Have some fun with Google StreetView

Title: Duhkha(1/?)
Rating: PG
Teaser: "Monica!" She gasps as her eyes take in the sight of the former agent. Monica coughs deeply. Scully rushes over, and kneels down beside her. Monica's face is somewhat paler than it used to be. Really, it is sickly pale. And she is so thin. "What's happened to you?" She asks as her hand touches Monica's cheek.
Endorse: The show belongs to the usual people. Not to me. The story is mine. You can't steal it. Please send feedback. Ask if you want to archive, please archive, my name has to be attached and so forth. xtrekangel@hotmail.com
Notes: The story isn't really going with the timeline the show set. I'm not really that smart so whatever I write, I write. Don't hate me because I'm good. Just go with the flow and see what happens.

    Upon the suns rising the chaos began, as if fueled by its rays. They came, we fought a dubious battle. But those who came were too powerful. The war still rages, albeit the battles are small and few. Heroes rose from the ashes into the unsuspecting blood soaked fields of destruction. Most hide in wait for the one day, the battle, the one miracle that will free us from our bondage of uncertainty and fear. We knew this day was coming. Though we tried, we could not stop its imminent arrival. Now all we can do, all we can do is almost nothing.
 

    As we stand here atop this hill overlooking the desolate wasteland holding the carcasses of buildings we once knew, it's hard to remember a time when they stood strong and proud. They came here first. The Capitol of course would be. No one comes back here. Many are afraid to remember how easy it was for them to take away our freedom. Many don't want to come back to the place where evil seemed to have spawned from. There is no trace of a living being besides maybe stray pets and animals. But this is where the message came from. This is where our journey truly begins. Here where we first met, first trusted, and first loved. We had cried once over this place, but now is not the time for selfish tears to be shed. Now we must get to our destination. We have survived three years of chaos, not to mention the years of struggle before they had even arrived. It seems all we know.
 

    He watched intensely as the two figures ran down the hill. One was female, the other was male. They ran with their weapons in their hands. He watched them run and jump over some debris before they disappeared behind a toppled building. Breathing in deeply he turned and walked back to the small building that was still partially intact. He kicked a few pieces of rubble aside. So they got his message. He was happy, and at the same time he was angry. Not at them, but at what had happened these last few years. Something he thought only happened in science fiction novels. But even though the impossible happened, even though he has struggled every day, he has never given up. Except once, he came very close, but then he found something important. Something he hoped might save them all. Clicking on the flashlight he illuminated a walkway strewn with rubble, then he walked into a room on his left. "They're coming." His gravely voice announced. "They're coming."

