Title:  Paradigm
Author:  Vickie Moseley
Summary:  When given her heart's desire, will Scully be 
able to give it back?
Category:  MA, SA, MT, ST
Rating:  no really bad words or sex, some violence
Archive:  Two weeks exclusive VS 14, then anywhere
Dedication:  Tracy, this is the one I promised you.
Comments and feedback (please):  
vickiemoseley1978@yahoo.com 

Paradigm part 1 of 2

Tara Scully's Residence
Fairland, MD
6:15 pm

"Police report another murder in Fairfax County believed to 
be connected to the 'Ripper' killings.  The fourth victim, 
whose identity was not released, was found in an alley . . ."

"Hey, Buddy, let's turn this off while we finish your math 
problems," Mulder said affably as he clicked off the blaring 
television set in the family room.  "What have you got 
here?"  

Mathew Scully, third grader, looked up at his 'uncle' and 
sighed.  "We're starting division," he said glumly.  "Mom 
says she was a domestic science major and can only divide 
using a calculator."

Mulder winced while trying to hold back a grin.  "Well, 
you're in luck.  I was pretty good at division back in school.  
Let me look at the homework."

The young boy handed over the workbook and crossed his 
arms.  "I can't believe I got the teacher who gives 
homework on Fridays," he bemoaned his fate.

"Oh, this isn't that bad!  Look, Matty, you're dividing by 
twos.  You can do this.  It's just half.  Remember how easy 
it was when you had to learn the two times tables?  You 
were a whiz!  C'mon, let's give this a go, I bet we're done 
before Auntie Dana has dinner on the table."

Mathew's eyes brightened at Mulder's encouraging words.  
"OK," he agreed with a grin.  "First one is 12 divided by 2 . 
. ."

Tara stood at the top of the stairs leading down to the 
family room from the kitchen.  "He's so good with Matty," 
she said, not for the first time.

"He's always been good with kids," Scully agreed, stirring 
the pot of macaroni boiling on the stove, making sure to 
avoid stepping on Claire, who was 'cooking' at her play 
kitchen nearby.  "So, tell me about Ben," she prodded.

Tara blushed.  "He's a neighbor," she said.  "That's a 
blessing that could turn out to be a curse if tonight doesn't 
go well.  But he's recently divorced -- I guess that's the best 
I can hope for at my age, huh?"

"Tara," Dana said firmly.  "You have to stop putting 
yourself down!  You are a beautiful person, you have done 
a tremendous job with these kids, alone -- it's time for you 
to have some fun in your life."

Tara dropped her gaze.  "I guess -- I'm not really expecting 
much.  I mean, Dana, you know I miss Billy.  Not a day 
goes by that I don't think about him -- "

"Tara, he would want you to be happy," Dana interjected.  
"I really don't think he would expect you to be alone for the 
rest of your life."

The doorbell rang and Tara ran to get the door.  In a minute 
she came back into the kitchen with a tall, well-toned sandy 
haired man with a ready smile.  "Dana, this is Ben Nelson.  
Ben, this is my sister-in-law, Dana."

Ben held out his hand.  "Dana, nice to meet you."

Hearing the commotion, Matty raced up the stairs, almost 
tackling Ben.  "Hi, Ben!" he said, before grabbing Mulder's 
hand and bringing him closer.  "This is Uncle Mulder!"

Ben shook hands with Mulder.  "Matt has mentioned you a 
time or two," Ben said with a nod.  "Certainly nice to meet 
you both."

"You live nearby?" Mulder asked.  Scully could almost see 
him mentally reviewing the Top Ten Most Wanted list just 
to see if he could match the face.

"Yeah, our back yards touch," Ben said motioning out the 
kitchen window.  "I just moved in last spring and Matt's 
ball found its way onto my patio.  We met and we've been 
watering each other's crabgrass ever since."

Tara blushed and drew in a breath.  "Well, we better get 
going.  Dana, I have my cell phone, if you need to reach 
me.  And we won't be out too late, right Ben?"

"Early tee time in the morning.  I'll have you home by 
curfew," he vowed, holding up his right hand.  "Mulder, do 
you play golf?"

Mulder shook his head slowly.  "I'm not much of a golfer.  
More into basketball."

Ben looked slightly uncomfortable in the silence, but 
finally clapped his hands and turned to Tara.  "Hey, the 
movie starts at 7:10, we should probably get a move on."

At that moment, Claire looked up and must have realized 
something was going on.  She dropped the play pot and 
spoon she was holding and ran to her mother, clinging to 
her legs.  "Mommy!  Mommy, I go toooo," she wailed.

Mulder scooped her up in his arms and bounced her on her 
hip.  "Claire-bear, you promised me a cake, remember?  
You don't want Uncle Mulder to miss out on his cake, do 
you?  You promised I could pick and I want a chocolate 
cake with chocolate chips and chocolate frosting and 
chocolate sprinkles and chocolate roses . . . "  With great 
stealth he turned and moved the child away from the 
doorway and her departing mother.

"Quick, make your move now -- he's running out of 
chocolate," Scully advised them with a wink.

Tara looked hesitant, but Scully gave her a gentle shove 
toward the door.  "They're fine, Tara.  Go, have a good 
time."

With one weak smile back, Tara hurried out the door with 
Ben trailing after her.

Tara Scully Residence
11:35 pm

"Repeating the story from the top of the hour, Tyson 
Corner's police are requesting that anyone with information 
on the brutal attack and murder of a 34 year old 
businessman in this  . . ."

"Mulder," Scully whispered, muting the sound of the 
television.  "Mulder, wake up."  

She almost hated to wake him, but knew he had to be 
developing a crick in his neck from the way he was sitting.  
Matty was sprawled on his lap, the thumb on his left hand 
sitting against his slack lower lip.

Mulder opened his eyes slowly.  "I'm not really asleep," he 
said but a yawn contradicted him.  

"Do you want me to take him up?" Scully asked, moving to 
take the child from his arms.

"Nah, I've got him.  Besides, he's almost as tall as you 
now," he teased quietly.  He shifted the gangly boy more 
firmly in his grip and started up the stairs.  A left u turn at 
the kitchen and he was headed up the next flight to Matty's 
room.  

"Unc'a Mulller?" the boy murmured.

"Movie's over, Matty.  Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones 
saved the planet.  Time for bed."

"Okay," the child agreed, snuggling into his covers.  
"'Night Uncle Mulder.  I love you."

Mulder's breath caught in his chest, and he could hear his 
heart pounding in his ears.  He leaned over the small boy.  
"Good night, Matty.  I love you, too."  Gently, he placed a 
kiss on the child's forehead.

Scully was waiting for him in the hallway.  "Claire asleep?" 
he asked, guiding her down the steps.

