RATING: PG-13

CATEGORY: MSR with a bit of MulderTorture

FEEDBACK: Please! I love feedback! I will accept all types of email. Email me at jill@tctc.com Thanks

ARCHIVE: Feel free to archive. Just let me know where it's going and please keep my name and email attached. Thanks

DISCLAIMER: All characters belong to CC, David Duchovny, Gillian Anderson, and 1013 Productions. No infringement intended. Please don't sue!

THANKS: Kim for always emailing me and telling me to write another story!

AUTHOR'S NOTE: This is my second story. The first one was called We Go Together. It can be found at MTA and the Heavens of Love. This story was written before Mulder's basement office burnt down. Culver, Indiana is a real place and the places listed there are real as well. There is a mention of a Hanson song in here. I have no opinion of them.

SUMMARY: Scully gets Mulder to go on Vacation with her and Mulder finds out just how deep the conspiracy really goes, and how deep his relationship with Scully goes.

Vacation In Paradise

By Jill Curtis

jill@tctc.com

"Sorry to have to disturb you on your break, but I have received some distressing news." The heavy-set man said in his usual deep voice void of any emotions. "Agent Mulder has shared his opinion of us with three men who apparently like to voice their own opinions in a newsletter. I think that we should put a man on Mulder to ensure a peaceful break for the rest of us. If Mulder tries anything more with these three, or just plain starts to cause trouble, I am sure that our boy will be able to take care of it." He said as he looked around at the rest of his collages. He had assembled this meeting, not because he was incapable of acting on his own, but because he had for once wanted a peaceful break.

Selfish probably, with all that was going on he could not hope for much rest but still he didn't care. He looked around at the other men as most of them nodded. Smoke curled upward and another man coughed. "I don't take vacations, don't you trust my ability to handle him?" the cigarette smoking man said as he examined the cigarette and put it out. "We would all like to be at ease on our vacations." The deep voiced man said. "Everyone is dismissed." He said as he eyed the man with the cigarette. The cigarette smoking man got up and casually lit another cigarette. He turned and walked away with all eyes still turned toward him.

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FBI Building, Basement office
7:47 am

Mulder spit another sunflower seed in the trash next to his desk, where he had moved it considering he couldn't spit clear across office, he had already tried that. He grabbed another X-file and began to look it over when the door to the office opened and in popped Scully. "Hey Scully how ya doin?" he asked playfully. "I am so tired, I like we need a vacation." She replied as she plopped down into a chair. "Well, I don't have any clue of what we are doing today so maybe you could go complain to Skinner." He said and then smiled. "Na, you wouldn't want to do that. He would think that you're turning into me, right." Oh boy, this is going to be a long day. He sure is happy though. Scully thought.

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Dana Scully's Resident
5:11 PM

Wow the day had gone a lot quicker than expected Mulder had cheered her up, and then she had wound up making jokes with him and it had turned out to be a pretty good day after all. She switched on the TV, and then enjoyed her pizza that she had picked up on the way home. She watched TV for awhile after eating a little bit of pizza and had considered calling Mulder to see what he was doing for the night but then had fallen asleep. She awoke to the phone ringing, she glanced at her watch, it was 2:17. She reached for the phone and answered. "Hello." "Scully, hi can you come over, I kind of need your help?" Mulder asked in a shaky tone. "I'll be right over" Scully hung up the phone and grabbed the medical bag she had and ran out the door.

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Fox Mulder's apartment
2:46 PM

Scully ran into the apartment and found Mulder in the bathroom. "What happened?" Scully asked, as she looked him over. He wasn't bleeding from what she could tell, but he was shaking and looked about ready to throw up. "I had another dream about Samantha." He said looking at her. He looked like a little kid that had the flu and had come running to his mother to tell her about a bad dream. She smiled and walked over to hug him. Sometimes she wondered how a guy could be so bold all the time, and then just break down for that short period of time. Scully helped him back on the couch and then sat down beside him. She took his temp and discovered it to be 102 which was pretty high, but still something that she could deal with. She went to the sink and filled up a glass of water. She gave him a drink and then sat next to him again. He and she talked for about a half an hour before Mulder fell asleep. Scully stroked his hair and then got up to take a seat on the other couch. She didn't want to leave Mulder until tomorrow. "Well it looks like we both need a vacation, hu Mulder." She said to no one in particular.

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FBI Building, Basement Office
7:05 am

Mulder had woken up that morning feeling better than most mornings. Scully took his temp to make sure that he was ok and then they both hurried so they wouldn't be to late for work. Mulder had gone to have a meeting with Skinner about their last case and Scully was working cleaning out the office. What a fun job. Scully thought. The phone rang and Scully grabbed it. "Hello" she said. "Is Dana there?" a voice asked. "Yes this is her." Hi, Dana it's Bill!" "Hi, Bill what are you doing?" "Well I was just wandering if you would be interested in having a vacation with us. It is spring and you haven't had a break for a long time." Bill said and Scully thought excitedly. "You know Bill that kind of sounds fun." "Well that's great, Dana, you mean to tell me that partner of yours isn't going to make you stay?" Bill teased. Shit she didn't want to leave Mulder, what if he had another dream? She thought. "Bill, uh I was just wandering, and I know that this is a little forward of me but do you think that maybe Mulder could come?" she asked somewhat pathetically. "I don't know...." Bill started but sensed the pleading in his sister's voice. "Ok" he said grudgingly.

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8:46 am

"Hey Mulder what do you think about going with my brother and his wife to their lake house?" Scully said as they were rummaging through their desks, trying not to make a big deal about it. Mulder sat up in his chair. "Scully, I think that the offer is very kind but I think that if you need to take a vacation then you should be with your family." Mulder said as he avoided saying anything more on the subject. "Mulder you're going, I have already told Skinner that we were taking a vacation." Scully said as she watched Mulder's mouth drop open. "When we are done here I am going home to pack, and you are doing the same."

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FBI Building, AD Skinner's Office
9:37 am

Skinner sat at his desk and read the report Agent Mulder had given him on he and Agent Scully's latest case. He really wasn't paying attention to it though, he had his mind on other things. Scully had called right after Agent Mulder had left and had asked him if it would be all right if she and Agent Mulder took a vacation. Well she knew first off that it was all right because he couldn't make them stay. And second he knew the only reason she had called was to notify him. The thing he wondered about was if Agent Mulder knew about it yet.

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Dana Scully's Resident
8:00 PM

Well she was almost packed, just a few more things and she would be finished. The phone rang and she walked over to pick it up, it was Mulder. "Hey, Scully where exactly are we going?" "To my brother's lake house on Lake Maxinkuckee, in Culver Indiana." Scully answered and waited for Mulder's reaction. "That's a mouthful, how long has he had it?" "About 3 years, it is a really nice place." "What, uh, do I bring?" Mulder asked. Scully laughed to herself. This is way too funny, Mulder asking for her advice on what to pack?! She thought. "Bring a swimsuit, and some comfortable clothes." She replied. "A swimsuit?" "Yeah, and will you meet me at my place at 7:30 tomorrow, then we can drive to the airport in one car, kay?" "Sure, see you tomorrow." He answered and then hung up.

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7:06 am

Mulder walked into the apartment and flopped down on the couch. "Scully, you up yet?" he asked not really knowing where she was. "I'm up, and just about ready." Scully said as she strode into the room while trying to fasten her necklace. Mulder got up and walked around her to do the clasp on the necklace for her. "Thanks." She said after he finished. "Are you all ready? Did you bring your swimsuit?" she asked with a smirk. "Yes, Mom" he replied, "You know this trip could be kind of fun." "As long as you don't start any fights." She replied as he took her bags and headed for the car.

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Plymouth Airport
1:49 PM

Mulder and Scully walked down to baggage claim and picked up their bags and then stopped to wait for Bill. They hadn't waited very long until two familiar figures waved at them. Bill's wife ran up to them and hugged Dana and even surprised Mulder and hugged him too. Bill came up more slowly and hugged Dana. "Hey, little sis how's it goin?" Bill said trying to be playful and yet still ignoring Mulder. "Fine, how about you?" "We are doing just fine. Let's get your stuff and then get back to the house, that sound good?" "That would be great. You ready Mulder?" Scully said turning to Mulder. "Yeah." He said and picked up his bag and one of Scully's. The foursome walked down the terminal and no one noticed the man that was apparently following them.

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Bill's house, Lake Maxinkuckee, Culver, Indiana
3:41 PM

Scully had just finished unpacking when she heard a knock on her door, it was Mulder. "Hi, you done packing already?" Scully asked as she turned back to her suitcase to put it in the closet. "Yeah." Mulder said. Scully watched him and realized he would probably want to stick with her on this trip, considering Bill. Scully looked out the window, the lake was beautiful. It was a moderate size lake but you could still see the other side of it. Straight across from the house on the other shore was the Culver Cove. The Culver Cove was a beach and a place where you bought or rented a condo. Off to the right of them was the Culver Academy. It was a high school and a camp. She looked back at Mulder, "You want to go downstairs?" she asked him. "Sure." They walked downstairs together and Bill and Terri were downstairs in the kitchen.

