Title: Nothing Important 12: The Truth II Author: Vickie Moseley Summary: Total Rewrite of Season 9 from a shipper point of view. Category: AU, MSR, babyfic Rating: some violence, some language Disclaimer: This isn't Alternate Universe as much as it's a dream fulfilled. But no copyright infringement intended. Archive: yes There will be on more part -- an Epilogue to be posted very soon. This series may be the basis for another series that will take our little family into a 10th season. Dedicated to Fox Mom -- this one's for you, babe. Hope it's all I promised. Thanks to Lisa for beta reading and incredible artwork. Visit my site soon to see all that she has wrought. Nothing Important 12: The Truth II Oregon Cave Junction, OR 3:30 am The cabin had gone quiet at least thirty minutes ago, but John couldn't take the chance. He waited patiently by a large pine, watching through high- powered binoculars fitted with night vision. John had checked the rental car in the driveway and found it had been issued to Monica. He hadn't figured her in to the equation. No matter, he knew how she fought so it would be easy to take her out early. A figure moved past the window and he smiled. Krycek was in place, the rat bastard. How he'd managed to get in on the operation was anyone's guess, but at least John knew he wasn't going into this alone. Still, it wasn't like he could just go up to the door and knock, even if he had someone on the inside. He'd have to wait them out, wait until they were asleep. Chances were good Krycek would even offer to take first watch and then John would have his opportunity. There was plenty of time to think while leaning against the old tree trunk. John thought back to when his buddy Knowle had first approached him with this assignment. John was working VICAP and thinking about putting his name in for ASAC when Knowle had called him up out of the blue and asked him to meet him on the Capitol Mall by the Air and Space Museum. It was early May and they grabbed a couple of dogs and started walking toward the Smithsonian castle. "John, what do you think about aliens?" Knowle had asked right off the bat. "I think we should increase border patrols and move toward a 'read ID' where everyone would have the same kind of license," John replied thoughtfully. Knowle laughed. "No, John. Not that kind of alien. The kind that would be totally undocumented. The kind that come from above." His old Marine CO pointed his index finger toward the sky. John got the joke. "Very funny," he said. "I don't think of them much at all." "Do you think they might be a cover for a threat against our country?" Knowle asked, staring off toward the Capitol dome. A threat was a threat. As Knowle continued his tale, John didn't worry about the reason behind why a FBI agent was suspected of collaborating with an enemy -- he didn't even bother to ask who the real enemy was. The fact that the man was missing and assumed plotting against his country was all John needed to know. So he found himself in front of Deputy Director Kersh, a thoroughly dislikeable character and a puppet at best, who informed him of his new assignment to lead the search for Agent Fox Mulder. As he sat and listened to Kersh outline his duties, John held back a smile. What Kersh obviously didn't know -- and for the better -- was that John was supposed to find Mulder, but the goal was not to find him alive. It all came down to that fateful meeting in Kersh's outer office. John always thought it was a shame when cops or agents mixed business with pleasure. It was like drinking on duty -- do it a couple of times and it didn't become a problem. The problem came because no one could ever manage to keep it to a couple of times. All that logic went right out the window when he got a look at Dana Scully in all her pissed off glory. Suddenly, mixing business with pleasure wasn't such a bad idea anymore. John had always loved a challenge and by God, Dana Scully was a challenge. Closed mouth, untrusting to the extreme, a challenge that would turn most men's hearts to stone. But John saw through all that. Challenges always presented themselves as impossible to attain, but just took motivation, determination and drive. A Marine never backed down from a challenge. She was called Ice Queen behind her back, Doc Ice from a few. Other agents warned John that she was once a good agent, but now had been totally mesmerized by Spooky Mulder to the point where Mrs. Spooky wasn't just a casual nickname but an actual fact. Even before he found out she was pregnant, John knew she'd had sex with her partner. Wouldn't be a stretch for her to do it again -- just with a different guy: John. If it hadn't been for that worthless Skinner, John and Dana would be in bed together at that very moment. John closed his eyes as bitter memories filled his mind. Skinner was the fly in the ointment. He was the one who had her ear, all because he kept the lip service going about finding Mulder, kept her dreams alive. After Mulder turned up dead and they tossed him in the grave, John was certain all that would stop. Dana had no interest in Skinner, so he wasn't a direct threat. He was only a threat in that the Assistant