Title: The Disintegration of the Persistence of memory Author: Knex Wildfire (Knex@Ibelieve.co.uk) Rating: R for violent imagery and some strong language Spoilers: None that I have noticed or consciously included. Any that do exist will be minor. Disclaimer: The X Files and all characters involved belong to FOX and 1013 productions. The images we see when we imagine Mulder and Scully are the wondrously talented and beautiful David Duchovney and Gillian Anderson. Not to mention Mitch Pileggi and others. I have only borrowed them to show my vast appreciation of the show so please don't sue me, I don't earn very much at all - I am only a poor Student!! (Think of it as a bit of free advertising :>) Oh and the Agents on the team belong to me, esp Agent Percival. They were products of my overactive imagination and a boring Chemistry Lesson not to mention 3 particularly beautious mates of mine Emily Percival, Ami Dinan and Katherine Hobby. Our Hilarious Geography Lessons inspired me. Summary: Scully re-evaluates her life, Mulder puts his foot in it and they get kidnapped. Definitely NOT noromo friendly. Lots of *Thinks* .......interesting imagery. Notes: There are some brutal images there, nothing too obscene though. Character near-death and torture, NO STOP KEEP READING, I haven't decided how it will end yet so you will just have to wait and see! :> Please read it as I have Worked soooooo hard on this and it is my first ever adventure into the world of fan fic. I would appreciate feedback. Flames too, just don't go over the top or I may be obliged to plague you with hate mail *laughs*. All comments welcome. Thanx to: AllyKat for editing my fic. She has given me Invaluable advice and worked really hard. Archive: Yes, Yes, Yes!!!!! Please archive. If you want to take it for your site please just mail me and tell me where it's going so I can see it in its new home. Enjoy. :> Knex =p *********************************************************** The Disintegration of the Persistence of Memory *********************************************************** 5:31 p.m., Basement office "G'night Scully" "G'night Mulder" She shut the door and felt the familiar 'click' as it settled into its frame. Mulder was working late again. She hated leaving him there in that basement alone; it felt like she was abandoning him. But in truth, she thought, they already did. Her cancer, her sister's death, Mulder's sister. All the scars and wounds - both physical and mental. She had reached her car and as she put the key into the ignition she had a thought. *********************************************************** Basement office In the dark and empty room, the phone started to ring. It rang and rang and rang before the caller finally gave up. Then there was silence again. *********************************************************** Basement Car Park She hung up the phone. He wasn't answering. Where was he??? She started to get out of the car, then stopped. She started the engine and aimed the car at the exit. *********************************************************** 7:12 p.m., Scully's apartment She idly flipped channels. She couldn't get Mulder out of her head; it was driving her crazy. She was almost screaming at the injustice. She was so sick of always being second best, always just 'Agent Mulders partner', always Scully, always strong. Didn't anyone realise that she was a person, that she had her own life, her own personality? That she was not just a stereotype? The injustice of her life was enough to make her sick. She wanted to be someone, to go somewhere. She joined the FBI to make a difference, to strike out on her own, and as it turned out she has ended up as the battered, bruised, shot, abucted, cancer-ridden, barren partner of a mentally wounded, eidetic, workaholic nutcase! No, nutcase was too harsh. He couldn't help being the way he was. He couldn't help the way he was brought up and he couldn't help it if his sister was abducted. The phone rang startling her out of her reverie. She glanced at the caller display -- Mulder. She contemplated leaving it to ring, but knowing him he would get worried and come round. Then he would never leave. She picked up the receiver. "Scully," she said thickly, "Hey Scully," he said. "Wanna fetch in a pizza and go over the last expense report before I hand it into Skinner tomorrow?" "No." "Sorry?" "I said no." "Why not? C'mon, it'll be fun. I'll get a movie on the way." "NO! How many times do I have to say it before the message sinks in?" She hung up the phone, and before he had a chance to ring back she picked up the receiver and placed it on the table, leaving the phone off the hook. *********************************************************** He replaced the receiver slowly. He was shocked. Scully sounded angry, but he couldn't remember what he had done wrong! *********************************************************** She sat in the corner of the couch contemplating. She didn't mean to be a bitch to Mulder, but she just wanted some time to herself and he never took no for an answer. *********************************************************** He had to go round; he had to clear this up. *********************************************************** She heard a car pull up outside and lifted the drape slightly. She walked over to the front door and deadbolted it - now he wouldn't get in even if he tried. *********************************************************** He walked up to her apartment door and knocked. There was no answer. He pulled out his keys and searched for the one for Scully's apartment. He inserted it into the lock, turned it and pushed expecting the door to swing open. It remained firmly in the doorframe. "SCULLY!" he roared and started pounding on the door. "LEAVE ME ALONE!" she screamed. "CAN'T I HAVE SOME TIME TO MYSELF FOR ONCE?!" He shifted uncomfortably as her neighbours looked out into the hallway. "Scully, please, let me in! People are staring!" "I DON'T CARE!" "FINE THEN!" he yelled. "I'll leave!" "I NEVER ASKED YOU TO COME IN THE FIRST PLACE!" "FINE!" He turned around and walked away from her front door and down the hall. *********************************************************** 8:34 p.m., Reflecting pool He couldn't work out why Scully was being this way. He hadn't forgotten her birthday; he'd even sent her flowers! She just seemed so distant. The thought made him blush. *********************************************************** 8:34 p.m., Scully's apartment She picked up the phone. "Hello, Express Pizza here. How may I help you?" "Can I have a 24-inch stuffed crust Meat Extravaganza with extra pepperoni, mushrooms and can I have some pineapple on it please?" "It'll be 40 minutes. Can I have your address please?" She gave him her address and hung up. She walked over to her hi-fi system and hit "play" on the CD player; the dulcet tones of Sarah McLachlan started to fill her apartment. She walked into the bathroom and started to run a bath. She selected a bottle of Radox and poured a large amount into the bath, enjoying the relaxing scent. There was a knock at the front door. She opened the door and paid the delivery guy. "Keep the Change." She shut the door. . Normally she would never do this, but tonight was an exception. She carried the pizza box into the bathroom, removed her robe and moved toward the bath. Stepping into the hot liquid, she released a sigh of pleasure. Reaching down, she picked up the pizza box, selected a slice and started to eat. *********************************************************** An hour later She had finished her pizza within half an hour and just lay unmoving in the bath. She could feel herself falling asleep but was too comfortable to do anything about it. *She pulled up the driveway in front of the house. A small girl came running out of the front door. "Mommy, Mommy!" She picked the little girl up and hitched her onto her hip. "Hey sweetheart, where's Daddy?" "Daddy's in bed!" "Why?" Her heart filled with dread. "He said he had a headache. Then his nose started to bleed." She put the little girl down and ran into the house and up the stairs heading for the bedroom. She rounded the doorway and the sight that met her eyes made her crumple. She dissolved into tears. The bedclothes were stained with blood. His head, nestled among the pillows, was covered with a wet facecloth; moans of pain escaped his mouth. "Oh my God, honey, what happened?" "It's getting worse...nearly my time." "We have to get you to a hospital." "No, I want to be at home with my family when it happens." She sat on the edge of the bed. She could scream at the injustice of it all. She heard her daughter ascending the stairs. She walked out of the bedroom, shutting the door so her daughter could not see the state her father was in. "Mommy, is Daddy sick again?" "Yes, honey." "Is he going away again?" She bent onto one knee. "Come here." She gathered her into her arms. "Mommy and Daddy love you very much and whatever happens don't ever forget that. Okay?" "Okay." "Good. Now go get undressed - it's bath time." She watched her daughter disappear into her bedroom, unaware of the solemnity of the situation. She awoke in the early hours of the morning, the sound of laboured breathing beside her. Fear gripped her heart as she switched on the bedside lamp. He struggled to sit up beside her; she laid a hand on his chest to stop him. "Shh, lie back." "I think this is it." Tears spilled down her face; she gathered him into her arms and placed a hand on his forehead. "I can feel it, you know." "Feel what?" she whispered. "The cancer." "Stop," she cried. "I don't want to hear it." "Sorry, but when you are faced with death, things get kinda scary. I want to share it with someone. I'm......... scared." "I know, I know." They sat in silence, not saying a word. The only sounds pervading the room were his ragged breaths. "I love you so much. I don't know what I will do without you. You are my everything." "I love you too. And when I am gone, I don't want you to suffer. Please don't tear yourself up..... Kiss me?" "Sorry?" "I want you to kiss me. Before I die, I at least deserve that one pleasure." He tried to laugh and failed. She leaned down and pressed her warm lips against his cold ones. His breathing became harsher and every breath shallower until finally he took one last deep breath and died, the air escaping in a muted hiss. She held his body to her chest, sobs erupting from her small frame as the first rays of sunlight illuminated the night sky.