Title: The World Ends (Sequel to "Not with a Bang") Author: Witch Baby Rating: PG Category: MSR, ScullyAngst, MulderAngst Spoilers: Requiem Summary: Mulder's back, but he's not the same. Archive: Yes please. Just let me know Disclaimer: Not mine. No infringement intended. The World Ends By Witch Baby "This is the way the world ends, not with a bang but a whimper." -- T. S. Eliot, "The Hollow Men" The woman with red hair who had talked to him and cried on him a few minutes ago Scully, she'd called herself was standing in the corner, clutching her baby. The pretty doctor whom he'd seen first was standing by his bed asking him questions. "Sir, could you tell me your full name?" He looked at her a moment, thinking. "The redhead," he nodded to the woman in the corner, "um... Scully, called me Mulder, but I think that's my last name because that's what she said the baby's last name is. She said my middle name is William, after my father, I guess It's the baby's name too. My first name is... um... I don't know. I can't seem to remember my own name." He laughed uncomfortably. "What is it?" The doctor looked over at Scully. "Fox," Scully supplied quietly. "Your name is Fox William Mulder." "Like the forest animal?" he scoffed. That brought a smile to the redhead's face. She was pretty when she smiled, even though her eyes were red with tears. He tried to determine who was prettier, the redhead or the doctor. The redhead he decided that hair was amazing. "Like the forest animal," she concurred. "What an awful name," he said with a grimace. "I guess that why you call me Mulder." He paused, realizing something. "That's why you said you didn't name the baby Fox I thought that was weird when you said it William is a much better name." That earned him another smile. "Yeah," she agreed. "Fox," the doctor spoke. "Could you call me Mulder, please?" He asked interrupting her. "Fox just sounds strange." The redhead smiled again. "Sure," the doctor answered. "Mulder," she emphasized his name, "could you tell me the date?" He thought for a moment. "No. I don't know." The doctor noted his response and went on. "What is your mother's name?" He concentrated for a moment again, and shook his head. "I don't know." "And your father's name?" "William Mulder." The doctor raised her eyebrows, pleased. "She... uh, Scully told me that one earlier." "Oh." The doctor wrote on her clipboard again. "And could you tell me you relationship with Dr. Scully?" "*Doctor* Scully," he repeated impressed. "I'm not sure. My wife maybe? I didn't see a ring, but she says the baby's mine." "Ok, Mulder. Can you tell me where you work?" "Um... I don't know." "You were employed with the FBI. Do you know what the FBI is?" "Yeah. The Federal Bureau of Investigations. It handles crimes that fall under federal jurisdiction." "Good. Who was the first president of the United States?" "You're finally asking me questions I know. George Washington." The doctor smiled at him. "And the current president?" "Bill Clinton?" The doctor asked a few more questions and then went out in the hall with the redhead. They were gone for several minutes. When the redhead came back she was alone, except for the ever-present baby, of course. She set the baby in his carrier on the chair and came to stand by his bed. "Mulder," she asked shyly, "do you mind if I talk to you for a while?" He smiled. He liked this woman. "Not at all." He patted the edge of his bed. "Have a seat. You look tired." She seemed embarrassed at his comment. "I must look awful. I didn't even think when I rushed here, I..." "That's not what I meant," he interrupted her. "I mean... You look beautiful," she blushed at his compliment, "but just... tired." She nodded. "It's early. And Will over there doesn't let me get a whole lot of sleep." He gazed at the sleeping baby his baby according to the woman. "How old is he?" "One month today." "Oh." They sat in silence for a moment. Then he asked quietly, "Do you know what's wrong with me?" "Well, you appear to be suffering from amnesia, though what's causing it we don't know. Dr. Cook is setting up some tests now to see if we can determine the cause." "So that's her name, Dr. Cook. She never told me." "I guess she forgot you wouldn't remember it." "Did I know her before?" "She treated you a couple of times." "Is she my regular doctor?" "No. Just an emergency room physician. You have a tendency to get hurt on the job. I'm listed as you regular physician." "Is that how we met? You're my doctor?" She smiled. "No. I'm a forensic pathologist, actually." "Dead people?" "Yep." "So then how did we meet? You say I'm the father of your