By the Dim and Flaring Lamps: Part Five, Chapter Three
Part One: One | Two | Three | Four
Part Two: One | Two | Three | Four | Five
Part Three: One | Two | Three | Four | Five | Six
Part Four: One | Two | Three | Four | Five
Part Five: One | Two
MARCH 1864
NEAR WASHINGTON, D.C.
On the day the rider arrives in the encampment, the first real warmth of spring has begun to creep into the air, and Mulder is in the middle of helping Scully and Jorgensen organize a baseball game. They’re discussing how to divide up the sixteen men (well, fifteen men and one woman) into teams when Scully suddenly grabs Mulder’s arm, her eyes wide as she stares at something over his shoulder.
Mulder turns to see Colonel Skinner hurrying towards him… and behind him, looking entirely out of place, his face frighteningly grave, is James. Mulder swears he feels his heart stutter to a stop in his chest. The men around him snap to attention and salute Skinner, but Mulder barely spares a glance for his commander as he shoulders past him.
“What’s happened?” he asks James. “What’s going on?”
“We need you back at the house, Master Fox,” says James. “Your mother needs you to come home right away.”
“Is she all right?” Mulder demands. “Is she sick?” James shakes his head.
“She’s fine, she’s not sick, she’s not hurt. She just….” His voice trails off as he looks past Mulder to the soldiers standing behind him, all listening closely. Skinner follows his gaze and steps between Mulder and the rest of his men.
“You men clear out,” he orders them, and they immediately scatter, with the exception of Scully, who remains firmly planted by Mulder’s side.
“It’s your father, Fox,” says James. “And your sister.” Mulder’s chest seizes up and he suddenly can’t catch his breath; beside him, Scully gasps.
“What-” Mulder swallows and finds that he can’t speak, can’t force himself to ask what has happened, whether Samantha is all right. He feels lightheaded and sways on his feet; Scully steps in closer beside him and he braces himself on her shoulder.
“Start from the beginning,” Scully tells James, her voice blessedly calm. “Tell us what’s happened.”
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