One Of Us

Author: PhileyX 
E-Mail: phileyxback@yahoo.com
Web-site: https://www.angelfire.com/id/phileyx
Rating: PG-R
Category: MSR, WJR.
Spoilers: Requiem
Prequels: Man Without A Face, The Matchbox, The Dinner Guest, A Nobody is Hard to Find, Time Out, Redhead, A Father is Hard To Find, Visions, Second Time Round, Keeper
Disclaimer: All the characters here do not belong to me. 
Author's note: The prequels to this story can be found at:
https://www.angelfire.com/id/phileyx/Face.html
https://www.angelfire.com/id/phileyx/Matchbox.html
https://www.angelfire.com/id/phileyx/Dinner.html
https://www.angelfire.com/id/phileyx/Nobody.html
https://www.angelfire.com/id/phileyx/Timeout.html
https://www.angelfire.com/id/phileyx/Redhead.html
https://www.angelfire.com/id/phileyx/Father.html
https://www.angelfire.com/id/phileyx/Visions.html
https://www.angelfire.com/id/phileyx/Secondtime.html
https://www.angelfire.com/id/phileyx/Keeper.html
Intro: This story takes place after the Requiem. Two years after his disappearance, a man appears claiming to be Mulder, with a catch; he just didn't have his face. Scully finds out he really is her ex-partner the unconventional way. Now the consortium is after their only son and she is forced to make the ultimate sacrifice; she gives them both up. Although intent on keeping herself away from her son, she is unable to stop herself from seeing Mulder. Will grows up without her and soon without his father too. Uncertain about his past, he struggles to understand the signs along his way, signs that would lead him to the truth and eventually his destiny.

XXXXXXXXXXX
One Of Us 

   Excerpts from the song 'Acoustic #3' by The Goo Goo Dolls. 

              No infringement of copyright intended.

<And you know I see right through you
Cause the world gets in your way
What's the point in all this screaming
You're not listening anyway>

Morning light filtered through the curtains as Joyce's eyes fluttered open. Her body still hummed of the pleasures of the night before. And recalling the highlights made her colour slightly. She then felt someone staring at her. Looking up, she saw that it was Jason. He lay watching her, his head propped upon his hand. At first she smiled at him and muttered a soft good morning. But when he did not reply, she frowned, a feeling of dread instantly creeping into her heart. 

Jason mouth dried as she looked at him curiously. While she slept, he had spent the few hours' left of the night watching her, his mind tossing and turning the last words he had heard from her consciousness before she slipped into slumber. Words that made his blood turn cold. His voice was barely a whisper when he finally spoke. "Why did you make love to me?"

She was stunned, staring at him in confusion. "What?"

Her hair tousled with sleep glittered in the sunlight. Mesmerized at the sight, his voice faltered for a moment. "You heard me." He finally said, gently.

Joyce continued to stare at him, trying hard to perceive his reasons for asking such a question. As her bewilderment slowly evolved into anger, she threw the ball back into his court. "Why do you think I did?"

His eyes narrowed and he seemed to be deciding if he should say. Then she watched him close his eyes and sigh. "Last night was….. amazing, wasn't it?" 

She blinked, not convinced that he was done with the first question and yet not understanding why he had suddenly switched topics. She tried hard not to think of how 'amazing' last night was, just in case she forgot her anger. Instead she waited for him to continue.

"Do you know why it was so good?" This time she couldn't help but be diverted. She took a deep breath to hold back a deeper blush. When she didn't say anything, he shamelessly stated. "Because I did everything right."

Her eyebrow rose. 'Boy! Is this man in desperate need of affirmation or what?' She thought. But as she studied him intently, she realized that his intention of mentioning it wasn't as she contemplated. 

"Do you know how I knew exactly where to touch or kiss you?" When she heard the raw emotions in his voice, she was certain she was right. She shook her head slowly and he leaned closer to whisper. "Because you told me."

When his words registered, she started. "What?"

"You told me exactly what you wanted of me." He hesitated. "I read your mind."

Stunned, she found herself repeating his words. "You read my mind…."

"I heard everything you were thinking." Taking a deep breath, he added. "Which brings me back to the question, why did you make love to me?"

She could not say a word, still staggered by his claim that he read her mind. It was impossible! Visions she had accepted, nightmares she was still trying to comprehend but telepathy? What next, X-ray vision?

He seemed oblivious of her growing disconcertment. "There is something you're not telling me, something about me. It's making you feel guilty." Then, he winced slightly as he asked. "Is that why you made love to me last night? Because you felt sorry for me?"

For a moment, her reflections gave way to fear. Her entire body stilled, her skin flushed and her blue eyes flashed intensely. If he could read minds, he would know about…. 'No!' She stopped herself abruptly. 'This is ridiculous!' Even if she did go so far as to consider it, under no circumstances would she admit that she was hiding the truth from him. It would destroy him. 

To his surprise, she threw the covers off her and scrambled out of bed. "What are you doing?" He asked.

"Getting dressed!" She snapped and muttered a curse, looking for her lingerie among the other clothes on the floor.

"You don't believe me, do you?"

Her bra and panties safely on, she turned to face him defiantly. "If you read minds, Jace, then tell me what am I thinking right now?"

He blinked, containing the strong urge to grab her and strip the tiny matching essentials off her that contrasted wildly against her fair skin, making him throb with desire. But her painful glare soon brought him back to the matter at hand. "Um… I don't know." He finally admitted. 

"You don't know?" Her voice was mocking enough to irritate.

But he answered her calmly. "This is new to me. I can't control it yet."

She snorted derisively. "You don't need to be telepathic to know what I'm thinking, Jace. You can see on my face. I'm thinking that you are a fucking asshole!" And she turned towards her chest of drawers nearby, taking out a T-shirt and slipping it over her.

"Then how do you explain that I knew precisely what you wanted last night, Joyce?" His voice rose to match hers.

"Oh I don't know…." She trailed off sarcastically. "I thought maybe I've finally found one man in this planet who knew what he was doing. Oh noooo… He had to be a nightmare having psychic who just so happens to be telepathic!" Pulling her jeans on, she rolled her eyes heavenward and muttered. "And I suppose it was just too much to ask for?"

