Flight into Egypt 7:  Going Home

Author:  Vickie Moseley

                       Going Home:  Chapter 4: Family

Crystal City Place

Apartment 1210

Arlington, VA

9:30 pm

The doorman had been most helpful, giving Mulder directions to the underground parking space and coming down to help them with their luggage.  William was impressed with the elevator and decided that he would be the official elevator operator for the time they lived in the condo. 

Not much had changed since the last time Mulder and Scully had stepped foot in their former superior's home.  The personal effects were gone, but there had been few of them before.  His desk was missing, but aside from that the place still housed a good deal of furniture.  Skinner had assured Scully that the furniture was staying with the apartment.  Kim's furniture was now in the new house and what she didn't have, they intended to purchase. 

When they walked into the second bedroom, they were all in for a surprise.  A youth bed, complete with Thomas the Tank Engine comforter and two cribs were neatly arranged along the walls, along with a changing table.  There was a note on the bed, in Kim's handwriting. 

"Just wanted to make sure you had everything you and the children needed to be comfortable.  When you're done with these items, Walt and I hope to put them to good use -- at least one of the cribs.  Enjoy your time here.  Love, Kim." 

"Think Skinner's knows she's thinking of starting their family?" Mulder asked with a wink. 

"I'm thinking it was probably Walter's idea," Scully replied with a knowing look.  "He's waited this long, I don't think the man wants to waste any more time." 

"Sounds like she's in agreement," Mulder said with a nod.  "Well, this means we don't have to set up the portacribs," he added, putting the items in the closet along with the now empty luggage.  "We can take these back to your mom's tomorrow." 

Scully walked out of the room, but not before Mulder heard her heavy sigh.  He finished unloading diapers and wipes and followed her out to the living room where she stood at the French doors looking out on the lights of the city. 

"Scully?" he asked and put his hands on her shoulders.  She shrugged out of his hold and stooped to pick up one sleeping baby from the end of the couch.  "Get Missy for me, please?" she asked.  Missy was sleeping soundly on the other end of the couch; with Will half under the coffee table.  "They just dropped the minute we got in the door," she said affectionately as they carried the infants in to place them in the cribs.  

Scully, we will talk about this, Mulder vowed to himself.  For the time being, he let her fuss with the children, tucking them in and leaving on the nightlight in their room.  Meanwhile, he discovered his own little 'welcome home' gift -- a six-pack of Rolling Rock in the fridge and a box of microwave popcorn on the counter.  He put some popcorn in and set the timer, pulling out two of the beers and opening the tops.  He leaned against the countertop, watching the popcorn bag expand through the door of the oven and was startled when he heard the chime of the intercom with the front door. 

It took him a minute to figure out how to use the intercom, but finally the doorman's voice came through.  "Mr. Mulder, this is George down at the front door.  There's a Mr. Charles Scully down here, says he knows your wife.  Should I let him up?" 

Mulder tensed for a second.  Charlie was here?  Had he come to take his sister back to their mother's house?  It was almost 10 o'clock at night and the man had been trapped in airports all day long?  What was he doing at their apartment?  

"Mr. Mulder?" came George's voice again, questioning. 

"Uh, sorry, this is a confusing contraption here, George," Mulder covered for his delay.  "Yeah, of course.  That's my, uh, my wife's brother.  Please, send him up." 

"Sure thing, Mr. Mulder.  He's on his way." 

Mulder still had the two beers in his hand when he heard the knock at the door.  He opened it to find a man about his height with dark auburn hair, like Scully's sister, but the same blue eyes Mulder knew from his partner and their own children.  

"OK, to hell with Bill and what he thinks, you're my kind of guy, Mulder," Charlie said affably as he extracted one of the beers from the former agent's hand.

Mulder had to laugh, and immediately knew the other man wasn't there to abscond with his partner.  "Charlie, I presume." 

"The one and only, at least in this family.  Thanks very much for naming the kid after the mean brother, by the way," Charlie said with a smirk as Mulder led him into the living room.  "Wow, when Mom said you guys had a nice set up, I wasn't sure what to expect.  This place must rent in the six figures!" 

"We're just subletting it, from our old boss, actually," Mulder said, settling on the sofa. 

"The guy who's getting married.  Yeah, I heard.  Still, I wish we could have snagged a deal like this.  Instead I have to put up with all the 'bill-shit'," Charlie said, chugging down a third of his beer.  "Rolling Rock.  Good stuff." 

