Title: Mulder's Creek: 22 Rocket's Red Glare
Author: Neoxphile 
Author Email: neoxphile@aol.com 
Rating: PG-13 
Category: X-File , Friendship 
Keywords: Pre-XF, Alternate universe, Crossover 
Pairings: Mulder/Scully Romance, Doggett/Reyes romance 
Crossover Info: Dawson's Creek 
Spoilers: X-Files seasons 1-8, Dawson's creek seasons 1-4 
Summary:  A fireworks display leads to a shock for Mulder.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
 
Opening scene

Mulder yawns and stretches as he gets out of bed. The sunlight
shining into his room suggests that it is midmorning, and a glance at
his clock confirms it. He smiles a bit, enjoying being able to get up
whenever he feels like it. He heads for the bathroom.

His hand is on the bathroom doorknob when he hears a loud voice from
down stairs. He freezes, wondering why his mother sounds so agitated.
Finally he realizes she must be talking to Sam, so he creeps to the
top of the stairs to listen.

"Your father and I have been patient with you, but you've got to
start making an effortDon't you shake your head 'no' at me. Do you
remember that meeting we went to at the superintendent's office the
last week of May, when you met the woman who did some tests? Well,
that was about your IEP, that's short for individual education
program. They called me, and you know what, if you're not talking by
the time school starts in the fall, they might hire an aide for
youhe or she would translate your sign language for your teacher,
and they'd follow you around all day.

"I can tell by your grimace that you don't like that idea, and I
don't blame you. However, if you're talking by then, we can get
another meeting to tell them you don't need someone's help. But you
have to start trying! Look, there's a speech pathologist that Dad and
I hired to work with you three days a week, beginning Monday. I want
you to promise to try to do what you're asked, ok? Good girl. I hope
you know that Dad and I just want what's best for you"

Mulder slips into the bathroom and begins to brush his teeth. Poor
Sam, he thinks, wondering how many other conversations like this he's
missed.

**
Theme song- "Stranded" By Plumb
**

Monday morning, Leary home

Mulder dashes into the kitchen, intending to grab a quick breakfast
before meeting Scully, Doggett and Reyes to go the beach, when he
stops dead in his tracks as he notices a stranger sitting at the
kitchen table across from Sam, who is scowling.

It must have struck the man as comical, because he looks up at Mulder
with a broad grin. Mulder looks him over, takes in his chocolate
brown eyes, and light brown hair with its golden sun streaks, and
decides that most of the girls he knows would swoon over the man.
"Uh, hi. Im Sams brother, Mulder. Youre the speech person?"

"That I am." He says happily, and Mulder wonders how old he is, since
he doesnt seem to be that much older than Mulder is himself.

Since he and tact have only a passing acquaintance, Mulder decides to
grill him. "I dont mean to be rude, but are you a student or
something? You dont look old enough to be a teacher"

"Im twenty-three, and Im a therapist, not a teacher. I went to
UCONN until I graduated last year, and I just started working for
Capeside school system, in the middle school, this summer. I took the
job because it reminds me of the school I did my internship in. Any
more questions?" He asks Mulder while still sounding good-natured.

"Well, your full name would be nice, in case my best friends Dad,
the sheriff, wants to do a criminal background check. And since Im
going to be asked this by female friendsare you married, engaged,
dating someone, or studying for the priesthood?" Mulder asks, trying
not to laugh.

The man does laugh, even as Mulder turns red in the face from the
effort of trying not to. "My name is Zane Archer, but the sheriff
would find that my record is clean. And if your friends ask, you can
tell them Im very single, but I dont date girls who are under
eighteen."

"Ohsome of them are going to be disappointed." Mulder laughs. "They
complain that straight, single guys never move here." He turns to Sam
and ruffles her hair. "Have fun, Sam, Ill see you later." With that
he grabs his towel and runs, because Doggett is honking the horn.

"So thats your older brother." Zane says to Sam, who signs yes with
a smile. "It was nice to meet him, but I guess we should get back to
these mouth exercises." The scowl returns to Sams face.

**

As he slides into the back seat of Doggetts borrowed car, Mulder
smiles apologetically. "Sorry about that, I just meet Sams speech
person."

