Dana's Malakim Pt 23/32
Title: Dana’s Malakim
Author: dhamphir
Fandom: X-Files
Pairing: Scully/OFC (Logan)
Rating: NC17
Summary: Scully must identify Mulder’s body after his suicide. Dying of cancer, she now faces an uncertain future, a crisis of faith... and a new partner. Little does she know the extraordinary and incredible things she’s seen while with the X-Files are nothing compared to what’s to come.
Time line/Spoilers: AU. Starts immediately after S4E23 Demons.
Disclaimer: X-Files and its characters belong to C.C. and 1013 Productions. No copyright infringement intended, no money be made.
A/N1: Some dialogue taken directly from the show. Although I do a bit of research for my stories, I’ve never been a cop, doctor, herbalist, psychologist, or theologist.
A/N2: Special thanks to sinadino for the German translations, and to xhuggles and ivy_wang for the Chinese translations.
A/N3: All mistakes are my own. Special thanks to oxfordshoes2 for the beta.
Dana’s Malakim
Part 23
Villa
Providenciales, Caicos Islands
Sunday, March 1st, 1998
Dana went through all the files her partner had given her on the leaders of the Consortium. Nicole also answered whatever questions the redhead had. A couple of days after Dana’s checkup, Nicole hooked up her laptop and webcam to the large screen TV, then called Thea.
“Hello?”
“Thea, it’s Nicole.”
“Hey! How are you doing?”
“Great. Look, I’ve got Dana here with me and I want to go over some things together. I’m set up on this end, how about you?”
“Just give me minute. You caught me just as was I getting in.”
“Okay.”
It wasn’t long before Thea indicated she was ready. They both signed into their scrambled chat and brought up their webcams.
“Can you see me?” Thea asked.
“Sure can. And if I must say so, you look like crap. What the hell have you been up to, Thea?”
“Work. And it’s all your fault, Nicole!”
“What are you talking about?”
“The FBI brought me in to tweak my software and to personally scrub their mainframes and run searches for some people who have attempted to drop out of sight since everything’s hit the fan. I’m just getting in after about 30 straight hours of computer work.”
Nicole smirked at the image on the screen. “And you love it.”
The brunette grinned. “Yes I do. I don’t get to do this much hands on much anymore. My employees usually get all the fun. You really kicked up a shit storm this time, Nicole. Oh, sorry, no offence,” she said, apologizing to Dana for her language.
“None taken,” the redhead replied with a smile.
“By the way, you look great, Dana. Glad to see you doing better than the last time I saw you.”
“Thank you, Thea. I appreciate your help as well.”
“Not a problem.”
“Thea, I’ve given the files I printed out to Dana and she’s gone through them. I’ve also answered a number of questions for her, but can you bring us up to date on the current events?”
“Sure thing,” she responded, ready to get down to business. “Have you been checking the news at all?”
“Not in the last week. So take it from the start of the news reports.”
“Alright.”
As Thea brought them up to date she displayed images on their TV screen - newspaper clippings, pictures, and videos - for them to see as needed. She focused on the status of the Consortium council first, then the second tier and third tier captains. She then brought them up to date on others that were complicit with the Consortium - such as Blevins and Kersh. With the evidence that she and Ian made sure got into the right hands, executives of corporations were being indicted, politicians were resigning (some were also being indicted), infighting with the leftovers of the Consortium were producing murders, and witnesses were turning themselves in. Of course, without knowing the whole picture, to the outside, none of it seemed connected since it was so spread out across the country and in different sectors of the public.
Thea was grinning as she came back on the screen. “Like I said, Nicole, you really kicked up a shit storm here.”
“Can’t thank you enough for your help, Thea. I better let you get some sleep. Tell the FBI not to work you quite so hard.”
She smiled again, “Actually, I completed my work for them. Except for one thing though.”
“What?”
“I’m still running searches trying to locate a missing agent - Dana Scully,” she said with an amused smirk. “But, I’ve assured them I can do that from home.” Thea chuckled at the situation. She had done some searching, just to make sure there was no trace of either Nicole or Dana for anyone else to find. “There’s no sign anywhere of either one of you. So you’re safe wherever you are.”
“Thanks for the update, Thea. Now go get some sleep.”
They signed off. Nicole sat back, clearly thinking.
“What are you thinking?” Dana asked.
“That it should be safe to take you home soon. I’d say a week to ten days,” she said with a smile. “We should head back to the Hashmalim in a couple of days so we can be ready.”
Dana shook her head.
“What?”
