I have been reading all the creative posts, and really enjoy all of your efforts. After watching Colony, I was quite inspired by the character of Mulder's father. Real creepy. I'll look forward to seeing him again. In the meanwhile I wrote a filler. Enjoy! Aftermath Story by Jude Waples jude_waples@magic-bbs.corp.apple.com Washington D.C. Scully glanced over at her partner. His head rested back on the seat and his eyes were closed. He looked terrible Scully thought. Paler than this morning. Dark circles once again hung beneath his eyes. His condition had improved, and although he was weak, at his insistence and her reluctant backing they had released him from the military hospital where he had spent the last three weeks. The cab hit a bump and Mulder's eyes popped open. "I wish you had gone to the hospital Mulder. You aren't ready to be on your own yet." "No more hospitals, Scully." He said quietly. Then managing a half smile he looked at her. "Besides, I am not alone. I"ve got you." She smiled, half embarrassed, shaking her head. "Mulder." He knew her too well. He knew she would stay with him. Scully paid the cab fare while Mulder stood slumped against the side of the cab. Too tired to even make the effort to stand straight. She grabbed his small bag and took his arm. "Come on, I've got to get you to bed." The cab driver, honked the horn, "Go for it Lady. He looks like he needs it." Mulder laughed. Scully, so happy to see him smile, laughed as well at her own expense. "Come on!" she jerked on his arm. The walk to Mulder's apartment was short, but even this small exercise read on his face as effort. He said nothing, but Scully could feel his weight on her for support. They rode the elevator in silence. Mulder was exhausted. The plane ride from Eisenhower Field in Alaska was direct to Washington D.C., and even though Mulder had slept most of the way, the hustle and bustle of the airport, and flagging cabs; the strain of just being on his feet was beginning to show as his strength ebbed. He pressed his head against the cool metal wall of the elevator and felt for a moment that he might be sick. Once inside, Scully led him to his bedroom, where he sighed with relief as his head hit the pillow. He was asleep in seconds. When he awoke he heard the small sounds of dishes being moved quietly, and could smell...chicken? The room was dark, except for the small night light plugged in beside the bed on the floor. He rolled to the edge and sat up. He felt better and he was hungry. Scully poked her head around the corner when she heard the toilet flush. Perfect timing she thought. She hadn't planned on waking him, exactly. She had hoped the little deliberate noise she made with the pots and pans might jog him awake. "He needs to eat," she convinced herself. The truth was she missed him. He was fifteen feet away, asleep, and she missed him. "Scully, how come every time you undress me, I'm unconscious?" He stood there in his boxers and t-shirt. "It's safer that way." she said without turning. "For who?" was his reply. He crept up behind her. "Scully? Are you cooking for me?" "Chicken soup. It's good for what ails ya." She looked up and their eyes met. He looked at her, somewhat bewildered that she would do something so sweet. Make him soup. "The table's set Mulder. Go sit down." "Mulder I need to go into the office tomorrow. Skinner's been screaming for a week now." He nodded. "I have to make my report, but I"m till not sure exactly what to say. Have we come to any definitive conclusions on this case?" "There's no way to make sense of it Scully. Just write the truth. Let Skinner worry about making sense of it. We know the truth. We lived it. And someday we'll do it all again." "You think he'll come back? The alien?" she questioned. "He told me that Samantha's alive, Scully. He saved my life, by dropping me out there on the ice." "He could of been trying to kill you as well." she nudged. "No Scully, he could of left me die in the sub, with all the others. He let me go." "Perhaps"...she said quietly. "Do you know what I think, Scully?" he smiled and she encouraged him with the same. "Maybe..he was the good guy." "What?" she asked. "If the Alien clones, were hoping to take over our earth, eventually, by combining themselves with human DNA, our friend may have done us a favour by stopping them. Perhaps this Alien society has no desire to conquer or exploit us." "Why would they take Samantha, and all the others who over the years have claimed to have been abducted?" Scully asked. Mulder's face fell. "I don't know. I don't have an answer for that...but I'll keep looking until I find out!" "We'll keep looking, Mulder." She placed her hand over his and patted it, eyeing him warily. He knew instantly that the issue of her being "ditched" was not closed and would be opened for a heated discussion, at some later date. "It's late Mulder...I "m gonna clean up a little and be on my way. You'll be ok?" she asked, taking Mulder's plate