Disclaimer: The characters in this story belong to Chris Carter and 1013 productions. I am only borrowing them and will return them when I am finished. Cassandra Wentworth belongs to me as does the Canadian Chapter of the Lone Gunmen. Authors Notes: This story is based loosely on the song Hold on by Sarah Mclachlin. It is a MSR, but only lightly. I started this story long before Leonard Betts/Memento Mori aired, so in this realm of reality the findings of Leonard Betts/Memento Mori do not exist. Classifications: MSR, Angst, X-File, Adventure. Rating: PG-13 Summary: Mulder and Scully try and help a young girl who could hold the key to important events in their past. Archived: Everywhere, as long as my name stays attached to it. Authors Notes 2: I started this way back in November of 96. It is a long one, *sometimes I think to long*, but what are you going to do? Please send all feedback to canadianchick@home.com. Thanks: To everyone who looked at this story during the working stages. Thank you all so much. *hugs* 'Hold on Hold on to yourself For this is gonna hurt like hell' -Sarah Mclachlin Hold on by Laurie Sarnacki *************************** FBI Building 5pm June 23 The young girl with raven hair and deep blue eyes approached the building with caution. She wore a pair of faded blue jeans and a UCLA sweatshirt. She had been sent there by the Lone Gunmen; who had told her to see Agent Fox Mulder. Walking up the stairs, she went directly to the reception area. "Could you direct me to Agent Mulder's office please?", she asked the receptionist. "And who might you be?" "A friend. Could you please tell me how to get to his office?" "Is he expecting you?" "Not that I know of." "I'll have to call him. Your name?" "Cassandra Wentworth, will you please tell him that Frohike sent me." "Frohike?" "He'll know who I'm talking about." "Very well," the receptionist picked up the phone and dialed Mulder's' extension. "Mulder." "Agent Mulder, there is a young lady out here by the name of Cassandra Wentworth to see you. She says a Mr. Frohike sent her." "Send her down." Mulder chuckled to himself. The receptionist hung up the phone and directed Cassandra to Mulder's office. Down a few flights of stairs and through a maze of hallways and she was finally there. She knocked on the door and Mulder let her in. "Agent Mulder?" "Yes. Come in, sit down." "I'm sure you're wondering who I am and what I'm doing here." "I'm a little curious, yes." "All I can tell you is, I have seen a lot of things. Things that would surprise even you," she said sitting down. "I know of things; some of which I wish I didn't, my life is in danger Agent Mulder, and I need your help." "*My* help?", he said thinking of the Star Wars movie he saw long ago... He tried to stifle his laughter. "Yes, you're the only one that can help me. You and Agent Scully. You two are my last hope of staying alive." "What do you mean?" He leaned back in his chair and tried to size the young girl up. What was her story? And why had the Lone Gunmen sent her to him? "I'm in grave danger-- danger because I know too much, have seen too much. I can help you find the *truth* you are so desperately looking for." "How did you come about meeting the Lone Gunmen?" "Maybe I should start from the beginning." "That would be nice." "Is Agent Scully around? I really only want to tell this story once." "She's gone home for the day." "Well then, I suggest we go to her apartment." "Wait a minute...." "Please, Agent Mulder, we've wasted too much time already. I'm unsure of how long it will be before *they* find me.", she said interrupting him. "They?" "In good time, Agent Mulder.", she said getting up. * Within minutes they had arrived at Scully's' apartment. "Maybe I should go and explain things to her first before we spring this on her." "Of course. Do you want me to wait here?" "No, I don't think that is a good idea. Maybe you can wait in the hallway." "Whatever is easiest." Scully was in the kitchen fixing herself some dinner when she heard a knock. She wiped her hands and went to the door. "Mulder? What's wrong?" "Scully-- maybe you should sit down." "Why? What's going on?" "After you left a young women came to see me. She says the Lone Gunmen sent her to us, and she needs our help." "Where is she?" "Outside." "Well let her in." She wasn't sure what she was getting herself into, but she thought she might as well give Mulder the benefit of the doubt. Mulder opened the door and let Cassandra in. "Hello Agent Scully, it's nice to meet you. My name is Cassandra Wentworth, and as I told Agent Mulder before, I need your help to stay alive." Scully went to sit down on the couch and Mulder joined her. "What is it that you need us to protect you from?" Mulder himself was still trying to deal with this all. He wasn't too sure why he had chosen to believe Cassandra, maybe it was because she reminded him of his sister, or at least in his mind he thought Sam would be like her. "It'll probably be easier if I start from the beginning." "Okay. Well sit down and tell us." Scully motioned over to the empty chair in the room. "If it's all the same to you I would rather stand. I think better when I pace." "Sure." Scully said sitting down. "Okay." She took a deep breath. "Where to start.... About five years ago I was living on the streets in Arlington, Virginia. I had run away from home. But I'll get back to that. Living on the streets I came in contact with a man named Robert Landsly. He took me from the streets where I was staying, to a farm about twenty-five miles away. He had many runaways and homeless kids living on this farm. We were we were all fed and clothed; he never asked for anything in return. It's only now that I realize why." She began to pace around the room. "At the farm we were all taught how to do things-- special things. Only at the time we didn't realize it, we were all programmed to forget what we saw. I wish now that I still could forget. We were always taken at night, while we were sleeping to the testing place. It was a big building located on the farm and during the day we were told never to go there. Most of us listened and the few that didn't, disappeared shortly after. None of us questioned it though-- the disappearance's, I mean. We just thought it was the way things were to be," she shrugged and continued. "The testing place did things to us, made us smarter and stronger than the rest of the population. We were being groomed for better things-- these things are what bring me to you." "What things?" Mulder asked. "The man that brought me to the farm." She continued as if she hadn't heard Mulder at all. "He is associated with the FBI, and is in a position of great power. He works with someone you know-- the man that smokes all those cigarettes, well both of them are pure evil." She took a deep breath, and continued, "These tests that we were subjected to gave us ten times the normal human capacity to retain information. During the tests, we were all given files of information to store. I think this was to insure that they wouldn't be caught. What I mean is that we became their hard drive-- like that of a computer. We keep all the information so there is no written record of it known now, besides what is in our minds. This is what brings me to you-- all the files that I have programmed in me are based on you and your work." The two agents looked dumbfounded. Mulder was the first to speak. "This information, how do you know it's *in* there?" "Good question, I didn't realize till a few months ago, actually. I awoke with visions of names, dates and case files running through my head. What I'm assuming happened was when they did the last installment they screwed up somehow. I'm not exactly sure, all I do know is that if they find out that I remember this stuff I'm surely dead. That is why I need your help. I have the information, now what I need is for you two to help me dispose of it." "Do you know how they did this? Or how long you were subjected to the tests?" Mulder asked her. "How they did it I'm not sure. I can remember being awakened almost every night and being transported to the testing place. It would happen around midnight and last for three hours. I think it started happening shortly after I arrived there and continued up till I left, two months ago. I know many things,-- many things that will clear up a lot of unanswered questions you both have. But that will have to wait, I'm exhausted. I will tell you one thing, if we don't find a way to get this information out of me I'll be dead soon." "Why don't you go lie down in the bedroom." Scully got up and led her to her room. "I know you don't believe me Agent Scully," she said sitting on the bed, "I'm quite aware of that. But for your sake I just want you to know that you're okay." "What do you mean?" "You were not harmed during the time you were taken. At least not in the way you fear. The implant in your neck was just a tracking device, it was made of a harmless metal." "What? How do you..." "As I told you before, all the files in my mind are on you and Agent Mulder. Others, have files on other people. There are now no other known records, besides just what is in our heads; *we* store all the information, and only they can access it. I've got so much more to tell you, but that will have to wait until tomorrow." Cassie turned to Scully, "Please don't be angry with Mulder for bringing me here, he needs you. Or he will need you after I tell him everything. Just be there for him." She was beginning to mumble now due to her exhaustion. "Just rest now." Scully quietly shut the door behind her and joined Mulder back in the living room. "So Scully-- what do you think?" "Truthfully, Mulder. I don't know. She knows things, things only people close to us would know." "What kind of things, Scully?" "She knew about my implant. She said I would be okay, that I wasn't harmed." "And *that's* sure good to know." He softly smiled and rubbed her back. "I know." "So we're going to help her then?" "Like you doubted we would." "Well, you know," he smiled at her. "Mulder, I would follow you to the ends of the earth and back." "The same goes for me, Scully. Why don't we try and get some rest too. Maybe let all of what she said sink in." Mulder opened his arms for Scully. She snuggled into