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| Chapter 5: Three Days of Discovery - Part 1 | |||
| By Char Click here for text only Spoilers: Through S8 Disclaimer: Many characters contained herein are the property of 1013 Productions and 20th Century Fox. No profit is being made from the posting of this story. Summary: "The New Truth" offers an alternative to S9 wherein Fox Mulder and Dana Scully, with the assistance of Agent John Doggett, Agent Monica Reyes and Assistant Director Walter Skinner, establish and lead a global resistance to the impending alien colonization. PART ONE PROLOGUE 3:33 AM In the dark of the room, shadows loomed along the walls, sentinels shaped like table lamps, a high-backed sofa; an oak entertainment center. The carpet was thick and cushiony on the floor, inviting silent footsteps. A night light glowed from a corner outlet, an unwelcome precaution. In another corner a grandfather clock rose gracefully from a carved platform, polished brass pendulum swinging, counting down twenty-seven more minutes until next chime. They'd easily be finished and gone by then. Two figures, garbed in inky black from head to toe, moved easily, confidently through the silent room. As unfamiliar as the surroundings were to them, still they glided, avoiding that which would alert their presence. They'd done this many times before. In their chosen profession each was the very best, impossible to track and utterly unknown to the outside world. If asked, they'd both affirm they lived for their work... all aspects of it. There were many good choices in the room. Some were of course more conspicuous than others, and so they had to be avoided. It was a kind of game, actually; a challenge to find just the right place, the best positioning. Both prided themselves on not only their delicate precision but also their creativity. It made the job more interesting. The clock in the corner ticked on, minute by minute. There was no other discernable sound in the room, not even breathing. Neither one glanced up at the large, round face of the ornate heirloom and wasted precious seconds wondering about the time. Each knew exactly how many minutes and seconds had passed. One remained amongst the tables and the chairs. The other slipped noiselessly into another room. Nine and a half minutes later they both eased out the door, leaving no scent, no mark, no disturbance of any kind. Under a moonless sky they vanished into more shadows, slipping away on soundless, untraceable feet. GEORGETOWN March, 2002 4:39 AM Mulder walked the length of the nursery and back, a large hand rubbing William's back as he dozed on his father's shoulder. Underneath the baby's cheek Mulder's skin was still damp from the storm of teething tears. Poor little guy. His first tooth had been a real corker, and every tooth since had been just as difficult. Judging by the slight swelling along William's jaw and the low fever he was running, Tooth Number Four wasn't going to be any easier. Mulder kissed his son's overly-warm forehead and briefly considered trying to coax him into accepting some baby Tylenol. Maybe later, when his mouth was open anyway in anticipation of his breakfast, he'd slip a teaspoonful in. "Mulder? Is he asleep? Why didn't you wake me?" Scully stood in the doorway of the nursery, tangle-haired and barefoot, her nightgown falling off one shoulder. He couldn't help but see the smudges of weariness under her eyes. She'd walked the floor with William three nights in a row this week already and had never bothered to rouse him and ask if he'd do it, instead. Mulder smiled at her and she returned it for maybe two seconds before a yawn broke through. Scully moved to stand in front of him, one hand over Mulder's as it rested against William's back. She leaned her forehead on his shoulder and he slipped his free arm around her. They stayed in that position for a minute or so, not speaking, until Scully pulled away and held out her arms for the now-sleeping baby. Mulder handed him over carefully and Scully sank down into the rocking chair, eager to enjoy a few minutes of quiet snuggling. Mulder sat on the floor at her feet and she ran the fingers of her free hand through his hair when he laid his head against her knee. "Couple of rough nights, poor baby. For both of you. I was hoping you'd sleep longer, Scully. You really needed it." Mulder reached up a finger and rubbed it underneath her eye, wishing he could soothe away the shadow as well. Scully shrugged and sent him a resigned glance. "It's par for the course, you know that. Part of the problem is the tooth; the last time I checked, it seemed to be breaking through at an angle. That tells me our little Willie-Boy not only has some tough gums, but I'd bet some of his permanent teeth could have that same angle." She adjusted the sleeping baby more comfortably in her lap and remarked thoughtfully, "I had braces. So did Bill. I remember how much it hurt each time I had to have them adjusted. I hate to think William might have to wear them, too." She removed her hand from Mulder's hair and inserted a finger into the baby's mouth, gently searching for the little nub. William never even stirred. The tooth had finally broken through completely, which meant their boy would have another few days of soreness that could easily be controlled with Tylenol and Anbesol. Scully rubbed her palm over his back as she rocked gently. She murmured, "Maybe I'll stay home this morning, Mulder. I don't have a class until two, and this way you can get a break, tend to whatever you need to. With William running a slight fever, I'd feel better keeping an eye on him." Mulder roused himself from his comfortable position against Scully's legs, and gave her bare knee a teasing kiss. "Sounds like a plan. You want me to take him, tuck him back in his crib? Then you can catch a few more hours of sleep." Scully nodded, rising to her feet slowly, easing William into his father's arms. As Mulder placed him in his crib and covered him with a light blanket, she stretched wearily, the nightgown slipping further and revealing one rounded breast. Mulder turned just in time to catch the unconscious peep-show. He could feel his pulse jump as he gazed at her body, reminding him in no uncertain terms that it had been too long since they'd last made love. Awakening several times a night to walk the nursery floor with a cranky, teething baby definitely put limitations on romance and spontaneity. He eyed Scully as she stretched again, enjoying how the gaping neckline of her nightgown showcased - in his opinion - the most beautiful bosom in the world. Attached to the woman he adored, it was all he could do not to grab her with both hands and drag her off to bed. True, she was tired; so was he. But it HAD been a long time...  Mulder had taken two steps toward her, locking eyes with her, the intent in his plain to see, when William awoke with a shriek of discomfort. Scully sent him an apologetic smile and moved to the crib, lifting their son out and heading back to the rocker. As she settled into the cushions and tried to persuade the fretful child to nurse, she murmured regretfully, "Sorry, Mulder. I have a feeling this is going to be one of those times when nothing's going to make the little guy happy. Why don't you head on back to bed? I'll nurse him and see if I can get him settled." "I have a better idea." Mulder reached for Scully's free hand and pulled her up out of the low rocker, wrapping an arm around her shoulders and guiding her out the nursery door and down the hallway to their room. "Let's both lie down with him. You can nurse him there and if he falls asleep, then we're already in a prone position. Maybe we'll get lucky and all three of us will get a few more hours of sleep." "Sounds like a better plan. And speaking of getting lucky... I'll make it up to you, Mulder. I promise." As she spoke Scully moved to her side of the bed and slipped under the covers, positioning William in the middle and nestling him up against her body. William immediately rooted for a nipple and latched on, Scully wincing slightly as his tiny teeth nipped her. She pressed a kiss on his head and admonished, "Yow; that pinches! You know, Willy... sooner or later I'm going to wean you off Mommy's nipples. I don't think they're up to the challenge of your little choppers." The baby's only response was to grunt and nurse harder. Scully sucked in a