"Oh come on!" Jason retorted back. "You showed me more erogenous spots on a woman's body than in the Karma Sutra! No guy could have been that good without help!"

"Well, apparently not!" Grabbing his shirt off the floor, she threw it at his chest and walked out of the room. "And thanks for reducing my faith in the male species back to its previous level."

Growling an expletive under his breath, he got out of bed and followed her. As he entered the living room, his pants suddenly smothered his face. Clumsily removing it, he heard her retort across the room. "Get dressed!"

"Joyce…." He called but obeyed, putting his trousers on. She had disappeared into the kitchen. Shaking his head, he indulged in a tight smile at her stubbornness. He should have known there would be a limit to her faith in the paranormal. She was barely getting used to the fact that he had visions. When she reappeared with his belt, he demanded to know. "Why is this any more difficult to accept than my visions?"

Her eyes narrowed as she let the silence between them drop for a second. "You wanna know why I made love you to you, Jace? Because I love you. What's your excuse?" He frowned, not understanding what she meant. She cordially explained. "If you were so sure that I was doing it for the wrong reasons then why did you let me?"

His words sliced through him like a knife. For a moment he stared at her, then his face became livid. "You think I suspected before we….." He trailed off, too furious to continue. 

Merciless, she went on with her tirade. "Then again, you don't need an excuse, you're a guy. Take the given opportunity first and ask questions later, I suppose." 

"I can't believe you think so low of me!" He eventually managed to mumble. 

"Why not? You do!" She reminded him that he was the one that questioned her in the first place.

"Because I had reason to."

"Oh I'm sorry, I forgot, you read my mind." She mockingly placated him, making him grit his teeth in frustration. "Well maybe our whole fucking college was psychic too because I did turn out to be your easy lay after all."

The muscles on his face twitched as his eyes blazed with pure rage. Then his low growl threw the final punches of the fight before he turned away. "On the contrary, it was anything but easy. Believe me, last night I've never worked so hard to please a woman in my entire adult life!"

The vibration of the slamming door lingered in the room after he left. Closing her eyes, Joyce held her breath and fought for control. Confusion swirled around her like a vortex. And she seemed to be lost in the middle of it all.

The thing that struck her most was that Jason was furious, more than she ever saw him before. He hadn't bothered to debating with her or assuring her of his honourable intentions; he just walked out. And it made her wonder.

Did he really read her mind last night? And if he did, how could she be in his presence again without fearing his ability? How could anyone, for that matter?

XXXXXXXXXXX

He sat upright with a start, breathing heavily. "Mulder." His voice whispered the last thing he had heard the redheaded federal agent in his dream scream. It wasn't really a nightmare this time, only Agent Scully running around in a corn field, yelling for her ex-partner or at least that's what he assumed 'Mulder' to be.

The visions and dreams were all beginning to add up. It was as if having an exclusive preview of their life in his head. The question was why them? Having dreams of Joyce, he understood. After all she did have a huge place in his heart. But these two people were in no way connected to him and yet they seemed to constantly plague his sub-consciousness. Or maybe there was a link somewhere? Although for the life of him, he could not figure out what.

Sighing, he got out of bed and looked the clock. He shook his head when he noted the time. He barely got three hours of sleep. Well he certainly wasn't about to try again for the rest of the night. 'Maybe some food would help keep me awake.' He thought and headed for the kitchen.

His cupboards were bare. He rolled his eyes and thought about the kindergarten play based on the nursery rhyme which Joyce had a part of the Old Mother Hubbard. Smiling, he recalled calling her an old hag for weeks and she let him get away with it only because at that age, she had no idea what hag meant.

His reverie was rudely interrupted with an intense flash. His hands gripped the kitchen counter and he closed his eyes tightly, willing the vision to go away. When he was sure he had succeeded, he let out a breath he didn't know he was keeping. It was definitely getting worse. The visions were more frequent and more insistent. They kept creeping up on him when he least expected. Sometimes, he let a few go by his guard and noticed that it always had something to do with the last thought he was thinking. 

So the vision he would have had if he hadn't stopped it would probably be of Joyce. He was sorry he walked out that morning; he should have stayed and hashed it out. After all, she was right. He was the one that began doubting her and yet couldn't handle it when she turned the question on him. 

But he truly heard her thoughts that night, although it still remained a mystery how he did it. He had experimented on strangers throughout the past few days but nothing happened. Perhaps it had something to do with their act of intimacy, he finally concluded. Then again, he never willingly tried to read Joyce's mind, too pissed and afraid to try. Pissed because she wouldn't give him the benefit of the doubt and afraid of what he might discover.

Unexpectedly, another sensory jolt shook him. Once again, a vision threatened to overwhelm him. An idea popped in his head and instead of repressing the psychic ability, he impulsively took control and concentrated on Joyce. Maybe his visions are the gateway to his telepathic powers. He willed himself to think what she was thinking at this moment, squeezing his eyes tightly as throbbing bursts of light seemed to explode in the darkness of his shut eyes.

It started out as a vision. She was in bed, asleep. The gentle rise and fall of her chest made her look completely vulnerable. And he felt peacefulness and rest. Then her lashes stirred and she frowned slightly, nuzzling deeper into the pillow. Immediately after, his visions clouded and she disappeared. His heart doubled and he gasped, trying to keep up, his hand clutching his chest. But half a minute later, he could not bear the violent pounding against his rib cage and he let go of his concentration, breaking the hold on his vision. 

As he took deep breaths to regulate his pulse, he sank onto the floor weakly. 'What the hell just happened?' He wondered. Whatever it was exhausted him thoroughly. He felt as if he'd been fifteen rounds in the ring with a heavyweight. One thing was for sure though, he certainly failed miserably in his little experiment, which brought him to the question; did he or did he not read Joyce's mind that night? Perhaps it was all his imagination? Perhaps his doubts about Joyce's intentions were only his insecurities acting up? Perhaps he really was amazing in bed? 

The last thought made him smile and he gracefully gave half the credit to the fiery redhead as well. There was a sweet artlessness in the pleasure she took in her own body and from his that drove him absolutely insane. Heat surged through him as his photographic memory reminded him to what extent his insanity achieved that faithful night. Too tired to move and too preoccupied with pleasant thoughts, he stared blankly across the kitchen and let the night tick by. 

