Title: S.N.A.F.U. Part 9 Chapters 25-27b
Author: Emily Sim
Headers: see part 1

**************
Chapter 25

It was noon when Mulder finally made it to the Hoover. He stood 
outside the door to his office, hesitant to enter. He had already 
dropped the picture off to Danny and couldn't think of anything 
else he needed to do that would buy him time. He wasn't sure what 
to expect from Scully and not one of the several opening gambits 
he'd been running through his mind seemed right. 

They had begun to open up to each other last night and it was 
aborted -- by sex. Anything that began with 'about last night' 
was going to be misinterpreted. Leaving this morning was the 
wrong thing to do, but that didn't make staying the right thing 
either. He took a deep breath and pushed the door open.

Empty.

He wasn't sure if he was relieved or worried. He shucked his 
jacket off and ventured over to her working area. Her table was 
clean; he could still smell something vaguely antiseptic. Her 
laptop case sat on the chair, presumably with the laptop in it, 
as it wasn't on her desk. Her jacket was gone and he didn't see a 
purse so she was probably at lunch. That would buy him, he 
checked his watch, another forty-five minutes tops. 

He went back to his own desk. A folder leaned against the 
computer and there was a moment of panic before he recognized it 
as the report on the autopsy Scully had done on Kristen. He'd 
need his partner to help decode some of the medical-ese in it, 
but muddling through would give him something to do until either 
she got back or Danny called. He stuck his feet on the desk, 
grabbed his bag of seeds, and leaned back in his chair. 

*********

Scully picked at her salad. Marco had tossed in extra vegetables 
for her, and though she appreciated the gesture, she just wasn't 
all that hungry. She had expected Mulder back long before now. 
And truth be told, she was tired of the song and dance. 

She was acutely aware that today was her last chance. The failure 
of the last two IVF procedures had been difficult to handle. She 
couldn't imagine how she would deal with this one if it failed as 
well. Sleeping with Mulder last night had been a mistake. She was 
having a hard enough time trying to figure out how he fit into 
her life as her 'best friend the sperm donor', without making 
things more complicated. 

He had asked her a question last night and it had been rolling 
through her mind all morning. Why was she doing this, and doing 
it now? Never mind the biological clock ticking, though that was 
a factor, but looking at her career and the dangers inherent made 
the attempt seem self-centered. It was a selfish act by an almost 
middle aged, barren woman whose life was empty. 

She sniffed back a tear. She recognized the influence of hormones 
on her psyche but couldn't ignore the truth of the situation.  
Damn Mulder for being so sweet and caring one minute, and then 
confusing the hell out of her the next by sleeping with her and 
pulling a disappearing act. It was cowardly. 

She pushed the salad away and stood up. She had her purse, her 
jacket and, she dug through her pocket, her keys. The laptop had 
a data encryption setting that protected her files against an 
unknown user trying to access them, which meant she could leave 
it at work with little worry. She had two hours before she needed 
to leave for the clinic and she was going to spend them trying to 
relax. She'd call Skinner from home rather than risk being 
summoned upstairs. 

**********

The jarring ring of the phone woke Mulder, the file scattering 
from its perch on his chest as he sat up. 
"Mulder."

"Got a couple of prints for you."

"I'll be right up, Danny."

He stood and stretched, checking the time. Shit, it was after two 
and, as if it just noticed as well, his stomach growled. Where 
was Scully? Grabbing his cell phone from his jacket pocket he hit 
the speed dial for her number. When he was greeted with a 
familiar 'not available' message he groaned. Things were worse 
than he imagined. He'd deal with Danny and then try to track her 
down. 

Mulder nodded to a couple of agents as he made his way around 
desks back to where Danny worked. He knocked on the door before 
opening it and walking in. 

"So, will all the mysteries of the universe be solved with this 
one, Mulder?"

"Don't be a smart ass."

"Hey, that's don't be a smart ass you who now has tickets to -- 
what do I have tickets to this time?"

"The ballet?"

"Now who's the smart ass?"

"What've you got for me, Danny?"

"Well, you're going to love this one. Three partials and one 
full." He clicked a button bringing the FBI print database up. 
"The partials were clear enough that I could run them through the 
data base and get a positive on them. Two of them are ours, 
Mulder."

"Fuck."

"Want to tell me what this ones about?"

"Nah."

"Didn't think so." Danny opened another screen and Mulder was 
greeted with Krycek's FBI picture and dossier. "His was the full 
and one partial."

"And fuck again."

"One partial belongs to a recent addition, Kristen Kilar. 
Deceased I'm told."

"Why is she in the database?"

