Disclaimers in Part One.
Cooper had arranged for Scully to have a car waiting for her when she disembarked the chartered jet.
She had finished out the day in the building and flown back to DC that evening. Upon her mad dash to Skinner's house, she took a drive by her old apartment in Georgetown. She sat out front in her car for a few minutes, staring at her old living room window as a Wallflower's song played on the radio.
'…This place is old…It feels just like a beat up truck…I turn the engine but the engine doesn't turn…'
She didn't know why she had come by, she just knew that she needed to. Needed to face her past, the one she hadn't received any closure on, and visit her old ghost.
'…It smells of cheap wine and cigarettes…This place is always such a mess…Sometimes I think I'd like to watch it burn…'
She glanced at herself in the rearview mirror. Her face done and her hair in a French Twist. She kept her hair up in the hope that no one would be able to tell how long it really was. That way, she would still be able to have her long hair the next time she ran away to hide. No one had really seen it long before and she doubted anyone would recognize her with it.
'…I'm so alone…I feel just like somebody else…Man I ain't changed…But I know I ain't the same…'
Good old, professional, somber Agent Dana Scully. In her tailored suit and high heels. She looked into her eyes for a few minutes.
She didn't know that person anymore.
*************************
The second that Skinner opened his front door, Scully stormed inside and angrily spun around to face him. Seeing Krycek had taken its toll and she'd had nothing to do on the way down here but simmer in bitterness and anger. All she had managed to do was get worked up and by now she was furious.
'You neglected to tell me that fucking Alex would be there!'
Skinner reached out for her arm. 'Dana-'
'What were you thinking?' She yelled, pulling her arm away and walking further into the living room. 'That I would find out for myself when I happened to walk by him in the hall one day?'
Her words trailed off as she turned the corner to see people crowded in Skinner's living room.
Her feet quit moving, her mouth fell open and her world seemed to stop. In her fury and heartache, she never stopped to think that her previous superior might have actually picked up a life of his own.
Mulder, the Lone Gunmen, Agent Koskie and a woman who she assumed was Marie stared back at her. The looks on their faces indicated that she may very well be mistaken for a snarling and snapping Velociraptor that had just hopped into the room. She tried to take in her surroundings; tried to keep a level head, but she had just come here from one of the worst days of her life. She was barely clinging to any sense of sanity. Seeing Krycek imprisoned and having a telepathic conversation with Gibson Praise was a bit more than she had been prepared for. She wanted to look back at everyone, to return their catatonic stares, she tried to, but the only person she could really see was Mulder.
Oh, this is so not good. She thought to herself. What is he going to think?
She had just barged in and inadvertently incriminated Skinner. Her presence here had just announced to everyone that she was alive, and apparently, working with the 'bad guys'. Cooper walking in behind her didn't help things much.
'Hail, hail. The gang's all here.' He said. 'Agent Koskie, Agent Mulder, wonderful to see you again.'
Skinner put his hands over his face and slid them down to his mouth as he exhaled. Cooper went to Scully's side and looked at her.
'I received your page through my office, I couldn't get in touch with you, but figured you'd be here.'
At the sight and sound of Cooper, Scully felt a sizzling wave of anger wash over her and she was again reminded of why she came here in the first place. Without realizing what she was doing, she turned towards him and got an arm halfway up before Skinner grabbed it.
'Not here.' He said softly. 'Not now.'
'I understand your anger, Miss Scully.' Cooper said in that soothing voice of his that she was finding highly irritating right now.
'You don't understand anything-' She said loudly. He went on as if she hadn't spoken.
'And I can only hope you believe me when I say I'm truly sorry. I didn't think.'
'Well, I for one, am really confused.' Koskie said. 'I would rather have other, more important issues addressed than watch the three of you have a private argument amongst yourselves.'
Scully stood in between Skinner and Cooper, wishing there were a magical phrase she could utter to make this situation all better. She could sense Mulder's confusion. She desperately tried to reassure him, to let him know that she could explain all this, but she didn't know how effectively any of her thoughts were getting through.
She met Mulder's surprised gaze and saw the wheels spinning. She was thankful when he managed to look heartbroken, scared and confused when he spoke.
'Hey Scully.'
She sighed and looked down at the floor. She put one hand on her hip and the other over her face, massaging her forehead.
Skinner put a hand on her shoulder. "Maybe you want to sit down.'
'Scully.' Frohike said softly. 'You're alive.'
'Winner! Give the man a prize.' Koskie's voice rang out. It was abruptly silenced when half the people in the room threw him a look.
'Dude,' Langly said, 'don't you ever shut up?'
'No.' Skinner and Marie answered in unison.
'Well.' Cooper said. 'This was bound to come up sooner or later.'
'Later would have been better.' Skinner replied.
Mulder narrowed his eyes at Skinner as a thought hit him. 'You knew she was alive?'
'Just recently.' Skinner said, looking away.
'When were planning on telling me this?'
'I wasn't sure what to tell you, Agent Mulder.' Skinner said, looking him in the eye. 'It's complicated.'
'Y'un's ain't usen them big words again are ye?' Koskie drawled. ''Cause I ain't no educated maaain.'
'I didn't mean that, you imbecile.' Skinner barked. 'Complicated in other ways.'
'How did you know she was alive?' Mulder asked, meeting Scully's eyes. She wasn't looking too good.
Silence went around the room again as the accused clammed up, deciding it was prudent not to say anything at all. Scully stood in front of everyone, in between Skinner and Cooper, looking cold and defeated.
Mulder couldn't have planned a better scenario in order to bring Scully back home. He was concerned about what she had been doing, and what she had said about his brother when she stormed in. But he knew there had to be a reasonable explanation for all of this.
Oh sure, he had just been in California a week ago and she hadn't said anything. True, Skinner and Cooper knew she was alive and hadn't said anything. Yes, she had been caught on tape keeping with the worst of company she could fine. What were people supposed to believe?
But he knew that was probably the point.
Mulder looked at Skinner again. 'Who told you she was alive?'
'I did.' Cooper answered.
'You knew?' Mulder asked his friend, playing the part out as best as he could. 'You saw me have a nervous breakdown, you knew what I was going through, and you never decided to tell me that she was still alive?'
'It's a little more complicated than all that.' Cooper said softly.
Mulder grinned humorlessly. 'There's that word again. Complicated.'
Skinner looked over at him. 'Mulder-'
'What do you want to say to me, Sir?' Mulder responded. 'Let's hear it, because I'm about to start feeling betrayed. Maybe offended. Insulted at the very least.'
