Title:          Gabriel's Feather (Part 1 of 3)

Author:         FatCat (FatCat926@msn.com)

Rating:         G (Story contains Christian beliefs)

Category:       MSR, CHILDFIC, AU Myth arc

Spoilers:       Nothing after Requiem happened in this universe

Summary:        Mulder has been missing for almost 4 years and 
                Someone is pissed.

Disclaimer:     Thanks to CC, FOX, 1013, GA, DD, NL and all those
                others who actually own the show and produce the
                wonderful characterizations.

Archive:        Please keep my name attached and let me know where.  

                Author's notes at end of each chapter.

                This is a completed story that is being revised and
                will be posted as the revision is completed.  I
                should have the other two parts up by Wednesday or 
                Thursday, August 8, 2002.



GABRIEL'S FEATHER


The Emergency Waiting Room at Georgetown General Hospital was 
crowded when they entered.  After the appropriate paperwork 
mountain was started they were directed to take a seat in the 
chairs.  They would be called as soon as there was a doctor 
available or their doctor arrived-whichever came first.

The small, dark-haired woman hitched the little boy up higher
on her hip and sighed.

'I pray I am doing the right thing by bringing William Gabriel
here.' she thought for the umpteenth time that night.  As she 
thought the word 'pray' she again began to pray to Mary silently
to protect the little boy in her arms.

Gabe lifted his head from his cousin's shoulder and looked
around listlessly.

"Mommy?" he said to his cousin.

"Mommy will be here soon, darlin'" she crooned and again began 
to pray fervently that it would be so.  Mary Brenna Scully 
reached into her coat pocket for the cell phone she had been 
given for just such an emergency.  Pressing the speed dial #1 
she prayed that there would be an answer this time.  When the 
message for the answering service came on once again, she quickly
hung up.

'I know this phone is supposed to be safe, but I don't want to 
take a chance.'  She thought.

"It's alright, William Gabriel, Mommy will be here soon."  They 
reached a quieter spot in the waiting area and settled in for 
the wait.

During the next two hours Mary Brenna Scully tried the cell phone
two more times.  It would soon be morning and she would have 
other avenue of help available.  She prayed she wouldn't need to 
explore those options.  She continued to stroke the hair of the 
little boy lying next to her, his head on her bundled  coat, and
to pray as hard as she had ever prayed in her life.

Gabe was usually such a healthy little boy.  He had never had a 
cold, a fever while teething, or the flu.  To see him so listless
and feverish brought a fresh bout of terror.  Was this the 
unidentifiable illness that Dana was so afraid of?

"Gabe, how are you feeling darlin'?"  She asked, not expecting
an answer.

He looked at her with fever-bright eyes.  "I want my Mommy."
He whispered and closed them again.

'This is so hard' thought Brenna as she closed her eyes and 
put her head back against the wall.  'Oh, God, please let me 
reach Dana next time.'

Almost another hour had passed and still they had not been called.
There had been a series of accidents and shootings that night and
the emergency room staff was working to save the critically 
injured first.  The little boy with the fever would have to wait.

Brenna slid into a light doze, her right hand on Gabe, and her 
rosary in her left.

Moments later the double doors to the emergency room opened but 
no one came through.  The breeze from outside was suddenly warm 
and fresh.  It smelled like every good thing that had ever been 
smelled to Gabe and he smiled as he opened his eyes.  He was looking
directly at the opened doors when three individuals stepped 
through them and into the emergency room.

He sat up and stared at the three as they stopped almost directly
in front of him to smile down at him.  The two on the ends smiled 
at least.  The man in the middle looked like he had been hurt and 
had a lot of booboo's and wasn't awake.

They turned and walked down the hall to the curtained areas and
disappeared.

Gabe looked at his cousin and tried to wake her.  She wouldn't 
wake up.  He looked again toward the curtain where the three had 
disappeared and slowly slid from the bench and from his cousin's 
protective arm.  He walked directly to the curtained area and 
stooped down to peek under it.

He could only see two standing behind the curtain and this made 
him even more curious.  He knew he was too curious for his own 
good.  His mommy had told him that many times.  He couldn't help 
being curious and searching for answers to his many questions.  
He knew it made his beautiful mommy proud when he figured things 
out for himself-it also made her sad sometimes.  She said he was 
just like his father.

Right now his curiosity was burning like a bonfire.  Questions 
were shooting through his brain like sparks off the burning logs
at Gramma Scully's house last fall.  Where was the third man?  Why
was he asleep as they walked in?  Who hurt him so much?  Would he 
be okay?  Could Mommy fix his booboo like she did his?

But the big question that pounded his brain was:  Were those really 
wings on the back of the two who brought the third man in?  Were 
those men angels?  Like in the book...the picture bible...Mommy read
to him each night when she was home?  He doubted it was true.  The
angels in Mommy's book had long flowing white robes on.  Their 
wings were always smaller.

These two were dressed in clothes that looked like Mommy's long 
coat-leather-that was the word.  They were dressed in black 
leather and looked like the poster Brenna had on her wall at home.
Their wings, even while folded, were longer than the men were tall
and looked powerful.

As the questions spilled through his brain, he crept forward to 
crawl under the curtain.  He silently rose to his feet and looked
up.

The man in the middle was lying on the bed in the center of the
area.  The two others flanked either side of him.

The one on his right was fierce looking.  The one on his left was 
friendly looking.  They both turned their heads to Gabe and smiled.
He smiled back.

"Are you angels?"  His question popped out.

The two looked at each other and seemed to silently communicate.

"Yes."  The fierce looking angel spoke, turning to smile at him 
again.

"My name is William Gabriel Scully, but everyone calls me Gabe.  
What are your names?"

"My name is Gabriel and this is Michael" the friendly looking
angel replied.

"Your name is the same as mine.  Was I named after you?"  Gabe 
asked, intrigued.

"It pleases me to think that it is so.  Your mother has been a 
particular favorite of mine for many years."
 
"Are you the same two angels in my book at home?" he asked.

They nodded.

"Why then, do you have white dresses on in the book and wear black
leather now?"

"Gabe, each person we visit sees us as he or she thinks we should
be.  The person who illustrated or drew the pictures in your book 
saw us with white robes.  You see us as we are now, because that's 
how you think of us."

Gabe stared up at the two for a few minutes.  You could almost see 
his brilliant little mind processing the information the angel had 
given him.

"That means that you look like you do to me because I like Mommy's 
black coat and the poster in Cousin Brenna's room.  So, what do
you really look like?"

Once again the two angels looked at each other and smiled.  This
time Michael answered.

"No person of this earth may see us in our real state.  Only he
who created us and his son can behold our true selves."

"Only God and Jesus can really see you?"  His brow wrinkled as he 
thought this through.

"Okay.  What are you doing here?  Who is that on the cart?  Who 
hurt him?  Why is he asleep?  Can I see him?"  Gabe could barely 
speak fast enough to get all his questions out.

"William Gabriel, we will answer all the questions we can one at 
a time.  Pick your most important question and start there."  
Michael said somewhat sternly.

"'kay."  He thought for a few seconds.

"What are you doing here?"

"We are here to deliver this man back to those who love him."

"Who is he?"

"He is Fox William Mulder."

"My Daddy?"

The two angels looked down at the man on the table and smiled.

"Yes.  He is your earthly father."  Michael said.

"Why did God send you to bring him here?"

"Our Lord tired of the abuse one of his chosen was forced to 
suffer."  Michael answered.

"Why didn't he just heal him and let him go home?"

"His suffering must not be in vain.  Others must be made to 
recognize the extent he has been abused and to recognize and
fear the enemy that inflicted it."  Gabriel sadly answered.

"Will he be okay?  Can my Mommy help him?"

"Your mother is the very medicine his heart needs to heal.  
His body will eventually repair all of the damage inflicted, 
but his heart and soul are sorely torn."  This time Michael 
answered.

"Can I see him?"

"Yes, little Gabe you may."  Said Gabriel turning to lift the 
small child up in his arms.

"You tickle."  Gabe giggled.

The eyes of both angels widened at this statement.

"Tickle?"  Michael said with an eyebrow slowly rising towards 
his hairline.

"Yes."

"Please explain how Gabriel is tickling you, Little Gabe."
The warrior angel asked.

"Don't know.  It's kind of how the washing machine feels when
Mommy puts me up on it when she is doing laundry and it starts
to spin."

"You mean there is an underlying vibration of energy in the 
washing machine?"  Michael asked as another smile crept across
his face.

"Yep, tickles!"  Gabe laughed as he stared straight into the eyes
of Gabriel.

"Can...May I touch your wings?"  He whispered.

"Yes, you may, and thank you for asking."  Gabriel all but
laughed aloud.

"Mommy says that all adults will respond more positivedly if 
I ask for what I want instead of trying to take it like the other
kids.  She says that there is a time for politeness and a time for
action and I will be grown up when I can tell the difference.  But 
right now I'm to ask first."  This long burst of information was 
just a cover for the fascination the little guy had for their wings.
He reached toward the wing of Gabriel with one finger extended.

Slowly he drew his finger along the flare of the wing, feeling the
strong bone structure and the row upon row of long white feathers 
covering soft fluffy down.

"Can you really fly?"  Gabriel asked.

"Yes, we are able to fly, but thought projection is faster and
safer in this world."

The man on the table began to move and a soft moan escaped his 
lips.

Gabriel and Michael again exchanged looks.

"It is time for us to go Little Gabe.  Your father is waking and 
soon will need medical attention.  Our work is done for now."  
Michael said.

"You need to go back to your cousin."  Gabriel added as he placed 
the child down on the floor.

"Will I see you again?"  Gabe was trying to be brave but the quiver
in his chin and bottom lip gave away the unhappiness he felt.

"It is not for us to decide Gabe."  Michael replied.

"But if we can, we will make our presence known to you."  Gabriel 
said kindly.

Gabe looked up to Gabriel's face and smiled.  He held out his hand
to shake with the angel.  Then he turned and walked to Michael 
and shook hands with him.

"Thank you," he said to each angel in turn.

Michael was surprised at his thanks.

"What are you thanking us for Little Gabe?"

"Thank you both for bringing my daddy back."

"We are only the messengers.  The Lord brought your daddy back."
Gabriel replied.

"Oh, I know it was God that wanted him back, but I will say 
thank you to him in my prayers like my Mommy taught me.  You 
still found him and brought him back to Mommy and me."

Gabriel knelt down to the little man's level.  He gazed fondly at
the trusting face turned up to his.  He leaned down and placed a
kiss on Gabe's forehead.

"I have a message for you to remember for your mother and father.
Tell them 'Gabriel and Michael have asked for forgiveness of the 
sinner at their door.  He will be important to God's plan.'  Can 
you repeat that message Little Gabe?"  

Gabe quickly repeated the message and started to ask more 
questions.

He was surprised to see Michael kneeling down to kiss him also.

"Tell no one of our visit except your parents.  They will know 
what to do with the knowledge of our visit and the message in the
near future."  The angel reached behind his back and plucked out
a feather from his wing.

"Goodbye my little friend."  Michael said as he handed Gabe 
the feather.

"Go back to your cousin now, William Gabriel."  Gabriel smiled.

Gabe crawled under the curtain and walked back down to his 
sleeping cousin Brenna.  He was suddenly very tied.  He crawled 
up on the bench and put his head back down on Brenna's coat, still
clutching the feather.

His eyes popped open and he sat up stroking his prize.

He unzipped the front pocket of the backpack and placed the 
feather in it for safekeeping.  With a huge yawn he lay back down 
and closed his eyes.

The two were still asleep when a commotion behind one of the 
curtains woke them.

Brenna realized she had been sleeping too long.  She looked down 
at the sleepy child and kissed him on the forehead to check his 
fever.  She was surprised to find him cool to the touch.  The 
mysterious fever was gone just as quickly as it had arrived.

She was suddenly unsure about subjecting Gabe to an emergency 
room experience without his mother.  She dialed the phone again 
but wasn't surprised to when there was no answer.  She decided she
would take Gabe home and try to contact Dana through Mr. Skinner.

As they exited the emergency room, the loud voices increased.  
There was a number of people running and pulling equipment into 
the curtained area.

Gabe looked over his cousin Brenna's shoulder and waved at the 
curtain area.

"Bye Daddy.  Get better.  See you soon."

He put his head down and quickly fell back to sleep.


XXXXXXXXXX

Alex Krycek was sweating bullets.  He had been summoned to the 
meeting place.  He was standing in the middle of the desert 
clearing as instructed.  The pick up time was only minutes away.
He was afraid he would hurl.  He began the same litany of self-talk
he used to psyche himself up with each time they brought him to 
the ship.

"Any show of rebellion will lead to your downfall.  Any display of
doubt or disgust will be deadly.  They only use you for your 
strength.  Any show of weakness will destroy your usefulness.  
You don't want to wind up like him."

The light was sudden and blinding.  The familiar feeling of 
vertigo swept over him.  He kept repeating the last sentence of
his mantra over and over as he was transported to the main cargo
area of the ship.

Krycek forced his rubber-band legs to support him.  He held his 
head high, shoulders back.  His only outward concession to the 
physical trauma of the transport was his closed eyes.  The smell 
of the place hit him like a brick wall.

He didn't think he could ever get used to the smell.  It was a 
smell that could not be defined by earthly words.  The first time
it had been repugnant and alluring at the same time.  Now the other
worldly odor repelled him-it took everything he had in him not to 
puke his guts out each time he was forced to meet with them.

Once again a silent trio of escorts met him.  He had never tried to
make small talk with these things.  Hell, they all looked the same
to him, he doubted he would know it if he saw the same one twice.

The walk through the ship was endless.  'You would think a species 
that can travel through space and has harnessed invisibility could 
find a way to incorporate elevators into their mode of 
transportation.'  He thought as they walked.  He had asked once why
they didn't just teleport themselves from room to room and had 
received a scathing reply that included a lecture on physical 
fitness and energy conservation.

As they came closer to the meeting room the lights grew brighter; 
it was a small concession to him.  This made it easier for him to 
see more details in the ship and the features of the alien guides.
He thought he did recognize one of the guides.  He was pretty sure
that the one in the lead was the one in charge of Mulder.


'Oh, shit!  Now what?  Have they finally killed that poor son of 
a bitch?'  He thought wildly.  'They probably want me to dispose 
of the body.  God!  Please don't let them tell me to bring them 
the boy.'  He realized immediately that he had to quit thinking 
about the boy.  He wasn't sure they could read his mind unless he
had been given the "treatment," but he didn't want to have a 
lingering thought about the boy to be exploited.

