Infested (part two)

Thanks: I WANT TO THANK MY BETA LINDSEY, SHE IS THE BEST AND IS
ALWAYS SUPPORTIVE. ALSO A SPECIAL THANKS (I FORGOT ON MY LAST
STORY " BROKEN JAW") SHEILA PAUL. SHE IS A GREAT SOURCE OF
MEDICAL INFRMATION AND REALLY GOT ME THROUGH THE SURGICAL POST OP
PERIOD, SHE IS GREAT! IT'S GREAT TO HAVE SUCH A GREAT FANFIC
SUPPORT SYSTEM!
DISCLAIMER: THE CHARACTERS OF MULDER AND SCULLY BELONG TO CHRIS
CARTER AND COMPANY. ANYTHING ELSE BELONGS TO ME!
NOTE: THIS STORY WAS A DREAM. CAN'T BELIEVE I HAVE SUCH BAD
DREAMS! IT DEVELOPED INTO A STORY. HOPE YOU LIKE.


Early the Next Morning

Scully awakened and opened her eyes. Her first glance was over to
her partner's bed and he was still sleeping but he was no longer
supporting the intubation tube. Dr Kamarya was standing at the
end of Mulder's bed writing notes.

She eased up out of the bed and slipped on her shoes and walked
over to the doctor's side. " How is he doing?"

Dr Kamarya looked up and smiled, the first time that Scully had
actually seen him smile
since she arrived days ago. " He is doing amazingly well. He leg
is almost completely without swelling and his temperature is
almost normal. He was able to breathe without the assistance of
the ventilator so I removed his tube." He walked over to Mulder's
side and shook his head, "He is very weak but he is doing better.
I believe your antibiotics did the job. He will need to keep them
going for a few more days."

" I would like to take him home soon. Preferably, very soon Dr.
Kamarya. Do you think he could travel?" She wanted to get him
back home to a hospital with pain easing drugs and modern
technology.

" Let's see how he does today and I will give my answer. I know
you are anxious." He slid the chart of his patient's progress
back into a slot at the foot of the bed and walked over to see
his other patients.

Scully looked over to see that Skinner was still sleeping. She
also saw Biola standing at the door of the acute ward. She walked
over to greet him since Mulder was still sleeping. " Good morning
Biola."

The man had a worried look and he seemed to very scared. " It is
not very good Miss Dana. Your friend is in danger and he needs to
leave as soon as possible."

His tone of voice frightened her," What kind of danger?"

"They performed the ritual to remove the Viper from your partner
last night. This has angered the infested people. They want him
back, they think he belongs to them." He was looking around to
see if anybody was listening. " You must leave and take him to
Nigeria to get a flight back to America. He is in great danger
here and they will come for him soon."

" Who is they?" Scully was stunned by the man's words and she
still had not located the man whom Mulder had come with to
Africa. Professor Gantt had not been found. Skinner was doing his
best during the day to talk to locals, to see if they had seen
the man but nobody could give him answers. She knew that the
local people had their superstitions and beliefs.

" The infested people, the men and women who
were infested with the venomous snake. They want to take him with
them and they will not allow anyone to stop them. Dr. Kamarya
knows who these people are and what they are capable of doing to
Mr. Mulder." Sweat was beading up on his forehead and his hands
seemed to be shaking.

She nodded, she believed the man. For some reason she had not
felt safe here and maybe since Mulder had the tube removed he
could give her answers. " Can you take us to Cameroon?"

" Yes but Maheed is one of them and he is dangerous. We must
leave soon." Biola handed her a note and then left her standing
in the doorway.

She looked down at the note and opened it, inside was a newspaper
article of a missing bus of tourists. Also there was a note which
gave her a location for them to meet and a time. She did not have
long to gather Mulder and Skinner and to meet Biola. She quickly
changed and packed. Mulder was still asleep when she returned but
Skinner was getting ready to go back into the village when she
grabbed his arm. "We need to leave. Mulder is in great danger
here."

" What are you talking about Scully?" he seemed confused and in a
hurry to get back out to hunt for the professor.