There was a shuffling in the hallway and suddenly Scully, clutching a tissue and sporting red-rimmed eyes appeared in the doorway.  "Charlie?" she said, surprised. 

He stood up and opened his arms and in the time it took her to run across the room she was hugging him for dear life.  "I'm so glad to see you, Chuckles!" 

"You too, Dynamite," he said affectionately and hugged her harder.  

"What are you doing here?  Where are Karen and the boys?" Scully asked, still holding on with both arms. 

Charlie pushed and wiggled and finally had her sitting next to him of the couch, not letting go of her hands.  "Back at Mom's.  I wanted to see you.  I wanted to make sure you're OK." 

"I'm fine," she said, with a quick glance to Mulder.  "Really," she said defiantly, but she still had to sniff back some tears. 

"Don't let him do this to us, Dana," Charlie said quietly.  "Don't let Bill ruin this reunion for us." 

"How about another beer, Charlie?" Mulder asked, seeking an escape so that brother and sister could have a little time. 

"Uh, better make that a soft drink, I have to drive back," Charlie said with a lop-sided grin. 

"One water, coming up.  I think that's all we're equipped for right now," he explained.  "Unless you want toddler apple juice." 

Charlie grimaced.  "No, I've lived past those days, thankfully.  Water sounds fine.  Thanks." 

Mulder took his time with the water, even finding a jug in the cabinet and filling it with some water to place in the refrigerator.  He found a bowl in the cupboard and dumped the now finished popcorn in it.  Finally, he made his way out to the living room to find his partner looking calmer, but not completely relaxed.  Charlie smiled when he saw Mulder and reached for the glass. 

"Thanks," he said, taking a sip and putting the glass down on the coffee table.  "So, you're the big hairy monster Bill's always telling me about," he grinned in Mulder's direction. 

"Well, I don't know about 'hairy'," Mulder scoffed with a twinkle in his eye.  

"Don't worry.  Bill and I have been on opposite ends of the world for a long time.  He was the oldest, the responsible one.  I'm the irresponsible baby of the family." 

"Irresponsible, my eye!" Scully disagreed.  "You were married at 18 " 

"Because we had to, if you remember," Charlie interjected. 

"You worked your way through college, entered the Navy with a Commission -- " 

"But I'm still not the same rank as Billy boy.  Don't think that doesn't irk to have to salute my own brother," he chimed in again. 

"Charlie, you have a wife who adores you, two sons any man would be proud to call his own -- Ben was just accepted to Annapolis.  Mom told me last night." 

"They're good kids, but most of that is Karen's doing.  I'm just the guy who shows up every three months or so." 

"Charlie is a submariner," Scully explained. 

"So that's why we never saw you," Mulder finally got a word in. 

Charlie laughed.  "Well, that and we really didn't try too hard to get home," he said, chewing on his lip.  "We came home for Dad's funeral -- the kids were younger and it was a rough trip.  After that, we sort of never got around to it." 

"You sent flowers," Scully reminded him.  "When Missy died, after Emily, even at Mulder's -- "  She stopped, unable to speak of the time when she'd buried her partner.  Mulder grabbed her hand and squeezed it, pulling her closer to him.  She leaned into him for a moment before speaking again.  "We missed you, Chuckles." 

"But you've been back recently," Mulder said, thinking of Bill's comment about the family portrait. 

"Karen talked me into it.  Especially after you two, uh, well, dropped off the face of the earth." 

"Charlie, we had no choice -- " 

"Dana, believe me, I'm not here to place blame or judge.  I've done some stuff in my time that I'm not very proud of and some things that would take several hours to explain.  I'm just glad it's all resolved and you two can come home again.  I just wish . . . " 

"Charles Benjamin Scully, don't you dare try that guilt shit on me," Scully growled suddenly from the protection of Mulder's arms.  "Don't you dare come here and -- " 

"Whoa, whoa, whoa down Nellie!" Charlie interrupted throwing his hands up in surrender.  "Don't shoot the piano player!  Geez, Dana, I'm not the bad guy here, remember?"  He waited to see if the fire had dimmed in his sister's eyes before he continued.  "Look, I of all people know what a sanctimonious asshole Bill can be." 

"If you're looking for someone to disagree, you're in the wrong apartment," Mulder offered. 

"But there are others to consider," Charlie continued. 

Scully got up from the couch and paced over to the glass doors leading to the balcony.  "Did you and Mulder compare notes or something?" she hissed, but it didn't have the anger of her earlier statements.  She sighed, but finally turned to face them.  "I suppose you have a plan?" 