and bowl away. "Sure Scully. Thanks." There was a knock on the door. They looked stupidly at each other. Then Scully went to towards the door. "Your pants...Mulder." she whispered. Scully opened the door, to find a stern, hard, unsmiling man sizing her up. Scully instantly disliked him. "Can I help you?" she asked. "Is my son available?" he asked. "Dad!" Mulder came up behind Scully, tucking his shirt into his pants. "What are you doing here at this hour? Is something wrong?" "We need to talk Fox." he growled. Then looking at Scully added, "Privately." "This is my partner Dad, Dana Scully." He look at her and nodded slightly. "I'm just leaving..." she muttered. His gaze, one of utter contempt returned to his son. "No, Scully. Stay. Please." Mulder placed his arm somewhat protectively around her. "Just give us a minute, huh?" Scully felt ill at ease, but for Mulder's sake she nodded. "I'll be in the kitchen." She ducked out of Mulder's arm and left the two men alone. She felt an indignant flush cross her face as she left the room. "That man is his father? she thought. "Poor Mulder, no wonder he's so screwed up." "What is it Dad?" "That's her? The one you saved instead of your own sister?" "Dad, I explained to you..." "You said you would come and explain to your mother. We don't hear from you in weeks and here I find you...with her." He glared at Mulder's disheveled appearance. "Dana Scully is my partner, there's no reason ..." "The F-B-I came to see us yesterday." he father interrupted, spitting each syllable out slowly and with great disdain. Mulder could feel the rage building up inside him, but he faltered. His father always did this. Never let him finish a sentence. Never let him explain. "They confirmed that the body they pulled from the river was most likely that of your sister. That she died as a direct result of your.." he paused momentarily, "your Agency's incompetence." Mulder swallowed. He could feel the hot tears swelling up in his eyes. He wanted to tell his father the whole truth, but knew he couldn't. Not yet. "Dad. I don't believe that she was Samantha..." he said quietly. His father reached into his pocket and pulled out an envelope. "They won't release her body. They said her body was exposed to an infectious disease. But these DNA reports confirm who she was." Mulder knew there was nothing, no body left to release. The DNA, a clone. These facts like so much of this case was classified. He was now part of the coverup. Deny everything. "Your mother collapsed at the news. She remains sedated." Mulder turned away and wiped the tears from his cheeks. "Once again you have brought misery to this family. Your sister was home, safe and you failed her..." "No!" Mulder cried. "I love Samantha!" His father ignored him, "...me and your mother... again." "That's not true." Dana stood in the doorway, her blue eyes, like ice fire, narrowed in on Mulder's father. "Scully, stay out of this please," Mulder begged. "No. No I won't." She walked up to the elder Mulder, until she was face to face with him. "Your son nearly died trying to find the man who took Samantha. He has spent the last several weeks hooked up to machines, pumped full of drugs and close to death. It's a miracle he survived at all." His father looked over at Fox. Perhaps, for the first time that evening, he saw him. Pale and thin. The bloodshot eyes and discolouring surrounding them. The yellow tinge, in places to his skin, the final remains of bruises and abrasions. Mulder put his hand on Scully's shoulder. "It's all right, Dana, I can handle this." That small interruption, the fire in Scully eyes, mustered courage in him. She was chicken soup for his soul. "Dad. I'm sorry. I've said that a hundred times to you. It never seems to make any difference. I was doing my job, and I take the responsibility of my decisions. Samantha is gone, but even she understood the risks involved. This is a Federal investigation involving the FBI. I can't explain all...the details...I can only hope someday you'll believe me. That I tried my best." His father's expression hadn't changed. "He hates him." Scully thought. "What about your mother?" he never flinched. He never took his eyes from Mulder's face. Mulder looked down again. What ever courage he had found, he had lost it again. He couldn't look at him. He couldn't face the disappointment, the shame and disgrace he saw in his father's eyes. "I don't know...Dad. I'll try to come up soon." With that, he left. No goodbye. He just turned and closed the door behind him. Mulder stood there numbly, staring at the closed door like a man with a reprieve from execution. Scully reached for Mulder. Just her touch brought him back to her and gave him permission. He allowed himself to enter her arms and buried his head on her shoulder. She held him tightly and whispered, "I swear to God Mulder, we'll find Samantha." She felt him nod and he tighten his hold around her. Scully knew she would not be leaving tonight. -End-