“It’s just hard to believe everything that’s happening.”
Two day later they re-boarded the Hashmalim and headed north. Dana’s strength continued improving each day as evidenced by her increased time in the gym. She also continued with the yoga and meditation she’d started at the retreat - finding it relaxing and refreshing.
~~~
The Hashmalim
Ocean City, MD
Friday, March 6th, 1998
Nicole paid close attention to the news and by the time they dropped anchor off the coast of Ocean City, MD, it was time to finalize their plans. The blonde was going to head back to DC the next morning while Dana waited on the Hashmalim until she heard from Nicole. It would look less suspicious if they didn’t return at the same time.
As soon as Nicole was ready, Tommy fired up the launch and waited for her. She and Dana said goodbye and then the launch was on its way. Once Tommy dropped her off, she rented a car and drove back to DC.
~~~
Logan’s House
Washington, DC
As she sorted through weeks of mail and listened to messages on her answering machine, she moved through her home, dropping her bag of clothes in the laundry, getting something to drink, and apologizing to Lyssa for being gone so long. She picked the small cat up and nuzzled her against her cheek.
“I’ve really missed you, Lyssa. I’m so sorry I had to be gone so long, but I have some really good news - Dana is all better, she’s no longer sick! And she’ll be coming home in a few days.”
Lyssa meowed and nuzzled her back.
“Thanks for understanding. I know Thea looked in on you a few times, but let me change out your box. Then I have to go and check in with Skinner and go see Dana’s mother.”
~~~
FBI Headquarters
Nicole first went to the basement office she and Dana shared, as if she expected to find her partner there. She hadn’t even put on a suit to go in, wanting to appear as if she’d just arrived back from her undercover assignment. She was in her ‘cover’ apparel and didn’t look anything like an FBI agent when she arrived at the building. The security guards gave her quite the looks, until she produced her ID.
She smiled to herself as their eyes widened when she had to relinquish her weapons long enough to get through the metal detectors. Especially since she’d had a couple hidden in her outfit they would have never guessed at. She smirked at the guards as she replaced her weapons. “Undercover, guys. Didn’t have time to change.”
“If you say so, Agent Logan,” one of them replied. “That’s a lot of hardware.”
“Yes. And better safe in here, than out in the car.”
They had to admit she had a point.
After going to the basement office Nicole headed up to Skinner’s office. His executive assistant, Kimberly, was surprised to see her. But she was kind of shocked at her appearance.
“Agent Logan?”
“Hi, Kimberly. Do you know where Agent Scully is?”
Her whole demeanor changed as her face fell and her shoulders slumped. “Oh, God. You don’t know, because you’ve been gone,” she replied softly.
“Know what?”
“She’s missing.”
“Missing?! What do you mean she’s missing?!”
“She was in the hospital. She simply disappeared from her room in the middle of the night. It was right after you went undercover.”
“What?!” Nicole exclaimed, playing her part. She pointed to Skinner’s door. “Is he in?”
“AD Skinner is in a meeting, but I’ll let him know you’re here as soon as he’s done. Have a seat.”
“Don’t bother,” Nicole ground out, marching to the door and barging in without bothering to even knock.
Kimberly tried to stop her, but the blonde moved too fast.
Skinner jerked around at the interruption.
“What’s this crap about Scully missing?!” Nicole demanded as she barged into his meeting. “It’s been weeks! How many agents do you have trying to find her?!”
“Agent Logan! My office door was closed for a reason. I’m in a meeting!”
“I don’t care! I want to know what you’re doing to find my partner! Christ, it’s been almost two months!”
“I know! And we’ll talk in a few minutes. Now go have a seat outside and wait,” he growled.
It was then the third person in the room spoke up. “No. It’s alright, Walter. I understand Agent Logan’s feelings.”
Nicole turned to the other man in the room. She gave him a nod of respect. “Director.”
“Good to see you back safe and sound.”
“Guess this saves me a trip to your office.” She then pinned Skinner with a glare. “Now, I want to know everything you have on Scully.”
Skinner looked at the Director who nodded. He then got up and went to a locked file cabinet. He opened it, pulled out a file, and handed it to her.
She flipped through it, not even bothering to sit down. “That son of a bitch,” she growled when she got to the notes on Blevins and Kersh.
“Have you seen the recent news?” Skinner asked.
She glanced up. “Some of it. I had no idea Scully’s disappearance had anything to do with it.” She flipped a couple more pages before pinning him with a determined look. “So where are they?” she growled.
“Who?”
“Blevins and Kersh to start with.”
