DESTINATION

By Jolee Patkai

The following story is pure fiction and is not taken from any
transcripts belonging to 1013 or FOX.  The X-Files are the property of
FOX and 1013 Productions.  Any resemblance to the actual ending is
entirely coincidental.



11:21 pm - Thursday, May 17
Washington, DC
_________________________


If Agent Dana Scully was scared, former Agent Fox Mulder was, too -
only ten-fold.  Ever since his return from beyond, his life had been on
an emotional roller coaster, full of highs and lows.  Tonight, had to be
the all-time low...no doubt about it!  Handing Scully over to Krycek
for safe keeping had been the hardest thing he had ever had to do. 
Even worse than doing that, was the look Scully had shot at him, over
her shoulder.  It had been a look of fear mixed with incomprehension. 
The look had turned his legs to water, and shame had slammed into
his gut. "Why, Mulder...Why?"  That was what her eyes were asking
him.  But he hadn't been able to answer her..couldn't explain the
sudden and seemingly rash decision that had made him push her from
his arms and into Krycek's.

Now looking down from the top of the building where Billy Miles
learned to fly, he allowed his eyes to follow the speeding car as it bore
her away......to what??  Safety??? Christ..he only hoped so.  He had
asked Agent Doggett to arrange a safe house for her...somewhere even
he couldn't find ...for now!  It was better this way...he felt
sure..JESUS..he wasn't sure of anything.  The only thing he was sure
of was the emptiness he felt inside, an aching pain, full of fear and
yearning.  He had just found her again, discovered their baby,
rekindled their desire for each other..and now...emptiness. 

Assistant Director Walter Skinner turned from the low wall
separating him from the street below.  "Well....she got away,
Mulder..now we just have to hope she stays safe.  There's nothing
more you can do here...I'll see to it the mess below is cleaned up.  Why
don't you catch a ride with Agent Doggett?  I'm sure you have some
details you want to discuss with regard to Scully and her
whereabouts.....Mulder??  Did you even hear what I said?"

But Agent Mulder was straining to see Agent Crane, who was at work
below directing the cleanup.  "What the hell....?" Swore Mulder. 
"Son of a bitch...that son of a bitch...I knew he was up to something!!" 
Pushing his body off the building's wall, he spun around and started
running for the stairs.

"MULDER....what the hell are you talking about?" demanded
Skinner.

Mulder halted, suddenly, and turned to face the Assistant Director. 
"Look, Walter...Do you remember the bumps that were on the back of
Billy Miles's neck?  Well guess who is sporting those very same
bumps?"

Skinner turned his head back towards the scene below and Agent
Crane.  "Are you saying you can see bumps on Agent Crane's neck,
Mulder??  Because if you are, that just makes absolutely no kind of
sense.  He is on our side, and whether or not you like the man
shouldn't cloud your judgement of his intentions.  He's a good agent,
Mulder!"

"Yeah...well maybe he USED to be a good agent...but now he's just
another blood sucking alien and if he knows where Scully is going, we
need to get there before he does.  I don't claim to understand what the
hell is going on here, Sir, but the bumps are there and they mean that
Agent Crane has undergone some sort of transformation.  If Billy
Miles was after Scully's baby, then he could be, too!"

Pulling out his cell phone, Mulder dialed Agent Doggett's number. 
When Doggett answered, Mulder told him to wait for him, and with
Skinner in tow, he raced to the stairs and descended to the main floor. 
Doggett was running towards him, with Krycek close behind.  "You
son-of-a-bitch, Krycek....you set her up.  If she dies, you're a dead
man!"

Agent Doggett stepped between the two men.  "Hold on now,
Mulder...what's got you so stirred up.   Agent Scully is in safe hands,
now.  Agent Reyes just called me that they are OK and on the way to
the safe house.  Only people who know of that location is myself and
Agent Reyes.  Other's are on a need-to-know basis - ONLY.  So
what's the problem?"

"Follow me, Doggett, and I'll show you.  And you, Krycek, stay with
Skinner and as far away from me as possible.  Your only worth to me
right now is that you seem to know about these new aliens that are
running around.  I want you to look at something for me.   Come on
Doggett, we have bug to catch!"