The loud thudding on his front door about an hour later made him jump. Frowning, he got to his feet and tried walking. 'Whoa!' He thought when his knees threatened to buckle. Leaning against the wall to regain his balance, he wondered again what was so different in his prior vision that took so much from him. The knocks grew louder and louder, demanding his attention. Tentatively, he moved to answer. 

The last person in the world he expected stood in front of him when he finally opened the door. Her chilly glazed blue eyes glared at him intensely and he automatically muttered, surprised. "Joyce."

Without a word, she stepped up to him and pushed him with all her might. He clumsily fell back. Before he could react or straightened himself completely, she grabbed the front of his shirt, yanked him towards her and then once again shoved him violently. He stumbled back onto the back of his couch this time, almost falling over it. His disconcertnation blew. "What the hell is wrong with you?"

"You tried it out on me, didn't you?" Her choked voice instantly chilled his heart. Suddenly, he knew why she was here. 

'No, it can't be…' He thought numbly. It didn't work. Or did it?

"Answer me! Damn it!" She yelled at him furiously when he didn't say anything.

He studied her nervously, unsure exactly why she was upset. She hadn't believed him and so he proved himself to her. What was so wrong about that? 'Well at least now, she believes me.' He thought but his courage failed him and he could only nod.

His admission seemed to take her breath away. She closed her eyes briefly. "Do you know what you put me through?" He looked at her uncertainly. "Do you know what it's like to have someone in your head, Jace?"

"No." He whispered and winced when she answered softly.

"It's not pleasant."

The amount of emotion in her words and on her countenance made his ache. It took all everything he had to hold back from taking him into his arms and kissing the hurt away. He knew he shouldn't, she was enraged and needed to let it out. And in this case, she had every right to. He hadn't thought his test would affect her in the least. He should have known better. After all, it involved getting into the consciousness of a person. 

The anger seemed to have seeped out of her. She looked more in control as she walked around to the couch and sank heavily into it. He followed her movements with his eyes, not daring to say a word. Instead, he waited for her to continue to condemn him, to drive more wooden stakes into his heart.

"I woke up in a shock." She began to explain softly. "My pulse was pounding twice the rate, as if my heart was pumping for two people instead of one. I felt like I wasn't alone. At first I thought that there was someone else in the room but when I looked around, there was no one there. Just in case I was wrong, I ran out to the living room. But I still sensed a presence behind me. I kept turning around but there was no one there and then I realized that it was in me, it was in my head. It didn't strike me that it was you until I smelt it."

She looked up at him. "Your aftershave. It was then that I knew." Then she paused and growled. "You scared the fucking shit out of me, Jace!"

Every single word of her narration had slashed him like a whip would on flesh. He wondered if he would ever be able to make it up to her. And after what he had put her through, he wasn't even sure he would be given a chance to try in the first place. He knew the words were inadequate but it was important for him to say them, for her to hear them. "I'm sorry."

She cringed, instantly looking away as if looking at him a moment longer would bring her into another nightmare. With her fears acknowledged, it was beginning to sink in that Jason was indeed telepathic. 

But it was obvious that he still knew nothing of her betrayal. The guilt that drowned his features did not resemble a man that knew her secret. And Joyce was beyond caring. If he wanted so much to know, then fuck, let him find out! If it was so important to him that he was willing to rape her of her privacy then what could she do to stop him?

As she tried to regain control of her temper, she found that one thing truly disturbed her. And after a moment's consideration, she decided to ask him outright. "Even if I am keeping secrets from you, don't you trust me enough to believe that I have a good enough reason?"

He was stunned and his heart constricted. Wondering if her question was a confession, he rasped back. "A good enough reason? You mean just like my father's reason for leaving me?"

Her brows furrowed, realizing her impulsive mistake. This matter went too far into his past. But it was too late to back down now. "Yes."

"And are you?" His eyes danced between pain and anger. "Are you keeping secrets from me?"

A half laugh escaped her. Vincent Alexander was right; Jason wouldn't stop until he found out the truth. Whatever it took. Slowly shaking her head, she mumbled. "God! You never give up, do you?" And she looked away, seemingly mesmerized with the top of his coffee table in front of her. 

Jason was confused. Her question gave the impression that he had been right and yet the question might have been rhetorical. Perhaps she did want to know if he trusted her enough to that extent. And did he?

The lengthened silence between them shattered when his phone rang. Reaching out to grab it, he held it to his ear and answered. It was the hospital. "What? Now?" She heard him mutter.

Joyce leaned back against the seat, suddenly feeling utterly drained. It was somewhere between the wee hours of the morning and in a couple of hours time, she would have to bring herself to face the normality and drudgery of work. She wondered if she could handle it. The enormity of Jason being telepathic and his power being tried on her needed at least a day of recuperation. Perhaps she should call in sick. Then again, she'd rather work then dwell on the whole fiasco. 

She looked up when she heard him pull the phone into his room, overhearing something about reading out a report to the hospital clerk. When he was gone, she sighed and wondered. 'What happens now?'

XXXXXXXXXXX

He had been on the phone for so long that when he returned, he found her asleep. He stood beside the couch for a long time just watching her. She was so lovely, her skin so pale against the bright copper of her hair. Reluctantly tearing his gaze, he padded softly to his room and retrieved a blanket for her. 

Joyce stirred just as he leaned over her. Something, some movement under her heavy eyelids abruptly awakened her. Immediately her thoughts flew to her horrid ordeal not too long ago. Erupting from her relaxed position, she shrank into the far end of the couch, her blue eyes full of fear.

He was taken aback, stunned at her primal terrified reaction. Thinking she had just awakened from a bad dream, he whispered soothingly. "It's okay, it's just me. I was just trying to cover you with a blanket." He moved to lay it on her.

"Don't!" She almost yelled, freezing him completely. Then her voice dropped into a hoarse desperate whisper. "Don't touch me." 

It was only then that Jason realized the source of her fear. She was terrified of him, of what he did, of what he could do. His heart constricted painfully at the horrifying actuality. And studying the trepidation on her face, he felt like a monster. He staggered away from her, the sheet dropping from his grip.

