Note: This story contains a fair amount of P/T, and hints at MSR (it's just as far as you can go without having Mulder and Scully actually *be* in a relationship) Noromos and everyone else: you've been warned!

Authors' Notes:
-- Jane: Well, we started this in February and finished it in October :) It's a very long RR, but it was so much fun to write! We're going to do a sequel, aren't we, Caitlin? *grins* I wanna dedicate this to my 'partner in crime,' Caitlin Rose. Thank you so much, Caity! :::hugs:::

-- Caitlin: For M & S.  You are two of the funniest, kindest, most beautiful - inside and out - women I could ever ope to meet and emulate.  Your friendship is invaluable, and as M says, “work like you don’t need the money, love like you have never been hurt, dance like no one is watching.”  To the One in whom I live and move and have my being: without you I am nothing.  As always, thanks to my beta-readers, Kashy and BrIgEtTe.  The largest applause, though, needs to go to my co-author, Jane; she is the best person you could ever hope to spend seven and a half months (!) writing a story with.  It’s been a blast and I hope this is only the beginning!

Feedback is good. Feedback is *definetely* good. All authors live for feedback! E-mail us at JaneG100@rocketmail.com (Jane) and dana_lynn_tighe@hotmail.com (Caitlin)

Disclaimers: Paramount owns the properties and characters of Star Trek: Voyager; Chris Carter, 1013 Productions, and FOX own the properties and characters of The X Files. We are merely borrowing the characters and plots for our own personal usage. In other words: please don't sue!! :) I (Jane Griffen) own the properties of Heather Whitney. We both own the characters of the countless junior officers who appear in this round robin, and the story.

ARCHIVIST'S NOTES: Okay, this story is really annoying me because none of the paragraphs are really indented and the TAB-ing won't work. It's way too long for me to go back and re-format, but I'll try to get around to it eventually! Until then, happy reading!

Here’s the third part! Hope ya like it!
***
Previously, on Changing Tides...

 “How much time do I have before this could get really serious, Heather?” Scully asked, her mind racing. *God, I wish Mulder were here.*
 “That’s the thing,” Heather continued with an anxious look on her face. “You’ve only got about twelve to fourteen hours. And I don’t know when the storm’s going to let up enough for us to be transported out of here.”

And now the conclusion...
*****
 

 Tom maneuvered the Delta Flyer through space, his mind focused on getting back to Voyager.
 “I’m sure it’s nothing,” Neelix was commenting to no one in particular, throwing concerned glances at the pilot and federal agent, both of whom were obviously worried. Rylah and Lylat had retired to the back, pouring over the computer’s data files. Tuvok had reluctantly agreed to let them, after checking to make sure that there would be no way for them to duplicate or copy the files.
 “The odds of the situation being ‘nothing,’ as you put it, Mr. Neelix, is most dubious,” Tuvok remarked from his station.
 “Nothing like Vulcan optimism,” Tom muttered under his breath.
 Behind him, Mulder looked up and a hint of a smile grazed his lips. It vanished as quickly as it had come. *I hope Scully’s all right,* he thought fervently, drumming his fingers against the computer console. After all that they’d been through, he was *not* going to lose her to a freak thunderstorm on some unknown planet. *Whatever would I tell Bill?* he thought sardonically. *That his sister got killed on a planet in outer space accompanied by aliens and people from the 24th century?* But thinking like that didn’t help, and he went back to worrying. He had sworn to himself that nothing would happen to Scully, and the one time they got separated something came drastic up. *I should have been more wary,* he chided himself. *I should have-*
 “Paris to Jenkins,” Tom opened a commchannel with the shuttle that had been sent to retrieve them.
 Ensign Jenkins’s voice filtered through the speakers. “Jenkins here.
 “We’ll be within range of Voyager in a minute or so. Dock in Shuttle Bay 2 when we get there.” ordered Tom.
 “Aye, sir. Jenkins out.”
 Tom turned back to Tuvok. “We’re dropping out of warp,” he reported.
 Mulder felt a slight sensation, like an airplane slowing down before landing, and then Manyarra and Voyager appeared. He gazed at the planet, which had become more trouble than it was worth. *Scully’s down there . . .*
 “They’re hailing us,” Neelix reported.
 Tom nodded and Janeway appeared on the viewscreen. “Dock in Shuttle Bay 2, then I want all of you - guests included, “ She nodded to Rylah and Lylat, who had walked silently into the control section of the Flyer, “to report to the Conference Lounge as soon as possible. Janeway out.”
 “You heard her, Mr. Paris,” Tuvok informed the pilot, and Tom began the landing procedures, maneuvering the shuttle towards the shuttle bay.

***

 “Legend has it that Manyarra was once inhabited by a prosperous race called the Triya. The Triya were intelligent people, but after two eons of existence a powerful leader named Krahal took control of the Temple of Syi and started doing evil deeds by using dgri-” Here the universal translators faltered, “magic. Krahal was a powerful sorcerer and soon took over the country Syi. Using those resources, he waged a war to end all wars against the other Triya provinces, even though the gods warned him against it.
 “It was a long and bloody battle, and near the end a female warrior named Aleana almost stopped him. With her secret forces and the help of the gods, she battled Krahal with pure magic. She managed to penetrate the Temple of Syi’s guards and soon found herself alone in the throne room with Krahal. She nearly succeeded in destroying the corrupt ruler, but Krahal used the Orgami-” Janeway’s brow furrowed, for yet again the universal translator implanted in every Starfleet officer’s skin faltered. She could only guess that dgri was a negative adjective and that Orgami was some kind of symbolic treasure, “to stop Aleana. The Orgami’s powerful magic sent her into oblivion.
 “The gods, who were not pleased with Krahal’s actions, were in a war with themselves. Several corrupt gods were aiding Krahal. After Aleana, who was the pure gods’ last hope, was killed by the Orgami, the pure gods obliterated the Triya.
 “The gods are still fighting, and every so often a typhoon storm, as you humans call it, appears where the corrupt gods have won a war. The corrupt gods’ wrath is powerful, and not even modern technology can penetrate it.
 “Manyarra is no longer inhabited by any sentient race; the original Triya were banished by the pure gods and since then, any race that has tried to settle on Manyarra has been wiped out.” Rylah sat back in his chair when he finished.
 A slightly uncomfortable silence followed.
 Tom sighed impatiently. “Either way we’ve got to rescue the away teams. We can’t just sit here and do *nothing*! We have to try something!”
 Harry nodded. “I agree with Tom. Act while we can. If what they say is true, the storm may become even worse. And then we’d have no way to rescue them.” he said.
 “Or perhaps we should just ask Q to come and make the storms dissipate,” Seven of Nine countered coolly.
 Janeway shook her head. “No. We’re going to try our methods first. I’m not about to go groveling on my knees to Q, although if it comes to that I will.” she said, remembering the time when Q had requested that she mother his child. She shook her head. “Neelix, see what you can find to give our guests as tokens of our appreciation and give them a tour of Voyager. Tom, I want you to head a team and take the Flyer down to the planet. Harry, Doctor, Seven, go with him. Tuvok, I want you to enhance our sensors so we can follow the Flyer no matter how bad the storm’s interference are. Before you head out, Mr. Paris and Agent Mulder, go grab a snack from the Mess Hall. This storm isn’t going to get any worse in ten minutes. Dismissed.”
 Mulder stood up, but didn’t leave when everyone else filed out of the room. He walked over to Captain Janeway, who was gazing out at the planet with her hands on her hips. “I’m sorry that this happened. I would have prevented this situation if I’d been able to before.” she said without even glancing over at him.
 Mulder nodded, knowing that she meant it. “I believe you,” he replied softly. “Captain Janeway, I know I’m not a member of your crew, but permission to accompany Tom and the others down to the planet. I can help; I won’t get in the way, although Scully would tell you otherwise if she were here.” His voice dropped when he mentioned Scully.
 Janeway turned to him and looked up at him. With a smile, she nodded. “Permission granted.”
 Mulder sighed inwardly in relief. “Thank you,” he said, then exited the conference room. Tom was outside waiting for him, and together they headed for the Mess Hall. They invited Harry, but he declined, saying that he would go and make sure the Delta Flyer was stocked up material-wise.