He was surprised when they walked by the area where they usually
met with him.  They continued down the hall and turned right.  
The bad feeling he had had about this meeting was growing into a
wave of fear.

He suddenly found himself praying as his Russian Grandmother had
taught him to so many years and lifetimes ago.  Buried prayers 
kept screaming through his mind.

'Dear God, please protect this sinner!  Jesus, hear my plea!  
Don't let me be next!'

They stopped in front of a doorway of sorts and turned, waiting
for him to enter.  Swallowing hard, he stepped into the room.  
The light in here was almost non-existent.  His eyes adjusted 
slowly and he realized that it was not a lack of light in the room
that caused his diminished ability to see.  It was the wavelength
of the light that made it near impossible for the human eye to 
discern details.  This was the lighting they used.

His ears strained to hear the small noise coming from the center
of the room that told him he was not alone.  He needed to put a
mental picture with the noise before the rats of fear that were
threatening to eat his mind won the battle and he fled in terror.  
Fled to his death.


He was left waiting.  He didn't know if this was a test or just 
their way.  Each time he had been summoned he was made to wait.  
Sometimes he thought they did it to see how long he could last 
before his imagination and memory caused him to break the silence 
they seemed to demand.

Once again he thought of his grandmother.  He stepped into a 
comfortable spread-legged position and let his arm fall loosely 
to his side.  He closed his eyes and withdrew into his mind.  It 
was a technique that had saved his life many times in the past.


He quickly tumbled back through the years to his first memories of 
his Grandmother.

She was an oddity.  She had caught the Czar's eye and had been 
plucked from her poor family and plopped into the middle of court 
life at a very early age.  He could remember the pictures of her 
that had been taken at Czar Nicholas II Court.  She had been 
acquired as a playmate/servant for Anastasia.  She was nothing more
than a very beautiful, very lucky, very smart peasant girl.  She was 
so smart in fact that she had seen how things were progressing and 
had had the good sense to be visiting her parents when the entire 
royal family had been destroyed.

She hid in plain sight.  Her luck held long enough for her to find
a position with an English family as a governess and quickly took 
the opportunity to outsmart the assassins that were searching to 
tie up all the loose ends of the coup.  Her passage from Russia 
had not stopped in England.  She had used her years there to live 
quietly and frugally.  When the time was right she had once again 
disappeared and fled to America.

She was a contradiction.  For all her brains and beauty she was 
still, at heart, a Russian peasant.  Her superstitious nature had
enraged her.  She began, quietly and privately studying religion.
She was trying to blot out any hold on her mind by any organized 
religion-a weakness in her book.  He remembered how she laughed 
when she told him her secret.  She had tried to prove the sham of
religion so fervently but had failed.

She became a Christian.  She believed with all her heart and soul 
in the Lord and His son, Jesus.  She never aligned with an 
organized religion.  Her fear of belonging to any organized and 
therefore identifiable group never left her.  She worshiped the 
Lord in her heart, in her mind, and in a constant rotation of 
churches of various sects in New York City.  A practice her 
American husband had found amusing.

She had married an American businessman.  She did not love her 
husband, but he worshipped her and the security she felt was 
enough.  She had only one child late in life, his father, as he 
had been his father's only child.  Alex believed with all his heart 
that the man who eventually married his widowed mother-his poor, 
weak, pathetic mother, had orchestrated his father's death.  
Beautiful to a fault and vain, she had chosen to fall into the 
offered marriage and stability it presented without trying to make 
a life for them.  It was clear to his Grandmother that there were 
dark intentions behind the bland smiling face of his stepfather.  
Two more children followed in quick session, but he never felt 
connected to them.  He only felt connected to his Grandmother.

She had prayed for his salvation until her dying day.  He had been
her favorite.  She saw herself in him.  He was smart, beautiful-even
as a child-and lucky.  His luck had run out, though when his mother
allowed his stepfather his way and he had been sold like a dumb 
animal to the organization that he now worked for under the guise 
of a good boarding school education.  Sometimes he felt like they 
had bought his soul as well as his body from his stepfather.

The time wore on and his thoughts drifted from his past back to his 
grandmother.  He wondered why she weighed so heavily on his mind 
recently.  Their many discussions about God and forgiveness had 
been constantly on his mind.  He mentally grunted.  Maybe he was 
tired.  Maybe he was tired of living.  Maybe he was trying to 
rationalize a way to let himself die-holding on to the thought of
salvation like a life preserver in a tidal wave.  Maybe he was too
close to the devil for comfort.

The lights in the room changed.  The low lights revealed a sight 
that had haunted Krycek's dreams for almost three years now.  The 
tank in the middle of the room containing Fox Mulder or what was 
left of him became visible.  From the far side of the room a 
number of the aliens entered and flanked the controls.

The tank began to drain and Mulder to stir.  Dear God, how could 
this man still be alive?  His body was impaled at his wrists and 
ankles in a chair-like apparatus that obviously, though not visibly,
was attached to his bodily functions thru other orifices.  There 
were glowing green tubes implanted directly into his brain.

The liquid that was draining was a nutritional preservation-based 
substance that was obviously doing its job.  While he was entombed 
in the liquid it provided all the oxygen and nutrition his body 
required, even keeping his muscular structure at a functioning 
level.  To increase his body's adaptation to its original state, 
the silent watchers tuned various instruments as the level receded.

Krycek's stomach roiled and he was able to control it only by sheer
strength of will.  Swallowing convulsively he maintained the calm
exterior that marked him as one of them.  Inside he felt a part 
of him changing-or was that dying?  He had to hold on to his cool 
until he was off the ship.  He had to stop thinking.

As they completed the removal of the tank and lifelines, Mulder 
began to regain consciousness.  His reaction to the pain of the 
various procedures was minimal until it came to the removal of the
tubes to his brain.

The howls of agony and pain that came from him were beyond human.
He finally dropped back into unconsciousness and they quickly 
completed the removal of all the remaining implements.  Krycek was
amazed to watch them reseal his skull leaving almost no evidence 
of tampering.  They were capable of doing this amazing healing, 
yet they openly ignored the wounds on his ankles and wrists.  
Soon Mulder was sitting in a pool of blood.  If someone didn't 
do something soon, he would slowly bleed out.

Perhaps that was what they wanted.

One of the aliens that had been working on Mulder broke away 
from the group and approached Krycek.  The words were not spoken, 
yet Alex heard them loud and clear.

"We have a mission for you.  We have agreed to allow certain 
factions on your world access to this specimen's unique 
abilities.  It has learned how to completely shut us out of its
mind.  It is of little value to us as it is.  We have agreed to
their proposal and are releasing it to their breeding program.  
We will be able to utilize its offspring as a replacement for it.
Either it will cooperate to save them or they will be used in its
stead."

"We will drop you off at these co-ordinates..."

A blinding flash of white light filled the room.  A sound not 
unlike a thousand trumpets echoed around the room.  In the quiet
that followed the blast of noise, the sound of strong wings beating 
hung in the air.

All the aliens were blinded by the light.  Their superior mental 
strength stupefied by the intensity of it-they fell back toward 
the walls.  It looked as if some were dead.

Krycek fell to his knees as his eyes adjusted and he realized what 
had appeared before him.

Flanking either side of Mulder were two beings that could only be 
described as angels.  They were big, muscular, and tall.  They had 
wings affixed upon their backs that probably had a span of 13 to 15 
feet when opened.

The leader of the aliens raised an implement of some sort and 
pointed it at the two angels.  A wave that seemed to wrinkle space
flashed forward.  As quickly as the wave lashed out, it was not quick
enough.  


The angel nearest the weapon moved quicker than the eye could 
follow and stood between Mulder and the wave.  As it reached him
it simply dissipated.  There was no clap of thunder or rending 
of reality.  The angel then raised his hand and pointed at the 
alien leader.

Krycek did not hear one spoken word, but it appeared that there 
was a furious exchange going on between the angel and the alien 
leader.  It was obvious who was the winner in the exchange as all 
the surviving aliens backed out of the room-eyes on the angels.

The fierce looking angel then turned to him and beckoned him 
forward.  Alex couldn't move.  He jerked as if he were shot when
the second angel spoke his name.

"Alexi," he heard his Grandmother's pet name for him called.

"This cannot be happening!" his frantic mind was telling him.

"Alexander Nicholas Krycek!  You are being summoned to safety.  
Join us or die."  The fierce angel roared.

This jolted Alex back to his feet and he stepped tentatively forward.
When he was within two feet of the angels and Mulder, he stopped.

The second angel reached out and took his arm, high enough to be 
grasping his arm not his prosthetic, pulling him close to his side.
He then took Mulder's arm with his other hand.  The fierce angel 
grasped Mulder's other arm.

"Cover your eyes Alex."  Came the command.  With his eyes closed
he realized he could hear the sound of the aliens returning.  Their
slithery steps sounded in the halls outside the chamber. It sounded
as if there were hundreds of them returning for battle as they 
began flowing into the chamber.  His eyes popped open.  They were 
surrounded.

The alien leader stepped to the front staring intently at them.  
A mental exchange was again made-a demand from the alien, met 
with an ultimatum from the angel.  The alien must have signaled 
for an attach and all the weapons in the chamber fired in unison.

"Alex!"  He immediately covered his eyes again.

Not two seconds later a blinding light surrounded the four.  
Vertigo washed over Alex.  He somehow knew they were not on the 
ship any longer, but he had no idea where they were when he opened
his eyes.

A white haze surrounded him.  The only things he could distinguish
were the three others.  The two angels were holding Mulder between
them.

"Who are you?"  Alex managed to croak out.

"We are Michael and Gabriel, angels of the one true God."  The 
friendlier angel said.

"What's going on?"  Alex was still slightly muddled, but a fierce 
thirst for knowledge washed over him.

"We have been sent to right a wrong."

"Oh, yeah, Mulder."

"Yes, Mulder, Alex, but also for you."  Michael, the fierce-looking
angel said.

"Me?"

"You are one of God's children.  It saddens him to see you stray so 
far from his word.  We have been sent to give you one last message."

Alex Krycek could barely force the words out.  "What's the message?"

"Believe and Repent, Alex Krycek.  God and His Son, Jesus has a 
special task for you, but first you must Believe and Repent."

"I, I do believe.  My Grandmother taught me to know the Lord.  I 
couldn't accept Him after all that happened to me as a child.  
Why would God Almighty let things like that happen to a child?  
I prayed for his help everyday, but no help came.  The abuse 
continued, the tests continued, the cruelty continued until I gave 
up my dream of salvation by God and became one of them to escape 
the pain of being human.  Why?  Why do so many children suffer?"

"God only knows the reasoning of the universe.  But, Alex Krycek, 
know this.  God Almighty has protected you your entire life.  How 
many others did not survive the cruelty you were subjected to?  How 
many others killed themselves as adults?  How many others have never
questioned the right of their actions?  God protected you 
physically  by helping you live through the pain, both mental and 
physical and keeping you strong.  He protected the kernel of good 
that survived in your heart and kept it from the sight of others 
that would have killed you out-of-hand if they had an inkling of 
your inner conflict.  You had to have had help to survive.  What 
did not kill you, made you strong."  Gabriel spoke.

"With all you know, with all you have seen, do you still reject the
path of God?  Think before speaking.  Much rests on your decision."

Alex closed his eyes and forced his mind to consider the question.  
Reject God?  Impossible.  Even before he had seen the angels, he 
knew God existed.  His Grandmother's words had been branded into 
his heart.  He had just chosen to not listen to them as he grew up.
Some people claimed that there was no God.  He always knew that 
God was real.  He had, after all been in the company of evil, Satan
if you would, and he knew Satan believed in God and feared Him.

He was tired of evil.  Even before this moment, he had wanted to 
change.  His heart was tortured by the evil he had become.  He 
believed and accepted God and His son Jesus but had feared he had 
done too much to ever be forgiven by them.

As he was thinking this last thought a feeling of warmth and peace
flowed through his being.

"As Jesus forgave the thief on the cross next to him, he can and
has forgiven you.  All you need to do is ask, sincerely, and He 
and His Son will welcome you with open arms."

Once again Alex fell to his knees.  He bowed his head and asked 
the Lord into his heart-begging for forgiveness for his sins.  
Tears of gratitude washed down his face.  He felt at peace.

"Alex.  Please rise.  Our time here is coming to an end.  We have
much to tell you before we part."  Gabriel said.

"Your path is still not going to be an easy one.  You are one of 
God's warriors now and must be strong.  You will be returned to 
the spot you were picked up.  You must gird yourself with the word
of the Lord.  You have knowledge of the enemy that will be of 
great assistance in the coming war.  Mulder will need your 
assistance in the future.  You are to be at his left hand in the
war to come."

"Mulder?  He looks like he's dying, how can he fight the war?"  
Alec said sadly.

"He is stronger than he looks.  The Lord had provided for him 
and will continue to make him strong.  He has given him what he 
needs in this life to survive and succeed in the coming days."  
Michael said.

"Even if, when, he does recover, he won't let me help him.  I have 
hurt and betrayed him several times in the past.  He and Scully 
will never believe that I am truly changed."  Alex again spoke the
truth in his heart.

"You must put your trust and faith in the strength of the Lord-not
in past worldly happenings.  All has been arranged.  Mulder will 
accept your assistance.  All surrounding him will accept your help.
A sign has been arranged.  You will need this."  Gabriel said.

Alex watched with wide eyes as Gabriel reached behind him and 
plucked a long white feather from his wing and held it out to him.

"You will know what to do when the time arrives.  For now, go, 
learn, and grow in the Lord.  You must put on the Whole Armor of 
God, Alex Krycek, and you will find many out there who will help 
you fashion this armor.  Listen to them; seek the council of God 
and his Son Jesus; pray as you have never prayed before.  When the
time is right, all will be revealed."

Alex reached out to accept the feather.  "Thank you, both." was all
he could say.  As he grasped the feather, he felt vertigo flush over
him again.  He closed his eyes and tried find his sense of balance.

When he opened his eyes, he was once again standing in the clearing.
He wondered if he had dreamed the entire sequence of events.  His 
eyes rose to the heavens to search for some sign of what had or 
had not happened.

His eyes widened at the sight of the alien ship falling out of 
the sky.  It was angled for a crash landing; there was no doubt 
in Alex's mind.  The cloaking devise was no longer hiding the huge
ship and it was plunging towards the earth out of control.  Even 
though the ship did not fall from a great height, the impact was 
heard and felt for hundreds of miles.

