Gabriel
Chapter Twenty-Eight


Canyon Ferry Dam
September 25, 2001
9:25 p.m.


"Mulder."

Yep, he was dead.  Cradled in the arms of an
angel, being carried to... heaven?  Nah.  For
one thing, he didn't believe.  And for another,
this angel sure smelled like shit.  Sweaty and
tinged with the warm scent of blood and anxiety. 
No matter, Gabriel thought, losing himself in
the strong embrace.  At least he wouldn't have
to worry about hanging on to that damned rope
anymore.

"Mulder!"

Leave me alone you fucker, he wanted to scream. 
But wait a minute - people weren't supposed to
talk to angels that way.  It was shaking him,
though - trying to get his attention.  Maybe if
he was nice, played along, he'd creep past St.
Peter at the pearly gates.  Maybe all he had to
do was give it a word or two and they'd begin
the stairway to heaven.

"Mmm... you smell like shit," he mumbled.

So it wasn't the best choice of words. 
Hopefully, he didn't piss it off.  And if he
did?  So what.  He was so tired.  All he wanted
was to sleep.

A short chuckle rumbled around him.  "I think
you need to check your own pants, Mulder."

Cracking one eye open, Gabriel found a big,
stubbled chin scraping his nose.  "Walter?"  It
was weak, but it got Skinner's attention.

"Saving your ass once again, Mulder.  Why I
bother, I don't know.  You just told me that I
stink."

With some effort, Gabriel managed to open both
eyes and promptly closed them at the nothingness
below.  Gulping, he realized his former boss was
wrapped around him and they were both being
pulled up the side of the dam.  'Thanks' seemed
so inadequate, especially in light of his faux
pas a moment ago.  Instead, he fell back on an
old standby.

"Um... I was drugged."

"Shut up, Mulder." Skinner sounded breathless
and Gabriel hoped he had enough strength to get
them both to the top.  "Sounded feeble then and
it sure as hell doesn't wash now."

"Sir..." His voice trickled away.  Please don't
drop me, he added silently.  I'll never make fun
of you again, never give you trouble, never want
to clip you in the chin for looking at Scully's
legs... 

"Scully!"  Struggling, he tried to look up and
found everything swimming in a sea of concrete.

"She's okay, Mulder.  Keep still."

"Where is she?" Safe trip be damned.  If she
wasn't on her way up, he didn't want to go
either.

Skinner's arms almost crushed the breath from
him.  "She's all right, Mulder.  Already at the
top.  Waiting for you."  He began to call out to
those above, barking instructions like the field
commander he'd always been.

The world whirled around Gabriel and he fought
to keep his eyes open.  It wasn't that he cared,
but he had to be certain the threat was over.
"Cancerman?"

"Nowhere to be found," Skinner replied, grunting
at the tug of the rope.  "Did he escape?"

The events of the last half-hour crept back into
Gabriel's mind and he sighed, letting his head
fall back.  "No."  His father had fallen into
the water below, to sure death.  Taking the chip
with him.

I give you her, he'd said.  Only Gabriel knew
the gift was a slap in the face... without that
chip, she'd not survive for much longer.  Damn
his father's soul to hell.

How could he face her knowing he'd failed? 
Could he stand to watch her die all over again? 
Kurtzweil had indicated the stress of her
pregnancy would compound the rapid return of the
cancer.  Not even the child was assured of a
problem-free birth.

"Almost there, Mulder.  I can see her from
here."

All the months of searching, the days of frantic
chasing and the words of hope he'd given her...
all for naught.  Despite his hunger for her
face, he wasn't sure he could keep from sobbing
at his failure, especially when he knew she'd
smile and embrace him as the victor in this
battle.  He wasn't a champion, he'd never been. 
He hurt all over and felt like he was going to
puke at any second.  Some champion.

"Gabriel!"  Excitement colored her cry of his
name and behind his closed eyelids, he could
picture her glowing face.  It stung the back of
his eyes as the clouds of impending doom crept
closer.