* She awoke with a start, the now-cold bath water sloshing over the side and onto the empty, greasy pizza box, her tears overwhelming her. She gave into them, breath coming sporadically. She sat in the clammy water, her heavy breathing the only sound to be heard. When she had sufficiently recovered, she reached down and pulled the plug from the bath. Stepping out, she reached for her towel and wrapped herself in its fluffy warmth. She finished drying herself, folded her towel and, placing it onto her towel rail, she slipped into her robe and padded into the lounge. She had a lot on her mind and it was time to resolve some of it. *********************************************************** 9:34 a.m., Basement office He breezed along the corridor, determined to resolve whatever had lead to the events of the night before. He rounded the corner to the office, opened the door and walked in. Scully sat at her newly acquired desk. "Mornin', Scully." She looked up at him, stared, without saying anything, then went back to studying the file she had in her hand. He was shocked. She'd cut him dead. His best friend had just ignored him. He slammed his briefcase onto the desk. She raised her eyes without moving her head. "I am sick of this, Scully. What the hell is wrong with you? I didn't deserve the outburst last night and I don't deserve to be blanked as soon as I walk into the office." "And I don't deserve all the shit that I've had to put up with from you. I don't deserve to be left behind and I don't deserve to be second best." "You're never second best!" "Yes I am. You never value my opinion, you always dismiss it out of hand and just go off on your own agenda anyway, and if you do value it you never tell me. I need to know that you need me. Otherwise there is little point in me being here!" "What do you mean?" "I mean that if I don't get a little respect I am quitting!" "You can't quit because......................" "Because what?" "Because I love you and I can't live without you." He had confessed this in a tone barely above a whisper. She sat there, her mouth open in shock. He sat down, switched on his computer and set to work. She stood up, grabbed her coat and headed out the door, cheeks burning. "Hey Scully, where are you going?" "I...I...need some air and I need to think. Cover for me with Skinner." He leaned his elbows on the desk put his head in his hands. *********************************************************** 10:05 a.m., Reflecting pool She sat on the bench, her mind working overtime on every possible scenario, outcome and consequence. She had never planned for this. She had never even seen it coming. Sure, she was fond of him, but love! The thought had never even crossed her mind. She mused for a while longer then stood up. A hand closed over her mouth. A blindfold was roughly tied around her eyes, pulled tight so it hurt the bridge of her nose, and a strong arm pinned her arms to her side as she was dragged backwards into the greenery surrounding the reflecting pool. She struggled, but then she felt something press into the base of her neck. If the situation wasn't so dire she would've laughed. She felt herself lifted from the ground, the gun still pressed to her neck. she thought as she was unceremoniously dumped in the back of what was probably a van of some kind. Then her heart sank. After the way she had been acting, he probably thought that she wanted some time to herself. He would not notice she was missing until......until it was too late! *********************************************************** Mulder's apartment, later that evening He picked up the phone and hit speed dial #1. *********************************************************** Scully's apartment The phone started to ring, the sound reverberating around the empty apartment. After a seemingly endless period of time, the noise stopped, and silence blanketed the apartment like fog. *********************************************************** 2:30 a.m., Mulder's apartment His eyes snapped open. Something had woken him. He was instantly alert. He grabbed his gun off the coffee table and stood up. The blow came from behind. He never heard it coming. As it connected with his head, the world went black, and he crumpled, hitting the floor long after he attained unconsciousness. *********************************************************** Place: Unknown. Time: Early morning She awoke slowly. As the door to her cell opened she heard a man's voice, but the drugs they had injected into her had left her mind feeling muzzy and her thoughts thick. She saw three shadows in the doorway. Two of them were supporting one in the middle. They moved further into the room and dumped the middle one onto the cold cement floor. She could feel herself slipping back into unconsciousness, and as she lay her head down onto the narrow bunk she heard the person on the floor groan. The sound seemed familiar. She squinted, trying unsuccessfully to bring her eyes into focus. Her eyes flickered for a moment, then, closing them slowly, she slipped back into dreamless darkness. *********************************************************** Place: Unknown. Time: Unknown He came to slowly, wincing against the pain in his head. He looked around him. It was a small cell with a concrete floor and stone walls. It was cold and there was a draft. He looked around for the source but found none. His slightly out of focus eyes came to rest on a figure sleeping on a narrow bunk. His heart skipped a beat. He slowly crawled across the room, hoping and praying that his suspicions were, for once, wrong. He reached the bunk, and, squinting to see in the darkness, he looked at the person on the bunk. He felt sick. The bastards had taken Scully as well. What the hell did they want? Why were they doing this? He reached over to wake her but stopped. Why wake her and plunge her into this nightmare prematurely? He withdrew his hand, leaned against the wall and stared at the blank concrete. *********************************************************** An unknown number of hours later She slowly came to, keeping her eyes shut. She rested for a moment, her lids feeling as if they were glued together. After a moment she managed to open her eyes, and, looking around the room (which she noticed was actually some sort of cell), she was surprised to find that there was someone else in the room with her. "Who...who are you?" "Scully, it's me!" he whispered. "Mulder?" He shuffled over to the bunk. "Are you okay? Have they hurt you?" "No, they grabbed me from by the reflecting pool then threw me into a van. Next thing I know they are injecting me with something and I black out. This is the first thing I have seen that I can remember since then!" "They came to my apartment. I got up because I heard a sound, and they knocked me out." "Jesus, Mulder, are you okay?" "I have a headache like the Hiroshima bomb but I'll live, I'm sure." "Do you know what time it is?" He looked at his watch. "That's odd," he mumbled. "What? Mulder, what is it?" "They've taken my watch!" "What?" She felt her wrist. "They've taken mine too!" A spear of dread passed through her. She lifted a hand to her neck. Relief washed through her like a tidal wave as she realised that her gold cross was still there. *********************************************************** 12:56 p.m., FBI Headquarters, Walter Skinner's office "There hasn't been any contact since they disappeared 4 days ago, sir!" "What did you find in the search of Agent Mulder's apartment?" "Sir, there are signs of a struggle in Mulder's apartment and there is a patch of blood on the floor." "Have it tested. I want to know who it belongs to." "Already on it, sir. The lab should have the results within the hour." "Good. I want to know immediately when a new lead is found. Dismissed." "Yes sir." *********************************************************** Place: Unknown. Time: Unknown There was the sound of a key in the lock. A few seconds later the door swung open and two men entered. They strode over to the bunk and grabbed Scully. She screamed and struggled as they lifted her off the bunk. "MULDERRRRR, HELP!" "NOOOO!" Mulder shouted. "Take me! Leave her here!" He dove towards her. One of the figures spoke. "I am afraid we cannot do that, Agent Mulder. We have a plan, and plans must be followed to the letter." "YOU BASTARDS!" Scully kicked and screamed but they held firm and dragged her out of the door. Mulder launched himself at it just as it clunked into place. He collided with the door and rebounded, hitting the floor dazed and winded, not to mention the dislocated shoulder. He braced himself and yanked, yelling in pain as his shoulder clicked into place. There was a hissing sound coming from above him. His first fear was that they were going to gas him, then a voice said, "Agent Mulder, the purpose of your being here is not for us to glean revenge or personal satisfaction by torturing you or Agent Scully. We are merely trying to achieve a goal. He started hammering on the door. "LET ME OUT, YOU BASTARDS! LET HER GO! IF YOU HURT HER I WILL HUNT YOU DOWN AND KILL YOU MYSELF!" There was a chilling scream. He stopped throwing himself at the door. "SCULLYYYY!" he yelled. "SCULLYYYY!" There was another scream. "MULDERRRRR, arghhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, HELP!" "SCULLYYYYYY!" he hollered. "LET ME OUT OF HERE, YOU SICK BASTARDS!" He threw himself at the door, then collapsed to the floor, rebounded by the cold steel. "Swearing at us will do you no good, Mr. Mulder. Neither will abusing the door. It is impervious to all assaults, even fire!" *********************************************************** An unknown length of time later He sat, knees against chest, on the bunk, blocking out the sounds of Scully's screams. He felt so helpless; he couldn't stand it. He'd always tried to protect her, tried to shield her from the danger and pain and now...now he had to sit here and listen to the sounds of her agony, knowing she would be forced to do the same when it was his turn. There was a clunking and scraping sound coming from the door, then a clang as the lock disengaged and the door swung open. He temporarily considered making a break for it until he saw what was in the other kidnapper's arms. "Scully?" he croaked. "What have you bastards done to her?" The man came into the room a few steps then unceremoniously dumped Scully in a heap on the floor. "You have until the morning, Mr. Mulder. Then it is your turn." The man turned on his heel and walked out of the cell. He got down off the bunk and crouched beside Scully. A small moan escaped from her lips. His heart soared. "MUL......DER..." she gasped. "Shhhhh," he whispered, "I'm here." "They...chair...wires...sharp...not...kill...you...next..." In the half-light as she slowly, painfully, turned her head towards him, he could see some of the damage. He could see the blood, the bruising and the