***

 Tom and Mulder walked into the Mess Hall silently, both too caught up in their own thoughts and worries to make small talk. Helping themselves to some pleeka rind casserole, they sat down at one of the tables.
 Mulder picked at his food with his fork, uninterested. The truth was he hadn’t eaten since the picnic, which had been more than seven hours ago, but now that he knew Scully was in serious danger, he had lost his appetite. “I never should have suggested that we split up,” he commented, gazing out at the planet that looked so much Earth. He couldn’t believe that a tropical paradise could turn out to be so treacherous.
 Tom raised an eyebrow., “The situation would still be the same. It wasn’t by choice that this happened,” he said, a little bit defensive.
 Mulder seemed surprised by his tone. “Hmm? Oh...No, that’s not what I meant. It’s just that I would rather be down there with her than up here not knowing whether she’s all right or not.”
 Paris nodded. “I feel the same way about B’Elanna,” he told the agent.
 “You love her, don’t you?” Mulder asked.
 Tom  nodded. “Yes. I’ve loved her for a long time,” he said seriously.
 “When did the two of you start dating?” Mulder asked out of curiosity.
 “Almost two years FO. I had a crush on her for the longest time, but she wouldn’t have anything to do with me.” Tom smiled. “Or as the Doctor would put it, ‘the longest flirtation in the history of Starfleet’.”
 Mulder nodded, smiling slightly.
 After a moment, Tom spoke up. “You love Scully, don’t you?”
 “Yeah, we’re close friends-”
 Tom interrupted. “You know what I mean,” he accused with a knowing grin.
 Mulder was about to reply when an unfamiliar voice chimed in, “Hi, Tom!” Mulder silently thanked whoever the person was for interrupting the conversation. Turning around, he was more than mildly surprised. There stood a girl with light auburn hair and hazel-green eyes. The most startling feature about her, though, was that she had four small horns sticking out of her forehead.
 “Ah, Miss Wildman! Would you like to join us?” Tom said with a large smile.
 The girl looked at Mulder one last time, then smiled. “Sure!” She sat down.
 “Mulder, I’d like you to meet Miss Naomi Wildman, Captain’s Assistant. Naomi, this is Federal Agent Mulder.” Tom introduced.
 Naomi smiled and shook Mulder’s extended hand. “What’s your first name?” she asked curiously, leaning forward a bit and placing her hands beneath her chin.
 “It’s Fox,” Mulder replied, gazing down at the girl. She didn’t seem to be more than six or seven.
 “That’s a cool name,” Naomi replied. “Is it true that you’re from the 20th century?”
 “Yes,” Mulder replied slowly.
 Naomi’s interest was piqued. “What’s a federal agent?” she asked curiously.
 “We’re sort of like your security officers onboard Voyager, although we do more investigating and solve crimes. Sort of like detectives.” Mulder tried to explain in terms that Naomi would understand.
 “What do you do?” Naomi asked, her eyes sparkling with interest.
 “I work on a series of cases known as The X Files.”
 “X as in unknown?” the girl asked.
 Tom sat back in obvious amusement, taking a sip of his water.
 Mulder raised his eyebrows. “You’re smart for a seven year old,” he commented.
 “I’m only three and a half,” Naomi corrected him.
 “She’s half Catarian; they grow quicker than humans,” Tom explained.
 Mulder nodded, processing this information.
 “Do you carry a phaser?”
 “A what?”
 “They call it a gun, Naomi,” Tom explained.
 Mulder nodded again.
 “Can I see it?” Naomi looked at him hopefully.
 Mulder carefully pulled out his gun, then locked it so that the girl wouldn’t be able to use it. Naomi took the gun in her hand and then ran her fingers over it, scrutinizing it. “Neat! This is a lot different than a phaser!”
 Mulder smiled and shook his head. Naomi was awfully cute.
 “Who’s that pretty lady with red hair you’re with? My mom said something about how the two of you work together.” Naomi handed the gun back to Mulder.
 “That’s Dana Scully; she and I’ve been partners for the past six years,” Mulder explained. “We both work on the X Files.”
 Naomi’s eyes sparkled. “Can I meet her when she comes back to Voyager?”
 “I don’t see why not,” Mulder said slowly, wondering what Scully would think of Naomi.
 “Are the two of you a couple? Have you ever kissed before?” Naomi was about to ask more questions when Tom interrupted with a stern “Naomi!” Naomi’s cheeks turned slightly red. “Sorry, Fox. I was just curious. My mom says that sometimes I get too carried away.”
 Tom waited for Mulder to tell Naomi to just call him Mulder instead of Fox, but Mulder didn’t even seem to notice that Naomi had used his first name. Instead he laughed. “That’s all right. No, we’re not dating,” “Fox” answered, smiling at the girl, whose eyes were bright in anticipation.
 “Have you ever kissed?” Naomi persisted.
 Tom watched in amusement as Mulder struggled to answer. Finally, the federal agent simply said, “No.”
 Naomi didn’t believe him, but she shrugged. With a smile, she replied. “If you say so.”
 Tom fought the urge not to laugh. The look Mulder sent him didn’t help, either.
 “Dana’s awfully pretty,” Naomi continued, looking directly at Mulder, as if to see how he would react.
 Mulder nodded slowly. “Yes, she is. She’s beautiful,” he admitted, then caught himself. He didn’t look at Tom; he knew that the pilot was finding this conversation incredibly hilarious.
 Just then, Ensign Wildman walked into the Mess Hall. Spotting Naomi, she went over to their table. “Hello, Tom. Agent Mulder,” she greeted. Extending her hand, she introduced herself. “I’m Samantha Wildman, Naomi’s mother.” Mulder shook it, nodding. “I just ran into Harry; he said that the two of you need to meet him down in the shuttle bay within the next few minutes if you’re going to go on the mission. Naomi, it’s getting late. You need to be in bed,” chided Samantha.
 Naomi looked at her reapproachingly. Then she smiled and stood up. “Goodbye!” she waved, then skipped off after her mother. “Hey, Mom, guess what! Fox said that I can meet Dana . . .” could be heard as the two exited the Mess Hall.
 “She’s adorable,” commented Mulder, watching the three and a half year old go.
 “That she is,” agreed Tom. Then he stood up. “We’d better get going. I’ll see you in the shuttle bay.”
 Mulder nodded, then headed back to his quarters to pack. He only hoped that Scully was okay.

***

 Scully was slowly losing feelings through her body.  She could not feel from her knees down, and her thighs were already numb.  It was horrible, slowly losing her sensation.  It reminded her of a town she had heard about where a blindness-gene was passed through the generations, and when the people got into their thirties, they started to slowly lose their sight so that the tunnel of their vision got smaller and smaller until they eventually went blind.  Scully shivered.
 What would happen to her if she didn’t receive medical attention soon?  Would she be paralyzed for life?  The thought horrified her.  It would change her life completely.  Goodbye FBI, goodbye X-Files . . . goodbye Mulder.  Why would he want her when she couldn’t even watch his back?  She wouldn’t be able to be his partner, and their superiors would certainly use this opening to shut down the X-Files indefinitely.
 That was provided they even made it back to the twentieth century.
 Suddenly, Scully ached for her mother.  She just wanted to hear her mother tell her that everything would be all right.
 At the same time she ached for Mulder, precisely because he *wouldn’t* tell her everything would be all right.  Even when nothing else, he was honest with her.  He would tell her the truth, but he wouldn’t leave her to accept it on her own.  He would comfort her in his own way, and let her know that he would be there for her.
 If she had to face this, she wanted to face it with him.
 But Mulder wasn’t here.
 And he probably wouldn’t come.
 Scully sighed heavily.
 She was alone, as ever.

***

 Captain Kathryn Janeway stood on the bridge - her bridge.  Her hands were braced on her hips, her lips pursed in subdued apprehension as she watched the Delta Flyer leave the relative safety of Voyager and venture out toward the planet’s atmosphere.  If this didn’t work. . . .
 No, she wouldn’t think about that.  It had to work.  It was their only chance.
 Even if she could bring herself to grovel to Q, they had no way of knowing if he would even show up.  He always seemed to conveniently appear when they least wanted him, and be on the other side of the galaxy when they needed his help.
 Janeway watched the Delta Flyer disappear into the violent purple atmosphere, an ache in her heart.  Her crew was down there.  She had no idea in what condition, and it had been her judgment and orders that had gotten them down there.
 *There isn’t time to feel sorry for yourself, Kathryn,* she chided herself.  *There is work to be done.*
 Janeway took one last, long look at the view screen.  The Delta Flyer was out of sight.  She only hoped that it would soon be returning with her crew.   And Chakotay.  She paused for a moment as she though of her first officer.   But he was more than that.  he was her closest friend on Voyager, her confidant.  He had helped ease the ache of losing Mark, and she was blessed
to have him in her life.
 Janeway turned and strode off the Bridge.  There was plenty of work she could do to keep herself occupied until her crew returned.

***

 Tom’s fingers danced expertly across the shuttle’s console, but still the Delta Flyer bucked and heaved in the tropical storm.
 Mulder ripped the armrests of his chair so hard his knuckles turned white.  Even with the internal dampeners and Tom’s expert piloting skills, he could tell that with one false move, the Delta Flyer with them in it would plunge to the ground.
 The storm was worse than they had expected.
 Tom worked furiously to keep the Delta Flyer heading in the right direction and without knocking into something.
 “The storm is interfering with the readings.  I have no way of pinpointing where the away team is, or what is in our path,” Seven informed them.  Her cool voice seemed out of place in the turmoil and excitement of the storm.
 “There’s no going back now,” Tom replied.  “Try to get some clear readings.  The storm is too bad for me to land this on sight alone, but if it comes to that, I may have to.”
 There was silence except for the roar of the hurricane outside the shuttle for several minutes as the Voyager crew concentrated on their respective tasks.
 “I have partially reinstated it,” Seven finally said.
 “Good.  I have almost zero visibility.” Tom’s relief was obvious in his voice.  Tom glanced down at his console.  “It’s not very clear.”
 “That’s as good as it’s going to get,” Seven responded calmly.  “While the shapes are fuzzy and nearly indistinguishable, we have a better chance of landing safely.”  She paused for a moment.  “We are approaching the tree line.”
 “Where is an open area where I can land the shuttle?” Tom asked.
 Suddenly, a giant thunder clap sounded and the shuttle jerked to the right.  Mulder tumbled out of his chair and Tom and Seven just barely kept their seats.
 “Up ahead to the left is a relatively flat area.  It is not ideal, but these readings do not extend very far and this is all that is in a feasible distance.”
 “Okay,” Tom muttered, focusing on the screen, trying to make out the shapes which swept past them.
 Mulder felt the shuttle angle downward slightly as Tom prepared to land.  The shuttle bounced back and forth as Tom tried to land it as gently as possible.  Even with his expertise, the shuttle landed with a huge crash and they all were thrown out of their seats.  The lighting in the shuttle went out momentarily before the backup generator kicked in, and a console sparked.  They lay there for a moment, and then they all leapt to life.  Mulder helped Seven to her feet.  She immediately moved to assist Tom in fixing the relatively small repair for the console.  After they had
completed that, Tom straightened and stretched.
 “We need to counteract the effects of the storm and get clear readings.  It’s pointless for us to venture out in the storm looking for the away team with no idea where they are.”
 “Agreed,” said Seven, already moving to her console.
 Mulder didn’t bother offering to help.  He knew they’d turn him down.  There was nothing he could do, he didn’t know their technology the way they did.  Instead, he worked on checking their packs to make sure they had everything they’d need.  He found extra rations in the shuttle and packed these as well as a more extensive first aid kit than the away team would have been
carrying.  He could only think about one thing: Scully.  He would never forgive himself if anything he had happened to her. . . .
 “All right!” Mulder heard Tom exclaim.
 “Are the scans working?” Mulder asked.
 “They are far from peak efficiency, but they are sufficient,” Seven explained.
 “Or will have to be,” Tom added.  “Scan the mountains.  They are the only logical place where they would have taken safety.”  He turned to Mulder, “This will take much longer than usual, because we’ll have to do everything manually.”
 Mulder nodded.  “Everything’s packed when we’re ready for the vacation.”
 Tom nodded, amused.  “Thanks.”  Then he turned back and began to tap away at the console.
 Mulder paced in the back of the shuttle.  All he could do was mentally urge Seven and Tom to hurry.  He was useless.
 Finally, after what seemed like hours, days, years, Seven turned to Tom and Harry.  “I believe I have found them.”  Tom couldn’t keep the grin off his face.  “They are in this area of the mountains.”
 Tom followed where she pointed, and Mulder came forward to peer over her shoulder.
 “That’s a ways from here,” Mulder murmured.
 “Yes.  Fortunately, we do not have to cross this river,” Seven said, pointing at a wavy line on the console.
 Mulder nodded. “Well, that’s one good thing.”
 They all gazed at the map for a few moments more.
 Then Tom stood.  “Well, are you ready to get wet?”