fortifying breath and let him have at it. Mulder settled in behind Scully and spooned them both, one hand on William's back. He could hear William losing the battle to stay awake and felt Scully sigh gratefully when the baby's mouth slipped from her nipple as he fell asleep. With teeth came pain, not only for William but for Scully as well. It was definitely time to wean him. He rubbed the baby's back and worked a burp out of him, then covered all three of them with the sheet and blanket. Mulder buried his face in Scully's soft hair, humming in contentment - and perhaps a touch of frustration - trying to ignore the way her bottom felt, snuggled up against his impatient flesh. Children could really put the whammy on romance. Poor little boy... he couldn't help it. Teething was awful for babies. Mulder sighed again, thankfully feeling himself fading fast. He brushed a semiconscious kiss on Scully's nape and she murmured, "Feels good, Mulder. Don't let me forget to make you, okay?" For a moment his sleep-fuddled brain couldn't follow her meaning; then he remembered her earlier remark and sighed into her hair, waking enough to mumble, "Ditto. I'll make you right back. As soon as Willy feels better." "Mmmm, better." She took Mulder's hand and pressed it against her breast, both of them falling asleep within seconds of each other. They slept peacefully, deeply, the silence of the apartment broken only by the golden oak grandfather clock, sitting on its carved platform in the corner of the living room... chiming five times. ARLINGTON, VA 2:10 PM Margaret Scully could hear her phone ringing through the front door as she dug in her purse for her keys. Hurriedly she snapped them up and fought with the deadbolt, punched in the security code. She ran inside and dove for the receiver just as her machine clicked on. "Hello? I'm here, hello!" "Mom, are you okay? You're all out of breath." Maggie smiled as she dropped her purse and the bags she'd had hooked over her arm. "Dana! I'm fine, honey. I was just unlocking the door when I heard the phone. That blasted deadbolt sticks once in a while. I'll have to see about getting it oiled, I guess. And the security system takes some getting used to." "Let me call the guys, Mom. Langly can fix it. In fact, he'd like nothing better; that way he can lord it all over Frohike that he's a better deadbolt-installer! They live to flaunt their superiority complexes, I swear." Chuckling, Maggie took the bags and the phone into the kitchen and pressed the receiver against her shoulder as she put away milk and bread. "Well, I sure appreciated them taking the time to install everything in the first place! You tell Langly to call me so I can make sure I'm home. Now, how's that boy of mine?" "Which one?" Her daughter's voice was teasing in her ear, knowing that both Mulder men held a special place in Maggie's heart. "Well, let's start with the youngest. How's my Willy?" "Teething, running fevers, keeping us up all hours of the night. Last night he bit me, hard, while I was nursing. He might only have a few teeth but they're damaging me slowly, Mom. It's like being gnawed on." Maggie made sympathy noises as she stacked cans in the pantry. "I know, believe me. I got 'gnawed on' four times! You were all early bloomers in the teething department. Anbesol and baby aspirin, honey; that's all I can tell you. And a good teething ring, of course. Maybe it's time to think about weaning him completely." "Unfortunately, I think you're right. I enjoy the closeness so much, but I can do without the bruising and the teeth-marks. I'll start working on the weaning process tomorrow. Meanwhile, it's wearing us both down. We're hoping now that this latest tooth has actually broken through, we'll have a break, at least until the next one starts emerging." "Dana, if you want a break, anytime..." Maggie let the words trail off, knowing with calm resignation that the offer would be refused. To her surprise, however, the reply she got was quite different than what she'd expected. "Thanks, Mom. Actually, we might take you up on it. We talked last night, and Mulder suggested the very same thing; maybe we could take a few days, go somewhere and regroup a little. Usually he has to persuade me, but he's right, we need some time together. I know I come off as a rather paranoid mama, but there are reasons." Maggie swallowed her shock and managed to tone down the urge to dance a jig over her kitchen floor at the thought of several days alone with her precious grandson. Instead, she murmured, "I know, Dana. You and Fox have every right to be concerned and to worry. If it makes you feel any better, maybe your boss or Agent Reyes could come by and check on us once in a while. I wouldn't mind." She swore she could hear the grin in her daughter's voice. "You know, I'm glad you feel that way, Mom..." GEORGETOWN 8:30 AM "I still can't believe we're actually going. You'd better pinch me. Right here, if you please." Mulder presented his wriggling backside to Scully as she stood by the bed and folded the rest of William's clothes. When he glanced at her over his shoulder he let loose with a guffaw at the way her right eyebrow rose at the sight of his antics. "Pervert. If I pinch you anywhere, Mulder, rest assured you'll never see it coming. Hurts more that way. Are you sure we're not making a mistake, going so impulsively?" She sat down, one of William's rompers in her hands, and regarded Mulder worriedly. He smiled at her in reassurance and moved to the bed, sitting next to her, removing the corduroy garment from her hands and chafing both of them between his palms. "Scully, we've been through this. Several times, in fact. We need a break. Your mother needs bonding time with her grandson, who also needs a break from us. Usually by his age, most babies have already spent time away from both of their parents for longer than an hour or two. She'd never complain about it, but I'd lay money that if there'd been anyone in the immediate vicinity to high-five, after your phone call to her, Maggie would have been indulging herself." "You're right. I know you're right. I'm not trying to purposely show paranoia, Mulder. It's just that William is so special, beyond being our son. I can't help but worry." "Well, of course! What kind of parents would we be if we didn't worry? But Skinner and Doggett are taking turns staying there. When I spoke to Monica she assured me she'd be glad to stay as well. Maggie's been wanting to get to know her better; this is the perfect opportunity for everyone to have what they want. Including us." He waggled both eyebrows at her and was pleased when she permitted a chuckle, the small frown on her forehead smoothing out. "You're a goof. Okay, I'll stop worrying. A little. I'm almost finished packing; could you call Mom and tell her we're on our way? I'll get Willy ready." "You got it." While Scully headed into the nursery, Mulder flipped open his cell phone and punched a number. He cradled the phone against his ear as he yanked on a pair of socks and grinned when the voice on the other end growled at him. "Jesus. WHAT?" "Morning, Mister Happiness. Did I wake you?" Langly groused into his ear. "You know damned well you woke me. If this isn't a dire emergency I swear I'm gonna cause you severe pain, Mulder. I was up half the night trying to fix Hick's fried laptop. I didn't crash until four." "Why didn't he fix it himself?" Langly's reply was beyond grouchy. "He was sleeping one off. Something I should have been doing, too." Mulder made mock-sympathetic clucking noises into the phone as he tucked in his shirt and buckled his belt. "You poor thing. Listen, we're getting ready to leave. Can you sweep for us, sometime over the weekend?" "What, did you find something or are you just being cautious?" Langly's voice went from sleepily pissed to crisply professional in one fast second.  "Nope, just being cautious. I haven't seen or heard anything since the last time you swept, but it never hurts to be careful. We're taking off in about twenty minutes. Appreciate it, Langly." "No prob. You want us to check on Mrs. Scully a couple times extra while you're gone? It wouldn't be a big deal, especially if we 'happen' to go over right after she's baked cookies." Langly's basic food addiction gave his offer a wistful quality that Mulder couldn't possibly miss. As he hunted for his shoes, Mulder assured, "We've got it covered, thanks. But by all means, go and infiltrate the Scully residence. You know she'll only sit you down and feed you until she cripples you for life. If that's your kind of thing, then go for it." He located a sneaker under a pile of damp towels in the bathroom and crammed his foot into it without bothering to untie it, while Langly practically drooled over the phone at the thought of Maggie's cooking. "It's always nice to have your blessing, Agent Foxy. Have fun." "Oh, you bet. And thanks. And DON'T call me Agent Foxy!" Ignoring the hoot of laughter in his ear, Mulder disconnected and dialed Maggie Scully's number to let her know they were on their way. After a short but delightful conversation with the second most important woman in his life, Mulder shoved the cell into his pocket and went in search of his family. RAGGED LAKE, NY 9:15 PM The cabin was nestled amongst thickly-clustered pines and spruce. With the headlights of the car providing the only real light, it was hard to see beyond to the lake he'd been told curved in irregular juts of sand and rocks, just a few hundred feet from where they'd parked. Mulder set the emergency brake and stretched; then reaching out to cup Scully's cheek, he murmured, "We're here." She came awake slowly, pushing hair from her eyes as she yawned and sat up. "I fell asleep? Mulder, I'm sorry. I meant to keep you company and help you stay alert! Some navigator I've ended up being." "Scully, you were exhausted. You haven't had a decent night's sleep in days. Of course you're gonna crash on a driving trip! It wasn't a problem." He leaned over the middle console and brushed his mouth against hers. "Let's just get the essentials out, for tonight. I'm bushed." Leaving the headlights on, Mulder grabbed a smaller bag from the back seat. She nodded and opened her door, stepping out into the cold night air. This far up in the Adirondacks, winter was still in evidence, in the snow packed in along the tree line and spotty drifts of ice blanketing some of the clearing around the cabin. Scully studied what she could see of it as they walked along the path leading to the front door. Made of weathered logs, in the traditional alpine A-frame style, it boasted a wide porch scattered with snow-encrusted wooden chairs. Mulder fished in his pocket for the key while Scully stamped her feet to re-circulate some warmth. The lock was stiff and he spent a few curse-filled moments jiggling the key and the doorknob, until the lock finally gave and they pushed the door open. Inside, the air was only slightly warmer, and a fire was their first order of business. Scully felt along the wall for a light switch and found only rough logs. "Mulder, does this place have electricity?" "Nope. Hang on, I brought a pocket flashlight." He pulled it from his coat and flicked it on, shining it over the wall until he located a kerosene lamp hanging there. He took it down and checked to assure it was full, then produced a small lighter from another pocket and lit the wick, trimming it until the lamp glowed brightly. "Okay, we have light! Now I can search for the fireplace, and we'll have warmth!" Scully, whose spirits had sunk the moment she'd heard Mulder say, "Nope," wrapped her coat tightly around her shivering form and asked sweetly, "Do we have 'toilet,' Mulder? An amenity like that would be a good thing, don't you think?" Busy setting up kindling and logs in the fireplace tucked into a corner of the small living room, Mulder absently replied, "There's an outhouse/bathroom combo behind the kitchen. It's connected to the cabin with a breezeway. At least we won't have to go out to go 'out.' Pretty cool, huh?" He lit the kindling and then grinned up at her as she stood in the doorway with her arms folded around her body, trying to retain as much warmth as she could. His teasing attitude eased into concern when he saw how cold she looked, and he held out a hand to her. "Come and sit down in front of the fire, Scully. I know it's not the Ritz but this place isn't even on the map. It's remote and isolated and completely safe. You can't see it from the air or from the road. Even the chimney that's connected to the fireplace vents itself in such a way that smoke can't be detected when there's a full blaze going." He caught at Scully's hand and pulled her down to sit on the rug in front of the now-blazing fire; scooting behind her, Mulder wrapped his arms around her, both of them still wearing their coats. Scully leaned her head back against his shoulder, snuggling into his body and enjoying the heat of the fire on her face. "I know you were telling me about this place on the way up, but I swear I must have been asleep. Tell me again." "Okay. Now I know my snappy monologues bore you into zombie-like catatonia..." "Oh, for crying out loud. You're so sensitive, Mulder." She slapped him on the thigh and stifled a gasp when he shoved his nose, still cold, into the warm curve of her neck. "Stop that! You're a sadist." "I thought I was a goof." "Well, you're both. You're a sadistic goof. Or a goofy sadist. I'll have to give it some thought, while you tell me about the cabin." "I suppose I could repeat myself." Actually, the cabin belonged to Byers, whose family had built it years ago and had used it as a vacation home. When Mulder had first given serious thought to getting away, he'd gone over to the Gunmen's lair to ask them to help keep an eye on William and instead had found himself accepting a key and directions to the cabin on Ragged Lake.  "My father built it when I was a kid. He was even more paranoid than Langly, if you can believe it. Always expecting 'Big Brother' to come and knock down his dominoes." Byers had spread open a map of New York State on the kitchen table and showed Mulder the approximate location of Ragged Lake. "He came back from Korea with bats in his belfry, I swear. He decided the family needed a retreat, somewhere to go when the government got too uppity and nosed its way into his business, so to speak. The utter remoteness of the cabin drove my mother nuts. She hated going for any length of time. Dad ended up taking us kids up there without her." Byers had shrugged philosophically as he'd spoken of his parents and their difficulties. "My dad's increasingly paranoid attitude became harder for her to handle and she divorced him when I was ten and my sister was seven. He offered her the cabin in the settlement, which she of course refused. She'd never wanted him to build it in the first place. But I can remember going up with Dad when I was a teenager and I stayed with him in the summer. This time of year it's damned cold on the lake, Mulder. But you can bet nobody will know where you are." Mulder had nodded, "That's just what I want. A few days alone, a chance to sleep in and relax, wind down. Reconnect. I appreciate it, Byers." "Thank me after you get there and see for yourself how remote it is! The cabin never was wired correctly so there's no electricity, which also makes the small generator my sister bought several years ago useless. No running water. There's a hand-pump for the well and a privy that's attached to the back of the house. Plenty of warm blankets and canned food; my sister is more or less the caretaker and she keeps it stocked up for my brother-in-law's occasional hunting trips. In fact, they were just up there about a month ago so I know it's been fully re-stocked. No cell service, of course, but I've got an Iridium. You can borrow it if you like. " "That would be great, Byers. Thanks." After highlighting most of the route on the map, Byers had grabbed a pencil and a sheet of paper and had drawn out the rest of the directions to the cabin. Mulder had thanked him again and had hurried home to tell Scully they had a little hideaway reserved for their mini-vacation, compliments of John Byers. He'd told her it was a cabin on a remote lake in the mountains of Upstate New York... "You neglected to mention just HOW remote, Mulder." He tightened his arms around her as they sat in front of the fire. "Hey, I said it was remote! I just didn't mention the, um, lack of, uh, stuff." She snorted. "Stuff. Stuff like, oh, let's see... water that comes out of an actual faucet? Power? A flushing toilet? That kind of stuff?" "Think of it as an adventure, Scully. A three-day adventure with your man, roughing it in the wilds of the Northeast. We have everything we need, right? We never have to leave this