See part one for headers.
See http://www.wonderhorse.net/authorspgs/fran58/stories.htm
for previous parts.

Achilles' Heel
Part Eight
fran58@wonderhorse.net

Outside the cabin, a cold wind mussed Scully's hair as the
telephone twittered in her ear.  After what seemed like ages, she
heard Byers' voice.

"Gunmen."

"Hi, John, this is Dana," said Scully.

"Scu...  Dana?" Byers' voice stumbled the slightest bit.  "Hey,
how are you?  Melvin has been trying to get in touch, are you
out of town?"		

Scully eyed Marsh, who was standing close, listening in.  Jo
was positioned near a dilapidated shed, gun trained on Scully. 
Wendell slouched against the cabin.  "Actually, yes, I am. 
Took a few days off."

"It's good to get some time to relax.  Are you having a nice
time?" Byers was fishing.

"Yes.  I'm at my aunt's.  She has a hobby farm in the in the
mountains."

"I bet it's pretty out there."

"It is, but I missed prime autumn leaf time, though.  I hear it
was a veritable rhapsody of color just a couple weeks ago." 
There was a significant pause on the other end.  Scully hoped
Marsh wouldn't notice.  

Byers' voice finally came over the line again.  "Ah, I see. 
Guess you'll have to pick your dates better next year."

Scully gripped the cell phone a bit tighter.  "Guess so.  John, I
need a favor from you.  Mulder's been hospitalized."

"Again?" 

"Yes.  He had some complications due to that seizure he
suffered.

"Where is he?  Maybe I'll stop in and see him."

"To tell you the truth, John, he's at a private facility.  He isn't
cognizant of much.  This is why I need a favor from you."

"Oh," Byers voice sounded small and uncertain.  "Have *you*
seen him?"

"Yes, and... he should be fine, given time.   I need to make some
arrangements for private care once he's released, as well as
take care of a few other things."

"That's understandable.  What can I do for you?"

~~~~~~~~~~

Scully hit the 'end' button on her cell phone, and let out a 
long, relieved breath.  Marsh raised his eyebrows.  "Nervous?"

Scully raised her eyes to his and nodded.  "I was afraid I would
screw something up," she said truthfully.

Marsh, still standing to close to her side, said, "I think you were
fine.  He seemed to accept what you told him."

"Let's hope so," Jo's voice was strident.  "And let's hope they
get that money transferred to the account we set up pronto."

Scully turned to look at her.  She had lowered the gun, but
watched Scully carefully.

"They're going to contact me and let me know how to access the
funds.  When do I get my payment?" asked Scully.

"Don't worry.  When the money is transferred, we'll send
your share to a separate account," said Marsh.  "For now, I
guess we just wait."

Jo pointed her chin at Scully.  "Okay, let's go.  Back to your
holding tank."  She walked to the closed cabin door and pulled it
open, motioning for Scully to go in ahead.

Scully entered the cabin and began to move toward the back
room, but Marsh firmly took her arm.  "Let's celebrate.  I think
Dana deserves a little reward.  Mulder will be out for a while yet." 
He turned to Scully.  "Let's you and I take a walk."

~~~~~~~~~~

It began to snow.  When she was a child, Scully had loved to
watch the snow falling.  Her favorite snowfalls consisted of big,
fluffy flakes that caught on the wind and swirled around like a
whirlwind dream.

Leaves swished and crunched under their feet.  She wondered
if it was too early for the snow to last in these hills.  Marsh
walked a few feet behind her.  She wondered if she dared make a
run for it.  Marsh had, of course, brought the gun.  She wasn't sure
how good a shot he was, and it was hard to hit
a moving target.  Being taken out for a walk alone did not bode
well for her.  If she could elude him, she should be able to
follow the dirt road leading to the cabin down to a paved road. 
All roads went someplace.  Eventually, she would find herself in
a town or city.

Of course, there was Mulder to consider.  Both Marsh and Jo
were edgy.  The two of them argued in hushed tones that didn't
carry well into the back room.  Wen was increasingly morose, and
seemed to know how to push Marsh's buttons with ease.  Even if
she managed to get away, what would become of Mulder? 

 "Marsh, what are we doing here?"  Scully turned to see him
leveling the Sig Sauer at her.  Her eyes widened slightly at the
site.