him and he leaned back against the arm of couch. "What I want to know is how she knows the Lone Gunmen." "I've thought about that. And if these files she has in her mind are on us, isn't it logical that they would contain the Lone Gunmen in some context?" "True." Scully said yawning. "I am glad you're okay." He whispered in her ear. "Me too Mulder, me too." End of part one Part 2 Cassandra awoke covered in sweat; she was having the nightmare again, the one where she was being poked and prodded with needles. This nightmare was a nightly event for her, it was also what started her memory to come flooding back. Until a few months ago she had been a 'normal' eighteen year old; that is, as normal as one could be with no parents and living on a farm that was involved in a governmental conspiracy. , she asked herself. She got up, walked to the bathroom, and splashed cold water on her face and smoothed out her dark raven hair. Meanwhile, in the living room, the two agents were sleeping peacefully in each others arms. Cassandra was still wearing the clothes she had on the night before. She didn't have anything else. The few pairs of jeans and the couple of T-shirts she had taken with her had been left at the Lone Gunmen's place. They were such kind men; they had taken her in after she arrived that stormy night. They didn't question her, or turn her away; they accepted her with open arms and took care of her. She knew she'd be thankful for that for the rest of her life. She had already told them everything she knew; and in the process of that, they had sent her to Agent Mulder. Not that she wouldn't have gone to him herself eventually. It was just in her mind she felt her best hope was going to them first; it would be easier for Mulder to want to help her that way. She softly walked into the living room, trying to make as little noise as possible. Dana stirred and slowly opened her eyes. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to wake you." "No, Cassandra that's okay. I was going to get up to check on you anyway." "Please call me Cassie." "Sure." "I was wondering Miss Scully, if you happened to have any extra clothes I could possibly wear. I have been living in this outfit for the past month or so and would really like something different to wear." "I do on one condition." She smiled. "That you call me Dana." "Of course. What should I call him?" she asked, pointing to Mulder. "I mean, I know how he hates to be called Fox." "'How..." She stopped herself from asking the question of how she knew that. "Everyone calls him Mulder." "Mulder, got it." Dana unwrapped herself from Mulder's arms and went in to her bedroom. She motioned for Cassie to follow her. "Now you look to be the same size as me." "I guess so." Scully pulled out some jeans and sweatshirts she kept in the closet to wear on rainy days. "Here, these should fit you." "If it's not too much bother, could I also have a shower?" "Of course, let me grab you some towels." The hot water felt so good on Cassie's dirty skin. She looked herself over to make sure no more bruises has surfaced. That was the only side effect from the testing she'd found. Since the tests she bruised a lot easier than before. She washed and rinsed her hair, then got out of the shower. Drying herself off, she wondered how this whole ordeal would turn out. She also wondered how Mulder would react to what she eventually would tell him. While Cassie had her shower Mulder had gotten up and was in the kitchen making breakfast for the three of them. "So Scully, how do we handle this?" he asked as he flipped the pancakes. "Mulder, I really don't know. I think first we have to just get her to talk. Tell us everything she knows." "Let's eat breakfast first." He smiled. Cassie finished getting dressed and combed out her hair. She wished she had brought her hair clip but that was still with her stuff at the Lone Gunmen's. As she made her way to the kitchen she was met by a wonderful smell. "That smells so good." Walking into the kitchen she noticed it was Mulder cooking and Scully was pouring over the morning paper. "Cassie, did you sleep well?" asked Mulder. "As well as I could." Mulder looked over at the young girl with concern. "You have trouble sleeping?" "Only sometimes. Sometimes I can go a full night without having a nightmare, other nights I have them repeatedly." She shrugged her shoulders and sat down at the kitchen table. Mulder was intrigued by the latest revelation. He brought the pancakes he had been making over to the table and sat down. Cassie helped herself to two. "How long have you had these nightmares?" "Mulder, let her eat." Scully said. "No, it's okay. I told you I'd tell you everything and I will." she said in between mouthfuls. "These are really good Mulder." "Thanks." "I've had nightmares for as long as I can remember. Even before I was brought to the farm. As I told you last night, I was a runaway, what I didn't tell you was why. I didn't have the *most gentle* childhood. I was severely abused from the time I was eight 'til I turned eleven. That's when the authorities got involved, but by then it was too late.... My father died when I was just six years old, a year later my mother married *Rick*. In the beginning all was great, we were one big happy family. Then Rick realized what a *high* drugs and alcohol gave him. About the time I turned eight years old he got involved with the wrong people and unfortunately he dragged my mom down with him. He would become abusive suddenly without warning, and I was always the recipient of that abuse." The two agents listened in horror as Cassie told her story. How could someone be so cruel? "Didn't your mom do anything to stop it?" Scully asked quietly. "At first she did. She threatened to leave him if he didn't stop, but I guess the drugs were too powerful for him. He got her to try them and mom became hooked. Most of the time she was too doped up to realize what was happening to me or to care. Let's just say I grew up really fast. I had to take care of myself, and learn ways to avoid Rick at all times. He was always physically abusive, never sexually. That is something I thank God for every day." "As I got older the beatings didn't happen as often, but they were more intense. About the time I turned fourteen is when Child Services stepped in and removed me. Part of me still doubts they even miss me. Towards the end they were both really messed up, I doubt my mom would even recognize me today," she muttered looking at her plate, trying not to cry. She hardly ever felt like crying. It was only when she thought of her mom that she felt pangs of sadness. She looked up, and continued, "So I was shuffled off to a foster home, a temporary place 'til I could get placed in a permanent home. But by then I was so wary of people, that as soon as I got placed in a home, I'd run away. There were a few that I think, maybe I could have stayed with but in my mind I was damaged goods. I thought that all I could do was bring people heartache. So when I turned fifteen I ran away from the halfway house I was staying at, because I didn't want to be a burden to them anymore," she smiled. "Anyway that was how I ended up on the streets, I took my last fifty dollars and took a train to as far away as fifty dollars would take me. That brought me to Arlington, Virginia." "I spent two weeks on the streets 'til he came and got me. That day he took three of us, but don't ask me why we were chosen over the rest because I don't know." Cassie looked over at the two agents. She could feel the sympathy in their eyes. "So that is where my nightmares come from, I also have ones from the tests. Those are the more horrific ones." "I'm so sorry," was all Mulder could say. His childhood looked perfect compared to Cassie's. He hoped and prayed that they would be able to help her. The finished eating breakfast in peace, with the occasional small talk. Cassie thanked them again for all their help and suggested they go to the Lone Gunmen's so she could pick up the rest of her stuff. *** Lone Gunmen's Office The three of them walked into the building and were met by a pacing Frohike. As soon as he saw Cassie he grabbed the girl and hugged her with all his might. "Cassie, we were so worried about you." Frohike said. "Frohike, it's okay-- I'm fine." "It's just when you didn't come back... We were worried that *they* might have gotten to you." "I'm sorry. I should've let you know that I was at Agent Scully's place." "Byres, Langly, it's okay. She was with Mulder and Scully." The two other members of the group walked over to Cassie and gave a once over. Mulder thought to himself. "Boys, it's okay, we're going to help her," Mulder said smiling. "How?" "That-- we don't know yet," Mulder said. "I still haven't told them everything." Cassie looked at her feet, feeling as if she had deceived everyone in the room. Dana put an arm around the young girl. "Cassie, in all good time. Let's just get your stuff and figure out where to go next." "I'll go grab her bag," Langly said dashing into one of the back rooms. Mulder leaned against the table that held a computer and some files. "So boys, do you have anything on Robert Landsly?" "Nothing except what Cassie told us. It's like he doesn't exist. Maybe it's an alias for something. If we had a picture to go on it would be easier." Byers explained. "Maybe we should get one." Mulder said. These men, aren't going to let you walk up to them and take a picture." Frohike said. "Wait-- in my bag I have a camera. There might be a picture of him on that film. I took a bunch after I decided to leave the farm." Langly handed Cassie her bag. She searched through it and found her small camera. "You guys can develop film right?" She asked handing it to Frohike. "We'll get right on it." "You know we can't stay at my place for much longer. They're going to be looking for her soon. We need to find a safe house." "Scully is right, we have to find a place that they can't find us. Or at least a place the will buy us some time." "I know a place." Byres piped up. "We have this house, its been in my family for years. It's located up in the wilderness of British Columbia, Canada. You'll be safe there. And I've got a friend up there, who may be able to help get some of that information out of you." Cassie