"She went down about 10.  I had to read A Very Hungry 
Caterpillar three times, but we got the job done," she 
grinned.

"At least it's not Dr. Seuss," he shot back.

"You just hold a grudge because he named a book after 
you," she teased.

"Yeah, well, want to hear what we can do with 'Dana'?" he 
returned.

They ended up in the family room.  Mulder had snatched a 
bottle of Snapple Iced Tea on the way through the kitchen 
and settled in on the sofa, next to his partner.  She 
immediately scooted over and drew his arm around her 
shoulder.

"You OK?" he asked, noticing her need for contact.

She nodded yes, but he could still feel the tension in her 
shoulders.  "So what do you think about Ben?" she asked, 
seemingly interested in the rerun of Last Comic Standing 
he'd found on Comedy Central.

Mulder shrugged.  "He's OK, I guess."

"He's divorced," Scully said with a sigh.

"People get divorced, Scully.  Doesn't make him a bad 
person."

"I'm not saying that," she said defensively.  "I just . . . "

"She's not betraying Bill, you know that, right?" Mulder 
asked, looking down at her upturned face.

"I know that.  I told her that myself.  I'm not even thinking 
that."  She was quiet for a few minutes.  "I guess it means 
she won't be needing us as much now."

"Scully, this is a first date," Mulder chuckled.  "Let's not 
get the rice out yet."

"No, I just mean, well, Matty seems to like him.  It just 
means . . ."

Mulder nodded slowly, taking another drink of his tea and 
setting it down on the coffee table in front of them.  "I 
know.  Probably won't need me to coach tee ball," he said 
casually.

"I know they're just my niece and nephew, but sometimes, 
when they're with us -- "

Mulder turned his head to look at her.  He rubbed his 
thumb across her cheek and was surprised at the dampness 
he found there.  "It makes you wish we could have our 
own," he whispered.  

"Mulder, I know I shouldn't feel that way.  I know what we 
have is special and I'm blessed, truly blessed.  I could have 
lost you -- I thought I did lose you last summer.  But 
sometimes, when I'm holding Claire or I see you playing 
with Mathew -- I just can't help but think -- "

"Scully, we could adopt.  I've told you that before.  Say the 
word -- "

"Mulder, it's impossible," she said, shaking her head.  "One 
look at our lives . . . Good grief, the judge in California 
denied my petition to adopt my own child!"

"That was different, Scully," he crooned.  "We're together 
now.  You wouldn't be raising the child by yourself."

"You think any judge would look at the last 24 months, 
hell, the last 10 years of our lives and allow us to take care 
of a child?" she asked flatly.  "You were kidnapped, I was 
left to believe you were dead -- how many times have we 
been in dangerous situations, Mulder?  How many times 
has one or both of us almost died?"  She threw her head 
back against the cushions and stared at the ceiling.  "It's not 
possible."

"Do you want it to be possible?  Scully, we could -- "

"Leave everything behind?" she snorted.  "We tried that 
once and look where it got us."

"Look, I know it hurts.  I see Mathew and Claire and I can't 
help but wonder if our kids would have red hair like you or 
brown hair like me.  I can't help but picture us together, 
going to the zoo, putting together a two-wheeler at three in 
the morning on Christmas.  I told you once that I never saw 
you as a mother.  Well, Scully, I didn't think of myself as a 
father -- until I realized how much I love you.  Every time 
we make love, I think . . . I hope . . . "  He sighed and 
pulled her to him, kissing the crown of her head.  "I would 
do anything to give you a child, to give us a family.  You 
know that."

"I do know that, Mulder.  And you have no idea how much 
that helps me deal with this heartache."  She kissed him 
then, gently, tenderly, allowing her fingers to touch his 
cheek for several minutes while she breathed in unison to 
him.  No more words were spoken and after a while, 
Mulder flipped the channels and found something neither 
of them cared about yet they didn't care enough to change 
it.  Together they waited for Tara to return.

Act 1

FBI Headquarters
Monday
8:15 am

"So, you want to write up the report from Friday?" Mulder 
asked.  He was juggling his briefcase, his travel mug of 
coffee, the morning newspaper and his keys.  It was 
anyone's guess which would fall to the floor first.  It was 
the keys.

Scully stooped to pick them up.  "I could.  But then I'd have 
to kill you," she said sweetly, unlocking the door.

"What?  That was open and shut!  Scully, that report 
practically writes itself!" he declared, accepting his keys 
from her.  

"Good.  Then you won't have any trouble with it," she 
answered, this time a little less sweet than before.

"You're still mad about the laundry," he said with a sigh.

"Mulder, I told you, I'm not mad.  A little peeved, but not 
mad.  Besides, you said on Friday that you were going to 
do this report because, and I quote 'it's pretty easy so I'll 
knock it out on Monday'.  Well, I'm holding you to it."

"You're still mad about the laundry," he muttered.

"Am not," she said evenly.  "But keep bringing it up and I 
might have to rethink my position."

Scully booted up her computer, over her partner's pathetic 
attempts at sympathy by sighing heavily at his desk.  An 
email caught her attention.  "Mulder, didn't you say there'd 
been another animal attack during the night?"

He looked over at her and frowned.  "Yeah, it was in the 
morning paper.  Homeless guy in Rock Creek -- it was 
pretty gruesome according to the account.  And I told you, I 
don't think they're animal attacks."

Scully rolled her eyes.  "Mulder, a werewolf -- in DC?  I 
thought most self-respecting modern werewolves preferred 
London," she said dryly.

"Scully, have you been sneaking downstairs to watch Sci Fi 
after I've gone to sleep?" he teased back at her.  "No, I'm 
serious here.  The wounds are consistent with -- "

The ringing of the phone cut off the rest of his lecture.  
Mulder grabbed it and after a few 'yes sirs', returned the 
receiver to its cradle.  "That was Skinner.  Three guesses 
why he wants to see us."

She sighed.  "Fine.  But I refuse to listen to Warren Zevon 
at any time during the course of this investigation," she said 
firmly and followed him out the door.

Rock Creek Park
Tuesday
9:35 pm

It was cold and clear, a full moon hanging over the tops of 
the trees.  From the driver's seat of the car, Mulder cracked 
another seed between his teeth, bringing his hand to his 
mouth to take the hull and toss it out the partially open 
window.

"What time is it?" Scully asked, stretching as much as she 
could in the tight confines of the passenger seat next to 
him.

It had already been a long day.  Skinner had given them the 
assignment.  Three murders with similar M.O.s had 
happened in the last week.  All three men had been torn to 
shreds.  The DC Medical Examiner determined that the 
killer had animal-like claws and teeth, but DNA traces left 
on the second victim showed human markers.  The case 
was shuffled over to the FBI and labeled an X file, but with 
a difference.  This time, Mulder and Scully headed a team 
of agents staking out Rock Creek Park.

