Fic: Ambit (Mulder, Part 6/6)
The End. (Or Eng, as I almost typed.)
The process drags on for some time, but it's nothing Mulder and Scully haven't dealt with before. They both recognize all the techniques that their questioners use. Tellan, Mulder finds himself glad to observe, has his own means of getting through the questioning - he keeps silent except when he evidently deems the question to have some merit, at which point he answers it succinctly and politely. Mulder is less polite, perhaps, but he does give them an account of what has happened to him since he arrived in Elis... leaving out quite a few key details, of course. Scully does the same from her point of view. Since they weren't given time to confer beforehand, he is very relieved when Tellan seems to see the importance of avoiding one of these major details: the fact that Mulder had been a seer.
After at least half an hour of repeating the same questions over and over, Rastin returns to one of his favorites: “What was your purpose in coming here to Elis?”
Mulder slumps back in his chair, not caring in the slightest at this point that his posture and demeanor have no doubt crossed the line into insolence. “Look, Commander. Both Scully and I have told you, we don't know how we got here,” he says. “We'd like to know, which is part of why we were reading the village's records today. Do you have any legal reason to keep us here?”
Rastin huffs, “I have the authority to keep you here until I am convinced you are not a threat.”
Unimpressed, Mulder fires back, “And how much more will that take? I don't think anyone here has heard anything about us being a danger to anyone.”
At this, one of the other guys speaks up angrily. “You cannot just come into Elis, or blunder into the clans, without a knowledge of our customs! It's stupidity like that that will get you captured and enslaved. And that led to danger to citizens of Elis, in this case.”
Mulder keeps his mouth shut with difficulty. Scully, however, leans toward the man with fury fairly pouring from her. “How dare you accuse Mulder of any wrongdoing?”
Commander Rastin steps in, warning his lieutenant sharply. Then he turns back to Mulder. “Since you insist that your... appearance in this world was an accident, and you had no control over where you appeared, there cannot have been any neglect or oversight on your part, Mulder.”
Gee, how generous of you, Mulder thinks, wishing he could wipe the condescension off Rastin and his buddies' faces. “I appreciate that,” he replies, not bothering to hide his sarcasm.
The commander doesn't fail to notice this further insolence, but he goes on to state that his lieutenant has a point. “Elis is a peaceful nation, and the Council generally does not have to worry about its people acting unpredictably. But you, all three of you, in fact--”
“We're different,” Mulder cuts in, “and that's bad? Wonderful.”
“That's not what I said.” Rastin stands up, outraged. “And do not interrupt me! I am in charge of this interview, and I am not used to dealing with this kind of insubordination.”
Mulder's patience has just about run dry. “Yeah, well, Commander, I have news for you: as you just said, we're not citizens of Elis,” he retorts. “I'm not your subordinate. Neither is Scully.” Mulder glances toward Tellan, who seems to be keeping his cool for the most part. “Tellan, maybe you want to become a citizen - if that's even allowed.”
“I have felt drawn to people like the villagers here,” the healer answers. “Their way of life would be a good fit for me, I believe, if I am permitted to go back to it.” Some irritation is detectable in this last phrase.
Rastin, however, appears to have ignored Tellan's comment altogether. “Are you saying you refuse to acknowledge my authority?” he demands of Mulder. “The authority of the Council?”
Before Mulder can say anything else, Scully steps in, sounding slightly calmer. “Commander Rastin, we're simply saying that we've broken no law, as far as we can gather, so this interview is a waste of everyone's time.” Her emphasis on the word makes Mulder smile - but not as much as her next action does: she stands up, meeting their interrogator's gaze fearlessly. “I don't know about my companions, but I think I'll be leaving now.”
Mulder wishes there were no obstacles to him kissing her at the moment; she is as sexy and irresistible as he has ever seen her. Instead, he hurries to stand at her side. “You coming, Tellan?”
Tellan is getting to his feet when Rastin recovers his wits and barks, “All of you, sit down!” He and his men have their hands on their weapons once again.
Mulder glances at Scully and grins. “I wouldn't do that if I were you.” He thinks he sees one of the other soldiers hesitate slightly, and so he continues, “You know we have two healers here, right? Well, maybe you haven't been - privileged to see what happens when you try to attack an angry healer. I have, though. And let me tell you, I was half-blind at the time, and it was still impressive.”