Buffeted from side to side in Skinner's hold, he
barely felt it when they hauled him over the
edge. Misery blanketed him and he gave in to it,
letting blessed unconsciousness take hold.


*******


Canyon Ferry Dam
September 25, 2001
9:45 p.m.


He woke to see that which filled him with
happiness as well as sorrow.  Her face, beaming
above him with a smile so bright it hurt his
eyes.

"Hey there," she said.  "Welcome back."

Swallowing, he shivered as he laid on the hard
concrete.  He must have been out for only a
moment;  Skinner hovered at his left, tugging on
the rope that circled his torso, then reaching
down to untie the one that held him to Gabriel.

"Jesse is coming with the truck, Mul - Gabe. 
Just keep still."

Keeping his eyes on her, he licked his lips. 
"Okay?" he choked out, his voice a thin
reflection of its former self.

"I'm fine," she assured him, stroking his frigid
cheek.  Bending low, her lips touched his
briefly.  "You're cold."  The hand on his face
trembled.

"So... are you," he answered, trying to force a
smile between icy lips.  "Baby?"

Careful not to disturb his injured arm, she
reached over, a grimace of sorrow at his
battered body flitted over her features.  His
good hand - if you could call it that - was
captured in her own, and he saw her eyes swim
with tears as she brought it to her belly. 
"Kicking up a storm," she chuckled brokenly,
fitting it beneath the gap in her cape.  "I
think a rope swing in the back yard has become a
definite necessity."

His child jumped joyfully under his numb fingers
and he hitched a breath, his eyes drifting shut
with relief.  Slow, hot tears began to form and
the snowflakes that had begun to drift down
mingled with the trail into his temples.

"Shh... it's okay," Julia whispered, her lips
tickling his chin.  "We're all right. 
Everything's going to be fine."

He nodded, unable to speak.  Anything he said
would be a lie and he'd promised himself he'd
never lie to her again.

"Miss Julia?" Jesse's low voice intruded.  "We
gotta move him now."

One last kiss to his cheek, then she moved away. 
"Okay."  To Gabriel she murmured, "Just keep
still.  We'll be back at the train in no time."

He opened his eyes to see Jesse and Skinner to
either side of him.  A huff broke from his lips
at the appearance of Langly and Frohike, who
took up positions at his legs.

"Byers?" he croaked.

Frohike leaned forward.  "Already on his way to
the train with Spencer and Krycek.  He's gonna
be okay, Gabe."  Gabriel felt four pairs of
hands slip beneath him.  "Now hold tight, this
isn't gonna be pleasant."

No kidding.  His shoulder screamed as they
lifted him and his knee under Langly's hands
felt like it was the size of a grapefruit,
threatening to burst in the confinement of his
jeans.  A low, biting cry shot from his lips.

"It's okay, it's okay." Her voice, coming from
close by.  "Breathe.  We're almost there."

As they hoisted him into the back of the truck,
he fought off the pain long enough to ask,
"Where are you?  Julia?"

Gently, they laid him on the floor.  An itchy
blanket tickled his chin, making him cough. 
"Julia?"

"Careful, Miss Julia." Jesse's voice. "You ought
not to be walking yourself."

Shit, she was hurt.  Whipping his head from side
to side, Gabriel scanned the dark truck,
everything circling like a carousel.  "Julia!"

"Here.  I'm here."  Suddenly, her face came into
focus.  Grabbing his hand, she settled beside
him.  Everyone but Skinner melted away and he
heard the truck roar to life.

"Just keep still." Skinner.  Gabriel felt
Julia's hand tense in his; dimly, he recalled
she had no idea who this man was.  But his
former boss was as quick and smooth as ever as
his voice mellowed.  "He'll be okay," he said,
his assurance directed at her.

She hesitated for a moment, then he felt her
relax beside him, gathering his hand closer to
her warmth.  "Julia Longfellow."  Gabriel felt
her smile in the darkness.  "Do you work for the
Colonel?"