child, so I'm assuming we know each other pretty well. You don't mind me asking, do you?" "No," she answered. "It's just that there's so much I don't remember. My whole life everything before this hospital." She nodded in understanding. "We were partners in the FBI." "Oh. Special Agent Dr. Scully." "You remember the title." She grinned. "I remember a lot of useless information like that." He paused a moment. "FBI. I guess that explains why I call you by your last name. What is you first name?" "Dana." "That's pretty. Why don't I use it?" "I don't know." She shrugged. "You've always called me Scully. After a while it just got to a point where it seemed strange for you to call me anything else." He accepted her answer. "Alright, Scully," he made a point of using her name, "were we partners long?" "Seven years." "Long time." She nodded. "And lovers?" "Only a couple of months." "Seriously?" He couldn't believe he'd known her for years and hadn't made a move on her. "Why not? I mean... you're beautiful. I don't see how I could know you for seven years and not want you. Is there something wrong with me? Am I deformed or something?" She laughed. "No. You're actually very good looking. Don't you remember what you look like?" "Not really. No. I think I have dark hair the hair on my arms is dark," he raised his arm as evidence, "but..." "I think I have a mirror in my purse. I'll get it so you can see." She started to get up, but he halted her, grasping her wrist. "Don't bother. I can look later. Now I want to know about us." She stayed, and didn't retract her wrist. "So why did it take us so long to become lovers? Did we hate each other or something?" "No. We were friends almost from the beginning. I don't think you really trusted me on our first few cases together, and I thought you were crazy..." He raised an eyebrow at her. "...but, we became very good friends very fast the best of friends. That's what kept us from becoming... more... for so long. And of course the Bureau frowned on intimate relationships between partners. But mostly we were just afraid of losing what we already had." "But eventually we got over that fear?" "Yeah. You did before me. We finally realized that nothing could tear us apart and that it was pointless to keep running from what we felt for each other. So we... we ... moved forward." "That sounds beautiful. I wish I remembered it." His voice was soft, mournful. Her eyes filled with tears and her voice was choked. "I do to." They sat in silence again for a few moments; she trying to control her tears, and he gently stroking her hand because it felt right to try and comfort her. When she seemed completely calm he spoke. "How long was I gone?" "Nine months." "That's a long time." "Yeah," she breathed sadly. He looked over at the baby. "So did I know about William before I was gone?" "No." She shook her head. "I found out about him just after you were taken." "Taken?" "Mulder, you were taken aboard an alien craft." "An alien craft? As in a spaceship?" She nodded solemnly. He laughed, finally getting the joke. "You're teasing me. Now really, what happened to me?" She looked disturbed. "Mulder, I told you. You were abducted. Skinner saw it happen." "Skinner?" "Our boss." "Scully, there's no such thing as aliens," he said slowly as though talking to a child. "You don't believe in aliens?" she asked in disbelief. "What sane person does?" "I do. You have ever since I've known you." He stared at her in confusion. "So you're saying that I was taken aboard a space ship by extra-terrestrials and that's why I've been missing for the last nine months." "Yes." "Okaaay," he said slowly, humoring her, but not believing her. "Mulder," she pleaded, "you have to believe me. It's the truth." Dr. Cook to that moment to enter the room. The muffled thud of the door shutting behind her woke the sleeping baby. Scully rushed over to her child and picked him up, quieting him instantly. "Mr. Mulder needs to be taken for his MRI now," Dr. Cook announced. "Alright," Scully conceded. "I need to feed William anyway." Mulder climbed into the wheelchair Dr. Cook provided and turned to Scully. "Will you be here when I get back?" He wanted to talk to her more, ask her about his former life, see if she really was serious about the aliens. She stepped closer to him and leaned down to press a kiss to his forehead with soft lips. "I'll be here." *** Well... I'm thinking of writing one more part actually I'm pretty sure I will unless a lot of people tell me I shouldn't. Feedback of any kind will be greatly appreciated, so write me at baby_witch@hotmail.com and let me know what you think :)