"Just after 9:30," he answered, after glancing at his watch.  
"When did the watch repair place say your watch will be 
fixed?"

She sighed and turned toward him.  "Guess what I want for 
my birthday," she said dourly.

"Can't fix it, huh?"

"Apparently it's only water resistant if it's not put through 
the washer," she replied dryly.

"Scully, I said I was sorry about forty million times 
already," he retorted.  "But I think this should teach you a 
lesson."

"Never put my watch in my pants pocket, even if I get 
called in to do an autopsy at 4 in the morning?"

"No."  He shook his head solemnly.  "Never trust me to do 
laundry again."

She snorted, shaking her head vehemently.  "Oh, no, 
laundry boy!  You are not getting out of that chore so 
easily."

The radio on the dashboard crackled to life.  "Rocky.  
Report in, Rocky."

Mulder rolled his eyes and reached for the radio.  He 
clicked it on with an air of exasperation.  "Nothing to 
report, Bullwinkle," he said as Scully tried to stifle a laugh 
next to him.

"That's Balboa -- not 'Bullwinkle', Mulder," came a deeper 
voice over the radio.  Even though there was no way for 
Skinner to see him, Mulder sat up straighter in the seat.

"Sorry, sir.  My bad.  But nothing is happening -- "

"Mulder," Scully said, grabbing his arm.  She pointed out 
the windshield.  "I just saw something -- over by those 
bushes."

"We have an UNSUB just spotted at position 6 in Rock 
Creek Park, requesting back up," Mulder said into the radio 
and tossed it in to the dash as soon as he heard Skinner's 
'copy' reply.

Scully spared him a glance.  "Back up?  We don't know for 
sure -- "

"This thing has torn apart three grown men, Scully.  I don't 
want to take any chances."

As they got out the car quietly, Mulder tilted his head and 
Scully took off to the right, gun muzzle pointed to the sky, 
moving slowly.  Mulder headed left, his gun in his hand.  
He kept sight of Scully as they approached the trees and 
gave her a nod, then moved into the forested area.

The underbrush was thick and hard to walk through 
because vines tangled around his feet.  He heard something 
moving ahead of him and he licked his lips, wondering 
where the hell the troops were.  The sectors weren't that far 
apart, he should have heard other cars pulling up.  As he 
pushed aside a particularly tall shrub, he caught sight of 
something.  It was a creature, more wolf-like than anything 
he could have imagined.  It's elongated snout lifted as it 
sniffed the air.  It turned its head and moved quickly and 
near-silently forward.  The moon cast a silvery glow on the 
fur-covered body, the toned muscles rippled as it moved.  
At full standing height, the creature was at least inches 
taller than Mulder.  The agent followed the creature, 
looking around for Scully, their back up, or a good angle to 
shoot, whichever came first.

As he was lining up his gun site, he saw Scully suddenly 
appear through the trees.  She stepped into an opening in 
the thicket and looked around.  Mulder was a few yards 
away and tried to wave her back, conscious that the 
creature was close by.  She didn't see him.  But the creature 
saw her.  

Letting out a blood-curdling howl, the beast bounded 
forward on strong back legs and was on Scully in a 
heartbeat.  Mulder shouted and raised his gun again, but 
couldn't risk a shot for fear that he would hit his partner.  
He ran forward as the monster wrapped its massive arms 
around Scully's shoulders.  Mulder turned the gun in his 
hand and tried using it to bludgeon the creature with it, but 
the thing swiped out with one arm, catching Mulder in the 
upper chest with rapier sharp claws.  Mulder dropped the 
gun, but tried once more to pry his partner away from the 
monster.  

The next swipe tore the flesh at his neck and shoulder and 
one foot thrust out, catching the hapless agent in the 
stomach and launching him several yards through the air.  
By the time Mulder had picked himself off the forest floor, 
the creature and Scully were gone.

Mulder stood, dazed, with blood dripping from a dozen 
slash wounds, when Skinner arrived just moments later.

"Mulder, oh, God -- call for an ambulance," Skinner 
shouted to one of the men following him into the clearing.  
"Mulder, here, let's get you sitting down."

"It took her," Mulder whispered.  He looked at his superior 
with soul crushing sadness.  "The thing -- it took her."

"Mulder, we have to get you to the hospital," Skinner said 
slowly, as if talking to a child.  Over his shoulder, he 
directed the other men.  "Scour this area.  Cut off all access 
points.  They have to be here."  Looking back to Mulder, he 
took the man's arm.  "We'll find her.  I promise."  He 
watched helplessly as Mulder's eyes rolled back in his head 
and the agent collapsed unconscious into Skinner's arms.

George Washington University Medical Center
Emergency Department
12:47 am

Skinner was paging through a year old copy of the New 
England Journal of Medicine when Mulder appeared from 
behind a set of double doors.

"I thought the nurse said they wanted to keep you for 
observation," the Assistant Director said gruffly.

"They wanted to.  I didn't.  Any word from the park?"  

Even wearing a borrowed scrub shirt didn't hide the 
bandages on Mulder's torso.  His left arm was in a sling and 
his neck was covered in enough gauze to appear that he 
was wearing a white turtleneck.  Skinner wondered how 
much painkiller his underling was carrying because his 
eyes were dilated, but his gaze was focused.  The older man 
decided to be upfront with him.

"Richards is heading up the team.  They've gone over the 
area with a fine-toothed comb.  All exits are blocked.  They 
couldn't have gotten out of the park.  I'm going back out 
there after I drop you off home."

"I'm not going home," Mulder growled.  He took a few 
steps and swayed but caught himself and glared back at 
Skinner.  "I'm going with you to the park."

"Mulder, you aren't going to help her if you pass out again.  
Go home, let us handle this.  We have all the Bureau's man 
power -- "

"Hell of a lot of good that's ever done us," Mulder spat out 
angrily.  "I'm going to find her."

Skinner glared off at nothing, not wanting to risk a 
showdown with an injured man.  Finally he turned back to 
gaze at his agent.  "I don't want to make this an order."

"Don't push me, Walter.  You don't like me when I'm 
angry," Mulder said in low even tones.  

"Listen to reason!" Skinner exclaimed.  "Look at you.  You 
can barely stand.  The nurse said they had to put in over 
two-dozen stitches.  You lost a lot of blood, you need to 
rest -- "

"I.  Can't.  Go.  Home."  The younger man closed his eyes 
and shook his head.  "Please.  Don't make me go back to 
that empty house," he begged.  "Not with Scully still out 
there with that thing.  Not 'til we find her."

