[Disclaimer in Part 1]

Games of the Mind (Part 2)
by Christina Shuy
cshuy@netcom.com

     Upon entering the basement office, Scully went to her computer and
started scanning information from the files.  Mulder pulled out a chair
and Christina sat down in it. 

     In the meantime, a second conversation had started among the Others
within Christina's mind. 

     <<<'I don't like this... I don't like basements... remember what Dad
used to do->>> A scared little girl's voice murmured. 

     <<<'Hush!  I don't even *want* to hear it.  And I don't want to
remember being beaten, even if it wasn't very severe...'>>> Christina's
own voice answered. 

     <<<'Besides which, it wasn't a basement... it was just the lowest
level of a split-level house.  Not that anything ever happened in that
house.'>>> a third voice said, one that sounded no older than ten. 

     <<<'Minimalising again, are we?  I don't have the time to convince
either of you that what we remember did happen.  Look, why can't we turn
our attention back to this Mulder person and why we're here now.'>>> An
older, British accented female's voice, the same one from earlier, left no
room for argument. 

     <<<'Why the hell is he acting like this?'>>> Christina asked. <<<And
are we in trouble again?>>>

     <<<'Ask him.  He's making us nervous.  Police always make us
nervous.'>>> the little girl said. 

     <<<'He's not police.  He's FBI.'>>> Answered another who was clearly
nervous around authority figures. 

     <<<'Police.  FBI.  No difference.  Both have authority and both use
guns.'>>>

     <<<'And guns DEFINITELY make us nervous.  People get hurt with guns,
as well as without them... and we're tired of being hurt.'>>> That one
sounded more weary than anything. 

     "Okay, Mulder, we're in your office, so tell me why you used the word
'physically' when asking me how old I am?" 

     <<<'If he knows, then we don't have to hide this from him.'>>>
Valerie continued.  She had been running commentary since bumping into
Mulder about ten minutes earlier.  None of it particularly helpful.  Many
of the rest of them chose to ignore her.  Then again, Valerie was the
rebellious teenager Christina had never been allowed to be, and her words
and attitude reflected that fact. 

     <<<'Shut up, Valerie.'>>> the British accented woman's voice declared.

     <<<'Well, I-'>>>

     <<<'Valerie Kathleen Thompson, you talk too much.'>>>

     <<<'I do *not*!'>>>

     <<<'Valerie, hush!  You're giving me a headache.'>>> Christina's
voice interrupted. <<<'Besides, I'm trying to listen to what Mulder has to
say.'>>>

      "Well, I was just wondering what your reaction might be.  I don't
know you, true, but from what I've seen... well, I suspect...  There is
something about you-" 

     <<<'Agent Mulder, I honestly wish you would get to the bloody
point!'>>> the British female spoke up again. 

     "Oh my God.  Mulder, look at this." Scully said, looking at the
computer screen at her desk on her side of the office. 

     "What is it, Scully?" he asked, going over to look over her shoulder
at the computer screen. 

     "There is a young man from Canada who is looking for her. 
AChristopher Wildbore.  He asked for our help several months ago,
remember?  Even though we were passed this case by the Los Angeles Police
Department because of the strangeness of the disapp earance.  He's also
the one who gave us most of this information about her." Scully answered,
though the last part was loud enough for Mulder only to hear. 

     They studied the screen for several moments, in silence.

     At the same time, thoughts raced madly through Christina's mind...
voices that belonged to different 'people'. 

     <<<'Young man from Canada...?'>>> one asked, though she was not even
heard through the chaos of the other voices. 

     <<<'Christopher Wildbore?!  *Here?!*'>>> another asked but was
drowned out.  <<<'What the hell is he doing here?  He has no business
sticking his nose in where he doesn't belong.>>>

     <<<'All right, WHO is responsible for having us blank almost 10
months from our mind?'>>> the British accented voice from earlier
demanded. 

     <<<'And what the hell is that business with Mulder's sister,
Valerie?'>>> she heard another ask... one with a lisp. <<<'We couldn't
*possibly* know anything about her!  We only just met HIM!  Hell, we
didn't even know he HAD a sister, so you better have a damn good
explaination.'>>>

     <<<'Hey, don't look at me, Lisa... the aliens are the ones who should
be made to explain... as for where the missing 10 months went... well, I
don't know either.  All I do know is that the aliens somehow had our
clothing replicated... so they've obvi ously been watching...'>>>
Valerie's voice declared, though everyone else knew she was hiding
something. 

     <<<'Aliens?!'>>> Lisa, the one with the lisp, asked again.

     <<<'Just because you're paranoid-'>>> another voice started, but was
interrupted by a strong flash of emotion from Mulder... as well as from
another source... one that was VERY familiar. 

     Her heart skipped a beat, then there was a sudden rush of joy from
the familiar source, but she wasn't sure...  If it was who she thought it
was, it was a good sign.  It was one of the few things they all agreed on. 
Even so, some of them were hesitant. 

     Christina turned her attention back to Mulder and Scully, who were
still discussing something in front of Scully's computer.  They were
speaking quietly, but she heard them anyway. 

     "Looks like you were right... but there's more to it... She is what
you suspected, though the good part is that she knows that she is what
you'd suspected, so you don't have to tell her." Scully said.  "The person
who is looking for her is someone you need to get in touch with.  You did
tell him you'd let him know if anything turned up...  and I think this
does qualify." Agent Scully smiled. 

     "I'll give him a call." Mulder said, picking up his own phone.

     "Who?  Who are you talking about?" Christina asked, watching Mulder
pick up his phone and dial a number. 

     "It's Mulder... Where are you?  Guess what?  We found her.  Well,
actually, she found *me*...  Yeah, I figured you might.  She's in my
office right now.  Come on down... Ok... See you in a bit." 