"Whats she like?" Scully asks Mulder as he puts on his seatbelt. 

"He, not she. He seems pretty nice. Hes only a few years older than
us, and I think that a lot of girls in Capeside are going to develop
sudden crushes on him this summer." Mulder tells her with a grin.

"So hes cute." Scully states.

"As unmanly as it is to admit that you notice that another guy is
likely to catch the ladies eyes, Id be lying if I said no." Mulder
admits.

"Well, whats his name?" Reyes demands.

"Hey, youre not shopping for my replacement are you?" Doggett asks
in a mock- worried tone, which makes her roll her eyes.

"Zane Archer. Ive never heard the name Zane before, but I guess
hell fit right in with a name like that." Mulder chuckles.

"His name is Zane?" Reyes asks. "Thats a form of John." 

"Thats something I love about you." Doggett says. "I never need an
encyclopedia- Ouch, quit it!" he demands, rubbing his shoulder before
exiting the driveway.

**

Tuesday noon, McPhee home

"Reyes, come down here!" Skinner insists as he calls up the stairs.

"Why?" She yells back, still looking for her shoes.

"Because Fowley is standing here waiting for you!" 

"Oh." She finally spies her shoes under the bed. "Be right down!" 

Fowley and Skinner grin at each other. That sort of exchange makes
Fowley wonder what she might have missed out on growing up as an only
child. "God, Fowley, what took you so long?" She snaps, watching
Reyes face turn pink.

"I, um, couldnt find my shoes." Reyes mumbles in apology.

Fowley giggles. "Im sorry, I was just messing with you. Youve only
known I was here for about a minute, so why should I be mad?"

"You never know" Reyes replies cryptically, making Fowley give her a
questioning look, which she ignores. "Whats up?"

"I think we need to talk to Spender. Knowing why he did those things
is going to be the only way Im going to be able to get over him."
Fowley tells her.

Skinner senses this is his cue to exit. "Im going to go see a movie
at Reeds house, so, uh, bye."

Reyes watches her brother bolt from the room, but shes more
concerned about what Fowley has just said. "Are you sure thats a
good idea?"

"No," Fowley admits. "But I think its something I need to do." 

"Well, if youre sure"

"Sure as I can be." Is Fowleys grim reply.

They wander into the kitchen, then stare at the phone for a minute.
"Your dad wont mind if I use the phone?"

"Its a local call, so it wont even show up on the bill." 

"Well, ok, here goes nothing." Fowley says as she picks up the phone
and dials his number. When someone answers, she politely asks, "May I
speak to Spender, please?"

"Oh, Im sorry." A woman on the other end answers. "Spender has gone
to visit his grandparents for the week. He wont be home until the
5th of July. Would you like to leave a message?"

"No thats ok." Fowley says, resisting the urge to sigh. "Ill call
him on the 5th."

"Well, ok. You have a nice day." The woman replies before hanging up.
Fowley gives the phone a disgusted look as she returns it to its
cradle.

"He wasnt there?" Reyes asks, already knowing the answer, but not
wanting to admit to listening closely to the conversation.

"Nope. Apparently hes at his grandmothers, according to his
Mother."

"I guess well have to talk to him when he comes back, then." Reyes
suggests. "Did my brother seem weird to you a few minutes ago?"

"Nah, running away when girls talk about ex-boyfriends is a pretty
typical male response." Fowley grins. "Not that your brother is
typical."

"He sure isnt. No wonder we all love him." Reyes says. "Even Reed.
Im afraid we sent him out of the pan and into the fire just now."

"I thought you said that Reed knows hes not interested." 

"He does. But Scully says it doesnt stop Reed from staring at the
poor boy every time Skinner is distracted by something else."

"So do you suppose its a case of love-sickness or lust?" Fowley
asks.

"I dont know. There are some cases, like in the case of your
siblings love-life, that ignorance is bliss." Reyes says with a
grimace.

"Aww, keep talking like that, and youre going to make me wish I
wasnt an only child."

"If you really want a sibling, we might be able to convince Doggett
to give you one of his. He has four so hed never miss one." Reyes
tells her. "But Im sure hed give you one of his oldest sisters, so
it might not be a good deal."

