"The Game"
Rated PG-13
Written by: Nicole Buckles A.K.A. [email protected] (formerly
DrScullyMD)
Mulder arrives at home after a long day at the office.
He takes off his coat and throws it on the floor as soon as he gets in
the door. I'll pick it up later, he thinks to himself. He walks over to
his couch and sits down. "Ahh home sweet home." He takes off his shoes
and turns on the tv. Then the phone rings. He picks it up. "Mulder," he
says.
"Agent Mulder I have some information I think would be of great interest
to you," the woman on the other line says.
"Who is this?" Mulder says a little peeved. "You know I'm really tired.
I had a hard day at work, and I'm really not in the mood for any prank
phone calls!" He is about to hang up the phone when the woman on the other
line says, "Agent Mulder this isn't a prank! Don't you recognize my voice.
It's me Marita."
"Marita?" Mulder says surprised. "I thought that you were dead."
"Oh no, I escaped from them and all their tests! Now I want to get
back at them," Marita says with anger in her voice.
"Get back at them?" Mulder says confused.
"Yes, Agent Mulder it's about your sister. I have information about
her whereabouts. I never told you before because I was loyal to the syndicate,
and respected there wishes. But now, after all they've done to me. I want
those bastards to pay. And one way to do that is telling you how to find
your sister."
Mulder is speechless.
"Agent Mulder did you hear what I just said?"
"Yes I heard you Marita. Tell me what you know."
"Ok, there is only one problem. The files that tell where your sister
is are incepted"
" I don't care just send them to me, Mulder says with urgency in his
voice."
"Okay, I'm having a messenger deliver them. He should be there soon."
She hangs up the phone.
Mulder waits impatiently on the couch. After what seems like a millennium
he hears the a knock on the door. He quickly gets up from the couch and
answers the door. "Are you Agent Fox Mulder?" The man at the door asks.
"Yeah that's me," Mulder says. The man hands him a folder and walks
away. Mulder closes the door and anxiously opens the folder. Inside he
finds a stack of papers. He sees that they are incepted but he recognizes
it. "I've seen this before," he says to himself. "It's Navaho." He sets
the files on the table and picks up the phone to call Scully.
Scully is peacefully sleeping, in her dream she hears the phone ringing.
Then she wakes up to realize that the phone really is ringing. She slowly
reaches over to her night stand and picks up her phone. "This better be
good," She says yawning.
"I'm sorry did I wake you Scully?"
"Well, yeah you did. What's going on Mulder?"
" I Just got a call from Marita."
"Covarrubias?" Scully asks. "I thought you told me that the syndicate
had her and were performing tests on her.
"Yeah, I did but she escaped Scully, and your never going to believe
what she told me."
"I'm listening."
"Scully, she sent me files on the whereabouts of Samantha. Except the
files are in Navaho, but that's not a problem. We've seen this before.
Do you remember Scully?"
"Woh, Mulder slow down. How do you know she is telling you the truth?"
"Why would she lie Scully?"
"But why tell you now? She's known for a long time about your sister
and that you are looking for her."
"Scully, you don't understand. She's mad as hell about all the tests
they performed on her and she wants to get them back.This is her way of
doing that."
"Okay Mulder, but just don't get your hopes up to high. I don't want
to see you get hurt."
"I hear you Scully, but this is the real thing. I'll show you the files
at work tomorrow and we can have Albert Houstein translate them for us.
He helped us out last time remember?"
"Okay Mulder, I'll see you in the morning." Scully hangs up the phone
and lies back down on her bed. She thinks to herself, God please let this
be true. If this turns out to be another dead end who knows what it will
do to him this time. She tosses and turns thinking about it and then she
finally falls asleep.
Mulder is awaken from his sleep by the sound of the phone ringing.
He sits up startled and then picks up the phone. "Hello."
"Agent Mulder, they bugged my phone! That means they know that you
have the file."
"What?! Marita are you sure?"
"Yes, I just found a bug in my phone. It's to surprising actually.
I'm so stupid! I should of known. Agent Mulder, You have to get those files
and get out of your house. I would also suggest you warn your partner.
There is no telling what these men might do to get those files back."
"Woh, Marita what are you saying? That they'll go after Scully to get
to me?"