Alex once again fell to his knees.  He realized that his very 
life had depended on how he had answered the calling of the Lord.
He bowed his head, closing his eyes and began to clasp his fingers
in clumsy prayer of thanks.

His eyes popped open as he realized what he still grasped in his
hand.

Gabriel's feather.




Author's notes:  This is the first of a three part alternate 
universe story.  I am aware that there are many X Files fanfic 
fans who are not Christian-but Scully is and so am I.  I am not 
trying to push my beliefs onto anyone, nor the beliefs of any 
particular organized religion.  I feel I have as much right to
write what I would like to read as anyone else who chooses to 
write Slash or Torture stories.  If you did not enjoy it, please
don't read the balance of the stories.  If you did-whatever your
beliefs-I would appreciate hearing from you at FatCat926@msn.com.



Title:       Gabriel's Feather (Part 2 of 3)
Author:      FatCat (FatCat926@msn.com)

Dana Scully sighed with relief as she crawled into bed.  'I hate 
pulling out-of-town night stakeout duty.'  She thought to herself.
She closed her eyes and was instantly asleep.  It seemed like a
minute later when her cell phone rang.  Not her FBI issued phone, 
not her room phone, but her secure phone.  The one the Gunmen had 
given her for emergencies.  With her heart racing, she dove to pull 
it out of her suitcase.

"Scully!"  She said on the fifth ring.

"Ah, Dana, It's Brenna.  Everything is all right, almost.  I mean...
Gabriel is fine, I mean okay."  Now that she had actually gotten in 
touch with Dana, Brenna was at a loss as to what to tell her 
without causing her to panic.

"Brenna, slow down.  Why are you calling if Gabriel is okay?"

"Well, he spiked a fever so I took him to the ER last night-but 
don't worry, the fever went away.  I'm sorry Dana, I tried to call 
you but there was no answer on the secure phone earlier and you 
told me not to use the Bureau unless it was a dire emergency.  I 
couldn't get hold of Aunt Margaret and I was scared.  It came up so 
suddenly.  Just as suddenly as it went away.  Now he wants to talk 
to his mommy."

"You did the right thing, Brenna.  You say his fever is down?"  
Dana asked, wide-awake now.

"Yes, it went away while we were waiting in the ER.  I just left.  
I didn't want to subject him to any kind of tests without your 
permission or yourself being there."

"Brenna, what's he doing now?  Can I talk to him now?"

"Yes, I'll get him."  Brenna said.  She beckoned Gabriel over to 
her and gave him the phone.

"Hi, Mommy."

"Hi, Sweetie.  How are you feeling?"

"I feel good now.  I'm hungry.  Can I have some more cereal?"

"Sure, Honey, let me talk to Brenna, and I'll tell her it's okay."
She could hear him jubilantly telling Brenna he could have more 
cereal as he handed her the phone.

"Dana?  When are you coming home?"  Brenna sounded worried.

"I can't come home until the investigation is done, Brenna, but Mom 
will be home this morning.  If you'd feel more comfortable, why 
don't you give her a call and go stay with her for a couple days.  
At least until we make sure Gabe isn't coming down with something.
Don't worry, you did the right thing."  Dana was startled by her 
room phone ringing.  "Hold on, Brenna, this may be Mom on the other
phone now."

Dana put the secured phone down and answered the room phone.  
Brenna heard her voice rising and finally the phone slamming down.

"Brenna, I'm coming home on the next flight.  My car's at the 
airport, I don't need a ride.  I have an emergency at the office.  
I'll get home as soon as I can.  Call my Mom and get over there as 
quickly as possible.  I'll be able to check in with you both at the 
same time that way-can you do that for me?"  Dana was throwing her 
possessions into her suitcase as she spoke.  After reassuring 
Brenna once more, they said goodbye.

With a quick glance around the room, she dashed to the car and put
her suitcase in the trunk; she returned to Doggett's door and 
pounded to get him up.

"Agent Doggett!  Doggett wake up!  John I need to talk to you!"  
Scully shouted.

"Hold on to your horses, Agent Scully.  I'm packing.  Skinner 
called me, too.  I'll be out in two minutes.  Go settle the bill.
I've already called Agent Meadows to let them know we're leaving."

Scully sprinted to the front office and completed the transaction.
She hurried back to the car only to find Agent Doggett in the 
driver's seat.

"What are you doing?  I'll drive.  You drive like an old man."  
Scully shouted.

"I'm driving and that's that, Agent Scully.  You get in and call 
the airport.  Skinner said to spare no expense in returning ASAP."  
Doggett replied in his calm way.

"Fine!"  Scully slammed the door to the passenger side and growled
at him.  "Get moving!"

"Seatbelt, Agent Scully."  Agent Doggett said with a half smile.  
Even as he was teasing her, he started the car.  They made it to 
the airport in plenty of time to board the flight to Washington DC 
that had been held at the terminal for them.

As soon as the flight was in the air, Scully tried to relax.  She 
turned to Doggett and said, "Agent Doggett, thank you for getting 
us here on time.  I apologize for shouting at you.  I'm just a 
little shaken right now."

"If what they say is true, I think you have a right to be all shook 
up."  Doggett replied.

"I don't want to talk about it, Agent Doggett."  

"I understand; it's personal."  Came his terse reply.

"No, I don't think you do understand.  I just don't want to jinx 
it.  I know that's not a rational thought, but it's how I feel 
right now."  Dana offered a small smile before closing her eyes and 
settling in for the four-hour flight.

"Don't forget to wake me up when we land."  John teased her.

They arrived in Washington seven hours and twenty-one minutes from 
the moment Mary Alice Hanks, R.N. had entered the curtained cubicle
in the ER at Georgetown General Hospital and found the space 
occupied by a naked unconscious man.

Mary Alice had worked the ER for seven years.  It was her first 
rotation during nurses training, and had remained her first love 
after she graduated.  She thought she had seen everything, but that 
conviction was proven wrong by the appearance of the John Doe.  Her 
first inclination was to get security to roust him and call the DC 
police to have him locked up while he slept off his drug of choice.  

This was a heck of a way to start a 12-hour shift.  As she moved 
closer to the man to try to wake him, she reassessed her opinion 
quickly.  This man was not drunk, he had no odor of alcohol on his 
person; he was not high, his pupils were normal.  He was bleeding 
from wounds at his wrists and ankles.  As she moved further around 
the gurney, she notices that there was a slow drip of blood from 
the side of the gurney to the floor originating from his hip area.  
She also noticed that his skin indicated that he was severely 
dehydrated and he appeared to be in shock.

She moved to the cabinet next to the wall and pulled out a sheet 
and a warming blanket, covering the man as best she could.  She 
whipped the curtain closed behind her and moved quickly to the 
nurse's station.

"Who admitted the man in curtain 10-13?"  She asked to everyone 
there.

"There shouldn't be anyone in that cubicle.  We don't have a team 
assigned to cover it."  Jeff, the scheduling clerk said.

"Well, I don't know where he came from, but there's someone in 
there now and we have a stat situation.  We need a trauma doc here
now!"  She turned on her heel and rushed back to the cubicle.  As 
she reached up to whip open the curtain a movement on her left
caught her attention.  She turned to look down the hall and saw a 
small woman and little boy exiting the hospital.  The little boy 
was looking towards her.  She wasn't certain, but she thought he 
waved and said something as they left.

'Damn!'  She thought.  'It's always the little ones that get pushed 
aside.'  

The rest of the trauma team charged down the hall to join her and 
the two disappeared from sight and mind as she joined the battle to 
save the life of their newest John Doe.

As soon as he was somewhat stabilized, the DC police were called.  
Anyone in this condition had to have been criminally assaulted and 
a report needed to be filed.

The biggest surprise of the night came when he woke up enough to
scream a name.  "SCULLY!!!!"  It must have taken every spare 
scrap of his strength because he fell back into unconsciousness
again as soon as he said it.

"What did he say?"  Dr. Berger, the trauma doc de jour asked.

"I think it was a name."  Said Janeen, the surgical nurse that had 
answered the code.

"It was Scully."  Mary Alice said.  "Why?"

"It just sounds familiar."  Berger replied as he quickly assessed 
the needs of the John Doe.

"Say, wasn't that the same name that was on the board for the 
little boy with the fever?"  Janeen supplied.

"I don't know about that, but, I know I remember seeing it 
somewhere."  

Mary Alice knew that Dr. Berger was sure or he wouldn't have said 
it aloud.  You could always count on him for not wasting time with 
useless information and chit chat.

Many tense moments passed until the John Doe was stabilized at 
last.  Dr. Berger stood looking at him.

"It looks as if this man has been to hell and back," he mused.  
"Ha!"  He said as he quickly turned and walked out of the area only 
to return within minutes.

"I knew I had heard of the name Scully before!  Look here!  This 
has been posted in the lounge area for so long that it's 
practically unreadable.  I bet I know who our John Doe is.  Fox 
Mulder.  It says here that he's an FBI agent that was abducted 
about 4 years ago.  Special Agent Dana Scully is the person to 
contact.  I already gave the number to Jeff to get the call in to 
the FBI."

"Nice work, Doc!"  Mary Alice said.  "Both on the name and the 
patch job."  She smiled as they cleaned up.  The Tech from 
Intensive care arrived to the transport Mulder up to the ICU.

"Take special care of this one, he's had a really rough time" Mary 
Alice told him as she signed off the chart and helped push him out 
of the curtain and toward the elevator.

As soon as he was out of sight he was out of mind for the staff at 
the ER.  The next life and death situation had hit the door-
apartment fire victims.

Mary Alice forgot about Agent Mulder until exactly eight hours and 
twelve minutes after his discovery.  She looked up from the nurse's 
station and glanced through the one-way glass to the registration 
and administrative area of the ER.  It looked as if a whirlwind had 
swept into town.

A petite redhead dressed in a killer black suit, and a black coat
that was probably cashmere strode up to the admitting desk and 
flashed what appeared to be an identification badge of some sort.  
Her bearing was regal.  She looked like a queen and in her wake 
strode five unlikely companions.  Three were in suits.  There was a 
tall, good-looking though balding man in glasses that instantly 
interested Mary Alice.  He seemed to be the next in command.  The 
other two suits were attractive enough, but nothing like the hunk 
in glasses.  The other two men were dressed almost as if in 
costumes and irreverently reminded Mary Alice of court jesters.  As 
the conversation escalated, she decided the entire situation needed 
her personal attention.  She felt slightly embarrassed to realize 
it was a ploy to meet the Big Guy in glasses.  She mentally
shrugged.  She didn't care.  Mary Alice was intrigued.

She picked up a chart and pushed through the connecting door, 
feigning interest in the chart.  She approached the desk and 
eavesdropped unobtrusively.

Her eyes were drawn to the redhead when she heard the intimidated 
and irritated clerk respond.  

"Ms. Scully..."

"Dr. Scully."  The redhead interrupted.

"Doctor Scully, I don't have an admitting entry for a Fox Mulder 
any time in the past 24 hours.  You'll just have to go to admitting 
or wait until the administrative offices are open and check with 
them."

"Ms. Brill, isn't it?  I have waited for over 4 years for this 
man to turn up.  I feel I need to warn you that I am armed and at 
the end of my patience.  Find the damn information right now, or 
there will be consequences to face."

"What Dr. Scully means, Ms. Brill," the Big Guy (as Mary Alice 
thought of him) said, "is that you may have had a drop-in here.  A 
John Doe perhaps?"

"Excuse me, Tami?"  Mary Alice interjected as she saw Tami begin to 
shake her head.

"Yes, Nurse Hanks?"  Tami Brill seemed eager for the assistance.

"I believe that the individual these people are looking for was 
treated in the ER and transported moments ago up to ICU.  You don't 
have the information, Tami, because he didn't come in through the 
regular channels."

Her words drew everyone's attention.  She blushed slightly as the 
Big Guy directed his gaze to her.  She knew he was all business but 
was pleased to notice the look he gave her included a quick 
inspection of her as a woman as well as a possible source of 
information.

"Ms. Hanks?  Did you see Agent Mulder in the ER?"  He asked her.

"Yes, I was the one who found him.  He's been stabilized and 
transported upstairs."  She didn't take her eyes off him until the 
redhead spoke.

"Nurse Hanks, is he...is he going to be alright?"  All the bluster 
seemed to have left this woman as she asked the only question she 
cared about.  "Is he going to live?"

"I think I can assure you that he is not in danger of physical 
collapse at this moment.  Dr. Berger was the trauma doc that 
treated him.  Would you like to speak to him before you go 
upstairs?"  There was something about this woman that made you want 
to help her.

"Yes.  No.  I don't know.  I want to get to him as soon as possible 
but I need to know how he is."  She seemed to wilt in front of 
their eyes.

"Dr. Scully," she said, "I think you will have time to check with 
Dr. Berger now.  I don't think they will let you in to see him 
until he is settled.  "I know he'll want to see you.  You're the 
one he called for during the brief moment he was conscious.  Just 
step down that hall and I will let you in the ER."

"Thank you, Nurse Hanks.  I would like to speak to you as well, 
later, if you will."  She flashed a small smile towards me and I 
knew why all these men were in her wake.  She was beautiful, inside 
and out.

Mary Alice nodded and stepped back through the door to the ER.  She 
moved to the hall entry and opened it as Dr. Scully and the Big Guy 
stepped up.  He was surreptitiously supporting her with a hand at 
her elbow.  The rest of the troupe waited in the ER chairs.

The two FBI Agents entered the open area and stopped.  Mary Alice 
had motioned for them to wait as she moved away to find Dr. Berger.  
Fortunately he was available and anxious to speak to the two 
agents.  Mary Alice stayed with the trio at the request of Dr. 
Scully.  She found out the Big Guy's name was Walter Skinner.  She 
shivered a little each time he turned to look at her-which was 
frequently if she did say so herself.

As the conversation came to an end, she watched as Walter Skinner 
handed Dr. Berger his card, requesting he be contacted if any 
further information became known.  She was surprised when he 
hesitated then turned back to address her personally.  Writing 
something on the second card he spoke directly to her.

"If you think of anything, Ms. Hanks, please feel free to contact 
me directly.  I have put my private numbers on the back.  Don't 
hesitate to use them."  His hand extended toward her holding out 
his card.  She lowered her eyes from his and looked at the card in 
his hand.  She reached for the card and was slightly surprised when 
he held on to it for a moment as her fingers closed over it.

