Title: SINS OF THE FUTURE(1/3)
Date: May 24, 1999
From: CorrineLS@socal.rr.com
Author: Lakota
Categories: MSR, M&S Anguish
Rating: NC-13 (a few bad words)

Disclaimer: I'm only borrowing Fox Mulder, Dana Scully,
Long Gunmen, Cigarette Smoking Man, Diana Fowley (although
we all know what we can do with Diana) for my own
therapeutic enjoyment. They are the property of Chris
Carter, Fox Broadcasting and 1013 Productions. Promise not
to infringe

Note: SINS OF THE FUTURE (Sequel to Sins of our Past)

Summary: A lost floppy disc, Diana Fowley and the
Cigarette Smoking Man all have to do with the kidnapping of
Jacob. Scully, holding the DNA answer to Jacob's paternity
has to be the one to find Mulder and tell him if he or Gary
is the father.

Note: In order for continuity, SINS OF THE PAST should be
read first in order for SINS OF THE FUTURE to make any
sense. The following is the summary to: Sins of Our Past

The ring - Who was Mulder married to? What happened to
his wife? Where does Diana fit into the picture and is
Mulder Jacob's daddy? With all these questions, it's
Scully who rescues Mulder from his past.

Thanks: To my cyber friends. Now I know why movie
sequels are so hard to do. You want the second to be
better than the first or at least as entertaining. I came
across many 'writer's block' but my friends were there to
push me. And with their help, this is what I came up with.
Mija - a special thanks to you!!!!! - you know who you
are!!!!!

3RD Note: The first two pages of this story is the ending
of Sins Of Our Past

SINS OF THE FUTURE

Dear Fox and Dana,

My intentions were not to leave Jacob at your doorstep,
but things got out of hand. I have lived these last 6-1/2
years in guilt, knowing that I had a secret and wasn't able
to tell anyone. I always spoke highly about you to him,
Fox. He has only known you as his father. All the sins of
my past seemed to be storming in these last two weeks. Yes
Fox, I know what I did regarding Star. I swear that I did
not tell her intentionally that you would be at the
warehouse. Yes I was in love with you from the moment they
put us together as partners on the X-Files, but I was happy
just seeing you happy. When I arrived, at the stakeout,
you were already holding her in your arms. At first I was
confused at how she got there, but I quickly remembered the
conversation with Agent Miller and Agent Lane. I knew right
away what I had done. How could I tell you that she was
there because of me? I was jealous of your happiness and
Gary was there to comfort me. We were together during the
time you were married. He was a very wonderful man and he
looked like you so much that I would fantasize that it was
you. I know that wasn't fair for him. After Star died I
wasn't sure what to do. I wanted to be there for you, to
hold you but I knew you were in so much pain. I was
patient because I knew you would need someone to be there.
After months of waiting, you asked me to move in with you.
I think you were in love with me. I was ecstatic being
with you. But something was missing. You still had the
memories of Star, and you had so many nightmares about your
sister. I felt like I couldn't get you to really notice
me, so I wandered back into Gary's arms. Yes I was seeing
him and living with you. It's not something that I'm proud
of, but again, that was the sins of my past. But Jacob was
not a sin. He's the most wonderful beautiful boy in the
world. Look at him Fox, he looks like you. Yes Fox, I
know who the real father is, but I will take that secret to
my grave. If you want to pursue it and do a blood test, go
ahead, but it will not come from my lips. Because Fox, in
his little eyes, you will always be his daddy. I am going
away for awhile. I don't know for how long, maybe months,
maybe years. I will keep in touch with him. I'll write
him and please don't let him forget me. Tell him that I'm
doing this for him.
Dana, I wrote your name on the top of this letter because
I know that Fox will have you read it. Don't let Fox get
away from you. He's a compassionate man. A loving man, a
man that will do anything for the one he loves. And Dana,
he loves you. A person has to be blind not to notice it.
From the moment I stepped out of the elevator doors two
weeks ago I noticed the look he had for you. And Jacob,
what can I say, but only that you have melted my son's
heart. The first time I heard him call you mommy Dana. it
hurt me to the core. But knowing that he loves you that
much made my decision so much easier. Love my son, as he
was your own. I know you will. Tell my baby boy I love
him and Fox, don't let him forget me..... Diana....

There was so much information written in that letter that
Mulder couldn't bare it any longer. His eyes welled with
feelings that he didn't know if it was sadness or
happiness. He handed the letter to Scully to read. She
took it in her hand and read the letter slowly, once, twice
until it sunk in.
"Mulder you've got Jacob, we have Jacob" she said tears
rolling down her face. She took him from his arms and they
both hugged and kissed until their faces were wet with each
other's tears.
"Honey, I have to go to the bathroom, I'll be right
back," Scully said as she placed the boy back on Mulder's
lap. She went into the bedroom, shutting the door behind
her. She went to her briefcase and pulled out the
envelope. With shaking hands, she pulled the file out. The
file that would say who the real father of Jacob was. With
a deep breath that was felt to the pit of her stomach she
opened the file. She took a quick glance at the findings
and without an expression on her face, tore the file in
tiny pieces, over and over again until the pieces were so
small that they could have been mistaken for ashes. She
went to the bathroom and through the pieces of Mulder's,
Jacob and Gary's lives in the toilet. She flushed the
toilet seeing the water and pieces of paper swirl around
the bowl, round and round until all clues of the blood test
were gone. She went back to the living room and knelt in
front of Mulder. She cupped his face in her hands and
brought him close to her. She gave him a light kiss, that
barely touched his lips, then another one just a little
longer and another until the last kiss held so much
intensity that they were both breathless. Jacob started
laughing at the site.
"Mommy and Daddy are kissing, K I S S I N G." he started
singing, "I love my mommy and daddy".

Weeks past and the lives of three individuals were
changed drastically. Out in the foreground were images of
a man throwing the ball at a little boy who would swat the
bat seconds after the ball past him. The woman crouching
down behind the boy catching the balls passing him by.
They would do this for hours. After the playtime was over
she would see Fox carry Jacob onto his hip, the boy
wrapping his legs around his daddy's waist. Jacob kissing
Fox on the cheek and then turning to kiss Dana as well.
Fox would then stretch out his hand to hold on to Dana's
and the three would walk towards the car. The laughter of
the little boy was heard up on the little incline where
Diana stood watching the three.

SINS OF THE FUTURE

Sunday Afternoon - At the Park

"Are you planning on standing here every Sunday," a voice
behind her asked.
Diana's felt an instant cold chill, as she heard the
familiar voice, "Damn, you scared me, what the hell are you
doing here?"
"Admiring Diana the Martyr," taunted the older man. She
turned around to see the wrinkled man who really wasn't as
old as he appeared. <The business he was in would age
anyone> she thought watching him inhale every last bit of
nicotine he could suck out of the cigarette
"You know, those things could kill you," she sneered.
"I think there's other things that could kill me first
than my constant companion," he said throwing the cigarette
on the ground, then reaching into his coat pocket for the
packet of his Morleys.
"I told you I was out of the business. I'm tired and I
don't want to do this anymore," she said, walking towards
her car.
"You gave up a lot Diana, a good career. Do you think you
got the Terrorist Job in Europe because of your talents in
the FBI? No, my dear, it was hand given by the group. I
really don't think they will be very pleased with your
decision," he said, taking yet another puff and blowing the
smoke in her face. "What do you plan on doing now, I mean,
now that you no longer have your son. Well, if you want to
call it that. Half of the time you left the poor kid at
friends and neighbors while you were on assignment," he
taunted some more.
"I have always been a good mother to him. I had no
choice in leaving him with friends. I had to support both
of us," she tried to justify.
"Who are you trying to fool. It's me Diana; I know
exactly how much you loved the kid. Oh I won't deny it.
You did a good job, well when you were with him."
"Are you done, I have to leave," she said between
clenched teeth.
"I'm done for now. But keep your options open," he said,
inhaling his cigarette with such vigor. "There's still a
lot more work we want you to do for us. And if they are
not done, there will be consequences." The Cigarette
Smoking Man shut the car door and watched Diana drive away,
taking yet another puff and throwing the last trace of
cigarette on the ground.

Mulder's Apartment

"Scully, I need to find a good babysitter for Jacob.
When Skinner gets back from vacation tomorrow, he's going
to have a fit when he finds out that we have not done any X-
File assignments," he whispered to Scully, looking at his
rearview mirror watching Jacob in complete concentration.
"That might be so, but he will be amazed at how we have
categorized and filed everything in our office," she smiled.
"There is only so much cleaning that we can do, and if we
don' start earning our keep, I'm not going to be able to
feed Jacob or myself. You'll have to take us in and feed
us," he continued.
"Mulder did you seem to forget that if you get canned, so
will I."
"I just don't want to leave him anywhere. I have him in
that childcare center by work, but with him starting school
in September, I thought that maybe he could stay with
someone we know, someone we trust," he proceeded to
whisper, again looking at the rearview mirror.
"Daddy, I don't want you to get in trouble. You could
leave me with anybody. I'll be good," he responded,
flipping the pages of his new book.
"They were both shocked that he answered them, "Jacob did
you hear what we were saying?" Scully asked.
"Mommy, I am in the same car. I have ears you know," he
sarcastically said.
Instead of getting upset at the remark he said, they both
couldn't help but laugh at his 'by the way' answer.
"Son, did your mom leave you at a friends house when she
went to work?" Mulder asked.
"She worked a lot. I would stay sometimes at good
friends and sometimes at bad friends. Daddy I didn't like
staying at her bad friends. They wouldn't take care of me
very good. Sometimes I would be so hungry. I would stay
for a long time waiting for my mommy to get home. And
sometimes she would stay away for a long time. I would get
very sad," he said still flipping the pages, not looking up.
"What do you mean stay with bad friends?" Mulder asked,
his expression changing.
"Sometimes they would hit me. They had a boy like me and
he would do bad things and I would get in trouble. The boy
would always say it was me, but daddy it wasn't all the
time. So the bad friends would hit me."
"Did your mother know about this?" he asked,
"No, because the bad friends would tell me not to say
anything or I would get hit again," he responded. The boy
put the book down and grabbed another from the pile that he
always carried.
Mulder couldn't hide the anger that he felt for the
information that was just given to him. He waited for
Jacob to concentrate in his new book and looked at Scully.
"Scully, I want to take him to meet the Lone Gunmen. I
bet they would watch him for me," he suggested softly..
"What, are you crazy," Scully whispered, "they'll make
him as paranoid as them."
"What does panoid mean?" Jacob said jumping up and down
on the back seat holding on to the headrest of the front
seat.
"Jacob, sit back on put your seatbelt back on," Mulder
scolded. He scooted back and tried to maneuver the
seatbelt back on him.
"Jacob you know that Dana and I have the same job as your
mother and that sometimes we have to go away for a couple
of days. Well I want to leave you in a good place with my
good friends. I would never leave you with a bad friend.
They look a little different but they are very nice."
Mulder tried to explain.
Jacob's face became saddened at the thought of being left
alone again. "Are you going away like mommy?" he asked
solemnly. "Mommy would just say she went to work and she
would stay away a long time."
"We won't be gone for that long, I promise," Mulder said
turning on to the parking lot of the Lone Gunmen's place of
residence.

Lone Gunmen's Apartment

Click, click, click, they heard each deadbolt, unlock
before the door was opened.
"Well look, who's here, Mulder and the lovely Dana,"
Frohike said letting them in. Jacob stood behind Mulder,
wrapping his arms around Mulder's right thigh. "And who is
this little guy?" Byers said walking close to Frohike.
"This is Jacob," Mulder said trying to unglue him from
the tight squeeze the boy had on him. He managed to move
the child in front of him as Jacob buried his head onto his
leg. "You have a way with children, don't you?" Mulder
snickered.
Scully crouched down taking him from Mulder and whispered
something in his ear. Jacob shook his head and loosened
the hold.
"Hi, I'm Jacob, he is my daddy," Jacob said as he looked
at each on of the three and smiled.
"I have to talk to you guys, it's something very
important," Mulder said quietly to Byers and Frohike.
Langley walked towards the boy and took his hand, "Come on
Jacob, let me show you to some really neat stuff." Langley
walked him to one of the many computers and signed on to a
game they had installed.
"What!" Frohike shouted as Mulder tried to convince them
at how important these three would be in a life of a little
boy.
"Come on guys, I don't trust anyone else to watch him.
From what I understand, he didn't have very good luck with
babysitters." Mulder tried to convince. "Well, I guess it
won't be that bad," Byers said watching the boy giggle at
the game that Langley and Jacob were playing. After an
hour with Byers, Langley and Frohike, they decided to head
on home.
"Mulder, when are you going to take him to your mom's?"
Scully asked, as they drove towards her apartment. Mulder
just shrugged his shoulders trying to avoid the inevitable.
"Scully, I don't know how she'd take it," Mulder said
sadly thinking of his own childhood.
"Daddy, do you have a mommy too?" Jacob asked from the
backseat.
"Yea I do, . Maybe someday I'll take you to see her," he
responded.
"And a Daddy?" Jacob continued.
"No Jacob, he's in heaven, with..." Mulder tried to
explain.
"...with the angels in the clouds," Jacob finished his
sentence, "Mommy told me that sometimes people went away
forever but they were with angels in the clouds"
"That's a lovely story Jacob," Scully told him.

They arrived at Scully's apartment, "Scully are you sure
you don't want to stay over?" Mulder pleaded, watching her
open the door, then opening the back door to let Jacob out
and move to the front.
"No partner, I do have my own place. My place has been
neglected for so long that it's going to take a long time
to clean it up. I'll see you tomorrow bright and early.
Bye honey, you take care of your daddy," she said as she
gave Jacob a kiss on his cheeks and shut the door. Jacob
pulled the seatbelt and waved his little hand as the car
pulled out.

Mulder's Apartment

Mulder sat on the couch looking through some papers as
Jacob ran to Mulder's bedroom, which now resembled a
playroom. He grabbed his new coloring book and colors and
went to join his dad in the living room. He heard the
crackle of a bag and crunching until he finally looked up
from his usual position on the floor between the center
table and the couch.
"Daddy, what are you always eating?" he asked, watching
Mulder put another sunflower seed in his mouth.
"These are sunflower seeds, have you ever had one?"
Mulder asked showing the unbitten seed.
"Nope, never, are they good?" he asked, getting up and
crawling up Mulder's long body that was siting sideways on
the couch. Mulder moved his legs to the floor and padded
his hands on his lap telling Jacob to climb up. Mulder
wrapped his arms around Jacob holding a sunflower seed in
front of him.
"Okay this is what you do. You place the seed in your
mouth and with your front teeth, you gently try to crack it
open. You then take the seed in your hand and take the
seed out of the shell, see like this," Mulder instructed as
he placed the seed in his mouth and showed the boy the
proper procedure of the seed. He opened the shell, and
placed the seed in his mouth. "Okay now your turn." Jacob
took the seed and started sucking the salt.
"Mmm this is good," he said as he crunched the seed with
his molars. The seed and shell was in pieces in his mouth.
"Daddy, what do I eat?" he asked, as he opened his mouth
showing the mashed seed and shell mess all over his tongue.
"Here spit it out, you didn't do it right. Let's do this
again," Mulder said, taking the seed in his hand, "Okay
open your mouth. I'll hold the seed right here," he
continued, placing the seed on the tip of Jacob's front
teeth. "Now bite it gently so you can crack the shell
open." Jacob opened his mouth and sucked the seed in from
Mulder's hand.
"No, give me back the seed," Mulder chuckled.
"Daddy, I like sucking the salt," Jacob giggled taking
the sucked up whole shell out of his mouth and giving it
back to Mulder.
"Let's try this again," Mulder said placing the seed in
the front part of Jacob's mouth. Jacob took a tiny bite as
he heard the crackle of the seed. Mulder took the seed out
and showed him how to open the shell. "Perfect, see here's
the seed, now you can eat it." He gave the boy the seed as
he chewed it
"This is very good, can I have another?" he asked
anxiously grabbing a seed from the bag and trying to do it
himself.
"Jacob, when I was a small boy like you I would hear my
dad eat sunflower seeds all the time from his office. I
would ask him if he would give me some but he was always
too busy for me. When he was gone, I would sneak in his
office to take the bag and try eating them. I first would
swallow the whole seed, then I would chew the seed and
shell together, and finally I found out that it was only
the seed I was suppose to eat." Mulder explained.
"Daddy, where is your daddy?" Jacob asked putting his
arms around Mulder's neck.
"My dad is in heaven," Mulder said softly.
"Daddy, don't be sad, he's with Jesus, right?" Mulder
told him giving him a kiss on his cheek.
"Yes he is son, he's in heaven," Mulder told his son as
he held him tightly close to him.
"You are sad, don't be sad, 'cause I'm here with you,"
the boy comforted him as he returned the hug.

Diana's Apartment

Diana heard the constant knocking at her front door and
finally decided it was not going to stop. She went to open
the door to be surprised by Cancerman himself.
"Didn't I tell you earlier that I was not going to go
back. I'm taking a long leave of absence from the FBI and
your goons," she announced closing the door and following
the Cigarette Smoking Man to the living room.
"I have an assignment for you. You are to..." he began
to say completely ignoring Diana's words and lighting a
cigarette.
"What part of no, did you not understand," she scowled.
"If you don't do what we tell you to do, then I'm afraid
something might happen to your son. I won't be to blame if
he had an accident or maybe was taken away," he threatened,
taking yet another lung filled puff.
"You might as well give up on the threats. I am tired of
being the sole supporter for Jacob. Yes I am his mother and
yes I still love him but because of him I have not had a
life. I had dreams of my future, dreams to go to the top
of my field, but being stuck with a kid took that away from
me. So, do what you want with the boy. I need a life" she
spit the words with contempt. "I went to the park today to
say my final good-bye to Jacob. He will be in my heart, but
now it's time for me to live. If you want to throw your
threats on someone, then throw them on Fox Mulder. He has
the kid now; he will do anything to protect him. I've
relinquished my rights to him," she suggested.
"Well, if that's your thoughts of the boy, then you will
want this assignment, because it's Mulder we really want.
We got word that an informant is going to give him a
computer floppy disc, which will destroy us. We cannot let
that disc fall in his hands. If he ends up with the disc,
we will have to take measure in our own hands." CSM
explained.
"That gives you the trump card. If Mulder gets the disc,
take the boy. I guarantee he'll give up the disc if
anything happens to Jacob or Scully. Now I think we're done
here, so you can now leave," she announced as she headed
towards the door. The older man crushed the cigarette butt
on the ashtray pulling another cigarette and started
walking towards the door, but not before he had the last
word, "Keep your options opened, your services might still
be needed." The Cigarette Smoking Man walked out onto the
sidewalk of the rented house. He threw the butt from his
cigarette and thew it on the ground crushing it with his
shoe. He smiled as he put his hand in his jacket pocket
and took out the small tape recorder. He rewound the tape
and pressed play, then heard the words from Diana's mouth.

'...If you want to throw your threats on someone, then
throw them on Fox Mulder. He has the kid now; he will do
anything to protect him. I've relinquished my rights to
him.'

"I think the boy and Mulder will be very interested in
hearing this," he chuckled putting the tape recorder back
in his pocket and walked away.

Mulder's Apartment - Evening

"It's 8:00 Jacob, don't you think it's time for bed?"
Mulder suggested, wiping the empty sunflower seeds off the
center table and throwing them on the trashcan by the desk.
"Daddy, it's too early," Jacob whined.
"By the time you shower, dress and brush your teeth it
will be late. Now come on pickup your coloring book and
crayons," Mulder said sternly.
"I'm not happy," Jacob reproached, picking up his
belonging and stomping to the bedroom.
"You're going to be less happy if you don't do as I say,"
Mulder scolded. Jacob went to the bedroom and put his
books and crayons in his toy box, went to the drawer and
took out his pajamas and underclothes. Mulder went to the
bathroom and turned on the water, watching Jacob walk to
the bathroom not speaking to him at all. He felt bad for
having to be stern with the boy, but he knew that the bad
came with the good.
"Do you want some help?" Mulder asked.
"No, I can do it myself. Maybe my hair and I don't want
soap in my eyes," Jacob said angrily. The shower ended
quickly and Mulder helped him out of the shower and dress.
"Jacob, I want you to stay here while I shower, okay,"
Mulder said, still insecure in leaving Jacob on his own in
the apartment. He knew it was pure paranoia and he knew
the chain on the door was too high for him to open, but he
just wanted to keep him at eye's view. The boy sat on the
toilet swinging his legs back and forth still pouting at
having to go to bed when he wasn't sleepy. He thought he
heard a knock on the door but wasn't sure. The sound of
the shower was loud and he knew that his dad had not heard.
Jacob snuck out of the bathroom and headed towards the
living room. He could hear the knocking and went to the
door. He was able to unlock the door and open it just a
crack, since the chain that was hooked made it impossible
to open the door completely. On the floor, he saw a half-
size brown envelope that was partly in the apartment and
partly still on the hallway. He bent down to get it and
then closed the door making sure to lock it again. He went
to the couch and sat looking at the envelope with interest.
He saw the handwriting but couldn't make it out. He knew
how to write his name and knew some letters but he was too
little to see the words "For Your Eyes Only, Fox". He
opened the envelope and noticed a piece of paper filled
with writing. He stared at it and not knowing what it
said, stuffed it back in. He then reached inside and
pulled out a thin square shaped thing, which he had no idea
what it was. He didn't know that what he had in his hands
was the floppy disc that was confiscated from the
consortium's office. Jacob had no interest in this either
but he knew that if his dad knew he had opened the door
without his knowledge he really would be in trouble. He
took the disc and looked around trying to figure out a good
place to hide it. He finally decided he would hide it
behind the shelf where the fish tank was, way deep inside
close to the corner of the wall would be a perfect hiding
place. He squeezed himself under the opened shelf and
stuck his little hand and jammed it between the tank and
the shelf. He then went to the envelope and crumbled it up
and threw it in the trash placing it at the bottom of the
can. The sound of the shower was turning off and he ran as
fast as he could back into the bathroom and sat on the
toilet swinging his legs again. The shower curtain was
opened in perfect timing, the boy thought.
"I'm proud of you Jacob for listening to me and staying in
here," Mulder said, grabbing the towel from the rack
starting to dry himself off. He wrapped the towel around
his waist and both he and the boy went to the bedroom.
"You're still not speaking to me?" Mulder asked seeing
Jacob climbed up on the bed. He shrugged his shoulders and
then finally decided to speak.
"Daddy, could I talk to mommy Dana. Could I call her on
the phone?" he asked.
"Are you going to tell on me," Mulder teased grabbing the
phone and placed it on the bed. " Do you remember what
number to press when you want to talk to her?" Mulder
asked, taking off his towel putting his boxers. The boy
shook his head and pressed 1.
"Okay, then tell her what a bad daddy I am. I'll be in
the kitchen getting your lunchbox ready for tomorrow,"
Mulder announced. The phone rang a couple of times until
Scully finally answered.
"Hello," she acknowledged. Jacob waited to see Mulder
walk out of the bedroom when he decided to speak.
"Mommy Dana I miss you. I'm mad at daddy," he angrily
said. "He is making me go to sleep and I'm not sleepy."
"Honey, it's already 8:30, way past your bedtime. You'll
be very tired if you don't go to bed. What's your dad
doing right now?" she asked, thinking the whole
conversation funny, Jacob a 5-1/2 year-old telling on
Mulder.
"Daddy's making my lunch for tomorrow Mommy if I did
something that was a little bad, would daddy spank me or
make me get time out?" he questioned but before he waited
for an answer, asked another. "And if I did something big
bad, would daddy spank me or make me get time out?"
"Why do you ask Jacob? What did you do?" she wondered.
"Nothing mommy. Do you think daddy spanks hard?" he asked
again.
"I don't think your daddy spanks, but then again, I guess
it depends on what you did. Jacob can you call your daddy.
I need to talk to him about work tomorrow," she requested
concerned at the topic of conversation. Jacob walked to
the kitchen to hand over the phone.
"Mommy wants to talk to you," he said tugging at his
boxers. Mulder wiped his hands with the dishtowel and took
the phone. Jacob walked back to the bedroom, and decided
he better get to sleep thinking of the little square thing
that he had hidden. That didn't bother him as much as
knowing that he had opened the front door when he was
suppose to stay in the bathroom.
"Yea Scully, what's up?" he asked placing the lunch in the
refrigerator and getting the lunchbox ready for the
following day.
"Jacob was asking me strange questions," she said.
"Like what?"
"Whether you would spank him or give him time out if he
did something bad. As he puts it, little bad or big bad.
What did he do?" she questioned.
Mulder couldn't help but laugh, "I think he is asking
because I made him go to bed. He gave me a little attitude
and I told him he had to get ready for bed. That's all."
Mulder explained.
"Well then that must be a little bad then. I think you
better go see him because he sounds like he's concerned.
See ya tomorrow partner," she said hanging up the phone.
Mulder walked back to the room to see Jacob on his side of
the bed fast asleep. Mulder grinned picking up the book he
was reading and got in bed sliding the boy over. In
mumbled words, Jacob whispered. "Good night daddy, I love
you."
"I love you too son."

Mulder's Apartment - Monday Morning

Morning came and as luck would have it the alarm clock
didn't go off. Mulder got off already running late trying
to get everything ready for the day. He managed to get
Jacob up and give him his breakfast then sent him to brush
his teeth and get dressed while he got ready himself.
<Skinner is going to have my hide, first day back after
two week and I'm going to be late for the meeting> he
thought, putting the lunch in Jacob's lunchbox. <Milk money
for Jacob, darn> he remembered, getting his checkbook and
writing the amount for the months milk money. He placed
the check in an envelope putting Jacob's name on the
outside. <A straight pin, do I have a straight pins? >
Everything was ready and all he needed was Jacob and walk
out the door. <If we leave now, we'll make it on time> He
walked to his bedroom to find Jacob sound asleep on the bed
with his pajamas still on.
"Jacob, what the..." he started to say. Mulder went to
the bed and shook him awake. "Jacob for heaven sakes,
we're already running late. Didn't I tell you to get
dressed? Did you brush your teeth?" Mulder asked question
after question lifting the boy up and starting to undress
him.
"Daddy I'm tired. I don't want to go to school Can I go
back to sleep?" the little boy mumbled.
"See what happens when you don't go to bed early. Now
get up and let me help you." Mulder said sternly. He
stripped him down and quickly put on his shirt, shorts,
socks and tennis shoes. He did a quick one, two combing
his hair and pinned the envelope on his shirt. "Let's go,"
he angrily said taking him by the hand and walking out
quickly as the child barely could keep up with Mulder's big
strides. He seat belted him on the front seat and drove
off. Jacob crossed his arms in front of his chest, "I'm
not happy," he pouted.
"Well, I'm not happy with you either Jacob," Mulder
responded. "And my boss is going to be even less happy.
Tonight you will go to bed on time, is that understood."
Jacob's eyes welled up listening for the first time the
stern words coming out of his dad. Mulder reached the
schoolyard; he quickly opened the car door to let Jacob out
and grabbed his lunchbox. He walked him as close to the
front door as possible. "I'll pick you up later, okay,"
Mulder said turning him around and giving him a little pat
on his bottom. Mulder got in his car and sped off as Jacob
turned around and wiggled his little fingers saying bye.
It was still playtime and Jacob decided to just sit on the
bench that was near the classroom. About 10 minutes had
past since he had been dropped off when a well-dressed man
walked towards him.

McHenry's Pre-School - (Schoolyard)

"Jacob, hi Jacob I'm a good friend of your dad's. He is
really busy at work right now, but he told me to come and
pick you up. He wanted me to take you to his work so that
both of you could spend the day together," the stranger
said.