"No thanks. Ive heard tales about the sisters Witter, and from Grams
of all people, who is usually the most charitable of souls."

"From what Ive heard, growing up those two were Capesides answer to
the wicked witches of the east and west." They both dissolve into
laughter.

**

10 minutes later, Lane home

Skinner thanks Mrs. Lane, and walks down the hall towards Reeds
room. Though hes only been over his house a couple of times,
Skinners good sense of direction leads him right to the other boys
room. Hes about to knock on the door when he realizes that he hears
singing.

"Let me love you and it wont be wrong.wont be wrong" Skinner
takes a moment to admire Reeds voice before knocking.

"Oh, hey, you been there long?" Reed asks, a blush starting to creep
up his cheeks.

"Long enough to wonder what you were singing." Skinner grins at him.

"An old Bryds song, actually." 

"Did anyone ever tell you that you have a great voice?" Skinner asks.

Reed brushes his hair out of his eyes, self-consciously. "I dont
want to sound conceited but actually, a lot of people have."

 "You should be in a band!" Skinner exclaims gleefully.

"WellI am." 

"Youre in a band? Why havent you told anyone about it?" 

Reed looks down and drags a foot across the floor, obviously avoiding
Skinners eyes. "Becauseits only been since school got outand you
hate the person who asked me to sing."

"I dont hate anyoneYoure in a band with Krycek??" Skinner
sputters.

"Yeah. I know hes a jerk, but can he ever play the guitar." Reed
says with a faint smile.

"So whats the band called?" Skinner asks, trying to keep himself
from saying anything bad about Krycek.

"beerisnotasexcrime." Reed mumbles.

"I didnt catch that." 

Reed sighs and repeats himself more slowly. "Beer is Not a Sex
Crime." He shakes his head. "The band already had a name when Krycek
and his friend Craig asked me to join." He adds defensively.

"That is a name people wont soon forget." Skinner says, smiling in
spite of himself. "How did Krycek know you could sing, anyway?"

Reed shrugs. "He was in my chorus class this past term. Im not sure
why though, since he seemed to hate it."

"Sophomores get screwed on picking classes, so it probably wasnt his
idea to take the class. What sort of songs will you be doing?"
Skinner asks.

"Covers mostly, at least to begin with. We might end up writing some
songs, but for now were just trying to play together."

Its at that moment that Skinners eyes land on an object in the
room. "You play bass?"

"Yup. Ive been playing since I was eleven." Reed says with a hint of
pride in his voice.

"Wow, I guess theres a lot I dont know about you." Skinner says.

"Youre right." Reed says in a tone that makes Skinner wonder what he
just missed.

**

4pm, Potter home

"Mulder, Im scared." Scully tells him as she cuddles up against him
on the couch. For once theres no one else home, because Bessie took
Alexander with her when she went to visit a friend.

Mulder puts his arm around her. "Scared of what?" 

"Fourth of July." Scully answers in a small voice.

"Well, Ive never heard anyone say that beforewhy are you suddenly
afraid of a national holiday?" He asks, trying to sound serious
instead of amused.

"Havent you heard? People on the news keep talking about how there
is some rumor that the terrorists are going to steal oil tankers and
use them to attack places in Las Vegas."

"While thats disturbing, were thousands of miles from Vegas."
Mulder points out reasonably.

"I know that, but youre not seeing the big picture." Scully insists.

"Which is?" 

"That its still not over. Months and months later theyre still
causing us terror with every rumor because they did what they set out
to - they pulled the rug out from under our sense of security. Now
were always on guard, since we have no way of knowing if a rumor is
just a way to scare us, or something they intend to actually do. And
it will only get worse in September." Scully says with a deep sigh.

"So much for our knowledge that that sort of thing doesnt happen
here." Mulder agrees. "I suppose were not as far removed from the
rest of the worlds self-inflicted damage as wed like to think."

"Mulder, youre not making me feel better." Scully complains.

"Im sorry, but you dont want me to lie to you, do you?" 

"Just lie to me, and I promise, Ill believe" Scully wistfully
sings a line from Sheryl Crow.