" Trust me. I believe that Mulder came here looking for a group
of people. A bus disappeared with tourists a several days ago."
She pulled out he article from her pocket and handed it to
Skinner," Local people, according to this article believe that
the snake people, individuals whose souls were taken by the
Viper, took these people. I also feel that Mulder and Professor
Gantt came here to look for these very same individuals. I
believe that somehow Mulder was bitten due to his desire to learn
the truth about their whereabouts. Biola thinks Mulder is in
danger, due to his bite." She left out the minor detail of Mulder
having a Viper removed from his body the night before. Even she
could not go that far.

" Scully this is just a little farfetched and there is a man
missing." Skinner was interrupted by a loud moan across the room
and when they looked Mulder was trying to get out of bed with
IV's and Foley catheter attached. The Foley catheter is what gave
cause for the moan. It had pulled when he moved over to the
opposite side of the bed and the tube in his bladder did not go
with him. Quickly they rushed to his side and tried to get him to
relax. He looked at them and shook his head.

" They are coming. We need to leave." His low, damaged voice
whispered.

" Who is coming Mulder?" Skinner asked as Scully readjusted the
catheter.

He felt frustrated, and weak. He did not have time to explain but
he knew that they were coming and they were in danger. "You
wouldn't understand." He shook his head in frustration and tried
to stand.

" Try us Mulder. Please." Her voice was gentle and pleading.

He looked at his friend and continued to move in an upward
progression. He felt agitated and was feeling a need to move away
from this place, " They took a damned snake out of my leg last
night! The women chanted, just like the people did in the jungle.
Dr Gantt was infected, he is one of them."

That was all that Scully needed to hear and she reached over and
grabbed a syringe and placed it into the port to pull out he
water out of the bulb that held the catheter in place in his
bladder. Skinner followed her lead and was pulling out some
clothes for Mulder to wear as Scully removed the IV's.

Scully grabbed Mulder's chart, the case of drugs and the luggage.
Skinner grabbed Mulder and supported him underneath his arm.
Together they moved through the building to the destination on
the note Biola had left. When they reached an area behind the
makeshift hospital Biola was awaiting them in his jeep. They
quickly assisted Mulder into the back of the jeep and Scully
climbed in beside of him to aid in supporting his weakened body.
Skinner placed the luggage in the very back and climbed into the
jeep beside of Biola. The jeep took off with a jerk but soon they
were moving through the thick jungle.

Biola reached underneath the seat and handed Skinner a gun. It
appeared to be Mulder's sig. " You will need this."
He did not argue or question from where he had gotten the gun,
instead he just nodded and placed the gun on his lap with his
finger ready to fire upon anyone who tried to
interfere with the drive back to Cameroon.

Scully was feeling the bumps of the dirt road and she knew that
Mulder's leg had to be hurting due to the movements but he did
not complain. He mostly just stared off without speaking.

Scully felt the jeep slow down and Mulder tensed as a man ahead
was blocking the road. Biola, who had a firm grip on the steering
wheel of the vehicle, looked over at Skinner who was ready to
fire upon the stranger. The man approached the jeep after it had
came to a complete stop. "I was sent for the man with you. They
need him."

Biola shook his head, "He does not want to go with you. He is
ill."

" I repeat, I want the man. He is needed." The man was tall and
broad shoulder and his skin was dark like the night. He did not
move away from the jeep.

Skinner pulled up the gun and pointed at the man's head. " He
said "No". I believe you understand what that means. We are not
handing him over and you can tell your friends that we will use
whatever force necessary to protect him from whatever or
whoever."

" They will not be happy with this turn of events. They are
expecting him." The man then stepped aside and Biola moved the
vehicle forward.

After a few minutes Skinner sat the Sig Sauer back down on his
lap. "What do you think they will do next?"

Biola shook his head and turned to look in the back at his
passenger who was still staring off in a daze. "Do you hear them
Mr. Mulder?"

Mulder nodded and closed his eyes. " I hear the hissing of their
voices. They are calling me back."

He understood, he had been there too many years ago himself. "You
must be strong. You will only survive if you are strong."

Biola continued to drive through the thick jungle. He knew that
it would not be long before they were in Cameroon, a town
infested with the snake people.