Her eyes flashed back to his and a small smile slid onto her face.  
"Ali, please.  All my friends call me Ali, Mr. Skinner."

"Walter," was all he said and he smiled.

She definitely was going to use those numbers.  She watched as the 
duo quickly walked back through the door to the admitting area to 
gather the rest of their troupe.  She wasn't sure what had just 
happened, but she was sure she liked it.  She couldn't wait until 
the rest of her shift was over.  She was going to stop by the ICU 
before she left, just to check up on her patient, of course.

The six individuals that stopped at the ICU Nurse's Station drew 
every eye in the room.  Three of the group flashed FBI badges 
requesting to see Fox Mulder aka John Doe that had just arrived.  

Marcia Snow, the Nursing Supervisor was not going to allow them 
access to their newest patient until the small redhead said:

"Please.  He's been missing for over four years.  He's...he's my 
husband."

All the male heads in the group did a joint swivel to gape at her 
then to exchange shocked looks.

"Please."  It was almost a whisper.

"Very well, Dr. Scully, but only you for now."  Marcia said.  She 
had her doubts that the marriage claim was true, but she could tell 
the emotional attachment was there.

They disappeared down the hall to the last door on the left.

Dana Scully stopped at the glass wall and gave a small smile to 
Nurse Snow.  "Thank you.  Could I, could we have a few minutes 
alone?"

"Of course."  Came the reply.  Dana slowly walked toward the sheet-
covered figure of Fox Mulder.  She prayed it was truly Mulder-she 
would only be sure after the tests returned.

As she stepped closer she sucked her breath in at the sight before 
her.  He had suffered.  He had multiple wounds and bruises.  Large 
scars of poorly healed incisions marked his chest and arms.  His 
face displayed multiple healed wounds.  There were abrasions on his 
forehead where he had been recently restrained.  The bandages on 
his wrists showed he had been injured, probably restrained, there 
as well.

She looked beyond the injured body and saw only the man that she 
loved.  She knew he was the real Fox Mulder.  She could feel his 
presence in her heart.

"Oh, Mulder.  What did they do to you?"  She groaned and stifled a 
sob.

She extended a trembling hand to his face and using her fingers 
like a blind person, read the contours and features of the man she 
loved.  She bowed her head in a prayer of thanks and quietly 
sniffed her amen.  She softly leaned over and pressed her lips to 
his as she reached for his hand and gently squeezed it.

She was shocked when she felt the small gesture returned.  She 
quickly looked down and saw his fingers close around hers slightly.

When he croaked out a "Hey you.  Love you Scully...", she glanced
again at his face.

"Mulder" she breathed.  She lowered her lips to his again and 
kissed him with all the love in her heart.

He looked toward the nightstand and she instantly realized he was 
thirsty.

"I cannot give you a drink, Mulder, but I can get them in here to 
give you a swab with something to wet your mouth and lips."  She 
turned to leave and was stopped by his cry of pain.

"No!" was all he was able to get out, but she recognized his need 
for her not to leave.

She smiled.  "Of course.  I won't leave you."  She reached over him 
to grab the call button.  Nurse Snow instantly answered it and 
arrangements were made to make Mulder more comfortable.

She gently settled on the side of the bed still holding his hand.  
Soft words of comfort were a balm to his soul and began healing him 
better and faster than any 21st century medicine was able.  Before 
too long, Mulder was sleeping peacefully.

After checking his chart, Scully gently moved from his side and out 
the door to update her friends.

"He's Mulder."  She said with a deep sigh of relief.

"Of course he is, we didn't think you'd stay for 10 seconds if it 
weren't."  Frohike interjected.  The rest of the men frowned him 
into silence.

"He's hurt, but according to his chart he doesn't have any serious 
injuries other than dehydration and shock.  The wounds on his body 
are serious, but not terminal.  Of course, there's an entire 
battery of tests we need to perform in order to make sure he's 
okay.  I'm going to call my mother and Brenna and then head back 
in.  I'm going to stay here tonight.  I'll have my Mother bring in 
some clothes for me tomorrow."  She walked back toward his room, 
stopping a few feet away and turning back to the group.

"Thank you all for...everything.  I don't seem to be able to 
concentrate on anything but getting back to him.  Please forgive 
me."  A beautiful smile transformed her face even as tears began to 
flow.  "Damn!  I'm just so happy!"

"Well, I never thought I'd see the day."  Agent John Doggett said 
as the door shut behind her.

All the other men glared at him in askance.

"I never thought I'd see the day Agent Scully was happy enough to 
cry, but I'm damn glad I lived long enough to see it!"  He said 
with a smile.

All the other men slowly agreed with him as they quietly moved 
from the hushed atmosphere of the ICU.

A quick huddle in the waiting room produced a plan of action.

"Agent Doggett, you need to get a team in here to interview 
everyone in the ER who treated him this morning.  You guys need to 
get home and start looking for information..." Skinner's cell phone 
interrupted him.

"Skinner."  His face became a mask.  "I understand sir.  Yes, I 
will get in touch with Agent Doggett and we'll meet the team there.  
No.  Agent Scully just requested an emergency personal leave of 
absence and I granted it just a few minutes ago.  It's personal, 
sir, I didn't get the details.  I took her word for it.  Perhaps, 
sir, I do know her son was just at the ER for an unexplained fever.  
I'll contact Agent Reyes instead.  Yes, sir.  Immediately."  He hit 
the end button and looked at his companions.

"That was the Director of the FBI.  There's been a crash of a 
'large unidentified object' in rural Nebraska.  Agent Doggett and I 
are to take a military transport that's waiting for us at the 
Pentagon to the site.  This changes everything.  Doggett, you and I 
will meet the transport.  I'll call in SAC Edwards to cover the ER 
and Reyes to meet us at the plane.  Byers, Langley and Frohike, 
it's up to you to get everything you can together from all your 
sources.  This could mean that Colonization has just started."

They quickly disbursed, each with their own thoughts.

'Damn!  I'll have to wait to talk to the lovely Nurse Hanks until 
this is all over.'  From Walter Skinner, and then guilt for letting 
personal thoughts interfere with duty.

'Scully was right.  He was returned!'  From Agent Doggett and 
Byers.

'Mulder's back.  Cool.'  From Langley and Frohike.

Maggie, Brenna, and Gabriel arrived at the hospital at nine the 
next morning.  Maggie and Brenna had had little sleep after the 
shocking call from Dana.  They weren't as surprised as they should 
have been to hear the news of the crash in Nebraska.  They assumed 
correctly that Fox Mulder had been brought back to the Earth on an 
alien ship of some sort.  And no matter what the press was saying 
about the crash, it was probably the very same ship that had caused 
the explosion in Nebraska.

They were surprised at the number of large men with guns guarding 
all the entrances to the ICU.  Only after producing multiple ID's 
was Maggie allowed to turn over the overnight bag of clothing she 
had assembled for Dana.  It was still almost a half hour before 
Dana rushed out to walk them through the security to Mulder's room.

She picked up Gabriel and held him close to her heart for a moment 
before speaking.

"Honey, do you know why you're here this morning?"  She asked him.

"'Cuz I had a fever last night?"  He concluded.

"No, Sweetie, it seems like your fever is gone.  You're here 
because a very good thing happened last night."

"You came home, that was good."  He said with a smile that was all 
Mulder.

"Yes, I came home."  She said at a loss as to how to tell him about 
the return of his father.

"Daddy came home last night too!"  Gabriel said watching his 
mother's face for the truth of his statement.

There was a collective gasp from all three women.  How did he know?

"What makes you think that Daddy came home last night, Gabe?"  Dana 
was finally able to ask.

"I don't know" he said at first, then after reflection he 
continued.  "I think I dreamed it when I was asleep."

"Gabe, however you knew about Daddy, you are right!  He's here and 
he's going to be okay.  Right now he's sleeping so I can't take you 
in to meet him, but I will soon.  I have arranged for all of us to 
have a room next to Mulder's for a while.  I have some new books 
for you, sweetie.  Do you want to go with Agent Haskins and look at 
them while Gramma, Brenna, and I talk for a few minutes?"

Gabriel gave his mother a look that he had given her for the last 
year, and agreed.  He and Agent Haskins moved to the safe room and 
out of sight.

"What was that all about?"  Maggie asked laughing.

"The look?  It's something he's done for a while now.  I call it 
the 'I know you want to discuss something you think is too grown up 
for me to understand so I'll cooperate now and find out later' 
look.  He started it at Christmas time ast year."  Dana smiled 
as she shook her head.  "He's so smart and intuitive.  He's 
so...so...Mulder."  This was all she could say to describe her
wonderful child.

Dana brought herself back to the present situation.  She motioned 
them to follow and entered Mulder's room.  After a few minutes of 
gazing at Mulder, they moved to the corner to confer quietly.

"I have some bad news.  I received a call from AD Skinner.  He 
feels it would be best if you two were taken to a safe house until 
Mulder is out of danger.  The 'satellite crash' and explosion in 
Nebraska that's been on the news may be a cover-up for the 
beginning of colonization-or not.  We don't know anything right 
now, except we need to take precautions to protect Gabriel and you 
two.  Anyone close to Mulder and I could be in jeopardy."

Dana watched their faces for their reactions.  Brenna's eyes were 
shinning at the thoughts of an adventure.  She was very much like 
Melissa-such a free spirit.  Maggie just closed her eyes and gave a 
sigh.

"Mom, I'm sorry.  I know you feel this is all too paranoid, but 
this came from AD Skinner.  I think we should trust his judgment."

"Dana, I accept that this is a necessary, though irritating action.  
I was just thinking of Billy and Charlie and their families.  What 
about them?"  

"Mom, I didn't want to tell you because I know that this will make 
it more real and frightening.  Both Bill and Charlie and their 
entire families have been moved into a protective situation at AD 
Skinner's behest.  They are safe.  We just cannot contact them 
until this is settled.  I'm sorry."  Dana hugged her mother as she 
started to cry.

"It's alright, honey," Maggie said sniffling.  "I wish I could have 
them here, but I'm just glad they're safe."

"There's more.  We cannot tell Mulder anything about the crash 
until he's healthier.  Skinner, Doggett, and Reyes are handling it.  
It's imperative that Mulder regains his strength.  Do you both 
understand how important this is?  He may be the key to winning 
this war, if a war has really started."

The other two women nodded.  A silence fell over the group as they 
all hugged each other for comfort.

"Scully?"  Mulder was stirring.

Dana moved quickly to his bed and slid her hand into his.  "Hey.  
You're awake."  She leaned over to press her lips to his forehead.

"Do I have a fever?"  He gently chuffed.

"You always did know me too well, Mulder."  She smiled.  "No, you 
don't have a fever right now."  Doctor Scully was twinkling 
through.  

"Mulder, Mom's here."  Dana turned to hold her hand out for her 
mother.  "And my cousin Brenna from Ireland."

"All the lovely Scully women, just for me."  Mulder said frowning 
as Maggie stepped forward and kissed him.  "Am I dying then?"

A bark of laughter, the first honest laughter Dana had felt in many 
days, burst from her lips.  "No, Mulder.  You're going to be fine.  
At least we think so.  We'll know if there's anything hidden after 
we do a series of tests when you're a little stronger.  Do you feel 
like you're dying?"

"No, I feel...thirsty.  Hungry.  Happy.  What day is it?  How long 
have I been gone?"

"First things, first, Mulder.  We need to get you something to 
drink a little more nourishment than the IV drip can get into you.  
And we need to get you cleaned up."  She smiled at him.  Turning to 
the other women she said.  "If you wouldn't mind joining Agent 
Haskins, I'll see you in a little while."

Scully turned to look at Mulder again.  She stood there in 
uncharacteristic indecision.  Where to begin?

"Scully, are you gazing at me?  It looks like you are trying to 
think about whether to slap me for disappearing or kiss me for 
returning?"  Mulder said with his best sweet little boy look on his 
face.  He was shocked when she burst into tears.

"Scully?"  He said gently.

She shook her head and turned away, walking toward the door.  "I'll 
get you some water."

"Scully!"  The panic voice was back.  "Don't leave me.  Don't go!"

Dana rushed back to his side, quickly wiping the tears from her 
face.  "I'm here Mulder.  I won't leave.  I just forgot for a 
second.  I'll use the call button.  It's okay."  She said as she 
gently soothed his distress.

"Sorry.  I can't seem to let you out of my sight right now.  
Sorry."  He said, shame and regret in his voice.

Dana quickly used the call button and waited for the nurse to 
respond.  After a quiet discussion with her at the door, she 
returned to Mulder's side.

His face was turned away from her.  A single tear slid down his 
cheek.  It rolled down his jaw to his neck.  As she watched it, 
something inside of her crumbled.  Her own tears began to fall gain 
in earnest.  She clicked the lever on the side rail of the bed and 
lifted the sheet.

"Move over."  She whispered.  He weakly managed to slide over
enough for her to slip into the bed next to him.  She scooted up in 
the bed so that she could lift his head and put her arm under it.  
She turned onto her side and after pulling the sheet up over them, 
wrapped her other arm across his back protectively.  Together they
cried.

His tears were for all the unhappiness he thought he saw in her 
eyes and the time they had lost-no matter how long or short a 
period that it was.

Her tears were a mixed bag of regret and happiness.  They had lost 
so many years to responsibilities and obligations to others.  When 
he had flashed his sweet little boy look he had reminded her how 
much Gabriel looked like him.  The happiest part of this whole 
reunion-and if she were truthful the saddest-would be telling him 
about Gabriel.

She reached over and got tissues for them.  They both began to 
laugh sheepishly as they wiped their eyes and blew their noses.

"It always looks so much more romantic when people cry in movies.  
Somehow the actors never have a runny nose."  She gently laughed.

His answering smile was like sunshine on a dark day.

"Mulder, we need to talk after your broth and your sponge bath," 
she said as the nurse bustled in with a tray and a pile of linens.  
She slid off the bed and got busy.  She was amazed at how his 
strength seemed to grow by the hour.  He alternately sipped the 
broth and some ice water as she gave him his sponge bath.

"Hopefully you'll be able to get out of bed and take a shower in a 
day or so.  You seem to be improving at a remarkable rate."  She 
continued to talk as she tried to impersonally run the washcloth up 
and down his body.  She rinsed him and went to change the water.  
She lathered the cloth and handed it to him.  