"She's not. But it's on file with the LAPD. From --" he clicked 
and another picture came up, "back in 94."

"And the other print?" 

"That one came up with this." One more click and a new picture 
filled the screen.

Mulder blanched. 

Diana. 

*********

Chapter 26

Salvo Giacomo 'James' Parenti replaced the receiver, his hands 
damp and trembling. He wiped them on his lab coat and stood to 
get a glass of water. At 53 he was a sought after fertility 
specialist. His clients came from all walks of life, with one 
thing in common; the desperate desire to hold a baby in their 
arms. For the majority of them, money was no object. Couples 
mortgaged homes, borrowed from parents, sold what they could, all 
in a bid to have their own child. 

His research, cutting edge, was completely underwritten by a 
large, internationally owned, pharmaceutical company. He drove a 
brand new Jag, and his home, spacious and mortgage free, was 
located in one of the best neighborhoods. 

How could he have known what the cost would be? 

Should he have known, thirty years ago, when he was asked to 
become involved in new research, that this would be the result? 
Janice had been concerned, enough to ask him to step away. She 
hadn't known the specifics of what was going on, her anxiety 
stemmed from her distrust of some of the men involved. 

She'd always had good instincts.

His sigh was heavy as he thought about his wife. Dead fifteen 
years now, Janice would forever remain etched in his memory as he 
saw her last: face contorted in pain, accusing him of choosing 
research over her. Dying and bleeding in his arms as she 
miscarried, his Nonna's voice an echo from the past, a whisper 
over the cries of his wife, essere un ragazzo buono Salvo -- you 
be a good boy Salvo -- 

"Tento la Nonna."

He sat back down in his chair. The call had unnerved him, as if 
somehow Charles had known what he was planning to do. He shook it 
off as being unlikely given that only a handful of men in the 
world had access to this particular brand of genetic research. 
He'd given up trying to explain the mechanics of what they were 
doing with the DNA, these men were only interested in the results 
of the project.

He flipped opened the file sitting before him. He hadn't been 
part of the harvest team; that was Ishimaru's specialty. The 
Japanese doctor had developed the procedure and overseen it. The 
thoroughness of the technique was an ongoing professional 
disagreement between the two doctors. Parenti wasn't convinced 
that the extractions were 100% effective. He argued that it was 
impossible to remove every single ovum. Ishimaru was arrogant and 
boastful in drawing attention to the thoroughness of the method 
he'd developed. 

James was tired of playing God for these men. He wasn't stupid 
enough to think he could walk away, and he wasn't ready to die 
yet, but he could do this one thing and no one would be the 
wiser.

Although Charles' call gave him pause to consider what he was 
about to do, he was more than determined. He owed this to Janice. 
He stood and took the file with him as he headed to the lab. 

It would be a simple thing, to switch the embryos.

************ 

Mulder breezed by Kim and headed straight for Skinner's door. 
Without hesitation he pushed it open, surprising the AD.

"Mulder, don't you know how to knock?"

"Sir, I need to--"

Skinner stood, his stern expression silencing the agent. "Now 
what is it that has you bypassing my assistant?"

"Danny just finished identifying some prints on a photo I gave 
him."

"Mulder --" Skinner indicated the smoke detector above the door 
with his eyes.

Mulder shook his head. "Doesn't matter."

Skinner sat down. "Is this connected with a case you're 
pursuing?"

"It might be." 

"You know my help is limited, don't you Agent Mulder?"

"With all due respect, this concerns a missing child. A little 
girl with a connection to my sister, who was possibly taken 
because of that connection." He laid the print and the results on 
the desk in front of Skinner. "Guess who isn't as dead as we 
thought?"

Skinner whistled softly. "Well, this does give the impression 
that we were premature in making assumptions. What do you want 
from me?"

"I want to speak to Cancerman, to ask that black lunged bastard 
some questions. I want to know how these two are connected with 
Hannah's disappearance and Kristen's death."

"I don't know if I'm able to facilitate that."

"Fuck that." Mulder turned his face up to where the smoke 
detector clung to the ceiling, its green light a beacon. "You 
hear that you bastard, I want her back."

"Agent Mulder, I share your concern, but this isn't the way to 
handle this situation."

"Oh I don't know, Sir, it seems to be a very good way to deal 
with things. Hell, if I'm going to be continually fucked over it 
might be nice to talk to the fucker in person. Don't you think 
so?"

"What I think Agent Mulder is that you are too emotionally 
invested in this case to think clearly. It might be an idea to 
take a step back. You don't just call this guy up and invite him 
to tea for a chat."