Director stood as a constant reminder of Mulder. Until the night that Skinner called John to dig Mulder out of the ground, John was sure that a little more time and Mulder would fade in her memory. The image of that hospital room and his beloved Dana resting her head against that traitor's chest with tears in her eyes would haunt John forever. He had been so close, so very close to attaining his goal and that dead/alive body in the hospital bed threw John right back to square one. But hadn't his old drill sergeant once told him setbacks just make attaining the goal that much sweeter? He glanced at his watch and then picked up the binoculars for another look. The cabin lights were winking out. It looked like they were finally settling down for the night. They'd probably just been up with the baby. Should he wait for a sign from Krycek? One might not be forthcoming. He wished the slimy bastard had given him some warning that he would be there. But that wasn't Krycek's style. Always in the shadows, a ninja wannabe, that was all he was. John would have to proceed as if he were alone on this, at least until he was inside. He lowered the glasses and situated himself against the tree trunk. He'd give them another hour or so and then go in guns ablazin'. Inside the cabin "Krycek, wait," Monica whispered hoarsely. She parted the curtain from the window casing just enough to peer out and then let it fall back into position. "There's someone out there," she hissed. Krycek drew in a breath. "Follow me," he told her. He led her back to a small room off the kitchen and kicked a throw rug to the side, revealing a small circular handle cut into the floor. He reached down and pulled up, nodding for her to follow him down a narrow wooden ladder. "A storm cellar?" she asked. "A bomb shelter," Krycek responded. He fumbled in the darkness until he found a cord and turned on a single compact fluorescent light bulb at the ceiling. The room was as large as the cabin above, furnished with a futon, an odd assortment of chairs and a table. Along the walls were shelves of canned food. In the corner sat an ancient refrigerator that hummed noisily. Monica was amused until she noticed the very farthest wall, where a bank of flat panel computer screens showed clearly the forest outside the cabin, as well as the cabin's front, back and sides. "Surveillance," she said with a wide grin. "Insurance," Krycek replied. "Now, let's see what your partner is up to." Upstairs, Maggie and Scully were packing a bag for the baby. "I still don't understand what's going on, Dana," Maggie spat out. "Why are you in this danger?" "Mom, I can't explain it now but later -- " Maggie held up her hand. "I don't want to hear it. It's always 'later' with you and then later never comes. I'm sick and tired of all the lies and half- truths, Dana. I want answers." Scully closed her eyes. "I will tell you, Mom. I promise. But right now -- " "I know. We have to go," Maggie growled. "But tell me, how far do you expect to run with a 2 month old baby? Have you thought about that?" Scully swallowed and bit her lip. "I need to find Mulder. Would you mind watching -- " "I've been caring for him for the last week, I don't see why I'd stop now," Maggie sneered. "Thank you," Scully murmured. She hurried from the room, tears stinging her eyes. Her mother was right, they couldn't keep running with the baby. She'd been afraid of this moment from the very beginning. She found Mulder tossing bread and peanut butter in a backpack. "Where are Krycek and Monica?" he asked her as she came up beside him. "I . . . I don't know," she said, looking around. "They can't be far." She leaned against the countertop and watched him for a minute. "Mulder, what are we going to do?" "Well, Krycek and Monica are going to take you, your mom and the baby and head out the back way. I'll deal with Doggett." Her jaw dropped open and she sputtered. "Are you crazy?" "No, that was a few years back. Now I'm just really tired of being pushed around," he answered grimly and tightened the clasps on the backpack. "Try this, does it feel too heavy?" She glared at him, refusing to take the offered pack. "Mulder, this isn't about you being pushed around. This is about us -- you and me and our son. I refuse to let you run off and do something stupid, like get yourself killed!" "Scully, we can't keep running. Krycek -- Smith -- whatever you want to call him is right. That is no way to raise a child." "Having his father murdered is no way to raise a child, either," she countered defiantly. "I don't plan on getting killed," he muttered, fumbling with the pack. "Well then, I'm just going to have to make sure you don't," she answered, taking the pack from him and heading toward the bedroom. "No, Scully -- you can't! Who'll take care of William?" he shouted after her. "I will." Krycek suddenly appeared from the other room, Monica trailing behind him. "Mulder, you have to deal with this man. I'll make sure William and Maggie are safe." Mulder looked at him, doubt showing clearly. "Mulder, there's someplace we can stay undetected. You can lead Agent Doggett away from here," Monica explained. "We can even see exactly where he is. He's heavily