"Yes, If I were you Agent Mulder I'd get over to her apartment right
now."
Mulder hangs up the phone, grabs the files and runs out the door to
Scully's apartment.
Scully awakens to a loud noise. Did that come from my bedroom, she
thinks. She starts to reach for her gun, when a man puts his hand over
her mouth, and a knife to her throat. "Don't try anything or I'll slit
your throat," the man says. He lifts up his hand.
"Who are you?" Scully asks
"That's none of your concern. Now I'm going to let you get up and then
your going to come with me. Understood?" Scully nods her head yes. What
am I going to do, what am I going to. She keeps thinking over and over
again in her head. She glances over to her night stand and sees her gun
on the top, right by the phone. "Get up! Come on lets go," the man says
in a harsh voice. Scully stands up and then makes a desperate attempt to
grab her gun. The man sees her reaching for her gun and rams her into the
wall. Scully falls to the ground and then gets up and makes a run for it
to the front door. The man catches up to her and tries to grab onto her
clothing. He catches the back of her silk pajamas in his hand and pulls
her towards him. Then he slips on her rug and falls down bringing her with
him. She tries to get up but he pins her down. He takes out his knife and
cuts her arm. She cries out in pain. She looks over at her arm and sees
blood trickling down onto the carpet. "I told you not to try anything,"
he yells. "This is a warning. Next time I'll cut your throat." He grabs
a fist full of her hair and then slams her head against the floor. Pain
shoots threw her head an then she blacks out.
Mulder arrives at her apartment 20 minuets later. He walks up to her
door and finds it ajar. He pulls out his gun and walks in slowly. Oh god,
he thinks. Please let her be ok. Please. He turns on the light and then
calls her name. "Scully! Scully! Answer me god dam it!!" He feels along
the wall for the light switch. He finds it and flicks it on. "Scully!"
He yells again, and runs to her bedroom. He runs through her whole apartment
desperately calling out her name. When he gets back to the living room
he notices a small pool of blood on the floor. He bends down to look at
it. "Oh god no," he says in a shaky voice. "What have I gotten you into
Scully? It's all my fault". He pulls out his cell phone and calls the police.
Two hours later he arrives at his apartment feeling more guilty then
he's ever felt before. I just might of gotten you killed this time Scully,
he thinks as he opens the door to his apartment. He sits down on his couch
in shock not knowing what do. Then he suddenly thinks of Scully's family.
"Should I call her mother? He thinks. "No I can't do that yet. I'm going
to find Scully. I have to."
Scully awakens in the back seat of a car. Her hands and feet are tied
together and there is tape over mouth. She tries to sit up but pain shoots
through her whole body so she lays back down. The arm where he cut her
with the knife is throbbing. She glances over at her arm and sees that
he has tied tourniquet tightly on her wound. A little blood is still trickling
out. He must have severed an artery, she thinks. If I don't get this stitched
up I'm going to bleed to death. The car comes to a sudden halt. Scully's
heart starts to pound. Oh god what is he going to do to me now? The man
gets out of the car and walks over and opens the back door. "Get out,"
he says to Scully. Scully tries to sit up but can't. "I said get out!"
He yells. He gets in the back seat and roughly pulls Scully out. He hits
her cut and bleeding arm against the car door. Scully cries out in pain.
The man bends down and unties her feet. "MOVE!!" He yells. Scully starts
to walk slowly. With every step her head and arm throb with pain. She looks
around and notices that the sun his midway in the sky. How long have we
bee driving? She thinks. He leads her to small boat on the lake. "Get in,"
the mans says. She slowly steps in. Oh god where is he taking me. He gets
in after her and starts the motor. They ride in the boat for 10 mins and
then they reach a much larger boat. Scully thinks to herself, is that a
yacht? The man reaches over and unties her hands so she can climb up the
ladder to the boat. He makes her go first and then he follows. When they
reach the boat deck he leads her down some stairs and into a little room
with a bed and bathroom. He takes the tape from her mouth and then hand
cuffs her to the bed. "Your never going to get away with this", Scully
says as he walks out of the room. The man walks back to her. "Oh, well
we'll see wont we?" . He starts to walk out of the room again. "Wait!"
Scully yells to him.
The man turns around. "What?!"