hugged each of the Gunmen individually. "Thanks for everything you guys have done for me." Turning again to Mulder and Scully, "So when do we leave?" "If you'll excuse us for a moment." Mulder said and motioned for Scully to follow him outside. "You sure you're okay with this Scully?" Mulder's voice was full of concern. "Mulder, she needs our help. We have to do the right thing." "We could lose our jobs." "Mulder, her life is more important than our jobs. If we don't help her she will die." Her eyes were filled with fear, fear for all of their lives. Mulder took her in his arms and squeezed her tightly. "How did I end up with a women as special as you?" "Luck, I guess." "Dana, I want you to know how much I love you. We will make it through this." He bent down and gave her a soft kiss on the lips. "I love you too." "We better get back in there. I think we should leave for Byers' cabin right away." "I agree. I'll call my mom and tell her we've decided to go on a trip. What do we do about work?" "Just don't show up?" Mulder teased. "I'll email Skinner and tell him we had an emergency. I'll make something up." *** Cassie sorted through her belongings. For eighteen years of being on this planet she sure didn't have many things. A few odds and ends, some clothes, a few pictures of her mom and dad, but that was about it. The only thing she treasured was a gold locket that she wore around her neck. Her grandmother had given it to her mom and she had given it to her, just before things starting getting bad. "Cassie?" a soft voice said behind her. Cassie turned around to see Mulder standing there. "Are you okay?" "I'm fine. Just going through my stuff, not that there's much to go through. I don't have many things." "To tell you the truth, neither do I. Never felt the need to keep things. In fact the only thing I have held onto is a picture of my sister Sam. And Scully." Mulder crouched down beside her. "You and Dana are very close aren't you?" "I like to think so." "You don't like to tell much do you?" "Not really. I guess I use it as a means of protection. Never let anyone get too close." "I agree with you there. Once you let people close to you-- you just end up getting hurt," she looked away not wanting to make eye contact with him. Mulder put his hand on her shoulder. "But if you never let anyone in, you end up missing out on great relationships." He said. "I know. I hope, when this is all over, you don't hate me." "Why do you say that?" "It usually happens. The people I end up caring about, end up resenting and hating me." "Trust me Cassie, we won't. Why don't we go see if Scully is ready to go. She was just calling her mom so she doesn't worry." "Okay." They both got up off the floor. Cassie grabbed her bag and they went to go see Scully. "I love you too, mom. Yes I'll give Mulder your love. Bye." Dana hung up the phone just in time to see Mulder and Cassie coming towards her. "So are we ready to go?" "I think so." "You got all your stuff?" "It's all in here." She patted her bag. Cassie hugged the three men again and said good-bye. "Thank you for all your help." "Cassie, if you ever need us, you know the number." Frohike said. "Thanks." "So Boys you got those fake passports and ID's for us?" "Of course," Langly handed Mulder a three passports. "Those should get you in and out of the country no problem. There is also a list of numbers, in case you should need any help up in Canada. I know this may sound scary but there are others like us." "Ohhh spooky...." Mulder smiled and motioned for them to get going. "Thanks guys." They had arranged for a flight to the Vancouver International Airport. From there, there would be a car waiting for them, all under assumed names. The Gunmen had also hacked into different banks and arranged for accounts in each of the aliases. End of part 2 Part 3 On the Road somewhere in the woods of BC. "Mulder, are you going to stop anywhere?" Scully asked almost impatiently. "Why?" "I'm just getting really hungry." "Me, too Mulder," Cassie piped up. "I'll pull off at the next exit." "I still have so much more to tell you, I'm afraid to though." Dana turned around so that she was facing Cassie. "You don't have to be afraid anymore." "But I do. I know too much. And what I do know may end up doing more harm that good." "There's a hotel, why don't we stay there for the night?" Mulder asked. Mulder pulled into the hotel parking lot. He turned around so that he was facing Cassie. "Cassie you have to know that whatever you tell us, it won't change how we react to you." Cassie chuckled lightly. "You haven't heard what I have to say yet." "Listen, it's been a long night. Why don't we go and get a room? Maybe, then we can let her explain everything." Scully asked, indicating the neon *vacancy* sign flashing in the window. Mulder left the two of them in the car as he went in to get a room. "Dana, Can I ask you something?" "Sure, what is it?" "Well if Mulder was to learn something-- something that could affect him deeply... something to do with his sister. Do you think he might do something drastic?" Dana had no chance to answer her because Mulder chose that exact moment to reappear. "Ladies, our castle awaits us." Mulder smiled. Dana and Cassie hoped out of the Explorer and walked towards the room they would be spending the night in. "It's not the nicest place we've ever stayed in Scully." Mulder opened the door to the room. "Well Mulder, it's better than some of them." Scully offered Mulder a small smile. In return she got a mouthed "I love you." Cassie lugged in her bag and threw it on the bed. "Hmm... looks like there's only one bed guys.... It's okay, I'll take the couch." She moved her bag to the side of the couch and sat down. "Not *too* bad, a little lumpy. But I've slept on worse." "Cassie, you and Dana can share the bed. Lord knows how many nights I have stayed on the couch before." "No, I'll take the couch-- it's okay." Mulder was about to protest again but he felt a hand on his shoulder telling him to stop. "Good." Cassie smiled. "Now that that's settled why don't we go get some dinner?" The three of them headed over to the all night diner just across from the hotel. Dinner was pretty quiet. No one talked about what Cassie still had to tell them. They kept the conversation light. Hotel room Around 12 am Mulder and Scully sat on the couch while Cassie paced around the room. "Dana, I know you're wondering how I know that you will be okay, that you weren't harmed when they took you." Dana nodded and took Mulder's hand in hers. "First off, you need to know that you weren't abducted by extraterrestrials. You were taken by the government, by people in high positions of power. These people felt that you and Mulder were getting too close. At first they thought it would be just enough to disband the X-Files and separate you two. When that didn't work, they took drastic measures. With you two still depending on each other; even though you were no longer partners, they realized that their plan was not going to work. They needed a way to prove to Mulder that what he was doing was going to hurt people. They believed that if he cared about you, then maybe he would realize that this relentless search he was on was not worth it. But that backfired on them too." "What about Krycek? How does he fit into all this?" Mulder asked. "Krycek is a product of the government and the people who control it. He was brought in to distract you, was trained from the beginning in how to manipulate his way into situations. But you didn't fall for it, and that pissed them off even more." She smiled. "Once they knew that you wouldn't open up to Krycek the way you did with Scully, they knew their plan was defeated. So they set it up to look like Scully had been abducted by aliens. In this situation she wasn't-- but extraterrestrial abductions do exist. It has happened a total of ten times throughout the history of the FBI. Other times they were all faked by the government." Cassie was starting to feel very tired. The feeling of tiredness usually overwhelmed her; every time she started spieling off information like she had been. "All this *stuff* is in your head?" "As astounding as this may sound, yes. It's like watching a movie that never seems to end. And the two main characters get pulled and yanked in every direction except the direction of the truth." Dana was still clinging to Mulder's hand. "So, what you are telling me is that I am really okay. I wasn't infected by any disease? In twenty years I won't develop cancer and die?" "You are completely healthy, at least as far as the testing that was done is concerned." "Then what about all those women I met? The ones that claimed to know me. The ones that are dying," she asked, almost whispering. Cassie took a deep breath. "What I'm about to say makes me sick to my stomach. Those women, the ones that you met, they were all deliberately infected with a cancerous type substance." She closed her eyes and tried to compose herself. "The reason... the reason they didn't infect you was because it would be too easy to trace back to them. If you were to get sick... well they couldn't risk that kind of exposure. Isn't that nice, they were only covering their ass." Dana felt the tears welling up in her eyes. "I'm sorry, Dana." Cassie crouched by her. "I didn't mean to hurt you." "It's not your fault, it's Cancerman. He's the one behind it all isn't he?" "Yes, I'm afraid he is. The man is pure evil, it pours from the depths of his soul." Cassie started to shake violently, her arms fluttering about. "Cassie what's wrong?" Mulder moved to support her and helped her lie on the couch. "Hap...pens...ev..ery..t...t...time...I t..try...and...t..tell..more...than....I...should." Scully grabbed a blanket from the bed and laid it over her. Cassie tried to speak again. "Shhh Cassie, you need to rest." "I...can....on...ly...get...so....m....m....much out....ev...ery....t....time....s...oorryy," She then lost consciousness. Mulder grabbed a cold washcloth from the bathroom. "Mulder she's out cold." "Should we call an ambulance?" "No, she'll be fine. She's breathing okay, but she is burning up." "Here, put this on her head." Mulder handed her the washcloth. "Thanks." "What do you think brought that on?" "Mulder, it's like-- it's like they have