***

 B’Elanna watched Scully like a hawk.  She had taken over Heather’s job of keeping the agent awake so Heather could get some sleep herself.  She hoped help would come soon.  She was afraid for Scully’s life.  If they did not get her more advanced medical help, eventually the paralysis would overtake her whole body, and she would not be able to breath.  that was a worst case scenario, of course, but it had to be considered because it was possible.
 B’Elanna shifted her position against the hard cave wall and wrapped the blanket more closely around her.  The majority of the crew was asleep or attempting to get some rest.  B’Elanna was amused to notice that Natalie had her head in Nick’s lap.  The young Welsh woman was a good engineer, and while B’Elanna didn’t know Nick very well, she had heard he was a hard
worker from Heather, who was his CO.  Morgan, Jane, and Julia were sitting cross legged in front of one of the fires talking and laughing quietly.  Zarine was curled up with a blanket wrapped tightly around her, laying so close to one of the fires that B’Elanna wouldn’t have been surprised if she
had woke up with a sunburn on her nose.  Todd was sacked out in a corner, snoring.  Chakotay was leaning against the cave wall, dozing.  Heather was asleep o the other side of B’Elanna.  Even in sleep a smile graced her lips.   B’Elanna wished Tom were here.  She suddenly had the urge to give him a hug.  She laughed inwardly at her foolishness, but could not suppress the feeling.
 Suddenly, she heard movement above the storm.  Movement at their ‘front door.’
 She was on her feet in an instant.  If something was coming to kill them, it wouldn’t matter if Scully went to sleep or not.
 Jane, Morgan, Julia, and Rand were already on their feet.  They drew their phaser quickly and positioned themselves around the threshold.  By now others were beginning to wake up.
 “Who’s there?” B’Elanna called out.
 “B’Elanna?!”
 “Tom!” she exclaimed in disbelief.  Then, moving past her surprise, she quickly gestured to the other crew members, “What are you waiting for?  Let’s get them in here!”
 People quickly moved to follow her orders.  With Seven, Tom, and Mulder working on the outside and the stranded away team on the inside, soon an area large enough for them to crawl through was opened up.  Mulder came through first.
 Heather, who was awake by now, gave him a quick hug.  “You made it!”
 She noticed he was searching the faces of the people present earnestly.  “She’s back here,” she said with a slight smile.  Mulder finally looked at her, and returned her smile with the ghost of a grin.
 Seven and Tom were in the cave, and Rand, Nick, and Morgan were replacing the makeshift door.
 Chakotay approached Seven, and the two began discussing the Delta Flyer’s flight down to the planet’s surface, how far away the shuttle was, and how bad the storm was.
 As soon as Tom had gotten his body through the entry way (and before), B’Elanna had been kissing him and hugging him.  He didn’t understand her sudden public display of affection, but returned it with equal love.
 “I’m so glad you’re here,” she murmured into his shoulder, never releasing her tight hold on him.
 “I’m glad you’re all right.  I was afraid . . . I don’t know what I would have done. . . .” he trailed off.
 “I know,” she whispered.  She pulled back so she could look into his eyes.  “Tom, I love you.  I know don’t say it enough, but I love you so much.  You make me a whole person, and I don’t know what I would do without you.  Never doubt that I love you.”
 Tom looked into her shining brown eyes.  “Shh, B’Elanna.”  He hugged her closely to him.  “I love you.  With all my heart.”  They stood there like that, embracing, and the rest of the crew knew better than to interrupt them or make a remark.
 Meanwhile, Heather led Mulder back to Scully, and then immediately turned and left them alone.  She wanted to hear their conversation . . . but she knew they would never have it if she were there. *Besides, what would be the fun in that?* she teased herself, then went over to Harry and began talking with him, relieved that he was all right.
 Mulder sank to the floor next to Scully.  “What happened?” he breathed.  He couldn’t seem to keep her hands off her; first he took her hand and squeezed it, then brushed his hand against her arm, then cupped her cheek with his hand, before letting his hand rest comfortable on her leg.
 “When we were crossing the river a poisonous water snake bit me.”
 Mulder looked at her worriedly.  “Did you get all the poison out?”
 Scully shook her head.  “No.  We didn’t have the medical equipment to do that.  Ensign Bashire got out as much of it as she could with the crude instruments we have, but the poison has penetrated my system.”  Scully suppressed a yawn, her eyes suddenly unfocusing before they refocused on Mulder’s face.
 “Let’s go talk to Chakotay.  We need to get you back to Voyager.  Now.”  Mulder said urgently. He stood and  took her hand and started to pull her to her feet.
 “Mulder, I can’t.” she protested, slight fear flashing across her face. It disappeared just as quickly as it appeared.
 “What?” he asked, confusion painting his features.
 “The poison is effecting my muscles.  I have paralysis up to here.” She used her hand to gesture to above her knee.  Scully took a wavering breath, before slowly meeting his gaze, her blue eyes wide.
 He must have heard the masked fear in her voice, for without a word he sank back beside her and took her hand.  “Scully. . . .” he murmured.  He ran his thumb over her palm, tracing patterns against her skin.  “I’m sorry I wasn’t here.  For you.”
 “Mulder,” she whispered. “It wouldn’t have mattered.  There was nothing you could have done.”
 “I could have held you.”  Mulder swallowed hard.  He forced himself to raise his gaze from to meet her startlingly clear eyes.
 The moment seemed to freeze and they sat like that, staring into each other’s eyes.  Then Scully broke the silence.  She reached out with her free hand and laid it on top of Mulder’s. “You can hold me now,” she said huskily, her eyes searching his.
 He reached out a hand and caressed her cheek.  “I was so worried about you.  What if something worse had happened . . . .” his voice trailed off, not wanting to voice the possibilities.
 “You’re here now, Mulder.”
 Mulder scooted beside her and then pulled her onto his lap.  He wrapped his arms around her, breathing in the smell of her.  She leaned her head against is chest, listening to the sound of his heart beating.
 Mulder leaned his head down next to Scully’s ear. “Scully, I.. . .” He paused, “Scully, I don’t know what to say,” he murmured.
 Scully twisted around in his lap so that she could look him straight in the eye and held up a finger. “Then don’t say anything at all,” she told him simply.

***

 The Doctor scanned Scully one last time with his medical tricorder, then administered two hyposprays. One to block the pain and another to try to slow down the paralysis agent in her bloodstream. “There’s nothing more I can do for you until we get you back to Voyager, Agent Scully. Once we’re there I’ll be able to create and introduce a vaccine against the poison into your bloodstream,” he explained to her.
 Scully nodded. “Thanks,” she whispered.
 The Doctor gave her a wry smile, then stood up and walked over to where the senior officers were congregating. Mulder watched him go, then turned back to Scully. “How do you feel?” he asked her softly.
 “I’m fine, Mulder,” was her automatic response.
 “Scully,” he admonished.
 Scully sighed at the warning in his tone. She had replied automatically. *Don’t appear weak or vulnerable,* the little voice inside her head always reminded her. But she was getting tired of always covering herself up in front of Mulder. Heck, she was getting tired of always covering up her true feelings for Mulder. “So tired,” she murmured.
 Mulder hugged her close, his arms wrapping around her, knowing that he was very close to going over the thin line, if not over, that they drew for their relationship by mutual agreement. He felt her stiffen momentarily, then was surprised to feel her relax against him.
 Feeling his arms tighten around her, Scully momentarily tensed. Her mind screamed that she should pull away, but she was just too tired. Sighing softly, she leaned her head against his shoulder and curled up in a ball, feeling safe and secure.
 Mulder glanced down at the beautiful woman in his arms, and fought of the urge to kiss her. Instead, he rested his chin on top of her head and tried to think partnerly thoughts. He shouldn’t kiss her. That would be taking advantage. *But I wish I could,* he thought wistfully.
 “Scully?” he whispered.
 “Hmm?” she replied, her voice barely audible as she opened her eyes.
 “Can I do anything for you? Are you thirsty? Hungry?” Mulder’s voice trailed off. He desperately needed something to do. Holding a sleeping Scully in his arms was pure bliss, but he knew that if he didn’t do something productive soon he was going to lose any self control he had left.
 He felt Scully nod slightly. “Yes, Mulder,” she said in a slightly slurred voice, already falling asleep.
 Mulder glanced down at her as she gazed calmly up at him, throwing her a questioning glance.
 “Don’t leave,” she murmured, closing her eyes.
 Mulder was only too happy to comply.