Skinner shook his head slowly.  "OK, but I want you to 
stay in the car until we find something -- do you think you 
can do that much?"

Mulder nodded, trying to hide his weariness.  "Let's go." 

Location unknown
time unknown

Scully awoke with a blinding headache.  After a few 
seconds of just lying still, she realized she wasn't injured 
seriously anywhere that she could assess -- just sore 
everywhere.  It felt as if she's been dragged through the 
woods and dumped down a flight of stairs.  She groaned 
and rolled over, trying to get her eyes to open.  With eyes 
opened and mind fully engaged, it was still black as pitch.  
She pulled herself to a sitting position and allowed her eyes 
to adjust to the darkness.  

There was light, if you could call it that, coming from a 
grimy set of glass blocks that replaced a window.  From the 
cement floor beneath her to the rough wood stud at her 
back, she surmised that she was in a basement.  

Standing was a bit more of a feat, with her head and her 
bones screaming at her to stop.  She persevered and only 
swayed slightly when fully upright.  At least the ceiling 
wasn't so low that she had to stoop over.  She had to smile 
at that thought -- there weren't many basements where she 
had to watch her head.  That was Mulder's department.

Mulder!  The last she'd seen of him, he was bleeding from 
slashes all across his upper body.  And then, in the blink of 
an eye, he was gone.  What had happened?  She couldn't 
remember anything, even how she got hit on the head.  Not 
surprising, head injuries were notorious for leaving a 
person dazed and confused.  She sometimes thought all the 
head injuries had left her partner in a permanent state of 
daze and confusion.

But she did remember who, or what had caused her to be in 
this basement.  The creature, and she now accepted that it 
was a creature, not just an animal running rampant through 
DC, had brought her here.  But why didn't it kill her?

As she paced the small basement room, she soon found her 
answer, or at least another piece of the puzzle.  On a double 
bed in the corner of the room lay a sleeping child, a little 
girl, no more than three or four years old.  At first glance, 
Scully was afraid the child wasn't just sleeping, but then the 
little one rolled over and cuddled the thin pillow in her 
arms.  Scully breathed a sigh of relief.  Moving closer, she 
tried to see if the girl was injured in any way.  The tiny face 
appeared unconcerned, innocent in slumber.  The breathing 
was near silent, just the rise and fall of the small mound of 
covers to indicate respiration.  Once more, Scully let out a 
relieved exhale.  She moved to look around at the rest of 
the room.

It was just one room, a door in one wall leading into the 
rest of the basement, Scully assumed.  A closet served as a 
half bath, with sink and toilet.  There was a light switch 
near the bathroom door and Scully tried it, illuminating the 
alcove with a less than 60-watt bulb.  She quickly turned 
the light out in difference to the child.  A table and two 
chairs sat across from the bed and a child's desk and toy 
box were tucked in a corner opposite the table.  Next to the 
bed was a white rocking chair with a blanket tossed across 
the back.  Were it not for the mode of transport, and the 
fact that the door appeared to be padlocked from the 
outside, Scully could easily imagine the room to be 
decorated specifically for the little girl asleep on the bed. 

With no way out and not wanting to disturb the child, 
Scully pulled the blanket from the back of the rocker and 
settled in.  Despite her best effort to keep watch, she soon 
drifted off to sleep.

Rock Creek Park
1:15 am

The floodlights set up in the area gave the park a circus 
feel.  Mulder let his head fall back against the seat, 
alternately trying to remember every detail of his encounter 
with the creature and yet pushing those images away in an 
effort to retain any shred of sanity he had left.  One thought 
kept repeating itself in his mind -- that thing had Scully.

"I'm going to check in with Richards," Skinner said, pulling 
in between a DC squad car and a tactical van.  "You'll stay 
here."  It was probably intended to be a question, but there 
was no indication of that in his voice.

"If something comes up, all bets are off," Mulder said with 
an abbreviated shrug.  He watched Skinner go off toward 
the floodlights, shaking his head.

It was stuffy in the car, even with the window rolled down.  
Mulder got out and leaned against the hood.  He wanted to 
be out there, searching.  They could easily miss some clue.  
If Scully had a chance, she would have indicated something 
-- anything.  She would have left something for him to find.  
How would they know what to look for?  He was ready to 
go over to the highly lit area and start looking with 
something tugged his sleeve.  He turned around and came 
face to face with his worst nightmare.

Alex Krycek.

Without thinking, Mulder pulled back his right fist and 
rifled it toward the other man's head.  Only the fact that he 
was on heavy meds and was still weak from blood loss kept 
that fist from breaking bone.  In a second Krycek 
responded, grabbing Mulder's arm, turning and slamming 
the agent face first against the door of the car.

"Listen, we don't have time for this.  I need to tell you 
something," Krycek hissed in Mulder's ear.

"Did you have something to do with this?" Mulder 
demanded.  "Do you know where she is?"

"I'm not who you think I am," Krycek replied, letting go of 
Mulder long enough to pull something out of his jacket.  It 
was an identification wallet, similar to the one Mulder 
carried.  Krycek flipped it open, holding it so that Mulder 
could read.

"Detective Alex Krycek, Washington PD?" Mulder read 
skeptically.  "You have to be kidding.  Where did you get 
that made up -- Kinkos?"

"Look, you held me at gunpoint once before but a certain 
mutual acquaintance saved my life.  Does the name Glas-
glo Industries ring a bell?  How about Brad Kensworth?"

Mulder relaxed, sagging against the door.  "You're trying to 
tell me -- you're from . . ."

"We can't talk here.  C'mon, I'll explain everything."

Mulder glared at the man for a full minute.  "If you're 
trying to pull something, so help me God -- "

"You'll kill me, yeah, I figured that out last time we met.  
Look, as much as I love the romantic atmosphere here, we 
have work to do and the sooner I explain everything, the 
quicker we can get started.  I'd liked to get out of here 
before the Captain gets back."  Krycek nodded to the group 
of men talking not more than fifty feet away.

"Captain?"  Mulder looked where Krycek was glaring.  
"Skinner?  He's not a Captain, he's -- "

"I don't care what his job description is here, just from the 
looks of him I can tell he's still a hard ass and we don't time 
to deal with that.  Are you interested in finding Bunnykins 
or not?"

Mulder's eyes grew to pinpoints, but this time he didn't 
telegraph his punch.  His right fist caught Krycek's left 
cheek, splitting the lip.  "I remember you now.  If you want 
to live through this, don't ever call her that again."

All Night McDonald's
Wisconsin Avenue NW
2 am

Mulder stared at the man across the table.  "So you're 
telling me you're from another dimension, an alternate 
version of this world.  This thing has been killing in your 
world and somehow it found a vortex to travel between the 
two worlds.  And I'm also supposed to believe that you 
followed it here through that same vortex.  I'm waiting for 
the punch line."