As Joyce's heart rate began to subside, her rationale returned. 'It's okay.' She told herself. 'Jace wouldn't hurt her, at least not intentionally.' Gasping short breaths of air, she took a moment to compose herself. Then looking up, she caught the deadened look on his face and grimaced. 'Shit!' She muttered internally. But before she could say anything aloud, he hastily disappeared into the room. 

Joyce fell back heavily and groaned. 'Great! As if things just couldn't get any worse!' She thought and punched the arm of the couch in bitter frustration. What was wrong with her? Why had she reacted that way? 'It was just Jace for God's sakes!' So he has visions and nightmares and mind reading capabilities but isn't he still the same man she had known since she was three? The same man that she had unconsciously fell in love with since God knows when? The same man she can't seem to live without? 

But slowly she was forced to accept the harsh reality she had been resisting to acknowledge. The truth was he was slowly evolving into someone she couldn't recognize. That was what scared her. And she wasn't the only one; it's terrifying him too.

A sudden crash from the direction of the bedroom startled her. She turned to its direction, expecting Jason to emerge from it. He didn't but she saw the lights of the adjoining bathroom switched on. Cautiously, she got up and walked towards it.

The bedroom door was half open and she pushed it open slowly. The lighted bathroom dimly illuminated the empty room. Her gaze swept the area, noting the broken reading lamp next to the bed. Turning towards the toilet, she was about to call his name when her eye caught a spot on the carpet floor. Kneeling down, she touched the wet spot and held it up to the light. 'Blood?' 

"Jace?" She called and walked hastily to find him. "Are you hurt?"

"I'm fine." He grunted and did not look up from the sink. She stood a couple of steps from him, studying his side profile carefully. He didn't seem hurt.

"I saw the broken lamp. Did you cut yourself?"

He shook his head but kept his head lowered, patting a wet towel about his face. Only when he held it down through the running water did she realize that it was soaked with blood. For a moment, she stared at the reddened water draining down the hole then she snapped. Completing the few steps between them, she firmly turned his chin to face her. It was his nose, it was bleeding profusely. 

Jason stepped back from her purposely. "It's nothing."

She looked at his grim face and realized why he did what he did. He was still hurting from her exaggerated horror. Determined to deal with that issue later, she asked him. "You've never had a nose bleed in your life. Is there something I should know?"

He shook his head slightly. "I told you it's nothing. It'll stop soon." Then to her surprise, he walked past her, careful not to brush against her when he did. Frowning, she slowly turned to watch him, leaning beside the bathroom doorway.

Jason briefly closed his eyes and willed the throbbing in his head to stop. Then as a chill overtook him, he removed jacket from his wardrobe and slipped it on. The glass from the broken lamp glittered in the bathroom light. He carefully avoided them and sat at the edge of his bed. His eyes soon noticed her shadow on the floor and he looked up. "It's late, you should go home."

"Are you trying to get rid of me?"

He gave her a look. "Go home, Joyce. Aren't you afraid I might read your mind or something?"

She ignored him. "What caused the nosebleed? A vision?"

"Look, just go home okay? There's nothing you can do here."

Hesitantly, she informed him. "You're bleeding again." He frowned and brought his hand to his upper lip, feeling the sticky wetness that proved her right. Joyce reached for a clean towel from his rack, walked over and held it out to him. "You said it'll stop. This happened before?" 

He didn't answer, gently wiping away the bloody mess from his face. She sighed and closed her eyes, saying a short prayer for strength. "You have to tell me what's going on, Jace."

"I don't know what's going on." He finally hissed and his body shuddered slightly.

She raised an eyebrow. Then kneeling on the floor in front of him, she took his hands in hers. "Your hands are cold." She proceeded to feel his forehead, cheek and arms. "Your whole body is cold. Something's wrong. We've got to get you to a hospital."

"No. They can't help me." He told her firmly.

Her brows creased. "What do you mean?" When he remained silent again, she nearly yelled. "Damn it Jace! Say something!"

"Why? So you have more reasons to be revolted with me?"

She locked her eyes with his. "I thought I was your diary."

"Diaries do not recoil in horror at your deepest, darkest secrets."

His words hit the mark. Biting her lip, she humbly acknowledged her fault. "Fair enough, I deserved that. I'm sorry. But I'm still here, aren't I?"

He looked at her for a while. Then he sighed and looked away. "No, you shouldn't apologize. Heck, even I'm afraid of myself!" Running his hand through his hair, he mumbled. "It's just that I'm losing control. And perhaps you shouldn't be here for that."

"How are you losing control?"

"I can't seem to suppress the visions anymore. They're too frequent and intense. And the dreams I have absolutely no hold of. So basically, mind reading is the least of my worries right now."

"What about the nose bleed?"

"A vision." He gave a half laugh and softly explained. "Agent Scully had cancer once." Then shaking his head, he muttered. "Just what is my connection with her anyway? Why do I keep having her in my apparitions?"

She quickly asked another question to divert him. "And is that why you're cold, the vision of her cancer?"

"Not really." He admitted. "The chills started a few days ago. I thought it was just the side effects of the visions but now I know it's not. There's a strange feeling that comes with it. A sense of dread, as if something big is about to happen. Sometimes, I just feel restless, like I'm suppose to do something or I'm supposed to be somewhere."

She frowned, not liking the feelings he described. It sounded suspiciously like something from his favourite cult classic movie, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, which he forced her to watch with him when they were younger. Not wanting to mention it in case he seriously began considering aliens a possible factor, she took his hand and suggested gently. "All right, calm down. We're both tired. Why don't we get some sleep and figure this out in the morning?"

He shook his head. "I don't want to sleep."

Briefly kissing him on his forehead, she told him. "Fine, you don't have to. Just lie down with me, okay?"

Nodding, he let her move under the sheets with him. She held him close, squeezing him assuredly when he shuddered again. He took a deep breath and catching the feminine smell of her soap, he instantly relaxed. His tired mind blocked out all his doubts; even his worst fear, the possibility of Joyce's betrayal. 'Not now.' He thought. At the moment, he didn't really give a damn. 'She's here, that's all that matters.' Listening to her constant heartbeat in her breast, he thought it was time he made one thing clear. "I made love to you because I love you."

"I know." She whispered back, glad that he was moving on to safer issues. Trailing her hand along his strong arm, she wondered aloud. "What took us so long to figure it out?"