Scully's voice starts to crack, "Can you please give me some medical
supplies so I can stitch up this wound on my arm? If you don't I'm going
to bleed to death."
"Then I guess your just going to have to bleed to death," he says and
walks out of the room.
Mulder is on his way out the door when the phone rings. He runs to
the phone almost tripping over a chair. He gets to the phone and picks
it up. "Hello!"
"Agent Mulder, You have what I want, and I have what you want."
"If you hurt Scully, I'll kill you....you Son-of-a-bitch," Mulder yells
into the phone.
"It's a little late for that," the man says.
"What?! What did you do to her?! Is she alive? Let me talk to her!"
"Not so fast. I want to play a little game first. I'll call you up
every twenty minutes and I'll ask you a question."
"What do you mean you'll ask me a question?!"
"Do you like the game Jeopardy, Agent Mulder?"
"What are you talking about you sick son-of-a-bitch?!" Mulder yells.
"Let me finish Agent Mulder. I'll ask you a trivia question like the
ones they ask on game show like Jeopardy. If you get it right you get a
clue to where to find me and your partner. If you get it wrong. Well, lets
just say that it will take you more time to find me and your partner will
come closer and closer to bleeding to death. She has a nasty little cut
on her arm."
"I'm gonna kill you," Mulder yells into the phone.
"Well, Agent Mulder what is it. Are you going to play?" Oh and I almost
forgot.When you, if you get enough clues to find me bring the files with
you or there will be no exchange."
"Ok, I'll play but let me talk to Scully first."
"Okay, that seems fair, but only for a minute." He walks into the room
where Scully is and hands her the phone. "It's your partner." Scully grabs
the phone from him.
"Mulder?"
"Scully, are you all right?"
She starts crying in hard gusts. "He's going to kill me Mulder......I
just know it, and, and he cut an artery in my arm. If I don't get it stitched
up I'm going to bleed to death."
"Scully, just calm down. It'll be okay. I'm going to find you. But
right now I need you to hang on and be strong.Okay Scully? Don't leave
me." His voice starts to waver.
She takes a long, watery intake of breath. "Okay Mulder, just hurry."
The man grabs the phone from Scully.
"So, are we ready to play?" He asks Mulder.
"Please will you at least give Scully some medical supplies, so she
can stitch up the wound on her arm. She's a medical doctor."
"No, I don't think so. Play my game first and then we'll see."
"Why are you doing this you sick bastard?! Mulder yells into the phone.
I've agreed to give you the files in exchange for Scully. Why can't you
just tell me where to find you?"
"Because I want to have a little fun first, the man says. Now do you
want to play? Or do you want to let your partner bleed to death?"
"Okay, okay ask me the first question," Mulder replies.
"Okay I'm glad to hear you've come to your senses."
"Just get on with the question," Mulder says impatiently.
"Okay, Agent Mulder, can you tell me what British traveler and explorer
discovered Lake Albert in Africa?"
"What?!" Mulder says. "How the hell should I know?! This isn't fair,
you've got to ask me a question that I at least have a shot at knowing.
Come on here!!"
"Fine, but if you get this next one wrong, your pretty little partner
gets another slash on the arm."
"What, why? That wasn't part of the deal," Mulder says in angrily.
"Well, I'm making up new rules. Here's the next question." Mulder starts
getting really nervous waiting for the question. He shifts nervously on
his couch.
"Agent Mulder, can you tell me what the largest body of fresh water
is in the world?"
"Ahhh, I know this. Just give me second to think, Mulder says frantically."
"Time is ticking, Agent Mulder...tick...tick....tick." Mulder walks
frantically around his apartment. "Arghhhh, I know this, I know this, suddenly
it pops into his head. "Lake Superior," Mulder shouts into the phone. "Is
that right?"
"Very good Agent Mulder. Now I shall give you a clue to our whereabouts.
Think about the two questions I asked you. What do they have in common?
The answer to that question is your clue."
"What!" Mulder says angrily. "That's not a clue. That's just another
damn question."
"Maybe, maybe not." The phone goes dead.
Mulder slams the phone down. "Damn it! Okay think, think what did he
mean when he said, "Think about the two questions I asked you. What do
they have in common? The answer to that question is your clue."