swelling. He could see the tears, welling up in her eyes, spilling over to run in two parallel rivulets down her face, marking a path through her blood and the dust from the floor. He slowly gathered her into his arms, her pained whimpers tearing through his heart. He gently placed her on the bunk, wincing when she cried out with pain. "What did they do to you, Scully?" "Bastards...chair...electricity...knife...whip...and they..." she trailed off. "And they what, Scully? Tell me!" She avoided his gaze as best she could. "They...touched me," she whispered. "I.......I feel so.....so violated." The pain she had suffered totally obliviated all but the barest of reactions. The best she could do was to push it to the back of her mind, let it go. If she let it consume her, they would never get out alive. He sat back on his heels, stunned and shocked. he thought, He looked up at her; she avoided his gaze. "Do you want me to take a look at your wounds and see how bad they are?" "I already...know how...bad they are...I...feel...pain all over." He quickly scanned her body for broken bones and stab wounds. There seemed to be none; there only seemed to be shallow cuts and lacerations. He put his hands on her shoulders and gently raised her to a sitting position. He gasped; her shirt was ripped, the fabric soaked with blood. "Jesus, Scully, what the hell is this?" "I...told...you...they...used...whip..." He gently moved some of the scraps of cloth. The lacerations in her back were deep and numerous, and they were bleeding sluggishly. He felt his stomach heave. He leaned over the side and vomited into the bucket that he had found under the bunk - presumably the privy bucket. "Is...hard...FBI man...squeamish?" "Not usually, it's just..." He trailed off. "Just...?" "Never mind. You need to get some sleep." "Afraid...take...you...tomorrow...pain...like ...stabbing...so...tired...but...scared...never...wake...up ..." "Oh God, Scully, I was scared they were going to kill you." "So...was...I." She fell silent for a moment, before gasping. "Cold... going...shock." He shuffled backwards until he was leaning against the wall, and, gathering her into his arms, he covered them both with the thin blanket. "Scully, I want you to know that when they take me, cover your ears and don't listen...Scully?" He looked down at her and discovered that she was asleep. Leaning back against the cold stone wall, he shut his eyes. Images of her, cut and bleeding, danced before his eyes. He could see that it was going to be a long night, not in the least because of what would happen to him tomorrow. *********************************************************** 9:30 p.m., Walter Skinner's office He sat at the desk, alone in a deserted office, his head resting in his hands. The videotape was on the desk in front of him, as yet unwatched. He was afraid of what he might find if he dared himself to watch it. Reaching out a hand, slowly, hesitantly, he picked up the tape. Lifting himself from the chair, his body feeling as if it were made of lead, he crossed the office to the cupboard containing the television and VCR. He moved as if he were in slow motion. He switched them on and turned to the correct channel; placing the tape into the VCR, he pressed play on the remote control. Stepping backwards, he lowered himself into the conveniently placed chair and readied himself for whatever he was about to see. *********************************************************** 11:00 p.m., Walter Skinner's office He sat numbly in the chair. 'Snow' filled the screen. He felt physically sick; the level of violence displayed by the kidnappers bordered on insane. He felt sick that they could stoop so low as to sexually abuse Scully. The amount of blood...He stopped himself before the thought manifested itself into anything uglier. There was no sign of Mulder. They had either killed him or...He hated the 'OR's. He didn't want to think about them. The screen suddenly flickered and one of the kidnappers came into view, wearing a ghostface costume from the film "Scream." If it hadn't been so serious he would have laughed. "Mr. Skinner, I hope you enjoyed the 'entertainment.' Don't worry about Agent Scully; she is still alive, as is Agent Mulder. I suspect the main question you are asking is 'why?' The answer to your question is simple: We are working for an organisation that wishes to achieve a goal. Agents Mulder and Scully are instruments. Means to an end, If you will. I hope that clarifies the situation for you. Until next time, Mr. Skinner..." The screen faded to black and was replaced by more 'snow.' He rubbed his eye. *********************************************************** Place: Unknown. Time: Unknown He awoke slowly, wincing at the crick in his neck. His arms were numb from Scully's weight having rested there all night, his body stiff from having sat in the same position. Careful not to wake her, he gently laid her upon the mattress and stood up. Picking up the privy bucket (which he noticed had been emptied), he went to stand in a corner, the need to relieve himself outweighing the humiliation at his situation. He had just finished when he heard the key in the lock. Moving quickly back to the bunk, fear tightening the knot in his stomach, he leaned over Scully, and, placing a kiss on her forehead, he whispered, "I love you, Scully." The men entered the room, and, each taking one of his arms, they dragged him from the room. He made no sound as they roughly grabbed him, he made sure, so as not to wake Scully. She had been through so much. She needed her sleep. As soon as they got him out of the door they blindfolded him, dragging him across what seemed to be concrete and up some stairs. They stopped as they reached another door. He struggled against the man holding him. "Mr. Mulder, if you continue to struggle I will be forced to punish you further. If you think Agent Scully's injuries are severe, yours will be by far worse." He stopped struggling. They proceeded through the door and along another corridor that opened into a room. It was warm but not unpleasantly so. he thought sarcastically. They removed the blindfold and he looked around him. He started to panic, his heartrate soaring. He felt dizzy and sick. The room was decorated in a pale pink colour with pink- and red-flecked linoleum flooring. As he looked around, he saw various instruments of torture. There was what appeared to be an operating table in one corner, crusted with dried blood. He turned away quickly. In another corner there was a chair. It was made of metal and had leather straps on the arms and legs. In the centre of the room there was what appeared to be framework with straps at all four corners. He swallowed heavily; it didn't take a genius to work out what that was used for. There were several other pieces of equipment in the room which were all designed to inflict pain but not death or life- threatening injury. They moved over to the chair and shoved him down into it, strapping his arms and legs so tightly it hurt. . They replaced the blindfold. He heard them moving around on the other side of the room. Panic gripped his innards and he fought to breathe properly, dizziness prevailing over his other senses. He vowed silently not to shout or make a noise; Scully was suffering enough. He heard one of them walk towards him, the hard soles of his shoes reverberating in the air around him. He never felt it coming, the pain white hot and burning, spreading from his abdomen over the rest of his body in a blinding sheet. A century later he could breathe again, his breath coming fast in ragged gasps, his arms and legs straining against the straps. What had happened? He couldn't remember! The pain, it clouded his mind, made his thoughts muzzy and slow... *********************************************************** She came to, wincing as she raised her head. Suddenly she became instantly aware - or as aware as she could be in her current situation. The events of yesterday flooded into her skull. The torture, the..... She couldn't even think about it. It made her cringe. The hate, the fear, the anger at their violation of her body rising from the pit of her stomach to choke her and bring forth fresh tears. Reaching for Mulder, his comforting presence she realised he wasn't there. "Mul...der?" she croaked. The only reply was silence. She struggled to turn onto her side, gasping as the movement reopened her gashes, blood tricking down her already bloodied torso. She slowly surveyed the room. Apart from the privy bucket in the corner and herself on the bunk, the room was empty. She stifled a sob; they had already taken him! "Ah, it's good to see you are awake, Agent Scully!" She started at the sound of the voice. "As you no doubt have seen we have already borrowed Agent Mulder. He seems to be doing well - he hasn't made a peep yet - we may have to change that in the near future. I hope you enjoyed our little game. Have no fear, it will be repeated." There was a crackling sound and a muffled yell. She started to cry, her tears rapidly changing to wracking sobs as she recalled her experiences. She sat huddled on the bunk, rocking back and forth as images and smells assaulted her senses. She saw them beating her - kicking her in exceptionally sensitive places: Her breasts, her thighs, and her stomach - just hard enough to hurt excruciatingly but not to do any permanent damage. These were cold, efficient and accomplished torturers. She saw them strip her naked, their rough hands probing and pummelling her delicate flesh. She saw them tie her to that 'bed'. She shuddered at the memory of the crusted blood; she remembered thinking at the time, absurdly, that she hoped she wouldn't catch anything. She saw them reach for her, she felt their harsh caress on her inner thighs. She had tried to squirm away from their touch, but the bonds held fast and she had to endure their humiliating assault on her genitals. She remembered how they had dragged her screaming from the 'bed' and had tied her to the chair. She remembered the pain, the white hot, searing pain, endless, as waves crashing on a shore, wave after wave of pain. She hurt all over, she couldn't breathe, they had grabbed her and pulled her towards the framework. She squeezed her eyes shut, trying to block the images but still they came. She remembered the smell of leather and sweat. She had been too busy trying to recover from the last 'game' to register what they were doing. She had felt the first lash of the whip, stinging and sharp, yet somehow a respite from the searing agony that she had endured at their hands in the 'chair'. Each successive lash more vicious than the one before until she had lost consciousness. *********************************************************** 