Cameroon

Biola drove to his friend's house and parked the jeep. He knew
the man could not travel far without nourishment and he needed
fuel for the journey to Nigeria. An older, rather broad man
exited the small grassy hut and hugged his friend. " What stray
has Biola got for me to care for today?"

Biola pointed towards the jeep, " He was infested with the snake.
He is very weak and his leg is painful."

The older gentle understood, " Let's get him inside to rest and
my wife will fix him something to eat."

Skinner and Scully had overheard Biola and the man. He felt they
should keep moving but when they glanced over to a very tired
looking Mulder and they could not help but agree with Biola.

When they were inside a woman wrapped in a very colorful array of
fabric met them and helped to get Mulder into a soft bed. "He is
very weak. I will make him some soup. It will help him to
travel."

"Thank you." Scully responded as she sat down on a small stool
beside Mulder's now sleeping form. She wanted to take a look at
the leg due to some drainage on the bandage but she withheld, not
wanting to disturb his sleep. Actually she just wanted to get on
a plane and go home. She felt bad that Professor Gantt had
disappeared but it would be reported when they returned to
Nigeria. It also bothered her that she had been unable to thank
Dr, Kamarya but she would send him a message when she was home.

Skinner remained outside with Biola to help assist with readying
the jeep for the journey for Nigeria. He felt rather nervous in a
country with rules that were not obeyed by the majority of
people. He could sense Biola's urgency to get Mulder to the
airport in Nigeria. They had no guarantee of a flight to the
states when they got there but they would feel safer. He would
contact the US Embassy at his first chance. He needed to report
the strange happenings and
disappearance of Professor Gantt.


2 HOURS LATER

Mulder had finished trying to eat the soup but his stomach was
sensitive and he could tolerate very little. He had slept most of
the time while Scully, Skinner and Biola had eaten also.

It was discussed that Biola would take a back route to Nigeria.
It was near mid noon and the drive would be long. Supplies had
been loaded into the jeep and Scully had given Mulder his
antibiotic intramuscularly. He did not like the idea of being
stuck where he would have to sit but he did not have much of a
choice. She had also redone the bandage on his leg and given him
something for pain. She wanted him as comfortable as possible. He
still felt warm but she did not have a thermometer. The leg was
looking better though and she knew that he really needed to be
going back to a hospital as soon as possible.

Skinner and Biola assisted a very sleepy Mulder to the jeep and
allowed him to rest his head against a soft blanket in the back
of the jeep. Again Scully sat beside him and Skinner and Biola
took the front with the gun in hand. Biola too had armed himself
for the journey. Biola said good bye to his friend and they left
for the ride to Nigeria.


An hour later

Mulder was awake and he felt sick to his stomach. He wanted to
retch but he did not want to hold up the trip. He could still
hear the hissing voices but they were getting further away. He
attempted to stretch out his leg but it had cramped and was
painful. He grimaced at the attempt and Scully quickly caught the
look.

" Are you okay?" She asked quietly, so that the passengers up
front could not hear.

He looked over at his partner who was stained with dirt and dust.
Her hair was pulled back now into a ponytail and she was dressed
in khaki shorts and a tan sleeveless top. " I feel like Hell. All
I want is to go home." His voice still strained and weak from the
tube that was down so long. He tried to close his eyes and lean
into the blanket that he was using as a pillow.

" Are you in pain or nauseated?" Her concern was evident in how
she was caressing his face with one hand and holding his hand
tightly with the other.

He blinked his eyes and turned to face her, " I am really
nauseated but I don't won't anymore shots. My ass is starting to
really hurt."

" I'm sorry Mulder but if the nausea gets any worse then we'll
need to give you something. I don't want you to get dehydrated."
She reached back into the back of the jeep and pulled out a water
jug and she reached into the medicine case and pulled out gauze
pad. After pouring the water over the gauze she placed it on his
forehead.

He closed his eyes and slid down into the seat. " Thanks Scully.
For everything." He opened one eye and looked up at her. The sun
was still shining brightly overhead. He wanted to let her know
that he really appreciated her risking her life to come and get
him from the hospital. She really was his one in five billion,
well six now. He then relaxed with both eyes closed and wished
the nausea to leave.

