From: Sean Smith X-From: rkwong@engin.umich.edu (Roberta Chi-Woon Kwong) Newsgroups: alt.tv.quantum-leap.creative,alt.ql.creative Subject: "Quanta" part 11/17 Date: 19 Apr 1995 17:16:29 GMT This is being posted for Sean Smith , who is having some difficulty posting from his account. Please direct all comments to him. Apologies if any line noise remains in these posts. -------------------------------------------------- "Although I do not personally mind graveyards, Mulder, I would like to know why I'm in one." Donna was following in Fox's wake as he stomped through the small, sunlit cemetery in the suburbs of Washington, carrying a long bag. "I mean, the shovels in the bag make it look like you plan on digging up...well...something." She paled visibly at the thought.. "I do." A shadow of a smile ghosted across Mulder's lips. Although he couldn't see her reaction, he could hear her intake of breath over the whisper of falling leaves. For a moment, he watched the light play on the tops of the granite headstones all a bout them. "You can't possibly mean _graverobbing_!" Dr. Alisee's voice dropped to a hiss as she caught up with Mulder, grabbing his sleeve. Fox put a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "No, I never rob graves in broad daylight, Donna." He smiled impishly. "Seriously, I buried some old notes out here. I thought it would be fitting. Besides, who'd look for my files in a graveyard?" "I don't want to know." Donna smiled back at him sardonically. "Cute. Listen, you go find an apartment. Here's the address." He pulled a crumpled sheet of yellow note paper from his pocket and handed it to her. "You get ahold of it now, for one night, at any cost. I'll stay here and dig." The sack clanged loudly as Fox dropped it to the ground. "Why do you need this apartment? Is there more buried treasure there?" Donna kept smiling, despite the spooky surroundings. "No. I've just got a long overdue meeting with a friend." Fox looked away at the nearby trees, where a flock a birds took flight. * * * Sam walked into the living room of the Scullys' house, and into a conversation between Dana and her family. She sat facing away from him, her hip resting against an old maple credenza. She spoke with her arms folded across her chest. Across the room, Tatya was leaning against Brian, who had his arms wrapped around her chest. They were quite a sight, as Tatya did not quite reach Brian's shoulder. "I still think the two of you look like you could use someplace to rest. Maybe overnight." Brian sounded firm on this. "No Brian, we've waited here too long already. This is serious." Sam had already grown accustomed to that particular tone in her voice. "Sure. We can help." Tatya answered, seeming to smile. Sam interrupted. "That's alright. We have to take care of this by ourselves. Right Scully?" He didn't want to step on her toes by taking her fight, but he wanted his thoughts known. "Mulder. I didn't see you come in." She walked over to him, and unexpectedly turned about. Without uncrossing her arms, she leaned back against his chest. "And yes, we can take care of ourselves." Her voice was much lower as she spoke. Sam leaned forward, and whispered to Scully, "That wasn't quite what I said." Dana elbowed him in the stomach as she stepped forward. "It's really time for us to go." Dana hugged her sister in law, and then was engulfed by her brother. She picked up an insulated bomber jacket from the counter next to her, and shrugged it on. It hung from her small frame, past her hips. Smiling, she drew her cap from her pocket, and put it on, pulling her ponytail through the hole in back. She sized up Sam, quickly. His white tee shirt was torn across the collar, and hung nearly to his crotch. His jeans were tight, the denim worn thin across his knees and buttocks, but they matched the long blue jacket he wore. "Well, Mulder, I doubt anyone will recognize either of us." It was only then that Sam realized Dana was wearing a camisole under her plaid shirt. Surprised, he decided to ignore it, and simply grab her small duffel. She set off, and Beckett was left to follow Tatya through the kitchen, toward the back street entrance. Brian preceded everybody through the back way, leading the small group out to the dark gray Honda crouched in the alley behind the house. He turned, and threw a set of keys to his sister. "Here you go. Rented one right after you called me." After one more round of goodbyes, Sam and Dana headed off, again with Scully in the drivers seat. "Okay Mulder. You want to tell me where we're going, or am I expected to 'use the Force." She grinned as she pulled onto the 680 onramp. The sound of thunder heralded a new stormfront approaching. Sam grimaced. "Head back toward Sacramento." * * * Fox came jogging back across the grass, a dusty bag over one shoulder, and a rusted green toolbox in his hand. His hair was disheveled, and there were small dirt marks about the hem of his pants. His face was pale and sweating, and he tried to hide the shaking in his legs as he moved. Nonetheless, he was smiling as he approached Donna and the rental car. "You get a hold of my apartment?" He dropped his burdens at Dr. Alisee's feet. "No, but for the oddest reason. The manager said the new owner wouldn't let anybody enter without, get this, a note! And she won't write any more notes! Anyway, there's such a network of cross-ownerships involved, I can't figure out _who_ really rents that place." Consternation wrote itself on her face. "Relax, there are a hundred-and-one ways into that apartment. Meanwhile, help me go through these files." Fox knelt down and opened the toolchest. He stopped, completely motionless as he saw the inside. Then he sat back on the grass and laughed. "Mulder, what's