A snort, then, "Hardly.  You could say we go way
back... all of us.  My name is -"

Gabriel kicked in the direction of Skinner's
voice with his good leg; though Skinner knew of
Julia's memory lapse and the consequences of
recollection, he had no idea just how
inquisitive she was these days.  As his boot
made contact with the tree trunk of Skinner's
leg, he heard the man clear his throat.

"Uh... Melvin.  My name is Melvin."

Gabriel's eyes narrowed at the man's shadow; of
all names to pick...

"Melvin," Julia said slowly, giving Gabriel an
amused glance before turning back to Skinner. 
"Very popular name, this 'Melvin'."

"Huh?"

"Nothing." Her almost-chuckle dwindled and she
held out her other hand to take Skinner's. 
"Thank you, Melvin."

Before Skinner could reply, the truck took off
with a jerk and Julia started with a hiss,
settling back beside Gabriel.  The lurch forward
jarred him as well, but he concentrated on her,
quickly accusing, "You're hurt."

"A sprained ankle, that's all," she replied
softly, soothing him with her words.

Gabriel barely noticed Skinner turning away
discreetly. "Are you sure?"

"Yes, my love."  So tender, so... Julia. 
Destined to be so for what little remained of
her life.

The endearment tweaked his already sore emotions
and he couldn't help the words that came from
him, the relieved conversation of a moment ago
fading fast.  "I'm sorry.  God, I'm so sorry."

"For what?" One hand stilled his beating heart
as the other cupped his cheek.  Soft confusion
colored her smile.  "We're alive, Gabriel. 
We're safe.  That's all that matters."

He sobbed quietly as she curled up against him,
her heat rising to warm his sore body.


*******


Helena, Montana
September 25, 2001
10:15 p.m.


They couldn't keep him still.  It took Skinner
and the guys to hold him down in Julia's bed as
Jesse stripped him.  "Not me," he muttered,
feeling a fever begin to grip him.  "Her."  His
jumbled thoughts told him that if he was
suffering from the effects of exposure, then it
was very likely she was, too.

"Gabriel, love... I'm fine.  Be still before you
hurt yourself."

Her voice sounded so far away, a whisper to his
burning ears.  "Scully?"  Lack of moisture in
his mouth made the plea a scratchy moan.

She was there, her cool hands tilting his head. 
"Drink.  Doctor Kurtzweil is on his way."

For what, he wondered, sure he was fast falling
prey to the black-robed specter of death.  After
a sip of water, he fell back to the pillows,
coughing.  "I'm dying, Scully."

"You are not.  Stop that.  You're a bit beat up,
but you're going to be fine."  He saw her lift
worried eyes to Frohike, who cleared his throat
as he stepped away.

"I'll see what's taking so long."

It was because Kurtzweil knew there was nothing
to be done for him.  That's why he was in no
rush.  Naked now, he shook under the blankets
they piled upon him.  "I'm so tired," he
murmured.

"I know.  The doctor will give you something
soon and you can sleep."

He found he could no longer summon the energy to
speak, so he laid quietly, listening to the
bustle in the room.  A blast of cooler air
rushed over his face, then another voice spoke.

"Gabriel.  It's me, Kurtzweil.  Where do you
hurt?"

Through clenched teeth, he gritted out,
"Everywhere," though it sounded more like a
mumble to his ears.

"Julia, step back so I can examine him, please."

No!  She was the only thing keeping him
grounded, keeping him awake.  Bringing his head
up, he cried out in protest as she backed up. 
But he couldn't go far, as Jesse's hands held
him down.

"Damn it Gabe, quit it!"

Now well and truly confined, he could do nothing
but watch her with his eyes.  Limping.  She was
limping to the couch.  "Take..."

Kurtzweil leaned in to ask, "Yes?  What is it?"

"Take care... of *her*."

"The nurse is looking after her, Gabriel.  She
just has a few scratches, that's all."  The
blankets lifted from him and cool hands touched
his body.  A sudden lurch of the bed made him
groan.  The train.  They were back on the train. 
No, no.  They were supposed to be on their way
to Canada... surely Kurtzweil had inserted the
chip in her neck already, hadn't he?