Krycek dabbed his lip with a napkin, stirred his coffee and 
ignored Mulder's snide comment.  "OK, I've been tracking 
this thing for a couple of months.  It kills when the moon is 
full.  We've found 6 bodies -- or at least what's left of them.  
It's been sighted a couple of times, but the witnesses say it 
disappears into thin air."

"Is it a werewolf?" Mulder interrupted.

"Are you on crack?" Krycek shot back sarcastically.  
"Nobody believes in werewolves!  We don't know what it 
is, just that it usually kills its victims, until this week."

"What happened this week?"  Mulder asked, nursing his 
coffee.

"It took a child, a little girl.  But we haven't found a body.  I 
think it still has her.  I believe she's still alive." 

Something about the way Krycek's eyes changed caused 
Mulder's mind to kick into high gear.  "This child -- who is 
she?"

Krycek closed his eyes and leaned back.  "Her name is 
Sarah.  She's three years old.  She's . . . aw, hell."  He 
reached into his pants pocket and pulled out a different 
wallet.  Fingering through the contents, he pulled out a 
small picture and handed it to Mulder.

He took it, looking first at the child.  She had strawberry 
blond hair and a huge grin on her face.  Her eyes twinkled 
at the cameraman and she held a worn bunny rabbit firmly 
in her tiny arms.  It wasn't until he'd memorized her 
features that Mulder looked at the other two people in the 
photo.  His head shot up and he pinned Krycek in his angry 
gaze.

"What is her name -- her full name," Mulder demanded.

"Sarah Katherine Mulder," Krycek said softly, taking the 
picture back and putting it carefully in his wallet.  "She's, in 
our world she is . . . Fox and Dana Mulder's only daughter."

Mulder dropped the picture and jumped up from his chair.  
"You son of a bitch!  How dare you try to pull this on me!  
I'll send you straight to hell -- "

Alex grabbed his arm and pulled him down to his seat.  
"Would you shut up!" he seethed.  "Look, I'm sorry if this 
doesn't fit into your idea of reality, but it is the truth!  Sarah 
is your, or rather your twin's daughter.  And Dana's.  She is 
. . ."  Alex turned his head, biting his lip.  When he faced 
Mulder again, the agent saw tears glisten on the man's 
lashed.  "She means everything to them -- and to me.  
Look, I promised Dana, I promised both of them that I 
would find her . . . or die trying.  And that is exactly what I 
intend to do!"

"Why?"

"What?" Alex asked, startled by the impertinent question.

"Why did it take her?  If it's killed 6 people, plus three in 
our world, why take a child?  Why take this child?  What 
did they do, leave her unprotected?" Mulder sneered.

That got the man's hackles up.  "Look, asshole, she WAS 
protected.  As protected as she needed to be!  Dana's been 
working half days since Sarah was born and the Professor 
worked it out to move his classroom hours so that one 
parent or the other is with her 24 hours a day.  She has 
never been out of their sight!"

"Then how -- "

Krycek looked aside and swallowed hard.  "I fucked up," 
he said simply.

"You?  How did you -- "

"I was watching her, goddamn it!  I was . . . I was watching 
her while Fox and Dana went out to a fucking charity 
dinner-auction at the university.  I was sitting in the living 
room drinking a beer and watching the game when I heard 
something.  By the time I got to her bedroom, the window 
was busted in and she was gone."  He wiped angrily at his 
chin, catching the fallen tears on his sleeve.  "It was a 
fucking rookie mistake and I made it and I lost her and I 
have to get her back!" he shouted.  "Do you understand 
now, Mr. FBI???  Do you get it???  Huh???"

Silence descended on the two.  Alex wiped his face a few 
times and Mulder sat back, looking at the picture.  "How do 
you know it was the creature?" he asked quietly.

"Fur.  In the window casing.  We found similar fur on the 
victims' bodies."

"No other -- evidence?" Mulder prodded, keeping his voice 
even.

Alex glared at him.  "There was no blood found at the 
scene.  Footprints were right at the window, a first floor 
window, they led a few feet away and then vanished.  No 
one saw anything, no one heard anything."

"How did you follow it?"

"I was staking out the previous crime scenes.  It appeared 
again, in Rock Creek Park, very near where you saw it 
tonight.  I think that's the vortex, the portal."

"Rock Creek Park?  In the middle of one of the most 
'secure' cities on the planet?" Mulder pointed out with 
disdain.

"I didn't put it there," Alex shot back.  "I've seen the 
creature there twice but I can't get it, it disappears on me.  I 
think there might be another portal or vortex that comes out 
nearby."

"Or in Arizona.  Or Hong Kong," Mulder warned.

"No.  I think it's nearby."

Mulder looked dubious.  "Based on what?"

Alex dropped his eyes to the coffee cup in his hands.  "A 
hunch.  16 years on the Force.  How the hell should I know, 
maybe it's just wishful thinking."  He raised his eyes to 
look at Mulder again.  "Maybe it's the only hope I have."  
He stared at Mulder.  "But you don't give a damn about her, 
do you?" he snarled.

"I . . . I have to find Scully.  I'm sorry, I'm sorry about this 
little girl, but you have to understand -- here, Scully is my 
world.  I have to get her back."

Alex licked his lips.  "But see, I think the creature has them 
both.  Together."

Mulder shook his head.  "I can't -- I can't risk that you 
might be wrong."

Alex thought for a moment.  "Look, we're both after the 
same thing.  You need to find the creature to find your 
Dana; I need to find the creature to find Sarah.  We _need_ 
each other."

Mulder sighed and looked away.  After a moment's 
contemplation, he looked back at Alex.  "Where do we 
start?"

Alex looked around the McDonald's and shrugged.  "We 
need to go somewhere we can plan."

Mulder and Scully's duplex
Georgetown
2:45 am

"Gimme a minute, I want to change out of this thing," 
Mulder said with a wave toward the borrowed scrub top.  
"There's iced tea in the fridge, make yourself -- "  He 
stopped in mid-sentence as he saw Alex pick up each of the 
three picture frames Scully had arranged with the flowers 
she kept on the bay window.

Mulder walked up and took the picture of Samantha and 
him leaning against a tree out of Alex's hands.  "Well, not 
that much at home," he said dryly, putting the picture back 
where it had been.

"She's a neat lady, your sister.  If she hadn't gone and 
hooked up with that architect, I might have stood a chance -
- "

"The woman you're talking about is not my sister," Mulder 
said quietly.  "That's -- his sister."