10:30 a.m., Walter Skinner's office As the last team members seated themselves, he rose and began to speak. "Yesterday evening, I received the video tape you are about to view. The contents of which must not be discussed outside of this room, is that understood?" There was a murmur of agreement from the twelve people seated around him. "I would like your personal assurance that Agent Scully's modesty will be preserved." Again there was a murmur of agreement. He picked up the tape and inserted it into the VCR. After the initial snow the masked face of the first kidnapper came into view, followed by an image of Scully... *********************************************************** Place: Unknown. Time: Unknown The cell door opened and one of the men threw a barely conscious Mulder down onto the floor. Scully raised her head from the bunk, eyes puffy and bloodshot. She slowly, painfully, manoeuvred herself to the edge and slid off onto the floor. Crawling, she reached his side. She flopped down next to him, wincing against the pain. He was half lying on his chest, one arm pinned underneath his body, his head turned away from where she was sitting. She placed a hand under his chin, and, turning his face towards her, she assessed the damage done to his face. A black eye, a cut just above his eyebrow, a split lip, and a whip lash on his cheek. She shifted her attentions to his back - Nothing. Completely smooth. He coughed, his eyes flickering open, clouded with pain. She made eye contact and, for a fraction of a second, she saw him. She saw raw emotion, pain, hurt, fear, anger, love... then it was gone again. He struggled to sit up. She was startled when he cried out in pain. "Mulder? What is it?" "Pain...chest...blood...can't breathe...help!" She glanced down at his chest. His dark T-shirt was soaked with blood. Lifting it slowly with gentle fingers, she uncovered wounds much like those on her back but shallower and more numerous. In some places the skin was flapping, held only by shreds of tissue. "Jesus, Mulder," she croaked. "The bastards used the whip on your chest! What else did they do?" "Ele...ity...broken...fing...ers...cuts...thigh...knife..." She looked at his thigh. Into it had been carved the letters "F-B-I-S-H-I-T" just skin-deep, not enough to cut through muscle - maximum pain! Previously pressed to the floor and now exposed, it bled freely, dirt and blood mingling. She had seen bared muscle before. She had autopsied more bodies than she could remember, but living tissue, flexing and contracting before her eyes...She turned quickly and vomited into the bucket standing on the floor nearby. "Now...who...squeamish?" He tried to laugh but ended up coughing. Concerned, she laid a hand on his shoulder. He cried out in pain and she withdrew her hand. "Dis...ated...shoul...der" "Do you want me to set it?" "More...pain?" "Afraid so, but your shoulder will feel better afterwards!" "In...lots...pain...anyway...what's...more?" "Okay, I'll try to make as fast as possible." Moving slowly against her own pain she placed her hand on one side of his shoulder and the other on his chest. She pulled, and there was a sharp crack and a cry of pain. "There!" She moved back. "Jes...us, Scull...y." He looked up. "How...are... feeling?" "Don't worry about me, Mulder, my injuries are less severe than yours." "Scully...you...whipped...too." "Yes, but not on my chest! You should try to rest; you don't know when they will be back." "Need...sleep...so...cold." "You're going into shock." She grabbed the blanket from the bunk and wrapped it around him, helping him to his feet. Regardless of her own pain, she helped him lower himself onto the bunk before sitting down next to him. The door opened and one of the kidnappers entered. They shied away from him, pressing themselves as far against the wall as their injuries would allow. In his hands was a bundle. He put it onto the floor and walked out, locking the door behind him. She slowly got off the bunk and moved towards the bundle. "Agent Scully." She jumped as the sound reverberated around the cell. "The bundle you see before you contains food and meagre medical supplies. The whole lot is wrapped in an extra blanket." "Why...why are you doing this?" "We cannot have you or Agent Mulder dying on us, now can we? That would be no fun." "What do you want? Why are you doing this?" Her voice, stronger now, wavered. "It is not your concern. Continue to question us and what little you have been given will be removed." She opened the bundle. In it were two 1.5 litre bottles of water, a packet of digestive biscuits, 2 apples, a loaf of bread she noticed, and a first aid kit. She open the kit to find two pairs of surgical gloves, some antiseptic, some cotton wool, some Band-Aids and some small bandages. She picked up the first aid kit and, taking it over to Mulder, she selected a pair of gloves, some cotton wool, one of the waters and the antiseptic. She gently washed his wounds with the water. Carefully so as not to leave fibres form the cotton wool. She reached for the antiseptic. As she gently dabbed it onto Mulder's various wounds, he hissed with pain. "I'm sorry, Mulder. But I have to do this, otherwise they will become infected." "They...already...hurt...a...bit...more...pain...makes...no ...difference." She had finished with his chest and turned to his leg. She went to dab the antiseptic on, but he jerked his leg away, wincing as the clotting blood split, allowing fresh blood to seep from the wounds. "Mulder?" she questioned. "You...are...not...coming...near...my...leg!!" "Don't be stupid!" She reached out her hand towards his leg, but his arm came in contact with hers before she had time to react, pushing her roughly out of the way. She clutched her arm to her body. "Well, fuck you then!" she said. "Get infected, see if I care!" "Scull...y?" "What?" Her voice was sharp and pointed. "I'm sorry...arm. It's just... It...hurts." Her face softened. "I know, I hurt too but we have to ignore it otherwise it will overcome us." She moved over to him. Grasping his hand she said, "If we let these bastards see what they are doing to us it is almost as bad as giving in." "I...tried...not...you...hear...screams...pain." She leaned over and kissed his forehead. "Let me clean it up...please. It's full of dirt and whatever other shit is on this floor." "Just...gentle...okay?" She gave him a wan smile. "As ever, Mulder. As ever." *********************************************************** Sometime later After having cleaned his wound - against much protestation - she had managed to persuade him to rest. Now, with him asleep, she paced the room, her own wounds smarting and oozing fluid. She would have to get him to clean her cuts when he woke up. There was the sound of a key in the lock. She started to shake, her stomach knotting in fear and anticipation. The door opened and one of the kidnappers stood there. She backed into the wall. "Fear not, Agent Scully, it is not that time...yet." He advanced further into the room. He placed a clean bucket onto the floor, along with a bowl of cold water, a towel and a bundle of material. "We want you to be looking at your best, now don't we?" She began to feel uneasy. "Why?" Before she had time to react, a hand appeared out of thin air and struck her across the side of the face. "It is not your place to interrogate me Agent Scully. Your 'keep them talking' policy will be of no use other than to elicit more of the treatment you have just received." He turned abruptly and exited the room. She decided to take advantage of the opportunity, not to please them but to make herself feel a bit more human. Unbuttoning her shirt and folding it neatly, she began to wash, first her face and neck, then, by cupping her hands she collected some water and poured it over her shoulder, her first two attempts to do this resulted in a pool of water collecting on the floor. On the third attempt she was successful, gasping as the icy water hit her cuts like a slap. Carefully drying herself with the towel, making sure not to leave it too bloodied for Mulder to use, she went to put her shirt back on. Pausing, she looked at it, blood-soaked and ripped. Dumping it in a pile on the floor (she didn't want to undo all the good the wash had done her by putting her heavily bloodstained clothing back on). She examined the bundle of Material and found that it was actually clothing. Selecting one of the shirts - They were both the same size she noticed. She put it on. It was too big but at least it was clean. She found a pair of trousers and slipped them on. Wrapping one of the blankets around herself she perched at the end of the bunk in the space that Mulder's now-curled form had left her. Leaning her head against the wall, she tried to catch some rest. *********************************************************** Walter Skinners office: 3.34pm: The Second video had arrived by Courier that morning. He sat at his desk, elbows resting on the polished surface, kneading his Knuckles in the palms of his hands. The Video sat before him, its unremarkable black uniformity giving no hint as to the nature of the content. The other agents involved had not been informed of the existence of this video. He wanted to view it first, to make sure, that if anything ............. tragic occurred on the video he would not reveal his personal involvement with Mulder and Scully. He rose from the chair, perspiration beading on his forehead. The video began with snow, quickly replaced by a view of one of the kidnappers: "Assistant Director Skinner, I hope you enjoyed our last display, Agent Scully was most co-operative. I remember promising you a sequel, so.........." The kidnapper made a sweeping gesture with his hand and moved aside, to show Mulder strapped into the metal chair. Walter Skinner turned down the volume so any sounds emulating from the video would not be heard from outside, and put his head in his hands. Some time later: The last image was replaced by snow, he got up, and replacing the video in its box he locked it in his desk and rapidly exited the room. *********************************************************** Place: Unknown, Time: Unknown: She awoke slowly, the pain from her wounds unchanged in its severity, Rubbing her neck to relieve the cramp, she looked around to find Mulder. She couldn't see him, "Mulder?" "Scu......lly" She heard his voice but couldn't see him, "Mulder, where are you?" "In.........corner" She got off the bunk, and shuffled towards him, her legs feeling as though they had been through a mincer. He was crouched in the corner, "I........ thought......... wash........ but............. arms.......... heavy........ pain" "Do you want me to help?" "Yeah.............Okay" She scooped some water into her hands and poured it over his exposed chest. His cries of pain tearing her heart into shreds, "Are you okay?" "Cold........" "Yeah I know but clean is clean" "Why.......they.......doing......this?" He gestured toward the bowl. She hesitated a moment wondering whether telling him would be wise. She looked down at him and saw trust in his eyes - he trusted her to tell him the truth, making her mind up she said: "He said something about us needing to look at our best" His brow furrowed in confusion, she read his silent request for information and replied: "No, I don't understand either, I am past caring at this point" "What.........if........Kill.......us?" She sighed and scooped more water in her hands "If they are going to kill us Mulder what can we do about it?" She trickled the water down his back and, taking the towel, she gently started to wipe some of the dried and crusted rivulets of blood. She turned her attention to the untidy, gaping gashes on his thigh. Washing them gently and ignoring Mulder's whimpering, she cleaned some of the blood then reached for the first aid kit. Selecting two of the bandages and a Band-Aid to secure them, she fashioned a dressing to staunch the newly released flow of blood. Passing Mulder the remaining clothing, she helped him to dress. His Broken fingers rendered him almost incapable of dressing himself. The now-familiar sound of the key in the lock startled them from their reverie, Scully's hand sought Mulder's, Gripping tightly they moved closer together. The kidnappers came into the room, Mulder and Scully found themselves lifted from the floor and dragged across the concrete. Scully could hear Mulders muffled yelps of pain, she herself was badly wounded but shock and fear nullified some of the pain and allowed her some flexibility. She turned her head slowly in Mulder's direction, the expression on his face spoke louder than any words. He was in agony, her brain rationalised. He was badly hurt. They were brought into the torture room and dumped onto the 'bed'. Scully's blood ran cold as she imagined all sorts of different scenarios. What if they were going to kill them. Her stomach twisted itself into tight knots. She reached again for Mulder's uninjured hand. *********************************************************** Assistant Director Skinner's office: 10.21am He had entered his office that morning to be handed his post by his secretary. 3 brown envelopes - probably internal memos, 2 white envelopes with the official FBI seal, and a plastic bag with a video inside. It had the label: "For AD Skinners' eyes ONLY" Picking up the phone he speed dialled one of the members of the team responsible for investigating Mulder and Scullys' disappearance. Briefly informing him of the video and promising to send it down when he had seen it, he hung up. Inserting it into the VCR he settled in the chair to see what they had done this time. Snow filled the screen, followed by an image of Mulder and Scully sitting on some kind of Gurney dressed in what appeared to old fashioned prison uniforms. He noticed that they were holding hands. Scully started to speak, her voice wavering and she paused every so often as if she were reading from cards held in front of her out of the camera's view. "Assistant Director Skinner, We have been kidnapped by an organisation known as 'The Underground Government Resistance Party - The UGRP' they are holding us as hostages and we will be returned safely", she choked back the tears that were threatening to fall, "If the government releases Adrian Kerr and Martin Shaw." She stopped speaking and the face of one of the kidnappers came into view masked by a balaclava: "Your Agents are still alive but you have 72 hours to answer our demands before they are killed. We will contact you with the arrangements. Snow filled the screen. Assistant Director Skinner was shocked at the extent of their injuries. Black eyes, livid purple bruises, cuts and burns. They would need medical attention. Soon. *********************************************************** Place: Unknown; Time: Unknown: She was shaking with fear and her stomach had tied itself into so many knots she thought it was going for a girl scout badge. The kidnapper had had her read a message from cue cards into the camera. Then they had been taken back to their cell. She noticed as soon as she walked in that there was a fresh bowl of water and the privy bucket had been emptied. she thought spitefully. Mulder let go of her hand and sat slowly and painfully on the bunk. "Mulder what's wrong, what is it?" "Did........did you hear them Scully? They're gonna kill us in 72 hours unless the government releases Adrian Kerr and Martin Shaw" "Yes Mulder, I heard" She said quietly "Scully do you know what they did?" "No, I have to say that I don't" "They tortured and raped 3, 14 year old girls before killing them and dumping their bodies at a sewerage works" "Oh my God, that's........ inhuman." "Can you honestly see the government releasing them?" "Well......." She was lost for words "The top brass hates me, look how they regard our work? I don't believe they will release those men, it gives them a prime opportunity to get rid of me, to close the X-files." "Mulder that is so selfish, in case you hadn't noticed I am here too." "Scully you work on the X-files, your abduction opened up a can of worms that they would have rather have left sealed." At the mention of her abduction pain flitted across his face and an emotion she couldn't identify - Guilt? Regret? "So what are you saying Mulder, that they are going to leave me to die as well just because I was assigned to work with you?" She felt a crushing pain in her chest and tears welled up in her eyes, spilling over to fall in crystalline droplets down her face. "I'm scared, I don't want to die, not here and not like this" She whispered choking back the sobs that threatened to erupt from her throat. He reached over and pulled her against his chest - or as near to it as his injuries would allow, tears pricking at his own eyes. She submitted willingly to his embrace, her tears falling onto his shirt. She laughed inwardly at the clothing they had given them. Old prison uniforms. How ironic. The stiff cotton shirts and trousers looked like pyjamas, they were much too big but clothing was clothing. Mulder looked a bit ridiculous in his - the trousers were too short she looked even more so - she had to tie the trousers up with string and fold the ends of the trousers up to avoid tripping over them. As for the shirt - well she could get another person inside it with her. Emerging from her reverie she realised that Mulder was asleep and she had been sitting in that position for too long and she had a stiff and painful neck. The wounds on her back were smarting and as she stretched she realised one of them had been bleeding and had now dried onto the cotton. A feeling of hopelessness overwhelmed her and she began to cry again, softly this time so as not to wake Mulder. It didn't work. He stirred and mumbled "WhaisitScully?" "I'm so scared. Faced with this. I realise there is so much that I haven't done or achieved" "Like what" His voice softened "You know....Stuff. I never got to say goodbye to Mom" She swallowed hard "We never found your Sister, I never fully lived my life, I've cut up dead bodies and chased Aliens. The FBI has consumed my life, and when I die I'll be cut up, toe tagged, and shoved in a freezer just like anyone else." Her tirade over she let the tears engulf her completely, wracking sobs rising from deep within her chest, hot tears spilling out over her cheeks like rivulets of molten Lava. She hadn't told him the real reason for her tears, that she had wanted the chance to be a mother. If not a child of her own then to adopt or have a surrogate baby through an egg donor. She had been contemplating leaving the FBI, filing medical reinstatement papers and becoming a doctor where she could do some good instead of her only patients being dead ones. She had been torn between Mulder and a normal life. In many ways her Love or her Life. She hadn't realised when she had started loving Mulder, it had crept up on her, revealing itself at inopportune moments when she least expected it. Thinking back perhaps the root began in the Cancer business or maybe when he had faked his own death telling no one, not even her. Her reaction had surprised her. She had never realised how deep her feelings for Mulder went. She slowly backed away, shoulders heaving as she tried to repress the flood of emotion. Retreating into a corner slowly, painfully, she sat on the floor with her knees up curled into a foetal position her head on her knees. She heard his footsteps approach. Looking up at him she saw a battered and abused man with very little left to hold on to. His eyes laid his soul bare to her. For all his bravado, stupid sense of humour, and sexual inuendos he was a weak and vulnerable person who relied on her to keep him sane. "I'm sorry Scully" He said quietly "For what?" "For dragging you into this, for the X Files and their impact on your life" "Mulder I didn't have to stay, I could've left at anytime" "Why didn't you?" "I guess I felt responsible" "Responsible for what?" "For you, I thought that if I left you'd do something stupid and get yourself killed" "Why does that matter. If you had left, the X Files would no longer be a part of your life." "Yes but YOU would. To be honest since I started on the X Files I've lost most of my friends - except you. You have been my best friend - my only friend, through all the tough shit we've been through and I couldn't abandon you" "Scully, come and sit on the bunk, it's infinitely more comfortable than this floor!" She accepted his outstretched hand, making sure it wasn't the broken one, and stood. A wave of nausea and dizziness engulfed her stumbling she caught hold of Mulder. His howl of pain informed her that she had touched one of his many wounds. Releasing her grip she fell to the floor as black consumed her. The white-hot wave of pain registered on his senses before the fact that Scully had collapsed. As the pain cleared to a dull throb he saw her lying crumpled on the floor. Falling to his knees beside her, ignoring the pang of protest from his legs, he rolled her over. Checking her pulse and breathing he cradled her head in his lap. . He struggled to stand with her in his arms. Ignoring the wave of pain in his chest, he staggered over to the bunk. Laying her down he sat with her head on his lap. Pulling a blanket over her he put a hand on her forehead and started to stroke her hair. "C'mon Scully, I need you, please wake up, I can't go through