'Let's not dwell on these things right now.' Cooper said, putting a hand around Scully's arm.
'Dwell?' Mulder raised his voice. 'No, I only dwelled these things for three years of my life.'
Skinner stepped forward, putting his hands up. 'Mulder-'
'You, of all people, have hidden this from me?' Mulder asked, glaring at Skinner. 'And you, Chip, supposedly my friend? You would hide this from me, knowing all I was going through?'
Mulder was genuinely irritated at the fact that there was something going on that he wasn't a part of. But he also knew Scully. He knew that whatever she was doing, and whatever Skinner and Cooper were hiding, that there was a damn good reason for all of it.
'And you, Scully?' Mulder asked softly, stepping in front of her. 'You were my best friend. You were the only person I trusted. And I find you, conspiring with the enemy, hiding your survival. Hiding from me.'
Scully didn't look at him. He was playing his part well. She was afraid she'd burst into laughter, which would inevitably lead to tears after this hideous day, week, month, year, decade that she'd endured.
'How could you do this to me?'
Scully forced herself to look up at him, to meet his serious gaze. Never mind that he'd just left her side in Newport Beach just a few days ago. She knew that finding her here with Skinner and Cooper must be confusing for him.
Cooper pulled a bit on her arm and looked at Mulder. 'If you'll let me have a moment, Agent Mulder, I need to have a quick conversation-'
'Oh no.' Mulder said, not breaking eye contact with her. 'I'm first.'
'This will only take-'
'Maybe you didn't hear me, Mr. Cooper.' Mulder glared at his friend. 'I'm first.'
*************************
Once outside, Scully turned to face him, crossing her arms.
'I'm sorry, Mulder.' She said in a hushed voice. 'I haven't been able to talk to you yet.'
Mulder stood in front of her and put his hands on his hips, concern in his eyes. 'Scully, what the hell is going on?'
'Cooper and Skinner came to see me the night you left.' She said softly, looking towards the house. 'Cooper said that everyone knows I'm alive. He suggested that he bring me in like I've been working with the NSA all along. Against you and the X-Files. He said I would be protected that way. That it would throw them off and buy me some time.'
Mulder pondered this for a moment. 'Buy you some time from what?'
'He said that they're close to creating an effective vaccine. But if it doesn't work, they'd come for Cade.'
Dawning realization swept Mulder's face as he recalled a conversation back in that seedy bar years ago.
'I thought Gibson was the solution'. Mulder had said. 'I've always got the impression that he was the child we were all waiting for.' He held up his hands and made quotation marks in the air. 'I thought he was 'the one'.'
'Maybe they thought that at one time.' Cooper said. 'But he's not the one. Not anymore.'
Scully studied his face. 'What's wrong, Mulder? You've got that look. The one that says 'I've just put two and two together and it doesn't look good'.'
'Damn.' He shook his head. 'Cooper and I had this conversation years ago. About how Cade was the one. I forgot all about it. I don't remember half of what happened back then, because of my mental instability at the time.'
'Mentally unstable?' She asked sarcastically. 'From what?'
'Oh I couldn't possibly imagine.' He replied. 'Probably stress in the workplace.'
'If it makes you feel any better, Mulder, I think you've always been crazy.'
'Thanks.' He replied, retracing their conversation. 'Who knows you're alive?'
'The Verein, the CIA, the NSA.' Scully said, looking up at him. 'Everyone. I feel like a damn celebrity.'
Mulder glanced towards the house to see Koskie and Frohike staring out at them. He adopted a more hostile body language to seem more displeased and frowned down at her. 'What else?'
'Cooper said that the NSA, the CIA, the Verein, everyone, even the Syndicate is going to join together. That they've made a deal. I guess someone finally decided that the survival of our planet is more important than who gets the glory.'
Mulder knitted his eyebrows. 'What the hell does this have to do with Skinner?'
'From what I've been told, Cooper knew I was alive, but didn't know how to find me. That's why he went to Skinner.'
Mulder was silent, thinking about everything he'd been told. 'You said something about Krycek.'
Scully pressed her lips together for a moment. 'Mulder, I saw him.'
'Saw him where?' Mulder asked, his face registering surprise.
'In the same damn laboratory I was in.' She said, her voice barely above a whisper. 'That's why I came here so angry. Cooper didn't tell me that Alex was there. I was being shown around, and saw him on a monitor.'
'Oh my god.' Mulder said, his face torn. 'What did you do?'
Scully shrugged and shook her head before meeting his eyes. 'What could I do? I tried to act normal. I thought I was going to throw up. I didn't realize I had been biting my lip so hard until the lead scientist pointed out that it was bleeding.
'Oh my god.' He said again. 'I'm sorry, Scully, I wish I would have been there. You let Skinner and Cooper off easy. I would've come in swinging.'
'I haven't let anyone off yet.' She replied softly. 'I may go back in there swinging.'
They were both silent for a moment.
'You saw him on a monitor?' Mulder asked.
'He was in a room, like I was. Mulder, he's there with Gibson Praise, and eighteen others.'
Mulder's eyes grew wide. 'Gibson Praise?'
'Yes.' Scully nodded, her eyes teary. 'Dr. Jenkins told me about the tests that have been conducted on them. Mulder, I've seen documented evidence. Proof of what is being done to these people. What I was being subjected to in there pales in comparison.'
'Maybe because you don't have any alien DNA.' He said. 'They only needed you for the physiological changes that happened to your body when I injected you with the vaccine.'
She nodded in response. 'Unless the physiological changes are alien.'
Mulder's face was red, his expression harsh. 'What are they testing for now?'
Scully didn't answer.
'What are they doing?' Mulder tilted his head at her.
'They're studying the basics, Mulder. Neurobiology, Immunology, RNA…'9
'You're not telling me something, Scully.' Mulder said. 'I'm a big boy, I can handle it.'
Scully sighed and licked her lips. 'Mulder, they're studying biological regeneration using techniques of molecular and cellular biology and biochemistry.'
'English, Scully, layman's terms.'
'The alien DNA contains extraordinary regenerative capabilities, Mulder. Which is why I think Alex can heal people. His body can heal itself rapidly, although he's not indestructible. If he got fatally injured, I don't think his body could heal itself as fast as it would degenerate. I think that's the part of the vaccine that they need, that's what they think withstands the virus. As the virus causes cellular breakdown, this regenerative gene counteracts and builds it back up. They are trying to find out exactly which DNA sequence makes this possible.'