They were almost to Nigeria when a loud noise rang through the
air. Skinner looked back to see a very startled Scully. Mulder
had lain down in the seat with his head on Scully's lap. He was
still snoring softly. Both Skinner and Biola readied their guns.
They were looking in all directions and seeing nothing.

" Thunder maybe?" Skinner asked hoping that it could be something
so simple.

Biola shook his head, " The sound was loud like a gun. The sky is
too bright for thunder."

" I'm trying to be optimistic." He paused for a second and then
turned to look at Biola." Do you think it is the snake people or
maybe thieves?" Skinner checked the gun to make sure the safety
was off.

" It is hard to tell. I doubt seriously that they gave up that
easily. We must hurry, he won't be safe if it gets dark." Biola
hit the gas sending everyone against the seat with a jerk.

A short time passed and another loud crack filled the air. Biola
did not think it was thieves but instead the snake people were
coming for Mulder. They had been quiet too long. He quickly found
some cover and parked the vehicle. The air now filled with what
sounded like loud gunfire.

Skinner and Biola helped to pull Mulder from the jeep and to
safety. Scully had taken a position beside of Mulder to assist
him sitting up due to his weakness.

Biola shook his head. " We are only a few miles from Nigeria.
They will not go there."

Skinner looked over at the man then back at the many places
around them that they could be hiding. They needed a plan because
they all knew that if nightfall came that Mulder did not stand a
chance. " We need a plan. Any ideas?"

Biola shook his head," Not yet. We need to get moving though,
night will be upon us soon." He turned to look at Skinner. " At
night they turn into snakes. If they bite you then you will
become one of them. Mulder did not change and neither did I when
I was bitten years ago. The women saved us but they will not give
up Mr. Skinner."

Skinner could not believe what he was hearing," Why did they not
come after you? You were bitten."

" I have learned to block their voices with the help of my
friend. They can not effect me anymore. Unfortunately your friend
has not had time to learn. He is susceptible to the hissing that
he is hearing. It is calling to him and he will feel the need to
go with them. He is very weak."

" We won't let him go." Skinner looked around the area and tried
to locate the position of the shooters. When he glanced over he
saw a very distraught Mulder. Scully was doing her best to try to
calm him down. Skinner rushed over to see if he could assist.

He felt the need to go to the sounds in his head. They were loud
and demanding him to come to come to them and his leg was
pounding." I have to go Scully."

Skinner sat down beside Mulder and placed a
firm grip around his waist, " Mulder, you need to stay put for
now." He looked over to Scully who had opened the case of
medication. She pulled out a vial and drew up in the syringe a
large dose of medicine. Skinner knew that he had to keep a firm
grip on his friend or he would try to flee.

Scully took Mulder's wrist into hers and Skinner assisted.
"Mulder I need to give you some medicine to help you rest. The
voices will leave you alone if you sleep."

He shook his head and again tried to break the hold that his
friends had on his arm and waist. " You don't understand. I have
to go Scully. Professor Gantt is calling for me. He is scared."

Scully could wait no longer and after finding a good vein she
placed the needle through the skin. " Just relax Mulder I will be
done in just a minute."

As the sharp object entered Mulder's skin he cried out then tried
to jerk away but now Biola and Skinner were holding him tightly.
Within minutes his eyes began to close and he was still
attempting to fight but he was too sleepy and after a few more
minutes he was softly snoring. They gently laid him down on the
thick grass and Scully tried to soothe the small jerky spasms of
his body that was occurring in his drugged state.

Biola shook his head and he looked on at the man on the grass,
"Will he be okay?"

Skinner stood and went back to his position and Biola followed.
Skinner shook his head and turned to Biola. " We need to get out
of here. Mulder needs a hospital as soon as possible." He looked
down at the gun, which had no extra bullets. His gun had been
taken prior to entering the country and he wondered basically if
any of them would survive.

Biola turned and looked at the spasming body of the man on the
ground and the way the red haired lady watched him and tried to
comfort him as she watched him suffer. He started pulling the
clothing out of the bags and stuffing them with grass and leaves.