going on!" Donna leaned forward and looked inside. There were four dusty reams of binder paper, all molding underneath their plastic wrappers. A small spider scurried away from the light, and disappeared under the stack. But on top of it all, a simple handwritten note on gray paper sat quietly. Fox- I've waited for you, and looked everywhere for you. I'm afraid I'm resorting to trapping all your old 'haunts' to catch you. I know you're not dead, damn it, and I want to know why my sister died! Meet me in your apartment, now. Melissa "Well, now, I guess that explains the apartment, huh? No paranormal explanation, just a seriously abnormal one." Mulder grinned at Donna foolishly. RMulder, how can you smile? Oh, God that poor woman has spent years thinking her sister was dead.S Donna leaned back against the smooth side of the rental car. RShe _is_ dead, Donna. Dana Scully is _dead_. According to the report in _this_ reality, she was found three years ago, and buried twenty miles from here. This,S Mulder grabbed the note in a white-knuckled hand and waved it before her, Ris what weUre here to stop, get it! What, you live in an ivory tower, and donUt even remember whatUs going on? Who set this Project up, Don Quixote?S Fox fell back to the grass, laughing and crying. RDonUt take this out on me. I didnUt want any of this to happen.S Her jaw clenched as her face suffused with anger. ROh no, you guys just built a time machine, no strings attached? Kind of like, I just made the H-bomb, IUm not responsible?S Fox rolled over onto his hands and knees, his pupils wide and deep. RFine. Blow up and try and pin everything in the world on _me_! It wonUt make anything any better. For you or her.S Or for my husband, she thought. RNo, and neither will your histrionics!S RHistrionics!S This brought the doctor to her feet. RTOh, Fox, how do you feel?U TIUm so sorry, Fox! Tell me about her.U Damn it, stop poking around in my head! Or at least do a good job of playing up to me.S The flush in his cheeks stood out in marked contrast to his sallow skin. RYou think IUve cared for you just to keep tabs on you? You paranoid, self-centered, uncaring-S He interrupted her as she advanced on him. "Excellent patient rapport, Doctor,S he sneered. R-Son of a-S RDOCTOR ALISEE!S ZiggyUs near screech interrupted her. RI was distracted by new calculations, but it would appear your patient is near collapse. Heart rate, one-forty. Blood pressure one-fifty-nine over one-oh-one. What _have_ you been doing to this poor boy?S The computer clucked at her over the bracelet. RFox? Mulder, let me take a look at you.S Donna took him by the shoulder examined his eyes. He batted her hands away, and swayed to his feet. RLet go of me. IUll do this myself, if I have to. And I donUt need some Orwellian monstrosity on my damn arm!S He managed to loosen the connector on his bracelet, and fling it across the cemetery. RMulder, calm down. If you donUt sit down, youUll hurt yourself. IUll give you a sedative, if it will help.S Donna put a lid on her temper, and tried to talk him down. RLike hell you will. I donUt need a doctor around watching my every damn move, Dana. Just go on back to wherever you came from...go on...back.S Mulder's shoulder fetched up against the rough trunk of a tree, and he slid to the ground. His eyes rolled back as his head lolled on his shoulders. ROh, damn.S Alisee ran to where he lay, and dropped to her knees. RDonUt die on us. God knows whatUll happen then.S Ziggy interrupted her briefly. RIf Agent Mulder dies, there is a seventy-eight percent chance Doctor Beckett will be unable to return.S * * * She could see the rain bouncing off the hood of the rented Honda. But the torrential downpour kept Dana and Sam from seeing much more. They were traveling north on Interstate 5 when the storm caught up with them, and now they were traveling at twenty-five. Barely. And even now, she was navigating by the brilliant red taillights of the car ahead of her, her wide eyes flinching as thunder broke about the car. Inside, Dana had her brotherUs oversized jacket wrapped about her, and her own thoughts further cloaking her. ROkay Mulder, whatUs this all about? And donUt give me TdonUt ask,U okay? I just need to know what its all about, and why IUm driving in circles around California.S Sam sat in the plush gray seat, mutely staring out into the gathering twilight. He said nothing, nor gave any sign of having heard his partner. Mulder! Listen to me! Now!S Scully risked a glance over at him, angry. RHuh? Oh, why are we out here? I canUt-S Dana cut him off. RWrong. IUm still your partner. DonUt you dare freeze me out. Not when we havenUt reported in yet, and when weUre being hunted by your damn friends. Now talk to me Mulder.S Sam couldnUt for the life of him think of what to say. He was dragging somebody into his own battle, and he couldnUt explain a word of it. Shocked, he realized that he himself might be the cause of her death. He looked over at the woman driving the car, stunned. The red hair peeking out from around her cap seemed to shimmer in the dying light, and her vibrant eyes flashed her thoughts at him. Her cheeks were colored, and he could faintly smell her scent. In all ways, Dana was _alive_, and it struck him to think that in some way he might be responsible for her tragedy. It cleared his head of all other thoughts. RDana...IUm sorry. No, wait a moment, please?S Sam worried at the cuff of his wool jacket. RI...I canUt drag you into all this. ItUs been wrong of me to let this go as far as it has already. Just pull over at the next town.S RFox...what are telling me?S Her voice was soft, almost lost behind the noise of the storm. RIUm saying that IUll drop you off there. IUll get where IUm going alone.S * * *