He smiled. "We were greedy. We wanted it all."

She raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"

"We wanted the fairy tale romance. The attraction at first sight, the magical first date, the first kiss, the getting-to-know stage, the falling in love."

Smiling, she observed. "You're right. I did want that."

"So did I. I certainly didn't want to spend my Friday nights with the girl next door that I put up with every single day."

"God, we were so blind! If we had figured it out sooner, it would have saved us plenty of ghastly dates."

"Speaking of ghastly dates….." He trailed off.

She assumed he meant Jonathon. "I broke up with him before I got shot."

"Oh?"

"If I didn't, I wouldn't have slept with you!" She incredulously insisted.

"Right." He acknowledged simply and she frowned, unsure if he was being sarcastic. "Honestly, I didn't really like him."

She rolled her eyes. "You're right, it's a wonder we figured it out at all. We skipped all the dreamy stuff and went straight into miscommunication and jealously."

"I was never jealous of Jonathon! I really wanted you to be happy with him." He maintained vehemently.

"Right. And I suppose you weren't the mysterious doctor who told the nurses that I was allergic to flowers. Do you know how much rose bouquets cost these days? I didn't even get a whiff of them before they were thrown out."

He grimaced, slightly embarrassed that she knew. "You hate roses anyway." Diverting her, he asked her. "What about you? You were practically pushing me to marry Linda!"

"Only because she was the first woman you dated that showed any promise of holding a conversation on her own. But the Christmas plan really jarred me."

Smiling at her admission, he told her. "And the sex wasn't that great anyway." His words made her blush, knowing that he was going to bring the night up again. His voice lowered seductively when he did. "You know for a goody-two-shoes Catholic…"

She interrupted him instantly. "Jace, don't you dare finish that sentence!"

He grinned. "I'm sorry. Did I remind you of one more sin to confess during Lent?"

"Oh shut up!" She snapped but not angrily.

They lay in silence for a while. Jason was finally beginning to feel warm but the inexplicable dull anticipation in his head wouldn't rest. He tried not to think about it. "Joyce?"

"Hmm?"

"You're never gonna have sex with me again, are you?"

She smiled. "I wouldn't hold my breath if I were you."

He groaned loudly. "Oh well, I suppose I could try to live with that. It'll just be college all over again."

"College?"

"Yeah. I think I only dated twice in my last year there. Didn't really matter. I went home and you were there. Sure you were always rambling on about your current boyfriend. But, you were there. I think it's how I've always dealt with my love life. Physical intimacy and intellectual compatibility was secondary. Because deep inside I knew I already had what I really needed; you."

"Hmm…" She shook her head slightly, not really comprehending but realizing it was a compliment. "I'm glad you feel that way because I really think that it's gonna be a while."

"How come it was so easy for me the first time around?"

Joyce figured he was talking about reading her mind. "Perhaps I was opened to it?"

"Perhaps. I know our hearts were pounding together, synchronized. But tonight, I… invaded you without your permission." 

She caught his sigh and gently took his hand, trying to return to the easy banter. "That's why you're paying for it. It's okay, you still have your photographic memory. Use it."

"Gee thanks, that helped." He muttered sarcastically and she smiled.

A sudden bout of senses flooded him and he stiffened abruptly. He suppressed the image that tried to form in his mind. Then the intensity ebbed away, leaving him shivering, once again cold. She knew and soothed him softly. "Shhh.. It's all right, I'm here."

He took a deep breath, controlling his foggy thoughts. The painful throbbing in his head had returned. Squeezing her hand gently, he whispered. "I need help, Joyce. It's getting worse."

She frowned worriedly, holding him closer towards her. "Okay. We'll get help." She firmly promised and hoped for daylight to come soon. "We'll figure this out."

XXXXXXXXXXX

Their flight was delayed for half an hour. 'Great!' Joyce moaned internally. It was definitely not their day. First they spent half the morning waiting for seats, then someone stole her luggage and now this. 

Sitting beside her, Jason shook his head and sighed. "Why are we off to DC again? It's not like she'll see us. She didn't even return any of my calls."

She curtly replied with a tone that warned him to stop asking the same question. "Oh, she'll see us." After all the trouble they went through, Agent Scully had better see them. 'Even if I have to pull off a false bomb threat in the FBI building to make it happen!' 

He turned, caught at the determined gaze on her face and smirked. "You know, I'm glad you're on my side. The look you have on is pretty scary."

She glared briefly at him and then back to the airport departure screen. Jason sighed again and left her to her glaring. He was more concerned on suppressing his increasing psychic attacks, distracting himself by studying passer-bys and guessing their profession. But visions were only half of his worries. The throbbing in his head had evolved into a high pitch buzzing sound that kept getting louder. When he started rubbing his forehead with his hand, she asked. "You okay?"

"Yeah."

A flicker of concern flashed across her face. Her voice softened. "Soon. We'll see her soon and we'll figure this out."

"What makes you think she knows anything?"

Slightly tongue-tied, she improvised. "There has to be a reason why you keep seeing her right?"

"Yeah, maybe you're right. But she wasn't really…." He abruptly stopped as a shudder racked his body.

"Jace?"

He blinked twice and then looked at her, eyes wide open. "She's here." Getting to his feet, his head darted about as if looking for someone.

"What? Who's here?" She jumped to his side, totally surprised.

"Agent Scully." He replied anxiously and pointed around him. "She's here in Chicago."

Frustrated at him bopping about, she grabbed his sleeve and pulled him still. "How do you know?"

"I saw her…. in an airport."

Joyce frowned. "How do you know it's this airport? All of them look alike."

He gave her an annoyed look. "I don't know how I know, I just do. I feel her. She's here."

"You feel her?" This time an incredulous look escaped her control.

Seeing the doubt, he almost rolled her eyes. "We have half an hour anyway. It can't hurt to look." 

She was still looking at him as if he was from Mars. Then, she frowned and pointed behind him. "See that piece of paper over there?" He obeyed and turned back to her, nodding his head. "Try moving it from the floor to the bin with your mind."

"What? I can't do that!" He was stunned at her request and honestly couldn't tell if she was serious or being sarcastic.

"Oh." Her face fell. "Are you sure?"

"Oh course I'm sure!"