"You seem to be strong enough to take care of your...um...personal 
area yourself."  She said with a blush.

"I don't think I can, Scully.  I seem to be getting tired 
suddenly."  Mulder said as he let his head fall back and closed his 
eyes.

She stared at his face, but could see no clue as to his true state 
of mind.

"Very well," was all she said as she proceeded.  The only sound in 
the room was her quick intake of breath as she exposed his pelvic 
area.  She quickly finished his sponge bath and moved to the 
bathroom to clear the supplies.  As she ran the water she began to 
cry again.  She turned the water up harder, trying to disguise her 
sobbing.  

In all their years together she had been more aware than 
Mulder would ever know of his physical response to her.  On more 
than one occasion she had gone as far as to start an argument in 
order to evade acknowledgment of the depth of his attraction to 
her.  When they had become lovers she had reveled in his ability to 
give her a sexual bliss that she had never achieved with a lover 
before and from the looks of the abuse that had been inflicted on 
him, it was possible that she never would again.  She cried not for 
herself, but for the pain and suffering the scars testified he must 
have gone through.  She clamped down on her despair and made a 
mental decision to avoid thinking of this until she was alone and 
her tears would not damage him further.

When she exited the bathroom she was surprised to see that Mulder 
had managed to roll onto his side and appeared to be asleep.  She 
walked to his side and stood watching him breath.  It became clear 
that he was not asleep, though he wanted her to believe he was.

She moved to the other side of the bed and slipped in behind him.
She slid her top arm under his and smoothed her hand across his
stomach.  The muscles that had once been hard and ridged were not 
as atrophied as she had feared before his bath.  She felt his 
breathing change and knew he was ready to talk again.

"Feel better now?"  She tried to be cheerful.

He just grunted.

"Mulder, I know you need your rest, but we have to talk."

He slowly turned back toward her so that his profile was at least 
visible.

"Mulder, do you know what today is?  I mean do you know the date?"  
She gently asked.

"No.  What is it?"

"Mulder it's June 21, 2004."  The silence was deafening.

His silence scared her.

"Four years?  Shit!"

"You've been gone over four years.  Many things have happened 
during the last four years.  I know you probably would like to know 
about at least some of them."

"Yeah?  Name one."

"The New York Knicks won the NBA Championship this year."  She said 
trying to start with the easy, happy things.  "They found a cure 
for A.I.D.S., Parkinson's disease and permanent paralysis from 
Spinal Column Injury has become a thing of the past."

"That's more than one."  He said with a small smile quirking at the 
corners of his mouth.  He slowly slid over to his back and 
continued to turn toward her until they lay facing each other.  
"Tell me about something important.  Tell me about you."

"Well, where should I start?"  It was more a rhetorical remark than 
a query.  

"Start with how you are.  When I left, damn it seems like only
yesterday, you were sick.  Was it your cancer?  Are you okay?"

"I was sick when you left, wasn't I?"  She gave him an enigmatic 
smile.

"Well, obviously, I'm okay now.  It wasn't my cancer, Mulder.  I 
collapsed the day you disappeared and was hospitalized.  Skinner 
told me you were gone not twenty minutes after I found out what was 
wrong with me."  Again the Mona Lisa smile as she was lost in 
thought.  "That was a really hard time for me."

"So Scully, what was wrong?"  He became more fearful by the minute.

"Oh, sorry, Mulder.  Nothing was wrong.  I was pregnant."  Her 
piercing blue eyes searched his face for his reaction.  A lot was 
riding on the next few minutes.  "You were right.  A miracle did 
happen."

"Pregnant?"  The look of joy and disbelief that flashed over his 
face was priceless.  "How?  When?  I thought the IVF didn't work.  
How?"

"The old fashioned way, Mulder.  We made a baby-a beautiful, 
healthy baby boy.  I named him William Gabriel Scully.  I call him 
Gabe.  I wanted to wait for you to come back and help pick out a 
name.  I wanted the world to know he was a Mulder, but..."

"Yeah, things didn't work out that way did it?  Tell me about him."  
Mulder needed to hear more about his son, not linger on the could-
have-beens.

Dana started to launch into a detailed description of Gabriel and 
then stopped.  She laughed at herself.

"I can do better than tell you about him.  I can introduce you to 
him if you would like."  She held her breath.

The most beautiful look of happiness flooded his face.  

"Yes!  YES!  Now?"  He tried to sit up.

"Mulder!"  She said as she pushed him back down.  "Don't you dare!  
I'll put the bed up a little so you can see him better, but you 
need to rest.  Promise me you'll cooperate with me on this.  I 
don't want you to strain yourself until we complete the tests I 
mentioned.  You might throw a blood clot or irritate an internal 
injury that is hiding.  Do you understand?  Do you agree?"

He nodded his head and closed his eyes.

"It's just hard to be so weak, Scully.  I want to get to work 
finding the bastards that did this to us."

"Easy, Mulder."  She slid off the bed and adjusted it, stopping to
look at him.  "I have to step out of the room to ask someone to go 
get Gabriel.  Will you be okay?  It will just take two minutes."

He seemed reluctant to let her out of his sight, but his desire to 
meet his son was stronger than his fear.  He opened his eyes and 
stared directly into hers.

"I just have a couple of questions before you go."  His tone of 
voice let her know the importance of her answers to him.  She 
nodded.

"Does he know who I am-who I am to him?"

She smiled-this was an easy one.  "Yes.  I have had pictures of you 
all around the house since he was a newborn.  I talked about you to 
him even before he was born.  He's always been sure you would 
return."

He swallowed hard and braced for the next answer as he asked:  "Are 
you in love with someone?  Are you married?  Is he a good dad to 
Gabe?"

"Mulder."  Tears clogged her voice and it was a moment before she 
could answer.  "Don't you know, you wonderful, foolish man, that I 
love you?  When we first became lovers I gave you my heart and my 
commitment for life.  In my heart, you are my husband, my mate, my 
soul mate, and my partner-my everything.  I knew I could accept no 
one else in my life almost from the very first years of our 
partnership."

She stepped to him and laid her head on his shoulder.  "I love you.  
I did four years ago and I do now, and I will forever.  I swore I 
would tell you how much I love you daily if I ever got the chance 
again.  This is the new Dana Scully.  Loving a child like I do Gabe 
doesn't allow you to bottle up your emotions."  His silence finally 
got through to her.  She quickly stood up and took a step back from 
him.  What if he didn't want to be tied to her?

He was startled by her quick retreat.  He studied her face 
carefully and realized she was telling the truth.  This was a new 
Dana Scully.  All her emotions were flashing across her face.  The 
one he instantly recognized was fear.

"I'm sorry Mulder.  I didn't mean to put any pressure on you."  She 
said as she turned to leave.

"Scully!"  It was a plea full of pain.

She turned to face the truth she knew she would see on his face.

"Scully, I love you.  I have loved you forever!  My love for 
you is the only reason I'm alive today!"  He lifted his hand toward 
her.  She stepped back into his embrace and it was several minutes 
before they had their emotions in control enough for her to step 
out of the room and send for Gabriel.

She lowered the bed as far as it would go and pulled the chair over 
next to it in preparation for Gabriel's visit.  She sat down and 
again clasped Mulder's hand.  They were quietly talking when a 
small tornado burst through the door and skidded to a halt in at 
the side of the bed.

The grin on his face widened as he launched himself into his 
mother's arms. 

"I tried to be good, Mommy, but I got bored.  I'm sorry I was 
hiding from Agent Haskins.  Maybe you better tell them I'm here."  
His charm was all Mulder.

"Gabriel, I'm sure Agent Haskins is very upset with you.  You need 
to apologize to him personally and promptly."

"Aw, Mommy.  Do I have to go now?  I mean, don't you want me to 
meet Daddy?"

"William Gabriel Scully!  You know I don't tell you to do things 
just because I'm the Mommy.  I need you to cooperate with me.  I 
asked Agent Haskins to take care of you because he is a very 
responsible man.  Your safety may depend upon the diligence of such 
protection in the future.  I am sure he is very upset about losing 
you.  You need to apologize to him.  Now!"  Scully never raised her 
voice, but there was no questioning of her authority by Gabriel.

A dejected little man threw a sad look toward his father and then 
turned to obey his mother.

"Is he as much like me as I think he is, Scully?"  Mulder whispered 
as the door slid shut.

"He's your image in miniature.  The doctor didn't believe me when I 
told him he was saying words at 5 months.  Not just babble, but 
descriptive words-Mommy, Daddy, Grams, Hicky, TV.  He's been 
speaking in sentences since he was 8 months old.  He is an 
endearing mixture of Fox Mulder at his best and a mischievous 
child-which is not necessary mutually exclusive."  Dana said with 
an eyebrow raised and a smile.

"No, Scully, huh?  I bet that makes Bill, Jr. happy."

"I didn't say that."  She grinned.  "He's intuitive like you, but 
he has a lot of me in him.  Don't be surprised if he is very 
through in his questions.  He seems to weight intuition and 
information carefully to reach his major decisions."

"Like what?"

"Oh, big things like whether reading a book or watching a video are 
more important; baseball or basketball, chocolate ice cream or 
strawberry.  You know, the big decisions."  She smiled but he could 
see she had a great deal of pride in their son's abilities.

"I gave him the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children and the 
Stanford Binet Intelligence tests myself, just to make sure I was 
right about his abilities."

"And were you?"  He asked.

"No, I wasn't."  She flashed him one of her 1000-watt smiles.  "I 
had severely underestimated his level of intelligence.  He tested 
off the scale.  It made me glad I had secured the tests through the 
Gunmen and no one could trace them back to us."

The door slid open and a somewhat chastised little boy reentered.

"I apologized to Agent Haskins and Gramma, Mommy.  I'm sorry I hid 
from him.  I didn't realize it was important to everyone.  I 
thought it was a game."  Gabriel spoke earnestly to his mother.

"Apology accepted."  Dana said as she held her arms open in 
invitation.  Gabriel rushed into his mother's arms and hugged her 
tightly.

Scully looked over his head into the eyes of Fox Mulder.  Tears 
swam in his eyes, threatening to overflow.  Only his desire to be 
strong for his son kept them from spilling.

Years slid away as Dana's eyes asked him 'What's wrong.'

He silently replied 'Later, I'll tell you later.'  He was relieved 
when she nodded slightly.

"Well, young man, I would like you to meet your father."  Dana 
began.

Gabe turned and looked at the man in the hospital bed.  His eyes 
took in everything about him.

"Hi!  I'm William Gabriel Scully.  You are Fox William Mulder.  
Part of my name is for you, the William.  The other part is for the 
angel Gabriel-he told me so."

Mulder's eyes slashed to Scully's in askance.  She just shrugged 
and smiled.

"Yes, you are named after me, your Grandfather Scully, your 
Grandfather Mulder, and probably your Uncle Bill."  Mulder said as 
Gabriel nodded.  "But what makes you think you were named after the 
angel Gabriel?"

"He told me I was.  He said Mommy was one of his particular 
favorites."  Gabe volunteered.

"When did he tell you this, honey?"  Scully asked.

"I forget-this morning I think."

"Oh, when you were dreaming about Daddy coming home?"

Gabe had lost interest in the current conversation and was moving 
slowly, gradually, toward the man on the bed.

"I have your baseball glove."

"You do?"

"Can I keep it?"

"Can you use it?"

"It's a little big, but I'll grow into it, Mommy says so.  She says 
I'm probably going to be as tall or taller than you."

"Really?"

"So, can I keep it?"  This was said as he bumped into the edge of 
the bed, as close to his father as he could get without climbing 
up.

Mulder patted the bed next to him and Gabe scrambled up without 
hesitation.  

"I tell you what," he said.  "You can keep it if you let me buy you 
one you can use right now and let me borrow the old one so I can 
play with you?  At least until you grown into it.  Deal?"

"Deal!"  Obviously both parties thought they had gotten the best of 
the negotiations.  

"How about your basketball?"

Several minutes passed in guy talk with Scully looking on, her 
heart full of joy.  She couldn't help but notice how Mulder used 
any excuse to touch Gabriel, as if to make sure he wasn't a dream.  
Gabriel seemed to lean into his touch like a sunflower following
the sun. 

Because she watched each of her men carefully she was quick to 
notice Mulder's failing strength.  She knew he would never ask to 
take a nap.  She was trying to figure a way to gracefully end the 
conversation so that Mulder could nap and regain his strength.

The problem was solved when Maggie stuck her head in the door and 
call Gabriel to lunch.  They had called a food order in for all the 
FBI team and the Scullys.

"Okay, Gramma."  He turned to his Dad and looked at him for a 
moment.  "Can I kiss you goodbye?  Will it hurt?"

"Gabe!"  Scully was surprised that he realized that Mulder was 
injured.

"Do you want to kiss me goodbye?"  Mulder asked quietly.

"Yes.  Gramma says that we should kiss family hello and goodbye.  
They should always know we are glad to see them and sorry to see 
them go."  He said with a nod.

"Yes, please.  It would be the best medicine in the world."  Mulder 
said with a smile.

Scully thought her heart was going to burst from her chest with 
pride and love as their son scooted up on the bed and placed a warm 
smooch on Mulder's scarred cheek.  He quickly gave his mother a 
smooch and a tight hug, too and ran to join his Grandmother for 
lunch.

Scully let her eyes follow him as he left the room then trail back 
to Mulder.  Tears were coursing down his face from his closed eyes.  
A painful sob wracked his body.  She quickly moved to crawl back in 
bed with him, enclosing him in her arms again.  He tried to turn 
his face away, but she gently turned it to nestle in the crook of 
her neck stroking his hair.  She let him cry for as long as it took 
to soothe his soul.  As he quieted she began to softly croon to 
him.

"It's okay!  Oh, Mulder, it's okay now!  You're safe.  We're 
together."  Any little piece of her heart she could give him to 
help this transition was his, no questions asked.

"It's not okay, Scully.  I can never get the years I lost with you 
two back.  I can never forget the things I remember.  I can never 
stop fearing the things I don't remember.  I want to expose them 
all.  I want the rest of the world to know how evil they are.  I 
want to bring them down and I can't do anything from this hospital 
bed.  When can I leave?"

A snort of laughter from Scully made him draw back and glare at 
her.

"I'm glad I amuse you, Agent Scully!"

"I'm sorry Mulder.  I just couldn't believe you finally got around 
to asking to get out of the hospital.  Only you would want to leave 
the first day after being held hostage for over four years.  It's 
so you and I'm so happy to hear it!"