“Why?”
She placed her hands on his desk and leaned on them. “So I can interrogate them, get them to tell me where the hell Scully is.”
“They don’t know.”
“Then I’ll interrogate the others - one of them has to know where Scully is!”
“Can’t let you do that, Logan.”
“Why the hell not?! I’m the best damn interrogator you’ve got!”
It was the Director’s soft spoken voice that calmed both Nicole and Skinner down. That and his hand on her shoulder. “You are the best interrogator we have, but you’re too close to this.” He squeezed her shoulder. “I promise, we’re not giving up on Agent Scully. You have my word, Nicole.”
She looked at him and they held each other’s eyes. “I still want to go through the files.”
“Okay, but you’re just getting off an undercover assignment. Take some time off. You can go through the files, but you can’t work the case.”
“Dammit, she’s my partner!”
“I know.”
“Larry-” she started to object, but he cut her off.
“No, Nicole. Not this time.”
They held each other’s eyes again. This time Nicole backed down with an almost imperceptible nod. Skinner was surprised to hear Logan address the Director by his first name.
She took a breath. “I’m going to go see Mrs. Scully.” She turned and marched out with the file.
~~~
Home of Margaret Scully
Baltimore, MD
Satisfied with her performance at FBI Headquarters, Nicole headed to Maggie’s home. This time she didn’t have to sneak around. She pulled up in the driveway and walked to the front door. Maggie opened the door only a few moments after Nicole rang the doorbell.
“Nicole!” They hugged.
“Hi, Maggie.”
“Come in, come in.”
The blonde brought Maggie up to speed on what was happening. “So in just a few days she’ll be home, safe and sound.”
“I can’t wait! It’s also hard to believe.”
“I know. And it will be hard to believe until you see her with your own eyes and hold her in your own arms.” Nicole reached up and wiped away a tear from Maggie’s cheek.
~~~
Ocean City, MD
Tuesday, March 10th, 1998
It was almost midnight Tuesday night as Tommy brought the launch to the beach.
A man stepped forward and helped Dana from the boat. “Welcome home.”
“Thank you, Ian.”
They got into the car he had waiting. “Nicole asked me to pick you up. She’ll meet us outside DC.” He paused and gave her a good look as he started the car. “You look a lot better than the last time I saw you.”
She smiled. “Thank you. I feel a lot better.”
~~~
Washington, DC
Wednesday, March 11th, 1998
A couple of hours later Ian pulled the car over and Nicole stepped out of the shadows. She got into the car and he got out, giving them some privacy.
“Are you ready for this?”
“Yeah.”
Nicole pulled a hypodermic out of her coat pocket. Dana eyed it, feeling a little uneasy, but still determined. The blonde didn’t miss the look in her partner’s eyes. She put her hand over Dana’s and gave it a squeeze. “I promise the effects on your memory will wear off after about a week. You will not lose any time - I wouldn’t do that to you, Dana.”
Dana looked her partner in the eyes. “I know that. I trust you. I just... I remember what it was like waking up and finding out I’d been missing for several weeks and having no memory of it. I still have no memory of it - beyond the time I was held by Duane Berry.”
“You don’t have to do this, Dana. We can skip this part of the plan.”
“No. I know from last time how everyone’s going to react... grilling me over and over in an effort to make me to remember. If I don’t remember it’ll be easier, more convincing, and less suspicious.”
Nicole nodded in agreement. “I’ll be there, Dana, right by your side.”
“I know.”
With that, Nicole very gently slid the needle into her partner’s arm, unerringly finding the vein and pushing the plunger. “When you wake up, you’ll be in the hospital and you’ll see your mother.”
“And you.”
“Yes, and me.”
As the redhead’s body began to go limp, Nicole moved to support her. She eased her partner’s head onto her shoulder. She could tell Dana was fighting to stay conscious.
“It’s okay, I’ve got you, Dana. I won’t let anything happen to you, I promise. I’ll keep you safe.”
Dana’s mind hovered just above unconsciousness for a few moments. The blonde must have signaled Ian somehow since he got back into the car and started it up. She could hear his voice, but was unable to understand his words. And it felt so good to be held by Nicole.
“Well don’t you look comfy?”
“Not now, Ian.”
“What? I’m just saying.”
Nicole shot him a look.
“Oh, don’t give me that. She’s a nice bird. And anyone who knows you can see how much she means to you.”
“I said not now, Ian.”
“So what if you fancy her? I say tell her!”
“Just drop it... please. Let’s just concentrate on getting this done.”