"Where's my little nephew and niece?" Dana asked. "Mom has them, we will be picking them up with Charlie and Mom tomorrow." Bill answered. "What do you think about going for some lunch and then seeing the town." Mulder knew the question was not meant for him and whatever Scully said he would go with her. "That would be great, what do you think Mulder." Scully asked trying to make Bill behave and include Mulder. "That's fine with me."

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Terri and Scully walked together a little ways ahead of Mulder and Bill on their way to the restaurant. "Bill, I wanted to tell you that this was really nice of you to invite me up here." Mulder said grudgingly, although not showing how much he disliked how Bill was acting so far. He actually was trying to be nice to Bill, for Scully's sake, and Bill was not responding well. "Well I hope you enjoy yourself, Fox. Did you make Dana bring you, or would you not let her leave without you?" Bill answered. This was too much for Mulder, he tries to be nice and then he gets insulted, but he remained calm. If Mulder got in a fight with Bill then he would definitely never be able to make peace with Bill. Scully thankfully heard the conversation and nudged Terri. They both turned around and Terri pulled Bill up by her and Dana went back to walk with Mulder. "You ok?" she asked. "Yeah, why won't I be?" he replied, trying to hide the minor fight Bill and he had just had. "Listen I know you were trying to be friendly, and that it was Bill's fault, but you have got to let Bill cool off."

"He's really not that bad Mulder, you just have to give him time." Scully said before leaning closer to his ear and whispering, "I am very proud of you for keeping your cool." Scully backed away just a tad and smiled at him. He smiled back at her and felt pleased with himself for keeping his cool. Terri was talking to Bill up ahead of them when they reached the restaurant. It was a small place called Edgewater, but it had a nice feel about it. They walked in and took their seats. Terri was at one end of the table, Bill at the other. Dana took a seat by Bill and Mulder sat across from her and next to Bill and Terri. The waitress came and took their orders before walking swiftly back to the kitchen. They got their food and it was very good, while Bill talked about Café Max, and Papa's. This guy sure liked to eat. Mulder thought. When they got up to leave Mulder noticed a tall muscular man watching them who he thought he had seen on the plane. He slapped himself mentally, Quit being so paranoid, he told himself.

They walked down Main Street and were a taking a look at the movie when a tall, old man came jogging down the street with an old lady. "Well if it isn't Dana Scully. I haven't seen you since you were 12. Why Bill told me that you were coming up but I hadn't seen you." The man said as he and his wife stopped. "What are you doing these days, Dana?" the woman asked. "I work for the FBI and this is my partner, Fox Mulder. Mulder this is Mr. and Mrs. Becker." Mulder smiled and reached his hand out to shake their hands. "Well you got yourself a mighty handsome partner, Dana." Mrs. Becker said smiling. God this was too much smiling for one day. Mulder thought. Bill interrupted "Charley and Mom are coming up tomorrow." "Well that's great, maybe we should have dinner together this week?" Mr. Becker said. "Yeah, maybe we could." Terri said as the Beckers started to jog again. "See you later." They called back as they left.

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Bill's House
9:00 PM

Everybody had gone to their rooms, and were preparing for bed, which seemed strange to Mulder to go to bed so early. Scully knocked on his door and then came in. He was lying on his bed. "So do we go to bed this early the whole trip?" He asked as she lay down beside him, she was exhausted. "Yep, isn't it great!" she said. "Scully, I don't mean to be paranoid on the trip, but there was a guy following us today." Mulder said as he looked for a reaction on her face. "Well if there was then don't tell Bill about. He will never let you live it down, if you're wrong." Scully got off the bed and walked toward the door. "See you in the morning, Spooky." She said, and Mulder laughed. Whenever Scully used that name, it was ok with him, because with her it wasn't an insult. "See you later, Red." Mulder replied. "Wow I've never been called that one and that's a new one for you right?!"

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11:39 PM

Scully woke up with a start. "Oh good it was just a dream." She got up and went over to check on Mulder. She walked in the room and Mulder was lying on the floor, sweating. "Another dream." She guessed. She took his temp and it wasn't as high as it had been the other night. Mulder was still asleep when she woke him to move him onto the bed. "Mulder, I need your help here, buddy. Thanks." She said as he moved onto the bed. She lay next to him until he went to sleep, and then she slowly fell asleep too.

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7:56

Bill pushed open the door to Dana's room to find it empty. She must be downstairs. He thought. He walked downstairs to find Terri. "Have you seen Dana around this morning?" Bill asked. "No I haven't seen her or Fox, she said. "Ok thanks Honey." Bill said as he bent down to give her a kiss on the cheek. I'll go see if she's with him. Bill walked upstairs again and hoped that she wasn't with him, although he was not prepared for what he saw. He walked in to find Mulder asleep with Dana asleep next to him. Bill was furious. Bill of-course didn't know that it was not really bad and Dana had just fallen asleep next to Mulder. Bill walked out the door and slammed it shut.

Mulder and Scully both woke up after hearing this and they ran downstairs. Scully had on a pair of sweatpants and an old t-shirt of Mulder's. Mulder had on just a pair of sweats. Bill was pacing in the kitchen when they appeared. He walked over to Mulder and got in Mulder's face. "You sonafabitch! Stay away from my sister!" he yelled and then swung a fist at Mulder's face. It connected on Mulder's right eye. He yelped and ducked the second blow. Dana grabbed Bill's shoulder and Terri moved between Mulder and Bill. Terri after staring furiously at Bill. She took his arm and pulled him away to the porch.

Scully glanced at them as the left and then back at Mulder. "Let me take a look at that eye." It was already swelling up and Mulder was staring helplessly at the two figures out on the porch. Scully was already looking at it and walked over to the sink to get a wet cloth. "I'm sorry, Scully. I think I am going to book a flight home early." Mulder said. "Mulder don't do that, I'm sure that once we tell Bill what happened he will understand, and hopefully apologize. How's your eye feel?" Scully asked as she placed the cold cloth on his eye. "It doesn't hurt." Mulder lied, well it wasn't bad but it still hurt. Scully looked at him and wrapped her arms around him. "It wasn't your fault, Mulder." Mulder didn't even know why he was so upset about Bill, after all Scully didn't share Bill's opinion of him. Scully wished Bill wouldn't be so protective of her, especially when trying to protect her from Mulder. She had been very surprised when Bill had punched Mulder, she knew for a fact that Mulder would never physically fight one of her family members, but Bill had never punched anyone in his life. Bill always had a temper, but Mulder was lucky that Bill wasn't very strong.

Terri entered the room to find them still in the embrace. Mulder slowly broke the embrace to apologize. "I am very sorry, Bill didn't understand." "Don't worry about it Fox. Could you try to talk to him, he wants to apologize." Terri replied. "Yeah, is he still on the porch?" "Yes." Terri said as he walked toward the porch. Dana started to follow but Terri pulled her back. "Let them talk, I don't think they'll try to kill each other twice in one day." Terri said, and Dana took one more glance at them and then sat down with Terri.

Mulder sat down across from Bill. "Bill, Scully I mean Dana and I didn't do anything. I had a dream last night." Mulder paused and wished he didn't have to tell Bill this. "I have nightmares sometimes, and I get sick. Dana went to check on me last night and she fell asleep, that's it." Mulder had been looking at the floor, but finally he looked at Bill. "I'm sorry too." Bill said, a little grudgingly but not quite as harsh as he usually talked to Mulder, maybe they had a chance for a remote friendship. "How's the eye?" Bill asked and Mulder couldn't tell whether he wanted it to hurt or was actually concerned. "You got quite a punch for a guy who I take it doesn't do it often." Mulder replied and laughed. Bill laughed just a little before trying to restrain himself. Well we are getting somewhere at least, he laughed. Mulder thought.

Dana and Terri walked cautiously into the porch, if they were getting along then they won't want to disturb them. "Hey you guys, how's it going?" Terri asked, obviously she was used to dealing with this kind of situation. It didn't surprise Dana though with Bill as a husband you have to be good at that stuff. "Everything's fine." Bill said trying to maintain his grumpy voice. Mulder got up sensing that maybe Dana would want to talk to Bill alone, Terri followed him into the kitchen. "You want to read the newspaper?" she asked. "Sure." He replied as she handed him it. Mulder sat down on the stool and started to read when something caught his eye. MURDER OF SCIENTIST IN CULVER DISRUPES EXPERIMENT.