"Damn!" She muttered and added thoughtfully. "Because if you could, that'll be really cool!"

'I don't believe it! She's serious!' He thought and rolled his eyes. Shrugging her grip off his jacket, he grabbed her hand and pulled her through the crowd, beginning the search. "Come on, we've got to find her." 

Joyce almost had to run to keep up with him, yelling loudly above the noise. "Uh, how about X-ray vision?"

"Joyce!" He protested, warning her to cut it out at the same time. 

She grimaced and suggested again hopefully. "Levitation?"

He gave up and let go of her hand, ignoring her completely. Still disappointed with his lack of 'really cool powers', Joyce sighed and reluctantly started to help look. "Oh all right, I'm looking, I'm looking."

"Thank you. She's around five foot two with straight copper….."

"Yeah yeah, I know." She cut him off with a wave of a hand. He gave her an odd look, wondering how could she know. They've never met before. But he hastily concluded that he must have described Agent Scully a million times already.

Fifteen minutes later, Joyce was about to give up. Jason on the other hand was surer than ever that she was here but was having trouble walking. Leaning against a drink dispenser to compose himself, he felt another strange sensation descend on him. 

Unaware of the new development, Joyce suddenly caught a familiar figure in a distance. She shuffled through a planeful of newly arrived passengers and frantically tried to keep the redhead in her sight. When she was sure it was her, she glanced back, trying to catch his gaze. 

Thankfully he was taller than most people and he eventually caught sight of a hopping lady in the crowd, desperately seeking his attention. "Stay there! Don't move!" She mouthed across the distance. He nodded, glad that he didn't have to go anywhere. Hopefully, she wouldn't take long because at the moment, he wasn't even sure if his legs were capable of standing for another ten minutes.

Once again, the strange feeling returned. Jason frowned, it was almost as if someone was watching him. He took a deep breath to clear his thoughts. 'This is stupid.' He thought but suddenly something made him turn his head to look up. On the second level of the airport stood a man looking directly at him. He was tall, well built with a squarish jaw. As his gaze locked on to his, Jason suddenly heard a man's voice ringing in his head. 'Found you.' His eyes immediately widened in horror and he stared at the man. Now where did that voice come from? 

He wasn't allowed a moment longer to dwell on the thought for the man moved towards the escalators, his eyes still glued on him. Instinctively, Jason knew that this man was after him. Why, he didn't know but he could feel it. Jason took a deep breath and slipped into the crowd. Hopefully, he will be able to lose him. 

XXXXXXXXXXX

Dana smiled at the car rental clerk and showed her FBI credit card. As the lady processed her order, she turned around and absent-mindedly observed the busy airport. Being in Chicago again dredged up familiar longings but she had resolved not to be distracted. There was much more at stake this time and she had to be careful. 

The Gunmen had called her with an alarming development the day before. Hacking into US army surveillance satellite photos, they found something strange. For the first time, JPL Topex Poseidon showed irregular microburst activity just outside the city of Chicago, similar to the shots they've seen on Arizona just after Mulder was taken. But this time, the intensity was so powerful that it had attracted the attentions of the army. And for her, it was too close to Jason to not check out. So much so, Dole and her were willing to break the golden rule for once and had agreed to meet in public to check it out together.

Of course if the military were aware of it, Krycek would definitely be in the loop as well. So they couldn't afford to slip up, no matter what. She only wished she could give Jason a call and tell him to get the hell out of the state for a while. 

"Miss Scully?" The rental car clerk called out to her.

Dana dismissed her thoughts and turned. "Yes." 

"Here's your sedan. Unlimited mileage for two days." She passed her the necessary items and cheerfully wished her "Have a safe drive." 

"Thank you." The agent offered her a slight smile, pocketing the credit card, car rental receipt and keys. She picked up her bag and was about to head towards the exit when Joyce suddenly appeared in front of her. Shocked to see her, she glanced about nervously lest they were watched. "What are you doing here?"

Joyce took a moment to catch her breath. "Jason." She finally said, still breathing hard.

It was evidently enough because Dana immediately frowned and asked. "Where is he?"

"Back there." Joyce answered and started to lead her through the crowd. Dana followed her, wondering where Dole was. They were supposed to meet outside but knowing him, he would probably have waited inside, making sure she arrived before going to their agreed meeting point. Hopefully, he hadn't left yet or else he would be waiting awfully long in the cold for her.

When the two women finally reached the vending machine, Joyce frowned to find that Jason was gone. "I left him here. I told him not to move."

Dana glanced about and muttered under her breath. "Well if he's anything like his father…."

"There he is!" The younger redhead interrupted her, pointing towards the main foyer. "Where the hell is he going?"

Straining her neck towards the direction, she caught sight of her tall son among the crowd. He walked towards the escalator and then went up. "Looks like he's going upstairs. Come on, let's go." Joyce nodded and this time followed the formers' lead. 

Keeping him diligently in sight, they went up to the second level and watched him stride determinedly towards an unused departure gate, disappearing round the bend. Dana frowned, noticing that this particular section of the airport was frighteningly deserted. There wasn't even a single security personnel in sight. 

As they passed through the unattended gate, Dana's eye caught a clipboard and a half drunk cup of coffee on a table nearby. 'There was someone here on duty, probably an airport guard. But where is he now?' Feeling slightly more than disconcerted, she removed her gun from her upholster.

"Jace!" Joyce called out when she saw him and Dana sighed in relief. 

Her son stood a few yards away from them, looking at them blankly. He was holding something in his hand, she couldn't tell what. But when it glittered at a particular angle because of the airport lighting, she instantly reached out to stop Joyce from walking any nearer to him. Joyce turned around and looked at her, surprised. Dana shook her head slightly, indicating her to be silent. The latter blinked but the agent ignored her and pulled her behind. "Jason?" She called out tentatively.

He looked at them calmly but his question took them by surprise. "Where is he?" 

For a moment, Dana was confused and thought that she was mistaken. Perhaps it was Jason. But what was he asking? Was he asking about his father? Did Joyce eventually tell him? But when a slight movement of his hand caused the silver tube-like metal in his hand to emit a sharp spear, she was certain that this man wasn't her son. 

"Agent Scully, what's…" Joyce started to say something. 