***

 On the other side of the fire, Chakotay, Seven, the Doctor, Kim, Whitney, Torres, and Paris were all talking.
 “How much longer do you think we’ll have to wait out this storm?” Whitney asked, glancing concernedly over at Scully, who was curled up in Mulder’s lap. She smiled softly at the two agents talking. *They make a cute couple,* she thought to herself, before taking the offered mug of soup from Harry. “Thanks.”
 “Welcome,” Harry replied with a smile, scrutinizing her appearance. Her golden brown hair had come unraveled from her French braid, and there was a smudge of dirt on her cheek. “You’ve got a smudge right  . . . there,” he told her, wiping away the spot with his thumb before he actually realized what he was going.
 Heather rubbed her cheek, which suddenly felt warm. She couldn’t think of anything to say; she and Harry were friends. All right, so they were *close* friends, but still . . . She shook her head and simply flashed him a smile.
 Meanwhile, everyone else was watching them with knowing grins. Tom answered the science officer’s question. “It depends on how fast we can repair the Flyer. It’s too treacherous to try to send out repair teams now because of increasing winds. The warp nacelles are gone and impulse engines are severely damaged. To make matters worse, the main computer is off-line. “
 “That’ll take at least a few hours, and that’s not counting waiting around for this damn storm to let up a bit,” Torres said.
 “Rylah, one of the natives, said that it might let up a bit by tomorrow morning,” Seven commented.
 The Doctor, who had just come over from checking Scully, shook his head. “We don’t *have* a few hours,” he stressed. “We need to get Agent Scully back to Sick Bay as soon as possible! There’s nothing I can do for her until then.”
 Chakotay frowned. “How’s she doing?” he asked, concerned.
 The Doctor looked at Heather, and she shrugged. “As well as can expected, I guess. Then again, I have nothing to base my assumptions on. We only have a few more hyposprays of pain-killer left,” she said.
 “The storm isn’t so bad that a repair team can’t go back and get started on the Flyer,” Tom suggested.
 B’Elanna said, “The sooner we start on repairs, the sooner we’ll be able to get off this God-forsaken planet, and the sooner the better.”
 Seven nodded. “I have to agree with Lieutenant Torres on that comment.”
 Whitney let out a low whistle. “Woah, are you sure you’re all right, Seven? Maybe I should run a tricorder over you just to make sure,” she teased gently, trying to make light of the dire situation. Unfortunately, it wasn’t working.
 Her humor was lost on the former drone. “I am functioning at one-hundred percent capability,” Seven replied coolly.
 Heather rolled her eyes. *Why do I even bother to try?* she wondered.
 “I’ll get a team together and we can head over to the Flyer and get started. Repairs would probably last most of the night, but I think we could be done by 0600 hours if Paris’s assessment of the damages are correct.” B’Elanna suggested.
 Chakotay paused, then nodded. “Very well. Tom, go with her. B’Elanna, take seven engineers with you. Seven, I want you to go as well. Take some rations with you. We’ve got enough supplies to last us for awhile yet. Let’s not wait around and see if the storm lets up soon. From what you’ve said, it sound as if these storms can last up to a month.”
 Tom nodded. “When shall we leave?”
 “Wait for three hours. Better to wait three hours and get the repairs done right than have tired officers and get the repairs done the wrong way,” Chakotay told him.
 B’Elanna was about to protest, but the look Chakotay sent her silenced any words she was about to speak. “That’s an order, Lieutenant. Now, I don’t know about you, but I’m going to try to get a few more hours of sleep.”

***

 Heather sighed as she leaned against one of the cave walls, next to Tom, Harry, B’Elanna, and Seven. She and B’Elanna were tired, but the two men and Seven were still wide awake and were talking in hushed tones as not to wake herself and Torres. Unfortunately, they weren’t doing a good job of it. Heather had never fallen asleep in the first place; she just had her eyes closed. Opening them, she found B’Elanna curled up next to Tom with her eyes closed, a peaceful look on her face. Heather grinned as she randomly thought of Harry’s reaction if she curled up next to him. She stifled a laugh, but it was too late.
 “What’s so funny?” Tom asked; B’Elanna’s eyes flew open.
 Heather shook her head, covering her mouth with her hand. “Oh, nothing,” she replied off-handedly.
 “How did your ‘picnic’ go earlier?” Seven asked, sitting between Tom and Harry.
 B’Elanna closed her eyes again and tried to get back to sleep as she listened to the three - plus Heather, who had obviously never fallen asleep in the first place - talk. She thought back to Scully, and opened her eyes one last time before falling asleep to glance over at the federal agent. A smile graced her lips as she saw Scully curled up in Mulder’s lap with his arms wrapped around her. “Wake me up when it’s time to go,” she murmured to Tom, who had his arm wrapped casually around her shoulders. Then she leaned against his shoulder and closed her eyes, drifting off into unconsciousness.
***

 Chakotay stretched his arms and blinked the sleep out of his eyes.  Everyone had finally quieted down, and the cave was filled with the sound of heavy breathing, and in several instances, snoring.  He scanned them - his people - picking out those who within minutes would be battling the storm to fix the shuttle, and ultimately save all of them.
 His gaze lingered on Torres and Paris.  They were both asleep, curled up next to each other, almost nose to nose.  He smiled.  He was glad they had found each other.  He felt like the proud older brother.  At first he had despised Tom, and thought him a mouthy, good-for-nothing cannon, but Chakotay had to admit, Tom had grown on him.
 Chakotay moved his gaze to Heather and Harry, who were leaning against each other.  He smiled.  They were both finally sound asleep after much talking.
 Then Chakotay’s gaze fell upon the two who didn’t quite belong.  He studied them closely, they were both quite a mystery.  At times, their attempts to “draw the line” were quite obvious, but at other times, like now. . . . Scully was curled up in Mulder’s lap, her head on his chest.  Mulder’s chin rested the top of her head, and his arms were lazily draped around her.  Chakotay was not an expert in the area of relationships, but from what he could tell, these two loved each other deeply.  He would even go as far as to say they needed each other.  And from what Heather, Harry, B’Elanna, and Tom had said, it seemed his observations were correct.
 He glanced at one of the tricorders they had working to check the time.  He’d give them a couple more minutes of sleep.  They’d need it.
 He watched intently albeit as secretly as possible as Scully awoke.  She opened her eyes for a moment and then closed them again.  She shifted slightly in Mulder’s arms, and the movement woke him.  He leaned down slightly and whispered something in her ears, causing her to open her eyes and smile.  He chuckled quietly and held her, silently stroking her hair.
 Chakotay’s thoughts drifted back to Kathryn . . . he knew she would be incredibly worried, and feeling helpless.  After she couldn’t stand to look at the planet where her crew had vanished anymore, she would retreat to her ready room and berate herself for not seeing all the dangers the planet held immediately.  Then she would sigh, and order a cup of coffee.  She would sit on her couch and sip the coffee as she gazed out at the stars, wondering if she would get her crew back safely, and if they would ever reach home.  He smiled wryly..  He knew her too well.
 Chakotay got to his feet, and proceed to wake the people who were to go with B’Elanna to the shuttle.

***

 Janeway was tired of sitting in her chair, staring at the planet on the view screen.  The planet which held her crew.  She sighed.  They had no way of contacting any of the crew, and she could only hope and pray that Tom’s piloting skills had landed the Delta Flyer safely, and that the away team already there was safe.  She sighed again, and this time the ensign at the helm turned and glanced at Janeway, before swiftly resuming her position.  “Ensign Ramsey, you have the bridge.  I’ll be in my ready room.  Contact me at the slightest sign of our away team.”
 “Aye, sir,” Ramsey replied.
 Kathryn retreated to her ready room.  Once here, she sunk into the chair behind her desk.  *Why did I let this happen?* she berated herself.  *I should have gotten more information on the planet before I sent an away team down.  How could I have been so stupid?  My one decision may get my whole senior staff, my chief engineer and pilot, along with out one doctor, and many other valuable members of our crew killed!*  Janeway massaged her temple.  *Will we ever get home?  There was a time when I thrived on these adventures and challenges . . . but now it’s just getting too much.  It seems that every day there is a new problem to overcome.  How long will I still be able to protect my crew, fight our enemies, and overcome these problems?  Can I still do it?*  Janeway’s train if thought paused a she considered this.  *I need some coffee.*
 She stood and ambled across the room to the replicator.  “Coffee. Black.”  The replicator beeped, and a moment later a steaming cup of coffee had materialized.  Janeway lifted the mug and took a sip.  The liquid burned her throat as it slid down, but at the same time it warmed her and invigorated her.
 She paced over to the window seat and sat down, one arm draped across the back, her legs crossed at the knees.  She sipped at her coffee and stared at the stars.  *Even after all this time I still can’t quite think of them as my enemies,* she mused.  Then she sobered and asked herself the one question that was everpresent in the back of her mind, through every situation, through every day.  *Will we ever get home?  I promised my crew I would get them home . . . but will I ever keep the promise, or are we destined to wander the stars trying to get home, like one in search of a lost love?*
 They would get home.
 She would get her crew back, and somehow, she would get them home.
 She had promised.