Mulder read over the article and then looked around for Terri maybe she could explain what was going on. "Terri, um, I just read this article and I wanted to know if you knew anything more about the "experiment it talked about?" Terri looked up from her magazine. "Oh you mean the Save the Lake Project?" "Yeah." Mulder replied. "Well I used to be on the committee, but things got to busy and strange for me so I called it quits." "What did you do on the committee?" Mulder asked. "We were trying to figure out how to clean out the lake, because sometimes we would wake up and the water would be black and slimy. This really worried some of us and we put together a team so we could find the source and clean it up.

Jerry Billsland was head of the project and he and I were friends since we were little. He was the one who organized it and he was the one who brought in the scientists. They were very helpful, the thing is they didn't know what was going on either. Anyway the scientist that died was Jana Lowry, as you've read. She was really into it and she was the only one of them that even seemed to have a clue about the whole thing." Terri said and sighed. "How many scientist were working there?" Mulder asked. "About five, I could take you to meet them tomorrow?" Terri suggested. "That would be great." Mulder said and looked up to see Scully and Bill walk in. Bill grabbed his coat and pushed the door open. "Who's coming with me to get Mom and Charlie?" he asked. "I think we all should go." Scully suggested and she looked down at Mulder who was still studying the newspaper.

She picked it up and Mulder protested. "Hey." "Nope Mulder, no working on this vacation. "I wasn't working." Mulder replied, "I was just looking at the newspaper." Scully read the article and smiled at him. "Yeah right Mulder you were trying to investigate this new murder." She said. Mulder started to reply in his usual smart comeback when he and Scully looked up to see Bill and Terri trying to maintain a straight face. "Is this what you guys do everyday?" Bill asked and cracked up, "Fox, oops I mean, Mulder, give it up, Dana can see right through you." "Scully smiled at Bill and then at Mulder nudging him in the side. "Let's go get Mom and Charlie and the kids." Scully suggested.

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Plymouth Airport
10:00 AM

Maggie looked around for her family while waiting for Charlie to get their bags. She looked for Bill's tall head or if Dana had talked Fox into it, maybe even Fox's even taller head. Well no luck so far. Maggie searched the lines of people and watched the people reuniting with friends or family members. "Fox!!!" she yelled when she saw his head followed by Bill's.

Mulder turned around when he heard Maggie. He waved and grabbed Dana and pulled her in the right direction so she wasn't trampled by the other passengers. Bill followed and then came Terri. Maggie rounded up Bill's two kids, Willy and Kate and hugged Dana who was the first one to beat the crowd and get over to them. Mulder stood back unsure of what he should do while everyone exchanged hugs. Maggie moved over to him and hugged him, "What happened to your eye?" she asked and touched the side of his eye. Classic Scully behavior, always touching places that hurt, Mulder thought. "Long story." Mulder said after glancing at Bill and took pity on the guy. "Well we have a long drive home, why don't you tell me about it then." She said. Mulder smiled but looked away quickly. Kate was up in her Daddy's arms and Willy was looking up at Mulder. "You're real tall, Mr." Willy said as Mulder smiled and bent down in front of him. My name's Mulder, I'm a friend of your aunt." "How old are you now?" Scully asked.

"Eight." Willy replied. "I missed you, Aunt Dana." He gave her a hug and Mulder held in a laugh. Nice family fun, not what he was used to. Kate watched from her vantage point in her Dad's arms, and slid down. She walked over to Mulder and hugged him surprising him. "I'm five." She said raising five fingers to show him. Scully laughed at Mulder's confused expression. Mulder lifted the girl up and she clung to his neck. Mulder was so excited with this new attention he was getting, that he didn't even look for the tall muscular man that by now Mulder was sure was following them. Bill led the way out to the car feeling a tad bit of jealousy because his kids were paying more attention to Mulder than to him. But then he was pleased that Mulder had not told his mother about their fight.

Willy was hanging around by Mulder all the way out through the terminal. Scully talked to her mom most of the way and kept sneaking glances at Mulder, he looked so natural. He would be a good Dad, Scully thought, Oh no don't go there. She smiled and laughed again at Willy pulling at Mulder's pant leg. "Nana called you Fox, and Aunt Dana called you Mulder. Can I call you Mulder?" Willy asked. "Yes you can, your Nana is the only one who gets away with calling me Fox." Mulder said and patted the boy's head. They made it out to the car, and got in.

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Same Place
Same Time

The man watched from the other side of baggage claim. Mulder wasn't being a problem this trip. If only he would really settle down, perhaps with Agent Scully, then he would no longer be a problem. He wouldn't, if he were settled down, continue his work with the X-files if he had a family to come home to every night, at least he wouldn't if he were Mulder. If Mulder misbehaved, he wouldn't take so much pleasure in punishing him. He didn't have much of a heart anymore but when nothing was going on, he couldn't help but feel sorry for the guy.

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Bill Scully's House
Lake Maxincuckee, Culver, Indiana
1:24 PM

Mulder sat alone in the house except for Terri, who was going to take him over to talk to Jerry Billsland. The kids were with their Dad and Scully on Scully's and Mulder's suggestion. Bill had been getting jealous and had started to verbally take down Mulder in front of the kids. Mulder wasn't insulted this time, but understood. Scully had told him how proud she was of him, just like she would with a little kid. Any praise from Scully made it all worth while.

"You ready to go?" Terri asked as she bounded down the stairs. "Yeah." Mulder said and grabbed the newspaper.

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Culver Military Academy Laboratory
1:45 PM

"We were all very upset that Jane died." Jerry said. "She was one of the most brilliant women that I've ever met." He continued. "It's nice to see you Terri. How are the kids and Bill?" "They're great and they really liked the candy you sent us a month ago." Terri answered and looked up at Mulder she hadn't even introduced him. "This is Agent Mulder. He works with Bill's sister." "Where is Dana? She seemed so nice when I met her at your wedding." Jerry asked. "She's with Bill, Charlie, Maggie and the kids." Terri said. She was glad Jerry wasn't very top secret. So far Mulder had only asked questions and she had had to introduce him. Mulder leaned over the examination table and peered at the small pipe that was one of the few objects they had pulled up with the black substance. Mulder shuttered, when he thought of his own experience with what he thought was here as well.

"Could you possibly take me to where you found this?" Mulder said and pointed to the object on the table. "Sure, we found it over by the academy dorms. Right down just about 100 feet out in the lake. That area is the deepest part of the whole lake. We have seen scuba divers go down there for pure enjoyment. We got an old ship down there and an airplane. "Do you scuba dive?" Jerry asked. "I've done it once before." Mulder replied and looked to Terri for her approval. "I don't care, but I'm goin' over to the cove to be with Bill and everybody." "The cove?" Mulder asked puzzled. "It's a beach connected to condos, it's real nice. It's straight across the lake from home." Terri answered. "Don't tell Scully about this then, please." Mulder asked and gave his best puppy face. "Alright, have a good time." Terri said and Jerry and Mulder were already gathering the scuba gear.

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Culver Cove
2:00 PM

"Aunt Dana!" Willy called. "Games over, Dad said we gotta eat lunch!" Willy said and looked around the beach and tried to find his aunt. Scully popped up from her hiding place with Kate right behind her. It had been a long time since she had played hide and go seek, and she felt sort of dumb for playing, but hey she had to cut lose sometimes. She almost called out for Mulder but remembered he wasn't with them. Gees if only Bill hadn't of been so mean, Mulder would have been here, and she was almost positive that he would have been playing out there with the kids. They really liked Mulder.

Kate skipped up alongside her brother and grinned back at Scully. "Is Mulder coming for lunch, Aunt Dana?" Kate asked and Willy turned expectantly around for the answer. "I don't know, maybe he'll show up." She replied honestly. Bill was waiting patently with Charlie, who was laughing. "What's so funny?" Scully asked Charlie. "Nothing, I just never seen an FBI Agent running around playing hide and go seek before." Charlie said and Scully leaned over to poke him in the ribs. "This is a long way off from work." Scully said and turned to see Terri walking up from her car. Scully's heart caught in her throat, where was Mulder? Terri hugged Bill and kissed him. "You guys having fun?" she asked and looked at the kids. "Is Uncle Mulder gonna be here?" Kate asked and everybody was a little taken back. "Mulder's not your uncle, sweetie." Bill said and Kate looked up at the adults.

"Well he was always with Aunt Dana, so I thought..." Kate began when Willy spoke up. "Can we just call him that?" "I don't see why not but you better ask him first." Terri said. "Where is Mulder?" Scully asked. "He, uh, is with Jerry Billsland, I got them together and they hit it off." Terri said aware that she really wasn't lying just stretching the truth. "Let's have lunch then." Charlie said. "Bill made some good hamburgers and Mom's waiting."

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The tall muscular man rounded the corner and was shocked to see the car gone. "Shit, I only left for a minute." He said to himself. He had gone to get something to eat and Mulder and Terri were gone. He walked up to Bill's house and looked at the note posted from Terri for Dana and Bill. Me and Mulder went to the lab see you guys later, Love Terri. The man rushed down the street and jumped into his car. Oh boy he'd be dead if Mulder found out anything.