Mulder gave her a smile that quickly degenerated into a large yawn.

"I guess I should sleep for a while.  Scully, I could use some more 
pain medication.  I didn't notice it when Gabe was here, but I'm 
hurting now."

Scully quickly call the nurse and asked for his next shot.  It 
brought almost instantaneous relief.

As he was cradled in her arms once again, slipping into sleep she 
remembered something.

"Mulder, why were you upset when I was disciplining Gabe earlier?"

When her didn't respond, she thought he was already asleep.

When he responded, his voice was barely a whisper.  "I wasn't upset 
because you were disciplining Gabe.  I was touched by the loving 
way you accepted his apology.  To screw up and to apologize has 
been part of my entire life.  To be forgiven and loved after the 
apology was something I realized I didn't have until I watched you.  
God, Scully, I love you.  Thank you for the wonderful gift of our 
son.  Love you...love you...love you both."  And with that he fell 
into a deep, healing, dreamless sleep.

Within a few days every test that had been administered to him came 
back and he was given a clean bill of health.  The scars from his 
face and body were healing at a miraculous rate.  Even the 
anomalous brain wave activity was gone.  Mulder had gained strength 
rapidly and was ready to leave the hospital.

"Mulder, it's official.  You've been released by every one of your 
doctors.  They're kicking you out.  You're free to go home.  They 
want the bed for someone who really needs it."  Scully said with a 
smile.

When he looked up from his packing the pensive look on his face 
took her by surprise.  

"What's wrong, Mulder?"  She quietly asked.

"I never thought about it before, Scully, but I suppose you 
disposed of my apartment a few years back.  Where is my home?  
Where is my stuff?"

Dana's eyes opened wide and she smiled.  "I forgot to tell you 
about that didn't I.  I don't know how I could have forgotten."  

She crossed the room and stood near him.  She unconsciously began 
to rub her hand up and down his arm as she spoke.  He feared this 
was not going to be good news.

"When you were gone at first, I would go to your apartment and feed 
the fish.  I started staying there often because it made me feel 
closer to you.  I kept up with the utility bills and the coop fees.  
Your cousins petitioned the state of Virginia to declare you 
legally dead, thinking that they would inherit your estate.  By the 
way, why didn't you tell me you were rich?"  She glared at him 
slightly.

"I knew it didn't matter to you Scully.  It didn't matter to me; I 
had everything I wanted.  I just let the number crunchers handle it 
so I could take some of it out and play with it when I needed it."

"Well, thank you for leaving it to me, but you can have it all back 
now.  It's not worth the hassle."  She said and turned away to 
continue packing.

"Don't tell me, they contested the will."  Mulder growled.

"Yes, they did.  It was one of the most difficult things I have 
ever done.  I didn't want the money for my personal use, Mulder.  I 
wanted to keep it safe for you-you know, for when you came back.  
Most people believed I wanted the money for selfish reasons.  Even 
my mom asked me why I was fighting so hard to keep them from 
winning your estate.  After they demanded I prove that Gabe was 
your child, I think she thought it was for Gabe.  But it was for 
you, Mulder.  Always for you."  Her eyes were suspiciously damp 
again.

"I know, Scully.  I know."  He gathered her close to him and held 
her until she calmed.  

"Scully, I still don't know what happened to my apartment."  He 
said in an amused tone.

"Oh, yes" she said wiping her eyes.  "When the dust settled in the 
court case I decided I would move to your apartment and give mine 
up.  I wanted to be there when you came back, and I knew I couldn't 
keep up two places and mine was just a rental.  I had been at your 
place for a few months after the baby was born and realized just 
how much stuff a tiny baby needs.  I still didn't want to move, so 
I did the next best thing."

"You're killing me here Scully.  Cut to the bottom line.  What did 
you do with my apartment?"

"Oh, I bought the apartment next door and had everything converted 
into one large apartment.  Did you know that #44 had a terrace and 
a fireplace?  Well, it's all ours now." 

"So we're both going back to live at #42 Hegel Place?"  He asked.

"Well, actually, all four of us live there."  She said with a 
smile.  "Unless you want me to find another place for Gabe, Brenna
and me."

"Scully, you know I don't want to be anywhere except close to you.  
Are you sure you want to live with me?"

Dana stepped into his arms and looked deeply into his eyes.  "I 
can't leave you Mulder, you are my other half."  She lifted her 
lips to his and soon everything was forgotten but their kiss.

"Agent Scully, I have the van downstairs...."  John Doggett walked 
into the room and came to an abrupt halt.  "Awww...it seems like 
every time I see you two you're kissing!  How did you two solve all 
of those crimes if you couldn't keep your lips off each other?"  He 
teased.

"Agent Doggett, I think our record stands for itself."  Scully 
teased back.

"I just wanted to let you know the van is downstairs waiting for 
you two.  I've already taken Mrs. Scully, Brenna, and Gabriel home.  
I have plenty of room for your stuff."

"Thanks, John, we'll be right down."  Dana said as John turned to 
leave.

"That's it, Scully.  I guess we're ready to go.  Our carriage 
awaits!"

She grinned at him and stepped into the hall, returning with a 
wheelchair.  

"Oh, no!  I'm not going to be rolled out of here like an invalid!  
I'm walking!"  Mulder said.

"Mulder, there are two or three very good reasons you're going to 
be wheeled out of here."

"Yeah?  Name them."  

"Okay, one:  It's hospital policy.  Two:  If you are being watched, 
we don't want anyone to know exactly how strong you really are.  A 
show of weakness could give us the upper hand at a latter date."

She could see his face go from stubborn to accepting and was glad 
she had convinced him.

"So what is the third good reason, Scully?"  He sighed as he sat 
down in the chair.

She covered his legs with a soft throw she had brought from home 
and moved to the back of the chair.  She leaned over him and softly 
whispered into his ear.

"This is probably the last chance I will get to push you around for
a long time."  As she spoke the last she gave him a quick little 
kiss on his ear.

'Not if I have my way' thought Mulder.

 "So, Scully, is there anything else you've forgotten to tell me 
since I've been back?"  He teased as she pushed him toward the 
elevators.  He could feel her stiffen and knew he had hit a sore 
spot.  She never could keep a secret from him when he asked her 
directly.

"Mulder, there are a few things we need to discuss, but I've been 
waiting for you to be released from the hospital and to make sure 
you were strong enough to deal with them."

"Is it about us?"  Was his worried reply.

"No!  No, Mulder, not about us.  You should know by now how I feel 
about you and our future together."

"Well, what is it?"

She smiled sadly and said, "Could we just please get home before we 
discuss this any more?  There are things there I need to show you 
and it will help make everything easier to understand."

"Okay, Scully, I trust you."

The trip home was more tiring than they had imagined it could be.  
Mulder was excited by being outdoors for the first time in many 
years.  The first thing they did after reaching the newly remodeled 
apartment was to have lunch with Gabe and then take a guided tour 
of the place.  Dana decided that it was time for a nap for all 
three of them.  Gabe wouldn't hear of being separated from his 
daddy for even one moment and declared that they all should nap in 
Mommy's bed.  Soon they were cuddled together and sound asleep.  
When Maggie had dinner ready, that's where she found them.  She 
quietly backed out of the room.  Dinner could wait.

As soon as dinner was over things became more hectic.  Mulder 
helped Gabe with his bath and with Dana's assistance soon had him 
down for the night.  Maggie and Brenna  cleaned up the dinner 
dishes and then they returned to the safe house for the night.  The 
quiet that fell over the house slowly turned into an uncomfortable 
silence.  Things were getting tense between Mulder and Scully.  
Neither agent was known not to sidestep issues, especially personal 
ones, when it came to the safety of the other.

"Scully..."

"Mulder..."

They both spoke at the same moment and broke off in a nervous 
laugh.

Mulder just looked at Scully until she cleared her throat and began 
again.

"Mulder, what do you remember of your abduction?"

"Why?"

"Mulder...I think...Skinner thinks...Ah, damn this is hard!"  
Scully turned and walked to the window.

"The night that you were returned there was a report of a 
communications satellite that fell from orbit and crashed north of 
Hyannis, Nebraska.  The crash created a huge crater and a wild fire 
that spread for miles in all directions.  There was supposedly a 
chemical plant enveloped by the fire and deadly gases were released 
during the burn that encompasses a vast area.  The entire area has 
been put under military quarantine.  The Director of the FBI 
personally requested AD Skinner, Agent Doggett, Agent Reyes and 
myself head the taskforce investigating the crash."

"I don't understand.  You've been with me for the last two weeks."  
Mulder injected.

"Skinner told the Director that I had requested a leave of absence 
due to personal matters-indicating that Gabriel was ill.  He knew 
that I was needed here.  He also didn't want to let too many people 
in on the fact that you had been returned."

"What has this to do with me?"  Mulder asked, not wanting to 
acknowledge the suspicion he held about the crash.

Title:       Gabriel's Feather (Part 3 of 3)
Author:      FatCat (FatCat926@msn.com)

"Mulder, I have not talked to Skinner directly since he left.  He 
doesn't trust the phone lines or the Internet.  The Guys have 
developed a safe cell phone that can be used.  It scrambles the 
signal and prevents eavesdropping, but Skinner didn't have one with 
him when he left.  In the one conversation I did have with him he 
hinted that the object that crashed was not a satellite but an 
alien spacecraft.  He wants me to talk to you about your abduction 
and glean any information that could be used to identify this craft 
as the one that held you."

As she spoke, Mulder grew pale.  When she turned to face him, he 
had his eyes closed as he listened to her.  Finally his eyes opened 
to meet hers.

"Scully, I remember too much and too little.  My memories are 
spotty.  I can remember what the craft looked like and everything 
up until the blue-white light blinded me.  It's almost as if it 
were a dream that happened to someone else.  The tests were mostly
physical at first.  I'll have to let the scars speak for 
themselves.  I remember screaming for you."  Mulder rubbed his 
forehead as he paused.

"And after a while, whenever they came to me it was to test my 
mental abilities.  I know they operated on my brain several times.  
I was given test after test and when I failed the method of 
punishment was pain, incredible pain.  I was able to "speak" with 
them with my mind.  As the testing and the operations advanced, I 
was able to do things with my mind."

"What kind of things?"  Scully asked.

"Teleportation of small objects, creating fire, and long-distance 
viewing were a few."

"Mulder, don't you think that those memories may be implanted and 
not true?"

"Yeah, I thought of that until I tried it."  He said quietly.

"Tried what?"  She asked.

"This" he said.  From a decorative bowl on the coffee table, a 
small ball rose into the air and hovered.  One then two more joined 
the ball in the air at eye level.

Scully stared at them and back to Mulder with a wide-eyed 
expression.  His face was masked in concentration.

"Watch!"  Was all he said.  She turned quickly back to the balls.

The balls began to move in an oval as if they were being juggled in 
mid air.  One by one they dropped back to the bowl.  Scully turned 
to Mulder in time to see him collapse into the chair behind him. 

"I haven't worked at it, so it tires me out.  It's just one of the 
parlor tricks I picked up with our friends."

"Why would they want you to do tricks?"  Scully was puzzled.

"I don't think they thought I was smart enough to grasp their 
intent using any more advanced methods.  I guess I surpassed all 
expectations though."

"Why is that?"  

"As I advanced through their lessons, I found it was not a 
difficult skill to master.  At first, they invaded my mind at will.
It was very much like rape.  As I became more skilled at the tasks 
they exposed me to, I found I could mask a portion of my mind from 
them.  I would practice hiding a part of me from them on the 
mundane exercises and soon my ability grew so quickly that I was 
able to defy them and block them from my mind.  That's when the 
pain came back.  I eventually was able to even block the pain.  
They left me alone for a time after that.  I think I was in some 
sort of stasis chamber.  I don't remember anything else."  He was 
drained both mentally and physically at that point.

"Mulder, I'm so sorry I have to ask you these questions."

"I understand.  It's okay, Scully."

"Do you remember how you got away?"

"No....  Yes...I don't know.  I know I didn't get away.  I have 
this vague feeling I was rescued, but I don't remember anything 
clearly until I woke up in the hospital with your beautiful face 
next to me."  He said as he pulled her down on his lap and held her 
tightly.

"Skinner is coming back to DC in two days.  Do you think you'll be 
up to meeting with him then?"

"Yes."  He quietly agreed.  

They sat together enfolded in each other's arms willing strength 
and calm to each other.

"Scully?"

"Yes?"

"You do realize that this may be the beginning of the end.  
Colonization may be here."

"Yes."

"They'll have to tell the world what's happening."

"Yes."

"We'll have to fight."

"Mulder, I don't want to think about it tonight.  I'm tired.  I 
want to sleep in my own bed tonight with the man I love.  Let's go 
to bed."  She took his hand and pulled him toward the master 
bedroom.

Because she was leading him she did not see the look of panic that 
crossed his face.  As they approached the doorway, she dropped his 
hand and moved into the room toward the bathroom.

"I'm going to take my shower first.  I've put your clothes in the 
dresser over there.  I'm sure you can find something more 
comfortable."

He moved to the dresser and pulled out his favorite pair of sweats 
and a NY Knicks tee shirt.  He slid into these clothes, actually 
dropping his dirty clothes into the hamper.  He turned toward the
bed and found himself standing in the middle of the bedroom 
paralyzed by fear.  

He quickly moved to the living room and picked up the remote for 
the TV and began to channel surf.  He concentrated on each blip of 
the screen as if he would find the truth of the ages buried in a 
hidden code.  He didn't know how long he sat there transfixed 
before he realized Scully was standing in the doorway watching him.

He turned a blank face to her and casually said, "I think I'll stay 
up for a while and watch TV if you don't mind."

Scully just stood there staring at him with an expression on her 
face he had never seen before.

"What's going on, Mulder?"  She crossed the room and sat down on 
his lap.  She was determined he was not going to withdraw from her.  
She had lost him once.  She was never going to allow a single thing 
to come between them again.

He avoided her eyes for several minutes longer.  Anyone looking at 
him would have thought he had nothing more on his mind than finding 
a television show to snag his interest.  She, however, watched him 
closely and saw a myriad of thoughts pass through his mind.

She lifted her hand to the back of his head and began stroking his 
hair.  It was a gesture of love-non-sexual-just loving support.  
She waited for him to come to terms with his fear and open up to 
her.  For several minutes she was afraid he could not share his 
feelings with her.  He had been subjected to so many things in the 
years he had been gone. 