room. Byers says the sofa folds out into a queen-sized bed. We don't have to use the loft at all. There's an ice-box on the back porch; in this weather we don't need a refrigerator. The fireplace has a grilling rack and an iron griddle. We can even cook in here. We can sit on the floor and eat, pretend we're having picnics. Or we can eat in bed." He ran his tongue along the sensitive skin of her neck, whispering, "And after we eat in bed, I'll cook you breakfast..." She shuddered at the feel of his mouth on her, the way his hands cupped her beneath her coat. When his teeth nipped at her ear, she managed an unsteady, "Well, I guess some sacrifices have to be made. And since we're already here... oh, God." She turned in his arms and her mouth as well as her teeth latched onto his bottom lip. With the dawning realization of how completely alone they now were, came the freedom to rip at coats, jeans, shirts and footwear, until they were both naked, three feet from a roaring fire and shivering from pent-up desire rather than the lukewarm air. Scully spared one sane thought for their son, as Mulder's aroused body covered hers and pressed her down against the hearth rug. "My mother, we need to call her... Willy..." In the midst of raining parched kisses over her breasts, Mulder paused long enough to groan, "I called her from the car. Couple of hours ago. You were sleeping. Everything's fine, I've got to have you, NOW, Scully... can't wait..." Her nod was frantic; her legs wrapped around his hips as he slid into her, pushed deep, thrust hard, then harder. She stopped thinking about everything except the way he felt inside her, the velvet steel of him, the ravenous kisses he fed her as they moved against each other. As the fire burned down into hot coals and the lantern flickered on the table, they reconnected, regrouped... made up for lost time. Hours later they turned to one another, under the faded quilt bunched over the sofa-bed. They'd pulled it out, revealing a surprisingly firm mattress, tossed a blanket and the quilt over it and then had burrowed together, one intertwined lump of bare, damp flesh. The explosion of lovemaking had drained them; they'd fallen asleep almost before their heads touched down on the pillows. Scully had snapped awake in her usual sudden manner, one ear cocked for William's three AM nursing and changing demands. For a few confused seconds she'd forgotten where she was, and a flutter of maternal panic had pulsed through her sleep-fogged brain before she remembered their son was safely in Arlington with her mother and she and Mulder were alone... very alone. She yawned her way through a grin of delight and turned to face Mulder, only to catch the glint of his drowsy eyes in the glow of the banked coals in the fireplace. When he slowly returned her grin, the punch of residual desire in his eyes sent a shiver over her. He reached out a hand and curved it over her cheek, passed a thumb along her upper lip, the tenor of their breathing and the occasional snap of the coals the only sound in the small room. "Hi." She whispered the word against his thumb and punctuated the greeting with a kiss. His smile grew wider. "Hi yourself. Did you sleep?"  "If you can call losing utter consciousness sleeping, then yes, I slept. Actually I haven't gone down that hard in a long time. I think I must have been drugged. How about you?" She curled into his arms and rested her head on his shoulder, one hand tracing patterns on his chest. Mulder snickered, "Oh, yeah. I went comatose fast; zero to dead in about two seconds. Must have been something I ate." "You didn't eat - um, you... oh, shut up." Flustered, Scully resorted to pinching him hard, in the place he'd requested of her mere hours ago. While he chuckled at her expense, she huffed, "I'm not letting you bait me at God-knows-when in the morning, Mulder. And anyway, you were in such a big hurry..." "Me? Who tore the buttons off my shirt and bit my nipple clean through my underwear? Who took out a handful of hair from my very head during one damned long, noisy orgasm?" Scully fought against a blush, hoping in the warm dark of the room he couldn't see it and therefore tease her about it. Instead she retorted indignantly, "Who dug Mr. Johnson so far inside it's a wonder it didn't come out the back of me, huh?" Hearing her give name to his penis tickled him, but the image the rest of her breathless words conjured in Mulder's brain would have sent him to his knees if he'd been standing up. He rolled over on the mattress until he had Scully pinned underneath him, and with a few deft moves had himself cradled in the cup of her hips. He pushed down as he kissed her and muttered against her mouth, "Okay, you win. I'm the depraved one. So is Johnson. We both demand a rematch." "Shouldn't I be the one to demand a rematch? After all, I was the deprave-ee, right?" Scully squirmed beneath him, loving the game they were playing. Parenthood tended to put a whammy on bedroom fun and games, too. As usual their minds were in sync, as Mulder leaned in and caught her mouth in another kiss, then feathered a reply over her cheeks. "This is the best, isn't it? I've forgotten how much fun tussling in bed can be." He rested his head on her pillow and looked his fill at her, at the glow in her eyes and the way sleep and good, hard sex had banished most of the weary shadows from her creamy skin. Thoughtfully, he mused, "Come to think of it, we never had a lot of tussling, did we? Always too anxious to get to the main event, as I recall." She combed her fingers through his hair, enjoying the feel of it under her palm. "Well, I think we had good intentions, Mulder. But then you'd touch me, and I'd kiss you. Usually that was enough to set both of us off. And we rarely spent the night together." She considered their past briefly, before adding wryly, "What there was of our intimate relationship, that is. We had so little time as a couple, before you - before we..." she stumbled to a painful halt, the remembrance of it still an ache that wouldn't ease. Mulder pulled her closer, wrapping himself all around her. "I know. I know, Scully. I feel the same. That's what makes those memories precious. It's what gives our time together, now, an extra-special shine. In hindsight I would have done so many things differently, starting with demanding sex from you at a much earlier time in our partnership." The teasing words belied the somber tone and it took her a few moments to understand what he was really saying. When she did, his contrariness earned him another pinch. "Cretin. Maybe you would've gotten lucky." She narrowed her eyes at him, pretending to give his body the once-over. Shrugging with studied indifference, she added, "Maybe not. After all, if you've seen one Johnson, you've seen them all." She waited for swift retaliation and laughed aloud when Mulder squawked in male affront and pinned her beneath him again. In a low voice he cautioned, "I'd be careful if I were you. Especially since I'm - as usual - on top of things, so to speak, and can assert my dominance over you at any given moment." To emphasize, he pressed his hips down on her and bit at her neck. Scully allowed him his moment of superiority; then catching him by surprise she slithered out from underneath him and attached herself to his back. When she rubbed her breasts along his spine, he stifled a groaning chuckle into the pillow under his face. She put her mouth up against his ear and murmured, "Big talk from the 'Little Head,' Mulder. If I were you I'd just relax and take what I dish out. If you think you can handle it." For good measure she grasped both his wrists in her hands and held them firmly. His words of surrender were muffled. "I'm at your mercy. Just don't hurt me. Well, not much, mmm..." Mulder bit back another groan as Scully's tongue traced over the back of his neck and down the sensitive curve of his spine. When she released his wrists he clenched his fingers into the rumpled sheets. First her hands slipped over his skin, along his sides, down to his narrow waist; then her teeth nipped at him. Her nails left scratch marks in the wake of those small bites, over each buttock. She growled against one of his cheeks, "Nips before hands, Mulder," punctuated her words with one sharp bite, and had the satisfaction of feeling his entire body shuddering beneath hers. Oh, this was going to be good. Their moments