Mulder stared at her, a horrible thought forming in his mind. 'How do they do that?'
She looked away. She didn't answer. She didn't need to.
Mulder raised his gaze to the sky. 'Scully.' He whispered. 'We have to get him out of there.'
'You don't think I know that, Mulder?' She whispered, tears in her eyes. 'I don't know what to do. We can't very well bust into Fort Knox and blast his way out.'
Mulder bit his bottom lip and looked back towards the house. 'How did he look, Scully? How did he seem?'
She shook her head, thinking of what Dr. Jenkins had said. 'Well, he flipped off the director of the CIA, he purposely bottomed out on his IQ tests, he's been mentally torturing everyone there.' A small smile graced her lips. 'I'd say he seems like Alex.'
Mulder couldn't help but grin. 'Such a charming brother I have.'
'Yeah.' Scully replied, leaning against her borrowed car. 'Too bad it doesn't run in the family.'
He leaned against the car next to her and put his hands in his pockets. 'You picking again?'
'Just playing.'
They both remained serious.
'What are we going to tell everyone in there?' Scully asked, eyeing the house forlornly.
'They don't need to know anything right now.' He replied.
She threw him an amused look. 'And I'm sure that will satisfy everyone.'
'You trust everyone in there?'
'Cooper and Skinner know everything. The Lone Gunmen are harmless. I don't know Koskie that well and I've never met Marie, if that's who that was.'
Mulder nodded somberly, it was an awkward moment for him and she ignored it.
'I trust you, Mulder. If you trust them, then so do I.'
Mulder shrugged. 'We can tell them the truth.'
'I don't know.' She shook her head. 'That's a long truth.'
'Not really.' He turned towards her. 'You faked your death to work with them in exchange for Cade and Krycek's safety. Where is Cade, by the way?'
'In upstate New York with my Mom.' She replied. 'And that reminds me, you told everyone that Alex and Cade took off traveling, right?'
He nodded. 'No one needs to know any different.'
'Skinner and Cooper know different.' Scully said, looking towards the house again.
'I'll bring them out here, we can talk to them, get everything straightened out before you go back in.'
'I'm sure you're going to be bombarded right now.' She said as he walked towards the house.
He grinned at her over his shoulder. 'I can take 'em.'
Scully returned his smile and watched him walk inside. She nervously chewed at her lip as a car full of teenagers pulled up in front of the house across the street. Old heavy metal blasted away in a song she had heard, but couldn't name.
'…Close your eyes, look deep in your soul…Step outside yourself and let your mind go…'
Mulder came out of the front door with Cooper and Skinner and she saw the group of people in the house standing by the window, looking out at them.
'…Close your eyes and forget your name…Step outside yourself and let your thoughts stray…As you go insane…Go insane…'
Going insane suddenly doesn't sound too bad, she thought. It has to be better than hanging around at Skinner's house with Mulder's girlfriend while my son is a few states away with his father locked up. Scully sighed and closed her eyes, taking a minute to relax before beginning this next round of conversation.
She found herself praying for the first time in years.
*************************
The four of them stood around out front for a good half-hour, debating on what story they were going to spin for everyone's benefit. They all agreed that Scully trading herself for Cade and Krycek's safety was the most plausible, since that is precisely what Krycek had done.
'And Alex and Cade are supposedly still traveling?' Skinner asked, looking at Mulder.
'It seems best right now.' Mulder replied. 'But Frohike and Langly got pretty tight with him, so they're bound to get suspicious sooner or later, and question why he hasn't contacted them at all.'
Skinner was silent. There was a strange look on his face. Scully's body posture suddenly changed and she stiffened next to him. Mulder assumed that she knew what Skinner was thinking, because he knew the look on Scully's face when she threw him a quick glance and it only meant one thing. Bad.
'What?' Mulder asked.
'You were the person who was supposedly keeping in touch with Alex, Mulder.' Skinner said. 'You were the one who was getting his calls and postcards.'
Mulder stared back, the blood in his veins suddenly turning to ice. How had they managed to overlook that? Damn, he thought, one small mistake…One tiny detail they hadn't thought about…He met Skinner's gaze as his mind raced for an explanation. There was none.
Skinner narrowed his eyes. 'If he's been captive all this time…'
Mulder watched Skinner's face, seeing all the pieces of the puzzle fall into place one by one, until there was nothing but disbelief on his face.
'You knew she was alive.' Skinner whispered.
Mulder's mouth twitched involuntarily, watching the disbelief on Skinner's face quickly turn to anger.
'All this time?' Skinner's face darkened to an alarming shade of red.
'Sir,' Scully was quick to put a hand on Skinner's arm, 'the only person we told was my Mom. My brothers don't even know.'
Mulder picked up right after she stopped, running his words together in the hope that Skinner would hear something before passing right over anger and jumping into the middle of fury. 'Sir, I only knew because I was with Krycek when he found out she was alive. Otherwise I wouldn't know either.'
'Agent Mulder-' Skinner hissed before Scully's calm voice cut him off.
'I'm responsible.' She said. 'I made him promise he wouldn't tell anyone.'
Skinner looked over at her. She flinched back an inch at the look on his face.
'Can you really blame me?' She asked softly. 'I have a child to think about. I didn't know what to do.'
'Mulder, weren't you with Alex over New Year's? When all this happened?' Skinner's eyes were on fire. 'Didn't you take off to Seattle?'
'Yes, Sir.' Mulder said softly.
'So you were a part of all this?'
'I don't what you call 'a part' of this, Sir.' Mulder and Scully exchanged a glance.
'You know damn good and well what I'm talking about.'
'It wasn't planned. We found out she was alive on New Year's and left on the first flight out. We dropped Cade off at Maggie's and went to get Scully.' Mulder sighed, suddenly taking great interest in his shoes. 'He only took me to make sure I got Scully out, Sir.'
He was aware of Scully's eyes on him but he continued anyway. 'He knew that she couldn't leave him there.' Not like I did, he thought.
The thought did not need to be spoken aloud. Mulder somehow managed to involuntarily convey it anyway, without speaking.
'Mulder.' Scully said softly, taking his hand, knowing that this fruitless gesture would never tame the guilt he still felt.
Skinner let out a heavy sigh and put his hands on his hips, glaring at the both of them.