"Well, in that case," Mulder says, pulling her onto his lap. "Im
going to grow up to be a rich and famous photographer, and people
will think of me before they think of Ansel Adams. You and I will get
married exactly 13 months after we both graduate Magna cum laude from
Ivy league schools, so well have a prefect June wedding. Well have
two perfect children-"

"Four." Scully insists.

"Well, ok, since youre the one who has to carry them, you get the
final say." Mulder agrees with a broad smile. "Four perfect children,
two boys and two girls, naturally, who will be the lights of our
lives. People on the street will stop you and I and tell them that we
are very inspiring, since were madly in love, and have a perfect
family."

Scully begins to kiss his neck. "You can say the sweetest things."
Mulder doesnt reply, because Scully is distracting him from coming
up with a witty reply.

**

Wednesday Morning, Leary home

Mulder wanders into the kitchen, and pretends not to be listening to
Zane and Sam talk. Not that Sam is actually talking, per say. Mulder
smiles to himself as he grabs a box of cereal off of a high shelf.

"What sound does a dog make?" Zane asks her. Sam turns and gives
Mulder a pleading look, seeming to be asking to be rescued from the
crazy person. Mulder grins at her. Zane notices their silent exchange
and turns to Mulder. "Well, what sound does a dog make?"

Mulder put down his milk and made a growling noise deep in his
throat. "Hows that?"

"Not bad." Zane tells him. "Look Samantha, if your big,
seventeen-year-old brother isnt afraid of seeming dumb for making
animal noises-"

"Hey!" Mulder protests.

Zane ignores him "- then you shouldnt be afraid to try either. Come
on now, I did banish your parents from the room to make it easier on
you, but theyre going to be asking me how cooperative youve been as
soon as were done for the day."

Sam narrows her eyes at him. "wwwwoof." She says, making the first
sound, besides a laugh, that Mulders ever heard her make.

"Yay Sam!" Mulder exclaims as he grabs his bowl and spoon and heads
for the living room where he intends to watch the cartoon network.

"Great!" Zane says, passing her a sticker, which she takes with a
smile. "Most of the girls that I work with like sticker collections.
I bet you do too." Sam nods eagerly. "Actually, dont tell anyone,
but some of the adults I know like stickers too. Ill tell you what.
Every time you do what Ive asked, and at least make an attempt, Ill
give you another sticker. Ive got all kinds, fuzzy ones, prismatic
ones, scratch and sniffwhat do you say?"

"Woof." Sam says, laughing loudly enough for Mulder to hear her in
another room.

"Great! So what does a duck say?" 

Sam rolls her eyes and obediently quacks for him.

**

Zane is on his way out the door when Mulder stops him. "Hey, that was
pretty cool, you getting Sam to make some noise for once. Why animals
sounds?"

"Well, a lot of kids with speech problems can make sounds, but they
dont talk very often, because theyre afraid that theyre not going
to say things correctly. So animal sounds are a way for them to
practice making sounds without having to worry about pronouncing
something the wrong way." Zane explains.

"Thats pretty smart." 

"Thats why they pay me the big bucks." Zane says with a laugh. "Or
they would in a perfect world, anyway."

"There is no justice in this world." Mulder agrees, going to open the
door when the doorbell rings. Zane waits for Scully, Reyes and Fowley
to come in before he goes out the door himself.

Reyes turns to Mulder with wide eyes as soon as Zane is out of
earshot. "Who was that??"

"Zane, you know, the guy whos working with Sam." 

"Oh my God" Fowley whispers under her breath as she watches Zane
through the window, on his way to talk to Mr. And Mrs. Leary, who are
doing some planting in the garden. As soon as hes gone she turns to
Sam, who has come into the living room and says "You are a very lucky
girl." Sam shakes her head and walks away from the drooling girls.

"Hes not so attractive." Scully says, wrapping her arm around
Mulders waist.

"You are a terrible liar." He says with a grin, and kisses her cheek.
"So, what do you ladies want from me this morning?" He asks,
wondering what would cause the three of them to do anything together.

"From you?" Reyes asks. "Nothing. We were hoping to be able to see
your brother, though. Fowley hasnt seen him yet."