"I just wanted a private word with you."

Scully nodded.

"We're set to leave no later than tomorrow.  If you don't hear from
those friends of Mulder's by tonight, I can't say what will happen." 
He looked at her evenly.

"Why are you telling me this?" Scully was surprised to hear how
steady her voice sounded.

"In some ways, it's against my better judgement," he gave his head
a slight shake.  "But, the three of us agreed in the beginning that
we would keep the violence to minimum.  A body count is only
going to make it harder for us to disappear."

"I understand,"  Scully said.

They started walking back to the cabin.

Scully closed her eyes briefly, casting about for some common
ground.  She needed to keep things with Marsh as friendly as
possible.  "I miss this, living in the city.  The clear air and the
open feeling."

"It's okay, for a bit," Marsh said.

"You don't like the mountains?  The trees?"

Marshall's bell-like laugh ran through the air.  "I like concrete
better.  And places where you can stop and get coffee and a
bagel at midnight if you feel like it."

"You got me there.  Must not be a Starbucks for at least three
or four miles."

Marsh laughed again.

~~~~~~~~~~

Mulder stirred and pressed closer to the wall.  It seemed as if he
was never warm enough.  He pulled the blanket under his chin
and sat up, putting his ear near the slight opening in the 
slat board.

He was bone-weary and trembling, but damned if he wouldn't
try to find out what was going on.  Scully had still not returned. 
He worried that this was taking longer than should have.

He finally heard the front door open, then Jo's voice and Marsh's
laugh.  If he closed his eyes, he could almost be back at his
apartment, huddled on the couch, while Marsh and Jo talked in the
kitchen.

He dragged his eyelids open, struggling to maintain
wakefulness.  He'd been a damn fool, letting himself be
drugged and taken advantage of.  He wasn't about to give any
ground at this point.  He heard Scully's low murmur.  She
sounded tense, but otherwise okay.  Mulder relaxed marginally. 

The door opened, then closed, and Scully was in front of him,
hands cuffed.  Wen stood at the open door.  The room main room
outside was quiet.

Scully glanced back at Wen.  "I told Marsh I wanted a few
minutes to check your ankle.  They are going to separate us from
now on."

Mulder thinned his lips and nodded.  "What are they doing now?"
He asked softly.

Scully shrugged.  "They left for another private discussion, I
assume."  She knelt beside Mulder and carefully prodded his
ankle.

"They had you out there a long time."

"Marsh took me on a walk."

"Gee, Scully, I think he likes you."
					
Scully scowled.

Wen made an impatient sound.  "Cut the talk and hurry up.  I need
to pee."

Scully twisted around to face Wen.  "It's okay if you want to go to
the outhouse.  I'm almost done here."

"No way.  Marsh would kill me."

"I won't say anything.  Just lock the door behind you.  We're both
cuffed, you have the gun."

Wendell glanced out towards the front.  "Don't move.  I'll be right
back."  He quickly shut the door.  Mulder could hear the lock
move into place.

Scully turned back toward him.  "Mulder, what do you think the
Gunmen are going to do?  Really?  I'm pretty sure Byers
understood I was calling him under duress.  Do you think they are
going to actually transfer the money?"

"I'm sure they'll come up with something."  Mulder shifted.  "And
how's The Mission going?"

Scully sank to the floor and pulled a blanket around her
shoulders.  "Stop calling it that.  I guess it's going all right," 
she kept her voice low.  "I don't think sucking up to Marsh is 
helping."

"But it isn't going to hurt," Mulder said.  "Maybe he'll let you hold
the gun next time."

"Yeah, that'll happen."  Scully bent over Mulder's leg again to
check the wrap.  "How is your ankle?  Any better?"

"I can move it a bit more."

"The swelling seems to have gone down."  She looked around.  "I
see there are more blankets."

"Yep, and all thanks to The Mission."

"Mulder..."

"You don't like that name?  We can call it something else."

Scully sighed.  "How's your stomach?  You're looking better,
and you ate your breakfast."

"I'm okay.  Still a bit shaky, but not bad."

"Okay," she said.  "So, if the opportunity presents itself..."

"There you go with the Rambo stuff again."

Scully frowned.  "I thought it was Clint Eastwood."

"All joking aside, Scully.  If Marsh starts to see you as
trustworthy, he might let down his guard.  So, yeah.  If the
opportunity presents itself, we should go for it."

Scully nodded.  "Agreed."

"Hey, Scully, feel like a game of twenty questions?"

Scully raised her eyebrows.  "You're kidding, right?'

"Not really.  I ran out of hypnotherapy dreams and the nightmares
just aren't entertaining anymore."

The knob on the door rattled and Wen entered.  "Time's up," he
said.