     With that said, Mulder hung up the phone and smiled at Christina, who
looked at Scully with a mystified look on her face.  Everything was so
confusing... though the strangely familiar presense continued growing
stronger, and more joyful, in her mind.  There was some muffled sounds
from outside in the hallway. 

     "Who did Agent Mulder just call?" Christina asked.  "And who is
coming down?" 

     "Someone has been looking for you..." Scully smiled.

     "Who?"

     "Christina!" a familiar voice said from the door, though it was
breathless from having run down several flights of stairs. 

     She turned quickly and caught sight of someone she had almost thought
she would never see again.  In a moment, she was out of her chair and in
his arms.  He held her tightly against him.  They felt tears in their
eyes, as well as silent exchanges of 'I love you's.  It had been too many
months since they had seen each other and relief was evident. 

     <<<'Oh, yesyesyes!!!'>>> Christina's heart felt as though it was
going to explode in joy. 

     "Chris... oh, GODS... I never thought I'd see you again... It's been
so long!  And I've missed you." she murmured into his shoulder. 

     "It's been longer for me than for you, love.  At least you didn't
have to deal with you disappearing.  You don't know how happy I was to
sense you near by, even though I kept telling myself not to get my hopes
up...  Where have you been these last ten months?" he asked quietly.
<'I've been frantic!'> was his unspoken thought. 

     "That's just it... I don't know.  I last remember it was May 22nd of
last year... and I was in Los Angeles at school... about to go home from
physics lecture.  I think we were supposed to talk that night, but I don't
know... I don't remember anymore.  You may not have been home, or
whatever... 

     "I didn't mean to scare you, though I'm glad you realized I wasn't
dead.  I remember what you said you'd do if I was..." she said, smiling
slightly, looking into his eyes, feeling the comfort of being in his arms
again after a long time.  "What are y ou doing in Washington, DC and how
can you be working with the FBI?  I thought they didn't allow
non-citizens..." 

     "I got several things worked out with the US government... as well as
your mother.." 

     "My mother?!  Chris, what does my mother have to do with this?"

     "She was terrified when you vanished."

     "That's a switch..." her voice filled with sarcasm, though Chris
smiled warmly. 

     "I'm just happy that you're safe, love." he said softly.

     She smiled at him even as an inside conversation started.  There was 
something that didn't feel right, but Christina couldn't hear what was 
being said.

     She kissed him softly before holding him, her expression still one of
worry.  "I still don't know what I'm doing in Washington...  Or how I got
here to begin with." 

     "Christina, I hate to break up this reunion, but I do have a few
questions... such as, who's Valerie?" Scully asked. 

     Christina and Chris looked at each other, exchanging silent
thoughts... Christina wasn't sure what to tell either Scully or Mulder,
especially since it sometimes seemed quite far-fetched, even to her. 

     <<<Oh gods... not denial again...>>>  Marie groaned.

     <<<What else are you expecting?>>> Valerie said.

     <<<I s'pose you're right.>>>

     "Uh... well... she's an alternate personality of mine... It's
complicated..." her voice trailed off. 

     <<<'Boy, is it EVER...'>>> Valerie groaned.

     <<<'Valerie, SHUT up!'>>> several voices said.

     <<<'What do you mean "of yours"?!'>>> another voice demanded.

     <<<'It's just an expression.'>>> Lisa said, though she also sounded
irritated at the use of the word. 

     <'He's a trained psychologist... and he knows a little bit about you
already... I know.  I provided him with the information.'> she heard
Chris' thought. 

     "I see." Scully answered, though she looked skeptical.

     "Well, if you know already, I don't have to say anything." Christina
said, though the tone and manner Chris recognized. 

     "Jessie..." he murmured.  "Don't be stubborn."

     He got a 'Jessie' expression from her, then there was another abrupt
switch.  She turned back to Mulder. 

     "Fox..." she started, then stopped.  The tone and expression had been
too familiar to Mulder and he paled.  Christina was all too aware of the
effect it had on him and the headache flared up in her mind again, this
time with extreme guilt as well.  The guilt which was accompanied by
extreme confusion as to who the tone and expression had belonged to. 

     "Agent Mulder, I'm sorry..." she started again, then fell silent.

     <<<'Well, looks like we've done it again... chronic foot-in-mouth
disease...  why don't we just shut up and leave?'>>> she thought.  At the
same time, the pain level spiked. 

     "Mulder, what's wrong?" Chris asked, seeing Mulder still hadn't
recovered from what Christina had said. 

     "She... she sounded just like Samantha for a moment... my sister
Samantha..." Mulder managed to mumble. 

     "And what happened to your sister?"

     "She was abducted 23 years ago-"

     "By aliens... Ones you suspect are working with some shadowy force
behind the government." Christina stated calmly, though her expression
belied the fact that she was surprised that she'd known as well. 

     <<<What the bloody hell is that supposed to mean?!>>> Lisa turned to
look at Valerie who had gasped at that statement. 

     <<<'Oh, HELL!'>>> Valerie declared.

     "How did you-" Mulder started.

     <<<'Who else knows?!'>>> Valerie's inquiry was voiced at the top of
her lungs. 

     <<<'Aw, fuck it.'>>> an abrupt voice declared.

     Before he could finish his line of thought, however, Christina had
run out the door.  Chris, alarmed, had gone after her. 

     "Scully, check to see if you can find any reports of unusual
occurances or sightings in Los Angeles, California on May 22, 1996.  This
might help explain what happened to her." Mulder said, getting a hold of
his wits momentarily before going after the two who had just left.  He
could still hear at least one set of footsteps moving away from his
basement office as he started after them. 

End part 2.