Progeny (6/9) by Zephathah Disclaimers and such in part 1. Do not archive at Gossamer. Missing chapters available at http://zephathah.tripod.com/ ________________________________ Chapter 6 ________________________________ Raised voices arguing in the hall drew Mulder from sleep. It took him a moment to orient himself as he became aware of the warm weight lying against his side. He was in the hospital, again. And Scully was sleeping in his arms, driven once more to the edge of exhaustion. Some guardian angel nurse must be watching over them, to allow them this night's rest together. Whoever their angel was though, Mulder had a feeling she was losing the battle against a pre-dawn visitor outside his door. His guess was confirmed a moment later when AD Skinner stalked into the room, his face a thundercloud. Shit. With any luck, Scully would remain in dreamland for the duration of his visit. Mulder was sure she would not be pleased that Skinner had found them in this position. He was the one awake, though, and instead of excuses and explanations he just stared at the AD, daring him to question, to comment. Skinner was, in fact, startled to find his agents sharing a hospital bed. He was even more startled to see the amount of blood on Scully's clothing. He'd been briefed on what little the investigating team knew about what had happened, and no one had mentioned Scully receiving any injuries. "I'm sorry to disturb your rest, Agent," Skinner greeted him, his stiff bearing and clenched jaw belying the calmness of his tone. Mulder nodded noncommittally. "Was she wounded?" Skinner asked somewhat hesitantly. "They only told me about you being shot." Mulder looked down at his partner and shook his head, saying, "No, it's all my blood." "And you're still breathing?" The joke fell flat. Hell, it hadn't been much of a joke. Skinner felt out of his element. Mulder seemed to be at his most inscrutable, revealing nothing about the previous day's events through looks or words, and at the same time he was blatantly holding his sleeping partner in a tender, even loving, embrace. Dealing with Mulder was much easier when Skinner was behind his desk, wielding the power, and Mulder and his partner were seated before him, healthy and whole, obstinate and insubordinate. He decided to try again. "She's fine, though?" Even as the words left his mouth, before the glint of anger sparked in Mulder's eyes, Skinner knew his words had been poorly chosen. He knew about Justin; he'd even visited the morgue to pay his respects to the small boy, lying cold and stiff beneath a white sheet. But Mulder gave him no chance to take back his words. Mulder's eyes hardened, and he spoke in a low, tight voice. "She lost another child today, her son, because she was busy saving my life. How do you think she's doing, *sir*?" He spat out 'sir' like an epithet. Skinner held in his own temper and bowed his head in silent apology. "I'm aware of Agent Scully's loss. I regret if my remarks seemed inconsiderate." He seemed about to continue, but he closed his mouth abruptly when Scully began to stir. Mulder's attention immediately went to her, tightening his arms around her and bending his head close to hers. Her hand clutched spasmodically at his shirt, and he raised his own to cover it, wincing slightly at the pull on his shoulder. "Shhh, Scully. It's okay, I'm here, I'm okay. Go back to sleep. I've got you," he crooned softly, as if to a child. Scully's hand relaxed as Mulder rubbed it over and over again. She sighed and mumbled something incomprehensible, then fell quiet once more. Satisfied that she was asleep, Mulder focused on Skinner and asked quietly, without hostility, "Was there something you needed, sir?" "Answers, Mulder." He paused, then said, "We have a full team of agents running around trying to figure out what's going on. I've been holding them off, but I need to give them something. What happened yesterday?" He kept his voice just above a whisper, not wanting to disturb Scully or do anything that might upset either agent. "They got to him first," Mulder replied simply, uncaring. Skinner couldn't help the note of impatience that crept into his voice at this less than satisfactory answer. "Could you be a little more specific, Agent Mulder? We have an agent shot in the arm with a handgun and a man and boy assassinated - a bullet through the head with a high-powered rifle." Mulder looked away, blinking rapidly, and Skinner once again regretted his choice of words. "There won't be any more killings," his agent said thickly. "They've collected all of them now." "They've collected all of *what* now?" Skinner asked, not following this train of thought. "The children." Mulder's tone was bleak, without hope. "Excuse me, sir. I need to get my rest." As if a switch had been flicked, suddenly Skinner knew he didn't exist for Mulder anymore. He watched as the man carefully shifted until he was curved protectively around his partner. After a moment, Skinner left the room silently, his mind wrapped around the intricate tangle of loss and love in his agents' lives. ******** When Scully awoke, her first thought was - at last. Mulder's arm was strong and warm around her; his long, lanky form pressed comfortingly along the length of her body. Then memory came flooding back once more. She stifled a painful gasp by the simple expedient of pressing her mouth into Mulder's shoulder. He didn't stir. With care, she was able to extract herself from his embrace, grimacing in disgust as she took account of herself - bloody shirt, bloody hair. She felt sticky, dirty, and decidedly uncomfortable in yesterday's wrinkled clothes. She slid off the bed and fumbled