X-Files Basement Office

Scully sat at her desk glancing at her watch, <Mulder
where are you? > The door flung open as Mulder rushed in
breathless. "Don't even say anything," he spoke.
"Where have you been?" she still decided to ask.
"Alarm clock didn't go off, Jacob didn't want to wake up.
Has Skinner called for us yet?" he asked, taking off his
jacket and hanging it on the coat rack.
"He's called for us two times already. Come on let's get
going before he comes after us in person," Scully said,
standing up from her desk.
"Mulder, you better tell Skinner about Jacob. He might be
more understanding and let us off the hook?" Scully advised.
"I plan on telling him, if he doesn't chew us another one
first," he responded as they both walked towards Skinner's
office. They waited 15 minutes outside Skinner's office
until they were finally let in.
"Do you own a watch Agent Mulder?" Skinner reproached.
"Sorry sir, it's a long story," Mulder tried to say but
was interrupted.
"Look, it's my first day back after two weeks off. I
have two weeks worth of work and the last thing I need is
for both of you to make my day worse, do I make myself
clear?" Skinner angrily said sitting on his chair, picking
up a file of papers. As if things were bad enough,
Mulder's cell phone started ringing in his jacket. He
retrieved it looking at Scully as she gave him a 'now we're
really in trouble' look.
"Sorry sir," Mulder said realizing that he had already
said this twice in such a short time.
"Mulder," he acknowledged putting the cell phone to his
ear.
"Mr. Mulder this is Miss Brouwer. I'm the attendance
clerk from the preschool. I wanted to remind you that when
your child is home sick, you have to call in so that we
won't worry. Is Jacob okay?" she asked concerned. Mulder
initially didn't comprehend the statement that he had just
heard.
"I beg your pardon, I don't understand?" he responded.
"Your son, is he not feeling well?" she asked again.
"What do you mean..." he began to say feeling the blood
drain out of his face. "I dropped him off this morning. I
walked him right to the front of the classroom. Where is
Jacob, I took him to school. Oh my God, where is he?" he
said raising his voice. "I'll be right there." Mulder
pressed the end on the cell phone turning to Scully.
"Mulder what's wrong, what's happening?" she anxiously
asked.
"Jacob never made it in the classroom. He's not in
school. Scully I dropped him off. My God, he was upset
with me." Mulder rambled.
"Go to the school, I'll explain everything and meet you
there. Mulder don't worry, he's probably pouting
somewhere," Scully tried to reassure him, as she placed her
hand on his back. Mulder turned to face Skinner and again
saying, "I'm sorry sir." And rushed out.
"What the hell just happened?" Skinner asked, completely
lost.
"Sir it's a long story that I can't go into right now.
But I'll just tell you that in the two weeks you were gone,
Mulder found out he has a 5-1/2 year old son named Jacob
that he is now carrying for. And he just found out that he
is not in school after dropping him off this morning. Sir,
I know you're busy but do you think you can come with me to
the school. I have a feeling Mulder is going to need us."
Scully directed.
"The work can wait, let's see what we can do for him, but
I do need some kind of explanation," Skinner said standing
up grabbing his jacket from the coat rack and following
Scully. She was able to narrate the story from the moment
that Diana appeared in their office a couple of weeks
before. She reminded Skinner of Diana when she had gone to
him on that day wanting to know where Mulder's office was
located.
"Agent Diana Fowley is the mother?" he asked in shock.
"Sir I told you it's a long story. In order for you to
really understand everything, I have to explain Mulder's
past, but not right now," she continued as she reached the
school and both Skinner and Scully hurried out of the car.
They went to the front office to see Mulder sitting on a
chair, burying his face in his hands. Scully went to the
secretary but was told that they have looked through all
the classrooms and schoolyard but had not found the boy.
"Scully, he was angry with me. I told him I wasn't happy
with him. Scully he ran away," Mulder mumbled.
"I don't believe that Mulder. Jacob is too young to
think of something like that. Skinner is ordering the
search dogs and we'll find him. He's probably hiding in a
little corner of the school," she tried to console.
Skinner had walked in motioning to Scully to follow him.
"The search dogs are here. Ask Agent Mulder if he has
some form of clothing, a toy or something in his car that
the dogs can get the boys scent," Skinner ordered. Scully
walked to Mulder and knelt down in front of him.
"Mulder, the search dogs are here. Is there anything in
your car that is Jacob's. The dogs need to smell his
scent." Scully whispered. Mulder took his hands from his
face, "What if Diana came and got him?" he mumbled.
"We don't know that Mulder. Come on, time is wasting,
give me your keys."
She took a hold of his hand and guided him to his car.
She took Jacob's sweater that was left in the backseat and
gave them to the officer in charge of the dogs. In no time
the dogs were already following the path that Jacob scent.
Thirty minutes had passed since the dogs were searching
when one of the officers approached Mulder, Skinner and
Scully. In his gloved hand was a white object, "Sir we
found this envelope near the school parking lot."
Mulder looked up at him seeing the envelope that he had
written Jacob's name on the front. "It's Jacob's milk
money. I wrote him a check and placed it in this
envelope." Mulder said incoherently. Scully pulled out a
glove from her pocket and took the envelope so as not to
disturb any fingerprints.
"Bag this and take it to the lab to check for prints,"
she ordered. "Mulder why don't we go to your apartment and
see if any messages were left on your machine. If this is
a kidnapping, then maybe they'll want a ransom."
"Scully if it's Diana who took Jacob, then I don't have
any recourse. I don't have any legal reason to keep him,"
he sadly said.
"Mulder I still don't think it was Diana. If she left
him in good standing, why do it this way. She would have
spoken with you. I don't trust her, but I don't think she
would do this to her son," she comforted.
Skinner walked towards the two agents, "Agent Mulder do
you happen to have a picture of your son." Feeling strange
saying those words he continued, "We have time on our hands
Agent Mulder. It has only been a short while that he
disappeared. If we get his picture out as soon as
possible, we might be able to find him right away." Mulder
pulled out his wallet and gave it to Scully for her to find
the picture. She took it and immediately found the picture
she had taken of both of them playing baseball. Skinner
took the picture and was amazed at the likeness to the
agent. "We'll find him Agent Mulder."
"Mulder let's go to your apartment. Get in my car and
I'll have Skinner have one of the officers take your car
back to the office." He walked to the car in a daze as she
took Mulder's car keys to Skinner.
"How is he doing?" Skinner asked.
"Not good sir, not good"
She drove to his apartment, not realizing how many times
she would turn to look at every pedestrian that was walking
with a child. She guided him to the door, taking out her
keys to open his apartment. They opened the door to see
his place in complete chaos. The living room had been
ransacked. The pictures were off the wall, chairs
overturned, cushions on the floor, the couch on its side.
They both stood there completely mute to what they were
witnessing. They both walked to the kitchen, bathroom and
then followed to the bedroom to see each room in complete
disarray.
"Scully, it wasn't Diana. She didn't take Jacob.
Someone took him because of me. They were looking for
something. My God, it's me they wanted and they are using
him as leverage," he said.
"But what could they be looking for. We're not in any
assignment. You don't think it has anything to do with
Cancerman and his goons?" Scully asked holding on to his
shoulder in disbelief.
They called Skinner to let him know the condition of his
apartment. They carefully started looking around for any
clues that the culprit might have left behind.
"Mulder, what is this?" she asked as she bent down to
find a brown crumpled envelope with the words 'For Your
Eyes Only'" He walked towards her in complete puzzlement.
"I don't know. I never received this envelope. He took
it from her hand and opened it up to find a small paper
stuffed deep into the envelope. He pulled it out as the
paper was ripped in a couple of pieces. They puzzled it
together and both read at the same time.
'Agent Fox Mulder, I came in contact with this disc by
accident. I have followed your work with the X-Files and
I've always been amazed at your knowledge in the paranormal
as well as the Government conspiracies that are a constant
threat to us all. I am forwarding this to you in hopes
that the information on it will bring light as to what they
are doing and what we need to do to stop them. I would
have loved to join forces with you and brought them to
justice, but I fear for my life. I am going in hiding, but
I can almost be sure that if this gets in the wrong hands,
I am a dead man. Do what you can and stop the lies'
Mulder and Scully both looked at each other not
understanding what was happening. He took the envelope and
kept on looking in it as if the disc would magically appear.
"Mulder are you sure you haven't seen this?" she asked,
knowing what the answer would be but feeling she needed to
ask.
"Of course not Scully. I've never seen this envelope and
how it got in my apartment is more of a puzzle. The people
that ransacked my place have to be the ones who took Jacob.
They think I have the disc and they are using my son as a
hostage for the disc. Why would they bring this envelope
and leave it here? Who is this person who wrote this? If
he was talking about Government conspiracy, do you think he
was talking about the consortium?" he popped question after
question.

Unknown Warehouse - Monday Afternoon

"Where is my daddy? You told me you were going to take
me to my daddy?" the little boy kept on asking, trying to
hold back the tears. He was excited when the well- dressed
man had picked him up. He thought that maybe his dad had
changed his mind and wanted to spend time with him.
"You can go back to your dad if he brings something we
want. If he doesn't, then I'm afraid you're going to be
here for a long time," the man said. Jacob thought he was
scary looking. He wasn't the same well-dressed man that had
originally picked him up. This man smelled bad. He had
long hair to his waist that was tied in a ponytail. When
he spoke he had a habit of getting close to the little boys
face.
"I want my daddy, I want my daddy," Jacob started
panicking. He didn't want to be strong anymore as the
tears started rolling down his face. He ran to the man
that scared him and started hitting him, "I want my daddy."
"Listen kid, either you stop whining or you're going to
be sorry," the man threatened.
"I want my daddy," is all Jacob could say over and over
again.
"I said shut up," the man shouted as he backhanded Jacob
on the face with force that was meant for an adult. Jacob
was thrown across the room with the blow that he took.
Blood started coming out from the cut that was done on his
lip and his eye seemed to immediately swell. He fell back
hitting himself on the edge of the bed.
"Get up kid," the man panicked as he ran to the boy that
had fallen unconscious. He picked him up and laid him on
the bed. "This is great. If something happens to you, I'm
a dead man."
As luck would have it, the door opened and the older man
walked in.
"What the hell?" he asked going towards the boy trying to
stir him from his sleep.
"He was getting on my nerves. I just barely swapped at
him.
"You are not to touch him again, do you hear Jackson. He
is here only as bait to bring Mulder in. And if Mulder
does show up you are to call me immediately." The older man
ordered. He gently took a hold of Jacobs's face and tried
to wake him up. Jacob's eyes flickered until he was able
to focus. He took a gasp of air and tried to get away.
"Where is my daddy?' again he asked.
"Shhh, don't be scared. You won't be hurt again. We are
going to call him right now and we are going to tell him
that you are okay. We are going to tell him where you are
so he can pick you up, Okay?" the man said softly to get
the boys approval.
"Mommy, I want to see my mommy," Jacob told.
"Jacob, your mommy doesn't want to see you. Remember she
left you to live with your dad. She knows your with me and
she didn't care," the man jabbed.
Jacob's tears started rolling down his cheeks, not
wanting to believe what this man was saying. "No, mommy
loves me, she wanted me to live with my daddy. My mommy
loves me," he cried.
Cancerman got up from the bed and walked over to the
other man. "Here's the number to Mulder's apartment. I
want you to call him and give him an option he can't
refuse. If he wants to talk to his son let him. But make
it good. We need to make him worry a bit," CSM told.
Skinner and the task force stormed in the apartment
shocked to see the devastation they had left in Mulder's
apartment. They started right away taking prints, and
trying to find any kind of clue's that might help solve the
kidnapping of the boy. The phone rang as they all froze
looking at each other.
"Mulder, it might be them," she told him. He picked up
the receiver with his gloved hand.
"Mr. Mulder, I gather that you have now seen the
redecoration of your apartment. We were unable to find
what we were looking for, so we have something of yours,"
the unknown man sneered at him.
"Where is Jacob, what have you done to him," Mulder asked.
"Don't worry, he's not hurt right now anyway. But we are
impatient and we do need the disc. It is of utmost
importance that it doesn't get in other hands." The man
continued.
"I don't know what you're talking about. I have not ever
received a disc," Mulder responded in desperation.
"Well, I don't believe you. We have the person that left
the envelope, and well, something very unfortunate happened
to him. We tried to get the information out, but darn if he
didn't go and die on us before he was able to tell us where
to look. I surely wouldn't want that to happen to your
son."
"I don't believe you, you don't have him," Mulder tried
to see what he could get out of him.
"So you want proof. I gathered as much. Come here kid,"
the younger man shouted. Jacob looked at the older man as
he walked out of the room. Panic raised knowing that at
least the older man was kinder and the smelly man would
hurt him. He shook his head frantically and coward himself
in a little ball at the end of the mattress. "Did you hear
what I said," the man shouted again. Mulder's heart was
pounding listening to the yells of this man. Scully
watching the expression on his face, walked towards him and
pulled the phone just enough for both of them to be able to
hear through the handset. The man threw the phone down and
walked to the boy, grabbing him by his arm and dragging him
to the phone. Jacob started crying in fear and also the
pain that was inflicted on his arm. His whimpers were
getting louder, "Daddy, I want my daddy." Mulder placed
his hand on his chest hoping that he could control the pain
he felt within his chest. The man put the phone on the
boys ear, " Talk to him, tell him what I've done to you,"
he ordered.
The words came out in snivels, lips quivering he was
barely able to talk, "Daaaadddddy, come get me, I'm scared.
Daddy he hit me hard. Daddy blood is coming out of my
mouth."
A scream came out of Mulder's mouth that made Skinner and
the taskforce stop dead in their tracks. Scully grabbed
his arm trying to control his emotions. "Mulder, you have
to control yourself, don't loose it right now," she
whispered.
"Honey, Jacob it will be alright. Be brave son, I'll do
everything I could to get you. Do as he tells you so he
won't hurt you anymore," Mulder said trying to hold the
tears that he so badly wanted to shed. "Son, have you seen
or spoken to your mommy?" he asked trying to see if Diana
had anything to do with it.
"Mommy Dana?" he questioned in between sobs.
"No honey, your mommy, not Dana," he responded.
"Daddy, the man that smokes a lot, told me that mommy
doesn't want me anymore. He said that mommy doesn't care
about me," he cried.
"Son, the man that said that to you, did you say he smokes
a lot?" Mulder question.
"Yes daddy, he was nice to me. He didn't hit me like the
smelly man," he continued, "OUCH," Jacob cried out as the
man pulled him by the hair to pull him away from the phone.
"I think that's enough talking for one day. It's now up
to you on what happens to your kid. I mean, a kid does
have to eat sometime. Now, I will call you in a couple of
hours to let you know where you are to meet us to bring us
that disc. If not then, well, you might be minus a son."
The man mused hanging up the phone
"Wait, wait don't hang up," he yelled on the phone
listening to the dial tone. Scully took the phone out of
his hand and placed the handset on its cradle
"My God Scully, what have they done to him. I don't know
what they are talking about. What disc, I never received a
disc." He said incoherently.
Skinner seeing the desperation in his agent's face came
to him and tried to console him. "Mulder we'll find him.
Right now you have to get it together and plan our next
course of action. What does he want? You said a disc?"
Skinner asked him.
"Sir, Cancerman is involved. Jacob said that the older
man that smokes a lot was nice to him." He's involved in
this. When will I be left alone? Why am I to be punished
for what my father did or didn't do?" Mulder anguished.

Diana's Apartment - Evening

"Hello," Diana answered her phone on the third ring.
"So have you changed your mind?" CSM asked abruptly.
"I told you I didn't want any part in your organization.
I'm taking some time off and then go back to the FBI," she
told him.
"That might be a problem," he said smugly.
"Problem?" she questioned.
"We got word from a reliable source that the disc was
confiscated and it is somewhere in Fox Mulder's possession."
"What does that have to do with me?" she asked annoyed.
You might be interested in knowing that your name comes
up quite frequently as a co-conspirator. So young lady,
the only job you might be having in the FBI might be
janitorial," he laughed taking a puff of his ever companion.
"You son of a bitch," she shouted.
"Now name calling will not get you anywhere will it. By
the way, your son is also in the hands of a very seedy
gentleman who seems not to have patience with small
children," he continued jabbing.
"You took him, what does he have to do with all this?"
she asked, "And Mulder, what about him?"
"Mulder knows we have the boy. It seems to me that he's
taking it a lot harder than you are," CSM speculated.
"He still is my son. I still love him, I just need..."
is all she answered, but yet her voice was not that
desperate sound of a mom whose son had just been kidnapped.
"But a mother's love is unconditional. You don't take *
breaks * when raising a child," the older man told.
"Look whose talking. You never seemed to care about
*your sons life * she emphasized.
"What son are you talking about Diana, as for Mulder,
I've always kept him safe. I just have to keep him at a
distance, not let him get too close." CSM said words that
only Diana understood. "If I were you, Diana, I think you
better play the grieving mother and find that disc or there
will be secrets that you and I do not want out."
"I know you have Jacob and even as evil as you think you
are, you wouldn't hurt him and you especially would never
hurt Fox. I'll go to him and do what you want me too.
I'll play the grieving mother," she said ending the
conversation.

Mulder's Apartment - Evening

The investigation crew had finished combing the apartment
for any trace of fingerprints, or clues of the home
invaders. Skinner walked over to Mulder trying his best to
show the compassionate side of him, placing his hand on
Mulder's shoulder. "Mulder if there's anything I can do,
please call me. We'll find him, we won't stop until we do,"
he turned to Scully motioning her to follow him. She picked
up the cushions from the floor and placed them back on the
couch. She took Mulder by the hand and showed him to the
couch and guided him to sit down. She then turned and
headed towards Skinner.
"Yes sir," she acknowledged.
"This is too much to comprehend in a matter of hours. I
can't even imagine Agent Mulder as a father. Heck, he needs
someone to take care of him, much less having him take care
of someone," Skinner tried to lighten the conversation.
"Sir, when you meet this little guy, your heart will
melt. Jacob is so loveable and to see the interaction
between the two, well, there are no words to describe it.
We have to find him as soon as possible," she explained to
Skinner
"Stay with him and if there's any news, any phone calls
from the kidnappers, let me know. I will continue with the
task force and get things started. I'll have the picture
of Jacob out as soon as I get back to the office."

They were now alone in the apartment; Mulder sitting with
a cold stare not being able to talk. Scully started
straightening pictures, picking up furniture and trying to
take any kind of reminder of what happened out of the
apartment. A frantic sounding knock was heard on the front
door. Mulder just raised his head but didn't have the
energy to get up. Scully went to open the door to see
Diana standing at the door.
"Where is Fox?" she excitedly asked. Before an answer
was said, she had stormed in the apartment and rushed to
Mulder. "Our baby, where is our baby?" She put her arms
around Mulder trying to console him. Scully's stomach
tightened at the site and felt a pang of jealousy.
"I'm sorry Diana, it's my fault," is all Mulder was able
to verbalize. Scully approached both of them, "Diana, I
know you want to know what's happening and I will be more
than happy to tell you, but I think I'm going to put Mulder
to bed. He needs to rest," Scully said being territorial,
holding on to Mulder's hand and forcing him up off of the
couch.
"Yes of course, I understand," Diana said. Scully walked
him to the bedroom as he walked without saying a word. He
seemed a million miles away, which frightened Scully at his
trance like state. She sat him on the bed and for a second
decided to say something to Diana. She walked towards the
bedroom door to find Diana frantically picking up the
cushions from the couch. Scully scooted back in the
bedroom, just barely peeking back in the room. Diana picked
up the picture on the wall, looking in the back, lifting
the desk calendar, lifting books, turning them upside down,
flaring the pages to see if anything would fall out.
Scully went back inside the bedroom.
"Mulder, I want you to rest. You don't have to go to
sleep, just rest," she instructed as she hurriedly took off
his shoes and covered him with a blanket that was folded at
the end of the bed. She coughed loudly before she entered
the living room so that Diana would know she was going into
the room. She didn't want Diana to know that she caught her
looking for the same object that the home invaders were
looking for. <Good actress Diana, you don't care about
your son> Scully thought furiously, entering the room.
"Diana, let me give you a quick rundown of what we
believe happened. Mulder took Jacob to school and it
appears that he never made it to the classroom. Someone
has taken him and wants something from Mulder for Jacob's
safe return. We are not sure exactly what it is that they
want. I'm asking of favor of you, Diana. When you feel up
to it, as I know you are in shock, can you please go see AD
Skinner and see if there's anything you might help him?
He might have questions for you that might help with the
task force. In the meantime, I'm going to stay here with
Mulder and see if they decide to call back. I will keep in
touch with you if we hear anything," Scully explained.
Diana not being able to find anything decided to leave.
She needed Scully in her confidence so she can be welcomed
back and be able to look a little further.
"Can I say bye to Fox?" she asked, hoping that maybe she
would be left alone in the bedroom and maybe search there
as well.
"I'm sorry Diana, but I don't want him disturbed. I have
a feeling he's not going to sleep very much and if he can
sleep now, that will be a plus for his well being," Scully
said walking her to the front door. Diana left with a
smile that was as phony as her concern for Mulder.
<Something is up with you. What are you looking for? >
Scully thought to herself. She went back to the bedroom
after letting Diana out, writing a quick note for Mulder.
She really didn't want to wake him because he'd wonder
where she was going and right now it was mere speculation
in her part. Plus he needed his sleep. She new him too
well, she knew that he would probably not sleep for days
until Jacob was found. He must have just fallen asleep on
pure exhaustion. She grabbed her purse and keys and
quickly went to her car hoping that she could still catch
up with Diana. She saw her barely pulling from the curb.
Scully tried giving her enough distance so she wouldn't
know that she was being followed. Her hopes were that she
would meet up with someone but to no avail, she had only
driven to what looked like an apartment building about 20
minutes away. The building appeared to be a two-story
apartment complex, with plenty of trees adorning the
outside. She saw her pull out her keys and noticed that
she entered apartment number 3. She waited for awhile
hoping to see any activity, but nothing. The light was
turned on the upstairs room and the curtains were pulled
open. She could barely make her out as she saw her pick up
the phone and stand by the window. Her body motion was
quite pronounced, Scully could see that she was arguing
with someone, moving her hands and shaking her head no.
Whomever she was talking to, it appeared to be a negative
conversation. Scully wasn't sure if staying there was a
smart thing to do; she didn't want to leave Mulder alone
for very long but at the same time, she knew something was
up with Diana. Her intuition was correct, when a black car
pulled up with tinted windows. She knew that man anywhere
as the black suited dressed man stepped out taking that
familiar puff of that cancer stick that seemed to never
leave his mouth. Scully was glad that she chose to park
her car a distance away so she wouldn't be noticed. She
was hiding behind a big bush that was directly across the
street. The door opened before Cancerman was able to knock
on the door. Diana and Cancerman appeared to be in a
heated conversation. The conversation was short and
animated as he walked back to his car and she stormed back
in slamming her front door. Whatever the conversation was
about, she didn't think anything more would happen. If
anything, she now knew where Diana lived and maybe she
could sneak back and see if she could find any clues.
Maybe she also was looking for that disc. Her priority
right now was to get back to her partner and be there for
him. She wasn't sure if she should tell him what her
thoughts were, after all Diana was Jacob's son, and there
would be no way that he would believe that she was part of
his abduction because of the disc. She drove quickly back
to Mulder's thanking that it was a short drive. She let
herself in with her key and hurried to his bedroom to find
the bed empty. She quickly did a fast inventory of the
place and then realized she heard the shower on. She walked
towards the bathroom noticing the door ajar. She tapped it
softy and called out for him still giving him his privacy
by staying outside of the bathroom, "Mulder are you
alright? her familiar question was asked.
"Where did you go Scully?" was all he responded.
"I'm sorry, I was hoping I'd get back before you woke
up," she said avoiding his question. The water turned off
and she heard the shower curtain swing open. After a
couple of minutes he came out wearing a tight fitting T-
shirt and jeans, towel in hand drying his hair that was
starting to get longer than his usual length of hair. She
couldn't help but notice what a good-looking man he was,
but this was not the time to be thinking of such things.
Not with him being in such a deep depression.
"Have you gotten any phone calls?" she asked, hoping that
he wouldn't ask her again about her short departure.
"No, not at all. Scully if I knew what they were looking
for, I'd give it to them right away. Right now I don't
care about any aliens, government conspiracy, I don't care
about anything. I just want him back," he said with such
anguish that it hurt her to see him that way. Not even
when he had to tell his dad that he had lost Samantha again
on that bridge when he had to decide to make the swap for
Scully's release.
`Mulder walked to the living room to his familiar warned
down couch and sat, stealing glances at the phone in hopes
that it would ring.
"Mulder I have a theory, and please hear me out before
you decide to shoot it down," she told hesitantly. He
looked up to face her and nodded. "What reaction did you
get from Diana when she was here?" His face looked at her
in confusion. "What do you mean?"
"Mulder, did she look like the grieving mother of a boy
who had been kidnapped. Mulder I see how torn up you are
and you've only had him for 3 weeks, yet she gave birth to
him and has been with him all these years. Sure she looked
stressed, but I didn't pick up on a mother's love for a
child that has been abducted by who knows who." She moved
closer to him picking his hand in hers and stroking it with
the other, trying to show some comfort for him.
"Scully that was probably her protective mechanism, how
can you think that she wasn't affected by this," he
responded.
"Mulder I said keep your mind open, please. What if
she's working with CSM? What if the kidnapping was a mere
plot to get you to find the disc. I believe the disc was
stolen and they think that you have it, but Mulder how else
would they make you bend. How else but to take someone you
love. They are using Jacob as leverage." She explained
further.
"Like they've used you against me so many times before,"
he mumbled under his breath. "I still don't believe that.
She might have kept me from Jacob, but I don't believe
she's working with Cancerman."
Scully's cell phone seemed to ring in perfect timing.
The response that he gave her confirmed it wasn't going to
be easy to see pursue.
"Scully," she announced answering the phone.
"Agent Scully, I'm just calling to see how Agent Mulder
is doing," Skinner asked.
"Sir, I'm glad you called right now," she answered
standing up from the couch and walking towards the bedroom.
Mulder was too preoccupied in his thoughts to wonder why
she needed privacy for the conversation. "Mulder is doing
as best as he could be. Sir, is it possible that I see you
for a short meeting? There is something that I want to
talk to you about." She asked concerned.
"Yes of course, I'll tell Kim to let you in when you get
here. Are you going to leave Mulder by himself?"
"I don't want to, but this is very important. I'll be
there in a bit," she announced closing the cell phone and
placing it in her pocket. She walked back to the living
room, "Mulder I have to see Skinner for a short while. He
wants me to go over Jacob's abduction with me. He'd ask
you to come but he wants you to stay here in case you get
another call." Before he was able to say anything, she
walked up to him and placed her hand on his cheek, "I'll be
right back Mulder" then hurried out the door.

FBI Bureau

Scully arrived at the Bureau in record time, wondering
whether she did the right thing in leaving Mulder by
himself. She was motioned in to Skinner's office and sat
what had appeared to be her seat for the past six years.
"Before I start telling you the reason why I wanted to
see you, let me give you a quick run down of Mulder's past.
Remember a few weeks ago when Diana showed up in your
office asking for Mulder. Well, she appeared in our office
and life has not been the same since then..." she started
her story. She explained about the marriage to Star, she
explained about the Serial Killer that Mulder, Diana and
two other agents were involved in. She explained about the
death of Star and brought Skinner to the moment that Diana
left Jacob on his doorstep." Skinner listened, at times
with expression of skepticism. She then proceeded to tell
her what she thought of Diana. She explained to Skinner
how she caught Diana searching for something in his
apartment. She then told him how she followed Diana to her
apartment and Cancerman showing up. Skinner was beside
himself, standing up, walking in front of his desk then
going back to his chair, taking off his glasses and
pinching the bridge of his nose.
"This is almost too much to take in, and shall I say
unbelievable," Skinner responded.

Mulder's Apartment

He felt he was going to go crazy if he looked at the
trash can one more time where the brown envelope was found
with the note. It was almost like if he looked at it one
more time the disc would appear. How did the envelope
appear in the bedroom without his knowledge? He paced back
and forth until he was brought to reality when the phone
rang. He ran to the phone to answer it, "Hello."
"Well have you changed your mind?" the same voice asked
on the other end. The younger man, who Jacob referred him
as smelly, grabbed the boy by the hair and pulled him to
get closer to the phone. He needed to get the child to
react so that Mulder would loose control. The boy started
screaming in pain, as his sobs were continuous. Mulder
could hear his whimpering in the background. Mulder felt
his blood pressure rise as he heard his son being tortured.
At that very moment, he glanced at his computer and found a
disc, not the one he was looking for, but a blank disc that
he used for his own work.
"I * have * the tape, I haven't even looked at it, I
don't care what information is in the tape, I just want to
make the switch. Where do I meet you?" he asked in
desperation.
"Hold on" the younger man said as he placed the call on
hold and placed a second call. "He has the tape. He said
that he'll bring it to us if we make the switch with the
boy."
"You'll send Slim and Brown, okay I'll tell him to meet
them in front of his building, sure... the boy... he's
okay" Jackson told the voice on the other end. He hung up
from that call and went back to Mulder. "You are to go in
front of your building and wait, someone will be there to
pick you up. And you are to be alone with the disc, do you
understand?" Jackson ordered.
"Yes, hurry?" Mulder said as he hung up the phone.
Mulder's adrenaline kicked in full force. He grabbed
Jacob's jacket and jeans and placed them in a bag. <He's
probably so cold> he thought remembering how he had him
dressed in his shorts and T-shirt. He grabbed an apple and
cookies from the kitchen and then went to his desk to find
a blank disc. He taped the disc on the small of his back
lower than his waistband, in hopes to conceal it as best he
could. He needed the disc to be his insurance. He needed
to have it somewhere they could not find it until he was
taken to Jacob. Then and only then, if things got out of
hand, he would tell them where the disc was and also hoping
that they wouldn't find out that it was blank. Before he
headed outside, he scribbled a fast note to Scully telling
her what he was planning on doing. He didn't tell her of
the blank disc, just in case the person, who had to pick
him up, came in his apartment. He stood outside his
apartment waiting for the unknown. He stopped to think of
the word thrashing the he was going to get from Scully when
she got back and found out he ditched her again. He had to
do this; he couldn't wait any longer. Not after he heard
Jacob crying out for him. The white van with tinted windows
pulled up in front of him. <Typical kidnap van> he mused.
One of the men came out of the van and tried to take the
bag. Mulder held it close to him, "Not until I see Jacob."
"Fair enough," the man responded opening the passenger
door for him. Mulder thought it strange, <too nice>. But
then realized it would be easier access with the guy in the
backseat keeping a good eye on him. They drove until they
reached just outside the city limits and then the van
pulled to the side of the road. Both driver, named Slim,
and the other guy named, Brown got out of the car and
motioned him to get out.
"What are you doing?" Mulder asked in panic.
"You'll see your son, now from this point on the drive
will be a little uncomfortable for you," Brown said,
pulling a rope from the back seat. Slim tried to take the
bag again as Mulder held it close to him.
"Do you want to see your son?" Brown asked, Mulder just
shook his head. "Okay then, put your hands behind your
back," he demanded. Mulder hesitated but knew that he had
no choice, he just hoped that this was not a set up.
Mulder's heart started pounding faster knowing that he was
at their mercy. Brown was a much taller man that out
weighted him by at least 40 pounds. He would never win if
he tried to escape, so he relinquished and did as he was
told. Brown securely tied his wrists, while Slim took the
bag from him.
"Open your mouth," Slim ordered.
"Why?" Mulder asked, nervously.
"* Do it *" Brown yelled. Mulder reluctantly opened his
mouth as the wad of cloth went in his mouth and a gag
wrapped around his head. A blindfold was tied around his
eyes as well. Mulder was completely at a disadvantage; all
he could do was hope for the best, when he felt a blow in
his stomach. He doubled over in pain, gasping for air
which was not an easy task with the gag in his mouth, and
then felt the crashing blow on the back of his head then
blackness.
"Why the hell did you do that for?" Slim asked. "Now
we'll have to carry him back in the van"
"It's a long drive, thought he would be more comfortable
sleeping the ride out," Brown laughed.
"You're sick," Slim responded, throwing the bag in the
front seat as Brown carried Mulder and placed him in the
back of the van. They drove for a couple of hours until
they reached their destination.