~~~~~~~~~~

At noon, in lieu of lunch, there was a fight.  Hissed words
became loud whispers which became shouts and threats.  By
the end of the scene, Wendell had struck Marsh.  Marsh pinned
Wen to the floor and screamed that he would kill him if he didn't
stop acting like an idiot.

Mulder sat quietly in the dark.

Later, Wendell brought him sandwich.  He sat in the doorway,
gun pointed in Mulder's general direction.

Mulder chewed and watched the other man closely, thinking that
if Wendell got a bit closer, he might be able to take advantage of
the situation.  The main room of the cabin was quiet, though
Mulder knew Scully was handcuffed on the other side of the wall.
After a minute, he said, "So, you think that Marsh and Jo might be
trying to cheat you?"

Wendell remained quiet, then moved uncomfortably and leaned
on the frame of the door.  "We agreed that we would all have
access to the bank accounts, so that we would all know what
went in and out of them.  But my access has been hampered."

"Doesn't sound good," Mulder said.

Wen shrugged and looked sulky.  "What do you care?"

Mulder hitched a shoulder.  "Just making conversation --
something to do.  We aren't exactly living the high life in here,
you know?"
 
"I can't wait to get the hell out of here."

"Well," Mulder smiled.  "We could all go now..."

Wen snorted.  "Yeah.  And this would all have been for nothing,
and you'd arrest me.  No, thanks."

"Who do you think is blocking your access, Wen?  Marsh or
Jo?"

"Doesn't matter.  Dealing with one is like dealing with the
other."

"They're interchangeable?" he asked.

Wendell sighed.  "They are... well, the just Are."

~~~~~~~~~~

Scully was shoved into the back room.  She stumbled to the floor.

Angry voices came from the other side of the wall.

"Ask *her* where the money is!  We haven't done anything. 
You're being paranoid," hissed Jo.

"You've blocked my access to those accounts.  We agreed, we
*all* share.  We agreed."  This came from Wendell.

Marsh spoke, his tone reasonable.  "Wen, put the gun down,
and we'll talk about this, okay?"

"We've talked and talked.  I want my share," said Wen, his
voice firm.

Mulder pressed his eye to the chink in the boards, but could
only make out Jo, looking flushed, standing next to the cot.

"Can you see anything?" Scully asked.

"Not much," Mulder answered.

"You'll get your share.  We're just waiting for..."  Mulder could
imagine him sliding his bright eyes towards the back room.  "It
shouldn't be much longer."

"I don't believe you.  I want the account numbers.  Now."
Wendell's voice was thunder cloud threatening.

Mulder saw Jo twitch and lunge.

"Uh-oh," he said.  His words were obscured by the sound of a
gun going off.

Jo fell to the ground, clutching her leg.

"God dammit!" said Marsh, and Mulder saw him flash past,
making for Wen, he assumed.

Scully tugged on his arm.  "Get down, Mulder.  The gun might
go off again."

He slid to the ground next to Scully, who lay face down on the
floor.  Marsh was screaming obscenities and Wen was telling
him to stay back.  Then there was the sound of splintering
wood followed by silence.

Mulder knelt and looked out into the other room.  "I think
Wendell's down for the count," he said.

"God dammit.  Damn, damn, damn.  Jo, wake up!  Please open
your eyes," Marsh pleaded.

There was a scrambling at the door, and it was flung open. 
Marsh searched the semi-darkness for Scully.  "You're a doctor." 
He nodded to himself.  "Jo needs help."  He turned to Mulder. 
"You.  You stay here."

~~~~~~~~~~

Scully grimaced.  Jo was curled in a ball on the floor at the foot
of the cot, shivering.  Wen lay crumpled in the corner near the
door to the cabin.  His head looked angled wrong and he was
bleeding.  Scully couldn't tell if he was breathing or not, and
started to move towards him.

