew Scully felt the same way. That night, the two of them, in each
other's
arms, had the best sleep either of them had ever had.
Because, finally, after all the science versus paranormal theories,
the
arguing, the ditching, the hidden feelings, and the anger, they were
finally
what they had been striving to be for years.

Together as one.

==============================

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