Unknown Warehouse

"You did a number on him, are you sure he's breathing?"
Slim asked.
"He's fine," Brown said pulling him out of the van and
throwing him over his shoulder. Slim grabbed the bag and
they both entered the building, carefully going down the
stairs to the basement. Jacob was sitting in the corner of
the torn mattress that was on the floor when he saw the two
strangers come in. At first he didn't recognize who was
being carried until Brown threw Mulder on the mattress next
to him.
"Daddy!" Jacob shouted crawling to him placing his body
over Mulder's body.
"Daddy, wake up, daddy wake up," the boy cried shaking
him. His tears rolling down his face and falling onto
Mulder. He pulled the blindfold out of Mulder's face and
then with difficulty was able to unfasten the gag around
Mulder's mouth. He gently opened his mouth and took out
the rag that was placed in his mouth to stifle any sound
from him. Mulder's eyes started fluttering open, trying to
focus on Jacob. When he opened them completely he noticed
Jacob's bruised face. The boy started hugging him drowning
him with kisses. He crawled to the backside of Mulder's
body and tried to untie his wrists but they were bound with
a rope and much too hard for him to untie them.
"Nope, those stay on," Brown shouted.
Mulder scooted to a sitting position as Jacob crawled
next to him. Jacob placed his arm around his dad's
shoulder when Mulder's winced at the pain. Jacob stood up
and looked at the back of his head to see dried blood on
the back of his head. Jacob looked at Brown angrily and
shouted, "You hurt daddy." The two men ignored the boy and
turned to face Jackson who was the caretaker of Jacob
during this whole ordeal.
"Have you called the boss yet?" Slim asked.
"Yup, I called him right after you called me to let me
know you were on your way. He should be here in about an
hour," Jackson said.
"That will give us time to get a bite to eat, want
something?" Slim asked Jackson.
"Sure, I'm hungry, and bring something for our guest,"
Jackson replied watching the two men go up the basement
stairs.
"Might as well get comfy," Jackson ordered.
"Have they hurt you?" Mulder whispered to Jacob.
"Just a little bit. That smelly man over there hit me
real hard. But the man that smokes a lot yelled at him."
Jacob said.
"The Smoking Man, what did he say to you?" Mulder asked.
"He was nice to me. He said he was going to bring you
here so you could see me. I didn't believe him. I think
he's nice because he brought you here. Maybe he'll get mad
if he finds out they hit you." Jacob rambled.
"I doubt that, he's going to get pleasure seeing me this
way," Mulder mumbled under his breath. Jacob frowned in
confusion. Jackson turned on the small television and
became fully engrossed in the football game that was on.
"Son, I want you to do something, but you have to be very
careful that the man doesn't catch you. Can you do that for
your dad?" Mulder whispered to Jacob. Jacob shook his head
in agreement.
"Okay son, I have something taped on my back. I want you
to try to pull it out and I want you to hide it somewhere.
A secret place that only you and I know. And Jacob it's a
secret so I don't want you to tell anyone, okay," Mulder
said softly. Jacob crawled carefully to Mulder's back and
lifted his shirt.
"Daddy, I can't see it," Jacob panicked.
"Honey, you'll have to pull my pants, it's under my
belt," Mulder instructed trying to hold in his already
bruised stomach.
"Daddy, I can't," he impatiently said.
"That's okay Jacob, let's try something else, but you
have to be very quiet," Mulder tried to console, seeing the
frustration in his face. Jacob shook his head, eyes tearing
up. "Okay son, I want you to try to unbutton my pants,
unsnap all of them, then you can loosen my pants and you
can pull the tape. Can you try to do that? We have to hurry
before that man sees you. Then I want you to hide it."
Mulder told. Jacob crawled back to the front of Mulder,
looking at Jackson every once in awhile. Biting his lip
and crunched up face tried to maneuver his little fingers
around the snaps of Mulder's jeans. Mulder held his breath
again, as Jacob succeeded in unbuttoning all the snaps.
"Good boy, okay loosen my pants and then pull the tape,
hurry son," Mulder said trying to rush the boy. Jacob
again hurried to the back of Mulder as he pulled his jeans
and under his boxers was able to retrieve the disc. "Take
all the tape out, don't keep anything on me," Mulder said.
Jacob pulled the disc along with the tape, smiling at his
accomplishment. "Okay son, hide it, let's see where should
you hide it," Mulder said looking around him. "Jacob look
at the wallpaper, it's pealing. Can you hide the disc
inside the loosen wallpaper?" Mulder instructed facing the
wall. Jacob turned to look at the wallpaper and crept to
the wall, tucking the disc behind the stripped wallpaper.
Then after making sure he was unseen, crept back. "Okay
now you have to try to snap my jeans back on. They are
going to wonder why and how they got unsnapped. Can you
try?" Mulder asked. Jacob smiled shaking his head. He
took his little hands and tried to pull Mulder's jeans
forward to button the snap, but he couldn't. He tried
again and the snaps were too hard to put through the button
eye. "Daddy I can't, you're too fat," he whispered.
"Thanks a lot son, try the bottom one first, I'll hold my
breath, but you have to hurry," Mulder whispered. Just
then Jackson turned around, "Hey what's going on?"
"Um, I have to go to the bathroom, Jacob is just helping
me," Mulder said quickly. "By the way, where is the
bathroom, is it okay if Jacob takes me there?" Mulder asked.
"Sure, I'm not that inhumane, the kid knows where it's
at, but leave the door open," Jackson said going back to
his football. Mulder winked his eye at Jacob and tried his
best to stand up from the uncomfortable position he was in.
He finally managed to stand up, "Where is the bathroom,
might as well go," Mulder whispered. Jacob took a hold of
his arm and walked him to the bathroom.
"Jackson, is that your name, do you mind if you untie me
just long enough to take a leak?" Mulder asked.
"Sorry, have the kid help you," Jackson responded not
taking his eye off the television.
"Daddy I have to go too, come on, I'll help you." Jacob
said. Jacob walked very proud knowing that he helped his
dad with that square thing, hiding it in the wall. They
had a secret that they weren't going to tell that smelly
man. He helped him with Mulder's pants and a couple of
minutes later they both walked back into the room.
"Are you cold son?" Mulder asked trying to sit back down
onto the mattress, making it very difficult with his wrists
tightly bound.
"I'm very cold daddy," Jacob responded.
"In the bag I brought you some clothes, why don't you
change." Jacob opened the bag and took out his pants and
jacket. He slipped off his shorts and quickly put the long
pants on and then with difficult put the jacket on. He had
always had help with his jackets, but felt a twinge of
excitement that he accomplished it all by himself.
"There's an apple there, why don't you eat it," Mulder
told him. Jacob took the apple out and took a bite.
"Eat it all, we don't know when we'll get to eat."
Brown and Slim showed up followed by Cigarette Smoking
Man right behind them.
"I see you decided to join us. I'll make this short and
sweet, give me the disc and we'll let both of you go," CSM
said walking towards Mulder and Jacob.
"I think it's in that bag that he brought with him," Slim
said grabbing the bag and opening it. He pulled out
Jacob's shorts and some cookies that were still in there.
Cancerman turned to look at him, "Where is the disc?"
Jackson walked up to join the group, "Boss, I haven't left
my eyes off of them."
"Where's the damn disc," he shouted.
"Let us go and I'll tell you," Mulder responded.
"Come here son," CSM said looking at Jacob. Mulder's
face panicked knowing that he would break if they did
anything to his son. Jacob looked quickly at Mulder for
approval.
"Leave him alone," Mulder said nervously.
"He won't be hurt Fox, I'll protect him just like I've
protected you all these years. But right now, you are not
cooperating. I don't want him to be hurt being close to
you," CSM said looking at Brown and bowing his head. Brown
clearly understood what was expected of him. Brown walked
up to Mulder and gave him a swift kick in the abdomen.
Mulder gasped in pain and let out a yell.
"DADDY!" Jacob yelled, trying to go to him, but CSM
holding him back.
"Where is the disc," Brown yelled, kicking him again.
Mulder curled up in a fetal position trying to protect his
stomach but only made it worse as he felt the kick on his
kidneys.
"Don't hurt daddy, stop it," Jacob yelled crying out.
"Make them stop hitting daddy," he yelled pounding on
Cancerman's chest.
Kick after kick, Mulder was instantly bruising. He
started coughing up blood and felt that it was harder to
breathe. He wasn't sure if his ribs were broken or very
sorely bruised.
"This doesn't have to happen if you just tell me where
the disc is at," the Cancerman said, still holding tightly
to Jacob.
"I will tell mommy that you are hurting daddy," Jacob
said changing the subject.
"Your mother? Jacob didn't I tell you that she knows
you're here and she doesn't care," CSM jabbed.
"Stop lying to him," Mulder said angrily.
"Lie! you think I'm lying," he mused, "Why don't you
listen to this." CSM said taking the cassette out of his
jacket and pressing play.

'I am tired of being the sole supporter for Jacob. Yes I
am his mother and yes I still love him but because of him I
have not had a life. I had dreams of my future, dreams to
go to the top of my field, but being stuck with a kid took
that away from me. So, do what you want with the boy. I
need a life; I went to the park today to say my final good-
bye to Jacob. He will be in my heart, but now it's time for
me to live. If you want to throw your threats on someone,
then throw them on Fox Mulder. He has the kid now; he will
do anything to protect him. I've relinquished my rights to
him' Cancerman pressed stop on the cassette and gleamed at
Mulder. Jacob's eyes teared and looked at Mulder. "What
does that mean daddy. I didn't understand, does mommy want
me to go away. Mommy is tired of me."
"You son of a bitch, you don't think you've done enough
harm. Why did you have him hear that? He's just a child,"
Mulder shouted.
"I wanted you to hear for yourself just what kind of woman
she really is. Did you know that all these years she was
working for me? Yes Fox, she was using you as well. Well,
I take that back, not initially, not when the X-Files
started, but soon after, now, shall we get back to the
topic at hand?" he flourished in his information.
"Son, don't believe him. Your mom loves you; he just
wants you to hurt. You'll see when we get out of here,"
Mulder tried to console the tearful child.
"Let us go and I'll tell you," Mulder tried to say.
"It must be on him, strip him," ordered CSM. Slim pulled
his T-shirt off over his head, but because of the
restraints, left the shift bundled at his wrists. Brown
finished by stripping him down to his boxers, the black and
blue marks prominent all over his body. They checked his
clothing for anything but there was nothing. Brown turned
him on his side pulling his boxers down noticing the
markings of the adhesive on his lower back.
"He had it on him, where is it?" Brown yelled at him,
sitting him up and giving him a right hook to the jaw.
Mulder was unable to say anything before he felt another
jab, blood splattering out of his mouth.
"Stop that," Jacob yelled pealing himself from Cancermans
hold and ran to Mulder's sore and crippled body.
"Jacob, don't get close to me," Mulder's said between
gasps. Jacob ran to the wall and tore the wallpaper off
and took the disc.
"Son, don't, don't" Mulder said taking in deep breaths.
"Here!, Jacob yelled, running towards Cancerman, giving
him the disc, "LEAVE MY DADDY ALONE."
"That's a good boy, stop the beating," CSM instructed.
Mulder laid on the mattress bleeding and bruised. He knew
if CSM decided to see the disc, he would truly be a dead
man. And who was going to protect Jacob. Jacob ran back to
Mulder picking up the pair of jeans on the floor and
covering him up then wrapped his arms around his dad's neck
whispering in his ear, "Daddy why didn't you want to give
him that thing?"
"Well you see, if you would have told us where it was at
before, you would have saved yourself a good beating,"
Jackson said looking at him on the floor. CSM called Slim
over and whispered something in his ear. Slim immediately
left the room and a short while later came walking in with
a laptop. Mulder looked up and knew what would happen
next. Cancerman threw down the butt of his everlasting
cigarette on the floor, and opened the laptop. He inserted
the floppy disc into the disc drive, to view the contents
of the disc. A loud shrill came out of his mouth and
pounded the table that was next to him with his fist. "It's
blank, the damn disc is blank. Where the fuck is the
original?"
"I can only do so much to protect you son," CSM stated,
looking at Mulder lying on the floor being cradled by
Jacob. "Teach him a lesson. Don't kill him or I will go
after you, just teach him a lesson," he said looking at the
three seedy characters then walked out with his laptop.
Jackson pulled Jacob from the tight squeeze he had around
Mulder's neck, "No, leave me alone, don't hurt him anymore"
he yelled kicking his feet, pounding Jackson on his face.
Jackson bent down putting Jacob on the floor and gave him
two hefty swats on his bottom. Jacob started crying even
louder as he felt the sting on him. Jackson turned him
around and placed his hands over Jacob's ears so he
wouldn't hear the beating that Mulder was going to endure.
Brown took his belt and started strapping him, cutting
flesh on the back of his thighs and his backside. His back
felt wet, he knew that it was probably his own blood.
Mulder couldn't take the beating anymore as blackness came
to him; maybe he wouldn't feel the pain anymore. Slim had
to physically stop Brown, "Are you crazy, he past out, I
don't really think he can move anymore. Remember what the
boss said, don't kill him, now let's go." The two left
Jackson at his babysitting job. "We'll be back tomorrow.
I don't know what the boss has in store for them now. I
think he just has to cool down," Slim said as they left the
building. Jackson let Jacob loose to go to Mulder. With
all his little weight he was able to move his dad to his
side so he could be free of lying on his open sores on his
legs and back. He ran to the bathroom and soaked a
washcloth returning trying to wash the blood around the
wounds. He sat on the floor trying to pick up his dad's
head trying to have him lay on his lap then started
stroking his face, moving his hair out of his face.

SINS OF THE FUTURE(2/3)
From: CorrineLS@socal.rr.com
Author: Lakota
Categories: MSR, M&S Anguish
Rating: NC-13 (a few bad words)

Disclaimer and other stuff in Part 1

SINS OF THE FUTURE(2/3)

Mulder's Apartment

Scully drove back to Mulder's apartment forgetting the
knocking and automatically pulled out her key, opening the
door. She called for him but found the place empty. Each
room she entered, gave her tightness in her chest, until
she went to the living room and found a scribbled note with
Mulder's handwriting.
'Sorry Scully, does this count for a ditching. I got a
phone call from them; I have to meet them to get Jacob
back. I have... well a disc is in my hands.... Mulder'
She wadded the paper and slammed it against the wall,
"Damn it Mulder, damn what are you getting yourself into."
Where would she even start her search, Diana, maybe she has
an idea where they are holding Jacob? Without any concern
for her, drove the miles recklessly until she arrived at
Diana's apartment building. Scully took in the joy seeing
Diana's surprised look when she opened the door to find
Scully there.

Diana's Apartment

"What are you doing here, how did you find me?" Diana
asked, being shoved by Scully as she forced herself into
the apartment.
"Diana, cut the crap, I know you for what you are. You
may fool Mulder but you do not fool me. I can see what a
grieving mother you are. For God's sakes, your son is
kidnapped, and you're hear reading a book, watching
television," Scully said, picking up the upside down opened
book on the couch. "What do you have to do with this?" she
yelled.
"I don't know what you're talking about. I can't do
anything about Jacob until the police call me. I'm here
waiting for news," she tried to cover up.
Scully moved close to her grabbing her shirt and pulling
Diana close to her. "I saw you with Cancerstick. I saw you
looking through Mulder's belongings at his apartment. Were
you looking for the floppy disc as well?" she asked
question after question not letting Diana respond. "You
know they are holding Jacob, well now they have Mulder as
well. And I swear on my father's grave, if they are hurt,
if something happens to them, they will have to incarcerate
me, because I will kill you." Scully shouted. "I am
calling Skinner, telling him of your involvement. I have
that over you and I will bury you with the information
regarding Cancerstick," she continued. "I also know the
truth about Jacob. See I took a DNA test without anyone
knowing. I will do everything in my power to take any
visitation rights, to detach you completely from Jacob. I
will do this for Mulder."
"It looks like I have a loose-loose situation," Diana
said, pushing Scully's hand away from her shirt.
"You call finding your son a loose situation?" she
reproached. "Of course, you would be loosing if you were
using Jacob as bait to capture Mulder and the disc was
never found. And then again, would it be a loose situation
if the disc was found and there was information regarding
you?" Scully summarized. Diana walked to her desk and
scribbled the location on a piece of paper and handed it to
Scully. "Here, go find them, now get out." Scully took
the note and hurried to her car, driving to her own
apartment to get some provisions that she would need for
the rescue. She thought of calling Skinner, but later
nixed thinking that if there were swarms of FBI agents, it
would go worse for Mulder and Jacob. Within 30 minutes she
was already on the road, driving faster than the speed
limit.

As soon as Scully left, Diana was on the phone calling
Cigarette Smoking Man
"Agent Scully has just left. She knows about me and the
involvement with the Consortiums," she said on the phone.
"Yes, I did tell her where they are at. Look, I have lost
everything now. After this, I know I will never get to see
Jacob again, so if you still want me, I'm back in. Yes, I
will join the group again. The floppy disc, no Sir, I
really don't think she knows where it's at. I think she
would definitely give it up for their safety. No, she
doesn't have it."

Unknown Warehouse
Tuesday - 1:00 a.m.

Mulder could barely see the small window at the top of
the basement room. All he could see was darkness. The room
was getting very cold. He was left on the mattress without
any clothes on from the strip search. Jacob tried his best
to put his clothes back on him, but was too hard for him.
When he did try, all he succeeded was to touch every bruise
and open wound that was inflicted on him. Jacob decided to
cover him up the best he could with his clothes. He smiled
seeing Jacob's shorts over him too, as if the shorts were
going to give him any kind of protection. Mulder looked up
to see Jackson still sitting on the chair in front of the
television set. He could hear the snores filling the room.
Mulder tried to scoot himself into a sitting position
trying not to wake Jacob. He could see the Swiss army
knife that was on the table. Jackson had been pairing his
apple with the small knife. <If only I could get the knife>
he thought. But with every movement came the excruciating
pain. He was going to need help and Jacob was his only
answer. "Son, wake up," he whispered, nudging him. Jacob
opened his eyes, arms stretching and mouth yawning. He
moaned and turned to his other side.
"Jacob wake up," Mulder tried again. He finally opened
his eyes focusing them on Mulder. "Son, I need for you to
do something for me. It's a big man's job, can you handle
that?" he spoke. Jacob shook his head. "Okay good, we are
going to try to get out of here, so you have to do exactly
what I say, understand" Mulder continued. Jacob shook his
head. "Jacob, can you see on top of the table a red
knife?" Jacob shook his head. "Good, I want you to tiptoe
as quiet as you can. Don't make any noise and get the
knife. Can you do that for your dad?" Jacob shook his
head. "Okay then, go get it but be very quiet" Jacob stood
up and tiptoed almost being animated towards the table. He
stretched on his toes and reached to get the knife.
Jackson stirred as Jacob froze. He turned his head
panicking towards Mulder. "Shhh," Mulder whispered, Jacob
waited for awhile until Jackson stopped stirring. He
retrieved the knife and then walked quietly back to Mulder.
"Very good, now Jacob this is going to be hard and if you
can't then we'll try something else. I want you to cut the
ropes off of my wrists. It might take you awhile but keep
on cutting. Can you do that for me," Mulder kept on
repeating himself trying to make Jacob comfortable. Jacob
shook his head. He went behind Mulder and saw the blood
drenched wrists and panicked.
"Daddy, I can't. You have lots of blood on your hands,"
he said nervously.
"That's okay, they don't hurt. It's just from the ropes
that are so tight on me. You just keep on cutting," he
reassured him. Jacob went back again and started cutting,
but the rope was so thick. Every once in awhile the knife
would slip and dig into his hand. Mulder tried desperately
not to move. He would just hold his breath because he
didn't want Jacob to feel that he was injuring him. Mulder
heard some whimpering behind him and decided to call Jacob
over. "Jacob, how are you doing?" When the boy walked in
front of him, he could see his eyes filled with tears.
"Son, what's the matter?"
"Daddy, I'm cutting you. You have blood everywhere. I'm
sorry daddy/" he cried.
"Don't cry honey, you're doing a big man's job. You are
going to save both of us and because of you we are going to
escape, okay" Mulder continued reassuring him. Jacob kept
on cutting until finally the strands split apart. Mulder
moved his hands very slowly feeling the tightness of every
muscle in his arms. He had been tied like that for a good
part of the day. Not only did he have the rope burns and
abrasions, but also had the tiny knife wounds that Jacob
had accidentally done every time the knife would slip off
of the rope. He held onto his chest knowing that he either
had very badly bruised ribs or maybe even fractured. His
breathing was labored and the only way he could get any
relief on his pain was to stay lying on his back. But this
was not an option; they had to get out of there as soon as
possible. "Jacob, help me put on my clothes," Mulder asked
the boy. He picked up each piece of clothing and slowly
started helping him until Mulder could reach for his jeans
trying to slide them up. He felt every wound, every bruise
scrape on the rough material of the jeans. He snapped his
pants and then very carefully put on his T-shirt as Jacob
slowly lowered the shirt down his chest. Jacob then
started putting each sock on and then his Nike's. Mulder
just looked at him in amazement. Such a small boy to have
so much responsibility. He didn't complain, he just did as
he was told. "Jacob, can you pull the sheet of the
mattress and bring it to me," Mulder asked. He looked
around for any provisions. Brown and Slim had brought a
fair amount of food for Jackson since he was to stay there
during the incarceration of Mulder and Jacob. They took
Jackson's jacket and anything that they could carry.
Mulder had to think of a way to stop Jackson from following
them. With his injuries, there was no way they would be
able to get far in a short time. He had to stop him but
how. He was too weak to tie him up. If he did, Jackson
would surely get up and overpower him in a second. He
looked around and found a small pail by the stairs. The
only way he could stop him was hitting him over the head
and hoping Jackson would pass out. "Jacob, can you bring
me the pail by the stairs," Mulder ordered. Jacob walked
carefully to the stairs, bringing the small medal pail back
to him. "Son I want you to turn around, cover your ears
with your hands and close your eyes, can you do that for
me?" Jacob did as he was told. Mulder didn't want him to
see anymore violence. He had already seen too much and
unfortunately the violence was on him. He picked up the
pail and with every ounce of energy he could muster he
whacked him over the head. "Sleep tight Jackson," Mulder
said. He took the strap that they used to beat him and
tied Jackson's arms behind him. "Now we can leave Jacob,
you have to help me climb up the stairs, I'm not going to
be able to do it on my own," Mulder told Jacob. The
fourteen steps that were ahead of him looked more like a
hundred. He took one step at a time, having to stop and
take a breath. He held his ribs and took another step.
Jacob carried as much as he could with one hand and held
Mulder's arm by the other. They reached the front door and
walked out to freedom. Mulder summarized that it must have
been around 2:00 a.m. in the morning. He wished they could
wait until the morning but felt they better get a head
start. Mulder looked both sides of the building wondering
in which direction they would start. He felt a pull on his
shirt. "Daddy, that way. I remember," the boy said
pointing to the East.
"Are you sure? Of course you are," Mulder asked and then
wanted to give the boy credit for all he had been through.
"Then East we go." He could feel wetness on his legs; a
stickiness that he knew had to be blood drenching his
jeans. His backside and back felt bruised from the beating
and the pain on his chest was unbearable. He had no idea
where they were at, but they had to find shelter very soon.
He estimated that they had to be walking for a few hours.
Jacob not saying a word, not complaining just walking next
to him. They found what appeared to be a small opening on
the hillside, a small cave that they could maybe squeeze in
and sleep for the night. He was feeling warm and was
afraid that his wounds were starting to get infected.
Mulder took the sheet and with the Swiss army knife cut the
sheet in 3 long strips. "Jacob can you help me wrap these
around me." He needed to bind his chest, hoping that it
would help his ribs. If they were bruised or fractured he
needed to put a tight bind on them. He put the adult's
jacket on Jacob and with the rest of the sheet covered both
of them. "Are you hungry?" Mulder asked him. Jacob shook
his head. Mulder took the bag that he had taken with the
leftover food that was left for Jackson. He gave one half-
eaten sandwich to Jacob while he took the other. They ate
the sandwiches and drank some water from the water bottle
that they had taken. All this time Jacob was quiet. He
missed the boy that could never stop jumping. Mulder
slowly laid on his back trying to relieve the pain on his
chest. He called Jacob over so he could lie close to him.
"Jacob come here. Get really close to me so we can keep
warm," Mulder suggested. Jacob crawled as close as he could
and pulled the sheet on them. They were really still for
about 20 minutes when Mulder heard Jacob whimpering. He
shook Jacob thinking that maybe Jacob was dreaming in his
sleep, but when he saw his face, it tore at his heart.
Jacob quickly wiped the tears off his face not wanting
Mulder to see him.
"I'm sorry Daddy, I'm trying to be strong. I'm scared.
I want to help you because you have lots of owies. You have
owies all over and your hands have lots of owies too." He
cried picking up Mulder's lacerated hands.
"Jacob remember when you and I were playing baseball and
Dana said it was okay to cry if you were hurt. Well it's
okay to cry if you're scared too. I'm scared too." Mulder
appeased him.
"Daddy are you going to cry?" Jacob whimpered.
"Maybe that would help me. Jacob, we'll get out of here.
I know that Dana is looking for us. Then she will have to
stay in our apartment to take care of both of us. Now
Jacob lets get some sleep. Jacob snuggled up close again
as Mulder winced at the pain when he got too close.
"Did I hurt you?" Jacob asked rubbing his bound ribs.
"No, lets get some sleep"

Tuesday - 7:00 a.m.

Scully was mentally going over her head everything that
she put in the car, first aide kit, food, clothing. She
wondered if she should have called Skinner, but the last
thing she wanted was a mad rush into the building with
Jacob in it. She also wondered whether Diana was going to
call Cancerstick and warn him of her. At that moment, all
she wanted to do is get to them, make sure they were safe,
and then she would kill Mulder for ditching her again.

Cave

Mulder was shaking uncontrollably. He knew he had a high
fever and knew that his wounds were infected. He felt his
jeans stick to his legs from the dried blood that had
coagulated. His clothes were also drenched with sweat from
the fever he had been fighting. Jacob woke up feeling his
dad shake, "Daddy what's the matter." Mulder didn't
respond but only shook more. "Daddy you are wet all over.
Daddy what do I do?" he asked nervously.
"Jacob, I'm sooo cold," Mulder said shattering his teeth.
"I don't know what to do?" Jacob said panicking.
"Just keep me warm, get really close to me," Mulder
responded.

