Title: Ut Filium Suum Unigenitum Summary: At what cost would Scully want Mulder returned to her? Author's notes: We all have our theories on how the pregnancy occurred and how the abduction will be resolved. . .here's my offering. Not that I believe that this is how it should turn out, exactly. . .but the ideas been turning over and over in my head. Many thanks to those--and you know who you are--who've supported my crackpot theory. "For He so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten son...." John 3:16 Scully's apartment 12:03 PM She lay on her bed, looking up at the ceiling. Closing her eyes, she imagined that she could see through it--up into the night's sky and beyond, into the deep confines of space, where there hovered. . .a ship, cold and metallic. Inside, the most precious of cargoes. . .was trying to find his way back home to her. Some way. . .back to her, and the child. She rested her hand upon her bulging abdomen. His child. There were so many questions, so much that was left unexplained. She had been barren, she knew. She had performed the tests herself, hoping time and again that there was a mistake. But there wasn't. Dana Scully would never bear children. She felt the unborn creature move inside of her, as if to contradict the verdict even as she thought it. Never--and yet, there it was. How did she conceive? The greatest of all mysteries.... She had been celibate for months, ever since she had realized that she and Mulder.... Their professional ties--and consequently, their jobs-- would be put in serious jeopardy if their relationship ever progressed that far. They preferred the game for the present; a touch here, a flirtatious comment there. . .a look over a cup of coffee. It was safe, and she cherished those moments now, in his absence. And the world needed Mulder and Scully. A vain, self-righteous thought, perhaps; but they alone were fighting the future--and they had to win. So she chose not to ask, and was simply glad that the miracle had occurred, glad that she would have something of him, if he never-- She shook her head. She couldn't think like that. She must believe that someday. . .somehow. . .somewhere. . .they would meet again. The baby was healthy and it was strong, with no signs of trouble. They had tried to pinpoint exactly when she had become pregnant, but the child grew too rapidly for their guesses, and they were forced to change the date of conception almost monthly. The growth wreaked havoc upon her small frame. Her body was unable to become accustomed to the changes it was experiencing as gradually as it should have; she was in constant pain as a result. But the pain was not overwhelming, and she ignored it. She was happy. . .just for the opportunity to carry the child, and she would not complain. She felt a kick under her hand, and she knew that her time was coming soon. She looked back up at the ceiling. "Oh, Mulder, please come home," she whispered. "I need you." Location Unknown Time Unknown He rose his head up slowly from its cradle and looked around. They were gone. He tried to move, but was bound about the wrists and upper arms. He couldn't sit up. Even if he could have, he was pretty sure the after- effects of the latest round of testing would have laid him out again anyway. There was a chill to the room, and the walls--at least, they gave him the impression of walls--were blank. There was nothing to focus on but his own body--and the pain. He had no idea where he was. How far out, how far away they were from everything he held dear. He couldn't gauge how long he'd been gone, for the concept of time seemed foreign to them. He only knew that something was about to happen. He could tell from the activity around him--more importantly, away from him--that they were planning for an event that was soon to occur. They had almost totally lost interest in their study of him now, and refocused their energies. He understood.... That it was big. That it was the be-all, end-all of their efforts. And that scared him more than anything they had done to him since he had been taken. Mulder rested his head again. I only hope that they see it coming in time--or never see it at all, he thought. Scully's apartment 2:07 PM Scully started at the hard rapping upon her apartment door. She got up as quickly as she was able and hurried to answer it. Peering out of the peephole then undoing the locks in a quick motion, she pulled it open. "Agent Doggett? What are you doing here?" "There was a message, Agent Scully. A man, on the phone--" He was out of breath. He took hold of the door jamb and attempted to get his bearings. Scully worried at whatever message was ominous enough to physically drain a former Marine. "What was it, Agent Doggett?" "He said. . .that the fate of the world is within you. That the decision you make. . .could destroy mankind. That. . .at what cost would you want Mulder returned to you." "What?" She put her hand to her forehead. "What kind of threat. . .that doesn't even make