"Yeah, I know that.  It's just -- "

"Let's get one thing straight, Krycek, before this goes any 
further.  I'm really sorry they lost the little girl -- I think I 
can sympathize more than the next guy.  But I want to be 
totally clear on this:  that little girl is no one to me.  She's 
an innocent victim, but beyond that I feel nothing for her.  I 
know you care for her, and I understand that, but my 
priority is Scully.  That's why I'm helping you.  She is the 
only thing that matters to me.  Understand?"

Alex nodded, his expression guarded.  "Sure.  Got it.  Now, 
can we get started?"

Mulder sighed.  "Yeah, right after I change."  He moved 
toward the stairs again.  When he started up the steps, he 
leaned over and glared at Alex.  "And this time, just watch 
TV or something.  Don't go nosing around."

Alex frowned, but plopped down on the sofa.  "Sure thing, 
Ace.  Wouldn't want to disturb the 'happy family' memories 
all over this place."

Mulder gritted his teeth and took the steps two at a time.  In 
minutes he was back downstairs with maps of the DC 
metro area.


Act 2

Location unknown
early morning

Scully awoke to find herself stretched out on the bed, 
cuddling the child.  Sunlight battled to make it through the 
grim on the glass blocks, but enough light was now in the 
room that she could see around her.  

The smell of coffee and cinnamon toast caused her to look 
over at the small table.  Breakfast was laid out, complete 
with small glasses of orange juice and bowls of cereal.  As 
Scully was mulling over who brought the food, the little 
girl in her arms woke up.

"Mommy, I'm hungry," the child said drowsily, stretching 
her tiny arms over her head and then giving Scully a big 
hug.

Scully's breath caught in her throat.  The child's eyes were 
open; surely the little girl could see that Scully was not her 
mother.  

"Sweetie, ah, I'm not -- "

"Gotta go bathroom," the girl said with a grin.  "I know 
where it is.  I can go by myself, Mommy -- watch!"  With 
that the child scampered off the bed and headed straight for 
the bathroom that Scully had discovered the night before.  
Totally at ease, the girl went about her business, humming 
a tune Scully couldn't recognize.  When she was finished, 
she stood on tiptoe at the sink to laboriously wash her 
hands, drying them haphazardly on the towel before 
running back to Scully, hands raised for inspection.  "All 
clean!  Let's eat!"

"Wait," Scully said abruptly.  There was no telling what 
was in the food.

"Oh, right," the child said.  She sat at the table, made the 
sign of the Cross, folded her hands and bowed her head.  
"Bless us oh Lord, and these your gifts -- "

"No, I meant, um, I wanted to see if the milk was sour," 
Scully said, coming up with the only thing she could think 
of that wouldn't scare the child.  "Let me take a taste first, 
OK."

"OK," the girl said with a bright grin.  

Scully first smelled then tasted the bowl of cereal.  It 
appeared to be fine.  Of course, there were any number of 
substances that could have been hidden because the lacked 
both taste and smell.  But her own stomach was growling 
and the food did look normal.  "OK, I think it's fine," she 
said.

The child dug into her breakfast with a ravishing appetite.  
Scully sipped her coffee, drank her juice and nibbled on her 
toast, all the time watching the child.  

She was a pretty little thing with strawberry blond hair and 
the most amazing green eyes.  She smiled readily, which 
told Scully that she hadn't been traumatized too much by 
her ordeal.  Her little short-sleeved shirt and cropped jeans 
exposed plenty of creamy white skin without a hint of 
bruising.  Scully let out a relieved breath.

"All done!" the child announced, showing Scully the empty 
bowl.  "Mommy, can I help wash the dishes?"

"Um, I'm not sure where we would do that, sweetheart.  
How about if we just rinse them in the sink in the bathroom 
and leave them on the table to dry?"

"OK," the little one said and happily gathered her bowl, 
spoon, juice cup and milk cup to take it into the bathroom.  
Scully gathered her own dishes and followed, rinsing each 
item and then giving them back to the girl to take the to 
table.  It kept them occupied for all of ten minutes.

"Mommy, I'm bored," the child announced with her hands 
on her hips.

Scully swallowed.  It was really beginning to wear on her 
nerves the way the child kept calling her 'mommy', but the 
girl seemed comfortable enough with using the title 
whenever it suited her.  "OK, let's play a game, how about 
that?"

"Yeah, a game!" the girl exclaimed excitedly.  "Let's play 
Candyland!"

"Um, no, I don't think I see Candyland on the bookcase 
there.  Let's play another game.  I'll ask you a question and 
then you answer it.  Then you ask me a question and I'll 
answer it."

"Mommy, that's not a game," the girl said, scrunching up 
her little forehead.  "I want to play a real game."

"Let's play this one and then we'll see what we can find to 
play, OK?  My turn first.  What is your name?"

The girl broke into giggles.  "Oh, Mommy, that's easy.  My 
name is Sarah Katherine Mulder.  I got that one right.  
Now, my turn.  What's my bunny's name?"

Scully's heart stopped beating the second the child had said 
her last name.  She looked at the girl closely -- she could 
see the resemblance.  The eyes were the same eyes Mulder 
had, just more green than hazel.  The chin was definitely 
Mulder's.  But the nose and the mouth . . .

"Mommy, c'mon, that's an easy one."

"Um, Peter?" Scully suggested, for lack of anything else to 
say.

The girl giggled happily.  "No, silly!  Bunnikins!  Unc'a 
Alex said he was named that when he gave him to me when 
I was a baby, 'member?"

"OK, Sarah, you won that one, too.  It's two to nothing.  
The first person to five wins."  Scully closed her eyes and 
thought hard about what she was going to do.  It was a risk, 
but one she needed to take, she had to know.  "OK, Sarah.  
What is MY name.  Not Mommy, what is my real name?"

Sarah laughed and clapped her hands.  "Oh, I'm gonna win!  
That is so easy, Mommy!  Your grown up name is Dana 
Katherine Mulder!  We have the same names -- Katherine 
and Mulder.  Daddy told me he wanted to name me after 
you and you said no but he did anyway when you were 
sleeping.  I'm right! I'm right!  I'm right!" she cried, 
dancing around the room.  "OK, my turn again.  What is 
YOUR mommy's name?"

Scully bit her lip.  "My mother's name is Margaret Scully.  
Most people call her Maggie."

Sarah clapped happily again.  "Mommy, you win that one!  
Your turn again."

Scully decided she'd had enough of the game for one day.  
"OK, Sarah, umm, what color is the sun?"

After Sarah named the color of the sun, Scully had to name 
the color of grass.  She guessed blue, much to Sarah's 
delight.

"I win, I win!  Mommy, call Daddy and tell him I won!" 
Sarah said, skipping around the room.