***

 “Good luck,” Chakotay murmured to B’Elanna.
 “Thanks, we’ll need it,” she replied before shouldering her pack and slipping out into the storm.
 He caught Tom by the shoulder before the young man ducked out.  “Don’t be an unnecessary hero, Paris.”
 “Why would you even suspect me of doing such a thing, Commander?”  Tom flashed Chakotay a flippant grin, but it didn’t reach to his eyes.  Chakotay could see the lines of tension in his face.
 Chakotay clapped him on the shoulder.  “Just take care of yourself.”
 Tom nodded sharply, and then ducked out the small doorway that they had opened up.  One by one the seven engineers departed as well. Chakotay clapped them on the back or squeezed their shoulder and tried to give them words of encouragement.  He knew that this might very well be the last time he saw some of them.  Seven brought up the rear.
 “Combine that Borg perfection and that human will, Seven,” he told her.
 She blinked at him.  “As you say, Commander.”  Then she was gone.
 Chakotay turned back to the rest of the team, who were all looking at him.
 All they could do was wait.

***

 Tom somehow found B’Elanna’s hand in the storm.  “We need to make sure everyone stays together,” he yelled.
 “Right!” she replied.
 They halted, counted, and made sure everyone was there.
 “Everyone, follow the person ahead of you.  IF someone trips, tug on the coat of the person in front of you and we’ll all stop.  The last thing we need is to lose someone,” B’Elanna shouted.
 Everyone obeyed her orders immediately.  In this storm it was completely possible that such a thing could happen, and they were going to take very measure possible to avoid it.
 B’Elanna rested her arms on Tom’s shoulder, and she felt Rand do the same on her shoulders.  She leaned forward and yelled to Tom, “If you get yourself killed out here, I will drag you back to the doctor and have him bring you back to life so I can kill you myself.”
 Tom grinned despite himself.  “Thank you for those wonderful words of encouragement,” he replied sarcastically.
 They trudged on through the storm.   Tom and Seven used what landmark they could remember to guide them back, and also a tricorder that had the coordinates.
 They finally arrived at the Delta Flyer, and all shuffled inside.  They were silent for a few moments as they caught their breath.
 “Well, we made it,” Tom muttered.
 “Now we’ve got to fix it,” Morgan added.
 That seemed to snap B’Elanna into action.  “Jane, you and Rand work on the impulse engines.  I’ll come see how it’s going after I assess the rest of the damage. . . .”

***

 Heather grimaced as she bit off another piece of the ration bar.  “Yum, yum.   When we get back I’ll have to ask Neelix if he can add rations to the daily menu.  They are just so good.  You know, I could never get enough of these rations bars.”
 “Do I detect just a hint of sarcasm?” asked Harry.
 “Just a hint,” Heather replied.
 “That’s what I thought.”
 She nudged Harry,  “Look at the two love birds.”
 He followed her gaze and smiled as he watched Mulder and Scully. “What is with this preoccupation with fixing people up, Heather.”
 She shrugged her shoulders and plastered an innocent look on her face. “What are you talking about, Harry?”
 “Blind leading the blind,” he murmured.
 Heather turned to him in genuine indignation.  “What’s *that* supposed to mean?”
 “Oh, did I say that out loud?” Harry smacked his forehead.  “Inner monologue!  Inner monologue!”
 She jabbed him with her elbow.  “Hey, just because there are hardly any
available guys on Voyager worth getting into a relationship with. . . .”
 Harry tried to look offended.  “I’m taking that as a personal insult.”
 Instead of the cocky remark Harry was expecting, Heather instead said, “I said ‘hardly.’ “
 Harry looked hard at her for a moment.  She avoided his gaze uncomfortably.
 “So, do you want to rain on their parade?” she asked him finally to break the silence.
 “What? Who?” She jerked her head toward the two agents and he shook his head.  “You know, they seem to be doing a pretty good job of getting involved on their own.”
 Heather sighed.  “Harry, harry, harry. . . .  See, that’s the problem.  They’ve been working together for almost six years.  They’ve loved each other for a lot of that time, but have they ever truly admitted their real feelings?  No. “
 “Heather, she’s sitting on his lap!”
 “Your point being. . . .”
 “They seem to be doing very well without us.”
 “Harry, this is the closest I’ve seen them get! Unless you count that time in Antarctica-”
 “So maybe your earlier attempt at hooking them up are paying off, Heath.”
 She looked at him strangely.  He almost never used the nickname for her.  She shrugged her shoulders.  She was imagining things.  What was that she had learns in psychology?  ‘Id you want something bad enough you can convince yourself it’s real. . . . .’  She shook her head.  This was dangerous ground that it was better she stayed off of.

***

 Scully looked up at Mulder.  “Are you anxious to get home?” she asked him quietly.
 He thought about her question for a moment.  “In some ways, yes.  As exciting as this is, I don’t want to have to live here for the rest of my life.  What I really want is to get you to Voyager, where you can get the medical attention you need,” he added.
 “I’ll be fine, Mulder.  They’re out there right now fixing the shuttle.  In a matter of hours we’ll probably be back on Voyager.”
 “Probably.”
 “Don’t get pessimistic on me, Mulder.”
 “Since when have I ever been optimistic?” he grinned at her.  “Are you forgetting already, Scully?  ‘Trust no one.’ ‘Deny everything.’ ‘There is no justice.’ “
 “No, Mulder, I have not forgotten.  I’ve just decided to concentrate on our present situation.”
 “Right.  Present situation.”

***
 McLean pulled herself out from under a computer console, where she was trying to repair the impulse engines. Rand followed suit, wiping his hands against this pants. “What do you think?” she asked, trying not to sound too exasperated.
 “I think this is worse than the time the Kazon fried the impulse drive,” Rand replied.
 Jane couldn’t help but laugh. “Yes, but at least this time it doesn’t smell like dead fish-”
 “It did until Lacey replicated some cheap rasberry-scented perfume and filled the Jeffories tubes with it,” Rand interrupted with a smile.
 McLean grinned.
 B’Elanna came over to them and sat down. “How are you two coming along?” she asked, running a hand through her hair. She was almost done with bringing the main computer online with Carey and Nicoletti’s help, and Tom was testing out the navigation array by flying through simulations. It had been three and a half hours sinec they had reached the Flyer, putting their time at 0230 hours -- two and a half more hours until Scully’s condition reached critical. Torres longed for a long, hot bubble bath, and maybe a massage afterwards. Her neck muscles were killing her.
 “Ooh, need a massage, Lieutenant?” asked Tom, walking up to the three.
 Torres started, then shot him a look.
 Rand and Jane shared a look. It seemed like the two were always at it. “Actually, I’d say we’ll be done in about an hour,” Rand answered, looking over at McLean for confirmation.
 McLean nodded, her green eyes bright. “Definitely.”
 B’Elanna flashed them a tired smile before letting Tom help her up. “Good job,” she told them. She walked over a few steps so she and Tom could talk more privately. “How’d the simulations go?” she asked, rolling her shoulders to try to stretch out her muscles.
 “Navigation array functioning at one-hundred percent.” He shot her a concerned look as she rubbed her left shoulder.
 “Thank goodness,” she breathed, then sighed. “I’m going to go see how everyone else is doing, then get back to working on the main computer.”
 “What should I do?”
 Torres gazed up at him for a moment, then replied, “Make sure the inertial dampners are at one-hundred percent, then help Seven with enhancing the shields to block out most of the lightning.”
 Paris nodded, then kissed her. “Don’t wear yourself out,” he told her. “We’ve still got a lot of things ahead of us.”
 B’Elanna smiled and kissed him back. “I can’t promise you that,” she warned him. Tom kissed her, this time for a longer period of time. When he drew back, he shot her a look. “Well, in *that* case . . .”
 Tom laughed, shaking his head as he left the room.
 B’Elanna watched him go. She was glad Tom was there. Somehow the situation didn’t seem so dire with him there. She stopped smiling when she remembered Scully curled up on Mulder’s lap, helpless against the poison that had entered her bloodsystem. B’Elanna frowned, then went off to see how A.J. and Morgan were. *We’ve got to hurry,* she thought with a touch of panic, quickening her stride. The agent didn’t have much time.

***

 Heather yawned as she took a sip of water, and idly wondered how far the away team had come in repairing the Flyer. She hated to admit it, but she was really tired. *I’m never getting up at 0500 hours again unless I have to,* she thought, thinking back to her jog in the holodeck. She had easily run seven and a half miles within an hour. She would have done more, but she hadn’t felt like putting in a serious workout. *I’ll have to invite Mudler next time,* she mused off-handedly. “Wanna go sit with them?” she asked Harry, who was still sitting next to her.
 Harry followed her gaze. “You’re incorrigible, you know,” he said.
 Whitney only grinned. “So?” she teased, jumping up.
 Harry stood up. “For a moment there I thought you were falling asleep,” he observed as they walked around the large fires.
 Heather flashed him an impish grin. “Would you have held me in your arms?” she joked.
 “Yeah, Heather,” Harry teased back. “You *are* the limit.”
 “Whatever,” muttered Whitney.
 “Mind if we join you?” asked Kim.
 Scully gave Whitney a look, who was gazing knowingly at the two agents. “Sure,” Mulder said, and the lieutenant and ensign sat down.
 “How are you doing?” Heather asked, noting that Scully was still curled up in Mulder’s lap. He had his arms wrapped around her. *They really would make a wonderful couple,* she thought.
 “I can’t move my waist anymore,” Scully said, her voice sounding high-pitched.
 At the sound of her words being so slurred together, Heather shot Mulder a worried glance.
 “The Doctor gave her something for it, but it didn’t seem to help.” he explained.
 Scully shrugged helplessly. “I hate this.”
 “I hate this, too,” said Whitney in frustration, then stood up. “Let me go get another hypospray. Maybe with more cuarin it’ll help.” She walked off.
 “At least there aren’t sea monsters, Scully,” Mulder teased gently at her frustrated glance.
 Scully merely shot him a look. “There are no such thing as sea monsters,” she replied.
 “That’s what you think,” leered Mulder with a slight grin. “How do you explain the tentacles?”
 Scully raised her eyes to the ceiling. “I hate being stuck here.” she proclaimed again.
 Kim nodded. “I think everyone feels the same way. We’ve been in a few situations like this before, but they don’t get any better.”
 Mulder nodded slowly, and asked Harry about some of the other situations. Kim easily filled them in on a few other ‘survive or die’ missions he’d been in. Scully listened for awhile, but soon it became too hard to follow along since it seemed as if Kim and Mulder kept on switching topics every few sentences and she closed her eyes. Leaning her head against his shoulder, she fell asleep.
 Heather came back, then gently administered the hypospray against Scully’s neck. Not waking her, Heather discarded the hypospray. Mulder and Harry continued to talk, and she soon was able to figure out what exactly they were talking about. Joking about sea monsters. *’Agula Malu’ and right before Tom got demoted,* Whitney told herself.
 After awhile, the three eventually fell asleep.