'Back up, Scully.' Mulder said. 'He's about to explode into The Amazing Aggravated AD'
Cooper snickered, winning his own glare from Skinner.
'This is no laughing matter, Chip.' Mulder said. 'I've seen it happen and it's not a pretty sight. Trust me, you don't want him to grow fifty feet tall and stomp all over DC, spouting fire from his mouth and shooting laser beams from his eyes.'
Scully suddenly slapped her hands over her face and her body began to shake.
Skinner appeared concerned. 'What's wrong?'
'Nothing's wrong.' Mulder grinned. 'She's laughing.'
Scully kept her hands on her face and bent over.
'You sure?'
Mulder nodded. 'And it's a good one.'
Loud giggle's suddenly erupted from her, causing Mulder to laugh himself. She couldn't seem to contain her hysterical laughter and it was contagious. She straightened up and put her hands over her stomach. Her face was red and there were tears under her eyes. This was just the release that she needed after the day she'd had. She pointed at Skinner, trying to talk through her laughter.
'You…I've seen you angry…' She took a breath. 'Fire does shoot out of your mouth.'
'No, Agent Scully.' Skinner said. 'I think that's just my morning breath.'
His reply was so unexpected that the other three stared at him in stunned silence. It didn't last long before both Scully and Mulder broke out in laughter, leaning against each other.
Skinner joined in their laughter, looking over at Cooper, who had a lopsided grin on his face.
'Chip.' Mulder breathed through his fit of laughter. 'You're always so somber. How depressing to be you.'
'Look who's talking.' Cooper replied 'I'm not the one chasing down the end of the world and then brooding about what I find.'
'I never brood.' Mulder said, wiping his eyes. 'I'm just too cool to laugh.'
'Oh yeah.' Skinner said. 'That must be it.'
'You guys okay out there?'
They all turned at the sound of Koskie's voice. The Lone Gunmen stood with him on the front porch, all with bottles of beer in hand.
'Look at that.' Mulder said. 'It's King of the Hill come to life.'
That got them going all over again. Cooper joined them this time, his obnoxious cackle startling Scully.
'Oh my god.' She looked at him, trying to talk. 'If I sounded like that, I wouldn't laugh either.'
'You are evil, my dear Scully.' Cooper said, shaking his head. 'Pure evil.'
Scully looked back towards the house, still giggling. Marie had joined the others on the front porch, sipping a glass of wine. Scully caught her eyes and they regarded each other for a moment.
'If you guys are done playing 'Who's Got The Best Line', feel free to join us anytime.' Koskie yelled down to them. 'I'm starving and unlike the wine, lasagna does not improve with age.'
'I think we're done here.' Skinner said, looking over at Cooper and Scully. 'You guys are going to stay? We're all happy and not fighting?'
They looked at each other and Cooper shrugged. 'No pending issues here.'
Scully smiled at him. 'I guess I'll let it go for now.'
'Good, because I was starving an hour ago.' Skinner said, walking towards the house with Cooper, leaving Mulder and Scully alone.
'You've had a day, Scully.' He said, nudging her. 'Should I ask how you're doing or will you just give me the mandatory 'I'm fine'?'
She nodded in return. 'I'm managing.'
'What are we going to do?' He asked. 'The thought that we're hanging around here, having dinner and drinking wine and laughing while Krycek is stuck in the government three-ring circus makes me sick.'
'At least I saw him and we know he's okay.' Scully said. 'I don't think we have to worry about them…' Her throat closed up and she couldn't finish the sentence.
'I know, Scully.' Mulder replied softly. 'They need him until the vaccine is finished.'
She cleared her throat. 'We'll figure it out. We just need some time, so I can get a better feel for that place, see what's going on.'
'I really don't like what you're doing.'
'I know, Mulder.' She said. 'I don't like it either. But what must done, must be done.'
'The least you could do is rig yourself with a wire or something.' He said. 'That way we can follow what's going on, in case you get in trouble.'
'I'm already in enough trouble, Mulder.'
He paused. 'Was that supposed to make me feel better?' They both laughed as he continued. 'Because if that's what you were shooting for, you misfired, drastically.'
'Maybe we should see what the Lone Gunmen could do.' She tried to alleviate him but he shook his head.
'Then they might find out the truth about Krycek.'
She shrugged. 'Maybe we should tell them anyway. We can't hide the truth forever and all of our lies keep tripping over each other. This whole thing is giving even me a headache.'
'They might be able to hack into the security system, maybe we could get something useful. Maybe even get into the monitor feed.'
'Maybe.' She nodded and they were quiet.
Mulder looked down at her. 'Your call.'
'I don't know.' She said. 'Maybe we should see how the week finishes out.'
'I hate the idea of you playing this game, Scully.' He turned towards her.
'It's our best bet right now.' She shrugged and smiled, trying to lighten the moment up. 'Besides, you know how much I like games.'
He stared at her, then nodded his head towards the house and held out his hand. 'You want a game? I got one for you. It's called 'Who Can Survive A Dinner Party at Skinners'. To be perfectly honest with you Scully, because I know you hate it any other way, I'm scared to death on how this evening is going to go.'
Scully smiled and took his offered hand. 'Then let the games begin.'
*************************
She was met back inside with hugs from the Lone Gunmen. It seemed as if the initial shock of having her standing in front of them wore off and after seeing her acting human out in the front yard, they welcomed her back with open arms.
'Welcome back.' Koskie nodded his head at her. 'I'd give you a card or something but I don't think Hallmark currently has one out for 'Glad you're not really dead'.'
'Thank you.' Scully smiled at him before focusing on the woman standing next to him. The person she was really interested in. She extended her hand towards Marie. 'I'm Dana Scully.'
'I know.' Marie accepted the handshake and smiled. 'I'm Marie Koskie.'
'I know.' Scully smiled back.
'I've heard so much about you.' Marie said. 'From all these guys.'
'I'm not sure whether to complimented or scared.'
They both laughed a little too loud and an awkward silence fell over everyone.
'Well.' Koskie was the first to speak. 'Where ya been hiding, Agent Scully?'
'Jesus, Steven.' Skinner shook his head.
'What?' Koskie asked. 'Like I'm the only one here who isn't wondering what's going on. The four of you ran out to have your little pow-wow but the rest of us are left in the dark.'
'You shouldn't know what's going on.' Cooper said. 'National Security.'
'I'm not concerned with National Security.' Koskie said, glaring down at her. 'That's not the issue I'm having problems with right now.'
Scully could feel the animosity he had towards her like she put her palm down on a hot stove.