of early-morning love play had been non-existent since the birth of their son. Between the long, busy hours they normally kept and with Scully nursing William, they'd caught what intimacy they could whenever possible, which had lessened as their baby had grown and become more active. Finding it difficult to break him of a very early-morning nursing session had meant she sometimes had a hard time falling back asleep after William was fed, dry and in his crib again. Leaving him with her mother or anyone else for that matter just to afford them some alone-time had been out of the question; neither had felt comfortable doing it. The prospect of three whole days of sexual freedom was enough to make Scully's head swim with the possibilities... Starting now. Knowing her man also meant understanding that he'd remain submissive for only so long before turning the tables on her, so Scully took full advantage of the situation. Her hands stroked beneath his hips, catching one very impressive 'Johnson' and manipulating it thoroughly, while Mulder squirmed and gasped. She could feel his heartbeat race when she lay full-length upon his back. She moved lower, nudging his thighs apart with her elbows; Mulder obliged eagerly. She urged him up on his knees, positioning herself face-up beneath him, and grinned against his groin when he grated out a shaky, "You're killing me, baby..." She traced his swollen length with a lazy tongue, flicked teasingly at the tip, before retorting, "Oh, I hope so. Baby." Her mouth opened and she took him inside, deep. She curved her fingers into his taut cheeks and held him immobile while her lips and teeth, her tongue did torturous things to his flesh. Watching his reaction - albeit upside down - through half-closed eyes was enough to fuel her own desire a hundred-fold, as she made love to him. In this position he couldn't reach any part of her, but it didn't really matter to Scully. She was enjoying herself too much to care that her body was beyond the ministrations of his hands and mouth. They had all the time they needed to take turns sending each other to the edge of sanity, and when her turn came she knew Mulder would concentrate on her pleasure in his own, inimitable way. She shuddered, allowing herself to think about it; then used her anticipation to push him even further, her mouth moving wildly on him as her fingers rubbed and her nails scratched. "GOD!" His breath exploded on a harsh oath when she tugged at his hard length and ran her teeth along the sensitive underside. No other woman in his past had ever come close to understanding what made him feel good or what drove him absolutely crazy, the way Scully did. She had some kind of second sense when it came to their shared intimacy and she was incredibly generous as well. Their first time together had been wonderful, and each time since then had only gotten better, whether they were rushed for time or had the luxury of hours instead of minutes. Mulder gave one hazy thought to the hours that stretched before them all weekend long; then stopped thinking altogether when she cupped him and pressed, released, as she swirled her tongue in just the right spot... He came so hard his eyes crossed; his shout echoed through the quiet room, a combination of her name, a few obscure deities and one thick groan. Boneless, trembling, his body collapsed next to hers, every muscle lax and the tendons in his hands aching from gripping the sheets so tightly. He turned his head to gaze at her through heavy-lidded eyes as she relaxed next to him with a smug little smile on her face, and he reached out a finger to trace those curved lips. "Well, somebody's quite proud of themselves, aren't they?" His voice came out on a shuddery breath and if anything, her smile widened. "Damn straight, Mulder. Anything worth doing is worth doing well, you know. Besides, I recall promising to kill you. Judging by that scream you emitted, I'd say I made good on that promise." "I didn't scream. I shouted. In three octaves, but it was still a shout." Mulder was insistent. Scully nestled close to his side and stroked over his chest, feeling the rapid heartbeat with feline satisfaction. "Of course. Anything you say. A shout, not a scream." Her body still thrummed with need, but it was so nice to snuggle, knowing he'd eventually return the favor. "Scully?" His hand tangled in her hair and pulled her head back until he could see into her eyes. "Hmm?" The open adoration in Mulder's gaze just melted her; Scully could have stayed right there forever, looking at him, touching him. He admitted, "I really did scream, you know. But it was a very masculine scream." He cupped her cheek and brought her face close for a lingering kiss, tasting himself on her, loving the flavor on her tongue. He released her mouth so that she could answer him. "Sure, Mulder. Masculine. What else could one of your screams be?" "Smart-ass." He rolled with her until she lay beneath him, pressed down into the mattress in roughly the same position as she'd been right before she'd asserted herself all over him. "Well, it seems to me that I should be returning the favor, right? And you can scream if you want to, Scully. A nice, high-pitched, girl-scream. Are you okay with that?" He didn't wait for an answer but began kissing his way leisurely down her body, from her collarbone to each breast, over her navel, across both hipbones, until he reached her center, and his fingers and mouth could press into the wet heat he found there. Above his head she managed to gasp out a strangled, "Bring it on, Mr. Johnson." ARLINGTON, VA 5:45 AM With one howling shriek, William Mulder made his small but intimidating presence known, and Maggie Scully found herself up on her feet and moving toward the portable crib in a hurry. Half asleep, hair tangled and falling in her eyes, she reached the crib just as her grandson sucked in a huge, hitching breath. She caught him up in her arms, ignoring the soaked diaper, and cuddled him close.  "Shh, sweetie. Grandma's got you. We'll get that nasty old diaper off you right away. Poor little one, you're running another fever!" She carried him to a cot in the corner that she'd set up as a makeshift changing pad, unsnapping his pajamas and quickly stripping off the wet diaper. William shoved his entire fist into his mouth and gnawed, eyes still glistening with tears and hiccupping in distress. He stared up at her, whimpering, still not quite sure of her and her placement in his life. Maggie whispered to him lovingly as she cleaned his little rump and put a fresh diaper on him. They hadn't really had a lot of time to bond, she needed to remember that. One long day and evening together would not assure her importance in William's life. She thought briefly of the previous hours, right before his bedtime, and admitted her boy had seemed whiny and confused even though he'd settled down easily enough with his bedtime bottle and had fallen asleep quickly. No doubt his bewilderment over his new surroundings had worn him out. Maggie had to remind herself not to feel badly when her grandson seemed upset over being with her instead of Mommy or Daddy. They'd get to know each other over the weekend and form that bond, she was sure of it. As she snapped William into a clean pair of pajamas and lifted him up to her shoulder, Maggie pressed her lips to his warm forehead and then leaned back to look into his eyes - to find him staring intently at her, a frown on his little face. She smiled at him but he continued to stare and frown at her as she carried him down to the kitchen to fix him a warm bottle. She was reaching into the refrigerator for his milk when an unexplained, fierce wave of anxiety washed over her, nearly buckling her legs. The bottle of milk tipped over, fell off the shelf and landed on the floor. Trembling, Maggie groped for the nearest chair and sank into it, managing to hang onto the squirming child in her arms as she took several deep breaths and wondered where in hell the overload of emotion had come from. The deep breaths weren't helping very much and the trembling increased as wave after wave of insecurity and worry assailed her. She'd never felt anything like it. Her eyes teared up from the feeling; clutching William tightly, Maggie found herself using the comfort of his small body as a way to stabilize the panic she was feeling. William's squirming increased, his arms flailed and his