Title: Little Girl Lost Author: Natasha Luepke Disclaimer: None of them mine. Well, Grey's mine, but all the good characters aren't; they're CC and Co.'s. Spoilers: Two Fathers/One Son, Biogenesis Category: During/Post-Biogenesis Rating: PG-13, for language Summary: A woman named Sam is brought into the mix. Note: There will be more at the end, but remember the ep where CSM introduces Mulder to his "real" sister and she wants nothing to do with him? (I feel bad that I can't remember the title...I think it was one of the Reduxes...or something from Season 5. Hey, if *you* know, why don't you e-mail me?) Well, she *wasn't* his real sister, just *another* clone (according to me). ~11/16/99: BTW, I wrote this over the summer, so...~ Dedicated to Nat. ** I am lying still in bed. A voice whispers at my ear, "C'mon, honey, it's time to go." I don't want to leave. The room is dark, but I can make out the form of someone in the bed across the room. "No!" I yell. "Fox--make them stop!" Fox is trying to help me, but now there are more men in the room, holding him down. He yells my name. Finally, I am removed from the bed. Now the scene shifts, and I am in an airport hangar. There are a lot of people there--mainly old men and children. A spaceship is in front of us. We children are herded aboard. And then begin the tests. ** I woke up with a gasp. "Sam? Are you okay?" my husband Grey asks. I take a deep breath. "Yeah. Just...just a bad dream." He kisses me. "You're safe now." "I'll be alright. You should get back to sleep," I replied. He did. I've had that dream before. I've never told anyone--a spaceship? Sounds like something from the Sci-Fi channel. But what *is* odd is that while all of the people are hazy and indistinct, the boy I call "Fox" isn't. I can see his dark brown hair...sometimes, I can see the fear in his eyes. Only, I've never known anyone named "Fox." The next morning, I saw Grey off to work--he teaches history to high school students--truly heroic, the man is. After he leaves, I waddle to my studio. I illustrate and occasionally write children's books--scheduling comes in handy since I'm pregnant. I hadn't been working long when I heard a knock at the door. I went to answer it. A frail-looking woman stood on my porch, her skin very pale, hair blonde. Her eyes widened for a moment when she saw me. "I need to speak to you," she said. "I'm sorry, who are you?" I asked. "My name is Marita Convurrubias. I used to work for your father...May I come in?" I shrugged. Since I always loved a good intrigue (damn those British mysteries on A&E!), I let her in. We sat in my kitchen, sipping tea. "You are Samantha Atwood, correct?" she asked. "Yes," I nodded. "Do you know a...Fox Mulder?" There was that name again--"Fox"! "No." "Are you sure?" "Miss Convurrubias, one would not forget a name such as that." The woman nodded. "Well, Mrs. Atwood, I think you should know...he's your brother." "Wha--what? Ma'am, I don't know who you think I am, but...I don't have a brother." "Please, Mrs. Atwood, trust me. He's sick--you should go to him." "Why should I trust you?" "I suppose you don't have a reason...But I think you should ask Diana Fowley or your father about Fox Mulder." Diana was a friend of my father's. How did this woman know her? "Here is where your brother is." She handed me a slip of paper. "You might find Fowley there, too. Now, I should go. I'll see myself out." I remained seated. A brother? Who had the same name as the boy in my dream? I looked at the address--he was in the hospital. Like I said, I like a good intrigue. I decided to investigate. ** I walked down the hall. The silence of the hospital was interrupted by the voices of two arguing woman. "No matter what you say, I *will* see him." "He's dangerous." That was Diana's voice. "I already explained--maybe to *you* but *not* to *me*. I *will* find a way." I didn't want to interrupt but...Being rather tall, I never thought of Diana that way, but she almost towered over the woman she was arguing with. "Diana?" I asked cautiously. The other woman turned around. She was small, with short red hair and blue eyes. "Who are you?" the red-haired woman asked. "What are you doing here?" Diana asked, sounding alarmed. "Um...I was told to come." "Sam...you shouldn't be here," Diana said, crossing over to me. "'Sam'?" the other woman whispered. "I was told to come see about a man named Fox Mulder...and I was told to ask you about him, Diana," I said. The red-haired woman was staring at me. "Samantha..." she said softly. "Shit," Diana muttered, putting her face in her hands. 'Fine,' I thought. 