"Okay they both had to do with lakes. Mulder thinks about that for
a minute and then he gets it. Yes that's it they must be on a lake somewhere!
But what lake?"
Scully, lays on the bed starting to feel very weak. She closes her
eyes."Oh, god Mulder you better get her soon," she says to herself. Suddenly
she hears the sound of foots steps walking towards the door. Then the door
opens. She looks up at the man by the door. It's Alex Krycek.
"Krycek, I should of known you were in on this," Scully says to him.
"Agent Scully? Is that you?"
"Don't play dumb Krycek. I know your in on this whole kidnapping thing.
You're not going to get away with it YOU RAT BASTARD!"
"Scully, I just got here I didn't know you were even here," Krycek
says to her.
"You mean you don't know anything about this?" Scully asks him.
"No, I didn't. Care to fill me in?" He walks closer to her. "You know,
you look like crap."
"You've got to help me Krycek. If you have any goodness left in your
heart, you have to help me or I'm going to bleed to death."
"And, why should I care if you bleed to death?" Krycek asks.
"Oh, come on Krycek I don't believe for a minute that your that cold
hearted that you'd just let me die like this."
"Well, what do you expect me to do?" He looks down at her arm.
"I'll I need you to do is get me some medical supplies so I can stitch
up the wound on my arm. I need: some sterile gauze, peroxide, a needle,
some stitching thread and some scissors. I know this ship has to have those
items on it somewhere, just get me the supplies and that's it that's all
you have to do." She looks up at him with pleading eyes.
He starts to walk away from here and then stops when he reaches the
door.
"Krycek please, do this for me," Scully pleads.
"I'll see what I can do," Krycek says and walks out of her room.
Scully lays back down on the bed with a new sense of hope.
Mulder sits impatiently in his apartment waiting for another call.
"I can't take any more of this waiting," he says to himself. He gets up
and starts pacing around his apartment. Then He hears the phone ringing.
He runs over to the phone and picks it up.
"Let me talk to Scully" he says immediately into the phone.
"Uh,uh, uh, not until you finish playing my game," the man says on
the other line.
"Well, can you at least tell me how she's doing?" Mulder asks.
"She's just fine, no need to worry."
"No need to worry? She's going to bleed to death you Son-of-a-Bitch!!"
Mulder yells into the phone.
"I'd calm down if I were you Agent Mulder. This attitude of yours won't
help your partner."
"Ok, what's the next question?" Mulder says in a calm steady voice.
"Good you've come to your senses. Did you get the clue I gave you on
our last phone call?" The man asks Mulder.
"Yes, your very clever. Your by a lake somewhere, aren't you? That's
what your questions where trying to tell me."
"Very good Agent Mulder. Since you were so clever to figure that out
I'll give you a bonus clue. We are not by the lake. We are on the lake."
"What?" Mulder asks. "You mean your on a boat somewhere on a lake?"
"Yes, that is correct. My boat is anchored a mile from shore. You'll
be able to see it from the shore." The man says to Mulder. "Now the answer
to the question I'm about to ask will tell you what state we are in, and
if you are a smart man. In which I think you are. You will be able to figure
out lake we are on. If you figure this much out I'll give you the exact
directions on how to find us."
"Okay, ask me the next question," Mulder says impatiently.
"all right, Agent can you tell me what state converted in 1941 to the
production of the most famous vehicle of World War II, the Jeep."
Mulder thinks to himself. I actually know this one. I bet that sick
bastard thought I was not going to know this one. Well, I'm going to prove
him wrong. "The answer is the state of Ohio." Mulder says in a cocky voice.
I bet you didn't think I'd get that one right did ya?"
"That's right", the man says surprised and then hangs up the phone.
Mulder sits on his couch and starts to think. Okay They are in the
state of Ohio. What major lake is out in Ohio? He pulls out his atlas,
and looks at the state of Ohio. He sees that Lake Erie borders Ohio on
the west by Michigan. "That must be it! Mulder thinks. It's got to be.
Scully lays on the bed trying to stay conscious. Her head his throbbing
with pain from when he slammed her head against the floor. She can't even
feel the pain in her left arm anymore. It's going numb, she thinks. That's
not a good sign. Suddenly Krycek walks into the room and throughs a small
bag of medical supplies on the bed. "There you go Scully. Now I gotta take
off. If they catch me helping you they will kill me."