"I don't follow you, Mulder, what's this about?"  Asked Doggett as he
ran after Mulder.  Mulder was not answering, but ran full tilt into
Agent Crane who was bending over to look at something on the
ground.  With a grunt of surprise and pain, Agent Crane was
slammed to the ground and handcuffed by Mulder.  Pulling him to his
feet, Mulder hauled him back into the building before an astonished
Doggett could even react.  

"How in the hell does he move that fast..beats the hell out of me!" 
Doggett said to himself.  Then he hurried inside the building to see
what Mulder was doing.  He arrived inside to find Agent Crane
pushed to his knees and his shirt pulled down his back.  Krycek,
Skinner and Mulder were looking horrified at the back of his neck. 
As Doggett drew closer, he saw what was holding them glued to the
spot.  

"I didn't know, Agent Mulder, I swear to you, I didn't know.  How
did this happen..when could it have happened??  Speak up, Agent
Crane...you have some questions to answer!" blasted Doggett in a
voice suddenly gone rough.

Agent Crane just shook his head, laughing silently, "Well, seeing as
I'm not really Agent Crane, I don't have to answer those questions, do
I?  You are all so easy to manipulate, there's really nothing you can
do about Agent Scully, now...she is in good hands!"

Without thinking, Mulder slammed his gun into the back of the
alien's neck and blood poured down his white shirt.  Red Blood....and
lots of it.  "Jesus Christ, Mulder..why'd you go and do that for?  How
are we supposed to find out what he was planning if he's dead?"

"We already know what his plan is..what their plan is...they want to
kidnap Scully to get at her baby.  And once they do, Scully's life will
be over.  Tell me Agent Doggett, who on your team was on a "need-to-
know" basis on Scully's location?

Doggett's chin dropped to his chest and a groan burst from his throat. 
"Let's go...we've got to contact Agent Reyes and tell her plans have
been changed.  Agent Crane knew of the location; he set it up for me. 
That's why he was here directing the operation."

Exiting the building, Mulder and Doggett headed out in his truck,
while Skinner and Krycek, now wearing cuffs, followed in Skinner's
car.  Agent Crane was left lying face down on the lobby floor,
surrounded by FBI agents who were shaking their heads in
puzzlement.  


1:35 am, Friday, May 18
St. George Island, Maryland

_____________________

A cool hand brushing her cheek was what awakened Scully early
Friday morning.  Agent Reyes had driven steadily for the past two
hours, through driving rain and often foggy conditions.  But they
were finally at their destination, and a groan escaped her lips as she
stretched the kinks out of her legs.

"Agent Scully, we're here.  How do you feel?" asked Reyes softly, as
she stroked her cheek. 
She couldn't help but notice how flushed Scully looked, almost
feverish, in fact.  When Scully looked at her blankly, she pressed her
hand to Scully's forehead again, and concern filled her eyes.

"You have a fever, Agent Scully, we had better get you inside.  Wait
for me to come around and I'll help you out.  The house is just up this
dune and then it's bed for you."  Moving around the car and opening
the door, she could see that Scully was having a little trouble
maneuvering her way out of the seat.  "Here, let me help you...", she
offered, reaching around Scully and practically dragging her out of
the car.  "Sorry, Agent Scully...just lean on me and we'll get you
comfortable."

"Where are we, Agent Reyes?  I fell asleep..I'm sorry..it must have
been a tiring drive for you with me passed out beside you.  I don't
understand it...I've been so worried, and tonight was just one big
mess...and I don't feel well.   Is it hot here or what?"

Reyes looked worried.   "Well, I think you have a fever, but that's
understandable considering it is near your due date.   That is quite
common, as I'm sure you know.  Everything will be just fine."

The house looked sort of creepy, sitting there on top of the dune with
the ocean crashing beyond.  But to Reyes, it looked wonderful.  She
had been here as a child while on holiday.  It belonged to an uncle,
and when John had contacted her about a safe house, she had
immediately thought of this place.  It was close enough to Washington
for communication's sake, but remote enough for privacy and safety. 
Only she and John knew of it's location, or so she hoped.  That Agent
Crane had been close in on the details, but she hadn't disclosed the
house's location to him.  She hoped John hadn't either.  She didn't
really care for Crane..his eyes were so sneaky...she just had a feeling
about the guy.