into her shoes, noting they had their own share of bloodstains. She made a half-hearted attempt at smoothing her hair, then gave it up as a lost cause. The first order of business was a shower, then a call to Skinner to report. Dealing with the grief would have to wait. Had she really just spent the night sharing a hospital bed with Mulder? The events of yesterday and last night seemed surreal in her memory; she could see them clearly, but it was as if they had happened to someone else. She checked on Mulder's shoulder. Despite the amount of blood he had lost, the injury wasn't all that bad. He would have to wear a sling for a while, though. That was bound to cause some friction between them - she would nag him to wear it, and he would take it off whenever her back was turned. She smiled down at her sleeping partner; it would be nice to get back to their familiar bickering. Scully left the room reassured that Mulder was healing well and went in search of a change of clothing. A helpful nurse found some scrubs for her to wear and directed her to a shower and locker room. Alone at last, she stripped off her ruined clothing, feeling the exhilarating freedom of being naked after too long in the same clothes. The shower felt as good as a hard massage, and Scully spent a long time under the pounding hot water, letting it wash the sweat and blood away. She faced into the spray, eyes closed, and wondered if it would ever end. Ever since Skinner's call had awakened her the night of the raid, she'd been on an emotional roller coaster. Finding and losing another child; then learning of Justin, only to lose him, too. And through it all - Mulder. She liked the growing intimacy between them, the new easiness with which they seemed to be able to touch each other. She didn't mistake his sympathy for pity; she knew allowing him to support her made it easier for him, too. The water streamed down her face, dripping off her eyelids, nose, lips, and chin. She tilted her head back to let the force of the water fall on her chest. It beat against her skin and eased the knotted emotions buried in her heart. The decision to go to Mulder instead of Justin had been easy. It had been frighteningly easy, considering how much she thought she wanted her children. The only reason she had hesitated was because Mulder had yelled at her to go after the boy. But it was to Mulder she had run. Her experienced eyes had gauged the amount of blood he was losing and made the decision, despite knowing Mulder was right - They would be after Justin next. When they heard the shot that killed him, the only thing she could do was work even harder to make sure Mulder stayed alive. Her children had been nothing more than pawns in someone else's game. The same game had already taken away her hope of a future with her own children. It was something to which she had gradually become accustomed. The sudden appearance of two more children created from her ova had been excruciating, but the fact remained that she had made her peace with what had happened to her. Yes, it still hurt sometimes when she saw mothers with their small children. But nothing in her life was like those mothers' lives. Staying with the X-files ensured that. But she also had something those other women didn't - Mulder. And as she'd so painfully discovered yesterday, she was not willing to give him up, not for anything or anyone. The shower stall was filled with steam, surrounding her with its warmth. She stood with her head bowed and her back to the spray, letting the heat soothe the tight muscles in her neck. The feel of the water running off her body was like shedding an old skin; if only she could shed the heartache as easily. She lifted her arms and turned round and round beneath the shower head, exposing every bit of her skin to its pressure. Someday-- someday it would end. Even if it didn't, she would face everything and everyone that came against her, and she would survive, regardless. **** After her shower, Scully made her way back to Mulder's room. He was still asleep, snoring lightly. A quick glance at his chart confirmed he'd been given another dose of some really good painkillers. That would keep him out for a while. She located her cell phone in the pocket of her jacket and dialed Skinner. Her report was short and to the point. She gave him what information they had on Sczerba, but they both knew this case was now just one more dead end. One more X-file to collect dust in the basement. Skinner didn't mention Justin, didn't mention experiments or abductions, and she was grateful for his inexplicable lack of questions. He ordered her to take the rest of the week off, with the excuse of looking after Mulder. She didn't protest, too weary of it all to wonder why Skinner was being so solicitous. After a polite inquiry into the state of Mulder's injury, they said their farewells. Her thumb disconnected the call, then hovered over her mother's speed dial button. When was the last time she'd spoken to her? Before this nightmare had even begun. A shaft of guilt swept through her. Her mother, who had always been there for her children, who would do anything to insure their safety. She put the phone back in her pocket and resumed her watch over Mulder's sleep. ******** Scully unlocked Mulder's door for him and preceded him into the apartment. She dumped his bag on the couch and headed for the kitchen. "Tea?" "Sure," Mulder replied, heading for the blinking light on his answering machine. Frohike's recorded voice greeted him. "Call us. Destroy this tape." Mulder shook his head at his friend's paranoia and picked up the phone to call him. The line was already ringing when Scully