sense. Mulder. . .? We don't even know where he is." She dropped her arms to her sides and turned back into her apartment, allowing Doggett to follow. He closed the door behind him. "That's just it, Agent Scully. I think this guy. . .might know. At least, he seemed to think he did." Scully looked up at him from her place on the couch. "Why? What did he say?" "You're supposed to meet with him. Alone. We traced the call to an abandoned warehouse just east of--" "No. Absolutely not. I can't. . .not like this." She motioned to her belly. He moved closer and indicated a chair with a questioning glance. "Please," she responded. Sitting, he continued, "Forgive me, Agent Scully. How was the checkup?" "Everything still appears to be normal. Except for the growth rate. The stage that I'm at, now, would indicate that the conception must have occurred--" She noted that he suddenly dropped his eyes and she paused. "I'm sorry. That probably makes absolutely no difference to you, one way or the other, does it?" he glanced up at her. "You would have to understand what it was like for me to learn that I would never have children. It had never been first on my list, but. . .I always thought that I would be a mother." "I can understand, Agent Scully. It must have been difficult." She grinned. "I was in shock. I never wanted to believe it. And now," she lightly caressed her swollen belly, "I can't believe this. And there's no denying it's here. It's real." He looked back down at his hands. "And you want him to be here, don't you? You'd do anything to get him back?" Her eyes rose to meet his. "Yes." "Take a chance, follow a lead, no matter how vague--?" She lifted herself up off of the couch, and he stood. "Point taken, Agent Doggett. But I'm still not about to go out there alone." Offices of TLG 4:47 PM "Well, there was nothing in The Mysterious Message about no body cams or mikes, am I right?" Langly tweaked the tiny videocamera so that it better fit around Scully's ear. AD Walter Skinner nodded. "If he was planning on having a problem with it, he never mentioned it." Frohike twirled around in his chair, waiting for the final adjustments to be completed so that he could check the reception. "What kind of an ass would hurt a pregnant lady, anyway? If he so much as touches you, Agent Scully, I'm gonna come down on him so hard he won't even know what hit him." Scully smiled at the balding little man. "I know you will, Frohike." "Short, fat computer nerd at 10 o'clock!" Langly yelled, following it up with a crash sound effect. "Shut up, dorkwad." Byers came out from the back room with a battery pack for the surveillance ensemble. "Grow up, gentlemen, at least while we have such distinguished company," he grinned at Scully and held the pack up. "One power pack, freshly charged. May I?" She nodded at him, and he moved to attach the pack to her slacks at her lower back, underneath her open jacket. Frohike stopped spinning to watch. After plugging the equipment in, he pointed at Frohike, who then spun around to face the console. "And...." The monitors flared to life and the transmitter needles bounced on the board. Langly waved at himself in Scully's body cam. "We have reception! Static on the mike, though. I think we have some rubbing or something. ..." he turned in time to see Scully reach into her shirt to adjust the mike. He spun back around to the console. "Um, yeah, rubbing." The needles came to a rest. "Say something, Sister Spooky." "Like what?" The needles bounced in accordance with her voice. "Perfect. We are good to go, my friends." Skinner took Scully's arm. She turned to face him, and his picture was prominently displayed several times over on the wall of monitors. "Are you sure you want to do this?" "I have to know. He's out there. I will find him. This may be how." Frohike watched as a look of concern and understanding flashed across the assistant director's digital faces. "Then let's do it." EN Route to Abandoned Warehouse 8:56 PM The group stopped to pick up Doggett from the Bureau offices before heading out to locate the warehouse. There had been no second phone call, so the plans had not changed. They would drop Scully off at the site, then retreat to a nearby wooded area, where they would park the van and watch and listen for any signs of trouble. Skinner and Doggett would attempt to help her, and the boys would call for assistance. Otherwise, they were to avoid being noticed. Scully spent the ride in silence, listening as the Gunmen discussed their latest purchases. How they loved their toys, she thought to herself. But there was no group of men that she'd rather have behind her than this one. The Gunmen were loyal to Mulder--therefore, loyal to her. She liked to think that they had decided to remain by her side in his absence not just because they knew that she was important to him, but because they liked her, as well. And they did; they had come to grow fond of the doubting redhead, liking her as much for her convictions as for her