'No Name' Series by Steven M. Wagner, Melody Morgan Carter and Steven Mitchell Title - No Name Roll Reversal - Cartagena Author - Steven M. Wagner E-Mail address - wagnersm@mindspring.com Date Finished - 15 August 1999 Rating - PG13 - Disturbing concepts Category - SA Keywords - Alternate Universe, Farragut, Asya Spoiler - None Summary - Scully and Mulder have fled the United States for South America. Mulder's treatment has plateaued. Mulder and Scully have visitors. This story is after 'No Name - Role Reversal'. Disclaimer - This is a fiction story based on the characters created by Chris Carter. No infringement of copyrights held by 10/13 Productions, Twentieth Century Productions, or Fox Broadcasting is intended. All unrecognized characters and plot-lines belong to me. Names, characters, and places exist solely within my imagination, or are used fictitiously. No connection to any person, living or dead, is intended, and any resemblance is entirely coincidental. Feel free to distribute, but please keep me as the author. Words from the Goo Goo Dolls song 'Iris' used without permission. ---------------------------------------------------------------- No Name - Role Reversal - Cartagena by Steven M. Wagner wagnersm@mindspring.com Goo Goo Dolls / Iris And I'd give up forever to touch you Cause I know that you feel me somehow You're the closest thing to heaven that I'll ever be And I don't want to go home right now And all I can taste is this moment And all I can breathe is your life Cause sooner or later it's over I just don't want to miss you tonight And I don't want the world to see me Cause I don't think that they'd understand When everything's made to be broken I just want you to know who I am -*-*-*- Office of Dr. Andres Pastrana Cartagena, Colombia ------ A stylish office, wood paneling, rich leather. A comfortable place for two people to relax and talk. The first an older man, close cropped black hair and olive skin. The second, a woman with bright red hair and blue eyes. "Doctor Scully," Dr. Andres Pastrana said tossing a file folder on the top of his desk. "I believe that we have hit a plateau in his recovery." "Yes, Doctor Pastrana," Dana Scully said, leaning slightly forward in the chair. Her eyes were bright on the Colombian psychiatrist. "He did improve some at the beginning. He no longer needs to wear the collar. But, I feel that I have done all that I can do for him," Pastrana said, a look of unease on his face. "I am certain that you have been diligent." "He is a very smart man. I suspect that at times he has been playing with me." "He has assured me that he has been cooperating with you," Dana said. Pastrana sighed. "He may feel that he has, but his background makes him the worst of patients. And even after all that he had been through, a better psychologist than I am. I do not know what else I can do for him. Perhaps a change of venue would be good for him." Scully stood up. "I'll think on it. Thank you for your time." "Always for such a beautiful woman like yourself," Pastrana said standing up and letting Dana out. -*-*-*- Mulder stood up as Scully walked into the waiting room. "Scully, Doctor Pastrana," he said standing up. Scully took an moment to look at the man who was now more ward than partner. Mulder still looked good, athletic body, hazel eyes that missed nothing, tanned limbs hidden behind white cotton shirts and dark trousers. His boyish good looks had survived the years of being an FBI agent and the months he had spent in the training center and recovery. "Let's go home, Mulder," she said, a hint of a smile on her face. Looking both ways before crossing the street, Scully thought about Dr. Pastrana's words. Mulder was cooperating with the psychologist, she was certain of it. He was helpful around the apartment. The few times Pastrana had suggested family therapy, Mulder had seemed to answer the man's questions, and seamed appropriate. A glance over at her partner quieted Scully's worries. He was getting better and would be OK soon. She was certain of that. -*-*-*- Apartment of Dana Scully and Fox Mulder ------ "I'm going to take a nap, Scully," Mulder said. "I'll get up about 4 to fix dinner." "Sure, I've got some autopsy reports to do," Scully said. It was ok for Mulder to fix dinner, she mused, getting out her notes and tape recorder. A couple of hours latter, Scully rolled her shoulders. It was going to be dinner time soon, she wondered for a moment what Mulder was going to cook. A musing that was ended by a tap on the door. She slowly got up and pulled her automatic from it's holster. Safety off, hammer pulled back, she was ready to make sure that anybody coming through that door would pay dearly. A quick glance though the peephole and the gun went back into it's holster. "Charles! Asya!" Scully called out, seeing her friends at the door. "Hello, Dana," Charles said, his eyes seemingly taking a quick look at the street before following Asya in. "Hello, Dana," Asya echoed. She gave her friend a quick hug and a kiss on the cheek before smiling and letting Charles have his turn. "How are you two doing?" Dana asked. "What brings you to Cartagena?" "Fine, fine," Charles replied to the first question. "Conducting," Asya said quietly to the second. Dana knew instantly. 'Conducting' a group of escapees from the good old USA to freedom down the New Underground Railroad. "I hope you had a good trip." "The finest. We lead 12 slaves to freedom," Charles said. "If you wish, I'll give them a quick checkup tomorrow," Dana offered. Charles nodded. "Would you like to stay for dinner?" Dana asked. Asya smiled and nodded at Charles's glance. "How about going out and eating?" Charles asked. "Thank you. It will be a nice change of pace. Asya, if you would like to go and wake up Mulder, I'll got up to my room and freshen my makeup," Dana said. Dana sat at her makeup table brushing out her hair. A date, she thought. A man paying attention to her. A bit of normalcy in a world gone upside down. A dab of cologne at a couple of pulse points, and a few seconds with a lipstick, and Dana smiled at herself in the mirror. She might just get lucky that night. Dana heard a knock on her bedroom door, "Come in," she called out, turning in her stool and facing the door. "Dana, something's wrong with Mulder," Asya said. One of Dana's eyebrows went up as if to say 'Really?' "He's sitting on the floor of his bathroom with his arm bloody. He's cutting himself." "That's foolishness, Asya. Mulder wouldn't do anything like that. He's on the road to recovery, Self-destructive behavior like that would be noticed. I live with the man and have seen nothing like that," she replied, her voice defensive. "Well, if you don't believe me, believe this," Asya said, holding out a single-edge razor blade. A blade still bright red with blood. Dana just looked from Asya to the blade, then rushed to Mulder's room. -*-*-*- "Mulder? What's wrong? Asya's telling me . . .," Dana asked entering Mulder's bedroom. But one glance gave her the answer, Asya was right. Mulder was leaning against the bathtub, his right arm bloody where he had recently cut himself three times. Her medical eye caught the sight of 10 older cuts. "What's going on, Mulder?" she asked, dropping to the floor beside him. Mulder looked up, the hazel eyes troubled. "They broke me, Scully. I don't have the X-Files. I can't work with you. The only thing I seem to be able to do is to clean up the apartment and fix meals. You want me to get better, but I don't know what that means anymore. I don't know whom I am anymore." "Mulder . . . " She said softly, tears starting to roll down her cheeks. She scarcely heard Asya and Charles's good-byes as they left. "I feel like I'm walking around with my brain packed in cotton wool. Like I'm dead. So I cut myself. Then I can see the red blood flow and feel the pain. It let's me know that I'm alive, Scully. That I'm still alive." She wrapped her arms around him, crying. A radio on his nightstand quietly played. -*-*-*- And you can't fight the tears that ain't coming Or the moment of truth in your lies When everything seems like the movies Yeah you bleed just to know your alive And I don't want the world to see me Cause I don't think that they'd understand When everything's made to be broken I just want you to know who I am I don't want the world to see me Cause I don't think that they'd understand When everything's made to be broken I just want you to know who I am I just want you to know who I am I just want you to know who I am I just want you to know who I am I just want you to know who I am ------