It was a silent ride the rest of the way.
~~~
George Washington University Hospital
Ian had volunteered to place the redhead, but Nicole felt she had to do it herself. She knew she’d have plenty of time to get back to her house after ensuring Dana was found. The hospital would concentrate on determining her condition before her identity anyway. Of course, once they ID’d her all hell would break loose. The blonde knew she would be one of the first people called after that.
Nicole tenderly held Dana in her arms, wrapped in a blanket. She kept to the shadows and moved silently. Finally her opportunity came. At the ambulance entrance a crew finished cleaning up their unit. The driver sat in the front doing some paperwork as his partner went back inside to pick up their replacement order for used supplies. Unseen, Nicole dropped down, and with a tender kiss on Dana’s forehead, gently laid her on the floor of an ambulance just inside its open backdoor. Just as silently she took to wing and hovered above, watching and waiting.
Only a minute later the second EMT returned with their new supplies. She saw the blanket-wrapped form in the back of their ambulance. “Brad!”
Her yell set everything into motion. The EMTs quickly checked Dana. Instead of wasting time they immediately carried her into the ER. With Dana safely being taken care of, Nicole quickly flew home.
~~~
The call actually came sooner than Nicole expected - probably due to Thea’s search program. As soon as Dana’s general description was entered into the hospital’s system, the FBI’s system alerted. One agent with a picture ID’d her instantly, and from there calls were made to Skinner and other top brass.
As soon as Skinner laid eyes on Scully himself he called Mrs. Scully and Logan.
Nicole came flying into the hospital like she was on fire. She unerringly found Skinner and started demanding answers no one had yet. He told her everything they knew. She then planted herself at Scully’s side - her self-appointed guard and protector. It was immediately apparent to everyone that dynamite wasn’t going make Logan move from Scully’s side. Skinner gave in to the inevitable and simply assigned agents to keep watch in the hallway, knowing Logan wouldn’t let anyone near her partner.
Skinner was also the one to meet Mrs. Scully when she arrived. He was once again reminded from where Scully got her strength as he spoke with her mother and told her everything they knew. He then took her to Scully’s room. Skinner noted the obvious affection with which Mrs. Scully embraced Logan when the blonde stood to greet her.
The doctor came to check on Dana and didn’t like so many people in the room. He informed the group that only family could remain in the room with her. The FBI would have to post their person outside the room.
Skinner nodded in acquiescence, and gestured to Logan to follow him out.
Mrs. Scully put her hand on Logan’s arm to keep her in place. “Nicole is family. She stays,” she pronounced in a tone of voice that brooked no argument. The glare she gave the doctor left no doubt she’d get her way.
The doctor backed down. “Alright. But no one else,” he said and left.
Alone, Nicole and Maggie talked quietly. Everything was going as planned.
~~~
Dana awoke as expected, and as planned, the injection Nicole had given her had blocked her memory of recent events. She didn’t even remember the late night visit by the blonde to her hospital room as she lay at Death’s door. The last thing she vaguely remembered was the terrible, unending nosebleed that sent her into hypovolemic shock. So it was a great shock to find out she’d once again been abducted and had no memory of the weeks she had been missing. It was also with mixed emotions she took the news that her cancer was gone - not in remission - gone.
And of course, Skinner and others kept at her, trying to get her to remember anything about where she’d been. Dana’s mother was supportive and understanding, but seemed to have a deep sense of peace about her that the redhead couldn’t understand.
Through it all, her partner, Nicole, was as protective as a mama bear. She was ever present, even when her mother wasn’t. She didn’t push for Dana to talk or to remember what she couldn’t, but simply let Dana know she was there. She didn’t try to fill the silence when her partner needed quiet. And she kept the wolves at bay when Dana couldn’t face them.
More than once Dana overheard Nicole get into it with Skinner and others, at first asking them to leave Dana alone, then arguing with them.
~~~
Saturday, March 14th, 1998
When it was time for Dana to leave the hospital, she declined her mother’s invitation to stay with her in Baltimore. She also clearly articulated her need for some time alone. Nicole respected her wishes.
Skinner told Scully to take whatever time she needed. He had been blindsided by Logan’s submission of a request for transfer. He informed her it would take some time to process because of the shakeup that was going on within the Bureau. Since Scully was off anyway, he talked Logan into taking some time off as well, hoping she would reconsider the request.
~~~
Kenilworth Park
Sunday, March 15th, 1998
Nicole walked through the park and took a seat on an empty bench. She thought about everything that had happened over the last ten months since she’d been pulled from the countryside outside Hamburg, Germany to be assigned as Dana’s partner.