'Then what is your problem, Koskie?' Mulder asked.
'Scully is gone for over two years, then suddenly shows up here, after being videotaped working with some ultra-secret-government group, you guys go out front and hash everything out in under an hour like fast-food marriage counseling. Now we're going to sit down and eat dinner like we're having grand, high times?' Koskie shook his head. 'Uh uh, it makes no sense. That's what I have a problem with.'
'Scully has been through a lot.' Mulder said. 'You don't know anything about what's happened, and there's an explanation for everything. So can we just take a minute to calm down? I don't want this to be ugly, she's very happy to be home.'
'She should be happy.' Koskie said, staring down at Scully. 'Unlike everyone else in this room, she didn't have to watch you have a nervous breakdown.'
Mulder stood in front of Scully. 'Now wait-'
'Calling the Newport Beach house to talk to her because you forgot she was dead. Oh wait, she wasn't.'
Mulder put up a hand. 'Wait a minute-'
'The part where you were hospitalized and put on Zoloft was especially fun.'
'Stop it.' Mulder barked.
Skinner got in between them. 'That's enough.'
'He's right.' Scully said softly.
Everyone turned to look at her and she met Koskie's stare. 'You're right.'
Mulder shook his head. 'Scully-'
'It's true, Mulder.' She looked up at him. 'I was gone for a long time. I didn't have to see what was going on back here. I did just barge in her almost three years later.' Scully looked up at Koskie. 'I don't expect you to understand.'
Koskie stared down at her for a couple of beats, then smiled. 'If I understood anything that I've seen since being assigned as Mulder's partner, I'd be concerned about my mental health. I'm just…' He thought for a moment before shaking his head. 'I'm just confused and my involvement in this began when I was assigned to protect you. I've spent a long time trying to forget what happened that night at your apartment. I don't understand what's going on and haven't since day one. I've only seen bits and pieces and heard conflicting stories and none of it makes any sense, especially when you're standing right in front of me after being dead for three years.'
'You've been involved in this for three years?' Scully asked.
He nodded. 'More or less.'
'Wait until you hit that decade mark.' She said, grinning. 'Things will get really fun.'
Koskie sighed. 'I'm sorry.'
'Don't be.' Scully replied, exchanging a look with Mulder. 'I'll try to explain. Maybe we'll both feel better.'
At the picnic table in the backyard, Langly and Frohike planted themselves on either side of Scully. Mulder sat down across from her and Byers and Koskie took a seat on either side of him. Cooper and Skinner were going to bring the food out while they talked.
Marie had been standing behind Koskie, looking uncomfortable. 'I think I'll help them.'
Scully raised her eyes to look at her. She could sense Marie's confusion. She knew that while Marie wanted to understand, for Mulder's sake, she wasn't all that sure about what Scully's reappearance would mean to their relationship. Marie had carefully kept her mouth shut while Koskie berated her, but Scully knew that the way Mulder had defended her from Koskie's verbal assault had surprised her. On one hand, Scully didn't blame her. To look at it from Marie's point of view, Scully probably wouldn't be handling this situation as well. On the other hand, Scully's relationship she had with Mulder was one of the most important in her life. She'd be damned if she'd let anyone come between them. She knew that Mulder felt the same way.
Scully also knew that if someone was able to capture Mulder, they must be one hell of a person. And if Marie was going to be around, regardless of how Scully felt about it, there was only one first meeting that they would ever have. First impressions make or break relationships all the time.
'I think you should stay.' Scully said softly.
Marie hesitated. 'I feel like I'm intruding.'
'Intruding?' Koskie said loudly. 'With this bunch? Oh, you have to be kidding.'
'Besides,' Langly said, leaning to the side as Skinner put loaves of garlic bread on the table, 'after an entrance like that, who wouldn't want the backstory?'
Frohike laughed. 'The best entrance I've ever seen is when we walked into Alex's house and you guys were having that pumpkin fight.'
Langly and Byers laughed and Skinner rolled his eyes. 'If I have to hear that story one more time…'
Mulder smiled at Scully. 'You and Krycek looked like we'd caught you with your hands in the cookie jar.'
Scully gave him a small smile. 'I didn't know you were coming out, it was the mother of all surprises.'
'I remember the biggest surprise entrance.' Skinner said, nodding his head at Mulder. 'How about the time you were in Scully's apartment, back from New York, and we walked in with Alex.'
'Oooooh.' Frohike and Langly exclaimed and the latter continued. 'We missed that one in person.'
'Oh yeah.' Mulder replied. 'That was brutal.'
'I remember those few days.' Byers said. 'Not fun.'
'Skinner had fun.' Mulder said, looking at his superior. 'I remember a certain Assistant Director taking off with Krycek for half an hour and getting quite drunk off tequila shooters before passing out in Scully's apartment.'
'Alex made me do it.' Skinner said, walking back towards the house. He was followed by remarks.
'Oh I'm sure that was it.' Frohike said.
Koskie yelled after him as well. 'Not like you ever had a taste for tequila or anything.'
'Saint Skinner. I've never seen him take a drink.' Mulder said, turning back to see Scully lost in thought. 'Hey Scully.' He said softly. 'What's up?'
She sighed and looked at him. 'That whole time of my life was so damn weird. It doesn't even seem like part of my life anymore. It seems so long ago.'
'Yeah.' Frohike said. 'But we had some good times. So it wasn't all for nothing.'
Scully smiled at him and put her right hand over his. 'You were all very good to me.'
Frohike looked down at her hand. His eyes were wide behind his glasses when he glanced sharply up at her. 'Scully?'
She stared back, concerned at the horrified expression on his face. 'What?'
He picked up her hand to look at it closer before staring in her eyes.
'How did you get your ring?'
Silence fell over the table as Scully's mind raced for answers. Yes, between her and Mulder tripping all over their lies, things were not looking well. What a tangled web we weave…
*************************
Mulder and the Lone Gunmen knew about the ring, they knew that it had been sitting on the kitchen counter since she'd 'died'. Koskie and Marie didn't know, but any fool could see by the reaction of the Lone Gunmen that something was up.
'Scully?' Frohike asked.
She didn't answer and gave a small shake of her head. She bit her lip and finally glanced across the table at Mulder. He returned her serious stare.
Skinner and Cooper returned to the table with their arms full of plates and utensils. They got a look at the somber cloud hanging over the table and exchanged a glance.