Scully slowly and painfully sits up and grabs Krycek's arm. "Thank
you so much." She looks up at him with tears in her eyes. "You just saved
my life."
"Yeah, and now I'm going to save mine by getting out here." He walks
quickly out of the room.
Scully quickly dumps out the bag. Gauze, stitching thread, a needle
and a small bottle of peroxide fall out of the bag. She takes off the tourniquet
on her arm wincing. Blood starts flowing more quickly out of the wound
on her arm. She quickly reaches for the bottle of peroxide and opens it.
She hesitates for a second and then pours the whole bottle of peroxide
on her wound. Stinging pain shoots through her arm. She starts to feel
herself losing consciousness and then fights her way back. "Come on you
can do this," she says to herself. She gets the thread and loops it through
the needle. She presses the needle up to her skin. "Oh my god this going
to hurt." She thinks. "But I've got to do it." She takes the needle and
pushes it through her skin. The pain is unbearable, but she keeps on going
almost passing out a few times. Finally she finishes and cuts and then
ties the thread. She reaches for the gauze and then wraps it around her
wound. Then she lays down on the bed and loses consciousness.
The phone rings in Mulder's apartment. Mulder picks it up. "I was starting
to give up on you."
"Agent Mulder, do you know what lake we are on?"
"Yes," Mulder says excitedly. "Lake Erie?"
"Very good Agent Mulder. I have to admit, I didn't think you would
figure it out. Sense you did I must be fair and tell you where we are."
The man gives Mulder the directions and then thinks to him self. "When
he gets here I'll get the files from him and then kill them both. He smiles
as he thinks of his plan.
Mulder grabs his keys and runs out the door. "Im on my way Scully,
Just hold on a little longer."
Four hours later Mulder arrives at the location of the boat . He stands
on the shore looking at the boat. "How the hec am I going to get over there
he thinks. I can't swim. I'll get these files all wet. Then he sees the
boat emerging towards him. A few minuets later it reaches the shore. A
man comes out on the deck. "Climb aboard Agent Mulder", the man says.
Mulder climbs up the ladder and unto the boat deck. The man walks over
to the engine room and starts up the engine. The boat moves away from the
shore, and then stops when it gets to be about 2 miles away from the shore.
The man walks up to Mulder. Okay give me the files.
"Not until you take me where Scully is," Mulder says.
"Oh I'm sorry your partner didn't make it, the man says to Mulder as
he takes out his gun.
"What!?" Mulder says with panic in his voice. "I don't believe you,
your lying." He starts walking away from the man. The man quickly walks
up the Mulder and presses his gun into Mulders head and then finds Mulder's
gun and takes if from him. "Now give me those files," the man yells!
"okay, okay," Mulder says calmly. I'm just going to turn around and
then I'll hand over the files." Mulder turns around and faces the man.
He starts to hand over the files and then makes a daring grab for the gun.
The man notices Mulder reaching for the gun and shoots the gun at Mulder
missing him by half an inch. Mulder tackles the man and they fight for
the gun. Two more shoots go off into the air. Mulder gains possession over
the gun at the same time the man pulls out a knife.The man press the knife
against Mulders throat, drawing a little blood. Mulder presses the gun
into the mans stomach and fires the the gun. The mans body goes limp and
he drops the knife. Mulder gets up and runs down the stairs the the lower
deck to find Scully. "Scully!" He yells once he reaches the bottom of the
boat. No answer. Mulder starts to panic. "What if he was telling the truth
and Scully really is dead," he thinks as he runs in and out of each room
looking for Scully. Finally he comes to the room where Scully is. He sees
her passed out on the bed. He runs over to her. "Oh god please let her
be alive," He thinks . He checks her pulse, it is weak, but at least she's
still alive, he thinks. He gently brushes the hair away from her face.
"Scully, Scully can you hear me? Wake up." She slowly opens her eyes. "Mulder?"
"Yes, I'm here now Scully, everything is going to be okay. Lets get
you out of here."
"I knew you'd find me," she says through tears.
"Shhh, it's okay now." He bends down and kisses her forehead. Then
he looks over at her arm, and then back at her. Scully can you walk? We
need to get out of here. There could be more men on this boat."