Scully drove the long miles, her mind wandering at what
she was going to find. She followed the directions and in
a couple of hours came upon the deserted building. She
took a panoramic view of the premises for any signs of the
perpetrators. The building was deserted without a vehicle
anywhere. <Either the building was completely empty and
Diana sent her in a wild goose chase, or Mulder and Jacob
was left there to die> She vanished that thought as quick
as she could. She forced herself to walk calmly up to the
door to find it unlocked. <A warrant, > she smiled. She
stepped in the building pulling her weapon out of her
holster that was hidden on the waistband of her lower back.
She walked from room to room, gun in hand, nudging each
door that she came to. <Nothing, everything was empty, no
sign of anything> until she heard the faint sound of a
television set that seemed to be coming from a lower floor,
<the basement> she thought. She went down the stairs,
trying to make the least noise as possible, even with the
creaking of the old stairs. She peered in front of her to
see the television on, and on the floor a man, his hands
tied behind his back. She still took it easy, not knowing
if this man was a 'good guy, or bad guy'. The man saw her
from a distance and started hollering at her to release him.
"Hey lady, untie me,"
"Who are you, are you alone?" she quickly asked.
"Yes I'm alone, my name is Jackson, who are you. Did the
boss send you?" Jackson asked trying to strain his neck to
see her.
"Whose the boss?" she asked walking towards him, but yet
weapon in front eyeing the room around her.
"The Smoking man, did he send you, are you Diana?" he
asked.
"No, I'm not Diana," she replied, walking over to the
thrown mattress on the floor next to the wall. At the edge
of the mattress she found a blood-filled rope that was
severed in half. <Mulder, Jacob> she thought. She
stretched her sleeve over her fingers so she could pick up
the rope and not leave any of her prints on them. She
tucked it in her pocket and walked towards the fallen man.
"I'm Special Agent Dana Scully with the FBI," she
introduced herself, taking out her badge. She put the
badge back in her pocket and bent down to straighten the
man.
"Are you here alone?" she asked.
"It looks that way, doesn't it," he replied with sarcasm.
"I don't think you're in any condition to respond that
way. I suggest that you give me some answers, answers to
questions that I'm going to ask," she continued. "You do
know that the man you had imprisoned is a FBI Agent. Now,
did you have my partner, Fox Mulder and a little boy
confined?"
"I don't know their names, I never asked, but I guess if
it helps me with leniency, yes they were here. But
obviously as you can see, they no longer are" the man kept
his mockery. Ignoring his cockiness, she continued asking,
"How long ago did they escape?"
I don't know, I didn't think of looking at the clock
before I got knocked on the head with, heaven knows what.
What time is it?" he asked
"Around 8:00 a.m." she answered, looking at her watch.
"I don't know, maybe 4 hours maybe more, but I really
don't think they're very far," he sneered.
"And why is that?" she asked, "Why would you say that?"
"Well, um, hey, he asked for it," Jackson said regretting
what he had just said.
"Are they hurt?" her voice angered.
"Not the boy, the boy wasn't touched."
"Mulder, what did you do to Mulder?" she asked
apprehensively.
"Hey it wasn't me, I was just the babysitter. Brown,
he's a bad guy; you don't mess with him. Besides, it was
from the boss's orders. We only do what the boss says."
Jackson continued.
"What did you do to him?" she asked loosing her patients.
"He tried to fool the boss about some disc thing," he
said, then belly-laughed, "Pretty smart guy, your partner
is. He brought a blank disc. Thought he'd fool the big
guy. You don't mess around with the big guy," he told.
"I said, what did this Brown guy do to Mulder?"
"He beat the crap out of him. I wouldn't be surprised if
his ribs aren't busted. And to give him an extra touch, he
beat him with a strap, had cuts all over him. Hey lady,
remember I didn't do this, it was all Brown."
"The boy, was he here when this was happening to my
partner?" Scully said softly, only imagining what Jacob
might have seen.
"Yup, he was crying the whole time, I almost felt sorry
for the kid. By the way, who is the kid?" Jackson asked.
"My partner's son. You beat Mulder in front of his son,
what kind of son of bitches are you guys?" she asked
furiously.
"Told you, it wasn't me. I was just the babysitter," he
replied.
"When are the rest coming back?" she asked, pacing the
floor.
"Not till tomorrow. They had left me food until tomorrow
afternoon, but from what I see, your partner and the kid
took all my food and all my bottles of water," Jackson
continued. She headed towards the stairs, "Hey where are
you going, you're not going to leave me here are you?" he
asked panicky.
"You obviously didn't care that my partner and his son
were confined, so why should I. You sit tight. I'll have
someone come for you. And I suggest, when * my * boss
comes here, that you explain everything." She started up
the stairs pulling her cell phone out of her jacket pocket.
"Sir, sorry I'm calling you at an early time. I have
located where Mulder and Jacob was confined," she said
panted running to her car.
"I was already getting up," Skinner said, sitting up from
his bed. "How did you happen to come up with this
information?"
"I took a visit to Diana Fowley, seems she knew about the
kidnapping. She was with Smokeman. Sir, when I got to the
abandoned building, there was a man tied up. Mulder and
Jacob were able to escape about 4 hours ago. But this guy
said that Mulder was badly hurt. I'm very concerned for
both of them. If Mulder is hurt, I don't know what would
happen to both of them."
"Tell me where the location is, I will send the task team
there immediately," he said, putting on his jeans and a T-
shirt.
"I can't wait until you get here, I'll start looking. I
really don't even know where to start. Can you please call
me on the cell when you get here? I'll try to tell you my
location. Are you bringing the dogs?" she asked.
"Yes, definitely," he said starting to put his holster
and getting ready to head on out.
Scully stood by her car looking from right to left
wondering which way they might have taken. <Mulder, talk
to me> she thought. They had always seemed to have this
special gift to know each other's minds. This was one time
that she wanted to believe that she knew him inside and out
and not mere coincidence of their uncanny feelings.
<Right, they went right>.

Cave

Mulder needed to cough. The pain in his chest was
getting worse and he was so very cold. He knew if he even
toyed with the idea of a tiny cough, it would be the worst
pain he could imagine. Mulder looked over at Jacob sitting
in front of him. He was drawing stick pictures on the
ground with his finger. "What are you doing, son?" Mulder
whispered.
"I'm drawing pictures of you and mommy Dana," he
responded. "I don't want to draw pictures of my mommy
anymore, because she doesn't love me. The man told me so."
"Jacob, of course your mother loves you," he said.
"But daddy, the man told me, I heard mommy say things on
the radio," Jacob said sadly.
"You mean the cassette. Jacob, those men were bad, they
might have made your mommy say that so you would hear,"
Mulder said. Mulder closed his eyes for a bit thinking
about Diana. What was her story? He stopped to remember
back when he was married to Star, when he started the X-
Files and Diana was partnered with him. She had the same
tenacity that he had. They were going to make a difference
and find out the truth. He wondered at what time did
Cigarette Smoking Man come into the picture. When did he
pull her into the goon's side of the conspiracy? <And
Jacob, his Jacob, > he thought, <an innocent little child
that she brought into the world. A child that he still
wasn't sure if he was his biological father. But it didn't
matter anymore. Someday he would find out, and if it
turned out that he wasn't his child, it wouldn't matter
because he would fight for him with every last breath he
had. And Scully, all these years working side by side. He
felt bad for not thinking of her lately. It wasn't as if he
was in any condition to think of anything except their
survival. He knew that she would be looking for them. He
felt bad having to make her go through yet another
stressful time looking for him after his 'oh so common'
ditching scenes. She would understand though. He felt
that maybe he took her for granted. She came in full force
helping him with the care of Jacob. Not once did she
complain or show any form of resentment towards Jacob, even
if this child was produced by someone he knew she detested
<Help us Scully, help us> He opened his eyes, to see Jacob
lying on his stomach, chin resting on his hands, elbows on
the ground.
"Daddy, why are you crying?" he asked.
"I'm not crying," he answered, wiping his tearing eyes.
"Daddy, you told me it was okay to cry. Does your
booboos hurt?" he asked sitting up and bringing Mulder's
blood filled hands onto his lap.
"Daddy you are very very hot," Jacob said worried.
"I don't feel very well Jacob. I'm very sick right now.
Jacob, I know you have been such a good and big boy. I'm
going to ask you to be a big boy for a little longer,"
Mulder said gasping at every word.
"I'm big daddy, I take care of you," he said wiping the
beads of perspiration that was continuous on Mulder's
forehead.
"Son, I want you to stay here with me. Do not, I repeat,
do not wander off. I'm going to try to stay awake, but I'm
afraid that I might be falling asleep soon. You remember
what the bad guys looked like, right?" he whispered. Jacob
shook his head, still wiping the perspiration off.
"Okay, if you hear a noise, wake me up. But Jacob, if I
don't wake up, don't be scared okay. I'm just very sick
and it might be hard for me to wake up. If you hear a
noise and you peek outside and if it's not one of the bad
guys but somebody else, then you can go ahead and yell for
them. But only if it's not the bad guys, okay. Jacob, I
feel that your mommy Dana is looking for us, so you have to
keep an eye out for her. I know that she'll find us. Keep
on thinking and praying really hard and she'll hear you.
Jacob, why don't you sing to me?" Mulder mumbled, trying to
keep the boy from worrying about him.
"Daddy, what song do you want me to sing? Ring around the
Rosy?" he asked joyfully.
"How about Jeremiah was a bullfrog?" Mulder mumbled,
thinking of yet another unplanned camping trip.
"What daddy, what is that," he giggled, "I don't know a
bullfrog song."
"Okay Jacob, daddy is very tired, and I think I'm going to
go to sleep. Don't be afraid okay, stay here with me,
don't go anywhere, promise me?" Mulder rambled on
incoherently, trying to speak in words that the boy could
understand. The last words were barely audible as he
closed his eyes in an unconsciousness state.
"Ring around the rosy, pocket full of posy, ashes, ashes
all fall down," he sang, bending down and kissing him on
Mulder's very hot forehead. "You sleep now daddy, I take
care of you. I won't let the bad man hit you anymore. I
promise."
If there was a time that she wished that she had the
open mind Mulder had, was now, Scully thought driving the
long narrow road. Paranormal sightings, aliens,
telekinesis, Bigfoot, Chupacabra, right now she'd be happy
with just a psychic tuning with Mulder. It was strange
because all these years together with her partner, maybe
she already had the psychic tuning as she was wanting right
now. They were at a part in their relationship that words
were not needed. They would both walk into an interrogation
room with a criminal, knowing what each one was going to
say or ask. Something so simple as walking into a room,
both displaying their badges and knowing which one was
going to do the talking, and which one was going to sit
back. <Maybe if I think of you Mulder, maybe you can tell
me where you're at> she reasoned. <Four hours ago both of
you escaped, Mulder seriously injured as Jackson had said.
A child not even six next to you, how far would you have
gone> her thoughts wandered looking at both sides of the
road. <Trees, you had to find somewhere you can both
camouflage against anyone looking for you. Maybe a
hillside, a cave, some rocks> she continued in thought.
The one thing that was on her side was the light of the
morning. Everywhere she would see a cluster of trees, a
hillside or piles of rocks; Scully would get out armed with
her weapon . Time and time again she would find nothing,
no clues, no tracks. She would get back in her car and
drive a little further. It was now close to 9:00 a.m. and
she was starting to feel the stress and grind in her body
of the whole arduous day.

Cave

"Daddy, I have to go to the bathroom," Jacob whispered,
nudging Mulder. Mulder was asleep, or was he unconscious
imposed by fever that was cause of the infection spreading
on his legs and his backside. "Daddy, I know you told me
not to go outside, but I have to," the boy said, trying to
justify the reason he was going to disobey. If he hurried
outside, did his business and return, his dad wouldn't know
that he had left. <If I don't wake up, don't be scared,
that's what daddy said> He got up quietly, tip toeing to
the front of the small cave that they had used as a safe
haven for the last few hours. He stood by the bushes near
the opening of the hillside and proceeded to relieve
himself, finishing he was about to go back in the orifice
when he heard a car. He was very careful not to be seen,
his daddy warned him about strangers. If they looked like
the bad guys, go wake him, he kept on going over in his
mind. The car drove by him when he looked at the driver, it
was a woman, it was Dana, and it was mommy Dana. He
couldn't get out of the bushes fast enough, running in the
middle of the street, arms flaring trying to get her
attention. "Mommy Dana, mommy, we're here, don't go," he
yelled and then realized that she had not heard him and his
tears started. Dana was driving at a very low speed
looking side to side, side mirror, rearview mirror, "My
God," she gasped as she saw a little person, arms waving.
She slammed on her breaks, car weaving for a moment as she
gained control of the car. She opened the car door seeing
Jacob running towards her. "Jacob, my God Jacob I found
you," she yelled running towards him. She picked him up
into her arms both kissing each other, "I thought I wasn't
going to find you. Honey, your face, did they hit you?" she
asked as she looked at him during her embrace.
"Yes, the man slapped me on my face and spanked me really
hard. He made me cry," Jacob told.
"Did they hit you anywhere else? Do you hurt?" she asked
him placing him back on the ground.
"It hurts right here," he said rubbing his bottom with
both hands.
"I'll take a look at you in a minute but right now we have
to get to your dad. Where is your daddy?" she anxiously
asked.
"Over there, mommy he is very sick, he doesn't want to
wake up," Jacob said sadly.
"Take me to him," she said. He pulled her hand, taking
her to the opening of the small cave. She entered and was
shocked at the site of her partner. He looked pale, face
flushed, clothes damp with sweat. "Jacob, I'm going back
to the car and drive it close to the cave. I have some
medicine that might help your dad. Try to wake him up,
okay." She ran outside reaching the car in seconds, turning
it around and parking it up close to the opening. She
opened the trunk taking out her first aide kit that she had
filled with every kind of medicine she could think.
"Daddy, daddy, wake up, daddy, mommy Dana is here," Jacob
said over and over again pulling at his arm. Mulder opened
his eyes long enough to hear Jacob say hysterically that
Dana was there."
"Whhhaaaat son," he gasped.
"Surprise partner," she said, standing by the opening,
smiling from ear to ear.
"Sculllleeeee, I knew you would find us" he whispered.
She went to him, kneeling on the ground next to him. "What
have they done to you, where does it hurt?" she asked
question after question, bending down giving a kiss on his
forehead. He tried lifting his arms for an embrace but the
pain stopped him.
"Ribs, I think they are bruised. They thought I was a
punching bag. My legs, my thighs, my back, they hit me
with a belt, I think the cuts are infected. My jeans are
stuck to my body, I was bleeding," he said half sentences,
trying to say everything before he would pass out again.
Scully felt his forehead.
"You're hot Mulder, let me take your temperature," she
said. She went into her bag pulling the thermometer and
placing it under Mulder's tongue. Jacob was sitting on
the ground next to them holding onto the flashlight to give
Scully some light. "Mulder you're temperature is 102
degrees. You're probably dehydrated as well" Without
another word, Scully started her examination on him. "You
did good Mulder, wrapping your ribs"
"Scully I don't think they're broken, I'm just very sore.
I protected myself as best I could every time I got kicked.
I'm just bruised," he whispered. She untied the makeshift
bandages from the strips of sheets that he wrapped around
his chest. She picked up his T-shirt as carefully as she
could and saw the markings already discolored, with a black
and blue hues. She touched him as gently as she could, as
he winced at the pain.
"Mommy, I didn't want the bad man hitting daddy. I
wanted him to stop but he kept on hitting. I covered my
ears and closed my eyes, but I could still hear daddy
yelling," Jacob tearfully said.
Scully held Jacob's chin with her hand and bent over to
kiss his forehead. "Your daddy is going to be just fine.
He's just tired and very sore. Nothing a little rest, and
food won't help. Now, I really want to see your legs, and
your back Mulder," she said.
"Why Sculllleeeee, Jacob is here," Mulder grinned.
"Mulder, you'll never change," she said shaking her head.
She unsnapped his pants and slowly started taking them off.
His facial expression changed as the pants reached his hips
and showed the pain when they were brought down to his
knees. "Mulder what did they do to you?" She carefully
had him turn on his side so she could check his backside
and the back part of his thighs. She took some gauze,
damping it in water and started cleaning the cuts. The
abrasions really need to be washed with soap and water, but
this will have to do.
"Jacob, bring the flashlight a little closer," she told
Jacob pointing to the back of Mulder's thigh. Jacob got as
close as he could.
"Partner, you have a deep gash here, it is infected. You
have a skin abscess that's filled with pus. Mulder, I need
to relieve it and drain the infection," she said as she
touched the swollen area that was tender to her touch.
"So wonder your hurting. This is one of the reasons for
your fever. I'd like to treat it right here. It will take
the pressure off of it," she offered.
"Do what you have to. It can't be any worse then the
beating I was given," he whispered.
"It isn't going to be pleasant," she said, taking the
instruments she needed from her bag.
"I'm a big boy, besides Jacob will be here to hold me,"
he said, stretching his hand out to hold onto Jacob. "Will
you hold my hand if it hurts?" he asked the boy.
"Yes daddy, I'll be here," he answered, proudly
She took out a scalpel that she had disinfected in a
separate plastic bag. "Mulder, I have a little bit of
lidocaine ointment left. I'm going to apply it on the
abscess to numb the pain." She told him as she was already
spreading the ointment on the upper part of his thigh.
"Jacob, I want you to close your eyes, but keep on pointing
the flashlight, can you do that?" she asked him ready to do
the small incision.
"Are you going to cut daddy?" he asked nervously.
"Yes I have to, I have to take the bad stuff that's making
your daddy hurt and
making him very hot," she explained. He shook his head in
agreement and tried to hold the flashlight steady. Scully
looked at Mulder then at Jacob. Once she knew that they
were both ready, she took the scalpel and started cutting.
Jacob opened his eyes and was shocked at what she was doing.
"Mommy you are cutting him?" he gasped. She was
concentrating on her minor surgery, ignoring him of his
freight. Mulder stretched his hand again to hold on to
him. She probed in the abrasion to get to all of the
pockets of pus, making sure that it was completely drained.
She washed the remaining pus with a salt solution and
packed it with gauze, bandaging it completely. After the
minor operation, she slid his pants back up, "Mulder you
have to lift your hips a little, you have to help me here,"
Scully said, raising his pants. She started putting
everything away and took out a bottle of aspirin giving
some to Mulder. This should lower your fever. Now we need
to get you to the hospital so they can give you a x-ray and
see if you have any broken ribs. I'm going to call Skinner,
he should be with the guy that was babysitting you," she
said taking out her cell. With one hand she held the cell
phone and without realizing, she was caressing, moving his
wet hair from his face. The phone rang twice before it was
answered.
"Sir, where are you?" she asked
"I'm at the abandon building, and Mr. Jackson is singing
like a bird. He is giving us information about his
buddies. Where are you?" Skinner asked.
"I don't know where I am but I have great news. I found
Mulder and Jacob. How? Sir I haven't been working with
this man for six years without inheriting some of his
psychic ability. They are doing as best as to be expected.
Jacob was hit a couple of times. Yes, his face is bruised.
I haven't checked him completely. Mulder, no sir, he
didn't faire as well. He needs medical attention. Sir,
can you send a..." she began to say when Mulder interrupted.
"Scully, don't call an ambulance, you can take me. You
can throw me in the back seat of the car. I'll fall
asleep, I promise," Mulder murmured.
"Sir, I'm afraid Mulder is being Mulder. Actually, I
think it probably is a good idea. We are here in the
middle of nowhere. By the time an ambulance gets here, I
could already be in your vicinity. What hospital is near
this area?" she asked.
"No, you are not taking me to any hospital here. Just
take me all the way home," Mulder insisted.
" * You * are going to the hospital," she demanded.
Scully pressed the end on her cell phone and placed it
back in her pocket. She remembered the bloodied rope that
she had placed in her other pocket. Pulling her sleeve
once again, she reached in her pocket to retrieve the rope
and put it in a bag in her first aid kit. She put the
equipment back in the bag and took it to the car.
"Jacob, you and I are going to have to get your daddy to
the car." She said, walking back into the cave. "Are you
ready to carry him?" she teased.
"Me carry daddy, you silly mommy, he's too big," Jacob
laughed.
"Okay, you are going to have to help me here. I'm going
to sit you up," she ordered, trying to help him sit. Jacob
crawled to the back of Mulder and helped him gently. After
about 10 long minutes, Mulder was finally in a standing
position. He took it step by step until he reached the car.
Scully opened the front door, reclining the seat to almost
a lying position. She put her arms around his midriff
helping him sit on the seat. She moved his legs in the car
and then slowly helped him lean back. She put the seatbelt
on him and then stood up holding her lower back with both
hands, stretching.
"Jacob I almost forgot. Will you let me see your bottom?
See how badly they hurt you?" she asked gently, crouching
down to his level.
"You're not going to cut me are you?" he asked nervously.
She grinned and said no. She stood him by the door using
the dome light as illumination to see. He turned around
and started lowering his pants.
"Jacob, how many times did that man hit you?" she asked
looking at the two strong hand prints, one on his bottom
and one on his thigh.
"I don't know mommy. But it hurt me. Are you going to
cut me like daddy?" he asked again nervously.
"No, you're just bruised, that's all. You will heal just
fine. Now lets get you in the car and get your dad to the
hospital," she instructed helping him with his seat belt.
"Why don't you try to go to sleep. We have a long way to
go and you have to be strong when you have to take care of
your dad." He shook his head and turned his head sideways
closing his eyes. By the time she turned the key on the
ignition, both Mulder and Jacob were out. She started
the car, and started the long drive to D.C. Mulder turned
his head looking at her then stretched his arm out to hold
onto her hand. She glanced at him then took his hand
weaving her fingers in his. "Thank you Scully," he
whispered, closing his eyes again. She had been awake for
more than 24 hours, <Maybe I'm awake on pure adrenaline>
she thought. Every once in awhile she'd stretch her neck
to look at her rearview mirror trying to look at Jacob.
His head had drooped to the side fast asleep. She called
Skinner again trying to coordinate her time so that she
could get to the hospital about the same time he did. She
was told that Jackson was under arrest. He had squealed on
Slim and Brown, but preferred jail time to divulging
information against 'the boss'. Skinner was already at the
hospital when she pulled up at the emergency entrance. It
was already 11:00 a.m. and all she thought was getting
Jacob and Mulder in the hospital. Maybe the nursing staff
would let her stay in their room. The exhaustion was
starting to hit but she needed to push herself a little bit
more. Skinner started walking towards Scully's car,
opening the door for her.

Washington D.C. Hospital

"I wasn't sure when you'd get here. I have the
wheelchair for Mulder. How is he doing?" Skinner asked.
"I don't know, he wasn't doing well a few hours ago.
Let's go wake him up." She said walking to the passenger's
side. She opened the door then started to awaken him.
"Mulder, wake up," she softly said. He stirred and
opened his eyes.
"Sir, it is so nice to see you." Mulder mumbled. Scully
crouched down under the doorframe unbuckling the seatbelt,
then wrapped her arms around his legs, moving them to the
side, helping him to sit up. She held his hands pulling
him towards her, while Skinner moved the lever to the
reclining car seat to straighten it up. Skinner then bent;
enveloping his long arms around Mulder's chest and with a
sudden pull stood Mulder up and carefully lowered him onto
the wheelchair. Mulder's pained face and groan was
apparent at the pain he was still in. Scully shut the door
and pushed the wheelchair around the back seat of the
driver's side. Sir, I want you to help me with one other
person. She opened the back door and it was now time to
nudge Jacob to wake up. He opened his eyes, rubbing his
mouth with his arm, wiping the drool from his face. She
unbuckled his seatbelt and bent on her knees to talk to him.
"Honey, we're at the hospital. Do you know what that
is?" she asked him, preparing him for all the frantic
activity that was going to befall both of them. He shook
his head no.
"It's a place where there are doctor's and nurses that are
going to make you and your daddy feel better," Scully
explained.
Skinner lowered his back bending down to be in eye level
to the bottom of the doorframe. Jacob gasped for a second
leaning his back on the seat. Scully recognized the
freight on his face, then took his hands. "Jacob, I want
you to meet our boss. He is a very nice man," she consoled
him. Jacob's body loosened a little.
"He's not a bad man?" he questioned.
"No he's not, he's a very nice man. Jacob I want you to
meet Mr. Skinner," she introduced. Skinner outstretched
his big burly hand to Jacob's little hand and shook it.
"So you are Jacob..." Skinner started to say and was cut
off by Jacob saying his full name.
"...Wilam Mader" he said. Skinner turned to look at
Mulder, both trading smiles.
"Jacob, I am going to have Mr. Skinner carry you into the
hospital. Do you think that will be okay?" she asked,
trying to alleviate any nervousness in the boy. He shook
his head yes as stretched out his little arms. Skinner
bent in and carried the boy out. Jacob wrapped his legs
around Skinners mid section, as Skinner held him at his
bottom. Jacob instantly raised his hips and his face
winced. Skinner turned to look at Scully as she got behind
the wheelchair starting to push Mulder into the emergency
doors.
"He was slapped on his face and a couple of strong
spankings left some bruises on him," Scully explained. They
walked into the hospital emergency desk area, signing in
and filling out all the proper paperwork. They were both
brought in to the examination room. Jacob took a liking to
Skinner immediately, as his arms held tightly around his
neck. Skinner proceeded to carry him to the gurney that was
next to Mulder in the room.
Skinner placed Jacob on the bed, then walked over to
Scully pushing Mulder on the wheelchair. "Do you need help
getting up on the bed?" Skinner asked. Mulder held on to
the armrest of the chair, trying to lift himself, but was
unsuccessful.
"I take that as a yes," Skinner said, bending his knees,
wrapping his long arms around Mulder's chest. "Okay, on
the count of three I'll pull you out of the chair, 1, 2,
3." Mulder's face agonized at his every movement. Scully
scooted the wheelchair out of the way while Skinner leaned
Mulder against the bed sitting him down. Scully then
picked up his legs, helping him lie down.
"Well, that was a chore," Skinner announced taking a big
breath of air.
Skinner and Scully stepped out a couple of feet from both
Jacob's and Mulder's bed. "So this is the little boy. He
is a heart stealer isn't he?" Skinner asked.
"Sir, you have no idea. It took us all of 2 minutes to
fall in love with him."
"So he's Mulder's son. This is a hard one to believe,
although I do see the resemblance, the color of his eyes,
the color of his hair. How old is he?" he asked her.
"Will be six years old in a couple of days," she said
remembering his birthday to be on June 12th." The nurse
came in carrying two hospital gowns for the two patients.
She first went to Scully and handed the little gown to put
on Jacob and then walked over to Mulder placing it on the
bed. "If you need help, holler," the nurse said walking
out.
"Well, she's a touchy feely nurse, isn't she?" Skinner
joked.
"What is that?" Jacob said out loud, "I'm not wearing no
dress. Daddy, I'm not going to take my clothes off and
wear a dress." Scully and Skinner couldn't help but laugh,
turning to look at the boy taking the hospital gown from
Scully moving it around. "There's no buttons, they're
going to see my butt," he protested.
Mulder could barely turn his head towards Jacob trying
not to laugh from the comments that the boy was protesting
about.
"Jacob, I've worn so many of these things that they don't
bother me anymore. Look I have to wear one too." Mulder
said. "Let Dana help you take off your clothes."
Jacob sat down carefully on his sore bottom, still
objecting the gown. He lifted up his arms, while Scully
pulled of his T-shirt. She laid him down, taking off his
socks, tennis shoes, pants and then his underwear, "Wait,
why do I have to take my underwear off?" he objected
holding the waistband.
"They have to examine you Jacob, don't worry, I'll be
here with you," Scully consoled. He loosened his fists and
let Scully lower his underwear. She put the gown on him,
tying the single cord.
"Daddy, it's your turn, you have to take everything off,
even your underwear," Jacob giggled.
"I might need Scully's help for that," Mulder mused.
"How about I help you," Skinner said, winking at Scully.
Skinner started to close the curtain between them when
Jacob grabbed onto Scully's hand, "Don't close the
curtain," he said frightened.
"Mr. Skinner is just going to help your daddy take off his
clothes. You don't want anyone to see, do you? Scully said
seeing the panic. He calmed down as the curtain closed
giving Mulder privacy while they both tackled with the
clothes on his battered body. Mulder's moans and groans
were heard by Scully and Jacob, "Mommy Dana, daddy is
really sick," Jacob whispered, eyebrows creasing.
"I know honey, but that's why he's here. They are going
to take good care of him," Scully sympathized. The curtain
was flung open by Skinner just in time to see the nurse
walking in with all the tray of medical equipment. She
started to pull the curtain shut again between Mulder and
Scully when Jacob shouted. "Don't close the curtains,"
Skinner and Scully turned to look at the fear in Jacob's
eyes. "He's been through a lot, he's afraid to be
separated from his father," Scully said to Skinner.
"Mulder, do you mind if the curtain is left open, Jacob
needs to know you're still here?" Skinner asked.
"Leave it open," Mulder whispered.
"But Sir, we have to examine you completely," the nurse
protested.
"Just leave it open, my son needs to know I'm here,
besides, what privacy can we get in a hospital, everyone
probing and looking," Mulder said. Although the nurse
disapproved, she went ahead and let the curtain between
Mulder and Jacob opened. A young doctor walked in the
emergency room, walking towards Jacob to examine him. He
was clean cut, with long brown hair pulled back in a
ponytail. When Jacob saw him, he instantaneously put his
hands over his eyes and started crying.
Mulder heard the cries and tried to get up but was pushed
back down by the nurse, "What's wrong with Jacob?" he asked
desperately. Scully turned to see the young doctor and
realized that the long hair pulled back reminded the boy of
Jackson.
"Jacob honey, this is a doctor. It's not the bad man
that hit you. Open your eyes honey, the color of his hair
is different and his face looks different." He opened his
fingers of his hand peeking through them. The doctor was
completely confused watching the boy go into hysterics.
Skinner walked to the young doctor explaining of the
abduction of father and son.
"I'm so sorry, if you like I can have another doctor come
and examine the child."
"No, you're fine doctor. Jacob can't be afraid at every
man that wears a ponytail," Scully said, pulling his hands
out of his eyes. The doctor walked towards Jacob looking
at his face, moving it from side to side. He pulled down
the hospital gown to his waist, moving his arms, pressing
his stomach. He placed the gown back to his shoulders and
then lifted it from the bottom checking him in parts that
Jacob was not very comfortable. He quickly looked at
Scully, fear in his face.
"Shhh. you're okay. We just want to make sure that
you're fine. We want to make sure that the bad man didn't
do anything to you," she reassured him. The doctor turned
him on his stomach and looked at the very pronounced hand
print bruises on his backside. The young doctor looked up
at both Skinner and then Scully.
"Doctor, he was beaten by the man that held him hostage
and then watched as his father was beaten. He's just
having bad memories right now," Skinner explained. The
doctor had him turn around again lifting and bending his
legs. After a complete checkup, the doctor walked to
Mulder, motioning Skinner and Scully to follow.
"The boy seems to be doing fine. There doesn't seem to
be anything broken, nothing that love and hugs won't cure.
But I would like to keep him overnight for observation," he
suggested. Scully went back to Jacob helping him get the
gown back on and sat him up holding him close to her. An
older doctor walked in, probably in his early 50's with
gray streaks on the sides of his head walked to see Mulder.
Scully motioned to Skinner to get near her, "Jacob, Mr.
Skinner is going to hold you while I go talk to the doctor
about your dad, okay?" Scully asked. Jacob shook his head
as Skinner walked towards him, sitting on the bed and
placing Jacob on his lap.
"Doctor, I'm Special Agent Dana Scully, Agent Mulder's
partner. I would like to give you an update on him," she
said. The doctor looked confused until he heard that she
was also a doctor. She explained the findings she had from
the moment she found them in the cave. With the
information that Scully had given him, it gave the doctor
an idea of what to look for. Mulder's temperature was
taken as well as his pulse and respiration. A
stethoscope was used to listen to his heart and lungs.
Nurse Brooks, who was head nurse in the emergency room,
wrapped a cuff around his arm to take his blood pressure.
"Mr. Mulder, this isn't going to be pleasant inserting
the Foley Catheter, so I'll try to do it as fast as I can.
Now lie on your back," she demanded, putting on the sterile
gloves, cleaning the area around his urethra. As she
inserted the tube, she explained to him exactly what was
happening. This may make you feel the need to urinate."
She secured the catheter by taping it to his leg.