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On the Lake
2:20 PM

Jerry sped the boat out toward the diving site. "You ready back there Mulder?" he asked and stopped the boat and began to put his own gear on. Minutes later, he and Mulder went backwards into the water and swam down towards the bottom. Mulder hated the water, he always managed to get seasick when he was on boats and diving down into the dirty water to go to the cold dark bottom wasn't his idea of a 'fun time'. Jerry motioned for him to follow him, they were nearing the airplane.

Its ghostly outline on the ocean floor made Mulder nervous. Jerry entered the broken window of what looked like the cockpit. It was a fairly large plane and a very old one. Mulder followed. Jerry shifted through the materials on the plane's floor and Mulder ventured farther in. He was at the back of the plane when a scream sounded in the water. How could anyone scream underwater with a mask on? Mulder wondered. He swung around and started to head back for Jerry, his leg hit something sharp and Mulder pulled it back while the water filled with a black substance, making the suns rays that reached this far down disappear. Mulder swam for the entrance and reached it. Looking around for Jerry he looked above him and floating on the ceiling of the cockpit was Jerry. Mulder grabbed him and tried to swim them both up out of the water.

He popped out onto the surface and pulled the latter down from their boat. He pulled himself up and then dragged Jerry out. He listened for a pulse and when he couldn't find one he began CPR. Jerry coughed and water came out of his mouth. Mulder helped him sit up, and then looked over the side. The water was clear. No black substance. Mulder started the boat and started for shore. He searched his clothes and found a phone, he tried to call Scully but nobody picked up. Then he called the hospital and got Jerry off the boat. Mulder laid Jerry on the sofa in the Naval Hall where Jerry's office was and pulled out the first aid. He cleaned his cut and wrapped gauss around it. He didn't want to deal with the hospital, not now. It wasn't too serious and Mulder breathed a sigh of relief.

The ambulance came and Jerry, who was still conscious, motioned for Mulder. Mulder bent down next to him. "What?" he asked. "Thanks." Jerry said and Mulder patted his arm. "Anytime." Mulder turned and started for the lab, one last thing he had to check on.

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Culver Academy Labs
2:56 PM

Mulder walked through the door of the lab and pulled open the cabinet that kept the pipe. "Where the hell is it." Mulder yelled angrily at no one in particular. He looked around in the other cabinet and found a small chip. Mulder eyed it and then pulled an evidence bag out from another cabinet. He put the chip in the bag and looked around. He exited the lab and started to get in the car. A shot rang through the street and Mulder ducked behind a car. "What the..." Mulder said and started to get in the car. Another shot zoomed right past his ear and broke the car's windows. Mulder took off running, he couldn't get in the car, they'd blow his head off. The summer camp was going on and there were golf carts from some of the senior councilors around. Mulder hopped in and started it up. He drove off and looked back to see his attacker. That guy that had been following them! The man jumped in another free golf cart just as the councilors came out of the cabins to protest. "What do you think you're doing?" one asked. The man didn't answer but just fired another shot at Mulder missing again.

Mulder had drove it onto the street by this time and that was the last place he wanted to be. There was a forest on either side and it was too easy to have a straight shot. Mulder plunged through the forest and came out on a golf course! "This is just great. It would be comical if the situation had been different." Mulder said to himself. He remembered his gun and reached for it but then he remembered he had taken the leg strap off when he went diving and he didn't have the other one either. No cell phone either. Mulder realized this chase would be hopeless if he didn't get off this golf course, no protection!

Mulder pulled off his belt and tied the gas petal down so it would stay going, he then loosened it to go a little slower and jumped off the cart. The tall man in back of him started aiming at him and ran into Mulder's slower golf cart. The man was thrown off his and by that time Mulder had taken off toward the lake. Mulder ran down a pier and untied a small wave runner that was sitting next to a slightly larger one. The key was already in it and Mulder started it up.

The man climbed to his feet. Gotta get that chip, gotta get that chip. He thought and ran off after Mulder. He ran down the same pier and untied the other wave runner. He jumped on and looked around for Mulder. Mulder already had a good lead, and the tall man wasted no time.

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Scully finished her hamburger. "That was good, Bill!" she said. The kids had finished and where looking through some binoculars at the water. Terri was talking with Maggie and Charlie was asleep on the sand. Bill and Dana got up and started walking down the beach. "Bill I was just wondering, why don't you like Mulder?" Scully asked him and looked him in the eye. "Dana, we are getting along better, it's just he so dangerous. I don't know how many times I've seen or heard that you have gotten hurt and he doesn't do anything about it. Sometimes I wish he would just die so you could go on with life and live less dangerously." Bill said and pulled his sister into an embrace. "You're my sister and if anything every happened to you that was final, I'm sure I would kill him." Bill said and Scully broke the embrace.

"Mulder has his share of bad things, and he is always there for me. He does help me Bill, or else why would I keep on with him and the X-files?" Scully asked. "Cause you love him." Bill said and Scully took on the confused look. "Bill..." she started and Willy called. "Aunt Dana, Uncle Mulder's playing on a wave runner, you gotta see this." He said and held up the binoculars. Scully turned and smiled, she had to see this. She took the binoculars and peered through them. There were two wave runners and she zeroed in on the first one, sure enough it was Mulder. He was still in his pants and T-shirt, and he was looking back at the other wave runner nervously. Scully looked through the binoculars at the 2nd wave runner and was surprised to see a man in a suit. "Terri what was Jerry Billsland wearing?" she asked.

"Well, uh, ok he and Mulder were going to go scuba diving at the test site. Mulder told me not to tell you. They were getting into scuba gear when I left." Terri replied. The sound of gunfire brought the binoculars back up to her face. The sound was being carried on the lake since the wind was very strong. She looked back to Mulder's wave runner but it was tipped over and when it floated back up, no Mulder! The man behind him had a gun and Scully let out an involuntary yelp. Bill snatched the binoculars from her hands and looked through them. Scully was headed back toward the car to get her cell phone. "Dana, wait the police boat is on the way." Bill said and she hesitated and then grabbed the binoculars from him again. "I can't just sit here!" she yelled. Maggie was at her shoulder now. "He's fine, honey. What would you do if you were to go get help? Where would you go? The police are on their way." Maggie said and Willy shouted excitedly, look at that you guys he's on that tube!

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On the lake
Same time

Mulder had not ridden a wave runner in a long time. Not since he was a teenager. He saw a boat with an older woman on it pulling a tube. That guy wasn't going to miss forever. Mulder guided his wave runner over toward the boat and then the shot hit his boat. The engine exploded and Mulder jumped off the wave runner and managed to grab onto the edge of the tube. The girl screamed and he pulled himself onto the tube. He had to tell this girl to tell the woman to keep going. "I'm from the FBI." He said and the girl's eyes got big. "I need you help. Tell your Mom to keep going. Everything will be fine." Mulder said and the girl nodded. The boat was slowing down and the woman was standing up. "Jojo, who is that man?" The mother asked. The girl gave her mother the tubing sign for faster and hurry and then put her arm around Mulder and smiled for her mother. Mulder found his badge and held it up.

The woman understood and started the boat up again. Mulder had never been tubing and was holding on for his life. He looked behind them and the tall man was just now realizing that Mulder wasn't dead. The girl looked back to where he was looking and caught sight of the man. "Who's that?" she yelled over the noise in the boat. Mulder regarded the girl, who couldn't have been any older than eight. "Um." Mulder didn't know how to answer that question without scaring the girl. "Don't worry, you don't have to answer." The girl said and looked back at her mother. Another shot fired and it hit the tube. The girl screamed and Mulder pulled her toward the front of the tube. The edge of the tube caught on his bandage around his leg and tore it off along with the dried scab. Mulder yelped and the girl looked over at him. "What's the matter?" "Just a scratch." Mulder said and the pain quickly faded.

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Scully had the binoculars pinned to her face. She had been watching them the entire time and was becoming rapidly impatient with the police boat. They were taking their pretty little time. Maggie had a strong hand on her shoulder and Willy was proving to have very good eyes. The last shot that was fired had hit the tube. Mulder was pulling the girl up onto the boat while it was going. Scully hadn't missed that grimace on his face, but she didn't know what was the matter. This chase was going on way to long. Mulder or the other man had to be getting tired. Bill had woken Charlie up by this time and Charlie was as upset as she was. Charlie knew probably better than anyone else, his sister's bode with Mulder, and besides he liked Mulder, he was a nice guy, great for Dana.

Charlie nudged Bill and they headed over towards the house on the other side. "Where are you going?" Scully asked and lifted the binoculars off her face. "We're going to get a boat, if the neighbors are home then maybe they will let us use their boat. If not, well I don't know." Charlie said and Scully almost broke into tears. "Thanks you guys." She said and handed the binoculars to Willy and set out with Bill and Charlie. Bill, Charlie, and Scully walked at a fast pace until Scully broke out into a run, and Charlie followed. Bill shook his head and started to speak up. "See whenever Muld..." he said and Scully and Charlie turned around. "Shut up Bill!" the said in unison. Bill was slightly taken back by this and slowed his walk. Then he ran to catch up to them, this time he kept his mouth shut.

