Special Delivery

Sara B. 01/07

The cab driver pushed the intercom and waited for a reply.  “Who is it?” A woman’s voice said through the tinny speaker.

“Miss, are you Miss Dana Scully?”

“Yes, and you are?” Her tone had taken on a defensive tone.

“My name is Gus Grand, I’m a cab driver.  I have a young woman here, say’s her name is Samantha Mulder.  All she had was a piece of paper with your name and address on it and an envelope with cab fare.  She hasn’t said anything except your name and fox.”

“I’ll be right down.”

Gus watched the strange young woman who had been his passenger while he waited.  She was tall, five-nine or ten.  Long dark curly hair, greenish eyes and a darkish complexion; pretty, she was pretty.  If someone were to ask for a description his response would be innocent or immature; no, childlike, yes the woman was childlike.  He supposed she was one of those mentally challenged people.

He heard the door open and a lovely woman with short red hair came out.  “Are you Mr. Grand?”  It really wasn’t a question then her eyes flitted to the other woman and she said, “Oh, my God!  Samantha?”

The other woman turned and smiled at her.  “Are you Dana?  Are you Fox’s Dana?  They told me to come to Fox’s Dana and she would take care of me.”

Dana Scully held out her hand and the Samantha woman took it without hesitation.  Dana turned back to Gus and held out her other hand to give him something.  “Thank you, here, this is to cover the fare and something for all the trouble you’ve been put to.  I hope it’s enough.”

Gus shook his head, “no, the fare was paid in advance and my tip was covered with the money in the envelope she handed me when she got in.”

“Please take it.  You have no idea how much this means to me and to someone I lo -- someone special to me.”

Gus moved from the curb thinking over the strange turn the day had taken.  He looked at the bill the redheaded woman had given him, a fifty.  Whatever else you can say about the day, he was going home with some pretty decent tips tonight.

~

Scully gently led ‘Samantha’ into her apartment.  “Can I get you something?” She asked the woman.  She was a stranger but Scully felt she almost knew her as well as she’d known Missy, or at least the child she once was.  The woman declined Scully’s offer but fell heavily to the couch and within minutes she was asleep.

Scully’s first instinct was to call Mulder but she didn’t want to set him up for a possible letdown.  Notifying Mulder would wait until she was sure about some things.  Scully made a visual examination of the sleeping woman.  She was thin but not malnourished and she appeared healthy.  The clothes she was wearing were old but clean.  She looked like she’d been reasonably well taken care of.

From their limited interaction, Scully determined that whoever had her hadn’t educated her; she was unsophisticated in her actions and speech.  ‘An eight year old in a woman’s body,’ she thought.

Scully went to find something for the woman to wear so she could take her clothes for analysis.  This turned out to not be an easy task since their sizes were so dissimilar.  She opted on a pair of Mulder’s sweat pants and tee-shirt.  Luckily, she’d just purchased some new underwear that were washed but not worn.  The woman would have to go braless until Scully could get some things for her. 

She also put out a new toothbrush and some other unopened toiletries, compliments of the many road trips she’d gone on with Mulder.  Scully would freely let her use her things but she thought the woman/child might like some things to call hers.

Scully began to cook dinner and the aroma woke her guest.  Scully refused to think of her as Samantha until she had some proof to that end; she wasn’t going to set herself up for letdown either.

“Dana,” the woman said shyly, “would it be okay if I took a shower?”

Scully smiled at her, “I’ve already set some things out for you to wear and some shampoo and things for you to use.  Everything is in the bathroom.”  Scully walked the woman to the bathroom and closed the door.  She’d made it about three feet when the woman screamed for her.

“What’s wrong?” Scully screamed as she entered the room.  The woman only looked down and Scully’s eyes followed.  There was a puddle of blood in the woman’s panties and Scully wondered if she’d never experienced menses before.  “Samantha, calm down.  Have you ever had a period before?” 

“A period?  What is that?”