" Biola, what are you doing?" Skinner asked, surprised and
bewildered by Biola's actions.

" Help me, please. We will fool them. The snake people will think
we are trying to escape. When it gets dark I will drive the jeep
with the stuffed clothing away towards Cameroon. They will
follow. Take Mulder to Nigeria. It will be at least a two-hour
walk but you need to go quickly.

Skinner shook his head, " There has to be a better way Biola. We
can wait them out until the morning. If you go they will catch
you and do to you what they did to Mulder."

A soft voice was now behind him also pleading, "Biola, you would
be risking your life. Skinner, Mulder nor myself could live with
that decision. You have been more than good to us. Please do not
put your life in danger for our well being. We will find a way
together to get out of this situation." She was taking some clean
bandages from the case and locating a roll of tape. She looked up
again at Biola, "Together Biola."

He reluctantly nodded and put away the clothing. He then sat down
with Skinner to watch for any motion from the brush. Scully
changed the bandage on Mulder's leg and attempted to make him
comfortable.


Two Hours Later

The sun had set and the sounds of the jungle seemed louder and
Mulder's quiet body was restless again. Biola knew that he did
not have long to act. The snake people would be upon them soon.
He had been thinking hard for the past couple of hours of what he
could do but even if they attempted to drive through the snakes
they would not make it and he knew that it would be unwise. He
had come to a decision and he knew what had to be done.

Scully was drawing up another syringe of Valium for Mulder. He
was fighting with all his might to get away and Skinner held on
tight. He was trying to reason with a mind filled with hissing
sounds of snakes and was not penetrating that barrier. She
grabbed Mulder's wrist and inserted the sharp needle. Mulder's
eyes grew wide and he attempted to pull away but with little
success. Again he cried out but within a few minutes he was
relaxing due to the sedative.

"They're coming Scully." He whispered from his tired throat. He
relaxed into her arms and closed his eyes, " They're coming."

His words scared her and she felt helpless out in the open but
they would be dead if they tried to move forward. She just hoped
they could figure out a way to get out of the jungle and to
Nigeria safely.

Skinner looked around and did not see Biola. He wondered if the
man had overheard Mulder. He went to the jeep but it was empty.
He took a few moments to look around then he turned to Scully,
"Have you seen Biola?"

She shook her head and started looking for Biola. " Where do you
think he went?"

" I don't know but I hope he isn't doing something stupid."
Skinner pulled the gun out of his pants and pulled out a
flashlight from the pack in the jeep. He flashed the light around
but he did not see or hear anything. He yelled out softly for his
new friend but no answer replied.

Scully would not leave Mulder. She did not want anything
happening to him in his drugged state. She also yelled out for
Biola but no answer was received.

Suddenly there was loud cry through the jungle, a cry of a man in
pain. Skinner and Scully quickly gathered Mulder up and placed
him into a lying position in the back of the jeep. Skinner got
behind the wheel and Scully gathered the medical case and climbed
into the passenger side. They both knew that Biola had sacrificed
himself for their safety.

Without any spoken words Skinner threw the jeep into drive and
hit the gas. He gave Scully the gun. He did not turn on the
headlights to attract attention. As they drove through the dark
thick jungle they heard the sounds of snakes but were not
bothered. Soon they could see the lights of the city and they
drove towards the airport.

Skinner assisted Scully in getting Mulder out of the jeep into
the airport terminal. " Get Mulder on board and get him out of
here."

Scully shook her head, " Not without you sir. We leave together."

" I have to go back and see about Biola. He risked everything for
us. It's what I have to
do Scully." Skinner started back towards the jeep after sitting
their bags down at the entry gate. " The plane doesn't leave for
another three hours. Maybe I will be back."

Scully nodded as she watched Skinner get into the jeep and head
back towards the jungle. She looked over at a sleeping Mulder and
knew that he would not be alive if it weren't for Biola's
bravery. She sat down and pulled Mulder close. She prayed
silently that God would watch over Skinner and Biola.

Skinner returned to the jungle and found nothing of the man who
had been their friend. He felt bad that Biola had probably lost
his life to save theirs. His only hope was that maybe Biola had
become one of them instead. He shook his head and corrected
himself, Biola would have rather died than become one of them. He
turned the jeep around and headed back towards the airport in
Nigeria.


