Title: Tickets Returned

Author: Cathey Scully

Rating: PG-13

Category: A, R, S, Post-Col

Keywords: Mulder/Scully Romance, Williamfic

Spoilers: William, and for the previous three stories in this 
universe: Birthday Tickets, Ticket for One, and Tickets Unnecessary.

Summary: "I know you, Dana.  You can find a way to protect them 
both." This is a Sequel to Tickets Unnecessary, and fourth in the 
Tickets Series.

Archive: Sure, if you'd like.  Just tell me where it's getting put.

Feedback: Please!  Send it to CatheyScully@the-pentagon.com or
ForeverXphile@adelphia.net

Disclaimer: Mulder, Scully, and William aren't mine.  Meran and Rhys 
are mine.  Please take no legal action against me, because I have no 
spare change to give you, Mr. Carter.

Notes: As mentioned in the summary, this is the fourth installment 
in the "Tickets" Series.  The first three stories are "Birthday 
Tickets", "Ticket for One", and "Tickets Unnecessary", and can be 
found at my web site.  http://catheysfic.tripod.com.  Also, this 
story has no bearing on my thoughts about adoption in general, just 
my thoughts on the adoption of William storyline.  * smiles * Just 
covering all my bases here.

~	@	~

"How is he?"

Scully turned, squeezing her son's hand and placing it back on his 
belly.  She stood, accepting a strong hug from her husband.  He held 
her tightly, gripping her head against his chest.

"They said they're at a loss for what's wrong.  He hasn't had a 
stroke, and he's not in a coma, per say.  As far as they can tell, 
he's just sleeping and he won't wake up."

"Do you know, is he in any danger?"

Scully looked over at William's still form.  "I hope not.  They 
don't think so.  They know he's sick, just not what he's sick with."

She moved back to William's side.  Mulder sat beside her, lending 
silent support.

"Where's Rhys?" she asked, suddenly noticing their second son's 
absence.

"With Meran."

Scully nodded.  "He's cold," she murmured, tugging the blanket 
tighter around William.  Her hand strayed to feel the steady beat of 
his heart before retreating to his cheek.  She bit her lip and 
turned into Mulder's strong embrace.  His soothing fingers combed 
through her still-bright hair.  She closed her eyes trying not to 
cry.

"Its okay, Scully.  He will be okay."

"I don't understand what's wrong.  The closest things I've ever seen 
to his condition is when you were being affected by the artifact, 
but all of his neurological scans indicate that there is no 
increased brain function.  I know there's something I should be 
doing to help him, but I don't know what it is."

Mulder pressed his lips to her ear, resting his cheek on hers.  He 
began to rub soothing circles on her back, tracing her spine through 
her soft, worn, university sweatshirt.  Unable to look at his child, 
lying too-peacefully on the bed, he closed his eyes against Scully's 
hair.

~	#	~

Mulder woke with a start, raising a hand to scrape across his face.  
Two-day's growth of a beard met his hand, making him wince.  He 
probably looked like a homeless person.

He'd sent Scully home to be with Rhys, knowing that the baby needed 
his mother.  He'd been alone with William ever since, only releasing 
his hand when the doctor or a nurse came to run tests and change his 
catheter bags.

His fingers tightened on William's, trying to elicit a response from 
him.

"I know you can hear me, William, so you'll probably tell me how 
much I suck at this.  I've never been good about talking to comatose 
people, not even when it was your mother.  I wish I could tell you 
that we know exactly what's wrong, and that we're already doing 
everything in our power to fix it.  But that's not the truth.  We 
still don't know, but we're still working.  You're going to be 
okay."  Mulder paused.  "I'm going to the toilet, I'll be right 
back, and then I won't move for as long as you need me," he squeezed 
William's hand, standing slowly to avoid hearing the ugly creak of 
his bones.  Despite feeling disgusting, he leaned over to kiss 
William's forehead.