She had attained the mission objectives - Dana was alive and well, and the Consortium was no more.
It had been a difficult assignment for Nicole in many ways. She had not dealt with so many human victims, survivors, and perpetrators in a long time. Nor had she worked so closely with a person as she did with Dana. Not even her Romanian partner, Rishka, worked that closely with her - when she was undercover she was essentially alone. She usually hunted alone as well. She had gotten so used to being alone - in more way than one. It had been that way since she was a child. Being different did that. And in her case she believed it was for the best. After all, her life was all about hunting and killing monsters.
It really is for the best. Dana has been through so much. Now she can have a fresh start without cancer, without having to look over her shoulder... and without having a partner with inappropriate feelings for her.
In the time since Dana had woken up, she had completely withdrawn emotionally. And while Nicole understood it, and had even anticipated it, it hurt more than she’d expected. She missed the closeness that had developed between them, especially since she’d finally admitted to herself that she had fallen in love with Dana.
~~~
Scully Family Cabin
Rural Carroll County, MD
Tuesday, March 17th, 1998
At the cabin, Dana was dealing with the shock of being told her cancer was gone - as if she’d never had it. She felt used and manipulated... violated... again. Strangely, her mother hadn’t seemed quite so shocked, even though she shed some tears of happiness. She didn’t want to hurt her mother’s feelings when she turned down her invitation to stay with her, but Dana needed some space to process things. Nicole seemed to understand her need to withdraw.
Nicole. That was another thing she needed to think about. During their last case, before taking on Humbaba, Dana had finally admitted to herself she was attracted to her partner, but she had also thought that it was a moot point since she was dying.
Well you’re not dying any more... so now what? Ironically, dying had given Dana a sort of freedom. She had allowed herself to feel things she normally would have nipped in the bud at the first inkling. After all, she was dying, so it wouldn’t matter. But now, now things were different. She had let the blonde in... or Nicole had let herself in. Either way, things were different now. But what does that mean for me... for us? I still don’t know if she’s interested in women. And even if she is, if she’d be interested in me. I don’t even know if I want her to be - we’re partners!
~~~
As Dana watched the sunset while sitting on the porch, she started remembering things. At least they seemed like memories... flashes of memories... or maybe dreams... it was hard to tell. Images, sounds, even smells ran through her mind in a disjointed fashion. She closed her eyes and tried to concentrate. She kept seeing Nicole - her smile, her eyes.
Dana shook her head, trying to clear it.
That night she dreamt of Nicole, of her partner telling her she was going to live, of her partner getting beaten up by some blue man, of Nicole and her sailing, of her partner making love to a glowing brunette...
She woke up from the last very aroused. She rolled onto her side and curled up. Just great... now I’m having wet dreams about my partner.
~~~
Wednesday, March 18th, 1998
The next day Dana, plagued with more dreams and memories (if that’s what they were), decided she needed to talk to Nicole. She needed to figure out what the memories were and what they meant. She tried their office number but got no answer. So she tried her partner’s cell and got the voicemail. She then tried the blonde’s home phone and got the answering machine. Feeling frustrated, she called Skinner and asked if he knew where she was.
“I’m sorry, Scully, I don’t.”
“Could you give her a message when you see or talk to her?”
“I doubt I will be talking to her. At least not anytime soon.”
“What do you mean?”
“I thought you knew. Agent Logan has been given some time off until her request for transfer comes through. With you off, there was no reason for her to come in, and with everything that’s going on it’s taking some time. It’s just as well since she just got back from an undercover assignment. She hasn’t left town though, since she said she’d notify my office if she wasn’t reachable at her home phone - so we could contact her when her transfer came through.”
“Alright, thank you, sir.”
“Is there anything I can do for you, Agent Scully?”
“Not at this time, sir.”
“Alright. Let me know if there is.”
“Goodbye, sir.”
“Goodbye.”
Dana hung up. “What the hell is going on, Nicole? Why did you request a transfer?” She dialed Nicole’s home and cell numbers again, leaving a message at both. She tried several times during the day and evening to reach the blonde. She left numerous messages. But Nicole never answered her phone; neither had she returned any of the messages. Dana went to bed that night very unsettled and worried.
~~~
part 24
part 1| part 2| part 3| part 4| part 5| part 6| part 7| part 8| part 9| part 10|
part 11| part 12| part 13| part 14| part 15| part 16| part 17| part 18| part 19| part 20|
part 21| part 22|