"Speak for yourselves." Scully tells them. "Ive come to harass the
older Leary brother."

Mulder echoes Sam, and goes upstairs shaking his head. He brings
Price, who is awake and gurgling, back downstairs. Reyes and Fowley
immediately start oohing and ahhing over him. "I dont know how my
ego can stand this, my brother isnt even two months old yet, and
hes already got more female admirers than I do." Mulder says with a
mock self-pitying sigh. He notices Scullys unamused glance and adds.
"At least the one I do have isnt going to throw me over for a
younger, cuter guy."

"Yeah, you think so." Scully tells him with an evil grin. Mulder
sighs for real, and even Sam laughs at him.

**

Wednesday afternoon, The Ice House
 
Mulder slides into a booth, and waits for Scully to come over and
take his order. Scully brings him a menu, even though they both know
he wont use it. Mulder looks up her and says "The lengths I have to
go just to see my girlfriend"

"Mulder, Ive already seen you three times this weekincluding this
morning." Scully says, starting to get a bit defensive.

Mulder holds up his hands in a gesture of surrender. "A joke, just a
joke. SoI do want a hamburger since my parents have taken the other
kids to visit Aunt Gwen, and I cant really fend for myself because
theyre supposed to do this weeks grocery shopping on the way home."

"Anything else?" Scully asks, wiping out a notebook and pen out of
her apron pocket.

"Chocolate milk and a side of fries" Mulder pauses and glares at his
fellow customers, daring them to make a comment about the chocolate
milk. No one even notices. "And a confirmation on our plans to see
the fireworks tomorrow night."

Scully looks at the floor. "UmThe chocolate milk and French fries I
can manage, butI cant go tomorrow night."

Mulder gives her a morose look, remembering New Years Eve. "Why
not?"

"Bessie doesnt want me to. Oh, she claims that she needs Reed and I
to work tomorrow night so she can go somewhere in Boston to buy bulk
restaurant supplies from the one place thats open on a holiday. And
that she wont be back until very late, but I know shes worried
about the fireworks display."

"Let me guess, shes the one who got you all worked up about
terrorists." Mulder guesses.

"Gee Mulder, youre showing sparks of clairvoyance yourself. I guess
you have something in common with Reyes after all."

"Very funny." Mulder says with a glare. "Im sorry that youre not
going to be able to come to the fireworks, but I guess thats ok. I
was planning on bringing Sam along, anyway."

Scully puts her hands on her hips, and pretends to be mad. "I see how
it is, threes a crowd, huh?"

"Nobut wed have to be on our best behavior. No mushy stuff." Mulder
tells her.

"Darn, thats my favorite part of Holidays." Scully says, watching
Mulders face turn red before going to put in his order.

 **

Thursday morning, McPhee home

Fowley walks into the house with a curious look on her face. "What
was so important that you called me first thing in the morning?"

"I wanted to talk to you about the first step in operation FAS."
Reyes tells her.

Fowley looks skeptical. "What does FAS stand for?" 

 "Forget About Spender, of course." 

"Oh God"She mutters.

"You need to get over him. Really get over him." Reyes admonishes.

"Ok, ok, what is the first step in this program? And are there eleven
other steps?"

"We wont know how many steps there are until youre over him." Reyes
tells her in a reasonable tone. "And the first step is immersion."
 
"Immersion in what?" Fowley asks, fearing that this will somehow
involve being placed in a pool filled with something.

"Immersion in society. Holing up alone and moping isnt good for you,
so tonight youre going to accompany me, Doggett, and Skinner to the
fireworks display." Reyes says cheerfully.

"I have a feeling that Im not the first victim of this cure. So
who else have you done this to?"

"My brother, after he broke up with Ethan. Skinner got sort of a
mini-program since he stopped mopping soon after the first step."

"It was probably in self defense." Fowley says darkly. "Waitthere
was no fireworks display while I was gone, so where did you make him
go?"

"The Valentines Day dance." Reyes confessed.

"Your poor brother!" Fowley laughs because she cant think of a worse
place for the newly, bitterly, single. "All right, Ill come along
with you guys."