"I'm not interested in taking a step back. I'm sick and tired of 
these men and their arrogance. I want Hannah back, not a fucking 
tea party." 

"That's enough, Mulder." Skinner rose from his chair. "I suggest 
you go cool off. Getting angry isn't going to help; it'll just 
get in the way of clear thinking. Right now you need your wits 
about you. I'll do what I can but I won't promise anything."

"Forget it." Mulder let himself out, slamming the door behind 
him, On top of it all; Scully's appointment was in two hours. He 
had promised to be there and now it was looking like he'd be 
delayed, if he managed to get there at all. Shit, he couldn't do 
that to her, not when this was the last chance she'd have. He 
pulled his ringing phone from his jacket pocket as he punched the 
elevator button with the other hand.

"Never do that again, Mulder. You know the office is still 
watched." Skinner's voice was hushed. Mulder figured he was 
probably huddled in one of the alcoves that afforded some privacy 
and wasn't bugged.

"Sir, frankly I don't give a shit anymore. What can you tell me? 
What do you know concerning Diana's whereabouts?"

"I don't know much, but I'll do what I can. I'll call when I've 
got something."

"Thanks." He thumbed his phone off and shoved it back in his 
pocket. If he hurried he might make Scully's four o'clock 
appointment. 

**********

Chapter 27b

Scully sat stiffly in the chair in front of the large oak desk. 
Behind it, Dr. Parenti pulled a slip of paper from her file and 
scanned the contents. The silence was thick, the chair beside 
her, where Mulder should have been, announcing its emptiness 
loudly. 

"Well, Dana, are you ready?"

"I think so."

"Will Mr. Mulder be joining us?"

"I'm not sure; he may be tied up with something." 

He pulled the sheet of paper closer.  "I know we went through 
this with you yesterday, but I just want to assure you that 
you've done all you can on your end. The uterine lining looks 
good and the numbers from the baseline Anna did yesterday are 
fine. Five of the embryos survived the thawing process."

"How do they look?"

"We're hopeful. I used assisted hatching with this batch."

"Is that where you --" she found herself stuck and looked 
sheepishly to the doctor. 

"Dissolve a section of the zona pellucida? Yes, the procedure has 
been shown to facilitate implantation and it's given us good 
numbers in more difficult cases."

And hers was a most difficult case. Parenti didn't say it, but 
Scully knew it to be true.

"I'm hoping this will give us a positive outcome this time. We'll 
do all we can." He flipped a switch on the intercom. "Dana is 
ready, Anna." He stood and motioned Scully to do the same just as 
Anna entered.

"All set, Dana?" 

She took a deep breath. "Ready as I'll ever be."

"Exam room number eight this time, Dana," she said as she led 
Scully from the office. "Doubling our chances, I'd like to 
think."

"Anna, this time I'm willing to give just about anything a go." 

***********

Scully tried to make herself comfortable, as much as it was 
possible lying mostly naked with her legs spread. She picked at 
the paper gown, trying to wrap it more securely around her, but 
managed to do little more than force the neckline and armholes to 
gape. Soft music played quietly in the background of 'lucky room 
eight.' She didn't hold much credence to Anna's numbers theory, 
but humored the Asian woman's superstitions anyway. The Valium 
Anna gave her was making her woozy. 

She heard footsteps pause outside the door. "You ready in there, 
Dana?"

"Ready."

The door opened, admitting the always-cheerful assistant. This 
time her smile was hidden behind a sterile mask. "Dr. Parenti 
seems really pleased. He should be in shortly. Any last minute 
questions?"

'"No, I think I know the drill." 

"Try to relax. The Valium should help." 

"I can feel it." 

"That's good. Do you need anything?"

"No, I just want to get this over with." 

"Dr. Parenti is a little concerned with transportation. The 
Valium won't have worn off by then."

"It's fine, Anna. I took a cab here and will take one back." 

"You sure? Is there anyone else you'd like to call?"

An image of her mom flashed briefly before her. "No. I'm fine."

There was a knock and Parenti  gowned and masked, entered the 
room, a tray held in one hand. "Well, Dana. Ready?"

"I'm good."

He opened her file, pulled out a checklist and turned to Anna.
 

"Estrogen patch?"

"Changed."

"Progesterone suppository?"

"Done."

"Valium?" 

"She's relaxed, right Dana?" 

"Very." 

"What have we determined with regard to transportation?"

"Dr. Parenti, I'm fine." Scully spoke up. "I'll call a cab when 
I'm ready to leave." 

"Well, all set to go then, unless you have any last minute 
questions, Dana?"

She took a deep breath. "No, none."

"Well then, we'll proceed."

***********