    Silently they traversed the road. Their eyes darting every direction looking for any sign of a possible enemy. She stumbled, and almost fell to the ground. "You ok?" He asks.
    "Yeah. I'm fi...." "Hey!" Her response is cut off. "Ovah here." The voice was familiar. Looking up she noticed a man approaching. A man she knew.
    "Oh my God." Her voice crackled a little as she whispered.
        He was happy to see that they were still together. They look different though. She wears tight black pants, with black commando boots, and a white tank top. Her hair is a little wild, though not bad looking, a few rings decorate her fingers, they are simple, and a thick black leather bracelet grasps her wrist. Her appearance seems younger, especially with her well defined muscular arms, though her features appear older. His appearance is almost the same. Stubble stands out on his face, which now holds a small scar. He also wears commando boots, with fatigues, and a green t shirt. His hair is a little longer, and a little spiked. Both carry weapons, and backpacks. A smile starts to spread on his face.
    "I thought you were dead?" She gasps in utter amazement.
    "Nah, still here." His eyes dart from one to the other as they both stand before him now. Finally, a smile forms on her lips, though small, and she moves towards him, hugging him tightly.
    "It's good to see you again John. Really." He smiles and hugs her tightly to him. A sigh escapes his lips as she lets him go and backs up.
    "It's good to see you two again too. But we have matters to discuss. Come on, follow me." Turning, he leads them back to his hideout. Glancing back every so often to make sure they are following, and they are. "It's jest through here." He says, leading them into the building. He enters the room before they do. "Guess who's here."     He announces, as he stands aside for them to enter. The room is dimly lit by a lantern. The light cast ominous shadows that play against the walls. Again they are surprised, though the reaction is different this time. A figure rests on the ground, leaning against the wall. The shadows make the figure appear ghostly. Their eyes adjust to the light and the figure becomes clearer.
    "Hello Dana, Mulder. I'm so glad to see both of you. I never really thought I would see you again."
    "Monica!" She gasps as her eyes take in the sight of the former agent. Monica coughs deeply. Scully rushes over, and kneels down beside her. Monica's face is somewhat paler than it used to be. Really, it is sickly pale. And she is so thin. She sits in front of Scully on the ground. The wall supports her back. "What's happened to you?" She asks as her hand touches Monica's cheek. She looks over at John, who's face has gone hard, though concern twinkles in his eyes.
    "I'm fine." Monica insists before more coughs rack her body.
    "Awhile back she got shot. And though the wound healed, her immune system hasn't seemed to recover as quickly. I've done what I can do, which isn't much." Scully's eyes dart to Mulder. He removes his pack and bends down beside her. Opening the pack, Scully rummages through some things before coming up with a bottle of pills.
    "I want you to take these." She grabs a bottle of water from the pack, handing it to Monica.
    "No I can't." Monica puts her hand out to reject the medicine. "Really I'll be fine."
    "Don't worry, we have more and we know where we can find more. Now just take these, and get some rest." Scully smiled reassuringly. Monica gave in and accepted the offering gratefully. With that finished, Scully and Mulder turned their attention to John.
    "What have you got for us?" Mulder asks as they stand.
    "I think you'll be surprised." He turned and walked out. Scully turned and looked at Mulder, her eyes questioning. He shrugged and waited for John to return. When he did come back, he had a little boy around three, and an older boy. Mulder heard Scully suck in her breath. "This is Nathan. He's almost three years old now." He smiled as he picked up the boy in his arms. "And this is.."
    "William?!" Scully choked out, cutting him off. Mulder gasped.
    "What?"
    "I didn't find him, he sorta found me." John said, patting William on the back.
    "I've been looking for my parents since I was little." He said. His eyes meeting theirs, straight on. "I always knew they would be the ones that would help me, save me from the nightmares that always used to plague me." Scully's hands cover her mouth as tears stream down her dirty face, leaving trails.
    "Oh my God." She utters, almost praying, over and over. Mulder just stands with his mouth agape.
    "I've finally found you mom. I remember your face, your voice." His face shows pain.
    "William." Scully rushes up to him, bends down and wraps her arms around him, her chin rest on his shoulder as she sobs. "I prayed every day that I would see you again. I thought I was protecting you by giving you up. I should never have done it. I'm sorry, I'm so sorry. I have regretted it every day." She continues to cry heavily, the tears now washing the dirt from her weary face. Mulder is unsure of what to do and stands there in disbelief.
    "No. I understand. I understand what you had to do." William speaks softly into her ear. He acts years older than his little body conveys. Scully pulls back, and grabs both sides of his face within her hands.
    "I never thought I would see you again." Her voice is soft. "All the years I've missed." She's shaking her head. "I love you William. I have never stopped loving you."