turned her into a computer." "You think she got overloaded?" He asked her raising his eyebrows. "Mulder, I don't know. She was mumbling something about only being able to get out so much information at one time." "Jesus, Scully, what did these people do?" End Part 3 Part 4 Mulder had to get out-- out of that hotel room where the young girl lay feverish and still shaking. "I'm going for a run." "Mulder..." "Scully, I just need to think." He laced up his runners and gave her a quick kiss goodbye. "Be careful." "Always," he called. That had been their tradition every since they had taken their relationship to the next level, and every time he went somewhere without her. Mulder ran at top speed, deaking in and out of alley ways. His mind was racing with thoughts. he asked himself. While Mulder was out for his run, Scully sat by Cassie as she lay on the couch. Every so often the young girl would waiver into consciousness and spout off something. It never made any sense but it did seem as if she was trying to say something. Dana went into the bathroom and dampened the cloth with cold water, and placed it on Cassie's forehead again. By the time Mulder had sprinted back to the hotel, he was clearly out of breath. He grabbed some ice from the Ice machine and walked to their room. "Scully?" he called into the silent room. "Over here." He crouched near where Scully was sitting holding Cassie's hand. "She woken up yet?" "Not really, she's slipped in and out of consciousness off and on." Mulder got up. "I see." He began to walk over to the bathroom. "Gonna take a shower." "Okay, but afterwards we *need* to talk." He nodded. Fox finished his shower feeling refreshed and ready to battle the bad guys yet again. "Feeling any better?" she asked him. "Much..." he answered. He sat on the bed and motioned for her to join him. "You said we need to talk. What about?" "Your sister." Mulder winced. "I know, its hard for you. But Mulder, she obviously knows something about Sam. Maybe you'll finally be able to find out the truth about what happened. How come you haven't asked her yet?" "Maybe, I'm afraid to know." "What? How come?" "Scully, maybe it's just that I have been looking so long for her, that I'm scared to find out what I thought had happened, didn't really happen at all. That it was just a figment of my imagination. I just don't think I could handle it." Dana pulled his hands into hers and made him look at her. "Mulder, whatever we find out, I will be here for you. We will work through it together, and we will make it through this. I do think the sooner you find out about your sister the better off we all will be." Fox looked at the women he loved and pulled her into his arms. "I know we will be, it's just going to take some time for all this to sink in." He softly kissed the top of her head. "I think we should try and get some sleep." Scully nodded. The got up from the bed and Scully grabbed her pajamas and changed into them. Mulder opted to sleep in his boxers. He got into bed and opened his arms up for Scully. She accepted his invitation and lay her head on his chest as he wrapped his arms around him. "I will be here for you forever, Mulder." "I know. I just need some time to deal with all of this, I have never been this close. Now I am and I just don't know how to deal with it." He hugged her tightly, needing to be as close as he could to her. Dana snuggled into him. "I know, it will be okay." "I hope so. Goodnight Scully." "Night, Mulder." Mulder listened to the roar of the traffic outside the window while Scully slept. Wrapping his arms around her, he thought of all that had happened. He looked at the sleeping woman lying next to him. He drifted off ever so slowly to sleep. Next Morning Cassie woke up with a killer headache. She slowly sat up and reestablished her bearings. Her eyes were blurry but they slowly came into focus. She looked over to the bed were the two Agents were sleeping, and decided not to wake them. She went into the bathroom and took a long drink of water and two aspirins. The events of the previous night slowly came back to her. She sighed at the sight of herself in the mirror. She had dark circles under her eyes and her hair was astray. She grabbed her bag, and had a nice long shower. Scully woke up with a start to check on the girl. "Cassie?" Scully panicked and nudged Mulder, "Mulder, Cassie's gone." "What?" Mulder tried to wake himself up. "She's not on the couch." "Uh, Scully, did you check the bathroom? Isn't that the shower I hear?" Scully listened. "Geeze, guess I overreacted, sorry," she said sheepishly. "It's okay." He gave her a warm smile. "She probably just woke up and had to have a shower, you know how that is." She nodded. "It's just when I saw that she was gone, I just got scared." Mulder took her in his arms. "I know, I would have been too." Scully pulled away from him. "Maybe you should get dressed." She said motioning to his boxer clad body. He smiled. "Maybe I should." He got up from the bed and grabbed his jeans and tugged them on. Scully got dressed as well, putting on her favorite pair of jeans and a white shirt she had scammed from Mulder. "Hey isn't that *my* shirt?" She looked at herself. "Why I guess it is. You don't mind me borrowing it do you?" She batted her eyes at him. "Of course not, I was just checking." Cassie could here them bantering back and forth and she smiled to herself. She finished towel drying her hair and went to join the two agents. "Morning..," Cassie said. Mulder and Scully stopped talking as she walked into the room. "Wow, never had that effect before." She smiled. "Sorry," they both said at the same time. Cassie laughed. "How're you feeling this morning?" Mulder asked. "Compared to last night, much better thanks." "You had a rough time...." "I want to explain what happened." "You don't have to..." Scully protested. "No, I need to. Last night I got overloaded, I just wanted to tell you so much. I still have a lot to tell you, but I'm warning you now though--that what happened last night, may happen again. Don't be alarmed if it does. It doesn't seem to have any permanent effect on me, but just to be safe I don't think I should tell you anything else until we get to the cabin." Mulder nodded. "That sounds like a good plan to me." "How about we pack up and go get some breakfast?" Scully suggested. Mulder patted his stomach. "I'm starving." "What's new?" Scully said laughing. Mulder gave her a 'very funny' look. Cassie just smiled and threw things into her bag. The three of them grabbed a quick breakfast and started their journey deep into the woods. **** Two hours later They arrived at the house a little after eleven am. It was a quaint little place. Small but spacious, it had two bedrooms, two baths a full kitchen and a living room. Cassie got out of the Explorer and stretched her legs. "Nice place." Mulder fumbled with his keys and found the right one to open the front door. "A little musty though. Doesn't look as if it has been used in a while." Scully followed him in and coughed at the amount of dust that flew up when she moved the curtains. "Best thing to do is to open all the windows and get some fresh air in here." Mulder nodded and started working on the windows. "Cassie, looks as if you are in luck, there are two bedrooms this time." he called out to her from the window. Cassie sat on the front steps of the house and thought. She was going to have to tell him about his sister sooner or later. She got up from the stairs and made her way inside. Scully investigated the kitchen. She checked to make sure the fridge was working and went to find Mulder. "Mulder?" "Over here... " He was searching through the closet. "Scully, look what I found." He was holding up a huge kite. "Pretty neat, huh?" "Yeah, great.. have you seen Cassie?" "Right here." She had been standing right behind them. "Cassie, look what I found." "Cool, lets hope the wind picks up and we can fly it." Mulder nodded. "Umm.. Can I talk to you two?" She had to tell him, she couldn't put it off any longer, she had to tell him about his sister. "Of course." Mulder and Scully sat on the couch while Cassie paced. "Mulder, what I'm about to tell you, may hurt you. I just want you to know that, well, that's the last thing I want to do, but I feel you need to know." Mulder nodded and linked his hands with Scully's. "It's about your sister and what happened to her. Mulder- Oh God, where do I start?? First off, the people who took her, they were the same people that took Dana. They did that to silence your father. Your father was a very powerful man in the FBI, more so than I think even you are aware of. This power made him vulnerable to the likes of the Cancerman. Your father was the head of a project called Project Diego, named for where they found the Aliens they were cross breeding with Humans. I know you have both heard of Roswell, but what you haven't heard was in 1971 there was another U.F.O crash. This happened in San Diego, California. Your father was put in charge of the Project because of his loyalty to the FBI, but as the project progressed; your father became more and more disheartened with what was going on. He wanted out, and he was going to take all his research with him. Well the 'higher ups' couldn't let that happen. They threatened him, told him bad things would happen if he proceeded with his actions. I guess he didn't believe them and two years later your sister was taken." She paused and looked at him, tried to read his reaction, but all she saw was a blank stare. "Do you want me to go on?" All Mulder could do was nod. "Okay, so your sister was taken by 'them'. The same men responsible for Dana's abduction and the experiments performed on me. It was staged to look like an alien abduction, right up to the flashing lights." She crouched down beside him. "Mulder, you have to know it wasn't your fault, there was nothing you could do." "My sister. Where is she now?" Cassie nodded. "Mulder, she is okay. I need you to know that. She has no recollection of you or her life before. They made sure of that. And she is okay, she's living in Texas somewhere. I'm sorry, I don't know where exactly. Things are a bit cloudy right now. I've been trying to remember, please believe me, but it's just hard sometimes. I figure that, once