breath caught and then released in a full-bodied cry of baby-fury. He sobbed against her shoulder, tiny hands now gripping the front of her nightgown. Tears streamed down her face as grandmother and grandson wept together. It took every ounce of control she had to stop crying long enough to calm her poor baby boy, and herself, in the process. "Shh. Oh honey, what's the matter with us, hmm? Are we both worried about the same thing? It's okay. It's all right." Maggie's voice soothed over the weeping child. She rocked back and forth on the chair as she murmured to him, and it seemed to help, for the trembling eased in her body and in William's. He hiccupped, sneezed and then rested his face against her shoulder wearily, one hand still fisted in her nightgown. She stroked her palm over his damp head and realized his fever had broken. Relaxing back in the chair, Maggie cuddled the baby close, listening to his breathing even out, shaking her head in amazement when a snuffling snore indicated he'd fallen asleep. Just like that. Carefully she got to her feet and carried him back to the bedroom, easing him down into the crib and covering him with a light blanket. Shrugging into her bathrobe, she returned to the kitchen and cleaned up the spilled milk, then figuring she'd never get back to sleep, put the teakettle on. Leaving the overhead light off, Maggie leaned against the counter and tried to figure out what had just happened. Nerves, probably from both of them. Worries about having William with her for more than a few hours, definitely. Her darling boy, scared when he realized his parents weren't around. What else could it have been? All evening he'd been quiet, crawling around a little but mostly sitting on the floor playing with his toys. He'd offered no protest when she'd tucked him in for the night, and had merely stared at her when she'd tried to coax a smile from him as he lay in the crib. She'd finally given up and had kissed him good night, watching from the doorway as he'd shifted around restlessly. Unfamiliar territory, poor baby. Stuck with Grandma instead of Mommy and Daddy, she thought with a rueful smile. And according to Dana, William was an unusually intuitive baby. He probably thought his parents had deserted him! Little wonder he'd been so upset; of course that emotion would transfer to her. Just nerves. Maggie roused herself from the chair when the teakettle started whistling, and grabbed it up before it got any louder. She was just filling her mug when a movement at the doorway had her almost jumping out of her slippers. "Oh, sorry! I didn't mean to startle you. I heard the baby crying. Everything all right?" Monica Reyes entered the kitchen, tightening the belt of her terrycloth robe. Maggie let out the breath she'd gulped in, and managed a weak smile. Unused to having overnight visitors, she'd completely forgotten about the 'houseguests' occupying her spare rooms. She reached for another mug and pointed to the empty chair next to hers. "Yes, we're fine. And no, you didn't startle me. Well, maybe a little. William is teething again and woke me up with a fever and one very soggy diaper. He's back in his crib now, hopefully asleep." She fixed tea for Monica and sat down next to her, cupping her own mug of chamomile. "I think what you were hearing wasn't so much teething as it might have been an anxiety attack. William seemed to somehow understand that Mommy and Daddy weren't going to lull him back to sleep. Poor little boy, when he saw all he had to depend on was Grandma, I think he got scared!" Monica nodded as she sipped her tea. "I'm not surprised at all. It's amazing how sensitive babies can be to the immediate world around them, regardless of how young they are. And William is... exceptional." She paused, trying to gauge her hostess's level of open-mindedness, and decided to take a chance. "Beyond your pride in such a fine grandson, I sense an acknowledgement of those qualities that set William apart from other children his age. And if not a full understanding, then at least you accepted the reason Dana and Mulder secured protection for you and William this weekend." Sighing, Maggie set her mug down and met Monica's curious regard with honesty. "Well, no. I don't fully understand, but I'm trying. And if I accepted it, I did so to avoid causing Dana additional worry. I remember some of the events leading up to William's birth; the things I experienced myself. I can certainly understand why thinking about it would still upset my daughter." She gestured toward the rooms beyond the kitchen. "This is a large house, and there's no reason a handful of people can't stay here comfortably. Maybe I've accepted having the FBI watch over Willy and me, but I do question the reasoning behind having round-the-clock protection. I told Dana I wouldn't mind you or one of the other agents looking in on me this weekend. And I don't. However, I can't help but feel sadness that it took ten months before the parents of my grandson trusted me enough to have him to myself for several days, and then only with a form of bodyguard tossed in for good measure." So that was the main problem, Monica thought as she rubbed wearily at her eyes. Dana had yet to inform her mother of what was really going on. Well, it wasn't her place to say a great deal... but she felt the need to offer what reassurances she could. She reached impulsively for Maggie's hand, surprising herself with the gesture; usually she was a bit standoffish with people she didn't know very well. "Mrs. Scully... Maggie," she amended, at the older woman's encouraging nod, "It's not your daughter's intention to imply you are less than competent to care for William. Quite the opposite, in fact. But there is a demonstrated need for someone to watch over this child, in a more proactively protective mode. I'm probably overstepping my bounds here, but William is wanted by people who are ruthless, beyond your comprehension. Your years of observing your daughter and Fox Mulder in any kind of federal action still would not have prepared you for what's coming in the near future." Monica pushed aside the tea and both hands now clasped Maggie's. "I've chosen to dedicate my life to stopping what has already begun, just as I have chosen to protect the innocent. Children like William, with certain gifts... I have to believe he's not the only one out there. I have to believe there are others." "Define 'wanted.' Define 'certain gifts,' please." Maggie's worry and sudden sense of doom came through loud and clear in her low voice. Too late, Monica realized she'd let a feeling of incipient kinship loosen her tongue, before gaining permission to enlighten someone outside of the resistance. She struggled briefly with an answer; then decided it simply wasn't her place to say much more. "I... there's a conspiracy in place, and it's something Dana and Mulder have been working against for years. AD Skinner, too. John Doggett and I have come on board more recently, but we're just as dedicated to fighting it. I don't know how much Dana has already told you, but I shouldn't say anything further; the rest of it needs to come from her. Please believe me when I say it's vital that your grandson be protected at all times, and..." Her earnest plea was interrupted, as John Doggett stumbled into the kitchen, moaning, "Coffee. Somewhere there has to be coffee. Or tea. I'm not fussy." He stared at Monica with bleary eyes, begging silently for caffeine. Dressed in a faded Academy sweatshirt and sweatpants frayed at the hem, hair sticking up on end, he couldn't have looked less like the somber, well-put-together agent Maggie was most familiar with. When he passed a tender hand along Monica's shoulder as she rose to make him a cup of tea, the casual gesture spoke volumes to Maggie as she sat and watched their interaction. Friendship, yet much more. Intimacy as well as familiarity. And she smiled to herself, thinking it was quite a bit like watching her daughter and Fox Mulder, all over again. Maggie found her worry and anxiety over William - and the mysterious dangers threatening him - easing somewhat as she observed those unguarded moments between Monica and John. These were good people. Honest, loyal. Maybe her daughter seemed overly worried; maybe there was good reason for it. And maybe everyone she knew who worked at the Federal level was just a little too paranoid... Well, she'd get to the