He grabbed his overnight back and shuffled into the bathroom.  
Sighing, he cleaned up as best he could and changed clothes.  As he 
shoved his dirty clothes back into the bag, his hand brushed his 
spare razor; Scully had thought of everything.

Once his face was smooth and his teeth were brushed, he took a few 
deep, calming breaths before going back to the silence of William's 
room.

Scully was in his seat, her arms full of their youngest son.  Rhys 
brightened up and gleefully cried,

"Daddy!"

Mulder bent down to catch him, holding his five year old tightly.  
His eyes closed as he rested his chin on Rhys's hair.

"Missed you, Daddy."

"I missed you too, Rhys," Mulder squeezed him.  He stood up, still 
holding Rhys, and crossed over to Scully.  She took his bag from him 
before giving him a strong hug.

He bent down, kissing her gently.  She curled one arm around his 
neck, wrapping the other arm around him and Rhys, not wanting to 
exclude their son from their embrace.

"Thanks for coming back," he whispered, kissing her again softly, 
before carrying Rhys over to the side of William's bed.  Rhys 
settled his head on his father's shoulder, regarding his brother's 
still form with wide, sad eyes.

Mulder rubbed his back softly, feeling stronger by Scully's soft 
touch on his face.

"There's still no change.  The doctor has started talking about 
moving him to a more permanent place."

Scully pulled away, her eyes clearly refusing.  She indicated for 
him to put Rhys down and he settled the baby into his unoccupied 
chair.  Rhys held tightly to his neck.

"It's okay.  I'll be right outside.  Stay in here with William."

Rhys shook his head, burying his face in Mulder's neck.  Mulder 
realized he was scared to stay with William.  He pulled away, 
running his hand over Rhys's cheek.

"You don't need to be afraid.  It's just William, and he's just 
sleeping.  Okay?"

Rhys nodded, and Scully bent to squeeze him tightly.  She kissed his 
hair.

"We'll be back in a minute, baby," she murmured.

As they left the room, Mulder realized how small Scully looked.  He 
sighed, knowing she'd lost weight; Weight she could hardly afford to 
drop; and probably had slept as well as he had.  She crossed her 
arms over her chest, closing her eyes.

"They don't think he's going to wake up," she whispered.

"No," he admitted.  "They're worried about potential brain damage," 
Mulder stepped up to her, holding onto her arms and drawing her near.

"From what?  He doesn't have any symptoms to suspect brain damage?!  
I've examined his head five times over."

"I know," he sighed, his thumb stroking her arm.

"Oh, Mulder," she murmured, burying her face in his chest.  Her 
quiet sobs broke through the stillness and shattered his heart.

~	@	~

"Mmm...ow."

William peeked one of his eyes open a sliver, only to be greeted 
with sharp pain.  What was going on?

After what felt like forever, he managed to open his eyes and survey 
his surroundings.

Where the fuck was he?  This wasn't his room; hell this wasn't even 
his house.

He staggered to his feet, holding onto the nearest wall.  He looked 
around the hallway, wondering if he was at Meran's new place, or if 
he'd passed out on Kalycia's doorstep.  But he remembered being 
home.  He remembered going to sleep at home, in his own room, his 
own bed.  So where was he?

One of the doors to his right opened and William scrambled clumsily 
around the corner, not wanting to be seen.  Leaning unsteadily, he 
peeked around the corner.

A dark haired woman, Monica Reyes, a long-time friend of his 
parents', stepped slowly, reluctantly from the apartment.  She was 
followed by John Doggett, who took up a defensive posture as he 
scanned the hallway.  William ducked, narrowly avoiding being seen.

"Are you sure you'll be alright?" Monica asked, worriedly biting her 
lip.  "I can stay longer if you'd like some company."

"No thank you, I'll be fine.  We'll be fine." A familiar voice 
sighed.