'What's going on?' Skinner asked, setting down plates with a loud clang.
'How the hell should I know?' Koskie said. 'They've all got their panties in a bunch over Scully's ring.'
Skinner glanced down at Scully's hand before meeting her eyes. He sighed and shook his head. 'Damnit, Scully, couldn't you have called first?'
'Well, how the hell was I supposed to know you were having a dinner party?' Scully asked. 'You were never at the height of any social circle before!'
Koskie smiled humorlessly. 'Am I the only one here who feels like there is something going on that I don't know about?'
'Nope.' Langly said. 'I'm starting to get that feeling myself.'
'Ain't a nice one, is it?' Koskie replied. 'Kinda feels like a bug crawling up your ass.'
'I'm not about to ask how you know that feeling.' Cooper said.
Frohike opened his mouth, then shook his head. 'I'm not going to go there.'
'I certainly hope not.' Koskie said.
'That's not what I meant, you Backstreet Boy looking freak!'
'Show me the meaning of being lonely…' Koskie sang as he leaned towards him.
'Somebody, please, shoot me now.' Langly said.
'This is probably not a good place to make that request, Garth.' Marie said, smiling over at him. 'Too many people here will take you seriously.'
'We give custom shooting's.' Koskie said. 'We're like Blockbuster Video. Name your preferred caliber. We're guaranteed to have it, or your money back.'
'I've seen your shooting before, dear brother.' Marie said. 'I'm not sure anyway would pay on the hope that you'll be able to do the job correctly.'
He made a face at her. 'Just because you were the inter-service pistol champion four years in a row-'
Byers interjected. 'Can we please stop with the infighting for one minute?'
'Inbreeding?' Koskie shouted out. 'None of that going on here!'
'My god!' Scully said, laughing in spite of herself. 'Don't you ever quit?'
'Now you see what I have to deal with.' Mulder said. 'God forbid we should ever have him and Krycek in the same room.'
'Oh, no.' Skinner said. 'That's bad anyway you look at it.'
'What about the ring?' Byers asked, silencing the table once again.
When no one said anything, Mulder spoke up. 'I'll explain-'
'No, Mulder.' Scully looked up at him. 'I'll explain.'
Skinner stood at the head of the table. 'Before we start any of this, I'm bringing out the damn food. I'm starving.'
'And I'm sober.' Marie said, standing next to him. 'Who wants Chianti?'
'I'd love a glass.' Scully said.
'And who wants a beer?'
Six hands went up. Mulder, Koskie, the Lone Gunmen and Skinner.
Marie looked over at Cooper. 'No beer?'
Cooper shuddered jokingly. 'Not me, I'm raiding the bottle of Bombay Sapphire Skinner always has lying around somewhere. Find me some tonic and I'll be in heaven.'
'There's four bottles of Chianti.' Marie said, looking over at Scully. 'And we're the only two drinking it.'
Scully shrugged. 'I don't have a problem with that ratio.'
Marie smiled and walked towards the house. 'Walter, where's that cooler we used to take out to the beach?'
'Probably in the basement next to my wine glasses.'
They ate and drank and talked. Scully had decided that she could trust everyone here. If Mulder trusted them, then she did too. So she told the truth about Krycek. Well, kind of the truth. She told them that he had traded himself for her. Alone. She left out the part that Krycek could feel things, she left out the part the she could feel anything. She basically left out all the alien genetics mumbo-jumbo for everyone's benefit. She didn't know what Mulder might have told Koskie or Marie, and she didn't know what the Lone Gunmen already knew. So she skipped it all together.
She left out the part where Mulder had been involved. She chose instead to tell them that Krycek had rescued her on his own just recently. That she had gone back to the beach house and been met by Skinner and Cooper, who had approached her in just the manner that they had.
Scully basically told the truth. She just manipulated the time a little. Eight months wasn't all that much to lie about. Especially considering the circumstances. The only people who knew the truth were Skinner and Cooper. And they both had too much on the line to be complaining about anything.
She left out Mulder all together.
The Lone Gunmen were irritated, concerned, upset, any negative emotion that anyone could feel. They automatically launched into various ways of getting Krycek out, but were basically just blowing off steam. The best way for anything to get done was to let Scully continue on her way and see what was going on. They insisted that she was wired the soonest they could rig anything. They insisted on trying to hack into the security system. They insisted on sticking their noses where they didn't belong, as usual. Only now, Scully welcomed it.
As was expected, they all drank too much and became totally useless. Scully hadn't eaten much, considering all she would touch was the garlic bread and salad. But the ever-flowing wine had taken its toll. She was very tired, very upset, and very drunk.
That made for a bad combination.
They were cleaning up the place when Skinner turned on his stereo and an Eric Clapton CD began to play.
Scully dropped her wineglass and it shattered on the floor as Mulder's hands went across his eyes.
'…Bell Bottom Blues…You make me cry…I don't wanna lose this feelin'…'
They were both reliving the moment on the beach, only this time, Mulder saw it from her point of view. He had been powerless to do anything but watch as Scully had realized that Krycek may have cared about her more than she had believed.
'…If I could choose a place to die…It would be in your arms…'
Krycek must have been arriving at the same conclusion, because he had seemed as surprised as she was. He had taken a step away from her, his face shocked, scared. He and Scully had stared at each other for a moment and Mulder could sense the turmoil between the two of them.
'…Do you wanna see me crawl across the floor to you…'
Scully had suddenly realized that Krycek caring about her didn't bother her as much as it probably should have. She thought that this was because maybe she cared about him more than she should have. She had been trying to push her feelings away. She had tried to ignore them. But that didn't always work.
'…Do you wanna hear me beg you to take me back…'
She immediately reminded herself that she was in love with Mulder.
'…I don't wanna play that way…Give me one more day please…'
She was in love with Mulder and could never love anyone else.
'…I don't wanna play that way…In your heart, I wanna stay…'
Especially someone like Krycek, she had thought involuntarily, then immediately tried to reverse it.
Mulder had watched as Krycek's eyes filled with tears.
'…It's all wrong…But it's all right…The way that you treat me baby…'
Krycek abruptly turned and walked away, the look on his face concerning even Mulder.
She had stared after Krycek until he got into the house, then she dropped her face into her hands.
*************************
'What the hell?' Frohike asked.
'The song.' Koskie said, pointing at Byers. 'Stop the CD player.'
Byers hit the FM switch and as soon as Bob Dylan popped on the radio, Scully put her hands over her face.