FOUR HOURS LATER

Skinner had helped to clean up Mulder and get him situated on the
plane for the long journey home. Mulder's eyes were open and
staring out the window. He had not said anything since he had
awakened. He still had not told them what had happened to him in
the jungle. They both figured that whatever had happened had been
painful, too painful for him to talk about.

Finally Scully got the flight attendant to get him some juice to
drink. He was still not tolerating foods too well because of his
sore throat. He was very weak and still running a low grade
fever. She looked down at his bandaged leg and knew that it had
to be hurting him but he had not complained. He sat sipping at
the juice and remaining quiet.

 Skinner pushed back his seat and closed his eyes. He was tired
and he knew that the flight would end too soon and he would have
to tend to notifying Professor Gantt's family of the tragedy.

" Mulder you need to rest. Your body has been through a lot in
the past ten days. It's still fighting infection and you haven't
been off the ventilator very long." She was taking his blanket
and pulling it up over his bare legs. The cabin of the plane was
cool and she did not want him to get a chill and get his fever up
again.

He looked at his partner with sad eyes. He had felt bad for Biola
and his friend. "Can I have something to help me sleep?"

This was unusual for her partner to ask for any kind of medicine
and she knew that he was asking a lot. She stood and reached into
the luggage compartment and pulled out the medicine case. She
took out a bottle of pills and took out two and handed them to
Mulder.

He shook his head, "I can't take pills Scully. My stomach is
upset. Can I have a shot?"

" Are you having stomach pain Mulder?" She asked as she reached
to take the pills.

He shook his head again, " No pain just nausea."

She reached into the case again and placed the two pills back
into the container and then pulled out the vial of Valium and
drew up two milligrams. She did not want to have him unable to
arouse so she decided to give him a smaller dose. She then took
an alcohol swab and rubbed his upper arm and injected the
medicine. She then cleaned the area again and disposed of the
needle. He placed the cup of juice on his tray and leaned back
into the seat and closed his eyes.

The flight attendant noticed that the man was not feeling well
and offered to get him a pillow and another blanket. Scully
thanked her and when she arrived with the blanket and pillow she
also brought him a cup of ice. Scully placed the ice on her table
but closed Mulder's after handing the barely touched cup of juice
back to her and pushing the seat back into an almost lying
position. She then positioned the blankets and pillow for Mulder
and cut off the overhead light.

Scully then pushed her seat into a reclining position and was
careful not to topple the cup of ice on her table. She would
offer Mulder some when he awakened. She closed her eyes and tried
to sleep.

Skinner opened his eyes and tried to stretch in the small and
confining space. He finally stood and walked up to where Scully
and Mulder were seated. He was surprised that Mulder was missing.
Scully was curled up into
the leather seat sleeping soundly but Mulder was gone. He looked
around for the flight attendant.

The flight attendant was in the back of the first class section
beside the restroom and Skinner could hear retching noises coming
from the small space. He quickly made his way to the small room
and saw Mulder down on his knees. He was almost glad that they
were the only passengers in the first class section and possibly
the only passengers on the plane. " Mulder are you okay?"

Mulder shook his head but was unable to speak through the
retching. Skinner turned and walked back down the isle and bent
down to get Scully's attention." Hey Scully. Wake up."

She opened her eyes and almost jumped, startled by the voice. She
quickly composed herself and looked over to find an empty seat.
"Where's Mulder?" her voice was frantic.

"He is in the bathroom retching. Basically he is pretty
miserable." Skinner stood and started back towards the bathroom.

Scully reached back up in the overhead compartment and grabbed
the case with the multiple medications. She looked through the
meds that she had brought and found some Phenergan. After pulling
up fifty milligrams she headed back to the bathroom and found
Mulder down on his knees still retching. She bent down to get eye
level and raised her hand to his forehead. He still felt warm but
he was also clammy to touch. " Mulder, I'm going to give you
something for the nausea. It will hurt for a few minutes but
you've done this before."