Charlie grinned, ear to ear.  "Well, I can't claim all the credit.  Mom had a part in it, too.  Friday night, we're going out to dinner, just the six of us.  Bill, Tara, you two, Karen and me." 

"Why can't your mom come?" Mulder asked, realizing that it might have sounded like a whine.  "Your sons are old enough to watch the kids."

"Because it needs to be just us -- just the six of us.  Mom has agreed to stay home with the kids.  Ben and Nate are great guys, don't get me wrong, but they haven't had much experience with diapers and bottles and infants younger than a year old.  I'm sure Tara would feel more comfortable leaving Julia with Mom than with my sons.  I know I would," Charlie admitted.   "Besides, Mulder, when Bill sees that he's the only one still holding on to the grudge he thinks we're all supposed to have against you, he'll drop it.  Bill is a 'team player'; he hates being the odd man out.  He'll get with the program.  And besides, if we're in a restaurant, well, he's always Mr. Proper.  He wouldn't dare kick up a fuss." 

"There's a new place in Baltimore I read about when we were making the airline reservations," Scully said thoughtfully. 

"You're actually agreeing to this?" Mulder asked, trying to keep the incredulity out of his voice.  "I mean, this is your family, but earlier tonight -- " 

"I know, Mulder, but what Charlie is suggesting makes sense.  And what you said earlier is true, too.  We owe this to our kids.  Will, Sammi and Missy have just as much right to be members of this family, to grow up knowing their cousins and their aunts and uncles, as Bill's kids.  I'm not going to let my squabble with him stand in the way of them knowing their family." 

"OK, if you two think it's doable, I'm game," Mulder relented.  "But I'm scoping out the exits the minute we get there, just in case." 

Ruth's Chris Steak House

Baltimore, MD

June 3, 2005

7:30 pm

Thursday and Friday had passed in relative peace, primarily due to the fact that a couple of Bill's friends from high school were also in town and he had golf dates both days.  Mulder spent time with Charlie, learning to appreciate the younger man's sense of humor as much as his common sense approach to dealing with two teen aged boys.  Scully finally got a chance to bond with her sisters-in-law.  Mulder loved catching sight of her, happily playing with her new niece or holding one of their own children.  The look on her face at being able to share the trials and tribulations of motherhood with her family was worth all the heartache and years it had taken.  

Maggie was completely in her element, playing with the babies, listening intently to the younger boys descriptions of the wild life in her own backyard and cracking jokes with her older grandsons.  Mulder was definitely glad they'd made the journey to spend time with her and the rest of his partner's family. 

As Friday night approached, Mulder was relaxed enough to think that maybe the evening had been a good idea.  On Maggie's suggestion, they decided to try a popular steakhouse.  She knew one of the managers and arranged for a table for six on a usually sold out Friday night.  

"I love steak," Karen hissed as Charlie held her chair for her to sit. 

"I had so much of it growing up.  I'm probably going to get the seafood," Tara said with a shrug. 

"Don't you get enough of that in San Diego?" Scully asked, unwrapping her silver and settling her napkin on her lap. 

"Dana, there is never such a thing as too much seafood.  I could go straight seafood any day of the week.  It's your brother who demands his red meat.  When he's at sea Matty and I eat a lot of fish and meatless dishes." 

"Well, they are better for you," Scully agreed.  "But seafood is sort of expensive in Montana.  It has to be shipped in." 

"What's your house like?" Karen asked. 

Scully smiled, remembering their not so little house by the mountain.  "It's in the country, on the state road.  The nearest town with any shopping, Mt. Airy, is about 15 minutes away; it's 45 minutes the other direction to Helena, where Mulder teaches.  The yard is about 2 acres front and back, at least what Mulder can keep from returning to the old growth forest," she said with a grin.  "It's on the side of a mountain, but the peak is right behind our house.  It's beautiful at sunset." 

"Sounds like heaven," Tara sighed.  "How many rooms?"

"Well, we built on last year.  It was three bedrooms but now we have four.  We have an office downstairs and upstairs we have a master suite with a full bath.  In the living room there's a fireplace with a carved wooden mantel.  I think you can see the mantel in the pictures we sent you at Christmas." 

"Oh the one with the mirror over it, yes, I remember.  That was so pretty!" Karen exclaimed.  "I hope someday we can come out and see it." 

Scully smiled as she looked at her sister-in-law over her menu.  "We'd love to have you out," she said.  A kick to her shin and she smiled again.  "Someday."  Her glance shot over to her partner who was listening intently while appearing to consider his 'red meat' options. 