They reached the door and Scully pounded on it, becoming impatient with the waiting. Scully started on to the next house and Bill yelled at her. "Dana go back to the beach, let me and Charlie do this. You'll be more help there than here." Scully glanced at him and then considered his words. She didn't speak just ran back toward the beach.

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Mulder pulled himself up onto the boat after pushing the girl up. The boat was a small speedboat. It was only a little bigger than a fishing boat. "I'm really sorry about all this." Mulder said as the woman stood up and let him take the wheel. Mulder pushed the throttle down and the boat sped up to its peek speed. The girl and the woman sat down and shaded their eyes from the wind. "How fast does this thing go?" Mulder asked. "Forty miles per hour." It's not as fast as that wave runner can go though." She answered. The man was pulling up fast on the wave runner. He had his gun out. "Mulder stop this thing or I'll shot those people." The man shouted. Mulder hesitated. The man wasn't all that good of a shot, if he had been Mulder would have been dead long before this. "Don't test me Mulder, I haven't had the best luck with my shooting today but I have a clear shot at those two." The wind whipped Mulder's short hair back. The girl and her mother were crying. Mulder slowed the boat down.

The man grabbed the edge of the boat and pulled himself up and over the side. "Mulder step over towards the bow of the boat. And you let go of the girl and start steering this boat. I want us in the middle of this lake, now!" he said and the mother took the wheel. Mulder looked over his shoulder and could see a police boat. They weren't moving and the men on the boat were leaning over the engine. Great time to have boat problems. Mulder thought. "Do you have the chip?" the man asked. Mulder was silent. The man grabbed the girl and pulled her over to his chest and raised the gun to her head. "Do you have the chip? If you don't answer me and I kill her, it will be your fault. Do you what that responsibility?" the man yelled. "Damn you, you know I can't risk their lives. They're innocent." Mulder yelled. "Exactly Mulder. Now give me the chip." "I don't have it." Mulder replied. The man pushed the gun harder on the girl's head. The mother screamed. "Please Mister, give that man what he wants." She sobbed.

The police boat had started and was by the side of the boat now. "Put the weapon down." They said to the tall man. He didn't answer just turned and swiftly fired at the three policemen and killed all but one, who lay bleeding on the floor of the boat. Mulder jumped up and started to try and help the man, but the tall muscular man stopped him. "Don't touch him. Get back where you were and give me the damn chip!" he spoke the first part softly but rose his pitch at the end. Mulder reached in his pants pocket and handed the man the chip. "Have you looked at the files?" the man asked. "Why should I have." Mulder replied. "Let the girl down." Mulder said and the man let the girl slip down and she ran to her mother. He motioned for the mother and pulled out a pair of handcuffs. "Put these on him and then go take care of that police man." He said never taking his eyes off Mulder.

The woman took the cuffs and walked behind Mulder. She stood there not wanting to pull his hands back. "What are you waiting for?" the man asked, "Let me help you." He walked over to Mulder and yanked his arms behind his back and took the cuffs from her and snapped them on Mulder. "Stupid bitch, I should've down it myself to start with, go tend to that cop." He said. "You work for the government, what do you have against it?" Mulder asked. The man didn't reply just stared at him then spoke to the little girl. "What's your name honey?" he asked. "Jojo." She said and glanced at Mulder.

"Well hi Jojo, sorry about the gun. If you or your mother get hurt you know who to blame." He said and shifted his eyes to Mulder. "That's Agent Mulder over there and you can call me, well whatever you want." He said and the girl shifted nervously. "Are you gonna kill us?" she asked and the man stood. "Not unless Mulder over there makes me." He replied.

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Willy stood with his eyes glued to the boat. Scully stood looking through the binoculars. Kate had gotten upset and was with Maggie in the car. Bill and Charlie had had no luck but had set off the other way and it looked like someone might be home. Willy put his hand on Dana's shoulder, "Don't worry Aunt Dana, everything will be fine." They had both seen the gun fire and knew that more police would be going out there and even though Scully's first instinct was to go with them, she knew that if Mulder was still ok and she went out there, Mulder might try something stupid. "From the looks of it, the policemen are all dead." Scully said and found she talking to the eight-year-old as if he was an agent.

Scully peered through the binoculars and concentrated on Mulder. He was in handcuffs now and on his knees. Still unhurt thank god. Scully ran a hand over her face. It had to be five o-clock by now. See resumed her watching and turned the binoculars over toward the police docks. Yelp another boat was being assembled but this time they would be a little more careful. She looked back at Mulder, who was looking at the man and saying something but obviously she couldn't hear what he was saying but she prayed that he wasn't doing anything to get the man mad. And another thought crossed her mind, Where was Jerry?

Scully put down the binoculars and walked back to the car. Maggie was holding Kate who had fallen asleep by now. Too much excitement for a five year old. She picked up her cell phone and dialed the Culver Academy Office, a woman answered. "Hello." "Hello this is Agent Scully with the FBI. I was wondering if you could help me get a hold of Jerry Billsland?" Scully asked. "Well sure, if you'll just hold on a second. I'll have to look up his hospital number and see if he's taking any calls." She answered and Scully could hear her turning pages of a book. "Hospital number?" Scully asked. "Yes, he was delivered there this morning by an ambulance.

An Agent Mulder placed the call for help. I was there to see Jerry off and Agent Mulder was the last one to talk to Jerry." She said. "Thank you very much, don't bother Jerry, I'll call later. Thanks." Scully said and shut off her phone. Where was Terri? She wondered and her question was answered when she heard a noise coming from the lake. She looked out and Terri was behind the wheel of an old pontoon boat. It was rather comical seeing the woman in that big slow boat. Bill and Charlie were in the back fiddling with the engine.

Where did they find that thing? She wondered and went to help them tie down the boat. Bill jumped down, "Ok Dana this is the best we could do. We talked to the police and if you want to, you can go out with me and Charlie in an hour unless the situation gets out of hand. Charlie and me are going to try and fix the engine so we can have a reliable boat on our hands, until then all we can do is wait and watch." Bill said and Charlie was already talking to Willy about getting some tools. "What do you mean unless the situation gets out of hand, it is out of hand. I can't just leave Mulder out there. What if that guy gets violent?" Scully asked and felt panic start to creep up on her. "It's the best we can do, Dana." Charlie voiced and Willy looked up at her. Terri was at the car now and Kate and Maggie were getting up. Scully felt as if all eyes were on her, which they were. "I don't have an answer, if that's what you're waiting for." She said finally. "If that's what we can get then that's what we can get."

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"Did you look at the chip?" the man asked again. "What was so important on the disk?" Mulder asked, refusing to give up his advantage. Mulder wasn't sure what the man wanted to have happened. Mulder also hoped that the man wanted him to have looked at them, because he couldn't stand the thought that he had possible evidence, and that he hadn't gotten a chance to read them. He took a chance, "Was that oil alien?" he asked. The man didn't answer just looked over to the woman who was holding her sleeping daughter. The policeman had died just about fifteen minutes ago, and the woman looked traumatized. The man even though a professional was getting nervous. They were going to kill him for this, unless. The man thought and looked up at Mulder. Mulder was very important to the group right, well maybe...

Mulder was saying something and the man wasn't listening, "Shut up, Mulder." He said. Mulder was silent for a minute and started talking about the black substance again. The dope, he was going to tell the woman about the whole thing. The man walked over to Mulder and leaned down to where Mulder was kneeling. He brought his fist up into Mulder's stomach and then repeated the action. Mulder was done talking, his ribs were hurting now and possibly broken. Mulder leaned down into a sitting position and stared at the man. Well, that was never good when the person holding you hostage got violent. The strain from all this was wearing on the man.

Mulder considered his ribs for a moment, they hurt but at the most only one was broken. Most likely considering the fading pain, none were broken. The woman sat in the side of the boat and shivered even though it was about eighty-six degrees. The man was back into his thinking process again and he looked up in time to notice a pontoon boat approaching. He raised his gun but then thought better of it since the people approaching looked like they were tourists and had not been on the lake earlier. They looked like they didn't know what was going on. He hid his gun behind him so that it faced Mulder and the other two. The boat came within 20 feet and then slowed down, the people inside looked like definite tourists. The one driving was wearing a fishing hat and fishing gear, he had a mustache too. The other man had glasses and had a Hawaiian shirt on that was pink and orange, with kakki shorts on.

The woman was short and had blond hair, with maternity clothes on. The tall muscular man frowned, they looked familiar, oh well. Mulder was so tired he had drifted into a light sleep when he heard the engine of the boat and had looked up to see... Scully? It looked like Scully but the girl had blond hair, the other two looked like Bill and Charlie, but Bill didn't have a mustache. Charlie didn't have glasses, did he?