Oh, Lord, how to explain this without scaring her more?  “Have you ever bled like this before?  Like on a monthly basis?”

“Do you bleed like this monthly, Dana?”  Her voice was now calm and inquisitive.  It was so like her broth…, Mulder, she amended.

“Women do, it’s a function of our reproductive cycles.”

“Re-pro…, what was that word and what does it mean?”

Scully felt a tugging at her heart.  She was like a child so Scully decided to relate to her like one.  “Come on, sweetie, let’s get you cleaned up and then we’ll have some dinner.  I’ll explain everything later.  Just don’t let it scare you.”  Scully hoped she’d know what to say when the time came.

Samantha got in the shower and Scully gathered the soiled clothes.  Well, at least she now had a solid sample for DNA testing. 

They’d finished dinner and cleaned up then Scully showed ‘Samantha’ to the guest bedroom.  The young woman was exhausted.  “Dana, will you tell me now about this bleeding thing?  This pad thing feels weird between my legs.”  If she closed her eyes Scully would think she was a young girl not a woman in her thirties.

Scully’s eyes reached skyward asking for guidance.  She sat down on the bed and proceeded to tell the story of the birds and bees.  When she finished she asked if Samantha had any questions.  “I think it sounds silly.”

“It can be, believe me, it can be extremely silly.  But it can be quite wonderful too.”

“Dana, do you and Fox do that?”

Scully tried to act calm.  “Samantha, that isn’t a proper question.  You just don’t ask people about that sort of thing.”

“Sorry,” her bottom lip came out and Scully couldn’t resist pulling her into a hug.

“No need to be sorry, how would you know?  Now why don’t you get some sleep?”

Scully just about had the door closed when she heard, “I love you, Dana,” followed by a soft snore.

Scully called the Gunmen and arranged for Byers to pick up the samples.  They were going to pull in some favors to get the DNA tests done as quickly as humanly possible. 

Byers stood holding the bag containing the samples.  He looked down the hallway.  “Do you think it could really be her?”

“I’m not sure but she looks like Mulder and, I don’t know, but it I think it could be.  I just can’t figure out why they sent her to me.  Why not take her right to Mulder?”

“Maybe so you can prove who she is?”  Byers offered as an option.

“Could be, I already arranged for her to be examined by a couple of my doctors tomorrow.  They’re squeezing her in as a favor.”

“A couple, wouldn’t one be enough?”

“She was bleeding.  I think it’s just menstrual but I want to be sure.  She didn’t know what it was so I have to assume she’s never had a period before and I want to make certain she’s okay.”

Scully sat in the patient’s conference room at the doctor’s office waiting for Samantha to come out so the doctor would tell what they’d found.  She’d stayed with the woman during the tests and Scully cringed to think how easily the woman accepted the invasions of her body.  Not a protest or even a question had been forth coming.  She finally left when it was time for Samantha, yes, she now thought of her as Samantha Mulder, to dress. 

Her mind went over the life altering events that were going on.  Could it all have started just sixteen hours earlier?  Luckily, Mulder was on loan to VCU so she’d been able to avoid him.  She had called Skinner and told him what was going on and he’d told her to take all the time needed. 

Samantha and Dr. Cutt came in and Scully moved her thoughts to the issues at hand.

Scully and Samantha walked out of the medical arts building.  Scully’s emotions were a little easier.  They still had to wait for some tests to come back but both doctors said Samantha seemed to be perfectly healthy.  They both noted that mentally she was developmentally immature and suggested further testing but Scully decided that would wait. 

Scully’s cell phone rang; it was Frohike to tell her that the DNA test results would be back later today.  There was nothing left except to wait so Scully decided it was time to shop. 

The two women walked around the department store and Samantha was in awe of the sights and sounds.  They went to the clothing and Dana decided to see what her companion would pick out for herself.  Samantha’s tastes ran toward bright colors and styles that were a little young for her but fully in line with the child she mentally was.  Scully let her pick out an outfit on her own but then steered her toward more appropriate items.