He nodded in understanding and placed his head on the toilet rim,
he felt exhausted from all the retching and he just wanted to be
home in bed, his bed. He was surprised when he felt the sharp
object penetrate his lower buttocks, it was more sensitive and he
gritted his teeth due to the pain the liquid that was being
injected was causing. The pain did not leave when the needle
left, instead the burning sensation continued afterwards. "Can I
sit here for a few minutes?" he asked weakly.

She shook her head, " The medicine is going to make you really
sleepy Mulder. I need you back in your seat. I'll give you a bag
to throw up in and a cool cloth."

He rolled his eyes and tried to manage to stand on his own but he
could not get up on his unsteady feet. Skinner and the flight
attendant along with Scully's help got him on his feet and to his
seat. The attendant quickly retrieved a cool cloth and turned up
the air over her sick passenger. Scully took the blanket and
draped it over his legs and the paper bag was placed in his lap.
She placed the pillow back underneath his head. Soon he was
sleeping and was oblivious to his surroundings.

Mulder slept through the refueling in London and now the flight
was taking them to New York. He was sleeping but Scully knew that
he was in need of some fluids but did not want to get the
vomiting going again. She felt that the nausea was probably a
reaction to the antibiotics. She did not want to get him more
dehydrated. She would keep the Phenergan going and have him sip
on some water or Sprite.

The plane had taken on several passengers in London and now the
first class section had several people. Skinner was now writing
up a report on his computer, which had survived its trip to the
jungle. He was also writing a letter to the family of Professor
Gantt. He wanted to give them the truth but instead he gave a
watered down version of what had occurred. He expressed his
deepest sympathies to the wife and his two daughters. He looked
over to his agents and saw that they were sleeping soundly now.
Mulder had been restless earlier but Scully had given him some
more Phenergan in his upper thigh. He honestly thought Mulder was
going to cry out due to the pain the needle and the medicine
inflicted as it entered the muscle. He really doubted that Mulder
would be able to walk off the plane. The incision was starting to
drain again and Scully was holding off on giving the antibiotic
until Mulder could keep down some fluids. And the way that Mulder
had wrapped himself in the blanket he knew that the fever had
returned.

The flight attendant walked down the isle checking on the
passengers. It was dark again outside and the plane seemed a
little bit cooler flying over the Atlantic. She had brought him a
blanket and a pillow and also had brought a blanket for Scully
and another one for Mulder. He put away his computer and slid
under the blanket after cutting off the overhead light.

Early the next morning Mulder was awakened early when the plane
landed in New York. They were getting closer to returning to
Washington. They did not have to change planes but they would
have to wait for refueling according to the overhead voice. He
reached over and shook Scully, who was still sleeping.

" Hey, Good morning. How are you feeling Mulder?" she asked as
she pushed back the blanket and stood to stretch.

" I need to go to the bathroom. Can you get Skinner to help me?"
he asked shyly as he also pushed back his blankets. His leg
appeared to be more swollen this morning and the bandage was
saturated with yellow drainage.

Scully turned and motioned for Skinner who immediately was at her
side. " Can you assist Mulder? I need to give him his antibiotic
and something for pain."

As Scully stood and moved into the isle Skinner stepped in and
took Mulder's arm and helped him to the bathroom. The plane would
be boarding other passengers soon and Skinner did not want
anybody bumping into Mulder's leg. He opened the door and
assisted Mulder inside and then closed the door to give him
privacy. After a few minutes Scully was standing beside him with
two syringes. "I don't think he will allow another needle stick
after the last one. I thought he was going to pass out Scully."

" His leg is getting worse. I had to stop the antibiotic
yesterday due to the nausea and retching but he needs to be on
the antibiotic. The drainage has increased and his fever is going
back up."

Skinner was interrupted when the bathroom door opened and Mulder
started to exit. "Mulder, Scully needs to give your medicine to
you now."

Mulder did not argue but instead looked down at his partner. "My
leg or my ass?"

She smiled and followed him into the tiny space. "Both. I need a
hip for the pain medicine and Phenergan and your leg will take
the antibiotic."