'Maybe the other woman can help me.' "Samantha Atwood," I said, offering my hand to the red-haired woman. "Special Agent Dana Scully," she said. "Fox Mulder is my partner." "Diana, will you please explain what is going on?" I asked. "Alright. I will explain this only once. Agent Scully, I expect you to keep quiet on this. Sam, I don't know what you were told, or who told you. Fox Mulder is your brother. Your father...your father isn't who you think he is. Now, I must go." Diana stalked off. "Wait!" Agent Scully and I both shouted. "Sam...Miss Atwood, you don't remember your brother?" she asked. "I didn't know until today that I had one. I don't even know what he looks like." "You look a lot like him, Miss Atwood, it's amazing," Agent Scully said. "Skin, hair, eyes...height..." I shrugged. I fingered the dark brown braid that hung over my shoulder and shifted from being on my feet for so long. "He's been searching for you for so long...I'll try to get you in to see him..." "What's wrong?" I asked. "Something with his brain," she said simply. I followed Agent Scully into a room that monitored...mental patients. Agent Scully pointed him out. "How awful," I said softly. Agent Scully was right--from what I could tell, we looked very much alike. "Scully," a male voice said from the doorway. She left to talk to whoever said her name. I stared at the monitor, watching Fox Mulder carry on like a madman. I was in total shock. A brother? Who was insane? Watching him, though, I felt an odd tingling in my skull and my hands. "Uh, Miss Atwood?" Agent Scully said. "It's 'Missus', actually, but call me 'Sam.'" Agent Scully gave a small smile. "Sam, this is Langley, Frohike, and Byers, friends of Mulder and I. They've managed to get me in to see him...they could probably get you in, too, if you like." "Yes...yes, I think I would." Agent Scully left with, I think, Frohike, leaving me with a surfer bum (Langley) and a businessman (Byers). "Sam, huh?" Langley said. "Yes." "We can get you in to see him...but not until tomorrow." "Okay." "We'll call you." As I was giving them my number, Agent Scully and Frohike returned. "May I walk you out, Sam?" Agent Scully asked. We left the three men behind and walked toward the elevator. "Congratulations on the baby," she said. "Thank you." I unconsciously patted my mid-section. "Agent Scully, can you...can you tell me about Fox Mulder? I'm a bit overwhelmed her." "He's a good man, Sam. He's never given up searching for you." "Do I...do I have other family?" "Your mother, Tina. And, uh, if you are...who you say you are...you have me, too." I nodded. "Thank you, Agent Scully. This is...a lot to think about." "I understand," she said. ** I made it home before Grey. That night at dinner, I wasn't ready to tell Grey what had happened. I listened to his day, instead. While we were watching TV that night, my father called. "Hello, Sam." "Dad! How are you? God, it's been ages!" "I'm okay. And the baby?" "Perfect." "Listen, Sam, Diana called today..." I held my breath. "I think we need to talk." "So do I, Dad. Dinner, tomorrow?" "Alright, Sam." ** Frohike called me around 10:00 the next morning. I was relieved that it was after Grey had left. I met the three men at the hospital, making sure to wear comfortable shoes. All three walked me to the room where Fox Mulder was held. "Where's Agent Scully?" I asked. The three looked at each other nervously. "She couldn't be here," Frohike explained. We paused at Fox Mulder's door. I still couldn't bring myself to call him Mulder as agent Scully did, or Fox like a sister would. "Just talk to him. You don't have much time." I was scared. But I walked into the padded room, trying to emanate calmness like one does while facing down a wild animal. What if he wasn't my brother? He still needed help. "Hi," I said softly, walking over to wear he sat in the corner. "I'm Sam." I knelt in front of him. He closed his eyes and gritted his teeth, as if in pain. It's funny. Ever since I can remember, which these days isn't much, I've been able to heal. Luckily, it was never something my father exploited. But I can always tell when something's wrong and be able to fix it. I could tell Fox Mulder's brain was working over-time. I was still a little scared, but he remained still while I laid my palms on his head. For a split second, I shared his affliction--the ability to read minds. But I was able to heal him; both our minds became clearer. He let out a breath. "Thank you...Samantha?" He stared at me as I leaned back. His eyes were the same mix of green and brown as mine. I wondered whom in our family we looked like. "Samantha...Samantha Atwood," I said. He stood