Scully keeps her focus on the armed men in front of them. Tellan, meanwhile, walks over to stand beside the two of them. The tableau remains this way for a few seconds, while Rastin's men wait in obvious trepidation for their commander's orders.
Finally, Rastin swallows and relaxes his arm, and the others follow suit. “Very well. I have no wish to provoke a battle.”
“Yeah,” Mulder can't resist saying, “especially one you won't win.”
The commander does his best to ignore this. “Healer Dana, Mulder, might I assume that you're trying to get back to your home world?”
Scully nods. “That's our plan.”
“Good. See that you do,” Rastin says briskly. “If there are anymore incidents worthy of a report from Larsal before you leave, I will return with a larger force, and then, healers or no, there will be a... confrontation.”
Mulder decides to stay silent this time, although he really wants to tell Rastin what he thinks of his skills as a commanding officer.
Tellan clears his throat. “Am I to be allowed to stay?”
“This village deserves a healer,” Scully puts in.
Rastin thinks for a moment, and then delivers his consent on the condition that there are no further incidents with Esana. Tellan declares that he can see to the Clan Leader if he chooses to make trouble.
“You may go,” Rastin says then. “And you can tell the villagers that we will be leaving to give our report to the Council before the day is over.”
They leave quickly, without a backward glance. As he opens the door of the hall, Mulder leans down to Scully's ear. “It's too bad, Scully,” he says in a low voice. “I wouldn't have minded seeing you work your kung-fu again one more time before it's gone.”
She raises an eyebrow, and Mulder realizes his mistake. “Not that you don't have plenty of kung-fu anyway, no matter what world you're in,” he adds quickly. She's always been more than a match for him, that's for sure.
Out of the corner of his eye, he sees Tannen and Axel and their family, looking relieved as they see their friends exiting the hall unescorted. But he's currently distracted by Scully's laughter and the way she's looking at him. “Thanks, Mulder. That's so sweet of you.”
~~
It takes a while to plan, but after two days, Mulder and Scully are ready to try returning home. Despite his excitement at the prospect of finally going back, Mulder is quite sure he and Scully share mixed feelings about it. After all, they have both grown very fond of Tannen's family during their time together, and it's not likely they will meet again.
When they announce their plans for the day at breakfast, Mulder sees the same mixed emotions on the faces of their friends. Still, other than voicing their wishes that their venture will be successful, the family doesn't dwell on the issue during the meal.
After they have finished eating, and after Scully and Mulder have gathered up those few of their belongings that they'll be taking with them, the whole group reconvenes in the front room. A somewhat awkward silence falls, which Axel breaks first. “Mulder, Healer Dana,” he says solemnly but sincerely, “we have all been honored and pleased to know you.”
Faryn chimes in that it's been a privilege to have them both here, and Alun adds, “It won't be the same without you.”
Scully voices her gratitude, shaking each family member's hand and hugging Faryn as well. Mulder makes sure he speaks to Tannen, Faryn, and Alun as well; although he hasn't known them as long as Scully has, he is deeply thankful for all they have done for Scully and for him.
Lastly, Mulder shakes Axel's hand. “Thanks for showing me the good side of being a seer,” he says, meeting the man's eyes and giving him a small smile. “Take care of your village.”
“I will,” Axel replies, returning the smile.
Although Tysan is currently out on some kind of expedition with some of the village boys, Mulder turns back to Alun and says, “When you see Tysan, tell him I said goodbye and to stay out of trouble, all right?” He has talked with the kid more than once in the past few days, but he's still sorry that he can't say goodbye in person.
Alun nods, his glum expression lightening a little bit.
“May your journey be safe,” Tannen says as they're about to head out the door.
“Thank you,” Mulder replies. He shoots a glance at Scully, and then says wryly, “I guess if it doesn't work, you'll see us again very soon.”
“For your sake, then, and not for ours,” Tannen says in an amused tone, “I hope we do not.”
~
From his vantage point seated on a rock not far from her, Mulder watches as Scully focuses all of her attention on the air in front of her, and as Tellan does the same. He certainly can't tell if they're making any progress toward locating a door or a window in the air, but he remains optimistic about their ability to do so.