armed and he's just a stones throw from the front door." "How can you -- " "I forgot to give you the grand tour. Want to see my office?" Krycek grinned. Mulder continued to be dubious, even after seeing the bunker-style basement. "We can stay down here, all of us, if necessary," Monica offered, obviously trying to placate Mulder's distrust. "Assuming he'll just give up and go away," Krycek said sarcastically, leaning against the stepladder to the first floor. Scully peered at them all from above. "What in the world . . . " Mulder waved her down and went up to help Maggie with the baby. Soon, all five adults and William were in the basement. Scully and Mulder both were staring intently at the surveillance screen while Monica discretely kept Maggie occupied showing her the vast food stores. "He's loaded, Scully. Look at the firepower," Mulder whispered, pointing to the two rifles and assorted weapons he saw on Doggett. "And what do we have? We can't exactly down him with a well-aimed can of peaches," Scully muttered in return. Krycek raised his head and smiled. "Oh, I think we have enough to keep it interesting." He got up and walked over behind the ladder, opening a cabinet along the wall. Much to Mulder's relief, it wasn't for gardening tools. It was a gun safe. Mulder nodded Scully over to look at the wares. "I'm not happy just waiting him out down here, regardless of all the advantages." "If you leave here, I'm right behind you," she said quietly, her arms crossed and her expression set. He sighed. "OK. But I think we should leave Monica and Krycek down here with your mom and the baby. They'll be safe here." "Do you have a plan?" she asked. "We lead him away from the cabin and make our stand," he said with conviction. "Are you ready to face him?" It was more than just a simple question. He was asking how she felt on an emotional level. "He betrayed me, Mulder. I was duped and that doesn't sit well with me. But more than that he wants to harm you and I won't stand for that. Whatever trust I had in him is long gone." Mulder nodded and proceeded to examine the weapons more closely, picking a handgun and tucking it in the waistband of his jeans. "Mulder -- I just . . . " She stopped until she had his full attention. "When you . . . came back to me, when Skinner came to tell you that Kersh was keeping you off the X files, I said some things -- " "Scully, please, we don't need to go into this now," Mulder objected but she shook her head. "No, if not now we might never have a chance again. That day, on your couch I said that Agent Doggett was above reproach. At the time I just wanted you to understand that he wasn't the enemy. But later, when I got home and thought about our conversation, I realized that you might not have heard it the way I meant it. I never wanted you to think that Agent Doggett was anywhere near a replacement for you, on a professional level or God forbid, a personal level. I missed you so much, Mulder and yes, I was very lonely. But believe me, I trusted him only as much as I had to and he was never more than a co-worker to me." She chewed her lip and looked at him expectantly. "Thank you, Scully. I admit at the time it sort of ate at me for a while. But then everything was so different and I just felt so lost. Later, when I thought about it, I realized the position you were in. For the record, I never doubted you. Never." She nodded, her chin quivering just a second before she picked up a Beretta and tucked it into her own waistband. "Scully -- " he said, his voice a warning. He was already having second thoughts about her joining him. She would have to put an end to that quickly. "Are we still partners, Mulder?" she challenged. He bit his lip but said nothing so she repeated her question. "Are we still partners, or not? Think about your answer very carefully." "William . . . " he said and she shot a quick glance across the far basement to where her mother was cradling their son. "William will be fine. Mom will see to that. But if we don't put an end to this threat he will never be fine. We have a job to do. As parents, our job is to protect our son. As partners our job is to protect each other's back. Now, I see us as partners and as well as parents. What do you see us as?" she asked again. "I think we need at least three clips apiece," he said as he handed her four clips. "Well, partner, let's get this show on the road." "Good answer," she whispered as she followed him back to where Monica and Krycek were pretending to watch the monitor. 