I get some of this information out of me, I should be able to remember exactly where she is." Cassie started to shake. "It's happening again. Damn it!." Mulder rushed to her side, and she collapsed in his arms, still trembling. He brought her to the couch and lay her there. He looked at Dana who was grabbing a cold cloth for Cassie's head, and he pointed outside indicating that he was going for a walk. Dana lay the cold cloth on her forehead and went to look for him. She didn't have to look far. Mulder was sitting on the picnic table about twenty feet away from the cabin, with his head in his hands. He was trying not to be mad or disappointed, but so far he wasn't having much luck with either. Dana walked slowly over to him. Unsure of what to say, she said nothing at all and just sat by him. After a moment of silence she spoke. "Do you believe her?" He shot a look at her. "What do you mean? Don't you?" "Yes *I* do, but do you? Mulder, what is it you're afraid of?" "I don't know. It's just... I'm so close to finding Sam, I can feel it. But what happens when I do find her? What then? That's what I'm afraid of." She put her arms around him. "Mulder, what will it change? If you do find her, will it change you? Will it change how you feel about her? About me? What?" He got up from the picnic table. "I don't know." He shook his head. "Nothing will ever change the way I feel about you, but it may change me. Scully, what if I find her and she doesn't want to have anything to do with me? What if she blames me? What will I do then?" "Mulder, you have looked for her for so long. Don't you owe it to yourself to finish the journey?" "I just don't think I could take it if she hates me, Scully. What if we find her and she despises me? I really don't think I could live after that." "Mulder." She got up and took his hands in hers. "We will cross that bridge when we come to it. That's the only thing we can do." "My mind understands that. It's my heart that's having trouble with it." She sighed. "Well there's no use sitting here feeling sorry for yourself. There's a young girl in there that needs our help, and we have to find a way to get her back to normal." "I know." He shrugged his shoulders. "Guess I just never *really* thought I'd be this close to finding Samantha." "When we find her, everything will turn out okay. You've got to believe that; I'll be here with you every step of the way. It's going to be fine." She smiled at him. He hugged her tightly. "With you with me, I think I can face anything." He kissed her forehead. "Why don't we go and check on Cassie." Dana linked her arm with his and walked back into the cabin. Two Hours later Mulder had fallen asleep on the bed in the back of the cabin. He was emotionally drained. The admission from Cassie that his sister was still alive was all that he could take for one day. Both he and Scully had agreed that they would hold off contacting the Canadian chapter of the Lone Gunmen until the following day. Mulder needed his rest, and Cassie still had many things to tell them. Cassie woke up some time later, feeling much better. She noticed it was much darker than when she had collapsed. She looked at her watch and saw that it was nearly 10 pm. She got up from the couch and walked over to the window. She looked out into the darkened sky, wondering if Mulder's sister was looking up at the same sky. She walked away from the window and into the kitchen. Trying to be as quiet as possible she grabbed herself a snack of three oatmeal chocolate chip cookies and a tall glass of milk. She walked out to the back porch and sat down on one of the lawn chairs. Staring up at the sky she wondered how Mulder was dealing with all this. End of Part 4 Part 5 Mulder tossed and turned all night. Scully felt his body rub against hers periodically. He seemed to be coping with the revelation that his sister was still alive fairly well. At least the nightmares didn't plague him. Scully wrapped her arms around his chest and nestled her head into him. She was finally starting to fall asleep when it happened; Mulder began to flail his arms about and screamed a blood-curdling scream that chilled her to the bone. "No, God, please... not again...stop..I'll do anything." Mulder was pleading with someone. Scully lightly nudged him and whispered his name. Mulder continued to beg, "Please, just let us be... take me.. don't take Dana." *Oh god he was dreaming about her...* She shook him. "Mulder, wake up." Mulder slowly slipped into consciousness and started crying. He clung tightly to her. "Mulder, my God.. You're burning up." She smoothed his hair from his face. "Let me go get you some water." He clung to her more tightly. "No, don't leave me--stay here." "Okay... " She wrapped her small arms around him enjoying the warmth of him against her. He lay his head on her chest and seemed to relax as she whispered soft soothing, and caring words to him. Cassie sat upright. She'd heard Mulder screaming. She wondered if it was nightmares that made him so upset. She was beginning to have deep feelings of guilt. Cassie knew what she had to do. She got up and went into her bedroom and grabbed her unpacked suitcase. She left a note for the two agents, telling them she was sorry for what she put them through and she hoped one day she would see them again. Scully maneuvered herself from underneath the now sleeping Mulder and to check on Cassie. She knew that Cassie had probably heard his screams as well, and she wanted to assure her he was fine. Finding that Cassie had disappeared, she tugged on her jeans and sweatshirt and slipped on her sandals. She was just about the head out the front door when she noticed a note addressed to her and Mulder. Dana and Mulder, Sorry I hurt you both so badly, I feel it's best if I leave now before anything else horrible happens. Love Cassie Dana sighed and went out into the warm summer air. She looked around the house, and down the dirt road a bit. She heard some rustling in the trees and cocked her gun. "Who's there?" No answer. "FBI Agent, and I'm armed." "Dana, please don't shoot, it's me." "Cassie?" "Yeah, I kinda thought I could take a short cut but got lost." She shrugged her shoulders and came out from the woods. Dana gave the girl a hug. "Cassie, please don't ever just leave like that." "But--Mulder, I heard him--he, was having nightmares wasn't he." "Cassie, lets go back to the house and maybe I can explain a few things about Mulder." Cassie nodded and followed inside the house. They sat on the porch and Cassie listened as Scully tried to explain her ever so complicated partner. Dana sighed, "Cassie, you see, Mulder--well he is always plagued by nightmares, whether they're about Sam or myself it doesn't really matter. But just because you told him about his sister isn't why he had them tonight. Mulder is plagued with guilt over Sam's abduction and my own. It's something I have tried to help him deal with. Even though he knows I never blamed him, he still feels as if it was his fault. Mulder is always trying to protect people, especially those that he cares about. He has taken a liking to you, and if you leave without him being able to help you, well that would crush him. Again he would feel responsible, so please don't think you are burdening either of us, okay? We want to help you, I don't think I can ever repay you for what you have told me." "What do you mean?" "You told me I'm going to be okay, for that I am indebted to you," she smiled. "So you aren't going to leave again are you?" Cassie shook her head no, she was beginning to understand why Mulder was so in love with the women before her. Scully was one special lady. She felt lucky to know her. "Good, let's go inside and I'll make some breakfast." ******* 25 miles into the British Colombian Bush The three men, checked and double checked their surveillance equipment. They had been tracking the 2 FBI Agents and the young girl ever since they had entered BC. They looked somewhat like their American counterparts; there was Dakota, the long haired communications specialist, Monroe, the short the photographic and special operations expert and Greene, who would never be caught without a suit on, information specialist. Their American's had supplied them with dossiers on Mulder, Scully and Cassie. "Greene, can you hear them?" Monroe asked. "Got them." "Well, what are they saying?" "The red head, which I assume is Dana Scully, is talking to the younger girl, Cassie Wentworth. Damn, they just went inside, I lost them." "Dakota, did you get all that?" "Got it." The reasons for the early surveillance, was to make sure they were who they claimed to be. This trio was more paranoid than their American Counterparts. **************** The two of them ate breakfast as Mulder slept. After Dana finished she got up to check on Mulder. "Mulder, its time to wake up." She said softly to him. Mulder stirred but didn't open his eyes. She lightly nudged him. "Mmmm." "Mulder, we need to talk about what happened last night. Cassie needs to talk about it. And no matter what pain you are going through, you have to overlook that, cause that girl needs our help. And if you let your emotions get the best of you, we won't be much good to her." She knew Mulder could hear her, and she also know he was going to have a tough time with all of this. He had been close to finding his sister a few times, but each time it turned out to be a lie or a hoax. And even the one time he thought it was Sam, he had traded that chance for her life. Maybe that was why it is so hard for him, Mulder tended to keep a lot of guilt stored up inside. That was something she had tried to help him overcome, and it would work for a week or two, but then something would always happen to make him shrink back into the guilt ridden man he was right now. She was about to walk out of the room when he called to her. "Scully?" "I'm still here." "I know you're right, really I do. I just need sometime to deal with this." "Well Mulder, while you are dealing with this, there is a young girl who is in a whole lot of pain right now. She blames herself, and I don't know about you, but I for one can't just stand back and watch it." "I'm not asking you to." "What are you asking me then?" "I don't know what I want anymore, for so long my only quest