suddenly took the phone from his hand and disconnected it. He looked at her, surprised and a little shocked. She seemed chagrined at her own impulsive action, clutching the phone and looking agitated. "Scully? What's up?" She just shook her head and placed the phone back on his desk. "Hey, it's me." He touched her shoulder, turning her to him. She wouldn't meet his eyes but said, "I just... I just wanted to have one night to relax. I thought they might have found something else, and I didn't want to have deal with it tonight." "Sure, no problem Scully," he said easily. "I'm sorry; never mind. It's probably nothing. Go ahead and call them." She picked up the phone and started to dial for him, but he gently guided her hand to put the phone back down. "No, it's ok. I could use a break, too. I should probably let this-" he wiggled his arm in its sling, "heal up first before I go trying to put myself in the hospital again." "What's this, Mulder? Common sense, from you?" "Ah, you must be rubbing off on me, Scully." She quirked an eyebrow at him, and everything was all right again, the tension drained from the moment. The whistling tea kettle called Scully back to the kitchen, and Mulder sank into the black leather sofa, turning on the television with the sound muted. She returned a few minutes later bearing two cups of steaming tea. Mulder took one from her, tested the temperature with his tongue, and scowled at her. "Scully, you gave me that herbal stuff!" "Drink up, Mulder. It's good for you." Scully sat on the other end of the couch, smiling behind her mug. He grumbled, but he didn't refuse to drink it. They sipped their tea in quiet companionship, gradually relaxing, letting the burdens of the past few days fall from their shoulders. They had survived yet another round of the game. It was arguable whether they'd lost or won, but they'd survived. A Pyrrhic victory, if anything. They were alive, but another child was dead. Justin had now joined Laurel, Emily, and all the other children they would never find, presumably destroyed when the labs were shut down two years ago. The thought most prominent in their minds, though, was not about the children. The only constant through every trial over the last seven years was their bond of trust and friendship; it had become more important than any joy or agony that passed through their lives. They'd both had enough of the pain and grief over the last few days. They were ready to enjoy the simple pleasures of being with a friend, to renew their bond and remind themselves that this at least, would not pass away. It was enough to simply be in each other's presence, to let the developing intimacy exist between them. Scully slipped off her shoes and stretched out her legs along the couch until her toes tucked under the warmth of Mulder's thigh. He rubbed her calves and ankles absently with one hand as he drank his tea. She sighed contentedly at his touch, and he put down his mug and shrugged out of his sling so he could massage her legs with both hands. Scully considered glaring at him for taking off the sling, but his hands felt so good... she decided he could take care of himself. She finished off her own tea and set the mug on the table. Mulder's hands were running up and down her legs, ankles to thighs and back again. She sank further down into the couch, and he picked up her feet and laid her legs across his lap. His hands worked their way up her thighs once more; he leaned over to reach her hips and waist. How had her shirt come untucked? She didn't remember removing it, but his hands were cool against her overheated skin, caressing the smooth firmness of her stomach, the bottom of her ribs, then down to her belly button, his thumbs dipping below the edge of her jeans. Her next breath was a moan, and she closed her eyes against the waves of arousal emanating from everywhere his hands touched. When she opened them, he was staring at her with those big, bedroom eyes. She would drown in them if he kept looking at her like that. Her tongue slid out and licked her lips in unconscious anticipation. He leaned closer, inching toward her. She was melting from their combined heat. Her lips parted as his face neared hers. The sudden banging on the door startled them, and Mulder dropped his head onto her shoulder with a groan. She laughed softly and fingered the soft hair at the nape of his neck. Whoever was at his door knocked again impatiently. "Mulder, open up!" Damn. The Gunmen. Mulder sighed heavily and lifted his head. Scully was smiling at him, understanding in her eyes. "It's ok, Mulder. Go answer the door. They won't leave you alone until they've told you about whatever it is." He nodded in agreement and leaned in for a quick kiss on her lips. When he drew back, she followed him, her lips still attached to his. He quickly reversed direction until Scully was once more lying back against the couch, their lips devouring each other. "Mulder, we know you're in there; we hacked into the hospital records!" Mulder tore himself away from those luscious, luscious lips and stood up before he lost all willpower. Her mouth was turned down in a mock pout, but then she laughed out loud at his expression of frustrated hunger. "Go on," she said, still laughing. He growled, "Be careful, woman," before heading for the door. The sooner he got rid of them, the sooner he could return to his new favorite pastime: kissing Scully's lips. He was going to knock his friends' heads together for interrupting, then shove them right back into the hallway. ******** end part 6/9 of Progeny Missing chapters available at http://zephathah.tripod.com/ Please send feedback to zephathah@yahoo.com