respect for Mulder. Even if Mulder hadn't long ago sworn them to protect her if anything should ever happen to him, they would never let any ill befall her, if they could help it. Especially Frohike. The rest of the group, Mulder included, knew how large a soft spot he carried for the feisty FBI agent. They all teased him about it, but they never doubted it's sincerity. If nothing else, Mulder knew that Melvin would look out for her. Not because he wanted to, even, but because he had to. His heart wouldn't allow otherwise. The van bounced along the county road. The ride was hell on a well man; he knew she must be feeling sick. He crossed the van to sit next to her. "Are you feeling okay?" She looked up uneasily at him. "Yeah, just a little. . .queasy." "Do you want us to stop? If you need to get si--" "No, I'm used to it. It's okay, really." She rested her hand on his arm. "I'm fine, Frohike. Really. I'll be fine." A burst of laughter came from the front of the van. She looked up to see Agent Doggett had been listening to one of the Gunmen's latest theories on the whereabouts of Elvis, and was no longer able to contain his amusement at their seriousness on the subject. The Gunmen looked at each other, then at Skinner, who wisely chose to remain neutral. They turned to Scully as the laughter continued. "He's a good guy. . .but he's certainly not Mulder," Langly observed to the group in the back of the van. They nodded in agreement, then bowed their heads and remembered their friend. Scully looked down at the bulge at her waist. No, he certainly wasn't. Project Doctor: "After all these years trying to develop a compatible alien-human hybrid, to have one ready made.... " CSM: "All these years, all the questioning why, why keep Mulder alive, when it was so simple to remove the threat he posed." --The Sixth Extinction, Amor Fati Abandoned Warehouse 10:13 PM Scully looked about her uncomfortably. Far too many bad things could happen to someone in an abandoned warehouse. Just the setting screamed trouble. The idea occurred to her that all underhanded informants kept an updated list of such warehouses, so that they'd have somewhere to conduct their business. She smirked, and continued surveying the scene. "I see. . .a whole lotta nothing, guys, which--I must admit--worries me more than a whole lotta anything. I don't like surprises...." She turned around slowly, keeping her head low and continuing to whisper into her mike. "I have an uneasy feeling about this, but that's natural. I--" Something snapped behind her, and she whipped around to see a shadow moving toward her. A second shadow lurked in the background. "Show yourself," she called. The first figure moved into the light, and Scully nearly choked on her breath. "You. . .rat bastard!" She charged him, but halted when he cocked the gun he held at his side. "Nice to see you, too, Agent Scully," Alex Krycek sneered at her. She glared at him, her hate overpowering her fear of the gun. "You knew what would happen, didn't you? You sent him into a trap, you dirty, conniving, son-of-a--" "If you want the truth, Agent Scully," he sauntered toward her, circling her slowly, "The 'abduction' was a bonus. It was win-win. He finds the ship and has his proof, it all comes crashing down around the Smoking Man's head. He gets taken, I'm rid of his pestering ass." She let out a low breath, closing her eyes and pursing her lips, reminding herself that it was unwise for a pregnant woman to jump a one- armed lunatic. "But now, there's a problem. And I'm looking to you to help alleviate it." "Why would I want to help you?" "For what I can get you in return." She eyed him warily. "You spoke of bringing Mulder back. You know where he is." "At this very moment, no. But I know how to get him here. They want to deal, Agent Scully, and you're holding all the cards." "What the hell are you talking about?" "That," he pointed his gun at her abdomen. She was pretty sure Frohike was up in arms over that. "You better make your point--and get that damn thing away from me." "You hold the key to the colonization, Agent Scully. " A woman's voice came from the shadows, and Scully stared in disbelief as Marita Covurrubias stepped from the darkness. "Perfect. Backstabbers, unite." She backed away instinctively, but realized that she had no where to go, no wall to give her support. "You might not want to believe this," Marita continued, her velvet voice remaining level, "But we have every intention of bringing him back to you. . .as long as you are willing to make a sacrifice. It's a small one, in the grand scheme of things. And it will help prevent what you two have fought so long and hard against. Refuse, and you are bringing it upon humankind." "I don't understand. What do I have? What sacrifice--" "The child you carry, Agent Scully. What they've sought for so long...." She laid her hands upon her stomach, a subconscious move to protect the unborn youth. "It's in you." "I. . .I don't.... Why this child?" Krycek again