was to find Sam, but now.... now I just don't know." She sat down on the bed. "Mulder, I know you have demons to overcome, we all do. And I know how hard it was for you after your sister disappeared, I know your father wasn't the gentlest man..." "Stop... I don't want to talk about it!" He got up from the bed. "Mulder, listen to me, you have to talk about this, because if you don't it will eat away at you. Say you never find her, what then? Are you going to just keep this all inside? If you do, you will be one lonely man, because no matter how much I love you, I can't watch you destroy yourself." "Then don't." She laughed. "That's your answer for everything isn't? Just leave.... cut all the strings. Well I have news for you, you're not getting rid of me that easily, but if you keep doing this Mulder, you will not only lose me, you'll lose your job and your precious X-Files. But more importantly you will lose yourself." "Jesus, what do you want from me? Tell me and I will sure as hell do it. Just tell me what you want!" "Mulder, it's not about what I want, it's about what you have to do. You have to get over these feelings of guilt you have. The ones that you have carried from the time your sister disappeared. And of course the ones from when I disappeared, Mulder listen to me *it's not your fault*." "That's so easy for you to say Scully, but you weren't there. You didn't see your lifeless body in the hospital, you didn't feel the way I felt when you were gone. It killed me. Without you I felt as if half of me was dead. When I saw you in the hospital like that, and they told me there was a slim chance you would make it.... I didn't know what I was going to do, or how I was going to go on. So don't tell me to not feel guilty okay, because you and I both know it was my fault." "Mulder, I have never blamed you. Can you tell me why it is your fault?" "If I had been there that night, Duane wouldn't have gotten to you. I should have been there." He sat on the bed with his face in his hands. Dana sat beside him, "Mulder," she said softly. "I know if you could have been there you would have, but it happened. We can't keep doing this, because no matter how many rounds we go on this topic, it always comes back to you feeling guilty. I know you did everything in your power to find me, and that's all that matters. There was nothing more that you could have done." She stroked his hair and let him lean into her. "Mulder, you have to stop this, just let it go." He nodded. "Cassie can't see you like this Mulder. She ran away last night because she's afraid you blame her." "Why? She wasn't even around when my sister was abducted." "I know, but she heard you last night. You had some nightmares, and she thinks it was because she told you about Sam." Mulder sighed. "I guess I should go talk to her." "Well, I kind of already did." "What'd you tell her?" "Mulder, she was so upset..." "What did you tell her, Scully?" "I just told her that you are plagued by nightmares all the time, and it's not just from Sam's abduction, but that it stems from my own as well." "I see. I still think I should go talk to her." Scully nodded. Mulder got up from the bed, and grabbed his jeans. Walking over to the bureau he grabbed a clean T-shirt and went to face his demons. End of part 5 Part 6 Cassie went outside so she would not overhear their private conversation. She walked around the area a bit, but settled on sitting at the picnic table. She rubbed her eyes, wondering why this was all happening to her. She sighed and leaned back on the table, closing her eyes and absorbing the sunshine. "Cassie--can we talk?" Startled, she stiffened and threw her head forward. "Sorry, didn't mean to startle you. Mind if I sit down?" "Sure," she moved over to the end of the bench. Mulder opted to sit on the other side of the table. "I know you know that I'm having some trouble with what you told me about Sam." "God, Mulder, if I'd known, I mean if there is anything I could do to..." "Let me finish," he sighed... "I carry around a lot of guilt. Most of the time I deny it, and pretend everything is okay, but in reality I'm not doing so well. I will admit it all started when my sister was abducted, and I felt responsible. I shouldn't have let it happen. It was my job to protect her, and I failed." Cassie tried to speak but Mulder shushed her. "Then when Scully disappeared, it was like losing Sam all over again. And all those feelings of guilt flooded back. Again I felt as if it was my fault. Again I had failed the only person I truly loved and that had loved me back. When Sam disappeared, my father blamed me. He made it out to be my fault. I believed him when he would tell me that, I believed I was no good. That I would never be good enough to do anything right. After the divorce, well I felt even more guilt, because I knew that they had gotten divorced because of Sam's abduction. My mother blamed my father and in turn he blamed me. So when you told me that Sam was still alive, again the old feelings of guilt came back. It was if I had failed her all over again. Here she is alive and well, and I still haven't found her." "Mulder, what your father did to you, it wasn't right. It wasn't your fault, he knew about it. He knew it was going to happen. At first he thought it was just a threat, you know, and that they wouldn't go through with it. If he had only kept his mouth shut about the project, she would have never been taken. Mulder, I know that all of this is very hard for you to digest right now, but I believe you will get through this. Look at how much you have been through so far, all that you have seen. Is it really worth it all just to give up now?" "What do you mean *he knew*? I mean you said that it was a way to silence him, but he couldn't have willingly let it happen." Mulder's eyes pleaded with her to tell him the truth. "Things were different back then, the FBI, was involved with bad things, things that were very unethical. They had huge underground laboratories. Your father worked in one of these. Cancerman came to your father one day, and told him that if he didn't continue his work and keep his mouth shut on certain sensitive matters, he would find himself without his daughter. He just came right out and said it, your father, chose not to believe him, so he started smuggling out data, and lab reports. Once the Cancerman got wind of this, he set his plan of abducting your sister." Mulder rubbed his face. "Jesus". He always suspected that his father must have had some involvement in Sam's abduction, he just didn't know he had this much. "Are you okay?" "I think so. I mean I never thought of my father as a saint, but to do this to his own kids..... I just have one question, why her? Why not me?" "You were already being groomed for the FBI." "What?" "Mulder, do you remember, back in grade school? How you would do aptitude tests?" He nodded. "Well, those tests where to tell if you would make a good FBI agent or not. Since your father was involved with the FBI, it was natural for them to think you would make a good Agent, and your test scores proved to them that you would be. That's why you were sent to Oxford, and it's why they recruited you into the bureau. That's the only reason you weren't taken and Sam was. It had nothing to do with favoritism, I want you to know that." "I need to take a walk." "Are you going to be okay?" "I will. How about you? Feeling tired?" "A bit." "Why don't you go lie down. When I get back we can explain this all to Scully, okay?" He smiled at her. She nodded and made her way into the house. Mulder took off running. He just couldn't understand why his father would do that. He ran and ran 'til he was fully out of breath. He found himself surrounded by a rippling stream, and miles of trees. Settling against the trunk of one of the trees he rested and tried to let all he had learned sink in. ********** "How'd it go?" Scully asked her. "Okay, I guess. I just laid all the cards on the table. I think he's trying to make sense of it now." "Where did he go?" "For a run." "I hope you know that none of this is your fault. You are only doing what is right." "I know. I think I'm going to go lie down for a bit." Scully nodded and watch her walk in to her bedroom. She sighed and finished washing dishes. ***************** Mulder heard a rustling from the bushes, and all of a sudden a short man pushed his way through. Mulder went for his gun, but realized he had left it back at the house. "Who are you? What do you want?" "Frohike was right, you are a lanky thing." The short man walked over and extended his hand. "The name is Monroe, nice to meet you." "Monroe?" "I am a member of the Canadian Chapter of the Lone Gunmen. Don't worry. We're here to help." "We?" Just then the other two members of the Canadian Lone Gunmen came out from behind the bushes. "Greene, Dakota, this is Fox Mulder." Mulder didn't know what to think. "How do I know you are who you say you are?" Monroe laughed. "Frohike was right, you are paranoid." "I still want to see some ID." Monroe pulled out his Lone Gunmen Card, and showed it to Mulder. "Okay, so you are a Lone Gunman. Did the boys tell you anything about this case?" "We are up to date on it all. And we think we might have a way to help her." "Well let's go." Mulder began to walk away. "Wait, where are we going?" Green asked. "To meet Cassie." ********************** Scully had just finished washing dishes when she heard a commotion outside. "You know you are just too much like Frohike, Monroe." Mulder walked up the steps of the house and opened the door to a gun toting Scully. "Dana!" "Oh my god, its just you. I heard voices and I got nervous." She hugged him tightly. "I'm okay. Dana I want you to meet the Canadian Lone Gunmen, Monroe, Greene, and Dakota." Scully shook each man's hand. "Nice to meet you all." She added under her breath. "I think." "They said they might know a way to help Cassie." Scully nodded and let them into the house. "She's still resting. Can I get you guys anything to drink?" A trio of "No thank yous" was heard. She led them into the kitchen, and sitting down at the table, asked them, "How are you going to do it?" "Wow, straight to the point. I like that." Monroe smiled at her. Dana sighed. "Listen, let's cut the crap. I don't need three