"Please rethink this, Dana.  Just think on it more before you act," 
Monica begged.  William's eyes widened when he realized she was 
addressing his mother.  Rethink what?

"I'll try," his mother promised, her voice soft and tired.  She bid 
them a small goodbye and closed the door.

William watched as the two former FBI agents cast worried glances at 
the closed apartment door.

"Come on, Monica."

"John, we can't let her do this.  She will regret it."

"It's her choice, Monica.  We can't stop her because it's her 
choice."

"I know what it's like, John.  The guilt, the feeling of failure.  
I'm adopted, remember?  I never got to meet my birth mother, but 
when I turned 18 my adoptive family gave me a letter she'd written 
to me.  She regretted giving me up.  She knew she couldn't provide 
for me, but she never forgave herself for giving me up.  Dana 
doesn't understand that nobody will love her son more than she does."

William's eyes widened.  This was the day his mother decided to give 
him up.  What had happened to drive her to that point?  This was his 
chance to stop it.  To change things.  To change the invasion.  The 
three of them could stop it.

He waited until Monica and John had reluctantly left the hallway 
before pulling away from the wall and taking a mental check of 
himself.  He didn't feel like a vagrant, dirty and grungy, so 
hopefully his appearance said the same.

As he took a step, his legs wobbled, and he leaned against the wall 
for support.  His eyes slid closed involuntarily and he took a deep 
breath.  After a few deep breaths he pushed away from the wall, 
trying to steady himself long enough to not have the cops called on 
him.

What had happened to make her give him up?  His mother still refused 
to tell him, stating that it had been for his safety.  Now was his 
chance to find out.

He knocked softly, not wanting to wake.... himself.

"Who is it?" his mother's voice was soft from behind the door.  He 
knew she was watching him from the peephole.

"You don't know me, but I can help you."

"I'm sorry, I'm not interested."

William thought quickly.  "I know you, Dana.  You can find a way to 
protect them both."

There was silence, until the chain on the door disengaged and the 
door opened a crack.

"Who are you?" she demanded.  William thought about making up a 
line, lying to her, but then decided she'd listen if he told the 
truth.  He blinked, trying to clear the fuzziness from his eyes.

"My name is William-" he began.  "I'm your son," he murmured, his 
eyes seeing nothing but darkness.

~	%	~

Scully smiled in appreciation at the sight of her husband sprawled 
in his chair, his head thrown back in abandoned sleep.  Rhys was 
similarly conked out; his body draped over Mulder's, his head on his 
shoulder.  She sighed, crossing over to them and leaning over to 
kiss Rhys's forehead, and to drop a soft kiss on Mulder's mouth.

With a soft grumble, Mulder returned her kiss.  She returned to her 
chair beside William.  She picked up his hand, bringing his fingers 
to her lips.

"Come on, William.  You've slept long enough.  It's time to wake up 
now," she smoothed her fingers over his forehead, trying to will 
animation back into him.

His eyelids twitched, causing her to stand.

"William, William, wake up," she called; her long-since used medical 
knowledge causing her to push the mother in her back and care for 
the patient.

~	#	~

Mulder and Rhys were waiting for her when they wheeled William out 
of radiology.  He'd been taken in for a MRI and a CT.  Mulder's eyes 
searched hers, looking for signs of progress.  She shook her head 
sadly.

"Still no change," she mumbled, stepping into his embrace, feeling 
her little boy's arms slide around her too.  "They think it was just 
an involuntary muscle spasm."

Mulder kissed her temple, pulling away.  She lifted Rhys out of 
Mulder's arms, setting him on her hip.

"Go get some air and some food," Mulder kissed her; "I'll stay with 
William."

"Okay," she agreed, shifting Rhys closer.  Rhys reached for her 
necklace, slipping the gold cross into his mouth.  "No, Rhys, don't 
put that in your mouth.  It's got all sorts of germs on it and you 
don't want to get sick," Scully took her cross from his mouth, 
wiping it with her hand.  After a second, she stopped.  "That's it."