Scully looked up at the house and shivered.  The hair on her neck
stood up, but she chided herself for being silly.  It was only the fever
she seemed to have, making her shiver.  "Agent Reyes, where did you
find this place.  It's really quite lovely, but somewhat lonely, know
what I mean??"

"Yes, I do, but that's because it is the middle of the night and it's
foggy.  It's much prettier in the daylight.  You'll see tomorrow, and
we can walk on the beach..that will be good for you, now...in your
condition, I mean....what I mean to say is..exercise is important to
help the labor process..or so I've read!"  She stammered into silence,
feeling suddenly very awkward.  What was she really doing here?  She
barely knew this woman, and this woman was very soon going to give
birth.  What if it happened while there were way out here.  

As if reading her thoughts, Scully asked the question Reyes had been
dreading.  Sitting down on a couch, Scully watched as Reyes lit the
fireplace.  Reaching her hands towards the flames for warmth, Scully
couldn't help but notice how nervous Reyes seemed.  "Agent Reyes...I
know this is strange for you..being here with me and everything...but I
appreciate it.  I want you to know that I really admire you, as an
agent and a person.  You know that I'm a doctor, Agent Reyes, and I
do have some experience with the delivery process, having delivered a
baby myself, while on a case in Florida.  But I really won't be much
help at my own baby's birth.  So I guess what I'm getting at is...have
you ever delivered a baby?"

Biting her lip, Agent Reyes, turned from the fire and faced Scully. 
Clasping her hands together and really craving a cigarette, she tried
to put Scully at ease.  "Agent Scully, I have had courses in many first
aid and emergency care...and I did have some training in case of a
situation like this.  I have a stocked doctors kit in the car, and books
on the procedure...so..."

Scully dropped her head in her hands as horror washed over her. 
"You have books on the procedure, Agent Reyes??  Do you mean to
say, we are stuck out here in the middle of nowhere, with absolutely
no knowledge of how to have this baby??  What was I
thinking..letting myself be carried away.  I know I was in danger in
Washington...but those men have no idea how serious this could be. 
I'm not young, Agent Reyes , and my pregnancy has been difficult...so
I have no way of knowing how NORMAL this procedure may be!"

"OK..calm down, Agent Scully, I assure you I can handle this.  And
whose to say that you are going to go into labor soon.   First time
mothers can go over their due dates, that's a known fact..so we might
not have anything to worry about.  Besides that, I can call John at any
time if things start to happen and help will be on it's way.  So, please
don't worry, I can handle this..WE can handle this."

Kneeling on the floor in front of Scully, she clasped Scully's hands in
her own.  Looking up into her blue eyes, she pleaded for
understanding.  "Trust me...I won't let you down!"

Gazing back at Reyes, Scully nodded her head drunkenly, "I do trust
you, agent, it's not about trust..it's about me about to give birth in an
old house, far away from Mulder and my mother and my
apartment...., " sobbed Scully, "And the fact that my baby is in
danger from god knows what or who...where will it all end?  What will
happen to us...I'm so scared!   I...just wish.....," choked Scully, "that
things could have been different.  This is a nightmare!"

"Come with me, Agent Scully, you need to get to bed.  I'll get you
settled, and then I'll take in the supplies from the car.  It's getting
warm now, and a cup of tea would feel good, now wouldn't it?"
tempted Reyes.  "You're just too tired to talk right now..and
tomorrow we'll see about what to do."

After seeing Scully settled in bed, she left the bedside lamp on and
returned to the car to unload it.  It was with a sigh of relief, sometime
later, that she sank down on the edge of Scully's bed to sip her tea. 
Scully seemed to be moving in and out of sleep.  The tea had soothed
her, somewhat, and now, hopefully she could rest.  Leaning closer, she
placed her hand on the sleeping woman's cheek and was relieved to
find it was a little cooler. "Thank God for that!" breathed Reyes.

Leaving the room, quietly, she stared at her cell phone.  The urge to
call John was strong, but she knew that for safety's sake she couldn't. 
Still, it would be nice to hear his voice and let him convince her that
she knew what she was doing and that she could handle this
assignment.  Agent Scully was someone very special..and the child she
was carrying was unusual, to say the least, if what John had told her
was true.  If the truth were known, this responsibility John had thrust
upon her, scared the hell out of her.  