this alone" Looking down at the floor he noticed a few drops of blood. Panic rising in his chest he gently lifted her shoulders into a sitting position. The sight he had feared met his eyes; the whole of her shirt was soaked in blood. Praying she wouldn't kill him, he gently reached to the front of her shirt and began to undo the buttons. Blushing fiercely as he reached the last one, he began to peal the shirt from her back exposing steadily bleeding lacerations. Manoeuvring himself so as to be able to lay her on her front, he slid himself off of the bunk. Retrieving the water bucket from the floor he tore one of his sleeves off of the shirt, dipping it into the water, he carried it, dripping back to Scully. Carefully he began sponging her back. She became aware of a cold sensation. She could not determine the origin or reason. She couldn't understand why she couldn't see. The Black was swamping her, consuming her, she struggled against it but it held firm. She tried to grasp it but it slipped out of reach. She couldn't breathe. It was in her mouth, in her nose. She screamed. An ear-piercing scream permeated the cell. Spreading in ripples until it filled it completely. Echoing around the walls. Amplified by the bare stone. Surprised he leapt back, tripping over the water bucket he grabbed the edge of the bunk to steady himself. The only sound that could be heard was heavy breathing. Edging forward he asked tentatively: "Scully?" "Mul.....der?" "I'm here" "What happened, all I remember is feeling dizzy then waking up here" "You blacked out for a while." "............?" "Why am I topless?" She raised an eyebrow at him He blushed and said "You were bleeding heavily and it was soaking your shirt so I took it off to try to stop it. It was her turn to blush at the inference of what she had said. Noticing his shirt she said "The look suits you" "What?" "The shirt. The missing sleeve!" "Oh, yeah" He laughed. "Owww, don't make me laugh it hurts" "How's your leg?" "My Leg? Oh right, It kinda throbs at the moment" Pulling the blanket around her chest, she sat up. Picking up her shirt from beside her, she looked at it. "Well that's another fine piece of clothing ruined." He smirked. Smiling wanly she slipped it on. He turned around and she released the blanket and did up the buttons. He walked over and sat next to her. "You scared me" "I scared me" "No, seriously. I don't know how I would've coped if you'd died on me." "Mulder, I blacked out due to blood loss. I'm not Dead." "I don't know how much longer I can stand this without going completely gaga!" *********************************************************** Assistant Director Skinner's Office: There was a knock at the door. "Come in" A young Agent entered the room. Approaching his desk she said: "Sir, we have a new lead on Mulder and Scully." Instantly alert he sat forward in his chair "A man walking his dog came forward to say that he saw a woman fitting Agent Scully's description at the reflecting pool at 10:00am. We have also have another witness that saw a White Import Transit van driving away from the reflecting pool at approximately 10:00 am. Which fits the time frame that Agent Scully was last seen." "Do we have a licence plate?" "No Sir. But we are running a database check. Cross matching, everyone with previous convictions that are known associates of the UGRP, against White Transit vans." "Inform me the second you have results. Has the courier company come up with anything?" "Not Yet." " Thank you Agent Percival, you may leave." "Thank you sir" She turned and left the room. *********************************************************** They were sleeping fitfully, curled around each other like abandoned Kittens. The door to the cell clunked. His eyes snapped open. He remained where he was and watched. Waiting. One of the kidnappers moved into the room. Flicking on a flashlight he moved towards the bunk. Mulder shut his eyes, pretending to be asleep. "Aww, look at the little lovebirds" "Shut up twat, we don't want to wake them" He opened his eyes a fraction. The kidnapper moved closer to the bunk. In the glint of the flashlight he saw something thin and silver. A cold tendril of fear snaked down his spine. A sudden realisation hit him. Uttering a loud cry of anger he lunged off the bunk, ignoring the stabbing pain, he threw himself at one the kidnappers. Scully's frightened cry echoed throughout the room. He fought to pin him down. The other one must be here somewhere. Fighting to turn his head he saw Scully kick him in the chest. Looking back at what he was doing he saw the needle heading for his neck, dodging just in time he bit the kidnappers' hand. He dropped the syringe with a howl of pain. Quick as lightning Mulder grabbed it off the floor before the other man had chance to retrieve it. Seeing his opportunity he drove the needle into the Kidnappers' arm. Instantly he relaxed and stopped moving. Mulder remained pinned under him for a while. Summoning up the energy to move he slid out from under him. He tried to stand and failed. His legs buckling under him he sat back on the floor. Dizziness overwhelmed him. Shaking his head to clear his vision he looked at the man beside him on the floor. He was still breathing. Looking around for Scully he found her sat on the bunk shivering. The other man was slumped against the wall. He was dead. His Skull caved in. Blood was pooling on the floor under him. "Jesus Scully, remind me not to make you mad" She gave a half smile. Moving over to sit next to her he said. "Do you realise Scully?" "Realise what?" "We're free!" He looked at her. She was hunched over, her shoulders shaking with suppressed tears. Surprised, he asked "Scully, what's wrong. You should be laughing" Turning to face him, she wiped the tears from her eyes. "I'm just relieved" Standing slowly, Mulder reached for her hand. "C'mon Scully lets get outta here" As they stepped over the fallen Kidnapper, Scully kicked him in the ribs 3 times. "That's from me you son-of-a-bitch - for all the shit you gave me" Reaching the door of the cell, Mulder picked up the Flashlight lying in the doorframe. Closing the door behind him he turned the key in the lock and removed it. As they walked and limped along the corridor neither said anything. They came to a flight of stairs. Ascending them they reached a door. It was locked. "Shit, Shit, Shit!" "Why does this happen to us?" She rattled the door handle "Try this key." He handed her the Cell key. "Worth a try I s'pose" "Fitting it into the lock she was surprised to discover that it turned. The door swung outwards into a lit corridor. Shielding their eyes from the bright light they entered. Along the corridor was a series of doors leading off into other rooms. As they went along they found most were locked. One was unlocked. Opening the door they found themselves staring at the torture room. Screaming, Scully backed away. Falling against another door. It opened. Losing her balance she fell backwards down a couple of stairs. "SCULLY" He reached the doorframe. She was sat on the floor rubbing her elbow and muttering to herself. Looking around, his stomach tied itself into knots of relief. Releasing the breath he'd been holding he moved into the room and down the steps. Helping Scully off of the floor he turned her to face the most beautiful thing he had ever seen. Freedom. The room was a garage with a sliding door. Facing it was a White Transit Van. Opening the driver's door he cursed. "Fuck! No keys" "Mulder, does it matter? Just hot-wire it" "Yeah. Why didn't I think of that?" Turning and climbing into the Drivers seat he beckoned Scully to join him. She crossed her arms and gave him a look of *I think not* "Scully, C'mon" "Mulder you're in no fit state to drive. That leg of yours - well to drive would be stupid. The flexing and contracting of muscles would reopen it to infection and further blood loss." Resignedly he shifted over to the passenger seat and allowed Scully to climb into the Drivers seat. *********************************************************** Picking up the phone Assistant Director Skinner dialled the number of the team responsible for the release of Adrian Kerr and Martin Shaw. Briefly updating them on the situation and the lack of contact from the Kidnappers. Sighing heavily he replaced the receiver. . He was waiting for contact from the kidnappers. The 72-hour deadline was approaching fast. The two prisoners were prepared. They had no choice but to concede to the demands of the Kidnappers. He just hoped that Mulder and Scully were still alive. There. The thought that had been kept confined to the back of his mind had finally been voiced. *********************************************************** The dirt track seemed to go on for miles. Every jolt, and movement hurting more than the last. They had left the building where they had been incarcerated. It had been unremarkable. A small plain-brick building with blacked out windows and frosted glass. It looked like Ex-military or some kind of abandoned base. Driving out into the open she noticed that the light was fading fast which meant it must be some time in the afternoon or early evening. The dashboard clock showed 1.40pm. Which was obviously completely wrong. Mulder had fallen asleep about 5 minutes ago. It was a fitful sleep interspersed with violent mumblings. The dirt track was beginning to smooth out. She was coming up to a junction. Pausing at the end to ease her aching limbs she took the opportunity to observe her appearance. Angling the Rear View Mirror so she could see herself, she drew a sharp intake of breath. She looked terrible. Her hair hung lank and lifeless, her hairline was encrusted with dried blood, She had bruised cheekbones and a black eye. Mulder didn't look much better. He had a whip lash on his cheek, which oozed blood and fluid. His eyes were sunken and dark. His split lip had been reopened by his constant mumbling, it was dripping blood onto his shirt. His fight with the kidnapper had reopened some of his chest wounds and the front of his shirt resembled a butchers apron. He looked so innocent, so childlike when he slept. She leant over and brushed a lock of hair away from one of his bleeding wounds. Withdrawing her hand she noticed blood streaking it. Without a second thought she moved her arm to pull his shirt away from his chest. Looking at the road ahead of her. Glancing first left, then right. Not knowing which way to go. "Left or Right. Right or Left?" Speaking more to herself than anything "Left." "Mulder? I thought you were asleep." "You woke me up." "Sorry" "Don't be. It was a shitty dream." "Why left? There is miles of nothing both ways." "I dunno, it just sounds right. Besides, when have