With coaxing and abusing their badges, they were able to
put Jacob in the same room with Mulder. They felt that
father and son needed to be together considering everything
that had happened to them. It was now around 7:00 a.m. the
following morning, Jacob tucked in his bed and Mulder
connected to tubes and IV's. Antibiotics in his IV for the
infection and nourishment for the dehydration that he was
in. The final result of the x-ray tests came back
negative, no broken bones, although, it surely felt like
it, just bruised and very black and blue. Scully was as
tired as the two patients. She was determined not to sleep
until the two were found. She was able to persuade the
nice nurse on duty to stay there with them. She told her
that Jacob needed her. Mulder would not be able to help
the boy when he woke up. With that they brought her a more
comfortable chair in the room. Strict orders were given
that no one would be admitted. Only A.D. Skinner was to be
able to enter the room.
"Agent Scully, you have to go home and get some sleep,"
Skinner whispered watching Mulder and Jacob asleep.
"Sir, I want to be here when they wake up. Look, I'll
make a deal. You go home, get some sleep. Why don't you
come around 2:00 p.m. and we'll switch. I'll go home, take
a long bath. In fact, I would like to go to Mulder's
apartment to clean it up. It has not been picked up since
the home invasion, as well as the task force's
investigation. With that Skinner left and Scully curled up
in the chair.
It was around 9:00 a.m., barely two hours in her sleep
when she heard whimpering. She wasn't sure if she was
dreaming or if it was from within the room. She stirred,
forcing her eyes open. Jacob was sitting in his bed
rubbing his eyes.
"Honey is that you?" Scully asked, getting out of her
chair. Considering it was morning, the room was very dark.
The nurse had shut the blinds and turned everything off so
that they could get plenty of rest. She walked to the bed
and dropped the railing.
"Mommy Dana, I want to sleep with daddy. I keep on
seeing the man in my brain," Jacob cried.
"Honey I wish I could let you, but your daddy is hurt.
And if you lay with him you might hurt him in your sleep.
See all the things he's got on him. All that is medicine
to make him feel better. Here, why don't you come with me?
I don't think the nurses will mind," she said, lifting him
off the bed. Even though Jacob was days from his sixth
birthday, he was very small for his age. She easily picked
him up and brought him to the chair where she was sitting,
keeping vigil on Mulder. She placed him sideways on her
lap with the side of his face on her breast. He curled up
on her as she combed his hair with her fingers. She gently
rocked him and starting humming a lullaby. His eyes grew
heavy and in no time fell asleep.
"Thank you Scully," Mulder said, startling her from her
concentration on the boy.
"Mulder you scared the living daylights out of me. How
long have you been awake? She responded.
"Long enough. Scully you're always around to save me,
and now your doing it for Jacob," he whispered.
"And you've not done it for me?" she answered, "Enough
talking, why don't you do as your son and get some sleep.
Besides, the faster you heal, the faster I can take both of
you home." With that he closed his eyes and within minutes
was snoring lightly.
Around noon, Jacob woke up still curled in her arms.
"Mommy, I have to go to the bathroom," he said shaking
her from her sleep.
"Sure, let me take you," she said half-asleep, picking up
her arm checking the time.
"I have to go to the bathroom too," Mulder said starting
to throw the covers off of him.
"Partner, I'm afraid you have to do it through the
catheter," she grinned picking up the bag filled with
urine. Jacob crawled off of her and took her hand as she
guided him to the bathroom. When they came back, the nurse
was already there checking Mulder's vitals, changing the
urine bag and changing IV's.
"Mr. Mulder, it looks like you are healing faster than
normal. Your temperature is almost down to normal. Let's
turn you around and change the dressing on your thigh," she
said, bringing down the railing and helping him on his
side. Scully carried Jacob on his bed and walked over to
the nurse.
"How does it look?" Scully asked.
"Clean. I heard you did some minor surgery in the cave.
You did a fine job. With a few butterfly tapes, he won't
even have a scar." The nurse told Scully as they both
looked at the wound of his thigh.
"So are both of you enjoying the view back there," Mulder
mused as his bare bottom was exposed while they both
admired Scully's fine work.
"And a fine job I did," she said, slapping him on his
derriere. As bad timing would have it, Skinner walked in
the room as her hand made contact.
"Sir," is all that came out of her mouth?
"Miser Skinner, mommy just spanked daddy," Jacob laughed.
The nurse immediately lowered his gown and helped him on
his back and left the room.
"Ah, sir," Scully stammered.
"Look you two, I wasn't born yesterday. What you two do
after hours, is not of any of my business," he said walking
over to the boy.
"But sir, you don't understand," Scully kept on
muttering. Mulder was enjoying every bit of her
nervousness.
"Keep on talking Scully, you're just making it worse,
maybe you should just quit while you're ahead," Mulder
razzed.
"What do you think Jacob, do you think they like each
other?" Skinner mused, putting his arms around Jacob.
Jacob returned the hug giving him a kiss on the cheek.
"Miser Skinner, I think they love each other," he laughed.
"Jacob, why don't you call me Walter. Can you say that?"
"Waltar," he replied.
"Jacob, you're special. There is no way that we can call
him by his first name. He's sir to us," Mulder said.
"Excuse me, but you and your son have a visitor," the
nurse said walking into the room.
Mulder and Scully's looked at each other in surprise.
Who would know that they were there? Scully had not called
Mrs Mulder, and as for her mom, she felt that Mulder wasn't
serious enough to get her worried. Before either of them
answered, the nurse continued. "Her name is Diana Fowley,
she claims to be the boy's mother. I'm confused, aren't
you his mother?" the nurse said looking at Scully.
"I don't want to see her," Jacob scowled, "She doesn't
love me."
"I don't think it's a good idea right now. They are both
trying to heal from more than physical injuries. Give her
any excuse, but I don't want her in here," Skinner ordered.
Scully could only look at him in admiration. He was stern
'by the book boss', but he had a special feeling for them
two. She knew that as well as Mulder.
"Yes sir," the nurse responded heading out the door.
"What do you mean, I can't see my son," Diana was heard
yelling from the hall. Jacob held tightly onto Skinner as
he carried him to Mulder.
"Why don't you lie with your father. Be very careful
that you don't bother any of the tubes," Skinner said,
placing him on Mulder's bed. "I'll be right back" he
continued walking out of the room. Scully helped Jacob
crawl close to Mulder moving the equipment away from Mulder
and the boy. He wrapped his arms around him and held him as
tight as he could. What was only 10 minutes, seemed like
an eternity when Skinner walked back in, smiling from ear
to ear.
"Okay Agent Scully, a deal is a deal. You go home and
I'll stay here with them. Do what you were going to do,
bathe, read a book, rest. By the way, I was able to talk
to the doctors while I was out in the hallway. The doctor
said, that both of you can be released this evening if we
promise to take care of them," he continued looking at
Mulder and Jacob. "Scully, I told the doctor that you
would be their caretaker for as long as they needed you,
since you are a doctor and all." Skinner smiled.
"The boss has spoken," she said bending down kissing
Jacob on the forehead and then doing the same to Mulder.
She walked out with Skinner close behind.
"Thanks sir, thanks for intervening. I don't know what
all happened in there. Jacob seems to know something we
don't. Do you think she'll be back?" Scully asked Skinner
in the hallway.
"Probably. She said we would be sorry keeping her away
from her son." Skinner remarked. "Let's worry about that
later. Why don't you stop at his apartment and grab some
extra clothes. If they do release him, he'll need a change
of clothing, and also for the boy."
"Jacob already has you right here, doesn't he," Scully
laughed, holding her pinky finger.
"He is a charmer, isn't he." Skinner replied.

Scully's drive home was solemn thinking how frightening
it must be for Jacob. From the short time she knew him, he
seemed like a well-adjusted boy. However, his behavior had
now changed. She had seen the fear in his face at the
thought of being separated from Mulder. She also noticed
how he wanted to be held on her lap, cradled like a baby.
This was not normal for Jacob, but very understandable,
especially considering the events that had transpired. What
seemed to worry her more is how long it would take him to
trust again. <How sad to take such innocence away from a
child. > She thought. And as for Mulder, would he feel
comfortable leaving the boy anywhere knowing that Jacob was
a trump card for whomever wanted him. She reached her
apartment exhausted. She knew she should take her time but
she felt she needed to be there for them. <A bath would do
wonders, yes a bath, besides Skinner would have my head if
I came back too early> she smiled. Her bubble bath looked
so inviting as she poured lavender bath salt to ease her
tired bones. She got in feeling the warmth around her.
Thoughts continued through her mind. Diana popping in her
consciousness every now and then. She, along with Diana
was the only two that knew who the biological father was of
Jacob. Should she be the one to tell the truth? What would
Mulder say or do if he found out that she had kept the
secret with her. She stayed in the bath until the water was
cold; she was as relaxed as she was ever going to be. She
got dressed, grabbed an overnight bag and headed towards
Mulder's apartment. Her thoughts were to straighten up his
place. Remnants of the home invasion were still clearly
present. <I should have cleaned the place before taking a
bath, > she mused. <The fish, my gosh, they haven't eaten
for days> Scully went to the fish tank and took the box of
fish flakes, pouring some on her hand. She sprinkled them
equally all though the tank when her eye caught on
something, something dark in the back of the tank. She
bent to try to see what that black thing was. <My eyes are
playing tricks on me, it's just the reflection of the
gravel> she contemplated. She went to the bedroom and
packed underclothes and sweats for both Mulder and Jacob.
Taking a last look at the living room, she noticed the desk
calendar on Mulder's desk. <Jacob's birthday, it's 3 days
away. Got to make him a party> she thought taking Mulder's
overnight bag and exiting the apartment. Two hours had
past as she walked in the room watching Jacob sit on
Skinner's lap, both watching cartoons on the overhead
television set.
"Mommy Dana, Waltar has been telling me stories," he
giggled.
"Oh has he, and about what?"She asked placing both
overnight bags in the closet of the room.
"He's told me daddy stories."
"Sir, I hope you haven't said anything to embarrass
Mulder. Speaking of which, how is sleeping beauty?" she
asked walking over to the head of the bed.
"He's been in and out. He can't seem to stay awake."
Skinner responded. She combed his hair with her fingers,
then went into doctor mode and picked up his hand with all
the medical attachments on him and took his pulse. She
picked up his chart from the end of the bed and studied it.
"Is he getting better?" Skinner asked.
"Actually yes. He's not going to be very happy though.
The reason he's been sleeping so much is that they have
been giving him meds to let him sleep." The sentence had
not been finished when Mulder's eyes popped open, screams
emanating from his mouth, gasping for air, arms flaring.
"Stop, stop, don't touch him." Scully rushed over to
him, holding his arms down, trying not to tear all the IV's
from his wrists.
"Shh Mulder, Jacob is safe, he's here with you," she
whispered to him, her face up against his ear. His
stiffened body releasing the tension, as his breathing
slowed to a normal pace. Skinner had taken his focus on
Mulder not realizing Jacob paralyzed with fear, fingers in
his mouth, tears rolling down his face.
"I want my daddy," he cried. Mulder became fully awake
with Scully's soothing words. His own fear was transferred
onto Jacob. Skinner stood up, taking the boy to Mulder.
"I think someone needs you," he said placing Jacob in bed
with him.
"Well, I have to leave, someone has to keep the X-Files
open," Skinner said, bending down giving Jacob a kiss on
his forehead. Mulder's eyes widened.
"I thought you were going to kiss me?" Mulder teased.
"Mulder, only because you're black and blue already..."
he began to say walking out, followed by Scully.
"Sir, I'm worried about Jacob. Even though he's about to
turn 6 years old in a couple of day, he's can't seem to
unglue himself from Mulder," she worried.
"Agent Scully, you're not thinking, he's just scared.
He's displaying normal anxieties for what he's been
through. He'll get over it. If not by himself, he might
have to go to counseling. Kids are made strong; they
spring back quite rapidly. Now as for Mulder, I'm not as
sure." He remarked.
"Sir I have a favor to ask you, it's a big one," she
nervously said.
"Umm, I know this is an awful lot to ask and I just don't
have the time. Jacob's birthday is on the 12th, just 3
days away. Do you think you can order a cake, some
decorations, you know, good for a six-year old? Get some
ice cream, punch, the works. I'll invite the Lone Gunmen,"
she said.
"You have got to be kidding. This is going over and
beyond the call of duty," Skinner responded.
"Sir, I wouldn't ask if I could do it. I just don't want
to leave them, especially Jacob," she told him. He nodded
with a half grin and walked towards the elevator.
Jacob fell asleep bundled up next to Mulder. Mulder's
pained face at every rough movement or kick that the boy
did. Scully picked him up and carried him to his own bed,
then went to sit back by Mulder.
"Mulder, I have a question to ask you. What was that all
about regarding Diana?" she asked.
"Cancerman had Jacob listen to a cassette from Diana. I'm
taking it that he recorded her without her knowledge, or
maybe he made her say those words, either way, Jacob heard
everything. She said that Jacob kept her from following
her dream. In her words, 'do what you want with the kid',"
he said angrily.
"I don't like the woman, but she took great care of him.
He's a great kid," Scully hesitated saying.
"Well I know that she could have been forced to say the
words, but I know Diana. She only had one way to go and
that was to the top. Even though Jacob is her son, and I
know she loves him, he still held her back."

The nurse walked in, checking all the monitors, making
secure all the IV's were in place. "Time to change the
bag," she said.
"Have you tested for any blood on the urine?" Scully asked.
"Yes, and you're a very fortunate young man, no sign of
blood considering what you went through," said the elderly
nurse turning to Mulder.
"If there is no blood, do you think you can take that
thing out of me. I'd like to go on my own," Mulder frowned.
"I think that's what the doctor wants me to do, but let
me check." Minutes later the doctor walked in for his
daily rounds.
"Nurse Adams said that both of you are doing very well.
Let's see if we can set both of you free," the doctor said,
walking over to Jacob. Scully following behind. Jacob
had wakened with the sound of the doctor, looking around in
panic.
"Son, do you remember me?" he asked, seeing his
frightened face. Jacob nodded his head. "Good, can I look
and see how you are doing. Maybe I can let you go home
tomorrow if you're healed." Scully helped him out of his
gown as the doctor examined him thoroughly. The bruised
marks that were on his backside were barely visible as well
as the bruise he had on the side of his face. "Let's see
if your father is doing just as good as you." The doctor
helped raise the gown back up and tied the cord, then
walked to Mulder's bed. He picked up his chart reading the
last checks that the nurse had done.
"You're resilient aren't you?"
"Have to be with the line of work I do," Mulder answered
with a half grin.
Nurse Adams walked back in the room with another bag
ready to do the switch.
"Do I have to have that in me?" Mulder questioned to the
doctor.
"Maybe no." The doctor waited until the nurse took his
hospital gown off and proceeded to check his ribs then
gently roll his fingers around Mulder's stomach then his
lower stomach to find for any tenderness.
"Can you turn on your side so I can see how you're
healing from the abscess you had?" the doctor asked. The
elderly nurse was standing there, helping Mulder turn on
his side. With one quick pull, she took the bandage off
the back of his thigh, Mulder holding his breath. "Very
nice, no infection, the minor surgery your partner did in
the cave was cleanly done. Nurse, just clean it again with
some peroxide solution and re-bandage it. Son, except for
all the golden artwork all over your body, it looks like
you are healing. I'll have the nurse bandage you up, take
the catheter off and if you continue healing, tomorrow both
of you will be released." The doctor wrote some
information on the chart, then gave specific instructions
to the nurse, then walked out of the room.
"I'll be right back to clean the wound and then remove
the bag," she announced walking out. Scully walked to him
covering him with the sheet.
"Thanks," is all Mulder said.
A short time later the nurse came back in, gentleness she
lacked, probably from the many years of doing the same job.
She tossed the sheet and cotton swabbed the healing wound
that Mulder had. She re-bandaged it and had Mulder lie on
his back. Nurse Adams walked to the middle of the two beds
pulling the curtain shut. Jacob was lying on his bed
watching cartoons from the small television set that hung
from the wall between the beds. The moment he heard the
curtain close, he was up on his knees grabbing the rail
with his tight fisted hands, panic in his face. "Open the
curtain," he hollered. Scully was standing at the foot of
Mulder's bed when she heard his shriek. Mulder bolted to a
sitting position, quickly realizing that his instant
movement was not a wise thing to do as he pulled every IV
tube, Foley catheter and rubbing the newly bandaged wound.
"What happened?" Mulder asked, breathing heavily. Scully
went to Jacob holding his shaking body.
"Jacob honey, daddy is right here. He isn't going
anywhere," she consoled, watching the terror in his face.
"She's going to hurt daddy, I don't want daddy to get
hurt anymore," he sobbed.
"Jacob, the nurse has to do something to your daddy that
might hurt, but it's going to make him feel a lot better.
The curtain has to be closed to give him some privacy. But
as soon as she finishes we will pull the curtain open, I
promise," Scully comforted.
"Could you please hurry with whatever you have to do. I
don't want Jacob to worry," Mulder told the nurse.
"I understand. I have seen a lot of traumatized children
before, and he is showing all signs. You and your wife
have a long road ahead to make him feel safe again," the
nurse said.
"My wife? no she's..," he started to say, "OUCH! Could you
be a little gentler."
With those words, Mulder held onto the rails holding his
breath while Nurse Adams continued removing the catheter.
"There son, now that didn't hurt did it," she said,
pulling his hospital gown down again and opening the
curtain. "You can see your dad now," the nurse told Jacob,
taking the catheter and the full bag of urine with her.
Mulder was able to maneuver himself a little more with one
less thing attached to him, "Scully can you bring Jacob
over here," he asked. Scully carried him out of the bed
and brought him over.
"Jacob, I know that you have been through a very scary
thing. But you can't be scared all the time. I'm not going
to leave you." Mulder tried pacifying his scared son.
"I don't want anyone to hurt you anymore. Daddy, I didn't
ever see you before and I don't want you to go away," he
sobbed.
"Don't worry, now why don't you curl up close to me and
go to sleep. If you rest and we both get better we can go
home. Besides you know why you have to get better fast?"
Mulder asked him pulling Jacob under his left arm so he
could nuzzle close to him.
"Why?" he quietly asked.
"Because it's your birthday in a couple of days and I
think if you hurry up and get better, we might have cake
and ice cream for you," Mulder said kissing him on his
forehead. Jacob raised his head looking at him smiling
from ear to ear. After about five minutes, Jacob was sound
asleep.
"Scully I'm worried about him."
"Me too, notice how babyish he's acting. Wants to be
held all the time cant' be away from you for a second and
has to constantly see you," she said.
"Scully he saw everything. I told him not to look but he
saw that guy kick me constantly. I tried not to make a
sound but I couldn't. I knew Jacob was listening to the
sounds of the beating. I told him to close his eyes, but I
bet he didn't. Then when the guy took the strap, the sound
was even louder. By that time I was yelling. Jacob didn't
miss a thing."
"It's going to take a while to heal, but he will. He's
got plenty of people that love him. Speaking of which,
what do you think about Skinner's delicate side? I
couldn't help but smile at his gentleness to Jacob."
"Next time I get to get reamed for something, I'll just
bring Jacob into the conversation," Mulder laughed.
"Mulder I'm going down to the cafeteria to have lunch,
I'm starving and just realized I have not eaten today. So I
want both of you to sleep and I'll be back in awhile," she
said bending down and kissing Jacob and then Mulder on the
forehead.
Mulder tried to get comfortable as best he could with
Jacob lying next to him. He closed his eyes, thinking a
catnap would be a good idea. Within minutes Mulder had
fallen asleep oblivious to the intruder that had walked
into his room. The man walked towards the bed as quiet as
he could, watching the two sleep.
"Fox, you have to always try my patients. If you weren't
such an important part of my life, I would have had you
eliminated a long time ago. Too many secrets son, too many
people involved in our secrets. I can't let you come
forward with that disc because it will destroy me as well.
And if I'm destroyed, whose going to protect you? See
Fox, I can protect you to a limit. I can't keep an eye on
you 24 hours a day, and with the disc still in your hands,
you will need protection round the clock. They will find
you, but they know as well as I, that you always bounce
right back. But they also know your weaknesses. They tried
it before by taking Scully, and you know they can do it
again, but now they have this little boy next to you.
Whether he's your son or not, you love him as if he was,
and they will take him. That's how they will get you Fox
that will be the end of you. I know you hate me, and
rightly so because I am a son of a bitch and I will
continue being so. You will never understand and that's
unfortunate." The Cigarette Smoking Man spoke quietly to
Mulder, knowing that the words he was saying were for his
ears only. "I will continue to be a SOB, I have to..." he
continued and with that he bent over and with one quick
movement he picked Jacob out of the bed placing his hand
over the boy's mouth. Jacob woke up startled; gasping for
air, feeling his mouth being forced shut. Mulder was
awakened by the sudden jolt of Jacob being taken away from
him.
"What the hell!" Mulder yelled, but was quickly silenced.
"You make another sound and he will have a little more
than a couple of swats on his bottom," CSM threatened. The
boy's eyes were wide as he tried desperately to wiggle out
of his hold. "Settle down, if you don't, I will call the
men back in here to beat your father some more." With
those words Jacob loosened his body but was unable to
control the flow of tears. Mulder flung the covers off as
he carefully moved his legs over to the end of the bed. A
flash of weakness and nausea hit him at the instant
maneuver he did. He held onto the rail of the bed trying
to straighten up his body, but decided sitting down was a
much better choice.
"What do you want from me, please put Jacob down,
please," Mulder begged.
"I don't want to hurt the boy, and believe me or not, I
don't want to hurt you. I just need the disc." CSM told.
"But I don't know what you're talking about, I swear I
have no idea..." Mulder continued, trying to stand up again
holding on to the stand that held the IV bags.
"You know, I almost believe you. There's a problem with
that scenario. The hacker that took the disc, well he
confessed right before his demise. I don't think he would
have lied, knowing those were going to be his last words.
Your apartment was searched by my men as well as Diana, and
they were unable to find anything, so where did you hide
it?" At the mention of Diana, Mulder's expression changed.
"If you have any decency, don't mention her name that way
in front of Jacob." Mulder's said, gritting his teeth.
"Diana," he chuckled, "you think she's an innocent
bystander. Fox, her agenda is the same as mine. The child
she bore was an accident, she had a plan to follow and it
was interrupted by..." he said, holding tightly on to
Jacob. "Well, that is unfair to say, she didn't join us
until after she found out she was pregnant. She had a plan
with you, but was interrupted by the over raging hormones.
The Consortiums had no choice but to send her off to Europe
to have the boy. She continued her work there, keeping an
eye on you and Agent Scully. She was co-conspirator in the
disappearance of your partner. Fox, even though her life
was our work, she did do a good job with the boy. As the
program got more involved, Jacob became more of a burden.
Why do you think she decided to come back home?"
"For God's sakes, can't you just shut up. You don't
think Jacob doesn't understands?" Mulder's voice quivered,
knowing the damage that was happening to his son.
"I came here only as a warning to you. Believe it or
not, I am not your enemy. But remember this, you better
bring the disc forward as soon as you get out of this
hospital, because next time you might not live through it.
And you don't want this boy to be without a mother or
father, do you?" CSM walked to the boy's bed, placing him
on the bed, raising up the rail. He walked slowly to the
door, pulling out a cigarette lighting it. He took a
couple of puffs, and then threw the cigarette on the floor,
rubbing the flame out with his shoe. He walked out, but
not before he left his familiar smoke in the air. Jacob
flopped on his stomach, burying his head on the pillow, his
deafening cries smothered by the pillow. Mulder did all he
could to walk towards Jacob's bed. He held on to the
stand, rolling it by its wheels. His aches and pains were
not as bad as day's prior, but the weakness of the whole
ordeal slowed him down. He reached the bed and lowered the
rails, "Jacob, turn around Jacob."
"Jacob cries were tiring him down and were now a mere
sniveling. He turned his face; eye's swollen from the tears.