Turning towards the stack of books she had lugged in, she grabbed
the first one on top, and began reading.  Her mother always used to
say, "Babies birth themselves, Monica.  People fuss way to much
nowadays."  Well, she prayed her mother was right, because she had
the feeling that this little baby was not going to wait until it was
convenient to enter this world.  It looked like it was going to be a very
long night.  With renewed determination, Reyes hit the books, and
refilled the kettle.  Tea was the answer to all of life's little problems. 
That was another old saying of her mother's, and at least this was one
Monica could agree to.



3:05 am
Somewhere on route 5 off of the 235

_________________

Mulder could not believe this...they appeared to be lost!  "Agent
Doggett...please tell me you know where this safe house is??  I mean
we've been driving for two hours, and we should be there by now. 
How in the hell are we supposed to find it if you don't know where it
is?"

"Now just calm down, Fox!  Agent Reyes gave me directions and
somewhere close to here we have to look for Route 249.  It shouldn't
be too far now..it's just with all this rain and friggin fog, it's taking us
longer than it normally would.  We'll find it..so stop getting so worked
up.  This won't help Agent Scully if we arrive all hot and flustered."

"I just hate this whole damned business.  It's like some damned
nightmare!  Here she is about to give birth, a time that should be
exciting and happy.  She should be surrounded by her family..her
mother..in places that are familiar to her..but where is she??  Where
did I send her?? To the boondocks and beyond.  And it's the
"beyond" that has got me worried, Agent Doggett.  Just who are these
people and how will we  outrun them??  Where is safety?  Having the
baby is going to be the easy part here.  It's keeping them safe that's
going to be difficult."

"Fox, you know we can make people disappear all the time and they
go on to live good lives.  I'm sure this conspiracy thing is not all it's
been made out to be.  You've said it yourself, most of it has been
staged by our own government to cover up secret agendas.  How
much of this craziness is really due to alien involvement?  I mean...are
there even aliens?  Nawww...don't look at me like that..you know
where I'm com'in from.  Christ sakes, the government has had secret
experiments going on for decades...cloning, DNA projects..you name
it...whose to say these people are not a product of one of those
experiments.  Can you really prove you were in a space ship, Fox? 
Really?   Like Agent Scully said, she remembers very little of her
abduction experience, but what she does remember was that there
seemed to be men working on her and they seemed able to control her
body and thoughts.  She never remembers aliens.  So how about it
Fox.....did you see aliens?"

Shaking his head, Mulder chose not to answer.  How could someone
like Doggett even begin to understand what it had been like.  The
feeling of helplessness, the violation, the feeling of being watched? 
What was the use.  Scully was the only one who he had confided
in...and that was not going to change on a dark night somewhere in
the boondocks.  "Let's not go there Agent Doggett...lets turn off here,
instead." answered Mulder, pointing to the sign reading Route 249.

"Good idea, Fox.", agreed Doggett. "Hey, do you mind if I call you
Mulder?   I feel kind of funny being the only one to call you Fox.  If
you don't mind, of course!   I mean not that Fox isn't a good
name..it's just that..ahh..I..."

"Don't sweat it Doggett, Mulder it is.  Hey, is this place called St.
George's Island?"

"Yeah, I guess so.  Agent Reyes used to come here as child for summer
holidays.  Belonged to an uncle or something like that.  OK..now I see
the turnoff coming up.  Hey kind of spooky here, don't you think?"
questioned Doggett, glancing sideways at Mulder.

"Yeah...right..spooky.  Listen, do you think Agent Crane, or whatever
the hell he is, had time to tell the others about this place?  I don't
really know how much credence I give Krycek when he says there are
many others like him out there.  I've sure as hell never seen them
walking around.  I don't know what to believe."

"Well, you're not alone on that score, Mulder...this is all new to me!" 
Hey, there's a house ahead, and it's lit up.  What will we say when we
go in, Mulder?  Should we move Scully again to another location or
just lay low until morning?  I know she's tired of all this running...it's
can't be easy for her now..with her being so close to delivery.  I'm
speaking from experience here.  When my wife was close to having
our son, she was impossible to live with, very uncomfortable.  Agent
Scully is holding up great, considering all she's been through.  A very
strong lady, that one!" rasped Doggett as a smile touched his lips.