"Uh-uh," Marsh pressed the gun into her back behind and pushed
her towards Jo.  "Her first."

Scully turned to face him.  "If you want me to help, you have to
listen.  I'm checking Wen first."

Marsh's mouth thinned.  "He's dead.  I checked."

There was a moment of silence before Scully said: "Okay.  I'm
going to need some things -- a first aid kit, if you've got one."

"I've got yours.  We went through your stuff and brought anything
that seemed useful before we left," Marsh said, anxiously.  He 
careened awkwardly toward the door.  "Stuff's in the shed outside."

He jerked the front door open, then turned back toward Scully. 
"Don't let Mulder out.  Don't try anything weird with Jo, or I'll 
kill the both of you."  His mouth formed a grim line and he 
lurched out the door.

Scully moved over to where Jo lay on the floor.  The wound
bled little.  Scully laid her fingers on Jo's neck.  Her skin was
clammy, but her pulse steady.  There was a protrusion on the back
of her head.

"Jo, can you hear me?"  Jo opened her eyes briefly, looked
blankly at Scully, then closed them again.  Scully lifted each
eyelid, checking the pupil size, then checked the wounded area
again.  She would have to cut the jeans away and clear any debris
before she dressed the wound.  Where was Marsh?  She rose, and
looked out the window positioned above the cot.  Marsh was just
opening the door to the battered shed.  Taut with energy, Scully
knelt down again.  Quickly, she went through Jo's pockets.  One
hip pocket one contained a handcuff key.  She slid it into her own
front pocket just as the cabin door flew open to reveal a wide-eyed
Marsh holding her medical bag.
  
He dropped it in front of her.

Scully withdrew a pair of scissors and carefully cut the material
away from the wounded area.  Marsh hovered uncertainly.

"The best thing we can do for her is get her to a hospital."

Marsh shook his head uncertainly.  "Is the bullet lodged inside?"

"No.  She's lucky.  It really just grazed her."

"That should help, right?  I mean, if you clean it good, there's
less chance of infection that way."

"True, but there is only so much I can do here."  Scully had
some Battle Dressings in the medical bag and she withdrew
one.  "This will help stop the bleeding.  We'll have to keep an
eye on it.  She'll be weak, but she hasn't lost too much blood."
				
She turned to Marsh.  "You do understand that we should really 
get her to a hospital.  Her leg could become infected.  She also
appears to have a concussion.  She's only just recovered from the
last one."

Marsh waved her off.  "No hospital.  Jo would be the last person
to want to screw our plans up now.  You'll have to make do.  And
do it well," he said giving Scully a look she thought would bore
through her skull.

"I'll do my best," she said.