"Great! Doggett will pick us up around six. I think he said something
about going for pizza before it gets dark. "

"That sweetens the deal a little." Fowley says, finally starting to
warm up to the idea. At least it would probably help keep her mind
off of Spender until she got to talk to him the next morning.

**

Late Thursday Afternoon, en route to Reyes house

Doggett is driving along at a reasonable speed when he sees what
everyone dreads: blue lights flaring up in his rearview mirror. He
pulls over to the side of the road, and plans to tell the cop a. that
he doesnt know why hes being pulled over since he wasnt speeding,
and b. that his father is the Sheriff and wouldnt take him getting a
ticket very well.

Doggett rolls down his window, and waits in anticipation as the
officer takes his time approaching the car. Its Kersh.

"Hey Kersh, Ive got places to go." Doggett says as Kersh approaches
the window.

"Step out of the vehicle please." 

"Kersh, Im telling you-" 

"Step out of the vehicle please." Kersh repeats evenly.

"Oh, whatever. I dont know what sort of game youre playing"
Doggett complains as he gets out of the car.

Kersh shoulders him aside, and uses a flashlight to look under the
seats. After a through check, he walks over to Doggett who has
stepped away from the car, and is wearing a confused expression.
"Open the trunk please."

"Come on Kersh, even I know thats not legal to ask unless you have
probable cause." Doggett tells him. When Kersh give him a hard stare,
he finds himself opening the trunk. "This isnt right."

Kersh ignores him and rifles through the contents of the trunk. Once
hes satisfied, he turns to Doggett and says, "You can get back in
the car now."

Doggett doesnt move. "What in the Hell was that all about?" He asks,
glaring at his older brother.

To his surprise, Kersh smiles. "Dad asked me to make sure that you
didnt have any fireworks on you. Theyre illegal in this state, as
you know."

"I know that! Thats why were going to go see a fireworks display!!"
Doggett screams at him.

Kersh nods. "You have a nice day now, hear?" 

Doggett thinks about it and decides itd be worth a possible ticket,
so he flips his brother off as Kersh climbs back into the cruiser.
Doggett shakes his head with angry bemusement as he climbs back into
his car and continues on his way.

**

July 4th Fireworks display

They found a great spot to watch the fireworks, Fowley thinks as they
settle onto the grass to wait, although its hard to find a bad stop
when it comes to finding a place to look up at the sky. Capeside goes
all out with fireworks every year, even though the city is aware that
they can never hope to gain the prestige that the Boston displays,
accompanied by The Pops, have. The town doesnt care, though, and
thoroughly enjoys itself anyway.

As the fireworks start, Doggett stands behind Reyes, and wraps his
arms around her waist as they watch the show. He rests his chin
lightly on the top of her head, and points at pattern of sparks he
thinks looks like rain. "Look at that one."

"Its beautiful." 

"But not as beautiful as you." Doggett corrects her, then kisses her.

Fowley cant help but feel envy as she watches them. She has no
interest in Doggett, but she wishes someone would treat her the same
way that he treats Reyes. She glances over at Skinner while the sky
is right, and wonders if he felt the same way after breaking things
off with Ethan. She hadnt gotten to know Ethan very well, but she
knew from things Reyes told her that things between them had ended
badly, so she felt a wave of empathy.

**
Mulder and Sam never do find Doggett, Fowley and Reyes. Instead they
stake out a spot half a field away from the trio. Mulder wishes that
they could have found everyone else, but he decides that maybe fate
really wants him to enjoy the display with just his sister for
company.

As they watch the fireworks, Mulder can see the excited look on Sams
face, and he finds himself wondering if shes ever seen them before.
Mulder smiles down at her and says, "Theyre great arent they?"

He looks back up at the sky and watches a sparkling green explode
across the sky. He never would have expected a reply, so when he
hears a wistful voice say, "Ive always heard they were pretty, but
Ive never seen them before," hes so shocked he nearly falls over.

**
Credits
Produced by CC, KW and Neoxphile

**

< Voice Over>
This episode of Mulders Creek featured music from:


The Bryds ("It wont be wrong")
Nada Surf ("Fire Cracker")
And
The Used ("Taste Of Ink")

Stay tuned for scenes from the next Mulders Creek