I ever been wrong?" Pulling out into the road she turned left. They had been driving for about an Hour when she braked sharply and pulled into the side of the road. "Jesus Scully, What are trying to do?" "It's a Phone-box Mulder." Rooting around in the glove compartment for some change and yielding no results. She sat thinking for a moment before gingerly prising her blood soaked clothing from the seat and climbing down onto the road. Entering the Phone-Box she was relieved to see that it was intact. Picking up the receiver she dialled the operator. "This is Special Agent Dana Scully with the FBI. Can you connect me to The Washington Office. Assistant Director Skinner." "Your authorisation code?" "220783Scully, Dana" "Just a moment." "Your call has been connected" The phone was ringing. "Assistant Director Skinner." "Sir......" She tried to speak and was overcome by the emotion rising in her chest "Agent Scully?" *********************************************************** The phone rang insistently. "Ok, Ok, Ok" He picked up the receiver. "Assistant Director Skinner." "Sir......" "Agent Scully?" Turning to the Agents behind him, he yelled. "Hey, can everyone shut up, its Agent Scully" The noise behind him died down to silence "Scully? Are you still there?" "I'm.......here Sir." "Are you and Agent Mulder Ok?" "Were alive. Both of us. We need emergency medical attention. We've been badly wounded and have lost a lot of blood." "Where are you?" "We don't know" "I know this may seem a stupid question, but, have you been released?" "No, We escaped." "......... Escaped?" "They came to give us some kind of injection and Mulder Tackled one and I took the other." "Does the phone box have a number?" "No, its obscured" "Where are the kidnappers?." "We locked them in the building. One is dead. We took their van. A White Transit. We are going to keep driving until we reach a village or town - there can't be one too far away. I'll call you then." She hung up Replacing the receiver. He turned to the Silent Agents. They're alive. Both of them. A cheer erupted in the room. The knot in his stomach relaxed. "They are badly wounded. But they have escaped and are trying to find a village or town to tell them where they are. We have to wait until then to act. We have a lot to do people. Get at it." *********************************************************** On reaching the van, she climbed into the cab. Looking over at Mulder she saw he was asleep again. Closer inspection showed his lips turning a worrying shade of blue. Fear providing the necessary energy she leapt from the van and ran around to the passenger side. She opened the door. Mulders' limp body started to fall. Pushing him back up she got in beside him. "C'mon Mulder" She checked his breathing, it was shallow. His pulse was weak and thready. Laying him down as best she could she tried to make him comfortable. Her pain screamed at her. She ignored it. Running back to the Driver's side she started the engine. Getting back onto the road she floored the gas. The van flew along the road at 103 miles an hour. She glanced at him. "C'mon Mulder." She yelled. "Fight it, stay with me here." Licking her right hand she held it above his mouth. Nothing. Screeching to a halt, brakes smoking, she checked his pulse. Still there. Weak, but still there. Checking his breathing she still registered nothing. Pinching his nose and tipping his head back she placed her lips around his open mouth. Pushing breath into his lungs. Moving back she allowed him to exhale. Still nothing. She blew again. Still nothing. "Dammit Mulder, Stay with me. I need you." Frustration and anger leant energy to her efforts. Breathing again she still had no luck. "Fuck you Mulder. BREATHE!" She continued to give him artificial respiration. Again there was no response. "Please Mulder, breathe. I can't lose you now. Not after everything we've been through. You can't die on me." She pleaded. She continued Mouth to Mouth. Pausing for a moment to catch her breath. "Please Mulder, Please Breathe." The tears began to fall. "I need you. I need you because..... because...... I think I love you. I don't think I can go on without you. You die I die. We're in this together." She resumed the rhythm of Breathe, Release, Breathe, Release. She felt him move. She drew back. He coughed once then started to breathe on his own. His breathing was shaky and wheezy but he was breathing. Her heart rate slowed and the tight, twisted feeling in her chest slowly dissipated. Turning and sitting back into her seat she faced the road. It was pitch black outside and she turned on the headlights. They didn't do much good. One was missing. She made an on-the-spot decision. It was too dark and dangerous to drive. Hitting Central Lock she settled into a more comfortable position and rested her head against the window. In the silence she could hear Mulders' rattling breaths. . She could feel herself sliding towards the blissful oblivion of sleep. She tried to fight it, tried to stay awake to make sure Mulder was OK. She hadn't the energy. She was so tired. So, So tired....... She awoke with a start, rubbing her eyes against the bright sunlight. She turned suddenly to see Mulder staring at her. In turning her head she had given herself a crick in her neck. Drawing a sharp intake of breath she reached up to rub it. "You're pretty when you sleep." "I thought I was pretty all the time." "You are, but I mean you're REALLY pretty when you sleep." "Only Pretty?" She feigned mock hurt "You scared me Mulder." "Why?" "You stopped breathing!" "Did I?" "I had to give you Artificial Respiration. You wouldn't breathe. I thought I'd lost you" "Mouth to Mouth Eh?" She shot him one of her looks "Mulder it was in the interests of your health and purely for that reason only" He leaned over and took her hand. Pulling her towards him he reached up with his other hand and hooked it around her neck. Rubbing it gently. He pulled her towards him. His lips brushed hers. A Flood of Emotion washed over her. Love. Desire. As they connected she could feel herself submitting willingly to him. Offering herself to him. Inhibitions evaporating. She could feel his lips against hers. Warm. Soft. She felt his hand caressing her neck. Her need for air forced her to break away. Returning hungrily. Their passion mounting. Moving closer together his arms enveloped her in his warm embrace. Pain arched through her body. She couldn't hold back the cry that escaped her lips. He jumped back. Similar pain forcing him into retreat. As the pain faded they looked at each other. Each giving the other a shy smile as if reassuring them that it was not over. "I'm sorry Scully. I should've realised." "I did it to you as well remember." "Yeah but you didn't rub it." "It's Okay, really." They started to laugh. "It's absurd really. The thing that brought us together is keeping us apart!" She leant over and kissed him again. A short, warm kiss. To reassure him she did not regret her actions. Or his. She smiled at him. He smiled back. The road was a long, empty black ribbon stretching into the distance. As she drove she went over the previous events in her head. Mulder slept. 'Welcome to Westville' "What?" He stirred "Mmmm Scully whaisit?" "We've reached a place called Westville" "What?" He sat up. Fully awake now. Pulling up to a Gas station she ran into the shop. The man behind the counter stood in silence. Shocked at her appearance. "I'm a Federal Agent. I need to use your phone." "Sure." He lifted it from behind the counter. Quickly dialling the operator and requesting Skinners' number. When he answered she told him where they were and their current situation. "We'll get a chopper out to you right away." It was over. The sense of relief drained her of her fear and anger. She could feel herself falling and there was nothing she could do. *********************************************************** She opened her eyes to see a worried Skinner and a battered and bruised Mulder. "Agent Scully, I'm glad to see you are back with us." "What happened?" "You called, we rescued." "Where am I?" "Georgetown Memorial." "When can I go home?" "When you're well. The doctors want to keep us in for a few days in light of our...... experiences and the blood loss we suffered." Mulder said. Looking around her she noticed two IV lines connected to her arms. A bloodline and a fluids line. "I'm just down the hall Scully." Mulder turned and limped away. Fingers in splints, chest bandaged. She felt herself slide towards sleep. "I'll let you get some rest Agent Scully. It was a brave thing you and Agent Mulder accomplished. We have the remaining man in custody. Sleep well." The last thing she heard before oblivion claimed her was the click of the door as it shut behind him. He lay awake. His mind in torment. Drawing back the blanket he gingerly slid himself out of bed. The pain, which had abated for a while, had come back with a vengeance. Each of his wounds screaming their presence at him every time he moved. He made his way slowly, painfully down the corridor to Scullys' room. Opening the door he saw her asleep. Her face illuminated by the moonlight shining in through a chink in the curtains. Her hair was spread across the pillow haphazardly in some absurd dance of fire giving her an ethereal aura. She was truly beautiful. Going to her bedside he sat in the chair alongside her. Taking her hand in his uninjured one, he started to speak. Softly, quietly, he confessed his feelings. He told her how much he cared. He told her how he felt when she was dying of Cancer. He poured his heart to her, all his guilt when she had been abducted, how painful it was for him to love her and not able to have her. How she had been so near to him yet so far. She slowly began to slide out of the darkness. There was someone in the room with her. Holding her hand. It was them. They were here. She Screamed. Yanking her arm away from the person. Clambering off the bed she backed into a corner still screaming incoherent words. Her IV lines tangling, pulling the stand over. She ripped them out, ignoring the pain. "Scully it's me, Mulder" Moving towards her he tried to calm her "NO, GET AWAY FROM ME, YOU CAN'T. NOOOOOO" Sliding down the wall her screaming turned to incoherent mumbling. "No, please, no more, I can't stand it, please, no more." She started to cry. 4 nurses ran through the door and went to help Scully. "What happened?" "I came in here to talk to my partner. She was asleep. I held her hand and she started to scream." "Go back to your room Mr Mulder." "Mulder's here? Let me speak to him. MULDERRRRR" "Scully!" One of the nurses pushed him out of the room. Holding her to the bed they sedated her. She slid again toward oblivion. She opened her eyes. Daylight filtered in. Turning her head to the nightstand she saw Mulder asleep in the chair by her bed. Leaning over she tapped his arm. "C'mon Mulder, wake up" He stirred, yawning widely "Hey Scully, not screaming at me today?" "What?" "I came to see you last night and you screamed at me." "I...... I don't remember." "Its ok. It wasn't your fault." "Listen, about the other day. I'm sorry I took advantage." "You didn't, I kissed you as well remember." "I thought........." "Thought what?" "Never mind. - Scully, I don't know how, to read this. I don't know if it was a spur of the moment thing or whether it had been building for ages. Basically, I..... I want to know how you feel. Should we forget it and put it down to the stress of the situation or......." "Or?" "Where do we go from here?" "C'mere." She reached up and pulled him down. Her lips caressing his. The kiss deepened. Hunger and desire ignited passion within them. She pulled away. "No. I..... I can't do this." "Scully its ok." "No. No it isn't. I want it so much. I just can't do this..........The.........the......" She sighed. Not wanting to remember their spiteful fingers. Probing, digging. Their fingernails scraping. He gathered her into his arms, mindful of her pain, and his. "It's Ok Scully. However long it takes." 