"Hi, man." The one with the Hawaiian shirt and glasses said. That one sounded a little Jamaican, the tall man thought. "Did you're bloody boat stop on you?" the man in fishing gear asked. English, the tall man thought. "Deago'afa?" the woman asked in a lauguage the tall man didn't know. This was a little weird and suspicious, why would three people from what looked to be three different countries, that were very stupidly dressed, be in a boat at five o-clock and still not have a clue as to what was going on? This was crap, he'd put up with them for the moment. "Nope, we're fine, just taking a nap, nothing like sleeping on the water, hu?" the man said trying to get them to leave without killing someone. "Yeah, you mind if we camp out with ya, for the night mate?" the Hawaiian one asked. The tall man was losing it, he was about to pull the little girl or Mulder up to threaten, when the people threw their anchor out and then started to arrange themselves for sleep.

The man sat down and glared at Mulder who was trying to hold it in but was laughing at him. "Shut up, Mulder." He said, and Mulder continued to laugh. The man rolled his eyes but did nothing, looks like they were going to be spending the night.

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Scully was sweating like a pig under her wig, had they overdid the costumes or the accents, she had no idea what language she had just spoken, she didn't even know if it was part of a language. The guy was an idiot, his excuse for our question was just taking a nap! Mulder looked miserable to a certain extent. It looked like the man had gotten a little violent but not bad enough for any real bad injuries. She heard something and she peeked over the edge of the boat to look at Mulder's boat. Someone was laughing, Mulder? The man was sitting straight and was looking down at someone that she couldn't see. He wasn't laughing and it was a male laugh, so it had to be Mulder. What was he laughing at? Did he know about them? Was he going to give away their cover? And most important, was he getting the man mad enough to hurt someone. She was lying next to a cabinet that held lifejackets and food and camping stuff, it was fairly large.

Another sound reached her, something was in the cabinet. Scully didn't have her gun because if their cover had blown it would have been more dangerous than helpful. She opened the cabinet and Willy rolled out. He had on an oversized baseball cap and scuba gear. He looked like a regular eight-year-old on an imaginary adventure. "Willy, what are you doing here, we told you to stay back at the beach with Terri, Kate, and Maggie?" she whispered. "They're all girls, I wanted to be with you guys." Willy said and Scully raised an eyebrow. "What about me, I'm a girl." She whispered. "Yeah but you're Uncle Mulder's partner and he's cool so..." Willy said and Scully smiled. "Nice disguise." She said teasingly. Willy blushed. He looked a lot different than her brothers, he had short mushroom cut blond hair with dipples and the tendency to blush easily. Besides the hair he looked surprising like Mulder.

Scully shook her head, she was seeing Mulder with blond hair. She needed to concentrate, maybe when this was over she would tell Mulder how she felt about him. How did she feel about him? Did she, um, love him? She wondered and then turned to see Willy crawling over her to get to Bill. They heard snoring from the top of the boat, oh great, Charlie was asleep. She peeked over the edge again and the tall man looked annoyed, there was a snoring sound coming from their boat too. Scully contained a giggle, the tall man was sitting with his head in his hands and occasionally would glance down annoyed at the source of the noise... Mulder.

Bill crawled from where he was supposed to be sleeping and poked Dana. "I found a radio, if you know how to work it." Bill said and gave her the old radio. She turned on the switch and nothing happened, she hit it and the lights flickered. The static filled the air noisily and everyone flinched, the tall man would notice. "Jingle bells, jingle bells." Scully started singing and Bill looked at her, she had picked a 'great' song for the middle of summer. She shrugged, it was the only song that popped into her head. Willy started singing to so that Dana could talk to the radio. Bill started singing and Charlie woke up. The tall man looked at the little boy and that fishing guy and thought, What idiots, it's the middle of summer! That kid wasn't there before was he? Mulder woke up and grumbled, while the girl and woman looked around surprised by the noise.

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Police Dock
11:34 PM

"What the..." the policeman started when he heard Jingle bells being sung through one of the old stations that he usually keep an eye on. "Sir we got something." He said and the captain of the police squad walked over to him. "What is that?" he asked. "Just what it sounds like sir, jingle bells." "Where's it coming from?" the captain asked and someone out on the dock yelled, "Sir something's going on out there!" the captain ran over and stood on the end of the dock. "Listen Sir." The captain was quiet for a moment and then heard Jingle bells, "It's coming from the boats." He yelled. The squad looked at him and ignored their thoughts of "Duh" and kept them from coming out of their mouths. The song ended and everything was silent before a little girl's voice could be heard singing a different song. They listened carefully. "I can't make out the words, sir." The man at the radio said.

They could hear mumbled words and then the whisper of Dana Scully, "Everybody's ok, no one is hurt, yet." She said and then the men let out a sigh. "Good the situation is in control, but what I don't get is what they're singing out there."

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Culver Cove Beach
Same Time

Maggie and Terri were sitting out on the beach looking through the binoculars, which after this they would probably never leave home without. "What's that noise?" Terri asked. She had noticed it a while ago, but it seemed louder now, they looked out onto the lake, "I think it's coming from there." Maggie said. "I hope Dana, Bill, Fox, Charlie, and Willy are ok." She said and Terri looked at her, "What do you mean Willy he stayed with us, didn't he?" Terri asked. "No he convinced me that he could help out there more." "How did you get Dana to let him come?" "We didn't he was in the storage cabinet and they didn't know he was there." Maggie replied calmly. "Oh do you think he'll be all right?" Terri asked worried.

Maggie laid a hand on her shoulder, "Don't worry, Dana and the boys wouldn't let anything happen to him." She said comforting Terri. Kate had been asleep for about two hours and she walked out by her mother and grandma. She sat down in the sand and ran the sand through her fingers and let it slip down her toes. "When's Daddy and Uncle Mulder gonna get back?" she asked. Maggie ran a hand through her hair. "They'll be back sometime tomorrow." She said and she hoped. Terri was beginning to get sleepy, but was fighting to stay awake. "Go to sleep, darling, you are more help when you're rested." Maggie said and put her arm around her.

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On the Lake
11:46 PM

Mulder furrowed his brow and looked at the other boat. They were singing Mmmbop and the little girl in his boat had started it. Why were they singing? The tall man was covering his ears and scowling at the little girl, she had started this song. Mulder shifted and realized that the song was coming to an end, it had gone on long enough as it was. The tall man thought quizzically over at their boat when the song had ended. There was a quiet static sound coming from their boat. The tall man was getting angry quickly. He pulled his gun out and aimed at their engine. The shot went off and a small explosion rocked both boats. Charlie rolled off the top of the boat and Scully fell from where she was standing. Bill grabbed the wheel for support. The tall man almost lost his balance but grabbed the edge of a chair.

Mulder twisted around and caught a glance at the girl and the mother. The mother was still in shock from the death of the policeman, and the little girl just looked scared. The boat stopped rocking and settled on the waves. Mulder watched the other boat calm down and waited to see Scully pop up safe, before he let out a sigh of relief. The man looked down at him and pulled him up. "What are you sighing about?" he whispered so it was only audible to him. Scully, Bill, Charlie, and Willy were up and looking at the barrel of the gun. Mulder was making futile attempts to get down from the man's grip, but was only making it hard for the man to hold him, and getting him angry. He put the gun up against Mulder's head. "You people, I want you either to row out of here, or come and join us." He said and motioned to the boat, "In fact, why don't we have the kid come over and join us." He said and Bill objected. "No way..." he said and Scully joined in on the argument. "How sick are you to take a little kid."

She asked and Mulder tried to help. "Yeah, why don't you let the girl and the mother go with them. They're just tourists and I'm a federal agent, they'll let you get away, and if you work for who I think you work for they'll let you get away anyway." Mulder said and the man dropped him and flexed his hands before picking him up again. "You talk to much, do I have to shut you up again?" he asked and Mulder tilted his head away and shrugged. The tall man rolled his eyes and returned his gaze to the others, "I don't think his idea is that bad, but I need at least two hostages. Who's going to take their place?" he asked and Mulder looked at Scully and shook his head. Charlie shook his head and tried to wake up since he had just woken up. "Dana Scull...." he said trying to be stern but caught himself and then covered his own mouth when he realized his mistake.

The tall man looked wide eyed at Charlie and then back at Scully. "Ok, is that how it's been, Agent Scully." He said remembering her name and noticing the physical features that if he hadn't of been so distracted he would have noticed. "Alright, well since everyone here is bent on doing things the hard way. Agent Scully and the kid, you can come over and join us." He said, "And to make this fair, jump in the water at the same time as I push these two in, so you won't try anything funny. If you do then I will shot them, Mulder and you." He said and Scully looked at the water hating the thought of jumping in the dark water at night. She loved the water but wasn't as crazy about it at night. Scully finally nodded and Willy and her prepared to jump when he told them too. Willy had been a big help so far and she was proud of him.