paranoid men helping us, okay? It's bad enough I have one. So just tell us what to do and we'll do it?" Mulder looked at her, but didn't say anything. "Well..." Monroe said cautiously. "We talked to Byers last night and both your apartments have been ransacked. Skinner is about to explode and you mother is worried sick." "Damn it! I knew this was going to happen." Mulder pushed himself away from the table. "Can you get a message to Frohike and tell him to make sure Mrs. Scully knows we are all right?" "And Skinner?" "Just leave Skinner. It's best if we don't get him involved." Dakota brought out a cell phone. "Aren't you guys scared of unsecured lines?" Mulder asked. "Mulder, we don't worry about such unimportant things. This phone was specially made so no one can tap into it, or trace it. Now if I could only get a signal." He walked out the back door and began pacing to and fro. "Now, about our plan, we have this contact, says he's worked with cases like Cassie's before. He has this program that reworks what they did. But once its done, there is no turning back. She won't remember a thing that was programmed into her." Mulder sighed. "Well let's do it then." "Mulder, can I speak to you for a minute?" Dana asked him getting up from the table. He nodded and followed her out of the room. "Mulder, you do realize once this is done, you won't be able to find out from Cassie where your sister is?" she whispered. "Scully, I know, but we have to do it." "It's going to be okay. You'll make it through this. We *will* find her." "Lets go find out what it's going to take." She smiled and followed him into the kitchen. End of Part 6 Part 7 While the Gunmen explained the procedure, Mulder, Scully and Cassie, sat on the couch in horror. "Now, it really sounds worse that it is." "Jesus Christ! You're talking about slicing her open and taking out part of her brain, you're damn right it sounds awful." Mulder shot up from the couch, obviously very upset. The procedure itself was very complicated, Cassie would go in to his office in the morning, the doctor would make a small incision at the base of her neck, then carefully remove the part of the brain that stored that particular information. It would be painless, and the after effects were slim to none. The only problem with the surgery was that because it was fairly new, there were some dangers involved. The doctor had a window of three minutes to get in and out, before he caused serious damage. Any time over that and she could end up brain dead. The doctor had performed many operations like this, but there was still a 25% chance that something could go wrong. "Mulder, it's the only way," Dakota said. "There's got to be another way, I can't let you do this to her." Cassie stood up. "Let's do it." "What do you mean?" "Mulder, it is the only way. I have to do this because either way I will die. You can't protect me forever and as long as *they* know I'm out here, they won't stop 'til they kill me themselves." Mulder sat down in defeat. Not since Scully's abduction had he felt so useless. "Mulder, don't you see, it's the only choice I have." She bent own and looked in his eyes to see if he understood. He nodded. "When can we do it?" She got up, and walked over to the window. "The sooner the better." "Tomorrow morning, is that soon enough?" Dakota smiled at the young girl. "Ah... one more thing.. The boys back home found Robert Landsly, well more like he found them." "What do you mean?" Scully asked. "A few days ago a file was left on the doorstep of their office, in it, were pictures. Pictures of Cassie, and some other children. There was also a letter from Landsly, saying he felt much remorse for his involvement in the experiments that were performed on her, and because of this remorse he couldn't go on living anymore. He was found dead yesterday." "How do they know it was him?" Mulder piped up. "Frohike said it was because of the picture they found when they developed the film from Cassie's camera. The picture matched the Senator that died yesterday..." "Senator?" Cassie spun around. "What do you mean Senator?" She started to gasp for air. Her heart was racing, and she felt very dizzy. "He was a Senator, his real name was Matthew Stringfield, he had been involved with the FBI for years, though no one realized how deeply. Are you okay?" She shook her head. "No, can't breath.... Gonna throw up..." Scully rushed to her side, "It's okay. Cassie take deep cleansing breaths. That's good, just like that. Mulder, can you get me some water." Mulder grabbed a glass from the kitchen and got Cassie some water. "Here Cassie, drink this." Cassie took a long drink of the water, and she calmed down a bit. "He can't be a senator. He was so awful. Why? Why are the men of this country, the ones to whom we are taught to trust with our lives, why do they do things like this?" She sank to the floor and softly wept in Scully's arms. Mulder pointed outside and the three gunmen followed him out. "Do they know about her yet?" Monroe nodded. "We think so. If they didn't before, they do now. He was a high profile senator, Mulder. He had direct connections to the FBI. They're going to want to do everything they can to this keep quiet." "Who are these people that can do things like that? That can play God with other peoples lives?" Mulder sat down at the picnic table and placed his head in his hands. "Do you guys honestly think that once we get all this stuff out of her she will be safe?" He asked looking up at them. Dakota rubbed his face. "Honestly, we think she will still be in danger. The only way to protect her is to have her go into hiding. Mulder, we have thought long and hard about this. We've discussed strategies with the other Lone Gunmen. And well.... The only solution we can come up with is... to have her stay with us after the surgery. It's the only way she'll be safe, Mulder." "I know, we can't take her back with us. It would be too easy for them to get to her. You're sure no one knows she is with us here?" "Positive. After the surgery tomorrow, we think it's best, if you two go home. We'll take care of her Mulder. She'll be okay with us." Scully came out of the house and sat beside Mulder. "Who will be okay with you?" She asked. "Cassie," Mulder looked at her. "They said she can stay with them after the surgery. I think we both know that if we bring her back to Washington with us, she'll be in danger." Dana sighed. "So who gets to tell her?" ******************************* They let Cassie sleep for a few hours. By the time she woke up they five of them had devised a plan to keep her safe. For one year she would stay in Canada with the Lone Gunmen. After that year she would have be able to choose where she would like to live. During that year, the Gunmen promised to teach her how to be safe, about who to trust and most of all where to go if she was ever in danger again. Mulder and Scully both knew this was the only way, but still they felt pangs of guilt that she couldn't go back with them. They would keep in touch with her, and if she so decided to come back to Washington after the year was up, she would have a place to stay. Cassie took it all well. She had always been the kind of person that went with whatever was going on. She could feel the sadness in the air, though. Mulder hadn't said but two words to her except to tell her of their plan. Cassie honestly was looking forward to it. She had grown to like the other members of the Lone Gunmen just as she had Frohike, Byers and Langly. Later on that night, after the Gunmen had returned home, Cassie approached Mulder for one last talk. "Mulder, you got a minute?" "Sure, sit down." He moved over on the couch. She smiled. "So this is it. Tomorrow I'll be a free women, so to speak." He nodded. "Mulder, I know you're disappointed, but I want you to know, I'm okay with it. Really, I'll be fine. I mean I could be worse off, I could have no one on my side and still running from *them*. This way I actually have a chance to lead a normal life." "Cassie, I'm not disappointed. I just wish there was some other way." "I know you do, but life goes on Mulder. You'll go back to Washington with Scully, and lead your lives. You'll forget all about me." "We will never forget about you, and when I find Sam I will make sure she knows how much you helped me." "Mulder, I truly believe that you'll find her. It may not happen for a few years, but my gut instinct tells me that one day you will see your sister again. I'm not usually wrong about things like that." She smiled at him and gave him a hug. "Be strong okay? And whatever you do; don't ever let go of Dana. You two have something special. Don't ever let your crusade get in the way of your feelings for her." She got up and started her way to her room. "Cassie." She stopped and turned to face him. "Yeah?" "Thanks for everything. You are a truly remarkable person." "Coming from you, I think that is the highest compliment anyone has ever paid me." He smiled. "Good-night Mulder." "Night." They all slept lightly that night. With the coming days activities it was hard for any of them not to think about it. Cassie slept the worst of them all though, tossing and turning. Every time she closed her eyes she pictured things. Old cases that Mulder and Scully had done, the Cancerman laughing at them, the needles prodding her body. It finally got so bad that she gave up sleeping at all and went outside to lay underneath the star filled sky. Cassie spent most of that night thinking back to her childhood. Wondering how she had ended up in a predicament like the one that she was in. She wasn't one that was big on self pity, but that night she allowed herself to wallow in it. She was thankful for everything that Mulder and Scully had done for her, but she still wondered if there wasn't more that she could do. It dawned on her after two hours of sitting under the stars; the key to how she could help them. She ran into the house to wake them up. End of Part 7 Part 8 Cassie lightly shook Dana awake. "Dana, I need to talk to you both. Come into the kitchen." "What?" She slowly opened her eyes. "What's wrong?" "Nothing. I just need to talk to you guys." "Okay, I'll wake Mulder up and we'll meet you in there." Cassie nodded and went into the kitchen to make some coffee. "Mulder, come