'I hate that.' Mulder said softly, messaging his temples.
'Hate what?' Marie asked. 'What was that?'
Mulder shook his head as 'Like A Rolling Stone' played in the background.
'…You say you never compromise…With a mystery tramp but now you realize…He's not selling any alibi's…As you stand to the vacuum of his eyes…And say, do you want to…Make a deal…'
'How did you know to turn off the song?' Frohike looked up at Koskie.
'It's happened before.' He replied, looking over at Mulder. 'Damn near ran us off the road.'
'What happened?' Marie asked again, looking between Mulder and Koskie.
Her brother shook his head. 'Not until bedtime.'
Everyone looked strangely at Koskie.
Marie tilted her head at him, her face one of utter confusion. 'Brother, have you lost your mind?'
'You really need to ask?' Langly muttered.
Koskie pointed at him. 'You just want to zip that up for now, Garth?'
'You okay, Scully?' Mulder said, looking over at her.
She was leaned over the sink, her hands gripping the sides.
Skinner stepped up beside her and put a hand on her shoulder. 'Scully?'
She nodded. 'I'm okay.'
Langly snorted. 'There she goes.'
'What happened to 'I'm fine'?' Frohike asked.
'…You used to ride on a chrome horse with your diplomat…Who carried on his shoulder a Siamese cat…Ain't it hard when you discovered that…He really wasn't where it's at…After he took from you everything he could steal…'
'I need to get back to New York.' Scully said, still facing the window.
'I can have the jet ready anytime.' Cooper said. 'We're going to need to leave the cars here though, since we're both too intoxicated to operate any kind of machinery. I can call a cab.'
'Jet City Woman.' Langly muttered.
Scully nodded at him, and then she walked into the living room and out the front door.
Mulder stared after her, then looked around at the faces in the room. Marie stepped up close to him and fixed the collar of his shirt.
'Go.' Was all she said.
He walked out front to find Scully standing on the porch, her hands on the railing. He stepped up beside her and leaned close, speaking softly. 'Are you okay, Scully? I don't want you taking off if…You're not doing well.'
She shook her head and met his eyes. 'We were so stupid, Mulder.'
He smiled sadly and nodded at her in response. 'I know.'
'I was so stupid.'
Mulder put an arm around her and whispered in her ear. 'It will all be fine, Scully. Everything will be wonderful. We'll fix it, we always do.'
She sniffled, tears on her face. 'I don't know if I can, Mulder.'
'Oh, come on, Scully.' He said. 'Where's that feisty red-head I used to know?'
'She got tired.' She said softly. 'Tired of running while standing still. I feel like I've been fighting this thing forever. We resolve one issue only to have ten more pop up in front of us. I'm backed up against the wall and I don't know what to do. I can't see anyway out. I don't know how to fix this. I was always able to find hope or faith in something. But now there's nothing. Everything is so messed up.'
'You're back here, with me, with friends. That is a good thing.' Mulder said. 'And Cade is safe.'
'For now.' She replied.
Bob Dylan drifted out the screen door.
'…You used to be so amused…at Napoleon in rags, and the language that he used…Go to him now he calls you, you can't refuse…When you ain't got nothin'…You got nothin' to lose…You're invisible now, you got no secrets…To conceal…'
'I'm just so tired, Mulder.' She said again.
'I'll fix it, Scully.' He said softly, resting his head against hers. 'I promise.'
She leaned against him and closed her eyes while willing her tears to go away. For once in her life she was admitting she was at a loss and taking the support he offered.
'…How does it feel…How does it feel…To be on your own…With no direction home…Like a complete unknown…Like a rolling stone…'
*************************
A week later, Scully walked into the building with Cooper, looking around at the new site. He had told her that since they were about to incorporate everyone's efforts into one joint project, that they had chosen a location closer to the NSA, the CIA, closer to everyone in the nation's capitol.
In response to that, Scully moved her Mom and Cade to nearby hotel. She couldn't bear the thought of being so far away from Cade for who knows how long. Not to mention she liked the idea that Mulder and Skinner could be reached in less than fifteen minutes now, instead of a plane flight.
The Lone Gunmen had proven to be enterprising when she had given them the address of the new building. Langly had cut his hair short and put in some contact lenses in order to masquerade as an electrician installing the wiring. This way, he could guarantee that he could hack into the security system.
They didn't know how they were going to get Krycek out, or if that's even what they were planning on doing right now. Everything was up in the air. Again.
Scully was actually beginning to believe that maybe they could squeeze out the vaccine before any rescue attempt for Krycek would need to be implemented. Not to mention she couldn't really imagine leaving Gibson behind. She also didn't believe that the hybrids would be allowed to just walk away.
They decided that the best bet they had was to let Scully go on working with the NSA while they learned all they could about the building and which group was on what agenda. Learning the master plan was first and foremost the urgent business at hand.
Several people, including Dr. Jenkins and a physicist, Dr. Tanner, joined Scully and Cooper in the lab. A severe looking man from the CIA, Kaslo, was there as well as two men, Boord and Charles, from Naval Intelligence. The seven of them sat around a table, talking about timeframes. Several others milled about the room, guards and workers.
'Our contact with the Syndicate should be here any minute.' Boord said. 'Then we can dive in.'
Cooper casually glanced across the table at Scully. 'I wasn't aware the Syndicate was going to be joining us today.'
'Yes.' Kaslo answered. 'They wanted to transport all the prisoners themselves, considering they were who apprehended them all to begin with. They are responsible for us getting this far.'
'He's always late.' Charles said. 'Thinks the whole world waits for him.'
Scully's blood had turned to ice. She didn't know if she was ready to face Cancer Man yet. It had only been a week since she'd stepped into this game of charades. She was thankful she hadn't had to see Krycek or Gibson again, but instead had spent most of her time with charts and graphs and research with Dr. Jenkins and the rest of the team.
She didn't know if Spender would buy the whole story or not. Cooper had assured her that since he was around and vouching for her, that everything would be fine. He had been involved in the project for so long that his credibility was quite concrete.
Remind me again why I'm doing this? She thought to herself. Scully didn't get a chance to answer the question. She heard the doors open at the end of the room behind her.
Spender's soft voice floated to her ears an instant before she smelled the smoke from his Morley.
'Sorry to keep you all waiting.' He said, the heels of his shoes banging softly on the tile as he walked towards them.
'We're used to it.' Kaslo replied.