took control of the conversation. "The others were weak, often they could not survive the hybridization process. There were children--" Suddenly, Scully remembered another child she'd loved, years ago, that had been taken from her. Emily. "And Cassandra.... All unsuccessful attempts to create the slave race that the aliens sought." "Why this one? This child is normal, healthy--" "It never occurred to you that it was impossible for you to naturally become pregnant? You never supposed that they had done this to you, that only their science could make what would never, could never happen- -happen?" "I thought--I could have started ovulating again. . .perhaps...." "Don't be naive, Agent." Marita strode up to Scully to look her directly in the face. "As a doctor, you'd know better. As a woman.... You'd stopped menstruating. You would have noticed if you had begun again." Scully faltered, and she shook her head in denial, even as she knew that they spoke accurately. "But when? They.... They didn't want me. They threw me back. They took--" "They had you. They threw you back when they were finished with you." He eyed her. "They have a vested interest in seeing this child live. What better chance would it have than in its own natural mother?" She looked Marita in the face, then shot a glance at Krycek. "But-- Mulder's--" "He's the link, of course. As a compatible alien-human hybrid, his child. . .created in the genetically-altered egg, their very own brand of doctored alien DNA. . .it will be perfect." Suddenly, she could no longer hold herself upright. Her body shook, and she slumped forward, barely able to hold her weight up on her legs, which seemed to want to give out from under her. She carried. . .her baby. . .an experiment in extra-terrestrial genetics? Tears welled up in her eyes, and her form trembled as she fought to hold herself together, to not fall wailing to the floor. Not here, not in front of them. Her voice was weak as she questioned, "What does this have to do with Mulder?" Krycek beamed at the emotional wreck in front of him. "They're willing to trade. Mulder for the kid." She looked up at him, her eyes still filled with tears. "Why? Why don't they just take me? Take the child and kill Mulder and I? What reason would they have for letting us live?" He pondered this. "They're not a compassionate race. Perhaps. . .they hope to use you again. Perhaps. . .they realize that if you think that the future is so bleak, you might attempt to kill yourself and the child." "They'd be right." "Come now, Agent Scully. Is that any way to talk?" She leveled her eyes at him. "What's your interest in this? Are you here to represent them?" "Yes. I've had dealings with them before, and with the Smoking Man's death, they have no one else to turn to." "Pity for them." "Indeed. My intentions, as always, lay elsewhere," he advanced upon her, and she nearly tripped as she moved away from him. Her back met something solid, and she looked over her shoulder to see Marita effectively blocking her path. "It was his dying wish to reinstate colonization proceedings," he hissed. "I'll be damned if I let him win." He came closer, and leaned in to whisper in her ear. "The child. . .must die." Her eyes shot up to meet his, as he put his face only inches in front of hers. "What?" "Do you think that I'm stupid?" he reached into her shirt and ripped the mike from her. She swung madly at him, but he backed away quickly, leaving Scully in Marita's grasp. "You dirty son-of-a-bitch! If you ever touch me like that again, I'll-- " "You'll what? Sic the three stooges, the old skin-flint, and the Mulder-wannabe on me?" he waved at her, and she realized that he was fully aware, too, of the body cam. "Hello, boys," he grinned. "I suppose if they can still see you, they won't come charging in here. But what I have to tell you, now, is not for their ears. This is just for you, Agent Scully. " He stepped forward again, and Marita held fast. "You have to do exactly as I say if you want to see Mulder alive again. You have to give them the child." "But--" "Wait." He pulled a vial from his jacket, and handed it to her, out of the sight of the camera. "When you are sure that you are alone, you will inject the child with this. It will seem harmless, nothing will happen. Give them the infant, and Mulder will be returned to you. Then get away as quickly as you can." "What does this do?" "Pray, Agent Scully. Pray that they are long gone before they realize what happened." "What?" "The child will die. All traces of the chemical will have faded away, and they'll never how it occurred. It will seem. . .as if the child died naturally, perhaps in it's sleep. That happens, sometimes, does it not, Doctor Scully?" She looked at him, then at the vial of fluid, horrified at the prospect of killing a defenseless babe. "I can't--" "You must. Or we will all die, and your child will live in bondage for the rest of its life." She had collapsed, weeping, into Byer's arms; Frohike knelt to offer