3:45 am The house had been dark and quiet for over an hour. Doggett checked his weapons and considered his course of action. It was imperative that Dana and the baby not be injured. Monica had just better stay the hell out of his way. As for Mulder, he just hoped Krycek didn't try to steal that kill from him. This moment had been a long time coming and he was itching to watch the life drain out of his nemesis forever. Cautiously he rose from his hiding place by the pines. He took one step forward when suddenly the front door opened revealing two people, one much shorter than the other and carrying an infant seat. They quickly walked over to the SUV parked off to the side of the gravel drive and after buckling in the infant, got in the front seat. It didn't take using his night vision goggles to know it was Mulder and Dana -- about to make a get away. He could just jump out and start firing, but the chance of hitting Dana or the baby was too great. He thought about flagging them down, making up some bullshit about Kersh hot on their heels, try to get Mulder off and have some 'horrible accident' take him out. But the car was already turned around and headed down the drive. He had a decision to make. He could run like hell and maybe get to his car hidden in the trees near the main road, or he could just hotwire the car still sitting in the driveway. He decided hotwiring was the better of the two options. Sometimes being a gear head had its advantages. It took only a minute to pop the lock and get into the front seat. He was pulling wires and stripping them when the tap came at the passenger side window. John startled and looked up into the very serious expression of Monica Reyes. She opened the door as if invited and sat down on the passenger side seat. "What are you doing, John," she asked pointedly. "I'm trying to go after them. They're in danger," he huffed. "What are you doing here, Monica?" "I know why you're here, John. The only danger they're in is from you," she replied. "Don't do this. It's not too late. Please, just leave them alone." "You don't know what I know," he growled as the engine sparked to life. "Now, I suggest you get out of this car." "I know that your intention has nothing to do with protecting Dana and everything to do with handing her son over to forces of evil," Monica said, pulling her gun out of its holster at her back. "And I know you are intent on killing Agent Mulder." "You're crazy," he said flatly as he, too reached for his gun. "Monica, don't make me do this." "John, get out of this car," she ordered, pushing open the passenger side door and backing out. He held his gun up, backing out as she had done. When she pointed toward the cabin and took a step away from the car, he saw his opportunity and took it. He brought his Smith and Wesson up and fired, aiming for her head. She went down. Without a second glance, he got back into the drivers seat and slammed the door. Throwing the car into reverse, he peeled into a turnabout and then into drive to hurry down the path. Mulder jerked the car at the sound of a gunshot. He glanced over at Scully, turned in her seat to peer out the back window. "He's coming," she said after a moment. "How far do we lead him?" Mulder asked, avoiding the pot holes and ruts in the road. She was busy pulling ammunition out of the baby seat, now acting as a miniature armory. "Find some place along the road," she shouted over her shoulder. She didn't express her worry about what had happened at the cabin. Her only consolation was that there had only been one shot fired and then Doggett was hot on their heels. There hadn't been time for him to find her mother and William hidden with Krycek and Monica in the basement. At least she prayed that was true. "I remember an overlook, about a mile from here," Mulder told her, mostly to keep his panic to a minimum. He'd heard the shot fired, he knew what it could have meant, what he hoped it didn't mean. "An overlook? We'll be cornered," she said, shaking her head. "He's not expecting us to be armed," Mulder pointed out. She bit her lip and then reluctantly nodded. "I guess it's as good a place as any and I don't want to get too far away from the cabin in case we have to double back." "Just think of it as our Thermopylae," he said with a lop-sided grin. "300 Spartans were slaughtered at Thermopylae, Mulder," she returned with a glare. "Try to think Persian," he replied with a tilt of his head. She merely rolled her eyes. Krycek heard the shot fired and looked over at Maggie. He knew Monica would have trouble, but the woman had insisted that she had to try and stop Doggett. With a glance over at Maggie and the baby, he made his decision. "I'm just going up for a look. Stay here and keep him as quiet as possible," he said. "Alex -- you will explain all this when you get back." Her expression was absolute, her voice stern. "I'll try," he offered. He hurried up the ladder and ran through the house. The two cars that had been in the driveway were both gone. That still left them with the car he'd driven, still secreted behind the cabin. He was looking around when he spotted Monica's body on the gravel. She was unmoving. As he approached, he saw the blood spread out from under her head. Kneeling down beside her, he touched her throat. No pulse, but the body was still warm. He could see where the bullet had entered her head, he didn't need to lift her to confirm it had exited her at the back of her neck. "It's a wonder your race hasn't been eliminated for stupidity alone," he mumbled as he laid both his hands on her, one hand on her chest and the other over the wound at her temple. At first, nothing happened. Suddenly, the body jerked and when he lifted his hand, the wound had vanished, leaving completely unmarred skin in its place. Slowly, Monica groaned and moved her head back and forth. Finally, she