This optimism dims a little when Scully sighs and breaks her concentration. Based on what she and Tellan relate, they are no closer to reaching their goal than they had been when they started this process almost a half hour ago. On top of this, Mulder can see the toll this is taking on both of the healers - and Scully in particular. After they stop to take a brief break, she all but collapses into a sitting position, closes her eyes, and takes slow, deep breaths.
Mulder touches her shoulder gently. “Tired, Scully?”
Scully opens her eyes and looks at him. “Just my eyes,” she tells him. “It's like I've been staring at a computer screen all day. It's better now, but if neither Tellan nor I can find this thing, we'll just keep wasting our energy and time.”
Tellan seems to agree with her sentiment, but he says staunchly that he's ready for another attempt if Scully is ready. Mulder watches as they rise to their feet again. He wishes he didn't have to sit here uselessly while they do all of the work.
Time passes. There is no discernible change in either Tellan or Scully's actions. Mulder's heart sinks further. If this doesn't work, he really has no other ideas for their next course of action to get home...
Suddenly, Scully stumbles and gives a cry. Mulder is at her side in an instant, although he is hesitant to touch her in case he disrupts something crucial.
In response to his query, she turns slightly toward him, although it's obvious she is not really looking at him. “Um,” she says slowly, “I think I'm... looking deeper. It's disorienting.” She pauses. “I still don't see any hole, or door, or whatever.”
“How?” Tellan asks, sounding highly intrigued. “That is, if you can even offer an explanation.”
Scully explains briefly that she had been trying to focus on the elements that make up the air. Mulder looks from her to Tellan, and a second later, the other healer tells her in surprise, “I see what you meant, Healer Dana. This is... very strange.”
Mulder wishes strongly he had some idea of what they were seeing, but he just waits as the two of them continue their dialogue. It doesn't take too long for Tellan to announce that he might have caught sight of the portal, to his left. Shortly after this, Scully exclaims that she sees it, too.
“What is it like?” Mulder asks, unable to hold himself back.
Still sounding like she's deep in concentration, Scully answers, “It's like the molecules, if that's what I'm seeing, are getting sucked into something.” Her gaze focused in front of her, she adds, “This could be it, Mulder.”
It takes a lot of maneuvering, but eventually, both Tellan and Scully are looking directly at the location in the air that seems to be the portal. Tellan remarks that it doesn't look much like any door he's seen in his life.
Mulder, who has been staring fruitlessly at the same spot his two companions are observing without seeing anything but the sky, asks for a description again.
“It looks more like... a mouth, I suppose,” the other healer says. “Barely open at all.”
When Scully agrees, Mulder concludes, “So, we just have to get it to open.” Then he adds somewhat ruefully, “And by 'we', I of course mean you two get to try some 'open sesame' magic.”
Scully smiles a little and apologizes for the necessity of leaving him out of this part. What follows is another period of silence, as she and Tellan focus on trying to get the portal to open.
Mulder paces back and forth. Scully looks like she's getting tired again, and he wishes he could at least lend her some strength for this task. He can guess what the answer will be, but he still inquires, “Anything?”
Glumly, she answers, “Not that I can tell.” Then abruptly she gasps again and nearly loses her balance.
Tellan has also wavered on his feet slightly. “You felt that, Healer Dana?”
“Yeah,” Scully replies. “The door - or the mouth, whatever you want to call it - looks like it's starting to open.”
With a surge of elation, Mulder once again looks where she's looking. Nothing is visible to his gaze, but he trusts what she's seeing. After another few seconds pass, Mulder sees a few leaves blow toward a specific spot in the air - a spot that looks very strange.
“I see it now!” he shouts. In answer to Scully's question, he says, “It's just a sort of... shimmering spot in the air, like Axel's book said.” It's difficult to describe beyond that, he finds. “I might not notice it if I weren't looking for it.”
In a faintly concerned tone, Tellan says, “I do not know how you feel about this, Healer Dana, but to me it feels as though the portal wants to close again.”
She considers for a moment and then agrees. “Mulder, looks like we've got to go. And I guess you'll be going first. Tellan and I will keep it open until I go after you.”
He's already come to this conclusion himself, but that doesn't mean he likes it. “Are you sure, Scully?” he asks, taking a step closer to her. “That sounds a little risky.” He tries not to imagine what it would be like if the door were to close behind him before she got through.