"Yeah, I think so." Mulder helps her sit up. She tries to get up and
almost collapses. Mulder catches her.
"I guess not, she says weakly. I lost a lot of blood." Mulder picks
her up and carries her out of the room. He walks up the stairs with her
in his arms, and then walks to the engine room. He puts Scully down. Placing
her gently in a chair. Then he turns the key to the engine. Nothing happens.
He tries again. Still nothing. "Damn!"
Scully looks at Mulder alarmed. "Mulder what is it?"
"The engine won't start Scully. We're going to have to make a swim
for it."
"Mulder I can't." She slumps into her chair.
"Yes you can Scully, I'll help you." He walks over to her. "Look Scully
any minute someone could come running up those stairs. We've got to hurry."
He bends down and picks her up. He notices that she looks very pale, and
is starting to lose consciousness. "She's right," he thinks, she can't
swim, she's about to pass out." He feels her pulse. It's very week. "I
have to get you to a hospital," he says to her. "But this is the only way."
He walks over to the edge of the boat carrying Scully. He looks into her
eyes. "We are going to have to jump ok? I want you to hold on to me tight
and don't let go when we hit the water, and brace yourself it's going to
cold."
"Mulder, I can't do this." She looks up at him with fear in her eyes.
"Scully yes you can, your strong you can do this! Okay are you ready?"
"Yes," Scully says and then takes a deep breath, and clutches on to
Mulder.
Mulder steps up to the edge of the boat and jumps. They fall ten feet
and then hit the cold water below. The impact is so great that Scully loses
her grip on Mulder and floats away. She tries to fight her way up to the
top, but she's just too weak. Mulder breaks through the water coughing
and gasping for breath. Then he realizes Scully isn't with him. "Damn it!"
He goes back underwater and sees her sinking to the bottom, he grabs her
and pulls her to the top. When they reach the top Scully starts to coughing
violently for breath. Mulder starts pulling her to the shore which is a
mile away.
"Scully I thought I told you to hold on to me? You scared me death.
I thought I'd lost you."
"Mulder I'm cold."
"I know so am I but were almost there about a half a mile." He starts
swimming faster. "Hang on Scully."
"Mulder I'm just so....tired." She starts to drift off."
"NO! Scully wake up! You have to stay awake. Come on just a little
bit longer until we reach the shore and my car is up there." She doesn't
answer him. He looks over at her and notices that she has loss consciousness.
"It's probably hypothermia starting to set in," he thinks. I've got to
get her out of here. He starts swimming even faster. A few minuets later
her reaches the shore. He drags her out and checks her pulse to find that
it's very weak. "Hold on baby don't leave me." He picks her up and carries
her to his car. He lays her gently in the back seat. He goes over to the
trunk, opens it and takes out a blanket. He walks back over to where Scully
is. He strips off all her wet clothes and wraps the blanket around her.
Scully opens her eyes long enough to say "Thank You." and then closes them;
losing consciousness again. Mulder kisses her on the forehead and then
gets out and runs over to the drivers side and jumps. He starts the car
and starts driving towards the hospital.
Two hours later Scully is laying in a hospital bed; Mulder by her side
holding her hand.
"I'm so sorry Scully. I got you into this." He brings her hand up to
his mouth and kisses it.
"Mulder, what do you mean you got me into this? Are you saying that
this all has to do with that file you told me about? The file about your
sister?" Scully asks him.
"Yes, it has everything to do with that. That's why they took you.
They new that to get that file back from me they would have to abduct you.
They used you to get to me."
"I'm so sorry." He glances over at her bandaged arm and then at the
bruises on her face. He's eyes start to well up with tears. Scully notices
this and squeezes his hand.
"Mulder, I don't blame you. It's not your fault."
"Scully, but it is! How many times have we been in this situation?
You hurt, in a hospital bed because of me."
"Mulder, it's not because of you. Yes, this job is dangerous. But it's
my choice to keep working. Mine." She says mine with emphasis. "I love
working with you."
Mulder looks at her surprised. "You do?"
"I wouldn't still be here if I didn't. Now would I?" She gives him
a big smile. "Come here you." She reaches out her arms to hug him. He smiles
and wraps his arms around her.
"Thanks for saving me Mulder."
"Yeah, you owe me big time."