2 Months later: *She was running. Couldn't stop. They were catching up. Had to run, had to keep going. Blam. She hit a wall. "No, no, no, no please, this can't be happening." She turned and ran along the side of the wall. Catching her foot in a hole she fell. They came up behind her. Pulling her to her feet they shoved her against the wall. "No, please, no don't hurt me, please." The searing light burned her eyes. "No please. MULDERRRRRRRR".* The scene faded into dark grey shapes. The furniture in her apartment. The echo of her fitful cry fading to silence. She listened. All she could hear was her own heavy breathing. *He was tied down. He tried to stand, tried to escape. Struggling against the bonds which held him. Succeeding only to graze his wrists further. "It is no use Mr Mulder. You will not escape." He saw the blade come for him. He writhed, trying to escape its slicing edge. Black overwhelmed him. He was no longer tied down. He was stood, naked on an endless tarmac plain. He looked around. There was no-one. Looking down at his feet he saw that they were sinking into the ground. He tried to move. He was being pulled faster. It was up to his waist now. He could smell the sickly sweetness of the tar. It was up to his neck. He craned his head, trying to keep it away from the engulfing black material. He failed. As it closed over his head he was once again catapulted into the darkness. "SCULLYYYYYYYYYYYY" He jerked awake, His heart pounding. Leaping out of bed he switched on the light. There was no-one there. He proceeded to switch on every light in his apartment until the darkness had been banished completely. There was a knocking at the door. Grabbing his gun he advanced cautiously towards the door. Looking through the peephole he saw a very tired and drawn-looking Scully struggling to stand upright on the other side. He unlocked the door. Wordlessly she walked through and sat down. Shutting the door behind her he turned to face her. "I had another nightmare" "Me too." "Same one?" "Same one! I...... I couldn't sleep." "S'okay." He paused, "Coffee?" "Please - Black, 2 sugars" He moved into the kitchen. Switching on the half-full kettle he hunted around for some cups. Finding 2 reasonably clean mugs, he put a spoonful of instant coffee in both mugs followed by 2 cubes of sugar. The click of the switch indicated that the kettle had finished boiling. He poured the hot liquid into both mugs and stirred them quickly. Carrying them back to the couch he set them down on the coffee table. They sat for a few minutes in companionable silence, sipping their coffee and staring off into space. "I can't take it. I turned on the bedside lamp when I woke up and the fuse went. I went to change it and got flashbacks. I ended up screaming my head off until the neighbours banged on the walls. That's why I came here." She said quietly. "How'd you know I was awake?" "Kinda guessed I s'pose." "Mulder, I thought I was going to die." "Me too." "I can't shake the feeling." "The one in the pit of your stomach that feels as though you're about to throw up?" "Yeah" They sat in silence for a while longer. She began to drift off. Afraid of what might happen to her in her dreams she jerked herself awake again. She slowly surrendered to the overpowering call of sleep. Laying her head against the corner of Mulder's couch her body relaxed and she drifted into the darkness. *She was running. Couldn't stop. They were catching up. Had to run, had to keep going. Blam. She hit a wall. "No, no, no, no please, this can't be happening. Not again. Please." She turned and ran along the side of the wall. Catching her foot in a hole she fell. They came up behind her. Pulling her to her feet they shoved her against the wall. "No, please, no don't hurt me, please." The searing light burned her eyes. "No please. MULDERRRRRRRR".* "Shhh. I'm here Scully. It's okay." He had his arms around her. For a moment she was disorientated. Submitting herself to his embrace she released her fear and emotion. Her body shaking with desperate sobs. His T-shirt was rapidly becoming sodden with her tears. She could smell him. The deep, musky odour that was him. The mixture of Laundry detergent, hair gel and Man-scent. She felt warm and safe in his arms. So strong. She could feel the muscles flex and contract beneath the skin. "I'm.....Sorry, look, you're all wet." "It doesn't matter. I have more T-shirts" She managed a small chuckle. He released her from his grasp. She sniffed and wiped her eyes. They sat back on the couch and she laid her head on his shoulder. She broke the silence first. "I....... I can't shake it. I know rationally, in my consciousness that they can't hurt us. I mean I killed one of them for crying out loud." "I know, I know." He whispered into her hair. She turned her head up to face him. Her eyes taking in all the details of his face. So familiar. She knew every line, every curve, but every time she looked at him it was like seeing him for the first time. The spark re-ignited. The warmth of her passion flowed through her veins. She could hear her heart pumping. She could feel the rush of blood under her skin. They moved closer. The heat radiating from each others' bodies. She felt his lips brush hers. As the kiss deepened the pressure of his mouth increased. Desire flooded her senses. All she could See, Hear, Smell, Feel and Taste was him. He was all around her. They moved as one. Their movements choreographed by all the time they had spent together and their intimate knowledge of each other. No-one else mattered. Nothing else mattered. In those few moments Mulder became her universe. She could feel herself lifting his T-shirt. She felt his hands caressing her neck, her back. He was everywhere. She felt him fumbling with her blouse buttons. Suddenly there was no blouse. She could feel his arms against the scarred flesh of her back. He hesitated. "It's okay, it doesn't hurt." She whispered breathlessly. He resumed his exploration of her body. One hand rested on his heavily muscled shoulder the other was entwined and tangled in his hair. She could feel herself lifted from the couch. Carried by his strong arms. He lay her on something soft and yielding. This was the point of no return. She didn't want to return anyway. She reached behind and unzipped her skirt. Pushing it down past her hips until it lay in a heap at the end of his bed. His jeans followed suit. Pausing briefly they climbed under the duvet. The feel of the soft material against her naked skin felt good. The feel of his skin against hers felt even better. She unhooked her bra and threw it across the room. His thumbs hooked under the elastic of her knickers. They disappeared. She could feel herself removing his boxers. They swiftly followed her bra. They were both naked. She was surprised by her nervousness. It was as if she were making love for the first time. They came together in an explosion of desire. Her senses were overwhelmed. Rationality disappeared. She was driven by primal instinct and raw emotion. Time stood still whilst racing faster than she could register. When she came the force took her breath away. The pressure accumulated in her lower abdomen forcing itself upon her. It escaped in an animal scream leaving her feeling warm, sated, and satisfied. They collapsed together under the duvet. Intertwined as if they were one person. Each was shivering from the impact of their passion. They held each other desperately and tightly. Their flesh blending to become a symbol of their newly acquired intimacy and the affirmation of their relationship. *********************************************************** Sunlight filtered in through his lining-less curtains. Illuminating the two figures entwined in the centre of the dishevelled bed. Her Flame red hair splayed across the pillow. Providing a stark contrast to the dark head, which rested against the Ivory bedlinen. Her eyes flickered then opened. At first confusion and disorientation clouded her thoughts. Slowly her memory of the night before swept away every last trace of doubt and misunderstanding. Her lips curled into a smile and she snuggled against his warm body. He responded in kind by laying a comfortingly heavy arm around her waist. She could smell him all around her. The bedclothes smelt of him. Blushing, as details of their encounter flooded into her mind she reached down and took his hand in hers. "MmmmmScully?" "Shhhh. Go back to sleep." She felt him relax against her. Where would they go from here? How would this affect their relationship? An image from their kidnapping flashed into her mind. She pushed it away. Rejected it. The disintegration of the persistence of memory. Nothing mattered anymore. She had Mulder and Mulder had her. They were alive. No-one was going to take that away from her. There was always tomorrow. She relaxed as doziness claimed her. She slipped into dreamless sleep surrounded by love and safety. The demons plaguing them faded. The dying screams muffled by their heartbeats. Beating in Unison. They became one. And they slept on in blissful contentment. Unaware. * So waddya think? That was my first adventure into the world of fanfic. Comments / Flames to Knex@Ibelieve.co.uk. Please be gentle with me. As I said @ the beginning I am new to this. Flames are welcome. Don't get me wrong. But just be nice about. Constructive criticism if you will. * http://pub8.ezboard.com/bthexphiles.html