He turned towards the sink and leaned heavily
against the metal structure and tugged at his shorts. Scully
pulled the cloth down and exposed the very sore looking area. She
hated to inflict anymore pain but she knew that if the infection
got any worse that he could be looking at a lot worse than a sore
hip and leg. She rubbed the area with the alcohol swab and pushed
the needle into the sore skin but the burning as the liquid was
too much and Mulder moaned out loud. She looked up at a now very
shaky and sweaty Mulder. " Do you need to sit down?" she asked as
she pulled the needle out, grabbed a hand full of paper towels
and wet them under the cold water. She then placed them on his
face and helped him to sit down on the lid of the toilet.

"Let's get this over with Scully." He raised his shorts to expose
his thigh and closed his eyes.

 She again rubbed the sore skin on his upper
thigh and pushed the needle with the pain medicine and the
Phenergan. He kept his face covered with the paper towels but she
could tell that the medicine was hurting him going into his sore
muscle. She was glad that they would be home soon and Mulder
would be taken to Georgetown Memorial Hospital. She disposed of
the needles and opened the door. Skinner again assisted Mulder to
his seat and the flight attendant knew her job and the ice pack
appeared soon thereafter. Mulder closed his eyes and let the
medicine take effect. He just wanted to be home.

Before the plane took off for Washington Mulder was again asleep
and wrapped up in the blankets. Scully reached over after the
flight had gotten under way and pushed back his seat but he did
not arouse. She pushed back his blanket and changed his dressing,
which was saturated with yellow serous drainage. She knew that he
would need to get a drain placed when they arrived and also wash
the wound out with antibiotics. She would also need to have some
more blood work done to check for infection. The flight attendant
was making rounds and giving out breakfast trays. Scully took a
moment to go and wash her hands and then take a cup of coffee and
a bagel and some cream cheese. She did not disturb Mulder, who
was sleeping comfortably. Skinner also took the breakfast and a
cup of coffee. An overhead announcement was made that they would
be landing in forty-five minutes in Washington.


Georgetown Memorial Hospital
Three days later

Mulder awakened to the door being opened. Scully walked into the
room with a cup of coffee and seemed to be attempting to not make
any noise. She glanced down at her partner's half opened eyes and
grinned, " Hey, how are you feeling Mulder?"

He still was a little out of it and he wanted to answer but his
mouth was dry and he felt very tired. He nodded and closed his
eyes. He wondered how long he had been in the hospital and hoped
that at least it wasn't the mental ward. Not too many people saw
snakes crawl out of their bodies. He felt a warm hand brush at
his hair and he opened his eyes and saw his best friend looking
down at him with a cup of ice in her hand. "How about some ice
Mulder?"

He automatically opened his mouth and took in the cold chips and
slowly crushed them between his teeth. He wanted to go home but
the way his leg still hurt he knew that he would not be going in
the next day or two. He was finally able to get out a few words,"
Dr. Gantt?"

She placed the cup on the bedside table and started fixing the
blankets, " Still missing."

He nodded in understanding but he also wanted to know about the
man who saved them, " Biola?"

Scully seemed rather shocked that Mulder would remember too much
after they had left the hospital. She actually wished that he
would not remember too much of anything to do with his visit to
Africa. She knew that he needed an answer, " Skinner went back to
find him but he was nowhere to be found." She paused for a few
seconds and stopped her motions, "He is probably dead Mulder. He
was a very brave man."

He looked at his partner and smiled, "So are you and Skinner.
Thanks."

She grinned and returned to fussing over his bed. She looked down
at his bandaged leg with a drain peaking out with bloody
drainage. She did not want him to know how much she hated snakes
or the horror of finding him in the condition that she found him
in the hospital. She smiled," Only for you Mulder. Only for you."

He smiled and closed his eyes. He was tired and he felt safe.
Within a few minutes he was sleeping.


BENUE
HOSPITAL

The tube down his throat hurt and his multiple snakebites
screamed with agony. The women would come soon and take the
snakes away after the ritual. It would be a few more days before
he would be healed. He opened his eyes and watched as Dr. Kamarya
injected the antivenin into his IV. He hoped that the man and his
friends had escaped. He would try to contact them after his
healing. He needed to tell them that Professor Gantt had not
died. He needed to be saved.


THE END