"You damn well better."

~~~~~~~~~~

Scully spent an uncomfortable night handcuffed to one corner of
Jo's cot.  She slept little, and checked on Jo periodically.  
Marsh, it seemed, didn't sleep at all.  He sat grim-faced in a 
folding chair, gun resting on his knee.

Morning came.  Scully knelt by the cot and gently pulled the
dressing back from the injured leg.

Jo stirred, opened her eyes, and glared at Scully.

"Get away from me!" Jo said through gritted teeth.  "I don't
want her anywhere near me, Marsh.  Keep her away."

"Jo, listen, she's just helping.  She took care of you last night.  
She won't hurt you.  I'll make sure."  Marsh's grip loosened on the 
gun as he spoke, and Scully felt her legs muscles twitch.  The next
moment, however, he gripped the weapon tightly again, and
trained it on Scully.  "Just do what you have to.  Make it quick as
possible."

Scully nodded.  Hands cuffed, she reached awkwardly into the
medical bag, still on the floor from the day before, and pulled out
a clean battle dressing.  She handed Jo a white pill which the other
woman swallowed with some water.  "I'm going to suggest that
you find a walking stick for her.  Something sturdy.  She's going
to need it.  The sooner she is up and around the better."

"Okay," Marsh replied.  He ran his tongue over his bottom lip --
a nervous gesture -- and glanced out the window.

Scully studied him in the morning light.  His hair, normally well
kept, was greasy.  His eyes has a sunken look.  "When's the
last time you ate?" she asked.

Marsh shrugged.  "It's been a while.  Yesterday morning,
maybe."

"You should eat something, and make sure Jo does, too,"
Scully said rising.  "You won't be able to take care of her if you
get sick."

Jo sneered.  "Such concern.  If I didn't know what a bitch you
were, I'd think it was real."

Scully pursed her lips and bit the inside of her mouth.  "I'm a
doctor.  I'm doing what I was trained to do."

Jo snorted at that.  "Back to your dungeon, Herr Doktor.  We'll
take it from here."  Her was already slurring slighty.  The pain pill
was kicking in.

"Jo, I think she should be kept out here with us," Marsh said.

"No, Marsh.  I don't want her out here with me."

Marsh titled his chin towards the back of the cabin.  He followed
her and stopped to fasten her to the wall.

"Marsh, can I have a minute to check Mulder's ankle?"

Marsh glanced toward the figure on the floor and nodded shortly. 
"Go on," he said, and positioned himself near the door.

As Scully walked over to where Mulder lay, Jo groaned from the
other room.  Marsh frowned and looked over his shoulder.  Scully
could see Jo thrashing on her cot.

"What the hell?"  Marsh looked at Scully and started back into the
other room.

"It's probably just a nightmare.  The narcotics in the painkiller
might do that," Scully said as an explanation.

Marsh knelt down next to the cot and wrapped his arms around
Jo's twitching form.  "Finish up with Mulder.  Quick."

Scully nodded.

Mulder was still asleep, dingy sunlight painted dappled shadows
over his forearms.  Scully took a breath and carefully knelt next to
Mulder and nudged him.  He shifted towards her restlessly,
murmuring.  She gently prodded him again.  This time he opened
his eyes.

"I've got a key.  For the cuffs.  We have to move fast," she
whispered and glanced toward the open door.

Mulder blinked, the nodded.

"It's in my left front pocket.  It's slipped down and I'm not 
going to be able reach it with the cuffs on.  Your fingers are 
longer.  You'll have to dig it out.".
 
"Oh, boy.  If I were more awake, I'd make a suggestive comment
about now," Mulder mumbled.  He lurched to his knees and his
long fingers slipped into the pocket.  Scully could feel them
wriggling around.

"Got it," he said.  Scully took the key from him, inserted it 
into his cuffs and twisted.  There was a click.

"So now what?" Mulder asked.  "You're still hog-tied."

"When Marsh comes back, I think we should do the Rambo
thing."

"Clint Eastwood," Mulder corrected her.
			
"Right.  Eastwood," she murmured.

~~~~~~~~~~

He launched his body at Marsh, and they fell to the floor with a
crash.  Once down, Marsh began struggling.

"Scully, get the gun!" Mulder tried to press his weight into the
ground.  He pictured himself heavy with gravity, an unmoving
bulwark.  

Scully ran forward and without stopping, kicked the weapon
from Marsh's hand.  She sprang on it, then leveled the gun at
the two men on the floor.

"All right.  Don't move, either of you.  Marsh, keep your hands
on the floor, palms down.  Spread you legs and don't move
them.  Mulder, get up slowly."

Mulder inched around to where Scully stood, keeping well out
of Marsh's range.  Mulder picked up his abandoned handcuffs.

"I'm going to cuff you, Marsh.  If you move, Scully will fire,
understand?"  

Marsh gave a muffled reply.

Mulder pulled Marsh's arms back.  As he attempted to place
the handcuffs on him, Marsh suddenly rolled, trapping Mulder's
legs, and pinning him to the floor.. 

Mulder's elbow went up and caught Marsh on the side of the
head.

"God dammit!" Marsh cursed.

"He said don't move!" Scully yelled.  "Get up slowly, Marsh. 
I'm the one with the weapon.  I don't need to get in close to do
you damage."

Reluctantly, Marsh rose.  

"Hands on your head," said Scully.  "Step back and face the
wall."

Mulder got up from the floor and retrieved the handcuffs.  He
secured them to Marshall's wrist with a satisfying 'click'.  The
other end he secured to the ring on the wall that Scully had been
cuffed to.  Mulder quickly searched Marsh's pockets and came up
with the key to the cuffs Scully was wearing.

The outer room was filled with sunlight.  Scully moved quickly to
where Jo lay sleeping, and cuffed one wrist to the frame of the cot.