Mulder looked at Doggett and couldn't help but admire the guy for
his ability to talk about his son like that.  It must have been hell on
earth the day Luke was found.  Probably always would be.  Samantha
had taught him that.  Some things just don't get any easier.  "Agent
Doggett, before we go in there, I just want to say how sorry I am that
you lost your son.  You know I lost my sister at around the same age...
it's something you never get over....never forget, but I've learned to
live with her loss, and I know you will, too.  In many ways we are
different, Doggett, like night and day, but I sense we are the same in
this regard."  Holding out his hand, he clasped Doggett's in a firm
handshake.  "Whatever happens now...we'll deal with it.   I wouldn't
want anyone else along for this ride, Agent Doggett.  Now let's see
what's going on in there.  I wonder why so many lights are burning?"
                                             
     
As the entered the house, they were met with a sound that made their
mouths hang open.  Looking at each other in total shock, they
scrambled through the house towards the bedrooms at the back.

"PUSH...Dana...can I call you Dana...because it's really weird calling
you Agent Scully all the time when we are obviously way past being
acquaintances?"  Babbled Reyes.  "PUSH...that's right....OK..now
Dana, don't forget to breath!"

"BREATHE???? I can't even feel my lungs anymore, they're
somewhere smashed up against my shoulder
blades.....AAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH.......I can't
breathe......!!!"

"She's hyperventilating, Agent Reyes.....Doggett bring me a
bag....Come on Scully, take it easy.....just relax like they taught us in
class....I'm here and we'll do this together!" soothed a remarkably
sedate Mulder.  Agent Reyes screamed in relief to see them both in the
room.

"Thank God, you're both here.  She just went into labor about 30
minute ago...no warning..nothing...well a little fever, but she went to
sleep well enough..and then she just started screaming in pain...blood
everywhere....is that normal???  Wait...I remember reading that it is
normal..not for everyone..and certainly not all the time..but normal
nonetheless!!"

"Monica, for God's sake!" yelled Doggett.  "Will YOU just relax??
Please.  Everything looks normal here..you just let me in there....."  

Mulder looked at him and grinned, "I don't believe it, Doggett, you're
a midwife, too??  You don't know your ass from a hole in the ground
when it comes to the X-Files, but you can deliver babies??? I knew
there was a reason I brought you along!"

"OK, now Agent Scully, everything looks good.  I'm just going to
make a little cut here, to give the baby more room to come
through...it's going to hurt a little, but not much, OK?"

"Doggett, please call me Scully..just plain Scully....and I'm ready...go
ahead...OHHHH I'm having another contraction...the pressure is
awful....AHHHHHHHH..it HURTS!!!!I HAVE TO
PUSH...NOWWWWWW!!"

Mulder held her shoulders and raised her up as another contraction
hit her body.  He could feel her trembling in pain and he felt the
spasms as they wracked her small form.  Her belly seemed to be
moving in different directions...this baby was coming and soon.  

Agent Reyes handed Doggett the surgical scissors and watched him
make a cut.  She could see the baby's head pushing up against the
opening...could see Scully straining to birth this child.  What a
wonder it was to watch....suddenly she was very glad to be here.  To
have the chance to see this unfold.  

"OH MY GOD!!!!  MULDER........I..I..THE BABY'S COMING....OH
MY GOD!!"moaned Scully, totally beyond caring who was in the
room with her or who was at her feet ready to catch her baby.   All
she knew was that the  sense of anticipation was amazing...this was
amazing....that she could feel this....be here having this child....was
truly a miracle.

"Get ready Agent Reyes....we are having a baby..RIGHT NOW!!!  
Mulder come and see...Here comes the shoulders...PUSH
Scully...that's it..you're doing great...." encouraged Doggett, with eyes
full of moisture and throat suddenly gone dry!  "Almost
there...where's that blanket??  OH YEAH......YOU DID IT, SCULLY,
YOU DID IT...would you look at that...you have a ......." Doggett
stopped when he felt Mulder's hand on his arm.  A look passed
between them and Doggett understood perfectly.  This was not his
place to tell Scully...it was Mulder's.

"What???? What is it, Agent Doggett?   Tell me....." demanded Scully
in a voice that was full of fear.... " Is it a boy or a girl?  Mulder?"