blinked open her eyes. "Hey," he said, smiling down at her. "Hey," she rasped. "What . . . " She reached up to her temple and felt around. "I . . . I guess he missed," she said groggily. "In a manner of speaking," Krycek replied. "C'mon, let's get you into the house." "No. I have to go after him. He'll catch them." "That's the plan, remember. They're prepared for that." "But he'll trick them, just as he did me. All he has to do is kill either of them, the other won't survive that!" "We need to protect William and Maggie," he objected. "OK, you stay here, I'll go," Monica said, pulling herself up and into a sitting position. "Whoa," she said and blinked rapidly. "Dizzy." "Take a minute," he warned. "Wish I could, but I need to get out there," she said, using his shoulder as leverage to push herself up. "You have a car here?" "I do. But you don't know which way they went," he reminded her. "I'm a trained investigator. I'll figure it out," she said holding out her hand, palm up, in a silent request for his keys. He licked his lips, dug into his back pocket and dropped them into her waiting hand. "Car's just around back," he told her in resignation. He watched as she walked away. When she got to the edge of the cabin, she turned. "Krycek?" He stood, waiting. "Thanks." He nodded. Without a word, he walked into the cabin and closed the door. Oregon Cave Junction Road 5 miles from the cabin John had been following at some distance but slowed when he saw the car pull off to the side. Something was happening. He had a decision to make. His gut told him to be wary, but his mind reminded him that they had a baby in the car. It was possible that they could just be stopping for diaper duty. He drove past them and down the road, where he pulled over and got out of the car. Keeping to the trees, he ran back to the overlook. The car was turned off, just sitting there. It was hard to see inside, he could detect the two individuals in the front seat. He was in a precarious position. If he stayed there and they started the car and drove off, he would have to hightail it back to his car to keep up with them. He had no doubt that he could, he just hoped it wouldn't come to that. Then, a dream John didn't realize he had came true. As he crouched there by the pines, the driver's door opened and Mulder stepped out of the car. With a long look at the person still sitting in the interior, he closed the car door and started walking down a path near the stone fence that served as a barrier on the edge of the cliff -- a mere dozen yards from where John was hidden -- and headed off into the forest. Decision time again. John could easily move forward, get in the car and try to convince Dana to come back with him. It would complete his assignment in the most expedient manner. It would be exactly what he was ordered to do. But it would mean that Fox Mulder would still be out there, a potential threat to any relationship John might start with Dana. John understood all too well the power of Fox Mulder. He'd watched Dana tear herself up over the man for the 6 months he'd been missing and then buried. John couldn't let that happen again. With a furtive glance in the direction of the car, John straightened up and started after Mulder. There was another overlook just down the path and Mulder stopped and leaned against the stone wall. He seemed deep in thought. John stayed in the tree line, watching. Mulder turned his head and looked at John over his shoulder. "You gonna shoot me in the back, Doggett? No much of a manly man thing to do," he challenged. John licked his lips, his gun in his hand but at his side. He stepped out into the moonlight. "You're wrong about me, you know," he said. "You've underestimated me from the first time we met." Mulder laughed as he turned around to face Doggett. "Oh, believe me, I never underestimated your ability to paint the world in perfect black and white -- with you on the winning side." His mirth grew serious. "I just never thought you would go so far as to allow Scully to be hurt," he growled. "On that, I guess I did underestimate you." "I don't know what you're talking about," John said, shaking his head. "I'd never hurt her." "No, you're more content to let others do the dirty work," Mulder countered. "In that complex, in Utah. Do you know what they were doing in those labs? Do you have any idea what they put her through, you smug son of a bitch?" "You have no idea -- " John tried to shout, but Mulder slashed his hand through the air and cut him off. "Enough of your lies! You want one thing -- one thing you can't have and I can tell you right now, no matter what happens to me, you'll never have her love. More than that, you've even lost her respect. You are nothing to her." "I say we let her decide that," John said, bringing his gun up and aiming right between Mulder's eyes. "I think she's already made her decision," a voice come from behind him and suddenly the cold metal of a Smith and Wesson barrel was pressed deeply into the back of his neck. "Dana, this isn't what you think," John sputtered hastily. "I think you were about to shoot an unarmed man. The same man that is my partner and the father of my son. How