When they got to the lingerie, Scully was at a loss on what kind and bra size to get.  She asked a sales lady for help, explaining that her ‘cousin’ was a little slow and asked her to please not say anything as it would upset Samantha. 

Five complete outfits, five bras, twelve pairs of underwear, sox, sneakers, two nightgowns, a robe and bunny slippers, that Samantha fell in love with and Scully couldn’t deny her, completed their shopping spree. 

They stopped for dinner at a restaurant and it was then Scully discovered that Samantha couldn’t read.  She was taken at age eight so she must have known at one time but through the years she’d lost the ability.  This embarrassed the woman that had in the short amount of time taken a piece of Scully’s heart.  She silently cursed the beings that would deprive her of even the simplest of things.

“Samantha, we’ll fix it.  I’ll make sure you learn to read.”

“I feel so, so dumb, I’m just so dumb.”

“No, sweetie, you are not dumb and you are not at fault.  Those people who had you didn’t let you learn.  You’re here now and we just have to play catch up.  It won’t happen overnight but we’ll get you to where you need to be.”

The woman smiled at Scully and she felt her heart melt just a little more as she looked at the feminine version of Mulder’s smile.  She prayed silently, “God, please let this be the real Samantha Mulder, please.”

The answer to her prayer came at ten-thirty-seven that night by way of three quirky dear men.  The young woman was indeed Samantha Ann Mulder.

Time to call Mulder.

Telling Mulder:

Samantha Mulder was sleeping and Scully wasn’t sure if she should call Mulder that night or wait till morning.  She’d already waited over a day and she felt guilty about it even though she was sure of her position on the matter. 

She called.

“Mulder,” he gave his usual greeting.

“Mulder, it’s me.  I need you to come over tonight, is that possible?”

“Oooh, Scully, do I detect a bit of pleading in your voice?  Did you miss me that much during my three days with VCU?  Tom Colton say’s hi by the way.  He may also be saying bye soon once everyone knows how he almost screwed the whole investigation.  We caught the guy, if you are interested.”

“I suspect it was you who caught the guy but you don’t want to brag.  That’s all really interesting but I really need you to get over here.”  Scully knew he could here the urgency in her voice.

“Sure, Scully, just tell me, are you okay?  I mean,” he couldn’t continue.

“Mulder, I’m fine, I mean there is nothing wrong.  If anything it’s just the opposite and things are really good.  Just get here.”

Mulder walked into Scully’s apartment and immediately saw Skinner and the Gunmen were already there.  “Scully, this is starting to look like an intervention but I’m telling you now those tapes are not mine.”  Her only reply was to embrace him tightly. 

“Mulder, something so wonderful has happened…”  Scully told him everything.  At first he was a little angry that she hadn’t called him immediately but he also loved that she was worried he was being duped again. 

“So, she, Samantha, is asleep in your guest room?  Right now?”  Mulder’s speech was choked and his eyes wandered to the hallway.

Skinner stood, “I think we should leave.”  He knew that Mulder was ready to break and he wanted to give him and Scully privacy. 

Scully closed the door and turned back to Mulder.  “You want to look at her?”

“I do, I just can’t seem to move.”  He threw his hand out to her and when she took it he pulled her to him.  “You’re sure that it’s Samantha?”

“It really is her.  I knew before I had the test results.  She’s a lot like you.”  Scully’s eyes lowered.  “You need to be careful with her.  I think she’s smart, like you, but they didn’t teach her anything.  She’s a child in an adult body.  Mulder, Samantha doesn’t even know how to read, I promised her that I’d make sure that would be corrected.”

Mulder’s arm tightened around her and his head rested on hers.  “Come on; let’s go see your sister.”

They opened the bedroom door and the hallway light swept over the sleeping figure.  Mulder was frozen in the doorway. 