Bill was indeed on his best behavior and even managed to not growl during the dinner conversation.  Most of the time they talked about children or the housing markets in various parts of the US and Japan, where Charlie and Karen were currently stationed.  If anyone had been passing by, they might mistake the group for college friends.

Mulder watched the interaction between Charlie and Bill.  It was fun to use his previously rusty psychology tools again and the two men were the epitome of sibling rivalry.  Charlie and Scully had been right; Bill did like to dominate the conversation, just as his opinion was always the correct one.  Mulder was cautious when he voiced his own opinions, usually couching them in objective terms to avoid antagonizing the self-appointed 'head' of the family.  It was tricky, but no harder than any time he'd been working with other agents at the Bureau.  He turned his head once to see his partner gazing at him with gratitude and admiration. 

The women begged off dessert, but everyone accepted coffee.  After very little argument, the bill had been split three ways.  They were enjoying their coffee when Bill tapped his water glass. 

"I guess this is the best time to give you my little surprise," he said with a mischievous grin. 

"Surprise?" Charlie asked, shooting a look over to his sister.  "What surprise is that, Big Bro?" 

"Do you remember Robbie Hickman?"  

Scully nodded, Charlie did so but more slowly, his face a mask of caution. 

"Well, he's a real estate broker now.  He was in my foursome at golf yesterday and today.  Anyway, he has some property in Ocean City, beach front property."  

"You're buying a house in Ocean City?" Karen asked, a confused expression on her face. 

"Hell no!  I doubt Mr. Moneybags Mulder could afford these places," Bill said with a glance over to his sister's partner.  "No, I'm not buying anything.  We're renting.  All of us.  For a week starting Sunday night."   

"Who, exactly, is 'all of us'?" Scully asked in the voice that Mulder was certain to turn brutally hard if she didn't get the answer she wanted. 

"You, Mulder, Charlie and Karen, Tara and I, all the kids and Mom," Bill said, very pleased with himself. 

"All 14 of us.  In one beach house," Karen said slowly, as if hoping that she'd heard wrong. 

"It's got 6 bedrooms, four of the bedrooms have double beds, one has two sets of bunk beds and the last one has a day bed with plenty of room to set up portacribs.  Each couple gets their own room, the babies can sleep in another room and Matty, William and the older boys can bunk in one room.  Mom gets her own room.  It's perfect.  And the best part is, it has it's own beach.  Just walk right out the back door, down some steps and you're on the ocean." 

"I hope the back door has a secure lock," Tara said worriedly. 

Mulder looked over at Scully, trying to gauge her reaction.  Aside from the shock of Bill's 'surprise', she didn't seem overly enthusiastic about the idea. 

"I don't know, Bill.  All of us in one little house -- " 

"Little?  This is the friggin' Playboy Mansion, Dana.  There are two living rooms, two and a half baths, the place is usually split up with people renting only one half but we get the whole thing for five days at a measly $1200.  Split three ways that just $400 a piece.  You can't stay at a hotel in Ocean City for a week for 400 bucks and you know it!  Plus, we can eat most of our meals in and save on that, too.  There's a full kitchen with all modern appliances, plus a gas grill and a deck overlooking the ocean.  I saw the pictures, I'm telling you, this is too good to pass up." 

"We're already renting an apartment in the city," Mulder interjected. 

Bill shot him a sour look.  "Yeah, well, we can't all rent condos in DC," he huffed.  "Look, it's going to be great.  The kids will have a great time.  Charlie, there's more in Ocean City for Ben and Nate to do than there is at Mom's--the boardwalk is just five blocks away.  And Dana, you know William will love being that close to the ocean!  He can pick up seashells or build sandcastles with Matty -- " 

Mulder flashed back to a dream he faintly remembered.  He and a small boy about Will's age building an enormous sand structure on a beach somewhere.  The sand structure was a spaceship . . . 

"So, it's all set.  I signed the papers in the clubhouse," Bill was saying when Mulder returned to conversation from his musings. 

"You what?" Charlie exclaimed, choking on his coffee. 

"I said I signed the papers.  It's all set," Bill said, a scowl taking over his previously happy expression.  "Rob couldn't wait on this, Chuckles.  He had to know today.  Another party cancelled at the last minute and he had to fill the spot.  That's the reason we're getting it so cheap.  Ordinarily this place goes for twice that amount." 

Mulder blew out a breath through pursed lips.  Scully was breathing heavily beside him and he wondered how long it would take before she exploded.  Karen looked stricken and Charlie was looking a little sick.  Tara was sitting in stunned and embarrassed silence. 