A shutter passed through his entire body.  He clicked off the TV 
and tossed the controller to the coffee table.  His arms closed 
around her and he buried his face in the crook of her neck.

"I'm afraid, Scully."

"What are you afraid of?"

"Us.  Me."

"What part of us makes you afraid?"  She gently asked.

He chewed on the inside of his cheek for a moment until she lifted 
his chin and forced him to look into her eyes.

"I'm...  I'm not sure there can be an us."

"Oh."  She scanned his face to make sure she was reading him 
correctly.

"Mulder, I saw the scars on your body.  But you must know I want 
you in my heart, in my life, not just in my bed.  I want you.  If 
we never share a sexual moment again, I will grieve for the beauty 
that we shared for such a short time.  But I will thank God for the 
love we share now and through the rest of our lives.  We spent over 
seven years falling in love and never experiencing a sexual moment.  
How could you doubt that our love is deeper and stronger than any 
physical ability or disability?"

"When I was gone, I used every moment of our time together to block 
out the pain and terror.  I went over every look, every touch, and 
every nuance of our lovemaking during the worst times, but I always 
came back to the small things for comfort during the lonely times 
when I began to despair.  I wanted our lives to be intertwined.  
Now I've come back and I find our lives will not be intertwined as 
two but braided as three.  Help me Scully.  Help me find the 
courage to face the future."

"Mulder, you are one of the strongest men I ever known.  I'm sure 
the strength you need is in you."

"Scully, I have something I want to tell you, but it's so foreign a 
thought that I'm not sure you'll believe me."

"Mulder?"

"Just bear with me for a moment, Scully."  He again buried his face 
in the crook of her neck.

"When I was floating in the sea of unconsciousness I would 
sometimes think about you and what made you so strong.  I analyzed 
every facet of you and your personality.  I guess you could say I 
profiled you.  I kept coming back to your faith in God, in the Holy 
Trinity, in your religion.  I actually brought back each page of 
the bible I read as a child.  I must admit I also analyzed several 
other religions and their doctrine."

"What did you decide?"  Scully asked in amazement.

"I don't think I'm going to convert to be a Catholic or a Baptist 
or a Muslim.  But I found I do believe in God.  I believe Christ 
was his son.  I believe we were so screwed up in this world that we 
killed him and yet he forgave us.  I'm not a joiner, Scully, but I 
want Gabe to be brought up with Christian values.  I want to 
support you anyway I can."

"Oh, Mulder you sure know how to blindside a gal."  Dana said as 
tears that had pooled began to flow down her face.

"There's more, Scully."  Mulder said in a very small voice.

Scully didn't say anything; she just let him gather his thoughts as 
she quietly stroked his hair.

A deep shutter racked his body as he gathered strength to tell her 
the next part.

"Do you remember when I said I was rescued?  I think...I believe...
I'm almost sure..."

"It's okay, Mulder.  If you don't want to talk about it right now 
you don't have to."

"No, I have to say this.  I think God saved me.  I have a partial 
memory of two angels taking me away from the ship.  I don't know if 
I was hallucinating it or not."

"Exactly what makes you think you were hallucinating?"  She asked 
quietly.

"Because Alex Krycek was there too."  He said with an unsteady 
laugh.  "That's so far out there that it makes me doubt my memories 
and even my sanity."

"Oh, Mulder.  That's enough to make anyone confused."  She gently 
held him closer to her as he shuttered again.  "It's late.  You've 
had a long day.  Let's go to bed and sleep on it.  We'll think 
about it tomorrow."

They rose up together, still holding hands, and walked back to the 
bedroom.  There they lay down and slept entwined in each other's 
arms until morning.

The next day dawned bright and clear.  Shortly after breakfast, AD 
Skinner called and asked if he could meet with Mulder the following 
day.  Doggett and Reyes were back at the site, but he would be in 
town and would have documentation and photographs he wanted Mulder 
to see.

Mulder and Scully agreed.  They had been brainstorming all aspects 
of his memories for over an hour when Mulder suddenly spoke.

"Ah, why didn't I think of this sooner?"  He rushed to the phone 
and called the Lone Gunmen.

"What?"  Scully wanted to know.

"Byers, It's me.  Turn off the tape.  Is this line secure?"  He 
waited for a moment and then hung up.  Turning to Scully he said, 
"Where's the secure cell phone the guys gave you?  I'm to call them 
back on that line.  I just remembered.  Hypnosis.  I need to 
contact someone who can regress me back to the memories of my 
release." 

Scully quickly produced the phone.  The call was made to the guys 
and they agreed to set up the appointment with one of the contacts
they trusted.

"They'll call me back as soon as they line up an appointment.  They 
want to do it at their place.  They have all the recording 
equipment, both audio and visual all set up."  Mulder said as he 
paced.

"Should we wait for Skinner?"  Scully wasn't sure she wanted to do 
this without a credible witness.

"The sooner, the better if you ask me.  I want this doubt out of my 
mind."  Mulder insisted.

When the Lone Gun Men called back the appointment was set for the 
next day at 11:00.  Mulder took the appointment time with better 
grace than Scully expected.  She contacted Skinner and asked him to 
meet them at the guy's place at eleven.

The rest of the day was split between Mulder getting to know his 
son and documenting all his memories.  The more they talked about
his experience, the less it loomed over his mind.  It was as if 
their very conversations brought light to his darkness.  By the end 
of the day, laughter was reigning in the apartment.

With an armed escort worthy of a President or Prime Minister, 
Mulder, Scully and Gabriel drove to the home/offices of the Lone 
Gun Men.  They had worried about leaving Gabriel with any of the 
Agents assigned to protect them.  They finally convinced themselves 
that taking him along was the best course of action.

They entered the den of the Lone Gunmen without escort.  Skinner 
was already there, as was the hypnotherapist.  The balance of the 
agents spread out to cover all the entrances and exits.  

Mulder and Scully spoke quietly with Gabriel and settled him in the 
computer room with a new version of the Retro Game Mech Warrior.  
It never failed to amaze Scully how even little boys had the need 
to blast something to pieces.  

Before the therapist began the session he was given a list of 
questions Mulder and Scully had prepared the day before.  These 
questions were to be inserted into the normal interrogation 
procedure of the therapist.  Mulder was seated in a chair with a 
video/audio camera, a second audio recorder, a lie detector 
machine, and electrocardiograph machine hooked up to his body.

During the course of the session those watching the memories 
unfolding were in turn sickened by the brutality revealed and 
shocked into silent disbelief by the revelation of just who his 
rescuers were.

Mulder was brought out of the hypnotic state to a complete silence.  
Everyone but Scully was staring at him as if he had grown another 
head.

Skinner hustled the hypnotherapist into the next room for a 
debriefing.  Scully turned to study the electrocardiogram tape.  
Byers, Langley and Frohike were looking everywhere but at him.  
They seemed to move as one to scurry about fussing with the 
equipment.

"Come on guys, it couldn't be that bad.  Skinner, Frohike, Langley, 
Byers?  Would somebody tell me what's going on?"

Scully moved to his side and took his hand.  "I think you better 
see this for yourself," was all she could say.

Langley took the videotape out of the machine and wheeled in a cart 
with a TV and VHS player on it.  Skinner returned to the room as 
the lights were dimmed for better viewing.

Scully looked deeply into Mulder's eyes and said, "Your going to 
need all your strength to see this, Mulder.  Are you sure you want 
to do this right away?"

"What happened, happened.  I cannot change the past, but I sure as 
hell can use it to fight the future.  Let's do it!"

"Mulder, this isn't a game; this is real."  Scully said slightly 
aggravated with his attitude.

"Scully, it's okay.  I have you here to anchor me.  I can take it."  
Mulder said with a loving smile.

The next hour was spent in reviewing the taped hypnotherapy 
session.  Once again silence fell over the room.  Mulder was the 
first to speak.

"I can't believe it.  I don't believe it.  It's impossible.  Saved 
by the archangels Michael and Gabriel.  They obviously did a 
lobotomy on me and it didn't show in the tests at the hospital.  
Scully, what's going on?"  Mulder's voice shook with anger and 
fear.

Gabriel, drawn by the voices of his parents, sidled into the room 
to climb up on his mother's lap.

"Mulder, this could be an implanted memory.  Something they did to 
you to discredit you in the eyes of the authorities.  It could be 
wish fulfillment, a desire to be rescued so strong that only the 
mightiest could be responsible.  It could be..."

"It could be true."  A new voice from the doorway quietly spoke.

"Krycek!"  Exclaimed Skinner as they all turned toward the door.

Skinner immediately pulled his gun, "Get your hands up Krycek."

"Come, come, Walter, you know I only have one hand and right now 
it's full."  A palm-sized computer was grasped in his hand.  "If I 
drop it, the code could malfunction.  We wouldn't want that to 
happen now that I'm here to offer my help, would we?"  Alex Krycek 
grinned his signature smirk.

"Put it down, Krycek."  Ground out Skinner.

"I'll put it down when you assure me you will listen to me before 
calling in the guards."

"Speaking of the guards" Scully spoke up.  "What did you do to them 
in order to get in here?"

"Nothing.  They are all fine."  Krycek smiled again.

"That's not possible.  No one could have passed through that door 
without taking out at least two or three of those agents.  Not 
without some sort of cloaking devise."  Langley spoke up.

"Tsk, tsk, Mr. Langley.  You watch far too much Star Trek!"

"Well, Krycek, how did you get past the guards?"  Mulder was sizing 
up the situation to determine how much danger the rat boy held for 
Gabriel.  He noticed Scully pulling Gabriel closer to her to 
shelter his body from a direct shot by Krycek.

"I was told to come here today; I was guaranteed safe passage 
through the guard." 

"By whom?"  Mulder shot back.

"By the same individuals that brought you out of that hell."  He 
seemed to be enjoying this entirely too much.

He looked at Skinner again and said in a quiet voice.  "I'm going 
to put this down on the back of the chair now.  I'm doing this as a 
gesture of good will.  This is the only instrument that controls 
the nanoprobes in your system, Skinner.  Do not destroy it, it 
could malfunction if damaged and kill you instantly.  Have your 
Trekkie over there check it out, carefully.  When he 's done, I'll 
tell you how to kill the nanoprobes with it."

"Nice try, Krycek, but you're still facing arrest for the murder of 
Melissa Scully and William Mulder, and countless other acts of 
treason."  Skinner said as he snatched up the box and handed it off 
to Langley.  "Move over to that chair and put your hands behind 
your back."

"I'm sorry, but I cannot do that, Skinner.  I need my hand free."  
Krycek said in a calm voice.  "But I will sit down as you so kindly 
requested."

Something about his manner puzzled Mulder.  The feral gleam that 
was usually in his eyes was missing.  He seemed to have a calm 
about him that was entirely new.  As Mulder studied him, Krycek met 
and held his gaze.  Mulder suddenly felt that he was able to look 
into Krycek's very soul.  What he saw was not black and slimy as 
the oil he had once been infected with, but light and hopeful.  
Mulder saw repentance and forgiveness.  Mulder saw the same mark of 
God on his soul as he had felt settle on his own as he watched the 
video of his hypnosis.

"Why are you here, Krycek?"  Mulder quietly asked, holding his hand 
up to silence the others.

"They told me to come.  It's time, Mulder.  The war will begin 
before long and we must prepare."

"Who told you to come, Alex?"  He said still probing deeply into 
the eyes of the one human on earth he had hated more than any 
other.

"Gabriel and Michael.  I was on the ship when they saved you.  They 
gave me a chance for redemption.  They killed every alien on that 
ship.  That's why it crashed in Nebraska.  There was no one left to 
control it."

"What were you doing on the ship in the first place?"  Mulder 
asked.  "No, don't answer that.  Start at the beginning and tell me 
everything."

"As you all may have guessed I have worked for the Consortium all
along.  I did not choose to join them.  My stepfather sold me to 
them for a place in the hierarchy.  The fool didn't live two years 
after turning me over at a very young age.  After a while it just 
seemed to be easier to follow instructions and avoid the 
consequences.  What had the so-called 'good people' done to help 
me?  There was one person I never forgot, though, my Grandmother."  
He closed his eyes and a genuine smile lit his face.

"She loved me and tried to teach me right from wrong.  She was a 
Christian and wanted me to follow her beliefs, but I was a coward 
and chose to take the path of least resistance and of no pain.  
When she died, I thought my last chance at redemption had died with 
her.  After that, I was lost.  I was their tool."

"I do want to say at this point, Agents Mulder and Scully.  I did 
not kill Melissa Scully nor did I kill William Mulder.  I am not 
innocent of duplicity in their deaths, but I did not pull the 
trigger."

"I have gone along with their evil plots and plans, I make no bones 
about it, I am guilty of almost every crime you feel belongs to me.  
But when they used me to lure Mulder to the abduction point, 
something in me rebelled.  Even I was appalled by their treatment 
of you.  I don't know if you are aware of it, but it was I who 
killed CGB Spender.  I thought I could get out if the leader of the 
last dregs of the Consortium was gone, but I was only a blind fool.  
I was soon shown that my act of defiance was only the last link in 
the chain of my masters."

"I was on the UFO to transport Agent Mulder to a splinter faction 
of the Consortium for use in their breeding program.  They had 
summoned me because you had grown strong mentally and they could no 
longer control or rape your mind.  They were only able to control
you by keeping you drugged and in the stasis chamber.  They felt 
perhaps a few offspring would give them the upper hand with you.  
If not, they could dispose of you if one of your children displayed 
your unique abilities."

Here Krycek halted and closed his eyes for a moment before 
continuing.  "Mulder, you must believe me.  I didn't know what they 
would do to you.  They never tested any of the other abductee's as 
viciously and inhumanely as they did you.  I swear on my 
Grandmother's soul, I would have found a way to stop you if I had 
know then what I know now." 

Fox Mulder studied the man carefully.  He believed him.  With a 
slight nod of his head he said, "Continue."

"They were giving me directions on where you were to be taken.  
They had picked me up in the middle of the desert in Arizona.  I 
was supposed to take you to an encampment in the east."  He stopped 
talking and lowered his head.

"I know this next part is unbelievable, but please hear me out."  
He looked at each person in the room individually before 
continuing.