were you going to explain his death, Agent Doggett? Some stranger happened by and did it? A man that can turn into metal? A bat? We both know you're not one to believe in such things. Definitely not aliens, right?" she bit out angrily as she shoved the barrel of her weapon harder against his skin. "You had me fooled, you know. There was a time I honestly thought you wanted to help me. Now I see you just wanted to get me in bed. You sicken me, you son of a bitch!" He was outnumbered, but not outmanoeuvred. Shifting his weight he swung around and toppled Scully to the ground, grabbing the gun out of her hand and flinging it into the woods. Flipping his gun in his hand, he came down with the butt end right on her temple. She lay unmoving at his feet. Mulder let out a feral yell but before he could advance three steps, John had the gun pointed directly at his heart. "I didn't want to do it this way, but my orders are clear. If not her, at least the baby. Now where is he?" John growled. Mulder glared at him. "He's in the car, asleep." John looked confused for a moment and glanced over to the trail leading back to where the car was parked. That made no sense -- why would they leave the baby alone and unprotected? Unless the baby wasn't there . . . It was the opening Mulder wanted. He lunged at Doggett, tackling him. The gun went off hitting him in the side but Mulder ignored it, wrapping one of his arms around Doggett's middle and struggling to get hold of the gun with his free hand. A sudden punch on Mulder's part sent the weapon flying against the edge of the stone wall and clattered to the ground. Doggett was caught off guard, but not for long. He used every bit of his military training to overpower the other man, who didn't seem to realize how seriously he was wounded. Doggett fought and kicked, breaking free of Mulder's grip. He jumped to his feet and started kicking the man still lying on the ground. Mulder battled to get back on his feet and managed to remain standing. Blood soaked his shirt and he favored his left side, but when he glanced over and saw Scully still unmoving on the ground, he redoubled his efforts. Wrapping both hands around Doggett's throat, Mulder shoved him against the stone wall. Doggett had expected Mulder to weaken, so he wasn't prepared for the renewed onslaught. He saw stars when his head made contact with the unforgiving stone and mortar. Shaking off his dizziness, he used Mulder's wide stance to his advantage and soon had the former agent pinned against the wall, where he brutally grabbed his head and pounded it against the hard surface. Mulder wasn't done yet. He fought like a wild man, but Doggett countered his every move. The military man pushed Mulder back, farther and farther, bending him over the wall. Mulder could feel the wind rushing over the side of the cliff ruffling his hair and could hear water in the distance far below, even through the roar of blood in his ears. This was not how he wanted to die -- with Scully possibly dead and their son unprotected from the likes of men like Doggett. As they struggled, his feet fought for purchase on the rough gravel of the small clearing. Completely by accident, he found the edge of a large stone or piece of cement, just enough to hook the toes of his boots under to gain a foothold. Mulder closed his eyes and found his last ounce of strength. He cared nothing at that moment about his own life -- only the lives of his partner and their son. With that one thought on his mind, the family he would never know, he seized Doggett by his belt and pulled with all his might. Doggett, not anticipating such a move from an opponent who was obviously weakening, was propelled over Mulder's shoulder, losing his grip in the process. For a split second, Mulder saw Doggett's eyes dilate in surprise before he vanished from view over the cliff screaming as loud as anything Mulder had ever heard. Mulder slid down the wall to the ground, totally spent. Monica pulled up to the SUV and found it deserted; the baby seat still had ammunition clips that she pocketed hurriedly. Looking around, she heard noises down the path and then a long scream that faded away to somewhere below. As fast as she could, she headed in that direction. She found Mulder first, barely conscious, slumped against a stone overlook. He was covered in blood, his shirtfront was soaked, breathing erratically. She ran to him and he roused. "Scully," he gasped and nodded off by the trees. The sun was just starting to come up over the mountains and in the twilight, Monica could make out a body lying on the ground. Pulling out her cell phone, Monica dialed the 911 operator as she hurried over to the still form. "She alive?" Mulder choked out. Monica dreaded what she might find, but when she pressed her fingers against Scully's neck, she found a pulse. She breathed a sigh of relief and then looked over at Mulder. "She's alive," she confirmed. There was a 3-inch long gash on her forehead and Monica found a large knot on the back of Scully's head where she must have made contact with a rock on the ground during her fall. Monica was about to mention that to Mulder, but when she looked over, he had already passed