"Marsh is all tucked in, safe and sound," Mulder slid the bolt on
the back room door.

"Good.  My cell phone must be around here somewhere," she
began to rummage through the half-opened packages of food that
cluttered the lone table's top.

"Marsh had it," Mulder dangled the phone in front of her.

Scully took it from Mulder's hand and hit the speed dial for
Skinner.

~~~~~~~~~~

Seven-thirty on a Friday night, and Mulder was standing in her
hall.  She gazed at his fish-eyed image through the peep hole
in her door.  The door felt thick and impenetrable beneath her
hand.  She could stay here, not moving, soundless, and he
would think she wasn't home.

Scully closed her eyes briefly, then reached for the knob.  It
was not a good time, she thought, but, she might as well get
the whole thing over with.

She opened the door slowly, stealing a bit of time.

"Hey," Mulder smiled.  "How's my favorite F.B.I. agent?"

"Well, if that's me, then, okay."  Scully stepped back to let
Mulder enter.

"I've got some good news," Mulder glanced at her.  "At least, I
think it's good news."  Scully waited.  "Skinner worked some
magic, and, pending review, I should be re-instated in a few
weeks."  He voice was edged with excitement.

Scully smiled.  "That is good news.  I could use some help."

Mulder looked surprised.  "What happened to Ritter?"

"He's been reassigned," she said.

"Back to New York?"

"No, actually, he'll be staying here.  He's just been assigned to the
Economic Crimes Unit."

Mulder blinked.  "Really?  You're kidding."

"Nope.   Securities and Commodities Fraud.  He's got a
background in it, apparently."

"Wow," Mulder said.  "Who'd have thought."  He looked
at Scully carefully.  "I'm interrupting, aren't I?  You look
dressed for something."

Scully let out a quiet breath.  "Yeah.  I'm going out for a while. 
A sort of celebration, you could call it."

"With Ritter?"

She shrugged.  "It seemed like the thing to do."

Mulder was quiet for a moment, then asked, "Scully, how do we
get back on track here?  I don't know what to do."

She shook her head.  "I'm not sure we do, Mulder.  Not right
away, anyhow."  She ducked her head, then turned and walked
to the window that overlooked the street below.  Pin points of
anger and frustration pressed against her insides, seeking
escape.

"Scully, you've got to work with me here.  If I'm going to be
working on the X-Files again, we need to come to some sort of
agreement."

"How about we just agree to work together?  We can do that. 
We don't have to be... friends... in order to get the work done." 
Scully raised one hand and traced the window pane.  The night
looked dark and soft.  It beckoned her -- a place of matte black
skies and nameless longings that she could fall into.

"I don't know if I can work that way.  Not with you," Mulder said.

There was a moment when no one spoke, then Scully's
telephone rang.  she moved away from the window and picked
up the handset.  "Hello?  Yes," Scully went back to the window
and glanced out.  "I can see you now.  Just give me a few
minutes."

"Ritter?" Mulder asked.

Scully placed the handset back in the cradle.  "Yes.  I told him
to call when he got here.  No use trying to find parking when
we were just going to leave right away."

"So, I guess you have to go," he said.

Scully studied him closely for the first time since he had
knocked on her door.  His color was good and his hair had
been trimmed.  His body spoke of liquid grace.  She knew his
arms would be warm. 

Scully swallowed her ache.  Ritter was waiting.  Ritter was
straight forward and sincere.  There was no labyrinth-laden psyche
to puzzle out.  No ricocheting emotions, no lightening-fast leaps
that left her amazed and astonished. 

No lost girls.

No betrayal.

Scully tightened her lips.  "Yeah, I have to go."

She turned and started for the door.

"Maybe I can wait," his voice was a whisper.

Scully stopped, turned and blinked.  "What?"

Mulder cleared his throat.  "I said that maybe I can wait."

"I don't understand."

"Tonight.  I could wait.  We can talk later."  He moved closer to
her.  Close enough so that she could feel the heat coming off his
body.

"I have no idea how long I'll be, Mulder.  I may not even..." her
voice trailed off, disappearing into the fragile atmosphere that
surrounded them.

"That's okay, Scully.  It doesn't have to be tonight."  He held out
his hands, palms up, then dropped them to his sides.  He stepped
back, giving her room.  "You take your time.  I'll just wait."


End

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