"Surprise, I brought you both something from the
cafeteria," Scully said walking in the room, tray in hand
with two bowls of ice cream. Her expression quickly
changed when she saw Mulder standing near Jacob trying
desperately to keep his balance. "My God, what happened?"
she asked, placing the tray down and rushing to the two.
"Scully hold him, please. I wish I could but I don't
have the strength," Mulder whispered, feeling the pressure
in his throat trying to keep his composure.
"Yes of course, but first, let's get you back to bed,"
she said holding his arm helping him back to his bed. Once
she got Mulder in bed she quickly went back to Jacob and
took him in his arms. His sniveling was now whimpers as he
rubbed his nose with his arm. Scully took a Kleenex from
the nightstand, "Blow," she instructed him. He blew his
nose then raised his arms to be carried.
"How did Jacob get back on his bed? What in the world
went on? I was only gone for 30 minutes, what happened?"
she asked question after question.
"We had company, Scully. I fell asleep and was awaken by
someone grabbing Jacob from the bed. Cancerman gave us a
visit," he told.
"What, Oh my God. See Mulder, I told Skinner we needed a
guard at the door." Scully said angrily. "What did he want?"
"The disc, the damn disc. Scully, I don't give a damn
about the disc. He threatened me in front of Jacob and
proceeded in telling me that I lived a lie with Diana.
I..." he started to say, and then decided not to continue.
"What?" Scully asked not understanding his silence.
"Later," he told.
"I am going to call Skinner and have a guard posted out
front," she stammered with rage.
"Scully, he won't come back. He's not that stupid. I
just know that if I don't find that disc, our lives are in
danger. I don't give a shit about mine, but if anything
happens to him or to you, they might as well kill me," he
whispered, not wanting Jacob to hear.
"Jacob honey, do you want to lay down with your daddy?"
she asked, "or you know what, better yet, why don't I hold
you in my arms. I'll rock you and keep you safe." Jacob
finally stopped his crying; all that was left was his
shuddering every once in awhile. Scully held him close to
her, rocking him gently as she sang a lullaby song.
"Scully, what would I do without you?" Mulder asked
tenderly. The cries had exhausted Jacob so much that he
was asleep in no time at all.
"Mulder I think Jacob needs a change of emotions. I have
an idea. Do me a favor and call Skinner on his cell,"
Scully ordered. Mulder's eyebrows raised in wonderment.
He did as he was told and past the receiver to Scully when
Skinner was on the line.
"Sir, plan 2, regarding our surprise in two days. We
need to do some desperate pick me up for Jacob."
"What are you talking about? I have everything planned
already," Skinner said annoyed.
"Sir, Cancerman paid an unexpected visit when I left the
room. He did a lot of mental damage to Jacob. He
threatened Mulder's life; he threatened my life and told
Mulder in front of Jacob of Diana's lack of love for the
boy. I'm afraid for Jacob's well being. We need to get
his spirits back up. We can still continue with the party
in two days, but do you think you can get the Lone Gunmen
here. Bring a cake, ice cream, I don't know, think of
something, um, with all due respect of course, sir," she
quickly changed her demanding voice to a mere plead.
"Did either of them get hurt, did he hurt them?" Skinner
quickly asked.
"Mentally sir, just mentally."
"I'll see what I can do," Skinner said hanging up the
phone.
Scully stood up taking Jacob to his bed. She lowered him
to his bed, pulling the covers over him. She walked back
to Mulder, standing next to him. She picked up his hand,
rubbing the top of his hand where he had the IV connection
taped on him.
"How am I going to protect him, if I can't even protect
you or myself for that matter," Mulder mumbled.
"You're not alone Mulder, and I'm a big girl, I carry a
gun," she tried to joke.
"Right now it's the disc, what will the next excuse be?
Scully, CSM said something that has me puzzled. He said
he's protected me all these years. Why Scully, why has he?
Sometimes I think back of that day when you and I went to
my mom's and I accused her of having an affair. I asked
her who my father was? Sometimes I wonder. Maybe I will
never know who my father was, is? . Just like I'll never
know if I'm Jacob's biological father." Mulder sadly said.
Scully's listened to the sadness in his voice and her
heart ached for him. She knew the truth, she knew who the
father was. Mulder, Gary, one of the two, was Jacob's dad.
Maybe when the right time came, she would tell him. The
door swung open with the hospital help bringing the lunch
trays for the two patients.
"Umm, what delicious food do we have today?" Mulder
sarcastically asked.
Scully grinned, walking towards Jacob, trying to wake him
so he could eat his lunch.
"Jacob, wake up honey, time for lunch," she announced.
His swollen eyes opened sitting up.
"Are you hungry?" she asked lifting up the silver lid
from the plate. He shook his head as he sat down and took
the fork. He sat there quietly eating his lunch, not
saying a word. The hours past as the three watched
television. Mulder and Scully did all in their power to get
Jacob to cheer up. It was about 4:00 p.m., three hours past
the visit from the Cigarette Smoking Man, and Jacob was
still solemn. The door to their room flung open with two
clowns walking in. A short clown with white hair and a red
nose. His face all in white with outlined lips that were
drawn to his ears. His costume clustered with patches of
colors, and big black shoes that would easily topple anyone
over. Right behind him, a tall thin clown with red bozo
like hair, also with a red nose and face drawn differently.
He wore a costume with big blue spots and the same type
black shoed as the short one, flapping as he walked. The
third man walked in dressed in a business suit, carrying
about a dozen balloons, all in different colors. Skinner
right behind, carrying a small cake with clowns on his and
6 candles. Nurse Adams brought in the carton of ice cream,
bowls and spoons for the party. Jacob raised off his bed,
eyes widening with a smile from ear to ear. He knelt on
his bed holding on to the rail. "It's my birthday, daddy,
it's my birthday?" he chuckled.
"Surprise!" everyone, shouted in the room.
"Jacob your birthday isn't for a couple of days, but we
wanted to really surprise you and have the party here?"
Scully said. Mulder was smiling, looking at his three
nerdy friends, that would do anything for Mulder, including
looking utterly ridiculous, <Wait, they always look
ridiculous> he grinned.
"Frohike, Langley and Byers, you never cease to amaze me.
But this is absolutely the best thing you could have done
for me," Mulder chuckled. Langley went to Jacob and blew
some balloons for him. In no time, Jacob was laughing and
jumping on the floor.
"I miss his jumping," Mulder whispered to Scully.
"Now you do. Remember when he first was brought to us?
You couldn't get him to stop and now you want him to jump,"
she mused.
"I'll do anything to get him back the way he was." Mulder
responded. The party went on for an hour, with nurses and
the doctor coming in wishing the boy a happy birthday. The
Lone Gunmen brought him gifts, as did Skinner. One of the
nurses rushed to the nearby store and brought him a brown
teddy bear.
"Jacob, this brown bear is to keep you safe. It's a gift
from the nurses on this floor. When you are afraid, or
your mommy and daddy are away, you hold him tight and he'll
take care of you, okay?" Nurse Adams said, giving him a
kiss on his forehead.
"And with that, I am going to be the evil nurse and say
the party is over. These boys have to rest," Nurse Adams
said with authority. Frohike, Langley the clowns and Byers
said their good-byes and walked out of the room, taking all
their paraphernalia. Skinner stayed for a short while
longer getting information from Mulder regarding the
unwelcome visit. Scully kept Jacob occupied playing with
the toys that he received from the guys. After getting
information, Skinner followed suit and left, telling them
he'd return the following day before they were released.
The three were left alone, but unlike hours earlier,
Jacob's expression was different. He was lying on his
stomach, gown wide open in the back, his little bottom for
all to see, coloring on his book.
"Scully, if you only knew what you mean to me," Mulder
mumbled.
"I know Mulder, you don't have to tell me," she responded.
"Scully..." he started to say.
"I know Mulder," she interrupted him.
"No you don't know. I have to go to the bathroom, and I
think I'm going to need help. This is my first time alone
without that dreaded catheter. Care to help me?" he asked
sheepishly.
"I'm a doctor, Mr. Mulder remember. Nothing I haven't
seen, especially you," she teased. She lowered the rail
from his bed and let him slowly move his legs to the edge
of the bed. He took a hold of her arm as he stood up.
"Are you sure you're going to be ready to go home
tomorrow?" she asked, trying to hold his swaying body.
"I'm just weak Scully, I don't hurt as much, just weak,"
he responded holding on to the IV stand and slowly started
walking to the bathroom, with Scully holding his arm.
Jacob raised his head looking at the two.
"Daddy, where are you going?" he asked.
"Bathroom Jacob, be right back," he said, taking step by
step. Scully walked him in the bathroom, leaving the door
slightly ajar so she could keep her eye on Jacob.
"Okay, hold on to the sink," Scully told, turning her
back so that Mulder would have some privacy. Minutes past
and nothing, "Stage freight," she teased.
"Scully, don't put any more pressure on me, I'm trying,"
he answered her. A slight tap was on the door, and then
Jacob's face peered through the crack of the door.
"Jacob, how did you get down from the bed?" Scully
anxiously asked, "Wasn't the rail up?"
"Uh huh, I climbed down. What are you doing?" he asked
changing the subject.
"Jacob you could have fallen down," Scully told him.
"Daddy, are you going to go pee?" Jacob asked opening the
door walking in.
"Jeez, does everyone have to be in here. I'm having
problems as it is," Mulder said annoyed. "I want both of
you to leave."
"Sorry partner, I'm staying in here. I have to know if
you urinated, because if you can't, I'll have to ask Nurse
Adams to bring the cathe..." she said, being interrupted by
him.
"NO! Don't call her. I'm under pressure here," he
panicked at the thought.
"Daddy, if you turn on the water, it will help you go,"
Jacob said pointing to the sink.
Scully started laughing, "That's a good idea, my sister-
in-law does that with my nephew when he was being potty
trained. Mulder do you want me to turn on the faucet," she
teased.
"Very funny, now will you two leave me alone," he
insisted. Scully bent down holding onto Jacob's shoulders
and turning his body around, then lightly patting him on
the bottom.
"Go back to the room, you're making your daddy nervous.
And Jacob, do not leave the room, just sit on the chair,"
she ordered.
"Scully, you can leave too," he insisted.
"Nope, I'm here for the duration," she taunted, walking
over to the sink and turning the faucet to a slow stream.
She leaned back on the sink crossing her arms, still
keeping her back towards him. "Mulder, let's say you find
that disc, would you give it to them to secure Jacob's
safety?" she pondered.
"In a second. I don't even know if I care about the
whole conspiracy crap anymore. Not if it means your life
and Jacob's," he responded, leaning forward, left hand up
against the wall in front of him.
"It just baffles me about Cancerman. I mean, he wants to
destroy you but yet he protects you. I don't understand.
He seems to have some kind of connection?" she
contemplated. As she was talking, Mulder seemed to relax
and succeeded in his task at hand. "Mulder, that's what
you needed, Jacob's idea about the faucet and for you not
think of what you had to do. Are you done?" she smiled.
"Easy for you to say, it..." he started to say.
"It what?" the doctor in her asked.
"Nothing, I'm done," he said putting his hands under the
running water that Scully had left on for sound effects,
"just help me back to bed."
"She handed him some paper towels and took him by the arm
walking him out of the bathroom. Walking in the room, they
both gasped as they saw Jacob jumping on Mulder's bed. It
was an easy climb for him from the chair to the bed since
the railing had been lowered to let Mulder out.
"JACOB!" they both shouted, blood rushing down their faces.
"Jacob, do you want to stay in the hospital! What if you
fall and get hurt. Obviously you are 100% well," Mulder
scolded. Scully tried in vein to keep her face solemn, but
she could not help the grin that came out of her face.
"Mulder, I'd rather have him that way then the way he was
hours ago. Maybe he's on his way to a mental recovery. I
think the last minute birthday party with the clowns,
Forhike, Langley and Byers helped him, not to mention
Skinner," she whispered to Mulder walking close to the bed.
Jacob did one last jump landing on his bottom, expression
on his face changing immediately to a pained look.
"See, your bottom still hurts, doesn't it. You keep it
up and I'll give you another," Mulder snapped sitting at
the edge of his bed. Jacob crawled on his knees behind
Mulder, wrapping his little arms around his neck placing
kisses on the back of his head. "You're smooth Jacob, but
it's not going to work."
The rest of the day past, with nurses coming in and out
checking vital signs, writing on the charts, bringing their
meals. Scully left for a few hours, giving them time to
sleep and heal.

SINS OF THE FUTURE(3/3)
From: CorrineLS@socal.rr.com
Author: Lakota
Categories: MSR, M&S Anguish
Rating: NC-13 (a few bad words)

Disclaimer and other stuff in Part 1

SINS OF THE FUTURE(3/3)

Thursday

The three were all sleeping when the nurse walked in to
open the blinds. Scully curled up in the chair that had
been her bed for the last couple of days. Their doctor
came in bright and early making his morning rounds checking
both of them, giving them the good news that they were able
to go home. Scully was given specific instructions for
Mulder since he was still healing. His bruises were
changing in hue, ribs were not as painful and he was able
to talk without taking deep breaths. The only problem
Mulder still had was going to the bathroom at will, but he
wasn't about to tell Scully. He figured that would come in
time. Jacob had made a complete physical recovery as he
started to act like a normal child his age. Scully handed
Jacob his clothes so he could change while she helped
Mulder get dressed. Skinner had arrived minutes before
they were released so that he could help Scully get Mulder
in the car and into his apartment. They arrived at his
apartment with hopefully everything that had transpired in
the last days, behind them. Scully pulled out her keys and
unlocked the door pushing it open, Mulder behind her and
Skinner behind Mulder carrying Jacob and the two small
overnight bags. She took a step in and gasped at the site
of the apartment. Mulder was able to look over her
shoulder. "I should have told you to straighten up the
place a little before we brought Jacob home," he said.

Mulder's Apartment

"But Mulder, I did straighten up. I had this place
looking back to normal yesterday afternoon when I came to
pick up your clothes. This was done after I left," she
whispered, not wanting to alarm the boy. Both Mulder and
Scully looked at each other worried. "Sir, could you
please put Jacob down on the floor and come in the
apartment with me?" she asked. Skinner was confused, but
did as she asked, walking around Mulder and the boy.
"Stay here with Jacob," Scully ordered to Mulder. Scully
and Skinner walked in looking at the new chaos. "I don't
understand sir, they are very serious about the disc. They
want it and it looks like they are not going to stop until
they get it." They both hurriedly straightening the place
again, putting cushions on the sofa, pictures in place,
papers back in some kind of semblance on top of his desk.
Out on the hallway Mulder noticed an uneasy look on the
boy's face. He had his hand in front of his pants pinching
himself and moving back and forth foot to foot. "What's
the matter Jacob?" Mulder asked.
"I have to go to the bathroom. Why can't we go in?" he
asked, starting to cross his legs. With that last bit of
information, Mulder opened the door, "Jacob has to come in,
is it okay to come in now?" he shouted.
"Yea, no problem, come on in," Scully said, as she and
Skinner walked out of the bedroom. Jacob flew past Mulder
running straight to the bathroom, door slamming shut.
"I envy him right now," Mulder whispered.
"You what?" Scully asked, "Mulder is there something you
need to tell me?"
"No, nothing, so was the whole apartment a mess?" he
asked, changing the subject walking slowly.
"Not as bad as the first time. I think they didn't
finish the first time so they came to finish," Skinner
interjected. Minutes later they could hear the toilet
flush and then the water running, "Guess he made it,"
Skinner laughed. "Before he comes out, are we still going
to do a small birthday party for him tomorrow?" Skinner
asked.
"That would be nice. This will be his first birthday
with me," Mulder said sitting on the couch, raising his
long legs on the side of the couch.
"Why don't we just take him somewhere, a pizza place or
something, one of those children's places. The stooges will
show him a good time. Mulder you can just sit and watch,"
Scully suggested. They all agreed to the new plan, with
Skinner volunteering, making the reservations. He was
going to have a couple of agents guard his place during the
time they would be out so that the intruders would not come
back again. Skinner left leaving the three to continue
their day. With each passing hour, Mulder seemed to move a
little easier. The bruises were mere discolored blotches
and his ribs just had a faint soreness. Scully really
wasn't planning on staying the night, but watching Mulder's
slow motion movements, she thought he might need that extra
help with Jacob. He could be a handful and a typical,
almost 6 year old mischievous little guy. Evening came
with the routine 7:00 p.m. bath time and the usual six-year-
old 'I don't want to' mantra.
"Only daddy takes me a bath," Jacob whined, watching
Scully get the water ready.
"You're daddy is not feeling well," she sternly said,
trying to take his shirt off, as Jacob squirmed around
making it an impossible task.
"Scully, that's okay, I'll do it. I'm feeling a lot
better. Don't want to spend any time away from him,"
Mulder said listening to the complaints.
"Alright then, if both of you are okay, then I'm heading
on home..." she began to say, Jacob misinterpreting grabbed
her by the arm.
"I'm sorry, mommy Dana, I'll let you take me a bath," he
sadly said.
"Oh son, that's not what I meant. I'm just going home to
pick up my clothes for tomorrow. I'll be back in about 30
minutes," she said smiling walking out of the bathroom
switching places with Mulder.
"You can take both of us a bath," Mulder whispered, as
they crossed each other at the door.
"Always the comedienne," she responded, poking him on the
stomach walking out.
"No funny stuff today, off with your clothes," Mulder
told. He sat on the toilet seat, helping him undress. He
carried him into the tub then handed him the washcloth
soaked with soap. Mulder leaned back on the tank of the
toilet, folding his arms behind his head, listening to
Jacob sing children's songs. Listing to Jacob, he began to
think of all that had happened in the last month. A
birthday for a boy, which he thought, might be his child.
A disc that supposedly would disclose everything that he
had been searching for all the years of the X-Files.
Diana, what can he make out about her. First a caring
mother bringing Jacob into his life, proclaiming of his
fatherhood. Then abandoning him, with remarks in a
cassette tape of her selfish wants, denouncing the same
child she bore and raised for 5-1/2 years. And Scully, his
Scully, never complaining, never wanting for any more than
what he could give her. Friendship, partnership, complete
respect for all she has done for him and now for Jacob.
His feeling were getting stronger for her with every waking
moment. He wondered whether Jacob had maybe opened that
feeling just a little more than he already knew was there.
He would have to do some serious thinking and serious
talking; he was brought back from his reverie, hearing
Jacob.
"Daddy, are you going to wash my hair or what?"
"Uh, oh yea," he said standing up from the seat opening
the curtain getting a pail full of water all over him.
"JACOB!" Mulder yelled, "When did you put that pail in
there, and damn it haven't I told you not to do that."
Jacob's held his naked stomach doubling over in laughter.
Mulder turned him around and gave him a swat on his bottom,
Jacob's eyes widening in shock. Although Mulder was merely
playing and meant nothing more than a love pat, the look in
the boys eyes told it all. Jacob knew his dad was playing
and the swat was nothing more, but a quick flashback was
clearly shown on his face, eyes immediately tearing.
Mulder realizing what he had done walked into the tub fully
clothed, holding the boy close to him.
"I'm so sorry Jacob, I didn't mean anything by that.
Jacob, I didn't spank you in anger, I was just playing.
I'm so sorry," he kept on saying hugging him under the
spout of the showerhead.
"It's okay daddy, I know sometimes you have to spank me
when I do bad things. I... I... I just remembered," he
said tearfully, looking up at his dad, hair flattened by
the water and his clothes soaked. "Daddy, you look funny,
you didn't take your clothes off."
"Let me wash your hair and then you can get out so I can
take a shower," he said lathering his hands with shampoo
and washing the boys head.
"Daddy, take off your clothes," he kept on giggling head
filled with lather. He rinsed his hair then opened the
shower curtain carrying him out.
"Can you reach the towel?" Mulder asked starting to feel
the chill.
"Nope," the boy answered.
"Ugh," Mulder said under his breath, walking out of the
tub, buckets of water dropping on the floor from his wet
clothing. He walked the short distance and grabbed the
towel, quickly drying Jacob off and wrapping him with the
towel. He pulled off his soaked T-shirt and took a couple
of steps taking off his soaked sweat pants. As his pants
were halfway down his legs, he lost his barring, foot
slipping from the wet floor. With legs flying up, he landed
flat on his butt. Jacob quickly put his two hands up to
his mouth in shock, not knowing whether he should be scared
for his fallen dad or bust out laughing.
"Son of a...." he started to say. He felt the gash on
the back of his leg stretch. The bandage had already
fallen off from the wet clothing, now he wondered whether
he had torn it open. And now to add to all his other
bruises, and nice bruise on his ass.
"Are you okay daddy..." Jacob said trying very hard to
hold back the laughter. He went to him putting his little
arms under Mulder's armpits.
"I really don't think you'll be able to pick me up." He
said turning his body on all four's and stood up, pants
still half way down his legs. They both looked at each
other and busted out laughing.
"You don't say any of this to mommy Dana, RIGHT," he
emphasized. Jacob sat on the toilet seat, but not saying a
word. There was no way that he was going to keep this to
himself. It was way too funny, he thought. Mulder held on
to the wall pulling the rest of his pants off, then got in
the shower. Scully walked in the front door calling out
that she had arrived.
"Daddy, mommy Dana is here, could I go outside to see
her?" he asked.
"Yea sure, go ahead," he replied, lathering his hair.
Jacob came out skipping out of the bathroom, towel still
wrapped around him.
"Jacob, aren't you cold? Scully asked, walking towards
the bedroom, "Here, let me help you get your pajamas on."
"I'm not cold, mommy you know what happened," he said
giggling. He just couldn't keep that a secret, and
besides, he didn't promise.
"What?" she asked, taking the towel off of him and
sliding his underwear on.
"Daddy, got mad a me. I threw lots of water on him when
he was going to put soap on my hair," he started to say,
"he got so mad he spanked me and it hurt because I was
naked, and then I think he remembered what the bad man did
to me."
"I'm sure he didn't mean it," Scully interjected putting
on his pajama bottoms.
"Then I started crying and he went in the shower and
started hugging me. That felt very good. He loves me, huh
mommy?" he questioned.
"Yes he does love you very much. I'm sure it was just a
reaction, he didn't mean to spank you," she continued
putting on his pajama top.
"Then he finished washing my hair and he carried me
outside but I couldn't reach the towel, so, so..." he
continued, putting his hands over his mouth and started
giggling.
"Why does this sound like Mulder is going to be at the
raw end of the deal," she mumbled, "then what happened?"
"Daddy got out of the tub and he got me the towel, so he
started taking his wet clothes off. He took his shirt off,
and then, then, he..." Jacob giggled again, "when he was
taking his pants off, he slipped on the floor. It was
really wet and he fell, he fell on his butt really hard.
Mommy he told me not to tell you. Mommy I think his butt
hurts. And mommy, this is a secret, okay"
"And this is how your keeping a secret," Mulder retorted,
startling both Scully and Jacob. He limped into the
bedroom, towel wrapped around his waist.
"Uh oh, are you going to spank me again?" Jacob asked
worried
"Jacob, why don't you go watch television right now. I
think I better check to see if your dad hurt himself from
the little fall he had," Scully teased. Jacob looked at
Mulder and skipped to the living room.
"So partner..." she started to say when she was
interrupted.
"You just want to play doctor."
"Get over here and lay on your stomach," she demanded
pointing to the bed.
"Scullleeee, umm this position," he tantalized, lying at
the edge of the bed.
"You know, your in a very vulnerable position here so I
suggest you behave," Scully taunted, pulling the towel up
just high enough to uncover the incision.
"Mommy Dana, I don't want to be out there by myself,
could I stay here?" his voice quivered.
"Are you scared?" she asked, walking to the bathroom to
get the first aid kit that was under the sink.
"Uh huh. Bad man might come and get me."
"Then why don't you sit quietly on the bed. You can help
put medicine on your daddy." she told going back to the
bedroom, Jacob jumping on the bed.
"Mulder, you were just starting to heal. At least you
didn't tear it completely," she said swabbing it with
peroxide, patting it dry and putting some butterfly tape.
She then took a bigger bandage to cover the whole incision.
"Now, I hear you hurt something else," she said looking
and Jacob, winking her eye.
"Nah, just the cut," he said, starting to get up when she
pushed him back onto the bed.
"I think we have to take a look, stay still," she
demanded sounding more like a bad side manner doctor
instead of his partner, "Now where did you fall?"
"On my left side, the side of the cut," his answer was
muffled since his face was buried on the bed. She lifted
the towel to expose his left side.
"Mulder, you really fell didn't you. You now have a
brand new black and blue bruise all on your left cheek,"
she teased, looking at Jacob.
"Oh daddy, does it hurt?" he asked, quickly poking at his
bruise.
"OUCH," Mulder yelled, Jacob jumping back startled.
"Isn't it past your bedtime," he scowled.
"But..." Jacob started to say, then thought twice. He
knew it was his fault for his dad's new injury. He thought
that maybe listening to him was better than getting scolded
again. "Good night, Mommy Dana," he said stretching over
kissing her on the cheek. He turned around, crawling to
his side of the bed. With some difficulty he pulled the
covers and got under them. He laid with his back facing
both Mulder and Scully. Scully lowered the towel, covering
Mulder and told him to go get dressed while she went to get
some ice for the newly formed bruise. Scully went back to
the bedroom with a makeshift ice pack, watching Mulder
gently leaned back on the headboard, legs up on the bed.
"Someone's angry at you," Scully said.
"He's the one that started this whole thing. Besides,
I'd rather have him this way then the way he was at the
hospital," Mulder whispered.
"You've got a point, now, bottoms up," she motioned for
him to move his behind up so she can slide the bag of ice,
wrapped in a towel. "Leave this on for about 20 minutes.
Hopefully this will take the swelling down. At the corner
of Mulder's eye, he could see Jacob open his eyes for a
peek, then quickly close them again.
"I'm going to get ready for bed," Scully announced,
picking up her overnight bag and headed for the bathroom.
She was in there for 20 minutes, showering and getting
ready for bed. When she came back into the bedroom, she
was aback to see Jacob in Mulder's arms.
"What happened here, did both of you make your peace's?"
she asked.
"He apologized," Mulder grinned. "He's sound asleep,
can't seem to move him off of me." Scully walked on the
other side, getting into bed and taking the child from him.
He pushed him over to the other side, covering him and
heading out the door.
"Good Night Mulder."
"Wait," Mulder said quickly before she left the room, "I
want to talk to you."
"About..." she asked.
"Life in general," he smiled. "Scully, stay here for a
bit. I want to talk to you."
She walked back sitting at the edge of the bed. Mulder
scooting over to the center of the bed, giving room for
Scully. He tapped the bed, coaxing her to get in.
"Mulder, not here with Jacob,"
He just smiled, "Scully, I'm rubbing off on you. I've
been thinking a lot lately about what has happened these
last few days. As a matter of fact the last couple of
months. I was thinking of what Cigarette Smoking man had
me listen."
"About Diana?" she asked sitting near him.
"Yes," he answered then continued, "I don't know what to
think anymore. How many times has Cancerman tried to do
away with me, but yet he always is there to protect me.
Well, he still seems to get his jollies beating me to a
pulp, but just enough to scare me, or have me back away. He
mentioned some things that disturbed me."
"About Diana?"
"No, what CSM told me when he came into my room in the
hospital. He said, and I quote, 'If you weren't such an
important part of my life, I would have had you eliminated
a long time ago. Too many secrets son too many people
involved in our secrets.' This is what he told me, he
seemed like he really wanted to protect me. Then he
proceeded by saying 'I can't let you come forward with that
disc, because it will destroy me as well. And if I'm
destroyed, whose going to protect you? See Fox, I can
protect you to a limit' So Scully, what do you make of
those words? Especially when he said, whose going to
protect me." Mulder pondered.
"That is confusing," she said, taking his hand on hers.
"Remember when I went to mom's and accused her of having
an affair. All I got out of it was a slap across the face.
She didn't really answer the question. I kept on telling
her to just answer the question. But she wouldn't. She
said if I wanted to kill dad again. I know you were ready
to kill me for doing those tests on me, huh?" he asked
smiling.
"I don't know what got into you Mulder, why would you
have wanted to do that to yourself," she said, remembering
the events that occurred to him when he decided to visit
Dr. Charles Goldstein. You were having those seizures,
those tests that you put yourself through."
"I know Scully, not one of my smartest moves. But I
needed to know about Samantha. I still do. I remember the
flashbacks with dad and Cigarette Smoking Man. I believed
the flashbacks then. I doubted them later, but now, with
what Cancerman told me. Scully, mom didn't answer the
question. And now that floppy disc that is supposedly in
my hands. What would I do if I had it? Would I want to
finally bring him to justice, because obviously, there is
nothing good in that disc? Now he has Jacob and you over
my head. I would always live in fear that they can take
either of you at any time." He sadly said.
"Mulder as I said before, I'm a big girl, I carry a
gun," she tried to make light.
"Scully, they've taken you before. I almost lost it last
time. The only reason I didn't loose it was my mere
determination that I would bring you back, that I would
find you. And now Jacob, I love this little guy. They've
already taken him, they can do it again. They didn't hurt
him this time, again because CSM was protecting me. But
what happens if someone else in the syndicate comes after
him. I can't be with him 24 hours a day. Do I have to
live in constant fear of loosing either of you."
"Mulder, I..." she started to say and then was
interrupted by his finger to her lips.
"Shhhh, I'm on a roll here. Let me talk, or I'll loose
my nerve," he mumbled.
"Loose your nerve regarding what?' she asked innocently.
"To tell you what you mean to me."
"I know what I mean to you, you don't have to tell me,"
she tried to relief him of his nervousness.
"That's the problem Scully, we know but we don't say it."
"When I was married, Star was my life. I thought I would
never love another and she was taken away from me, just
like Samantha was. When Diana came into the picture, I
thought I had fallen in love again. But Scully, I don't
know if you'll believe me, but I think it was just
something I needed, not sexually, but I had to fill that
void. There was never that feeling that I would die
without her, that I couldn't exist if she wasn't around.
Sure, I was hurt when she left me. I think it was mostly
the loss of someone leaving me again, but it wasn't the
same. When I saw her in front of the elevator months ago,
I just felt anger, not love Scully, just anger," he
continued, placing his arm around her shoulders and
bringing her close to him.
"Mulder I..."
"Scully, do you have to keep on interrupting me. Let me
finish," he sounded exasperated then continued, "I don't
know if Jacob is my son. I sometimes feel that he has to
be, I love him too much not to be my flesh and blood. Then
I think, what if he's not, what if Diana decides one day to
teach me a lesson, to take him away. She has all the
right."
"Whether he's your son or not, why don't you take steps
to get custody?" she urged.
"I'll have to take a blood test to proof that he is mine,
and what if he's not?"
"You have proof, you can get the proof from CSM regarding
the conversation she had with him about Jacob."
"And then what, be at his mercy for him doing me a
favor," he said.
"You're right Mulder, we'll have to try another way."
"Scully, I..., I want to thank you for always being with
me. For being my rock, my partner, my friend, my..." he
said softly. "I want to thank you for being Jacob's Mommy
Dana," he smiled. "You are so important to me, you're my
life and my soul mate" He turned slightly with a squint on
his face from the pain on his backside, then pulled the
melted ice pack that she had done for him. He cupped her
face with his hands and brought her close to him. She
remembered instantly a certain event in the hallway, and
unlike that moment, her eyes widened, her eyes tearing from
his words. Although he had not said the three words, he
might as well have said them. He was not comfortable
saying it, but this was good enough for her. A tear traced
down her face as she felt herself move closer to him,
closer and closer until they could feel the warmth of their
breaths. They're lips parted as they guided each others
face.
"Daddy, mommy what are you doing? Are you going to kiss
her?" Jacob shouted waking up, immediately getting up to
his knees.
"Urgh how do parents have private moments, in fact, how
does the world populate with little ones like you," Mulder
grumbled.
"First a bee, now a 5 year old boy," Scully laughed.
"Mommy I'm almost 6, tomorrow I'll be six, right," he
said getting close to both of them, wrapping his arms
around them. "Daddy, I'm sorry for making you fall in the
bathroom."
"You didn't do it Jacob, I just slipped. I feel a lot
better. Now Jacob, weren't you suppose to be asleep? He
asked, and then continued. "Jacob, I want to tell you
something very important. Remember when the bad man hit you
on your bottom. That was not a spanking. That was a hit,
he hit you because he was a bad man. I don't believe in
spanking, but if I ever do, it's not because I want to hurt
you like that bad man. I just think that sometimes you
might deserve it. Do you understand the difference? When
I spanked you today in the shower, it wasn't because I
wanted to hurt you, it was just a reaction from what you
did." Jacobs face turned solemn, looking down at the
sheets of the bed, fiddling them with his fingers.
"I know daddy, I know that you didn't want to hurt me. I
was bad because I threw water at you, but daddy, it was
very funny."
"Get over here," he laughed, turning him over his knee
and pretending to give him some swats. "Okay, now we both
have sore bottoms, now * get to bed * or else I won't be
playing. It will be a real spanking." Jacob kissed each
one and when back under the covers. Without another
warning, Mulder turned to face Scully. She shrugged her
shoulders in a 'oh well' gesture.
"Not this time Scully, I don't care if a bee, or Jacob
stops us. In fact, Jacob watch this," he smiled. Jacob
turned his head at his dad's request. Mulder grabbed
Scully by her shoulders and brought her towards him. Her
eyes again widened in surprise, "Not this time Scully," He
slowly neared her face and delicately touched her lips.
Their lips opened and a kiss that had been waiting for six
years. Not the small pecks that they gave each other as
carrying friends, but a kiss that was needed by both of
them for many years. They both fell into oblivion,
forgetting where they were at, forgetting that a small
little boy was watching them. But at that moment, nothing
mattered, nothing. They parted lips and both smiled giving
each other a very loving hug.
"Daddy kissed Mommy, daddy kissed mommy," Jacob cheered
with glee.
"Daddy going to spank Jacob, if he doesn't get to sleep."
Mulder responded.
"But you woke me up." Jacob said. Mulder stretched over
to turn off the light on the nightstand.
"Mulder, I have to go to sleep now, the couch is calling
my name." She said trying to wiggle herself out of his
embrace.
"Stay here Scully, just cuddle with me. I won't try
anything, I promise," he whispered. "As if I could try
anything with him sharing my bed," he said, looking at
Jacob. He held her closer to him, sliding down onto the
bed. She followed suit, not breaking the embrace.
"Good thing I have a king size bed," he whispered in her
ear.
"Good night Mulder," she said sarcastically, laying on
her side.
"Good night, daddy and mommy" Jacob raised his head again
smiling.