***
 A loud beeping noise woke Mulder from his sleep. Opening his eyes, he glanced quickly around.
 Chakotay, Kim, and Whitney were gathered around a tricorder near one of the fires. Whitney was working on the tricorder, and from the look on her face he could tell she had just been woken up.
 In the cave, it seemed as if everyone’s attention was focused on the science officer as she sat next to the fire, bent over the equipment. The beeping stopped, and for a moment there was pure silence. Then the tricorder started emitting a loud shrilling sound. Mulder had to smile at the horrified then annoyed looks that flashed across Whitney’s face.
 In his arms, Scully stirred and slowly opened her blue eyes. “What is it?” she murmured sleepily.
 “It’s nothing,” he told her softly. “Just go back to sleep.”
 Like an infinite other times he could remember, Scully didn’t listen. She shifted her weight, then frowned. For once, she didn’t try to hide her fear. It was plainly written across her face. “Mulder? The paralysis, it’s gone further up.” She tried to keep her voice calm but a touch of panic crept into her voice.
 Mulder’s hazel eyes widened slightly in fear. Scully was truly scared. “I’ll be right back,” he said, lifting her off of his lap and setting her gently on the ground. Kissing her on her forehead, he told her not to go anywhere. He had meant it as a tease to make light of the situation, but as soon as the words left his mouth he regretted them. At the pained look on her face, he could have kicked himself. “Oh, Scully, I- I didn’t mean- I never meant- Oh, gosh, Scully, I’m so sorry,” he apologized. Scully tried to smile, but failed miserably. She gazed down at her hands, flustered. Trying to reassure her and to further apologize, he kissed her. Originally his lips should have made contact with her forehead, but she lifted her head upward at the last minute and his lips collided with hers.
 To his surprise, she didn’t pull away at first. When they *did* pull apart, he half expected her to slap him, like her alter ego had aboard the Queen Anne after he had kissed her. Sure, she had been different, but it *had* been Scully. A Dana Katherine Scully who had lived around 59 years prior to 1998.
 Surprisingly, she didn’t; her blue eyes were wide with surprise, but other than that she didn’t move.
 Mulder pulled away even further, suddenly feeling even more self-conscious. Squeezing Scully’s hand, he murmured, “I’ll be back,” and stood up. She held onto h is hand a moment longer, then let go. She nodded, then watched him go.
 Mulder walked over to Chakotay, Kim, and Whitney, wondering how much they’d seen. However, Chakotay and Harry were engrossed in a conversation while Heather, who had finally managed to strop the shrieking sound, was still busy working on the tricorder. “What’s going on?” he asked.
 “The tricorder intercepted a communication transmission from the Delta Flyer. Lieutenant Whitney’s trying to piece it together and remove the static.” Chakotay explained.
 “Emphasize the *trying*,” Whitney muttered under her breath, making Chakotay frown slightly. Mulder guessed that it was because of the dire situation, not because of her pessimistic sarcasm, though.
 “I’m almost done,” Whitney continued, biting her lip. Her brow furrowed in concentration. A moment later a triumphant grin flashed across her face. “Got it!”
 “Let’s hear it,” Harry said, not trying to sound too enthusiastic.
 Heather leaned back as the message played:
 “This is . . . Flyer to . . .Repairs . . . return to Voyager . . . Paris . . .”
 The transmission ended.
 Whitney couldn’t help but groan. “I do *not* believe this!” she said.
 Chakotay sighed. “Can you restore the message any further?”
 Whitney shook her head. “I’m afraid not.”
 Mulder spoke up. “Scully’s condition is getting worse. We need to get her back to Voyager soon, or . . .” His voice trailed off and he bit his lip. He was *not* going to lose Scully. It was just unthinkable. But it wasn’t unlikely. *Damnit,* he thought in frustration.
 Heather sensed the agent’s frustration and helplessness and frowned. She felt the exact same way. And she told him so. Mulder glanced over at her, a bit surprised at her abilities still, and she flashed him a sympathetic smile.
 Meanwhile, the Doctor was confirming Mulder’s diagnosis. “I’m afraid Agent Mulder is correct.”
 “Why don’t se just go to the Flyer and wait there? That message might have been made to tell us that they were finished repairs and were waiting for us to leave for Voyager,” Harry suggested.
 The Doctor’s frown deepened. “For all we know the message could have meant that the repairs aren’t finished and we can’t reach Voyager.
 “Or it could mean the opposite,” retorted Whitney, shooting an anxious glance in Commander Chakotay’s direction. Catching his gaze, she looked into his brown eyes, her blue ones pleading silently. She then glanced over at Scully, who was curled up asleep amidst the blankets. *God, please let us get out of here soon and let Scully be okay,* she prayed fervently.
 “Commander?” Kim queried.
 Chakotay clapped his hands to get everyone’s attention. All the junior officers looked attentively at him, and even Scully awoke. “We’ll be leaving for the Delta Flyer in ten minutes. Wright, Hawkins, and Carter, set about collecting all the rations. Fisher and Renner, put out the fires. Whitney, Spicer, Kim, Townsend, and Eldridge, clear the mouth of the cave. Mulder and Bashire, get the excess equipment sealed up in the backpacks. Everyone else, make sure all the bags are sealed and pack up everything.” Chakotay barked out orders left and right, and was glad to see that everyone hurried to do what they were told. He only hoped that the Delta Flyer *was* repaired.

***

 “Hand me those datapadds, will you?” Zarine asked from trying to cram most of the supplies into one of the empty knapsacks.
 Mulder handed them to her. “Can I ask you a question?” he asked.
 Zarine glanced up, her eyes sparkling in faint amusement. “You just did,” she replied in mock puzzlement.
 He sighed. “No, I meant-”
 She grinned. “Sorry, but I couldn’t resist. To answer your question: sure, go ahead.”
 “How good are Scully’s chances that she’ll be fine after this?” Mulder noticed Bashire biting her lip. “The truth.”
 Zarine paused for a moment, then set her work aside. “We can reverse and eliminate the poison in her bloodstream once we analyze the contaminant and run some scans. After that it will only take a few hyposprays. But,” Zarine lowered her voice. “Scully’s condition is steadily growing worse with the paralysis spreading through her body. We’ve got less than an hour to administer the antidote.” She glanced at him with concern, then went back to her previous work of sealing the bag, moving slightly quicker.
 Mulder’s eyes widened. They truly were running out of time.

***

 Whitney pulled at a large boulder which seemed to be wielded into position. “Ugghh!” she groaned, then gave one final pull. The rock fell to the ground, narrowly missing her feet.
 “In a hurry?” Kim, who was pulling out smaller rocks, teased.
 She shot him a look. “It’s not funny, Harry.”
 Harry sobered. “I know, Heath.”
 Whitney had to bite her lip not to go crazy. She swore that that was the second time he called her Heather. *What is with him today?* she asked herself incredulously, then corrected herself after she managed to stammer out a reply. *What is with ^me^ today?*
 Meanwhile, Kim scrutinized her. He hadn’t meant to call her by her nickname - it had just slipped. The only other person he had heard call her that was Tom, and she had seemed fine with it. Of course she was so much closer to Tom when you thought about it - they had known each other since high school. Even though he knew that they would never be interested in each other, Harry couldn’t help but feel the slightest bit envious of Tom. He didn’t reply, and went back to his work.
 Heather shot him a confused glance. She hadn’t been unable to sense his emotions. When she was frustrated it was harder for her to concentrate and block things out. She sensed that Harry had been slightly annoyed and jealous, and that confused her. A lot. She shook her head. She was always getting herself in deeper than she was supposed to be.
 The two worked with Justin, Ben, and Todd, and soon had the cave unblocked.
 “Wow,” breathed Spicer.
 ‘Wow’ was right. The ocean was filled with whitecaps, and the waves crashing against the beach seemed to be ten to twelve feet high, with a few occasionally being even higher. The palm trees were practically bent over because of the gales of wind, and the river churned angrily to their right. Dark clouds filled the sky, and seemed to continue on forever. Lightning lighted up the sky,, accompanied by a clap of thunder with intervals between then being every few seconds.
 “Oh, God,” whispered Heather, her eyes wide. “Commander? You’d better take a look at this!” she called.
 Chakotay, Mulder, and Bashire walked over. Zarine took one look and gasped. Mulder’s expression didn’t change, but Heather noted the flash of panic cross his face. Chakotay frowned. “We don’t have a choice.”
 Harry nodded. “We’d better get ready to leave.”