bottom of it, one way or another. In the meantime, she had guests for breakfast and she intended to take good care of them. Maggie gestured to the chair on the other side of Monica. "Good morning, Agent Doggett. Sorry we woke you so early. I hope you'll let me make it up to you by fixing you some breakfast. Bacon and eggs, maybe some biscuits? I can make country gravy, too." The look in his eyes had her fighting to suppress a laugh; he resembled a puppy who'd just been given the keys to the butcher-shop meat locker. "Biscuits? Gravy? Yes, Ma'am. Is there anything I can do for you in return? Re-shingle your roof? Buy you a new car?" His eyes twinkled at her. Twinkled! Maggie found herself utterly charmed by the man, who up until that point had been so quiet, so much in the background compared to the others who formed a circle of support around Dana and Fox, William too. She beamed at him, thinking home-cooked food had a way of making everyone loosen up. Rising, she moved to the refrigerator and started pulling out eggs and milk; butter. She waved aside Monica's offer to help with a firm, "No, you don't! You're a guest, and you're watching over not only William, but me as well. The least I can do is cook for you. Just sit there and relax, have some more tea." She busied herself at the stove, cracking eggs, mixing biscuit dough, the earlier incident with her grandson pushing its way to the back of her mind as John Doggett and Monica sat side by side and talked as they sipped their morning tea. RAGGED LAKE, NY 11:05 AM Against the blue, cloudless sky the lake appeared almost iridescent, a sparkling silver-gray that shimmered in the light, cold breeze. Large patches of ice and snow glistened along the shore and formed in chunks that floated serenely here and there on the glassy surface. Frosted leaves left from last autumn crunched under their feet as Mulder helped guide Scully over the uneven ground. When they stopped to stare at the lake, their breath plumed out and their eyes watered a bit from the air that bit at their cheeks. "Damn, it's cold. Somewhere in the world I'm sure tulips are growing. And crocuses. Maybe some daffodils." Mulder deliberately made his tone into a whine, knowing Scully would have something to say about it. As usual, she didn't disappoint him. "Want to go back to the fire, Mulder? I bet I can find some cheese to accompany that whine of yours." It was an old joke but still had the power to crack a smile. Mulder hooked an arm around Scully's waist and hauled her up off her feet, deliberately rubbing his cold nose in her warm neck and making her screech. "Cut it out! Jeez... How would you like it if I shoved my cold nose right up against the warmest spot on YOUR body?" As soon as the words left her mouth she groaned in anticipation of Mulder's reply. And, sure enough... He squeezed her tightly, laughing at her, so obviously relaxed and happy that she had to laugh with him as he retorted, "Johnson would love it; he's one tough customer. I'll even hold him down for you." "I bet you would. Thanks, but you'd enjoy it too much, and I'm thinking you're just a little too eager for some torture. I wouldn't want to cause any damage." She squeezed him back, wriggled until he let her regain her feet and then caught at his hand, pulling him along the path that followed the north side of the lake. "Come on, just a little further. We need the exercise. Then I'll make you some lunch, maybe some soup." Mulder allowed himself to be dragged along. "What, I haven't been providing you with enough exercise, Scully? You're insatiable." "Just for that, no soup for you." "Nazi." "Simpleton." Their mock-insults floated over the calm surface of the lake. Laughter rang out as well, to blend with the rustling of their feet through low vegetation as they made their way back to the cabin, faces glowing from the cold spring air, hands clasped. They'd slept in, needing the extra rest after their early-morning 'tussle.' The novelty of being able to awaken when they wished and either loll in bed or actually arise and do something with their day... it had been almost too good to be true. Mulder had kept expecting the proverbial 'monkey-wrench,' but of course there wasn't a thing that could have tampered with their plans. Paranoia, that was a good description of what he'd felt for perhaps a minute after he awoke and felt Scully pressed up against him on the unfamiliar but comfortable sofa-bed. Luckily it hadn't lasted very long. After shedding their coats and gloves, they unpacked Byers' satellite phone and called Maggie on her cell to reassure that William was doing fine. "He's eating his cereal right now. We're going to have a very fun day together, and I don't want either of you worrying about us." Maggie sounded overjoyed at the thought of having her grandson all to herself, and Scully smiled as she spoke to her mother. "Mom, who's there with you today?" The question was posed casually, but Scully was sure her mother could hear the touch of worry in her voice. Next to her Mulder listened in on the conversation, his hand warm on the nape of her neck. Her mother's reply was calm and matter-of-fact. "Well, Monica and John spent the night. They're still here, and John told me Mr. Skinner will be taking his place for most of the day. I believe John also mentioned your friends the Gunmen are coming by to 'sweep,' I think is the word he used. I assume you know what he's talking about." "Oh, good!" Scully didn't bother hiding the relief in her voice. "They're going to check for bugs, Mom. Listening devices," she explained, knowing her mother wouldn't know the correct term. "And I think Langly wants to fix your sticky deadbolt." "Listening devices? Here, in my house? Dana, for heaven's sake... why on earth would I have something like that, here?" Her mother was obviously shocked at the notion and Scully could have bitten her tongue off for just baldly dropping it on her that way.  She hastened to explain, "It's just a precaution, Mom! The guys sweep our apartment regularly. It pays to be careful. I'm not saying someone has broken into your house and planted anything. We're just being careful." Attempting to redirect her mother's concern, Scully added teasingly, "Besides, the guys want cookies. They'll use any excuse to descend on you on the off-chance you'll feed them." Unfortunately her mother wasn't willing to be placated, not at the moment. "You still don't fully trust me. That's the real reason Monica Reyes stayed here last night; that's why your boss is knocking on my door in an hour. You haven't forgiven me for bringing that woman, Lizzie, into your life before William was born. If she hadn't fooled me so completely, you'd be trusting me much more with William. Or is it something else? Things I have a right to know about? I'm his grandmother! How can I help you to protect him if I'm kept in the dark? Do you think I wouldn't believe you? Wouldn't understand? I would. You know I would." Reproach and a bit of guilt mingled in Maggie Scully's tone. Scully sighed, glancing up at Mulder with frustration visible on her face. He shook his head and shrugged, indicating there wasn't much more placating that could be done. Frowning, she addressed her mother's concerns head-on. "It isn't a matter of forgiveness, Mom. It never was. It's more a matter of understanding the kind of life we have to lead for William's - and our - protection. It's also understanding that if we keep 'outsiders' out, then it's for a very good reason." She paused for a moment and rubbed at her forehead, feeling the start of a headache. Mulder massaged her neck gently, then walked to a small duffle bag sitting in the corner of the room and rummaged for aspirin. Pinching the bridge of her nose, Scully murmured, "I think it's time we talked, Mom. You're right; Mulder and I haven't told you what you need to know. When we get back, we'll talk." "Okay. I think that's a good idea. I want to help with my grandson, and I can't do it unless I know what's really going on." The reproach was gone, to be replaced by determined cheerfulness. "Now, I won't ask you how your weekend is going because I'm sure you're having a wonderful time. Just tell me when I have to have those cookies ready!" The rest of the conversation went smoothly, with Scully promising to call later during the weekend and Mulder taking a turn on the phone for a fast chat with both Monica and Maggie