out. Frantically, she looked around, taking in the obvious signs of a struggle, but could not find any trace of Doggett. She realized what she'd heard -- his screams as he tumbled over the side. She wanted to run over and look but the dispatcher was calling to her from her phone, demanding an answer. "Oh, sorry. Yes, I'm out on Oregon Cave Junction Road about three miles east of the Winterhaven Road intersection, I have two officers down . . . " The sheriff's department was the first on the scene, followed by two ambulances. Monica tried to give a complete statement to the Deputy from what little she knew for certain, all the while watching the EMTs working on both Mulder and Scully. She heard snatches of the conversations, only enough to scare her. They were talking skull fracture and possible internal bleed with Dana and hypovolemic shock and dangerously low blood pressure on Mulder. The technicians loaded the patients on to gurneys and were lifting them into the ambulances before Monica broke away from the Deputy to find out where they were being taken. She got the name of the hospital and turned when she heard someone call to the deputy. "Sir, we found two weapons, one in the trees, another by the wall and there appears to be a body at the bottom of the ravine," one of the officers reported. Monica's heart sank. She knew it was the body of Agent John Doggett. Somehow, even severely wounded, Mulder had found a way to push him over the stone wall. From the looks of things and the fact that only one weapon found had been fired -- the bullet in Mulder's side -- there was no doubt that it was a case of self-defense. Even knowing the things Doggett had done and was willing to do didn't make it any easier on her. She borrowed a pair of binoculars from one of the officers and peered down at the body. "I know who it is," she said sadly. "My partner, Special Agent John Doggett." A couple of officers were already repelling down the cliff to the body. In a matter of minutes, one of the young men was signaling up to his superior at the top. The Deputy turned to Monica and reached out to touch her shoulder in sympathy. "I'm afraid he's gone, Agent." She closed her eyes for a moment, sending up a silent prayer for a soul that was lost but maybe now could find peace. "It's gonna take most of the morning to get down there and retrieve him. Do you want to stay?" the Deputy kindly asked. "Deputy, I know this is not standard procedure, but those two agents on the way to the hospital have a baby and his grandmother staying in a cabin just up the road. I really need to get to the cabin and take them to the hospital. Here is my cell phone number. I'll be at the hospital -- if you need me to answer any other questions, you can find me there." "Agent, should we alert the hospital that they have two potential prisoners and keep those people in the secure ward?" the Deputy called after her. Monica half turned and shook her head emphatically. "No, Deputy. Those two people are the victims here. Please make sure they are treated respectfully at all times." She ran back up the trail to where she'd abandoned her car. There were officers going over Mulder's SUV for evidence and she was glad she'd taken the ammunition, leaving nothing for them to find. She convinced them she needed the car seat to transport the baby to the hospital to be near his parents and they allowed her to take it. The cabin looked deserted when Monica arrived and for a split second, she was terrified. What if this had been the plan all along -- turn their backs and someone like Krycek would whisk William away? Had she failed in one half of her mission -- protect the baby? Quietly she stepped in to the front room, her hand on her gun in a futile effort if no one was there. "Mrs. Scully," she called out. "It's Monica Reyes." Relief flooded her as she heard a voice from the small laundry room. "We're down here, Monica!" Hurrying, she climbed down the ladder and was greeted by a very worried grandmother holding a fretful baby. "Thank God you're back. After Alex left -- " "Alex didn't come back inside?" Monica asked, rushing around the room and gathering the baby's things. "For a moment, after the two of you left, he came back down. Said he had to leave but that we'd be safe. That was the last I saw of him. It's been over an hour ago. I was so worried. Where are Dana and Fox?" "That's why I'm here. Dana and Fox have been taken to the hospital. They're hurt, but they are alive." "What about the man coming to hurt them? Is he in custody or did he get away? It was Dana's temporary partner, wasn't it -- that Agent Doggett?" Monica choked up. She was having a hard time believing what John had become, couldn't make herself say the words. She just nodded silently. Maggie walked over and enfolded the young woman in her arms. "I'm so sorry," she whispered. Monica accepted the comfort gratefully, but after a moment she knew they had to get going. "We need to go to the hospital. They may need you to sign some papers, give information." "Of course," Maggie agreed. Together they got the baby and his things and headed out to Alex's car for the ride to the hospital. To be continued in Epilogue