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. 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. he thought, putting the lunch in Jacob's lunchbox. 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. Everything was ready and all he needed was Jacob and walk out the door. 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, 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. 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. 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 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. 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, . 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. 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. She vanished that thought as quick as she could. She forced herself to walk calmly up to the door to find it unlocked. 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. until she heard the faint sound of a television set that seemed to be coming from a lower floor, 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. 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. 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. . 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? he thought, 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. she reasoned. her thoughts wandered looking at both sides of the road. 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. 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, 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. 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. 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. she mused. 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. 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. 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, 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. 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. she smirked. 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. 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. 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, 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. 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. 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