"Sit still while I take off your shoe, miss." 
Who was that?  The nurse.  Yeah.  The old hag
had better be careful with Julia or he was gonna
wring her wrinkled neck.

"Ow!"

"Whassat?" He squirmed under Jesse, his radar
picking up her cry immediately.

From across the room he heard her angry voice. 
"A few pieces of glass in my ankle, Gabriel. 
It's nothing.  The nurse is... digging them out
now... ssss... watch it."

A harsher feminine voice cracked in the air. 
"Miss, you have to keep still."

"You're pulling broken glass from my leg, for
God's sake.  You expect me to keep still?"

Broken glass.  No chip.  That's why they were
back on the train.  Dimly, Gabriel realized the
vial must have broken in his father's hand as it
clutched at Julia.  There was no chance in hell
now the contents could have survived.  Instead,
it only served to add insult to injury, as it
had scored her delicate skin.

"Your knee isn't broken, Gabriel.  Just badly
sprained and bruised."  Kurtzweil's face shifted
into focus before him.  "But the shoulder is
dislocated.  We'll have to roll it back into
place.  I'm going to give you something for the
pain."

Pain?  Who cared about pain?  What the hell was
going on with her?  Why was her return to him
taking so long?  "Julia," he breathed, calling
to her in his almost delirium.  He felt a sharp
pinpoint on his ass.  "Chip."

"I know, and I'm sorry, Gabriel," Kurtzweil
said, helping Jesse roll him to his back once
again.  "I'll help her any way that I can,
okay?"

Nothing.  Kurtzweil could do nothing and he knew
it.  Gabriel's eyes picked up the flash of
dismay on the man's face instantly.  He tried to
hide it, however, schooling his mouth into a
tight line as he nodded at Jesse.  "Ready?"

Jesse took a deep breath beside Gabriel, whose
head felt fuzzy.

"Ow!  Damn!" The tinkling of glass hitting
stainless steel made Gabriel cringe.  What the
hell was that bitch doing to Julia?

"Miss Julia." The words from the nurse were
sharp and furious.  "*Please* keep quiet! 
There's something there I can't quite reach."

"It feels like you're digging with a pick-axe,
you know."

Atta girl, Gabriel thought, sleep rapidly
approaching.  Tell old prune-face to back off.

Another hiss, then, "There!  Got it!  Glass all
around it, but I got it."

Even half-dead with sleep... even above the roar
of the accelerating train... even with Jesse
murmuring above him... he heard it.

Ping!

Numbed eyes flew open and Gabriel cried, "That's
it!"

"Gabe, quiet down!" Jesse hissed.

Above the voices surrounding him, he distinctly
heard the nurse move to the bathroom.  It rolled
in the pan as she walked, sounding like a BB
from a toy gun.  "Looks like a piece of metal -
what do you know?"  The light came on in the
bathroom, shortly followed by the sound of
water.

Shit.  She was a second away from flushing
Julia's life away.

Slowly, his limbs leaden, he turned to see
Frohike stumble away.  "Frohike!"

"Already on it!"

"Excuse me?" The nurse bit off a choked cry. 
"Why, I never -"

"And you never will, sister," Frohike muttered,
coming back into the bedroom.  "Gabe?"

Gabriel blinked, desperately fighting to stay
awake.  "Show me..."

A pair of forceps, held within a gloved hand,
swayed before his face, its precious cargo dark
red with blood.  But there, in all its life-
saving glory.

Frohike's smile was tremulous.  "With my life,
man.  This baby ain't leaving my sight."

Laughter spilled from him and he heard the men
in the room join in after a moment's hesitation,
their combined relief echoing in the room with
resounding triumph.  Skinner said something
about breaking out cigars.  Jesse's murmured
expletive about luck sailed over him, and
Kurtzweil sobered, nodding at Gabriel with
certainty.

Julia's confused face was the last thing he saw
as he succumbed to painless, relieved sleep.



End Chapter Twenty-Eight