on get up. Cassie needs to talk to us." She nudged him, and felt him stir. "What is it, Scully?" "I don't know. She said she just has to talk to us." He yawned and got up from the bed. "Let's go see what she has to say." The sat around the kitchen table. Cassie poured them all some coffee, in hopes to wake them up. "I was thinking. I know of a way I can help you find your sister." "Listen, Cassie, don't worry about that. Just worry about getting yourself ready for tomorrow." "We have to postpone the operation by a day...." "What? How come?" Mulder asked in disbelief. "I need to go under hypnotic regression. Now before you say anything, I know the risks. I know I could go into major overload and not come out of it. But it's something I *have* to do." "No, I can't let you do this Cassie. Not if it's for my sake." "Mulder, listen to me. I need to do this. With or without your help, I'm *going* to do this, I just thought it would be better this way, to get you to help me." "Cassie, its too dangerous." "Listen Mulder, you and Dana have put your lives and careers on the line for me. Let me do something for you. Now I know you have connections, and I know you can get someone out here by tomorrow that can help me with regressing back and finding out where you sister is. What I want to know is if you'll do it." "Why?" "Mulder, do you always have to question things? Why can't you just accept that I need to do this and be happy with that?" "Fine, I'll make the arrangements, but not by choice." He got up from the table and went to use the phone in the bedroom. "He's, upset isn't he?" "He'll get over it. It may take awhile, and lord knows if something happens because of what you are about to do..." "He'll never forgive himself." "Right." "But at least I'll know I tried." "Why don't you try and get some sleep? I'm sure Mulder has already made arrangements for someone to come here in a few hours. I'll wake you up when he gets here." Cassie smiled. "If Mulder ever asks you why, tell him I did it for him, okay? Try and make him understand that, because I know right now he's beating himself up over this. Never let it be said that Fox Mulder is an uncaring man, because the exact opposite is true. He is one of the most caring human beings I have ever had the privilege of knowing." She got up from the table and went to lie down. Scully sat there for a few moments. She knew once Mulder was done making arrangements he would come find her. If not to talk about the plans, then to let her know how he was doing. And she was right . A few minutes later Mulder walked into the kitchen. "Are you okay?" She asked, tentatively. "I think so, a little worried though." He leaned against the door jam. "I know you are. But Mulder this is something she wants to do." "I know. It's just going to be hard." "Why don't we go to bed?" She got up and offered him her hand. He accepted and followed her into the bedroom. They tried to sleep, but mostly they just lay in each others arms in silence, both wondering about the day before them. **************** The man Mulder had contacted to do the regression was named Dr. Shane Laters. He lived about 25 minutes from the Cabin. Mulder had called the Canadian Lone Gunmen and told them what was going on. They were going to contact the doctor to postpone the surgery 'til the next day. The three of them arrived at the man's house a little after eleven AM. They were taken into a small room with four chairs. Cassie sat in the chair farthest away from the door. The doctor sat down directly in front of her. Mulder and Scully took the other two chairs left in the room. "Okay, Cassie I want you to relax and listen to the sound of my voice. I want you to picture a place, this place is where you feel safe. Can you see it?" "Yes." "Okay, I want you to picture yourself in this place. You feel at ease here." "MMMhmmm." "Okay, I'm going to count to ten and when I get to ten you will be under. You will be able to remember everything that was stored in your mind. One, two, three, four, five, you are getting very relaxed, six, seven, eight, nine, ten. Okay Cassie you are in a very relaxed state of mine. You can see everything." "Do you want to ask her some questions?" The doctor asked Mulder. "Cassie, can you see Sam?" "She's in a house. I can see her. She's happy Fox; but wondering where you are. Cancerman is there. He's telling her if she tries to contact you, he will kill you." "But wait, you said before that she doesn't remember me." "I did? Well I was wrong. She remembers you Fox, and misses you dearly. Cancerman has told her that the only way that she will see you again, is if you find her." Mulder sat back in his chair and clutched Scully's hand. "It'll be okay." she whispered to him. He nodded. Cassie continued. "I don't know exactly where she is.. Texas I believe...on a ranch...by a waterfall. It's a small town, she....." Cassie started to twitch and shake, her body whipped back and forth in the chair. Dr. Laters crouched beside her and tried to steady her body. "Call an ambulance!" Mulder told Scully. He took Cassie in his arms and whispered to her, "Cassie, it's me Mulder, can you hear me?" "She's still under...." "Well get it her out of it!" Dr. Laters did as he was told. "Cassie, I'm going to count back from ten, by the time I get to one you will be fully awake." Cassie was still trembling in Mulder's arms as the doctor counted back from ten. "Ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one. Okay Cassie, you are fully awake now. Can you hear me?" "Yes," she said weakly. "Cassie, there's an ambulance on its way, you'll be okay." "Head hurts...want to sleep." "No, Cassie, you have to stay awake." "Mulder, I'm sorry..." Cassie then lost consciousness. Just then the paramedics rushed in and took her from his arms. They set about trying to revive her. Scully took Mulder by the hand and led him out of the room. "It's all my fault. If only I hadn't let her do this. Scully, what if she dies?" He slid down the wall he was leaning against. Sitting on the floor he placed his head in his hands. Scully crouched beside him. "Mulder, you know you can't blame yourself. Cassie told me if anything happened today to makes sure you understood that it wasn't your fault." She tipped his chin upward. "Don't do this to yourself. Please Fox-- she'll be okay. "And what if she isn't?" "Come here." She sat on the floor and let him lean into her, softly weeping. They waited for any news on Cassie. The paramedics came out a few moments later. "Well?" Mulder looked up. "She's stable, but we have to get her to a hospital right away. Otherwise she might not make it." They got up from the floor and walked back into the room. Cassie was still unconscious, but not twitching anymore. Mulder and Scully followed the ambulance to the hospital. Mulder told himself over and over, that she would be all right. Still in the back of his mind he had his doubts. The doctors met the paramedics at the emergency room doors. They rushed Cassie in and began working on her. Mulder and Scully waited in the waiting room for any news. "Mulder, she's going to be okay." "When are they going to tell us something?" "It's only been a few minutes." "I know--I'm just worried, that's all." "I know you are. We'll know something soon." It was two hours before they heard anything. The doctor came into the waiting room, and from the look on his face he didn't have good news. "Is she okay?" "Maybe you should sit down." "I don't want to sit down. Just tell me if she's okay, damn it!." "Fifteen minutes ago Cassie went into Cardiac arrest. We did everything we could do to save her. She was pronounced dead at 1:33 PM. I'm sorry." "No, she can't be." Mulder felt numb. It was all he could do to keep standing. "Mulder, I'm sorry." Scully put her arms around him. "This isn't happening. She wasn't supposed to die." ************************** Part 9 Epilogue Two Weeks later AD Skinners office. The two agents sat down in AD Skinner's office. They had returned home from Canada only a few days earlier. They were both still trying to deal with the fact that Cassie had died. "She's dead?" "Yes, we buried her two days ago in a private ceremony." "You still haven't explained why it is she came to you." "Like we told you before, she needed our help. We did the best we could," Mulder answered a bit defensively. "Is that all you are going to tell me?" They were both silent. "Fine, fill out the expense forms and we'll forget it ever happened." "Excuse me, Sir?" "Agent Mulder, I know that this young girl meant a lot to you, and that she gave you some clues to where your sister is. It's no use dragging her through bureaucratic bull now. Let's let her rest in peace." "Thank you, Sir." They got up and went to their office in the basement. Scully was the first to speak. "Mulder, I know this is going to be hard. It's hard for me too, but you can't blame yourself." "Scully, I don't think she's dead." "Come on we both saw the body." "Call it a gut instinct, but I think she's still alive somewhere and we're going to find her." "How?" "By finding my sister." ************************* In a Small House just outside Dallas, Texas Cassie woke up to the smell of pancakes cooking and a woman standing over her bed. "Where am I?" she asked the brown haired women. "You're safe." She sat on the edge of the bed. "What do you mean?" "Cassie, how much do you remember?" "Not much. I do remember a man and a woman. They tried to help me ." "Yes, Fox Mulder and Dana Scully. They did everything they could." "Where are they?" "Back in Washington, DC." "Why? Who are you and why am I here?" "My name is Samantha Mulder. I'm here to help you. Everything's going to be okay. Something was done to you Cassie that has be rectified. Unfortunately for you to stay alive you had to come here. It was the only way." "When can I see them?" "I'm sorry, but you can't." "Why?" "Cassie, they think you died." "I see." "Don't worry. Fox will find us someday. From what I've been told, you regressed enough to tell him specific things about where I was. He'll put it all together and find us soon." She smiled and got up from the bed. "Sam?" "Yes." "Do you think they're okay?" "With each other they'll be fine." The end. Please send all feedback and comments to canadianchick@home.com