***

 Mulder walked over and knelt next to Scully, who gazed up at him sleepily. “What’s going on?” she asked tiredly.
 “We’re going to head back to the shuttle. Then we can get back to Voyager where the Doctor will be able to treat you,” he told her softly.
 “Mulder, I can’t walk,” pointed out Scully.
 He grinned. “I never did get to carry you over that threshold,” he teased her gently.
 Her eyes widened slightly, but then she nodded. “All right.”
 He helped her put on a poncho, then put one on himself. He picked her up very carefully, and shifted his weight as he stood up. She wasn’t that heavy really. “Scully, how much do you weigh?” he asked. She only shot him a look.
 Scully clasped her arms around his neck and leaned her head against his shoulder, gazing around. Mulder slowly walked over to the group of officers, who were pulling on knapsacks and ponchos. Then he glanced down at Scully, whose gaze was fixed on the dark skies outside. “Oh, my God,” she breathed.
 “I know,” he replied grimly.
 “All set?” Chakotay called out. After making sure everybody was ready, he said, “Let’s go.”
***
 To avoid separation, the away team chained themselves together into a long line using ropes that Torres’ team had previously used for rock climbing.  Chakotay stood near the mouth of the cave, his eyes grazing over every crew member there.  People were talking in hushed voices, and double checking that all packs were closed and knots tight.
 “Everyone knows what we’re doing?”  Chakotay asked, though it was more of a statement then a question.
 Heads bobbed, and a heavy silence fell upon the cave.  Ready to be on their way, people uneasily shifted they’re weight from leg to leg and glanced at the opening of the cave.
 Near the front of the line, Mulder held Scully in his arms.  While she was light, his arms were already starting to tire from the tension of holding her weight.  Her arms were snaked around his neck, but she was alert and had her head up, looking around.
 “Let’s go.”  Chakotay turned from the group and began removing the debris they had piled in front of the door, assisted by Rand and Morgan.
 Heather paused at Mulder’s side and took Scully’s hand.  “Are you going to be all right?” she asked worriedly.  Scully nodded her head.  The paralysis was now just below her armpits, and she feared if it continued she wouldn’t be able to hold on to Mulder.  Heather lifted the blanket the covered Scully’s body so that it encompassed her head as well.  She smiled at Mulder as encouraging a smile as she could muster, and then quickly strode to the back of the single file line, where she and Harry were bringing up the rear.
 Having finished clearing the mouth of the cave, the rain began to whip into the cave, biting at Mulder’s face.  He gritted his teeth and bent his head against the wind as Chakotay led the group out into the storm.  He felt Scully’s head settle on his chest just below his collarbone, and it was a comfort somehow.
 The trek to the shuttle seemed interminable  With the lightening still crackling and the thunder booming and the harsh wind whipping the driving rain into their faces, the crew began to despair that they would ever get out of the storm.   Chakotay had to constantly wipe enough rain off his tricorder that was leading them to the shuttle so that he could read it, and it continually shorted as the lightening interfered with the readings.
 Finally, like a light in the window, the crew made out the hazy for of the shuttle.  They picked up the pace, and were there within minutes.  The engineering crew who had fixed the shuttle were expecting them, so everyone was quickly crowed into the shuttle.  ‘Crowd’ was an understatement.  The shuttle was not designed to accommodate many more people than there were stations for, not to mention a large away team and a rescue team.  None the less, there was no other way.  The Delta Flyer would not survive another trip back down to the planet’s surface, and the transporters were still offline.  The main crew required to man the shuttle sat at their stations, and everyone else filled the rear of the shuttle, the walkway, the spaces between the consoles, chairs, and any other place they could fit their body into.  Even so, people were elbow to elbow, and Tom could only hope for a smoother flight up than the one they had had down.
 Mulder and Scully had been shoved into a corner when they’d boarded.  As soon as they had entered the shuttle, Scully had slipped the blanket from her head  Even so, the rain had drenched the blanket and her clothes were wet.  Mulder’s were dripping with water, and he’d heard Zarine mumble something about Janeway having their hides if they wrecked the shuttle with all the water they were carting in on their clothing and themselves.
 The Doctor was elsewhere, tending to a broken arm. Mulder looked around,  but he couldn’t see the hologram.
 “Are you okay?” Scully asked Mulder worriedly.  He had a thin line of blood trailing across his jaw from where a branch flying in the wind has hit him.  She reached a hand to his jaw and turned his head to the side so she could examine his wound.
 “I’m fine, Scully,” Mulder protested.  “It’s nothing.  Really.”
 Disregarding his affirmations of perfect health, Scully gently trailed a finger along his jaw.  “You’re right,” she finally agreed, “it’s just a scratch.  You still need to do something to it when we get back to Voyager,” she added quickly.  Delicately, she brushed the blood from the wound and
wiped it on her shirt.
 “Scully,” Mulder scolded.
 “Mulder, my shirt is already ruined.  I’ll return it to the replicator and get a new one when we get back to Voyager.”
 Mulder shrugged his shoulders.  He would chose his battles.  His arms threatened to fall out of their sockets, so he shifted his weight and propped a leg up against the edge of Seven’s console.
 “I’m sorry,” Scully murmured, recognizing his discomfort.  She glanced around the shuttle, but there was absolutely no available room for him to set her down.
 “Don’t worry about it,” Mulder soothed.  “It’s just my weaknesses showing through.”  He forced an easy grin, though the tightness around his mouth betrayed his apprehension.
 “Take off about to commence,” Mulder heard Tom say from the front of the shuttle.  “Brace yourselves, it’s going to be a bumpy ride.”
 Mulder tightened his hold around Scully’s waist.  The shuttle rumbled as it left the relative safety of the ground.  Immediately they could feel the wind harshly whipping against the shuttle, trying to smash it into the side of the mountains where they had taken shelter.  A sudden gust of wind tilted the shuttle up and back, so they were angled upward.  The sudden movement threw Scully back against Mulder, but moments later Tom regained control and righted the shuttle.  Even so, Scully didn’t move to sit up but instead seemed content to lean against Mulder.
 The crew that was manning the controls called out readings and commands to each other above the whirring of the storm outside.   The shuttle was jerked back and forth like a toy boat, dipping occasionally as the air currents dropped out from under them.
 When they were finally nearing the outer atmosphere of the planet, the sudden lack of any air current under them and an abrupt change of wind direction caused the shuttle to plummet.  Several screams rang out as the internal dampeners could not mask the sudden drop.  Tom feverishly punches at the console in front of him.
 “Impulse engines are stalled!”  Torres yelled.  Her fingers danced over the console, but to no avail.  She suddenly scrambled out of her seat and jerked the wall of the console off, revealing the inner workings of the device.  She glanced it over for a moment before plunging in.
 “We need engines now, B’Elanna!” Tom shouted.
 “I’m on it!” she replied absentmindedly, all her concentration devoted  to the reinstating the impulse engines.
 *It’s up to you now if we sink or swim, B’Elanna,* Tom thought.  *Just keep the faith that our ship *will* come in to Voyager’s shuttle bay,* he reminded himself.
 They were plummeting faster and faster, and nothing that anyone else did was working.  The tension in the shuttle was palpable, and thirty-something people held their breathes in stunned anticipation.   Finally, Tom heard the two words he had been praying she would say:
 “We’re on!”
 Immediately, he tapped several command, and the Delta Flyer resumed it’s course upward.  Several people cheered, and B’Elanna took a deep breath, licking her lips, relieved that she had come through for everyone  She took her seat again without replacing the panel to the console.  Tom got the ship back on a course to Voyager, and then spared a moment to twist around in his seat to look at B’Elanna.  He gave her a quick smile that said, ‘I love you,’ and then resumed his post.
 Finally, after being tossed around some more, but without any other major situations, the broke through the planet’s atmosphere, and were greeted with the welcoming sight of their ship.
 Relieved cheers rang out, and everyone’s eyes shone through their rain-streaked faces.
 Paris opened a com channel.  His voice was triumphant.  “Delta Flyer to Voyager.  We have retrieved the away team.  Requesting permission to dock.”
 Captain Janeway’s rich, hearty voice filled the shuttle.  “I would be more than happy to grant you permission, Mr. Paris.  Please dock in shuttle bay 2, and then have everyone come directly to the Mess Hall.”  She paused for a moment.  “It’s good to have you back.”
 “Aye aye, Captain.  We’re glad to be back.  We have a medical emergency, if you can beam the doctor over as well.”
 She nodded.
 Tom cut the com channel, and the shuttle approached the mother ship in silence.  They docked in the shuttle bay, and then everyone poured out of the shuttle, glad to be rid of the feeling of sardines packed into a tin can.
 Mulder shouldn’t have worried about locating Heather or Chakotay about getting Scully to the sickbay immediately.  Her time was running out.  He cradled her in his arms, holding her body close to his.  Her breathing was shallow, and she couldn’t move her neck any more.  “Mulder. . . .” she breathed.  Her eyes flashed wildly.
 “It’s all right Scully.”  Before Mulder could move to get off the shuttle he disappeared and a sparkle of blue mist.
 He reappeared moments later in the sickbay.  Apparently Chakotay had had Mulder and Scully beamed directly to sickbay to save time.  The doctor, who was also there, instructed Mulder to lay Scully on one of the bio beds.
 “The paralysis is at her neck,” Mulder informed him.
 The doctor cut in with some questions before Mulder could say anything else.
 After Mulder had answered his questions, the doctor bushed him aside and concentrated on his medical tricorder.