“I know,” Scully says, looking unhappy even as she continues to focus on the portal. “But I don't think we have any other option.”
Mulder has to concede that she's right - and that means it's time to go. He turns to Tellan, who has been waiting patiently throughout this discussion. “Tellan,” he says, “I appreciate what you've done for us, for both of us. As far as I'm concerned, you've paid your debt. Tith will have a good healer.”
The healer takes Mulder's offered hand to shake. “It has been my honor to know you, Mulder,” he replies sincerely. “I wish you a safe journey to your home.”
“Thanks.” It occurs to him to add, “And, uh, tell everyone at Tannen's house thanks again, from us.” Then he turns toward Scully and, with a confidence that he at least wants to believe in, tells her he'll see her on the other side.
“Good luck, Mulder,” she answers, reaching out hand for him to hold briefly. “I'll be right behind you.”
Mulder takes a deep breath and one last glance at Scully before stepping through the shimmering door.
After all the preparation they've gone through, the actual travel is anticlimactic: everything goes dark for a second, and then he lands heavily - on his feet this time. It doesn't take him too long to recognize the outside of his apartment building, and he smiles. Looks like it worked.
His smile fades as he reaches for his pockets and realizes - of course - he has no key there. Like both of his weapons and his wallet, it had disappeared when he had first traveled out of his home dimension. Sighing, Mulder runs a hand through his hair, which is shaggier than usual since he has not had a haircut since his time in Elis, and walks up to the front of the building. He buzzes his landlord's office and waits.
Thankfully, other than sounding irritated at Mulder's confession that he seems to have left his keys inside (which is true, he hopes), the landlord doesn't give him any trouble. The man does give Mulder more than one odd look while accompanying him to the fourth floor to unlock the door to apartment 42. Mulder supposes his unusual appearance and lack of keys pales in comparison to the other things he's put his landlord through over the years, though.
As he opens the door, Mulder hears his cell phone ringing from inside his room where he'd left it... however long ago that was. He hurriedly thanks his landlord and runs to pick it up. It's Scully, of course. “Hey, Scully, I guess you made it through all right,” he greets her.
“Yeah, fine,” she answers, sounding both annoyed and relieved. “Where were you, Mulder?”
“I ended up outside my building,” Mulder explains, and he has to laugh. “Thing is, I had to ask my landlord to let me into my apartment, since dimensional travel doesn't seem to include things like keys. Why, where'd you come out?”
He can hear her smiling as she says, “Right inside my apartment.”
Of course. “Once again, you get all the luck,” he mock-grumbles.
She agrees, sounding not in the least perturbed, and then asks, “So, Mulder, you have any plans for dinner?”
“Well, Scully, I believe I'm free,” Mulder replies. “You asking me on a date?”
“Yeah, I believe I am.”
Mulder sits down on the couch, noting distantly that his fish all still seem to be alive. “Sounds good,” he tells Scully. “I can pick you up... and then maybe we can both try to figure out what day it is and how much trouble we're going to be in with Skinner.”
He hears her laugh. “This will be a new excuse, even for us.”
“What, you don't think he'll go for the old, 'Sorry, we just accidentally slipped into another dimension' ploy?”
Ever the scientist, she replies, “I look forward to finding out.”
Mulder hangs up after they've settled on a time and a place. Then he looks around his apartment, gives his fish a few flakes, and heads for the shower. It's going to be good to be back, he can already tell. Things with Scully can only get better from here, with what she's been able to do for herself while she was a healer. In fact, he wouldn't be at all surprised if part of her motive for suggesting a date tonight is to discuss this issue further.
Thinking about her as a healer reminds Mulder less happily of the fact that she still has withdrawal to go through - or at least there's no reason to assume she won't be going through it. Even if she isn't as addicted as he was, it's not going to be easy for her. But as sappy as it sounds even to himself, Mulder reflects as he pulls out a clean towel, at least they'll be together this time.
He's about to get into the shower when his gaze happens to fall on his right wrist, now free of any mark. Mulder chuckles. He wonders what Scully would do if he decided to go out and get a tattoo there. Maybe her initials, or something like that. She'd veto it, more than likely; he can just visualize that look of absolute incredulity as she tells him just how tacky that would be. But really, he reflects, it would only be an outward symbol of something that has been true for a very long time.