The little girl and her mom stood on the edge of the boat as well. "Ok, go!" the tall man said and all four jumped in. Scully hit the water and shivered, Dang it was cold, she thought. They made it to the boat and the tall man threw Mulder to the other side of the boat and pulled Scully and the kid in. Mulder struggled to sit up and look at Scully disapprovingly. Scully bent down beside him and ignored his expression. She checked him over and touched his ribs. Mulder jumped a bit but Scully was relieved that only one rib seemed to be broken. He pushed her hands off him and pushed her behind him. She shrugged him off and brushed away some of the loose hairs on his brow.

"Quit babying him, I didn't hurt him." The man said. "You people better start moving or I will start hurting people." He said redirecting his attention to Bill, Charlie, and the girl and her mom. Bill was frozen in fear, and Charlie was trying to get the paddles so they could row back. The tall man got impatient. "Goss, damn it!" he pulled Scully up and put the gun to her head, "Move!" Mulder flinched. "They're moving, now put her down." Mulder said trying to keep his voice steady. The tall man looked amused. "You really don't like me touching her do you?" he asked and Mulder remained silent. The man pushed Scully off him and grabbed Mulder by the collar again. Willy started crying. The man looked at Scully for a reaction, she was cringing but hiding it better than Mulder had.

The man pushed Mulder against the side of the boat and Mulder cried out when the sharp edge of the boat came in contact with his side and his leg. Willy ran at the tall man and slammed his little fists into the tall man's side. Scully pulled Willy back resisting the urge to do the same thing to the man. "Keep him quite and still!" the man yelled. Mulder squinted his eyes against the pain in his side. The man released Mulder and let him fall to the floor. Mulder sat up against the side of the boat and tried to fight the urge to sleep. The tall man waved his hand at Scully. "Take the kid and go sit on that side of the boat." He said pointing at Mulder. Scully sat Willy down and hugged him. She whispered something to him and reached under the seat. "What the hell you doing?" the tall man asked her. "I was just getting a blanket for Willy, the waters freezing and he's going to get sick." She said and the tall man looked as if he would say something but didn't.

Scully grabbed 4 blankets and gave three to Willy. One was for her but she didn't think she would get the luxury of sleeping next to Mulder tonight. She sat down beside Mulder and examined the cut on his side from the side of the boat. Mulder was asleep and then flinched awake at her touch. She put a cool hand to his forehead and he moved his shoulder out to her, inviting her. He didn't care about the man anymore, all he wanted was Scully, his Dana. She put her head on his shoulder and Mulder put his head on her wet hair. Willy crawled over to his other side and lay down. The tall man watched and felt a hint of guilt creep up. He shoved it back down and stared at the trio. He would let them sleep.

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Police Dock
2:00 am

The pontoon boat slowed and parked at the dock. The police ran out to meet them and to see what had happened. The looked in and saw the woman, the girl, Charlie, and a shaky Bill. "Where's Agent Scully?" the chief asked. "Out there." Charlie said. "We better call their supervisor." The chief said and helped them out of the boat.

6:02 am

Skinner jumped out of his car and ran down the path to the police station. When he reached the door and walked inside, no one was there. He looked around until a young man ran through the door, and started to leave again after gathering medical supplies. Skinner followed him out to the dock, where two men, whom Skinner recognized as Scully's brothers sat with a woman and child on a bench. They all looked shaky and the little girl was crying. They looked like they had been there awhile and Skinner suspected that they where the reason he had been called. He of course had been told that Mulder was having some trouble up here, but not with what. They had said that if it gets worse they would call.

He neared the end of the dock. "I'm Agent Skinner, can I ask what is going on here?" The man who was questioning the four of them turned around to greet Skinner. "Agent Skinner, hello. "Both of your agents have been taken hostage on a boat out there." He said pointing and then looking to Skinner. "From what we have heard they are not injured. We got this message from Agent Scully." He said and let Skinner listen to the tape. "Why are they singing?" Skinner asked, "And what where they singing?"

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On the Lake
6:30 am

Mulder reached for Samantha and felt paralysis, he just sat there staring unable to move, unable to help her. Mulder woke up with a start when he felt a sharp kick to his side. He jumped and looked up at the tall man. Scully was woken up with the same method and Willy was already awake. Mulder groaned and received another kick. Scully tried to push him behind her but the tall man turned away. "Today we have to get off the lake, you two have any bright ideas?" he asked and Scully wondered just how desperate he wanted off the lake. He had asked them! "Well you could always drive up to the police and give yourself up." Mulder said sarcastically. "Shut up." The tall man said annoyed. Scully noticed how pale Mulder looked and realized he must have had another dream.

Oh great now he'll be running a fever. She thought. "Ok, then why don't you trade Scully and the kid for safe transport. You don't really need all of us." Mulder said and Scully shot him a look. The man considered the idea. "Not a bad plan, but not now. We'll give the police a few more hours to sweat and maybe, they'll do something stupid. Then I could have some fun." He said and sat back down in the driver's chair. Mulder shuddered involuntarly at the thought. Scully pulled the now wet blanket around them. It must have rained a little once we were asleep. Willy started to cry again.

"Aunt Dana, we're going to die aren't we?" he balled. Mulder nudged the kid which was all he could do to get Willy's attention considering the handcuffs, "Willy, listen to me. We are not going to die and I'll get you outta this. You've been very brave. Don't give up on me now." Mulder spoke firmly. Willy sniffed. "Ok." And buried himself into Mulder's chest and whimpered until he fell asleep. Scully cuddled his other side and Mulder felt completely content.

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Police Dock
7:34 am

Maggie, Terri, and Kate had moved to the police dock when they heard about Dana and Willy. Charlie, Skinner, and the policemen where discussing they're next course of action. Bill was sitting with Maggie, Kate, and Terri and was turning out to be more trouble than help. Skinner had witnessed Bill mumbling something about Mulder and had ended up breaking up a fight between Bill and Charlie. Well now he knew the sides, everyone in Scully's family liked Mulder except Bill. Scully's niece reminded Skinner of Scully. Kate was talking to Jojo, the other little girl, and helping her through it when he could tell Kate was just as upset. Kate was amazing, she was five and she was a big help! Maggie was calming Bill and Terri down, and Charlie was helping Skinner.

Jojo walked up to him with Kate following close behind. "Mr. Skinner?" Jojo said quietly. Skinner bent down. "Yes." "Um, do they have a radio out there?" she said and went on, "Cause if they don't then they might be afraid to come to you to make a deal." She said. Skinner thought it over, the guy might be spooked. He stared at the seven year old and the five year old, it was amazing how smart kids could be if given the right circumstance. "Good job, ladies." He said and they giggled when he called them ladies. Charlie stood close behind, "Agent Skinner, um, maybe you should go out there and try to make a deal?" Charlie said. "I'll go and you might want to take a medic and maybe two more officers." Charlie said, the guy was nervous but doing a good job dealing with it. "Alright then lets get a boat started up." Skinner said with a sigh. Skinner looked out onto the lake. Sailboats where out by this time and the sailing race was about to start. Oh great, now they had to contend with sailboats. Skinner thought

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On the Lake
8:08 am

Scully awoke to the sound of a motor and realized that the warm body she had fallen asleep on was not beside her. "Finally, thought I was going to have to shot you to wake you up." The tall man said. Scully let her eyes focus, it was bright out now and from what she could tell it was around 7:30. The man was pointing his gun at Mulder who had just recently thrown up from the remains on the side of the boat. The motor sound she had heard was coming closer. The tall man heard it too. "Move over there again." He said to Mulder who looked like he was ready to throw up again. Scully moved to help him. The three of them got over to where the tall man had pointed them. The tall man walked over and grabbed Willy despite protesting from Scully and Mulder. "Shut up." The tall man said and moved to the back of the boat. The boat was not very big and a lot had happened in it. The close quarters where definitely wearing on the tall man.

The motor Scully heard stopped. It was a speedboat, almost identical to the one they were on. Scully leaned forward in order to see the people on the boat. Charlie, Skinner, and three other men slowed the boat to a stop no more than 20 feet away from their boat. Scully was relieved Skinner had come, he would know what to do. She glanced at Mulder, he was turning green. He leaned over the bow of the boat and threw up again. The tall man kept his eyes on the other boat while yelling at Mulder. "Quit puking, God damn it! Will you make him quit that or something?!" he said to Scully. She grabbed Mulder after he was done and put his head on her shoulder. "Shhh, Skinner and Charlie are here. You ok?" she asked and Mulder nodded. He felt so safe on her shoulder, it felt good.