comfort as Langly stood guard while Doggett and Skinner canvassed the warehouse. Georgetown Medical Center Two Weeks Later 5:17 PM The five had all prodded her endlessly for information after the incident at the warehouse. What did he say? What had he given her? The child must die? She had held fast, telling them that they were all empty threats, that it was just another ruse to get her to do their bidding unhesitatingly. And they all knew that she was lying; she had been through a lot that night, but the condition that they entered the warehouse to find her in left no doubt in their minds that she had believed every word, that she had taken whatever threats they might have given her to heart. She had hidden the vial as soon as she returned home, with absolutely no intention of ever using it. Not that she didn't take Krycek at his word--there was a first time for everything--but because she couldn't imagine killing the only child she might ever have. Mulder's and her child. Even if she thought that she could, she felt that it was not a decision that she had a right to make on her own.... But she would never be able to ask his help, his advice. Giving up the child was the only way to get him back. They had no other reason to keep him alive, now. And not injecting the child before giving it up would certainly spell out the end of the world as she knew it. Doggett had been conducting another round of questioning--this time, her mother was present, displeased at the annoyance though she might be- -when Scully's water had broken. He immediately jumped to help her up, as Maggie Scully flew into Scully's room to retrieve her overnight bag. He had driven them to the hospital as fast as he could, threatening to flash his badge and weapon at any cop that might attempt to slow them down, and checked her in. It hadn't been long before the alarmed doctors declared that the birth must be C-section; her small body would not allow otherwise, considering the size of the infant. She had winced as they cut into her flesh; somewhere, in the back of her mind, she begged whatever gods were out there not to let it come flying out, tentacles flailing. She was sure that she wouldn't be able to handle that. Now, she was calm as she lay with the newborn in her arms. He was beautiful. . .perfect. So alert.... He watched her carefully, his green eyes blazing with a life, a knowledge far beyond his years. She knew those eyes, and could not resist falling into them again, losing herself happily. He waved his little arms at her, and she laughed as she stroked the soft skin that covered them. He was beautiful. . .he was hers. Abruptly, a thought came unbidden from the recesses of her mind: He is the end of human existence. He must die. Or. . .we will all die, and the child will live in bondage for the rest of its life. And she knew, as never before, that she could not do it. There must be another way. Deserted Highway Three Days Later 11:21 PM She had stood, alone, in the center of the highway, holding the child in her arms, cooing at it affectionately. Maybe they wouldn't come. Suddenly, bright light surrounded her, and she knew they had. She lay in the bed, listening to the sound of his breathing. Again unbidden, Krycek's voice came to her, ""His child. . .created with the genetically-altered egg, their very own brand of doctored alien DNA. . .it will be perfect.... We will all die, and your child will live in bondage for the rest of its life." She stole a glance at her overnight bag. Tucked within it, hidden from her mother's prying eyes, lay the vial. From the light, two figures emerged. One seemed to support the other, who stumbled along clumsily. Oh, God. . .what have they done? As they came closer to her, she recognized the other figure as the alien bounty hunter. He drug Mulder along without concern. When they came within several feet, he effortlessly threw Mulder at her. He crumpled at her feet, delirious. Getting up slowly, she tensed at the pain that went shooting through her body, emanating from the abdominal stitching. Gritting her teeth, she carefully shuffled over to where her baby slept. She caressed his cheek. My miracle, she thought. And she remembered Emily. I won't let them hurt you, or use you for their games. I will not.... I will not let you go. She got down on her knees beside him, pain coercing through her body. "Mulder?" At the sound of her voice, his writhing stopped. He rolled over, and tried to focus on the sound. His voice was raspy from, she guessed, either strain or lack of use. "Scully?" Holding the child to her with one arm, she attempted to help Mulder sit up with the other. He moaned at the effort, but was able to lean himself against her and look up into her face. She smiled at him as she watched his eyes slowly come into focus. "I'm here, Mulder." A grin creeped across his face. "What took you so long?" She smirked. "I've been busy." She looked down as the child let out a protest at the jostling he was receiving from her