But Dana held up her hand to stop her. Holding up her gun, she asked him. "What do you want from him?"

The man looked at gun and smirked. Dana frowned. 'Damn! He knows I won't use it on him.' Her mind raced furiously to think of a back up plan and until then she could only buy some time by talking. "Why do you want him?"

By this time, Joyce was absolutely flabbergasted with what was going on. She simply could not understand why Jason's standing there with some sort of weapon in his hand. And why on earth is his mother aiming a gun at him and asking him ridiculous questions? She snapped. "What is wrong with you people? Put your gun down and Jace, what the hell is that?"

Dana glanced briefly at the younger woman. "Joyce, he is not Jason."

"What?"

"That man is not Jason!" She insisted again. "He's an Alien Bounty Hunter."

Joyce gave her an incredulous look and sidestepped her to walk towards him. Dana immediately reached out to stop her. But he was faster, grabbing her by her neck, his large hand squeezing tightly round her throat, making her gasp for air. Holding her hostage, he looked at the horrified agent. "Once again, where is he?"

Dana's mouth dried and she answered honestly. "Don't hurt her. I don't know exactly where he is. I know he's somewhere in the airport. That's the truth, now let her go!"

Before he could react, Joyce had recovered from the shock and had thrown a powerful kick straight into his gut. Stunned, he let her go. As Joyce coughed and sputtered to breathe again, Dana quickly took the opportunity and gave him a second kick, this time to his head. He fell back, dropping his small silver lance. She was about to give him another blow but he cleverly caught her foot, yanking her towards him and then flinging her a few meters away, towards the gate entrance. 

Joyce gaped when she witnessed the act. 'There is no way Jason would be able to do that!' She thought. And when he turned to her, his face suddenly miraculously evolving into one she had never seen before, she gulped. 'Oh yeah, no way!' Agent Scully was right, he wasn't Jason. So who was he? The infamous Krycek? As he took a few steps closer, she stammered. "Who are you?"

"Where is he?" The Alien Bounty Hunter asked for the third time.

"Can't you say anything else besides that?" She growled. His jaw tightened and he moved to reach for her. 'Shit! Now you've done it!' Joyce screamed in her head. As he grabbed her with her shoulders, her hands waved wildly about as if looking for something to hold on to. She soon felt a cool object and remembering that it was probably the man's weapon, snatched it from the floor. Then she aimed carefully for his chest, driving it in him with all her might.

To her surprise, he didn't even flinch. Instead he looked at her blankly. She was about to pull the silver object out and plunge it into him again when she realized that he was bleeding green blood. As if that wasn't bizarre enough, there was seemed to be a sizzling sound and smoke as well coming from his punctured lung. Before she knew it, pain completely engulfed her. The intense stinging sensation originated from her eyes. They watered and it felt as if they were burning. She tried rubbing them but the smarting only got worse.

XXXXXXXXXXX

Jason leaned against the wall for a moment, breathing heavily. 'Just a couple more steps, come on!' He rallied his spirits and pushed his drained body towards the deserted gate. He had seen Joyce and Agent Scully head off in this direction from the foyer. Although for the life of his, he could not figure out why.

Somehow he made it to the gate booth and his eyes widened when he saw Agent Scully, lying on the floor. His tiredness forgotten, he rushed to her side. "Agent Scully, are you all right?"

Her eyelids flickered open then she grabbed his hand and mumbled. "Joyce. He'll kill her. They're inside, go get her…."

Jason's heart skipped a beat. Gently laying her hand down, he whispered quickly. "I'll be right back. Hang in there." And he hastily stumbled down the corridor. 

When they came in sight, the same man he had tried avoiding fifteen minutes ago was standing over Joyce. He seemed to be watching her as she squirmed frantically on the floor. Jason mind screamed, noting that she looked like she was in a lot of pain. Guilt immediately struck him hard. If only he had seen that this would happen, he wouldn't have avoided the man in the first place. Enraged with himself, he raised his voice. "Why don't you try picking someone your own size?"

The Alien Bounty Hunter swiftly turned around to face him. It was only then that Jason notice a silver object sticking out of his bleeding ……. green chest? Astounded, he could only stare at the man. 

Joyce heard his voice and called out. "Jace, get away! He wants you."

"It's okay, Joyce. Are you all right?" He replied but she didn't answer.

Coolly, the Alien Bounty Hunter firmly gripped the handle of the weapon and pulled it out fluidly, allowing a gush of green blood to spurt out. Jason had seen gory but this was simply fascinating. But he instantly recovered when the Alien Bounty Hunter walked menacingly towards him. If he was truly going to die, he decided he might as well find out why. "Who are you? And what do you want from me?"

'That's what we'd like to know. Who are you?'

It took Jason half a minute to realize that the man did not move his lips to speak. And yet he had heard the words clearly. Astonished, he muttered in awe. "How did I hear you? You didn't …" He trailed off.

'That's what we'd like to know too.'

"Who's we?" Jason breathlessly asked.

He shook his head. 'Enough questions! You are not a part of the plan.'

Jason almost yelled in frustration. "What plan? What the hell are you talking about?" But the man only stepped closer with the spear like weapon ready in hand. He gulped and briefly glanced at Joyce. She was quiet but did not look well, sores around her eyes.

The bulk figure in front of him suddenly grabbed him by his jacket and pulled him face down, exposing his neck to face him. With his touch, Jason immediately buckled, a sudden rush of intense feelings hitting him, leaving him totally immobile. The Alien Bounty Hunter held the sharp spike over the back of his neck, ready to drive it in when a drop of his own green blood slid down the silver smooth surface and dropped onto Jason's skin. For a moment, it sizzled and he cried out in pain. But soon, the hurt ebbed away and all was left was a small reddish mark on his neck.

The Alien Bounty Hunter was disconcerted at what he had just seen. Without warning, he let Jason go. The latter fell on the floor with a thud, still very weak. And when he pushed himself to look up, he found his attacker staring at him in an odd way. 'Why didn't he kill me?' Jason wondered.

'Because you are one of us.' The Alien Bounty Hunter answered his unspoken question.

'I am what?' He spluttered not aloud, not bothering to waste his breath since the man could read his mind anyway.

The former did not care to elaborate. Instead he pushed a button on his weapon and the sharp spear instantly retracted. Pocketing it, he nodded at Jason. 'I will find you again.'