    "I knew one day I would find you. We are finally together again." His voice conveys wisdom beyond his years, understanding, compassion.
    "You look just like your father." She smiles. William looks up over at Mulder, who has not moved. Scully stands aside as he walks past over to Mulder.
    "Dad." Their eyes are searching each others. Looking for the truth, the trust. "It's time we fought side by side. It's our destiny." Mulder starts to back up, and then turns and strides out of the dimly lit room. Scully looks at John, then follows him out.
    "Mulder!" It's a harsh whisper. He's stopped, one hand is on his fore head, and he paces back and forth.       "Mulder, what's wrong?" She places one hand on his arm stopping his movements.
    "How do you know?"
    "What?" His head jerks up, and his eyes pierce hers.
    "How do you know that is ..... is...."
    "Our son." She finishes for him.
    "How do you know Scully?"
    "Because, I knew the moment I saw him. I gave birth to that child. I held him, and carried him, and I gave him up. You would know too if you had been there." She immediately regretted her words. Pain flashed in his eyes, and he looked down. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean that."
    "No." He sighs. "You're right. I should have been there. I should never have left you."
    "You had to."
    "No, I should have stayed."
    "That's not important anymore Mulder. What's important is that we have found our son Mulder, our son."
    "I don't know."
    "What don't you trust?"
    "Where did he come from? How did they find us? How did he find us? He acts as if he's 20 and he's only what, eight." He seemed in so much pain. He wanted to believe so badly that boy was his son, but he needed a little proof. He had to be sure. She grabs his face between her hands and pulls him down, kissing him on the lips.
    "Why don't we go find out." Her eyebrows raise. He smiles a little.
    "Well, if he is our son, there goes our private time." She chuckles.
    "You ready to go back?"
    "Yeah, but only if you kiss me again." Again she smiles at him, and kisses him deeply. Then she grabs his hand and pulls him back to the room. As they enter, Scully notices a few more lanterns have been lit. Nathan and Monica are lying side by side sleeping, and John and William are talking.
    "We have a few questions." She announces as they turn around.
    "Well, we found out she was pregnant a few months before they came. Before you warned everyone. He's all we've had really. It's been rough though, trying to stay alive, out of harms way. We were doing all right, and then Monica was shot by some guy hopped up on drugs or something. That's how I ran into William actually. He saw what happened. For a little kid he's pretty smart. We did all we could for her, and I thought she was healing good. But, she's been sick since then. Sometimes she gets better, but it comes back fast." A tear fell from the corner of his eye. He held all others back. "I can't lose her Scully. I can't lose my wife."
    "You're married?" This shouldn't have surprised her. He smiled and held up his ring finger.
    "You seemed surprised."
    "No, it's just hard to imagine life going on, people being happy."
    "Well, we got married before all this." He looked over at Monica and Nathan. "It's meant everything to me." His eyes darted back to her. The serious John Doggett face had returned. "So what about you and Mulder?"
    "What about us?"
    "You two never got married? I mean, I know you probably wouldn't want to have a family during all this, but you two seem to be so in love."
    "You know, you've changed." He was less like a man, and more like a person.
    "Well married life can do that to a man. You didn't answer my question." She looked away. Mulder was kneeling next to William, questioning him, probing him. If he wasn't their son, Mulder would find out.
    "We thought about it once. But we don't need to be married to know we love each other. We've always had each other, and that's all we need. I was pregnant once, but..... I had a miscarriage. Never got pregnant after that. Not that we didn't try. We're just not meant to." Tears formed in her eyes, and she took a deep breath.      "But, that is the past. And now we have William back." She smiled. Then her eyes looked into his, questioning him. "So how did you find us anyway?"
    "Pure luck really. We went on some sources that we still had, some information left by Skinner. Apparently he was searching for you and got pretty close."
    "How is he?" He shrugged.
    "We've lost contact with him. Been awhile now. I think he may be dead, but I'm not sure. Anyway, once we got a general area as to where you might be, I just sent a messenger with a description of you two. And he found you. Now you're here."
    "We were afraid it might be a trap, but we had to know who our friend was."
    "I'm glad that you two are still reckless. It's been such a long time since we've seen anyone friendly." He sighs, and looks over at Monica again. "Do you think she'll be alright?"
    "Yes, I'm sure she will be her old self in no time. She just needs antibiotics, water, and rest." She lays her hand on top of his reassuringly.
    "Where do you plan to go next?"
    "I don't know."
    "Well once Monica's up to it, were going to a small underground community we heard about. Actually William told us about it. It's up north somewhere, far away from the colonies. You should come with us. We'd love the company."
    "You really have changed John. I just can't get over it." She grins at him. "I think I'll have to talk to Mulder about that, but I'm sure we'll come along."