“Dana,” the figure in the bed called with a sleepy voice, “are you there?  Will you lie with me?”

“Samantha, can you wake up a little, sweetie?  I have someone who wants to meet you.”

“I like it when you call me sweetie.  Who wants to meet me?”

Mulder found his voice, “I do.  Do you know who I am?”

“Are you Dana’s husband?”

“No, Buttmunch” Mulder used an old nickname they bandied about at each other as children.

“Fox!  Fox, is it really you?”  She bolted into his arms, hugging him tightly.  “You got old, Fox.”

“Mulder, I’ll be in the living room.”  Scully said as she started to leave.  She wanted to give the siblings some privacy.

“Dana, no, don’t leave.”  Samantha called to her.  “I want you here,” she began to pout and Scully was doomed.

“Two of you, I’m in deep trouble.”  Neither Mulder nor Samantha seemed to know what she was referring to.  Scully just smiled and sat on the bed. 

Mulder joined Scully on the couch, “Samantha finally fall asleep?” 

Mulder nodded and put his arm around her, “thank you.”  He began to cry in joyful release.  Once he calmed down they sat silently holding each other.

“She’s back, Scully, I have my sister back.”  Mulder pulled Scully to him and kissed her she was so startled she didn’t think to kiss back.  “You helped make it possible, thank you, Scully, thank you for taking care of her.”  He kissed her again and this time she kissed him back with equaled verve. 

Mulder nuzzled her neck, “this is like a dream I don’t want to wake from, Scully.”  He leaned back and looked her in the eyes.  They were both flushed and their eyes glistened with unfulfilled passions.  “Samantha, the sister I love that was lost to me and you, Scully, the woman I love.”  She gasped at his revelation and he smiled at her.  “The two women I love for different reasons, together.”  Mulder moved to kiss her again, “tell me, Scully.”

“I love you, Mulder.”  That was all the encouragement he needed. 

Scully woke to the sounds of whispering coming from the guest room.  She rose and followed the sound.  The door was ajar and she could see her two guests sitting and talking in low tones.  They were so natural with each other, the way it should be.

“Fox, Dana took real good care of me.  The first night I went to take a shower and there was blood in my underwear.  Dana told me about mens, menstruation.  She told me about repro-duck-shun.”  She giggled, “I asked if you two did what she told me.  Oh, wait; I’m not s’posed to ask that stuff.”  She leaned her head in closer.  “But you know what?”

“What?” 

“I think you should do that stuff.  I think you two should be married.”  Samantha said resolutely.

“Out of the mouths of babes,” Mulder mumbled.  “I think you might be right about that, Sam.”

Scully was taken aback by the exchange.  She moved to go back to her room but then decided to join them.  “Is this a private ‘Mulder’ party or can a lowly Scully join in?”

“Don’t worry, Dana, you’re going to be a Mulder soon.”  Both Mulder and Scully just stared at Samantha, “Fox said so.”

“Mul--, Mulder?”  Scully stammered.

“Go ahead, Fox, ask her.  Tell her you think you should be married.”

“I, uh, I,” Mulder stammered and he couldn’t look at Scully’s face.

“Yes, Mulder, tell me.”  Mulder heard the teasing in Scully’s voice and knew he had no need for further embarrassment.

“Scully, will you,” he didn’t finish his question; he just pulled her to him.

“I think last night I may have answered that question; several times if I remember correctly.”

“Yeah, now that you mention it I do recall some emotional exclamations.”  He teased her back.  Samantha looked on in confusion but saw the happiness on both of their faces.  It was at that moment her stomach decided to make her hunger known with a loud grumble.

Scully finished the breakfast dishes and joined the siblings in the living room.  She picked up the phone and handed it to Mulder he understood immediately and dialed.  His call was picked up on the third ring.  “Mom, it’s Fox, I have something to tell you…”

End

Okay, enough sugar, I hope you’ve had your dose of insulin ready.