Scully jerked and stared at Sarah in wonder.  "That's a 
wonderful idea, sweetheart."  She reached into her pocket 
and was thrilled to find her phone.  The signal wasn't very 
strong, but she pulled the rocking chair over to the glass 
block window and stood on it, hoping to boost the 
reception.  After two rings, someone picked up.

"Scully?  God, Scully is that you?"

She almost laughed with relief at hearing her partner's 
voice.  "Mulder, yes, it's me."

"Scully, where are you?  Are you hurt?  Did you get 
away?"

"Mulder, I'm fine -- really.  A little bruised.  I'm in a 
basement.  The door is padlocked, there isn't any way out."

"Is there a window?  Can you give me something to go on?  
I'm running to the car right now, stay on the phone."

"I can't see anything out the window -- it's made of glass 
blocks.  I think we're in the country, I can't hear any traffic 
noises and it was very dark last night."

She was trying to think of some way to help Mulder locate 
them when the door to the room opened and a middle-aged 
man entered.  He wore a pleasant expression and smiled at 
Sarah as he gathered the breakfast dishes.  When he looked 
over and saw Scully, though, he screamed and dropped the 
dishes, running from the room without closing the door and 
hurrying up the steps.

"Mulder, someone was just here.  He left the door open!  
I'm going to try and go up."  She motioned for Sarah to stay 
behind her as she made her way to the basements steps.  

Suddenly, in the doorway at the top of the stairs appeared 
the creature.  Sarah screamed and grabbed Scully's legs, 
almost tumbling them both to the ground.

The creature launched itself down the stairs, grabbing the 
cell phone out of Scully's nerveless fingers and crushing it 
against the far wall.  It then advanced again on Scully and 
the girl, forcing them to run into the room and cower in the 
corner.  Scully was certain the thing would go after them, 
but instead of entering the room it slammed the door.  
Scully heard the padlock engaging and footsteps on the 
stairs.  Realizing that her only link to Mulder was now in 
pieces, she enfolded Sarah in her arms and let the tears fall.

Mulder and Scully's duplex
7:13 am

"Scully!  Scully, can you hear me?  Scully, keep the line 
open, I'll get the guys to track you!  Scully, answer me!"  
Mulder could hear the dead air that signaled a broken 
connection.  "FUCK!" he shouted and slammed the phone 
down on the hood of the car.

"What happened?" Alex demanded.  "Did she say anything 
about Sarah?"

"No, she didn't mention the girl, but I think I heard a little 
girl scream," Mulder said, letting his head fall on his arms 
braced against the car.  "Oh, god, I heard this awful howl 
and then the screams -- "

"It won't hurt them," Alex insisted.

Mulder spun on the man.  "How the hell do you know that?  
They could be dying right now!  We have to find them!"

"I know it because . . . because I have to believe that!  It's 
kept them alive, kept Sarah alive all this time.  It took her 
three days ago and you said you heard a little girl scream.  
She's still alive!"

Mulder stared at Alex for several minutes.  "We still don't 
know where they are," he said with barely contained fury.

"You're FBI -- don't you have cell phones with GPS 
systems in this world?"

Mulder's eyes lit up.  "Yeah.  Yeah, we do.  But we aren't 
going to the FBI.  I know some guys who will move heaven 
and earth to find Scully."

Offices of the Lone Gunmen
Anacostia
9:03 am

After repeated hammering on the door, Mulder finally 
heard the telltale click of a dozen locks and deadbolts being 
thrown open.  Finally, Frohike's gnome-like visage 
appeared in a crack of the door.

"This better be good," he growled, opening the door a little 
farther to allow entry to his guests.  "Hey, what the hell -- "

"It's OK.  This isn't who you think it is," Mulder didn't 
quite explain.  "I need your help.  Or rather, Scully needs 
your help."

"I'll get the others," Frohike said, casting an evil glare at 
Alex.

A pot of coffee and some of Byers whole grain banana 
muffins later, Mulder summed up the problem.  "So we 
need to track her cell phone.  She was close enough to a 
cell that we got iffy reception, but we got cut off."

"Well," Byers said, pulling up his computer screen, "if she 
left the phone on, it should be an easy matter of contacting 
the GPS system.  The last time you and Scully upgraded 
your phones, you'll remember we played with them for a 
day."

"I remember.  You also erased all my saved numbers," 
Mulder said dryly.

Byers looked flustered and contrite.  "Um, sorry.  It 
couldn't be helped.  But anyway, one of the features we 
activated is currently being marketed to parents with 
teenaged children.  If the program is activated and the 
phone is on, someone with similar software can track the 
cell phone to anywhere on the planet.  If Suzy says she's 
going to the library, Mom and Dad can track her when she 
skips out and goes to the Mall."

"How close can you get us?" Mulder asked.

"This software is hooked up directly to the orbital tracking 
station used by trucking companies.  We can get you to 
within 10 feet of Agent Scully, or rather her phone, 
assuming she has it with her."

Mulder nodded, satisfied.  "Close enough.  She was holding 
it when we got cut off.  OK, let's fire this baby up.  
Daylight's burning."

Byers' fingers flew over the keys.  He waited a few seconds 
and then hit more keys.  He frowned and Mulder leaned 
over his shoulder, staring at the computer monitor.  

"So . . . where is she?"

The tidy Gunmen sighed in exasperation.  "Her cell phone 
must be off."

"She was talking to me, Byers.  She wouldn't turn it off -- I 
told her to keep it on!"

The other man licked his lips and looked over at his 
companions.  "Well, then, it may have run out of power -- 
or it could have been broken.  There is no signal.  There's 
nothing to track."

Mulder slammed his fist into the nearest metal table, 
making everyone flinch.  His phone rang and he grabbed 
for it with his other hand, checking the number.  With a 
frown, he pocketed it without answering.

"Who was that?" Alex asked.  

"Skinner.  He's tracking me down.  Guys, you know the 
routine."

"If he calls, we claim complete ignorance," Frohike said 
brightly.  "We got you covered.  But Mulder, what are you 
going to do next?"

He looked over at Alex.  "You said there were six other 
attacks.  Do you remember where?"

"Yeah, I do."

"Then we start with those places," Mulder said and headed 
for the door.
   
Location unknown
late morning

Sarah's cries finally came to a stop when the little girl fell 
asleep in Scully's arms.  Gently, she settled the child on the 
bed, pulling the covers up to keep her warm in her slumber.  
When she was positive she hadn't woken Sarah, Scully got 
off the bed and began to explore the room.