up, taking me with him. He hugged me. "I may not be who you think I am," I warned. "It may be asking too much, my sister *and* my sanity," he said. "I was only told about you yesterday." There was a tap at the door. "Thank you," he said again. He rested a hand on my stomach. "A girl," I said. I think I saw tears in his eyes. The door opened. "Miss, how did you get in here?" a doctor asked. "Good-bye!" I called as I left, thinking, 'I hope I am your sister, for your sake.' ** When I got home, I sat on my couch and cried. Everything was starting to settle in. A possible brother? A deceitful father? My whole life turned upside down by a blonde stranger. Grey found me in that state when he got home. He held me as I told him everything. "Sam," he said softly, stroking my hair. "I don't know what to say..." "We better get dinner ready. Dad's coming," I said, trying to calm down. The three of us sat down to a peaceful meal. Grey told us about his classes; Dad asked me about baby names. "Oh, Dad, I don't know...Nicholas...Anastasia." He raised his eyebrows. "Oh, Dad, it's too early." After dinner, Grey cleared up the dishes while Dad and I talked in the living room. "Well, Sam, I suppose I should come clean," he began, pulling out a cigarette. "Dad! The baby!" "Sorry. It'll make it easier if I tell you this now...Mulder *is* your brother. You have another brother, but he's...dead." I just stared at him. "I married a woman named Cassandra; we had a son, Jeffrey. I had an affair with Tina Mulder. You two look rather alike...I visited often when you were growing up." "But how...how did I come to live with you?" "Samma," he used my childhood nickname. "There isn't much I can tell you, if you want a normal life. Maybe...maybe Diana would be better off telling you this..." I wasn't sure I *wanted* to hear more. "No, Dad..." "Sam, trust me." "Why should I?" I was practically yelling now. "Samantha Anne Mulder, listen to me!" We both gasped at what he said. "Get out," I said softly, pointing at the door. I watched him leave. "Sam?" Grey said, coming from the kitchen. "Grey, my whole life...is a lie." I began to sob. ** Grey was late getting home the next day. I tried not to worry, to concentrate on my drawing. But everything I'd learned in the past few days made me worry. What had I gotten into? I sat, staring into space. The phone ringing brought me out of my reverie. Grey had been shot in the parking lot of his high school. He was in critical condition... As I entered the ER, Fox Mulder greeted me. "Sam, I'm so sorry. It might be..." "No," I cut him off. "I don't know you and you don't know me. But one thing I've learned from my fa-...One thing I've learned is that you *do not* give up." I pushed passed him, asking doctors and nurses where Grey was. I was shown to him. He rested on a gurney, covered in tubes and tape. I had never tried healing gunshot wounds before. I rested my palms upon his chest, sharing his pain for a moment. Then, it ended, and he opened his eyes. "Samantha..." he said weakly. "Shh, Grey, I'll get the doctor," I said, taking his hand. I looked up to see Fox Mulder...Fox standing above me. "How do you do that?" "I don't know...with the palm of my hand, same as I healed you." I turned back to Grey. "I'll be right back," I whispered to him. I walked over to Fox Mul--Fox. "My fa-father said you're my brother." Then I realized something. "Shouldn't you be in a padded cell?" "No longer a danger," he shrugged. "I'm still under observation, however. But I heard you come..." We reached the nurses' station, and I informed them of Grey's condition. "Samantha...be careful. I'm sorry this happened. I'll do everything I can to protect you." I think there were tears in his eyes. "I'm glad to have you back," he said, hugging me. Then he left. The following morning, as Grey and I were preparing to leave, Fox stopped by. "I wasn't properly introduced," he said, gesturing to Grey. "Grey, this is my brother, Fox." The two men shook hands, sizing each other up. Fox gave me a final hug before we left. "Stay safe," he whispered. "Maybe you should leave town..." "Don't worry," I said. Then Grey and I left. ** After dinner, the phone rang. "Hello?" I answered. "Sam, you're in over your head." "Diana?" "I forgot you could heal when I shot Grey." "You?!" "I thought it might help your father to have your mind occupied with other things." "Don't call him that! I want nothing to do with him, or you, or -- *this*!" "It's too late. You can't leave now." "Leave what?" *Click* The End ** "And now I'm stuck in the web you're spinning. You've got me for your prey." --No Doubt, "Spiderwebs"