"What?"

"Germs, toxins, Mulder, he's been poisoned.  I need to get a copy of 
the tox screen they did when we first brought him in, and I need 
another one done now."

"Okay," Mulder nodded, taking Rhys back.  "We'll be here."

~	$	~

William's eyes shot open.  Where was he?  He sat up, noting that he 
was on a couch.  After a moment he remembered.  It must be his 
mother's couch.

"You're awake," she observed, walking in from the kitchen.  "Now you 
can tell me who you really are."

"My name is William.  And I'm your son," he repeated his earlier 
words.

"My son," his mother snapped,  "my only son, is seven months old.  
Who are you and why are you here?"

"I don't know," William answered truthfully.  "When I went to bed, I 
was at home with you and dad, and when I woke up, I was in your 
hallway here."

"Are you here because of my baby?  To take my baby?"

"No!  Of course not!" he insisted.  "Mom, I don't know how I got 
here, but it's me.  I'm William.  What'll it take to convince you?"

She spun.  "I don't know who you are, but I'm an FBI agent, and I 
will have you arrested if you don't start giving me a straight 
answer.  So, again, who are you?"

When he didn't answer, she moved toward her bedroom.

"I know why you're so upset," he called after her.  "You think you 
can protect him this way."

"What way?" Scully shot back, coming back into the living room, her 
arms wrapped around the baby version of him protectively.  He knew 
she would flee if he screwed this up.

"You're going to give him up.  Put him, me, up for adoption and not 
look back for 16 years!"

His mother's face paled.  She shifted the baby closer to her 
heart.  "Where did you come from?"

William rubbed his hand over his face.  "I don't know.  When I went 
to bed, I was at home with you and dad.  And then when I woke up, I 
was in your hall."

She sat down gingerly, her expression still guarded.

"Why are you here?"

"I don't know.  I guess to make sure that you make the right 
decision.  I don't even know if this is real.  I mean, it feels 
real, but how could I get here?"

"You said, 16 years?  What happened?"

"It doesn't matter.  You can stop it.  But you need to keep him with 
you, and to bring Mulder back.  The two of you can keep him safe."

"I can't do that.  Mulder is in danger too, just by staying close to 
us-"

"Because of the prophecy," William stood, walking steadily over to 
her.  He dropped to his knees and held out his hands, palm 
up.  "When the invasion started, I was captured to be the leader of 
the new alien race, because of what I am.  You can stop that.  You 
and dad.  He, I, William needs Mulder; to teach him, to nurture him, 
to stop him from being anything more than a normal boy."

After a moment she asked, "Were you hurt?"

He looked up.  "Yes.  And even once I'd escaped from them, not 
everything in my life was happy.  I needed you and dad for a long 
time, and you weren't there."

She stood, shifting baby William in her arms.  "I'm sorry, I can't 
hear anymore," she whispered, retreating to the nursery.

~	#	~

Two hours later, she returned, her eyes downcast and sad.  The 
sleeping baby in her arms only made her look younger and more 
vulnerable.  She looked at him for a moment before going to the 
kitchen.  He was surprised when she returned with a sandwich for 
him.  His shock must have shown because once she'd handed him the 
plate, she touched his forehead.

"It was your eyes," she explained.

"Thank you," he replied around a mouthful.

"I need to know more about you.  About your life."

"For my birthday every year, you and Dad sent me tickets to Yankees 
games.  That was the only times I ever got to see you, and you never 
stayed the entire game.  My mother died when I was little, and my 
father was killed when the invasion started.  My girlfriend, Meran, 
she found me after I'd escaped from the invader's prison," he 
stopped, biting his lip.  "I can't talk about this anymore."

She nodded, patting the baby's back softly.

"But I need to know," William continued, "You still won't tell me.  
Why are you going to give him up?"