Friday

Morning had come, as she felt the sun shining on her face
from the window across the room. She tried to pry her eyes
open but didn't want to loose the moment. Had she really
slept in his arms the whole night? Oh sure, in assignments
during the six years, there were times that they slept in
the same area, but not really together. She didn't think
that sleeping in the forest singing to him a lullaby of
Jeremiah Was A Bullfrog, counted as sleeping 'together'.
How funny, he was injured back then too. <Mulder, ...my
Mulder is there ever a time you aren't injured?> she smiled
at the thought. She felt her body stiff and sore. She
knew that it must not have been a restful sleep as she
realized that she was in the same position she was in
before she fell asleep. She tried to loosen the hold he had
on her, but only managed to embrace her tighter. It almost
felt that in his slumber he didn't want her to leave him.
Knowing that she was unable to make any movement, she
settled for a little meditation on what exactly transpired
the night before. Never in her wildest dreams had she
thought that this was the way it was going to happen. <In
bed with a six year old little boy> she smirked. <Happen,
what actually happened, surely not the torrid lovemaking
that sometimes would brush through her subconscious mind
and quickly fade as fast as it came> Instead a delicate
dialogue that was brought up by Mulder, and a kiss. A kiss
that she waited for all these years, a kiss that was
finally undisturbed from that pesky bee. Although, there
was this little six year old boy that interrupted the
moment. She had a days work ahead of her and staying in
his arms was not going to accomplish anything. She
squirmed herself until finally she was free from his grip
on her. She wouldn't have minded if they could have stayed
that way for hours, but she had to arrange the birthday
party for that little guy who stole their heart. She
showered and started getting breakfast ready, calling the
Lone Gunmen and Skinner. Even though a small impromptu
birthday party was held at the hospital a couple of days
before, she felt that they needed to have another one at
home, a special first birthday with Mulder. She did
everything that needed to be done then proceeded to wake up
the two. The day past quickly and around 2:00 p.m. Jacob
was surprised by the knocking of the door, "Daddy can I
open the door, maybe it's mommy?" he asked. Both Mulder and
Scully looked at each other, pained at the thought that
Diana had not even bothered to call to wish her son a Happy
Birthday. He had brought up the subject a couple of times
during the day, wondering if she had called. And all they
could do is lie to him, telling him that she must be at a
place where a phone was not available. Skinner walked in
with the cake and the Lone Gunmen followed behind with
punch, ice cream, presents and balloons. "You're not
wearing the clown costume," Jacob joyfully said, standing
behind Scully as she opened the door.
"Not today, but doesn't mean we won't have fun," Frohike
said, placing the presents on the center table. Mulder
was pleased that the Gunmen were getting close to the boy.
What better nannies then the three most paranoid people in
the world? He would trust them with Jacob, to watch him
when he and Scully had to go on assignments. They stayed
there for a few hours playing with Jacob, making him forget
everything bad that had happened to both him and Mulder.
Every once in awhile a nudge of an elbow from one of the
Lone Gunmen to each other, then faces looking towards
Mulder and Scully as they sat atypically close to each
other. Skinner had also noticed the simple body movement,
the slight touch of the hand, the twinkle in their eyes.
The only ones that were oblivious to their actions were
themselves.
The day was a long one and Mulder was starting to show
signs of exhaustion. His body still sore, not counting the
new bruise he had acquired the day before. Scully noticed
his fidgety movements and had decided that the day was to
come to a close. They all said their good-byes leaving
Jacob on the floor with all his new toys and books.
"Jacob it's 7:00 p.m., you know what time it is, bath
time," Scully announced starting to pick up the toys around
the floor.
"But mommy is going to come, she has to come for my
birthday," he said sitting up giving her that so familiar
look that Mulder was good at.
"Jacob, maybe your mom can't come today. Look why don't
you do as Scully says and I'll try reaching her tomorrow
morning, okay" Mulder told, saddened by the look on the
boys face. Reluctantly he got off the floor and walked to
the bedroom, head bowed.
"I can't believe that she couldn't even give him a call,
she doesn't deserve him," Mulder said in anger, walking to
the bathroom to help Jacob with his bath. Scully waited for
the bath to finish to help get Jacob dressed for bed, than
went on her way to her apartment. She was getting used to
staying at his place, but that was not her home.
Mulder laid on his back, arms folded behind his neck
staring at the ceiling, while Jacob followed suit. Mulder
hadn't noticed but lately Jacob was getting in the habit
of copying his every movement. Whatever Mulder would do,
Jacob would follow. "Daddy I have two mommies and not one
is here. Why didn't my other mommy come, or why didn't she
call me. I haven't seen her in a long time," his eyes
moistened, "And then mommy Dana didn't want to stay either."
"Jacob, Dana has her own place. I would love for her to
be here all the time, but right now..." he started to say
then was interrupted by Jacob as he started twirling
Mulder's hair with his little finger. "But why daddy?
Doesn't mommy's and daddy's live together?" he asked
innocently.
"Jacob it's time for bed, we'll talk about this
tomorrow," Mulder said ignoring his questions.
With each passing day, Mulder's bruises were nearly gone.
He only wished that the fear in Jacob's eyes would
diminish as well. If he walked out of the room, Jacob was
quickly at his heels. Even when Mulder had to use the
bathroom, Jacob was waiting for him sitting on the bathroom
floor. Skinner was gracious enough to give them the rest
of the week off but Monday was coming sooner than they
wanted. He had arranged with the Gunmen to be at the
school and pick Jacob up not one second after the end of
the day. As each day past, Jacob's questions about Diana
became constant. Mulder only believed in telling the boy
the truth and that's why it was so hard for him to
constantly sugarcoat Diana's absence. At times he wanted
to look for her and ask what made her neglect Jacob all
together, but at the same time he feared that maybe she
would have an excuse to take him away. He knew he was being
selfish, but he couldn't bare the alternative.

Monday

It took a lot of coaxing in Mulder's part to get Jacob
ready for school.
"I don't want to go to school daddy," Jacob sadly said.
"You know you have to. Remember all the talks we've had,
I'll walk you to the classroom and Frohike, Byers and
Langley will pick you up. They'll keep you at their place
until I get out of work," Mulder tried to convince him.
"Now come on, you don't want to make me late do you.
Remember we have to pick Scully up." They both walked out
of their apartment heading towards Scully and within 30
minutes Mulder was standing in front of the classroom,
waiting for the teacher to take Jacob by the hand. He bent
down giving him a kiss on the forehead and walked back to
the car.

Across the street from the school was a park, a park that
was silent during the mornings except for a periodic
jogger. The park was lined with trees and flowers adorned
it's circumference, picnic tables and a play area. A well-
dressed man leaned against the oak tree, taking his usual
puff of his cigarette watching across the park onto the
school to see Mulder and Scully walk the boy into his
classroom. Another man walked up to him standing next to
him, turning towards the school trying to see what was so
interesting across the way.
"The boy..., he's looking a lot better now," Slim said to
the Cigarette Smoking Man. "We're not planning on taking
him again, are we?"
"No, of course not, I'm just standing here fantasizing at
how it could have been. You know, I could have seen myself
walking him to school when he was a little boy. But fate
was not to be on our side. Instead unfortunate
circumstances brought a group of us to follow the rules of
the unknown. Fox has been through so much. Sometimes I
wonder why he was even conceived, only to live the life
he's been living. But I take my hat off to him, because
he's not a quitter, he will move the world to get to the
truth." CSM was narrating to the thin man next to him.
"What brings you here?" he asked out of his reverie.
"The group wanted me to bring you a message. Diana is
not playing right. It seems that she has been very busy
lately. Word has it that she is being her own boss. A
couple of men from the group confronted her a couple of
days ago. It wasn't a pretty site as she is adamant not
to join the group. They think that she has something up
her sleeve that will not be good for us, and they have word
that she will go up against Fox Mulder as well," Slim
explained.
"It doesn't surprise me. It's going to be a race now at
who gets that disc first. She has everything to loose by
having the disc come forward. There is as much damaging
evidence against her as it has regarding the group. I
wonder what she has in mind?" CSM considered.
"Well, I think she might go after the boy. I have
something here that was confiscated from the lab at the
FBI. The group told me to have you read it, something
about the boy." Slim said handing him a legal size envelope
to CSM. He took the envelope and hesitated before tearing
the end open. He opened the paper and read the contents,
his unsmiling face reading the paternity of the child.
"This information changes things" He placed his hand in
his coat pocket pulling out a cassette. "I want you to
make a copy of this cassette. Then I want you to hand over
the copy to Fox Mulder's partner, Scully. She has not seen
you before so you can dress like a delivery boy or
something. It is important that they get this. They will
need to hold this as insurance for the boy. Do this as
quickly as possible. I have a feeling Diana is getting
ready to plot her vengeance."

X-File Basement Office

"He'll be alright Mulder. They are going to take special
care of him," Scully reassured him as they both walked into
their basement office. The uneasiness was not just on
Jacob's face, but Mulder's was as somber as the boy. He
seemed to be on auto-pilot, looking through files and
separating in piles of importance. Scully would steal
glances up at him every once in awhile, trying to read his
mind. The hours past with Mulder glancing at his watch
continuously. It was now afternoon and time for the Gunmen
to pickup the boy. He phoned them immediately, wanting to
know if Jacob was all right. He waited until they reached
the apartment and seemed to have a sigh of relief. They
continued with their paperwork when Mulder found an
envelope under a pile of papers.
"What is that?" Scully asked him, watching him pick up a
brown envelope that was tucked under his phone.
"I don't know, it has my name on the outside." He turned
the envelope several times as if the handling was going to
secretly tell him the contents. He opened the envelope
pulling out a sheet of paper. He picked up his reading
glasses and sat down on his chair, turning the paper right
side up, then proceeded to read it. Scully noticed the
expression on his face changed drastically, the blood on
his face seemed to drain with every sentence he read. She
stood up from her seat walking towards him. She stood
behind him trying to read over his shoulder. She placed her
hands over his shoulders in a comforting gesture. "What's
the matter Mulder?" she asked again.
"Diana is going to take Jacob away from me. She said
if I don't give her the disc, there will be consequences
for me," he mumbled, taking his glasses off pinching the
bridge of his nose. He folded his arms on the desk, lying
his head over his arms. Scully took the paper from his
clutched hands and started reading it.

Fox:
When I first met you Fox, you were a young, well-centered
person, knowing where you were heading. You were so much
in love with your wife and no matter how much I tried to
get your attention, you didn't have eyes for me. I got
tired of waiting for you and Gary was there. In fact, Gary
was there a lot, before and after. After Star died, I
thought I had a chance. In fact when you asked me to move
in with you, I thought we would be together for life. You
would ask me to marry you and we would look for aliens,
discover the unknown, and find the answers to the X-Files.
I wasn't planning on having a child. Oh I thought of having
a little Fox many times, but a child would interfere with
our work. But as fate would have it, I did end up
pregnant. You didn't know that I had another secret,
another job, a well paying job. As the old saying goes, I
was given an offer I couldn't refuse. I wasn't going to
let the pregnancy slow me down, not with this great offer,
so I chose to leave. You might think that I neglected
Jacob, but I didn't. Oh I traveled a lot and he was left
behind but he was well taken care of by friends. I was a
good mother to him. I made sure to bring him gifts from my
travels around the world. On my last trip I came home and
saw Jacob napping on his little bed and my heart ached. I
realized how much I neglected him. That's when I thought
to bring him back here, to give him to you. I knew that
you would give him the love he needed. Me... I wanted a
rest and then continue with my own work, quit the
organization. But the association is bigger then all of us
and they won't let me go. I need some insurance that
nothing will happen to me. My insurance is Jacob. And
along with Jacob, I need that disc Fox. There is too many
damaging information that I will not let out in the open. I
wouldn't care if the information only had to do with the
syndicate, but there's enough information to stop me from
any future anywhere. So you must understand that you have
to hand over the disc, or Jacob is coming with me and you
will * never * see him again, after all, I am his mother.
Legally you have no hold on him. I was just being nice. I
will fight for him and I will win, so what is it Fox, the
boy or the disc?
By the way, did you know that Scully knows who Jacob's
father is? Oh yes she does, Fox, she's known for a long
time. It amuses me to see that you still don't understand
that you must trust no one. I will contact you later at
where we are to meet. Bring the boy or bring the disc.
And I really suggest that this letter is destroyed, or the
future would not be good for you. If it isn't Jacob, it
might be Scully.
Diana

"Fox, I don't know what to say, I..." she started to say
as she knelt by the desk trying to bring him to her chest.
He pushed himself away keeping his distance.
"Is it true Scully? Do you know who the father is?"
"I... I..." she muttered, words not wanting to come out.
"What is it Scully?" he asked lifting his head, eyes
darkened in anger.
She stood up from her crouching position near Mulder,
"Let's go Mulder; we have to pickup Jacob. I'll tell you
what you want to know, but not here." They were back at
the apartment within 45 minutes, Jacob running to the
kitchen grabbing a fruit from the refrigerator.
"Daddy, I was a little scared, but then I started playing
and the teacher said they were going to take good care of
me."
"You were brave son," Mulder said, emphasizing the word
son as he looked at Scully. "Jacob, when you finish your
snack, can you go and get out of your school clothes. Why
don't you turn on the television in the bedroom, Dana and I
have to talk. We'll be in the living room" Scully was
dreading the confrontation. How could she explain it to
him? How could she tell him the truth? She thought.
Mulder went to sit at the corner of the couch, motioning
her to sit next to him.
"Mulder, remember nights ago when you held me in your
arms and we slept together. Well sort of sleeping
together," she smiled. "I waited for that night for many
years." Mulder turned to his side and took a hold of her
hand. "I'm a little slow aren't I?"
"What I'm trying to get at is that in all those years
we've protected each other from whatever has been thrown
our way, and I guess I was protecting you."
"You were protecting me from the truth? So what is it
that you're saying or not saying. Scully. Jacob is my son,
he looks just like me," Mulder said with determination.
"Yes he does, he looks a lot like you. Mulder, do you
remember what Gary looked like?" she asked him, trying
desperately for him to understand where she was heading."
Mulder was either not listening or was avoiding the
inevitable. "Everyone in the Bureau thought we were
brothers. They said we looked alike"
Scully realized that this was not going to be easy, so she
continued, "I'm not going to justify for going behind your
back. I guess I wanted to know for myself. Mulder when
Jacob came into our lives, you had doubts, so I went with
those doubts and investigated. I received the results the
day Diana dropped him off at your apartment, after we
thought she had taken him away. At that moment I realized
that it didn't matter whose blood went through his veins. I
knew he was your son." Scully stood up and knelt in front
of him. She cupped her small hands in his placing them on
his lap. "Mulder I read the results that day and I ripped
them up, throwing them in the toilet, it didn't matter.
The results were of no importance. But now it is, because
Diana is determined to take him away. Mulder, I'm so
sorry, so very very sorry but Jacob is not your son. The
DNA was checked, and there was not match with yours. He is
Gary's son. Gary who looked so much like you."
"You're lying to me Scully, you are just jealous, you
don't want me to have a son because you can't..." he said
choking on his last words. Scully knew he didn't mean
those stabbing words, she knew he was in horrible pain.
She stood up from the kneeling position and sat right next
to him bringing him towards her. His throat agonized with
a heaviness, trying not to cry. She was lying, he knew
that. His priorities had changed, his heart was filled with
love for not only Scully but now for that little boy in his
bedroom. How can she be so cruel and tell him these words.
"Mulder he is your son and he always will be. He may not
have your blood, but he is more your son than the two that
conceived him," she consoled bringing his head to the crook
of her neck. The moment his head felt her skin he let go.
His tears wouldn't stop, he cried with loud sobs that
brought Jacob into the room.
"Daddy what's the matter, daddy don't cry," Jacob
tearfully said climbing on the couch crawling between both
of them. He kept on hugging Mulder, kissing him everywhere
he could reach. "Mommy Dana, what's the matter? Is daddy
sick?" Scully loosened her grip and let Jacob crawl on
Mulder's lap. The boy wrapped his arms around his neck
continuing with the kisses on his face. "Daddy you told me
that it was okay for boys to cry, so you can cry." Scully
took the child from Mulder's lap giving him a chance to
regain his composure. He wiped the tears from his eyes
with his arms, then stood up walking towards the bathroom.
"Jacob honey, daddy is very sad right now. We just need
to help him get better, okay." After about five minutes
Mulder went back to the living room, sitting back down on
the corner of the couch. He turned to look at the computer
and picked up an old blank disc that was lying near the
keyboard.
"All this because of a stupid disc. This truth didn't
have to come out if it wasn't for this?" he said angrily
throwing the disc on the desk.
"Daddy, what is that?" the boy asked curiously.
"Something I wished never existed." Mulder responded.
Jacob wrinkled his eyebrows in confusion.
"Is that a bad thing, because daddy I know where there's
another of those bad things," he innocently said. It was
now Mulder and Scully's turn to look confused.
"A long time ago you were taking a bath and I heard
knocking at the door. I sneaked out of the bathroom
because you told me to not go anywhere. Daddy am I going
to get a spanking if I tell you a secret?" he asked but
continued before he got the answer. "I opened the door and
there was a bag on the floor," he said squirming out of
Scully's lap and walked around the couch heading for the
fish tank. He squatted, and squeezed between the shelf and
maneuvered his arm to the backside of the tank pulling out
the floppy disc that everyone was interested in.
"Oh my God Mulder, it was here all along," Scully said
standing up immediately taking the disc from his hand.
"This is our insurance, this is what will help us keep
Jacob," she said whispering the last sentence. The three
flinched at the simultaneously noise from the phone ringing
and the knocking of the front door. Mulder went to answer
the phone at the same time that Scully went to answer the
door. At the door was a young boy looking about 15 years
old. She seemed to recognize him as one of the tenants of
the apartment building.
"Are you Ms. Scully?: the young man asked. She shook her
head as he handed her cassette. "A man told me to give it
to Ms. Scully." She took the cassette and quickly took a
step towards the hall.
"Ma'am, he's gone already. He told me to wait until the
car drove away," the teenager said. She thanked him and
shut the door.
"If I told you that I now have the disc and don't care to
know what's in the contents, would you agree to forget
everything?" he tried to convince the caller. "No I
haven't downloaded the disc, I have no idea what's in..."
he started to say then was interrupted. "A cassette, no I
haven't seen a..." Mulder said turning around looking at
Scully walk back into the living room holding up her hand
with the cassette. "Yes I'll listen to it when I get it,
you will call me again right?" He finished the
conversation and placed the handset back on it's cradle.
They put the tape in the cassette player and started
listening to the conversation that Cancerman was having
with Diana. As soon as they heard Diana's cutting words,
they lowered the volume and had Jacob go to the kitchen to
bring them a snack. They turned the volume back up
listening to the biting words that Diana said. Scully
turned to face Mulder, "How can she say she loves him,
Mulder we have the upper hand, we can threaten her with
this cassette."
"What timing, Cigarette Smoking Man himself was on the
phone right now, asking if I've received the cassette. I
also told him I had the disc," he said, holding onto both
the cassette and the disc in each other.
"What are you going to do, Mulder?" she asked. He went
to his desk and pulled out a new package of zip discs,
placing it in the zip drive and proceeded to copy the
information over.
"Insurance." After completing copying over the disc, he
took it out and handed it to Scully "Put this copy where
Jacob hid the original. Your hands are smaller and can
reach back there. Obviously it was a pretty good hiding
place since no one was able to find it," Mulder said. She
squatted on the floor trying to imitate the mannerism of
Jacob and securely hid the disc.
She stood up looking at her watch, "Mulder it's time that
we have dinner. Look, why don't we go have dinner then
take me home. Tomorrow is another day and we have a lot of
thinking to do." Mulder walked close to her taking hold of
her hand and bringing her close to him.
"Scully..." he said faltering in his voice.
"Umm," she answered, surprised at the immediate hold on
her.
"Spend the night," hesitating in every word.
"Mulder, I..." she tried to say.
"I need you Scully, Jacob and I need you."
She thought for a second then realized the blow that she
had given to him. <Most likely he would not sleep all night
thinking that Jacob was not his son.> she contemplated.
"Alright then, lets have dinner then take me to my
apartment to get some clothes and I'll come back to stay
the night."
"No Scully, I want you to * stay * the night," he
whispered in her ear, placing emphasis on the word 'stay'.
She looked up at this man that towered her in height, his
hazel eyes the expression of a man who could go no longer.
"I'll * stay *," she responded, stroking his cheek with
the backside of her fingers. The sound of little feet
broke the spell as they both separated their embrace. "I'm
hungry."
"Come on then let's go have dinner." Mulder said
stretching his arms out, as Jacob ran to him.

Monday Evening

Jacob was now aware that when the big hand of the clock
was pointing straight up and the little hand was just a
little bit to the left, that it was time for his shower and
bedtime shortly after. He knew that if he dilly dallied
long enough and had his dad read yet another page of the
book, he could maybe stay up until the little hand was a
little higher up on the left. He would smile to himself
knowing that it worked all the time. He laid on his side,
perching his head on his hand, elbow resting on the bed,
starring at Mulder. He wondered what had happened earlier
that evening. He was bothered at what he had seen. He
didn't know his daddy for very long, but he never had seen
him cry, not really cry like he was doing before. He knew
he was little but he knew something was not right. He was
really happy that his daddy told his mommy Dana to stay
with them. He knew that she would make his daddy smile. He
always noticed his daddy's face when she was with them.
Maybe she could make him smile.
"Jacob, are you listening to the story?" Mulder asked
realizing that the pair of hazel eyes were starring at him.
"Daddy why were you crying?" he asked sadly. Mulder's
expression changing from the smile to a solemn look, his
thoughts racing to the information that was given to him
earlier. He closed the book, placing it on the nightstand
and enveloped the boy close to him. He cradled him tightly,
in hopes that nothing and no one would ever take him away.
But he knew there was a chance that he would have to let
go. He didn't care if his blood didn't go through his
veins, he had more love towards him that his own biological
mother. He felt the tightness on his chest and tried
fruitlessly to hold back the tears that started flowing.
"Daddy I'm scared, are you sick?"
"No honey, your daddy isn't sick, he just is sad right
now. So why don't we make him happy," Scully said walking
out of the bathroom, wearing a white terrycloth bathroom,
hair bundled up in a towel. She ran to the bed, jumping on
it and started tickling both Jacob and Mulder. Jacob
started giggling and followed suit tickling Mulder as well.
After a couple of minutes of tickling, Scully got up to
change into her pajamas.
"Just got something in my eye," Mulder said feigning his
emotions and wiping the tears that filled his eyes.
"Uh huh, you told me daddy that boys and men could cry,"
Jacob said not buying his excuses.
"He got you there, partner," Scully remarked combing her
wet hair. "Now, it's late and you young man have school
tomorrow, and you," she said pointing to Mulder, have work.
She turned off the light and headed for the living room.
It didn't take long for Jacob to fall asleep. Mulder and
Scully were both in separate rooms, both glaring at the
ceiling, thinking of the events of the evening. Scully
mind was on Mulder, thinking how he must be feeling,
knowing now the truth. Jacob was not his son, and knowing
that Diana could take the boy away at any time. Again,
someone Mulder loved was going to be snatched from his
life. Mulder in the meantime, lay on his side, watching
the in and out of Jacob's chest, his breathing in a
rhythmic motion, feeling how empty he would feel without
him. Then his mind turned to Scully, how selfish he had
been all this time. The burden that she must have had
keeping the paternity of the boy a secret. The cards had
not been dealt fairly for her. First, she meets a looser,
secondly, because of the looser she gets abducted and
horrible tests are done to her. Then because of the tests,
she no longer can bare children. But yet a daughter was
produced scientifically, but yet a child none the less.
Emily a beautiful little girl that was brought into the
world, only to be taken away. Now Jacob, a child that he
thought was his, a child that opened his heart to Scully as
his mommy and now Jacob was going to be taken away from
both of them. The more he thought, the more he needed to
see her. He needed to hold her. He got up from the bed
and walked quietly to the darkened living room. He knelt
by the side and lowered his head on her hip.
"Mulder," she whispered, lowering her hand combing his
hair with her fingers.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to wake you, I couldn't sleep,"
he muttered.
"I couldn't sleep either Mulder, are you okay?" she asked
then smiled at the three words that seemed to be their
motto. He stood up and sitting on the edge of the couch,
holding onto her hand.
"Come here Mulder," she softly said, scooting as far as
she could and bringing Mulder down to lie next to her.
They held each other tightly at the small confinements of
the couch, but the togetherness would have been the same if
they were in the open sands of the beach. "It will be
alright, you'll see. We will win this one, Mulder. You
and I will have our child. They took Emily away from me
and they will * not * take Jacob away from you. They will
not take Jacob away from us," she softly spoke in his ear.
"Is there a bee around?" she whispered.
"I don't think so," he mumbled back.
She kissed him lightly on his forehead, his eyelids, his
cheeks and then moved to his earlobes, nibbling at them,
teasing him. She cupped his cheeks with her hands and
moved to his lips, kissing him, outlining his lips with her
tongue.
"Scully you're killing me here," he mumbled, trying
desperately to control his body, but he knew he wasn't
going to succeed. How could he hide his arousal, there was
no way she wasn't going to be able to feel him, restricted
in the position they were both in. In the six years they
were partners together, he kept himself in control, he had
to, he didn't want to loose the friendship they had. Oh
there were many times he fantasized, he would think 'what
if', but he knew those thoughts were forbidden to both of
them. And now, after all these years, was 'now' the time
that they could show the love that they desperately evaded,
dodged, averted, whatever the word was, they were pros at
it. He felt himself grow the heat him unbearable. He took
her hand and guided her to him, placing her hand over his
boxers, feeling the warmth of her hands through the
material. He moaned at the touch.
Scully was a medical doctor, and heaven knows how many
times she had to doctor him back to health. She had seen
him many times, in the all together that is, but never in
this way. She fantasized, she would thing 'what if', but
she knew those thoughts were forbidden to both of them.
And now, after all these years, was 'now' the time that
they could show the love that they desperately evaded,
dodged, averted whatever the word was, they were both pros
at it. She felt his arousal up against her, rubbing
against her, god she wanted him. She felt him take her
hand and guide her, guide her to his beautiful self. She
touched him, felt the heat in him, then she took the
initiative and moved her hand in his waistband, moving her
hand in, touching him, feeling him, his hardness, his
fullness.
"Daddy, Mommy I'm scared," came the sound of Jacob
standing by the couch. All they could both think was
'thank God the lights were off'. Mulder's breathing heavy,
nearly panting placed his arm over Scully's hand trying to
hide the placement of her hand. Scully discretely moved
her hand out from his boxers, closing her eyes in
frustration.
"What's the matter Jacob, we're both here," Scully said.
"I thought they took daddy away again," Jacob whimpered.
"No honey, we're not going to let that happen again,"
Scully said, realizing how selfish her frustration was.
The boy was still frightened at what had happened just
weeks before. Mulder's feelings diminished and all he
could do was laugh.
"Well Scully, it wasn't meant to happen today, but one of
these days, you are not going to get away form me," he
whispered in her ear.
"Is that a promise? We better go put him to bed," she
answered both trying to maneuver themselves out of the
confines of the couch. They put Jacob to bed, pulling the
covers over him. Mulder got in bed along side of him,
Scully walking out of the room.
"Mommy Dana, I want you to sleep with me," Jacob said,
sitting up quickly.
"Yes mommy Dana, we want you to sleep with us," Mulder
snickered. She gave Mulder a devious look and walked around
the bed and placed Jacob in the middle of both of them,
"Scuullllleeeee" he pouted.
"Mommy Dana, I think you better sleep on daddy's side
because he's sad," Jacob said worried.
"He he he, I'm very sad," Mulder giggled devilishly. She
walked around the bed again and laid down on the edge of
the bed, moving Mulder to the middle. She turned to face
him taking his person in her hand, teasing him. She kept
her hand there, until she felt his arousal in her hand. He
fidgeted uncomfortable amazed at how quickly he responded
to her touch.
"He he he to you, * Good night Mulder *," she teased and
turned around ignoring his wants.
"You'll pay," he said frustrated.
"I hope," she responded.