Skinner pulled out a microphone and started talking to the tall man. "My name is Agent Skinner, we would like to know the condition of your hostages." Skinner said. "They're fine." The tall man said and Skinner smelled and saw bits of throw up on the boat. "I want safe transport outta here." The tall man said. "You hand over the hostages and you have a deal." Skinner said not caring weather it was policy to deal with criminals. "No way, you get two. I need insurance. Take your pick." The tall man said waving his hand over them. "Stand up you two." He ordered. Scully moved slightly and brought Mulder back from his safe haven. She pulled him up with her and he stood up straight. The handcuffs had made deep cuts in the night and it hurt to move his wrists. He stiffened his hands and Scully glanced behind his back. She would have to tend to those hands later.

"The kid has nothing to do with you, I think that makes him a definite candidate. And women and children first, I'll stay." Mulder said and the tall man shook his head, "You're the stupidest man I have ever meet Mulder, you know that." The tall man let Willy down and he ran over to Mulder. "I wanna stay with you, Uncle Mulder." He begged. Mulder looked down at Willy. "Aunt Dana is gonna be there with you." Scully put her hand on his wrists, making his wince. "No, I'm staying with you." She said and the tall man rolled his eyes this was going to take forever, he'd just have to speed things up a bit.

The tall man walked over to Scully and pulled her back with him. He pulled out a knife and laid it against her throat drawing a tiny prick of blood. Mulder instantly began angry, he shifted and charged the tall man knocking them both out of the boat. Mulder sank a little bit and then floated a little upwards. The water was freezing, he was running out of air. Mulder kicked his legs and pulled on the handcuffs. The kicking was working, he broke the surface and then felt a tug back downwards.

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Scully was thrown to the ground when the two of them went over. She pulled herself to her feet and looked over the edge. Mulder resurfaced and then went under again. Skinner, Charlie, and the other three officers sped the boat along side of Scully. Charlie jumped in the boat and lifted Willy to the other boat. He grabbed Scully's arm and pulled her toward the other boat as well. "What about Mulder?" She asked. "We'll get him, come on we have to get into the other boat, you're wasting time." Charlie pressed. Scully let him pull her in the other boat and noticed the sailboats around them. What where they doing? They had made their course basically around the boats. They pulled their boat away from the first one and then Skinner started to take off his jacket. "What are you doing sir?" One of the officers asked. "What does it look like, Mulder's going to drown." Skinner said and the officer interrupted. "Wait!"

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Mulder pulled upwards and fought the tall man. The tall man worked his way up Mulder's leg and then put the knife that had been against Scully on the top of his thigh. Mulder tried to pull away but screamed when the blade dug into his leg. Mulder choked on the water and sank farther under the water. This had all happened so fast. Mulder's vision wavered and he saw Scully telling him that she needed him. She needed him. Mulder kicked upward and hit something hard against his wrist. He felt the handcuffs give just a little bit. He hit them again on the thing and then again until they broke in the center. He broke the surface once again and took a deep breath letting the air fill his lungs. He felt strong hands lifting him up onto a slippery surface.

Mark Smith pulled the young man up onto his sailboat. The man choked and spit up water for a while and then regained his breath. Mulder looked around and realized that he had swam farther away then he thought he had. A shot fired then to the back of the sailboat. The man jumped up and looked around. Mulder was already fiddling with the ropes and trying to sail them away from the man. "I with the FBI" Mulder croaked. "Sail." He said and the man took the controls. The tall man clung to the end of the sailboat.

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Skinner directed the officer to speed toward the sailboat. The other officer had his gun ready and the medic was checking out Scully and Willy. Scully pushed the man off her and got up from her seat. "You check out Willy first, and get Mulder in, and then you can check me out." She said stubbornly. The sailboat was going away from them and neither Mulder nor the man sailing the boat saw them, they had their minds on the man hanging on the back of the sailboat.

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The tall man pulled himself up onto the sailboat and grabbed Mulder's arm. Mulder pulled it back and pushed the tall man toward the water. It was very windy out and the sailboat was going top speed. The tall man was slipping off, he grabbed Mulder again and they both slipped off. Mark pulled the tiller around and positioned the sail so that it wouldn't catch any more wind. Mark got up and looked over the edge. No sign of them.

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Mulder fought with the tall man underwater. The tall man was not trying to kill him, he just needed him as a hostage still. If Mulder got away from him again than he was finished. Mulder never realized how hard it was to fight in water. Of course he had never fought in water. The tall man kept getting a hold of his leg where he had cut him earlier and digging his fingernails into it. It had started bleeding again and the tall man still had the knife. Mulder knocked the knife out of the tall man's hand and it started sinking toward the bottom. Mulder went after it but had to go up for air. He tried to swim up but the tall man pulled him farther down. Mulder finally broke away and saw the surface and the sailboat. He got a little air and then the tall man slammed him into the sailboat.

Mulder's head was swimming. He sunk down in the water and the tall man went after him. Mulder was so dizzy. Was this it? He was still conscious but he felt like he couldn't move. The water was black after ten feet. Mulder moved and the blackness felt like oil it was so thick. The oil was making it hard to swim but at the same time having a strange painkiller effect on his head. The tall man started to sink and Mulder was swimming up. He tried to grab the tall man. He couldn't just let him die. Mulder was running out of air, he had to decide, go after the tall man or go up.

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"Where is he?" Scully screamed. She was on the verge of breaking down into tears but she held it in. She wouldn't give up on Mulder, not yet. Willy was on the bow of the speedboat and he was searching the water urgently. "What's that?" he asked and pointed. Skinner and Scully looked where he pointed. The man that was in the sailboat had someone's hand. The man on the sailboat was trying to pull him up but was having trouble. Scully looked at the water around the boat to discover it was black. She saw a glimpse of Mulder and realized he couldn't breath. She jumped off the boat and swam through the black stuff to reach them. She finally was alongside Mulder. Mulder was not breathing, he was trying to, but couldn't. Mulder also had a hold of the tall man who was unconscious.

Mulder let go of the tall man and continued to try and breath. Scully grabbed his head in her hands and talked to him. "Mulder, listen to me. Why can't you breathe? Mulder come on try harder." She begged. Mark and Scully pulled him up onto the sailboat. Scully began CPR and Mulder started to breathe. Scully wrapped her arms around him and Mark looked over the edge for the tall man. The water was clearing and there was no sign of the tall man. Mulder took a few deep breaths and then sat up. Scully looked at his leg, which was the most immediate problem. The one that the tall man had inflicted was a deep cut and probably cut some muscle. She looked at the one Mulder had gotten early and discovered that it was oozing out the black substance and the infection that had set in, which explained the fever and the throwing up.

Scully and Mulder watched as the wound healed itself. Scully looked up wide-eyed at Mulder as Skinner and the others in the speedboat neared. The medic and another officer lifted Mulder up and onto the speedboat. Skinner picked Scully up despite her disapproval. Skinner sat Scully down beside Mulder and made them both promise to let the medic check them over. Skinner stepped back onto the sailboat and thanked Mark and got his name and phone number.

The medic checked started on Scully and she again pushed him away. "I'll let you check me out after you check Mulder out." She said and the medic rolled his eyes. "Looks like you have a one broken rib and the others appear to be bruised. We'll have to get an x-ray to be sure. One cut on the right thigh and a slight concussion. Cut on side and wrists and maybe a torn ligament on one wrist, and a fading black eye. Beyond that you look alright." The medic said after he examined him. Scully was checked out and was all right except for one bruised rib. Skinner considered looking further for the tall man but Charlie refused to let Mulder and Scully stay out here another minute.

They started up the boat and sped toward the shore. Scully and Mulder were nestled together in the front of the boat. Skinner went up toward them to congratulate them and was surprised to find them asleep. Skinner considered waking them because they were nearing the dock. Charlie stopped him. They stopped the boat and Willy hopped out and ran to his Mom and his Dad. Maggie looked over the edge of the boat to locate Fox and Dana. She smiled when she found them. She hurried Skinner and the others out of the boat and then pushed all of them away from the dock. The medic protested saying that they both needed to get to a hospital. "No sir, I think this is what they need." Maggie replied. She left them all in the police station and then went back onto the dock. She stepped in the boat and pulled a blanket over her two 'kids'. She then went to join the others.

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Police Dock
Three hours later

Scully woke up on Mulder's arms. He was still asleep and Scully admired his sleeping form. The only three things that were still a mystery were, what happened to the tall man? What happened to Jerry, and what her love for Mulder would lead to? She shifted a bit and Mulder stirred. He cracked an eye open and groaned. "Hey Scully." "You always are soooo cheery when you wake up aren't you?" she said teasing him. "Scully." He said thinking of his next words. "Yeah?" she asked. "We've been through a lot and I was thinking that... Well any day I could wake up and find that you where gone, I..." Mulder stopped and looked into her eyes. She was crying. He started to speak again but she cut him off. She wrapped her arms around him and pulled him close. No words needed to be said, she leaned in and kissed him. Mulder kissed back and held her close. This was how it was meant to be.

July 25, 1998
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