'Dana Scully.' He stood behind her, crushing his cigarette under his foot. 'I had heard a rumor that you were currently involved with Purity Control. I didn't believe it, but here you are. And really, why should I be surprised? Your loyalties have always been questionable.'
Scully stood up and turned around to face him. The sight of his face brought on such a rush of anger that she was sure it was visible. 'My loyalties have always been questionable?'
Spender smiled. 'You were assigned to the X-Files to debunk them after all. Then you spent seven years defending Mulder and pledging your undying devotion to him and his work. It came as a surprise of the biggest kind to all of us when you deserted him and ran away with his nemesis.'
Scully couldn't construct any coherent sentence in her mind and was saved when Cooper came around to stand beside her.
'I don't believe we've officially met, Mr. Spender-'
'I know who you are, Mr. Cooper.' Spender interjected softly. 'You served some military time with Walter Skinner. Fox Mulder's first assignment in the Bureau was to go undercover with you in Twin Peaks. It is a small world.' He looked back at Scully. 'Wouldn't you agree?'
'You can't blame me for doing what I thought was right.' Scully said to him. 'You sent me to debunk the X-Files.'
'She was approached by the NSA and asked to cooperate.' Cooper said. 'She has been reporting to us all along. Although we were shocked to find her holed up in the lab.'
'I wouldn't have wanted an altercation between the NSA and the Syndicate to take place and put all of our plans in jeopardy.' Spender smiled. 'Thank god Alex came along and rescued you. I guess that means we both owe him a lot.'
'I don't owe Krycek anything.' Scully asked. 'Like everyone else, he was just using me all along.'
'About time you figured it out.'
Scully had felt him a split second before he spoke. She slowly turned to see Krycek standing in between two men. He was only four feet away from her. She couldn't breath, she felt all the blood drain from her face.
Their eyes locked on each other for a moment before he smiled wryly.
'For awhile there, I was beginning to believe I'd chosen the wrong medical student.'
Before Scully could think about what she was doing, before she could stop herself, she threw her body weight behind a right hook that connected squarely with his face.
Krycek went sprawling on the floor before the two men on either side grabbed his arms and yanked him back to his feet. She hadn't noticed that his hands were shackled. Blood dripped from his mouth as he gave his head a small shake, trying to clear it.
'Nice to see you again, Dana.'
Spender stepped up next to her. 'I do not condone treatment of this kind to be administered upon my guests, Miss Scully.'
'Guests?' Scully laughed shrilly, sounding a bit hysterical. 'Is that what you're calling them?'
'Does that mean I can request more hospitable accommodations.' Krycek said, the men on either side still holding his arms. 'I think you need to upgrade your sleeping quarters, not to mention the room service sucks.'
'My son,' Spender said, taking out a cigarette, 'the comedian.'
'Your son?' Krycek asked in disbelief. 'I won't even dignify that with a response.'
'Well all make sacrifices, Alex.' Spender said. He put a cigarette between his lips and looked meaningfully at Scully. 'Surely you can understand that, son.'
Krycek swallowed and shifted his eyes to Scully before glaring back at Spender.
'He didn't sacrifice anything for me.' Scully said in a shaky voice. 'He was protecting his son. His investment.'
'A lot like what you're doing now.' Krycek snapped back at her.
'I'm not the one who was going to hold out for the highest bidder.' She said, raising her voice.
'Enough.' Spender said softly, raising his lighter to his cigarette.
'There's no smoking in here.' Scully said, glaring at Cancer Man.
Spender ignored her. He lit the cigarette and inhaled deeply.
Scully walked over to him and slapped the cigarette out of his mouth. 'I said there's no smoking in here.'
Spender blew the smoke in her face. 'You're playing a very dangerous game, Miss Scully.'
She returned his stare. She was well aware of how close she was to losing her grip. 'I'm not playing any games, Spender. You do know that the future of the world is at stake here. All I want to do is create a vaccine that works so everyone will leave me the hell alone. I'm tired of this. I'm certain you can understand that.' She crossed her arms. She was shaking violently and knew that it was visible. 'After all, you've been doing this your whole life. I'm sure you'd like to see an end sometime.'
'Your end, my end.' Krycek shrugged and looked at Spender. 'I'm sure he has some kind of end in mind.'
'Alex, Alex.' Cancer Man said. 'If you just would have played by our rules, you could have come out of this a hero, the savior of the human race.'
Scully stared at Krycek. Her eyes were a little wide; her face was drawn and pale. 'He's too selfish to play by anyone's rules other than his own.'
Krycek met her gaze for a moment, his face hard and unreadable. 'I will get out of here someday, you know. And the first thing I'm going to do is collect my son. I will find you. That's a promise.'
'That's a promise?' Scully asked in a whisper. She quickly walked over to where he was and pushed him hard. He fell back on the ground as she drew her gun and pointed it between his eyes. Her hands were shaking, the gun jumping in her grasp. Her voice was low and thick. 'I swore to myself that if I ever saw you again I would kill you on the spot. No questions asked, I'd just put a bullet in your head.'
'Dr. Scully,' Jenkins said. 'We still need him alive.'
'Here's your chance, Dana.' Krycek's eyes were bottomless pools of black. She could read nothing in them. 'What are you waiting for?'
'Scully.' Cooper said, standing behind her.
'Pull the trigger, come on, put me out of my misery.' Krycek's soft voice was calm.
'For God's sake.' Jenkins said. 'Don't shoot him.'
'Don't worry.' Spender said, lighting a cigarette. 'She won't.'
Scully put the barrel of her gun on Krycek's left knee and looked deeply into his eyes. He met her gaze, his bottom lip still bleeding from when she'd struck him earlier. His eyes were wounded for a moment, revealing the human side she knew was lurking in there somewhere, then it was gone.
She leaned close to him, her face only inches away, before speaking in a voice she'd never heard before.
'Surf on this.'
She pulled the trigger, the resounding boom causing everyone in the room to jump.
Krycek didn't make a sound as the blast shattered his knee. He winced as his face turned the color of milk. He lay on the ground and looking up at the ceiling, grinding his teeth while tears of pain trickled down his cheeks and fell onto the floor.
Scully stared down at him while Spender took a drag of his cigarette and regarded her calmly through the haze of his smoke. She turned and looked at Cooper, her face set in stone, the muscles in her jaw twitching. The men were all staring at her, open-mouthed and stunned. She gestured with the gun.
'Cooper, get this shit out of my laboratory.'
End Part Six
Continued in Part Seven.
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