"They had drained the stasis chamber and had brought you up to a 
level of consciousness that would allow you to be transported 
easily, but not enough to be able to escape.  There was a blinding 
light and when my eyes adjusted I was able to see two huge angels 
standing on either side of you.  The leader of the aliens 
apparently threatened them and a mental argument ensued.  I had not 
had the usual treatment that allowed me to understand all of them, 
so I don't know what was said.  The leader tried to kill you and 
them but his weapon was of no use.  They argued some more, then the 
aliens backed out of the room."

"The angels beckoned me forward and spoke to me of redemption.  One 
of the angels grabbed my left arm in one hand and your right arm in 
the other.  The fierce looking angel was on your other side.  The 
aliens surged back into the room with enough fire power to lay 
waste to New York City, but with a warning for me to cover my eyes, 
a blinding light flashed and we were somewhere else."

"Where?"  Scully asked, surprised at how Krycek's story paralleled 
Mulder's.

"I don't know.  It's seemed to be in a white fog.  I couldn't see 
very far away.  I couldn't tell if we were on the ground; I 
couldn't see stars; I was just there."

"Why were you there?"  Scully asked.

"I was told that this was my last chance of redemption.  It was my 
choice.  I could believe in the one true God and His Son Jesus or I 
could join all the other lost souls that were going to suffer and 
die."

"What did they want with me?" asked Mulder.

"They said God was angered that one of His chosen people was being 
tortured.  He said that Mulder was to lead the fight against the 
aliens and I was to be at his left hand."

"You're not going anywhere but to jail, Krycek" growled AD Skinner, 
moving toward him with handcuffs.

"Wait!  Wait.  The angel Gabriel said there would be a sign to 
convince you of the truth.  He gave me this.  Please!  It's in my 
inside jacket pocket."  He slowly reached his right hand into his 
jacket and pulled out a long white feather.

"This is a feather from the wing of the angel Gabriel.  He said it 
was a sign you would believe."

"Please, Krycek, just how gullible do you think we are?"  Byers 
spoke up.  "No one believes that this could be a feather from the 
wing of an angel."

"I do."  A soft voice said.

All eyes in the room flew to Gabriel, sitting quietly on Scully's 
lap.

"Honey, I know you would like to believe this is a feather from an 
angel, but..." Dana was at a loss for words.  How to balance the 
belief of an innocent and the facts she knew.

"I know it's really a feather from Gabriel, 'cause I have one too!"  
He jumped down and ran to his backpack and opened the front zipper 
pouch.

"See!  Gabriel gave it to me the night when I saw him and Michael 
carry Daddy into the hospital."

All was silent in the room.  So silent, the small humming of the 
computer equipment in the next room seemed deafening.

"He told me to give you a message."

"Gabriel, just exactly what did who tell you?"  Dana was growing 
more agitated by the moment.

Gabe stood up in the middle of the adults and cleared his throat.  
He told them everything that had happened from the time he woke up 
in the ER chairs until he waved goodbye to his Daddy and saw the 
"pretty nurse" going into the curtain area where he was left.  He 
was especially careful with the message from the angel.

His brow was scrunched up in concentration trying to remember 
exactly what was said.  When he was sure, he spoke.

"The angel Gabriel said, 'I have a message for you to remember for 
your mother and father.  Tell them Gabriel and Michael have asked 
for forgiveness of the sinner at their door.  He is important to 
God's plan.  Can you repeat that message Little Gabe?'  So I just 
did." 

He was very happy that he remembered the entire message.

"Can I go play the computer some more now?"  He asked.

Mulder nodded to Scully and she sent him on his way to the next 
room.

"Krycek, what the hell is going on?"  Skinner demanded.

Krycek's eyes never left Mulder as he spoke.  "I am willing to 
under go the same hypnotherapy you just did to verify my story.  
I'm sure if Agent Scully has these two feathers analyzed she will 
find them to be from a similar source and unidentifiable in any 
scientific category or class she can find.  How do you explain the 
will of God?"

Chaos erupted in the room.  Fox Mulder stood up and signaled for 
quiet.

"Krycek, why me, why you?"  

"You were picked because you are strong enough to mentally battle 
the enemy.  Your brain has developed through the testing and you 
are able, even more than you can conceive, to control them and 
their actions.  You are Earth's first line of defense."

"Let's say I can agree to that statement.  That still leaves the 
second questions.  Why you?"

"I have been treated like a servant or slave by them for so long 
that they forgot to be careful around me.  They have given me 
insight into their weaknesses.  Insights I have used to formulate a 
plan.  A plan that I feel will work and will free our world from 
Colonization."

"Save it, Krycek.  First we want to verify your story.  Then we'll 
talk about the future."

"A smart move, Skinner.  Just don't take too long.  With the crash 
of this vessel, the timetable will be moved up."

Mulder again turned to Krycek and looked deeply into his eyes, 
trying to validate the gut feeling he had that the man was telling 
the truth.

"Just exactly what kind of weapon do you propose we use against 
them?  Missiles are useless against their advanced technology."  
Mulder said.

"He's right" AD Skinner spoke up.  "There is almost no damage to 
the ship that crashed.  We haven't been able to get inside yet 
there seems to be no survivors." 

"Think, Mulder.  What do you remember of their plan for 
Colonization?  Do you remember the plot to thin the ozone layer?  
Do you remember the plans to activate volcanoes all over the world 
to shroud our world with a thick layer of dust that would lower the 
amount of light on the surface?  Do you remember why?"

"Yes," Mulder seemed lost in thought.  "Yes!  They want our planet 
for the natural resources that they have depleted on their own, but 
they need a lower level of light to function.  That was the reason 
for the human-alien hybrids.  They needed someone to work outdoors 
until the environment had been adjusted to their needs.  That's it!  
Their weakness is a sensitivity to light!"  Mulder looked to Krycek 
for confirmation.

"Yes, their weakness is light.  The right level of light will 
actually kill them!  Is it the brightness or the spectrum of light
that can be used as our weapon?  We have so much to learn.  We'll 
need a tremendous source of light to protect our planet."  Krycek 
confirmed.

"It's no use.  We don't have the technology to fight them, even if 
we do have the knowledge."  Mulder reached over to Scully to gather 
her close to his side.  "It's too late to do anything."

"Not so fast, Mulder.  I have a plan.  I kept thinking and thinking 
why I was offered this chance and I realized I was just a piece of 
the puzzle that God had set before us to solve.  And believe it 
or not, this piece has the knowledge that will allow us to win."

Every eye in the room was on him again.

"Has anyone here heard of the project NASA has had in development 
for the past several years under the code name Contact?  The name 
of the program was taken from Carl Sagen's book, 'Contact'.  This 
project was implemented to find a fast, safe, economical power 
source to drive an interstellar vehicle for manned, long-term space 
exploration."

"How does that help us?  Everyone knows about the 'Contact' 
project."  Frohike said.

"The means of transportation they have developed is a piece of 
equipment called a Fractural Electron Automated Transwarp Heat 
Extruding Resonator.  It's a device that extrudes energy by 
utilizing the debris floating around in space and converting it 
to a beam of light that when projected back into itself will create 
an opposite reaction that will allow the craft to fly at near or 
above light speed.  The original model is already for launch in 
less than two months.  There are six others in various stages of 
completion by subcontractors around the country.  They can be 
converted to the weapon we need.  We can use the alien ship to 
place them in a ring around the earth for protection."

"He's talking about Gabriel's F.E.A.T.H.E.R.!"  Langley interjected 
as if just understanding what Krycek meant.

"What?"  Mulder asked, glancing again to the two white feathers in 
Scully's hands.

"Dr. Julian Gabriel developed this piece of equipment so everyone 
call's it Gabriel's Feather...get it?  It's the acronym of 
Fractural Electron Automated Transwarp Heat Extruding Resonator-
FEATHER!"

Silence again fell over the room.

"How much time do you think we have?"  Mulder asked Krycek.

"Long enough I hope.  You will know when they are near.  You don't 
feel them now because all the aliens on the ship are dead and the 
hybrids don't have the mental abilities the aliens do."

"Sir, I think you can put your gun away.  I know Krycek's been on 
the other side but I have a feeling it's going to boil down to US 
vs. THEM.  If we have God on our side, I know we'll win-and
Krycek always shows up on the winning side."  Scully said.

"All very well and good, but I'm assigning a guard over him until 
further notice.  Can you live with that, Krycek?  If you betray us, 
you will die with us.  Is that clear?"

"Perfectly, Walter.  Now lets get those nanoprobes out of the 
equation."  Krycek and Langley began to work the palm computer.

Mulder hugged Scully even closer.  There was much to do and very 
little time to do it.

Days flew past, then weeks and then a month.  While the hectic 
schedule wore most of the team down depleting energy and shredding 
tempers, Mulder and Scully seemed to grow stronger each day.

No matter what the work demanded, they made it a point to fall 
into bed each night together.  They seemed to garner strength from 
the hours of shared touch.  At last the efforts of the team seemed 
to pay off.

The alien ship was breeched and cleared of all the dead.  Pilots 
from Ellens Air Base had been trained to fly the ship with a 
minimum of adaptations.  The ship had been named the 
USS Enterprise.  This was a bit of humor that was not lost on 
anyone, but also a tribute to powerful and true vessels of 
Earth's history.  It had been loaded with the satellite Gabriel's
F.E.A.T.H.E.R. units and a smaller model of the weapon had been 
manufactured and mounted on board for use as a weapon against the
aliens.  The day of reckoning was drawing near.

Two days before the first flight of the Enterprise found the core 
team at dinner at Mulder and Scully's apartment.  Maggie and Brenna 
had prepared a huge Thanksgiving meal.  The fact that Thanksgiving 
was many months away meant nothing.  The one big surprise of the 
day was that an addition to the original twelve had been invited.  
Mary Alice Hanks, the ER nurse that had found Mulder, was there as 
Walter Skinner's date.  There was plenty of great food for 
everyone.  Only one rule prevailed-no talking about their mission.

Over dessert, Mulder stood up and asked for quiet.  He turned to 
Scully and smiled into her eyes.

He reached into his pants pocket and pulled out a blue velvet box 
as he went down on one knee.  Scully's face at first paled then 
flushed with bright color.

He took her hand and the world narrowed to just the two of them.

He said, "Special Agent Dr. Dana Scully, love of my life, soul 
mate, mother of my son, my one in five billion, will you do me the 
honor of becoming my wife?"

As he spoke he realized her emotions ran the gamut from hysterical 
laughter to mortification-from deep tenderness to love.  He was on 
thin ice asking her in front of all the people she was closest to, 
but had felt driven to commit publicly to this woman before facing 
the alien invasion.  Her eyebrow slowly rose to the Scully Stare 
that let him know he would pay for the public display later.  Her 
lips began to twitch and finally a huge, brilliant, ScullySmile 
covered her face.

"Mulder!"  She sputtered.

He knelt there before her waiting for her answer.  All she could do 
was slip to the floor and kneel facing him.  She placed her hands
on each side of his face and leaned in to kiss him gently on the 
lips.

"Mulder, I would be honored to be your wife, your partner for life, 
your soul mate.  Will you Fox William Mulder, Special Agent and 
Astronaut extraordinaire, be my husband?"

"Ah, Scully, you know how I love it when you sweet talk me.  Yes, I 
would be proud to be your husband."

"Hey!  How about me?  What do I get to be?"  Gabriel giggled as he 
ran to his parents and pushed into their arms.

"You get to be best man!  And number One Son!"  Mulder said 
happily.

"Okay!  Will there be ice cream there?"

"Yes!"  Dana laughed, "Ice cream and cake!"

"Then I say yes!"  Gabriel told his parents.

A rousing cheer from the witnesses brought them back from their 
solitude.  The rest of the evening passed in a golden haze.

That night as they finally fell into bed, Mulder wrapped Scully in 
his arms and slowly stoked her arm.

"Mad at me?"  He quietly asked.

She turned to face him and for a moment he thought he was in 
trouble.  She smiled gently and stroked his face.

"No, but I should be.  Why now, Mulder?  Are you afraid you won't 
come back?"

He was silent for a moment and then smiled back at her.

"No, though I don't have any guarantees I will be back.  I wanted 
you to know just how important you are to me.  Do you think we 
could be married tomorrow?"

"Mulder!  What's the rush?  Why tomorrow?"

He nuzzled her cheek, beginning to press small kisses all over her 
face.  They had shared intimacies like this many times since he had 
returned.  This time he had a surprise for her.  As he had healed 
he realized his sexual dysfunction was waning.  Tonight he felt 
strong, invincible.  He leaned up on his elbow and smiled at her.  
He finally gave her his answer.

"I want to adopt Gabriel and change his name to Mulder; I love him 
so.  You know we would have married before he was born if I had 
been here; I would have wanted to share every minute of your 
pregnancy.  I dream of a little brother or sister for him, maybe 
both.  I want them to be Mulders from the moment of conception." 

"If we don't marry soon, it could be too late.  It could be too 
late tonight, if you don't stop looking at me like that."

"I went to the doctor for a final check up before the flight.  I'm 
back at 100% Scully, in case you hadn't noticed.  But, I want to do 
this right, to be right with God."

A look of comprehension washed over Scully's face.  "You want to 
wait until we're married, Mulder?"  She smiled at him, equally 
amazed and aggravated with this sentiment.

"Yes, but I can only wait if the wedding is soon, very soon!"  He 
laughed with her.

They discussed their plans and decided if it were at all humanly 
possible they would marry the next day.  They would honeymoon the 
night before Mulder's first flight.

Thoughts of the flight led them to ponder all the circumstances 
that had directed them to this moment in time.

"Do you realize, all the miraculous things we have witnessed, 
Mulder in our lives together?  First, our son William Gabriel is 
the greatest miracle of all.  Then you and our Gabe seeing the 
angels, then Krycek seeing the angels, then the weapon we need 
being available when we need it most."

"It tickles me to think of how this all ties together-pun 
intended."  Mulder said with a grin.

"Pun?"  Scully murmured, almost asleep.

Mulder yawned and said, "Yes, it all starts with a feather-
Gabriel's Feather and with the help of God it will end with a 
feather-Gabriel's F.E.A.T.H.E.R."   



Author's notes:  This is the last part of a three part alternate 
universe story.  I am aware that there are many X Files fanfic 
fans who are not Christian-but Scully is and so am I.  I am not 
trying to push my beliefs onto anyone, nor the beliefs of any 
particular organized religion.  I feel I have as much right to
write what I would like to read as anyone else who chooses to 
write Slash or Torture stories.  I hope you enjoyed it.  If you 
did-whatever your beliefs-I would appreciate hearing from you at 
FatCat926@msn.com.