 Scully’s expression betrayed no fear, but Mulder knew her better than that.  He took her hand in his own before remembering that she couldn’t feel his touch.  He swallowed hard.  What if she had to be like this for the rest of her life?  The doctor picked a hypospray up from the medical tray at his side.  Mulder quickly moved to Scully’s head and stroked her cheek with the back of his hand.  Her startlingly blue eyes bored into his own before the Doctor pressed the hypospray to her neck and her eyes closed.
 Mulder hadn’t even noticed Captain Janeway when he had first appeared, but now he realized she was standing at the foot of Scully’s bio bed.  “He has the knowledge of seven doctors,” she told Mulder, inclining her head toward the Doctor.  “If anything can be done for her, he can do it.”
 Chakotay burst into sickbay with Heather and Tom on his heels, Harry and B’Elanna behind them.
 “Tom, come assist me,” the Doctor commanded without looking up.  With a quick glance at first B’Elanna and then Mulder, Tom moved to the Doctor’s side.
 Janeway firmly took Mulder’s arm and led him to a chair in the corner.  “You can’t do anything for her now.”  Mulder didn’t say anything.
 Heather came up to them, a dermal regenerator in hand.  She ran it over the cut on Mulder’s jaw, and then fixed Chakotay, Harry, B’Elanna, and her own wounds.
 “I have to go to the Mess Hall to check on the rest of the away team,” Janeway told Mulder.  Then she turned to Chakotay.  “Will you stay here with him?” she asked quietly.  He nodded.  “As soon as . . . we know anything, please contact me.”  To Harry, Heather, and B’Elanna she said, “Come with me.  We need to heal the rest of the crew’s bumps and bruises, and a want a
report on the away mission.”
 The four of them departed, leaving Chakotay and Mulder alone.  Mulder sat in silence, staring stoically at Scully’s limp form on the bio bed.  Chakotay followed his gaze, but resisted speaking for several minutes.
 “You care about her a lot, don’t you?” he asked suddenly.
 Mulder blinked.  “What?”
 “You care about Scully.”
 “Of course, she’s my partner.  We’ve been working together for six years.”  After a long pause and a probing look from Chakotay, Mulder added, “She’s also my best friend.”  He shut his mouth somewhat defiantly after that, clearly indicating that he wasn’t going to say any more.
 “I think that the closest relationships are those that started as friendships,” Chakotay said after another silence.  “At least, I’ve found this to be true in my own life.”
 “What exactly are you trying to imply?” Mulder asked, for the first time tearing his gaze from his partner to look Chakotay in the eye.
 “Have you ever been in love, Agent Mulder?”  Chakotay asked, answering Mulder’s question with another.
 “With all due respect, Commander, it’s really none of your business.”
 “You’re right, it isn’t,” Chakotay agreed.  “But I just know that if she dies and you haven’t told her the truth - the whole truth. . . .”  Chakotay let it hang in the air between them.
 *He’s right  . . . . why did he have to be right?!*
 “Agent Mulder. . .”
 Mulder glanced up at the doctor, his hands balled in fists at his sides.  This was it . . .
 “I have done everything I can for Ms. Scully, and . . . . . . .  .”
 “She will be fine, but the antidote was not as strong as I’d have liked for it to be due to the lack of time. She will be numb from the waist down since that is the area in which the venom stayed in her bloodstream the longest, but the paralysis should wear off within the next seven days. Until then, she’ll need round-the-clock supervision.” reported the Doctor in a matter-of-fact tone.
 Mulder had a feeling that the Doctor was looking directly at him as he added that last bit. He had never felt so relieved in his life. Scully was going to be okay. He sighed inwardly in relief. “Can I see her?” he asked, the knot in his stomach suddenly vanishing.
 Tom, who had walked up during the Doctor’s report, nodded tiredly. “We moved her to the first private room. She’s resting now, but I doubt she’ll mind if *you* see her,” he couldn’t resist adding at the end. He gestured with his head the direction of the room, and Mulder stood up abruptly and headed in that direction. As he left the Doctor’s office area, he heard Chakotay talking with the captain.
 Quietly, he walked over until he stood in the doorway. Scully lay on the bed, her eyes closed. They opened as soon as he walked softly over to her bedside. Pulling up a chair, he sat down and reached for her hand and squeezed it. “Hey,” he murmured. “The Doc says you’re going to be all right.”
 Scully managed a grin, her complexion still pale and the few freckles she had were noticeable. Black circles were under her eyes, due to lack of sleep in the past twenty-four hours. She nodded. “Yeah. Tom gave me a rundown on my condition.” She didn’t need to comment about the next week and her slight paralysis. They’d have plenty of time to talk later. *Later,* she thought, suddenly feeling very tired.
 “Scully, thank God you’re all right,” he breathed, tears threatening to roll down his cheeks. He blinked them back. “Scully, I-”
 She squeezed his hand. “I know, Mulder, I know,” she murmured quietly, not meeting his gaze. When she did, her eyes were bright with tears. Smiling shakily, she sat up -- with Mulder’s help. A brief frown flickered across her face, but it vanished quickly. He sighed inwardly. She was going to have to learn to let him help her.
 For a moment, there was a comfortable moment of silence. Then Scully asked, “Is everyone from the mission all right?”
 Mulder nodded, thankful that she had chosen an easy topic to talk about. He knew that sooner or later they would have to have a heart-to-heart talk about the past events - literally. “Tom did a superb job of flying, which reminds me -- as soon as you’re well enough I’ll have to get permission from the captain to let me take you out in a shuttle. Flying through space is incredible!”
 She smiled. “Sounds like fun. What did you do while I was on the planet?”
 He easily chatted with her about the trip to the station, and the many alien races and space shops, also telling her about the Manyarran legend. He was about to tell her about the flight down to Manyarra through the storms when there was a slight knock on the wall since the doors were open. They both looked up. There stood Whitney standing in the doorway, a wide grin on her face.
 “Feel up to a visitor, Scully?” she asked, “I told her that you might be too tired, but she would really like to meet you. Mulder, Tom tells me she joined you for a snack. From what he tells me, you had an *interesting* conversation with her, if ya catch my drift . . .” She let her voice trail off, smirking as Mulder’s face turned a dark shade of red as he realized what exactly she was talking about.
 Scully’s brow knit together in confusion, glancing up at the Betazoid suspiciously. “Who is it?” If it was Meg Delany . . .
 Whitney merely shook her head. “Uh uh, Scully.” Scully only shrugged, shooting her a look that was easily interpreted. She flashed Scully a reassuring smile. “Let me go get her; I’d stay, too, but Captain Janeway called a senior staff meeting in a few minutes. Zarine will be here if you need anything. I’ll drop in later, all right?”
 “Sure thing, Heather,” replied Scully, a bit wary of who the visitor was. The knowing smile on Mulder’s face didn’t make her feel any better.
 Whitney grinned, winked at Mulder, then vanished from the doorway.
 A moment later, the soft sound of footsteps could be heard, then a girl about seven poked her head around the corner. Stepping into plain view, she called, “Hi, Fox!” and stood in the doorway. She glanced curiously at Scully, who was trying to figure out who she was. “I’m Naomi Wildman, Captain’s Assistant,” she introduced herself, walking to the other side of the bed. She stuck out her hand. “I didn’t get a chance to welcome you to Voyager earlier because I had a test to study for. I hope you’re feeling better.”
 Scully darted a glance at Mulder, who was smirking at her confusion -- at her expense, she noted, then shook Naomi’s hand. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Miss Wildman-”
 “You can call me Naomi; everybody else does,” the girl interjected.
 Scully smiled. “I’-”
 “Special Agent Dana Katherine Scully, M.D., with the F.B.I. ,” finished Naomi with a sheepish grin. “Fox told me about you.”
 “Oh, really? And just what did Agent Mulder have to say about me?” Scully looked over at Mulder, who was no longer smirking and looked like a deer who was caught in the headlights of a car. This time *she* was the one who smirked at the look on her partner’s face.
 Naomi smiled. “Oh, nothing.” She paused, then added, “He just told me that you were very beautiful,” with a smirk in Mulder’s direction.
 Mulder briefly wondered if Heather had talked to her before hand. If she had, he was going to kill her . . .
 “So, Naomi, how come you’re on Voyager?” Scully asked, sitting up a little further and concentrating on the girl.
 “I was born here. My father’s back in the Alpha Quadrant. I live with my mom. I’m the only kid on Voyager,” explained Naomi, sitting down on the bed. “So you’re an F.B.I. agent, too?”
 Scully smiled and nodded. “I’m sure Mulder told you all about our work and extra terrestrials,” she commented, looking over at Mulder and adding that tease at the last minute.
 Naomi’s brow furrowed. “What’s an ‘extra terrestrial’?”
 Scully laughed. “Never mind.”
 Before she could comment further, she suddenly blacked out. When she came too a second later, Mulder’s arms were around her and Naomi was running out of the room calling for Zarine. “I’m so dizzy,” she murmured, leaning her head on Mulder’s shoulder, trying to block out the nausea.
 Mulder rubbed her back, then pulled away as Zarine rushed into the room, medical tricorder in hand. Bashire quickly scanned Scully, then frowned. “It’s a side affect from the antidote. I’ll give you something for it, but you need to get some rest.” She looked over at Naomi as she said this. “You can come visit Scully some other time, all right Naomi?”
 The young girl nodded, then waved to Scully and called, “Bye, Dana! Fox!” as she dashed out of the room.
 Zarine busied herself putting together a hypospray, then administered it into Scully’s neck. “That should help block out the dizziness,” she told the agent.
 Suddenly Scully felt cool and tired, whereas before she had felt extremely nauseous. “Thanks,” she said, feeling too tired to sit up. She fell back down and closed her eyes. She felt Mulder shift his weight on the bed and gripped his hand. “Don’t leave,” she requested, her voice barely above a whisper.
 The last thing she remembered before falling into a deep sleep was Mulder’s lips brushing against her forehead and the murmured reply, “I promise.”