Tuesday Morning

Mulder and Scully met with Skinner the following morning
to appraise him on the activities that had happened the
night before-the disc, the cassette. With his blessing,
the two proceeded to get notes together, call agency to the
legalities of keeping Jacob.

"What do you mean I can't take him out of school, he's my
son. I have an important business trip to go to and he
needs to come with me. I am his mother," Diana argued with
the secretary in the front office of the pre-school.
"I'm sorry ma'am, but your name is not in the emergency
contact list. I was given specific instructions not to let
him released to anyone except for the people that are on
this list," answered the secretary.
"I will have you know that I work for the FBI and I will
have them here in no time at all," she continued.
"I'm sorry, we were given specific instructions. If you
work for the FBI, then contact his father, have him call us
to release Jacob. I believe he would have told us
something this morning when the boy was dropped off," the
young girl was adamant.
"You will hear from me!" Diana yelled stomping out of the
office.
"What was that all about?" asked the assistant to the
principal.
"She claims to be Jacob's mother. I thought the pretty
red-head that is always with Mr. Mulder is the mother. Who
knows, but I'm not about to have that poor boy taken again."
Diana stalled at the entrance of the office when the
recess bell rang. The children ran out of their
perspective classrooms heading out to the playground. She
looked around until she saw the little guy, dressed in
jeans and a striped shirt. He was doing his usual jumping
that seemed to be Jacob's forte. <Jacob I still love you
son, I really do. I just have to do other things for
myself> Diana thought to herself walking towards the boy.

"I better call Mr. Mulder, regarding this woman. There's
just something about her that doesn't seem quite right,"
the secretary told the assistant. "Can you keep an eye on
her while I make the call?"
"Sure," the assistant responded. The assistant was
standing watching Diana walk slowly down the sidewalk
pathway when she hear her intercom buzz. She looked at the
intercom then the window, thinking that nothing could
possible happen in the short time she would answer the
intercom.

"Mr. Mulder, I'm sorry to bother you at work, and I'm sure
there's nothing to worry about, but a lady just left the
office claiming she's Jacob's mother."
"His mother?" he questioned, trying to focus into the
conversation. "Did she have shoulder length black hair?"
he asked, trying to get Scully's attention. "What did she
want?"
"She said she was here to take him with her."
"NO, DON'T LET HIM GO WITH HER!" he shouted.
"Sir, don't worry, I wouldn't let that happen. I just
wanted to let you know," the secretary almost sounded
annoyed.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to shout, it's just that..." he
began to say.
"I understand sir, you have the right."
"I'll be there in a couple of minutes. I'll just feel
better if I see him," he said, walking towards the door
taking Scully's hand to follow.

McHenry's Pre-School

"Jacob, son," Diana called trying to keep her voice down
and trying desperately to attract little attention. Jacob
heard her voice and quickly turned his face, smiling from
ear to ear.
"Mommy!" he hollered, running towards her, arms
outstretched
"Hi honey, I've missed you so much," she responded,
kneeling down on the ground holding him near her.
"Mommy why didn't you call me?" he questioned.
"I've been away, I haven't been able to call you, I'm so
sorry. But I'm here now. You look great, Jacob. Your
Daddy has been taking good care of you."
"Yep, I love my Daddy," he answered loosening his
embrace. "Mommy you didn't call me on my birthday-I waited
and waited."
"I know honey, I'm sorry. I was on assignment and there
wasn't a phone available, but I'm going to make it up to
you. Guess what?" she asked, gently stroking Jacob's
cheeks. His eyes widened with anticipation.
"You get to go with me. I'm here to take you with me,"
her voice persuading the child. His eyes quickly took a
different expression, panic on his face.
"No Mommy, I don't want to go with you. You told me it's
Daddy's turn to take care of me," he nervously said.
"But I've spoken to your Daddy, he said it was okay and
he told me to pick you up."
"No Mommy, I don't want to go," he said trying to take a
step back.
"Jacob you're making me sad. You know I love you, and I
can't be without you," she continued coaxing.
"No Mommy I heard you on the radio where the man that
smoked a lot. I heard you say you didn't want to take care
of me. You made me sad Mommy because you didn't want me
anymore," his voice starting to quiver, the fear clearly
sounding in his voice.
"What? What radio, you mean a cassette, did you hear a
cassette?" she asked him.
"I don't know what a casse is, I heard you on the radio,
and you didn't love me."
"That's not true Jacob, I love you very much and you are
going with me," her voice changing from coaxing to
demanding. She took his hand with a tight grip and started
walking out of the schoolyard. His little legs protesting
but not winning the battle from the force that she was
placing, pulling him to follow her.
"Mommy let me go," he started shouting. One of the
playmates near Jacob heard his panic voice. He ran to the
playground supervisor, pointing to Jacob and the woman that
was taking him away. The lady immediately ran to the
office, "Hurry call Mr. Mulder. A woman is taking Jacob
from the schoolyard."
"I already did about five minutes ago, he actually should
be here any minute now," the secretary said, standing up
from her chair going towards the door to see the commotion.
Within a couple of minutes Mulder screeched to a halt in
the school parking lot; both Mulder and Scully running out
of the car, heading towards the office.
"She's taking Jacob, they're across the street at the
park," the ground supervisor said pointing towards the park.

McHenry's Park

Diana's initial thought was to park her car on the other
side of the park so that no one would see her vehicle. Now
she wished she had not done that. The car was too far a
distance for her liking as she struggled with Jacob. She
picked him, hoping that she could move faster. She knew
that the phone call was already made to Mulder and time was
precious to her. He fought Diana until he tired and laid
his head on her shoulder, sobbing between words.
"Mommy why are you doing this?"
On the other side of the playground, near the park
bathrooms, two men stood watching the whole thing.
"I can take a shot from here, but now she's carrying the
boy?" Brown said, turning to the older man.
"Do not, I repeat, do not hurt the boy," he demanded.
"I'm sorry sir but it's going to be hard, to hit a moving
target and then to make it worse the boy close to her.

"DIANA, STOP!" shouted Mulder. Mulder and Scully had
reached the edge of the park watching Diana pickup the boy.
She stopped abruptly facing the two agents, but not letting
the boy down. Jacob picked up his head, eyes swollen with
tears.
"Mommy, Daddy, I don't want to go, don't let her take
me," his anguish voice shrieked.
"Diana, put him down. It doesn't have to be this way,"
Mulder nervously said, walking slowly towards her, Scully
holding on to his arm trying desperately to hold him back.
She didn't want him to dart towards her and make things
worse.
"Stay where you're at. Don't come near me. I told you I
needed that disc. I told you that you can have Jacob in
exchange for the disc. Don't you see, I've worked so hard
to get where I'm at. I won't let you destroy all the years
I've worked so
hard with the information on that disc. Let the Cancerman
sink, but not me. I won't I won't let you do that to..."
she said, stopping abruptly, eyes widening in surprise.
She felt a heat pass through her lower back, a piercing
pain that she quite didn't know what it was. Her legs
weakened, as she fell to her knees, still holding on to
Jacob. Jacob's head fell forward in her arms, eyes closing
as well. Diana looked down to see blood in between her
body and Jacob. She wasn't sure who got shot. Was it her,
was it Jacob as she collapsed still holding on to the
child. Mulder and Scully froze at the site of Diana falling
to the ground. They didn't know what happened, no sound,
nothing. Instinctly they both looked at the parameter of
the park, both pulling out their weapons, both careful not
to scare Diana. They walked closer, still not realizing
that a shot had been fired from across the park, a silencer
had muffled the gunshot.
"OH MY GOD!" Mulder yelled, getting close enough to see
the red smeared between the two bodies on the ground. "NO,
GOD NO!"
Scully's natural reflex went into agent mode, pulling out
her cell phone, dialing the necessary calls and making that
last call to AD Skinner. She ran to the fallen bodies
trying to determine the extent of the injuries. Mulder
fell to his knees trying to pull Jacob out of the grip that
Diana still had on him.
"Mulder don't," she commanded, "let me look at them,"
The commotion had brought some teachers to the park.
"Hold him back," Scully advised the teachers to take Mulder
from there.
"Scully please," he pleaded. Scully bowed her head in
confirmation.
"Then let me look at them," she softly said. Scully
examined both quickly trying to make heads or tails. She
loosened the grip from Diana, moving the boy out of her
hold and placing him on the ground, his eyes still closed.
"Jaaaacccoooobbb," Diana muttered, bringing every
strength she had in her. "My back."
Scully turned her to her side noticing the entrance
wound. She then looked in the front of her body, around her
lower stomach. The bullet had gone through Diana and lodged
in Jacob. Jacob was filled with blood, Scully frantically
looking for the entrance wound on him. "Take off his
pants, Mulder" she demanded. He did as she told, trying
desperately to hold his composure. He couldn't loose it at
this time. It wouldn't do any good to anyone, especially
Jacob. "There, on his leg, the bullet went in the area of
the femur. The bullet could either have hit the femur or
hit the femoral artery. He's loosing a lot of blood by
either the bullet or a chipped bone from the femur.
Mulder, put pressure on the wound until the paramedics get
here, I'll look at Diana," taking full control.
"Foooxxxx, Jacob, is Jacob alliiive," she painfully asked.
"Yes he is," Scully answered, "Lets look at you right now."
"Nooo, taake caare of Jaacoob. Fox, I'm sooo sorrryy,
thiiss wassn't suupose to end thiis way. I do love my
sonnn. Fox, yoouu taakke goood caaare of hiiim. Don't
tell hiiim thaaat I waaas a baad mooother, please." She
said gasping for air.
"Don't talk, you'll be alright," Mulder told her, still
putting pressure on Jacob.
"Innn myyy apparttment there arrre papers. Jaacoob's
biirth certificate. Noo one knows he's not yooour son. No
one knows. Alll the legal papers haaaaas you as thhee
faaather. I alwaays wannnted you to bee his Daddddy.
Fuuunnnyy hoooww liiife issss, I'm dyiing jussst likke your
wiife Staaar, shott by soomeone unknowwwwnn. Exceptt for
onne differeennce, you loooved Star, youuu nevvver looovved
mee." She said, her head falling to the side, eyes closing
to the abyss, an eternal abyss, death. Mulder lowered his
head, eyes filled with tears that he was still controlling,
<won't cry, can't cry, Jacob is still alive> he thought.
The sound of the sirens were heard in the distance, coming
closer and closer. EMT's walking quickly to the scene,
carrying gurneys and equipment, taking immediate control of
the situation. Scully triaging the information from EMT's
to police, explaining that she is also a medical doctor and
her findings. AD Skinner close behind, startled at the
little boy filled with blood, too much blood loss for a
little guy. She grabbed Mulder by the hand and pulled him
out of the way so that work would be started as soon as
possible. Diana was placed on a gurney, white sheet over
her face. Mulder fell to his knees, face pail, barely
breathing himself. Jacob, still unconscious in another
gurney was given an oxygen mask and hurriedly took him to
the ambulance. Skinner approached the two, putting his arm
around Mulder.
"What happened here, who shot the two?" he asked.
"We don't know sir, we didn't hear the shots. They must
have been waiting for her, with silencers," Scully told
"I'll start the investigation here, you two go on. I'll
be at the hospital in a little bit. Shall I call the
Gunmen?" he asked. Scully smiled, knowing that Jacob
would love to wake up to see his three new friends.
"I have to go with him," Mulder insisted, voice cracking.
"And who are you?" the paramedic asked.
"He's the boys father, I'm his mother, we have to go in
the ambulance" Scully said with authority.
"Yes of course," the EMT responded. "We better hurry,
also the boy will most like need a blood transfusion. Dad,
Mom we will need your blood." Skinner motioned them to
hurry and go, taking the keys of Mulder's car so that he
could find an officer to take the car back to the office.

Washington D.C. Hospital

Jacob was rushed to the emergency room, closed completely
stripped, IV fluids hooked up, oxygen mask on. Mulder
still unusually composed, pacing the floor back and forth.
Scully knew that he was a walking time bomb, a teakettle
ready to burst. All she could do is be there for him. She
knew he would release the pressure eventually and she had
to be by his side.
"Your son has lost a lot of blood, we are going to need a
transfusion and do surgery immediately to find the bullet.
Mr. Mulder, Mrs. Mulder, I need to have your blood cross
matched, which might take up to an hour or less. We might
not have time. Although the bullet wound is not life
threatening, he has lost a lot of blood.," the doctor
explained. "Which one will it be, I'm sure one of you will
be fine."
Mulder looked at Scully in panic, knowing that he wasn't
the biological father and knowing that his blood might not
be compatible.
"Go Mulder, give him your blood. You are the same blood
type," she assured. Mulder turned to look at her in
surprise. "Mulder remember, I checked the DNA when I was
checking for paternity. You are his blood type." The
slightest smile crept out of his face, following the
doctor. Skinner arrived along with the Lone Gunmen to give
their support to both agents and the boy that they cared so
much about.
"How is Jacob doing?" Skinner anxiously asked.
"Don't know sir. The doctor is positive the bullet
didn't hit the femoral artery, or he would have bled to
death. But he is concerned that he has lost a lot of blood.
Jacob needs a blood transfusion and Mulder is going to give
him his blood. They are rushing him into surgery to find
the bullet." Scully explained to the three.
"Blood transfusion, but..." Byers interjected.
"Mulder and Jacob have the same blood type, they'll both
be fine," Scully reassured.
"How is Mulder holding out?" Skinner asked.
"Sir, I'm a little concerned," Scully said, rubbing her
temples with her fingertips. "Mulder is worried, rightly
so, but I think he's in a state of shock. In fact he
hasn't shown any emotions for the condition Jacob is in."
"Maybe he knows Jacob will be alright," Langley said.
"No, that's not it. I think Mulder is in auto-pilot
right now. I think when he stops to realize what all has
transpired, he is going to loose it." Scully continued.
"We'll all be here to help him," Frohike encouraged.

Mulder was left in one of the rooms after he donated the
blood to rest. Scully walked in to see Mulder laying on
the gurney, head turned looking at the window. She walked
slowly so as not to startle him. "Mulder, how do you feel?"
He just shrugged his shoulders not loosing the site of
the outdoors. She pulled the chair close to the bed and
sat, taking a hold of his hand. "Mulder talk to me, what
are you feeling," Scully pushed. She wanted him to open up
and express what he was holding inside.
"First Samantha, they almost took you and now they are
taking him away," Mulder said in a whisper.
"They have not taken me, and they are not taking Jacob.
He will be fine Mulder. They are taking good care of him.
Remember, the bullet did not go in him with full force, but
merely deflected," she explained.
"But he hasn't come to," he continued.
"Mulder, he lost a lot of blood, he's a little guy, give
him a chance. He'll rebound so quickly that he'll be
throwing water at you in the shower in no time," she tried
to lighten up the conversation. Mulder half smiled at the
thought of all the times Jacob had gotten him wet, fully
clothed, but that didn't stop the boy from doing it again
the next time. Scully stood up and sat on the gurney,
forcing him to turn towards her. His hazel eyes a dark
shade filled with fear and anguish. Mulder raised his
hands over his eyes, and at that moment all the emotions
that were stored in him, seemed to explode. He tried
desperately to hold his breath in hopes that the pounding
in his chest would subside, but it only got worse. The
thought of loosing the son he fell in love with was too
much for him to handle. Scully bent down, wrapping her
arms around his neck. He took his hands away from his eyes
and enveloped her, holding her as tight as he could, not
wanting to loose her, wanting that secure protection that
she was so good at giving to him.
"Let it out Mulder, don't hold it in," she whispered to
him. It seemed that he needed that approval from Scully to
let the tears flood out. She held him tight while he wept.
The door to the room opened as the 4 men, Byers, Langley,
Frohike and Skinner walked in to be by Mulder's side. Time
seemed to drag when the door finally opened again and the
doctor walked it.
"Mr. & Mrs. Mulder, Jacob is out in recovery now," the
doctor said, mistaking Scully for Mulder's wife. Mulder
got up quickly and felt the room spin from the transfusion.
"You'll have to take it easy, they did take a pint from
you," the doctor said, walking towards him.
"How is Jacob, doctor?" Scully asked anxiously.
"He's a very lucky boy. The bullet was removed and the
bleeding was controlled. He was very lucky that the artery
was not hit. He would have easily bled to death. The
bullet did graze some veins along to way to make him bleed
as much as he did. If you would like to see him, you can
for a very short while. He's in and out right now, but I'd
really prefer that visitors see him after he's out of
recovery."
"Doctor, can't they go in just for a second. They are a
big part of his life and it will really cheer him up,"
Scully suggested, pointing to the Gunmen and Skinner.
"Well, just for a second," the doctor replied, "Now I'll
get one of the nurses to get a wheelchair for you." He
looked at Mulder stating this.
"I'm alright, I just forgot that I shouldn't be making
fast movements," Mulder responded getting out of the bed
slowly. The five adults walked in the recovery room to see
Jacob, already small in stature for his six years of age,
but yet looked even smaller with all the IV drips, tubes
and all the medical equipment surrounding him. Scully
walked up close to the head of his bed and stroked his hair
back. His eyes fluttered open and a smile was produced
when he looked at the people he cared so much about around
him. The Lone Gunmen and Skinner all kissed him on the
forehead and left the room, leaving Mulder and Scully.
"Jacob I was so worried about you," Scully said,
continuing the combing of his hair. Mulder would just look
at him, not being able to say anything. The fear he felt
in his was too strong, the closeness he had in loosing yet
another person he loved.
Jacob opened his mouth, a voice barely coming out,
"Daddy." Scully moved out of the way, letting Mulder go to
him and bed over the bed, kissing him on his cheeks. He
stayed in that position whispering words to him that were
only between Mulder and Jacob. Mulder sat by his side day
and night, watching over him, making sure that he didn't
wake up without him being there. These long days gave him
time to think of all that had transpired and whether the
disc was worth it. On the third day, while Jacob was
asleep, Mulder pulled out his cell phone from his pocket.
He hadn't realized that Scully was standing by the doorway
watching his every move.
"This is Mulder, you wanted a deal, you've got it,"
Mulder mumbled. Scully could obviously only hear one side
of the conversation, but from the words he was saying it
could only be Cancerman.
"I know you have access to my apartment, which by the
way, the lock will be changed very soon. On the top left
drawer of my computer desk you'll find a brown envelope.
The floppy disc is there, take it, do what you want with
it. I just want to be left alone along with the people I
love. You've endangered their lives one too many times.
You could have killed Jacob," Mulder continued, "Don't come
near Scully or Jacob, do you hear. And as for Diana, I
know you had something to do with it. But like everything
you come in contact with, it will not be traced right?"
Scully walked towards Mulder, placing a hand on his
shoulder. Mulder was startled but continued with the
conversation. "Take the disc and leave. I won't be home
until Jacob is released from the hospital so take and get
out of my life." He pressed end on his cell phone and
stuffed it back in his jacket pocket.
"Are you sure this is what you want to do?" Scully asked.
"I don't care anymore Scully, at least not right now.
Besides, there is a copy, remember," he smirked.

With all the love and attention that Jacob received from
the hospital staff, the teachers in his pre-school, his new
best friends, Byers, Langley, Frohike and Skinner, Jacob
healed quickly. It was time for Jacob to be released and
start a new life. A life that Mulder hoped he didn't have
to worry anymore, at least when it came to Jacob. Scully
returned to work while Mulder stayed home taking care of
Jacob, helping him maneuver around the apartment. Scully
spent her evenings nursing Jacob then going home in the
late hours only to do the same thing the following day.
She had decided to tell the two that they had to move into
her apartment until Jacob completely recovered. The extra
bedroom in her apartment would be perfect for Jacob and
Mulder. She hurried to Mulder's routinely visit, with
Chinese Take-out food to feed the starving men. She
opened the door watching at the end of the hall the two
sitting on the couch, both eating their daily sunflower
seeds. <Definitely a Kodak moment> she thought. Jacob
looked up a grin that spread from ear to ear.
"Mommy Dana, you're home," he joyfully said, bouncing out
of Mulder's lap ready to run towards her. His leg buckled
as he fell to the floor, crying in pain. Mulder got off the
couch picking Jacob from the floor, holding the whimpering
boy in his arms.
"Jacob you have to take it easy, it's going to take
awhile to heal," Mulder consoled rubbing his back as he
walked him around the living room trying to help him forget
the aching in his leg. Scully hurried towards the two, he
hands stroking the boys hair. After a couple of minutes
Jacob settled down and they all sat on the couch. The boy
wiggled out of his hold and limped to the bedroom. Mulder
leaned back on the couch, legs stretched, the back of his
head resting on the couch.
"How has he been?" Scully asked.
"He's been doing really well, actually. Except for this
mishap, he's adjusting."
"Mulder, has he mentioned anything about Diana, about
that day?" Scully asked worried. Mulder took a big sigh,
bit his lower lip and shook his head. "No, nothing."
"I don't know I'm more worried about, you and Jacob?" she
asked.
"What do you mean?" he asked.
"What's the matter Mulder? I know Jacob is hurt, but
he's mending quickly. Children are resilient, he'll be
doing his usual jumping and running in no time," she
quipped. He sat up stretching his arm to the desk, opening
the drawer. He pulled out a manila folder along with a
picture album that Skinner had found in Diana's apartment.
He handed it over to Diana then went back to his position
in the couch.
"What's this?" she asked taking the two items. She put
down the file folder on the center table and opened the
album. She seemed to remember doing this months before.
That time she was taken aback from the realization that
Mulder was married before. She remembered the pictures of
Star and his life before the X-Files and before her. She
opened the album to see page after page of pictures of
Jacob. Diana had carefully placed the pictures in order of
his life. Newborn pictures, with the name tag that was
placed on his tiny foot. She looked at the tag that read
Jacob William Mulder. She turned the page looking at the
pictures, carefully written with each date of entry, first
tooth, first word, first haircut, first step. No matter
how much she looked at the picture, she couldn't' get over
at the likeness. <Gary might have been the father, but
what if? What if the test was incorrect?> her mind
wandered. At the edge of each page, Diana has written some
form of notation to Mulder. 'Fox, you should see Jacob, he
took his first step today. He fell more than the steps he
took, but he's determined' 'Fox, he cut his first tooth,
he'll be eating sunflower seeds along with you' Scully
closed the book and scooted close to him
"Scully, if I wasn't Jacob's father, why would Diana have
written all that on the album? I don't understand. Why
wouldn't she have written Gary's name?" he still
questioned the results that was told to him by Scully.
"I don't know Mulder. Maybe since Gary was dead, she
needed to believe that you were Jacob's father. You always
wanted you, so in her mind she made herself believe that
you were," she suggested.
"What if?" he mumbled.
Scully turned to get the file folder opening it up to see
documentation, birth certificate, social security number,
all with Mulder's last name. "Mulder if you need proof,
then take another DNA test. Take it for yourself so you
can see for yourself. But Mulder, I want you to tell me
if the truth matters now? You actually can keep the
paternity from him for his whole life. Diana took care
that there shouldn't be any doubt in any ones mind. At
least she did something good in her life," she said, then
thought again, "Well, there were a few things that she did
right." Mulder turned to her in puzzlement. She looked at
him then continued, "The love she had for you, seeing the
beauty of a complex man, baring a beautiful child who looks
like Mulder more than you, and for having the decency to
tell Jacob about his Daddy and documenting everything."
"But I still know that he isn't of flesh and blood?" he
still worried.
"Not of flesh and blood. Jacob, you saved his life, you
gave him your blood. He might not have been born with your
genes, but he now carries your blood in his veins. What
more do you want?" she asked bringing his head towards her,
resting it on her shoulder.
"You're right Scully, he does have my blood in him,
doesn't he?" Mulder smiled. They both looked at each
other, with love and warmth, lips touching in a gentle
kiss. This emotion that was at one time so foreign to
them, was now a sign of their love that they welcomed.
Still a little nervous, still a little cautious but yet a
path that would surely be never-ending. Their kiss was
interrupted by the sound of the limping footsteps of Jacob
walking back into the room. He was carrying under his arm
a couple of sheets of papers and something hidden under
his shirt. .
"What do you have there honey?" Scully asked
straightening up from the arms of Mulder.
"Pictures I drew and something else" he said, climbing up
on the couch forcing himself between Mulder and Scully. He
held his shirt tightly so that the object wouldn't fall out.
"Can we see?" Mulder asked, taking the papers. On one
paper, he drew a stick person, lying on the ground, red
markings all over the body. "Son, what is this?"
"Diana," he answered, surprising the two by calling his
mother by her first name.
"You mean your mother?" Scully asked.
"No, she is not my Mommy anymore. She scared me, she
wanted to take me away from my Daddy. I yelled at her, and
cried for her not to take me and she didn't listen. She
made me get hurt. I hate her," his eyes welled with tears.
"Jacob, she loved you very much. She just wasn't
thinking carefully. I think she was afraid that maybe she
wasn't ever going to see you again. But honey, didn't she
bring you to your Daddy?" Scully tried desperately to leave
a good memory of his mother. She didn't want the same to
happen to Jacob, that happened to Mulder regarding the
death of his father.
"She didn't remember my birthday, she didn't call me, she
didn't want me. Mommy Dana, she still doesn't call me" he
whimpered.
Mulder took Jacob in his arms and sat him on his lap.
"Jacob, do you remember what happened to you when she was
taking you from the school?" he asked. Jacob shook his
head no. "Son, your mother was hurt, a very bad man hurt
your mother and you. Remember I told you that my dad was
in heaven and you said that your mommy said that people
sometimes went with angels in the clouds?" he asked, trying
to bring the sad news to Jacob is a way he might
understand. Jacob shook his head.
"Jacob honey, your mommy is now with those angels in the
clouds" His eyes tearing up trying to realize what he was
being told "I will never see her again?" he asked.
"No son, but she'll be always by your side." He wiped
his tears and bent down to get the other paper that he had
drawn.
"...and what did you draw here?" Scully asked, trying
desperately to cheer him up.
He outstretched his arms, putting each arm around their
necks and bringing them close to him.
"I drew my new mommy, because I don't want you to be
mommy Dana. You are now my mommy, my only mommy I have,"
he said, pulling an arm out from the embrace and pointing
the other stick picture. "This one is my daddy. My daddy
that loves me very much and I love my daddy very very much.
Daddy, don't let anyone take me away from you?" he asked.
"That's a promise," Mulder responded, bringing the boy
close to him. Jacob nonchalantly put his hand under his
shirt and pulled out a spray bottle filled with water and
unmercifully started spraying the cold water on both Mulder
and Scully.
"What the hell," Mulder yelled, face soaked by the
onslaught of water.
"Daddy, watch your mouth," Scully giggled. Mulder
grabbed the water bottle away from Jacob's hand and started
spraying both Jacob and Scully. The sound of laugher could
be heard through the hallways of the apartment building.
The laughs that finally came to the three that had been
through so much pain; a laughter that would take them a
future of togetherness....

The End....

Feedback is welcome
But please be nice, I am not a writer, and I don't even
claim to be one