The door was padlocked again and the hinges were on the 
outside, so that escape was negligible at best.  She climbed 
the rocker to examine the glass blocks of the window, 
hoping to find the age of the house in her favor.  
Unfortunately, the blocks appeared to be a recent addition 
and were set in mortar with no cracks or weaknesses that 
she could find after a thorough search of the seams.  There 
was one heating duct, set high in the ceiling of the wall 
with the door, but the dimensions of the grill would have 
given Eugene Victor Tooms food for thought.  After 
several minutes, she sat down on the rocker and sighed in 
defeat.  

It was then she noticed the lunch sat out on the table.  
Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, carrot sticks and a quart 
of milk.  She fought hard to tamp down the hysterical 
giggle that threaten to form.  Surely the largesse wasn't 
from the creature!  Who had brought the food in and when?  
She hadn't fallen asleep; at least she couldn't remember 
falling asleep.  Her head still hurt from the struggles the 
night before and there was a lump that was tender to the 
touch above her left ear.  Maybe she had fallen asleep. 

Her thoughts went back to the strange little man who had 
come down with breakfast -- was he still in the house?  She 
went to the door and listened closely.  She heard no sounds, 
not even footsteps on the floor above her.  Wasn't he a 
captive, too?  Or maybe he was an accomplice and that was 
why he alerted the creature to her cell phone.  She turned 
away from the door just as Sarah awoke from her nap.

"Mommy, I want to go home now," Sarah said plaintively 
as she sat up and rubbed her eyes.  

"I know, sweetheart, but, um, just a little longer.  It's not 
time yet," Scully said, grasping at any reason for the delay 
that might make sense to the child.

"I'm hungry," Sarah replied, eyeing the table.  "Oh goodie!  
Peanut butter and jelly!  My favorite!"  She scrambled over 
to the table and sat down.  "Mommy, you forgot," she said, 
frowning up at Scully.

"Forgot what, sweetie?  There's your milk and look, carrot 
sticks," she pointed out.

"No, Mommy, the cruts is still on.  I don't like cruts and 
you always cut it off.  Remember?" the child 
mispronounced.

Cruts?  "Oh, the _crust_," Scully corrected.  She looked at 
the table and found only a plastic knife and fork set.  "I'll 
have it fixed in a jiffy."

After lunch, Sarah was once again bored.  If Scully had any 
doubt of the child's paternity, her boundless energy and 
impatience with being confined to a small place erased 
those doubts.  The agent looked around for something to 
occupy the small child.  Her eyes fell on the little desk in 
the corner.

"How about we draw some pictures?" Scully suggested, 
extracting paper and crayons from inside the desk and 
taking them to the table.

"Oh yes," Sarah exclaimed, clapping.  "I like to color!  I'll 
color you a picture, Mommy!"  She set about her work 
happily, choosing one of the crayons, a bright yellow one.

"Mommy, where's Daddy?" the child asked without lifting 
her gaze from the paper.

"He's, uh, he's working," Scully answered.  She was sure of 
that statement.  She'd been so worried when she woke up, 
but at least she'd had a chance to hear his voice.  When the 
creature had attacked him, she'd had no time to see how 
badly he was injured.  She knew, however, that if Mulder 
were conscious, he was searching for her.  Maybe the 
phone call had given him some clue.  She realized they 
were needles in a haystack, but if any one could find them, 
it was Mulder.

"Sometimes Daddy takes me to work with him," the child 
rambled along happily.

"Do you like that?" Scully asked.  It was difficult, she 
didn't want to frighten the child but at the same time she 
was still confused.  Could this child really be their child -- 
just in another place another time?  

"Oh yes.  The grown up kids are nice to me.  I get to draw 
on the chalkboard while Daddy grades papers.  Mommy, 
what's a grades?"

Scully shook her head and held back a laugh.  "It's called a 
grade and it tells you how you did on your work.  An A is a 
very good grade."

"Like a star?  Meemaw Mulder gave me a star one time for 
a picture I made her.  It was gold and she stuck it on my 
paper and put it on the 'fridgerator."

Scully's heart clenched at the thought that Mulder's mother, 
in another place, would have been a loving grandmother.  
The child was watching her expectantly.  "Yes, sweetheart.  
A star is like a grade.  A very good grade, in fact."

"I'm going to make you a picture that you can put a star 
on!" Sarah declared and went back to work, her tiny pink 
tongue peeking out between her lips as she concentrated.

Scully nodded, fighting back tears.

Mulder and Scully's duplex
Georgetown
3:45 pm

They were pouring over the maps of DC and the 
surrounding suburbs when the house phone rang.  Mulder 
started to ignore it but Alex checked the caller ID.  "It's 
your mother-in-law," he said.

Mulder sighed and reached over to retrieve the phone.  
"She's not my mother-in-law," he said tersely.  "We aren't 
married."

"Then you really are a dumbass in this world," Alex said 
with a smirk.

"Hi, Mom," Mulder said, clearing his throat and shooting 
Alex a glare.  After a few seconds he closed his eyes.  "I'm 
sorry, I should have called you.  We've been searching all 
night . . . Yes, I believe -- there's every reason to believe 
that she's all right. . . No, I'm fine. . . Well, Skinner has a 
big mouth, it was just some scratches -- I'm fine.  Sleep?  
Well, um, I've been busy -- I know, I'll try.  I will try to get 
some sleep, but right now, well, you know.  I'll find her, 
Mom.  I promise.  What?  Yes, there's someone else here --  
"  Wordlessly he handed the phone over to Alex.

"Mrs. Scully, hello, my name is Alex. . . No, ma'am, I'm a 
DC policeman.  Yes, ma'am, I'm helping your, um, Fox.  
Yes.  Well, about 36 hours by my watch.  Yes, I can do 
that.  Yes, I'll make sure.  I will, ma'am.  We will find her.  
I know how much Dana means to her family.  Yes, ma'am.  
You, too.  Good bye."  He placed the phone in its cradle.  
"Three guesses what I'm supposed to do," he said, crossing 
his arms.

Mulder glared at him.  "I know you would have no way of 
knowing this, but in _this_ dimension, I kick your ass on a 
regular basis," Mulder sneered.

"Yeah, well, we can test that little theory later, friend.  But 
right now, I'm under orders from a woman I happen to 
think of as a very dear friend in my world and she wants 
your ass in bed.  Or on that god-awful couch I helped move 
three times.  Where is it?"

"It burned up in an apartment fire," Mulder said tiredly.

"Good riddance, I say.  Now, go stretch out for a couple of 
hours.  I swear, I'll wake you if I hear anything."  He took 
the agent's arm and started to lead him toward the stairs.

"No!" Mulder objected.  "Not up there.  Not alone.  I'll 
stretch out on the couch down here."  Sighing in defeat, he 
lay down on the sofa and closed his eyes.  In minutes he 
was dead to the world.  Alex breathed a sigh of relief and 
went back to looking at the maps. 

end of part 1 of 2