Doggett and Reyes were busy cutting the umbilical cord and
wrapping the squeaking baby in blankets.  The little eyes were already
searching and chubby arms were waving around in the air, knocking
the blankets aside.  Agent Ryes handed the bundle to Mulder and she
and Doggett covered Scully with warm blankets.  "We'll give you both
a few minutes, but then we have to stitch you up, Agent Scully.  You
did great!"  And before Scully could say thank you, the room was
empty except for Mulder and her and.... the baby??

Meeting Mulder's eyes, Scully pleaded with him.  Not with her voice,
but with her gaze.  "Please tell me everything is OK!!  Please.!"

"Well, Scully, would you like to hold our daughter??"  Whispered
Mulder, as he laid the baby in her arms.

"A girl??  Mulder, we have a daughter??" squealed Scully in wonder.

"And she looks just like you, Scully...same beautiful eyes, same milky
skin.  And I'm already in love with her...just like I am with her
mother." whispered Mulder as he lay down beside them.  They lay
like that for what seemed like hours, but was really only minutes. 
Placing his hand under her chin, he drew her face up for his
inspection.  He saw tears streaming down her face.  

"Scully, she's perfect....100 percent perfect.  We'll be OK,
Scully..she'll be OK, I promise.  We can disappear for a while, let
things settle...and when the time is right, we'll come home again.  

"Oh Mulder....I can't believe you're here with me..with us.  I prayed
so much when you were missing....thought I'd never see your
again...or touch you again.  Whatever happens, wherever we end
up...nothing can be as wonderful as being here with you both, right
now."
Sobs shook her body, and gathering her close to him, he kissed the
salty trail her tears left, starting at her spiky lashes, and ending when
he found her full mouth.

A knock at the bedroom door, brought them back to the present and
the knowledge that they were not alone.  "Sorry to bother you, but
you should really rest now Scully.  I'll fix you up and then you should
try to sleep.  Monica will help with the baby.  She needs a bath. Hey
Mulder, you might as well learn the ropes.  Babies can be quite
slippery when wet!  

Kissing Scully once more, he took the baby from her and headed for
the kitchen, where Monica had a bath all ready.  Agent Doggett made
Scully comfortable, and within a short time, mother and baby were
both sleeping, cuddled in fresh sheets.

________________________

August 3, 2001
British Columbia, CANADA


She had always loved the mountains!  And these were spectacular.
She never tired of this view.  They had been living in British
Columbia for three months now, and she felt like they had always
been here.  Life was good!

After her delivery, they had waited a few days for her to heal, and
then Skinner had arranged their travel to Canada.  It had seemed like
the natural thing to do and they had never regretted their decision to
leave the states.  Things were still uncertain as far as the alien
conspiracy went, but things seemed to quiet down after the baby was
born.  It was almost like Krycek had predicted.  This child was
perfect, in every imaginable way, and just her existence was enough to
stop an invasion.. maybe.  Or just maybe now wasn't the right time
for a takeover.  

Skinner kept them up-to-speed with all the goings on at the Bureau,
and for that, Scully was grateful.  Mulder really didn't care one way
or the other, these days.  He was in love with his three-month old
daughter.. .. and when he held her, the world and all it's troubles just
disappeared.  

Scully smiled as she watched Mulder draw near the chateau.  The
baby was in a pack on his back...they had been hiking, again.  Mulder
was  thriving in the clear mountain air.  His eyes had lost their
shadows, and for that she was thankful.  They had talked and talked
since their retreat, and never had she been so close to him as she was
now.  Meeting them at the door, she helped unload the baby, and took
her in to bath her.  

Sweet smelling from her bath, Scully marveled at the feel of the tiny
mouth tugging at her breast.  She could never imagine anything being
as erotic as this.  Nothing came close to this shared time with her
daughter.  Laughing as the milk ran from the sleeping baby's mouth,
Scully carried her up to bed.  As she turned from the crib, she could
feel Mulder's eyes on her.

"Come here, Scully!" whispered Mulder.

"Where are we going?" whispered Scully back to him..

"Somewhere only you can take me....." he breathed into her neck, as
he drew her out of the room and down the hall towards their
bedroom.

"And just where is that, Mulder?" she questioned, her breath
catching in her throat, as desire curled it's way through her stomach.

"To our Destination, Scully....Our Destination!"  





THE END