And Jason watched in amazement as he walked away. Frowning, he immediately forced himself to get up to check on Joyce. 'God, please let her be all right.' For the first time in his life, he said a prayer.

XXXXXXXXXXX

"Scully? Are you all right?" Dole's gentle arms helped her up.

"Yeah, I think I cracked a rib." She muttered. "What took you so long anyway?"

Allowing her to lean against him, he explained. "I saw you leave with Joyce. It's why I stayed away. I didn't want to bump into Will."

"It doesn't matter anymore. They know who he is. The Alien Bounty Hunter was here."

"I know. I saw him leave. That's why I came. Where's Will?"

"In there. I hope he's all right." She frowned. "I can't believe I sent him to save Joyce, I should have asked him to leave."

He shook his head. "You did the right thing. Can you walk?" She nodded and with his help, they moved to find their son and Joyce. 

The moment they saw him hovering over Joyce's limp body, they both breathed a sigh of relief. At least one of them was all right. Feeling slightly stronger, Dana broke away from Dole's arms and walked up to the duo.

"What happened?"

Jason looked up and sighed gratefully. "Thank God you're here. She's unconscious. I don't know what's wrong with her. It looks like she's been burnt or something. I've never seen anything like this before."

Dana took one look at Joyce's physical condition and quickly assured him. "It's all right, I have. She's been exposed to a poisonous substance. She must have passed out because of the intense pain. We'll just have to get her to a hospital and she'll be fine. You're lucky you weren't exposed."

"But I was." He told her.

"What?"

"I don't know what to tell you. He was about to kill me with that strange metal thing? I think he wanted to stab it through the base of my neck or something. While he was stood over me, I felt a drop of liquid against my skin. It stung but only for a while. The next thing I knew, he let me go. Said something about being one of them."

Dana held a breath and told him to show her the base of her neck. Seeing only a red blotch there, her mind immediately raced for an explanation. 'The alien blood was extremely toxic and yet it did not burn through his skin!' Stunned at the possible implications, she turned to look at Dole.

Seeing her turn, Jason wondered who she was looking at and turned around. When he did, he physically froze. "Dad…"

Dole tried to keep his calm composure. "Jason." His son was speechless, taking turns to look at the both of them. Taking the opportunity, Dole shot Scully a brief look and then turned to tell him. "You'll have to come with me. He'll come back for you." 

Dana raised an eyebrow, not understanding the logic behind it. 'If the Bounty Hunter wanted Jason, why didn't he take him? Why come back for him later?' Before she could say anything, their son staggered back, shaking his head. 

Jason wondered for a moment if he was dreaming. What on earth was his father doing here? Why was he with Agent Scully? What was their relationship? Who are they to him? He continued staring at them, his thoughts whirled as he tried to fit the pieces together.

His father knew that he was confused but was too concerned with the fact that they hadn't much time. "Jason, the Bounty Hunter will come back. He didn't realize what you are until he found you were immune to his toxic blood. He's gone to get instructions but he will come back for you."

Jason shook his head again; pushing away all feelings except what mattered the most. This time, he finally found his voice. "I'm sorry, I have no idea what you're taking about. Actually, I don't care. Right now, I just want to get Joyce to a hospital."

Realizing that Dole's hunch was plausible, Dana sighed. "Your father's right, Jason. You have to go with him."

He stared at them as if they were crazy. After all the lies and secrets they've kept from him, they expected him to trust them? "I'm not going anywhere with either of you." Turning to Scully, he growled at her. "I left my cell phone at home. You have one, call an ambulance."

She retrieved her phone but held it in her hand. "You don't have much time. You have to go with your father. Joyce will be safer with me. He only wants you."

"I said call the ambulance!" 

Frustrated, Dole erupted. "Damn it Jason! Listen to your mother!"

Jason's race paled as he muttered under his breath. "My what?"

Dana rolled her eyes and glared daggers at Dole, chiding him angrily. "Fine time to bring this up."

He grimaced. "Sorry. Do you know how many years I've waited to say that?"

Jason frowned at them. For a moment he wasn't sure if he was more amazed with fact that Agent Scully was his biological mother or that they were communicating as if he wasn't there. Then again, how did he know they were telling the truth? Meanwhile, Joyce was lying before them, unconsciousness with pain? 'That does it!' He fumed and grabbed the phone from Agent Scully's hand, switching it on.

When he fumbled for the access codes, she calmly took it from him. "I'll do it. Go with your father now."

His hoarse voice firmly punctuated each word in frustration. "How many times do I have to say it? I am not going anywhere with either of you!"

Dole groaned. "You have to trust us."

He snorted derisively. "Trust you? You're kidding me, right?"

Dole's jaw tightened and he decided that it was time to act drastically. "You don't have a choice, we've all you got. And don't think Joyce is any different from the both of us. Because she's a part of this too!" He watched his son's face immediately transform but he continued. "You thought she was the only person you could trust. Well, think again."

Scully's heart constricted, watching hope drain out of her son's face. Unable to bear the pain in his eyes, she stepped forward, glaring at Dole. "All right, that will do." Taking the keys from her pocket, she passed it to him. "Take the car and get him out of here." 

Dole nodded and gently tried to take Jason's arm. But the latter violently shrugged him off. Sighing, Dole drew the only card he had left. "You want to know the truth Jason? Well, this is your chance. Come with me and you'll know everything."

Jason's eyes looked directly into his hazel ones for a moment. Dole held his breath, hoping that he would bite the bait. But he couldn't read the emotions in his eyes. And as he waited, his son wordlessly turned to glance at Joyce.

Dana understood the gesture and gently assured him. "I'll take care of her, I promise." 

After what felt like the longest five seconds of their lives, their son began to move as if to leave. Dana and Dole shared a brief look of relief before the former turned to follow their son. While she watched them go, Dana punched the buttons on her cell phone and wondered. How did the Alien Bounty Hunter find Will here in the first place? More importantly, will he be able to hunt him down again?

XXXXXXXXXXX
End of One Of Us

Author: PhileyX 
E-Mail: phileyxback@yahoo.com
Web-site: https://www.angelfire.com/id/phileyx
Okay, now the end is really near. Thanks for hanging in there!