Scully. He hung up the phone and draped his arm around Scully's shoulders as she leaned against the small kitchen counter. Kissing her head, he remarked, "It's going as well as we could expect. Skinner should get there any time, and the guys are probably on their way. Monica said she and your mom had a good talk. Willy's eating like a little pig and broke a teething fever last night. All normal stuff, Scully. Remember that, okay? All normal." She nodded but her eyes were troubled, as she shook aspirin into her hand and accepted the glass of water Mulder poured for her. She swallowed three of them and echoed, "Normal." ARLINGTON, VA 1:12 PM It was amazing, the way four grown men - and one slender woman - could pack away a double batch of chocolate chip oatmeal cookies. Maggie Scully watched as an entire gallon of milk also vanished right before her eyes. She thought it was wonderful. As a woman who loved to cook and loved even more to see her cooking appreciated, there was nothing quite as rewarding than watching her efforts disappear. The platter on her table, heaped high a mere hour ago, now held perhaps ten cookies. Remembering John Doggett would be coming by later on, she hastily snatched up the platter before Langly could stuff himself with Cookie Number Eleven.  He turned wounded eyes framed in thick black eyeglasses on her and she smothered a chuckle. "I really should save some for Agent Doggett. Besides, if you eat any more of these you'll be sick!" Refusing to let those puppy eyes get to her, Maggie carried the platter to relative safety. When she turned back to the group, she laughed aloud, for each of them now wore an identical expression of exaggerated, sad longing. "Stop that! You're just trying to make me feel guilty." "Is it working?" Frohike eyed the platter from across the room, as if gauging the distance between the counter and his mouth. Maggie shook her head, "No. Not even a little. I baked five dozen cookies and I have less than a dozen left. That has to be some kind of record!" "They were very excellent cookies." John Byers smiled at her shyly. He'd eaten seven of them himself, washing them down with two glasses of milk and several lactose pills he had popped as a safeguard against the rash his dairy allergies normally gave him. "I seem to be having trouble rousing enough energy to complete the job we originally came here to do! But we promised Mulder and your daughter we'd sweep. Guys, we need to get to it." He stood, and with much groaning and protest Langly and Frohike rose as well and tottered off to the foyer to collect their equipment. Monica grinned at Walter Skinner as she picked up empty glasses and plates. "They drank milk. I can't believe they drank milk." "Neither can I. Figured they'd be clamoring for beer, at the very least. Beer and cookies... now that's a snack for champions." Skinner got to his feet slowly, suppressing the need to burp. He'd been no slouch in the cookie-devouring race, inhaling ten of them along with three cups of coffee. He was wired from caffeine and couldn't sit still any longer. He helped Monica clear the table, ignoring her protests that she could handle it, and then, excusing himself, went into the foyer to watch the Gunmen do their sweep. William was dozing in his highchair. Monica was happy to pick him up and cuddle him on her lap while Maggie finished loading the dishwasher. With a sigh the baby snuggled his head into her neck and Monica rubbed a gentle hand over his back, holding him close. "What a good boy. Not one teething peep out of him since this morning. Maybe it pushed the rest of the way through the gums." She kissed his cheek, cradled him closer. "I wonder if Dana and Mulder are having a good time?" "Well, they're probably in bed, making love like two ferrets." The matter-of-fact reply from the older woman caused Monica's jaw to drop, and she almost dropped the baby as well. "Maggie! I can't believe you said that!" "Hmm?" Maggie looked up from the counter she'd been wiping down, blinking in confusion at the shocked look on Monica's face... and suddenly replaying her comment back to herself, clapped a hand over her mouth and gasped through her fingers. "Oh heavens! What on earth made me say such a thing?" Both women stared at each other in varying degrees of shock; then dissolved into laughter. Monica choked, "Well, that's what I'd be doing if I had a weekend alone with a man!" She wiped at her eyes. "During college I lived for the weekends when I could sleep in and think of nothing more strenuous than breakfast in bed and snuggling between the sheets with a boyfriend. Dana and Mulder deserve this time together. It's been crazy and stressful for them." "Yes, it has. Of course, I made out like a bandit; finally got my hands on my beautiful boy!" Maggie held out her arms for the sleeping William and Monica readily handed him over. Maggie sank down in the closest chair and propped the baby on her shoulder, thrilled that he curled into her arms willingly. Hopefully he was becoming more comfortable around her. She'd find a way to spend more and more time with him, determined to develop a strong, tight relationship. When Monica murmured, "I'm sure you will," Maggie realized she'd spoken aloud. Flushing a bit, she nuzzled William's hair and smiled, sitting in the quiet kitchen and listening to the sound of male voices coming from the other rooms as the Gunmen and Skinner made the rounds of her house. She still couldn't quite reconcile to the idea of anyone actually wanting to bug her home. For starters, how would they have been able to get in? And why would they think she knew anything of importance, anyway? She decided some immediate answers were needed, and since her daughter wasn't here to provide them...  "Tell me, please, what they're doing - how they know where to look." Her eyes met Monica's with direct purpose. "They're searching for transmitters. Usually these are tiny electronic devices that can be placed anywhere, or in almost anything, and transmit up to a certain amount of yards away. Bugs are becoming more and more sophisticated, and unfortunately harder to discover. But the Gunmen's equipment is excellent. I'm sure there's nothing to be found, Maggie - but it never hurts to be a little paranoid." Monica was reassuring but Maggie Scully had more than a few unanswered questions. "What could they possibly hope to hear? I live alone. I'm retired. I'm -" She was gently interrupted. "You're Special Agent Dana Scully's mother. For all these people know, you are privy to her every waking thought." Monica smiled when Maggie merely rolled her eyes at the absurd assumption, and continued, "You're the grandmother of a child the remaining members of a dangerous organization would enjoy getting their hands on. A child some of these members regard as a threat. And I've already overstepped my bounds, telling you these things, Maggie. Such questions should be answered by Dana, and Mulder." "But they aren't here, are they? And you are. I'm living in a house that up until today I've always felt safe in, while FBI agents guard my grandson and people hunt for listening devices in every room. While another agent sits at my kitchen table and calmly discusses dangerous conspiracies and tells me my grandson is regarded as a threat." She shook her head in bafflement. "It's hard for me to understand and to accept. Granted, my life wasn't always evenly-balanced, and each of my children in their own way has caused me some not-so-normal worry... but I did feel safe." Maggie adjusted William's limp weight in her arms, gazed down at him for a moment and then back at Monica. "If what you say is true, if there's a group of people like that out in the world, then I want you to tell me we're still safe here. Tell me this is just a precautionary thing, something the family members of Special Agents, assigned to especially dangerous cases are sometimes subjected to. Or tell me it's because of the way I lost my oldest daughter, Melissa. And after you tell me, I want to have enough confidence in your words, to believe them." Monica never blinked and her eyes never left Maggie's; she parted her lips to speak. "Maggie, I assure you..." This time it was Walter Skinner who interrupted her, standing in the kitchen doorway, one hand clenched tightly. "We have a problem." to be continued in Part Two End Top of Page |
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