"I can't protect him," she admitted.  "I swore to myself that I 
would, that I could.  But he's been kidnapped, injected with 
metallic substances, had his life threatened, and he's not even a 
year old yet.  I can't protect him, and I'm not willing to sit idly 
by while my son is killed or taken."

William opened up his mouth to respond, but no sound came out.

~	%	~

William blinked, clearing the blurriness from his eyes.  Where was 
he now?

"Mom?" he whispered, finding that his voice wouldn't work 
otherwise.  "Dad?  Mom?" he choked, his heavy hands coming to clutch 
at his chest.

Soft hands touched his face and spooned ice chips into his mouth.  
He blinked, gasping out a thank you.

"You're welcome.  I was just calling down to your parents.  They'll 
be so happy.  Your mother's a strong lady, but this has been hard 
for her."

"Wh-where am I?"

"This is an assisted living facility in Delaware.  You've been quite 
sick."

"Mom?" he asked again, "She still has the baby, right?  She didn't 
give him up?"

"Of course she didn't give up your brother.  Just you rest, he'll be 
happy to see you too."

William's eyes drooped, but he forced them to stay open.  The nurse 
at his side slowly fed him more ice chips.  She smiled indulgently 
at him when he croaked out,

"Gotta pee."

"Just go on ahead, honey.  You've got a catheter in."

"Can't I just, get up and go?"

The still unnamed nurse shook her head.  "You're too weak, still.  
Your muscles need time and exercise to regenerate."

"I can't just let go and pee," he protested grumpily.

"Like father, like son."

William's eyes went to the door.  His mother was perched in the 
doorway, her arms curled around his dad's waist.  She pulled away 
from his dad and crossed over to him.

"Hi, honey," she whispered, kissing his forehead.  "I love you, 
William," she smiled, stroking his hair.

"Hi mom.  What happened to me?"

"You were injected with something that poisoned your nervous 
system.  It effectively put you to sleep.  We almost didn't catch 
it.  You've been asleep for almost four weeks."

William nodded, trying to assimilate his illness with his trips to 
the past.  "Dad?"

"I'm here," Mulder stepped up, taking his hand.  His lips pressed a 
kiss to his forehead.  "How do you feel?"

"Heavy."

"Understandable," he smiled.  "You'll need some physical therapy to 
get your muscle tone back, but you're going to be fine."

"Mom?" he turned to her, smiling up at her.  She smiled softly, 
happily back at him.

"Yes, baby?"

"I think I understand now why you gave me up."

"You do?" she asked, her hand tightening on his.

"Yeah, I understand.  Thank you for trying to protect me."

"If I could have known what the future held for you, and for us, I 
would have done it myself," she kissed his forehead.

"I've gotta pee," William whispered again.

"I bet you do.  We'll clear out of here so you can have some 
privacy," his dad grinned.

"I can't just go.  At least help me to the bathroom, so I can 
pretend I'm an adult," William whined.

Both of his parents chuckled.

"What'd I say?  Like father, like son," Scully smiled, stroking his 
forehead.  "Okay, Becca, could you please take the catheter out?  
Mulder can help him to and from the bathroom.

William smiled in satisfaction.  Score one for Mom.  She always had 
taken care of him.

~	#	~

"Good Morning," William greeted Meran in surprise.  He'd just 
finished his first full-length shower since waking up.

"Hi," she jumped off of his bed.  "How are you feeling?"

"Clean.  Stronger.  Come here," he beckoned, wrapping his arms 
around her shoulders.  Meran rested her cheek against his soft t-
shirt covered chest and closed her eyes.  They'd just agreed to try 
again at being together when he'd gotten sick.

Meran sniffled, making him kiss her temple.

"Don't cry, Mer-"

"I swear, William Mulder, you either put a ring on my finger, or 
you'll never see me again," she threatened tearfully.

William grinned, taken aback by her impromptu proposal.  "Done," he 
murmured, leaning down to kiss her.

End of Tickets Returned