"So, what's the problem?  I get this great place and everyone's acting like I just torpedoed your ships." 

Mulder bit his lip, knowing that what he was about to do was not going to please his partner and most likely wouldn't even ingratiate him to either of her brothers.  "I think it sounds nice," he said quietly. 

Charlie shot him a fierce look and all Mulder could do was shrug. 

"I guess it would be nice to be by the ocean for a while," Karen agreed reluctantly.  

Scully looked wide-eyed at her sister-in-law, as if she'd just seen her for the first time and she had three heads. 

"It would be easier on your mom," Tara chimed in.  "I mean, she wouldn't feel like she has to wait on us hand and foot if we're in neutral territory.  Not that her house isn't neutral territory, of course . . . what I mean to say -- " 

"We understand what you're saying, Tara, and you're right.  We could each pull our weight in the kitchen, maybe get Maggie to go out on the beach and relax," Mulder said, saving the poor woman from dying of humiliation. 

"Charlie?  Dana?  Whaddya say?" Bill asked, crossing his arms as if declaring victory.  

Scully, with her tongue worrying the inside of her cheek, looked over at her partner.  He needed no refresher course in unspoken communication to know that he was in for an earful when they were alone.  But after a moment, she nodded slowly.  "I guess we're going to Ocean City.  When do we get possession?" 

Bill beamed at her.  "Three o'clock on Sunday.  We pick up the keys from Rob's rental office when we get there.  If we go to 11:00 Mass at St. Francis we can head out directly after that and be there in time for dinner.  Dana, can Mom ride with you in your minivan?" 

"Sure," Scully said with a quick nod.  

"Then we're all set.  The place has everything, bed linens, towels, dishes, cookware, a washer and dryer, dishwasher.  There's even a hot tub on the patio under the deck." 

"Oh dear, I hope it has a tight cover," Tara muttered, again looking worried. 

Crystal City Place

11:30 pm

"Scully, you have to talk to me sometime," Mulder pleaded as he crawled into bed next to his partner. 

She turned on her side facing away from him. 

"Look, it's not like I came up with the idea, you know." 

She shot him a heated glare over her shoulder.  "No, you just had to join in on the bandwagon," she accused. 

"He'd already signed the paper!  He would have been stuck for twelve hundred bucks!  Then he would have had another reason to hate me," Mulder exclaimed, flopping on his back with his arms under his head. 

Scully rolled over so he could see her clearly when she spoke.  "I never saw you as a coward."  Then she flipped so her back was to him again. 

"Now wait just a minute," Mulder seethed.  "I was just trying to keep the peace and you know it." 

"What happened to standing up to him?" 

"Scully, you're the one who wants to stand up to him," Mulder reminded her.  "I just want to get out of this vacation with my skin intact!" 

Scully fell back onto her back.  "Did you see the look on Charlie's face?  I thought he was going to bust a spleen!" 

Mulder chuckled with her, wondering not for the first time where she picked up such a strange idiom.  "Yeah.  Hey, this won't set them back too far financially, will it?  I mean they probably weren't expecting to have to shell out $400 and with Ben going to college in the fall -- " 

"First, Ben gets a full scholarship to the Naval Academy, so they don't have to pay a dime for his education and second, Karen's the only grandchild of a very wealthy family. She's got a nice trust fund that they can dip into whenever they need it.  It's not as large as your financial statement -- " 

"That's 'our' financial statement," he interrupted, leaning over to kiss her shoulder.  "Oh shit, that reminds me.  I had an appointment set up with a lawyer on Thursday.  I'll have to reschedule now." 

"A lawyer -- why?" 

"I want to make you and the kids beneficiaries on the accounts," he said.  "I meant to do that last year when we were finally free to use our real names, but it's so much easier to do it face to face.  I have to sign a bunch of papers and such.  You're more than welcome to come along."  He leaned over her and whispered in her ear.  "I know how paperwork is such a turn on for you, Scully." 

She struggled to hold back her smile and pushed at his shoulder.  "Oh, yeah, it's a wonder we didn't have mad passionate sex on your desk the first time I had to reconcile one of the expense reports you decided to make a work of fiction." 

Mulder started placing kisses on her jaw and along her neck.  "Darn that Walter, taking the desk to the new place already." 

"Guess we'll just have to make do with this horribly comfortable king sized bed," Scully purred as she started to return his favors. 

"It's a dirty job -- "  The rest of his cliché was lost in the heat of the moment.

continued in Chapter 5

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