efforts at righting Mulder. He looked down at the infant, then up again at Scully, as a tear ran down her face. The child had opened its eyes, and seemed to be judging her mood. God, he was already so much like Mulder. Mulder could read her so well. . .that it had unnerved her. She would avoid eye contact with him frequently in those early days; he always seemed to be looking into her soul with those intoxicating eyes of his. How they made her weep with their pain, rejoice in their gladness. How they would dance as he flirted shamelessly with her.... How could she live without looking into those eyes again? She wanted to have him home, to know that he was safe. She wanted to be able to hold him in her arms again, where she knew that he was protected. At what cost would she want Mulder returned to her? She ran a hand through Mulder's hair, not allowing her shock and horror at feeling rough stitching hidden there make itself known on her face. "His name is John, Mulder." "Yours?" came the scratchy inquiry. "Ours," came the choked reply. She moved slowly to the window, looking past all of the gifts wrapped in blue that lined the sill. The lights of the city blinked back comfortingly at her. She imagined the lives being led down there. Maybe. . .a family was just sitting down together to watch the evening news. Maybe. . .an old woman was resting in a rocking chair, knitting her new granddaughter a bonnet. Maybe. . .an angry man was holding another at gunpoint, screaming to be given this week's fix. Maybe. . .a little boy hid underneath his blankets, making shadow puppets with a flashlight. At what cost was she willing to give the child up, to let it live? He had nearly fallen back to the ground with the weight of her revelation. "Ours?" "This is the one, Mulder. The first successful alien-human hybrid. The first step to colonization. Our son." She looked down at John, who seemed to be reaching for Mulder. Weakly, he reached out to touch the baby. "They want to take him, Mulder. I get you, they get him." He stared at her in disbelief. "But--Scully--" "It's that simple," she said, as tears welled up in her eyes. "All I have to do. . .is hand over the world." He looked at her, the situation sinking in slowly. She sniffled, and laughed softly. "I missed you, Mulder." The bounty hunter stepped forward. "Give me the child." Her eyes fell upon her overnight bag. Her mother's bible rested atop it. She had left it when she went out for coffee. Scully picked it up, bending cautiously, and returned to her bed. She let it fall open upon her lap. John. Chapter three. She read, hoping that she would find an answer in the Book's text: "There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him...." Verse sixteen. "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." For he so loved the world.... She gently closed the book. She rose slowly to face the hunter. She nodded at him, then looked to the squirming bundle in her arms. She lowered her head, and kissed John gently on the forehead. She maneuvered around Mulder and approached the towering being. "Scully-- No! You can't--" Another flash of light, and the bounty hunter. . .and the newborn. . .were gone. The road was dark once again, and a rush of cold air surrounded her. She stood proudly there for a moment before letting the act fall, collapsing to her knees. She felt Mulder come slowly up behind her, and he wrapped his arms around her, rocking her gently. She clung to him, weeping. She brushed her hand across his body lightly. He had returned to his slumber, and his chest rose and fell with each breath. He was so beautiful, so perfect.... She loved him more than he would ever know. She had wept when she injected the liquid into him. Her sobs had become so powerful that they had wracked her small frame, and her mother clutched her daughter to her fearfully, not understanding what was wrong.... Location Unknown Time Unknown The child had died. Quickly, noiselessly, in its sleep. Their tests produced no conclusive results; it was as if it had suffered a crib- death. Perhaps it wasn't able to withstand the rapid growth processes out of the womb; perhaps there was still a defect in the experiment left undiscovered.... They studied it laboriously. He watched them work quietly. His brow furrowed in thought. It had been perfect, the combination of two flawless pieces that would create the ideal whole for the continuation of the project. They had gone over everything meticulously, their science--as proven in him--far exceeded such trivialities. This shouldn't have happened. Alex. The only piece of the puzzle that didn't quite fit. His sudden interest in furthering the alien efforts.... Alex would have done this. Would have known how to make it look. Would have known where the resources were that could doom the experiment. He grinned to himself, and snuffed out the cigarette. He had so many plans for that foolish boy once he returned.... . The End
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